--------- GOOD MORNING. UH, MY NAME IS BEN WEBER. I'M THE CITY COUNCILOR FOR DISTRICT SIX AND THE CHAIR OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL ON WAYS AND MEANS.
TODAY IS APRIL 16TH, 2026 AND THE EXACT TIME IS, UH, 1010. UM, THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED. IT'S ALSO BEING LIVE STREAMED AT BOSTON.GOV/CITY COUNCIL TV
AND BROADCAST ON XFINITY CHANNEL EIGHT, RCN CHANNEL 82 AND FIOS CHANNEL 964. THE CITY COUNCIL'S BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS ENCOMPASSES A
SERIES OF PUBLIC HEARINGS BEGINNING IN APRIL RUNNING THROUGH JUNE. WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ENGAGE IN THIS PROCESS BY GIVING TESTIMONY FOR THE RECORD. YOU CAN DO THIS IN SEVERAL WAYS
ONE YOU CAN ATTEND ONE OF OUR HEARINGS AND GIVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY. UH, WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC TESTIMONY AT THE END OF UH, EACH DEPARTMENTAL HEARING AND
ALSO AT TWO HEARINGS DEDICATED SOLELY TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY. UH, THE FULL HEARING SCHEDULE IS ON OUR WEBSITE AT BOSTON.GOV/COUNCIL-BUDGET. OUR SCHEDULED HEARINGS UH
DEDICATED TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY CALLED LISTENING SESSIONS ARE IN PERSON IN CITY HALL ON TUESDAY APRIL 28TH AT 6 P.M. AND IN PERSON CITY HALL AGAIN
ON THURSDAY, MAY 26TH AT 6 P.M.. YOU CAN GIVE TESTIMONY IN PERSON HERE IN THE CHAMBER OR VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM FOR IN-PERSON TESTIMONY. PLEASE COME TO THE CHAMBER AND SIGN UP ON THE SHEET NEAR THE
ENTRANCE. I'LL JUST POINT TO FOR ANYONE AND UH UM FOR VIRTUAL TESTIMONY YOU CAN SIGN UP USING OUR ONLINE FORM ON OUR UH,
COUNCIL BUDGET REVIEW WEBSITE OR BY EMAILING THE COMMITTEE AT 6AM@BOSTON.GOV OR BY EMAILING CHRIS CHOHAN.
IT'S K A R I S H MCCUE HAND AT BOSTON GOV. UH WHEN YOU ARE CALLED TO TESTIFY UH YOU CAN PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR AFFILIATION
,YOUR RESIDENCE AND UH LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO TWO MINUTES TO ENSURE ALL THE COMMENTS CAN BE HEARD. UM UH EMAIL YOUR WRITTEN TESTIMONY TO THE COMMITTEE AT
SCOTT OR SORRY TWO THAT'S ONE IS SHOW UP AND TESTIFY IN PERSON TWO. YOU CAN EMAIL YOUR WRITTEN TESTIMONY TO THE COMMITTEE AT SQUIRM AT BOSTON UNCOVERED SO
YOU CAN SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY OR YOU CAN NUMBER THREE YOU CAN SUBMIT A TWO MINUTE VIDEO OF YOUR TESTIMONY THROUGH THE FORM ON OUR WEBSITE . FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET PROCESS AND
HOW TO TESTIFY, PLEASE VISIT THE CITY COUNCIL'S BUDGET WEBSITE AT BOSTON.GOV/COUNCIL-BUDGET IN PERSON IN-PERSON PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN FOLLOWING THE FIRST ROUND
OF COUNCILOR QUESTIONS. UH INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CALLED ON IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY HAVE SIGNED UP AND WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO TESTIFY IF YOU WISH TO SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY YOU'VE NOT DONE SO
ALREADY, PLEASE EMAIL CHRIS MUCHO ON OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON AGAIN OR EMAIL IS K R I S H M A DOCTOR YOU HAND AT
BOSTON DECKER FOR THE ZOOM LINK AND YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST. THIS MORNING'S HEARING ON DOCKET NUMBER THE NUMBERS
073320740. UH, WE'LL FOCUS ON THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THIS HEARING WILL COVER TOPICS INCLUDING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, ON HOW STUDENTS STUDENT
SUPPORTS ATHLETICS. UH UM UH ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION ,CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND EARLY COLLEGE. THIS IS ONE OF A SERIES OF HEARINGS TO REVIEW NOT ONLY
THE THE FY 27 BUDGET BUT THE BUDGET. UM UH, I WANT TO NOTE UH AND JUST TO REMIND MY COLLEAGUES THAT, UH, BHP'S CENTRAL OFFICE
BUDGET IS RELEVANT TO DISCUSSION AT ANY OF OUR HEARINGS GIVEN THE OVERLAP OF THIS BUDGET WITH MANY OF OUR SPECIFIC SUB TOPICS. IN THE CASE OF THIS PARTICULAR
HEARING SERVICES, UH, THAT ARE EITHER COMPLETELY OR PARTIALLY CENTRAL FUNDED OR THINGS UH, WE CAN UH, EXPECT OUR PANELISTS TO BE EXPECTED TO BE ABLE TO
ADDRESS UM, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THIS HEARING I THINK AFTER THIS AFTERNOON'S HEARING I BELIEVE TOMORROW AS WELL. NOW THESE MATTERS WERE SPONSORED BY MAYOR MICHELLE WU WHEN REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE
ON APRIL 8TH, UH, 2026. IS THAT RIGHT? UM, UM I'M NOT SURE THAT'S WHEN THIS IS REFERRED BUT ANYWAY, UH, TODAY I'M JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL,
UH, COUNCILOR BREADON COUNCILOR FITZGERALD AND I RECEIVED A LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM COUNCILOR FLYNN. NO, I'M JUST KIDDING. HE'S RIGHT HERE AND HE WAS HERE FIRST. UM, I HAVE RECEIVED, UH, A
LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM COUNCILOR CULPEPER. UM, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, BASED ON OUR PRACTICE WHERE WE'RE WAIVING UH, UH, OPENING STATEMENTS FROM COUNCILORS,
WHICH IS IF YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION, LET'S HEAR IT AND YOU KNOW, I WILL GIVE MY COLLEAGUES SOME MORE TIME SO THEY CAN MAKE ANY STATEMENT THEY WANT TO BEFORE THEY GET TO QUESTIONS. SO, UH, I JUST INTRODUCE THE
PANEL. UM, UH, WE'RE JOINED BY SUPERINTENDENT OF BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS MARY SKIPPER, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS DAVID BLOOM CHIEF STUDENTS A CHIEF
OF STUDENT SUPPORT FOR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. UH CORY MCCARTHY, SENIOR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF OPERATIONS DOCTOR SAM DE PINA, UH DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF ACADEMICS UH DOCTOR SIMON. RIGHT.
UH, WELCOME. UH, THIS IS YOUR FIRST BUDGET PROCESS WITH US, RIGHT? UH, SECONDARY UH, SUPERINTENDENT FOR COLLEGE CAREER AND LIFE READINESS, UH, BRETT DICKENS IS THAT OKAY?
UH, AND, UM, DID I HAVE ALL THE PANELS I HAD, UH, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATIONAL OPERATIONS CARLOS DIAZ ON THE ON THE LIST. OKAY. HERE. OKAY, GREAT. UM, SO AVAILABLE TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS. SO IF YOU HAVE, UH, PRESENTATION, UH, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO CONVEY, UH, NOW'S YOUR. WONDERFUL I JUST HAVE, UM, SOME OPENING COMMENTS AND THEN WE'LL JUST GET RIGHT INTO
COUNCIL QUESTIONS. UH, SO FIRST I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU COUNCIL WEBER COUNCIL FITZGERALD IS VICE CHAIR AND ALL OF OUR CITY COUNCILORS. UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE BEING INVITED HERE TODAY TO
OFFICIALLY BEGIN THE FY 27 COUNCIL BUDGET PROCESS, GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR $1.73 BILLION BUDGET SPENDING FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, AFTER TWO MONTHS OF PUBLIC HEARINGS, ROBUST DISCUSSION AND COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, THE BOSTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THE BUDGET ON MARCH 25TH.
TODAY BEGINS THE NEXT STEP IN OUR BUDGET PROCESS. I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCILOR WEBER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP DURING THIS BUDGET SEASON. WE APPRECIATE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO OUTLINE OUR
BUDGET PLANNING AND OVERALL STRATEGY EARLY IN THE PROCESS AS THE CITY COUNCIL HAS GIVEN US OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS . YOU KNOW MANY MEMBERS OF MY TEAM FOR THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE WORKING SESSION THAT
WAS HELD ON MARCH 5TH WHERE WE HAD OUR INITIAL BUDGET CONVERSATION AND YOU'LL SEE MANY OF THE TOPICS THAT WE DISCUSSED REFLECTED IN OUR FY 27 BUDGET. AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE OUR
CONSTITUENTS. THEY'RE THE SAME STUDENTS, PARENTS, CAREGIVERS THAT ATTEND OUR SCHOOLS AND WE KNOW THAT WHEN YOU ADVOCATE FOR PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES ON BEHALF OF THEM ,YOU'RE ALSO SPEAKING FOR OUR
SCHOOL COMMUNITIES, OUR FAMILIES AND OUR STUDENTS. UM, AS COUNCILOR WEBER INDICATED, THERE'S A FULL PANEL HERE TODAY TO GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION AND ANSWER AS MANY
OF THE QUESTIONS AS YOU HAVE. UM, EACH BUDGET CYCLE FOR US IS DIFFERENT. IT PRESENTS OUR OWN DIFFERENT CHALLENGES. SINCE WE FIRST BEGAN DISCUSSING OUR FY 27 BUDGET PLANS LAST
FALL, WE'VE BEEN FULLY TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES WE'RE FACING AS A DISTRICT AND HOW WE'RE ADDRESSING THEM. THEY'RE ACTUALLY VERY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THE STATE
ARE ALSO FACING, UM, THESE PRESSURES THAT WE'RE FACING INCLUDE RISING COSTS OF HEALTH INSURANCE, TRANSPORTATION, INCREASED SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING OBLIGATIONS.
THIS CREATES A GREAT DEAL OF TENSION IN OUR BUDGET, WHICH IS FURTHER COMPLICATED BY A HISTORIC ENROLLMENT DECLINE DUE IN PART LARGELY FOR FEDERAL IMMIGRATION POLICY AND LOWER BIRTH RATES.
IT'S THROUGH THIS LENS WE BEGAN OUR BUDGET PLANNING LAST FALL BOTH AT SCHOOLS AND CENTRALLY WORKING CLOSELY WITH SCHOOLS AND CENTRAL OFFICE DEPARTMENTS. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS
WE'VE IDENTIFIED OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES AND REDUCTIONS THAT PROTECT OUR PRIORITIES. WE ELIMINATED COSTS THAT NO LONGER DIRECTLY BENEFIT STUDENTS BY FUNDING OPERATIONAL
EFFICIENCIES IN THE AREAS OF TRANSPORTATION SAFETY SERVICES, FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES. THESE ARE NOT CHOICES THAT WE EVER MAKE LIGHTLY, BUT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW US TO
ALLOCATE 93% OF OUR FUNDING TO SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT AND BENEFIT OUR SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOMS. THESE DECISIONS WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING AND BUILDING ON OUR LONG TERM
INVESTMENTS. THE USE OF HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS IN EVERY SCHOOL, THE USE OF HIGH IN THE USE OF UM ONGOING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INCLUSIVE EDUCATION PLAN STRONG ACADEMICS
ESPECIALLY WITH A FOCUS ON LITERACY, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS FOR OUR STUDENTS, BILINGUAL PROGRAM EXPANSION AND STRENGTHENING OUR EXISTING PROGRAMS AND CONTINUING TO BUILD COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS FOR OUR SECONDARY
SCHOOLS. THIS BUDGET ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN WHAT'S WORKING AND HAVING THE GREATEST IMPACT ON STUDENT SUCCESS. LAST MONTH WE CELEBRATED A MAJOR MILESTONE FOR OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS HIGHEST
GRADUATION RATE IN THE DISTRICT'S HISTORY AND ALMOST A FULL PERCENTAGE DECREASE IN OUR ANNUAL DROPOUT, DSE DATA SHOWED THE DISTRICT'S 2024 FOUR YEAR
COHORT GRADUATION RATE INCREASED 81.3%, WHICH WAS A FULL 1.6 PERCENTAGE INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, MARKING THE STRONGEST GRADUATION OUTCOME FOR OUR DISTRICT SINCE
WE BEGAN KEEPING RECORD IN 2006 . THIS MEANS OVER 400 MORE STUDENTS GRADUATED IN THE 2025 COHORT COMPARED TO THE 2024. SIMULTANEOUSLY, WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY THE CONTINUING
DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS LEAVING SCHOOL BEFORE EARNING A DIPLOMA. OUR ANNUAL DROPOUT RATE FELL TO 3.6%, WHICH WAS ALMOST A FULL PERCENTAGE DECREASE FROM THE
PREVIOUS YEAR AND THAT WOULD HAVE REPRESENTED THE LOWEST RATE ON RECORD ASIDE FOR THE PANDEMIC YEAR OF 2021. THIS DECREASE REFLECTS OVER 100 LESS STUDENTS AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT A FACE TO
THESE STATS. WE ATTRIBUTE THE GROWTH IN PART TO IMPORTANT DISTRICT WIDE INVESTMENTS THAT YOU HAVE ALLOWED US AS COUNCIL THAT WE'VE MADE IN STRENGTHENING INSTRUCTION AND STUDENT SUPPORTS, EXPANDING EARLY
COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS AND ADDRESSING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM WHICH IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE TOPICS OF TODAY'S HEARING. THE DECREASE CAN ALSO BE ATTRIBUTED TO SOME OF THE WORK OF OUR RE-ENGAGEMENT TEAM, WHICH CONSISTENTLY CONNECTS
WITH STUDENTS WHO'VE DROPPED OUT AND HELPS THEM TO TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO GRADUATE. THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW OUR FISCAL DECISIONS ARE MOVING TO DIRECT THE DISTRICT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING MORE DETAILS ABOUT IT AS WE BUILD ON THE MOMENTUM OF THIS HEARING AND AT THE HEARINGS THIS AFTERNOON AND TOMORROW. THIS MORNING WE'RE EXCITED TO SHARE DETAILS ABOUT INITIATIVES, PROGRAMS, SERVICES
THIS BUDGET SUPPORTS THAT ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE WHOLE CHILD AND OUR STUDENTS PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. AND LATER TODAY MY TEAM WILL EXPLAIN HOW OUR INVESTMENTS IN OPERATIONS MEAN THAT THEY WILL
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH NUTRITIOUS, HEALTHY MEALS, TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND SAFE CLEAN FACILITIES ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING THIS WINTER'S HISTORIC SNOW. TODAY WILL ALSO TAKE A DEEPER
TOMORROW. WE'LL ALSO TAKE A DEEPER LOOK AT OUR CORE WORK IN ACADEMICS, INCLUDING OUR PROGRESS IN ROLLING OUT INCLUSIVE EDUCATION ,SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, PROGRAMING FOR MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS AS WELL AS
PARTNERSHIPS, STUDENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, SUMMER PROGRAMING AND HOW WE ARE SUPPORTING STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN SCHOOLS THAT ARE CLOSING AND MERGING. THE GOAL OF THESE HEARINGS IS
TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF OUR SPENDING, HOW WE MAKE DECISIONS, HOW THOSE DECISIONS ARE DIRECTLY BENEFITING AND IMPACTING OUR STUDENTS.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COLLABORATION AND CONTINUING TO PUT OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FIRST IN OUR CITY SO THAT THAT TEACHER. LOOKS OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH COUNCILOR FLYNN, WE'RE GOING TO GO SEVEN MINUTES UH, FOR A FIRST ROUND I DO THINK THERE'S, UH, ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT A FIRE COMMISSIONER TAKING PLACE RIGHT
NOW I THINK, UH, SO THAT MIGHT EXPLAIN MORE OF MY COLLEAGUES WILL BE SHOWING UP AFTER THAT'S OVER. UM, SO COUNCILOR FLYNN SEVEN MINUTES. THANK THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.
AND THANK YOU TO, UM, SUPERINTENDENT SKIPPER AND OUR TEAM FOR BEING HERE. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ MUCH OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2027
ADOPTED BUDGET BOOK THAT WAS PROVIDED TO US AND CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON IT. UM, ONE ONE ISSUE I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND JUST REVIEWING
REVIEWING MY NOTES BUT UM AS IT RELATES TO UM STUDENT ATHLETES ,UM WHY DOESN'T THE ATHLETES HAVE THE SAME KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES AS STUDENTS IN
SURROUNDING DISTRICTS AND WHY. CAN'T WE ADD MORE ASSISTANT COACHES FOR TEAMS AND PROGRAMS? UM WITH MANY WITH MANY STUDENTS. >> UH. THERE SHOULD BE A CLEAR PROCESS
FOR ASSISTANT COACHES AS WELL. I KNOW WE ARE EXPERIENCING CUTS BUT I DO BELIEVE THIS THIS SHOULD BE A PRIORITY ANY ANY FEEDBACK ON THAT ISSUE. WE THINK.
>> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. UH MY NAME IS CORY MCCARTHY. UM GOOD QUESTION. SO UH WE HAVE OTHER THAN.
THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS UM, ASSISTANT COACHES UM, HAVE NOT BEEN BUILT HISTORICALLY. IT WAS NOT BUILT INTO THE FUNDING MODEL, UM, FOR ATHLETICS.
UH, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE WORKED HARD TO TO CHANGE OVER THE PAST 2 OR 3 YEARS. UM, CURRENTLY STUDENTS UM THAT'S TO MAKE SCHOOLS HAVE UM
JV IF YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS YOU GET AN APPROPRIATE UM ASSISTANT COACH OR A JUNIOR VARSITY COACH. SO IF YOU HAVE A FOR INSTANCE IF YOU HAVE LOW NUMBERS IN
VARSITY AND YOU HAVE LESS THAN TWO YEAR ALLOTTED ROSTER, MOST TEAMS ARE UM ARE NOT AFFORDED THE UM THE THE JV COACH WHICH SERVES AS THE ASSISTANT COACH
HAVING A MODEL ACROSS 31 SCHOOLS IN COMPARISON TO OTHER DISTRICTS WHO TEND TO HAVE LIKE A SINGLE SCHOOL MODEL LIKE A REDDING OR WOODBURN THEY HAVE A SINGLE SCHOOL MODEL AND THEY'RE
ALLOWED TO UM TO BUDGET FOR THAT ASSISTANT COACH GIVEN THAT WE HAVE MULTIPLE TEAMS AND UH SOME RESTRICTIONS ON THE BUDGET
,WE ARE NOT ABLE TO AFFORD TO PROVIDE A COACH, AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ASSISTANT TO THE HEAD COACH FOR THE TEAM. THERE ARE SOME AREAS WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT BASED ON
THE PARTICULAR NUMBERS, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING TO SYSTEMIZE IN TERMS OF TRIGGERING AN ASSISTANT COACH FEEL LIKE HAVING MORE. SO IF YOU'RE A SCHOOL NOW THAT
HAS A ROSTER OF 12, UH, YOU HAVE A HEAD COACH BUT IF YOU'RE ANOTHER SCHOOL HAS 36 THAT'S NOT FAIR FOR THAT HEAD COACH. SO WE WORK WE WORK OUR CHANNELS TO TRY TO HIRE UM SOME SUPPORT
FOR THAT COACH. WELL THANK YOU I, I DO BELIEVE THAT EVERY. SCHOOL THAT HAS A TEAM SHOULD HAVE A PAID ASSISTANT COACH. I DO THINK IT'S CRITICAL IT
SUPPORTS THE STUDENTS WITH MENTORSHIP. IT IS IT SUPPORTS A STUDENT WITH ATHLETICS AND UH HELPING THAT STUDENT NAVIGATE AND GET THEIR HOMEWORK DONE AND UM,
COUNSELING. BUT I DO THINK AN ASSISTANT COACH IS IS CRITICAL AND I DO WANT TO KIND OF CHALLENGE MY CITY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ON ON THAT ISSUE THAT ASSISTANT
COACHES ARE IMPORTANT AS UH, COACHES. LET ME LET ME GO ON TO UM ANOTHER ANOTHER ISSUE. UM THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. UM.
ONE OF THE ISSUES ONE OF THE CONCERNS I HAD UH, SUPERINTENDENT IS I LISTEN CLOSELY TO THE THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE VOTE TWO WEEKS AGO AND OBVIOUSLY HAVE RESPECT FOR
YOU BUT I ALSO HAVE RESPECT FOR, UM, THE CHAIR OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE, UH, MISS ROBINSON BUT SHE MENTIONED THAT SHE WISH THERE WAS A BEFORE SHE VOTED. SHE WISH THERE WAS AN AUDIT
DONE ON THE BUS. UM, AND SHE'S BEEN IN THE SYSTEM KNOWS THE SYSTEM AS WELL AS AS WELL AS ANYBODY WELL RESPECTED EDUCATOR UM AND AND
THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT COMMENT SHE BROUGHT FORWARD. DO YOU AGREE WITH HER AND. WHAT WHAT ARE WE DOING TO
SUPPORT SOMEONE LIKE CHAIR ROBINSON THAT THAT NEEDS THAT DATA SO SHE'S ABLE TO. ASK BETTER QUESTIONS. SHE NEEDS THAT DATA TO TO BE A BETTER SCHOOL SCHOOL COMMITTEE PERSON.
SHE'S AN EXCEPTIONAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE PERSON BUT SHE DOES NEED THAT DATA AND SO SO. DOES THE THE CITY COUNCIL. GREAT. >> SO THANK YOU COUNCILOR FLYNN AND ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY FOR THE SCHOOLS.
UM SO UH I HAVE IMMENSE RESPECT FOR CHAIR ROBINSON. UM SHE'S BEEN MY CHAIR SINCE I STARTED AND I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT UM, I ACTUALLY SPOKE WITH HER LAST NIGHT AND THEN
TODAY, UM, ABOUT THIS COMMENT AND, UM, I THINK WHAT WAS IMPORTANT IS TO IN THE MEETING ITSELF, DOCTOR ALKINS HAD ACTUALLY PREVIOUSLY SPOKEN ABOUT THE NEED AND THE
IMPORTANCE MOVING FORWARD OF MAKING SURE WHEN WE'RE DOING PRESENTATIONS OR TALKING ABOUT INITIATIVES IN DPS THAT WE CAN ALIGN IT BACK TO THE RESOURCES WE'RE SPENDING THAT THAT WOULD
BE VERY HELPFUL TO SCHOOL COMMITTEE TO THEN GET A BROADER PICTURE OF HOW THE BUDGET IS OR ISN'T SUPPORTING THE PRIORITIES WE HAVE. CHAIR ROBINSON, UH, WAS
RESPONDING AND BUILDING OFF OF DOCTOR ORKIN'S COMMENT WHEN SHE SAID UM THAT YOU KNOW, IT'S TIME FOR US TO TALK ABOUT HOW IS THE $1.7 BILLION OF THE
BUDGET UH, HOW DOES THAT SUPPORT AND ALIGN THE WORK SHE USE THE TERM AUDIT WHICH AUDIT HAS A LOT OF MEANING WITHIN THE FISCAL WORLD. BUT IN TALKING WITH CHAIR
ROBINSON, WHAT SHE WAS REALLY ASKING FOR AND I 100% AGREE IS THAT FOR THE DISTRICT IT IS INCUMBENT WHEN WE ARE PRESENTING INFORMATION THAT WE ARE PROVIDING SUPPORTING DATA
TO SHOW HOW THE INVESTMENTS WE'RE MAKING ARE PAYING OFF WITH STUDENT OUTCOME THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN A FISCAL AUDIT AND IT WAS A FORWARD LOOKING COMMENT NOT ON THE CURRENT
BUDGET OR FY 27. WHAT YEAR ROBINSON OFFERED IS SHE'S I KNOW THAT SHE'S HAD CONVERSATIONS I THINK WITH YOU COUNCILOR WEBER AND I THANK YOU COUNCILOR BREADON SHE'S WILLING TO TALK TO ANY COUNSELOR TO
EXPLAIN THE CONTEXT OF THE COMMENT, BUT SHE WASN'T SUGGESTING THAT WE DO A FISCAL AUDIT OF DPS AT THIS MOMENT OF TIME. IT'S MUCH MORE AROUND THE CALIBRATION AND COORDINATION OF THE WORK.
THANK YOU. >> SUPERINTENDENT. UM, SUPERINTENDENT, YOU AND I HAVE BEEN A UH WE'VE TALKED AT LENGTH ABOUT THE BLACKSTONE SCHOOL. I KNOW YOU'RE ROLLING THE
SCHOOL IS ROLLING OUT A NEW DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM CONTINUING TO ROLL OUT A DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM. MR CHAIR. IF YOU'D LIKE TO FINISH. OKAY, OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO BE RESPECTFUL
TO MY COLLEAGUES. UM, SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE WHAT SERVICES ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS ARE RECEIVING AT THE BLACKSTONE HOW THIS WILL
SUPPORT THEM, HOW IT WILL SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND STUDENTS THAT ALSO UM DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH. HOW WILL WE SUPPORTING THEM BUT ALSO HOW WILL WE SUPPORTING
THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL. GREAT. >> UH AND I KNOW YOU'RE A TRUE CHAMPION FOR THE BLACKSTONE UM ,WONDERFUL PRINCIPAL. UH, COURTNEY, SHIFT BACK OVER THERE. UM, SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE
NEW LANGUAGE THAT WE ARE ROLLING OUT AND IN FACT WE'RE INTENDING TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE PROGRAMS AND TOMORROW WE'LL HAVE A PRETTY ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS IN DETAIL. BUT I THINK LONG AND SHORT WITH THE BLACKSTONE AS THE DUAL
LANGUAGE PATHWAY FOR SPANISH IS ROLLING UP, IT'S EVERYTHING FROM ACCESS UH TO MATERIALS THAT ARE IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORTS
UH ON BOTH SIDES UH CULTURAL EXPERIENCE AND UM OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO EXPLORE BEYOND JUST LANGUAGE. UH IT'S REALLY HAVING STAFF WHO ARE BILINGUAL CERTIFIED SO THAT
THEY ARE APPROPRIATE TO TEACH IN THE DUAL LANGUAGE PATHWAY THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ACTUAL DUAL LANGUAGE PATHWAY VERSUS UH STUDENTS WHO MAY BE RECEIVING SUPPORT IN ESL AND
ACCESS TO NATIVE LANGUAGE IN OTHER WAYS IN SCHOOLS. SO THE BLACKSTONE IS ONE OF THE FLAGSHIPS FOR AS WE BUILD THIS OUT THE DUAL LANGUAGE IT HAD A GREAT DEAL OF EDUCATORS WHO
ALREADY WERE BILINGUAL UH, IN THEY WERE ALREADY DOING MUCH OF THE WORK NEEDED TO SET A FOUNDATION FOR DUAL LANGUAGE. THEY ALSO HAVE A VERY STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FAMILIES AS YOU KNOW WITH SAINT
STEPHEN'S IN PARTNERSHIP, THEIR PARENT MENTORING WHICH WE'VE ADVOCATED FOR UM, REPEATEDLY ALL OF THAT COMES TOGETHER AT THE BLACKSTONE AS A WAY OF REALLY IMMERSING THE STUDENT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN A DUAL
LANGUAGE PATH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WELCOME. >> OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCIL COUNCIL PRESIDENT BREADON. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. UM. >> I'D LIKE TO UM ONE THE ATHLETICS PIECE IS REALLY
SOMETHING IS A BIG CONCERN IN OUR DISTRICT. HOW MANY, UM, REGIONAL ATHLETIC COORDINATORS ARE THERE AND WHAT IS THEIR ROLE. CURRENTLY WE HAVE THREE
REGIONAL ATHLETIC COORDINATORS FOR THIS YEAR. UH, THEIR ROLE IS TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS, UM, THAT PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICE SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOLS, MAKE SURE THAT THERE
IS COMPLIANCE IN TERMS OF EITHER SCHOOL, UH, ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY FOLKS WHO HAVE WHO NEED PHYSICALS TO MAKE SURE THAT UM THAT THAT IS APPROPRIATE THOSE UH NAMES ARE
APPROPRIATED UM, THEIR ROLE IS TO ALSO SUPPORT WITH SOME EQUIPMENT MATTERS UM SERVING AS THE DIRECT LIAISON BETWEEN THE SCHOOLS AND THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A MODEL WHERE YOU, UM, CAN CONNECT WITH EITHER MYSELF THE CHIEF OR UM OR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SPORTS ADMINISTRATION.
WE RUN A VERY OPEN DEPARTMENT SO THAT BUT MAJORITY OF THEIR TASKS ARE RELATED TO THE SCHOOLS. SO UM, WE'VE HEARD FROM STAFF AND STUDENTS AND PARENTS
REGARDING THE CONSENT FORMS. UM, IS THERE IF THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH GETTING THE CONSENT FORMS? UM, WHO WHO DO FAMILIES CONTACT ? IS THERE AN INTERMEDIARY PERSON
THAT THAT HELPS GUIDE PEOPLE THROUGH THAT PROCESS? I'M SORRY THE FORMS ARE AVAILABLE IN MORE THAN ENGLISH. UM ABSOLUTELY. THEY'RE AVAILABLE VIA DOCUSIGN IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES CURRENTLY .
UH WE ARE HOPING TO TRANSITION THAT TO PARENTS SQUARE WHICH IS OUR SORT OF MEDIATING TOOL FOR COMMUNICATION FOR OUR PARENTS WILL MAKE IT MORE EASIER AND ACCESSIBLE. UM, CURRENTLY YOU KNOW, IF
THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH A CONSENT FORM THEY CAN CONTACT A REGIONAL ATHLETIC WORN UH REGIONAL ATHLETIC COORDINATOR. UH, FROM THERE, YOU KNOW, WE DO THE SAME THING FOR PHYSICALS. WE HAVE OUR WE HOST OUR PPE
EVENT WHICH IS COMING UP ON UH, MAY 16TH AT MADISON PARK WHERE WE PROVIDE FREE PHYSICALS FOR YOUNG FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THAT'S SORT OF LED BY OUR REGIONAL ATHLETIC COORDINATORS AS WELL. AND THEY COULD ALSO GET SUPPORT
FROM THEIR COACHES AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL THEMSELVES SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION UM UM TO ALSO SUPPORT WITH GETTING OUR SYSTEM. IS THERE SOMEONE IN CENTRAL OFFICE WHO CHECKS THE FORMS AND
WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S UM UH WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S A MISTAKE IN THE FORMS WHO FOLLOWS UP WITH PARENTS AND COACHES TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING'S SO THAT KIDS DON'T MISS OUT ON THEIR PROGRAMS.
THE EITHER THE THE REGIONAL ATHLETIC ATHLETIC COORDINATOR OR SOMEONE ON THE ATHLETIC STAFF WILL CONTACT THE COACHES . IF THERE'S A FURTHER DISCREPANCY WE WILL CONTACT THE SCHOOL THE SCHOOL BASED
ATHLETIC UM COORDINATOR EACH SCHOOL TO UM FOR THE MOST PART HAS AN ATHLETIC COORDINATOR WHO WHO LEADS THAT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE REGIONAL ATHLETIC COORDINATOR WHICH LEAVES OUT A
UH OUT OF ATHLETICS TO THE SCHOOL. THEN THEY COULD CONTACT THE SCHOOL LEADER IF POSSIBLE. AND UM, DO WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH COLLEGES TO PROVIDE TRAINERS?
UM, BUT DO WE HAVE ANY PARTNERSHIPS WITH COLLEGES TO PROVIDE TRAINERS. CURRENTLY AS IT STANDS WE HAVE A VERY STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH UM MDH. UH, BUT YOUR QUESTIONS AROUND
COLLEGES WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS UM GETTING MORE SUPPORT FROM COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND PARTICULARLY OUR PPE EVENT COMING UP. UH, WE HOPE TO HAVE LASALLE UM COLLEGE OUT OF NEW AND JOIN US
. UM, AND THEN WE'RE HOPING TO ADD INTERNS WHO COULD SUPPORT US UM, WITH THE ATHLETIC TRAINING WE DO HAVE A CENTRALIZED ATHLETIC TRAINING OFFICE AT MADISON WHICH MADISON
PARK WHICH SERVES AS SORT OF LIKE THE CENTRAL AREA WHERE FOLKS COULD GET SUPPORT. BUT I'M DEFINITELY PROUD TO SAY THAT OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE FALLEN INTO COMPLIANCE WHEN IT
COMES TO HAVING AN ATHLETIC TRAINER AT EVERY GAME. OKAY, UM I'D LIKE TO RUN BACK TO THE ISSUE BUT THE AUDIT I'VE RAISED THIS ISSUE IN A PREVIOUS
YEARS BUT UM, IN 2017 UH INTERNAL AUDITOR AND IN BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS DECEMBER 6TH, 2017 RECOMMENDED THAT THERE WOULD BE UM AN INTERNAL AUDIT
UM AN INTERNAL AUDIT TASK FORCE. WHAT WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT OR THAT WAS IT DID EXIST AT THAT TIME AND WHY DID UM AND WHY DID THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE NOT ADOPT
THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR UM UH WHAT DOES A CHIEF AUDIT EXECUTIVE POSITION AND UM THAT WAS NEVER FELT LIKE I THINK ONE THING THAT CONCERNS US AS A
COUNCIL I THINK I SPEAK FOR MY COLLEAGUES IS THAT UM, IT'S SCHOOL BUDGETS KEEP KEEPING GOING UP, OUR SCHOOL POPULATION KEEPS GOING DOWN.
AND IN THIS MOMENT RIGHT NOW CENTRAL SERVICES CENTRAL OFFICE IS GETTING MORE AND MORE MONEY'S BEEN BUDGETED FOR
CENTRAL OFFICE THAN FOR SCHOOLS AND UM IT JUST FOR FOLKS WHO WANT TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND IT UM IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A SENSE THAT THERE WAS SOMEBODY
UM UH WAS INVOLVED DAY TO DAY KEEPING A TIGHT, TIGHT UM, ACCOUNTABILITY IN TERMS OF WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING. I THINK UM, YOU HAVE A HUGE
BUREAUCRACY AND IT IS A IT'S NOT HUGE MASSIVE BUT IT'S IT'S A BIG BUREAUCRACY WITH LOTS OF LAYERS OF ADMINISTRATION AND YOU KNOW, THINGS GET LOST IN THE WEEDS. BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS
OF GOOD GOVERNANCE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE RAISED OVER SEVERAL YEARS AT THIS POINT. YEAH IT REALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE SEE SOME MORE. I THINK WE ECHO I KNOW I'VE
SPOKEN WITH KIND OF UM CHAIR ROBINSON AND AND I THINK SHE UM YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY HAS SOME CONCERNS BUT I THINK WE MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY BE ON THE SAME PAGE BUT MORE TRANSPARENCY AND MORE ACCOUNTABILITY WOULD BE GOOD.
YEAH. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND I DO THINK WE'RE ACTUALLY ALL ON THE SAME PAGE ON THIS I THINK UM I CAN'T ANSWER FOR WHAT HAPPENED AFTER 2017 TO WHEN I CAME IN.
I THINK IT WAS A LOT OF LEADERSHIP CHANGE AND I THINK SOME THINGS JUST DIDN'T GET ENACTED IN THE WAY THAT THEY NEEDED TO MOSTLY BECAUSE THERE WASN'T STEADY LEADERSHIP.
BUT I THINK COMING IN WITH THE SYSTEMIC IMPROVEMENT PLAN UM, OUR DISTRICT AS A WHOLE WHEN I TALK TO MY COLLEAGUES AROUND THE COUNTRY UH, AND CERTAINLY IN THE STATE OUR DISTRICT IS
HAS LITERALLY BEEN UNDER A MICROSCOPE FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS IN IN A GOOD WAY. I THINK THE SYSTEMIC IMPROVEMENT PLAN REALLY AUDITED ALL PARTS OF THE PROGRAMMATIC
COMPONENTS OF INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, UH AND FACILITIES. WE COMMISSIONED THE COUNCIL OF GREAT CITY SCHOOLS, WHICH IS A WELL-RESPECTED ORGANIZATION NATIONALLY TO ACTUALLY DO DEEP AUDITS IN
THOSE AREAS. UH, AS WELL AS SINCE THEN HAVE DONE THAT WITH PROCUREMENT IN AREAS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION. UH, IN A CURRENTLY DOING THAT WITH OHC AND THE OFFICE OF MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS.
SO WE ARE VERY MUCH ABOUT WANTING CONTINUOUS PROGRESS TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING AS WELL AS WE COULD. UM WE HAVE THE SAME SHARED GOAL WITH CHAIR ROBINSON AND THE REST OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND YOU TO ENSURE THAT OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT WHICH IS OUR STUDENTS THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE OUR BUDGET SUPPORTS THAT IN IS GETTING THE BIGGEST BANG FOR THE DOLLARS WE GET AND
BEING GOOD STEWARDS UH ALL OF THOSE AUDITS ARE PUBLIC. THEY'RE ALL ON OUR WEBSITE. WE'VE BEEN THE BUDGET BOOK HAS COME BACK LIKE THE THINGS THAT FELL UM DURING LEADERSHIP
TRANSITION WE'VE BROUGHT BACK AND I THINK BEEN RESPONSIVE TO COUNCIL WHEN THEY'VE ASKED FOR PARTICULAR THINGS TO PROVIDE THOSE AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO.
UM, I DO THINK THAT IN A PLACE LIKE PPS DOING THE AUDIT RELATIVE TO THE AREA OF THE ORGANIZATION SUCH AS SPECIAL EDUCATION SUCH AS OUR MULTILINGUAL LEARNER AUDIT THAT
MATTERS BECAUSE IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE PROGRAMMATIC HOW THAT IS WORKING AND THEN WHAT ARE THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT THAT CONTINUES TO BUILD. THAT'S REALLY THE HEALTHIEST
WAY IN PUBLIC EDUCATION TO DO THOSE AUDITS. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING. UH, WE WILL CONTINUE AS COUNCILOR TO THE SCHOOLS TO DO THAT WILL CONTINUE. AND DAVID CAN SPEAK TO THIS JUST IN TERMS OF THE FISCAL UH
,COMPONENTS RELATIVE TO LIKE PROCUREMENT AUDIT. UM, BUT WE'RE VERY COMMITTED TO ALL OF THAT AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU REACHED OUT AND HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH CHAIR ROBINSON BECAUSE I THINK CHAIR
ROBINSON IS SPEAKING AS AN EDUCATOR TO SAY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS THE BEST FOR OUR KIDS. UH, THAT WAS THE SPIRIT OF THE COMMENT AND THAT'S CERTAINLY WHAT WE WILL HONOR IN MOVING
FORWARD, UH, WITH OUR SCHOOL COMMITTEE TO ENSURE WE DO IN THE BUDGET. THANK YOU. I THINK MY TIME'S UP. I'LL COME BACK FOR ANOTHER ROUND. YEAH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I MEAN YEAH, I I I I ALSO SPOKE
TO CHAIR ROBINSON I MEAN I JUST UH I THINK UM I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK FOR HER BUT IF AT SOME POINT SHE REVISITS THAT COMMENT I THINK UH YEAH.
I THINK I URGE ANYONE WHO'S REFERRING TO IT TO SORT OF MAYBE REACH OUT TO HER TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE THERE, YOU KNOW, ON THE SAME PAGE BECAUSE IF SHE COMES OUT AND SAYS SOMETHING. THAT WELL, THIS HAS BEEN
MISINTERPRETED AND YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE WE'RE SPINNING OUR WHEELS UH, MAYBE AND PEOPLE COULD BE IN FAVOR OF AN AUDIT, UH, JUST MAYBE, YOU KNOW, FIGURE OUT WHAT CHAIR ROBINSON
MEANT BY BY THAT COMMENT. UM, ANYWAY, THAT'S JUST HAVE I THINK ANYBODY REFERRING TO THAT COMMENT SHOULD PROBABLY REACH OUT TO CHAIR ROBINSON. UH AND TO WITH THAT WHAT THEY
MAY UH OKAY. SO, UH, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD THANK YOU CHAIR FOR REACHING OUT TO. >> ME I APPRECIATE IT THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. UH AS ALWAYS UH, UM I HAVE A
COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE ACTUALLY I'M GOING TO TRY AND HIT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THIS HEARING IS SUPPOSED TO SPECIFICALLY ON. BUT AS THESE HEARINGS GO, I ALSO JUST HAVE SOME GENERAL QUESTIONS THAT WE'LL GET INTO. UM. >> VERY QUICKLY TALKING TO JUST THE EASY FIRST QUESTION SHORT
AND SAID UH, THE BIRTH RATE TRENDS YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT BEING A REASON FOR IS THAT JUST BOSTON? ARE WE ON PAR NATIONALLY? ARE WE SEEING THAT ACROSS THE BOARD? IT'S A NATIONAL YEAH UM AND
DOING IT WHERE WE JUST RIGHT RIGHT THERE WITH EVERYONE ELSE. >> OR I DON'T AND. SO WHERE. >> WE. ARE RELATIVE BUT IT'S ACTUALLY A UM. GLOBAL YEAH BIRTH RATE IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES. >> IS A GLOBAL ISSUE NOT JUST IN UH, MASSACHUSETTS OR BOSTON
,MA. HAVING THREE KIDS. I DON'T BLAME ANYONE. UM, CAN WE TALK ABOUT, UH, THE NUMBERS. AROUND CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM? RIGHT.
