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Home My Public Portal About20210415 - Schools - Meeting MinutesHopkinton School Committee April 15, 2021 Executive Session 6:00 PM Regular Session 7:00 PM Remote via Zoom Live via HCAM ED TV MINUTES I. Call to Order School Committee Chair Amanda Fargiano called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. In Attendance: Amanda Fargiano - Chair Nancy Cavanaugh - Vice Chair Meg Tyler - Member Joe Markey - Member Lya Batlle-Rafferty - Member Also in Attendance: Dr. Carol Cavanaugh, Superintendent Ms. Susan Rothermich, Director of Finance & Operations Ms. Jennifer Parson, Asst. Superintendent Also In Attendance: Student Council Representatives: Sarah Bouvier and Libby Barker -Hook II. Executive Session a. To comply with, or act under the authority of, M.G.L. c. 30A, s. 21(a)(2) specific to conducting strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non -unit personnel, the Administrative Team, because having the discussion in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the School Committee's bargaining position. b. To comply with or act under the authority of, M.G.L. c.30A, s.21(a)(3) specific to the review of Executive Session Minutes for the meeting of December 3, 2020, December 17, 2020, and December 22, 2020, and to reconvene in Open Session. III. Pledge of Allegiance IV. Recognitions V. Public Comment • Stacia Krozy - Hopkinton, MA VOTED TO RELEASE 2021-06-10 2021-04-15 Pg. 1 of 5 • Mark Hyman - Hopkinton, MA VI. Reports Student Council - Libby Barker -Hook provided her perspective on how in -school and remote learning has been for her for the past year. Sarah Bouvier provided her insight during the hybrid model as an upperclassmen. The difficulties with not having group activities, scheduling with asynchronous days, and how clubs were affected during the past year. She expressed the concerns of returning to school full time. • The Superintendent and Committee Members answered questions Libby and Sarah had regarding returning to full time. Superintendent's Report • Dr. Cavanaugh provided an update on COVID-19, two documented in -school student to student transfers, one student to teacher transfer and one athletic practice transmission of the virus. Each one has occurred prior to full-time reopening. The District has exceeded 200 cumulative to -date. • Pool testing starts Monday, April 26th with the return of middle school and high school students. Parents need to enroll their children to participate. There is no cost to families. • K-5 returned full time April 5th, and Grades 6-12 will return full time on April 26th. • Enrollment report for 2021/2022 to date is 262 students K-12. That includes 219 students for K and 43 for grades 1-12. C. SC Chair Report • Ms. Fargiano provided a snapshot of community questions and comments. • The Committee thanked Senate President Karen Spilka and State Representative Carolyn Dykema for their ongoing and unwavered continued support for Hopkinton with the Elmwood SOI. • An update on the School Committee Chair Roundtable was provided. • Ms. Fargiano participated in the Safer Teachers, Safer Schools Pool Testing Forum on April 8, 2021 and shared information on that forum. • Annual Town Meeting is May 8th, the Moderator's Meeting is April 22nd. • Signed MSBA Initial Compliance Certification for the Elmwood School setting forth the parameters for participation in the MSBA process. • I have approved Warrants #21-064 and #21-065. The Warrants have been included in your packet. a. I have approved Payroll Warrant 521021. The Warrant has been included in your packet. b. Executive Session Minutes reviewed on 4/8/2021: Approved but Not Released: November 17, 2020, and December 1, 2020. D. Liaison Report VOTED TO RELEASE 2021-06-10 2021-04-15 Pg. 2 of 5 • Freedom Team - Ms. Batlle-Rafferty is putting together a drive called Boston Marathon Love Letters Project. Please contact the Hopkinton Freedom Team for more information. VII. New Business A. Presentation on Enrollment and Feasibility Study Article for Special Town Meeting • Dr. Cavanaugh provided a report on enrollment from 2015 to 2021 and the need to plan according to projected enrollment. The firm DRA updated enrollment projections in December 2020. Dr. Cavanaugh provided an in-depth analysis of the growth and potential growth in Hopkinton that have an impact on the school