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On Tuesday, February 8, Dr. Gutekanst and the School Committee will be hosting an information session for community members to provide an update on the School Facilities Master Plan. The process for assessing the facilities needs across all of Needham's schools began in 2019, when Dore + Whittier Architects was retained to study all eight Needham schools, identify challenges and propose possible plans for mitigation. In May of 2020, Dore + Whittier presented the study results, which determined that Pollard, Mitchell, and High Rock have structural and capacity issues that need to be addressed. Seven initial scenarios were presented and were then narrowed down to the three most feasible and appropriate. (The details of this process can be found in our October 2020 School Master Plan post.) In October of 2020, the School Committee voted in favor of the plan that would renovate and expand Pollard to house grades 6-8, turn High Rock into a 6th elementary school, and build a new three-section school at Mitchell. But the estimated cost for this scenario of $252M in a 6-year time frame exceeds the Town's debt financing capacity, so an extension of the study was requested to find options that might better fit within the town's financing policies. At the January 18, 2022 School Committee meeting, the results of the extended study were presented: REVISED MASTER PLAN OPTIONS The revised options vary in several ways, which affect both the estimated cost and completion time: Which buildings will be renovated? What order will they be renovated in? Will the town seek MSBA funding? When will the projects be completed? Which buildings will be renovated? This question is primarily driven by whether 6th grade remains at High Rock or is moved to the Pollard campus. The different options for Pollard then affect the size of Mitchell: if 6th grade moves to Pollard, High Rock can be converted to a 6th elementary school and Mitchell only needs to accommodate 3 sections. Otherwise, Mitchell would need to accommodate 5 sections, or more space would need to be built elsewhere (an addition at Eliot is being proposed in one scenario). There has been general agreement among NPS administration, the middle school principals, and SC members that bringing grades 6-8 together at one location has programmatic and scheduling advantages that will benefit middle school students, while preserving many of the features of a sixth-grade center. Meanwhile, there are concerns as to whether a 5-section school can be built at the Mitchell site. And, depending on which option is selected, significant redistricting may be necessary at the elementary level. What order will the buildings be renovated in? The sequencing of the projects will affect the overall timeline and cost of the projects. Prioritizing Mitchell ahead of Pollard would require temporary space to be built to house Mitchell students during the renovation, increasing costs. Renovating Pollard first would allow 6th graders to vacate High Rock, which could be used as swing space during Mitchell construction. Will the town seek MSBA funding? The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) provides partial reimbursement (typically around 30%) on approved school building projects. While the MSBA has provided funding for many previous NPS projects (including Sunita Williams), there is strong competition among school districts for limited resources and it is possible that Needham would not receive any funding for either of these projects on our desired timelines. If funding is not granted, the project would have to be re-proposed in a subsequent year. The application and approval process for MSBA projects is time consuming, which can slow down projects and add to annual cost escalations. When will the projects be completed? There are cost increases for each year a project is not completed. This is due to annually rising costs of materials and labor (estimated as 1.5% per year), as well as capital investments (CIP) that must still be made to keep the current buildings operating safely until they can be renovated or replaced. On the other hand, spreading the cost out over a longer period of time allows the projects to meet the town's financing policies, which have been developed in conjunction with the Finance Committee, the Select Board and the Town Manager, and were last affirmed in 2009. These policies include limiting the principal and interest payments on debt to 3% of the town's General Fund revenue (e.g. property taxes less debt exclusions, state aid, and local receipts) and less than 10% of gross revenues. Currently, debt service that was added to the tax levy in past years, net of offsets is 7.3% (see Fiscal Year 2023 Proposed Budget section 2-3 for more info). Option Aa. Revised Status Quo (5-section Mitchell) This scenario prioritizes Mitchell and would maintain the current NPS structure of five elementary schools, 6th grade at High Rock, and 7th and 8th grades at Pollard. It would require additions at High Rock and Pollard, construction of a new 5-section Mitchell school, and construction of temporary swing space at Defazio. The town would seek MSBA funding for both the Pollard and Mitchell projects. Total cost: $391.3 million Construction timeframe: July 2028 – September 2046 Option E. New Status Quo (4-section Mitchell) This option is similar to Aa, but would instead build Mitchell as a 4-section school and enlarge Eliot to a 4-section school with an addition. It would also seek MSBA funding for the Pollard and Mitchell projects. Total cost: $392.3 million Construction timeframe: July 2028 – September 2053 Option C1a. High Rock as Elementary (Pollard MSBA) This scenario prioritizes Pollard, which would be renovated as a grade 6-8 school. High Rock would be converted to a 6th elementary school, allowing the new Mitchell to be a smaller 3-section school. This option would seek MSBA funds for both Pollard and Mitchell projects. Total Cost: $327.0 million Construction timeframe: April 2028 – September 2036 Option D1a. High Rock as Elementary (Pollard non-MSBA) This scenario is the same as C1a except it would not seek MSBA funding for Pollard, allowing construction to begin an estimated two years earlier. Total Cost: $314.4 million Construction timeframe: July 2026 – September 2034 NEXT STEPS The School Committee is seeking input from the community on the current options. There will be an opportunity to comment and ask questions at the February 8 forum, or emails can be sent to schoolcommittee@needham.k12.ma.us. HELPFUL LINKS 2022 School Master Plan Presentation to Staff & Community (2/8/22) School Master Plan Extension Study (1/18/22) Video of 1/18/22 Presentation (1:38:00–2:34:30) 2021 Enrollment Projection (12/7/21 SC packet, pages 5–37) School Master Plan Extension: Scope & Schedule (10/5/21 packet, pages 27–36) Video of 10/5/21 Presentation (13:30–43:00) Enrollment Projection (1/2021) 2020 CNS Article: School Master Plan, October 2020 Master Plan Presentation (3 options) (9/15/20 SC packet, pages 29–54) Master Plan Report (9/15/20 SC packet, pages 55–121 ) Video of 9/15/20 Presentation (5:45–56:30) Master Plan Presentation (7 options) (5/5/20 SC packet, pages 38–135 ) Video of 5/5/20 Presentation (47:20–1:46:20) Enrollment Projection (1/7/20 SC packet, pages 41–85)

At the February 1 School Committee Meeting there was a discussion of the Pollard Middle School Improvement Plan, the Proposed 2022-2023 School Calendar, and an Update on Health & Safety. download packet > watch meeting > School Committee & Superintendent Comments Michael O'Brien is a member of the Housing Plan Working Group. He informed the School Committee that a public forum on housing needs, concerns, and future planning was recently held on zoom. A recording of the discussion is available for families to listen to if interested. Many thanks to the DPW for their work to remove the snow and get schools and the town ready for school on Monday. Pollard Middle School Improvement Plan Pollard Principal Tamatha Bibbo, Math Curriculum Coordinator Tammy Ghizzoni, ELA Curriculum Coordinator Elizabeth Welburn, and School Council Student Member Max presented an update on the Pollard Middle School Improvement Plan. Some highlights of the current school programming are: Data Science 1 and 2 Chinese Culture and Perspectives and Connection Culture Course Literacy Support in 7 and 8 LBC ELA Transition Program: for kids who have been out of school for an extended amount of time ASL Elective for 2022-2023 Spanish 7A-Introduction to Spanish (for kids who have had limited Spanish experience prior to Pollard) Launching Scholars Program TV News Clubs and Activities – new ones have been added – skiing is back Lots of new board games for students to play after school. Data Science 1 and 2 The Math Curriculum has been expanded to include two elective courses in Data Science. The ability to understand, analyze, and interpret data accurately is very important and ties in with the goals of the Portrait of a Needham Graduate. These classes focus on: Introductions to Spreadsheets and Big Data Story Telling Ethics Creating Catchy Headlines Diverse Speakers: Parents and Community Members – data scientists, researchers, etc. speak to students via Zoom. Field Trip to Mitchell School – took a number set and made it tangible for younger students In Data Science 1, students have to do a project on a certain data set. They create a visual, create a catchy headline and visuals to support the data, and write a paragraph to represent the data. In Data Science 2, kids go more in-depth into the data set and use Tableau to represent it. 8th Grade ELA Elective Unit ELA Staff are excited to expand the 8th grade ELA elective unit this spring. Students rank their preferences of five choices: Fractured Fairy Tales High Fantasy What are you supposed to think? Windows and Mirrors – YA Literature Serial Podcast 93% of kids got their first or second choice, 7% got their third choice. No one got a fourth or fifth choice. Courses vary in content, genre, learning environment, and end product. Students are drivers of their own learning and able to pursue their own curiosity. Students are getting similar experiences even though they are doing different things. It is all standards based. Students will receive grades for the same standards, but the activities look different. The goal is to give students choice and get students excited about learning by giving them a voice in what they are learning about. This also can give students exposure to a different ELA teacher than their primary teacher. It would be wonderful to integrate this kind of learning model in more ways throughout the year, however the scheduling is complex. Other Activities Restorative Justice Circles are being used with small clusters and the hope is that they will continue to be opened up to more and more students/adults at Pollard. It has been a very positive experience. The Club Fair happens in October. Students express interest in the ones that they might be interested in joining. Teachers volunteer to lead the clubs. Students come up with ideas. Some clubs last year to year. Others might be discontinued or tweaked if there is lack of interest. Proposed 2022-2023 School Calendar Highlights: August 31st first day for students June 15th last day for students (with no snow days) Juneteenth is a part of the calendar June 4th Graduation Professional development for staff included in the calendar Under consideration for future years: Can professional development happen on more Wednesdays (early release) for all buildings? Considerations would be time and learning, transportation, and nutrition