[Applause] [Music] Call the meeting to I'm going to call the meeting to order. Today is Tuesday, September 30th, 2025.
This meeting is being video and audio recorded for future cable broadcast. Please silence all cell phones for the duration of the meeting. May I have a motion to open the school committee game? >> So move. >> I'll second. >> We'll do a roll call. >> Mr. Hood. >> Yes.
>> Mrs. Cordera. >> Yes. Mr. Ellis. >> Yes. >> Mr. Alfra. >> Yes. >> Mrs. McGlennon. >> Yes. >> Okay. And we'll start. I ask everyone to stand for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it
stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. First item is the consent agenda. Everything listed in the consent agenda was distributed in advance of the meeting. Does anyone have any requests for something to be removed from the
consent agenda and discussed or voted on separately? May I have a motion to approve and accept the items listed in the consent agenda, including the minutes for the September 9th, 2025 meeting? >> So move >> second.
>> All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Seeing none, motion passes. Uh Dr. Billy, do we have anyone signed up for delegation? >> No, we do not. >> Okay. Uh I don't see any old business, so we will uh move to new business and
I'll turn it over to you, Dr. Bill. >> Okay. Thank you. Good evening everyone. So tonight I am pleased with the first agenda item to announce that we I am recommending uh new director of student services candidate that we had two
school committee members um participate in the interview process. We had a very rigorous process. We had two um sitdown interviews. We had performance task and then onetoone interviews with myself. But tonight, I'm happy and pleased um to
recommend to you Colleen Doyle Faroh, who is a candidate for the director of student services at our school district. She brings with her a strong background in special education leadership and student support. She most recently served as a special education
administrator at Bridgewwater Rainham Regional School District and previously served as program director at Pilgrim Area Collaborative. She holds a law degree from University of Massachusetts School of Law in Dartmouth, a master of science and teaching and a post-graduate
certificate in educational administration from the University of Massachusetts Boston with a deep commitment to inclusive education and student success. Colleen is excited to support the students, families, and staff of Kushinet through a collaborative and student centered
approach. I will be introducing her tonight, but I wanted to give time to the two school committee members who uh participated in the interviews. We had both Mrs. Mcclin and Mr. Ellis participate and I really do appreciate your time with that. Um just if you want
to share any thoughts with the rest of the committee before we move forward. >> Sure. Yeah. Um first and foremost, Colleen, thanks for joining us tonight. >> Thank you. >> Uh it was really great to meet you during the interview process and uh I'm very pleased to see you here. So, um,
yeah, the interview process went very well. I was involved in the second round of interviews. Ebony took care of the first round of interviews. Um, you know, I was very impressed with Colleen's kind a effect and her poise. uh she really
did a great job at answering questions in a very thoughtful and detail oriented way that made it very clear that she has the background in, you know, what would lead into being a successful student services director. >> Um I I don't feel like many of the
questions that we asked were answered with vague um generalizations. we really got very specific answers and actually went so far as to she went so far as to recommend some kind of specific even action steps that could be taken in the district that frankly even if we didn't
end up making an offer to her we probably would have pursued. >> Um that impressed me very much. I was just going to add that the having this specialty of law too added to that adds a whole another level that I really didn't consider it at the time initially and then when hearing it and then
putting it together with the role of the people personnel director it's really going to add a lot to the to what we have there and I think that we do welcome you to the team that's it's going to be eye opening for I think all involved so we welcome you
>> thank you very much appreciate that >> so it was like I said a very rigorous process and not only did two school committee members participate but we had all stakeholders present at the meeting. We had teachers from both schools uh school psychologist related service etc. So at this time I'd love to be able to
call up um Colleen Doyle Faroh to the podium just to introduce herself to all of the committee members and see if there's any other further questions before we take a vote um to approve the contract that I put forth. So, please feel free, Colleen. You should go to the
podium. Thank you. >> Good evening, school committee members and superintendent Bailey. I'm really pleased to have the opportunity to be here and to begin my journey with the Accession public schools. Um, Miss Bailey kind of touched on a couple of things, excitement and student success.
