Good afternoon everyone. Today is the April 17th meeting of the elementary school building uh committee. And seeing that we have a quorum, I'm going to call the meeting to order and first call on the members that I see on the screen to
make sure they can hear and be heard. Paul >> present. >> Mike >> present. >> Jonathan >> here. Uh, Deb Leonard >> here. >> Sean >> here. >> Angelica,
Angelica, you need to unmute. I'll call in Elicia >> here. >> Angelica. Um, Angelica. >> Great. Okay. So, we we have a quorum.
So, um, as always, we'll start first with a review of the agenda. The first item is the construction update. Next is the Amethyst School entryway sign. And then we get to reflection room. And I
just want to do an update on that. There have been actually that is moving forward and we'll hear from Bob and Tim on it. There's an a report on the fence from Mike, an update on percent for art, and we're joined with the head of the
public art commission, and an update on parking and vehicle flow. And I apologize, I will get my phone to stop ringing in a second. Um, and then invoices. So, that's a brief rundown on the agenda. It's a fairly packed agenda, but hopefully we'll we'll get through
all of it. Um, and public comments at the end. So, I'm want to turn it over to Daniscoco Sean. >> Um, I might have to leave at two o'clock. If um if we would lose quorum, I'll try to stay. But we have a bid opening at 2 o'clock that I was
scheduled before this meeting was extended an hour. So, >> okay. So, invoices are the one item that we definitely would be taking a a a vote on. So, um I'll pay attention to the clock. >> Thank you.
So, I think I think with that, um, I'm going to turn it over to Daniscoco for construction update. >> Um, Cassenya, do you have >> the typical working on it? >> Yeah,
>> sure. >> And as that's coming up, I'll just say that we are on schedule. Everything is coming together. There's a lot left to finish. Uh but everything is tracking in the right direction. Go ahead, Tim.
>> Uh looking at this photo, you can see that the uh PV canopy structures are in place. Um this is just the canopy at the bus drop off, but as of now, they are all in place and the detailing them is being finished. Um so if you want to
click through, uh the playground is almost fully installed. Um, and next will be uh the finished grading and the surfacing below. Um, here are another shots of the PV canopies in the parking lot. Uh, you can
see the plland in between the uh steel structures that will hold the panels themselves going up. Uh, the more labor intensive and timeconuming part of the process. Here we are on a third floor project area. Uh the mill work that is dividing
the uh space from the corridors themselves is starting to go in. You can see that uh the ceilings are almost completely filled in. Lights and the ceiling are starting to be installed. Doors are being hung. Uh it's really getting toward the final level of finishes on the third floor.
Here's a shot in the gym with the divider curtain in the down position. And you can see all of the basketball backboards are in. Um, not shown in this photo, but showed up this week were the climbing wall and the climbing ropes. Um, the room is fully painted. Um, really the only thing left in terms of
finishes on the walls is the acoustic panels which will be on the white wall above where you see the uh, concrete block in the background. >> Yeah. And that's it for the Oh, there we are. That's it for the presentation. Uh this month our next
site tour is coming up April 28th. So if you want to join please send me an email. >> Um regarding site tours um we are starting to see um two great things. One
is a hugely increased level of interest for from many people and coming to see and secondly um a hugely increased level of urgency in everybody who is going to be in the building and wanting to come and see so that they can understand how the
operations will fit into the building and doing that final planning. With that in mind, um I would recommend or suggest that going forward, so we've been doing these site tours every other month. Um I think that we're going to
definitely need to do one in May. So the this next month, especially since, um as everybody is getting ready to go out for summer break, they'll want to see you in the spring while they can.
Um, please, please, please, please sign off of Connor in advance. We need to keep this organized because, um, as things are getting completed in the building, things are getting tighter, right? We used to have no walls, now we have walls. Um, so everybody has to fit
between them. Um, and we really need to make sure to keep keep everybody safe as we do this. Um so but but but really excited to see the level of excitement in everybody. Um as we get to the end, I think we'll we'll consider the frequency
of these on a monthto month basis because as we get into the summer with folks leaving on vacations, it may become >> less in demand. >> Paul, you're muted. >> May I suggest that you reserve the May
tour? you do schedule one for May, but you reserve that just for school employees to um whoever the school decides or what how many other slots you have that they just sort of because I think that that's you're right on the timing of it and also the interest in it and I think that you know we've all been
through it enough times so I think that school employees really should be prioritized. Yes, we'll do. >> So, if there are no questions on that and it's pretty exciting to see the playground, I must say um just having
seen pieces of equipment pictures. Jonathan, >> I I won't be long. I just I just want to communicate on the on the the playground equipment. And I have a very jealous seventh grader who attended that school last year and who's now playing, you know, ultimate in the afternoons on the
adjacent field seeing the new equipment and it's like, "Oh, I want to go play on it now." And he said, "Well, you got to wait till they open the school, my friend." But it it's is grace to see that that level of progress. And I I I know that a lot of the a lot of the kids in town are very excited uh for this
coming fall. So, >> and and you know, I a while ago the Gazette had a picture of somebody's accessessible playground and we've not never put a picture of ours. So, I think once it gets up it would be nice to do a feature a piece on it. I'll I'll I'll
figure out Paul on how to place that. But it it's a element that's never been featured in the broader news about what we're bringing. So I believe the next on the list is the um where we are on the school entryway
sign and so that is with Tim. >> Sure. Uh one second while I pull up. >> Um a minor update from last time uh just to show you what we've been looking at. Um as we discussed is going to be at the
northern part of the site. We have a little narrow down on terms of location. So, this shows the passenger car entrance and exit at the north side of the site. Um, where it relates to the existing driveway where
the walking path is at the corner of the entrance on both sides. There is a mature tree that will remain. Um, so that is just to tell you that the site is going to be oriented with the flat face facing Southeast Street rather than the other way. So it can be
seen from both directions. Um, and the site has to be pushed this far back so that a car at the stop line has full full visibility of pedestrians and cars coming up and down Southeast Street and cars driving on the street have full visibility of a car um, exiting or
entering. Um just safety is always uh the primary concern and then second is visibility of the sign. Um had some discussions with the signage manufacturer that's already working on the project uh which we will add this to
their scope um just in terms of constructibility and size limitations. Then also comparing it to the zoning guidelines that the town has. Uh there are limitations uh per zoning for the height and size of sound side. It's can't be anywhere above 10 ft, which
this is nowhere close to that, but the area of the sign is limited to 30 square feet, which this is just about. Um and so if you were paying really close attention last time, uh this is about 20% larger. Um which gives you larger
text to be more visible. Um raises the text up so it can be visible from further away. And um it's also conveniently within the practical limitations of the way these signs are manufactured. It's a composite aluminum panel that's painted and then the finish
is like a a matte car. So there's basically unlimited um color and pattern. But uh we heard we want highly visible um simple basic information. Um
the color is now the red that is on the logo for the district. Um which offers high contrast from a very light text. Um and to be perfectly honest, I think this color will work with the green that is going to dominate the northern part of
the site and it goes well with the palette of the building. Um and then the person standing to the left of the sign in this image is six feet tall to give you a sense of the adult I should say. Um so this will be issued as a proposal request to the contractor. There will be
a shop drawing process and at that time there can be final review of font colors all of that as we have with other things. Um the playground painting stuff like that. Um and this would be installed in the fall during phase two.
Um, I should note that this and the site furniture and the bicycle racks all have to be um forwarded to the planning board for their final approval. That was part of the conditions for their initial site
plan review. >> There are still >> Go on, Tim. Sorry. No, I was going to say there's still time for any comments, changes on text, but um with without those uh this is the sign that we will advance uh for pricing and construction
to the contractor. >> Uh questions, comments? Paul, you're muted. >> Yeah, this is probably a stupid thing, but actually I'm not going to raise it, so
never mind. Uh, so I'll just ask a quick one. Tim, you said that the whole thing is about 10 feet tall. Does that >> I said the whole thing can't be more than 10 feet tall per >> Oh, sorry. Six feet six feet tall. And so is the lettering um, if I'm looking
at this, is the lettering about a foot tall on the school name? >> Uh, yes it is. And and there are guidelines in terms of traffic signage that um for a certain speed broad you want a certain size font so that it's visible from a certain distance. This
sign is not subject to those regulations, but they're a helpful guide. And making the sign larger puts all of the text well above those guidelines. And with some adjustment, it could be even larger if if that was desired.
