Call meeting to order this year only in school committee Thursday, March 24th 2016 We begin with public participation. Is there anybody on the list for public participation? Harper You sign up no Okay This is One of the things we do at the end of terms is that And it's sort of sad That we say I have to say goodbye to a dear friend Jud One of the absolute joys of school committee service was the opportunity to hang out with Arlington's very own Atticus Fitch for two nights every month There was a time about nine years ago when I was sad I when I said that doing two good terms on the school committee was an admirable goal in itself Jud you have had two terms that were more than just good, but Judd it's certainly not enough I was hoping for an on-court Maybe one of the remaining members will aspire to the dark side take a seat on the selectman's chambers and offer you the spectacular opportunity to fill an unexpired term But we all understand there are only so many hours in the day So many home games in a Red Sox season So many minutes to spend with your family and your beloved dog Squeezing in school committee with your other passion as a thespian would require us to convert our clocks to some sort of extended metric time I See the joy that theater brings to you along with the laughter and applause it never comes at a policies and procedures subcommittee meeting And I know the joy and laughs you'll bring to folks on the other stage Are really important It's been fun seeing you perform as an actor You are truly a master of comedic neurotic roles that are heightened by the deep reservoir of anxiety That comes with serving two terms on the school How could I ever thank you my friend I Couldn't afford an early atrious those paintings from the 70s But last I heard we're going for around 200,000 even more But he's going through a similar phase right now The lines are a little bit wider But they almost have the same subtle appeal You still will get the resonance at this moment You won't truly appreciate it until the middle of the day The resonance you get from something monochromatic It doesn't really happen under artificial light Not that it's actually monochromatic and The school committee will be a little more monochromatic After you're gone. Thank you my friend Remaining members would I'm sure have something to say to you as well. So why don't I go around starting at bill This may be very very surprising words to say Thank you Very few you know the Judd has been a controlling influence on me I would get all excited, which you've all seen He'd calm me down just by listening. It's one of the best listeners I've ever experienced Very rare in a younger person Usually happens in old people because we don't we keep forgetting what we want to say Judd you've been very good to me very good for me and Whether the committee realizes very good for them too because a lot of the things that I wanted to say didn't get said because of you bringing Reality to me and common sense. I In the other thing you were so kind to the old man. You always laughed at my jokes even when they were bad I Appreciate it. I will truly miss you God luck. Good luck in Godspeed Thank you Cursey I'm doing this without notes. Oh, wow When Paul talked about Starting the meeting and having something for you. He made an illusion that I'm you're my Committee husband because we've been on the same cycle. I'm thinking about that and I don't agree. I think you're more like my twin And I don't know most several of you weren't on the committee then but Judd and I made it through I think our first two years of service having coordinating outfits Every meeting or almost every meeting and we never talked outside of meeting It's really weird No, it's not happening much anymore a little maybe But no it faded away, but but yeah, so and I felt like For the first two years and and beyond that that we were working together We were lost at the same points. We were confused at the same points and Sometimes we had laughs at the same points But and that's what I'm going to miss the most I appreciate everything you've done for policy and for the committee, but I'm going to miss your lap I'm going to miss your smile Cindy Judd It has been so great to serve with you and get to know you these past six years It truly is and I'm sad that you're leaving us I feel that your passion and your excitement has been infectious you you in In view all of us with just this wonderful Passion of things you have such a passionate heart and soul and I'm envious of you going off to follow one of those passions and Plan to follow in your footsteps someday not in theater, but you know every one of us has something else and and you know It makes me think hmm. Wow. What would I do? You know, so you keep me thinking I really hope that you'll stay in touch I hope you'll keep letting us know when we can see you and where we can see you And as we said before the meeting, I really hope that you'll come back talk to us about things You're still a parent. You're still in the schools. You know, we look forward to having you on the other side And we'll miss you miss you terribly. Thank you so much. Thank you Jeff I think you and I always match. I mean, I always were But I That's right But I want to say that when Judd and Kersi got elected six years ago the committee was in a very different place And because of both of you because of Judd's temperament and focus on kids and focus on teaching and learning the committee's culture shifted in a very positive way for teaching and learning in the district and for the community as a whole I think we are We're better perceived by people than we were six years ago And that's due to the way you served on the committee the compassion you had for kids I love the way you were chair You always began every meeting with something very thoughtful and I think about on the way home. What what did he mean? Why did you pick that? Was it directed at me? So And I really I'm looking forward to following your theater career Christine and I want to go to more performances by Judd's and Pierce all over New England and We'll see each other and see our kids and on stage on stage in different places as well So we'll miss you. It has been an honor serving with you You've been a great colleague great friend great member of the school committee and the town's been lucky to have you in that seat Six years ago some parents were pushing me to run for school committee and I sat in a few meetings and I decided no way And then I was introduced to you as a possible campaign manager And which I accepted and completely mungled But you know I walked in wasn't sure if I'd support you and you seemed passionate and interesting and A different kind of person than the people I'd seen than the meeting I'd been to when I decided no and I echo what Jeff says. I mean I I Then decided later that I could run because the culture had changed and that's very much to you Your influence Thank you so much Well, I echo all of this you've just been a wonderful member. I've enjoyed working with you for you I think people who are watching have no idea how much time this job takes and You have thrown yourself into all of the work wholeheartedly and with great detail When you run a meeting in the subcommittee meetings, you're so open and bill mentioned Your ability to listen I found that particularly when you were chair when we had to talk a lot more You were always wanting to listen and understand and curious You you you exercise the same kind of curiosity We all want our our students to have as well as our educators as they they try to learn more and Understand and be able to see how everything connects and it's it's a complex job that you've had here on the school committee, but you've done it so well and It's been it's been such a really a pleasure to work with you and we'll miss you Thank you very much anything else On behalf of the town of Arlington, which is I know Everyone in this town is grateful for your service We have a parting gift beyond the entree us We have a commemorative chair that commemorates your six years of service in the Arlington school committee I hope it has a more honored place in your home in your heart in the entry house because it deserves it and We'll take some time. We'll take a break from this meeting to celebrate with some cake and some conversations and just to Celebrate your service the community. Thank you very much. Thank you so much Speech Yeah, I just prepared something very short Six years ago School committee looked very different than it does today Meeting documents arrived at our front doors the week of our meeting We met from 730 until many times past 11 o'clock and Jeff Cindy and Kiersey were here and Bill Paul and Jennifer were yet to arrive. Although Paul was doing his second Turn there were different colored documents all over the desk many of them we saw just kind of that night We had the task of cutting into programs that we didn't want to eliminate the budget was not our friend But rather a lurking cold and heartless beast Awaiting our attention every year and we experienced some turmoil a Year later. Thanks to the generosity of this town for the amazing bridge the gap campaign and through our towns Override a proposition two and a half the schools were able to add back and it was like water for a strong thirst programs thrived Additional hard-working educators and administrators were hired Our chief financial officer miss Johnson brought a modernization of our books accounting and business practices New council arrived to help us get through contract negotiations and other legal matters Robert Spiegel came on board to help us manage our human resources and affairs Dr. Chesson came here and brought an energetic and experienced approach to curriculum and instruction as Our assistant superintendent and Alice and Elmer We found you luckily and she became our permanent director of special education And we saw spirit and morale come back to the Arlington public schools And we have been fortunate very fortunate to have a steady and consistent hand as the leader of this district in Dr Bode and I'd like to thank you for all the work you've done here I chose to run for reelection in the middle of this reinvigorated time It was an easy decision for me as there was more work. I want wish to accomplish I wanted to help as much as I could with the opening of the new Thompson school work on redistricting with my colleagues and I always look to revise and prove upon update and eliminate some of our policies and Thank you for allowing me to chair the policies and procedures subcommittee pretty much my entire run here And that I wasn't chair my legal training helped me I think work out some of the problems and through the contract negotiations and And my love for the arts always have served me well to advocate strongly for those I want the public to know that this committee works very hard Not just on every other Thursday night, but on evenings during the week Saturday mornings We did the self-governance project with Nancy Walzer, and you'll be seeing her again next month We created a tablet of standards and norms, which we sign every year To sort of justify what we're doing here And we worked tirelessly in setting district goals and that were smart and overarching goals That were a showcase of our collective vision and hopes and dreams for everyone to see We assembled alongside the AEA. Thank you, Siobhan For all your work and Linda for IBV training Many hours of that helped us get to a new teacher's contract with many improvements for both sides And now today well, I think this is my kind of pre sergeant pepper's moment The Beatles needed to do their own thing for a bit before they could come together Again and produce what was one of the most musically fascinating albums ever And so deciding not to run this year wasn't easy for me. It wasn't and it was born of Pressures of being a partner in a small law firm 20 miles away Time to accomplish some personal goals like running a marathon in November But most especially it was my love for my family who are here tonight and As you all know, there are many nights that we don't get to help with homework or sit down and have dinner with our families or drive To and from practice or just tuck them in at night So on all those nights, I didn't say good night, and I love you. Good night. I