--------- Okay, this is the community preservation committee meeting um Wednesday, May 7th, and I'm going to read the remote participation. In accordance with chapter two of the acts of 2023 suspending certain provisions of the open meeting law, public bodies
otherwise governed by the OML are temporarily relieved from the requirements that meetings be held in public places open and physically accessible to the public so long as measures are taken to ensure public access to the body's deliberations through adequate alternative means. This
meeting will be live on Zoom. The public may participate remotely by joining Zoom meeting number ID 840877-2826 or by calling 9292056099. For additional information about this remote participation, please
contact Carly Anthony Ellis, assistant, excuse me, I'm sorry, assistant town manager at atmirair.mma. US or 978-772-8220 extension 100 prior to the meeting during normal business hours.
All right. Can I get uh a motion to approve the agenda unless someone's got any type of corrections? Nope. I think Colleen was saying no. No corrections. No, sorry. Just a kid came into the room. So the nerve. All right.
On a day like today when there's sunshine, go for it, Jan. And I move to approve the agenda as written. All right. Can I get All right. Colleen seconds. Julie makes the motion. All right. We're going to go roll call. Uh
Jess, I. Beth? Yes. Colleen? I. Julie? Yes. Kevin? Yes. Okay. All right. Um the minutes we have two sets. We have two sets. I'm bad. I didn't write down which
ones. 35 uh is our regular meeting and then 3:20 was the special meeting to approve the to approve the warrants. Yeah. Okay. All right. Can um is there any corrections to the um March
5th? Can I get a motion to approve the minutes as written for March 5th? All right, Julie made the motion. Second. Colleen seconds it. All right, I'm going to do roll call. Uh, Jess, hi. Beth,
yes. Colleen, hi. Julie, yes. And Kevin, you weren't here, so he can still vote. I think we've I thought he abstains. Or Kimmy. Yeah, I'll abain. That's fine. Okay.
Okay. And chair says I as well. So, all right. And then um the special meeting that also happened March. Uh can I get a motion to approve the minutes of the special meeting to
approve our warrant articles? So moved. Okay. Julie second. And Colleen seconds. Let's do roll call. Jess, hi. Beth, yes. Julie, yes. Colleen,
I wasn't at the meeting, so if I I'm allowed to vote, I vote yes. But yeah, I think so. Yeah. Um, and Kevin. Yes. All right. And chair says I So I
That's You're all set to go with those, Jess. Okie dokie. All right. Next on the agenda, we've got correspondence and invoices. Invoices. We had the public spirit invoices because of the two
public hearings. And the total amount, you ready? $47152. That was Go ahead. So that was the two hearings advertised twice each. Correct.
Yep. All right. Um, so I gave the okay to pay that because they came knocking on my door. No, they sent me an email. Um, and we were all set on that. Um, I don't Okay, I'm just want to make sure.
I thought I heard somebody wanting to come in, but I don't see anybody wanted to be admitted. All right. So, that was it. And then we received the um invoice from Habitat for Humanity for the um total
amount of again I thought I had it written down here but I just have invoices from Habitat. I believe Habitat received 150,000 from Does that sound familiar Jess?
uh for the 12 Newton Street. Oh, yeah. Yeah, it does that. Oh, here I got Yeah. 150,000. Um so, go ahead. You had an invoice for the whole amount. For the whole amount and she sent us um the in
the packet of invoices of all the work that they've done and it was about yay thick. Um I have it. It's in the folder that goes along with everything because Carrie looked at me saying, "I just need the single invoice. You're the ones who needed to look at it." It was broke down
of every nail and and and every um so she did a good job on that. Um so I I approved the 150 to be um um moved over to habitat.
The other um correspondence that we had is I received a phone call and I should have received an email from John Strauss, the gentleman from the West Graten Rail Trail. Um he had to call to
say that there is a Jio Wyoming um rail line that controls some of the trains that come into Splash Products and with that and
also too they work with Hollingsworth and um vault um out in West Graten that they want to continue control of um the rail line from the mill all the way to
the Squanook River. So which means they're that west rail trail is only going to go um up to like say about Hollings Hollingsworth and Bo the Mill um it's
not going to continue by the Graten um Tom Forest. So, he's supposed to give me, like I say, an email that has the letter from that um um rail uh company. Um but I have not received it yet. And I
got the phone call uh yesterday afternoon. So, um again, it's not like Yeah. And it was, you know, a heads up, but then, you know, they're they're they're keeping it. So, understood. You said
that they control the trains coming into Splash Products. Splash Products. That's the one that's over on if you go on Grunt and Shirley Road. That's the business to that's to the right of Graten Shirley Road where the trail the Okay.
And there's one more right in front of it and I'm trying to remember what it is and I can't remember. I think it's Horn Packaging I believe. Okay. So, that's off our It's off our radar. Off our radar. Yep. Yep. So, those were the
correspondence that I had. Did anybody else have any correspondence? Okay, just checking. Moving on. Um, old business update on Springtown meeting. Um, I think it went um very well. Um, the
presentation that we had prepared as well as the presentation that Luke had prepared is on the website. I want to make sure people are aware of that that if you go to where the town meeting um link is and you see all the different
warrant articles, each one of the presentations is another link underneath that warrant article. So So it's on uh it's on the website but through the town meeting, not through ours.
Correct. I mean, they didn't we did not have our they didn't ask for the presentation from um CPC nor the presentation from the library for the the roof repair. However, since we did
prepare it, it is on um the website for the town meeting, not on CPC's website. I mean, I can put have you know, Max put it there um because it's on the server anyways. It's just another link to the same just so I know where to designate.
Right. Right. It it's right with the town meeting links. Um and I think that's the best. Um does anybody have any feedback with regards to town meeting? Okay. I'm hearing crickets. So I'm going to keep on moving
um with it being new business. Um grant agreements. I'm sorry I did not get around to do any drafts for the two that we have. I know that
the affordable housing trust initial grant agreement that we had is I need to find out from Robert where that stands because I couldn't find a a a final uh a final document. So, I think it was on Robert's desk and
everything that was happening with um the hospital and and and whatever. I think that's where some of them uh um lie because either that or town council. Well, true. Um and the other one is the
71 Sandy Pond Road. I know that that um Robert was reviewing and um so I I need to follow up with those and since that I just didn't get around to coming up with
a draft for for the two that we just had. Go ahead, Beth. At this point, I wonder if you might consider the trust one being merged like one grant agreement for both um just to save a filing, you know, like
and and you know, that process. Just just a thought if if folks are agreeable to that. Good idea. I think that's a good idea. Okay. All right. So, um, like I say, I've got the trust and from what I
understand from everybody, um, we'll merge that all into one. 71 Sandy Pond and then the other one that I still have, um, that I I could not find a signature on is the Habitat for Humanity. Um, so I will go ahead and see
where those um, lie. plus again the two new or the one new one which is the library um the roof replacement and repair. Following up on those, I did just want
to mention since we are issuing the funding for Habitat, um that we would just check those conditions, you know, like even if it wasn't signed, just there's a goodwill, you know, assumption that they would agree to all of those
steps and like again the signage and things like that, you know, that those um are in place and acknowledging funding. I know that they have placed, you know, the signage when they had the groundbreaking and when they started. Now most of the signage is down for
everything. I did go to their spring meeting and in the spring meeting it it was it was pretty neat. Um Shirley Street, the first one that they did uh here in town, uh the individuals paid off their mortgage.
I I it I mean it was amazing, you know, to go ahead and be able to see that. There were three families, one from Fitsburg and there was someone else. Um they all got to rip up their mortgage and like I say, it was it was great. I
got to meet the two families that won the lottery. There were 70 um applications for the duplex on Newton Street. And out of that, they've got two single moms with children moving into
the house on Newton Street. So, I got to meet those two individuals plus one of the little kids. Uh, and like I say, it was great. However, I did mention to Carolyn afterwards, the document that they did up did not have it said town of
air. It did not say CPC or CPA funds. And um what document is that? Um it it's the um program of okay who the guest speaker was and um about who you know is
retiring from Habitat about the houses that are now under construction the 12 Newton Street plus two others. So I I thought I had the copy here but I couldn't I couldn't find it. Um, but in that it said, you know, for the Newton
Street, thank you to Main Street Bank, thank you to the town of Air, but it did not say thank you to CP, you know, uh, CPA funds. So, listening to you, Beth, um I I text or not texted, but I sent an
email to Carolyn going um it would be um more beneficial for Habitat to definitely if you get CPA funds to mention that it um so that individuals know that those CPA funds are used for
affordable housing and um and especially if they want additional funds later on in the future. um it's it's an easier uh ticket to sell when they you know residents see that the funds are being
used. So So I hear you Beth and then I I I saw that she did good in the beginning but all of a sudden it was missing from that. So and the program you're talking to what event was that? It was called the spring breakfast. Okay.
