--------- We will call to order our school building committee meeting for June 17th, 2026. Um, we are mostly virtual, so we will do um introduction of members just so we can capture who's
in attendance. So live here in the conference room, Tara Larkin. >> Jane Reggio. >> Carrie Godette. >> Jeff Silverstein. >> All right. And then remote, we have Rachel. >> Rachel Anderson, middle selectman.
>> Thank you. Scott. >> Yeah. >> Kristen. Here. >> Do you need me to announce myself or just say here? >> It's up to you. >> I'm here. [clears throat] >> Bill PJ. >> Here.
>> Sarah. >> Here. >> Doug. >> Here. >> Bill Fowles. >> Here. >> Mike. >> Yep. >> Did I miss any other school building committee members? >> I just joined. It's Mary. >> Mary, thank you.
All right. And then we have um CPL. >> Hi everybody. This is Vivian Varbedian with CPL and I am joined with uh project manager Mark Gregorian. >> And from DRA. >> Jim Barrett, DRA.
>> This is Greg Smalley with DRA. >> Katia Polozie, DRA. >> All right. Great. Thank you. >> All right. >> Get into it, Vivian, if you want to. Vivian's sharing the presentation. >> Yep, I'm sharing the presentation. Please let me know if you are unable to
see my screen. But we're hoping to give you a update on and a vote tonight. It's crucial for us to submit on your behalf the SD submission, so is the schematic design submission. This is very exciting. We've
already had the call to order. The next item on our agenda will be reviewing the previous meeting minutes. Then, we'll get into the design update where we have an update on the cost, what is inclusive of the design schematic design package, and then seeking approval to submit on
your behalf. The next items are public forum, when we anticipate having the next meetings, and that is all for tonight. So, starting off with uh looking for approval of meeting minutes that were held regular session
June 10th, 2026. >> Is there a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Motion by Carrie. Is there a second? >> So moved. >> I wasn't here. >> That's okay. >> We're going to help, Jeff. >> I can.
>> Who was that? I'm sorry. >> Sarah. >> Sarah, thank you. All right. Any discussion? All right. I look for a motion by roll call. Rachel? >> I. >> Scott? >> I. >> Kristen?
>> I. >> Phil P.G.? >> Yes. >> Sarah? >> Yes. >> Chuck? >> I was not there. I don't think I was there. >> Okay. Jill Fallis? >> Yes. >> Mike Buckley?
>> Yes. >> Mary? >> [clears throat] >> Yes. >> Uh Sarah, I'm a yes. Carrie? >> Yes. >> Jeff? >> Abstain. >> Abstain. Jane? >> Abstain. >> Okay. Motion passes with three abstentions.
>> Thank you, everyone. Now, we can get into the project scope and budget update, giving you an update on what is inclusive of the schematic design package. Now, first and foremost, we want to kind of take you as a reminder of where we started. The preliminary
design program, which is known as the PDP, is where we estimated the project cost range. At that time, we anticipated the total estimated construction cost to come in between 107.8 million
towards 136 million and a half million. And by doing so, the construction cost per square foot, we anticipated it landing about $735 to $930 a square foot. Granted, at this stage, the program was very preliminary,
and so were the costs, and therefore you see a range. We also anticipated the total estimated project cost to range between 140.1 million all the way to 177.6 million, given what we knew at the time.
As the program advanced into the MSBA program, and we entered into preferred schematic design report, where we also selected the final location as well as the layout of the project and to make
sure that it was new construction. At that time, based on the submission that was made on your behalf, the estimated project cost, total estimated construction cost, we anticipated coming in a roughly 153.5
million, based on the two cost estimators having done independent reviews and reconciliation. With that, the construction cost per square foot landed about $1,020 a square foot, with a total estimated project
cost being in the range of 199.5 million. And once again, once the MSBA had reviewed and authorized us to proceed into schematic design. This is where we're landing at this moment and what we
anticipate submitting on your behalf. The total estimated construction cost has stayed relatively same from the preferred schematic design report to roughly $154 million. With that, the construction per square
foot in my mind is relatively the same with a delta of about $4 given take. What the difference is here is that from the preferred schematic report to the schematic design submission, we included the geothermal.
So, inclusive of the schematic design submission and the total estimated project cost of $197.25 is the inclusion of a geothermal system for the school, which wasn't part of the conversation
which was part of the conversation but not the cost in the preferred schematic report. As part of I'll pause here to make sure there's no questions since I can't see everyone's facial expressions if they have any questions.
Seeing no hands raised. As part of the schematic design submission, we also submit a draft. Now, this is very much a draft because the MSBA has not reviewed these dollars. We have reviewed them
internally with the DRA team, CPL, as well as district leadership for this project. However, the MSBA has not had a chance to evaluate and review. So, we're still it's still considered very much in draft form.
This is a budget sheet which is known as the 3011. In here, you will have all items outlined. This is the category, if you could see my cursor, the first one, which is estimated budget. This is the
line where we complete to the best of our knowledge, making sure that we have coverage on all of the possible scenarios and lines for the pro- that are needs for the project. The first section includes the feasibility study agreement, the total of a million
dollars, which was already funded, which is part of this submission. The next phase, you have some legal, if we anticipate any legal fees. The next section goes into owner's project management, as well as some
ancillary uh costs that might be associated with consultants. After that, we anticipate uh we receive costs from the DRA architectural team for taking this project from the design
development all the way through closeout, and similarly for the OPM services, as well. As part of the 3011, we also look to make sure we have adequate coverage for construction
testing, for any and all traffic studies, wetland studies, site surveys, whatever might come arise during the construction period. Since there was no need for land acquisition or modulars, since the students will be
remaining in their existing school, these lines are zero. The next section is the actual construction cost estimate that we take from the cost estimators of record and enter them into the form, which is where
you have the 153, almost 154 million dollar number. After that, we also include as part of the overall budget, any money you would be needing towards furniture, utility
costs, as well as technology. So, the first section is, if you see this, I know it's a little bit hard, but it's in your packets as well. There's a roughly about I'll zoom I'll try to zoom in a little so everybody can see.
A little over 8.5 million and those were the alternates that we reviewed last meeting. On top those are excluded, if you notice, those are excluded from the total uh total project budget, but we carry it if
there is a decision later made to include them as part of the project. Afterwards, we do have some swing space. As you notice, it's zero because we will be utilizing the existing school and no need for modulars on in addition.
There's also a section for furniture, fixtures, and equipment. We are carrying above the MSBA guidelines for that dollar amount just because in our experience, we have seen that the prices have ranged well above
what the MSBA reimburses towards, as well as for computer equipment and technology. Again, we do have it slightly above. This totals down to the total project budget. In addition to it,
I'll go to the next slide so you could see it a little bit better. So, that takes you to the 180 million dollars 312 598. On top of that, you will see that the scope that's excluded otherwise
initially at this draft format, what MSBA already considers to be ineligible. And it calculates down to what the maximum total facilities grant is at the moment.
This is definitely a draft because above it, if you notice, there is a cost recovery associated with prior projects that we have entered a zero. This is something we need to validate through the MSBA, and I anticipate this number
to come up, which in turn might reduce the estimated maximum total facilities grant. In addition to it, we are carrying a construction contingency
of 7% and an owner's contingency of 4%. With what all of that tallies up to is a total of 197 million 248,502, which we are still in budget based off
of the range that we had originally provided during the PSR phase. So, total estimated construction cost, 153.96 million. Anticipated soft costs with all of the
ancillary OPM designer consultant fees as well as the FF&E and testings and everything is 26.35 million with a total project cost, excluding contingencies, before
contingencies as you see, is 180 million 0.31. I'll pause here for any questions. >> I have a quick question for our clarity. The estimated maximum total facilities
grant, is that you estimating the total MSBA reimbursement we may get for this project? >> Correct. So, the way this this way this budget sheet works, Rachel, is that it is a sheet provided
by the MSBA and we enter all of the estimated budget and there are some items that you already the sheet kind of calculates to the side that tells us initially how much of it is above and beyond what MSBA's guidelines are.
