March 26, 2021 Meeting Minutes

HSA Meeting March 26, 2021

9 am virtual meeting via Zoom
28 members in attendance

Mike Lembo (Board of Education President) was in attendance.  He addressed the upcoming school budget briefly which will be in place by July 1, 2021 for the 2021-2022 school years. Then, the focus was on grades 2-5 returning to school 5 days a week on April 19.  He discussed that K and 1st grade returned to school 5 mornings a week just last Monday, March 22.  This has been working well for schools.  Mr. Lembo addressed that the schedule change is able to occur due to change in recommendation social distance guidance from the CDC from 6ft to 3ft.  

Dr. Oates and Mr. Lembo answered parent questions regarding the return to 5 mornings a week.  Dr. Oates addressed why volunteers can not be in charge of lunch sessions, that classrooms will be arranged at Somerville to include spacing of 3ft-6ft depending on the size of the class and classroom. Plastic dividers will be in place due to the decreased distance.  Dr. Oates also addressed that possible teacher reassignments for some students (especially grade 2, 3, and 5) will occur with the change in schedule on April 19.  She anticipates a letter to families going out on April 5 updating which teachers will be re-assigned and how many students will need to be transferred.  And then revised class lists to be sent out April 12.  Both Dr. Oates and Mr. Lembo did note that with the decrease in distance between students, this could bring further quarantines to a class/classmates with positive cases since it will be less than 6 ft.

Classroom and teacher supplies were purchased by the HSA (dry-erase markers, pencil cases, glue sticks, folders, etc).  All this can be done due to the membership dues/fundraising.

Teacher Appreciation “mailbox drop” occurred in March as a token of gratitude (lip balm).

Sarah and Francesca spoke about the upcoming HSA events:

• HSA website will be up and running soon
•  No Cook Lunch/Dinner on April 6th at East Coast Burger,
• Clothing drive on April 10th  ,
• Plant/cake sale for Mother’s Day  will start in April
• International Night will be shifted to June but doing special video presentations that will be shown to students in school.

Next HSA Meeting: April 22, 2021 at 7pm on Zoom.