And then they're going to be having a another um event in October um that we probably will be invited to. This I just happened to stumble across so I almost like I got invited to it
like say the day before. Um the event is on October 16th over at Devon's Commons. The Devon's Commons, you know, the convention center right at um 7 to 9 and
they'll be you know doing that type of same having guest speaker and talking about some of the successes that they've had. So again um I'll keep in touch with her to be sure that we mention you know that we're
mentioned. Um Janet do you know when the um two families will be able to move in? They're hoping by December. That's that's their goal. Um, and I mean, they've been plowing right through that house um, pretty
impressively. I know that I think Julie may correct me on this, but I think that the um, building inspector didn't like the way that the stairs were, so they had to redo the stairs up front or something. I I didn't know whether I haven't heard that. Okay. All right. But
I haven't heard anything as updates, Janet, so I wouldn't know. Okay. And I think that might have been just a Charlie thing. So um All right. So that was um like I say picking up on what Beth was talking about um with um Habitat for Humanity.
So I will make sure that she gets um the the grant agreement and and that. All right. Um, so next meeting I'll I'll have some drafts and some updates because I've asked Robert, he's out this
week on his honeymoon from what I understand, which is great to hear. Um, so I asked him, I sent him an email that when he gets back, I do need to talk with him sometime next week and I'll see whether or not he can find time. Um, and
that's one of the things I like to speak to him about. All right. So that's category for grant agreement. Does anybody else want to speak anything about it? Anything else? All right. The next one is possible funding request for town meeting. Um
Colleen and I got to uh partake in a joint meeting of the air affordable housing committee and air affordable housing trust last week. Wait, wait, wait. Affordable housing committee
committee and affordable housing trust and okay it was a joint meeting. I didn't even have a cup of coffee. I'm drinking green tea. I know so I'm in trouble and it's decaffeinated
too. Um it was a joint meeting that was asked for by the Devon Crest Tenants Association. Connie Sullivan, Richard. Um, I don't know his last name. I can get it for you, Jess. From Shocket
Company, the developer. That's I I think you have it from before. S C H O C K T Shocket. Um, developers company. Like I say, they're the developers. um a lawyer
by the name of Dan Carlton and I think there was one other gentleman who's the finance guy but I I don't have it here. Um I don't think we need that detail. Okay, that's good. All right. to members, you
know, of Devon Crest as well, the Devon Crest Tenants Association. Um, it looks as if and since it was a public meeting, it looks as if they've been in contact and conversations with Brady Sullivan. Um, and they're This is the tenants
association. The tenants association plus the lawyers and Okay. And such um and so um Okay. Brady Sullivan is talking about um possible purchasing, you know, having
them purchase. uh 114 units where 79 of those units have been redone
and are now getting market rate rent. And that market rate rent is going for $2,200 to $2,400 a month. Okay, there are 35 that are
still have not been renovated and they're still at the old whatever they were paying rent. Okay. So Devon's Crest Tenants
Association may come forward through Connie Sullivan requesting the initial is $5,000 for each one of the
114 units. $5,000 for each of the for CPA funds to help offset some of the costs. So that the total sum of that Okay. $570,000.
Okay. Do you know what the total asking price is? No, that is still under due diligence and they they were told that they cannot tell us. So hopefully we do get to find out. Um I mean it it we we'd have to find out
anyways before you know before they can come you know asking for for for funding. I know that they are looking for um a a tax a tiff a tax advantage from the town. Um, and
um, I told them they're they want to do stuff really quick because I gather they need to reply to Brady Sullivan by October 18th. They can ask for a 30-day
extension. I pretty much told them, and Colleen did as well, that it's CPA funds have got to go through a town meeting. So, you're not going to be able to get any CPA funds until October, which I think it's October
27th. They also too because of it being a joint meeting, um they were looking at the affordable housing trust for some of the money in the trust fund. And again, no matter what, it's
still the trust fund money is all CPA fund money. So, it has to go by the guidelines of affordable housing from community preservation. I'm sorry, who would who would acquire
it? Is it's it's going to be the Shocket company would acquire it at the beginning with their investors. So what ends up happening is they will be the financial partner for Devon's Crest Tenants Association. Then after 10
years to 15 years, they're going to start backing out so that Devon's Crest Tenant Association can then start taking it over, finding their own investors, taking over the management
um and the care. Like my concern was, okay, are they going to have like a HOA to handle taking care of the property? You know, you you got to have someone manage the property.
Um, so that's what the plan is. There's a lot of questions. Sean Copelan asked some really good questions during the meeting since it it should be on YouTube by now. I think it is um because it it
was videotaped. Was this at a select board meeting? No, this was a joint meeting. This was the joint meeting. The two um so Sean is on the trust. Sean Copeland's on the trust. So isn't
Colleen. And like I say, they the um we had some really good questions. Ron Morrison, who's on the housing committee, had some good questions and a a lot of it again is still unknown
because they also want to use town supported funds, whether it's CPA funds or the trust funds as leverage to help tell the investors the town is supporting
this. So, it's like, you know, um you can't they're like sometime, you know, maybe putting a cart before the horse, but we need to know that the both parts are together and moving in the same direction. So, they they do know that we
we need further information. and Connie said he was going to fill out an application and if they want to come to October, um I was very proud of Colleen. Colleen went ahead and said, "You got to get it to us by August." So, um, Colleen, you
want to add anything or No, I I had to leave before the end of the meeting, so I wasn't sure what the final, you know, where it was left at the end, but definitely there were a lot of good questions and
um, you know, about the logistics of it all, I think left me sort of questioning, you know, how it was all going happen, how it could all happen and play out. Um, exactly. And we made it clear
that, you know, they were talking about 30 years or 99 years, you know, deed restricted. and Janet and I made it pretty clear that the CPA funds which whether it comes from the trust fun but money which we don't have all that
they're asking for or from us that it would have to be the 99 or in perpetuity correct deed restriction. So, we made sure they were clear on that, right? Because we're, you
know, again, we've been we've lost a lot with it being 30 years and um everybody else who has signed up has gone, you know, 99er in perpetuity. So, so we're listening to you, Beth. Absolutely.
Thank you. I also would would hope that the select board or whoever needs to make these decisions would lend town council services to the conversation right away now. So I mean I think if something could work out it would be
amazing. Um, so I'm optimistic, but I certainly understand there's so much uncertainty and many questions right now. But that's why given the time constraints, I would really hope that the town is offering for town council to be involved in the conversations right
away to start asking the questions that they would need to understand, especially with the TIFF development and things like that as well. um you know there's it's complicated and the the more resources that can be there to help support um you know the process
the the better I think just especially with the time consideration. Just to let you know uh Carly was there on behalf of Robert um and with that she did um say that they were going to be reaching out to um KP Law.
So yeah, that's that's in the works. All right. Um, so that's one of the possible funding requests um for a fall town meeting. We'll find out more as time progresses. The other is um with regards to the housing authority
um they've got some documents to go ahead and help um gives support to uh a generator for the housing authority building where the
council of aging still is and also um where uh the apartments are plus where the office is and to to go ahead and to be able to use that. Um I Pauline Connelly has also offered to to help um
with some of again some of the supportive documents um for that and Ken has got Ken um Martin who is the executive director of the housing authority um has documents from other housing authorities
that have used CPA funds just for that purpose. So with that, that may be coming forth as an application to us um to to help support um our generator for that
building. I teased him because the building is just I think it's 47 years old. I said, "Too bad it isn't three more years, so we can go ahead and consider it historical." Um and then I start laughing at myself saying she was
50s considered historical. So, I'm I'm in trouble. Um, so those are, from what I understand, may be the the two possible funding requests coming for Falltown meeting. I know fall uh the senior
center is um going to be one of the items that they're going to be presenting at the fall town meeting. And I've warned Katie Petrazi that um she has been putting out some
um documents or not really documents but there was one news uh article that said CPA funds are going to be used for it and I told her no it cannot be used for that. We are going to be looking at possibly the addition of any type of
recreation on the outside. However, there are some limitations that have got to be run by town council and um town manager that it can't be considered um part of the the building. It almost has
got to be I and I got to keep doing the research on it. Um something more park and wreck. So, um, she understands hopefully that you can't put CPA funds in as a source of funding for the
building because again, it's a municipal building and it has to come from capital funding and from their own um, funding sources, not CPA. I just in case you hear of anything. Um, but that's one of the things I know that's going to be coming
a fall town meeting. I don't think that there's anything else unless someone else might have heard anything. What's the status on 71 Sandy Pond Road? Because I know uh they were have been talking about a public hearing
on May 18th, which is next week, but I have not heard anything about that. I don't think it's May 18th. That's a Sunday. Oh, May 22nd then. Um, whatever that what was it?
