HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - SC - 08/09/2017 a
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Cohasset School Committee Meeting
School Committee Minutes
Wednesday, August 9, 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, Business Manager
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,Jennifer Madden-Present.
Pledge-Recited.
Invitation to Speak-None
Approval of Warrant-Motion by Mrs. Dugan to approve Warrant 18-02S,seconded by Mrs. Stefan.
Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye,Jennifer Madden-Aye. Mrs.
Maher abstained from the vote.
Superintendent's Report-Retirement Letter-Superintendent Demas distributed a letter of resignation
from the Deer Hill school nurse Mary Mastromarino effective 8/31/17. Mrs. Dugan asked if the
committee could get a forecast of salaries. Mrs. Demas stated when the hires are complete they can
work on that. Motion by Mrs. Dugan to accept the retirement letter of Mary Mastromarino, seconded
by Mrs. Stefan. The vote was 5-0.
Gifts-Mrs. Demas stated they received a check for$2000 from the Friends of Cohasset Football to help
with the costs of operating the summer fitness program at the Cohasset Middle High School. Motion by
Mrs. Dugan to accept the gift of$2000 from the Friends of Cohasset Football, seconded by Mrs.
Stefan. Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye,Jennifer Madden-
Aye. Mrs. Maher abstained from the vote.
Mrs. Demas stated they received a check for$5000 from the South Shore Playhouse Associates. Athletic
Director Ron Ford discussed briefly the upgrades to benches, scorer's table and new signage that the
money will be used for. Motion by Mrs. Dugan to accept the gift of$5000 from the South Shore
Playhouse Associates, seconded by Mrs. Stefan. Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,
Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Jennifer Madden-Aye.
Mrs. Demas stated they received a check for$4000 from the Clark Chatterton Fund to staff the summer
fitness and weight training program for grades 6-12 and to purchase additional spin bikes and strength
training equipment. Motion by Mrs. Dugan to accept the gift of$4000 from the Clark Chatterton Fund,
seconded by Mrs. Madden. Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye,
Jennifer Madden-Aye. Mrs. Maher abstained from the vote.
Mrs. Demas stated they received a donation from Dr.Aaron Chenette for mouth guards totaling$3100
for the varsity football team. Dr. Chenette explained how he would custom fit and create the mouth
guards. Motion by Mrs. Maher to accept the gift from Dr. Chenette,seconded by Mrs. Dugan. Roll
Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Jennifer
Madden-Aye.
Mrs. Demas stated they received a check for$95,000 from the Cohasset Education Foundation for the
final disbursement for the implementation of the Learning Commons project at the Middle High School.
Cindy Matheison and Jennifer Ognibene were present. Mrs. Ognibene is now the President of CEF. Mrs.
Ognibene gave an overview of the new space and all the community fundraising. Motion by Mrs.
Dugan to accept the gift of$95,000 from the CEF and reallocate unused grants totaling$3959.81 as
requested,seconded by Mrs. Maher. Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne
Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Jennifer Madden-Aye.
Update on Facilities/Building Maintenance-Mrs. Demas thanked the Kennedy Garden Center for all of
the work on the projects outside of the building. The buildings will be ready for the opening day of
schools. The new desks are coming in to the Middle High School. Mr.Tuffy stated the new cleaning
/janitorial process is working out well. They will have to scramble a little with the Deer Hill and Osgood
Schools due to the Recreation Department use for summer camps but they do not expect any delay.
The Committee had a brief discussion about setting up a walk through with SRO St. Ives sometime after
the beginning of the school year to update the security list. Mrs. Maher will contact Jennifer Souretis to
set up.
SC Comments and Communications-Mrs. Maher met with Mr.Tuffy and Chris Senior about Capital
Budget. Brian Joyce has a new assistant, Michelle Leary and she will be the keeper of the Capital
Request Spreadsheet. Mr. Senior stated if the school had any equipment needs or facilities projects for
under$10,000 he would put forward to STM for approval. She suggested the Committee think about it.
She stated the gym floor at the Cohasset Middle School has not been restored in 13-15 years and that
could be a project. They discussed possibly having a traffic study on Pond Street done to look into
possibly widening the street with a turning lane. Mrs. Maher stated it was a positive discussion with
Chris Senior. Mrs. Dugan reported speaking to Mr. Senior about the dormant accounts. Town counsel
has notified him that they do not need town meeting approval. They can transfer to gift accounts. The
Treasurer/Collector is looking into this. Mr. Senior also stated they have preliminary numbers for free
cash which is approximately$900,000-$1 million. It is positive and robust cash flow. The majority of the
money will be transferred to stabilization funds. Mrs. Dugan attended the SEPAC meeting. They have
named Kelly McGhee as President and Amanda Zani as Vice President. Mrs.Astino advised the
Committee there is an AEC meeting on 8/21/17 for anyone that would like to attend. Mrs. Maher stated
the security subcommittee will be meeting with the CPD in the next two weeks. The Superintendent
evaluation sub-committee has scheduled meeting with Mrs. Demas.
The committee scheduled a 2nd meeting for SC goals on 8/29/17.
School Committee Calendar 2017-18-Chairman Astino and Mrs. Dugan met with Mrs. Demas and
plugged in dates and moved some things around. Mrs. Dugan will update the list and circulate it.
Minutes-Motion by Mrs. Maher to approve the minutes of 7/12/17, seconded by Mrs. Dugan and the
vote was unanimous(5-0).
Motion by Mrs. Maher to approve the minutes of 7/19/17, seconded by Mrs. Dugan and the vote was
unanimous (5-0).
Chairman Astino asked for a motion to go into Executive Session for Exception#3-Strategy in
preparation for Collective Bargaining with Union Personnel. 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,Jennifer Madden-Aye.
The Committee went into executive session at 8:43 p.m.
The Committee exited executive session at 9:56 p.m. on a motion by Mrs. Maher, seconded by Mrs.
Madden, Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,
Jennifer Madden-Aye.
The Committee adjourned open session at 9:57 p.m. on a motion by Mrs. Astino, seconded by Mrs.
Maher. All-Aye
Documents Used at the Meeting
Retirement Letter E-1
Gifts E-2
Draft Annual SC Agenda F-1
Minutes 7/12/17 & 7/19/17