October 24, 2024 Meeting
Weymouth School Committee Meeting
MJL Humanities Center
1 Wildcat Way, Weymouth
October 24, 2024
7:00 p.m
Chair: Ms. Tracey Nardone Vice Chair: Dr. Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw Secretary: Ms. Mary-Ellen Devine
Ms. Kathy Curran Ms. Danielle Graziano Mr. Dana Scott Mayor Robert Hedlund
Revised Agenda
Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023, this meeting will be conducted in person and, as a courtesy, via remote means in accordance with applicable law. Remote means will include the WETC8 live feed (https://weymouth.tv/video-on-demand/) and the Zoom link below. Please note that while an option for remote attendance is being provided as a courtesy, the meeting/hearing will not be suspended or terminated if technological problems interrupt the virtual broadcast, unless required by law.
To join the meeting via Zoom by computer or internet-enabled phone:
Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 898 3402 4812 Passcode: 1dy22U One tap mobile +13092053325,,89834024812#,,,,*866898#
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I. CALL TO ORDER 7:00 pm
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Confirmation of Warrant: 16-2025 Date: 10/15/24 Amount: $ 887,139.50
b. Approval of Minutes: Regular Minutes: 10/10/24
c. Out of the Country Field Trip: April 15-17, 2025 - Chapman Middle School 8th grade students to Montreal, Quebec, Canada
IV. STUDENT SENATE REPORT
V. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT
Interim Superintendent Melanie Curtin
a. Celebrations
i. Comput/HER Conference @ Curry College
ii. Can’d Aid/Yasso Bike Donation at Seach
b. WHTC’s “Mamma Mia!” tickets on sale (Shows: Nov. 22, Nov. 23, Nov. 24)
c. Principal Meetings
VI. SCHOOL COMMITTEE SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT-OUT
a. Budget Sub-Committee - Ms. Danielle Graziano
b. Collective Bargaining Sub-Committee - Dr. Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw
c. Policy Sub-Committee - Mr. Dana Scott
d. Wellness Committee - Dr. Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw
e. Memorial Committee - Ms. Kathy Curran
f. Weymouth Scholarship Committee - Ms. Mary-Ellen Devine
g. Facilities Master Plan Committee - Ms. Kathy Curran
h. Townwide Parent Council - Ms. Mary-Ellen Devine
i. SEPAC - Ms. Danielle Graziano
j. Health and Safety JLMC - Mr. Dana Scott
VII. OLD BUSINESS
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
a. Johnson Building Remodel or Modular Classrooms & School Buildouts (Action Requested)
b. Approval of Weymouth Educators Association Unit B CBA 2024-2027 (Action Requested)
c. WECC and WPS Elementary School Improvement Plan Updates & Review of MCAS Data - Ms. Maura Perez, Ms. Nicole Doherty & Ms. Lindsey Fratolillo
IX. PUBLIC COMMENT
Public Comment shall be in accordance with Policy BEDH
X. ANNOUNCEMENTS
XI. ADJOURNMENT
NEXT MEETING OF THE WEYMOUTH SCHOOL COMMITTEE:
Thursday, November 7, 2024 - 7:00 p.m. School Committee Meeting
Meeting Recording
Meeting Minutes
Weymouth School Committee
MaryJo Livingstone Humanities Center & Zoom
October 24, 2024
MEETING MINUTES
Members In Attendance: Tracey Nardone, Chair; Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw, Vice Chair; Mary-Ellen Devine, Secretary; Kathy Curran; Danielle Graziano; Dana Scott
Members Absent: Mayor Hedlund
Also Present: Melanie Curtin, Interim Superintendent; Brian Smith, Assistant Superintendent
The meeting was called to order at 7:03pm
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: 16-2025 Date: 10/15/24 Amount: $887,139.50
- Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting Minutes: 10/10/24
- Out of the Country Field Trip: April 15-17, 2025 - Chapman Middle School 8th grade students to Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Motion by Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw to accept the consent agenda. Seconded by Mrs. Devine. Motion unanimously passed.
Student Senate:
Students, Manton Du, Seamus Egan, Tamia Alves-Cardos, and Shyann Pierce gave an update (attached to these minutes) on happenings at WHS. Topics included Homecoming, Club Fair, Jazz & Marching band, Asian Student Alliance, Black Student Union, Model UN, Robotics, Queer Students Union, Step Team and WHTC production of Mamma Mia, 11/22-24, and class councils.
Report of the Superintendent:
Interim Superintendent Curtin gave an update:
Thanks were expressed to Jess Tragellis and Chelsea Burrow for organizing 28 students to attend the Curry College Computer Conference as well as to Can’d Aid and Yasso Bike for donating bicycles and helmets to Seach first graders. Kudo’s to Principal McDevitt, and also the Nash School for hosting the Bionic Project this month; the school was also featured on Channel 5.
WHTC’s “Mamma Mia!” tickets on sale (Shows: Nov. 22, Nov. 23, Nov. 24) on WPS website.
Artificial intelligence will be coming up to policy in the acceptable use policy for review.