Wednesday, I think. Um, May 21st. Are you talking about the sharet or the heret? Yeah, the sharet. The sharet, which Yeah. Yeah. Do you remember when that is, Kevin? It It's the 20. It was talked
about as the 21st. I have it down in my calendar. I just now see. Yep. 6 days ago on the town Facebook page, they posted a notice about it. Okay. Yes. It's 6:00 p.m. on the 21st at town
hall. It doesn't say if it can be participated in virtually. No, no. The the point is to have everyone come and look at the photos and provide input. Um it it's very cool what they're doing. uh what we're doing
actually. Yeah. So depending what happens there, Janet, I don't know if that how how because they had been talking at that last meeting um about turning around and having a
plan ready to submit to um sort of a final plan to submit to the select board I think by August. So okay. So, that may very well come before us. Um, the other thing Kevin might know is, um, I it doesn't sound like they'd be
ready to move forward on redoing the beach house yet at that point, would they? They just got money for the design. I'm not sure. I'll be I wasn't able to attend the recent parks meeting, but I can uh I can follow up um and uh let you
know. Okay. So, those two things I think are eventually on our radar. Okay. If not sooner than later. All right. Okay. I got that on my list. Okay. All right. Thank you for reminding
me of that. I have something down for June 18th. Um Oh, that is that was the next potential meeting of the group. Yeah, I was there for you last time. Yeah. Thank you. So, okay. Okay. All right. So, that's
that's good. All right. Um, that's all I have for new business. Anything else from anybody? All right. All right. Um, public participation. Um, I just see us
and that's it. So, I'll just reiterate if the public when you review this on YouTube um off of the APEC um site uh and you have questions, please give a call to Carly Anthony Ellelis, she'll make sure that she gets in touch with me or someone from the committee and we'll
be able to reach out back to you as well. Um we do want to make sure that if you do have questions, we want to get you the the best answer, the correct answer. So, all right. Committee reports. Jess, how's things going with
conservation? Um, they're just going along normally. Um, gosh, we haven't done committee reports in ages. I know that. Um, come back to me. Let me think.
Okay. All right. Colleen, I think you got much of our last meeting covered in the report. um think we've gotten our batch of next rental assistance um spots filled for this year. So, I
think those are our two main things that we've been talking about. Excellent. Yeah. All right, Julie Planning Board. Find the mute button again. Um yep. We're just I'm sure everyone's heard just working on Lincoln Hills. That's
the project before us right now. Right. That meeting's coming up on the 27th. It is. Yeah. All right. And this is the first time, just again for your point about public input, um this is the first time we are trying to give advanced notice as to what topics we're covering
um for these longer projects um which is interesting to try um and stick to, but I think it's really helpful for everyone. So, we'll see how it goes. Yeah. All right. I agree because it it keeps people focused. So, I think that
was that was good. Um, I like I say, I agree. Kevin, um, parks and wreck, you weren't at the last meeting, but is there any update? Yeah, brush it out. Um, not for CPC at the moment. Uh, yeah, we're currently working through the uh
the uh the pool house, not the pool house, the beach house. Um, 71 Sandy Pond, obviously. Uh but I don't have any updates in so far as uh I was not at the last meeting. Okay. All right. And um Beth
um I know that um open space and and wreck that I sent an email from another hat um that Julie and I and Kevin are wearing um to get some information uh from the website, you know, with regards
to open space and recreation plan. But anything else going on with that? Um, so I was just going to ask Jess because I haven't connected with Heather specifically on the update for the OSRP. Um, I guess the state has sent a
communication saying that if we provide an update then we can get an extension of a couple more years. Um, and I I don't remember what the deadline was for that or anything. So I Yeah, we have a meeting tomorrow night. So I'll ask her about that and I can shoot you a text.
Okay. Yeah. just I want to make sure we keep that on and I wasn't sure if she was reaching out to the state or if I should um you know and and like there might be a public meeting that we need to hold um in order to get
like the update approved um so we'll just need to keep a timeline in mind for that. Um, so the because the open space and recreation plan committee really doesn't meet unless we're working on, you know, developing the plan or I
guess if we would be called anytime that there's a consideration for an acquisition. Um, but we don't, you know, hold general meetings unless we're in the plant development phase. Um, but I also wanted to just mention that we are
doing the plantings for the pocket forest. So last Saturday we had our first planting event at Sandy Pond Schoolhouse. So it's the corner of Westward Road and Sandy Pond Road and we'll have another one from 1 to 4 this coming Saturday. It's a great opportunity for families to get out and
plant. Anyone who's interested and then community service hours for students as well. Um is it on Sunday or Saturday? Saturday. Saturday. Saturday 1 to 4. And then um just another update related to the schoolhouse is that they have
started having the school groups come out for the educational um experience and classes at the one room schoolhouse which is just so exciting. So that all in the same week they started a pocket forest and had classes come out um to visit and and do
classes in the schoolhouse. So that was a big big deal for that little little red schoolhouse. So, we're really excited to be putting the the pocket forest there. I think after spending more time out there, it's going to be such needed screening from all of the
truck activity that's on Westford Road. Um, so that'll be nice to see. And then our other site is at the high school and we're working to get um, you know, classes out to help plant that one. So, we have not announced a public planting day for the high school site yet, but we'll see um, if one's needed at a later
date. Excellent. All right. I know Irv was having fun because I saw him at a concert afterwards and um he said it was great. So, thank you. All
right, back to you, Jess. Well, uh we are uh yeah, we're just we're not doing too much big stuff right at the moment. Heather has been um consulting part of the group there um working with the DPW.
They're going to be uh eventually hopefully sooner uh starting work on the West Main Street Bridge over nonquacious Brook which has a lot of coordination involved because of all the utilities that run underneath the bridge that are
utilities. So I saw about seven or eight engineers out there today. Yeah. I mean, it's like you have to really coordinate who does what when cuz it's gas, electric, uh, water, sewer. I'm not sure about
electric, but there's a lot of different utilities. So, Heather's been busy on that. We're Yeah. So, basically, we're just doing our usual. Okay. All right. Same thing with the housing authority. Um, it's it's like business as usual. Um
they are going to be uh they've got approval to um take down one tree to add more parking spots, handicap parking spots closer to um one of the buildings. They've got the okay for that. And is
that a Pond Street? Pond Street. Correct. And then um they are going to be paving. They've got the capital investment from um from the state to do paving of the back lot and the front lot
and it desperately needs it for sure. So nice. These are the parking lots, right? Parking lots. Okay. Correct. All right. So that's it for that. Um All right. If there's nothing else, which I gather I hear the the
crickets. Can I can I get a motion to adjourn the meeting on the screen? Second. All right. All in favor? I You guys, thank you so much. I really do appreciate it.
Welcome. Thank you, Janet. We all have to say I, don't we? Oh, hi. Hi. Hi. I Okay, sounds good. Part: 2
All right. I'd like to call to order this evening school committee meeting at 6:36 on Wednesday, May 7th. Those attending tonight's meeting should be aware the meeting is being audio and video recorded by Shirley Public Access at ASRSD. Any audience members who wish
to record any part of the meeting must inform the chairperson who will announce the recording. This is to comply with the mass wiretap statute. The listings of matters or those reasonably anticipated by the chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and
other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. Per the air surely regional school committee policy beed. Public comment is not a discussion debate or dialogue between citizens and the school committee. It is a citizens
opportunity to express an opinion on issues of school committee business. Citizens will have three minutes to express their views. Any staff members addressing the committee are reminded of their obligations under state and federal student record laws with respect to maintaining the confidentiality of student record information and
refraining from disclosing any personally identifying information regarding students. All right. Um let's stand for the pledge of allegiance. I aliance 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. Roll call, please. Mr. Here, here Mr. M.
Okay. Um, now we have our high school representatives. If I may before we we start. Yes, of course. Um, this is uh Nia's last meeting as she will be graduating at the end of this month and last day for seniors is the 29th. 29th. I'm shocked
you knew that. Oh, I'm counting down. Um, Mr. Christie was unable to be here tonight for a family commitment, but he has written um a thank you that he has asked me to read to school committee. Uh, good evening members of the Air Shirley Regional School Committee. I apologize that I cannot be present in
person tonight. My high school sophomore has a pops concert at at his school. However, I couldn't let this meeting pass without thanking Nia for all of her work over the last two years. Nia is the first Air Shirley student to serve a two-year term on school committee, and
she has set a high bar. No pressure, Colin. Sorry, I had a window pop up here. She has set a high bar for all of the students who follow her. In her role, she has worked with two other students, Devon last year and Colin this year.
