HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - SC - 05/24/2017 T CQ%ASSET O
Cohasset School Committee Meeting
School Committee Minutes
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Cohasset Middle-High School
Community Use Room
143 Pond Street
Cohasset, MA
In Attendance: Jeanne Astino, Chairman
Katie Dugan
Ellen Maher
Barbara Stefan
Jennifer Madden
Also in Attendance: Louise Demas, Superintendent
John Tuffy, Interim Business Manager
Sue Skeiber, Interim Assistant Superintendent
Chairman Astino called the meeting to order at 7:19 p.m. Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Present, Katie
Dugan-Present,Jeanne Astino-Present, Ellen Maher-Present,Jennifer Madden-Present.
Pledge-Recited.
Agenda- Mrs. Astino requested that the AEC update and request be moved to the next meeting.
Invitation to Speak- Resident Maura Jane Rodgers-14 Oak Street updated the Committee that she and
her husband met with Superintendent Demas about an incident with her son that she reported on
5/10/17 to the SC. They have made some progress and will meet again. Chairman Astino advised Mrs.
Rodgers that the Committee takes her concerns very seriously and they have read through the material
she submitted and the district is following the process.
Approval of Warrant-Motion by Mrs. Dugan to approve Warrant 17-245,seconded by Mrs. Stefan.
Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye,Jennifer Madden-Aye. Ellen
Maher abstained from the vote.
Finance Monthly Update-Mr.Tuffy stated the receipts for next year's bus fees should start to arrive.
They will send a reminder out about the June Is'deadline via Blackboard and Facebook. Mr.Tuffy
reviewed the Circuit Breaker receipts that have starting coming in. Mr.Tuffy explained that the IDEA
Special Education balance is currently showing a negative balance. They have received a payment on
5/1/17 and this grant now shows a positive balance.
Bus Maintenance Update-Mr.Tuffy reported there is nothing remarkable with the transportation log.
All the buses had inspections. Two of them were being repaired at the time of inspections and now are
ready for inspection stickers as well. Mr.Tuffy presented a mileage/maintenance log for the food
service van, which will become a monthly report. Mr.Tuffy will contact the bus company and ask about
the status of the lease extension as previously discussed. Mr. Tuffy will begin the process of advertising
the surplus buses as for sale as the town has no interest.
Superintendent's Report-Winter Sports Athletic Update-Athletic Director-Ron Ford reported that the
number of participants for winter sports are stable. He is still collecting winter user fees and Booster
donations. He is looking into the ski team user fees as they are not covering all of the cost of lift tickets
for Saturday races. The SC had a brief discussion about the report. Mr. Ford will report out how many
families hit the family user fee cap in the winter season.
Class Size Grade 6-12-Principal Carolyn Connolly distributed the class size projections for each grade.
She cautioned that at this point it is hard to project middle school. The High School class projection sizes
were reviewed. The total enrollment listed is the real number. The range of low to high class sizes are
estimated at this point. The Committee had a brief discussion.
Enrollment Update-Superintendent Demas reported the enrollment is up just one student in Grade 3.
They will continue to monitor.
School Committee Comments and Communications-SPED Stabilization Policy-1s' Read-The Committee
discussed the policy and made some minor edits.
Reports from sub committees of school committee-Mrs. Maher stated the budget &finance
subcommittee is meeting next Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. The CMHS School Council met yesterday and
discussed the School Improvement Plan which encompasses social emotional learning,the CMHS BYOD
rollout and implementation including data collection, and the Middle School review. Mrs. Dugan stated
the town has started the process of hiring a town planner. They also started the process to find a
replacement for Finance Director Mary Gallagher. The town is hoping to have a transition period before
she retires. Mrs. Dugan distributed the latest cherry sheet from the State for Chapter 70 which remains
flat. Mrs. Stefan stated she and Mrs. Madden will be scheduling a policy meeting soon. Mrs. Stefan
attended the SEPAC presentation on Monday and it was a fantastic presentation by Sara Ward.
Chairman Astino stated she has reached out to the Town Manager and the new Chairman of the Board
of Selectmen to schedule their monthly meetings.
Minutes-Motion by Mrs. Maher to approve the minutes of 5/10/17,seconded by Mrs. Dugan and the
vote was 4-0-1. Jennifer Madden abstained from the vote.
Motion by Mrs. Maher to approve the minutes of 5/17/17 as amended,seconded by Mrs. Dugan and
the vote was unanimous(5-0).
Chairman Astino asked for a motion to go into Executive Session for Exemption#3-Strategy in
preparation for union negotiations. The Committee will reconvene to public session to adjourn.
Motion moved by Mrs. Dugan, seconded by Mrs. Maher. Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie
Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Jennifer Madden-Aye.
The Committee went into executive session at 9:16 p.m.
The Committee exited executive session at 10:10 pm on a motion by Mrs. Maher, seconded by Mrs.
Astino, Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,
Jennifer Madden-Aye.
The Committee adjourned open session at 10:11 pm on a motion by Mrs. Maher, seconded by Mrs.
Dugan,All Aye
Documents used at the Meeting
Monthly Budget Update H-1
Bus Maintenance Log H-2
Winter Sports Update 1-1
Enrollment Update 1-2
SPED Stabilization Policy J-1
Minutes 5/10/17& 5/17/17