And, you know, that really is the energy that I'm I'm putting forward um tonight. Um, I'm very much interested in getting to know the community, I'm sorry, the community a little bit better through observation and analysis of the existing programs and um through building the
relationships with staff and families. I think that uh my entry plan is going to be focused on listening, observing, and taking it all in to determine what we can do with the resources that we have to bring best practice to Kushnet,
building on what is already wonderful and closing the gaps on things that need to be improved. And so I thank you again for the opportunity and appreciate you considering all the experience that I have and how it might be a great match for your school district.
Thank you. Does anybody have any questions for coming? >> Have any questions? I just would welcome you and we're glad to have such a qualified, competent person in this role. It's super important to the district. So, welcome. >> Thank you very much. >> Welcome. >> Thank you. And the good news is she starts on Monday.
>> So, there'll be some nice overlap between the person who's currently in the role and Colleen. So, we're super excited. So, at this time, I'd be asking for a vote um to approve her contract as set forth in your packet. I will sign it
once the vote is taken. Okay. >> So, can I uh entertain a motion to approve the director of student services contract for Colleen Doyle Pharaoh as recommended by the superintendent and hiring committee consisting of two school committee members? >> So, second.
>> Any further discussion? We'll do a roll call. Call >> Mr. Ellis. >> Yes. >> Mrs. McGwin? Yes. Mr. Hood? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Cordera? >> Yes. Mr. Hoff? >> Yes. >> Welcome. Thank you. >> Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> We're happy to have you.
>> Okay. Next um on my report is the high school tuition agreements planning session. And I'll I'll basically turn this over to the chair as we wanted to have a discussion as you know regarding the high school tuition agreements and
perhaps map out the planning process and logistics and timeline etc. So I'll turn it over to Ron. >> Yeah. Thanks Dr. Billy. So I think we had a meeting I guess it was at the end of August at this point to and we had the four high schools here right New Bedford Rochester equip for Haven uh to
present and I just want to be clear the reason we're doing this right is that those agreements I think the New Bedford one was originally for like 20 years and that's coming through the Haven one was maybe 10 years or so and that is also uh coming coming through there those agreements are expiring right and so we
have to uh figure out what the path is uh moving forward there will be no change in terms of the vocational offerings right our students in Aushia will still be able to apply to Old Colony and Bristol Aggie high schools nothing nothing will change there so I also would say that since the last
meeting you know Dr. Bailey has done some work um you know with legal counsel because there aren't a lot of um towns who don't have a high school. It's an uncommon situation you know it involves negotiation and and so like that could put one town or another in a
detrimental position. So just kind of as a process and how this would work there needed to be some conversations about how to approach it because the rules may be a little different than they are in other instances of negotiation. Right? So, so to me, I think first and foremost would be talking about, you know, what
we think the timeline is in terms of wanting to make a decision because, you know, we're in October essentially. I think I think once we hit January and flip the calendar, frankly, I think people are going to be thinking about wanting to make that decision and families want to plan and kids want to
know kind of where where they're going. And so my personal opinion and everyone I'd asked you for yours was that like we should probably target to try to make this decision by this end of December. That's my that was my initial thought but certainly wanted to get uh input from the rest of you guys if you agree
with that timing or Dr. Bailey if we think that is a timing that we can drive towards and and potentially. I definitely think that's the goal. Great. I had some questions just around, you know, realistically what sort of
timelines do we need to be working within? Because, you know, once we select the schools that we're going to be entering negotiations with, there's still presumably going to be a negotiations process. They'll have to put forward proposals. We'll talk about tuitions and transportation and all that other stuff. So, although Dr. Bailey,
you know, if you put do you have an idea of how long do you think that process might take and when do we have to have it done by? Like do we have a dead stop to the end? >> And I might Dr. Bailey, I might just add something to this. I almost think too and I think one of the things that we'll talk about here is having a committee
that consists of the central administration, business managers so that actually those negotiations can begin. Yeah. Because I think it's one thing to decide oh we really love a a school b school c school whatever but the finance is a component of that and so it kind of needs to happen
simultaneously so that when we come to decision making the finances are part of it because >> if we wait go through a process to decide what schools then go through a negotiation process we're going to run out of time probably and if there's some schools that don't have an opportunity to present the financial portion of
their proposal we may just be potentially missing out on better opportunities for the students as well. >> I can't imagine that any of the superintendent will not want to meet right away because this has a lot of budget implications. Um we start our
budget December January timeline and and and people need to know >> um what the plan is. So, I would say the sooner the better. And once we decide tonight, this committee and the logistics, we will immediately begin reaching out to all of the schools to
have a sit down with those superintendents and business managers and in some cases possibly the school committee chairs um to discuss finances, transportation, tuition, amounts, all those things. Right. So, so, so the committee would be central
administration, the FMS guidance counselor, the chair when necessary >> and then all things would be filtered back through this this committee. >> Yes. >> Um, for decision making. >> That's correct. >> Mr. chair, I just want to move up.
