In his Reopening Update to the Marion School Committee’s December 2 Zoom meeting, Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson said, “I cannot believe we’re in the first week of December already.”
Nelson reported that, as of the December 2 meeting, Sippican Elementary School had 326 students in the hybrid learning model and 65 in full remote, with 21 others who are being home-schooled.
Nelson was happy to report that the ORR School District has yet to see the transmission of the coronavirus from someone inside the school to another. All 29 confirmed cases among six district schools are isolated and coming from the outside, he said.
The case breakdown is as follows: Sippican School has had eight cases, one of which was in isolation and three others in quarantine at the time of the meeting. Some are awaiting test results.
Preliminary findings of a November 20 survey from feedback received in 228 responses from Sippican School parents indicate that most families agree or strongly agree that communication from the ORR district has been adequate.
The questions were answered on a five-point scale. In the case of the hybrid learning model (i.e., is it helpful?), the majority of respondents categorized the model as “somewhat helpful” or “helpful,” with lesser numbers categorizing it as “adequate,” “not helpful,” or “very helpful.”
Hybrid-In was considered by far to be the “most favorable” learning time. Student workload on Hybrid-Out days was deemed adequate by 68 percent of respondents, while 21 percent said hybrid-out days require too little of the students.
Most agree that their children are enjoying the hybrid model and that it contains an appropriate amount of instruction, but there was a significant amount of disagreement on the amount of instruction.
Asked if they favor maintaining the school calendar, including February vacation, 54 percent of respondents said they favor maintaining the current school calendar. The alternative is to cancel the February vacation and subtract those days off at the end of the school year.
Respondents were closely divided on the matter of social distance inside school buildings, 50.5 percent in favor of maintaining 6 feet of distance and 49.5 percent in favor of a 3-foot limit. The breakdown was 55-45 in the percentage of parents in favor of full, in-person learning even if a student’s home-room teacher changes as a result.
Transportation has lingered as a logistical hurdle to a full reopening, but 82 percent of respondents indicated they have the ability to transport their children to school on what are currently their Hybrid-Out days; 18 percent say they do not.
Nelson stressed that, while there are no immediate changes planned, it is a good time to weigh in.
“That survey was fantastic,” said Marion School Committee Chair Michelle Smith, who said she wants to start looking at a full-reopening plan and asking, “when it is possible to do so?”
Nelson said the district continues to rely on updates from the state and that safety remains the number one priority. “From the start in August, we knew the plan would be fluid,” he said. “But we don’t want to be complacent; we’re constantly talking about what can we do to improve our model.” Nelson referenced his end-October “Back to School Addendum” and its commitment to continuing to look at options.
“It would be great to have everybody in (school),” said Smith. “Hopefully, the trend continues at school where there is (no transference of the coronavirus).”
The Marion School Committee, including Smith and members April Rios, Jody Dickerson, Nichole Daniel, and Mary Beauregard, voted to approve a Tech Replacement Fee as presented by Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber.
While the district has received supplemental funding via the CARES Act, the investment in additional Chromebooks and iPads was met with a delay in receiving that has since ended in the delivery of that equipment. Now the emphasis is on how to maintain the equipment.
“The problem is sustaining them,” said Barber.
Inside policy, Barber indicated, ORR can charge for certain costs. “There is a matter of trying to ensure we have fees beyond the normal operating budget,” he said, referencing the minimal cost of Chromebooks, screens, cords, iPads, adapters, and repair work. “We can’t forecast what’s going to break. There are some fees relating to these costs.” Barber hopes that fees will motivate students and families to “be a little bit more accountable.”
He recommended a rates and fees schedule.
Smith asked if an insurance plan would be cheaper.
Barber said ORR could tackle the problem one of three ways: do nothing and rely on general funds; charge an annual fee such as $40, $60, or $80, thereby sustaining a hypothetical revolving fee that can act as insurance and cover costs; or as items need fixing, charge a replacement cost. Not all Old Rochester Regional High School students have the same Chromebook, and Barber felt that it was more reasonable to look at a replacement plan that falls in line with what it already referenced in the Student Handbook.
