Foxborough Regional Charter School
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday January 12, 2021 at 6:15 PM
Meeting Format
Whether in person or online, the public is welcome to attend Board Meetings and have access to meeting minutes. Meetings are held once a month and additionally, as determined by the Board Chair. All meeting Agendas are posted to the school website at least 48 hours in advance of each public meeting.
During the meeting, the Board follows the published agenda and works through business. Audience members are not part of the formal discussion or deliberations, but may raise their hand to add brief comment or ask clarifying questions. Meetings start promptly on time as noted on the agenda.
Whether in person or online, the public is welcome to attend Board Meetings and have access to meeting minutes. Meetings are held once a month and additionally, as determined by the Board Chair. All meeting Agendas are posted to the school website at least 48 hours in advance of each public meeting.
During the meeting, the Board follows the published agenda and works through business. Audience members are not part of the formal discussion or deliberations, but may raise their hand to add brief comment or ask clarifying questions. Meetings start promptly on time as noted on the agenda.
Trustees Present
Badawi Dweik (remote), Kathleen Crawford (remote), Matthew Yezukevich (remote), Reem Ozone (remote), Sergio Martin (remote), Susanna Girard (remote)
Trustees Absent
None
Guests Present
Amanda Goddard (remote), Amanda Haynes (remote), Annie Azarloza (remote), Ben Dyer (remote), Bill Ells (remote), Cathy Alix (remote), Chris Barb (remote), Christiana Benson (remote), David DiPaolo (remote), Heidi Berkowitz (remote), Jillian Amaral (remote), Josette Perkins (remote), Karen Calvert (remote), Kim DiRodi (remote), Krisan Pope (remote), Kristin Hayes (remote), Lauren Ells (remote), Leeanna Brown (remote), Linda Morse (remote), Lissette Ilaria (remote), Lori Obenchain (remote), Marcia Sweeney (remote), Mary Quinlan (remote), Matt Harrington (remote), Meghan Roberts (remote), Mike Cournoyer (remote), Molly Clark (remote), Nancy LeBlanc (remote), Shawn Gudmundson (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Roll Call Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
Kathleen Crawford called a meeting of the board of trustees of Foxborough Regional Charter School to order on Tuesday Jan 12, 2021 at 6:20 PM.
II. Leadership Report
A.
Awards, Honors, and Recognition
B.
Equity & Inclusion
Equity & Inclusion Committees
A challenge this year has been to recruit student involvement in the sub committees. We have recently been able to recruit a few students so they will be joining the committees. Family engagement has also been a challenge and we are still working on improving this aspect.
A challenge this year has been to recruit student involvement in the sub committees. We have recently been able to recruit a few students so they will be joining the committees. Family engagement has also been a challenge and we are still working on improving this aspect.
C.
Personnel Update
Nothing to report
III. Committees
A.
Enrollment
2020/2021 School Year
- 1698 Students are currently enrolled
- Our pre-enrollment number is 1690 for this school year. This means we do not get reimbursed for the number of students above this number
- We are not currently extending offers to join the school for this school year.
- Over 600 applications have been received for the 2021/2021 school year
- The lottery application closes on 12FEB2021
- The lottery is scheduled for 03MAR2021
B.
Facility
2020 Chromebooks
- We are working on placing a new order for staff which will be paid for by a grant obtained through the COVID-19 program. The goal is to have a 1:1 ratio of devices to teaching staff. There is a meeting this week to discuss further.
- New devices for staff should take 6-8 week to come in.
- Installation is still pending. We expect an update next week as the last known delivery date communicated was 15JAN2021
- Project is done. The Circuit is installed, tested and functioning
- Matt Harrington wanted to thank the entire Technology Team for all their hard work this year. They have installed over 1500 devices, redundancies, provided tech support to families and participated in the installation and testing of the new circuit.
- Nothing to report
- Between 80-90 families have been using the curb side pick up of meals each time
- The contract with Arden to complete maintenance has been signed to keep the units in tip-top shape
C.
Finance
2020/2021 Budget
- Trending as expected
- There has been fluctuation in the above foundation rate which is expected to continue
- Currently only spending on essentials
- We have been in contact with Mass Premier monthly but have not been renting to them before our own community is allowed to return to the facility.
- Budget Calendar was reviewed and the topic has been added to the regular February Board of Trustees meeting.
D.
FRCS Foundation Inc
Nothing to report
E.
Governance
By Laws
- Tabled to the next meeting
- The student survey is done
- Search Committee meetings begin on 21JAN2021
- Job description has been posted to several recruiting sites including LinkedIn
IV. Policy Review
A.
New /Old Policies
Nothing to report
V. Special Reports
A.
English Learner Parent Advisory Committee (ELPAC) Report
The next meeting is being planned for late January to early February
B.
Partners In Education (PIE) Report
Nothing to report
C.
Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) Report
The next meeting is being planned for late January to early February
VI. New/Old Business
A.
