HomeMy Public PortalAboutBrewster School Committee -- 2018-09-20 Minutes Brewster School Committee
Thursday, September 20 , 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
Call to Order
Chair Telman called the meeting to order at 6 : 00 p .m .
Citizens Speak
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None PRISTER TOW I UXERK
PRIORITY BUSINESS
Administrators ' Reports
Principal Hughes reported that Open House had excellent attendance and participation . Students from the High School
provided childcare for children so that many more parents could attend . Parents had a lot of good things to say. The
school looks great with the freshly painted interior walls . The staff is excited and moving ahead with the new
curriculum for SEL, Second Step . Principal Hughes is very pleased with the beginning of the school year. She
thanked the staff for working so hard to get their rooms ready for students .
Principal Gauley reported that Stony Brook had a great opening. He has a good familiarity with Brewster families and
the staff. He thanked Principal Hughes for her assistance over the summer and as the year began . He reported that the
Open House was well attended . The Library Media space is off to a fantastic start with renovations and Claire Gradone
assisting with the space .
Superintendent Conrad reported that he attended the opening day ceremony at Stony Brook. He felt a lot of upbeat and
positive energy which is a great way to start the year off. He visited every school and felt the same calm, focused,
positive feeling throughout the District. He was amazed at all the time teachers put in prior to the opening of school
and thanked the teachers for giving up their own time to make families comfortable . He indicated that the staff is well-
prepared for the social and emotional programs, Second Step at the elementary schools and Botvin at the Middle and
High School . Dr. Ann Caretti and Mr. Keith Gauley did a great job leading the District on this initiative .
He reported on a special needs student who may possibly come back to Brewster to live with family members . The
child is not in the District at this point but they will prepare costs to consider when and if this move takes place.
The Superintendent indicated that he is utilizing professional, experienced outside assistance to help with some of the
assistant superintendent responsibilities . He reached out to Patti Grenier who is a former Superintendent in Barnstable
and former Curriculum Assessment Director at Lincoln Sudbury and she agreed to assist the District working per diem.
Mr. Gauley, Dr. Grenier and the Superintendent have met and there are some things that Mr. Gauley will still
spearhead like the School Calendar Committee . Dr. Grenier will pick up other things and move them forward . He
indicated that Mr. Gauley' s role is that he will be Principal at Stony Brook Elementary School every day, all day, and
all year. The Superintendent indicated he is sensitive to make sure that happens for the children and parents at Stony
Brook Elementary School . He reported that he is very pleased with the work that Dr. Grenier is doing for the District .
He indicated that the Administrators know Dr. Grenier very well and are comfortable working with her . She has a very
impressive background that includes grant writing and overseeing grants . He emphasized that there is nothing that the
District is working on that is not moving forward.
Marie Enochty suggested that the assistant superintendent report be included in the agenda, no matter who writes it so
iat the committee can see what has been accomplished each month. Jessica Larsen was happy to see that
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Administration has hired someone on a per diem basis . She commented, as a parent, it has been a great start to the
school year and that Principal Gauley is the right fit. She felt the school was moving forward in the right direction.
FY18 Budget Review
Giovanna Venditti reported that the Eddy and Stony Brook Elementary Schools combined returned $ 5 . 77 to the town.
Salaries are being encumbered and she will have an expenditure report next month for the committee .
Surplus Materials
Ms . Venditti explained that Cape Cod Light Compact retrofitted fixtures with LED . Barry Schofield will see if the
town needs any of the items .
Motion: On a motion by Marie Enochty, seconded by Claire Gradone, it was voted unanimously to approve list of
surplus building materials and declare surplus .
Transportation Update
Superintendent Conrad indicated he has been working with Paul Hilton at the Cape Cod Collaborative and they both
agree that it has been a smooth opening for transportation . The Superintendent attended a Bus Driver' s meeting to
discuss any issues . The lap belts will continue to be a topic for discussion. There has been training with students in
Grades Kindergarten and One on lap belts . Feedback from drivers indicated that the buses are crowded and students
are used to having their own seat, now they have to share a seat. He reminded the committee that last year the
observation was that the buses were running empty. He reported that the District is using drivers from last year who
are familiar with the families and the routes . The Transportation Subcommittee will meet again to schedule the role
out of the bus that is fully equipped with seat belts in every seat. Jessica Larsen asked what a parent role would be
relative to the bus . Can a parent board the bus to buckle a seat belt? Should there be volunteer monitors? Could the
subcommittee look into that?