She's become a mentor to Colin, sharing with him her experiences while giving Colin the space to be himself. As a student leader, Nia has thrived at Air Shirley, acting as a leader for her class, the National Honor Society, the Racial Diversity Alliance. As a peer
mentor, the softball team, her candy selection was apparently unmatched and every organization through which she has channeled her energy. The adult members of the school rave about her ability to selflessly lead. Nia has left a lasting impact on the high school and we will
truly miss her next year. As this is her final school committee meeting, I can tell you that I have learned more from Nia than I I am sure she has learned from me. I I believe that's true. Hm. Our meetings are highlighted uh are the highlights of my week and I will never
forget her laugh and joyous energy. Nia, best of luck at Howard University. You're amazing. You are an amazing leader and we can't wait to hear about your success. Please keep in touch. Spencer S. [Applause]
Christie. All right, back to business. You going to do a song dance? All right. You want to go first? Um, yeah, sure. I can go first. I wanted to start by advertising for my student council. This weekend we're doing our mini golf fundraiser out on the turf. On Saturday
it's um 3 to 7 and on Sunday it's I believe 1 to 4. And tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children. So we'd love to come
see you guys support. Um, also for me, what's going on right now is AP tests. I'm pretty stressed cuz they're for me they're ne next next week. I have uh AP laying on Wednesday and physics on Friday. And I'm super nervous for the physics one cuz that is it's very it's
very difficult. Definitely going to have to be like studying non-stop for the next week. And but I do like how I can take the day off of school afterwards and go get something to eat. So that's pretty nice. But I'm definitely like I'm really locked in and focused on the AP
test right now at the moment. Um, so for me recently I went on the music department's trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania. Um, I'm part of the choir. We got first place and an excellent score. So really proud of that cuz the
choir has come really far in the last couple of years. So, I was really excited for the choir and the concert band got second and the jazz band got first. So, it's a really good competition for the music department and just like it was also really exciting. I' never been to Hershey Park before, so
it's really fun. I'm not the biggest fan of like candy and chocolate, but I love the I love roller coasters, so that was really fun. Um, the year wroing up, obviously, senior year, we have 17 days left, I think, or it might be 16, I
don't know. It's something in that range. Um, it's really like it's feeling like so slow but so quick at the same time. And like I'm so excited, but at the same time like the kind of like nostalgia of high school starting to
kick in now. Like today we had to pick up our health files and it was like, oh, like this is getting really real. I turned in some textbooks. I turned in my math textbook today and my math teacher, she was like, are you excited to be leaving? And I was like, yeah, I'm excited. But at the same time, it's just
like I'm leaving all my friends. I'm going no, one of my other friends is going farther, but it's just like we're all separating. So, that's like really sad. And also, I got told today by Mr. Christie that I was chosen as one of the honor essays to speak at graduation. So,
I'm really excited about that because I I was always saying how I really wanted to speak at graduation. So, I was like, yes. Um, and then we're having senior spirit week coming up. And I think those days like we're doing another like
commitment day kind of thing besides like May 1st because some of the seniors, especially us who went on the music department trip didn't get to participate in commitment day. So, we wanted to have another one where the ones who were on the trip get to participate. Um, I think they're doing
throwback Thursday. And then there's one other, but I think it's also the same day as a senior hike. So, I don't know if a lot of people are going to do the one that's the same day as a senior hike, but yeah, it's it's over. Like, I'm like I'm excited. I'm ready to go to
school, but as I said, leaving my friends, I'm going to be the first one to leave cuz I move in August 5th, so it's really early. I start classes really early, too. So, I'm just like I'm excited to go to school, but at the same time like leaving my friends, also
leaving my family. I'm leaving my like my big sister's here, but I'm a little more sad cuz I'm leaving my little sister. She's 9 years old, so it's like her big years of like growing up. I feel like I'm going to be like gone for. So, I'm kind of sad about that. But like my
older sister to guess keep her in good shape, I guess. Who knows? But yeah. I also want to say like thank you for allowing me to be here for the last two years. It's been like really cool to see school committee meetings. Like I feel
like before like getting this opportunity, I didn't really know anything about the school committee or like who was on the school committee. I didn't even know what they did really. So it's been really cool to see that. And so I want to say thank you for allowing me to be here cuz like it's a really big opportunity for like the student representatives to get to be
here. And yeah, I think that's all I have. If you're back for Thanksgiving, you can come and report it to us next week. Okay. Well, any questions or comments, J? Well, I get to give you like all this advice cuz
I just gave it to my kids. I'm all warmed up with all this stuff. Old people always give advice whether asked or not. So, we'll just sort of roll with that. It's like with my kids anyway. And I think with most people, you go off to college the first time and you're like, I'm not going to academically cut what's going on cuz people in college are
smart, right? and you're going to get there and you find out it's like I can absolutely do this. There's a lot of angst when you get there and things are different. Here you can close your eyes and know exactly how everything works. You've been through the building, but there it's all going to be new. It'll be a little bit overwhelming. You're going
to find in very short order. It's like I can actually do all this stuff cuz a lot of people kind of pigeon hole themselves and just like concentrate on their stuff. But you've done well with music and other clubs and stuff. keep doing that because that creates all these little circles. You're going to be fine,
you know, and you're also going to find there'll be people around that you'll be wondering, "How'd you get in here? I don't understand how you I don't know how it happened, but they're in here." But they might be fine. Everybody's got redeeming stuff. You're going to have a a terrific time with um with all of
that. But don't don't um don't tighten down to the point on your academics that that you take other things away because it's an entire experience. And right now as you enter the next four years, you are going to meet people who are going to be your friends for the rest of your life. High school goes away pretty fast
cuz everybody gets and right now you've been going to school with the same people for 13 years, right? All that and at graduation there are people that are going to be sitting there that you were never going to see again for the rest of your life and you've seen them for all this time. It's a whole new opening and
you'll be able to go out there and with the people that you're going to meet for the rest of your life, they're going to be the tightest, closest friends that you're ever going to see. So, take advantage of the entire thing. I will. Anyone else? Thank you. Yeah. Have fun
and for two years. Yeah. Congratulations and thank you. It's really been great having you here for a couple years. So, I appreciate Can I say one more thing real quick? I I wanted to thank Mia because like before I came here and like did this like I don't know. I was really bad at like public speaking. I was super
nervous and I feel like you helped me a lot through it. Like you gave me advice to kind of just like help me. Yeah. I just want to say thanks. You're welcome. You made it a lot easier. So I'll try to I'll try to do the same to whoever else replaces you. I'm not sure. I guess we'll find out. Yeah. Excited for that.
So thank you. Good job. Thank you. Thank you. It's been a pleasure having you here. Best of luck. Okay. Bye. Bye. Okay. Um, moving along to public
comment. Doesn't appear we have anyone here for it. U Michelle, is there anyone online for public comment? No. Okay. Um, so I guess we'll move on to the consent agenda. We have some
minutes, warrants, and then a donation to Paige Hilltop Elementary School from Global Partners, um, Archers Mobile. Any move that we approve the consent agenda as printed in tonight?
Um, all those in favor? Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi. Okay. Um, actually, maybe do we just want to read off the donation in full just so recognize for everybody watching right now? So, it's going to be a donation to Paige Hilltop Elementary School. It's for $500. That's from
Global Partners as a result of the relationship with Archers Mobile and it's going to be going to the student activities account. So, thank you very much to Archers Mobile for that donation. on to new business. Madam Chair, Dr. um would you mind if we could go out of
order and um Mr. Kendall is here and I'm sure he is going to go back out to some athletic events that are happening right now. If we could talk about the athletic fee and he is going to give a sports update since he is here. Sure. Y absolutely.
