CITY OF MELROSE MELROSE SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 15, 2016 Aldermanic Chamber Regular Meeting 7:00 PM 1. CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE - 7:00 PM Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Christine Casatelli Committee Member Late Edward O'Connell Committee Member Absent Jaime McAllister-Grande Committee Member Present Jessica Dugan Committee Member Absent Lizbeth DeSelm Committee Member Present Margaret Driscoll Chairman Present Robert Mayor Present Cyndy Taymore Superintendent Present Also in attendance: Director of Finance, Marianne Farrell and Recording Secretary, Diane Hogan Ms. DeSelm spoke from a prepared statement reaffirming the past week and year and a half, and offered reassurance of the commitment of the MPS to provide a welcoming and safe space for all students. 2. PUBLIC HEARING: FY18 SCHOOL CHOICE (15 MINUTES) - 7:05 PM Motion: To open the public hearing on School Choice There were no members of the public present to speak. Motion: To close the public hearing on School Choice City of Melrose Page 1 Updated 11/17/2016 2:46 PM
AYES: ABSENT: Jaime McAllister-Grande, Lizbeth DeSelm, Margaret Driscoll, Robert Christine Casatelli, Edward O'Connell, Jessica Dugan 3. SCHOOL COMMITTEE SPOTLIGHT - HOOVER SCHOOL - 7:20 PM Hoover School Site Council students, along with Ms. Amirault and Ms. Polcari presented information regarding the Fun Run and how the school uses its 7 Habits to plan and exceed goals. Discussion included support of the good things going on at Hoover, and acknowledging the adults for all they do to make school fun. 4. REPORT OF THE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES - 7:30 PM Student representative Tess Castergine reported on the three day spirit week activities coming up next week. The all new boys seniors vs juniors volleyball spirit spike game is tonight at 7:30. On Sunday, all the classes have a designated hallway to decorate, which is the first of the theme based challenges of spirit week. The seniors have delegated each grade a TV channel: freshman are animal planet, sophomores are history channel, juniors are HGTV, and seniors are Disney. The girls powderpuff football game is Monday night, Homecoming is Tuesday night, and the pep rally takes place during the school day on Wednesday the 23 rd. In other news, the Middle School musical Tarzan has performances this weekend on Friday and Saturday at 7pm and Saturday and Sunday at 1pm. Fall sports seasons are now mostly complete and winter sports will begin in the next few weeks. And finally, as of the beginning of November, many seniors have sent in early applications for college and are waiting for replies in December before the regular decision deadlines in early January. Discussion included the upcoming MHS Drama production of the Laramie Cycle. 5. PUBLIC COMMENT - 7:35 PM Motion: To open public commnet MOVER: Robert, Mayor SECONDER: Jaime McAllister-Grande, Committee Member Karen Burtnett asked for clarification of what school choice is and meeting the needs of all students, especially those with special needs. Motion: To close public comment City of Melrose Page 2 Updated 11/17/2016 2:46 PM
SECONDER: AYES: ABSENT: Lizbeth DeSelm, Committee Member Jaime McAllister-Grande, Lizbeth DeSelm, Margaret Driscoll, Robert Christine Casatelli, Edward O'Connell, Jessica Dugan 6. ANNOUNCEMENTS - SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS - 7:50 PM 1. Superintendent Updates The Superintendent spoke to the packet document describing the Elementary Instrumental Music working group that will be formed to examine how we best schedule elementary instructional lessons so as to facilitate student participation and engage students long term in the band/orchestra opportunities in the Melrose Public Schools. A volunteer from the School Committee is needed and should email the Chair if interested. 7. CONSENT AGENDA - 7:55 PM VOTE REQUIRED RESULT: ADOPTED [4 TO 0] MOVER: Robert, Mayor SECONDER: Jaime McAllister-Grande, Committee Member 1. School Committee - Regular Meeting - Oct 25, 2016 7:00 PM 2. Maintenance Report 3. Personnel Report 4. Monthly Budget Summary 5. Warrants # Amount FY17 School S17023 $386,101.97 FY17 Wire Transfers S17024 $12,043.41 8. SUBCOMMITTEES (COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE) A. Finance and Facilities - Christine Casatelli/Lizbeth DeSelm - 8:00 PM 1. Annual Report (10 minutes) The Superintendent and Director of Finance spoke to the FY16 end of year summary report of school expenditure for FY16 as reported on the End of Year Financial Report submitted to the City of Melrose Page 3 Updated 11/17/2016 2:46 PM
DESE on October 25, 2016. Discussion included who developed the template of this report and this representing a revamped view of the summary rather than showing historical numbers, which will be shared during the budget process. B. Educational Programs and Personnel - Jessica Dugan/Jaime McAllister/Grande - 8:10 PM 1. Amend Standing of Interim Director of Finance and Administrative Affairs (5 minutes) vote required Ms. McAllister-Grande introduced the agenda item and entertained a motion to approve. Motion: To approve Marianne Farrell as Director of Finance and Administrative Affairs in accordance with the contract negotiated under her appointment as interim Director of Finance and Administrative Affairs through June 2019 MOVER: Margaret Driscoll, Chairman Discussion included the time frame of when Ms. Farrell received certification and support for her performance in the job. 2. Enrollment FY17 (15 minutes) The Superintendent provided an update for FY17 that included enrollment data for the past five years (2012-2016), information from the DESE/Student Information Management System based on the yearly October 1 count, and all demographics on which we are