Good evening everyone. Welcome to our regular school committee meeting of Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 at the Bridgewater Rainham Regional High School Lecture Hall. This meeting was rescheduled originally from Wednesday, February 25th, 2026 due to the snowstorm last week. We are returning from
executive session at 7:00 p.m. Please note, we are live streaming on our YouTube channel and the recording will be available will be available on the YouTube channel after. Please rise and join us to the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. I would like to introduce our school committee members and admin in attendance this evening for our regular
school committee meeting. On my left I have Mr. Fitzgiven, Mr. Gupo, Miss Hoy Thomas, Superintendent Powers. On my right, Miss Tan Cay, Mr. Selenus, Mr. Mrs. Conrad Lamarto, and Vice Chair Loach. And I am Rachel King, the school
committee chair. We also have in attendance, assistant superintendent Barry, Mrs. McDougall, our reporting secretary, and other members of the admin team in attendance. As stated, we just returned from executive session and we have one item to report out on regarding the
superintendent contract. I will now turn the floor over to Mrs. Conrad Lamberto, the negotiation subcommittee chair. Thank you. Um I'm here to present the contract um as negotiated with the superintendent. Um those negotiations have been taking place over the last few
months um with this negotiation subcommittee and superintendent powers. Um the I'll just give some of the highlights of the employment contract. Um the terms of the contract are from July 1st, 2026 through
June of 2029. So it would be a threeyear contract with the option to extend for two additional years. Um the committee would uh need to decide before December 31st of 2028 whether we did not want to
extend the contract not extend that we decided that um the salary Mr. salary for the first year um would be two 215,000 in the second year 1% and
the third year a half% um so over the course of three years it is a 7 and 12% um increase there was an increase in expenses for cars um for other expense
that was only a $600 increase on a basis and some of the other changes in contract around sick time. Um, it allows Mr. Power, he earns up to
um it allows Mr. Powers um to if he does not use all his vacation to um cash out, if you will, one week of vacation and then over an additional week of vacation next year. I say that uh super powers
and the committee negotiate both in good faith um and Mr. Powers and others will say I think there was not say there was winners or losers I think we both walked away with wins and both walked away with um losses or not what we expected to um
but the other thing I'll just say is on the salary that I did want to highlight is um the questions around some of the increases is we did compare all the dark districts And of the 11 dark districts, um,
increasing this hourly to $215,000 put puts us below the average. The average of all the dark districts is 219,000. And many of the dark districts um that have newer contracts actually are starting at quite a bit higher, probably
around 245 250. Um, in addition um we are aware that the Bridgewater New Town salary started around 231 I think um and we are aware just
recently that the Rand police um chief was given a first year salary increase of 10%. So we think um given the kind of breadth and depth of the superintendent's job and the amount of employees in the district and the number
of staff we think this as and students we think this is a very fair contract. So at this point I will motion conversation. I will um make a motion to authorize the chair to entertain into employment contract with Ryan Powers on behalf of school committee for the
position of superintendent schools for a period of three years effective July 1st 2026 to June 3029 as negotiated by the negotiation. >> So move >> motion has been made by Mrs. Conrad Larento and a second by Mr. Lo. Do we
have discussion and or questions on this? Mr. Fitskins. >> Yes. Um, Miss Conrad Alberto, thank you for that summary. Would it be fair to say that were we to go out
and search for a new superintendent, it would be slightly more cost than the cost we're incurring this coming year with the contract we've had? I think it would be significantly more cost of what
we're seeing superintendent around the state and particular in the southeast or the southeast salaries are starting um again at 240 250 um and some of those with very I mean for instance way just hired a new superintendent um with zero
experience at 22500. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else have questions or comments? Um, I just want to say, um, I'm also in favor of this. I was not on negotiations for this one. Um, I had negotiated with
Mr. Power, so I appreciate, um, them negotiating with him. I'm sure he came in very well prepared on comparisons, etc. And I believe this is an extremely fair contract for the stability and the continuity he brings the district as well as the size budget that he runs on
with eight schools and over 5,000 students and how many employees? Four 600 employees. Um so I do believe this is a fair contract for the next three years with the option to consider if we want to continue that after. Um do we
have any other questions or comments? Um seeing All those in favor. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you, Mrs. Conra Lberto and the negotiation subcommittee. And thank you, Mr. Powers, for that. We look forward to working with you.
>> If I may, Madam Chair, I just want to again thank the committee uh the negotiating committee and the full committee for your support, not just on this action, but for the last four years. It's been an honor, a privilege to serve the Bridgewater Regional School District, and I look forward to continuing to do that. Still a lot of
work to do. I think we've had a successful run uh but certainly never satisfied. I've always been told complacency will get you nowhere and that's something that I've always embraced and tried to work harder each day to get better each day and you have my commitment that I will continue to do
that and I look forward to continuing to work with you and the community and my staff as well. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Um, next we have community email correspondence and recognition. Um, regarding community emails, we did have emails from parents within the district
regarding questions and concerns on the fiscal 27 budget and high school accreditation which were responded to by myself and or Mr. Powers. Um, we did have several emails from parents also regarding special education concerns. again responded to by Mr. Powers and or
myself um Dr. D'Angelo and I know Mr. Lo responded to some as well. Um so um please email us if you have questions and concerns. I know budget and special education is a big thing. Um please continue to bring things to our
attention so we can respond to them directly to the person that should respond to that. Um we need to know not from our perspective all the time but from community members as well. So please do continue to do that and advocate. Um that's important.
>> Um we do have um if you want to have recognition. >> Absolutely. Thank you madam chair. I did want to just take this opportunity to recognize our director of facility Mr. Mark Chaka and the entire facilities department. Obviously last week's storm was unprecedented dropped approximately
3 ft of snow. We were definitely both communities in the jackpot area. Um you know Mr. Chaka led those efforts to get our schools reopened and cleaned up along with his team. Uh they worked long days uh into the nights. Uh I know they worked even through last weekend to make
sure our schools were ready for this past Monday. Thankfully, the weather cooperated. We had a little melting uh but that still certainly didn't make up for uh the efforts and the work that they had to put in. And we actually uh we actually had uh some of our custodial staff actually have to spend the night.
um they weren't able to get home themselves because their communities and their homes were not um you know clear yet. And so it it just speaks to the dedication of the team. Um everyone showed up that was supposed to be here. Anyone that Mr. Chaka called in um I also want to thanks you know our partners in DPW
uh and with uh GBM and Sons as well. They lended a hand in in the cleanup. But really uh I want to thank Mark and his and his team. I appreciate his efforts and his leadership. constant communication uh all throughout the day. Um and unfortunately, you know, had to continue to relay some news that we
weren't ready ready to open. Um you know, we ought to uh be open much sooner and our schools would have been ready, but just the road conditions in the towns didn't allow that, but it wasn't for lack of effort on anyone's part. So, thank you. >> Thank you very much to Mr. Shaka and the
department. Um that was an unprecedented storm that we haven't seen in a long time. So, thank you for everything you did and to the towns and any buses like Monday seemed to go off very smoothly. So, thank you for that as well. Um, next
we have um public comment. Um, the school committee welcomes information, concerns, and opinions from those attending the meeting. In order to give those wishing an opportunity to speak, ensure compliance with open meeting law and other legal obligations, and avoid disruption of the meeting. The committee
will not engage with the speaker or one another in deliberation on comments as they are presented during comment periods. At its discretion, the committee may schedule issues raised by a speaker for deliberation at a future meeting. To reiterate, this is the time for members of the public to voice comments and concerns regarding agenda
items and the committee is not able to respond at that time. If you would like a personal response, please email the committee or superintendent powers directly following the meeting. The chair will now open up public comment for a period of 12 minutes per polic. DH and would ask anyone who wishes to
speak to please approach the podium provide your name and address and please limit your comments to three minutes. If you do have anything written out if you would like to um you could also give it to Mrs. McDougall the recording secretary following when you speak. Um we did have two people sign up first so
I will call them up if they're here. Um we had one with the last name of Thomas um for the email if that person is here. Um and then with an email and no name. So, if you have signed up, you could come at this time.
