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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-11-19 Youth and Recreation Council Minutes N ORTH A NDOVER Y OUTH & R ECREATION Date: 11/19/2015 S ERVICES Time: 8:00AM 9:00 AM Board of Directors Meeting Meeting Attendees: Tom Cieslewski, Sandy Board Members: Carrie Crouch, Tom Cieslewski, Kevin Savoie, Andy Firmin, Kevin Driscoll, Hollie Driscoll, Peter Breen, John Lennhoff, Hollie Williams, Sandy Williams, John Lennhoff, Peter Breen, Maureen Savoie, Andy Firmin, Maureen Ferris Ferris, Rick Gorman, Jay Caporale Ex Officio: Rick Gorman, Frank Kenneally NAYRS upcoming meeting schedule: Meeting Follow-up Items Summary: (a) For the next meeting, Tom will share a tool January 21st that he uses at his work on succession planning, and Maureen will share structure for position justifications she has used at her work, (b) Tom to invite Bruce and Andrew to next meeting Discussion Topics Summary: Welcome! To our newest board member Kevin Driscoll 1) Report from Molly Youth Center Molly shared that work that she is doing at the middle school and high school levels. At the middle school, she is running groups at each grade for at-risk female students. She is also working to develop a co-ed group at the high school level. Molly works with the adjustment counselor at the high school, serves on the Student Assessment Team, thththth and helps with transitions from 5 to 6 grade, and from 8 to 9 grade. She has worked to provide thth bullying prevention workshops at the middle school, looking to prepare 8 graders to become leaders in 9 grade. At the youth center, Molly works with three leadership programs which raise money for cancer, Thanksgiving and holiday drives, and personal care drives. Molly discussed work on the Opiod Collaborative, and the group discussed concerns around the heroin epidemic and how it is impacting North Andover. The Youth Center is working on prevention. Jen (Superintendent) will be doing a snow day challenge and offered assistance with the various service projects. Discussion ensued around ways that the community can support the efforts, including sponsorship for holiday gifts. Maureen shared information on the MVP program for Bystander Intervention Training that Phillips th Academy recently instituted for 10 graders. Maureen will send information to Rick and Molly. 2) Report from Jen Price, Superintendent of North Andover Public Schools Strengths of the schools Strength of the town, including Youth Center. Sense of community instilled in the schools. E.g., RAISE Program core values implemented in the schools Dedication of the faculty and staff North Andover Public Schools among lowest funding in the state High student-teacher ratios. Up to 29-30 students per class. Challenging to address needs of individual students untenable. Dedicated staff who, with minimal resources, are willing to do what is needed for kids. Consistency of experience Need to ensure best caliber of faculty and staff meaningful professional teaching status a bar rather than a rite of passage Communication in a transparent, consistent manner, highlighting the challenges as well as positives Findings from report are posted on the NA School Websites Discussion around tenure, systems and structure development and retention of good teachers Evaluation process Support for leadership team, how to have difficult conversations Contractually, 2 years to improve or be moved out Accountability/Consistency Fit/match Attraction of Qualified Staff/Development/Retention salaries competitive within the Merrimack Valley; all postings both internal and external; performance-based interviewing; mentorship program with Merrimack College, Lawrence, Andover and Lynnfield Town split of 68/32 68% of funding to schools, 32% to the Town Creativity with funding to create efficiencies and the ability to divert funds to support additional teacher salaries. Looking at state funding options to create more resources for the schools What are the ways that the NAYRS Board or Youth Center can support and publicize the work of the Superintendent.? Information on the web page, but needs to be pushed out Need to develop a multi-year plan feedback Discussion of changes in community demographics, impact of changing households on tax base, need for resources and support Recognizing the potential of all children in the community 3) Review of Needs Assessment Plan Joseph N. Hermann Youth Center Board and NAYRS Board Both going through shifts in focus, reevaluation of purpose Partnership with Merrimack College on youth needs assessment what will the needs of North Andover youth be now and five years into the future? Jen is supportive of this process, would like to ensure school input into the questions for the needs assessment survey to integrate services, and can contribute her statistical skills in order to ensure a sound survey process, and assist in interpreting data. We can integrate information that the school has already gathered. Timeline spring 2016 4) Approval of the Minutes from the Prior Meetings 5) Youth Center Board Update Board will review Needs Assessment Plan at the December meeting Discussion of staffing transitions and professional development Have had several years of continuity of staffing Capital budget Town has covered its piece; currently in the hands of Rick Green. Meeting to be planned when Rick completes his piece. First request replacing the roof, also some work for heating and lighting 7) Discussion of Succession Planning For the next meeting, Tom will share a tool that he uses at his work on succession planning, and Maureen will share structure for position justifications she has used at her work. With a pending vacancy at the Youth Center, is there an opportunity to look at restructuring of the vacant position into an Assistant Director role? Rick plans to include a position upgrade proposal in his annual budget conversations with the Town. Budget due at end of January; Board advocacy will be needed during this process, including Board leadership meeting with Town, and annual meetings with Andrew and Bruce. Tom will invite them to the January 2016 meeting.