School Committee

Gardner School Committee City Council Chambers, 95 Pleasant Street, Gardner, Massachusetts Regular Meeting – February 12, 2024 Members present: Mayor Michael Nicholson, Chairperson Jennifer Pelavin, Vice Chairperson Rachel Cormier, Secretary John LaFreniere, Finance Officer Anne Hurst Shannon Leighton Members Absent: Robert Swartz School Personnel Dr. Mark Pellegrino, Superintendent Present: Terri Hillman, Recording Secretary Dr. Catherine Goguen, Chief Academic Officer Mark Hawke, Director of Finance & Operation Ms. Rebecca Leyva, Principal, Gardner Middle School Zayvian Rowe-Cross, Student Representative Others Present: Ms. Amy Doucette, Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) Ms. Ayesha Coaxum, Parent Call to Order Mayor Michael Nicholson, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm. The meeting opened with a roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting was broadcast live on Channel 8 (Gardner Educational Television Station). Open Time for the General Public No one from the General Public requested to speak. Item #3482 – School Improvement Plan – Gardner Middle School Mayor Nicholson asked if there were any objections to taking Item #3482 – School Improvement Plan - Gardner Middle School - out of order. There were no objections. Ms. Rebecca Leyva, Principal, Gardner Middle School, presented a PowerPoint of the Gardner Middle School Improvement Plan 2021-2024. A printed copy was provided to School Committee members. The Vision is to be the premier school of choice for our students and their families. The Strategic Objectives and the Action Steps to accomplish these objectives were outlined. The administration has created and implemented a more robust and organized Common Planning Time schedule for teachers which was an objective. Other objectives are ongoing and in progress.  Regular Meeting February 12, 2024 Page 2 CONSENT AGENDA Mrs. Hurst moved that the Gardner Public School Committee vote to approve the Consent Agenda as presented: • Approval of Minutes of Organizational Meeting January 2, 2024. (note – Scribner's error page 1, Administration of Oath, should be “election November 2023”) • Approval of Special Meeting Inaugural Minutes, January 1, 2024 • Approval of Minutes, Joint Convention January 16, 2024 • Accept Grant Funds on Grant Listing dated February 12, 2024, in the amount of $34,000.00 • Ratification of the following Warrants as recommended by the Finance Subcommittee: • Warrant #24-26 dated 12/28/23 in the amount of $413,046.17 • Warrant #24-27 dated 01/04/24 in the amount of $462,381.04 • Warrant #24-28 dated 01/11/24 in the amount of $42,497.27 • Warrant #24-29 dated 01/18/24 in the amount of $426,183.52 • Warrant #24-30 dated 01/25/24 in the amount of $117,567.51 • Warrant #24-31 dated 01/01/24in the amount of $644,316.61 Seconded by Mrs. Cormier. Vote – so voted. Mayor Nicholson, Chairperson, abstained from voting. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS Facilities Subcommittee Mrs. Pelavin reported that the Subcommittee met on January 24, 2024. Minutes of the meeting were presented. Mr. Wayne Anderson, Director of Facilities, provided the Subcommittee with a report on the number and type of maintenance projects his team is working on - GHS 139, GMS 107, Elementary 130 and Elm Street 68. The Subcommittee requested actual copies of projects from the maintenance program being used. Finance Subcommittee Mr. LaFreniere, Chairperson of the Finance Subcommittee, said that the Subcommittee met on January 24, 2024. Minutes of the meetings were presented. The Expense Report was reviewed. Mark Hawke, Director of Finance & Operations, answered general questions. The Subcommittee requested the number of students in various out-of-district placements. The number is on the rise. The GHS HVAC project is out to bid with an anticipated opening on January 29, 2024. Regular Meeting February 12, 2024 Page 3 Policy Subcommittee Mrs. Hurst, Chairperson of the Policy Subcommittee, reported that the Subcommittee met on January 17, 2024. Minutes of the meeting were presented. The Subcommittee reviewed the following policies and determined that no changes were required. The policies will be updated as “Reviewed January 2024”: Policy IHAM - Health Education Policy IHB - Special