Okay, seeing none. Um, if any member of the public that is here would like to come to the podium, please state your name and address. >> Madam Chairman, very short 45 minute speech. >> Going to time your three minutes, Mr. D. For the record, James 2.118 Elm Street
East Rainham. I've given a copy of my comments to the secretary contact information for the record. Good evening, madam chairman, members of the BR school committee. I come with a message of grave and immediate importance to the students of BR, the members of the BR school committee and
the administration and staff of the BR system. The issue is twofold. First, it concerns the decadesl long underfunding by the Massachusetts state legislature of the several categories of local aid, including chapter 70, which as all of you know is one of the biggest factors
in setting the local property tax rate and hence how much member towns were asked to pay to offer highquality educational opportunities. SER after Prop 2 and a half, the cities and towns were limited in how much they could raise prior years living. Consequently, many local services, including prek to
12 education, were annually reduced due to insufficient legislative appropriations in aid education. The other categories of local aid. This brings me to the second point. Where does so-called state revenue come from? Fact that indeed it comes from every
resident in every business in every city and town including Rain Hem and Bridgewire. Which in turn leads me to ask, why isn't that money being appropriated and returned to you as dictated by the general laws of the Commonwealth in order to reduce how much the member towns of the BR regional
school district are being asked and putting forward to the residents and businesses to pay. It's been my experience that our state legislators have never made full funding of aid to education or local aid a priority. And I've been checking since 1973 every
year. Members of the majority party bemoan how tough things are this year on Beacon Hill, while the minority party members shrug their shoulders and say there isn't much I can do about it. Last year, Rain's budget process resulted in a failure to pay its requested share of
the BR regional assessment after failed Prop 2 and a half override. A large layoff of BR employees then followed. A resident I discussed this with said, "Sounds like bad management." I responded, "It wasn't bad men, but rather a shortfall caused by our state
legislators not fully funding local aid in chapter 70." His response, "It sounds like our local officials, mismanage their relationships with our state legislators." Madam Chair, the time has come for all local officials, including the members
of the BR school committee, to demand that our state legislators change the way they vote on local aid and aid to education from the current. Here's what's left to me. Change that to here's what you're entitled to under chapter 7. As long as
our state reps and state senators can get loaded for getting half a logo, then the local residents and businesses will be told to make up the difference. And you, this school committee, every one of you individually will bear the brunt of the public sire declining educational
opportunity at rising tests. I'll just close by saying as guardians of our students constitutionally mandated right to an education, it's time that you each demand that the legislators who represent Bridgewater and Rainey vote to fully fund Chapter 70 so that the member towns can pay their assessments without
asking global taxpayers to make up for another shortfall in state funding by raising taxes or an override of Prop 2 and a half. The state has a shortfall, let them raise taxes and mass. Thank you for their time. Did we have someone else?
>> Hi, my name is I live at 85 in Massachusetts. I have given my Um, good evening everyone. Um, I'm a junior at VR and I want to start off by saying thank you to all VR staff and students for pushing through this year. This year has been challenging and
overwhelming for most of us all and I'm very grateful for all of us by getting through this year so far. I'm here to talk about the failed override that has affected us as a school and community not in theory but as students who are experiencing it daily. Let's start with the classes. When there are no desks and
absolutes to leave no belongings on the ground, the room might seem big, but with an average of 35 students in a classroom, it is pretty small. Desks are pushed together and it makes movement harder. Focus as well becomes harder, too. Many of our teachers teach four or more periods a day with an average of 35
students per class. That's about 140 students per teacher. With that many students, teachers simply don't have the time to give individual support through thoroughly review our work or cover every in depth. Sometimes lessons are rushed or even cut not because teachers
don't care but because they physically cannot do it all. Subjects have been cut out and it affects us as a whole to teachers and students to those teachers who are passionate about those subjects and to those students who take them to get ahead and observe their career. It affects us as a whole and those classics
affects us students who are passionate about what we want to do. Not only cutting those classes but also the effect it has on teachers. It leads them subjects that we have never they have never taught before. Walking past classes, you're seeing empty classrooms, lights off, and nobody teaching them.
And the classroom next door seeing a packed classroom and no space to walk. The teacher cuts are outrageous due and a student I hope said, "The majority of my classes are 30 plus students, one of which is close to 40. Having that many students in a small classroom makes
learning and focusing on the material being taught harder to understand and fully pay attention to." Another student said, "I feel that students are missing opportunities that will significantly benefit their futures due to the overall. Many students have had to quit sports that they have been participating in for a long time due to the expensive
fee. This has resulted in sports team significantly decreasing in size affected the experience of athletes. Additionally, many electives that would be helpful to those looking forward to majoring in healthcare sociology have been removed, resulting in students having to search for programs that will
grant them these opportunities elsewhere. As students, we should not be worrying about finding programs outside of school to make up for what we are losing here. We should not have to choose between our education and our financial situations. We should not feel invisible in decisions that directly
shape our futures. We are told that students are future are the future. But the future doesn't start later. It starts now. So when decisions are made and when votes are cast, I ask you to remember us. Listen to us. See us because the impact of the failed override isn't abstract. Is sitting in
these classrooms every single day. Thank you. >> You're exactly three minutes of awesome. >> Thank you. Do we have any other members of the public for public comment? Seeing none, I will close public comment
at 7:20. And we do have another um public comment period at the end of the meeting as well. Um next we have consent agenda. I will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented which includes minutes dated February 4th,
2026, personnel report, bridging live survey questions, Quarterly report and approval of payroll warrants dated February 5th, 2026 and February 19th, 2026. >> So move. >> Motion made by Mr. Fitzgiven. Do I have a second? Mr. Lo. All those in favor?
