In updating the Rochester School Committee on the town’s School Improvement Plan during the committee’s June 1 public meeting, Rochester Memorial School Principal Derek Medeiros identified pillars of the larger district’s overall Strategic Plan 2023.

            He focused on project-based learning and opportunistic implementation of what he called the four C’s. By working together on projects, children learn how to collaborate, think critically and communicate.

            The Old Rochester Regional School District’s plan is a “Theory of Action” that outlines how to provide life and career skills for its students via “rigorous and relevant curriculum” and “multiculturalism, diversity and global awareness” using “evidence-based approaches.”

            How that applies to elementary-school students is through project-based learning opportunities provided by teachers, specialists and administrators with experiences designed to target content and process according to age.

            Medeiros said he and Assistant Principal Charles West will work on evaluation of lesson plans and results.

            A key, 21st-century skill learned during the pandemic was becoming proficient in Zoom technology. Coming out of the pandemic, Medeiros talked about various ways in which the pandemic impacted progress in key social areas.

            In pointing how well RMS students acclimated back to normal life in school, Medeiros credited teachers, saying that, “None of that happens without relationship building.” Students were comfortable asking questions and taking direction.

            “That was key for us because we knew that hybrid and Zoom was definitely going away,” he said.

            Another pillar Medeiros identified was training in “responsive classroom” programs designed to evaluate students’ needs and address areas that need support. Panorama survey and Kaleidoscope are two tools that teachers use to measure data and identify areas of need.

            Late in the meeting, Medeiros updated the committee on RMS’s literacy campaign, outlining the process and interaction with the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE.)

            Fire and evacuation training has been done with the guidance of the Rochester Police Department. Teachers are being trained to make sure certain doors are closed at certain hours, all part of a strategic plan to ensure safety at a volatile time. Training occurs under the acronym “ALICE,” which stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate.

            Committee Chairperson Sharon Hartley discussed school safety and security, pointing to renovation of the RMS entry. “To see the effort that goes into that when you walk into our main office … knowing that our school leaders and our office personnel are monitoring” illustrates the commitment to safety, she said.

            Hartley opened the meeting with a moment of silence for the affected families and community around the tragic shooting at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

            “It takes a toll on the heart. I know my heart aches for all those families impacted by the tragedy in Texas,” said ORR Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson. “I think Mr. Medeiros did a nice job of explaining some of the work we’ve done recently, and although an event that happened in Texas is a reminder our efforts have been ongoing … ALICE training is probably the least-fun type of work that we do.

            “We understand the different perspectives on it, but we also want to make sure our staff members and our students are as prepared as they possibly can be. … I don’t have a doubt in me that our staff and our educators will do everything they can in those type of moments to make sure that student safety is their primary focus.”

            RMS has double doors, noted Nelson, along with many security cameras and an updated alarm system. “We’re fortunate to have those resources out of our operating budget,” he said. Nelson encouraged people who see things to reach out, ask questions and find out who anyone is that is not readily recognized.

            ORR’s Vision 2023 is in Year 4 of a five-year program, and come August or September the district will start planning for its next improvement cycle. RMS is classified as an update, being in Year 1 of a two-year plan.

            Early in the meeting, Hartley said she was happy and sad to recognize three retirements: Jane LaRue, who spent 18 years in food service at RMS; Kris Mathieu a third-grade teacher for 18 years; and instrumental music teacher Christine Williamson.

            The committee voted to approve two leases, one being with the Countryside Child Care Center at the same rate as the 2021-22 academic year. The other is with the Southeastern Massachusetts Education Collaborative (SMEC) to renew the leases from the past year that comprise a “strong partnership,” according to Nelson. The request is for two full-size classrooms and one smaller space.

            The committee approved the donation of a mural from Mathieu that will have a home at a donated tree.

            “I really feel like the kids need to see these positive messages given to them,” said Mathieu, who talked about greeting each and every individual child at school and thought the mural would add to that sense of belonging.

            June 1 was the final meeting of the committee for the 2021-22 school year and the last half day of system-wide professional development.

            During subcommittee reports, member Jason Chisholm reported from the ORR School Committee that member Joe Pires suggested the committee work to make the community aware of what constitutes membership on the school committee and what the committee does.

            Robin Rounseville reported on behalf of the READS subcommittee that DECA (ORR’s business club) was award $1,967 in grant funding, the “Light a Fire” music program was awarded $1,000, and the Garden program was funded $2,000.

            The committee voted to reaffirm Hartley as chair, upon which she emphasized the importance of maintain its team spirit. “We all have a flame, and everybody makes the difference and inspires us,” she said. The committee voted for Rounseville as vice chair. Diana Russo was voted as committee administrator and Russo and Toni Bailey as recording secretaries.

