The Marion School Committee was not asked to vote on the Old Rochester Regional School District’s new OpenSciEd presentation, which was given at the committee’s October 26 public meeting for information purposes only.
Dr. Shari Fedorowicz, ORR’s assistant superintendent of Teaching & Learning, discussed the program earmarked for students in Grades 6-8.
OpenSciEd is a three-year, rigorous, science program in cooperation with nine school districts, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in cooperation with Boston College.
It will include a heavy dose of professional development, a four-day unit that started at BC before splintering off to six regional centers, the nearest to the ORR District being in Dover.
Sippican School science teacher Erin Murphy is reportedly working with support from within and beyond Marion, and a science lab is attached to the classroom so the students have breakout areas.
“The lessons are going to be determined by the children by the end of the year,” explained Sippican School Principal Marla Sirois, describing the process as “the kids running the show” as they search for fundamental questions. “The goal is not to just get the answer but to help the students find the answers.”
According to Fedorowicz, the program is CORI-based and is “not giving the answers to the kids, but letting the kids make that connection with science and letting them be scientists.”
“We’re excited about it … and the (professional-development) part is very important, to make them feel supported,” said ORR Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson.
Marion School Committee Chairperson April Nye thanked Fedorowicz for her presentation.
Fedorowicz also reported to the committee on a literacy grant awarded through DESE for the ORR District’s elementary schools. The program will focus assessment, instruction and intervention through the state’s Tiered Systems report (MTSS.)
“One thing that I’ve noticed about this district, its attention to grant funding,” noted Fedorowicz.
Nye was pleased to recognize the different grants “coming in at once and how they’re focused around teaching and learning.”
A price increase in meals was approved from the current $3 (below the USDA minimum price of $3.31) to $3.50, effective January 3, 2023. Nelson stressed that breakfast and lunches remain free (not including second meals.) He said that the rates do not cover operating costs and that this is the first such increase since the 2017-18 school year.
Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber said that with state reimbursements, ORR will still be operating at a loss. Nye reminded that families can still fill out the meal-assistance application. Barber said that is an encouraged practice irrespective of the increase.
The committee voted to approve an overnight field trip for Grade 6 students to YMCA Camp Burgess in New Hampshire. The two-night, three-day stay will be broken up into five groups engaged in a series of activities focused on the forest, ecology, sustainable farming, ponds and team-building exercises, including a climbing tower and ropes courses.
The total cost of $15,934 does not include busing. It was reported that the price per student is in line with YMCA field trips, and transportation will account for the significant costs.
Five chaperones will include teachers and staff, including a doctor and an EMT who will be staying overnight but not in the same cabins with the students.
The trip will include T-shirts, breakfast and activities carrying an estimated cost to families of $140 per student after fundraising efforts are factored in. In years past, that figure was approximately $195 per student, it was reported.
Families will also be asked to sponsor a child in need so that children lacking the financial resources might still participate.
The committee voted to approve a fundraiser event, an open family skate to be held on Friday, November 18, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at a cost of $5 per person with a $20 maximum family cost, at the Travis Roy Rink at Tabor Academy.
Tabor will provide free hot chocolate, and Sippican School will provide a half-dozen chaperones. The skate will be open to the community. One important matter yet unsolved is skate rentals. Tabor does not rent out skates so the organizers are strategizing on how to provide skates for children who don’t have their own.
Although no member of the Marion School Committee was named in the Open Meeting Law complaint against three ORR District school committees filed by Rochester resident Amanda Baptiste, the letter read at those meetings and signed by 631 people (including 54 who do not live in the Tri-Towns) was read aloud in the Marion School Committee meeting during the public-comment session.
The letter protested Facebook group-page comments made by two members of other school committees in regards to pornographic content in books on the shelves of ORR High School and Junior High libraries. The protesting group called it an effort to ban books and an attack on inclusion of all students and their stories.
Another public comment, from Noelle Stork, reiterated “a strong desire for a (student resource officer.) I understand it’s not in the budget for this year, but I hope that we’re going to push for it next year. … I’m looking for an update soon.”
The committee entered executive session and only returned to adjourn the meeting. The next meeting of the Marion School Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, December 7, at 6:30 pm.
Marion School Committee
By Mick Colageo