Smith discussed her concern about families that cannot afford the costs should something happens to their student’s Chromebook, be it a single mother, for example. “If it broke,” said Smith hypothetically, “where am I going to get that money? Screens break and computers break. My A doesn’t work on my computer, and I don’t know why.”
Committee member April Rios said that, as families and parents, Marion residents were thrust into the present situation. “I agree with Michelle that we’re putting a lot back on families and expecting a lot of families at this time. I wish there was another way we could do it.”
Smith said she did not want her child to take a Chromebook “because I didn’t want him to be responsible for it.”
“I get both sides of it,” said Rios. “What do we do when a family looks at us and says, ‘I can’t pay that?'”
Committee member Mary Beauregard suggested a contingency plan. Nelson said that Barber had referenced working with families from a hardship standpoint.
“The one hard part about this,” said Barber,” is that if we did have that minimum fee every year, some of those fees, even though it is a warranty, we’re already collecting more from everybody. So far from the amount of damages, we haven’t had to replace a whole Chromebook. We can reduce the $40 minimum fee from 2,600 students. That’s why we’re trying to go this method. I understand everyone’s perspectives.”
The Tech Replacement Fee proposal circulated last week to all three towns’ school committees and became effective with those school committee’s approvals.
Daniel asked if children will be going home with cases and screen protectors or if parents need to buy them. Barber said the iPads have cases and shields that cover the entire device, “a little bit more (protection) than we would have had on the Chromebook.”
Nelson reported to the local committee that the ORR Joint School Committee had voted to authorize him to use his discretion to shift snow dates to remote-learning days. Nelson qualified that news with the caveat of significant power outages that would make such a day off altogether.
Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Janell Pearson-Campbell reported on a district-wide professional development event held November 3 during which faculty were reminded to engage the student, what lies under the tip of their “iceberg” and to look beyond the surface and toward the future.
In her update, Sippican Elementary School Principal Marla Sirois reported on a fun Halloween with teachers and Hybrid-In students dressed for the occasion and 1970s-style class pictures.
Sirois reported on a 2021 plan to better connect parents, staff, and students, a Marion School Committee donation that brought an interactive system to kindergarten children, a local clothing drive, the teachers’ completion of a “pivot to remote” plan, and a Crayon Project that Tri-Town Against Racism organized with a local company providing free crayons. Led by Tangi Thomas and Jess Barrett, Tri-Town Against Racism also donated books to Sippican Library. The School Council, said Sirois, is focused on social-emotional learning, global citizenship, and 21st-century learning.
“We’re definitely in a groove,” Sirois said. “The children have sort of embraced where we are.” Sirois explained how the children have learned to play no-touch tag by chasing and catching each other’s shadows. Noting Sippican is a quieter building under the hybrid learning plan, Sirois reminded parents to dress their children for cold weather “because we will be going outside if possible. We’re trying to get the kids out.”
Director of Student Services Craig Davidson reported on individual service plans tailored for the hybrid learning model, crediting Pearson-Campbell and Sirois with building the plans.
Barber reported a slight increase in meals being served from the first month into the second month.
Smith credited Jill Henesey, ORR’s Food Service director. “Jill and her staff, they are still doing an incredible job,” said Smith, noting the adjusted times from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm. “They’re out there in the rain and waiting, happy to greet every family and guardian that comes through. And they’re doing it on their own time. I can’t thank them enough for what they’re doing.”
Smith reminded the community that ages 0-21, with no questions asked, are welcome to fill out a form and pick up food.
The ORR Policy Subcommittee is scheduled to meet on December 14.
ORR’s Anti-Racism Subcommittee met on December 2, and grant funding is being sought for professional-development training sessions focused on hate and social-emotional education. The subcommittees are considering a split into two groups to better mobilize and get more done. A potential name change was also discussed, as some, according to Nelson, think Anti-Racism strikes a sour chord.
The next meeting of the Marion School Committee is scheduled for January 13, and the next meeting of the ORR Joint School Committee is scheduled for March 11 via Zoom.
The meeting broke into an executive session for Collective Bargaining purposes and only returned to adjourn.
Marion School Committee
By Mick Colageo