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TSBC Meeting Minutes – 10/11/2022

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October 11, 2022
Tisbury School Building Committee
Meeting Minutes

2022-10-11_TSBC_MeetingMinutes

 

 

 

Tisbury School Committee
in Joint Meeting with the
Tisbury School Building Committee – Design/Construction Phase
4:00PM, Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Emergency Services Building Conference Room

 

TSC Members Present: Chair Amy Houghton, Jen Cutrer, Michael Watts,
TSBC Members Present: Chair – Mike Watts, John Custer, Sean DeBettencourt, Rita Jeffers, Reade Milne,
  Absent: Connie Alexander, Jim Rogers, Sarah York,
Others: Marni Lipke – Recorder,
  CHA Projects – Aditya Modi, Michael Owen,
  Tappé Architects – Toby Zaltsman,
  WT Rich – Harvey Eskenas, Evan Moore,
Staff: John Custer – Principal, Richie Smith – Superintendent, Ruda Stone, Mark Friedman – Business Administrator, Student Support – Hope MacLeod, Emily Crossland, Sean DeBettencourt, Meredith Goldthwait, Rita Jeffers, Natalie Krauthamer, Sue Leonard, Nicole Shirley, Jane Taylor, Anne Williamson,
Town: Town Administrator – Jay Grande, Planning Board – Ben Robinson,
  FinCom – Louise Clough, Mary Ellen Larsen,
Press: Louisa Hufstader -Vineyard Gazette,
  * TSC/TSBC members late arrivals or early departures

 

  • The Tisbury School Committee (TSC) was called to order at 4:07PM.
  • The Tisbury School Building Committee Design/Construction Phase (TSBC) meeting was called to order at 4:07PM with a quorum of five.
    (Recorder’s note: Discussions are summarized and grouped for clarity and brevity.)
  • TSC Chair Amy Houghton and TSBC Chair Michael Watts welcomed everyone and for information and coordination most meetings would be joint TSC and TSBC.
  • This was the first meeting since the Special Town Meeting (STM) paper ballot vote: 373 (77%) in favor and 112 in opposition to the additional funds needed to complete the project. Both Chairs gave a huge thank you to the Town, residents, staff and families for the effort, time and work that brought the School Project to this point.
  • After reviewing the latest MCAS scores, the TSC commended the remarkable Tisbury School teachers and administrators for their resilience and dedication.

I. Approval of Past Meeting Minutes

  • ON A MOTION DULY MADE BY MS. JEN CUTRER AND SECONDED BY MR. MICHAEL WATTS THE MINUTES OF THE TISBURY SCHOOL COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 13, 2022, MEETING WERE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED (3 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS): MS. CUTRER—AYE, MR. WATTS—AYE, MS. HOUGHTON—AYE.
  • ON A MOTION DULY MADE BY MS. RITA JEFFERS AND SECONDED BY MS. READE MILNE THE TISBURY SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 13, 2022, MINUTES WERE APPROVED: 4 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSTENTION due to absence: PRIN. JOHN CUSTER—AYE, MR. SEAN DEBETTENCOURT—AYE, MS. MILNE—ABSTAIN, MS. JEFFERS—AYE, MR. WATTS—AYE.

II. Principal’s Report

A. School Events

    • Teachers and students had been enriching and supplementing learning with local field trips: Polly Hill, Martha’s Vineyard Museum, Felix Neck, a walking tour of Woods Hole, and a Native American/The Yard partnership assembly at Performing Arts Center (PAC)—in coordination with History Month and Indigenous Peoples Day.

