8/10/2020 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

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4 Board of Selectmen Minutes August 10, 2020 APPOINTMENTS & HEARINGS Update on School Reopening Plan: School Superintendent Patricia DeBoer, School Committee Chair George Schmidt: The Board of Selectmen met with School Superintendent Patricia DeBoer and School Committee Chair George Schmidt to discuss plans for the reopening of the Mashpee Public Schools. The Town Manager and Department of Public Works was highly acknowledged for their much needed support in this process. In maintaining the Guidance of the Department of State Education(DESE) the re-opening requires three plans; remote learning, in-person instruction and a hybrid learning program (remote and in-person instruction). Schools are required to maintain a student distance of 6' and adhere to safety standards. After careful review of the modeling, the Mashpee School Committee voted unanimously on this date the following return to school outline; Grades Pre-K through 3 in-person instruction, Grades 4 through 12 hybrid learning; to alternate in-person learning and remote learning week by week. Teachers are expected to return to school on August 31, 2020. To allow for teacher training and to support adequate preparation needs, the school year is reduced from 180 days to 170 days. The first day of school for students is September 16, 2020. The final re-opening plan which includes prioritized school safety measures is required to be submitted to DESE. It was affirmed that remote learning would be a different experience than what was initially offered at the start of the pandemic. All students will have a device, and students will have the ability to be connected with their respective Mashpee teachers on a daily basis. All families are entitled to maintain the right-to-have their children attend schools via remote instruction. Remote learners will have live teaching as well as assignments. In Mashpee, remote learners will have a seat in the classroom if they choose to participate in the in-person learning or hybrid learning programs. Classrooms will be clean and class sizes will be small. School Superintendent Patricia DeBoer indicated this will be a difference experience,just as good as any other year. With an optimistic mindset it will be great regardless. The School Department is doing their best to develop a very collaborative leadership team to navigate the school year cohesively. There is a need for additional custodial support to conduct the added cleaning and disinfection requirements. To maintain additional support a total of 6 seasonal custodians are requested. The positions would most likely be covered through COVID-19 grant funding. After consulting with the School Committee and Accounting a funding mechanism would be in place to employ the new staff members by mid-September. With COVID-19 funding, there are no additional costs perceived to the town. A brief discussion followed. Motion made by Selectman Gottlieb to authorize the Town Manager to move forward with custodial support as requested, and consider a Town Meeting article for the October warrant for this purpose. Motion seconded by Selectman Sherman. VOTE: Unanimous. 5-0. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Cotton,yes Selectman O'Hara,yes Selectman Sherman,yes Selectman Gottlieb,yes Selectman Weeden,yes Opposed, none