So, those already somewhat calculate, but the MSBA upon our submission will do a thorough review as well and there will be definite conversations, a lot of interaction, comments, and
opportunities for us to provide justification on why we think it should be part of eligible and why they think it'll be part of ineligible. With it at as it stands right now as a draft format without MSBA's input, we
anticipate the total facilities grant to be roughly in this area. I do project it to be down a little bit, so I don't want you to take this dollar and kind of have that as a finite because I we are aware that there was
some projects prior that included MSBA money in the district. I'm just not aware of the exact dollar amount and what they have allocated for us to enter into this sheet. And if you notice there's a negative in
front of it because it will reduce this the total estimated maximum total facilities grant. Any other questions? Happy to answer them. >> So, Vivian, can you explain to everyone because I did get a few questions. Sure. When we're looking on this, um, we
understand that there were two cost estimators, right? Who looked at everything that needs to be done in this building. And we know there's also contingencies, which are estimates of what could potentially arise, correct? So, we did get some questions on, can
you can you describe how the fees are established for both, um, Colliers and DRA and the what the overall percentage of those fees are as part of the project? >> Absolutely. So, we did have two
independent cost estimators. The DRA team has their own cost estimator as previously in it in the previous iterations, we've always had two estimates done. One is by the DRA team and their cost estimator of record, um,
referred to as Alana. Our cost estimator is the check estimator done by PMNC. They review the drawings independently. We do meet and do a reconciliation of the cost estimates to make sure that
both parties understood the scope in accordance, as well as both parties are capturing the full scope and the dollars necessary per the plans and specs as they are laid out in this set. There's also the DRA team as well as the
CPL team is in part of those all of those conversations, making sure that the understanding the design intent is the same. Not both cost estimators will be exact dollar to dollar, but they do we do reconcile it and make sure that
they have the cost and they landed roughly about the same. We included the cost estimate estimation for construction cost from the DRA team as Alana because they are referred to as
the cost estimators of record. In this submission package, we do include both cost estimates, not only the DRA team cost estimate including the CPL as well as all of the reconciliation sheets and
that we have done to show kind of like our work that this is how we landed on this number. In addition to that, the there are fees associated with owner project management
as well as designer requirements. >> Is there a way to blow this to blow this up? >> I'm I am working on that. Yeah. So, here we go. Is that good? Is that And let me move it over a little bit so you guys can see
it. All right. So, here is the costs we anticipate during each phase from design development, construction documents, bidding, construction contract administration, that means the entire duration of the actual construction, and
then closeout. So, beyond after you guys move in, there is an additional year of work that we do with the MSBA to close out not only the project but also all of the financials associated with it.
The DRA team does the same. We are within range of 3 and 1/2% for our services, and the DRA team is hovering right under 10% for their services.
And a lot of this is taken into account what we anticipate the duration of construction, how long we think the design development, construction documents, the bidding climate, as well as the closeout.
>> Can I ask a question? What's the reimbursement from the MSBA building authority for the OPM's fees? Because I see some in the unreimbursed column and the same for the architect, too. >> Yeah, the MSBA is reimbursing 3 and 1/2%
for OPM and 10% for design. The reason why Mary some of these are considered in this column because right now they're tracking as spaces that are ineligible. Meaning that the MSBA at the moment without their review or final blessing
on it, this spreadsheet is calculating some of the square footage that is part of the building as ineligible and it automatically subtracts that the design percentage based off of the ineligible square footage as ineligible
reimbursable for the design team as well as the OPM team. >> Okay. So Vivian, does that mean that if you took the first yellow column and the second yellow column and added them [clears throat] together, that equals
the 3.5% and some of that 3. Okay. So the fee really isn't 3.5 or just under 10? >> Right, the 3.5% is these numbers. The these lines if I
can the design development line, the construction contract documents, the bidding, the construction contract administration, and the closeout. These are the lines that are 3 and 1/2% which MSBA allows for
um as reimbursable for OPM services and these are the lines allowed for for our the designer as 10%. >> Okay, so maybe if Vivian and our maybe
if if DRA can explain when we when we look at what an average project costs and you get a range, right? Say it's say a um the Colliers that type of a um the OPM it's
like a range from say 3.5 to 4, just as an example. The um designer architect could go from say 10 to 11. So, when we look at these, those are above those ranges with the not reimbursable.
>> They are within range. It's just the the way the sheet calculates is at the moment we know that for example, the auditorium is slightly above what MSBA considers standard.
Right? So, it takes a portion of that and considers it ineligible. And with it, that translates into the design of it is considered ineligible as well. It's not that you don't need the design, it's just MSBA in order for it
to have an equitable um kind of way to track anything that is considered ineligible. The design of it and the OPM services of it also is considered ineligible, even
though the designers are right in range of 10% and we are right in range of 3 and 1/2%. That doesn't look like I answered your question. So, do you maybe Did I? Did I not? >> answer is that I just I just I'm I mean
some of the I just want to make sure. So, again, maybe I when I researched, it looked at the cost of a of a fee should be within a certain range. >> Correct. >> By when I thought of range, it should to
me be within that range whether it's in reimbursable or not. So, what you're saying is the range that MSBA gives you is only for reimbursable and not for Not correct. Okay. And then I also think you have >> Ineligible. What they consider to be
ineligible. >> But once we move forward if this moves forward, that is the also there's a time that there's also some negotiations that takes place between the OPM and the architect. So, there is
discussions around these fees. Okay. I just want to make sure everyone I fully understand and everyone else fully understands. >> Absolutely. I appreciate your questions. And again, this is we have it pretty nice and big and bold on here that it is a draft only because the MSBA has not
seen it yet. It will be part of our schematic design submission. They need to go in and validate and that's when a lot of the items that, you know, the spreadsheet for the moment is considering to be ineligible,
it might move to be in that eligible column. Right? So, there are >> A good point there, Vivian and Jill, is the special ed space. >> Correct. >> That exceeds the guidelines, but quite
often can be argued to be eligible. >> So, this is just rudimentary kind of spreadsheet. You enter it and it populates it for you without having those discussions and conversations, especially in regards to
the special education spaces with the MSBA. Mhm, let me zoom back out. Overall, the where this bottom line number in green is what is the maximum
total project budget as it stands today. Again, this is prior to MSBA's review, but we're anticipating the project to come on budget for this amount. The total maximum facilities
grant might shift a little bit as a result of the associated recovery from prior projects. And with it and you know, with it some of these calculations will change, but the bottom
number will remain the same. >> Vivian, can you just repeat that? I wanted to make sure I heard it correctly. You said something about some type of reimbursement for prior projects. What did you mean by that? >> Not that there's This was the question that Rachel also had that the cost recovery associated with prior projects.
There were some prior projects done um when we checked in with MSBA, they have a note that some prior projects were done using MSBA funded money, whether it was an accelerated roof repair or some type of funding was
provided from MSBA. They We don't know what the >> How long do they reach back to that? How many years? >> I believe it is 10 between 10 to 12 years. >> But they're talking about They're not
talking about anything on the middle the high school. They're talking about other buildings in the district. >> No, just the just the school that it's being affected. >> Oh. >> Will this include this whole project that we're working on right now as well for the feasibility study?
>> No. >> It will affect our our budget about in a different way. We had a roof put on the high school. Now we're going to tear it down. So they're going to want to portion of this back, but it will be prorated for the number of years that the school was in
operation in that loan. So we'll owe the difference. >> Correct. So that's why I pointed out that at the moment we have zero here not knowing exactly what the prorated amount would be and the MSBA
will help us determine what how long ago it was was it within the time frame what the prorated amount is and that will deduct from the 72447761 number. >> Yeah, if you've been around long enough
you remember that we went through this with um when Matt was there and tried to do a research. So that's going back 4 years now. So even some of the stuff that was identified then may not may not apply still.
It's just it's a placeholder as Vivian said you need to have it in there and you want to know that it may come up. It's um could be pennies, could be dollars, you never know. >> Right. That's why I prefaced that please please please do not look at the estimated
maximum total facilities grant as this is the number that the MSBA will provide because this is prior to their review and um prior to any of their feedback comments as well as we know for sure
there will be a number included here. >> And to that point, Vivian, the 66.51% reimbursement rate, that's not a final number, either, correct? That's just a a >> Correct. Correct. We did take what we anticipated as the
on I could show it a little bit more here. Your reimbursement rate, based off of the MSBA what they had provided us, is a 59.84 reimbursement rate before incentive
points. The incentive points we're anticipating is a 6.67 because we are definitely a district school, a regional school, so you get a point for that. You also have an additional uh five points for this all
of the green uh green school projects, meaning that with the addition of the geothermal system, you get incentive points for that, as well. With those incentive points, right now what we're calculating is your
reimbursement rate of 66.51%. This is not validated with the MSBA, but we anticipate it being around It'll definitely be higher than the 59.84, and maybe slightly lower than the 66.51,
but within that range. So, if I go back to this sheet, we took already the reimbursement rate of the 66.51, that's how it calculates over here. And that's where it comes up with the
total facilities grant. You notice before the recovery, there's uh for commissioning. So, the MSBA provides the commissioning but a portion of it is considered ineligible.
So they reduce that amount and then they will reduce the recovery associated with prior projects prorated amount to get the maximum total facilities grant. Independent of what the grant comes in
based off of the 180 we have like I mentioned a construction contingency of 7% and an owner's contingency of 4% to make sure that any construction related unforeseen conditions that arise during
the construction process is well covered as well as any owner changes, amendments, or any other related services that might arise that we did not have in those lines above are fully funded and
can be allocated. This does not mean that this money will the contingencies will definitely get spent but that there is an extra layer of security for the project if needed.
>> [clears throat] >> I know it's a lot of information to digest so happy to answer any questions you guys might have. >> So Vivian, if I calculated correctly which I've been known to make calculation errors sometimes but with the way it is and I absolutely
understand this is all estimates. >> Yes. >> If if it we're looking at potentially a project of about 123 million dollars potentially. >> If you take 197 248 and trying to
outline how you got to that number and you take away the total facilities grant anticipated from the MSBA, >> Yep. >> that is the delta you are speaking of. Yes. Again, I'm going to sound like a broken record.
