March 1, 2022 By Carol Britton Meyer
It's time to return to in-person meetings was the general consensus at Monday's School Committee meeting -- with a remote option available if it can be arranged for parents and others who find it difficult or impossible to attend live meetings. This would ensure that their voices will continue to be heard.
"It's easier for us to meet in person, but we are trying to ensure [the continued accessibility we have now] with remote meetings," Chair Kerry Ni said.
While some parents have indicated a strong interest in a return to in-person meetings, others say remote meetings provide an opportunity for some parents to participate in School Committee business that would not be possible otherwise.
School Committee member Carlos Da Silva asked for this issue to be put on the agenda. "With the lifting of the mask mandate [in the Hingham Public Schools], I think it's time that we bring ourselves back to the normal," he said.
At the same time, because doing so may discourage parents from participating, he wondered if a hybrid model -- in-person with a remote option -- might be possible, as is the case in some other communities.
Member Tim Miller-Dempsey said he's heard from people who want the Committee to start meeting in person again, but not from others who want the remote format to continue. "Are we trying to protect a contingency that doesn't exist?" he wondered. "The number of Zoom participants in our meetings seems to be decreasing" now that discussions about vaccinations and face mask considerations seem to be winding down.
While member Nes Correnti said she feels the flow of conversation goes more smoothly at in-person meetings, she is concerned that there will be less participation without at least a remote option during upcoming discussions that are of major importance. "It's really critical for people to remain engaged," she said.
Correnti further noted that she hopes people aren't disappointed when in-person meetings return to find that the time limit on the questions and comments part of the agenda will remain at three minutes, and that two-way communication won't be any different during live meetings than it is now between the audience and the Committee during remote meetings.
That said, the recent return to in-person School Committee "office hours" has been "exciting, with great participation," Correnti observed. "Either way, I plead with people to remain engaged."
Following a lengthy discussion, Chair Kerry Ni suggested she reach out to Harbor Media and the town's IT department to see if there is a way to provide a hybrid option as soon as possible before returning to in-person meetings, potentially at the beginning of April.
At member Liza O'Reilly's suggestion, it was decided that subcommittees will continue to meet via Zoom to give members more flexibility in working around their different schedules.
There were as many as 40 members in the Zoom meeting at one point, with three participants advocating for a hybrid model for the reasons already mentioned. "I really hope this option won't go away," one parent said.
It was also noted that Zoom meetings make it possible for parents of elementary students to become engaged early on without having to pay for babysitters while they attend an in-person meeting.
Parent Kristen Moore said there are a lot more parents who feel the same as the previous two speakers -- that the reason they have been able to participate in School Committee meetings is due to the remote option.
"It's difficult with all our kids' sports and other activities, and remote meetings are a critical way for parents to join in the conversation and to be heard," she said. "Many don't have the flexibility to attend in-person meetings at Town Hall."
While acknowledging that live meetings are important "to bounce ideas off of each other and to see people's faces," Moore said she believes School Committee attendance levels will remain much higher with the flexibility of offering a hybrid model.
Miller-Dempsey noted that "at one time, every member of this School Committee was a parent [of small children,]" and so they understand the concerns.
"We want to be sure people remain involved and that we make it easy for them [to do so]," Ni said.