April 29, 2021 Meetings

Weymouth School Committee

ZOOM Meeting
April 29, 2021
MEETING MINUTES
(approved 5/13/21)

Members In Attendance: Lisa Belmarsh, Chair; Tracey Nardone, Vice Chair; John Sullivan, Secretary; Kathy Curran; Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw; Carrie Palazzo

Members Absent: Mayor Hedlund

Also Present: Kathleen Smith, Superintendent; Brian Smith, Assistant Superintendent; Robert Wargo, Assistant Superintendent

The Meeting Came to Order At      7:00pm.

Chair Belmarsh led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Consent Agenda:
The Consent agenda included:

• Warrant 42-2021 in the amount of $819,557.15. Dated April 20, 2021.
• Regular Minutes: 4/8/21
• Executive Session Minutes: 4/7/21
• Budget Sub-Committee Minutes: 4/7/21

Motion by Mrs. Nardone to accept the consent agenda. Seconded by Dr. Sullivan. Roll Call vote. Motion passed unanimously.

Student Advisory
Students Katelyn and Caroline Horan, and Josephine Burke presented their update (attached to these minutes). Topics included return to school, spring sports, Children’s Mental Health Awareness week-May 3-7, 2021 and Diversity and Equity virtual conferences April 10. It was mentioned that there is a lack of soap in the girls’ bathrooms.

The committee thanked the students for being present and for the update.

Motion by Mrs. Nardone to take out of order the Report of the Superintendent. Seconded by Dr. Sullivan. Roll call vote. Passed unanimously. Talk of Public Comment placement on the agenda was had.

Report of the Superintendent:
The Superintendent applauded the students for recognizing children's mental health awareness week and encouraged students, staff and community members to wear green on May 7, 2021 in acknowledgement and to promote mental health wellness and self care. There will be a virtual resource fair on May 6, 2021.

Superintendent Smith’s presentation included a video of Arbor Day at the Hamilton School planting trees with Mayor Hedlund. The video can be accessed on WETC. The Superintendent thanked Mayor Hedlund, Bob Feldman and Principal Burm. Principal Angelos was highlighted at the Nash School for wearing roller blades and his helmet in response to a reading challenge at the school.

The Superintendent and the executive team welcomed back students to full in person learning at all schools. Student stats for in person and remote learning are:

	Pre-Kindergarten	Elementary	Middle School	High School
In Person	131	2100	747	1217
Remote	14	222	121	518

 

Administrative professionals were celebrated on April 21, 2021 and a timeline of teacher appreciation celebration events in May will be forthcoming.

The Superintendent shared news from Dr. Curtis-Whipple that former School Resource Officer Joe Favreau will be retiring. Superintendent Smith also shared that she will be serving on a WBUR zoom panel in regards to being Superintendent during the pandemic and steps taken.

April 20th the Mayor presented the budget to the Town Council. The school budget is a 5% increase which is $3.7M. The Superintendent thanked the Mayor, Chief of Staff Langill, and Assistant Superintendent Smith, Dr. Sullivan, Chair Belmarsh, and Mrs. Curran for their work on the budget sub committee. Superintendent Smith will proudly present the school budget to the Town Council on May 26.

There will be a budget subcommittee meeting on May 5, 2021 further discussing the budget.

Assistant Superintendent Smith thanked Diersch Flowers, Becky and Diane for their donation of Stop & Shop gift cards for families in need. Mr. Smith further thanked local businesses for their support of school families and students during the pandemic.

School Spring Event Planning
Assistant Superintendent Smith gave an overview of the guidance and timeline of planning of spring events. Guidance is ever changing. Priority groups are the class of 2021, 5th grade class, Kindergarten and athletics. Events will have safety plans and will require masks. Gatherings outside may be up to 250 people socially distanced. There will be stipend positions to assist with monitoring large events.

Primary schools will have live stream end of year celebrations.

The Superintendent advised that guidelines will be available on the website and that planning is mindful to pay tribute to milestones while conservative to keep students in school. A copy of the presentation is attached to these minutes.

