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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-06-22 School Committee Minutes 0 Town of Reading a a Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: i¢ GL i :r i i 43 School Committee Date: 2020-06-22 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 (arrived at 7:20 p.m.) Members - Not Present: Others Present: Superintendent John Doherty, Assistant Superintendent Chris Kelley, CFO Gail Dowd, Director of Student Services Jennifer Stys, Human Resources Administrator Jenn Allard Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Linda Engelson on behalf of the Chair Topics of Discussion: 1. 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. The meeting was being recorded and broadcast live on RCTV. The Chair called attendance: Mr. Parks—here Dr. Doherty—here Mr. Wise—here Mrs. Dowd—here Mrs.Nazzaro—here Mrs. Kelley-here Mrs.Gaffen—here Dr. Stys—here Mr. Brandt—arrived at Mrs. Allard—here 7:20 p.m. Mr. Robinson—here A. Public hum Mr. Robinson explained that public comment would be held at the end of the meeting allowing the public time to email questions to dgsehoolcommittee/rDreadine.kl2.ma.us B. Consent Agenda Page 1 1 Mr.Wise moved,seconded by Mrs. Nazzaro,to approve the consent aeenda as amended. The roll call vote carried 5-0.Mr.Parks,Mr.Wise,Mrs.Nazzaro,Mrs. Gaffen.and Mr. Robinson. C. Reports Director of Student Services Dr. Stys began by thanking Allison Wright who is organizing the ESY program and Kelly DiCato and Leander Corman who are helping to call for transportation. We have sent letters to families explaining we are starting remotely and then will begin in-person services with students in sub separate programs who have not accessed services remotely. We will try to increase services as the summer progresses based on the state recommendation and student/staff progress. We are still waiting for guidance from the state before 7/6. Mary Giuliana is doing training for the staff. However,we are waiting for DPH to train the nurses. Therefore, Mrs. Giuliana will be updating staff training when the guidance comes out. Thank you to Joe Huggins,Gail Dowd and Mary Giuliana for partnering with us through this process. For the first group of students doing live sessions,the first week the teachers will be teaching from the class wearing PPE to expose the students to the new process. Allison will be reaching out to the families with exact schedules. The district is sponsoring a Training with Dr. Orkin's company Crafting Minds. This ties into the reading assessments I spoke about 2 weeks ago. Thank you for Dr. Doherty and Mrs. Dowd for helping us secure the funding. The course is called Investigating Reading Difficulties: Using Assessment to Inform Instructional Planning. There are almost 30 staff participating from general education and special education including Chris Kelley, Allison Wright, the reading specialists, the team chairs and school psychologists. The class addresses: how the reading circuit is developed; using assessment to understand students' strengths and weaknesses in reading—this includes—cognitive contributors to reading achievement and subtypes of reading impairments—phonological,working memory, rapid naming, oral language; Essential Components of Reading Instruction: Phonological Awareness and Phonics, Fluency, and Text comprehension and vocabulary. We are working through this training to create a continuum of assessment for general education and special education in reading. The assessment battery will contain Foundational Skills, Single Words and Connected Text and the Reading Achievement Domains of Skills will include Accuracy, Automaticity and Oral Language. This training is 9 total hours. Chief Financial Officer No report Assistant Superintendent No report Page 12 Superintendent No report Liaisons Mr. Parks reported that the Ad-Hoe Committee met and discussed plans moving forward. The next meeting will be on July 1s'. D. New Business Summer Food Distribution Update Food Service Director Danielle Collins updated the committee on the status of the meal distribution. We are currently providing a weeks' worth of breakfast and lunch free of charge to families. We receive reimbursement from the state for all meals for all participants under the age of 21. The meal distribution takes place every Tuesday. Ms. Collins indicated that we will continue to offer meals through August 31"to families utilizing the benefit. The meal service will be fully funded at the free rate. Ms. Collins is participating in the Farm to Families Program and is able to provide boxes of fresh produce to the families participating. The Chair thanked Ms. Collins for presenting tonight. Curriculum Update Assistant Superintendent Chris Kelley introduced members of the Learning and Teaching team, Heather Leonard and Allison Straker,who will be presenting this evening. Other members of her team include the Behavioral Health Coach Lauren Sabella and Data Collection Coach Courtney Fogarty. She also works with the middle and high school curriculum leadership teams. Mrs. Leonard and Ms. Straker provided a brief biography. Mr. Brandt arrived at 7:20 p.m. Mrs. Kelley said this will be the year in review with a 5,000-foot view. The group reviewed the professional development and training held this year in math, science, humanities, FLA,and SEI. Teachers were able to attend several workshops and conferences as well. There has been curriculum work done in the areas of the elementary math and social studies,middle school math and high school history. Committees have worked on the changes to the elementary report card, professional development, diversity, mentor/induction revisions, remote learning,youth risk survey and portrait of the graduate. Work is being done on the RISE Preschool,middle and high school elective curriculum guides. They reviewed the curriculum resources and tools available for social studies, middle school math, algebra 1,additional remote learning tools and Edulastic, an online assessment platform. Mrs. Kelley