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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-10-02-HASTINGS-min 0 PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES APAII NTH ING Meeting School Based Site Council aria Hastings Elementary Date Monday, October 2,2017 Time 7:45 a a Location Library, aria Hastings Elementary, 7 Crosby Road, Lexington, MA Attendance Lance C a e a McGlmsey, Beverly Montgomery, Louise Lipsitz,Anne Knight, Rachel Harrington,Jane Kalinski, Sue Campbell, Lisa Contre, Stacy Beutell, and Brenda Rich. 1. Welcome and Introduction to Site Council 2017-2018 a. Introductions of Members-- members introduced themselves and gave a brief highlight of their role, either inside or outside of school, and connection to Hastings. b. Site Council Purpose & History-- put into place in 1993, mandated by the Ed Reform Act. It's designed to create a venue for open communication between parents, staff, and community members on topics such as budget, school improvement plan, academic programs and social emotional learning for all students. While the Site Council has no budget, it does have political muscle. c. Open Meeting Rules-- Co-chair posts meeting with Town Clerk. Minutes are posted as well. Members are required to complete online ethics training each year. d. Conflict of Interest Policy e. Expectations and Responsibilities 2. Member Input-- a. PTO shed --people are befuddled that storage remains outside in the new, large building. i. Given that MSBA is partially funding the Hastings project, that limits storage options to educational storage and custodial cleaning supplies. Question raised about whether current PTO cabinet storage downstairs and 30 tables stored in gym will be moved to shed in new building. Louise will take this concern to the architect. There is no place in new building for large games boards. Could contractor add a slab of concrete for new shed in order to build stronger out-building? b. Locating time capsules for past graduates from 30 years ago buried in basement; general recess concerns during construction; c. Cancellation of next year's activity bus. Several years ago, an after-school bus was added to transport children to various programs across town. The fact that the bus does not transport children to all locations was brought to the attention of central office administrators, who have addressed this inequity. The bus was slated to be cancelled this fall but due to public response, it was continued this year 2017-18. Will be discontinued spring 2018. d. Methodist church closed but Korean church still operational. e. Mural --beautiful mosaic mural at Angier School in Newton created while new building was being constructed. It is the same artist who created mural in gym and foyer at Hastings. He met with Louise Lipsitz in January 2017 and gave ballpark cost of$30,000 (in part due to would hire people to help him install). Last March Lance Conrad and Dan Strollo began paddle raiser fundraiser for project, raised $13,000 along with $5,200 from an LEF School and Community grant will get the artist on the docket to get started next spring. Jessica Brett and Lance will go through LEF process. Hastings Adult Social and Fundraiser is on every other year, but skipped a year. Multiple community events throughout process would include alumni students, teachers, and community members. Individual donor names not allowed but rather"Friends of Hastings" 3. Principal Update a. Enrollment--October 1 enrollment presented at school committee tomorrow night. Dark green comfortably within limits and light green means close to overmax. Overmax at kindergarten at Fiske. Our average class size is larger than district in most grades. In grade 5, 26 in one class and 23 in another because we have 10 students in district wide program where there is support. Grade 2 is a stress because new students enrolled at Hastings and could have been at Bowman. Louise raised that with superintendent and central registration staff. We also have smallest square footage for classrooms. Rachel asked as site council can we write a letter to superintendent and express concerns and ask for response? Louise suggests attending school committee meeting. Think about whether should include chair of school committee in that letter. Max numbers are: 20 at K, 24 at 1st, and 27 for 2nd through 5th grades. Lance suggests adding longitudinal data to address what we might anticipate b. Homework Policy--Superintendent looking for feedback. Goal is to reduce student stress and support children having some less structured time. K-12 c. Student Stress Reduction d. Building Update-- a portion of parking lot and portion of playground will be unusable during construction. Route down Crosby Rd will also go away. Thinking about creating a turn around space in back for cars which would mean busses and cars would be very Play space would be paved area here with a basketball court without any green space. The field would be for trailers and equipment and building the 80 thermal well heating and cooling system. Hard to think about a school in this setting without green setting. Methodist preschool playground i. Encouraging bussing? Louise talking with Ian Daily and will continue conversation. Not free but reduced cost--will follow-up with Ian if free at Estabrook during construction process. ii. Reviewed architect plans play gallery space/maker space in this area, gender neutral toilet on every floor, small group on every floor, academic spaces across each other grade level. Third floor, storage area,just academic wing and small green house, roof laid out to maximize solar panels ELL on every floor, special education, literacy library to house reading, interactive white boards and as much flexible furniture as possible; FF&E budget, 99% iii. Reach out to Rec department as great resource e. School Improvement Plan f. New dress code--written by the district's attorney, Colby Brunt. Lack of continuity across town -- at least one school put in a stringent dress code, so brought to central administration. The change at Hastings will be no hats in the building. Want to do it in a way that feels supportive to children and not punitive. A hat can be an accommodation for students. 4. Dates for Future Meetings-- meet every 6 weeks on a Monday morning.