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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-06-25 School Committee Minutes oexeb Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: - School Committee jL + `;"i I I: 43 Date: 2020-06-25 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, 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-here Mrs. Allard-here Mr. Robinson-here A. Public input Mr. Robinson explained that public comment would be held at the end of the meeting allowing the public time to email questions to dgschoolcommittee a reading.k 12.ma.us B. Consent Agenda None Gage 1 1 C. Reports Director of Student Services No report Chief Financial Officer No report Assistant Superintendent No report Superintendent No report Liaisons Mrs.Nazzaro reported that the RCTV Board met and discussed plans moving forward. They will be running the summer camps which will be 3 -half day sessions with a limit on the number of participants. They will also be live streaming the RMHS graduation on July 26"i. A new board was elected. D. New Business Superintendent's Evaluation Mr. Robinson reviewed the Superintendent's evaluation document saying that 4 of the 6 members provided a complete evaluation document. Two members provided comments only because of their newness to the School Committee. Doherty's overall rating for the 2019-20 Summative Evaluation was proficient. Professional Practice Standard#1 —Instructional Leadership The Committee rated the Superintendent proficient in this category. They pointed out that there was significant process in the completion of curriculum guides. The Committee also noted that the agility throughout the remote learning process should be commended. Professional Practice Standard 42—Management and Operations The Superintendent attained a proficient rating in this standard. The Committee commends the commitment to safety and emotional health and fiscal work. The Committee feels the Superintendent should more effectively use his administrative staff. Professional Practice Standard #3—Family and Community Engagement The overall rating for this standard was proficient.The Committee feels the Superintendent has made a lot of effort with communication and always listens to feedback from committee members. Professional Practice Standard 4—Professional Culture Page 12 Dr. Doherty earned a proficient rating in this category. The committee would like the Superintendent to work harder to build consensus with both staff and families and should make a positive culture a top priority going forward. Mr. Wise moved seconded by Mrs.Nazzaro,to approve the Superintendent's End- of-Cycle Summative Evaluation Report for the 2019-20 school year. The roll call vote carried 6-0. Mr. Parks,Mr.Wise,Mrs. Nazzaro,Mrs.Gaffen,Mr.Brandt and Mr.Robinson. Superintendent's Contract Extension Chair Robinson thanked the Superintendent for his 30+years of service to the Reading Public Schools and reminded the committee that Dr. Doherty announced at an earlier meeting that he would be fulfilling his duties of the current contract. Mr.Wise moved,seconded by Mr.Brandt, not to exercise the School Committee option to extend the Superintendent's contract that expires in June 2021 to June 2022. The roll call vote carried 6-0. Mr.Parks,Mr.Wise,Mrs.Nazzaro,Mrs. Gaffen,Mr.Brandt and Mr.Robinson. Superintendent Search Process Mr. Robinson would like to begin the discussion on the upcoming search saying that the fall is the best time to conduct a search. Mr. Robinson shared that he has reached out to MASC,NESDEC and Future Systems Consulting for information on services offered for Superintendent searches. The consensus of the committee was to conduct a full search soliciting feedback from all stakeholders regarding the qualities they would like to see in the next Superintendent. Mr. Robinson asked if we would need to go through the procurement process. Mrs. Dowd will look into this and get back to the committee. Questions were asked about running a virtual process. Dr. Doherty said many searches have been done virtually this spring due to the pandemic. We can have the different groups do a presentation to the School Committee. Mrs. Dowd said she will work with whomever to develop a common assessment/evaluation tool. Mr. Wise, Mrs.Gaffen and Mrs. Nazzaro volunteered to work with Mrs. Dowd to develop this tool. G Old Business Social Media Assignments Mr. Wise outlined the roles indicating they would be similar to the office hours with two people assigned. Mr. Wise asked Mrs. Gaffen rejoin him for month number one. She agreed. Fall Opening Survey Data Dr. Doherty felt it was important to update the committee on the guidance received from the State today. Dr. Doherty began with a review of the survey results from staff and parents. The survey was administered from June 14—22 via Google forms. There was a good response from families and staff. He began with staff results. The majority of teachers responded that they would prefer to be in a full in-person model. If we had to use a hybrid model, Page 1 3 concerns include childcare issues, wearing PPE all day long,teaching students with disabilities and the transition will be critical with the reentry into school for staff and students and addressing social justice and equity. Themes from the comments include remote learning needs to have clear and simple expectations for staff and students, if we are in a