--------- Call to order this uh select board meeting on June 2nd, 2026. This meeting/hering of the air select board will be held in person at the location provided on this notice. Members of the public are welcome to
attend this in-person meeting. Please note that while an option for remote attendance and/or participation via Zoom is being provided as a courtesy to the public, the meeting/heering will not be suspended or terminated if technological problems interrupt the virtual broadcast
unless otherwise required by law. Members of the public with a particular interest in specific in a specific item on this agenda should make plans for inperson verse virtual attendance accordingly. This meeting will be live on Zoom in channel 8. The public may
access the proceedings by joining Zoom meeting ID 978-772-8220 or by calling 9292056099. For additional information about remote participation, please contact Karly Anteneellis, assistant town manager at ATM atair.mma.
us or 978-772-8220 extension 100 prior to the meeting. I can ask everyone to rise for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Um, I don't think the le the eagle is supposed to be facing the wall. >> Supposed to be basic Washington DC, right? I think it's the official button that >> Okay,
>> I will definitely It will definitely fix >> noted and fixed. >> There we go. That's better. >> Okay. Uh review and approve agenda. Anyone have any changes or additions? >> No changes. >> I have one addition under select board
member questions. >> Okay. Uh um I'll title it letter to Senator Eldridge. >> Okay. >> What was it? Sorry. >> Letter Senator. >> My god, that was so hard to say that.
>> I'll make a motion that the board approve the agenda as amended. >> Seconded. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> Chair says I. It has been approved. Okay. uh public input for anything that
is not currently on the agenda. >> Colleen has her hand up and then >> All right, let's have uh Rachel come up. >> Um thank you Mr. Chair and members of the select board. My name is Rachel Kosera and I live at 30 Grten Harvard
Road. I come before you this evening regarding a new initiative I've started with the stone soup kitchen ministries called the garden gleaners. Myself along with additional volunteers hope to recruit members of the town to donate their surplus uh vegetables and fruits
from their home gardens to nourish and support our community members. Folks can sign up by emailing me at rachel sunflower01432@gmail.com or by reaching out to cindytheone soup kitchen ministries uh to coordinate pickup times. I will be collecting
donations on a weekly basis and dropping them off for distribution. Additionally, if individuals are traveling or cannot pick their own produce, arrangements can be made to harvest donations accordingly. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. And if anyone
has any questions, I will be happy to answer them to the best of my ability. Thank you once again and have a wonderful evening. >> Thank you for that. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Great initiative. >> Um Okay, Pauline.
>> Good evening, Mr. Chair. I'm sorry, Rachel. That's a wonderful proposition you just made on. Thank you for that. Good evening, Mr. Chair. Congratulations on being appointed selectman FR uh chairman. >> Thank you. >> Um you're very welcome. I wish you a
good and profitable year. Profitable successful year. How's that? Um I want to bring up the topic of flock cameras. I'm sure because we all read the internet, uh the Facebook and whatever
you've all heard from or seen posts about them. They're apparently going up all over town. I don't have any answers for the people who ask me questions. So, I'm going to pose a couple of questions to the board.
You know, I follow you as closely as anybody, I think. When was this discussed publicly at the board, if it was? Um, what is the cost of these cameras,
if there is one? who or what organization is installing them if that's the right word um and what is their purpose and those are the four questions I came up with
today and as a selectman as an a government entity for myself as as an employee of the government of air I never ever advocated that the town of air do something one of its adjoining or um other towns
uh do but the town of Littleton has begun looking at this very very closely most recently the end of last month. I think Graten also has some but we are the only three communities I could find
in this local area with any involvement. I don't I don't know anything about it. It's purported to be a means of identifying vehicles and license plates, but come on guys, we all know that's not
always the case. Many years ago, when the town installed a no U-turn sign at the intersection of Maine and Colombia in front of town hall, I asked as a selectman, why don't we install a camera so we can catch people who are doing
that illegally? Oh, we can't we can't videotape people. That's illegal in Massachusetts. Okay, that was at least 20 years ago. Here we are today videotaping people just going about their business driving
down the streets of air. Can anybody say anything about that tonight or would you like to at least address it at a future meeting? >> Sure. Um, Chief Gil, would you come up and and and speak to some of these
questions? Um, so at the moment, it's my understanding these are not fully operational. Um, and and Chief Gil can maybe speak a little bit more um to your questions. >> Sure. I'll answer specific questions through the board.
>> Yes, please. So, one of the questions was uh when was it discussed? uh you know with the select board, right? Is that what the question was? >> That was the question. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Yes, that was one of them. Thank you.
>> Um so this was a grant initiative that we applied for >> and uh it was uh through what's called the uh burn jag grant is what it's commonly referred to. It's the Edward memorial Edward Burn Memorial Justice
Assistance Grant. Um, so we applied for it with uh the uh the intention of uh uh having these uh uh cameras for the lack of a better term that that's what we'll call them for now. Um to help assist in
uh in in criminal investigations. Um, and that's uh that's the goal of these uh to put up um that uh and um and I and I think to preface this, what what I'm going to be doing is uh hopefully by
the beginning of next week is to have a uh full portal up on our website that is going to explain all the questions um how this came to be. Um, and as as I kind of alluded to at a previous
meeting, what flock is and more importantly what flock isn't. Um, as as uh Pauline mentioned, there's a lot of chatter out there on the internet. Uh, specifically on the community page. Um, you know, that the there are some
locations being talked about. Yes, you know, the there are locations in town that these are on. Um, but what uh is being attributed to the locations and what they're capturing, that's where the misconceptions are and what they're what they're doing. And that's what I hope
with this fully transparent web page that's going to have uh a lot of information and it's going to be kind of a living portal um where things go up. So, um, so if, uh, we have, uh, certain
cases that there, uh, where there there's an outcome that an assisted investigation, it's going to be in there. Um, all the documents that went into the the the grant, it's going to be in there. Um, so, you know, a lot of these questions that people have and
we're getting we're getting records requests and we're answering. >> Okay. Um and uh my hope is that we can just put everything out there where everybody can just go and grab it. You know, there's uh you know, from uh from
our uh you know, policies that were we're were meticulously um crafted to put proper guardrails in that we control. Um and and uh and that's and that's kind of what also important in here. There's a lot of talk
about it going somewhere else and being under the control of somebody else. Absolutely not true. Um this is these this information that is that is uh being that is being going to be documented is uh under the control of
the air police department and the sharing of it uh under the control of the air police department. the release of it under the control of the air police department. Um, and the access to it by members of the air police department are only going to be in conjunction with a criminal
investigation. And those are some of the safeguards that I put in place that I wanted to see to make sure that we had as many guard rails put in place on the system um that uh that you know that that we make sure that this important tool that uh you know is available to us
remains available to us. Um, so to talk about the specific question about when do we talk to the uh to to specifically a select board at an open meeting, that hasn't happened. There was one moment in time uh two, three, four weeks ago when it came up at
public hearing and we talked about it. um the uh the the uh inception of the program um I have worked with the town manager's office um you know with that and and and we
have you know hand in hand and going back and and kind of saying how do how do we uh develop this how do we move to the through this process and it was step by step you know that things you know things just aren't going to be thrown out there um there's training involved
there's polic policy understanding involved um and things like that. Um so I think that's question one. Question two. >> Mhm. >> Well, honestly with that very good answer, um it sounds like the rest of
the questions are have been answered or they will be answered next week when you have the portal up. >> I mean, I'm I'm more than happy to to to answer anything tonight. Um Okay. You know, if if I I just can't remember the questions. >> Yeah. Um, oh, the next one was cost, but it was a grant.
>> Yeah. I mean, so the that it was we were awarded a $25,000 grant from the for the the uh Edward Burn Memorial Jag Grant um to uh implement this program. >> So nothing air paid nothing is what >> for the implementation of this program. Correct.
>> Okay. >> Um and the organization of which they were purchased from >> uh so the company we went with is uh and it's called Flock Safety. Um uh they're a uh they're they're a company just like all the other companies that um that
that police deal with, fire deal with. It's it's just a company. >> Okay. Uh and and you explained the purpose. I I don't think I have to ask again the purpose. >> The purpose is to to help solve crime. >> Okay. Um you know, I have all the faith
in air police. uh that you know for me personally um and I know you'll have strong policies audit trails to make sure that you know these are not used improperly. Um so
there's any other questions and I and I really I really I'm sorry Mr. smart people. But I really want to have this program uh you know, I'm going to be, you know, I want to be as transparent as possible because when there's transparency, there's trust. >> Yep. >> And I want to I want to make sure that
we have the trust with our community because in in developing this program in in in applying for the grant, trying to bring it on, this is all about protecting air residents and the air businesses. Uh there have been too many cases where
unfortunately we we just can't solve it because there's not enough witness observations. There's not enough for us to get to that next step. This is a this is a tool that gets us hopefully to the next step in some of those cases and reduce the amount of cases that just kind of languish in the unsolved bit.
>> Um Pauline, I see you have another another comment question. >> Uh comment just I want to thank Brian very much. I appreciate um your explanation. I would just suggest that if we ever do something this monumental
next time, maybe we tell people in advance. Um I believe everything you said. You know, I support your department unquestionably. So, I just had to bring this forward because I'm tired of hearing people
being so critical. I guess if there's one caution I would throw out there, there's a lot of yakening about the camera that was recently installed at the school complex. And I have to as a parent of at
least a 40year-old now, I have to at least say I would be concerned that my child is being recorded. And I trust you, Brian, don't get me wrong, but I think that's a concept you have to at least consider. And I would really like
if the police department would go public, not just on the internet because everybody doesn't follow the internet, but have a meeting like we did, sorry to bring it up, when we canceled the Fourth of July fireworks, but this is almost that same kind of momentum right now.
Just a thought. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Appreciate the comment. >> Okay, >> Mr. Chairman. So in speaking with the chief what we propose as he mentioned uh the target is for June 8th next Monday
the beginning of next week that there'll be the dedicated information all put out there and then for you as the chair and the board when the board next meets on June 16th we could have the chief give
an overview you know of that information and if there are any questions >> I just have one question actually um through you. Is this um what you plan on putting on the web? Is this something that you're designing putting together yourself?
>> Yeah, it's uh yes um to to through the through the chair. Um the uh I'm going to kind of put uh kind of answer all the questions that I'm seeing and and that was my mindset then and I'm I see kind of a the same kind of questions coming on over again like you know data storage
security >> um some the the uh everything that's out there I mean we're all seeing them um there are you know in the public records requests that that have um come you know come into the offices here um and
they're all good questions Um and uh that my hope is to answer all those questions preemptively. Okay. >> So there there is no question about what that what this is. Um and you know and I hope that you know with this with this
page stood up within our you know within you know I'm envisioning it in the police page. um that everything I is in there and that they you know that if you have a question and then you know I'm a pretty accessible chief so if you know you need to get to me you can get to me
and I you know and I'll I'll answer questions. >> I would say my one suggestion for this >> portal page whatever >> is to highlight just as prominently what it is not >> as much as what it is but what is not.