            RMS will once again be represented on the ORR School Committee by Jason Chisholm. Hartley and Rounseville will continue to represent Rochester on the Joint School Committee, and Rounseville will stay with the Tritown Education Foundation while Hartley will remain the town liaison.

            Chisholm will serve on the Equity Subcommittee. Nelson will continue with READS and Anne Fernandes will stay with SMEC. Kate Duggan will stay with the Early Childhood Advisory Council.

            The Rochester School Committee entered executive session to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and to comply with the provisions of any general or special law or federal grant-in-aid requirements and only returned to public session to adjourn.

            The next meeting of the Joint School Committee will be held on Thursday, June 23, at 6:30 pm, and the next meeting of the Rochester School Committee will be held on September 1.

Rochester School Committee

By Mick Colageo

The Marion Conservation Commission on May 25 voted to issue a Negative determination on a plan to build a standard, four-wall shed at 27 Fieldstone Lane but with a difference versus others like it.

Commission Chairman Shaun Walsh motioned to issue the Negative determination that the construction of the 10×16-foot shed will not affect wetlands on the decision form’s Box No. 3, meaning the project will be within a wetland buffer zone but its construction will not disturb that wetland.

Walsh informed the commission that he conducted an inspection of the Fieldstone Lane site and spoke to the homeowner, Benjamin Fiske, who was not sure where the shed ultimately would be placed. Walsh said Fisk stated he would either locate the shed next to his house, which is farther up than on the plan drawings, or farther to the rear of his back yard closer to his lot lines.

“And it sounded to me like it is more likely the latter than the former,” Walsh said.

Walsh noted, however, that Fiske described in his Request for Determination that he would tie the shed’s gutters into existing drywall, an added protection from wetlands impact. And it would be built on cinder blocks so there would be no excavation.

The commission unanimously approved Walsh’s ultimate motion to issue the determination.

Conservation Agent Doug Guey-Lee clarified in a later email that a “Negative 3” determination means the commission determined that the work described in the request is within the buffer zone, as defined in the regulations, but will not alter an area subject to protection under the Wetlands Act. “Therefore, said work does not require the filing of a Notice of Intent. I think of a negative determination like a negative result from the doctor; it’s probably good news (for the applicant,)” Guey-Lee said.

In other action, the commission continued until June 22 its public hearing into a project proposed by John and Pamela Lee to reconstruct a single-family dwelling at 49 Water Street by adding an in-ground swimming pool and repairing a seawall.

Also, the commission delayed action on a request from the Sippican Lands Trust to extend the permit for work on an elevated boardwalk at Osprey Marsh off Point Road. Board members noted the current permit will not expire until November. The commission decided to speak first with the SLT to learn exactly why the extension is needed. The chance to do so will come when the SLT appears at the commission’s next meeting regarding its petition on another proposal to repair a bog bridge on other SLT land.

The Marion Conservation Commission was next scheduled to meet on Wednesday, June 8.

Marion Conservation Commission

By Michael J. DeCicco

Ten years of discussion on an expansion of the Senior Center on Dexter Lane are apparently coming to fruition. Eric Poulin, executive director of the Rochester Council on Aging, presented a concept on building expansion to the Select Board during its Monday night meeting.

The plan calls for a 10-foot bump-out from the side of the building facing the baseball fields and a 30-foot bump-out from the front of the building facing the parking lot. A building subcommittee came up with the concept, and the COA Board of Directors voted to approve its presentation to the Select Board.

Poulin said that the COA hosted 100 people for Thanksgiving activities and said things have become “very tight in the large room.” It is rearranged several times a day, and a divider is used so more than one activity (such as exercise classes) can take place at the same time.

“We’re doing our best to make the space work,” said Poulin.

The Select Board was not asked to take action beyond approving the COA’s next step to hire an architect to examine a volunteer’s drawing of the concept. “We’re not asking the town for funding right now,” said Poulin, noting that the funding for the COA’s design effort, estimated to range between $25,000 and $35,000, was approved on December 8, 2021.

Poulin said the COA may select an architect soon. He said that 14 firms were contacted and that a few quotes have come back. The subcommittee, he said, identified a firm it would like to use. If the COA Board of Directors approves with its vote, the COA will approach the Friends of the COA.

It took several meetings to achieve agreement on a concept, the construction cost of which is not yet determined. Poulin stressed that the town will not incur any cost to find out.

Select Board member Woody Hartley discussed the importance of the social aspect of the building expansion, and Select Board member Brad Morse asked if the expansion would infringe on the parking lot. Poulin estimates that up to four parking spots could be lost according to the current concept drawings.