This is probably one of the major decisions any school committee can make with maybe to 20 years period. Um I I'm not not visualizing any delays, but I
think we should have the option in the back of our minds that if we have to ask for a a a year uh you know with with the vendors that we now use uh a year's grace in our decision. I think we should have that that option.
>> John Mako are you suggesting to continue on with the current terms to allow more time? Is that does that work? >> Yes. Continue with that with negotiations, you know, for and establish, you know, goal for time. >> Yes. But if we find that we're getting
into some more serious discussions, you know, with with or maybe like uh appealing to the state, just for an example, uh appealing to the state department of education to recognize that maybe this type of arrangement that
we have maybe with with two or three uh different schools that that we could get uh funded uh you know for transportation. Sure. >> Rather than coming out of our you know, you know, our own budget.
>> Um so and those type of you know uh that process sometimes takes a great deal of time. So as long as we have an we could have option that we you know we can say to move to the payment, we're going to look for a year extension because we
haven't finished our deliberations. I we just should have that. I think it's a great point and I think I I agree with you. Um if we So we're in October, we have three months. >> It it's it's tough, right? Three months that we're driving to meet the goal. If
there's anything that starts to pop up where this thing doesn't continue to move at a pace that we feel like it needs to move, I think to your point, we need to be having that that conversation. Yeah. Again, I I'll speak personally. I have an eighth grader, right? And so, uh, she's and she's type
A and she isn't going to be looking for she's going to want to make her decision as soon as possible, right? And I'm sure there's many families who feel the same way. Uh, and so people are going to, again, I think you have a little bit of grace probably till January and then once we're in that year, people are
going to start to get a little bit. So, I think we can all commit to drive to to that timeline and do our best to to meet it. Um again there's a negotiation aspect here that you know can obviously get complicated.
So I think some of the goals of the committee would be to bring the business managers together to start the negotiation share ideas. They'll discuss all of the options. you know, they would uh potentially talk about and that can be filtered back to this committee what kind of surveys uh maybe we want to do
with with people to get an an understanding of what folks's expectations or goals are in the district. >> Um and then I think we have an October school committee meeting. We have a November meeting and if we we can certainly plan for regular updates at
those meetings and obviously if things come up where we need to meet more frequently, we can we can we can do that as well. >> Yeah. So I know one of the things that was brought up during you know the initial discussion around this and then also during the presentations was potential opportunities for the
committee probably as a group as as opposed to individuals to potentially visit some of the schools and and get tours get a sense of what the grounds are like services. So why don't we that's on the agenda. Why don't we do that? So I think the goal maybe that we try to identify maybe multiple dates because I know it'll be hard to get
everybody probably on the same day but we can put together Paula a couple dates for and then if folks on this committee obviously administrative folks want to go to then >> maybe we can we can arrange those. I guess one of the questions that I had around that would be
is that something that we would have to be aware of um not having quarrel when we do these visits? We'd have to make sure that there's only two committee members present at any given time. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> And if you tell me that mornings are
better or afternoons, I can work with the superintendent from these theater schools to get some times for you. So, do you have any, you know, definitely >> I would I would, this is an odd request, but if there was like an off time meeting, like seriously on a weekend or
something like that, that would be like my ideal scenario. >> Okay. >> I don't care what time >> weekend area >> to get a tour of the schools. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I can do I mean with a little bit of notice because of the nature of my role my job
>> I can do pretty much any time as long as I know at least a week or two in advance so that I can make arrangements with my appointment book. >> Okay. >> Um I could certainly do weekends um evenings you know whatever whatever's needed. >> Okay.
