Minutes of the Monson School Committee Regular Business Meeting May 25, 2022 Members of the public who wish to participate virtually in this meeting may do so in the following manner: https://zoom.us/j/83335374757 Meeting ID:833 3537 4757 Present (In-person): Chair Colleen Flynn; Vice Chair Emily Graves-Harrison and Committee Members Jackie Watts, Alison Morgan; Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Clarke; Director of Student Services Suzanne Tetrault; Director of Business and Operations Leah Zippin; Director of Curriculum and Instruction Katherine Watts; 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 Kathryn Peterson joined the meeting via conference call at 7:41 p.m. Note: This meeting was recorded by M-Pact TV and Zoom. Ms. Flynn called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Ms. Morgan read the Mission & Vision Statements. Announcements/Recognition: The high school Athletic Awards ceremony is May 26, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. Senior Awards night will be held on May 31, 2022, 6:30 p.m. at the high school. The Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) will hold a meeting on June 1, 2022, 6:00 p.m. at Quarry Hill Community School (QHCS). The parade of senior graduates within the district schools will take place on June 2, 2022 after graduation rehearsal. Community Day for the Early Childhood Center (ECC) is scheduled for June 3, 3033 at 9:30 a.m. Students will welcome members from the Police, Fire and Highway departments. Graduation will be held on June 3, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. with a rain date of June 4, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. The ECC has a field day planned for June 7, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. June 8, 2022 is Field Day at Granite Valley School (GVS). Kindergarten graduation is June 10, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. June 10, 2022 Grade 6 End of Year Ceremony. Dr. Clarke thanked GVS teacher Mrs. Murphy’s husband who is a cameraman at WesternMass News. He visited the GVS students today along with Meteorologist Janna Brown. Minutes: Motion by Ms. Graves- Harrison to approve the February 17, April 14 and May 12, 2022 Regular Business Meeting Minutes and the April 14,
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2022 Public Budget Hearing Meeting Minutes as presented. (Second by Ms. Morgan) No discussion Motion carries 4-0 Student Representative Report: GVS students Maddie Graves-Harrison and Mia Hudak presented the following report in person: Spirit Week is this week, themes included My Hero, Tropical Tuesday, Wacky Wednesday, Wear Your Favorite Hat and Spirit Day (wear your blue and white or school tee shirts). There was a Luau Dance for 5th and 6th graders on May 20, 2022. It was well attended and the concession stand made $255 off snacks. Thanks were given to the numerous teachers and staff that chaperoned for free on their own time: Mr. Trivisonno. Mrs. Hudak, Ms. Bauman, Ms. LaChance, Ms. Darling, Mrs. Rocketfield-Sias, Mrs. Ford, Ms. Clifford, Mrs. Casimiro, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Nichols, Mrs. Jurczyk, Mrs. Dean, Ms. Pagliaro, Mrs. Greene, Mrs. Watts, Mrs, Houghton and Mr. Hudak. Grade 6 students walked to the high school yesterday for a tour and got to meet some of the staff, principals, and some of the students. Grade 5 students will be taking a short trip downtown to the park for lunch and to hang out and celebrate moving to Grade 6. Grade 6 will take a field trip to Miller Park to eat lunch and play all kinds of games in celebration of leaving GVS and heading to Grade 7 at the high school in the fall. Field Day is coming up soon and Mr. Pagliaro is busy preparing for it. It’s time to paint the GVS rock. Grade 6 students, who drew out a design and it is chosen, will get to paint the rock this year. Some other students will be selected to help too. Grade 6 graduation and award presentations will be held June 10, 2022 in the auditorium. Superintendent’s Update: The GVS Whatever it Takes (WIT) Program staff hosted a very successful Family Cookout last Monday which Dr. Clarke attended. She added that it was such a good time and was so pleased to see everyone enjoy the evening. She thanked everyone that made it such a success. GVS Open House was held last Thursday and was very well attended. There was a lot of positive feedback from parents and community members. Grades 5 and 6 had a wonderful dance last Friday. Senior Signing Day was held on May 20, 2002 at the high school. Several dignitaries, Dr. Clarke and some of the School Committee members attended this event celebrating future plans for senior students. Dr. Clarke spoke about the sewage issue at GVS yesterday. She first thanked the Maintenance crew for identifying the problem and subsequently fixing it. GVS staff and students had to be evacuated to QHCS. The following steps were taken to do so and Dr. Clarke gave her thanks as follows: Immediately sent Connect-Ed out to families and posted on Facebook Staff and grades 1-5 walked to QHCS Grade 6 students that were at MHS walked to QHCS All students were given a bag lunch which they ate while at ECC Regular bus and van drivers picked up students at 11:30 a.m. Dr. Clarke thanked:
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GVS staff and administration for their help
GVS students for being awesome
Mrs. Tetrault and ECC staff for welcoming everyone
Mrs. Ketterman and Mrs. Martin in the ECC front office for assisting with parent pickups and phone calls
Food Services Staff for making over 400 bagged lunches in an hour and not missing a beat with serving the ECC and MHS regular lunchtimes
Bus and van drivers for interrupting their day and coming to get our kids
Mrs. Zippin, Mrs. St. Marie in the Central Business Office (CBO) for their assistance
She added that not one student came back from the buses, all made it home safely and everything is back to normal today.