Any opposed? >> Motion passes. Um, next we have educational reports and the first one we have is the BR student advisory report. I do want to note before we call up Miss D. John Cay to the stand. Um Mr. Boy and I will be
attending the day on the hill at the state house which is put on by MASC in Boston on Monday, March 30th uh with the students, the five of them. The morning session will have guest speakers regarding legislative and budget updates followed by a lunchon at the state house
um provided by local culinary departments from Massachusetts vocational schools. We do then after lunch have a 1:00 appointment with Senator Bill Driscoll and 1:30 appointment with Senator Kelly Duner to discuss budget issues as well as anything else that the students would like to bring to their attention to
focus on Bridgewater and Ranham in our district. Um so we have those two appointments scheduled for that day. So hopefully that'll be a great resource for them to have time with the with the senators as well as um make those connections with them. Um and I would
like to call um to the stand. >> Good evening everyone. Tonight I'll be reporting on the high school's Valentine's Day Park initiative in the end of our winter faculty season. From January 30th to February 6th, all students at the Bridgewater Regional
High School had the opportunity to create and send Valentine's Day cards to both the Bridgewater and Rand Senior Centers. We made more than 1500 colorful, creative, and decorative Valentine's Day cards as a community service project. A big thank you to the students and assistant principal Miss
Beach for putting a smile on senior faces during the Valentine season. Also, the VR track and field team had a handful of athletes qualify for the division 2 indoor track and field championships on February 11th and meet champions on the 21st. They both held
the track. The track team is holding tonight to celebrate the hard workers of the season and recognize their achievements. Thank you for your time and welcome to Goodw My goodness. I'm so sorry. We recently
competed at an event called Week Zero in Nashville, New Hampshire. This was an insightful and fun time. We learned the things we need to fix and reconnected with friends from around New England at the same time. It was great practice for our two upcoming competitions. Um, I didn't include this in my report, but we
also started dance practice with the girls and the boys for Mr. VR, the competition that will be held on March 13th. I hope to see you all there. Tickets will be $10, I think. on Monday. If anyone wants tickets, you can email
me or my mother. Um, so it was been a great time actually. That's why I came in a little bit late. I was there before that, but thank you. And I now welcome Sydney Smith to the stand. students in the class
which automatically sends me asking as participation raises the most money $50 second place And third place
has been extremely successful and later this month at no cost to both the class will also be Thank you for your time. Good evening everybody. Tonight I'll be
reporting on the success of the VR math team this season and the students of the music department who were able to achieve their mission into prestigious festivals. The VR math team has had an incredible season so far where we've been undefeated at every meet. Our wins have allowed us to continue our streak as division five champions of the
southeastern Massachusetts and We are now competing playoffs as we am the top 10 scoring teams in the whole southeastern athlete not just we hosting playoffs right here at the yard tomorrow and our competing players
are ai berry cross and myself the music department was also able to have many talented musicians perform at the southeastern district's junior festivals the sons of junior the Tri County Coral Festival and the
All State Festival. Gabriel, Joseph ODM, Emma Prada, Genie, Matthew Vanwick, William Long and Vanessa all made the district festivals and Samantha Long, William, Echo Smith,
Matthew Benwick, Nicknik, and Emma made Smith, Neil Mo, and Harry Kan made coral festival and Joseph Od made the jazz ensemble for the Hall Festival. Congratulations again to these talented
musicians and Welcome Jackson. >> Good evening. I will be reporting on the Bringing Life mentorship presentations I attended on December 18th and January 5th along with the CA leadership forum in Washington DC that several students attended from February 2nd to 5th.
During the presentation on December 18th, we focused mainly on self-esteem. We explained what it is and ways in ways to maintain a positive self-esteem like using positive affirmations. On January 5th, we focused on mental health. We explained what mental health is and what
it means to have good mental health. We used examples of the differences between good mental health and bad mental health and gave ways to maintain good mental health. The goal of these presentations is to prevent substance use in our community, especially for children. Several life student leaders also
attended a anti-drug leadership forum in Washington DC. This forum included workshops and speakers that are made to help those attending create new strategies strategies and resources to push for positive change and reduce drug use. Thank you. This concludes the student advisory board.
>> Thank you to the students for your report um for this month. Um next we have the student 504 manual with Dr. Dangelo. >> Evening everyone. Um, part of our review this year, we had to update our manuals. Um, this is the first of our update.
This is the 504 process and procedural manual. Um, I assume you all had time to check it out if there's any questions about the document. I'm happy to answer those or any additions or corrections. Do we have any questions or comments? Um, were there any major changes or just
a an update? >> I do not see any questions or comments. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you for letting us know. >> Next, we have administrative and school committee reports with the report of the superintendent.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Good evening, members of the school committee, members of the public administration. I am here to provide you with monthly update. Obviously, as you know, we did have quite a few snow days last week. We are at six snow days total across the
district with uh a seventh day for Rainham Middle School. If you remember, we had a power outage at Rainham Middle School that has brought Rain Middle School to seven days. All other schools are at six. We are I say tentatively because obviously I I don't quite think we're out of the woods fully with
weather. Um but we are looking at Tuesday, June 23rd and for Rink Middle School, Wednesday, June 24th is our potential last days. But uh certainly uh towards the end of this month, the beginning of April, we will have a better sense of what we're going to
recommend to you for approval of the last day of school. Uh hopefully we don't have any more snow days. Mrs. Barry and I did attend a meeting with the commissioner today where they did talk about snow days. We were hopeful that we were going to get some relief. Unfortunately, u there were certain
criteria that we had to meet in order to qualify for that. And uh it really was go into that last week of June where we don't uh we are not eligible to apply for a waiver to wave any of the snow days. Um again some of the criteria were
that you had to have exhausted your five uh snow built-in snow days that we have to do every year for the calendar. Um we had to be going to at least Friday the 26th. We would have had to alter our calendar to make any of the early
release days full days. And uh we still had to meet the time on learning requirements. The commissioner has the ability to wave the number of days uh but not uh the number of hours and so if we were you know 179 hours 179 days we'd
still have to meet that a lot of time. I do believe we would have met all those other criteria that we had to but unfortunately because we were not scheduled for the 26 we did not then qualify for a waiver. Obviously if we had any additional snow days that
certainly change and we can then reenter that. But at this point, I was hopeful we would have some relief, but right now those are 10 last days of school. We we do have a few financial projects going on in the district in addition to
I'm sorry. Yes. >> Um just a question regarding that. Will that extend the senior's last day at all? >> Uh it will not. Uh so that was one thing that they uh did provide some guidance on is uh you know there is language around the number of days. We
can't schedule graduation 12 days or can't exceed 12 days before the regular scheduled last day of school and so we can stick with that. So graduation will not be impacted. >> Thank you so much. >> Of course. Um so as I started to mention
we have a couple financial projects going on in addition to uh the budget season but obviously they tie into those. Uh first is the uh UMass project out of the Collins Center. Uh as I've shared with you in the past, we contracted with them last spring to develop a uh to first review our
budgeting practices and then develop a transparent budget document for the community, make it very user friendly but comprehensive. Uh we actually received the final draft today. Uh so Miss Babalola and M Barry and I are going through that. Uh we'll provide any feedback, make any changes that need to
happen. But I'm hopeful that we'll have something by the end of the week if not beginning of next week and hopefully around you know we'll begin to have something for the public comment uh that we can also share. Uh in addition to that uh the towns did request uh that
financial review of the district in light of the field override. We did through the procurement process award that to Clifton Larson and Allen the towns had developed a scope of work and you know obviously we included that in our
request for proposals and so CLA did get back to us. Uh they were the awarded firm and They basically based on the scope of work created by the towns broke the project down into five phases. They have
completed four out of the five phases. We just waiting on the fifth report. Um and again we anticipate that to come in based on conversations any day now. Um and once that happens obviously we'll be sharing those with the community. We did reach out to them to start to look at
potential dates for a presentation not just the school committee but also the town council and the select board. So, uh, we're just waiting for confirmation from them. That will be trying to schedule that in between the public hearing and the final meeting in March, but we're still working on dates. As
soon as we have them, we'll we'll let the council know, the select board, and obviously the community invite them as well. Planning on just in conversation with CLA about an hour, a 20 to 30 minute presentation, and then, you know, 30 to 40 minute Q&A if you know there
are questions around that. So, looking forward to having that project complete as well. Certainly, we'll, you know, definitely update you as we go. I did want to just provide a quick update on the high school accreditation.
