The Old Rochester Regional School Committee voted to accept its final version of the fiscal year 2020 school operating budget totaling $19,211,913, up $682,841 from last year – an overall increase of 3.69 percent.

            Superintendent Dr. Doug White broke down the details of the FY20 budget on March 7 during the committee’s school budget public hearing, during which some familiar topics such as town assessments and School Choice topped the discussion throughout the presentation.

            Expected Chapter 70 funds of about $3,032,000 and a number of revenue sources totaling $1,079,050 helped to offset the assessments to the three towns through grants and awards, revolving accounts, and circuit breaker reimbursements, but the highest revenue source of this category is School Choice, to the tune of $610,050.

            Including transportation, capital expenditures, and new debt, this year Marion will pay $4,762,651 for its 764 ORR students, an amount up $201,501 from last year. Mattapoisett is $6,012,295, up $239,040 from last year for its 833 students, and Rochester’s assessment is $4,843,653, which is up $68,975 from last year, for its 889 students at the high school and junior high school.

            A significant increase in the budget this year is found in the utilities line item reflecting a total of $112,705, a 10.98-percent increase over FY19. Other areas responsible for the budget increase are found in professional salaries line item, which is up $333,236 for an increase of 3.7 percent, “other” salaries with an additional $21,935 for a 2.62-percent increase.

            The line item “supplies” was up 4.01 percent, $21,935, for new social science text books and computers, and the line items for transportation, insurance, and OPEB (other post employment benefits) also contribute to a budget increase of $258,796.

            A decrease in the “clerical and paraprofessional” salaries line item was reduced by $61,062, a 4.17-percent decrease helping to offset those other line item increases.

            The general day education budget totals $15,753,331, an increase of $743,863 or 4.96 percent, while the special education budget has gone down by 1.78 percent, reducing the amount by $47,979 for a total of $2,654,210.

            Driving the budget this year, White said, is the district’s latest Strategic Plan that places an emphasis on social-emotional rigor, technology and security, and global citizenship, all while maintaining class sizes, and managing the facility and the capital improvement plan.

            “We also need to make sure that this budget is supporting instructional practices and services for all students,” said White.

            Marion Board of Selectmen Chairman Norm Hills asked what the advantages are to having the 119 School Choice students in the ORR School District, to which Business Administrator Paul Kitchen simply replied, “That you’re maintaining the revenues that are coming in.”

            Junior high school Principal Kevin Brigioli and high school Principal Mike Devoll both commented that, without the added School Choice revenue, the two schools wouldn’t be able to offer the same programming to an otherwise increasingly declining student population.

            Marion Selectman John Waterman asked if the district has ever done a study on the average cost of educating a student relative to the district’s participation in School Choice, which Waterman said should show that the cost is less than $5,000 to educate each student. Otherwise, the district wouldn’t be benefitting from School Choice.

            “I think it’s a legitimate question,” White said. “We can do the work.”

            School Committee member Jim Muse said that is something the committee does look at, adding, “School Choice brings things that aren’t necessarily financial … but if it’s a budget buster by having it, then we have to take that into consideration, and we are aware of it and we intend to have a close look at it.”

            Before closing the public hearing, Marion Finance Committee Chairman Peter Winters asked about increasing staffing at the central office level, alluding to the possibility of replacing the retiring assistant superintendent with two employees, one at the elementary level and one at the secondary education level.

            White said there has been no formal decision so far on the matter, but stated, “It doesn’t look like it’s going to have the support to move in that direction.”

            The next meeting of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, March 26, at 6:30 pm in the ORR Junior High School media room.

Old Rochester Regional School Committee

By Jean Perry

The four Tri-Town school districts are contemplating a new policy that would prohibit school staff from sharing any personal information about students online – intentionally or unintentionally – in order to protect the identities and private data of the students who attend their school.

            This new policy would not only require staff to refrain from downloading and utilizing any software, app, or Google extension that could potentially share student’s private data for profit, but would preclude staff from posting anywhere on social media the full names of students featured in photos.

            Assistant Superintendent Dr. Elise Frangos said on March 12 that the Central Office Administration is updating the staff privacy and technology policy to comply with updates to federal and state laws – the Family Educational Rights Protection Act (FERPA), the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, and the Protection of Pupils Rights Amendment (PPRA).

            Frangos said she has adopted the practice of carefully reading the privacy and user agreements of the different online tools the schools in the districts are turning to, and if it appears as though data might not be kept private, she forwards a privacy agreement specifically devised by the district to get companies to agree not to sell data of its users, including students.

            “And if they do, the liability rests on them,” said Frangos. “They can be sued.”

            Many “free” apps aren’t as free as they appear, she cautioned, “And many of them reserve the right to transmit data.”

            Old Rochester Regional School Committee member Jim Muse wasn’t sure about what exactly the policy entailed as he combed through the language of the draft before the school committees that evening. He wanted clarification as to whether the policy implied that students’ full names may not be used to identify them in photos, or whether it would be limited to just a first name or a last name.

            A full name such as “Mary Smith,” Frangos said, “That would be improper … because it can be dangerous if there are predatory people [that see it].”

            But this depends on the will of the committees, Frangos said, as the committees discussed ways to allow for student recognition while also protecting them from any unintended consequences of making their names and faces public.

            “Nothing is really very secure,” said Frangos. “We’re living in a hack-able world, so it depends on this committee.”

            For Rochester School Committee member Joe Pires, “I truly believe in recognition. I think it’s powerful, but I believe the security of the child outweighs recognition.”

            ORR School Committee member Heather Burke wanted to know how this would affect coaches of sports teams, asking, “Would we not be able to put up team pictures?”