services. Families might push back on increasing the number of early release Wednesdays due to child care concerns. Update on Health & Safety Needham is starting a new COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing Program this week. At home rapid test kits will be given out to staff/families who opt in. They should be used twice a week at home. There will also be a new in-school symptomatic testing program – families opt in to allow students to be tested for COVID-19 if they are not feeling well while at school. This is only for students who develop new symptoms while at school. Students who are feeling unwell before school should stay home. 71% of staff have opted in to the testing program 80% of families have opted in to symptomatic testing 50% of families have opted in to at-home testing When can masks be lifted? It is too early to make this decision. Numbers do seem to be headed in the right direction and the Health & Safety Committee will continue to reassess this regularly. Action Items (details can be found in the SC packet): Middle School and High School Program Studies – Approved unanimously There was some discussion among school committee members about grade requirements for certain courses. Are students getting shut out of classes because of their grades? What messages are being received by families who do not get recommended for upper level courses and those who do? Some kids have the economic means that allow their students to do better in classes (paying for outside tutoring, Russian Math, etc) and others do not. Does this mean they do not belong in the class? Articles Proposed for the Annual May 2022 Town Meeting Article for Emory Grover Construction Funds – recommendation to endorse was approved unanimously Article for funds for Heating upgrades at Hillside – recommendation to endorse was approved unanimously Transportation Fees, Athletic Fees, Pre-School Community Education Fees – Approved by a four member majority (three members abstained due to potential conflict of interest). The next School Committee meeting is February 15, 2022

At the January 25 School Committee meeting there was an update on the Middle and High School program of studies, an update on the Athletic Program, discussion of the May 2022 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article Requests, and a Health & Safety update. download packet > watch meeting > The meeting began by congratulating the Boys Varsity Soccer Team on winning the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Sportsmanship award. This is the second win for a Needham High School athletic team this year – the Girls Varsity Volleyball Team won this award in the fall. Middle School & High School Program of Studies Update The Middle School program has two minor changes: An addition of Structured Learning Support Course Descriptions, which has been in place but is being articulated Adjustments to the Performing Arts options in Grade 7. Otherwise, there were no substantial changes from this year. Principal Aaron Sicotte and Assistant Principal Alison Coubrough-Argentieri presented new and reformatted High School programs. New courses represent the creativity and effort among the staff to meet student needs and provide rich opportunities. Some changes simply represent housekeeping issues like course titles and clear explanations. Some of the new courses include: More in-depth computer course for students who want to go beyond current introductory programs Courses in digital media, social media, and social change Life Sciences A 10IP program of studies that will build on the current 9th Grade Interdisciplinary Program The High School is considering extending the interdisciplinary program into junior year, but with options that allow students to challenge themselves more in their areas of interest. Adding these IP programs in the 9th,10th, and 11th grades will allow students four potential years of interdisciplinary programming if they continue with Greater Boston Project in their senior year. The current 9IP can offer three sections, and they expect that will be consistent for 10th grade. The IP is consistent with the goals of the Portrait Of A Needham Graduate. It is currently hard to know the impact of the 9IP program because the first year was in the hybrid learning model. Hopefully after this year, they will be better able to asses the impact it had. Equity, inclusivity, and access were also issues that were examined and that drove some changes at the High School level. The primary focus was on communication with families and helping them understand the programs offered. Some changes/additions include: Increased training for staff Reformatting communication instructed by best practices Increasing white space, using larger font, decreasing “clutter” Michael Greis brought up the question of required courses versus offered courses. If the list of requirements is too long, it ends up being too much and doesn’t offer flexibility for students to make choices. It is a balance that needs to be discussed thoughtfully and regularly. Aaron Sicotte reviewed the course selection process and how students are advised in choosing their classes. Incoming parents and students are introduced to the program of studies Current teachers and guidance counselors work with students to make the best choices based on their strengths, interests, and balancing all the other aspects of their lives (sports, extracurriculars, other advanced courses, etc.) The conversation is student-centered. Teachers make their recommendations, but parents can appeal The goal is not to limit students, but to highlight the pathway to success. The most important aspect is to make sure students are healthy first and foremost. They also need to be happy, and then they can be challenged. All aspects of a student’s life are examined to help determine the right fit for a class. Providing clear information with accessible language will greatly help with course selection and letting them know what’s ahead. Athletic Program Update Athletic Director Dan Lee and Assistant Athletic Director Ricardo Andrade showed a video highlighting sports in the Needham Schools during COVID-19. Student athletes persevered and excelled in the last year and a half. One of the silver linings from changes that were made to adapt to the pandemic that will remain going forward, is live streaming games. This has enabled more people to watch and participate. Technology has also enabled coaches and students to train virtually. For example, everyone can Zoom in to study film from home. The focus of the athletic department is not just on sports, but on the whole student. The district hires coaches that don’t just perform on the field, but that help athletes become better people overall. They want a rich, inclusive program in which traditional and non-traditional students can grow, play and achieve. Challenges exist when a team is having a difficult season, but regular check-ins with coaches help with goal setting and making sure there are still positive takeaways at the end of the season. MIAA recently changed from a section format to a tournament format that includes the top 32 schools, which benefits Needham because it keeps regular season games in closer proximity. The Unified Program was started three years ago. It works in partnership with the Special Olympics and MIAA to give all students an opportunity to play sports. It pairs students with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team to compete – partners and athletes. We are one of the go-to schools that the Special Olympics uses as a model for other schools who want to start a unified program. A major addition to the program is the Middle School Adaptive Sports program. Now students don't have to wait until high school to be able to participate in unified sports One of four schools to launch a program at the middle school level They have a selection process for the partners because so many kids want to participate. The Athletic department works hard to be equitable and inclusive, making sure as many students as possible can participate. Each year, they fill about 2,300 spots. They also work to make sure to have a broad range of offerings, and recently added Girls Rugby and Girls Golf as varsity sports. May 2022 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article Requests Dr. Gutekanst requested that the School Committee consider endorsing the two warrant articles that will be presented at the Town Meeting in May. The Select Board will lean heavily on the School Committee for their recommendations and will follow suit. If the School Committee votes to insert them, the Select Board will then vote to insert them on their behalf. The first article is to raise an appropriate sum for the renovation of the Emery Grover building, associated grounds, and any work that needs to be done to Hillside to be used for swing space during the project. The School Committee will vote to request this article be inserted. The second article is to appropriate the funding to update the heating system at Hillside. This system will be used beyond the Emery Grover project. This article will be brought forward by the Building Maintenance Department of DPW, and School Committee will vote to endorse it. The language for the articles is still being clarified and finalized. Andrea Longo Carter also requested they endorse the warrant articles related to design funds for the rooftop replacement of the boilers at Broadmeadow and Eliot. Health & Safety Update Based on information shared by the commissioner and the governor, there will be changes to the testing programs. Based on the Test & Stay programs, close contacts in schools are very unlikely to contract or spread COVID. 98.6% of the state’s 508,312 Test & Stay tests were negative. The recommendation is to move away from PCR tests and begin using rapid antigen testing. The focus will shift to identifying symptomatic students rather than in-school close contacts. Contact tracing will end. All families will be provided at-home rapid tests for each student if they opt into the program. Schools will test symptomatic students using their CIC contractor and will be sent home if the test is positive. Students with negative tests, but who are sick, may still be sent home. The Health Attestation will remain. The new at-home testing program will begin on February 4. Families and staff must “opt in” to the symptomatic testing program in order to participate; many have already opted in when they consented to Test & Stay. Families and staff must “opt in“ to receive at home diagnostic tests through RUVNA. Families and staff can do both programs (diagnostic & symptomatic); one of the programs; or neither. Per DESE requirements, opting into the at-home testing program will require each student to test every Sunday and Wednesday and report positive cases. (Sunday is mandatory, Wednesday is required, but families have flexibility to use at their discretion if a need to test on different day becomes necessary.) For families who have opted into the at-home testing program, kits will be sent home with students weekly. All information will also be provided in a 10-minute video that Dr. Gutekanst will share with the community. School Operating Budget Vote The School Committee reviewed the revised proposed budget, with the only essential change being the full-time personal counselor at Needham High School as discussed in the December meeting. Dr. Gutekanst recommended to the School Committee that they approve the FY23 school operating budget $87,277,798.00 as submitted. The School Committee unanimously approved the budget. The next School Committee Meeting is February 1, 2022.

