November 10, 2022 Meeting

Weymouth School Committee

Humanities Center & Zoom
November 10, 2022
MEETING OF THE WHOLE MINUTES
(approved 11/17/22)

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

Members Absent: Carrie Palazzo, Secretary; Steve Buccigross, Mayor Hedlund

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

The meeting was called to order at 5:31pm

School Facilities Use MOA
Assistant Superintendent Smith advised that Shared Building Usage MOU (side agreement) mirrors the shared field usage MOU which required the Mayor, Superintendent, appropriate AD, and Parks and Recreation signatures. He explained that for the planetarium, capital funding will be used this year to replace obsolete equipment and technology. In the past field trips covered the cost of the space oversight. Michael Richards oversaw the space and programs. There will be a shared calendar between school hall rental and town asset management for booking.

Whipple Auditorium and page 2 and ‘field’ usage will be replaced accordingly. Mrs. Curran shared that WPS should be listed first in each of the 3 spaces. It was confirmed that when the school department books the space the hall rental fee will be deposited into the school hall rental revolving account. Space booked through asset management will be deposited into a town account. Any associated expenses will be withdrawn out of either the Town or school account respectively. It was suggested that the School department set the fee structure. It was shared that Mr. Norton is currently working on a fee structure for the auditorium space. Custodian need, police details, insurance coverage, and CORI checks will be considered for each booking as well. Renters assume liability of damage.

The Chair advised that the committee has a statutory responsibility with events happening in school buildings. It was requested that there be a place accessible, maybe on the website, to access the fees for space rental for clarity and transparency. It was emphasized that fee base should’ve been set together (school department/asset management) The current school rental rate is base of $60/hr + custodial rate of $40/hr + appropriate fees on top. Rental fees are part of the fee cycle. June 16, 2022, space fees were increased from $55-$60 and custodial fees from $35-$40.

Assistant Superintendent Smith confirmed the recommended changes.

Job Description: Deputy Director of Event Facilities
The position was created by asset management and is funded by the town. The job description was written by the Town Chief of Staff and Human Resources The position is unique in that it reports to the Director of Asset Management as well as the Superintendent. It was requested that if a future shared position is created that both the school department and Town be involved.

Essential and Specific Functions and Responsibilities were reviewed. It was suggested to move the 9th essential function (page 2) to be the first. Numbers 8-11 specific functions (page 3) were discussed. Concern was expressed for #8 of specific functions and it was clarified that the prioritization of student centered theater education is different from the stipend position. It was shared that the discussion of the description is about the position not the person. It is up to the Principal to hire the WHS theater director. Any policies and operational procedures will need to go before the policy sub committee.

It was suggested that the full school committee vote to support the description and the position.

School Committee Goals
Goals have previously been formulated, edits in blue are specific and measurable and are intertwined with the Superintendent's. Mrs. Curran suggested that the Facilities Master Plan be moved to number 1 and that the Abigail Adams renovation be moved to number 2. It was requested that the facilities plan be specific regarding the Johnson building and special education programming.

Dates for the first 3 goals align with the Superintendents. It was clarified that if those dates may not be completed that it will be reported out to the committee with benchmarks.

For Student Achievement a request was made to receive grade level proficiency data in math and reading at the end of the year. Discussion was had of the last bullet of student achievement and if there is a need to identify student populations which are being served. The Superintendent shared that some data is hidden for sub groups and that naming populations will draw intentional focus.

Concern for the growing increase in student out of district placements was discussed. It was reiterated that the 14% increase is for the estimated cost of tuition not placements. A standalone in-district program was talked about. It was suggested that supporting the district's initiative to keep students in the district, allocation, and funding could be added to the strategic plan. Appreciation for Special Education leadership and staff was expressed. It was stated that Weymouth does not have a special education stabilization fund and that circuit breaker does help mitigate some of the out of district expense.

#6 will reflect ‘negotiate and work in cooperation with all collective bargaining units’. ADA compliant has been added to the first bullet of #7. The date will be moved to the end of the sentence in #8. It was explained that the June 20, 2023 date for evaluation completion concerns years where the contract is voted. The Superintendent is in year 2 of a 4 year contract.

Superintendent Evaluation Process & Schedule
To codify the process and for clarity the Chair advised to work backwards for the evaluation procedural steps worksheet. Dr. Sullivan will double check dates against the Superintendent's contract. Goals being school year versus calendar year was mentioned. New Superintendents (for the first 3 years) are evaluated once per year recommended by MASC.

Attendance in relation to student achievement was talked over. The Superintendent shared that staff attendance is being addressed by RIBAS in ways to use sick time in an ethical manner.

It was expressed that there is enough work to be done and feedback needed from members Palazzo and Buccigross regarding goals and the worksheet. A subsequent meeting of the whole will be scheduled.

The Meeting adjourned at 7:36pm on the motion of Mrs. Curran, seconded by Dr. Sherlock-Shgangraw. Motion passed.

Respectfully Submitted,

Carrie Palazzo
Secretary

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