>> [laughter] >> This is prior to MSBA's review. >> Right? >> If there's no other questions, we also wanted Oh, did I hear someone? >> So, when you say that the when you say
that basis is what 130 million um >> 123, I think it is. But, roughly around there. >> So, that's the obligation that's going to roll to the two towns. >> Correct. The obligation to the two
towns, but then divided between the district share. I believe we are anticipating 75 towards Blackstone, 25 towards Millville. >> So, all based on the October 1st numbers
um >> Correct. >> What what was last year's October 1st number? What was the just the uh >> That I won't have to look up. >> Blackstone was our current budget, Mike. I think Blackstone's about 76. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> You're welcome. Any other questions? I'm not seeing any hand raises or anything. So, this is one part of the submission package. It is a fairly dense and well
uh established uh submission that goes into the MSBA. Inclusive of the package is also the DESE submittal, which is for the Department of Education
second special education. So, um if I can turn it over to the DRA team, if you guys would like to walk us through some of the ancillary parts to these main topics. >> Sure. Trish, do you want to walk through
the DESE submittal? >> Sure. Um we worked with uh Jill PG to get this um the submittal together. Um The DESE submittal is is goes to the um
Department of um elementary education. So, we put together um uh floor plans and um and actually you don't have the little pieces that are in that submittal. I
think I have them pulled up here. >> You have the next slide. >> Um >> Uh no, I think the next Let me see. The >> Just >> So, in the DESE is the special education the delivery method now. Go on, sorry.
>> The if there's a delivery methodology of how special education is um is uh facilitated in the school. Uh the space summary of the amount of square footage that the special ed um is
allotted in the school. And again, the floor plans of where they the um each one is. And then the adjacency table shows on each floor where the special ed rooms are and why they're there. So, this will be submitted as a
as a as a package and overviewed and then we'll get comments back from from DESE as well. >> Mhm. >> Some of the >> There's nothing in these packages. Actually, there's nothing in any of the packages in the schematic design that you haven't seen
in the various uh building committee meetings as we move along. This is just consolidating all of that information over the past couple of months. The stuff that Vivian went through is the newest um, newest information.
>> So, >> 4.1.2, the schematic design binder is why Trisha doesn't have a suntan yet because she's been leading putting all this together. >> And this does include all of the
methodology and the vote that we took to pursue a design-bid-build construction delivery method as well as I mentioned the cost estimates, the reconciliations for it, the 3011 sheet that we reviewed, and all of the meeting
minutes, presentations, as well as the approvals that we've had thus far. In addition to it is the project manual which outlines basically all of the design documents, outlines the
specifications that define the scope of the construction. Those were also part of the information given to the cost estimators in reviewing and pricing out these this project from both cost estimators.
Other parts that are included, you guys have seen the latest and greatest site and the civil drawings, the floor plans, as well as the roof plans and the interior building elevations with it.
The DRA last week, I believe it was last week, a week and a half ago, shared some of the latest renderings of the project. Those are included as part of the package and the submission as well. MSBA requires us to submit all of the
meeting minutes, the approvals, and as well as the presentations themselves so that they can be fully aware that the information we provided is what is included in the documents as well. As far as next steps, we tried to
outline a little bit of what happens. So, the uh we Assuming tonight we have a approval to submit the schematic design package on your behalf, the submission will officially go in on June 25th. From that
period on, the schematic design package is in review with MSBA, and during that time period, they will we will have conversations. We've already initiated and started some of those conversations. We will have review comments similarly
to when we did for the PDP as well as the PSR. The team will respond back to all of their comments, meet with them in regards to reviewing the 3011 form, and that's where some of the conversations
and negotiations happen as far as what is considered eligible and ineligible in program space, and especially the special education spaces. And in preparation for the MSBA Board of Directors meeting scheduled for August
26th. So, the plan is we submit on the 25th by the time August 26th arrives to roughly 2 months later, all [clears throat] of the due diligence behind the scene with MSBA has happened.
And therefore, we go into the Board of Directors meeting and with anticipation of receiving approval from MSBA. They also are aware that the town meeting vote is not selected. The finite
date has not been identified yet, but we anticipate it within the late fall of 2026, as well as the town debt exclusion vote of late fall 2026. And once all of the project has been
approved and voted by the citizens, the project scope and budget agreement is finalized and executed with the MSBA. And the design team gets as including us, starts working on the next milestone
of a detailed design development phase starting in hopefully, fingers crossed, early winter of 2026. 2020 Yeah, 2026 leading into 2027. >> I have one question, Vivian. I was under the impression, and I could be wrong,
that we were going to tie our ballot vote in with the fall election. >> It could be, Mary, and I don't I just didn't have an exact date, so I kind of high-level put fall late fall 2026. So, if that is the case and we do have
confirmation, we will let MSBA know as well. >> It would It would save both towns money if we tie it to that election. >> Absolutely. That is That is the plan that we have currently within our schedule that we will be submitting to the MSBA, as well. I just didn't have
the exact date of that, so kind of leaving it at this stage since we still have some time to finalize that as late fall. Cuz if it happens in November, it's still within the fall time frame.
Any other questions? You guys are being real quiet tonight. All right. So, if there's no other questions, we are seeking a motion to approve the submission of the schematic design package to the MSBA on behalf of
the Blackstone-Millville Regional School District. >> I make the motion to approve the submission to the Mass School Building Authority. >> Thank you, Mary. >> Second. >> Second by Chuck. So, motion by Mary, second by Chuck, and we'll do roll call.
Um, all in favor Well, >> Do a roll call, please. >> Yeah, roll call um vote. Rachel? >> No. >> Scott? >> Yes. >> Kristen? >> Yes. >> Jill PG? >> Yes.
>> Sarah? >> Yes. >> Chuck? >> Yes. >> Phil Fallis? >> Yes. >> Mike? >> Yes. >> Mary? >> Yes. >> Tara, I'm a yes. Carrie? >> Yes.
>> Jeff? >> Yes. >> Yes. And Jane had to step out, but we still have quorum, so um okay, the motion passes with one no. Okay. >> Thank you, everybody. We look forward to submitting on your behalf the SD
submission for MSBA's review. Next item on the agenda is the public forum. I am not [clears throat] seeing anyone from the public, but happy to wait for a moment if I'm
mistaken. >> I will pipe in at this point to let everyone know that Peter Olson has resigned from the committee. Um just timing, it's just he is not able to participate. And Jeff Silverstein is now a community member, community member
no longer finance committee rep. We did reach out to the town of Blackstone to see if there is another member who wants to join our committee. Um >> They've done their organization meeting. >> Well, um I'm happy to see that Jeff is staying on the committee. >> Yes, and thank you Jeff for staying.
Mhm. So once Jeff was there, and if you all heard, once um Blackstone FinCom has their organizational meeting, they will be able to choose somebody. >> Okay. >> for us. >> Good. Thank you. >> Yeah, I don't think anyone's here for public forum, so we can move on. >> Yeah, I'm not seeing anybody online,
either. With that, we um just letting you know that our next two meetings, I know it's hard for to get a quorum, so if there is anybody that will not be able to attend on these dates, please email Mark, or actually email Tara, and
that way we just want to make sure that these meetings not only are fruitful, but we also have a quorum. So I know that July, August is typically harder for vacation time, so if you guys wouldn't mind letting Tara know, and in turn she'll
let us know, to make sure if maybe we could accommodate a different date, a different time, in hopes of getting quorums for the two upcoming um meetings in July and August. And with that, I want to congratulate
you guys. Say this is a huge, huge milestone. Uh congratulations. We're excited to submit the SD package on your behalf and can't wait for all of the upcoming
meetings and making sure that now we're emphasizing the community engagement more than we have been. To get the word out and about the project and to garner some more support. With that, I think that's the end of our
presentation. So, happy to answer any other questions. Otherwise, I guess it's a good night. >> Tara, you need a motion to adjourn. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Motion to adjourn. >> Motion by Mary. Second? >> Second. >> Second.
>> I think that was Sarah first. Sarah? >> Jill Pallas. >> No. All right, we'll go with Jill. All right, and roll call. Rachel? >> Yes. >> Scott? >> Yes. >> Kristen? >> Yes. >> Jill PG? >> Yes.
>> Sarah? >> Yeah. >> Scott F? Jill Pallas? >> Yes. >> Mike? >> Yes. >> Mary? >> Yes. >> Sarah, yes. Carrie? >> Yes. >> Jeff? >> Yes. >> Okay. We are adjourned. Thank you,
everybody. >> Thank you, everybody. Have a wonderful evening. Bye. Part: 2
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and uh welcome uh to tonight's school committee meeting uh for our superintendent search. At this time, I'll call to order and ask everyone to rise for the pledge of allegiance. >> I alian to the flag of the United States
of America and to the republic for it stands nationy and justice for all. >> [snorts] >> Welcome everyone. I I put on the agenda a um a public forum segment uh for community feedback.
