Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-24-SC-min (Policy Subcommittee) POLICY SUB COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES SEPT 24T" 2024 Participants: Eileen Jay, Deepika Sawhney, Superintendent Meeting start time: 2:09 call to order Date: September 24th 2024. Deepika will send the minutes once done List of the policy (updated from Sara Cuthbertson's list from previous year) was shared with us. Deepika sent Eileen an email with two documents, one a Word document of the PDF document of the policy approved by SB and another a list of academic articles etc. on cell phone and social media use that Deepika had been compiling. Superintendent shared that she had reached out to the middle and high school principal on the cell phone policy and can give an update. Discussion on public participation: Mina, town counselor, had discussed this issue with the Superintendent. Dr. Hackett. shared some of that feedback. There was discussion whether it was ok to have an online signup. Deepika shared that in the Select board meetings there is a clear communication of how much time will be devoted to community feedback and then the community speak is done. In certain cases where a lot of community feedback is expected a longer time can be allocated. Consistency is key. Deepika shared that if there are many speakers waiting then it's better to do a town hall where everyone can speak and are not time bound by the community speak time. Eileen - difference when we make a decision to hold a public meeting, when is it appropriate to have a public hearing. When the SC called for public feedback. That would not necessarily be needed for all situations. So we can make a case by case decision. Not every topic would warrant it. Deepika discussed that the Cell Phone use policy is not a policy yet. A lot of local high schools are putting guidelines in their student handbooks.This could probably be just an update of the 'Acceptable use policy' and an update of the student handbooks. We just must keep track of the now enhanced capabilities of the cell phone devices. Eileen: Part of the discussion will be about what belongs in the policy and what belongs in handbooks. A lot can be built based on guidance and not on policy. Some of the relevant staff should be a part of the discussion. Suggested options as enumerated by Deepika. It should guard rails for community, teachers, students as to what is appropriate use of cell phones. Dr. Hackett -from Andy Baker, LHS cell phone committee made a presentation. piloted in the spring and the fall -a phone hotel policy, teachers were worried about spending an inordinate time policing the policy. Should not interfere with learning or be deemed inappropriate Ideally remove cell phones from the academic space. Deepika: talked about taking very young grades and suggesting that a flip phone is bought as opposed to buying a very expensive and very capable smartphone. This way the means of communication isn't banned but the enhanced capabilities of a phone (computer, recording device, camera, all in one) is not put in their hands before they achieve a level of maturity. Also get feedback from the SEPAC and the students from Boston who may need their cell phones for different needs and need more access. Eileen: When do we want to bring staff into this discussion and who? Understand the perspectives of what has been done. Dr Hackett -first get an idea of what we want to do and then the staff can be brought in. Deepika talked about the legal liability and advice from a lawyer that if we knew about certain possible scenarios then we are liable if we did not do something if something bad happens. So in order to ensure that we are cognizant about what the school system is responsible for or could be held responsible for then we need to start writing. Dr. Hackett: will create a folder that will have all the materials needed for our policy discussions. These will be view only to comply with OML Field trip:There are a number of issues, from who gets the opportunities,To which teachers have to be out of school, amount of learning time lost, cost, security concerns etc. And whether these are in keeping with our values and academic objectives. Some of the field trips that we don't look at are those which are because of a competition, or winning a competition, day trips or within states. But we don't look at the ones that are pay to play types of trips such as the Disney trip, Hawaii trip etc. Would all kids go, or is there a natural selection of who cannot go because of economics. Eileen: How far is too far for children to go. Could we do it as a secondary ed folks' conversation. Deepika: Get a grocery list, an inventory (Eileen) and see what trips we do. Eileen -get a handle on it, and then discuss ways that we can find avenues for children who are being always left out due to economics or something. Student rep: Dr. Hackett shared the student reps will be from Faculty senate, Principal advisory group 30 and the SC representatives will go meet with them, METCO kids nominated by Ms. Hamilton. Maybe 2 each so that no child feels isolated. Single use plastic bottle policy: LPS is already halfway there in implementation. Deepika asked that we do it sooner rather than later given the Select Board has passed it and the students waited almost a full year before this came on our agenda. Eileen -asked whether it was ok putting such a specific article being banned in the waste reduction policy. Deepika said that we could always take out later if the Lexington ethos is at the point where all plastic is being significantly reduced. At this stage it's a very visible symbol of plastic use and so singling it out is not inappropriate. Dr. Hackett: to request Ms. Gaudet about the trips taken by MS and LHS students which are more than a day and outside MA. Dr. Hackett: spoke with LHS principal on what changes are desired for the graduation requirements. Eileen -specifics of graduation requirements have been in the program of studies and not in the policy manual. The specifics of credits etc. would belong in the program of studies. Dr. Hackett - have the SC reviewed the program of studies? Do we review the handbooks every year? Currently the handbook reviews do not come back to the SC . It can be a report. Deepika -Should we be looking at the graduation requirements through the secondary ed team. Eileen -asked Dr. Hackett to take the lead on laying down a structure about what is involved. Asking the staff etc. Deepika:The current state is flexible and once the structure is in place then it may reduce the flexibility of the LHS principal. The current state is what drives the town engine in terms of keeping the real estate prices high. It may not be serving the students as well. But we have to be cognizant of all the different ways the graduation requirements may impact the student body and their needs. Eileen raised the point that the strategic plan should be consulted in the work of graduation requirements. Deepika raised the point that the strategic plan has not been revised for the last 6-7 years. Eileen:The strategic plan should be looked at by the original team for any updates needed. Maybe get new input too. Deepika : give Andy Baker some wiggle room on the graduation requirements in the short term to allow some of the students to successfully graduate. Allowing the teachers and administration some relief from stringent requirements. GIVE Mr. Baker and teachers allowance for exercise their judgment and being able to exercise some compassion to support the students who need it. Eileen: there should be a process or a team to review cases so as to find a path to graduation for the students who needed flexibility. One offs are always troublesome, when decisions seem arbitrary. A process and structure is there which is used to help students with actual needs. So we stop doing exceptions of allowing kids to graduate. The meeting Is called to a close 4:16. Moved to adjourn.