B. Personnel

    • Request to Create One-Year-Only (OYO) Education Support Professional (ESP) Positions. This was a retroactive position. The family moved to another town, limiting Tisbury School obligation to 2 weeks. 
      • ON A MOTION DULY MADE BY MS. CUTRER AND SECONDED BY MR. WATTS THE TISBURY SCHOOL COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY (3 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS) APPROVED THE CREATION OF A ONE-YEAR-ONLY EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL (ESP) POSITION AS REQUIRED BY A STUDENT’S INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN (IEP): MS. CUTRER—AYE MR. WATTS—AYE, MS. HOUGHTON—AYE.
      • The School was almost fully staffed, however an additional ESP would bolster support, and depth of coverage, especially given the paucity of substitutes and the need for staff to accompany classes to various off-campus facilities for lunch, art, etc. Funding was available from a vacant teacher position.
    • Although enrollment was down (partially due to the facility disruptions) both Special Needs and English Language Learners (ELL) proportions were up. 
      • ON A MOTION DULY MADE BY MS. CUTRER AND SECONDED BY MR. WATTS THE TISBURY SCHOOL COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY (3 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS) APPROVED THE CREATION OF A ONE-YEAR-ONLY EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL (ESP) POSITION: MR. WATTS—AYE, MS. CUTRER—AYE, MS. HOUGHTON—AYE.

C. October 1st Enrollment (See documents on file.)

    • There were 256 students in the building (down from 270 in 2021-22) of which 8 were school choice; however, 55 Tisbury students “choiced” out to other schools.
    • The Martha’s Vineyard Hospital reported a baby boom with 16 births in September and 17 expected in October—almost twice the normal rate.

III. Financial Report

Fund Balances (See documents on file.)

    • There was nothing of concern. $100,000 in School Choice funds were committed to the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) budget (see 3/15/22 Minutes p.3).

Grants

    • No action needed.

IV. Superintendent’s Report

A. All Island School Committee (AISC) (See below: Meetings/Events.)

The AISC might be followed by a Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Committee (MVRHSC) meeting.

B. Student Support Services Update (See documents on file.)

An October 7th Professional Development (PD) drew 45 teachers for a workshop on students who were both ELL and Special Education designations with additional focus on early childhood. There would be a joint meeting of the Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Island Parent Advisory Councils (IPACs).

      • It was suggested each school post the Newsletter on their website (see below: Actions).

C. 2022 MCAS Results

Massachusetts MCAS assessments used a 2019 baseline to more accurately track Covid pandemic learning lags and chronic absenteeism—testing was skipped in 2020 and only half administered in 2021. Generally, there was Commonwealth-wide 25-point decrease.

      • The Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools (MVPS) and Tisbury School in particular, were in remarkably good standing, showing ‘composite scores’ at 13-point loss in English/Language Arts (E/LA) and 5-10 point in Math and Science. Special Needs and ELL decreases were only 2.5– 4 points.
      • ‘Student growth’ was also well above Commonwealth averages showing typical growth in a very a-typical year.
      • Chronic absenteeism (missing 10 or more instruction days) dropped from 19% in 2021 to 5-6% in 2022, with Special Education going from 31% to 6.3%. Students wanted to be in school.
      • The Central Office would distribute data for deeper analysis—also available on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) website.

V. Review & Approval of the License Agreement to Eversource for the Tisbury School Project

    • ON A MOTION DULY MADE BY MR. WATTS AND SECONDED BY MS. CUTRER THE TISBURY SCHOOL COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY (3 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS) APPROVED AND GRANTED A LICENSE TO EVERSOURCE FOR INSTALLATION OF A TRANSFORMER AND NEW UTILITY POLE AT THE TISBURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 40 WEST WILLIAM STREET, IN CONNECTION WITH THE CURRENT RENOVATION AND ADDITION PROJECT AND THE PROVISION OF ELECTRIC POWER TO THE SCHOOL SITE; AND TO AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR TO SIGN A LICENSE DOCUMENT IN THE FORM APPROVED BY TOWN COUNSEL: MS. CUTRER—AYE MR. WATTS—AYE, MS. HOUGHTON—AYE.

