METCO Update (15 minutes)

Transcript (~13 min @ 14:08)

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▶ 14:06 Jennifer McAndrew: abstain. And that motion carries with five in favor, one abstention and one absent. Thank you so much. Thank you for being here, Mr. Fogerty. Thank you.

▶ 14:17 Jennifer McAndrew: And next up we have the, um, METCO update report, which is also, um, a detailed memo in our packet, superintendent.

▶ 14:27 Speaker 3: Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll just briefly go through the detailed packet, but as you can see the enrollment for Medco students, we have a total of 115 students, uh, 27 elementary, 22 middle school, and 66 at the high school. And there's a breakdown by school, as you see, uh, in regards to we, the VETCO Director school year plan. She talked about, uh, some of the events that are going on for students. And, um, staffing. I, I want to go over it quickly with you when I get to that next page. In regards to some of the budget changes we were able to do in the last, uh, couple of weeks when I met with the METCO director, uh, you talking about the engagement, the family engagement. One thing I'd like to mention is that, um, we did meet, uh, a team myself, Mr. Murphy, the principal of the middle school, Mr. Merrill, uh, principal of the high school, uh, miss, uh, Berman, the assistant superintendent, uh, pupil personnel. And Dr. Turner, the assistant superintendent of, uh, teaching and learning and myself, went into Boston last Thursday evening. And we met with a group of parents, our METCO families. And, um, it was well received. It was a great meeting. Uh, one thing that, you know, it, which is good for us too, is to realize the commute that our students do every day. I know for us, when we traveled in that night, it took us an hour and a half to get to where we needed to go to. So, I mean, these are things, these are some of the obstacles that our students deal with. But overall, the meaning was very positive. And, um, we are looking forward to connecting with them again. We will be heading into Boston sometime. I think it was in more between February, January or February, maybe a little more towards March. Uh, but, um, and we got a, we got a lot of great feedback, and it was really, um, we had some great conversation. So it was very helpful on that. Uh, you'll see that, uh, there's the reports of the Friends of Melrose metco and down now the budget as when I last had presented to you the original budget, when I had done the, the plan, uh, Ms. Hall and myself did meet, there was some concerns from our parents too, that, you know, what would happen? Could we get some more support in? So what we were able to do is we were able to reduce the classroom teacher down by 25,000. And we took, take a look at the bus. We went from 600,000. We did eliminate one of the buses, uh, to try to get us down under, and that's at 555,000 as opposed to the 600,000 it was. And we did increase, um, for a METCO instructional advisor type of position that could come in to help Ms. Hall and to help our students. So that's what we are looking at, that would come out of the grant. We increased the before and after school in the grant because that we wanted to make sure that that money was exactly as is, so that there was no surprises on that. And we increased, uh, tutoring services in the contractual services line item. And then you'll see some other areas that we decreased. But it still comes to that total of 943,729. And that's, that's, um, important that we stay within that budget. We're also going to be measuring that as the actuals come in. So if there are changes that we may need to do this, a budget can always be amended. But I think it was really important, uh, to make sure that our students are receiving the support that they need and also listening. And I think part of that meeting that we had on Thursday evening started a few weeks ago with the emails and, and concerns that, you know, families wanted to talk about. So we wanted to make sure that we could see, and they were pleased with the movement that we were making. But also, again, we had to explain how the budget process works and how we, you know, when I've reviewed past budgets, I've, I've also noticed that we had to make up a significant amount in that METCO deficit of overspending on that. And I explained that as well. So our goal here is to not spend anything more than the nine hundred and forty three seven two nine. So, uh, Ms. Hall has got some great activities planned that are going to be happening over the next few weeks. I do know that on November 18th, in the afternoon at 1230, there's an event for, um, metco, um, schools. And it's over at the, uh, Reggie Lewis Center. And it's, it's a great time for Melrose to be represented and showcase all of the great work that we do along with all of the other school districts. And so I, as well as Ms. Hall, and we, we are working on having some students and some other staff members possibly attend so that we can showcase what we are and why it's important to come to Melrose. And, um, so that's, that's where we're at. I'm happy to take any questions you have on the

▶ 19:40 Jennifer McAndrew: Excellent. Thank you. Any questions on the report for the superintendent? Mr. O'Connell?

▶ 19:45 Speaker 6: Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, first of all, a note of thanks to, to Ms. Hall for compiling this information and for the great work she's doing, uh, in stewarding this program. Um, and thank you superintendent and Dr. Turner and the rest of the leadership team for, uh, engaging with, with our METCO families in Boston. I think that's really important. I think we all share that sentiment. So that's much, much appreciated. Um, and I'd also, uh, like to take an opportunity, uh, to note, um, that Ms. Hall has been a, uh, terrific member of our superintendent search, um, screening committee. Um, um, it's wonderful to have her participation and, and to have that perspective on the committee. It's been really important and, and valuable. So just wanna say that publicly, uh, to her and to all of us. Thank you, Madam Chair.

▶ 20:37 Speaker 4: Thank you, Mr. O'Connell. Mr. sel.

▶ 20:40 Speaker 2: Thank you. Uh, Madam Chair. Uh, Mr. Superintendent, um,

▶ 20:46 Speaker 2: you presented this and it's fantastic and I appreciate it. Uh, but in the same sort of paragraph that you talk about, um, the commute down and back, uh, you also mentioned that you reduced a bus.

