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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - SC - 07/22/2015 U T CQf1ASSE7 O Cohasset School Committee Meeting School Committee Minutes Wednesday,July 22, 2015 Selectmen's Office-Town Hall 41 Highland Avenue In Attendance: Chairman Jeanne Astino Mary McGoldrick Ellen Maher Katie Dugan Also in Attendance: Barbara Cataldo, Superintendent Call to Order and Roll Call Chairman Astino called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Roll call vote:All present. Chairman Astino asked for a motion to go into executive session for the purpose of Chapter 39, Section 29. The purpose of executive session is to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel, and to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with teachers; an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares. The Committee will reconvene in public session. Motion moved by Mrs. Dugan,seconded by Mrs. Maher. Roll Call Vote; Katie Dugan-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye. The Committee went into executive session at 6:05 p.m. The Committee came out of executive session and into public session at 7:40p.m. Pledge of Allegiance-Pledge recited. Chairman Astino asked for a moment of silence for Michael Sullivan who recently passed away. Invitation to Speak-None Superintendent's Report Bus Plan & Bus Coordinator Search Superintendent Cataldo stated they have hired a new bus coordinator and she will start on August 3, 2015. Mrs. Dugan stated she worked with David DeGennaro on a bus maintenance plan. They have met with Town Manager Chris Senior, Facilities Manager Mark Kelly, and Director of Facilities Brian Joyce. She gave a power point presentation and discussed the transportation coordinator position, gave an update on the vendor discussions, an update on discussions with the Town for potential areas for collaboration and the cost analysis of Maintenance Plan Options 1-3. The Committee had a lengthy discussion on a possible maintenance contract with New England Transit. They discussed the cost to 1 School Committee-7/22/15-TC transfer buses to Tyngsboro for maintenance and the turnaround time. Chairman Astino stated there are too many moving pieces to make a change this year. She would like to keep things the way they are for this school year. The Committee can explore and research carefully before they jump into something new. Superintendent Cataldo stated Mr. DeGennaro has more exploring to do. Chairman Astino asked Mrs. Dugan for a cost analysis per incident to get an idea of cost. Mrs. Dugan stated Option 2(which includes upgrading to NET maintenance contract and adding a shared part time maintenance personnel) would be working toward the goal that the Committee has discussed. She has confidence that this option can work the right way. It puts the town on the path to handle over half of the minor repairs on site. This option honors the direction that the town wanted to move in and what was discussed with the Capital Budget Committee. Superintendent Cataldo added that Mr. DeGennaro was on the receiving end of information in the past and now he is the one dealing directly with owners and he has established the beginning of what could be a great relationship. There is now a direct connection with the business manager. Kelly Dickson of 468 King Street (current bus coordinator)stated Options 2 & 3 do not take everything into consideration. NET doesn't send their sprinters out until after 930 a.m. due to traffic conditions. They do not provide coverage 24/7. Mark Puzella of 9 Clay Spring Road asked where the part time employee would be housed. Mrs. Dugan responded that dialogue has been started with the town on where space is available and how it can be used. Chairman Astino terminated the discussion and asked that the Committee look into further and discuss at the next meeting. Faculty Hires Update Superintendent Cataldo distributed an updated list to the Committee. School Committee Comments and Communications Anticipated School Committee Vacancy Chairman Astino stated the Committee will be moving forward and working with Board of Selectmen on the anticipated School Committee Vacancy. The Committee will have a joint meeting Tuesday to go through the process and next steps. The Committee discussed having one member from the School Committee and one member of the Board of Selectmen possibly to go through the applications. They discussed a press release and will advertise for the opening explaining the charge of the School Committee. The term is until the next spring election. Alternative Energy Committee Update-Policy Needed for Green Community Qualification Process Chairman Astino read aloud the policy and asked Committee members to review and sign at the next meeting. Administrative Technology Update New Website Superintendent Cataldo said the new website is in progress. Kerri Sandler has been working on it. She stated it will be up before school is back in session. She will give the Committee another update at the next meeting. Chairman Astino stated she will also have an executive session on the next agenda for an update on security. Barbara Stefan of 260 Jerusalem Road asked Superintendent Cataldo about the demographics in town and if school aged children are the fastest growing group. She suggested if that was the case, maybe they could change the allocation of funds. Mr. Senior stated he would like to do fiscal forum on trending population in the fall. Patty Gillis of 492 Jerusalem Road asked if Rob Bonnell was back working at the schools. She stated she thought he was fired after sending an inappropriate email to her. Superintendent Cataldo responded she was not prepared to talk about Mr. Bonnell tonight. Mr. Senior stated the town hired a new CIO and will be hiring a Deputy CIO as well. He also clarified that Mr. Bonnell resigned; he was not fired. He asked that the Committee not discuss personnel as it is not appropriate. 2 School Committee-7/22/15-TC School Committee Goals Chairman Astino stated the Committee attended a governance workshop recently and came up with 4 goals. She reviewed the goals and asked that the Committee look over and vote to adopt at the next meeting. The Committee discussed the process of approving the minutes. Mrs. Maher asked that the minutes be sent to the Committee or a member to free up the Superintendents time. Chairman Astino asked that minutes be forwarded to Mrs. McGoldrick to review. Finance Finance-Warrant 16-02S Motion by Chairman Astino to approve Warrant 16-02S, seconded by Mrs. McGoldrick. Mary McGoldrick-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye. Ellen Maher abstained. Topics not reasonably anticipated by the Chairman 48 hours in advance of meeting-None Chairman Astino asked for a motion for the Committee to go back into executive session for the same purpose as earlier and come out of executive session for the purpose of adjourning. Mrs. McGoldrick moved the motion, seconded by Mrs. Maher. Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye, Mary McGoldrick-Aye. The Committee went back into executive session at 9:56 p.m. Motion by Mrs. McGoldrick to come out of executive session, seconded by Mrs. Maher. Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye, Mary McGoldrick-Aye. Motion by Mrs. Dugan to adjourn, seconded by Mrs. Maher Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye, Mary McGoldrick-Aye. The meeting adjourned at 10:34 p.m. List of Documents used at meeting E-1 Bus Plan & Bus Coordinator Search F-1 Alternative Energy Committee Update F2 School Committee Goals 3 School Committee-7/22/15-TC