A downward trend in student enrollment in the Old Rochester Regional School District has tri-town finance committees seeking more information and they attempt to navigate long-range fiscal challenges, and Mattapoisett’s participation in a school-consolidation study had the local School Committee on high alert during its public meeting Monday night.
In explaining the study being conducted by UMass Boston’s Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management, Mattapoisett Town Administrator Mike Lorenco said that the town took on the process by going through a state-funded, Community Compact Grant application on short money.
Invited to apply, the town received the grant earmarked for investigation into a potential school-building consolidation and also to provide analysis of the town’s transfer station with the aim of bringing it into the 21st century. Mattapoisett’s transfer station has not been updated in at least 30 years, according to Lorenco.
“The Collins Center came to us. The town isn’t involved,” said Lorenco. “They want to align with the Master Plan Committee. … The goal is to see what they see from the outside looking in.”
Lorenco explained that when the state announces another round of Community Compact Grant applications, the state calls towns to advise them of the opportunity and the process. The Collins Center reached out with an email to Mattapoisett; the center’s operations depend on funding from the grants.
School Committee members Carole Clifford, Karin Barrows, Carly Lavin and Tiffini Reedy all asked questions including how the study will be funded, what opportunities citizens will have to participate and if any town employees or stakeholders work for the Collins Center.
Mattapoisett officials have not met with Collins Center representatives, and Lorenco told the committee he does not know Mike Edwards, the Collins Center’s Public Services manager and primary representative for the study. The only communication, Lorenco noted, is what ORR Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson had mentioned about the Collins Center’s tour of Mattapoisett school buildings.
For school consolidation to transpire, it would be vetted by a public vote at Town Meeting, according to Lorenco. “It wouldn’t happen in haste,” he said. “This is only a study by an independent party. It does not force a decision either way.”
“No doubt in my mind the School Committee and the community as a whole will be given ample opportunity to (contribute to the discussions,)” said Chairman Jim Muse. “The study is not going to determine how things are going to be done but give the town information. The School Committee will do their part to provide information and regardless of what may come up, we’ll still have a great education.”
There will be a meeting in March and potentially a plan to move forward with a financial assessment. The Collins Center would deliver that report this summer.
In an initial FY23 draft budget discussion, ORR Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber reported a proposed Mattapoisett education budget of $7,639,144, a 2.23 percent overall increase (2.47 percent for Mattapoisett Schools per se.)
With no additional staff positions and a zero-based method, $200,000 is accounting for by scheduled staff increases and along with $280,000 in building improvements. Barber said the proposed circuit breaker is $30,000 higher and includes student transportation.
The town will save 8.6 percent on Bristol County Agricultural High School, falling from an overall FY22 budget of $127,000 to $111,000 for FY23.
Muse said the budget work is close to ready for a public hearing, and Nelson has presented to Lorenco and a Finance Committee member. ORR will appear at the invitation of Mattapoisett’s Select Board before holding a public hearing.
The committee voted to approve ORR’s setup of and request for $4,000,000 in a capital reserve fund to participate in the READS Collaborative Capital Plan. READS programs augment the public school with services addressing academic need among deaf and hard-of-hearing, teacher consultation, early intervention up to age three, risk diagnosis, speech language pathologists and counselors and professional development.
Along with the capital building project fund established in June 2018, the combined balance is $1,180,000.
Established in 1974, READS serves 18 school districts and is one of 25 collaboratives in Massachusetts. It meets six times per year or more often not including its subcommittees and advisory group.
The Student Handbook has been updated for changes in COVID-19 protocols (masking,) and Principal Kevin Tavares says that Pokemon cards are back and students are bringing them to school and trading them. The handbook also addresses Bike Policy since the town Recreation Department has donated a bike rack.
Nelson thanked Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Jannell Pearson-Campbell for her leadership in the arduous process of preparing ORR schools for the state’s Tiered Focused Monitoring Audit of English Language learners. All six schools recently received favorable audit results.
In his Central Office Report, Nelson said that facemasks are optional upon since the students returned from the February vacation, that wearing masks is now an individual choice. He also noted that the federal order for masking on public transportation has been lifted so masking is optional on the school bus as well.
Pearson-Campbell announced that Friday, March 18, will be a half-day for professional development, and over the next two weeks parents will receive a survey.
Director of Student Services Craig Davidson reported that 70 students in Grades 3-10 attended the Math Academy that was held during the February vacation free of charge. The academy will be offered again during the April vacation week. Likewise, a community talk series on mental health for teens and “tweens” held on February 10 will see a Part 2 on March 10.
In his Principal’s Report, Tavares talked about the new telephone system that has been installed in both of Mattapoisett’s elementary schools. He also announced that concerts are back in person and will be held on March 8 and 15. Spring pictures will be taken at Center School on April 18. After-school programs start next week with offerings of Math and English Language Arts.
Barrows thanked Abington Bank for its $790 donation to the Tri-Town Education Foundation.
The committee entered executive session for purposes No. 3 (collective bargaining) and No. 7 (provisions of federal law/regulations) and returned only to adjourn.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett School Committee is scheduled for Monday, April 4, and the Joint School Committee will next meet on April 28. School committee meetings are held at 6:30 pm.
Mattapoisett School Committee
By Mick Colageo