Minutes – Sept 3, 2015

BERKSHIRE HILLS REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Great Barrington           Stockbridge        West Stockbridge

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING

MONUMENT VALLEY REGIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL

September 3, 2015

Present:

School Committee:   S. Bannon, R. Bradway, R. Dohoney, D. Weston, A. Potter, St. Peter, W. Fields, F. Clark, K. Piasecki, C. Shelton

Administration:        P. Dillon, S. Harrison

Staff/Public:              M. Berle, B. Doren, M. Young, K. Burdsall, S. Soule, D. Long

Absent:                None         

List of Documents Distributed:  September 3, 2015 School Committee Meeting Agenda; 2015-2016 Student Handbooks – MMRHS, DBRMS,MBRES; BHRSD Technology Vision Standards, IT Letter & Overview, Technology Inventory, Tech. Progress Memo (updated 7/23/15); Personnel Report- BHRSD Sept 3, 2015

RECORDER NOTE: Meeting being transcribed from recorded DVD provided by CTSB after the fact. Length of meeting: 2hr 22min

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CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Steve Bannon called the meeting to order 7:00pm

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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The listing of agenda items are those reasonably anticipated by the chair, which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed, and other items not listed may be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. This meeting is being recorded by CTSB and will be broadcast at a later date. Minutes will be transcribed and made public, as well as added to our website, www.bhrsd.org once approved.

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MINUTES – July 23, 2015 presented by S. Bannon for Committee approval

Motion to approve minutes: F. Clark    Seconded:  R. Dohoney   # Members Approved: 4     Abstained: W. Field

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 TREASURES REPORT – None

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SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT –

GOOD NEWS ITEM(S)

Dillon:

• All Committee members received new copy of MA General Law book
• School started w 2 Professional Development (PD) days Monday & Tuesday with breakfast to bring people together where some School Committee members attended; nice start to year.

Muddy Brook Elementary School (MBE)

Berle:

• Elizabeth Freeman mosaic- Collaboration between: Artist Danny O’Dell, Project Connection, Multi-Cultural Bridge, Mary Berle. Student made over summer
• Many new students-
• 2 very good PD days: Focus this year is on progress assessments and supporting students in conversations and community conversations.
• 4 New Teachers-Stephanie Kluka: SPED certification in severe disabilities- Aloha Room

Shannon Connolly: moved to SPED position focused on behavioral health and academic support

Megan Warner & Shannon Guerrero- 3^rd Grade;      Kim Chirichella- .4 music teacher balanced w/ a .6 position at Farmington River

Du Bois Regional Middle School (DBM

Doren:

• 5^th grade: focus on transition – 5^th grade team works hard by listening to and providing support what is needed by students while they are learning a new school
• New structure w/ D-Period- extra reading class and math enrichment for 5^th & 6^th grade
• 6^th grade: focus on integration of humanities with 5/6 & 7/8 – social studies and ELA focus. Math is not separate classes but full co-teaching model (all faculty working with all the kids)
• 7^th grade: Berkshire County History Unit complementing Solar System and Revolutionary War Projects. 3 integrated projects this year.
• 8^th grade: Science- process of innovation, investigation, collecting evidence, reflecting, communicating. Math: 40% of students in advanced math w 12% being high needs.
• Exploratory team: Performance Music (Band, Chorus, Orchestra)- end of day, split up 5/6 & 7/8 with increased enrollment
• PD days- Progress assessments, Social/Emotional Learning, Restorative practices. PD days exceeded his expectations amount of work done.
• Therapeutic Learning Center- program for most-high-needs students with emotional and behavioral disabilities. Collaboration with K. Burdsall and MBRE preparing students and now Tier 1 work is being done.

