April 6, 2023 Meeting

Weymouth School Committee

Humanities Center & Zoom
April 6, 2022
MEETING MINUTES
(approved 4/27/23)

Members In Attendance: Dr. John Sullivan, Chair; Tracey Nardone, Vice Chair; Carrie Palazzo, Secretary; Kathy Curran, Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw; Steven Buccigross

Members Absent: Mayor Hedlund

Also Present: Robert Wargo, Superintendent; Brian Smith, Assistant Superintendent; Melanie Curtin, Assistant Superintendent

The meeting began at 6:31pm

Mrs. Nardone moved to enter into executive session; Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, s. 21(a)(3) To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining negotiations:
a. WEA Unit A CBA MOA
b. SEIU 888 Custodian Workers CBA MOA
c. SEIU 888 Maintenance Workers CBA MOA Motion seconded by Ms. Palazzo. Roll call vote. Passed unanimously.

The meeting was called to order at 7:02pm

The chair informed that the meeting is being recorded and available on WETC.

Dr. Sullivan led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Consent Agenda:
The Consent agenda included:

• Warrant 40-2023 in the amount of $2,176,330.24. Dated 4/3/23
• Regular Minutes: 3/23/23
• Executive Minutes: 3/23/23
• Budget Sub Committee Minutes: 3/22/23
• Field Trip: WHS Grades 10-12, Skills USA, Best Western, Marlboro, MA, April 27-29, 2023

Motion by Mrs. Nardone to accept the consent agenda. Seconded by Ms. Palazzo. Motion passed unanimously.

Public Comment
In accordance with Policy BEDH.
-Elizabeth Foster Nolan, 54 House Rock Road
Expressed her hopes that the committee postpone the vote on committee reorganization until the vacancy has been filled. She suggested that the Vice Chair could be interim Chair until the position is filled.

-Danielle Graziano, 430 Ralph Talbot Street
-Kim Ferriera, 105 Charles Diersch St.
Expressed their thanks and appreciation to Chair Sullivan for his years of work and collaboration and presented him with a gift.

Report of the Superintendent:
The Superintendent shared that there are positive and non positive things happening in the district and positive items will be shared in his report.

The Wrap Around Center Open House was a success. Thanks was expressed to Brynn Cooper and Kelsey Bromberg.

Kindergarten here I come day is sponsored by the CFCE grant and will be held May 24, 2023 from 5:30-7:15pm at WHS.

Instructional rounds were hosted by Academy Ave the previous week.

Strategic plan development will hopefully be completed by July 1. 2 of 3 questions have been answered-‘How are we getting there’ is the last question to be answered.

A committee will be formed to work on the Master Facilities Plan.

Special Olympics will be on April 27, 2023 at WHS
International Festival will be held on May 16 from 5-8pm at Chapman

The Superintendent expressed this thanks and appreciation to Jamie Murphy and Taylor Whipple for their work in organizing ‘Inclusion has No Limits’ night on April 5.

NEW BUSINESS
a. Discuss Approval Request for Private School: South Shore Stars School & Learning Center - Jen Curtis
Dr. Curtis came to the table to present on South Shore Stars School & Learning Center for students with high risk of dyslexia or language-based learning difficulties. The presentation (attached to these minutes) included topics: overview of South Shore Stars, funding, student profiles, curriculum standards, tools, and instruction, traveling to out of district schools, partnership with Weymouth Public Schools as well as School Committee approval of instructional learning.

Scituate parent Katie Whitelock shared her family's personal story of traveling to the Landmark School in Beverly, MA so that her daughter could receive appropriate education for her learning difficulties.

Public Comment
-Micheal Murphy, WEA president
Shared his concern that he didn’t want to see the WEA lose people and that there is a LBLD program already in Weymouth. He expressed his support for the committee to delay their vote until more research could be done.

-Danielle Graziano
Shared her support for a facility close to home and the advantages to being in a neighborhood school.

-Elizabeth Foster Nolan
Expressed her support to delay the vote until more research and parent and teacher feedback could be gathered.

-Daniel Rios, WHS senior
Shared his personal story of learning difficulty during elementary school and expressed support for the programming.

The committee discussed the parameters of the vote. The vote is on the efficacy of the curriculum and that it equals the town's programming. Assistant Superintendent Curtin shared that she has no issues with the South Shore Stars presented curriculum.

Mrs. Curran shared her opinion to postpone the vote until more information is gathered.