Let's start with the sports update. That's uh that's that's always positive. That's that's definitely more fun. Good evening. Good to see you guys. Um a lot of exciting things just happened today. So our girls lacrosse team, Carly, you are one of our seniors. Um
scored her 100th career goal today against Chelmsford. So congratulations to Carly for that. And against Chelford even better. She's been one of our standout athletes for for four years. So we're very proud of her and what she's accomplished. She's our only member of the team over there. So it's also a
challenge just as being the only only player on the team. So congrats to Carly. Our boys lacrosse team which is a call with Lunberg is 8 and3. We've had strong contributions from two of our seniors Preston Camper and Joey Clayton
have been really strong contributors for the team this year. Dominic Ortiz has been getting some playing time as well. So we've got eight total playing in the the boys lacrosse program with Lunberg. They one more win they'll officially qualify for the state tournament. So
they should uh baseball just wrapped up a game. Uh they were away at Murdoch at Lemonster um because of rain. I feel conditions everywhere are not great. Uh they won so they've improved to four and
six. Uh 4-1 after an 0 and5 start. So they're heating up at the right time. Our JB team which has 13 members is a three and three. and our middle school team which is at 15 players two and one. Our senior night for boys baseball if anyone's interested in coming out will
be May 21st uh here at the school. We'll do those after the game. So probably about 6:00. Softball is in the midst of a double header out right now. They're playing Murdoch. Uh they won game one 8 to7. They're ahead 5-3 in the fifth when
I came in here. They're four- six currently. Hopefully be five and six in a couple minutes. JV just got back. They took our new mini bus up to to Winin. They defeated Murdoch 20 to4. They are 5-1 on the season. We've got 14 girls on
that team. So, still some pretty good numbers in baseball and softball, which we're pleased with. A lot of schools have lost JB softball. We've been playing a lot of schools we don't normally play JB softball and baseball because a lot of schools in this area have lost those sports. So, we're very happy that our numbers
still allow for our teams. and it looks like for the foreseeable future we'll have pretty decent numbers of baseball and softball. Uh softball senior night is next Thursday. They host Wester South uh community school and that'll be again about 6:00 for that. Boys volleyball,
they defeated Innovation Charter School yesterday. They've had a pretty good season. We are the smallest school in the league by far. So we play teams like Washington Regional that has over 2,000 students. Lemonster has 1,800, Fitchburg, you know, 800. Al Gangquin tomorrow. They they're four
and seven at the moment. So they're still in the playoff hunt. Um their senior night is tomorrow night. Along will do that again after the game. That game starts at 5, so it'll probably be about 7:00 for that. So they've done a nice
job. I think it's our third year with that. We just continue to make some pretty good strides with our seniors. Then we have a bunch of underassman playing. So the future for that also looks pretty good. Our girls golf team is one and four. Uh we've got nine members there. I coached the other day
cuz Mr. Kublin was out. It was an interesting day at the golf course in the rain, but we headed in which was good. Uh girls are playing great. I was impressed with how well um a lot of them hit the ball straight cuz they would all beat me, every one of them. I told them that. They weren't impressed by
that. And a really great group of kids. U they did a nice job. They didn't complain at all playing in the rain. Um, probably they could have because it was not the best of conditions at Stacres the other day. Uh, they're back in action tomorrow at Green Hill and
Worcester. It's the Worcester conglomerate of schools. Uh, track track is 4-0. Pretty much goes without saying that's pretty much every year. Uh, they play Maynard. I play at Maynard tomorrow. That's our first road meet of the year. So, our track is getting
plenty of use. Um certainly no lack of use on our track right now. We hosted the first four meets of the year which is great. Um cost us a few bucks at officials but certainly cheaper than sending buses to Murdoch or Mayor Hansen. So we are hosting the district meet again for the third straight year.
Uh the district division 2 meet which is on May 17th. It's an all day event here on Saturday. Probably will start about 9:00. We'll wrap up probably about 4:00. Um our booster club does a great job of running concessions. are up there tonight with flag football and middle
school track and that's their big big event of the year for them. So they'll raise a lot of money which will pay for the scholarships that they'll give out on senior night but also all the banners throughout the course of the year and also the flowers for the senior nights. Our middle school team just uh won its match today with
Lindberg 67 athletes in middle school track. probably could have had more but cutting it off with a bus and a mini bus and that's probably about the limit that two coaches could handle anyways. Siobhan Pierce and Sam Madre neither had any experience coaching track have done
a fantastic job not only motivating the kids to improve but just keeping 67 middle schoolers controlled at a beat which is a challenge to say the least and I'm really proud of that. They'll be competing at the middle school state
relays at Zavarian Brothers in Westwood on Saturday. Uh do we have another home meet for them? Nope. They're on the road the rest of the way. Uh flag football, they're seven and one. They're playing two games right now out on the turf. They should be starting in about 15
minutes. We've got five schools here tonight. Monday night we have 10 and we'll be hosting it on May 27th and that'll be their senior night. uh esports. Uh they're in their spring playoffs. They've had a very successful year. They've had a lot of kids participating, which is great, and a lot
of kids who don't traditionally compete in sports. Next year, they're moving to a different platform. We're going to go to play versus, which is great in a lot of ways because it's free, so there's no entry fee. And they add a few other uh video games for the kids to play,
including Madden and NBA, which will certainly increase numbers, I would say. Uh we have girls that two unified tracks that have had a great year so far. We've got 20 athletes participating in that. They've won all their meet so far. We've got strong participation both as as
partners and in athletes. Um they're at Gren Dunville tomorrow. Monday they're at North Middle Sex and then Tuesday they're competing in the sectionals at Drink High School. So the numbers are strong there. They're doing a great job. We've got a lot of help there which is was always nice both from and I want to
give credit to our track program our varsity track program because they've been when they've been here which isn't all always cuz sometimes they're away when we're here they've had immense numbers volunteering and helping out coaches have been out there helping out you know and that's that's a big step
having that much help from from our varsity track athletes and varsity track coaches so I want to give them credit for that. Uh the last thing on my agenda is uh on May 20th a few students will be attending with me to the girls and women
in sports day uh at Foxboro Stadium at John Stadium. Um Malia Figureroa and Shandrai Johnson are both definitely attending. I petitioned for a third member because Malia is a a member of our unified programming. So therefore we can hopefully bring one more that will
be Emily Churchill. Um, the exciting thing with that is not only for our girls to be able to be honored at that, Jane Steinberg, who was our former athletic director many years ago and and a volleyball official now will be honored as um for her achievements as an
athletic participant both as an athlete, a coach, an athletic director, and an official. So, she pretty much checks every box. I was amazed last year when I looked through the the past winners that she had not won. So I had nominated her because she was a very good mentor for me when I started here and and I know
from talking to many people who went here she was a a very positive influence on not just female athletes but the male students as well as the phys teacher and as the athletic director. So we're going to be very honored to be able to see her get her award on May 20.
And that's it unless you guys have any questions. Go ahead. Um I'm just curious. So the um baseball was that due to it be on our field and No, at Murdoch we went to I was able to get Lemon so we could play the game. Um would we have been able to
play here today? No. The right field is is pretty wet. Uh the infield is in good condition. Uh the new the company that's been coming in working on the field has done a great job. Bob Birds and the staff have been outstanding. The infield is in about as good as condition as I've seen it the time I've been here. Um, we
made some nice changes out there. We we cut the grass out in front of the dugouts and put in clay there, which is much better because it's not flooding in that area. The grass looks great. If you get a chance to go out there, I mean, it looks unbelievable. It's just 4 days of
rain. Yeah, it's a lot for for any field. Our softball field drains extremely well, so the work that we did on that really paid off. I mean, that was that was playable probably yesterday, but we were able to get today's games in with no problem. Mr. Kendall, part of the issue with the baseball field is the ledge underneath
it. Yeah, I remember when we we did this, they the hot using the blow up the like blowing up the ledge. They jackhammered as much as they could. There's only so much they could go down. So, that's part of the So, it's not draining. So, uh we're optimistic it'll be fine
tomorrow, but more rain coming on Friday and Saturday, so we'll see. Uh our field's been getting a lot of use in rentals as well. Uh might as well bring that up. We had a pylon which are national football 7 on seven programs here a couple weeks ago. Uh we've had other football programs reach out while
using the field for summer summer workouts and things like that. Our youth soccer programs have been using on Sundays because Wild Road has been less than ideal conditions over there. It can only take so much rain over there as well. So I've been able to get them out there as well. We have the mini golf thing coming up this weekend
for junior class. So, get a lot of use out here and it's good. AU baseball on the weekends when it doesn't rain, they've been using it as well. So, a lot of field rentals, which is a good thing. Go ahead. Um, so before we get into the nastiness about money, you know, before
we get there, um, so I would like to thank you, Mr. Kendall. I think that you have done a fantastic job with the sports with other schools with reaching out and I hope everybody realizes the the job that you do and
thank you. Well, thank you. Uh I will say that the majority of parents and students are awesome about they they understand that this week especially was really chaotic and uh we do our always do our best to make to make the decisions in the best interest of the students. Sometimes it's hard because
not everybody agrees, but um I think everybody understands that this this year has been this spring has been extraordinarily bad for weather. We locked out for about seven days and then since then it's been raining. That's why volleyball is my favorite right now cuz you never have to never have to cancel volleyball. It's always played. Well,
thank you. I think we all thank you and you deserve praise. Don't tell. Okay. Uh, yeah, maybe we should maybe we should have went first with the user fees and then I don't know. Um, so I I
would agree. I I would I think Mr. Kendall doesn't does an excellent job as a athletic director and I think the offerings that we have at such a small district is incredible. However, with those offering, it comes with a price. And um, we have collected this year we
collected $42,000 in user fees. And I know u Mr. Plankin isn't here tonight, but uh under his calculations, we need a little more than three times that amount in order to continue offering uh what we're offering. We have been subsidizing um the athletics program. And the
problem with that is that's about uh with what we are subsidizing, it's at least a position, if not two. And we could use um some reading specialists, we could use um we were considering an additional math teacher at the high school. Um and with what we subsidize
the athletics program, it is keeping us from making some of those um improvements to student ath academics. So um what we have for you to look at tonight uh a little similar to what we had shown you last year. However, this is more up to-date. Um and as you can
see, it it really is the best deal um around still. Um but it is uh it is a fairly steep increase from what our parents are our families are currently uh paying. But if you'll notice Lunberg uh sports fees 325 with a 1500 uh cap.