Instructional Programs and Accommodations Policy IHBEA - English Learner Education Eleven Policies were recommended for a first reading by the full School Committee. (See Item #3578 – First Reading of Policies.) Several Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) policies were reviewed and deemed to be redundant to Massachusetts General Law, or not relevant to the District. They were not recommended for adoption. Three policies were tabled for further review and discussion. Student Advisory Board Zayvian Rowe-Cross read his report regarding activities in January at Gardner High School. Recent graduates came in and spoke with seniors about college life; Alltown Mobil, Gardner, donated $500 to be put towards student activities; the Student Council’s yearly overnight lock-in was held; the winter athletic season is in full swing; and all the Counselors were recognized for their hard work and dedication during National School Counselor Week. NEW BUSINESS Item #3578 –First Reading of Policies The following policies were presented for a first reading as recommended by the Policy Subcommittee: HA Negotiations Goals HB Negotiations Legal Status HF School Committee Negotiating Agents IC/ICA School Year / School Calendar IGA/IGD Curriculum Development and Adoption IHAMA Parental Notification Relative to Sex Education IHAMB Teaching About Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs IHBAA Observations of Special Education Programs IHBF Homebound Instruction IHBG-E Notice of Intent to Pursue a Program of Home Education IHBHE Remote Learning Regular Meeting February 12, 2024 Page 4 Item #3579 – Second Reading of Policies Mrs. Hurst moved that the Gardner Public School Committee vote to approve the following policies for a second reading as recommended by the Policy Subcommittee: GCBA Professional Staff Salary Schedules GCBB Employment of Principals GCBB-1 Employment of Administrators GCBC Professional Staff Supplementary Pay Plans GCE Professional Staff Recruiting / Posting of Vacancies GCF Professional Staff Hiring GCG Part-time and Substitute Professional Staff Employment GCO Evaluation of Professional Staff GDB Exit Interviews/Support Staff Contracts and Compensation Plans GMLP Military Leave Provisions Seconded by Mrs. Cormier Vote – so voted. Mayor Nicholson abstained from voting. Mrs. Hurst moved that the Gardner School Committee vote to remove the following policies from the Policy Manual as they have been found by the MASC to be redundant or unnecessary; EEAA Use of Video Cameras on School Buses IE Organization of Instruction IGE Curriculum Guides and Course Outlines Seconded by Mrs. Leighton. Vote so voted. Item # 3580 – Superintendent's Progress Report on Formative Goals Dr. Pellegrino reported on student reading in grades K and 1-4. Assessments have been designed to track their reading and are just starting to be used. The students in grades 2, 3, and 4 are approaching the benchmark of reading. They are doing better than ever in regard to reading. Item #3481 – Program of Studies The Gardner High School Program of Studies 2024-2025 was presented for review. The report will be on the March School Committee agenda for a vote. Item #3483 – Statement of Interest MSBA (Gardner Middle School Roof) Mr. LaFreniere read a Statement of Interest in which the Gardner School Committee is requesting the Massachusetts School Building Authority to grant funding to repair the roof at the Gardner Middle School. The GMS opened in 1997 and the roof is original to the building. It has been maintained as leaks have occurred. Three assessments by different outside companies have recommended repair or replacement. Regular Meeting February 12, 2024 Page 5 Mr. LaFreniere moved that the Gardner Public School Committee vote to submit the Statement of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority requesting grant funding to repair the roof at the Gardner Middle School building. Seconded by Mrs. Pelavin. Vote – so voted. Mayor Nicholson abstained from voting. Item #3484 – GEA Unit A MOU – Updated Language Mrs. Pelavin moved that the Gardner School Committee vote to accept the GEA Unit A MOU updated November 14, 2023 regarding Substitution Duties by Unit A teachers. Seconded by Mrs. Leighton. Vote – so voted. Mayor Nicholson abstained from