Minutes - Joint Council Meeting - 3-30-2016 docMinutes
Beverly School Committee and City Council
Joint Council Meeting
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Beverly High School
A Joint Council Meeting of the Beverly School Committee and City Council was held on
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 in the Beverly High School Library, Beverly, MA.
Members Present
School Committee: Mayor Michael Cahill (arrived 7:10), Paul Manzo, Kris Silverstein -
President, Paul Goodwin, John Mullady, Rachael Abell and Lorinda
Visnick
City Council: Paul Guanci- President, Jason Silva, Matthew St. Hilaire, Estelle Rand,
James Latter, Scott Houseman -Vice President, Donald Martin and
John Frates
Absent: David Lang
Called to Order: Mr. Guanci called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance: Dr. Hiersche led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance
Middle School Buildina Proiect
Paul Guanci turned business over to Kris Silverstein.
Robert Gilchrist, from Agostini Bacon Construction, presented an update on the Middle School
Building Project. The building is currently in the process of demolition. He described the process
of abatement and separating materials for recycling. He presented multiple photos of the
building in 2015 along with current photos following demolition. Over the next 30 days, the goal
is to backfill and do test pilings to begin the foundation in July. Mr. Gilchrist stated the project is
currently running on schedule.
Jim Latter inquired if there was a plan to discuss the traffic circulation, etc. with neighbors.
Mayor Cahill stated there is a meeting planned to discuss these issues, and he is available to
address issues as they arrive. Jason Silva inquired if there are current plans for the Briscoe
building. Mayor Cahill said that a Committee will meet for the first time tomorrow to discuss
plans for Briscoe, City Hall and the Police Station. The Committee's goal will be to decide how
to best make use of these buildings. Existing Conditions Analysis has been done on Briscoe,
and will need to be done on City Hall and the Police Station.
Dr. Hiersche presented a PowerPoint designed by Ai3 regarding the process involved in
designing the new middle school. He discussed the Educational Visioning Sessions that
occurred between September and November, 2014. He discussed the Guiding Design
Principles including the Ever Evolving Growth Mindset, Schools Without Walls, Belonging and
Ownership, Small School Communities — Large School Pride.
The building design was created around the Educational Programming that will be offered. For
example, teachers expressed a desire for Outdoor Learning Spaces. These Spaces were
designed with easy access from most classrooms. The building will have distinct neighborhoods
for students, two cafeterias (which can double as teaching areas) and Maker Spaces within
each neighborhood for project based learning. Dr. Hiersche presented multiple slides showing
the building design. He stated the entire building is wireless, as is the outdoor space.
Scott Houseman inquired about the moveable windows in the design. Dr. Hiersche described
them as accordion style, to be able to open and close them as needed. Matt St. Hilaire stated
he was at a prior Building Committee meeting where the conversation of lockers vs. cubbies
occurred, and inquired if a final decision has been made. Dr. Hiersche responded that this is an
ongoing conversation.
Opioid Crisis
Kris Silverstein presented on the Opioid Crisis. She stated that currently there are 4 deaths per day
in Massachusetts. The Opioid Epidemic is growing and she feels strongly that prevention of first
time use is key. Beverly has multiple groups focused on this issue such as Be Healthy Beverly,
Mayor's Drug Task Force, Beverly Police Department, Beverly Health Department, Beverly
Recreation Department, and Beverly Public Schools.
Beverly Public Schools has run education events for students and parents, as well as participated in
the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. There has been curriculum review across the school district to
address the issues facing the community. She presented multiple options for medication drop off
and discussed initiatives throughout Beverly to create awareness as well as treatment. She also
reviewed the Opioid Bill that was recently passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.
Chief of Police John LeLacheur discussed the Opioid Grant to support the use of Narcan, as well as
training for the officers to be able to use it in a rapid fashion ( Narcan is an emergency treatment for
use in a potential overdose situation). There is a new bill before the Legislature that would allow
police to take someone into protective custody after the administration of Narcan.
Mayor Cahill thanked both Kris Silverstien and Chief LeLacheur for their diligent efforts on this topic.
He commended Chief LeLacheur on the Narcan Program. The Mayor stated that one of his goals is
to increase the number of permanent medication drop -off sites. He spoke about the District
Attorney's Diversion Program that is set up to help those people that need treatment. They are
bailed out, and held in Treatment Centers.
Matthew St. Hiliare inquired about the Gloucester Angel Program model, and if Beverly plans to
adopt the model. Chief LeLacheur stated that if anyone comes in looking for help, the police will get
them into a program. He stated that data on the Gloucester Angel Program is still being collected to
validate the Program's effectiveness. Mayor Cahill stated that the District Attorney has been working
to get data from Gloucester - there are some concerns that the Gloucester process interferes with
the criminal justice system. The District Attorney's Diversion Program includes both treatment and
oversight. John Mullady stated his school recently started a program called Text -a- Tip, where
young people can express concerns about friends or family. Chief LeLacheur stated the Beverly
Police do have an App that can be used to anonymously share information — the School Resource
Officers will be sure that students have this information.
40R Proposal
City Planner Aaron Clausen discussed 40R - it creates financial incentives for communities to
develop high density residential housing. It can be a challenge to create new housing, and projects
must meet certain criteria. 40R was established as an incentive to communities by reimbursing
cities for the costs of additional students.
Andrew DeFranza, from Harborlight Community Partners, discussed their current project. The 40R
Proposal allows developers to know in advance what the requirements will be. He stated they are
considering a parcel, currently without site control, at the corner of Tozer and Sohier Roads. It is a
proposed a 61 -unit building that would sit on 5 acres, with income tiering; it would include 12 units
for homeless families.
Mayor Cahill stated he has been working with Mr. DeFranza, as he recognizes the need in Beverly
for affordable housing. The project would not be completed until after the new middle school is built.
Data projection estimates between 57 and 67 new students. Jason Silva inquired about the
homeless housing and what it would look like. Mr. DeFranza stated there would services on site,
such as both a property and a case manager.
Technology in Schools and City
Dr. Steven Hiersche discussed technology in the schools. The district recently had a retirement (Dr.
Paul Cohen), and the Superintendent is proposing that there may be a potential model in which the
City and School Department integrate their technology staff to be headed by a Chief Technology
Officer ( "CTO "). They are currently in the process of looking at it as a two -tier assessment from
both the school and city side. The schools are becoming a 24/7 industry. They will have an outside
firm look at where holes are, skills of currently employees, and the use of outsourcing to assess
whether or not consolidation makes sense.
Kris Silverstein made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Jason Silva and approved
by a vote of 15 -0.
The Joint Council Meeting adjourned at 9:04 PM.
Respectfully submitted, Attest:
Stephanie Walters, Administrative Assistant D. Wesley Slate, Jr., City Clerk
Beverly Public Schools Beverly City Council