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Home My WebLink About2020-08-20 School Committee Minutes rq Town of Reading 5a Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: MOSL -' P.Ei 11: 42 School Committee Date: 2020-08-20 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Location: Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: Open Session Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Chuck Robinson, John Parks, Tom Wise, Erin Gaffen, Carla Nazzaro and Shawn Brandt Members - Not Present: Others Present: Superintendent John Doherty, Assistant Superintendent Chris Kelley, CFO Gail Dowd, Director of Student Services Jennifer Stys Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Linda Engelson on behalf of the Chair Topics of Discussion: I. Call to Order Chair Robinson opened the meeting and announced the School Committee was meeting in a virtual setting, fully remote via Microsoft Teams, practicing social distancing and in accordance with the Governor's suspension of certain open meeting laws. rhe meeting was being recorded and broadcast live on RC"FV. The Chair called attendance: Mr. Parks—here Dr. Doherty—here Mr. Wise—here Mrs. Dowd—here Mrs.Nazzaro—here Mrs. Kelley-here Mrs. Gaffen—artived at Dr. Stys—here 7:05 p.m. Mr. Brandt—here Mr. Robinson—here A. Public Imm Mr. Robinson explained that public comment would be held at the end of the meeting allowing the public time to email questions to schoolcommitteeareading.kl2.ma.us Mr. Robinson asked Dr. Doherty to read the email sent to families and staff earlier this evening regarding the reopening plan and said that this topic would be on the August 27t' agenda at which point emails would be addressed. Dr. Doherty read the following: Page 1 'Good Evening, Reading Public School Community. Throughout this pandemic, our focus in returning back to school has always been the health and safety of our staff and students while providing the best learning environment possible given our current situation. As described in our Fall Reopening Plan, the measures that we are taking include satellite rooms to allow for six foot physical distancing,proper wearing efface covering,practicing proper hand hygiene, having parents self-check children at home for symptoms, ventilation filter enhancements in our buildings, and increased and enhanced cleaning and disinfecting. Our learning environment includes additional remote learning tools, learning platforms, adequate laptop supplies for our students, and high end cameras far improving learning in our satellite classrooms. For our plan to be successful, we need to make sure all of the above components are in place and operating effectively before we can safely implement the hybrid model. (Unfortunately, due to the impact oj'COVID-19 on all areas we have experienced several logistical and staffing challenges that have delayed the implementation of the plan. Our challenges include filling staffing vacancies due to an increased volume of leaves of absences and accommodations for our staff who are unable to work in person, delayed delivery of technology devices, the challenge of scheduling and retrofitting classrooms with the appropriate amount offurniture and technology infrastructure and effectively implementing our learning platforms. Due to the above challenges, we are going to need to change our phase in hybrid plan to reflect a later in person start date for most groups of students. This delay will allow us to hire and train staff for the vacant positions, receive and appropriately set up the technology and learning platforms, and set up the classrooms for an effective hybrid model of learning. We will still provide in person instruction for our high needs, RISE Preschool, and Kindergarten students beginning on September 15th. All other students will start the school year in a remote model. At the August 27th School Committee meeting, we will provide a revised phase in plan which will reflect the above changes. At the School Committee meeting this evening the Committee will defer public comment on this topic until the next meeting. We apologize far the timing of this notice and we realize the frustration that this will cause for families in trying to secure additional child care. However, we felt it was important that you received this information as soon as possible. We appreciate your patience as we revise our plan. We are looking at all options to address the concerns. Ifyou have any questions,please do not hesitate to contact me at john.dohertyreading.kl2.ma.us. Sincerely, John F. Doherty Superintendent ofSehools" Mrs. Gaffers arrived at 7:05 p.m. B. Consent Agenda Mr. Robinson shared that there would not be a consent agenda vote. All the materials were not included in the packet. C. Reports Page 1 2 Director of Student Services No report Chief Financial Officer No report Assistant Superintendent No report Superintendent No report Liaisons Mr. Parks reported on the recent Ad Hoc Committee meeting. The are moving forward and have a date to present to the Library Board of Trustees in September. D. Old Business None E. New Business First Reading of Policv EBCFA—Face Coverings Mr. Wise moved seconded by Mr.Brandt,to accept the first reading of Policy EBCFA—Face Coverings Mr.Wise began the reading of policy EBCFA. Mr. Brandt moved seconded by Mr. Parks to waive the further reading of the policy. The roll call vote carried 6-0. Mr. Parks,Mrs. Gaffen,Mn.Nazzaro, Mr. Wise Mr.Brandt and Mr. Robinson. Dr. Doherty shared that the policies have been recommended by MASC to be voted on by school committees. Attorney Joyce has reviewed the policies. The School Committee discussed the face covering policy and offered additions and deletions of language to align with the district reopening plan and the MASC policy. Dr. Doherty will incorporate the suggestions in the policy for the next reading. The vote to accept the first reading was approved. The roll call vote carried 6-0. Mr.Parks,Mrs. Gaffen,Mrs.Nazzaro,Mr.Wise,Mr. Brandt and Mr.Robinson. First Reading of Police IHBHE—Remote Learning Page 13 Dr. Doherty shared that this policy provides a broad overview of when remote learning would be appropriate. Mr. Wise moved seconded by Mrs Nazzaro to accept the first reading of Reading Poliev IHBHE—Remote Learning Mr. Wise began the first reading. Mr.Brandt moved,seconded by Mr.Parks to waive the further readine of the policy. The roll call vote carried 6-0. Mr.Parks,Mrs.Gaffen,Mrs.Nazzaro,Mr. Wise Mr. Brandt and Mr.Robinson. The School Committee discussed the remote learning policy and offered additions and deletions of language to align with the district reopening plan and the MASC policy. Dr. Doherty will incorporate the suggestions in the policy for the next reading. The vote to accept the first reading was approved. The roll call vote carried 6-0. Mr.Parks,Mn.Gaffen,Mrs.Nazzaro,Mr.Wise,Mr. Brandt and Mr. Robinson. F. Public Comment—emails received during meeting (emails are copied and pasted in the original form) None 1. Routine Matters a. Bills and Payroll (A) Warrant 52057 7.30.20 $26,000.98 Warrant S2105 7.10.20 $89,790.52 Warrant P2101 7.10.20 $1,236,023.08 Warrant 52102 7.24.20 $1,210,368.05 Warrant 52103 8.7.20 $1,219,695.38 b. Calendar 2. Information/Correspondence Dr. Doherty said that when he has further updates, he will hold forums to discuss the reopening plan. Mrs.Nazzaro asked how we were communicating to the high needs student families if they will be in school full time. Dr. Stys said she just received guidance today on this topic. The team chairs will reach out to each family to discuss how the services will be delivered. Program students will receive more in-person services. Mrs.Nazzaro followed up by asking what RISE would look like. Dr. Stys said that she is working with RISE Director Kelley Bostwick and the staff to discuss what the classroom will look like. They are looking at creative solutions for drop off and pick up and the day to day activities in the classes. Ms. Bostwick will be reaching out to families. 3. Future Business Page 1 4 None 4. Adiournment Adjourn Mr.Wise moved,seconded by Mr.Parks to enter into executive session to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and not to return to open session. The roll call vote carried 6-0 Mr.Parks Mrs. Gaffen,Mrs.Nazzaro,Mr.Wise,Mr. Brandt and Mr.Robinson. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. NOTE: 'fhe minutes reflect the order as slated in the posted meeting agenda not the order they occurred during the meeting. Link to meeting video: httos'//www Youtube.com/watch?v=qlpZG7lhFWI Jo n F. Doherty, Ed.D. Page 1 5