>> Mike Um, could you go back to the map of where the sign would be located just so we can see um want to make sure it's not going to be blocking like uh visibility um entering
into traffic or >> Yep. Um so I don't know if you can see this. It's fairly faint, but that is the stop line. Uh so the first car that is stopped exiting the site should be entirely in front of the sign. Um, it
can be moved back further. Um, the the issue is the further back it is, the less visible it is further down the street. Uh, so we could >> look at that. >> Car length between that. I mean, because each car will be stopped and signs on. I
think they'll probably tell them. >> Yep. Safety absolutely always first. And if there's any obstruction, we would move it. I mean, driving down Southeast Street, you can see the building when you're here. So, there there are a lot
of visual cues, but um yeah, that that balance of safety and visibility is something we will be careful about. >> Great. Thank you, >> Jon. Jonathan, >> we I'm sure this was mentioned last
time, but just uh to if you would remind me for my own uh faulty memory, what's going to go at the bus entrance to say basically don't go in here. >> There is not a sign in the project
currently to say don't go here. I mean, the thought is everyone going there should know they're going there, but uh it it is a valid question and it's not unreasonable to think that a sign should be there to essentially shoe you to the right exit.
>> Mike, >> and initially um that will be the only entrance. So, it's going to be used um for the first several months, you know, by both. So
>> that is true. For the fall of >> uh 26, all traffic will be entering here and that will be the people's first experience with the new school. >> I see Mike's hand is up. Or did did you
answer? So I just have a um a follow up on Jonathan's maybe. Uh should we have I see that the other school like the middle school has buses only in a few places. Should we have a should we have
one whether it's in your project design or not just a simple sign? That's my first question. And then um if if it's a weekend and it's the summer, would it be buses only? Would we ever let cars go in there? So it's a a double question on
that entrance. And then lastly, do we have right now everything's so overgrown, it's a little bit hard to figure out what this will be once it's less over or the old sign, but do we have anything that would say on the park amethyst
Brook school entrance ahead or something? And that would be Paul that would be on the townland on the community. I mean, do we need any wayfairing that it's coming coming up? Um, so that's that's just a question. Um, I know it was never part of the
project. So, right now, you don't always know that there's a school coming up. Um, although it says school zone. So, those are my two stop things. And I see Jonathan's hand is up on this, too. Go ahead, Jonathan. >> Yeah, I'm just thinking a little bit further. I had forgotten entirely about
the fact that for the for the fall this year, everyone's going to be going in and out of what's now the construction entrance. And so we're we're going to have to kind of untrain people. So whether it's part of the project or not, there's going to have to be, you know, some level of signage. Uh I think that
that and obviously a lot of just kind of conversations with parents and, you know, through the school kind of communication that the pattern will change. Um but it may be that we we more globally the town might have to invest in in something additional. We'll have
to see how it goes. I guess >> I will add that a traffic sign that says buses only 8:00 a.m. to 9 or or whatever the designated drop off and pickup period at the south entrance is a fairly simple ad and probably makes sense.
>> Yeah. And I I suspect on the weekends whether we put a sign up or not, some folks are going to, you know, the public are going to pull in there anyways and, you know, go to walk their dog or walk through the the playgrounds or whatever it is.
I see Mike, Deb, and Cassenya. Mike, >> um, so that entrance that's eventually going to be the the bus and van entrance, there's not really going to be parking in that loop. So, there wouldn't really be any need for um for parents
coming in there. And like on the weekends, um you know, people if they're dropping kids off, they're, you know, going to do what they're doing. Um the other parking lot when it's open will be the primary um parent drop off and that's where they'll be like all the
parking spots. So that will be the um you know access for the public. The other entrance will be just primarily transportation or deliveries. Deb
116. There's one of those uh signs that says school zone and um with yellow lights flashing and that would would help. Um I don't know why there isn't that now. If there isn't, I don't think there's
lights on Strong Street outside of Wildwood. I'm I'm not sure the decisions around the the traffic signs, but that would be part of what might make sense from the town's point of view, >> and if the Wildwood one if there are
turnin for Wildwood, maybe we reuse some of some of them, you know, some part of them. Cassa. >> So there's more discussion on parking traffic um all of that in the summer coming up a little later on this agenda. So we'll I think become going back to
it. I just want to say that as the plans for parking in that temporary and interim um phase get finalized, we'll be developing a single momo messaging um you know document that we'll also be
updating the website to include and sending through all the distribution channels as we did the last time we had to reconfigure traffic patterns. Um, so we we that's on the on the plan. Um, it's just that not all the final details
of it are ready to be put down on the paper yet, but it will be. >> Any other comments or questions on sign? >> Looks great. I like it. So, I think the next on the list is the
refle reflection rooms. And when I I I wrote to people this morning, I guess when I first did the agenda, I had been under the impression we would have options with a range of cost estimates, but I'm understanding from the team that there's been much more movement on that
given the uh need to move forward on construction. So I think Bob Parent and Tim were going to be reporting on this. And Bob, you had suggested you would be going first. Um, so I'm I'm just opening
the floor to to presenting what what's being what's under consideration, what's in play. >> Thank you, Kathy. Um, as you indicated, you know, schedule is everything at this point and making changes this late in the construction progress is challenging. One, because we didn't want
to impact the completion schedule, and two, we really wanted to minimize any potential rework things that had to be undone. So there's a real benefit to making decisions and moving forward with those decisions um as quickly as we can. Um I believe as this committee may know
the design team had asked for comments back from the school department relative to what the school department uh felt was necessary to comply with DESIE requirements relative to the reflection room. They had set a deadline of April 1st for that. The good news is that um
through Allison uh the school department provided comments back to the design team before April 1st. They actually provided comments to us on uh March 23rd. Uh we spent a couple of days going back and forth getting clarifications regarding those comments. Um and then
Daniscoco set up a meeting with Allison and with Joanne Smith to talk through their comments. uh because there were a couple of them that upon further discussion the thought was that maybe uh school department staff once uh Tim was
better able to explain the background of the basis for some of the design decisions that the department's comments might shift from what they originally had provided. Um so that process came together and the bottom line is that we identified a handful of improvements
that were requested. We believe they're going to be at a relatively modest cost in the range of about $50,000. Um, and based upon that, we don't have final costs yet, but we're close to getting final costs. Discussing it with Paul, um, the decision was made to direct the design team to go forward
with those changes and have them direct the contractor to go forward with those changes. Again, given that time is of the essence at this point to minimize cost and minimize potential impact to the schedule. So, um, if you wouldn't mind, Tim, if you would like to talk
through what some of those changes are, that'd be great. >> And can I just take a second, Tim? I see that Allison has joined us. I just want to make sure she can hear us if we can hear her. Um, she was on the screen. And if if you're not online right now, Allison, I'll come back to you.
So, Tim, you're on. Sorry. >> Great. Thanks. I am going to share some drawings that are not beautiful, but they are the way that we communicate with the contractor. Uh just so I can um list the things that are in progress and
are going to be done. Um so these are elevations of the seclusion room and the anti room in front of it. Um just going through the changes that will be made. Both of the rooms will now have a padded rubber flooring. Um
the padding that was on the walls uh up to six feet in the seclusion room will now be on the door on both sides and in the anti- room. Uh so that was extended. The doors themselves. Um there is now a laminated vision panel that is quite
large so there is full visibility into the room from the anti- room. Um and then we are also adding domed security mirrors. um in the seclusion room. So there is no corner of the room that would not be visible from someone
standing looking in the window of the door. Um so those are the changes that were um discussed and agreed to with the district to address uh desi compliance >> and and and just to repeat what I think
so I think people heard that this is now in the works in terms of uh into the construction plans correct >> I mean yeah >> this is in the works and CTA is actively providing pricing and procuring the materials to do this work.