>> Yes, I'm sorry, Mr. Um, just make sure that both the town council and the select in this committee as well um get that report well ahead of whenever it's scheduled. So, that Everyone can come in
having read the report, understanding it with questions ready and not be reacting in the minute like this is the first time I'm hearing this or reading this. >> We want it to be I'm just speaking for myself now. >> I want it to be a productive meeting.
Yes. where people have digested what has been given to them already, thought about it and come with thoughtful questions and and and CLA. It would be even better if we got the questions to CLA ahead of time so they could work on
incorporating them into whatever presentation they great feedback. Thank you. >> I did want to provide a quick update on the high school accreditation. I know obviously we shared some information uh that we had received a you know letter of concern from BASP which is the uh New
England Association of Schools and Colleges uh essentially uh concerned with the current situation at the high school based on the staffing model based on the lack of electives and they were requesting additional information from Miss Watson. So we shared that with the
community and I know obviously rightfully so some parents middle school parents and high school parents were concerned about that. Uh so Miss Watson and I did meet with Mr. Fran Kennedy who's the associate director of NAS during beginning of February and had a very productive and informative he shed
a light shed light on a lot of our concerns. Uh essentially we have drafted a communication that will go out to the community the high school community the middle school community as well um at the end of this week uh providing some additional information. uh loss of
accreditation is is really a lengthy process. In order for a district to lose their accreditation, essentially they have to be conditions have to be so dire uh that we're essentially not offering an education anymore or we have our students in a dangerous situation in
terms of our physical plan. Um really what the first step would be is to place a school on warning and warning just signifies that you know again that the commission has some concerns. It would provide opportunities for the district uh to make any type of improvements or
changes to programming offerings. Uh but that would also be potentially a multi-year process. It's not as though that we would be you know at risk from going to warnings then to probation. Uh you know overnight it could be several years before that happens if conditions
were not to improve. Probation would be next and then obviously loss of accreditation would be last. He said it would you know be near impossible uh for us, not that it's not possible, but near impossible for us to lose our accreditation uh anytime soon. Uh
obviously, there is the risk of being placed on warning or probation if conditions continue to uh decline at the high school in terms of staffing and offerings. Uh so we're hopeful that that does not happen, but uh you know, we're also being realistic with our current
conditions and you know, the possibility exists that we may warning status if if conditions do not approve next year. However, uh what we have we definitely will share with parents that would not impact um you know college acceptance
colleges you know would not prohibit uh students from attending. They would not uh you know not accept them because the high school is not accredited. They wouldn't impact financial aid and we'll be sharing all this information out with
the community as well. So, I I felt as though at least we were able to have some information to put some parents, you know, their minds at ease. Uh although it's concerning, we never want to be in a you know, a warning or red flag status. Um at least it wouldn't
negatively impact students and their ability to apply uh be accepted, attend, receive financial aid, uh any type of higher institution. And obviously, we would have every opportunity to move out of any of those statuses. warning of
probation, you know, once we can demonstrate that we've made progress or we're making changes. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. I know a lot of the senior parents are worried about this and I know a lot of the eighth grade parents, they're getting acceptances to different high schools
right now and trying to make that choice as they navigate where they go for high school. So, I'm I'm glad that that info will be out there so they can make an informed decision. >> We'll get that out by the end of the week to our families. I did want to got a quick update because I know uh a
member of town council uh had come to the podium last month asking about grants. Uh the district does uh obviously receive grant funding um each year from the state and federal government. I did include those grants. I know I've shared those with you in the past. Uh obviously annually we receive
our two special education grants and then our four title grants. Those are the ones that we can you know typically rely on every year. Uh and then obviously the district applies for grants that become available uh whether it be literacy grants, social emotional learning grants, uh uh STEM grants.
Those are some of the grants that we've received over the past years. Uh what you have in your packet is uh historical representation of uh those major grants that we've received year over year and also some of the key functions of those grants. uh you know there's obviously a
lot of parameters set by the state and federal government around what those grants can and can't be used for. Uh so you know we can't necessarily take um you know our title one grant which is really to provide uh services to our students uh that
qualify whether it be numeracy or literacy services in those schools that are identified as title one schools. We couldn't take that that funding and turn around and you know Mr. Chaka he says I need a brand new you know pickup truck for the you know the plow I couldn't take that title
one funding and use that for that uh and then you know even uh I can't take that title one funding and use it for other than uh goods materials resources salaries to provide those specific uh instructional programming or uh
strategies to those students that qualify. uh it's not as though that I could go out to the high school and say to Miss Watson, I have this title one money, I'm going to hire five science teachers. Uh so there are a lot of parameters around what the those grants can be used for. But I obviously did
want to share that um you know we we do we we do receive grant funding every year. Uh typically uh the bulk of u the grant writing right now falls to Dr. D'Angelo for our special education grants and Miss Christine Richards our coordinator of teaching and learning. uh
she uh really does a lot of the work on writing our other brands and um you know Mrs. Barry and I uh certainly are responsible for some of the grants over the years. Mr. Joyce when she was with us and uh Miss Kendra Rose who was been very successful in securing some of our social emotional grants. So she's one of
our school psychologist. >> Mr. Fisk, do you have a question or a comment? >> Yeah, just a couple question comments to um to check with the superintendent on. Um, so
as far as brands go, much less than 10% of total budget would be even available in grants, right? Somewhere >> south of10 million. >> Yes. >> Um many of which are very um
specifically focused as you talked about title one. You've got to spend it on title one. You've got to do accounting. You've got to send it to the federal government. prove every dollar was spent in the appropriate manner, etc. Um,
and very few are just going to be like, "Oh, here's some money. Do what you want with it." Right? Okay. So, there's there's that one. Uh, some even are what I would call poison pill brands, if you will, which I remember when um,
President Clinton was president and he uh, he had a cops grant where I believe They funded about 75% of an officer's salary in the first year, 50% the second year, 25% in the third year, and then
the town owned the officer in the fourth year. Well, if you didn't have the money in the fourth year, then what good was it to have had the grant? You have to you you end up losing that resource. So it's it's it's a multi-year process on
some of those to understand can we fund this and that was why uh you know it in part I believe it was your decision around um using ESSER funds to pay very specific limited contract employees and
not hire additional employees because you knew they were going to run up that those funds were going to go away and it was no it made no sense to encourage are a long-term liability for a very short-term funding prospect. Correct. >> Correct. Yes, that is correct. And we were very upfront with the staff that we
did hire those grants that their position would eventually be eliminated and you know unless of course you know additional grant funding existed but they they were being specifically hired under this grant and when the grant funds ran out unfortunately. >> Thank you.