Yes. >> Yeah. It's not big brother. It is not surveilling you for that's where all the misconceptions are coming. >> Um yeah and and that's and that's a great point that I'm going to that was one of the things that I wanted to and that's why I kept saying you know it's it's more importantly like what you know
what this is but what it isn't >> um because there's a lot a lot to be attributed to that and I want to you know really emphasize to to everybody that's listening here that we're not connected to anybody outside of Massachusetts. We're not connected to
any federal entity. Um I get a report every month about, you know, what our connection status is and it's always zero on the Fed um and zero in outside of the Commonwealth. Um so it's just the just the uh the agencies that are in
Massachusetts and as a as a means to control who's getting to our data. Um and yeah, and then you know the the cameras themselves, they're not recording people, you know. they're they're getting license plate data and they're getting the the vehicles driving back
and forth. So that's the searchable the searchable license plate reader data. Um so they you know cars and license plates, not who's driving the cars, not who's registered to the cars. Um it's just vehicle data. And if it so happens
that that vehicle data has a stolen uh plate to it or an Amber alert or a missing person, you know, that that will trigger, you know, an alert for our offices to to look into further to access, you know, the the more in-depth
systems at that point. So it's, you know, those are the only proactive things that really come out of this is the the things that we really want to know in in real time. All right. Any other questions?
All right. Um, yeah, I thank you so much for your time. I think that's >> I look forward to getting this public portal up and to answer a lot of these questions proact, you know, proactive. >> Yes. >> All right, chief. >> Thank you, Chief. >> Thank you, Chief. >> Okay. Any other public input?
>> All right. Seeing none, we can move on to the town manager report. Madam, excuse me. >> That's okay. >> I take no offense. >> I can't correct it, >> Mr. Chairman.
Apologies adjusting to the >> Mr. Chairman. Um, Madame Vice Chairman, members of the select board, good evening. Uh, in the packet, you have the warrants that were reviewed and approved since the select board uh last met on
May 19th. In terms of the administrative update, just want to point out as I'm sure the board and many are aware that the West Main Street uh bridge project continues to move forward. We now have the the signalization on the the bridge.
Um uh and we encourage folks to check out on the town website. There is a dedicated uh web page for this project that the DPW director and the town engineer will be populating uh with any um updates and any major uh
announcements will be um broadcast to all of our channels. But that project is underway with the temporary signalization um in place. Our main focus is on the financial side has been closing out uh FY 26 as we are rapidly
approaching July 1st and preparing for uh FY uh 27. Um as I mentioned at the previous meeting for a future date, I I think it would be important to have the um facilities director and the DPW
director come before the board. they're getting some more information and and and putting this together to talk a little bit more about energy and fuel as I mentioned. I mean, everybody's seeing it with their household um accounts, but as fuel unfortunately skyrockets and
energy costs, that's going to be a a budget driver for everybody, including the town. So, I think uh having more information in discussion on that will be great. Uh as previously um established by the board on June 16th,
uh the board will have the public hearing on the water uh regulations, the updates that the superintendent had brought forth. Um we're going to be advertising uh that there's some proposed changes uh on that. Um unless there's any administrative questions
from the board, I'll get right into the action items for tonight, which the first is uh some appointments. Um the first one is the zoning board of appeals. Recently, uh Mr. Michael Gibbons um resigned um from the ZBA. We
want to wish him all the best. Michael has served on a ZBA for many, many years. Um, and the only reason uh he stepped down is he's moved out of town. Um, so we wish him the best. The ZBA does have an alternate member, Miss
Marilyn Schaenberger, who's been the alternate uh for some time, and it's recommending that the board uh appoint her as a full member uh with a term to expire on June 30th of 2027. and then the town will advertise and be looking
to get a a new alternate to the board. >> We have a question. >> I'll I'll make a motion that the select board approve Miss Marilyn Shalberger to the ZBA as full member with the term to expire on June 30th, 2027.
>> Second. >> Okay. All in favor? I >> I >> chair says I >> the next uh appointment is actually from the air housing authority for the tenant board member. You have in your packet a letter from Mr. Ken Martin, the executive director of the air housing
authority uh requesting that the select board um vote to appoint Mr. Roger Martell uh to as a tenant board member for the Air Housing Authority. Okay. Questions? >> Questions? >> Okay.
>> Make a motion that the board uh vote to appoint Mr. Roger Martell um as the tenant board member for the air housing authority. >> Seconded. >> Okay. >> All in favor? >> I. >> I. >> Chair says I. >> And then the next appointment uh you
have in your packet the Monachus Regional Planning Commission MRPC. There is an alternate member from the town. That's the select board. uh representative. Uh each year they ask uh the board to submit who will serve in the year ahead. Uh currently for the
past year it was uh select board member Sean C. Copelan. So we're just looking as to who the representative will be. This is the alternate the the primary representative is from is from the planning board. >> Would you like to have one? Sorry again.
>> Okay. I'll continue. >> All right. I'll make a motion that the select board approve select board member uh Sean Copelan as the alternate member to the MRPC. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Chair says I.
>> All right. Then moving to um this is for reappointments for town boards, committees, and commissions that are appointed by the select board. Uh this is part one of two. will have the second set at the June 16th meeting. But you
have a memo in your packet prepared by the assistant town manager recommending that the select board vote to reappoint the individuals listed in the memo to their respective boards, commissions or committees um in and for the term that's
set forth uh in the memo. for all of these individuals been contacted by the assistant town manager and wish to continue in their respective capacities. >> Okay. >> I just have one question. >> Sure. >> Well, for board committee we have vacant
seat >> that's the altered >> that's the zoning, >> right? So that's why I'm just making sure the vacant seat is for the ZBA. >> Yep. >> Because it just says vacant seat, >> right? So, um, but we've already done that one.
>> Yep. >> So, we don't need to do that one. >> Okay. >> Right. >> Okay. >> Um, >> so can we take these all >> together? We have to do it individually. >> So, you can actually, Mr. Chair, perview
of the board is move to um approve as set forth in the memo. >> So, moved. Seconded. >> All right. All in favor? >> I >> I >> chair says I >> weird sitting over here. I'm disconvoling.
>> Congratulations to everyone. >> Okay. All right. The next item in your packet. There are two um community preservation grant agreements um which the board is familiar with that after uh a project
goes through the CPC process and it has been approved by uh town meeting we enter into a a grant agreement um with the recipient. Uh there are two for your consideration tonight. I just want to
flag um one that we thought so the 71 Sandy Pond Road property which was approved. I uh that project because the town owns the property and it was the town funding and town council looked at
it. It does not require a grant agreement. What it does require, which we will be developing, is a conservation restriction, uh, which will be held by the North County, Northwestern County Land Trust. But I just, um, just wanted
to bring up that point because we're going to be doing all of the outstanding grant agreements that there is not one required for 71 Sandy Pond. So, the the two that you have before you tonight, the first one is the grant agreement for the NE neighborhood of affordable
housing or Noah uh in the amount of $400,000 as authorized by article 3 of the fall special town meeting held on October 24th, 2022. And that's the funding for the affordable um no affordable housing project on Pitchburg
Road. >> Okay, any questions? I have none. >> I have none. >> I'll make a motion that what are we approving it? >> Yes. Signature by the chair.
>> Okay. I make a motion that the select board approve the grant agreement for in the amount of 400,000 in community preservation act funds from the housing reserve account. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. chair says I.
>> Okay. And the second one is the grant agreement for the Devon Crest Tenant Association uh in the amount of $400,000. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Okay. Mr. Chair, um >> that was interesting. Moving
>> on. This is the second. >> Um is that off? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, just for folks, we having some technical difficulties. Um >> Okay. The second grant agreement is for the Devons Tenant Association uh in the
amount of 400,000 uh from the housing reserve category as authorized under article 8 of the fall special town meeting held on October 27th of 2025. >> Okay. Are there any questions on that? >> Uh no.
>> No. >> Okay. make a motion that the board approve the um community preservation committee agreement with the Devon Prest Tenant Association um community preservation act grant
agreement um as presented for signature by the chair >> second all in favor I >> chair says I can >> Mr. chair of the the chair of the CPC committee. >> Yeah. Yes. Please come up.
>> I really do appreciate you all taking these under advisement and looking at it and I know that the um town council has also looked at it. Um just go ahead and reemphasize too with regards to Devon's Crest. I know that we've been working with Robert the town manager as well.
Oh, thank you for letting me speak. Janet is wonderful of course. Yeah. Oh, we're so familiar that it's >> I know. I know. I forgive me. Um, but we've been working with um town manager's office as well as with Katie um to make sure that the documents all
are um I'm going to say I eyes dotted and tees crossed to be sure we get the number of units marked down from 80% AMI to a 60% AMI. The grant agreement also mentions that. But we want to, you know,
again, make sure we've got all the other documents, the appendices or whatever, you know, that when the monies start moving that we see, you know, the U 35 units, the vouchers and all that as well
as um like I say, those other units being brought down. So, the monies are going to be used when that's made all available. Okay. So, thank you very much for approving us. Thank you. >> Yes. Thank you for coming up. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. Um the next item uh number item five is we have three reserve fund transfers uh for the board's um consideration. Um, as the board is aware, the reserve fund is a fund um
that is designed to address unforeseen or extraordinary expenses that occur throughout the the fiscal year. Everybody has a budget. Everybody does their best to stick by that budget. But of course, not just in air, things can
happen that were not expected that the reserve fund is designed um to cover. All RFTs by state law require approval by the select board and the finance committee. Uh the current balance in the FY26 reserve fund is 150,000. So it has
not um been accessed in consultation with the finance manager and the town accountant. Um we believe that these are the only three RFTs that we're going to need to close out the fiscal year. As always, we monitor very closely and we
do have up until June 30th. If there is anything, we don't see that. If there is, there's always the 16th. Lastly, the the finance committee is scheduled to take these up on Thursday, uh, June 4th, uh, at that meeting at 6:00. So if there
is an objection from the the chair, I'd ask the finance manager and the IT director to IT manager to come up for the first one which is a reserve fund transfer for the information technology department
>> and you have the board has in its packet um a memo from Jonathan Maxwell the IT manager and the IT form and the budget breakdown and The IT uh request um is
for $40,000. Uh the present balance in the budget is negative10,67569. And this is one of the departments that we um have identified that is in a period of of transition, but I think after this we're going to be in in good
shape. So to the chair, if there are questions for the IT manager or the finance manager. I have no questions. I looked over, you know, the spreadsheets and um everything looks good, appropriate. There any other
questions? >> Just have a quick question. >> Sure. >> What do you mean by the.gov email tenant? >> So, we had to um transition the police and fire domains to um a more secure domain.