WHS End of Year Events-Principal Alan Strauss, Associate Principal Karen Monahan , and Dean Dolan
Principal Struass expressed his thanks and appreciation to all whose efforts have helped with celebrating and recognizing the senior class especially the post prom committee for all their help in 2020 and continuing for 2021.

Associate Principal Monahan shared that DESE recommends that schools substitute galas for proms and that guidelines are developing.

The senior gala will be on June 1, 2021 with a rain date of June 3, 2021 from 5:30pm-8:30pm at the high school. It will be progressive with 3 cohorts moving between 3 areas (Stadium, parking lot, and front tent). There will be food trucks with allergy safe prepackaged food, and a DJ. Senior students will need to register prior to attendance. Students can sign up to be in cohorts with their friends.

Dean Dolan reviewed the senior survey results of graduation and gala considerations. Students having a live graduation was emphasized. Cap and gowns will be distributed the week of May 24th at primary schools.

The WHS graduation was summarized. Graduation will be June 5, 2021 at 10am with rain delay being 4pm. Rain date will be June 6, 2021 at 4pm. The graduation ceremony will also be livestreamed. Senior gifts of tshirt, lawn sign and picture banners will be distributed. Mask wearing was reiterated.

Virtual ceremonies for Senior Awards will be on May 19, National Honor Society on May 13 with World Language National Honor Society on May 20 for seniors.

Suggestions of using the WHS concession stand, posting senior names on telephone poles on Pleasant Street and using luminarias were made.

Evening High School ceremony will be on the 24th.

Questions regarding senior activities can be emailed to Principal Strass, Associate Principal Monahan and Dean Dolan.

All questions by the committee were addressed. A copy of the presentation is attached to these minutes.

The committee thanked the high school team for all of their hard work.

Public Comment
The Chair reminded that public comment be in accordance with Policy BED, items on the agenda and kept to 3 minutes; if members wish to speak-name and address should be added in the chat.

-Laurie Hansen, 20 Thompson Road
Shared her support of increasing Cosmetology fees to be competitive while being affordable however suggested delaying the increase by postponing by 1 year to 2022 for Weymouth residents due to the pandemic.

NEW BUSINESS

a. Student Handbooks-First Reading.

Assistant Superintendent Wargo advised that ‘homelessness’ will be added to non discriminatory language in the handbooks and that there are no changes for the elementary or Adams handbooks.

Dean Bonner gave an overview of the high school handbook revisions (attached to these minutes). Q5 definition, Code of Conduct, Athletics and Extracurricular eligibility, disciplinary code and probation were outlined.

Discussion of passing at 70% vs. 60% for Q5 was had. It was clarified that summer Q5 does have teacher support whereas the year long program is independent, which is the rationale for having different passing scores for the two programs..

The handbooks will be moved to a second reading.

b. Fee Schedule Update (Action Requested)

Assistant Superintendent Smith advised that Group 3 fees are being reviewed and thanked and agreed with Ms. Hansen to delay the resident fee by 1 year.

Ms. Ware outlined the need for Weycare fee increase.

Motion by Mrs. Nardone to accept the fees as recommended with delaying resident cosmetology increase until FY23. Seconded by Dr. Sullivan. Roll call vote. Passed unanimously.

c. Last Day of School 2020-2021 (Action Requested)

Motion by Mrs. Nardone to move up in the agenda, 2021-2022 calendar after the last day of school 2021. Seconded by Dr. Sullivan. Roll call vote. Passed unanimously.

The last day for students will be Friday, June 18, 2021; a half day. The last day for staff will be June 21, 2021; also a half day.

Motion by Mrs. Nardone to end school for students with a half day on June 18, 2021. Seconded by Dr. Sullivan. Roll call vote. Passed unanimously.

2021-2020 School Calendar (Action Requested)

The first day of school for staff will be Wednesday, September 1, 2021 and for students, ½ day on September 2, 2021. The last day of school, with 5 snow days built in is June 24, 2022. The calendar reflects 180 days for students and 184 for staff with professional development.