UM, FIRST, WHAT ARE THE WHERE ARE WE WHAT'S THE TREND OR ANY NUMBERS AROUND WHERE WE ARE AT IN THE LAST YEAR? THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
UH, AS FAR AS CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AS OF, UM, FOR 1520, 26, UH, WE'RE HOVERING AROUND 90%. UM. >> THE TRENDS ARE WE HAVE
TRENDED UPWARD IN TERMS OF I'M SORRY DOWNWARD. IT'S HARD BRINGING IT DOWN SINCE COVID. UM AND IT FLUCTUATES ESPECIALLY GIVEN SOME OF THE UM IMMIGRATION ISSUES THAT
HAPPENED LAST YEAR UH, WHERE MANY STUDENTS UM WHERE WE SAW A DROP THERE BUT WE HAVE MAINTAINED OR UM STEPPED UP IN TERMS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE
STEPPED UP BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW ,SCHOOL IS OUR SAFE IS THE SAFEST PLACE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. UH, I THINK WHEN SOME OF THE CHALLENGES CAME NATIONALLY THERE WAS A FRACTURED TRUST. OUR TEAMS HAVE WORKED EXTREMELY
HARD TO REACH OUT TO FAMILIES, UM, CREATE TARGETED INTERVENTIONS, UM, DO THE WHAT WE WOULD CALL THE TIER THREE WORK CALLING HOUSES, SENDING OUT SURVEYS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SCHOOL BASED WE HAVE IMPROVED THE AREAS LIKE ADDING SCHOOL BASED ATTENDANCE TEAMS WHICH TALK ABOUT INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS AND ASSESSING THE REASONS WHY THEY DON'T COME TO SCHOOL, GETTING
THEM TO COME TO SCHOOL AND SUSTAINING THAT NUMBER SO THAT HAS LANDED WHILE IT'S NOT PERFECT UM, WE HAVE IMPROVED IN TERMS OF LOWERING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM EVERY DAY WE NEED
AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE TARGETED STRATEGIES TO DO THAT . YEAH. >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY CORE IS BEING MODEST. UM, SO INCREASE LEADERSHIP AND WITH THE TEAM WE HAVE NOW FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS DECREASED
CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM WHICH IS NOT PART OF THE NORM OF PATTERN ACROSS THE STATE OR IN THE NATION. UH WE SAID IT UH TODAY LIKE RIGHT AROUND 25 TO 26% WITH
CHRONICALLY ABSENT WITH A DAILY AVERAGE OF 90% IN SCHOOL. THOSE ARE REALLY POWERFUL NUMBERS. THE WORK THAT COREY HAS REALLY BEEN REALLY IMPACTFUL AND FOCUSED ON IS AT THE HIGH
SCHOOL LEVEL BECAUSE THIS IS THE THE NUT TO CRACK ACROSS THE STATE AND NATION. BUT WE ARE REGULARLY BROUGHT IN AS EXAMPLES AS A DISTRICT OF LEADING NATIONALLY WITH
CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM STRATEGIES . THAT'S BEEN A LOT OF THE STUDENT SUPPORT WORK THAT COREY'S LEADING WITH HIS SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE UH, WITH A LOT OF THE EMOTIONAL SOCIAL SUPPORTS THAT WE PROVIDE
LIKE THESE ARE ALL OF THE THINGS INCLUDING WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR TOMORROW IN TERMS OF ACADEMICS AND PROGRAMING BUILDING THINGS UP FOR KIDS WANTING TO COME TO SCHOOL. SO IT'S UH I JUST I NEED TO GIVE THAT SHOUT OUT BECAUSE WE
ARE REALLY A MODEL IN THIS AREA. GREAT. >> THANK YOU. >> AND I DON'T WANT TO JUMP IN ON YOUR TIME, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS THERE ARE THINGS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL COULD DO TO TO SUPPORT WITH THAT WE'RE HAPPY TO COLLABORATE.
UM SOME OF OUR STRATEGIES DO REQUIRE MORE MORE HUMANS AND ESPECIALLY HUMANS BUT WITH YOUR LEVEL OF EXPERTISE AND PERSPECTIVE AROUND SOME SPECIFIC STRATEGIES. GREAT. >> NO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU PRETTY MUCH ANSWERED THAT
MY THE FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO THAT IS WHAT DO YOU ALL SEE AS THE HURDLE? WE ALWAYS SEE ABSENTEEISM AS I TYPICALLY HEAR ABSENTEEISM STARTS AT THE HOME RIGHT THAT THAT'S A HOME ISSUE AND THAT'S
WHY THEY'RE NOT COMING IN. AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LEGAL LINE THAT WE CAN ALL NOT CROSS IN TERMS OF LIKE YOU CAN'T GO INTO SOMEONE'S HOME AND SAY HEY, THIS IS WHAT YOU GUYS SHOULD BE DOING OR YOU COULD SAY THAT BUT HE CAN'T ENFORCE
ANYTHING. UM, WHAT DO YOU GUYS SEE AS THE SORT OF UH, HARDEST PART ABOUT WHAT IS THE HURDLE THERE THAT THAT LINE ABOUT WE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH BEFORE WE ARE NOT
ALLOWED TO DO ANYTHING AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING MORE WE CAN DO IS THERE ANY WAYS TO FROM. >> THE LIKE OR LEGAL PERSPECTIVE OR LIKE OR JUST OVERALL. KNOW LIKE WELL YEAH. WITHIN WITH WITHIN WHAT YOU CAN DO AND WHAT IS IT THAT SORT. >> OF WHEN YOU.
REACH A POINT WHAT IS THAT. POINT THAT'S WHAT IS IT THAT STOPS YOU BE LIKE WHAT WE. SO WHAT I WANT TO DO IS. GREAT CAN. GREAT QUESTION MY ANSWER WOULD BE THERE'S NO POINT RIGHT THERE'S NO POINT RIGHT WE WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE
THINK WE'RE DOING WE ALWAYS COME BACK AND SAY DO MORE UH MAKE MORE PHONE CALLS, GET MORE FOOD, TRY TO STABILIZE FOLKS AS MUCH AS WE CAN. UM, WE FUNCTION IN STUDENT SUPPORT IN CRISIS MODE ALL THE
TIME. AND I THINK AS I MENTIONED EARLIER THERE IS A FRACTURED TRUST AND AND WE HAVE TO SORT OF LIKE MITIGATE THAT THROUGH LIKE MAKING SURE THAT FAMILIES
UM ARE ABLE TO TO TO TRUST NOT JUST THE THE THE SYSTEM IN GENERAL BECAUSE THERE IS A GENERAL CONSENSUS THAT IT IS IT HAS FAILED THEM BECAUSE THEY CAN'T YOU KNOW THEY DON'T LOVE
THEY DON'T LOVE IT HERE, THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE ENOUGH. BUT SCHOOL IS WHERE FOLKS ARE MOST SAFE AND ONCE WE REESTABLISH THAT THEY COME AND THAT'S WHAT'S WORKING. SO I GUESS THE ANSWER IS TO JUST DO MORE WHEN IT FEELS LIKE YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE.
BUT THE FEDERAL LANDSCAPE IS SOMETHING OUT OF OUR CONTROL AND FOR OUR IMMIGRANT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IT CAN BE A VERY SCARY TIME AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT TO COREY'S
POINT WE KEEP TRYING TO REASSURE AND REESTABLISH. BUT IT'S VERY HARD WHEN THEY TURN THE NEWS ON AND IT'S THE CONTRARY EVERY DAY I. >> CAN UNDERSTAND THAT. THANK YOU. UM SO A TWO PART QUESTION BUT THEY'RE COMPLETELY UNRELATED BUT JUST WANTED TO GET THEM
BOTH IN BEFORE THE TIME IS UP. UM, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT UH, PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN SCHOOLS UH ,FROM THE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION. AND WHAT WE CAN DO. FOR YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE'VE
TALKED IN THE PAST WITH EACH SCHOOL HAVING A PARTNER OR A WHATEVER TO SORT OF SUBSIDIZE OR GIVE A PROGRAM OR DO AN AFTER SCHOOL. AND WHERE WE. ARE WITH THAT AND HOW EARLY CAN
YOU START THE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION? I KNOW IT'S YOU KNOW AND THIS IT SAYS EARLY COLLEGE AND UH SO I'M THINKING HIGH SCHOOL BUT LIKE AND WE CAN GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO KINDERGARTEN RIGHT AND GET KIDS STARTING TO LEARN HOW
TO BE AN ENGINEER. UM AND ALSO THE SECONDARY TO THAT COMPLETELY UNRELATED IS UH. REVISITING SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS. UH, I KNOW THE MAYOR IN HER STATE OF THE UH EARLIER.
THIS YEAR DISCUSSED UM, YOU KNOW, REVISITING INTO UM THE ROLE. IN THE BUS BUDGET REVISITING SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS. >> LESS. TIME FOR. >> KIDS. ON THE BUS. UM, AND YOU GUYS HAVE ALL HEARD ME SAY MANY TIMES THAT EACH
CHILD'S OWN TRIPLE AA BOND RATING ACADEMICS, ATHLETICS AND ARTS AND HOW WE CAN REINVEST THAT BUS MONEY INTO ACADEMICS, ATHLETICS AND ARTS FOR OUR KIDS. SO PARTNERSHIPS AND SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS I GUESS.
GREAT. >> SO WE'RE GOING TO UM AND I'LL ALSO UH BRETT WILL ADDRESS THE CCT COMPONENT. BUT I THINK OUR HUB SCHOOL INITIATIVE IS REALLY AS WE'VE HAD CONVERSATION COUNCIL THIS
IDEA OF PARTNERS ORGANICALLY COMING WITHIN A SCHOOL AND REALLY STANDING THAT SCHOOL UP THAT IS THE HUB SCHOOL MODEL. WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT A BIT MORE TOMORROW. UM BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 20
SCHOOLS INCLUDING UH ESTABLISHING BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN ALL OF THOSE SCHOOLS AND THIS PLAYS OFF OF UM THE COMMITMENT THAT THE MAYOR MADE TO WANT TO SEE THAT
HAPPEN. UM, WE BELIEVE THAT FROM THE TIME THE STUDENTS THERE BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS TO AFTER SCHOOL WHEN THE PARENT PICKS UP WE NEED TO HAVE GOOD CONSTRUCTIVE HEALTHY OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS
AND FAMILIES. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE BUILDING TOWARD USING THE HUB SCHOOLS THE 20 OF THEM AS OUR INITIAL ONES IN THAT ONCE WE PROVE CONCEPT WE GET THE BLUEPRINT THEN WE CAN EXPAND IT.
UM ON THE CITY SIDE BRETT. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. UM, WE I WOULD ANSWER THIS IN TWO WAYS. ONE IS WE HAVE A SYSTEM UM, BY WHICH STUDENTS ARE DEVELOPING
UM, UH, CAREER AND ACADEMIC PLAN CALL IT MY CAP AND OUR GOAL IS TO IMPLEMENT THAT THOROUGHLY FROM FOURTH GRADE TO YOUR POINT ABOUT GOING INTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ALL THE WAY THROUGH 12TH GRADE.
UM IT HAS A SCOPE AND SEQUENCE . THERE ARE SCHOOL TEAMS UM, AT EVERY SITE THAT ARE TRAINED IN DELIVERING LESSONS TO STUDENTS SO THAT THEY CAN DEVELOP A PERSONALIZED PLAN OF THEIR
ACADEMIC TRAJECTORY, THEIR CAREER PLANS AND WHAT COURSEWORK, WHAT EXPERIENCES, WHAT INTERNSHIPS MAKE SENSE? UM, IN TERMS OF CTE, UM, OUR
GOAL IS FOR 100% OF STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN CAREER CONNECTED LEARNING AND CAREER CONNECTED LEARNING IS A CONTINUUM FROM A JOB SHADOW FROM A PANEL SPEAKER COMING INTO A SCHOOL ALL THE
WAY TO A SUMMER INTERNSHIP TO A CO-OP UM TO FULL EXPERIENCES IN CLINICAL WORK OR IN UM CONSTRUCTION SITES DEPENDING ON THAT STUDENTS CAREER UM INTEREST. SO REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE
STUDENT IS IN A CTE PROGRAM OR NOT, WE WANT ALL STUDENTS TO HAVE THAT CAREER CONNECTED LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND IT GOES IN DEPTH. WE WORKED VERY WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE PICK AS YOU KNOW, UM TO MAKE SURE THAT
STUDENTS OUTSIDE EXPERIENCES ARE ALIGNED TO THAT CAREER PLAN AND TO THE PROGRAM THAT THEY ARE. ENGAGED IN. >> GREAT. >> AND JUST ON THE ASSIGNMENT UM, WE CERTAINLY ARE WANTING TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE GOOD HIGH
QUALITY OPTIONS IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD OF OUR OUR CITY. UH, THAT IS THE GROUNDING OF A HEALTHY STUDENT ASSIGNMENT PLAN. IT IS ALSO RIGHT NOW UH, WITH OUR BUSSES, UM, NEEDING TO MOVE
STUDENTS ACROSS THE CITY TO GIVE ACCESS TO THAT. SO PART OF THE INCLUSION PLAN IS TO ENSURE THAT SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS HAVE ACCESS CLOSER TO HOME BY
SPREADING THAT ACCESS. SAME HOLDS TRUE WITH UH GENERAL EDUCATION STUDENTS. IT WILL TAKE TIME IS WE'RE WORKING HARD WITH THE HIGH QUALITY UM UH, STUDENT
EXPERIENCE TO CREATE ENOUGH SEATS SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT FAMILIES IN THE SPINE IN MATTAPAN, IN DORCHESTER, IN ROXBURY AND ASSURE THEM THAT THOSE SEATS ARE AVAILABLE.
THAT IS WHAT IS NEEDED BEFORE WITH THE REASSIGNMENT PROCESS. WE START DOWN A ROAD OF TALKING ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS AND I THINK I'VE SAID THIS PUBLICLY AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THIS
CONVERSATION BUT CLEARLY WHEN WE LOOK AT PARENT DATA, PARENTS WANT THEIR KIDS CLOSER TO HOME FOR LOTS OF REASONS ACCESSIBILITY EASIER TO GET TO KIDS CAN BE IN THE COMMUNITY
WITH THE KIDS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY WITH AFTER SCHOOL. SO THAT IS THE VISION WE'RE ALL MOVING TOWARD. BUT WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THE HISTORY IN OUR CITY TO NOT.
ASK PARENTS WHICH WE CURRENTLY DO TO COMPROMISE AS CLOSE TO HOME IF IT IS NOT A QUALITY SEAT. SO ONCE THAT HAPPENS, ONCE WE GET THOSE TIPPING POINTS OF HIGH QUALITY SEATS PARTICULARLY IN THE SPINE
THAT'S WHEN WE CAN REALLY START TO SEE PARENTS FEEL COMFORTABLE AND REASSURED THAT THEY CAN HAVE THEIR STUDENTS GO INTO THOSE THOSE. SCHOOLS COUNCIL WE HAVE 20 MORE SECONDS TO ADDRESS UH. >> ANOTHER.
PART OF THIS QUESTION. SO WE HAVE WORKED ALSO WORKED EXTREMELY HARD TO SUPPLEMENT UM WHAT MISS DICKENS IS WORKING ON WITH WITH HER TEAM BY HAVING CAREER EXPLORATORY LEARNING ERNE PROGRAMING UH WHERE
STUDENTS GET PAID TO DO UM IT WOULD HAVE PAST TWO YEAR STUDENTS AND THIS SUMMER COMING UP AND ACTUALLY OVER THE BREAK STUDENTS WILL UM EITHER RECEIVE A. STUDENT AS. EARLY AS SIXTH GRADE WILL
RECEIVE ONE COLLEGE CREDIT BY PARTICIPATING IN OUR ARTIST ART OF CHANGE PROGRAM WILL EXCEL COLLEGE UM STUDENTS WILL UM THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TURN THEIR CREATIVITY TO ART. UM EXPRESSIVE ART AND ART WILL
BE DISPLAYED IN THIS BUILDING UM THROUGH THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. UH, THEY'LL GO TO LASALLE FOR FOUR DAYS NEXT WEEK THEY'LL EAT ON CAMPUS. UM, AND WE HAVE OTHER
SUPPLEMENTARY PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE A WALL STREET PROGRAM WHERE THEY STUDENTS AS YOUNG AS 14 COULD BUILD A PORTFOLIO AND WE HAVE SUPPLEMENTARY PROGRAMS THAT OFFER TRADES LIKE LIKE
WHEN THE APPETITE FOR STUDENTS IN TRADES UM SUCH AS REAL ESTATE, BARBERING UM COSMETOLOGY AS WELL. SO THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS CREATE THIS SORT OF A HOLISTIC OPPORTUNITY.
MENU. WHILE THE UM DICKENS TEAM GETS TO BUILD THROUGH THE MCAT. THANK YOU THANK YOU CHAIR OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM LET'S SEE. SO UH I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON
UNHOUSED STUDENTS. UM, SO IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW, UM I MEAN WE WE'VE WORKED ON THE ACCESS TO COUNCILOR PROGRAM. WE TALKED ABOUT EHAB, CAN YOU JUST WALK ME THROUGH HOW THOSE
SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THIS NOW? UH, YOU KNOW, SO I THINK YOU KNOW, OPERATIONS STUDENT SUPPORTS AND THEN I THINK THERE'S IT'S THE OFFICE OF OPPORTUNITIES. YEAH. I DON'T KNOW.
YOU TALK ABOUT UM HOW STUDENTS YEAH YEAH OKAY. SO AS YOU KNOW WE HAVE OUR UM HOUSING EDUCATION RESOURCE NETWORK UM, THAT STUDENTS UM WE
HAVE OUR HOMELESS BASE, OUR SCHOOL BASED HOMELESS LIAISONS . AND ONCE FOLKS ARE MADE AWARE EITHER THROUGH THE STUDENT SUPPORT OR STUDENT SUCCESS TEAMS THAT A STUDENT IS UNHOUSED, UM, THEY THEN MAKE A
REFERRAL. UM, FROM THERE STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO GET ACCESS TO EITHER SOME IMMEDIATE RESOURCES OR GETTING GET PUT INTO THE UM POOL WHERE THEY COULD GET SUPPORT.
NOW I WILL SAY THAT THE EMERGENCY HOMELESSNESS INTERVENTION PROGRAM OF YOURS IS WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND WE HOPE WE COULD CONTINUE SOMETHING SIMILAR BECAUSE WHERE
WE'RE GOING UM, AS THE FISCAL CRISIS CONTINUES UM WE. WE DO NOT HAVE AS MUCH UH, FINANCIAL SUPPORT. UM, BUT WHAT THAT HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO AND WHAT THE HERN IS ABLE
TO DO IS TO SORT OF LIKE PREVENT EVICTIONS, JOB LOSS, UM UTILITY SHUTOFFS AND UM DOMESTIC INSTABILITY. UM, THERE IS A RAPID SHELTER TRACK THAT WE HAVE UM AND WE
TRY OUR BEST HERE WHETHER IT'S 30 DAYS OR 90 DAY STABILIZATION BUT IT'S AS YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU'RE IN THIS WORKING YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS WHERE IT IT'S ALL EITHER A CASE BY CASE
OR LIKE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THE GRACE PERIOD UNTIL WE COULD GET AS MUCH SUPPORT AS WE CAN EITHER FROM THE STATE OR THE CITY. BUT I WILL BE QUITE FRANK WITH YOU WE NEED A LOT OF SUPPORT IN
THAT AREA BECAUSE WE WERE DEPENDENT ON SOME ON SOME GRANTS THAT HELP MAKE THIS SUCCESSFUL. AND AND FOR THE STUDENTS THAT UM UH CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING UM SPRING OF CHALLENGES WHILE
THERE STILL ROLE SCHOOLS WE DO ALSO A FIVE TRANSPORTATION COMBINATION FOR WHEREVER THEY'RE LOCATED TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE COMING TO SCHOOL AND WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS TEAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S CONTINUITY IN THEIR EDUCATION. IN THE MEANTIME. THE SOCIAL WORKER IS CONNECTED
LIKE THE HOMELESS LIAISON IS REALLY PIVOTAL IN HELPING TO KIND OF CASE MANAGE AND ENSURE THAT ALL OF THE SUPPORTS BE THE ACADEMIC GETTING BACK AND FORTH
TO SCHOOL FAMILY COMMUNICATION TO BE HONEST WITH YOU IT'S THE STUDENTS THAT AREN'T LISTED AS HOMELESS BUT WE KNOW OUR HOUSE IN OUR HOME IN INSECURE PARTICULARLY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL
LEVEL THAT ARE OF MAJOR CONCERN BECAUSE UM, THEY DON'T FORMALLY IDENTIFY THE CULTURE OF UM AND YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOVE THE 5000. WE'VE JUST THESE HAVE BEEN EXPONENTIAL NUMBERS FOR US.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT STUDENTS WHO ARE 18 PLUS WHO SORT OF EXEMPT THAT SORT OF TAKES THEM OUT OF MUCH OF THE REQUIRED SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED. AND WE HAVE TO UNPACK UM SOME OF THAT DATA WILL LOVE TO
COLLABORATE ON THAT WITH OUR TEAM AROUND OTHER DATA POINTS SUCH AS FAMILIES WHO HAVE FOUR OR MORE KIDS IN A HOME THOSE PIECES UM, BUT OUR OVERALL GOAL
IS TO MOVE FROM FRAGMENTED PRACTICES TO MORE DATA DRIVEN SYSTEMS SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, MITIGATE THAT GRACE PERIOD SO THAT STUDENTS COULD GET STUDENTS AND FAMILIES CAN GET THE SUPPORT THEY NEED OKAY
. AND BUT OKAY, SO IT SEEMS LIKE THIS YEAR UP TO THIS YEAR YOU KNOW IN CENTRAL AND WITH THE OFFICE OF WHAT IS CALLED OPPORTUNITY YOUTH LIKE THAT'S
SORT OF THE THAT'S CONNECTING THE KIDS TO SERVICES AND YEP I YOU KNOW AND THAT SOMETHING IS CHANGING FOR NEXT YEAR. SO WHAT IS THE WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR FOR HOW TO
CONNECT THOSE 5000 PLUS KIDS TO THE SERVICES. ARE YOU MAKING ANY CHANGES? WE'RE WORKING WE'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY RIGHT NOW TO TRY AND PATCH FUNDING TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE WITH THE CURRENT PROGRAM. WELL, AND I WOULD ALSO JUST SAY THIS AS WELL THAT WORK IS A LARGE PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT
OF ORGANIZATIONS AND IT'S NOT JUST HINGED UPON THAT ONE DEPARTMENT. UM, THE WAY I WOULD DESCRIBE NEXT YEAR'S PLANNING IS MORE AROUND WE WENT THROUGH A PROCESS OF LAYERING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THE
SERVICES TO STUDENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE SERVICES SERVICES ARE STILL INTACT AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL AND ON THE GROUND AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. SO THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE. UM, WE MAY DO SOME
RESTRUCTURING REORGANIZING TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S UM DIFFERENT OVERSIGHT IN THE CONTINUATION OF PARTNERSHIPS AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE SEEKING GRANTS, WORKING WITH OUR CITY COLLEAGUES, WORKING
WITH OUR FAMILIES DIRECTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT CONTINUITY HAPPENS THAT WILL NOT BE DISRUPTED BY ANY MEANS. THE LEVEL OF SERVICE WHERE WE PROVIDE WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE WILL BE A QUESTION THAT WE'D LOVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU ON, BUT THE CONTINUITY
WILL HAPPEN. WE'RE JUST REORGANIZING HOW WE MANAGE THAT WORK. BUT THE. DAY TO DAY STUDENT EXPERIENCES AND SUPPORTS FAMILIES WILL BE THERE ON THE GROUND. OKAY YES I JUST YEAH SO RIGHT
NOW I THINK THOSE FAMILY LIAISONS I THINK THEY'RE CONNECTING PEOPLE TO SERVICES WITH I THOUGHT IT WAS THE OPPORTUNITY USE. THE HOMELESS LIAISON AS OUR
SCHOOL BASED. AND THEY CAN THEY SERVE AS. THE UM. MEDIATORS OF THAT. >> AND PRIMARY CONTACTS FOR FOR THE REFERRALS. >> AND IDENT. BUT WE. ALSO HAVE OTHER MECHANISMS THAT . IDENTIFY STUDENTS.
SO UM WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS STABILITY UM WHETHER IT IS UM VARIOUS. HOP HOTLINES. OFTENTIMES AS YOU KNOW, HOMELESS INSTABILITY UM IS. LINKED TO. CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM.
SO SOMETIMES YOU. CALL YOU MEET AGAIN. YOU WORK WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND YOU. FIND OUT THAT THAT'S. PART OF THE REASON. AND LASTLY I WOULD JUST ADD THAT WE ALSO WORK WITH DIFFERENT PARTNERS OF HIGH LIKE HIGHER GROUND FOR EXAMPLE WE
WORK CLOSELY WITH A LOT OF PARTNERS TO HELP US ENGAGE IN THIS WORK AS WELL. YEAH. >> BUT TO TO JUST UNDERSCORE. THE REHAB. WORK IS REALLY ESSENTIAL. WE HAD ABOUT 1500 FAMILIES RIGHT WHO WERE DIRECTLY BEING
SUPPORTED, WHICH IS WHY WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME THAT WE WERE REALLY HOPING THAT THESE DOLLARS AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT COME TO SUPPORT THAT BECAUSE THAT IS A LOSS FOR OUR DISTRICT. YEAH. >> I MEAN I SPOKE TO MY UH TO
MY STATE REPS IN MY DISTRICT MONTANO AND MCGREGOR I THINK THEY GOT FOUR UH 400,000 I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE STATE HAS TO FOR HIP UH IS THAT GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
NEXT YEAR I CAN'T YOU KNOW UH. IF EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS. YEAH THANK. >> YOU VERY MUCH RIGHT I MEAN WE WILL AS WE ALWAYS DO WE WILL UM. WE'LL GO OUT WE'LL HIT THE PAVEMENT FOR PARTNERS. RIGHT? >> IT'LL PUT MORE. MORE PRESSURE ON THE OTHER
PARTNERS TO STEP UP FOR SURE. UM, BUT YES, I MEAN IT WILL HELP BUT IT IS JUST UNDERSCORE IT'S 1500 KIDS REHAB WAS HELPING SO. OKAY. >> UM UH, YEAH, I HAVE MORE
QUESTIONS I MEAN, I IS THE UH I MEAN IS IS THE MODEL. CHANGING FOR NEXT. >> YEAR. OR YOU. >> JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THE SAME WITH LESS RESOURCES? NO. >> SO IN IN. IN COFFEE. SHOP RIGHT.
IT'S EASY TO SAY THERE'S A THERE'S A HOMELESS LIAISON IN EACH SCHOOL AND THAT HAS BEEN THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS WE DID THAT ALLOWS AS WE IDENTIFY STUDENTS THROUGH
DIFFERENT MECHANISMS THAT A FAMILY IS HOMELESS OR A STUDENT IS HOMELESS THAT ENABLES US TO BE ABLE TO PUT A PLAN IN PLACE THAT WILL CONTINUE AS WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE WORK WITH SOME OF THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE KIRK AND
HEARN. THE ISSUE IS THE VOLUME AND WHETHER THE VOLUME KEEPS GOING UP FOR OUR HOMELESS KIDS UM, OR IF IT STARTS TO GO DOWN AND WHEN IT'S OUR MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS IT'S EXTRA COMPLEX
BECAUSE FAMILIES ARE REALLY HESITANT TO ASK FOR HELP. UM, AND SO THAT THAT OFTEN REQUIRES A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF WORK WITH THE FAMILY. AND OUR. TEAM HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT HAS
DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB. UM, WE JUST HAVE TO AND TO DOCTOR THE PINAS UM POINT WE'RE NOT DISRUPTING ANYTHING. WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO COMB AND IMPROVE SYSTEMS.
UM, SO BECAUSE. AS YOU KNOW, AS THINGS. IMPROVE WE TEND TO UNEARTH MORE STUDENTS UM, WHO ARE STRUGGLING MORE FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING. UM THE SUPERINTENDENT MENTIONED COUCH SURFING. COUCH SURFING THAT'S NOT.
>> A THAT'S NO. >> ONE'S TRACKING COUCH SURFING ANY WAY. BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE STRONG SCHOOL BASED RELATIONSHIPS. WE'RE NOW ABLE TO. DISCOVER UM HELP. AND BUILD. AND BUILD THROUGH THAT. UM, I. MEAN AS FAR AS LIKE OUR
IMMEDIATE SUPPORT. I MEAN WE'RE TALKING TO YMCA BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS FOLKS WHO OFFER MEALS. AT 6 P.M. AND THEN GETTING FAMILIES TO. SHELTERS OR. LIKE PROGRAMING UM PROGRAMING
ON WEEKENDS AND AFTER SCHOOL UP TO 8 P.M. SO FOLKS. >> COULD. LEAVE OUR. PROGRAMS TO GO RIGHT TO SHELTERS. UM. I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A. UH A STRONG WE'RE COMMITTED TO HAVING. STRONGER ECOSYSTEM.
MANAGEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO HOMELESS INSTABILITY. UH, AND AS I MENTIONED IS NOT PERFECT BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY UNEARTHING SOME. SOME CHALLENGES THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO TRACK THE DATA. APPROPRIATELY SO WE COULD
HOPEFULLY GET THE FUNDING TO SUPPORT THAT. YEAH. >> AND WE'RE GOING TO GO TO A ROUND OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE LESS QUESTIONS ON THIS. UH, SO BECAUSE ONE CONCERN IS IN THIS YOU KNOW EVERYONE'S CUT
CENTRAL AND OTHERS OF IT IN CENTRAL RIGHT IS STUDENT SUPPORT. THAT'S ONE OF THE THAT'S ONE OF THE OFFICES. UH I THINK IT'S YOURS. YES. SORRY. UH AND THEN SO THE THERE'S A
CUT OF, YOU KNOW, 8 OR 9 FTES IS THAT IN IN SUPPORT AS STUDENT SUPPORT LIKE IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO LIKE IS THAT GOING TO GO TO THE
HELPING UNHOUSED STUDENTS LIKE. IF THE CUTS WAS IS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THAT. EVERY SINGLE CUT IS. >> GOING TO INC IMPACT WHERE. STUDENT FACING EVERY THERE WILL BE SOME IMPACT BUT WE WILL WE WE'RE HOPING TO DESIGN.
UM AND AND CREATE UM. AND SORT. >> OF LIKE. DELEGATE SOME PARTICULAR TASKS. WITHOUT INTERRUPTING. THE WORK WHILE COMMITTED TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT. UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T THERE'S NOTHING POSITIVE I COULD SPEND ABOUT. >> A CUT. SO BUT. >> WHAT I.
>> WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE WE WE. ARE GOING TO BE STRATEGIC ABOUT HOW WE SHIFT. YEAH THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD TO THAT CONCERNS UM OVER THE YEARS AND UM LUCKILY WITH THE BENEFIT OF ESSER DOLLARS WE
WERE ABLE TO REALLY RAMP UP THE DIFFERENT MODELS AND HAVE SUPPORTED STUDENTS AND WE'VE TRIED A LOT OF GREAT THINGS UNDER ESSER AND NOW WE'VE LEARNED WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WORK NOW OUR GOAL SINCE
ESSA WAS GONE IS HOW WE RESTRUCTURE CENTRAL OFFICE, HOW MANAGE THAT WORK AND HOW BEST TO MANAGE IT WITHOUT INTERRUPTING THE DIRECT SERVICE OF THE STUDENTS. SO WE'RE PRIORITIZING THE DIRECT SERVICE PART OF. >> THE WORK.
HOW WE MANAGE ESSENTIALLY WILL LOOK DIFFERENT BUT THE WORK WILL GET TO YOU. YEAH. OKAY. UH BUT THOSE CUTS. >> JUST. TO BE CLEAR, THE CUTS YOU'RE REFERRING TO WERE NOT THE DOLLARS WERE NOT REDIRECTED TO
HOMELESS INITIATIVE. OKAY, I WAS RIGHT. I WAS I GUESS I WAS SORT OF REDIRECTED FROM YOU KNOW, UH HOMELESS.
YEAH NO WE DIDN'T WE DIDN'T TOUCH ANY EXISTING HOMELESS SUPPORT HOMELESS INITIATIVE SUPPORT. AND THEN SORRY LAST QUESTION ON THIS UH FOR NOW UH, SO IN THE
IN THIS SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA THERE'S LIKE $600 FOR EACH UH, STUDENT EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. I THINK THAT'S HOW IT'S DESCRIBED. IS THAT RELATED TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ANY HELP AND
THINGS LIKE THAT AND. HOW IT'S. UM IT IS RELATED TO WHAT UH THE SUPERINTENDENT UM, AND CORY IN THE TEAM WERE JUST DESCRIBING
SO UM, OFTENTIMES A SCHOOL BASED, UH, HOMELESS LIAISON AT A SCHOOL WITH A SMALLER NUMBER OF HOMELESS YOUTH IS A STIPEND IN POSITION FOR SOMEONE TO WORK AFTER SCHOOL AND ON THE WEEKENDS TO SUPPORT HOMELESS
YOUTH SO THAT FUNDING CAN PAY FOR THAT AT SCHOOLS WITH UM MORE STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, THEY MAY HAVE A DEDICATED POSITION UM FOCUSING JUST ON THE COORDINATING AND SUPPORTING HOMELESS YOUTH.
THE FUNDING DOES NOT ON IN EGYPT DIRECTLY IT'S MORE ABOUT THE THE FUNDING THAT'S IN SCHOOL BUDGETS IS MORE FOR THE DIRECT SCHOOL BASED INITIATIVES. UH AND THEN IT SORT OF BUILDS ON TOP OF THAT. OKAY. >> AND THAT IS KIND OF I THINK
THE NUMBERS ARE THERE. YEAH. THE STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE CONCENTRATED MAYBE IT WAS LIKE FOUR. >> SCHOOLS IT WAS. BOSTON INTERNATIONAL UH I CAN'T REMEMBER THAT ONE AND MAYBE I
DID SEE A LIST UH I DON'T KNOW IF THAT UM SO HOPEFULLY THOSE SCHOOLS. HAVE STAFFERS. I THINK THE PERCENTAGE OF YES IT'S IT'S IT'S NOT EVENLY SPREAD.
SO IN FACT THAT THAT SCHOOL FUNDING CAME DIRECTLY FROM FEEDBACK FROM WALTER HENDERSON WHEN HE WAS WHEN HE FIRST CAME TO THE MANAGEMENT UM WHEN THE SCHOOL WAS RECONSTITUTED UH TEN
YEARS AGO AND HE SAID UH, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE GET AN ALLOCATION FOR UH INCOME. AND I DON'T. >> THINK IT'S WRONG. HE'S LIKE BUT SOMETHING FEELS DIFFERENT ABOUT THE NEEDS OF OUR POPULATION THAN SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WHEN I'M IN
CONVERSATION. AND SO WE DID SOME DATA REVIEW WITH HIM AND WE WE FOUND THAT EXACT DATA THAT YOU'RE MENTIONING, RIGHT, THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN SCHOOLS THERE EVEN RELATIVE TO THEIR LEVELS
OF POVERTY ARE EXPERIENCING MUCH HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS OF HOMELESSNESS. AND SO THAT'S WHY THAT'S ACTUALLY THE ORIGIN OF THAT FUNDING AND THE SCHOOL BASED LIAISON PROGRAM AND UM, SOME
OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN DESCRIBING TODAY HAS JUST BEEN THE FACT THAT THAT IS NOT EVENLY DISTRIBUTED. OKAY. >> YEAH. THANKS. SO I THINK WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. I LIKE TO GO TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
UH I KNOW SOME FOLKS ARE IN THE ROOM. UM I'M GOING TO START OUT I DID JUST I GOT UH I'LL READ OUT UH, SOME WRITTEN TESTIMONY. IT'S VERY SHORT.
UM, SO UH, IT WAS AN EMAIL. UH, SO, UH, MY NAME IS, UH, JESS MCCABE JOHNSON. I AM THE FAMILY HOUSING HARDSHIP PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF BOSTON COLLEGE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK.
THIS IS NOT IN THERE, BUT THIS IS THIS IS ONE OF THE PARTNERS I THINK, UH, THAT. UM. >> WAS LISTED IN OUR RFI RESPONSES ON ON ON HOW STUDENTS UH, SO UH, JESS SAYS. UH. >> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE
COMMITTEE UH, TO RESTORE FUNDING FOR E HEP THE EARLY HOMELESSNESS INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM, THE RESEARCH MY COLLEAGUES AND I CONDUCTED OVER THE PAST SIX
YEARS SHOWED THAT FAMILIES PARTICIPATING IN THE HIP EXPERIENCE IMPROVED HOUSING STABILITY, HIGHER LEVELS OF WELL-BEING AND REDUCED CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM. UH, WITHOUT FUNDING FOR REHAB,
I WORRY THAT MANY STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO COULD BENEFIT WILL UNNECESSARILY FACE ADVERSE HOUSING, WELL-BEING AND ACADEMIC CONSEQUENCES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS COMMITTEE IS TASKED WITH MANY
UH WITH MAKING VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS, BUT I URGE YOU TO PRIORITIZE E HIP THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME CONSIDERATION. SINCERELY. JUST MCCABE. JOHNSON UM PHD MPA AND SOCIAL
ALICE UH LCS W AT BOSTON COLLEGE. UH SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK. UM OKAY. WELL THANK YOU FOR THAT. UH, WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE SIGNED UP HERE IN THE ROOM UH, LARRY
SIEMENS HEAD ERLICH AND UH, GREGORY MAYNOR. SO IN THAT ORDER, UM, GIVE I THINK BOTH MIKES ARE ON. UH, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO, UH,
ANOTHER ROUND UH, FOR MY COLLEAGUES. UM. SO. OKAY. UH, IT'S IT'S TWO MINUTES FOR I'LL PUT. ON THE CLOCK. YES. WHENEVER YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR WEBER.
THANK YOU. SENATE UH. CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT BREADON. REPRESENTATIVE FLYNN AND REPRESENTATIVE FITZGERALD. GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU. MY NAME IS LARRY SIEMENS. I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO
OF FAMILY AID BOSTON, WHERE 110 YEAR OLD ORGANIZATION THAT'S WORKED WITH BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR 110 YEARS. UH, I'M HERE BECAUSE FAMILY AID IS THE PROPRIETOR OF THE REHAB
PROGRAM. SO WITH SO MANY ADMINISTRATORS HERE, I WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME CLARIFICATION ABOUT WHAT THE PROGRAM IS BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF ACRONYMS AND THINGS GET CONFUSED A LITTLE BIT.
SO E IS A $4.3 MILLION PROGRAM THAT IS FUNDED THROUGH FAMILY AID FOR THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IT'S FUNDED BY SOME OF THE LARGEST CORPORATIONS HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.
AND THE WORK IS ORGANIZED WITH 28 SOCIAL WORKERS HOUSING NAVIGATORS, SERVICE NAVIGATORS AND 22 PARTNERS WHO FAMILY AID. ORGANIZES ON BEHALF OF THE BP'S. THE WORK IS CONDUCTED.
THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF OPPORTUNITY YOUTH. ACROSS ALL SCHOOLS. THE PROGRAM. IT'S PRIVATELY FUNDED IS SUPPLEMENTED WAS SUPPLEMENTED
BY $750,000. SO LESS THAN UH A PERCENTAGE A SMALL PERCENTAGE FROM THE BOSTON PUBLIC. SCHOOLS AND FUNDING FROM THE CITY COUNCIL TO FUND AN ATTACHED PROGRAM.
WHICH ARE KEY ATTORNEYS FOR EVICTION. SO I WANT TO VERY QUICKLY MENTION I DO AGREE COSTS GO UP, ENROLLMENTS ARE GOING DOWN AND THERE NEEDS TO BE AN AUDIT WHICH WE HAVE. THE REASON WHY THOSE THINGS
HAPPEN IS BECAUSE THE SAFETY NETS FOR CHILDREN LIVING IN. POVERTY ARE INCREASING ARE DECREASING. EVICTIONS ARE. >> UP, POVERTY IS UP. BOSTON IS. >> THE 25TH. LARGEST CITY IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT. WE HAVE THE FIFTH HIGHEST LEVEL
OF CHILDHOOD POVERTY. IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. THAT'S WHY WE CREATED E HIP WHICH HAS BEEN PROVEN. YOU ASKED FOR AN AUDIT? UH, COUNSELOR WE HAVE RESEARCH. >> FROM BOSTON UH, COLLEGE, WHICH I HAVE RIGHT HERE THAT.
