School committee reports: attendance, dropout and mobility figures; committee approves three routine items
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Summary
Assistant superintendent Tamara Blake Canty reported attendance, dropout and mobility data, and the committee approved three agenda items by roll call: a fee increase (item SC27), a $10,000 grant acceptance, and a $45,000 budget transfer, each passed 7–0 with two members absent.
The Chelsea School Committee on April 9 received monthly indicators of success from Assistant Superintendent Tamara Blake Canty and approved three routine agenda items by roll call.
Blake Canty presented attendance, dropout and mobility figures and described hiring demographics for recent district hires. The committee then voted unanimously, 7–0 with two members absent, to approve a school fee increase item (listed as Item 25 SC27), accept a $10,000 FY25 grant for an advanced learning pilot (Item 25 SC20A) and approve a $45,000 budget transfer moving funds from curriculum development contractor services to pupil personnel contractor services for FY2024‑25 (Item 25 SD29).
Tamara Blake Canty, assistant superintendent, summarized attendance rates for March: "For grades 1 through 8, the average daily attendance range from 91 to 93%. For grades 9 through 12, the average range is about 80 to 83%. For our pre k students, the average for the month of March is 90% and overall as a district, we're almost at 89%." She also reported that the high school dropout count to date was 69 students from an October 1 enrollment of 1,827.
Blake Canty detailed mobility for March by level: for kindergarten a net change of negative 3 (8 in, 5 out); elementary net negative 12 (6 in, 18 out); middle school net +5 (13 in, 8 out); high school net +10 (22 in, 12 out). For the month the district saw 49 students in and 43 out (net +6). Cumulatively since September the district has had 663 students in and 518 out (net +145).
On hiring, Blake Canty reported that since March 1 new hires were 60% Hispanic, 40% Black and 0% White and 0% Asian/Pacific Islander in the dataset she presented.
The student report noted events and academic opportunities at Chelsea High School. A student speaker reported that CHS seniors had their last opportunity to take the STAMP biliteracy test and said counselors held scholarship help events April 9 (the day of the meeting) and April 11. The student also noted a CHS college fair scheduled for Friday the 11th in the Red Gym and a district music concert planned for April 15 at 6 p.m. in the Williams School gym. The student highlighted extracurricular wins including boys' and girls' track victories and a recent CHS production of Cinderella.
Votes at a glance
- Item 25 SC27 — "consideration and action to a second increase for the, Tylen, to $8 for the 2024...school year" (transcript wording unclear). Outcome: approved, roll call 7 in favor, 2 absent. Votes recorded: O'Regan Yes; Henriquez Yes; Cabral Yes; Balderas Yes; Dr. Neville Yes; (Miss) Cova Escaraballo Yes; Alfaro Yes; Hernandez Absent; Gomez Pereira Absent.
- Item 25 SC20A — "consideration and action to accept $10,000, FY25 from DC for the advanced learning pilot deeper learning implementation grant" (transcript). Outcome: approved, roll call 7 in favor, 2 absent. Votes recorded: O'Regan Yes; Henriquez Yes; Cabral Yes; Balderas Yes; Dr. Neville Yes; Caraballo Yes; Alfaro Yes; Hernandez Absent; Gomez Pereira Absent.
- Item 25 SD29 — "consideration and action to approve a budget transfer of $45,000 to move funds from curriculum development contractor services to pupil personnel contractor services for FY2024‑25." Outcome: approved, roll call 7 in favor, 2 absent. Votes recorded: O'Regan Yes; Henriquez Yes; Cabral Yes; Balderas Yes; Dr. Neville Yes; Caraballo Yes; Alfaro Yes; Hernandez Absent; Gomez Pereira Absent.
Committee members and staff said they will continue to hold subcommittee meetings and use data to inform policy discussions, including student safety and discipline decisions discussed elsewhere on the agenda.