At the January 18 School Committee Meeting there was a Public Hearing on the FY 23 Budget, a FY 23 Budget Discussion on World Languages and Fine & Performing Arts, a Master Plan Facilities Update, and an Update on Health & Safety. download packet > watch meeting > FY23 Budget Request At the January 18th School Committee the FY23 Budget was presented by Dr Gutekanst and can be broken down as the following: Contractual Salary Increases: $1,858,890 Level Service: $612,213 Program Improvements: $1,203,298 The total FY23 budget reuquest is $3,674,401, a 4.4% increase over FY22 and Includes the addition of 25.82 FTE staff members. During public comments Caren Firger, President of the Needham Education Association, spoke in support of the FY23 Budget. School Committee Chair and Subcommittee Updates The School Committee has created their own Facebook page to increase their presence on social media and allow interested parties to more easily find information about the School Committee. The page will solely be used to share information, no School Committee member will comment on the posts. Budget Discussion: World Languages & Fine & Performing Arts LeeAnn Sutton, Director of Fine & Performing Arts, and Elizabeth Zajac, Director of World Languages, presented their budget requests. The Fine & Performing Arts program shared staffing numbers and an overview of the 54 different curricular classes offered in Art, Theater and Music across all grades. Co-curricular programs serve approximately 700 students, spanning from the Elementary level to the High School level and provides opportunities for students to delve deeper into an art form of their choosing. The Fine & Performing Arts program follow the Massachusetts Art Curriculum Framework where there are four anchor standards for artistic practices across disciplines: CREATE original work aligned to artist’s intent PRESENT artistic work to each other RESPOND to the structure and context of artistic works CONNECT the impact of the arts on oneself, history and culture FY23 Budget requests include additional staff for the Theater programs at Pollard and the High School, a Fine & Performing Arts Program Coordinator, and the removal of elementary fees and allocate program costs to their Operating Account. The elementary instrumental program is the largest it has ever been with 438 enrollments (27 scholarships). Removing the fee would ensure the program is equitable and accessible to all in the community. The World Languages program provide Spanish classes beginning in Kindergarten; Spanish, French & Mandarin during Middle School; and Spanish, French, Mandarin and Latin at the High School. 47 classes are offered in total. FY23 budget requests include the opportunity for all 11th grade students to participate in the STAMP (Standardized Measure of Proficiency) Assessment, to provide high quality resources to support the Elementary Spanish program, and to provide sustained, personalized instructional support teachers at all grade levels. Master Plan Facilities Update Dore & Whittier Architecture were present to provide an update to the Master Plan timelines and enrollment projections, sharing variations on the Master Plan findings to resolve the capacity and facilities issues at Mitchell, the facilities issues at Pollard, resolve capacity issues at High Rock, and whether this will lower the financial investment to the town. Study findings show that at the elementary level 126 classrooms is the minimum requirement but 132 classrooms would be ideal to allow for equity by providing space for special education, music, art and extended learning across the district. At the middle school, we currently have 86 classrooms with 101 classrooms needed to meet the minimum needs. The discrepancy is mostly at High Rock. The lack of space is currently causing scheduling difficulties. About MSBA (Massachusetts School Building Authority) projects: The MSBA provides partial reimbursement (typically 30%) on approved school building projects. While the MSBA has provided funding for many previous NPS projects (including Sunita Williams), there is strong competition among school districts for limited resources and it is possible that Needham would not receive any funding this time around. The application and approval process for MSBA projects is also time consuming, which can slow down projects and add to annual cost escalations. Dore & Whittier presented four options of where and how to house sixth grade: Aa - Revised Status Quo Mitchell as 1st MSBA project with a new 5 section school Pollard as 2nd MSBA project remaining as a 7th & 8th grade school with an addition High Rock as a non-MSBA project with an addition E - New Status Quo Mitchell as 1st MSBA project with a new 4 section school Pollard as 2nd MSBA project remaining as a 7th & 8th grade school with an addition High Rock as a non-MSBA project with an addition Eliot as a non-MSBA project with an addition to create a 4 section school C1a - High Rock as an Elementary & Pollard as a 6th-8th grade MSBA project Pollard as 1st MSBA project housing 6th-8th grades High Rock as a non-MSBA project creating a new 3 section elementary school Mitchell as 2nd MSBA project creating a 3 section elementary school D1a - High Rock as an Elementary & Pollard as a 6th-8th grade non-MSBA project Pollard as a non-MSBA project housing 6th-8th grades High Rock as a non-MSBA project creating a new 3 section elementary school Mitchell as 2nd MSBA project creating a 3 section elementary school *Green boxes indicate a major project **Options A & E do not show the required temporary schools which are also major projects Timeline, enrollment forecast, and cost for each scenario: Aa Revised Status Quo (grade configuration) Timeline Mitchell project 04/23-09/30 ($122.8M), temporary project to be completed by 09/28 ($36.3M) Pollard project 04/31-09/38 ($172.9M) High Rock project 04/39-09/46 ($59.3M) Enrollment Forecast Mitchell comes on board in 2030 with a 5 section school with 126 classrooms High Rock remains over capacity until 2046 Pollard addition allows more capacity until at least 2036 Total cost - $391.3M E Status Quo Timeline Mitchell project 04/23-09/30 ($93.8M), temporary project to be completed by 09/28 ($36.3M) Eliot project 04/31-09/38 ($172.9M) High Rock project 04/39-09/46 ($59.3M) Eliot project 11/47-09/53 ($30M) Enrollment Forecast Mitchell does not reach 126 classrooms until 2053 High Rock remains over capacity until 2046 Pollard addition allows more capacity until at least 2036 Total cost - $392.3M C1a Pollard as 1st MSBA Project Timeline Pollard project 04/23-09/30 High Rock project 11/28-09/30 Mitchell project 04/31-09/36 Enrollment Forecast Pollard will exist at current occupancy rates until 2030 High Rock will continue to be over capacity until 2030 Middle school over capacity fixed during 2029-2030 school year Total cost - $327M D1a Pollard 1st Project non-MSBA Timeline Pollard project 11/23-09/29 Mitchell project 04/27-09/34 High Rock project 11/27-07/30 Enrollment Forecast Pollard will exist at current occupancy rates until 2030 High Rock will continue to be over capacity until 2030 Middle school over capacity fixed during 2029-2030 school year Total cost - $219.7M According to these projections, Plan D1a would be completed in the shortest amount of time and for the lowest cost. School Committee Comments: Dr Gutekanst requested that Dave Davison cost out each scenario in relation to the towns debt plan to help further streamline Master Plan options, and to also receive input from community members on February 8th. Michael Greis voiced concerns over spending for temporary school options. Andrea Longo Carter reiterated her support for the Plan D1a which the School Committee voted on last Fall. Multiple comments were focused on routine maintenance of current schools, and how those costs are not factored into the Master Plan Scenarios. Further discussion was also focused on how multiple projects would affect students, especially those who may be impacted by a Mitchell project and then later with the Pollard project. Consideration should be given to the fact that MSBA funds are not guaranteed. Update on Health & Safety Over 93% of Pollard and High School students are fully vaccinated and over 84% of K-6 students have received one dose. Staff and student attendance is slowly increasing as we progress through the month. Contact tracing procedures have been modified, and further changes are being planned by DESE: Contact tracing and the existing test & stay program will end, if rapid tests are provided The district would need to start testing symptomatic students Families & staff will need to “opt in” and agree to report test results 10,000 KN95 masks have been distributed to staff. The District is in the process of procuring 20,000 rapid tests for staff and students to: Provide them with a scarce resource Strengthen prevention efforts Aid in the identification of positive cases Build confidence in staff and students The next School Committee Meeting is January 25, 2022.