Re-Opening Planning
We have previously identified four areas that needed to be met to transition to the hybrid model as a definition of feasibility:
Health
Health
- Most of our sending districts are currently in the category of “Red”. Two towns are “Yellow”.
- Cathy Alix R.N. consulted with the school’s physician who has recommended delaying the transition if possible, given the current active cases in Massachusetts is approximately 90,000.
- Cathy Alix R.N. is working with multiple local groups to plan for the school’s staff to get vaccinated. It is currently projected to happen in late February/ early March. It will not happen on school property as we to no have the special storage to make it happen
- Cathy Alix R.N. shared the current discussion on “pool” testing and how it could be applied at FRCS. This planning is still in progress.
- The state guidance is for schools to transition to hybrid if in the “Red” category if feasible.
- The Board of Trustees are classified as “Unpaid State Employees” and as such required to follow state guidance. This may be different to the classifications of local town school boards.
- Towns such as Attleboro, Randolph and Brockton have closed for the holiday but will reopen to the hybrid model on 19JAN2021.
- Data has shown that schools are not the source of transmission; sporting activities and family transmission is.
- There will be no extended day program, sports, or in person clubs during the hybrid model.
- Virtual learning has been going well for many students but not all.
- Students can choose to remain virtual at any time.
- The 10bg circuit has been installed to support hybrid learning.
- We have enough teaching and substitute teaching staff to open the school
- There will be approximately 8 students / classroom following our hybrid plan
- The current plan to open the school to hybrid is as follows. We can close or pause the reopening if needed. We can take advantage of the physical separate of the different school as well as their goals and needs:
- K-1: week of 25JAN2021
- 2-4: week of 01FEB2021
- 5-6: week of 08FEB2021
- School vacation week
- 7-8: week of 22FEB2021
- 9-10: week of 01MAR2021
- 11-12: week of 08MAR2021
- Will the regular teachers be able to teach from quarantine should they need to and are able to teach? Yes, substitute teachers will be in the classroom to manage the students in the live classroom but if the teacher who is quarantining is capable to teach virtually that is ideal.
- We have hired 6 new substitute teachers recently
- The staff was surveyed recently, and results were discussed during the meeting including how it is used by the Board of Trustees.
- Multiple staff members expressed concerns with the impact on students if the school should need to close or pause the hybrid model. Several have been witnessing this effect on their own families as they attend school in other districts. They feel our virtual program is better than the hybrid version in their home districts. One of our school counselors has reached out to colleagues in other districts and found this is concerning on the mental health of the students around the state.
- Families are not fully appreciating what it will be like to be in the hybrid mode. It is not like pre-pandemic learning. There are many modifications that will need to include limiting movement in the classroom and need to wear headphones with the chrome books at their desks so they can participate with the students at home.
- We should not assume that in person learning is better than our current virtual learning.
- Our Hybrid Program is not exactly like the home districts of everyone on the call. Our program has more days with direct learning with their teachers than many hybrid programs across the state. It makes it difficult to judge how well it will go if we were to compare it to other districts.
- Access to medical care and mental health support is not equitable across our districts. Transition to the hybrid model could be impact this negatively.
VII. Items for the Next Meeting
A.
09FEB2021
- Charter By Laws
- FY2022 Budget Discussion
- Executive Leader Search
- Strategic Goals: Teaching & Learning
VIII. Privilege of the Floor
A.
Privilege of the Floor
Nothing to report
IX. Closing Items
A.
Approval of Minutes: 22DEC2020
Matthew Yezukevich made a motion to approve the minutes as amended via a roll call vote from Board Meeting on 12-30-20.
Sergio Martin seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Susanna Girard |
Aye
|
| Kathleen Crawford |
Aye
|
| Sergio Martin |
Aye
|
| Badawi Dweik |
Abstain
|
| Matthew Yezukevich |
Aye
|
| Reem Ozone |
Aye
|
B.
Approval of Minutes: 30DEC2020
Matthew Yezukevich made a motion to approve the minutes as amended via a roll call vote from Board Meeting on 12-22-20.
Sergio Martin seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Susanna Girard |
Aye
|
| Matthew Yezukevich |
Aye
|
| Sergio Martin |
Aye
|
| Kathleen Crawford |
Aye
|
| Reem Ozone |
Aye
|
| Badawi Dweik |
Abstain
|
C.
Adjourn Meeting
Matthew Yezukevich made a motion to adjourn the meeting via a roll call vote.
Badawi Dweik seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Reem Ozone |
Aye
|
| Matthew Yezukevich |
Aye
|
| Sergio Martin |
Aye
|
| Kathleen Crawford |
Aye
|
| Badawi Dweik |
Aye
|
| Susanna Girard |
Aye
|
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:19 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susanna Girard
Board reviewed and remarked on the great work of the students from all schools. The principals were asked about how the numbers of students on the lists compared to previous years. The Elementary School changed to a list of effort recognition instead of grades driven this year and therefore this would be a difficult comparison. The Middle School and High School have not compared it to previous years but are curious about this comparison as well given the change to virtual learning.