>> Okay. Okay. And um so some of the costs borne by that. >> Okay. I think it got talked before. I just couldn't remember what it was. So Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Question. >> Yep.
So, we need to make a motion to >> make a motion that the board approve the reserve fund transfer request for the Department of Information Technology in the amount of $40,000. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I.
>> Chair says I. >> All right. Thank you. Uh the next one, uh Mr. Chair, members of the board, is for the assessors department. Uh I do want to the uh assessing administrator uh April Anaone was fully planning to be
here tonight um but she is at the school committee um on a on another matter uh for tonight um but Barbara and I would be happy to answer any questions. Uh this is a request uh for $32,000 uh for the assessor's department. The
current balance is -35,98317. And um there the thing the items that are driving this that uh were unforeseen is first um when the when the FY26 budget was developed the there were two appellet tax board cases that we were
not aware of. One of them is for the hospital and the other one is for another um uh business in town. In other words, um individuals uh have the right uh to go to the appellet tax board to challenge um the tax assessment of the
town. Uh that is the been the case with the hospital and this other business. So in order to effectively um defend the town in that um appraisals have to be done um of the of the respective uh properties which have been um completed
in both. Additionally, um there is a a need um regarded related to the software um conversion um that has also driven part of this uh cost as well. And
Barbara, did I miss anything on that? >> Um nope. I um I do want to point out just that when she mentions her present balance is minus 35,000. That's before wages. She's going to have some leftover in the wages because of hiring throughout the year. So when the when
the accountant did the analysis, the needle will only be 32. >> Okay. >> That's how >> I think that was all question that was all our questions. I kept on math. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And I think to that point just for public benefit is obvious with the reserve fund transfer if there's a
portion that isn't used it reverts back to to free cash. So it's not like that the department gets to keep that. Okay. Uh, any questions? >> None. >> Okay. Make a motion that the board approve the
rever reserve fund transfer request for the assessors in the amount of $32,000. >> Second. >> Okay. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Chair says I. >> Mr. chair. Last but not least, I will turn it over to Barbara who in addition
to the finance manager is the treasurer and she has a small reserve fund transfer for your consideration. Armor. >> Uh yes. So this is just a just in case. It's very rare for heir to have to pay interest as a result of an appallet tax
board case, but we had to twice during fiscal 26. It's something that's unbudgeted for. So, I'm just asking for an RFT for the exact amount of those interest payments. I don't put a lot of extra in my budget, so it's kind of a just in case
and it's something unforeseen and that I I don't we don't budget for. >> Okay. Questions? >> So, it's for $2,926.32. >> Yep. Which is the exact amount of the two interest payments that we had to pay
during the year. Okay. Um, I'll make a motion that the select board approve the reserve fund transfer request in the amount of $2,926.32 to the treasur. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I.
>> Chair says I. >> Mr. Chair, thank you. The the last item as I put in the packet um is the select board uh summer schedule. Uh as in previous years, the select board has adopted a summer schedule where you have
met once in July and once in August. Um we still have the meeting for June 16th. Of course, the board has always uh met if there is time-sensitive matters or emergency matters and we appreciate that. Uh but for the regular um schedule
uh wanted to start the discussion um for the summer schedule whether the board wants to set that tonight or on the 16th. In recent years historically it's been on the third Tuesday of July and August because the planning board meets
on the second Tuesday and the fourth Tuesday of the month and they have a especially this year their public hearings are set up along those dates. So, I just offer that, but it's it's it's the will of the board as to what you would like to do for July
and August and then we go back to the standard schedule uh in September. >> Okay. For me personally, I mean, I think having one meeting in July, one in August works. We did that last year. Again, stressing the caveat that if we
need to meet, we can certainly do that uh at any point. Um my only issue is the one Tuesday that I'm not available in July is the 21st, which is the third uh Tuesday. >> Okay. >> So, um you know,
if you two want to meet and I'm not there, that's fine. Or if you want to try to move it to a different day. >> Well, our other option would be July 7th, but I don't know if everybody's around after the 4th of July. >> I'm not. Yeah.
>> So, >> what >> I was going to say uh July 22nd there everything's available because it's the fourth Wednesday of the month. >> Okay. >> So, I think we won't have interference in this room, which it's a Wednesday
night. >> Would it still be at 6:00? >> Could be anytime. >> Yeah. I think we did do that one year on a Wednesday. It could be earlier. Yeah. Uh that that Wednesday the 22nd is open
for me. >> Works for me. >> And it's my birthday. >> Did you say birthday? >> That works for me. >> We'll bring a we'll bring a cake >> at 6:00. >> 6 o'clock. >> Okay. >> All right.
>> Put that in. >> And then August. >> Yeah. August. Anything pretty much works for me. the 4th or the 18th. >> The 18th is fine for me. >> I'll be gone, but
>> are you gone that whole week? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Well, I cannot do it on the 4th, but if you guys want to do it on the 4th, that's fine with me. >> Okay. And the 11th, we run into planning board, right? >> Okay.
>> I mean, I don't know. Well, you're going to be gone, so we're either doing one without you or we're doing one without me. >> Yeah. >> So, Mr. Chair, whichever one you like. >> Um, if it's just kind of, you know, me
picking, I would say the 18th just because that's a that's the third Tuesday. So, that historically is when we would meet. >> So, if that is fine, besides we're missing one person, I'll I'd stick with that. with that.
>> Yep. >> And I think it too gives the departments more time to gather stuff, you know, instead of like two weeks in between. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Sounds good. Um
July 22nd at 6 and August 18th at six. >> So, Mr. Chair, that concludes my report. Unless there are any questions from the select board, I thank you for your time and consideration this evening. >> Okay, thank you. Okay, moving on to the
new business and select board member Livingston uh speaking about a letter to Senator Eldridge about uh Devons and their thoughts and proposals of their town meeting, super town meeting.
>> Yes. So, as you know, Mr. chair uh a few meetings back I brought it up >> uh the new economic um budget plan that uh the governor has put forward and in it was a change to supertown meeting. Um
so I explained what I was seeing in this. I have since uh I've talked to Senator Eldridge on the phone. I've talked to him via email and I even ran into him on person and I've happened to talk to the vice president of mass development, Michael Sweeney. So, he
knows uh you know how I feel and what I was seeing. Um since then, I've also heard from John Osborne and from the Harvard press and Senator Eldridge is looking for any type of sign as to how the towns feel. So, I respectfully
request that we bring forward a letter to our next meeting um for review and approval of hopefully, you know, telling Senator Eldridge, we do not want this to be approved as it's been submitted. Um, again, as I laid out
that night, um, they want to change the three towns to not having a say, basically that it' be a Debons, a potential quorum of when you add the three towns of 150 to 50. We're not even our town clerks would have to go over
there, but we don't know how they'd run it because this still burns me. it it's we're always told mass development doesn't know how to run a town meeting which is funny because a lot of them are Massachusetts residents so this is a town meeting state so you think they
know but so I just think it's a recipe for disaster I think if there's going to be a change then it should be a change from one town can say no and kill it all which when you counted the numbers could actually mean that the v majority of the
voters wanted it right to a simple majority vote. That that would be, I think, a good change if you wanted to make a change. But I think the way this is written, um, we should at least let the senator know so that he can he can't
fight this unless he's got something in his hand to say, I have people asking me to fight. So, so if I could have that on the agenda and the at least a draft that we can all look at, >> um, I'd appreciate it. >> Sure thing. >> Absolutely. Yep. that will be on the
agenda. We'll have a draft letter for us to review and and vote on. I think that's good to have a formal stance on where we are because I think we all agree. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> All right. Um then we'll move on to the
approval of meeting minutes from May 19th. >> I didn't notice anything. >> Neither did I. I did see something at the very bottom um for adjournment. The motion was made by me and seconded by me. >> So
>> you were very pushy there. >> Well, I don't let him talk. >> So So I believe the motion was made by u Mr. Copelan. So >> Okay, we'll fix that. >> That was all. >> It was more I just kind of cracked up when I saw that.
>> Okay, I have no other comments. Okay. Um, I will make a motion that the meeting minutes from May 19th be approved as amended. >> Second. Okay. All those in favor? >> I >> I. >> Chair says I.
>> Mr. Chair, >> yes. >> I make a motion to adjourn. >> Second. Okay. All those in favor? >> I. >> Chair says I. Good night everyone. Part: 2
to be aware that the meeting is being audio and video recorded. >> Recording in progress >> by air public access and ASRSD. Any audience members who wish to record any part of the meeting must inform the chair who will announce the recording. This is to comply with mass wiretap
statute. The listing of matters are 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 Air Shirley Regional School
Committee policy, public comment is not a discussion, debate, or dialogue between citizens and the school committee. It's a citizens opportunity to express an opinion on issues of school committee business. Citizens will have three minutes to express their views. Any staff member addressing the committee is reminded of
their obligation 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. That said, let's do the pledge of >> allegiance
to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Mr. Razan, Mrs. Bernard, Mr. Quinty >> here,
>> Mrs. appreciate here. Mr. Rupert >> here. >> Here. >> All right, we're going to start with public comment. We'll start on the phone first. Do we have anybody? >> No. >> All right, with that, is there anyone in the room who's here for public comment?
All right, with that, we'll move on to the student showcase. We have the Air Shirley Regional High School internship program, Mr. Spencer Christie. >> Uh, I'd like to invite Mr. deputy to come up and join me. He's been my partner in crime. >> Thank you. >> In this since the beginning.
>> There's a podium there. Sorry. >> Don't put that crying card on the recording. >> Thank you all for allowing us to come. Enjoyed it all time. I just came before. This is special. Just briefly tell you, you know, when I retired recently, I
don't think it was 24 hours before Spencer was over say, "Hey, I got something for you to do since you got nothing to do." So, so he offered to um join us and I couldn't have been happier. It's been a wonderful experience the last two years not only working with Spencer but connecting with
um all the students a lot of them who are former paid hilltop students and seeing them all growing up and giving back to the community that you know I've loved all these years and want to keep doing. So um in the past two years this program has really flourished. We right
now we have we average about 65 70 students per semester involved. Right now, we're supporting all four district schools and over a dozen community hosts. And we continue to grow each time. A lot of the new ones come from their student driven. Kids will come up
to me and say, "I really want to do this." And I'll go, "Oh, let me see what I can do." Last year, we had a couple of students that want to go into law and pre-law. And I was lucky to go out and um find a couple people to do that. Connie Sullivan who some of you may know
is you know attorney Groten and um Collins uh legal firm out of West Fitz all you know they joined in and help so we find ways that too. Uh in addition we had the career exploration fair which had over 30 um people involved and keep
coming. Some of our students have been set up with paid jobs coming off this internship, whether it's just summer or year round or whether they're, you know, some of them got full-time career jobs. One of which is um Brian Perwak who many
of you know from Cor Irrigation and works well with the schools is doing some this summer. We also have one of our students Aurora who's who is doing an internship with state rep Cena. she's working with him this summer and uh you know working there and I know Mr.
