December 7, 2023 Meeting

Weymouth School Committee

Council Chambers-Town Hall & Zoom
December 7, 2023
MEETING MINUTES
(approved 1/4/24)

Members In Attendance: Tracey Nardone, Chair; Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw, Vice Chair; Carrie Palazzo, Secretary; Kathy Curran, Steven Buccigross; Danielle Graziano

Members Absent: Mayor Hedlund

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

The meeting began at 5:35 pm.

Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw moved to enter into executive session;
Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, s. 21(a)(4): To discuss the deployment of security personnel or devices and strategies: ALICE procedures for School Committee
Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, s. 21(a)(2): To conduct collective bargaining session: WEA Level III Grievance
Pursuant to M.G.L. c 30 A sec. 21 (a)(1) approve minutes from the executive session held to consider a complaint against a public officer, employee, staff member or individual held on October 12, 2023
Motion seconded by Mrs. Curran. Roll call vote. Passed unanimously.

The meeting was called to order at 7:00pm
The chair informed that the meeting is being recorded and available on WETC.

Mrs. Nardone led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Consent Agenda:
The Consent agenda included:

• Payment of Bills: Confirmation of Warrant: 22 -2024 Date: 11/27/23 Amount:$1,513,177.89
• Regular Meeting Minutes: 11/16/23
• Executive Session Minutes: 11/16/23
• Meeting of the Whole 11/2/823

Motion by Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw to accept the consent agenda. Seconded by Ms. Palazzo. Motion unanimously passed.

Student Senate
Students Brooke Lenahan, Parneet Saini, Amira Cooper, Josephine Campo, Kyarah Chery, Manton Du, Shyann Pierce came to the table to present their update on clubs and activities, sports, and CTE at WHS (attached to these minutes).

The committee thanked the students for their report.

Report of the Superintendent:
Superintendent Wargo shared that 3 WHS students were named Boston Herald athletes as well as 1 All American Boys soccer athlete.

Winter concerts are taking place. Individual school web pages will have details.

Early release for students will be 12/12/23. Staff will attend professional development in the afternoon.

Term 1 for primary students ends December 8, 2023.

Teacher Jess Ketner will be recognized at the Wasabi Fenway Bowl for her teaching and dedication. Congratulations were expressed.

Adams Academy students have been reading to CFCE Pre Pre School kids; great collaboration between the 2 programs.

Master Facilities Plan Update:
The Superintendent introduced Matthew Meehan who is heading the Education Master Facilities planning. Mr. Meehan presented the update (attached to these minutes). Topics included: Assessment of current space, needs to be identified, and solutions. Quantitative as well as Qualitative data was collected. Space and increasing enrollments were highlighted. Short term and long term viable solutions were reviewed. It was shared that the current space is educationally deficient. The presentation will be posted on the website.

All questions by the committee were addressed. Possible funding sources as well as modular classrooms were talked about. Town and School collaboration is ongoing.

-Public Comment

Mike Murphy-inquired of earlier plans for a community K-8 school at the air base. It was advised that was a consideration during Southfield not for the current Union Point.

Motion by Mrs. Nardone and seconded by Ms. Palazzo to take discussion of 111 Middle St., Administration out of order. Motion passed unanimously

g. Discuss Administration 111 Middle Street Building
The Superintendent shared that the building is no longer a viable educational setting and asked that committee to discuss policy FCB, retirement of a school building to move forward on a closing study.

Motion by Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw to approve the Superintendents request for a closing study to be performed on 111 Middle Street, Administration building. Seconded by Mr. Buccigross. Discussion:
Mr. Meehan will perform the closing study at no additional cost to the district. A request was made for:
Financial analysis, if there will be custodial/maintenance staff displaced, if other departments are in need of the space(such as transportation or community engagement), if it could be used for archival storage, if there are security or fire contracts in place for the building, or if there are any revenue/and or leasing generating opportunities for the space. It was also mentioned to work with counsel in respect to MGL Chapter 40, Section 3 and transferring custodial care of the building as well as the Superintendents list of options to move forward. Motion passed unanimously.

