Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - SC - 12/06/2017 a \ T CQ%ASSET� Cohasset School Committee Meeting School Committee Minutes Wednesday, December 6, 2017 Cohasset Middle-High School Community Use Room 143 Pond Street Cohasset, MA In Attendance: Jeanne Astino, Chairman Katie Dugan Ellen Maher Jennifer Madden Also in Attendance: Louise Demas, Superintendent Patrick Sullivan, Assistant Superintendent John Tuffy, Business Manager Chairman Astino called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Roll Call Vote; Katie Dugan-Present,Jeanne Astino-Present, Ellen Maher-Present,Jennifer Madden- Present. Pledge-Recited. Invitation to Speak-None Approval of Warrant-Motion by Mrs. Maher to approve Warrant 18-10S,seconded by Mrs. Dugan. Roll Call Vote; Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Jennifer Madden-Aye. Chairman Astino advised we would be delaying the reading of policy JECA. Superintendents Report- Trips: Mr. Welch and Mr. Luivisi presented proposed trips to Harvard Model UN (1/25-1/28/18) and New York Model UN (3/2-3/5/18).The NY trip was added because the Harvard UN now limits schools to 16 students as more schools are participating. Mrs. Maher requested that after the trips, for students to present their experience to the School Committee.The trips were approved on a motion by Mrs. Dugan, seconded by Mrs. Maher, roll call Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Jenn Madden-Aye Mr. Willis presented a trip for April vacation 2019 for the Mediterranean Coast.The trip is still in the planning stages. It is open to all students grades 9-12. Students can independently fundraise if they wish; there is no school directed fundraising. Tentative dates April 11-20/2019.The trip is capped at around 45 students, based on what a tour bus can hold. There is another trip at the same time already approved.The committee noted that if there are any days out of school for the trip organizers and chaperones, that there is legitimate coverage in the classrooms at CHS. The trip was approved on a 1 motion by Mrs. Dugan, seconded by Mrs. Maher, roll call Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Jenn Madden-Aye Digital Learning Update: Sue Skeiber presented the current update on Digital Learning in the district. We are in year 2 of the 5-year Technology Plan. The focus this year has been on Professional Development based on teacher input on what they are using and what do they need. 10 staff members went to MassCue Conference and 7 staff members went to EdTechTeach Summit for DL training and PD. Our BYOD model is working as it is reported 85%of the students are bringing their own devices.The inventory for loaners has been partially redeployed to have 4 Chromebooks in each classroom instead of 3. Presently our focus has been on the "how' of digital learning: how to use devices, how to use apps, and the next phase is to shift instruction in the classroom to student centered learning. Collaboration, Communication, Creativity and Critical Thinking are the foundation of student centered learning. Student centered learning gives students a voice and a choice in learning. This concept follows the SAMR model: Substitution,Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition. Our next steps in Professional Development will focus on Modification and Redefinition.The question is "how do teachers change or redesign instruction". What else needs to happen? We need to continue coordination of IT with teachers, we need to assess staff, infrastructure and device needs,we need to continue to make community connections and we need to begin to investigate new technologies such as virtual reality (currently a grant from CEF is supporting this). Mrs. Dugan asked about the use of Classlink and when an assessment will be done to determine if we go forward with it. Mrs. Skeiber advised that the district is reviewing it. Special Education: Director of Student Services, Mary Buchanan presented the update on the Special Education program at Cohasset.There has been no change in staffing and slight movement overall in the number of students with services. Looking forward, Ms. Buchanan advised that she would be looking to increase the STARS staffing for FY 19 as well as looking at additional co-teaching at Deer Hill and CMHS. Students and parents have very well received co-teaching in the 6th grade. Mrs. Maher commented it was brought up at CMHS Council last week and requested to have the co-teachers present their experiences before the School Committee. Due to the grant that fell through, Ms. Buchanan has found the resources to maintain the PD that she had planned. MCAS Report:Assistant Supt. Patrick Sullivan presented the MCAS results. In the spring of 2017, students in grades 3-8 in Math and ELA took the new MCAS "Next Generation". In STE, students in grades 5 &8 took the old MCAS "Legacy". Students in grade 10 took the Legacy test in all subjects. The new MCAS is more rigorous, with more focus on Critical Thinking and preparedness for the next grade. Testing in