2017 08 11 School Committee Retreat MinutesBeverly School Committee
Retreat
Friday, August 11, 2017
Endicott College
Hale Street
Beverly, MA 01915
Members Present: Kris Silverstein, Paul Manzo, Lorinda Visnick, Rachael Abell, John Mullady,
Paul Goodwin, Mayor Cahill (arrived 9:00 a.m.)
Also Present: Dr. Steven Hiersche, Superintendent, Suzanne Charochak, Assistant
Superintendent, Jeff Lawrence, Presenter, Kelley Ferretti, Ward 2 Candidate for School
Committee
Jeff Lawrence facilitated the review and discussion of the School Committee's Norms and
Protocols. Mr. Lawrence covered individual understanding of different parts of the Norms and
Protocol and concerns as well.
Mr. Lawrence and the School Committee had a discussion about the different subcommittee
meetings. The discussion entailed committee member's expectations for what each meeting
should accomplish, specifically the Committee of the Whole meetings (COTW). The committee
noted that the COTW meeting, historically, only took place once or twice a month and became
known as the working meeting. Mr. Lawrence asked the committee members to consider using
the televised School Committee meeting to incorporate the COTW meeting's work. Also
discussed was the possibility of holding all meeting in the same location and having them all
televised.
The School Committee discussed the creation of a school specific financial forecast committee,
proposed by Ms. Visnick. This would then call for the scheduling of an additional joint meeting,
sometime late fall /early winter, with the City Council to deliver and discuss the outcome.
Ms. Abell, Chair of the Policy Review Subcommittee presented Section J: Students "Discipline"
policy for a first reading. The second reading will take place at the August 23, 2017 School
Committee meeting requiring a formal (2/3) vote of approval by the School Committee.
Dr. Hiersche provided an update on staffing, opening of school's schedule and the new middle
school room structure.
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Ms. Abell and seconded by Mr. Mullady. Motion
passed 7:0.
Meeting adjourned at 2:06 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted:
Lorinda Visnick, Secretary
Beverly School Committee