>> I see Deb Leonard and Angelica. Deb, so I'm going to speak as chair of the Ammer school committee as well as um a member of this committee. So, uh we had requested uh three modifications.
None of them have been um implemented. I was not included in any of those meetings. I do not understand why a school employee um one of whom is an interim director of student services
um and has made decisions uh excluding the input of the school committee. However, uh we will proceed as a school committee and I think likely we will be voting uh policy to prohibit the use of the rooms
that you have designed for seclusion. So, um that's where we're at. Those rooms will no longer be um legal to be used for seclusion purposes. Uh three years hence. So, we've designed a
currently designed a 50-year um 50-year building of which arts will be obsolete in 47 years.
Um, I will say the the request of the video cameras is consistent with town policy as well as uh recent developments at the Pelum Elementary School where many video cameras went into uh was were
put into that building uh also without the consent or knowledge of the Pelum School Committee. Um so this is very disappointing and frustrating and not collaborative and I will say that uh as
someone who has supported both building projects I understand uh the necessity for making a higher level decisions but um you've opened up both the district and the town to some pretty serious liability issues. There's a recent video
cir circulating about Gloucester that I'd like to have you read. Um I would also say there is an active investigation in the district for um alleged serious violations of uh the protections that students in these rooms
should be uh ex should experience as well as the staff. So right now we have a situation where we have wildly different interpretations both from family points of view, student points of view and uh district points of view about what
happened in these rooms and no real ability now or for the next 50 years to to to verify that. But that is um something that we will handle through the uh school committee as the uh this decision has been taken out of our
hands. Angelica and then Allison. >> So to build on what Deb said, I'm just going to say that I am shocked and disgusted and ashamed to be associated with this committee because the design
as it looks is just the building of a large seclusion room. you are building a building that is not going to be cutting edge but rather that you are building rooms for something that at least in our
state is a movement towards getting rid of seclusion. In fact, at the moment we have staff members from our district attending a conference being put together by the disability law center exactly on the movement happening right now to move away from seclusion.
The minor requests that were made that reflect this new vanguard of moving away from seclusion were not incorporated, including getting rid of the middle partitions in the Ames reflection rooms, adding more of a swing. I appreciate the
reflection, but we also need closed circuit videos. Right now, currently, Pelum has installed a bunch of closed circuit videos. I don't know why we don't consider that and we are currently under budget so I don't understand why we can't add things like swings which
are crucial to the regulation of students right now. We don't have enough staffs to walk over to students to a swing that might be not accessible nearby. This is it reflects practices that are now being spotlighted
throughout the state and Deb mentioned the video. I ask you to please watch this and many others that are coming out, including a report by Boston Globe of families that are suing their school district because their children were left 30 minutes, sometimes more in these
seclusion rooms without water, without anybody checking in. And um you know, these are things that I am shocked and sad to say are happening in our school district. and you are creating rooms that will enable the continuation of
these practices. That's all I've got to say. >> Allison, >> um I can say that I'm surprised that uh the recommendations that um were brought forth from uh our initial meetings with
the school committee that were incorporated by the architects that were possible um were not recognized. Um, the swings, I know that that's something that the school committee has focused a lot on. There are four swings throughout
the building and the building blocks and as program they did not want that. They have these little mini swings that they use in their programs. The large swing that is on every floor. Um, it's located in each ILC room. It's located in the
motor room. um that we are ma we are meeting up with what that needs and then the bu the staff of building blocks name said they didn't need that because they have several mini hammocks that they use that meets their needs better. So we don't want to work counter to what the
people who are working with children say they need because that a a swing in the reflection room that wasn't what they they needed in that moment and there can be some danger involved with that and so I think one of the aspects of this is
trying to shift the design and architecture of a billion building that has been in in process for so long. We will always be compliant with the law. We will definitely follow the recommendations starting August when they have to be implemented. Um the the
whole issue around the video, I know that that's something that the team has that the the CPAC has asked for from the beginning and we did have some some I thought we had some uh feedback from the union regarding that. But if that's something that needs to happen
once we have agreement from all those different parties but within like the few months that we've been working together I just don't think see how a video when you have to have uh certain things that are um that are multip even more parties the investigation that the
the district initiated themselves like we initiated from anonymous uh complaints um that is not completed. So, I just want to honor that there are a lot of things that have been reflected from some of the other um things. And I know that there was an email sent at
11:07 a.m. with the three things that were highlighted. Those there were other things that were requested that were put in. So, I just I just would wish that people would see us as people who are working towards the best interests of children. We work every day with them.
We work very hard to keep children and staff safe. And if you see us as people not trying to do that, that makes it harder for us to collaborate because it doesn't end today. We have to work together going forward and how we move forward. And the
law is starting August is very clear about what can be used and how can be used and we will follow those laws. That is what we have to do. >> Angelica and then Deb. >> So with all due respect, Allison, what
staff in Ames building back? What are you talking about? Like people are leaving in droves. We have huge staff turnover. So I'm not sure what we're talking about who's approving and who's that. And the fact of the matter is that my son who uses those small hammocks, those hammocks, you already have to have a regulated child to be able to walk
over to those hammocks. The ability to be able to put swings into a room allows a a child to regulate much faster and we currently don't have enough staff to be able to walk kids over and deal with it.
This the the there is so much turnover staff turnover and over that I am not sure who's providing any opinions on anything at this point. And with all due respect, I hope that staff could also see us as families that have to deal with the other side of the trauma they
cause in children. So it is not about it being an antagonistic process, but rather about taking in some small changes that we think we can implement to better keep in keeping with a much more progressive policy and also to provide supports for our staff that are duly needed when they're dealing with
lack of sufficient paras and back sufficient supports that are creating hugely volatile environments for everyone involved. It is a safety issue and we think that providing the correct design we'll be able to deal with that safety issue.
>> Deb with respect Allison um the school committee has not focused on swings. That's been one one of three asks. All of them have been about student well-being and safety. And um I was elected twice by a townwide
in a townwide election and then I was elected by my colleagues to represent the interests of the district. And I do not see that as opposition. I see it as forwardlooking and I will look forward
to ways in which we can work together to support students and staff and to keep everybody safe because safety precludes anything else taking place.
I will say that for 500 students in schools for thousand hours a year for 50 years it's very hard for me to to understand how the the swing part just has is pragmatic to understand how
decisions now will preclude the use of this infrastructure for the next 50 years unless somebody makes a decision to retrofit it. I understand that it's not currently the thinking of those people in those programs that those are
necessary or important, but um you're talking about 500 students, thousand hours. So that's 500,000 student hours a year for 50 years. So that's if I did my math right,
250 million student hours. And somehow the people today feel like they can decide that far in advance what all those uses will be when we're building a 100 million dollar building. And it is disappointing. And um we will continue to work forward,
look forward, and do what we have to do as a district to protect to protect the interests of the the people we represent in the community. And that will include a policy that does not need to comply with the minimal laws because that's
what we think we should do. And I am not an extreme member of the Ammer school committee. I think I represent a pretty centrist point of view from the the the range of uh opinions on that. So that's all I have to say. Thank you,
>> Elicia. >> Um thank you Kathy. I feel as a parent of a student who will both be attending the new school and who will be in a special education program, I feel concerned about us missing this
opportunity to truly think about how our infrastructure and our surroundings can support our students because I don't want us to limit what options we have for the staff in the programs.
