Given the last couple of years’ turnover in the memberships of the Mattapoisett River Valley Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee and District Commission, the commission thought it best to ask Koch representatives to reboot its presentation on the water treatment plant project when they visit the committee/commission on Tuesday, January 12.

            Addressing the commission at its December 8 meeting, Tata & Howard Associate Jon Gregory spoke about Koch Membrane Systems’ Puron technology.

            “It’s a new technology in Massachusetts, but a similar installation where they replaced two old Targus stages in a facility in Texas in 2018,” said Gregory, noting that things at the Texas facility are going well as it works in a series with two Puron stages.

            With more questions on the new Puron system, Gregory wants to send questions to Koch by January 7 at the latest.

            “They’re available and in favor of providing any additional information that we would like,” said Gregory, who will try to set up what will amount to a subcommittee call with Koch before Christmas.

            Paul Howard, co-founder and senior vice president at Tata & Howard, told the commission that there are no reserve pumps with the Puron system, calling it a “totally different technology,” offering annual savings in the $70,000 to $80,000 range.

            The commission is still discussing materials with an eye on tweaking some of the costs and, at the same time, trying to be sure that pipes are durable as well. Howard said stainless steel is no longer the industry standard but a requested upgrade.

            Member Paul Silva asked Gregory if he has asked Koch if another community is at the same stage that Koch is with the MRV District. “I’m very hesitant to get involved with something we don’t have enough background on. I’d just like to have a lot more comfort than I do right now,” said Silva.

            Gregory said he had not had that specific discussion.

            Howard said Koch, based in Wilmington, has applied a membrane technology from treating juices. “I believe this technology is superior to what we have now. I don’t think you should be that concerned,” he said, noting that Littleton is home to the first membrane-ozone plant in the country.

            Megan Davis of Marion gave the commission’s Treasurer’s Report with $77,212.86 in invoice totals. That included total chemicals at $7,257.74. Eversource, she explained, had its last billing period in September that the commission paid in full, so the current period covers October and November with two bills totaling $51,592.54. The commission only paid $30,311.04 of that. “We’re not behind by any means; we’re up to what we’ve used,” said Davis.

            Other figures reported included a $17,945.39 ECA credit, $7,657 in maintenance and repairs to Station No. 6 and Koch tech services, and $10,494.70 for Tata & Howard’s combination of FY21 operations and RO8 project.

            The commission voted to accept the Treasurer’s Report and pay the invoices; the commission also voted to accept the FY22 Budget.

            The committee’s Treasurer’s Report included an ending balance on December 1 at $190,990.32. Deposits totaled $19,279.37, including Mattapoisett’s assessment of $19,267.50. Invoices totaled $4,380.05, the lion’s share an invoice from the Tata & Howard engineering firm.

            Water-level monitoring in the Mattapoisett River has proven to be costly. Alluding to questions Silva had asked on the matter of the monthly $5,000 expense for the collection of data, member Laurell Farinon noted in the committee portion of Tuesday’s meeting that the MRV Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee is all about collecting data on the Mattapoisett River, whereas the MRV Water District’s Commission’s concerns are the water treatment plant and the water-quality side. Meantime on the reporting side, Tata & Howard is working to reduce all of the data.

            “It’s really most necessary for the district,” said Farinon, defending the $5,000 figure for data collection and presentation. “I think that the monthly monitoring and the graphing is something this committee would do anyway, but it really comes down to the annual reporting, not just for this committee but for the district. If it’s five or six grand … I’m just defending what the annual charge is.”

            “We could argue that it is being split evenly, they’re paying ($5,000), and we’re paying ($10,000),” said Chairman Vinnie Furtado, in this instance speaking on behalf of the committee as opposed to the commission that he also chairs.

            Farinon said it is something the committee wants to continue with, especially the monthly monitoring.

            The next meeting of the MRV Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee and MRV Water District Commission is scheduled for January 12.

MRV Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee/District Commission

By Mick Colageo

Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson and Craig Davidson, the district’s director of Student Services, reported to the Rochester School Committee during its December 3 Zoom meeting on preliminary findings of a survey of questions to parents and guardians geared toward helping Central Office take what Nelson called “an important first step in moving forward with the (learning) model.”

            Nelson said with COVID, “every day is a new day,” and considered the survey responses a good first step.