Christie can also talk to the fact that this has been a substantial budget they've used to for the district over these two years. What do these kids get out of it? Well, they get training in various fields of choice. They get a chance to give back to their communities and for a lot of them it's college
benefits. Not only do they learn what they want to do in college, where they want to go or not go, they like this, they didn't like it, but it also looks good on the application, you know, to say that they've been involved in this. Our connections with the students has been phenomenal. Um, we get many of them
get invites. A lot of them will come up for a moment and share with a few things that they getting invited by all their friends, all the students to end of the year activities. It shows, you know, how much they like in the year. This just today I got a a photo from Sher Marshall, one of the Spanish teachers
over PH of three of her high school boys who you wouldn't know, you know, kind of they're all boys and you know, but she works really well with them and they sent her a very nice loving card and photo thing and stuff to say thank you for everything she's had. um brought a
few guests and I know you know that Spencer talked but I also want to introduce our chief Tim Johnston is here from the air fire department who Tim is probably one of our first and most you know people supporting us and I want to let him talk about that the fire
department I know Brendan Hurley Captain Hurley does a lot with that too and to do that too Jaylen Griffin right here Jaylen is the director of connections physical therapy in both Harvard and Gordon who's been taking in some of our kids, April and Samantha. What is it?
They come from Mayor Town Hall, which we brought into the loop this year, thanks to Amanda Lewis, and they've been working there, too. Some of our folks, the architects, hopefully we're hoping to have a few. We have there's an architect place right downtown architects who's been
phenomenal with our kids every they just started last year and they take in two students every semester they're teaching them real architecture I mean the kids are learning they go to meetings they go to um stuff that they do they're learning in the computer programs they're learning to build things from
base up and everything so and some of them are going to be doing a summer internship with them and like I say a lot of these kids are picking things that they want to do in college career so we want to go here and most of all we have this wonderful folks here at this group of many of these intern students who I think have a lot to share. We only
a few minutes to go through and share. So I don't want to take too much time. Um it has been an absolute joy working with Mr. Dappy. He was the first internship site we had. Um he's been my partner in
this every step of the way. Um, and I think I can speak for both of us in saying what we love most about this program is being able to connect student passions with realworld job opportunities. We want to show students, many of whom are hoping to move back to
this area after graduation, that they can come here and find work and raise a family. Um, and they've been able to find that. And we have so many unbelievable community partners in the area that have helped to show these students um that all of this becomes
possible. So without them, we wouldn't be here. Um, but largely this is Mr. Dappy reaching out to folks, using his connection to the area to help our students get set up. And for that, I will forever be thankful to Mr. Dappy for all the work, all of the time he
puts into this um, and individualizing the connections with each student. >> Thank you, Ken. Will you start us off coming up? We like a few minutes. >> Jayen, you want to come on up? Ladies,
whenever you want to go. Sure. Great. Hi, everyone. Thanks for having me tonight. Um, when Fred first or Mr. Debbie, I should say, first approached me, I just wasn't sure like how that internship program would fit into the department. But I can tell you
it's been nothing but a home run for us. Um, we hit the ground running. um the process, you know, they bet the process of what student comes to us. Um what happens then is everyone here comes to the school, right? So they drive by the firehouse and they say, "Oh, I wonder what they're doing since all the trucks
are in." But these interns that are able to can tell you what goes on there. There's training, of course, you got to eat. They get to ask questions. They get to go on calls. But I think two things come to mind. One, it doesn't take them long to settle in, become very personal. They walk in, they wait to the admin,
get buzzed in, they go find the group, they kind of settle in and make their own path. Uh, two, they get to see what training is entails, both fire and EMS training. There's a lot, you know, there's classroom stuff. Um, lastly, there's always the calls. It's always the call. I think there's two of them
here today. It's all about the calls. Um, so they get to go on those, but I think when you go on those calls, you get to see both the training and the compassion that comes out whether you choose a health care field or go on to public safety. So I think if anything, they get that lifelong lesson that sure
there's fire stuff you go by and maybe they sit on the bump of the truck once in a while, but you get to see what the training does and the compassion they feel when if it's an EMS call or what they do when they handle these fire uh calls. But I think home run, embrace it.
Love to see more kids coming through. Thank you so much. Um, as Fred said, my name is Jaylen Griffin. I'm the director of clinical partnerships for Connections Physical Therapy. We're new to the internship program this year for 2526. We took three students for a half year. Um, two
in our Grten location and one over here in Harvard where I work. Um what they get to do when they come into the clinic is observe multiple therapists. Um so kind of seeing the day-to-day uh job tasks of the physical therapist, get comfortable with interacting with
patients. Uh they help with tasks in terms of um getting exercise equipment, uh helping out cleaning tables, and just really kind of uh experiencing what the healthcare environment has to offer. We had a lot of interest at the career fair. Um, so we're happy to accommodate
as many students as we can and I think it's just excited them for the uh career of physical therapy and we need a lot of physical therapists going forward. There's extremely high demand. So, it's been great for us as well. >> Thank you. >> Hi, I'm April Ayanna. I'm the uh
assessor for the town of Air and um this is the first year we're taking part in the fur room. We've had one intern for the first half of the year and we've had two interns rotating through the second half of the year. Um it's not the most glorified position. I mean it is a lot of paperwork. It's a lot of little
projects and tasks. But um I think the students are learning, you know, how much goes into an office every day, the phone calls, the distractions, the people coming in. Um and we've had some fun. We try to keep things upbeat. We
try to give projects that um you know don't take too much effort and don't take too much um thought process involved. Just kind of something to to help keep them you know we had one student struggled with the letter opener and saw our stack of mail and and had to
you know get get through the letters. Um, so it's been helpful in terms of my office, in terms of the chaos and how much I have going on from day to day just to have someone else to do the little side projects that I'll get to
later. I'll get to later. Um, but we've had we've enjoyed having the kids around and um, they've been very helpful. So, >> hi, I'm Samantha Benoy. I am the administrative coordinator at the air town hall. So I work for the land use
departments. Um and have shared the interns with April. Um so I work for the building department and the planning board. And it has been very interesting to show them what goes into all the code that there is, how many building permits there are, how busy we are. Uh similar
to April, it's been very nice to give them some of the littleer jobs. I can't always file, but then they get to see every building permit everyone's had. Um, it's also been fun sort of teaching them different things. Um, we have to do a lot of mailings. Uh, certified mailing is a foreign concept to teenagers
sometimes. Um, that was sort of fun to teach. Um, but it has been really great. Uh, especially given their, uh, interest in being able to show them different parts that they're interested in, whether it's zoning, whether it's part of the board of health, whether it, you know, shoots back down to April for
assessing. It's sort of nice to see how be able to show them how we all work together and how it is one big town hall and how we make sure everything happens. >> But really great to have >> us now all of our interns. You mind just
coming up for a minute? If you're speaking, that's okay. But what I would like you to do is just one by one just introduce yourself and tell the board what internships you've done that you've left so they know the variety of where we work and then if they want to a few
of them might want to share some of their experiences. Um Spencer and the the committee wants to ask questions of them or Spencer I nothing to worry about. So >> uh so my name is Isaiah Mala. I'm senior. I just I'm graduating Friday.
Um, so I had the opportunity to do two internships, one at the Air Police Department and one at Laura White, the elementary school in Shirley. Um, through my internship at the police department, I learned kind of like the reality of policing. A lot of what's seen in movies and television is a lot like just fabricated. You see the chases
and the action, but really it's a lot of paperwork. It's a lot of like the slow, mundane stuff. And I'm actually going to college to pursue criminal justice with the intention of law enforcement. So, it was really helpful for me to understand like what the reality of it is like. Um, and through my second internship at
Laura White, um, it was a very different dynamic, but I thought it was good because I got I learned how to communicate effectively. Um, I mean, I had to explain things to children who were much much younger than me. And it was also just awesome seeing the smile on their faces when I walked in and them being at how little I am.
Um, but yeah, I had a really great time with both my internships. And I did tell Isaiah he could not bring up the fact when he pulled over Dr. Bender of his feet on Washington. Hello, my name is Derek Rack. I'm also a soon to be a graduating senior of class
of 2026 this Friday. Uh my internship was town hall. I was the very first student to decide that I wanted to choose town hall and I was a bit scared a little bit because I was first in uh new to the internship program. But once day one after day one at the town hall,
I was extremely happy with this program. So basically what the town hall was was I didn't really know what a town hall was in general until I went into it. So I'm like what is what is this? Like what's the history of this? Like what what do you do? And then um I went in and found out basically what it was. And
there's obviously lots of paperwork, but it's a skill that you have to learn either way with all the filing or learning building permits, which I thought was actually like cool to like analyze like what a building permit is and like what why we need it in the first place in like the state of
Massachusetts or in a town like Air. And yeah, I thought I had a blast there. The people there, April and Samantha, you were fantastic people as well as Mrs. Lewis, she was the best at helping me like figure out like what kind of schedule I had cuz there was not just one department like the assessor's
office. There was the building department, the administrative department, there was public ser uh service, there was a lot of things. So, I had to figure out like what do I pick on like a one day cuz I had like one day I wanted to go to the assessor's office or other day I wanted to go to the building department or the accounting
office. So, I had a lot of variety and I I love variety in general and which this internship brought me and I am glad to like do this and be kind of like a chill blazer kind of and like basically offer that that I'm willing to like do this
and show other people like hey this is something you want to do in go for it because I'm majoring in history with a minor in pre-law. So, I'm kind of glad that I like learned what a town hall was basically like the history of it basically cuz you know I love history and that's what this internship has
given me this experience of mirroring the workplace in a town hall and the history of what it is and yeah I had a blast and I'm glad this internship was offered so thank you very much appreciate it my name is Emily Good I'm also a senior
at Airway High School And at my internship, I was a at the air fighter permit. It was an unbelievable program. Um, some of the things I've learned was the day-to-day chores and tasks. Like Tuesdays is medical check. Wednesdays you're always clean the trucks all the time when you have downtime or free
time. But on top of that, you there's so much training that goes on that was so much fun. Like my favorite training that we did was ice water rescues where I went in the water and learned how to use ice picks and how to get on and how to correctly um get someone out in case
they are in the out. Also from that we also won a majority of calls and they were unbelievable about showing me what the protocols are and how things happen in such a way to keep us safe and the patient in different ways. But it was an
unbelievable program and from that it showed me what I need to do in order to become a firefighter and eventually a paramedic as well. >> And thank you Chief um Johnston for that. >> Thank you guys.