love you I want to be sure to tell you all how much I love them and depend on them And thank you Laura Ben and Harper for being there and supporting me and my work Through these six years on the committee. So thank you so much guys And folks, this is not a soft and fuzzy school committee Not that there's anything wrong with soft and fuzzy Instead we took very seriously our charge as fiduciaries and partners for the public trust We've worked to become more transparent. We saw our share of disputes hard times equally hard decisions Our children worked hard. So we stay late All the while it was my hope to engage the public and to seek out consensus and compromise between our constituents the town The schools and each other So I'm leaving now a school committee that is highly functioning professional and open-minded to new ideas Folks friends colleagues never get down if you do get right back up And know that there are so many in this town who are wishing to help with any research You might need on an issue or help with writing or fundraising on the topic of fundraising Thank you our Ellington education foundation for all you've been doing for this town And I'm going to continue my public service in in our Ellington I have to I hope in the near future I will see all of you on the other side of Mass Ave hopefully first as a town meeting member in my Precinct 11 and work once again with all of you at a town meeting convening in a month I love the people in our town so much and public service is the least I can do to show my appreciation for it And thank you all very much for your continued hard work for our schools We're in recess for cake recess for cake Well now that we're on a sugar high When you're in the school committee and you have these early starts at 6 30, this is dinner I Want to welcome Olivia Sonson She is a student council vice president and president of the Ellington youth health and safety coalition I hope you enjoyed the healthy cake The kids these days And a EA vice president Shabon foley who is a third grade teacher at the Thompson I got that right and a third grade is wonderful I used to teach third grade once upon a time it's so much fun Who is our EA rep at the meeting here tonight? Welcome to everyone. We do have artwork And somewhere's We start I think we start over here and work our way around This is all from Bishop. I believe Oh, Bishop and Hardy. Okay. Yeah, it's a big sign there Bishop and Hardy Grade four is Chinese paper cuts the fourth grade students invented their own unique Chinese paper cuts Using colored construction paper first the students observed and discussed Paper cuts by various Chinese artists Chinese paper cutting is considered to be an ancient folk art and has been around since the second century Paper cuts are often considered to represent good luck and happiness They're usually hung on doors and windows during space special occasions Then we go to grade five the Tiffany stained glass The fifth grade students created their own designs and stained glass windows inspired by the stained glass Windows of Cambridge, Massachusetts artist Daniel Maher and the famous artist Lewis Tiffany Daniel Maher uses interesting materials and techniques to create his windows such as the glass bottoms of bottles and printing photographs onto glass Lewis Tiffany is well known for his art nouveau style windows and stained glass lamps Grade one in the back abstract collage The first grade students created mixed media abstract collages Inspired by various artists including Miriam Queltess a contemporary artist from Washington, D.C. Catalysts works in various media and creates beautiful abstract collages using maps newspapers pattern papers and paint Then we go over to the third grade pattern creatures The third grade students invented the creatures using black and white patterns to create the illusion of various shades of gray first the students observed and discussed etchings by Rembrandt Rembrandt often used black lines and Cross hatching lines drawn crossing over each other To create various shades of gray in his work the students learned other black and white patterns can also create shades of gray and the closer the patterns were on the paper the darker the gray and We have in the far right corner me far left from the audience Mondrian abstract paintings the second grade students created abstract paintings inspired by the artwork of Piedt Mondrian a Dutch painter born 1872 died 1944 Mondrian was known for his grid like abstract paint paintings where he only used the primary colors Red yellow and blue along with white and black He took inspiration from his surroundings or one famous painting Broadway boogie woogie Shows an abstraction of all the activity and Broadway in New York City the cars the lights in the buildings The second graders learned that abstract art isn't just random shapes and lines and colors But also as a meaning for the artist and of course, I look forward to the next presentation of Art that will include the historic view of entrees 715 humans rights Commission we Have Reporting out She will not be with us tonight. Oh, okay. Yeah, we're not doing that So will we get an update? It will get an update. She she told me that the numbers are fluctuating She's not comfortable doing a presentation because things are changing right now So she asked to be postponed to a later date Dr. Seuss Yes, mr. Pierce can help me fill in some gaps. Oh actually and mr. Heiner So we met as a joint committee with the human rights committee to look at the chart the charge that we were potentially Giving disparate sentences suspensions to students of color than to white students and and that we were doing so More so than other towns We met five times Dr. Bodie and the administration presented a bunch of information to us and we've poured over details and percentages and numbers and We also looked at the issue of the group homes in Arlington which Potentially we've decided contributes to the disparate suspension rates and sort of got an update of some a successful program that's happened that's cut those rates of Suspensions and in the end decided that While Arlington is like many communities in that this is potentially a problem that we have to Constantly be aware of that it in the end. It didn't look like we were worse than other communities But that it was it was nevertheless something that we should Be thoughtful of and be concerned about and and pay attention to And I and I think we felt that the administration was doing that but mr. Heiner I just want to add that Dr. Bodie and the staff here have put he implemented a program And I want to use the correct terms That supports and educate students The students that you mentioned it's sort of like I don't know if it's appropriate correct me if I'm wrong a half way or an Integration of students they're not being put plunge right from the group home into a classroom and there is An evaluation process that's involved and when they're ready he goes in and again correct me if I'm wrong But it's reduced the issue of suspension dramatically Looking forward. I think that is part of the solution Good solution that was implemented to deal with the issue that was brought forward The I'm told that the Arlington Human Rights Commission has voted to disband this joint committee We need to do so. So I'd like to see a motion to disband the Joint subcommittee So moved by mr. Pierce second by dr. Seuss Dr. Allison ampy. Can I just Can someone recap for me? I know that we did this because there were allegations of Disproportionate things Did that charge go to any higher level or was this the appropriate way to address it You know, is there anything else beyond that? We're oh, I mean it was there Legal action being brought here or here or anything else? Yeah, it's our knowledge that there were some threats of some but not nothing went through to our knowledge, okay So that this is yeah, we've addressed the charge and that's okay. Thank you. Sorry. I just didn't know Mr. Heyner, I just want to be clear. I'm not aware of any threats Town council said as far as he knows it was it would The town took it upon itself Human Rights Commission and the school committee took upon to form the joint committee I'd just like to add that and I'll defer to the chair, but we have a report That was for that. Should we should we not accept that report prior to disbanding the group or can that be done afterwards? Is the report the report in the yeah, yes, so we can accept that report as well Would you like to make I'll withdraw I move to I'm going to table the motion a motion to table the motion to disband Dr. Allison amp II second by Dr. Seuss all in favor opposed that that's tabled now mr. Heyner. I move that we accept the report as presented Motion by mr. Heyner second by dr. Seuss Any discussion on the motion? All in favor Opposed that's unanimous I need a motion to take the other motion off the table by dr. Allison amp II second by Miss Starks all in favor Opposed that's unanimous all in favor of the motion to disband this Joint subcommittee all say aye aye opposed it is disbanded Thank everybody both from our side of the street and the Human Rights Commission for taking a very serious look at this It's something we're concerned about we want to maintain equity in the schools next Human Rights Commission early to no Resolution not to raise the charter school cap we have before us a motion a resolution that comes from the Aga Wamp School Committee that they have passed and Basically the therefore be it resolved the that the Aga Wamp School Committee opposes any lift to the cap to charter schools in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts And many school committees across the state have been adopting this resolution as well So do I have a motion to adopt this for Arlington? So moved moved by a miss Starks second by mr. Heyner any discussion Dr. Allison amp II so in reading the resolution I'm not going to read the whole thing because it's fairly long But I had some questions about some of the paragraphs. It's it's in the usual whereas thing um I Just I didn't know where some of the numbers and things they talked about came from and I didn't have a chance to fact Checked everything the stuff where they talk about Findings from auditor bump those I check those those are all fine, but I just I'm a little uncomfortable About some of the assertions. I wondered if we could clip some of the paragraphs, but still have Resolve, I mean well essentially the resolution is the therefore Be it resolved that the that so I don't like it's the whereas is I mean some of the whereas is that I don't like But if it's the resolution, I'm happy with does it matter about the where as is or Generally, we're just the backup where as is a backup of the force of the thing is the therefore Okay Does this need to be? In our name. Yes, it won't it will be changed change the Agwam to Arlington and The signature lines and change the signature line. That's the way they do it We'd sign it and we'd send it off to him. We'd notify ma a c that we adopted the resolution But will we send it with all the where as is on it? We We could just do the therefore be it resolved if that's the wish of the committee the ones I don't like are the Paragraph one which is about the percents paragraph two which is about fewer English language learners those are all true Okay, if that mm-hmm. I know those to be Number two. Yep. Okay. That's okay That's if you guys can internally check some of them. It was just they don't have any sights. I'm paragraph four Yeah, about enrollment. Yes. Yes. Yep. Okay, and then paragraph five Yes, that is also true. Okay. Okay. Well, if you guys I don't know one bit. If you're a mr. Heyner last night There was a group that meant on charter schools and just about every one of these questions Yeah, it was asked and verified. Yeah, I don't want to take anything away from the other members that were there But I learned an awful lot last night in fact, and I'd like to give credit to our chair He did an excellent presentation on the funding and I think I'm prepared to go out into the masses and Go against this just for the things that you presented last Dr. Allison Anthony, I had to arrive late to that same meeting because I was required for quorum at a different meeting That's probably part of why I'm behind all of you on these