January 14, 2021 Meetings
WEYMOUTH SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
MEETING OF THE WHOLE
VIRTUAL - Please Note Location
January 14, 2021 – 7:00 pm
MEETING OF THE WHOLE
VIRTUAL - Please Note Location
January 14, 2021 – 7:00 pm
AGENDA
ZOOM
The Weymouth School Committee meeting of January 14, 2021 will occur at 7:00 PM for an executive session and 7:00 PM for the Regular Meeting. To protect the health of the community in the face of Covid19 and in accordance with the governor's emergency modifications to the Open Meeting Law, this meeting will be a videoconference. Access the meeting from home by following the directions below:
To join the meeting by computer or internet-enabled phone: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83506033126?pwd=UXgydjNEU1FBazk4em85MFNBbDJhQT09 Meeting ID: 835 0603 3126 Password: RuXn8A To join the meeting by phone: 1-646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 835 0603 3126 Passcode: 219240
I. CALL TO ORDER 6:00
II. MEETING OF THE WHOLE
- School Committee Superintendent Search Focus Group with Collins Center
III. ADJOURNMENT 7:00
NEXT MEETING OF THE WEYMOUTH SCHOOL COMMITTEE:
Thursday, January 21, 2021 – 7:00 p.m.
WEYMOUTH SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
VIRTUAL - Please Note Location
January 14, 2021 – 7:00 pm
AGENDA
VIRTUAL - Please Note Location
January 14, 2021 – 7:00 pm
AGENDA
ZOOM
The Weymouth School Committee meeting of January 14, 2021 will occur at 7:00 PM for an executive session and 7:00 PM for the Regular Meeting. To protect the health of the community in the face of Covid19 and in accordance with the governor's emergency modifications to the Open Meeting Law, this meeting will be a videoconference. Access the meeting from home by following the directions below:
To join the meeting by computer or internet-enabled phone: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83506033126?pwd=UXgydjNEU1FBazk4em85MFNBbDJhQT09 Meeting ID: 835 0603 3126 Password: RuXn8A To join the meeting by phone: 1-646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 835 0603 3126 Passcode: 219240
I. CALL TO ORDER 7:00 pm
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 7:00 pm
III. PUBLIC COMMENT 7:05 pm
Public Comment shall be in accordance with Policy BED
Public Comment shall be in accordance with Policy BED
IV. NEW BUSINESS 7:15 pm
a. Primary School Improvement Plan: Primary Principals
b. Weymouth High School Program of Studies: Alan Strauss, Karen Monahan, Rebecca Paulhus - First Reading
c. Proposed adjustment to 2020-2021 School Calendar (Action Requested)
V. OLD BUSINESS 7:45 pm
a. Capital Plan (Action Requested)
VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS 8:00 pm
- Weymouth Market - February 3, 2021 - 3:30 - WHS Market will occur in a drive through manner
VII. ADJOURNMENT
NEXT MEETING OF THE WEYMOUTH SCHOOL COMMITTEE:
Thursday, January 21, 2021 – 7:00 p.m.
Weymouth School Committee
ZOOM Meeting
January 14, 2021
MEETING MINUTES
(approved 1/21/21)
Members In Attendance: Lisa Belmarsh, Chair; John Sullivan, Secretary; Kathy Curran; Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw; Carrie Palazzo; Mayor Hedlund
Members Absent: Tracey Nardone, Vice-Chair
Also Present: Jennifer Curtis-Whipple, Superintendent; Brian Smith, Assistant Superintendent; Robert Wargo, Assistant Superintendent.
The Meeting Came to Order At 7:07pm.
Chair Belmarsh led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Comment
In accordance with Policy BED and items on the agenda.
-Jonathan Horne, Whitman Street
As Mr. Horne wanted to discuss attendance and mixing of cohorts, he was encouraged to email the committee his concerns or arrange to be placed on the agenda.
NEW BUSINESS
Primary School Improvement Plan: Primary Principals
A video was shared by the primary school Principals. Principal Costello spoke on student performance, Covid 19 complications, Staff Development (including Diversity Equity and Inclusion as well as Tech), accomplishments, resource priorities and strategic levers.
Principal Bransfield and Fratilillo summarized the performance challenges with literacy practices and establishing key initiatives. Such as learning walks, standards-based curriculum, increased focus on writing instruction and stressed the importance of the role that Literacy Coaches play.