Um speaking with our consultant that's typically not done um on these types of meetings. So, I did poll the audience uh this evening and there was three individuals that wish to address the school committee. So, I'd ask you to um
keep those I'll allow you to address us this evening. Uh just kind of keep your statement brief and about the district um and not directly com commenting to any of the candidates that we're
considering this evening. Uh, anyone wish to address this committee at this time? And I'll just ask you your name and address. Ed Casting, Gate 42, Carter Aav, Blackstone, uh, board selectman. Um, first off, I just want to thank you
all for the time you spent uh, during this search. Um, as an analyst for a living, um, I can only assume that each one of you has done your due diligence, not only just to look at these interviews, but also research
information based off all these districts. And in doing so, I could I could, you know, being allowed, I did find that in looking at these districts of these individuals that are coming from, Blackstone outshines, which is great to know. It's great to know that the current system we have in place is
thought highly of [snorts] and I think that choose my words wisely. Uh I think that uh this committee should think about that think about those very specific things is that this district
alone outshines the others that were presented. So we are doing it right already. and I thank you for your time. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else wishing to address uh the
committee this evening? You find my time, my clock. Stop. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Good evening, uh, chairman and to the school committee. I'll echo. Thank you for the time. Uh I was here for a couple of the nights and I know a lot of effort
goes into this long hours. >> Just introduce yourself. >> Ginoas, 170 Mend Street. >> Thank you. [cough] >> Father of two boys in this district. So I wanted to [sighs] share some thoughts with you. first
being, you know, I I was here for two of the three candidates and I reviewed the third one uh via link and personally I find it's just me. I'm not making the
decision. That's for all of you to decide. Uh but I I don't find there to be a candidate that stuck out to me. That being said, I want to be fair to the two candidates that were here when I
was here. Uh, I asked them some tough questions. Uh, and they answered them. Uh, I wasn't here for the first one, but I think in fairness to those candidates, I think in fairness to this committee because you get to
hear my questions of that I asked. If I was here for the the first one, I'll share a couple of the questions that I would have asked. One would be uh and that's regarding Dr. Paul Hoffy. Uh
the retention surrounding staff and administrative staff within the Spencer Eastbrookfield District. Why is that not stronger? two, one of the biggest platforms
[snorts] when getting people to join on to the building renovations and capital investments projects on the platform that it would in induce and attract more kids to the district.
Is it flat? And we see 140 kids leaving the district at a cost of a million dollars to that district through the choice program. And most importantly, I would have asked them, why if you're going through this process
on June 1st, would you submit your letter of resignation to the school committee chairman of Spencer East Brookfield >> a week before? >> I'll just if we can just focus on the dis like concerns of this current district.
>> Again, Mr. Chair, I I asked tough questions, >> right? >> To the other candidates. I think it's only fair that you would you would understand what I'm asking. >> He's not here you weren't here to ask those questions and he's not here to defend >> which is great cuz that brings me to my next point. My next point would be
that's now for all of you I hope to ask right to factf find to verify to question and not to just rush to a decision based on the decision off of how well
somebody spoke and they all spoke well. They all were had polished answers. long answers should not alone drive a decision. Rather, their actions through their work in other districts
compared to the words that came out of their mouths is what should drive that decision-m. I will close with this. uh rush rushing to a decision may sometimes overlook
sometimes what's right in front of us. And I say that because each one of the candidates talked about in their district how they empower people within their administration and within their educators
to reach higher and promoting from within is so very important. So when we look at the totality of all candidates and we look at leadership, institutional knowledge, relationships, and commitment,
we need to at least ask, does that already exist? And if it doesn't, that's fine. But if it does, what message, what ripple effect does that have throughout the entire district when they look to achieve higher limits within their
career right here in this town? >> I'm just going to ask you to wrap it up. We're in >> Sure. I I'll be quick then. As students, educators, and families, taxpayers, they deserve the right leader
and not just the available candidate. that you guys had to choose from. >> Thank you. >> And I respectfully ask that this committee make a decision simply not make a decision simply for the sake of making one. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else wishing to address the
committee? Good evening. My name is Kristen Foody. 83 Central Street, Milville. I'm one of the members of the board of selectmen in Milville. You know, it's always been told to me that excellence is top down.
And when I think of excellence, I think about performance. So, being the superintendent of this school system, that's what we expect. That's what we desperately need. Excellence from the top down. If the other school systems, if we're
looking at data from them, from these other candidates and we're not seeing results that are meeting the same excellence that we have here or greater, we should take consideration and we should think about what we really want
from this. And of course, I'm sure every single one of you all can resonate with this saying we want excellence for our entire district. You know, that's what Milville wants. That was what Blackstone wants. So, it's going to
be top down. That's what leadership is. And we should be asking for excellence. I hope the candidates you find are showing that in the current districts in which they serve. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you very much.
>> Anyone else after this speaker wishing to do? >> Mine's only 30 seconds. >> Okay. Well, that you'll Okay. You're going to be the last one. Thank you. >> Jenny Chan Rama. I'm a principal here at the middle school. I consider myself a decent principal. Um I think my parents
can attest to it. I love where I live and I consider myself a Cranstonian, but I love Blackstone. And I just want to tell you what we need in Blackstone and what I need somebody who can support me and being selfish.
Our district need a superintendent who will be visible, student centered, and committed to accountability. We need someone who will take the time to understand the work already underway, build upon our successes, continue
practices such as learning walks and working collaboratively with staff, families, and move the district forward. Most importantly, every decision should be grounded in what is best for the students. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> All right, that concludes our public forum segment of the meeting. [snorts] Uh next in this process, we are essentially uh I'm going to actually next I'm going to welcome >> here as a resource if you need me. um uh Tracy Novik from the MASC who has
assisted this committee in this process and I thank you very much. >> Sure. >> Uh for your uh work on this. So [clears throat] um so next in this process is essentially an informal roundroin shrub
pole um we'll take from the uh school committee. Um and and before I do that, just to the to the people that did um present, thank you at public forum. And I'm I'm confident that the school committee members uh individually did their own um
research and deliberation to get to this point as well. I just wanted to make that clear um for this end of it. Um but with that um we'll do a roundroin style like straw poll on thoughts of the
committee members on who um their thoughts are on um their best choice uh for candidates and I can start at either end can start here or >> you're on you're late you're on [laughter] >> we [clears throat] may have taken we may
have drawn straws [laughter] before you got here for the straw pallolog ologize for being late. No, >> when I'm uh hired by the school committee, I'll be uh directed by the school committee. Um
I in doing my research, I um I found a lot of the similar things that we heard from the um public forum tonight. Um I don't know that what we were presented with as far as candidates in this
shortened time. we we didn't have, you know, it wasn't a normal search. It wasn't a a as much of a widespread net that we could have have have sent out. So, I worry that, you know, we don't have
the best of the best coming to us. Now, that being said, the candidates that we had did present themselves all well in their in their own way. I feel u they all had their each individual strengths and, you know, uh played upon those. So, Um, I don't know if I'm supposed to be
stack ranking anybody or how I'm supposed to be doing this. It's my first time going through this. So, um, I will say that, you know, if I had the choice, um, I would want a different choice or more choices, I should say.
Chuck uh all the candidates were vetted by the MS MASC. So I I my opinion was would be that I I felt we had a couple of good candidates
uh both of them coming uh from regional school districts. I hear people talking uh about someone not telling the truth or you know I I'm going to take
[snorts] take that with a grain of salt. you know, just he said, she said. Uh the Spencer School District, you know, we've heard about it over the years. It was a really tough school. I used to go there on sporting events
[snorts] and uh you know I'm just familiar with that school system and um so I'm I personally with Paul Howie I he's got the experience working with
the MSBA. He's got the regional experience. The state was in uh that school district was in state receiverhip. He saw them through that. They had a growth in their testing accountability.
Um I feel like he checks off all the uh the list that we have. He we can check off the experience. We don't need someone to come in here and change things. Our ship is running smooth, which is tells you, you know, that
administrative staff has been doing a good job. the teachers are doing a good job or we we need [clears throat] someone here just to uh we can't expect someone to come in here and spend the rest of their career here. So whether they they spend five or six, seven years
here and they move on to another school district or they finish out the end of their career. All we need is someone steady and strong to guide the ship over, you know, continue on, get us past this school,
uh, building project. So, uh, that's my thoughts. Thank you, Chuck. Tara, >> um, so I did do some research. I did go on the DESIE website. >> [snorts]
>> I did compare the two Massachusetts superintendent candidates and their districts. I did look at staff retention. Um, and I did also look at accountability. And I looked at accountability through the years that both had served. I did see
strong growth in David Prrowy from their state retention. I think one was 57% in a year. Um, I did feel like I I [snorts] hear the concerns of some and I hear the positive of of others. With that being
said, I do feel like he has got the financial experience, the MSBA experience and for me, he mentioned the student and the whole student numerous times and the importance of the whole
student. So I would say in my personal opinion Paul is the one with the most experience. >> Okay. Want me to kick it over there and say >> go ahead. >> Um so um again as has been said um each
candidate does have their strengths and they also have their weaknesses. Um judging by the path that our district is on. I actually don't have a choice of of the three. There's not one that I would um suggest.
