HomeMy Public PortalAboutBrewster School Committee -- 2011-10-26 Minutes Brewster School Committee ?Fig October 26,2011
Brewster Town Hall
Present for the Committee: Jennifer Rabold,Donna Kalinick,Dave Telman
Present for Administration: Dr.Hoffmann,Dr. Gifford,Mr.Baumhauer,Principals Keith Gauley and Denise Fronius
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Rabold called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
AGENDA CHANGES-none
CITIZENS SPEAK
Alyssa Miner,Cub Scout Master of Pack 73,Alex Carlson,Jordan Miner and Quinn Miller addressed the Committee regarding
the utilization of space at Stony Brook Elementary School for their meetings.Due to an insurance policy change by the town,
they do not meet the insurance requirements of$3,000,000 and requested a waiver to use the school with their liability
coverage for$1,000,000.
Motion: On a motion by Jennifer Rabold,seconded by Donna Kalinick,it was voted unanimously to grant a waiver for this
year for Pack 73 to use the Stony Brook Elementary School cafeteria.
RECOGNITIONS-None
PRIORITY BUSINESS
Administrators' Reports
In addition to what was included in the packet,Principal Fronius' reported about the fantastic"Community Read Day"with a
special thank you to Elisa Bucci and Mrs.Ford, as well as all the community readers who participated that day. A grant has
been received from"Mobil On the Run"in the amount of$750 for Toni Young,Art Teacher.
Principal Fronius reviewed the fall Dibel scores with the Committee.
Dr.Gifford gave a brief overview of the District's MCAS results noting that Nauset is a very high performing district overall.
Dr. Gifford noted that Nauset uses its own teacher made assessments as well MCAS and achievement is looked at through
multiple measures.
Superintendent Hoffmann gave highlights from the Orleans Citizens Forum which included: Outstanding performance of all
schools in the district,regionalization,efficiencies,enrollments,value of school choice,and
helping the public understand education today. He also gave the Committee an update on the Green Repair Project at the High
School noting that Eastham,Orleans and Wellfleet have voted in favor of the project.
November 7`h is Brewster's Town Meeting. He has a meeting with the Brewster Democratic Society on Saturday to answer
any questions about the Green Repair Project.
Principal Keith Gauley gave a very informative presentation on the MCAS results for Eddy Elementary School. He noted that
when you are a very high performing school district,it is difficult to show improvement. How do you keep improving? He
and the staff will establish priorities and have very specific targets in order to make gains. He indicated they will look at
Student Growth Percentiles which is the most important number for each child and for the school. The vision for the schools is
to have strong schools and want student to learn to read,to learn math and science but also build upon student's strengths,(art,
music,etc.)or wherever their strength lies.
Next steps include formation of Data Teams at all grade levels and across disciplines. MCAS results are good but they do not
tell the individual child's story. Data Teams will help schools reach the targets. The Committee asked for an update as the
schools go through the process. The new teacher evaluation system is linked to students and administration needs to work with
the data to support the teachers. Dr. Gifford indicated in the future they will not wait for MCAS results for interventions as
they will have good,efficient and timely data to make better decisions as to how to help students. Principal Gauley indicated
that some of the data will be passed to the next school and other data will be kept in-house as sometimes it is outdated by the
time the next school gets it.
Dr. Hoffmann indicated that teachers will be able to look back and see how each student performed.Presently the Middle
School is involved in data teams and the goal is to have the high school involved as well.
FY12 Budget Update
Hans Baumhauer indicated that salaries have been encumbered and line item transfers will take place next month. IDEA grants
were divided between many people last year and this year divided between l or 2 salaries.
Questions concerning Special Needs Ed.Assistant,moving salary of S.N.teacher from Stony Brook to Eddy,
contracted services building account,maintenance of equipment account,accounts 7048,7049,7050,and account 4220. Mr.
Baumhauer will bring detail on accounts in question to the next meeting.
Dr.Hoffmann reported that in the FY12 Capital Plan the following items were not funded: Pickup Truck,Playground at Eddy,
and interior and exterior painting. Chair Rabold indicated that the Selectmen and the Finance Committee were very supportive.
She also thanked Barry Schofield for the tutorial regarding capital and indicated how invaluable his input was in the process.
NESDEC—Mr.Baumhauer will prepare enrollment projections as usual and NESDEC will do this as well and the two will be
compared. The process will probably take about a month.
FY13 Budget Process Timeline
Dr.Hoffmann reviewed the budget process timeline which included a draft calendar with deadlines. He also indicated he has
not received anything from Mr. Sumner regarding the budget process yet. Principals will begin looking at their budgets,
programs,and staffing levels. The Superintendent asked that they stay within 2 V2%increase and to level fund supplies and
materials. If something is absolutely essential,the Principals were asked to bring it forward. The Superintendent reviewed
talking points which included being good stewarts of the funds provided to us,understanding of the current fiscal climate,
transparency of all our revenues and expenses',understanding what is at risk,and developing a sustainable funding
mechanism/vision for the future. He also asked Principals to list their accomplishments to show the citizens what we did with
override dollars.
Chair Rabold asked that cafeteria lines items be included in the budgets and a pie chart showing income from
various sources-grants,state funding,taxpayers' dollars for the past 2 years be included.
FY13 Capital Plan
Dr.Hoffmann reviewed the capital plan document giving the Committee a sense of what it looks like. Mr.Sumner is hoping to
have this submitted in mid-November. Principals will work with Barry Schofield on the Capital Plan as some items were not
funded this year and may have to be moved. The Capital Plan will be on the next agenda for discussion.
Visioning Event
Trish Hill and Karen Whitney gave a PowerPoint Presentation on"Envision Brewster,"the successful visioning event that took
place on October 14th,with Skye Freys-Cole as facilitator and over 50 community participants.