Principal meetings happen every other week and school improvement plans are constantly being worked on. Individual Principal and School goals are talked over and how to continue to move forward for the best experience for student belonging and achievement as well as family engagement. Pride was expressed for the administrative team and their collaboration.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT
Members attend other meetings outside of school committee days. Updates of other committees:
a. Budget Sub-Committee - Danielle Graziano
Next meeting will be 11/13/24
b. Collective Bargaining Sub-Committee - Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw
Unit B contract will be voted upon later in the meeting.
c. Policy Sub-Committee - Dana Scott
The next scheduled meeting is in January. A meeting in December may be squeezed in. Acceptable use policy will be discussed.
d. Wellness Committee - Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw
A subcommittee will be formed to propose edits regarding the wellness policy.
e. Memorial Committee - Kathy Curran
No updates at this time.
f. Weymouth Scholarship Committee - Mary-Ellen Devine
Applications will be available beginning to middle of December. Scholarships are for Weymouth high school, college, and adult students
g. Facilities Master Plan Committee - Kathy Curran
The next meeting will be 10/29/24.
h. Townwide Parent Council - Mary-Ellen Devine
The next meeting will be 11/20/24.
i. SEPAC - Danielle Graziano
At the last meeting the Federation for Children with Special Needs presented on transition planning. The next meeting will be 11/19; discuss navigating the new IEP with MA Advocates for Children.
j. Health & Safety - Dana Scott
Topics discussed at the 10/23 meeting: closed out recap of de-escalation/safety training, refreshing signage regarding tobacco product use, protocols and procedures for drills and emergencies-rally points. Next meeting is 11/20/24 at 4pm.
OLD BUSINESS
No items
NEW BUSINESS
Motion by Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw to take out of order Approval of Weymouth Educators Association Unit B CBA 2024-2027. Seconded by Mrs. Devine. Motion passed unanimously.
b. Approval of Weymouth Educators Association Unit B CBA 2024-2027 (Action Requested)
WEA members Mike Murphy, Hieke Tuplin, Tina Conti, Karen Bonner, and Nikki Loporto came to the table to express their thanks and appreciation for the quick and collaborative work to settle the contract and for really listening to the members. Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw echoed the sentiments and thanked the membership.
Unit B covers district leaders, such as assistant principals, deans, department heads, etc. There are 25 members in this unit. The 3 year contract will have a $175K financial impact for year 1 and 2 (COLA-2.5%) and will be determined for year 3 as COLA will mirror the unit A contract. Job titles and grids were amended.
Motion by Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw and seconded by Mrs. Devine to approve the Weymouth Educators Association Unit B CBA 2024-2027. Motion passed unanimously
a. Johnson Building Remodel or Modular Classrooms & School Buildouts (Action Requested)
Assistant Superintendent Smith reviewed the 2 options from the previous meeting; updating JECC or placing 2 modular classrooms at Hamilton, Nash, and Wessagusset. The district is recommending option 2-modular classrooms. Tours for school committee members were given at Academy and Murphy. Capital funding of $800K has already been retained. Cost of 6 modular classrooms is $4-4.5M. Chief of Staff Langil will bring measures to town council in the future of $3.2-3.7M, free cash and borrowing will also be considered. Hopes of economy of scale (6 modular classrooms) will help with cost.
JECC is receiving routine maintenance and school patrol. Facilities committee will discuss JECC in the future. The next meeting is 10/29. Thanks was expressed to the Principals and classrooms for the modular school visits. Comment was made that the modular space is seamless to the buildings and impressive.
Motion by Dr. Sherlock-Shangraw that the school committee agree to move forward with option 2, modular classrooms and school build outs as proposed and summarized. Seconded by Mrs. Devine. Motion passed unanimously.
c. WECC and WPS Elementary School Improvement Plan Updates & Review of MCAS Data - Ms. Maura Perez, Ms. Nicole Doherty & Ms. Lindsey FratolilloPrincipals Perez, Fratolillo, and Doherty presented school improvement plans (attached to these minutes) highlighting: student belonging, student achievement, and family & community engagement with areas of success, growth, and action steps. WECC student enrollment and elementary Panorama survey data was reviewed. Team collaborations between the principals was emphasized. Smore newsletter is significantly helping with communications. Pyramid Implementation (Pre School) and MCAS data was summarized. The district is at or just above state standards. Science being in the curriculum was confirmed.
All questions by the committee were addressed.
Public Comment
In accordance with Policy BEDH and kept to 3 minutes. It was explained that this period is an opportunity for community members to comment on items on the agenda, not a conversation or back and forth with the members.
-Ashley Dickerman, 846 Pleasant St.
Requested better communication for school council involvement and wanted to ensure equity amongst the elementary schools. She inquired whether the needs of students with behavioral discipline issues as well as high excelling students are being met.
-Matt Tallon, via Zoom, 105 Terfton Ave.
Expressed his support for the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendents plan to address the overcrowding issue and addition of modular classrooms. He also shared positive endorsement of Principal Higgins and the modular classrooms at Academy.
A moment of silence was observed for the passing of former Weymouth Mayor, Sue Kay who passed away.
Announcements:
Next School Committee Meeting:
Regular Meeting: Thursday, November 21, 2024 - 7:00pm
The Meeting adjourned at pm on the motion by Ms. Devine and seconded by Mrs. Curran. Motion passed unanimously.