At the January 4 School Committee Meeting, there was a FY23 budget consultation with the town manager, FY23 budget discussion of Student Interventions in Literacy and Math, and an Update on Health & Safety. download packet> watch meeting> FY23 Budget Consultation with Town Manager Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick and Assistant Town Manager/Director of Finance David Davidson discussed the upcoming FY23 town budget focusing in particular on items related to the schools. The town is in a better place now than it was a year ago as it is easier to predict the future given the current COVID-19 situation. There is cautious optimism in looking at the FY23 budget. We should take a moment to reflect on the fact that we have 10+ years of a balanced budget in Needham. Some of the summer 2021 Select Board goals related to schools are reflected in the budget, including: Maintain and invest in buildings (HVAC, staffing maintenance and construction jobs) Maintain outdoor facilities and parks American Rescue Plan funds play a role in the budget, received through the state from the federal plan, as well as money from Norfolk County. This money is required to be used by end of calendar year ’24 for specific items, which will include: Funding COVID-19 relief such as public health contact tracing, behavioral and mental health, and nursing Economic development relief grant funding Technology and water/sewer programs Mr. Davidson discussed some of the economic ramifications of COVID-19 during the past year, mentioning that the commercial sector was hurt due to COVID. The decrease in the values of commercial properties doesn’t cost the town revenues, but the taxes they would have paid will be shifted to residential homeowners. The decrease in revenues was largely mitigated by budget adjustments made prior to the start of the fiscal year in anticipation of these reductions. Aaron Pressman asked about HVAC challenges at Sunita Williams due to the increased complexity of the new HVAC systems and whether those would be taken into account when looking at Emery Grover construction. Ms. Fitzpatrick agreed that there would need to be lots of conversation prior to construction and that the town is working on a proposal to hire someone specifically to work on HVAC. She also mentioned that the town is committed to continued investment in HVAC but that it is difficult to hire HVAC workers at the moment. School Committee members asked questions about the Muzi sale in relation to tax revenue, which is too early to predict, and about increased revenue support for youth mental health initiatives. Dr. Barr reminded everyone that the town and School Committee will be as fiscally conscious as possible while providing the best education we can for our students. Public Comments Comments were made by town residents questioning why NPS is not doing pooled COVID-19 testing of students and staff, as well as why there were changes to the questions on the Ruvna health attestation form. School Committee Chair and Subcommittee Updates SC budget liaisons met with their Finance Committee liaisons recently. They are coordinating resources for youth and mental health with both school and town funding. FY23 Budget Discussion: Student Interventions – Literacy and Math This is one of many budget discussions that will be taking place. The focus today is on literacy and math student intervention budget requests for FY23, including increases in staff positions at a number of elementary schools, expanding the Early Bird literacy screening program, funding the Summer Bridge program, and increasing a K-5 math coordinator position. Terry Dugan, assistant superintendent for student learning, Lisa Messina, literacy curriculum coordinator, and Kathleen Hubbard, math curriculum coordinator presented their budget requests based on the current and projected status of the district’s literacy and math needs. By taking a proactive approach to identifying students with academic or behavioral needs, the district is able to use early assessment and intervention to prevent learning loss. Ms. Messina gave an overview of the literacy curriculum, mentioning that a great deal of groundwork was done from 2013-2020 to reach the current goal of ensuring that ALL students reach high levels of literacy and become proficient readers, writers, and communicators within a comprehensive literacy framework that aligns the curriculum and instruction with neuroscience. Importantly, a new emphasis has been placed on universal screening and identification of students at risk for dyslexia and other reading struggles. In order to maximize instruction, the district has begun using the Early Bird screener program in kindergarten with plans to expand into grade 1 and eventually grade 2. The goal of aligning curriculum and instruction with culturally proficient, anti-racist practices is met through units of study through the lens of equity, interdisciplinary work between the literacy and social students leadership teams, and inclusive classroom libraries. Specific literacy budget requests include funding for: Expanding Early Bird screener program to Grade 1. FTE positions in Intervention/Coaching at Pollard, Mitchell and Eliot. The student/teacher ratios in literacy at Mitchell and Eliot are higher than other schools in the district. This will bring them in line with the other schools. The Eliot increase is necessary to remain in compliance with Title 1 rule. Summer Bridge program in Literacy and Math. After being funded by a grant last year – and tuition-based in years before that, the hope is that guaranteed funds will increase the number of students who participate this summer Ms. Hubbard gave an overview of the math curriculum, focusing on the goals of providing high quality curricular materials, aligning the curriculum and instruction with culturally proficient, anti-racist practices, and increasing the use of data and evidence-based targeted instruction. By partnering with DESE, NPS has selected a new core curriculum that meets these goals. Illustrative Math is being piloted this academic year along with Star Math, kindergarten assessments, and MCAS in grades 3-5. There are ongoing classroom assessment and data meetings with coaches and specialists with an eye toward continuing to create consistency across the district using data, benchmarks, and evidence-based practices, while also providing targeted tiered supports with increasing intensity to address areas of unfinished math learning. Specific math budget requests include: An increase in math specialists at Eliot, Newman, and High Rock to reflect the fact that students at Eliot and Newman need the most intervention An increase in the K-5 math coordinator FTE from .5 to 1.0 School Committee members asked a variety of questions that led to discussions about equity, the assessment programs being used, mask-wearing and its impact on learning phonics, and the funding of the Summer Bridge program being a factor in increasing participation. Update on Health & Safety Dr. Barr prefaced the Superintendent’s update by stating that while some of what the district does is not to everyone’s liking, none of this is about punishing children. NPS and the SC follow Public Health and DESE guidelines, thinking about all of the aspects of the situation, and that they do the best they can to keep our kids in school. Dr. Gutekanst presented slides showing how COVID-19 numbers have gone up a lot in the past few weeks, but that, luckily, if students get COVID, it is usually mild. He encouraged residents to register their children for the vaccination clinic on Saturday, January 8th at Pollard. The mask-friendly idea that has been discussed in the past has been put on hold for now. Ms. Lammi presented slides with updated flow charts to help explain new isolation/quarantine requirements as well as changes to the Ruvna health attestation questions. She mentioned that these changes follow Department of Public Health guidelines as well as CDC guidelines and recognized that there is confusion about students who are more than six months past their second vaccine dose, but who have been unable to receive a booster shot. The district is continuing to ask for more clarity for these students. Further details can be found on pages 60-67 of the SC packet and the NPS website. School Committee members asked clarifying questions about remote school options (which the DESE commissioner continues to state will not count toward the minimum number of school days) and pooled testing costs. The superintendent clarified that the pooled testing question comes up every time the joint health and safety committee meets and that they will continue to think about it, but that there are significant staffing concerns as well as impingement on student time in the classroom. School Committee Comments Mr. Pressman mentioned that there is good local coverage of SC meetings, but that the joint health and safety committee needs more transparency. It is harder for members of the community to trust when information is not being shared. Several other SC members agreed, but acknowledged that the school administrative team is running the entire school system during a pandemic and everyone is doing double and triple time right now. Sometimes more info isn’t always better, but that synthesis is what is important. Dr. Gutekanst agreed to try to communicate more, but reminded the SC that he updates them on the joint committee’s meetings at every SC meeting. He promised to discuss pooled testing again at the next joint committee meeting. Next School Committee meeting is Tuesday, January 18, 2022

At the December 21 School Committee Meeting there was an update about the Emery Grover project, a presentation on the FY 23 budget requests from Student Support Services, and an update on Health and Safety. download packet > watch meeting > School Committee & Superintendent Comments Connie Barr indicated that everyone is feeling the COVID fatigue, and encouraged people to enjoy their time with family and friends in smaller groups this year – maybe outdoors. She encouraged people to get vaccinated and boostered if they haven’t already, and to think about all of the ramifications as people navigate the holidays. Michael Greis met with the Finance Committee and will have another meeting on January 4th to go over the budget. Dr. Gutekanst wished everyone a good vacation and time to unplug. Dr. Montes McNeil (Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources) discussed a grant they have applied for to help with recruiting, retaining, and supporting a diverse and talented workforce. The grant is $38,000 and will help support new and aspiring teachers who identify as BIPOC. There is also the opportunity to put some seed money for a program at the NHS for students of color who might want to go into education. This complements district efforts. School Safety & Social Media Discussion Dr. Gutekanst discussed how the district communicates with families about school safety. There was recent national and local news about a concerning social media post, and the district opted not to elevate that with families. However, families should know three important things: NPS work closely with NPD and resource officers almost on a daily basis to discuss safety. They and the Police Chief determined this social media post wasn’t a viable threat. Sadly, these types of posts have become more common. It is not possible to respond or give oxygen to every post. The district and public safety officials spend a lot of time determining how and whether to communicate this information. The district performs regular safety drills for students and staff. Dr. Gutekanst plans to give a more detailed account of how the district makes these decisions, what happens behind the scenes to determine what is best for the safety of our students, and how they decide what should be communicated. He also encouraged everyone to work with our young people to understand social media and how it can take on a life of its own. We need to continue to remind them to be prudent. Districts that did share the recent information had much lower attendance, whereas Needham’s was much higher. Emery Grover Project Update Joel Bardman, principal architect BH+A, Deborah Robinson, part of the design team, and Hank Haff, Senior Project Manager of Needham’s Public Facilities Department – Construction Division, gave an update of the current state of the Emery Grover project and an overview of the designs for both Emery Grover and Hillside, which will be used to temporarily house school administration. The project timeline should allow for School Administration to move to Hillside next December, and back into the renovated Emery Grover building by August of 2024. This project is very eligible for Community Preservation Funds due to the historic nature of the building. Hillside is already in pretty good condition having just housed the Police and Fire departments; they will just need to add sprinklers. The scope of the project was reduced, but will still allow ample space for what the school administration needs and will also allow for growth in the future. They are currently working on their concept plans and exploring all aspects of the current building. They will be making an accessible entrance and will remove all existing features that are either non-compliant and/or not original to the building. This will be a “gut renovation.” They will create a better layout to suit the needs of the programs and departments – trying to create a “one-stop shopping” for student support services. The front of the building will be returned to a design more consistent with the original and will increase green space. They are hoping to install a split system for heating and cooling at Hillside rather than replacing the boiler. This will save money and the systems can be moved and reused in other spaces when necessary. This is the most efficient approach. The superintendent is adamant about being as cost effective as possible. The next big step will be getting approval for funding at the May Town Meeting. FY 23 Budget Discussion: Student Support Services/Mental Health Update This is one of many budget discussions that will be taking place. The focus today is on Student Support Services budget requests for FY23 including increasing some positions for special education, counseling, ELL and health services, as well as reallocating some supports. Tom Denton, Director of Guidance for the Needham Public Schools, Trish Mullen, Director of Special Education 9-PG, Julie Muse-Fisher, Director of Special Education PreK-8, and Mary Lammi (remotely) Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services, presented their budget requests based on current and projected needs in the district for both special education and general education (eg. math and literacy specialists). Goals/Priorities: The district needs to