Monument Mountain Regional High School (MMRHS)

Young:

• 5 new teachers: R. Naughton- 1^st year teacher Biology and Anat/Physiology
• Staff/faculty used PD time well to prepare- today being first day of school
• 49 new students registered over summer. 557 students total.
• Freshman Orientation day model worked well for students and teachers to ease transition
• Scecina- long time teacher (41years)- Physics & Honors Chem
• Freadman- Journalism/English
• Hartcorn- Woodworking
• Vlcek- .5 Math – Geometry & Algebra II
• Kelly- (Oct 2014) PE
• Freshmen in X-Tech program: 10 days exploring all vocational and technology programs
• 65 internships 1^st semester- put together by Shawn Flynn & Ann Dinello – business partners

TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMMATIC OVERVIEW

Superintendent Note: Collective decision made at conclusion of last budget process about making a shift in how programmatic overviews are done. This meeting represents the start of that new pattern. Technology is one of the most complex and complicated ones; administrative, instructional, integrated between all 3 schools and district office. Share that tonight and going forward there will be an alternation between academic applications k-12 and facilities. Separation will allow the 2.5 months spent on budget will give a greater sense of things. Packet put together thoughtfully and is avail on website but presentation will not be of whole packet with the understanding that it has been read by all School Committee Members and presentation will fill in the details of packet. Ample Q&A after presentation by David Long, Director of IT.

David Long: Letter sent out in packet sets character of agenda and how plan is playing out. Most of things addressed are things that are already in place and the desired direction by admin and students IS the direction things were/are already going. Applications in cloud are flexible, less expensive and allow for users to do what they want to achieve. David noted that teacher users are already helping each other with application problems, which is great, but also important because they felt empowered to make installs and teach each other. Teachers are blogging to bring information and lessons to students. He feels gratification and that progress is already profound. Seeing it work in each of the schools is really the proof of something coming together that was started a long time ago.

SCHOOL APPLICATION:  Each school showed video of how technology is being used

1. Berle, Principal: Muddy Brook Elementary:

• LEXIA: adaptive program for reading- figuring out the child’s level
• SCRATCH Jr- MIT Coding program- animation
• STORY KITCHEN- recorded student storytelling

MBE focused on 4 things:

1) making things with technology: animation & recorded stories

2) adaptive use programs to identify a child’s level and support next level growth- Lexia being so important because it can be logged into and used at home

3) digital citizenship at school and working with families to make choices in technology use that enhances life but doesn’t consume us.

4) enhancing experiences- oral storytelling to support writing, connect us and make us stronger. Recorded stories can be shared with anyone, anywhere.

Common Sense Media: curriculum available on the web

Faculty focus on screens being distractions or constructive. Working towards balance

Looking Forward:

Power School still striving- report cards not online yet.

Digital Platform for supervision and evaluation.

QR codes attached to school artwork with student spoken stories about artwork

Smart Talk: PTA – parent talk with kids about responsible technology use

Website available information

B.Doren, Principal – Monument Valley Middle

Technology used ubiquitously by all at DBM. Students bring in devices to use. Lots of technology being used to innovate and practical uses. Grant used to bring together all the resources, technology(IT) and education (Teachers) to address assignments and solve problems instead of having separation of subjects there is a unification in studies to solve common problems reach common goals.

M.Young, Principal- Monument Mountain Regional High

All of the technology investments made at MMRHS have been utilized for services or equipment that is being used directly by students, hands on, to give them the edge they need to compete when they leave MMRHS.

MMRHS Tech Team: Kara Staunton, Tom Roy, Neil Webber, Paul Kakley

Kara: Biggest Library Initiative is a Makers Space: Science/Technology/Engineering/Math Program- Grant for 3-D printer, robotics, equipment. Working on Mt Robotics team to compete with S. County Mt Everett’s robotics team.

Q&A   Q: Fred Clark: How is technology integrated into the curriculum rather than special programs? Digital Citizenship? A: Kara- Technology integration model: SAMR Model- Substitution/Augmentation/Modification/Redefinition —  Substituting & Augmentation (typing rather than writing assignments), Modifying- Electronic Forums for teacher/student communications; Teachers presenting video slide shows.   Noted that teachers need PD for better/full integration.

Q: Fred: What is place of technology teacher? Has technology been moved into the classroom instead of a specific teacher?  Tom: Excel is taught by Technology teacher which is highly used in classes.

Q: Andy. Potter :How is coding used/taught as a vocation: A: Tom: Coding used in Makers Space, python coding class, x-techs offers 3days of python & html coding, computer repair/management. Working on getting a 2nd level of coding for next year in python class by adding Java to it.   David Long: On a district level- current trend STEM- taking practical problems and using empirical methods to get a new result. Now using technology that is embedded in that process. Using technology to solve problems. Traditional tech teaching doesn’t go away but it becomes transformed as a supporting learning for larger critical thinking projects for problem solving.

