HomeMy Public PortalAboutJoint School -- 1/30/2014 Minutes 1
Pt4.
Joint School Committee Meeting
BR:Ew TER '0104
January 30, 2014
Present for the Committees:
Region: John O'Reilly, Chris Easely, Brian Kavanaugh, Cheryl Codair, Ed Lewis, Jayne Fowler, Sue
Skidmore, Sarah Blackwell and Ed Brookshire
Brewster: David Telman, Donna Kalinick, Trish Hill, Brenda Cazeault and Marie Enochty
Eastham: Ann Crozier, Mary Lou Sette, Laura Freeman, Joanne Irish and Amy Handel
Orleans: Josh Stewart, Eric Ehnstrom, Ed Rohmer, Ginger Marks, and David Abel
Wellfleet: Tern Frazier, Mort Inger, Betsty Pontius
Present for the Administration:
Dr. Hoffmann, Keith Gauley, Tom Conrad, Maxine Minkoff, Mary Beth Rodman, Diane Carreiro,
Scottie Finnegan, Denise Fronius and Joanna Hughes
Call to Order
John O'Reilly called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
Citizens Speak
None
Agenda Changes
The Chair indicated that Item E. Policy Manual Update would be taken out of order as Dorothy Preston,
representing the Mass. Association of School Committees (MASC), was in attendance to answer
questions for the committee.
Fundraising Policy -
Members of the committee discussed the Policy about Fundraising by PTO's, specifically those with a
non-profit status, and the need for School Committee approval to raise funds. Ms. Preston indicated that
the School Committee has the authority to approve fundraisers because the school's name is being used.
Ms. Enochty indicated that the vote was relative to a change to the existing policy that was suggested by
the Policy Subcommittee and emphasized that the original policy is still in place. Discussion ensued.
Some Committee members felt that a PTO as a separate organization did not need to seek approval from
the School committee in order to raise funds for the schools. The contention was the Committee could
deny access to the PTO to use a school for fundraising or a committee could decide not to accept the
funds raised but could not approve or disapprove specific fundraising activities. Other committee
members felt that since the PTO was raising funds on behalf of the schools and would be using the
school's name,that the PTO would need permission to do so.
The proposed wording changes were not acceptable to the Committee and it was requested that it go back
to the Policy Subcommittee for further review. Chair O'Reilly suggested that proposed changes to the
policy should be made in writing and submitted to the Policy Subcommittee. Ms. Enocty urged the
1 I P a g e Joint Meeting,January 30,2014
committees to work together to have one policy and to work together to have one policy manual for one
system. All committee members agreed that any policy should not make it burdensome for the PTO in
order for them t conduct fundraising.
Staff and School Committee Communication Policy—
Ms. Preston indicated that most school committees in Massachusetts have established a chain of
command or chain of communication that everyone, including staff, is expected to follow. She indicated
that School Committee protocol should be if staff members have an issue, they talk to their Principal, if it
is not resolved, they talk to the Superintendent and if it is not resolved, they bring it to the School
Committee. She indicated that one person oversees what is going on in the District and in order to carry
out the Superintendent's responsibilities with Principals and Staff, the Superintendent needs to know what
is happening in the District. The flow of communication should go through to the person who has the
knowledge of the laws and the particulars on the issue so that the Superintendent can run the District
efficiently and effectively. She went onto say that prior to Ed Reform,things were very different but
now there is more authority delegated to the Principals and the Superintendent.
Mr. Rohmer referenced a 1981 School Committee policy from Brookline that had no restrictions on staff
communication. Ms. Preston indicated that Brookline may need to keep up on revising their policies and
probably has not looked at their policies in a long time
NEA Union President, Mark Mathison,thought the policy was contradictory as anyone can speak during
the Citizen Speaks section of a meeting but teachers and staff members are not allowed to do so. Staff
would like to have the ability to have input on certain subjects.
Ms. Preston indicated that if the issue pertained to the collective bargaining agreement, staff would go
through their union representatives.
Ms. Crozier indicated that when there is an issue in Eastham, it is put on the agenda, for example-class
size, and teachers come and speak freely to the committee. Eastham School Committee members never
felt the teachers felt were restricted. Ms. Hill felt the policy to be too restrictive especially when the
School Committee has difficult decisions about financial choices and program changes. Mr. Kavanaugh
felt the policy contained very specific censorship to a very valuable class of people and that is very
damaging.
