##VIDEO ID:rYvSbchphtY##  OCTOBER 15TH ,2020 FOR THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED. IT IS ALSO BEING LIVESTREAMED AT BOS ENGULFS THE CITY DAS COUNCILOR DART TV AND BROADCAST ON SONY CHANNEL EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 FILES CHANNEL 964. WRITTEN COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO THE COMMITTEE EMAIL AT SEC DOT C S I.T AT BOSTON GOVT AND WILL BE MADE A PART OF THE RECORD AND AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILORS . AUGUST SIMONE WILL BE TAKING AT THE END OF THIS HEARING AND THE VIGILS WILL BE CALLED ON IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY SIGNED UP AND WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES TO TESTIFY. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TESTIFYING IN PERSON PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME TO THE SIGN UP SHEET NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF THE CHAMBER. IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO TESTIFY VIRTUALLY PLEASE EMAIL OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON RON COBB AT R1 DOT C OBB. BOSTON DOT GOV FOR THE LINK IN YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST.  TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET NUMBER 1384 ORDER FOR A HEARING TO ADDRESS UTILITY STREET WORK COORDINATION NOTIFICATION AND COMPLIANCE POST COMPLETION.  THIS MATTER WAS COSPONSORED WAS SPONSORED BY COUNCIL WHICH LET US UP AT THE END MYSELF AND WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON SEPTEMBER 2024. TODAY I ENJOIN BY MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL COUNCILOR CLARA ZAPATA,  COUNCILOR MURPHY, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THE ORIGINAL SPONSOR OF THIS DOCKET COUNCILOR CLARA ZAPATA. COUNCILOR THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING TIME ON YOUR SCHEDULE TO HOLD THIS HEARING AND THANKS TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION.  I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF THE ADMINISTRATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR TESTIMONY NOW THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM VERY, VERY SHORTLY COMPANIES HERE.  SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR JOINING US AND FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP. I DID PROVIDE OR EXCUSE ME I DID PREPARE SOME REMARKS JUST TO FRAME THE CONVERSATION GIVEN THERE THIS WAS PROPOSED WAS THE SENSE OF URGENCY AHEAD OF SUMMER CONSTRUCTION. IT WAS REALLY TO GET EVERYBODY IN THE SAME ROOM TO GET CLARIFICATION AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY, DEVELOP SOLUTIONS TO SOME OF THE MOST ADVERSE IMPACTS RESIDENTS ARE FEELING DURING NECESSARY STREET AND UTILITY WORK SUMMER CONSTRUCTION AND EXCAVATION WORK IN THE CITY ALLOWS FOR NECESSARY AND AT TIMES URGENT STREET WORK TO BE DONE. THE PROCESS FOR CONDUCTING STREET WORK REQUIRES STRONG COLLABORATION IN BETWEEN BETWEEN UTILITY COMPANIES AND THE CITY TO RETURN TO CITY STREET BACK TO GOOD CONDITION. LET ME BE CLEAR. SO LONG AS THERE ARE CITIES THERE WILL BE STREET WORK. THESE ARE VITAL INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE ARE NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN A WORLD CLASS CITY AND RESIDENTS ABILITY TO MOVE FREELY IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THEIR HAPPINESS AND QUALITY OF LIFE AND RESIDENTS AGREE THAT THIS IS A NECESSARY INVESTMENT.  DIGGING UP A STREET REQUIRES CROSS-AGENCY COLLABORATION WITH MULTIPLE UTILITY COMPANIES AND CITY AGENCIES INVOLVED DOZENS OF STAFF MEMBERS AND ADEQUATE TECHNOLOGY TO ENSURE STREET OR SIDEWALK CLOSURES FOR PROJECTS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY AREN'T CAUSING UNNECESSARY OR CONFLICTING DETOURS.  THE COMMUNITY HAS REACHED OUT TO ME MANY TIMES EVERY DAY VIA TEXT, VIA INSTAGRAM, EMAIL, FACEBOOK WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE THE BENEFICIARY OF PUBLIC CAPITAL FUNDS AND THEY ARE VERY GRATEFUL. THEY ARE ECSTATIC TO KNOW THEIR GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND WORK TO MAINTAIN AND BEAUTIFY OUR COMMUNITIES. TO THEM THIS IS A GREAT USE OF THEIR TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND THE MAIN LINE THAT I GET WHEN I'M OUT AT COMMUNITY MEETINGS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BROAD POLICY PROPOSALS IS JUST PLEASE FIX OUR STREETS.  THE PROBLEM THAT I WANT TO ADDRESS IN THIS DISCUSSION AND FUTURE CONVERSATION IS THE COORDINATION AMONG AGENCIES BEFORE PERMITS ARE ISSUED. WHAT GOES INTO THE DECISION TO GRANT A STREET OCCUPANCY PERMIT AND FOR HOW LONG IS IT ALIGNED WITH THE CITY'S OVERALL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT GOALS AND HOW WE ARE STRATEGICALLY INVESTING MONEY INTO PLACES THAT NEED IT THE MOST RATHER THAN ON AN AD HOC BASIS? ADDITIONALLY, I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE GOES BEYOND JUST CITY REVIEW AND APPROVAL AND RESPONSIBILITY OF BOTH THE CITY AND UTILITY COMPANIES TO STANDARDIZE THEIR COMMUNICATION NOTIFICATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH STRATEGY THAT PROVIDE ADEQUATE NOTICE TO CONSTITUENTS ABOUT WHAT WORK IS BEING DONE AND HONEST ABOUT LONG IT WOULD TAKE. AND SO I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO UNDERSTANDING CLEAR TIMELINES WHAT OVERSIGHT WE HAVE MORE ENFORCEMENT POTENTIALS WITHIN THE CITY AND BETTER COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION AND STRATEGIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR . COUNCILOR MURPHY. THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU TO THIS FIRST PANEL AND TO THE PANELISTS COMING UP. I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION WHICH I WOULD SAY MOST TIMES IS WORKING PERFECTLY BUT MYSELF ALSO LIKE ALL OF US WHO ARE HEARING I WOULD SAY MORE SO THIS PAST SUMMER MAYBE BECAUSE WE'RE DOING MORE STREET WORK AND THAT'S A GOOD THING IF WE'RE FIXING THINGS. BUT YOU SMALL BUSINESSES SO I WANT TO THANK THE SMALL BUSINESSES WHO HAVE REACHED OUT WHO THIS WAS REALLY HURTING THEIR YOU KNOW, THEIR BOTTOM LINE.  AND THE COMMUNICATION PIECE IS WHAT I LIKE TO WALK AWAY WITH MORE UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE THERE WASN'T REALLY ANY ANSWERS THAT I COULD GIVE OTHER THAN THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, CONSTRUCTION WORK HAPPENING.  THEY ARE DOING THE WORK THEY NEED TO GET DONE. I'M NOT REALLY SURE ABOUT THE TIMELINES SO JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE AND BE PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.  THANK YOU. CHAIR OF COURSE COUNCILOR FITZGERALD.  THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU FOR ALL PANELISTS THAT WILL BE HERE TODAY. I AM CERTAINLY LEARNING MORE AND MORE ABOUT ALL OF OUR UTILITIES AND THE PROCESS AND WORK THAT GOES INTO IT. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR FOR DOING THE JOB YOU DO AND DELIVERING THE SERVICES THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES WE NEED BUT ALSO THAT YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS THAT IT HAS ON THE COMMUNITY AROUND IT WHEN THOSE ESSENTIAL SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED. AND SO HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO LEARN MORE TODAY.  THANK YOU, JIM. OF COURSE FOR ME I'M JUST VERY THANKFUL TO BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TO BE ABLE TO CO-SPONSOR THIS WITH COUNCILORS GOING TO SUPPORT THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS ALL RESIDENTS BUT OBVIOUSLY COUNCILOR FITZGERALD SAID IT PERFECTLY. THE IMPORTANT SERVICES THAT EVERYONE'S PROVIDING, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO. I THINK THAT THE IMPORTANT PART HERE SO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S THE PROCESS? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE IT SO THAT OUR RESIDENTS KNOW THEY'RE GETTING THE RIGHT RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED BUT THE RIGHT NOTIFICATION AS WELL? BUT WITH THAT I DO WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO THE FIRST PANEL AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND PROVIDE ANY PRESENTATION THAT YOU MAY HAVE STARTING WITH YOU.  GREAT. I'M STEPHANIE COSTA MEEBO. I'M THE CHIEF DATA OFFICER WORKING IN THE DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT ARISE ABOUT THE CITY'S USE OF GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT IS DONE BY OUR STREETS CABINET AND I AM JULIA CAMPBELL. I AM DEPUTY CHIEF OF STREETS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND DESIGN.  MY TEAM IS PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSIGHT OF THE WORK THAT UTILITIES DO IN OUR STREETS. MY TEAM ALSO INCLUDES OUR CONSTRUCTION DIVISION WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS WITHIN THE STREETS CABINET.  WE HAVE I THINK ANYBODY WHO'S TALKED TO US RECENTLY ABOUT THIS ISSUE A DISPERSED RESPONSIBILITY FOR PERMITTING THE PERMITTING DOES COME FROM THE STREETS CABINET FOR ANY AND ALL WORK THAT HAPPENS IN THE STREETS. UTILITIES AND OUR OWN WORK INCLUDE IT.  WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER WITH OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY RECENTLY TO KIND OF JUST TAKE STOCK OF WHAT OUR CURRENT PROCESS LOOKS LIKE AND WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE. SO WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.  I'M PETER SALVADOR. I'M THE DEPUTY CHIEF ENGINEER AT THE BALTIMORE WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION. EACH YEAR THE COMMISSION PUTS TOGETHER A THREE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN.  AS PART OF THIS PROCESS WE REQUEST THE CAPITAL PLAN OF ALL THE UTILITIES AND AGENCIES FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES BY NOVEMBER AND A TYPICAL YEAR OUR PLAN IS FINALIZED AND IT'S SENT TO THE MAYOR FOR APPROVAL AND WE ALSO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ONCE OUR JOBS REACH THE DESIGN PHASE AT ABOUT 50%. WE SHARE OUR DRAWINGS WITH ALL UTILITIES AND THE CITY FOR COMMENT AND FEEDBACK.  IN THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE WE DO HAVE PROCESSES FOR CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTERS GET MAILED OUT ALL OUR PROJECTS ARE SHOWN ON OUR WEBSITE AND JUST TOUCH UPON WHAT COUNCILMAN MURPHY SAID ON OUR OUR WEBSITE WITH OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS YOU CAN GO AND LOOK UP EACH STREET AND IT WILL GIVE YOU A CONTACT OF THE ENGINEER WHO IN CHARGE OF THE PROJECT WHO YOU CAN CALL ANY TIME TO GET MORE DETAILS ABOUT ANY PARTICULAR JOB THAT'S ONGOING.  THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION YOU WANT TO PRESENT OR ANY ANY OTHER STATEMENTS THEY WANT TO PROVIDE BEFORE WE GO INTO Q&A? NO PRESENTATION.  OKAY, THANKS. THEN WE WILL START WITH THE SPONSOR OF THIS WHICH IS COUNCILOR COLETTE, A SUPPORTER FOR RESOURCES DO YOU HAVE 6 MINUTES? 6 MINUTES. OKAY. THANK YOU.  JULIA CAN JUST TABLE SO CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THE ENTIRETY OF THE PROCESS WITHIN YOUR CABINET SO WHEN SOMEBODY APPLIES NO MATTER WHO IT IS WHO OVERSEES IT AND THE DECISIONS INTO THAT PERMIT BEING PROVIDED THE LENGTH OF TIME BECAUSE A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE REACHED OUT TO OUR OFFICE WONDERING WHY WHAT TYPICALLY TAKES TWO DAYS IS NOW APPROVED FOR A FULL MONTH FOR THE WHOLE STREET TO BE CLOSED OFF. AND SO THEY'RE WONDERING WHY TWO DAYS WORTH OF WORK IS LIMITING THEM FROM PARKING ON THE STREET FOR ALMOST A MONTH. SO JUST SOME FLAHERTY INTO THAT AND THEN ALSO JUST YOUR YOUR RELATIONSHIP OR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION. HOW DO YOU BOTH WORK TOGETHER? WHAT IS THE COMMUNICATION CADENCE TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO OVERLAP IN PROJECTS?  WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN JEFFREY'S POINT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND THERE WERE SOME CONFLICTING PROJECTS AND ALSO PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT TOO. I KNOW YOU CAN'T REALLY SPEAK TO THAT BUT JUST IN GENERAL IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THE PROCESS FROM EXECUTION EXCUSE ME FROM FROM WHEN SOMEBODY DOES SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO BE REVIEWED FOR A PERMIT AND THEN TO COMPLETION. SURE THING. SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE PARTICULARS OF WHY A DECISION LIKE WHAT YOU MENTIONED COUNCILOR WOULD BE MADE IN TERMS OF THE LENGTH OF TIME IN RELATION TO THE WORK BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE CAN GET INTO THE DETAILS IN A FOLLOWING HEARING. I'M EXPECTING THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE TALK ABOUT MORE THAN ONE TIME BUT JUST TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION OF LIKE WHAT'S WHAT'S THE BIG PICTURE OF THE PROCESS LOOKS LIKE IT ALL STARTS WITH A RESERVATION SYSTEM CALLED IN THE ACRONYM THAT WE USE IS KOBUK SAID SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY HAS PROBABLY HEARD ABOUT BEFORE. IT'S A SYSTEM THAT IS SOMEWHAT RUDIMENTARY IN ITS FUNCTION BUT VERY IMPORTANT.  IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REQUIRE EVERY UTILITY AND EVERY PROJECT INCLUDING OUR OWN TO BASICALLY REGISTER WITH THE SYSTEM THAT YOU WANT TO DO WORK IN THIS PLACE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE AND THAT'S A DATABASE THAT WE KEEP IN THE STREETS CABINET.  THEN WHEN SOMEBODY IS READY TO PULL A PERMIT FOR THE WORK THAT THEY WANT TO DO AT A CERTAIN PLACE IN THE STREET THEY REFERENCE THAT NUMBER FOR THE RESERVATION UNDER KOBUK AND THAT IS THE FLAG THAT WE USE TO COORDINATE WORK. SO WHENEVER FOR EXAMPLE SOMEBODY ON MY TEAM IN CONSTRUCTION WANTS TO PAVE A STREET WE WILL GO QUERY THE DATABASE AND LOOK AND SEE HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE WANTED TO DO WORK IN THE STREET AND WE HAVE TO BASICALLY MANUALLY GO THROUGH AND SEE IS THIS A PROJECT THAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING NOW?  IS THIS PROJECT ONE THAT CAN WAIT? CAN IT HAPPEN BEFORE THE WORK THAT WE WANT TO GET DONE? AND IT'S A MANUAL PROCESS THAT BASICALLY LIKE AN ENGINEER ON MY TEAM WOULD HAVE TO DO AND MAKE PHONE CALLS, TALK TO THE FOLKS REPRESENTING ALL THE VARIOUS UTILITIES AND GO THROUGH THAT WORK. HOW MANY FOLKS AND I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING BUT HOW MANY ENGINEERS DO YOU HAVE MANUALLY GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM AT ANY GIVEN TIME TO REVIEW THE WORK FALLS PRIMARILY ON THE TEAM LEADS SO IT'S USUALLY GOING TO BE SEAN DARDEN AS THE LEADER OF THE ENGINEERING TEAM THAT DOES STREET RESURFACING FOR THE STREETS CABINET IN PUBLIC WORKS BUT IT MIGHT ALSO BE ANYBODY ON HIS TEAM OR SOMEBODY ELSE UNDER BABA STRELOW WHO IS GENERALLY OVERSEEING CAPITAL PROJECTS IN THE STREETS PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT BUT IT'S USUALLY UNDER THE DIRECTION OF EITHER BOB OR SEAN. BOTH OF THOSE FOLKS ARE UNDER NORM IN PARKS SO THAT'S KIND OF THE PREP WORK FOR COORDINATION AND THEN WHEN SOMEBODY ACTUALLY COMES TO PULL A PERMIT FOR WORK WE HAVE ANOTHER LAYER WHICH IS GOING TO BE TO REVIEW TO SEE YOU KNOW WHAT DOES YOUR BASICALLY TRAFFIC DIVERSION PLAN LOOK LIKE? WHAT IS YOUR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN?  WHERE ARE THE PEDESTRIANS GOING TO GO? WHERE IS THE TRAFFIC GOING TO GO WHEN YOU'RE DOING WORK IN THE STREET? AND THAT'S ANOTHER LEVEL OF REVIEW THAT HAPPENS ONCE YOU GET APPROVAL FOR THAT AND YOU PAY ALL THE FEES THAT YOU NEED TO PAY ALL OF THAT SORT OF STUFF, THEN YOU'RE ISSUED YOUR PERMIT.  WHEN YOU'RE ISSUED YOUR PERMIT THAT'S ALSO WHEN THIS DURATION OF WORK HAPPENS. AGAIN, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE PARTICULARS OF HOW THAT DECISION IS MADE TODAY. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE LEADER OF THAT DIVISION WOULD HAVE TO SPEAK TO AND THE PERMIT IS THEN ISSUED TO THE PERSON WHO'S GOING TO DO WORK IN THE STREET AT THAT POINT I'M SURE THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE TODAY CAN RELAY THIS IN BETTER DETAIL THAN I CAN OR PROBABLY PETER BUT THAT'S WHEN THEY WOULD DO THE NOTIFICATIONS THE POSTING OF WORK TO COME.  THAT'S WHEN THE PUBLIC GETS NOTIFIED THAT WORK IS ABOUT TO START AND YOU HAD MENTIONED AND THANK YOU FOR THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT IT GOES THROUGH BTD REVIEW WHO IS DOING THE REVIEW AND AND ARE THERE IS THERE MORE THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL IT'S A TEAM THAT IS LED BY ED HAS HEARD FOR THE BETTER PART OF REVIEW OKAY YOU HAD MENTIONED SO WE DID HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS I THINK IT WAS MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO OR A YEAR AGO AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT NOTIFICATION AND WHAT OBLIGATION THE CITY HAD TO LET RESIDENTS KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO BE HAPPENING ON THEIR STREETS AND GIVING THEM AMPLE TIME TO HAVE SOME SORT OF PREDICTABILITY SO THEY CAN PLAN THEIR LIVES AND THERE WAS TALK ABOUT INSTITUTING A NOT ONLY JUST UTILITY ACCOUNTABILITY WEBSITE.  SO I'M WONDERING WHERE THAT'S AT OR SOME SORT OF DATABASE THAT TRACKS THESE PROJECTS TO COMPLETION BUT THEN ALSO A NOTIFICATION SYSTEM OR JUST A GENERAL PLAN FOR LETTING CONSTITUENTS KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING OUTSIDE THEIR FRONT DOOR?  ALL RIGHT. UNFORTUNATELY I WASN'T HERE FOR THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. BUT I THINK THAT THE WORK THAT STEPHANIE'S TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF BRINGING A GEOSPATIAL ELEMENT INTO THE SORT OF COORDINATION WORK THAT WE DO THAT'S US TRYING TO GET CLOSER TO THAT GOAL OF WE ALSO WOULD LIKE MORE TRANSPARENCY INTO THIS PROCESS. WE WOULD LIKE IT IF WE DON'T HAVE TO MANUALLY QUERY A DATABASE AND GO THROUGH EACH LINE IN ORDER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WHEN I THINK EVEN FOR OUR OWN PROJECTS WE WOULD REALLY BE ABLE TO UTILIZE A TOOL WHERE YOU CAN JUST LOOK AT A MAP, KIND OF SEE WHAT'S IN LINE FOR WORK WHERE AND THEN WHEN PERMITS ACTUALLY GET PULLED AND TRIGGER THAT WORK HAVING THAT BE MORE TRANSPARENT THAT IS A SET OF TOOLS WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE BUT I THINK WE WOULD VERY MUCH WELCOME. THANK YOU. I HAVE WAY MORE QUESTIONS BUT I WOULD EXPECT MY COLLEAGUES TIME WE'LL HAVE SECOND ROUNDS FOR SURE.  COUNCILOR MURPHY, THANK YOU.  SO ONCE THE PERMIT IS ISSUED WHAT IS YOUR INVOLVEMENT FROM THAT POINT ON? SURE. SO THE STREETS CABINET HAS THE REQUIREMENT TO KIND OF OVERSEE THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING TO MAKE SURE THAT WHOEVER IS WORKING IN THE STREET IN THIS CONTEXT YOU KNOW, MOSTLY UTILITIES ARE JUST FOLLOWING THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT THE CITY REQUIRES FOR SAFE WORK AND FOR BASICALLY HAVING A WORK SITE THAT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THEIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN. SO THERE'S A SERIES OF REGULATIONS IN TERMS, YOU KNOW, WORK WORKSITE SAFETY, YOU KNOW, THE SITE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. THAT'S WHAT WE JUST BASICALLY KEEP ON TOP OF AND TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS ACTING AS THEY SHOULD AND IF THINGS AREN'T WORKING WELL, WHAT WHAT DO YOU DO? SO OUR TEAM MEMBER IS IN CHARGE OF THAT ARE BASICALLY IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN CHARGE OF THESE WORKSITES. THEY THEY HAVE THEIR PHONE NUMBERS. THEY TALK TO THEM, YOU KNOW, AS NEEDED. USUALLY ISSUES ARE CORRECTED CORRECTED RIGHT AWAY. I WANT TO SAY WE DO HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE TIME THINGS ARE FIXED, YOU KNOW, PRETTY QUICKLY SO THAT WORK CAN CONTINUE AND YOU'RE THE STREET TEAM. WHAT OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS NOT UTILITIES DO YOU LEAN ON OR NEED TO WORK WITH THROUGHOUT THIS?  THIS SET OF RESPONSIBILITIES IS PRETTY SQUARELY WITHIN THE STREETS CABINET IF SOMETHING INVOLVES A PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT WE MIGHT INTERFACE WITH ESD BUT OTHERWISE THE WORK IS IS USUALLY OURS THE WORK BUT LIKE THE TRAFFIC IMPLICATIONS YES. SO THAT WOULD JUST BE UNDER THE STREETS CABINET THE BTD SIDE OF THE HOUSE RATHER THAN THE PUBLIC WORKS SIDE OF THE HOUSE BUT STILL STREETS CABINET. OKAY WHILE I'M THINKING MANY TIMES THE WORK SITE COULD BE AT A BUS STOP SO DO YOU WORK WITH THE MTA OR IT'S AT A SCHOOL BUS STOP AND YOU NEED TO WORK WITH THE TRANSPORTATION OR IT'S A SMALL BUSINESS BEING YOU KNOW, INTO THAT YOU ARE WORKING THEN WITH THE ECONOMIC DEPARTMENT LIKE ARE THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU WORK WITH ALSO OR NOT? I SEE YES WE DO WORK WITH THE MTA SO YES, YOUR QUESTION IS A GOOD ONE WHERE IF A WORKSITE IS GOING TO BE IMPACTING A BUS STOP OR BE CLOSE TO THE RIGHT OF WAY OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION, YES, OUR TEAM WOULD DIRECT THE UTILITY TO BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THAT OTHER ENTITY AND TO GET APPROVALS FROM THEM IF NEEDED AND THEN IF THERE'S ONGOING OPERATIONAL COORDINATION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.  ABSOLUTELY. WE'RE WE'RE TALKING TO THEM TOO AND I'M VISUALIZING WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT LIKE THAT COBALT SYSTEM LIKE THERE'S A QUEUE, RIGHT? THERE'S OTHER WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE SO ARE YOU WAITING TO APPROVE OTHER PERMITS IN THAT MAP THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT BASED ON WHETHER OR NOT THESE JOBS ARE WHEN THEY'RE GETTING FINISHED? YES. SO IT'S UNFORTUNATELY NOT A MAP. WE WOULD LOVE IT IF IT WAS A MAP. CURRENTLY COVAX IS JUST A DATABASE AND SO YES, LIKE IF YOU DO QUERY THE SYSTEM AND ASK, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THIS BLOCK OF THIS STREET, IT'LL BASICALLY JUST RETURN BACK A LIST OF DESIRED WORK. BUT THERE'S NO REAL THERE'S NO REAL TIMELINE TO ANY OF THOSE.  AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO IMPROVE WITH THE FUTURE OR TOOLS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING A WAY TO SEE WHAT'S IN LINE, WHAT'S A PRIORITY BECAUSE HOW WOULD YOU PICK A PRIORITY ON PROJECTS MIGHT BE A PRIVATE ONE OR A CITY ONE MIGHT GET PICKED OVER ANOTHER ONE. YEAH, LIKE I THINK COUNCILOR COLLETTE MENTIONED BUT WHO SITS ON THAT DECISION MAKING TEAM TO DECIDE WHICH PROJECTS ARE GOING TO GO FORWARD FIRST ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEN IT WILL BE INTERFERING WITH TRAFFIC AND OTHER ISSUES. I WOULD LOVE TO INVITE PETER TO HELP RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT DO HAVE TO GO IN SEQUENTIAL ORDER IN TERMS OF UTILITY WORK THAT'S OFTEN HOW SOME OF THESE DECISIONS ARE MADE AND PLEASE BUT I DO WANT TO THANK YOU BOSTON WATER AND SEWER YOU'RE ALWAYS VERY RESPONSIVE AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S HENRY EVER TAKE A DAY OFF BUT HE'LL ANSWER LIKE ON A SUNDAY MORNING OR BUT YOUR TEAM ALSO I SEE THOSE EMAILS THAT COME OUT ABOUT STREET WORK SO I NEED TO GET ON THE OTHER EMAIL LIST BECAUSE I KNOW THE OTHER UTILITIES DO IT ALSO BUT I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMUNICATION YOU SEND OUT TO ME . THANK YOU SO WE COORDINATE IF THERE IS A KNOWN CONFLICT ON THE STREET THAT WE WILL TAKE ON THE COORDINATION WE COORDINATE WITH PROBABLY NATIONAL GRID THE MOST SO IF THEIR GAS MAIN IS IN CONFLICT WITH OUR WORK THEY'LL HAVE TO GO FIRST IF THEIR WORK IF THEIR PIPES ARE JUST ENCROACHED BY US SOMETIMES WE CAN GO FOR A NO FOLLOW UPS AND NO. AN EXAMPLE THAT COMES UP IS COLUMBIA ROAD. WE'RE BOTH OUT THERE SIMULTANEOUSLY IN SOME BLOCKS WE WERE ABLE TO GO FOR SOME BLOCKS THEY HAD TO GO FOR US. SO THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE BOTH OF US. BUT WE DO COORDINATE WITH ALL UTILITIES.  JUST DEPENDS WHO HAS WORK ON THE STREET. OKAY, AWESOME.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR COUNCILOR FITZGERALD THANK YOU, CHAIR.  I'M NOT SURE IF SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS MIGHT BE FOR THE NEXT PANEL OF YOURSELVES, BUT WHAT ARE THE SOME OF THE COMMON ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE THAT CAUSE DELAYS THAT HAVE AN EXTENDED ROAD WORK OR RIP OR A DELAY FOR THE REPAVING AFTER A ROAD WORK IS DONE?  WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT TYPICALLY CAUSE THAT'S WHAT SORT OF I KNOW AS COUNCILORS WE GET ASKED LIKE WHEN'S IS GOING TO END OR WHY IS THIS GOING ON SO LONG? SO IF YOU CAN YOU JUST GIVE ME A RUNDOWN OF SORT OF LIKE COMMON TYPICAL ISSUES THAT ARISE FROM THAT DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE BEEP. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING TO TYPICALLY IT DEPENDS ON THE PROJECT IN THE STREET SOME STREETS ARE VERY CONGESTED WITH UTILITIES SO THEY TAKE A LONG TIME BUT YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY CORRELATE THE TIME WITH US BEING BEHIND SOME TREES TAKE A REALLY LONG TIME BUT WE'RE ON SCHEDULE FOR IT'S AS LONG AS WE ANTICIPATED IT WOULD TAKE AND SOME STREETS THERE ARE LESS UTILITIES AND LESS CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN GET THE WORK DONE A LOT QUICKER AS FAR AS PAVING OUR INTERNAL LIKE RULE OF THUMB WE TYPICALLY LIKE TO WAIT 3 TO 6 MONTHS BEFORE WE DO A PERMANENT PAVE AS FAR AS TEMPORARY TRENCH RESTORATION OUR CONTRACTORS ARE REQUIRED TO PAY ONCE A WEEK SO YOU SHOULDN'T BE SEEING TRENCHES THAT ARE GOING RIGHT EDITION IF YOU CAN LET US KNOW IF THERE ARE BUT WE DO A PERMANENT TRENCH RESTORATION YOU HAVE THAT YOU PAVE THE TRENCH AFTER YOU HAVE TO FILL IT BACK IN AFTER HE'S DONE WITH THE WORK, FILL IT BACK AND YOU PAVE IT OVER BUT IN A PERMANENT PAVE HAPPENS AFTER THAT 3 TO 6 MONTHS I ASSUME IS THAT TO LET EVERYTHING SETTLE BEFORE YOU DO A PERMANENT PAVEMENT OVER IT? THAT'S A LOT OF PREDOMINANTLY TO LET SETTLEMENT HAPPEN BUT ALSO TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO ISSUES EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WILL PROBABLY OPEN BACK UP.  SO WE JUST LIKE TO WAIT TILL THAT. WE'RE NOT DIGGING IN A PERMANENT TRENCH AND WHEN WATER AND SEWER DOES WORK AS IS THE REPAVING CURB TO CURB AFTERWARDS NO IT WOULD JUST BE USUALLY IT WOULD JUST BE OUR TRENCH PLUS SIX INCHES ON EITHER SIDE. SO WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WHAT YOU WOULD PUT DOWN ON THE FILLING UP THE TRENCH VERSUS WHAT YOU WOULD PUT DOWN 3 TO 6 MONTHS LATER? OUR TEMPORARY TRENCHES ARE THREE INCHES IN THICKNESS AND WHEN WE COME BACK TO DO THE PERMANENT TRENCH WE PUT A THREE INCH BINDER COURSE PLUS A THREE INCH TOP COURSE. SO IT'S SIX INCHES TOTAL THICKNESS SO YOU HAVE TO RIP BACK UP THE PREVIOUS ONE BEFORE YOU PUT THE FINAL PAVING DOWN. WE DO, YEAH. OKAY.  DO YOU KNOW IS THERE A PERCENTAGE MAYBE THOSE MAYBE DON'T DO YOU KNOW PERCENTAGE OF THE BOTTOM WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS THAT ARE EITHER ON TIME OR A PERCENTAGE THAT THEY'RE DELAYED FOR THE MOST PART?  WHAT'S YOUR LIKE SUCCESS RATE IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATING THE YOU KNOW, THE INTENDED TIME VERSUS HOW MANY TIMES YOU HIT THAT TIME OR LESS FIRST GO OVER IT. SO WE WHEN WE PUT A CONTRACT OUT WE GIVE OUR CONTRACTOR ON NUMBER OF WORKING DAYS THAT THEY HAVE TO COMPLETE THE WORK IN AND I WOULD I MEAN JUST GUESSING I WOULD SAY ABOUT 90% OF THE CONTRACTS GET COMPLETED WITHIN THE WORKING DAYS.  IF THEY DON'T WE EITHER CHARGE THEM LIQUIDATED DAMAGES OR WE GIVE THEM THE TIME EXTENSION IF IT'S JUSTIFIED. AND IS THAT HOW IT'S COMMUNICATED IN WORKING DAYS LIKE WHEN YOU COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC TO IF IT'S A SMALL BUSINESS OR THE ABUTTERS AROUND THERE DO YOU SAY THERE WILL BE 12 WORKING DAYS OF CONSTRUCTION HAPPENING HERE? AND SO WHEN WE COMMUNICATE WE DEPENDING ON THE STREET SO EVERY PROJECT WE DO THEY GET A MAILING WHICH IS THE CONTRACT,  THE CONTRACTOR, THE CONTACT WITHIN THE COMMISSION DO THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?  SOME ARE SOME MORE DIFFICULT. STREETS ARE DIFFICULT PROJECTS . WE ALSO PROVIDE EITHER A BI WEEKLY OR MONTHLY UPDATE WHICH GIVES THEM MORE DETAILED INFORMATION AS FAR AS WHAT WORK HAS BEEN DONE, WHAT'S COMPLETED AND WHAT'S UPCOMING WITH EXPECTED COMPLETION DATE. OKAY SO WE DO THAT LIKE ON OUR SEWER SEPARATION JOBS WE'RE DOING THAT ON OUR JOBS IN CHARLESTOWN AND WE'RE DOING IT ON OUR JOB WHICH IS FINISHED NOW IN ROXBURY.  SO JUST DEPENDING ON THE PROJECT.  THANK YOU. AND HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT THE DETOURS WILL BE AND IS THERE A WAY TO TO LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE I KNOW RECENTLY WE HAD AN ISSUE IN SEVEN HILL WHERE THERE WERE A COUPLE OF UTILITIES DOING WORK ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT AREAS OF SAVIN HILL AND THEY ALL PUT UP THEIR OWN DETOURS AND EVERYONE WAS JUST DRIVING IN A CIRCLE AND THEY COULDN'T LEAVE BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY TWO ROADS, THERE'S ONLY TWO ROADS OF ONE ROAD AND RIGHT TO SEVEN AND ONE ROAD OUT. SO THEY HAVE BOTH AND SO EVERYONE WAS JUST DRIVING IN CIRCLES GOT A LOT OF PHONE CALLS AND TEXT THAT DAY. DO YOU HAVE A IS THERE A WAY TO COORDINATE WITH THE OTHER DO IS THERE A RADIUS AT WHICH YOU LOOK AT OTHER ROAD WORK GOING ON AND HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHERE A DETOUR IS PLACE FOR TRAFFIC? I MEAN I ASSUME IT HAPPENS BEFOREHAND IN A TRAFFIC PLAN BUT ARE YARD DETOURS WHEN WE NEED A DETOUR? ARE APPROVED BY TRANSPORTATION TO WE HAVE TO SUBMIT A DETOUR OR A TRAFFIC PLAN EVEN IF IT DOESN'T INCLUDE A DETOUR FOR APPROVAL IF THERE'S AN OBVIOUS UTILITY THAT'S WORKING WITH US THAT WE THINK WE'LL HAVE A PROBLEM, WE WILL TRY AND COORDINATE. I GUESS SOMETIMES WE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE WE MISSED OUT BUT I THINK THAT FALLS MORE ON TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHO ELSE HAS APPROVED DETOUR PLANS.  WELL, BUT LIKE IF WE WERE RUNNING A DETOUR AND WE SAW A UTILITY WORKING ON OUR DETOUR WE WOULD WE WOULD PROBABLY SAY SOMETHING BUT SOMETIMES WE JUST DON'T REALIZE UNTIL PEOPLE CALL US AND LET US KNOW. GOTCHA.  WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HELP WITH THAT ONE THAT WHEN WE TALKED TO YOU PREVIOUSLY SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS THAT COUNCILOR I'LL ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COUNCILOR DURKIN HAS JOINED US . WE'RE IN THE FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS WITH THE FIRST PANEL. WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE A Q&A? YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO COUNCILOR CLAUDIA ZAPATA FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHAT ABOUT ALL OF THE GREAT WORK AND INVESTMENTS HAPPENING IN OUR ON OUR STREETS.  I KNOW THAT FOR A LOT OF NEIGHBORS THEY ARE FRUSTRATED AND THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON BUT I REALLY I THINK JUST TO START OUT I THINK MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHAT KIND OF LACK OF INVESTMENTS TOOK PLACE OVER THE YEARS TO CREATE THIS? YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A TORNADO OF CONSTRUCTION HAPPENING RIGHT NOW LIKE WHAT I WHAT KIND OF LACK OF INVESTMENT HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS IN ORDER TO CREATE THIS CHAOTIC ENVIRONMENT WE'RE IN WHERE SO MUCH WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.  WELL, HI COUNCILOR . I THINK THIS IS A QUESTION THAT MAYBE EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL UTILITIES CAN ANSWER FROM THEIR PORTFOLIO. OUR UNDERSTANDING FROM THE CITY SIDE IS THAT WE'RE KIND OF JUST AT A CONFLUENCE OF ALL OF THESE UTILITIES NEEDING LIKE MAJOR LIFETIME REHAB REHABS FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS ALL AT THE SAME TIME WHICH I THINK IS LEADING TO THIS WHAT IS PERCEIVED AS LIKE VERY CHAOTIC CONSTRUCTION THAT'S HAPPENING OUT IN THE STREET. BOSTON WATER AND SEWER IS GOING ,YOU KNOW, ACROSS MANY NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE CITY KIND OF ONE AT A TIME TO DO SEWER SEPARATION. SO PULLING APART STORM DRAIN AND SANITARY SEWER THAT IS A HERCULEAN EFFORT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES AND THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE DOING UNTIL IT'S DONE. WE'VE GOT EVERSOURCE DEALING WITH, YOU KNOW, THE CHANGING NATURE OF THE GRID AND YOU KNOW ,MOVING, YOU KNOW, TO MORE ELECTRICITY NEED MORE DISPERSED GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY NEEDING TO UPGRADE ALL KINDS OF SUBSTATIONS IN ORDER TO HANDLE OUR NEW DEMANDS ON ELECTRICITY AND THEN NATIONAL GRID HAVING TO GO THROUGH SIMILAR CHANGES TO MEET DEMAND AND ALSO TO CHANGE AGING PIPES OUT FOR SAFETY. ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME WHICH IS WHY I THINK WE'VE GOT THIS CURRENT SITUATION AH I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF IT WOULD BE A LACK OF INVESTMENT RATHER THAN JUST A NEED FOR INVESTMENT NOW I DO THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION FOR EACH OF THE UTILITY PROVIDERS ON OUR SIDE FROM THE CITY I THINK WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE TOOLS AND MORE INVESTMENT IN THIS COORDINATION.  WE'VE YOU KNOW, I THINK BEEN TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE GEOSPATIAL NEED.  WHAT THAT JUST MEANS IS WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO KEEP TRACK OF AND HELP DO THIS TRAFFIC CONTROL WITH BETTER TOOLS. I DO SEE A LACK OF INVESTMENT OR JUST WE JUST HAVEN'T HAD INVESTMENT.  THE COVAX TOOL THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE IS ABOUT 15 YEARS OLD AND IT WAS MADE IN HOUSE PROGRAMED BY ONE OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES HERE WE DO NOT HAVE A SOPHISTICATED SYSTEM IN ORDER TO DO THIS WORK AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DEPUTY CHIEF. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. I KNOW THAT COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION IS NOT ALWAYS EASY. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WERE COORDINATING WITH ON OUR STREETS AND JUST IN MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD I'VE JUST SEEN THE EVER EVOLVING DAY BY DAY, YOU KNOW, TOOL DIFFERENT TOOLS ON THE STREET, DIFFERENT PARKING SPACES THAT ARE TAKEN FOR CERTAIN USES.  I GET THE FRUSTRATION IN MY DMS ON INSTAGRAM, I GET THE FRUSTRATION IN MY EMAIL ON MY PERSONAL CELL PHONE.  BUT I ALSO LIKE THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO CATEGORIZE SOME OF THE CITY'S STRIDES AS INVESTMENTS BECAUSE I THINK WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS TO BE ABLE TO REPAY THE STREET AFTER ALL THE BOSTON WATER AND SEWER WORK IS DONE AFTER ALL OF THIS STUFF IS DONE AND I KNOW CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE I THINK IT'S A YEAR AFTER ALL OF THIS WORK IS DONE THAT THERE IS A GUARANTEE ON THE STREET TO YOU.  TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE STREET GUARANTEE. SURE.  SO YES, THE WAY THAT THE PAVING HAPPENS I THINK COUNCILOR FITZGERALD WAS ASKING, YOU KNOW, SIMILAR QUESTIONS OF JUST WHAT HAPPENS TO REPAIR THE STREET.  SO UTILITIES WILL HAVE REQUIREMENTS FOR PATCHING.  SO BOSTON WATER AND SEWER HAS A HIGHER BAR FOR PATCHING THAN OTHER UTILITIES WHERE THEY DO A PERMANENT PATCH THEMSELVES.  THAT'S WHAT PETER WAS EXPLAINING. OTHER UTILITIES PAY US A FEE IN THEIR PERMITTING AND THE CITY DOES THE PERMANENT PATCH THAT'S LIKE A YOU KNOW, NOT A FULL CURB TO CURB PAYS BUT WE'LL BASICALLY GO OVER THE PIECE OF STREET THAT HAS BEEN DUG UP AND TRENCHED BY THE WORK AND THEN WE'LL PUT A PATCH OVER THAT WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO AS GUARANTEED STREETS IS WHEN WE THEN WE'LL DO THE FULL REPAVE ON A STREET CURB TO CURB THAT THEN BASICALLY LOCKS IN A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE IF ANY CUT HAPPENS ON THAT STREET DURING THE GUARANTEED PERIOD THEN THE UTILITY OR WHOEVER DOES THAT CUT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FULLY RESTORING IT. THAT'S ONLY ON A CURB TO CURB REPAVING NOT ON A TRENCH I BELIEVE SAME PIECE BECAUSE I THINK THAT HAD HAPPENED IN OUR IN SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THERE WAS A TRENCH REPAVE AND THEN THERE THERE WAS SOME CUTTING INTO THE ASPHALT AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT DID NOT HAVE THE YEAR GUARANTEE NOW THAT STREET HAS BEEN MILLED AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAVED AGAIN SO I JUST WANT TO I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT ALL THESE THINGS ARE AND I THINK AT LEAST ON MY END THE BOSTON WATER AND SEWER WORK AND THE PUBLIC WORKS WORK OF GETTING OUR STREETS TO THEIR BEST SHAPE IS SOMETHING THAT MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR FOR A LONG TIME. UNFORTUNATELY ONCE THAT IS IN PROCESS THERE IS A VERY INCONVENIENT TRUTH OF THE LACK OF PARKING, THE NEEDING TO GO AROUND AND THE NEEDING TO TO ESSENTIALLY JUST LIKE YOU KNOW, BYPASS SO MANY DIFFERENT ROUTES AND I THINK THAT INCONVENIENCE IS TEMPORARY AND I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO KEEP OUR CONSTITUENTS MORALE UP AND GIVE THEM UPDATED TIMELINE.  SO AND I DID WANT TO JUST SHOUT OUT ONE MORE THING ABOUT BENEFITS OC OUR OFFICE IN OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS DID AN AUDIT OF EVERSOURCE NATIONAL GRID AND BOSTON WATER AND SEWER PATCHES ON OUR BRICKS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED AND I'M EXTREMELY DEDICATED TO GETTING ALL OF OUR BRICKS BACK INTO THE SHAPE THAT THEY'RE IN. SO I'M LOOKING AT YOU UTILITIES WE HAVE ALREADY AUDITED AND WE'RE WORKING ON THOSE AND WE WILL BE SENDING OUR REPORTS TO YOU DIRECTLY AFTER THIS HEARING. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR DURKIN, IT IS MY TURN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE. THERE'S NO SURPRISE THAT THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE TOPICS. GOODS AND SERVICES IS TOP OF MIND ALWAYS.  AND BEFORE I DIVE INTO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR WHAT THEY DO ESPECIALLY BOSTON MORNING. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL WITH A LOT OF CASES IN MY DISTRICT AND EVERSOURCE AND NATIONAL GRID AS WELL.  I DO WANT TO GIVE A STORY REAL QUICK FROM A RESIDENT OF MINE. THIS IS WHAT I HEAR ON A ON A WEEKLY BASIS. NICK FROM HYDE PARK SAYS AS A RESIDENT OF A PRIVATE WAY, NICK AND HIS NEIGHBORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE ROAD. THEY ORGANIZE AND SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAVE THEIR ROAD AFTER WORK DONE BY EVERSOURCE. A STRIP OF THE ROAD IS IN MUCH POORER QUALITY THAN THE REST OF THE WORLD. THE POOR QUALITY OF THE PAVING AFTER THE UTILITY WORK HAS RESULTED IN CHANGES TO THE ROADS TOPOGRAPHY INCLUDING LARGE POTHOLES AND DEPRESSIONS IN THE ROAD WHICH MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT FOR RESIDENTS, EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND DELIVERY VEHICLES. THIS HAPPENS QUITE A BIT IN MY DISTRICT SO MY QUESTION TO THAT IS WHEN THE PATCHING IS DONE DOES THE CITY REQUIRE ANY SORT OF EVIDENCE OR DO THEY GO TO THE SITE TO INSPECT OR WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE HANDOFF LIKE FROM THE COMPANY THAT IS DOING THE WORK TO THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S BACK IN A IN A GOOD CONDITION? SO I JUST WANT TO ASK ONE CLARIFICATION. COUNCILOR REED STATING THAT THIS WAS A PRIVATE WAY. THAT WAS A PRIVATE WAY BUT I ALSO HAVE EXAMPLES OF PUBLIC WAYS. SO THAT WAS JUST ONE EXAMPLE. OKAY.  THIS MIGHT BE BETTER ANSWERED BY YOU, PETER. IT'S SO WE HAVE A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN PRIVATE WAYS AND TYPICALLY HOW WE WOULD HANDLE AHEAD OF TIME WHILE THE PROJECT IS STILL IN DESIGN WE TRY TO MEET WITH THE ABUTTERS TO GIVE THEM AN EXPECTATION OF WHAT THE RESTORATION WILL LOOK LIKE AND THEN WE HOLD OUR CONTRACTOR TO THAT. SO IF THEY HAD JUST REPAVED IN SOME INSTANCES WE WOULD REPAVE A FULL WIDTH AND SOME WE WOULDN'T. IN SOME CASES IT'S IN HORRIBLE CONDITION WHEN WE GET THERE AND WE LEAVE IT BETTER THAN WHEN WE STARTED UP.  SO THAT'S HOW WE HANDLE THAT ON ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS AS FAR AS THE TRENCHES THEMSELVES, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH PUBLIC WORKS.  EVERY UTILITY IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A TAG IN THEIR TRENCHES SO OUR OUR TEMPORARY TRENCHES GET A BLUE TAG ONCE WE DO THE PERMANENT TRENCH REPAIR THEY GET A GREAT TAG THAT'S A BWC SO THEY CAN BE IDENTIFIED AS OURS AND I THINK THAT'S MAKES IT EASIER FOR PUBLIC WORKS TO KEEP TRACK OF WHO'S DIGGING THE PATCHES BUT WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO THAT AND IF A RESIDENT HAS A CONCERN DO THEY REACH OUT TO BALTIMORE INSURER OR TO REACH OUT TO THE CITY IN ORDER FOR THERE TO BE A CORRECTION AS WE GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FOR TRENCHES WE HOLD WE HOLD OUR CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR TRENCHES UNTIL THE PERMANENT RESTORATION IS COMPLETE. SO IF WE GET A COMPLAINT OR A SETTLEMENT ISSUE WE WILL SEND OUR CONTRACTOR BACK TO ADDRESS IT. OKAY. SO THE RESIDENTS SHOULD REACH OUT TO BALTIMORE AND SORT YEAH, IF IT'S OUR PROJECT WITH IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO REACH OUT TO VOTE YES. OKAY COUNCILOR , IF I MAY.  THE LONGEVITY OF THE PATCH IS ALSO PART OF THE CITY'S REQUIREMENT.  SO IF YOUR RESIDENTS HAVE 311 REQUESTS THAT'S ONE WAY THAT WE TRACK ANY AND ALL ISSUES WITH PAVEMENT. THAT IS OUR SIU, THE CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION UNIT. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY TRACK AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT TRENCHES HOLDING UP FOR THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO HOLD UP.  IF IT'S NOT OUR UNIT CAN REACH OUT TO THE INDIVIDUAL UTILITY AND LET THEM KNOW LIKE HEY, YOUR TRENCH HAS FAILED, PLEASE COME FIX IT. OKAY. OKAY. THAT'S VERY HELPFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. ANOTHER EXAMPLE THAT I HAVE IS SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. IT'S A GOOD PROJECT. THEY'RE OUT IN SPEED HUMPS, CURVE OUTS, RACE CROSSWALKS AND EVERYTHING ON FLOOR AROUND FLORENCE STREET AND ROSLINDALE. BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT THE CONTRACTOR I GUESS WITH THE NOTIFICATION OF CLOSURE STREETS THERE HAS BEEN OCCASIONS WHERE THEIR DRIVERS ARE GOING DOWN WRONG WAYS TO AVOID SOME TRAFFIC WORK, SOME CONSTRUCTION WORK WHICH LED TO AN ACCIDENT.  WHO IS RISK? WHO SHOULD THE RESIDENTS REACH OUT TO IN REGARDS TO THAT BECAUSE IT'S IT'S HAPPENED FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT THERE'S JUST A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT ROUTES TO TAKE. THERE'S A FEW STREETS THAT ARE THAT ARE BEING CLOSED DOWN AND IT'S LEADING TO DRIVERS GOING DOWN ONE WAY STREETS.  THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD WANT TO DEFINITELY HAVE OUR TEAM TAKE A LOOK AT IF A STREET IS CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION THERE SHOULD BE A CLEAR DETOUR OR AT LEAST YOU KNOW IT SHOULD BE CLEAR WHAT A DRIVER SHOULD DO RATHER THAN GOING DOWN THE WRONG WAY.  SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW, I THINK NORMAN PARKS WOULD BE THE BEST PERSON TO REACH OUT TO IF THAT SPEED HUMPS BEING INSTALLED. THAT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE MY TEAM. BUT YEAH, THAT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE CLEAR ENOUGH TO DRIVERS TO WHERE THEY'RE NOT GOING THE WRONG WAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH, WE JUST SEEN AN UPTICK THIS FROM THE RESIDENTS ABOUT THAT SPECIFIC AREA.  LUCKILY THEY HAVE GIVEN 311 REPORTS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S COMING THROUGH YOUR INBOX SOON. AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION FOR NOW IS REGARDING NOTIFICATION. WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR NOTIFICATION? WHAT KIND OF NOTIFICATION ARE RESIDENTS GETTING? ARE WE CONSIDERING ANY FUTURE TYPES OF NOTIFICATION FOR EXAMPLE? I MEAN WHEN YOU RUN IF SOMEONE'S RUNNING FOR OFFICE THERE'S TEXT MESSAGES BEING SENT TO SPECIFIC WARDS AND PRECINCTS RECONSIDERING USING THAT.  WHAT KIND OF OTHER IDEAS ARE WE EXPLORING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE KEEPING UP TO DATE WITH, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL MEDIA AND IN THE WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY SO THAT BETTER COMMUNICATION IS BEING SPREAD.  AND COUNCILOR THIS IS IN REGARDS TO UTILITY WORK. YEAH. ANY TYPE OF WORK ON THE STREET RIGHT.  THIS IS DEFINITELY A QUESTION NOT FOR ME BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE PRIMARY MODE OF COMMUNICATION IS GOING TO BE THE SIGNS POSTED. BUT YOU KNOW, PETER, THIS IS MAYBE ONE FOR YOU TOO. SO PRIOR PRIOR TO US STARTING A STREET WE SENT OUT A MAILING IN CONJUNCTION WITH APPLYING FOR A PERMIT SO EVERYONE WHO IS AFFECTED BY OUR WORK WILL RECEIVE A LETTER IN THE MAIL.  WE SENT ONE TO THE PREMISE AND TO THE OWNER OF THE ADDRESS.  IN ADDITION TO THAT, ONCE WE RECEIVE OUR PERMITS REQUIRED TO BE POSTED ON THE STREET 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE AND OUR CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO MAKE THOSE NOTIFICATIONS SO WE POST NO PARKING AND WE FLIER THE CARS SO THAT THEY'RE AWARE THAT THE WORK IS STARTING AND THAT THAT'S OUR INITIAL NOTIFICATION. I MEAN OBVIOUSLY THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT WE ARE IN NO I WOULDN'T SAY CONSTANT COMMUNICATION BUT ONCE WE'RE THERE THEY HAVE OUR CONTACT THAT WE WE KIND OF JUST OKAY. BUT EVERY EVERY PROJECT GETS A LETTER PRIOR TO US STARTING NOTIFYING THEM THE CONTRACTOR,  THE JOB NUMBER, THE TYPE OF WORD WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE CONTACT AT THE COMMISSION THAT THEY CAN CALL IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS. ARE THERE ANY TALKS ABOUT CHANGING THAT METHOD? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF , NO.  THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I GUESS I SHOULD ADD IN ADDITION TO THAT WE ALL OUR JOBS ARE ON OUR WEBSITE SO IF PEOPLE WANT TO GO AND OUR LETTERS DO POINT THEM TO THE WEBSITE SO THEY CAN GET INFORMATION FROM THE WEBSITE AS WELL. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. BUT THAT I'M DONE WITH MY SET OF QUESTIONS BUT I KNOW WE HAVE FOLLOW UP FROM OUR SPONSOR SO TAKE IT AWAY.  THANK YOU.  AND PICKING BACK PIGGYBACKING OFF MY LAST QUESTION.  LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE IN THAT LAST HEARING WE DID TALK ABOUT YOU MAPPING TOOL THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE DEVELOPED THE BRILLIANT INDIVIDUALS WHO DO IT. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. I WILL ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HOW AMAZING DO IT IS AND HOW VITAL THEY ARE TO THE CITY'S TECHNOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. SO WE WERE THINKING ABOUT HAVING A MAP WHERE RESIDENTS BECAUSE WE DO GET ALL OF THESE TEXT MESSAGES AND EMAILS AND DMS ON A DAILY BASIS. A RESIDENT CAN JUST LOOK UP ON THIS MAP WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THEIR STREET, THE TIME FRAME SO THEY KNOW EXACTLY HOW LONG FOLKS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE STREET.  IT WOULD HAVE A CONTACT INFORMATION TO THE PROJECT MANAGER AND THEN IT WOULD ALSO HAVE JUST WHO IS RESPONSIBLE WHETHER THAT'S A CITY, THE CITY OR UTILITY COMPANY. I GUESS WHAT IS A PROGRESS ON THAT? HAS THERE BEEN ANY PROGRESS? WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AND CAN YOU ELABORATE ON ON WHATEVER WORK YOU'RE DOING IN THE SPACE? YES. SO OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS MY TEAM HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON MAKING SOME FOUNDATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE AS JULIA MENTIONED IN THE CASE OF KOVAC'S BUILT AROUND 15 YEARS AGO. MANY OF THE CITY'S GENIUS TOOLS WERE ALSO IMPLEMENTED AND BUILT AROUND THAT TIME OFTEN WITH THE HELP OF EXTERNAL CONTRACTORS AND THE KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER AT THAT POINT WAS NOT NECESSARILY GREAT. SO WE'RE TAKING A LOT OF TIME WE'VE WE'VE GOTTEN INVESTMENTS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF BUDGET ROUNDS TO CREATE NEW STAFFING POSITIONS, SPECIFIC TARGETS AND MAKE INVESTMENTS IN THAT TECHNOLOGY. AND WITH THAT WE ARE ABLE TO REBUILD THESE TOOLS IN-HOUSE IS IS OUR PLAN ACTUALLY TODAY WE ARE LAUNCHING AN INTERNAL SPATIALLY NATIVE STREET AND ADDRESS MANAGEMENT TOOL.  YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD IT REFERRED TO AS SAM AND SO THAT SUPPORTS ESD AND DPD IN MANAGING OUR STREETS AND ADDRESSES TO SUPPORT PERMITTING AND ACTIVITIES. AND WE'VE BEEN IN TALKS WITH THE STREET'S CABINET TEAM ABOUT WHAT THEIR SPATIAL NEEDS ARE AS WELL.  AND SO THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WE ARE CONTINUING TO DO SOME SCOPING AND DISCOVERY AND REFINE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR WHAT MOVING KOVAC'S TO A SPATIALLY NATIVE GIS TOOL MIGHT LOOK LIKE AND EXPLORE WHAT OTHER OPTIONS WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THEM WITH INCREASED SPATIAL TECHNOLOGY JUST AS JULIE MENTIONED MAKING THINGS MUCH MORE TRANSPARENT, ALLOWING US TO BREAK DOWN INTERNAL SILOS SO THAT INFORMATION AND AND BASICALLY SITUATIONAL AWARENESS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY IS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO FOLKS FOR THE CITY BUT ALSO TO CONSTITUENTS AS WELL. I LOVE HEARING THAT IT'S NOT A SILVER BULLET BUT I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD HELP SOLVE A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE HEARING FROM OUR RESIDENTS. SO I'M REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT. DO YOU HAVE A AN EXPECTED DATE OF COMPLETION OR ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE STRIVING FOR IN TERMS OF THE TIMELINE? OUR NEXT MILESTONE.  SO PART OF THIS NEXT SET OF WORK INVOLVES DEVELOPING A LINEAR REFERENCING SYSTEM FOR THE CITY AND WHILE THERE ARE SORT OF OUT OF THE BOX TOOLS THAT THAT DO THIS FROM MORE OF LIKE A TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF COMPLETE STREETS WANTING TO BE ABLE TO LINEAR LINEARLY REFERENCE BASICALLY THE ENTIRE PARCEL FRONT TO PARCEL FRONT OF THE RIGHT OF WAY. AND SO OUR NEXT STEP IS TO RELEASE AN RFI TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE SOLUTIONS THAT WILL MEET THE NEEDS THAT WE'VE SCOPED SO FAR ARE INTUITION AT THIS POINT IS THAT THEY WON'T AND THAT WILL BE LOOKING AT SOME SOME CUSTOMER.  OKAY. WELL YOU ALL HELP TO BUILD THE MATTRESS RESERVATION PROGRAM SO FULL FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN OF YOU SO THANK YOU FOR THAT TO JULIA I GUESS. SO WE DID TALK ABOUT CAPEX NEEDING AN UPGRADE. THE LAST HEARING WE NEED SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS FOR THAT. IT WAS BUILT IN THE ERA OF A FLIP PHONE. NOW IN THE IPHONE ERA I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT WE UPGRADE IT. IT MAKES SENSE IS THAT THE INTERNAL NOTIFICATION SYSTEM LIKE IF I AM A CITY EMPLOYEE ESPECIALLY IF I'M PUBLIC FACING AND I KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO GET QUESTIONS FROM A CONSTITUENT IS THAT THE INTERNAL SYSTEM THAT TELLS ME ON ANY GIVEN DAY LIKE TODAY OCTOBER 15TH THERE'S WORK HAPPENING ON THE STREET, THE STREET THE IS THAT WHERE THEY GO OR IS THERE A CENTRALIZED HUB THAT'S IN A GOOGLE EXCEL SHEET OR A GOOGLE DOC THAT HELPS NOTIFY PEOPLE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THEIR COMMUNITY? SO THERE IS KOVAC'S IS NOT THAT KOVAC'S IS BASICALLY WHERE WE LOG THE DESIRE FOR FUTURE WORK THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET. IF YOU'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE STREET TODAY WE DO HAVE A PORTAL WHICH I BELIEVE HOSTED BY DO IT WHERE YOU CAN QUERY LIVE PERMITS AND THAT'S WHERE YOU WOULD LOOK. SO THAT IS I BELIEVE FACING IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SUPER OR USER FRIENDLY, IT'S NOT A MAP YOU HAVE TO KIND OF KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ON THE CITY WEBSITE BUT THAT DOES EXIST SO IF YOU NOTICE THAT THERE'S STREET WORK HAPPENING IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE, YOU GO OUT, YOU LOOK AT THE PERMIT NUMBER OR JUST YOU KNOW YOU CAN LOOK AT THE STREET AND GO ASK THIS WEBSITE.  IT WILL TELL YOU WHAT THE PERMIT IS. IT WON'T TELL YOU WHO THE CONTRACTOR OR IS PROVIDE ANY SORT OF PROJECT INFORMATION. I THINK IT DOES TELL YOU THE CONTRACTOR.  I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME. I DON'T RECALL ALL THE DETAILS BUT I BELIEVE IT DOES LIST THE CONTRACTOR. THANK YOU. AND WHO IS IN CHARGE OF BEFORE I GO TO THAT, WHAT IS THE COORDINATION LOOK LIKE WITH STATE AGENCIES? SO I WILL JUST DISCUSS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE MCARDLE BRIDGE REALLY QUICKLY WHERE WE HAD THE SUMMER TUNNEL CLOSURE AND THE MCARDLE BRID MCARDLE BRIDGE WAS PARTIALLY CLOSED DURING CHELSEA'S 400TH ANNIVERSARY AND SO THERE WERE JUST CONCURRENT DELAYS THROUGHOUT EAST BOSTON.  EAST BOSTON IS AN ISLAND. THERE ARE ONLY CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WAYS TO GET IN AND GET OUT. AND SO THE NEIGHBORHOOD DIDN'T GET NOTICED FOR THAT.  OUR OFFICE CERTAINLY DIDN'T GET NOTICED. NEITHER DO THE STATE REPS OFFICE FOR THE STATE SENATOR'S OFFICE. SO I GUESS IN THAT SITUATION WHAT IS THE NOTIFICATION TO EVEN PUBLIC WORKS OF THE STREETS CABINET THAT THERE IS A CONTRACTOR ON A BRIDGE DOING WORK AND THEN WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION STRATEGY ESPECIALLY FOR FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC AND NEED TO PROVIDE ANSWERS WHEN PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS?  YES. SO THE THE REPAIR WORK ON MCARDLE BRIDGE IS OUR PROJECT THAT IS A PUBLIC WORKS BRIDGE SO THAT IS OUR TEAM OUT THERE.  SO USUALLY THE COORDINATION FOR ANY KIND OF TRAFFIC COORDINATION WOULD HAPPEN THROUGH BTD. SO AGAIN CITY PROJECTS HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS THAT A UTILITY DOES.  IT IS IN-HOUSE SO WE CAN MAKE THE CONNECTIONS A LITTLE FASTER BUT IT'S THE SAME THING. SO THAT WOULD BE THE ED HAS OFFERED LEAD TEAM WITHIN BTD. THEY ARE KIND OF THE KEEPERS OF LIKE WHAT ALL IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE CITY. I THINK IN THAT PARTICULAR CASE OF MCARDLE BRIDGE WE DIDN'T PICK UP SOMETHING THAT WAS HAPPENING BECAUSE IT WAS OUTSIDE OUR JURISDICTION AND SO WE KNEW WE WERE DOING WORK ON OUR BRIDGE. WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY KNOW THAT THERE WERE GOING TO BE A BUNCH OF CLOSURES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT BRIDGE BECAUSE IT WASN'T THE CITY OF BOSTON.  SO USUALLY WE DO HAVE GREAT COORDINATION. I KNOW THAT THE ED HAS FOUR LED TEAM UNDER MY COUNTERPART NICK GOVE, THE OTHER DEPUTY CHIEF. THEY DO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STATE AGENCIES ALL THE TIME. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I DO KNOW THAT THEY DO ON A DAILY BASIS. I THINK JUST THAT PARTICULAR INSTANCE WE DIDN'T HAVE A FLAG COMING ACROSS THE BRIDGE. WE JUST WE UNFORTUNATELY MISSED THAT ONE. APOLOGIZE FOR THAT AND I DO APPRECIATE IT AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A MEETING FORTHCOMING JUST TO DISCUSS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AND JUST TO PREVENT IT . IN THAT INSTANCE THOUGH, IT IS A AND PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT THERE STILL WAS NO NOTIFICATION. IT WAS ONE SIGN THAT WAS PUT UP . NOBODY WENT TO THE COMMUNITY COMMUNITY GROUP. AGAIN, WE DIDN'T GET NOTIFICATION THAT IT WAS EVEN HAPPENING. I DON'T THINK PEOPLE GOT NOTIFICATION THAT IT WAS HAPPENING. SO THERE ARE DEFINITELY SOME INSTANCES WHERE WE COULD BE DOING BETTER NOW ALL THIS IS TO SAY THAT I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU ARE WORKING ON IT AND TRYING TO MAKE THESE INTERNAL PROCESSES BETTER AND I AM I'M REALLY HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU AND YOU'VE BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE AND YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE.  I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, SURE, BUT I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL TO MY OTHER COLLEAGUES. SURE. YEAH, I MEAN I THINK YOU.  COUNCILOR MURPHY. WAIT. SORRY . BEFORE I DO THAT, I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT COUNCILOR FLYNN HAS ALSO JOINED US. SO WELCOME. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILOR MURPHY, FOR YOURS. THANK YOU.  IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS ARE AROUND COMMUNICATION AND WE HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE ARE WORKING AN OLD SYSTEM. SO WHAT DO YOU THINK OUR NEXT STEPS ARE? WHAT INVESTMENT WOULD WE BE LOOKING INTO AND DO YOU HAVE A VISION OF WHAT A NEW SYSTEM WOULD LOOK LIKE THAT WOULD GET US TO A BETTER.  YES. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, COUNCILOR . YES, I THINK THAT WE'RE EAGERLY AWAITING THE PROGRESS THAT IT IS MAKING. I THINK STEPHANIE TOUCHED ON A COUPLE OF TECHNICAL TERMS BUT THE WORK THAT HER TEAM IS DOING NOW IS KIND OF LIKE A VERY NECESSARY AND UNSEXY DATA WORK TO JUST PREPARE OUR SYSTEMS FOR BETTER LAYERED ON SYSTEMS. YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN PRESENTATIONS FROM HER TEAM EXPLAINING ALL THE DISPARATE TYPES OF , YOU KNOW, GAS BASED THINGS THAT WE HAVE HERE WITHIN THE CITY. IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR US TO HAVE ANY NEW TOOLS THAT WORK BETTER UNTIL WE KIND OF BRING THOSE THINGS ALL TOGETHER AND SORT THEM OUT. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.  SO I THINK AS A USER OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES MY TEAM IS VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING LIKE AN ENTERPRISE WIDE BASIS FOR THIS WORK HAVING A NEW TOOL THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE MORE TRANSPARENCY KIND OF AS YOU'VE ALREADY MENTIONED AS EVERYBODY'S ALREADY MENTIONED,  WE DON'T LIKE SURPRISES EITHER AND I THINK THAT SOMETIMES JUST NOT HAVING INFORMATION READILY AT OUR FINGERTIPS MAKES ALL OF THIS COORDINATION WORK MORE DIFFICULT, MORE LABOR INTENSIVE. I MENTIONED THE MANUAL PROCESS OF QUERYING A DATABASE AND THEN MAKING A BUNCH OF PHONE CALLS.  IF WE COULD HAVE THAT DONE JUST BY LOOKING AT A MAP THAT WOULD BE A GAME CHANGER FOR OUR TEAM AND THEN WE COULD MOVE ON TO DEEPER LEVELS OF COMMUNICATION AND MORE NOTIFICATION.  I DO HEAR REPEATEDLY FROM EVERY COUNCILOR HERE TODAY AND A DESIRE FOR A MORE OUTWARD FACING COMMUNITY BASED INFORMATION LIKE HOW CAN COMMUNITIES KNOW THAT THIS IS COMING?  WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A GOOD WAY TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW SO THAT'S A VISION THAT MY TEAM WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SUPPORT YOU KNOW, COORDINATION FOR OUR OWN WORK BUT THEN ALSO MORE TRANSPARENCY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW HEY, I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PARK ON THIS BLOCK NEXT WEEK.  CURRENTLY WE REALLY ONLY GIVE PEOPLE ABOUT 48 HOURS NOTICE AND YOU MENTIONED HOW COBALT WAS CREATED BY CITY WORKER 15 YEARS AGO AND THERE MUST BE WORKERS OUT THERE AND ALL OF THE UTILITIES AND PUBLIC WORKS WHO KNOW THAT THEY COULD DO IT BETTER SOMEHOW OR IT IS DO IT TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE OR ARE YOU KIND OF WORKING ALONE ON YOUR TECHNOLOGY SIDE AND THEN YOU'LL SHARE IT WITH THEM LATER OR IS THERE ALREADY A TEAM IN PLACE FROM ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS? YES, THERE'S ALREADY A TEAM IN PLACE. AS JULIEN MENTIONED, WE'RE YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED INITIALLY ON SOME REALLY FOUNDATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL SET THE STAGE FOR BUILDING NEW PRODUCTS THAT FOLKS LIKE JULIUS TEAM WILL BE ABLE TO USE . BUT WE'VE BEEN REALLY INTENTIONAL ABOUT ENGAGING THE YOU KNOW, EITHER THE CURRENT USERS OF SOME OF THESE SYSTEMS OR SORT OF THE THE NEXT SET OF OF DEPARTMENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BUILDING WHAT WILL WORK FOR THEM AND WHAT WILL MEET THEIR NEEDS. AND SO JULIA HAS BEEN VERY KIND TO OFFER UP TIME FROM BOTH HERSELF AND HER TEAM FOR US TO HAVE DISCOVERY CONVERSATIONS AND UNDERSTAND HOW ARE YOU USING CAPEX TODAY? WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU WISH? KOVACS COULD DO THAT IT CAN'T RIGHT NOW SO THAT AS WE ARE THINKING ABOUT BUILDING THE NEXT VERSION WE MAKE IT BETTER THAN IT WAS WHEN IT WAS INITIALLY BUILT AND IMPROVE AND ENHANCE THE FUNCTIONALITY.  WELL THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR. ONE THING ABOUT THE IF RESIDENTS OR YOU KNOW BUSINESS OWNERS OR SCHOOL BUS DRIVER CAN'T STOP WITH THEIR STOP. OFTENTIMES I SEE YOU KNOW THEY MIGHT CALL ME LIKE I SAID BUT I'M NOT THERE AND I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW TO TRACK IT ALL DOWN RIGHT AWAY BUT IN OFTEN TIMES THEY MAY THE POLICE DETAIL IF THERE'S A COP ON DETAIL THEY MIGHT ASK THE LABOR THEMSELVES QUESTIONS ABOUT IT WHICH AND THEY PROBABLY DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS I WOULD USE IN JEST THAT EVERYONE SHOULD ALWAYS JUST CALL 311 FIRST. AND THEN MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION AND I KNOW 311 IS IN HERE BUT ARE THEY EQUIPPED WITH ALL OF THAT INFORMATION FOR WHEN CALLS ABOUT SPECIFIC STREET WORK COMES IN? THESE ARE THESE ARE GREAT QUESTIONS. COUNCILOR I THINK THAT I DON'T I DON'T WORK FOR 311I WOULD DEFINITELY THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION FOR ERNIE AND TEAM I THINK THAT THEY HAVE BASIC INFORMATION BUT I THINK THAT BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OF INFORMATION ISN'T READILY AVAILABLE THERE IS NOT REALLY A WAY FOR THE 311 TEAM TO HAVE LIKE DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF ANY PARTICULAR THING HAPPENING IN THE STREET AND OFTEN THE BEST THAT THEY CAN DO IS KIND OF REFER SOMEBODY TO THE CORRECT DEPARTMENT LIKE WOULD THEY REFER A CALL DIRECTLY TO BOSTON WATER AND SEWER WHERE YOU SAID YOU COULD ANSWER IT? YEAH WE GET A LOT OF THREE ONE ONES AND WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO MONITORS THAT ALL THE TIME AND IF IT'S A NON CONSTRUCTION PROJECT WELL WE'LL RESPOND TO THE 311.  THAT'S GOOD. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR . COUNCILOR FITZGERALD.  THANK YOU, CHAIR. I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS BUT IF POSSIBLE I KNOW THAT COUNCILOR COLLETTE IS ABOUT TO DOES HAVE I KNEW SHE HAD REFERENCE SHE HAD SOME MORE QUESTIONS SO SHE'D LIKE TO USE SOME OF THE TIME IF YOU COULD LET HER ASK HER QUESTIONS. SO YOUR TIME BECOMES LIKE A LETTER. THAT'S THE SHORT WAY OF SAYING IT. YEAH I WAS VERY OVERSTATING IT. THAT IS GRANTED YOU CAN UM.  COUNCILOR FLYNN.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND THANK YOU TO THE PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE. I APOLOGIZE TO THE PANEL AND TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR BEING LATE. I HAD A PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENT. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I FEEL IF I ASK QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE BEEN ANSWERED ALREADY SO I'LL ACTUALLY WATCH THE VIDEO LATER. TONIGHT.  BUT THANK YOU MR CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO THE PANELISTS.  THANK YOU, COUNCILOR . COUNCILOR CALERO, WHAT FLOOR IS YOURS? AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.  HOW LONG IS THE AVERAGE TIME BETWEEN A PERMANENT PATCH AND A FULL CITY REPAIR? OH MY GOODNESS. I COULD NOT GIVE YOU THAT ANSWER TODAY.  WE CAN TRY AND SEE IF WE CAN COME UP WITH AN AVERAGE TIME LONGER THAN IT SHOULD BE. I THINK.  BUT WE CAN WORK ON GETTING YOU AN ANSWER THAT WOULD BE GREAT AND YOU HAVE ALL OF THE THE METRICS TO QUANTIFY IT. YOU KNOW, NOT AT OUR FINGERTIPS. AGAIN, THIS IS A MANUAL PROCESS SO I WILL HAVE TO ASSIGN AN ENGINEER TO GO LOOK AT SOME SAMPLE STREETS AND SEE WHEN UTILITY WORK WAS COMPLETED. AND THEN WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO DEPLOY OUR OWN PATCHING AND PAVING WORK AND THEN THE SAME GOES FOR THE LIKE THE CROSSWALKS AND STRIPING AND ALL OF THAT YEAH. OKAY THANK YOU TO BOSTON MOTOR AND SEWER SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK I APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSIVENESS EVERY SINGLE TIME THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON IN MY DISTRICT AND THERE IS A LOT ON IN MY DISTRICT I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO JEAN-LUC WHO IS SO, SO SUPPORTIVE. WENT OUT TO VISIT A RESIDENT ON SATURDAY I THINK AND HELPED WITH SOMETHING ON THURSTON STREET. SO I WANT TO THANK HIM YOUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND NOTIFICATION PLAN SO I REMEMBER SITTING IN THE MONTE ROOM WITH YOU ALL IN 2019 TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR A CONSTANT CONTACT SORT OF EMAIL OR A TEXTING APPARATUS THAT ALLOWS FOR FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND IN REAL TIME WHAT IS HAPPENING. YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE EMAILS THAT GO OUT AND I DO GET THEM WHICH IS WHICH IS GREAT. WHO DO THESE EMAILS GO TO AND HOW ARE RESIDENTS ABLE TO SIGN UP FOR THEM AND HOW DO THEY EVEN KNOW IF THEY EXIST? SO ON OUR UPCOMING EAST BOSTON SOURCE OPERATION WE ARE SIMILAR TO SOUTH BOSTON. WE ARE HAVING THAT OVERSEEN BY A CONSULTANT AND PART OF THE CONTRACT WE HAVE WITH OUR CONSULTANT IS FOR THEM TO HIRE A PR FIRM SO THAT HAS NOT BEEN SET UP YET BUT THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE EMAILS FOR A PROJECT UPDATES AND NOTIFICATIONS AND THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES.  THAT FIRM WILL ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING THE UPDATES THAT WE PUT ON OUR WEBSITE AND THERE THERE WAS NONE OF THAT REALLY FOR SAY FOR EXAMPLE THAT CHARLESTOWN CONSTRUCTION THAT'S BEEN ONGOING FOR THE LAST YEAR. SO THOSE ARE MANAGED IN HOUSE.  I WON'T SAY THERE WAS NONE OF THAT BUT IT WILL THOSE THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A SEPARATE PR FIRM TO MANAGE THOSE JOBS. THOSE UPDATES ARE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE THAT WE GIVE LIKE AN ADDITIONAL PROJECT OVERVIEW FOR TIMING AND UPDATES SOLELY ON OUR WEBSITE. YOU CAN GO TO ANY STREET WE'RE ON WE'LL GIVE YOU THE PERCENT COMPLETE. IT'S JUST LIKE A GENERIC 5040 BUT FOR CERTAIN PROJECT CHARLESTOWN BEING ONE OF THEM YOU CAN CLICK IT AND IT WILL BRING YOU TO A PROJECT UPDATE PAGE WHERE WE POST LIKE A PDF OF A MORE DETAILED UPDATE SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ON TIMING AND IMPACTS OF THE WORK AND THAT'S UPDATED CONTINUOUSLY AS THE PROJECT IS ONGOING OR WE DO THEM MONTHLY IF IF THE WORK IS MOVING FAST OR IS REQUESTED FROM THE CONSTITUENT SOMETIMES WE'LL DO THEM EVERY TWO WEEKS. AND ARE THESE NOTICES THAT ARE SENT OUT TO FLIERS IS IT THROUGH CERTIFIED MAIL AND IS IT AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH AND WE DON'T SEND THEM OUT CERTIFIED MAIL THEY TAKE OVER REGULAR MAIL TO OWNER IN A QUARTER IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS WE DO TRANSLATE THEM. I KNOW WHEN HE'S POSTED WE HAVE A TRANSLATED INTO SPANISH AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND THERE IS A SENTENCE AT THE END THAT THEY CAN CALL TO HAVE IT TRANSLATED. IT'S IN I THINK SEVEN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AT THE BOTTOM.  OKAY. I WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THIS CONSULTANT WHEN THEY ARE CHOSEN. A LOT OF US HAVE HAD TO GET MESSAGE MESSAGES OUT PRETTY QUICKLY TO OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR CONSTITUENTS AND HAVE A LOT TO OFFER AND DEFINITELY HAVE SOME SOME IDEAS INCLUDING THE TEXTING AS COUNCILOR PRESTON HAD HAD MENTIONED AND I DO JUST WANT TO SHOUT OUT EVERSOURCE IN THIS REGARD BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE AN INCREDIBLE EMAIL THAT I HAVE IN MY INBOX THAT GIVES A TIMELINE, PROVIDE CONTACT INFORMATION WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON THAT WEEK IN TERMS OF THE WORK. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ASKING YOU TO HAVE QUESTIONS STILL THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE UP ON THE ON THE PANEL. BUT I JUST WANT TO SHOUT THEM OUT AND THANK BOSSES ONE AND TWO BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK SINCE WE FIRST MET IN 2019 AND I THINK AGAIN WE MET IN 2021 TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IT COMMUNICATION STRATEGY MIGHT LOOK LIKE. DO YOU FOLKS HAVE SOMEBODY GOING OUT TO COMMUNITY GROUPS AS WELL AND CIVIC ASSOCIATION STILL LET THEM KNOW?  YEAH. SO WE I PERSONALLY HAVE DONE ONE SO FAR. IT'LL LET RESIDENTS KNOW ABOUT THIS UPCOMING PROJECT THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS NEW PROJECT THERE WILL BE A FIVE CONTRACTOR PROJECT IS LIKELY GOING TO START IN APRIL SO WE WILL BE DOING ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS AHEAD OF THE CONSTRUCTION START ON THAT PROJECT.  THAT'S IT FOR ME TO THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.  THANK YOU. I HAVE TWO FINAL QUESTIONS FOR THE SPECIFIC PANEL.  I'LL JUST ADD SOME BOTH AND THEN ALLOW YOU TO ANSWER SITTING IN THIS HEARING LITERALLY I GOT A MESSAGE FROM A CONSTITUENT SAYS I'M INQUIRING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY UPCOMING PLANS TO PAVE BELGRADE OUT OF AND ROSLINDALE. THE STREET IS IN ROUGH SHAPE FROM WORK FOR FROM A SPECIFIC COMPANY THERE ARE PATCH TRENCHES ALL OVER THE ROAD. SO MY QUESTION TO THAT IS IF THERE'S ENOUGH PATCHING ON A MAIN ROAD LIKE THAT, DOES THE CITY EVER CONSIDER TO JUST PAVE THE ENTIRE STREET OR WHAT IS THE THRESHOLD THAT THEY HAVE TO MEET IN ORDER TO FOR YOU GUYS FOR THE FOR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO SAY ALL RIGHT, THIS DESERVES TO BE ENTIRELY SURFACED OVER AND THEN LEADING UP TO THAT I HAVE A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE OF A PROJECT IN MY DISTRICT THAT HAS BEEN GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION THE COMMONS HIGHWAY REDESIGN THAT THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF BEING ENGAGED WITH THE COMMUNITY GOING TO A LOT OF CIVIC MEETINGS SHARING THIS THE WORKS WORK WITH EVERYONE. WHAT'S THE THRESHOLD THAT YOU ALL THINK A PROJECT HAS TO BE IN ORDER TO DO THAT TYPE OF ACTIVATION OF OUTREACH BECAUSE THAT'S A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE. I'M JUST CURIOUS TO SEE LIKE IS THERE CERTAIN CRITERIA THAT THE PROJECT HAS TO MEET IN ORDER FOR THAT TO BE THAT MUCH ENGAGEMENT?  SURE. SO I'LL I'LL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS GOING BACKWARDS.  SO THANK YOU FOR THE POSITIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT THE ENGAGEMENT THAT OUR TEAM HAS BEEN DOING FOR CUMMINS HIGHWAY THAT IS OUR LARGEST CAPITAL PROJECT FOR STREETS RIGHT NOW SO THAT IS WHY YOU SEE SO MUCH ATTENTION THAT'S A PROJECT MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING.  OUR DESIGN TEAM HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH COMMUNITY FOR YEARS AND YEARS SO WE'RE NOW FINALLY AT THAT LAST STAGE OF CONSTRUCTION.  IS THERE A THRESHOLD IN A WAY YES. FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE WORK WHICH IS JUST LIKE PAVING A STREET OR NOT NECESSARILY TOOLED TO HAVE A ROBUST ENGAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR THAT YOU WILL SEE THE MOST ROBUST ENGAGEMENT FROM THE STREETS CABINET FOR WHEN WE HAVE CHANGES HAPPENING TO STREETS. SO IF WE'RE REORGANIZING THE STREET FOR EITHER A BUS OR A BIKE LANE, IF WE ARE ADDING SAFETY ELEMENTS WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE CHANGES TO A STREET THAT'S WHEN YOU'LL SEE US THE MOST. HISTORICALLY THE CITY HAS NOT HAD ANY KIND OF SIGNIFICANT ENGAGEMENT PLAN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE WORK THAT IS NOT CHANGING THE STREET. SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW WE'VE DONE IT UP UNTIL NOW. NOT NOT SAYING THAT'S THE WAY IT NEEDS TO BE.  TO YOUR OTHER QUESTION OF HOW DOES THE CITY DECIDE LIKE WHAT STREET NEEDS TO BE PAVED? WE UNFORTUNATELY HAVE A LOT OF STREETS TO CHOOSE FROM. THERE ARE A LOT OF STORIES THAT ARE IN POOR SHAPE ALL ACROSS THE CITY SO WHEN WE GO THROUGH OUR PLANNING PROCESS OF FIGURING OUT WHAT STREETS CAN BE PAVED YEAR AND SOMETIMES THAT LIST CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE SEASON EVEN AS WE'RE PAVING WE GO THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF PRIMARILY LIKE IS CONSTRUCTION ON THIS STREET DONE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION JUST BECAUSE A STREET HAS A LOT OF CUTS AND PATCHES IN IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE WON'T MORE. SO THAT'S ONE THING AGAIN TALKING ABOUT OUR CAPEX SYSTEM AND THE ENGINEER IS GOING TO QUERY IT EVEN IF A SHAPE EVEN IF IN THE STREET IS IN BAD SHAPE IT'S GOT ALL KINDS OF CUTS, ALL KINDS OF PATCHES IF THERE'S STILL WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR IT IF WE CAN HELP IT ANYWAY BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE OUR FRESHLY PAVED STREET CUT UP YET AGAIN. SO THAT'S AN EXERCISE GO THROUGH.  WE HAVE A LOT OF STREETS THAT ARE KIND OF IN THAT STAGE.  WE'RE WAITING FOR THE KNOWN UTILITY WORK TO BE COMPLETE OR MAYBE DEVELOPMENT WORK FOR ADJACENT PARCELS TO BE COMPLETE SO THAT WE CAN GO OUT AND RESTORE THE STREET TO A GOOD CONDITION.  THAT UNFORTUNATELY IS THE CASE FOR MANY STREETS IN BOSTON.  OTHER THAN THAT, WE WE DO KNOW A LOT OF OUR STREETS ARE IN ROUGH SHAPE AND SO WE DO KIND OF TRY TO PICK OUT THE WORST ONES THAT ARE ALL CLEARED OF WORK THAT NEED THE WORK THE MOST LIKE THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WE TRY TO DO. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT'S IT FOR ME . ANY OTHER FOLLOW ON QUESTION BEFORE WE CLOSE THIS PANEL? ANY CLOSING STATEMENTS? WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE YOUR TESTIMONY FOR THE FOR THE WORK YOU ALL DO. BUT THAT'S IT. WE'LL MOVE ON NOW WITH OUR SECOND PANEL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR.  BEFORE WE MOVE ON WITH OUR SECOND PANEL, I DO WANT TO CALL FOR A PUBLIC VIRTUAL PUBLIC TESTIMONY.  I KNOW THERE'S SOME FOLKS THAT HAVE TO LEAVE A LITTLE EARLY.  NO MIC FOR YOU ARE THE ONLY AUDIO HERE.  OKAY. SO YEAH. ALL RIGHT. NICK, CAN YOU HEAR US? YES. CAN YOU HEAR ME ? YES. PERFECT. YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES FOR YOUR PUBLIC TESTIMONY.  OKAY. THANK YOU. SO I LIVE IN CHARLESTOWN AND THE REASON I WANT TO JOIN IS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A PART OF SOME OF LIKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL BASIC SERVICE MEETINGS AND I THINK LIKE A LOT OF THE TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS HAVE BEEN WHAT WE'VE SORT OF COME TO WHICH IS THAT THE COMMUNICATION PIECE IS REALLY TOP ESPECIALLY FOR FOLKS IN CHARLESTOWN WHO YOU KNOW ARE OLDER OR MAYBE DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE ABILITY TO GET THE INFORMATION AS EASILY BUT I THINK LIKE THE TEXTING SYSTEM THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT WOULD BE REALLY USEFUL. EMAILS I KNOW ONE THING THAT'S I THINK THE DIRECT WAY IS LIKE IT WAS TALKED ABOUT THAT 90% OF THE WORKING DAY IS SUCCESS WORKING DAYS TIMELINE IS HAD SUCCESSFULLY AND IF THAT'S THE CASE I THINK LIKE MAYBE INCLUDING AN ESTIMATION OF COMPLETION AND ON THE STREET PERMITS WOULD BE HELPFUL JUST BECAUSE I KNOW THE SYSTEM GOES YOU KNOW 30, 60, 90 DAY INCREMENTS AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF FOLKS GET INFORMATION. THAT'S WHERE I'VE GOT INFORMATION AND YOU KNOW, IT'S TOUGH TO SEE YOU KNOW, A PERMIT IS OUT THERE FOR 60 DAYS AND THEN AT THE COMPLETION OF 60 DAYS YOU KNOW, ANOTHER 60 DAY ONE APPEARS AND IT'S IT SORT OF SENDS I THINK THE WRONG MESSAGE. OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE TIMELINES PRESENTED AT THE BEGINNING.  I THINK THAT INFORMATION CAN GET LOST IN TRANSLATION. SO JUST BEING MORE TRANSPARENT IN THE COMMUNICATION ABOUT WHAT THE COMPLETION DATE WOULD BE IS SOMETHING THAT COMES TO MIND. ONE OTHER ADDITIONAL PIECE OF COMMUNICATION THAT I THINK WOULD BE USEFUL IS JUST KNOWING LIKE WHAT PERCENTAGE OF STREETS ARE CLOSED AT A GIVEN TIME FOR PARKING. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ANECDOTAL YOU KNOW ALL THE PARKING IS CLOSED ON PLEASANT STREET AND ALL THE PARKING AROUND NINE ROUND SQUARES CLOSED BUT IF THERE WAS A WAY TO KNOW LIKE YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S BEING MONITORED AND IF IT IS WHETHER IT'S PRIVATE CONTRACTORS COMMUNITY WORK AT CITY SERVICES JUST HAVING THAT INFORMATION A LITTLE BIT MORE AT THE DISPOSAL OF RESIDENTS I THINK.  SO THAT'S MY $0.02 ON THE COMMUNICATION PIECE. WHAT I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL AS A RESIDENT BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S ALREADY SOME STUFF IN FLIGHT WHICH GETTING THE TEXT AND THE EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS GOING FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU NICK ZARIN AMANDA MITCHELL AMANDA , CAN YOU HEAR US? I CAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.  MY NAME IS AMANDA MITCHELL. I'M SORRY . MY DAUGHTER'S TRAMPOLINE IS IN THE BACK GROUND OF THIS MAP.  MOVE MYSELF. I OWN TWO SMALL BUSINESSES IN CHARLESTOWN PLACE AND GATHER AND JUNEBUG. BOTH HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF BOSTON WATER AND SEWER.  NATIONAL GRID. BOSTON PUBLIC WORKS. PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT ALL HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY. MY SALES AT CLOSE TOGETHER HAVE DECREASED ALMOST 30% SINCE THE CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN AND I FEAR THE SAME IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO MY OTHER BUSINESS JUNEBUG FOR WHAT'S COMING IN 2025. I RECEIVED NO NOTICE ABOUT BOSTON WATER AND SEWER ITS CONSTRUCTION AT PLACE TOGETHER WHICH ENDED UP LASTING OVER A YEAR. EVEN IF I GOT THE FLIER THAT THEY MAIL OUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE WORK BEGINS THERE IS NOTHING THAT COULD HAVE PREPARED ME FOR THE SIZE SCALE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT THE WORK AROUND THE VICINITY OF PLACE TOGETHER STARTED LAST AUGUST AND IT JUST WAS COMPLETED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. THAT BEING SAID, AS THE BOSTON WATER AND SEWER SPOKESPERSON SAID THE PAVING IT TAKES A WHILE FOR IT TO GET REPAVED SO WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE COMPLETED PAVING WHICH IS STILL I AM ASSUMING COMING IN 2025. I WAS ANTICIPATING A DIP IN SALES OF CONSTRUCTION BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE I WOULD BE SEEING COVID LIKE SALES NUMBERS . I NOW DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CASH FLOW TO HAVE ADEQUATE INVENTORY FOR THE HOLIDAYS 2020 OR Q4 OF THIS YEAR AS THE BUSIEST TIME FOR US AND I CAN'T HIT MY SALES NUMBERS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CASH BECAUSE OF HOW OFF MY SALES HAVE BEEN BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION.  EARLIER THIS YEAR I GOT A THREE DAY NOTICE AT JUNEBUG THAT WAS HAND DELIVERED BEFORE NATIONAL GRID WORK BY MEANY BROTHERS. BUT MY WORRY IS BOSTON WATER AND SEWER WILL CONTINUE AFTER NATIONAL GRID.  THEY WERE THE ONES TO ALERT ME TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHEN WATER AND SEWER WOULD START WORKING BECAUSE IF THIS LASTS ON MAIN STREET LIKE IT DID AROUND MY BUSINESS IN THE TRAINING FIELD MYSELF AND OTHERS MIGHT BE OUT OF BUSINESS. PROBLEMS OF CONSTRUCTION HAPPEN. WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE WANT GOOD INFRASTRUCTURE. IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.  THAT BEING SAID, A NEW MAPPING TOOL CAN'T BE MADE BY 2025. A GEOSPATIAL TOOL THAT ALSO WILL HAVE TO BE BETA TESTED AND DEVELOPED CAN'T COME QUICK ENOUGH SO WE NEED THE STREETS DEPARTMENT TO COME ACTUALLY TAKE A LOOK PHYSICALLY DRIVE AROUND AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING WHEN PLANS AND DELAYS AREN'T COMMUNICATED IT MAKES OPERATING A BUSINESS ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE.  THE ANSWERS I GOT FROM BOSTON WATER AND SEWER WERE THINGS LIKE THIS WILL END WHEN CONSTRUCTION SEASON ENDS AND I DIDN'T ACTUALLY GET ANY SPECIFIC DATES OR TIMELINE UNTIL WBEZ CAME AND I POSTED A VIRAL INSTAGRAM REEL SO COMMUNICATION IS CRITICAL. I'VE STRUGGLED TO KEEP MY EMPLOYEES PAID. WE BUY FROM LOCAL VENDORS.  I'VE STRUGGLED TO SUPPORT THEM. I EMPLOY 16 PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND I CAN'T RUN MY PAYROLL PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME TO CLOSE OR JUST SHUT MY DOORS WHILE THE CONSTRUCTION TAKES PLACE BUT I HAVE SALARIED EMPLOYEES AND I RUN MY PAYROLL WHETHER MY BUSINESS IS OPEN OR NOT. MY STORES ARE ALSO A FIXTURE OF PRIDE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I GAVE BACK $10,000 TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY LAST YEAR AND I'VE SHUT OFF ALL MY DONATIONS BECAUSE MY SALES ARE SO OFF BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION. SO WE DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE IN 2025 AND 2026. WE KNOW THIS ANY WORK TAKES MONTHS AND MONTHS OF PLANNING. IT MIGHT TAKE YEARS AND IF THE CITY KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENING THEY NEED TO LET US KNOW AND IF WE NEED TO KNOW MORE IN MORE THAN TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE NOTICE FOR A PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO LAST A YEAR IF 2025 LOOKS LIKE 2024 IN CHARLESTOWN YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE FAR LESS OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES SURVIVE. SOME OF US BARELY GOT THROUGH COVID AND THIS FEELS LIKE THE SAME SITUATION BUT IT COULD BE LESSENED WITH SUPPORT IN GENERAL CARE AND CONCERN FROM THE BOSTON GOVERNMENT ON THE IMPACTED SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU, AMANDA . WE HAVE ONE MORE FROM DONNA.  HI EVERYONE.  I HOPE YOU CAN HEAR ME . YES, MY NAME IS DONNA GARLOW.  I AM THE OWNER OF MONRO, A HOMEWOOD SHOP ON MAIN STREET IN CHARLESTOWN NEIGHBORING TO AMANDA AND I HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED BY EVERYBODY WHO'S SEEN THE IMPACT ON MAIN STREET TO COME IN FRONT OF THIS PANEL AND SHARE MY EXPERIENCE WITH YOU AS WELL SINCE THE PROJECT STARTED ON MAIN STREET IN JUNE, I WOULD ESTIMATE THAT I'VE LOST $50,000 IN SALES ON JUNE 2ND I GOT A PRINT OUT HAND-DELIVERED ALSO BY FINNEY BROTHERS REGARDING THE WORK THAT WOULD RUN FROM THE FOLLOWING DAY THE NEXT DAY THROUGH AUGUST 31ST AGAIN DELIVERED ON JUNE 2ND. THAT LETTER WAS THE ONLY ADVANCE NOTIFICATION I HAVE EVER RECEIVED ABOUT ANY CONSTRUCTION.  