I without getting like too personal, we're already understaffed and underresourced in our special education programs. There are already needs that are not being met. And so I think we really need to take this opportunity knowing that we're going to continue to see budget challenges with the school
and being able to provide extra uh support staff that we we really need our spaces to be able to accommodate our students appropriately. Um, so I do feel a little bit concerned about this and I'm wondering at this point if there what options we
do have like I know you said Kathy that this is a part of the ongoing work that's happening right now. So is this a it is said and done and there's no other decisions that we can make about it at this point or are there still changes that can be made or still other things
that can be done at this point? Um because I'm not understanding if we're just saying it would be hard to do so or if we're saying we cannot do so. >> Um I'm going to turn that back over to Donna and Tim. Um you know this clearly
uh it has not been done yet. These were all seen as doable and within a budget. Um and so the decision was made to move forward. So I I don't know enough know I was on the original building committee as some of the others were where these
rooms were requested at that point and I realize the law has changed and so my sense is if the rooms are never going to be used do we not want them at all would be one of my questions but Donna and Tim in terms of where we are um the the
structures of these the outside walls have already been put up. And these were all requested changes to the inside walls, the doors, the visibility, so that they would only be used as timeout rooms. They wouldn't be used as
long-term rooms. So, and I know I know the effort was to make sure they're compliant looking forward. So, you two should answer Elicia's question. I mean, it's not a I don't see it as a building committee decision on how these specific
pieces are are designed. I do see it as a decision that we want the school to open in September. >> Right. So, so I'll just I'll start and then maybe um others Tim Bob um or others but but the in initial
conversation came up February maybe when Desi was now putting out a mandate an unfunded mandate regarding timeout rooms. So, so the focus was where we are in the
construction, how much need still needs to get done and how easy uh is it to accommodate the requests or the needs as it relates to the timeout rooms. The swings aren't
part of a timeout room space. That wasn't a change to the mandate. We understand this gave everyone the opportunity to look at how could we improve the rooms whether it's the
timeout rooms whether it's the uh overall classrooms whether it's right but the direction we received was to focus on the timeout rooms because that was the mandate that has changed where we
are today with the timeout rooms. So, so our focus has been that um we understand there were there were lots of requests there were there were lots of requests um changing out some glass which we we had a conversation with Allison and
Joanne and and others that it isn't necessary but if you did the glass wasn't going to be there in time for for opening. So so like there there are certain things that can be done and done easily and I'm not even talking about money. It's a matter of being able to
get everything, get it in, and have the school open for the entire student population where we are today. So, I think we have met the DESIE mandate as relates to timeout ramps and and that
was the initial direction. I don't know if anyone else wants to jump in. >> Um, I see both Angelica and Deb. um coming back in I mean the
and then I I do want to draw this conversation to a close because I'm not sure we can resolve it among the 13 of us or the 11 of us or 10 of us who are here Angelica. >> So I want to speak to the funding uh
situation Donna and actually uh contest that it's not unfunded. It is funded. Uh it just that Amherst has missed two rounds of funding. uh Northampton applied for that funding and got funding. There have been rounds of funding that Amherst needs to apply to
this this can this is a funded mandate. And number two, just to go back to Allison about why you got that email at 11:07. Uh the way that this process Alicia was supposed to take place is that there was a subcommittee convened. It was a deliberative process and then
at some point that subcommittee didn't continue sometime. So these things have I am I am really upset that these things have been happening without more input and deliberation because I agree Donna that we need time is of the essence. I have a child that will also be attending
this school just like Alicia. I would like my child to attend a completed school. She's finishing and graduating from that school. I've been working in this committee since 2022. When my child was a kindergarter, I would like to see her start and graduate in this new building. These things can happen and these things
can be funded and it's just a matter of uh the will to get them done and already a month has been wasted without a the ability of providing the people that were including one of our CPAC representatives able to voice some of
these concerns much earlier. Deb, >> contractual obligations um in the union contract do not preclude use of of cameras. They just preclude use of cameras to be used for evaluation
purposes. Um this Donna, I appreciate that that you've really been thoughtful about this and trying to um balance all these different issues. I would say that um I don't know if you're using timeout
and seclusion uh interchangeably, but they're very different uh spaces and situations. And one of the things we discussed in this committee and Allison felt pretty strongly that uh seclusion
rooms needed to double as timeout rooms, that they could not be separate spaces. Um, and so I would say that it's probably >> Deb, you just muted yourself. >> It is probably
coming down the road. I have tried also to balance input from staff with input from school committee members with regards to this. Um, some school committee members feel pretty strongly that these rooms shouldn't exist at all. and some staff members feel pretty
strongly that without these rooms um children's needs will not be well met. And so that was my compromise between the different pieces of information I gathered was to remove remove the wall and to be able to use a timeout space as
a seclusion space uh when it was necessary. There are 13 conditions in the new in the new law for allowing um allowing spaces to be used as seclusion. Um and they're extensive. You need to uh you need to make sure
that the child has been cleared medically to be placed in that situation by a doctor. There's needs to be a psychologist involved. There needs to be evidence that there's been a preexisting safety issue. not um inter in terms of
immediate danger to the student or other people around them. Um there needs to be parental consent ahead of time. There's a lot that goes into the new laws that are very prescriptive and one of the things that we're balancing in policy
right now because policy is not supposed to be prescriptive is how we meet the law without being prescriptive. But I think the simplest way and I think this is what's going to happen now um is that uh the school committee will likely vote not not to prohibit as many districts
have across the Commonwealth the use of seclusion in our schools. And I'm Jonathan. >> Kathy, it's more my question is more a point of of clarification as to what um because this sounds like a very
complicated um conversation with pieces that are kind of not part of our purview. um as important as they are there that this decision doesn't sound like a a building committee decision. What what is what do what do we need to do as a building committee today regarding this?
>> Um let me respond to that first, Alicia. Um as a building committee, I think the hope was that by this meeting we would have a consensus agreement on what to do about this and then we would just endorse it as you said, you know, us
making decisions. Um um so I I I think continued conversation here probably doesn't make sense and to the extent there needs to be an ongoing discussion the leadership of the schools um and the
the school committee I mean this is not you know unless people object to what Tim just described if they don't even want that expense we don't need to spend spend the $50,000 if it doesn't address anything. It sounded at least what I
heard was these came from suggestions. So, I don't think we have a way of resolving it today. So, Alicia, I will call on you, but I going to suggest that we uh ask the parties that are in disagreement. I mean, we're having a
different view from the people who teach and work in the buildings about some pieces of equipment that get used regularly. We haven't even occupied the new building yet. And um the only other comment I want to make is there's been
extraordinary effort in this building design for special needs. We have a huge amount of the square vid footage of the whole school dedicated to this. So this has always been central to the design
that came originally from the school committee and then the building committee adopted it and our designers did in terms of the amount of space the way the playgrounds are designed the wayfairing. So it's not that there's been a lack but I don't think Angelica
this is the place to be arguing it out because we do not have any way of making these decisions. Um, so Elicia and then Angelica. And I do want to just say that if there's an ongoing discussion on this, if there's actually a rejection of
what Tim and he can give you an explicit memo, if people don't want that done at all, that memo went out to the leadership of the schools, I think a week ago or or then about, you know, before it came to us. if they don't want this done at all, if the school
leadership said yes to it, um that discussion has to some somehow happen outside this this this group. We don't have information or expertise to make that decision. Alicia,
>> um thank you Kathy. I was going to ask about whether or not we would have like return to this conversation, but it sounds like you're saying we will not. Can I just get confirmation on that?
