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Home My WebLink About2021-11-09-SC-minLEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING Tuesday, November 9, 2021 Conducted by Remote Participation Meeting Minutes CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME: 6:02 P.M. SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Kathleen Lenihan, Chairperson Eileen Jay, Vice -Chair Scott Bokun Deepika Sawhney Sara Cuthbertson, Clerk STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE Sara Mei SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS PRESENT Dr. Julie Hackett, Superintendent The minutes were taken by Julie Kaye, School Committee Meeting Recording Secretary. The School Committee is convening by video conference via the application Zoom as posted on the Town's Website. Members of the public can view and participate in the meeting webinar from their computer or tablet by clicking on the link provided with the meeting agenda. Please note that this meeting is being recorded, and that some attendees are participating by video conference. This evening's meeting is being broadcast live and also taped by LexMedia for future on -demand viewing. All supporting materials that have been provided to members of this body are available on the Town's website unless otherwise noted. SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS AND LIAISON REPORTS: • Mr. Bokun attended the Massachusetts School Committee Delegate Assembly on Saturday. All of the nine resolutions that were voted on in the previous School Committee meeting were approved (there were only a few minor amendments). • Ms. Jay had the pleasure of attending an Eagle Scout Court of Honor that recognized the accomplishments of three young men—Jacob Abraham, Paulak Roy, and Bradley Winter. Ms. Jay also announced that the AAPI History Inclusion Benefit Concert will be this Thursday at Lexington High School Auditorium from 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm. Since it is being held on Veterans Day, there will be a few veterans there to be honored. • Ms. Sawhney invited Sara Mei to speak about the author's visit by Charles Yu, author of Interior Chinatown which was this year's LHS Community Read. LSC 10/12/21 - Approved on 12.14.21 JK • Sara Mei said that she missed most of it due to technical issues. Her friends who were in the auditorium reported that the student panelists asked good questions. Sara will have to go back and watch the full video. In Senate, student mental health was discussed. • Ms. Lenihan stated that next Saturday, November 20, is Transgender Day of Rememberance (via Zoom). It will be hosted by LexPride and it is a commemoration to honor the lives lost to transphobic violence this year. COMMUNITY SPEAK None SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT The full Superintendent's Report can be found here. LIPS COVID-19 Update Dr. Hackett reported that vaccination rates are increasing and positive COVID cases are decreasing! The weekly testing requirement for extra curricular activities has been eliminated. We have testing coming for children ages 5 to 11 years olds. Dr. Hackett thanked the School Committee for volunteering to help out at the vaccination clinics. School Committee Questions/Comments: Ms. Sawhney expressed concern that, as of right now, time -on -learning is not matching up to DESE requirements. Dr. Hackett stated that we are meeting State requirements for time -on -learning. The additional half days do not move us from compliance to non compliance. Ms. Lenihan explained that the 9th and 10th graders have study periods, while 11th and 12th graders have "frees" and open campus. She asked Sara Mei, "What is the difference between a study and a free?" Sara responded that she does not have any study halls or "frees" but the only difference that she has noticed is that for study halls you are assigned a room to stay in for that time and "free's" you can go anywhere in the school. Dr. Hackett added that two and a half decades ago the time on learning guidelines were adjusted to include study halls. Dr. Hackett stated that learning happens in many ways and social time is important as well. Mr. Bokun asked where we stand on the State's Comprehensive Program Review that happens every six years. Dr. Hackett replied that one was done in 2020, and that it is now called Tiered Focus Monitoring. Ms. Sawhney claimed that she needs to understand time -on -learning better. Dr. Hackett stated that, if a child has special needs or different needs. the time that they learn and how they learn is still counted. At the secondary level 990 hours of structured learning time is required and at the elementary level it's 900 hours. At the elementary level, even with half-day Fridays, students LSC 10/12/21 - Approved on 12.14.21 JK still meet the time -on -learning requirements even with the time out. Dr. Hackett is happy to take more time to explain the "in's and out's." Ms. Lenihan asked about our staff's vaccinations. Dr. Hackett responded that we have about 1600 staff. A handful (half a dozen) of employees have exemptions for religious or health reasons and just 1 person in the entire system is not fully vaccinated. She also spoke about the challenges of testing students for extracurricular activities. Dr. Hackett would like to make a correction from the last meeting. She reported on Literacy and the curricular changes that were implemented. She mentioned in the last meeting they have a 30 minute phonics component added on to the two hours. Kathy McCarthy, the Literacy Department Head, informed Dr. Hackett that this was a pilot in only some classes. Ms. Lenihan brought up that she saw a flyer about LPS looking for substitute teachers. She asked Dr. Hackett to explain some of the challenges in finding substitutes and to clarify the requirements. Dr. Hackett replied that we are facing the same staffing shortages that virtually every company and organization is having in the United States. We have a shortage of workers in every category. We are also still in a pandemic, so finding people to go into schools is also contributing. Dr. Hackett urges anyone looking for some extra pocket change to look into substituting, you do not need to be an expert in any subject area! Ms. Sawhney asked if this information can be given to the Town to post in case there are members of our community that do not know of the need. NEW BUSINESS Surplus of Specialized Booster Seat In mid June 2021, LPS ordered a very specialized booster seat to be used for transporting a special education student to and from school. The cost of the booster seat was $2,678.05. The car seat arrived at the end of July and was installed at the end of August. The student has been using the car seat on transport since then. On 11/5/21 the parent contacted the principal of the student's current school to inform her that the family will be moving and that the student's last day would be on 11/12/21. Given that this is a specialized booster that will not likely be used by another Lexington student, the question is whether Lexington can provide the booster seat to the district to which the student is moving. If this item is voted surplus, Lexington can reach out to the student's new school district to see if they are interested in acquiring the item at a percentage of the original cost rather than purchasing a new one. Ms. Jay moved that the School Committee declare that the Carrot 3 booster seat be considered surplus equipment for the Lexington Public Schools; Ms. Cuthbertson seconded. Ms. Lenihan took a roll call vote (Approved 5-0). LSC 10/12/21 - Approved on 12.14.21 JK CONSENT AGENDA Mr. Bokun read the following consent agenda items: Payroll and Accounts Payable Warrant Approval a. November 5, 2021 -Accounts Payable in the amount of $1,293,163.66 b. November 5, 2021 - Payroll in the amount of $4,309,930.21 Ms. Sawhney moved that the School Committee vote to accept the whole Consent Agenda; Ms. Cuthbertson seconded. (Approved 5-0). Mr. Bokun made a motion to adjourn at 6:48 P.M.; Ms. Cuthbertson seconded. (Approved 5-0). LSC 10/12/21 - Approved on 12.14.21 JK