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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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