HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - SC - 03/15/2017 a
\ T CQ%ASSET�
Cohasset School Committee Meeting
School Committee Minutes
Wednesday, March 1S, 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
Chairman Astino called the regular meeting back to order at 7:08 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
Approval of Warrant-Motion by Mrs. Dugan to approve Warrant 17-18S,seconded by Mrs. Stefan.
Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye,Amanda Zani-Aye. Ellen
Maher abstained from the vote.
Middle/High School News-Jane Cavanaro stated Mr. Skipper was named on March 10th. The dodgeball
tournament started today. It is Spirit Week this week. Next week there is MCAS testing. Spring sports
start the season on Monday. The girls' basketball and boy's hockey teams made it far in the
tournaments.
Superintendent Report-Gifts-Mrs. Demas stated they received a check in the amount of$4722.68 from
Cohasset PSO for teacher grants to the Joseph Osgood School. Motion by Mrs. Dugan to accept the gift
of$4722.68 from Cohasset PSO for teacher grants for the Joseph Osgood School, seconded by Mrs.
Maher. Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,
Amanda Zani-Aye. President of Cohasset Education Foundation Cindy Matheison presented the
Committee with a check for$100,000 toward the implementation of the Learning Commons project at
the Cohasset Middle/High School. She gave the details of the project. Motion by Mrs. Dugan to accept
the gift of$100,000 from the CEF for the Learning Commons project, seconded by Mrs. Stefan. Roll
Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Amanda Zani-
Aye.
Middle School Music Festival Trip-Stephanie Moriarty &Justin Bleier discussed their proposed trip on
Friday,June 2, 2017 for Middle School and Chorus students. They have approximately 100 students.
They leave at 9 a.m. and return to Cohasset by 8 p.m. Motion by Mrs. Maher to approve the Cohasset
1
Middle School Music Festival Trip on June 2,2017,seconded by Mrs. Zani. Roll Call Vote; Barbara
Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Amanda Zani-Aye.
Allergy Protocol-Superintendent Demas gave an overview of the protocol. There was an emergency
about a week ago at one of the schools and everything went well. All classrooms are allergy aware
school wide.
EMC Presentation-Principal of Deer Hill School Jennifer de Chiara gave a history of the program. She
discussed the purposes and objectives of the different programs offered. She showed a video created
by the students that participate in the program.
Enrollment K-12-Mrs. Demas gave the Committee an update on enrollment. The enrollment and class
size hasn't changed a great deal. They now have current very accurate information. The Committee had
a brief discussion about a few classes that are running with under 10 students. Mrs. Demas will look
into further.
Professional Development Update-Interim Assistant Superintendent Sue Skeiber gave a presentation of
the March 10th professional development day. At the Elementary level they focused on project based
learning&technology. The Middle/High school level they had a variety of workshops of Google Apps
and other technology. Early feedback was encouraging. Mrs. Skeiber is still sorting through surveys
from the workshops. The staff all worked well together and shared their information.
Superintendent Mid-Cycle Evaluation-Mrs. Maher gave an explanation of what the evaluation was
about. The next step is for Mrs. Maher and Mrs. Zani to meet again with Mrs. Demas for a final update.
Mrs. Demas discussed her S.M.A.R.T. goals and gave the Committee an update on them. She discussed
some of her strengths and areas she will continue to work on.
Senior Citizens Sports Fee-Mrs. Demas stated a resident recently spoke with her and asked if it would be
possible to have a couple of handi-capped parking spots at the high school closer to the gym. Mrs.
Demas has spoken with Director of DPW Brian Joyce and he is looking into. The resident also suggested
that perhaps the school could award senior citizens free admission to home games as an honor of
supporting schools. Mrs. Demas has spoken with Chief Quigley and he agreed to issue a lanyard with
the resident's picture as a Grand Skipper. This would be a good way for the students to recognize the
elder residents.
Motion by Mrs. Maher to approve a senior citizen guest pass for Cohasset Senior Citizens, seconded
by Chairman Astino. Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen
Maher-Aye,Amanda Zani-Aye.
School Committee Comments and Communications-Report from sub-committee-Mrs. Dugan advised
the SC that the Town's attorney came back with a small edit for the SpED Stabilization Fund warrant
article in the informational summary portion. There is no change to the article itself. Chairman Astino
stated the SC will meet with Advisory Committee on 3/23/17 about the budget and changes to the SpED
Stabilization Fund. Mrs. Dugan stated Capital Budget will discuss on Monday 3/20/17. Chairman Astino
reminded the Committee they are scheduled to meet with the Board of Selectmen tomorrow night to
discuss the budget. AEC is meeting on Monday 3/20.
Minutes-Motion by Mrs. Maher to approve the minutes of 3/1/17 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 Exemption#3 Strategy with
respect to litigation. The Committee will return to public session to adjourn. Motion moved by Mrs.
Dugan,seconded by Mrs. Stefan. 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 9:54 p.m.
2
Motion by Mrs. Maher to come out of executive session at 10:35 p.m., seconded by Mrs. Stefan. Roll
Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Amanda Zani-
Aye.
Motion by Mrs. Dugan to adjourn the open meeting at 10:36 p.m., seconded by Mrs. Maher. Roll Call
Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Amanda Zani-Aye.
Documents used at the Meeting
Gifts F-1
Middle School Music Festival Trip F-2
EMC Presentation F-3
Allergy Protocol F-4
Enrollment K-12 F-5
Class Size Grades 6-12 F-6
Professional Development Update F-7
Minutes 3/1/17
3