things. So, okay I withdraw my concerns. Okay. Any other comments or questions on the charter school resolution? Just a comment do we then have to rewrite it with our name? We would just insert Arlington and we can we can vote on this now even though it's yeah, I mean yeah with the changes that we Yeah, we're substituting Arlington for Agawam Dr. Bode for yeah, yeah, okay Mr. Heyner the motion should read to accept the resolution as presented with the appropriate changes relative to our school committee That's a friendly amendment. I accept it all in favor Opposed unanimous vote. Thank you Superintendent's report Well, I suppose I'm taking advantage of the fact that their the agenda isn't too extensive tonight So I actually have a few things to talk to you with you about First of all, we're going to have an updated calendar in May But one change that I think is important to To mention now and it will go out to kindergarten parents in a In a letter that will be inviting them to there's to their school on May 10th and that is we've decided since we brought the county in January of now doing the annual the screening of kindergarten students at At the end of this school year rather than at the very beginning of the school year Now what the effect of that will be is that on the Tuesday after Labor Day We will have just simply a visit to the school by kindergarten students and and that will what the nature of that visit will be yet to Be described it will not it'll be coming with their parents It'll be a very short visit But they'll be able to go to school with their brothers and sisters if they assuming that they have an older sibling going On the fun Wednesday and on Thursday will divide the class into two parts. So they have a whole day With a smaller group of students so they can learn a little bit more about the routines in the school and Then on Friday of that week, they'll start a full day with their entire class and We feel that this will be it'd be preferable to go back to doing screening in the spring and this time It will be in June because of the park schedule, but we felt that it would be would be better in terms of Not only Looking at what services students by need but also in developing class lists So that's that's a plan and that will be in The new calendar in May and it will also be communicated to parents and speaking of kindergarten we've had we're just on the tail end actually of our formal registration process and this year we instituted a new online registration and interestingly that when it opened at midnight the first night, I think by 1215 we had 30 or 40 registrations Well, and that's even with knowing that anything within a certain window of time was still considered stamp date the first date People were just anxious to get in there The vast majority. I think we had over 300 of the registrations online Maybe even more than that now even more than that now So what's the number now? Well, I know good. It's gonna go Dr. Dr. Seuss Just curious what the number is now, but I'm knowing that it's going to go up It would it is and it's a little bit higher than it was last year this time in terms of processed applications, we have slightly over 400 But we also have another Roughly 43 or 45 that are in process and every day there's more registrations coming in So we have a already a fairly sizable class in its March Dr. Allison ampe. I want to ask a question. This isn't so much for dr. Bodie, but for the committee I heard from a constituent today that He had heard that the school he had heard someone say that the school committee believes that it has a handle on Kindergarten assignments for this fall and that with the Thompson addition there's confidence that class sizes will be kept under control and We said that well Any idea where it came? Okay, so it wasn't any of us I did have I did have a conversation with a constituent today and I was saying how good how Have we done really well this year in terms of the kindergarten sizes that we hadn't seen the high numbers that we'd have in previous years So we're so you mean the class the class sizes much better Right in the class the for this year look at the kindergarten class 1516 year It is much better than it's been in previous years. Yeah, okay for 1560, but we're not talking about 1617 no right right, but we don't know right okay, so maybe it got past We were also talking about this worry that somehow that Because McKibben numbers that there's going to be class sizes of 28 Later on and I was just talking about how You have to look at the kindergarten class sizes. They're not you know if the kindergarten class size are 22 It's unlikely for them to get to 28 a few years later, and we were just sort of talking about that issue Okay, that was okay. Thank you Dr. Bode Thank you So so as we move forward and with registrations We are going to be moving and we are there in terms of having an online registration Process doesn't mean that we're still not making appointments and people can come in for registration the the other Feature we have to this process is that our registrar has made a video and That video is available to people to to describe the registration process He's made a video to Describe how you go into the parent portal to update your demographics, and so we're trying to make this as User-friendly as possible because there's so many more people that just being able to come out in the late afternoon to register To register is is can be a burden so So far it's it's going well in fact of in past years when we've had opening day of registration We'd have long lines this year. I think we had 20 people total so it was a it was a it was a major major upgrade We we have sent out and we sent it out last week a calendar survey because we've been talking about calendars and This was the survey that all of you approved for For getting input both from teachers and from parents This survey Has already had for parents over 700 responses. So it's it's already been received Well, what we do know though is we put this survey out through Blackboard Connect in fact I sent out another email today about this that We sent it out through the emails that we have in power school But we don't have the emails of every student now as we go forward with our registration process that will change But in order for us to have emails parents have to go into the portal and update them So we've we sent out all the links for how to do that the survey is live But we send you the survey link and we've already I think since I sent that email We have 15 or 16 people who have gone into the portal to change that I'm not a parent. So I was not giving and I still don't have access to the survey yet I did get that email just be prepared for other people that Are on the mailing list to respond to you and say what survey and things of that nature I'm just Right the the reason why we send it out through our notification system is that that it's just simply to parents What was the email that went out today is a subscriber listserv and so there are a lot of people that are on that list You just may get people saying what survey actually That that could happen. Yes, but hopefully it was clear This is for parents to go in and do this But we will send it out to to them the link and it's live until April 4th at midnight actually 1159 and Because we have to turn it off at some point But one of the one of the things that parents can do if they decided there was a comment They want to add or what ended up happening the first day it was out is that inadvertently the Teacher survey which has the same questions went out. So people didn't have a chance to put in their demographic but it's it's that's all been fixed and You can go back in and change it add any and information if you want and whatever your last Submission is is what gets tallied Good and waiting The people who are changing who realize they don't have an up-to-date email or something in in the power school If they change it will they then get sent a link? Yes later? Okay, but 16 just happened late afternoon today No, I know they updated their email, but does that mean then they get the survey link sent out? Okay? That's what that's what we're saying. Okay Mike Remi who was who monitors that as soon as it was updated he then sent out the email to them with the link Okay, great. Thank you. Mm-hmm So I think we'll get some some pretty good data. We still have another week and a half or most for the information One of the Had a meeting yesterday. There's an advisory committee for the Stratton project and it's made up of Administrators teachers parents and we have been meeting fairly regularly for the last few months to talk about a lot of the issues that come up because the architects Want to have feedback as you go through the process and we had one just this week with our modular company as well as the architects and worked out a number of details that Needed to be discussed But the thing that I wanted the committee to know because this was a different information than what? You might have been aware of the modular company is now going to be on site in April And Mr. Hannah will be sending that out and I think probably already has to the parents of Stratton and certainly the teachers know and that is going to affect a Lot of progress, you know just the routines in terms of actually how you get out to the playground and And that's going to happen as as as the equipment Starts being brought in and they're moving it up because an interesting thing. I didn't know is that When you get close to Memorial Day weekend on either side of it There's sometimes restrictions on these really big trucks traveling And so rather than get caught and not having everything here. They've moved up the schedule Mr. Heyner does that move up the projected completion schedule? No Now that was a concern for teachers, but what we we know is that The completion schedule will be August 22nd that Monday But then that that week will be an opportunity to get in and do data stuff and and and do the moving in Because we're going to have furniture stored During that time from in a school until they can move in because the construction Project actually begins and they'll be on site earlier to the construction starts right away So everything has to be pulled out of classrooms. And so teachers are going are going through the process right now of having to Decide what's going to be stored for the year and What what do they need next year and then labeling all the furniture that will all be done So another point of discussion is storage because you know, we're not going to have a lot of storage on site But we're we're looking into different kinds of storage pods For the year mr. Heyner Anything else on the stratton So we're we're moving ahead and so teachers will have about two weeks before school starts to to set up their classrooms I Want to Sort of a nice thing that I just learned this There's a goal is that one of our library paraprofessional Lizzie Haley who is the You know, Lizzie down at Thompson who is the pair is the paraprofessional librarian at At Thompson who was done. I have to say a Incredible job because you know we had the books for Bill and she was very much part of that process in Getting the books and bringing the books in because when she when she started in the library there was The books in boxes to set up and she has set up a very welcoming Place for Thompson students in any rate We just found out that she is this year's recipient of the friend scholarship awarded by the Massachusetts School Library Association and this is scholarship as awarded once a year to a student in school Library certification program so she's going she is in a program to become a licensed librarian. So Congratulations to her The I want to At the next meeting I'm going to bring forward. I just want to give you a notice that we're gonna bring forward a candidate to be to for you to to meet Who has volunteered to be a member of the vision 2020? Standing committee and the process they have is that the superintendent Makes in a makes a nomination you approve the nomination and And then there's the appointment the vision for 2020 has already put out a An all-call and advertisement for anybody who would like to be on the committee and we do have someone So it'll be at the next meeting that that that will that will happen I also this is