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March 19, 2019

george school
March 19, 2019

BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS

REGULAR MEETING

MARCH 19, 2019

PDF Version of Minutes

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: Mr. Minichiello, Vice-Chair; Ms. Asack, Mr. D'Agostino, Mr. Gormley, Ms. Plant, Ms. Sullivan, Mr. Sullivan, Superintendent Smith, Student Representative Nahomie Bosquet

Absent: Mayor Carpenter

Also Present: Executive Team Members

Mr. Minichiello called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m., followed by a salute to the flag.

Hearing of Visitors

Bradley Souffrant invited school committee members to attend Teach The Youth (TTY) group that meets Monday through Thursday at Brockton High School in R205 from 2:00 p.m. -3:00 p.m.

Michelle Stanfield shared concerns regarding improvements to the District and High school/curriculum resources.

Consent Agenda

Mr. Minichiello explained the purpose of the Consent Agenda and asked members for requests to remove items for further discussion; Mr. D’Agostino requested Item E, Authorization to Submit: Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Grant -$1,004,697.50 Mr. Sullivan requested Item N, Acceptance of Donation from Melissa Rodriguez from H&R Block, Item O, Acceptance of Donation from City Councilor Shirley Asack, Items D, F, G, H, I, J, K, L and M, Authorization to Submit Grants.

Mr. Sullivan moved the Superintendent's recommendation to approve the following Consent Agenda items, the motion was seconded by Ms. Sullivan.

  • Approval of March 5, 2019 Regular School Committee Meeting Minutes
  • Acceptance of Report: February 26, 2019 Facilities Usage & Planning
  • Acceptance of Report: February 26, 2019 Finance Subcommittee Meeting

Voted: to approve the motion, unanimous.

Mr. D’Agostino spoke about:

  • Item E, Authorization to Submit: Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Grant Application to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation $1,004,697.50 was not approved and will reapply when it becomes available to submit. He thanked Mayor Carpenter, Representative Claire Cronin, Gerald Cassidy and Michelle DuBois for their letters of support.

Ms. Plant asked for clarification on the grant submission. Mr. D’Agostino mentioned there was a deadline for submission before this School Committee Meeting and learned our application was not approved.

Mr. D’Agostino motioned to remove Item E from the Consent Agenda, the motion was seconded by Ms. Asack.

Voted: to approve the motion, unanimous.

Mr. Sullivan spoke about:

  • Item N, Acceptance of Donation from Melissa Rodriguez from H&R Block
  • Item O, Acceptance of Donation from City Councilor Shirley Asack
  • He thanked Melissa Rodriguez from H&R Block and City Councilor Shirley Asack for their kind donations and support to the Raymond School.

Mr. Sullivan motioned to approve Items N and O from the Consent Agenda, the motion was seconded by Ms. Asack.

Voted: to approve the motion, unanimous.

Superintendent Smith spoke about grants often having deadlines prior to School Committee Meetings. Ms. Karen Watkins-Watts, Grant Director spoke in depth to Consent Agenda Items D, F, G, H, I, J, K and L providing information to each of the grants that are being submitted for funding on behalf of the school district.

Mr. Sullivan motioned to approve Items D, F, G, H, I, J, K and L from the Consent Agenda, the motion was seconded by Mr. D’Agostino.

  • Item D, Authorization to Submit: Safer Schools to School Infrastructure Grant
  • Item F, Authorization to Submit: Barr Foundation’s Engage New England Grant
  • Item G, Authorization to Submit: Innovation Pathways Final Designation Grant
  • Item H, Authorization to Submit: Continuation Application to the Corporation for National and Community Service for FY 2019-2020 Grant
  • Item I, Authorization to Submit: Teacher Diversity Pilot Grant
  • Item J, Authorization to Submit: Leading Educational Access Program (LEAP) Development Cultural Proficiency Incentive Grant (DCP)
  • Item K, Authorization to Submit: Middle School STEM Grant
  • Item L, Authorization to Submit: Trauma Informed Care for Young Children Grant

Voted: to approve the motion, unanimous.

Mr. Sullivan motioned to approve Item M from the Consent Agenda, the motion was seconded by Ms. Asack.

  • Item M, Approval of BHS DECA Out-of-State, Overnight, Conference in Orlando, Florida

Voted: to approve the motion, unanimous.

