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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-10-27-SC-min LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING Tuesday, October 27, 2020 Conducted by Remote Participation Meeting Minutes AGENDA CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME: 6:08 p.m. Chair Kathleen Lenihan welcomed and introduced committee members SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Kathleen Lenihan, Chairperson Eileen Jay, Vice-Chair Deepika Sawhney Scott Bokun Sara Cuthbertson, Clerk STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE Sara Mei SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS PRESENT Dr. Julie Hackett, Superintendent Mr. David Coehlo, Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations Dr. Christine Lyons, Assistant Superintendent to Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development The minutes were taken by Kristen Cronin, Executive Assistant to the School Committee Ms. Lenihan read Governor Baker's Executive Order from March 12, 2020 which allows public meetings to be conducted remotely due to the state emergency related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Ms. Lenihan covered additional ground rules for an effective and clear conduct of business and to assure accurate meeting minutes. MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS/LIAISON REPORTS: Mr. Bokun said at this past week's Special Town Meeting, the Town of Lexington passed Citizen's Article #8, which recognizes systemic racism and encourages the Town to actively proceed with plans to fight against it. Mr. Bokun said the town also passed Article #4, which declares a climate emergency and calls for regional collaboration to fight global warming. Mr. Bokun stated that many of Lexington's high school students were involved in getting Article 4 presented. LSC 10/27/2020 Meeting Minutes-Approved 1/05/2021 KC Mr. Bokun informed the community that the Human Rights Committee (HRS) will be hosting active bystander training on November 7, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. as well as on December 9, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Sign up for these training sessions are available on the HRC website. The HRC is also planning on "No Hate November" with a speaker and presenter to be held on November 19, 2020 through Zoom. Sara Mei reported that there have been more newsletters and weekly communications between the administration, especially from Dr. Stephens. Ms. Mei encouraged high school families to take a look, because there is often important information in the emails, including information on Back-to-School Night. Ms. Mei thanked all the teachers who are working extra hours and teaching in unprecedented ways in helping the students continue to learn. Ms. Mei reported that the LHS Club website is up and running, created by Sam Oxy, and students can now see a complete selection of clubs and activities being offered at LHS. Student leaders have made videos to introduce their clubs. Encourage incoming 9th graders to take a look. Ms. Mei continued to report that school elections will be happening this week with voting beginning the week of November 9, 2020. Anyone interested in running would need to complete a form and attend a positivity meeting. Ms. Mei closed out her announcements by reminding everyone there are free meals being offered at each of the schools and encouraged students to take advantage of a free meal to help our schools receive more funding. Ms. Lenihan addressed the New Business item "Consideration of Pros/Cons of Remote Learning Prior to and after School Vacations" on the agenda. She noted that this item was placed on the agenda because the School Committee was receiving questions from people regarding requests to move to fully remote learning around the holidays. Ms. Lenihan said the School Committee needs to have time to discuss this topic. In accordance with Open Meeting Law, the only time they are able to talk about these issues is during a School Committee meeting when an item is on the agenda and posted in an open meeting. Ms. Lenihan stated that Dr. Hackett has not made any recommendations on this issue, there is no proposal, and no vote being taken up on this topic this evening. School Committee members are just having a discussion. COMMUNITY SPEAK: Several commenters thanked the Committee and administration for the hard work they have done to get their students into class. LSC 10/27/2020 Meeting Minutes-Approved 1/05/2021 KC Elizabeth Warren, 9 Felton Rd.: Ms. Warren commented on the agenda item Considerations Pros/Cons of Remote Learning prior to and after school vacations. Ms. Warren said there seems to be an asymmetry of wanting the rights but not the obligation and asked if the committee could address those considerations when they are discussing it. Lauren