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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes - SC - 03/01/2017 T CQ%ASSET O Cohasset School Committee Meeting School Committee Minutes Wednesday, March 1, 2017 Cohasset Middle-High School Community Use Room 143 Pond Street Cohasset, MA In Attendance: Jeanne Astino, Chairman Katie Dugan Ellen Maher Barbara Stefan Amanda Zani Also in Attendance: Louise Demas, Superintendent John Tuffy, Interim Business Manager Sue Skeiber, Interim Assistant Superintendent Call to Order and Roll Call-Chairman Astino called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Present, Katie Dugan-Present,Jeanne Astino-Present, Ellen Maher-Present,Amanda Zani-Present. Pledge-Recited Invitation to Speak-None Chairman Astino asked the Committee to change the order of the agenda to accommodate Rep. Meschino &Senator O'Connor. Motion by Mrs. Maher to change the order of the agenda, seconded by Mrs. Dugan and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Rep.Joan Meschino&Senator Patrick O'Connor-Rep. Meschino &Senator O'Connor updated the Committee on the common core standards, Kindergarten grants,the House&Senate Draft FY18 budget, Charter School legislation and Opioid legislation.The House is fighting for 75%circuit breaker funding. Senator O'Connor stated he is personally planning to appeal common core and the MTA is against it. The SC had a brief discussion about testing and concerns comparing year over year results with the constant changing of tests. Supt. Demas commented that 1/3 of the school days are spent in testing and assessments. Senator O'Connor stated the budget is currently with the House. They expect a vote on the recommended budget by the second week in April then it will go to the Senate. Senator O'Connor stated he is against the Charter School expansion and will continue to fight against it. The SC expressed their concern with the cut of the SRO supplemental appropriation. Senator O'Connor and Rep. Meschino have been and will continue to fight for some type of help from the State as they understand the importance of the position. Other topics included the unfunded (State) mandate of SBIRT screening. Warrant-Motion by Mrs. Dugan to approve Warrant 17-17S,seconded by Mrs.Stefan. Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye,Amanda Zani-Aye. Mrs. Maher abstained from the vote. Middle-High School News-Student Representative Jane Cavanaro stated 26 students returned from the Model UN trip. It was a great experience with over 3000 delegates representing over 200 countries. The Debate Team placed in the Top 10 Finals. The Semi-Formal was very successful this year with lots of students attending. Dodgeball starts the week of the March 17th. Mr. Skipper will take place next Friday. All winter sports are now in tournament. Spring Sports will start 3/19/17. Finance-FY18 Budget Discussion-Mrs. Demas stated all building principals are here tonight to answer any questions about their budgets. Mrs. Maher asked what the principals did and how they were able to come to the proposed budget while keeping it so that that educational priorities are met for all students. Osgood Principal Lisa Farrell & Deer Hill Principal Jennifer deChiara presented their budgets. They discussed the changes they made and how they are still able to offer the same programs to the students. Cohasset Middle/High School Principal Carolyn Connolly and Director of Student Services Mary Buchanan were present. They explained how they worked within the proposed budget and kept the student services a priority. Ms. Connolly discussed how they are making the budget work within the current resources. Teachers are being creative with learning initiatives. Ms. Connolly discussed co- teaching. She discussed classes offered and class size. Ms. Buchanan discussed special education positions and number of students in special education. Mr.Tuffy reminded the Committee the public hearing on the budget will take place on 3/15/17. The budget is pretty much in final form. Technology Update-Mrs. Skeiber advised the SC they are moving forward very well with technology this year. The teachers at Deer Hill and Osgood have reported that students are engaged in ways they hadn't been before. There is excitement in the classrooms with the students. This summer's work has paid off tenfold. At the Middle High School,there are officially six classes that are participating in BYOD. There is a Professional Development Day scheduled for next Friday titled Contribute, Collaborate & Share day for Middle/High School. There will be workshops for Google Docs, Slides and Sheets. There will be a panel discussion on Google Classroom. The last part of the day they will be preparing a lesson that they can use in the classroom. The Elementary teachers will work on project based learning and technology. They will discuss which apps are working and which need help. Deer Hill will be working with Google Classroom as well. Mrs. Skeiber stated they are also preparing for computer based MCAS testing and they are working on email accounts for grade 9-12 students. There is a lot going on and they are prioritizing everything. SC Comments&Communications-Update on Warrant Article-Special Education Stabilization Fund/MMA-Mrs. Dugan advised the SC she attended the BOS meeting last night and reviewed the proposed Article#21. The Board of Selectmen voted to put the article on the warrant for Annual Town Meeting. Mrs. Dugan discussed the changes she made to the article. The SC had a brief discussion. Motion by Mrs. Dugan to approve the proposed Article#21 to Amend and Re-Allocate Special Education Stabilization Fund, seconded by Mrs. Maher. Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Amanda Zani-Aye. Reports from sub committees of SC-Mrs. Maher attended the Middle/HS School Council meeting yesterday. They discussed the Middle School survey, SBIRT Screening for 7th and loth grade students. They discussed transitional ESP's and how they get students back into a full day class and the model that they are using. Mrs. Dugan attended the Selectmen's meeting last night and the Town Hall Renovation Advisory Committee gave an update. They are planning to submit an article to Special Town Meeting in the fall for construction plans. The project would then be approved and funded at ATM in FY19. Mrs. Dugan stated if the construction does go forward the Town Elections would be re-located to the schools for FY19 and FY20 so the SC should consider this when putting together school calendars over the next couple of years. Mrs. Dugan stated the Master Plan Committee met and they will be hiring a consultant to help with the master plan. They are currently in the data collection period. Minutes-Motion by Mrs. Maher to approve the minutes of 2/1/17 as amended, seconded by Mrs. Stefan and the vote was unanimous (5-0). Motion by Mrs. Maher to approve the minutes of 2/15/17 as amended,seconded by Mrs.Zani and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Chairman Astino asked for a motion to go into executive session for Exception #4 for a discussion about security. Motion moved by Mrs. Dugan and seconded by Mrs. Maher. Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan- Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Amanda Zani-Aye. The Committee went into Executive Session at 10:36 p.m. The Committee exited Executive Session at 11:34 pm Motion moved by Mrs. Maher and seconded by Mrs. Stefan. Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher- Aye,Amanda Zani-Aye. The Committee adjourned the open session at 11:35 pm Motion moved by Mrs. Maher and seconded by Mrs. Zani Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher- Aye,Amanda Zani-Aye. Documents Used at the Meeting FY18 Budget Info F-1 Article#21 Info Minutes 2/1/17 & 2/15/17