SIX WEEKS PAST THAT AUGUST 31ST DATE WE ARE STILL SEEING NEAR-DAILY DISRUPTIONS AS PEOPLE ARE OPERATING BULLDOZERS WITHIN INCHES OF MY SHOP THEY'RE BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK AND LITERALLY MY FRONT DOOR WITH CONES SO MY CUSTOMERS WITH STROLLERS AND CANES CAN'T COME CLOSE. THEY'RE BLOCKING MY PATH ON SQUARE SO MY EMPLOYEES HAVE NOWHERE TO PARK FOR A SIX HOUR SHIFT BECAUSE THEY CAN USE TWO HOUR PARKING. THEY CAN'T NEW STREET PERMITS. I SPOKE TO AN INSPECTOR ON SITE FRIDAY ABOUT SOME CONES THAT WERE LEFT BEHIND THREE DAYS PAST THE PERMIT BLOCKING IT AND MAKING SURE WE WEREN'T OPEN OR THAT PEOPLE COULDN'T PARK AND HE SAID YEAH, YOU CAN MOVE THEM IF YOU WANT TO AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE JUST CONTRACTORS TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE IMPACT THAT IT'S HAVING ON OUR SMALL BUSINESS. I MEAN CLEARLY THERE'S A PMR, AN ENGINEER WORKING WHETHER IT'S IN KOBUK OR OTHERWISE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE WORK CREWS AREN'T OVERLAPPING. BUT WE AS BUSINESS OWNERS ARE GETTING ZERO PROACTIVE NOTICE SOMETIMES THE ONLY WARNING WE GET IS JUST SEEING A NO PARKING SIGN WRAPPED AROUND A CONE THAT'S DROPPED IN FRONT OF OUR STORES NO MAILINGS, NO FLIERS. I FEEL LIKE AN INTERN WITH A POST-IT NOTE COULD HAVE HELPED US AS A BUSINESS. ANTICIPATE THIS BETTER. I HAVE NOT BY DECIDED NOT TO BY STORE INVENTORY FOR THE SUMMER OR FOR THE FALL OR TO NOT HIRE SUMMER STAFF. I'VE GOT A MOUNTAIN OF CREDIT CARD DEBT NOW INCLUDING INTEREST. I'VE OPENED MORE CREDIT CARDS MAXED OUT MY SMALL BUSINESS LINE OF CREDIT. I'VE MISSED MY PAYROLL TO MY EMPLOYEES.  I'M REFINANCING MY HOME TO PAY OFF MY SBA LOAN THAT I TOOK OUT TO REFURBISH THIS SHOP DURING THE PANDEMIC AND IT'S JUST DECIMATED MY BUSINESS AND MY PERSONAL FINANCES. I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE WHAT IMPACT THIS HAS. IT'S NOT FAIR AND IT'S NOT RIGHT AND WE DESERVE SOME PROACTIVE NOTIFICATION.  THANK YOU, DONNA.  ALL RIGHT. THIS TIME I WANT TO CALL UP TO THE TO THE STAGE OUR SECOND PANEL. YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE END.  I'M SORRY . GOT MATT BAYNES, MICHAEL FITZGERALD, JOHN CALDWELL THERE . OH JOHN YOU US FROM ALL RIGHT.  OKAY SO JOHN AND ANTHONY IS WHO FROM NATIONAL GRID YEAH FOUR OR ALL RIGHT WE'LL GET US  ALL TOGETHER IN BETWEEN YEAH OKAY OKAY BEFORE WE GET WITH YOU WE DO HAVE AN IN-PERSON TESTIMONY RIGHT BEHIND WHOSE NAME IS JOHN. SO JOHN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND GIVE YOU A PUBLIC TESTIMONY EITHER EITHER SIDE.  THANK YOU.  HI. MY NAME IS JOHN PROVENZANO, RESIDENT SOUTH BOSTON.  MY WHOLE LIFE I HAD A FEW COMMENTS AND MOST OF IT IS I WAS A UNION OFFICER FARMERS OVER 23 YEARS AND IN MY UNION ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE STRESSED MAINLY FROM THE BOSTON EDISON WAS SAFETY. SO THE PEOPLE THAT DO HAVE COMPLAINTS AND I'VE LISTENED TO MY NEIGHBORS AND THEY'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE DISCOMFORT OF HAVING TO DRIVE DRIVE NOT EVEN WALK A COUPLE OF BLOCKS TO GET AROUND THE CONSTRUCTION.  IT'S JUST A WAY OF LIFE. YOU HAVE TO DO IT WHEN YOU HAVE IN THIS KIND OF CONSTRUCTION TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THE WORK WHETHER IT'S TAKEN UP FOR THE FOR THE FOR THE LINES I'LL FILL IN THEM BACK IN THE HEAVY WORK THE HEAVY CONSTRUCTION WORK THAT'S DONE. IT'S DANGEROUS WORK AND IT'S ONE THING THAT I TOLD ALL MY YOUNG FELLOW UNION PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME IN IS WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING DO NOT RUSH BECAUSE YOU'RE DEALING WITH WHETHER IT'S THE THE UNDERGROUND CABLES OR OUTSIDE WITH THE HEAVY CONSTRUCTION IT TAKES TIME.  SO WHEN SOMEONE SAYS THIS IS GOING TO BE DONE IN THREE MONTHS OR WHATEVER AND IT TAKES SIX MONTHS BELIEVE ME IF YOU WERE IN THAT MANHOLE YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO BE RUSH IN DOING THAT. SO MY SUPPORT GOES OUT AND I WISH I WAS ABLE TO TALK TO THE THREE PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE THAT WAS HERE. BUT MY SUPPORT GOES OUT TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THE WORK AND MY SUGGESTION TO THE THE MANAGEMENT PEOPLE AND EVERY DIFFERENT SORT PART OF THIS YEAR IS THAT NUMBER ONE WANTS THE WORK IS DONE RIGHT. I BELIEVE ONE OF THE WOMAN SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE IT'S SO INCONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE OR WHATEVER PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE TO THE MANAGEMENT PEOPLE IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND I WISH THEY COULD UNDERSTAND THAT OH MY TOOL IS 2 MINUTES. NO KIDDING. THAT'S IT.  ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A FEW MORE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING DOING IT INCLUDING THE POLICE WHO HAVE TO STAND UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT TRAFFIC AND LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AGGRAVATED BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GO AROUND THE BLOCK OR WHATEVER. THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.  SO GOOD LUCK TO YOU GUYS. GOOD LUCK TO YOU COUNSELORS.  THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME . COUNCILORS THANK YOU. INCLUDING YOU, RON THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE ON TO OUR SECOND PANEL NOW. IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ALMOST AN ENTIRE MLB LINEUP HERE SEVEN OF YOU. SO LET'S GO WITH INTRO OF NAMES ,TITLES AND ORGANIZATION. THEY REPRESENTING AND THEN WE'LL GO ON TO ANY STATEMENTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE BEFORE Q&A STARTING HERE. SURE. MY NAME IS MATTHEW BEANS. I AM THE SENIOR SUPERVISOR OF THE CONDUIT AND DIG SAFE GROUP THAT'S OUR UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION DIVISION ON THE ELECTRIC SIDE FOR EVERSOURCE,  MICHAEL FITZGERALD, COMMUNITY RELATIONS SPECIALIST FOR EVERSOURCE JOHN CALDWELL,  MANAGER OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS AT EVERSOURCE ALREADY GEORGE COPLEY'S DIRECTOR OF GAS FIELD OPERATIONS, NATIONAL GRID GOOD AFTERNOON. JOE CARROLL DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS, NATIONAL GRID SO VICTOR SANTANA, COMMUNITY MANAGER, NATIONAL GRID. BRIAN BEDELL CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AND NATIONAL GRID THANK YOU ALL 38 OPENING REMARKS IN THE OPENING PRESENTATIONS YOU ALL WANT TO PROVIDE. YES.  YES. SO MY NAME IS MATTHEW VIENS.  I MANAGE THE CONDUIT AND CONSTRUCTION GROUP AS I MENTIONED SO I JUST WANTED TO GO OVER A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF KIND OF WHAT WE DO AND SOME THINGS THAT APPLY TO WHAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY. SO WE MANAGE ABOUT 50 CONTRACTOR CREWS IN THE EASTERN MASS TERRITORY ON ANY GIVEN DAY ABOUT 8 TO 10 OF THOSE CREWS ARE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON WORKING.  WE ALSO HAVE TWO DEDICATED RESTORATION CREWS DOING THAT WORK AT ALL TIMES. THEY ARE DIRECTLY SUPERVISED BY A TEAM OF CONDUIT INSPECTORS CURRENTLY WE HAVE SIX DEDICATED TO JUST THOSE CREWS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.  THEIR JOB IS TO MAINTAIN THE SAFETY OF THE CREWS.  HAZARD ASSESSMENTS FOLLOW UP WITH THE TRAFFIC PLANS MEETING WITH THE SIU'S AND MONITORING FOR THE CITY SPECS AND THE REGULATIONS OF THE PERMIT THAT CAN BE BACKFILLING COMPACTION PAVING THE MAJORITY OF THAT WORK IS PLANNED WORK THAT GOES THROUGH THE PERMIT PROCESS WE DISCUSSED KOVACS AND GOING THROUGH THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. WE HAVE HAD GREAT COORDINATION WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON THIS YEAR WE AVERAGE ABOUT THIS IS OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS BUT APPROXIMATELY 450 PERMITS PER YEAR FOR PLANNED CONSTRUCTION IN THE PEAK SEASON THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF TROUBLE WE'RE IN ABOUT THE THIRTIES FOR EMERGENCY PERMITS THAT ARE CALLED IN. THOSE COULD BE SERVICE FAULTS,  DIG INS, LINE OUTAGES, ANY SORT OF STRUCTURE DAMAGE THAT GOES THROUGH ANY PERMIT PROCESS WITH AN ONLINE FORM THAT NOTIFIES THE CITY COORDINATION WISE WE'VE DONE A LOT WITH BOSTON WATER AND SEWER THIS YEAR AND NATIONAL GRID RESOLVING CONFLICTS. YOU KNOW A LOT OF THAT WAS BROUGHT UP ALREADY.  WE'VE DONE A TON OF WORK THIS YEAR WITH THAT HAS OFFERED SPECIFIC EMERGENCY WORK AND NOTIFICATIONS AND WE'VE DONE A LOT OF COORDINATION WITH THE PAVING SO WHEN WE GET NOTIFIED THAT A CITY OF BOSTON STREET IS GOING TO BE PAVED, WE CHECK ALL OF THE MANHOLES. WE LOOK AT ANY PLANNED FUTURE CONSTRUCTION EITHER FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT OR UPGRADES.  WE'LL SWAP OUT ALL THE CASTINGS AND MAKE SURE THE MANHOLES ARE IN GOOD SHAPE SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT COMING BACK TWO YEARS LATER AND HAVE TO FIX A COLLAPSED CASTING AND THE CITY HAS BEEN AWESOME WORKING WITH US AS FAR AS THAT COORDINATION GOES. AND THEN JUST MY LAST PIECE HERE JUST TO TOUCH A LITTLE MORE ON THE SAFETY SIDE OF THINGS AND SOME TRAINING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND FOCUSED ON. YOU KNOW, WE DO OUR USUAL YOU KNOW, A YEARLY MONTHLY WEEKLY SAFETY TRAINING AND THAT'S WITH ALL OF OUR INTERNAL FOLKS AS WELL AS THE CONTRACTORS THAT DO THE WORK FOR US.  BUT YOU KNOW, HEARING EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID TODAY ,TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN A KEY POINT OF FOCUS BIKE LANES AND POSTINGS HAVE BEEN A VERY SPECIFIC THING WORKING ON WE'RE TRYING VERY HARD TO GET EVERYBODY WE DON'T WANT TO POST MORE THAN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP FOR ANY GIVEN DAY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE TIMES NOTED ON THE PERMITS IF IT'S A 930 START OR POSTING 930 ON THE NO PARKING SIGN AND THOSE ARE DONE 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE ANOTHER FOCUS IS EYES IN THE FIELD. THOSE ARE THE CONDUIT INSPECTORS. THOSE ARE THE FIELD SUPERVISORS . AND FINALLY ACCOUNTABILITY. YOU KNOW THESE CREWS DON'T ALWAYS HAVE SOMEBODY ON SITE AT ALL TIMES THEY NEED TO BE FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR WORK. SO WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS MAKING SURE SOMEBODY CAN GET OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAY TALKING TO A BUSINESS OWNER AND MOVING SOME CONES, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS FOR REALLY TRYING TO DRIVE HOME WITH THESE GUYS.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DOES ANYONE ELSE? YES.  YEAH. SO JOHN CALDWELL, MANAGER OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS AT EVERSOURCE. I JUST WANT TO KIND OF DOVETAIL ON WITH THAT MORE AND KIND OF THE THE OUTREACH SIDE OF THINGS TOO. FIRST JUST WANT TO THANK YOU COUNCILOR PEPEN AND COUNCILOR COLLETTE AS A PARTNER FOR INVITING US IN TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.  SO WHATEVER SOURCE WE'RE FOCUSED ON DELIVERING ENERGY AND IN A REALLY SAFE AND RELIABLE WAY TO THE CITY OF BOSTON AND ITS CONSTITUENT RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES BUSINESSES WE'RE APPROACHING THIS WORK DILIGENTLY, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING THE CITY'S EXISTING REGULATIONS EXPECTATIONS FROM THE PERMITTING PROCESS THROUGH THE STREET WORK TO THE RESTORATION ONCE WE'RE DONE AND TO THAT END, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DEVOTING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RESOURCES TO BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR BECAUSE AFTER ALL WE LIVE HERE TOO.  AND TO THAT END WE'RE VERY PROACTIVE IN OUR OUTREACH TO THESE ABUTTERS YOU KNOW, SURROUNDING THE SCHEDULED STREET WORK SO THAT WE CAN KEEP THE AFFECTED NEIGHBORHOODS INFORMED AND WHEN EMERGENT WORK DOES ARISE WHICH IT DOES EVERY NOW AND AGAIN WE TAKE PAINS TO NOTIFY THE CORRECT ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ULTIMATELY SERVE AS CONDUITS TO THE TO THE CONSTITUENTS.  AND THIS TAKES THE FORM OF CITY COUNCILORS SUCH AS YOURSELVES I'M SURE MICHAEL, MY TEAM HAS REACHED OUT TO YOU GUYS ONCE OR TWICE.  IT'S THE ONE AS REPRESENTATIVES ALONG WITH TD PUBLIC WORKS AND THE REST. AND FINALLY FOR LARGE CAPITAL UPGRADES TO THE SYSTEM WE ACTUALLY DEVOTED A PROJECT SERVICES TEAM IN THERE.  YOU KNOW SOLE GOAL IS TO COORDINATE EARLY AND OFTEN WITH CITY OFFICIALS AND WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS IN ORDER TO HOLD PUBLIC PUBLIC MEETINGS, YOU KNOW, FACILITATE FEEDBACK BACK AND FORTH AND HAVE A CONVERSATION AND ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, WE THINK THE THE WORK WE'RE DOING HERE IN THE UTILITY INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE IS VITAL IS A VITAL RESOURCE TO THE CITY AND ITS WAY OF LIFE. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS CONVERSATION WITH YOU ALL.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. I'LL YIELD MY TIME TO JOHN.  NO, BUT JUST JUST TO ECHO WHAT WHAT WAS STATED BY EVERSOURCE AND UNDERSTANDING AT THE TIME WE WILL NOT DUPLICATE THAT BUT PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THEY'VE STATED I WANT TO LEAD WITH SAFETY THOUGH UNDERSTANDING IN ESPECIALLY THE STORY THAT AMANDA SHARED AS WELL AND CHARLESTON CHARLESTON. BUT SAFETY IS A KEY COMPONENT OF NATIONAL GRID NOT ONLY WHEN THE PEOPLE SHOW UP TO WORK HOW THEY GET HOME BUT ALSO IN THE WORK SITE.  I KNOW WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF TRAGIC INCIDENTS AT THE COMPANY JUST RECENTLY IN WALTHAM WHERE ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES WERE KILLED WITH OFFICER TRACE. YOU KNOW ULTIMATELY THESE DEPARTMENT SO THE WORD SAFETY IS VITAL, RIGHT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. I MEAN IT'S A SAFE WORK SO WE TRY TO LIMIT WHAT WE TAKE UP SO AS NOT IMPACT SOME OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES BUT UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO DO IT IN A SAFE MANNER. FROM THAT END WE HAVE TO ENSURE SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS. WE HAVE TO ENSURE SAFETY FOR VEHICULAR TRAFFIC. WE JUST HAD ANOTHER CAR DRIVE TO BARRICADES INTO A HALL IN BOSTON THE OTHER DAY. SO YOU KNOW, IT'S VITAL AND I, I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND IT BUT I DON'T WANT TO OVER OR LOOKED AT FROM THAT END FROM A COMMUNICATION STANDPOINT AS MY COLLEAGUE AT EVERSOURCE STATED ,YOU KNOW, PUTTING NOTIFICATIONS WE DID THIS I THINK COUNCILOR GABRIEL WE DID THIS LAST YEAR YEAR AND A HALF AGO WE JUST DID ANOTHER ONE IN DOING SQUARE COMMUNICATIONS THAT VITAL COMPONENT AND YOU KNOW AS YOU HEARD WITH AMANDA WE TRY TO DO IT IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS. IT IS A MAILING WITH VICTOR WHO'S ON MY TEAM AS WELL AS PETER NANGLE WHOSE NAMES ARE ON IT.  THEY HANDLE THE CITY WITH THE DIRECT NUMBERS THEY GET BACK SOME OF THE LARGER FILES WILL HAVE ANOTHER NAME ON IT AND THAT NOTIFICATION DOES ARRIVE AT THE COUNCIL'S DESK. WE ALSO INCLUDED WITH OWNERS WHO WE TRY TO MEET WITH PERIODICALLY ESPECIALLY BEFORE CONSTRUCTION. SO AS THEY HEAR ABOUT IT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS THEY KNOW WHO TO CALL FOR MUCH AND WHO TO ADDRESS.  311 IS ALSO PETER VICTOR MYSELF AND TWO MANAGERS ARE ON 311 THAT'S 24 SEVEN SO WE RESPOND BACK CAN WE ADDRESS IT THAT WAY FROM THAT END? BUT AGAIN THE COMMUNICATION IS VITAL IF THERE'S A BETTER PLAN IN PLACE WE'RE OPEN IN TERMS OF HOW WE CAN ADAPT TO THAT CALL BOX AS AS JULIA MENTIONED DEPUTY CHIEF OF STREETS IS THAT IS THAT MECHANISM TO CONTROL WHO'S WORKING WHERE FROM THAT IN YOU KNOW WITH TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT IT HAS FIT FROM TRANSPORTATION TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN DOES OUTLINE YOU KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO DO AND WE WE VIEW THE EXPERT ON THAT TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AS IN THAT POLICE OFFICER'S DETAIL THAT'S WHAT WE'LL LOOK AT IN TERMS OF HOW TO COORDINATE FROM THAT IN HOW MANY DETAILS ARE NEEDED WHERE'S GOING AGAIN, SOME OF THE STREETS ARE NARROW WHICH GOES BACK TO MY FIRST COMMENT WHICH IS WHY OPEN WITH SAFETY,  YOU KNOW, FROM THAT END AND OUR EMPLOYEES ALSO WORK HERE WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT BY THE WAY THEY OPERATE, THE WAY THEY CARRY THEMSELVES WITHIN THAT WORK. SO DAY IN AND DAY OUT HOW THEY STARTED, HOW THEY ENDED, WHAT THE PERMIT TIME IS AND IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT WERE TO OCCUR CREATING IT A MUCH LARGER ONE. WE HAVE THAT ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY WITH DPW AS WELL TO NOTIFY THEM ON NORMAL PARKS IS ONE THAT WHEN I WHENEVER WE CALL WHETHER IT'S A WEEKEND NIGHT YOU KNOW IT'S KEY TO LET THEM KNOW SO IT GOES ON FROM THERE SO I APPRECIATE MY TIME. I'LL YIELD TO ARTIE THANKS JOE AND THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE THIS AFTERNOON. WE SIT HERE AS TWO SEPARATE UTILITIES BUT BUT BOTH TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING RIGHT PROVIDING VITAL SERVICES FOR THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON AND I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT I HEARD EARLIER YOU KNOW THEY THE APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO, THE WORK THAT WE DO THAT KEEPS ENERGY FLOWING TO OUR CUSTOMERS AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY 24 SEVEN SOMETIMES IS A THANKLESS JOB BUT HEARING THANK YOU HERE TODAY IT REALLY REALLY GOES A LONG WAY. WE DON'T HEAR THAT THAT OFTEN. TYPICALLY NOT THE END OF THE DAY OR A MONTH OR SOMETIMES EVEN AT THE END OF THE YEAR. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.  WE'VE EMBARKED ON A HUGE PROGRAM TO REPLACE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE IN 2010 WE WENT FORWARD WITH ACCELERATED LEAP FROM PIPE REPLACEMENT HAVING THE SECOND OLDEST INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE COUNTRY SECOND ONLY TO BALTIMORE GAS DOWN IN WASHINGTON HAS REALLY CREATED THIS INFLUX OF MAIN REPLACEMENT ACTIVITY. I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE CRUX OF WHAT WE'RE HEARING TODAY. YEAH, WE'VE INVESTED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON TO UPGRADE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.  PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE TO JOHN'S POINT ONLY BROUGHT US SO FAR AND THEN WE HAD TO EMBARK ON THIS MAIN REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.  WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY DONE RIGHT. THERE'S ANOTHER ABOUT 15 YEARS TO GO ON GETTING RID OF THIS LEAK PRONE PIPE, THIS MOST RISKY INFRASTRUCTURE TO ENSURE SAFE AND RELIABLE SERVICE TO ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND THE RESIDENTS. BUT WE'RE MOST PROUD OF I THINK SITTING HERE TODAY IS IS THE COORDINATION THAT WE'VE MATURED INTO EARLY ON 2010, 2011, 2012 WE WERE GOING AFTER PROJECTS THAT WE THOUGHT WERE IMPORTANT. WHAT YOU SEE TODAY IS MORE THAN HALF OF OUR PROGRAM IS IN COORDINATION WITH PUBLIC WORKS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON WHERE YOU WANT TO PAVE WE WILL REPLACE INFRASTRUCTURE AHEAD OF WHERE BOSTON WATER AND SEWER IS PROPOSING PROJECTS TO UPGRADE THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE. WE ARE GOING IN BEFORE THEM WHERE WE HAVE BEEN ENCROACHED FROM BOSTON WATER AND SEWER AND OUR PIPES HAVE BEEN LEFT HANGING OUT IN THE IN THE WIND WE REPLACE RIGHT AFTERWARDS WHERE EVERSOURCE IS DOING INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES WE COORDINATE WITH THEM SO MORE THAN HALF OF OUR PROGRAMS TODAY ARE IN COORDINATION WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON WITH OUR PEER UTILITIES INCLUDING BOSTON WATER AND SEWER ON HOW WE PICKED THOSE PROJECTS AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THAT COORDINATION FOR A BETTER NOTIFICATION. I KNOW WE'LL GET INTO THESE IS UNFORTUNATE INCIDENTS THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT. I APPRECIATE US BEING IN THE ROOM ALONGSIDE THIS TEAM TO LEARN HOW WE DO THAT BETTER. WE'RE REALLY GOOD AT PUTTING PIPE IN THE GROUND AND EVERSOURCE IS REALLY GOOD AT UPGRADING THEIR WIRES. WE'RE ALWAYS LEARNING ON HOW WE COMMUNICATE AND COORDINATE FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE IMPACTED THE MOST. HOW DO WE DO THAT? HOW DO WE DO IT BETTER? THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TODAY AND THAT'S FRANKLY WE'LL TAKE BACK. BUT THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. APPRECIATE THE LEARNINGS THAT WE'LL GET OUT OF IT.  PERFECT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU DO THAT REALLY OUR OFFICE IS VERY GRATEFUL FOR IT TO BOTH YOUR COMPANIES. I KNOW I'M LOOKING OUT MY BECAUSE I PROBABLY TEXT YOU MORE THAN I DO SOME OF MY FRIENDS. OH SO SERIOUSLY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT AT THIS MOMENT I DO WANT TO KICK OFF THE Q&A PORTION OF THIS SO I'M GOING TO GIVE THE FLOOR TO SPONSOR COUNCILOR CALERO SUPPORTER THANK YOU CHAIR AND I UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYONE IS BUSY AND SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE REALLY AND TRULY IT MEANS A LOT TO THE CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE LISTENING IN AND MY PHONE IS GOING CRAZY. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE LISTENING IN MY DISTRICT SO I APPRECIATE IT.  KEN SO THIS IS FOR FOR BOTH TEAMS. CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH AGAIN JUST A TABLE SETTING QUESTION WHAT THE ENTIRE REGULATORY APPROVAL WITH BOTH THE CITY AND THE STATE LOOKS LIKE WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE TO BOTH IN ORDER TO OBTAIN APPROVAL?  AND NOW IF THIS IS AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OR A RUDIMENTARY QUESTION I APOLOGIZE.  I'M LITERALLY JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU INTERACT WITH THE CITY IN THE STATE TO GET THE WORK DONE THAT YOU NEED TO START IF YOU LIKE. SO FOR PLAYING DUCK BANK OR MANHOLE PROJECT YOU KNOW IT STARTS WITH OUR ENGINEERING TEAM. THEY WOULD PUT A PLAN TOGETHER. THAT DESIGN WOULD THEN MAKE ITS WAY TO OUR SURVEY DEPARTMENT AND OUR RIGHTS DEPARTMENT.  THE RIGHTS DEPARTMENT WOULD TAKE NOW A SURVEY PLAN AND PRESENT IT TO THE CITY FOR A GRANT ALLOCATION DEPENDING ON THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT THAT EITHER JUST GETS REVIEWED BY, YOU KNOW, HIGHWAY ENGINEERING, TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS AND THEY LET US PROCEED WITH APPLYING FOR A STREET OPENING PERMIT.  SOME OF THE MORE INVOLVED PROJECTS GO TO PC AND I BELIEVE THEY DO A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ALL OF THOSE SO I'M NOT SUPER INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS BUT I KNOW A LOT OF PROJECTS DO GO THROUGH THAT AND ONCE ALL OF THOSE APPROVALS ARE IN HAND THAT JOB IS THEN ENTERED INTO CALLBACKS FOR ANY UTILITY CONFLICTS AND THEN IT CAN PROCEED TO THE STANDARD STREET OPENING PROCESS AND THEN WHEN WE GET THE PERMIT BACK, YOU KNOW WE ASSIGN A CONTRACTOR AND SCHEDULE THE WORK DURING THE PERMANENT HOURS.  AT WHAT POINT DO YOU GO TO THE STATE BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND FROM IDR THAT THERE IS A POINT WHERE YOU FOLKS MIGHT GO TO THE STATE LIKE LEAPFROG OVER THE CITY NOT FOR ANY NEFARIOUS REASON BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU GET APPROVALS FOR THEM. DO I HAVE THAT RIGHT? WILL I BELIEVE IT IT WOULD BE DEPENDENT ON EXACTLY WHERE THE PROJECT IS SO IF IT'S LIKE A BASTIAT ROADWAY OR A DCR THEY ISSUE THEIR OWN INTERNAL PERMITS, RIGHT? SO THERE'S NO WAY TO KNOW. SO THIS IS ON CITY THIS IS ON CITY PROPERTY. SO THERE'S AT NO POINT WHERE YOU WOULD OVERSTEP THE CITY TO GO TO THE STATE TO GET APPROVALS FOR ANY REASON.  NOT THAT I'M PERSONALLY AWARE OF . I MIGHT JUST HAVE THE WRONG INFORMATION BUT I'M HAPPY TO GET SOME FLAHERTY ON THAT SO I APPRECIATE IT FOR THE NATIONAL GRID TO UNDERSTAND.  LOOK, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. I STARTED OUR OUR FEDERAL LEVEL SO FROM A REGULATORY PERSPECTIVE WE ARE MANDATED TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL FILING THAT LISTS OUT ALL OF OUR PIPE REPLACEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE FUTURE YEAR. IN FACT, 2025 CALENDAR YEAR IS DUE OCTOBER 31ST. WE LIST OUT ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE PROPOSING TO WORK ON IN THAT CALENDAR YEAR WITH COST ESTIMATES AND IT IMPACTS THAT IS REVIEWED BY THE STATE AND ULTIMATELY APPROVED OR DENIED.  TYPICALLY THEY WILL APPROVE WITH SOME QUESTIONS ON ARE WE CHOOSING THE RIGHT PIPE AND I MENTIONED LEAK FROM PIPE EARLIER THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TARGETING HERE. PIPE THAT IS THE RISKIEST ASSETS BUT THEY ALSO WANT TO KNOW HOW WE'RE COORDINATING WITH OUR CITIES AND TOWNS AND THEY MIGHT POKE AND SAY YOU'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH IN BOSTON OR YOU'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH IN LEXINGTON OR WALTON.  WE COMMENCE AND THEN WE WORK WITH THE STATE TO ENSURE WE ARE FOLLOWING OUR REGULATORY GUIDELINES THAT ARE SET ACROSS FROM THE MASS STATE CODE ONE OF WHICH IS WE MUST REPLACE ALL THE CURRENT PIPE THAT HAS BEEN ENCROACHED UPON. RIGHT. THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE OF LEAK FROM PIPE REPLACEMENT IF ANOTHER UTILITY GETS TOO CLOSE TO OUR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE EIGHT INCH CAST IRON AND SMALLER WE ARE MANDATED TO REPLACE IT AND WE ARE ALSO MANDATED TO REPLACE LEAK PRONE PIPE OVER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME. SO AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL WE'RE ESSENTIALLY PROPOSING OUR PLANS AND RECEIVING APPROVAL TO GO FORWARD. ONCE WE COMMENCE AND COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION WE GO BACK AND RECONCILE ALL THOSE PROJECTS AGAINST THAT ORIGINAL LIST FROM A DID WE DO THE RIGHT WORK AND DID WE SPEND THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF MONEY AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S INVOLVED AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC SAFETY DIVISION FROM THE DPU AND ULTIMATELY THEY ARE WEIGHING IN ON WHETHER OR NOT WE PERFORM THE RIGHT PROJECTS AT THE RIGHT TIME. DO YOU HAVE A CITY SPECIFIC JUST ADD ON TO THAT OF FOLLOWING THAT. IF WE DO THEN SIT DOWN WITH DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS TO WALK THROUGH WHERE THEY'RE GOING AND ALSO REVIEWING SOME OF THEIR PAVING, WE MAY ACTUALLY PULL JOBS AHEAD THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO PAVE AND MOVES MOVE OUR BACK OFF. WE'LL LOOK AND SAY WE HAVE TO GET THIS DONE. WE ARE THEN PULLING DPW WILL ACTUALLY LOOK AND SEE HOW CAN WE COORDINATE THAT AND PULL THAT PAVING BACK SO JUST JUST SO YOU DON'T TAKE ANY TROMPING OVER WE GO FROM THAT BECAUSE WE ARE REGULATED. WE ARE MANDATED. WE HAVE TO DO WE TAKE THAT AND THEN WORK THROUGH IN COORDINATION WITH THE CITY AND WITH WATER. AND SO AS MENTIONED EARLIER, ESPECIALLY WATER ENSURE WITH THEIR WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MONTHLY MEETING TO ENSURE WHERE THERE GO ON OUR PIPE IS AND TO OUR EACH POINT ON THE ENCROACHMENT LAW FOR CAST IRON IF IT'S A GOOD PIPE BUT THEY COME ACROSS IT WE HAVE TO MOVE IT IF WE CAN WORK WITH THEM IN TERMS OF HOW THEY ADJUST WHERE THEY ARE IN THE STREET WE MAY NOT HAVE TO DO IT SO FOR THAT BUT I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY IT. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. I FIND THIS ALL FASCINATING AND I'M VERY PROCESS ORIENTED SO THANK YOU FOR WALKING ME THROUGH THIS. I, I THANK YOU FOR MY COLLEAGUE'S PATIENCE. ONE MORE QUESTION BECAUSE MY TIME IS ALMOST DONE AND THEN I DO HAVE MORE BUT FOR BOTH I THINK IF YOU COULD QUICKLY SUMMARIZE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR GOING OUT AFTERWARDS TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT THERE ARE NO LEFTOVER TOOLS, COINS AND TRUCKS I HAD A TRUCK I'M NOT GOING TO NAME FROM WHO HAD A TRUCK IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE FOR THREE WEEKS THAT TOOK UP PARKING SPACES. SO WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THAT ON YOUR TEAM AND THEN I'LL SAVE THAT FOR NEXT.  RIGHT? IF YOU WANT JUST ELABORATE ON THAT. YEAH.  YEAH. OKAY SO I'LL TAKE THIS FOR FOR NATIONAL GRID AND SO WE HAVE A TEAM OF SUPERVISORS THAT WORK UNDER ME . WE ALSO HAVE INSPECTORS WORK UNDER US AND THEIR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CONTRACTORS THAT ARE PERFORMING ARE GAS ME AND REPLACEMENT WORK ARE PERFORMING ACCORDINGLY TO THE CITY'S GUIDELINES. YOU KNOW THE CITY HAS GUIDELINES ON WHEN WE PULL A PERMIT HOW THEY EXPECT US TO CONDUCT OURSELVES, HOW THEY EXPECT US TO CLEAN UP JOB SITES WE YOU KNOW, FIRST FALLS ON THE CONTRACTORS BUT THEN WE ARE THERE A SECONDARY SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE BEING DONE, THAT THEY'RE DOING THE THINGS THAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING CORRECTLY.  WE RECENTLY ACTUALLY STARTED CREATING LIKE WHAT WE CALL A POST DAILY CONSTRUCTION FORM THAT WE BOTH HAVE AND OUR CONTRACTORS HAVE AS WELL.  IT BASICALLY ALLOWS US TO TAKE PICTURES OF JOB SITES AT THE END OF THE DAY AT THE END OF THE WEEK AND TO ENSURE THAT THE JOB SITES ARE CLEANED UP CORRECTLY THAT EQUIPMENT ISN'T LEFT WHERE IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THAT GENERALLY THERE'S SOME TARDINESS ON THE JOB SITES AND BECAUSE THAT WAS HONESTLY IT WAS A COMPLAINT THAT WE HAD HAD EVEN FROM PUBLIC WORKS AS WELL . SO WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS A SYSTEM THAT WERE BASICALLY DOUBLE CHECKING OURSELVES AND TRYING TO CLEAN THESE THINGS UP BEFORE A CUSTOMER BEFORE A CONSTITUENT CAN COMPLAIN AND BEFORE IT GETS TO THE CITY AND BEFORE IT GETS TO YOU GUYS. SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON THAT. THANK YOU SO FOREVER FOR US IT'S IT'S REALLY A TWO POINT SYSTEM.  YOU KNOW ALL OF OUR CONTRACTORS ARE REQUIRED TO CLEAN UP THE JOB SITE WHEN THEY LEAVE. YOU KNOW, THEY ALSO ARE REQUIRED TO DO A FINAL PROJECT REPORT WITH PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CONDITION OF THE TRENCH THE CLEANED AREA, EVERYTHING REMOVED AND THE WOOD INSPECTORS THAT I MENTIONED IT'S ALSO THEIR JOB TO VISIT THE JOB SITE UPON PROJECT COMPLETION AND THEY DO A QUALITY CONTROL REPORT SO THEY WOULD INSPECT FOR ANYTHING LIKE THAT LEFT BEHIND AS WELL AS THAT MAKES OUR RESTORATION LIST. SO FOR EXAMPLE IF WE CUT INTO A BRICK SIDEWALK AND THAT NEEDS TO BE RESTORED OR A CONCRETE SIDEWALK THAT GOES ONTO OUR LIST FOR COMPLETION BY ONE OF THOSE RESTORATION CREWS.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. COUNCILOR COUNCILOR MURPHY UM,  THANK YOU TO THIS PANEL.  A FEW QUESTIONS. ONE I HAVE TO SAY MY SON IS A CONSTRUCTION REP SUPERVISOR WITH EVERSOURCE AND HE'S BEEN AT THE CHINATOWN THEATER DISTRICT JOB FOR A FEW MONTHS SO I HAVE DEFINITELY TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THESE CONSTRUCTION CONCERNS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE TODAY.  BUT A FEW QUESTIONS AND LIKE DO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH PARKING IT USED TO JUST BE LIKE SALTY HAD NO PARKING AS ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS NOW HAVE MORE CONCERNS ABOUT CONSTRAINTS ON PARKING THAT THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE JOB SITES HAVE INCREASED AND ARE THERE IS THERE ANY CORRELATION ANY WITH THE NEW BIKE LANES OR BUS LANES WHEN YOU'RE CLOSING OFF ANY OF THE STREETS FOR CONSTRUCTION IS THAT AN ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE HEARING?  SO I WOULD SAY I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS. YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY WE HEAR THEM FASTER WITH TECHNOLOGY. YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED IT BEFORE IN THE INITIAL STATEMENT. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A VERY HIGH FOCUS ON POSTINGS AND WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY POSTING WE HATE TO GET THE PHONE CALL THAT SOMETHING WAS POSTED FOR A DAY AND SOMEBODY WASN'T EVEN IN THAT AREA.  YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD ON STOPPING COMPLETELY.  I THINK WE'VE MADE A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN THAT AREA THE BIKE LANES YOU KNOW, THEY CAUSED SOME DIFFICULTIES SOMETIMES WITH THE TRAFFIC PLANS SO EVERY PERMIT REQUIRES A TRAFFIC PLAN THAT'S DRAWN UP INTERNALLY.  YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THAT. WE'VE DONE SPECIFIC TRAININGS ON YOU KNOW, IF A BIKE LANE HAS TO BE CLOSED AND YOU NEED THE PROPER SIGNAGE TO USE A FULL LANE. SO A LOT OF OUR CONTRACTORS ARE NOW VERY MORE AWARE OF HOW TO WORK AROUND THE BIKE LANES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION COUNCILMAN . YEAH. SO ESPECIALLY RESIDENTIAL PARKING IT'S A LOT IT'S A LOT IN THE AREAS AROUND THERE AND APART FROM THE POSTING OF 48 HOURS YOU KNOW WHEN OUR CREWS TO ROLL OUT IN THE MORNING WE DON'T WANT AT ALL WE WILL PROBABLY NOT THE JOB BECAUSE OF THAT THAT YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY THAT DELAYS THE JOB COMING BACK RIGHT SO WE UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITY OF IT YOU KNOW AND IF WE HAVE TO MOVE SOMEWHAT FROM THAT PARK AND WHERE DO THEY GO WHICH IS SOMETHING WHICH IS ROUGHLY BECAUSE OF THE HOURS NOW WE'RE GETTING IN NIGHT DUTY MAYBE PEOPLE GOING BACK TO WORK INSTEAD OF VIRTUAL . BUT WE RAN INTO A LOT MORE DURING THE COVID TIME AND PRONOUNCE EVEN FURTHER NOW WHERE IT'S ALL WORKING AT HOME. RIGHT. AND I'M SURE THEY GET IT IN THE CITY. WE GET IT FROM OUR ELECTRIC SIDE OUTSIDE THAT WELL PEOPLE AT HOME DON'T WANT TO LOSE POWER. I DON'T WANT TO MOVE FROM THAT. AND SO WE ARE SEEING THAT TYPE OF ADDED RESOURCE TO IT WHICH PROLONGS A JOB FROM THAT END. RIGHT. SO FROM THAT IT IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY THOUGH WE WILL WORK WITH THE POLICE DETAIL EVEN ON A REGULAR JOB THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO PULL THE NUMBERS OFF THE PLATE AND TRY TO CALL SOMEBODY, TRY TO SEE WHAT ADDRESS THEY LIVE IN JUST TO GO ON. YOU KNOW, AGAIN WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS DO A JOB DURING THAT DAY AT THE CONCLUSION OF THAT EITHER PLATE IT OR IF WE CAN BACKFILL IT I KNOW WE'LL PROBABLY GET INTO PAVEMENT BUT AT LEAST BACKFILL SO WE KNOW WHERE IT IS FROM THAT SO THEY CAN COME BACK IN THE EVENING IMPACTED.  SO IN WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT IS ADDING MORE AND AGAIN WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW LIVING AND NOT GOING INTO THE OFFICE IT'S ADDING A LITTLE BIT MORE FROM THAT JUST TRYING TO BE TRANSPARENT.  I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE TRANSPARENT JUST TRYING TO SEE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AS WE'RE SITTING HERE TRYING TO WALK THROUGH. WE'LL WORK THROUGH SOME SOLUTIONS, SOME OTHER EFFORTS THAT WE CAN YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S ALWAYS FROM THAT END AND WE DO TRY TO GET THAT ABUTTERS STUFF INTO YOUR HANDS OFFICE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES FROM THERE TO TRY EVEN INTO THE RESIDENCE TO TRY TO ALLOW THEM WHEN WE'RE GOING TO COME TO YOUR EMERGENCY JOB. SO EMERGENCY BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO HAPPEN. SO THAT'S THE ONLY TAKE FROM THAT HOPEFULLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION BECAUSE I MEAN THE DAYS OF YOU KNOW, 839 YOUR STREETS EMPTY ARE GONE. YES. AND I KNOW AS A CITY WE'RE GETTING A LOT MORE MONEY ON TICKETING PEOPLE ON STREET CLEANING DAYS NOW ALSO BECAUSE OF CARS HOME AND THEY FORGET LIKE OH IT'S A MONDAY MY CAR IS GOING TO GET TOWED, I'M GOING TO GET TICKETED AND I'M NOT GOING OUT TO WORK. NO, THAT'S GOOD. AND ONE THING THAT I TOOK AWAY ALSO ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION IS ALSO FOR US ON THE COUNCIL TO HAVE MORE COMMUNICATION WITH OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD LIAISON. SO I KNOW YOU ALL WORK WITH WHEN YOU'RE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS BUT THEY DO HAVE ALL THIS INFORMATION AND FOR US TO JUST TALK TO THEM MORE DIRECTLY WOULD BE HELPFUL. WE WILL TRY TO WORK ON THE STREET SWEEP ON DAYS. WE CAN'T DO IT THAT WAY. YEAH. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, COUNCILOR . SO YOU MENTIONED IN SOME OF YOUR TESTIMONIES THAT THE INFORMATION GOES FROM CITY TO INTERNATIONAL WERE EVERSOURCE AND THEN TO YOUR CONTRACTORS WHEN IT COMES TO PROCESS AND PROTOCOL AND GIVING US A JOB SITE WELL IN GOOD CONDITIONS WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE COMMUNICATION LIKE BETWEEN YOUR COMPANIES AND YOUR SUBCONTRACTORS WHAT'S THAT PROCESS LIKE? HOW ARE THEY AWARE OF WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AND WHAT ARE THEIR CITY GUIDELINES?  YEAH, SO FOR US I'LL LET OUR INTERNAL AND RYAN EXTERNAL HOW TO WORK IT FROM THAT YOU KNOW AND AND THAT CONVERSATION OCCURS WITHIN OUR OWN INTERNAL UNION WORKFORCE AND THE CREWS ARE OUT THERE AS WELL AS THE CONTRACTOR FROM THAT AND I KNOW RYAN MENTIONED THAT CHECKLIST FROM THAT. SO YOU KNOW WE CAN EXPAND UPON THAT AT LEAST TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THAT TYPE OF SITUATION GOING ON BUT WE'LL RELATE.  YOU HAVE ALL THE NUMBERS IF YOU HEAR THAT JUST YOU KNOW WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT RIGHT AWAY. BUT SO IF YOU WANT TO INTERNAL YEAH SO THE TEAM I DIRECTLY OVERSEES A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN RYAN'S RYAN'S OVERSEEING THAT THE CONTRACTORS THAT YOU MENTIONED ALTHOUGH WE DO CONSIDER THEM A FULL EXTENSION OF OUR OWN EMPLOYEES I THINK YOU'RE GONNA HEAR THAT FROM RYAN SO WE ALL FOLLOW THE SAME POLICIES, SAME PROCEDURES, SAME PROCESSES.  THAT'S WHAT WE TRAIN IN NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IN-HOUSE AND CONTRACTOR TRAINING WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. WE'RE ALL REGULATED UNDER THE SAME GROUP SO WE HAVE GUIDELINES AROUND STREET RESTORATION RIGHT FROM 9822. AS FAR AS RESTORATION CITY, BOSTON'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT TO THE PERMIT STRUCTURE AND THE PERMANENT RESTORATION BUT EVERYBODY SEES THE SAME PROCESS, FEELS THE SAME PROCESS AND HAS OVERSIGHT AT THE SAME LEVEL FOR WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING THROUGH NOTIFICATIONS THROUGH ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION CLEANUP AT THE END OF THE DAY AND WHEN A PROJECT IS OVER ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, WHAT OUR RESTORATION REQUIREMENTS ARE AND WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING TO PASS OVER TO THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO FROM AN INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PERSPECTIVE VERY SIMILAR RYAN CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE THE LONGER TRENCH WORK AND SO LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT THIS ON THE WATERFRONT FOR GOOD.  ALL RIGHT. YEAH. SO I DEAL MOSTLY WITH THE CONTRACTORS AS ALREADY SAID, WE HAVE THE SAME RULES AND REGULATIONS AS OUR INTERNAL CREWS. YOU KNOW WE HOLD THEM TO THE SAME STANDARDS OUR PROJECTS ARE THE LONGER PROJECTS THAT ARE PROBABLY DRAWING MORE THE COMPLAINTS. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A DAY OR TWO PROJECT WE COULD BE OUT THERE FOR MONTHS SOMETIMES EVEN YEARS IF IT'S A VERY LARGE PROJECT IN TERMS OF RESTORATION. YOU KNOW WE HAVE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CITY. YOU KNOW WE DO WHAT WHEN OUR WE APPLY FOR A STREET OPENING PERMIT WE PAY FOR RESTORATION FEES SO WE DON'T CONSIDER OUR PATCH COMPLETELY PERMANENT RIGHT AT THE END OF OUR PROJECT WE DO LIKE A WE DO WHAT WE CALL LIKE A PERMANENT PATCH BUT IT'S REALLY TEMPORARY AND THE CITY WILL TAKE IT OVER WITHIN THREE YEARS AFTER THAT AND THEN THEY OWN IT UNTIL THAT POINT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN IT SO IF THERE IS A DEPRESSION DUE TO A SINKHOLE OR A CUSTOMER CALLS TO COMPLAIN THAT YOU KNOW SOME OF THE ASPHALT IS LIFTED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT UP UNTIL THOSE THREE YEARS WE ARE OR UNTIL THE CITY DECIDES TO PAY THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. WE DO HAVE A FULL RESTORATION DEPARTMENT NOW THAT WAS STOOD UP A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. THEY HAVE A FEW CREWS WORKING WITHIN THE CITY, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY DOING PAVING BUT SIDEWALK AND BRICKWORK AS WELL. SO WE'VE REALIZED THAT RESTORATION IS REALLY WHAT THE CUSTOMERS ARE SEEING AFTER OUR PROJECT. RIGHT. WE YOU KNOW, FOR A LONG TIME WE ALWAYS FOCUSED ON THE GAS WORK AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REALLY GOOD AT BUT WE NEEDED AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S REALLY WHAT PEOPLE SEE ON THEIR STREETS WHEN WE LEAVE AND SO WE STOOD UP THAT RESTORATION ORGANIZATION. WE'RE PUTTING A LOT MORE FOCUS ON IT AND YOU KNOW WE'RE ABIDING BY WHAT THE CITY IS REQUIRING OF US.  I KNOW THAT WHEN RESTORATION DOES WORK DOES HAPPEN.  WE HAVE TO NOTIFY THE CITY. THEY HAVE THEIR INSPECTORS TO COME OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE A SIDEWALK IS GOING TO BE A HANDICAPPED COMPLIANT AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT. THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT.  SO WE NEED TO FOLLOW ALL THOSE THANK YOU SO FOREVER. SO IT'S IT'S VERY, VERY SIMILAR. YOU KNOW WE HAVE OUR CONDUIT INSPECTOR AND FIELD SUPERVISOR OVERSIGHT ON ALL OF THESE CREWS AS FAR AS THE RESTORATION AND PAVING WHEN, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAVE THE SAME DAY INSTEAD OF LEAVING PLATES.  