the end of March and we've talked about having a Update on where we are with district goals my goals this year And I thought that I would go through that because it also relates to one of them relates very much to the task force And it may be an opportunity for people that on the task force also to talk about where we are in that process because of the the two goals that I specifically pointed out For this year. Well, it's close the achievement gap That's really not something we're going to really talk about in terms of data but what I will say about that is that If you if unless you change what you're doing or expand what you're doing you're gonna potentially not get the kind of change you'd like to see and And some of the changes that we have done this year. I think it's actually quite significant. It's not that we haven't been having Data meetings we have this and you've heard about how how we've had to have traveling subs to be able to do that This year with the new elementary schedule. We have every Tuesday. We have come planning and of course oftentimes that can happen data looking at data in those meetings, but we have a very formal time to set aside in those in those afternoons to looking at data and We're looking specifically at a lot of our students that are struggling and looking at what we can do to help them We also this year. We're very fortunate to get some additional title title one money Which has provided extra tutoring interventions at both at all of our title one schools At Thompson Hardy and Pierce So that's been that's been Something that's we'd love to have done more of but it's terrific that we can do it so There is there's a lot going on in that and of course We'll just see as we move into the into park And I don't know if later you want to have any questions about where we are on the park Implementation Well Here I don't want to take away from the time for your report. I think that might take a little bit more Mm-hmm do it the next meeting I would prefer that and Give us a little heads up of Direction so we can prepare ourselves for you. I would like to have something in writing before we talk about it So if we can get a you know a summary report in the agenda So we'd have a foundation for asking questions Note here, okay So the other goal is develop a plan to address space needs related to it to To anticipate it enrollment growth over the next 10 years. I Don't think there's anything that's occupied more of my time this year than this particular one In including, you know all of the the issues around enrollment The different plans it we're dealing with a very complex Situation in terms of all of the moving parts around around this issue the task force has been meeting and where we are Presently with that Is that we have a meeting next week? It's going to be on Tuesday. The time has changed however to six o'clock and it'll be in this room at that time This task force is going to be given in an interim report by HMFH architectural firm that has that isn't conducting a more in-depth study of the Cost of renovation at Gibbs is one part of the study and the other one is the feasibility and cost of Doing in addition at odd us in in one of two school on school owned properties, which is really the back parking lot, which is really the front of the school and The soccer field behind the school on the Mass Ave site and so both of those are going on simultaneously today architects the architect structural engineer Mechanical engineers cost estimator were at Gibbs doing a doing a tour So I think we'll have some what we certainly can have an interim report on Tuesday So it's next Tuesday March 29th 6 p.m. In this year, okay? Yeah And I I don't I'm wondering whether you want to have a more In-depth discussion maybe not tonight about the complexities of all that we are facing with respect to respect to this in terms of Potential overrides what are the options and so forth that might be something we want to have down the road What we should be getting report back from the school enrollment task force. There's going to be another Long-range planning meeting in the interim So I think that by receiving the reports back from those two groups will have plenty to talk about so we should Probably have that on the agenda. Dr. Seuss. Oh, yeah, I agree. I just want to say that People are so are all over the places in San Diego and that it might be confusing to present something as Complex and when we really have no idea we don't have a plan right now in terms of the funding mechanism No, there's not a plan yet, but Very hard and I suspect there will be very soon. I think we're there'll be something to talk about by the time we meet next Miss Starks I just I wanted to bring up something about the school enrollment task force I don't know if this is the right time or the subcommittee reports out But do it either given that we're talking about talking about it now, so I I'm concerned because the timeline is so short That we as a school committee who are tasked with the decision if and when we decide to go with the Gibbs that we have not started on Trying to at least Make a list of the things that we need to know in order to decide if we're going to do one grade Or three gate grades at the Gibbs And I think that that work can be done Simultaneously it can be done now in the background we can assign that work to a subcommittee Even though I know we only have two weeks left of this group filling that subcommittee But I feel a real sense of urgency to do what we can when we can as soon as we can So they're never waiting on us And I know that that's a decision that we have to make If and when they make the Gibbs decision and I know that if if the decision is to go with oddison that that work May not get used, but I think in preparation I would really like to know that that there is That there is a subcommittee who is going to help Drive the thought process that we're gonna of gathering the data at least Helping make the list of things that we want to see so that we can make that decision Mr. Here, I'd be willing to serve Well, I think before we Mention who's willing to serve. I think we should send it to one of the Subcommittees and I think the CIA would be the logical one So if miss Starks is making that motion, I would like to make that motion to move to direct CIA to start the process of Coming up with the information the list of information the questions that we want to have answered so that we can Understand better whether we should go with one grade or three grades second by dr. Seuss Any Dr. Allison am I was gonna second because I wanted to enthusiastically second the idea no because I think it's important It's not just so that we're Decisions making is not held up by us But also so that we have the longest possible time to vet the ideas and think you know because we want to be looking what the educational advantages are we want to look at the logistical differences and We want to be doing it in as Why to time span as possible instead of having this crunched up thing? Mr. Thielman the Okay, so so basically it's a it's an evaluation of whether The the Gibbs should be a sixth grade or should be sixth seventh and eighth Basically, it's good inside by side comparison. Yeah Refresh my memory who's on the committee going into in right now. No, no, I know it's on the committee now Who's in the committee you judge Cindy and I are for the moment, but in I know I know so so deep we should meet in the next like two weeks and start Actually what happens in between the election and the first meeting yeah, is there are not saying we're not reorganized yet So we still exist in a hop until then The current subcommittee can meet until the new subcommittee is charged and And I'm sure that after the election you'll be able to publish a list of What your thoughts are mr. Heiner just for my clarification. I thought the motion was to see I a To make up a list of questions for the committee to consider and I thought mr. Thielman said a side-by-side Evaluation of the two two programs. Yes, we want to make a list of all the things We want to see side-by-side for the differences of six or six seven. Okay. Thank you Dr. Seuss So I just wanted to say to actually to the audience at home I know that some of this work is being done with the teachers Which is great and laudable and I know that there's some outreach and discussion among teachers and Potentials to visit need them I've heard So I enthusiastically second the idea of the school committee doing some of this work in parallel We also have at some point to reach out to the larger community And that's a very important very necessary step. It's felt premature at this stage But but we recognize that that is has to happen and will happen So when when does the committee have to take a decision on whether When does the community have to take a vote on the on the educational design of the sick of the Gibbs? Well first step is that the task force has to make a recommendation as to whether They think that we should go with Having Gibbs be a school or whether we should add it in addition now then once that Recommendation is there Then the issue is going to be well, should it be a single grade or should be a six through eight One of the one of the things we know is that whatever the whatever project is going to be it's going to require debt exclusion over right and I think that People will probably agree they would prefer to know Which it is Prior to that that that override now at the moment there's no set date. It could be in June Or it could wait to the fall So if it's in June, and I don't know when that that is going to be decided There there is some urgency to start moving this process along which we have started to do On the the school side But if it's in the fall it's either still some argument for moving forward with this thinking because a decision needs Just probably be made my suggestion is that you come to a conclusion This year this school year probably in June if we don't if we have the override in June Then you probably need to make a decision in May So the yeah, I mean I think okay, so I'll try to get the committee to meet the next 10 days I'll put out a do let's see if we can get a meeting and then the new committee will have to But I also think you know this is to do this right this is done I don't think it's a separate. I don't think it's a parallel exercise I think it's done in conjunction. Yeah school administration. Otherwise doesn't really have much Absolutely, so I think it's a question of setting a meeting having you there of course the principal and the assistant superintendent and talking about the research and the thinking you've done so far where that's at and then Trying to figure out how we're gonna The data and the information and the questions that need to be answered to answer to decide which is the best educational decision or the town So and then what the one question either one thing I'm curious about is have you Have you not you had you did that sixth grade that report on on the challenges of? Hey, six. Yeah, right the case the case six miles So that gives us a lot of information to start with I think Is there any data analysis to that you've done of like a growth scores it's Like in the Needham school or anything like that if you don't need that sort of thing I've looked at their scores. Do I have done anything more than that an analysis? I mean for analysis of when they moved yeah into that. Well, this is their eighth year Yeah, so SGPs is a more recent phenomenon. So there's no way there's no we don't have the data. Yeah, okay All right. Well, they do very well. Yeah, I know they do very well. I know that I know they do All right. Well, we'll we'll try to get the minute committee to meet in the next 10 days Thank you. Are we gonna do we need to vote? I think so we do need to vote There's a motion on the table all in favor I opposed the unanimous vote. Thank you Yeah I Had two things also on this same topic. Should I bring them up now? Okay, so the first one is an idea that I wanted to throw out there for the school enrollment task force people to think about which is If we end up going with using the Gibbs as a school Would it be possible to place modulars on this on the school property either alongside of the street? Or on the basketball court and have them to house the tenants who are currently