HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - SC - 01/09/2019 �.COFiASSST O
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Cohasset School Committee Meeting
School Committee Minutes
Wednesday,January 9, 2019
Cohasset Middle-High School
Community Use Room
143 Pond Street
Cohasset, MA
In Attendance: Jeanne Astino, Chairman
Ellen Maher
Jennifer Madden
Barbara Stefan
Paul Kearney
Also in Attendance: Louise Demas, Superintendent
Dr. Patrick Sullivan, Assistant Superintendent
Michael MacMillan, Director of Finance & Operations
Chairman Astino called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m. Roll Call Vote; Paul Kearney-Present,Jeanne
Astino-Present, Ellen Maher-Present. Motion by Mrs. Maher to enter Executive Session Exemption#3,
strategy related to collective bargaining,CTA, seconded by Mr. Kearney. Roll Call Vote; Paul Kearney-
Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye.
The Committee entered Executive Session at 6:37 p.m.
Chairman Astino called the meeting back to order at 7:08 p.m.
Pledge-Recited.
Public Comment-Superintendent Demas read aloud a letter from teachers Cheryl Chapman and Suzi
Corkhum thanking the CEF for their donations.
Approval of Warrant-Motion by Mrs. Maher to approve Warrant 19-11S,seconded by Mrs. Stefan.
Roll Call Vote; Paul Kearney-Aye, Barbara Stefan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Jennifer
Madden-Aye.
Superintendent Report-CEF Grants Donation-CEF President Jen Ognibene and Cindy Matheison
discussed their grants and funding amounts. Motion by Mrs. Maher to accept the grants and funding
of$26,140 from CEF, seconded by Mr. Kearney. Roll Call Vote; Paul Kearney-Aye, Barbara Stefan-Aye,
Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Jennifer Madden-Aye.
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Gift-Superintendent Demas stated they received a $500 gift again this year from ExxonMobil for the
STEM Program at Deer Hill. Motion by Mrs. Maher to accept the gift of$500 from ExxonMobil for the
STEM Program at Deer Hill, seconded by Mr. Kearney. Roll Call Vote; Paul Kearney-Aye, Barbara
Stefan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Jennifer Madden-Aye.
Special Education Update-Director of Student Services Mary Buchanan was present. She stated there
haven't been any changes of staffing since the beginning of the year. She stated they have reviewed 7
additional requests for SPED Services of which 4 were eligible for the program. Ms. Buchanan reviewed
the focus areas for this year. She stated the annual monitoring done by the state went well and there
were no findings of out of compliance for the district. Cohasset is still under the special education
percentage rate as compared to state averages.
IT Update-Deputy CIO Bart Riley advised the Committee it was a good start to the school year. They
have a great team and work great together. The budget is right where it should be. They are discussing
license updates with the Capital Budget Committee. They are also looking at different options with
Chromebooks. This year's MCAS testing is all computer based and they are spending many hours on
preparing for that. He reviewed the projects they are currently working on and noted that the new
SNAP system for the nurses is working out well.
Athletic Update-Athletic Director Steve Rotondi advised the Committee that it was a very successful and
unprecedented fall. The students take pride in where they are from and it is great to work with them.
He discussed the highlights and gave an overview of the season. He reviewed the Revenues& Expenses
for the Fall season,which is in line with last year. Mr. Rotondi showed a short video made by a Cohasset
student featuring Cohasset fall sports.
School Committee Comments and Communications-Master Plan Update&Timeline Changes-Katie
Dugan gave the Committee an update on the Master Plan. They kicked off in 2017 and spent the first
half of year researching what the master plan is all about. They spent time on a vision statement.They
hired MAPC after a process to create the Master Plan. Last year was spent on public forums. Over the
past summer they started writing the first draft of the plan. They will meet next week with consultants
from MAPC. They will be asking the consultants to step up and move quicker on the draft of chapters as
they are behind from where they hoped to be at this point. Mrs. Dugan stated she thought this plan
would be finished by now, but she is two years in and would like to continue as the schools'
representative and see it through. Chairman Astino asked the SC if they have any objection. The SC
thanked her for her commitment. Motion by Mrs. Maher to have Mrs. Dugan continue to participate
on the Master Plan through completion, seconded by Mr. Kearney. Roll Call Vote; Paul Kearney-Aye,
Barbara Stefan-Aye,Jeanne Astino-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye,Jennifer Madden-Aye.
FY19 Goal Review-Progress Report-The SC had a brief discussion and reviewed their goals. They agree
all the goals are being worked on and the SC is making progress.
Reports from Sub-Committee& Liaisons-Mrs. Maher advised the Committee there was a flyer
circulated from Safe Harbor on their upcoming event"Where Do I Begin", on 1/29/19. Superintendent
Demas stated it has been posted around the school and distributed via Blackboard Connect. Chairman
Astino attended AEC with Mrs. Madden. The street light conversion has been approved and will be
starting shortly. There was a brief update on the Master Plan. They also discussed funding for the next
Green Communities grant. Mrs. Stefan stated SEPAC is having a general meeting on Friday morning for
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anyone that is interested. Mrs. Madden attended the Osgood School Council meeting. Kindergarten
registration starts on January 17th. The PSO will be holding Books for Bingo on January 17th at 6 p.m.
Superintendent Demas advised the Committee there will be a METCO meeting at the end of the month.
They are looking at different lottery systems. She does have a couple of concerns and will be attending
the meeting. She will report back to the Committee.
Motion by Mrs. Stefan to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Kearney and the vote was unanimous (5-0).
The meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m.
Documents Used at the Meeting
CEF Grants Donation F-1
Gift F-2
Special Education Update F-3
Athletic Update F-4
Master Plan Update G-1
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