HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - SC - 06/21/2017 T CQ%ASSET O
Cohasset School Committee Meeting
School Committee Minutes
Wednesday,June 21, 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
Call to Order and Roll Call-Chairman Astino called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. Roll Call Vote;
Barbara Stefan-Present, Katie Dugan-Present,Jeanne Astino-Present, Ellen Maher-Present,Jennifer
Madden-Present.
Pledge-Recited
Invitation to Speak-None
Warrant-Motion by Mrs. Dugan to approve Warrant 17-26S,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 advised the Committee they will close out the grants in the positive.
They received the final grant on June 6th which wraps up the year. He stated there would be additional
payroll, utility bills, supplies and textbooks that would total approximately$140,000 out of the surplus.
Mr.Tuffy suggested that they invest$280,530 in pre-paid tuition. The Committee had a discussion.
Motion by Mrs. Dugan to allow Mr.Tully to go ahead with $280,530 in pre-pay SPED tuition,$25,000
to Town for the Special Education Reserve Fund,allocate$60,000 to transportation revolving account,
seconded by Mrs. Maher. Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye,
Ellen Maher-Aye,Jennifer Madden-Aye.
Bus Maintenance-Mr.Tuffy advised the Committee that the buses will be sent out to New England
Transit for thorough inspections and preventative maintenance.The cost is approximately$600 per bus.
All buses will be inspected and ready to go for next year. The process to auction off the two surplus
vehicles will be a summer project. Mr.Tuffy is working on a new 6 month lease of the buses (as opposed
to an extension), with all terms and conditions the same as the previous lease.
Superintendent's Report-Deer Hill School Handbook-Principal Dr.Jennifer deChiara thanked Sue
Skieber, Louise Demas& Carolyn Connolly for their work on the district parent/student handbook.
1
Deer Hill School Improvement Plan Dr. deChiara reviewed the Deer Hill School improvement plan and
the 3 goals of the Deer Hill School as follows; Promote the social and emotional well-being of students,
Ensure that all students are able to achieve their potential and Implement district-wide Technology
Strategic Plan with a focus on building-level goals. Mrs. Dugan requested that there be some closeout
or report on the FY 17 SIP accomplishments.
High School Handbook/Middle School Handbook-Principal Carolyn Connolly stated there were a couple
of things that have to be cleaned up with the High School handbook. The biggest work they did was
redacting things that would be in the district handbook. The only other change they made was to omit
gum chewing as an offense. The high school students wanted it out and she agreed it wasn't necessary.
The Committee made some suggested changes to the handbooks. Mrs. Maher requested that Mrs.
Connolly review the section on Co-Curricular activities regarding the captain's council to validate if the
original captain's council even exists anymore. There were also some newer interscholastic sports
missing from the list. Mrs. Connolly agreed to review the whole section as it hasn't really been updated
in some time. Mrs. Dugan requested that there be a statement of student responsibilities with regards
to devices and BYOD.
Cohasset Middle/High School Improvement Plan-Mrs. Connolly discussed the goals of the school as
follows;To increase awareness of SEL(social emotional learning) in curriculum and student supports,To
improve cultural and systemic practices at the middle school to improve middle level students' learning
experiences and Implement BYOD (bring your own device). She discussed where they currently are with
each goal. Mrs. Dugan questioned the fact that Goal#2-To improve cultural and systemic practices at
the middle school to improve middle school students' learning experiences was nearly complete. She
stated the Committee got an update in April and were advised that they were 1/3 of the way there. A
lengthy discussion ensued. Superintendent Demas suggested Mrs. Connolly and Mrs. Sandler come
back and solidify the process of the Middle School Study and present to the committee.
District Handbook-Mrs. Demas reviewed the changes to the District Handbook. The Committee had
some additional edits. The Committee thanked Mrs. Demas for the handbook. Mrs. Demas stated that
they are keeping on Sue Skieber as a consultant after Patrick Sullivan (the permanent Assistant
Superintendent) starts July Is'. They are working on a name for her position and she will be relocated to
the Middle/High School. Mr. Sullivan has been in the office a few times and is ready to go.
Enrollment Update-Mrs. Demas reported there are no changes in enrollment over the past month.
Gift-Mrs. Demas stated they have received a gift of$3181.00 from the High School Basketball Boosters
Club for Assistant Coaches. Motion by Mrs. Dugan to accept the gift of$3181.00 from High School
Basketball Boosters,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.
Discussion on the Benchmarking Strategy- Mrs. Maher completed the annual benchmarking and the
documents were distributed for review for the next meeting. Mrs.Astino encouraged all members to
think about the benchmarking and what we want to measure going forward considering the amount of
changes happening in assessments.
Sue Skieber advised the Committee they got a deal for$170 for Chromebooks so parents can order for
their children in Cohasset.
2
Superintendent's Evaluation-Mrs. Astino stated she has summarized the Committee's thoughts on the
evaluation and Amanda Zani participated in the process. Mrs. Astino read aloud the summary of the
comments. She reviewed the goals and the overall evaluation was proficient. The Committee thanked
Mrs. Demas for all of her work over the past year. Mrs. Demas thanked everyone and stated the
evaluation is very fair. She spoke about Goal #2-Middle School and stated she would have graded
herself lower than they did. She agrees this goal needs much more work. She will continue to really
think it through. She feels the Middle School Study goal should be more defined.
Business Appointment of Interim Manager-Mrs. Astino stated Mr. Tuffy has received a waiver and will
stay on as the Interim Business Manager for another year. Motion by Mrs. Maher to appoint John
Tuffy as Interim Business Manager for the 2017-18 year, seconded by Mrs. Dugan. Roll Call Vote;
Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Jennifer Madden-Aye.
Reading of Policy JECA-Enrollment of the Children of School Department Personnel-2"d Read-The
Committee reviewed the policy and after some discussion agreed to make changes and bring back for a
3rd read.
Report from sub committees of School Committee-Mrs. Astino stated the next AEC meeting has been
postponed until July. Cohasset received a two year grant for$177,400. Mrs. Dugan asked Mrs. Demas
to check with Brian Joyce and see what it planned for the schools. Mrs. Madden attended the Osgood
School Council meeting. She gave the Committee an update including; field trips, Kindergarten move up
day and the plans for an informal meet and greet for incoming Kindergarten students.
Minutes-Motion by Mrs. Maher to approve the minutes of 6/7/17 as amended, seconded by Mrs.
Madden and the vote was unanimous (5-0).
Motion by Mrs. Maher to adjourn, seconded by Mrs. Madden and the vote was unanimous (5-0).
The meeting adjourned at 11:00 p.m.
Documents used at the Meeting
Monthly Update F-1
Bus Maintenance Update F-2
Food Service Van Update F-3
Deer Hill Handbook G-1
Deer Hill School Improvement Plan G-2
High School Handbook G-3
Middle School Handbook G-4
Middle School Improvement Plan G-5
District Handbook G-6
Enrollment Update G-7
Gift G-8
Policy JECA H-1
Minutes 6/7/17
3