hybrid model, have all students with disabilities, ELL and other high needs students attend school every day and have a consistent learning platform. Mr. Parks asked about plans in place if staff takes leave under the family First Act. The Superintendent we will have to look at remote use of in-house teaching. We will have to look at staff availability and needs if we start remotely. Themes from the family survey include that families would like their children in school full time, most agree that remote learning is not optimal and if we continue remote learning, consistency among grade levels and organization of remote learning, materials needs to improve and students on IEPs should be in school full time. Concerns about wearing masks, lost learning time and classroom ventilation were raised. The results for remote learning models was reviewed. If we do go with a hybrid model, families would like their kids on the same cycle. Dr. Doherty went on to share some information shared by the District Leadership Team on successes of the spring and what we will do differently in the future. Successes include increased collaboration among staff, systems were put in place to address student's fundamental needs, increased collaboration and communication with special education parents,the support of the Class of 2020,virtual student celebrations and concerts and connections that have been made with students. Things that will be done differently include a better balance between virtual work and personal life, increasing the accountability of students and staff and maximizing the roles of all staff in a remote setting. Dr. Doherty reviewed the guidance received from the State today. The guidance suggests that student will go back to brick& mortar school in the fall taking appropriate social distancing precautions. Districts will be required to develop and submit three models(in August)for the fall—brick&mortar,a hybrid model and a virtual model. Dr. Doherty cautioned that the guidance may change as more information becomes available. Dr. Doherty reviewed what the in-school model could look like with new safety requirements. We will have to look to use spaces such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, auditoriums and libraries to accommodate more students, reduce class sizes and enable social distancing. We will also look to engage community partners to set up additional classroom spaces. We still also need to look at staffing alternatives to aid in reducing class sizes. When planning for the hybrid model it is recommended that schools/districts use an A/B cohort model that isolates two distinct groups of students who would attend school together. It is recommended that high needs students and students with limited access to technology attend school in person full time. As we move forward a COVID-19 response leader will be named,we will establish planning and implementation teams at the district and school levels,develop and begin implementing this summer a plan for communicating more intensively with students, families, staff and community, establish connections and a process to work with the local boards of health,develop a family survey to support reopening planning and scheduling and build in time in the calendar for training sessions. The committee asked clarifying questions regarding the use of space,technology and PPE. Page 1 4 F. Public Comment—emals received during meetin¢ Mr. Robinson read the email from Rebecca Liberman: "Dear Dr. Doherty, Ms. Kelley, and members of the School Committee, I was dismayed to see that the date for completion of curriculum guides has been pushed out yet again--this time until the end of the 2020 calendar year. 1 urge you to make completion of all curriculum and pacing guides an urgent priority that should be completed before Fall 2020. Thank you. Sincerely, Rebecca Liberman Former RMHS parent and METCO volunteer 50 Pratt St." Mr. Robinson responded to this email stating that the date has always been December 2020. Mrs. Kelley added that they will need the fall to finish up and we have always been on target for the goal of December 2020. I. Routine Matters a. Bills and Payroll(A) Warrant 52051 6.18.20 $89,426.34 Warrant 52052 6.25.20 $136,612.39 Warrant TLS20 6.19.20 $856,687.04 Warrant TCLS20 6.26.20 $93,804.75 Warrant P2026 6.26.20 $1,326,700.28 b. Calendar 2. Information/Correspondence None 3. Future Business None 4. Adjournment Adjourn Mrs. Gaffen left the meeting. Move to enter into executive session to conduct a strategy session for contract negotiations with the Superintendent and to return to open session at approximately Page 1 5 10.00 p.m. The roll call vote carried 5-0. Mr. Parks,Mr. Wise,Mrs.Nazzaro, Mr. Brandt and Mr. Robinson. The open session adjourned at 9:25 p.m. The open session was called back to order at 10:39 p.m. Mr.Wise moved seconded by Mr.Brandt to approve a 2.8511% increase,equaling a raise of$5,350 and setting the Superintendent's annual salary to$193,000 for the 2021 school year. The roll call vote carried 6-0. Mr. Parks,Mr.Wise,Mrs. Nazzaro Mrs.Gaffen,Mr. Brandt and Mr.Robinson. Adjourn Mr.Brand[ moved,seconded by Mr.Parks to adjourn The roll call vote carried 6- 0 Mr.Parks Mr.Wise Mrs. Nazzaro Mrs.Gaffen,Mr.Brandt and Mr.Robinson. The meeting adjourned at 10:42 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: https�/hywwvoutubecoin/watch?v=h5R8B-9A4w4 ] F. Doherty, d.D. Page 1 6