It was suggested that the revisions to the Policy Manual be made public and the Chair of the Policy
Subcommittee, Ms. Skidmore, indicated it would be discussed at the Subcommittee meeting. Ms.
Skidmore also indicated that all the Policy Subcommittee meetings are public meetings and anyone is
welcome. She also noted that the School Committee policy manual is a living document and at any time
there can be a change to the document. Mr. Lewis felt the School Committee members were elected
officials representing the public and that not everything needs to be put on the website for the public to
discuss.
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Approve Policy I, Instruction, for a second reading
Brewster— On a motion by Dave Telman, seconded by Marie Enochty it was voted 5-0 to approve policy
I, Instruction, in form, for a second reading.
Eastham— On a motion by Joanne Irish, seconded by Mary Lou Sett, it was voted 5-0 to approve policy
I, Instruction, in form, for a second reading.
Wellfleet—On a motion by Mort Inger, seconded by Terri Frazier, it was voted 5-0 to approve policy
I, Instruction, in form, for a second reading.
Orleans— On a motion by David Abel, seconded by Josh Stewart, it was voted 5-0 to approve policy
I, Instruction, in form, for a second reading.
Region- On a motion by Sue Skidmore, seconded by Ed Brookshire, it was voted 8 yeas and 1 nay
(Brian Kavanaugh)to approve policy I, Instruction, in form, for a second reading.
Superintendent's Mid Cycle Review
Various members of the Committee weighed in on the mid-cycle review noting that everything seems to
be in process but some members could not make an assessment at this time Mr. Kavanaugh objected to
the process and suggested that committee members concentrate of the Superintendent's performance not
the schools.
Members of the Committee would like to see the results of the parent survey to give an accurate
assessment at this point. Ms. Cazeault indicated that she would like to see the results of the parent survey
and the Superintendent's reflections on the results. The Tech Plan is incomplete at this time and only
indicates that it is adaptable to the elementary schools. She stressed the need for measurability. Ms. Hill
would like more detail about evidence and artifacts. Ms. Pontius suggested using coding sheets with
some rational of what the evidence represents.
Dr. Hoffmann thanked the Committee for their comments and noted in the final evaluation he will have
electronic folders showing goals and evidence. Dr. Hoffmann indicated that he would like the Committee
to be able to see the impact of his work. The parent survey will be back soon and results will be posted to
the website and the School Committees will be notified. The School Committee and the Superintendent
will review the results in detail at a future meeting.
Central Office Budget
Dr. Hoffmann explained the Cental Office budget and noted the very small staff that works long hours
and handles a$44,500,000 budget. Eric Ehnstrom, Chair of the Central Office Budget Subcommittee
reported that they met on December 1 7th and reviewed the first draft of the Central Office Budget at
3.05%. The Subcommittee asked that the Superintendent bring it in at 2.5%. On January 15th, Version 2
of the Central Office budget was reviewed and voted unanimously to recommend approval of Version 2.
Mr. Ehnstrom noted the budget has one moving part, reserved for negotiations.
Dr. Hoffmann explained that there is a line item in each budget called reserved for negotiations. He
indicated that if negotiations come in higher than what is in the budget, other items will have to be
reduced. Ms. Kalinick requested that if the number comes in lower than what is reserved,that it be
returned to the School Committees.
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A motion was made by Donna Kalinick and seconded by Dave Telman to approve Version 2 of the
Central Office Budget in the amount of$1,539,865 with a proviso that any funds in the line reserved for
negotiations not be expended but returned to the School Committee.
Union 54 Vote—
Brewster—3 yeas (David Telman, Donna Kalinick and Brenda Cazeault)
Eastham—3 yeas (Ann Crozier, Joanne Irish, and Laura Freeman)
Orleans—3 yeas (Josh Stewart, Eric Ehnstrom and Ed Rohmer)
Wellfleet—3 yeas (Mort Inger, Terri Frazier, and Betsy Pontius)
Region Vote—
A motion was made by Ed Brookshire and seconded by Sue Skidmore to approve Version 2 of the Central
Office Budget in the amount of$1,539,865 with a proviso that any funds in the line with reserved for
negotiations not be expended but returned to the School Committee. The motion passed 7 yeas and 1
abstention(Brian Kavanaugh) Mr. Lewis left prior to the vote.