Brewster Recreation was thanked for hosting a night out for kids to coincide with the event. Next steps:
Communicate and market what happens in the schools,utilize Chapter 17 more often,create blogs,create collaborative
committee,start an endowment fund,seek new partnerships with non-profits,extended day discussions and explore world
languages. The following businesses were thanked for their assistance in making the event so successful: Brewster
Recreation, Starvin Marvin,Lost Dog,El Guapos,Local Flavor and Brewster Farms. School Committee members shared their
positive impressions of the evening. Ms.Kalinick asked that the Committee follow up on extended school day and the offering
of foreign language at the school. Chair Rabold indicated that the challenge now is to keep the momentum going.
Establish a Space Utilization Subcommittee
Chair Rabold read the charge:
To explore options for space utilization in the Brewster elementary school buildings,so as to use as much space as feasible as
productively as possible, including, but not limited to, consolidation; and/or use by other town departments, schools, and/or
external groups like Cape Cod Community College, Cape Cod Collaborative, or other non-profit or for-profit organizations
that may wish to rent and/or use space at the schools.
Goals:
1. To prioritize the best interests of the children and educational soundness above all other considerations,
including financial.
2. To meet with representative of other town departments, schools, and/or external groups to assess their interest
in using space in the schools.
3. To make a series of recommendations, with pros and cons of each,for alternative uses of the space in the
elementary schools.
4. To ensure consistency and fairness in allowing groups to use space in the schools, including charging fees to
groups using space in the schools when appropriate.
S. To set up a financial accounting system and separate budget that accounts for revenue from rentals of space,
costs of renting space, and value of space granted at no charge.
Members: I school committee member,2 principals,town administrator, 1 Selectman, 1 Finance committee member, 1 parent,
1 community member, 1 member from the Recreation Department.
The Principals were also asked to submit a list of groups that use the facilities at no charge so that a value could be put on what
the schools give to the community. Dave Telman volunteered to be on the subcommittee as the School Committee member.
On a motion by Dave Telman, seconded by Donna Kalinick,it was voted unanimously to establish a Space Utilization
Subcommittee for the elementary schools in Brewster.
Establish a Playground Subcommittee
Chair Rabold read the charge:
To assess the needs of the playgrounds at the Brewster elementary schools, to research funding sources for building repairing,
or expanding playgrounds, and to organize and effort to design and implement a plan.
Goals:
I. To research current standards and requirements of playgrounds.
2. To assess the state of repair, the safety, the usefulness, the size, and the accessibility of each playground, with professional
assistance.
3. To research funding sources for building playgrounds, including, but not limited to, grants and donations from local
businesses and foundations and national companies and foundations, local fundraising efforts, Community Preservation and
other state and federal grants, and capital spending.
4. To engage professional expertise in playground construction and/or fundraising, if desired, to be funded by fundraising
efforts.
S. To develop, with professional assistance and input from stakeholders, including children, design plans for repair,
construction, and/or expansion of playgrounds.
6. To carry out fundraising for repair, construction, and/or expansion of playgrounds.
Members: 1 school committee member, 1 recreation department representative, 1 Nauset Youth alliance representative,2
principals,2 parents,2 community members.
Chair Rabold mentioned there is an active committee in Orleans working on a new playground and ideas could be borrowed
from them.
On a motion by Dave Telman, seconded by Donna Kalinick, it was voted unanimously to establish a Playground Subcommittee
for the Brewster elementary schools.
Donna Kalinick inquired about the Special Needs Program and if the Principals had enough help with students.
Principal Gauley indicated it is going better than it was last year but the idea of splitting a Special Needs Teacher between two
buildings is not a good idea. Additional staffing is required with the two new special needs students.
(note: no out-of-district students) Principal Gauley noted Ms. Ireland does a great job but the plan for next year is not to split
the position between two buildings.
Green School Repair Project
Dr. Hoffmann gave a brief report on the Green School Repair Project. Other Towns have voted the project and
Brewster will hold their town meeting on November 7` •
MASC Resolutions
Chair Rabold and Dr.Hoffmann reviewed the resolutions and the Committee voted as follows:
On a motion by Dave Telman, seconded by Donna Kalinick it was voted 2 yeas and 1 abstention(Donna Kalinick)to NOT
support resolution#1.,mandated student visits to vocational schools.
It was the consensus of the Committee to let the delegate, Marie Enochty,vote on#2.,after hearing discussion on the floor at
the MASC meeting.
On a motion by Dave Telman, seconded by Donna Kalinick, it was voted,3 yeas,to SUPPORT resolution#3.,
regarding Charter Funding.
On a motion by Dave Telman,seconded by Donna Kalinick, it was voted 3 years,to SUPPORT resolution#4.,
regarding NCLB.
On a motion by Dave Telman, seconded by Donna Kalinick, it was voted 3 yeas to SUPPORT resolution#5.,
regarding Teacher Evaluations.
A note was sent to Marie Enochty,delegate from the Brewster School Committee.
REPORTS AND INFORMATION
Cape Cod Collaborative—no report
Transportation Subcommittee—Members will alternate attendance at the Transportation Subcommittee meetings. Dr.
Hoffmann indicated that a ridership study has been completed. Presently the Business Manager is reviewing bills and looking
at costs. A report will be forthcoming. It was suggested that a survey be done at some point regarding how parents,staffs, and
students like the new times and transportation system.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
On a motion by Donna Kalinick,seconded by Jen Rabold,it was voted unanimously to approve the minutes of
September 27,2011.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Dave Telman,seconded by Donna Kalinick,it was voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 9:22 p.m.,
subject to payment of bills.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann M.Teffi