            Upon all the information shared and at the end of a question-and-comment session, Chairperson Sharon Hartley stated her anticipation of a planned or unplanned meeting of a subcommittee as necessary to take the next step in mobilizing toward getting the town’s youngest learners back in the classroom on a full-time basis.

            “I know you have to be cautious about the continuing COVID-19 (pandemic), and I appreciate that very much, but I also know that our children, in order to become the learners that we want them to be and the readers that we want them to be, will benefit from our teachers face to face. And we want them back in school as fast as we can,” said Hartley, asking Nelson what the school committee can do as a next step.

            Nelson acknowledged the survey result in which 78 percent of respondents confirmed their ability to transport their children to school on what are now Hybrid-Out days. Still, he said, “The guidance is the guidance,” and stopped short of considering a full return imminent.

            “We’re going to put down a plan that we can articulate to the School Committee and, if we have it done prior to when our next meeting is scheduled, as I mentioned, I will not hesitate to reach out to … call a meeting and move it up because we agree with you that the sooner we can create more opportunities, that’s our plan,” said Nelson, stressing that this scenario was always in the works since August and aligns with the guidance from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

            Several questions were asked with graphs and charts illustrating percentage and hard-number breakdowns among Rochester’s 292 survey respondents (there are 1,200 district-wide). Parent/guardians were generally agreeable to the level of communication coming from the Central Office regarding the reopening plan.

            On a five-point grading system, Synchronous and Live (Hybrid-Out) sessions were considered by 76 parents/guardians as “adequate” with “helpful,” “very helpful,” and “somewhat helpful,” divvying up most of the rest of the responses. “Not helpful” drew 22 responses.

            “My child enjoys Hybrid-In days” drew a 198-voice confirmation. The Hybrid-Out workload was confirmed with the agreement of 75 percent of responses, the other 62 nearly evenly (32-30) divided between “too much” and “too little.”

            With a small percentage of dissent, most parents/guardians confirmed that their children have “enough connection throughout the day” with teachers.

            Only two out of 34 respondents said they disagree with the survey statement that their children are enjoying the remote learning model, and 28 of 34 considered their child’s remote-learning day workload to be adequate. Furthermore, parents/guardians confirmed in the vast majority that they agree that child has an appropriate amount of instruction and an appropriate amount of interaction with their teachers.

            Based on the current metrics of COVID-19, 53.2 percent of Rochester Memorial School parents/guardians responded negatively to skipping February vacation week in favor of four remote-learning days. A change in the current school calendar would subtract those days at the end of the school year.

            Almost 63 percent of Rochester Memorial School parents/guardians are in favor of increased in-person learning opportunities, provided the school building maintain at least 3 feet of social distance. The district is currently using a 6-foot minimum. Although the most positive response was also returned to the question of increased in-person opportunities, albeit without the same homeroom/classroom teacher, that number was 48 percent, while 33.6 percent were against it and 18.4 percent were undecided.

            Rochester responded favorably to the transportation question, with 78.1 percent of respondents confirming the ability to transport their children to school on what are now Hybrid-Out days for the sake of more in-person learning opportunities. Nelson said ORR schools could safely fit 24 to 25 students on each of its 77-passenger buses, but state updates are anticipated.

            As of December 3, Rochester Memorial School had 442 students enrolled in the hybrid learning model, 60 on full remote, and 26 others who are being home-schooled.

            ORR has had 29 COVID-19 situations relating to its school buildings, but Rochester Memorial has not had a confirmed case in its building since the September 16 opening. There are four people in quarantine and some others awaiting tests after displaying COVID-like symptoms.

            Nelson reported that there had been no in-school transmission in the district and noted his weekly COVID-19 dashboard is continuously updated. Despite rising rates, finding substitute teachers remains difficult, said Nelson.

            Rochester Memorial School Principal Derek Medeiros credited custodial workers and other staff with getting Rochester Memorial School off to a strong start. He said parents have been cooperative in dropoff and pickup, making things run smoothly in and out of school.

            In other business, the Rochester School Committee voted to approve a Tech Replacement Fee as presented by Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber. A distribution of iPads will be accompanied by a return of a signed waiver.

            Barber and Facilities Director Gene Jones were at the meeting, also to discuss the revival of a solar project for Rochester Memorial School. The concept has shifted from a roof solar array to a carport solar array. The committee was asked for and agreed to submit a letter of intent authorizing Barber to seek the interconnection from Eversource.