>> Um, what what I'm saying is that it's April 17th. We meet again in one month and in play are the changes that Tim just listed. I mean, we can get a more concrete memo. If people don't want
those at all, someone should say it sooner. And it's not us because those those changes didn't come from this school committee. Um, it's not clear that there's agreement on other changes, Alicia. So, without agreement on other changes on whether they're even needed,
we have no ability to make any decision. And I think by next meeting, uh, the timeline will have moved forward. This this is things are being finished up. Walls are being painted. Um you know tearing down walls, changing
doors for example. Um you know so so yes I I am saying that right now on April 17th we don't as a committee I think what Jonathan was have any ability to make other decisions than what has been uh proposed to us. So
>> you mean other decisions other than to approve or to not approve? Well, it's right now the um approval or not approval is if what was described if people don't want that to happen then the original design of the room is in play. Um you know where the how big the
glass is the mirrors in the wall the the thing that none of that has to happen and those are ads to what was in these rooms before. Um >> yes but so the intention though was to vote on that today. No. Well, there
wasn't when when when I wrote the agenda a week ago, I thought there would be three or four ways of dealing with the these reflection timeout rooms and we would have to look at pluses and minuses. It turned out that there had
already been some agreement working with the schools on pieces that seemed to address most of the concerns, the concerns about how these rooms would be used and the safety of kids in the rooms. It wasn't broader. There was a a
list that started to expand into the larger rooms and other parts of the building and that really starts to run into the whole schedule. So, so I think the only decision today is if people do not want DNA to make the changes they
just described, they haven't been made yet. They're being priced out. We could do that and then nothing would happen. So, that that is I think the only thing we could do. Um and um so I'll just stop there. We don't have
any other kinds of decisions to make today. So, we could say don't do what was just described if that's what you're thinking. Um, and I didn't hear that. I heard more that other things were on the list. Um, Deb talked about a half a wall
rather than a whole wall. And there has to be agreement with the leadership of the schools who are going to use these these rooms or not use them. Um, so I don't think we have any role right now other than to say we don't want what was described and I don't have enough
information to say I don't want it. So at $50,000 those kinds of changes seem doable and it won't disrupt this timeline. I have no other information. >> Okay, that that is helpful. I just still
feel a bit conflicted because I know we're the building committee and so we are strictly dealing with the physical structures of the building, but we're building space that needs to be used intentionally and there are other folks who make decisions about what happens inside of these spaces that we are
making these decisions about. And so it feels like it doesn't quite make sense for us to not be in line with what the school committee is going to be doing in line with what is happening inside of the schools with the educators. it it feels like we are all in sort of
different places right now. Um and so that does not feel good and I just wanted to name that. >> No, I would agree with that. And we thought that this was coming up. Well, we thought I thought this would be coming from broader the teachers and the leaders in these schools that are going
to be using these rooms. As I said, the rooms weren't designed by the building committee. They were given to us um by the school committee and the staff. That's where these where these originally came from. And I sorry just one other followup and that makes sense to me but I I hear Deb
saying that there's a possibility possibility that they will have a vote that may have an impact on some of these things and so again I just think there could have should have and if there's still a possibility to do so some a better level of coordination and collaboration between the groups and the
people who are involved in these decision-m processes because it seems sort of fragmented >> and that's out that's outside our purview. Correct. I mean that's that's what I thought would have happened by this meeting. Um so Angelica I just you know it's and I see Angelica and
Allison's hands are both up there. There are there's more than one opinion in this room I must say. Um Angelica and then Allison and I would like to end this because I don't think we have any way of of making other decisions here. Allison uh Angelica you're first and
then uh and just try to be brief on what and not repeat what you have said already. >> Okay. Okay. Okay. Hold on. So yeah, I don't appreciate that first of all. Um so Kathy, you have been you have taken the mic sufficiently and I just wanted to say that procedurally this has been a
mess. This morning you texted you emailed and said that uh we would not be taking a vote but now we are and this is not how I operate. I'm not used to professionally operating this way. I contribute my civic time to this with the expectation that we would have at least have more time to look at what was
being presented today so we could take an informed decision because this is impacting children's lives. And so I don't appreciate the level of procedural messiness of this. And I'm not repeating myself. I'm simply pointing that out. And you're right. This is already way behind schedule. There was a
subcommittee that needed to have potentially met more. And I just also don't I I would like to move forward with some of the recommendations that have been put out there um because that you know we I think some of these are
improvements and I appreciate that but there's other ways that we can we can't just have like a bigger seclusion room. There's things that are still not quite right with this and this is not for us to decide and continue to liberate but it needs to be procedurally correct and
taken all as many people as possible. Alison, >> I was a question for Donna and Tim. Um, do is there a chance for us to talk more as a community before or do we do you
need us to say something today? Could we make could we have a chance to talk more and then in the May meeting we would be able to tell you something or do you need something from us today? I I will just say that any direction given to us in the May meeting will
almost certainly not be able to be implemented before the scheduled completion of the school. >> Okay. Um Angelica, um I appreciate you seeing that some of the things are improvements because that I think would
be helpful. Um there were definitely things in there that I thought were um some compromises of where we were able to get to and if the um if the committee with Deb and Angelica would be willing to meet with me and and I don't know if we can I I just want to make sure that
you're understanding some of the things that I know happens when you're in these moments and how it can be really hard to u manage some of the things that were requested. I just think we need to talk more about that. if you would be open to
that. Um, if you're and and we can get the things that were part of the recommendations in place, I would appreciate being able to do that cuz I think that's something that would be very helpful. I'd love to have more conversation with you to see how we can just uh make a plan for how to address
these things. And then I can bring in union representation because that's really important, too. Um, because I don't I don't remember exactly why cameras were a difficulty, but I just want to make sure we're all on the same page. And I appreciate that, Allison. And I will say that Alicia just also answer a
question that there is currently an investigation that's being done by the Stucky Law Firm. Um, also called on by the district about existing practices. So, there is an acknowledgement that things need to change and I appreciate the district's leadership on that. >> Deb,
>> yeah, Alison, I'd love to to talk more. Um, I would like to bring in one of the more extreme voices because I think it's important for all voices to be heard. So, one of the people who's pushing very strongly for these rooms to be shut down entirely so we can have a well-informed
conversation, not that I'm advocating for one way or the other. Sounds good. Thank you. So I guess as chair what I'm and as I said Angelica I thought when I wrote this a week ago we'd have several
different pieces. I didn't understand that some things were doable and they thought it was endorsed. So the team moved forward but what I'm going to suggest is and then I'll see whether the building committee agrees. Um, right now
if people are okay with what Tim what was just laid out, if there is something else that with what Allison just offered could be worked out that would be focused on these timeout rooms, they work with Danesco and it has to be right
away or it's just not going to happen. and that it happens outside the building committee is the only way I can see this meeting a timeline of having it in place um and not disrupting and and you know
the uh the it's not just it's an issue of timing and construction and what is happening right now that that we have to accommodate and we don't have any way of knowing this it's April 17th and the deadline was originally April 1st first.
So Tim is saying May late May is completely untenable. So we're talking about in the next week something has to happen and we can't we as a committee I just want to end the discussion for the committee because we we don't have any other way to make decisions right now um
at all. Um, and so I'd like to close this down because we can't we don't even you know exactly I you know I haven't as you know I have not been in any of these meetings and many of us have not been in Allison I see you're
>> Debb and Angelica I don't have any students next week. I'm more than happy to meet as frequently as often as you as your availability. I don't have anything scheduled but I will be working so uh remotely. Um, so please see me at your
disposal. >> So is is that all right for everyone to move on to um we we have three other items on the list. I don't think we can get to all of them today. Um it is so I just want to make sure we're not moving.
So the three other items is uh Mike has looked into the fence at Amethyst Brook. We have a ve very patient person waiting here, Tom Wagner from the public arts commission, which is not actually time dependent. He was going to do an update
of where the percent for art discussions are right now and then an update on the parking and vehicle flow for the first six months. So, um it is right now 134 and we have to do invoices.
So, is there any >> Yes, >> Kathy. Um, I'll volunteer to move down in the agenda or to move off the agenda if necessary for presentation at another time. >> Okay. And and and we can do we we'll meet again. I can give Casseni can
probably give you the date right now, but we meet again in uh one week in May. So, Cassenya, I don't if if you could come back on then. So, let's just do that. We've removed one. So, thank you very much for listening listening patiently.
And so we'll send you that date, Tom. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Now, we have uh the fence and an update on parking and vehicle flow. So, I'm going to suggest that we do parking and vehicle flow because I think it's important for people to know that the
first six months are going to be different and there are some options that the town is considering. Um, and let me just see whether Paul was going to be back for that and I don't see him here. So maybe we'll do fence quickly. I'll just I'm juggling the agenda here.
