DRAFT COPY for distribution/ at the Regular Business Meeting-June 23, 2022
Minutes of the Monson School Committee Regular Business Meeting June 9, 2022 Hybrid Model Members of the public who wish to participate virtually in this meeting may do so in the following manner: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89920269452 Meeting ID: 899 2026 9452 Present (In-person): Chair Colleen Flynn; Vice Chair Emily Graves-Harrison; Secretary Kathryn Peterson; Committee Member Jackie Watts; Committee Member Alison Morgan; Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Clarke; Director of Business and Operations Leah Zippin; Granite Valley School Principal Joseph Trivisonno; Granite Valley School Assistant Principal Myriah Hudak; Monson High School Interim Principal Matthew Sullivan; Early Childhood Center Dean of Students/Special Education Coordinator Colette Bidus and Recording Secretary Karen Methe Virtual Attendance: Director of Curriculum and Instruction Katherine Watts Note: This meeting was recorded by M-Pact TV and Zoom. Ms. Flynn called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Mr. Watts read the Mission & Vision Statements. Announcements/Recognition: Grade 6 has a Send-Off/Award Ceremony on June 10, 2022, 9:30 a.m. at Granite Valley School (GVS). Kindergarten graduation will be held June 10, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. The high school will hold the underclassman awards on June 13, 2022. There will also be a staff and student basketball game June 13, 2022 at 12:45 p.m. Mr. Sullivan will host a Parent Information Session on the new high school schedule on June 13, 2022, 6:00 p.m. in the School Committee Room. Parents are encouraged to attend. Dr. Clarke thanked Mrs. Tetrault for her many years of valued service to the district as the Director of Students Services and Principal of the Early Childhood Center. Minutes: Motion by Ms. Morgan to approve the April 28, 2022 and May 25, 2022 Regular Business Meeting Minutes as presented. (Second by Ms. Peterson) No discussion Motion carries 5-0 Student Representative Report:
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No report Superintendent’s Update: Dr. Clarke reported that the end of the year activities for seniors were very successful. She added that the graduation ceremony was excellent. She thanked Mr. Sullivan, Ms. Czarniecki, Ms. Sorel, Mr. Dearing and the maintenance staff for all their hard work and dedication to ensure a wonderful Senior Week and graduation. The Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) held their last meeting of the year last week. Dr. Clarke thanked outgoing PTSA president Jaime Murphy for all her time and hard work and congratulated newly elected president Denise Newland and the new officers. She thanked the PTSA for all the effort put forth in planning and sponsoring such great events throughout the year. The second Clarke’s Corner episode is available for viewing. It features Ms. Tetrault, Mr. Trivisonno and Mr. Sullivan talking about what’s happening in their respective schools. There are more episodes to follow. Dr. Clarke stated that there are numerous job postings and some new hires are already in place for next year. The Extended School Year (ESY) Program is ready to begin after the 4th of July. Ms. Bidus is the Coordinator of the program and Dr. Clarke was very happy to announce that a nurse has been hired and will be on site daily. Dr. Clarke spoke in detail about the ongoing school safety discussions having met recently with Police Chief Kozloski. She noted that they would be applying for the Community Oriented Policing Services grant which helps significantly reduce the risk. She added that plans to ramp up the Alert Lockdown Inform Counter Evacuate (A.L.I.C.E.) Program are currently in discussion with the Administrative Leadership Team. Dr. Clarke is looking into the possibility of hosting an A.L.I.C.E. training with other districts. If that occurs, it allows the staff to participate at no cost to Monson Public Schools. Public Session: Ms. Flynn opened Public Session at 7:12 p.m. No one came forward to address the Committee. Ms. Flynn closed Public Session at 7:13 p.m. Subcommittee and Liaison Reports: Ms. Peterson asked Committee members if they had any questions or comments on recently revised Policies. They did not. Motion by Ms. Peterson to accept the second read of Policies AC, ACAB, EC, ECA, FA and FF and move to the third and final read. (Second by Ms. Flynn) No discussion Roll Call Vote: Mr. Watts Yes Ms. Morgan Yes
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Ms. Peterson Yes Ms. Graves-Harrison Yes Ms. Flynn Yes Motion carries 5-0 Finance Subcommittee: Ms. Graves-Harrison noted that the budget was reviewed and though it is slightly over it will be a wash with School Choice funding. She added that it is in good standing for next year. There was a request that the FY22 Variance be posted on the website. Old Business: Ms. Flynn stated that Dr. Clarke’s 2021-2022 Superintendent End-of-Cycle Report was reviewed, discussed and voted to approve at the Working Meeting held prior to this meeting. Dr. Clarke thanked the Committee for their overwhelming support adding her gratitude to continue to be able to lead the district. Mr. Sullivan spoke to the Committee on the new high school schedule. He stated that a Memorandum of Agreement has been adopted by the Monson Teachers’ Association to move forward with implementing it. He provided an overview to the Committee which included a middle level best practices teaming model for Grades 7 and 8. Mr. Sullivan noted that additional Advanced Placement classes are a part of the new schedule as well. He expressed his thanks to everyone involved in getting the schedule on track for the beginning of the 22-23 school year. Mr. Sullivan next spoke about researching cell phone usage for students during the school day. He explained a Policy that Chicopee High School has in place which has been extremely successful. He will be in touch with the Principal of that district to gather information to possibly implement into Monson High School. There was a brief discussion but Committee consensus was that this is an excellent initiative. He will keep the Committee updated as needed. New Business: Dr. Clarke distributed a hard copy of the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan for the Committee’s review. She will present and discuss it at the next meeting. Action Items: Add a 3rd read of Policies to the next meeting Agenda. Include the presentation of the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan to the next meeting Agenda. Ms. Zippin gave an overview of school lunch funding as requested. There will be a presentation at a subsequent meeting. Ms. Graves-Harrison would like a conversation to occur regarding liaison duties at the next meeting and asked that it be put on the next meeting Agenda. Ms. Morgan inquired about turning in student Chromebooks. Ms. Zippin stated that students in Grades 9-12 will turn theirs in because they are receiving new ones in the fall. Students in the other grades will keep their Chromebook over the summer and if anyone has questions or concerns, Ms. Zippin asked that they please reach out to Technology Director Mr. Schubach. Ms. Flynn thanked Mr. Watts for stepping into a vacancy and giving of his time to serving on the
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Committee. Other Committee members offered their thanks as well and told Mr. Watts that he will be missed. Ms. Flynn told Committee members that it has been a pleasure to work with each of them. She is currently up for re-election on June 14, 2022 and hopes to return, but if that wasn’t the case she would always be around in support of the amazing work the School Committee does. It was noted that the Zoom meeting time limit issue has been rectified. There is no need for Executive Session at this time. Motion by Ms. Morgan to adjourn Open Session. (Second by Ms. Peterson) No discussion Motion carries 5-0 Open Session closed at 7:41 p.m. Documentation for this meeting: June 9, 2022-Regular Business Meeting Agenda April 28, 2022-Regular Business Meeting Minutes-DRAFT May 25, 2022- Regular Business Meeting Minutes-DRAFT Presented at meeting: N/A Approved by Committee: _________________________________________________ Kathryn Peterson, Secretary