>> Okay, Jane. >> Okay. So, I have 11 pages. >> You expect I have 11 pages of notes. I will not read them. Um but I I have I will enter into um whoever is going to do the minutes for this. We did ask for
feedback from the community from administrators and um community members. You it has been shared with all of you but we will enter it into our minutes and make it available if people um I will say that I did um make one change.
There was an individual who identified themselves personally um by their title and I just changed that to reflect what group they would fall into so that nobody was identified with a particular comment. Um so we will add those to the
minutes. Um I have been in this since the the beginning and um was part of the initial screening committee. I believe we brought candidates who are all qualified all met the criteria that we had and I think it's kind of us to have
a tough discussion on what we're really looking for. If we're looking for finance, regional schools, MSBA, facilities, budget stability, Paul Hahee presented the strongest evidence. He did. Um, if we're looking for balanced leadership with st strong community
engagement and operational management, Matt Aaron's pretty competitive. But if we're looking for collaborative team leadership, operations, relationship building, um Amy Analone again was probably the most um
competitive. They all align to our BMR blueprint. I actually put it into G chat GPT what our blueprint says and what their actual transcripts of their um interviews what they said and they all actually align and come out very strongly. Having said all that, I do not
support any of them to move forward in this process. >> Carrie, >> like we all did, I have spent hours and hours and hours on debating between all of these candidates. Um, they each bring their
own strengths, but they each bring their own weaknesses as well. If If thinking about what the climate around our district has been like recently budget-wise, I weighed a lot on fiscal responsibility
in my decisions because I don't want to see us ever being in trouble. Um, I put a lot of thought into our MSBA project that we have ongoing and the push we're going to need within the towns for them to know about our MSBA project and where
we are in that. Yeah, I I think we've all done our due diligence on this. Um, out of the three, if I was to choose one of the three um as our strongest, it would be Paul Haw. out of the three.
>> Thank you, Erin. I was delighted to see the finalists that were brought to us because they all had experience and we were we knew searching at this time of year. [snorts] It could have been nothing and it could
have been this like we we couldn't even asked for more to be honest. Uh at this time of year, the the typical time to search is late December, posting interviews going into January. Um that is typically when
experience is moving around and you're going to get that bigger pool. Um, so to see originally [cough] three [clears throat] experienced superintendent with many years of tenure that had all worked here
before want to come back, I was I was honestly complimented by that. That says a lot for our district. They've been here. They left to better themselves and they wanted to come back. That's a compliment. It's a compliment
to BMR. It's a compliment to our towns. It's a compliment to our work. Um the the two additional candidates um had amazing experience as well. Um I
thoroughly enjoyed meeting Amy and if we were looking for a different position, I think she would be an asset to our schools, our community. um [clears throat] she has a lot of education experience behind her and I'm
kind of sad that it's just I don't think it would be the right fit for where we are right now. That building project is it's necessary and we're not hoping to get into the pipeline. We're in the
pipeline and it is in my opinion the top priority of our needs right now. We are we are okay everywhere else. Um our teaching and learning is never going to stop. That is why we are all here. Um,
but we're trying to better the district in other ways and it has to be at the forefront of of the work at this time. Um, after Paul's interview the other night, I felt like we did not need to even
continue with other interviews and to see his sincerity with our community, which I feel he had he had a better presentation of himself during the community event than our interview. I think he got very nervous, which I think
is humbling. As a tenur educator and doctor and professional in our community, he was still nervous at our table. And I for me, what I've reflected on over the past week is how bad he wants
to be here. And then I think about other people have dream jobs. And I think we're his I do I I did a little bit of research though. Maybe he turned in his letter of res resignation on June
1st. He also had never searched for another position in the eight years he spent in Spencer East Brookfield. He had never applied to leave there. He was dedicated to them until now. BMR opened back up and
I think he's lived here. He's worked here and it's his community and this would be home for him. And I think he would treat the kids like home. I think he would treat our facilities like home. I think
he would treat the work like home. And I don't think we would have gotten that in any other candidate even if it was January. Um I think he would have applied in January. Personally, I wish we had been
able to ask questions. We ran out of time and we never had, you know, follow-ups because I would have asked Matt if he if this job had opened last year when we had to would he have applied? I don't I wonder what that his answer would have been. I feel like I
wouldn't I wouldn't have to ask Dr. Dr. Haw that question. He was so sincere to our community. [clears throat] I also think it would be a positive that he's in our community when we have to go to those town meetings in [clears throat]
in the fall for our school building. And it won't be his first rodeo. He's done this before. He's gotten it past that building is completed and partially open. So maybe there's some school choice kids leaving right now, but they're not that's their
grand opening is this fall if I'm correct. So has it been tenacious working with portable portable buildings and school choice? Um I would say yes. I I can't
I've never actually seen the building. I know some of us did get to tour um and see that work going out there, but it's not going to be easy to the to live through a building project. Um
but he's already done it and they're about to open their building. He got it passed from the communities who are in a different place financially um than we are and we are not I'm not saying we're anything but
comparatively being in receiverhip and then getting a building project approved and then fixing your receiverhip is huge. You know the finances would be trusted in my opinion. He was, I believe, also on our town's finance committee and and he was a slackman in town. So, you know what? I
believe that shows dedication to our towns. It shows dedication to his community. I hope it's never negatively looked at that I was on the school committee for almost 14 years when I'm looking for my dream job because I did
it for the betterment of the kids at that time and the school district through these years. I haven't done this for fun. Um, would I be called a politician? Maybe.
Never put myself in that category. I I I think my choice is Paul Hawi. It was from the day of his interview and forward. >> Thank you. [snorts] >> Okay, [clears throat]
my turn. Not liking the numbers here. Um well, I did um dig into all three candidates and any resource at my disposal to reach out to people to have conversations
and understandings and I I did get a wide uh range of responses. Um but I think I've been pretty consistent in my position um on this. I've had the
fort, you know, the fortune of being elected the chairman of this committee. This is my would be the beginning of my third year. This would be a third superintendent um in that those three years. Uh
some one of us had mentioned the ship is running smooth. Uh and and we can't expect someone to be here for the rest of their career. Well, we could and the ship is running smooth for that reason. Um, and the ship was
running smooth because of the work that this committee has done and the administration has done. And I look at the work that this committee has done, this administration has done, and I compare it to what we have in front of us, and we're already
ahead of the curve. I I I have no stake in this in and and and in in the district outside of my willingness to serve the communities and the most importantly the the children of
this district and [clears throat] I can't in good faith choose any one of the candidates that we have in front of us this evening. So that's my stance. So with that, it is four to four. >> It is, >> but we have a candidate.
>> Mhm. >> So we can continue to deliberate or even take a a motion on that candidate. >> Yep. >> So would be the >> So I would like to make a motion >> that we enter into negotiations with Dr.
Hawi to become our the next superintendent of Blackstone Little Regional School District. Okay. Uh motion made by Aaron. >> Second. Uh seconded by um Chuck. Any further discussion?
>> Yeah, I have a lot. >> Okay. >> So, I'm mine. Okay. >> Um so, I'm going to read some of my thoughts. Um I think um a recurring theme in Dr. Hawkey's interview was finance
facilities, MSBA projects, um agreements. He talked about overrides, municipal relationships, and those are important skills, but BMR is not in the position that Spencer East Brookfield was in when he arrived there. Our challenges are not a failing building
project. financial receiverhip, academic issues, broken town relationships, deteriorating facilities. That's not where we are. We're in the middle of curriculum alignment, instructional coaching, writing initiatives, assessment systems, MTSS development,
improving student achievement. Dr. Hahi didn't speak to any of those. He didn't speak to a leadership drive. He did not speak to an academic curriculum. I he he did not speak to driving the you know leading a staff in
those directions or how he would work with the central office staff. Um he spoke about what he built, what he changed, what he implemented, what he fixed. Um and I learned a lot about Spencer East Brookfield during his interview, but I didn't learn a lot
about what he knew about BMR. Now, I heard about what it was like when he was the principal, when he was the director of special ed, but not where we are now. I'm not sure he did the homework
of moving this district from the point of where we are um to where we need to go with the current administration, with our current staffing structure, with our current climate. I'm not sure that he has the effective
leadership abilities to be a boots on the ground in the school communicating with people. Um, I think he he is a very good communicator in the process, but in the dayto-day operations of walking around and being pre there's a
difference between presence and being present. Um, and I'm I'm not sure that I saw that. Um, I Uh, well, I have other comments, but I'm not going to. Um,
I think he understands the history of the district. I'm not sure he understands where the district is now. Um, I I left the interview understanding Dr. Hahee's accomplishments. I was less certain that he had spent sufficient time understanding what is already working in BMR and how he would preserve
it and grow it. Um, that was also true for some of the other ones too. He Dr. Haha is clearly an experienced superintendent with strengths in finance, facilities, advocacy, and community relations. However, BMR is not a district in need of rescue. It is a
district experiencing positive academic momentum through years of intentional work. The last time we did a search, we intentionally looked for curriculum development, academic instruction. We looked because we were losing that. Our students were failing. They no longer
are. And we need to keep that going. the assessment and coaching. [clears throat] We have you we have coaches and leaders and and team leaders and district leaders and we need to continue to build that and grow that. I'm not convinced that Dr. Hawi demonstrated the level of
instructional leadership, organizational listening and commitment to continuity that our district needs at this particular moment. So I will I do not support him as our next superintendent. >> Thank you. Any further discussion? So,
can I ask a question? Sure. And maybe we can have a little discussion about this. What is the need of our district right now? >> What is the need for like >> let's take it one year at a time. >> I'm I will start it and say our MSBA [clears throat]
project is a is a high need. We're doing great. We're moving forward with learning and curriculum move and continuity. So I does anyone else agree with that part with that MSBA is a huge
>> or is there some another need that anyone thinks is >> we don't need anyone to come in and rescue us and I don't think Paul how he was trying to to do that. I think he has the experience to lead us through this building project.
have said numerous times like the building project is a massive undertaking for our district and extremely important but it's not the only piece of our district. >> No. Um, but I do feel that we have been an error then if
we're going to have this conversation now after having candidates in here and we're going to discuss what our priorities are now when we couldn't have questioned any of them to those points.