Mrs. Curran left the table at 7:57pm and returned at 7:59pm.

NEW BUSINESS

a. Chapman Middle School Improvement
Plan Interim Principal Dolan and Interim Associate Principal Amoroso gave an overview of their 1 year improvement plan. Student Belonging & Achievement, as well as Family & Community Engagement were highlighted. Honor Roll, suspension and incident percentage as well as attendance was discussed.

b. Weymouth High School Improvement Plan
Principal Monahan and interim Associate Principal Northup gave an overview of their 3 year improvement plan also highlighting Student Belonging & Achievement and Family and Community Engagement. The IMPACT football teacher event was complimented. Quarterly updates on comparative absence data of staff and students will be sent to the committee by the Superintendent.

Chronic absenteeism was discussed.

The Committee thanked both the middle and high school principals for their presentation and for attending the meeting.

c. Budget Sub-Committee Report-12/6/23 (action requested)
Tabled

d. Policy Sub-Committee Report-11/27/23 (action requested)
Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw gave an overview of the meeting on 11/27 where policies JC and JCA (attached to these minutes) were discussed. Edits are short but substantive. Dates for enrollment deadline were confirmed. The map included is of current school zones.

e. Policies for First Reading
    JC-Attendance Areas
    JCA-Assignment of Students to Schools
Motion by Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw and seconded by Ms. Palazzo to forward policies JC and JCA to a second reading. Motion passed unanimously.

f. Acceptance of Gifts (action requested)
Assistant Superintendent Smith summarized the report given at budget sub; gifts received from 7/1/22-6/30/23 were: Monetary donations of $114,124.15 and In-Kind of $99,949.99

Motion by Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw for the acceptance of gifts. Seconded by Mr. Buccigross. Motion passed unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS

a. Update and status of Abigail Adams and Johnson - Assistant Superintendent Smith Assistant Superintendent Smith
summarized the meeting of 11/30/23 with OAC, Town and School as well as GVW construction. Demolition and abatement has begun, and plumbing and capping discussed. More information will be shared after the 12/14/23 meeting where play structures, green space, fencing, van drop off, and external structure will be discussed. Van parking is scheduled to be on Mitchell field September of 2024.

Public Comment
In accordance with Policy BEDH and kept to 3 minutes.

-Lisa Wiklund, 81 Aster Circle
Shared her experience as the Murphy School Library ESP and commented on staff shortages and ESPs having to cover other areas and asked for a contract with a living wage.

-Kate Reardon, 45 Southern Ave.
Shared her daily experience as a TLC Para at Chapman and emphasized the support and services that ESPs provide students especially those when a student could become dysregulated.

-Heike Tuplin, on behalf of Kathryn Goshy, 34 Federal Street
Shared thoughts and feelings of her WHS Childhood ESP position and commented on the high cost of living and her having to have 2 jobs and emphasized that she loves her job.

-Joni Cederholm on behalf of Lori Delenao, 56 Thomas Road
As a 13 year ESP shared frustration that ESPs should be paid more than poverty pay and highlighted the importance of the work they provide and expressed her daily experience and asked for increased pay for ESPs.

-Joni Cederholm, Emmeline Rd
Shared that the comments are coming from the heart from the community and matter.

Announcements:
-SEPAC-December 19, 2023-AAC devices and evaluations discussed by Kim Pettit

The Chair presented a gift to Ms. Palazzo in recognition of her last school committee meeting and for her service to Weymouth students and families.

Next School Committee Meeting:
Meeting of the Whole: Thursday, December 21, 2023 - 7:00pm
Regular Meeting: Thursday, January 4, 2024

The Meeting adjourned at 9:03pm on the motion of Ms. Palazzo seconded by Mr. Buccigross. Motion passed unanimously.

Documents Attached to These Minutes:

• Student Senate Report
• Master Facilities Plan Update
• Middle and High School Improvement Plans
• Policies JC and JCA

Respectfully Submitted,
Carrie Palazzo
Secretary

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