June 13, 2024 Meeting

Weymouth School Committee

MaryJo Livingstone Humanities Center & Zoom
June 13, 2024
MEETING MINUTES
(approved 6/20/24)

Members In Attendance: Tracey Nardone, Chair; Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw, Vice Chair; Mary-Ellen Devine (7:03pm), Secretary; Kathy Curran; Dana Scott; Danielle Graziano

Members Absent: Mayor Hedlund

Also Present: Melanie Curtin, Interim Superintendent; Brian Smith, Assistant Superintendent

The meeting was called to order at 7:01pm
The chair informed that the meeting is being recorded and available on WETC.

Mrs. Nardone led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

A moment of silence was observed for the passing of Weymouth educator Paul Fuller and WHS student Arianna Jacob.

Consent Agenda:
The Consent agenda included:

• Payment of Bills: Confirmation of Warrant: 48-2024 Date: 5/28/24 Amount: $844,168.09 Confirmation of Warrant: 50-2024 Date: 6/10/24 Amount $642,626.89
• RegularMeetingMinutes: 5/23/24
• ExecutiveSession Minutes: 5/23/24 (tabled)
• Meeting of the Whole Minutes: 6/5/24

Motion by Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw to accept the consent agenda and to table the 5/23/24 executive session minutes. Seconded by Mrs. Devine. Motion unanimously passed.

Student Senate:
Students Manton Du-grade 10, Shyann Pierce-grade 9, Samuel Abbott-grade 10 gave an update (attached to these minutes) on events and happenings at WHS.

Report of the Superintendent:
Interim Superintendent Curtin expressed thanks to the School Committee for attending graduation and also to Principal Monahan and Betsy Harris for a successful career fair.

At the Primary Schools kindergarten screenings, concerts and field days are taking place. Kudos to parent councils.

There will not be school on June 19. The last day for schools is June 20 with Hamilton on the 21st.

A vote is required for Interim Superintendent Curtin to serve on the South Shore Educational Collaborative.

Motion by Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw and seconded by Mrs. Devine to appoint Interim Superintendent Melanie Curtin to participate on the Board of South Shore Educational Collaborative effective July 1, 2024. Motion passed unanimously.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT

Members attend other meetings outside the school committee days. Updates of other committee:

a. Budget Sub-Committee - Danielle Graziano
Ms. Graziano summarized the 6/3/24 meeting. Topics gift report and FY25 budget. The AD will present athletic gate fee data at the next School committee meeting. The Town Council will vote on the budget on Monday 6/17. The next budget sub meeting will be on June 26 if needed.

b. Collective Bargaining Sub-Committee - Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw
No updates at this time.

c. Policy Sub-Committee - Kathy Curran
No updates at this time.

d. Wellness Committee - Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw
Draft proposals with suggested edits will be presented in the fall.

e. Memorial Committee - Kathy Curran
No updates at this time.

f. WeymouthScholarship Committee - Mary-Ellen Devine
Presentation of scholarships were awarded to students across Weymouth

g. Facilities Master Plan Committee - Kathy Curran
No updates at this time.

h. Abigail Adams Early Education Facilities Committee- Mary-Ellen Devine
Next meeting is 6/18/24 at Abigail Adams at 5:30pm

i. Townwide Parent Council - Mary-Ellen Devine
Meetings will resume in the fall with Ashley Dickerman as president.

j. SEPAC - Danielle Graziano
There will be a meetup at the Chapman playground on 6/26 from 2-4pm

OLD BUSINESS

a. Review WHS Program of Study: Capstone Graduation Requirement (Action Requested)
Principal Monhan and Associate Principal Northup presented on the capstone project (attached to these minutes) so that the committee may make an informed vote. Topics included: History of the project, outline of the project timeline- time and research involved, the value/benefits to students and skills provided, DESE recommendations, impacts of eliminating the program and possible alternatives. Survey results were supplied.

Extensive discussion was had on the multi pronged steps of the project, eliminating the graduation requirement from the class, changing the timeline to junior year, making the course an elective (currently 1 credit .25 junior year and .75 senior year), stress and anxiety for students over the project, and the capstone fair. Scheduling, having enough alternate electives, and accommodations was talked about as well. Holbrook is the only surrounding community with Capstone. 7 states currently require Capstone as a graduation requirement. Concentrating on raising MassCore numbers was emphasized.

The Chair opened Public Comment for Capstone
-Karen Johnson, 35 Clarendon St.
As the mom of 3 WHS graduates praised the high school however expressed support in eliminating the Capstone graduation requirement. She also commented on the mental toll the project takes on students

-Irbina Martinez, Union St. Expressed support for eliminating the graduation requirement from Capstone and making it an elective course.

-Sade Shaw, Anthony Rd. Inquired about the number of students surveyed and expressed support for eliminating the graduation requirement from Capstone and making it an elective course and commented on taking care of students mental health.

-Arthur Burke, 265 Broad St. As a Dad of 2 former graduates and current junior year student expressed support in eliminating the Capstone graduation requirement, making it an elective course and commented on the struggle and mental toll the project took and is taking on his daughters.

