Administrators discuss strategies to improve Hull students’ MCAS performance

By Carol Britton Meyer

Following a recent overview of the spring 2022 Hull Public Schools MCAS results, Superintendent of Schools Judith Kuehn and Director of Curriculum and Assessment Christine Cappadona presented target strategies for improvement and “indicators for success” to the school committee this week as a follow-up.

While some MCAS results were praiseworthy, there are areas of concern that are being addressed, including absenteeism and a lower-than-expected MCAS participation rate.

Among the goals is analyzing current MCAS data to make instructional shifts to close achievement gaps, and to improve student outcomes in all grades.

Part of this effort will be to determine grade-level standards that need additional instructional focus, analyzing “Galileo” benchmarks and other content-focused assessments to inform instruction, and holding meetings to review student progress and to plan targeted interventions.

The Galileo assessment system used by the school district for grades 1 through 8 is considered to be an effective tool to gauge students’ academic achievements beyond MCAS exams.

In addition, the “Pirate Time” program at Jacobs helps meet students’ educational needs where they are, based in large part on data related to reading and math skills, supporting all learners with the goal of students “getting what they need.” Hull High School offers Pirate Time quarterly, and Memorial Middle School features a remediation and enrichment block offering various activities in the middle of the day such as a homework club. STE (Science Technology Engineering) Boot Camp helps fifth- through eighth-graders prepare for the science MCAS exam.

There’s also a focus on best practices for writing, writing instruction during middle school social studies classes, building-based Student Intervention Teams to identify and implement interventions for at-risk-students, Social Emotional Learning strategies incorporated into the curriculum, a focus on sustaining positive relationships among educators, students, and families, and consistent communication. Students’ spirits are bolstered by district-wide efforts to “celebrate successes.”

Goals include increasing the district percentage of students meeting and exceeding English Language Arts scores by 5%, from 45.2 to 50.2% or above; the district percentage of students meeting and exceeding math expectations by 5%, from 46.4 to 51.4% or above; and the Student Growth Percentage by 5% from 45.4 to 50.4% or above.

Another goal is increasing MCAS participation at each grade level through communications with students and their families. While taking the exam is not optional, some HPS parents have chosen not to have their children tested.

There is also a focus on increasing student school attendance, which greatly impacts learning.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education defines chronic absenteeism as when a student misses more than 10% of the school year, or 18 school days, without taking into consideration whether an absence is excused or unexcused.

“As we transition from COVID, we are navigating a new health challenge coming off of the pandemic. The district will continue to educate and work with families on when it is appropriate to keep children home from school and when it is appropriate to send a child to school,” Kuehn said. “This is a delicate matter. We want families to understand that attendance is crucial, but we understand that illness and the need to stay home at times is unavoidable.”

State law requires a letter be sent to parents after a student has five absences, a second letter for between 8 and 10 absences, and a third letter if there is no improvement, followed by a meeting with school administration.

An evaluation and analysis of the end-of-year district attendance summary will be compared to the previous year’s to help ensure that progress is being made.

Select board grants year-end renewals of business licenses

By Carol Britton Meyer

The select board last week granted approval to renew a number of annual alcohol, common victualler, entertainment, and other licenses for Hull restaurants and other businesses. Most of these licenses expire on Dec. 31; other licenses were granted at earlier meetings.

The board approved:

* Amendments to Mezzo Mare’s liquor and common victualler licenses to return to pre-COVID days and hours of operation, which were decreased during the pandemic;

* Change of manager to Zeandre Hines for the Nantasket Beach Resort on its all-alcoholic as an innholder license, and current common victualler and entertainment licenses;

* Change of manager to Ricardo Abrantes on the common victualler license for Dunkin’ at 1 Bay St.;

* Extension of seasonal entertainment and common victualler licenses for the Nantasket Beach Salt Water Club until Jan. 15, 2023.

* Renewal of The Parrot’s all-alcoholic, common victualler, and entertainment licenses; Nantasket Beach Resort’s all-alcoholic as an innholder, common victualler, and entertainment licenses; Dalat’s all-alcoholic as a general on-premise licensee and common victualler licenses; Mambo’s all-alcoholic, common victualler, and entertainment licenses; and Mezzo Mare’s all-alcoholic and common victualler licenses.