required to report. Also, detailed summary charts for our local data, which show the distribution of students by school in a number of categories was provided. The Superintendent spoke to concerns including kindergarten enrollment for next year, and the increase in ELL, SPED, low income, and homeless populations. The Superintendent also spoke to information on secondary school class sizes of over 30 and under 10 that was also included in the packet. (Ms. Casatelli arrived at 7:33 p.m.) The Superintendent asked that additional staffing to support district-wide increased enrollments and students with behavioral issues be considered in the upcoming budget process and she provided examples of where the needs could be. In closing, the Superintendent posed the 4 questions listed in the packet document for consideration when planning the FY18 budget. Discussion included the kindergarten grant that funded paras. 9. POLICY AND PLANNING - EDWARD O'CONNELL/JESSICA DUGAN - 8:30 PM City of Melrose Page 4 Updated 11/17/2016 2:46 PM
In the absence of both Mr. O'Connell and Ms. Dugan, the Chair presided over the Policy and Planning Subcommittee. 1. Plan for School Committee Self-Evaluation (15 minutes) The Chair announced that this will be delayed to the December 13th meeting. 2. Internet Safety Measures: Policies for Review (10 minutes) The Chair announced that this will be delayed to the December 13th meeting. 3. Opioid Policy (5 minutes) The Chair spoke to the agenda item and updated the Committee of the requirement, by law, to have an opioid policy effective immediately. MA general law requires each public school to have a policy regarding substance abuse prevention and the education of students about the dangers of substance abuse. To ensure that we are in compliance, she asked for the suspension of Policy BGB: Formulation, Adoption, and Amendment of Policies, and suspension of Policy BGF: Suspension of Policies, and provided an explanation for the actions. The Chair sought Committee approval to suspend Policy BGF: Suspension of Policies in order to amend Policy JICH: Drug and Alcohol Use by Students. Motion: To suspend Policy BGF in order to amend Policy JICH and place it on the November 22, 2016 agenda for review SECONDER: Christine Casatelli, Committee Member Driscoll, Robert Discussion included the urgency in which the policy needs to be enacted. The Chair read Policy JICH: Drug and Alcohol Use by Students and asked members to listen through the lens of needing a policy regarding substance use prevention and the education of students about the danger of substance abuse. The Chair entertained a motion to approve this policy adding "and opioid medication obtained illegally or through prescriptions" to the last sentence. The Superintendent provided additional details around the implementation of this minor change to the policy. Discussion included clarification of the suggested change and members offered other recommendations for consideration. It was agreed to edit to read..."refers to illegal or illicit drugs including opioids"... as a friendly amendment. This will be placed on the November 22 agenda. The Committee will revisit it again in January with input from the Substance Abuse Coalition or SWAC (Substance Abuse Coalition has representatives on SWAC). 4. 2017-2018 School Year Calendar (10 minutes) vote required The motion from the last meeting was revisited and Ms. Driscoll removed her motion. The Superintendent spoke to the calendar noting the changes made from the last meeting. City of Melrose Page 5 Updated 11/17/2016 2:46 PM
Motion: To approve the 2017-2018 school year calendar as presented MOVER: Robert, Mayor SECONDER: Jaime McAllister-Grande, Committee Member Driscoll, Robert 10. ANNOUNCEMENTS - SCHOOL COMMITTEE CHAIR - 9:10 PM 1. School Choice Vote (10 minutes) Motion: To approve school choice as proposed for the 2017-2018 school year. MOVER: Robert, Mayor Driscoll, Robert 2. School Committee Action Items (20 minutes) vote required The Chair spoke to the proposed goals and action items handed out at the last meeting for consideration based on conversations held at the retreats, and entertained a motion. Motion: To approve goals and action items as currently stated Driscoll, Robert Discussion included there being much effort to be done individually by members of the Committee, how will duties be assigned, assigning one goal to each subcommittee as an area of focus, how efficiently this work can be done and prioritizing them to achieve the most results. It was noted that any member can submit revisions for consideration. 3. 2017 Rolling Agenda (10 minutes) The Chair presented the 2017 calendar year rolling agenda as informational and for review. Discussion included the date of the state of the city address. City of Melrose Page 6 Updated 11/17/2016 2:46 PM
4. Liaison Reports (5 minutes) Ms. DeSelm spoke about the upcoming Human Rights Commission's Annual International Dinner referencing the flyer included in the packet. Ms. Casatelli updated the Committee on her role as MASC Delegate, the meeting she attended on November 1, and the resolutions that passed. Ms. Driscoll commented that the MASC conference was well attended by both committee members and school department staff noting that many were presenters. Ms. Casatelli asked for a moment of personal privilege and announced that Ms. Driscoll was elected to the All-State School Committee. 11. ADJOURN - 9:55 PM 1. Motion: To adjourn Driscoll, Robert The meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m. Note: The listed agenda items are those that are reasonably anticipated by the Chair to be discussed at the meeting. Not all items, in fact, may be discussed, and other items not listed also may be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. City of Melrose Page 7 Updated 11/17/2016 2:46 PM