Minutes of the Monson School Committee Regular Business Meeting June 17, 2020 “Pursuant to Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting of the Town of Monson School Committee will be conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. Specific information and the general guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and/or parties with a right and/or requirement to attend this meeting can be found on the Town of Monson website, at www.monson-ma.gov. For this meeting, members of the public who wish to listen to the meeting may do so in the following manner: https://zoom.us/j/96790683816 Meeting ID: 967 9068 3816, no in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time, via technological means. In the event that we are unable to do so, despite best efforts, we will post on the Town of Monson’s website an audio or video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting. Present: Chair Jeffrey Lord; Vice Chair Emily-Graves-Harrison; Secretary Andy Dubois-White; Committee Members; Colleen Flynn and Kathryn Peterson Also Present: Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Clarke; Director of Counseling Robert Bardwell; Director of Student Services/Early Childhood Education Suzanne Morneau; Granite Valley School Principal Katherine Watts; Monson High School Principal William Metzger; Business and Finance Officer/Director of Transportation Michelle Loglisci; Massachusetts Teachers’ Association President Leah Zippin and Recording Secretary Karen Methe Note: This meeting was recorded using Zoom technology. Mr. Lord called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Clarke read the Mission & Vision Statements. Mr. Lord introduced and welcomed newly elected member Kathryn Peterson to the Monson School Committee. The meeting was then turned over to Dr. Clarke. Dr. Clarke stated that the next order of business was to re-organize the Monson School Committee and determine the other positions of the Committee. She reviewed the ground rules for nominations. Following, she opened the floor for nominations for Chair of the School Committee. Motion by Ms. Graves-Harrison to nominate Mr. Lord as Chair of the Committee. (Second by Mr. Dubois-White) No further nominations. Dr. Clarke closed the nominations. No discussion Dr. Clarke requested a roll call vote to accept the nomination of Mr. Lord as Chair of the Committee. Roll Call: Ms. Graves-Harrison Yes
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Mr. Dubois-White Yes Ms. Flynn Yes Ms. Peterson Yes Mr. Lord Yes Motion carries 5-0 Mr. Lord thanked the Committee members for their vote of confidence in him to continue as Chair of the Committee. Dr. Clarke congratulated Mr. Lord and turned the meeting over to him to continue with the selections and appointments. Mr. Lord opened the floor for nominations for Vice Chair of the Committee. Motion by Ms. Flynn to nominate Ms. Graves-Harrison as Vice-Chair of the Committee. (Second by Mr. Dubois-White) No further nominations No discussion Mr. Lord asked for a roll call vote to accept the nomination of Ms. Graves-Harrison as Vice-Chair of the Committee. Roll Call: Mr. Lord Yes Mr. Dubois-White Yes Ms. Flynn Yes Ms. Peterson Yes Ms. Graves-Harrison Yes Motion carries 5-0 Mr. Lord then opened the floor for nominations for Secretary of the Committee. Motion by Ms. Flynn to nominate Mr. Dubois-White as Secretary of the Committee. (Second by Ms. Graves-Harrison) Motion by Ms. Graves-Harrison to nominate Ms. Flynn as Secretary of the Committee. (Second by Mr. Lord) No further nominations Brief discussion Mr. Lord asked for a roll call vote to accept the nomination of Mr. Dubois-White as Secretary of the Committee. Roll Call: Ms. Graves-Harrison Yes Ms. Peterson Yes Mr. Lord Yes Ms. Flynn Yes Mr. Dubois-White Yes Motion carries 5-0 As Policy mandates, all Subcommittee liaison positions to the School Committee are assigned
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next. Assignments for Subcommittee liaisons were established. An updated list will be provided to Committee members. Announcements: The annual Town Meeting will be held on June 22, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the field at GVS. Dr. Clarke added that attendance is encouraged as several important school related warrants will be voted on. The Grab and Go Program will continue on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The last day of the program is June 29, 2020. Dr. Clarke thanked Mrs. Gustafson, the cafeteria staff, and the many volunteers for their tireless efforts in keeping the community fed. Recognition: Dr. Clarke praised Mr. Callahan, from the maintenance staff, for his unwavering effort and dedication to the Grab and Go Program. She also recognized and thanked everyone in the district, the Administrative Leadership Team, all staff members and families for their hard work, support and flexibility to students during the school shut-down. Dr. Clarke acknowledged and thanked Mrs. Cieplik for her 6 years of service to the district in the roles of Principal of Granite Valley Middle School and Director of Curriculum. Mr. Lord offered his thanks as well to Mrs. Cieplik. Minutes: Motion by Ms. Graves-Harrison to approve the May 27, 2020, Regular Business Meeting minutes as presented. (Second by Mr. Dubois-White) No discussion Motion carries 5-0 Subcommittee & Liaison Reports: Finance: The Subcommittee met earlier this week and the information will be reviewed in Agenda Item #8, a. FY 2021 Budget. Superintendent’s Report: Dr. Clarke stated that the school year has ended and report cards will be issued to all students. The Senior Parade was very successful and Dr. Clarke thanked the Police and Fire Departments for their support of the students and families. All Central Business Offices (CBO) at Quarry Hill Community School have been moved to POD 3 and the Early Childhood Center will occupy PODS 1 and 2. Dr. Clarke thanked the Highway Department for the parking lines they will create at the new CBO entrance. All CBO staff will return to the building on July 6, 2020. The Energy Service Company (ESCO) continues to examine the buildings. Student belongings have been distributed with Dr. Clarke adding that there are many leftover and can be claimed by notifying the administration at the appropriate school. Chromebooks for students in Grades 1-4 will be turned in to the Technology Department this week. Teachers have been invited into the buildings the week of June 29, 2020. Preference is being given