>> Well, we listed our priorities on our job applications. >> You got that? Um, do you have a does anyone have the job. >> I have a copy of the um announcement, >> the posting. >> Yeah. >> Y >> What were they? >> Um I pass it down there. Y
>> I already read it. I just wanted to say it publicly. >> Oh, I I Can we read it out loud? >> Yeah, go ahead. Okay, >> sorry to screw my tenant. [clears throat] >> The school committee of Blackstone Mobile Regional School District in Massachusetts invites qualified candidates to apply for the position of
superintendent of schools. We give a little history about our district and then it says leadership profile. The staff and community believe all students can learn and meet high standards and expect students to be engaged in a supportive learning focused community. School committee seeks an
innovative leader with experience in long range and strategic planning, developing datadriven goals, implementing curriculum focuses focused initiatives to increase student achievement and demonstrating strong fiscal management.
The successful candidate must lead technology integration to support instruction and oversee several infrastructure projects, including an MSBA high school project currently in the feasib feasibility schematic design phase. The successful candidate will
work closely with the dedicated staff and an involved community to maintain and foster a safe, healthy, and intellectually stimulating learning environment. Developing positive relationships and maintaining open [cough and clears throat] communication with community members and town boards
is imperative. I can keep going. Minimum [snorts] qualifications license as superintendent assistant superintendent in Massachusetts or eligible for lens sir. Master degree required minimum 5 years of administrative experience. experience
teaching K to 12, deep understanding of Massachusetts re regional school district finance and business operations. understanding of the MSBA project building project process and desire to lead the district to successful completion of the current project.
Ability to successfully oversee continued implementation of the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks, educator evaluation, technology integration, successful special education programs, standards aligned formative assessments and datadriven
decision making. understanding of the proven success with interestbased bargaining and developing partnerships to provide a 21st century education for students citizenship residency working visa of United States preferred
qualifications doctorate degree central office experience and 3 to five years of teaching experience in K to2 system she doesn't have I I believe he checks all of those boxes, but
>> I don't but we did have heavy in here classroom teacher, but I don't we didn't disqualify him as a result of that because he did the special ed track. >> Any further discussion? >> Mr. Chair, I'd say all of those
qualifications, everything that we've spoken about, staying on the, you know, you know, moving the ship forward, uh, MSBA, we're on the right track with curriculum.
I'll maintain what I've been saying all along and say that we had the right candidate. I think this board was unable to come to an agreement, unfortunately. Um, but I still think we have the right candidate in this district
and I'll leave it there. >> Any further discussion? >> I believe the only people we're deliberating right now are the people that applied for the job. >> That's what we're >> That >> right. >> So, if someone else wanted to be a
candidate, they could have >> appied to apply. >> They needed to follow the MASC, >> right? And and Mr. Catalano is entitled to his opinion. But where we got a motion in a second on a candidate that we're discussing. >> I I do want to um follow up on something Jane said. I did hear Mr. Hawi speak to
curriculum and I actually heard him speak to adding more opportunities in CTE for students. Um he did commend our administration and our curriculum leads for the work they've been doing and he did mention
wanting to build off of it. [snorts] Okay. Any further discussion? >> Okay. Hearing none, I will It's just for the um transparency purposes. I'll take a roll call vote. The uh the motion was to enter into negotiations with uh Dr. Paul Hoy uh made by Erin, seconded by
Chuck, and I'll do a roll call vote. Um Jane, >> no. >> Erin, I'm sorry. I don't know why I did that. Carrie, >> yes. Aaron, >> yes. >> Matt, >> no. >> Chuck, >> yes. >> Tara S, yes. Tara L, >> no.
>> And I'm a no. So, vote is four to four. The motion fails. Are there any other um uh motions uh for um candidates? All right. Hearing none,
I'll probably ask you for your guidance uh at this point. >> Um I mean my first thought is to look at the calendar um which is that you you are legally required in Massachusetts to have a superintendent, >> right? >> Um and I believe that you stop having a
superintendent July 7th. Is that right? Something like that. >> I think June 30th, actually. >> June 30th. Okay. Um so we're looking at something in two weeks. um the the difficulty becomes um that is sort of you you've the the
path you had pursued prior to going to the search is you know the one that usually becomes the one that um is the the quick turnaround and obviously in your case it wasn't right because you couldn't come to an agreement. Um [clears throat]
if intern if there is not an internal candidate, you've done a search and you've scuttled a search. Um and though the search that you were doing was for a permanent position, um you can look for an interim superintendent. Again, um the
one difficulty with that is that um interimm superintendencies can either be um someone who is qualified to serve permanently or it can be a retiree who comes back and does the position for a year. Some of this may be things you already know. I apologize if I'm
repeating information you have. Um the one difficulty is that if you have a retiree um often they will need a waiver in order to serve because they're receiving their pension in which case the the um department would require you
to post the position for two weeks um and then take applications go through an interview process and so forth. So the the the barrier here in terms of that sort of thing is time. Um, I will say that
um that that is a more recent phenomenon in my my experience. That's something that the department previously wasn't requiring, but now they're being very difficult around waiverss. Um, if you weren't looking for retired superintendent, you would have
more or less the prospects that you do. um though lesser so um because of because of the decisions you you sort of have already made. >> Can I can I just ask then now that you're saying that
>> if we did choose a candidate tonight, they would have had to start essentially July 1st. >> Yes. >> So >> So you were on a you were >> But our candidates are currently employed. >> They are. So they would have had to >> they would have had to go >> weeks notice,
>> right? And I will say that in my 11 years of experience, I've never had a school committee say no to someone who because most of them of course have a a part of their contract that says they have to give at least 60 or 90 days. >> Um I've never had a candidate a school committee say no to that.
>> They certainly can. Um but yes, and you would also need to be in some form of agreement with the candidate in order for them to start. Yes. >> Right. So what so what ha if it's a requirement to have a superintendent? What happens if there is not a superintendent on July 1st?
>> We can call department and ask. >> Yeah, I don't know. I mean that the problem becomes you have there are a whole kind of I mean some of you may have actually even seen the list of things that superintendents are required to do in Massachusetts and that one kicks into effect for next year starting
on July 1st. Um I will say I've never asked the hypothetical question, Jane. That's a that's a good one. Um, yes, but there there does need to be somebody who's filling the position. >> Okay. And so we the executive session does not fit that criteria.
>> It does not. You actually I do not know of anything that you could discuss in executive session, right, regarding this. In fact, >> there's no negotiation. Yeah. >> Um, okay. So, we got to pick another meeting date quickly to determine
Yeah, we'd have to pick a to determine the direction um of the committee. >> Yes, >> we don't want to discuss that. >> And you are correct that you can't really discuss that this evening. I correct. I feel badly about that too because you are time the clock is
ticking but you're not posted for that. You're posted for >> cannot post a meeting for another 48 hours. Although this could potentially fill in the emergency. >> You could try that one with the AG. I >> I don't I I never count on that one >> or other
>> things that the chair >> uh that's a >> business unanticipated by the chair >> may may let me check the bottom of that agenda. So we do have well actually if thank you um items listed on this agenda those reasonably anticipated by the chair to be discussed in the meeting.
