School Committee Retreat: July 19, 2022

Attorney Colby Brunt of Stoneman, Chandler & Miller LLP presented training on Open Meeting Law and Public Records Law to the committee, with case-law examples for specific scenarios.

Topics covered:

• The School Committee’s jurisdiction (focused on policy and budget)
• The need for open-meeting and public-record standards and accountability
• Examples of scenarios that may constitute an Open Meeting Law violation
• Conference attendance, email, and social-media use considerations
• Public-comment policy and correspondence procedural guidelines
• Records-request compliance and situations where legal counsel should provide guidance
• Meetings and minutes compliance, including proper archival of regular and Executive Session minutes

No vote taken – training session.

Colby Brunt (attorney, Stoneman Chandler & Miller LLP)

Assistant Superintendent Nan Murphy opened the retreat with an update from the Teaching and Learning Department covering:

• The approach being taken to address pandemic-related learning loss
• Social-emotional support during the summer months
• Assessment tools purchased to assist with student-data storage and progress monitoring
• Adjustments made to building schedules to be communicated by principals before the start of school
• Revisions made to the K-6 report cards, to be shared at open houses
• Instructional coaches and their role in building scope-and-sequence and professional-development planning to support educators in providing data-driven, targeted supports

Informational only; no vote.

Nan Murphy (Assistant Superintendent)

The Chair called for a motion to approve the schedule of bills totaling $873,683.75. Moved by Ms. Gold, seconded by Ms. Taylor.

Motion passed 5-0.

No discussion of any individual line in the meeting record.

Sarah Fox (chair) · Sarah Gold · Alison Taylor

Two related fee items.

User fees

No change to user fees for the 2022-23 school year. Director of Finance Cresta noted the fee structure would be more closely examined in the coming year as part of budget planning.

Lunch fees

Lunch fees had not been increased “for a few years.” The recommendation was to increase them to account for rising operating costs, especially in the context of an uncertain federal decision on continuing free meals. Discussion of rising food costs, the possibility of seeking additional grants, and tiered meal plans preceded the vote.

Approved 2022-23 student meal prices:

Motion moved by Ms. Gold, seconded by Ms. Barron. Passed 5-0.

Michelle Cresta (Director of Finance) · Sarah Fox (chair) · Sarah Gold · Emily Barron

After brief discussion, attendees for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees joint conference in November were set:

• Superintendent John J. Buckey
• Assistant Superintendent Nan Murphy
• Committee members Emily Barron, Sarah Fox, Alison Taylor

The first November committee meeting was moved from Thursday Nov 3 to Wednesday Nov 2 to accommodate the conference.

John J. Buckey (Superintendent) · Sarah Fox (chair)

Subcommittee and liaison assignments set for the 2022-23 school year:

Subcommittees

• Budget – Sarah Fox, Alison Taylor
• Facilities – Sarah Fox, Alison Taylor
• Policy – Emily Barron, Sarah Gold

Liaisons

• METCO – Emily Barron
• SEPAC – Meagan Taylor

Superintendent’s Advisories

• Safety Advisory – Sarah Gold
• Health and Wellness Advisory – Emily Barron

Notable policy change: it was agreed that no committee members would be part of the school advisory councils going forward. Members may attend as parents to remain informed but not in a committee capacity.

Sarah Fox (chair)

Discussion of continuing to hold hybrid (in-person + virtual) meetings.

Two structural issues raised:

1. A stipend position would be required to continue holding both in-person and virtual meetings.
2. The equipment used during 2021-22 has been moved to Brown School; new equipment would need to be ordered for hybrid meetings to continue.

The Director of Technology shared a purchase quote. After committee discussion, it was decided more information would be brought to a future meeting before deciding whether to move forward.

Sarah Fox (chair)

Ms. Dorothy Presser from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees presented on the Superintendent goal-setting process. Headline framing: student achievement is the outcome of the process, and district goals should align with the goals of the school committee and administrators.

Discussion topics:

• The importance of progress monitoring
• Using the SMART goal process
• Ensuring goals are linked to budget and policy

Discussion of the Plan for Success followed; members voiced the need for more information to be shared with the community and discussed the best way to communicate it.

Superintendent Buckey noted more work would be done at the upcoming leadership retreat focusing on initiatives; MASC recommended a mid-year summary be shared with the District.

Superintendent evaluation

A five-step cycle process was presented and recommended when evaluating under the four delineated DESE standards. No formal vote, but it was decided that:

• A separate folder within the committee drive be created to organize all of the Superintendent’s documents pertaining to his goals and evaluation
• Protocols for creating the summative evaluation should be set and agreed upon before the summative is compiled
• The summative evaluation reflects the majority view of the committee

Closing note: committee protocols would be reviewed at an off-cycle August workshop after the newest member completed the Charting the Course training.

Dorothy Presser (MASC) · John J. Buckey (Superintendent) · Sarah Fox (chair)