SHOWS OVER A SIX YEAR STUDY THAT THE. PROGRAM THAT IS FUNDED A VERY. SMALL PORTION. IS FROM THE CITY. SO JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TO TESTIFY
AND THIS IS HIGHLY TECHNICAL I THINK FOR THE FOLKS IN THE ROOM WE'LL GIVE YOU THREE MINUTES. SO ONE MORE THANK YOU FOR SHARING EACH OTHER. UH, SO ERLICH AND. THANK THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, CHAIR.
SO I NEED THIS COMMITTEE BODY. >> TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE SAFETY NETS ARE FRAYING. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS, BUT OUR STATE. LEGISLATURE PUT INTO LAW THAT FAMILIES WHO ARE EVICTED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT PAY THEIR
RENT CANNOT GET INTO FAMILY SHELTER. AND THAT IS WHY IT. IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT I CAN HAVE RESEARCH TO PROVE IT'S BEST IN CLASS AND NATION. AND I WOULD ASK THIS BODY BOTH
BODIES THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER RESTORING THE EXISTING DEPARTMENT OF. OPPORTUNITY YOUTH THAT HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL IN IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM. THE SMALL SLIGHT BIT OF FUNDING
THAT COMES FROM UH FROM THIS CITY, UH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM BECAUSE THAT WILL BE THE SAFETY NET THAT WE WILL NEED IN THE FACE OF ALL THE FEDERAL AND. STATE CUTS TO COME. THANK YOU. OKAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, I BELIEVE, UH, HEAD UH, MR ERLICH, YOU'RE UP NEXT. YOU NEED THREE MINUTES. UM. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR WEBER. UM, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
AND, UM. THE FOLKS. FROM CPS. UM, MY NAME IS HEAD ERLICH. I AM THE MANAGING ATTORNEY OF THE HOUSING UNIT AT GREATER BOSTON LEGAL SERVICES.
UM, WE AS WE HAVE MANY PROGRAMS THAT ARE ADDRESSING UM, EVICTION DEFENSE AND OTHER LEGAL SERVICES FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES WITHIN THE HOUSING UNIT. ONE OF OUR UM, MORE SUCCESSFUL
PROGRAMS IS WORKING WITH WITH YOU ALL FROM VEEPS AND UM AND UM FAMILY AID TOGETHER WE PROVIDE ACCESS TO COUNCILOR.
WE RECEIVE CASES FROM BOTH UM FAMILY BOSTON AS WELL AS OFFICE OF HOUSING STABILITY SO LONG AS THE HOUSEHOLD INCLUDES SCHOOL
AGE UM KIDS THIS IS AN UPSTREAM INTERVENTION SO PREVENTING THESE FAMILIES FROM BECOMING HOMELESS WITH THE SUPPORT THAT WE AND FAMILY AID BOSTON AS
WELL AS OTHER VENDORS OF OFFICE HOUSING STABILITY CAN PROVIDE SO FAR THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN UM WE HAD A SLOW START THE FIRST
YEAR SO WE'RE ABOUT YEAR AND UH QUARTER IN WE HAVE SERVED UH OVER 100 FAMILIES SO FAR PROVIDING FULL REPRESENTATION IN HOUSING COURT AS THEY ARE
FACING EVICTION. WE HAVE AS CLOSE TO 100% SUCCESS RATE AS AS CAN BE WHICH MEANS ELIMINATING THESE THE
RISK OF HOMELESSNESS OF THESE FAMILIES ESPECIALLY WITH THE YOU KNOW, THE IMPLOSION OF THE STATE SHELTER SYSTEM AND OTHER SERVICES THAT ARE THAT ARE
DECREASING BOTH STATEWIDE AND AND IN OUR CITY UM WE TRULY BELIEVE THAT OUR. PROGRAM IS PROVIDE ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT. UPSTREAM INTERVENTIONS, UM, CAPTURING THE FAMILIES AT THE MOST VULNERABLE PLACE AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF HOMELESSNESS
AND PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS. UM, AS AN UPSTREAM INTERVENTION. IT TRULY. IS A. COST SAVING MEASURE FOR FOR THE CITY BOTH MCKINNEY-VENTO WISE
AND UM, ANY OTHER YOU KNOW, ANY OTHER SERVICES THAT THESE FAMILIES WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE TO RECEIVE FROM BOTH THE CITY AND AND STATE PROGRAMS?
UM, I REALLY WANT TO THANK UH, COUNCILOR WEBER, UM, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN GETTING THIS PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING. WE WERE VERY DISAPPOINTED TO
LEARN, UM, LAST WEEK THAT THE ENTIRE ACCESS TO COUNCIL IS NOT IN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR UM FOR NEXT YEAR FOR I WOULD SAY TWO YEARS IN A ROW.
UM, IT IT DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE FINAL BUDGET. UM, AND WE ARE HOPING THAT CITY COUNCIL WILL AGAIN UM FILE AN AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE IT IN IT.
IT WAS THE CITY COUNCIL. UM, ENVISIONED THAT PROGRAM. WE BELIEVE IT WAS SUCCESSFUL AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO UM KEEP SERVING THE CITY THE
CITY'S CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO ARE UM, ABOUT TO BECOME HOMELESS. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. OKAY. UM, CRAIG MAYNARD THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU. >> UH, MY NAME IS.
GREGORY MAYNARD AND I AM THE CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. >> OF THE BOSTON POLICY. INSTITUTE. >> A MAJOR POLICY THAT WAS. TOUCHED ON IN THIS HEARING BUT THAT THE COUNCIL HAS NEVER HELD A STANDALONE HEARING ON IS THE FIVE YEAR LONG STATE INTERVENTION IN BOSTON PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, WHICH ENDED IN JUNE 2025. BPI COMMISSIONED AND PUBLISHED THE ONLY COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THAT INTERVENTION IN MARCH 2025. THAT REPORT, BEYOND SMALL FIXES
THE CASE FOR CONTINUED ACCOUNTABILITY AND WAS WRITTEN BY DOCTOR KERRY DONAHUE, WHO FORMERLY SERVED AS THE CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER FOR THE BOSTON SCHOOLS FUND. IN ADDITION TO BP'S REPORT, ACTING EDUCATION COMMISSIONER
RUSSELL JOHNSTON PROVIDED A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT UPDATES INCLUDING A MAY 2024 MEMO AND AN ORAL REPORT IN APRIL 2025. THE BOTTOM LINE FROM ALL THOSE
REPORTS BP DID NOT MEET ITS GOALS IN APRIL 2025, JOHNSON SAID QUOTE, WE'VE SEEN MIXED RESULTS BUT DEFINITELY MUCH EFFORT REALLY CONCERTED EFFORT ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT, THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND THE MAYOR IN ORDER TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE IN THE CIP. DOCTOR DONAHUE'S REPORT LAID OUT THAT THE WHAT THOSE MIXED RESULTS LOOK LIKE TRACKING HOW THE DISTRICT PERFORMED ON EACH
OF THE GOALS LAID OUT IN BOTH THE 2020 AGREEMENT AND THE SUPERSEDING 2022 AGREEMENT THE MOST IMPORTANT GOAL THAT DID NOT MEET THE STATE FOUND THE DISTRICT'S SO-CALLED LONG TERM
FACILITIES PLAN DID NOT MEET EXPECTATIONS, JOHNSTON WROTE IN MAY 2020 FOR QUOTE, THE PLAN DOES NOT INCLUDE FUTURE STUDENT ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS, WHICH IS A VITAL COMPONENT TO INFORM
FUTURE LAUNCH LARGE SCALE RENOVATIONS, MERGERS AND CLOSURES. ADDITIONALLY, THE PLAN LACKS SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON AN OVERALL TIMELINE BY WHICH RIGHTSIZING THE DISTRICT WILL
BE COMPLETE AS WELL AS THE SIZE AND NUMBER OF BUILDINGS NEEDED IN THE FUTURE STATE. ALMOST TWO YEARS LATER, DPS STILL HAS NOT RELEASED A LONG TERM FACILITIES PLAN THAT
INCLUDES ALL OF THOSE COMPONENTS. THERE ARE 21 AGENDA ITEMS IN THE THREE BUDGET HEARINGS SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEK BP'S
CAPITAL BUDGET, THE LONG TERM FACILITIES PLAN AND FOLLOW UP FROM THE FIVE YEAR LONG STATE INTERVENTION ARE NOT AMONG THOSE 21 AGENDA ITEMS. IF THE COUNCIL WANTS MORE
INFORMATION ON SCHOOL BUILDING IT HAS TO HOLD A HEARING ON IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. >> UH, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO A SECOND ROUND OF QUESTIONS I
THINK YOU KNOW, UH BEFORE WE DO THAT, IS THERE ANYTHING ANYONE ON THE PANEL WOULD LIKE TO SAY. IN RESPONSE TO ANY OF THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY SAID IT'S UP TO YOU. OKAY. NO, I THINK WE CAN JUST.
KEEP QUIET. >> COLLEAGUES CAN ASK QUESTIONS. >> BASED ON THAT. UM, SO WE'RE FIVE MINUTES AND I MEAN UM UH MAYBE A WE'LL DO A THIRD ROUND IF NECESSARY.
UH, COUNCILOR FLYNN. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. UM, WHAT WHAT I WANT TO FOCUS ON AS WE TACKLE THE. BUDGET IS.
I WANT TO ENSURE. THAT THERE ARE NO CUTS TO. ANY PERSON ANY EMPLOYEE THAT INTERACTS.
DAILY WITH STUDENTS. I KNOW OR I. >> THINK I. THINK ONE OF THE PLAN UM, OF POSSIBLE CUTS IS. THREE DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKERS
POSITIONS THAT. MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE. BEEN CUT. I BELIEVE THESE ARE IMPORTANT UM, TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS ESPECIALLY. >> AT A CRITICAL TIME.
OF SUCH AS A CRISIS. THE OTHER ASPECT. I WANT TO I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT. IS THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL. WORKERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS. COUNSELORS TO STUDENTS. BUT MY. >> QUESTION IS.
WHAT WHAT. >> IS THE. CURRENT RATIO OF SOCIAL WORKERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS AND COUNSELORS. TO STUDENTS. AND HOW DO FY 27 CUTS IMPACT
THESE POSITIONS? SO WE'LL GET THAT THROUGH COUNSELOR IN A MINUTE. UM, BUT I KNOW THAT CHIEF MCCARTHY WANTS TO ADDRESS THE DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKER PIECE. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE. UM. >> EXPLORING AND UNPACKING THE BUDGET. WE MUST SIMILAR TO YOUR POINT. UM. >> ESPECIALLY IN STUDENT SUPPORT. LIKE WORK THAT'S THE WORK. DIRECTLY WITH. YOUNG PEOPLE.
UM. THAT IS THE MEDIATING TOOL FOR. WHICH MY. >> OUR DECISIONS ARE MADE FOR STUDENT SUPPORT. UM. AND WE HAVE SCHOOL. BASED SOCIAL WORKERS UM.
BUT OUR. DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKERS UM. THEY ARE. MORE CENTRAL OFFICE RIGHT. UM BUT THEY DO. DO WONDERFUL WORK WITH THE STUDENTS BUT. WHEN YOU'RE DURING. >> A TIME OF CRISIS.
RIGHT IMMEDIATELY RIGHT CRISIS . RESPONSE RIGHT. UM WHICH I. MENTIONED EARLIER LIKE. THAT'S THE MODE WE'RE ALWAYS. IN BUT. >> BUT BUT BUT. FOR ME VOTING ON A BUDGET I NEED TO GET.
THREE DISTRICT SCHOOL WORKERS SOCIAL WORKERS. IN THE BUDGET. BECAUSE I BELIEVE STUDENTS NEED THAT AND IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO
HIRE. PUT THAT THOSE THREE POSITIONS BACK IN THE. BUDGET UM, A MAJOR CITY LIKE BOSTON. YOU KNOW. WE HAVE WE HAVE. WE HAVE WE HAVE MAJOR CHALLENGES.
HERE AND. WE WE NEED TO GET THOSE SOCIAL WORKERS. IN THIS. BUDGET, UM. BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS NEED THEM OUR STUDENTS RELY ON THEM ESPECIALLY DURING A TIME
OF CRISIS. WE WE HAD. A STUDENT THAT WAS THAT WAS UM INJURED BY A CAR. CRASH CAR ACCIDENT AT OUT IN
FRONT OF THE CAR. AND IN SCHOOL I KNOW SOCIAL WORKERS UM WORKED WITH WHAT STUDENTS? SOCIAL WORKERS THEIR WORK WITH PARENTS. UM. BUT WE CAN'T BE CUTTING THOSE
POSITIONS THOSE POSITIONS THAT INTERACT WITH WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THEY CAN'T BE CUT IN MY OPINION. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET ANOTHER WAY. WHAT ELSE IS THERE THAT NEEDS
TO BE CUT? AND ALSO I DON'T THINK ALL THE CUTS SHOULD BE COMING FROM BP'S UM. PERSONNEL CUTS. WHY IS THE ONLY CITY DEPARTMENT
THAT THAT IS BEING CUT? UM. I'M NOT NECESSARILY ASKING. YOU TO ANSWER THAT, BUT IT'S A QUESTION FOR MY COLLEAGUES HERE ON THE CITY COUNCIL IF WE'RE CUTTING POSITIONS AT BP,
SHOULDN'T THE OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY UM BE CUT AS WELL BECAUSE I KNOW THE LAST THING I CAN SUPPORT IS CUTTING SOCIAL WORKERS. I CAN'T DO THAT.
I CAN'T SUPPORT CUTTING PSYCHOLOGISTS. I CAN'T SUPPORT CUTTING UM TEACHERS OR PARAPROFESSIONALS SOMEONE THAT INTERACTS WITH CHILDREN AND.
STUDENTS EVERY DAY. UM. >> THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO ME? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO BP'S FAMILIES. YEAH. >> UM, COUNCIL SO WE'VE
PROPOSED IN OUR PROPOSED BUDGET WE HAVE 396 OF THOSE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS THAT YOU HAVE THE TYPES YOU MENTIONED, WHICH IS A RATIO OF ABOUT 158 117 TO 1 FOR.
OUR PROJECT. >> 117 YEAH. ABOUT OKAY. UM MR CHAIR I'M ALMOST OUT OF TIME SO I DON'T. I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. I JUST. >> WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT HOW. IMPORTANT I THINK.
THESE POSITIONS ARE. AS IT RELATES TO. THE CRITICAL. SERVICES THEY PROVIDE. EVERY DAY TO TO OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. OKAY. >> YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MUCH. AND JUST I DON'T KNOW IF YOU IN
TERMS OF WE TALK ABOUT THE CENTRAL BUDGET AND THEN THE SOCIAL. WORKERS OR TO THE. CENTRAL BUDGET IS THAT THAT'S CORRECT. YES. >> DISTRICTS ARE DISTRICT. SOCIAL WORKERS YEAH DISTRICT SOCIAL OKAY. SOCIAL WORK. SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS A SCHOOL
BASED SOCIAL WORKER. >> THERE. OKAY THAT WOULD BE IN THE OTH THAT'S IN THE OTHER YEAH THAT. WOULD BE IN EACH THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS ARE DIRECTLY ON SCHOOL BUDGETS OKAY SO SOCIAL
WORKERS AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS UM WE YOU KNOW THOSE POSITIONS WE ALLOCATE ON SCHOOL BUDGETS SO WE CAN SEE THE DIRECT IMPACT. UM, BUT THERE ARE SOME CENTRAL OVERSIGHT OF THOSE POSITIONS.
THE DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKERS ARE A PART OF THE THE. LARGER MANAGEMENT TEAM OF SOCIAL WORKERS. WE HAVE A WONDERFUL TEAM LED. >> BY. JENNA PARA FENCING. UM THERE ARE TWO ASSISTANT DIRECTORS ONE UM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MANAGES. >> THE SCHOOL BASED TEAM.
AND THE OTHER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MANAGES THE DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKERS. AND THE CRISIS TEAMS AND TRAUMA RESPONSE TEAMS UH, WILL BE INTACT AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT. WE WILL HAVE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. RIGHT.
>> I THINK I THINK THE OTHER UH, PIECES UH TO COUNCIL FLYNN'S POINT. WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO PRESERVE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ANY OF THE STUDENT FACING POSITIONS.
UM AFTER ESSER ON WHICH A LOT OF THESE WERE FUNDED THE LAST TWO YEARS WE MOVED MOST OF THOSE POSITIONS OVER ON TO THE SCHOOL BUDGETS UM, IN CUT CENTRAL OFFICE NOT SCHOOL
FACING CENTRAL OFFICE BUT CENTRAL OFFICE. UM SO CENTRAL OFFICE OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS HAS BEEN REDUCED ABOUT $50 MILLION UM IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE SCHOOL BASED UM.
COREY IT. MIGHT JUST HELP TO TO JUST DIFFERENTIATE WHEN A DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKER DOES FROM A SCHOOL BASED SOCIAL WORKER. CORRECT. >> UM I. WILL ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT. THAT BEFORE. UM THE SUPERINTENDENT GOT. HERE UM.
YOU KNOW, STUDENT SUPPORT WAS. NOT AS. ROBUST AS IT IS NOW. I THINK THERE'S BEEN. SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS. THE DIVISION WAS BUILT BASICALLY ON IF YOU TAKE OFF SERVICES AND ATHLETICS IT WAS
BUILT ON ESSER UM BUT OUR DISTRICT SO OUR DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKERS ARE AMAZING AMAZING. TEAM THAT LEAD. >> TO CRISIS RESPONSE. THEY SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL BASED SOCIAL WORKERS. THEY SUPPORT PRINCIPALS. UM I LIKE TO CALL OUR THAT
PARTICULAR. DEPARTMENT AND TEAM LIKE THE SECOND RESPONDERS UM TO CASTLE FLYNN'S. POINT AND UM NO ONE. WANTS TO CUT ANY INDIVIDUAL ANY POSITION.
HOWEVER, PRIORITIZING THE UH GIVEN THE BUDGET AND THE FISCAL CLIFF PRIORITIZING. >> THE SCHOOL BASED. UH WAS SOMETHING THAT. WE WE. WANTED TO DO AND. MAINTAIN THAT STABILIZATION. BUT THAT TEAM UM.
ENTIRELY TO COUNCIL FLYNN'S POINT IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE. UM THEY. DO MANAGE REAL. TIME SITUATIONS AND WORK TOWARDS STABILIZING. >> OUR. SCHOOLS WHEN IT COMES TO CRISIS. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, DO YOU HAVE IT? I MEAN, I DIDN'T MEAN TO, UH, TO HIJACK, BUT I JUST HAD SOME CLARIFYING QUESTIONS FOR FOR ME IF YOU THAT WOULD LEAD YOU TO ANOTHER QUESTION. FEEL FREE. NO.
UH, MR CHAIR. YOUR YOUR COMMENTS WERE WERE VERY GOOD. UH, THEY HELPED. THE CONVERSATION AND. APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK AND, UM, THANK YOU TO THE TEAM THAT ANSWERED MY QUESTION.
THANK YOU. MR. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT BREADON. UM THANK YOU. UM. I KEEP. >> GOING ABOUT SOCIAL WORK. IT APPEARS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORKER OR SOCIAL WORK
IS UNDER OPERATIONS. WHICH IS UNDER STUDENT SUPPORT. UH, AND THEN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH . IS AND ACADEMICS. YES. >> SO THAT'S TWO SEPARATE DIVISIONS EACH WITH THEIR OWN DEPUTY. UM, THAT'S THERE BEEN ANY
THOUGHT ABOUT LIKE THERE'S CERTAIN OVERLAP THERE LIKE I THERE BEEN ANY THOUGHT ABOUT STREAMLINING THE CENTER OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS TO TO UM AND REQUIRE MORE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS LIKE IT SEEMS LIKE
THERE ARE TWO VERY TWO TYPES OF APPLES HERE AND THEY SHOULD ALL BE IN THE SAME. YEAH. >> SO LIKE MOST THINGS IN THERE'S A HISTORY UM THERE IS A HISTORY TO THIS. BEFORE THERE. WERE A CRITICAL MASS OF SOCIAL
WORKERS. THERE WAS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH UM THE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST PRIMARILY WORK. ON UM TESTING. THEY WORK ON IEPS AND WITHIN
SPECIAL EDUCATION AND THEN THEY ALSO DO SOME CRISIS MANAGEMENT WITHIN SCHOOLS. WHEN THE SOCIAL WORKERS CAME IN, UH, THEY CAME IN UH IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND UH WERE
REALLY PART OF THE STUDENT SUPPORT. DEPARTMENT. >> UM. >> WHICH RESIDES AS YOU POINTED OUT IN OPERATIONS THEY WORK VERY COLLABORATIVELY TOGETHER AS DOES THE LEADERSHIP TO
ENSURE, UM, THAT SOCIAL WORKERS ARE THE LEAD WITH THE FAMILIES AND DOING THE DIRECT COUNSELING WITH STUDENTS, UH, IN THE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS PRIMARY
DUTIES AROUND OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, UH, TESTING UH AND THEN SOME AMOUNT OF INTERNAL COUNSELING AS MUCH AS THEY ARE ON TWO SIDES OF THE HOUSE. >> THEY DO WORK. VERY COLLABORATIVELY TOGETHER.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE CONSTANTLY REVISITING BECAUSE IT IS ALSO TRUE THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE THAT PERFORM COUNSELING BESIDES JUST THOSE TWO. WE HAVE ADJUSTMENT COUNSELORS
AS WELL. SO UM, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN GENERAL THAT THE DEPUTIES ARE WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER WHICH. DOCTOR WRIGHT INDUCTED TO PINO
DO AS DO THE CHIEFS UM SUCH AS UH CHIEF MCCARTHY UH AND CHIEF SEAL. AND WHAT MAKES IT EQUAL WHAT MAKES. IT UM SUPER EFFECTIVE? UH AND. AND TO FURTHER JUSTIFY WHY
STUDENT SUPPORT IS IN OPERATION BECAUSE LITERALLY STUDENT SUPPORT IS A 24 HOUR OPERATION . SO I HAVE A QUESTION IS IS IT IS IT A 365 DAYS A YEAR OPERATION?
YES BECAUSE WE HAD A KID. >> YES. A KID KILLED LAST YEAR AND UH AND BUT I KNOW IN BRIGHTON AND BRIGHTON UM WE REALLY I THINK
WE DROPPED THE BALL COMPLETELY IN TERMS OF SUPPORT. UM I THINK THERE WAS A PRETTY AND THEN TRAUMA RESPONSE LIKE ARE WE AND THEN WITH ANOTHER
KID SHARP RECENTLY UH HE SURVIVED THANKFULLY BUT AND THE TRAUMA RESPONSE WAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE THIS TIME. SO WE FIX WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS LAST YEAR. BUT I'M JUST WONDERING LIKE IS
IT JUST A HIT AND MISS THING OR HAVE WE GOT A REALLY SOLID TRAUMA RESPONSE? ALLSTON BRIGHTON IS NOT THE PLACES YOU EXPECT TO HEAR OF A LOT OF STUDENTS STUDENTS BEING KILLED OR SHOT BUT UH IT IS
HAPPENING AND UM UH YOU KNOW, HAVING HAVING ACCESS TO THOSE SERVICES AND MULTILINGUAL SUPPORTS FOR FAMILIES WHO DON'T NECESSARILY SPEAK ENGLISH IT'S REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YEAH.
SO THIS IS A REALLY CRITICAL POINT I THINK THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN THERE IS UH AN INCIDENT. DO MATTER. IN TERMS OF WHO'S RESPONDING. SO WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING THAT
HAPPENS OFF HOURS OR EVEN ON HOURS AND IT IS A CRIMINAL MATTER, UH, YOU KNOW, A DEATH OF VIOLENCE. WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH THE CITY TRAUMA RESPONSE TEAM.
UM, WE WOULD BE SECONDARY THERE UH, WHEN IT IS SOMETHING WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS SUCH AS, UH A STUDENT UH, IS SICK UH, AND PASSES OR THERE'S A, UH, YOU
KNOW, AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING INJURY. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE THE LEAD ON THAT. BUT COREY. SHOP IS PRETTY MUCH 24 SEVEN. THERE IS A HOTLINE WE ARE RESPONDING. SO FOR INSTANCE, THE YOUNG
PERSON THAT WAS UM, SHOT LAST WEEKEND WE WERE. ALL PART OF THAT RESPONSE TO. ENSURE THAT THE SCHOOLS WERE SET UP APPROPRIATELY ON MONDAY MORNING TO RESPOND FAMILY WAS
OUTREACH TO ETC. I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN MUCH. STRONGER WORKING TOGETHER WITH OUR CITY COLLEAGUES ON THIS TO LET EACH OF US DO THE PART WE DO BEST BUT MOST IMPORTANT TO
ENSURE THAT FAMILIES AND STUDENTS ARE SUPPORTED. AND WE IMMEDIATELY. JUMP INTO. WE IMMEDIATELY JUMP. INTO CRISIS MODE WHEN SOMETHING. HAPPENS THE. >> MOMENT IT CROSSES. ANY SORT. OF UM. COMMUNICATION CHANNEL WE JUMP
IMMEDIATELY INTO. CRISIS AND SUPPORT WAS WAS KILLED LAST YEAR WAS MARY LIONEL PRESCHOOL KIDDO AND UM YOU KNOW IT WAS IT WAS VACATION. IT WAS SOMEWHERE LIKE I HAVE TO
SAY LET'S SAY IT WASN'T I WASN'T HAPPY BUT, UM, IT WAS MUCH BETTER THIS TIME. I HAVE MANY MORE QUESTIONS SO WE'LL COME BACK FOR ANOTHER ROUND. >> OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. THANK YOU. >> CHAIR. UM.
>> THE QUESTION AROUND ATHLETICS. TO TWO PART ONE. UM, I GUESS. IT'S SOMEWHAT RELATED. UM, I JUST THINK ABOUT IF KIDS. STAYED IN ATHLETICS AND DON'T GET POACHED. TO THE. >> ESL AND THE OTHER SCHOOLS IN
THE WORLD, HOW MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE SCHOOLS WOULD BE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL? I KNOW WE CAN'T. IT'S A HARD. FIGHT TO FIGHT, UH, WHEN THEY'RE OFFERING FREE TUITION AND HIGH ACADEMICS ALL THAT
OTHER STUFF. UM, I JUST DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE THOUGHT ABOUT WAYS TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE THERE'S NOT THAT THERE'S NO BETTER STORY THAN WHEN THE LOCAL KID FROM THE LOCAL SCHOOL IS THE STAR PLAYER IN THE STATE AND STAYS IN HOME
AND IT YOU KNOW, CREATES THAT COMMUNITY AROUND IT. UM, AND I GUESS SOMEWHAT RELATED TO THAT IS I KNOW LAST YEAR WE DISCUSSED HUDL UM THE TECHNOLOGY USED TO SORT OF FOR FOR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS,
OTHER PEOPLE TO STREAM GAMES. UM I THINK THERE WAS ALSO A SAFETY COMPONENT THAT I FELT WAS AROUND THAT AS WELL. JUST AN UPDATE ON THAT. UM, QUICKLY COREY THANK YOU. I THINK. GREAT QUESTION. UH, WE ARE FIGHTING BACK IN.
TERMS OF. >> LIKE RETAINING OUR STUDENT ATHLETES. UM, I INVITE ANYONE ON THE. COUNCIL TO COME SEE WE STARTED. ELEMENTARY SPORTS. IT'S CALLED. FOUNDATIONS LITERALLY FOR THAT REASON. UM EVERY SATURDAY AT MADISON WE
HAVE ABOUT 200. KIDS REPRESENTING. ABOUT 16 SCHOOLS THAT COME IN AND THEY WE WE HAVE A UNIQUE MODEL WHERE. THE THE THE COACHES WE HAVE COACHES BUT WE HAVE.
INDIVIDUALS THAT STOP THE GAME TO TEACH KIDS HOW TO PLAY. THE ANSWER TO OUR. PROBLEMS AROUND THAT IS LIKE HAVING MORE KIDS PLAY. SO WE ARE TRYING WE ARE HAVING FOUNDATIONS FOR UM BASKETBALL.
FOOTBALL, INDOOR FOOTBALL. UM VOLLEYBALL. >> WHICH. IS THE FASTEST GROWING SPORT IN. >> THE DISTRICT. UM TO FURTHER. MITIGATE STUDENTS LEAVING WE ARE OFFERING UH MULTIPLE CAMPS. WE ARE GETTING. INVOLVED WITH LOCAL. COLLEGES AND. >> UNIVERSITIES TO DO DIRECT
RECRUITMENT. UM LAST YEAR WE HELD A PROSPECT . CAMP FOR. >> THE FIRST TIME EVER WHERE. >> KIDS. WERE ABLE TO GO AND GET NCAA UH ELIGIBILITY TRAINING AS WELL. >> WE OFFER. NCAA TRAINING FOR FAMILIES. UM IN THE PAST TWO SESSIONS
I'VE HAD OVER 100. WE HAVE HAD UH OVER 180 FAMILIES AND WE TAILORED THAT TO ELEMENTARY. SCHOOL STUDENTS SO WE COULD DISPEL THE MYTHS. THAT WE NEED TO BE WELL, WE NEED TO PUBLICLY TELL OUR
PEOPLE IN THE CITY IS THAT IF YOU GO TO A SCHOOL NO MATTER WHAT SCHOOL AND YOU GO THROUGH. ALL OF YOUR COURSES, YOU. ARE AUTOMATICALLY ELIGIBLE FOR THE NCAA. BUT IF A KID GOES. >> TO A ESL SCHOOL. AND TAKES A FIFTH YEAR THEIR
FIFTH YEAR, YOU'RE AUTOMATICALLY INELIGIBLE FOR FOR THE NCAA. YOUR COURSES. >> DO NOT COUNT. YOU GO TO SCHOOL FOR. >> YEARS YOU 100%. >> WILL GET TO 19 EVEN THOUGH 14 EVEN THOUGH 16 IS A REQUIREMENT.
THESE ARE THE MESSAGES THAT WE NEED TO GET OUT. UH FURTHERMORE WE HAVE MULTIPLE CAMPS. >> WE HAVE A MASSIVE. VOLLEYBALL CAMP NEXT WEEK WE HAVE OVER. 225 STUDENTS. PARTICIPATING IN THAT. WE HAVE UM. >> OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM. WE CHANGED IT.
TO A DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAM. WHERE UM WE HAVE INTERNAL. INTRAMURAL AND INTERNAL INTRAMURALS AND WE. SUPPLEMENT THAT WITH JAMBOREES . GOING ON TO THE HUDDLE QUESTION . UM, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE ADVOCATES
ADVOCACY. WE MET WITH. >> HUDL. MULTIPLE TIMES AND WE ARE PREPARED WE USE THE DATA WHERE THE USAGE DATA. WHICH WAS LOW IN SOME SCHOOLS BUT. WE LOOKED AT THE SCHOOLS WHO WERE USING IT AND SAID HEY, WE ARE GOING TO.
SUPPORT YOU. WITH THAT. >> WITH UM A HEAVY PORTION OF THAT SO THAT IF YOU'RE INVESTED YOU WILL YOU ARE IF YOU'RE INVESTED. WE WILL HELP YOU AND WE WILL. SUPPLEMENT THAT. BUT FOR THE. SCHOOLS WHO DO NOT USE IT THEY
WON'T INVEST. RIGHT. UM BUT WE ARE ENCOURAGING THEM TO DO THAT. SO WE INCLUDED IN THAT PACKAGE SOME. TRIALS SO THAT WE COULD GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE DATA AND SAY HOW ARE PEOPLE USING THIS? AND I AGREE ON THE. SAFETY SIDE I.
>> LOVE. TO I LOVE TO WATCH. >> AS. MANY. GAMES AS I CAN AS OPPOSED TO. BEING IN PERSON. YEAH AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF OUR COACHES OUT THERE BECAUSE OUR COACHES ARE ALSO DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THEM TO DO
MORE RIGHT. SO OUR GOAL IS TO UM, MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS FAMILIES KNOW THAT IF THEY DO PLAY IN SPORTS THEY DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON TO POST-SECONDARY UM, ATHLETICS AS WELL AND PURSUE THEIR DREAMS
IN SPORTS OFFENSIVELY TOO. IT'S ALSO EMBEDDED IN THE SIZE OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS. SO PART OF THE SHIFT TO 712 IS STARTING THE INTERSCHOLASTIC EARLIER TO GET THE KIDS READY. BUT THEN IT'S ALSO THERE'S A
CERTAIN. AMOUNT OF KIDS YOU NEED TO HAVE A HEALTHY SPORTS TEAMS. THAT'S THE REASON WHY IN THE LONG TERM FACILITIES WHEN WE MADE THAT SHIFT TO SLIGHTLY BIGGER HIGH SCHOOLS AND THE 712 FOOTPRINT.
IF YOU'RE A PARENT THAT HAS UH AND IF YOU'RE A PARENT THAT HAS A KID IN AND YOU HAVE A KID IN. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. >> YOU HAVE A KID IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. >> AND HIGH SCHOOL YOU. WILL HAVE A PATHWAY FROM AGE THREE YOU CAN ATTEND A SUNDAY
PROGRAM AT AGE THREE AND GET TRAINING IN FIVE DIFFERENT SPORTS. IN MIDDLE SCHOOL YOU COULD GET THE SAME TRAINING. IN HIGH SCHOOL YOU GET THE SAME TRAINING. SO UP FROM AGE THREE TO ABOUT 19 YOU CAN GET SUPPORT FROM DPS
IN ATHLETICS AND I WILL MAINTAIN THAT ARE. ONE OF MY MOST SUCCESSFUL. SUBGROUPS IN IS THE ATHLETE. THEY GO TO. COLLEGE MORE THEY ATTEND SCHOOL MORE THEY LEAD MORE THEY HAVE
AND I REALLY REALLY CANNOT EMPHASIZE THE THE VALUE OF OF ATHLETICS IN OUR ATHLETES. IN THIS DISTRICT. . >> OKAY. AND ALSO JUST LASTLY JUST SUPER QUICKLY TEN MORE SECONDS JUST WE'RE ALSO UM REALLY
COMPETITIVE NOW MORE SO THAN OVER THE DIFFERENT YEARS WE'VE BEEN A LOT MORE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS SO WE'RE VERY COMPETITIVE LOT OF GREAT CITY CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS. SO WE'RE JUST OVERALL THE COMPETITION IS GETTING A LOT HIGHER AND BETTER AND. THAT'S GREAT. >> THANK YOU AND I. APPRECIATE THE PASSION.
IN THE END. IT WAS A DIFFERENT FEEL. YOU SEE ATHLETICS AND. I THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENT. FEEL TO THOSE ANSWERS THAN SOME OF THE OTHER ONES BUT THAT'S AWESOME I HIGHLY VALUE ATHLETICS AND SO I'M GLAD THAT THEY WERE THINKING ABOUT IT IN
SUCH A WIDE ARRAY OF WAYS TO TO MAKE KIDS INVOLVED. UM A VERY SHORT ANSWER. COREY, UH, YOU SAID EARLIER ABOUT UH WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PAYING KIDS FROM SIXTH GRADE ON AND ALL THAT.
UH, THERE WAS SOME IN THE LAST ROUND OF QUESTIONS. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE KIDS GET PAID TO PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING. SO TO LEARN. JUST WHERE YOU TOOK THE LEARNING UM, WHO. WHO PAYS IS THAT DOES THAT.
THIS IS A CITY PAY THEM OR IS THAT. SO WE. WE WORK WITH. SO THERE'S THREE THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT WAYS. NUMBER ONE IS SUCCESS LIKE. YEAH RIGHT UM WHICH. >> IS OBVIOUS AND. NUMBER TWO.
IS THE BOSTON PICK. AND WE WORK WITH EITHER UM YOUTH CONNECT UM AND OTHER AREAS TO IDENTIFY. PARTICULAR FUNDS TO WORK WITH. >> THE PICK. TO UM TO.
PAY STUDENTS A SMALL STIPEND. >> TO ATTEND CAREER. EXPLORATORY PROGRAMING THAT THERE TECHNICALLY IS A JOB AND. AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LARGE PART OF STUDENTS ARE STUDENTS WHO ARE INVOLVED UM STUDENTS. >> WHO.
NEED SOME EXTRA ACADEMICS. UM AND IT'S PROVEN TO BE WIDELY SUCCESSFUL. UM, WE HAVE A MENU THAT WE CAN SHARE. I SHARED A DOCUMENT. WITH COUNCIL THAT WE WERE. ABOUT UM, SORT OF LIKE WHAT OUR
HOLISTIC SUPPORTS AND WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE. >> SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU GUYS COME. AND SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS SUMMER. THANK YOU. >> UM, I ONLY ASKED BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF YOU. THINGS ARE IN THE BUDGET WITH THAT FISCAL CONSTRAINTS HAVE BEEN CUT AND I. >> JUST WAS WONDERING LIKE IS THAT YOU KNOW, WE'RE RELYING ON
PICKING OTHER THINGS TO. PICK UP. >> SLACK AND IS THERE ENOUGH TO GO AROUND WAS THE ONLY THAT'S WHY I ASKED THAT QUESTION IF I COULD JUST. GET ONE MORE QUESTION HERE UH COUNCIL. I APOLOGIZE. UM IT'S THE.
MORE OF A THE PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH UH, TO THE HIGH QUALITY SCHOOLS FOR EVERY KID THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT ALREADY. BUT I SEE THIS GOING AS 1 OR 2 WAYS. UM. AND I. JUST PUT IT TO YOU TO. >> THINK ABOUT IN.
IN THE. >> ONE ONE APPROACH. IT'S GETTING ALL HIGH QUALITY SCHOOLS FIRST AND THEN THAT WAY PEOPLE. HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO LOCAL. RIGHT? >> BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT WHEREVER YOU ARE. >> YOU HAVE IT.
THE OTHER APPROACH THAT I THINK ABOUT AND I WONDER. IS IS GOING LOCAL FIRST AND THEN ASSESSING WHAT THE NEEDS ARE ONCE YOU HAVE MORE LOCAL SCHOOLS AND MORE UH.
INDIVIDUALLY IDENTIFYING THE NEEDS TO BRING IT UP TO A HIGH QUALITY SCHOOL. SO THERE'S SORT OF TWO TRACKS YOU CAN TWO VERY. DIFFERENT TRACKS OF HOW. YOU COULD. >> DO THAT. I GUESS MY QUESTION TO TO TO SORT OF THINK ABOUT IS. WHICH ONE HAS THE.
BETTER IMPACT FASTER. AND A MORE FISCALLY. PRUDENT WAY. RIGHT. >> UH IS. >> IT TRYING TO GET EVERY SCHOOL UP TO SO THAT. EVERYBODY HAS THE. OPTIONS OR IS IT ALLOW EVERYONE
TO GO LOCAL. AND THEN INDIVIDUALLY. TAILOR THINGS TO MAKE SURE OKAY. YOU KNOW MAYBE OVER HERE IT'S LACKING X. LET'S INVEST X. BUT OVER HERE IT'S Y LET'S INVEST Y.
AND UM. CALIBRATING IT THAT WAY. JUST A PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH. >> I POSED. >> TO YOU GUYS. UM ABOUT WHAT? YEAH. NO IT'S I MEAN IT'S A GREAT POINT. >> I THINK WE'RE ACTUALLY. RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE RIGHT NOW, RIGHT? WHICH IS WE HAVE SCHOOL CHOICE
WHICH PRIORITIZES FOR FAMILIES THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE LOCAL. I THINK FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS AND MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS. THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. SO WHAT THEY HAD ACCESS TO OR.
SHOWED UP ON ACCESS IS CHOICE WAS MORE RELEGATED. TO WHERE PROGRAMS EXISTED. WHAT INCLUSION IS DONE IS TO BREAK DOWN THOSE BARRIERS AND OPEN IT UP. I THINK AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE WORKING. REALLY HARD IN EACH OF THE
REGIONS TO REALLY. BUILD UP THE QUALITY. SOME ARE SOME SCHOOLS ARE MOVING FASTER THAN OTHERS BECAUSE LIKE FOR INSTANCE THEY GET A NEW BUILDING RIGHT? OR THEY GET A RENOVATED. BUILDING UM OR THEY GET
PARTICULAR PROGRAMING LIKE NEW LANGUAGE. THAT REALLY. >> ATTRACTS PARENTS. SO I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO IDENTIFY FOR EACH. REGION AND THE SCHOOLS IN IT 1 OR 2 THINGS THAT'S REALLY MOVING. TOWARDS THE HIGH QUALITY STUDENT. EXPERIENCE AND AT THE.
SAME TIME FOR IT TO REALLY WORK GIVEN A THIRD OF OUR POPULATION OR MULTILINGUAL. LEARNERS OR. MORE AND A FOURTH OUR SPECIAL. EDUCATION STUDENTS WE HAVE. >> TO DEAL WITH THE PROGRAMING AS WELL AND.
