Jalbert Recap: School Committee Meeting 2.9.26
Written by: Jade Jalbert
SC Meeting 2/9
I didn't post the last two, but did watch them. I recommend you guys watch them all, too!
https://www.youtube.com/live/erVKQCfVRz4?si=kR-Gljv0MAWZ5W-s
As per my usual, this was done on my phone. I have not at all edited. If there a word that absolutely doesn't belong/make sense just use your imagination for what you think it SHOULD be, mm-Kay? Also, watch the meeting. You'll get all the information there.
Student flag salute
2 student SOAR winners, band & fine arts
Student Updates: Congrats to students who participated in the science fair. 4 will be moving on to Regionals in March. MHS participates in Eagle Tribune's Real News in Schools Program; MHS journalism was featured in ET. MHS's Credit for Life fair in partnership with Key Club sponsoring blood drive at the HS
Public Participation: None.
Approved minutes. Member asks if SC should be approving subcommittee minutes since they weren't there. (Answer yes.) Approved with DiZoglio voting present for subcommittee. Full approval for December minutes.
Staffing Report: DrG reports convo with some local colleges regarding cohort models. Learned about several programs, some new and some familiar, which could be a fee to the district but open a track for new grad employees down the road. Also spoke about a designation with NECC for early graduate program. Mayor reports students could graduate with HS diploma and Assoc Degree at the same time. DrG explains NECC has partnership with UML to automatically accept these students into their programs once complete, so it will not interfere with current program but be beneficial to all. Member asks about the cost, especially with the testing being difficult and money “wasted” of not passed. (This is my interpretation of what she said, not her actual words. I didn't feel like going back to check.) DrG says depending on what pathway we pursue, it's different. Grant funding available. One costs district $8k, but graduating students must then work in the district for X years. (Lots more on this, but I'm going to try to keep these shorter this year. I bet this will last until…probably later this meeting. LOL) Member asks what the overall cost and if there are students interested / how many would there be? Currently 70 students in three available pathways.
Behavioral positions @ grammar schools: Crisis Intervention v RISS Coordinator. CGS principal speaks to how crisis intervention works v RISS, and how each school is faring with their choice. (To be clear: she was NOT there to report on all schools. She acknowledged that she's only in her school and can only speak confidently to that but that there has been admin meetings about how other schools are working with their programs, and she's touching on that briefly.) She would love both programs and feels they'd work the best together but budget constraints won't allow for that. Member wants quantifiable data; suggests RISS better for all schools to lower out of school suspension. Member suggests staffing ISS with certified teacher. Says Reeve's (Timony's) report is interesting and RISS impact there as well as other programs he's implemented (before school basketball, etc.) is impressive. Wants equity (same programs) throughout schools. Member says both programs would be beneficial to have at all schools. Someone pointed out Timony had both programs at start. I'm truncating: Members asked good questions, speaker had good answers.
Health & Safety Task force: Rodent vendor has been working great, colder weather makes for an increase in rodents trying to get in. Switching to lethal bait to eliminate issues externally. Establishing formal framework with Darren (Daryl? Sorry; not sure!) from DPW for consistent clean ups (spring & fall). Issue at the Marsh with their heating system. Looking at doing overall facilities assessment and capital improvement framework in the spring, moving forward. Heat is working overall, will look at room reported to member. Member asks if there early alert system e.g. CO2. All rooms have CO2. Temperature gauges on fridges & freezers. Temp controls malfunctioned at the Marsh, which is why they weren't notified this time. Member acknowledged & thanked custodial staff for their work in this & flood control. Member asks if Marsh will need to make it up at the end of the year. DrG had inquired; they must likely will need to. Member asks if they could change two half days to full days through the year instead of a full day at the end. DrG says this would need to go through MEA. More questions, more answers.
Status update accelerated repair. DrK has reached out in December, never heard back. IG reached out and hasn't heard. Will reach out again.
GLTS update: DrG reached out but hasn't heard back from the Superintendent, will reach out to Asst Superintendent. Member says they should do it and he's been talking to a GLTS school committee member who had pledged their help; days he'll follow up if DrG hasn't heard back. Member says the last time they tried this it was an insurance issue - GLTS students working outside the school need to be insured by whatever "company" they're working under.
Student enrollment report: Member asks for students per grade per school (this is on the DESE website, FYI) and map for what streets for which schools, historical 1st through k enrollment data for the last few years.