So Mike, um if you want to report, just do a verbal report on what you saw and then I can share if I can figure out how to do that. Um he he did walk the fence for us, the existing fence. Mike,
>> sure. Thanks, Jeff. Yeah, I took a number of pictures um so everyone can see like the current state of it. Um it's approximately 2400 linear feet of fencing. It's a 4 foot chain lick fence that runs um parallel to Belchuretown
Road and uh then from behind the property it runs into uh Pelum Road. Uh so sections of the fence, some of sections are in pretty good shape. um primarily the section that goes from Pelum Road
um to just about the divider line between um the existing school um playground area and the the new school. And then there are a couple sections that have had um trees fall so that uh
the top of the fence um is broken. Um but then it gets into being heavily overgrown. um with underbrush. Um so once you get to the point where uh
the fence starts becoming problematic, which about where the new school um boundary, the new school begins, there's about um the entire back area of that fence is in okay shape, but it's it's
very overgrown with pricker bushes. So between the school and the fence, there's about uh five or six feet of undergrowth, like dense undergrowth. And behind the fence, uh there's at least 100 ft between the fence and the river. And there's really
thick um undergrush in that section. And uh I don't know if you're able to share the picture, Cath. Yeah. I'm just I'm trying to figure out I I opened your picture, but maybe the
um Do you want the pictures? Well, tell me which pictures cuz you attached. Do you want the perimeter picture where you show where the fence is and then let me just figure out if I can even >> pictures show the um the state of the fence. See, >> the worst part of the fence is the fence
that runs along on Beluretown Road. Um there are four or five sections of the fence. um that the woods have kind of reclaimed and so the top is broken,
but it's I couldn't get into some of the sections because it's just such uh thick undergrowth. Um there is one section that's open along that area to the Ammerst um hotel. I don't know if that was intended to be
a gate, but it's an entire section that's open between the two. And there's also one area that was intended to be a gate in the back of the um new school uh where the basketball courts are. Um
so like an or wide opening which is completely blocked by underbrush. Um so in general um you know there are several sections of
the fence that have had the uh the top of the fence uh been crushed or broken by fallen trees or um you know there some sections of trees have just kind of grown through the fence. Um a large part
of it is in pretty good shape. Um so there are but in any area that has uh the um that's broken there's really thick underbrush. So it would be difficult to replace it if
there's a natural barrier there. and the um along the the Beltron road side of the school. You know, it's closer to the river. I attached a map um the back of the school. It's at least
over 100 ft from the fence to the river uh with like thick underbrush and bricks. Um I don't really think there's any access to it whether the fence is there or not. Um, but the fence, that line of defense is in good shape except
for like I think the two spots for the the top of the fence broken. So right now as it stands like the >> I think I finally figured out how to bring it up. >> Right. So that's uh the view from Palum
Road uh the path from Palm Road to the back of the school. Yeah. Keep going. So that's uh the existing playing fields um the garden area. So that's the path you walk up to get to the palm road
entrance. >> Okay. I think those are your three pictures. >> I think there should be I keep keep going down a lot more. >> Okay. That's one of the ones the entangled right. >> Yeah. So yeah, that was actually an opening in the fence. Um it was a a
gate. So this is again between Palm Road and the um playing field. This is where we start having our first like real issues like tree collapse the top of the fence there. You can see in the background that's the uh the new
school there. So just before we get to the new school um playing field and again so that's this area there's not really thick underbrush um I was able to get close through it think like this I mean that tree can just get
removed um this you know clearing the underbrush to the top of the fence is intact but is you know force letting go Um this is a picture of the underbrush that's between um the fence and the
playgrounds. Um the new school playground. Okay. Same thing there. I think there's another section uh from last >> I will these just came in this morning. I will put them in the packet. Um so I think
I'll stop scrolling. >> Yeah. So there like this this is a section where you know it's no longer a fence now. Um, >> yeah, >> thank you, >> Kathy. I think it is in the at least
it's in the posted packet on the town's website. >> Yeah, I I just I I sent it to an Angela this this morning um this morning at about quarter of 12, meaning just before the meeting. So, I'm going to stop sharing this just so I can see uh hands
um on here. So, so this was added and Mike also gave us a overview picture of the whole area to show where the fence is, you know, so that in addition to it. So, what we asked him to do was to do an update and I'm just going to call um on
Jonathan. Go ahead. >> So, thanks Mike for for doing that. That was really helpful to understand. um the extent of the fence um and that the map that you highlighted is also very helpful. Um you know obviously it would be great to get the the areas that
are broken fixed um uh but it also gives you a sense of how how dense the uh the um overgrowth is in a lot of areas and and that you know that that's more impenetrable uh than the fence is from
from the looks of it. So thank you that that was also going to be one of my comments. We have what I would call a natural barrier whether whether we it was an intended barrier or not. Um having up in my neck of the woods trying to
climb over fences that have been encrusted that way with trees and bushes. They have been reinforced is is a different way of looking at them. So I don't know where we want to go with that. Um and uh including you know
correcting some of the breaks in the fence where the uh trees are removes a natural barrier of the tree in the bushes you know that that we have an effective barrier along there. So that that was all we asked for actually was
uh what does the fence look like so that all of us didn't have to go out and walk the grounds. and I put a we have that in the packet um for today's meeting and so any comments on that be fine right now.
But this wasn't a decision item at all. It was an update. I don't see any. So then um Bob, are you um I thought Paul was going to be back for the update on parking flow. He sent me some notes. Are you
prepared to to to talk about what the the various these are options not for decisions more for informing people and then I know Cassen was going to talk about this too. Deb go ahead. I'm sorry I didn't >> we've done this. Sorry Kathy I think is
percent for art. >> Say what? >> Percent for art I think is the next agenda item. Um, I think we just we actually just removed Mike said that he would be willing to just come back another time. So rather than Is that you know
>> I just missed that. I'm sorry. >> Yeah. No, he So I think in to recognize everybody's time commitment to this meeting. I wanted to make sure we can get through invoices which we need to >> and I wanted to leave time for public
comments. So I simplified the agenda. So Bob, um, do we have time enough? I mean, this this again is an update on what the possibilities are for the first six months, um, when there's still
construction going on. >> This or this starts with what was provided for in the contract relative limitations for parking. And I it this my suggestion might be to try to do
invoices first if we think we have a hard deadline of of 2:00. Um because the parking discussion could carry on. >> Let me get a time check for every I posted the meeting to go to. >> Okay, I can stay longer if it I I'll I'll get somebody else in the office to
take care of it. >> Okay. So, so, >> so, so Sean, you were going to be needed for the I, we can do invoices first and then we could do the update on parking since this we we do need a a quorum for the the vote on invoices. So, fine,
let's do invoices first. All right, hopefully you guys can see my screen. >> Yes. >> Perfect. Starting up in the top left of as always, green is previously invoice. Black is our current invoice package and
yellow here is our unbuild portion of contracts. Scrolling down to our cash flow. Green is completed. Blue is projections. Contingency held over here on the right. Yellow line is where we are currently through the end of March.
Scrolling down to the summary, we have eight invoices this month. The first one from answer is for $58,952.50 2% of our contract overall, 64% complete. The Niscoco's invoice is that same 65,1%
of their contract overall. CTA's requisition this month 3,433,000 $61.60 5% of their contract overall bring them up to 75% complete. Allied has three invoices. The first for
$1,610, the second for $2,360 and the last one for $1,886. um BVH who we've seen before they did um this invoice is for roof terrain testing and uh infrared roof scan $3,520
5% of their contract overall. And then we have a new invoice from Advanced System Integrators. This invoice is for some of the network switches and related materials and licenses and things of that nature. Um, so that is for $148,480.
It's 52% of their contract overall. So, moving into the backup, start with the answer invoice for the $58,952.50 cover page here. Back up. It's always a good time
to stop me and ask questions. And on to Disco's invoice 65,000. CTA's requisition for the month 3,433,61.60. And the summary page were completed this period. Store
materials this period. Allies first invoice $1,610. Second invoice $2360. And the third invoice for $1,886.
Salis O'Brien's invoice for the root crane testing $3,520 and advanced since system integrators for the 148,000 and some change to the bottom. 148,48.8.
So that that completes uh the invoice package presentation. As always, pre-reviewed the invoices and recommend them for your approval. Are there any questions on the invoices as we've seen them?
Um then I I move that we approve the invoices as presented. >> Second. >> Salvin. And I'll put it to a vote. Kathy is a yes. Jonathan, >> yes. >> Deb, >> yes. >> Angelica, >> yes.
