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Home My Public Portal AboutJoint School -- 3/26/2015 Minutes Joint School Committee Meeting .� Thursday, March 26, 2015 Nauset Regional Middle School, Cafeteria 1I l� u L Present for the Committees: Region: John O'Reilly, Ed Brookshire, Jayne Fowler,Ed Lewis, Sue Skidmore, Chris Easely and Kyle Wibby(7:05 p.m.) Brewster: David Telman, Brenda Cazeault, Claire Gradone, and Lori Gilmore Eastham: Ann Crozier, Mary Lou Sette, Amy Handel, Joanne Irish and Judy Lindahl Orleans: Josh Stewart, Gail Briere and Hank Schumacher Wellfleet: Jan Plaue, Mort Inger, Betsy Pontius, Jill Putnam, and Martha Gordon Present for the Administration: Dr. Hoffmann, Keith Gaulcy, Giovanna Venditti, Tom Conrad Call to Order Chair Plaue called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Agenda Changes -None Citizens Speak-- None PRIORITY BUSINESS Approve the Nauset Policy Manual Chair Plaue stated that this has been a long and arduous process but after lots of debate, first and second readings, the Committee is ready to vote the revised policy manual. REGION Motion: On a motion by Sue Skidmore, seconded by Ed Lewis, it was voted unanimously, 7 yeas, to adopt the revised policy manual as previously approved in form effective July 1, 2015 and rescind all previous versions of the policy manual with the exception of. 316015131.9—Acceptable Use of Technology, 6175 Excess and Deficiency Funds, and 1390/4214 School Committee— Staff Communication Policy, Dr. Hoffmann indicated that the Acceptable Use Policy is waiting for feedback from the NEA as it is a mandatory collective bargaining item. The Excess and Deficiency Fund Policy is being reviewed. The Region committee has to have a second reading for the School Committee/Staff Communication Policy. He noted that this is a never ending process and there will always need to be work done on policy. Presently the Policy Subcommittee voted to move forward to the Committees a policy on Domestic IIPage Joint SC Meeting 3 - 26 - 2015 Violence situations: The new policy manual will become effective July 151 after it has been proofread. It will be posted on the website and updates will be automatic once sent to MASC. EASTHAM Motion; On a motion by Ann Crozier, seconded by Mary Lou Sette, it was voted 5 yeas to adopt the revised policy manual as previously approved in form effective July 1, 2015 and rescind all previous versions of the policy manual with the exception of 3160/5131.9 Acceptable Use of Technology. WELLFLEET Motion: On a motion by Betsy Pontius, seconded by Mort Inger, it was voted 5 yeas to adopt the revised policy manual as previously approved in form effective July 1, 2015 and rescind all previous versions of the policy manual with the exception of 3160/5131.9 Acceptable Use of Technology. BREWSTER Motion: On a motion by Dave Telman, seconded by Claire Gradone, it was voted 4 yeas to adopt the revised policy manual as previously approved in form effective July 1, 2015 and rescind all previous versions of the policy manual with the exception of 3160/5131.9 Acceptable Use of Technology. ORLEANS Motion: On a motion by Josh Stewart, seconded by Gail Briere, it was voted 3 yeas to adopt the revised policy manual as previously approved in form effective July 1, 2015 and rescind all previous versions of the policy manual with the exception of 3160/5131.9 Acceptable Use of Technology. Increase Cost of Lunch Chair Plaue indicated that it is a mandate for the elementary schools to charge $2.70 for a lunch which would be an increase of ten cents. Dr. Hoffmann indicated that this is a federal mandate that the lunch price must be at least comparable to the federal reimbursement amount. Dr. Hoffmann, after a conversation with Mr. Brookshire, has decided to recommend that the Middle School and High School rates remain at$2.85. Mr. Lewis indicated that he is sympathetic to not increasing the cost for students but would like to know what a fifteen cent increase would mean financially. Mr. O'Reilly suggested that this item be tabled for the April 9"'meeting of the Regional School Committee. 2 ) Page Joint SC Meeting 3 - 26 - 2015 REGION Motion: On a motion by John O'Reilly, seconded by Ed Lewis, it was voted 7 yeas to table this item until the April 9"'meeting of the Region School Committee. UNION 54 — Mr. Stewart suggested increasing the amount to $2.75 as it would be easier for parents with change. It was noted that many parents use the POS system so there is not a lot of cash exchanged. Both Ms. Cazeault and Ms. Crozier suggested staying with the present increase amount of ten cents as the government may change its mind next year. UNION 54— Motion: On a motion by Dave Telman, seconded by Betsy Pontius, it was voted unanimously to approve the increase of ten cents to $2.70 at the elementary schools effective September, 2015. Award Transportation Bid Motion: On a motion by Ed Lewis, seconded by John O'Reilly, it was voted unanimously to award the bus transportation bid to First Student for a three-year contract, with an option to extend for a maximum of two additional years. Discussion ensued regarding the only bidder, school choice bus, owning buses and the future rates per mile. ($6:00, $5.00, $8.49, $8.91 and $9.30 per mile) Mr. Lewis asked what the increase costs in future years would be and asked that the Transportation Subcommittee reconvene to study the costs, and sustainability of such increases. He requested that the subcommittee look at ways to lower mileage. The Committee was reminded that they voted students could not be on the bus longer than 30 minutes and cannot be picked up before 7:00 a.m. It was noted that presently Brewster has 11 buses, Eastham has 5 buses, Orleans has 5 buses, and Wellfleet has 4 buses. The Middle School and High School use 24 buses and one additional bus for school choice. Members respectfully indicated that with owning buses comes maintenance costs as well as insurance costs. Researching busing through the Collaborative was also mentioned. Ms. Venditti, Director of Finance and Operations, indicated that the Cape Cod Collaborative collaborated with the business office to provide the bid specifications. She also stated that the Collaborative would need a few years to accommodate Nauset's needs for buses and that the Business Office did look into that option. Dr. Hoffmann indicated that the Collaborative does a great job with Special Needs busing for the District but it did not go smoothly when they had the Mashpee contract for bus transportation. Mr. Lewis suggested inquiring who neighboring districts are using for bus transportation. Mr. Brookshire reminded the committee that the state mandates transportation for regional school students. 3Page Joint SC Meeting 3 - 26 - 2015 Approval of Minutes On a motion by John O'Reilly, seconded by Ed Lewis, it was voted unanimously to approve the minutes of January 29, 2015. Sue Skidmore, Chair of the Policy Subcommittee thanked Ann Tefft for all her efforts in helping the Policy Subcommittee get the Policy Manual revised. Adjournment On a motion by John O'Reilly, seconded by Ed Lewis, it was voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7:37 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Ann M. Tefft Included in the packet: Minutes for approval, revised school calendar-for information only. Respectfully submitted, Ann M. Tefft 4Page Joint SC Meeting 3 - 26 - 2015