Springfield Prep
Minutes
Special Meeting
Date and Time
Monday August 10, 2020 at 8:00 AM
This special meeting of the Springfield Prep Charter School Board will be held via Zoom video conference on 8/5/2020 at 6:30 pm. The meeting will be held virtually due to the COVID-19-related school closure during this time. Meeting notice was posted on the school's website (www.springfieldprep.org) on 8/5/20 at 5:00 PM.
Trustees Present
A. Grant (remote), A. Malone (remote), D. Morrin (remote), J. Pistorius (remote), J. Rosewell (remote), K. Molina (remote), R. Leonard (remote), S. Balogun (remote), S. Fuller (remote), T. Walker (remote)
Trustees Absent
None
Trustees who left before the meeting adjourned
A. Malone, T. Walker
Ex Officio Members Present
B. Spirer (remote)
Non Voting Members Present
B. Spirer (remote)
Guests Present
M. Wagner (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
R. Leonard called a meeting of the board of trustees of Springfield Prep to order on Monday Aug 10, 2020 at 8:02 AM.
C.
Public Comment, If Any
There was no public comment.
II. General School Items
A.
School Reopening Plan
The board reviewed the most updated information regarding school reopening. Springfield Public Schools (SPS), Springfield Prep's sending district, decided to begin the year in a fully remote model through the end of the first marking period. Case numbers in Massachusetts have trended slightly upward. Testing delays appear to be an issue. Families and staff members continue to express concern about in-person learning. Based on these factors, and out of a desire to act with prudence, school leadership is recommending that the school begin the year in a fully remote model for all students, through November 6, despite the very real challenges this may present for famiiles and students.
School leadership shared the fully remote plan, emphasizing that instruction will be much more robust than it was in the spring and will be primarily teacher-led, synchronous, Zoom classes. This is based on teacher and family feedback as well as on DESE guidance.
The board also discussed safety preparations. The school is replacing HVAC air filters with MERV 13 filters and is also doing a full building air quality assessment. It will have the results of this within a few weeks. School leadership believes the building will be able to meet new best practice recommendations for air quality and will be able to confirm this with a full report.
School leadership shared the fully remote plan, emphasizing that instruction will be much more robust than it was in the spring and will be primarily teacher-led, synchronous, Zoom classes. This is based on teacher and family feedback as well as on DESE guidance.
The board also discussed safety preparations. The school is replacing HVAC air filters with MERV 13 filters and is also doing a full building air quality assessment. It will have the results of this within a few weeks. School leadership believes the building will be able to meet new best practice recommendations for air quality and will be able to confirm this with a full report.
A. Grant made a motion to approve the fully remote plan as presented by school leadership, with instruction for kindergarteners, English Learners, and Students with Disabilities to take place in person.
D. Morrin seconded the motion.
School leadership explained that it had weighed this option and is also worried about the efficacy of remote learning for these student groups. However, it exlained that this would create staffing complexities. For example, based on family survey results, many of these students would still opt for fully remote learning, which would require staffing for both in-person and remote models. Additioanlly, requiring some educators to be onsite while remaining in a remote model given health and safety concerns would be problematic.
The motion did not carry.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| A. Grant |
Aye
|
| A. Malone |
No
|
| K. Molina |
No
|
| T. Walker |
No
|
| R. Leonard |
No
|
| D. Morrin |
No
|
| J. Rosewell |
No
|
| S. Balogun |
No
|
| J. Pistorius |
No
|
| S. Fuller |
No
|
A. Malone left.
T. Walker left.
K. Molina made a motion to approve the fully remote plan through November 6, as presented by School leadership.
S. Fuller seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| J. Rosewell |
Aye
|
| R. Leonard |
Aye
|
| S. Fuller |
Aye
|
| A. Malone |
Absent
|
| A. Grant |
No
|
| D. Morrin |
Aye
|
| S. Balogun |
Aye
|
| J. Pistorius |
Aye
|
| K. Molina |
Aye
|
| T. Walker |
Absent
|
III. Closing Items
A.
Next Board Meeting
The next board meeting is scheduled for 9/2/20.
B.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 9:17 AM.
Respectfully Submitted,
A. Grant