>> THAT MEANS THROUGH INCLUSION . OPENING UP ACCESS TO. >> THOSE. PARENTS. THAT'S HOW. ALL OF THIS STARTS TO COME TOGETHER. IN GETTING PARENTS COMFORTABLE AND BELIEVING THAT THAT LOCAL.
CHOICE IS RIGHT FOR THEM BUT THAT IS YOU KNOW, THAT IS HOW THE CHOICE SYSTEM IS SET. >> UP IS THEY SEE THEIR SCHOOL LIST BASED ON WHERE THEY LIVE AND WHAT IS AROUND THEM. THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THEY CAN SORT FOR, BUT WHAT WE DON'T
WANT IS A PARENT HAVING. TO CHOOSE. LOCAL KNOWING THEY'RE. COMPROMISING QUALITY. SO THAT'S. WHY WE'RE. >> WORKING AS FAST AS WE. CAN TO MAKE SURE A HIGH QUALITY STUDENT. EXPERIENCES THROUGHOUT THE. DISTRICT KNOW. >> THAT AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
UNDERSTAND OF COURSE WE ONLY WANT THE BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS ALWAYS. BUT UH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH CHIP. THANK YOU. >> VERY MUCH. PANEL. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. I GOT A TEXT MESSAGE FROM A MIKE IN WEST ROXBURY. YOU WANTED TO KNOW HOW YOU
MANAGED TO RESIST THE CRUSH OF BASKETBALL RECRUITERS THAT YOU'RE COMING TO YOUR DOOR TO STAY AT BEAL'S. YEAH. >> LET'S DO THAT BECAUSE THIS IS TRUE. HE'S REFERRING TO MY BROTHER
MIKE. AND AT A TIME. I WAS AT LATIN SCHOOL HE WAS AT LATIN. ACADEMY AND. >> WE SCRIMMAGED EACH OTHER AND SO HE HAD TO. COVER ME. SO IT WAS GREAT. IT WAS LIKE BEING IN THE BACKYARD, RIGHT? I HIT A THREE. >> IN HIS FACE OFF.
THE GLASS SO I COULDN'T EVEN IT WASN'T EVEN LIKE I'M GOOD. IT WAS A LUCKY THREE BUT I SHUFFLED BACK ON DEFENSE LIKE I WAS THE MAN RIGHT? AND I'LL NEVER LET HIM FORGET
IT SO YOU CAN TEXT HIM THAT? YEAH. >> NO. >> IT'S OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, OKAY, SO JUST SORT OF TRYING TO, UH, GET SOME
CLARIFICATION ON ON HOW SINCE SORT OF HARP ON THIS I MEAN, UM UH SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS
GOING FORWARD FOR FY 27, MY CONCERN IS THAT UH, IHUB FUNDING IS YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT WAS 750. MAYBE WE GET TO 400 UH THOUSAND
IF THE STATE COMES THROUGH I DON'T KNOW YOU KNOW WHERE OTHER SOURCES WOULD COME FROM I THINK FAMILY, YOU KNOW, UH UH YOU NEED UH, CAN MAYBE HELP WITH THAT BUT UM.
YOU KNOW, IN TERMS. OF YOUR STAFF AND UH, I MY MY SENSE IS THAT THE AND WE YOU KNOW, WE HEARD IN LISTENING SESSION. >> THE DEPARTMENT. >> OF OPPORTUNITY YOUTH WORKS ON CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AND THIS
AND THAT OR IS THAT DEPARTMENT GOING TO EXIST IN FY 27 AND THEN IF YES, IF NOT LIKE HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT I MEAN OBVIOUSLY IT'S AN OVERWHELMING NEED.
>> YEAH HE CERTAINLY YES THE DEPARTMENT. 100% IS EXISTING. IT'S NOT GOING. >> TO YEAH I THINK CORY MAYBE TO. MAYBE IT. >> WOULD BE HELPFUL. TO ADDRESS WHAT MIGHT WHAT IS NOT BEING. FUNDED ALL.
RIGHT UH WHAT WILL NOT BE AS FAR. AS LIKE OPPORTUNITY. YOUTH UH SO WILL. NOT BE FUNDED HERE IS. ALL THINGS THAT ARE. AS OF NOW WE DON'T HAVE UH
PARTICULAR GROUNDED IN. MCKINNEY-VENTO UM AS WE STILL HAVE OUR WE HAVE ONE. SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE WILL. NOT WHO IS NOT BE UH WILL NOT BE FUNDED.
UM OUR ASSISTANT AS. >> IT STANDS TODAY. OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR OPPORTUNITY. YOUTH AS WELL AS OUR SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR OPPORTUNITY YOUTH . WE'RE DOING A REORG ACROSS THE ENTIRE. DIVISION UM, BASED ON BUDGET
CUTS WITH NOT TO TO REALLY INCREASE. EFFICIENCY AT THE. SAME TIME AND REALLY. >> VALUE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT. SO WE WILL BE LOSING. UM MEMBERS THERE. UM. >> CUTS ARE INEVITABLE. BUT AS I MENTIONED. EARLIER ALL. DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE START.
>> WITH THIS THE PROXIMITY TO STUDENTS FIRST. AND UM IF WE MADE UM. PARTICULAR CHANGES THAT ARE NOT . CLOSE TO STUDENTS.
UM IT WILL NOT BE AS HELPFUL. >> AS IT WOULD IF. >> WE IF WE WERE. ABLE TO SORT OF LIKE REDISTRIBUTE SOME. TASKS AND DUTIES AND. RESPONSIBILITIES TO OTHER FOLKS IN OTHER SHOPS AND IN STUDENT SUPPORT UM THE STUDENT SUPPORT .
DIVISIONS UM DIVISION. ITSELF IS MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS AND. THOSE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS. >> ARE WELL VERSED IN A LOT OF THE WORK THAT'S DONE ACROSS THE DIVISION. SO THOSE. CHANGES ARE DIFFICULT. >> THEY ARE HARD BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A STRATEGIC UM
PLAN THAT WE WILL PUT IN PLACE THAT WILL MITIGATE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES. IN SUNSETTING SOME OF THOSE POSITIONS. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR AS WELL, THE CLEARER IN OUR TWO OF THEM MR MCCARTHY SAYING THE HERN UM
UNIT WILL REMAIN INTACT. SO A LOT OF THE WORK THAT FUNNELS THROUGH THE OPPORTUNITY YOU THROUGH THE HEARN DEPARTMENT WILL REMAIN INTACT. I ALSO WANT TO JUST I'LL BE REMISS IF I JUST DON'T ALSO PUBLICLY THANK FAMILY AID AND
RITA BOSTON LEGAL SERVICES FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP UM OVER THE YEARS AS WELL AND WE'RE. >> LIKE YOU KNOW AGAIN. IN THIS WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS INCLUDING SOME I MENTIONED EARLIER. UM, BUT AGAIN, THE HEARN PROGRAM ITSELF DIRECTLY WILL
STILL EXIST IN THAT CONTINUITY OF SERVICES WILL HAPPEN LIKE I MENTIONED AS WELL, THE WAY WE MANAGE THE WORK WILL BE DIFFERENT BUT THE WORK WILL REMAIN OKAY. UH AND YEAH, I DO BELIEVE UH,
MR SIMMONS THAT WAS TELLING ME UH, I RAN INTO ME AT UH, A I DON'T KNOW, SYMPOSIUM. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL IT A BOSTON COLLEGE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK ON HOUSING AND STUDENTS
AND THAT THEY GET THREE FAMILIES A WEEK. WAS THAT RIGHT? UH, THEY COME TO THEM FOR THESE SERVICES AND AND, UH, YOU KNOW ,IT'S JUST THINKING ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT FAMILIES EVERY
WEEK NEEDING THESE SERVICES AND HOW WE CAN HELP THEM. AND ALSO I JUST LIKE TO YOU KNOW, GBS UH, HAS HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER AND UH, IN TERMS
OF THE FUNDING GOING UP AND DOWN EVERY YEAR, I MEAN THESE ATTORNEYS THAT GO END UP A GBS I COULDN'T GET HIRED. A GPS IS COMING OUT OF LAW SCHOOL. THEY CAN GO LITERALLY ANYWHERE
IN THE COUNTRY AND FOR YOU KNOW, THEY COULD BE YOU KNOW, FOR FOR THEIR BOSS TO ESSENTIALLY SAY WELL, I'M NOT SURE WE. >> SHOULD. BE ABLE TO FUND YOU NEXT YEAR UM, BECAUSE IT'S UH THEY THEY
MIGHT JUST PICK UP AND SAY OKAY, I'M GOING TO GO INTO TEXAS RANDY LEGAL AID TO WHERE UH WHERE I WORKED UM UH AND IT'S IT'S LIKE TO GIVE THEM
SOME PREDICTABILITY YEAR TO YEAR SO THEY CAN KEEP THIS YOU KNOW, STAFFING ON IS SOMETHING THAT CONCERNS ME. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, BILL US FOR STICKING WITH US AS WE GET THIS PROJECT UP AND
RUNNING. UM, UH AND I GET IT. SO WE WE TALKED ABOUT BUSSING COSTS. I MEAN HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AGAIN TO UH TO TO BUS KIDS FROM
OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT? DO YOU HAVE THOSE NUMBERS? YEAH. >> IT WAS SAID WE HEARD 17 MILLION LIKE WHEN WE FIRST. DISCUSSED THIS. A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. YES. >> I CAN PULL UP THOSE NUMBERS. OKAY. UH, DID YOU GET A REIMBURSEMENT
FOR, UH, A. CHUNK OF THEM? YEAH. OKAY. UM, AND IN TERMS OF SO I JUST A QUICK QUESTION ON ATHLETICS,
YOU KNOW, I WHEN I WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL AND MAYBE EVEN COUNSELOR. FITZGERALD WAS LIGHTING UP UH, BLUE UH DEFENDERS AT THE LHS UH, YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST WHATEVER TEACHERS WERE IN THE
SCHOOL OR THE COACHES YOU KIND OF LUCKED OUT. YOU KNOW, I HAD SOME GREAT COACHES I I'M NOT GOING TO NAME NAMES BUT SOME OF THE COACHES WEREN'T SO GREAT. UH, LIKE IS THAT STILL THE MODEL?
UH, LIKE WHERE OUR POOL OF COACHES IS IS KIND OF LIMITED TO THE PEOPLE IN THE SCHOOL. I THINK THERE'S PREFERENCE UH, AND. TO UNION. MEMBERS AS TO. >> HOW. IT WORKS. LIKE TO YOU IT'S PREFERENTIAL
TO UNION MEMBERS. UH, HOWEVER, IF YOU. >> CANNOT FIND. SOMEONE IF A SCHOOL LEADER CANNOT FIND OR THE DEPARTMENT CANNOT FIND SOMEONE WITHIN THE SCHOOL. THEN WE COULD MOVE. TOWARDS EXTERNAL APPLICATIONS. OKAY. >> AND IS THAT HOW IS THAT
SYSTEM WORKING? IT IS. UM IT. >> IS. I WOULD GRADE IT. AS A AS A B. >> A B NOT GRADE KNOCKED DOWN NOT GRADING OUR COACHES AS A B I THINK THERE'S. THERE'S NO SYSTEM THAT'S A WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC
EDUCATION HOWEVER. UM WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT WE DO HAVE. STRONG COACHES. UM BUT WE. >> ARE ALSO COMMITTED TO PROVIDING. MORE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THEM IN TERMS OF LIKE
COACHING SYMPOSIUM THE JUNIOR. CELTICS ACADEMY IS A MAJOR PARTNER THAT. JOINED US RECENTLY. AND THEY PROVIDED UP THERE. THEY HAVE ARE ROLLING OUT A. MASSIVE COACHING CURRICULUM THAT WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW. UM WE'RE ACTUALLY A.
FIRST PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE THE. FIRST GROUP THAT'S GOING TO. TAKE ON THAT CURRICULUM AND WITH THAT IT'S GOING TO LEAD US TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL. UH, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR. >> OUR COACHES AND CREATE A PIPELINE FOR. YOUNGER COACHES TO SORT OF ENTER.
>> THE ECOSYSTEM. AND THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD TO THAT IS UM, BOTH FROM A COACHING PERSPECTIVE AND AS WELL AS UM UH AN OFFICE OF SPORTS ADMINISTRATION PERSPECTIVE.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE COACHES IN OUR UNION TO BOTH LEARN FROM EACH OTHER ON HOW TO GET BETTER. SO I WE REALLY CREDIT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE BOSTON TEACHERS UNION IN OUR UM CURRENT OFFICE SPORTS
ADMINISTRATION AND OUR ADVISORY PARTNERS THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED UM THAT ARE OUTSIDE TO HELP US LIKE REALLY LEARN ABOUT BEST PRACTICES IN ATHLETICS AND HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT THAT IN BOSTON . SO I JUST WANT I ALSO KNOW THAT WE'RE LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER AND WE'RE JUST CONTINUOUS AND
LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GET BETTER. WE'RE WE'RE BOTH HAVING SHORTCOMINGS. OKAY I MEAN ONE THING THAT I HEARD IS ABOUT UH, TRAINING OF TRACK COACHES, UH, AND UH,
YOU KNOW, I THINK BASKETBALL WE HAVE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE PLAY BASKETBALL. SOME CAN EVEN MAKE THREES OFF THE GLASS WITHOUT CALLING IT AND STILL TAUNT THEIR BROTHERS . BUT, UH UM, THE TRACK IS LIKE
ONE OF THESE THINGS WHERE YOU YOU KNOW, I RAN TRACK IN COLLEGE. LIKE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT LIKE SORT OF TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE IT'S TOUGH AND SO I THINK IT'S ONE OF THESE SPORTS
WHERE PEOPLE JUST WIND UP, YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY COACH FOOTBALL IN THE SPRING IN THE FALL AND THEN THEY'RE JUST AROUND SO MAYBE COACHED TRACK AND THEN THEY READ A BOOK OR SOMETHING. UM AND UH I'VE TALKED TO TRACK
COACHES WHO SAID THAT THE DISTRICT COULD DO A BETTER JOB JUST LIKE REQUIRING A CERTIFICATION OR SOMETHING. SO PEOPLE HAVE BASIC KNOWLEDGE LIKE YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT AS POPULAR AS
BASKETBALL FOR EXAMPLE. SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THAT SPACE. I DO KNOW THAT BELA, MY DAUGHTER WAS ON THE TRACK TEAM LAST YEAR. I MEAN. THEIR TRACK TEAM IS INCREDIBLY WELL RUN.
I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED. UH, AND YOU KNOW, I MEAN A BUNCH OF KIDS ON BLOCK WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND CROSS COUNTRY. UH, SO YOU KNOW, THERE IS THERE IS GOOD. TRACK AND FIELD. >> AND SO I'M JUST MAYBE ACROSS
THE BOARD. UH, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE A BIG GAP. YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY NUANCED AND. UM YEAH WE APPRECIATE THAT FEEDBACK. WE KNOW THAT EVERYONE. >> CAN STAND TO IMPROVE. UM. BUT YOU. KNOW OUR.
COACHES THE MORE COMMITTED. WE ARE TO THEIR IMPROVEMENT, UM, THE. >> BETTER AND. YOU KNOW, I'LL TAKE THAT AS. DEFINITELY SOME FEEDBACK TO TAKE. BACK TO. >> YOUR. TEAM AROUND TRACK. OKAY. >> UH YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNSELOR BREADON, MADAM PRESIDENT. UM.
>> OKAY. >> I'M GOING TO I'LL SET IT TO FIVE MINUTES. MAYBE WE DO ONE LAST ROUND. OKAY. WE GOT TO TAKE A BREAK SOON. YEAH. OH, YEAH. >> BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET READY FOR THE NEXT. WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE. >> UH. SO THEY DON'T. YEAH. >> GET SENT OUT FOR PIZZA.
OKAY. UM. >> I WAS JUST LOOKING UM, IN TERMS OF, UH, TOTAL CONTRACTED SERVICES AND NON PERSONNEL COSTS AND THE CENTRAL BUDGET,
UM, CAN WE IS IT POSSIBLE TO SEE A BREAKDOWN OF THE CURRENT CODE AND THE PROGRAM CODE FOR EACH CENTRAL OFFICE DEPARTMENT ? UH, CURRENTLY WE ONLY SEE UM
THE DISTRICT UH, AS A WHOLE AND IT DOESN'T REALLY GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT MONEY'S BEEN SPENT ON. UM, THE BUDGET BOOK INDICATES
THAT A TOTAL OF THREE THREE $371,000,218 AND 2000 $218,222 IS NON SALARY EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES CONTRACTS AND OTHER
NON PERSONNEL. SO I'M JUST CURIOUS LIKE THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY BUT UM THIS THING GET. OFF UM THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY I'M JUST WONDERING IF IT'S FOR
EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES CONTRACTS AND OTHER NON PERSONNEL LIKE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A BREAKDOWN OF EXACTLY WHAT. UH WHAT. ALL THOSE THINGS ARE. YES. >> WE CAN WE CAN DEFINITELY BREAK IT DOWN FOR YOU IN A VARIETY OF WAYS FOR SURE.
>> WE CAN GIVE YOU SOME MORE DETAIL. IS IT LIKE CONTRACTED SERVICES IS THAT FOR NOT OTHER LIKE NON . UM NONPROFIT TO CONTRIBUTE TO. THAT SO SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS
OR. YEAH JUST SO CONTRACTED SERVICES IS UH PRIMARILY NOT UM THE GRANT AGREEMENTS UM WOULD YOU SOME OF THOSE UH BUT NOT A
HUGE NUMBER. UM SO OUR CONTRACTED SERVICES. OUR BIGGEST CONTRACTS ARE FOR THINGS LIKE UM. TRANSLATIONS. >> SUPPLEMENTAL SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES.
UM ALSO LIKE UM ALL OF OUR BIG IT SYSTEMS. UM. >> GO THROUGH CONTRACTED SERVICES. UM, SOME OF OUR HUB. SCHOOLS WORK. >> IS CONTRACTED OUT WITH PARTNERS AT THE YMCA. UM, SO THOSE ARE THE MAIN
THINGS THAT ARE IN SORT OF AS YOU LOOK AT CENTRAL OFFICE CONTRACT SERVICES. BUT UM, I'D BE HAPPY TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IT BROKEN OUT. YEAH. >> YOU KNOW. IT WAS A IT'S A BIG ORGANIZATION AS I SAID EARLIER
THERE'S A LOT OF. THINGS TO UNPACK. YEAH. UM AND THEN UM, I'M JUST WONDERING IN TERMS OF UM THIS
THIS I'M REALLY A BIG FAN OF UM ,SPORTS AND SCHOOLS AND LIKE ACCESS TO ATHLETICS. I THINK IT'S A LIFESAVER FOR MANY KIDS. BUT, UM, THIS ELEMENTARY SPORTS FOUNDATION'S PROGRAM, UM, HOW
MANY HOW MANY SCHOOLS IS THAT AVAILABLE TO? IT WAS AVAILABLE. >> TO EVERY. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IS A PILOT. UM. HOWEVER, SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE VERY SMALL AND. IT COULD NOT. FIELD THE. BASKETBALL TEAMS.
BUT WHEN WE TRANSITION TO VOLLEYBALL THERE'LL BE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS THAT HAVE. TO TAKE. >> ADVANTAGE OF THE. >> OPPORTUNITY AND THEN WE TRANSITION TO THE OTHER SPORT IN SOCCER. SO BUT IT'S AVAILABLE FOR EVERY ELEMENTARY. >> SCHOOL AND MANY SCHOOLS AND ALSO AND BRIGHTON ARE PARTICIPATING.
AND NONE. BUT WE OFFER THAT TO UM ALSO BRIGHTON SCHOOLS. EVERY SCHOOL OFFER. EMAIL NONE OF THE SCHOOLS TOOK YOU UP ON IT. EXCUSE ME. >>. >> NO SCHOOLS NELSON BRIGHTON. NO NOT TELL THEM. GIVE THEM A CALL AND TELL THEM
LIKE WE COULD COMBINE THEM. >> WE COULD HAVE A BRAIN TEAM. I KNOW THAT THEY'RE THE UH ON THEIR OWN. THEY'RE ORGANIZING WITH SOME COLUMN KIDS TO PLAY SOCCER LIKE WINSHIP AND AND BUT THAT'S THEIR OWN INITIATIVE.
AND YOU KNOW, WHILE THAT'S WHY WE HAVE WE HAVE THEM TO DO THEIR OWN DAUGHTER SELVES LIKE, UM AND WE UM AND THEN YOU SAID THAT THERE'S A SUNDAY PROGRAM FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND I'LL
LIKE FOR LITTLE LITTLE TYKES WHAT WHAT WHAT. >> DOES THAT. SO WE'VE HAD THIS IS THIS SUNDAY WILL BE OUR HUNDRED AND SECOND SUNDAY UM AT MADISON PARK. UH, WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALL
61767. UM, IT IS A WELLNESS PROGRAM. IT USED TO BE JUST ATHLETICS. UH, IN THE MORNING YOU COULD GET BASKETBALL FOR THREE YEAR OLDS FOR GIRLS THREE WE START WITH THREE YEAR OLDS AND UP FOR
GIRLS AND THEN WE GO INTO OLDER GIRLS AT 1030. UM, BOYS BASKETBALL AT 12, OLDER BOYS AT TWO. WE THEN HAVE RUGBY AT NINE, BOXING AT NINE.
WE HAVE YOGA AT TEN, DANCE AT TEN. UH WE ALSO HAVE A FOOD ACCESS PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES WHO COULD WHO NEED UM FOOD AND WE HAVE A HUGE PARTNERSHIP WITH SPOONFULS
UM WHO PROVIDES WHO PROVIDE FOOD FOR OUR FAMILIES. UH WE HAVE ALSO PROVIDED COLLEGE ACCESS AS WELL, UM, WITH SOME OF YOUR STUDENTS AT BRIGHTON HIGH AS PARTICIPATED IN.
UM AND THEN WE ALSO OFFER STEP AS WELL AS CHESS AND THE MEDIA HAS COVERED THE CHESS PIECE UM, SO FAR AND YOU KNOW, IT'S FREE TO THE COMMUNITY FOR FREE TO
FAMILIES AND WE HAVE ABOUT 1200 REGISTRATIONS AND ANY GIVEN DAY . UM I FORGOT TO MENTION VOLLEYBALL AND SOCCER BUT ANY GIVEN SUNDAY WE GET OVER 500 DIFFERENT PEOPLE. SO, UM, IS IT A BREAKDOWN BY
DISTRICT AND FOR THOSE TWO THOSE FAMILIES COME FROM. >> I COULD I COULD GIVE IT TO YOU BY SCHOOL. I CAN PROBABLY TELL YOU IN THREE MINUTES HOW MANY SCHOOLS IN BRIGHTON AND AUSTIN BRIAN ARE REPRESENTED. APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE'RE WE'RE REALLY IN
THE MOMENT TRYING TO GET MORE ACCESS TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO SPORTS MORE LOCALLY BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT WELL ACTUALLY GOING TO ROXBURY CROSSING. THAT GOOD 6666. THIS IS GOOD BUT I DON'T KNOW
HOW GOOD IT IS ON SUNDAYS. BUT ANYWAY THAT'S ALRIGHT I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT INFORMATION. THANK YOU. NORRIS EVERYONE AT A TIME AGAIN . UH JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR ME AND THEN IF YOU HAVE A FINAL
QUESTION OR SOMETHING COUNCIL BREADON UM SO I GUESS I KNOW THE MAYOR HAS SOUGHT FUNDS FOR ACCESS TO COUNCIL IN THE STATE BUDGET.
UH, I MEAN, SO WHAT IS WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR THIS, UH, PROGRAM ? LIKE ARE WE GOING TO CAN WE FUNNEL IN MONEY? YOU KNOW, WE GET YOU SOME MONEY
LATER ON? UH, YOU KNOW. SO I I THINK THAT ACCESS TO COUNCIL PORTION OF IT I BELIEVE HAS BEEN FUNDED THROUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING PREVIOUSLY.
SO WE CAN WORK WE CAN TALK TO THEM OR WE'LL TALK TO THEM ABOUT THAT. UH, AND WE'LL WORK COLLABORATIVELY ON IT. I KNOW WE ARE WORKING ON A NUMBER OF ANGLES ON, UH, REPLACING OUR SORT OF LOST
GRANT FUNDING THAT WE PUT TOGETHER FOR THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM. SO WE'RE DEFINITELY STILL, UM, HUSTLING THAT MONEY TOGETHER. BUT WE'RE WE'RE HOPEFUL WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIND IT ALL TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM.
YEAH. >> I MEAN, I THINK I BELIEVE THIS COUNCIL HAS SUPPORTED IT TWICE AND HOPEFULLY SUPPORT IT AGAIN. AND UH YOU. >> KNOW WE APPRECIATE WE APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION.
FIGURE OUT HOW TO HOW TO SUPPORT THAT PROGRAM. UH UM AND I GUESS SO THE THE CHANGES TO HOW THIS WILL WORK
WITH E I MEAN ARE THESE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE BECAUSE OF UH, FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS OR LIKE WOULD YOU BE CHANGING THE PROGRAM WITH THE SAME AMOUNT
OF FUNDING OR YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY WITH LIKE THE OFFICE OF UH OPPORTUNITY YOUTH OR UM, YOU KNOW, SORT OF LOSING THAT PIECE OF IT IS THAT JUST
BECAUSE FUNDING IS TIGHT OR EXPLAINED THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS THERE? YEAH. >> I MEAN UM, AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER WE WE ANY CUTS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE ARE JUST PAINFUL CUTS. LET ME JUST START BY SAYING
THAT LIKE WE'VE DONE SO MUCH AS A DISTRICT OVER THE YEARS TO REALLY UM, STAFF DIFFERENT MODELS OF WHAT WE CAN DO AND PROVIDE OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS AND UM WE'VE TRIED DIFFERENT
THINGS AND WENT ENFORCE THESE AT A POINT WHERE WE JUST CAN'T SUSTAIN A LOT OF WHAT WE DID AND IT'S NOTHING AGAINST THE PEOPLE IN THOSE POSITIONS. IT'S NOTHING AGAINST UM UM THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.
IT'S MORE AROUND OUR FISCAL REALITIES THAT WE HAVE TO MANAGE. SO I THINK WITH DOLLARS OF COURSE WE WOULD CONTINUE TO FULLY FUND DIFFERENT MODELS THAT WE KNOW WORK. BUT NOW THAT WE'RE IN THIS FISCAL REALITY, WE HAVE TO JUST
ADJUST THOSE SYSTEMS IN A WAY THAT WE CAN STAND AS BEST POSSIBLE WITH THE PRIMARY FOCUS ON THE DIRECT SERVICES TO THE OF FAMILIES. YEAH I MEAN I THINK IT'S IT'S. IT'S THE HARD PART WITH THE GRANT FUNDED INITIATIVES RIGHT
IS LIKE HOW TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEM. THAT'S WHAT WE WENT THROUGH WITH ESSER AND WHAT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE BACK IN UM THESE OTHER AREAS FOR US WE'RE GRANTS ARE GETTING CUT OR WE'RE PARTNERS
OF OURS THAT WE RELY ON ARE HAVING A GRANT CUT THAT HAS DIRECT BEARING ON US AND THEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR BUDGET CAN ACTUALLY SUPPORT. SO I THINK THESE ARE THE HARD TRADE OFF PIECES.
UM. BUT I MEAN THIS IS SUCH A CRITICAL. NEEDS AREA THAT WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT TO ADVOCATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR IT. AND TO USE THE RESOURCES WE. DO HAVE TO TRY TO UM, SUPPORT
WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN TIED TO THE GRANT THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE. OKAY. >> AND THEN UM, SO I JUST UH ONE MORE WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR MURPHY. UH, UM, IN TERMS OF ALTERNATIVE
EDUCATION, I THINK CENTRALLY THERE TEACHERS BEING BUT I HAVE HERE UH, THE ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS HOUSING FOR TEACHERS AND SUBSTITUTES I
DON'T KNOW IS THAT A PURE FACIAL EXPRESSION MAKES ME THINK THAT'S WRONG BUT UM UH. UM OH SORRY. SORRY SORRY OKAY. AND SO I'M JUST TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND I APOLOGIZE. YEAH. >> I, UM, DIDN'T MAKE THE CONNECTION, SO THERE WAS, UH, ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM AT EXCEL HIGH SCHOOL THAT WAS ACTUALLY RUN AND BUDGETED
THROUGH THE ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT UM, CALLED I P I BELIEVE IT GOT THE NOD FROM CARLOS DIDN'T SCREW THAT UP. UH, SO AS THAT SCHOOL IS CLOSING THAT PROGRAM IS ALSO
CLOSING. UM, STUDENTS. WILL BE ABLE TO TRANSITION TO PROGRAMS AT OTHER SCHOOLS SIMILARLY TO ANY OTHER STUDENT AT EXCEL. BUT UH UM STAFFING FOR THAT
PROGRAM IS BEING YEAH. >> OKAY. UM AND THEN I MEAN SO WILL THOSE SO PROGRAMS LIKE GREATER EGGLESTON UH HIGH LIKE THEY'LL STILL BE SUPPORTED. OH YEAH. >> NO, IN FACT WE'VE WE'VE
ACTUALLY BEEN DOING A LOT OF REORGANIZATION WITH OUR ALTERNATIVE IN IN INVESTMENT IN UM PARTICULARLY TO CREATE CERTAIN PROGRAMS THAT MATCH THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS WE HAVE.
AND SO, UM, CARLOS DIAZ WHO'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. UM. >> IS HERE BUT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. OF REDESIGN AND EXPANSION OF SEATS FOR STUDENTS YOU'VE HEARD OF LIKE THE NEXT PROGRAM
THE. BY THE EAST. RIGHT. >> LIKE WE'VE BEEN CREATING THOSE PROGRAMS. UH, BUT THEN ALSO DOING A LOT OF. STRENGTHENING IN THE ALTERNATIVE. EDUCATION NETWORK. SO GREAT. AGUSTIN, THAT YOU REFERRED TO
UH ALONG WITH BOSTON COLLABORATIVE ALONG. WITH UM, YOU KNOW, BARDA LIKE ALL OF THEM ARE DOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTS TOGETHER THE. LEADERS ARE. NOW WORKING MUCH MORE CLOSELY
AND WE'RE MOVING TOWARD A SINGLE POINT OF ENTRY TO REALLY. UNDERSTAND WHAT A STUDENT NEEDS. BEFORE SIMON. OKAY. >> UH, OKAY. I JUST WANT TO GIVE MY COLLEAGUE SOME TIME HERE. UH, COUNCILOR MURPHY.
SO WE'RE AT THIS MORNING'S HEARING AND UH, IS FOCUSED ON I . YEAH, YOU'VE GOT THE LIST. UM, SO WE WERE ABOUT TO WRAP UP, BUT WE'RE, UH, DEFINITELY
HOLD THE PANEL, UH, FOR YOU, UH, IF. YOU KNOW. FIVE MINUTES. >> UH, NO. >> I KNOW WE HAVE TWO MORE. MEETINGS, SO THAT'S FINE. OKAY? >> OKAY. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE,
I APPRECIATE IT AND I, UM OKAY. COUNCIL BRAIN, DO YOU HAVE A LAST QUESTION FOR US? I WAS WONDERING AND IN TERMS OF, UM, THE, UH WE NEED TO HAVE
UPDATED ORGANIZATIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL CHART THAT REFLECTS WHO'S LEADING EACH DEPARTMENT AND SUPERVISING THAT DEPARTMENT. I THINK THE LAST BP'S BLUE BOOK WAS 2021 2022.
UH, AND THE WEBSITE DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE DIFFERENT LEADERSHIPS IN THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. IS THAT IS THAT CORRECT? IT'S ONE. WELL WE'LL. PROBABLY I THINK WE HAVE SOMETHING.
>> FOR YOU. YEAH BECAUSE IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO KNOW. YEAH WE. >> DON'T DO THE BLUE. >> BOOK. UM THAT'S RIGHT THAT WAS BRINGING BACK THAT WAS LIKE IN COLLEGE THINKING OF THE BLUE BOOK I WENT BACK. >> IN TIME. KELLY'S BLUE BOOK YEAH YEAH. WE HAVE UM THERE IS A IN YOUR
BUDGET BOOK. UM BUT DO WE HAVE A LIST OF YOU KNOW AND I KNOW CHART FOR THE ALL. WE DO IT'S. OUR WEBSITE BUT WE'LL GET IT ALL PRINTED AND GIVE IT TO YOU. YEAH THAT'LL BE REALLY GOOD. GREAT.
AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS AN AUTONOMOUS SCHOOL DEPARTMENT. UM IT'S UM IT'S IT'S UH NOT LISTED IN THE SCHOOL BUDGET BOOK.
SO IS IT UM IS THERE ANYONE LEADING THE AUTONOMOUS SCHOOL DEPARTMENT OR, YOU KNOW, THE OVERSEEING YOUR CHARTERS AND YOUR PILOTS AND ALL THAT? IS THAT STILL GOING TO STILL BE
MANAGED AS A AS A DISCRETE GROUP OF SCHOOLS? YES. >> SO UM WE ACTUALLY THEY'RE PART OF THE REGIONS. UM BUT LIKE FOR INSTANCE GARDNER IS. IN YOURS. UM THERE'S ALSO UM A SUPPORT
FOR THEM RIGHT NOW IN THE FORM OF A DIRECT PERSON TO HELP. WITH GOVERNING BOARD. ISSUES, UM, TRAINING THINGS LIKE THAT. UH, THAT WILL CONTINUE IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. AND IT'S A PART OF OUR SCHOOLS
OFFICE BUDGET. ,SCHOOLS OFFICE BUDGETS. INSIDE THE SCHOOL ALL THE WORK LIVES INSIDE THE SCHOOLS OFFICE. OKAY. >> ALL RIGHT. AND, UM, I KNOW IT'S UM EVERYBODY'S GETTING HUNGRY. UH, WE'LL BE BACK IN THE
AFTERNOON, SO THANK YOU. UM, UH, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO, BECAUSE IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN HERE. THERE. NICE. THANKS. OKAY, COUNCILOR MURPHY, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION.
UM. THANK YOU. FOR BEING HERE. IT'S LISTENING IN. BUT ONE. QUESTION I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE IS THE LOSS OF JOBS AND YOU KNOW, WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
BUT THIS QUESTION MIGHT BE THROUGH THE CHAIR A LOT OF RUMBLING TO FROM SOME COLLEAGUES NOT ALL BUT WILL WE CHAIR BE REQUESTING A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OR THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WITH BEEPS? I MEAN WE WE HAVE NOT BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS A SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING LAST NIGHT.
CORRECT I CAN JUMP IN. >> YEAH YEAH YEAH SURE. SO UM, LAST NIGHT. DID REQUEST UH, FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION. I THINK AS YOU RECALL. WE. >> UH, IDENTIFIED EARLY IN THE. YEAR THAT IT WAS ABOUT A $53.
>> MILLION DEFICIT. UH. WE WERE ABLE THROUGH A LOT OF MITIGATION TO WORK THAT BACK . UM, AND SO REALLY THE DELTA RIGHT NOW. IS THE DIFFERENCE OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE.
WITH OUR UTILITIES. THESE ARE AREAS. WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE CITY ON PROJECTION. WE VERY MUCH. APPRECIATED THAT THE CITY THIS. YEAR RECOGNIZED THAT THE FIRST PROJECTION.
WAS GOING TO BE TOO LOW AND. SUBSEQUENTLY GAVE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, UH. >> SO THAT OUR BUDGET FOR. FY 27 REFLECTS IT. WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT HAPPEN IN FY 26. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE COMING TO YOU AS COUNCIL OR.
WILL BE. IF THERE IS AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE BY. >> SCHOOL. COMMITTEE YET. SO YEAH COUNCILOR MURPHY SO I BELIEVE EARLY MAY SCHOOL COMMITTEE WILL VOTE ON AT THIS. >> POINT. . >> THEN WE WILL HOLD A HEARING ON THAT. I THINK WE YOU KNOW, WE'RE UH
HAVE WE DID WE HAVE A SPOT MAY 27TH UH, AND UM, IF IF SOME REASON NEEDS TO HAPPEN SOONER WE'LL WORK ON THAT. UH, AND WE CAN SHUFFLE THINGS AROUND. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE TIMING
ISSUES ARE JUST HAVING KIND. OF KNOW THAT ALL THAT ALL SOUNDS FINE. OUR NEXT. >> STEP IS SCHOOL COMMITTEE, RIGHT? LIKE WE HAVE THAT. >> AND THEN WE JUST ALSO WANTED. >> TO PUBLICLY THANK COUNCIL FOR THE MILKING UNANIMOUS VOTE FOR MELVIN H. KING SOUTHEND ACADEMY.
THAT MEANT A LOT AND LAST NIGHT IT. WAS REAFFIRMED AT SCHOOL COMMITTEE. YEAH THE BUILDING IS NEEDED BUT WE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF WORK WITH THE PROGRAMING TO THEM. 100% DEFINITELY ONGOING. AND UM LIZ MENTIONED.
BECAUSE I DO OFTEN. LOOK AT THIS AND IT DOES GET. UPDATED BUT. >> IT IS TRUE THERE'S. NEVER BEEN CONTACT INFORMATION ATTACHED AND OH. >> WE CAN DEFINITELY DO THAT. FIGURE IT OUT. BUT MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
DON'T HAVE A BOSTON.COM. >> YOU KNOW. PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE AND THERE'S AN S AT THE END OF SCHOOL DON'T MEAN THINGS THAT WE FIGURE OUT AND THAT IT'S LIKE FIRST INITIAL IT'S DIFFERENT NOW THE REST OF THE CITY. SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. ABSOLUTELY. >> YEAH IT'S A GREAT POINT.
WELL WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THAT OKAY. . >> THANK YOU THANK YOU. THANK YOU OKAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO WE'RE GOING TO UH AT THIS HEARING OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO ADJOURN THIS HEARING AND COME BACK THIS
AFTERNOON. GREAT. >> THANK YOU THANK YOU. Part: 2
GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MY NAME IS BEN WEBER. I'M THE DISTRICT SIX CITY COUNCILOR AND THE CHAIR OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL ON WAYS AND MEANS.
TODAY IS APRIL 16TH, 2026 AND THE EXACT TIME IS 2:13 P.M. THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED IS ALSO BEING LIVE STREAMED AT
BOSTON.GOV/CITY COUNCIL TV AND BROADCAST ON XFINITY CHANNEL EIGHT OR CN CHANNEL 82 AND FILES CHANNEL 964. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET REVIEW
PROCESS UH WILL ENCOMPASS A SERIES OF PUBLIC HEARINGS UH, THAT BEGAN ON TUESDAY UH AND WILL RUN THROUGH JUNE. WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS
TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ENGAGE IN THIS PROCESS BY GIVING TESTIMONY FOR THE RECORD, YOU CAN DO SO IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS FIRST, ATTEND ONE OF OUR HEARINGS, UH, AND GIVE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY. WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC TESTIMONY UH, DURING EACH HEARING. UH, THESE THE UH FOR THESE HEARINGS WILL BE UH, TAKING PUBLIC TESTIMONY AT THE END
OF THE FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS FOR MY COLLEAGUES. UM, UH AND ALSO AT TWO HEARINGS DEDICATED TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY CALL LISTENING SESSIONS, UM,
THE FULL HEARING SCHEDULES ON OUR WEBSITE AT BOSTON.GOV/COUNCIL-BUDGET ARE SCHEDULED HEARINGS DEDICATED TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY ARE IN PERSON
HERE IN CITY HALL ON TUESDAY APRIL 28TH AT 6 P.M. AND AGAIN IN PERSON AT CITY HALL ON THURSDAY, MAY 26TH AT 6 P.M. YOU CAN GIVE TESTIMONY IN
PERSON HERE IN THE CHAMBER OR VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM FOR IN-PERSON TESTIMONY. PLEASE COME TO THE CHAMBER AND SIGN UP ON THE SHEET NEAR THE ENTRANCE. UH, WHICH IS OVER THERE FOR
ANYONE IN THE CHAMBER UM, FOR VIRTUAL TESTIMONY, YOU CAN SIGN UP USING OUR ONLINE FORM AT OUR COUNCIL UH, BUDGET REVIEW WEBSITE OR BY EMAILING THE
COMMITTEE AT SQUIRM@BOSTON.GOV OR BY EMAILING OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON AT KARISHMA CHOHAN THAT'S SORRY KRISHNA IS
KKR I S H M A.CO AND@BOSTON.GOV WHEN YOU ARE CALLED TO TESTIFY PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION UH AND RESIDENTS AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO UH A
FEW MINUTES TO ENSURE THAT ALL COMMENTS AND CONCERNS CAN BE HEARD. EMAIL YOUR WRITTEN TESTIMONY TO THE COMMITTEE OR I'M SORRY. SO IN ADDITION TO SHOWING UP AND TESTIFYING IN PERSON OR
DOING THAT IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY, YOU CAN ALSO SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY WHICH YOU CAN DO BY EMAILING THE TESTIMONY TO THE COMMITTEE THAT SCOTT WMI BOSTON.COM.