The select board also approved a change of hours (now 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.) for Dunkin’ and renewal of its common victualler license; and the renewal of common victualler licenses for the Saltwater Diner in Kenberma and Crave at its two locations at Surfside.

Also approved was a change in manager to Kirk Davis for Nantasket Beach Lodging and a renewal of its lodging house license, and renewal of the lodging house license for NeighborWorks Neighborhood Housing Service (Easy Living Lodge) on Park Avenue.

All license renewals approved by the select board are subject to approval of inspectional services and other requirements.

Pemberton landmark sold for $1.5 million, but Jo’s Nautical owners say it’s business as usual

By Carol Britton Meyer

The landmark property at Pemberton that houses Jo’s Nautical Bar recently changed hands, but loyal customers will be happy to learn that Stephanie Aprea and Michael McDevitt will continue to operate the popular gathering place for now.

McDevitt and Aprea sold the building at 125 Main St. on Dec. 8 for $1.5 million to a company based in Arlington. They have owned the property for the past 19 years.

“We’ll still be running the bar. Nothing has changed,” Aprea told The Hull Times. “The hours remain the same, Thursday through Sunday year-round, with the same great staff, people, drinks, and what we think are the best prices in town.”

The buyer, according to the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds, is Arlington-based Coleme, LLC. Paperwork filed with the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s corporations division lists Jean A. English as the resident agent of Coleme, with attorneys Kenneth Ingber and Mary Winstanley O’Connor as signatories, or those authorized to act on behalf of the limited liability company.

The buyer could not be reached to discuss plans for the property. Community Development and Planning Director Chris DiIorio told The Hull Times that no plans have been filed in his office. According to the Town of Hull’s zoning maps, the property is zoned Commercial Recreation C, which permits hotels, marinas, multi-family development, and restaurants, among other uses.

According to the Registry of Deeds, Coleme, LLC also has an option to purchase a plot of land across Main Street; Aprea and McDevitt have maintained ownership of the pier on the southern end of the property.

Building Commissioner Bartley Kelly said no new plans had been filed with the building department as of Tuesday. The only plan that he recalled was the approval-not-required subdivision of lots that was filed earlier with the planning board “that divided the lot and showed the old Coast Guard building that Mike McDevitt was trying to permit a couple of years ago through the planning board and conservation,” he said.

According to the Hull Historical Society, the property was originally owned by the Nantasket Beach Steamboat Company, and the pier was known as the steamboat supply pier.

Longtime Hull Town Clerk John “Jack” Darcy and his wife, Josephine, purchased the property in 1950. The business was commonly called Darcy’s while they owned it. Jack Darcy died in 1999; his wife sold the 125 Main St. property to McDevitt and Aprea for $1 million in the fall of 2003.

Following Jo Darcy’s death in 2004, McDevitt and Aprea bought the land next door at 127 Main St. from Mrs. Darcy’s estate for $255,000 in May 2005.

When they bought it, McDevitt and Aprea pledged to maintain the bar’s friendly atmosphere and have made few changes during their operation of the establishment. The walls of the bar are covered with decades of nautical memorabilia that tell stories of years gone by, which is one of the reasons why locals and out-of-town visitors are such big fans.

“We want people to know that Jo’s is still around and will be for a long while,” Aprea said. “We are still here!”

Town Manager Philip Lemnios to retire in June

By Carol Britton Meyer

TOWN MANAGER PHILIP LEMNIOS…

By Carol Britton Meyer

After serving the Town of Hull for a combined 26 years during his two separate terms as town manager, Philip Lemnios announced to the select board Wednesday his decision to retire on June 30.

Under his contract, Lemnios must give six months’ notice of plans to leave the position. In the meantime, Lemnios intends to include funding for an assistant town manager in the proposed FY24 budget, which was a topic during the board’s October goals and objectives discussion, he noted.