            There would be no monetary obligation on the part of the town or the school. “It’s a win-win all around,” said Jones, pointing out that the carport would be lighted and include charging stations for vehicles, aligning the project with the Green Communities initiative while at the same time lessening snow removal. Barber estimated that, while year-one savings would approximate $2,300, the project could reach up to $400,000 in savings.

            The next meeting of the Rochester School Committee is scheduled for January 7.

Rochester School Committee

By Mick Colageo

            In his Reopening Update to the Marion School Committee’s December 2 Zoom meeting, Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson said, “I cannot believe we’re in the first week of December already.”

            Nelson reported that, as of the December 2 meeting, Sippican Elementary School had 326 students in the hybrid learning model and 65 in full remote, with 21 others who are being home-schooled.

            Nelson was happy to report that the ORR School District has yet to see the transmission of the coronavirus from someone inside the school to another. All 29 confirmed cases among six district schools are isolated and coming from the outside, he said.

            The case breakdown is as follows: Sippican School has had eight cases, one of which was in isolation and three others in quarantine at the time of the meeting. Some are awaiting test results.

            Preliminary findings of a November 20 survey from feedback received in 228 responses from Sippican School parents indicate that most families agree or strongly agree that communication from the ORR district has been adequate.

            The questions were answered on a five-point scale. In the case of the hybrid learning model (i.e., is it helpful?), the majority of respondents categorized the model as “somewhat helpful” or “helpful,” with lesser numbers categorizing it as “adequate,” “not helpful,” or “very helpful.”

            Hybrid-In was considered by far to be the “most favorable” learning time. Student workload on Hybrid-Out days was deemed adequate by 68 percent of respondents, while 21 percent said hybrid-out days require too little of the students.

            Most agree that their children are enjoying the hybrid model and that it contains an appropriate amount of instruction, but there was a significant amount of disagreement on the amount of instruction.

            Asked if they favor maintaining the school calendar, including February vacation, 54 percent of respondents said they favor maintaining the current school calendar. The alternative is to cancel the February vacation and subtract those days off at the end of the school year.

            Respondents were closely divided on the matter of social distance inside school buildings, 50.5 percent in favor of maintaining 6 feet of distance and 49.5 percent in favor of a 3-foot limit. The breakdown was 55-45 in the percentage of parents in favor of full, in-person learning even if a student’s home-room teacher changes as a result.

            Transportation has lingered as a logistical hurdle to a full reopening, but 82 percent of respondents indicated they have the ability to transport their children to school on what are currently their Hybrid-Out days; 18 percent say they do not.

            Nelson stressed that, while there are no immediate changes planned, it is a good time to weigh in.

            “That survey was fantastic,” said Marion School Committee Chair Michelle Smith, who said she wants to start looking at a full-reopening plan and asking, “when it is possible to do so?”

            Nelson said the district continues to rely on updates from the state and that safety remains the number one priority. “From the start in August, we knew the plan would be fluid,” he said. “But we don’t want to be complacent; we’re constantly talking about what can we do to improve our model.” Nelson referenced his end-October “Back to School Addendum” and its commitment to continuing to look at options.

            “It would be great to have everybody in (school),” said Smith. “Hopefully, the trend continues at school where there is (no transference of the coronavirus).”

            The Marion School Committee, including Smith and members April Rios, Jody Dickerson, Nichole Daniel, and Mary Beauregard, voted to approve a Tech Replacement Fee as presented by Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber.

            While the district has received supplemental funding via the CARES Act, the investment in additional Chromebooks and iPads was met with a delay in receiving that has since ended in the delivery of that equipment. Now the emphasis is on how to maintain the equipment.

            “The problem is sustaining them,” said Barber.

            Inside policy, Barber indicated, ORR can charge for certain costs. “There is a matter of trying to ensure we have fees beyond the normal operating budget,” he said, referencing the minimal cost of Chromebooks, screens, cords, iPads, adapters, and repair work. “We can’t forecast what’s going to break. There are some fees relating to these costs.” Barber hopes that fees will motivate students and families to “be a little bit more accountable.”

            He recommended a rates and fees schedule.

            Smith asked if an insurance plan would be cheaper.

            Barber said ORR could tackle the problem one of three ways: do nothing and rely on general funds; charge an annual fee such as $40, $60, or $80, thereby sustaining a hypothetical revolving fee that can act as insurance and cover costs; or as items need fixing, charge a replacement cost. Not all Old Rochester Regional High School students have the same Chromebook, and Barber felt that it was more reasonable to look at a replacement plan that falls in line with what it already referenced in the Student Handbook.