THAT'S THE GOAL MOST OF OUR CONTRACTORS ARE CAPABLE OF DOING THAT.  SO YOU KNOW, IF WE COULD GET THINGS LIKE PARKING SPOTS BACK AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ABSOLUTELY WILL. YOU KNOW, WE'LL CLEAN UP THE AREA WE TRY AND LIMIT ANYTHING THAT'S ACTUALLY LEFT IN THE STREET IF A MACHINE OR SOMETHING HAS TO STAY, YOU KNOW, AND THEN THE PROJECT COMPLETION IS THE QUALITY CONTROL AND THE FIELD REPORTS WE DISCUSSED.  THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I THINK THAT IT WAS EVERSOURCE THAT MENTIONED THAT YOU GUYS DEVELOPED YOUR PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAMS IS CORRECT. YEAH. SO FOR LARGER CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS SO THINGS LIKE SUBSTATION YEAH WE HAVE A DEVOTED TEAM SPECIFICALLY TO INTERACTING WITH THE COMMUNITY ITSELF BECAUSE WE REALIZE WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE LONGER, WE'RE GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE INVASIVE. IT'S GOING TO BE YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT MORE UNPLEASANT. SO TO AMELIORATE THAT A LITTLE BIT WE HAVE DEVOTED, YOU KNOW, A TEAM, YOU KNOW, SOME RESOURCES IT SO WHAT WILL GENERALLY DO IS KIND OF DO OUR BUTTER OUTREACH PLUS SO WE'LL ACTUALLY BE YOU KNOW IT'LL TAKE THE FORM OF WORKING WITH YOU KNOW OWN SOURCE CITY COUNCILOR IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA TO HAVE MEETINGS TO UNDERSTAND HOW SPEAK TO THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY, WHAT LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN IN THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY SO THAT WHEN WE ACTUALLY HOLD AN OPEN HOUSE JUST TO EXPLAIN YOU KNOW HEY WE'RE EVERSOURCE THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING YOU KNOW THIS IS THE PLAN. THIS IS HOW LONG IT'LL TAKE. WE'LL EVEN INCLUDE TRANSLATION SERVICES IN MANY CASES AND WHEN THE WORK ACTUALLY DOES COMMENCE IT'S FAR MORE UH, TRANSPARENT ALONG THE ROUTE AS IT YOU KNOW WHETHER RELAYING CABLE OR IF IT'S JUST A SUBSTATION ITSELF. UM, WE'RE VERY PROACTIVE IN LETTING THE ABUTTERS KNOW BOTH WITH KNOCKING ON DOORS HANGERS UP OR EVEN HAVING, YOU KNOW, A WEBSITE WITH UM WITH THAT YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR FOR EMAIL UPDATES. SO I THINK COUNCIL LIKE A LOT OF MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN ONE OF THOSE EMAILS RECENTLY. YEAH AND THE REASON WHY I BRING IT UP IS BECAUSE THERE IS A PROPOSED BASE SYSTEM BEING IN MY DISTRICT BEHIND STOP AND SHOP OF COMMONS HIGHWAY AND YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN VERY PROACTIVE IN BEING AT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE MOUNT HOPE CANTERBURY MEETINGS JUST CONSISTENTLY TALKING TO THE RESIDENTS ABOUT THAT AND I WAS WONDERING DO YOU GUYS PROACTIVELY DID THAT THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT THE CITY ASKED FOR. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE A LOT OF COMPANIES DO THAT FOR BIGGER PROJECTS JUST BECAUSE IT'S JUST IT IS VERY HELPFUL FOR NOT ONLY MYSELF BUT THE RESIDENTS TO FULLY BECOME ENGAGED WITH WHAT'S COMING AND HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THEIR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD ESPECIALLY WITH BIGGER SCOPE PROJECTS.  YEAH, AND I THINK YOU KNOW I THINK IT WAS YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT THE SCARS I THINK FROM PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS AT LARGE PROJECTS TO THE TOP US THIS LESSON WHAT WE REALIZE IS THAT YOU KNOW WE LIVE AND WORK IN THESE COMMUNITIES.  WE'RE COMMITTED TO PUTTING A PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S GOING TO BE THERE FOR A LONG TIME, DECADES LONG. AND WHAT WE'VE REALIZED IS THE WHOLE SYSTEM AND PROCESS JUST WORKS FAR MORE SMOOTHLY IF YOU'RE A GOOD NEIGHBOR ABOUT IT, IF YOU'RE VERY TRANSPARENT ,YOU'RE VERY YOU KNOW, YOU'RE HONEST ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING, YOU GO EARLY. WE HAVE TO PLAY THE GAME. YOU KNOW, WE SOMETIMES WE'RE STILL FEELING IT OUT TO BE HONEST ABOUT LIKE HOW MUCH AND HOW EARLY TO GO OUT BECAUSE WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO GO IN FRONT OF A COMMUNITY AND SEEM LIKE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.  YOU KNOW, WE REALLY ARE KIND OF BUILDING THE PLANE LOWER, FLYING IT SO IT REQUIRES A LITTLE GRACE EVERY NOW AND AGAIN. BUT THE PLAN GOING FORWARD AND YOU KNOW, FROM WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IN OUR RECENT PAST IS THAT SHARING MORE AND SHARING EARLIER IS BETTER THAN THE FLIP SIDE OF IT. OKAY.  MY LAST QUESTION TO I GUESS BOTH COMPANIES IS I FORGET WHO MENTIONED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE WORK IS PLANNED WORK WHAT IS UNPLANNED WORK? I HAVE A MISTAKE. I HAVE A FEELING IT'S EMERGENCY WORK BUT CAN YOU JUST GIVE THIS IS MORE FOR THE AUDIENCE LIKE WHAT IS UNPLANNED WORK IS EMERGENCY HOW WHAT'S YOUR ALLOTTED TIME TO WORK ON THIS? HOW DIFFERENT IS IT TO PLAN WORK? I JUST WANT TO CREATE A SENSE OF UNDERSTANDING FOR EVERYONE THAT'S ALSO WATCHING. SURE I BELIEVE I BELIEVE THAT WAS ME THAT MENTIONED THAT. SO EMERGENCY WORK CAN BE A VARIETY OF THINGS IT CAN BE FAULTED SECONDARY SERVICE WHERE ONE UNIT OUT OF POWER IT COULD BE YOU KNOW A CONTRACTOR HAD DID A PRIMARY DUCK BANK THEY HIT A SERVICE IT COULD BE ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES, YOU KNOW, JUST A CIRCUIT OUTAGE WHERE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH CAPACITY IN THAT DUCK BANK TO GET SOME NEW CABLE TO SUPPORT THAT LOAD IN IN PLACE COULD BE AN EMERGENCY, YOU KNOW, OR A CABLE FAULT PUTS US ON ONE LINE, YOU KNOW, CRITICAL BUILDINGS WE CALL IT AN OFF SCHEDULE.  WE WE NEED THAT REDUNDANCY FOR THOSE CRITICAL BUILDINGS.  SO TO US THAT'S AN EMERGENCY OR YOU COULD HAVE SIMPLE THINGS. IT COULD BE COLLAPSED CASTING YOU KNOW THAT DROPPED INTO THE PAVEMENT AND NOW IT'S A HAZARD. YOU KNOW ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO US QUALIFY.  YES. AS EMERGENCY WORK I THINK YOU JUST PROBABLY TAKE THAT ELECTRIC SCENARIO AND FORWARD INTO THE GAS SIDE. YOU KNOW, THIRD PARTY IF SOMEONE WERE TO HIT A GAS LINE DOWN, IT REQUIRES THAT IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.  RIGHT. A GAS LEAK AGAIN, IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.  WE ACTUALLY HAVE MEETINGS AS WELL AS EVERSOURCE DOES IT WOULD POLICE AND FIRE AND WE GO THROUGH DIFFERENT DRILLS WITH THEM BUT ALSO WITHIN THAT CAN TOO IS INSPECTION SERVICES AS WELL. I'M AND IT'S ONE SUCH EXAMPLE COULD BE IF A IF THEY COME ACROSS AND THE FACADE IS FALLING OFF A BUILDING AND THERE'S A CONCERN WITH INFRASTRUCTURE IN THERE HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU WHEN YOU PROBABLY CAN'T GET IN THE SHOT TO MAKE THE GAS METER OFF OF THE SERVICE WE WOULD HAVE TO DO SOME EXCAVATION IN THE BUT AGAIN IF THAT FACADE DO WE HAVE TO GO BACK FURTHER? RIGHT. SO FROM THAT TYPE OF THING FROM A FIRE THAT'S GOING ON WE ALWAYS WILL RESPOND TO THAT UNDER THE DIRECTION INCIDENT COMMAND UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THAT CHIEF OR A CAPTAIN OR DEPUTY CHIEF WHO'S EVER RUN THE JOB IF WANT US TO ISOLATE THAT GAS SERVICE WE WOULD DO IT THAT SO THAT'S YOU KNOW FROM A FROM AN EMERGENCY UNPLANNED WORK THAT THAT'S WHERE IT IS THAT'S WHY WE'RE STAFFED 24, SEVEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FROM THAT END AND THAT'S JUST A SMALL SAMPLE OR IF I MISS ANYTHING A SECOND THE CASTING TO THE PATCH DEPRESSIONS WE TAKE THOSE REALLY SERIOUSLY. WE REACT TO THOSE VERY QUICKLY. THE LAST THING WE WANT IS A BLOWN TIRE SOMEBODY REALLY GETTING HURT SO WE CONSIDER THOSE TIER ONE EMERGENCIES AS WELL. WE'LL GO OUT WILL OWN IT WILL REPAIR IT AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT JOE MENTIONED 24 SEVEN OPERATION AND JUST TO GO ON THAT FROM A COMMUNICATION COORDINATION IN SHORT OVER PUBLIC WORKS WE GET THAT MONTHLY IF NOT BIWEEKLY IN THE CASTING OR WHEN THE ROAD IS GETTING PAID ACTUALLY THE GATE BOX IS VITAL TO OUR OPERATION AND WE'VE ACTUALLY MADE STRIDES WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE DOING AK PASSES. SO THOSE CONTRACTORS CAN ACTUALLY PUT THE GATE BOXES IN THE COVERS SO YOU KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO COORDINATE THAT BUT WHEN THEY COME ACROSS THOSE CASTINGS THAT'S WHEN WE GO OUT. AS ANDY MENTIONED, WE UTILIZED THAT AS WELL BECAUSE AS I STARTED IT IT'S SAFETY RIGHT SAFETY WORK AND SAFETY PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, VEHICULAR SAFETY OPERATIONS.  SO WE VIEW THAT.  THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THAT AND THAT'S IT FOR ME IN REGARDS TO Q&A, COUNCILOR COLETTA, I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS. YES.  SO I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO CONSIDER HIRING CAMPAIGN STAFF ON OUTREACH TEAMS BECAUSE WHAT JOHN WAS MENTIONING I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN ON A CAMPAIGN, JOHN, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE AND OR YOUR TEAM DOORKNOCKING DOOR HANGERS, FLIERS, MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, TRANSLATION SERVICES, TOWN HALLS ALL OF THAT LIKE THAT IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO REPLICATE BUT I KNOW IT DOES TAKE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF STAFF TIME AND CAPACITY SO I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WORK WITHIN THIS TEAM. I DON'T THINK WE GOT A NUMBER AND THEN HOW MANY PROJECTS ARE YOU DOING THAT OUTREACH PLUS MODEL ON LIKE WHAT WHAT IS YOUR MAX CAPACITY WHEN IT COMES TO THAT IN TERMS OF PROJECTS? GOTCHA. AS FAR AS THE EXACT NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON THAT TEAM, I MEAN IT'S SPREAD OUT ACROSS OUR SERVICE TERRITORIES ACROSS THREE STATES BUT WITHIN MASSACHUSETTS AND SPECIFICALLY BOSTON, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A TEAM OF MAYBE YOU KNOW, 5 TO 10 PEOPLE THAT ARE FOCUSED ON KIND OF COORDINATING AND I LIKE TO ROUGH ESTIMATE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD UM, AND I APOLOGIZE WHAT WAS THE SECOND PIECE OF THAT QUESTION IT SO YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT AN OUTREACH PLUS MODEL? YES. HOW WHAT IS YOUR HOW MANY PROJECTS CAN YOU DO THAT FOR AT ANY GIVEN TIME? SO RIGHT NOW WE ACTUALLY HAVE A WEBSITE YOU KNOW YOU CAN ACTUALLY LOOK IT UP. YOU KNOW EVERY SOURCE IS YOU KNOW IF YOU GOOGLE EVERY SOURCE MAJOR PROJECTS MASSACHUSETTS YOU'LL A LIST OF THEM THAT'S A GOOD LIST TO START WITH JUST TO SAY THAT THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WERE OUTWARDLY DEFINITELY APPLYING THIS MODEL TO YOU KNOW THERE'S PROBABLY YOU KNOW,  DEPENDING ON WHERE IT IS YOU KNOW, IN BOSTON I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY FOUR FOUR OF THEM MAYBE FIVE OF THEM RIGHT NOW. UM, BUT THAT CAN BE ROLLED OUT TO TWO OTHER PROJECTS AS WELL. SO SOMETIMES THERE IS SORT OF THIS OUTREACH PLUS BUT WE'RE JUST NOT PUTTING IT ON OUR WEBSITE AS THIS IS A MAJOR PROJECT BUT YOU KNOW A ROUGH RULE OF THUMB IS THAT JUST THROUGH THE LARGER PROJECTS THAT WE'RE DOING WHETHER IT'S A GIGANTIC YOU KNOW, CAN WE CONDUCT DURING PROJECT BUILDING A SUBSTATION AND REPLACING TRANSMISSION LINES GENERALLY THOSE LARGER TYPES OF PROJECTS CALL FOR THAT YOU KNOW, LIGHTER TOUCH YOU KNOW, WHITE GLOVE TREATMENT I GUESS. MM THANK YOU. IF I IF I MAY JUST ADD TO THAT JOHN SO I HAVE NOTICED WHAT HE IS EXPLAINING HERE HAS TRICKLED DOWN NOT JUST FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND SUBSTATION WORLD THAT'S GONE DOWN INTO THE DISTRIBUTION WORLD THAT MY CREWS SO A LOT OF THE LARGER MANHOLE AND DUCT BANK SYSTEMS WERE PUTTING IN WE ARE NOW DOING THAT THAT EXTRA OUTREACH IT'S GOING ON WEBSITES THERE'S FLIERS GOING OUT WITH EMAIL BOXES AND PHONE BOXES AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR PEOPLE WITH QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.  I DID HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION FOR NATIONAL GRID SO YOU ALL HAD TALKED ABOUT SO I'M JUST LOOKING AT MY NOTES MAILINGS WITH VICTOR AND PETER'S NUMBER AND THANK YOU VICTOR AND PETER FOR BEING SO RESPONSIVE. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.  DO YOU ALSO HAVE AN EMAIL OR TEXT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM LIKE CAN RESIDENTS GO ON YOUR WEBSITE AND LOOK UP WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THEIR STREET AT ANY GIVEN TIME? LIKE WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?  NOT NOT JOBS SPECIFIC BECAUSE IT MOVES AROUND DIFFERENT AREAS BUT THE NOTIFICATION THAT WE SEND OUT WE ALSO DO WHETHER IT'S A LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATE MEANS TO GO THROUGH THAT'S US ALONG WITH RYAN AND HIS GROUP FROM THE FEENEY BROTHERS TO WORK THROUGH IT AND WE TRY TO PHASE IN WHERE IT'S GOING ON THE LARGER JOBS, THE SMALLER JOBS ARE PROBABLY ONE OR TWO DAY JOBS. SO BY THE TIME WE PUT IT THE SYSTEM IT'S PROBABLY ALREADY COMPLETED. WHAT ABOUT FOR SOME OF THE LONGER I DON'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF BUT FOR THE LONGER PROJECT SO ON TRENTON STREET IN EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS THAT WAS LIKE TWO YEARS RIGHT?  SO WHAT WAS THE OUTREACH AND YOU WANT TO GO FOR THAT. SO FOR THOSE EXCUSE ME OPPOSE SPECIAL PROJECTS ALONG WITH HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL. WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE FIELD WHERE THEY IDENTIFY BY US. WE ALREADY KNOW THIS IS COMING AND WE KNOW IT'S A SENSITIVE AREA OR THE FIELD WILL COME TO US AND SAY HEY, I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR JOE'S TEAM TO PUT TOGETHER AN OUTREACH PLAN SPECIFIC TO THAT PROJECT AND TO INTO THAT.  THAT'S HOW WE ADDRESS THOSE ARE ONE ONE OUR SPECIAL PROJECTS DID THAT HAPPEN FOR THE EAGLE PROJECT IN WISCONSIN? SO I WASN'T HERE PERSONALLY FOR THAT SO THAT WAS DEFLECTING IT TO ME . YES. SO JOHN SO PRIOR TO VICTOR, VICTOR WAS WITH ME . HE LEFT CAME BACK WAS THROWN OUT SO WE WE HAVE THE INDIVIDUAL WHETHER IT'S PETER IN DOING SOME WILL HAVE AREAS OR THE GENTLEMAN BEFORE VICTOR HE WAS GOING TO THE BUSINESS AREAS OR IN AND AROUND KNOCKING ON DOORS FROM THAT OUTLINING WHERE THE WORK WAS GOING TO GO BUT NOT RESIDENTIAL. NOT RESIDENTIAL JUST BUSINESS. OH NO IT WOULD GO AROUND BECAUSE AGAIN WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS IS SPECIFIC LOCATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO WORK. SOME OF THAT WAS DEEMED FROM AN ENCROACHMENT ASPECT SO WE HAVE TO FOLLOW WITHIN SMALLER ZONES THAT WE'RE WORKING IN SO WE'D BE NOTIFYING ON THAT WE THE THING WE DON'T DO WE TRY NOT TO DO I IF YOU HEAR US DOING IT PLEASE LET US KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO POST THE STREET MESS UP PARKING WE'VE CONDENSED IT TO WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE THAT WEEK WHERE YOU'RE GOING FROM THAT IN THE THE THE DIFFICULT STUFF IN TERMS AT LEAST AS WELL WE REPLACED THAT MAIN AS ALREADY MENTIONED IN RYAN DID WE STILL HAVE AN EXISTING MAIN THAT STILL HAS GAS SERVICE IS STILL FEEDING RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES ITSELF SO WE HAVE TO PUT THE NEW LINE IN AND THEN WE TEST OUR LINE AND THEN WE HAVE TO TRANSFER THE OLD SERVICES OVER THE FROM THE OLD PIPE TO THE NEW PIPE. ALL OF THAT WORK IS ALSO COORDINATED WITH THOSE RESIDENTS HERE OR BUSINESSES BECAUSE WE HAVE TO COORDINATE WHEN WE SHUT THE GAS OFF, PUT THE NEW SERVICE AND RECONNECT A METER AND WE LIGHT ALL THE APPLIANCES SO IT'S LIKE A TWO STAGE FROM THAT IN YOU KNOW SO AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE SUBSTATION AND WHERE IT'S TO GO WE HAD A GAS MAIN REPLACEMENT DOWN THE DOWN THE CAPE THAT WOULD TAKEN SEVERAL YEARS. WE CREATED THE WEBSITE WE STARTED GOING TO PROGRESS ON THAT ONE. IT'S JUST TRYING TO TIME IT OUT WHERE IS TO MAKE SURE I KNOW SOME OF THE PROJECT WAS FOR US WAS DELAYED WHEN THE TUNNEL CLOSED YOU KNOW IT STOPPED ANY WORK SO THAT PROLONGED IT AGAIN FROM THAT END FROM THAT SO I KNOW I'M MAYBE NOT ANSWERING THE QUESTION SPECIFICALLY IN TERMS OF WEBSITE BUT WE DON'T HAVE IT EVERY JOB. OKAY. SO I MEAN IS IT IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT THERE IS NOT BECAUSE I'M HAPPY FOR THE CAPE, I'M HAPPY FOR THOSE RESIDENTS BUT FOR BOSTON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY WHERE WE FEEL THE SIGNIFICANT BURDENS EVERY DAY WE BREATHE ULTRAFINE PARTICULATES RIGHT?  WE HAVE THE SUMMER TUNNEL CLOSURE EVERYTHING BRIDGE CLOSURES I THINK THAT THEY DESERVE THE SAME SORT OF OUTREACH AS CAPE COD RESIDENTS AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE SAYING THAT BUT I JUST THINK MOVING FORWARD JUST PLEASE CONSIDER THAT THROUGH AN EQUITY PERSPECTIVE THAT WE DESERVE ADEQUATE NOTICE. YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT AS I WAS LISTENING EARLIER GOING THROUGH I KNOW THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE COAL BOX SYSTEM AND BRINGING IT UP. I KNOW MARK CHIARELLO WHO CREATED IT IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM . IT POLICED WHAT WE WERE DOING AND WHO COULD DO IT. SO NOBODY WAS JUST JUMPING IN AND THAT'S BEING ADVANCED A LITTLE BIT FURTHER BUT AS WE WERE LISTENING AND AMANDA AND I AND I DIDN'T GET THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS NAME FROM CHARLESTOWN, IT'S LIKE HOW DO WE CREATE SOMETHING SO WHICH PROVIDES THAT INFORMATION TIMELY BECAUSE THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS PUT IT ON THE WEBSITE AND WE'RE ALREADY GONE BY THE AREA THEN IT DOESN'T REALLY SERVE THE PURPOSE SO THE PURPOSE. SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT AT LEAST I WAS SITTING HERE HOW HOW DO WE COORDINATE OR ADAPT TO THAT TYPE OF THING WITH THE INFORMATION IS VALID WITHIN A CERTAIN WINDOW RIGHT FROM THAT AND HOW TO GO FORWARD. SO I MEAN THAT'S PART OF I THINK WE LEARNED SOME THINGS LAST YEAR WHEN YOU HELD A SIMILAR MEETING, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THAT NEXT STEP FOR US? YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN DO IT TECHNOLOGY IT IT'S BEAUTIFUL AS LONG AS THEY KEEP THE POWER ON . BUT BUT NO, IF WE CAN DO IT FROM THAT END, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO WORK TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO OR AT LEAST WOULD CERTAINLY AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO SIT WITH YOU IF YOU HAVE SOME GREAT IDEAS. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, AND HOW TO KIND OF COORDINATE THAT TO MAKE SURE IT'S DOABLE FROM THAT BECAUSE WE'VE DONE IT IN A SMALL STAGE . AS I SAID, I PROBABLY MIGHT SIT DOWN MY COLLEAGUE BECAUSE I KNOW THEY DO A FABULOUS JOB AT ANDREW STATION AS WELL. THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF WORK THERE. WE'RE ON THAT EMAIL. I'M ACTUALLY TRYING TO DUPLICATE SOME OF THE STUFF THAT THEY DO FROM THAT IT SHOULD BE CLEAR THAT THE CITY ALSO NEEDS TO DO SOME WORK RIGHT. I HOPE YOU ALL HEARD THAT TOO AND I WISH THAT THEY WERE HERE TO LISTEN IN TO SOME OF THE STUFF THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING IN INSTANCES PUBLIC AGENCIES NEED TO LOOK TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO MOVE, HOW TO BE MORE CREATIVE, HOW TO BE EFFICIENT LIKE WE'RE LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER IN THIS CONVERSATION. SO I KNOW YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING. I JUST WANTED TO FURTHER ADD TO WHAT I WAS SAYING AND GIVE YOU A REAL LIFE EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING OF A PROJECT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN GENEVA STREET. WE ARE SCHEDULED TO GO TO CONSTRUCTION SOMEWHERE IN NEXT APRIL NEXT MAY TO REPLACE OUR REGULAR STATION AND WE ALREADY STARTED WORKING ON WHAT THE OUTREACH PLAN WILL LOOK LIKE.  WHAT ARE THE KEY ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE NEED TO COORDINATE WITH? SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE DONALD MACKAY SCHOOL, THE GROVE STREET SLC RESIDENT ASSOCIATION, THE EMBASSY SUITE TO KNOW THAT SO THIS IS A PLAN THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN PLACE SO THAT WHEN WE HAVE AMPLE NOTICE OF THE PROJECT GOING COMMENCING WE CAN GET IT OUT THERE TO THE POINT THAT WAS RAISED HERE I WOULD HAVE AMPLE TIME TO MAKE THOSE NOTIFICATIONS FOR THE ABUTTERS AND THOSE THOSE KEY STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN THE THE NEIGHBORHOOD GENEVA'S THE PRIVATE WAY ANY SPONSOR CORRECT BUT THE TALK MORE ABOUT THAT THAT HAS BEEN A PERENNIAL ISSUE IN MY DISTRICT. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME. I DO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION CHAIR IS THAT OKAY THIS IS YOUR HEARING IT'S IT'S YOUR HEARING . I APPRECIATE IT. CAN ANYBODY SPEAK TO AND GIVE A NUMBER OF WHAT THE PERCENTAGE OF PROJECTS ARE THAT YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE CITY AND GET ADDITIONAL TIME FOR STREET OCCUPANCY TO GET ADDITIONAL TIME TO CONTINUE ON? WELL, SO WE'LL DO SEASONAL FROM THAT IN YOU KNOW THERE ARE SOME JOBS AS RYAN MENTIONED THAT WILL TAKE A COUPLE OF MONTHS EVEN FURTHER RIGHT.  AND THE PERMIT IS USUALLY A 30 DAY PERMIT RIGHT ALONG THAT LINE. SO THAT IS ONE EXAMPLE WHERE WE GO BACK AND THAT'S WHERE THE CITY IS WATCHING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING MAKE SURE WHAT WE'RE DOING.  YOU START MOVING INTO THE WINTER MORATORIUM. THERE'S ALSO DELAY, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WEATHER THAT WE HAVE IN THE EAST COAST WHERE IT'S GOING.  SO WE MIGHT PAUSE A PROJECT IF IT'S LIKE FEBRUARY YOU GET FOUR FEET OF SNOW TO GO THROUGH FROM THAT AND THAT USUALLY IN TERMS OF GOING BACK I CAN'T THINK OF ANOTHER EXAMPLE IN TERMS OF IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT DID WE DO A PROJECT THEN WE REALIZE WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND REDO IT AGAIN UNLESS NO FOR OUR PRODUCT AND FORTUNATELY IF WE DON'T CONNECT SOMETHING RIGHT AWAY YOU'LL IT'LL HAVE AN ODOR AND WE'LL GOING BACK THERE. BUT APART FROM THAT I MEAN THAT'S THAT'S THE TYPE OF SCENARIO TIMEFRAME THAT WE WORK ON OFF THE PERMITS SOME OF THE OTHER WORK THAT OUR FOLKS OR THE INTERNAL FOLKS DO MAY BE A TWO WEEK TO A THREE WEEK PERMIT IF WE'VE COMPLETED FIRST SHORTER THAN THAT IT'S TAKEN OFF TWO CALLBACKS SO IT MOVES BACK INTO THE SYSTEM THAT SOME OF THE OTHER POSTS REVIEW THAT WE DO WHEN THE WORKS ON IT GET SIGNED OFF AND IF SAY WE'RE FINISHED EVERSOURCE NEEDS TO DO SOME OTHER CONDUIT.  THEY KNOW WE'RE ALREADY DONE GOING THROUGH THAT.  YEAH SO FOR EVERSOURCE A COUPLE OF THINGS. SO AS FAR AS THE YOU KNOW GOING BACK AND I DON'T RECALL ANY PROJECTS WHERE WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD TO GO BACK AND DIG ANYTHING UP THAT WE'VE INSTALLED.  UM SOMETIMES YOU MAY RETURN TO THE SITE IF WE GET A NOTIFICATION ON MAINTAINING THE TRENCH YOU KNOW WE OWN THAT TRENCH UNTIL PERMANENT RESTORATION COMES THROUGH AND WE REACT ON THOSE RIGHT AWAY WE'LL GO OUT AND WILL REPAVE THE TRENCH IF NEEDED. ONE NUMBER I DO HAVE FROM A PERMITTING MEETING THIS MORNING IS OVER THE PAST YEAR WE PUT IN ABOUT 100 RENEWAL PERMITS AND I WOULD SAY JUST ABOUT ALL OF THOSE ARE JOBS LONGER THAN THE 30 DAYS IS THERE. OKAY. SO 100 RENEWAL PERMITS I THINK THAT THAT'S A UM THAT'S GETTING SPECIFIC TO MY QUESTION SO I APPRECIATE IT. I DIDN'T KNOW SURE.  WELL SO 100 RENEWAL PERMITS AND HOW LONG DO THOSE TYPICALLY LAST BEYOND THOSE SO THERE ANYTHING THAT WE'RE RENEWING IS BECAUSE THE PROJECT IS LONGER THAN A 30 DAY PROJECT. I KNOW BUT DO YOU HAVE AN AVERAGE OF I DO NOT ACTUALLY TAKE OF THAT'S SOMETHING WE'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO YEAH I THINK THAT'S THAT'S GETTING TO THE FRUSTRATION OF RESIDENTS WHERE THEY ONLY SEE THE 30 DAYS AND THEY'RE NOT TOLD NECESSARILY THEY MISS AN OUTREACH TENT OR WHATEVER AND THEY SAY OH THIS IS GOING TO END AT THE END OF OCTOBER. IT'S LIKE NO, YOU'RE GOING TO BE LIVING THROUGH THIS UNTIL FEBRUARY AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE. THAT'S NOT CONSTRUCTION BUT THAT'S WHAT WHAT WE'RE HEARING AND WE DON'T EVEN REALLY GET AN IDEA AS COUNCILORS TO GIVE AT ADEQUATE AND CORRECT INFORMATION TO OUR RESIDENTS ABOUT HOW LONG THEY CAN EXPECT THESE SORT OF DELAYS. AND SO THIS IS THIS ENTIRE CONVERSATION WAS SO INFORMATIVE. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT MAYBE WE'LL HAVE EVERYBODY BACK HERE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT SOME OF THE OUTREACH COMMUNICATION TOOLS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED OR MAYBE TALKING ABOUT HOW THE CITY HAS MOVED FORWARD. BUT FOR NOW I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK LATER. OF COURSE. THANK YOU.  I DON'T HAVE ANY FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS SO I WANT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY CLOSING REMARKS.  I THINK THAT WAS MY CLOSING REMARKS FROM THE PANELIST AND ENCLOSED WERE CLOSING STATEMENTS BECAUSE I'D JUST SAY FROM EVERY SOURCE ASIDE I'M GOING TO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME CONTINUING THIS CONVERSATION AND OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T HAVE TO JUST DO THIS ONE HEARING AT A TIME. YOU KNOW WE HAVE AN OPEN DOOR. YOU KNOW, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO MYSELF, MIKE YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO KIND OF KEEP THIS CONVERSATION GOING AND WE'RE HAPPY TO GIVE INPUT AS YOU GUYS ARE DEVELOPING THESE TOOLS AND YOU WANT TO JUST SAY HEY, DOES THIS MAKE SENSE FOR YOUR BUSINESS? IS THIS KIND OF HOW IT WORKS IN THE PROCESS?  FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT. WE'D LOVE TO COLLABORATE WITH YOU GUYS ON THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND JUST ECHO MY COLLEAGUE FROM EVERSOURCE. WE DO APPRECIATE THE TIME AS HE SAID, LOOK FORWARD MORE FREQUENTLY MEETING YOU KNOW BUT IF AND I THINK PROBABLY WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO OUT JUST A SEE WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHY THOSE PROJECTS TAKE A LITTLE LONGER YOU JUST HAVE TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE WORK FROM AN I HATE TO GO BACK BUT I'M GOING BACK TO THE SAFETY. THERE ARE OCEAN GUIDELINES TOO FOR US IN TERMS OF ANY EXCAVATION FIVE FEET OR DEEPER THAT PROLONGS IT.  THAT'S FOR THE SAFETY OF THE MEN AND WE'RE MEN AND WOMEN WORKING FOR US AND AGAIN, THERE'S ENOUGH TRAGIC ACCIDENTS THAT WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM WHAT WE'RE DOING NOT TO RUSH IT BUT JUST TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IN THAT TEN FEET, 12 FEET DEPTH. YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FROM THAT HOW TO GET AROUND SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S DOWN THERE AND I'M SURE IF YOU TALK TO SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE FIELD, THEY'RE YOU KNOW, IT'S BUSY UNDERGROUND THAN IT IS AND SOME OF THE STREETS ABOVEGROUND, YOU KNOW, FROM THAT AND WHETHER IT'S HIGH VOLTAGE CABLE, WHETHER IT'S STEAM, WHETHER IT'S GAS, HIGH PRESSURE WATER OFF THE OFF THE SPRINKLERS IT IS THAT DELICATE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND IT'S CRITICAL IN TERMS OF WHAT WE DEAL WITH OUR TEAMS AND THAT NEXT WORKFORCE COMING IN. SO YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S IT'S FOLKS THAT ARE LISTENING NOW THAT WANT TO COME BACK AND JOIN US IN THE FUTURE. YOU KNOW, BEING OUT IN THE FIELD AND DOING IT. SO WE VALUE THAT YOU GAVE US THIS TIME TO BE HERE AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE TIME YOU COURSE AND I JUST WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. IT'S VERY EVIDENT THAT THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO IN THE COMMUNITY IS VERY NECESSARY ESPECIALLY I THINK THE POINT THAT YOU MENTIONED ABOUT HOW WE'RE 15 YEARS AWAY FROM COMPLETING THE WHAT WAS IT A LEAK BEFORE A LEAK PROPANE PRO PIPE THAT YEAH THAT WE ARE 15 YEARS AWAY FROM THAT AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MUCH MORE IT WILL TAKE FOR US TO REALLY BE A BE UP TO SPEED WITH HAVING NEWER PIPES AND NEWER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS CONSIDERING HOW OLD OUR CITY IS.  SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND WANTED TO BE IN AN ALLY COLLABORATE WITH YOU ALL ON ANY FUTURE PROJECTS IN MY SPECIFIC DISTRICT I KNOW THAT SOME OF THEM ARE COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE AND SOME OF THEM HOPEFULLY NOT LIKE WHAT THERE'S AN EMERGENCY WORK TO BE DONE AS WELL. HAPPY TO BE OF ASSISTANCE THERE BUT WITH THAT THAT IS ALL FOR ME . I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC YEAH WE HAVE ONE VIRTUAL PUBLIC TESTIMONY FROM SARAH FREEMAN BEFORE WE OFFICIALLY CONCLUDE THE YEAR OF HEY SARAH, CAN YOU HEAR US?  YES, I'M HERE. CAN YOU HEAR ME ? YES, LOUD AND CLEAR. OKAY. THANK YOU.  SORRY IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO FIND THE BUTTON. I SENT A COUPLE OF EMAILS EARLIER TODAY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE ALL HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THEM BUT IN A NUTSHELL POINTING OUT SOME OF THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF GAS LEAKS OF WHICH THERE ARE MANY OH, I'M SORRY . I'M SARAH FREEMAN. I LIVE IN JP ON THE ARBOR WAY WHICH IS HAS BEEN HEAVILY IMPACTED BY GAS LEAKS RECENTLY HAD A REPLACEMENT OF THE GAS LINE THAT I INCLUDE OF PHOTOS THERE ARE 100 PLUS YEAR OLD TREES ON THAT BLOCK AND HALF OF THE BLOCK. THEY'RE STILL THERE THAT HALF WHERE THERE WERE MORE GAS LEAKS. THOSE TREES HAVE DIED AND I MENTIONED THIS THOSE TREES ARE GONE, REPLACEMENTS HAVE BEEN PLANTED.  BUT SPEAKING OF COORDINATION AND THIS HEARING, I KNOW THE IT'S A COMPLICATED PROCESS GAS LEAKS ARE GRADED ONE, TWO, THREE SOME OF THE OUTDOOR ONES THEY SEEM TO BE NO RUST AND REPLACING THAT AND THEY HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACTS CLIMATE IMPACT CUSTOMERS ARE PAYING FOR THE LAST GAS.  SO I'M PUTTING IN A PLUG TO COMMUNICATE IN A WAY THAT IF YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE OPENING THE STREET MAYBE THOSE GAS LEAKS CAN PROACTIVELY BE ADDRESSED. I KNOW THE YEARS AGO I SENT A SECOND EMAIL WITH SOME MORE INFO THERE ARE DECADES OLD LEAKS AND IT'S JUST A PROBLEM AS WE'RE IN A CLIMATE CRISIS WE WANT TO HOLD ON TO OUR TREE CANOPY AND WE DON'T WANT TO WASTE GAS AND WASTE MONEY. SO I HOPE YOU'LL ADD THAT INTO YOUR PROTOCOL AND THE FIRST PANEL WAS TALKING ABOUT A MAP.  I THINK THIS CITY STILL HAS THE URBAN MECHANICS SO NEW URBAN MECHANICS SHOULDN'T BE OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY TO CREATE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.  SO I HOPE WE'LL DO THOSE AND DO IT WELL. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, SARAH.  THERE'S ONE MORE ONE ONE WELLINGTON SO OKAY, WELL WITH THAT THIS HEARING ON DOCKET NUMBER 1384 IS ADJOURNED --------- ##VIDEO ID:7I7HFBAYSnw##  GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.  LIKE EVERYONE.  OKAY.  OKAY. THANK YOU .  GOOD MORNING.  MY CHAIR.  I'M SORRY I.  I SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO.  ALL RIGHT. OKAY. UM OKAY .  YOU KNOW, LET ME GET  OVER HERE . SORRY ABOUT THE, UM I.  OKAY.  THANK YOU SO MUCH.  THAT AND STARTED OFF THAT GREAT FOR THE RECORD, ARCH AND I AM THE CHAIR OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION . TODAY IS OCTOBER 15, 2024 IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER TWO OF THE ACT 2.53 MODIFYING REQUIREMENTS THE OPEN MEETING LAW AND I'LL BE LEAVING PUBLIC BODIES OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING THE REQUIREMENT THAT PUBLIC BODIES CONDUCT MEETINGS IN A PUBLIC PLACE THAT IS OPEN AND PHYSICALLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE CONDUCTING THIS HEARING VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM. THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED IS ALSO BEING LIVESTREAMED AT BOSTON.COM.  SO CITY COUNCIL DO WATCH TV AND BROADCAST IT ON EVERY CHANNEL A LOT AND 82 MILES CHANNEL 964 BRAIN COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO THE COMMITTEE EMAIL THE EDUCATION BOX AND BACK UP AND WE WILL BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD AND AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILORS.  PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN AT THE END OF THIS HEARING.  INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CALLED ON IN THE ORDER OF WHICH THEY SIGNED UP AND WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES TO TESTIFY IF YOU WISH TO SIGN UP PUBLIC, IF YOU WISH TO SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND HAVE NOT DONE SO PLEASE EMAIL OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON SHOW IN PART SANE BOSTON BACKED OUT WITH A ZOOM LINK AND YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST. TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET NUMBER 1444 ORDER FOR A HEARING ON STANDARDIZED TESTING AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT. THIS MATTER WAS SPONSORED BY COUNCILOR , PHOTOGRAPHER AND INDUS ANDERSON AND JULIE AMIHERE AND REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON SEPTEMBER 25, 24. TODAY I AM JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL COUNCILOR FLYNN.  COUNCILOR BREADON. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. COUNCILOR HERE WHO IS A CO-SPONSOR WITH THE THEN COUNCILOR FERNANDES ANDERSON. I WAS THE LEAD SPONSOR COUNCILOR ERIN MURPHY AND COUNCILOR SHARON DURKAN.  WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER OF ABSENCE FROM COUNCILOR BRIAN WORRELL.  I'D LIKE TO HAND THE FLOOR OVER NOW TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR OPENING REMARKS BEGINNING WITH THE LEAD SPONSOR AND ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR AND THEN PROCEEDING AND ORDER ARRIVAL FOR OTHER COLLEAGUES WITH COUNCILOR FERNANDES AND ANDERSON. DO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR?  THANK YOUR MUTED. COUNCILOR . MY APOLOGIES.  GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH MR CHAIR AND TO MY CO-SPONSOR COUNCIL HERE FOR WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE AT I THINK WE LOST COUNCILOR . I'M HERE. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? COUNCILOR MY HEAD ABOUT THAT.  I'M HAVING SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES. CAN YOU HEAR ME ? WE CAN HEAR YOU. AND I THINK COUNCILOR FERNANDES ANDERSON ARE YOU ARE YOU BACK WITH US?  I SOMEHOW WENT MUTED WITHOUT TOUCHING ANYTHING. CAN YOU HEAR ME ? YEP, WE CAN HEAR YOU. AWESOME. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.  THANK YOU AGAIN, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU TO MY CO-SPONSOR AND THE ADVOCATES WHO GOT US TO THIS CONVERSATION HERE TODAY AND ALSO TO MR CHAIR AND YOUR TEAM FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING EXPEDITIOUSLY. AS WE ALL KNOW, THE MASSACHUSETTS COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM IN CASS IS A SET OF STATEWIDE STANDARDIZED TESTS STUDENTS IN GRADES 3 TO 8 AND TEN TAKE MPAC TESTS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AND MATHEMATICS STUDENTS IN GRADES FIVE, EIGHT AND ONE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SORRY ONE HIGH SCHOOL GRADE I USUALLY GRADE NINE OR TEN TAKE A SCIENCE AND CAST TEST.  STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MEET THE COMPETENCY DETERMINATION C D STANDARD IN ORDER TO GRADUATE WHICH IS USUALLY DONE BY EARNING A PASSING SCORE ON EN MASSE TESTS. IT'S THIS GRADUATION REQUIREMENT THAT BROUGHT US ALL HERE TODAY FOR THIS HEARING.  EACH YEAR AROUND 700 STUDENTS STATEWIDE DO NOT GRADUATE BECAUSE THEY DID POORLY ON THE TASK DESPITE MEETING ALL OF OTHER GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS. THIS YEAR ON NOVEMBER 5TH VOTERS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS TO SCRAP THE GRADUATION REQUIREMENT WHILE STILL MANDATING TEST OVERALL. BEFORE THEN I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CREATE A PUBLIC SPACE WHERE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC COULD EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS ON THE SUBJECT TO BETTER INFORM THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. AS TO THIS QUESTION ON THE BALLOT, WE WELCOME ALL PERSPECTIVES ON THIS MATTER AND HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL WALK AWAY FROM THIS HEARING BETTER INFORMED ON THIS TOPIC. THANK YOU SO MUCH MR CHAIR AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION.  GREAT. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR . COUNCILWOMAN, HERE YOU HAVE FOR NOW. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. AND BECAUSE I'M HAVING DIFFICULTIES I WILL BE ON CAMERA JUST SO WE CAN AT LEAST HEAR ME . CAN YOU GO FROM YOU CAN HEAR ME . YES, WE CAN HEAR IT ELSEWHERE. OKAY, GREAT. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR COUNCILOR ANDERSON FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN THIS SPACE. I HOPE I OFTEN JOKED THAT IF MY CATS WERE AROUND I'D PROBABLY STILL BE IN HIGH SCHOOL. I AM ONE OF THOSE KIDS THAT DIDN'T DO WELL WITH TEST TAKING AND I THINK THAT OFTENTIMES WHEN WE LOOK AT A TEST IS REALLY NOT A REAL MEASURE OF ONE'S CAPABILITIES PARTICULARLY FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE WHO HAVE A TEST TAKING ANXIETY. JUST TO PUT SOME THINGS INTO CONTEXT. MY KID WAS ONE OF THOSE KIDS THAT ENDED UP AT AN EXAM WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE THE EXAM AND HER FIRST YEAR SHE WAS DETERMINED TO GET THE HONOR ROLL EVERY SEMESTER BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO PROVE THAT SHE BELONGED. NOW THAT BROKE MY HEART BECAUSE FACT THAT MY DAUGHTER FELT LIKE SHE NEEDED TO PROVE HERSELF SHE DIDN'T WANT TO BE CONSIDERED ONE OF THOSE ZIP CODE KIDS. I GUESS THAT WAS WAS WHAT WAS BEING SAID IN THE HALLS ABOUT THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT GOT INTO THESE EXAM SCHOOLS AND WELL,  I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT MY DAUGHTER NOT ONLY MANAGED TO GET THE HONOR OF EVERY SEMESTER SHE REALLY PROVE THAT THE TEST REALLY DOES NOT DETERMINE HER ABILITY TO THRIVE AND SO I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT HIGH TEST A HIGH STAKES TEST TAKING THAT MAKES IT HARDER FOR EDUCATORS TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE KNOW THEY DO BEST WHICH IS THE LOVE OF LEARNING AND THE LOVE OF EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS. BUT WHEN FOLKS ARE FOCUSING ALL OF THEIR TIME AND ENERGY ON TAKING THE TEST AND PREPARING FOR IT, I THINK THAT WE LOSE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY FOCUS ON THE WHOLE CHILD AND THE WHOLE CHILD EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE. WELL, ONE THING THAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT WE NEED TO REVAMP THE ENTIRE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM TO MEET THE MOMENT. BUT FOR THIS RIGHT NOW WITH THIS QUESTION ON THE BALLOT, I AM REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES, IF YOU WILL, AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE PUBLIC DISCUSSION THROUGH THE COUNCIL ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE AND I'LL JUST END WITH THAT AT AT THE WHEN WE'RE WHEN WORK WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE DATA, 57% OF STUDENTS ARE MEETING SLASH EXCEEDING EXPECTATION AND 31% ARE PARTIALLY MEETING AND 12% ARE NOT MEETING. THESE WERE THE 24 AND CASS RESULTS AND I WILL SAY THAT MY DAUGHTER I HELPED HER OUT OF THE CAST AND SO I KNOW THAT SHE'S GOING TO SHE WILL PROBABLY EVENTUALLY HAVE TO TAKE THE TEST UNLESS WE CAN CHANGE THIS LAW SOONER BEFORE SHE GRADUATES BECAUSE OTHERWISE I THINK THAT WE WILL FIND OURSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE KIDS WHO NOW HAVE THE CAPACITY TO THRIVE ARE BEING STALLED AND LEFT BEHIND JUST BECAUSE WE WANT TO MEASURE TEACHERS PERFORMANCE REALLY THIS IS IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET REAL ABOUT IT THIS IS REALLY JUST A TOOL OR QUOTE UNQUOTE ACCOUNTABILITY. BUT REAL ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIRES US TO TRUST OUR TEACHERS THAT THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOBS AND CREATE AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO SHOWCASE THEIR SKILLS THROUGH VARIOUS OTHER WAYS ASIDE FROM A TEST. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU SO MUCH NAVYA ALSO I'VE LEARNED YOU HAVE FOUR.  THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO THE PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE AS WELL.  AND CAS IS A SET OF STANDARD TESTS ESTABLISHED UNDER THE 1993 EDUCATION REFORM ACT TO IMPROVE SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY AND PERFORMANCE. IT IS A MINISTRY ADMINISTRATED TO STUDENTS FROM GRADE 3 TO 8 AND GRADE TEN PASSING IN CAS IS CURRENTLY A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT TO ENSURE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.  IT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS NEEDED. I ALSO BELIEVE WE NEED STANDARDS AS TESTING TO BE ABLE TO MEASURE THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR STUDENTS TO TRACK WHETHER THEY ARE MEETING CERTAIN BENCHMARKS IN LANGUAGE, MATH READING. IF WE REMOVE THEM CAS AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT,  MASSACHUSETTS WILL BE ONE OF THREE STATES IN THE COUNTRY WITH NO STATEWIDE REQUIREMENT FOR GRADUATION AND THERE WOULD BE DIFFERENT STANDARDS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. I BELIEVE WE NEED A UNIFORM STANDARD TO EVALUATE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT ACROSS THE STATE NO MATTER WHICH HIGH SCHOOL YOU GRADUATE FROM.  