>> Uh, Allison, >> yes. >> Sean, >> yes. >> And Alicia, >> yes. >> Uh, so I have a request for next time we meet. Um, could we just get a summary, a
complete separate document in any way that's easy for your team, Cassenya, to do on the change orders over times? I know we had some because of winter weather hours and speed up, but just so
you know, so so what they've been not necessarily every single line item of them. It would be useful to to get that at some point. Um, >> so let me just look it. It is uh 7 minutes of two by my watch. Um, we have
one more item on the list which is the update on parking and vehicle flow. Do and then we would have public comments. Do people are people willing to stay past 2:00 is my question. Um, and I saw
some nods. So, let's go into parking and then I will open it up to public comment. I think this is important for for people to understand what the options are and what the the situation is going to look like when the school opens.
Bob, is is that you? I mean, Paul sent me something. >> Certainly. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. The latter point of what the situation will look like when the school operates, that's really where we opens where we start. So if Tim I believe is ready to share a graphic that shows what
um has been the plan for several years now as part of the design. >> Yeah. So this plan shows um phase two as it's called in construction documents when CTA will be demolishing the existing school and rebuilding the
fields north of the school and providing as much of the parking lot as complete to the school to use. Uh, as we talked about during the sign discussion, the exit at the north part of the site is being moved to allow more queuing at the intersection to Main Street. So, that exit will not exist during the fall of
26. So, all traffic for the school will come in and leave through the south exit. as making use of the space that we have. Parking will be predominantly in what will eventually be the final
parking lot, but bus traffic will use the bus loop. Vans will as well and turn to where they will be in the final configuration. But parent drop off will circulate through the parking lot, but coming from the
south across a temporary um reinforced turf, temporary drive across what will eventually be grass um which will eventually go back to reinforced turf and then circulating back out through
the same entrance. Um there is additional impact that 56 of the cars and the parking lot will have to be double parked for this. There's simply not enough room to demolish the existing building in a safe manner and allow circulation for three rows of parking
without anyone being double parked. Um, and this is there are also, I should add, to get to the total parking count, 22 parallel spots that will be striped in the fall for parking along the bus loop. Uh, but those will not exist in
the final configuration. So this is the measure that allows u the work that needs to be done on the north part of the site to be done in the fall and the school to operate with its full parking condition granted in a in a
compromised way for fall of 26. So building upon this, it's, as I understand, been recognized for quite some time that during this phase of construction, there will not be enough spaces to accommodate all staff on site. Um, given that the staff count will
increase when Wildwood and Fort staff are are all brought to one location. >> I think I think uh this Bob accommodates 168 spots. Tim, is that what the count was?
>> Uh, yes. >> And I think the new lot was 170. Is that right? >> Yes. >> So, it's very close, Bob. >> Right. Good. Thank you. Um it's it's close but it will require some um
challenging measures in terms of double parking cars in basically you know having staff park cars as close as they possibly can park and not being able to exit until the end of the school day uh when everybody would exit in an orderly
manner hopefully. Um so the town has looked into ways to make this a little bit better. Um, and that's what Paul's email had spoke to Kathy, which is trying to working with the DPW to try to identify off-site locations that might
provide additional parking um, if the concept of of double parking everybody into the area to the north um, isn't palatable or people want other options if they don't want to opt into this particular option. Um, and Kathy, did
Paul send a figure along with that email? I believe >> no. Uh, no. I'm just going to look it. This is >> I thought he had, but um >> yeah. No. Um, so it was, you know, different parts of places where you
could potentially have um more use of the public way. And I see Mike's hand is up. So, so I'm I'm just searching. I know a lot came in this morning. So, so I I think you know one of the other Mike I see your hand is up and I'm
just searching to see whether I got something more definitive from Paul >> you know Paul's >> uh here >> okay >> if you did have uh the two spots that would give us um
>> so here I can read from it um so they're looking at some of the old school property that there's potentially 17 new spaces on the property. Relocate street parking to add 19 there. It would be a 5-minute walk. Looking at some of the
town property on Beluretown Road, 44 spaces, 7 minute walk using some of the property at the intersection of Maine and Northeast. Again, this is town property, 20 spaces. So there's and then there's uh there's a map with that but
so we'll come back you know it it's not so much a map Bob the map is still of the school the map he gave me but it it's these are where could you park offsite and one and as as for the people who are going to be parked there during
the day um and Mike I see your hand is up and one of the other things is for people to to extent possibly have your child ride the bus during this time period. Um I know that has gone out of fashion a bit. Our buses are running more empty
than they used to run, but just thinking of fewer just delivery of children. So Mike's hand is up and then I'll take any other questions. This is people are basically searching for what kinds of off-site parking will ease some of this
for six months. Mike, >> thanks. So I mean I my calculation the information that I have latest information is that I need parking for 155 parking spaces for staff. Um so ideally
I would like to not have people double park and even the temporary spots in the bus loop I think could be problematic. Um you know it's it's uh it's kind of tight. Um so I'm trying to figure out a
solution to like removing both those things uh which would be 50 spots. Um so if the parking that would be available um what Paul was talking about at the um
the old school across the street there could be between the parking on the common and in parking lot that's 36 spaces. Um and then uh there would be let's see 20 more spaces uh at the
intersection of uh Main and Northeast Street. I think those are both like those are the two best options. I feel that would give us the ability to like not have people locked in and to not
have to be parking in the in the bus. So I see you see my screen. >> Yeah. Um >> yeah, good. >> Yeah, you can see. So Bob found the memo that I was searching for because he's
showing some of the off offsite. Deb, go ahead. So there are pictures. I was wrong. I kept scrolling. >> But JCA is right there. How many What could we could we ask to to use those spots
during the week? Kathy, >> so what what are Say again, Deb. I just didn't hear the which >> the JCA is right there on >> So you're you're saying would would during the week do they use their
parking lot? So I think so far the exploration was just on Townland, but that's a one that certainly could be explored, you know, and and is it >> I know there are community programs that happen there. It's not just uh Saturday and Friday. Um so that would be one um
you know so it expanding beyond just town owned space. So far I think all the look has been on town owned property um and restriping some of it to allow more on street parking than might otherwise have been there.
>> Kathy, I think the the screen that I pulled up right now is the JCA I think overflow parking. >> Yeah. just north. Um, >> yeah. >> So, similar concept. You know, this is some distance. It's a walking, you know, for people that are willing to walk,
it's it's feasible. >> Sean's hand is up. >> Are we in a throw out wacky ideas mode or do we not want wacky ideas? And I'm not saying yours was dead. Mine mine's kind of wacky, but I didn't know if we were in a brainstorming mode or not. >> I like wacky. >> All right, here's a wacky idea. Um, and
this might be for Michael. I mean, have we is there any potential staff could ride the bus to work? Staff that live in Ammerst as like a optional, you know, we have monitors on our buses anyway. Maybe we might have to modify start and end times, but could they, you know, save
them save money on gas and it would save a parking spot. >> And Sha, you're talking about the school buses. >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, we just talked about how the school buses are not at capacity, right? Um or generally not at capacity. Not saying they're always not at capacity, but just an option. I don't
know how many people would be interested in something like that. >> And it also depends on how many live in Ammerst. >> Yeah, you'd be limited to the ones that live in Ammerst. Yep. >> And that would add bus stops then to the bus routes when we're already um trying to figure out how to like make them more
efficient. That would be >> Yeah, it depends where they live, right? >> Yeah. >> Jonathan I think I Jonathan, I'm not hearing you. >> There we go. That's better. I put my hand down but didn't unmute myself. Um,
yeah, it's it these are some interesting options right around uh that little common opposite the school. And I I I agree with Deb. If there's a way that, you know, some arrangement could be had with the uh the JCA that to, you know, use some of their spaces, that might be
a way to address this. This is mostly informational, right, that, you know, ultimately that the town's going to take on the task of of trying to improve this this situation. I I can see why Michael's got concerns about the the notion of of kind of double parking. you
know, if you're a staff member and you've got a midday doctor's appointment and you're stuck in the inside, that's not really really viable, >> right? And so, it isformational and it's I think what Cassenius had said when we were talking about the school entrances,
there's going to be an effort to reach some here's what's going to be offered and get the news out to everybody. So, to the more so there are no wacky ideas right now. there is you know people are exploring what might might work during
this time period. Allison >> um I had spoken with some people about the idea of parking buddies so that you if you are in a double parked space you know who it is that you're with and it you can kind of communicate with that
person so that you it won't uh make it as difficult to get out if you needed to in the middle of the day. But you know I think all ideas are great if people have more freedom. It always helps. >> So I Mike and by the way I will put this
in the packet. I I didn't realize there were all these maps. So this uh will go into the packet so people can look more at options that have been identified so far. Mike, >> all those um double park spots, they would have to be most likely designated
spots for people just so that you could identify who who was in them. So if somebody walked in, then it's not a matter of like trying to figure out which person with you know we make it easier. Um but again
like I I think if we can remove those double park spots that would be best. Um and at least some of the spots in the bus loop like because the ones that are closer towards the um towards the the road um it's kind of tight right there.