“This would give the board some latitude on thinking about the town manager position, and what the next person in that role could accomplish,” he said. “I’m very excited for the town and for my own next steps. This is a great opportunity for the town and the select board to do some deep thinking and to reflect on the nature of the next person [who will fill the town manager position].”

Lemnios has a long history with the town, stepping for the second time into the town manager role in 2007 at the Hull selectmen’s request after holding that position from 1992 to 2003, when he left to serve as Natick’s town administrator. The second time around, Lemnios replaced retiring Town Manager Christopher McCabe, who – like Lemnios – had returned to employment in Hull after leaving for another community.

“I believe I’ve accomplished what the board asked me to do when they invited me back in 2007,” Lemnios said. “There’s a great team in place, and it’s a good time to gain a fresh perspective on the position. It’s been a great pleasure to work for and serve [the town], and I will be here for the next six months.”

Select Board Chair Jennifer Constable said it was the board’s pleasure and honor “to have you manage this town. Six months will go by quickly. Thanks for what you have done for the town. It’s a very stable community.”

Select board member Domenico Sestito recalled that Lemnios returned to Hull as town manager the year before he was elected as a selectman.

“You were met with one of the biggest economic crises of the last century, and [I appreciated] the way you navigated through what were uncertain, unprecedented, and scary times,” he said. “This was my introduction to your passion for the town. I’m happy for you but will miss you.”

Lemnios said this is the natural juncture for the board to decide what it would like the next town manager to focus on, “whether economic development, housing, or other issues,” whereas his charge was to focus on the town’s finances.

At Lemnios’ suggestion, an agenda item related to succession planning is planned for the Jan. 4 meeting.

“We’ll need to talk about and decide the process [moving forward],” Sestito said.

Board member Donna Pursel spoke about how many Hull board and committee members as well as town officials and members of groups outside of Hull’s borders speak highly of the town manager. “Your name often comes up as a resource and a reference,” she said. “You’re truly a leader, even outside of our town.”

Sestito noted that during discussions between the Hull and Hingham select boards related to the water company, Hingham officials also spoke of Lemnios with respect. “This is a testament to you [and what you have accomplished],” he said.

School Committee hears plans for grade realignment; vote may occur next month

By Carol Britton Meyer

Discussion of the potential consolidation of Hull’s school system continued this week, with the elementary and high school building principals offering ideas for how to transition middle school students into a two-building setup, with grades preK-7 at the Jacobs School and grades 8-12 at the high school.

UNDER THE CONSOLIDATION PLAN, THE MEMORIAL MIDDLE SCHOOL WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL USES.

Superintendent of Schools Judith Kuehn presented “thoughts, plans, ideas, and possibilities” for the potential reconfiguration, following the school committee’s earlier decision to accept the recommendation of the Best Educational Use of School Facilities Ad Hoc Committee.

The school committee may discuss and vote at its next meeting on whether to move forward with this plan, and the timing for implementation.

The concept would leave the Memorial Middle School building open to municipal and other educational uses. Whatever the outcome, the school committee would maintain control of the building. One of the key goals of the consolidation plan is “ensuring the safety of students,” Kuehn said.

Jacobs Elementary Principal Kyle Shaw talked about the possible reconfiguration in that building, while realignment at Hull High School was presented by Principal Michael Knybel.

The guiding principle behind all decisions continues to be “What is in the best interests of our students?” Kuehn said. “This plan is a work in progress.”

The committee’s discussions are in keeping with the purpose of the Best Educational Use of School Facilities report by the MARS Group, which was charged with evaluating the educational adequacy of Hull’s three school buildings.

As part of a two-phase plan, Kuehn explained the proposed one-year location of grades: Current grade 5 students who would normally go on to the middle school would remain at Jacobs for that year, meaning that grades PreK through 6 would be at Jacobs, grades 7 and 8 at Memorial, and grades 9 through 12 at the high school, with advance notice provided to grade 5 students and families and preparation of Grade 5 students for remaining at Jacobs for an additional year.

