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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-05-26 School Committee Minutes - DraftTown of Reading o.wa. Meeting Minutes Board —Committee —Commission — Council: School Committee Date: 2022-05-26 Building: Brooke Charter High School Address: 200 American Legion Highway Boston, MA Purpose: Open Session Time: 7:00 PM Location: Auditorium Session: Open Session Version: Draft TOWN CLERK READING, MA. At 2021 JUN -8 AM 9.57 Attendees: Members—Present: Shawn. Brandt, Erin Gaffen, Carla Nazzaro, Sarah McLaughlin, Chuck Robinson Members — Not Present: Tom Wise Others Present: Superintendent Tom Milaschewski, Assistant Superintendent for Learning and Teaching Sarah Hardy, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Jen Stys, Director of Finance & Operations Susan Bottan, METCO Director Kurtis Martin Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Susan E. Brown on behalf of the Chair A. Call to Order- Shawn Brandt opened session at 7:00pm and reviewed the agenda. He thanked Mr. Martin for hosting us at the Book Charter School, Boston MA, and he then acknowledged the terrible events happening around the country regarding the school shootings. B. Routine Matters a. Public Comment: Mr. Brandt invited the public to comment on items not on the agenda. No comments were made. b. Consent Agenda: Mr. Brandt moved, second by Mr. Robinson to approve the consent agenda. The vote carried 5- 0. Mr. Brandt. Mrs. Gaffen, Ms. McLauehlin, Mrs. Nazzaro, and Mr. Robinson. c. Reports: Dr. Milaschewski thanked everyone for coming to the school committee meeting in Boston and thanked the METCO parents and students for making a commitment to attend Reading Public Schools. Dr. Milaschewski presented the following on behalf of Millie Arbaje-Thomas, CEO of METCO • Friday the "history of desegregation via bussing", at Huntington Theatre. • Living the Legacy Conference June 10ts, %day professional development experience at Sheraton Framingham • Tours all summer for history of METCO • Ms. Arbaje asks everyone to call their senators to thank them for a 1M increase for METCO program. Mr. Brandt reported that the ARPA committee approved an allocation of $21M for the early literacy program. He mentioned that the survey is closing soon for suggestions of where to allocate the additional funds to go. Ms. Gaffen to reported that the Policy Subcommittee met on May 11'h and she will provide more details later in the meeting. Ms. McLaughlin reported on RCN Board meeting that Anna Cuevas continuing on as a teacher at RMHS next year. Mrs. Nazzaro reported that she attended the Audit Committee, and they reviewed the RMLD budget. Mr. Brandt moved, second by Mrs. Nwaro, to take E144 out of order. The vote carried 5-0. Mr. Brandt. Mrs. Gaffen, Ms. McLauehfin, Mrs. N=aro, and Mr. Robinson. E. New Business 1. Students of Color & Ally's for Equality, Justice, and Inclusion Board Members - Dasia Grant, Jeremiah Sanford, Kamea Wootan, Timia Jones, Sydnee Smiley, Leyna Lamothe & Sophia Ortins Group Members- Bianca Ferguson, Gineva Gilbertie, Samadria Malo, Aaron Palm and Julianna Martin They presented two poignant videos and are also holding a movie night fundraiser on June le more details to come. Speaking on behalf of friends of Reading METCO - Sherilla Lestrade, Theresa Wiggins, Levonda Epps, Tish McCarter. - Friends of Reading METCO started a few years ago, they are back after the break due to Covid Pandemic, more parent volunteers are needed of both Boston and Reading families to make it successful. The purpose of this group is to help in building relationships between Reading and Boston families. They host events to help the students build life-long relationships. The last event was a roller-skating evet that was a big success, the next event will be in August. The group helps to bridge the gap between the two locations so that students in the METCO program who want to attend sports events, drama, music etc., the students can have the ability to attend them ... the METCO students spend hours on the bus to come to and from school, and to have a local Reading family that the parents of the METCO student will know it helps to enable the METCO family's to attend these important events. 