Chair Telman requested that when the fully equipped lap belt bus is used in Brewster, that the committee get feedback
from Brewster parents . He would also, at some point, like the mileage per gallon for propane compared to diesel .
Strategic Plan
Superintendent Conrad indicated that the District' s Strategic Plan is out of date . He is interested in moving forward
with forming a Strategic Plan Subcommittee . He would like the committee to be comprised of one board member
from each elementary school committee; two members form the Region and then expand out into the communities . He
anticipated that it will take one year to create the plan. He would like to develop a document where everyone knows
exactly what is in the Strategic Plan . He stated that the professional educators are challenged to move education
forward by looking to the future and what education will look like in 2030 or 2050 .
Fundraising Form
Superintendent Conrad distributed the fundraising form . He reviewed the procedure that will take place when a staff
member wants to raise funds . The parent groups are 501 (3 )(c) ' s and have their own audit that takes place . He
reported that close to one million dollars is probably fundraised throughout the District. He would like to slow this
process down. He also noted that the Principal must approve the fundraiser, make the connection to the curriculum, be
aware of the time involved in raising the funds and decide if it is worth the time and effort. The Superintendent is
monitoring this to get a better sense of what is needed that requires a fundraiser, could it be in the operating budget and
how much money is being received. The Superintendent met with PTA presidents and thanked them for their support
to our schools . They know their role in the schools and are trying to help one another in promoting each other' s
programs .
Marie Enochty reminded everyone that businesses in our towns are very generous and are asked a lot for donations .
The same businesses are approached over and over again to donate . She felt this is a good thing to monitor.
Visioning
Chair Telman asked that the subcommittee to have a discussion with how to move forward for the schools . The
subcommittee would like input from the school committee as to how they would like the subcommittee to proceed. It
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was indicated that the Town of Brewster visioning exercise did not have anything to do with education . The Chair
indicated that this is the first time for this topic on the agenda and he would like everyone to think of a few ideas to
bring forward at the next meeting. Ms . Larsen would like a very clear goal for the subcommittee as to how our schools
will be progressing. It was felt that the visioning could be tied in with the District Strategic Plan. Ms . Larsen would
ike to know the end goal and requested that all boards be a part of the conversation . She would like all the Select
board members, the Finance Committee members and the Council on Aging to have input .
The Superintendent indicated that the School Committee has to create the educational vision to address the building
situation, as this has been a huge topic . He indicated that the school committee should hear from the other committees .
This will set the tone for the direction the school committee moves in . It was suggested a meeting of all boards takes
place after the December Town Meeting. It was suggested that there be a third party facilitator for the proposed
meeting of the boards . The facilitator can take everything they have heard and put it into a report for the school
committee . It was suggested that a formal invitation be sent and the school committee should be very specific about
the reason for the meeting. It should be a guided conversation with all the boards .
The Superintendent reminded the committee of a meeting held last year with parents about what they would like to see
as part of the education program for their children. Parents were interested in Spanish immersion, preschool, and after
school enrichment programs . The Superintendent felt that the committee needs to know how students learn . He felt
this should be driven by learning first and how the facilities need to respond to the needs of the program . As
educators, he felt that the Committee and Administration need to provide this for the community.
Jessica Larsen indicated that the committee has an obligation to stay in touch with other committees so we are all in
alignment. She felt the conversation should be kept open and transparent so that decisions belong to the town.
This will be on the agenda for the October meeting. The Chair asked that members come up with exactly how this
might be communicated to boards and what we would like to see happen . Claire Gradone indicated she was looking
for a charge to the subcommittee . It was suggested that all members come to the next meeting with three bullet points
to present at the meeting for discussion. It was suggested that members send their ideas to the Superintendent and he
will frame the conversation at the next meeting.
REPORTS AND INFORMATION
Preschool enrollment — reported in packet
Cape Cod Collaborative — no report
PTO — no report
School Council — no report
Policy — no report
Transportation — no report
Substance Abuse Task Force — no report
Building Assessment Subcommittee — Chair Telman indicated that he is a member of that committee and it was
indicated that they may give him a charge to bring to the committee .
Approval of Minutes
Motion: On a motion by Marie Enochty, seconded by Jessica Larsen, it was voted 4.0 to approve the minutes of
August 16, 2018 .
Adjournment
On a motion by Marie Enochty, seconded by Jessica Larsen, it was voted 4-0 to adjourn the meeting at 7 : 00 p .m.
Submitted by,
Ann M. Tefft
Included in the packet: Minutes, Entrance Age Policy and policies for 15t reading. Distributed at the meeting letters
from Interim Principal Gauley to staff and parents .
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