>> Yeah. I could do even probably too but weekend. Yeah. >> Okay. Mr. Chair, she's >> No, actually I'm not. Things are picking up that I cannot do during the weekend.
>> Okay. I mean, keeping in mind that you won't see the school in action, right? Right. But you >> and again, I I have no idea. >> I'll ask, right? I'll ask the superintendent. Um, >> I think it would be nice if, and this is
the trick, is like there's a there is a significant benefit to what you pointed out just now to seeing the schools in operation with students in the building, moving through the corridors, seeing how they interact with staff, but from our personal scheduling standpoints, that may not be viable.
>> It may be viable to some of you, maybe some depends on the time. I can do the I can do during the week. You can do during >> Yeah, I can do during the day and the week. That's that's fine. What about you, Mr. Halcraftoft? >> Yes, I'll be able to. I'm feeling much much better.
>> Okay, I appreciate that. So, let me obviously we want to get this scheduled as soon as possible. So, let me work on that and I will get back to you with some scheduling that works. >> Okay, >> Mr. chair on this point. Um I don't know
if a motion will be needed for the next meeting, you know, but the uh we should reassure uh those students that are going to Fair Haven or New Bedford now that they will
be able to no matter what agreements we reach that they will be able to continue um to and graduate from from the schools if they choose to do so. Right. >> So, I recently sent home a letter to families. It went to everybody and it
did reassure them of that point because, you know, it is stressful if they're in the schools and they're worried about it. Um, and I know the intent of the superintendent and myself is not to take away anything from anyone. >> And and just for clarity and certainty
around that, is that um in the language currently or >> So, currently it's in the Fair Haven agreement. it was not in the New Bedford agreement. So, we came up with an addendum for the New Bedford agreement to mirror that language. So, we currently have agreements with both New
Bedford and Fair Haven that allows the students currently there to be sort of grandfathered in, if you will, >> if that should happen. Because if because if we did not have that uh we would probably be in a position of of of
making a a decision very prematurely right >> you know and and uh you know out of of people's you know because you know parents and and concerns uh and we would really want to keep it on a level field you know and take all and discuss all
options >> and I have told families that you know they will receive updates along the way as we know more. Um, but so far I've only received one phone call and it was a good phone call. Um, so people are just kind of listening
to the committee to see, you know, and listen to the process. >> I mean, my my perception from the few questions that I've seen come in, frankly, is that maybe some people didn't understand why why this is happening just relative to the fact that
the tuition agreements are expiring, right? It's not that people are trying to tamper with the agreements that are currently in place. These are expiring and we have to do this. And so I think once people understand that, obviously they get it. Um >> but yeah, I mean I I think it's our duty
to do our due diligence to try to give the kids in a cushet the best possible maybe the most possible best options that are that are out there, you know, with within a reasonable needs. But people don't realize that
the this arrangement we have that we're one of the very few high school, you know, you know, schools and uh school systems that parents will and and students can have a free choice maybe
maybe uh you know of two schools um in including the vocational and the a third, but also it may be even even an agreement. We might want to reach it with with three and have a planned a whole planned curriculum type of uh
process where where they're matched the placement is matched with the students gifts and talents uh which they can expand and and of course we all know students are very varied. So, so there'd be so many
options of of free choice uh which u most school systems do not offer for the for the for their students. So we are we are in a very that's why we should really focus on the the gift that we
have uh in in our midst and uh go forward and use it the best way. That's why good deliberations uh would would be very uh very fruitful. >> Absolutely. And I I do appreciate the fact that in a Christian our students
have choice. I think that's one of the nice things about our community um that students have the choice and they can go to different places and you're right different places fit different students. Right. I just want to say we're also being very thoughtful about the finances