Superintendent's Report

Recognitions

Superintendent Smith invited grade five students: Maliah Darosa, Sanshara Sylvestre and Keara Searcy (absent) from the Arnone school to recognize the commitment it takes to publish a newsletter for their school entitled “Tiger Newsletter”, keeping staff, fellow students and families up-to-date and informed about important school happenings. Certificates were presented to Maliah and Sanshara from Superintendent Smith and Mr. Minichiello, Vice-Chair. Superintendent Smith will hand deliver Keara’s certificated to the Arnone school.

Superintendent Smith invited Ms. Ann Smith, Senior Director of Community Engagement to receive our acknowledgement and appreciation on behalf of South Shore Conservatory (SSC) Conservatory ImagineARTS Program and its important contribution to early literacy skills for our students. This program is now in its seventh year as a key education partner to the Brockton Public Schools.

Student Report (Nahomie Bosquet)

Nahomie reported the Drama club production “Magic Theatre” made it to state finals. Four students are going to state finals from the science fair. The boys track 4x400 relay team made the Herald All Scholastic Team. The Spring choral concert is Wednesday, March 20th at 7:00 p.m., in the auditorium at Brockton High school. Parent-Teacher conference is Thursday, March 21st from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and a half day for student’s dismissal is at 11:00 a.m. MCAS ELA and math retests is next Tuesday, March 26th and Wednesday, March 27th. Junior prom is April 26th. Spring Sports tryouts begin Monday, March 25th. Tonight, the Charity Guild BHS student Art show is in the Fine Arts Lobby.

Technology (Powerpoint)

Dan Vigeant, Director of Technology presented a powerpoint giving an update on the district priorities for the tech department.

Curriculum Update

Superintendent Smith will give a curriculum update at the next school committee meeting in April.

Advocacy Update

  • Superintendent Smith spoke about the advocacy meeting that was held Monday, March 18, 2019 at West Middle school. There was a great turnout and support of the equity funding initiative.
  • Friday, March 22, 2019 – State House testimony with other Gateway Lead Team Members support Equity in Education NOW.
  • Monday, March 25, 2019 – Our State Legislators are scheduled for a site visit to Brockton High School and Kennedy School to look at the conditions and stresses we have on our budget.
  • March 19, 2019 Superintendent Smith, Dr. Ethan Cancell, Executive Director of Assessment, Accountability, Technology & Student Data Research, Azure Assistant Dean Shawn Desmond, Senior class president Mynthia Gonkpala and senior student Alexandra Younes attended UMass Amherst for Kairos: Mapping Our Way Forward, a conference to reimagine K-12 public education in Massachusetts. Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley is convening the conference, which will include performances by Massachusetts public school students, an opening keynote by Charles Fadel, model classroom lessons, and sessions that dissect the statewide systems that can be leveraged to support quality instruction. The goal is to have an early blueprint of how the Massachusetts education community can realign political, regulatory, and financial structures to support strong, engaging instruction for all students.

District Happenings (Powerpoint)

  • The Middle School Science Fair
  • Wacky Wednesday at the Hancock School
  • Young Women’s Symposium
  • New England Drama Festival
  • Read Across America
  • Deputy Superintendent Mike Thomas 50th birthday celebration
  • Gilmore Tea
  • Art Award Winners
  • DECA Competition
  • BHS Track and Field
  • BHS Soccer
  • Winter Sports Banquet
  • St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
  • Happy 100th Birthday Ann Warren Grace Graduate of BHS class of 1935
  • Equity in Education NOW
  • Spring Choral Concert
  • Winter’s End Celebration

The 2019 M.A.S.S. Bobbie D’Alessandro Award presented to Superintendent Smith on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at their 14th Annual Women’s Educational Leadership Network Conference in Worcester, MA.

Superintendent Smith spoke of her upcoming retirement on June 30, 2019 after 42 years in the district. She was pleased that the school committee has chosen Deputy Superintendent Michael Thomas as the Interim Superintendent.

Mr. Minichiello thanked parents that attended West Middle School on Monday night for the Equity in Education NOW meeting. The letters and petitions will be delivered by Superintendent Smith on Friday to Beacon Hill during the hearing.

New Business

Mr. D’Agostino – thanked Heather Arragi for providing information that was needed for the Subcommittee Accounts review (MUNIS) in a timely manner.

Saturday, March 30, 2019 Community School will host a retreat at West Middle School, 270 West Street, Brockton, MA from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

Motion to adjourn by Mr. Gormley, seconded by Ms. Plant

Seeing no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen A. Smith, JD

Superintendent/Secretary

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