Motion by Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw to approve South Shore Stars request for a private school in line with Chapter 76 Section 1. Seconded by Mrs. Nardone. The Motion passed. Mrs. Curran abstained.

b. Report of the Policy Sub Committee-3/27/23 (action requested)
Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw gave an overview of the meeting on March 27, 2023. Topics covered: WHS dress code was tabled, Policy D-fiscal changes, Policy JLBD regarding allergies from 2018 being sound-does not require update. Both Assistant Superintendent Smith and Nurse leader O’Hara attended the meeting.

Motion by Mrs. Nardone to accept the report of the Policy subcommittee. Seconded by Ms. Palazzo. Motion passed unanimously.

c. Policy Section D-First Reading
MASC suggested updates; there aren’t any substantive changes. Policy D will be moved to second reading.

d. Ratification of CBA Memorandum of Agreement with WEA Unit A (Action Requested)
Mrs. Curran shared the financial impact of the contract:
FY23-grid adjustments created for a raise of ~3%
COLA’s=FY24-2.5%, FY25-3%, FY26-2.5%
Total cost of the contract is $6.5M. Thanks was expressed for the collaborations; Assistant Superintendent Smith, Chief of Staff Langill, Superintendent Wargo, Mediation, Attorney Brunt, Jeremy Burm, Maryann Foley, Bargaining committee members.

Motion by Mrs. Curran to ratify CBA Memorandum of Agreement with WEA Unit A. Seconded by Ms. Palazzo. Motion passed unanimously.

WEA members Mike Murphy, Tina, Conti, Heike Tuplan, Joni Cederholm expressed their appreciation that the contract is done after 13 months, and thanked WEA members for their support, SEPAC, students and the Weymouth community. A reminder was given that Unit D will begin negotiating.

e. Ratification of CBA Memorandum of Agreement with SEIU 888 Maintenance Workers (Action Requested)
Mrs. Curran shared that negotiations met 3 times and thanked Joan Caruso and reviewed the financial impact of the contract: FY24- adding step 7 for 3% increase, Year 2-2.5% and Year 3-2.5 Total cost of $270K.

Motion by Mrs. Curran to ratify CBA Memorandum of Agreement with SEIU 888 Maintenance Workers. Seconded by Ms. Palazzo. Motion passed unanimously.

f. Ratification of CBA Memorandum of Agreement with SEIU 888 Custodians (Action Requested)
Mrs. Curran shared that negotiations met 2 times and reviewed the financial impact of the contract:
FY-steps dropped and added for 3% increase, year 2-2.5% and year 3-2.5%
Motion by Mrs. Curran to ratify CBA Memorandum of Agreement with SEIU 888 Custodians. Seconded by Ms. Palazzo. Motion passed unanimously.

g. Last Day of School Vote (Action Requested)
Last day of school will be ½ day on Tuesday, June 20, 2023.

Motion by Mrs. Nardone to approve half day, June 20, 2023 as the last day of school. Seconded by Ms. Palazzo. Motion passed unanimously.

h. Committee Reorganization (Action requested)
Discussion of reorganization was had as well as Town Charter and policy BBB. The Town solicitor recommended not to fill the seat. Leadership and method for filling the position of the chair. Advertising of the vacancy and what is involved and required, collecting letters of interest, and executive session for screening candidates was talked over. In absence the Vice Chair is Chair.

Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw made a motion to have the current Vice Chair, Mrs. Nardone, be the interim chair and once the vacant position is filled the committee will hold a proper full organization meeting. Seconded by Mrs. Curran. Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw amended the motion adding that the vice chair will hold the seat until a determination is made to fill the vacancy. Seconded by Mrs. Nardone. Motion passed unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS

a. Update and status of Abigail Adams and Johnson - Assistant Superintendent Smith
McKinnel was in the building and the design is almost complete. The next meeting will be April 11 and the bid timeline will be reviewed.

The committee and Superintendent respectively presented a gift to Dr. Sullivan. Ms. Palazzo presented a citation for Dr. Sullivan from Representative James Murphy.

Announcements:
-Policy Sub-Committee-Adams Library-6:00pm-May 11, 2023.
-Abigail Adams/Early Education Facilities Committee-April 11th-3:30pm-School Administration/Virtual
-Budget Sub-Committee-May 10, 2023, 6:00pm
-SEPAC-Group meet up after the Special Olympics, April 24, 2023 at the MWC playground

Next School Committee Meeting:
Regular Meeting: Thursday, April 27, 2023 - 7:00pm

The Meeting adjourned at 8:52pm on the motion of Mrs. Curran, seconded by Ms. Palazzo. Motion passed unanimously.

Documents Attached to These Minutes:

• South Shore Stars presentation
• 2023 School Calendar

Respectfully Submitted,

Carrie Palazzo
Secretary

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