Also wanted to provide a quick update on dual enrollment. Again, Miss Watson and I spending a lot of time together lately in meetings. Uh we did meet with representatives from Massoy as well as Bristol Community College and we have to do some outreach to Bridgewwater State
although we've been meeting with them throughout the fall uh to look at ways to expand dual enrollment for our students. We have a number of our students uh not just this past fall when we partnered with Bridgewwater State, but in general that attend dual enrollment classes over at Massoy or at Bristol Community College, but really
what we're looking to do is uh create a partnership with those higher education institutions where um we would essentially have a dual enrollment program versus our students just taking a one-off course here or one-off course there. uh and we would either look at
being able to offer classes potentially here at the high school or providing opportunities for our students to either attend uh one of those higher education institutions or uh they would potentially be able to do those classes uh asynchronously much like our Bridgewater State students
are doing this year. Uh but it would definitely be a you know more of a partnership and being very coordinated uh versus like I said our students who kind of just now would have taken class here class there. But we do want to be able to expand that especially in light of losing the large number of electives
that we lost last year and if we're not able to bring those back. We certainly understand that students uh you know need to take classes uh you know certainly that they're interested in because they're tend to be more engaged or that you know better prepare them for college and career readiness. And if
this uh you know by expanding this that does that serves that purpose then then we obviously want to explore that. So, more to come on that um as we work through that. I I don't want to say one or the other. I think um we probably walked away from our conversation with Bristol Community College uh feeling as though that that may be a better
potential program for us. Uh not that Massa wasn't great, but it just, you know, kind of aligned a little bit more with what we were looking to be able to do. And like I said, we've already started our partnership with Bridgewater State this past fall, continuing this spring, but we obviously need to follow up with them about next year's
partnership. This is Conor. >> Um, Mr. Powers. I'm just wondering when you'll know like kids are starting to get classes in the next couple weeks. Like I think I can't remember exactly. Well, juniors and down just when like kids have an understanding of like
what's going to be available to them. >> I I I hope you know within the the month we we'd be able to have a better sense of of what we're going to be able to offer. Um, you know, the nice part about Bristol Community College, they didn't necessarily have a definitive timeline that we had to know by where Massoya more had a definitive cut off like you
need to let these go by this date. Bristol Community College was uh a little bit more flexible in terms of when they would enroll students. So, we will definitely uh you know continue to to meet and get more information. And then lastly, I just wanted to give a
brief update on uh the assistant superintendent search. Uh that position has been posted as I've shared with you. Uh that position will be open for uh next year. As of today, we have 29 uh applicants. The position closes on
Friday. Uh and we will begin scheduling interviews uh next week. Um, and we hope to, you know, be able to have somebody on board or, you know, finalist identified by April vacation. That is kind of, you know, mentally our our timeline. Uh,
but, you know, we certainly make some adjustments there as we go through the process. Um, obviously I, you know, be remiss if I didn't take this opportunity to publicly acknowledge Mrs. Barry, uh, for all of her efforts and supports over the last four years. Um, you know, I've
been fortunate enough to work alongside her now for quite some time. Uh, and uh, you know, it's been an honor and I consider myself lucky that she's willing to take this on and obviously it's not over. We will certainly see Mrs. Barry for the remainder of the spring and uh,
something tells me we'll be able to uh, you know, hold on to her for a little while, maybe doing some projects and um, you know, some work for the district. But I just wanted to publicly thank her and acknowledge her as well. And that happy questions. >> I just want to say, Miss Barry, thank
you. I know when you came on, you intended it just to be a transition year um and you're here multiple years later. So, thank you for being here. You've been part of the stability trying to um help make the district stable. We've
faced some really challen challenging things past couple of years. So, thank you for staying on this long. We really appreciate it. Thank you. Appreciate that. Thank you. >> And that is true, Mrs. King. I mean, when Mrs. Barry and I had that conversation, it said it could be a week, it could be a month, it turned
into a year. Now, it's been three more. So, four more all together. So, fortunate that she was uh been flexible and willing to to be here. >> Thank you. >> Next, we have budget subcommittee report. Um we've had two subcommittee meetings
uh since that time. Um on February 9th, 2026, the budget subcommittee met at 5:30 p.m. in the superintendent conference room. In attendance were Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Lo, Miss Hoy Thomas, Superintendent Powers, Assistant Superintendent Barry, Miss Babalola,
director of business services, Miss Robo, treasurer, Mrs. Healey, HR director, Mr. Casova Davis, the Bridgewater Town Manager, Mrs. McDougall, our recording secretary, and myself. Um, the first item that we did discuss um in our our main item that
night, um, Mr. Kasanova Davis attended our budgets of that meeting to provide a town of Bridgewater budget forecast. Um, they are at the beginning of their budget season. As we've said at several meetings, um, our budget seasons are not aligned. they're just beginning their season while we're in the midst almost
at the end of trying to approve a budget. Um so as he began his budget season um he attended our budget subcommittee to give a um budget forecast of the town of Bridgewater and what impact that budget forecast will have on the district. Um their forecast
included an increase to the school district and the amount of 2.584%. Um obviously much lower than the earlier presented budget by Mr. Um so this is something that budgets sub commmittee has been working with as to what we will bring forward and present
at the public hearing and um bring forward at the end of the month as a budget. Um he explained that the budget concerns are due to revenue issues um including especially their water infrastructure problem which they have been dealing with um which is in turn
slowing commercial growth and impacting their tax revenue. Um due to this they are already estimating a 1 million deficit and deciding how to close that gap. Um, Mr. Powers discussed potential outcomes if the towns could not support
our budget. Um, such as the potential of cutting middle school athletics, double sessions, combining of buildings, cutting high school athletics, or increasing fees further. Um, obviously none of which we would like to do. So, we're still in discussions as to how we
move forward currently. He was hopeful that we would also not fill a few open positions that are transition um that we may not need to fill such as do the two positions. I did not write that down. >> Sure. No, that that's fine. Uh obviously
looking at uh some of our uh potential retire uh retirements for next year. Uh if there's any of those positions that uh you know we may not fill. Uh in addition, we have some uh administration uh administrator positions open up as you know uh Miss Cara Joyce, our STEM
coordinator and uh Sarah Moore, our coordinator of family and student supports um started the year with us and then they moved uh on to more stable positions uh because obviously they were concerned about um you know the budgetary situations. uh we have obviously carried their you know
salaries for the year u and then obviously uh waiting to see how the budget would be. So there they were carried over into next year's budget rejection but obviously if we have to make uh you know cuts those would be positions because they're unfilled right now that we would you know look to
eliminate right away. >> Thank you. Um, also discussed was the health insurance rates which are estimating to hopefully come in lower than last year which I believe that was past week's meeting. You did discuss that right there. Do you want to
>> Yes, absolutely. Again, thank Miss Healey for her her efforts working with our financial insurance advisor um to really work on lowering those rates. As you know, as we've shared, we've gone out um to bid uh for insurance providers
for next year. I do think going through that process has potentially allowed us to really have some great options in front of us. We obviously were facing a 15% increase this this year. Uh that's what we had budgeted for for next year. Uh but we're looking at
potentially maybe even coming in at 10 10%, possibly even lower. Um, and again, I think because we've made the process a little bit more competitive uh for our current provider, uh, we're seeing better rates. Plus, we've we've had a lot of uh lower claims this year, uh,
which, you know, is great. Obviously means that our staff and their families are healthy because obviously that plays into it. And so I think that is also contributing to that, but we're we're hopeful that we'll see some relief there as well from what we've seen this past
year. >> Um, and then Mr. did get a brief update which he had indicated tonight regarding the CLA in the Collins reports. We approved minutes dated February 2nd, 2026. Um we due to the snow and February
break, we did not have two weeks of meetings. Um but we did have our another subcommittee meeting on March 2nd, 2026 at 5:30 in the superintendent conference room. In attendance were Mr. Fitzgibbiven, Mr. Lo, Miss Hoy Thomas, Superintendent Powers, Superintendent
Barry, Miss Babalola, director of business services, Miss Roou, district treasurer, Dr. Gangelo, the director of student services, Mrs. McDougall, our reporting secretary, and myself. Again, we continued our discussions regarding the fiscal year 2027 budget preparation.