During this transition year, detailed plans would be crafted for the reconfiguration, input sought from all educators, school leadership would foster relationships with grade 7 and 8 educators and professional development would be provided. HHS administrators and guidance counselors would prepare seventh- and eighth-graders to help them transition to the high school.

Under a potential reconfiguration, “Lower School” preK-3 students would utilize the first floor of Jacobs under the guidance of a principal and assistant principal. The “Upper School” would consist of grades 4-7 in a middle school/upper elementary configuration, under the guidance of an assistant principal. The start and end times would be moved back, and the curriculum alignment strengthened, with increased collaboration and continuity with student support services.

This would mean one fewer transition and a shift in staffing, with additional course offerings such as engineering and band for grades 4 and 5 and foreign language for grades 6 and 7, as possibilities.

Also at Jacobs, a student mentoring program would be offered, along with increased staffing and expanded extracurricular offerings and continuing traditions such as Nature’s Classroom, the rowing program, assemblies, read-a-thons, student government, the Turkey Trot, dances, concerts, and band performances.

Hull High School would have a principal and an assistant principal, with four core classrooms. Under the plan, there would be no reason for grade 8 to use the second floor.

The students would benefit from a strengthened curriculum, increased academic enrichment and remediation, project-based learning, the ability for eighth-graders to participate in the woodshop program, and a moving back of the start and end times for grade 8-12 students, administrators said.

All past transitional experiences will remain to celebrate the students, with additional new activities and celebrations.

Kuehn explained that the final reconfiguration plan, if the school committee decides to implement it, “will be remarkable” because the school district “has creative educators and leaders, can imagine and plan for possibilities, is resourceful, has committed families, demonstrates willingness to invest their time, and always puts students first.”

Request for $1.5M in CPC funds to restore Village Fire Station faces scrutiny

By Carol Britton Meyer

The Community Preservation Committee spent a large portion of Monday night’s nearly two-hour meeting focused on the proposed Village Fire Station renovation project.

Under the historic preservation category of the Community Preservation Act, the proposal seeks $1.5 million for the next phase of the proposed reconstruction, which would likely be bonded over a number of years. The town is seeking to restore the deteriorating building at 129 Spring St., which was the first town hall and school and is located in the Hull Village Historic District. The building is currently used as a satellite fire station on the first level and the Hull Historical Society’s archives and museum are located on the second floor.

There was a general consensus among CPC members that they would like to see a detailed list of what work is included in the $1.5 million request, and information about how much of the time the building is used by the Hull Fire Department, including during severe storms when the area sometimes floods and an ambulance is stationed there.

Concerns were voiced about how potentially moving forward with such a high-cost project would take away from funding for other worthy historic preservation projects, and that if taxpayer-funded Community Preservation Act money is used for this project, there should be some kind of public access and educational or other benefit.

CPC member Jim Richman thinks the funding should come out of the town budget.

“Why isn’t the town fixing the building? It hasn’t been taken care of for years,” he said. “I have a problem with the town coming to us for funding.”

Community Development and Planning Director Chris Dilorio, speaking about the proposal on behalf of the town, explained that CPA funds may be used for restoration of town-owned historic buildings.

“If we don’t repair the building now, it will fall into further disrepair,” he said.

CPC member Nathan Peyton said he was having a tough time understanding why CPA money is considered to be the right funding source, and encouraged more creative thinking on this subject. “It wouldn’t have to be all or everyday access to the building, but I think we would need to explain the value beyond a restoration” to Hull citizens, he said.

When initially garnering voter support for instituting the CPA surcharge in Hull several years ago, “we promised quality of life investments that would otherwise go unfunded,” Peyton recalled.

The Village Fire Station “should [be turned into] a museum,” Richman said, if the request for CPA funding were to move forward.

While Dilorio thinks the committee’s desire for public access to the building if it were to be restored using CPA funds makes sense, “we’d have to figure out how to make it work,” he said.

The committee plans to invite Town Manager Philip Lemnios, Town Accountant Michael Buckley, and Fire Chief Christopher Russo to its Jan. 9 meeting to explain the details of the application and to respond to the committee’s questions.