>> Uh hi, my name is Sasha Wait and I a junior and a upcoming senior in this internship program. Currently for my internship, I am a fifth grade in the fifth grade wing and I work with the kids on if they need help with their
schoolwork and doing little errands for the teacher. Um, this internship has really shown me how much it can go through throughout a day for a fifth grader again and how the teachers work and everything. Um, just so recently I
have been allowed to go on with my fifth graders moving up ceremony and I'd like to thank Mr. Christie and Mr. Deppy for this opportunity. Uh, today I got to be outside with my fifth graders for their field day, too. Thank you.
Um, hi, I'm Natalie Padilla. I am a junior upcoming senior, class of 2027. I was able to work with Miss Cowie, the pagetop art teacher, year round this year. Um, when I there are certain days
that art doesn't have a class, so I would go up to preschool and help up with the little kids up there. um a lot of sticky hands, but it was really fun able to not only learn how to communicate with the teachers and
adults, but also the students and like get to know them a little bit better cuz I like working with kids a lot. So, that's going to be my backup for college. >> Good.
Hello everyone. I'm Grayland Ronados and I am a junior and I got to do my internship at Paige Hilltop mostly with one class of third graders and my experience was mostly I was just like hanging around or just helping out
wherever my third grade teacher wanted me to do like small tasks around helping her around mostly and also just helping around with the kids since mostly they're a little chaotic but they're really nice. And for first I they were a
little quiet with me and now at the end they're really talkative. So hyper whenever they see me they always like smile and just tell me what's going on about their day. I most they always ask me to help them mostly with their math work and it I really love math and so
helping them with that just makes me really happy and then seeing them understand it also makes me like really feel like really warm and just them asking for help and also going to their other classes wherever they are special
um they're at recess I'm just there helping them out or just hanging out with them and just whenever they need a and I'd just be there if they're like a little lonely. So, it's just wonderful to be hanging out with these kids and also helping the teacher around with any help that they have and I really love
that. Thank you. >> Hi, I'm Taylor Grace. I'm a junior and this year I did the fall internship at Page Hilltop. So, I was with the first grade class and also I worked with Miss Deborah in uh phys the pediatric physical therapy. Um, so that's what I want to pursue, uh, pediatric physical
therapy. So, it was great to work one-on-one with kids, also in large groups in the classroom. And also getting to see what she does in like a day-to-day like um, my day-to-day life and like whenever I got to see her, it was great. And like how the kids interact with her and just like kind of get to see what I'm going to be doing in
the future. Um, yeah, in the first grade class, I worked like one-on-one with them. We went outside, like we did like fun activities. It was really great and it was a great experience. Thank you. >> Do you have any questions for either me,
Mr. Deppy, uh any of our adult supporters or any of our students? >> I think just on on I like the the um the different areas and and each one of them. I mean, and on all your internships, you learn different things.
Um a couple you were in public safety, law enforcement, that sort of stuff. I've been around for a long time and I've known two surely cops who have been shot, right? And and when you get into that, the toughest thing in for what I see from the outside for anybody in in
uh either fire department or police is like there are times when you'll be just incredibly bored of tears and other times that you better be on your game because if you're not, someone's going to get hurt or killed, you know, and you have to be able to flick that switch like that and that's not everybody's wired for that. And I think that's
probably one of the most difficult things that you have to face. But for the people that were in the town hall, I mean a lot of like you walked in, you didn't really know how town work town halls work. But you know what? Everybody else that walks in there, they don't know either. They're walking around
going like where's the where how do I do this and what do I do? They don't know. They're going to do it like one time and never have to do it again. So when you're talking about, you know, they have their own job to do in town hall. Their number one job is to serve the public. that puts them in town hall and deal with people like on committees like
this, right? Or committees like the board of select men. They have to manage up and they have to manage down. But the number one thing is to make there are a lot of rules and regulations you have to live by and the people that are working in town hall are trying to get you to the right place and get things explained
so you can understand it. You don't deal with them on a regular basis. uh physical therapy standpoint. I'm married to one. All right. And and it it's a good place to be because if you're a physical therapist because when
your husband or wife is injured and you're a physical therapist to re help them recover, you can inflict great pain upon them to get through what needs to be done. Um the only problem I had with the physical therapy tonight is that um
she's going to Alabama, Jersey and Darren went to Auburn. So working a little bit more appropriate for today. But uh overall uh the work that was done uh in involving everybody here in the community is terrific because in the
school you you learn a lot of stuff but mostly what you'll find out is that you're given certain tools but we teach you how to learn and from here moving forward you're going to start learning the things that going to take you for the rest of your life. Well, uh, the fact that you get a leg up here and you
get a chance to look forward is a terrific opportunity. >> Mr. Quincy, just update just so you know, um, we've also had a student over at Shirley PD. He was >> Come stand up, Fred, so we can hear. >> We have student over at Shirley PD. She
wasn't Jake Pitzio. He wasn't able to come here tonight, but he's done very well with Lieutenant Cromwell and the people at Shirley PD. Jake is heading to the material military first as he graduates and then into law enforcement. So, it's been a great, you know, experience for him and a great
background training for him, too. >> Great stuff, >> Joyce. And then Erica. >> All right. Um the only thing I I want to ask for our community supporters um some of you may even already have kids but did you find interacting during these internships where it might bridge some
gaps um for certain things that you see you know in the workplace for example in my workplace um there's been a change in critical thinking with the younger generations coming in. So that's a gap that um we find that we're trying to
bridge at an entry level but now having maybe um students for the internship you're finding like different understanding or doesn't necessarily have to be a gap but does that seem beneficial um to you and you can just do up or down you don't you don't have to talk or anything but just making sure
that like maybe there's a a help a benefit and a lot of you I know it's your first time so no worries on you know you're still kind of trying to figure it out but does it seem like you're you're finding um a connection maybe with these younger people and bridging some gaps there for the
community perspective. Yeah. All right. Thank you. That's it. >> Jo, >> so is this three years or four >> the program >> for the program? >> It's technically three. The second full
pro the first year was my last year as patent and Spencer and I first connected through Dr. a worker program. We had a group of um a few seniors that we needed something for them to do and help out. So, we brought them over and they were
helping pay those teachers and that took it from there and blossom from there. This we're now finishing now this is our second full year and like I said each year we've grown with a number of students involved with the number of community hosts. the fact that we're now at all four schools and come this fall
we're working on we're meeting Spence and I meeting with the students next Friday week Friday to start planning for next year and we've already got um some additional sites that we're reaching out to again like I said some from students
or parents of students that said hey my child wants to go into this career what can you do and so I said well let me see what I can do and that's when we that's what sort of you know took us into the things like you know law and um you know medicine and some of the things a little more difficult.
>> So what comes to mind is learning always. >> Yes. >> Learning is not just classroom but when you're out there you see so much more. And I would be interested to um think that the staff may seem I'm not I'm
putting up not putting you guys down um are seeing more maturity because of the experiences they've had outside the classroom which let's face it kids don't have a chance to do it very much anymore. I have five 16 year olds working part-time with me right now and
I can tell you it's a lot of work. Um, >> I'm going to credit Spence with that in that he's gone and we've worked together, but I mean he's been a mind for for these kids after we get them all set. We meet with them and they start by filling out an application, letting us
know what their top choices are, work on that over the summer. We'll meet with them again in September, assign them, you know, first semester. We meet with their teacher, staff, and the community. and too, but we we treat this we talk to them about you're you're a professional. You're
>> representing the high school. You're representing your community, your family, yourself. >> So, we talk about that being professional. We have a contract that they signed. This this is a course. It's a past fail course >> first semester that they have to do and you know there's a list of the you know
the dos and don'ts of you know and the kids do a great step like I say. But you're exactly right. is taking the kids outside the learning in the four walls of the classroom and learning. >> I mean, you start off like you don't wear bedroom slippers to work. >> Exactly. Yes. Yep.
>> And and that's a real conversation that happen. >> Yeah, it is. >> So, with with some of our students, I know some of the ones that work in law enforcement, um there is a a tighter dress code than say we have at the high school. And so, students learn day one what's appropriate to wear and what
isn't appropriate to wear within that setting. that this is just learning that we need cuz kids don't have too much freedom I don't think growing up and so you know this gets them out so it's excellent. >> Yeah. >> Super. >> You would all be super fun.
>> Thank you guys. You guys are great. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Our kids have been amazing and so without them this doesn't work. >> Um two questions. One for the grown-ups um and then one for the um interns. Um,
so I know we've got a a vast audience watching on air, uh, public access tonight. Um, I'm curious for all those watching, what are the requirements for hosts? Right? So, if I wanted to host an intern, what's my obligation look like?
>> So, if someone's looking to host, we are always looking for new businesses in the area uh, that are willing to work with us and willing to work with our students. Um the commitment would be willing to have a student or more than one student um almost every day for
right around an hour a day uh throughout half the year. Um it would be assigning them tasks that they would have in this this job this career field. Um and then working with the students so that they understand the responsibilities of of a job within that that area. Um great
question because we would love to see more folks reach out. Um the folks that we have in our are with us tonight have been unbelievable. >> And in terms of time of day >> from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
>> Um although we can be somewhat flexible. Okay. >> Um we are also willing to work with businesses if they are interested in having a virtual or remote option. >> Okay. >> Um we could host them for that as well. >> All right. >> And it works too. the communication in
our body is frequent too to continue to see and even as personal there's times when I'll you know take a drive around town and kind of check in on everybody and I'm amazed like say to see some of the stuff the kids are doing but it's a growing learning process too and again I'm going to credit Ch Johnson who's
here too we found out um first with the fire department and then it tied into police and to some of the other communities that uh if a student only had a single block which is anywhere 48 to 60. >> Yeah. About 50 minutes to eat. >> Yeah. That wasn't working because by the
time they get down there, >> they could be in the middle of the call for something else. So, it's either they miss out on the opportunity of with the fire department or they're late for class and we thought it wasn't working for either one. So, for those things like that, we've worked with the counselors and to be eligible for some
of those community things. Obviously, they need drone transportation, but they also need to have a double block >> to make that more work. So, again, we we learn and grow and we get better and better at it. So, >> yeah. Great. And then all the interns don't need to answer this and one or two
I'd be curious. So, um it was alluded to by the um other um committee members that there's a certain maturing that happens or there's a difference of a professionalism required for the internships. I think back to when I was in high school, I worked, you know, a
variety of jobs and the expectations were very different than when I was an intern. I'm just curious what you all have experienced. If again, one or two of you want to speak to, >> you know, um the difference of working part-time jobs that you've worked through high school versus the internships and what you've sort of
taken away from a professionalism standpoint. >> Anybody want question? >> Do you have that one? check out in a second. So to answer your question, I've never worked a part-time job, but I mean I've done obviously community service as a graduation requirement for this school.