THIRD, YOU CAN SUBMIT A TWO MINUTE VIDEO OF YOUR TESTIMONY THROUGH THE FORM ON OUR WEBSITE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET PROCESS AND HOW TO TESTIFY, PLEASE VISIT
THE CITY COUNCIL'S BUDGET WEBSITE AT BOSTON.GOV COUNCIL DASH BUDGET IN PERSON PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN UH FOLLOWING THE FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS AGAIN UM AND
INDIVIDUALS UH WHO ARE CALLED WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO TESTIFY AGAIN IF YOU WISH TO SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY. UM, YOU CAN EMAIL OUR DIRECTOR
OF LEGISLATIVE BUDGET UH, ANALYSIS CHRIS WOULD SHOW ON AT UH K R I S H MCCUE HAND AT BOSTON.COM FOR THE ZOOM LINK
AND YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST AGAIN THAT'S FOR VIRTUAL TESTIMONY. IF YOU'RE HERE IN PERSON ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS SIGN UP, UM, ON THE SHEET AND I'LL CALL YOUR NAME.
THIS AFTERNOON'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET NUMBERS 073320740 AND DOCKET NUMBERS 074120743.
THE FOCUS OF THIS HEARING IS ON THE FY 27 BUDGET FOR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THIS HEARING WILL COVER TOPICS INCLUDING FOOD SERVICE SAFETY OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES SLASH
STAFFING UH AND TRANSPORTATION. THIS HEARING WILL ALSO COVER THE FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION AND TECHNOLOGY REVOLVING FUNDS. THIS IS ONE IN A SERIES OF HEARINGS TO REVIEW THE FY 27
BUDGET. IT'S ALSO ONE OF THREE HEARINGS WE'RE HOLDING SPECIFICALLY ON THE FY 27 BUDGET. I WANT TO NOTE, UH, FOR MY
COLLEAGUES AND UH AND FOR THE PANELISTS THAT THE CENTRAL OFFICE BUDGET IS RELEVANT TO OUR DISCUSSIONS AT ALL OF OUR HEARINGS GIVEN THE OVERLAP
OF THIS BUDGET WITH MANY OF OUR SPECIFIC TOPICS IN CASE OF THIS ,IN THE CASE OF THIS PARTICULAR HEARING, UH, WE ARE LIKELY TO DISCUSS CENTRALLY BUDGETED SERVICES AND PERSONNEL .
THESE MATTERS WERE SPONSORED BY MAYOR MICHELLE WU AND REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON APRIL 8TH 2026. TODAY I'M JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL
UH, COUNCILOR MURPHY, COUNCILOR FLYNN, COUNCILOR BREADON UH UH AND UH I BELIEVE WE RECEIVED A LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM COUNCILOR CULPEPPER.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR PANELISTS, UH, FROM THE ALL FROM THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE HAVE, UH, YEAH. UH, SENIOR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF OPERATIONS
DOCTOR SAM DE PINA, UH, CHIEF OF HUMAN RESOURCES FRANCIS JAY CANTY. UH, RIGHT. UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION DAN ROSENGARD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SAFETY,
SECURITY AND SCHOOL CRISIS RESPONSE IZZY MARRERO, UH AND DEPUTY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER BLAIR DOCKETS RIGHT. AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE
UH UH CHIEF UH, FINANCIAL OFFICER UH, WHO'S ALSO HERE DAVID BLOOM UM, TO ANSWER QUESTIONS UH, HE HAS A CALL AT 330. HE MAY STEP OUT.
UM, HE'LL BE COMING BACK AND HIS DEPUTY UH, SORRY. BLAIR CAN ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS. UM, YOU KNOW, IN HIS ABSENCE,
UM, UH LET'S SEE. UM. LET'S, UM. OKAY, SO, UH, WE ARE GOING TO
START NOW I GUESS WITH UH, ANY PRESENTATION OR STATEMENT. NO. UM, WE JUST WOULD WANT TO AGAIN JUST SAY GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE HERE, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC JOINING US AND UH, HAPPY TO
DISCUSS UH, THE TOPICS HERE THIS AFTERNOON AND LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS IS SHARING, UH, A LOT ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND MORE PLANNING TO DO. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. UH. LET'S GET STARTED. COUNCILOR MURPHY. UH, SEVEN MINUTES. OKAY.
THANK YOU. CHAIR. THANK YOU ALL FOR. BEING HERE. UM. SOME FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS. I KNOW WE'VE MET A FEW TIMES ALREADY. UM.
AND SOME OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS I HAVE. IF YOU, DAVID. COULD SPEAK DIRECTLY. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I ASKED TWICE NOW IS TO SEPARATE OUT THE CENTRAL OFFICE BUDGET KNOWING THAT, UM, IT'S NOT JUST
STAFF THAT. ARE WORKING UNDER SKIPPER. THAT IT'S ALL OF. OUR CUSTODIANS. IF YOU COULD LIST ALL OF THE OTHER UM, EMPLOYEES AND BP'S WHO ARE PAID THROUGH THE
CENTRAL BUDGET AND THEN SEPARATE OUT THE OVERALL CUT AND WHICH POSITIONS WERE CUT, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. THANK YOU. YES. >> UM THANK YOU. SO UM, WE HAVE UM,
APPROXIMATELY UM, 2800 CENTRALLY FUNDED POSITIONS. UM, THIS IS EVERYTHING FROM UM BUS MONITORS TO CUSTODIANS TO SPECIAL EDUCATION RELATED SERVICES STAFF AS WELL AS THE
CENTRAL OFFICE. UM, OUR BUDGET INCLUDES ABOUT 700 OF THE POSITIONS ARE WHAT YOU WOULD, UM, OFTEN THINK OF AS SORT OF. TRADITIONAL CENTRAL OFFICE
ROLES. UM, THAT INCLUDES FOR EXAMPLE LIKE THE WHOLE FINANCE TEAM. RIGHT. ALL OF OUR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE THOSE SORTS OF THINGS FOR INSTANCE AS TEAM H.R UM AS WELL
AS SORT OF SUPERVISION FOR ACADEMICS AND OTHER AREAS UM WE HAVE UH 56 I BELIEVE IS OUR MOST UPDATED NUMBER UH, FTE
OF REDUCTIONS UH. OF THE 700 UP TO 2800. OF THE 700 UM ABOUT 175 FROM THE 2800.
SO 175 TOTAL OF WHICH 57 ARE. OUR CENTRAL. CENTRAL OFFICE. UM AND BECAUSE YOU HAD SAID TO LAST TIME THAT YOU KNOW, YOU HAD A PERCENTAGE CUT UP TO
CENTRAL OFFICE SO A SMALLER AND OF THE UH 120 OR. >> 18. WHERE ARE THOSE ARE THEY BUS MONITOR LIKE DO YOU HAVE THE LIST OF WHO'S. YES. SO UM WE ARE GOING TO BE
REDUCING SOME VACANT POSITIONS AND BUS MONITORS UM AND UH SOME UM SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFF THAT ARE ASSIGNED BASED ON THE NEEDS
OF STUDENTS IEPS THERE'S A COUPLE OF VACANT POSITIONS THERE THAT WE THINK WILL BE CONSOLIDATING AS WELL AS SOME VACANT UM CITY SERVICES POSITIONS. UM, THE UH UH YOU'RE ASKING
ABOUT SORT OF THE REMAINING ONE TENTH RIGHT NOW THERE'S ALSO SOME SOME CUSTODIAL REDUCTIONS AS WE HAVE FEWER BUILDINGS. UM. YOU MENTIONED SOME OF OUR BUS MONITORS.
DAN, IF YOU COULD CHIME IN HERE BECAUSE WHEN WE HAD OUR HEARING ON TRANSPORTATION LAST MONTH WE WERE TALKING ABOUT. >> THE NEED TO HAVE. MORE BUS. RIGHT. AND THAT MANY OF THE BUSSES CAN'T LEAVE THE YARD IF
THEY'RE. NOT FOLLOWING THE IEPS THE ONE TO ONES THE SAFETY MONITORS. SO HOW IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT THAT CONVERSATION.
? AS A UH. YEAH I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION COUNCILOR. UM SO THE THE REDUCTIONS AS. CHIEF FLYNN. >> MENTIONED ARE IN VACANT POSITIONS RIGHT NOW.
SO WE ARE. UM KEEPING THE SAME NUMBER OF ACTIVE BUS MONITORS THAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT WITH THAT STAFFING THAT WE'VE HAD WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY COVERAGE ISSUES YET THIS YEAR.
AND AS WE'RE PROJECTING FURTHER REDUCTIONS IN THE NUMBER OF ROUTES ALIGNED WITH UH, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL CLOSURES AND ENROLLMENT. I KNOW THEY'VE PERMANENTLY BEEN CUT. YES. >> THAT'S CORRECT.
AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY INTERRUPTIONS ON BUSSES BEING ABLE TO PICK UP, DROP. OFF OR HAVE THE CORRECT NUMBER OF BUS MONITORS.
AT ALL THIS YEAR THERE'S BEEN 100% ATTENDANCE MATCHING THE NEEDS. NOT JUST THE ONE I'M WE'RE TALKING I GET IT THAT IT'S IEPS AND WHAT'S WRITTEN.
UH WHAT WHAT WE'VE FOUND IS THAT UM THE THE NUMBER OF BUS MONITORS WE HAVE IS, YOU KNOW, SUFFICIENT TO COVER DAILY OPERATIONS EVERY DAY. YES. OKAY. >> I'LL GO BACK UM, AFTER THIS BUT I FEEL LIKE THAT WAS
DIFFERENT FROM THE CONVERSATION WE HAD WHEN WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT. BUS BUSSES LAST TIME. UM, OKAY. IZZY, UM, I HAVE A QUESTION.
I KNOW WE WERE JUST TALKING EARLIER THE. I HEAR, UM WE TALK A LOT OR YOU KNOW, A LOT OF ATTENTION IS BROUGHT TO SOME OF THE.
BIGGER SAFETY CONCERNS AND ISSUES IF IT'S A FIREARM, IF IT'S A FIRED, IF IT'S A VIDEO THAT GOES VIRAL OR YOU KNOW TEXTING TO US AND CONCERNS WHICH ARE DEFINITELY CONCERNS
AND NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BUT I KNOW WE SPENT A LOT OF OR MOST OF THE TIME TALKING ABOUT THAT. I WANTED TO TALK MORE. ABOUT THE. YOU KNOW, KINDERGARTEN FIRST SECOND THE ELEMENTARY GRADES,
THE LOWER GRADES WHERE YOU HEAR OFTEN UM, ESPECIALLY WITH THE EXPANSION OF INCLUSION AND JUST PLACEMENT AND IF WE'RE. CUTTING IS THE SUPPORTS NEEDED
FOR MANY OF OUR STUDENTS AND JUST MANY KIDS MAYBE NOT FEELING SAFE PARENTS RAISING THESE CONCERNS TEACHERS THEMSELVES IN A SAFE SPACE IF THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN RELAY
THAT SAFELY OR GET SUPPORT FROM THEIR ADMINISTRATION. SO CAN YOU TALK ABOUT LIKE WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AND HOW YOU PLAY INTO THAT NEED OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T STEP
IN FOR? EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. SO SCHOOL LEADERS HAVE TOTAL AUTONOMY UM. ESPECIALLY WITH THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WHETHER THEY WANT
SAFETY PERSONNEL ON SITE OR NOT. UM. >> CURRENTLY, UH THE BULK OF THE SAFETY OFFICERS ARE DISPATCHED TO THE SCHOOLS, UH, THAT ARE IN HIGHER NEED.
UH, SO MOST OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS WILL HAVE A ONE OR MORE. UM. >> WE CURRENTLY HAVE 58, UH, SAFETY OFFICERS, UM, AFTER THE CUTS AND STUFF I HAVE TWO
OPENINGS. UM, SO I'LL HAVE UH, 60 AND WHEN WHEN FULLY STAFFED UH, WE HAVE UH, OVER 120 BUILDINGS THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE
SECURITY FOR SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE SITUATIONS THE RESOURCES ARE STRETCHED THIN. HOWEVER, WITH THAT SAID, UM, SCHOOL LEADERS SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL WHEN INCIDENTS OF CONCERNS ARISE. UM, WE DO DEPLOY, UH, SAFETY PERSONNEL TO THOSE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS UM, WHEN WHEN THE NEED IS UH IS GREAT. UM THEY ALSO ARE SECONDARY SITES FOR THOSE THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO SCHOOLS. THEY'RE THERE FOR DISMISSAL AND THEN WE DO DISPATCH SO THAT
SAFETY PERSONNEL ARE THERE UM AS A SECONDARY SITE FOR ARRIVALS DISMISSALS UH AND OUR UM THE LIEUTENANTS TO SUPERVISORS AND A SERGEANTS ARE REQUIRED TO GO AND CHECK IN
WITH THOSE UH, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS UH, REGULARLY. THERE'S ANOTHER DIVISION THAT WE HAVE CALLED THE VIPERS UH, THAT IS AN ACRONYM FOR VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PREVENTION AND RESTORATIVE SPECIALIST.
THESE ARE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN TRAINED. IT JUST STARTED THE SCHOOL YEAR . SO THIS IS WHY YOU MAY BE HEARING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME. UM, THEY WERE FORMERLY THE COMMUNITY CONNECTION COORDINATORS FROM LAST YEAR WHO
WERE PRIOR TO THAT WAS SAWS OR STREET WORKERS. UM AND SO THEY'VE ALL BEEN TRAINED IN MEDIATION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND SO THEY'RE ALSO HOW. MANY DO WE HAVE?
UH TEN UH MEMBERS AND ONE TEAM LEADER WHO PLAYS BOTH ROLES. SO IT'LL BE A TOTAL OF 11. UM, THEY CAN BE REQUESTED TO COME IN WHEN YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE INFORMED, UH, OR WHEN
SAFETY IS INFORMED OF AN ISSUE, REFERRALS CAN BE MADE. SO DON CROMWELL IS THE TEAM LEADER. UH, SHE'LL GET DISPATCH, SHE'LL GET NOTIFIED, SHE'LL ASSIGN SOMEBODY, UH, THE CASE THAT PERSON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
CONNECTING WITH THE SCHOOL. UH, CONNECTING WITH PARENTS. THE MEDIATIONS WORK WHEN ALL PARTIES VOLUNTEER ARE ON BOARD. UH, AND SO THEY UNDERSTAND LIKE WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH, UH,
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS, IT'S A DIFFERENT APPROACH THAN WE WOULD WITH UH, WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. SO, UM, WE CAN SCHEDULE REGULAR CHECK INS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
SCHOOL FEELS SUPPORTED. SO THERE ARE SOME OPTIONS THERE FOR THE SCHOOL LEADERS IF THEY REQUESTED IT. THANK YOU. I KNOW MY TIME'S UP. I DO JUST WANT TO THANK YOU. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. YOU HOPPED ON THAT CALL WITH
THE CONCERN AT THE KENNEDY SCHOOL AND JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. >> AND. WILLINGNESS TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO HELP THE STAFF, FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS. THANK YOU. >> UH, HAPPY HAPPY TO HELP. HOWEVER I CAN'T. THANK YOU, CHAIR. WELCOME. OKAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCILOR FLYNN 7 OR 7 MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. UM, I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE QUESTION I ASKED EARLIER ABOUT. THE THREE DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKERS.
DAVID, UM. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO AS A CITY COUNCIL? I STILL THINK THOSE THREE. POSITIONS. >> UM, ARE. CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY DURING. UM, EMERGENCIES. >>, CRISIS TIME.
WHAT CAN WE DO. TO GET THOSE BACK IN THE BUDGET? BECAUSE I JUST CAN'T. WALK AWAY AND JUST SAY OKAY, THEY CUT THREE SOCIAL. WORKERS AND THAT'S FINE WITH ME. I JUST CAN'T ACCEPT THAT.
BUT WHAT CAN THE CITY COUNCIL DO TO GET THOSE THREE IMPORTANT POSITIONS BACK IN THE BUDGET? BECAUSE I NEED THEM IN THE BUDGET. I KNOW THE CHALLENGES STUDENTS
ARE FACING AND I JUST CAN'T SIT HERE AND ACCEPT THAT WE'RE CUTTING SOCIAL WORKERS CRITICAL . >> JOBS, THREE DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKERS. WHAT CAN WE DO TOGETHER TO GET THEM BACK IN THE BUDGET?
BECAUSE THAT'S JUST UNACCEPTABLE FOR ME AND I JUST CAN'T GO ALONG AS IF AS IF THAT'S ACCEPTABLE. I MEAN, UH I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT THIS MORNING AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK ON THAT. WE'LL CERTAINLY TAKE IT UNDER ADVISEMENT. BUT UM, AS WE FINALIZE THE BUDGET, THE OKAY. BUT THERE'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT BACK IN.
IS THAT RIGHT? UH, WE CAN WE CAN CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT IT. OKAY. >> BECAUSE WHEN WHEN STUDENTS NEED A SOCIAL WORKER AT A TIME OF CRISIS AND THE SOCIAL WORKER
ISN'T THERE, THEN THAT'S A THAT'S A BIGGER CRISIS. UM, AND WHEN A SCHOOL IS UNDER ALL THESE CHALLENGES THAT THEY'RE FACING NOT HAVING THE
RIGHT STAFF AT THE RIGHT TIME, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS, SOCIAL WORKERS THAT'S IMPORTANT . YEAH. >> THERE WAS A LOT OF LEARNING LOSS DURING COVID. THERE WAS A LOT OF MENTAL
HEALTH CHALLENGES AS WELL AND AS A AS A CITY AND AS A DISTRICT WE JUST CAN'T BE CUTTING PSYCHOLOGISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, SCHOOL NURSES THAT'S WHAT I FOCUSED ON WHEN I FIRST
CAME ON HERE. WE DIDN'T HAVE SCHOOL NURSES AND EVERY SCHOOL AND I FOUGHT FOR THAT ALONG WITH I THINK IT WAS THE CITY COUNCIL AND THESE ARE SAVVY GEORGE AS WELL.
BUT CAN YOU COMMIT TO ME THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT THOSE THREE UM POSITIONS BACK ON THE BUDGET? UM I CERTAINLY CAN'T MAKE ANY COMMITMENTS TODAY RIGHT HERE, BUT WE'LL CERTAINLY GO BACK AND HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT IT OKAY?
OKAY. >> UM, WASN'T THERE AN ISSUE AND I MIGHT BE GOING BACK A COUPLE YEARS. BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IS HAS THAT
EVER BEEN SIGNED? SO THAT'S BEEN SIGNED ON BEHALF OF BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE BALL IS IN UM BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENTS COURT.
UM WHETHER IT'S BEEN SIGNED OR NOT BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS BEEN OPERATING UNDER THAT MOU THAT THAT WAS WAS AGREED UPON. SO WHILE IT'S STILL NOT SIGNED
THAT'S HOW WE'RE OPERATING BASED ON THE THE UNDERSTANDING OF THAT MOU. OKAY. >> UH THANKS. UH MR CHAIR, COULD I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR A COPY
OF THAT AND PLEASE THE THIS THE ONE THAT SIGNED BY THE BOSTON POLICE? UM, I MEAN I'M SORRY. BY BOSTON WE SIGNED. YEAH BY BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT AND IT'S NOT SIGNED BY THE
BOSTON POLICE. BUT COULD I STILL GET A COPY OF THAT? OKAY. PLEASE? YEAH. UM, LET ME GO BACK, UM, TO
DAVID DAVID, IN TERMS OF TEACHERS, PARAPROFESSIONALS . EDUCATORS THAT INTERACT EVERY DAY. WITH STUDENTS.
SPECIFICALLY HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GETTING LAID OFF? I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT, UM, VACANT POSITIONS. I'M TALKING ABOUT YEAH. UM, ELIMINATING THE JOB IN THE PERSON STILL IN NOW? YEAH.
>> SO THEY'RE, UH, COMMUNICATING WITH MY CASE. SORRY. SO THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF POSITION REDUCTIONS OR POSITION CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING FOR EMPLOYEES. NOW TURNING OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE TO GIVE YOU THE
DETAILS ONE IS A POSITION THAT'S BEING ELIMINATED BECAUSE OF UH, UNDER ENROLLMENT. RIGHT? SO THERE ARE FEWER POSITIONS. THE OTHER IS UH STAFF MEMBER WHO'S BEING SEPARATED FROM THEIR POSITION DUE TO A LACK
OF LICENSURE OR OTHER QUALIFICATION THAT IS REQUIRED. SO UM, WE CAN GIVE YOU THE NUMBERS ON BOTH OF THOSE. BUT BUT BUT SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T HAVE THEIR LICENSE I WOULD ASSUME THEY'RE WORKING TO
GET THEIR LICENSE. IS THAT IS THAT ACCURATE TO SAY AND IF THEY'RE WORKING TOWARD GETTING A LICENSE UM, DON'T WE WANT TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE ON THAT
PATH? MAYBE THEY MAYBE THEY'VE HAD. SOME CHALLENGES AT THEIR HOME OR FINANCIAL ISSUES ARE PAYING BILLS BUT I DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM. I DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM LOSE
THEIR JOB. I WANT TO SEE THEM STAY ON THAT PATH SO THAT THEY CAN GET THAT CERTIFICATION. THEY CAN GET THAT LICENSE. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YEAH, YEAH.
SO THE WAY IT WORKS IS IF YOU ARE NOT LICENSED UM FOR US TO GET YOU WHAT WE CALL A WAIVER FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO WORK IN MASSACHUSETTS IS WE HAVE TO LAY
YOU OFF AND THEN WE CAN REQUEST WE HAVE TO POST THAT POSITION SO THAT WE CAN THEN REQUEST A WAIVER FROM THE STATE. SO WE CANNOT LIKE WE CANNOT
GUARANTEE YOU A JOB UNLESS YOU ARE UM UNLESS YOU ARE RIGHT ON THAT WAIVER AND THE ONLY WAY THE STATE WILL ALLOW US TO GET A WAIVER IS THAT THAT POSITION HAS TO BE POSTED. OKAY.
>> SO THOSE POSITIONS THAT SAID A TEACHER DOESN'T HAVE THEIR LICENSE HOW MANY ARE THOSE. I CAN GET YOU THAT NUMBER. IS THAT IN THE HUNDREDS? YES. >> UM CURRENTLY UM THIS YEAR WE
HAD 700 TEACHERS WHO DID NOT HAVE LICENSE AND WE'VE WORKED TO GET UM AT LEAST 200 OF THOSE EDUCATORS ARE CURRENTLY UM HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN LICENSURE.
OKAY. UM SO THAT NUMBER IS CONSTANTLY MOVING BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT WE ARE ALSO DOING WITH THOSE EDUCATORS TO TRY TO GET THEM RIGHT, UM, TO TRY TO GET THEM
LICENSED. OKAY. >> WELL, MR CHAIR AND SO COULD I GET A LIST OF EVERY SPECIFIC POSITION THAT IS BEING ELIMINATED WHETHER IT'S SOMEONE
THAT DOESN'T HAVE THEIR LICENSE OR THE OTHER OR THE WHAT IS IT EITHER THE BIG ONES OR THE VACANT ONES AS WELL BUT THE THE
ONES ALSO THAT ARE VACANT THAT YOU'RE NOT PUTTING A PERSON IN THERE WHERE THERE SHOULD BE A TEACHER IN THAT THAT'S THAT'S
ONE CHILD THAT'S HAS LESS TIME WITH THE TEACHER. UM SO HAVING THAT LESS TIME WITH THAT TEACHER OR PROVIDING THAT TEACHER WITH BEING IN THE
CLASSROOM THAT'S LEARNING LOSS AND AND WITH LEARNING LOSS FOR STUDENTS THEN THEN WE'RE GOING BACK TO UM DROPOUT RATES THEN WE'RE GOING BACK TO UM
TARDINESS. THEN WE'RE GOING TO BACK TO MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING COUNSELORS. SO WHY DON'T WE JUST PUT THE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOMS, LET THE TEACHERS TEACH, GET THE
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS SUPPORTING THE TEACHERS AND THEN THEN WE HAVE A GOOD ENVIRONMENT, A SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR LEARNING AND TEACHING.
SO I WANT TO SO THIS YEAR ALONE ,UM, AT THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR FOR EDUCATORS WE HAVE A 94% UM RATE OF FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL HAVING EDUCATORS IN
THE CLASSROOM. SO WE HAVE WEEK WE DO OUR BEST MORE THAN OUR BEST ACTUALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL THAT THERE IS AN
ACTUAL ADULT IN THE CLASSROOM WITH STUDENTS DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR ARE THERE THINGS THAT HAPPEN LIKE PEOPLE RESIGN, PEOPLE GOING ON LEAVES?
UM THOSE THINGS UM OFFICE WILL SOMETIMES IMPACT STAFFING BUT WE HAVE UM WE HAVE A MECHANISM OF MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE LONG TERM SUBS WHO THEN COME IN
AND UM UM COVER THOSE POSITIONS SO THERE'S THERE'S NOT A CLASS DOES NOT THERE'S NOT A CLASS THAT GO UM VACANT WITHOUT A AN ADULT BEING IN FRONT OF THING. I THINK THE OTHER THING WE
SHOULD HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE THERE'S YOUR TEAMS DOING A HUGE AMOUNT OF WORK TO TO PLACE TEACHERS IN THOSE VACANT POSITIONS. SO THERE ALREADY ARE HUNDREDS OF TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN
DISPLACED FROM ONE JOB WHO H.R HAS WORKED TO PUT THEM IN AND FILL UP THOSE VACANT POSITIONS. SO THE LIST OF TEACHERS WITHOUT A POSITION FOR NEXT YEAR IS SHRINKING EVERY DAY. YES. >> OKAY.
>> UM, MR CHAIR, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN GENEROUS WITH YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU. >> UM, AND I JUST COUNCILOR BREADON JUST SO JUST YOU YOU STILL GET THAT LIST?
I MEAN, UH, YOU WANT TO JUST DEFINE IT ONE MORE TIME BASED ON THE LAST EXCHANGE? IT'S. >> YES. UM, YEAH. SO, MR CHAIR, THE THE LIST
WOULD BE, UM, TEACHERS THAT ARE LOSING THEIR POSITIONS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE LICENSES, UM, OR ANY
CERTIFICATION AND THEN THE OTHER THE OTHER REQUEST BASICALLY IS A VACANCY THAT IS NOT BEING FILLED. UM, TO ME. >> THAT'S STILL. SOMEWHAT OF A JOB.
CUT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT YOU'RE NOT GIVING THAT CHILD THE EXTRA OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH ANOTHER WITH ANOTHER TEACHER. OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU. >> UH, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU.
>> UM GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. UM, TRANSPORTATION. UM. THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET KEEPS GROWING. UM, DESPITE NORMAL DECLINING NUMBERS.
UH, IT'S SORT OF IN THE ORDER OF ABOUT 200 MILLION, UM, WHICH IS AN $11 MILLION INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR. UM. >> THIS IS UM ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE IS THAT THERE
ARE PENALTIES FOR UM. CHRONICALLY LATE PERSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH LATE BUSSES AND BUSSES NOT ARRIVING. UM AND I WAS JUST READING THIS ARTICLE IN THE.
IN THE UM. BUT BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS DIDN'T UH DON'T FIND VENDORS FOR UNCOVERED TRIPS YET. THAT'S PROBABLY LEAVING A COUPLE OF MILLION DOLLARS ON
THE TABLE AND THERE'S NO CONSEQUENCES. THEY HAVE A TOTAL MONOPOLY ON THE WHOLE SERVICE. SO UM WHY WHY ARE WE NOT FINDING TRANSIT FOR AND NOT
MEETING THEIR TARGETS I. SEE NICE TO SEE YOU AS WELL. AND I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION . UM, I THINK YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT. YOU KNOW. MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THE BEST SERVICE FOR
STUDENTS EVERY DAY AND WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS CURRENT CONTRACT WHICH WE, YOU KNOW, DESIGNED TO INCLUDE INCENTIVES AND ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES THAT WERE NOT IN. PRIOR CONTRACTS.
UM, SO THIS YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE THREE YEARS OF THIS CONTRACT SO FAR IS STEADY INCREMENTAL GAINS OVER THE LIFE OF THE CONTRACT. AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS ON-TIME
PERFORMANCE THIS YEAR IS THE HIGHEST THAT IT'S BEEN NOT JUST UNDER THIS CONTRACT BUT AT ANY POINT IN BOSTON HISTORY. HOWEVER, WHEN WE SAW UM, A SPECIFIC PROGRESSION IN SERVICE
WITH THE INCREASE IN UNCOVERED TRIPS IN DECEMBER, THAT IS WHAT LED US TO UH, UTILIZE UH NONPERFORMANCE DAMAGES WHICH IS ONE TOOL, NOT THE ONLY TOOL AND
NOT ALWAYS THE BEST TOOL BUT IN THIS SPECIFIC SITUATION WE FEEL THAT IT, YOU KNOW, WAS APPROPRIATE. WE HAVE SINCE IMPLEMENTED THOSE FOR MARCH AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS SINCE THEN UH, WE'VE SEEN SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT AND
REDUCTION IN UNCOVERED TRIPS UH, BACK TO LEVELS IN LINE WITH PRIOR YEARS WHILE ALSO CONTINUING TO SEE THOSE ON-TIME PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS. UM AND. >> THEN THE OTHER QUESTION YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE'RE IN THE
PROCESS OF TRYING TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE QUALITY SCHOOLS IN EVERY DISTRICT, EVERY EVERY CLUSTER RIGHT ACROSS THE WHOLE CITY. UM, I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENING IS
WE'RE SPENDING A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY ON BUSSING KIDS BACK AND FORWARD AND ROUND AND ROUND. UM. >> IT'S TAKING A LOT OF TIME AWAY FROM FOR FAMILIES LIKE THREE HOURS A DAY ON A SCHOOL BUS IS NOT A FUN THING TO BE
DOING. UM, WHAT ARE WE AT AND JUST SORT OF THE LONG TERM FACILITIES PLAN TO GET TO THAT SPACE WHERE WE HAVE QUALITY SCHOOLS IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, EVERY QUALITY LIKE WE SPEND ENOUGH TO MAKE HAVE QUALITY
SCHOOLS IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, WHERE ARE WE AT IN TERMS OF THE LONG TERM FACILITIES PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE COULD REDUCE LIKE IF WE IF WE HAD TO COME IN TOMORROW AND SAY RIGHT, WE'RE CUTTING THE
TRANSPORTATION BUDGET IN HALF AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET $100 MILLION AND WE CAN PUT THAT $100 MILLION INTO IMPROVING FACILITIES AT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.
LIKE HOW FAR AWAY ARE WE FROM GETTING GETTING THERE BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. WE'RE JUST KEEP THROWING MONEY DOWN A HOLE IN THE FLOOR. UH, I. >> APPRECIATE THE QUESTION, COUNCIL AND, UM, I THANK YOU
FOR THAT QUESTION. UM, EARLY IN THIS MORNING SESSION SOME TENANTS COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT UM, UH, HAVING HIGH QUALITY SCHOOLS IN EVERY DISTRICT I GUESS YOU AS YOU HEARD UM, AS YOU.
PARTICIPATED UM, IN I WAS REITERATE THAT OUR GOAL IS TO UM, STRIKE A BALANCE OF MAKING SURE WE'RE ABLE TO ROLL OUT OUR HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SO I CAN START
THERE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE USE OUR INCLUSION PLAN TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ROLLING OUT THE BEST INCLUSION OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS, MAKE SURE WE ROLL OUT UH, DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS, UM ,FOR OUR STUDENTS IF WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAPITALIZE ON WHAT WE CAN PUT IN BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, WHAT I PILOT WITH THE HUB SCHOOL MODEL AND MAKING SURE WE SET UP A WELL-ROUNDED UM, OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOR OUR DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND ONCE WE
GET THAT CORRECT THEN WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ABLE TO UM, YOU KNOW, FOCUS MORE ON ALIGNING, UH, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE DISTRICTWIDE BEFORE WE EVEN TACKLE THAT ISSUE. LASTLY, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH FAMILIES
THERE ARE ABLE NOW TO UM, SELECT CHOICES THAT ARE CLOSER TO THEIR HOMES IF THEY SO CHOOSE TO DO SO AND THAT OPTION IS AVAILABLE TO THEM. BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REALLY FOCUS ON THE QUALITY OF SCHOOLS EVERYWHERE SO THAT
FAMILIES HAVE THAT CHOICE. SO WHEN THEY DO PICK CLOSE TO HOME THAT THEY ARE GETTING A VIABLE CHOICE. SO HOW LONG THE WAIT HOW FAR AWAY OVER FROM GETTING THEIR UM WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR YEARS NOW.
IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS AND I THINK WITH. >> WITH THE WITH THE INCLUSION PLAN THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED WE'VE MADE A LOT OF STRIDES AND WE'RE ROLLING IT OUT IN MORE DETAIL. UM, AND I THINK UH THERE'S STILL SOME WORK TO TO DO AND WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS. WE DO HAVE A BENCHMARK THAT
WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT IN TOMORROW'S HEARING. UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LONG TERM CAPITAL PLANNING UM, BUT WE DO HAVE PLANS TO 2030 SO WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT TOMORROW BUT THAT'S KIND OF OUR TIMELINE AS WE ARE UM.
20, 34 YEARS AWAY. YEAH YEAH. SHARE THAT INFORMATION. >> YOU'RE SHARING ABOUT. SORT OF THE LIKE 4 OR 5 MAIN BUCKETS OF TRANSPORTATION SPENDING AND THE SIZE OF THEM
JUST SO THE, UH, COUNCIL CAN GET A SENSE OF OF WHAT THAT MONEY IS GOING FOR. I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION, COUNCILOR. HOPEFULLY FOLKS CAN HEAR ME. UM, YEAH.
BECAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THIS IS ONE BIG DRIVER OF TRANSPORTATION SPEND. BUT THERE ARE ALSO OTHER LARGE DRIVERS THAT UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE WE'RE DISCUSSING THOSE AS WELL
FOR INSTANCE THE THE NON SCHOOL COMMITMENTS SO THE CHARTER AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS THAT ACCOUNTS FOR UH OVER $30 MILLION OF OUR SPEND EVERY YEAR OUR UH
CONTRACTED VAN TRANSPORTATION FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE HOMELESS OR IN DCF CUSTODY THROUGH MCKINNEY-VENTO ACCOUNTS FOR ALMOST 20 MILLION UH IN SPEND EACH YEAR AND THEN UH STUDENTS
WITH DISABILITIES WHO RECEIVE SPECIALIZED TRANSPORTATION WHETHER THAT'S TOWARD A DOOR OR A BUS MONITOR. UH, THERE ARE UM OF UH I THINK JUST UNDER 5000 STUDENTS WHO
RECEIVE THAT TRANSPORTATION AND THAT IS WHILE IT'S ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UNDER ABOUT 25% OF THE STUDENTS RECEIVING TRANSPORTATION, THEY DO MAKE UP MORE THAN HALF OF THE VOLUME BECAUSE EACH OF THEM RECEIVES
THEIR OWN, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUAL STOP VERSUS A CORNER STOP WHICH IS CONSOLIDATED. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS WOULD WOULD ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIG DRIVERS
OF TRANSPORTATION BUT IT WOULDN'T ON ITS OWN GET US TO HAVING THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET. YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT. UM YEAH OKAY I'LL GO TO ANOTHER QUESTION IF I CAN. GET UP HERE.
UM. YEAH. SO THAT'S MY TIME. OH, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK AGAIN. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. YEAH. >> I JUST, UH WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY, UH, COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE.
UH, YOU ARE UP NEXT. BUT JUST, UH, TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT I THINK, UH, DAN, IN YOUR PRESENTATION UH. I THOUGHT THERE WAS A STAT IN
THERE SOMETHING LIKE 46% OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WE WE DROP KIDS OFF THAT ARE NOT BPY LIKE NOT SCHOOLS LIKE WE'RE THE OTHER OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT OR UH, I
CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN MORE? UH, AND I UNDERSTAND LIKE IF WE'RE IF SOMEBODY IS OUT OF THE DISTRICT AND THAT'S ONE KID BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT THERE'S COULD BE 100 KIDS BEING DROPPED
OFF AT THE MENDEL YOU KNOW IN JP BUT THAT AND THAT'S ONE SCHOOL. SO 50% OF THE SCHOOLS ARE OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT BUT IT'S COULD BE ONE OUT OF A YOU KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT BUT CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN MORE ABOUT THAT?
YEAH. >> SO UM APPRECIATE THAT KIND OF SO WHATEVER TO TO BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE UM SO UNDER UH MASS STATE LAW UH DPS AND OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE
TRANSPORTATION ON THE SAME TERMS AND CONDITIONS TO CHARTER AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS LOCATED WITHIN THE SAME DISTRICT. SO FOR US THAT MEANS CHARTER SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN
BOSTON RECEIVED THEIR YELLOW BUS UH TRANSPORTATION AND THEIR UH MBTA PASS TRANSPORTATION FROM BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, ANY STUDENTS WHO ARE ASSIGNED TO SPECIAL EDUCATION OUT
OF DISTRICT PLACEMENTS UM AND THAT'S IDENTIFIED BY THE YOU KNOW, BY OUR UH OFFICE OF SPECIALIZED SERVICES UH, DPS PROVIDES THAT TRANSPORTATION AS WELL. AND SO WHAT THAT ULTIMATELY
MEANS IS THAT A LITTLE OVER 20% OF THE STUDENTS RIDING ON OUR BUSSES AND ABOUT 45% OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WE'RE TRANSPORTING TO ARE NOT DPS SCHOOLS. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. UM, I DON'T KNOW UH,
COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE DO YOU WANT ME TO GO FIRST OR UH UM. >> I. HEAR OKAY. NEXT. >> UH, YOU GET SEVEN MINUTES. THANK YOU. >> UM THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND APOLOGIES. WE'VE, UM. A LOT GOING ON, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE. ARE IN AN, UH, DIFFICULT, UM, TIME, UM, AND, UH, THERE ARE A LOT OF CHOICES THAT WE NEED TO
MAKE, UM, THAT ARE HARD ONES I WANTED TO FIRST, UM. AND I MISSED THE PRESENTATION, SO I APOLOGIZE IF I ASK QUESTIONS THAT ARE REPETITIVE IS THE QUESTION THAT I ASKED AT THE BREAKFAST BUDGET.
UM, I WANT TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW MANY OF OUR HOW MANY BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS STAFF UH, WE'RE ACTUALLY LOSING THAT IS NOT THE RESULT OF A SCHOOL CLOSING AND
NOT ATTACHED TO THE FACT THAT FOR EXAMPLE THREE WE ARE DOWN I BELIEVE 3000 KIDS OVERALL. UM, COMPARED TO LAST YEAR 2000 OF WHOM ARE MULTI LANGUAGE
LEARNERS I KNOW THAT I SAT PROBABLY IN THAT CHAIR. I REMEMBER WHERE I WAS SITTING WHEN I WAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR . MORE SOCIAL. WORKERS FOR OUR FOR OUR LIVE CLASSROOM STUDENTS WITH LIMITED OR INTERRUPTED FORMAL EDUCATION
UM IN TO PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT SERVICES. I WAS JUST AT THE IRISH PASTORAL CENTER WHERE SOMEONE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW SOME OF OUR STUDENTS ARE WALKING IN EVERY DAY WITH MORE AND MORE TRAUMA UM, AND UH, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE LOSING TRAUMA SUPPORT SPECIALISTS. SO I WANT TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WE HAVE THESE BUCKETS WE'RE LOSING UH, WE'RE LOSING STAFF AS A RESULT OF SCHOOL CLOSURES, CLOSURES,
MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS BECAUSE OF, UH, STUDENT POPULATION THAT IS NOT DECLINING BY 3000 YEAR TO YEAR. WHAT IS THE REMAINING BUCKET OF ATTRITION THAT IS HAPPENING
AS A RESULT OF A FACTOR THAT IS NOT THOSE TWO THINGS. GIVE US A SECOND. WE'RE JUST UM WE'RE GETTING YOU GUYS DATA.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION THERE ARE YOU MISSED IT EARLIER? UM THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT HAPPEN AT BE THERE'S THE POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE TO POST
UM, THAT WE CONSIDER VACANT FOR US BECAUSE AN EDUCATOR DOESN'T HAVE A LICENSE. UM, SO THOSE POSITIONS UM, WE HAVE TO POST THOSE POSITIONS AGAIN SO THAT WE CAN GET A
WAIVER FROM THE STATE DESK REQUIRES THAT WE HAVE TO REQUEST A, UM, UM, A WAIVER FOR A PERSON WITHOUT A LICENSE TO BE ABLE TO TEACH OUR, UM TEACH OUR STUDENTS.
THEN THERE IS THE POSITIONS THAT WERE CUT, UM, AS A RESULT OF THE UM THE REDUCTION OF. STUDENTS AND UM, MANY PLACES
LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, UM WE HAVE UM CHARLES TOWN HIGH WHO WE SAW UH BECAUSE OF THE DECREASE OF STUDENTS UM, JUST BECAUSE A SHARE OF THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE THAT WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW THAT STUDENTS.