there so I'm thinking the killer her program and ACA or the preschool and I'm suggesting this because it's something that We own the space for we could potentially privately fund the modulars There is when I've looked at it from above there is space definitely along that I can't remember the name of the street the one the parking lot comes off of there is space there Come doing a second wing next to the other building and Make it gives a solution for some of the problems of displacing the tenants So I just thought it it was worth throwing out into the mix. Mr. Heiner Adam chapter lane has received a lot of Suggestions from different people things like that and I apologize if this comes off offensive. I don't mean My understanding of the task force is to focus on the enrollment issues itself And the solution and that and that focus there there are outside areas and things of this nature I would recommend that you pass that on to The town manager because he has taken it upon himself to look for solutions She's asking us to do My feeling as a member of the task force that's not our purview The individual taxpayers and stuff go to the town manager independent of the task force. That's all I'm saying. I'll send it to him I'm sure he's heard it now You don't know if they're going to need that space for staging for construction if that's what we're doing But certainly in this interesting question to ask. It's it's another I should we should ask every question That's what we've been doing all along. It's doable and we control the space So I thought it was worth throwing out there. Okay, so that was the first thing the second thing is that I've been listening to this discussions at the BR budget revenue BRTF Meeting that we had on Friday on Monday and I happened to sit next to mr. Cole who very kindly answered my question before I had a chance to ask it Which was isn't there something we can do to speed up the timeline on the Gibbs? My concern is that with discussions of having overrides potentially or dead Exclusions potentially going into the fall or later that that pushes these studies starts from this spring to the fall and that all of that ends up rolling into a Delayed start date or opening date of the school from September 18 to September 19. I think that is Not good for several reasons one it was money because we're gonna end up having to have modulars at the oddison to I think the oddison is not a Ideal site. I'm not ideal is is putting it incredibly mildly. I think it's Really a difficult site to put modulars and have that be a functional school Anyway, I would really like to see us push towards having Working towards the goal of September 18 being our site and as such I Think we need to look for the money to do the study Potentially not all of us, but could we get some of it from us? Maybe some of it from from Capital planning, maybe some of it from the finance committee Split it somehow so that we have it so we can start the study, you know assuming this again, you know understanding We don't know which road we're going, but if we go down that road I think we need to find that money and we need to get the start study started as quickly as possible And I think we as a school committee need to have this on our minds And as soon as we convene Assuming I'm back here again. I think we need to be taking this up and Really, we need to be talking to our partners across the town and seeing what we can do Maybe there's some way that we can work out a deal where if we front some of the money Then if it turns out we don't need the modulars later They can pass, you know that it could come back to us because we've saved that money on the other end I don't know, but I think we should start having these talks not totally sure who should be having them, but I I Know it's a tight schedule, but sometimes I think this is where we as a Town and even though we have a lot of people we're kind of a small town in terms of how we function We function really tightly we can move when we really want to move we did an override and ungodly short amounts of time and it passed I Think we could make the Gibbs remodel happen if we need to But the first key point is getting that money so the design gets started on time or else. We're really in trouble. So sorry So are you asking for the committee to communicate to the? To the Appropriate folks on the other side. I was more saying this because we can't discuss this except in open meeting I want you all to hear what I had to say partly. I might not be at this table with you in another one But I Think it's something all of us should be taking out I'm not sure who the specific tasks should go to but I think we should all have it on our minds And I think we should be doing whatever we can So it would take an allocate is that it's a sizable amount of money It's about three quarters of a million dollars to do it much more. Is it much more than that? Yes The cost we don't know what the cost of renovation is but let's say hypothetically it's 15 million all right Generally speaking your designer costs are 20% of the cost we're fronting right now the Thompson design and using the estimates That were about 2.5 million dollars, so we're fronting right now about 250,000 in order to get the design study for Thompson Which is a sizable amount of money in addition to the school department with the finance committee is working on Money to actually do this study So the come so the school department is doing 25,000 there So we're we have been doing this, but it's really a lot of money to do the design on Gibbs Or the design on the addition either, okay, Dr. Allison Ampe. So not to well, I guess I am contradicting you because 20% of 15 million works out to 3 million The numbers that we're talking about for the high school are only in the 1.5 million So I'm having a hard time believing that it would be that much the numbers that mr. Cole had were around 750,000 And that's the number that I was thinking about So I'm not Dr. Seuss Just I think that potentially we're gonna have a lot more clarity in a week or two I think this issue is on many people's minds and there have been sort of Conversations and and hopefully at the long-range mining committee There'll be more so I think you're not alone is what I'm getting the sense when I talk to people informally that In in wanting to find a solution so but I I Also suspect that it'd be hard to take it from school committee from school administration You know reserves but but but that there but there are other ways I mean there's bands and there's all sorts of other ways to do things. It's just They're risky, but I mean I mean the question is this is that Does the committee want to you know, I stated it at the Long-range planning meeting. I know you did as well But we're speaking is one person one person in the room Does the committee itself want to say to express a sense of urgency? for the reasons you stated to have a facility opened for These students in September 2018 That's the question and if you're nodding your head mr. Pierce, would you like to make a motion? I'd like to move for us to Well, it's For a consensus on that you can have a sense of the committee or just a yeah straw vote What are we voting on? That's the question is that we there's a sense of the committee that we desire that we do everything possible to ensure that it The expanded middle school facilities be open For September 2018 Does the secretary have that language I don't The school committee to get a consensus of The desire to do everything possible to ensure a middle school to be open for September 2018 Mr. Heiner I just add an an adequate Middle school for the population that we have at that point. Well, obviously, that's what we're okay I think I think we're understood in the motion that's motion motion is to express our sense of urgency for a timeline and a completion date of September 2018 Any discussion dr. Seuss Yeah, I don't think I'd vote for that motion to be honest because although I feel a sense of urgency have a sense of urgency There's also the issue about getting things right and I know that speed can often be at the expense of getting things right and Ultimately, I think that's more important. It may not be at the expense I would say yes a sense of urgency with the caveat that we make sure that everything is the you know done done well But that's an important caveat. So mr. Heiner I I agree with everything you've said, but I think the enrollment task force committee was set up just for that that with the excitement and Going forward with the members from the school committee The brakes were put on very quickly the first couple of meetings by other members of the committee Basically saying just what you said It might it's my interpretation from the other night at the budget meeting Several members from the enrollment task force were there Some of those break breaking people felt this urgency as well, but with also the issue of going forward with Doing it correctly So I think by voting for an urgency doesn't mean we're not going to take the time To do it the it said if it basically we're not saying do it We're seeing do the best you can to get there as a goal It may not be achievable in order to make sure that everything is done correct Dr. Allison ampy, okay? I'll vote for this motion because I'm not I'm asking us to push for urgency I'm not looking for shortcuts But if we do not the bottom line is the timeline that we're talking about if we do not act With a sense of urgency it will not happen So it is basically we have to be we have to move that fast Not taking shortcuts doing everything we need to do but we have to move fast or it will not happen Mr. Thielman So I think the reality is this is you know if we don't take a spring vote If there's not a dead exclusion vote in the spring then you run the risk of Of not opening by 18. That's that's the reality So but So I'm going to vote for the motion because I think it just it's a it's a resolution It says we all want the school to open in 2018. I just I don't I just don't know how the process is going to Play itself out. I think that the cost of a design is And I don't know what the right number. I mean the superintendent said it's 20% So I mean I've got no reason to question that I'm not sure we can we can't fund the design without a debt exclusion Okay, we can't there's no we don't have the funds in the town budget to do it without a debt exclusion Now we could borrow the money I guess and then pay it back once the debt exclusion is a past But we don't have the funds to do that debt exclusion. So I think I think The school committee the school enrollment task force the message of the school enrollment task force members who are members of the school committee is very clear We're I think I'm hearing loud and clear push push push for 2018 at the same time I just think we need to keep our feet on the ground that You know, there's a debt exclusion has to occur there's a design that has to occur And there's lots of unknowns in the construction of a facility. That's as old as the odyssey You mean the Gibbs the Gibbs and yeah, right The Gibbs, thank you. Kirstie. Yeah, right, right, right interesting vision of vintage to miss starts. Is that your hand up? Or you know, I was just saying the Gibbs I Share your sense of urgency dr. Allison Ampe Anytime somebody says well, let's wait and see I Get very nervous. I don't want to wait and see I think that we've spent a lot of time discussing this. We've been discussing this for the full year All the options have been thrown out To the public we've solicited a boatload of opinions on where we go It's now down to two choices. I think that the the eventual choice will emerge Within a week or two when the report comes out from the architects, whatever that might be And once we're there, I think we should pick this up and Work is diligently used so we can to push it forward if we can't make it by 18 Then we can't do it But I don't think we should be taking a wait and see approach or just doing this at a leisurely pace Once we make the decision we stand by it. We come together. We make all the arguments. We develop the long-range plan to Explain what we're doing here to the voters because they're talking about doing two different overrides the political people the select one will make the Override decision the people From multiple