The COVID-19 pandemic has had a lingering decay on the urgency among a segment of students to be at school on time, according to Old Rochester Regional High School Principal Mike Devoll.
As a result, ORR implemented a new attendance policy mid-year, stressing the importance of arriving on time, then tightened and refined several policies in the Student Handbooks for both the high school and junior high as presented to the ORR School Committee during its June 21 meeting.
Assistant Principal Vanessa Harvey said the administration has received feedback from the school council.
Tardiness will be met with warnings, and upon the third unexcused tardiness, a Saturday detention will be levied. A fourth unexcused tardiness will result in the loss of driving privileges for the duration of the school term. For students who do not drive, a fourth unexcused tardiness would result in a parental meeting.
Students scheduled to participate in an athletic event or extracurricular activity on any given day must now be in school by 8:00 am that day.
Students will be cut more slack when it comes to wearing earbuds. Harvey noted that previously students were not allowed to use their earbuds in the bathrooms, cafeteria or hallways, but the policy changed so that students can wear them in the cafeteria.
In a year-long course, a fifth unexcused absence will result in an attendance warning letter, and a ninth unexcused absence will result in the loss of credit for the course even if the student passes the course. That schedule becomes more severe for half-year courses (third absence letter, fifth absence no credit.)
The “Make-up Work – Sickness” section of the Student Handbook has been truncated to just “Make-up Work.”
Several other handbook tweaks have been made, including one that strictly prohibits food deliveries to students during the school day.
The School Committee discussed an appeal of two books, “Felix Ever After” and “Push,” both of which were upheld by the Standards Committee, according to committee member Matthew Monteiro.
Resident Karen Thomas said she is opposed to the book “Push” and cited experts’ criticisms. Monteiro argued against the presumed objectivity of one of the sources cited. Committee member Joe Pires then thanked Thomas for her comments. “It’s clear our material needs to be age-appropriate,” said Pires.
Committee member Margaret McSweeny pointed out that the books are located in ORR’s library but are not part of the curriculum. “They’re not taught by the teachers, they’re there for the students who identified them and need them and who have parental approval to use them,” she said.
Committee member Jason Chisholm would echo that point when the discussion shifted to the book “Push.”
Citing that the book has been in the ORR library since 2008, Monteiro sought to confirm the current complaint to be the first. “To our knowledge,” said ORR Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson.
Devoll said that no complaint had been launched against the book during his tenure, which began in 2008.
Committee member April Nye suggested that the committee get the word out and explain the process by which a parent or guardian can opt out to make selected literature off limits to their children.
Pires said communication with parents needs improvement, based on feedback suggesting that in some cases, they do not know what’s in the library or what’s being taught in class.
Before the vote approving the decision to uphold the inclusion of “Felix Ever After” in the library, McSweeny noted that Time magazine ranks it among the top 100 young-adult books of all time. Pires’ was the lone dissenting vote.
Pires said there is a significant amount of people in the school district with opposing views. He said he hopes for compromise “so that both sides are met. Both sides have needs.”
In answer to Pires’ comment, McSweeny recalled the partial acceptance of Greg Hardy’s proposed book donations during the school year.
Pires was also alone in voting against keeping “Push” in the library.
In her Chairperson’s Report, Michelle Smith celebrated achievements in athletics. Project 351, concerts and the DECA business club.
In his report, Nelson publicly thanked departing Director of Student Services Craig Davidson.
Dr. Shari Fedorowicz, ORR’s assistant superintendent of Teaching and Learning, was happy to report the arrival of a literacy program embraced by all three of the Tri-Towns.
Smith was enthusiastically nominated to continue as chairperson of the ORR School Committee, and Chisholm was voted to serve as vice chair.
The committee voted to schedule meetings on Thursdays for the 2022-23 school year. There is one exception, the first meeting of the new academic year on Wednesday, September 6, due to an Open House conflict. Subsequent meetings have been scheduled for October 12, November 16, December 21, February 1, March 7, April 11 and June 6.
The committee voted to accept the following donations: $250 from the Marion Garden Club to ORRJH for the “outside” courtyard classroom; from the Tri-Town Education Foundation, $1,916.99 to Brian Almeida for STEAM night (student computing displays); $2,000 to Richard Laprise for students to participate in the composition project New Music to Our Ears and $1,000 to Allison Barker to improve the high school library’s Commons Makerspace; and from UMASS Dartmouth technician (and parent) Glenn Volkema three PASCO Roller Coaster kits at $1,429 each;, six Vernier LabQuest Mini at $189 each and nine Vernier Photogates at $55.
Respective high school and junior high principals Devoll and Silas Coellner reported on their School Improvement plans, both reaching completion in 2023.
Pires reported on the dissolution of the Communications Committee but said administration is working on long-term programs to enhance and improve communications. Committee member Rose Bowman offered her support, and the committee voted to dissolve that subcommittee.
The committee voted to approve facilities and food reports from Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber.
During Open Comment, Rochester resident Rhonda Baptiste told the committee she received a call from Coellner on May 15 saying that her son was found unresponsive outside during gym class, that Emergency Medical Services was called and that he was being taken to the hospital.
She thanked all who were involved in responding to the situation, especially teacher Chuck Jancaterino for even noticing during the chaos of a softball game.
“I will forever be grateful to you all for that day,” she said.
Retiring Superintendent at Greater New Bedford Vocational-Technical High School and Rochester resident James O’Brien addressed the committee, telling a story of an encounter indicating a lack of community confidence in the system. He cautioned Pires against taking his views to social media, to which Pires objected, calling O’Brien’s remark a personal attack. O’Brien insisted he was not attacking Pires.
“One of the challenges moving forward, you have to put your feelings aside and do what’s best for the mission, the strategic plan and the respect, the administrative team and the procedures that are in place,” said O’Brien. “There is no trust within this school committee, and the bridge has been burned. This committee has to reflect on what is best for the schools to build that bridge.”
Long-time staff members Kathy Dranchak, Kate Souza and Kevin McCarthy were recognized with the dedication of books upon their retirements.
The next meeting of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, September 6, and the next meeting of the Joint School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, September 28. Both meetings are to be held at 6:30 pm at the ORR Junior High media center.
ORR School Committee
By Mick Colageo