The Fall River School Committee met on July 20, 2020, presided over by Mayor Paul Coogan. During citizen input, letters were entered into the record from educators at the John J. Doran Community School and the Charlton M. Viveiros Elementary School expressing concerns over the loss of Extended Learning Time (ELT) and its impact on academic interventions and teacher compensation. In his report, Superintendent Dr. Matthew Malone presented findings on the spring remote learning rollout, provided updates on the Fall River Flex Learning Academy, announced outdoor graduation ceremonies for Durfee High School and RPA, and noted ongoing capital projects including boiler, window, and roof replacements across several district schools.
The committee engaged in a lengthy discussion regarding the district’s draft school reopening plan for the 2020-2021 school year. Dr. Malone outlined the constraints of fully in-person instruction, noting that 100% capacity would require a $6.5 million increase in transportation costs due to bus distancing requirements. Instead, he recommended a phased hybrid model using six-foot distancing, four student cohorts, mandatory masks for all students, and an initial review benchmark on November 15, 2020. Committee members debated the operational hurdles of scheduling, busing, lunch rotations, social-emotional learning, and the need for hotspot connectivity for approximately 1,000 families lacking internet access.
In business matters, the committee approved several donations, contracts, and routine grants. Members also voted to authorize the superintendent to hire necessary educational and academic personnel without exceeding the level-funded professional salaries appropriation for FY21. Other approvals included staff position conversions at Talbot Middle School, permitting the use of the Durfee High School parking lot for a community drive-in movie night in conjunction with 2020 Census awareness, and the establishment of an annual memorial award and tree planting in honor of long-serving custodian Robert Medeiros. Following an executive session, the committee formally approved non-union employment contracts for several technical, administrative, and instructional staff members.
Topics discussed
- 1:19 · Elimination of Extended Learning Time (ELT)
Letters from staff at Doran and Viveiros schools detailed how losing ELT harms academic interventions, ELL support, and significantly cuts teacher base earnings by 17% to 30%. - 10:30 · Fall River Flex Learning Academy and Remote Learning
Superintendent Malone reported on developing the online Flex Academy using $200,000 from CARES Act funding to prepare for remote education and future snow days. - 20:20 · High School Graduations — passed
Malone announced outdoor graduation ceremonies scheduled at the Durfee football field following strict social distancing rules. - 21:58 · Capital Construction Projects — passed
Update on state- and city-funded capital work at RPA, Watson, and Stone schools covering new boilers, windows, and roofs. - 25:06 · Accept donations for Morton Middle School, Cus Middle School, and Durfee High School — passed
- 26:33 · Approve district grants as presented — passed
- 26:46 · Fall 2020 School Reopening Plan — passed
Presentation and discussion of draft reopening options comparing 100% in-person, remote, and hybrid models with 6-foot physical distancing, cohort schedules, and bus capacity limits. - 1:18:16 · Student Transportation and Internet Hotspots
Discussion of the estimated $6.5 million increase in bus costs under strict distancing and the $400,000 cost to provide 1,000 Verizon hotspots for families lacking internet. - 2:02:08 · FY21 Staffing and Level Services Budget — passed
The committee debated authorizing hiring before receiving final state budget figures and approved hiring essential academic personnel within level-funded salary amounts. - 2:07:37 · Position Conversion at Talbot Middle School — passed
Conversion of an instructional support liaison and ESL paraprofessional into a certified 1.0 ESL teacher position at Talbot Middle School. - 2:08:22 · Fall River Drive-In Movie Night — passed
Approval to hold a drive-in screening of Toy Story 4 in the Durfee High School parking lot to promote 2020 Census participation. - 2:10:33 · Robert Medeiros Memorial Tribute — passed
Proposal and unanimous vote to plant a tree, install a marker at RPA, and create an annual award for maintenance and custodial staff in honor of late custodian Robert Medeiros. - 2:15:07 · Accept and place on file retirements, resignations, and appointments — passed
- 2:18:32 · Approve executive session minutes of June 24, 2020 — passed
- 2:22:43 · Approve non-union negotiated contract for Tyler Johnson Ally, Instructional Support Liaison — approved
- 2:22:44 · Non-Union Personnel Contracts — passed
Approval of individual negotiated employment contracts following executive session for several administrative, instructional, and technical support staff. - 2:22:47 · Approve non-union negotiated contract for Edward Gomes, Administrative Intern — approved
- 2:22:47 · Approve non-union negotiated contract for Derrick George, Administrative Intern — approved
- 2:25:26 · Approve district contracts as presented — passed
- 2:26:22 · Approve non-union negotiated contract for John Fernandez, Junior Tech Support Technician — approved
- 2:26:44 · Approve non-union negotiated contract for Darren McGann, Junior Tech Support Technician — approved
- 2:27:04 · Approve non-union negotiated contract for Timur Guzzlek, Junior Tech Support Technician — approved
- 2:27:24 · Approve non-union negotiated contract for Paula Soares, Executive Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent — approved