boards will be making decisions in terms of timeline and strategy, but I think that From our point of view where we are as a school committee, we've got a huge problem We need that space we need that space as soon as we can that's why I think that this is an excellent motion And I'm thankful to dr. Allison. Have you bring you something to feel me? Yeah, one question. So Paul said we're gonna get a report in a week. When's the report? What's an interim it's not the complete report basically where they are in it Man just go ahead. It's not on the motion. I do share a sense of urgency to have some resolution to Where we need to go, but I just want to clarify There's a difference between a feasibility and a designer study The designer study that we're gonna do for Thompson means that we could actually go into bidding for construction It's a very detailed The feasibility is a very different kind of study And generally this is just a little thumb that I've learned a lot about this and I'm not saying this This is what I've been told that it rough the designer costs are roughly 20% of the cost of a project in order to get all the drawings and in the plans ready and In order for let's say if the override was deferred until the fall You you need to have at least three or four months to do those So you'd have to have the money this spring in order to have it and and then hope that the override passes I Was going on the numbers that mr. Cole had next to me, so I was going from those You know our point here is we're not debating the numbers right now, and we're not in the construction business We're in the education business. We're stating our needs and at that point now how much it's gonna cost I don't know how we finance it. I don't know. I don't do municipal finance. I do education I think that's what we're here to do and that's why I think that the limit of this We're not identifying money. We're not saying you know how to do it We're just saying this is what we need. We need a bad way. We need space by 2018 2018 And and the parking and we know the parking Modulars of the Odyssey is a really bad idea that should be avoided if at all possible Anyone any other discussion? On that motion all in favor I opposed That's a unanimous phone or abstain. That's dr. Seuss abstains Superintendent Back to you. What is your wish to this evening? Do you want me to just do a quick update on all of the district goals and things where where we are or? Or defer, I'm happy to do that Just quick little synopsis a quick synopsis would be in order or anything that's detailed or requires thought would Mr.. See I'm mr. Heiner I just ask that I've talked to the superintendent about this just have something sent to us and writing compilation at When you get a chance, okay, thank you Is that acceptable through us the committee? Okay, very good anything else All right, so We've talked about a strategic initiative, so we have for people listening. We have four overarching goals really encompass Vision of the school department in terms of its education There's also a mission, but we have four overarching goals in every year We have strategic initiatives around those particular goals so under student achievement We wanted to emphasize inquiry and experiential learning to promote student engagement and a deeper understanding of the curriculum and There are different At all levels there are different initiatives going on at the elementary level We've were implemented the new FOS science Curriculum in grades one two three and the this curriculum Is aligned with the new generation science standards? Which is a very experiential kind of learning The high school has done a lot of work with Expanding makerspace and in fact just was rewarded a grant from the AEF to even expand that further And we're actually looking for even more money to Expand the typo and the makerspace is a place. It's a sort of an ed term these days It's a place really where you can make things essentially it's a makerspace and that it's it's we have Groups making various things for an engineering course or it could even be for an art course or math course and They we have a space in the school where that's happening We've also expanded the internship program and in fact this is a program that I particularly Want to see expanded even more in the years to come Because it gives kids an opportunity to go out and have the experience of working and Doing a project in a setting where this is something they might want to do Later on in life, and I think it is it's a it's a great way for them to get that kind of experience That's what it's like to be in a work environment Became the confidence that gives you and I know that mr. Steeleman They at his former school they did this and it was an extremely successful program And in fact we are working at the high school to Secure a more consulting services to make this better I'm just gonna go through quick things increase the social emotional needs of students in the school. We have a Planning grant out to a F and we heard you heard about that before and we just were awarded it And so there's a lot of work going forward in creating a planning for a cohesion in the district But this year we have also Had offered more responsive classroom training With eco is working to develop consistent protocols in schools, and we've also had a trauma course Expand opportunities for secondary students to gain college and career readiness Well that also goes to the internship program, but the thing is that in some ways Adopting park and going to this next generation of assessments has it has an effect in that They were developing the common-course standards are helping to shape curriculum in schools to develop the skills and very young children in Skills that they really do need which would be in close reading Being able to do informational kind of writing persuasion kind of writing analysis synthesis Doing more we're trying to work toward more Cross-curricular writing and reading so these are all the skills early on that lead to that What the next goal it has to do the general overarching goal has to do with staff excellence and professional development and Dr. Chesson is going to talk a little bit about we We have been working With Let's just say educators always look at data I mean if you're a teacher you're always looking data the results your tests your your exit your exit that is part of Being a teacher and you adjust to what you learn from that data but we're we've entered in the last few years in a more formal processes and looking at both in terms of how it affects our curriculum what happens to teaching learning and Let me talk a little bit more about the initiatives that's going on specifically this year So Tuesday afternoons once a month There's a data time for teachers to look at data formally and then there's also common planning time But I just wanted to give you just a taste of what something that you might not think of as data because often We think it's just numbers on a page and that we consider looking at samples of student work looking at data So we would I asked teachers we I have a Timmy McBride who I believe you met before one of the literacy specialists Set down with teachers and had them bring a low medium or high and high at the beginning of the unit a Pre-writing assignment that allowed them to see where the deficits were where their students This what they needed to work on but also those students at the high end And then they were able to revamp their unit plan based on that information Halfway through they again had students right they came back together again to see if they were on the right track And at the end they looked to see if they had succeeded in what they were doing So that's looking at student work is a little bit different than the kind of data that you might have thought otherwise And Moving on the next strategic initiative is to develop a district strategy plan for teacher leadership for teacher career growth and Again, this is not something that is a new this year. We have done a lot around Teacher leadership both as mentors and curriculum mentoring, but we've taken it to a new a new level this year And again, I'm gonna ask Dr. Cheson talk about the PLN were part of so we actually received a grant from AF to a plan How we would expand teacher leadership for this year and it's our goal to go back to them At the end of the school year to ask for at least a one-year expansion grant for this We're part of a PLN or professional learning network with the state Where we are working with other districts most particularly with Wakefield and Grotten Dunstable Because those are districts that have coaching and also have Other types of teacher leadership lab site teacher leadership that we have so the committee has already heard many times this year about the different work that we're doing in terms of the lab sites in terms of The teachers running professional development So we also have many courses that right now that are being run by teachers and over the summer We'll be getting to train our own teachers to run the academies so that they can train other teacher leaders And that will be how we will continue this Without the grant funding when the grant funding is discontinued All right, so a third strategic initiative was to improve EL teaching and learning as you know with gone through the retail the last couple of years this year administrators took the retail course for administrators and they had to the part of their experiential part of it was to Observe their own teachers who have gone through the course to see how they're using strategies in their classrooms. So That was the main focus of main activity this year So we also have the as I mentioned earlier the introduction of the new FOS curriculum for grades one through three next year We'll be introducing it from in grades four and five and do you want to talk a little bit about the The PD that we've had this year on that implementation in November all the three grades that were implementing this year had a whole day professional development that was sponsored by the FOS Organization the actual writers of the curriculum and then twice during the school year on the Tuesday afternoon to each of the grades one Through three had additional professional development to support them in the implementation of the of the program This is not a one-year Introduction to it. This is going to take a while for teachers to feel really comfortable with it. We fully understand that and It until we were able even probably to get even the power standards of each one of these units Organized is going to take summer work more PD so While this was an initiative Many of these are not one year and this is a good example of that. It's going to it's going to take a while and for a lot of teachers science was not their Content specialty when they went into teaching at the elementary level. So, you know, we need to continually provide More professional development and frankly we need coaching in this area. That might be something we talk about next year at budget time Okay, so moving on to goal three with resources infrastructure and For the educational environment We've talked a little bit quite a bit quite a lot about this is developed the plan to address the anticipated enrollment growth and then do everything possible to expedite the rebuilding of AHS We're there. We will we will be commencing that first module the end of May While we're doing some work in preparation We will be on a very rigid timeline to get things done once that begins The improved the maintenance the third one's improved the maintenance the island to public school buildings I would have to say and this is sort of universally Sedated by the principal. They're much they're much cleaner I think it's really made a big difference to have a facilities department and with a way for to communicate Where there's needs in a building it has made a it has made a big difference for sure But we can talk more about how the the facilities department is working. I think so far, you know It's a it's a change of adjustments. Certainly the the director and I Meet fairly regularly To talk about things that come up Mr. Hey It's been a long time since we've heard of the early childhood center things going well there as far as facility Yes, we've that was been a recent issue Yes, but no, but