Update on Preschool
Dr. Ann Caretti gave a presentation on the status of the Preschool Program. Included in her report were
enrollment figures, budget figures, calculations for each town,tuition balances, and projected balances.
She recommended that the School Committees reduce the preschool budget by $40,000 which will give
Preschool a beginning balance on July 1'2014 of$77,463.
Questions regarding the calculations, percentages and use of revolving account funds were discussed.
Dr. Carretti will get back to Eastham School Committee members on their percentage. Dr. Caretti
indicated that she is not aware of any retirements at this time and does not have a letter indicating that
from anyone. She also noted that monies saved from hiring new teachers will be apportioned as fair as
possible and would be returned to the Preschool Program Revolving Fund.
Dr. Caretti also indicated that the revolving account pays for equipment, extended day program,
consultants, and additional staff when needed.
Union 54 Vote
On a motion by Mort Inger, seconded by Ann Crozier, it was voted unanimously to use $40,000 from the
Preschool Revolving Fund for FY 15.
Brewster—3 yeas (David Telman, Donna Kalinick and Brenda Cazeault)
Eastham—3 yeas (Ann Crozier, Joanne Irish, and Laura Freeman)
Orleans—2 yeas (Josh Stewart, Ed Rohmer and 1 abstention Eric Ehnstrom)
Wellfleet—3 yeas (Mort Inger, Tern Frazier, and Betsy Pontius)
Technology Update
Assistant Superintendent, Keith Gauley briefly reviewed the Technology Plan with the Committees.
Some of the highlights included 1-1 devices, instructional coaches, upgrading labs at high school,
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Computer Science K-12, emerging technology and how the district can stay updated. Ann Crozier, Chair
of Union 54, asked that an elementary representative should be on the Committee and asked that Union 54
members be emailed to see if there is an interest. Mr. Gauley noted that all of the elementary teachers had
input into the plan and there was a forum for them to offer feedback before the first draft of the plan was
sent out. He will address questions or concerns at individual School Committee meetings.
School Calendar
Assistant Superintendent, Keith Gauley, distributed and reviewed two drafts of the school calendar with
the Committee.
Draft A: Orientation for new staff scheduled the week before school opens, one professional day before
the school starts, Opening day for ALL staff—Sept. 3`d, Opening Day for Students—September 4th,
Additional PD days, October 10 and February 2nd. Thanksgiving week and Christmas week—schools
open for two days each week, student year 180 days.
Draft B: Orientation dates and opening day for staff and students remain the same, PD day on October
10th and a flexible PD day option for staff, student year 181 days. (extends student year but not teacher
year)
Discussion items included a year with no early dismissals to provide increased time for students in class
and to minimize disruption for parents, desire to add a 4th PD day(teacher collaboration day which would
need to occur before school starts) and the possibility of having this would be negotiated with the NEA.
Parent-teacher conference would still need to be added into the final calendar and we are working on
adjustment to this year's schedule to avoid conflicts. Options with November 24 and 25 as well as
December 22 and 23 were mentioned as possible professional developments and or days off but time in
class would be more beneficial for students. This time off would also extend the school calendar.
Concerns regarding professional development, paying substitutes which has budgetary implications,and
coordinating district wide initiatives were mentioned. Eliminating PD days before Thanksgiving was also
mentioned. Dr. Hoffmann reported that other Districts on the Cape are closing school for two weeks
during the holiday break. The 2014-15 school calendar will be on the March 27th agenda for further
discussion and vote.
Approval of Minutes
On a motion by Dave Telman, seconded by Laura Freeman, it was voted unanimously to approve the
minutes of October 24, 2013. (3 Abstaining: Ed Brookshire, Joanne Irish, and Brenda Cazeault)
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Adjournment
A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 9:22 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Ann M. Tefft
Included in the packet: Superintendent's Mid Cycle Update on Goals and Professional Standards, Central
Office Budget,Preschool Report, Technology Report, Policy Manual Update—Fundraising Policy and
School Committee and Staff Communications Policy, Draft School Calendar, Minutes
i.Yt.
Wage Page Joint Meeting,January 30,2014