Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-02-17 School Committee Minutes - DraftOPq - �E�EI-VEU °. Town of Reading =' TOUCLERK Meeting Minutes R;-HTPiG FAQ 2922 AUG 31 PM 2:41 Board - committee - Commission - Council: School Committee Date: 2022-02-17 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, Tom Wise, Carla Nazzaro, Chuck Robinson, Shawn Brandt and Sarah McLaughlin Members - Not Present: Others Present: Superintendent Tom Milaschewski, Director of Finance Susan Bottan, Smirtha Srinivasan Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Samantha LaPlerre 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. B. Routine Matters I. Public Input Mr. Wise called for public comment. 2. Consent Agenda 3. Reports Smritha Srinivasan stated the drama club present three shows of the Murder on the Orient Express over the weekend. Members of wrestling team are going to states. Gymnastics team is undefeated and will be going to Sectionals. The jam hand has their first competition tonight. The culture club celebrated the Chinese New Year where everyone made firecrackers out of decorative paper and ribbon. The first Mr. RMHS judge was confirmed. Dr. Milaschewski stated he would be presenting his entry findings later in the meeting. Mrs. Susan Bottan welcomed Kate Finnegan as the new Finance and Business analyst. Mrs. Bonan thanked a group of 9 staff and community members that has been working together to Page 1 1 develop a high quality website and will be presenting a recommendation to the leadership team soon. Mrs. Nazzaro board of library trustees met on Monday and rescinded the mask mandate at the library. They appointed a member to the ARPA subcommittee. They filled the equity and social justice director position. Mrs. Gaffer—No Report Mr. Wise stated there a was a request for a community garden which will be for review and approval on the next agenda. Mr. Robinson stated the recreation committee met last night to discuss alternative locations and solutions for youth teams during the turf field project. Ms. McLaughlin permanent building committee met and delayed the Parker roof project by a year due to a supply delay. Mr. Brandt stated that Finance Committee dissolved their ARPA subcommittee and appointed members to the new Select Board ABPA subcommittee. He stated discussion about a new Fin Com website and town accountant Sharon Angstrom discussed free cash projections for the next few years. Dr. Hardy stated she is looking forward to the first February Vacation academy next week. She stated Reading will be launching a literacy leadership team, this team will work together to discuss evidence -based literacy and analyze current student trends and data and come up with next steps to improve professional development and implementation of new curriculum materials. C. New Business I.Coolidge Math Challenge Mr. Brandt moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson to take out of order item El Coolidge Math Challenge. The vote carried 6-0. Mr. Brandt, Mrs. Gallen, Ms. McLaughlin, Mrs. Nazuro, Mr. Robinson and Mr. Wise. Mrs. Leonard introduced three 61h grade Coolidge students Cat Honer, Peter Misticawi and Jayson Encamacao. The students shared their experiences with illustrative math, which is a new curriculum that sixth graders are using to learn. The students challenged the committee to solve a math problem using illustrative math. 2. Select Board ARPA Advisory Committee Appointment Mr. Wise state the Select Board has decided to form the ARPA Advisory committee. The School Committee will need to assign two members to this new committee. Mr. Wise and Mr. Brandt were appointed to serve on the advisory committee. 3. FY22 Ouarterly Budeet Undate & Vote Mrs. Borten stated a second quarter financial overview of the School Departments FY22 budget spanning the period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 with remaining requirements and projected end year budget. Mrs. Bottan stated she would be happy to answer any questions. Mr. Brandt moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson to approve the following budget transfers between cost centers as detailed in the packet: $50.000 from Regular Day to District -wide Technology. $55,000 from Special Education to District -wide Health Services and $64,680 Page 1 2 from Special Education to Regular Day. The vote carried 6-0. Mr. Brandt, Mrs. Gallen, Ms. McLaughlin, Mrs. Nazzaro, Mr. Robinson, and Mr. Wise. 4. Sumlus Material Disposal Vote Mrs. Bottan stated that the school technology department has identified SMART white boards and projectors in classrooms K-12 that are at end of life and are no longer functional. To ensure compliance with the surplus disposition requirements of Massachusetts procurement law MGL Chapter 30B, we ask that the School Committee declare the items outlined in the memo as surplus property. Mr. Brandt moved, seconded by Mrs. Namara per MGL Chanter 301E to declare as surplus property 174 SMART boards and 168 prosectors as detailed in the packet, and direct the school department to take appropriate steps to recycleand / or dispose of these items. The vote carried 6-0. Mr. Brandt, Mrs. Gaffen, Ms. McLaughlin, Mrs. Nazzaro. Mr. Robinson. and Mr. Wise. 5. Superintendent Mid -Year Formative Introduction & Goals Review Dr. Milaschewski-presented a mid -year updated on his progress towards his Superintendent goals He discussed the outlined the goals in detail and discussed specific progress towards goal R4 around coaching, developing, and supporting school leaders. He discussed the fpm -pronged approach in principal professional development, which included 1:1 coaching, DLT/ Principal meetings, curriculum meetings and leadership meetings. 