Principal Angelos gave an overview on enhancing curriculum frameworks and pedagogy based on Standards of Mathematical Practices (SMP). There is no MCAS data due to Covid19 for 2020.
Principal Higgins gave an outline of math usage data from Big Ideas which was available to students both synchronously and asynchronously. Mr. Higgins also spoke on the parent resource of the Mathematical Wire Newsletter as well as the importance of Math Coaches.
Principal Guilfoy spoke on the communication between primary schools and families as well as the community. In addition to weekly email and virtual backpack communication, the district provided to students Remote Learning bags. The Backpack Food Program is continuing with the Weymouth Food Pantry.
Principal Schuhwerk shared that school wide mission is to enhance and promote (programs already in place like RULER & PBIS ) a positive and healthy climate where all students feel, safe, welcomed and supported. Ms. Schuhwerk emphasized the importance of Social and Emotional supports.
Principal Burm outlined the resource priorities as the district looks ahead and through Covid19. Counseling supports as well as instructional coaches was highlighted. With primary schools being K-5, needing assistant principals with special education and trauma based training was emphasized.
All questions asked by the committee were addressed. The committee thanked the Principals for their video, their presentation and for their patience in being postponed from the previous agenda.
Weymouth High School Program of Studies: Principal Strauss, Monahan & Associate Principal Paulhus
The Principals gave an overview of the summary of changes to the Program of Studies. In addition to language and date changes; some highlighted changes:
- Pathway Academy and courses held within the program
- AP Capstone program,
- Dual Enrollment (college credit earned from Quincy College)
- New interdisciplinary social justice class called ‘Voices’
- New Health and Wellness class
- Financial Literacy
The Principals expressed their excitement for the changes and additions and emphasized that the high school is trying to do more with less.
The committee conveyed their excitement for the new classes as well as for embedding social justice content in the framework. Having robust PE and Health classes as well as basics for post school success was also mentioned.
The program of studies will be moved to a second reading where public comment will be available.
Proposed adjustment to the 2020-21 School Calendar (action requested)
The last day of school is listed as June 18, 2021 and with the use of a snow day the date will have to be revised.
Mrs. Curran shared that the 5 snow days were usually built into the calendar and suggested doing that this year again. Ms. Palazzo suggested adding ‘subject to change’ on the calendar for parent awareness.
Talk of snow bags was discussed. The Department of Education does not allow snow bags. The timing of final exams has yet to be determined.
Motion by Dr. Sullivan to accept the recommendation to change the last day, ½ day of school to June 21, 2021. Seconded by Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw. Roll Call vote. Passed 5-1, Mrs. Curran voted No.
OLD BUSINESS
Capital Plan (action requested)
Assistant Superintendent Smith recognized and thanked Mr. John Barker for all of his hard work and years of service, reiterating his appreciation for being able to work with him before his retirement on 3/13/21.
Assistant Superintendent Smith gave an overview of the Capital memo and priority list that will be sent to Chief of Staff Langil by January 19, 2020 emphasizing that all items on the list are priority 1. The town decides from the list how and where to appropriate funding.
Prioritization of the list was talked of at length. A suggestion of Curriculum and IT being on the first page was made. Shared department cost was also talked over. Assistant Superintendent Smith advised that all items on the list are priority 1 and that the town.
Dr. Curtis Whipple stressed the importance of replacing the maintenance garage roof sharing that it from 1926 and leaks and is unsafe for employees to be inside.
Rearranging the list to have IT, Curriculum, JECC replacement boilers , maintenance building roof, Planetarium, and lumping together the Adams projects was discussed. Assistant Superintendent Smith advised that he could work with the Superintendent on reshuffling and reworking the narrative before submitting to the town.
Motion by Dr. Sullivan to approve the Capital List, empowering the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent to change the order and to add a narrative explaining the committee’s priorities. Seconded by Ms. Curran. Roll call vote. Passed 5-1. Mayor Hedlund abstained.
Announcements:
Weymouth Market-February 3, 2021-NEW time-3:30pm-WHS Gold Cafeteria in a drive thru manner
Next School Committee Meeting:
Regular Meeting: Thursday, January 21, 2021 - 7:00pm
The Meeting adjourned at 9:01pm on the motion of Dr. Sullivan, seconded by Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw. Roll call vote - passed unanimously.