Town Wide Parent Council is in the evening on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, which is also a ½ day for students; with the remainder of the day for professional development for staff

Motion by Mrs. Nardone to approve the school year 2021-2022 Weymouth Public School calendar. Seconded by Dr. Sullivan. Roll call vote. Passed unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS

a. Policy JJF-Student Activity Accounts-Second Reading

Assistant Superintendent Smith shared his thanks and appreciation to student Alyssa Johnston for her capstone project detailing a forensic audit of student activity accounts.

There was an opportunity for public comment:
-Alyssa Johnston,
Expressed her thanks to Mr. Smith and reiterated that information be posted and transparent and inquired in the class of 2020 will be reached out to.

Assistant Superintendent Smith advised that student accounts are managed by the Principals and that he is happy to discuss options (donating money back to the school, school gift, tax exempt reunion account) with class officers.

Policy JJF will be moved to the third reading for approval at the next meeting.

b. Section J of the Policy Manual-Second Reading

There was an opportunity for public comment:
There was none.

Policy J will be moved forward for the third reading and committee action at the next meeting

c. Chapman School Building Update, Adams Renovation and Transportation Building Update (Town Measure 20-072 - Amend Measure 19 017)
i.Amend Measure 20 072 Adams Middle School Renovation as part of the new
Chapman Middle School Project Filed with Town Council April 5, 2021 Update

The amended measure will be reviewed at Budget sub on May 5. The measure increased funds for the Adams renovation and transportation building. Mr. MacLeod may speak at a May meeting.

d. Joint Committee on Community Host Agreement between Weymouth and Algonquin Gas Transmission regarding North Weymouth Compressor Station

There are no updates to share at this time.

Chair Belmarsh asked school committee members to let her know what times work best for the next school committee retreat.

Mrs. Curran encouraged community members to review section J and B of the policy manual advising that they are informative.

Announcements:
Weymouth Market-May 5, 2021-3:30pm-WHS Gold Cafeteria in a drive thru manner
Budget Sub-Committee-May 5, 2021-6:00pm-ZOOM
Town Wide Parent Council-April 13, 2021, 7:00pm-ZOOM
SEPAC-April 27, 2021-6:30pm-ZOOM

Next School Committee Meeting:
Regular Meeting: Thursday, May 13, 2021 - 7:00pm

The Meeting adjourned at 9:12pm on the motion of Mrs. Nardone, seconded by Dr. Sullivan. Roll call vote - passed unanimously.

Documents Attached to These Minutes:

• Spring Event presentation
• End of Year class of 2021 events and graduation
• 2020-2021 School Calendar
• 2021-2022 School Calendar
• Policy section J

Respectfully Submitted,

John Sullivan
Secretary

Student Advisory Group
School Committee Meeting - April 29, 2021

Members: Josephine Burke, Elana Jipson, Caroline Horan, Katelyn Horan Mr. Strauss met with the members this afternoon and discussed current activities, concerns and suggestions
Today there was a lack of soap in some of the girls’ rooms
Return to School: (Caroline)
Theater is preparing for the Addams Family
Spring sports have started
Clubs are in place
lack of soap in some of the girl’s room
Unified Track starting on Tuesday - First home meet against Milton is May 25 , the away meet is
June 2 in Walpole
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week - May 3 to May 7 (Katelyn)
A coalition of different student groups will be working together next week to support Children’s
Mental Health Awareness Week. Each day will have a different theme.
Participating student organizations include Model UN, Multicultural Club, HRC, VIP, SAG, Athletic Leadership Council
MONDAY: Defining Our Emotions
TUESDAY: S.A.F.E Spaces ~ Students Advocating For Each other
WEDNESDAY:Music and Mental Health https://sites.google.com/weymouthps.org/musicbythemulticulturalclub/home
THURSDAY: Resilience in Action - which focuses on mental strength empathy and gratitude
FRIDAY: Everybody Wear Your Green! What it Means and How to be an Ally

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