6. Superintendent & Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Leaming Entry Plan Updates Dr. Milaschewski shared his initial finding from his entry process into the Reading community, merged with what Dr. Hardy has learned through her entry process. He discussed a variety of entry activities with stakeholders that have been conducted since July, and shared the core strengths of the staff, community, communication, extracurricular opportunities, and student experience based off of feedback from these entry activities. Dr. Milaschewski discussed in detail the 3 main strategic objectives which included redesigning schools, coherent instructional systems, and supportive and safe learning environments. He thanked all the stakeholders that have engaged with him through the entry process. Dr. Milaschewski outlined his entry plan core values of excellence, equity and collaboration. He then went on to discuss the finding in the context of redesigning school during and post pandemic including major focus areas of: Pandemic Impact, Human Resources, Access (FDK, METCO, Math Pathways, multiple High School improvements, etc.), Time on Learning, and Raising the Academic Bar. He further explained improvements necessary to further implement coherent instructional systems including Curriculum Implementation, Assessment Systems, Multi -Tiered Systems of Support. Finally he concluded by focusing on safe and supportive learning environment improvements by improving culture, environment inclusivity and expanding community engagement. D. Old Business 1. Veteran's Memorial Presentation & Vote Page 1 3 Mr. Bohmiller presented an update and overview of the placement and design of the Vietnam Veteran Memorial that will be placed on the RMHS property in honor of all those from Reading who served during the Vietnam War. The project and ongoing maintenance will be funded by The Reading Veterans Memorial Trust Fund along with donations. 2. Policy EBCFA — Face Coverings Update. Discussion & Vote\ Dr. Milaschewski provided an update on data relating to COVII}l9. He gave an update on positive student and staff cases by week, student transmission by school and student and staff vaccination rates by school. He stated that within the packet is a letter outlining a recommendation for the EBCFA policy discussion, signedjointly by the RPS Superintendent, RPS Director of Nursing Mary Giuliana, Reading Teachers Association President Eric Goldstein, Reading Director of Public Health Ade Solarin, and the Reading Public Schools Physician Francisco Brincheiro, MD. Dr. Milaschewski discussed the logistics of lifting the mask mandate and the ongoing mitigation strategies. Director of Nursing Mary Giuliana provided reasoning on how and why the leadership team decided on this recommendation to make masks optional. Mr. Robinson thanked the staff and community for all their feedback and expressed his support of this recommendation. Ms. McLaughlin expressed that she supports this recommendation but believes there needs to be a plan in place for if there is an outbreak in the future and that the administration continues to make data driven choices that are best for the students. She offered amendments to the policy including mask optional when transmission rates are low, changing the effective date to March T°, and that Dr. Milaschewski can implement masks if needed. Mr. Brandt expressed the reasons he has come to the decision to support mask optional. He also offered amendments to the policy which included a set of clear guidelines for when masking may be necessary again based on community transmission, and clearly delineated authority for the superintendent's response on a limited basis as necessary and asked for the effective date for mask optional be March T". Mrs. Gaffen stated she would be supporting the recommendation of the leadership team and thinks it is important that the administration can implement masks in a quick manner if needed. Mrs. Namara read a prepared statement and expressed her support in the recommendation from the leadership team and to allow parents, families, and staff to choose. She stated that it is important to have grace and compassion during this time of transition. Mr. Wise stated that based on the data, trends, and vaccination rates he is in favor of rescinding the policy effective February 28'°. Page 14 Dom Sorrentino, Glenmere Circle Requested the committee allow for mask optional for the mental health of the students. Brian Paulsen, John Carver Rd. Stated that is important to teach the kids that school is a safe place to go and asked to lift the mask mandate today and not wait until February 2P. Chris Haley, Tennyson Rd. Stated it was important to allow mask optional for to the mental health of the students which has increased due to the impact of the pandemic. Alicia Williams, Marla Lane Thanked the committee for their time and opinions and agree with the recommendation. She asked about the plans for the flexi-glass in schools. Andrena Silva, Beaver Rd. In favor of going mask optional, allowing families to choose, and let kids be kids. She stated the kids are suffering. Tim Mathieu, BriamoodAve. In favor of removing the masks. He stated there is no long -tens data about masking of children and the effects that it has on their mental health. Erin Olivera, Hancock St. Stated that the kids desperately need the masks to be removed, and stated healthy children should not be masked. Evan Pallera, Overlook Rd. Stated that it was time to remove the masks. Ed Ross, Kennsington Ave. Thanked the administration for their time on this matter. Brian Carry, Haverhill St. Asked that the committee end the mandate, he stated the town as rescinded the mandate and DESE and the administration recommend, we move to mask optional. Adjournment Mr. Brandt moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson to adjourn. fhc vote carried 6-0. Mr. Brandt, Mrs. Gaffen, Ms. McLauehlin. Mrs. Nazzaro, Mr. Robinson. and Mr. Wise. The meeting adjourned at 10:50p.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, 02-17-2022 - YouTube Page 15