address the academic, social-emotional, and health and safety challenges due to COVID-19. The district needs to maintain appropriate staffing levels across all areas to provide appropriate services to all our students. The district must continue strong inclusive practices so that students receive the services they need and determine how resources can be reallocated to give the most people access and benefits to these resources. Factors to Consider: There have been increased referrals and increased behavioral and mental health challenges. However, there is a real limitation in access. Families really need help right now, and the school system is trying to help as much as possible, but staffing is a real challenge. The district would like to create a mental health team with strong supports because they can’t just rely on counselors to address the mental health and academic needs of our students. There has been steady enrollment both in district and out of district, with 80% of students in fully inclusive classrooms. With an increase in need, it is important to ensure special education caseloads are kept to target size – which is 15. Temporary positions were created in anticipation of the needs this year, and would now like to make them permanent. In K-12, they have seen an increase in student anxiety. Lower grades have less need, but as you get into Pollard and the High School, mental health needs increase. Mental health services are in high demand, and there is little availability in the community. Youth and Family Services has a big back-log, with anticipation of six months before students will be able to be seen. When it becomes an emergency situation, Newton-Wellesley Hospital and Riverside can’t take patients – so students are sent to Boston Children’s Hospital. There are children who need hospitalization level of care, but there is a shortage of inpatient beds. The weight on our school counselors – both in case severity and number – has created pressure at all the levels. Now school counselors are having to support students who would otherwise be in day programs or psychiatric hospitals. They don't anticipate reduced needs next year. The level of problematic student behavior at the middle and high school levels is really concerning. Behavior is the manifestation of the mental health issues the students are struggling with. The district added staffing this year to try to meet needs, but will need more based on what they’re seeing. Dr. Gutekanst suggested looking at where there might be trade-offs in the budget to increase some supports. He will share some current case load numbers at another meeting, and will discuss how they can build some more of what is needed within the budget. He will share the whole picture so School Committee can make a decision. Andrea Longo Carter clarified that based on the current staffing and the budget proposal, there would actually be a reduction in counseling staffing. She advocated for allocating more to these services and focusing on the kids who need it the most, as conditions are likely to get worse. The Post-Graduate program at Needham High School really thriving. There are more students in jobs and paid internships than ever before because of the worker shortage. Almost all those in the program participate in these jobs. Health & Safety Update Dr. Gutekanst presented an update from the last meeting of the Joint Health & Safety Committee. The Good News: Students are in school safely and students are learning. NPS vaccination rates are very high – over 90% at Pollard and the High School students are fully vaccinated, and more than 70% of students grades K-5 have received at least one dose. COVID hospitalization rates for under 18y are extremely low, and the risk of serious illness or disease for young people remains extremely low. Students and staff have been extremely cooperative with health and safety protocols, including masking. Challenges: School staff are exhausted – especially true for the nurses managing health and safety protocols. Unexpected behaviors in students, as well as increased student anxiety and social emotional concerns Staffing shortages Omicron has created a surge in cases, creating more close contacts and resulting in students and staff missing classes Older students are weary of masking protocols. There will not be contact tracing during vacation – only students who were in school during the contagious period will be traced if the district is notified. Families should be thoughtful and careful about travel and exposure and need to exercise extreme caution and keep children home if they have been exposed or show symptoms. PelMeds will host another vaccine clinic on Saturday, January 8th for all citizens. The district is currently working on creating a "mask friendly" environment at Pollard and Needham High. The goal is to keep students in schools, but they want to shape a learning environment where the masks can become optional for vaccinated students as soon as it makes sense. They will need to educate students about what “mask friendly” means. For now masks continue to be required in schools. The next School Committee Meeting is January 4, 2022 at 6:30pm.

At the December 7 School Committee Meeting there was a discussion of Enrollment Projections, the NHS Student Advisory Report, the Superintendent's FY23 School Operating Budget Request, and an Update on Health & Safety. download packet> watch meeting> Enrollment Projections for FY 23-37 Jerome McKibben of McKibben Demographic Research presented the current enrollment projections for FY23-37 to the School Committee via zoom. He projects that enrollment will return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the 15 year projection period, although more gradually than previously anticipated. COVID-19 has made forecasting enrollment very challenging. Nationwide, schools had a significant reduction in enrollment during the 20/21 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Needham lost 221 students, primarily at the elementary level. The largest losses occurred in Preschool and Kindergarten, where parents opted to keep children home, send students to private school, or homeschool. High School enrollment remained relatively stable and consistent with prior year expectations. It was expected that 80% of those students would return to school this year, however nationally only about 50% of these students have returned to school. In Needham, about 45% of the students who demitted last year for COVID-related reasons have returned. Other factors that are affecting the downturn in school enrollment: There has been a slowdown in home sales. The elderly are not selling their homes. There are 30% fewer homes on the market. The higher prices of homes tend to bring families with older children, not younger children. Fewer students are returning to public school than expected and about 20 percent of Needham students attend private schools. The under 5y population is about 100 students less than projected. The newer housing developments do not have as many children as projected. The higher rent prices make the units harder for families to afford. This is being seen in the housing market too. The number of births also dropped during the pandemic. The projection trend for elementary schools is that enrollment will stay level rather than decline. The high school enrollment numbers are still projected to increase, but more slowly than before. Eliot School has some crowding, but projections do not have its numbers increasing significantly. Sunita Williams is also about at capacity. Dr Gutekanst thinks these capacity issues can be helped by: High Rock becoming an elementary school, Mitchell being rebuilt as a 3 or 4 section school, providing space for preschool, and shifting the usage of some spaces at Eliot to help crowding issues. Michael Greis commented that he does not see major changes happening to the numbers in our population of students across the schools. A little shift in one direction or the other is not going to have a major impact on the school populations or space requirements needed at the schools. Andrea Longo-Carter noted that there will be a short-term capacity issue because their enrollment is projected to increase slightly (30 students), and there should be planning for this increase. School Committee & Superintendent Comments School committee members got to visit with some 9th graders at the end of one of their interdisciplinary units and were quite impressed with the work that students had done. They hope to see other presentations in the future. Dr. Gutekanst mentioned the recent Michigan school shooting tragedy and highlighted that our schools do practice age appropriate active shooter drills. The Sandy Hook anniversary is also coming up. Families are encouraged to reach out to their schools with any questions or concerns regarding student safety. The Needham Girls Volleyball team was invited to attend the school committee meeting. They placed first in the MA State championship for the second year in a row. They also received a sportsmanship award. Dr. Gutekanst and the School Committee were very proud of the students for receiving this award. NHS Student Advisory Report: Members of the NHS Student Advisory to the School Committee (SASC) presented their latest update about NHS activities, issues, and student concerns. Highlights of some previous successful projects and upcoming class activities: 9th Grade: T shirt design contest, Bake Sale 10th Grade: Bake Sale, Class Merchandise, Chipotle and Bertucci’s Nights, Halloween Homeroom Dress Up Contest, upcoming Cradles to Crayons Drive 11th Grade: Clothing Drive to give to Katie’s Closet Charity, Candy Grams, Bake Sale, Junior Harbor Cruise, Field Day 12th Grade: Harbor Cruise, BBQ, Prom (Copley Place in Boston), class sweatshirts for sale Events: Homecoming on October 22nd had about 500 students attending – the largest Homecoming Dance ever Bonfire on November 23rd was also well attended. Captains and students of various fall teams were invited to attend since there was no pep rally. NHS Jazz Band, Cheer, and other groups also performed. Students expressed their gratitude to Needham Police & Fire who helped make this a safe event. Student Outreach: Quote Project: Student council members selected quotes about NHS experiences and values and artwork is being designed to be displayed with the quotes around the school. Student Comments on Masking: Many NHS Students want masks to be optional rather than mandated. The mask breaks have helped students to adjust to the long days and being back in the building full time. Students are enjoying the mask breaks especially during their 90 minute long block classes. It is a nice time to connect with a friend, and helps some kids to refocus their energy on school and learning. Students suggest that those breaks continue even if masks do not. Some expressed concerns that peer pressure will cause students to unmask even if they don’t want to. Will students treat those who want to wear a mask the same as those who do not? Most students wear their masks properly, but some do not. The mask drops below the nose. The students spoke about their concerns that teachers are not recognizing that students have a lot of stress and pressure. There was not a lot of time to readjust to the “normal” school year, and students requested that teachers have a little more empathy for what students are experiencing. While many students have settled into the school year at this point, there are others who are overwhelmed and struggling. Students hope that teachers will not pile on so much work as if each class exists in its own vacuum. Students are staying up way too late trying to get work done and this affects their mental health and physical well-being. Superintendent's FY23 School Operating Budget Request Dr. Gutekanst presented his FY23 School Operating Budget request to the School Committee. He noted that it is a challenging time to develop a budget plan due to concerns regarding health and safety, increased needs of students, and the need for school building renovations. The budget is in-line with the Portrait of a Needham Graduate strategic priorities. The proposed FY23 budget will benefit students by: Ensuring students are learning in classrooms with a talented, diverse faculty and staff Providing targeted support for ELL students and students requiring math and literacy support Assuring that all students have access to learning and co-curricular activities Providing materials, technology tools, and counseling resources for students Proposed Increases — $3,597,165 Contractual salary increases: $1,858,890 Level service : $704,587 Program Improvements: $1,126,062 Staff Increases — 24.82 FTE Teachers: 14.93 FTE Administration: .60 FTE Teacher Assistants: 6.69 FTE Support Staff: 2.60 FTE The total requested budget is about a 4.3% increase from last year. Some of this increase is necessary to continue to provide services that were funded by other federal sources during the pandemic. Detailed slides that address needs at the elementary, middle, and high school level can be found in the school committee packet. Other issues to consider are enrollment, special education, and out of district placement costs. School committee members asked questions about the budget relating to accelerated math at the middle school level, World languages and Fine & Performing arts at the elementary level, and Athletic and Fine & Performing Arts fees. Health and Safety Update Dr. Gutekanst presented an update on the COVID-19 related discussion at the December 6 meeting of the Needham Joint Health and Safety Committee. Detailed slides from that meeting can be found here. COVID-19 Numbers as of 12/1: 2.03% positive test rate in Needham, average of 4.9 cases per day in November. Hospitalization rate among children remains low in MA and nationwide In November, a total of 307 students were identified as close contacts in school and only 1 contact became positive. Breakthrough cases: only 1.6% of vaccinated people in MA have had a breakthrough case of COVID-19 Grades K-6: 69 percent of students have received one dose of the vaccine so far. Grades 7-12: 93 percent of students are vaccinated The Joint Health and Safety Committee continues to evaluate when masking may become optional based on clinical data, state regulations, and what the committee feels is best for the students and families. Dr. Gutekanst is not sure if DESE's target date of optional masking on January 15th will be postponed in light of new variants and rising cases in MA. He did apply for a waiver for Pollard and the High School to be mask friendly, but there will be no change to the masking policy yet. Dr. Gutekanst encouraged families to look at the NPS COVID-19 dashboard if they are interested in the daily updates of COVID data in schools. The next School Committee meeting is December 21 at 6:30pm.