involved here. So, we have to do our due diligence with our business managers to make sure that we can fiscally afford and be responsible for the choices. >> I know we see, you know, time and time again every every year whenever a new um
budget cycle comes up, the biggest expenses that has are almost invariably out of district tuitions and out of district transportation. >> They're well outside of our control, right? Um, and they can vary, at least from the transportation standpoint, they
can vary year-over-year just depending on which kids are going to which schools. And, you know, trying to keep though the financial aspect of these agreements, you know, I shouldn't I shouldn't say under control cuz that's not very it's kind of a negative connotation, but just keeping them
responsible to the school and the town's needs without overstretching, you know, the school's own budget and having to fund more than we already do. It's just, you know, it's going to be >> I think we want a viable sustainable approach, right? So, yeah, and I agree transportation just the increase
year-over-year is is typically very uh extravagant. So, but I do Mr. I think you raised a great point. I think if even if you look at the current arrangement, you know, New Bedford offers something very unique and Fair Haven offers something very so depending on what what
the kid wants and what they're looking for, those are two really great uh options and they're very different. They give you different things which is a great thing. So, >> yeah. >> So, any further >> just one point, just rumblings I've heard about the um siblings like
possibly go like if we get rid of one high school and they have an incoming freshman, they could possibly have two high schoolers at two different high schools. >> So, I feel like that >> Yeah, I mean that's a I think that's a legitimate concern. I think, you know, realistically speaking,
it it could happen, but I know that, you know, when we did the high school presentations, we saw that we already have school choice students enrolled in the schools that we don't currently have agreements with. I can't, you know, we can't speak for Fair Haven and New Veteran, but if for whatever reason we
no longer maintain a contract with them, I think it would be very unlikely if they didn't open up school choice if they're not already enrolled for it to allow things like the siblings to continue going to allow some kids to go to those schools that don't um would no longer have that option.
>> Um, you know, time will tell and ultimately that's at the discretion of those school committees. >> Yeah. But I think that's pretty likely. >> Yeah, I think it's a viable um concern. I think we got a question from a parent who had one already there and one
potentially wanted to go there. So, uh totally could understand >> um you know, the the concern and stress that that may cause. But, you know, I think let's let's keep working and let's uh see where we end up here. And and obviously, we'll have to deal with
um challenges along the way. If I could make a suggestion, I know that we already have a pretty packed meeting docket throughout the balance of the year, but with how important this is, and I think it's really important to get public feedback on it, I think it might be wise to consider doing a public
workshop, making sure it's well publicized. That way, parents can come and makes make their feelings and thoughts known, you know, in a constructive way. Do we think that that's reasonable with the meeting agenda we have? >> That's absolutely. Yeah.
I mean more information is better. There's >> no harm done. No harm done. >> Public discussion. >> Yeah. As long as it's been hearing from parents, you know, in the barber shop and everywhere >> on the road somehow. >> One of the things we we were obviously
planning is our annual high school night. And one of the things that our staff has talked about is doing a survey after the high schools present. Um, and again, it would be the survey for the eighth grade families, right? >> But I think what you're talking about is
opening it up to everybody, you know, not just the e the current eighth grade families, but I >> mean there there are kids that are going to, you know, they're in second grade right now and they're going to be living with the decisions that we make. We can certainly look at surveys as well >> so that we have multiple ways to get
information >> from our families, which is usually what happens. We we don't just try to do one way. Some people can't make it to a meeting, but they can certainly fill out a survey or, you know, another way. >> Yeah. And I think having an opportunity for for parents to ask questions and and
have it, you know, recorded and available for viewing after the fact is a good way to make sure that there's not a lot of confusion. I know a lot of stuff gets thrown around on, you know, social media pages and it can get very confusing. It turns into kind of a big communityized game of telephone.
