HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - SC - 03/22/2017 A
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Cohasset School Committee Meeting
School Committee Minutes
Wednesday, March 22, 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 7:05 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 17-195,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.
Finance-Monthly Update-Mr.Tuffy advised the Committee the school budget summary looks a lot like
last year's budget. They should be fine by year end. They have started seeing money come in for spring
sports and Kindergarten registration. Two of the grants for SpEd Program Improvement and SpEd Early
Childhood are showing negative balances. They are negative because the funds are encumbered on a
purchase order that doesn't need to be paid for a while. The Committee had a brief discussion of how
encumbrances work in the budget.
Bus Maintenance Update-Mr.Tuffy stated bus maintenance budget is good. They have done the
necessary preventative maintenance. Mrs. Maher asked about mileage on the Mini Bus#1. The mileage
has not changed since November. Mr.Tuffy will look into.
Budget FY18 Vote-Mr.Tuffy stated the 37t"version of the budget should be the final version. He noted
a couple of changes on page 14, line#234 Instructional SpED ESP Salaries decreased and page 18 line
#284 Instructional SpED Salaries decreased as well. There were increases on page 17, line#277 and line
#278 CHS Classroom Teachers and SpED Teachers' salaries. All of that was changed without changing
the bottom line. Motion by Mrs. Dugan to approve the proposed FY18 Budget in the amount of
$18,895,656,seconded by Mrs. Maher. Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne
Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Amanda Zani-Aye.
School Committee Comments and Communication-Report of sub committees of school committee-
Chairman Astino attended the Annual Spelling Bee at the Deer Hill School. It was a great event.There
are amazing spellers in the district. State Rep.Joan Meschino attended as well. Chairman Astino
emailed some info to the Committee about a Green Community grant that could benefit the schools as
well as the town. Mrs. Dugan attended the Master Plan Committee meeting. They are currently at the
data gathering phase and will be over the next few months. They will then hire a consultant and if Town
Meeting approves it they may hire a town planner. They have also been reviewing the 2004 master
plan. She will circulate the summary of the visioning process to the Committee since it involves the
schools. The Safe Harbor Coalition will host an open meeting on Monday 3/27 with the Walpole Police
Chief as the speaker. They will discuss marijuana laws. Mrs. Stefan stated she and Mrs. Zani met with
the Superintendent for a few changes to some policies and they will bring back to the school committee
with an update.
Minutes-Motion by Mrs. Maher to approve the minutes of 2/27/17, seconded by Mrs.Zani and the
vote was unanimous(5-0). Motion by Mrs. Dugan to approve the minutes of 3/16/17,seconded by
Mrs. Stefan and the vote was unanimous(5-0).
Chairman Astino asked for a motion to go into executive session for Exception#3-Strategy related to
negotiation with union personnel; bus drivers. The Committee will return to public session to
adjourn. Motion moved by Mrs. Maher,seconded by Mrs. Zani. 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 7:55 p.m.
Motion by Mrs. Zani to adjourn Executive Session at 8:43 p.m.,seconded by Mrs. Maher. Roll Call
Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Amanda Zani-Aye.
Motion by Mrs. Maher to adjourn open session at 8:44 p.m., seconded by Chairman Astino. Roll Call
Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Amanda Zani-Aye.
Documents used at the Meeting
Monthly Update F-1
Bus Maintenance Update F-2
Budget FY18 F-3
Minutes 2/27/17 & 3/16/17