At the November 16 School Committee Meeting, there was a discussion of the Needham Education Foundation Fall Grant Awards and 2021 MCAS results. download packet > watch meeting > School Committee & Superintendent Comments The School Committee congratulated Louis Picariello, who received his NHS diploma this week in honor of Veterans Day, 77 years after he left Needham High School just prior to graduation to serve in WWII. Dr. Gutekanst and the School Committee congratulated Steven Popper who is retiring this week after many years as the Director of Needham’s Building Design & Construction Department. Mr. Popper guided the Town and School Committee through at least 27 school related projects since 2003, ranging from a new roof at Pollard to the construction of the Sunita Williams School. The School Committee thanked Mr. Popper for his expertise, guidance, and collaboration on school projects, and his progressive vision on school design and sustainability. School Committee will establish the Superintendent’s Impact Scholarship at NHS which will be awarded annually to a student who has effected positive change in challenging circumstances by demonstrating advocacy, collaboration, and inclusiveness. Needham Education Foundation Fall Grant Awards Rob Murphy and Jennifer Collings from the Needham Education Foundation presented the NEF Fall Grant Awards. 8 Grants were awarded totaling just over $30,000. Every school will benefit from at least one grant and three grants are multi-school initiatives. NHS/Pollard: Guest Jazz Artist Broadmeadow: Kinesthetic Desks for Media Center NHS: Needham Steps Up Mentoring Newman: Ukelele Cart All 5 Elementary Schools: World Language Books Newman: Outdoor Classroom Rejuvenation and Extension NHS/High Rock: Recontextualizing Slavery in Ancient Greece & Rome High Rock: Reading to Build Community School Committee accepted these grants and thanked NEF for their generosity and support of these exciting and innovative programs. Dr. Gutekanst noted that all grants are aligned with the Portrait of a Needham Graduate, Equity, and Inclusive Classroom goals. Holiday Season NEF Fundraiser: Teacher Gratitude Cards. Student Art Contest winners were Leah Finizio, Anne Keefe, and Zoey Shapiro. Their designs will be featured on the cards available for purchase at many stores in Needham, including Roche Bros & Sudbury Farms. Virtual cards and video messages are available on the NEF website. Update on Schools & Learning: MCAS Results Dr. Terry Duggan presented this year’s MCAS results. MCAS testing was adjusted in many ways to deal with the hybrid & remote learning models, and was a very different test than in previous years. What was new in 2021: Extended timeline for test administration, some students were testing in June when it was very hot. Shortening the test for students in grades 3-8. The normal two session test was shortened to one session and students were randomly assigned to one session of a regular two session test, in ELA, Math, Science. This led to fewer opportunities to demonstrate learning and incorrect answers had a larger impact on scores. Grade 10 remained a two session, in school test. Students in gr 3-8 learning remotely could choose to take computer based tests at home. 20% of students in MA took the test remotely (6% in Needham). Test administration was monitored by zoom. Modified Competency Determination for the class of 2021-2023. Students in 10th grade in 2020 had no opportunity to take the MCAS. Districts were allowed to certify student competency based on passing courses in each subject area. MCAS Passing levels were also adjusted for the classes impacted by the pandemic. Modification of Student Growth Percentile calculation to more accurately reflect the extent to which educational progress and growth slowed during the pandemic. Cannot compare this year’s Growth Percentiles to previous years. DESE urges caution when analyzing test scores, drawing conclusions, and taking action based on MCAS data. As there were many changes in testing in 2021, not all differences should be fully attributed to a “Covid effect.” Recommend looking at multiple sources of data to inform instructional practices. 2021 MCAS Results (Detailed slides can be found on pages 23-56 of the SC packet): In MA generally, the pandemic slowed education progress and growth for most students in 2021. Significant departure from typical achievement and growth patterns in prior years. Differences between 2021 and 2019 were much larger than between 2019 and 2018. In Needham, there was some decline in the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations in most grades and subject areas. High Needs Students (ELL, Economically Challenged, and Special Education) generally showed similar patterns to other students. There continue to be achievement disparities between racial groups, with the most notable gap for African American/Black students. Performance among Asian students remains strongest, and Multi-Race students have shown improvement. Adjusted Student Growth Scores were acceptable in all groups of students. Needham students were learning and are performing relatively well given all of the challenges of the last 2 years. ELA Grades 3-8: 72% Meeting or Exceeding Expectations (Tied for 6th highest in state, tied for 4th among 20 comparable communities) Math Grades 3-8: 62% Meeting or Exceeding Expectations (Tied for 11th highest in state, tied for 9th among 20 comparable communities) ELA Grade 10: 92% Meeting or Exceeding Expectations (Tied for 4th highest in state, tie for 4th among 20 comparable communities) Math Grade 10: 85% Meeting or Exceeding Expectations (Tied for 6th highest in state, tied for 4th among 20 comparable communities) Schools completed a round of benchmarking assessments in October to get a clearer picture of where students are in their learning this fall. This data is still being analyzed. They anticipate a return to the traditional two session per subject MCAS testing schedule for 2022. School Committee Comments Reminder to all registered voters that there is a Special Election for the vacant seat on Needham Select Board on December 7th. Information Items about FY 2023-2037 Enrollment Projections, Elementary Subject Area Time Expectations, and FY2022/23-2026/27 Five-Year Financial Forecast can be found in the SC packet. The next School Committee Meeting is scheduled for December 7, 2021.