ARE LESS THERE'S WHICH WAS HI MY UNDERSTANDING IS ARE THERE ARE. FEWER STUDENTS. WHO ARE TRAVELING TO CHARLESTOWN? THERE ARE FAMILIES WHO ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE NO LONGER GOING TO
SPEND THAT TIME TRAVELING TO CHARLESTOWN. YES. >> AND THEN THERE'S THE OTHER ASPECT OF IT LIKE THE STUDENTS WE ARE SEEING A SHRINKING OF STUDENTS. SO CHARLESTOWN HIGH FOR
EXAMPLE, UM, IS A SCHOOL THAT'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE ABOUT 800 KIDS. UM BUT RIGHT NOW IT HAS UM I BELIEVE DAVID AROUND 500 GIVE OR TAKE. SO YOU'RE SO THAT MEANS THAT
THE STUDENT BODY THAT WE GENERALLY USE TO SERVE THEY'RE NOT THERE. SO WE'VE HAD TO MAKE SOME CUTS TO REFLECT THE STAFF HAD TO REFLECT UM TO STUDENTS THAT WE
CAN WE ARE CURRENTLY SERVING SO THERE IS SO THERE'S VACANCIES AS A RESULT. SO THERE'S BEEN UM REDUCTION AS A RESULT OF JUST LIKE CLASSROOM CLOSURES THAT WE'VE HAD TO UM
THAT WE'VE DONE BECAUSE OF THE UM OF THE OF THE REDUCTION IN STUDENTS. BUT WE CAN GET YOU SPECIFICALLY THE NUMBERS OF THOSE REDUCTIONS AND UM, UM COUNCILOR FLYNN
EARLIER ASKED ABOUT JUST UM THE UM THE POSITIONS THAT ARE POSTED BECAUSE OF UM LICENSURE UM PROBLEMS AS WELL. SO WE'LL GET YOU BOTH THOSE NUMBERS. OKAY. >> THANK YOU.
UM I GUESS. UH UM A QUESTION UM, I KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN EFFORT IN SOME OF THE SCHOOLS I BELIEVE IT WAS THE CURLEY THAT HAD LOST THEIR LIBRARIAN AS A RESULT AND
CARED DEEPLY ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT OUR LIBRARIANS WE HAVE A LIBRARIAN IN EVERY SCHOOL JUST WANT TO ENSURE WAS IT I THINK IT WAS AT THE CROWLEY AND THE OTHER SCHOOL. MUCH OF IT WAS THE HENDERSON I WAS. THE PILOT THE.
BTU PILOT THAT. THAT POSITION HAS BEEN RESTORED. THANK YOU. AND WHAT ABOUT AT THE CURLEY. SO AT THE CURLEY THEY ARE STILL GOING FROM TWO LIBRARIANS TO ONE. BUT THEY STILL HAVE A LIBRARY. THEY'LL HAVE A LIBRARIAN AT SCHOOL.
YEAH. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE STILL MOVING TOWARDS A MODEL OF ENSURING THAT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS HAVE LIBRARIES. UM, CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT WHEN DO YOU THINK THAT WE ARE
GOING TO SEE ANY REALIZATION IN SAVINGS FROM THE VERY DIFFICULT AND VERY HARD WORK OF SCHOOL. CLOSURES. >> MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS? I MEAN SORRY, MERGERS. CLOSURES. >> ACQUISITIONS, MAYBE. >> MERGERS. >> ACQUISITIONS AND MAYBE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT MENTALITY.
THAT'S A LAWYER TONGUE. I MEAN YEAH I GUESS. IT'S NOT TOO. MUCH I'VE BEEN TALKING TO US TODAY. YEAH IT SOUNDS. YEAH I MEAN THE HARD THING ABOUT THIS BUDGET IS THAT IT
ACTUALLY REFLECTS REALLY SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS FROM THOSE MERGERS AND CONSOLIDATIONS. UM, AND IN FACT OUR BUDGET WOULD HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY HARDER IF NOT FOR THAT.
SO UM WE ENDED UP WHEN ALL THE SO SAID AND DONE I THE LAST TIME I WAS BEFORE YOU I SAID WE HAD A $48 MILLION FELT THE IMPACT OF SCHOOL BUDGET REDUCTIONS WITH COST INCREASES AND EVERYTHING AND ENDED UP BEING 47 WITH A COUPLE
OF THINGS WE PUT BACK. BUT HALF OF THAT SAVINGS WE TOOK FROM SCHOOLS CAME FROM CLOSURE AND MERGER AND RECONFIGURATION, WHICH MEANT THE REMAINING SCHOOLS SAW SORT
OF HALF AS MUCH IMPACT AS WE WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE HAD TO DO IF WE HAD HAD TO SPREAD IT MORE EVENLY. UM, AND SO UM WE ARE DEFINITELY
SEEING SOME SAVINGS THERE. I THINK UH, AS WE CONTINUE TO DO PROJECTS LIKE UH THE MSBA PROJECT WITH THE SHAW TAYLOR UM
,WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE EVEN FURTHER SAVINGS AS YOU OPERATE SORT OF MORE MODERN NEWER BUILDINGS. THE UM NEW FREDERICK IS A GREAT EXAMPLE. WHERE'S THE NEW SHOT TAYLOR GOING TO BE?
I I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE. I KNOW IT'S COMING THROUGH THE MSBA PROCESS BUT UM AS WE TAKE SOME OF OUR SMALLER SCHOOLS AND
CONSOLIDATE THEM INTO BETTER, BIGGER BUILDINGS, WE, UH, SAVE MONEY THAT WE CAN REINVEST INTO PROGRAMING IN THOSE SCHOOLS UM, WHICH IS UM AND ENSURE WE'RE
MAINTAINING AS COUNCILOR FERN WAS MENTIONING EARLIER THE NURSE SOCIAL WORKER AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER IMPORTANT POSITIONS. >> GREAT. UM GREAT I CAN I MR CHAIR CAN I JUST MAKE TWO COMMENTS? ONE IS THAT I WANT TO SEE US
CONTINUING TO DO THAT VERY HARD WORK OF THE MERGERS RECONFIGURATIONS I THINK IT'S SHORT TERM GAIN HOPEFULLY SHORT TERM PAIN FOR A LOT OF FOLKS LIKE I'M I MEAN I'VE SAID IT I
WILL I'M GOING TO BE DEVASTATED IF THE LOCATION FOR THE TAYLOR IS NOT IN ITS CURRENT FOOTPRINT. BUT IF SOMEONE TELLS ME THAT BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF CAPACITY. BUT IF SOMEONE TELLS ME THAT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE LONG TERM
FOR THE COMMUNITY IS THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENT PHYSICAL LOCATION, THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT WILL HAVE UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE DOING THAT SO. THAT WE COULD DO THAT. ALSO WHEN I TALK ABOUT
ACQUISITIONS REALLY WHAT I WOULD I MAYBE MEANT TO SAY WAS THE WORK OF BUILDING MORE SCHOOLS FOR OUR KIDS THAT REFLECT THE DIGNITY THAT EACH STUDENT SHOULD HAVE. UM, AND SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE
DOING THAT WITH RUTH BATSON FOR MCCORMACK KID THE TAYLOR UM BUT WE NEED A WHOLESALE I I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE GREEN NEW DEAL FOR BASKETBALL SCHOOLS IS. I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU KNOW I KNOW THAT SOME OF OUR COSTS HAVE BEEN INCREASING BECAUSE
OF HVAC, UM, IN OUR SCHOOLS BUT WE STILL HAVE SCHOOLS THAT ARE THAT STILL NEED AC AND STILL NEED THESE UPGRADES. UM, YOU KNOW, MY OFFICE HAS BEEN PROPOSING THAT YOU HAVE A BOSTON SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO HAVE A DEDICATED TEAM IN OUR CITY THAT IS JUST DOING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THE UH AND AS LEAST POLITICALLY AS POSSIBLE THE WORK OF BUILDING SCHOOLS, UM, AND BEING
THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE REVENUE DEDICATED TO DOING THAT. UM, AND THEN LASTLY I'LL JUST SAY TO DAN, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK. I KNOW IT'S BEEN HARD AND THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF VERY DIFFICULT. ISSUES. >> UM, THAT WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH UM, OVER THE PAST YEAR OR TWO YEARS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE SOME GAINS FROM THE USE OF THE ZOOM OUT. UM, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CHAIR IS IF WE COULD HAVE IT. MAYBE WE HAVE IT BUT IF WE DO
HAVE IT, IF SOMEONE COULD JUST PULL IT OUT AND SEND A DISAGGREGATION OF TRANSPORTATION COST ONE THE COSTS THAT ARE LIKE LEGALLY REQUIRED BECAUSE WE'RE REQUIRED TO TRANSPORT UH STUDENTS WITH
IEPS THE COSTS THAT ARE RELATED. DO WE HAVE THAT MR. >> CHAIR, I THINK DAN WENT THROUGH UH, A LOT OF THIS DATA JUST JUST BEFORE YOU WALKED IN. COULD WE HAVE IT COULD WE HAVE. >> IT PHYSICALLY? YES, YES. OH. >> DO WE HAVE IT ALREADY? WE CAN.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE IT ALREADY WE CAN CERTAINLY. I MEAN WRITE SOMETHING TOGETHER AND. JUST TO CLEAR I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ASKING IS. IT JUST. >> AGGREGATION OF. >> THE. TRANSPORTATION COSTS? >> YEAH. NO IT'S LIKE HOW MUCH DO WE USE IT? SO IS THE BUDGET IS TO CLOSE TO
$200 MILLION. HOW MUCH OF THAT IS FOR UH, TRANSPORTATION FOR KIDS FROM RIGHT. YOU KNOW, ONE NEIGHBORHOOD TO ANOTHER HOW MUCH OF IT IS FOR DOOR TO DOOR SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION?
HOW MUCH IS IT FOR TRANSPORTATION OUT. >> OF. DISTRICT EXACTLY? YOU KNOW. OR EVEN TRANSPORTATION TO TO PRIVATE AND CHARTER SCHOOLS? EXACTLY. >> WE DO. WE UH YEAH. SO I THINK WE DO HAVE THOSE NUMBERS IN THE RFA.
WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE I'LL PRODUCE A CHART AND WHATEVER GAPS THERE ARE, YOU KNOW WE'LL GET IT FROM THEM BUT BUT I DO THINK IT IS WHAT IS THE IF YOU JUST THE SORT OF WHEN PEOPLE
THINK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION AND THE THEY THINK ABOUT YOU KNOW JUST BUSSING YOU KNOW ACROSS THE CITY LIKE. WHAT PORTION. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE 197
WOULD THAT BE? IT'S. NO COST TRANSPORTATION. >> A LITTLE OVER 130 MILLION OF THE 197 AND THEN WHEN WE THE
REST IS LIKE BUS MONITORS MBTA PASSES UH MCKINNEY-VENTO VAN TRANSPORTATION AND THEN WITHIN THAT 130TH ISH FOR YELLOW BUS WE CAN BREAK THAT OUT OF HOW MUCH. HOW MUCH IS NON. FOR YES.
THAT'S WHAT I YEP CETERA. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE THAT DISAGGREGATION. YEAH GREAT QUESTION. THANK YOU. OKAY WELL THANK YOU. WE'LL DO A SECOND ROUND. THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS THANK YOU. OKAY. >> THANK YOU.
UH UM SO I JUST, UH I GUESS DAVID, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE WE TALKED AT THE FIRST HEARING ABOUT THE SUPPLEMENTAL THAT, YOU KNOW, IS SEEKING TO
COVER THE DEFICIT FROM THIS YEAR, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, AND I DO A LOT OF HEALTH CARE UTILITY COSTS. WHAT WHAT, UH, CHANGES HAVE
BEEN MADE IN THIS 2527 BUDGET. ARE WE GOING TO BE SEEING THE SAME THING AGAIN? WHY WHY NOT? UM, WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED AND HOW IS THAT FY 27 GOING TO BE DIFFERENT?
YEAH, HOPEFULLY. SO UM THERE WERE FIVE MAIN UH UH, COST OVERRUNS. UH, WE LAID OUT TO THE SCHOOL
COMMITTEE IN DECEMBER AND UM, UNFORTUNATELY WE WERE ACCURATE, UH, IN WHAT THOSE WERE. UM, FORTUNATELY I GUESS IN THAT THEY MEANT WE DID IT RIGHT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY WERE ALL THEY REMAIN VERY SIMILAR.
SO THOSE THOSE FOUR MAIN ITEMS WE OUTLINED IN DECEMBER WERE HEALTH INSURANCE, UM, FULL TIME STAFF DUE TO UH, DECREASE IN VACANCY RATE, TRANSPORTATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION COSTS.
THE FIFTH ITEM THAT HAS COME UP SINCE THAT DECEMBER UPDATE WAS UTILITIES. UM THROUGH OUR BUDGET PROCESS FOR THE FIRST FOUR UM WE HAVE
REVAMPED THE BUDGETS FOR THOSE TO BETTER MATCH OUR RUN RATE AND EXPECTED COST. UM, WORKING CLOSELY WITH DAN ON TRANSPORTATION WITH OUR OFFICE OF SPECIALIZED SERVICES ON
SPECIAL EDUCATION AND WE ARE FEELING VERY CONFIDENT. TO BE. >> CONFIDENT AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR THAT WE WILL NOT SEE ISSUES WITH THAT PENDING, YOU KNOW, UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES . UM, UTILITIES IS DEFINITELY
SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CURRENT. GLOBAL POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT. UM, THE COST OF NATURAL GAS IN
PARTICULAR BUT ALSO ELECTRIC PRICES ARE DEFINITELY CONCERNING FOR US FOR NEXT YEAR. IT'S SOMETHING WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR. UM, BUT THE SCALE OF UTILITIES RELATIVE TO SOME OF THOSE OTHER ITEMS CAN BE SOMEWHAT SMALLER.
SO WE'LL BE. CONTINUING TO MONITOR UTILITIES. WE'VE BUDGETED MORE FOR UTILITIES AND HEALTH INSURANCE FOR NEXT YEAR. WE'VE BUDGETED MORE FOR ALL OF THE MAIN ITEMS YES, BUT
UTILITIES IS THE ONE I REMAIN THE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT JUST BECAUSE, UH, IT'S VERY HARD TO PREDICT PRICING AT THE CURRENT MOMENT. UH, GIVEN. UM, GEOPOLITICAL FACTORS. OKAY.
>> UM, AND UH, YOU KNOW, I GUESS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT COST SAVINGS FROM SCHOOL CLOSURES AND MERGERS. YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR TODAY AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK
MORE ABOUT THAT TOMORROW. BUT UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR SCHOOL CLOSURES AND MERGERS. FOR FOR THAT WOULD BE NOTIFIED NEXT YEAR I MEAN WE HAVE THAT KIND OF LEAD IN.
YEAH. >> AS YOU SAID CHIEF STAN WILL BE HERE TOMORROW TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE. I THINK WE'RE PLANNING TO FOLLOW A VERY SIMILAR PROCESS. UM, AND UH, MY TEAM IS INVOLVED WHEN APPROPRIATE, UH, TO HELP
UNDERSTAND. THE THE COSTS. UM, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE. UM. >> CLOSURES LIKE. >> THIS ISN'T HOW YOU DECIDE THINGS, BUT THE CLOSURES TEND TO SAVE MORE MONEY THAN MERGERS. UM, BECAUSE WHEN YOU
REDISTRIBUTE STUDENTS ACROSS MULTIPLE. SCHOOLS TO. >> FILL EMPTY SEATS, YOU OFTEN DON'T HAVE A LOT OF INCREASED COST THERE. WHEN YOU'RE MERGING, YOU'RE OFTEN SERVING A VERY SIMILAR STUDENT POPULATION AND YOU SEE A LITTLE BIT LESS SAVINGS.
BUT WHAT THOSE STUDENTS EXPERIENCE IS IMPROVED. SO IN MERGERS IF A LITTLE BIT LESS ABOUT COST SAVINGS, A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IMPROVE STUDENT EXPERIENCE IN A LARGER. SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY'RE ABLE TO
HAVE MORE OFFERINGS. UM OKAY. UH YEAH. ONE THING I'M I GET CONFUSED ABOUT WHEN I HEAR YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT THIS IS IN TERMS OF CLOSURES IN THE FUTURE,
WHETHER THERE'S AN ACTUAL PLAN TO CLOSE X, Y, Z SCHOOLS INSTEAD OR THIS THESE ARE DECISIONS WILL BE MADE IN THE FUTURE. UH, IN TERMS OF LIKE WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT A LONG TERM FACILITIES PLAN. >> BUT AND WE TALK ABOUT THAT
TOMORROW. YEAH WE COULD TALK MORE ABOUT IT TOMORROW NIGHT AND I THINK JUST I WILL JUST CLOSE BY SAYING WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON AN 18 MONTH CYCLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PROCESS. SO THAT'LL CONTINUE. WE CAN SPEAK MORE TOMORROW. OKAY. >> UH I KNOW UH,
COUNCILOR LOUIJEUNE MENTIONED LIKE HVAC SYSTEMS AND UH, THE REVOLVING FUND I. >> THINK. IS IT CAPPED TO $2 MILLION UH UH, FOR.
UM THERE'S A $2 MILLION LIMIT FOR DPS FOR THE REVOLVING FUND, I BELIEVE. AND UH, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A LOT OF SCHOOLS WITH SORT OF RECEIVED VERY POOR GRADES
FOR THEIR HVAC SYSTEM THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON THOSE. SO LIKE HOW ARE WE GOING TO HELP THOSE SCHOOL FOR SCHOOL BUILDINGS OUT IF UH DO WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY? WHERE DOES THIS.
>> LIMIT MEAN IN THE REVOLVING FUND? UM YOU'RE CORRECT THE CAP FOR THE FACILITY'S REVOLVING FUND IS $2 MILLION. UM, CURRENTLY THE BALANCE IS
MUCH LOWER THAN THAT. UM, AS THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN TAPPING INTO THAT FUNDING SOURCE TO SUPPORT SCHOOL REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS. I WILL JUST SAY THE THE
REVOLVING FUND THE REVENUE INTO THE REVOLVING FUND IS JUST FROM FACILITY RENTAL. UM, SO IF AND PARKING FEES THANKS BUT AND SO UM.
THE THE THE SPENDING THAT WE MAKE FROM THAT IS. QUITE LIMITED IN MOST OF THE. HVAC REPAIRS WOULD BE COMING JUST STRAIGHT FROM THE CAPITAL BUDGET AND NOT REVOLVING. THE REVOLVING EXPENSES TEND TO
BE WAY MORE OF THE SORT OF DAY TO DAY WEAR AND TEAR FOR OUR BUILDINGS THAT ARE USED MORE BY THE PUBLIC. AND THE OTHER THING I WOULD ADD TO THAT AS FAR AS THE FEC WORK IN GENERAL, AS MANY OF YOU I KNOW WE'VE GOT IT SEASON AND
MOST OF OUR SCHOOLS EXCEPT FOR LIKE FOR IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY AND WE UH RECEIVED A GRANT FROM DC TO COMPLETE SOME REPAIRS AND SOME WORK UH. >> THREE OF THE FOUR. UM WORK IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY AT THE BATES, KENNY AND LEE
ACADEMY SCHOOLS AND WE'VE. KNOWN THAT THE MATHER. SCHOOL THERE'S A LARGER LIKE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH. UPGRADE THAT WOULD NEED TO. HAPPEN TO HELP SUPPORT THAT SCHOOL WITH THEIR HPC WORK. SO WE'VE ASSESSED EVERY SCHOOL
WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY NEED TO, UM, AT EASE VCU IN DOING THAT WITH THREE OF THE FOUR REMAINING THAT WE. HAVE LEFT. >> OKAY. >> UM, AND THEN FOR FOOD SERVICE THERE'S UH, A LARGE NUMBER OF VACANCIES LISTED.
UH, CAN YOU EXPLAIN. WHAT WHAT WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE? UH, WHAT THOSE VACANCIES ARE. SURE. >> SO I'LL START YOU CAN JUMP IN. UM UM UH, CHEAPER BUT UM, A LOT
OF JUST VACANCIES, UM, COME FROM POSITIONS THAT WE NO LONGER NEED BASED ON OUR FORMULA SO THAT WE STAFF SCHOOLS AND SITES IS LARGELY BASED ON, UM, THE NUMBER
OF MEALS UH SCHOOL THE THAT STUDENT THAT THE SCHOOLS SERVE AND THAT'S ALSO BASED ON NUMBER OF STUDENTS. SO IF THAT NUMBER GOES DOWN UM THEN WE DON'T NEED AS MUCH STAFF BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SERVING AS MUCH STAFF. SO WE ACCOUNT FOR SO MUCH AS WE
PLANNED PREVIOUSLY ASSIST OF REDUCTION HAPPEN. WE HAVE LESS STUDENTS NEXT YEAR THEN UM THIS YEAR SO THERE'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE SOME ATTRITION. OKAY SO IT'S ABOUT 148 OF THE.
LIKE I WON'T TO GET TO EXACT NUMBERS BUT BUT THERE IS A LEVEL OF REDUCTION. OKAY. >> UH I GUESS IS HE I SO I THINK WE HAVE EIGHT. IS IT THE LOSS OF EIGHT FTES AND SCHOOL SAFETY OR UM AND SO
WHAT DOES THAT WHAT ARE THOSE POSITIONS? UH, SO THOSE ARE THOSE WERE UNFILLED SEVEN OF THOSE WERE UNFILLED UH. SAFETY OFFICER POSITIONS AND.
ONE IS. >> JUST EXPLAINED WHAT THE WITH THOSE ARE THOSE THOSE ARE CROSSING GUARDS ARE THERE. NO NO THOSE ARE SAFETY SPECIALIST THOSE WOULD BE THE SECURITY OFFICERS INSIDE SCHOOLS AND THEN ONE OF THEM IS
FROM. THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT UH DIVISION. THEY UH FIVE. FOLKS IS ONE POSITION. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, OKAY. UH, SO WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY
COUNSELOR ORAL AND COUNSELOR DURKAN. UH, COUNSELOR REALM, THIS IS THE SORT OF WE'RE WRAPPING UP THE FIRST ROUND. UH, SEVEN MINUTES FOR EACH COUNSELOR AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY UH, AT
THE END OF THE FIRST ROUND AND WE'LL GO FOR A SECOND ROUND. UH, SO COUNCIL WILL GET SEVEN MINUTES. THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK YOU. FOR BEING HERE. UM. FAMILY LIAISON. HOW MANY FAMILY. LIAISONS DO.
>> WE CURRENTLY HAVE. ON STAFF AND HOW MANY ARE. >> WE BUDGETED FOR? UM, I WILL. >> TELL YOU THE BUDGET. >> IN FOUR PART UM, THE TABLE FOR HOW MANY ARE ACTUALLY FILLED. UM, BUT WE HAVE WE.
HAVE ONE FAMILY LEAVES ON AT EVERY SCHOOL AND THEN WE HAVE A SMALL NUMBER OF SCHOOLS THAT HAVE A SECOND AND I'LL HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT. SO IT'S AROUND 110 POSITIONS. THAT WERE BUDGETED.
FOR RIGHT. BUDGETED FOR AND THEY ARE ALMOST. ENTIRELY FILLED. UM WE CAN CERTAINLY. >> PULL THE NUMBER OF. VACANCIES FOR YOU. AWESOME. >> AND THEN THIS IS UM A TRANSPORTATION QUESTION. WE IN MARCH 27TH RFI RESPONSE
WE. RECEIVED A BREAKDOWN OF UH THE TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND I BELIEVE RIGHT NOW ADDS UP UH, TO 90 MILLION LIKE IT'S THE
NUMBERS IS 54.7 MILLION DOOR TO DOOR AND CORNER STOPS 3.5 MILLION FOR OUT OF DISTRICT STUDENTS UH, 25 MILLION FOR CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS, 2 MILLION FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL
STUDENTS AND THEN 4.75 MILLION FOR UH STUDENTS WHO ARE UNHOUSED. UH, THAT ADDS UP TO 90 MILLION. BUT WE HAVE A TRANSPORTATION BUDGET OF 200 MILLION.
SO WHAT ARE THE BREAKDOWNS OF THE REST OF THE COST? OF. >> I'M SORRY. I'M. UH IT WAS IN A MARCH 27TH RFI
RESPONSE. IT WAS UM A BREAKDOWN OF FUNDS FOR FY 27 BUSSING. YES. >> UM YES. SO I THINK UH. THAT RFI. RESPONSE DIDN'T INCLUDE SOME
OF THE BUT LIKE UH CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR INSTANCE I DON'T THINK WE'RE ASKED ABOUT IN THAT RFI UM. NO CHARTER SCHOOLS WAS 25 MILLION FOR CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS. >> WHERE ARE WE SEEING THAT? UM YEAH I MEAN THAT'S THE
NUMBER I HAVE HERE. I THINK WE WE ARE WORKING ON A REVISED BREAKDOWN OF THE. FALL BUDGET AND WE'LL WE'LL BE. ABLE TO SEND THAT TO YOU VERY SHORTLY. THE COUNSELOR LOUIJEUNE ASKS
FOR UH UH, A BREAKDOWN SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON THAT WITH THEM. OKAY. >> THEY DID. RESUBMIT ONE. >> YES. UH. ON MARCH 27TH. YEAH, YEAH, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS MISSING $110 MILLION.
UM. WE DO HAVE AN ACCOUNT FOR COUNCIL I THINK WITH THE, UM, MISS WORLD I JUST NEED A CHANCE TO JUST BREAKDOWN IT ALL COMPLETELY. WE CAN GIVE YOU THIS FULL BREAKDOWN IF YOU WANT MORE DETAIL. I'LL EXPLAIN WHERE IT ALL IS. OKAY? >> IT WAS NOT.
>> IN THE RFI. OKAY? >> IF IT'S NOT. CLEAR IN THE RFI, WE. ALL RIGHT? >> UM. AND, UH. IN THE FUTURE CASE, UH, SEEKING FLAHERTY ON COST SAVINGS
STRATEGIES TARGET FOR BP'S HOW MUCH ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO SAVE THROUGH THE CURRENT COST SAVINGS CHARTER STRATEGIES AS OPPOSED TO NOW? UM, I GUESS THE QUESTION IS IN
THE FUTURE CASE THAT WE'RE IN THIS SCENARIO AGAIN BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS AND WHATEVER THE ECONOMY LOOKS LIKE THEN UM, DO YOU FORESEE YOUR COST SAVINGS STRATEGIES CHANGING NEXT. >> YEAR.
? >> LIKE IF WE COULD NOT SAVE THE $53 MILLION UH CAN YOU CAN YOU DO THAT CAN YOU REPLICATE THAT AGAIN FOR NEXT YEAR IF NEEDED TO? THIS YEAR WE HAD TO MAKE SOME
DIFFICULT DECISIONS WHILE STILL CENTERING STUDENT EXPERIENCE. UM, THROUGH OUR CURRENT COST SAVING STRATEGIES WHICH INCLUDED THE SPENDING PAUSES IN
NOVEMBER AND JANUARY AS WELL AS SOME ACTION PLANNING ACROSS THE OPERATIONS DIVISION WE ESTIMATE THAT WE SAVED $26,000,000.26. OKAY.
>> UM, LAST NIGHT UM, WE, UH, REPORTED TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE UM, OUR REQUEST FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION TO COVER THE OVERAGES FOR HEALTH
INSURANCE AND UTILITIES. GOT IT. >> I THINK. LOOKING FORWARD, UM, IN THEORY WE COULD TAKE THE SAME STRATEGIES AGAIN NEXT YEAR. AND SEE SIMILAR SAVINGS.
BUT WE ARE CERTAINLY NOT PLANNING. WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE TO. >> DO THAT. RIGHT. AND CAN YOU ARE YOU ABLE TO PROVIDE UH TO THE COUNCIL BECAUSE I. KNOW THERE WAS. LIKE A FEW. DIFFERENT COST SAVINGS
STRATEGIES UM, THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED LIKE WHAT WAS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT SAVED AGAINST EACH DIFFERENT STRATEGY? UH YES.
UM CAN YOU GIVE ME A MINUTE. >> TO YEAH. YEAH, I'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU WITH THOSE DETAILS. AND THEN DO WE HAVE A STATUS? UM, I KNOW BP'S WAS DOING A EQUITY STUDY. UH, DO WE HAVE A STATUS OF THAT
EQUITY STUDY? UH, IS THAT THE WORK COLUMN WAS DOING? I BELIEVE SO, YEAH. YEAH, WE PRESENTED BRIEFLY ON, UH, UPDATE UP ON THE UPDATED OPPORTUNITY TEAMING UP POLICY LAST NIGHT. OKAY. SO WE DO HAVE THAT AVAILABLE TO
TO SHARE WITH YOU. YES OKAY. UM, IS THE BOSTON COMPACT STILL ACTIVE? YES OKAY. ALL RIGHT. UM THAT'S GOOD.
AND. BECAUSE I KNOW WE ARE UH I KNOW WE CAN CUT COSTS BY ONLINE AND PRIVATE AND CHARTER BOAT TIMES UH, FROM SEVEN 3830 AND 930.
UM, WOULD THE COMPACT STILL HANDLE THAT? YEAH, I CAN TAKE THAT QUESTION, COUNSELOR. THAT IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THROUGH THE THE COMPACT AND UH, A NUMBER OF THOSE SCHOOLS HAD MADE SOME
SHIFTS FOR THIS YEAR. THEN THERE WERE FOUR CHARTER SCHOOLS REMAINING WHICH HAD MISALIGNED BELL TIMES. WE'VE BEEN WORKING INDIVIDUALLY WITH EACH OF THEM. I'M HAPPY TO SHARE AT THIS TIME THREE OF THEM HAVE CONFIRMED
SHIFTS FOR NEXT YEAR TO ALIGN TO THE BELL TIME STRUCTURE. AWESOME. >> IN ADDITION TO THAT COUNSELOR, WE'RE ALSO DOING WORK. IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO MR ROSE AND GUY AROUND MAKING SURE WE HAVE OTHER STRATEGIES TO GET US UM MOST OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE MORE
BUILT UM ON MORE OF THE SAME TWO TIMES AND THAT'S BEEN PROVEN SUCCESSFUL AS WELL THAT TO THAT YEAH. >> NO THAT'S THAT'S RIGHT. I THINK UH AT THIS POINT IN TIME UM WE'VE MADE SOME I THINK
ALMOST 20 SCHOOLS WITHIN THE LAST FEW YEARS WITHIN DPS MAKING MINOR BELL TIME ADJUSTMENTS AND THE THERE'S ONLY A HANDFUL OF SCHOOLS REMAINING NOT ALIGNED AND THOSE ARE ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION HIGH.
SCHOOLS WHERE THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, VERY SPECIALIZED PROGRAMING OR UH, YOU KNOW, SCHEDULES FOR THE STUDENTS AND WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO DO THAT IN A WAY THAT ALIGNS WITH THE SCHOOLS NEEDS. >> AND WE HOPE WITH A MODEL THAT SO THAT UH COMPACT SCHOOLS CAN ALSO SEE LIKE THAT IS
POSSIBLE. AWESOME. >> AND THEN UM I ALSO KNOW THAT WE SEE A DIP IN ENROLLMENT IN FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE UM, I BELIEVE BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN A NUMBER OF OUR OTHER CHARTER SCHOOL STARTS AND SO WE END UP
SEEING SCHOOLS. LOSE ENROLLMENT IN THOSE GRADES. IS THERE A WAY THE COMPACT COULD ALIGN GRADES AT OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS TO WHATEVER THE GREAT ALIGNMENT THE REST OF THE DISTRICT IS? SO GETTING CHARTER SCHOOLS TO
FOLLOW UM, OUR DISTRICT ALIGNMENT FROM K 1 TO 6 AND THEN GRADE 7 TO 12. ,I THINK WE'D HAVE TO TALK TO THE COP ABOUT THAT AND DOUBLE CHECK WHAT THE LEGAL
REQUIREMENTS ARE AROUND THAT. UM, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY SPORT BACK. >> TO YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU CHAIR. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILOR DURKAN. UH, WE'LL DO SEVEN MINUTES. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR.
UM, I WANTED TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT FOOD QUALITY. OBVIOUSLY. UM, BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN, UH, RECENTLY RENOWNED AND HAS HAVE GOTTEN YOU KNOW, A LOT
OF, UM, HAVE BEEN LAUDED FOR WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, UH, WITH MAKING SURE THAT, UH, KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY MEALS, UH, MAKING YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE MAYOR HAS BEEN OUT TO SOME
FARMS THERE SO, YOU KNOW, BEEN SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS OVER THE YEARS. UM, I THINK GIVEN THE BUDGET SITUATION WE'RE IN, I JUST WANTED TO ASK HOW CONFIDENT WE ARE THAT STUDENTS WILL STILL
HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY MEALS AND I'M SORRY THIS QUESTION HAS ALREADY BEEN ASKED. I KNOW THAT YOU SERVE OVER 8 MILLION MEALS PER YEAR. UM, I HAVE HAD I YOU KNOW A HUGE I'VE BEEN ON A HEALTH
JOURNEY MYSELF AND REALLY TRIED TO EAT HEALTHY AND I'M JUST CURIOUS UM AS WE'RE FACING A TOUGH BUDGET YEAR, HOW ARE WE GOING TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF MEALS? SURE. >> SO CONGRATULATIONS, YOU'RE
THE FIRST PERSON TO ASK ME A FOOD SERVICE QUESTION. SO THANK YOU VERY, VERY, VERY MUCH FOR DOING THAT. UM, AND WE'RE YOU KNOW, HAPPY TO SAY THAT OUR QUALITY IS NOT GOING TO DIMINISH OR CHANGE. UM, AND UH THE BUDGET
DEFINITELY REFLECTS THAT. SO WE'RE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE DO HAVE THE ON COOKING IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. WE UM UH AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I STARTED IN 2006 WHEN THE CENTRAL OFFICE KITCHEN WAS CLOSED AND WE'VE
BEEN WORKING SINCE 2006 TO FINALLY LIKE LAUNCH IT AND GET UP AND RUNNING SO IT IS UP AND RUNNING. UM WE ARE SERVING FOR US IT WILL BE A MERE SUB MEAL SIMILAR AT HOME AT CENTRAL KITCHEN THAT WE DO IN THE SCHOOLS AND WE'RE
ABLE TO DELIVER TO THE SCHOOLS THAT DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO COOK UM FRESH THEMSELVES. SO WE HAVE UM ALL THE SCHOOLS COVERED WITH ALL FRESH FOOD. WE CONTINUE TO SOURCE LOCALLY.
WE CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THE UM INGREDIENT STANDARDS ARE THERE. UM, AND THERE'S NO INTERRUPTION IN SERVICE FROM NOW. REGARD THE ONLY QUESTIONS THAT YOU'LL SEE IS MORE AROUND THE STAFFING LEVELS PER SCHOOL BECAUSE THAT'S LARGELY
DEPENDING ON THE MEALS UM THAT THE UH THAT THE STAFF SERVE PER DAY WHICH IS ALSO TIED TO STUDENT ENROLLMENT. SO AS THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS GO DOWN THERE'LL BE LESS STAFF BECAUSE THE LESS FOOD THE SERVING. THE OTHER. >> THING I WOULD ADD IS THAT, UM, WE'RE ALSO EXPANDING OUR
BREAKFAST IN THE CLASSROOM MODEL UM, WHICH IS HUGE BECAUSE THAT'S ALSO GOING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING STUDENTS FED UM, AS THEY COME IN IN THE MORNING AND UH START THEIR DAY FRESHLY WITH MEALS.
SO WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS ALREADY START THAT PROGRAM, BUT WE'RE SPENDING THE REST OF THE SPRING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN ROLL IT OUT IN SCHOOL WIDE AND MORE SCHOOLS. I THINK WE'RE ADDING ANOTHER TO THE 12 SCHOOLS OF.
THE I THINK DON'T CALL ME BUT LIKE OF THE 12 SCHOOLS THAT WILL FOCUS ON NOW WE'RE ROLLING IT OUT SCHOOL WIDE FOR THE SPRING AND THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR WE'RE GOING TO ADD MORE SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE. ROLLING IT. >> OUT SCHOOL WIDE. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF EXCITED
THESE WONDERFUL SERVICES WE CONTINUE TO SERVE THE HOLIDAY MEALS UM SO I'LL STOP THERE BUT I'M SO. SO THANK YOU. AND I DID WANT TO ASK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PROCUREMENT EQUITY I KNOW THAT'S BEEN UM A CHARGE
AND COMPOSTING UM PARTICULARLY THERE'S A LOT YOU KNOW WHEN WASTE WHEN FOOD IS WASTED I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A PROGRAM THAT UM, HAD BEEN LAUNCHED AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF COMPOSTING WAS STILL SOMETHING
THAT WAS A PRIORITY AND WAS GROWING IN THE SCHOOLS AND I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT PROCUREMENT IN PARTICULAR. YEAH. >> SO WE WE'RE CONTINUE TO COMPOST. WE STILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THAT PARTNERSHIP AND ARRANGEMENT. WE'RE STILL WORKING ON UH GOOD FOOD PURCHASING UM AND ALL
THOSE THINGS. SO THAT'S ALL ONGOING. NOTHING'S NOTHING'S CHANGED AT ALL. I'M JUST THANKFUL FOR THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP AND PAST THE SHIP THAT I GOT TO THIS POINT. DEFINITELY. >> AND CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT UM, THE CULTURAL COMPETENCY OF FOOD AS WELL
BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT FOR ME UM IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK PBS IS STANDING OUT IN THAT RESPECT. YEAH. >> THANK YOU. YEAH. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE WE MEET WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO UM, UNDERSTAND WHAT
PREFERENCES THAT THEY HAVE MAKING SURE THAT WE UM WE WE DO UH WE CELEBRATE DIFFERENT CULTURES PER MONTH AND WE WE SAID WE DEFINITELY COOK MEALS AND ALLOW THAT OPPORTUNITY. UM, WE DO UH, DIFFERENT TASTE
TESTING FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AS WE AS WE BUILD IN UH MORE CULTURAL MEALS IN THE MENU. SO ALL THAT WILL CONTINUE AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF UM STUDY PARTICIPATION UM, WITH REGARD
TO THAT. AND I WANTED TO ASK AND I, I ASKED THIS QUESTION AND OUR ONE OF OUR WORKING SESSIONS WE HAD THANKS TO OUR CHAIR A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ALREADY UM, BOTH IN THIS ROOM AND IN OTHER
ROOMS. UM I ASKED A QUESTION UM, WITH THE BREAK DOWN AND I KNOW THAT COUNSELOR AS WELL JUST MENTIONED IT THE BREAKDOWN OF TRANSPORTATION COST OBVIOUSLY, UM, WHEN STUDENT
ENROLLMENT GOES DOWN BUT TRANSPORTATION COSTS GO UP. A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. COULD YOU ANSWER MORE BROADLY WHY THAT IS THE CASE? AND UM, AND JUST SORT OF HOW
WE'RE APPROACHING THAT CONVERSATION AND OBVIOUSLY WE'VE HAD TRANSDEV IN HERE. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT TRANSPORTATION OVER THE PAST YEAR. SURE. >> SO WE CAN GET SOME OF THAT BREAKDOWN CITY MR ROSE AND I CAN SPEAK MORE TO THAT. AND THEN UH, A LOT OF IT IS
AGAIN ABOUT THE SERVICE MODEL THAT WE'RE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THE MEASURES AND TARGETS WE'RE TRYING TO HIT WITH OUR CONTRACTS AND SOME OF THE SAFETY MEASURES WE PUT IN PLACE. BUT MR ROSENBERG, PLEASE. THINK IN TERMS OF THE UH THE BREAKDOWN OF SPEND WE'RE GOING
TO. SEND A FOLLOW UP WITH UH, THE BREAKDOWN KIND OF BY BY LINE OF HOW THAT OVERALL COST IS BROKEN DOWN. UM, BUT I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT THE THE BROADER UM HOW COSTS
ARE EVOLVING OVER TIME AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT WE'VE HAD THINGS LIKE ZOOM AND THE RIDERSHIP PROCEDURE THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS HAVE LED TO HAVE BEGUN TO CREATE SOME EFFICIENCIES WITHIN OUR OPERATIONS AND OUR OVERALL SYSTEM. FOR INSTANCE, THIS YEAR THE NUMBER OF UH ROUTES THE BUSSES
ON THE ROAD EVERY DAY IS DOWN TO 625 FROM 640 LAST YEAR WE'RE EXPECTING TO SEE ANOTHER ABOUT 3% REDUCTION IN THAT NEXT YEAR. UM, YOU KNOW THAT'S OBVIOUSLY
IN SOME WAYS OFFSET BY WHAT WE'RE EXPECT TO SEE WITH INFLATIONARY AND CONTRACT DRIVEN COST. FUEL IS A BIG ONE RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT OBVIOUSLY. UM BUT I THINK ALL TOLD WE ARE
EXPECTING TO SEE OUR ACTUAL SPEND NEXT YEAR BE IN LINE WITH OR SLIGHTLY BELOW ACTUAL SPEND THIS YEAR. AND I DID WANT TO ASK A TRICKY QUESTION I KNOW UM THERE WAS SOME NEWS AND I DON'T KNOW IF
ANYONE I ASKED THIS QUESTION ABOUT UM ABOUT THIS FINDING TRANSDEV FOR LATE. I'M NOT SURE IF ANYONE ASKED THAT QUESTION. UM OKAY. I'M SURE SOMEONE ASKED THAT I WAS CURIOUS UM IF THERE WAS A
PLAN TO START DOING THAT OR HOW SORT OF OPERATIONAL AND IF THAT IS DIFFICULT FROM AN OPERATIONAL SIDE OR IF IT'S EASY. YEAH. >> NO, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION. SO I THINK THAT UM WHEN WE LOOK
AT KIND OF THE. UH OUR. GOAL RIGHT IS ALWAYS TO IMPROVE SERVICE FOR STUDENTS. THE NONPERFORMANCE DAMAGES ARE ONE TOOL THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US. THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS THE APPROPRIATE TOOL FOR THE MOMENT
. WE'VE BEEN SEEING STEADY IMPROVEMENTS IN SERVICE OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. HOWEVER WE SAW A SPECIFIC INCREASE IN UNCOVERED TRIPS THIS YEAR WHICH YOU KNOW, UM
ULTIMATELY DID LEAD US TO BEGIN TO ASSESS NONPERFORMANCE DAMAGES IN MARCH FOR. UNCOVERED TRIPS. UM, WE'VE SEEN THAT ISSUE BE DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED. YOU KNOW, SINCE TAKING THAT
STEP, OUR ON-TIME PERFORMANCE ALSO CONTINUES TO BE HIGHER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN. AND SO I THINK YOU KNOW, AS WE LOOK FORWARD WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE USING THE RIGHT TOOL FOR EACH MOMENT TO KEEP DRIVING
IMPROVEMENTS FOR KIDS. THANK YOU. AND I IF I IF I MAY I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK BECAUSE I KNOW THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE DEALT WITH UM WITH CONSTITUENTS IN MY DISTRICT, UM YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN
SUCH A RESOURCE AND I THINK UM THE REALITY IS UM IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE AMOUNT OF KIDS THAT WE'RE MOVING AROUND AND AND STUDENTS THAT ARE MOVING AROUND. SURE. I SAY SCHOLARS AROUND THE CITY
AND I THINK YOU HAVE SHOWED UP AND YOU'VE ANSWERED QUESTIONS. YOU KNOW YOU DO IT ALL YEAR LONG. SO IT'S NOT JUST DURING THE BUDGET. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT WORK IS NOT EASY. SO THANK YOU CHAIR. OKAY. >> THANKS DAD.