2. Reading METCO Update Mr. Kurtis Martin— Reading METCO update starting with introductions of those Reading School Staff and School Committee members to those METCO families in attendance. Kurtis was a student of METCO himself... wanted to rebuild the Reading METCO Program, starting with having all the administration from RPS in Boston to meet the Boston families who participate in the METCO program, to give them a better understanding of where our METCO students come from to better help them reach and teach their students. Next there was professional development and collaboration with the school committee and make a video for the METCO program to show what the Reading METCO program can be, to be shared with RPS Community as well as METCO community. One of the items was increasing access for the Boston families, starting with late busses, especially for the students who play sports, music, and theatre to allow them to go back home and not ride public transportation. This allowed students the ability to hang out with friends after school or stop and meet with teachers. This greatly improves the students experience at RPS. DESE approved an HBCU Tour (historically Black Colleges & Universities) but due to Covid that was postponed they will begin again next school year. School Committee approved the increase of 40 more students and five Elementary METCO Coordinators for Reading METCO. They also approved a third bus for METCO to allow HS to no longer must arrive at school hours early. They now arrive only 30-40 min before school. We were also give the students the ability to attend prom with the additional bus. Mr. Martin goals for the Reading METCO program are a. Understanding what METCO is b. Increase access for the students c. Build the community of support What's next?? a. Host families b. Mentorship programs c. HS HBCU Tour (historically Black Colleges and Universities) d. MLK Dinner e. METCO Awards night f. Additional HS Room g. Hiring a parent to be a paraprofessional and a bus monitor h. Elementary School field trips to Boston I. Bring back the r Grade DC Field Trip j. Next year for JR/SR there will be a race class incoordination with the History chairperson We have a lot of work to do but we can do it. School Committee members commented on the incredible work that Kurtis has done to renew the energy in the Reading METCO Program. The town appreciates the work that he has put into the program to bring about change in the program. Dr. Milaschewski had some trivia: How many METCO students are in RPS 4k, every student in a RPS Student is a METCO student because we are an entire community! Levonda Epps— When we can get Kurtis help as he does a LOT of the work? Kurtis answered that the elementary coordinators will help tremendously. Dr. Milaschewski responded that within the budget is approval for five elementary METCO coordinators. They will be liaisons between the Boston families and the RPS. They will also be a school counselor to the students as well. Further, he shared that two of the roles have already been filled; one at Killam Elementary and one at Birch Meadow Elementary. Both hires are BIPOC. At the current time, the staff of RPS is 98% white. We have a lot of work to do with regards to diversity and to have an educator group that resembles the diversity of our students. Levonda Epps—The job descriptions need to be rewritten to attract candidates of color to come to work at RPS. Sherilla Lestrade— RPS needs more educators that are people of color. We also need better diversified curriculum that is more inclusive. Sherilla Lestrade— Will the race class be trickling down to the lower grades to ensure that the lower grades understand race ... a "lighter" version of the race class offered to HS students. Parent Off Camera —His daughter was in METCO 30 years ago. He asked if there will be metal detectors installed at the school? Mr. Brandt responded that the school has had enhanced security protocols but have not looked into the need for metal detectors. Student Off Camera —They requested to hang flags that represented them and were told they could not hang them because it was a fire hazard. Dr. Milaschewski responded he will be meeting with the team and the student group to find out the background on why they were told they couldn't hang the flags and meet with students to get this resolved. Mr Brandt moved second by Mrs. Geffen, to take E4 out of order. The vote carried 5-0. Mr Brandt. Mrs. Gaffen. Ms. McLaughlin, Mrs. Namara, and Mr. Robinson. 