At the November 2 School Committee Meeting there was a presentation of Student Excellence awards, a discussion of Police and Needham Public Schools, and a Health & Safety Update. download packet > watch meeting > School Committee updates Connie Barr provided an update on the Emery Grover project. Design funds have been approved by the Town and planning for the Emery Grover Renovation will move forward. Dr. Barr expressed appreciation to Town Meeting for approving the article, as well as to the many board members and town employees who helped in the process. Superintendent’s update Needham High School seniors, Talia Bloom and Santiago Galan, received the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents Academic Excellence Award. Memorandum of Understanding between the Needham Police Department and Needham Public Schools School Resource Officer R.J. Poirier introduced SC members to Rocket, the police dog, and then Chief John Schlittler joined Dr. Gutekanst to present highlights of the MOA and answer questions. (Presentation Powerpoint can be found on 30-33 of SC November 2 packet) A revised memorandum of understanding which reflects updated laws was presented at the meeting. The purpose for this memorandum is to clarify the purpose of the partnership and to promote a positive school environment. A lengthy discussion took place regarding the importance of Student Resource Officers and how everyone works together to de-escalate situations and create positive working environments. In addition, school resource officers present information on armed intruders drills to lessen fears. All of the presentations are age-appropriate. School Resource Officers participate in all anti-bias, diversity training and restorative justice circles with the Needham Police Department. The police chief expressed his willingness to work with the community for the well-being of students and emphasized that School Resource Officers work to resolve student cases with diversion programs. The purpose is to avoid courts and partner with community service programs and/or restorative justice circles. Update on Health & Safety The Joint Committee on Health and Safety continues to meet and maintain data. Over 92 percent of families complete the daily attestation and over 90 percent of staff completed attestation. Dr. Gutekanst encouraged all families to assess their children and then complete the form prior to leaving home. Beginning November 9th, certain essential visitors (parents, consultants) will be allowed into school during the day after attestation. This is only for critical meetings. The state mask requirement is extended until January 15th 2022. The Superintendent wishes to move towards a mask-optional/mask-friendly environment as soon as circumstances allow. Needham will host vaccine clinics for 5-11 year olds. On November 9th at 5:30pm , a zoom Family Health & Safety Open House is scheduled to discuss Health and Safety Updates. The next School Committee Meeting is scheduled for November 16, 2021.

At the October 19 School Committee Meeting there was a discussion of the Needham High School Student Advisory Report, an Update on Elementary Learning, and October 2021 Special Town Meeting Preparation. download packet > watch meeting > Public Comments A parent of two children in Needham Public Schools advocated for COVID surveillance testing in schools. School Committee Updates Aaron Pressman reported on a recent Minuteman sub-committee meeting. There are 31 Needham students currently enrolled. The school is currently at capacity but is looking at ways to expand to 800 students in future. Superintendent’s Comments Dr. Gutekanst asked that students be on their best behavior during this week’s early dismissal day. He congratulated two additional students who are National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists. He reminded the community of the upcoming Special Town Meeting which will have some items impacting the school. He introduced Needham High School students Justin Mok, Brendan Szeto, and Alex McKay who were recently named Disney Magic Makers for the positive impact they have made in their community. Their initiative in promoting awareness to Stop Asian Hate resulted in raising more than $6,000 in two weeks to purchase and distribute 1,000 personal safety items in the Boston Chinatown community through a partnership with the Boston Police Department. They have been rewarded with a trip to Disney World. Needham High School Student Advisory Report This is the first of several reports the Student Advisory to the School Committee (SASC) will provide the School Committee this year. The SASC meets regularly with the principal to discuss school issues, concerns, and ideas with the high school administration. Students at the presentation include Lea Gruen, Hannah Keselman, Max Scott, Danielle Sockol and Evan Tsingos. They provided class updates on the following: The sophomore class is settling into its first fully in-person year. The student council has been busy planning both class and community-wide events. Its grade-specialized merchandise, including long sleeve shirts and hoodies, are up for sale on MySchoolBucks. They recently had a successful bake sale and fundraiser in partnership with Chipotle. The next upcoming event is a community-wide Touch-a-Truck on November 6 at Needham High School. The eleventh grade class is preparing for the Junior Harbor Cruise, which is being adopted from the senior class. The senior class’s event was postponed to the spring. They are doing small fundraisers and are looking to sell merchandise, sweatshirts specifically, in the near future. Many 11th graders are preparing for and took the PSAT on October 16. The 12th grade class recently held Senior Field Day. Students competed in relay races, tug of war, and capture the flag. Their next goal is to work on fundraising and planning for Prom. They also provided general updates including: Clubs are returning, both after school and before, as well as sports heading into the second halves of their seasons, with the postseason playoffs approaching for many varsity teams. The Homecoming dance is October 22, and community-wide Bonfire will be held the week of Thanksgiving. As of October 14, the Cabinet in Student Council is complete once again after ninth grade elections and the appointment process. Students have been doing a good job adhering to mask requirements and procedures at the high school, requiring few reminders from faculty throughout the day. However, the general consensus is a desire to be rid of the masks entirely. The general feeling toward the vandalism of Memorial Field was disappointment. The students felt it was unfortunate that a very small population or even a single individual can commit an act like that and have it reflect on the entire student body. However, by volunteering to help clean up the field, the overall lasting impression was that the community of students is stronger than some of its bad parts, and that a majority of students are working everyday to better themselves and the community as a whole. Update on Elementary Learning Karen Bourn, Eliot School Principal; Andrew Garlick, Broadmeadow School Principal; Laurie Davis, Broadmeadow School Special Education Liaison; and Betsy Maxwell, Eliot School Grade 2 teacher, shared an update on elementary learning, especially as it relates to the elementary schedule and the focus on ensuring that all students have the support needed to be successful. Student learning has been largely disrupted over the past almost two years. As a result, a plan has been created to help those children most impacted. The three areas of focus include: A consistent time on learning, which includes an instructional schedule that is provided to the teachers. It focuses on a less fragmented day, an equitable curriculum, and provides time for science, social studies and racial literacy instruction. A schedule that maximizes time available for student engagement, learning, and enrichment, and includes a dedicated time for consistent, effective intervention/enrichment that addresses individual student learning needs. It will ensure equitable teacher collaboration, provide opportunities for creative learning possibilities through the collaboration of classroom and special area teachers’ work, and strengthen evidenced-based instructional practices. Strengthening evidence-based practices, which will include a systematic approach to inclusive instruction that meets the needs of all students; data-driven decision making, progress monitoring, and evidence-based supports; strategies with increasing intensity to sustain student growth; collaboration and teaming that enables us to address student needs; and learning acceleration not remediation. Staff shared how these strategies have been applied at Eliot and Broadmeadow. School Committee members asked a number of questions that led to numerous discussions about how the plan can be used while balancing a wide array of priorities and concerns. October 2021 Special Town Meeting Preparation There was extensive discussion of the Finance Committee’s proposed amendment to warrant article 7. The original article appropriates funds for the design of the historic renovation of Emery Grover, and includes some funding for minimal upgrades to Hillside that would allow it to serve as temporary swing space during the construction project. But the Finance Committee's proposed amendment removes all funding for the Emery Grover portion of the project, leaving only funding for the upgrades to Hillside. Dr Gutekanst has drafted a memo that outlines his concerns regarding the amendment, and has asked for feedback from School Committee. Several members also voiced strong objections to the proposed amendment, questioning the appropriateness of the Finance Committee's actions. The Town Moderator has been contacted with these concerns, but is reportedly going to allow the amendment to be put to Town Meeting for a vote. The School Committee is steadfast in moving forward with the original article. Chair Connie Barr has recorded the presentation video for Town Meeting Members, and is preparing responses to questions that may be asked at Town Meeting. Additional information regarding the warrant article can be found on the Town website. Also in advance of Town Meeting, Dr. Gutekanst asked to move funding in the budget to retain bus drivers. Action Items The School Committee voted unanimously to approve 2021-2022 Superintendent’s Goals. Procurement of Massachusetts Grown Products: The School Committee approved a plan from School Nutrition Services that would allow prioritizing purchase of agricultural products (such as fruits, vegetables, eggs, dairy products, meats, and seafood) from Massachusetts when possible, even if they are slightly more expensive than products from out of state. This will allow the district to support the local farming community and to provide fresh food for students. School Committee Comments The School Committee reiterated that it supports the plan to renovate the Emery Grover building. The next School Committee meeting is October 26 at 6:30pm.