Grunt and Dunville is 500 for high school uh 310 for middle school. They didn't list their family cap. Um they charge an additional $50 for football and hockey. Uh Littleton is 250 per sport with a 1250 family cap. Uh
Bramfield varies. Uh it's a minimum of 285. Uh they do not have a cap listed, but uh some of their sports exceed 300. Uh and we are proposing a $250 um per sport fee with a $1,000 cap. Um one of
the things that I I did want to mention, I probably should have put it on this memo. We would offer financial assistance if if someone is if there's a hardship, and Mr. Kendall does this. Now, we would we would ask them to fill out the um the income verification form
and we would then try to help as many families as we can. We would also reach out to local organizations um and we'll send out some notifications to our families if anybody would like to sponsor an athlete. So, there's some ways to help people um that need some
help. However, if we can't raise user fees uh to this degree, we are probably going to have to cut some of the offerings that we have. Um the the cost has just risen so drastically in the past uh 5 years. Our
fees has haven't kept up. Uh I have asked Mr. Kendall to stay in case there are some questions that um are more s suited for him. Um and we can get into some of the financials, but I I may defer and have to get back to you if it's something that I I might need Mr. blanket to answer, but I'm happy to
answer any questions. U I know we were asked to hold a public forum. We are willing uh absolutely to do that. We can schedule that for next week and get that out um uh to families to come. However, it it really is that we need to have an an increase something close to what we're
proposing or we won't be able to to offer everything that we are currently offering. Questions? And maybe this isn't Mr. plunk it. But um knowing being on the front line of how
things are going up um you know is there um cuz it's crazy. I don't So that's going up from 750 to a,000 and then do do we have additional money on the hockey and other
things? So it's just straight doesn't matter what you play. Are we are we charging more for hockey now? We have not been though. We have not been. I couldn't remember. So, but do they pay Lunberg directly? We pay Lunberg. We pay Lunberg an additional amount of money and Lemon an additional amount of money.
Okay. Per player. That hasn't changed much over the time. And it's gone up a little bit, but not not like the other fees. The biggest things for these are busing and officials. I mean, that's really the two that have gone up substantially in the last even three years, but certainly
seven years since I've been here, buses have gone up a lot. officials going 3% every year. Next year they're getting a 7% raise because they can't keep people. Right. So, for example, I'd love to play a baseball game tomorrow. It's going to be a beautiful 80° day and there's no umpires available, so we can't.
I can bring my gear in if you want. I got a couple people I'm making a call to, so we'll see if I can talk them into it. So, what's our per sport fee now? Uh 250, which covers three sports up to three sports. Okay. Okay. So, they pay a
one time. Now we're going to go 250 per sport. Is that the change? Okay. What's the projected revenue from this? If if we kept our current participation levels, what's the projected revenue? It would be roughly um three times the
amount. So it's 42,000. So that would be um just under $130,000. Right. Right. Any other questions? No. I would make a motion that we approve the ASRD proposed
uh persport fee of 250 and a family cap of a,000 for the upcoming school year. Is that do it? Is that good enough? I Yep. Yeah, I believe so. Yes.
Okay. second. Um well, just final and we definitely because this is going to be a hardship for and we're going to hear this from a lot of people. Um, so do we
feel the 250 is is definitely kind of the minimum, not 225 or do we we've been checking that I think I know. Yeah, I mean the last thing that we you know the
the even at the even even at this we're going to be subsidized. I'm I'm positive we're going to be subsidizing sports. So um honestly it's probably not enough. Okay. Uh but we are wanted to ask that question. No, and I and I understand because it is it is it is a drastic
increase from what we're offering, but it's not a drastic increase from what most places have been doing, right? And and I think the other the other thing to remember is youth sports some of these are where it's this is still a deal compared to playing one season of any any pretty much any travel sports team
right now. Yeah. Yeah, the and just so we don't get caught with kind of a gotcha, right? That this is representative of like other schools as well, right? There's not going to be a couple that are close by that are much less than this and we're going to be hearing it on Facebook or the only thing
you could hear on and Mr. Kendall will know this better, but I believe Leister and Fitchburg Lemon and Fitchburg, they subsidize a lot by the state. Yeah. I don't know what's going to happen with funding those two towns, whether it's going to go up. I mean, Le's building a brand new track. I'm sure that's going to increase some costs there. Uh they
used to have a user fee, they got rid of it at CO, they haven't brought it back yet. My guess is it's going to come back at some point. Fits bird, their numbers are so low. I don't know that they'll like participation numbers. I don't know that they'll try to bring anything back. Yeah. I believe Gardner is also in that
same boat where they're they're subsidized a lot by the reduced lunch money for their athletics. I believe Fitchburg's $50 right now because it is subsidized and I I know that because they pay it, right? There you go. Yeah.
But that's um I I think that's I can't I don't believe anyone is less. You looked up north middle six today I believe, right? What was theirs? Uh the last they had listed was 245. 245. But I think they went up and Grant might be going up again too. Yeah.
Depending on what happens in town meetings in the next couple weeks. Okay, I think if we have I mean no one's going to like this, but so if you're not going to like it, you may as well put up a number that you can live with for a couple of years, right? And I think at these numbers, we can live with this for
a couple of years so people can sort of slide into it. You know, trying to shave $25 or $50 here or there is not going to make it any more palatable when you put this change out. Yeah. So, you may as well take it now and take the whack
because we need the money. We have to Yeah. And we we want to offer everything we're offering, right? Um, you know, one of the we I really want parents to know that they need to reach out. They can reach out to the superintendent's office, the principal's office of either um the middle or high
school. They can reach out to to Mr. Kendall directly. If there is a hardship, we will absolutely work with with with families. We don't want kids not to participate, right? Because they can't afford this. Um, you know, and when I've been a building I was a
building administrator for a long time. Whenever we put something out for a field trip, does anybody want to sponsor a child for a field trip? There's always people who are willing to do that. Yeah. Um, I think doing that when would be a good idea. I'm sure we got a good Y. And with a family cap at $1,000, if I've
got two kids in here and they're playing two sports each, this is a bargain. You know, this is still like, wow, it comes out to nothing. Kids to work to paid opportunities, right? Students could work or parents
can work. Like we've had parents work the game of basketball, have football, help out doing the 35 second clock in basketball. Um I have two students doing scoreboard and in the iPad scoring for volleyball right now. It gives them a
great experience, gives them a lot of experience doing something and the volleyball officials tell me they're two of the best people they work with. So um there are opportunities for them to to do that as well. there's payment plans like anybody anybody who's ever reached out we've always been able to help out
in one way one some form or another I think maybe if we could get that out as part of the forum because I think a lot of people are a little bit hesitant to reach out and say I need help but maybe if you kind of broadly advertise all these different options of ways that you know you can you can work off the cost
or whatever just so they don't feel so much like they're asking for a handout and then maybe really advertise that opportunity to sponsor would be good and even Maybe some local businesses would be interested in sponsoring an athlete. Like I know there, you know, the signs around the field for businesses and the
different opportunities they have. Maybe they'd want to sponsor an athlete too. If we're allowed to do that. I don't know. Maybe we're not. I'm sorry I missed that. Can we ask like businesses to sponsor athletes as well? Absolutely. Yeah. Anyone who who wants to to sponsor
um we would not say no. I mean, if we could get if we get enough, we could possibly lower the fees. I mean, that's, you know, be more than happy to announce that in every game. Yeah, that would be a great problem. The more outreach we do, the better. It looks that we're we're trying before we're just like
throwing it at the families. Yeah, we're happy to do that. Okay. So, I think we have a motion. I'm going to let someone else second it sometime. Second. Yep. Okay. All those in favor? I I
Okay, thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. All right. So, I guess go back to um new business the Dr. Renda. Yes, thank you. Uh we are asking you to accept the recommendation to accept school choice
uh students uh for grades kindergarten through nine based on available seats for the 2526 school year uh beginning July 1st. Just as a reminder, we don't accept school choice on a rolling uh basis. Uh in the summer we have a lottery in August uh based on available
seats. So, for instance, if someone as of now was looking to school choice in the Page Hilltop in first grade, uh they would not be placed in the lottery because there are no available seats. Our average class size is over 22 and we have a um cap at 20. So, that doesn't
mean that we can't have a class over uh 20. It just means that we will not accept school choice if our class size is over 20 in that grade level. Uh and that would be uh the same for law. Um at grade 2 right now the average
class size is 19.7. So even if we accepted one student that would push it over over 20. Um and it you'll notice that kindergarten is to be uh to be determined because we they have not enrolled yet. So we don't know the class size. Uh same for the high school. We
need to know how many students um go to to Nishobate Tech or uh an alternative high school before we would know the number of available seats if any. Any questions? Um the page thought second grade. Can we just could we
eliminate a section? I mean you've got 16 openings. That's an entire class. Yeah, we had uh we have discussed that. Um the Mrs. Spocker, the building principal and I actually discussed that today. Uh she feels with some of the the the needs in that class that that would not be uh the best move.