Black, 143 Bedford St.: Mr. Black echoed many of Ms. Warren's comments. Mr. Black said that students with high needs and special services spent a lot of time in the spring without services or with very little services done remotely, which is very difficult for the types of services that these kids get. Mr. Black encouraged the Scool Committee and the administration to try and work to deliver services in person as much as possible, even if there is a closure and the schools move to fully remote. Suzanne Cherenson, 12 Ingleside Rd.: Ms. Cherinson spoke out in favor of the considerations of remote learning after school vacations, particularly for high school. Dr. Avon Lewis, President of the Lexington Education Association: Dr. Lewis commented in favor of going remote for an extended period of time around the holidays. Mary Zeytoonian, LIPS staff member: Ms. Zeytoonian said she would like to think that families would not be having large gatherings at Thanksgiving, Christmas and other holidays, but it is unrealistic to think that will happen. Ms. Zeytoonian said it has been a really rough year and a lot of people are looking forward to a little bit of happiness that gathering with family gives. Ms. Zeytoonian says the school should be proactive and realistic that there will be family gatherings and the district needs to take the correct precautions. Daniel Debowi, 22 Peacock Farm Rd.: Mr. Debowi said it's best to adhere to the rules and move forward with what the committee has already agreed upon. Nicola Rinaldi, Reed St.: Ms. Rinaldi said she has a hard time wrapping her head around the concept of preemptively closing schools because people want to see family and do all the things we have been told not to do. Ms. Rinaldi asked the committee to follow the data and not be a preemptive closing. Lori Giterman, 26 Eldridge St.: Echo comments from other community speakers. Jessica Khamarji, LIPS teacher: Commented that it is a little difficult to think that her health and safety are put in the decision of the School Committee and other bodies in the town. She hopes and knows that many members of the community are taking this pandemic seriously but other students and people are attending parties. We see the numbers and want to be proactive. Lisa Hebert, 53 Baskin Rd.: Many of the same points about data-driven decision making. Children really need to be supported during this holiday season. Ms. Schafer, LPS teacher: In favor of the district going fully remote from November -January. LSC 10/27/2020 Meeting Minutes-Approved 1/05/2021 KC Jessica Antoline, LPS teacher: Make people aware of the difficulties in teaching the hybrid model. Technology issues, teachers continuously having to repeat themselves, in-class students not able to hear students at home. Continued daily struggle to get anything done well. Mary Gretchen-Segars, 81 Bow St.: Commented on the data driven concerns and asked how we could have accurate data if we are not testing teachers and students at the high school. Marina Simons, LPS teacher: Commented on going fully remote for the holiday season. Said her colleagues and she herself will not be traveling over the holidays, they just want to spend time with their parents. Remote learning is not a break, it is more challenging. 2005 Main Campus Drive, Lexington: Curious as to whether there has been any consideration to have elementary students in the hybrid model and to have middle and high school more along the lines as a remote approach. NEW BUSINESS: Consideration of Pros/Cons of Remote Learning Prior to and after School Vacations Mr. Bokun said he believes that the district will be doing a disservice to the kids if they decide to preemptively stop their learning and he hopes they can stay in school as long as possible. Ms. Cuthbertson said that if we decided to go remote in November, the children in Cohort A would only have a total of two weeks of in-person time. Until it becomes absolutely clear that we are putting people at an increased risk by continuing with the hybrid, we should stick with the hybrid. Ms. Sawhney echoed Mr. Bokun and Ms. Cuthbertson's comments. Ms. Sawhney asked Dr. Hackett if families would be able to go from hybrid to full remote. Dr. Hackett replied yes. Ms. Jay said this is not an "us" vs. "them". The goal is to do whatever is best for the whole community and to keep things as safe as possible. Ms. Sara Mei said that she really respects the honor system for Covid and doing your part in being responsible. For the families who are going to be gathering over the holidays, they should move themselves over to RLA (Remote Learning Academy); that is the most practical situation. All of this revolves around people not knowing whether or not they have Covid. If something were to happen where our cases begin to tick up, then maybe implementing a district-wide testing system would be