Dr. Clarke spoke about the recent elementary school shooting in Texas adding that our hearts go out to everyone in their community. She sent a Connect-Ed message to families last night providing an overview of the districts safety measures and encouraged students and families to reach out for support in processing this incident. She held a conference call with administrators last night and a decision was made to hold brief faculty meetings before school today to check in with staff and provide any support needed. Mrs. Zippin reviewed procedures with bus and van departments when entering and exiting CBO doors. She let the Committee know that she was in all 3 buildings today and the climate in each was positive and principals reported no issues. Dr. Clarke stated that she had received approximately 6 emails from parents with great questions regarding procedures. She reviewed the Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuation (A.L.I.C.E.) concepts with students in grades 7 and 8 and grades 9-11. She noted that she reminded them of the importance of reporting any post they may see on social media. Dr. Clarke closed saying that we will continue to be vigilant as we always are and communicate to those in our school community any concerns.
The proposed high school schedule is still on-going. There will be a vote by the union members on June 6, 2022.
Mrs. Zippin stated that June 30, 2022 will mark the end of the statewide COVID testing program, so it will continue through the last day of school. The staff and students participating in the Extended School Year (ESY) summer program will be provided at home testing kits. Upon return to school in the fall, no testing will be provided though districts are encouraged to continue symptomatic testing at their own cost. Mrs. Zippin hopes to get an order for test kits in so as to build up a surplus to have on hand for the fall.
Dr. Clarke reported that the chickens, in the coop outside QHCS, are getting so big and starting to eat out of her hand.
Ms. Graves-Harrison requested that Dr. Clarke review the A.L.I.C.E. procedures for each grade level.
Public Session:
Ms. Flynn opened Public Session at 7:27 p.m.
No one came forward to address the Committee.
Ms. Flynn closed Public Session at 7:28 p.m.
Subcommittee and Liaison Reports:
Policy Subcommittee:
The Subcommittee met May 12, 2022 and reviewed several Policies making mostly language updates as recommended by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC).
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Motion by Ms. Morgan to accept the first read of Policies AC, ACAB, EC, ECA, FA and FF. (Second by Mr. Watts) No discussion Motion carries 4-0 New Business: There was a parental request from Ms. Kortekamp for her daughter, Jacklynn Santaniello to enter into Kindergarten prior to the Entrance Age Policy requirement. Ms. Kortekamp gave the Committee the reasons why she felt her daughter was ready to attend Kindergarten and Ms. Tetrault reviewed her Kindergarten Screening Summary stating that Jacklynn scored a 33 out of a possible 35 on the DIAL-4 assessment that was administered. Ms. Waterson, who conducted the assessment, had no area of concerns about Jacklynn. There was a brief question and answer period and a short discussion. Motion by Ms. Flynn to waive the Kindergarten Entrance Age Policy requirement for Jacklynn Santaniello to begin Kindergarten this coming year. (Second by Mr. Watts) No further discussion Roll Call Vote Ms. Morgan Yes Mr. Watts Yes Ms. Graves-Harrison Yes Ms. Flynn Yes Motion carries 4-0 Ms. Kortekamp thanked the Committee for their consideration. Action Items: Reschedule Finance Subcommittee-June 9, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. Change June 9, 2022 Working Meeting to 5:45 p.m. Ms. Flynn requested that Dr. Clarke’s evaluation binder be picked up. Individual evaluations need to be completed and sent to her by June 1, 2022. She will complete the Summative Evaluation by June 7, 2022, prior to the Working Meeting. Ms. Flynn asked that all Committee members attend the June 3, 2022 graduation, if possible. Motion by Ms. Flynn to adjourn to Executive Session under M.G.L. Chapter 30A, 21a: Purpose #2 - To conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel, to return to Open Session. (Second by Mr. Watts) No discussion Motion carries 4-0 Adjourned to Executive Session at 7:45 p.m. Committee Secretary Kathryn Peterson joined the meeting during Executive Session via conference
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call at 7:46 p.m. Returned to Open Session at 8:09 p.m. Ms. Flynn reported that the Committee has voted to appoint Colette Bidus to the position of Director of Student Services effective July 1, 2022. She congratulated and welcomed her. Ms. Flynn thanked Katie Czarniecki for being such an integral part of the Monson Public School District. Motion by Ms. Graves-Harrison to adjourn Open Session. (Second by Mr. Watts) No discussion Motion carries 5-0 Open Session closed at 8:14 p.m. Documentation for this meeting: April 28, 2022-Regular Business Meeting Agenda February 17, 2022-Regular Business Meeting Minutes-DRAFT April 14, 2022-Public Budget Hearing Meeting Minutes-DRAFT April 14, 2022-Regular Business Meeting Minutes-DRAFT May 12, 2022- Regular Business Meeting Minutes-DRAFT Policies AC, ACAB, EC, ECA, FA and FF Presented at meeting: N/A Approved by Committee: _________________________________________________ Kathryn Peterson, Secretary