January 22, 2025

Minutes of the

Monson School Committee

Regular Meeting

January 22, 2025

Present: Chair Alison Morgan; Vice-Chair Jamie Murphy; Secretary Karen Nothe-Valley; Committee Member Peter Wiggins; Director of Business and Operations Leah Zippin; Interim Superintendent Roland Joyal and Recording Secretary Haley Ketterman

Note: This meeting was video recorded.

Mrs. Morgan called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

Mr. Wiggins read off the MPS mission statement.

Student Representative report:

Julia Royce - ECC

-This Friday will be a Frozen themed / blue & white day for students and staff.

-Early release day @ 11:30 on Friday 1/24/25.

-Benchmark scores from Amplify will be going out to families soon.

-Pre-K and Kindergarten screenings will be taking place the last week in March. Information will be going out to the public the first week of February.

Sophia Galarneau - GV

-January PBIS incentive will be taking place on Friday the 24th. Students will have options to choose from for the fun event such as; flashlight reading, crafts, olympic partner relay and an escape room.

-Granite Valley has enjoyed having the Girls & Boys Varsity Basketball teams help with the Basketball Buddies Program.

- Granite Valley has kicked off its annual fundraiser partnered with PTSA and My Boosters. This year the ECC will also be joining GV with the fundraiser. GV is raising funds for field trips, school supplies and other fun school activities. The ECC is hoping to raise enough money to install a fence around the playground.

Julia Royce - MHS

-Student Council spirit week / winter carnival week will be taking place the week before February break. Shout out to Miss P and Degnan for planning the fun events.

-Thanks to all who attended and participated in the Coaches vs Cancer game, it was a great turnout.

-First semester is just about completed, congrats to all who have worked hard on midterms and finals.

Minutes approval

January 8, 2025 minutes approval

Mrs. Morgan makes a motion to approve the January 8, 2025 regular business meeting minutes.

Mrs. Murphy seconds

Roll call was placed:

Mr. Wiggins - Yes
Ms. Nothe-Valley - Yes
Mrs. Murphy - Yes
Mrs. Morgan - Yes
Motion carries 4-0

Public session opened @ 7:04 PM

Closed public session @ 7:05PM

Subcommittee and Liaison reports

-Finance Subcommittee:

Ms. Nothe-Valley gave the update on the Finance Subcommittee, they met on January 16th and discussed the FY26 budget and the Superintendent search. Ms. Nothe-Valley stated that with the TriBoard meeting and all of the other Finance Subcommittee meetings that have recently taken place, they are in a pretty good place right now and everyone is well informed. Ms. Nothe-Valley stated that the Finance Subcommittee talked about what the next steps are that Administration is doing for the FY26 budget.
The second item that was discussed was the consideration of using MASC for the Superintendent search and the direction that they see moving forward in the search.

-Policy subcommittee:

Mrs. Murphy reported that the Subcommittee is looking into Policy GBEBD:Crowdfunding, and would like to revamp this policy a bit and by creating a form for crowdfunding. The changes in the policy will be prepped for the next Policy Subcommittee meeting and to be moved on to first read. Mrs. Morgan asked if there will be any delineation within the policy? Typically, crowdfunding is for larger purchases or donations, and wants to ensure that teachers aren’t nervous when asking for items such as wipes and tissues when filling out the form. Ms. Nothe-Valley stated that they talked about those various considerations and best practices at the subcommittee meeting.
Therapy Dog Policy: Mrs. Murphy stated that the policy is currently on hold at the moment, they are waiting to hear back from the attorney and will proceed at the next meeting.
MCAS Graduation: Mrs. Murphy reported that the Policy Subcommittee created an MHS Graduation Requirement that will go to first read at the next meeting.

-Curriculum subcommittee:

Mrs. Morgan gave the update on the Curriculum Subcommittee: The subcommittee looked at the Curriculum Mapping that has taken place over the past year. Mrs. Morgan stated that there was a delay due to the High School teachers and how different each teacher's schedule may be due to how many different courses they teach in a semester or year, so it changes how much mapping that specific teacher has to complete. Mrs. Morgan confirms that they are still moving forward and it will still be posted but instead of posting all at once, they will be posting in chunks by grade levels.
Curriculum Software : Mrs. Watts sent out a survey to staff to see what software is being utilized to determine what software will be phased out. They are also looking at user reports, if there is overlap between applications, etc. to help with the process.
Comprehensive Health / Physical Education framework : The subcommittee is looking at grade 9-12 standards. Mrs. Watts has met with the Health teachers combing through the curriculum page by page to see what they are already teaching in regards to the framework and what they think they should be implementing moving forward and also what grade level. Mrs. Morgan stated that at the Curriculum Subcommittee meeting the subcommittee had multiple questions regarding the framework, and that Mrs. Watts will be following up with the teachers regarding their questions. Mrs. Morgan is hopeful that they will be able to bring the 9-12 framework to the committee soon once it’s all finalized for discussion, and then proceed to the next part.

Old Business

-Permanent Superintendent search: Mrs. Morgan gave the update on using MASC for the search and the importance of ensuring the process is done well, making sure we get good applicants in, ensuring that the whole process is done fairly and equitably. Within the committee they discussed the cost of the search and with the ability to shift things around in the school budget to fund the search. Mrs. Morgan acknowledges that they must be careful with how they fund it, but there is a way to move forward.

-Mr. Wiggins stated that with what he heard from the last meeting that using MASC for the search would be the best approach, but did inquire if it is the cost that is holding us back?

-Mrs. Morgan said that with these types of things there isn’t a line item number, so in these cases as an unexpected cost they must pull elsewhere.

-Mr. Joyal confirmed that they would have to pull from a line, they aren’t sure what line at this time but like Mrs. Morgan stated it’s an unexpected cost and has to be done.

-Ms. Nothe-Valley has a high degree of confidence for MASC, and another bonus was that if the incoming Superintendent did not stay for at least 2 years - MASC would complete the search process again for no charge.

-Mrs. Murphy echoes the thoughts for utilizing MASC for the search.

Ms. Nothe-Valley makes a motion to proceed in engaging with MASC in the superintendent search.

Mrs. Murphy seconds

-Ms. Nothe-Valley asked just for clarification and confirmation on the MASC price proprosal of $14,000? Mrs. Morgan said that the search is $12,000 - the flyers & extras are $2,000 more. Mrs. Morgan thought that with this district being digital based anyways that wouldn’t be necessary for the added extra package.

Ms. Nothe-Valley is comfortable with moving forward with the motion.

Roll call was placed

Mr. Wiggins - Yes
Ms. Nothe-Valley - Yes
Mrs. Murphy - Yes
Mrs. Morgan - Yes
Motion carries 4-0

-Mrs. Morgan will reach out to Tracy the rep from MASC.

Scheduled Meetings:

-February 5th & 26th Regular Business Meeting @ 7PM

-February 5th @ 6PM Policy subcommittee

-February 26th @ 6PM Finance subcommittee meeting

-March 12th @ 6PM Curriculum subcommittee

-March 12th Regular Business Meeting @ 7PM.

-Facilities Subcommittee TBD at the next Regular Business Meeting

Mrs. Morgan makes a motion to adjourn to executive session at 7:26PM executive session (Second by Mrs. Murphy)
Motion Carries 4-0

Documentation for this meeting:

Agenda January 22, 2025

Distributed at meeting:

Meeting minutes for approval: January 8, 2025

Approved by Committee:

________________________________________

Ms. Nothe-Valley, Secretary