it's going well, okay, and it's fully be glad to know that We have a better system. I think in place going forward Thank you, but you know dealing with a lot of the you know, they maintain its needs down there It's an old building no question And everybody's trying their very best to keep it as is clean and as functional as possible Thank you. One thing what is happening with the preschool by the way We are going ahead and create another classroom because we're going to need it So that work is happening capital planning committee provided the money for it this summer and of course the debate was well Is this something we should go forward with given where we are but After a lot of discussion on that we definitely are and it's it's going to be very needed The fourth one here was the trans to transform teaching and learning by expanding the district's use integration of technology and We've talked quite a bit about that this year, but just a quick synopsis in terms of the one-to-one how that's going So we had one-to-one implementation in all of the sixth grade this year We actually had 60 students who brought their own devices will be expanding that to BYOD across the entire middle school We also had eight teachers at the high school who piloted one-to-one in their own classrooms And again, we'll be expanding BYOD across the entire high school next year So next year is gonna be exciting. It will be same But mention also the issue with our facing history group in terms of how they performed We're gonna have the the students that did did very well come in and present to you But in terms of their technological Yeah, the students who were as you heard in the last time on the National history dates competition have done an outstanding job in terms of using technology as part of their Tools, so you'll be seeing that group come in Dr. Seuss. Oh, I just have a question I know at the middle school BYOD is specific to iPads at the high school level Is it device specific or is it actually at the middle school iPads are for the sixth grade and seventh and eighth grade? Students can bring in either a Chromebook and iPad or a MacBook Oh, okay Or a MacBook Air and now that's true at the high school and that's the same thing Same options for the high school this year sixth graders will in seventh grade be able to bring any device Any of those three devices? Okay, great. Thanks. And again It has to do with battery life and ability to keep viruses out of the system, right? Mr. Pierce What about the the question I have is the BYOD for the students who are unable to have their own at home Can they bring a school's back home to work on it? Or is it just simply? We don't even in at the one-to-one at the middle school for sixth grade. We don't bring We don't allow students to bring them home any student to bring this home Adds another layer of complexity. I think it is something will that we've had that discussion as an effect I had the discussion with the administrators at the middle school this morning. So I think it's something that we'll be looking at down the line There's a model for that in Boston. They actually have a model where families that have a social economic need are able to It's called tech goes home in Boston And and I know the director very well, and it's something that we'll be looking at down the line Mr. Heiner security both ways when a student brings their own device in Does it have to be go through a process before it goes through our network? They're accessing the internet through our network So that has the same filters on it that ours our own machines do so nothing they bring can migrate into our system Well, you know where there's a will there's always a way but but that's why we chose those devices fine I'm just more concerned with the ones that bring the rent we control the ones that don't go home I appreciate that but the ones if I bring my own machine in and I Understand the will there's a way, but we have safe guys in place Yes, it immediately log on to the network it immediately scans to make sure that they have the correct level of virus software Before they can move into it great never notice that when we try to lock into things we can't do it because it's blocked Some things I can get in and out of the net. I can't do my The net I can access which Anything else dr. Cody Just quickly this will much faster This is goal for which has to do with operations communication and stakeholder engagement Dashboard we're going to be meeting on that next week. We have some preliminary work that we'll be sharing Improve the communication By improving district and school websites. I think that that has been very successful this year. I Haven't heard feedback from people, but I don't know if you have but I I know that Even my own use of it. I find it much easier to navigate to get information And we have a lot that's the thing that people didn't understand I think in the old the old website we have a lot of information if you go and look at other district websites You will not see the same depth of information that you can find in ours But it wasn't as organized as well as it probably could have been one thing that I noticed today Mr. Chair was when I was trying to pull down policies under our policy tab It it could just be my device But I didn't know if anyone else was having problem once you go up to the home tabs Yeah, if you push down on one you get the menu really quick, and then it fades away And you can't you can't click on any of the sub if menu items. It may be I Had it to be I got it. I had it at the beginning and my wife said if you're patient Let it fully load itself once I let it fully load give it a couple a couple of seconds Then I was having the same dance with the stabs at the beginning once I let it fully load Everything's been working for me. Oh, when I got the system I'll get rid of policies and then the last was increase the diversity of the APS staff and We certainly have worked on that mr. Spiegel's talked about it, and we're going to be having a coffee coming up this month The other night when the candidates school committee candidates they were hit and happy to say our current member on cultural diversity is what the stance was and That was a question that was presented in the public Dr. Ampe handled it very well cultural competency. Thank you The cultural competency, I'm sorry That's okay And that concludes the superintendent's report. We're now going to consent agenda first we need to pull off out of the consent agenda the Organizational meeting because there's no proposed vote in the consent agenda. So the consent agenda is Looking at electronically the paper for the language all items listed with an asterisk are considered to be routine And will be enacted by one motion. There'll be no Separate discussion of these items unless a member of the committee so requests in which event the item will be considered It's normal sequence Vote to prove warrant one six one three seven dated March 10th Total warrant amount four hundred twenty seven thousand four hundred ninety one dollars seventy eight cents Vote to prove school committee regular draft minutes March 10th 2016 vote to approve public hearing on school choice May 12th 2016 at 6 30 p.m Mr. Thielman, I had to pull the minutes from the pulling the minutes The 10th wait, why are we not voting the organizational meeting because there's no vote in the consent agenda? We had that we need like voting language, which is not listed So yeah, we we're going to have one anyway, but we had we would have to What we'll do as a separate motion. You'll see why in a second So all in favor of the two items in the consent agenda say aye aye opposed The consent agenda is is passed now vote to approve the school committee regular draft minutes March 10th Motion by Mr Pierce Motion by mr. Pierce second by mr. Hainer on favor opposed Mr.. Thielman you abstain I do 601 and that is approved We need to set an organizational meeting and a vote would state when the date and time of the organizational meeting Which was not listed in the consent agenda, so we can't Vote a meeting where we don't establish a date and time. I would like to ask the committee to vote the To make two votes here make one vote with two things one is to have the organizational meeting at 6 30 p.m on the 14th followed by a Regular meeting starting at 6 45 So that so there are two things that are happening here, we're voting to change the start time is dr. Allison ampey can I say so moved so moved second Any discussion just so not a 6 15. No, it's just a 6 30 just like But these are two separate meetings and the Organizational meeting must occur before the first regular meeting so by scheduling the first regular meeting at 6 45 We can have the organizational meeting at 6 30 Any further comments discussions questions the 14th of April Dr. Seuss just a comment We want to see the history students coming in and so we are going to push public comment to a little bit later So if anyone's coming in from public comment beyond the agenda, but that's what we'll post the agenda and let's agenda and that will be clear right The chair is fully able to go and adjust the agenda is she sees fit look forward to it all in favor Hi a post. Thank you very much Subcommittee liaison reports before we do any other reports. Let me just state that we went to the trivia bee on Sunday And it was a wonderful thing. We got knocked out of the first swarming We did not make the pesticide run and we didn't know who was running around with Harry Potter I Went home reacres said of force it so-and-so and you know, we should get her on the team next year However, we did win best costume Which is testimony which is testimony to our firm solid commitment in upholding everything to do with the open meeting wall because we did not deliberate So we had similar colors with yellows and reds In eclectic in cool, and I wore a Hanschen Tigers hoppycoat It wasn't it wasn't a pity vote was it It might it might it might have been yes But you know the thing is is it was fun, and I think that we Looked like we were having fun Judson in a fez is wonderful Whoa, that's an image. I'll take you've seen the pictures are on Facebook and in the paper. Oh my god.  You're honored for looking silly. Yes This will help your thespian career. Okay going down the list of everybody with policies and procedures You're the all-star tonight. Thank you, mr. Chair And and Karen, thank you so much for all your work. You've done for us and for policies and procedures in particular Just making my last meeting with all these on the list go so well. So thank you very much We have a few for second read tonight the first is on The ACAB yet E which is just deleting the old People who are no longer and updating the MCAD and EEOC Places that they are now So I put a CAB E as a motion on the table to approve With those changes, okay move by mr. Pierce second by mr. Heiner Any discussion? Hearing none all in favor aye opposed unanimous vote. Okay, the next is The smoking at school premises ADC We made the following when we met as a subcommittee on Monday we added use of any tobacco products or any smoking slash vaping materials and The other correction Nope, that was the only that was the only small edit we made on Monday night So with that I make a motion to approve ADC Tonight second move by mr. Pierce second by mr. Heiner all in favor. I Continue okay Concerting school councils file BDFA You'll see the changes that are highlighted and underlined We One one thing that didn't make it into the second read and that's my fault is to add and we talked about this Monday a Sentence that a term of a school council member is from October 1st to September 30th And that gets us around the problem that we're having now a situation now is that the school improvement plans are done in June and More happens over the summer and then they come back and they're a new Unit and they haven't had any input into what they're voting on Or right is that is that essentially the problem? And the election so we're moving we're asking that the election be done in October and Okay motion by mr. Pierce second by mr. Heiner Dr. Allison ampy are you asking us to improve this because I thought you wanted to add the term in or something Yeah, that didn't make it in so What do you do you want to add it now or are we do you want to fix it and we'll