4. PAIR Liaison Assignment Dr. Chatterjee, the Town of Reading's Director of Equity and Social Justice, based out of the Reading Public Library, will be creating an advisory board, including people from across all town departments including the schools, including students. The advisory board will host a fundraiser at Washington Park on Juneteenth. Mr. Brandt opened it up to ask if any school committee members are interested in being a liaison for the Equity and Social Justice committee. Mrs. Gaffen volunteered. Mr. Brandt said he may attend as well. Mr. Brandt suggested passing Mrs. Gaffen's name on as the of0cial recommendation to the Chair for appointment. 3. Policy of JFBB (School Choice) Mrs. Gaffen reported out on the Policy Subcommittee meeting of May 11th. They reviewed edits of Policy JFBB by Susan Bottan. They also compared it to the Massachusetts School Committee Policy Manual and entered into a discussion on the protected classes. They chose to add homelessness to bullet number 5 in the Policy and that addition was approved by legal counsel as well. Mr. Brandt mentioned legal counsel also recommended removal of various references at the bottom of the Policy and only retain 76.12B In the school choice packet. Mr. Brandt moved second by Mrs. Nazzaro, to approve Policy JFBB as presented in the packet and revised on the floor. Mrs. Gaffen raised a point that there was a discussion on the sixth bullet leaving the language if a family already has a child in the district, the sibling will automatically get a spot and not have to apply through the lottery if space is available. It was agreed that is the intent. The vote carried 5-0 Mr. Brandt, Mrs. Gaffen- Ms. McLaughlin, Mrs. Nazzaro, and Mr. Robinson. D. Old Business 1. RMHS Track Naming Advisory Committee Mr. Brandt outlined the recommendation in the packet including the process of soliciting the Committee members. He reminded the Committee that we have already appointed Chuck Robinson to the Advisory Committee to fill the School Committee role. The other members and their roles are recommended to be: a. Mr. Kevin Tracey —RMHS Principal—asa non-voting Consultant to the Advisory Committee. b. Olivia Rotundo —Student Representative. c. Christine Keller—Historical Committee Representative. d. Carlo Bacci —Select Board Representative. e. John Means— Local Business Leader Representative. Mr. Brandt moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson to approve the membership of the RMHS Track Namine Committee as detailed in the packet. The vote carried 5-0. Mr. Brandt, Mrs. Geffen, Ms. McLaus blin, Mrs. Nazzaro, and Mr. Robinson. 2. FY23 Budget and Capital Plan Final Approval Susan Bottan presented that included in packet is recommendation to put forward a final vote on the operating budget of $51,783,361.00 and a capital budget of $122,000. Ms. Gaffen posed question of RISE Playground and the possible moving of the RISE Preschool to another location, therefore leaving a preschool playground at RMHS, asking how that falls into future plans. Ms. Bottan mentioned If the Killam Elementary new building will be housing the RISE Preschool, we will repurpose the current RISE Preschool area. The first year the $12k is designated for design only. We won't know phase 2 until further in the year. Proposal is to engage an architect to design first, and then hold to the end of FY'23. Mr. Brandt posed the question now that ARPA Funds were approved. How does that money flow? Ms. Bottan mentioned that the money was set up by the town in a revolving account and provided the Finance Dept with the account number to allow for the use of the funds to place the initial order for the curriculum order to take us through the next school year. Sherilla Lestrade—Asked a follow up question about the $12K for the RISE Preschool design. She also mentioned that moving the Preschool playground would be good as it is distracting for the High School students. Mr. Brandt moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson, to approve the final FV23 operating and capital b daets as appropriated by annual town meeting in April 2022. The vote carried 5-0. Mr. Brand[ Mrs Gaffen, Ms. McLaughlin, Mrs. Nazzaro. and Mr. Robinson. Mrs Nazzaro moved seconded by Mr. Robinson to adiourn. The vote carried 5-0. Mr. Brandt, Mrs. Gaffen. Ms. McLaughlin, Mrs. Nazzaro, and Mr. Robinson. Meeting adjourned. Link to meeting video: School Committee 05-26-2022-YouTube