(You can find this here: https://profiles.doe.mass.edu/profiles/student.aspx?orgcode=01810000&orgtypecode=5
Top right is for the year, you can scroll back.)
Homeschool count. Student Rep speaks to school, government & drama. Wants to committee to recognize that this entire group is supposed to be here for the students. “Some of the point & plot is lost.” Feels feedback he gives had a lack of meaning. He's been approached by faculty & staff with their disappointment with the leadership. Budget cuts at federal level is additionally disheartening. It's important that student voices can be a guiding light. It's not all chance; needs to be more clear cut decisions. Important to consult students on policies that affect them. He's embarrassed to hear about situations that have happened with this committee, says truth will prevail. (This kid. Tayyab. This kid is going places. I urge you to listen when he talks. He's smart, measured, hopeful and speaks his mind. We can only hope he's the picture of student MPS is churning out!!)
Member confirms the overall number of homeschool students has actually decreased over the years.
Exit status of unenrolled students
DESE report
Student Services report
HR report
Discipline report
Program of studies: approved for discussion. Member asks about decrease from 2 ASL to one last year, this year is removed completely. DrG says it was actually eliminated last year because of lack of staffing; they only had staffing for ASL1 but two years are required to satisfy graduation needs. Member asks about theater arts and its removal/move to English. Was it moved, was anything changed? DrG answers the teacher is dually certified and it made the most sense to leave it. Some more back and forth about current offerings, new offerings, etc. This was approved.
Superintendent Search. Companies were rated by this group. They can go with the top rated or discuss the top two, since they're so close. Discussion, motion to table to further discussions with top two contenders target than final vote in one tonight.
Finance & Operations: IG reports that next meeting he will be requesting moving funds to cover cost of snow removal and other things and stuff. (Definitely a direct quote. Mm-hmm.)
Member asks about usage, especially of auditorium. IG will share calendar to show what is used by school / students. Also days we have only one part time staff for this. (This was said at a later time, but it makes more sense here.)
Budgets for utilities is dire. Will need to move money from accounts for this (this is part of things & stuff, above).
City doesn't cover any cost for their use of Ditson Place.
.. lots of little details in here. Teachers have a fund if they raise money, like for PBIS or other student/ staff celebrations.
Should be $2m over for circuit breaker account to move to other areas of need. Will need it all, mostly for utilities.
One school has over $10k in student activities; is there a rule for hours much can/ should be in there? No; IG will look into it. (DrG says it might be 8th grade fundraising.) Other budgetary topics discussed, too…
Student Rep asks if there's room for student feedback in the café makeover. It's been pushed to April vacation so there might be; talk to principal Curet.
Warrants
Will be more intentional going after grants and funds.
Pathways program assistant. Question about how many this has been and why? Student changed classes.
Facilities rental was already discussed; Member DiZoglio used his time to commend Student Rep Tayyab. (I concur!!)
IG goes back to agenda/facilities rental, says there is a policy for rates; it needs updating. It's not MASC, it's facility.
Consolidating: Member thinks there's a movement in the city to have consolidation. Says he ran on consolidation. The IT battle is playing out in court; city can't impose without the will of this committee. This member wants to open it up again. Wants to hire Collins Center (I could be wrong on the name) for independent analysts for where consolidation can happen. Says city solicitor thinks the city can do this without school Committee's approval; this is not the case. Wants to explore cost savings by consolidation. Unfortunately speakers cut out a bit and I couldn't hear start of Member's reply… asks if money for financial audit could be used for consolidation of whatever departments might be financially beneficial. Mayor says (cautiously, still has ongoing litigation) two state laws kind of go against each other. Ultimately per 37m (instead of 238) will need affirmative vote of both city council and school committee. Still feels IT could be a cost savings if equipment is kept out of discussion. (This is due to the extreme cost savings for things under educational purposes only. I thought licensing was part of that, too. Could be wrong though. This would be most with consolidation.) If this were the will of the committee, consolidation group would need to go out to bid and, again, be accepted by both groups as well as the actual collaborative work. Member has concerns with charter commission and will not “take gruff” from them.
Member says any consolidation needs to be explained to the staff that is not a take-over of either side. Congratulates students for science fair. Visited CGS, great auditorium, the organization & work in libraries and other great stuff.
Televised subcommittee meetings: Member wants this to happen because city council does it. It might need to be a different program / method because students aren't available. Member says MCS is available and free for this usage. Member says it should be at city hall and MCS can volunteer to film/broadcast.
Meeting moves to executive session