Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAboutBrewster School Committee -- 2022-11-17 Minutes NAUSET PUBLIC SCHOOLS MEETING MINUTES of the Brewster Elementary School MEETING DATE and Thursday,November 17,2022 @ 6:30PM Hybrid Meeting Via Town of Brewster Zoom This meeting took place in a hybrid format pursuant to the law signed by Governor Baker on June 16,2021 — An Act Extending Certain COVID-19 Measures Adopted During the State of Emergency,which includes an extension,until March 31,2023, of the remote meeting provisions of his March 12,2020 Executive Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law. MEMBER ATTENDANCE: Chair Katie Jacobus,Judi Lech,Carol Jelinek,Sarah Sherman and Casey Mecca NON-MEMBER ATTENDANCE: Superintendent Brooke Clenchy,Director of Curriculum,Instruction,& Assessment Dr. Robin Millen, Stony Brook Principal Keith Gaulcy,Eddy School Principal Steve Guditus, Select Board Liaison Kari Hoffman and Finance Committee Liaison Robert Tobias Call to Order&Declaration of a Quorum,Meeting Participation Statement and Recording Statement The meeting was called to order at 6:30pm. Agenda Changes: FY23 Expenditure Report tabled until the December 2022 meeting. Citizens Speak: None PRIORITY BUSINESS: A. Administrator's Reports Chair Report Chair Jacobus attended the Select Board meeting and reported to them the Committee's intention to table the discussion about consolidation at this time,but enrollment numbers will be monitored. All school committee members were able to participate in some form at the MASC Conference. Communication on how the school gets information out to community will be on next month's agenda. Superintendent's Report: Superintendent Clenchy reviewed her written report giving an update on the Nauset Regional High School building project. After the sub-trade bids and the general contractor bids were received and the use of a portion of the contingency fund to purchase the additional modular units,the project was approximately$30 million over budget. In order to keep the project whole and proceed as originally intended,the School Building Committee recommended to the Regional School Committee to go back to the voters to decide the next step in the project. The Regional School Committee will recommend to the voters in a district wide vote,to borrow an additional$38,100,000 for the project. A district wide vote will require a yes vote from 50%of the number of people who come out to vote, rather than a majority in each town. She noted that each town in the Region has a link on their website that will join the user with the Nauset School District website where they will find current information on the NRHS building project. There is also a special newsletter and fact sheet that will be sent out next week. Brewster School Committee November 17,2022 11 Page Superintendent Clenchy will also be visiting each town's Select Board meetings with a presentation and she also anticipates holding at least one public information forum. She further explained that there was no way of knowing the funding would come up short until the general contractor and the sub-trade bids were received. Unfortunately,this scenario is happening all over the Commonwealth due to the inflated cost of building materials. However, Superintendent Clenchy said she is working diligently with the local congressional delegation to find other sources of funding. Other funding sources may not be realized immediately,but it is a state-wide issue,with other new building projects coming up short on their funding even after diligent financial planning. Superintendent Clenchy noted that while monies from the contingency fund were used to purchase a total of 37 modular units,there has been a significant amount of outside interest in the units after the building project is complete. Lastly, Superintendent Clenchy explained that positive results in the election on January 10,2023 will allow the general contractor to immediately bring in their team to begin the project. A negative vote would mean the loss of the$36 million in MSBA funding and the building project would have to start at the beginning,which could mean a wait of 5-7 years for new MSBA funding. The costs already incurred by the project of$28 million, which includes the purchase of the modular units,would have to be paid by each of the four regional towns. Principals' Report: Principals Gauley and Guditus presented their report. Principal Gauley thanked the Brewster Fire Department for bringing their education/smoke trailer to the school. They held programs and instructed the children on fire prevention. Also a congratulations to Randy O'Shea's Grade 1 class who held their owl exhibit open house which brought in parents,grandparents and caretakers and they did a great job and it was a wonderful event! Unfortunately,there was a burst pipe at the Stony Brook School. The children were evacuated to the Eddy School for about 3 hours and Principal Gauley was grateful to the custodial staff who had the building cleaned up very quickly. Enrollment numbers for the entire Brewster school program were down 2 students since last year,however,new information had been received of a new student's enrollment,so overall with that new student,enrollment is down only 1 student from last year. Principal Gauley said he would continue to oversee the matter and report any changes to the committee. Principal Guditus explained that at both schools,there is a"deep learning"curriculum that teaches the six C's of deep learning: character,citizenship,collaboration,communication,creativity and critical thinking. Those are the qualities/competencies the children are taught to be successful in school and in life. Those competencies are incorporated into the daily lessons and activities throughout the school day,both inside and outside the classroom. Principal Guditus reviewed the WAS results as found in the packet. He noted that there has been a statewide recalibration because of the pandemic and the 2022 scores are the new baseline for all grades across the state. Since the Brewster Elementary school is smaller,the per student percentage score is higher. Overall,the SGP or student growth percentile has increased,while achievement or raw scores have decreased. The SGP compares student peers across the state. Brewster School Committee November 17,2022 2 1 Page There are a