really helpful to have everyone on the same page. Ms. Lenihan thanked everyone for their comments and for those who spoke during the Community Speak. Ms. Lenihan said the top priority is to provide as much in-person education as possible while we follow public health protocols. Dr. Hackett addressed some of the comments that were made earlier during public comment. LSC 10/27/2020 Meeting Minutes-Approved 1/05/2021 KC Congratulations and Celebrations: Dr. Hackett presented three Seniors with the MASS Academic Excellence Awards. Dr. Hackett read statements written by their counselors for each student. Dr. Hackett continued with the congratulations and celebrations by extending her congratulations to Harrington Elementary School Vocal/General Music Specialist, Ms. Angela Carpenter. Ms. Carpenter is a semi-finalist for the 2021 Grammy Music Educator Award. Dr. Hackett said a total of 25 music teachers from 24 cities across 16 states have made it to the semi-finalist round. Angela is the only Massachusetts educator to be selected from more than 1,989 initial nominations submitted from all 50 states—please click here to read the official announcement. SUPERINTENDENT REPORT: Dr. Hackett reported on the following: • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion • K-5 Elementary Health • Professional Learning Opportunities on Remote Instruction Strategies • Flu Clinic for Lexington Families • PCR Test Results Now Required • Veterans Auto Parade • COVID-19 Public Report • K-12 Performing Arts Update Click here for a complete copy of the Superintendent Report. Ms. Cuthbertson commented that she is very happy to see the K-5 Health Curriculum being expanded to the lower grades. Ms. Sawhney asked if the School Committee could help decorate for the Veterans Auto Parade. Ms. Lenihan commented that she is happy to see a flu clinic for Lexington families. Ms. Lenihan called a mask break until 8:30 PRESENTATION: Middle School (Grades 6-8) Curriculum Presentation Presenters: Dr. Christine Lyons, Ms. Jennifer Turner, Mr. Dane Despres, Ms. Cathy Brooks, Ms. Stephanie Burroughs, Mr. Jared Cassedy, Ms. Julie Fenn, Ms. Valerie Franks, Ms. Jane Hundley, Ms. Casey Siagel, & Mr. Eamonn Sheehan LSC 10/27/2020 Meeting Minutes-Approved 1/05/2021 KC Dr. Lyons said tonight's presenters would explain how they organized and planned for the fall, as well as provide examples of what things look like in the schools currently both with the hybrid model and the remote learning model. Dr. Lyons said the level of creativity and sheer grit to accomplish a new way of learning has been remarkable. Click here for a complete copy of the Middle School Curriculum Presentation. School Committee questions and comments: Ms. Cuthbertson asked how staff is working with their students to get them to stay organized. Having to rely on Google classroom solely can be overwhelming and sometimes challenging for some students. Ms. Turner, Principal of Diamond Middle School, said during the planning phase they were very purposeful after the Spring with ensuring there were enough resources available for the parents and for students to help them get organized. Ms. Turner said there is a series of resources posted on the school websites for both families and students that they can reference at any time. Ms. Turner said the Digital Learning teachers are also helpful as they go around and help teachers in the classroom and are available to help the students also. Ms. Turner said that a new course, called Six Grade Academy, has been designed for each 6th grader to take at some point through the course of the year. This course has been specifically designed to help them with all of the student skills that they need to help them be successful middle schoolers, including but not limited too, some of those executive functioning pieces that look very different than they do in the elementary level. Ms. Valerie Franks, Grade 6-8 Science Department Head, said Google Classroom has been extremely helpful to the students and to the teachers, along with teacher websites. Ms. Franks said teachers are posting a lot of their slides and information on Google classroom so students can find it easily. Mr. Depres, Principal of Clarke Middle School, said in addition to what was already mentioned, the district is staying flexible as a school community and looking for new ways/approaches that can be rolled out in a timely manner to students and to families. Dr. Hackett asked the middle school leaders: What they are not teaching? This is the conversation that we need to have and allow ourselves to get rid of stuff. Any concrete examples of stuff you have let go of? Ms. Brooks, Grade 6-8 World Language Department Head, said there are some units in World Language that they chose not to do. She said they worked with the high school World Language Department to see what are some of the units that