Following the lengthy discussion, Chair Rachel Kelly said that she hoped the meeting “puts a little fire under the town” to realize that the CPC won’t consider supporting the requested amount without further discussion.

Despite shortage of plow drivers, town is prepared for winter weather’s arrival

By Carol Britton Meyer 

Following a recent meeting of department heads, Town Manager Philip Lemnios reported that Hull is prepared for whatever this winter may hold, although a shortage of contractors to plow snow is an issue.

“The DPW equipment is ready, and the superintendent of schools [Judith Kuehn] has talked about potential school closures,” Lemnios told the select board this week. “This is a meeting we hold every year to discuss any potential issues and ways we can improve upon last year’s [efforts].”

While the DPW makes every attempt to clear the town’s roads quickly and safely, the usual issues related to the amount of on-street parking and the impacts of drifting snow are exacerbated this year by that shortage of contractors – a challenge faced by many communities, Lemnios noted. “We’re paying competitive rates, so that’s not the issue. It’s just that there are not as many folks [as in past years] who want to do this work.”

What this means, he explained, is that depending on the duration and intensity of a snowstorm, it may take longer for the roads “to be in better shape than many would like.”

When the snow is falling so hard that a large amount of additional snow has fallen once the first round of plowing is completed, the cleanup process lengthens.

“It was a good meeting to ensure everyone is on the same page, so that piece of the puzzle is done,” Lemnios said.

He said the DPW’s first priority is to ensure that police, fire, and medical emergency equipment can move safely on town streets, the second is to open main and secondary roads for use by the public, and the third is to open residential streets, which can take additional time depending on the amount of snow that has fallen. The DPW’s fourth priority is to clear the sidewalks used by students walking to and from school.

A winter parking ban is now in effect through March 31. On-street parking is prohibited on Nantasket Avenue, Atlantic Avenue, Spring Street, and Main Street between 1:30 a.m. and 7 a.m.

During inclement weather, parking will be allowed on the even-numbered side of each street, except in areas where such parking is always prohibited. This will help make the snow removal, sanding, and salting operations run more smoothly and allow for the free flow of traffic, especially emergency vehicles.

In addition to all these measures, the light plant has leased generators again this year to ensure that Hull residents don’t go without electricity and stay warm this winter in the event of a prolonged power outage through National Grid, whose lines supply Hull with power.

Hanukkah season signals a time of celebration, renewal, and light for all

Hanukkah commemorates the Jewish ancestral military victory, recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent miracles that took place in the holy temple in Israel.

Historically, Hanukkah has been a time of renewal and rededication. Over the centuries, the holiday has evolved to include all the joyous celebration elements we observe today.

We come together to light menorah, increasing by one candle on each of the eight holiday nights, increasing the light and beauty every night.

Jews everywhere enjoy fried foods, such as potato latkes and donuts, and will spin dreidel, a game of chance for fun and prizes.

Hanukkah is often termed The Festival of Lights, bringing warmth and happiness to the darkest days of winter.

Here in our home in Hull, we will have a communal menorah lighting on Sunday, Dec. 18 at the gazebo at nightfall, and an open house party in our synagogue, including entertainment and refreshments, leading up to the lighting.

Your friends at Temple Beth Sholom hope to see you all, and share our warmest wishes for the holiday.

Need help for the holidays? These Hull organizations are ready to lend a hand

By Carol Britton Meyer

While the holidays are typically a happy time of year, full of celebrations, goodwill, and cheer, assistance is available in the close-knit Hull community for those who are struggling to put food on their tables and pay their utility bills, let alone finding the means to buy gifts for their children and creating a festive atmosphere.

Many Hull residents are donating gifts to the Hull Fire Department/Wellspring Multi-Service Center Toy Drive, the Campbell Christmas Angels program, and to Holiday Gifts for Veterans 2022, while the Council on Aging is supporting older adults in Hull in various ways in the spirit of the holidays. (See related story.)

Families who would like to request toys for their children through the fire department toy drive should sign up through Wellspring, according to Program Coordinator Jane Walsh.