▶ 21:01 Speaker 3: So could

▶ 21:01 Speaker 2: You expand on that a little bit? Sure. So it feels like we're adding commute time,

▶ 21:05 Speaker 3: Right? So what's happened is we had a, so we have the bus that comes in the morning and the bus that goes after school when school's out. And then they had a four o'clock bus, and then they have a six o'clock bus. Currently right now, they've eliminated the four o'clock bus. However, we are in conversations about maybe bringing that bus back as needed. So if they're, and, and maybe a couple days a week. So students of the middle school who stay after, don't have to wait till six o'clock. They can go home at four o'clock. Um, and then of course, that six o'clock is, is pivotal for anybody who's in the sports programs or other programs. Sure. So that was what currently happened. And we did have, we did have a later bus, um, up to eight o'clock for a couple of, uh, sports teams. But that is not moving forward as we move forward right now. So those, those, and that was one of the big conversations last week. I know that the middle school principal and the high school principal really would like to see that four o'clock bus on a daily basis, but we're just trying to make sure that we balance everything. So,

▶ 22:13 Speaker 2: Very good. Thank you.

▶ 22:15 Jennifer McAndrew: Thank you. Any other questions for the superintendent, Ms. Razzie Thomas?

▶ 22:18 Speaker 1: Um, I would just love to know over the last five years how much the transportation costs have gone up. I just think that, I remember when I first came on the committee, I think it was in the 300 thousands. I just think it's ballooned like all our other transportation costs. And so what, you know, with, with some the, uh, METCO grant, we used to use it in some ways to support professional development. 'cause we, we would sometimes have like surplus. And, and so it's, it's, um, it's too bad. I think it was level funded this year too.

▶ 22:51 Speaker 3: It, it was level funded. And I, do you know what

▶ 22:53 Speaker 1: Level funding means, right. Superintendent? That's

▶ 22:56 Speaker 3: Right. We do. But, um, I do have that information for you and we'll be able to share that with all of you. I did a four year, over the last four years of the METCO budget. And you're right, it, it goes back in that four years. We were looking at somewhere about 350, about four years ago. And, and it, and it really made the bigger jump from this past year up to 600. But I think last year those expenses were there just wasn't budgeted at that time. Yep. And so this year, Ms. Hall made sure that she put in what she thought was the proper number. But yes, you can, I, I, I'll send those to you, but it was about 350 I think that like four or five years ago.

▶ 23:37 Speaker 1: Thank you. I just wanted us to make sure we saw it, just to explain to the Sure. To our people and out there watching riveting school committee meetings that, you know, it's not just in one line item. It's everywhere. Like, if, if there's any transportation, we're actually really fortunate in Melrose that we don't bus students across the city when there's not a need. Right. So that's correct. Because that would make it even more expensive. Right. For our city budget. So we're seeing it everywhere. And I'm sure I'd be really curious, Ms. Hall isn't here for a good reason 'cause she's gonna be serving on this other committee many nights this week. But like, is everyone seeing that in every MECO program across, you know, this the metro area of Boston.

▶ 24:19 Speaker 3: And there was, if I may, there was conversation about that, because there are, there are a lot of districts that we are also talking to who do not, you know, they, they, they have a bus here and they have a bus at that time, and that's that. Yeah. So we're trying to be very sensitive to what those needs are. And we're also taking a look at, you know, does, does that four o'clock bus have to be from this current bus company? Or could we be creative on what we need to do for that area as well? So we're, we're having those conversations with our own transportation. Thank

▶ 24:50 Speaker 1: You for all the outreach you are doing. Um, and the willingness to meet people where they're at. It's always important. Thank you.

▶ 24:58 Speaker 4: Mayor Brier,

▶ 24:59 Paul Brodeur: Real quick, I hope, um, particularly for, for the older kids, I wouldn't suggest this for elementary and probably middle school is the MBTA an option, we're kind of uniquely situated compared to probably at least some other districts where that can be, um, an almost on demand option. And I'm gonna say something a little bit perhaps silly.

▶ 25:21 Speaker 2: It might even be faster for certain kids than a bus at rush hour going basically through the city to final destination.

▶ 25:33 Speaker 3: So I'm quite sure that we have students, especially at the high school level that do, because I know that, um, at the beginning of the year, they come and they get their bus pass. You know, the, the MT discount passes. Discount passes. And so I'm sure that they're taking the bus or the train. Mm-hmm. That can go right in. And you're absolutely right. It's a great vehicle. We're right there by the train station right around the corner, so.

▶ 25:55 Speaker 2: Awesome. That's it. Thank you. Thanks.

▶ 25:57 Jennifer McAndrew: Thank you. Any other questions? Um, just on the subject of transportation, as we're looking for creative solutions, working with other districts, working with other METCO programs, I'm also interested in addition to the question of cost, um, about the question of quality and just anything we can do there in terms of holding these companies accountable. I know in some ways that's, you know, we're sort of up against it because they're, the contracts are what they are. But, um, I am, I know there was an issue this week with one of the buses. Um, and you know, I'm just interested in everything we can do, not only to keep costs in line, but to make sure we hold them accountable for high quality of service for our students.

▶ 26:44 Speaker 3: Yes. One of the issues this week, the bus broke down on the way Mm-Hmm. And, um, they had to come and send a van out to get the students here. Uh, it's absolutely, I know that Ms. Hall is in constant contact with the bus company, and I do know that the parents felt the same way that when we spoke the other night, the same type of thing that they wanted to make sure. And I, I think it's important to note though, too, that our students, our METCO students are leaving. They're catching the bus at six 10 in the morning. Yeah. Mm-Hmm mm-Hmm. Yeah. You know, so their day is a long, long day. Mm-Hmm.

▶ 27:20 Jennifer McAndrew: Yeah. Thank you for that. Um, okay, moving on. Um, we have the monthly enrollment report. Um, we also talked about enrollment at the last meeting because we had our annual DSI enrollment report due. But, um, any comments on the enrollment report that's in the package?