And usually I would enter with a lot of professionalism and obviously they like people at my internship saw that and I like respected that a lot. But I feel like the professionalism at the town hall was a bit like lowered and casual and not like a high standard because
it's not like like like the work I was doing wasn't like absolutely stressful and like you need to get this done or like you're going to fail or anything like nothing crazy. And I thought that was very welcoming because again like I said before I thought I was like extremely like worried about how the
this was going to work out whether or not I was like fit to do it which you know I was scared at the beginning because had that fear but them having that like casual professionalism but not like high standards was perfect. It worked out amazingly and I feel like
that's like perfect within like a casual working environment compared to like a high stakes like uh white collar job or like a you know or or sometimes a blue collar job because there's some blue collar jobs that require a decent amount of professionalism but I thought this one
was right in the middle like a nice balance that's all all it's about is balance basically and that's what the town hall provided for me for hopefully for new interns that want to you know take that internship basically I thought it was >> perfect. >> Um yeah, I thought the professionalism.
So I at the air police department um like Mr. Chris, Mr. Debuty touched on um like certain things that you have to wear. Um like for example, no shorts. Um so yeah, it was a big difference. Like you leave the high school, you're with all your friends, you know, you're having fun, you're laughing, and then you go to the police department and it's
like okay, like people's lives could be in danger. Like you don't know what could happen at any second. So, I think learning to like just focus up and just really be focused in the moment. I think that was one of the biggest things that I took from my internship at the police department. Um, I think I definitely matured a lot. Um, law enforcement, I
mean, it's not really a joke. Like, it's really pretty serious stuff. Like, on dispatch calls, like when a call is made, like there's no talking, there's no laughing. It's just focus on the task at hand. Um, yeah, >> I have had a part-time job. I worked
with EDP and coming from that going into the fire department I knew I had to have a lot of more like had to be mature about going into it. Uh cuz there is like hip laws >> that you can't talk about people with information out loud.
>> So when dealing with that you had to be very mature about it and how you go about the calls and how you interact with uh patients because you're not just representing yourself. also representing the town of air and the fire department. So to that it was also a lot of um
responsibilities you carried too for like the day-to-day chores that you had to do because if those don't get done uh that get done eventually just other things will just start to fall apart. But it was a huge I felt
like I have matured a lot working there and it was just an amazing thing to experience and a lot of life lessons have came from it. >> Good. Very nice. >> I mean, that's a great question, Chris. And again, I think our kids stand by
themselves that the reputation they're building, you guys should be proud. I mean, is the high school is the regional high school here. And they're and the fact that they're growing and expanding. They've been, like I say, they're being offered jobs. >> Mhm. >> From people that they are interns, you
know, to work whether it's summer or both, a few of them full-time. And friends, we we got a young man left a senior last year working um for a construction company started out they offered him a full-time job. And in fact, you know, as I said, um
Representative Zena's office has taken on one of our students as as one of his interns. She's going to work with him all summer and see where it goes from there and stuff, too. So, I think the reputation of the school and the program is, you know, is solid.
Well, thank you uh Mr. Christie, Mr. Deppy, all of our um host sites, our adult leaders, um and our interns who came tonight. I know it's a late evening. I'm sure you have many other things you could do tonight, but we really do appreciate getting to learn
more about this program, hear about what's happening, um and the impact that it's having on both the community as well as our school. So, thank you all for the work that you've done this year, um the work you've done as a host, as well as facilitating the program, and thank you for coming tonight. This is
great. >> I know you'd love to stay. >> You are more than welcome to stay for the rest of the agenda. Um >> Mr. Chair, can we go out of order? >> I was going to ask if we wanted to do Mr. Kendall's sports update next. Great. Um All right. So, we'll be going um
slightly out of order. We're going to move on to new business with the final sports update um from Mr. Steve Kendall. >> Hello everyone. >> Yay. >> Busy day today with two field days senior barbecue. So, I
mean, we're pretty much going non-stop. So, >> happy to be here tonight. I want to start by asking if the parents can record when the the girls come up for their >> They are more than welcome to record. I appreciate the >> Excellent. So, the first thing I'm going to have come up is I'm going to have uh
two of our representatives from the girls track team and assistant coach Matt Gills. So, we have Lauraai Levy and Roxan McKenzie, both of whom won two individual state championships this weekend. Lauraai winning the state championship in the 100 hurdles and 400
hurdles. And Roxan McKenzie, a freshman. Lauraai is a senior. Roxan won the 100 and the 200. She was also part of the state championship world 4 by 100 team with Julia Mays, Lauren Gette, and Abby Stull. Uh we do have they scored 71
points as a team. 46 of those points are returning next year. So I think the opportunity for a state championship again next year is certainly on the table. Um Julia Maze, who's not here tonight, also came in second in the long jump and the triple jump. and Ayah Perwak who just went back out to to the
senior barbecue came in fourth in the pentathlon. So congratulations to them. Let's bring them up here so they can uh share their their awards and answer any questions you guys might have. But congratulations uh to our girls track team first on the state champion.
>> Hold them up high and parents come over here so you can get a good picture. >> Don't be shy. All right. So, I wonder if um so I'm not an expert in track and field. Um can you So, there's two awards. Can you just share what they are and what they were?
>> So, this one is our most recent one for the Division 6 state meet and this one right here was for the relay meet that we also won this season. >> Wonderful. >> And they also won the district meet and they were undefeated in the league this year. So, it's a pretty pretty good season for girls train. >> Fantastic.
>> Awesome. Fantastic. >> All right. >> So, you ready to do it again next year? You're not graduating, right? >> I'm graduating, but she's a freshman. >> Where are you going next year to run track? >> Uh, I'm going to Marramac College to run division one tracking. >> Good. >> All right. >> Good. So, and you and what was your
event? >> Uh, 1400 meter hurdles. >> That's That's hurdles. So you had coaching and you've done it all four years. >> Good. Great. Well, enjoy enjoy that. >> Is this our first state championship for
>> It's the first girls state championship as Shirley. I'd have to call James Steinberg to see if it's the first girls team championship ever, but it's the first one since the merger for sure. >> Excellent. Super. Great. Uh, so how many kids were on the team altogether? How
big was the team? It's 48 girls on the team. >> 48 girls. >> That's obviously you have good coaching. >> Yeah. >> And a good track. >> You didn't have the track before. So,
>> do they have to um talk to you, pull you aside to get you to run the herds? Cuz usually the 400 hurdles, my daughter ran that when she was here and it's like a lot of a lot of girls. Can you do No, no, I can't. I cannot do that. I could not do that. >> Um, no. When I first joined the team,
they told me I was tall. So, >> no, but I ended up loving them and obviously I'm going to be riding them at college now. So, I'm grateful they made me. >> That's terrific. That's great news. >> And And what's your event? >> Oh, my event is the 100 and 200 meters.
>> Dash. >> Dash. >> Dash. >> All right. >> Can you give us your what was the uh the time for your uh Um, I came in with a time of 1246 in the finals and 1241 in sorry 1246 in the prelims and 1241 in
the finals. >> How about the uh what was the relay time? Do you remember? >> Um, the relay time was 49.94. >> Ouch. >> Fortune. >> So, I'm the assistant girls coach. I can talk really quickly. My name is Matt
Gila. This is my first year coaching. I actually had the pleasure to run with Lauraai. We started hurdles around the same time together actually. And I had I was told the same thing. I'm tall so I can hurdles. So it was kind of interesting getting to come back and coach Lauraai after having gone through
the process of hurdles and enduring all of that with her. But I just want to speak on behalf of like the entire team. So like right here first. You guys scored 40 points you two in total. So that's over half the score of the team was just these two ladies right here. But the rest of the team, they aren't
here. Some of them are at the senior barbecue and others just were also busy at this time. But this entire season, they worked super hard. They were out there every single day. We didn't really have to force them to do anything. They were there to work. And I think that's like a really special thing that you don't really have see with a lot of
teams. The other thing at the state meet that's also unique to our team is like all these girls are screaming at the finish line like screaming for their teammates cheering them on like as loud I think we're like one of the loudest teams there which like is part of winning a state title like that's one of those things like when you guys cross
the line how many people came like ran and hugged you like that was >> you didn't see any other teams doing that and I think that's like just because really out there more than just winning but also like having that community behind you and having everyone there for you. So just like say congrats one more time.
>> Well congratulations. We you know we I mean Mr. Kendall can speak to this too. We've built a bit of a reputation in air surely of winning state championships recently. But it's not something that a lot of schools and a lot of sports can really you know it doesn't happen often. It really is a rare thing. So you should
be super proud of yourselves. It takes a lot of work not just to be an athlete but a student athlete, right? And so the fact that you're able to do this while going to school, while having internships, it takes tremendous effort and discipline and this committee couldn't be more proud of the work that you're doing, the community couldn't be
more proud. So congratulations. Um the escort from town or from the um circle that I saw make its way through Facebook with lots of questions and concerns was well earned and deserved. Um and best of luck in college. >> Thank you. and best of luck the next three years running track for air
shortly. >> There you go. >> Great job. >> Thank you. >> And thank you parents cuz I know being a parent of a student athlete is not easy either. >> Two trips to Westfield in three days. >> Oh, thank you guys. Uh yeah, they also
won the the the state relay meet which we hosted a few weeks ago which is the first time that Rosen won that either. uh the league meet and they were undefeated in the league and we moved up a division this year. We've been to Midwatch E. We moved to Midwatch D this year against we're in the small school in D uh and still managed to go
undefeated uh in the league as well. So congratulations to Coach Gill in his first year, Coach Cman who couldn't be here tonight. Uh he's had his daughter's dance recital so important for him know Coach Donovan and Coach St. Germaine. Although technically Matt and Mike are
the girls coaches and Chris and Andrew are the boys coaches. They do coach everybody. Uh we also had a couple volunteer coaches this year too and Dana Kendall and Michelle Scalley who were around quite a bit help when they could. Uh and Alexa Harrington also helped out quite a bit with the girls team and the
boys team. So thank you to all of them. Uh on the boy side, they also had a really good performance this year. Uh they came in fourth in the state, second in the district, second in the league. Uh Matias Paliard, who is a senior, uh came in second in the discus. Jake
Leone, a junior, came in third in the two-mile, fourth in the mile. Uh Will Marshall, a senior, came in third in the 400 hurdles. Uh Laurelai's brother, EB came in eighth in the discus. The 4x800 team of Jake Leone, Will Marshall, Josh
B, and Aiden Reed came in third in the 4x8. So at the state level, so they did extremely well also. uh they also won the state relay meet that was held here. So both the boys and the girls won the state relay meet that was here. So track
obviously uh as you've noted developed quite the reputation. Uh it's two state championships in two years on top of two golf championships in the last three years. So it's four state championships in the last three years for sports teams from from Mayor Shirley plus I mean a
lot of individual ones. You know we had the swimmer here in the winter the individual state champions here this year. We also had a unified track team coming in fourth at the state meet last week. Uh we had two state champions there as well. Uh Grant Aika won a state
championship and Analise Emily also won a state championship that at the unified meet in Mic. So track going extremely well. Um great coaching all along. And I'm going to throw the middle school track team in there right now too. Uh they compete on Saturday at Gordon
College at the Division 2 state championships. Um Samri and Siobhan Pierce have done a wonderful job. 70 kids on the middle school track team. It's a lot of kids to handle. If you any of you have taught middle school, you you know uh that 70 middle schoolers can
be a little bit of a challenge and they've done a really nice job with them. Uh and we have, I believe, 30 kids competing at the state championships this weekend uh for middle school track. So track should be in pretty good shape for the foreseeable future. Our softball team, all our teams made
the playoffs this spring. uh which is great. Uh the state playoff softball uh was 8 and 10 during the regular season. Played a really really difficult schedule. Um they lost yesterday in the round 32 of the state play. They won their first game against East Boston and
then lost yesterday to Wakona regional out in Dalton. The boys baseball team despite I mean injury after injury after injury. Uh finished 10 and n made the state tournament. uh finished 10 and eight. We had the state tournament, lost in the state tournament, finished 10 and nine.