um having you know cars parked along there I think might be problematic. >> Thanks. And then I see Jonathan's hand. >> So just looking at this this map in front of us or the site plan in front of us. Uh maybe someone from the design
team can remind us. It looks like in that first piece of parking at the south end, uh, we've got three rows, but there's like a area that my eye, my architect's eye wants to fill in with with spaces that's not filled in with spaces. There there must be a technical
reason why we're not using that that zone. >> That's a uh water quality swale feature. >> Ah, it's a swale. Okay, that explains it. Yep. Thank you. >> It's a squale. >> Swale. It's a technical term. Rain water
runs there and seeps into the ground. >> Okay. >> So I think we can take this down. Bob, you can stop sharing. Um so that is uh to remind people about that first six months. Yeah. Deb is there the the
superintendent has been talking about the impact of the parking situation on start time, the interaction of the two. Is there any insight this committee has or these people who have studied it has have on that?
>> You mean on whether the school starts at X time versus Y time >> changes any part of the difficulty in the first six months? >> No, >> I don't Mike has raised his hand.
>> Yeah, I can I can speak to that. So with the new school and there only been one um entrance and it's going to be used by both um parent drop off and bus van drop off is kind of going to be a choke point. So
it's going to delay um there's going to be a delay I think in the beginning of the year once uh until both lots are open. Um so the start time um you know we need to
have a it's the same buses that are doing the elementary routes and the secondary routes. So if there is a delay you know getting into the school uh it's going to impact the secondary uh school routes.
>> Okay. And we're so I think next week um we're gonna I think walk the property with uh Chief Ting and try to like talk about potential um solutions for traffic. Um we're going to have to do what we can
internally to manage the the traffic lot like whether that means like having a crossing guard in the in the lot stopping parent traffic so the buses can get out in a timely manner. Um and then how we're if the you know police department can help us manage the lights
so there's not a backup um at the drop off uh at the morning and the afternoon times to try and expediate buses getting out of the lot that way and then not backing up traffic. So those are the things we're looking to get through. This is what they were talking about
before when they're um they're talking about roundabouts and creating four roundabouts to address the traffic issues and that kind of didn't um didn't move forward. So, we're now looking at at least temporary solutions to those
traffic snarls for the for Jonathan and then Deb and it may and then I think we'll we'll end this discussion then. Jonathan, >> this I don't know that anyone in this in the this group will know the answer to
this, but it seems to me that the um the markings I don't know the technical term that they've put out in front of the the current um entrance, the kind of X's in the streets have helped uh anecdotally, at least when I've been perceiving it with traffic at the
beginning and the end of the day, keeping the intersection clear. Um, I don't know if that's planned to at least temporarily shift uh down the street uh to the the the new temporary entrance because I I do think that's been a help
to kind of remind uh the commuter traffic and particularly the UMass commuter traffic not to to block the entrance. So, um, as much as anyone on this group can keep that in mind or tell the appropriate folks at the DPW, I think it may be a good idea to to think
about doing that, uh, for the fall. >> I'm I'm taking good notes on that. So, Deb, >> just a question for Michael. Did you mean crossing guard? Which of the traffic lights are you think expecting there to be um backup?
and potentially both because we're gonna be have >> um you know there are six buses that service Port River and six that service Wildwood and it'll be less than that for the new school but if it's 10 buses so there'll be 10 or 11 buses going into
and out of the this school's parking lot. >> Okay. So there's an increase in uh the traffic that way and so really both lights. So there's not a you'll get trapped. There's a small space between um you know the Belchtown Road light and
the entrance to the new school maybe one or two buses can fit in that space. So like and then also in I mean with traffic in the parking lot like having somebody directing traffic um at the buses a priority.
>> Thank you. >> Now and Deb at one point it was suggested but there are no decisions. You know there's that slanted road behind the bank that allows you to avoid the belture town the southern light that that is really near the entrance to the
school. That doesn't have to be there. the town could just say no, it doesn't exist anymore. Um, so that would stop yet another set of cars coming in. Um, and not enough people spoke to that, but I know there was one fairly serious
accident there several years ago because the cars often don't stop. It's not it's not just that it's a slant way, but they treat it as a yield sign rather than as a stop sign. And it's really close and there are a lot of bushes there. So, so
if there were anything that could ease ease this up, but that would be t town taking action on that. Jonathan, >> not to belabor it, but but I agree with you. I think even if it was just for this fall time um that the town consider
uh I I'm going to say this, I use it every day and I've seen people do exactly what you just said, you know, yielding instead of stopping. Um, I have to catch myself sometimes when I want to rush into work. Um, but it's it it does complicate things and yes, it's going to
back the traffic further up Route 9. Um, but at least backed up Route 9, it's in a controlled fashion to me. I'm not a traffic engineer, so I'm probably a little bit out of my lane. Um, but, you know, I should I think the town should feel free to to to look at any option that kind of makes sense. Um, similarly,
you know, you have the one-way portion of Southeast Street. I don't know if if it helps to stack buses up there or not, but you know, whatever whatever solutions they should consider widely. >> Deb,
>> yeah, visibility is much better now because they cut back the bushes, but I also support anything that would uh control the traffic through a light versus a yield. >> Okay. If there no other um comments um
you know once more decisions are made about this I think we'll just be reporting to the committee but it'll be more important that we're comforting to all the school leadership and getting information out to parents you know before people arrive in September um on
on where to go. So if if no one objects I'm going to open it for public comments. Um, and I see we have there is a member of the public there. If you would like to make any comments, uh, we are open for public
comments. Just raise your hand. Seeing none, um I think we have finished um what was probably an overly ambitious uh agenda and May I hope will be a little bit better. So I want to thank
everybody and thank everyone for uh staying for the whole time and I am going to make a motion that we adjourn. Oh Allison, go ahead. >> Yeah. So, I just if um I don't know where we left things with the reflection
rooms. Um I'd like to make sure that if any changes we can be agreed upon because I don't I mean I think that Donna was pretty clear that we can't wait till May. So, I just wanted to make sure I knew what the timeline was to get any requests in.
So I'm going to well make a statement that see whether anyone in the committee I think if something could be agreed to with Disco that's doable you just go and do it. So the question is is a Disco to respond on you know what is they already gave us
one speak now date and that was 17 days ago. So Tim, um I guess you know in terms of them meeting next week, do they uh get back to you and Donna? You know, how how does that work?
>> I will just say that any changes going forward, every day that passes, it's less likely that they will be able to be done by the time the school schedules to be open. And we have already passed the time where a lot of the things discussed could reasonably or in any possible way
be done. But um we we will discuss whatever the district chooses. I mean we're we're here to implement your decision, not to tell you what to do. >> So Allison, that's the best I could get. You know, >> sorry ASAP. If if you yesterday
>> it was it was it was due yesterday. But yeah, you know, so as as as Jonathan said, this is beyond the scope of what we can do and um it is a it needs to be how are you actually going to use these
rooms or not use these rooms um you know and focused on those those spaces at this point. And I think that's the only thing that this focus was focused on was those timeout spaces. So with that said, I I make a motion to
adjurnn. Um, and I see if there's a second. I'm just going to quick quickly put it to a vote to see if everyone has agreed to adjourning. >> Is there a second? >> Second. I'll second. >> All right. Kathy, say yes. Jonathan, >> yes. >> Deb, >> yes.
>> Allison, >> yes. >> John, >> yes. >> Angelica, >> yes. >> And Elicia, >> yes. >> Thank you all and I'll see you in a month. Bye.