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HomeMy Public PortalAboutBrewster School Committee -- 2010-01-06 Minutesf .. Brewster School Committee Minutes of January 6, 2010 Held at Eddy Elementary School QP° ° od~D Chair O'Reilly called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. ROLL CALL: For the Committee: Stephen Jones, John O'Reilly, David Telman, and Marie Enoch Jennifer Rabold was skyped in for attendance purposes ~ For the Administration: Denise Fronius, Keith Gauley, Hans Baumhauer and Ann Carretti Others: Town officials, parents, staff, interested citizens Cape Cod Collaborative: Anita Woods and Paul Hilton AGENDA CHANGES None CITIZENS SPEAK - Several parents spoke to the issue of consolidation and voiced their concer the Integrated Preschool to the Eddy School citing reasons such as: isolation ofstudens f~omg the rest of the school community, isolating staff which would be counterproductive to collaboration and morale, safety, need for a school nurse, security issues, no library, and playground adequacy. PRIORITY BUSINESS -School Consolidation Plan Dr. Hoffmann gave a history of the process: July -- Meeting with Katherine Craven, Executive Director of Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), Mr. Sumner, Mr. Levasseur, John O'Reilly, and others went to see wh town and schools may have to do in a consolidation plan so that the town of Brewster wo Idhe continue to receive debt payments from MSBA. At that time MSBA said if some kind of K-12 program remained at the Eddy School they would consider continuing to pay the state's portion of the debt into the future. Little or no detail was forthcoming on the kind of program or t extent of space use that their policy might require. Ms. Craven indicated that PreK or ~I~El~STER Ti~litl rLERk Collaborative Programs would not be an acceptable use of the Eddy school to continue to qualify for payments. The town could submit a plan and then have up to two years to the specifics of the plan. '~~pZO 1,L y~ October 19 - Ms. Craven wrote a letter to the town requesting information for the proposed use of the Eddy School. November 3 -The town and school officials sent Ms. Craven a letter about potential reuse of the Eddy School as a Town Hall and Council on Aging, along with three potential programs that might meet the criteria for future funding, so the debt would still be paid. Those programs were Preschool, Cape Cod Collaborative Program and Project Access. November 17 - To everyone's disbelief and shock, Ms. Craven sent a letter to the MSB indicating that the MSBA may exercise its authority in Brewster to recoup funds already spent in building the Eddy School which is a little over 5 000, could avoid recoupment of MSBA funds if the district ~ bmittedl alt yeardreused Ian she town p howmg Paae 2 - Brewsfer School Committee Minutes January 6 2010 ~ will once a ain be an educational facility by housing PreK or other eligible ~ rthat~ ' ~ ~Fa' ' ity 9 ~w~ ~ ~g the under utilized facility. Few details were provided as to what kinds of programs would meet their guidelines. (. November 23 -The Board of Selectmen held a meeting to disffmann and a couple of School n Turner and a staff member from Sen. O Leary s office. Dr. Ho Committee Members were in attendance with the hopes of having some dialog with Ms. Craven. November 24-27 -Articles about potential loss of funds as well as other options for consolidation were published in the Cape Cod Times and the Cape Codder. December 14 - A meeting was held with several members of the MSBA including Ms: Craven. At that meeting she indicated unless the consolidation plan included a substantial use of the Eddy School for an educational program, that the MSBA could move to recoup the prior funding. However, she was open to Brewster coming up with a viable educational plan that she would bring to her board to avoid recoupment. She was not even considering that the MSBA would continue to pay the debt service regardless of the plan. Project Access was presented as an option but she would not consider that because it was not a day program. What she would consider was a Preschool Program and a Cape Cod Collaborative Program. Everyone left the meeting feeling that the "door was still open" on the consolidation plan but did not have a lot of specific details. (square footage, state requirements, etc.) . December 17 - At the School Committee meeting no decision was made and a special meeting was scheduled for tonight to further discuss the consolidation plan. Dr. Hoffmann went on to state that he believes in the consolidation plan especially when looking at the budget, operating costs and duplication of staff and would not put forward a plan just to save money or just to have a plan. He would like to see saving from consolidation be used for programs for students. He also stated that he does not wish to isolate the PreK students and staff but felt there were many benefits in the proposed consolidation plan. After meeting with PreK staff he shared their concems with School Committee Members which include: students isolated from the school community, town hall vs. school setting, transitioning students, administrative support, custodial services, safety and medical issues. Discussion was held regarding the Integrated Preschool guidelines, licensing and regulations. Dr. Hoffmann will find out if any grant monies would be in jeopardy. School Committee members voiced