Um though the numbers are low for enrollment uh they are not low for some of the some of the need. I think we've discussed this class before and I know from personal experience it it absolutely needs to stay uh where it is. Any other questions? If not, I would
entertain a vote. I make a motion that um presented with the openings that we have in the classes that we do school choice uh for the ones that are recommended tonight and this could be
re-evaluated. Would it be re-evaluated? Well, if you vote to open it um based on available seats, this will constantly change, right? So, we would close um open seats and close we would open grade levels and co close grade levels based on the seats. So, you're you're
essentially voting to allow us to open and close it based on those seats. All right. And I would make change my motion to allow seats to be um assigned as they're opened. Does that do it? I believe it does. Okay. For the coming
year, beginning July 1st. Second. All those in favor? I I Okay, moving on to the superintendence report. Thank you. Um, last Monday or
two Mondays ago on April 28th, Bill Plunkett and myself attended the um town meeting in air where the fiscal year 26 budget was warranted and approved main street. Um, next Monday on May 12th, uh, Phil, myself, and I
believe Mr. Clary will be attending the Shirley um, town meeting for the fiscal year budget. We are hoping that it goes as smoothly as it did um, in air. Uh, we have a presentation ready, but I believe and surely they, if I'm remembering correctly, they only ask us to present
if there are questions. Um, so we may be presenting, we may not be. Um but we're we believe that um the budget is supported by the select board and the fincom and the town managers. So we're we're hoping it would will be without um much
hesitation. So we are going to the the next item in the superintendent report is uh kind of a sore spot for me. We we're going to be transitioning to Aspen for our student information system for the upcoming 2526 school year. Um, we had moved to Power School, was it two
years ago? Three, three years ago. Um, it's been a bit of a nightmare since the switch. So, we believe this was the right product for us. Um, but it hasn't been. The support has been uh less than stellar. Every time we're looking to
make a change or do something that is is really a simple request or or a simple ask of a student information system, there is an upcharge. Um, so we decided to just go ahead and and and make the switch to Aspen. It's much more
customizable. You kind of when you when you pay, you know, exactly what you're getting. Um, we haven't been happy with Power School at all. Um, the teachers really haven't been uh happy with Power School. I'm sure they're not thrilled with such a quick change. You you
typically don't change student information systems that quickly. um but it's not meeting our needs. Uh so we figured we might as well get this done now um and kind of avoid some of the uh additional cost that um is coming with
Power School. We are confident though that Power School will meet the needs. Um just for a little bit of background, Aspen, Aspen, excuse me. Uh I had used Aspen in my former district. Mr. Clearary had used Aspen in at least one of his former districts. three, many of
us had had used Aspen. Um, our we had considered ASP, it was between Aspen and Power School. Uh, we were trying to keep an open mind. Um, I think we kept too much of an open mind and we probably should have stuck with what we were familiar with. It was a great sales pitch. They did a really
good job. Um but we we do know that Aspen will meet the needs and we'll be able to run the reports and pull the data and we'll be able to upload um um CSV files very easily. I mean simple things that we need to get done quickly.
We know that we can do we actually already know how to do it a lot of it. Um so we're we're you know biting the bullet bullet and looking to make that change. And Aspen made their transition affordable. uh they worked with us about spreading
some of the cost over a couple of years. So, it's not really going to cost us um much more than what we're already paying yearly for Aspen. The the upload um from Power School was very cumbersome as we had to do a lot of it on our end at the
tech department. Uh Aspen is going to be taking care of um most of that. So, it should be a much smoother transition. Uh but we're happy to answer any questions on that if if you have any. noisy one down here, I guess. Um, when is it going to be up and running? When
is it being We will be We will be using it. You starting it already? Well, it it's Yes, we've been starting it. So, we will be using it to some degree this summer. Teachers will be using it um starting the first day of school. So, it'll be ready to Yeah. through the
training before school. We'll be training them on one of the first two days back. Yes. And so, um, it sounds like that the cost of this is kind of like
usebased or is it like a package? This is everything we get and if we had another 100 teachers, it would still be the same or how does that work? I I I think it's site based. The cost is typically based on the number of
students relative to the system. Mhm. So we're in a range that whatever the cost of the fee structure is based on the number of users that are in the district. So we're in a pretty safe range that it's not even if we have an increase or a decrease it's not going to
change. Does that change? Ultimately once we're through the um onboarding because there is there's a small cost to on board. Um we will be saving money. Um it will yearly be less expensive than power school after the believe the first
two years. Yeah. Yeah. So this is already incorporated into the budget. Mhm. Yes. So it's be no extra costs springing up. Is everybody happy? Um once it's up and running and and
people are where how much easier it is to use it. Yes. More fun. Yeah. one day and yeah I do wonder rolling out a new program for parents too challenging at the beginning of a of a year um I do think I recall
there was some challenges with powers school and teacher not teachers parents being familiar with it being get access to and all that I don't know if if there's opportunity to try to send out messages a little before the school year starts and we're going to do that we're
going to we're going to have an Aspen night where people can come in and we can do some training Yeah. And you going to do that before school gets out or? Well, right now we're in the midst of planning the implementation process. So, we just had our first like infrastructure meeting
which is a large team meeting, mostly Aspen folks who have all different responsibilities and titles. So, we're talking about the data first and then we'll talk about implementation timeline and training and orientation and so on for staff and for families especially.
You can let us know. That'll become part of it. Yep. The the parent portal, I have it now. Uh I I've been using the parent portal for Aspen for 15 years. Mhm. Um it's very simple. You get a login. We we can print out
login. We send them home. You log in. If you have it has your child name, you click on it and then it's essentially the grades. Uh you can see their grades and assignments. Um if there's two children, um you have to pick between the two. and you can see one and then
click the there's a there's a come back in with the other. Yeah. Yeah. It's it's it's pretty simple, but we can we'll have it based on we'll have each school hold the Aspen Knight. You can have Chromebooks set up to help people log in for the first time and kind of show them that. Um it's actually simpler to use it
on your phone than it is on the on a desktop. The laptop. A laptop. Yeah. Very easy. Okay. So, we're eating a um I feel like I'm eating a little bit of crow here. Um we made the wrong choice.
That's okay. Yeah. Live and work. Yeah. Well, if there are no other questions, I'll go on to the last part of the uh superintendent report. So, we're in the final stretch. We have 29 days remaining of this school year. Our last day for seniors will be May 29th. And the last day for grades uh preschool through 11
is Wednesday, June 18th. I did want to mention that we do have a school committee meeting on uh June 18th. That is going to be a very sparse agenda. There won't there won't be much. That is all for the superintendent report. Okay. Thank
you. Um we've already done ongoing business for the athletic user fees. So I guess the regional agreement. So, I believe it was a couple meetings ago, we had mentioned that um we are well overdue to review the regional
agreement. Um and we had asked to put together a working group and I believe we have um five members who are interested in that working group. Um if I'm not incorrect, I believe all four members here tonight. Um Mr. Bernard, I
believe you told me you were interested. Yes. Okay. And um Miss Span is also uh so there's one of two ways that that we can do this. You can uh leave this to um administration to decide who's in that group or if the school committee would would like to to decide who's in that
group, we can we can go that way too. Um it's too bad Chris because we can give it to the two that aren't here. Yeah, that's always a I've gone on on committees like that a few times. Got to
show up or you get the volunte. Um, do we have a proposal? And is this going to be handled by who is going to be like the organizing? That would be me. That's you. Yeah, I
will be I will be working. Yes, I will be working with this group. We do have I think maybe it might be helpful to know what the proposed uh timeline proposed schedule might be before anybody says anything so that they don't suddenly realize that it's not a possibility.
Well, the schedule can be open. I would love to meet once a month. Um I I I can't really tell you how many meetings it would be because we have to review that. But I would like to meet once a month hopefully starting in August. Okay. Um, I have shared with you all
digitally. I can get hard copies to you. Let me see if I can bring Let me find this here. Sorry, I have 3,000 tabs open. But I have shared with you a a checklist of what we need to review. Um, and we can
do some of that on our own so that and then feeding, right? So that when we meet um each one of those um checklists, uh topics can be the um agenda for the meeting to go over. Um there are going
to be some parts of this that we don't want to change at all. Uh and there are going to be other parts that uh need some change. Um you know, one of the parts that we're going to have to look at is the financial part. Um so when I say that I'm running that, I am. Um Mr. Plunkett will absolutely be um working
with us on that part. Mr. clear will be working on uh with us on on other parts of that. Um so I would love to start in August at least once a month and at least plan on through December so that we are can get that plan
into the lawyer for review and then hopefully to Desi for review and back to us so that hopefully we can have it voted on in town meetings um this time next year. Sounds good. That is the loosest timeline that I could can give you now. Let me just but
hopefully hopefully a lot of this can be done even before that first meeting. Uh we'll share the regional agreement with you. We'll give you printed um hard copies and digital copies with that checklist on what exactly needs to re be reviewed so that when we meet it can be that yeah we can be prepared in August.
