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Home My Public Portal AboutBrewster School Committee -- 2018-10-18 Minutes Brewster School Committee F inti P ( 9 s ¢ s Thursday, October 18 , 2018 Brewster Town Hall Present for the Committee : David Telman, Jessica Larsen, Claire Gradone, Marie Enochty Absent for the Committee : Robert Miller Present for the Administration: Thomas Conrad, Giovanna Venditti, Keith Gauley and Joanna Hughes Cali to Order Chair Telman called the meeting to order at 6 : 00 p .m . qq } t Agenda Changes O 130 3 09F.0 The Superintendent indicated there will be no need for an Executive Session . Citizens Speak BREYSTER T0101 CLERK None PRIORITY BUSINESS Administrators ' Reports Chairman Telman stated the Principals ' reports were included in the packet. If members had any questions, he asked them to email the Principals . Superintendent Conrad reported that he has been moving around the District discussing the homework issue . He has been talking with faculties and parent groups . He met with the staffs at Stony Brook and Eddy and is scheduled to see the Brewster PTO after the school committee meeting. He distributed October 1 Enrollment. He updated the committee on the High School building project. He indicated that they have a tentative agreement with a design architect. They are presently visioning the educational program to 2050 which will take 3 .4 months . He also indicated the first class to enter the newly renovated high school will be the present fifth grade class . He also informed the committee that students at the Middle School are now getting an opportunity to get outside after lunch. This had been a concern of some elementary board members . The Middle School is working on other ways of using the courtyard . Fundraising Activities On a motion by Marie Enochty, seconded by Jessica Larsen, it was voted unanimously to approve the fundraising events as submitted . FY19 Budget Giovanna Venditti reviewed the Stony Brook Elementary School expenditure report with the committee highlighting the variances and showing a balance of $ 82, 107 . 09 . Most everything has been encumbered including salaries, utilities, transportation and special needs transportation costs . The Superintendent explained that Keith Gauley is being paid as a Principal for Stony Brook Elementary through the Town of Brewster and he is receiving additional funds through the Region budget for special projects . The balance of the salary in the Central Office budget is being used for consultants who are assisting the district in Mr. Gauley' s absence . Eddy Elementary School expenditure report had a balance of $34,330 .98 . Ms . Venditti highlighted the variances in the line items . The Superintendent indicated that there are a couple of situations that are challenging budget-wise that have to do with two students who are in out-of-district placement. One student is moving in from off-Cape and will go to the Cape Cod Collaborative at an anticipated cost of $83 , 703 . There is another student who needs a new program starting in January and running through June in the amount of $ 169,000 . They are tracking 2-3 students who are •eceiving outplacement services - $ 13 ,000 for one and $ 18 , 539 for another with $703 in transportation costs. The total estimated cost for these unanticipated expenses is $284, 945 . Ms . Venditti indicated that there are available funds in Brewster School Committee Minutes October 18, 2018 [ 1 ] Circuit Breaker from FYI in the amount of $60, 175 , anticipated Circuit Breaker FY 19 is $86, 562 and the district will apply for extraordinary relief that is anticipated to come in around $28,000-$30,000 . There will be a shortfall of $ 108,000. The Superintendent will contact the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee to share this information. He will keep the committee updated. MCAS Results Assistant Superintendent, Keith Gauley and Principal Joanna Hughes presented the MCAS scores to the committee . Mr. Gauley reviewed the Next Generation test as far as accountability. Principal Hughes reported she was very pleased with the results in Math, ELA and Science noting the high percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations . She indicated that she works with families so that absenteeism is not an issue . Implications when opting out of the tests was discussed . Gifts and Grants A donation from the Garden club of Brewster for $250 and a gift from the Rotary Club of Orleans Goodworks in the amount of $500 were brought to the committee for acceptance. On a motion by Claire Gradone, seconded by Marie Enochty, it was voted unanimously to accept the gifts with gratitude. Policies (First Reading) Chair Telman referred to the policies that were in the packet with highlights of revisions signified in red . Members did not have any questions on the policies . On a motion by Jessica Larsen, seconded by Marie Enochty, it was voted unanimously to approve the policies (Meal Charging, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Use By Students Prohibited, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Use by Students — Screening Tool, Online Fundraising and Solicitations — Crowdfunding Policy and Technology — Staff Responsible Use Policy) for a first reading. Visioning Exercise The Committee discussed how to proceed with a visioning exercise . Members agreed that they must think about the future of the buildings 50 years from now . Will the schools be utilized all day, before and after school? Will preschool be considered? Do special needs students need more space for programs? If we are a community school, will there be something for the seniors, adult education, cultural education, and summer programming for students and citizens . Jessica Larsen indicated that she would like to discuss the pros and cons of consolidation, getting stakeholder feedback, meeting with Council on Aging and Select Board . If students move to Stony Brook, what space is available at Eddy for programs? What is best for our children? Will we look at Universal Preschool, afternoon childcare as they have done in other towns? Are we visioning or consolidating? Jessica Larsen would like a more focused conversation . Marie Enochty would like to see conversations grounded in real facts regarding Universal Preschool and World Languages . If the committee tackles these issues she felt they should be informed . She suggested the conversation begin at the Joint School Committee level . Jessica Larsen stated that this is a town issue and not a region issue . The work has to be done by the Brewster School Committee and the stakeholders need to be behind it. Jessica Larsen reminded the committee that the Superintendent has been researching world language and has taken school committee members to visit schools regarding immersion programs . She would like this to be about visioning and not consolidation . She would like to do what is best for Brewster children and families . She would like to have the conversation about consolidation and move forward. Claire Gradone would like an end goal . Last spring the committee voted not to consider consolidation . She would like the committee to have a plan with a goal. Superintendent Conrad suggested the committee look at the future of the program needs in the elementary schools which will involve a conversation with the community, the parents and the staff. It is important that the committee Brewster School Committee Minutes October 18, 2018 [2 ] understand the educational vision for the program needs going into the future and take a look at the buildings . (media centers, value to adults, drone racing sites, open school to community, etc . ) He would like to invite a variety of people to work on the educational vision and inquired about the pace in which this should be accomplished . He also indicated ,that world language is part of the global education that the district wants for its students . The Superintendent indicated :ie would like to set a charge for an educational vision and would like that on the November agenda. REPORTS AND INFORMATION Preschool enrollment — report mailed Cape Cod Collaborative — no report PTO — No report. School Council — Jessica Larsen reported that the Stony Brook School Council met today with two new members . The committee focused on goals for this year. Media space was an accomplished goal . The discussion focused on school climate, social/emotional well-being and developing good citizens . Claire Gradone reported that the Eddy School Council met and reviewed the five year plan and will create a survey for parents . Policy — no report Transportation — no report Substance Abuse Task Force — no report Building Needs Assessment Subcommittee — Chair Telman indicated they had their first meeting but are in need of three more members . Approval of Minutes Motion : On a motion by Jessica Larsen, seconded by Claire Gradone, it was voted 4-0 to approve the minutes of September 20, 2018 . Adjournment On a motion by Jessica Larsen seconded by Claire Gradone, it was voted 4-0 to adjourn the meeting at 7 : 30 p .m . Submitted by, Ann M. Tefft Included in the packet: Principals ' reports, fundraising activities, expenditure report, MCAS results, Gifts and Grants, Policies for a First Reading, and MASC Resolutions . Brewster School Committee Minutes October 18, 2018 [3 ]