They lost to Ipsswich two to1. Dylan Gibbons, who was here as an intern, pitched a brilliant game. He only threw 65 pitches. Uh it's we just couldn't score. We lost two to one. uh boys volleyball, fourth year program, uh finished the regular season 15 and
four, won the league championship, had a 13game unbeaten streak during that league MVP and Colin Fallon, coach Brian Leon has just done an amazing job with that that program, taking it from nothing four years ago to league champs and we're by far the smallest team in
our league. Like our league is North Middle Sex, Nova, US uh and Fitchburg. So to to win that division is pretty impressive cuz we're I mean North Middle Sex is the next law school and they've got 200 250 kids more than us. So congratulations to them. Our softball
coaches Mitch Magnet, Chris Egan, Michelle Chiliki, uh our baseball coaches, Billy Wright, Sean Trainer, Josh Manson. They've all done a great job uh this year. Our flag football team is hosting the division 2 round of 16
and quarterfinals this coming Monday. So we have 16 schools from across the state um competing here. John Lemieux has done a masterful job coaching that the last few years this year with a former student Gwen Connors coaching a team and
Conland Hickey as one of our JV team. We that team has grown from four years ago with with nine kids when we started to 38 uh students participating in flag football this year. Our boys lacrosse team were a co-op with Lunberg. Uh they are still in the tournament. They're
playing tomorrow at IPSWitch. Uh we have three players playing on the varsity team. Don Ortiz, Cage Mueller, and Tony De Palma and Zack Clayton. Kind of goes back and forth. So we have four four participants there. So they've done a really good job this year. Uh and Zayn
Dawson who's the coach over there, the teacher at Lunberg, has done a masterful job of motivating our students and making them feel like they're really part of the program. sometimes as a co-op that's difficult being the host school making sure the guest school feels like they're part of it and he's done a really nice job so I want to make sure you get credit for that and our
middle school softball and baseball teams although primarily made up of sixth and seventh graders have been really competitive this year the coach has done a nice job Kevin Mcdana on the baseball team and on the softball team Brian Slicky many of you may know from our JV basketball team Josh Belly a
sixth grade teacher down to middle school and then a parent Amy Carter has been helping out with the middle school softball and that's done really well. Big thank you to the parks department for making sure we can use Peron Park for those games. Uh they they're in state of flux down there too and they
worked really hard to make sure the fields have been ready. And as as Chris mentioned, big thank you to the air surely I mean the air fire and police department and Harvard fire uh fire department for the escort pack for the track team on uh Saturday night that kind of threw that together at the last minute. We kind of knew it was going to
come, so we kind of gave him a heads up. But, um, to have everything ready to go at 10 p.m. was was great. I'm sure it did cause some chaos on on Facebook, though, cuz it was pretty loud. I would say we could hear them. >> Welld deserved. >> It was deserved. Um, and I just want to also before I wrap up that Justin
O'Brien at Page Hilltop and Deb Wallet at at Laura White did a really great job. I was at both field days today. I was at Laura White in the morning and Paige Hilltop in the afternoon. Um, field days went off without a hitch. beautiful day for it. Obviously, we left out with that. It's a lot of work that
goes into putting together a successful field day with probably a hundred parent volunteers at each one. So, that was great to see. Kids had a blast. Um, police department up here cooking burgers and hot dogs for everybody. So, it was a really good day. I want to give
them credit for what they do cuz they do an outstanding job. And, uh, yeah, I think that's it. So, >> thank you, >> Mr. Chair, if I may. >> Yeah. So, this is Mr. Kendall's um last uh sports update. Um unfortunately, he's
made the terrible decision to accept the athletic position job in his hometown of of Lemonster. Um and since that information has become public, I've had somewhere between 7 to 10 parents, maybe
more than that, um tell me how upset they are and they they wish you could stay. And have I tried to have I tried to um You have >> I have I've tried I tried walking in today. >> Um I've also had colleagues from other districts like call and offer
condolences about losing Steve and it's it's true. I mean, I I've heard stories about the the the sports program and participation before Steve started, and I think it was a it needed it needed some some fresh energy from from my understanding. And and you know, and I
love how casual he was when he said, "Oh, all the teams made the playoffs." Like, every team made the playoffs. It's no big deal. They just all made the playoffs. Um, and I think that really speaks to Steve's ability to form relationships with the coaches, with the kids. I mean, that track in that field
is just mobbed. And there's schools that are three times the size of us that don't have the same amount of kids um participating in athletics. And that's how I judge it. I love that we're winning. Love it. But it's not the main priority as far as I'm concerned. It's
kids going out enjoying athletics and participating. And he's done a um tremendous job of that. Um, and the I I think the other thing that really speaks to how healthy our sports program is here. So, we have 60 applicants for the athletic director. I I don't know if
we've had that many applicants for any other position. And I think it speaks that people know this that the this um the athletics surely are in very good shape. It's a very uh well-run and um
healthy department and a lot of people want to take over, right? So, we we um are going to I'm sure be able to find someone to to fill his very big shoes. Um but um we're going to miss him and we appreciate everything he's done. So,
best of luck, Steve. Thank you. >> I thank all of you, everybody here. Charlie's great. Charlie's been my evaluator for years. >> I believe it. And I'm going to not ask Chris for permission to say this. Um so,
Mr. Kindle doesn't just do teams. He helps the kids. He helps the coaches. And I'm going to give an example. And Steve probably doesn't remember this. He sent when during co when we had nobody
to do the food drive, all the coaches came from Mr. Kindle and helped us sort food for six hours in the dark with our headlights on. And without seeing, we couldn't have done it. So he goes way in beyond just
the teams in the winning because he forms a wonderful group and is the leader. So I don't think you can go. >> I will tell you it was a hard decision. Uh even though I'm going to my hometown uh where I started my teaching and
coaching career, it still was not an easy choice cuz I do love it here. The parents here are great. You guys are very fortunate. As I was saying about Charlie, he's been my evaluator for eight years. who gives incredible feedback. Uh he's helped me immensely. So, I thank you, Charlie, for everything you've done. You've guided me through
this grant thing this year, which I'm still not sure I've done very well with, but uh we'll figure it out. >> That was a challenge and and he really helped me with that. Adam's great, been very helpful for me. He's big supporter of athletics and everything that we do. Uh, and the school committee from day
one, and some of you have been here the whole time, some of you haven't, but from day one, the school committee has been incredibly supportive of of every everything we've tried to do and every athletic director that's and I know some of them, you guys have some great applicants. They all reached out to me to say, "Should I apply for this job?" And I said, "Yes, you absolutely
should." I said, "Why are you leaving?" I said, "Cuz I'm going to my hometown. That's the only reason." I think that is it. That is the only school I went left for. Um, so everything's going well here, but that's not me necessarily. It's the coaches. It's the students. The students are
great. I wouldn't trade my students here for anything. And then this senior group that just came through in four years, I couldn't tell you one time I had another coach or team reach out and say, "Hey, your kids were jerks at the game." Didn't happen. In fact, quite the opposite. I got an email from Switch. I
got an email from Wakona. I got an email from Pioneer Valley Christian School. We lost to in volleyball and all of them said the same thing. Your kids and your coaches are wonderful. They were great guests. They were, you know, amazing to play against. We're looking football coach. We're playing switch opening
night football and they're looking forward to coming to play here. Uh we had a the Grot and Dun Loyed's dad was here for the unified track meet and he went to the concession stand. He didn't have cash. He only had 20. And one of the kids in the concession stand volunteering, took money out and paid
for his popcorn even though it was two bucks. He got me to tell me that. So, we have great kids and great coaches here and great leadership, which um you know, makes this job easier. And the parents coming in and helping out where they can. Like I just told Greg Carter this
outside, like sometimes we're a little short-headed on staff at games and that happens. and you know I'm running around to volleyball and softball, baseball, track and there might be an issue in the gym and the parents help out like they'll they'll calm the kids down and they don't mind doing it. It's not their
job, but I appreciate them helping out and uh you know, it's going to be missed, but as I told Adam, you're stuck with me as a parent still. So, I'll still be around and still helping out and I certainly will help out. Um looking forward to helping out with the
new athletic directors. So, things will be here soon enough. >> Um just a couple comments. One the the thing that's amazing to me is that with with our school is that uh uh we we're not a big school and in any
student body you only have so many horses you know and when you have and when you start splitting up the different sports and you're like well we're going to be good here in other places we're just going to be kind of along for the ride cuz all the a horses are over here but somehow we picked the right coaches to be able to get the most
out of everybody that's involved. Um, with you leaving, I knew this day would come because and the school committee bears some responsibility because we do not allow bass fishing as an official sport and I knew that someday that was just going to
rear up and cause a problem. When I when I think back of of what makes you different than many of the other ads that I know is that a lot of the ads know the athletes. They know who's good at what sport. They
they they're in with that. You made a living finding out who's not playing sports. Going up to kids going like, "What do you like to do?" Well, you you could do this, you could do this, you could do this, you could do that. You know the names of the people who are not involved in sports and we're able to
find some place for them to be. And when you do that, the teams all welcome people in who never would have attempted anything like that because it can be a scary thing if you know you want to be a part of something you've never done it before and you know when you're going
through junior high into high school sometimes coordination is quick you know with all that you know it takes a while you have to grow into that entire thing but creating that environment where somebody is approached and offered an invitation And once you get the
invitation, making sure that all the teams welcome people who are involved, including bench people, that is really what makes the difference. Now, when you move, the only thing I'll measure you against when you get to Leister, and we've talked about it before, is like,
dude, you got to get a track right for school. You you have to be able to do that. >> Get to open a brand new track again. And from an athletic standpoint, um, you're going to have to work a lot harder on the stairmaster to even get close to TBO. I'm just saying. So,
you're going to have to really put your head down and do it. And if you maybe use one of your free passes at Orchard Hills, there's a kid from French Hill over here that could use a little bit of time over at Orchard Hills. So, maybe he could he could take you over there. >> Thank you so much.