I JUST WANTED TO I KNOW AT OUR LAST HEARING YOU DID TALK ABOUT MAYBE UH, FINING TRANSDEV FOR LATE BUSSES OR NO SHOWS. IT WAS LIKE $500. IS THAT WHAT THE CONTRACT SAYS?
AND JUST TO UPDATE US, I I'M. ASSUMING NO FINES HAVE BEEN ISSUED. YET SO UH UH I THINK AS WE SHARED AT THE LAST HEARING WE UM DID BEGIN ASSESSING NONPERFORMANCE DAMAGES FOR
UNCOVERED TRIPS AT THE BEGINNING OF MARCH. SO UH, THERE MARCH WAS A DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT FROM THE PRIOR MONTHS, BUT WE DID ASSESS NONPERFORMANCE DAMAGES FOR
MARCH AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE CONTINUING TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS IN APRIL RELATIVE TO MARKET AS WELL. WHAT'S THE WHAT WAS THE DOLLAR FIGURE? >> YOU KNOW, IT WAS ABOUT A $105,000. OKAY. >> UM OKAY.
AND IN YOUR YOU FEEL LIKE THAT'S HAVING THE INTENDED. IMPACT OF. IMPROVING PERFORMANCE? YES. >> LIKE I SAID, WE UM I'M COVERED TRIPS ARE BACK TO KIND OF THE MINIMAL LEVELS IN LINE WITH PRIOR YEARS AND OTP IS
HIGHER THAN IT HAS BEEN IN ANY PRIOR YEAR. OKAY. >> UH THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BEFORE WE GO TO A SECOND ROUND, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY OF THE FOLKS FROM THE BTU. WE'RE TELLING YOU TO JUST SIGN IN BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT THIS IS AN ATTENDANT. CHIEF, DO YOU WANT TO TESTIFY
I'M ASSUMING YEAH. UH, OKAY, SO WE GOT FOUR PEOPLE FIRST DOCTOR BIANCA ORTIZ, UH, WEISS AND I USE BAJPAI, JOHNNY MCGINNIS AND THEN UH, CLIFTON
BRAITHWAITE. UH, GOOD TO. HAVE TWO MINUTES, UH, FOR TESTIMONY JUST, UH, CLOSE TO THE MIC AND, UH, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MY NAME IS DOCTOR BIANCA
ORTIZ WIFE. I'M THE STRATEGIC RESEARCHER FOR THE B2. I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF ROSLINDALE. UH, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE B2 TO URGE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER MOVING THE HEALTH
INSURANCE APPROPRIATION OUT OF THE SCHOOL BUDGET AND INTO THE CITY'S CENTRAL BUDGET UNDER THE PEOPLE'S OPERATING CABINET TO ENSURE BETTER FORECASTING AND LESSEN THE IMPACT OF HEALTH INSURANCE VOLATILITY ON OUR
SCHOOLS. THIS IS A STRAIGHTFORWARD ADMINISTRATIVE FIX AND RIGHT NOW THE CURRENT STRUCTURE IS WORKING AGAINST OUR SCHOOLS. BOSTON CENTRALIZES HEALTH INSURANCE FOR NEARLY EVERY
DEPARTMENT BUT UH, POLICE FIRE PUBLIC WORKS UNDER A SINGLE $295 MILLION APPROPRIATION WHEN COSTS ROSE BY $43.9 MILLION THIS YEAR, THAT INCREASE WAS
ABSORBED CENTRALLY, NOT TAKEN OUT OF ANY SINGLE DEPARTMENT'S OPERATING BUDGET IS THE EXCEPTION. IT'S $197 MILLION HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS SIT INSIDE THE
SCHOOL BUDGET, SO WHEN THAT COST INCREASED BY $49.4 MILLION 33% IN A SINGLE YEAR, IT CAME DIRECTLY OUT OF FUNDING FOR TEACHERS, STAFF AND STUDENT SERVICES.
IN FACT, MORE THAN HALF OF HIS TOTAL BUDGET INCREASE THIS YEAR WAS CONSUMED BY HEALTH INSURANCE ALONE. THIS RAISES A REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION WHICH IS IF HEALTH INSURANCE IS BARGAINED UM
ALREADY HAPPENS AT THE CITY LEVEL. WHY DOES IT THE APPROPRIATION SINCE 2011 ALL BOSTON EMPLOYEE UNIONS INCLUDING BPA HAVE BARGAINED HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE COMMITTEE.
THE PEC THE CITY SETS PLAN DESIGN, NEGOTIATES PREMIUM SPLITS, USES THE SAME ACTUARIES AND MANAGES COST CONTAINMENT HAS NO INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY OVER THESE DECISIONS YET IT
BEARS THE FULL FINANCIAL RISK WHEN COSTS SPIKE. BOSTON ACTUALLY IS IN THE MINORITY WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGETING HEALTH INSURANCE INSIDE THE SCHOOL APPROPRIATION MOST CITIES IN MASSACHUSETTS
INCLUDING CAMBRIDGE, SOMERVILLE, WORCESTER ADMINISTER HEALTH INSURANCE FOR SCHOOL STAFF CENTRALLY. AND ACTUALLY JUST TWO MONTHS AGO THE TOWN OF FRANKLIN VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO DO THE SAME
CITING BETTER FORECASTING AND FISCAL STABILITY. UM I'LL WRAP UP NOW BUT IT SIMPLY ALIGNS THE APPROPRIATION WITH HOW HEALTH INSURANCE IS ALREADY MANAGED IN THE CITY. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, I USUALLY UM.
UH GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR. >> IS THAT UM OKAY. OH GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU. >> FOR GIVING. >> ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. UH, HI. MY NAME IS A YOUTH AND POLITICAL ORGANIZER AT THE BOSTON TEACHERS UNION. I'M, UH, GIVING THIS TESTIMONY
ON BEHALF OF BTU SOCIAL WORKERS. UH, WE NEED TO PUT A HUMAN FACE ON WHAT IT MEANS TO CUT FOR DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKERS, WHICH INCLUDES A LIFE DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKER FROM NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET
. CUTTING JUST THREE SOCIAL WORKERS FROM NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IS NOT A SMALL ADJUSTMENT. IT DIRECTLY AFFECTS 37 SCHOOLS, 13,491 STUDENTS AND 71 SCHOOL
BASED SOCIAL WORKERS WHO WOULD HAVE TO BE REDISTRIBUTED TO THE SIX REMAINING DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKERS. THESE ROLES ARE STUDENT CENTRIC POSITIONS THAT ANCHOR SAFETY, STABILITY AND COHERENCE ACROSS OUR SYSTEM.
DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKERS LEAD HIGH LEVEL CASE CONSULTATIONS IN OUR MOST COMPLEX HIGH RISK SITUATIONS GUIDING SCHOOLS TOWARDS SAFE, LEGALLY SOUND, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND TRAUMA INFORMED DECISIONS THAT
KEEP STUDENTS LEARNING AND OUT OF HARM'S WAY. THEY PROVIDE ONGOING MENTORING AND CLINICAL SUPPORT TO SCHOOL BASED SOCIAL WORKERS, REDUCING BURNOUT AND TURNOVER AND PROTECTING THE QUALITY AND
CONSISTENCY OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL BUILDING TRAINED THAT THEY TRAIN STAFF IN DE-ESCALATION, SAFETY CARE AND TRAUMA RESPONSIVE PRACTICES SO THAT MORE ADULTS IN SCHOOLS CAN
RESPOND CALMLY AND SAFELY. WHEN A STUDENT IN CRISIS IN 2024 TO 2025, WE TRAINED 329 STAFF AND 179 TO DATE THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE COORDINATED
SAFE SUPPORTIVE PLACEMENTS AND TRANSITIONS FOR VULNERABLE STUDENTS ENSURING THEY LAND IN ENVIRONMENTS THAT MEET THEIR NEEDS. RATHER THAN BEING BALANCED BETWEEN OFFERING SETTINGS, THEY STRENGTHENED STUDENT SUPPORT TEAMS AND OTHER SCHOOL BASED
TEAMS BY IDENTIFYING GAPS, SHARING BEST PRACTICES AND BUILDING COORDINATED PLANS SO STUDENTS DO NOT FALL TO THE CRACKS THEY AND LASTLY, THEY SERVE AS THE BRIDGE BETWEEN CENTRAL OFFICE AND SCHOOLS,
ALIGNING POLICY WITH PRACTICE AND BUILDING AN EQUITABLE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM ACROSS THE DISTRICT NOT JUST TO A FEW WELL-RESOURCED SCHOOLS. TO MAKE THIS CONCRETE, JUST ONE DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKER TRAINED
140 STAFF MEMBERS IN SAFETY CARE, EQUIPPING THEM TO DE-ESCALATE CRISIS. THEY PROVIDED 16 INSTANCES OF CLINICAL SUPPORT. UM AND I'M JUST GOING TO WRAP UP HERE ELIMINATING FOUR OF THESE POSITIONS DOES NOT
JUST CUT OUT THE EXTRAS. IT DOES NOT JUST TRIM THE OUTSIDES. IT DISMANTLES A CRITICAL SAFETY AND SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HOLDS OUR SCHOOLS TOGETHER ON THESE HARDEST DAYS IT IS ALWAYS THE KIDS WHO NEED THE MOST AND WHO ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE WHO
WILL BE LEFT BEHIND IF THESE POSITIONS ARE CUT FOR OUR STUDENT SAFETY AND OUR STAFF'S WELL-BEING, WE NEED TO REINTEGRATE FUNDING FOR THESE POSITIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. >> MR MCGUINNESS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR WEBER AND MEMBERS OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JOHN MCCAIN'S, THE POLITICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE BOSTON TEACHERS UNION. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE OVER 10,000 MEMBERS
OF OUR UNION TO ADDRESS TWO CRITICAL ISSUES REGARDING OUR SCHOOLS. FIRST. >> AS MY COLLEAGUE DOCTOR BIANCA ORTIZ WHITE TESTIFIED EARLIER ON DPS HEALTH CARE MUST BE CENTRALIZED.
WE ARE A GLARING OUTLIER AS ONE OF THE FEW MUNICIPALITIES IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND ONE OF THE ONLY BIG CITIES IN THE COUNTRY TO MANAGE HEALTH CARE THIS WAY. THIS CHANGE WOULD NOT
NEGATIVELY IMPACT ANY HEALTH PLAN IN THE CITY. IT WILL HOWEVER, ALLOW FOR BETTER FORECASTING OF OUR BUDGET AND GREATER FISCAL STABILITY. THIS IS ALREADY WITHIN THE
CITY'S POWER SECTION 58 AND THE CITY CHARTER REQUIRES THE CITY TO TO FUND HOSPITALIZATION AND INSURANCE AT NO LESS THAN THE THREE YEAR AVERAGE OF ACTUAL EXPENDITURES AND IT DOES NOT
EXCLUDE SCHOOL EMPLOYEES. THIS FIX DOES NOT INFRINGE ON THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S AUTHORITY OVER THE BUDGET, AS THE MONEY ALLOCATED TO HEALTH CARE WAS ALREADY MANDATED TO BE
SPENT ON HEALTH CARE UNDER SECTION 58. WE ARE NOT ASKING TO CHANGE WHAT GETS SPENT, WE ARE ASKING TO BUDGET RESPONSIBLY AND THAT
THE SINGLE STEP HAVE A DRAMATIC EFFECT ON PROTECTING OUR SCHOOLS FROM THE CURRENT HEALTH CARE COSTS SHOCK SECOND, OUR SCHOOLS NEED SUPPLEMENTAL
APPROPRIATION IF WE ARE GOING TO MAINTAIN TRUST IN DPS, THE BREADTH OF STUDENT FACING FACILITY SERVICES THAT WILL BE CUT UNDER THE CURRENT BUDGET IS STAGGERING.
THE STUDENTS WHO WILL BE HURT MOST WILL BE THE STUDENTS WITH THE GREATEST NEED. BE AWARE IT WILL IT WILL HURT STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WHO PAY THE PRICE.
IT WILL BE MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS WHO PAY THE PRICE. IT WILL BE OUR LOW INCOME STUDENTS WHO PAY THE PRICE. THERE WILL BE LOSS OF TRUST
THAT WILL BE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO GET BACK IF WE WANT FAMILIES, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES TO BUY INTO A ROBUST, EFFECTIVE AND INCLUSIVE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, WE CANNOT TURN OUR
BACKS ON THEM NOW WE KNOW THE BUDGET IS TIGHT AND THAT BOSTON IS UNDER FISCAL PRESSURE. WHETHER IT'S INCREASING CHARTER SCHOOL TUITION REIMBURSEMENT OR REFORMING CHAPTER 70 FORMULA
WHICH WE ARE STRONGLY ADVOCATING FOR AT THE STATE HOUSE, WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THE STATE GIVES BOSTON WHAT IT NEEDS. HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOLUTIONS
THE CITY CAN TAKE TO MAKE THE BUDGET WORK FOR OUR STUDENTS, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT TO US IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, MR BRAITHWAITE, YOU READY? GOOD EVENING. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS CLIFTON BRAITHWAITE AND I'M NOT IN HERE AS THE. ROLE AS A STATESMAN. I'M HERE AS A.
CONCERNED GRANDFATHER. AND A CONCERNED. FATHER OF THE. COMMUNITY AND I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE SOME POINTS. UM. I'VE BEEN AROUND THESE MEETINGS A LONG TIME, EVEN A LOT.
BEFORE ANYBODY. HERE THAT I BELIEVE IN AT THIS TABLE. BUT I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYBODY TALK ABOUT USING STUDENTS THAT
ARE SENIORS. OR GRAD. STUDENTS TO VOLUNTEER TO. HELP OUT THE. SHORTAGE IN STAFF WHEN IT COMES TO THE. SOCIAL SIDE. WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL WE USED TO
TAP MORE OF PARENTS COMING INTO THE SCHOOLS WHO WERE ROLE MODELS AND BE A BRIDGE IN BETWEEN. OUR SPORTS. PROGRAMS WERE A LOT BETTER.
MY HOMEGIRL. JAZZ FROM THE HIP HOP COMMUNITY STARTED AT JP HIGH SCHOOL. FOOD PANTRIES. I THINK WE NEED TO DIVE DEEPER INTO THAT BECAUSE A. LOT OF THE CHILDREN GOING HOME
ARE GOING HOME WITHOUT FOOD. AND Y'ALL BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB IN IT. BUT I THINK WE GOT TO EXPAND ON THAT AND SOME OF THESE THINGS UM WHAT I'M ASKING BUT. THIS LAST.
QUESTION CAME FROM MY ON PAGE LINE. EDUCATION IS KEY FOR EVERYBODY ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY COME INTO. OUR COUNTRY. BUT PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHERE'S
THE BUDGET GOING WHEN IT COMES TO IMMIGRATION STUDIES BECAUSE WE HAVE TO FIND. A BALANCE THAT WE CAN HELP EVERYBODY. I'M ORIGINALLY VENEZUELAN TRINIDADIAN FIRST AMERICAN BORN
IN MY FAMILY SO I'M NOT AGAINST IMMIGRATION AT ALL BUT WE GOT TO HAVE A BALANCE AND I LIKE TO DO IN CLOSING WITH PARENTS AND CHILDREN, IF ONE KID THINKS THAT THEY'RE GETTING MORE FROM
THEIR PARENTS WILL CAUSE A DIVIDE IN THE HOME. MY IMMIGRANT BROTHERS I STAND WITH THEM BUT. >> A. LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW POLITICS REALLY WORKS. SO THOSE. ARE THE THREE THINGS THAT I
WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND ANYTHING WE NEED TO GET OUR PARENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY MORE INVOLVED. AND ARE WE BRINGING BACK WHERE IF A PARENT DIDN'T FINISH HIGH SCHOOL THAT THEY COULD BE A PART OF GETTING A GED?
AND ONE MORE THING IN CLOSING UM, I WORKED AT A SCHOOL I DON'T WANT TO SAY WHAT SCHOOL IT WAS AND A YOUNG MAN. UM. >> WAS FROM THE LBG COMMUNITY AND WHEN HIS MOTHER AND FATHER CAME HE HAD TO CHANGE BACK TO
BEING A YOUNG MAN. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE CLASSES FOR PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND? WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT TIME NOW. WHAT PEOPLE DIDN'T LIKE OR DIDN'T BELIEVE IN BACK IN THE
DAYS IS DIFFERENT NOW, SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HELP PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND THE TRANSITION OF THEIR CHILDREN. THOSE ARE QUESTIONS THAT I GOT OFF LINE THAT PEOPLE WANTED ME TO ASK. BUT MY OVERALL CONCERN IS BEING
A GRANDFATHER AND I FEEL THAT WE'RE LOSING OUR EDUCATIONAL VALUES. AND LAST THING SAID WHEN MY GRANDSON SAID TO ME I'M NOT STUDYING CURSIVE I COULDN'T
BELIEVE IT. THE REST OF THE WORLD DOES IT. WHY DID WE PULL IT OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, OKAY.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE SECOND ROUND. UM. UM. >> BECAUSE I WILL DO SIX MINUTES. UH, AND COUNCILOR FLYNN AND MURPHY HAVE AGREED TO SWAP
PLACES HERE FOR FOR THIS, UH, ROUND SWITCH. WHICH ORDER? SO THANKS. UH, COUNCILOR FLYNN. >> YOU'RE UP. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. >> AND THANK YOU. TO COUNCIL MURPHY FOR LETTING ME GO FIRST. UM, I LISTENED CAREFULLY TO
PUBLIC TESTIMONY. FROM THE BOSTON TEACHERS UNION AND LET ME LET ME. BE THE. FIRST COUNSELOR TO SAY THAT I AGREE WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION.
THAT THEY HAVE MADE. BASICALLY MOVING THE HEALTH. CARE FOR TEACHERS. UM, AND AND EMPLOYEES MOVE IT
UNDER THE CITY OF BROAD CITY OF BOSTON UMBRELLA UNDER THEIR HUMAN RESOURCES. MAYBE IT. SAVES MONEY FOR TAXPAYERS AND. >> WHAT DO WE. >> DO WITH. THAT MONEY?
WELL MAYBE WE CAN PUT THAT MONEY TOWARDS UM. SOCIAL WORKERS. MAYBE WE COULD PUT THAT MONEY TOWARDS. UM OTHER MENTAL HEALTH. COUNSELORS, TO.
TEACHERS TO PARIS. UM, I HIGHLIGHTED IN ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES AND THE TEACHERS. UNION DID. >> AS WELL UM. THE SOCIAL. WORKERS, THE. THREE DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKERS I'M.
STILL I. STILL CAN'T. GET OVER HOW. YET HOW. >> A CITY. IS ABLE TO CUT SOCIAL. WORKERS DURING THIS. CRITICAL TIME. I'M NOT CRITICIZING ANYBODY.
BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE INVALUABLE ROLE. THEY PLAY IN SCHOOLS. THESE THREE DISTRICT SOCIAL. WORKERS ESPECIALLY.
DURING A TIME OF CRISIS. WE NEED THEM IN THE SCHOOLS WORKING. WITH OTHER SOCIAL WORKERS, WORKING WITH STUDENTS, WORKING WITH TEACHERS, WORKING WITH. PARENTS. >> PROVIDING CRITICAL.
SERVICES THAT THEY. NEED AND DESERVE SO THAT. >> THEY CAN. BE PRODUCTIVE SO THAT. >> THEY CAN BE. HAPPY AS. WE MOVE FORWARD. I DO WANT US TO SEE. A COMMITMENT THAT WE'RE GOING
TO NOT CUT. SOCIAL WORKERS OR. PSYCHOLOGISTS OR NURSES. BUT I. I CAN'T. SUPPORT ANYTHING. WE'RE WE'RE. CUTTING ANYONE THAT GIVES.
DIRECT DIRECT SUPPORT. TO A. >> TO A STUDENT EVERY DAY. AND THAT THOSE ARE TEACHERS. >> THOSE ARE PARIS THOSE ARE NURSES. THOSE ARE SOCIAL WORKERS. SO I MY MY CHALLENGE TO MY
COLLEAGUES. IS LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO CUTS TO. DPS EMPLOYEES THAT. INTERACT EVERY.
DAY WITH STUDENTS. MAYBE OTHER. MAYBE WE CAN MAKE CUTS AT OTHER. OTHER PLACES. I DON'T KNOW BUT. WE SHOULDN'T BE MAKING CUTS.
TO PERSONNEL THAT DIRECTLY. PROVIDE CRITICAL CARE FOR FOR STUDENTS. MY OTHER POINT, MR. CHAIR, IS. I DON'T KNOW WHY. THE BOSTON PUBLIC.
SCHOOL SYSTEM. IS THE ONLY CITY DEPARTMENT THAT IS UM. THAT IS GETTING CUTS. >> IN THEIR PERSONNEL. I'M TROUBLED. >> BY THAT. I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT. CITY DEPARTMENTS WE HAVE. YES, WE.
>> HAVE CHALLENGES IN THE. TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT. SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES. BUT WHY ARE WE CUTTING? WHY ARE WE CUTTING TEACHERS?
WHY ARE WE CUTTING SOCIAL WORKERS PSYCHOLOGISTS? THAT'S WHAT I'M FOCUSED. ON AND I'M GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON FROM NOW UNTIL THE TIME THIS BUDGET IS SIGNED.
IS WHAT DO WE. DO AS A CITY COUNCIL. TO ENSURE THAT WE WORK TOGETHER TO GET THE FUNDS BACK IN THE BUDGET FOR THOSE CRITICAL POSITIONS? AND I KNOW SOME OF IT.
HAS TO DO WITH VACANT TEACHERS . VACANCIES, UH, THAT ARE NOT. CURRENTLY FILLED THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ELIMINATE. WELL. THAT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THERE'S THERE'S THE VACANT.
THAT MEANS THERE'S THERE'S A TEACHER THAT. NEEDS TO. >> BE IN THERE AND WE. >> NEED TO HIRE. SOMEONE IN THAT POSITION. SO THAT THEY. CAN CONTINUE PROVIDING. SO THAT. THAT STUDENT. CAN CONTINUE.
RECEIVING A QUALITY EDUCATION QUALITY. ASSISTANCE SUPPORT. SO I DON'T I DON'T SUPPORT. CUTTING VACANT POSITIONS
BECAUSE THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY LOSS FOR OUR STUDENTS. I'M TROUBLED BY THAT AS IF THAT'S. THE ANSWER. BECAUSE THERE ARE. BECAUSE WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY IMPACTING SOMEONE PERSONALLY.
IN THE TEACHER. RANK BUT WE'RE IMPACTING. STUDENTS THAT'S WHO ARE IMPACTING AND WHEN THE STUDENT DOESN'T HAVE THAT SUPPORT THAT
THEY NEED THAT'S TROUBLING FOR. >> ME AS AS AN. ELECTED OFFICIAL I JUST CAN'T. I JUST CAN'T ACCEPT THAT. SO I. WANT TO. >> GO BACK TO SOCIAL. WORKERS ONCE AGAIN AND LISTENING TO THE.
TEACHERS UNION. BUT I TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE THAT. AND HOW HOW ARE WE GOING TO. WORK WITH THE CITY COUNCIL. TO GET THAT FUNDING BACK.
INTO THE. INTO THE BUDGET? ARE THERE ANY OTHER OPTIONS FOR US TO DO IT? SO EARLIER UM THIS AFTERNOON UM
,CHIEF BLOOM YOU KNOW YOU KNOW SO BY SAYING THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY AND ADVOCACY THE BTU AROUND THAT. UM, BUT WE ALSO JUST WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT, UM, WE DO. APPRECIATE THE WORK THE SOCIAL WORKERS DO DO IN THE DISTRICT AND AS WE ALSO MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY, WE STILL HAVE ABOUT 396 TOTAL STAFF THAT. >> ARE. SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS WITH
THE COMBINATION OF SOCIAL WORK AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, UM, AND SOCIAL WORK SERVICES AND UM, WE YOU KNOW, FORCING DUE TO BUDGET CUTS WE DO HAVE TO CHANGE THE WAY WE MANAGE UM
ESSENTIAL TO THAT WORK AND THESE DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKERS. DO A HYBRID OF SOME 2 OR 3 SUPPORT TO SCHOOLS AND SOME TRAINING. YES THEY DO, BUT WE ALSO UM WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
MAINTAIN STAFF THAT DID THAT DIRECT SERVICE AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL WHICH WE HAVE. THANK YOU SAM AND MR CHAIR, MAYBE JUST A QUESTION FOR YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATION WHAT WHY
IS THE ONLY CITY DEPARTMENT THAT HAS CUTS TO PERSONNEL. IS IS THAT IS THAT A FAIR. A FAIR. QUESTION TO ASK? UH, YEAH. I MEAN I THINK I GUESS IT'S A FAIR QUESTION TO ASK.
UH AND. >> I MEAN I THINK. THAT WE'LL. SEE WHAT THE ANSWER IS. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. OKAY. THANKS. UH, COUNCILOR MURPHY.
ALSO IF WE COULD JUST PUT IT ON THE RECORD BECAUSE I KNOW COUNCILOR FLYNN DID ASK THE QUESTION. ABOUT WHY IS THE. ONLY CITY. DEPARTMENT THAT DOES CARRY THEIR. OWN BENEFIT COSTS.
SO IF WE COULD JUST PUT. >> THAT ON THE RECORD, PLEASE? THAT ANSWER BECAUSE IT WASN'T ANSWERED. UM. >> DAN, HAVE THEY PAID YET THE $105,000. WE BUILD. >> THEM CORRECT. FOR MARCH? OH THAT'S.
RIGHT THAT GETS ASSESSED AGAINST THE MONTHLY MANAGEMENT FEE. SO COULD YOU JUST EXPLAIN THAT FOR THOSE. SURE. >> SO WATCHING YEAH OF COURSE. UM SO AS PART OF YOU KNOW, OUR CONTRACT. UH. >> WE PAY THE VENDOR A MONTHLY
MANAGEMENT FEE AND SO ANY NONPERFORMANCE DAMAGES ARE SUBTRACTED FROM THAT AMOUNT. SO YOU DON'T BUILD THEM YOU JUST GIVE THEM LESS. CORRECT. HOW MUCH DO YOU PAY THEM EACH MONTH? UH, JUST ONE SECOND. >> SURE.
>> IS UH, 1.6 MILLION PER MONTH OKAY. SO. >> OKAY. >> UM THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. THE ON PAGE 57 I KNOW YOU'VE
STEPPED OUT BUT YOU'RE HERE AND CAN ANSWER THIS. UM, A COUPLE THINGS STOOD OUT. ONE IS AND THIS IS THE SECTION
IN THE BUDGET THAT IS CENTRAL OFFICE AND IT GOES FROM SIX CONTRACT AND OTHER NON PERSONNEL TO 90. COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THOSE 84
POSITIONS ARE. AND IT ALSO GOES FROM SPENDING 27.2 MILLION TO SPENDING LESS MONEY BUT ADDING 84 POSITIONS. SO WHERE DID WE SHIFT THAT
PAYMENT AND WHO ARE THOSE 80. FOUR PEOPLE THERE? UM. PAGE 57 YES. IN THE BOOK I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
HAVE THE SAME LINE UP AS WE DO BUT UNDER THE BUDGET CATEGORIES . COULD YOU TELL ME IS THAT UM FOR A SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT? YEP. >> CENTRAL IT JUST UNDER THE SECTION OF CENTRAL OFFICE
OPERATIONS? YES. 57. YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET OFFICE. YEAH. >> AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION
I HAVE IS SUPPORT STAFF WENT UP JUST 1.8 PERSONNEL BUT IT WENT UP $3,000,683 AND SEVEN UM 17,000. SO THAT WAS THE OTHER ONE
BECAUSE I DON'T THINK LESS THAN TWO FULL TIME POSITIONS NEED TO SPEND. $3.6 MILLION FOR THAT. SO. CONTRACT. >> CAN I TAKE A DEEPER LOOK AT THAT AND THEN UH, PROVIDE THAT
INFORMATION? YES BECAUSE. THE BUT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ANSWER TO GET ESPECIALLY WHERE IT'S COMING UNDER CENTRAL OFFICE. SO 94 NEW POSITIONS UM AND
WHERE IS THE PAY. SO OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT SHOWING THE PAY ON THAT SAME SPOT. AND DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE SUPPORT STAFF. IT SAYS WE'RE ADDING LESS THAN
TWO FULL TIME POSITIONS BUT WE INCREASED THAT LINE BY 3,683,017. I BELIEVE DAVID BLOOM HAS THE ANSWER I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ON THE BUDGET.
HEARINGS BUT NO UH. I KNOW HE. 330 BUT I WANTED TO ASK IT AGAIN UM BECAUSE WE. DID GET A CLEAR YEAH NO NO. NO WE. JUMPED OUT TO.
I HAVE STAFFING QUESTIONS. >> ALSO. UM THANK YOU. SO. THE EXCESS POOL THIS YEAR THEY WERE GIVEN UM IT IF YOU COULD
EXPLAIN WHAT I WAS TOLD IS THAT IT WORKED A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR WHERE THEY WERE GIVING A LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO THEM LAST WEEK AND THEY WERE TOLD WHERE THEY WOULD BE PLACED BUT THAT THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED
TO TAKE THE TIME. I THINK IT JULY 1ST DATE BEFORE THEY USED TO BE ABLE TO UM YOU KNOW, UM STILL APPLY TO OTHER POSITIONS. COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHY WE DIDN'T
WE ARE NOT ALLOWING OUR PERMANENT TEACHERS TO. TAKE OTHER OPTIONS UP UNTIL THAT DATE. SO UM. LET ME. BEGIN BY SAYING FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND. >> WHAT ACCESS EDUCATORS ARE SO
OUR ACCESS EDUCATORS. FOR US ARE OUR. TEACHERS WHO ARE PERMANENT MEANING. THAT THEY'VE BEEN IN THE DISTRICT FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS.
AND BY STATE LAW WE ARE REQUIRED TO UM TO KEEP THOSE PEOPLE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED BY THE DISTRICT SO THEY ARE PERMANENT EDUCATORS AND THEY
HAVE TENURE WITHIN CPS. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR ACCESS POOL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EDUCATORS WHO. ARE WHO ARE EITHER DISPLACED BECAUSE OF REDUCTION OR UM.
SCHOOL CLOSINGS. SCHOOL CLOSURE OR OR TRENDS OR THEY THEY THEMSELVES CAN SAY, YOU KNOW, I NO LONGER WANT TO WORK AT THIS LOCATION. I'M GOING TO PUT MYSELF IN THE ACCESS POOL AND WHAT
TRADITIONALLY HAPPENS IN WHEN THEY'RE IN THAT ACCESS POOL IS WE ALLOW THEM THEY ARE THEY ARE THEN WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED MUTUAL CONSENT MEANING THAT
THOSE EDUCATORS UM THE DISTRICT POLICIES POSITIONS ON MARCH 1ST AND THOSE EDUCATORS CAN IN RETURN UM APPLY FOR POSITIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.
HOWEVER THIS YEAR IT'S NOT JUST THIS YEAR BUT UM, LAST YEAR AS WELL. WHAT WE'VE NOTICED IS THAT UM, THERE ARE CERTAIN POSITIONS ESPECIALLY THE POSITIONS UM,
OUR HIGH SCHOOL POSITIONS WHERE WE HAVE MORE ACCESS EDUCATORS THAN WE HAVE POSITIONS. UM SO UM THIS YEAR WE GAVE UM
WE GAVE OUT ON SCHOOL LEADERS THE ABILITY TO SAY UM THAT PEOPLE CAN AND CAN APPLY UP TO UM I BELIEVE THE DATE WAS UM, APRIL 1ST. >> FOR US. THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN AND CAN IN
FACT STILL APPLY FOR THOSE. POSITIONS AND WE HAVE UM WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO UM TO PLACE EDUCATORS IN POSITIONS IF IN FACT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO
OBTAIN A POSITION AFTER THAT. UM, THAT DATE WE'VE PLACED PEOPLE IN THOSE POSITIONS AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN OUR ROLE IS THAT ONE POSITION ONCE YOU'VE ONE WE'VE PLACED YOU OR YOU'VE
ACCEPTED A POSITION YOU CANNOT MOVE AFTER YOU ACCEPT THAT POSITION. SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS UM WE'VE PLACED THOSE EDUCATORS IN THOSE POSITIONS. THE REASON WE'RE NOT ALLOWING
PEOPLE TO MOVE IS RIGHT NOW WE HAVE UH, AT LEAST 132, UM, PROVISIONAL EDUCATORS WHO NEED TO BE SETTLED LIKE WHAT? MORE THAN MORE THAN LIKELY WHAT'S GOING TO. HAPPEN.
>> COUNCILOR MURPHY, IS THAT THOSE PEOPLE WILL LEAVE THE DISTRICT BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE MOVING LEFT AND RIGHT LIKE THAT, THAT MEANS THEY THEY TRULY DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE A JOB IN THE DISTRICT.
APPLY ELSEWHERE AND WE LOSE THEM EVERY YEAR. YES. >> BUT THIS YEAR WE DO FAIL. AND WHAT IF WE DID IT LAST YEAR THEN HOW SUCCESSFUL WAS IT? IT WAS IT WAS UM IT'S IT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL. UM IT WAS SUCCESSFUL LAST YEAR
WE WERE ABLE TO GET UM MOST OF OUR EXCESS EDUCATORS INTO. UM A POSITION I MEAN. >> FOR THE PROVISIONAL. THE PROVISIONALS WE UM FOR THE MOST PART, UM, WE NOTICE OUR.
HIRING IS WE HIRE MORE PEOPLE BACK INTO THE DISTRICT THAN WE DO, UM, PEOPLE COMING OUT OF THE DISTRICT. SO MOST OF OUR UM MOST OF OUR EMPLOYEES THAT WE BRING BACK
ARE UM ARE 1 OR 2 UM, PROVISIONALS THAT WERE ALREADY IN IN THE DISTRICT WHOSE POSITIONS WERE EITHER DELETED OR THEY WERE DISPLACED, THAT THEY ACTUALLY APPLY FOR OTHER POSITIONS IN THE DISTRICT AND THAT WE ARE ABLE TO RETAIN
THEM. AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS LIKE RETAIN THOSE EDUCATORS BY GIVING PEOPLE CERTAINTY BECAUSE LIKE RIGHT NOW IF PEOPLE ARE MOVING . MORE TIME SO YOU CAN BEFORE
LIKE SUMMER BREAK STARTS. EXACTLY. TEACHERS ARE KNOW HOW MANY OF THE PERMANENT TEACHERS THAT WERE PLACED ARE NOT HAPPY AND
IS THERE ANY RECOURSE THEY HAVE BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF THEM ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THE PLACEMENT AND GLAD THAT. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO. YOU JUST, YOU KNOW, EXTRA SUPPORT SOMEWHERE BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S VERY DEGRADING TO OUR PEOPLE.
ESPECIALLY THE SCHOOL CLOSURES. IT'S NOT. ANY AND NOTHING THAT THESE PERMANENT TEACHERS DO TO DESERVE IT, BUT THEY'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE NO LONGER, YOU KNOW, IN THEIR OWN CLASSROOM. >> IS ABLE. TO DO THEIR BEST WORK.
UM. >> TO BE HONEST, WE'VE PROBABLY HEARD FROM LIKE 2 TO 3 PEOPLE THAT WEREN'T HAPPY WITH THEIR PLACEMENT FOR THE MOST PART. UM, WE YOU KNOW, WE TOOK A LOT
INTO ACCOUNT WHEN PLACING PEOPLE. FOR EXAMPLE, WE LOOKED AT YOUR ADDRESS YOUR. UM THE UM. HOW CLOSE A SCHOOL IS UM, FOR YOUR COMMUTE. SO WE CONSIDERED ALL OF THOSE
THINGS LIKE, UM, WHAT THE LICENSE YOU HAVE, UM. THE. >> UM, DEMOGRAPHIC OF KIDS THAT YOU USED TO TEACH AND WHERE LIKE ALL OF THOSE THINGS WERE IT WAS A REALLY. THOUGHTFUL PROCESS AND WE UNDERSTAND WE'RE NOT GOING TO
PLEASE EVERYONE, BUT WE REALLY ,REALLY TRIED TO DO THAT. TO UM TO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE HAVE COMMUTES AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, UM, PLAYED A ROLE. BUT I THINK ULTIMATELY FOR US
WE ARE REALLY THINKING ALSO ABOUT OUR PROVISIONALS THAT WE WANT TO KEEP AND HAVING THE HIRING PROCESS. UM BE SETTLED. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US THAT WE KEEP THESE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE DISTRICT HAVE POURED INTO THEM LIKE YOU TALKING ABOUT. UM UM. THREE UM. UM PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR THREE YEARS WHO. UM WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE DISTRICT AND WE WANT TO KEEP
THEM. SO THAT'S WHY IT'S BEEN A LITTLE TRICKIER THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. >> OKAY. >> THANKS. COUNCILOR MURPHY. UH, COUNCILOR BREADON. OH I'M SORRY, DID YOU. BEFORE YOU DID YOU GET AN
ANSWER ON THAT? WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE BUDGET? NOT YET. OKAY. WELL, UM. YEAH. >> I MEAN, IT'S, UH, JUST FOR FOLKS WATCHING AT HOME THE SUPPORT STAFF, UH, IT GOES FROM LAST. >> YEAR. FOR 4.6.
>> MILLION FROM 90. >> TO. 8.3 MILLION FOR 91.8 POSITIONS AND THE CONTRACTS AND OTHER NON PERSONNEL SOMEHOW HAS PERSONNEL BUT IT'S GOES FROM 27 MILLION FOR SIX PEOPLE TO 10 MILLION
FOR 90 PEOPLE. SO EITHER WE'RE MAKING THE BEST BARGAIN EVER OR SOMETHING IS UH . >> AND THAT'S AT CENTRAL OFFICE NOT YES. YEAH YEAH YEAH THAT'S THE CENTRAL BUDGET OFFICE THAT IS THE BUDGET OFFICE FOR CENTRAL.
SO UH. HOPEFULLY YOU GET AN EXPLANATION. >> FOR THAT. UM COUNCIL BRITTON. THANK YOU. >> UM. >> I HAD FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THE BUSSES BUT I THINK UH, MY COLLEAGUE. DARK AND I. HAD THAT QUESTION ANSWERED. UM. >> I'M JUST CURIOUS. >> AS TO. WHAT THE.