would be repeated. In doing so, they were able to narrow down and identify what units could be skipped. Ms. Lenihan asked what content areas are the 8th graders who are taking American History, not going to be covering and how do you decide? LSC 10/27/2020 Meeting Minutes-Approved 1/05/2021 KC Ms. Hundley, Grade 6-8 Social Studies Department Head, commented that based on the new State standards that came out a couple of years ago, now the curriculum has more of a civics education focus. The American history piece has been peeled back but is looking at the American history of civics and in terms of Supreme Court Cases. Ms. Hundley said field trips will not be offered this year. Ms. Sawhney asked if there was any way to help the 7th & 8th grade parents understand the standards-based report cards. Ms. Sawhney requested a place to include comments on the standards-based report cards as well. Ms. Turner said comments are included on the reporting and allows teachers to add comments about student progress. Ms. Turner said that Diamond has put out a lot of different parent information on many topics, embedded in many of those communications has been information about the standards-based report card. Mr. Depres echoed Ms. Turner's comments. He added that during Back-to-School Night at the middle schools, standards-based report cards were included in the videos. Mr. Depres said instead of having a letter grade or a pass/fail, the new standards-based reporting will be able to specifically isolate and identify the specific learning needs of students based on this report card. Ms. Jay asked how much teachers explicitly talk with students about some of the skills, like the process skills, so that they can make sense of the standards-based reporting. It's important to talk to them about it so they can gage their process and growth, but it is also a way of helping them understand some of the process skills that are central to a discipline. Ms. Franks said there is a shift in learning and that shift took place in 2016 when the first draft of the MA Science and Technology/Engineering Frameworks was available. Ms. Franks said the practice skills are teaching content and standards. She noted that all through the curriculum review process, they were front and foremost in the classroom. The students know it and they know what the practice skills are. Ms. Burroughs, Grade 6-8 Math Department Head, said teachers are communicating expectations to students with learning targets. Ms. Burroughs said they have taken the new standards and paired down the previous standards and made it more thematic, so it was clear what we were focusing on in the school year. Ms. Burroughs went on to say that they extrapolated those standards and made them into "I Can" statements that are very student facing. We are communicating those statements at the beginning of the units so that students know what their goals and expectations are. We are making sure that everything we do in terms of assessment, those learning targets, and I Can statements are in student-friendly language and we are communicating that consistently so that those expectations are really clear for students. Ms. Jay asked how kids are responding to the standards-based shift. LSC 10/27/2020 Meeting Minutes-Approved 1/05/2021 KC Ms. Burroughs said in mathematics they do differentiate a great deal and some of the learning targets are learning targets that are challenge targets and we are communicating that to kids as well. Ms. Burroughs noted that they have yet to see any negative feedback from the students at this point. Ms. Turner commented that she also has not heard any negative feedback. Mr. Bokun asked what the group COVID-19 group project is for health education? Ms. Fenn, LPS Coordinator of P.E. and Wellness, replied that the students worked collectively to research and present what they learned. Mr. Sheehan, Director of P.E. and Wellness, commented that the students were also thoughtful in sharing strategies on how to cope with having to self isolate or stay with their family. They gave us some life skills beyond the project itself. Mr. Bokun asked if Mr. Cassedy was planning on some kind of presentation that parents could experience? Mr. Cassedy, Director of Performing Arts, said they will be working on virtual recordings, which take a lot of time, and the middle school is also working on a fall play. There are still a lot of great opportunities for us to put performances together. Ms. Jay asked Mr. Sheehan what the plan is for PE for the remote learning students. Mr. Sheehan said resources are provided to the students to create their own activity program. Students will create a blog with a set of goals that they create, a smart goal that is very individualized. Mr. Eamonn said the students are asked to log their activity and smart goal. Teachers will check in with the students and give them ideas on how to modify some goals or give them some ideas of different activities that will help them achieve the same levels. