The Fall River School Committee met on February 22, 2021, chaired by Mayor Paul Coogan. The meeting began with a public comment letter submitted by resident CJ Ferry criticizing past and current school committees regarding the financing and debt exclusion promises for Durfee High School athletic fields. Superintendent Dr. Matthew Malone and staff then presented the proposed Fiscal Year 2022 operating budget totaling $179,402,274, which represents 100.52% of net school spending under Governor’s House 1 figures. The budget proposal incorporated 66 new positions targeting direct student services across key priorities including special education, multilingual learners, and facility maintenance, as well as an overview of using ESSER federal grant funds totaling approximately $19.6 million across ESSER I and II.
Topics discussed
- 0:59 · Citizen Input on Durfee Athletic Fields Financing
Letter from CJ Ferry regarding the historical financing and alleged deception surrounding Durfee athletic fields and debt exclusion funding. - 4:42 · FY2022 Superintendent Proposed Operating Budget Presentation
Dr. Matthew Malone detailed Chapter 70 state aid calculations, Student Opportunity Act impacts, enrollment losses, and the $179,402,274 proposed budget. - 35:56 · ESSER Federal Grant Allocations and Usage
Discussion of $2.2 million remaining in ESSER I and $17.4 million in ESSER II funds, and their application to one-time pandemic recovery supports. - 1:20:44 · Office of Teaching and Learning Curriculum and Assessments
Maria Ponce discussed literacy and science curriculum adoptions and the ANet district assessment partnership. - 1:31:33 · Physical Education and Health Department Needs
Michelle presented requests for an ASD physical education teacher, health curriculum, and safety mats for the Watson gym. - 1:42:52 · Multilingual Learners Department Budget Requests
Dr. Fernanda Vanderecken requested a K-5 coordinator, middle school English language acquisition coach, and three community facilitators. - 1:56:48 · School Health and Nursing Services Report
Nurse Long reported on COVID-19 tracing, student medical needs, and the request for two grant-funded full-time nurses. - 2:02:34 · Fine Arts and Music Department Budget Requests
Jacqueline Francisco requested lead teacher stipends, renewal of Quaver music software, and funding for middle school theater. - 2:07:35 · Special Education Department Budget
Mike Losh detailed cluster coordinators, secondary supervisor, and transition from contracted services to district-employed speech staff. - 2:17:03 · Early Childhood Education Expansion
Discussion on adding preschool paraprofessionals, Wonders curriculum, and expanding classroom capacity across the district. - 2:32:16 · School Guidance and Early College Services
Drew presented requests for a shared middle school guidance counselor and an Early College advisor for Durfee High School. - 2:34:56 · Facilities, Maintenance, Custodial, and Technology Budgets
Ken Pacheco detailed additions including 5 custodians, 5 Durfee security officers, 2 low-voltage electricians, 1 groundskeeper, a courier van, and card access technology. - 3:04:18 · Phase Two Watson Elementary Renovation Project
Review and vote on $4.9 million capital authorization for ADA accessibility, elevator, and bathroom improvements at Watson. - 3:26:46 · Durfee Synthetic Turf Baseball Field Capital Project — approved
Review and vote on $1.8 million capital authorization and $95,000 design contract for a new synthetic turf varsity baseball field at Durfee. - 3:27:38 · Motion to approve professional design and engineering services not to exceed $95,000 for the Durfee varsity baseball field conversion — approved
- 3:29:23 · Executive Session and Collective Bargaining Approvals — approved
Committee convened into executive session and reconvened to approve agreements with the FREA and an individual employment contract. - 3:29:40 · Motion to approve executive session minutes of the January 11, 2021 regular meeting — approved
- 3:32:44 · Motion to enter executive session pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, § 21(a) — approved
- 3:33:44 · Motion to approve negotiated employment contract with Allegra Villas, Instructional Support Liaison — approved
- 3:34:09 · Motion to approve the reopening Memorandum of Agreement between Fall River Public Schools and the Fall River Educators Association — approved
- 3:34:34 · Motion to approve the MOA between Fall River Public Schools and the FREA for the successor contract for 2020-2021 — approved
- 3:34:58 · Motion to approve the MOA between Fall River School Committee and FREA for the Fonseca School Level 4 from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2022 — approved