>> PROCESS IS FOR THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE TO VOTE ON THE EXTERNAL FUNDS BUDGET. UH, AND FROM THE DOCUMENTS IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS AN
ADDITIONAL $160,139,501 THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE TABLES UNDER THE DEPARTMENT SUMMARY AND THE
EXTERNAL FUNDS. UM UH 134,666,221 TO 226 WAS IN THE UM FY 27 BUDGET
RECOMMENDATION TO CENTRAL OFFICE WHILE ONLY 25,518,000 THEREABOUTS TO SCHOOLS SO AND NOT SO THAT MEANS THESE
EXTERNAL FUNDS WOULD RUN THE TOTAL SCHOOL BUDGET UP FROM BP'S BUDGET FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 27 UP FROM 173 BUT 1.1.7 3
BILLION UP TO. UM 1,000,866,704. SO DOES THIS THE QUESTION IS DOES THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT BECAUSE THAT'S MONEY THAT'S SORT OF FLOATING
AROUND. IT'S 100 AND 160 MILLION PLUS THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED TO BE GOING ANYWHERE. YES. >> UM OUR SCHOOL COMMITTEE DOES VOTE TO ACCEPT ALL GRANTS THAT.
COME INTO. >> THE BUDGET. UNTIL THIS 160 MILLION. WHERE'S THAT COMING FROM? THAT IS IN PART AN ESTIMATE UH
,BASED ON PRIOR YEAR GRANT AWARDS. UM. THOSE GRANTS. UH, WERE ON THE SPECTRUM OF PRIVATELY FUNDED, UM
PRIVATELY FUNDED UH FOUNDATIONS. THERE ARE UH DONATIONS AS WELL AS FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS. AND MOST OF THOSE GRANTS COME WITH SPECIFIC PURPOSES. UH.
SO WHY WHY IS IT NOT INCLUDED IN THE IN THE BP BP'S BUDGET FINANCIAL YEAR 27? WHY IS IT NOT WHY WHY IS IT NOT
INCLUDED LIKE WHY WE WHY ARE WE BUILDING AND BUILDING ON A 1.73 BILLION INSTEAD OF 1.86 BILLION?
THE VOTE FOR THE $1.73 BILLION BUDGET UM IS FOR THE. OPERATING BUDGET THAT. COMES FROM THE CITY. THESE GRANTS MOST OF THEM WE HAVEN'T ACCEPTED OR.
WE HAVEN'T. UH, RECEIVED THE. FORMAL AWARD YET. >> AS THEIR FOR FY 27. UM THERE ARE A THERE ARE A FEW MULTIYEAR GRANTS WHERE WE DO KNOW THE FUNDS WILL BE THERE. >> AND WE ACTUALLY ALREADY HAVE
. UM WE ALREADY HAVE RECEIVED THOSE FUNDS AND SO. EITHER THEY WOULD. BE CARRIED FORWARD INTO NEXT YEAR. OR IT WOULD BE. UM, ONE OF THE YEARS INCLUDED
IN THE GRANT AWARD AND IN THE BUDGET. BOOK THE BUDGET TABLES TOWARDS THE END DO INCLUDE UM THE TOTAL GRANT FUNDS.
BUT WE DO GO BACK TO OUR SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND UH HOPEFULLY IT'S MADE THIS YEAR UH, TO PRESENT OUR DETAILED GRANT PROJECTIONS . FOR NEXT YEAR. >> SO THEN HOW CAN YOU HOW WHY
IS THE ARE THE EXTERNAL FUNDS YOU KNOW IT INDICATES A 134 134 MILLION IS GOING TO CENTRAL OFFICE WHILE ONLY 25 MILLION IS GOING TO.
SCHOOLS AGAIN. UM AS DOCTOR APENAS MENTIONED MANY OF OUR GRANTS ARE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE AND MOST OF OUR GRANTS ARE APPLIED TO
DIRECTLY BY CENTRAL DEPARTMENTS AND IN MOST CASES THOSE GRANTS DO GO TO DIRECT SCHOOL PROGRAMING. UH AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE OUR ID A
GRANT FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION THOUGH MOST OF THOSE FUNDS DO SEND IN THE SIT IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE. I BELIEVE OUR UM FY 26 AWARD
AMOUNT FOR IDA IS 18 MILLION. MOST OF THAT DOES SIT IN CENTRAL OFFICE BUT ALL OF THE DOLLARS GO TO SUPPORTING STUDENTS. IS IT A WAY TO EVEN LOOK BACK
TO LAST YEAR AND SEE WHAT WHAT THESE EXTERNAL FUNDS WERE SPENT ON THIS FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 26? YES. AN IDEA OF WHAT THE LANDSCAPE LOOKS LIKE. YEAH. THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT OF HOME SCHOOLS.
IT'S IT'S NOT APPARENT IN THE ORG CHART. UM THIS APPEARS TO NOW BE AN OPPORTUNITY GAB'S OFFICE. YES THAT'S CORRECT. AND THEN WHAT'S THE TOTAL
ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR THE 2020 HOME SCHOOLS? YES, IT'S 25 SCHOOL. AND HOW MUCH MONEY TO THE HOUSE IS ALLOCATED FOR THE HOME SCHOOLS? WE'LL GET YOU THAT INFORMATION IN A SECOND.
UM AND THEN ALSO UM I'D LOVE A BREAKDOWN OF WHERE THE HOME SCHOOLS ARE AND AND WHERE THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN SPENT IN THE HOME SCHOOLS. SO WE GET YOU A LIST OF THESE 20 SCHOOLS AND UM, SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON IN
THEM AND. YEAH, SURE. YEAH. >> BECAUSE ONE OF MY CONCERNS ABOUT HOME SCHOOLS I THINK THEY'RE GREAT LIKE UM BUT I ALSO FEEL THAT EVERY EVERY EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IF THERE'S A HOME SCHOOL HAS A PARTICULAR A
DIFFERENT FLAVOR BECAUSE THEY NEED A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. THERE'S SORT OF A UNIVERSAL TREND LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS FAMILIES LIVING IN POVERTY AND LOW OPPORTUNITY BUT UM, YOU KNOW DIFFERENT TYPE
OF SCHOOL SOME SOME NEED A KIDDIES CLASS AND SOME NEED MORE FOOD SUPPORT AND UM, JUST HAVING A BETTER IDEA OF ALL OF THAT.
UM AND THEN UM, SEE THERE'S A IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET AN AVERAGE SALARY TABLE FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 27 UM. FOR UH, MANAGERIAL EMPLOYEES
AND CENTRAL OFFICE? YES. >> YEAH, WE'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, JUST, UH, WE CAN DO ANOTHER ROUND OF JUST A COUPLE
QUESTIONS FROM THE CHAIR. UM, SO FOR, UH, SALARY SAVINGS ,CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN, UH, YOU
KNOW, AND, UM, WHAT CALCULATIONS YOU DID, WHAT THE METHODOLOGY WAS FOR TO CALCULATE SALARY SAVINGS IN THIS IN THE FY 27 BUDGET. YES.
>> UM, SO WE CALCULATE SALARY SAVINGS LOOKING AT HISTORICAL DATA. UH, THIS YEAR WE DID THIS YEAR BEING FY 26. WE DID HAVE AN INCREASED FILL
RATE SO WE HAD LESS VACANCIES THAN WE HAVE HISTORICALLY. UH AND FOR THAT REASON WE ADJUSTED OUR FY 27 CALCULATION
TO BE ABOUT $4 MILLION LESS UM IN SALARY SAVINGS TO ACCOUNT FOR WHAT WE THINK WILL BE A CONTINUING TREND. OKAY. >> THAT'S IT. YEAH.
SO THE, UH THE VACANCY RATE I UH, WAS IT WAS 94% I THINK. UM, WE'RE JUST SO WE'RE PROJECTING AROUND SAME SAME KIND OF YES. YES. >> UH, OKAY.
UH AND THEN FOR TERMS OF WHERE WE HAVE CLASS CLOSURES LIKE OUR YOU KNOW, UM, WHAT PERCENTAGE
OF UH I MEAN, HOW DOES THE CLOSURE OF A CLASSROOM IMPACT OR SALARY SAVINGS OR DO WE ARE WE PLANNING NOT TO REOPEN THOSE CLASSROOMS?
UM, YOU KNOW, ARE THOSE POSITIONS JUST ARE WE WIPING THEM OFF OUR BOOKS? UH, FOR GOOD USE? I GUESS WHAT'S THE WHEN WE HEAR OF A CLASS CLOSING AT A SCHOOL? HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THE NUMBER
OF VACANCIES? GREAT QUESTION. UM, IF A CLASS IS CLOSING OUT OF SCHOOL, THEN THOSE POSITIONS DO NOT EXIST FOR FY 27.
UM AND SO THEY WOULD NOT BE COUNTED TOWARDS THE SALARY SAVINGS. AND JUST TO DESCRIBE A PROCESS A LITTLE BIT COUNSELOR. SO EVERY YEAR WE GO THROUGH A CYCLE OF UM UH REVIEWING WHAT
OUR PROJECTED ENROLLMENT WILL BE AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. AND THEN BASED ON THAT WE WORK WITH SCHOOLS TO UNDERSTAND LIKE WHAT FAMILIES ARE CHOOSING HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY ENROLL AND THEN WE HAVE A SENSE OF HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE GOING PER SCHOOL.
AND THEN FROM THERE WE TALK ABOUT STAFFING AS WE ALIGN THE BUDGETS WE GO TO CYCLE VIA WE CALL WE WE DO WHAT'S CALLED THE BUDGET. UM COLLABORATION PROBLEM MEETING EVERY DECEMBER TO PLAN FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.
SO IF WE SEE THAT THERE'S A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS OR TEACHERS AT SCHOOL, WE MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS DURING THAT PROCESS. OKAY. >> AND UM I THERE'S INFORMATION IN HERE ABOUT UM GOING FOR FOOD
SERVICE TO GO TO LIKE A WE'RE MAKING OUR OWN FOOD. UH AND SO WHAT'S THE PROJECTED SAVINGS FOR IF THAT WHAT'S THE DO YOU HAVE A PLAN SCHEDULE FOR BECOMING SELF-SUFFICIENT?
YEAH, WE'RE PRETTY MUCH SELF-SUFFICIENT NOW. THE ONLY, UM, UH, WE RELY HEAVILY ON OUR VENDOR TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY MEALS AND TO PROVIDE UM UM. ,UH. >> THE CITY'S EMERGENCY MEALS
THAT THEY PROVIDE AND THEY PROVIDE SOME UM, ALLERGY ALLERGY FREE MEALS AS WELL. SO WE DO HAVE SOME RELIANCE ON THEM FOR THAT. BUT FOR THE MOST PART WE'RE COOKING FRESH IN MOST OF OUR SCHOOLS AS WELL AS THOSE SCHOOLS THAT DON'T HAVE THE
KITCHENS TO PROVIDE IT FROM OUR CENTRAL OFFICE. >> OKAY SO SO SO YOUR KITCHEN I GUESS IS THERE ANY MORE SAVINGS THAT WE WILL GET. AND YEAH WE HAVE SOME STRATEGIES THAT WE THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED WITH. >> UM YEAH. SO FOR NEXT YEAR UM WE'RE
ESTIMATING $2.6 MILLION IN SAVINGS FROM THE SHIFT TO THE CENTRAL KITCHEN. OKAY. >> AND THEN WITH THAT WE'VE MAXIMIZED THAT SAVINGS NOT ANOTHER. I THINK THERE WOULD BE OTHER
STRATEGIES THAT THE FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES TEAM COULD FOLLOW TO TO FIND ADDITIONAL SAVINGS SUCH AS CONTINUING THEIR MARKETING STRATEGIES, UM
,AND CONTINUING TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN MEAL SERVICE WITHIN SCHOOLS. UM WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES TO UM
INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER FOR FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMING MEALS UM. UH PROVIDING THESE MEALS AND INCREASING PARTICIPATION INCREASES OUR REIMBURSEMENT
FROM FROM THE FEDS WHICH WOULD THEN DECREASE COSTS ON OUR OPERATING BUDGET. OKAY LAST QUESTION FOR ME FOR THIS ROUND BUT IS UM SO I THINK UNDER THE PROPOSED BUDGET
THERE'S IS. THE THE DOLLAR FIGURE FROM SALARY SAVINGS FROM VACANCIES IS DOWN IS 15.7 MILLION AND IS THAT IS THAT RIGHT? YES.
OKAY. UM AND THEN BUT BUT THAT SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT AMOUNT DOES NOT INCLUDE UH LIKE POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
ELIMINATED BECAUSE OF CLOSURE. THESE ARE CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS OR CLOSURES OF CLASSROOMS. CORRECT. >> BECAUSE THOSE POSITIONS UM WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED VACANT . THEY'D BE CONSIDERED DELETED. OKAY. >> AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE DOLLAR
FIGURE IS ATTACHED TO DELETED POSITIONS AND. I CAN CHECK. >> ON THAT FOR YOU. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. UM, OKAY. UH, AND STILL NO UPDATE ON THE
CENTER BEFORE COUNCILOR MURPHY HAS TO USE HER TIME ON THE CENTRAL, UH, BUDGET OFFICE NUMBERS WHICH ARE. WE HAD OR I ASKED THE TEAM WHO
PUT THE BUDGET BOOK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE THE BACKUP FOR. THAT PAGE. UM, THEY'RE. WORKING ON ON PULLING THAT AND SENDING IT TO ME, SO I'M SORRY I DON'T HAVE. >> IT RIGHT. OKAY. >> I MEAN, IF WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TODAY, WE'LL GET AN ANSWER. UH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IN WRITING
AND A CIRCULATE IT. UH, SO COUNCILOR MURPHY, UH, SAID. >> WE COULD THEY COULD BRING IT TOMORROW. WE ALSO HAVE TO. YES. >> YES. >> THERE'S THERE'S ALWAYS TOMORROW. YES. IN THIS CASE. YES. YEAH, HOPEFULLY IN MOST CASES.
UM. THANK YOU. SO IT'S MY TURN. YOU'RE GOOD. YEAH. >> OKAY. HOW ABOUT FOUR MINUTES? HOW ABOUT. YEP. >> I DON'T THINK WE NEED THAT. SO EACH SCHOOL HAS ITS OWN
BREAKDOWN AND THE BOOK AND SOME SCHOOLS UNDER THE CONTRACTS AND OTHER NON PERSONNEL HAVE COSTS AND THEN THERE'S OTHERS THAT
HAVE ZERO COST. SO IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT THAT PAYS FOR WHAT THAT'S SPENT ON BECAUSE SOME LIKE THE MILDRED HAVES HAS 170,000 IN
THAT ONE THE MOZART HAS ZERO. SO DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT'S COVERING? SORRY CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? EACH PAGE IN THE BUDGET BOOK BROKE BREAKS DOWN THE SCHOOLS.
SO IF YOU OPEN LIKE ANY PAGE TO IF THE SCHOOLS ARE THERE THE THIRD ONE FROM THE BOTTOM IN THE CHART IT SAYS CONTRACTS AND OTHER NON PERSONNEL. COULD YOU EXPLAIN BECAUSE SOME
SCHOOLS HAVE THAT ZERO AND OTHERS THERE'S COST. SO EXACTLY WHAT IS COVERED UNDER THOSE COSTS. IN THAT IN THAT ROW IN SCHOOL
TABLES ON THE BUDGET BOOK UM WOULD BE OUR CONTRACTUAL SERVICES MOST OFTENTIMES IN SCHOOLS THOSE PAY FOR PARTNERSHIPS UM THOUGH THE
AMOUNT WOULD ALSO BE FOR. SUPPLIES UM STIPENDS TO STAFF. THE REASON THAT NUMBER UH, MAY BE ZERO FOR SOME SCHOOLS IS THAT THEY COULD HAVE BUDGETED
FOR THOSE ACTIVITIES USING THEIR TITLE ONE. FEDERAL DOLLARS. SO AT THE SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL LEVEL THEY PROVIDED YOU THIS NUMBER AND THEY'RE
DECIDING HOW THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND IT OR NOT. SCHOOL SITE COUNCILS DO WORK WITH THEIR SCHOOL LEADERS TO DEVELOP THEIR BUDGETS. AS PART OF IT. YEAH SO THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING THAT THIS IS COMING FROM EACH
SCHOOL CORRECT OKAY. ONE SPECIFIC QUESTION THE CARTER SCHOOL WHICH IS A WONDERFUL WONDERFUL SCHOOL I'VE
WORKED WITH MARK SO BUT I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT WHEN YOU FLIP THROUGH THE PERCENTAGE OF LOW INCOME I THINK IT'S THE HIGHEST THERE ARE A FEW THAT HAVE LOW
90S BUT THE LOW INCOME LEVEL AT THE CARTER SCHOOL IS 96.2. WHICH I DON'T NEED TO ASK WHY IT'S 96.2.
MY QUESTION IS WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MIDDLE AND HIGH INCOME STUDENTS ACROSS OUR CITY WITH SEVERE SPECIAL NEEDS. WHERE ARE WE PLACING THEM AND
ARE THEY ALL THE OUT OF DISTRICT PLACEMENTS? I WOULD LIKE LIKE A DIRECT CORRELATION OR SOME UNDERSTANDING SO THAT THAT'S A VERY HIGH NUMBER AT ONE SCHOOL.
YET. >> SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WE WILL HAVE OFFICE OF SPECIALIZED SERVICES HERE UM FOR SESSIONS TOMORROW AND THEY CAN HELP US BREAK DOWN ON WHERE THEY GO EXACTLY. BUT I KNOW IN GENERAL UM
FAMILIES HAVE THEIR TEAM MEETINGS UM AND THEN THEY DISCUSS YOU KNOW, YOU FEEL YOU'RE. >> NOT SO I'M NOT ASKING THE PROCESS. I'M SAYING. WHERE THEY GO. RIGHT? >> WHY IS THAT THE HIGHEST? I'M NOT SURE BUT WE CAN WE CAN HAVE WE CAN SEE IF WE'RE GETTING INTO THAT TOMORROW WITH
OUR WITH OUR TEAM THAT SPECIALIZES IN THAT WORK. OKAY. >> UM WHAT I DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA IS NO WE WANT TO WAIT. I DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE AND GET SO, UH I PREFER IF WE THE
PEOPLE. OKAY. >> UM. >> COULD YOU SPEAK TO JUST. WILL WE STILL HAVE LONG TERM SUBS? LIKE HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK ITSELF OUT? IS THAT GOING TO BE DIFFERENT AT SCHOOL LEVELS? HOW'S THAT KNOW WHAT.
WE'LL STILL HAVE LONG TERM. SUBS BECAUSE UM. A LONG TERM SUB SOMETIMES HAPPENED AS. >> A. RESULT UH SOMEONE GOING I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE. UH, SO. THOSE UM THOSE PROCESSES ARE
STILL GOING TO EXIST. LIKE WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO TAKE. LEAVE THINGS HAPPEN. SO UM WE ARE GOING TO HAVE WE'RE GOING TO YEAH.
AND I KNOW THIS ANSWER BUT IF I JUST WANT TO GET A. KIND OF AN UNDERSTANDING MANY TIMES ARE NOT MANY BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN TEACHERS WILL
TAKE A LONG TERM POSITION FOR MANY REASONS. SOMETIMES IT'S LIKE THEY'RE HAPPY WITH THE SCHOOL. THE PRINCIPAL LIKES THEM. THEY FEEL LIKE IT WILL TURN INTO SOMETHING. BUT WE KNOW THAT WHEN YOU'RE IN
A LONG TERM SUB POSITION YOU'RE NOT ACCRUING THE THREE YEAR TIME. SO MANY TIMES WE HAVE TEACHERS WHO MAY HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR 4 OR 5 YEARS BUT STILL AREN'T IN A POSITION TO BE MADE PERMANENT.
DO YOU UH, WORK WITH THEM CLOSELY? HOW DO WE WORK WITH THOSE TEACHERS WHO MAY NOT HAVE SELFISHLY PUT THEMSELVES OUT? BECAUSE SOMETIMES I'VE SEEN IT MANY TIMES WHERE YOU KNOW
THEY'RE A GREAT ASSET TO THE BUILDING, THEN MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE IS TAKING THE MATERNITY LEAVE AND THEY WANT TO STAY AT THAT SCHOOL BUT THEN THEY FIND OUT ESPECIALLY AT A TIME LIKE THIS WHEN WE'RE MAKING CUTS. YES. >> SO TWO. THINGS UM.
WHEN YOU HAVE THE WHEN YOU HAVE A LONG TERM. SET UM. ,IF YOU'RE ON A LONG TERM SUB ASSIGNMENT AFTER UM BY DECEMBER YOU. BECOME UM.
YOU BECOME YOU BECOME YOU GET A CONTRACT ESSENTIALLY SO THAT TIME COUNTS TOWARD. UM BECAUSE YOU ARE THE TEACHER. RECORD SO THAT TIME WILL COUNT TOWARDS IT.
WILL WE REALLY TRY TO DO IS WE TRY TO EMPLOY OUR PEOPLE TO I KNOW YOU LIKE THE SCHOOL. BUT LIKE. THE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU GET THAT PROFESSIONAL STATUS. SO WE ARE ALWAYS TRYING WE UM A
RECRUITMENT TEAM HAVE BEEN REALLY GREAT THIS YEAR OF WORKING WITH EDUCATORS WHO ARE REACHING OUT TO US. THEY ARE SAYING HEY, I NEED A POSITION SOMEWHERE ELSE. CAN YOU HELP ME LOOK.
FOR UM THAT POSITION. AND WE ARE UM WE TRY OUR HARDEST TO WORK WITH. EVERYONE THAT UM. COME ACROSS OUR EMAILS. UM, YOU. KNOW, GETTING THEM PREPARED FOR THOSE INTERVIEWS.
BUT WE YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS URGE PEOPLE TO TRY TO GET THAT PERMANENT POSITION. COULD YOU I KNOW MY TIME'S UP, BUT COULD YOU JUST EXPLAIN UM, FOR THOSE LISTENING THAT EVEN
IF YOU HAVE THE TIME ACCRUED, IF YOU'RE IN A POSITION THAT YOU DON'T OWN, THAT YOU CAN'T BE MADE PERMANENT IF YOU COULD. JUST EXPLAIN. THAT THAT TO BE HELPFUL. YES. >> SO UM, TO ALL THE PEOPLE WATCHING AT HOME. MY COLLEAGUES AND BECAUSE WE'RE
GETTING CALLS FROM THOSE TYPES OF STAFF TOO SO YES. SO UM TO THE PERMANENT PROCESS I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T
UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS FOR YOU TO BECOME PERMANENT THERE'S TWO THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO. ONE, YOU HAVE TO BE LICENSED. UM YOU HAVE SO YOU CAN BE IN A POSITION BUT IF YOU'RE NOT LICENSED WE YOU DON'T GET
PROFESSIONAL STATUS. SO YOU NEED TO BE LICENSED AND YOU NEED TO BE IN A IN A POSITION FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS WITHIN THE NOT JUST BY ANY DISTRICT.
YOU NEED TO BE IN THAT POSITION FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS AND ON YOUR FOURTH UM AND THE FIRST DAY OF YOUR FOURTH YEAR YOU DID NOT MAKE PERMANENT. SO UM, IF YOU DON'T OWN THAT
POSITION IT'S YOU YOU'RE IT'S NOT YOURS. UM, BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING A LONG TERM SUB SO YOU CAN'T BE MADE PERMANENT IN THAT POSITION. UM, WE YOU KNOW, AGAIN WE WE
TRY TO WORK WITH PEOPLE TO GET THEM UM TO GET THEM UM, UH, A PERMANENT POSITION. BUT WHAT WE SEEING THAT'S STOPPING A LOT OF OUR EDUCATORS ACTUALLY FROM BEING PERMANENT
IS THAT LICENSURE PIECE BECAUSE UM, OFTENTIMES WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT, YOU KNOW, I STARTED THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL I'VE BEEN SITTING IN THIS POSITION FOR TWO YEARS BUT UNFORTUNATELY YOU'RE NOT LICENSED.
SO THAT'S BEEN THE REALLY HARD, UM, THING FOR A LOT OF OUR EDUCATORS IS BECAUSE UM, SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO SAY YES, YOU'VE BEEN HERE BUT FOR THREE OF THOSE FOUR YEARS YOU ARE
UNLICENSED, RIGHT? AND THEY DON'T NEED THE CERTIFICATION TO BE LONG TERM. SO YEAH OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT I APPRECIATE IT OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH MADAM PRESIDENT BREADON. UM YES.
I WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY OFFICERS AND I WAS JUST WONDERING THE NOTION OF SCHOOL SAFETY OFFICERS IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REALLY GIVES
ME PAUSE. I'M WONDERING ARE WE IMPLEMENTING, UH, YOU KNOW, A RESTORATIVE JUSTICE TEACHING MODEL WHERE, YOU KNOW, INEVITABLY MOMENTS OF CONFLICT
ARISE IN THE CLASSROOM? UH, KIDS CAN ALMOST RESORT TO PHYSICAL PUNCHING YOU DEALER BUT, UM, ARE WE ARE WE REALLY WORKING WITH HELPING OUR KIDS RESOLVE CONFLICT WITHOUT
RESTORING, YOU KNOW, AS A TEACHING MOMENT WHEN SOMETHING STARTS TO UNRAVEL AND HAVE WE GOT ENOUGH STAFF LIKE PARAS AND WHATEVER TRAINED IN RESTORATIVE JUSTICE TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER THAT SORT OF WAY TO RESOLVE AND
TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO RESOLVE CONFLICT WITHOUT. RESORTING TO. VIOLENCE AND SUCH. I CAN SPEAK TO TO TO MY STAFF AND THE TRAINING THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN.
SO TO BE CLEAR IT THERE AREN'T ANY SAFETY OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THEY'RE ALL DAY. THEY RESPOND WHEN CALLED UPON. FOR THOSE EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
UH, THEIR JOB IS TO PROVIDE SERVICES IMMEDIATELY UM DOCUMENT NOTIFY THE NECESSARY UH PEOPLE OR AGENCIES THAT NEED TO BE ALERTED UM, IF THEY NEED
TO NOTIFY BPD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MOU THEY WILL UM. SO TO DPD THE UM THE BOSTON. BOSTON POLICE. YES. SO THERE'S AN MOU THAT OUTLINES
YOU. REPORTING AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT TO THE BOSTON POLICE. SO THERE'S CERTAIN OFFENSES THAT BY LAW WE HAVE TO ALERT BPD. UM, EVEN THOUGH THE LAW DOES
NOT PROSECUTE ANYBODY UNDER THE AGE OF 12 BUT BY LAW AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MOU, WE HAVE TO NOTIFY. BOSTON POLICE. >> WHAT SORT OF INCIDENTS ARE YOU. TALKING ABOUT? SEXUAL OFFENSES, WEAPONS
OFFENSES? UM. UH. ,I CAN. PULL IT. >> YEAH. >> NO, NO IT'S FINE. UM, YEAH, I'M I CAN SEE THAT. BUT THAT'S A SERIOUS SITUATION . BUT THAT'S THE RARE OCCASION. YEAH.
SO IT'S ONLY THE SERIOUS OFFENSES MOST AGAIN MOST OF THEM INVOLVE SEXUAL ASSAULTS AND THINGS OUTSIDE OF THAT WHEN IT'S JUST A FISTFIGHT OR JUST A
CONFLICT BETWEEN STUDENTS WE DON'T INVOLVE POLICE IN THAT SITUATION AT ALL. YEAH. UM, HOWEVER WE HAVE A TEAM CALLED UH VIPERS WITH VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PREVENTION
RESTORATIVE SPECIALISTS. YEAH. I WORKED IN A SCHOOL FOR SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS AND WE DID CPR. IT WAS CONFLICT PREVENTION AND PHYSICAL INTERVENTION. SO WE REALLY TALKED TO WE THE
18 HOURS OF TRAINING AS NEW STAFF TO DO IT AND THEN WE HAVE THE 18 HOURS EVERY YEAR TO KEEP UP TO. UP TO. SO THIS THIS STAFF HERE'S 1010 INDIVIDUALS 11 OF YOU CLUDE UH
THEIR TEAM LEADER THEY'RE ALL TRAINED IN MEDIATION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT WOULD INTERVENE AND MEDIATE BETWEEN THE TWO STUDENTS. THE GOAL IS IS STUDENTS AND
PEOPLE TEND TO FOLLOW IN AGREEMENT THAT THEY TOOK A PARTY. AND SO THE JOB OF THE VIPERS IS TO FACILITATE THE TWO STUDENTS COMING TO AN AGREEMENT UM, AND
TO REPEAT I MEAN TO DETER ANY REPEAT. SO YOU'VE HAD MANY, MANY PEOPLE OF YOU TRAINED AND. SO IT'S. 1111 FOR THE WHOLE SYSTEM. NO, NO THAT'S JUST HIS STAFF.
YOUR STAFF. SO YEAH OUR OTHER OUR TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS AND ALL THE PEOPLE TRAINED IN DE-ESCALATION. >> YES. ARE THEY ARE YES MA'AM BUT THAT'S NOT UNDER UH YEAH MY MY OKAY.
DIVISION UM LET'S SEE THOSE. I'M SORRY. CONCENTRATE. WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT YOUR OTHER QUESTIONS? YES. OTHER STAFF ARE TRAINED IN MEDIATION. MTS SUPPORTS, UH, SAFETY CARES. UM UH, SO THERE IS A LOT
OF ROBUST TRAINING SET DO ONE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES THAT WE OFFER DISTRICT WIDE THEN THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY COME OUT OF CHIEF O'MARA'S OFFICE BUT IT DOES HAPPEN DISTRICT WIDE. YEAH THAT'S GOOD. UM I'M GOING TO MISTER CHAIR,
CAN I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION? YES. UM. >> IT APPEARS THAT. THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST FOUR SENIOR ADVISORS AND A DEPUTY WORKING WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF SPENDING APPROXIMATELY $2
MILLION. UH, WHAT ARE THE CAN WE GET THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS OF THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE? LIKE A $2 MILLION FOR FIVE PEOPLE SEEMS A LOT OF MONEY. YES, WE CAN GET THAT IN.
THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND WHAT THEY DO. SURE. THANK YOU. OKAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNSELOR ORAL. THANK YOU CHAIR. AND I KNOW I WASN'T HERE FOR MY
SECOND ROUND SO. I GET MY SECOND AND THIRD ROUND NOW. UH OKAY AGAIN I'M JOKING I'M JOKING I'M JOKING. I'M JOKING. I AM I'M REALLY JOKING. UM I'M A. BIG I'M A BIG I'M A BIG FAN
OF UM DISCOVERY HUB. UM THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY WAS TALKED ABOUT UM IN THE FIRST SESSION. UM IT'S IT'S UM IT'S A PROGRAM
WHERE UH, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, UM ,ARE ABLE TO GET, YOU KNOW, WEEKEND SUPPORT OR CLASSES. UM, AND SPRINGFIELD HAS JUST RELEASED THEIR NO PRESSURE
SATURDAY IS KIND OF SIMILAR TO ,YOU KNOW, THIS DISCOVERY HUB THAT HAS BEEN SET UP OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. I AM A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S NO LONGER GOING TO BE
FUNDED UM OR OKAY IT IS I SEE THE CONFUSION. YEAH THERE'S SOME MONEY AVAILABLE TO CONTINUE SOME OF THAT PROGRAM. YES. OKAY. >> UM IS IT AT UH IS IT LEVEL FUNDED OR IS THERE A DECREASE?
UM THERE ARE SOME DECREASES BUT SOME PROGRAMING WAS WHAT GIVES YOU THAT OKAY. >> ALL RIGHT. BECAUSE UM THERE WAS UH DISCOVERY HUB OVER AT THE HENDERSON SCHOOL UM AND IT WAS GETTING REAL REAL GOOD ATTENDANCE.
UM, SO WE'D LOVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AT LEAST KEEP THE ONES THAT WERE GETTING GOOD ATTENDANCE, UM, GOING AND I KNOW, UH, COREY AND TEAM ARE BEING STRESSED THEN BUT THAT WAS UM, ONE OF THE PROGRAMS
THAT UM, WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT AND DEFINITELY WITH A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT THERE. YOU THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND GOING PUT IN SOME OF THOSE AS WELL. THANK YOU. YES. >> UM ALSO UH I'VE BEEN ALWAYS ADVOCATING FOR VOTE TECH OR
SOME FORM OF YOU KNOW, WHETHER A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM TO BE DONE AT EVERY SCHOOL HOW MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS ESPECIALLY LIKE OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, HOW MANY OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE LIKE A
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM OR VOTE TECH OR OR SOME SORT OF CAREER PATH? YEAH, I'M SORRY, BUT BRAD DICKENS WAS HERE EARLIER TODAY. WE HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION SO I DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT ON MY FINGERTIPS BUT WE COULD GET THAT FOR YOU. UM, AND BRING SOME OF THAT STUFF. OKAY.
>> AND THEN, UM, THERE WAS A FEDERAL GRANT AROUND. UM. UM. OH, LET ME JUST FIND WHAT IT WAS $7 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT FOR THE PARENT TEACHER
PIPELINE. WHAT WAS THE STATUS OF THAT GRANT? THAT GRANT? UM, THAT GRANT WAS ACTUALLY, UM HOW DO YOU SAY IT?
UM, TAKEN AWAY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. OKAY. >> UM, IT WAS A $6 MILLION GRANT THAT WAS, UM, SUPPOSED TO CREATE A PIPELINE. FOR UM. UM, EDUCATORS PARAS TO BECOME
TEACHERS OF RECORD. IT WAS GOING TO BE A RESIDENCY PROGRAM AND UNFORTUNATELY ON MARCH OF 2024, 2025, UM, RIGHT
AFTER. THE UM, UM THE. CURRENT PRESIDENT. TOOK OFFICE, THAT GRANT WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN BACK. YES. >> UM VERY VERY UNFORTUNATE. AND ARE WE LOOKING TO STAND UP
STAND UP A PROGRAM OR ANYTHING SIMILAR ON OUR OWN? YEAH. >> SO WE HAVE UM. UM CURRENTLY WE HAVE OUR OWN UM, GROW YOUR OWN PROGRAM UM, WHICH IS UM WHICH IS A
BILINGUAL. UM EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE WHERE THIS YEAR WE HAD 46 UM, UM, PEOPLE WHO WENT THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. WE HAVE 21 TEACHERS OF RECORD
FROM THAT PROGRAM. UM, SO EACH YEAR THE DISTRICT. DOES ITS. >> OWN GROW YOUR OWN PROGRAM WHERE WE TAKE UM PARAS AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE DOING UM WHO ARE GOING INTO
TEACHING AS A SECOND CAREER THAT WE MATRICULATE WE DO AN ACCELERATED PROGRAM WHERE THESE INDIVIDUALS ESSENTIALLY BECOME TEACHERS. WE CURRENTLY ARE ALSO UM
WORKING WITH UM UMASS BOSTON TO CREATE A UM A MASTER'S PROGRAM FOR THOSE PEOPLE AFTER THEY BECOME THE TEACHER OF RECORD. WE NOW HAVE A PROGRAM WHERE THEY UM THEY CAN ALSO GO TO
UMASS BOSTON. WE CURRENTLY HAVE SEVEN PEOPLE THAT WE UM WE RECEIVED A GRANT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PAY FOR THEIR UM FOR THEM TO GET THEIR MASTER'S. THE PROGRAM STARTED IN 2025.
IT WILL END IN 2027 WHERE WE HOPE THESE SEVEN INDIVIDUALS WILL BE GRADUATING WITH THEIR MASTERS UM WITH CERTIFICATION TO MODERATE DISABILITIES. >> AND UM UM UH. AND BILINGUAL EDUCATION.
SO THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE DOING. UM UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE TO SAY THAT MONEY UM WE DON'T HAVE THAT MONEY ANYMORE. SO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY THERE ARE GOING TO BE THE LAST
UM, INDIVIDUALS IN THAT. PROGRAM UNFORTUNATELY. AND WHAT'S THE COST TO RUN THAT PROGRAM? UM TO RUN THE TO GET THEM THERE. YOU KNOW, TO GROW YOUR OWN. THEY GROW YOUR OWN PROGRAM.
UM, IT'S IT'S UM I CAN GET YOU THE COST BUT LIKE, UM, RIGHT NOW WE WOULD LIKE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE IN THAT PROGRAM, BUT IT'S ONLY TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE THAT'S
DOING THAT WORK. OH, WOW. OKAY. >> UM, AND AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET UH AS I STATED, 21 PEOPLE WHO WENT THROUGH THIS PROGRAM THERE WERE 46 PEOPLE 21 OF THEM ARE TEACHERS UP RIGHT? CORRECT. AWESOME. >> THANK YOU. >> OKAY. >> YEAH.
YOU SURE? UH, GO BACK IN IF YOU LIKE. I GAVE YOU I GAVE YOU FIVE MINUTES IF. YOU IF YOU HAVE ANY. >> OTHER THE. >> YEAH. OKAY. >> OKAY. >> UM WELL, UH SO JUST A FOLLOW UP UH, FOR UM, DAN ON
TRANSPORTATION. YOU KNOW, I THINK THE DATA THAT WE HAVE WE'RE HAVING LIKE WE'RE LOOKING AT 3% FEWER ROUTES NEXT YEAR BUT THE COST IS GOING UP.
10 MILLION OR SO TO IT FROM THE FROM THE DATA WE GOT IN THE RFI. YOU KNOW WE HAD ASKED LIKE HOW MANY DOOR TO DOOR TRANSPORTATIONS THERE ARE BASED
ON IEPS UM AND AND WE GOT YOU KNOW IT LOOKS LIKE UH FOR KIDS FOR IN DISTRICT OUT OF DISTRICT K THROUGH SIX HIGH SCHOOL UM
LOOK AT THE NUMBERS WERE GOING UP IN 25 AND 26 AND THAT UH THE ANSWER WAS FY 27 PROJECTIONS WILL BE FURTHER DEVELOPED THIS SPRING. UH TRANSPORTATION VOLUMES AND COSTS ARE DOWNSTREAM
OF ENROLLMENT. UH SCHOOL ASSIGNMENT AND IEP DECISIONS. HOWEVER, TRANSPORTATION IS CURRENTLY PROJECTING A 3% REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE VOLUME
OF TRANSPORTATION. BUT ARE WE PROJECTING A DECREASE IN IN IN DOOR TO DOOR TRANSPORTATION ALSO OR UM NOT YEAH. UH.
,KATE THAT UH THANKS FOR THAT QUESTION, COUNSELOR. UM, SO WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND AND WE HAVE VERY CLOSE, UH, COLLABORATIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF SPECIALIZED SERVICES BUT WE'VE SEEN ACTUALLY IS UM
THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR WE'VE STARTED TO SEE THOSE DOOR TO DOOR NUMBERS LEVELING OFF. UH, THERE'S YOU KNOW, IEP MEETINGS HAPPENING CONTINUALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. BUT OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS
WE'VE STARTED TO SEE SLIGHT UH, STABILIZATION AND THEN SLIGHT REDUCTIONS IN THE OVERALL NUMBER OF DOOR TO DOOR STUDENTS. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THOSE AS WE DEVELOP UM, PROJECTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR. AND THEN THE ONLY OTHER PIECE I
WANTED TO, UH, JUST ADDRESS QUICKLY ON THE SPENDING I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS UH, DAVID AND BLAIR AND OTHERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT WE SAW SOME COST OVERRUNS THIS YEAR ABOVE OUR BUDGET. UM, SO OUR BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR
IS GOING UP. BUT WHEN WE. LOOK AT ACTUAL. SPENDING WE ARE PROJECTING TO SEE STABLE IF NOT SLIGHTLY REDUCED ACTUAL SPENDING AND TRANSPORTATION NEXT YEAR RELATIVE TO THIS YEAR. OKAY.
>> WHEN WE SAY ACTUAL SPENDING IS THAT PER STUDENT OR. YOU KNOW THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF ACTUAL. SPEND OKAY. AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE SAW OVERRUNS AGAINST OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR. I GOT IT.
UH AND THEN ARE WE PROJECTING OUT A DISTRICT UH, TRANSPORTATION TO GO UP DOWN LEVEL FOR FY 27. AT THIS POINT IN TIME? UM, I THINK WE WE DON'T HAVE,
YOU KNOW, ENOUGH DATA TO MAKE SOLID PROJECTIONS THERE. SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE ASSUMING GENERALLY LEVEL WHICH IS WHAT IT HAS BEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. OKAY. >> UM. OKAY I THINK THAT'S IT FOR FOR
ME UNLESS EVERYONE WANTS TO STAY UH, WE UM I GUESS WE'RE COMING BACK TOMORROW OR SOME OF YOU, UH, BUT, UH, DO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? NO. UM.
OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND TODAY'S SECOND HEARING IS NOW ADJOURNED. THANK YOU COUNCILOR. >> THANK YOU.