February 15, 2024 Meeting

Weymouth School Committee

MaryJo Livingstone Humanities Center & Zoom
February 15, 2024
MEETING MINUTES
(approved 3/7/24)

Members In Attendance: Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw, Vice Chair; Mary-Ellen Devine, Secretary; Kathy Curran; Danielle Graziano

Absent: Mayor Hedlund, Tracey Nardone, Chair; Steven Buccigross

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

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm

Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Consent Agenda:
The Consent agenda included:

• Payment of Bills: Confirmation of Warrant: 32 -2024 Date: 2/5/24 Amount: $869,315.66
• Regular Meeting Minutes: 2/1/24
• Meeting of the Whole Minutes: 2/1/24, 2/5/24
• Executive Session Minutes: 2/1/24, 2/8/24
• Field Trip: WHS Grades 9-12 - Dance Team - Dance Championships, Courtyard Burlington Harbor, South Burlington VT, 3/8/24-3/9/24

Motion by Mrs. Devine to accept the consent agenda. Seconded by Mrs. Curran. Motion unanimously passed.

Point of Information: it was noted that there are technical issues with Zoom and the Tech team is working on it.

Student Senate
Students Brooke Lenahan, Manton Du, Shyann Pierce, Kyarah Chery, and Parneet Saini gave an update (attached to these minutes) on activities and clubs at WHS.

Report of the Superintendent:
Superintendent Wargo visited Pingree and expressed thanks and appreciation to TLC educators Ms. Healy, Ms. Laundry, Mr. Casagrande, and Ms. Hartnett.

Wessagusset grade 2 teacher Heather Desmond was congratulated for her hard work and inclusiveness of all students and how she encompassed learning for her 3 EL students.

3 season student Megan Doyle who is attending Yale in the fall reached the 1000 point club.

National School Resource Officer day was 2/15/24. Thanks and appreciation were expressed to the following officers:
Sergeant Jennifer Pompeo
Officer James Flanagan
Officer Ryan Hamacher
Officer Joseph Sgambato
Charlee

There are about 300 kindergarten registrations thus far. Registration is open till April 1.

Through legislation there is a potential for an increase in circuit breaker and transportation circuit breaker reimbursement from 75-90%.

Thanks was expressed to Director Bransfield and all staff on implementing the Wit & Wisdom curriculum.

NEW BUSINESS

a. Review Draft 2024-2025 School Year Calendar
The proposed calendar was reviewed. A major change noted was that students in grades 1-6 and 9 will begin school with a half day on September 5, 2024. All students in grades 1-12 will have a full day on September 6, 2024. Kindergarten first day of school will be September 9 and will have screenings on September 5 & 6. The day before Thanksgiving is a ½ day for students and staff.

Suggestion was made to add to the calendar ‘full’ day for students on Sep 6, 2024 .

The calendar will be posted on the website and will go before the committee at the next meeting for vote.

b. Budget Sub-Committee Report-2/7/24 (Action Requested)
Mrs. Curran summarized the meeting on 2/7/24 where primary budgets, transportation, IT, and administration budgets were reviewed.

Motion by Mrs. Devine and seconded by Ms. Graziano to accept the report of the budget sub committee. Discussion: Clarification and additional classes moving up was made. Motion passed unanimously.

c. Policy Sub-Committee Report-2/12/24 (Action Requested)
Mrs. Curran summarized the meeting on 2/12 which began at 5:40 and ended at 6:32. Members present were Assistant Superintendent Curtin, Mrs. Devine and Mrs. Curran, MASC recommendations for policies GBEE, EHAA, KDC, CICH, KBCB were discussed. Moving forward for first reading are policies EHAA and KDC.

Motion by Mrs. Devine to accept the policy sub committee report. Seconded by Mrs. Curran. Motion carried unanimously

d. Policies for First Reading:
EHAA - District Security Relating to Technology
KDC - Community Use of Digital Resources
Mrs. Curran read the policies (attached to these minutes) into the record.

Policies will be posted on the website for review.

Motion by Mrs. Curran and seconded by Mrs. Devine to move forward policies EHAA and KDC for second reading. Motion passed unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS

a. Superintendent Goals & Focus Indicators (Action requested)
The Superintendent advised that a fifth goal of safe and healthy school climates has been added. Discussion of expected outcome, action steps, timeline, and team members was had. It was shared that it is a team effort.
Indicators and standards have been added as well.

Motion by Mrs. Curran to accept the Superintendent goals and focus indicators as presented. Seconded by Mrs. Devine. Motion passed unanimously.

b. Update and status of Abigail Adams and Johnson - Assistant Superintendent Smith Superintendent
Wargo shared that work and the transformation is tremendous and that the project is in a good place to meet the timeline. Assistant Superintendent Smith and Matt Meehan are working with Principal Perez on the move. School committee members requested to see the progress.

c. District Security Update
Mr. Smith, Ms. Curtin, and himself are in the buildings as much as possible. There are 23 parent volunteers who’ve completed training, due to time constraints only 3 have been able to go in to the School. They are primarily present at lunch. For preventative not reactive reasons, staff are in the hallways and posted outside bathrooms. There is 1 bathroom gate installed and purposefulness and impact is being evaluated. Thanks and appreciation was expressed to Interim Principal Dolan and Associate Principal Amoroso. It was reiterated that adult to student relationships are being made.

Feeling was shared that the Superintendent should be in the building everyday. Ms. Dolan holds coffee with the Principal at different times of day and on different subjects to connect with parents.

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

The preliminary budget book is out today and available online. Public Hearing is on March 7, 2024.

Announcements:
-Weymouth Scholarship is available until Mar 15, 2024 . More info on town site and FB page
-Contact Malissa.Northup@weymouthschools.org to volunteer as a Capstone Judge. Fair is on March 12 & 13.
-SEPAC-2/27/24, 7pm-Federation for Children with Special needs presenting on understanding the IEP and new IEP
-DESE Commissioner Riley stepping down March 15, 2024.

Next School Committee Meeting:
Regular Meeting & Public Hearing of FY25 School Committee Budget & School Choice: Thursday, March 7, 2024 - 7:00pm

The Meeting adjourned at 8:00pm on the motion by Mrs. Curran and seconded by Mrs. Devine. Motion passed unanimously.

Documents Attached to These Minutes:

• Student Senate Report
• Draft 2024-2025 school year calendar
• Policies EHAA, KDC
• Superintendent Goals

 

Respectfully Submitted,
Mary-Ellen Devine
Secretary

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• Field Trip Request: Dance Team to Vermont

• 2024-2025 DRAFT Calendar

• Policies for First Reading: EHAA & KDC

• Superintendent Goals