>> Stuff just gets twisted or missed or, you know, intentionally or unintentionally. >> And having an opportunity to post something that questions can be asked at, they can be answered or followed up on as needed based on the, you know, the question itself and have sort of like a
hard copy that folks can refer back to. It needs to be more of like a question and answer type thing, not like I want this school because of this. Like I feel like it has to be very specific. I think we can go on. >> Now, we couldn't answer the questions probably during the meeting unless they were very surface level ones, but at
least having an opportunity to get an official avenue for those folks to ask the questions and get answers. >> We can put out a survey where they have the opportunity to put forth questions. If we don't know the answers, we can certainly figure it out as a team or check with
the theater school superintendent. I would just ask that, you know, we I think the first thing is we need to start meeting with the superintendents and their business managers immediately. Um before anything cuz we don't know anything until we sit down in a room with them and meet and talk about, you
know, some future plans. >> I think we should consider as well the timing as you referenced. I know typically around now we would have um a high school night >> the schools would come in and present and I think we should consider do we want to have that at this moment when we haven't made a decision yet because
that's potentially going to set some type of expectation that the >> these are the choices >> right so it may be worthwhile to do some type of survey or have or have people hear question both whatever >> and then maybe think about having the high school night once the decision has
been made >> when's when's the high school night scheduled for currently fall and it's usually planned around now or into October, November. But the I did speak to the principal and she said, you know, after speaking with the council who does this, she can definitely put it off for
a bit um while we are figuring everything out. >> Mhm. >> So, we can certainly do that. Um >> would it be unreasonable for us to put it off to like middle of January? Because if we have to make a decision on the two partner schools by the end of
December, that would give at least a couple of weeks for them, you know, if any changes were to happen, you know, or not, >> right, >> that those schools would be able to get their ducks in a row. >> I don't think it's unreasonable, but I want to check with the middle school principal and the counselor who's very involved in this transition process.
>> And I think if if those other schools, if if we end up with two, maybe more, who knows? But whatever. um if those other places are a school choice option, for example, to Jesse's point, I think people people
will want to note that um yeah, they're going through a school choice process versus having the ability to just go, right? I I want to be careful about us having the night and having people have expectations and then it turns out uh something is different than ultimately where we end up.
>> That's all. So, it's not to delay and it's not to postpone people's ability to make a decision, but it's helping them make the decision with all the information that they need to make to make the decision. >> Yeah, I was going to say that I think it would be helpful to have the survey go out prior to that night where the people
so that some of those questions can be answered because I know that the open house night when we have the people here, not everyone gets to talk to the person individually. So, if they know ahead of time some of the questions that the parents have, they could have that right in their PowerPoint that's up there, too. >> Yeah. I think when we send out the
survey, maybe it would be wise to include like an open-ended question section at the end where if there's any specific questions that parents have, they can essentially presubmit some of those to us. That way, we can pick out the ones that are the most common or the
most important in our eyes and answer those during either a meeting or during a workshop if we end up hosting one. uh gives us a chance to prepare and have thorough thoughtful answers to those. >> Dr. Bailey, just just for full clarity,
there's nothing in any language or legally that would say that we could only have two. It really comes down to whether it could be >> financially viable. >> Yeah. So, legally, we have to have one. >> That's what we have to have. >> But there's nothing that says we can't
have more than one, which we currently have two. >> Yeah. I think just from my I I put I've actually put a lot of thought into this and I'm not a school business manager although I'll defer to you at a later date but um in my eyes like you know theoretically there's nothing stopping
us from having three or four but I think it makes it difficult for those districts to justify opening up enrollment because now we have to figure out transportation to three or four or in this case so colonies included five different locations there's from their
perspective probably too much variability ability year to year. It makes it very difficult to predict how many students are going to come. Right now, we've got two schools. I can't speak for the enrollment of those two schools, but my guess is that they're probably stable year-over-year. I don't
