HomeMy Public PortalAboutNauset Schools -- 2018-08-09 Minutes Nauset Regional School Committee
August 9 , 2018
Eastham Town Hall
Present for the Committee : Chris Easley, Jim O ' Leary, John O ' Reilly, Robert Jacobus, Ed Brookshire,
Emily Hilliar, Robert Sinclair, and Judy Schumacher
Absent for the Committee : Amy Handel and Richard Stewart
Present for the Administration : Thomas Conrad ' i 1 ' NOi13d I OKI
Call to Order BRE16TER T09N CLEF.1K
Chair Easley called the meeting to order at 6 : 00 p . m .
Superintendent Conrad introduced Nauset Regional High School Principal , Chris Ellsasser and Nauset
Regional Middle School Assistant Principal , Julie Kobold to the Committee .
Agenda Changes — none
Citizens Speak
Harry Terkanian addressed the Committee relative to the project with MIT Engineering and Lincoln Labs,
Building Drones with Radar. Seven Nauset Regional High School students participated in the Challenge
Weekend at MIT . Four students won prizes for best team work. Another student, Gabby Tessier, won 1St
prize in the computer security challenge . He noted that it is so impressive for our students to receive an
award with so many accomplished people to compete against. They will make a presentation to the
Committee at a future meeting.
Building Committee Update
Greg Levasseur, Chair of the Nauset Regional School Building Committee, informed the school
committee that the building committee had their first meeting with the Owner ' s Project Manager (OPM) .
He also informed the committee that Kathleen Tringale is Chair of the Educational Planning
Subcommittee . The Public Information Subcommittee will be headed up by Superintendent Tom Conrad.
On September 18 , the MSBA has a meeting where they will assign a designer to the project. Designers
will have an opportunity to walk-through the school on August 14th . Designers will be interviewed and
the subcommittee will pick three to present to the state for consideration. The state makes the designer
decision . Once the design team is on board, they will work with the building committee to dovetail with
the Owner ' s Project Manager and the Educational Planning Subcommittee . Agendas and minutes will be
sent to all school committee members for all subcommittees .
OPEB Update
Chair Easley distributed a handout to members regarding the history of OPEB and noted that the Budget
and Finance Subcommittee has been working on this topic for quite a while . He indicated that to date,
there is an estimated $ 88 ,609 in the OPEB Funding Account.
Jim O ' Leary stated the budget includes $ 850 , 000 to pay retiree health and insurance costs . The
accounting relates to future benefits and not current benefits . He emphasized there is no reduction in
benefits to retirees and no changes in the costs . There is a meeting with the Actuary on August 14tH
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He indicated that the Budget and Finance Subcommittee has three deliverables to the school committee
and the four towns : 1 ) Educational packet; 2) . Decide a funding approach for these benefits ; 3 .) Intend
to bring an article to the spring town meetings that addresses this issue and town residents will vote on the
article . He indicated the Regional School Committee should hear from the Budget and Finance
Committee by the end of October. They hope to have everything in place by the end of this year.
Members of the Committee received a letter from the Treasurer along with the new job description . The
job has been posted and everyone is welcome to apply. This will be on the next school committee agenda
so as to keep with the Open Meeting Law.
A motion was made by Ed Brookshire that any correspondence that School Committee members receive
from the Treasurer, a copy must be delivered to the Superintendent. Discussion was held until next
meeting. This motion was withdrawn.
Capital Article Reclassification
The Superintendent indicated that there will be four vans, two traditional and two oversized with storage.
The stairs at the Middle School are not going to be done at this point in time until the state completes their
project. The committee would like to know more about the sidewalk repair. They will look to the NHS
Building Committee to look at the lighting on that campus . This item will be brought back to the
Committee in September for clarification.
Policies
Judith Schumacher, Region representative on the Policy Subcommittee, explained the readings and
approval process of policies to the committee .
1 . IJNDD — Policy on Social Media and Staff Responsible Use Addendum — held for future discussion —
would like to rename the policy IJNDD and IJNDD-A or have the Staff Responsible Use Addendum
disassociated with the Social Media Policy.