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to those that have moved classrooms. Dr. Clarke noted that anything to be discarded should be left in the hallway for maintenance to take away. The maintenance staff will be available to help in whatever way is needed. Dr. Clarke stated that she is waiting for updated guidance from the Commissioner of Education. Lengthy discussion followed about numerous scenarios of what the return to school would look like. Upon completion on the discussion Dr. Clarke noted that due to the fluid nature of any information, she feels it is best to wait for the Commissioner’s mandate to come out, adding that the staff needs to feel comfortable returning to the buildings as well. Old Business: Dr. Clarke thanked Mrs. Loglisci for her steadfast support with the budget. She reviewed the original FY21 budget information that had been previously supplied to the Committee. She outlined the cuts that were necessary due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that any additional funding received will be used only for students. Noting that Town Administrator Mr. Brassard has put forth an FY21 school budget of $10,777,000 to be approved at the upcoming Town Meeting, Dr. Clarke emphasized that any funds that may be returned to the district will go directly for student needs. She stated that the Chapter 70 funding has not yet been determined, possibly late summer. Dr. Clarke then outlined and reviewed information that she sent to the Committee regarding possible additional future cuts, if necessary. A brief discussion was held about COVID-19 expenses being reimbursed. Motion by Ms. Flynn to approve to FY21 school budget of $10,777,000 as presented by Dr. Clarke. (Second by Ms. Graves-Harrison) No further discussion Roll Call: Mr. Lord Yes Ms. Graves-Harrison Yes Mr. Dubois-White Yes Ms. Flynn Yes Ms. Peterson Yes Motion carries 5-0 Dr. Clarke will request that Ms. Johnston put the budget information on the website. New Business: Mr. Lord read the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) COVID-19 State Funding resolution as follows: WHEREAS, if schools are to re-open this fall in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is the responsibility of each school district to do so safely and responsibly; and WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of the state to ensure that each school district is able to pay for the enormous additional staffing, transportation and material expenses required to do this; and WHEREAS, the state cannot expect mandatory COVID-19 safety guidelines to be followed without also ensuring that each school district has the funds required to implement these guidelines; therefore, let it be RESOLVED: that the state must guarantee every school district full reimbursement for whatever
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COVID-19 expenses are required to follow state mandates. We must ensure a statewide school re-opening that is safe, responsible and equitable. THERE CAN BE NO UNFUNDED MANDATES FOR COVID-19. A brief discussion followed. Motion by Mr. Lord to endorse and adopt the MASC COVID-19 State Funding Resolution as presented. (Second by Mr. Dubois-White) Mr. Lord will sign on behalf of the Committee, per member consensus. Roll Call: Mr. Lord Yes Ms. Graves-Harrison Yes Mr. Dubois-White Yes Ms. Flynn Yes Ms. Peterson Yes Motion carries 5-0 Mrs. Methe will send the signed resolution to the all designated by MASC. Dr. Clarke requested 2 additional School Choice slots for Grade 11. Mr. Metzger added that there is room to accept the students. Motion by Mr. Dubois-White to approve 2 additional School Choice slots in Grade 11 as requested by Dr. Clarke. (Second by Ms. Peterson) No discussion Roll Call: Mr. Lord Yes Ms. Graves-Harrison Yes Mr. Dubois-White Yes Ms. Flynn Yes Ms. Peterson Yes Motion carries 5-0 Dr. Clarke noted that there are still available slots in some grades. Dr. Clarke stated that there was a parent request to waive Entrance Age Policy JEB. Sarah Casimiro, parent of Laila Casimiro, who will turn 5 on September 8, 2020, spoke to the Committee offering examples of Laila’s readiness to attend Kindergarten in the fall. Ms. Casimiro is a teacher in the district and Dr. Clarke added that she supports this request. Motion by Ms. Graves-Harrison to waive Policy JEB and allow Laila Casimiro to enter Kindergarten in the fall of 2020. (Second by Mr.Dubois-White) No discussion Roll Call:
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Mr. Lord Yes Ms. Graves-Harrison Yes Mr. Dubois-White Yes Ms. Flynn Yes Ms. Peterson Yes Motion carries 5-0 Dr. Clarke asked that Agenda Item #9d – Communication from Old Sturbridge Academy Charter School be tabled until further notice. Public session: Mr. Lord opened Public Session at 8:24 p.m. No one came forward to address the Committee. Mr. Lord closed Public Session at 8:24 p.m. Ms. Graves –Harrison spoke about support for Black Lives Matter and anti-racism. A resolution from MASC will be presented and discussed for endorsement by the Committee at the July 8, 2020 Regular Business Meeting. Review of Action Items: Regular Business Meeting dates were scheduled as follows: July 8 and 22, 2020 August 5 and 19, 2020 September 9 and 23, 2020 Mr. Lord will check into MASC’s Charting the Course for Ms. Peterson and possibly the entire Committee. Mr. Lord thanked former Committee member Mr. Shea for his service to the Monson School Committee and once again welcomed Ms. Peterson. Motion by Ms. Flynn to close Open Session. (Second by Ms. Peterson) No discussion Motion carries 5-0 Open Session closed at 8:32 p.m. Documentation for this meeting: June 17, 2020-Regular Business Meeting Agenda Budget FY21 Information MASC COVID-19 State Funding Resolution Distributed at meeting: N/A Approved by Committee: ________________________________________
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Mr. Dubois-White, Secretary