Dr. Shari Fedorowicz, the Old Rochester Regional School District’s assistant superintendent of Teaching and Learning, explained the difference between the Student Opportunity Act and ORR’s School Improvement Plan during the April 4 meeting of the Rochester School Committee.
The slice of money that will come into Rochester for this program ($15,000) is relatively low, according to Fedorowicz, who nonetheless says the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will help determine learning gaps and areas of need.
The SOA focuses on high-need students and is necessarily new every three years, and it is founded upon evidence-based programs for students with low academic performance.
Narrowed down to five areas, the SOA targets: academic support and acceleration, comprehensive approach to early literacy and early literacy screening and support, expanded access to pre-Kindergarten, enhanced pathways to increase educator diversity and high-quality secondary pathways and programs.
Fedorowicz clarified that the SOA is not a grant but a $30-per-student boost to Chapter 70 (state) funding for the outlined purposes. In the case of Rochester, $15,000 was “embedded” within Chapter 70 funding to fund the SOA, which needs school committee approval and ultimately, approval from DESE.
Fedorowicz said that Rochester has relatively low diversity in its student body but has nearly 34% of which are categorized as “high needs” based on data points, including MCAS. Low-income students (20.6%) and students with disabilities (18.1%) also make up large segments targeted by the SOA.
The committee heard a presentation from Interim Director of Student Services Kris Lincoln on updates to the Individual Education Plan (IEP), last updated in 2001. The updated IEP will feature a new form that will map out the areas of support available to students needing IEP’s. The program will begin with the 2024-25 school year and be reviewed throughout the year, supplemented with professional-development opportunities.
The committee held a brief public hearing on School Choice for the 2024-25 school year and voted unanimously to remain out of the program. Prior to the public hearing, ORR Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson noted that historically, Rochester has not been a School Choice community.
The committee accepted the donation of $1,000 from community member and regular PanMass Challenge participant William Goldsmith to be used towards gym equipment.
The following books offered to RMS by residents Nicole and Greg Hardy, “Life Skills for Kids” by Karen Harris; “Inspiring Stories for Amazing Boys” by Emily Green; “Inspiring Stories for Amazing Girls” by Eva Kinsley; “Elephants Are Not Birds, Saga One” by Ashley St. Clair; “Good Bears Always Tell the Truth (Cubs to Bears);” “Otto’s Tales Today is Flag Day” by PragerU; “Otto’s Tales Today is Father’s Day” by PragerU; “Otto’s Tales Today is Mother’s Day” by PragerU; “Otto’s Tales Today is Thanksgiving” by PragerU and “What Should Danny Do? On Vacation!” by Ganit and Adir Levey, were declined by the committee.
Before the vote, Nelson reported that the school librarian cited a lack of professional review of the books in recommending that they do not meet the criteria for approval.
Upon a motion to decline the donation, Nicole Hardy argued on behalf of the books and against the committee’s rejection thereof to the point where Chairperson Sharon Hartley called a point of order in the meeting that Hardy ignored, resuming her argument.
Committee member Anne Fernandes questioned the limit of the resources used to establish professional review and suggested that other sources should be considered beyond those customarily used by the librarian. Fernandes’ was the lone dissenting vote against the decline of the donation.
The committee unanimously approved a fundraiser called Double Good for the sixth-grade class involving the sale of popcorn, 50% of every purchase going a parent-run carnival.
Fernandes initiated a discussion on parent volunteers, asking if the COVID-canceled activity has been restored and to what degree. Rochester Memorial School Principal Heidi Letendre said there are many volunteers at RMS subject to CORI (background) checks.
The committee heard financial, food services and facilities reports from Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber, who noted a job opening in the Food Services Department.
In her report, Hartley said the superintendent’s review subcommittee met and that news should be forthcoming shortly on that front.
In his report, Nelson promoted an acceleration camp for April vacation week and also noted that the capital requests made by ORR to the Town of Rochester for facility upgrades were being supported by the town’s Capital Planning Committee.
Fedorowicz reported that Rose Bowman, recently retired as principal of Mattapoisett Schools, would be addressing teachers on parent-teacher communication.
During Open Comment, resident Karen Thomas noted that the same arguments made on behalf of a book that was unsuccessfully challenged by a citizen could apply to the books declined by the committee on this night.
Nelson noted that the READS Collaborative Quarterly Report Overview is available for review.
The committee entered executive session and reasons 3 (strategy for negotiations) and 7 (compliance).
The next meeting of the Rochester School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, June 6, at 6:30 pm at Rochester Memorial School, and the next meeting of the Joint School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, June 20, at 6:30 pm at ORR Jr. High School media room.
Rochester School Committee
By Mick Colageo