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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-12-02 School Committee Minutes - DraftKE"CEIVED Town of Reading TOWN CLERK MA. Meeting Minutes READI"IG _ EL 2822 AUG 3I PM 2: 43 Board - Committee - Commission - Council: School Committee Date: 2021-12-02 Time: 7:00 PM Building: School - Memorial High Location: School Library Address: 62 Oakland Road Session: Open Session Purpose: Open Session Version: Draft Attendees: Members - Present: Erin Gaffen, Sarah McLaughlin, Tom Wise, Carla Nazzaro, Chuck Robinson and Shawn Brandt Members - Not Present: Others Present: Superintendent Tom Milaschewski, Assistant Superintendent Sarah Hardy, Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Stys, Director of Finance Susan Bottan, Smritha Srinivasan Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Samantha La Pierre on behalf of the Chair Topics of Discussion: A. Call to Order Chair Wise called open session to order at 7:00p.m. and reviewed the agenda. Mr. Wise stated Mr. Brandt would be participating remotely. The roll call vote was 6-0. Mr. Brandt. Mrs. Gaffen. Ms. McLaughlin. Mn. Nazamo. Mr. Robinson. and Mr. Wise. B. Routine Matters 1. Public Input Mr. Wise called for public comment. 2. Consent Agenda Mr. Brandt moved seconded by Mr. Robinson to approve the Donations from the 2"d LT TJ McGrath Charitable Foundation Inc. The roll call vote carried 5-0-1. Mr. Brandt, Mrs. Gaffen. Ms. McLaughlin, Mrs. Namaro, and Mr. Robinson. Mr. Wise did not vote due to a conflict. 3. Reports Page 1 1 Mr. Brandt moved, seconded by Mrs. Nazzaro to take Student Report out of order. The roll call vote carried 6.0. Mr. Brandt, Mrs. Gallen, Ms. McLaughlin, Mrs. Nazzaro, Mr. Robinson, and Mr. Wise. Smritha Srinivasan stated there was a pep rally last Wednesday before the Thanksgiving Football game. The Band concert will take place on December 15'" and Choir concert will on Thursday December 9'". The Choir caroling season will be starting in December. Fall sports have ended, and winter sports tryouts and practices have started. Dr. Milaschewski thanked the committee, community, and leadership team for their support during his absence while on paternity leave. Dr. Sarah Hardy stated the first Reading in Reading meeting will be next Tuesday and everyone is welcome tojoin. She shared that the leadership team is looking into extending learning and are going to pilot vacation academies during February vacation. More information will be sent out to gauge interest. Dr. Jen Stys wished everyone a happy National Special Education Day. She shared that all RPS special education teachers are now trained in RAVE -O. Each school has now received an executive functioning library. Mrs. Susan Bottan expressed her gratitude to CINTAS for their donation of hand sanitizer. Mrs. Nazzaro—No Report Mrs. Gaffen state the policy subcommittee was not able to meet on the 18g' but they will be meeting on Tuesday the T° to discuss policy JICH. She also reminded the community about the Festival of Trees on Friday, run by Reading Education Foundation. Mr. Wise stated that there are 3 finalist candidates for the Town Manager position. Interviews will be held publicly on Tuesday December 7'". Budget meetings for Finance Committee and Select Board will take place in December. Ms. McLaughlin stated RCTV board met—and Mrs. Cuevas attended and gave an update of the film/production classes available this year. Mr. Robinson—No Report Mr. Brandt stated the library board met on November 96. Director of equity and social justice- 2 candidate C. Old Business I. Discussion on Hybrid Meeting Technology Omions. Costs, and Method of Funding Mr. Wise stated that Director of IT Julian Car has been researching two way/hybrid meeting configuration for conducting School Committee meetings and events from the RMHS Library. Within the memo are three options outlined. Mrs. Bottan explained the options and their functions. The basic option provides the lowest cost and minimum equipment necessary to conduct a full hybrid meeting. This option is likely to be the least user-friendly option and requires someone who is comfortable with operating and troubleshooting technology to conduct the meeting. The mid option provides balance between cost and automation. This option will be set up as a software -defined video conference room system that features content sharing, high- quality video and audio conferencing, and integration with the School Committee calendar to facilitate automation. The pro -designed by DGI will consist of two 85" displays mounted to the wall above the school committee tables for the attendees to view content and remote participants. Page 12 The committee engaged in discussion and asked question about logistics, functionality and projected costs. Mr. Wise moved, seconded by Ms. McLauehlin to authorize/ permit! ask Julian to move forward with the mid option and Mr. Wise and M. McLauehlin work with RCTV to see if there is greater option at a later point in time. The roll call vote carried 5-1. Mr. Brandt, Mrs. Gaffen, Ms. McLaughlin, Mr. Robinson and Mr. Wise. Mrs. Nazzaro voted against. D. New Business 1. Reading Police Comfort Dog Prograrn Mr. Brandt moved, second by Mrs. Gaffen to take out of order item El, police comfort dog Program. The roll call vote carried 6-0. Mr. Brandt, Mrs. Gallen, Ms. McLaughlin, Mrs. Nazzaro, Mr. Robinson, and Mr. Wise. Chief Clark along with Deputy Chief Amendola, Detective Abate, SRO Brian Lewis and Matt Vatcher presented the comfort dog program they will be bringing to the community. Chief Clark stated that the comfort dogs would travel with the school resource officers to school every day. He explained the benefits that comfort dogs can provide for mental health, during times of crisis etc. SRO Vatcher discussed the concern of students with fears of dogs, or with allergies — the plan they me currently evaluating is sending out a form to families at the start of the school year, requesting this information, but they do not see this as being a big problem. SRO Lewis stated that there has been an adjustment returning to school post COVID, and there has been an increase in calls for students in high needs programs in the schools, and he believes comfort dogs would greatly benefit these students. The dogs will go through obedience training and will be certified through the alliance of therapy dogs. Chief Clark requested the support from the School Committee on implementing this program in the schools. All members of the committee, all principals in attendance and all central office administrators agreed that this was a great program and expressed their excitement in bringing this to the schools. 