send it for a second read next Meeting I think that we discussed this in the last meeting so that we were all this is is providing language consistent with her intent if people think this is a Radically new worth holding over we can do that, but I'm not seeing it is that big a change Yeah, it's that missing sentence that I'm gonna add in the second paragraph and you're gonna fix the in September no later than October 15 Okay, right Okay, okay any other discussion comments questions on this all in favor Opposed abstain, you know, I'm so Okay moving on to IIAA IIAA this has been sent to our town council council. We haven't I haven't heard yet heard back from them So I can't put this on the table for us Yeah, next one the GCB we did get a draft from our council With some new language. We had some real you Discussion on this and we need to have a little bit more in here Yeah, so I would ask that this be pushed to the next okay, so Ignore it. Yep for now. So GCB and the GCBA ones we're gonna The email distribution list policy file I J and DD We basically the new changes are we crossed out the first sentence which isn't our technology mission in the first place and We added postings to official school distribution lists will be limited to faculty and staff Motion to approve I J and DD Motion to approve second by mr. Heiner any questions discussion Hearing none all in favor It's adopted and Entrance age file J eb adding the preamble language that the Arlington schools believe a strict cut-off date for the start of kindergarten First grade benefit the educational and social emotional needs of the student throughout his or her K through 12 years And then it would be considerable discussion has been conducted on the issue of school readiness This reason at this time the APS will not entertain petitions to accelerate the start date for student based on age So we're cutting out the language talking about the early childhood longitudinal study It created a lot more Verbation we need yeah Motion by mr. Pierce second by mr. Heiner any discussion All in favor I abstain unanimous vote On a few more we're deleting. I we're recommending to delete and remove file J ICG on Arlington high school policy in tobacco because it's encompassed on the one that we revised a few moments ago Motion by mr. Pierce second by mr. Heiner any discussion all in favor opposed unanimous vote file JKAA on policy on restraint of students we have the Policy that was vetted by attorney Nancy Neville's and our special education director This complies with the current law this one that the our old one was last updated four years ago and This just Basically complies with the new law and we would recommend that if you pass tonight That's my motion motion by mr. Pierce second by mr. Heiner any discussion Hearing none all in favor I opposed abstain unanimous vote Okay, same thing as the previous smoking policy that we deleted we're recommending to remove and delete file KJC Smoking on school premises of public functions. No smoking policy Move by mr. Pierce second by mr. Heiner any discussion Hearing none all in favor I opposed abstain unanimous vote Okay, and finally on file ki visitors to the school We are saying during the school day No persons except parents or guardians of children those appointed for the purpose of the committee or those officially connected with the school Shall be allowed in the schools unless permission is given by the superintendent or his or her designee A log shall be maintained in each school office to record name who's visiting purpose of visit and time New language visitors shall check in as dictated in each school's entries procedures not sign in So with that change, I recommend that we pass ki Motion by mr. Pierce second by mr. Heiner any discussion Hearing none all in favor I opposed staying unanimous vote and We have Hopefully I've given that to my my fellow members The jumping off point that attorney Brian did when when mr. Thillman was chair of the subcommittee in January of 2014 Some of these are still threes and fours that could be updated and reviewed for this coming year And I wish you all the best of luck on that. Thank you. Dr. Cis I was just wondering if we wanted to bring to the full committee This whole question that we debated back and forth about School committees authority over principal salaries We Sort of batted that back and forth or if we or you or if you feel that it should stay at subcommittee level at this point I think from what I would I've had discussions I think it would be great to have attorney Brian give us another read through her Her philosophy based on our discussion Before we bring it bring it to the table because I think it would be useful for all of us to have her take on What we were talking about on Monday night Mr. Thillman's so For the sake of clarity the first the first readings GCB GCBA GCBB employment of principals being one of are they so is this For this is first reading and it's gonna come for a second. No, it's not so these really aren't first readings Just drafts Okay, so the new committee's really got to restart the whole process Okay, so we're really haven't had a first reading yet any of these this is not coming up for a second reading in April Yeah, we said ignore this. Yeah, okay, so I just want to make well because it says first readings Oh, it says but yeah, the action was as we're ignoring the recommend We didn't bring them through first reading dr. Allison Ampe The other thing we did with that list that we have of the policies We've asked the administration either via miss Fitzgerald or or someone else. They forget who To create a spreadsheet of the same information, but this way we can sort it We can update it and we can sort it which policies need updating first which oldest Yeah, well oldest or Right now it's this Thing and it's hard to look at and get a picture of well this one Anyway, yeah, that's great And I think it's important also to note that at all times all district policies are intended to be in red in conjunction with the applicable laws So that yes any discrepancy whatsoever to district policies and applicable laws such laws will take precedence And we should always note that when we're updating or revising or changing these when we become aware of a change in law We have to revise the policy so it aligns We may not always catch it because the brassicals up a beacon held to kill your things at times That's okay. We we get Nice updates from MESC. They just gave us all one. I don't know if you've got it yet on the the new drug Which I thought was very intensively. It was the only one on this this thing We also get occasional updates from different councils Changes and some of them say you got to work on this right away, right? And I'm sure dr. Bo he gets them probably even ahead of us Yeah, there are a lot of sources for Notification of these things, but every once in a while something gets attached is an outside section of the budget and all of a sudden Hello So that's completes your work as chair of the policy some procedures committee you've done a great job Thank you very much Budget subcommittee Curci Allison ampy We have a budget We are going to send out a doodle to meet next week to look over the Budget book before it goes to count before it goes to the printer to go to town meeting excellent Question can you give us an update on the BRTF for those of us who didn't go? Do you want yeah budget revenue? So it met on Monday bulk of the discussion centered around timing of debt exclusions and various people's ideas of timing of debt exclusions and It kind of pinged between Well, could we do it in June and what are the pluses and minuses of June could we do it in the fall? what are the pluses and minuses of the fall and There really wasn't consensus about what the best thing was and Then there was also the it was pointed out that Minuteman. Yeah has a really high likelihood Because they can actually call a debt exclusion. I mean they can call a referendum Referendum to approve the reconstruction and therefore incur the debt if Any of the towns Vote no as we go forward on the the current plan and they'll they when was it June 24th? I think 18th 18th. Okay, yeah, so they and and the problem is that Not only can they call that but their election has very different rules that are specified by law than our elections do so We can't even anticipate this coming and time Our question to do with it because that would come under our election So you would have this weird thing where the Minuteman could be from for eight hours during the day ours has to be from 12 hours and so some of the time you get one ballot some of the time you get two ballots and It it's just logistically. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. It's it's like crazy. So anyone else who was there one? Yeah, I mean for the Minuteman vote as they can be no less than four or no more than eight hours in terms of the length of the polling time and My sense is listening to the discussion that June would have sort of laid out as a consensus time Except the Minuteman boat just sort of gets in the way. Dr. Seuss Yeah, so my sense is that the Minuteman is what's putting you know making everything really difficult if Minuteman weren't there the whole decision would be easier But I had the pleasure of sitting through the Selectman's meeting that night for many hours and there they voted to send this discussion to the Long Range Planning Committee, so I Mean the selectmen ultimately make the decision about when we have a dead exclusion and They've decided they want to talk about it there first The other thing was Budget revenue task force was supposed to meet again in two weeks that that was except they weren't sure what date would work And right, so that's supposed to be coming now as they do it'll do so there should be another one coming very soon Okay, so there were no decisions made at this Budget facility Cindy Starks Nothing to report district accountability curriculum instruction and assessment Jeff Nealman Community relations Jennifer Seuss we have a meeting next week. We'll hopefully look at some dashboard stuff We'll talk about community outreach about the decisions that we won't make any decisions yet But about the decisions On the Gibbs if that turns out to be the case And what else were you discussing oh and the superintendent had graciously agreed to do at least one coffee That's fairly open-ended where parents can come where we can focus on What's going on in our schools with maybe just a very short presentation, but sort of open-ended for a conversation And so hopefully we'll Finalize that date then yeah Executive session minute review subcommittee I guess we're going to be talking we're going to be discussing that in executive session tonight For the purpose of approving and releasing yes Warren committee everybody get paid. Yes School enrollment task force. I think we've talked that out School liaisons anyone with a school liaison report Dr. Seuss. Oh, I went to the town YPTO meeting and Just told them about the mess that is our upcoming debt Exclusion boats and all the conversations that's going on. They were very interested in that so that's That was our focus Okay, that brings us down to the executive session So I'd like to entertain a motion to go into executive to review executive session To review executive session minutes for approval and release for the following dates September 27th 2012 October 11th 2012 October 25th 2012 November 5th 2012 November 27th December 6th 2012 December 20th 2012 following dates in 2013 January 10 January 24 February 14th March 14th March 28th April 11th April 25th May 9 May 23 September 12 September 26 October 24 November 21 February 14th 2014 the remaining dates in 2014 or March 13th March 27 June 12 October 23rd and November 13th moved by mr. Heiner. Yeah, I just we we will be have to come out and vote these again. Oh, we We can vote them at the next meeting as well So we don't have to keep I have no problem here. Yeah Move by mr. Heiner second by mr. Pierce Roll call Hi, hi, Mr. Pierce. Dr. Allison Ampe. I We're not doing any of the other stuff all we're doing is going to review minutes. Okay, so that's the noticed Dr. Allison Ampe votes. Yes, Ms. Starks. Mr. Thielman. Hi, Dr. Seuss. Yes chair votes in the affirmative warning section session We will not be returning. Thank you