MaryAnn Young: Full integration is still not complete and the schools are in transition in what they can use or what is available. Technology moves faster than it can be learned, so staying current is a challenge.

Rich Bradway: He has seen in the last year that teachers are now showing they are more empowered to to use technology in the classroom to teach and sees how it is evolving. In the past IT was used more to fix problems rather than expand technology use.

Q: Rich Dohoney: How is technology use/capabilities used in the hiring process? Teacher’s use of technology in classroom as part of the teachers evaluation?  A: Peter Dillon: Technology evolves: younger hires are “digital natives” where it’s embedded in all learning and application. Hire candidates are sharing electronic portfolios of their work rather than 3-ring binders; this shows the technology progress just in the hiring process. As teachers are evaluated, it is noted if technology is used in the classroom in a “meaningful” way as to enhance the lesson and not stall the lesson just for the sake of integration. Evaluation results are not yet being recorded or tracked electronically but that will start rolling out at the elementary level.

Q: R.Dohoney: How are our technologies evaluated for purchase/use?  A: D. Long: We use data to support what works and what doesn’t, but some new products don’t have data- so evaluation of a product is very important. Google tools are diverse and free cost, avail to everyone instantly. Sometimes decisions are good and sometimes bad, it’s a judgement call. A: Peter: We look at other school’s success with products and cost vs services. Trying to leverage buying power with other schools in district.

Potter asked for definition of Power System: Student Information System tracking who is enrolled, student grade level, grades of students, parent contact- given by D. Long.

Q: R.Dohoney: How do we know the technology we are using is best for our kids? Example: Lexia is a required part of homework at MBE. Is that good? A: M. Berle: In this example, Thad Dingman and M. Berle evaluated the student learning in grammar and spelling and where gaps could be detected.  Lexia is adaptive technology and fills a gap for a number of families who don’t have the time or ability to assist children at home with homework, so for some families it is very influential on the child’s success. It is adaptive to the childed learning level and progress is trackable by the student’s teacher.

F.Clark: Examples of technology to identify differentiated learning? A:M.Berle: Used by non-verbal students. Ipad apps used to write letters, in science to record observations. Story Kitchen addresses children who were not progressing in writing; gets students telling stories without having to worry about the writing but still encourages students to write and that they do have stories to tell.

Q: W. Fields: Parents see value in the technology but they are scared as to what their children are being exposed to. How is the oversight handled? A: B.Doren: Big resource is “Best Practices” & at DBM is website “Common Sense Media” that puts out best practices for parents, kids, teachers, community members to use technology around digital citizenship. 5th grade curriculum involves a digital citizenship because there is so much information available to students. Parent forums are held to address technology concerns for parents with their children. When children are misusing technology, on or off campus, it’s about communicating verbally to teach technology responsibility involving parents, students, teachers.

SCHOOL HANDBOOKS– P.Dillon:

MMRHS: largely similar to what it has been in the past

DBM: big shift towards restorative practices and sent articles sent around

MBE: shifts are markedly different since M.Berle and N.Thompson have come into the school and inherited the previous handbook and have worked through it and made changes.

Motion to accept handbooks: R.Dohoney    2nd: W.Fields       In Favor: Unanimous

UPDATES

Berkshire County Education Task force continues to meet. P.Dillon and S. Bannon are still attending meetings and that work continues. County Members getting together talking about education and possibilities. Meeting minutes will be provided to committee and work will continue. This group is broken up into sub-committees and is still in the “informational gathering stage”. County-wide issues.

P.Dillon: Southern Berkshire Shared Services project; Action oriented plan. Focuses largely around professional development, curriculum, technology, interest in additional grant writing to sustain the work. South County Districts meet approx every month, meeting again September 15, 2015. Group that did Memorandum of Agreement / Understanding. Submitted grant proposal to then-governor Deval Patrick, looked upon favorably, and got 9C cut at last minute. Conversations continue with current administration and hope to soon have something positive to share. This group has been meeting for about 1.5 years.