expect that there's big shifts where one graduating class, 75% of the kids go to New Bedford instead of Fair Haven. So having too many options I think could pro pose challenging both from a transportation cost and even those
schools interest in bringing in you know contracting with us if they can only guarantee they're going to get maybe you know five or 10 students on a given year. It's tough. That's a very good time. >> Um >> I would go, you know, I was going
through the my memory bank. I remember when I uh joined state service back in the 80s. Um one thing we I we had to go through was a vigorous training program for managers and potential managers. and one of and
we used to have to have uh exercises in performance based type of contracts contracting you know and uh so therefore you know one of those we have to you know set goals and then your assets and
your liabilities and you put it all together in a plan. Uh and I'm just wondering if that format would ever apply and of course this is going to be your nightmare but you know as far you know in kind incoming which assist us in
coming you know to a to a decision or you will have to make the recommendation recommendation. >> Yeah we did send out zero have all sorts of information out there. Yeah >> but it's uh you know and and but
as Mr. LSS it's the you know there's a variable one is too too many and that and that can you know affect some stability in the future >> uh there may be other items that we you know we haven't talked about yet that
that could they could be you know create some future uh problems. So, so that's where this exercise decision for the committee actually. >> Um, but we we did have a criteria that we outlined. We sent it to the schools. We will be looking at those things
thoroughly with you. Um, but you're right, this is an absolute big decision for all of you. Do you think that the admin team could put together after some, you know, after you've had some initial discussions with the other superintendent,
basically a fixed timeline of when we need to have certain decisions made, what the next steps are, when we're going to do some school tours. You know, there's a lot that goes into that. I'm not expecting it to materialize in a week, but, you know, at least something that we can refer back to and use as our
guidepost as we move forward. That way we don't lose sight of any important dates. >> So I think we're asking for a project. >> Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. >> Yeah. >> Just in case >> anybody in the school hunt project manager credentials >> and we've set up uh in the drive in your
drive we started putting all the documents in there. So we'll continue doing the same as we >> start this work or continue this work. >> Okay. >> Any other well so I appreciate that. That was a a good important discussion.
Next item, school operating uh procedure. School committee operating procedure. So we don't have to spend a lot of time on this right now, but I think we had a workshop back in beginning of September, right? As the this committee has been formed with two new members to talk about how we work together and how we operate. And so
coming out of that, Dr. Bailey took um uh the initial path of putting together a draft. Um, and so I think the ask would be for all of us to look at that between now and the next school committee meeting. Provide any feedback you may have to to Dr. Bailey and then we can potentially vote on uh the
operating procedures at the next school committee meeting. It's really meant to just kind of guide us in terms of how we work with each other and work with the administration. >> Any questions on that? >> No, I I I got to say I I really do appreciate the uh in particular the
problem solving checklist draft. I think that's going to be really helpful for students or for parents rather. >> Um I know as a parent sometimes if you have a problem um your child's having trouble in some aspect of school or transportation sometimes it can be tough to figure out who to talk to. So you
just >> go to the admin or you go to the principal or you go to the school committee and you know realistically you might be able to get things done even faster if you go through >> gems. Yeah, >> that's right. And it's in the handbooks that that
sheet that I gave you was in the handbooks to guide parents and families >> to you know follow that protocol when there is a concern. Um you know sometimes I'll get a phone call and the first question I ask is did you call the principal you know did you speak to the
teacher that type of thing. So, but yes, look them over. If you have any edits, suggest suggestions, we can certainly talk about it the next meeting, but the goal will be to just put it to a vote in two weeks at our next meeting. And that
is all I have for tonight. >> Okay. So, uh there was in terms of communication and other information in the packet September air quality update to staff, high school update letter that you sent out uh recently. Uh we will not
have executive session tonight. We will adjourn until our next school committee meeting which is Tuesday, October 14th, 2025 at 6 p.m. in this same room that we are in tonight. So may I have a motion to adjourn tonight's meeting? >> So move second
>> and we'll do a roll call. >> Mr. Hood, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fdera, >> yes. >> Mr. Ellis, >> yes. >> Mr. House, >> yes. And Mrs. Mc, >> yes. Yes. >> Thank you. Meeting is adjourned. >> Thank you. Heat. [Music]
Heat.