voting. Item #3485 – 2024-2025 School Choice Acceptance Mrs. Pelavin moved that the Gardner Public School Committee vote to approve the 2024-2025 School Choice Acceptance of students as presented, Seconded by Mrs. Cormier. Vote – so voted. Mayor Nicholson abstained from voting. Item #3486 – 2024-2025 School Committee Schedule of Meetings Mrs. Pelavin moved that the Gardner Public School Committee vote to approve the Gardner School Committee Schedule of Meetings beginning September 9, 2024 through June 9, 2025 as presented. Seconded by Mrs. Hurst. Vote – so voted. Mayor Nicholson abstained from voting. Item #3487– 2024-2025 Annual School Calendar Dr. Goguen presented two options for the 2024-2025 School Calendar. One option is prior to Labor Day and the second is after Labor Day. Both options were presented to staff and parents for voting purposes. There were 484 responses – 27% voted for Option #1 and 73% voted for Option #2 (after Labor Day). Mrs. Pelavin moved that the Gardner Public School Committee vote to approve Option #2 as the 2024-2025 School Calendar. Staff will start on August 26, 2024 and students will start classes on September 3, 2024. Seconded by Mr. LaFreniere. Vote – so voted. Mayor Nicholson abstained from voting. Regular Meeting February 12, 2024 Page 6 Item #3488 – College & Career Readiness Coordinator’s Update The College & Career Readiness Coordinator’s Repot was included in the members’ packets. Ms. Melissa Paine, College & Career Readiness Program Coordinator, was not present this evening. Item #3489 – Curriculum Coordinator’s Update The Curriculum Coordinator’s Report was included in the members’ packets. Dr. Goguen was present this evening. Item #3490 – Director of School Health Services Update The School Health Services Report was included in the members’ packets. Ms. Rebecca McCaffrey, Director of School Health Services, was not present this evening. Item #3491 – ELL Coordinator’s Update The ELL Coordinator's Report was included in the members’ packets. Dr. Lori Simpson, Director of Multilingual Learner Education, was not present this evening. Item #3492 - Grants Administrator’s Update The Grants Administrator’s Report was included in the members’ packets. Ms. Courteny Dunn, Grants, Communications & Compliance Manager, was not present this evening. Item #3493 – Special Education Update The Special Education Update Report was included in the members’ packets. Ms. Joyce West, Director of Pupil Personnel Services, was not present this evening. Item #3494– SEPAC Report A virtual SEPAC meeting was held on January 18, 2024, with five parents, one community member, SEPAC Officers, and the Special Education Administrator in attendance. SEPAC is working on a survey to increase parent involvement and attendance. COMMUNICATIONS Dr. Pellegrino reported that the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has selected Gardner district to participate in a district review during the 2023-2024 school year. The purpose of this review is to provide formative and actionable feedback on district practices, enabling district leaders to reflect on progress and strengthen staff and student performance. He provided an overview of the schedule (February 27 to March 1, 2024) and a brief overview of the data collection procedures. Regular Meeting February 12, 2024 Page 6 FINAL COMMENTS Mrs. Leighton appreciates all the details and reports in the monthly packets. It keeps all the School Committee members connected. Mrs. Pelavin will have a list of members of the subcommittees ready at the next meeting. Mrs. Cormier attended a Focus Group meeting. It was a very positive experience. Mayor Nicholson spoke about the loss of Councilor Ronald Cormier. He organized the Student Government Day program and was on the Elementary School Building Committee. Mr. Brad Heglin will be sworn in to replace Ron. The Mayor said that Gardner has been awarded a $230,000 grant to be used to help make Gardner’s roads safer. Also, the Rockwell Committee will be announcing the awards to the schools. ADJOURNMENT Mr. LaFreniere moved to adjourn. Seconded by Mrs. Pelavin. Vote – so voted. Mayor Nicholson abstained from voting. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm __________________________ Rachel Cormier Secretary T. Hillman Recording Secretary