grades 3-8 is formative while testing in grade 10 is summative. There are new, more difficult standards in the Next Generation testing; Exceeding Expectations (student exceeds grade level mastery), Meeting Expectations (student performs at grade level), Partially Meeting Expectations (student partially met grade level expectations) and Not Meeting Expectations (student did not meet grade level expectations).The STE test is a blending of standards and Mr. Sullivan advised that he has a consultant in to unbundle the content and blend it with curriculum. Mr. Sullivan commented that he and the staff began working with the preliminary results in the summer to understand where we have areas for improvement and are continuing to do so. DESE has advised to not to try to compare this year's results with any previous year as they are not similar at all. In addition, an analysis of our High Needs group shows that we do have areas to improve upon and the staff is working on that as well. Our comparison to benchmarked districts shows that pretty much all districts are all over the spectrum of performance. Based on the math results, Mrs. Dugan commented that she felt that the Envision Math curriculum does not provide enough additional resources to support it, Mrs. Madden agreed. MCAS Survey: As part of MCAS testing, grade 5 students answered questions about the climate in school. Overall our 51"grade students feel safe, respected and empathetic towards each other. 2 Gift: Supt. Demas presented a gift from the PSO for$2975.66 to support the Deer Hill Circus.The gift was approved with great thanks to the PSO on a motion by Mrs. Dugan,seconded by Mrs. Maher, roll call Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Jenn Madden-Aye Kindergarten Enrollment Calendar: Supt. Demas presented the FY 19 Kindergarten enrollment calendar. She indicated that the current census is indicating approximately 60 students (down from 70 this time last year). Mrs. Maher asked for the same calendar for Pre-K. Surplus: Supt. Demas presented a request by the Deer Hill to declare as surplus 1250 books that are old, out of date and have not been utilized in years. Mrs.Astino requested that once the books are disposed of,the storage room get a thorough cleaning before anything else gets put in the room.The surplus was approved on a motion by Mrs. Dugan,seconded by Mrs. Maher, all AYE School Committee Comments and Communication Policy Reads:JECA deferred, JF-R first read, Mrs. Dugan requested clarification on residency when a family has joint, 50/50 custody of a student. What is that student's legal address? Supt. Demas to follow up. JFABB,first read, Mrs. Dugan and Mrs. Maher both inquired as to why the number of accepted students was capped at 2.After conversation it was agreed to no more than 4 grades 9-12 and no more than 2 per grade. Subcommittee Reports: Mrs. Dugan advised that Budget & Finance Subcommittee would be meeting with Capital Budget liaisons on Dec 14. Mrs.Astino reported that although AEC was cancelled 11/27 and rescheduled to 12/11, discussion occurred at LRPG on 11/27 regarding the Green Communities Grant. Mrs. Bodell advised to the LRPG that if we are strategic in our roof replacement schedule,there might be additional grants and credits available. Mrs. Astino finally received the contract details from the first solar array provider with the educational included (monitor) and she is forwarding it to Supt. Demas only. Mrs. Maher offered to Supt. Demas a Security subcommittee meeting with new SRO Greg Taylor if she felt it would be beneficial. Mrs. Maher advised the committee that anyone can sign up for meeting alerts and posting of minutes alerts on the town website. There is a notify me prompt. She has already begun to receive updates via email.This might save Mrs. Dugan and Mrs. Astino the chore of forwarding agendas and such from other town committees. Mrs. Madden advised she would be going to the Osgood School Council tomorrow. Minutes-Motion by Mrs. Dugan to approve the minutes of 11/08/17 as written,seconded by Mrs. Maher and the vote was unanimous(4-0). Motion by Mrs. Dugan to approve the minutes of 11/15/17 as written,seconded by Mrs. Maher and the vote was unanimous. Follow-up& Updates: No changes or updates to 12/6/17 report. Chairman Astino asked for a motion to go into Executive Session for Exemption#3-Strategy related to collective bargaining-CTA and Custodians. Mrs. Dugan moved the motion and it was seconded by Mrs. Maher. Roll Call Vote; Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Jennifer Madden- Aye. The Committee went into executive session at 10:00 p.m. The Committee exited executive session at 11:19 pm. The Committee adjourned open meeting at 11:20 pm on a motion by Mrs. Dugan, seconded by Mrs. Madden, all in favor Aye. 3 Documents used at the Meeting Harvard and NY Model UN E-1 Med Coast Trip E-2 Digital Learning Update E3 Special Education Update E4 MCAS Survey E5 Gift E6 Kindergarten E7 Surplus books E8 JECA F1 JF-R F2 JFABB F3 Minutes 11/8, 11/15 G Follow-ups H 4