enrollment. • MSBA has invited the Elmwood School into the Eligibility Phase. The Eligibility Phase is a 270 day period for the District to complete certain requirements. There are MSBA requirements that need to be worked on before the January 2022 date. An Elementary School Building Committee will be created to handle the work with the MSBA. The Eligibility Phase does not guarantee an invitation into the MSBA construction phase. • For Consideration: Request and recommend that the School Committee authorize the Superintendent and Finance Director to prepare an article for the 2021 Special Town Meeting warrant related to required funding for an MSBA Feasibility Phase in the event that Hopkinton is invited into the MSBA process for the Elmwood School SOI. • Discussion: Committee Members asked questions for clarification on how the Feasibility Study and the entire planning process works with the MSBA from start to finish. Clarification on Article language referring to the funding sources was provided. • Motion: MOTION that the School Committee shall petition the Board of Selectmen for the Town of Hopkinton to place on the warrant for the next Special Town Meeting a warrant article authorizing the appropriation of funds for the purpose of conducting a feasibility study for the Elmwood School, such proposed warrant article to be in substantially the following form: Warrant Article: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds, including without limitation, from the School Department Stabilization Fund, an amount of money to be expended under the direction of the Elmwood School Building Committee for the purpose of paying the costs of a feasibility study related to the Elmwood School at 14 Elm Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748 and all costs incidental or related thereto, for which feasibility study the Town may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The MSBA's grant program is a non -entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any costs the Town incurs in connection with the feasibility study in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the Town, or act on anything related thereto. Motion by Ms. Batlle-Rafferty, seconded by Ms. Tyler. VOTED TO RELEASE 2021-06-10 2021-04-15 Pg. 3 of 5 Roll Ca11: Joe Markey - Yes Lya Battle -Rafferty - Yes Meg Tyler - Yes Nancy Cavanaugh - Yes Amanda Fargiano - Yes Vote: Yes: 5, No: 0, Passed: 5-0 B. Lou & Cathy White Scholarship - Dr. Cavanaugh For Consideration: Request and recommendation that the School Committee authorize payment from the Town Treasurer for the Lou and Cathy White Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $500. Motion: Move to authorize payment of the Lou and Cathy White Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $500 by Ms. Tyler, seconded by Ms. Cavanaugh. Roll Ca11: Joe Markey - Yes Lya Battle -Rafferty - Yes Meg Tyler - Yes Nancy Cavanaugh - Yes Amanda Fargiano - Yes Vote: Yes: 5, No: 0, Passed: 5-0 C. School Committee Summer Workshop Training - Ms. Fargiano For Consideration: Discuss School Committee summer workshop training opportunities and possible dates. Discussion: The Committee requested Ms. Fargiano to look into offerings. Mr. Markey suggested school building or growth planning based on the happenings in the District. VIII. Old Business IX. Future Agenda Items X. Items by Consensus The Superintendent recommends the School Committee approve the Items by Consensus as listed below: a. Payroll Warrant S21021 in the amount of $1,629,492.96. b. Operating and Other Funds Warrant #21-064 in the amount of $155,763.51. c. Operating and Other Funds Warrant #21-065 in the amount of $313,171.28. d. Regular Meeting Minutes of March 18, 2021. Move to approve Items by Consensus by Ms. Tyler, seconded by Ms. Baffle -Rafferty. VOTED TO RELEASE 2021-06-10 2021-04-15 Pg. 4 of 5 Roll Ca11: Joe Markey - Yes Lya Battle -Rafferty - Yes Meg Tyler - Yes Nancy Cavanaugh - Yes Amanda Fargiano - Yes Vote: Yes: 5, No: 0, Passed: 5-0 XI. Adjournment Motion to Adjourn by Ms. Tyler, seconded by Ms. Batlle-Rafferty. Roll Call: Joe Markey - Yes Lya Battle -Rafferty - Yes Meg Tyler - Yes Nancy Cavanaugh - Yes Amanda Fargiano - Yes Vote: Yes: 5, No: 0, Passed: 5-0 Adjourned at 9:17PM. Respectfully submitted, Nancy Richards -Cavanaugh, Chair Amanda Fargiano, Vice Chair VOTED TO RELEASE 2021-06-10 2021-04-15 Pg. 5 of 5