March 1, 2022
March 1, 2022
Brockton, Massachusetts Regular School Committee Meeting March 1, 2022
The Regular Meeting of the Brockton School Committee was held this evening in the George M. Romm Little Theatre at Brockton High School, at seven o'clock. These minutes contain a summary of the meeting and list items that were under discussion.
Present: Mayor Sullivan, Chair, Ms. Ehlers, Mr. Homer, Ms. Rivas Mendes, Mr. Rodrigues,
Ms. Sullivan, Mr. Sullivan
Absent: Ms. Asack, Vice-Chair
Also Present: Superintendent Thomas, Interim Deputy Superintendent Szachowicz,
Executive Team Members.
Mayor Sullivan, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. followed by a salute to the flag.
Mayor Sullivan asked for a moment of silence as the City of Brockton lost an educator today. Coach, mentor, and former Principal at Brockton High School, Mr. Eugene Marrow. Speaking on behalf of the entire city to his immediate family and friends including his sister-in-law Chief of Staff, Mrs. Sydne Marrow, he said “Our thoughts and prayers go the Marrow Family. May he rest in peace.”
Mayor Sullivan mentioned Ms. Asack had a prior commitment and is unable to attend.
Mayor Sullivan, Chair took a roll call to establish a quorum.
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Ms. Sullivan – Here |
Mr. Homer – Here |
Ms. Ehlers – Here |
|
Ms. Rivas Mendes – Here |
Mr. Rodrigues – Here |
Ms. Asack – Absent |
|
Mr. Sullivan – Here |
|
Mayor Sullivan - Here |
Hearing of Visitors There were no hearing of visitors.
Consent Agenda Mayor Sullivan explained the purpose of the Consent Agenda, read the items aloud and asked members for any requests to remove items for further discussion. No items were removed for discussion.
Mr. Sullivan made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, seconded by Mr. Homer.
Voted: to approve the motion, unanimously
Superintendent’s
Report Student Representative (Elen Arustamyan)
Student Representative Elen Arustamyan gave a report on happenings at Brockton High
School:
· The Senior Executive Committee has planned the following:
Ø Field Day
Ø Drive-in Movie
Ø Open Mic this Friday, March 4th (organized with the Jam Club)
· New Afterschool Clubs: The Boxing Club and The Photography Club
· Drama & Music:
Ø The Drama Club performed the shows “Selfie, “The Magic Hour” and “High Stakes” on February 11th and 12th.
Ø The Drama Club is competing in the METG Festival with their show “The Big Eleven” on Saturday, March 19th.
Ø On February 17th the Honor Roll Assembly was held where members of the Concert Band and Choir performed.
Superintendent Thomas thanked Elen for the report on happenings at Brockton High School. He also spoke about the Honor Roll Assembly and how it focused on Black History Month and
thanked the team and students for a job well done, as well as Executive Director of Equity,
Diversity and Inclusion, Mrs. Renée Heywood, who was the event keynote speaker.
Mayor Sullivan thanked Elen, the Class Officers and Principal Burns for welcoming him to Brockton High for the assembly. He mentioned that he was able to find several pieces of the Brockton Liberty Tree, a famous stop on the Underground Railroad, in the basement of a hotel, the largest of which he donated to Brockton High School.
Accelerated Learning Opportunities
Superintendent Thomas invited Chief Officer of Student Support Services, Ms. Sharon Wolder
to present on Accelerated Learning Opportunities for our students.
Ms. Wolder presented a brief PowerPoint giving an overview of opportunities for students at
Brockton High School and happenings for students in other schools throughout the district.
She spoke about Mr. Cedric Turner, the owner of Empower Yourself and how he has worked in the district with students for over 10 years, building positive relationships that lead to partnerships that give access and equity to our students that have benefited from a variety of programs such as: Financial Literacy, Economic Symposium, Aviation Summer Camp, Engineer Opportunities, STEM Camp, Coding Camp and Competition, Drone Competition and Satellite Challenge.
Through Empower Yourself and Mr. Turner, our students have had access to and support from Bentley University, iRobot, MIT Lincoln Labs, Northeastern School of Engineering, Fidelity, Citizens Bank, Eastern Bank, The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, JFK Library, Worcester Polytech Institute, Raytheon and the National Society of Black Engineers.
Mark your calendars for upcoming events:
· March 25th - The Economic Symposium
· April- Drone Competition
· May – Satellite Competition
Question/Answer
Student Rep. Elen asked where would students go to sign up?