Um, Mr. Powers gave an update on the status of the budget uh with a spreadsheet of potential funding percentages and its impact on the budget. Um, this was provided in your packet. Um, the scenarios are showing increases which the town of Bridgewater had requested due to revenue concerns.
We compared that impact to the budget presented by Superintendent Powers in January. Um, Superintendent Powers noted the health insurance as we just stated was expected to come in lower than expected. Um, and also again not filling that STEM coordinator and transportation
coordinator. Uh, we noted enrollment trends and projected class sizes for next year. Um, and Superintendent Powers has requested and present and answers um questions at the select board and town council meetings with Mr. Loa and myself
at their next upcoming meetings. Um hoping to get more discussion out into the community about the the status of the budget. Um as we know Mr. Powers presented actually it was February we were pushed out a little bit um the
preliminary budget which was like an 8% and 11% increase to the two towns. um trying to do an incremental increase of 10 positions that were absolutely critical at this time for K through eight and at the high school. Um Rainham
has not said anything that they are opposed to that increase. They I'm finding it reasonable. Um however, Bridgewwater at this time has stated due to their revenue concerns they may not be able to meet that. So, we've been
having discussions on where do we meet them in the middle, but still addressing our concerns, which are class size, class offerings, accreditation, um our staff working um twice as hard to try and get the curriculum and
instruction to our students. Um so, we're having another budget subcommittee meeting on Monday. I think Judy put that in the subcommittee um calendars to trying to figure out where do we come in then still being acknowledging what we're saying but also acknowledging that
we can't continue to make cuts. Um so we'll have more discussion on that Monday night. Um and then we have the public hearing next Wednesday. We will present that um budget that the subcommittee is presenting before the
end of the month um to get feedback from school committee, the community. Um that's a hearing. So the community is encouraged to attend, ask questions, um give comments and feedback for us to go back um and have more meetings before
the end of the month meeting. Um that is a hearing. It's not public comments. So we can answer questions. We want to hear feedback. Um so I'm trying to walk that line of we understand what the community said last year with the failed override,
but we're also hearing what happened this year like MCAT scores are down. Teachers have over 30 kids in a classroom. Um we're not giving the instruction and curriculum to the students that they need and that they
deserve. So more discussion on that, but that's where we are right now. Um I'm was hoping we'd be further along as to what we're going to present, but more discussion. Do I have questions and comments from the
committee on that before I go into other matters regarding budget. >> One question, Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> Uh when Mr. Kog visited with the uh budget subcommittee, did he give any indication to what >> they I guess it's a two-part question.
You know, number one, you know, certainly that's disappointing news to hear. um did you give any indication as to how they were looking at other town departments as well and and what cuts they might have to absorb considering that we've already eliminated 70 positions over the last two years. Uh and then my second question would be
because the towns have been very open about questioning our practices about asking us to ensure that we're aligned with best practices asking us for what are our plans for the future. Did he give any indication as to what conversations the towns have engaged in in terms of planning for the future?
because once again another year has gone by and not very much has changed uh in terms of of what's going on. There's very little talk of economic development. You know, we have town council members who are coming here suggesting that we look at additional
grants which as Mr. Skiven kind of covered it serves very niche purposes. you know, it it would be nice if if they would be able to come and maybe start to talk a little bit more proactively and I'm curious if they shared any proactive thoughts about what they're doing on the economic development side or future planning side. Um, for those that were
not able to attend that meeting, >> thank you, Mr. Heer. As and I do want to say that I am thankful that Mr. Kasanova Davis came to that meeting and he's being trying to work with us and be as transparent as possible. Um, so he did come in with his like very prepared
projection for us to review. Um he's at the beginning of his budget as you know as he did state. So he is in the process right now of meeting with all his departments and his words were he is trying to determine how best they can close that gap. So he's meeting with all
of his department heads. So where that ends up I'm not sure and I can't say. I would hope again that we don't fall on the burden of closing that gap as we have past several years and of all of the layoffs pretty much. Um,
but I'm not sure where they're going to head. As far as economic development, I don't know. He did not talk about that. I don't know if he's discussed that with you, Mr. Pers. I know you've met with him. Yes. More than that. >> Yeah, absolutely. Uh, happy to shed a little light on that. Um, to your first
question, Mr. Guffer, um, I I do think, you know, just speaking with Mr. Casanova Davis. Um I I don't get the sense from him. He's looking to balance the you know town budget on on the backs of of us and that you know he is really
looking at all town departments and prepared if necessary um you know to to make changes to their structures uh whether it be you know staffing whether it be operating hours. I think those are all things that are on the table. Again
as Mrs. King said where they end up I I can't say for sure but I I I know just in conversations with him he is exploring all options in terms of growth obviously they're they're really um trying to tackle their water
infrastructure right now they kind of put pause on new growth across the town because what they don't want is to invite um you know more residential more commercial properties that have to tie into water until they have that figured out. So, he he does realize it's a
somewhat of a double-edged sword. Uh, by hitting pause, they're delaying new growth, but also feels as though that, you know, would put it would tax the system even more. So, but I I I know there's been a couple larger projects talked about across the town. Um,
potentially another hotel, which obviously generates, you know, room tax and meal tax if there's restaurant in a restaurant there. uh in places very little burden on say the schools uh which which yes which is which is great.
Uh there were also there's and again I don't know if these projects will come to fruition or not. was also talked about um you know some type of rehabilitation facility um you know aligned with healthcare you know a medical rehab facility again not putting
a burden on on the schools uh which is which is great obviously I know it you know may tax some other services across the town so looking at bigger projects like that which which is great because we're hearing that those discussions are happening hopefully those are projects that or similar projects like that move
forward because I do think you know, they really do need to develop a long-term plan and he's aware of that and I I get that sense from him confident that he really is exploring that. >> Yeah. Don't and I don't expect you all to to articulate their plan and their strategy. I I was just curious if it was
a topic that came up and if it was a topic that was acknowledged, which it sounds like it was, which is which is positive and that's a step in the right direction with maybe some of the public conversations I've seen over the last year. >> And and I I do have to give him credit as well. I I mean, as much as he came in
to deliver what we would consider not great news, he was also one of the first ones to acknowledge like this is not okay. We're talking about kids. We're talking about education. Uh and as you know, the town leader, uh that doesn't sit well with him. Uh but, you know, at this point, he's really just saying this is what I am forecasting. This is what I
have available. Uh but knows that the schools need more. >> Mr. Fitzgiven. Yeah, I'd just like to echo that and um definitely say I think Mr. Castell Davis is doing an excellent job as the town
manager. He's coming in being very open and transparent about what he has in front of him and what you know he believes the town can afford. He's not trying to hoard money from us. He's not trying to hide money either at all. Um
the the real the real thing that's hurting in Bridgewater right now is um I mean you've got your 2 and a2% that you can grow the levy by by two and a half, right? But usually Bridgewater can add
somewhere between a point and a point and a half new growth every year. But that's been it's been cut off, no pun intended, on the water. Um but I guess I made one. Um so so that that
extra new growth that would come into the revenue for the year is not going to be available for at least the short term foreseeable future and that's really what's driving a lot of the town bridge waters issue from my perspective.