WELL, DATA HAS SHOWN THAT A GREATER PORTION OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH STANDARDIZED TESTING ARE STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS INSTEAD OF REMOVING THEM. CAS IS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT. WE COULD FOCUS ON MEASURES TO HELP THESE STUDENTS SUCCEED. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND THE COUNCIL AND ALSO A GREAT INTERVIEW OFF THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU EVERYONE. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU TO THE LEAD SPONSORS. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. A TIMELY HEARING AS WE APPROACH THE UPCOMING ELECTION ON THESE BALLOT QUESTIONS ON THE BALLOT. I KNOW HOW STRONG FEELINGS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS ON THIS ONE. I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE. I THINK THE LITTLE I DO KNOW ABOUT TESTING IN TERMS OF OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS I HAVE HEARD THAT STUDENTS WHO ARE ABLE TO HAVE THE QUESTIONS PRESENTED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH ARE THEIR NATIVE THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE. THEY DO BETTER ON THE TEST IF IF IT IS A MATH A MATH TEST OR A SCIENCE TEST OF IF THEY HAVE THE TEST IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH THEY CAN DO BETTER BECAUSE THAT SORT OF SORT OF LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD IN TERMS OF THEIR UNDERSTANDING AND THEIR ABILITY TO TAKE A TEST ON A SUBJECT MATTER THAT'S LIKE SCIENCE OR MATH. SO IT'S A COMPLICATED IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED ISSUE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE THIS MORNING.  AS SOMEONE WHO STRUGGLED WITH TESTING ALL MY LIFE AS A STUDENT, I DO KNOW THAT NOT DOING WELL ON A TEST SAY A SELECTION TEST FOR AN EXAM SCHOOL OR OTHER OTHER REQUIRED TESTING IT DOES REALLY IMPACT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF AND IT TAKES YOU A LONG TIME TO REESTABLISH YOUR SENSE OF THE DUTY THAT YOU CAN DO IT AND THAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF DOING WELL.  SO TESTING HAS A IS A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION THIS MORNING. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. COUNSELOR FITZGERALD. THE OTHER FLOOR.  THANK YOU, CHAIR. APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY. YEAH, VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT RIGHT ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR YOUTH AND THEIR EDUCATION IN THIS CITY AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM FOLKS TODAY.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. ALSO PREPARED WE HAVE THE FLOOR. GOOD MORNING, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HOLDING THIS VERY IMPORTANT HEARING. THIS TOPIC IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME BECAUSE EDUCATION IS OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT IMPACT EVERYONE FROM A VERY EARLY AGE. AS SOMEONE THAT TOOK THE CLASS ACTUALLY I ALWAYS QUESTION LIKE WHY ARE WE TAKING THIS TEST? HOW MANY OF IT DIDN'T HAVE TO DO MUCH WITH WHAT WE WERE LEARNING IN SCHOOL AND NOW AS A COUNSELOR WHAT I HEAR FROM TEACHERS IS THAT THEY'RE FOCUSING MORE ON MAKING SURE THAT THE STUDENTS ARE PASSING THE TESTS INSTEAD OF SHOWING AND TEACHING STUDENTS SOME VALUABLE LIFE SKILLS AND MAYBE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT MAY NOT BE ON THE TEST. SO I WANT TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT IS GOING TO REALLY BENEFIT THE STUDENTS, THE TEACHERS AND JUST THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN GENERAL. SO I'M HERE TO LEARN TO LISTEN AND TO JUST BE AS COLLABORATIVE, AS SUPPORTIVE AS MUCH AS I CAN BE IN YOUR SUPPORT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR CHAIR INGLETHORPE AND COUNSELOR MURPHY.  YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, CHAIR. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION. MY FOCUS IS ALWAYS ON MAKING SURE NONE OF OUR STUDENTS ARE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED IN PLACE SO LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT BOTH SIDES HAVE TO SAY TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. COUNSELOR DURKIN, THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR AND I KNOW WHERE A LOT OF US ARE HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES SO I HAD MY OWN THIS MORNING SO HAPPY MY CAMERA AND AUDIO ARE WORKING.  THANK YOU CHAIR. THANK YOU TO THE SPONSOR FOR HOSTING THIS HEARING. I THINK THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION AND ONE THAT I KNOW THAT ME AND BOTH MY CONSTITUENTS AND I BOTH DON'T WANT ME TO MISS. I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF FOLKS ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT AND HOW HOW CONTROVERSIAL ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, BOTH SIDES TAKE THIS ISSUE. BUT I'M ALSO LISTENING TO TEACHERS IN MY DISTRICT WHO ARE WORKING REALLY HARD TO TRY TO MAKE THE RIGHT EDUCATION DECISIONS FOR THE WHOLE CHILD AND DEFINITELY HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO WORK TO TO DELIVER ON THAT IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T JUST TEACH SHORT TEST. SO I THINK THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION AND AND I'M GRATEFUL TO COUNSELOR TANYA FERNANDEZ ANDERSON FOR SPONSORING THIS.  THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, COUNSELOR DURKAN AND THANK YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES . AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PANEL AS THE COMMITTEE INVITED FOR OUR PANEL.  WE HAVE MAX PAGE, PRESIDENT OF MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.  DAVE MCCARTHY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION. ERIC BERG, PRESIDENT OF THE BOSTON TEACHERS UNION AND BRANT DUNCAN, SECRETARY TREASURER OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS MASSACHUSETTS. I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT THE COMMITTEE ALSO INVITED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. BUT GIVEN THE POSSIBILITY THAT A BALLOT MEASURE MAY BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION TODAY, HE DECLINED TO PARTICIPATE IN TODAY'S DISCUSSION. BP HAS OFFERED TO SEND ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON THIS MATTER. I INVITE ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WITH QUESTIONS FOR BP TO REQUEST INFORMATION TO THE CHAIR AT ANY POINT DURING THEIR QUESTIONS ROUNDS CENTRAL STAFF WILL TRACK INTO METALS. AFTER THE HEARING, BP HAS ALSO PROVIDED RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY THE SPONSORS BEFORE TODAY'S HEARING WHICH THE COMMITTEE JUST RECEIVED A FEW MINUTES AGO AFTER THE HEARING BEGAN, THE ADMINISTRATION PROVIDED THOSE TO CENTRAL STAFF WHO HAS ADDED THEM TO THE RECORD AND SHARED FOLDER FOR THIS HEARING SO OUR COUNSELORS HAVE ACCESS TO THEM . FOR THE PANELISTS WHO ARE HERE TODAY, I'D LIKE TO ASK EACH OF YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND THEN PLEASE PROCEED WITH OPENING REMARKS. I'D JUST KINDLY ASK THAT IN ORDER TO ALLOW TIME FOR COUNSELORS QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION AND YOU PLEASE LIMIT YOUR OPENING REMARKS TO FIVE MINUTE PROGRAM LIST.  SURE.  THANK YOU. I WILL. I WILL GO. WOULD YOU LIKE US TO INTRODUCE OURSELVES ONE AT A TIME AND THEN DO REMARKS OR INTRODUCE NOW HOWEVER YOU CAN YOU CAN GO AHEAD. PRESIDENT BURTON AND WITH YOUR OPENING REMARKS AND THEN PEOPLE CAN INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AT STATE OF THEIR OPENING REMARKS . THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU.  CHAIR SANTANA THANK YOU TO COUNCILORS ANDERSON AND MEJIA FOR SPONSORING AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M ERIC BERG. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOSTON TEACHERS UNION. I'M A 25 YEAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER AND I'M THE FATHER OF TWO GRADUATES WHO ATTENDED BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM K TO 12 AND I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO SHARE THE OVERWHELMING SENTIMENT OF BOSTON'S EDUCATORS THAT USING THE M.S. AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT IS A BAD IDEA.  JUDGING STUDENTS ABILITY TO GRADUATE ON THE MATH TEST IS FUNDAMENTALLY UNFAIR AND IT HAS NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR SCHOOLS. IT'S TIME TO MOVE OUR SCHOOLS FORWARD AND PROVIDE BOSTON STUDENTS WITH A WELL-ROUNDED, COMPLETE SET OF COURSE OFFERINGS THAT PREPARES THEM FOR THE WORLD THEY'RE ABOUT TO ENTER. EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN US THAT THE MASS GRADUATION REQUIREMENT DENIES THEM THAT EXPERIENCE. WE ALL SHARE A DESIRE FOR BOSTON STUDENTS AND FOR STUDENTS ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS TO BE WELL PREPARED FOR THE WORKPLACE, HIGHER EDUCATION AND FOR BEING A THRIVING,  CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF OUR DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.  BOSTON'S EDUCATORS BELIEVE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE PREPARED WHEN THEY'RE ABLE TO THINK CRITICALLY, ANALYZE AND SYNTHESIZE INFORMATION AND WORK IN TEAMS TO SOLVE REAL PROBLEMS. IS IT A TEST GRADUATION REQUIREMENT THAT MAKES THAT POSSIBLE?  WELL, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE FACTS. SADLY IN BOSTON OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS SINCE MY PAST HAS BEEN A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT, WE'VE SEEN STAGNANT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE ON THE NATIONAL EDUCATION OF EDUCATION, NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS, THE NAPE WHICH IS CONSIDERED THE GOLD STANDARD OF EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT MEASUREMENT EVEN AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN ELECTIVE COURSES IN THE ARTS HAVE BEEN LIMITED.  USING MORE TESTS AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT HAS NOT BROUGHT ACADEMIC SUCCESS FOR OUR STUDENTS MORE THAN BEFORE AND HAS ONLY LIMITED THEIR ABILITY TO EARN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.  ONE CONSEQUENCE OF THE HIGH STAKES PROVISION OF M CLASS AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT IS THE REAL WORLD WAY THAT IT PLAYS OUT IN SCHOOLS. FOR INSTANCE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND RELATED SERVICE PROVIDERS IN BOSTON SPEND WEEKS PROVIDING INDIVIDUAL OR SMALL GROUP TEST ADMINISTRATION TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WHO REQUIRE THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS AS PART OF THEIR IEP WHEN THEY'RE PROVIDING THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS, THE STUDENTS THEY SERVE TYPICALLY MISS OUT ON THEIR REQUIRED SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES. THE MORE TIMES THAT STUDENTS NEED TO TAKE THIS TEST, THE MORE ACCOMMODATIONS NEED TO BE PROVIDED AND THE MORE STUDENTS MISS OUT ON THEIR SERVICES. IN SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS OUR SPECIAL ED TEACHERS ARE OCCUPIED FOR WEEKS OR UP TO A MONTH PROVIDING ACCOMMODATIONS . I THINK MANY OF US RECOGNIZE FROM OUR OWN EXPERIENCE THAT JUDGING A STUDENT BASED ON THEIR PERFORMANCE ON A SINGLE TEST IS JUST NOT FAIR. IT DOESN'T CAPTURE THE WHOLE THE WHOLE OF THAT STUDENT AND IT DOESN'T PROVIDE A GOOD MEASURE FOR WHAT WE WANT AND EXPECT OUR STUDENTS TO TO KNOW AND BE ABLE TO DO AS THEY GO INTO THE WORLD SO IT'S TIME WE END THE USE OF CAST AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT ENSURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS OFFER AND OUR STUDENTS COMPLETE A FULL RANGE OF COURSE OFFERINGS INCLUDING ELECTIVES, CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PATHWAYS IN THE ARTS AND BETTER PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR THE WORLD THEY WILL ACTUALLY BE ENTERING UPON GRADUATION.  THANKS VERY MUCH.  THEY'VE BEEN TO.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. PRESIDENT BYRD.  NEXT ON THE LIST IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.  GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. I'M MAX PAIGE AND PRESIDENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION WHICH REPRESENTS 117,000 PUBLIC SCHOOL AND COLLEGE EDUCATORS ACROSS THE STATE AND TOGETHER WITH OUR UNION SIBLINGS IN BTU AND AFT.  WE REPRESENT ALMOST ALL THE PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS IN THE STATE AND THAT MATTERS BECAUSE THIS CAMPAIGN IS BUILT ON THE CLEAR MESSAGE WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE TRUE EXPERTS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.  THE EDUCATORS WHO HAVE BUILT THE FINEST PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY ALONGSIDE OUR PARENTS AND STUDENTS.  OUR MEMBERS HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS THAT THE HIGH STAKES IMPASSE IS BAD FOR OUR STUDENTS, BAD FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND BAD FOR THE COMMONWEALTH. WE HAVE THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IN THE NATION AND WE TEACH OUR STUDENTS USING THOSE STANDARDS. WHAT WE AND OUR DOZENS OF ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS NEARLY 30 SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND CITY COUNCILS 70 ELECTED LEADERS ARE AGAINST IS THE PUNITIVE HIGH STAKES USE OF THE TESTS AND I THINK IT'S JUST WORTH AS A REMINDER WE SHOULD PROBABLY SAY WE'LL SAY IT SEVERAL TIMES. QUESTION TWO DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE TASK. WE WILL STILL HAVE THE DATA FROM THAT YEARLY TEST QUESTION TO SIMPLY REPLACES THE MASK AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT AND REQUIRES INSTEAD THAT DISTRICTS CERTIFY THAT STUDENTS HAVE MET OUR HIGH STATE ACADEMIC STANDARDS. I HAD THE PLEASURE RECENTLY OF CANVASING FOR QUESTION TWO IN WESTFIELD WITH AN MTA RETIRED EDUCATOR.  AS WE WALKED OUR TURF, SUSAN SHARED A STORY OF A RETIRED WOMAN SHE HAD MET ON A PREVIOUS DAY OF CANVASING IN HIGH SCHOOL. THE WOMAN HADN'T DONE WELL ON STANDARDIZED TESTS BUT SHE MANAGED TO GET THROUGH IT AND WENT ON TO COLLEGE TO FIND THAT SHE WAS BRILLIANT. THAT'S A HER OWN WORD. SHE BECAME A NURSE PRACTITIONER AND CARED FOR THOUSANDS OF WESTFIELD RESIDENTS FROM BIRTH TO DEATH AND THAT STORY REMINDED ME WHAT U.S. REPRESENTATIVE AYANNA PRESSLEY SAID WHEN SHE ENDORSED QUESTION TWO ON AN MTA WEBINAR THIS PAST MONTH.  AND THIS IS WHAT SHE SAID. FOR SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF WHO WAS A POOR TEST TAKER, IF EDUCATORS HAD NOT REALIZED WHO I WAS HOLISTICALLY AND WANTED TO INVEST IN AND NURTURE AND CULTIVATE AND ENCOURAGE MY LEADERSHIP SKILLS, I DON'T KNOW WHERE I WOULD BE TODAY. HERE ARE TWO WOMEN WHO FOUND A PATH A WAY PAST THE OBSTACLES OF TESTING IN PART BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT SUBJECTED TO A MAKE OR BREAK MCATS EXAM THAT MIGHT HAVE DENIED THEM A DIPLOMA. THIS IS THE TRAGEDY OF THE HIGH STAKES USE OF THE TESTS TO DETERMINE WHO GETS A DIPLOMA. IT ADDS YET ANOTHER BARRIER TO OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SO OFTEN STUDENTS OF COLOR FROM WORKING CLASS FAMILIES, STUDENTS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES OR ACQUIRING ENGLISH AS ANOTHER LANGUAGE.  OUR JOB AS EDUCATORS IS TO NURTURE OUR STUDENTS AS FUTURE CITIZENS ADULTS, PARENTS, NEIGHBORS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND WORKERS. BUT THE REGIME OF THE HIGH STAKES IMPASSE TAKES AWAY TIME THAT SHOULD BE DEVOTED TO AUTHENTIC LEARNING AND PREVENTS SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE FROM DEMONSTRATING THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND DISCOVERING THEIR FULL CAPABILITIES. THE OPPOSITION LIKES TO SAY THAT ONLY 700 STUDENTS ARE DENIED A DIPLOMA EVEN THEY HAVE PASSED ALL OF THEIR CLASSES. BY THE WAY, THERE ARE MANY MORE WHO DROP OUT HAVING NOT PASSED THE 10TH GRADE EXAM AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS WHO LOSE WEEKS OF REAL EDUCATION DEVOTED TO THIS HIGH STAKES TEST PREP AND TEST TAKING. AND IN THAT MOMENT MEMBERS ARE BOUND TO GO UP AS BESSIE RAISES THE CUT SCORES.  JUST THINK OF THE POSSIBILITIES LOST BY ONE STUDENT BEING CUT OFF FROM THE OPPORTUNE ITIES OFFERED BY A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. A LIFE OF POTENTIAL OF LIFE OF GREAT POTENTIAL NARROWED BY BEING DENIED THE CREDENTIAL THEY EARNED OVER FOUR YEARS OF CLASSES EFFECTIVELY BEING TOLD THEIR FAILURES. SO ON NOVEMBER 5TH AND WITH YOUR HELP WE HOPE WITH YOUR HELP WE HOPE WE WILL BEND THE CURVE AWAY FROM THE FAILED MODEL OF HIGH STAKES TESTING. WE WILL REDIRECT PUBLIC EDUCATION TO AUTHENTIC LEARNING IN CLASSROOMS AND WILL LOOK FORWARD TO OUR SOCIETY BENEFITING FROM THAT NEXT BRILLIANT NURSE AND THE NEXT VISIONARY CONGRESSIONAL LEADER. THANK YOU.  I THINK I'M NEXT. YES.  AND I OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY.  THE NAME'S DEB MCCARTHY. EDUCATOR FOR 25 YEARS A VICE PRESIDENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION. AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ON THE DATA I'M EXCUSE ME THE NIECE OF MAUREEN DUNNE, THE CO-FOUNDER OF THE P.O.W. AM I MOVEMENT. AND THAT FOR ME ACCOUNTABILITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT WHEN QUESTION TWO PASSES ON NOVEMBER 5TH. HARDLY ANY CHANGE WILL OCCUR. LOCAL MEASURES WILL STILL BE IN PLACE.  STATE MANDATES AROUND CURRICULUM AND FRAMEWORKS WILL REMAIN AND THE END CAPS WILL BE ADMINISTERED ACCORDING TO FEDERAL POLICIES. THE ONLY THING THAT WILL NO LONGER BE IN PLACE IS THE DRACONIAN EXPECTATION THE TIES, THE ATTAINMENT OF A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA TO THE HIGH STAKES STANDARDIZED ONE SIZE FITS ALL METRIC OF A TEST SCORE.  I AM NOT HERE TO DEBATE THE DEFINITION OF A ONE TIME TEST SCORE BUT I AM HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A STUDENT DOES NOT PASS JUST EVEN ONE OF THE THREE ANGUS TESTS ON THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT. THE FOLLOWING WORDS WERE WRITTEN BY THE BEST FRIEND OF ONE OF THE STUDENTS WHO APPEARS IN OUR MOST RECENT COMMERCIAL FOR YES ON TWO. MY USUALLY HAPPY AND BUBBLY FRIEND BECAME ANGRY.  THIS TEST TOOK SOMETHING AWAY FROM HER. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT SHE FAILED BY ONE POINT AND HAD A B FOR THE FINAL GRADE IN HER FRESHMAN BIOLOGY CLASS. SHE TOOK THE TEST AGAIN LAST YEAR AND ONCE AGAIN FAILED BY ONE POINT DETERMINED TO PROVE THEM WRONG. SHE TOOK IT ONE MORE TIME AND FINALLY SHE FOUND OUT THAT SHE PASSED AND ALTHOUGH WE WERE ALL EXTREMELY PROUD OF HER, SHOULD WE BE CELEBRATING THAT SHE FINALLY PASSED THE BIOLOGY AND GAS TESTS? OF COURSE NOT.  WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF ALL OF HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS. EVERY DAY AND NOT CATEGORIZE HER AS A TEST SCORE.  SHAME ON A SYSTEM THAT HAS DIMINISHED MY BEST FRIEND SELF-WORTH TO ONE POINT OF A STANDARDIZED TEST. NO STUDENT SHOULD EXPERIENCE WHAT MY FRIEND HAD TO GO THROUGH OR I FEEL THE ANXIETY THAT I DO ABOUT CASH LAST YEAR DOES SHE DECIDED TO INCREASE THE CUTOFF SCORE AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE STILL FEELING THE IMPACTS FROM THE PANDEMIC AND ONLY 78% OF THE STUDENTS MET THE HIGH STAKES OF THE METRICS OF A TEST SCORE AND THAT MEANS THAT THERE WILL BE 16,000 STUDENTS WITH EXPERIENCES JUST LIKE THE NARRATIVE THAT I JUST SHARED WITH YOU. THE OTHER ITEM THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU TODAY IS THE DEMEANING ASSERTION THAT THE REASON THAT MASSACHUSETTS IS THE EXEMPLAR NATIONALLY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION IS BECAUSE OF THE NHS. I RECENTLY ATTENDED A MEETING WITH THE ACTING COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION AND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS PRESENTED ON A SLIDE. TEACHERS HAVE 2 TO 3 TIMES THE EFFECT OF ANY OTHER SCHOOL FACT ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND READING AND MATH AND HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TEACHERS ALSO INFLUENCE LONGER TERM OUTCOMES SUCH AS GRADUATION, COLLEGE ATTENDANCE AND EARNINGS. MASSACHUSETTS ISN'T NUMBER ONE BECAUSE OF THE NHS WE ARE NUMBER ONE BECAUSE WE HAVE A HIGHLY EDUCATED WORKFORCE WHERE EDUCATORS MUST EARN A LICENSE, MUST EARN A MASTER'S DEGREE WITHIN THEIR FIRST FIVE YEARS, MUST GET RECERTIFIED EVERY FIVE YEARS AND MUST PARTICIPATE IN AN OVERLY RIGOROUS AND TIME CONSUMING EVALUATOR PROCESS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. OUR LESSON PLANS ARE ASSESSMENTS AND OUR IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE DIFFERENT CREATED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL LEARNERS. OUR STUDENTS ARE NUMBER ONE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BEST EDUCATORS IN THE COUNTRY AND AS HIGHLY EDUCATED PROFESSIONALS WE KNOW IT IS MORALLY WRONG TO NOT TO DENY STUDENTS A DIPLOMA BASED UPON A ONE TIME ONE SIZE STANDARDIZED HIGH STAKES ASSESSMENT.  AND SO SHOULD THE STATE. WE KNOW THAT IT IS TIME TO REMOVE THE ACCOUNTABILITY OFF OF THE BACKS OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS AND IT IS TIME TO HOLD THE STATE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY GAPS THAT PERMEATE THE HALLWAYS IN OUR SCHOOLS. IT IS TIME TO REMOVE THIS HIGH STAKES TEST METRIC AND THE ATTAINMENT OF A DIPLOMA.  AND IT IS TIME TO VOTE YES ON TWO. THANK YOU.  MY NAME IS BRANT DUNCAN. I'M THE SECRETARY TREASURER OF RFP MASSACHUSETTS AND I SPENT YEARS WORKING AS AN EDUCATOR IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FIRST AS A PARAPROFESSIONAL, THEN AS AN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH TEACHER. NOW MY TWO DAUGHTERS ARE STUDENTS IN ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND I REMAIN CONNECTED THROUGH THEM AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. AFTER MASSACHUSETTS PRESIDENT JESSICA TEN AND ALL OF YOU KNOW WE SPENT YEARS IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND LATER SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOSTON TEACHERS UNION COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. I'M HERE TO READ A FEW REMARKS ON HER BEHALF.  AS A FORMER BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEACHER AND 20 YEAR RESIDENT OF THE CITY, I WISH I COULD BE HERE TODAY TO TESTIFY ON BEHALF OF MASSACHUSETTS WHICH HAS ENDORSED YES AND TWO TO END THE USE OF THE M CAST AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT.  TO BEGIN, I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT EDUCATORS BELIEVE IN HIGH STANDARDS FOR THEIR STUDENTS AND BELIEVE IN ASSESSMENTS THAT HELP US TO IMPROVE OUR TEACHING AND ENSURE STUDENTS ARE MASTERING THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN COLLEGE AND CAREERS. THE ISSUE HERE IS AT THE END TEST DO NOT DO THIS NOR DO THEY GIVE US MEANINGFUL INFORMATION TO ACTUALLY IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL PROCESSES.  THE ONE THING THESE TESTS ARE ACCURATE IN TELLING US IS ABOUT THE STUDENT'S FAMILY LIFE ALSO KNOWN AS SOCIOECONOMICS STATUS . RESEARCH HAS REPEATEDLY SHOWN THAT SCORES ARE TIED TO FACTORS LIKE INCOME, PARENTAL EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT IN THE LANGUAGES SPOKEN AT HOME. SO IT'S NO SURPRISE THEN THAT STUDENTS OF COLOR LOW INCOME STUDENTS AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND STUDENTS FOR WHOM ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE ARE ESPECIALLY HARMED BY INCREASED GRADUATION REQUIREMENT. THESE ALSO HAPPEN TO BE THE STUDENTS THAT MAKE UP THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS 81% HIGH NEEDS 85% STUDENTS OF COLOR 70% LOW INCOME STATEWIDE PERCENTAGES ARE NOT COMPARABLE TO THOSE IN CITIES LIKE BOSTON AND OTHER CITIES WE WORK WITH AND THEY HAVE A MASSACHUSETTS LIKE LYNN, LOWELL AND LAWRENCE. SO IT'S EASY FOR DISTRICTS THAT ARE LESS IMPACTED TO SAY THE IMPACT TESTS ARE HARMFUL.  THE PAST TWO DECADES HAVE SHOWN THAT THE TEST HAS NOT MOVED THE NEEDLE ON CLOSING ACHIEVEMENT AND OPPORTUNITY GAPS. THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S FOCUSED ON THE OUTCOMES AS OPPOSED TO FOCUSING ON THE INPUTS OF WHAT SCHOOLS ACTUALLY NEED TO CLOSE THOSE GAPS ALONG WITH MANY OTHER HARMFUL UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE.  WHEN I WAS TEACHING AT THE GALVIN WE HAD AN EIGHTH GRADER JOIN US MID-YEAR. HE HAD JUST BEEN PUSHED OUT OF THEIR LOCAL CHARTER SCHOOL DOWN THE STREET AND CAME TO US READING AT A FIFTH GRADE LEVEL. OUR SCHOOL DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO HIRE A READING SPECIALIST SO I HAD TO LOOK OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL TO FIND EXTRA SUPPORT FOR THAT STUDENT. MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS TODAY ARE STILL LACKING READING SPECIALISTS. AT THE GALVIN IN MANY SCHOOLS WE WOULD TEACH HALF A SEMESTER OF SCIENCE AND HALF A SEMESTER CIVICS AND THEN SWITCH TO A SCIENCE COMPONENT TO THE CLASS WAS ADDED BACK IN 2006 AND STARTING NEXT APRIL STUDENTS WILL BE TAKING A SKIPPING COMPONENT.  IT SHOULDN'T TAKE A TEST TO TELL US WHO WILL SCORED BETTER ON THESE TESTS. THE STUDENTS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO YEARLONG SCIENCE AND CIVICS COURSES WITH THE KIDS AT THE GALLERY.  THIS IS EMBLEMATIC OF THE PROBLEM WITH OUR PUNITIVE TEST SYSTEM A SYSTEM THAT RELIES ON TEST SCORES TO JUDGE DISTRICTS AND DISINCENTIVIZES SCHOOLS FROM TAKING STUDENTS WHO DON'T TEST WELL AS OPPOSED TO A SYSTEM THAT FOCUSES ON WHAT IS ACTUALLY NEEDED FOR ALL STUDENTS TO SUCCEED BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.  LASTLY, I'VE HEARD THE ARGUMENT IT'S ONLY 700 STUDENTS. FIRST OF ALL THE CUT SCORES WERE RAISED LAST YEAR SO WE SHOULD EXPECT TO SEE MORE THAN 700 STUDENTS. SECOND, IF YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE 700 STUDENTS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE PASSED ALL OF THE COURSES BEEN ACCEPTED TO COLLEGE BUT CAN'T ATTEND BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T PASSED ONE OF THE THREE IN THIS YEAR FOR MASTER'S IT MATTERS WELL AND CAS WILL STILL BE GIVING REMOVING THE PUNITIVE CONSEQUENCE FOR STUDENTS WHO OTHERWISE HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT HAVE MET STATE STANDARDS WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR STUDENTS WHO CANNOT ATTEND COLLEGE OTHERWISE IS A TRUE BARRIER FOR EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY.  IF WE WANT TO HAVE CLASSROOMS THAT TRULY PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THEIR FUTURE AND PROVIDE AN INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE EDUCATION TO ALL STUDENTS, WE NEED TO ABANDON THIS ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH.  MOVING BEYOND TEACHING TO THE TEST WILL HELP US CREATE MORE RIGOROUS IN SUPPORT OF LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS WE'RE SETTING AND MEETING HIGH STANDARDS ARE EMBEDDED IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE SCHOOL'S CURRICULUM ALLOWING EDUCATORS TO PRIORITIZE THE UNIQUE LEARNING NEEDS OF THEIR STUDENTS RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON HIGH STAKES TESTS. THAT DOES NOT MEASURE THE TRUE LEARNING OR PREPAREDNESS FOR THEIR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.  THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL . GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I REALLY WANT TO THANK OUR PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR TESTIMONIES AND FOR KEEPING IT UNDER 5 MINUTES EACH ONE OF YOU. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I'M NOT GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL.  I'M STARTING WITH AT LEAST ONE SOURCE FOR ABOUT THE QUESTIONS OUR COLLEAGUES MY COLLEAGUES WILL HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES AND WE'LL START WITH THE LEAD SPONSOR HOUSE OR PUT IN PLACE. THANK YOU CHAIR SANTANA. I APPRECIATE IT. I JUST WANTED TO THANK MR DIRK AND MR DUNCAN.  MR BURG, MS. MCCARTHY AS WELL AS MR PAGE.  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY HERE TODAY, YOUR PRESENTATIONS AND I WANTED TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS. HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE SORT OF A LAID BACK CONVERSATION ON THIS. THIS IS JUST AGAIN AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A PLATFORM SO THAT THE PUBLIC AND THOSE WHO NEED TO BE INFORMED HOPEFULLY WE USE THIS VIDEO TO BE ABLE TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY FOR VOTERS TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ON ELECTION DAY. MY FIRST QUESTION AND ANYONE CAN TAKE IT UP AGAIN JUST HOPEFULLY JUST A LAID BACK CONVERSATION HERE TO GET SOME OF THIS INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC. HOW MUCH TIME DO TEACHERS DEDICATE TOWARDS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR EXAM COMPARED TO OTHER INSTRUCTION? AND DOES THIS CHANGE BY GRADE YEAR? AND AGAIN, THIS IS ANYONE ON THE PANEL SO I'LL GO FIRST ONLY BECAUSE I LITERALLY JUST LEFT THE CLASSROOM TWO YEARS AGO AS A FIFTH GRADE EDUCATOR.  ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT ENOUGH IS ALL OF THE TEST PREPARATION THAT GOES INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR DISTRICTS PURCHASE ONLINE SOFTWARE PRODUCED BY THE SAME COMPANIES INVOLVED IN THE BILLION DOLLAR JUST AN INDUSTRY. WE WOULD TEST OUR STUDENTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IN MATH DELAY AND SCIENCE SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE A BASELINE.  THEY WOULD THEN BE ON A PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. WE THEN TESTED AGAIN IN DECEMBER. WE TESTED AGAIN RIGHT BEFORE WE GAVE THE GAS AND THEN WE GAVE THE CAST AND AS A FIFTH GRADER YOU HAD THE TWO DAYS OF ELA, THE TWO DAYS OF MATH AND THE TWO DAYS OF SCIENCE.  SO TESTING IS JUST INTEGRATED RIGHT INTO WHAT WE DO WITH THE SOFTWARE THAT THE DISTRICT USES. AND I'D LIKE TO JUST SPEAK AND SORT OF HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THE THINGS I SAID IN MY OPENING THAT ARE REALLY SPECIFIC TO THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TO OUR HIGH SCHOOLS IN PARTICULAR AND IN OUR OPEN ENROLLMENT HIGH SCHOOLS EVEN MORE IN PARTICULAR OUR KIDS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO, YOU KNOW, THE KINDS OF ELECTIVES, ARTS OFFERINGS AND SO FORTH THAT KIDS IN COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS IN MANY COMMUNITIES IN MASSACHUSETTS AND AROUND THE COUNTRY DO HAVE. WHETHER IT'S A BAND, AN ORCHESTRA, YOU KNOW, AP AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES OR YOU KNOW, SOCIOLOGY TO NAME A FEW THAT ARE MIGHT BE COMMONPLACE IN OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS CERAMICS ,PHOTOGRAPHY CODING LARGELY BECAUSE OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR KIDS FUTURES DEPEND SO MUCH ON THIS ONE TEST THAT WE'VE NARROWED OUR CURRICULUM AND OUR COURSE OFFERINGS TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT THERE'S NOT ROOM IN THE DAY AND THE SCHEDULE FOR THAT KIND OF BROAD HOLISTIC SET OF COURSE OFFERINGS SO I REALLY THINK THAT THAT'S AN ISSUE FOR PBS AND I THINK THAT USING PASSING OF A COMMON SET OF COURSES IS A MORE FAIR, JUST AND EQUITABLE WAY TO TO MEASURE OUR STUDENTS ACHIEVEMENT.  30 SECONDS. I JUST WANT TO SAY WE ASKED THIS IS THIS LIKE A COMMON QUESTION WE ASK AND EVER WITH OUR MEMBERS LIKE HOW MUCH TIME IS SPENT ON THIS IN YOUR SCHOOL AND ACROSS THE STATE AND IT'S REGULARLY LIKE A MONTH IS LOST ON REAL CLASSROOM LEARNING WHICH WE ALL. WHATEVER YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS ARE I THINK EVERYONE OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS IN CLASSROOMS WITH STUDENTS IS THE CORE OF A GREAT PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM AND ROUTINELY OUR MEMBERS SAY OH YES ABOUT A MONTH BY THE TIME BETWEEN THE TEST PREP AND THE KIDS WHO NEED ACCOMMODATIONS AND AND THE TEST TAKING IT ENDS UP DISRUPTING EDUCATION PER MONTH. SO I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. YEAH. NO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF ADDING CONTEXT TO THAT WITH YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS AS WELL AS IT'S NOT JUST LIKE THE BARRIER LANGUAGE BARRIERS, RIGHT? IT'S ALSO LIKE LITERACY RATES THAT WE'RE NOT CATCHING PEOPLE WITH. STUDENTS WERE ACTUALLY TESTED OR NOT PRIOR TO COMING IN AND THEN THEN REALIZING OH THERE'S ACTUALLY A LITERACY ISSUE HERE AND THEN FINDING THAT TEACHERS HAVE TO SORT OF COMPENSATE OR SIT WITH THE CHILD TO DO THAT OR YOUR PEERS OR ANYONE IN THE BUILDING THAT CAN COME IN AND SAYS I'VE SEEN IT TAKE A LOT OF TIME. AND THEN GOING BACK TO MR BARNES POINT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE EXTRA CURRICULAR AND CREATING OUR HOLISTIC ENVIRONMENT, OUR OUR FACILITIES ARE AN ISSUE AND KIND OF CONNECTING EXTRA CURRICULAR OR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OR OUTDOOR LEARNING FACILITIES WITH REAL EXPERIENCES WITH OUR CURRICULUMS IN THE SCHOOL IS IS A HUGE BARRIER AND IT'S A DISADVANTAGE THAT OBVIOUSLY WE FACE IN VEEPS AND OUR STUDENTS AGAIN LIKE YOU KNOW YOU SEE IT SYSTEMICALLY WHEN YOU SEE THE NUMBERS TO START DIFFERENCE IN BY RACIAL DIVIDE OR THAT YOU KNOW THE DISPARATE IMPACTS THAT IT HAS BY DEMOGRAPHICS IN BOSTON THEN YOU CAN SAY SYSTEMICALLY WE HAVE A HUGE ISSUE AND THIS OBVIOUSLY CONNECTS WITH OUR LOWER SOCIO ECONOMIC ISSUES HERE IN BOSTON. SO I DO APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSES. MR CHAIR, DO I HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE OPTIMISTIC? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, FROM THE TEACHER'S PERSPECTIVE MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN TEACHERS. DO YOU FEEL THAT MATH SCORES SHOW A STUDENT'S READINESS TO HANDLE COLLEGE AND CAREER? AND I THINK THIS HAS BEEN ALLUDED TO A LITTLE BIT IN YOUR PRESENTATIONS BUT I WANTED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE ACTUAL CONTENT OF THIS IMPASSE AND HOW IS IT ACTUALLY SUPPORTING OR NOT.  SO I'LL JUST GO FIRST AGAIN IF THAT'S OKAY WITH EVERYBODY AND YOU CAN WE ABSOLUTELY DO NOT THINK THE IMPASSE MEASURES THE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY WORKFORCE. I'M THE PROUD PARENT OF FOUR SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE GRADUATES AND THE SKILL SETS THAT THEY NEED TO FUNCTION IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY RIGHT NOW AND ON THE WORKFORCE WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC SPEAKING, THINKING THE BOX,  TAKING DATA, MAKING IT YOUR OWN ,THE ABILITY TO BE FLEXIBILITY TO ADAPT TO CHANGE. THERE ARE SO MANY SKILLS AND OUR STANDARDS ARE RICH AND THEY ARE REALLY IN DEPTH BUT WE DON'T. THE NCAAS ONLY COVERS ABOUT 43% AND THE SKILLS ARE JUST SKILLS THAT LIKE A GOOD OF A TEST TAKER BUT THEY ARE NOT THE SKILLS THAT WE WANT IN OUR CITIZENRY AND THE 21ST CENTURY . THANK YOU MS. MCCARTHY AND CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. FOUR IS NOT EASY.  THAT IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT. NINE GRANDCHILDREN AND NINE GRANDCHILDREN AND CHILDREN.  YEAH. THANK YOU. BLESS YOU. BLESS YOUR HEART.  AND SO, MR CHAIR, HOW DO I HAVE ANY TIME LEFT I CAN I CAN WAIT A TIME JUST WRAPPED UP. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR.  COUNSELOR. HERE WE HAVE THE FLOOR. YES.  SO I THINK I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT I WAS THE FIRST PERSON IN MY FAMILY TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE. I WENT ON TO HAVE A VERY SUCCESSFUL CAREER AT A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL NETWORK MTV FOR TEN YEARS PLUS I CAME BACK TO BOSTON, LAUNCHED TWO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND MANAGED TO SECURE A SEAT ON THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL . I THINK THAT GIVEN THE FACT THAT I WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH ALL OF THOSE THINGS, TAKING A TEST DID NOT DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT I WAS SMART ENOUGH TO DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND I THINK I HAVE TO JUST CONTINUE TO REINFORCE HOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE CHILD AND ALSO LOOK AT THE EQUITY OF THIS CONVERSATION GOING BACK TO THE FACT THAT SINCE THE TEST BECAME AN ISSUE HERE IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE HAVE SEEN A DECLINE IN THE FUNDING SUPPORTS THAT WE PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH A WHOLE EXPERIENCE IN TERMS OF LIKE YOU ALREADY MENTIONED THE ISSUES OF ARTS CLASS ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK REALLY DO MATTER.  WE'VE TAKEN AWAY FROM OUR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS SO THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON THE ACADEMIC PIECE. WHILE I APPRECIATE ACADEMICS BEING A STRONG MEASURE OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE GOING TO BE SET UP FOR SUCCESS BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL. I WORRY ABOUT THE SOFT SKILLS AND THE AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE ARE NOT FOCUSING ON ISSUES OF LIKE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING HOW TO INTERACT WITH YOUR PEERS THE THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER WHEN YOU GO ON TO COLLEGE. RIGHT. I THINK WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF CHARTER SCHOOLS AS WELL,  THEY HAVE MANAGED TO FIND A WAY TO REALLY FOCUS IN ON THE TEST TAKING PART OF IT AND A LOT OF A LOT OF THOSE WHO DO REALLY WELL QUOTE UNQUOTE.  BUT WHEN YOU GRADUATE IF YOU FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND AND WHAT I HAVE HEARD AND I'M NOT SURE IF I CAN CONFIRM OR DENY THIS BUT I'M SURE YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO IS THAT WHEN A CHILD GROWS UP OR IS IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS CONSTANTLY TELLING THEM HOW TO ACT, HOW TO WALK, HOW TO TAKE A TEST, HOW TO REMEMBER AND I GUESS YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S CALLED BUT LIKE MEMORIZING THE ANSWERS LIKE ALL OF THESE TESTS TAKING TECHNIQUES REALLY DO NOT DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT YOU UNDERSTAND THE MATERIAL BECAUSE WHEN YOU LEAVE THAT ENVIRONMENT AND YOU GO OFF TO COLLEGE, WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM PARENTS WHOSE KIDS WERE IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTS IS THAT THAT THEY AREN'T ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THEIR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE STRUCTURE, IF YOU WILL. AND WHY DO I THIS IN TO THIS CONVERSATION AROUND TEST TAKING IS BECAUSE IT FEELS A BIT UNIFORM RIGHT AND COMMANDS AND THERE IS THE FEAR OF LEARNING AND NOT THE LOVE OF LEARNING WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TEST. AND I'M CURIOUS IF YOU ALL AS EDUCATORS CAN PUT SOME CONTEXT INTO THE FEAR OF LEARNING AND THE FEAR OF BEING SUCCESSFUL OR BEING MEASURED AS SUCCESSFUL BASED ON THIS TEST. HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THE QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION FOR OUR EDUCATORS IN THE CLASSROOM?  I CAN I CAN TAKE A SHOT AT THIS ONE. THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, I THINK MANY OF OUR STUDENTS SHARE MANY OF THOSE BELIEFS AND EXPERIENCES ABOUT SCHOOL AND TO BE I MEAN NOT TO GET TOO PHILOSOPHICAL HERE BUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE USE OF MCUS AS A HIGH STAKES MEASURE AND AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT, WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT WHAT WE ARE TELLING OUR STUDENTS IS THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION BECAUSE IF THE PURPOSE OF SCHOOLING IN MASSACHUSETTS IS TO PASS A TEST ,IT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT HOW WE VIEW THEM AS PEOPLE AND HOW WE VIEW SCHOOL AS PREPARING THEM. AND SO I THINK THERE'S A CERTAIN LEVEL OF FEAR AND ANXIETY CERTAINLY THAT I THINK WE'RE ALL AWARE OF . THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD KIDS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND AND MANY OF US YOU KNOW, MANY OF YOU ATTENDED BOSTON BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOLS DURING THE TIME OF MASS AND EXPERIENCED THAT ANXIETY. BUT THERE'S ALSO THIS NOTION OF KIDS COMING TO THINK OF SCHOOL AS A PLACE YOU GO TO YOU KNOW, GET YOUR GET A BUNCH OF CONTENT DUMPED INTO YOUR HEAD AND GET OVER THE HURDLE OF THIS ONE PARTICULAR TEST RATHER THAN BEING ABLE TO WORK AS PART OF A TEAM TO INVESTIGATE A PROBLEM, PROVIDE SOLUTIONS AND IMPLEMENT THEM WHICH WE THINK IS A MORE APPROPRIATE MEASURE OF LEARNING . THANK YOU.  I AM SURE THAT WE CAN SPEND HOURS HERE UNPACKING THIS AND I GUESS MY OTHER QUESTION WOULD BE JUST IN THE INTEREST OF ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE'S ALWAYS TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY. YOU KNOW WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW STATES THAT REQUIRE THE TESTS SO WE SEE THEIR DIPLOMA I BELIEVE IT'S FLORIDA, ILLINOIS, LOUISIANA, OUR STATE NEW YORK, TEXAS, VIRGINIA AND WYOMING.  