their concerns. Mr. Jones would like clarification on the two year reuse plan. It was understood that it is a statutory provision and that it must be decided within two years as to how to reuse an elementary school that is under state funding. (that is two years after the building is discontinued as an elementary school) Selectmen Greg Levasseur reported on the December 14th meeting indicating that Ms. Craven outlined a new target for the town of Brewster and a funding issue. Ms. Craven again talked about a PreK program and no one was comfortable with the PreK plan but would discuss it and move forward. The worst case scenario would be that both buildings remain open, but the z Brewster School Committee Minutes - Januar 6 2010 Pa e 3 educational program would suffer dramatically due to using budget funds to maintain two schools. Mr. Levasseur sited other towns that are dealing with this situation. ~~` He also stated if the town cannot make the MSBA understand, and theywant their money back, then the project would not move forward. MSBA scheduled meeting is January 25th and town officials would like to attend and answer questions so as to put the MSBA Board at ease regarding the plans for Brewster. It was also noted that if PreK moves, it would not be a short term situation. Selectmen Cooney stated that people forget that the state has given the town a lot of money. Technically the town does not own anything outright. MSBA looks at their investment for 30-40 years. He also suggested that if we don't meet the criteria, they could look back at either building and either school will suffer the same consequences. Mr. Levesseu.r stated that the time line presented at town meeting was based on a certain criteria.. The critical date for the Charter School is September, 2011. The town will continue to work on the issue until they are told there is no hope in moving forward. Mr. Jones asked if there was a legal opinion or if there is no timeframe in which the state stops having the ability to recoup funds for a building they provided funding for. Questions were asked to preschool staff regarding how often PreK students visit the school nurse. It was noted that they do service medically fragile students. Discussion was held regarding PreK vs. Integrated Preschool, licensing regulations, as well as the binding legality of Individual Education Plans. Dr. Hoffmann presented the Futures Program to the committee indicating that it would serve 18- 22 year old students who do not presently have much in the way of continuing education and job training services. This program would be an exemplary prograrn~for students which would include classroom based academic skills such as; consumer mathematics, written and oral communication skills, computer skills, and interest seminars in current events, science, and history. A strong emphasis would be placed on life skills development including social skills, job skills and job coaching, and life skills like cooking, personal care, and travel training. After completing the Futures Program it is anticipated that students will be much better prepared for independent orsemi-independent living which would enhance their lives as well as the community. Both Ann Caretti and the Cape Collaborative representatives were very excited about this type of program. Discussion was held regarding making a prioritized list of options for the MSBA using several PreK options. It was asked if other Collaborative Programs could fill the space and if any research had been done on that option. Mr. O'Reilly thought the MSBA may fund a collaborative program or a PreK Program and that they were concentrating mainly on these two options. They were not interested in the Access Program. Some School Committee members voiced opinions not in favor of moving the PreK children for a variety of reasons. -Marie Enochty indicated she would not vote in favor of the plan to move the PreK unless it was the "deal breaker." Mr. Jones indicated that he wanted to figure out what is best for the majority of students in Brewster and felt moving the Prek program would work without significant detriment as part of the plan. The loss would be to run the Eddy School expending funds that would better be used Brewster School Committee Minutes -January 6 2010 Pape 4 ~. for programs for all the students PreK - 5. The difficulty in the long run is, if MSBA says no you have not met criteria forfunding, that puts Brewster back in a situation of continuing to run two schools. He did not understand why the states ability to question how the building is used (~~ doesn't end when the state funding ends. Marie Enochty asked that everyone think "outside the box" and go back to MSBA with other PreK options and present the Futures Program with the menu of options. Cindy Fox gave a history of the Preschool Program. MOTION: On a motion by Marie Enochty, seconded by David Telman, it was voted unanimously to give Dr. Hoffmann authority to formulate multiple plans for PreK as well as the Futures Program and request that he prioritize these from most to least desirable for us as an educational plan. Dr. Hoffmann was requested to develop a plan and bring it back to the School Committee at the January 21St meeting. ADJOURNMENT - On a motion by Marie Enochty, seconded by Steve Jones, it was voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:02 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Ann M. Tefft