            Smith discussed her concern about families that cannot afford the costs should something happens to their student’s Chromebook, be it a single mother, for example. “If it broke,” said Smith hypothetically, “where am I going to get that money? Screens break and computers break. My A doesn’t work on my computer, and I don’t know why.”

            Committee member April Rios said that, as families and parents, Marion residents were thrust into the present situation. “I agree with Michelle that we’re putting a lot back on families and expecting a lot of families at this time. I wish there was another way we could do it.”

            Smith said she did not want her child to take a Chromebook “because I didn’t want him to be responsible for it.”

            “I get both sides of it,” said Rios. “What do we do when a family looks at us and says, ‘I can’t pay that?'”

            Committee member Mary Beauregard suggested a contingency plan. Nelson said that Barber had referenced working with families from a hardship standpoint.

            “The one hard part about this,” said Barber,” is that if we did have that minimum fee every year, some of those fees, even though it is a warranty, we’re already collecting more from everybody. So far from the amount of damages, we haven’t had to replace a whole Chromebook. We can reduce the $40 minimum fee from 2,600 students. That’s why we’re trying to go this method. I understand everyone’s perspectives.”

            The Tech Replacement Fee proposal circulated last week to all three towns’ school committees and became effective with those school committee’s approvals.

            Daniel asked if children will be going home with cases and screen protectors or if parents need to buy them. Barber said the iPads have cases and shields that cover the entire device, “a little bit more (protection) than we would have had on the Chromebook.”

            Nelson reported to the local committee that the ORR Joint School Committee had voted to authorize him to use his discretion to shift snow dates to remote-learning days. Nelson qualified that news with the caveat of significant power outages that would make such a day off altogether.

            Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Janell Pearson-Campbell reported on a district-wide professional development event held November 3 during which faculty were reminded to engage the student, what lies under the tip of their “iceberg” and to look beyond the surface and toward the future.

            In her update, Sippican Elementary School Principal Marla Sirois reported on a fun Halloween with teachers and Hybrid-In students dressed for the occasion and 1970s-style class pictures.

            Sirois reported on a 2021 plan to better connect parents, staff, and students, a Marion School Committee donation that brought an interactive system to kindergarten children, a local clothing drive, the teachers’ completion of a “pivot to remote” plan, and a Crayon Project that Tri-Town Against Racism organized with a local company providing free crayons. Led by Tangi Thomas and Jess Barrett, Tri-Town Against Racism also donated books to Sippican Library. The School Council, said Sirois, is focused on social-emotional learning, global citizenship, and 21st-century learning.

            “We’re definitely in a groove,” Sirois said. “The children have sort of embraced where we are.” Sirois explained how the children have learned to play no-touch tag by chasing and catching each other’s shadows. Noting Sippican is a quieter building under the hybrid learning plan, Sirois reminded parents to dress their children for cold weather “because we will be going outside if possible. We’re trying to get the kids out.”

            Director of Student Services Craig Davidson reported on individual service plans tailored for the hybrid learning model, crediting Pearson-Campbell and Sirois with building the plans.

            Barber reported a slight increase in meals being served from the first month into the second month.

            Smith credited Jill Henesey, ORR’s Food Service director. “Jill and her staff, they are still doing an incredible job,” said Smith, noting the adjusted times from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm. “They’re out there in the rain and waiting, happy to greet every family and guardian that comes through. And they’re doing it on their own time. I can’t thank them enough for what they’re doing.”

            Smith reminded the community that ages 0-21, with no questions asked, are welcome to fill out a form and pick up food.

            The ORR Policy Subcommittee is scheduled to meet on December 14.

            ORR’s Anti-Racism Subcommittee met on December 2, and grant funding is being sought for professional-development training sessions focused on hate and social-emotional education. The subcommittees are considering a split into two groups to better mobilize and get more done. A potential name change was also discussed, as some, according to Nelson, think Anti-Racism strikes a sour chord.

            The next meeting of the Marion School Committee is scheduled for January 13, and the next meeting of the ORR Joint School Committee is scheduled for March 11 via Zoom.

            The meeting broke into an executive session for Collective Bargaining purposes and only returned to adjourn.

Marion School Committee

By Mick Colageo