“Wellspring assigns families a number, and they will be able to pick up their gifts at the fire station on Dec. 16 and 17,” she said.

This holiday gift program is open to all children under 18 in Hull. “In partnership with the HFD, we ask families what is wanted and what is needed,” Wellspring President & CEO Vinny Harte told The Hull Times. “Everyone gets the needed hats, gloves, socks, and other items, and then we match donors to the wanted items. Gifts for teens usually include gift cards that allow them to shop and choose for themselves.”

Wellspring’s food pantry, Aunt Dot’s Kitchen, will provide food for holiday meals, including a ham or a turkey, during the week before Christmas.

The pantry is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9:30 a.m. for any Hull resident in need. “With the cost of food skyrocketing, we are seeing more families who are just trying to make ends meet,” Harte said. Wellspring provides assistance with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – formerly known as food stamps) applications as requested.

Transportation to the pantry is available on Mondays. Clients are picked up at their homes and returned once they have collected their food. Delivery of food is available on Fridays for those unable to go there in person.

“For people looking to share their kindness during the holiday season, donations of food, dollars, or gift cards will be put to immediate use and will provide joy and happiness to a neighbor in Hull,” Harte said

For more information about these programs, call Pat Martin, who helps clients get the help they need, at 781-925-3211, ext. 112.

Campbell Christmas Angels founder Laurie Good knows what it’s like to be in dire straits during the holidays.

“I was at one time living in a motel with my kids [for an extended period of time], including on Christmas,” she recalled. “No child should be left out because of the circumstances they live in or feel as though they have been forgotten. Kids are aware that Santa is coming – that’s what kids look forward to and think about when they hear his name – and we want them to have a nice Christmas.”

Quite a few requests have already come in. Good notes that proof of guardianship is required before gifts can be given to families.

While there is no deadline for Christmas Angels requests, the sooner the better for planning purposes. An example of a last-minute need is someone who has just taken in a foster child, Good explained.

Parents and guardians can shop at the Kenberma location as they would in a regular store. Everything is new, from the toys to the beds in a bag, pajamas, and winter jackets that each school child up to age 17 receives.

For more information, including making a request for gifts, visit www.campbellchristmasangels.org.

Holiday Gifts for Veterans 2022 benefits men and women veterans at the Brockton Veterans Administration Medical Center, and also Hull veterans. Contact Craig Wolfe, 781-771-6416 for more information.

As a show of respect for Hull veterans, decorated wreaths will be placed in the Hull cemetery, at the Hull Lifesaving Museum, the war memorial, and other locations around town for the holidays, working in partnership with the Hull Garden Club, Wolfe said.

Looking beyond the holidays to the new year, free food is available for pickup for veterans, family, friends, and the general public through the Veterans Voice and WATD/WMEX drive-through program at the WATD studios, 130 Enterprise Drive, Marshfield, on the second Thursday of every month from 12 to 1 p.m. No registration is necessary. For more information, contact Wolfe at the number above or at 89edge@comcast.net.

For those struggling to keep warm, help with filling out fuel assistance applications is available at the Anne M. Scully Senior Center and at Wellspring.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Bright decorating contest returns for its third year

Hull’s favorite holiday contest is back by popular demand for the third year in a row. Bibbidi Bobbidi Bright shows off the best-decorated houses in town for all to enjoy.

Organizer Liliana Hedrick needs the community’s help to create one night of magical lights for families to enjoy on Sunday, Dec. 18.

Maps will be handed out on that day from 3-5 p.m. at Scoops Ice Cream Company, 540 Nantasket Ave., at the corner of Kenberma Street, and will be available online on the 18th.

Your vote is still needed – after looking at all of the participating houses, you can vote for your favorites and drop your map at Nantasket Flatts, 145 Nantasket Ave. and stay for stay for a nice meal.

Residents who would like to be on the map of houses decorated with lights should contact Hedrick directly at bibbidibobbidihull@gmail.com or through Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/bibbidibobbidibright/ 

If any helpful elves would like to assist with the details or donations for prizes, please reach out using the contact information above to get involved in this great program that raises funds for local causes.