>> Yeah, I'm I'm certainly empathetic to uh you know I'm I'm somewhat empathetic to the situation there but my job here on this committee is to make sure that our school district does not end up in a crisis where to the level that the water crisis is today. So I just feel it's important to ask these questions. I
appreciate their partnership. He comes to many meetings. He is open. Uh it's certainly not a criticism of of him. Um very very appreciative of that partnership. But um just question that I felt the need to ask because that's some shocking numbers entering the public record that I know many members of the
public are probably hearing for the first time tonight. So you know that's all advocating for for this for this this school year. >> Thank you Mr. Do I have other Mrs. Conrad? Miss King, I will just say I um from reading through the notes subcommittee, I appreciate the budget
subcommittee's um kind of really advocating strongly for our kids and standing up for our kids and some of what is um being I want to say proposed or talked about on the more on the Bridgewater side from what I can see um you know are
are numbers that I don't think that many if not all of us would be able to vote for at this point. Um so I appreciate subcommittee um the budget subcommittee advocating for our kids standing up for again not that we want to pit
departments against departments but you know Mr. G said we coming from Mr. Mr. a crisis. I think we already are in a crisis and we cannot take anymore. We are bleeding out um and we cannot
take anymore. All right, more to come on that next week. Um we did approve minutes of February 9th, 2020. Mr. gave an overview which he gave tonight as well regarding grants.
Um, Mr. Paris did give an overview of school choice which I'm not really going to get into. I will get into later on the agenda. We are having a school choice hearing and vote this evening, but we did discuss it from a budgetary standpoint at that time. um what impact
having school choice has versus not having school choice and how much revenue or um comes in and goes out for those students. Um so we will discuss that when we get to the school choice hearing. Um the we do have two voting
items um tonight from budget sub from Monday evening. Um the capital was reviewed. I know we brought it to the last meeting for review and I stated I would like everyone to review it again and it would come back committee. Um, it was recommended to come back again to
this meeting um for further review. Um, so I'm going to put a motion on I will entertain a motion to put this on the floor and then have any other questions and discussion on before we vote. Um, as stated at the last meeting, this memorandum of understanding regarding
capital between the school committee and the towns of Graham and Bridgewwater is just to align um how we're going to be handling the voting and appropriation of capital to align it um how we're actually handling that um also with how
Desi is requiring us to do as this does not technically in line with our regional agreement how we were doing it previously. So this is a minimum of understanding. It does not change the regional agreement. Um it's just so we were all in alignment of how we're going
to move forward. So we're following the law. Um but we do need do after this budget season, reopen the regional um subcommittee and put that into the regional agreement because this does not um change anything to the regional
agreement. Um so for this evening, I will entertain a motion to authorize the superintendent to execute the capital memorandum of understanding with the town of Bridgewater and the town of Bringham. >> So moved. >> Motion made by Mr. Loach. Do I have a second? >> Second.
>> Second made by Mrs. Conrad Labto. Um do I have Other questions, comments regarding this? Okay, seeing none, all those in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion passes. So, Mrs. McDougall, um, I will sign this and Mrs.
McDougall will send this to the town manager. I'm sorry, Mr. Mr. Powers will sign this and send this to the Mr. K Davis and Mr. Barnes for execution. And as I stated, we will um open up the regional uh subcommittee to review that
as well. Um the second item regarding a vote is the BCBA staffing proposal. Um Dr. D'Angelo presented a proposal to create a job description for board certified behavior analysis BCBA position in the
district. As we know, any job description that we are creating needs to come to the school committee for approval. Um, we currently outsource these services to Horizon's Consulting Group and North River Collaborative. Bringing this position inhouse um would
be a cost avoidance measure. Um, going forward and it would allow for a staff member here five days per week rather than the four days per week that we currently have. because of the high population of high need students, we do have a need for that fifth day um for this staff member.
Um it would also allow more flexibility and oversight. Um once that staff member is trained and on board, it would be um a definite costsaving measure um to have those ABA tech positions also then come
in um off that contract into the district. That would be a much higher cost savings to us because I believe stated there's about 14 positions under that person. Um so that would be um a much higher cost saving as well if we had our own BCBA position within the
district. Um uh this would also be negotiated by Mr. Powers with the BA as to where that position would fall in the BA teachers union contract. Um if we have questions or comments on this I can
have Dr. Tangelo come up with that. M one question I have or just a comment um and I've just done a lot of work in this space on the job qualification. I would um recommend that the qualifications are changed that they're required to be
licensed. So Alava um so that we can seek Medicaid reimbursement. Um that is required that they be a licensed ADA by state by Medicaid to seek reimbursement. those medic dollars go directly back to us and we should be um grabbing all that
money we can. >> Do you want to speak to that Dr. >> Okay. >> Judy, do you think we need to amend this or is that >> I'm meeting
or do you want to amend it? Where do you want to? >> Yeah, I guess. Is there a motion? >> I did not put >> Well, are we are there other changes? >> Do we have other questions or amendments to this?
>> Yes. >> On the draft, it says it's going to be a contractual position versus in the union. So, do we know where that's falling? have discussions with them. >> Uh when we started discussions with them, uh they we didn't want to get too far if for some reason the position
wasn't going to be approved by student. Uh so we now need to once it is approved, you know, continue that process of >> and the motion does state pending su successful negotiations with the teachers union.
>> So I'll put a motion on the floor and you can amend it then. >> Sure. Um I Entertain a motion to create a board certified behavior analysis BCBA staffing position to provide special education services to the Bridgewater Regional School District for the proposed job description pending
successful negotiations with the BA teachers union. >> So >> motion made by Mr. Given, second by Mr. Do you want to make a motion to amend it? >> Yes. >> Um I would make a motion to amend the
job qualifications. for the BCBA position that under qualifications that one of the required um fields for qualifications be that the person is a licensed applied vehicle analyst. So Lava Laba in the state of
Massachusetts >> second. >> Um so Mrs. Conrad Larto has made a motion and a second by Mr. Fitz Given to amend the job description as stated. Um any discussion or comments on that motion to amend? All those in favor?
>> I. >> Any opposed? >> Um so I will entertain a motion then to create this board certified behavior analysis staffing position to provide special education services to the Bridgewater Rahham Regional School District for the proposed job
description as amended by Mrs. Comrainto just now. by motion pending successful negotiations with the teachers union. >> Do I call for a vote? >> Okay.
