Assistant Superintendent of Schools Elise Frangos announced on January 7 that Sippican School is one of 47 Massachusetts school districts selected to receive part of a $5 million state-funded Digital Connections Partnership Schools Grant to expand schools’ technology resources.
“I think it’s really going to move us forward,” Frangos told members of the Marion School Committee. “It’s a happy way to start the New Year.”
The grant is a competitive, matching grant requiring the district – designated as a suburban school district – to match the grant at a 30/70 split. There are different ratios for rural and urban districts.
Superintendent Doug White said the match amount of roughly $33,000 would not be a problem since there is already money within the budget specifically for technology.
Combined, all schools within Tri-Town and Old Rochester Regional will receive $60,000 from the technology grant.
“So, big steps forward … with technology,” said Frangos.
In other news, the committee was relieved to hear that the Marion Village Estates 40B housing development will not hit Sippican School with any significant increase in student population in the foreseeable future.
Projected enrollment numbers for the next school year show class sizes currently below the class capacity level, with enough room to handle any new students into the district.
White said the numbers were his “best guess,” but it remains “a moving target.”
“Unless we get a kindergarten class of 70, we should be in pretty good shape…” said White.
“Looking at the wiggle room, I feel so much better,” said School Committee member Christine Marcolini. “We’re probably going to be okay.”
White said he visited the housing development recently to assess the proposed location for a bus stop that he said was a safer, better option than Route 105. The bus stop still needs approval from the Town.
Also during the meeting, before voting to accept an anonymous $25,000 donation to Sippican School, committee member Christine Winters defended her position that anonymous donors should be identified to the committee before accepting any money.
White said he took the matter to town counsel who found no statute, case law, or opinion regarding the School Committee’s ability to accept anonymous donations as a public entity.
“Whether it’s legal or not,” said Winters, “is a separate issue.” The committee needs to perform its fiduciary duty, stated Winters, “to ensure there is no quid pro quo going along with that.” She called for transparency among the committee, and suggested allowing committee members know the identity of the donor, without disclosing it to the public.
“I am aware of who the donor is,” said Chairman Joseph Scott. He said it is the same donor who makes the donation annually and they explicitly requested to remain anonymous.
The donation was approved, with all but Winters voting in favor.
The next scheduled meeting of the Marion School Committee is February 4 at 6:30 pm at the Marion Town House.
By Jean Perry
