February 12, 2022 by Carol Britton Meyer (courtesy photo of Dr. Margaret Adams above the next Superintendent of the Hingham Public Schools.)
The School Committee completed contract negotiations with new Hingham Public Schools Supt. Dr. Margaret Adams and reached an agreement with the Hingham Education Association Unit B (paraprofessionals) regarding the reopening of schools for the current school year on Friday.
Adams' contract is for three years, starting July 1, 2022, and ending June 30, 2025, with an educational consultant agreement in effect from Feb. 4 through June 30 "so she can get to know the district, participate in the strategic plan process, and hit the ground running," School Committee member Liza O'Reilly -- who is part of the negotiating team -- reported at Friday's School Committee meeting.
Adams' salary, benefits, and performance incentive package are comparable to Hingham's benchmark communities and in line with former Supt. Paul Austin's and Interim Supt. Gary Maestas compensation, O'Reilly said. Adams will also participate in the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents induction program.
With regard to the Memorandum of Agreement with the paraprofessionals, they will receive additional sick leave days to cover any COVID-related absences and be provided with PPE equipment and COVID testing. The MOA also requires paraprofessionals to report their vaccination status.
"Due to the challenges of finding substitute teachers, paraprofessionals are often asked to [step into that role]," O'Reilly said. Accordingly, the MOA includes two additional hours of pay when a paraprofessional is called upon to serve as a substitute.
O'Reilly expressed appreciation for the paraprofessionals' "ongoing work. They have performed incredibly well during trying times."
Overnight field trip policy addressed
The School Committee also discussed a proposed Overnight Field Trip COVID Travel Policy at length, in the end deciding to return the draft to the policy subcommittee for further review.
The draft policy calls for all students ages five and older participating in HPS domestic and international overnight field trips to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with certain medical and religious exemptions with related requirements.
The majority of School Committee members, while pro-vaccination, felt that COVID testing would be sufficient without requiring one, although no vote was taken.
"These field trips are school-sponsored, and I'm concerned [about including a vaccination requirement], because the HPS doesn't require students to have one," Committee member Michelle Ayer said.
O'Reilly, on the other hand, said she's in favor of keeping the vaccination requirement, noting that "the reason the governor and commissioner of education are rescinding the [public schools] masking requirement is because so many people are vaccinated."
School Committee member Carlos Da Silva noted that certain destinations have their own restrictions. "I don't want anyone to not be able to go on a trip if they aren't vaccinated while they will be wearing masks [under certain circumstances]."
Member Tim Miller-Dempsey said he feels a COVID-19 test requirement would be "a "more meaningful measurement" than a vaccination requirement. At the same time, he noted, Commr. of Education Jeffrey Riley removed the public schools mask mandate effective Feb. 28 "because of the high vaccination rate."
Ness Correnti, another School Committee member, agreed with Miller-Dempsey about dropping the vaccination requirement, noting that "vaccinated kids can catch and [spread] COVID, too. I wouldn't want someone who's unvaccinated to be left out of important trips. We're not in the business of making health decisions for kids and their families," she said. "Testing is more important and tells us more. Some people have good reasons for not being vaccinated."
Jen Benham also stated that she is not in favor of the vaccination requirement.
Chair Kerry Ni, on the other hand, is in favor of one, noting that the Health and Education Task Force -- comprised of medical professionals and educators who have provided input to the School Committee before -- "is adamant that we need to get kids vaccinated. This would be an incentive for them to do so, with a testing option for those who absolutely can't get vaccinated [for one reason or another]."
Noting that it's an individual choice, Miller-Dempsey said he doesn't understand parents not choosing to get their kids vaccinated -- "no disrespect meant." That said, he doesn't feel that using the overnight field trip policy as a means to raising the vaccination rate "is an appropriate use of the School Committee."
Ayer said that initially the vaccination requirement seemed like a good decision, because at that time testing wasn't as readily available. "I do worry about kids [who are unvaccinated] missing out. People should recognize that many school districts aren't even allowing overnight fields trips, and we're doing everything we can to make this school year as normal as possible, but also safe."
Testing "is the way to go," Da Silva said, noting that at-home COVID test kits are available through the schools.
O'Reilly further commented that while she's all in favor of students taking COVID tests before they leave on a school trip, "I want everyone to be safe, and I believe the safest way is for them to be vaccinated."
Ni said she was uncomfortable disagreeing with the health professionals on the task force.
The policy will be revisited at the next policy subcommittee meeting.