>> Thank you. Um, again, thanks to everybody because again, this is a team effort and everybody's done a great job and you have wonderful coaches here and I hope they all stick around. I think they all are. So, >> good. >> All right. Got it. Um I think the final thing I will say is I can appreciate you
acknowledging um the team and the parents and the community but there is a lasting legacy of character that I think you have not only exemplified for students in addition to the belonging because I very
much agree with Jim going out and finding people and saying yes you do belong that's a testament to your character and that can't be overlooked. or understated. And I think that's why you're getting the calls from other teams and from places that have hosted
us that are seeing the standout character that is among our students. And I'm grateful for the volunteers. But you led that. You exemplified that. And I think that that is definitely something that needs to be mentioned and
made clear that that is something that is an expectation we would look for going forward. It may be exemplified differently, but character matters. And I think that's why, you know, just like Dr. Renda said, even though you said it very nonchalantly, the truth of the
matter is we can't get to having every team in every league or we have this success with being such a small school. If you work on your character on top of working on your game, we can. So, I want to stop and make sure that we do acknowledge that.
>> I appreciate that. I'm not good at taking all this stuff, Dr. Spotlight person. >> Yeah. >> So, it's it's it's hard to hear all this stuff, but I appreciate all of it. And again, we have great coaches that also believe in that. Like, it's not just me. I I can say it all I want, but if the
coaches don't believe it, uh it can't happen. And like Dr. Rena has said, "I love that we're winning, but what I what I like more is the way the teams represent the community, which is always I I can't, like I said, I can't think of one time we've had anybody say anything
about our student athletes and the way they behave in a game." >> Never. >> They leave the place cleaner when they showed up. They're respectful of the umpires. We haven't had a game ejection in years. Uh, which is hard sometimes in some sports because you get a handball on the goal line in soccer, you're
thrown out of the game and it counts against you, you know. So, um, the students here are outstanding and that's due to everybody. It's parents, coaches, principles, superintendent, assistant superintendent, school committee, Michelle, everybody.
>> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Back up to you. >> Can you bring in a plate for us? Did we go this weekend? >> All right, moving along. We're going to jump back up to item six, our consent
agenda. We've got regular session minutes for release and some warrants to approve. >> Um, are you entertaining? >> I would absolutely entertain a motion. >> I make a motion that we approve the consent agenda as printed in today's
minutes. >> Second. >> All right. All those in favor? I >> I >> wonderful. Thank you. I um great. Back to new business. Approval for the use of the certified FY25 excess and deficiency
to close out the year's uh general fund budget shortfall. >> Okay. So, I am um going to try to do my best um Bill Plunkett impersonation. Bill wasn't able to make the meeting tonight. He had some family business that he needed uh to
attend to. But our fiscal year 25 excess and efficiency our END was certified on April 30th uh in the amount of $868,521. We have been directed by the department of re revenue to close out our fiscal year 25 general fund shortfall of
$651,949 with the use of the fiscal year 25 END or any it can actually be any other available funds th those are the available funds in ordered this will then um close out the fiscal year 25
fund shortfall to zero. So that money has been taken already. We need the school committee to vote um so that this is done the correct way. I think you will remember we had used CMR
41.06 uh which does state that every regional school district shall maintain an excess and deficiency fund on its books of account at the end of every fiscal year. any surplus or deficit in the district's general fund shall be closed to the
excess insufficiency fund. Apparently, we misinterpreted that we are able to use END funds. However, we do have to have the school committee vote for that, which is what we are trying to rectify tonight. uh we had made the decision last year
not to do um any cuts when we had recognized uh the shortfall knowing that we did have the funds available um in um END. So, uh, to get back kind of to Bill's
script, since the fiscical year 25 END is our largest funding source, we would propose that we utilize $651,949 of our fiscical year 25 certified END to close out the fiscical year 25 general fund deficit to zero. The remaining balance that would be available until
July 1st is $216,572 after the close of the fiscal year uh 25 general fund shortfall and this could be used for transfers to cap stabilization sped reserve or or other uses um as determined by the school committee. We have confirmed with the do that our
beginning balance for fiscal year 26 and certification will be $868,521 in addition to any other revenues in excess of expenditures that are closed out to our undesated fund balance for
this fiscal year. So essentially the money has already been taken. It is going to be uh an additional 651,949 will be held until we reertify next year's END. And then we expect the
beginning balance before any before any undesated funds from this school year um which there will not be much but there there probably will be some. So the beginning balance will be $868,521. Uh this transaction does not affect the
fiscal year 26 budget or the fiscal year 26 END certification. If you certified fiscal year 25 END balance needs to be utilized as you know before um on or before June 30th 2026.
Um and there is a um if you agree and approve to do this there is a a motion that um Bill had written for a school committee member to make. be happy to try to answer uh your questions on this. Um if there's something that I cannot
answer, Charlie can't assist in answering, uh we will get that answer for Mr. Plunkett and and share that uh with you through an email and again at the next school committee meeting uh for the public to hear. >> Um two things. What one I'm
seeing this I mean we lived sort of doing the same thing for a long time >> and then um we learned that maybe that's not the way we're supposed to do stuff and we and to help because of some financial pressure we went after and we got our consultant to help out this year
and we're take using that um to help us be better at being able to see what's going to be coming down the road ahead of time and to react quickly on the way that we account for things so we don't get as many surprises. Um,
also, uh, I wanted to thank you for the work that you did in, um, in involving our representatives so we didn't have to get a ban to be able to get through this year cuz that would have run us up for another 30 or $40,000, which we did not
want to spend. So, getting them involved to help out is a is is a huge advantage for us. and from the way that we've the work that we've done moving forward and being able to avoid the d the ban I think that uh clearly this is uh a
motion that should be carried >> any other questions >> Joyce and if I'm reading this right then the motion is simply um the motion be to appropriate the use of the 651 to finish the year and D for me we can close out and that's the whole motion that we need
do we need to approve that amount first that is there. >> That is the motion that we should make and we should read that um dollar amount to the >> dollar. I didn't want to just want to make sure I was on the right track. Um Mr. Chairman, would you >> Yeah, I would entertain a motion. You entertain a motion. I make the motion
that we approve the use of $651,949 from the district's certified FY25 END to close out the FY25 general fund budget shortfall to zero. >> Second. >> Okay. Any other questions or discussion?
All right. And all those in favor? >> I. >> All right. Carries. And one um last new business item again, Dr. Rand, I assume I'm turning it to you in Dr. or Mr. Plunkett's place. Um nonunit annual
increase. Um so the following table illustrates the wage increase for employees in the school district and provides a consumer price index based on the fiscal year 27 cola of 3 and a half% for all Azria employees
and a 3% cola for the ASME employees. Um this is a a little bit off because um it is 3 and a half% for Azria. Um and we typically uh what we have done in the past is ask for the um for the all non-unit members the same as uh the
teachers. Uh what you're seeing for the ask me unit employees is it's actually their current year. We are in negotiations and we have not um voted on their contracts yet. So we are not we can't publicly share uh what that is at
this time. Um, but it's it is similar uh to what you're seeing for their their last contract. Uh, in fact, I would say it's um it's it's very similar to to um what you're seeing here, but we were not
able to use what would be next year's pay increase uh for the custodians, clerical, food service, pair of professionals. Um however, you will be voting on on all of we hope for those contracts during the next meeting. So you will um get to see all of those uh
well in advance. Um the consumer price index uh for all urban consumers from April 25 to April 26 is 3.8. Uh the CPI for Boston, Cambridge, Newton from March 25 to March 26 is 2% and for the
consumer price index for the Northeast region, April 25 to April uh 2026 is 4.4. We are asking for a 3 and 12% increase for all non-unit members. Right. Any questions or discussion?
I don't see any questions. If none, I'd entertain a motion. I believe the motion would be to approve >> like a motion of three and a half% increase for all union members, >> non on non-un non-unit members. tried to
write it down, right? Didn't work. >> That's right. >> That's correct. I make a motion that we approve a 3 and a half% increase for all non-UN members. Is this for a
Is there a time >> for FY27? >> FY27. >> Correct. >> Right. You have to put that in there. >> Thank you. >> I second the motion. Great. >> Any questions or discussion? All right. All those in favor?
>> I I >> All right. We are um continue to move along. Um superintendent report. >> There is no superintendent report tonight. >> Okay. There is no ongoing business or chairperson's notes. Are there any topics for discussion not reasonably
anticipated? >> Okay. Communications. >> Okay. So on Thursday right here, thank you though. Um on Thursday, June 4th, there is a middle school band concert at 7 700
p.m. in the middle school. On Friday, June 5th is Air Shirley Regional High School's class of 2026 graduation beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the high school field. Tuesday, June 9th, there is a Air
Shirley High School spring sports recognition night and ice cream social at 6:30 p.m. I'm sorry, let me start that over. Tuesday, June 9th, there is a high school spring sports recognition
night. At 6:30 p.m., there will be an ice cream social. At 700 p.m. at the high school will be the awards session. Also on Tuesday, June 9th, there is the Air Shirley PTO meeting at Laura A. White at 700 p.m. On Wednesday, June
10th is 8th grade graduation at 6:00 p.m. Is it really at the high school? Okay, at the high school. So, I want to clarify, yes, it is at the high school. On Wednesday at June 10th, there's also an ASAP meeting at 6:00 p.m. at the high
school as well. On Wednesday, June 17th is our next school committee meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the middle school. On Friday, June 19th, there is no school in observance of Junth. On Monday, June 22nd is the last day of school. It will
be a half day. The high school will be dismissed at 11:25 a.m., middle school at 11:15 a.m., and the elementary schools at 12:15 p.m. All right. Nice work.
>> All right. Um there is a need for a brief executive session. Um so I would entertain a um motion. Mr. >> Chairman, make a motion we adjourn to executive session only to return to open
session to to close the meeting. >> Second. >> All right. All those in favor? I >> I All right.