thanked Courtney Fogarty for creating a data platform dashboard for our staff to access. As the district looks to move forward and improve the continuity of learning, Mrs. Kelley reviewed the results of a survey on remote learning sent to staff, parents and students. The Continuity of Learning team will review the data looking at what worked,what Page 1 3 could have worked better with focus on engagement,technology themes/tools and professional development and training needs. As we continue to move forward we will be planning for diversity&equity training with district and building leadership and professional development planning, professional development for curriculum upgrades, the completion of curriculum guides, differentiated learning professional development in partnership with the Student Services Department and prepare training for re-entry and mentor/induction. Mr. Wise pointed out that the School Committee's acceptance of these reports constitutes its adoption of the curriculum for official purposes. The committee members thanked the Learning and Teaching team for presenting and went on to ask questions about remote learning,the remote learning grading system, sharing the survey results and dyslexia screening tools. Surplus Property Mrs. Dowd reviewed the list of surplus property explaining the listed items have no residual value. The items will be offered to other departments in Town,other school districts or to nonprofit schools and agencies. Mr.Wise moved seconded by Mr.Brandt,to declare the items listed in the Chief Financial Officer's memorandum dated June 18,2020 as surplus property. The roll call vote carried 6—0 Mr.Parks,Mr.Wise,Mrs.Nazzaro,Mrs.Gaffen,Mr. Brandt and Mr. Robinson. E. Old Business FY21 Final Budget Approval Mrs. Dowd reviewed the memorandum outlining the Town Meeting Approved School Department budget. Mr. Wise moved seconded by Mr. Brandt,to approve the final FY21 budeet of $48,322,662 as appropriated by Town Meeting as well as approval of the individual cost center budgets The roll call vote carried 6—0. Mr. Parks,Mr.Wise,Mn. Nazzaro.Mrs.Gaffen,Mr. Brandt and Mr.Robinson. FY21 Capital Approval Mr.Wise moved,seconded by Mr. Brandt,to approve the final FY21 Capital Plan as it relates to the School Department. Mrs. Dowd reviewed the memorandum outlining the Town Meeting Approved Capital budget. The roll call vote carried 6—0. Mr. Parks,Mr.Wise,Mrs.Nazzaro,Mrs. Gaffen, Mr.Brandt and Mr.Robinson. FY20 Budget Mr. Wise moved,seconded by Mr. Brandt,to transfer up to$10,000 from Administration to School Facilities utilizine salary savines and expense savings to be utilized to purchase additional PPF The roll call vote carried 6—0. Mr.Parks,Mr. Wise,Mrs.Nazzaro,Mrs. Gaffen,Mr.Brandt and Mr.Robinson. Page 1 4 Mr Wise moved,seconded by Mrs.Nazzaro,to transfer up to$500,000 out of Special Education to Regular Education($370,000)and Facilities($130,000). The funding will be utilized for curriculum,technology and PPE purchases. The roll call vote carried 6—0. Mr.Parks,Mr.Wise,Mrs. Nazzaro,Mrs.Gaffen,Mr.Brandt and Mr.Robinson. Mr. Wise moved seconded by Mr.Parks to authorize to decrease the offsets in the following accounts: Extended Day—decrease up to an additional $10,000 Full Day Kindergarten—decrease up to an additional $150,000 RISE Pre-School—decrease up to an additional $30,000 The roll call vote carried 6—0 Mr.Parks,Mr.Wise,Mrs. Nazzaro,Mrs.Gaffen, Mr.Brandt and Mr.Robinson. F. Public Comment—entails received during meeting Mrs.Nazzaro read an email from Brian Hanley. "Good evening. 1) Was the Zoom subscription approved? Mrs. Dowd shared that we have sent a signed contract and purchase order to Zoom and are awaiting their response. 2) 1 understand that some parts of the 201912020 curriculum were purchased but not yet used, therefore will not require a full purchase next year. Can this offset expense be applied to extend online learning programs (e.g. Levin, Epic etc.) through the summer as opposed to expiring 30-Jun. Mrs. Kelley responded that free trials of certain tools are open for students to access through July. There are also many resources on the Learning and Teaching page of the district website. We are not planning on adding online resources at this point. Brian Hanley" Mrs. Gaffen read an email from Geoff Lopatka `Thank you jor including us in public school committee tonight, Some questions are included below: • What is being done over the summer to prepare teachers to deliver a consistent live-virtual learning experience across RPS in the event this is needed come September? • Dr. Doherty and Miss Kelley:Are the following tenets inline with your goals for the 2020-2021 school year? if ,at, how do they differ? o We will strive to achieve typical learning goals despite any obstacles or challenges we may encounter related to COFID or otherwise. o We will make fiull-day traditional classroom available for all students Without delay as soon as the Commonwealth allows. o Should virtual learning be required it will be delivered in ajull-day structured synchronous online schedule that mimics the traditional classroom experience. Page 15 • What tools and technologies will teachers be enabled to use for live-virtual (synchronous) learning?Are these technologies in place today? Thankyou.! Geoff Lopatka (781)960-3604 glopatka@hoonail.com' 1. Routine Matters a. Bills and Payroll (A) Warrant 52049 6.04.20 $80,320.23 Warrant 52050 6.11.20 $306,815.85 Warrant 2024 5.29.20 $1,592,735.44 Warrant P2025 6.12.20 $1,625,826.36 b. Calendar 2. Infornation/Corresoondence None 3. Future Business None 4. Adjournment Adiourn Mr.Brandt moved seconded by Mr.Parks,to adjourn. The roll call vote carried 6- 0 Mr.Parks Mr.Wise,Mrs.Nazzaro,Mrs.GaB'en,Mr.Brandt and Mr.Robinson. The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m. NOTE: The minutes reflect the order as stated in the posted meeting agenda not the order they occurred during the meeting. Link to meeting video: htto,//www rcty ore/2020/06/22/school-committee-6-22-20/ h F. Doherty, Ed.D. Gage 1 6