Mark Mathison, NEA President provided the committee with a brief history relative to the Staff
Responsible Use Policy. He indicated that this policy would be acceptable to the Union and thought it
needed to be formally agreed upon by the School Committee and the Association.
2 . EFD — Meal Charging Policy — held - needs clarification on second page
3 . JICH — Alcohol , Tobacco , and Drug use by Students Prohibited — Verbal Screening needed to be
clarified. Dr . Minkoff indicated that the state mandated this screening to be done at the 7h and 91" grade
levels and no other level . This is a verbal , 5 minute, I - I screening with the student who is asked general
questions about whether or not the student feels safe. The Middle School Counselors and the Nurse do
the screening. The Region would like to see this as a separate policy . (JICH and JICH-A) The Region
members would also like to see this policy consistent with other policies .
Motion : On a motion by Ed Brookshire, seconded by Judy Schumacher it was voted 5 yeas and 3 nays to
approve the policy for a first reading.
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4 . GBEBD — Online Fundraising and Solicitations — The Superintendent explained the method of
fundraising and the approval process . This policy was tabled until the committee talked about fundraising
in general .
Strategic Plan
The Superintendent indicated that it is time to begin work on a new strategic plan. He would like to link
the School Improvement Plans to the Strategic Plan. A group will be forming in the near future .
Principals ' Reports
Dr. Minkoff updated the committee on the new assistant principal , scheduling of students, teachers
coming into their classrooms in the summer, Science Institute finished its first week and they will be
making drones, and a craft fair will be held in November that is organized by the teacher to raise money
for student activities and field trips . She indicated that enrollments in Grades 6 and 7 are large with close
to 190 which are above the projections . She also noted that School Choice seats were limited .
The Superintendent indicated that Next Generation Testing will be on a future agenda for discussion.
Dr. Ellsasser indicated that everyone has been incredibly supportive and the energy in the school is
impressive . His focus areas include :
1 ) Making the supporting of teachers through evaluation a priority.
2) Developing a system for identifying support for students and trying to determine the best data to
gather. Have weekly meetings to look at the entire student population . Identify students who need
support. Focus on students in need of extra support.
3 ) Meeting with the faculty leaders of the advisory program . He wants students to be known by an adult
in the community and a group of peers in the community to give them a sense of belonging to a
community where you are known . He discussed an advisory program in grades 6- 12 with
Dr. Minkoff.
4) Time and the calendar. He mapped out blocks and made sure that schedule is balanced for each
quarter. A Leadership group is looking at the entire school year to balance in terms of time .
5 ) International Student Program — effort to globalize the school . Exchange for students to visit us and
exchange for students and teachers to go out as well . This promotes diversity and is a great learning
experience .
Fundraising Form
Superintendent Conrad distributed a form to be used when someone wants to raise funds . The
Superintendent' s general sense is that there is too much fundraising overall . He recently met with the
Principals to talk about this issue . His concern is that we focus on instruction rather than heavy emphasis
on raising funds . He will communicate with the entire staff that we would like to use this form before
fundraising begins . The Principals, in all cases of fundraising, will work with the staff deciding the merit
and sign off on the fundraising activity. It will come to the School Committee for approval . The
Superintendent will meet with Booster Clubs and parent organizations . The Superintendent is concerned
about the dollars we are raising and the accountability in terms of the auditing process .
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Approval of Minutes
Motion :
On a motion by John O ' Reilly, seconded by Ed Brookshire, it was voted to approve the minutes of
May 3 ,2018 as written. ( I nay — Robert Sinclair, 2 abstentions — Ed Brookshire and Emily Hilliar)
On a motion by John O ' Reilly, seconded by Ed Brookshire it was voted unanimously to approve the
minutes of June 14, 2018 .
Future Agenda Topics .
Treasurer, sidewalk at Middle School, vans at High School , Drone Presentation, and clarification of
School Committee responsibilities and roles from MASC , Year End Fiscal Report, and Charge of
Building Committee for new members
Adjournment
On a motion by Robert Sinclair, seconded by Ed Brookshire, it was voted unanimously to adjourn the
meeting at 8 : 42 p .m .
Respectfully submitted,
Ann M. Tefft
Included in packet. Capital Reclassification List, Minutes, Policies, Fundraising Form (distributed at
meeting)
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