HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - SC - 02/28/2018 T CQ%ASSET O
Cohasset School Committee Meeting
School Committee Minutes
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
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
Patrick Sullivan,Assistant Superintendent
John Tuffy, Business Manager
Chairman Astino called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. and asked for a 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 18-155,seconded by Mrs. Maher.
Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Jennifer
Madden-Aye.
Superintendent's Report
Model UN Report-Teacher Chris Luvisi and Mike Welch along with students Amby Tierney and Matthew
Dickey reported out on their recent Model UN trip at Harvard University. The students discussed their
4-day experience. Other students from 49 states as well as foreign countries participated in the event.
Cohasset students had been selected to be Romania in 2008.They had to look back at how the US
recession had global impact.They participated in the General Assembly as well as breakout sessions.
Position papers had to be written in advance and students needed to be prepared.
Music Festival Trip Request Teachers Stephanie Moriarty and Justin Bleier outlined the annual Music
Festival Trip. 110 students will participate and they will be graded on the rubric for the course.
Students who do not participate will not be penalized. 6 chaperones will accompany the grade 7 &8
chorus and band members.This year the group will attend the Great East Festival in Lexington MA which
allows for a 30 minute on stage performance and then a clinic. After the festival the group will continue
on to Canobie Lake Park. Motion to approve the trip by Mrs. Dugan, seconded by Mrs. Stefan; Roll Call
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Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Jennifer Madden-
Aye.
Senator Patrick O'Connor and Representative Joan Meschino:
Our local representatives provided an update on what is happening on Beacon Hill and what could be on
the ballot in November. Key legislation being discussed includes recently passed English Learner Bill,
which allows districts more flexibility in teaching EL students. Key bills pending include acts to ensure
high quality early education,to reform foundation budget for 21'Y century, and to mandate recess for
elementary school children. In addition there is other legislation pending that would promote &
enhance civic engagement as well as acts that would relook at the special education financing and revisit
universal access for kindergarten. The Foundation Budget review is a priority of the Education
Committee; issues need to be fixed without districts like Cohasset losing money. Governor Baker has
also addressed the Opioid crisis with the Care Act and with $248.7 million in the FY 19 budget.
Screenings may become mandated. Circuit Breaker is being recommended at+3.5%over last year,
current reimbursement is 65%, push for 7S%. Federal aid is uncertain. House has no desire to increase
taxes, as revenues are currently strong. Chapter 70 will be $131 million for the state, looking to move to
$100/pupil from $20. The House will debate the budget the last week in April,then it moves to the
Senate.
CHS Program of Studies FY19—Principal Carolyn Connolly and Assistant Principal Brian Scott presented
the FY 19 Program of Studies for Cohasset High School. Courses that have not run in several years have
been deleted. Ms. Connolly discussed the process of review as well as the conversations had around the
calculation of GPAs. New courses added include Introduction to Art History,Advanced Chorus and
repositioned Freshmen Physical Education to 91"Grade Wellness, incorporating a broader scope of SEL
and overall wellbeing in conjunction with Physical Education. Mrs. Madden expressed concern over the
availability of Computer Science classes. The FY 19 budget does not support this curriculum. Ms.
Connolly and Mr. Scott expressed they would need a full time teacher and it was not possible given the
budget but that they would relook at for FY 20. Motion to approve the Program of Studies with minor
formatting changes by Mrs. Dugan, seconded by Mrs. Stefan; Roll Call Vote; Barbara Stefan-Aye, Katie
Dugan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Jennifer Madden-Aye.
FY 19 School Budget by Building/Special Education—Supt. Demas, Bus. Mgr John Tuffy and Principals
Connolly and deChiara presented their school budgets. Supt. Demas thanked all leadership for their
hard work on the budget to keep all student services intact and not diminish the education of our kids
and to keep on budget.The Deer Hill budget reflects the reduction in grade 3 sections. Mrs. Maher
requested that Dr. deChiara relook at all instructional supplies as they are quite high in comparison to
the other schools. The Deer Hill budget includes a new poster-making machine which is important. Mrs.
Maher asked Ms. Connolly what items were deferred from the FY 19 budget. Ms. Connolly replied that
she foresees the need, due to increasing enrollment, a .5 Social Studies teacher. She also expressed that
class sizes are on the larger size in the middle school in Art and Music and she deferred 1.5 FTE request
there, as well as the NELMS recommendation of a second guidance counselor. Ms. Buchanan reviewed
the Special Education Budget with the addition of.2 in Stars, .4 in HS OT amongst other needs.
Monthly Update: Mr.Tuffy reviewed the January month end report and advised all appears to be in
good order. Expenditures as a %to budget are at 45.78%, slightly better than last year at 46.18%.
Bus Maintenance Update: Mr.Tuffy reported the buses are in good condition, no major issues to
report. Mrs. Maher asked if we could finally dispose of the Dodge Sped and the W Sped Van as they
have been sitting on the books for almost a year.The town and the Council on Aging have been asked if
they want them and there is no interest. After the FY 19 budget is finalized,this disposal process will
begin. Mrs. Maher also asked Mr.Tuffy to clarify if the money spent on maintenance on Bus 1 (mini) last
year, came from Athletics as budgeted, or from Transportation maintenance.
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School Committee Comments&Communications: Chairman Astino requested that due to the late
hour, any reports be postponed to the next meeting. She did advise that she and Mrs. Madden went to
AEC. It was suggested that Mrs. Madden write up her notes and distribute via email. Mrs. Dugan
commented that Capital Budgets has a meeting on Monday to review, amongst other things,the Hot
Water Heater request and possibly vote on balance of school requests.
At 10:30 pm, Chairman Astino asked for a motion to go into Executive Session#4 for strategy related
to deployment of security personnel or devices. Motion moved 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 Board came out of executive session and into open session at 10:59 p.m.
Motion by Mrs. Dugan to adjourn open session,seconded by Mrs.Astino and the vote was unanimous
(5-0).
The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 p.m.
Documents used at the Meeting
Middle School Music Festival Trip E-1
High School Program of Studies E-2
Monthly Update F-1
Bus Maintenance F-2
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