Part of the construction would include making the door facing the parking lot into the main entrance. Under the current circumstances, visitors bypass the main activity room to reach the office in order to check in for tracking-information purposes.

“We would like to put all that at the entrance from the parking lot,” Poulin explained.

Select Board member Paul Ciaburri asked if a protocol has been established for building usage. Town Administrator Glenn Cannon and Town Counsel Blair Bailey have discussed the matter and the importance of consistency in its application.

“If this expansion is able to go forward … I think the concept being supported is the ideal one. I think it would solve everybody’s issue,” said Poulin.

Cost is the big question facing the COA, and Poulin said the stakeholders are taking a professional approach, going one step at a time. The architect chosen will presumably make sure the COA complies with ADA standards.

The Select Board approved the COA’s pursuit and current path.

In his Town Administrator’s report, Cannon announced that Tuesday, June 14, has been penciled in as the day of the recount for the May 25 Town Election that gave Morse a 582-580 victory over challenger Adam Murphy.

Murphy turned in the required petition to request the recount.

Cannon explained that, if the result were turned over, Murphy would be sworn in as the town newest Select Board member, replacing Morse. If the recount produces a tie, a special election would be held.

Hartley asked if the board has the authority to create a bylaw that would allow the town not to hold a “runoff” election? Bailey explained that, because Rochester is not a charter town, there is no mechanism to create any local control that would change the election law that comes down from the state. Some town charters have such a provision, said Bailey, but Rochester is not a charter town so state election law prevails.

To assist himself and improve overall communications, Cannon put together an organization chart of Rochester town government with assistance from Bailey and former Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar.

The goal, explained Cannon, is to more easily direct traffic not only for the sake of authority but for communications protocols.

“If we have to discipline an employee, we want to make sure we’re doing it right,” he said.

Hartley applauded the effort.

The Select Board reorganized, voting in Hartley as the new chairman effective Tuesday, the day after the meeting. Morse served out Monday night’s meeting as the chair. Ciaburri was voted vice chairman and Morse clerk.

The town is entertaining a proposal for a recreational-marijuana dispensary to be located on land behind the 40R housing development at Routes 28 and 58.

Bailey said that the town would derive 3 percent of the business’s gross earnings. “They’re taxed considerably,” he said.

The building would be situated a fair distance behind the 40R, the back lot of which is planned for commercial use. Bailey said that before applying to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a special permit, the applicant needs a host agreement with the town.

While Rochester has two years to use its designated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, favored projects are invariably “shovel ready” so discussion about a new, $750,000 salt shed must take that into consideration, according to Hartley. Cannon brought the matter to the board’s attention.

Citing residential expansion, Hartley further suggested that the town needs to be more active regarding water-related projects. Bailey pointed out that ARPA funds “wouldn’t be close” to paying for water-related projects, but he and Hartley agreed that the communities sending children to Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School should look at the issue and plan together.

In concert with Planning Board and Conservation Commission recommendations, the Select Board voted not to exercise its right of first refusal on Parcel A, a 1.5-acre lot that is part of a 33.25-acre parcel off Mary’s Pond Road owned by Decas Cranberry Company LLC.

Upon the sale of the property at 40 Cranberry Highway, the board approved a Change of Name application for a Flammable Fluid License from Zero Waste to Harvey Recycling.

In response to Article 18 of the Town Meeting warrant, Rochester voters approved the appropriation of $12,000 for design of the Town Hall parking lot so as to more safely reroute traffic. Citing approval of the concept plan designed pro bono and the designer’s familiarity with the project, Cannon proposed hiring the same person to do the official design work.

Relative to Article 19, the Transfer Station, Cannon said the town needs to establish a subcommittee that would include himself and a Select Board member (Morse.)

The board approved of Fire Chief Scott Weigel recommendation that the town add Lauren Eldridge to the department. Eldridge, the daughter of Highway Surveyor Jeff Eldridge, put in numerous hours in preparation for her new job and was congratulated by the members of the Select Board.

The Select Board approved a change in the Building Department’s proposed fee schedule to charge for an occupancy permit.

George Owen was appointed to the Historical Commission.

The board approved the Buzzards Bay Coalition’s Annual Watershed Ride to be held on October 2.

Hartley said the Select Board can do a better job welcoming people and teaching them about Town Meeting, can improve seating to better encourage participation and recommended publishing a selectman’s guide to town meeting. He suspects public involvement would increase if Cannon, for instance, welcomed attendees before turning over the podium to moderator Dave Arancio.

The board entered executive session and did not return to public session.

The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Monday, June 27, at 6:00 pm.

Rochester Select Board

By Mick Colageo