Mr. Turner mentioned students meet on Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. in the YIRC, Middle School students can reach out to Ms. Wolder’s office to get connected.
Comment
· Ms. Ehlers congratulated Mr. Turner on his recent award as it brings great pride to Brockton.
Mr. Turner thanked Superintendent Thomas and Ms. Wolder for their continued support.
The Superintendent informed the committee of two BHS alumni who are offering programs to
Brockton students:
· Jeff Weiner, CEO/Head of Investments, Santander Securities: Trading Room(s) Education
· Missy Howard, Microsoft: DigiGirlz: Coding & Career Path
New Business Mr. Sullivan reported that the Facilities Usage and Planning Subcommittee met earlier this
evening to discuss and vote for approval to submit an SOI application to the 2022 MSBA, which is due by March 24, 2022. The subcommittee favorably approved the application submission and is looking for approval from the full School Committee.
Mr. Rodrigues read the following for the record:
Motion to approve authorization to submit to The Massachusetts School Building Authority the Statement of Interest form dated March 24, 2022 for Brockton High School, 470 Forest Avenue, MA, which describes and explains the following deficiencies and the priority category(s) for which an application may be submitted to the Massachusetts School Building Authority in the future: Brockton High School – full renovation; and hereby further specifically acknowledges that by submitting this Statement of Interest Form, the Massachusetts School Building Authority in no way guarantees the acceptance or the approval of this application, the awarding of a grant or any other funding commitment from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, or commits the City/Town/Regional School District to filing an application for funding with the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
Mr. Rodrigues motioned to accept the recommendation of the Facilities Usage and Planning Subcommittee, seconded by Ms. Sullivan.
The motion carried.
Superintendent Thomas mentioned Ward 3 City Councilor, Mr. Mark D’Agostino, will bring this recommendation forward to the City Council with the same motion, the same language has to be approved by the City Council and both certified votes must be submitted with the application to the MSBA.
Items to Refer to There are no Items to Refer to Subcommittee.
Subcommittee
Unfinished Discussion and Potential Vote from the Bid Review Subcommittee – March 1, 2022
Business Mr. Sullivan gave a verbal report of the Bid Review Subcommittee held earlier this evening. All Bids presented were rejected by the Subcommittee. No vote is needed by the Committee.
New Business Superintendent Thomas spoke about knowing Mr. Eugene Marrow for a very long time adding, you couldn’t ask for a better man. He mentioned that, as a student at BHS, Mr. Marrow had been his teacher and later when he was a Department Head Mr. Marrow was then the Principal. Gene Marrow, at that time, was one of few people of color to become an administrator and he paved the road for administrators of color in Brockton Public Schools. Mr. Marrow was a true gentleman who loved kids and was a pleasure to work for. Our hearts are broken today for the loss of Mr. Marrow. He will be missed.
Mayor Sullivan mentioned Mr. Marrow also served on the License Commission for the City of Brockton, volunteered for the Parks Commission and volunteered on the Brockton Redevelopment Authority. Mayor Sullivan also mentioned he had the honor and privilege to have played football for Coach Marrow.
Mayor Sullivan had the privilege to do an interview with Mr. Marrow last month during Black History on “Our Brockton” on BCA.
Mayor Sullivan thanked Superintendent Thomas for the purchase of sweatshirts for the middle school champions in soccer, football, and track. He thanked the coaches, Mr. Matthew Campbell and Athletic Director, Mr. Kevin Karo.
Mayor Sullivan mentioned the “Mayors Team” is playing New Heights Charter School in basketball next month and asked Superintendent Thomas to serve as the Center and recruit Mr. Rodrigues. Rumor has it that Governor Baker will be their Center.
Mr. Sullivan asked for a moment of silence for the lives lost recently in Ukraine.
Mayor Sullivan reminded all of the Art Smart Brockton Public Library Spring Art Exhibiting contest reception on Wednesday, March 16th from 6:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. in the Driscoll Art Gallery of the Main Library in the located at 304 Main Street. All are encouraged to visit.
Seeing no further business,
Mr. Sullivan motioned to adjourn, seconded by Ms. Sullivan.
The motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mayor Robert F. Sullivan, Chair Michael P. Thomas
Brockton School Committee Superintendent/Secretary
mdc
PowerPoint: BPS Focus Areas: Positive Relationships
Handout: Art Smart Brockton Public Library Spring Flyer