Not all items in fact may be discussed. Other items not listed may also be brought into discussion to to the extent permitted by law. I was going to say so you you would be if you were to proceed with a discussion you would be proceeding under the AGS that this was not something that was anticipated by
the chair and thus could not have been posted. >> Well, that's fair. It's fair to say. >> I think that's fair to say. Yes, I would be cautious about doing too much business under that, but I >> we also are looking at the time frame we are. >> Yeah, I would. So, at least we have the
discussion on the direction we want to go in. >> Yes. for the purposes of posting maybe another meeting to >> so that you actually have a reason for Yes. So that you have a context. >> Yeah. I think that's the fair safest way. Yes. To proceed. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Yeah. >> I'll give it back. >> Um I have everything else in this folder but the agenda. >> Um okay. Direction. So the direction would either
be essentially what you said, repost for another search, repost for post for an inrum or or or >> I mean you try again with an internal but you had gone to a significant extent with that one already as well. But the the three OAS are you can do a
permanent, you can do an interm or you can do an internal. That would be my >> that would be my list regardless. >> Okay. What's the pleasure? If I had a magic rabbit, I certainly would. Um, the only two comments that I will make is that I
um I was frankly surprised and pleased at the quality of candidates you had. >> Yeah. >> Even setting aside the the sort of local tie. Um, this is um I I would not have anticipated you getting both as many candidates as you did and also the level
of experience that you did. Um, so just lest you wonder too much as to whether or not that was entirely what happened here. Um, I had multiple searches this year. You actually had more candidates and had more candidates with more experience than many of those searches. So,
>> just to put that on the table. >> Very good. >> What direction we have any >> I don't think we have time to do a search. I mean we tried to do expedited and couldn't reach consensus here. Um,
so I think we have to look to name an interim which impacts a lot of the work that we said we were trying not to impact the work >> because it's another one year >> yeah um but we could do something
similar to what Marbor did and say interim with the opportunity to you know become permanent like I I don't know but I just don't think we don't have the time >> and that does open up our calendar
to find to search at the preferred time of year. >> Correct. So with that being said is we have qualified candidates in front of us
that have superintendency, they have the license and um do we entertain offering an a one-year contract interim with the option to extend if proven themselves or I I don't know
>> that interim if they wanted the permanent position would be willing to go through the interview process with everyone correct >> or we have the option of offering the job which is exactly what we did last [cough] year [clears throat]
exactly how we ended up here just we we entered into an interim option with our current our assistant superintendent and then the offer, you know, the the offer was entertained to
enter into contract negotiation to extend that contract. So, no, maybe no, Chuck, my I I'm saying like if that interim is working out, we can just negotiate with them just like we did for five months this year. But if
we're saying name an interim to then be able to do a full search at the same time, we kind of >> I'm saying it does give us the opportunity to do that. If if we uh offer it to an interim, we can either extend that person this like Jane just mentioned Malboro. When our last
superintendent left here, he left for one year with the option to extend >> which they did three months on the >> and then they did that pretty quickly. So is there a candidate we would want to offer that to with the option to extend
because then it gives us time to I don't see the work I guess. So if if an interim search is posted and done is is it not this kind of detail of search
process is it like is it can you just appoint an interim? Um, it depends if you um >> if it's a retiree, >> right? It depends on whether or not you need a waiver from the department. If you need a waiver from the department, no, you cannot just appoint. Um, if you
were appointing someone who was working full-time now and [clears throat] continued to do so, then yes, you could. >> That's what we did last summer. >> Yeah. So, it's only if you need a waiver from the department that you get into the question around um having it posted
for two weeks and being able to demonstrate that they you had considered other options, but that all of the other options have failed. And they do go into what I would consider excruciating detail on that. >> Well, we don't have any there. We we we
we >> will not have somebody on July 1st. >> We don't have the time to have somebody on. We couldn't come up with >> offered it to one of our the candidates here that we were considering tonight.
>> An interim. >> I'll just say that's not going to change my vote. I'll just cut that conversation. So that's where I would stand on that. That wouldn't change my vote, >> but it does fix our July one problem. >> Well, we we also can consider extending for the period of time the current interim, but I don't want to get too
deep into that because that would be contract negotiation. >> I'm also not willing to entertain that. So >> that's fine. And by the way, the negotiations with that person was not 5 months. It was lot maybe two and a half tops. So there was maybe about six hours
actually. [snorts] So, I'll move that we post for an interim superintendent position. >> Okay. Motion made by uh Jane. >> Second. >> Second by Tara Lockan. Any further
discussion on that? Can we just clarify what the time is on that? So we make the motion on what is today 17th. When does that get posted? Like where where are we? Because we are >> immediately.
>> Yeah. >> Do we have to have another meeting to actually officially do that since it wasn't on our agenda? >> Um I think that if you're assign you're voting to scuttle the search and to move forward with an interim, I think that that would probably still be in order. >> Okay. I'm not a lawyer, but that would be this
would be an order. >> That would Yeah, that would be my >> I think it's a response to the unanticipated >> unanticipated position of the district. >> Yeah. >> So, I guess my official motion is to scuttle this permanent search and uh
post for an interim superintendent for a one-year position. >> Okay. >> So, second >> and that was a motion by Jane and seconded. And Carrie, was your question answered? Yeah. >> Okay. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> I. >> I. >> Any oppose? >> I'm opposed. >> Okay. Okay. So, it's what? [snorts] 53. Did I get that right? Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, we can post that tomorrow. My
question is then, what kind of process are you anticipating? And are you still trying to get someone in the door for July 1st, which is more or less in two weeks, two and a half weeks? >> Or do you want to see if you can extend any current things for even a number
couple of other weeks to see if you can give yourself breathing time? And maybe you don't. But >> no, we need July 1st. So, can we post for >> 5 days? What's the minimum posting time to
>> So, I mean the the only ex the only exterior requirement for length of posting um is if you end up potentially needing to go get a waiver from someone who has been a retiree and has been working. If you are not going to consider any of those then there isn't
any requirement. Um you will cut off there will be people that you won't get because of that who are retirees but if you are more interested in people who might sort of do a try out run you would be largely thinking about that anyway. >> What is two weeks from now?
>> Oh I just had it. Um >> sorry what is what? >> It's two weeks from now. >> Two weeks from now is July 1st. >> Like literally it is exactly >> July 1. Yeah, >> July 1st is on a Wednesday. >> So, we need a 5day search and 5 days to make our >> decision. I guess
>> once the posting closes, then then what is the process? >> So, it's obviously not what we just did. >> No, you did it you so you did a um >> research. So, you were still doing
confidential applications. Part of what you can specify in this circumstance is that you are not doing a pre-screening that everything is going straight to the school committee. And I have done that before with interimm searches. We just make sure it's everyone is very clear that this is entirely a public process.
So you would get all of the applications when the applications closed. You would make a decision then about how you want to proceed. Presumably, you would do interviews with people that you wanted to to actually see based on the applications that you had gotten. We can do
a half an hour each person in one night. >> You can >> or we could just make a job offer. >> Uh >> based on >> arguably you could do that as well. Yes. >> So just to put a little kink into the calendar, I am scheduled to fly out on the 25th. We're going to have to do
virtual because I'm >> I was going to say I I actually leave town on the 24th until the 1st. Um although I will be reachable the 24th through the 27th. Our national conference is next week. >> I'll be in Idaho. >> You'll be where? >> Idaho is this year.