            “I have to process this,” said ORR High School Principal Mike Devoll in response to the question. “It’s the first time I’m seeing this, [and there are] a lot of implications.”

            The committees acknowledged that the schools issue press releases all the time to local media outlets, including Honor Roll students’ names, but perhaps this policy only pertains to staff re-posting such releases somewhere online.

            Frangos said this part of the privacy policy would pertain to names accompanying photos, especially students age 13 and under. “I just think that we have to be careful not to identify anyone in anyway,” Frangos said.

            The committees were leaning toward language that would restrict any names to, perhaps, a first name and last initial when applied to photos.

            “This is a complicated issue,” said Rochester School Committee Chairman Sharon Hartley.

            “I think we need to take the opportunity to bring it back to counsel,” Superintendent Dr. Doug White advised.

            This privacy agreement would be part of a broader agreement that staff members need to sign and then comply with.

            “Any violation is unethical and may constitute a criminal offense, [or] access privileges being revoked,” said Frangos. “If parent finds a data breach … our district now has a large liability when, actually, our superintendent does. This policy, she said, would spread that responsibility out to individual staff members.

            Frangos did add that this policy would not prohibit staff from using new apps, extensions, or software, but would require staff to approach the Central Office first so the appropriate privacy agreement can be sent to the company.

            Still, said White, “There’s more work to be done.”

            The next joint meeting of the school committees is scheduled for May 23 at 6:30 pm in the ORRJHS media room.

Joint meeting of the school committees

By Jean Perry

            Mattapoisett will have a full-time harbormaster starting July 1 this fiscal year 2020, if the Town Meeting voters are so inclined. But definite changes are being reviewed and developed by the Marine Advisory Board at the direction of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen.

            During the March 12 meeting of the Board of Selectmen, Marine Advisory Board Chairman Carlos DeSousa, along with part-time Harbormaster Jill Simmons, presented a draft document that focused on several key areas of the Waterfront Enterprise – namely staffing, revenue, and expenses.

            Regarding the issue of whether or not the Town needed a full-time harbormaster, DeSousa confirmed that the MAB supports the change. He noted that the harbormaster’s services should be available to the public from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm during prime summer months and, during the off-season, the harbormaster could pick up some administrative tasks currently managed by several Town Hall departments, such as in the accounting or clerk’s office. The Waterfront Enterprise is currently paying for Town Hall services to the tune of $87,000 per year.

            DeSousa said the MAB had researched what other towns are currently paying for a full-time harbormaster and any additional seasonal staffing. He said that salaries start around $65,000 and rise to as much as $100,000. Part-time seasonal harbormaster salaries average about $30 per hour, and wharfingers make about $15.30 per hour.

            Total proposed harbormaster and associated staffing estimates came in at $200,000, DeSousa said.

            The MAB also looked at software and computer needs for the harbormaster’s office to be at about $6,000; pump-out boat expenses at $7,000; docks and floats (from the FY19 budget) at $25,000; and renovations to the harbormaster building at $6,000.

            Capital improvements were also discussed for the harborside. The list with estimated costs included Mello Wharf repairs at $9,000; fendering at $130,000 (with a 10-year bond); dredging and pilings for $50,000; new harbormaster boat at $130,000 (another 10-year bond); and a harbormaster truck with police radios at $50,000. The draft estimate for the re-organized seaside department came to $434,000.

            Offsetting that sum was the income. DeSousa said he was awaiting the complete details and exact accounting of the revenue produced by the Waterfront Enterprise, but felt comfortable estimating it to be around $300,000 for FY19, leaving roughly a $100,000 shortfall for the department to be financially solvent with the new plan in place.

            Board of Selectmen Chairman Jordan Collyer cautioned that the MAB report and departmental overall proposal was “ just a draft”, but that the board hoped to present the change in the status of the harbormaster position at the May 13 Annual Town Meeting.

            “It would be great if we could get someone to come in by the first of August. A transition period is needed,” Collyer said. But he did acknowledge there was some pencil sharpening to be done to bridge the gap between revenue and expenses. He also thought a good starting figure for salary negotiations for a full-time harbormaster should be around $80-85,000.

            The selectmen planned a meeting with the MAB to take place on the same evening as their next board meeting. At that time, many of the draft items and associated costs would be fully vetted, they believe. That date has yet to be announced.

            In other matters, Town Administrator Michael Gagne publicly thanked Tree Warden Roland Cote, saying, “He works day in, day out.” Gagne referred to the Town’s status as a recognized Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. He said of Cote, “He promotes the health of the trees along scenic roads, works with the utilities when trees are cut or trimmed…. He loves the trees.”

            Also present to discuss the upcoming Arbor Day celebration was Tree Committee Chairman Sandy Hering and member Jodi Bauer. Hering said that Mattapoisett is being recognized for a twelfth year. Collyer read a proclamation announcing April 26 as Arbor Day. A flag raising is planned by the Tree Committee at Town Hall that day.

            Gagne reported that he has been continuing his work with the Finance Committee in advance of the Annual Town Meeting. He also said he is working on grants for Industrial Drive improvements. He said that a grant from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management was possible, given that untreated stormwater runoff from Interstate 195 flows into Mattapoisett’s Tubb Mill Brook.

            Gagne also reported that the Board of Health has posted a link on the Town’s website to assist residents in best practices for residential recycling.

            Regarding the upcoming Town Meeting, Gagne asked the public to submit any articles they wish to add to the warrant by the end of March.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen has not yet been scheduled, but will be announced on the website: www.mattapoisett.net.

Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen

By Marilou Newell