AND I'M CURIOUS WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED FROM OTHER STATES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE THE TESTS TO GRADUATE? WHAT WHAT MECHANISMS DO THEY HAVE IN PLACE TO BOTH MEASURE THE THE CHILD'S ABILITY WHILE ALSO TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THE OTHER FACTORS THAT COME ALONG WITH THE ANXIETY OF TAKING A TEST LIKE I'M JUST CURIOUS LIKE WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM OTHER STATES IN TERMS OF WHAT HOW ARE THEY MEASURING QUOTE UNQUOTE SUCCESS OR PREPARATION? JUST JUMP IN ON THIS FOR ONE QUICK SEC JUST TO SAY JUST CORRECT ONE PIECE WHICH IS YOU'RE RIGHT THAT FAR VERY FEW STATES DO THIS. NEW YORK HAS ACTUALLY NOW COMMITTED TO GETTING RID OF THAT SO THERE'S ACTUALLY ONLY EIGHT STATES AND NEW YORK IS LIKE OUR STATE OVERALL A VERY HIGH PERFORMING PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM. BUT THEY HAD A BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION STATEWIDE WHICH IS SOMETHING WE HAVE NEVER HAD IN THE STATE THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS NEVER PASSED WHICH WE HAVE PROPOSED FOR MANY YEARS. THE BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE LOOK AT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS TO ASSESS AND HOW DO WE HOLD BOTH OUR SCHOOLS ACCOUNTABLE.  AND THEY AT THE END OF THAT CHOSE TO DE-EMPHASIZE HIGH STAKES TESTING. SO THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. NEW JERSEY IS VERY, VERY CLOSE TO DOING THAT AS WELL. AND I THINK WHAT MANY OF THEM DO IS THEY LOOK TO MASSACHUSETTS HIGH ACADEMIC STANDARDS. WE ARE THE GOLD STANDARD FOR ACADEMIC STANDARDS AROUND THE COUNTRY.  AND I WILL SAY ALSO SOMETHING THAT THAT MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS AND MANY IN BOSTON BUT NOT ALL DO FOLLOW A COURSE OF STUDY A HIGH COURT STRONG COURSE OF STUDY YOU KNOW MASS SCORE WHICH I BELIEVE A NUMBER OF THERE'S EFFORTS WITHIN BOSTON TO HAVE EVERY STUDENT BE IN A HIGH SCHOOL THAT OFFERS THAT COURSE OF STUDY. IT'S NOT A CURRICULUM. IT'S A SERIES OF COURSES OVER FOUR YEARS. AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT AS WELL THE CAST IS FOCUSED ON A KIND OF A YOU KNOW, OF THIS PASSING IN 10TH GRADE. WE'RE INTERESTED IN ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR BILLING ALL THE WAY THE 12TH GRADE. SO I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT THAT CONTEXT BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I'LL END WITH I KNOW THAT MY TIME IS SURE UP BY NOW BUT I WAS TO THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND I GUESS IT WAS ACCOUNTABILITY AND ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE FOR D.C. A FEW YEARS AGO AND I WAS ONE OF THE ONLY PARENTS IN THAT SPACE ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF A DIFFERENT MEASUREMENT TOOLS AND THAT WAS PROBABLY LIKE FIVE OR EIGHT YEARS AGO AND I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION IN THIS MOMENT TIME WHEN WE KNOW THAT TEST TAKING DOESN'T REALLY DETERMINE THE ABILITY OF A STUDENT TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND I'M SO ENCOURAGED BY THE TESTIMONY THAT WE'VE HEARD HERE TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING THINGS ALONG. NOT SURE IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PANEL FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE AGAINST BUT I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE HAVE A VERY STRONG NARRATIVE HERE FOR WHY WE NEED TO HAVE AS MANY DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. COME FROM A COUNSELOR FLYNN HAVE SORT OF MINUTES.  THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND THANK YOU TO THE PANEL FOR THE BEING HERE. MR CHAIR, BEFORE I BEGIN THAT YOU MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING THAT BP WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS HEARING RIGHT?  DO YOU THINK THAT'S CORRECT?  OKAY. AND THEY'RE NOT. ARE THEY NOT ATTENDING OR THEY'RE NOT ANTICIPATED OR ACCORDING DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF A BALLOT MEASURE BEING SPOKEN ABOUT AND THEY DECLINED INVITATION TO THIS BUT THEY AS I MENTIONED ABOVE, THEY ARE OPEN TO ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU WANT TO SUBMIT THEM TO THE CHAIR AND WE CAN GET THOSE ANSWERED. HAVE THEY? HAS THIS BP'S TAKEN AN OFFICIAL POSITION ON THIS? I CANNOT SPEAK THAT I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'LL SAY. OKAY. NO, THAT'S FINE. THAT'S FINE.  I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THE OFFICIAL POSITION IS OF BP'S THAT COULD HELP ME AS I AS I ASK QUESTIONS. ERIC, DO YOU KNOW IF THERE'S IF BP'S AS AN OFFICIAL POSITION? I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN A POSITION AND MY GUESS IS THAT THEY WON'T AS AN INSTITUTION. OKAY.  OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I KNOW COUNCILOR MAY HAVE REFERENCED IT AND THANK YOU FOR THE TESTIMONY FROM THIS PANEL.  MR CHAIR, THOUGH, ARE WE GOING TO HEAR FROM FROM THE OTHER SIDE WHERE THEY WERE THEY ALSO INVITED I.  I'D LIKE TO HEAR BOTH SIDES AS A IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS HEAR FROM PANELIST ON THE OTHER SIDE BECAUSE THIS WAS BROUGHT UP TO MY ATTENTION SO I APPRECIATE IT. I'M CERTAINLY WILLING TO WORK TO BRING ON A DIFFERENT PANEL.  I'M NOT SURE WE'RE GOING TO BE HEARING FROM ON THAT PANEL TODAY.  WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE LEAD SPONSORS SO TO TO GET THAT TO TO GET THIS SCHEDULED AND THEN OVER TO OUR COUNSELORS.  OKAY. MY MY QUESTIONS REALLY WOULD BE TO THE OTHER TO THE OTHER SIDE. I LISTENED CLOSELY TO EVERYONE SPEAKING TODAY BUT I WOULD ASK QUESTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE OTHER SIDE THAT WOULD THAT WOULD HELP THAT WOULD HELP ME . SO IS IT IS IT ACCURATE TO SAY EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ABLE TO SET THEIR OWN GRADUATION STANDARDS CURRENTLY IN THE STATE OR WHAT IS WHAT IS THE CURRENT POLICY FOR THAT?  BUT IT'S IT'S OKAY I'LL JUST AND OTHERS MAY WANT TO JUMP IN AND WELL ON THIS BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS I THINK I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN BY THE KNOW SIDE A VERY DELIBERATE MISLEADING ON THIS.  WE HAVE STATE STANDARDS THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY. THEY APPLY TO EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT, EVERY SCHOOL. THEY ARE DETAILED THERE. YOU CAN LOOK AT THEM ON THE THE DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATIONS WEBSITE. THEY'RE FOR EVERY GRADE THEY ARE DETAILS AND SO THAT'S THE STATE STANDARDS AT EVERY SCHOOL HAS TO FOLLOW AND I THINK AS OUR VICE PRESIDENT MCCARTHY DESCRIBED IT STRUCTURES TEACHER EDUCATION LICENSURE. IT'S INSTRUCTORS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRUCTURES WHAT GOES IN TEXTBOOKS. IT IS THE BASIC GROUND OF OF WHAT HOW WE BUILD HOW OUR EDUCATORS BUILD CURRICULUM AND DO THEIR TEACHING. AND I JUST WANT THAT TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR THE MATH IS AN ASSESSMENT.  WE CAN DEBATE HOW GOOD AN ASSESSMENT OR NOT BUT EVEN IF IT WERE THE PERFECT ASSESSMENT IT ONLY COVERS AS DEB SHOWED LESS THAN HALF OF OUR STATE STANDARDS WHAT OUR EDUCATORS DO IN THEIR CLASSES IS COVER ALL THOSE STATE STANDARDS AND THEY GET EVALUATED ON THAT.  THEY THEY FILL OUT REPORT CARDS ON THAT. SO I JUST THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING.  THERE'S AN IMPACT AN ASSESSMENT. IN FACT IT'S IN THE NAME MASSACHUSETTS NOT A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM. AND THEN THERE ARE THE STATE ACADEMICS STANDARDS WHICH APPLY TO EVERY DISTRICT IN THE STATE. THANK YOU. WHAT IS THE WHAT IS THE PAST GRADE TO PASS THE CLASS?  IS IT 65 OR 70? WHAT GRADE WOULD A STUDENT NEED TO RECEIVE TO PASS A CERTAIN PART OF THE MASS AND THIS QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR ASKING BECAUSE AS AN EDUCATOR WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT I WAS KNOWN AS THE ANXIOUS GIRL BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE DATA WAS GOING TO ACTUALLY BRING THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEEDED.  THE DATA HAS CHANGED OF WHAT A PASSING SCORE IS OVER TIME AND SO MY SON WAS IN THE FIRST CLASS TO HAVE THE PASSING ON CLASS AND THE CUTOFF SCORE IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT HIS DAUGHTER NEEDED TO MEET AS A FIFTH GRADE STUDENT. SO THEY DO IT LIKE A BELL CARD AND THE METRIC MOVES. WHEN I FIRST STARTED IT WAS YOU HAD TO HAVE A 220 TO BE CONSIDERED NEEDS IMPROVEMENT. NOW IT'S LIKE A 549 OR THEN IT CHANGES. SO IT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM WITH IT AND THIS YEAR THEY'RE NOT EVEN RELEASING THE QUESTIONS AND SO AS AN EDUCATOR YOU HAVE THIS DATA BUT YOU CAN'T ALIGN IT WITH THE QUESTIONS.  SO THE GOOD QUESTION TO ASK IS THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ASSESSMENT IS TIME TO A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA SELF WAS A TRUE 20 OR ARE A HIGH NUMBER LIKE THAT BUT IF IT WAS BASED ON 100% ON A SCALE WOULD YOU NEED WOULD YOU WEIGH BUT WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO DO THE MATH AND TRIED TO FIGURE IT OUT IF IT WAS BASED ON A 100% SCALE YOU WOULD NEED A 65 OR 70% SCORE TO PASS AS IS IT IS THAT NO AND THAT'S AGAIN ANOTHER REALLY GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS FROM AN EDUCATOR STANDPOINT SOME OF MY STRONGEST MATH AND SCIENCE STUDENTS STRAIGHT-A REALLY GOOD AT DATA MANIPULATION IT BUT THE TEST ASKED THEM TO WRITE THREE PARAGRAPHS ON HOW THEY GOT THEIR ANSWER AND SO WHAT'S BEING MEASURED IS THE SCRIPTED WRITTEN TEMPLATE OF A WRITTEN RESPONSE WHICH REALLY IS A DETRIMENT TO THOSE WHERE ENGLISH ISN'T THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE. SO THE CORRELATION ISN'T THERE BECAUSE THERE'S A MULTIPLE CHOICE PART OF THE TEST BUT THEN THERE'S THE WRITTEN COMPONENT FOR THE OPEN RESPONSE. SO IT'S NOT LIKE WHEN WE GIVE THE ASSESSMENTS WHEN WE WERE IN SCHOOL.  THANK THANK YOU DEB AND SO MR CHIERA I YOU KNOW YOU ALREADY RECEIVED SOME ANSWERS BACK FROM BP. IS THAT ACCURATE?  SO MY STAFF HAS BEEN INFORMED THAT THE SPONSOR IS AT LEAST ONE SOURCE BUT ASKING QUESTIONS AND THAT THOSE ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO OUR COUNSELORS.  IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AND THEN I KNOW THAT YOU ALSO HAD A QUESTION FOR BP AND WE'VE TAKEN NOTE OF THAT. WE WILL SUBMIT THAT ON YOUR BEHALF AS WELL. YEAH, I WOULD. COULD I PROVIDE YOU, MR CHAIR,  OFFLINE SOME QUESTIONS FOR BP AS IT RELATES TO AND YES,  ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. COUNCILOR THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN.  THANK YOU TO THE PANEL RIGHT NOW WITH LYNN COUNCILOR BREADON YOU HAVE SEVEN MINUTE THANK YOU. I'VE BEEN LISTENING IN SO I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN HOW DOES THE CAST TESTING RELATE TO THE MASSACHUSETTS CURRICULUM FRAMEWORKS?  DOES IT ACTUALLY TEST WHAT CHILDREN ARE BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOL AND THE DIFFERENT FRAMEWORKS CONSISTENTLY 43% OF THE STANDARDS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ASSESSED JUST 43% PRETTY MUCH AND WE'LL BE GLAD TO ENTER INTO THE RECORD A TWO PAGE DOCUMENT THEY WILL BE WRITTEN TO TO DISCUSS THIS THIS ISSUE AND OF COURSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF VERY IMPORTANT STANDARDS THAT OF COURSE CANNOT BE PUT IN A STANDARDIZED TEST LET'S SAY WRITING A RESEARCH PAPER WHICH WE THINK IN ANY KIND OF FIELD YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO BE ABLE TO ASSEMBLE DATA, ASSEMBLE ARGUMENTS, MAKE A CASE OR VERBAL SKILLS THAT OBVIOUSLY IS NOT BEING TESTED ON A STANDARDIZED TEST. SO IT'S NOT JUST THE NUMBER.  IT'S ALSO SOME CRUCIAL SKILLS FOR SUCCEEDING IN LIFE ARE NOT EVEN ASSESSED ON THE WORKING ABLE TO WORK IN A GROUP, DO A VERBAL OR A PATIENT, PREPARE A RESEARCH PAPER. I I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS I HAVE WITH WITH HOW DIFFICULT IT IS FOR OUR STUDENTS TO SUCCEED IS JUST THE WHOLE AREA OF READING PROFICIENCY AND IT'S VERY DISMAYING TO ME THAT THE FIRST PEOPLE WHO GET CUT OFF ARE IN SOME OF OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS AS THE READING SPECIALISTS THAT VISIT IF IF THEY PULL IF THEY TAKE RESOURCES AWAY THE FIRST PEOPLE TO GO ARE THE READING SPECIALISTS SO THEY SHOULD BE THE LAST PEOPLE TO GO ESPECIALLY IF IN THE LOWER GRADES WHILE YOU'RE REALLY TRYING TO GET OUR STUDENTS TO BE READING PROFICIENT BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T WHAT IS IT YOU LEARN TO READ UP TO THIRD GRADE AND THEN AFTER THIRD GRADE YOU READ TO LEARN. SO IT'S IT'S IT'S SUCH A CRITICAL SKILL AND AND REALLY HANDICAPS OUR STUDENTS TO SUCH AN EXTENT.  THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS REALLY IN TERMS OF LIKE I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF STANDARDIZED TESTING. I DID STRUGGLE LIKE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES I DID STRUGGLE WITH TESTS AND I WENT TO YOU KNOW, MY MY STORY IS I WENT TO A LITTLE COUNTRY PRIMARY SCHOOL WHERE THE HEAD TEACHER VERY SMALL SCOPE WHERE THE TEACHER THE HEAD TEACHER WAS VERY OPPOSED LIKE IDEOLOGICALLY OPPOSED TO TESTING FOR SELECTION FOR AN EXAM SCHOOL. SO NONE OF US GOT PREPARED FOR THE TEST. WE ALL TOOK THE TEST BUT WE ALL WENT DOWN THE STREET THREE MILES AWAY TO A REALLY GOOD SORT OF COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL. WE ALL GOT THE IDEA A BROAD AND BROAD EDUCATION THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ACADEMICALLY AS RIGOROUS AS THE EXAM SCHOOL BUT I THINK WE GOT A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION. SO I THINK YOUR POINT ABOUT TAKING SO MUCH TIME AWAY TO PREPARE FOR A TEST AWAY FROM BUILDING THOSE OTHER ESSENTIAL SKILLS THAT OUR STUDENTS NEED AND PUTTING MORE TIME INTO HELPING IDENTIFYING THE STUDENTS WHO STRUGGLE WITH THEIR LITERACY AND THEIR READING SKILLS AND HELP BRIDGE THAT GAP IS A MORE PRODUCTIVE APPROACH. BUT ANYWAY, SO TELL ME A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE MATH FRAMEWORKS FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE LISTENING WHO MAYBE DON'T AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THEM AND HOW HOW IT'S SUCH A RIGOROUS AND HIGH STANDARD FOR EDUCATION IN MASSACHUSETTS AND THAT WE DON'T REALLY TEST WELL EVERY SUBJECT MATTER AT EVERY GRADE LEVEL HAS A SET OF FRAMEWORKS SO FOR EXAMPLE AT THE FIFTH GRADE LEVEL THERE THEY ARE FOR MATH, FOR HISTORY, FOR WRITING, FOR READING AND THEY'RE PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE. WE HAVE STANDARD BASED REPORT CARDS WE PURCHASE CURRICULUM ALIGNED WITH THE STANDARDS. WE HAVE UNANNOUNCED OBSERVATIONS WHERE THE OBJECTIVES HAVE TO BE IN OUR CLASSROOMS THAT THE OBJECTIVES HAVE TO BE TIED TO THE FRAMEWORKS. WE HAVE TO CREATE LESSON PLANS AROUND THE FRAMEWORKS. IT'S I THINK A 240 PAGE DOCUMENT AND YOU CAN ACCESS IT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S WEBSITE BUT IT'S IT'S BEAUTIFUL NOW.  YEAH. AND IF I CAN JUST ADD YOU KNOW I KNOW OF I AND MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES I THINK IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS WOULD MEET REGULARLY IN A COMMON PLANNING TIME WHETHER IT BE BY GRADE LEVEL DEPARTMENT AT AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL TO REALLY DELVE INTO THOSE STANDARD STANDARDS AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE TEACHING AND MEETING EACH OF THOSE STANDARDS OVER THE COURSE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. JUST I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO SIDETRACKED HERE BUT ON THE ISSUE OF READING SPECIALIST, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. COUNCILOR BREADON IT IS SO, SO IMPORTANT AND IN THE EARLY GRADES INTERVENTION TO SUPPORT VERY YOUNG CHILDREN YOU KNOW WITH EMERGING READING SKILLS I TAUGHT FIRST AND SECOND GRADE MYSELF SO THAT THAT IS DEFINITELY CLOSE TO MY HEART AND MY CAREER CAN PAY OFF SO MUCH IN THE LONG RUN WITH COSTS FOR PREP FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION IN SOME CASES.  BUT THE OTHER THING I WANT TO ADD IS THAT IN BPC NOW WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE A NEED FOR READING SPECIALISTS AT THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS AND WE HAVE TO LOOK THEM BECAUSE SO MANY KIDS HAVE EITHER MOVED FORWARD WITHOUT THE SKILLS THEY NEED BUT ALSO OF COURSE WE GET A LOT OF STUDENTS COMING IN TO THE DISTRICT AND IN MANY CASES THE COUNTRY AT AGE 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 AND NEED TO REALLY GET UP TO SPEED IN ORDER TO TO SUCCEED AND SO THAT NEED FOR READING SPECIALISTS IS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT IN OUR SCHOOLS. THANK YOU.  I ALSO THINK YOU KNOW THE WHOLE IDEA OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS I THINK IT'S SORT OF IRONIC THAT IF YOU'RE AN ANGLO PRIMARILY OR EXCLUSIVELY ENGLISH SPEAKER AND YOU LEARN A SECOND LANGUAGE IS INCREDIBLE KUDOS FOR DOING THAT.  BUT AS A KID WHO IS A SPANISH OR A HAITIAN SPEAKER WHO'S LEARNING ENGLISH, IT'S LIKE YOU'RE ALMOST A SECOND CLASS CITIZEN. WHAT YOU SHOULD BE GETTING A LOT OF KUDOS FOR LEARNING ENGLISH. IT'S LIKE IT'S NOT AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD. I WAS TALKING WITH I THINK IT WAS KASH I CAN'T REMEMBER THE SCHOOL BUT SOMEBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT A CHILD WHO ENTERED RECENTLY A STUDENT OF HAITIAN DESCENT HAITIAN ORIGIN WHOSE FAMILY HAD THIS WAS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT I THINK 1617 YEARS OLD FAMILY HAD MOVED TO CHILE EIGHT YEARS AGO AND THEY WERE EDUCATED IN SPANISH FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS. THEN THEY MOVED TO BRAZIL AND WERE IN A BRAZILIAN SCHOOL IN PORTUGUESE FOR AND I MEAN WHAT AN INCREDIBLE ASSET THIS YOUNG PERSON BRINGS TO OUR COMMUNITY SPEAKING HAITIAN CREOLE,  SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE. BUT NOW OF COURSE IT'S UP TO OH MAYBE IT WAS BINKER. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT SCHOOL IT WAS WHERE THIS STUDENT HAD JUST ARRIVED. SO THE ASSETS THEY BRING INCREDIBLE AND WE NEED TO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FRAMING IT THAT WAY THAT WE NEED TO TREAT THEM AS ASSETS AND BUILD ON THEM. YES, ABSOLUTELY I AM I DON'T HAVE TIME. MR CHAIR, THIS JUST ENDED CONFLICT.  THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR AND ALL OF YOU YOUR DEDICATION TO EDUCATION AND TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.  IT'S IT'S TEACHERS CHANGE LIVES AND AND AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR GREAT WORK OVER OVER ALL OF YOUR CAREERS. THANK YOU THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. COUNSELOR FITZGERALD, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU, CHAIR THANK YOU TO THE PANEL FOR BEING HERE TODAY . CHAIR I WOULD SAY I WOULD ECHO THAT JUST IN IN ANY HEARING JUST LIKE I SAID, THE RANKED CHOICE VOTING HEARING IT'S ALWAYS HELPFUL FOR NOT JUST US BUT FOR THOSE LISTENING TO HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES TO UNDERSTAND. SO I'LL JUST I WILL SECOND COUNCILOR OFFLINE ON THAT BUT HAPPY TO HEAR TALK ABOUT RIGHT IN THE QUESTIONS I DON'T KNOW WHO CREATED AS ONE BUT THE FINAL TIME THE STUDENTS TAKE THE TEST IS IN THE 10TH GRADE, CORRECT? RIGHT.  WE HAVE GUEST HOST THAT'S THE FINAL TIME IT IS ADMINISTERED ON A REGULAR BASIS.  SO IF IT IS A REQUIREMENT FOR GRADUATION, DO YOU FIND OUT IN 10TH GRADE IF YOU'RE GOING TO GRADUATE TWO YEARS LATE LIKE WHEN DO YOU GET THOSE SCORES BACK? HOW DOES THAT MY JOB THIS YEAR YEAH, MY DAUGHTER'S A JUNIOR SO SHE RECEIVED HER RESULTS THIS WEEK FROM LAST YEAR'S TESTS IN BOTH ELA AND MATH. SO IT'S IT'S ABOUT A HALF YEAR DELAYED SO IT WILL AND IS THAT THE TEST THAT DETERMINES WHETHER OR NOT THE GRADUATION WOULD HAPPEN SOMEONE WOULD RECEIVE A DIPLOMA OR COUPLED WITH THE FRESHMAN YEAR MANY OF OUR STUDENTS TAKE THE SCIENCE AND TESTS TEST SO THERE IS A TEST ADMINISTERED AS A FRESHMAN AND TWO AS A SOPHOMORE AND THEN MANY OF OUR DISTRICTS BEGIN THE PROCESS OF RETESTING STUDENTS THAT DON'T MEET THOSE TESTING REQUIREMENTS. SO FOR EXAMPLE LAST YEAR AT MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL AND WITH CLASSICAL I KNOW IT'S DIFFERENT TO BOSTON BUT COMPARABLE DISTRICT IN TERMS OF DEMOGRAPHICS THERE ARE 400 STUDENTS THAT DIDN'T PASS THE SCIENCE TEST THE FIRST TIME. SO INSTRUCTION HALTED FOR A DAY. MANY OF THE KIDS THAT PASS THE TEST THE FIRST TIME WERE IN THE AUDITORIUM OR IN THE GYM WHILE THE RE TEST WAS BEING ADMINISTERED. SO I THINK A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO CONVEY IS IS THE FOCUS AND EMPHASIS AN IMPACT ON UNLEARNING AND YOU KNOW, HONESTLY SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN FOR TWO DAYS JUST SO MY MY DAUGHTER'S HIGH SCHOOL COULD READMIT THE SCIENCE TEST. SO FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE YEAR THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION THANK YOU. YEAH I GUESS WHAT I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN IF YOU FIND OUT AND ERIC I SEE YOU GOT SOMETHING TO SAY BUT WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET IS IF YOU FIND OUT IN 10TH GRADE THAT YOU'RE LIKE HEY, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GRADUATE AND EVEN THOUGH WITH OPPORTUNITIES LATER ON TO CONTINUE TO MAKE UP THE TEST WHAT THAT MIGHT DO TO A YOUNG STUDENT PSYCHE OR RIGHT IF NINTH AND 10TH GRADE THEY FIND OUT JEEZ, IN TWO OR THREE YEARS I'M NOT EVEN ELIGIBLE TO GRADUATE WHAT'S THE POINT,  RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT. SO NO, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.  I LOVE IT ACTUALLY ABOUT IT JUMPING IN THE AIR. BUT I KNOW ERIC DID HAVE HIS HAND UP AS WELL. SO ERIC, IF YOU HAD ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO ADD TO THAT BUT I THINK DEB IS GOING TO PROBABLY SAY THE SAME THING SO I'M GOING TO DEFER TO HER BUT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AFTER THAT FOR STUDENTS TO TO TAKE THE TEST. YEAH RIGHT. BUT IT WILL ACTUALLY WHAT THAT'S NOT WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY SO SORRY BUT WE HAVE THE HIGHEST DROPOUT RATE FOR LATINA STUDENTS, ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT SEVENTH GRADE WHO ARE DENIED WHO STAY ALL THE WAY THROUGH BUT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT ALL THE STUDENTS WHO DROP OUT AND SO YOU RAISE A REALLY GOOD POINT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU TAKE IT TWO OR THREE TIMES AND THEN YOU FINALLY SAY FORGET IT. IT'S A REAL POWERFUL STORY ON OUR WEB SITE OF A QUINCY FIREFIGHTER WHO IS PRETTY HONEST ABOUT BEING A DYSLEXIC LEARNER. ONE IN TEN ABOUT LEARN IS A DYSLEXIC AND MOST OF THE TIME THEY'RE THE ONES NOT PICKED UP IN AN IEP AND HE TALKS ABOUT TAKING IT AND TAKING IT AND TAKING IT AND ALMOST DROPPING OUT BUT BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BE A FIREFIGHTER SINCE HE WAS IN THIRD GRADE HE PERSEVERED. NOT EVERYBODY HAS THAT TYPE OF WORK ETHIC OR SELF ESTEEM THAT SAYS I'M GOING TO KEEP DOING IT SO WE LOSE A LOT OF STUDENTS ALONG THE WAY. YEAH, THERE'S THERE'S JUST TO ADD BIG DATA POINT STUDENTS WHO ARE ONE POINT ABOVE THE CUTOFF SCORE THE STUDENTS AND STUDENTS WHO ARE AT ONE POINT BELOW HAVE A MARKEDLY DIFFERENT DROPOUT RATE MEANING STUDENTS WOULD EVEN MISS BY ONE POINT ARE 10% MORE LIKELY TO DROP OUT. SO SIMPLY LIKE THAT THEY'RE ON IN DATA TERMS THEY'RE NO DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF THEIR THEIR WHAT THEY SCORED BUT IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT ON THEIR OWN LIVES AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THEM IT'S IT'S BIG THANK YOU WELL THAT SORT OF BRINGS ME TO THE THE INCLUSION MODEL THAT'S BEING IMPLEMENTED.  RIGHT. AND WE KNOW THAT HAVING CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES OR AUTISM AND LEARNING DISABILITIES LEARNING NEXT TO THE GENERAL ED STUDENTS WHICH BY THE WAY WE STILL DON'T KNOW HOW THAT CLASSROOM MAKEUP IS GOING TO BE STAFFED AND IF IT WILL BE STAFFED PROPERLY IN ORDER TO DO THIS INCLUSION MODEL, WILL THOSE STUDENTS BOTH FROM WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES AND IN THE GENERAL ED IN THE SAME CLASS IN AN INCLUSION CLASSROOM AS PROPOSED POTENTIALLY AND AGAIN WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT WILL BE STAFFED WILL THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE EXACT SAME TEST AND BE SCORED THE SAME ON THAT?  YES, ABSOLUTELY. AND ONE OF THE I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER THE TAKING THE TIME IT TAKES AWAY FROM OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND RELATED SERVICE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE ACCOMMODATIONS TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WHO REQUIRE THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS WHAT IT REALLY IT HAS AN EFFECT DOWN THE LINE ON STUDENTS IN OTHER GRADE LEVELS IN OTHER CLASSROOMS WHO ARE MISSING OUT ON THEIR SERVICES FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME. AND IT'S REALLY IT'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF TIME BECAUSE IN MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS, BECAUSE OF THE MULTIPLE GRADE LEVELS, MULTIPLE SUBJECTS AND RETAKES THAT THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE PROVIDED FOR. AND OF COURSE MANY STUDENTS PARTICULARLY STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES DO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL TIME SO IT CAN REALLY BE THE MAJORITY OR EVEN THE WHOLE DAY THAT ONE CHILD IS IS WORKING WITH A SPECIAL EDUCATOR ON THIS TEST.  AND THAT MEANS THAT'S A DAY THAT KIDS IN OTHER GRADES IN OTHER AREAS AREN'T GETTING THOSE SERVICES AND I REALLY HAVE TO I'M SORRY BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL REASONS FOR ME PERSONALLY.  MANY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE ON THE SPECTRUM NOWADAYS AND THEY'RE GOING TO ASIA TEST BUT WE DON'T TEACH THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING LESSONS THAT IS SO CRITICAL WE ARE DENYING EDUCATION TO THE WHOLE CHILD AND THE SKILLS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT AND I AM PERSONALLY IN PART IT IN MY FAMILY BY ONE OF THESE LEARNERS AND WHEN I SEE WHAT HE HAS LOST OUT IN HIS CLASSROOM AND HE'S GOING TO BE A FINE TEST TAKER BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT.  WE HAVE BECOME SO FOCUSED ON THIS SCHOOL BECAUSE IT'S HIGH STAKES THAT WE ARE REALLY HARMING CERTAIN LEARNERS.  I DO WANT TO JUST ADD IN RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION, COUNCILOR FITZGERALD, THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED THE NCAA'S FAULT WHICH IS FOR STUDENTS WITH QUITE SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES VERY, VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS DO TAKE THAT.  SO IT WOULD BE UNLIKELY I THINK THAT STUDENTS IN INCLUSION CLASS IN GENERAL EDUCATION INCLUSION CLASSROOMS WOULD TAKE THE MESS OFF THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU.  I GUESS MY WHOLE TAKE ON THIS IS WE ALL KNOW PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE VERY WELL ON THE TESTS OR THEY DON'T DO WELL IN SCHOOL EVEN NEVER MIND THE TEST BUT THEY GO ON TO HAVE VERY SUCCESSFUL LIVES AFTERWARDS AND VICE VERSA. THERE ARE PLENTY OF OCCUPATIONS WHERE YOU HAVE TO TAKE A TEST WHETHER IT BE A LAWYER, A DOCTOR, AN INVESTOR AND I KNOW PLENTY OF BAD LAWYERS, DOCTORS AND INVESTORS RIGHT.  SO THERE IS NOT TO ME IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE TEST IS INDICATIVE OF HOW SUCCESSFUL YOU WILL BE OR EVEN THE STANDARD OF SUCCESS THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS IN LIFE IN OTHER AREAS AGAIN TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE CHILD AND HOW THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL. THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT EDUCATION SUCH A FICKLE THING RATE OF HOW TO DELIVER AN EDUCATION TO EACH INDIVIDUAL CHILD AND HAVING THREE OF MY OWN AND KNOWING HOW DIFFERENT THEY ARE ALREADY HOW YOU HAVE TO TAILOR THAT TO THAT RIGHT AND I DON'T REALLY THINK THEY COULD ALL TAKE THE SAME TEST IN ASIA FREQUENTLY BUT I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE THAT THEY WILL GROW UP TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND HAPPY KIND HUMAN BEINGS. BUT WITH THAT I THINK MY TIME IS UP. I'M PRETTY SURE COUNT THE CHAIR IS THAT TRUE?  CORRECT. ALL RIGHT. WELL THEN I WILL I WILL MOVE ON. THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU PANEL. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR COUNCILOR FITZGERALD COUNCILOR MURPHY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU.  SO FIRST THANK YOU TO THE PANELISTS. I DO WANT TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILOR OF FLYNN HAD BROUGHT UP IN COUNCILOR FITZGERALD ABOUT A BALANCED PANEL I KNOW THAT WILL OFTEN HAD EMAILED ALL OF US AND HE IS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY. SO I DO HOPE HE GETS ENOUGH TIME MAYBE MORE THAN THE 2 MINUTES TO TRY TO BALANCE THIS CONVERSATION. THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.  SO A FEW THINGS. ONE IS I KNOW WE SAID WE DON'T BELIEVE WE WILL TAKE A STAND BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THE MATH SECRETARY OF EDUCATION TUTWILER HAS ADAMANTLY OPPOSED THIS ARE GETTING RID OF THE REQUIREMENT AND SO I DO WANT TO JUST PUT THAT OUT THERE AND JUST A FEW FACTS THAT I AND THEN IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT OF THE 700 STUDENTS STATEWIDE WHO DON'T PASS THEM CAST THAT'S LESS THAN 1%. IT'S 0.08% OF OUR STUDENTS AND IN BOSTON IT'S LESS THAN TEN STUDENTS WHO DON'T PASS AND YOU TAKE THE TEST SOPHOMORE YEAR YOU DO HAVE FOUR MORE TIMES TO SIT FOR THE TEST BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EIGHT STUDENTS SITTING BY. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A BIG GROUP LIKE THIS NARRATIVE THAT THERE'S A WHOLE GROUP OF STUDENTS EACH TIME THIS TEST IS GIVEN THAT THEN DON'T GET TO YOU KNOW THAT HAVE TO STAY OR AREN'T DONE OR HAVE TO COME BACK. IT'S A VERY, VERY SMALL NUMBER AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE GRADE TO PASS IF WE CONVERT THE SCORES TO 100% SCALE WHICH MANY SCHOOL SYSTEMS USE OR AT LEAST WE CAN WE KNOW HOW TO TRANSFER THE ONE TWO, THREE FOUR TO WHAT WE'RE ALL YOU KNOW, MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE 100% SCALE TO PASS IN MATH IT'S YOU NEED TO GET A 30% A 30 INTO PASSING L.A. IT'S 41% AND I KNOW THIS IS I HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE ON THE COUNCIL THAT'S STATE STATEWIDE.  NO LESS THAN 40% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE READING PROFICIENTLY IN THE THIRD OR FOURTH GRADE LESS THAN 29% OF OUR THIRD AND FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS IN BOSTON ARE READING ON GRADE LEVEL.  SO THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN 10TH GRADE. THIS ISN'T ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS SMALL GROUP OF KIDS WHO ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED WITH THE TEST THAT'S NOT GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO GRADUATE.  WE AS A SYSTEM HAVE PASSED THEM ALONG AND THEY'VE ENDED UP IN THIS GRADE NOW TAKING A TEST NOT PREPARED AND THAT'S ON US. THAT'S OUR FAILURE. THAT'S NEVER THE STUDENT'S FAILURE. AND A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS AND THE FIRST OFF TOO BECAUSE WHEN I BROUGHT THIS FORWARD FOR A VOTE FOR A RESOLUTION, SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES DID PUSH BACK TO CLARIFY WHICH I APPRECIATE THAT THIS ISN'T THAT OUR STUDENTS WILL TAKE AND CAS IT'S THAT IT WILL LONGER BE A REQUIREMENT WITH THAT BEING SAID, IF ALL OF OUR 10TH GRADE STUDENTS ARE STILL TAKING THE TEST ALL OF THEIR IEP ACCOMMODATIONS WHICH IS A WHOLE PAGE I WAS ESPECIALLY COORDINATOR OF PARENTS WHO HAD A CHILD WITH AN IEP. I KNOW VERY WELL ABOUT WRITING AND READING IEPS AND AS A TEACHER FOR 24 YEARS ABSOLUTELY KNOW ABOUT THE TESTING ACCOMMODATION PAGE WHICH IS ALSO I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE MOST ONE OF I MEAN EVERY PAGE IS IMPORTANT BUT A VERY IMPORTANT PAGE ON AN IEP FOR A CHILD PROGRAM. THE TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR M CAS IT'S FOR ALL TESTING.  SO THIS IDEA THAT THIS ONE TEST THAT KIDS TAKE A COUPLE OF TIMES DURING THEIR EDUCATIONAL LIFETIME IT'S FOR ALL TESTS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW IF IT'S TRANSLATING MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE TALKING ABOUT YOU KNOW LANGUAGE ACCESS YOU'RE DESCRIBING. I MEAN THERE IS SOME KIDS HAVE YOU KNOW, 4050 ACCOMMODATIONS ALL WONDERFUL AND ANY WELL-WRITTEN IEP WHICH IS A DIFFERENT STORY FOR ANOTHER DAY ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE AS A SYSTEM IN BOSTON ARE DELIVERING ON OUR SPECIALISTS SERVICES AND THAT WE'RE WRITING IEPS AND THAT THEY'RE ALL UP TO COMPLIANCE AND ALL ALL OF THOSE CONCERNS I HAVE AND IF YOU ARE A ITINERANT OR A SPEECH TEACHER OR YOU KNOW YOU'RE THE ABA THERAPIST AND IT'S IN CARVE TIME AND YOU'RE ASSIGNED TO PROCTOR TEST AND THAT MEANS ONE OF YOUR STUDENTS ON YOUR CASELOAD MISSES THEIR SERVICE. SO IF MY DAUGHTER SALLY HAS SPEECH ON TUESDAY IN HER SPEECH TEACHER IS PROCTORING M CAS AND SHE DOESN'T GET HER SPEECH THERAPY ON TUESDAY SHE IS LEGALLY REQUIRED FOR THAT SPEECH THERAPY SESSION TO BE DELIVERED AT ANOTHER TIME COMPENSATORY SERVICES AND ANY GOOD PRINCIPAL AND WE ARE FULL OF SCHOOLS WITH GREAT PRINCIPALS AND EDUCATORS IN BOSTON KNOW THAT THAT ANY TIME DURING TESTING THE SAME THING IS TRUE WHEN IT'S A SPECIAL CELEBRATION AT THE SCHOOL YOU DON'T WANT A CHILD TO MISS YOU KNOW THE SCHOOL PLAY BUT IT MIGHT BE THE SAME TIME YOUR CHILD IS GOING TO GET READING ACCOMMODATIONS SO WE'RE ALWAYS AS EDUCATORS ADJUSTING AND STUDENTS ARE CAPABLE OF THAT. SO THIS IDEA THAT ALL OF THE TIME THAT SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE SPENDING ON PROCTORING THE TEST BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THAT SMART PEOPLE LIKE THEM ARE PROCTORING THE TEST BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE STUDENTS WHO ARE TAKING THE TEST HAVE PROPER PROCTORS WHO UNDERSTAND HOW TO READ THEIR TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS AND THEY KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY MAKE SURE THAT THESE STUDENTS ARE GETTING THE ACCOMMODATIONS THEY NEED BECAUSE WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO PASS. BUT REMEMBER THERE'S LESS THAN TEN KIDS IN BOSTON WHO DIDN'T PASS SO IT'S A VERY, VERY AND IT'S LESS THAN 1% 0.08% OF OUR ENTIRE STATE THE STUDENTS THAT DON'T PASSED AND THAT'S ALWAYS LIKE I STARTED OFF SAYING I'M ALWAYS GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR THE KIDS WHO HAVE FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACK.  THEY'RE PROBABLY THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT PLAGUE OUR SYSTEM FOR MANY OF OUR STUDENTS. UNFORTUNATELY.  SO I JUST WANTED TO I HOPE THAT WE WILL HEAR FROM THE OTHER SIDE. I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION BUT I DO JUST WANT TO GROUND US INTO FACTS UP 30% IN MATH TO PASS 41 IN L.A. LESS THAN 1% DON'T PASS IT. THERE IS NOT A HUGE CROWD OF STUDENTS. THERE'S NOT AND I AM ALL FOR WANTING TEACHERS.  THAT'S MY LAST BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BOTHERED ME EVER SINCE MY CHILDREN A YOUNG ADULTS BUT EVER SINCE THE PRINCIPAL OR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ROBOCALL WOULD COME OUT THE NIGHT BEFORE AND CAST I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS CRIMINAL.  MAYBE I'M BEING A LITTLE DRAMATIC BUT THE FACT THAT THE ONLY TIME THE SUPERINTENDENT , THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, YOUR CLASSROOM TEACHER IS GOING TO TELL YOU MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD GETS A GOOD GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A GOOD DINNER, MAKE SURE WHEN THEY WAKE UP YOU GIVE THEM A HEALTHY BREAKFAST, MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW WHEN YOU GET TO SCHOOL WE'VE SET IT ALL UP SO WE HAVE HEALTHY SNACKS. WE DON'T HAVE SUGARY DRINKS.  WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE THINGS WE WANT AND WE'RE GOING TO START THE DAY OFF WITH SOME YOGA. WE'RE GOING TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT I BELIEVE EVERY CHILD EVERY DAY IN EVERY SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE IN EVERY MESSAGE SHOULD GO OUT EVERY NIGHT TO FAMILIES REMINDING THEM WHAT'S YOUR KID TO BED ON TIME. SLEEP IS IMPORTANT.  READ TO THEM, MAKE SURE THEY DID THEIR HOMEWORK IF THEY NEED HELP LET US KNOW DON'T BE LATE FOR SCHOOL. WE SHOULD WE DON'T WANT TO BE LATE FOR SCHOOL ANY DAY TO ONLY EMPHASIZE IT DURING THE TIME WHEN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FAILS IT MATTERS MOST IS SOMETHING I THINK WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB AT. THANK YOU TO BEING A COUNSELOR MIGHT BE NEXT UP WE HAVE COUNSELOR DURKIN THE BEFORE.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. I THINK MY QUESTIONS ARE REALLY BASIC WHAT IS THE MY FIRST QUESTION JUST AS AT THE STAGES WHAT IS THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF CAST TESTING AND HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT IN MEASURING STUDENT LEARNING?  WELL, MY UNDERSTANDING IS I'M 25 YEARS AGO WAS IT THE DATA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE USED SO THAT WE COULD IDENTIFY THE OPPORTUNITY GAPS RIGHT AND THAT IT WASN'T A SYSTEM THAT WAS GOING TO HOLD STUDENTS ACCOUNTABLE. YOU KNOW, WE STARTED THE SCHOOL YEAR OFF OFTEN IN FISCAL CLIFF WHERE SCHOOLS ARE DOWN 29 3100 EDUCATORS AND BUT FOR SOME REASON THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY WITH THAT IN THE SYSTEM.  YOU KNOW, 25 YEARS LATER I'M STILL WAITING FOR A SCIENCE LAB AND HOW THAT NEVER HAPPENED. SO THE STAKES INCREASE, THE PRESSURE INCREASES BUT WE'VE NEVER ADDRESSED THE OPPORTUNITY WHICH I NOW CALL A CHASM. I DON'T EVEN THINK IT'S A GAP ANYMORE A BRAND.  SURE. THANK YOU. I WOULD SAY IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. YOU KNOW AND I THINK AND TEST FOR EDUCATORS AS A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL IS HELPFUL AND YOU KNOW BACK TO YOU KNOW, THE CONVERSATION ABOUT STANDARDS. YOU KNOW, WE ALL TEACH IN UNITS THAT ARE STANDARDS BASED AND MANY OF THE UNITS, YOU KNOW, HAVE A NUMBER OF ASSESSMENTS THROUGHOUT THE UNIT TO MEASURE HOW WELL OUR STUDENTS ARE DOING. SO OUR EDUCATORS ARE CONSTANTLY ASSESSING STUDENTS IN A DIAGNOSTIC WAY IN ORDER TO, YOU KNOW, HELP MEET THEM AND MAKE THEM SUCCESSFUL. SO I THINK AS A AS A TOOL TO DIAGNOSE OUR SCHOOLS AND AND KIDS ARE DOING IS IS ONE KEY INDICATOR BUT IT'S IT'S MANY THINGS YOU KNOW YOU KNOW OBSERVING OUR KIDS WORKING WITH OUR KIDS IS A BIG PIECE AS WELL IF I COULD TAKE JUST A FEW SECONDS JUST TO ADDRESS THE MISCONCEPTION ABOUT THIS THIS NOTION OF KNOW PERCENTAGE OF RATE QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, IS IS A MEASURE OF THE IMPACT THAT THE ANALYSIS THAT THE DEPARTMENT DOES ON AND TEST RESULTS IS IS QUITE INVOLVED YOU KNOW IN THIS IS FOR CATEGORIES THAT OUR KIDS ARE PLACED IN YOU KNOW NOT MEETING PASSING READING MEETING AND EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS YOU GET A RAW SCORE, YOU GET A SCALE SCORE AND THE SCORES ARE NON REFERENT SO IT I DON'T THINK IT'S A FAIR ASSERTION TO TAKE THE RATIO OF CORRECT RAW SCORES TO THE NUMBER OF QUESTIONS TO GET A PERCENTAGE OF QUESTIONS CORRECT THAT'S THAT'S NOT ACCURATE BUT CONSIDER BACK TO YOUR QUESTION I THINK IS IS HELPFUL IT'S ONE OF MANY AREAS THAT EDUCATORS AND SCHOOLS LOOK AT TO SUPPORT KIDS AND I THINK WE'VE HEARD A LITTLE BIT BOTH FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND FROM THE PANEL ABOUT HOW IT MAY IMPACT STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS.  I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT POSITION THOSE ON THE PANEL HAVE ABOUT HOW WE CAN ENSURE EQUITY IN TESTING CONDITIONS IF IF THE IMPASSE IS THE IMPASSE IS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD EVEN IF IT'S NOT A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT. SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS?  YEAH, I MEAN BUT I'M I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN BY TESTING CONDITIONS. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT CERTAINLY PROVIDING THE NECESSARY ACCOMMODATIONS AND THANK YOU, COUNSELOR MURPHY FOR FOR MAKING THE POINT ABOUT ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT ACCOMMODATIONS ARE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. I KNOW WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE AND BEPS YOU KNOW THAT LANDSCAPE VERY WELL.  SO CERTAINLY THAT IS IMPORTANT ENSURING THAT STUDENT MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS HAVE ACCESS TO CONTENT AREA TESTS IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE WHENEVER POSSIBLE WOULD BE IMPORTANT BUT JUST A CONDITIONS.  