>> Idaho. >> Yeah. Different state conferences, different state associations host. So Boise. [clears throat] >> Okay. >> But I'm reachable. >> It's a beautiful state. >> I've heard that. I'm looking forward to it. I've been there. Um but I I won't be I won't be reachable thus the beginning of the last week of June but then I'm
back on the first >> what's five days >> for what it's >> so you're we have legally have to have a superintendent >> the lenser >> so our our active assistant superintendent as of July 1st holds the license
>> of a superintendent >> of a superintendent. >> Yes they do. So where does that leave us? >> So I think you probably probably part of your posting because again you're just simply not going to have time. I mean even you could try it um if you held for
example the lure I hold of a school business administrator, you can pretty quickly step into having um the the preliminary lensure of a superintendent. Um, you may want to cons to make that part of your consideration though that they
essentially already hold the lensure that they need to have. >> No, I'm asking like legality where that leaves us if we don't have the person on the title of superintendent, but we have someone in the building that has the license because we did have a a >> that makes sense. >> Um, when our last assistant
superintendent left, we didn't they held the business. >> Yeah. So, um there was a time frame where our superintendent had to >> vote on that. >> We would >> um apply for and get that license legally. >> So,
I think you would So, I again I wouldn't I I wouldn't dare speak for the department. I think that they would say that they would want someone to be acting superintendent. >> Okay. >> For whatever time you don't have someone who's been officially appointed. >> Okay. I do believe we have more than one
in the district though that license. >> So, we should probably send out a survey tomorrow to find out who holds the wholes. >> You can actually look it up on the the that's public information. The lensure
lookup allows you to do that. >> Okay. >> So, if you want that's not hard to get. >> We have we have several. Let me I just need to get this out there because to make it make sense. We have a current um interim superintendent that
holds a license. >> Why wouldn't we just extend that? We do a full search. >> She told us she was returning back to her position on July 1st. That was her choice. >> Well, that's based on the offer that we presented to her. >> Yeah. >> Okay. like why wouldn't we just consider
having a conversation with her then going out to a full superintendent >> because we're here we're here a month into this search because that didn't work out. I I honestly I would rather put a is there going to be an internal search if there's other people in the
building that can hold it. >> So it makes no sense they would have to apply. >> So you're saying do two searches when we already have one in the position. extended that did a full search. >> We have regardless there's two searches >> or two appointments, however we want to put it. Someone for the time being and
then someone >> Okay. >> moving forward. >> Yeah. >> If somebody has interest, somebody can apply. >> Fine. I I just wanted to I just we'll be searching for the next several months. >> Yes. Because Yep. That was the plan for tonight anyway. So,
>> what was the plan was? What? that we're not we're never going to find anybody that we've have we have very qualified people in front of us but nobody's ever going to be good enough so we'll just keep searching. >> Yeah, you you're right. >> And the kids will be the ones that suffer in the end unfortunately
>> but we all want what's best for the kids. >> So we're posting tomorrow for how many days? >> Five days. >> Is that what someone said? Five days. >> I said five. Okay. >> Is it five business days? So is that next Wednesday? [clears throat]
doesn't have to be five business days. >> It could be five. >> So you given what you are doing, you already are going to be short for what the department wants, which means you need to make sure that you're not picking someone who needs a waiver. >> Um you could I mean if you were to make it neat, you could simply say that you're
closing on the 24th, which is I don't know that it matters in terms of business days versus weekends. >> We just take them the way that we get them. >> And then my question would be what then you would want to do? I mean, the applications are well, I guess, let me back up. What do you want for the applications? Because I mean, we have an
application that gives all of their information. Um, you're because of the shortness of time, the one thing I would say people might have difficulty with is getting letters of recommendation if they're trying to generate something new. Um, so you might consider instead
planning to follow up with the references that they list on the application and have that be something that maybe you do amongst yourselves that you make phone calls. >> What about a statement of interest >> state? But so what you could do is you could do an application um a statement
of interest and their CV which may have a different additional information on it. Is there anything else you would want? So do we have statement of interest regular application their qualifications references >> certification >> well that would I to me that goes on the
application like lure and whatnot [snorts] >> lenture >> okay >> experience with MSBA project >> well they that will be presumably they'll list that in there >> okay >> I mean what I guess then that is maybe
the other half of the question which is that I mean we can certainly post you know blacks and mobile seeks an interim superintendent. Is there anything else that you want us to say? Do you want us to take any of the language that you've actually said that you posted previously? Um or do you want it to
simply sort of be pretty cut and dry? >> Cut and dry with the basics. >> Yep. Okay. >> So minimum qualifications are the same. >> Yep. But I also don't want us to get another week into this and then have an
applicant pool in front of us and start saying, "Well, they didn't talk about this and they didn't talk about that." So maybe we need to list more things. >> I get I get where you get that, but we
like I suppose we could have questioned the candidates for four hours in a public session. So like, so I I I as for the income, [cough] I suppose we're just going to get we're going to see that experience through different school districts.
>> We're forgoing what we were trying to hold an uh one of the applicants to. >> Yep. >> Tonight >> we are. >> Mhm. >> By by posting for an interim, we're going to get what we get. >> Yep. >> And we're Yeah. How's that children's book? [clears throat]
[snorts] And then what will you imagine your process to be after that? The applications close on the 24th. Um if we communicate them to you electronically um having stated to the the applicants that
all of them are public, you then will anything after that that you do you'll need to be doing as a body. So would you post to actually screen? Would you post to make a decision? Would you
>> I will not have self service at all times. >> Would you limit it to the three candidates? Again, it's typically a four or five candidates. So, >> we can limit it to one. >> Okay. >> Right. >> Um you want to probably have a >> you could you could pick from a paper
screen. Yes. If you did it in a public meeting and posted that that was what you were doing. Yes. >> Do we have time for a paper screen is my question. Or do we look at all of them in front of us and move one? Sorry, that was what I meant. I mean, you can >> you can select simply from the
applications is probably a better way of >> I'm putting it a question to them versus like for me I want to I want to see them all. >> Y >> I don't think we have time for a paper screening. >> That would be live as a as a as a group. >> I think that's what I'm sorry.
I think we all mean the same. >> Let's play them out and see what we got. But >> you know when we >> had discussions previously you know we we said you know we said here's a list of people who are potential interims and
we can >> that was sent from Glenn >> right and that's our that's our retirees list um >> right so the now some of them haven't had positions this year and they thus wouldn't need a waiver um I've never
sort of gone into it by sort of weeding through that way before. Um that is the only problem in this case is that and it has been taking a a bit of time as well. So you're not posting in a way that really allows us to do it such that you
could take someone who who needs a waiver just because you don't have enough time to post the meeting. And I say that only because I've had to do it twice this year. >> [snorts] >> So theoretically we could set a meeting for July 1st. >> Theoretically you could set a meeting for July 1. Yes.
>> That's two weeks from >> So you thus would have the applications from me on the 24th or barring depending on how late things work because I'll be frankly >> July 1st too late. We have to appoint someone >> and they have to accept >> the contract by becomes the difficulty.
So why would we wait till the till that date? >> I was just looking at two weeks. That's all that is >> because I think Carrie you guys were gone, right? Till the date. >> Monday. >> Well, Tracy comes back till July 1st. I don't come back until July 4th. So >> Oh, fourth. I'm sorry. Okay. >> The 23rd.
>> Oh, that's a Saturday. >> But Carrie, you said you left >> the 25th. >> 25th. Yeah, it's we can post it July 6th or 7th. >> But why are you trying to push it out beyond our >> I'm trying to I'm not I'm trying to make
sure that people >> So, what are we doing from July 1st to July 6th, Dan? >> Well, no one took that in consideration before the night started. We may not have a superintendent here either way on on July 1st. if we're posting it tonight. >> We had no guarantee from any of the
candidates that they were starting tomorrow. >> We would need to do it tomorrow. Just realistically speaking as to who has access to our website, right? Tomorrow's day one. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> So, Monday the 22nd would No. >> Five business. >> Five days is >> Why does it have to be five days?
>> Doesn't I threw that out there. It doesn't have to be five days. >> Okay. Cuz I'm just thinking if we from the 24th, >> you could scoot back. >> We could Yeah. >> Yep. I I I don't care what day you guys. I was just trying to I was just trying to to get everybody facilitate. Yes. To get everyone here.
>> We can do it. We carry on. And um not that you'd want to be doing that on vacation from uh >> I I just don't know if I will actually have [snorts] >> service at all times to >> I'll do my best. >> Your vote is utmost important. >> When are you back? I mean, what's what's
what's what's the penalty if we don't have a superintendent from >> We can't answer one. >> We can certainly call the commissioner's office and ask. I don't have any idea. I think they would >> I I would say that I think that probably the difference between what you're doing now versus if you had decided to appoint
someone tonight and hadn't actually made a decision is that you might be able to say to your current acting, "We're still in negotiations. We're probably three days away. Can you give us another week?" Maybe. I don't know the circumstances. I know that has happened before. Um, which isn't quite what we're
asking here. Um, I I think that I can certainly see if I can find out for you. Um, what but I think that they would probably tell you to look at the people who have lenture and make someone the acting. >> Yeah, >> that is my guess. But I think that is what they would say.
>> Very good. >> So, what day do we want to put this meeting on? So, if we post, they have till Monday the 22nd. Can we meet on the 23rd? You're still here. >> Oh, wait. I cannot 8 o'clock in the
morning. >> I will say that I c I can't meet with you. I have time in the afternoon on the 23rd. I'm actually ironically meeting with Oxford um for their interimm um that evening [laughter] and that morning is the board of ed so
I'll be in Everett but I do have time in the afternoon if that would work or you can certainly do it without me. I mean that don't don't make that the hang up. I definitely need like evenings like after work.
>> I'm good with any Zoom time. I know. >> So 23rd. Jane, you said you can't leave. >> I cannot. >> 24th traveling. >> No, I can do the 24th. You can >> I leave on the 25th in the morning. >> Oh, 25th. Okay. >> Is it Zoom?
>> We will. We we can make we'll make it a we can make it a hybrid if some people want to be here >> on the 24th. We're saying >> that was really nice to have the camera and the screen. >> Yeah. And we'll we'll make sure that everybody has the information
to them by by email from the from the search. So we'll do 24th 24th 6 o'clock. >> And what are we doing on the 24th? Reviewing applications. reviewing and deliberating. >> And you want to close the applications
on what day? The 22nd. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Is 3 p.m. a usual time? >> Um, it is, but it that there's no magic to that. That's just us. >> No, that's fine. [snorts] And I'm sorry, you said you'd meet at 6
on the 24th. >> Everybody go to 6. >> Okay, we're deciding. I >> um the later the better for me. >> 6:30 >> on Zoom. >> We can do, right?
>> Y >> 6:30. Is that good? Seven. >> I prefer seven. >> Everybody go to a seven. >> Seven it is. [snorts] >> Now this um one final thing. Well, because you and Jane are working so well
together, >> we're going to keep that communication. [laughter] >> Jane. Sure. I it is fine with me, Mr. [clears throat] Chair. If it's fine with you, certainly. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And certainly, if any of you have any other kinds of questions or any other
whatifs as this goes along, by all means, give me a call. >> Okay. Next meeting is um 6 7:00 on the 24th. Um any further discussion?
Uh I'll take a motion to adjurnn. So >> motion made by Tara Lockan. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by Jane. Uh, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any oppose? The eyes have it.