S.Bannon: For sake of transparency, part of last Berk County Task Force meeting was about So. Berk Shared Svs. There are some tensions because So. Berk Shared Svs is ahead of the Berkshire County one and S. Bannon reminded all to keep focus on that all are trying to find what’s best in education for our kids, a healthy exchange in education information and reign in some of the costs.

Updates on both will be given by P.Dillon and/or S.Bannon going forward.

P.Dillon: Regional Agreement Amendment Process: conversion w/ Mack Reed, a consultant at MARS (Ma Assoc of Regional Schools) trying to schedule meeting with School Committee on how to proceed going forward, the next step would be on how to select and appoint members, Waiting for that meeting to start that process.

P.Dillon: As extension to So. Berk. Shared Svs: Collective 6 districts are in conversation with each other and individually most of the districts are talking to other districts. We’ve talked with all our surrounding districts and Lee School System has recently met. Lee School System consists of Lee School Committee, Lee/Tyringham Union whereas the Union’s job is to evaluate and select the superintendent.

Bannon: In general, they will be looking for a new superintendent. And Steve Bannon would like for BHRSD to be considered to share our district’s superintendent. Many surrounding districts may be looking to share superintendents over the next few years and Steve thinks it’s a good idea if the idea is explored to see if there is a good fit or not. Committee needs to be open to discussing a shared superintendent.

D.Weston: Is an RFP sent to Lee or just letter of interest? Weston is in favor of consideration.

P.Dillon: Send an RFP Proposed Package of Services with role of Superintendent PLUS all the other benefits of our district in ways of technology, business, services, admin. etc. Timeline:

D.Weston: Do we have to join the Union?

P.Dillon: Understand to be done on a continuum; 1)contracting out-paid for service 2) school union 3)Joining districts administratively.

D.Weston: Contracted: we could enter into that as a school committee but would joining a School Union require a member-town vote?

1. Bannon: Yes
2. Weston: Feel minumum pursuance at this point for contracted service with possible future growth. Would be supported.

Motion:

D.Weston: Committee is interested and create a proposal to be brought to Lee/Tyringham Union for shared Superintendent and other shared district services.

Motion seconded: (unseen by whom)     All in Favor: Unanimous

F.Clark : Want to be sure, when appropriate, shared vocational education program services is discussed with either the Berkshire County Educational Task Force and/or So. Berkshire County Shared Services group.

W.Fields: Topic was previously discussed about meeting with other area School Committee (specifically Lee/Farmington River/Richmond) as Joint School Committee Meetings.

S.Bannon: It has been discussed with Lee and Richmond and once we are ready, we will do that.

End Superintendent’s Report-

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BUILDINGS & GROUNDS-   R.Bradway

MBE & DBM:

• This Summer- Failure of server that powers heating and cooling controls for both buildings. David Long and staff had to rebuild from scratch as an interim server to manage systems but has “bugs” . Steve Soule will be requisitioning for a new server for replacement and will use what David built as a backup server.
• Farm to School- Build of chicken coop. If there is a possibility of raising chickens, there must be a clear outline as to how that is going to be done.
• Project Connection- classrooms need to be kept relatively clean by those running the classes so custodians don’t take away from their normal duties to clean up after PC.
• MBE replaced fiber optic cables running to MMRHS. Will be done right before Thanksgiving when schools are empty and no one on the network- cables down means no internet access.
• DBM- heat pumps used to run the geothermal system. There are 63 heat pumps, 3 failed and were replaced this summer- two are up running, 3rd is being worked on to get up running. Important to note that all heat pumps are 10 years old and regular servicing is needed rather than waiting for failure. They’re at the end of their lifespan.

