HomeMy Public PortalAbout20230803 - School Committee - Meeting MinutesHopkinton School Committee
Thursday,August 3,2023
Regular Meeting 7:00 PM
HCAM Studio,77 Main Street,Hopkinton
MINUTES
I.Call to Order
School Committee Chair,Nancy Cavanaugh,called the meeting to order at 7:01PM.
In attendance:Also in attendance:
Nancy Cavanaugh,Chair Dr.Carol Cavanaugh,Superintendent
Amanda Fargiano,Vice Chair Mr.Jeffrey LaBroad,Assistant Superintendent
Holly Morand,Member Mrs.Susan Rothermich,Asst.Supt.Finance &Op.
Susan Stephenson,Member
Adam Munroe,Member (remote)
II.Pledge of Allegiance
III.Public Comments
IV.Recognitions
V.Reports:
a.Superintendent’s Report
●Dr.Cavanaugh shared news from Beacon Hill and Senator Spilka with a 12.1%increase
over last year.
b.School Committee Chair Report
●Payroll Warrant S24002 has been approved.Warrants #24-001S and #24-002S have been
approved.Warrants are included in your folder.
●Meeting w/SB Chair,ESBC-2 Chair,and Appropriations Chair met earlier to discuss the
Elmwood Project.
c.Liaison Reports
VI.New Business
a.Final Intent to Travel -Nature’s Classroom -Taken after b.ESBC-2
For Consideration:Request final approval for Grade 6 Nature’s Classroom for November
13-15,2023 and November 15-17,2023.The rate per student has been increased from $350 to
$410 due to increased transportation costs.
VOTED TO RELEASE 2023-09-07 2023-08-03 Pg.1 of 5
Motion:Move to approve Grade 6 Nature’s Classroom for November 2023 by Ms.Morand,
seconded by Ms.Stephenson.
Roll Call:
Adam Munroe -Yes
Susan Stephenson -Yes
Holly Morand -Yes
Amanda Fargiano -Yes
Nancy Cavanaugh -Yes
Approved unanimously.
.
b.ESBC-2 Elmwood Project Update -Taken out of order
●Mr.Graziano,along with Chris Eberly (remote)from Vertex Engineering,provided
information on the Elmwood Project by researching locations,design initiatives,and the
timeline until the Special Town Meeting in early November.They started with 44
property locations and ultimately decided on the Hayden Rowe Property as the best fit for
the project,over already-built office buildings.A brief overview of the design of the
building and surrounding areas was provided.
c.Budget and Budget Process
●Dr.Cavanaugh,Mr.LaBroad and Mrs.Rothermich provided a breakdown of how the
schools prepare the budget for the next fiscal year.A breakdown of the Capital Budget,
Operating Budget and Grant Funding timelines the district utilize to prepare was
provided.
●Operating Budget
●Capital Budget
●Grant Funding
●Committee Members asked questions regarding details of the presentation surrounding
enrollment,grand funding,and operating budget.
d.Working Session Planning
●Discuss topics for the upcoming working session.
○Goals
○District Evaluation
●The Chair requested topics for the working session on August 24th.
VII.Old Business
a.Superintendent’s Goals and Indicators
For Consideration:The superintendent presents her Goal Indicators for the 2023-2024 School
Year.
VOTED TO RELEASE 2023-09-07 2023-08-03 Pg.2 of 5
●Dr.Cavanaugh detailed her Rubric Indicators for the 2023-2024 school year
●Members will review goals and indicators for follow up questions and /or
recommendations.
Motion:No action taken.
b.Superintendent Annual Review
For Consideration:Discuss the format for Superintendent's Annual Evaluation.
Discussion:Discussion around the Superintendent Annual Review format,whether to continue
with yearly or move to every other year and possibly conducting a District Evaluation.
●The Chair asked Dr.Cavanaugh for her preference.Dr.Cavanaugh prefers yearly to keep
her on schedule and the committee up-to-date on progress of goals and indicators.
Allows for consideration of adjusting goals if necessary.
●Members provided their feedback on format.Trying to be mindful of meeting schedules
for the commitments for the entire committee yearly.The District Evaluation and
Superintendent Evaluation can be separate evaluations.
●Will discuss during working session on August 24th.
Motion:TBD
c.Liaison Roles
For Consideration:Review current liaison role -Policy Working Group,Bullying Intervention
Plan.
Motion:to appoint Holly Morand to the Bullying Prevention &Intervention Plan Committee by
Ms.Fargiano,seconded by Ms.Stephenson.
Roll Call:
Adam Munroe -Yes
Susan Stephenson -Yes
Holly Morand -Yes
Amanda Fargiano -Yes
Nancy Cavanaugh -Yes
Approved unanimously.
d.Policy GBEB -Staff Conduct -2nd Reading
For Consideration:Per School Committee Policy,Policy GBEB-Staff Conduct is presented as
a new policy for review.
Discussion:According to Mass General Law this policy is required and HPS does not currently
have on.The WPG revised for review.
#8 -Ms.Morand feels this is very subjective.Many variations need to be reviewed regarding the
subjectivity of this item.Ms.Morand researched this policy and will share a couple she found
that other districts are using.The WPG will review those policies and bring the Policy back.
VOTED TO RELEASE 2023-09-07 2023-08-03 Pg.3 of 5
Motion:No action taken.
e.Policy BCA -School Committee Member Ethics-2nd Reading
For Consideration:Per School Committee Policy,Policy BCA -School Committee Member
Ethics will be reviewed for possible revisions.
Discussion:Ms.Fargiano and Dr.Cavanaugh discussed the proposed changes.
Motion:No action taken.
VIII.Future Agenda Items
IX.Items by Consensus
The Superintendent recommends the School Committee approve the Items by Consensus as
listed below:
a.Payroll Warrant S24002 in the amount of $392,006.38.
b.Operating &Other Funds Warrant #24-001S in the amount of $764,584.
c.Tuition Reimbursement Warrant 324-002S in the amount of $38,508.35.
Motion:Move to approve the Items by Consensus by Ms.Morand,seconded by Ms.
Stephenson.
Roll Call:
Adam Munroe -Yes
Susan Stephenson -Yes
Holly Morand -Yes
Amanda Fargiano -Yes
Nancy Cavanaugh -Yes
Approved unanimously.
X.Adjournment
Motion to adjourn by Ms.Stephenson,seconded by Ms.Morand.
Roll Call:
Adam Munroe -Yes
Susan Stephenson -Yes
Holly Morand -Yes
Amanda Fargiano -Yes
Nancy Cavanaugh -Yes
Approved unanimously.
VOTED TO RELEASE 2023-09-07 2023-08-03 Pg.4 of 5
Adjourned at 9:16PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Richards-Cavanaugh,Chair
Amanda Fargiano,Vice Chair
VOTED TO RELEASE 2023-09-07 2023-08-03 Pg.5 of 5