By Michelle L. Santoro
Sherman –The Sherman Board of Education (“BOE and/or “Board”) met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday November 1 in the Sherman School Library. During public comment at the start of the meeting, and again at the end of the meeting, resident Alex Thomson spoke. He reiterated his prior suggestion that the Board look at the cost for “simply” repairing what needs fixing at the Sherman School rather than continuing a renovation path, he also suggested “just” bringing in two commercial plumbers to provide a price for plumbing repairs, as an example.
The Board listened to a presentation on the Smarter Balanced Assessments (“SBAC”) 2022-23 testing results, which are reported in two ways – an achievement and a growth score. Important to note, because less than ninety-five percent of Sherman’s students participated in the SBAC’s, overall, the Sherman School is ineligible for a “school of distinction” designation, with eighth graders having the lowest level of participation, overall. While overall there was improvement in accountability scores, some areas dropped, including ELA performance by “high needs” students, highlighting areas the school needs to improve upon. Another area needing improvement is chronic absenteeism. Some Sherman students are chronically tardy, while last year a large number would leave school early – a figure that was missed in attendance reporting. With respect to tardiness, if a student is chronically tardy by just 5-6 minutes, that results in 25-30 minutes of school time each week.
BOE Chair Matt Vogt led a lively discussion regarding the referendum results and potential next steps for repairing the facility. Acknowledging Mr. Thomson’s earlier public comment, Vogt briefly summarized the infrastructure needing repair. To commence with those repairs, which, in some cases, cannot be done singularly as systems are tied to one another, the walls of the school must be torn down to reach such systems. To do the bare minimum, large portions of the building must be opened, and the systems repaired and brought up to code. “There is no simple fix to doing just the bare minimum,” Vogt said. He noted that the proposal set forth, which failed, did not include “touching” anything that did not need “touching.”
The Chair acknowledged the Board received a lot of feedback following the referendum, some of which were questions whether just one system, or another, could be fixed. Therein lies the problem – many systems are failing in the school. “The longer we wait…these problems are exacerbating,” Vogt said. He sees two options moving forward – 1. Build a new school somewhere else, or on the current site somewhere near the existing building, or 2. What can be done with the existing building? The latter of which contemplates less classrooms for some grades and “shrinking” the building which will reduce cost but risks not having space should enrollment increase. The Board clarified that the onus is on them to advise the School Building Committee on how to proceed. Regardless of what proposal comes next, likely money will be needed to undertake certain repairs in the short-term to stabilize certain aspects of the school for this academic year.
The Board discussed modified educational program needs and the formal engagement of New Milford, New Fairfield, and Region 12 Public Schools regarding viability and cost of expanded Interdistrict Cooperative Agreements. Mr. Vogt acknowledged feedback from residents regarding just a PK-5 school in Sherman. He noted the importance of conversations with neighboring districts to discuss real costs for such scenario. The first question – can any of the districts accept all Sherman’s grade 6-12 students, without a choice of high schools; the next – what if any cost is the tuition for such cooperative program, and finally, the importance of understanding how such change, if it happens, affects special education resources. Mr. Vogt and Superintendent Pat Cosentino will meet with the neighboring districts to discuss.
Dr. Cosentino delivered her superintendent’s report, noting how busy the month of November is, starting with American Education week and Kindness Day on November 13. Parents can join their children for lunch on Wednesday or Friday of that week. A Veteran’s Day celebration is planned for November 10. Thanks to Dr. Mary Fernand, Sherman’s seniors have come to the school to read to the children and join music classes; and the children have gone to the senior center to partake in pumpkin carving. John Antonelli joined the staff for professional development on November 3. Eighth graders have received information regarding high school visits. Dr. Pat encourages all parents to visit all the high schools their children can attend. Two goals being worked on are attendance and reporting to school on time. Dr. Pat thanked the SPTO for all its support, and the work they put into Halloween celebrations saying, “the kids had a wonderful time.”
Mr. Vogt made a motion to allow the Board to retain Peter Prowda for Enrollment Projections at the cost of $1,650.00. Mrs. Febbraio seconded the motion. Following a brief discussion, including the new state mandate with respect to age for kindergarten enrollment, the motion passed unanimously, 7-0. Noting complaints of sickness by parents, and a discussion regarding state requirements, Mr. Vogt made a second motion, to engage Pennoni Associates to provide airborne mold testing and indoor air quality monitoring at the cost of $2,081.00. Mrs. Frey seconded the motion, which passed unanimously, 7-0.
On motion of Mr. Vogt, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the following policies: Green Cleaning Programs, School Volunteers, which replaces former Policy 1212, Visitors Observations, which replaces P1250 & P1250.1, Use of School Facilities, which replaces P1330, Smoking, which replaces P1331, and Firearms on School Property, which replaces P1700. All policy changes approved were first read for the Board’s October meeting. Without discussion, the Board had its first reading of the following policies: Board Budget Procedures & Line Item Transfers, which would replace the current policy – P3160, Sales & Disposal of Books, Equipment & Supplies, which would replace P3260, Gifts, Grants & Bequests, which would replace P3280, Purchasing, which would replace P3320-21, Code of Conduct for Federal Procurements, IDEA Fiscal Compliance, all of which will be added to next month’s agenda for a Second Reading and possible vote.
In other reports, the SPTO held its Harvest Fest, with craft vendors, Saturday November 4 from 1-4pm, with Sara Wiggins Photography doing a “Holiday” photo shoot. In conjunction with social services, a Thanksgiving Senior Luncheon is planned for November 16.
The Board entered executive session for approximately thirty minutes before adjourning the two and a half-hour long meeting, the first since the school renovation project referendum failed.
The next regular Board of Education Meeting is scheduled on December 1, 2023, at 7:00 p.m., in the LMC and via Zoom.