-Hannah Burke, 265 Broad St. Shared her difficult experience of the capstone and the mental anxieties suffered as a result. She expressed her support for eliminating the graduation requirement and making capstone optional.-

Guz Perez, 16 Hewett Commented on the courageousness of Ms. Burke's remarks and expressed support for eliminating the graduation requirement from Capstone. Other survey questions were suggested and capstone rubric as requested (information is available at WHS online). He urged there to be focus on increasing MassCore numbers. The state average is 83.4% and Weymouth is 45%.

-Irbina Martinez, Union St. Shared her opinion that the committee and principals were indifferent to Ms. Burke’s comments.

Public Comment was closed.

The Chair strongly expressed disagreement with the previous comment.

If students don’t pass Capstone, they may attend a night or summer class at a cost to the family. Program specifics, alternative electives, credits, were discussed further.

Motion by Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw to keep the Capstone as course however removing the graduation requirement effective this coming fall. Motion seconded by Mrs. Devine. Discussion: keeping the course as an elective, credits, and scheduling was talked through. Motion passed unanimously.

Opening the program of studies to remove the capstone graduation requirements will be placed on the next agenda-June 20.

Mrs. Nardone left the table at 8.36pm ad returned at 8:38pm

b. Discuss Johnson Building Use (action requested)
For Johnson to be an elementary school and in speaking with the Mayor’s office, a committee will need to be formulated for budget, timeline, educational planning and facilities for a phased in grade K-5 approach opening Fall of 2025. A school committee member will be on the committee.

Motion by Mrs. Curran and seconded by Mrs. Devine to vote Johnson as a K-5 Elementary school with a phased approach, opening fall of 2025. Motion passed unanimously.

c. Proposed Name for WeymouthEarlyChildhood Center (Action Requested)
Motion by Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw and seconded by Mrs. Devine to accept the name ‘Weymouth Early Childhood Center’ for the program housed at Abigail Adams. Motion passed unanimously.

d. Update and status of Abigail Adams and Johnson.
OAC meeting washeldtoday and the project is on schedule to open in September. There will be a 3 daymoveinJulyandfilled in August. Painting, door installation, and fobs are being worked on. The next meeting will be on June 18.

e. District Safety & Security Update
Graffiti was discovered in one of the Chapman bathrooms.

Dennis Jones, administrator at Chapman, will be heading district wide safety and security. He has extensive background in the military and social emotional learning.

f. Renewal of Assistant Superintendent contracts (Action Requested)
    i. Brian Smith, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations
    ii. Melanie Curtin, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Service and Support
    Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw explained the fall back provision for Interim Superintendent Curtin.

Motion by Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw and seconded by Mrs. Devine to approve the renewal of the Assistant Superintendent contracts for Brian Smith, Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations and for Melanie Curtin, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Service & Support. Motion passed unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS

a. Graduation Data Report
Data will be available on the website. There were 405 graduates for the class of 2024. 242 will be continuing on the 4 year institutions and 46 to 2 year institutions.

b. Acceptance of Gifts
Assistant Superintendent Smith reviewed the report given at the budget sub committee meeting last week. Total monetary donations received totaled $23,859.42 and $ 10,777.41 for donations received in kind.

Motion by Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw and seconded by Mrs. Devine to accept the gifts with thanks. Motion carried unanimously.

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

-Karen Johnson, Director of Weymouth Senior Center
Gave kudos for their time to carpentry and welding CTE students Jeremy Campo and Kelsey Duane for their help in construction for the senior center.

-Ashley Dickerman,
846 Pleasant St. Expressed disappointment in cutting the STEAM program and the impact on students as well as the Murphy Assistant Principal being cut. Town Wide Parent Council has a Facebook group as well as a new email: TownwidePCWeymouth@gmail.com

It was reiterated that difficult decisions had to be made and that positions will not be added back for FY25 however hope was expressed for FY26.

-Kristina Keefe, 82 Segal 
Expressed her disappointment in cutting the STEAM program. She shared her opinion that cuts should’ve been made from the top down and spoke on the importance of STEAM andurged the committee to reinstate the program.

-Melissa Dionne, 129 Academy Ave
Spoke on behalf of the students and shared the importance the STEAM program means to them.

-Lynn Howard, 4 Judson
Advocated for the STEAM program

-Ashley Dickerman
Inquired what families can do to try and get more money. It was shared that community members can get involved at the local and state level. The Town Council will be voting on the budget on Monday, June 17 at town hall.

-Elizabeth Foster Nolan
Implored the community to contact local representatives Patrick O’Connor and James Murphy.

The budget timeline was reviewed by Assistant Superintendent Smith and urged the community to get involved in September.

-Sade Shaw & Irbina Martinez
Expressed disappointment at the lack of diversity within the school and building administration and requested that a discussion of diversity be placed on a future School Committee agenda.

Announcements:
Ms. Graziano expressed thanks to the Nash and Talbot School for her recent school visits and to Mrs. Cederholm for her years of service and dedication and congratulated her on her retirement.

Next School Committee Meeting:
Regular Meeting: Thursday, June 20, 2024- 7:00pm

The Meeting adjourned at 9:27pm on the motion by Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw and seconded by Mrs. Devine. Motion passed unanimously.

Respectfully Submitted,

Mary-Ellen Devine
Secretary

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• Student Senate Presentation

• Capstone Presentation

• Acceptance of Gifts (Semi-Annual Gift Report)

• Graduation Data