Yeah. So right so you're prepared to give feedback. We can also set up so if you'd like you can give feedback um digitally right on a Google doc uh just leaving comments but that is completely up to school committee where I'm happy to to collect that hard copy or or
through um digital means. Sounds good. Um I mean I go ahead Kevin. I just had a thought that I I do wonder if three people on the working group might be good just in that once a month, you know, from August to December with everybody's schedules,
kids, and everything else. Frequently, I'm guessing one may not be available. So, that would leave you with one if it's only a working group of two. So, I would think we may want three. Thank you for mentioning that. Three would be um the the best number to have in the least complicated. I would because there are
so many members that are interested, it would be great to have an alternate also. So if a member can't make it, we could hopefully still have three members um available at a meeting. Does anyone here want to be the alternate? I guess would be the easiest first question. With Erica not being
here, we can't really ask her. Well, you don't have Chris and you don't have Erica, so I don't know that we It sounds like Chris wasn't interested. Is that my understanding? Chris um was interested if there weren't three other members who were if I remember
correctly. So he would um but it looks like we have five other members who would be interested in being in the group. Okay. It looks like that makes Erica the alternate. Um well I mean there's we can only have
three and all four of us want it. I don't really know. This is new territory to me. I'd like to be a part of it because I haven't done anything like this in my time on school committee but I understand everyone's you know desire to be involved which is great. So do we just leave it to Dr. Renda to decide or
what do you guys I worked on regionalization committees before anything happened um and was very interesting and we actually um so now because it's a region you know a mixture of different people not although it
shouldn't be that but I bet it is um so we did a number of them and at the time um not that they failed uh air didn't have much interest in regionalizing with Shirley because we were just Shirley at the time and that was very interesting
and I would be happy to do it again. Same here. I mean I I would be interested in doing it to get familiar with regionalization. I was obviously not involved in it previously. So maybe we leave it up to Dr. Renda. Leave it in your good hands. That works for me. Yeah. Okay.
Fantastic. I will um uh consider that and uh get back to you. This is very different territory for school. Great. We'll get back to you before Friday. We'll find out the role. Yeah. Okay. I'm happy to do that. Great. Um well, there's no chairperson here, so
I don't think we have any chair person's notes. Um any topics not reasonably anticipated 48 hours in advance of this meeting. Okay. um communications. All right. Yeah. I'm just looking at the you
mentioned the the June 18th meeting and I'm looking at our meeting schedule here. Um what do you think about just going to a June 10th meeting and getting rid of the 3rd and the 18th? Don't we have graduation someplace in June?
First Friday. Yeah. June June. Sixth. Sixth. Six. Six. Yeah, that's right. We're we're fine with that. Um, you know, I was bringing it up because I don't know if there would be a need, right? Um, but things always come up,
but um, as of right now, and I'm looking at Michelle. Um, we don't we don't have anything on the agenda as of now, right? School is still going on in that area. It's the last day of school. Yeah. Yeah. Right. I mean, school is still happening. Um, it's probably going to be
a long day for everyone. Could we just vote on cancelling that or how does that work? Yeah, I could probably wait till the next meeting to reevaluate it. That's that's um we'll have a better idea if we would have anything that we even put on the agenda by then. Yeah. Yeah. Um
because it's like stuff is still happening and who knows and Yeah, absolutely. Um, and I should know this, but I don't. But, uh, middle school graduation is it's like a Tuesday, Wednesday. Wednesday. It's not on here. Typically, it's the day before
the last day of school. Yeah. Or the Tuesday. I think it is. I think it's a Tuesday. If the last day is Wednesday the 18th, is it Tuesday the 17th? Maybe. I think so. Let me check. Then we're
still I just Mhm. I didn't think graduation would be the 10th, but wanted to just wanted to confirm we also weren't conflicting with other and is was that like 6 last year or 6:30
graduation I a middle school. I think it's close to it's either 6:00 or 6:30. Yeah, I don't remember. I don't remember which. I feel like most of our events start at the same time across the district. So, I think graduations are pretty close to 6:00. It's not
on our calendar yet. No, I haven't. Yeah. Don't have a date yet. Yeah. So, it's that's usually when it is, but we we can't confirm that. Yeah. Okay. Um, so the announcements, Monday, May 12th, Shirley annual town meeting,
7:15 at the middle school. Sunday, May 18th is the 20th annual Janice President Run for education. 10:00 a.m. at the high school. The tot trot starts at 10:30, kids activities at 11:00. 2K walk and fun run 11:00 and the 5K run at
noon. And then lunch also at noon. Uh Tuesday, May 20th, the high school spring concert, 6:30 to 8:30 at the high school auditorium. Wednesday, May 21st, school committee meeting, 6:30 at the middle school library. Friday, May 23rd is a 90-minute early release. A late start
for preschool. Professional development for teachers. Lunch will be served. High school dismissal is 12:55. Middle school 12:45. Laura White and Paige Hilltop 1:45. On Monday, May 26, no school for Memorial Day. Wednesday, May 28th,
um, is the Air Shirley Regional High School academic awards and scholarship night from 6:30 to 8:30 at the high school auditorium. Wednesday, May 28th, CPAC meeting, 6:00 to 7:00 in the middle school library. Thursday, May 29th is the last day for seniors. Tuesday, June
3rd is the Laura White Arts Night from 6:00 to 8:00 at Laura White. Tuesday, June 3rd, school committee meeting, 6:30 p.m. the high school media center. Tuesday, June 5th, middle school spring band concert from 6:00 to 8 at the middle school auditorium. And then
Friday, June 6th, is the class of 2025 graduation. That's at 6 PM at the high school. Ch, can you give us an update on the the elementary administration changes that Absolutely. Um, we
had the opening at Page Hilltop. the um assistant principal there was an interim position and um we had decided that um to end that interim role which uh put the that person is going back into the classroom
uh which opened it opened up so we post those jobs internally for 10 days before they go to um uh school spring uh while it was posted um Mrs. Lewis, Beth Lewis, the principal of Lower, reached out to me and was interested um in returning,
and I say returning because she was the assistant principal at Page Hilltop. Um I'm not sure how long ago. Um so I told her that um I could see that working, but I wanted her to reach out to Mrs. Faulner to see if that would work for both of them. Uh Mrs. Faulner was um
happy with that. Um so we had decided to transfer Mrs. Lewis into the um assistant principal role. um she's looking for something um a a little bit less than a school principal job. Um Mrs. Lewis is a great principal. She's
done a great job. I would have been perfectly happy uh keeping her in that position. Uh but this was really a decision that she thought was best for her. Um so it looks like it's going to work out between uh Mrs. Faulner and Mrs. Lewis. So we decided to go ahead
and and allow that transfer. What about LW? So, we've posted for a principal job and the search now is in in progress. The pressure is going to be on because that the Lewis transfer is because we had a dumpster fire going on over there. I mean, we've
had five principles since the district has formed and when you've had that many changes at the top, yeah, the teachers, the parents, nobody likes that. So, on you. It is right to make a good choice because I mean before Beth went over
there, we sat in this room and we had multiple parents in here complaining about neglect. Yeah. Over there, you know. So, and and the ultimate fix I remember Beth going when are they going to make a decision? It's been 10 days. I'm like, oh, this is internal, you
know. And when once it was announced, we told the parents, they said, come if you have any problems, come back here in 3 weeks at the next meeting. And of course, Beth Lewis fixes everything, right? She's done a great job. She's very savvy. She's absolutely outstanding. So, yeah. And she's um I
would say that that school is very stable, and that's because of Mrs. Lewis, right? Um so, it's it's always difficult when when you don't necessarily want a change in leadership, but um you know, she's she's, as you know, an extremely hard
worker. Yeah. uh and an extremely competent leader and this is the change that she wanted and um um I I want her to be uh a leader in this district at whatever capacity we can have her at. Right. So tell her her first capacity is
that she's on screening. Okay, that's her first capacity. And if if it doesn't work out well, I'm going to evict her cousin. Okay. Sean has gone. We can we can use that as leverage. I work that. Thank you.
Okay. Um, do we have a need for executive session this evening? No, not at this time. Okay. I would entertain a motion to adjurnn then. I'll make a motion that we adjourn if I can talk. Right. Thank you. At 7:40 second. All those in favor?