VI. Tisbury School Building Committee (TSBC)

A. Chairperson, Vice Chairperson Update

    • September invoices had been approved.
    • Eversource had to re-assign crews to Florida to cope with Hurricane Ian, so power to the Project site was delayed again. Consequently, the scheduled move to the modulars was also delayed until November. A PD day was granted to organize and pack offices and classrooms.
    • The TSBC thanked everyone that attended the STM, acknowledging that over 100 opposing votes showed the tax increase was difficult for many residents.
    • Internal communications would be facilitated through Google Docs. Staff was able to tour the modulars/temporary school with an eye to moving logistics.

B. Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) Update

    • The OPM was working to keep the Project moving forward and coordinating closely with the School on the move—hopefully during Thanksgiving week depending on Eversource.
    • Pending typo corrections, the Final Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) Agreement would be sent to the Tisbury Select Board (TSB) for review.

C. Construction Manager’s Update

    • Change Orders (COs) 1 – 5 had been executed (see 9/7/22 Minutes p.2) and Notice of Awards (NOAs) been issued for steel piles and windows.
    • The GMP draft was complete. Contracts would be executed once the final GMP was signed.
    • Looking to the next 30 days: utility, and modular underground cable, telecommunications, plumbing, and fire alarm work would continue along with paving of temporary walkways and the drop-off area. The remaining trees would be removed and Eversource would commence work on poles, wires and transformers, etc.
    • Gym demolition preparations would continue with hazardous material abatement of windows and roof flashing, and mechanical separations. Demolition would begin during off-school hours, so the final drop was targeted for the end of November (see below: Actions). Materials would be segregated for recycling (steel, brick, etc.) or disposal (wood). Staff would work to schedule field trips, although students were usually excited by the process.

D. Architect’s Update

    • Nothing to Report

VII. Temporary School Transition

  • The TSC gave a special shout out to Principal John Custer and Assistant Principal Melissa Ogden for working overtime before and behind the scenes day-in and day-out; advocating for staff and students in remarkable, amazing ways, getting it thoughtfully right.
  • Staff members Ms. Meredith Goldthwait, Ms. Nicole Shirley, Ms. Jane Taylor and Ms. Anne Williamson all expressed gratitude for the PD day to pack and organize. It would be exciting to be able to explain and share the schedule and Project with the students.

VIII. Adjournment

  • ON A MOTION DULY MADE BY MS. CUTRER AND SECONDED BY MR. WATTS THE TISBURY SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING UNANIMOUSLY ADJOURNED AT 5:12PM; 3 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS: MS. CUTRER—AYE MR. WATTS—AYE, MS. HOUGHTON—AYE.
  • ON A MOTION DULY MADE BY MR. WATTS AND SECONDED BY MS. JEFFERS THE TISBURY SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING UNANIMOUSLY ADJOURNED AT 5:12PM: 5 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS: MS. JEFFERS—AYE, MS. MILNE—AYE, MR. WATTS—AYE, PRIN. CUSTER—AYE, MR. SEAN DEBETTENCOURT —AYE.

 Appendix A: Meetings/Events:

  •  AISC – 6:00PM, Thursday, October 20, 2021 – Zoom
  • MVRHSC – 6:00PM, Monday, November 7 , 2022 – MVRHS – Zoom
  • TSC/TSBC – (TBD) 4:00PM, Wednesday, November 8, 2022 – ESF/Zoom

Appendix B: Actions

  • WT Rich/CHA Daedalus
    • give staff dates for gym demolition.
  • Macleod/Prin. Custer
    • translate/post Student Support Newsletter on School website.
  • November TSC Agenda:
    • Minutes: 9/7/22, 9/14/22, 10/11/22
    • Topics Not Reasonably Anticipated…, Public Comment…, Staff Update

 Appendix C: Documents on File:

  • Agenda 10/11/22
  • School Attending Report “Worksheet”, Census Data as of October 1, 2022, 2022-2023, School: Tisbury School
  • Tisbury School Fund Balances Fiscal Year 2022-2023 10/6/22
  • Tisbury Student Support Services Update, October 2022 (2 p.)
  • Tiger Tales October 2022 (6 p.)

 

Minutes respectfully submitted by Office On Call/Marni Lipke.

 

Minutes approved 12/13/22

 

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