I MEAN I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT CONDITIONS IN MANY OF OUR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS SADLY CAN BE JUST FACILITIES WISE CAN BE REALLY REALLY INADEQUATE AND THERE HAVE BEEN DAYS THAT IT HAS BEEN EXCEEDINGLY HOT, EXCEEDINGLY COLD, CRAMPED BECAUSE OUR SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE MUCH SPACE AND THEY'RE CRAMPED TO THE GILLS. KIDS WHO MIGHT NEED A SMALL GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL ACCOMMODATION WIND UP LIKE UNDER A STAIRWELL NEXT TO THE BATHROOM WHICH IS LIKE ACTUALLY MORE DISTRACTING RATHER THAN LESS DISTRACTING. I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS THAT NOT ALL TESTING CONDITIONS ARE CREATED EQUAL. THAT'S RIGHT. YOU HAD A FULL NIGHT'S SLEEP IF YOU'VE HAD BREAKFAST IF YOU YOU KNOW I MEAN THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT GO INTO HOW STUDENTS ARE PERFORMING AND THE DAY THAT THE TEST IS TAKEN AND THE IDEA THAT A FAILED TEST RESULTS IN TESTING ON DIFFERENT DAYS AND TRYING TO WEAVE THAT INTO SCHEDULES AND I THINK IT'S COMPLICATED AND I DEFINITELY AM NOT THE EXPERT THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THIS LEVEL OF QUESTIONS BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO REALLY SUSS OUT I THINK IF THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THIS SHOULD BE A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT,  MANY FOLKS HAVE MADE THE CASE THAT THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR STUDENTS, THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR SCHOOLS AND THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR OUR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. I HAVEN'T TAKEN AN OFFICIAL POSITION. I HONESTLY HAVE. I THINK ON MY END I'M TRYING TO LISTEN TO FOLKS WHO ARE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT EVERY DAY AND THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON STUDENTS AND I THINK ONE OF THE MOST COMPELLING ARGUMENTS FOR ME AGAINST IT BEING A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT IS THE MENTAL TOLL THAT IT TAKES ON STUDENTS THEIR CONFIDENCE LEVELS. CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE MORE TO THAT?  BUT JUST TO I THINK YES, I WANT TO MAKE ONE POINT ON THAT REGARDING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO APPARENTLY FAIL TO GRADUATE STATEWIDE OR IN BOSTON BASED ON THIS TEST, I THINK SOMEONE ELSE ON THE PANEL MADE THIS POINT VERY WELL EARLIER. YOU HAVE TO COMBINE THAT WITH THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO JUST EVENTUALLY GIVE UP AND SAY OH, THIS ISN'T FOR ME , I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE IT AND THEY WIND UP DROPPING OUT BECAUSE I THINK THAT NUMBER PROBABLY FAR EXCEEDS THE 700 NUMBER THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.  SO I DO THINK THAT THAT'S A CRITICAL PIECE THERE IN TERMS OF KIDS WHO JUST FIGURE THIS THIS SCHOOL THING, IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK OUT FOR ME . IT'S NOT I'M NOT CUT OUT FOR IT BUT I WOULD DEFER TO OTHERS ON THE PANEL. AND IN BOSTON WE HAVE BEEN SEEING SUCCESS IN TRUANCY AND GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO SCHOOL. AND I'M JUST CURIOUS IF IF THERE'S A WAY TO SPEAK TO THOSE NUMBERS AND SPEAK TO MAYBE THIS SUCCESS THAT WE WOULD HAVE IF THIS WERE NOT A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT LIKE HOW MANY STUDENTS YOU KNOW IS THERE ARE THERE CONCRETE NUMBERS OF WHICH UNITS WE MAY BE ABLE TO KEEP IN THE DISTRICT SCHOOL SYSTEM?  YEAH, I DON'T THINK I COULD QUANTIFY THAT FROM A BOSTON PERSPECTIVE. I DON'T KNOW IF MY COLLEAGUES COULD SAY ANYTHING FROM THE STATEWIDE LEVEL BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S SOMEWHAT UNKNOWABLE AND IN ADDITION I WOULD JUST ADD TO THE STUDENTS WHO DROP OUT WE ALSO HAVE THE STUDENTS AGAIN I CALL THIS AN OPPORTUNITY GAP AGAIN WHO CAN GO TO A PRIVATE OR CATHOLIC SCHOOL AND GRADUATE FROM THERE. THEY DON'T MEET THE METRICS AND SO THAT THEY TRANSFER I KNOW OF SITUATIONS WHERE THAT HAS HAPPENED. I KNOW ACTUALLY OF EDUCATORS WHO WILL SEND THEIR KIDS TO THE PRIVATE SCHOOL SPECIFICALLY SO THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A TEST CENTRIC EDUCATION SO YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T MEASURE THAT BUT WE KNOW THAT THAT HAPPENS.  SO CAN YOU SPEAK ON YEAH AND I'M JUST I KNOW I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME BUT JUST SO I GET MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED, COULD YOU SPEAK A LITTLE MORE TO THAT TO OUR TEACHER ARE TEACHERS PRESSURED TO FOCUS ON SPECIFIC SUBJECTS AND WHEN STUDENTS ARE I MEAN I DEFINITELY HAVE HEARD FROM FOLKS AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE BEEN TEACHERS THAT THEY FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, FOR TWO OR THREE MONTHS THEY'RE HAVING TO FOCUS ON SPECIFIC SUBJECTS WHEN THEY WHEN THEY WOULD ORDINARILY WANT TO MOVE ON FROM THOSE SUBJECTS.  CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THAT AS A FORMER TEACHER?  YEAH, I MEAN WE GET WE HAVE A REAL RIGOROUS EVALUATION SYSTEM. WE HAVE TWO POWERED STANDARDS BASED ON THE DATA AND WE GET EVALUATED ON THAT RIGHT. IT'S REAL SERIOUS IN MY DISTRICT BECAUSE FOR DISTRICTS THAT ARE SO CLOSE TO GOING DOWN A LEVEL YOU KNOW I MEAN IT'S A HIGH STAKES RANK AND SHAME ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM AND IF YOU ARE PUT IN RECEIVERSHIP, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T EVEN LIKE THE DATA THAT LIKE 52% TURNOVER OF EDUCATORS RIGHT IN THESE DISTRICTS. SO THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE SCORES BECAUSE FOLKS DON'T WANT TO BE IN RECEIVERSHIP AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE RANKED AND SHAMED AND I KNOW I'M SORRY . I KNOW EVERYONE WANTS TO ANSWER I, I JUST MY LAST QUESTION IS HOW WHAT IS THE REPLACEMENT?  YOU KNOW, IS THERE A REPLACEMENT THAT YOU RECOMMEND OR BASICALLY IF THE IMPASSE ARE NOT AROUND YOU ARE NOT A REQUIREMENT OF GRADUATION IS I THINK THE THING THAT'S MOST CONCERNING TO FOLKS WHO I'VE TALKED TO WHO ARE NOT ON BOARD WITH GETTING RID OF CASES LIKE HOW DO WE REPLACE A SYSTEM AND YOU KNOW WHAT METRICS ARE ALREADY IN PLACE, HOW CAN WE ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ESPECIALLY I MEAN WE'RE MOSTLY CONCERNED ABOUT BOSTON AND WE DO HAVE UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOLS AND WE WE DO HAVE A COMMITMENT TO THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON TO DELIVER ON A QUALITY EDUCATION.  WHAT IS SORT OF THE REPLACEMENT MEASURE FOR HOW HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW TO BOTH YOU KNOW, I THINK FOR ME I NEED TO BE CONFIDENT IN IF THERE IF WE ARE GETTING RID OF THIS AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT THAT THERE IS SOME OTHER METRIC THAT WE'RE REPLACING IT WITH LIKE JUST QUICKLY JUMP IN ON THAT. I MEAN AS I SAID EARLIER, THE CAST IS NOT A DOES NOT GO AWAY THAT THAT IT WILL BE USED EVERY YEAR. I WAS JUST AT MY OWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE IN AMHERST THEY WENT OVER THE DETAILS OF ALL THE DATA AND THEY YOU KNOW SO THEY WERE SKEPTICAL BUT THEY ALSO LOOK CAREFULLY AT THAT. SO THE CASTS REMAINS THE BALLOT INITIATIVE SAYS IT REPLACES THE M CASTS AND ASKS EVERY DISTRICT TO CERTIFY WHETHER A STUDENT HAS MET OUR HIGH STATE ACADEMIC STANDARDS. I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT WE WILL BE DOING WHAT THE VALUE OF REMOVING A REPLACING THE HIGH STAKES MASS IS IT'S ALSO A FOCUS ON THE OTHER PART OF THE EQUATION THE RESOURCES OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO DIFFERENT DISTRICTS WE HAVE. THE WEALTHY IS ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST STATES IN THE COUNTRY ALSO HAVE ONE OF THE MOST UNEQUAL ONES AND WHAT I'M MOST PROUD OF ABOUT WHAT WE MBTA OF TVT HAVE DONE IS ALSO FOCUSED ON LIFTING UP THE LIVES OF OUR FAMILIES AND OUR STUDENTS OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL WALLS WHICH WE KNOW IS CENTRAL TO HOW THEY'RE ABLE TO SUCCEED INSIDE. WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO 11 THEN 15 NOW PROPOSING $20. WE'RE SUPPORTING HOUSING PROPOSALS. WE ARE PASSED THE FAIR SHARE AMENDMENT, THE STUDENT OPPORTUNITY ACT. THESE ARE ALL WAYS IN WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS WHAT IS JUST THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM WHICH IS ENORMOUS INEQUALITY CARE SO CLOSELY TRACKS INCOME AND FAMILY DEMOGRAPHIC ETHICS. THAT MEANS WE NEED TO SUPPORT THOSE FAMILIES AND THEIR STUDENTS ARE WE HAVE THE BEST EDUCATORS IN THE COUNTRY. I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THAT AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THIS SCHOOL IS AS A PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR WITH A STUDENT LEARNING TOGETHER THEY CANNOT ON THEIR OWN OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES THAT SO MANY OUR STUDENTS IN BOSTON AND BEYOND FACE. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO WORK ON THAT SIDE OF THE EQUATION AS WELL TOGETHER WITH YOU AND MANY OTHERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIR FOR LETTING ME GET ALL MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED. THANK YOU COUNSELOR.  I'M ALSO WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNSELOR BEN WEBER FROM DISTRICT SIX. COUNSELOR WEBER, YOU'LL HAVE 7 MINUTES AND THEN WE'LL GO FOR A SECOND ROUND OF QUESTIONS.  OKAY? THANK YOU CHAIR YEAH, I THINK JUST FOLLOWING UP ON PART OF THE DISCUSSION WITH COUNSELOR DURKIN AND SOMETHING COUNSELOR BREADON BROUGHT UP IT SO I HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE WITH EXAMS THAT WERE REPRESENTED BLACK AND LATINO POLICE OFFICERS AGAINST THE CITY OF BOSTON CHALLENGING THEIR USE OF WRITTEN PROMOTIONAL EXAMS AND WHAT ALL THE EXPERTS AGREED ON WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, BASED ON OUR RACE THERE WOULD BE POINT DIFFERENTIALS AND DIFFERENCE IN RESULTS IN THE MOST DISCRIMINATORY FREE TEST YOU COULD USE WHICH SHOULD HAVE THE BIGGEST EFFECT WOULD BE MULTIPLE CHOICE ROTE MEMORY TESTS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S LOTS OF TESTS ARE DISCRIMINATORY IN ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT WAYS. YOU MIGHT HAVE LIKE A FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO CARRY THE FIRE HOSE THAT MIGHT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PEOPLE WHO ARE OLDS AND MAYBE WOMEN, YOU KNOW, SO THAT DOESN'T MAKE A TEST INVALID AND THEN YOU LOOK TO SEE WELL, YOU KNOW, DOES THIS TEST MEASURE,  YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT ASPECTS THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE AND THAT'S YOU KNOW, THAT SORT OF JUSTIFIES THE DISCRIMINATION HERE. I THINK I THINK ONE OF YOU SAID ONLY 43% OF THE CURRICULA GETS MEASURED BY THE CASTING. SO I MEAN TO ME THAT IT'S LIKE OKAY, YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET A DISCRIMINATORY IMPACT AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE CAST.  THE YOU KNOW, STUDENTS FAILING ARE, YOU KNOW, LOW INCOME PEOPLE OF COLOR ADDED. BUT IF IT HAD SOME STRONG CORRELATION WITH THE CURRICULUM ,MAYBE YOU COULD JUSTIFY THAT. BUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IT'S IT'S LESS THAN 50% OF THE CURRICULUM GETS TESTED LESS THAN 50% OF THE STANDARD STATES STANDARDS WHICH ARE THE YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO LEARN. THIS IS WHAT WE EXPECT PEOPLE TO LEARN STUDENTS TO LEARN IN THIS EIGHTH GRADE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARCHER 10TH GRADE MATH AND SO THAT'S WHAT'S NOT COVERED EVEN ASSESSED BY THE TEST. OKAY. YEAH AND I THINK WE IN THE POLICE EXAMS LIKE YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO HAVE STRONG ORAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS OBVIOUSLY THE WRITTEN TEST DOESN'T MEASURE THAT AND THERE ARE LESS DISCRIMINATORY WAYS TO TO TO MEASURE YOU KNOW ABILITY YOU KNOW AND COMPETENCE IN THESE THINGS AND SO IT'S LIKE ALREADY WE'RE USING WHAT ALL THE EXPERTS AGREE IS THE MOST DISCRIMINATORY TESTING MECHANISM IS IS ROTE MEMORY YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE CHOICE EXAMS. SO YOU KNOW, IT'S SORT OF SHOCKING TO HEAR THAT A LOT OF OUR CURRICULUM DOESN'T EVEN MAKE IT ON TO THE EXAM.  AND SO AND ANOTHER THING YOU TALKED ABOUT DROPOUT RATES WHICH I THINK IS SO I PEOPLE TAKE TESTS 10TH GRADE THEY DON'T PASS DO I SAW SOME DATA THAT SAID LIKE IN 12TH GRADE IT'S LIKE A LIKE 1.5% OF STUDENTS WHO DROP OUT HAD PASSED THE END CAST BUT LIKE SOMETHING LIKE 20% OF STUDENTS WHO DROPPED OUT HAD FAILED THE INDUSTRY. DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA CORRELATING DROPOUTS TO TO LOW SCORES ON THE NCAA'S?  BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THE LAST PIECE OF DATA YOU JUST MENTIONED BUT WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT IS TO ASSUME THAT'S RIGHT THAT THE DATA THAT I WAS NOTING WAS THAT STUDENTS WHO ARE JUST ONE POINT BELOW THE PASSING SCORE ARE 10% MORE LIKELY TO DROP OUT THAN STUDENTS WHO ARE ONE POINT ABOVE THE PASSING SCORE.  SO IT'S EFFECTIVELY THE SAME SCORE BUT JUST THAT SORT OF A STAMP OF YOU FAILED WILL SEND STUDENT YOU KNOW A CERTAIN NUMBER AND AND A DISTURBING NUMBER AS DEB MENTIONED EARLIER OF LATINA LATIN EX STUDENTS TO TO DROPOUT WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY IN THAT CATEGORY UNFORTUNATELY.  OKAY AND I WOULD JUST ADD TO A STRONG CORRELATION WITH THE DISTRICT SO ONE RECEIVERSHIP WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RACIAL PROFILING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS TO THAT LIKE THERE'S THE CORRELATION THAT THESE SCORES ARE BEING USED TO HARM OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.  MM HMM.  THAT THAT IT TO ME I SEE ON THE OTHER SIDE AN ARGUMENT. WELL, THERE'S IT'S 700 STUDENTS THERE'S A BUT I JUST FOR ME DOES IT FOLLOW THAT IF IT'S SO FEW STUDENTS WHO CAN'T PASS THE TEST IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S NOT A GOOD IT'S THIS IS NOT A GREAT TOOL FOR ASSESSING YOU KNOW HOW WE'RE DOING IT BUT IT'S LIKE THAT. SO WHEN I HEAR A LOW NUMBER I THINK OH WELL SO THERE'S THERE'S NOT MUCH OF AN IMPACT FOR GETTING RID OF THE IMPASSE BUT HAVE YOU WHAT HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT THAT WE NEED TO KEEP IT BECAUSE IT'S A SEVEN TIME WHAT, 700 STUDENTS? WELL, WHAT WE SHOULD TAKE FROM THAT THAT NUMBER SO I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THIS THE YANKEES WILL STILL BE HERE BUT WHETHER IT'S 777 IT'S TOO MANY FOR ME WHEN THESE ARE STUDENTS WHO ARE MEETING THE METRICS AND GRADE NINE, TEN, 11 AND 12 AND THEY ARE DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO BUT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T PASS THE METRIC OF A TEST WE ARE DENYING THEM A DIPLOMA. ONE IS TOO MANY AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I GREW UP IN AMHERST AND WHEN I WAS THERE 700 THAT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OF MY HIGH SCHOOL AT THAT TIME. SO THIS IS THIS IS A SMALL NUMBER OF STUDENTS AND I THINK THE POINT WE'VE BEEN TRYING MAKE AS WELL IS BEYOND THAT DENIAL OF DIPLOMAS OR A CERTAIN NUMBER AND AS DEB SAID WHAT MORE THAN ONE MORE THAN ZERO IS TOO MANY. IT'S ALL THE OTHER STUDENTS WHO ARE AFFECTED BY THE FOCUS AND I ACTUALLY APPRECIATED THE LAST MINUTE OR SO OF COUNSELOR MURPHY'S COMMENTS ABOUT HOW THIS JUST BECAUSE IT IS HIGH STAKES THE PARTICIPATION AND THEN THE GRADUATION RANKING THAT IS WHERE THE THE KIND THE THERE'S A RATCHETED UP ENERGY BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT YOU MUST SHOW UP. YOU'VE GOT TO GET YOUR KIDS THERE. THAT'S THE ONE TIME THAT THEY DO THAT BECAUSE IT IT AFFECTS EVERYONE.  IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S NOT JUST THE 700 WHICH IS WAY TOO LARGE A NUMBER ANYWAY.  IT'S IT'S ALL THE OTHER STUDENTS WHO ARE AFFECTED BY THE BY THE KIND OF THE STRESS AND THE PRESSURE AROUND THIS HIGH STAKES TEST.  OKAY. AND THEN SO IF IF THE IF THIS PASSES, YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT WILL WE USE TO MEASURE, YOU KNOW, SORT OF THE WHAT WE USE AS A MEASURE FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES INSTEAD OF THIS? I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO JUST NOTE THAT I THINK EVERYONE ON ALL SIDES OF THIS DEBATE AND EVERYONE IN THIS ZOOM CALL BELIEVES DEEPLY IN HIGH STANDARDS FOR ALL OF OUR KIDS. YOU KNOW, WE COLLECTIVELY ON THIS PANEL HAVE PROBABLY 100 YEARS OF OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE AND WE CERTAINLY BELIEVE IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR KIDS AND THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN AND THRIVE AND BE SUCCESSFUL CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR SOCIETY. I THINK THAT THERE'S A MOVE IN BOSTON AND AROUND THE STATE TOWARDS MASK OR A MORE FULSOME SET OF COURSEWORK. I THINK THAT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT AND IT REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BOSTON TO DEVELOP AND ENSURE THAT EVERY SINGLE HIGH SCHOOL HAS A FULL WIDE RANGING SET OF COURSE OFFERINGS THAT MEETS KIDS NEEDS ,MEETS THE WORKFORCE NEEDS AND MEETS THE NEEDS OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND WHETHER THAT BE TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS IN MATH, SCIENCE HISTORY AND SO FORTH BUT ALSO ELECTIVES WITHIN THOSE SUBJECTS ALSO THE ARTS ALSO CTE PROGRAMS SOME OF OUR CTE ARE LEADING KIDS WHETHER THEY'RE A FORMAL CTE PROGRAM OR A PATHWAY TOWARDS A GREAT CAREER IN HIGH TECH, IN INDUSTRY, IN THE TRADES AND THERE'S A PLACE FOR THAT TOO. SO WE THINK THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS SETTING HIGH BARS FOR COMPLETION OF COURSEWORK IS IS AN APPROPRIATE MEASURE RIGHT THING DO COUNSELOR I HAVE ONE QUESTION AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR A SECOND ROUND OF QUESTIONS.  BUT ONE OF THE THING MY COLLEAGUES FOR FOR RAISING QUESTIONS THAT OUR PANELISTS WERE WERE OR RESPONSES I KNOW IN ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WERE ABOUT THIS TRANSFER PUTTING ON TEACHERS UNDER AN ASSIGNMENT I THINK I THINK DEVIN YOU RESPONDED TO THAT I THINK MY QUESTION AND SIMILAR TO THE EXPENSES I KNOW EARLIER IN THE CONVERSATION IN THE HEARING WE TALKED ABOUT YOU KNOW, HOW WE'VE GONE AWAY FROM, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PROGRAMS MUSIC AND AND YOU KNOW, THEATER OR I TOOK WOODWORKING IN HIGH SCHOOL AND YOU KNOW SO THOSE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THERE AND WE TALKED ABOUT AND I THINK PRESIDENT PAIGE I THINK YOU TALKED ABOUT YOU KNOW THERE BEING A MONTH OF TOTAL LOSS OF BECAUSE WE'RE PREPARING FOR THIS FOR THIS TEST.  ARE THERE ANY A HAS THERE BEEN ANY RESEARCH ON COST SAVINGS OR EXPENSES OF ADOPTING? DOES IT MATTER?  AND YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REPLACING THAT ONE MONTH WAY OF PREPARATION, YOU KNOW, I MEAN I THINK THE SUGGESTION OF WHERE TO SUBSTITUTE IN WITH WITH SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS HAVE THERE BEEN ANY CONVERSATIONS OF OBVIOUS COST EXPENSES OR SAVINGS IN ADOPTING THIS MEASURE OR NOT?  I DON'T THINK WE'VE DONE A COST ANALYSIS BECAUSE AGAIN, THE I MEAN THE MATH ITSELF IS ABOUT STATEWIDE IS ABOUT $30 MILLION A YEAR AT THE STATE LEVEL. OF COURSE THEN DISTRICTS SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON THE CHROMEBOOKS AND EVERYTHING ALSO GOES WITH IT BUT THE TEST WILL STILL BE HERE. SO THOSE COSTS WILL WILL REMAIN. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER KINDS OF SAVINGS THAT I KNOW THE TESTS WILL STILL BE HERE. SO I KNOW THAT FUNDS WILL GO I DON'T KNOW. YOU KNOW, WE'RE ASKING IF THERE WAS ANY OTHER PREPARATIONS EXPENSES THAT WE YOU KNOW THAT THE YOU KNOW, THE STATE USES THAT WE WILL NO LONGER, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO HAVE TO SPEND ON IT, THEN MAYBE THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR REIMBURSEMENTS THERE.  BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE RESEARCH HAS BEEN REALLY DONE.  WELL, WE'LL WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT AND GET BACK TO YOU IF THAT'S OKAY. I DON'T KNOW. ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. THAT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND ALL MY OTHER QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ASKED AND ANSWERED SO I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. SO I'LL NOW GO BACK THE LEAD SPONSORS FOR A SECOND ROUND OF QUESTIONS STARTING WITH COUNSELOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON AND THEN WE'LL GO DOWN TO THE LINE HERE OR IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANY QUESTIONS. SO I'M CONFIDENT AS ANYTHING YOU KNOW BEFORE.  THANK YOU SO MUCH MR CHAIR.  I WAS I REALLY APPRECIATE HOW YOU'VE BEEN EXECUTING THIS AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME. I WAS WONDERING IF WE WERE GOING TO GO TO THE PANEL OR OUR QUESTIONS VERSUS THERE'S ONLY TEN PEOPLE WAITING CURRENTLY BREATHING. I AGREE WITH MY COUNCILOR COLLEAGUE COUNSELOR MURPHY THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING THEM. SO I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU WITH YOUR PERMISSION WHAT WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?  ABSOLUTELY NO ANSWER SO I'LL FOLLOW YOUR LEAD SO WE CAN GO TO THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY. OKAY.  OR TO AND THEN WE CAN CIRCLE BACK TO ANY SECOND ROUND QUESTIONS THAT MY COLLEAGUES MAY HAVE.  SO I WILL NOW LOOK AT CENTRAL OUR AND LOOK AT THEM UP AT CENTRAL STAFF TO QUEUE UP OUR PUBLIC TESTIMONY FOR ME AS WE SO SENATORS HAVE CHOSEN FOR ME THAT THEY ARE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO TESTIFY SO WE WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH PUBLIC TESTIMONY PUBLIC TESTIMONY A I FEEL MY COLLEAGUES NOTED THAT THE DESIRE TO BE A TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF MAINTAINING THE ARM EXAM AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT AND COUNCILOR MURPHY REQUESTED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A LONGER PUBLIC TESTIMONY. BUT WE'LL ALSO DO IN PARTICULAR AS CHAIR I'D LIKE TO HONOR THAT REQUEST AND I WILL ALSO JUST TESTIFY AT THIS TIME AND YOU OFFERED TO PROVIDE COMMENTS FOR AN EXTENDED TIME UP TO 5 MINUTES WILL ULTIMATELY THINK THAT WORKED. I CAN SEE EVERYBODY HERE MEET THE CHAIR. I CAN HEAR YOU. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. GOOD TO SEE SO MANY COUNTIES I'VE WORKED WITH OVER THE YEARS. ERIC, GOOD TO SEE YOU. WE'RE NOT ON THE SAME SIDE IN THIS ONE. WE'RE ON THE SAME SIDE IN A LOT OF OTHER. THANKS SO GOOD TO SEE ERIC.  I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST TO ACTUALLY STICK TO 2 MINUTES. THAT'S INITIALLY WHAT I THOUGHT I HAD BUT THEN IF THE CHAIR ALLOWS I'M HAPPY TO ELABORATE OR TAKE QUESTIONS SO I CANNOT BEGIN TO ADDRESS OR ROBERT THE CONTENT IN THE LAST 2 HOURS BUT I'LL DO MY BEST TO SHARE THE POSITION OF THOSE WHO ARE OPPOSING THIS BALLOT INITIATIVE AND I'M ALSO WELCOME TO MEET WITH ANY COUNSELOR ANY OTHER TIME TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE. MY NAME IS WILL AUSTIN. I WAS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER PRINCIPAL AND SCHOOL LEAD IN ROCKS FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS. THE LAST TEN YEARS I'VE BEEN THE LEADER OF THE BOSTON SCHOOLS FUND AND I AM ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR NO ON TWO WHICH OPPOSES THE BALLOT QUESTION YOU KNOW, AS A BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADUATE, AS AN EDUCATOR, AS A PARENT, I THINK I VALUE WHAT ALL OF US VALUE WAS MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE FUNDAMENTALLY FAIR THAT THEY'RE ROOTED IN THIS VALUE OF FAIRNESS. NOW WE MAY NOT AGREE ON HOW WE DEFINE THAT BUT I BELIEVE WE AGREE IN THAT BALLOT AGREE ON THAT VALUE AND SINCE 1993 NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVED, HOW LONG YOU LIVED HERE, HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAD MASSACHUSETTS MADE YOU A PROMISE WE'D HAVE HIGH STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR EVERY KID. SO COULD GROW TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL READY FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER AND BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHOSE INEQUALITIES WE WOULD DO OUR BEST TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES STATE ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITIES AND CHILDREN THAT NEED THAT NOW QUESTION TO WHICH ELIMINATES OUR ONLY COMMON ASSESSMENT OF THESE STANDARDS I THINK SHATTERS THIS PROMISE. YES IT IS TRUE AS PANELISTS SAID, STATE STANDARDS ARE CONSISTENT FROM FROM DISTRICT TO DISTRICT BUT GRADUATION STANDARDS AND POLICIES ARE NOT. THOSE VARY FROM DISTRICT TO DISTRICT.  WITHOUT AN ASSESSMENT THEY'LL NO LONGER BE A COMMON TIE.  THERE'LL BE NO WAY TO KNOW IF THESE STANDARDS ARE ACTUALLY MET. COUNSELOR WEBER QUESTION WASN'T ANSWERED. THERE IS ACTUALLY NO REPLACEMENT IN THIS BALLOT QUESTION. IT SIMPLY JUST ELIMINATES A REQUIREMENT SO WE DON'T KIND OF KNOW GOING TO HAPPEN ON THE OTHER SIDE NOW FROM OPPONENTS YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF PHRASES AND ANECDOTES AND I AM NOT HERE TO DEFEND STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENTS IN GENERAL THE CAS IN PARTICULAR MY POINT OF VIEW IS JUST FAR MORE PRACTICAL BECAUSE AS PROPONENTS HAVE MANY TIMES THE NCAA'S ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE. IT'S REQUIRED UNDER FEDERAL LAW WE HAVE TO HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL STANDARDIZED TEST SO EVEN IF QUESTION TWO PASSES WE'RE STILL GOING TO SPEND TIME AND MONEY ADMINISTERING IN THE TEST AND BUT IT WON'T COUNT AND WHAT WILL WE GET INSTEAD? WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THERE'S NO ALTERNATIVE THAT'S BEEN OFFERED THAT WOULD MEET FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS.  SO BALLOT PROPONENTS ARE AGAINST THIS THIS INITIATIVE BUT THEY'RE NOT TRULY FOR SOMETHING ELSE. IF WE REALLY WANT TO REVISE EDUCATION POLICY CANDIDLY WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING THROUGH BALLOT INITIATIVES. I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO WORK MOST RECENT WITH SOME OF THE FOLKS IN THIS CALLING THE 2019 STUDENT OPPORTUNITY ACT. SOME FOLKS MENTIONED PROCESSES IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY TO REVISE THEIR STANDARDIZED TESTING SYSTEMS. I THINK THAT'S A MUCH MORE APPROPRIATE WAY TO GO AS OPPOSED TO A SIMPLE YES OR NO VOTE AND THINK FROM ALLOWING A LITTLE MORE TIME IN 2 MINUTES I'LL TRY TO FINISH QUICKLY. I DO WANT TO DEMYSTIFY SOME OF THE PHRASES YOU'VE BEEN HEARING. WE'VE HEARD REFERENCE TO HIGH STAKES TESTS. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD, I HEARD YOU ASKING ABOUT YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TAKE THE TEST HOW DOES THIS WORK WHEN YOU'RE GIVEN THE TEST IN YOUR SOPHOMORE YEAR SO YOU HAVE ADEQUATE TIME TO PASS IT IF YOU'RE NOT THERE YET. SO MORE THAN THREE QUARTERS OF THE KIDS PASS ON THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT. THEY HAVE FOUR MORE TIMES TO TAKE IT. THERE'S AN APPEALS PROCESS. THERE'S THE AULT AS ERIC MENTIONED AND SO WE WE WANT EVERYONE TO PASS AND THE CAS IS NOT THE SAT, IT'S NOT THE A.C.T..  IT'S IT'S NOT A ONE TIME THIS IS YOUR ONE SHOT. WE'RE GOING TO YOU HAVE THIS YOU HAVE THIS ONE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS. IT'S JUST DISINGENUOUS IMPLY THAT IT IS IT'S JUST NOT HOW IT WORKS. I ALSO HEARD THE PHRASE TEACH IN THAT TEST QUITE A BIT AND I KNOW THAT SOUNDS REALLY BAD BUT THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE DOES IF YOU TEACH IN A MONTESSORI SCHOOL, IF YOU AT BRIGHT HORIZONS, IF YOU'RE A PROFESSOR AT BRIDGEWATER STATE YOU GIVE ASSESSMENTS TO SEE HOW YOUR KIDS ARE DOING. NOW I CAN TELL YOU I'VE HEARD THE STORIES ABOUT THE ROBO CALLS AND THE TEST PREP I NEVER TAUGHT TEST PREP OR TEST TAKING MY YEARS OF TEACHING AND MY STUDENTS DID VERY WELL IN THE CLASS AND SO THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN'T TEACH WELL IN FULLY AND GIVE AN ANNUAL TEST I FEEL LIKE THAT'S A FALSE CHOICE. IT'S A FALSE BINARY. THAT'S YOUR PUBLIC TEACHERS, THAT'S YOUR CHARGE.  AND JUST TO KIND OF DEMYSTIFY THE CLASS, LET'S POINT OUT THAT TEACHERS MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS ARE VERY ENGAGED IN THIS SELECTION CREATION AND VETTING OF THOSE TEST QUESTIONS SO THAT COMING FROM NOWHERE YOU KNOW TEST TEACHER MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS I'VE SAT IN THOSE COMMUNITIES BEFORE ASSESSED THE ASSESSMENT FOR EVERYTHING FROM APPLICABILITY TO KIDS MASSACHUSETTS STANDARDS TESTING FOR RACIAL BIAS MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS FOR THESE REASONS AND MORE I'M ONE OF THE MANY EDUCATORS AND FORMER EDUCATORS WHO ARE NO ON TO ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, HOUSE SPEAKER, SENATE PRESIDENT, FORMER BP PRINCIPAL AND NOW EDUCATION SECRETARY PAT TUTWILER, MASSACHUSETTS SUPERINTENDENT ASSOCIATION MOST IMPORTANTLY PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS AND FAMILIES WHO WANT TO MAINTAIN THE GRADUATION REQUIREMENT HAZARDOUS THESE ABOUT NO ONE TO THANK YOU SO MUCH ONE FOR PROVIDED MAPS FEEDBACK AND TESTIMONY. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE GREAT SO CONTINUING THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME NEIGHBORHOOD AND ORGANIZATION AFFILIATION AND PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO 2 MINUTES.  SO WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP HERE AND I HAVE REPRESENTATIVE MONTANO WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF I ACTUALLY MAY NOT BE IN ATTENDANCE.  OKAY. SO NEXT UP I'LL HAVE VARSITY C1C SORRY I SORRY FOR THE MINUTES PERSONALIZATION NO WORRY COUNSELOR SANTANA MY THAT I SHOULD I SHOULD ALSO VISIT YOU SO I CAN SHARE WITH YOU HOW TO USE THE MY A LITTLE BIT BETTER IT IS A LITTLE BIT TRICKY AND YOU KNOW I JUST WANT TO FIRST APPRECIATE YOUR MY APPRECIATION TO YOU CHAIR SANTANA AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY. I'VE GOT TO RECEIVE I'LL SAY I AM A PROUD PARENT OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT MARCEAU A REFUGEE IMMIGRANT THAT GREW UP IN IN THE NINETIES THAT PRIOR TO THE THE INCREASE IN STANDARDIZED TESTING AND NOW EVERY DAY I WORK AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MEASURE THE MASSACHUSETTS EDUCATION JUSTICE ALLIANCE EDUCATION FUND AND WE ARE A STATEWIDE COALITION OF ORGANIZED ACTIONS LED BY STUDENTS, PARENTS, EDUCATORS, STAFF AND CONCERNED COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY PUBLIC EDUCATION.  HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS WE SHARE A VISION THAT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM SHOULD ADDRESS THE EDUCATION NEEDS OF A WHOLE STUDENT ONE WHERE EVERY STUDENT, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND THRIVES TO MEET THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. AND HERE TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN OBSTACLE AN ARBITRARY OBSTACLE STANDING IN THE WAY OF THAT VISION THE MISUSE OF CLASS AS A STANDARDIZED TEST AS A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENT IT AND HERE AS A PARENT AND ALSO AS AN IMMIGRANT I WANT TO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON THE IMPACT OF THAT GRADUATION REQUIREMENT ON OUR MOST IMPACTED STUDENTS ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES ,LEARNING DISABILITIES AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS TODAY. YOU KNOW, A BRIGHT FOCUSED STUDENT WHO IMMIGRATED TO MASSACHUSETTS DURING HIGH SCHOOL WOULD BE TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NO FUTURE HERE IF THEY WERE UNABLE TO PASS A STANDARDIZED MATH TEST IN A LANGUAGE THAT IS BRAND NEW TO THEM EVEN IF THEY EXCEL AT MATH IN THEIR NATIVE COUNTRY AND ARE MAKING PROGRESS LEARNING ENGLISH. AND FOR ME , YOU KNOW WHEN I THINK ABOUT THOSE STUDENTS, I THINK ABOUT MY COUSINS WHO CAME HERE WHEN THEY WERE 16 AND 17 I THINK ABOUT THE YOUNG CHILDREN THAT ARE COMING TO THE U.S. RIGHT NOW BECAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE OR WARS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THEIR COUNTRY AND THEY'RE FORCED TO TAKE THIS TEST A SMART AND CREATIVE STUDENT WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES MAKES STANDARDIZED TEST TAKING DIFFICULT WOULD BE TOLD THEY ARE A FAILURE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PASS A TEST BUT THEY DO SO AWESOME PRODUCING OUTSTANDING WORK IN THE CLASSROOMS BEING AWESOME CLASSMATES AND COMMUNITY PERSONS AND THE DATA IS CLEAR RIGHT STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES STUDENTS WHOSE FIRST LANGUAGE IS ENGLISH STUDENTS OF COLOR, STUDENTS FROM ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE OFTEN DENIED A DIPLOMA AND THAT IS A REALITY. THINGS ALSO IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS AND WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT WHO IT IS WE SHOULD BE UPLIFT DEAN THESE STUDENTS NOT TO STIGMATIZE THEM, NOT TO PUT THEM IN A POSITION IN WHICH LIKE THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD BREAKFAST COMING IN, THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO SOMETHING RIGHT BEFORE COMING INTO THE CLASSROOM TO TAKE TEST THINGS THAT ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL.  BUT EACH TIME THEY TRY TO TAKE THE TEST THEY'RE UNABLE TO PASS EVEN THOUGH THEY CAN DO EXTREMELY WELL IN OTHER CONDITIONS.  AND SO THAT'S AS A PARENT AND AS A COMMUNITY PERSON I THINK YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK ABOUT THE NUMBERS. I THINK ABOUT WHO IS IMPACTED AND THOSE FOLKS TAKING THE 10TH GRADE MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS AS WE KNOW IT DOESN'T PREPARE THEM TO PROPERLY BE SUCCESSFUL IN A REAL WORLD. IT IS AN INDICATOR OF THEIR FUTURE SUCCESS.  BUT IF THEY DON'T GET THEIR DIPLOMA BECAUSE AND THEY DON'T GO TO LIKE A VOCATION THEY CAN'T GO TO VOCATIONAL TRAINING SCHOOL OR, PURSUE OTHER ACADEMIC DREAMS THAT THEY HAVE . THAT TEST IS DENYING THEM IN OUR COMMUNITIES RIGHT? THAT TEST IS DENYING THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES SO IT'S A RIPPLE EFFECT THROUGH OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. IT'S JUST NOT THAT ONE TEST. SO LET'S LOOK AT IT A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.  LET'S NOT JUST TALK ABOUT THE NUMBERS OR TALK ABOUT LIKE AN ASSESSMENT AS EQUIVALENT TO A TEST THOSE TWO CAN BE DIFFERENT BUT THEY CAN BE THE SAME IF WE THINK ABOUT IT IF WE THINK ABOUT THE COMPLEXITY OF THE STUDENTS IN OUR FAMILIES AND THE STRENGTH AND ASSETS THAT OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES BRING AND THE WIDE RANGE OF SKILLS THAT THEY WILL NEED TO SUCCEED AFTER GRADUATION AND CONTRIBUTE BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITIES.  THAT'S WHAT WE NEED, RIGHT? SO AGAIN YEAH, FORGET THE JARGON. LET'S GET IT CORRECT. WE THINK ABOUT OUR STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WE UPLIFT THOSE THAT NEED OUR MOST SUPPORT AND THAT'S HOW WE BUILD A BETTER FUTURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.  JUST A REMINDER WE'LL TRY TO KEEP YOUR REMARKS TO MERITS.  I KNOW THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO, NOT A TOPIC THAT FIT INTO 2 MINUTES. SO I AM IN FLEXIBILITY BUT JUST WANT TO BE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET TO EVERYONE. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE. NEXT UP WE HAVE MAUREEN O'CONNOR.  IT'S REALLY YOU HAVE TOO MINUTES ONCE YOU ONCE YOU GET ANYTHING OFF RIGHT YOU KNOW YOU WITH US.  OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME ? YOU CAN HEAR YOU. OKAY. SORRY . MAUREEN O'CONNOR CASILLI I DON'T KNOW WHERE I START. I'M RETIRED TEACHER AND I LIVE IN JAMAICA PLAIN AND EVEN THOUGH I RETIRED IN 2011 FROM NEWTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS TAUGHT IN RANDOLPH HIGH SCHOOL, I TAUGHT IN DETROIT.  I TAUGHT IN BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.  BUT I'M GOING TO START WITH MANY OF YOU COVERED WHAT I WANTED TO SAY BUT ONE THING I RESPOND TO IS VARSITY AND WHAT AUSTIN JUST SAID BUT I'LL DO THAT TOWARDS THE END. I HAVE A VARIETY OF TEACHING EXPERIENCES WHICH HAS LED ME TO TESTIFIED TODAY IN FAVOR OF BALLOT INITIATIVE TWO I RECEIVED MY B.A. IN HISTORY POLITICAL SCIENCE WITH MINORS IN ENGLISH AND EDUCATION FROM MARY GROVE COLLEGE, DETROIT.  I LATER EARNED TWO MASTER'S DEGREES THE FIRST IN HISTORY FROM NORTHEASTERN IN 75, THE SECOND IN APPLIED LINGUISTICS IN UMASS BOSTON 2001. I WAS WHAT I WAS GOING TO PUT THE END BUT I WANTED TO PUT IT IN THERE TO SAY LOOK TEACHERS ARE EXPERI SCIENCE AND THEY'VE HAD LOTS OF YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY EXPERIENCE BUT ALSO EDUCATION IN THEIR BACKGROUNDS. I RETIRED AS AN EIGHTH GRADE AMERICAN HISTORY TEACHER IN NEWTON 2011 AFTER TEACHING ESL IN RANDOLPH HIGH SCHOOL YEARS BEFORE ALREADY SAID THAT I MIGHT P THING IS I WANT TO SAY I WORKED IN ADULT EDUCATION TEACHING SATURDAY MORNING ESL TO WORKERS IN GED PREP CLASS AT ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND ESL PART TIME AT MASS COMMUNITY COLLEGE. HOWEVER MUCH OF MY ADULT TEACHING WAS IN THE WORKPLACE I TAUGHT MATH AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN THE TECH READINESS PROGRAM AT POLAROID AND OTHER WORKPLACE SITES.  IN 1994 I'LL COAUTHORED A BOOK THAT MCCURDY AUDIO CASSETTE WORKBOOK PROGRAM ENTITLED HOW TO THINK CREATIVELY IN THE WORKPLACE PART OF AN ESSENTIAL BUSINESS SKILL PUBLISHED BY AMERICAN MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION. OUR RESEARCH INVOLVED HARVARD PSYCHOLOGIST HOWARD GARDNER'S MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH AND.  HE'S NOT A SUPPORTER OF ONE STANDARDIZED TEST ALTHOUGH I THINK IT'S USEFUL.  SO SOCIAL STUDIES I WANT TO SAY SOCIAL STUDIES IS NOT ONE OF THE TEST TESTED SUBJECTS BUT MY EIGHTH GRADERS AT OAK HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL AND I WERE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY IT BECAUSE OF THE TIME SPENT IN APRIL AND MAY PREPPING AND TESTING I LOST 7 TO 8 DAYS OF CLASS TIME BY THE END OF THE YEAR THIS MIGHT SEEM MINIMAL BUT THIS MEANT THAT I WAS NEVER ABLE TO FINISH MY CIVIL WAR UNIT WHICH FOLLOW THE CURRICULUM FRAMEWORKS LET ALONE MOVE ON TO THE RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD. THIS HAD A RIPPLE EFFECT UPWARD ON THE AMERICAN HISTORY CLASS CURRICULUM AT NEWTON'S TWO HIGH SCHOOLS WE HELD CITYWIDE SOCIAL STUDIES MEETINGS AMONG EIGHTH GRADE HISTORY IN NINTH GRADE AND 10TH GRADE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS TO ADDRESS ISSUE BUT NOT BEING A TESTED SUBJECT, I FELT A CERTAIN LIBERTY IN HOW I TAUGHT AND EVALUATED MY STUDENTS. SURE I USED A FEW TRADITIONAL TEACHING EVALUATIONS LIKE POP QUIZZES ETC. BUT I GAVE MY STUDENTS CRITERIA WHAT THEIR PERFORM MOSTLY BASE TO APPLY. THIS IS AN ALTERNATIVE YOU CAN HAVE I ONLY HAVE 2 MINUTES SO WHEN I WAS TOLD I TOLD I HAVE 5 MINUTES. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO SAY IS THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE CAN I QUICKLY JUST SAY I SUPPORT THE NCAA?  THE MASSACHUSETTS CONSORTIUM FOR INNOVATIVE EDUCATION ASSESSMENT WHICH RIGOROUS TEACHING AND EVALUATION MODEL I ATTENDED THERE WOMEN ARE WEBINAR IN THIS TALK ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AND THERE ARE EIGHT 7 TO 8 SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT ARE PILOTING THIS IN BOSTON AND THAT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL SUBSTITUTE FOR THE CAS EXAMS INCLUDES A LOT OF HANDS ON LEARNING.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I SAID MY NEXT UP WE HAVE JOHN BLANK ON OKAY I TALK FASTER PROBABLY BE BETTER IN THAT I DON'T KNOW GOD.  POLICY DIRECTOR WITH PROGRESSIVE MASSACHUSETTS MANY OF YOU KNOW ME FROM MANY DIFFERENT HATS THAT WERE IN THE POLITICAL SPACE INCLUDING AS KIND AS KIND OF A SECRETARY WITH THE WARD FOUR DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE SOUTH END AND THE MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIKE THE PEOPLE WHO WENT BEFORE I PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH EXPERIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM CAN SPEAK OUT MUCH BETTER THAN I CAN. BUT I WANTED TO SHARE A FEW THINGS IN OUR COMMITTEE AS I NOTED MY INVOLVEMENT THE WARD FOUR DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE EDUCATION FIELD AND THAT INSPIRED US LAST YEAR TO ACTUALLY BRING TOGETHER A FEW OF THEM FOR A PANEL SINCE WE HAD SOMEBODY WHO TEACHES IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE HAVE AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, WE HAVE A PROFESSOR OF SOCIAL WORK, A PARENT WHO'S ACTIVE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCACY AS WELL AS A FORMER UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT AND FORMER MEMBER OF THE BOSTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND THE STATE KIND OF D.C. BOARD MARGARET MCKENNA WHOM MANY OF YOU KNOW. AND IN THAT DISCUSSION WHERE A HIGH STAKES STANDARDIZED TESTING WAS JUST ONE OF THE TOPICS WE WANTED TO CONSIDER,  WE NOTICED HOW THAT REALLY DID TAKE UP A LOT OF THE TIME THERE AS PEOPLE SPOKE ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES WHERE THEY READ STUDENTS WHO COME OVER FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY AND HAVE TO TAKE THAT AND CAST IMMEDIATE IN A LANGUAGE THAT THEY DON'T THAT THEY DON'T SPEAK AND WHAT THAT DOES FOR THE REST OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL TIME CARE ABOUT STUDENTS WHO DON'T TEST WELL BUT ARE SUCCESSFUL AT EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO IN THE REST OF THEIR LIVES BEYOND WHAT THAT TEST MIGHT HAVE MIGHT HAVE SAID AS WELL AS THE WAY IN WHICH THE CLASS IS SIMPLY NOT DESIGNED FOR THAT CONSTANT KIND OF EVALUATION AND GROWTH THAT WE WANT STUDENTS TO EXPERIENCE IN SCHOOL SINCE THE TEACHERS DON'T EVEN GET THE SCORES BACK UNTIL THE FOLLOWING YEAR. IT'S NOT HELPING THEM IN THE IT'S NOT HELPING THEM IN THE CLASSROOM. IT'S NOT HELPING THEM ADJUST THEIR TEACHING TO HELP STUDENTS LEARN AND ADJUST THEIR LIVES AS KIND OF AT THE DATA POINT WITH ONE WITH FAR TOO HIGH OF STAKES ATTACHED TO IT. AND THAT INSPIRED US TO DO ANOTHER EVENT WHERE WE IN FACT TOOK THE CAST OURSELF NOT THE FULL TEST. WE'RE GOING TO DO IT THAT LONG AND SHOUT OUT TO COUNCILOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON WHO JOINED US AS WE GOT TO EXPERIENCE OURSELVES AFTER DISCUSSING WHAT PEOPLE WANT OUT OF EDUCATION AND WHAT THINGS WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO LEAVE WITH . I REALIZE AS A FORMER AS A ONCE MATHLETE BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL MY MEMORY OF TRIGONOMETRY WAS NOT AS GOOD AS I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BUT HAD A REAL DISCUSSION OF WHAT DO WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO LEAVE HIGH SCHOOL WITH? WHAT ARE THEIR SKILLS THAT MAKE PEOPLE WELL-ROUNDED ADULTS GOOD IN A FUTURE CAREER AS ENGAGED CITIZENS? AND TO WHAT EXTENT THAT THE MATH IS MEASURING THAT WHICH THE ANSWER OF COURSE IS IS NO AS PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE. IT IS NOT DESPITE THE COMPREHENSIVE IN THE NAME IT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE TOTALITY OF WHAT WE WANT STUDENTS TO LEAVE HIGH SCHOOL WITH AND DOES NOT WORK AS THAT KIND OF HIGH STAKES MEASURE FOR OUR STUDENTS EXPERIENCE. I COULD GO ON FOR A WHILE BUT ONE FINAL TWO QUICK FINAL POINTS I WANTED TO KNOW IS HOW IN THE YEARS THAT WE'VE HAD THIS AS THE GRADUATION REQUIREMENT IT HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESS ABOUT CLOSING EDUCATIONAL GAPS IN STATE.  UNSURPRISINGLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE HANDFUL OF STATES THAT STILL HAVE STANDARDIZED TESTING BASED GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS THEIR SCRAMBLED ACROSS STATE RANKINGS. SOME LIKE MASSACHUSETTS RANK HIGHLY.  SAME FOR NEW JERSEY. SOME LIKE LOUISIANA ARE BOTTOM OF THE PACK BECAUSE UNSURPRISINGLY THOUGH THE CORRELATIONS THAT YOU SEE BETWEEN STATES AND EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE ARE ALL INCOME BASED STATES WITH HIGH INCOME WITH HIGH MEDIAN INCOMES TEST WHILE STATES WITH LOW MEDIAN INCOMES TEST CORRELATE. AND WHAT THAT SPEAKS TO AT THE END OF THE DAY IS THAT THE BEST WAY TO ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT HAS A QUALITY EDUCATION IS TO ENSURE HIGH FUNDING HIGH FUNDING ESPECIALLY FOR STUDENTS WITH HIGHER NEEDS. AND SO I WOULD JUST URGE THAT KIND OF CONTINUED WORK OF MAKING SURE THAT VP'S HAS THE FULL FUNDING THAT IT NEEDS SO THAT EVERY STUDENT CAN GET HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION.  AND THEN THAT THAT IS THAT NOT ONE SPECIFIC HIGH STAKES TEST IS THE WAY THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT.  BUT I CAN KNOWING THAT I'LL TALK FOREVER I'LL SEE IT TIME TO OTHERS AND THANK YOU ALL FOR HOLDING THIS AND FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU, JOHN.  APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY. NEXT UP WE HAVE PATRICK YOUNG. YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES.  HELLO.  MY NAME IS PATRICK YOUNG AND MY RELATIONSHIP TO THIS QUESTION IS VERY DIRECT BOTH AS AN EDUCATOR AND AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL AND ALSO A PARENT TO A DAUGHTER CURRENTLY IN THE 10TH GRADE WHO IS DEALING WITH CASS AS A STUDENT WITH LEARNING DISABILITY IN EACH OF THESE ROLES. I'VE HAD A CLOSE VIEW OF THE FAILURE AND THE DAMAGE OF THE TEST BOUND MODEL OF ASSESSMENT AND TEACHING THAT CASS HAS MANDATED.  MY DAUGHTER IS ON AN IEP AND HAS ACCOMMODATION BUT SHE STRUGGLES IN PARTICULAR WITH FOCUS AND ANXIETY IN TESTING SITUATIONS BECAUSE SHE IS AT RISK OF NOT BEING ABLE TO PASS THE TEST REQUIREMENTS. SHE IS BASICALLY BEING REQUIRED BY HER SCHOOL TO DO ADDITIONAL PREPARATION INCLUDING TAKING A SECOND MATH CLASS THIS YEAR. SO THE SOLUTION TO HER HAVING DIFFICULTY PERFORMING ON TESTS HAS BEEN TO INCREASE HER AMOUNT OF TESTING AND WITH IT THE STRUGGLE DISENGAGEMENT AND DEFEATED NESS THAT HAS TURNED HER OFF FROM HER SCHOOLING.  I'VE SEEN SOME SEEN AND HEARD SIMILAR THINGS FROM THE COLLEGE STUDENTS I TEACH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL WHERE I'VE BEEN A HISTORY PROFESSOR FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS. STUDENTS ARRIVE ON CAMPUS TODAY WITH EVER WIDENING GAPS AND PREPARATION AND ACHIEVEMENT THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT MARCUS AND NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND WERE SUPPOSED TO ACCOMPLISH. THEY ALSO SINCE THE PANDEMIC TENDED TO HAVE INCREASED NEED FOR SUPPORT AND ACCOMMODATION AND HARBOR LEGITIMATE CONCERNS ABOUT THE PURPOSE AND VALUE OF THEIR EDUCATION WHAT THEY NEED FROM US AS TEACHERS AT ALL LEVELS IS FLEXIBILITY AT ACTIVITY AND INDIVIDUALIZATION AND MORE OF AN EFFORT TO REACH THEM WHERE THEY ARE AT. THIS IS ALL IN THE TEACHERS CRAFT.  IT'S WHAT WE DO. SO I DO END BY CIRCLING BACK TO SOMETHING THAT COUNCILOR HERE SAID AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE HEARING WHICH IS THAT WE NEED TO INVEST MORE TRUST IN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AND TO DO ALL WE CAN TO FOSTER THEIR RELATIONSHIP.  REAL LEARNING IS ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS. IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN RELATIONSHIP. THE OUTDATED ANXIOUS REGIME OF IMPERSONAL TESTING AND ADMINISTRATION GETS IN THE WAY OF THAT AND I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT ITS REFORM. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. PATRICK MIXED UP.  WE HAVE TO LAKEY ALSO WE HAVE 2 MINUTES.  HELLO EVERYONE. GOOD AFTERNOON. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.  MY NAME IS ZULEIKA SOTO AND I AM A BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARENT.  I'M GOING TO READ MY TESTIMONY BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU ALL THAT IF YOU ARE HAVING A SECOND HEARING ON THIS AND HEARING FROM THE OTHER SIDE, I INVITE YOU TO HAVE IT AT 6 P.M. OR A TIME WHERE STUDENTS CAN ACTUALLY COME AND TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AS WELL AS EDUCATORS AND PARENTS THAT MIGHT BE AT WORK AT THE TIME.  SO I'M HERE TODAY TO STRONGLY URGE YOU TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENT BY VOTING YES ON TWO WHICH WOULD ELIMINATE THE HOLOCAUST AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT SOMEONE WHO WENT AS SOMEONE WHO WENT THROUGH THE SYSTEM.  I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE HARM CAUSED BY IMPASSE WHEN IT BECAME A REQUIREMENT FOR GRADUATION IN 2003. I GRADUATED IN 2005. MANY OF MY PEERS RIGHT AND CAPABLE STUDENTS WERE UNABLE TO PASS. THEY WERE FORCED TO DROP OUT AND PURSUE GEDS NOT BECAUSE THEY LACKED INTELLIGENCE OR SKILLS BUT BECAUSE A SINGLE TEST FAILED TO CAPTURE THEIR TRUE ABILITIES. THESE STUDENTS, LIKE MANY TODAY REPEAT ALLIES BY A SYSTEM THAT PRIORITIZES TEST PERFORMANCE OVER REAL POTENTIAL.  RESEARCH SHOWS THAT STANDARDIZED TESTS LIKE THAT DO NOT EFFECTIVELY MEASURE A STUDENT'S FUTURE SUCCESS. THE NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY CENTER HAS FOUND THAT TEST SCORES ARE MORE CLOSELY TIED TO A STUDENT'S SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUND THAN THEIR KNOWLEDGE OR READINESS FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM WEALTHIER BACKGROUNDS WITH ACCESS TO RESOURCES LIKE TUTORING AND TEST PREP TEND TO PERFORM BETTER WHILE STUDENTS FROM UNDESERVED COMMUNITIES ARE LEFT BEHIND. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR, MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.  MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION DATA SHOWS THAT BLACK, LATINO AND MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER PASS RATES COMPARED TO THEIR WHITE PEERS.  TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THE MATH IS ONLY ADMINISTERED IN ENGLISH WHICH UNFAIRLY DISADVANTAGES STUDENTS STILL LEARNING THE LANGUAGE.  THESE STUDENTS MAY FULLY UNDERSTAND THE MATERIAL IF THEY WERE TAUGHT IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE BUT ARE PENALIZED BY THE TEST LANGUAGE BARRIER.  MOREOVER, STUDENTS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TAKE THE TEST AT ALL. THESE STUDENTS OFTEN HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY RESOURCES AND INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUAL ALLIES.  THE PENSION AND THEIR DIPLOMAS ARE NOT CONTINGENT ON A STANDARDIZED TEST.  THIS RAISES CRITICAL QUESTIONS OF FAIRNESS. WHY ARE PUBLIC STUDENTS SUBJECTED TO HIGH STAKES TESTING WHILE PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE NOT? IF THE TEST IS NOT NECESSARY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR READINESS FOR GRADUATION. WHY SHOULD IT BE REQUIRED FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT DISPROPORTIONATELY HARMS THOSE FROM MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES?  IN ADDITION, THE MATH TAKES ON AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME THAT COULD OTHERWISE BE SPENT ON ACTUAL LEARNING. STANDARDIZED TESTING HAS LONG BEEN USED AS A BARRIER FOR MARGINALIZED GROUPS AND THE TEST CONTINUES THIS LEGACY BY LIMITING ACCESS TO DIPLOMAS FOR STUDENTS WHO COULD OTHERWISE EXCEL. OTHER STATES HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO ADOPT IN MORE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE WAYS OF ASSESSING STUDENT READINESS SUCH AS PORTFOLIOS AND PERFORMANCE BASED EVALUATIONS THAT BETTER REFLECT THE STUDENT'S FULL ABILITIES. FOR ALL THESE REASONS, I STRONGLY URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND VOTE YES ON QUESTION TWO TO ELIMINATE THE ABACUS AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT.  DOING SO WILL ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED WITHOUT BEING UNFAIRLY BURDENED BY A SINGLE TEST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU'LL BE TAKING NOTE OF YOUR OF YOUR COMMENT AND IF WE DO HOST SOMETHING ELSE WE'LL LOOK INTO THOSE EVENT TIMES TO ACCOMMODATE EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS FAMILIES REALLY APPRECIATE IT. NEXT UP WE HAVE JUSTIN BROWN GOT 2 MINUTES.  GREETINGS, CHAIR SANTANA VICE CHAIRMAN HERE AND MEMBERS OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS JUSTIN BROWN AND I'M HERE AS BOTH A BOSTON RESIDENT AND A LONG TIME PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATOR TO URGE THE COUNCIL TO ENDORSE A YES VOTE FOR BALLOT QUESTION TWO SPONSORED BY COUNCILORS FERNANDEZ ANDERSON AND MEJIA. I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE BROOKLYN EDUCATORS UNION AND I'M A 25 YEAR RESIDENT OF BRIGHTON BRIGHTON. SO GREETINGS TO COUNCILOR BREADON.  THERE ARE THREE POINTS I WANT TO MAKE ABOUT WHY A YES ON TWO IS IMPORTANT. TWO OF WHAT YOU'VE HEARD BEFORE BUT ARE ALWAYS WORTH REPEATING AND ONE THAT IS MY OWN PERSONAL REASON FOR MY COMMITMENT TO SEEING THIS BALLOT QUESTIONS SUCCESS. FIRST THIS IS WHAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS WANT AS THE PRESIDENT OF A LARGE UNION AND AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE MTA. I'VE HEARD FROM EDUCATORS FROM ALL OVER THE 10TH GRADE MY GRADUATION REQUIREMENT IS NOT GOOD FOR STUDENTS AND NOT GOOD FOR EDUCATORS. THIS IS WHAT BOSTON EDUCATORS WANT.  YOU HEARD FROM BTU PRESIDENT ERIC BERG. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK HARD TO ENSURE THE DEVELOPMENT, GROWTH AND SUCCESS OF THEIR STUDENTS AND THEIR VOICES DESERVE TO BE FRONT AND CENTER IN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS. YES, UNTU IS WILDLY POPULAR AMONGST EDUCATORS. THE SECOND REASON IS ABOUT THE EFFECTS THE TESTING REQUIREMENT HAS ON BOSTON STUDENTS AND THERE ARE REALLY TWO PARTS TO THIS. FIRST IS THAT THE REQUIREMENT HAS A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON CERTAIN GROUPS OF STUDENTS. STUDENTS FROM LOW INCOME BACKGROUNDS STUDENTS FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS NOT THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE AND STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES WHICH IS WHY SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND OTHERS WITH BACKGROUNDS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION ARE ALSO WILDLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THESE ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR. RELATEDLY, THE SECOND PART OF THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN STUDENTS FAIL TO PASS THE TEST THE FIRST TIME. THEY OF COURSE HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE IT BUT VALUABLE CLASS TIME AND THEREFORE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY NEEDS ARE GREATLY REDUCED AND DIMINISHED AS THEY ARE FORCED INTO TEST TAKING REMEDIATION NOT THE KIND OF EDUCATION ANY STUDENT SHOULD BE GETTING. THE LAST REASON IS FROM MY EXPERIENCE AS A VETERAN ELEMENTARY EDUCATOR UNTIL LAST YEAR I TAUGHT THE FOURTH GRADE WHICH IS THE SECOND YEAR THAT STUDENTS TAKE THE CLASS AND ALREADY YOU CAN SEE THE TOLL THAT THE TEST TAKES ON THESE YOUNG STUDENTS. THEY'RE STRESSED. THEY'RE ANGRY, THEY'RE BORED AND OF COURSE THEY'RE ASKING WHY WHY DO WE TAKE THIS? WHY ARE WE SPENDING SO MUCH TIME TESTING? WHY AREN'T WE WORKING ON OUR PROJECTS? AND IN ALL 18 OF MY YEARS I NEVER HAD A GOOD ANSWER FOR THEM AND FELT AN EXTERNAL WEDGE DRIVEN BETWEEN MYSELF AND MY STUDENTS.  BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IS AT THE CORE OF QUALITY EDUCATION AND IS SOMETHING THAT ALL EDUCATORS SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME CREATING. IT'S A RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST THAT CREATES THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO TAKE RISKS AND ALLOWS US TO HOLD THEM TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS.  NOT ONLY DOES THE CLASS IN GENERAL ROB US OF TIME AND RESOURCES MUCH BETTER SPENT ON OTHER EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES.  IT ROBS US OF RELATIONSHIPS A CORNERSTONE OF A THRIVING CLASSROOM.  THE ADDED STRESS OF A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT COMPOUNDS IT ALL.  MORE LOST TIME, MORE LOST RESOURCES AND MORE LOST RELATIONSHIPS. SO AS A RESIDENT I WANT A PIECE THAT IS COMMITTED TO HOLDING STUDENTS TO HIGH STANDARDS AND PROVIDING THEM WITH THE RICHEST POSSIBLE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.  A YES ON TWO IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN THAT DIRECTION AND I URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE YES FOR AN ENDORSEMENT. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, JUSTIN. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.  NEXT UP WE HAVE RUBY ROSE. WE HAVE 2 MINUTES. DO YOU. MY NAME IS RUBY REYES AND I'M THE OUTGOING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BOSTON EDUCATION JUSTICE ALLIANCE AND A DORCHESTER RESIDENT. THE BOSTON EDUCATION JUSTICE ALLIANCE SUPPORTS THE BALLOT QUESTION TO TO REMOVE THE IMPASSE AS A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENT.  THE CAST IS NOT A TRUE EVALUATOR OF STUDENTS LEARNING OR MORE IMPORTANTLY PROGRESS AND LEARNING. I'M CAST ALSO DOES NOT FOSTER INNOVATIVE TEACHING OR LEARNING. IT CREATES A SYSTEM IN WHICH STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT HOW TO TAKE THE TEST SPECIFICALLY.  NOT TEST TAKING BUT THE MCAS SPECIFICALLY RATHER THAN DEVELOPING CRITICAL THINKING OR MORE IMPORTANTLY FOSTERING A LOVE OF LEARNING.  TO SAY THAT TEST SERVES TO EVALUATE LEARNING IS COMPLETELY INACCURATE.  THE MASSACHUSETTS CONSORTIUM FOR INNOVATIVE EDUCATION ASSESSMENT, OF WHICH THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS A MEMBER OF , HAS FOR MANY YEARS PROVIDED RESOURCES AND ALTERNATIVES TO THE MCAS THAT SUPPORT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SYSTEMS THAT ARE MORE HOLISTIC AND ACCURATE OF A STUDENT'S LEARNING AND PROGRESS. COUNSELORS DURKIN AND WEBER ASKED ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC QUESTION. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT THEIR WEBSITE WHICH IS MCI DAWG. AGAIN, THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS BEEN A MEMBER FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND THE IMPACT HURTS STUDENTS WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE. IT DOES NOT LAY OUT OR GUARANTEE THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES NEEDED FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING ACADEMICALLY . NOR DOES IT EVALUATE HOW STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING CAN USE THIS AS A TOOL TO SUPPORT THEM.  BASIA SUPPORTS ONE OF OUR PIECES OF LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY HAS BEEN AROUND PUSHING FOR A FULL TIME READING SPECIALIST IN EACH SCHOOL THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS. WE HOPE THAT AS YOU ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF HIGH STATE TESTING YOU ARE ALSO SUPPORTING THE RESOURCES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED TO STUDENTS IN SCHOOL SO THAT THEY CAN DO WELL ACADEMICALLY IN THIS BUDGET SEASON. SO WITH THAT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE BOSTON EDUCATION JUSTICE ALLIANCE SUPPORTS THE BALLOT.  WE ARE YES ON TWO AND WE HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, RUBY. APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY.  THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC TESTIMONY FOR THE MOMENT.  SO WE WILL NOT GO BACK TO OUR SECOND ROUND OF QUESTIONS STARTING WITH OUR LEAD SPONSORS AND THEN I WAS AFTER THEY GO AND PUT YOUR HAND UP AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS. WE'LL GET YOU IN THERE SO WE CAN SUPPORT AND AS ANDERSON PUT IT.  THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TESTIMONIES. WE HEARD SOME REALLY STRONG POSITIONS HERE AND I'M GLAD THAT WE HAD WE WERE ABLE TO CLARIFY AT LEAST THE PUBLIC TESTIMONIES WERE ABLE TO CLARIFY SOME OF THE CONCERNS AT PLEASE FOR MYSELF.  I THINK THAT MOST OF THE REST OF MY QUESTIONS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN ANSWERED SO I WILL RESERVE MY TIME AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE REMAINING QUESTIONS AND HOPEFULLY END WITH A CLOSING STATEMENT. THANK YOU.  A COUNSELOR FERNANDEZ ANDERSON AND COUNSELOR MARIA. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, COUNSELORS SANTANA AND THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE TESTIFIED. I THINK THIS IS WHAT I ALWAYS THINK DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE. EVERYONE HAS AN INFORMED POSITION AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS AND I THINK THAT THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO MORE OF HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO REALLY TO THANK ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE TESTIFIED. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE SPONSOR FOR ADDING ME TO THIS HEARING ORDER AND THANK THOSE WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE PANEL DISCUSSION. THANK YOU.  AND THEN YOUR COUNCILWOMAN HERE. COUNCILOR FLYNN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.  AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, MIKE, I HAVE QUESTIONS BUT THEY'RE MORE GEARED TOWARDS BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO WRITE THOSE UP AND PROVIDE THEM TO YOU. MR CHAIR, ARE WE HAVING A SECOND? WE HAVE ANOTHER FOLLOW UP MEETING HEARING ON THIS SO WE'RE ABLE TO HEAR BOTH SIDES OF THE OF THE DEBATE THAT COUNCILOR I'M AS CHAIR I'M DEFINITELY OPEN TO THAT. I WILL COORDINATE WITH THE LEAD SPONSORS AND SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO DO. BUT I AS CHAIR OF I'M STARTING OPENING TONIGHT ALL RIGHT. BECAUSE I JUST FEEL WE THE ONE SIDE WE DID HAVE WAS WAS WAS HELPFUL I JUST WOULD WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE THE OTHER SIDE AS WELL JUST SO I'M INFORMED FULLY . I TOOK NOTE OF THAT AND OTHER CONCERNS ALSO EXPRESSED AND I DEFINITELY AGREE SO HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE SPONSORS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AND MR CHAIR, ARE WE ABLE TO INCLUDE ARE WE ABLE TO INVITE THE DPS SENIOR LEADERSHIP AS WELL?  YEAH, WE INVITED THEM TO THIS HEARING COUNSELOR. AS I MENTIONED THEY REJECTED TO PARTICIPATE DUE TO THE CONVERSATIONS OF OF A BALLOT MEASURE BEING SPOKEN ABOUT SO WE'RE HAPPY TO OF HAVING TO SEND AN INVITATION AGAIN WHAT WOULD WHAT WOULD THE.  I'M TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT WHAT WOULD THE REASON BE THAT THEY REJECTED THE INVITATION BECAUSE OF THE BALLOT QUESTION THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS OBVIOUSLY IS THE BALLOT QUESTION BUT WHY WHY WOULD THAT BE A REASON TO NOT COMMENT? YEAH, I WOULD HAVE TO ASK THEM SPECIFICALLY. I THINK MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT THEY DID NOT WANT TO WEIGH IN ON A CURRENT BALLOT QUESTION THAT'S IN CURRENT PROCESS RIGHT NOW THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE VOTING ON SO I THINK HISTORICALLY MAYBE THEY THINK THEY HAVEN'T TAKEN POSITIONS IN THIS OFFICE BUT HAPPY TO ASK THAT QUESTION.  I'M ON YOUR BEHALF COUNCILOR DO WE FROM THE PANEL DO WE KNOW IF THE IF OTHER SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS ARE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE WEIGHED IN ON THIS ISSUE? I WOULD BE CURIOUS WHAT CAMBRIDGE DID OR SOMERVILLE OR QUINCY OR ANY OTHER SCHOOLS. DO WE KNOW IF OTHER SCHOOLS HAVE WEIGHED IN ON THE CASE? I KNOW THAT SCHOOL COMMITTEES HAVE WEIGHED IN ON IT. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT INDIVIDUAL SUPERINTENDENTS OR SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE BUT I DON'T KNOW DEFINITELY SCHOOL COMMITTEES HAVE. BUT AS TO WHETHER A LIKE A SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS OR AN INDIVIDUAL SUPERINTENDENT , I DON'T KNOW THAT THE MASTER ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS DID BUT THAT'S THAT'S A SEPARATE ORGANIZATION. WHAT DID THE BOSTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE VOTE ON THIS?  THEY DID THEY DID NOT TALK ABOUT IT. WHEN WHEN WILL THEY VOTE ON THIS? I DO NOT KNOW THAT THEY WILL BUT I I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE IT ON THE DOCKET.  ALL RIGHT. I'M JUST TRYING TO I'M JUST TRYING TO GET MORE INFORMATION FROM THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT ON THIS AND WE HAD A BIT CONVERSATION LAST WEEK WITH THE WITH THE POST OFFICE FAILING TO ATTEND OUR MEETING AND AND HERE WE ARE A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER IN THE BOSTON SCHOOL DEPARTMENT IS NOT HERE TESTIFYING PROVIDING SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT WE COULD WE CAN LEARN FROM.  I DON'T KNOW. I'M JUST I'M JUST KIND OF SURPRISED THAT MY COLLEAGUES DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S A THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE. BUT OKAY, I HAVE NO FURTHER I HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS. MR CHAIR, BACK IN PORTLAND AND PLEASE TELL ME THAT THOSE QUESTIONS OVER AND I I'LL SUBMIT IT TO THE COMMITTEE.  COUNCILOR BREADON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU.  I THINK MY UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE WAS THAT THEY THEY DECLINED TO TAKE A POSITION ON THIS ON AT THE LAST MEETING BUT TWO PARENT AND A COUNCILOR FLYNN'S QUESTION YOU MENTIONED THAT STAGNANT PROGRESS ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS SINCE AND HAS WAS INTRODUCED IN YOUR OPINION LIKE AS NCAA'S MOVE TO DIAL IN AT ALL IN TERMS OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT?  AH I THINK IT'S USEFUL AS A TOOL TO ASSESS PROGRESS OR GROWTH PERHAPS BUT ARE THERE ANY YOU KNOW JUST YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT IN TERMS YEAH WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT IT AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT IN THIS CONTEXT BUT DOES IT HAVE MERIT AS A TOOL TO BE USED IN SCHOOLS GENERALLY? RIGHT. I MEAN I THINK IT'S REALLY HARD TO TEASE OUT BECAUSE MY TEST CAME IN WITH THE REFORM ACT OF 1993 WHICH AT THE SAME TIME ADDED SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS. SO I DO THINK IT'S HARD TO TEASE OUT YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT? I THINK AS GRANT SAID, THERE CERTAINLY CAN BE SOME APPROPRIATE USES OF EVENT LOOK AND ANY TEST ANY ACTUALLY I SHOULD SAY ANY ASSESSMENT BECAUSE MCI YEAH THAT THAT A FEW OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS MENTIONED IS ANOTHER WAY OF ASSESSING STUDENT LEARNING AND THERE'S CERTAINLY PLENTY OF OTHER WAYS ASSESSMENTS HAVE VALUE INCLUDING STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENTS IN SOME WAY SHAPES AND FORMS BUT I THINK THAT THE HIGH STAKES DECISIONS THAT ARE ATTACHED TO MCAT SCORES IN MASSACHUSETTS INCLUDING THE GRADUATION REQUIREMENT BUT YOU KNOW WHICH IS I UNDERSTAND THE SUBJECT OF THIS HEARING BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO TRUE FOR PLACING SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS IN RECEIVERSHIP AND SO FORTH THAT THOSE ARE REALLY IMPROPER BASED ON A SINGLE MEASURE. SO I THINK TO THE EXTENT YOU CAN GET THE RESULTS IN A TIMELY WAY WHICH DOESN'T USUALLY HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, IT CAN HAVE SOME USEFUL DATA REGARDING INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS AND MAYBE HIGH LEVEL COMPARISONS BUT WE'RE ALREADY GIVING THE NAPE AND BOSTON IS ONE OF THE CITIES IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS CHOSEN TO DESEGREGATE THE NAPE DATA BY DISTRICT AND WE THINK THAT THAT'S PROBABLY IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT A PICTURE OF LEARNING ACROSS THE DISTRICT THAT'S MAYBE A BETTER MEASURE. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY. YEAH, IN TERMS OF THE LAG TIME LIKE YOU SAY YOU DO THE KIDS DO THE TEST AND AND IF IT'S GOING TO BE USED AS A AS A MEASURE OF GROWTH AND AND TO IDENTIFY GAPS IN THEIR LEARNING LIKE WHAT'S THE DELAY BETWEEN DOING THE TEST AND GETTING THE RESULTS. WELL I'LL DEFER TO BRANDON NEXT IT SOUNDS LIKE HIS DAUGHTER JUST GOT HER RESULTS LAST WEEK FROM TAKING THE TEST LAST SPRING AND THAT IS PRETTY TYPICAL. YOU GET THE RESULTS IN THE EARLY FALL FROM THE PREVIOUS SPRING'S ADMINISTRATION SOMETIMES SCHOOLS GET LIKE A A SUMMARY I THINK IN MAYBE MID-JUNE OF AND DISTRICTS GET A SUMMARY OF WHERE THEY ARE BUT IT'S NOT DOWN TO THE INDIVIDUAL STUDENT I BELIEVE IT ALSO DEPENDS I THINK ON THE GRADE LEVEL BECAUSE SOME OF THEM ARE ADMINISTERED IN MARCH AND SOME AS LATE AS MAY. SO YEAH BUT IT'S DEFINITELY SEVERAL MONTHS AT MINIMUM. OKAY GOOD.  AND REMIND ME WHEN WAS THE BALLOT MEASURE THAT REMOVED BILINGUAL EDUCATION IN MASSACHUSETTS?  LIKE I KNOW WE'RE SORT OF GETTING BACK TO MORE SO THAT WAS I WAS A BILINGUAL TEACHER FROM 19 THREE TO 90 TO 2001 AND I THINK THAT WAS THE UNDER INITIATIVE I THINK IT WAS QUESTION NINE AT THE TIME. I THINK IT WAS IN AROUND 2001 OR 2002 BECAUSE I BELIEVE I LEFT BECAME A GENERAL EDUCATION TEACHER IN 2001 AND I THINK IT WAS THAT FOLLOWING YEAR. YEAH, IT ALWAYS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHY WE STRUGGLED SO MUCH OF IT BILINGUAL OVER THERE. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH YEAH AND I MEAN AS YOU KNOW I MEAN THE LOOK ACT NOW ALLOWS DISTRICTS ONCE AGAIN TO TO CAPITALIZE ON THE ASSET THAT OUR MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS BRING TO OUR SCHOOLS AND WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT BPC WILL CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE THAT RECOGNIZE THAT AND HAVE MORE DUAL LANGUAGE AND BILINGUAL PROGRAMS THAT THAT REALLY SEE THAT AS AN ASSET VERY GOOD I'M SURE I'M OVER TIME. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TESTIMONY IN THIS SORT OF REALLY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION WE'VE HAD THIS MORNING. SO THANK YOU ALL AND THANK YOU MR CHAIR. I HAVE TO I HAVE TO JUMP OFF FOR ANOTHER WEEK AT A DISADVANTAGE. SO THANK YOU ALSO IF IT'S EARLY THIS.  THANK YOU CHAIR APPRECIATE IT. AND AGAIN THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE I GUESS IN ANY SITUATION REALLY RIGHT. I KIND OF GO TO THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND AS OUR TEACHERS HERE ARE TEACHING THESE KIDS AND A LOT OF THEM THAT I TALKED TO I HAVEN'T MET ONE YET THAT IS SAYING THAT THE MATH SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT.  BUT THAT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW, I DO APPRECIATE A SHOUT OUT TO WILL AUSTIN AS WELL FOR GIVING IT VERY DESCRIPTIVE ARGUMENT AS TO WHY IT SHOULD BE NO ONE TO AND OUGHT TO THINK OVER SOME OF HIS STATEMENTS AND THAT'S IT AS WELL. I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS WHICH I THINK IT CHAIR THANK THE PANEL.  APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR COUNCILOR . FITZGERALD COUNCILOR MURPHY THANK YOU.  I'M A FEW THINGS. FIRST I NOTICED THAT MANY OF THE PANELISTS HAVE THE YES ON TWO BACKGROUND. SO HOW MUCH HAS THAT CAMPAIGN RAISED TO SPEND SO FAR? IS IT CLOSE TO 7 MILLION?  SO THAT WAS REPORTED RECENTLY I BELIEVE COUNCILOR IN THE BOSTON GLOBE. SO A HEFTY MASSACHUSETTS IS A PART OF THAT. BUT I THINK YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT IN SOME OF THE INITIAL OFFERS IT CAN'T BE TOO POLITICAL BUT IT'S REPORTS ABOUT 7 MILLION AND DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THE OTHER SIDE IS SPENDING?  I DON'T.  AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP,  COUNCILOR FLYNN WAS ASKING ABOUT THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE STAND. I KNOW THAT GERRY ROBINSON REFUSED TO TAKE A STAND IN BRANDON CADET HERNANDEZ STRONGLY SUPPORTED KEEPING THE MARCUS SO SO FAR ONLY TWO OF OUR SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE COME OUT HOPEFULLY AT THE NEXT SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING WILL HAVE AN ANSWER FROM ALL OF THEM AND I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO HEAR FROM ALL OF OUR SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS LIKE US. WE HAVE TO DO HARD THINGS AND MAKE HARD DECISIONS AND DO OUR HOMEWORK SO I DO KNOW THAT THE ONE PERSON WHO HAS COME OUT WITH ANY POSITION AT ALL IS IN SUPPORT OF KEEPING IT AND I'M HEARING A LOT ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS.  I'M AN EDUCATOR, MY MOM EDUCATOR, MY DAUGHTER EDUCATOR AND I DON'T REALLY APPROVE MADE I GUESS MAYBE NOT THE RIGHT WORD BUT THIS NARRATIVE THAT WE'RE NOT SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS WHEN LESS THAN 1% WHEN ONLY EIGHT CHILDREN IN DPS AREN'T PASSING OUT THAT'S .00017 7%. THAT MEANS OUR TEACHER IS ARE DOING WHAT THEY ALWAYS DO AND THIS THIS ONE TEST THEY'RE BEING TESTED A LOT IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT SUBJECTS ARE GETTING TESTED IN GEOMETRY AND MATH AND WRITING ESSAYS AND SCIENCE AND ALL OF THE OTHER ASSESSMENTS. BUT 99.9998% OF OUR STUDENTS IN DPS ARE PASSING GAPS SO WE DO NOT HAVE THIS LARGE GROUP OF CHILDREN WHO WE'RE FAILING. I MEAN WE'RE WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB BUT THAT'S A DIFFERENT HEARING TO TALK ABOUT MAKING SURE WE'RE SUPPORTING OUR ESL STUDENTS, THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE OUR SPECIAL ED SERVICES ARE BEING DELIVERED, MAKING SURE THAT THE TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR ANY STUDENT AND ON AND ON AND IEP OR WITH THE FINAL FOUR HAVE AND ARE GETTING THE ACCOMMODATIONS THEY NEED. SO I DO JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE NOT LETTING ANYONE DOWN RIGHT THERE. THEY'RE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND ACROSS ACROSS THE CITY BUT ACROSS THE STATE TOO. SO BUT I DO WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THESE WITH THIS KIND OF ONE SIDED PANELIST I DO FEEL LIKE IT'S MORE OF KIND OF A A PUSH FOR THE CAMPAIGN. RIGHT. THAT THEY'VE HAD ALL THAT YOU KNOW, A COUPLE HOURS HERE AND SAY WHAT THEY SAID AND I DO APPRECIATE IT. I HAVE BEEN LISTENING AND READING UP ON THEIR STAND BUT I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION TO HEAR FROM THOSE LIKE WILL AUSTIN BUT OTHERS TO HAVE A SAY IN HOW THEY FEEL THIS WILL HELP BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING WITH THE SKILLS AND IF WE'RE NOT GIVING THEM WHAT THEY NEED THEN WE FAILED THEM AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE KIDS WHO PASS MCAS WHO WE ALREADY NEED TO GIVE MORE SUPPORTS AND CATS IS NOT THE END ALL BE ALL YOU KNOW MARK OF WHETHER OR NOT THESE OUR KIDS ARE GRADUATING WITH THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED SO LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS CONVERSATION AND HOPING THAT THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS COULD BE PART OF THAT ALSO. CHAIR SANTANA SO THANK YOU.  THANK YOU COUNSELOR MIGHT BE APPRECIATE YOUR REMARKS.  NEXT UP WHATSOEVER DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?  OH YES. I'M SORRY I JUST WANT ONE LAST QUESTION BECAUSE HOW DOES THE PANEL RESPOND TO THE ARGUMENT THAT THE REASON WHY WE HAVE SUCH HIGH ACHIEVING STUDENTS IN MASSACHUSETTS IS BECAUSE OF THE MASK REQUIREMENT? YEAH, I MEAN I THINK I WOULD TAKE US BACK TO PRE 1993 PREMIUM CAPS WHERE WHEN MASSACHUSETTS WAS IN THE IN AGAIN AS MEASURED BY NAPE IN AT MOST GRADES IN MOST GRADES ACTUALLY WAS THE HIGHEST ACHIEVING STATE IN THE NATION AT THAT TIME AND IN ALL I BELIEVE IN THE TOP TEN SO THERE'S A NARRATIVE THAT WE WENT FROM SORT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK TO THE TOP AFTER MASS IS I THINK NOT QUITE ACCURATE.  AND THEN THE SECOND THING I WOULD ADD IS IS THE SAME THING I SAID IN RESPONSE TO COUNCILOR BRADY'S QUESTION AROUND AND THAT IS THAT IT'S VERY HARD TO SORT OF FIGURE OUT WHAT BECAUSE A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENED IN 1993 THE ADVENT OF OF STANDARDS, THE MASS AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND MORE EQUITABLE ACROSS SCHOOLS. SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS PROBABLY PLAYED A ROLE INTO IT AND I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK THAT THE MASS WAS THE THE MAJOR ONE AT THAT TIME AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE TIMES SINCE THE MASS BECAME A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT WE HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH OF AN UPTICK REALLY ANY UPTICK IN L.A. IN TERMS OF OF SCORES AND IN MATH. THERE WAS ONE IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER THE ADVENT OF BEEN CAST AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT AND THEN IT LEVELED OFF AND OF COURSE AS WE ALL KNOW DROPPED IN THE YEARS SINCE THE PANDEMIC.  OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY AND THANK YOU, CHAIR, FOR RUNNING A GREAT HEARING EXCEPT YOU'RE ON MUTE. I SPOKE TOO SOON. CHAIR CENTER THAT YOU DID. THANK EVERYONE AND THANK YOU COUNCILOR WHOEVER YOU WANT. MAKE SURE I HAVE EVERYONE HERE THAT CONCLUDES OUR PORTION WITH QUESTIONS AM GOING TO PASS OVER BACK TO THE LEAD SPONSORS FOR CLOSING REMARKS. I'M ONLY GONNA ALLOW AT LEAST ONCE WHEN THE LINES ARE FOR CLOSING REMARKS AND THEN WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING. SO WITH THAT COUNSELOR ENERSON YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.  THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIR SANTANA FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND EXECUTING THIS HEARING. I AGREE WITH YOUR COUNCILOR WHETHER GREAT HEARING GREAT CONVERSATIONS ARE AMAZING FEEDBACK.  I JUST WANTED TO RESPOND TO A COMMENT THAT WAS MADE.  WE DID ADVERTISE FROM OUR OFFICE AND I THINK OBVIOUSLY IT'S ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE UPCOMING HEARINGS BUT AND I THINK THE I KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AS WELL DID A LOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.  WE AS WELL EITHER EMAILED POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA OUR DISTRICT APP AS WELL AS WEBSITE FOR UPCOMING HEARINGS AND EVENTS. SO DID A LOT OF MARKETING TO BE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE HERE AND EVERYONE OF COURSE IS WELCOME. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I STATED THAT FOR THE RECORD THAT WE MADE SURE THAT WE DID A LOT OF WORK TO GET PEOPLE TO COME IN TODAY AND TESTIFY AND NOT NOT ACTUALLY ASKING FOR SPECIFIC POSITIONS ON WHO OR CHERRY PICKING WHO WOULD TESTIFY TODAY. IN CLOSING I WILL EXPRESS HERE THAT TODAY'S HEARING ON STANDARDIZED TESTING AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT HAS HIGHLIGHTED FOR ME THE COMPLEXITIES AND CHALLENGES FACED BY OUR STUDENTS, OUR TEACHERS, OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.  WE'VE HEARD COMPELLING TESTIMONIES FROM EDUCATORS LIKE ERIC BERG AND MAX PAGE AND MCCARTHY OR AND OR AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND TEACHERS LIKE JONATHAN COHN, SULEIKA AND MANY OTHERS WHO UNDERSCORE HOW AMBITIOUS GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS DETRACTS FROM BOTH EQUITABLE LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION THEY LOST A VALUABLE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME PARTICULARLY FOR STUDENTS REQUIRING SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT HOW EFFECTIVELY CLASS MEASURES THE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS IN THE MODERN WORKPLACE AND HIGHER EDUCATION. SO AS WE APPROACH NOVEMBER 5TH BALLOT I URGE ALL OF US TO CONSIDER THE TESTIMONY AND DATA SHARED TODAY PARTICULARLY THE FACT THAT IN A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE NOT YET MET STATE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS DUE TO THEIR IMPACT SCORES DESPITE THEIR READINESS IN OTHER AREAS.  AS WE HEARD HERE TODAY FROM OUR TESTIMONIES AND PRESENTATIONS,  THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RETHINK WHETHER STANDARDIZED TESTING IN ITS CURRENT FORM TRULY INCITES AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION WITH COMMUNITY AS WE SEEK A FAIR, HOLISTIC AND INCLUSIVE SOLUTION . AND SO AS A CHAIR TO MY COLLEAGUES I THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING AND FOR HOSTING US TODAY IN THIS HEARING AND I THANK ALL THE ADVOCATES AND THE PANELISTS FOR YOUR TESTIMONIES AND PRESENTATIONS. I URGE THE PUBLIC AND MY CONSTITUENT TO CONTACT OUR OFFICE WITH ANY INQUIRIES IN TO THIS HEARING TODAY WE ARE HAPPY TO AGAIN SUMMON ANY INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR YOU TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ON NOVEMBER 5TH. THANK YOU SO MUCH AS A CHAIR AND COUNCILOR FOR THAT AS ANDERSEN COUNCILOR OVER HERE FOR A THANK YOU COUNSELOR SANTANA AND I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE WHO TESTIFIED. I THINK HAVING WORKED IN THE EDUCATION SPACE DURING A VERY HEATED DEBATE BETWEEN TWO VERY DIFFERENT OPPOSING VIEWS IN REGARDS TO EDUCATION, ONE THING THAT I HAVE LEARNED IS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO CLOSE THE EDUCATION AND ACHIEVEMENT GAP FOR OUR STUDENTS WITHIN THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND BEYOND. AND I THINK THAT THIS CONVERSATION GIVES US A JUST A LITTLE GLIMPSE AT SOME OF THE INEQUITIES THAT THAT WE SEE. IT'S NOT THE FULL PICTURE IN TERMS OF THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO HELP IMPROVE OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY DOES NOT DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE CAPABLE TO ACHIEVE AND TO MOVE ON SO.  I THINK THAT THE CONVERSATION MERITS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO NOT JUST HEAR WHAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING ON BOTH SIDES, IF YOU WILL, BUT REALLY FOR US TO REALLY START THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN BOTH A HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP AND PROVIDING YOUNG PEOPLE AND EDUCATORS WITH THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED SO OUR STUDENTS CAN BE SET UP FOR SUCCESS? THAT SHOULD BE THE QUESTION THAT'S ON THE BALLOT DO WE HAVE THE RESOURCES AND TOOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL SCHOOLS ARE PREPARED TO HELP SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS ACHIEVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS? THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT I STILL THINK I'M WALKING OUT OF HERE WITH AND I THINK THAT THAT IS WHERE I'D LOVE FOR THE EDUCATION DEBATE TO EVOLVE TOO BECAUSE THIS ONE OR THE OTHER IS JUST DEFINITELY NOT GETTING US TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU AS THE CHAIR OF EDUCATION HERE IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN PARTICULAR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO HOLD BOTH THE DISTRICT AND OUR SCHOOLS ACCOUNTABLE TO A QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND I THINK ONE STUDENT WHO IS UNABLE TO PASS AND MOVE ON IS TOO MUCH AND WHILE I DO APPRECIATE THE NUMBER OF LIKE IT'S ONLY TEN STUDENTS THAT'S TEN STUDENTS WHO ARE UNABLE MOVE ON AND SO I THINK THAT ONE IS ENOUGH AND IT'S WORTH THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR . MY I WILL AND I JUST REALLY WANTED TO THANK OUR PANELISTS,  MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND OTHER ATTENDEES AND MY COLLEAGUES SUCH AS THE LEAD SPONSORS FOR INTRODUCING THIS AND IT WAS JUST A GREAT CONVERSATION. I LEARNED A LOT. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS CONVERSATION. SO WITH THAT THIS HEARING ON DOCKET NUMBER 1444 IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU EVERYONE