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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - SC - 10/07/2015 `GSA P ' .T COhASSCT O - Cohasset School Comm ttee Meet g School Committee Minutes Wednesday, October 7, 2015 Cohasset Middle-High School Community Use Room 143 Pond Street In Attendance: Jeanne Astino, Chairman Mary McGoldrick Ellen Maher Katie Dugan Barbara Stefan Also in Attendance: Barbara Cataldo, Superintendent Dave DeGennaro, Business Manager Chairman Astino called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and asked for a motion to go into executive session for Exemption #3-to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining for teachers. The Committee will resume in public session. Mrs. McGoldrick moved the motion, seconded by Mrs. Dugan. Roll Call Vote; Mary McGoldrick-Aye, Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye. The Committee went into executive session at 6:02 p.m. The Committee came out of executive session and back into public session at 7:09 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance-Recited Motion by Mrs. McGoldrick to move the Protocols discussion until later in the agenda, seconded by Mrs. Maher. Roll Call Vote; All Aye. Deer Hill Library Dedication Discussion Chairman Astino stated there is protocol and a policy in place for naming or dedicating rooms/school. Kathleen Jordan-Grade 3 teacher at Deer Hill School read a letter of support from the teachers of Deer Hill School proposing to name the Deer Hill Library after Marjorie Murphy. Chairman Astino read aloud the school committee policy on dedications. Superintendent Cataldo was charged with creating an ad hock committee. There will be a public hearing scheduled. Mrs. Cassiani former 51h grade teacher at Deer Hill and Dr. DeChiara also read a letter of support. Invitation to Speak Lauren Winter-Special Education at Osgood School read a letter on behalf of Cohasset teachers urging the Committee to work and settle a fair contract with teachers. The letter was signed by teachers at Deer Hill, Osgood and Cohasset Middle/High School. Philip Mahoney-24 Wood Way spoke to the School Committee on behalf of parents asking them to work with the teachers and settle their contract. He asked the Chairman how they got to the point of mediation. Chairman Astino explained they had many negotiating sessions and mediation is the next step to help resolve the contract. Maggie Moy-33 Ledgewood Drive also asked the School Committee to work with the teachers and the town leaders to get the contract settled. Jack Buckley-272 Main Street asked the School Committee why they are not supporting the teachers. Motion by Mrs. Maher to move the approval of minutes to the end of the Superintendents Report, seconded by Mrs. McGoldrick. Roll Call Vote;All Aye. Superintendent's Report Gifts Superintendent Cataldo advised the Committee that Shaw's Supermarket has donated a check for$400 to the Cohasset Schools. Two Shaw's employees were present. Motion by Mrs. McGoldrick to accept the gift of$400 from Shaw's Supermarket,seconded by Mrs. Dugan. Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan- Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Mary McGoldrick-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye. AP Awards Superintendent Cataldo read aloud the list of students who received AP Awards. There are 3 categories; AP Scholar,AP Scholar with Honor and AP Scholar with Distinction. Professional Development Calendar FY16 Superintendent Cataldo distributed the Calendar for Professional Development. All teachers attend and ESP's participate in other professional development events. Strategic Plan Superintendent Cataldo stated they are currently putting together a survey and a press release should be going out soon. They are trying to reach out to the teachers and parent community. PBIS Mr. LeCount-Principal of Osgood was present along with Dr. deChiara-Principal of Deer Hill. Mr. LeCount discussed the Positive Behavior Interventions and Support program used at the Osgood School. He discussed the management process. He spoke of the Department of Education's report which acknowledges the method of positive behavior does decrease negative behavior. This program allows data to be tracked and target where there needs to be intervention and support. Dr. DeChiara stated the Deer Hill program mirrors the Osgood. She discussed the three values at the school; be safe, be responsible and be respectful. These values are continuously strengthened. Maggie Moy-33 Ledgewood Drive asked if Sgt. Lopes,the new School Resource Officer is involved in the program. Mr. LeCount said he is involved and part of the program and students are responding well to him. Website Update Superintendent Cataldo stated the website is up and running. The school principals are updating it on a regular basis. They discussed some issues linking back that IT is working on and cleaning up junk on (Pass. Superintendent Cataldo will work on issues with Ron Menard. Minutes Motion by Mrs. McGoldrick to approve the minutes of 9/2/15 as amended, seconded by Mrs. Stefan. Roll Call Vote;All Aye. Motion by Mrs. McGoldrick to approved the minutes of 9/16/15 as amended, seconded by Mrs. Dugan. Roll Call Vote;All Aye. Warrant Motion by Mrs. McGoldrick to approve Warrant 16-07S as presented, seconded by Mrs. Dugan. Roll Call Vote;Jeanne Astino-Aye, Mary McGoldrick-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye, Barbara Stefan-Aye. Ellen Maher abstained from the vote. School Committee Comments and Communications Calendar-Discussion about Title of December Break The Committee discussed renaming the December break. Chairman Astino stated the Committee should be more sensitive before deciding on the calendar. Picture day this year was on a Jewish holiday and some parents were upset. Motion by Mrs. McGoldrick to rename Christmas Vacation to Winter Vacation,Winter Vacation to February Vacation and Spring Vacation to April Vacation,seconded by Mrs. Dugan. Roll Call Vote;All Aye. School Budget FY17 Mrs. Dugan stated the next Fiscal Forecasting meeting is on 10/15 and the topics to be discussed will be new revenue, hotel & meals tax. The next scheduled meeting is on 10/28 and the topics to be discussed are school enrollment, special education costs and unfunded mandates. Mrs. Dugan stated at their finance subcommittee meeting they discussed enrollment history. They will bring back information for the Committee to review with Mr. DeGennaro and Superintendent Cataldo's input on 10/21. Superintendent Cataldo advised the Committee that the enrollment information has not been uploaded to the state because the version of School Fusion is not compatible with DESE. She was just notified Monday and other towns had the same issue. They hoped to get the final number by 10/29. Mrs. Dugan and Mrs. McGoldrick discussed the draft budget priorities with the Committee. Mrs. Astino suggested putting the priorities on the website to get public input and show the public that the Committee does value their input. Mrs. Maher suggested the Committee outline and figure out what the educational goals are. The Committee made some edits to the background statement in the Budget Priorities document. MASC/MASS Questionnaire for DESE Chairman Astino received an email and read to the Committee. She will forward to the Committee. She encouraged members to email back any questions. Protocols Chairman Astino read aloud the School Committee Protocols. The Committee made a minor edit. Mrs. McGoldrick will edit and bring back to the Committee for approval of support. Report from subcommittees of the School Committee Mrs. Dugan updated the Committee that she attended a budget and finance subcommittee meeting. They discussed budget priorities. She also met with Chris Senior, Mary Gallagher and Barbara Cataldo to clarify an email sent out regarding a budget shortfall for Medicare and health insurance. She asked Mr. DeGennaro to send out information to the Committee. Follow Up and Updates Chairman Astino explained that she added this topic to the agenda to be sure that the Committee keeps track of items that need follow up. Mrs. Maher as Secretary of the Committee has offered to keep a running list. Mrs. Maher will circulate a list to the Committee periodically. Motion by Mrs. McGoldrick to adjourn, seconded by Mrs. Stefan. Roll Call Vote;All Aye. Meeting adjourned at 10:16 p.m. List of Documents used at the Meeting G1 Minutes 9/2/15 G2 Minutes 9/16/15 H1 AP Awards H2 Professional Development Calendar FY16 H3 PBIS J1 School Budget FY17