MMRHS:

• Boilers: One of two boilers is failing and requires repair, possible asbestos in firebox. Rough estimates for fixing the one failed boiler is ~$40,000. Because it’s over $25,000 the repair has to be put out to bid. Not covered in Steve’s budget. When estimates obtained, will return to school committee and recommend funds be pulled from E&D to pay for it. Both boilers are same age and reasonable expectations that second boiler can be expected to have falling bricks. Replacement cost will be obtained and brought to committee but concern is in time-frame because both boilers need to be firing for Jan-Mar and replacement would put one out of service.
• Tennis Courts: Nets back in
• Track Update: Needs to be put out to bid. Hoping to be for November
• Building and Fire Inspection Report: went great.
• Exterior Doors- for replacement. Work starting in next week or so.
• Water Hammer Absorbers- absorbs pipe movement and if fail the pipes will break from vibration. One failed and water pipe broke this Summer over women’s faculty bathroom; 40 ceiling tiles damaged, carpet. $5000 deductible on insurance & just tile replacement and for plumber replace absorber will exceed $5,000. Carpet and overtime not covered. Remaining water hammer absorber inspections will be done this winter for those accessible. Third failure.
• Need exists to bring classrooms up to specs. Looked at updating science rooms. M.Young and science teachers will revisit renovation needs and bring assessment of current issues and concerns. Space restrictions based on instruction type and requirements. One room at a time and start w most challenging science room F21 and this will give a good baseline for what can be expected in the other rooms for updates.

Phone Systems: MBE & DBM are on one phone system. MMRHS is on a separate phone system. MBE & DBM is a great system but service provider is lacking and we are looking into VOIP (voice over internet phone). Also, alarms are tied into phone lines and are seeing a lot of false alarms. Multiple alarms a day w/ 80% is false alarm.

In regards to PROGRAMMATIC OVERVIEWS with 5 year plan for repairs: water hammers, exterior facia boards on HS roof- repaint or replace, boilers- repair failed boiler and perhaps replace second boiler and cost involved, science labs updates.

Next meeting: September 17, 2015 to prepare for meeting with Buildings & Grounds with joint meeting with Finance Committee on Sept 24, 2015 @ 4pm.

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SUPERINTENDENT’S EVALUATION- Meeting Sept 21, 2015 @ 4pm

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TECHNOLOGY- Covered within

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FINANCE SUB-COMMITTEE- Sept 24, 2015 @ 4pm @ District Office

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PERSONNEL REPORT-  F.Clark asked if it was necessary to put salary amounts in the personnelle report. S.Bannon said it was up to the Committee to decide to do it differently but if the goal to to remain transparent as a committee, there should be no need for a change to exclude salaries.

September 3, 2015 Personnel Report:

Certified Appointments:

Non-Certified Appointments:

Olds, Katelyn             Paraprofessional – Monument Mountain         9/1/2015         $11.25/hr-7/hrs/day

                                                                                                                                                    (new position)

MacDonald, Alexandria  Paraprofessional – Muddy Brook              9/1/2015          $11.25/hr-6.5/hrs/ day

                                                                                                                                            (workday-7/hrs/day)

                                                                                                                                        (replaces Ashley Nettleton)

Ostellino, Kim              Paraprofessional – Muddy Brook                  9/1/2015       $11.25/hr-6.5/hrs/ day

                                                                                                                                          (workday-7/hrs/day)

                                                                                                                                   (replaces Iris Tuomenoksa)

Alibozek, Glenn               Custodian – Monument Mountain          8/24/2015    $15.00/hr-8/hr/day

                                                                                                                         after 90 days – increase .50 cents

                                                                            (replaces vacancy due to the   reassignment of T. Errichetto)

Leave of Absence:

St. John, Meghan               English Teacher – Monument Mountain                                            2015-2016 School Year

Resignations:

Brazie, Debra                     School Committee Recorder                                           8/20/2015

Extra-Curricular Appointments:

(all 2015 – 2016  unless otherwise noted)

Rates/stipends listed below are based on the FY15 Exhibit B Chart.  These may be adjusted once negotiations are finalized.

Muddy Brook Regional Elementary School

 Monument Mountain Regional High School

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OLD BUSINESS- None

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NEW BUSINESS- W.Fields expressed concern for the gymnasium floors being damaged/scratched by activities during the Farmer’s Market. After discussion, Steve Soule said he would look into getting some type of floor covering prior to the first Farmer’s Market and that he and P.Dillon had previously discussed protective floor covering options.

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PUBLIC COMMENT- Clarity was asked for regarding member town votes for shared superintendent position. Member town vote is only required if the School Union is joined.

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Meeting Adjourned @ 9:22pm

Submitted by Rebecca Burcher, Recorder