2. Town of Reading Energy Reduction Plan Presentation and Discussion Mr. Brandt moved, seconded by Mrs. Nazzaro to take out of order item E2, En= Reduction Plan. The roll call vote carried 6-0. Mr. Brandt, Mrs. Gaffen, Ms. McLaughlin, Mrs. Nazzaro, Mr. Robinson, and Mr. Wise.l Town Manager Mr. LeLachem provided background on the Reading green communities energy reduction draft plan. Community Development Director Julie Mercier, and Megan Aki explained that over the past five years, the Town of Reading has been working towards designation as a Green Community. The town is working to finalize the Energy Reduction Plan before the application deadline for designation by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on December 30, 2021. The Energy Reduction Plan includes Town, School and RMLD buildings and vehicles. The energy reduction plan includes establishing a baseline inventory for municipal buildings and facilities, street and traffic lighting and vehicles as well as demonstrating a reduction of 20% of energy use over five years. Mrs. Mercier explained the steps that were taken to develop the towns energy reduction plan 1. Understand existing conditions and opportunities identified in the audits 2. Identify factors that impact project feasibility and timing over the 5 -year time horizon 3. Select projects, assign timelines, and determine potential funding sources Mr. LeLacheur explained that achieving Green Community status would unlock grant funding for the town. They stated they would be presenting the final version to the Select Board on December 7m and then return to the School Committee meeting on December 10. Page 13 3. School Improvement Plan Review and Aooroval Mr. Brandt moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson to take out of order item E3, school improvement plan. The roll call vote carried 6-0. Mr. Brandt, Mrs. Gaften. Ms. McLauehlin, Mrs. Namara, Mr. Robinson, and Mr. Wise.l Dr. Hardy introduced the principals in attendance. Principal of Barrows Mrs. Beth Leavitt explained what the School Improvement Plan is, and how it was developed. Principal of Birch Meadow Dr. Stephen Burnham explained the role of the School Council according to DESE. Principal of Joshua Eaton Mrs. Caitlin Shelburne shared the district goals for the School Improvement plan which were developed collaboratively with district leadership over the summer. Principal of Wood End, Mrs. Joanne King shared the themes and trends of the school's improvement plans, she explained the two main themes were the need to strengthen the systems that support student learning and the need to support student access to rigorous instruction at all levels. Coolidge Principal Mrs. Sarah Marchant discussed the steps established by the district leadership team to address these trends. Principal Mr. Kevin Tracey stated that this year each building principal created a video for their school communities. The next steps will be to share the written plans and videos with school communities. Results of SIPS will impact ongoing strategic planning and next year's plans. The committee thanked the leadership team for their work on these plans and liked the addition of the videos to the SIPS. Mr. Brandt moved, second by Ms. McLauehlin to accept the school year 2021-22 School Improvement Plan. The roll call vote carried 6-0. Mr. Brandt, Mrs. Gaffen, Ms. McLauehlin. Mrs. Nazzaro. Mr. Robinson. and Mr. Wise.l 4. FY 2022-2023 Budeet Guidance Mrs. Bottan reviewed examples of School Committee budget guidelines being used by School Committees from surrounding towns. All examples were included in the packet. Mrs. Bottan has requested that the School Committee provide Budget Guidance for the FY22-23 budget process that the Administration can use to anchor the budget development. The committee engaged in conversation and brainstorming to begin the process to develop budget guidance. Some of the key themes included mental health and wellbeing of all students, reducing full day Kindergarten tuition, resources for professional development, improved or increased offerings at the high school, etc. 5. Strategy for Subcommittee Creation with Roles and Responsibilities Mr. Brandt stated that there has been discussion of an expanded use of Subcommittees and or Advisory Committees, he asked the committee to discuss its strategy and intent with respect to creating additional subcommittees. Within the packet, included a list of subcommittees that surrounding towns currently have in place. The committee discussed the expectations of these subcommittees and when they should be created and utilized. 6. Policy EBCa Discussion on Approach to Consider Changes Page j 4 Mr. Brandt and other members of the committee had previously requested bringing Policy EBC forward for review. The committee acknowledged that there are multiple ways to address to policy review when there may be substantive changes to be made, which could include a referral to the Policy Subcommittee or the assignment of one or more members to focus on drafting revisions for a policy reading at an upcoming meeting. The committee did not agree on how to move forward with policy changes. Therefore, the Policy will have to be taken up by the Committee as a whole at some point in the future, likely after the Budget meetings in January. E. Adjournment Mr. Robinson moved, seconded by Mrs. McLaughlin to adjourn. The roll call vote carried 6-0. Mr. Brandt, Mrs. Gaffen, Ms. McLaughlin, Mrs. Namara, Mr. Robinson and Mr. Wise. The meeting adjourned at 10:46 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: School Committee 12-02-2021 - YouTube Paye 1 5