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Postponed FY22 Budget Guidelines Update on PSAT and SAT POLICY UPDATE: Postponed COMMUNITY SPEAK: Rina Mazor, LPS Teacher: Spoke about the model that is being used at LHS, the mental health of teachers and what teachers are asking of the school board and community. Ms. Mazor commented that there has been a lot of talk about listening to experts, yet many of the teachers at Lexington High School feel their expertise in their field has been ignored and disrespected. Tracey Dawson, 23 Richardson Rd.: Ms. Dawson said this is a very emotional subject for everybody and she tried to focus on this situation as a pro/con herself. The clear pros approach LSC 10/27/2020 Meeting Minutes-Approved 1/05/2021 KC would be that if the numbers suggested and supported a break in in-person education, she would be the first to support it. Today, based on the Lexington numbers, she does not believe that we are at that level yet; do not foresee that is the situation Lexington is in today. Ms. Dawson said for the cons, speaking from personal experience, her kids are elated to be back in school, and angry to be out of school. Until this pandemic began and this past spring occurred, she personally underestimated the impact that school has on the children for both their social/emotional development and for their ability to thrive and enjoy life, school and everything around them. In asking the School Committee, she would prefer that this decision be driven by science, the numbers and facts, rather than a need to provide a break around holidays to enable people to travel. Amy Moran, LPS Department Head: Commented on going fully remote from 11/16/2020 - 1/16/2021 Jennifer Burgess, LPS Specialized Instructional Assistant: Ms. Burgess noted that throughout this whole call, she has heard a lot about teachers and parents and not a lot about educational support staff. Ms. Burgess urged everyone to use the language that Dr. Hackett uses, to speak about educators when talking about staff. Ms. Burgess said that having a plan for considerable closure is not a bad thing. Renea Stynberker, 86 Oak St.: She would like to acknowledge that this is a very difficult situation, but expresses as a parent how important it is for children to go to school. Clarke has done such an amazing job, that it is very safe and controllable. If the numbers in Lexington were to show that it was time to shut down, that would be appropriate but at this point advocate to let the children stay in school as long as possible. RATIFICATION VOTE: School Committee Vote to Ratify Memorandum of Agreement with LEA and ALA Dr. Hackett said the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is the product of work with many people involved. Dr. Hackett said the MOA represents a document that was endorsed by all of the bargaining units that are represented in the schools (Unit A, C, D, Tech &ALA). The MOA was ratified overwhelmingly in each of those bargaining units. Ms. Cuthbertson moved to approve the Memorandum of Agreement(MOA) with the LEA and ALA that was reviewed during Executive Session on Wednesday, October 21, 2020;seconded by Ms. Sawhney;Ms. Lenihan took a roll call vote -Approved 5-0 MASC RESOLUTIONS Dr. Hackett and the School Committee reviewed the 10 resolutions to be voted on at the MASC/MASS Annual Conference (virtual) in November. LSC 10/27/2020 Meeting Minutes-Approved 1/05/2021 KC Mr. Bokun moved to take a vote on Resolution##4;seconded by Ms. Sawhney: Ms. Lenihan took a roll call vote-no, yes, no, yes, no, (yes, non binding vote)-Motion failed 2-3 Mr. Bokun made a motion to bundle Resolutions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 9& 10 all together with a roll call vote;seconded by Ms. Sawhney-Ms. Lenihan took a roll call vote-Approved 5-0 (with a yes by a non binding preference of student liaison) CONSENT AGENDA: Mr. Bokun moved to approve the following items on the consent agenda A. October 23, 2020 - Payroll in the amount of$4,067,120.36 B. October 23, 2020 -Accounts Payable in the amount of$858,157.41 C. October 23, 2020 -Accounts Payable BOM (Bank of Montreal) Reconciliation in the amount of$12,939.93• Ms. Cuthbertson moved to approve the following items on the consent agenda: A. Donation for LHS Science Olympiad Club in the amount of$550.00 Ms. Sawhney moved to approve the following items on the consent agenda: A. August 25, 2020 Minutes Seconded by Ms.Jay;Ms. Lenihan took a roll call vote; Consent Agenda Approved 5-0 Ms. Lenihan called for an adjournment;so moved by Ms.Jay. Ms. Lenihan took a roll call vote;Approved(5-0).Adjournment at 10:38 p.m. LSC 10/27/2020 Meeting Minutes-Approved 1/05/2021 KC LSC 10/27/2020 Meeting Minutes-Approved 1/05/2021 KC