Citizens for Needham Schools is dedicated to providing accurate, timely, and relevant information to help families and residents understand school-related issues and make informed choices. To fulfill our mission, we attend every school committee meeting, and have listened and watched over the years as district leadership has examined possible solutions to address the needs of the Needham Public Schools’ administrative and operations teams. We have witnessed the careful deliberations the committee has engaged in to find a solution that balances costs and needs. The CNS Board unanimously supports the proposed historic renovation of Emery Grover for the following reasons: To meet the needs of Needham’s students, our school leadership requires a work environment that is safe, professional, and allows for interdepartmental collaboration. The district is engaged in challenging and important work on both equity and the Portrait of a Needham Graduate competencies that requires collaboration among the leaders and departments housed in the building, including Curriculum/Student Learning, Student Support Services, and Human Resources. In addition, the COVID pandemic has introduced new challenges for our schools and students that the district will be addressing in the years to come. The central location of the Emery Grover site benefits both school administrators and families. School administrators frequently work onsite at our various schools, so being located near the center of town makes those trips easier and faster for staff. The proximity to Town Hall allows for close collaboration with the Town Manager and town departments when developing the school budget. And the building is accessible by public transportation (both bus and train), which helps both staff and families who may not have access to a car. Renovating Emery Grover now is the fastest and most cost-effective solution available. After many years of study, the historic renovation of Emery Grover remains the least expensive option for a new or renovated building. Investigations into leasing, using other sites, or new construction at the Emery Grover site will all be more costly and take more time than a historic renovation. Delaying the project will lead to annual cost escalations and will then interfere with school building projects which are currently only in the early planning stages. The project has the full support of the Superintendent and the School Committee. Dr. Gutekanst and the School Committee have studied this project for many years. They have a deep understanding of the needs for our district leadership, and expertise as to what is needed to effectively run a school district. We are sharing a more detailed overview of the project below, along with links to additional resources, to allow families and community members to better understand the project and why it has the support of our Board. Project History Constructed in the late 1800s, the Emery Grover building is the oldest historic building in Needham and is on the Massachusetts and National Registers of Historic Places. Having served the town as the original high school, it later became the heart of school operations as the administration building. In addition to the office of the Superintendent, many key departments are housed in the building including Curriculum/Student Learning, Student Support Services & Special Education, Human Resources, Transportation, Nutrition Services, and Financial Operations. The continuing deterioration of the building has led to numerous studies over the past 30 years to examine the best options for a new building to house these critical services. Several alternative sites were considered, including Stephen Palmer, Hillside, Greendale Avenue, Harris Ave, and Dwight Road. But after the most recent Feasibility Study in 2020, the historic renovation with addition of Emery Grover at a cost of $27,095,000 was recommended as the optimal solution. Updated Project Scope and Cost In response to cost concerns, additional options have been studied in recent months, including leasing space, renovating Hillside, and reducing the size of the project. By removing space for the IT department from the new building, the project can be contained within the footprint of the existing building. (IT is currently divided between Hillside and Broadmeadow, and would remain in those buildings.) The revised cost is now $20,875,000, and includes preparing Hillside for temporary swing space as well as the design plans for the new building. Compared to the other options studied, this is the least expensive and has the earliest completion date (September 2024). It is also the only option which qualifies for Community Preservation Act funding, estimated around $6 million. *Both the original and revised historic renovations are eligible for CPA funds Source: Oct 5 School Committee Packet, page 41 Source: FAQ Presentation, slide 6 ​Leasing comparable space is projected to cost about $900,000 per year plus an initial investment of $1.6-2.6 million to outfit the space. At that rate, the cost of leasing will exceed the cost of construction in approximately 20 years. But there was no response from brokers or landlords to the district’s latest leasing inquiries, indicating lease space is not available. Project Delays This project has been repeatedly deferred over three decades in favor of other necessary school advancements including new buildings and district-wide all-day Kindergarten. The estimated cost of the project from the 2013 Feasibility Study was $9.7 million, and the cost of the project has more than doubled in less than 10 years. Postponing further will likely incur similar increases in cost. Feasibility studies are only viable for up to five years before a new study would need to be commissioned, and waiting will likely also incur additional cost for using Hillside as swing space due to regulations that would require it to be brought up to code. Sources: FAQ Presentation, slide 10; 2020-24 Capital Improvement Plan School Committee Support After considerable research, deliberation and evaluation of all possible options, the School Committee unanimously supports maintaining these critical school departments together in one building in a central location convenient to each of the nine schools, Town Hall, and public transportation. They support Dr. Gutekanst’s assertion that this option is in the best interest of children and families as well as school employees. Next Steps At the Special Town Meeting on October 25, 2021, Town Meeting Members will vote on Warrant Article 7, which would appropriate $1,475,000 for the engineering and design of the renovation. If approved, it is anticipated that there will be a request for construction funds at the May 2022 Annual Town Meeting. More details can be found in the October 2021 STM Warrant.

At the October 5 School Committee meeting there was a discussion of facilities planning and an update was provided by school health staff regarding testing and contact tracing. download packet > watch meeting > School Committee Updates The school holiday on Monday is now known as Indigenous Peoples Day, thanks to advocacy by students last year. Connie Barr commended the district for its continued work to recruit and retain diverse staff. Michael Greis shared that the PPBC has expressed support for the SC's recommended plan for Emery Grover. Superintendent’s Comments Dr. Gutekanst addressed the misbehavior of students (predominantly middle school) on school grounds, including egg throwing and broken bottles on Memorial Field. The behavior has been addressed by staff and other adults, but Dr. Gutekanst also asked parents to talk to their kids about behavior expectations outside of school. Congratulations to three National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists: Samuel Billante, Benjamin Lee, and Drew Winkler The Special Olympics recognized NHS as a 2021 Unified Champion school. Facilities Update — School Master Plan Jason Boone from Dore + Whittier Architecture provided an overview of the School Master Plan Extension Study, to be completed by the end of 2021. The School Committee had previously approved a plan that would renovate Pollard to accommodate grades 6-8, build a new 3-section Mitchell, and convert High Rock into a sixth 3-section elementary school. But the cost of the project over the next five years exceeds the Town’s debt plan limitations. The revised study will look at ways to decrease the short-term cost by reducing the scope and/or lengthening the time frame. There will be four key explorations of the study as requested by the Finance Committee: A variation to the preferred plan, with a detached 6th grade building at Pollard site Better understanding the impact of COVID on future enrollment Variations to the proposed "Status Quo" Scenario, which keeps all students in current buildings through building projects at High Rock, Pollard, and Mitchell Explore a different "Status Quo" scenario, which also keeps students where they are but may entail an addition at Eliot and a smaller addition at Pollard At the Pollard site, creating a detached 6th-grade center would allow the full Pollard renovation to be phased over a longer period of time — upgrades to the existing building could be completed after the 6th grade center is finished, instead of concurrently as would be required if the 6th grade center is added to the existing building. A key component of the study is to look at how the pandemic has impacted enrollment projections throughout the district. New data from the 2020 census will be used, but the demographer has expressed concerns about both the accuracy of that data and expected delays in the release of it. The federal data will be supplemented by data provided by the town. Some schematics included in the packet led to questions about the design of the Pollard site, and community concerns about loss of green space. It was stressed that these are not final designs, merely sketches to see if it is possible to fit a 6th grade center on the site. As with other school building projects, there will be a lengthy design process, multiple options will be presented, and the public will have opportunities to provide input. Facilities Update — Emery Grover Dr. Gutekanst provided an update on the Emery Grover project. At the upcoming Special Town Meeting, there will be a warrant article seeking design funds for a historic renovation of Emery Grover. Based on the 2020 Feasibility Study, the School Committee had voted to move forward with a renovation and addition to the Emery Grover building. In response to questions and concerns regarding the cost of the project, several alternative solutions have been explored: Leasing space: The current cost of leasing would be $900,000 per year, plus an initial cost of about $2 million to for out the space. But there has been no response to requests for leasing info from local landlords. Selling Emery-Grover for a profit: The market value of the building had been estimated at $3.6 million dollar in 2020, but now local realtors say it is closer to $2.1 million due to site constraints. Building at Hillside: There are serious concerns about the unknown cost of remediation of soil contamination The design has now been revised to stay within the footprint of the current building, reducing the estimated cost to about $21 million (which includes both the design cost and preparing swing space at Hillside). The smaller building will not include space for the IT department, which would remain in its current locations as Broadmeadow and Hillside schools. In addition to being the most cost-effective, this option would also be eligible for CPA funds, estimated around $6 million. If funding is not approved on 10/25 then Dr. Guteknast will request $2 million for temporary relocation of school operations until a new space can be found. Continued use of Emery Grover in its current state is not possible. Dr. Gutekanst and School Committee members voiced their strong support for the project, stating that, after many years of study, it remains the most affordable, efficient, and overall best solution for staff, families, and the community at large. Update on Schools and Learning Dr. Gutekanst provided an update on health and safety in Needham Schools: On 9/16, 50 random rooms were tested for ventilation. Two were found to not meet standards but have now been fixed. The COVID 19 Dashboard provides data on student and staff infections There is over 90% compliance on daily health attestations The Commissioner may lift the mask requirement November 1st. But Needham's Joint Committee on Health and Safety will review additional data before lifting the mask requirement in Needham Schools, and they will not pursue the option of lifting the mandate mid-October for schools with 80% vaccination rates. Test and stay program is functioning and meeting the goal of keeping healthy students in schools. Making this school year work is complicated for nurses and principals. Susannah Hann, Interim Director of Health Services, Patricia Flueckiger, District Nurse, and Lisa Austin, Needham High School Nurse shared their perspective on health and safety measures this year. The more complicated contact tracing and quarantine rules have made the job even more challenging this year. Contact tracing at the High School in particular can be extremely time consuming, and more staff is being hired to help with both testing and contact tracing. 2021-2022 Superintendent’s Goals Dr. Gutekanst provided a draft of his annual goals to the School Committee for their feedback. The vote to approve will take place at the next meeting. Action Item The School Committee voted unanimously to waive current school policy in order to allow student sponsorships in the Hometown Weekly Newspaper. This would allow fine and performing arts, as well as other student activities such as robotics teams, to be highlighted in the Hometown Weekly as athletics already are. School Committee Comments The community is encouraged to visit resources provided by the Substance Prevention Alliance of Needham (SPAN). The Student Advisory Committee will present at the next School Committee meeting. Community members are encouraged to send questions and comments to the school committee: schoolcommittee@needham.k12.ma.us There is a School Committee Open House on Saturday, October 16, 9-10:30am outdoors at the High School The next School Committee meeting is October 19 at 6:30pm.