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Brockton, Massachusetts Brockton School Committee Meeting Tuesday, June 27, 2024 |
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Agenda Item I
Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance :45
Establish a Quorum 7:03
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A meeting of the Brockton School Committee (SC) was held this evening in the George M. Romm Little Theater, 470 Forest Avenue at 6p. These minutes contain a summary of the meeting and lists items that were under discussion. Mayor Sullivan opened the meeting at 6p, reading the following: Dear Visitors: Welcome to a meeting of the Brockton School Committee. This is the agenda that will be discussed this evening. Please note that Hearing of Visitors is included. If you have a statement or question, please give your name to the secretary. This meeting will be held and be accessible to the public via Comcast channel 8 and 1071HD Version, and online via this link: www.youtube.com/TheBrocktonChannels Brockton School Committee Meeting 6-27-24 (youtube.com) All stood to salute the American Flag. Roll Call was taken to establish a quorum.
* Mrs. Oliver arrived at 6:05p Also Present: Dr. James Cobbs, Acting Superintendent of Schools |
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Agenda Item II Hearing of Visitors 7:47 |
The Chair read aloud SC policy BEDH, and announced he was allowing seven speakers. 1. Peter Lynch/Brockton Ward 3: Spoke on the disfunction of the School Committee and the handling of the deficit. 2. Robert Cardente/Brockton: Spoke on safety improvements for school doors. 3. George Brickhouse/Brockton: Spoke to support for his implementing the Critical, Analytical Thinking (CAT) program in BPS. 4. Mikhail Bazan/Brockton Student: Spoke about keeping the EDI in the district, which empowers teens and provides supports for them to talk to. 5. Mary LaCivita/Brockton: Spoke about how hard the SC has worked this past year. |
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Agenda Item III Report of the Superintendent of Schools
14:19
48:12
50:00
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A. Recognitions · Dr. Eliza Wilson, Ward 4 resident, expanded the Do the Write Thing contest into Brockton from Boston this school year. Working with Dr. Conners and Ms. Jodi Nelson, ELA Middle School Coordinator, they have introduced a comprehensive civics program into the MS. The subject of the student writing projects are concerns they have around violence in their communities. Dr. Angela Christiani, School Phycologist, spoke on her interpretation of the student work. Ms. Nelson introduced the ambassador from Brockton to Washington DC. Ambassador Nile Alfama, South Middle School. · The SC recognized Dave and Judy Gorman, Brockton residents who picked up the responsibility of continuing Kid’s Road-Races when the School Department (SD) no longer financed them. They have been doing this for 50 years. The program expanded from the students to various races in the City, raising funds scholarships and many other worthy causes. B. Teaching & Learning Dr. Cobbs is asking SC to approve a change to the SY25. In-service Day on March 12th will move to March 19, 2025. Mr. Sullivan made a motion to adopt the new calendar SY24-25, properly seconded by Mrs. Sullivan. Roll Call vote on the motion.
The motion passes.
C. Items to Refer to Subcommittee · Policy (August Date) · Facility Usage & Planning (8/6 6p) · Safety & Security, Transportation |
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Agenda Item IV Consent Agenda
52:23
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Mr. Rodrigues asked for Consent Agenda item B (Enclosure #4A) be removed from the Consent Agenda. (Agenda Attached) Mrs. Sullivan made a motion to approve consent agenda items B and C, properly seconded by Mr. Sullivan. Discussion on the Motion: Both parties revoked due to a misspeak. Discussion on Agenda Item B: Clarification was sought on the verbiage, “this includes installations of entirely new security cameras … serve infrastructure for both the district and the city police department.” Dr. Cobbs explained that this is a joint effort with the police department in the writing of this grant. Mr. Sullivan made a motion to accept B, properly seconded by Ms. Asack. Roll call vote on the motion:
The motion passes. Mr. Sullivan made a motion to accept A and C on the Consent Agenda, properly seconded by Mrs. Sullivan. Roll call vote on the motion:
The motion passes. |
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Agenda Item V
56:40
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Unfinished Business Discussion and Potential Vote: MassCore BHS Principal McCaskill, asked if there were any questions concerning the presentation previously given by himself and his team. Present to answer questions were Associate Principals Jennifer Morgan and Rachael Umbrianna. Using the previous PowerPoint, Ms. Morgan went through the slides, explaining that these graduation requirements would not be implemented for freshmen in SY25-26, with proper scheduling and staffing. Planning and budgeting would take place in SY24-25. Ms. Sullivan made a motion to approve the MassCore program for the 2025-2026 school year, properly seconded by Mr. Sullivan. Roll call vote on the motion:
The motion passes, unanimous. |
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Agenda Item VI 1:05:09 |
New Business Discussion on non-union contracts/benefits for SD employees. Policy was enacted in 1999 by SC and the Chair would like to convene a Policy Subcommittee to address the cost implications of continuing this practice. |
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Agenda Item VII 1:07:24 |
School Safety No report at this time.
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Agenda Item VIII 1:07:45 |
Announcements · Summer SC date: Change Tuesday, July 9 to 5:30p Mrs. Oliver made a motion to change the July 9 meeting time from 6pm to 5:30pm properly seconded by Ms. Asack. Roll call vote on the motion:
The motion passes. · SC members attended the Annual Discovering Justice Gala, where Brockton is consistently highlighted. Dr. Conners announced that funding has been granted to expand the program to more middle schools. · Mr. Rodrigues spoke in opposition with regard to the embarrassing treatment of SD employees by City Council at the recent Budget Hearing. SD employees were not required to be there, they were there in support of the SD and it was shameful that the Council President didn’t “shut it down.” · MSBA will move forward with the BHS project. · City Council ratified the budget, with cuts. Should more Chapter 70 money come to Brockton it will be used for classrooms, students, and staff. · Mentorship will be set up through the Lt. Governor come September using zoom. · Recognize Dr. Cobbs, Cabinet and Leaders on their hard work keeping everything running through all of this. Recognize Ms. Boyer for all of the clean-up she has done and getting the Grant Office up and running. · Collectively, apologies and thanks were issued to Dr. Cobb for bearing the brunt of all the frustrations between the SD and City Council.
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Agenda Item IX 2:31:22 |
Executive Session Pursuant to M.G.L. c.30A, § 21(a)(2) to conduct a grievance hearing pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement between the Brockton Public School Committee and the Teamsters Local Union No. 653 International Brotherhood of Teamsters. (Bus Drivers) Mrs. Oliver made a motion to go into Executive Session properly seconded by Mr. Vega. Roll call vote on the motion:
The motion passes.
The Committee will not be coming back into open session. |
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Agenda Item X
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Adjournment School Committee adjourned to Executive Session at 7:50p.
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. James F. Cobbs Acting Superintendent/Secretary
dmm
Materials: ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions |
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