number of steps being taken to help the students improve including the i-Ready Mathematics Curriculum and the Deep Learning Training and Design Curriculum and others which are outlined in the packet. Principal Guditus did feel that some children were significantly impacted by the pandemic and schools being closed for in classroom learning,many of those children had just started kindergarten. Those children in particular are receiving additional support. B. MASC Conference Each member discussed the seminars they attended and they felt each seminar was very productive and relevant to their role as a school committee member. Superintendent Clenchy was especially proud after attending the conference because the Nauset School District was already doing much of the great work that had been discussed in the many seminars she attended! C. Declare Surplus Principal Guditus explained the list that is included in the packet which notes each item that is no longer needed by the school. MOTION: It was moved b Member Lech seconded by Member Mecca and voted unanimously via roll Call vote 5-0-0 to approve the surplus list for disposal. D. Policies—Review for a Second Reading and Vote JH—Student Absences and Excuses JICA-Student Dress Code BHE—Electronic Messaging by School Committee Members AC—Non-Discrimination MOTION: It was moved by Member Lech seconded by Member Mecca and voted unanimously 5-0-0 to approve JH,JICA.BHE and AC Policies. REPORTS&INFORMATION: Cape Cod Collaborativ Member Mecca reported there was a meeting on November 9. There continues to be staffing challenges, as there is a large need for speech and language pathologists and school bus drivers. The Collaborative cannot take any more students even though there are many more referrals,as there is not enough staffing and resources. PTO Liaison Member Sherman reported there was a meeting on November 8. Many topics were discussed including future fundraising events. The PTO is discussing overseeing the Spring Fun Run themselves because the company that has come in in the past,charges to run the event,rather than all the funds going to the PTO and ultimately the school and the children. Also, she noted that in the past the PTO has been paying for the buses used for field trips,but next year that cost will be incorporated into the school budget. The school spirit store is open online, and the book fair will start November 29 and will run through December 3 at the Brewster Baptist Church. Brewster School Committee November 17,2022 3 1 Page The PTO's next meeting is December 16. Central Office Budget Sub-Committee Member Sherman said it was their first meeting and Finance Director Venditti reviewed the draft budget for FY24 and explained the changes that were proposed. The next meeting is December 1 where members will see an updated version of the budget. School Council Member Jelinek was unable to attend of the Eddy School Council meeting because she was attending MASC, however Principal Guditus reported that at the Council meeting reviewed the purpose of the school council,the four responsibilities of the school council per the Massachusetts Ed Reform Act of 1993 and also looked at the School Improvement Plan. The Council broke up into 3 small groups and discussed how the school was doing based on the plan. They then reported back as a whole and reviewed where improvements could be made in the areas of academic success,social and emotional learning and school culture and lastly community schools. The Nauset Strategic Plan was also discussed and how everything comes from that. They will continue to meet on the third Monday of the month. Principal Gauley said that the Stony Brook School Council also met and it was exactly the same format as the Eddy School Council. The next meeting will be November 29,which Member Sherman will be notified of. Policv Subcommittee Member Lech met on November 7 and worked on fraud prevention policy which affects just the two Nauset Regional schools. The individual towns are responsible for their school and municipal employees. The advisor to the Policy Subcommittee is Mr.James Hardy from Massachusetts Association of School Committees, who was at the meeting and who will be attending future policy meetings as well. With his guidance,the policies will be reviewed and revised while staying within the guidelines of state law. Superintendent Evaluation Sub-Committee Member Lech reported they met yesterday and further organized the process that the sub-committee will use to bring to the Joint Committee on January 26,2023. All school committee members will get the information that is being put together. Behavioral Health Task Force Chair Jacobus reported that the task force met last month and the discussion centered around the mentorship program where 5 high school students have been trained by Cape Mediation to go into middle school and work with the kids during their Nauset time., So far it has been a success. The task force also heard from the head of the Pre-K program. Currently there are 3 classrooms at Stony Brook and 1 classroom at Eastham Elementary. The maximum is 15 children per class,with 7 of whom can be special ed. Transportation Sub-Committee Member Jelinek reported they had not met but reported that the funding for electric school buses did not come through. Strategic Planning Sub-Committee Chair Jacobus said they met last week and discussed how to implement the Strategic Plan while keeping in mind it's five goals of 215`Century skills,global citizenship,social emotional leaming and professional development and community schools. Brewster School Committee November 17, 2022 4 1 Page APPROVE MINUTES MOTION: It was moved by Member Mecca and seconded by Member Sherman to anprove the minutes of October 20. 2022. Via roll call vote,Member Mecca abstained from the vote all other members voted in favor- 4-0-1. Future Agenda Item: Police Chief visit Communication to the Community Principals' report of School Council ADJOURNMENT: MOTION:It was moved b, Member Sherman.seconded by Member Lech and voted unanimousl •to adjourn at 8:04PM. Respectfully Submitted, Amanda Lapierre Recording Secretary Documents Reviewed and Available Upon Request Superintendent's Report,Principal's Report,Surplus Report FY23 Student Enrollment,Policies for Second Reading Minutes of October 20,2022 Brewster School Committee November 17,2022 5 1 Page