>> Thank you. >> Further discussion. >> Do I have any further discussion on that motion as amended? All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Thank you. >> Um external reviews. Mr. Powers provided his update already. And the last update
I have regarding budget is the town of Bridgewater budget capital planning. Subcommittee has invited Mr. Powers and I to their February 24th, 2026 um meeting. They did not um due to the storm and a lack of form, they did not meet. So that was rescheduled to
Thursday, March 12th, 2026 at 7 p.m. So we will be attending the capital planning subcommittee with chairperson So I will update on that after the next meeting. Um and that concludes my budget report. Um the next as I stated is the school
choice public hearing. Um under new business. Please be advised under school choice law general laws chapter 76 section 12b as amended in 1993 all school districts in Massachusetts are presumed to participate in and to admit non-resident students through school
choice each city town or regional school district shall enroll non-resident students at the school of such non-resident students choice provided however that such receiving district has seats available a receiving district can withdraw from school choice only if a school committ holds a public hearing on
this issue and then votes to withdraw from the school choice program prior to June 1st of that school year. The hearing and the school committee's vote can occur at the same meeting and may occur at a scheduled school committee meeting provided there is notice to the public which Mrs. McDougall did provide
notice that this item will be discussed and that members of the public are forwarded an opportunity to participate and make their positions known to the school committee prior to the vote. A separate meeting is not required for this purpose. A school committee that attempts to continue participating in school choice is not required to hold a
hearing or to vote because general laws chapter 76 section 12B contains a presumption that all school districts will participate in school choice. A timely decision and vote by a school committee to withdraw from school choice is effective only for the following school year. The resolution on which the
school committee votes to withdraw from school choice must contain the reasons for the withdrawal. While the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not review decisions to withdraw from school choice, the school committee must notify the department of its vote to withdraw and reasons therewith as
soon as possible after the vote. A school committee withdrawing from school choice must continue to serve all non-resident students previously admitted through school choice. We will now open the public hearing in accordance with the rules and the permission of the chair. All citizens shall speak to the full committee
through the chair, myself, and shall not individual members or administrators. Any committee member may direct questions to any speaker through the chair in order to clarify the comments of the speaker. All questions or comments must be related to school choice. Um, accordingly, I am opening
the school choice hearing on Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 at 8:19 p.m. For historical purposes, the Bridgewater Ranham School District has participated in school choice. However, in recent years, we have been limit we have limited grades. we have accepted
students to and as of last year we limited that school choice allocation to only 15 nth graders due to increasing class sizes and loss of staffing and electives. I will first open up the floor to any members of the community that have comments or questions in favor
of or against Bridgewater Rainham Regional School District participating in school choice. And please provide your name and address when you come to the podium. >> Would anyone like to address the school committee? For the record, James 1183 East
School choice is one of those things that I think has two components and the discussions that I've had reviewed it over the years. The first one is the financial end of it. And I have always had a difficulty with justifying a
student coming into a district from a community where the tax rate is lower, the per pupil expenditure is lower, coming into the Bridgewater Regional School District, where the tax rates of the member towns and the per pupil cost
is much higher and consequently arguably better education. I just think that's a travesty that we shouldn't be visiting upon the students in the district or the taxpayers and the parents. It's unfair to have one family
paying this much in taxes and another family paying this much getting the same education. The other component is the educational one. My background in education and as an 18year member of the old regional high school committee was
in secondary. I'm not really familiar with or conversant with the issues in elementary and middle school. But at the secondary level, the problem always seemed to be lingering in the background on on a school choice issue
was that the choice students will not be part of the non-school day. This has an immense impact on their advancement and achievement progress education. uh they'll they they will come into the
school for the school day and they won't be part of the non-school day after the school day is over with their peers and their classmates. Uh they will be socially isolated from the resident based students who socialize, play, work and otherwise interact. Plus, they will
return after the school day to a community in a neighborhood where their peers there will have had an entirely different day, an entirely different experience socially, personally. I I
understand why somebody would want to come to a better school district, but I just can't. I think don't I don't think that is in the best interest of any student to have them come in the classroom. It's always been the philosophy of Bridgewater Rain in my
experience at was that the school that what goes on in the school day is only part of what the mission of the school district is and that child leaves the school property their education doesn't stop because they're growing as people.
I don't think this is something that I would recommend that the committee give through through madam chairman to the committee members give serious thought to the educational emotional and personal uh impact on students who would be coming into just the school day when
returning to the community with their peers who did not to have the same experience. Thank you many for the time and your attention. >> Thank you. Do we have any other um community members that would like to speak for or against um school choice?
Seeing none, I will then open up the floor to any members of the school committee that have questions or comments in favor of or against the Bridgewater Ringham Regional School District participating in school choice. Um before we get to that, do you want Mr. Har to historical or present
information of what we have. >> Sure, happy to do that, Mrs. King. Uh, yes. And and I think, you know, a couple highlights to share. Uh, you already mentioned in your opening statements. This would just be for next school year. Uh, we're not withdrawing fully from the school choice program as we would have
to uh take that up, take that matter up the following year. Obviously, it doesn't impact any of our current school choice students. they would still be able to participate and stay and remain here at Bridgewwater Rainham uh throughout their high school career. It
really is what we're uh proposing at this point or what's before you is whether or not to continue accepting school choice students in ninth grade next year. As Mrs. King shared, uh we have the last couple years limited uh the number of students uh that we are
accepting. And you know, we we just feel as though at this point you've heard me talk about class size at the high school and you know it's it's worth noting those concerns that Miss Watson and I share
and obviously I know in the community as well and it it you know behooves us to really consider whether or not to to continue school choice just for next year because we'll have to uh revisit that. We currently have 27 students
participating in school choice. As you know, we only offer school choice at the high school level. So, grades 9 through 12. Although, we do have of those 27, 24 attend uh during the day here with Miss Watson, we do have one student um in our
postgrad program and then two students in our Excel program. So three of the 27 really are, you know, participating in different educational opportunities. So it's it really is 24 students attending during the day here with with Miss
Watson. Um, you know, in and school choice over time does have its benefits. Obviously, there are, you know, some financial benefits. Um, for each school choice student, uh, we do receive approximately $5,000 from
the state. Um, as you just heard, uh, that certainly does not cover the, uh, per pupil expenditure. Well, the per pupil cost of educating students here at Bridgewater Radio, you know, our per pupil expenditure is about $17,000. So, what we received from the state, uh,
is is $5,000. Now, uh, also when there's seats available, uh, it certainly behooves districts to consider participating in school choice because it does allow you to bring in additional revenue because you do have seats available. Uh, but as I shared with you, obviously, you know,
some of our concerns around enrollment, whether or not seats truly are available for next year to welcome any additional students. Um, you know, in addition, we also have students leaving the district to participate in school choice. Just to clarify, this vote uh by the committee
would not impact that. Uh every community has to vote whether or not to accept students. Uh they don't necessarily have any um oversight of students leaving. So your vote tonight really is about whether or not to welcome students in. It's not about
students uh leaving the high school to go to other districts. So that that I know the question was raised earlier uh whether or not this would prevent anyone from leaving and participating in school choice in a different district and it would not I'm happy to answer any of the questions or provide any other
information. >> Thank you Mrs. Con Leo. >> I I have a question. I just know from some of my my kids actually there are some students that we have that started at the high school and then maybe their sophomore or junior year they have moved to a neighboring town and through school
choice we've allowed them to stay here and finish out their high school career my understanding and I'm just curious if that hap and again there's a handful of those kids I think but I'm just curious if that happened um if we said noticeable choice would that be an
option for those kids moving forward. >> It's my understanding for next school year if we decided not to participate in school choice which would have welcome students to you know stay on school choice that we would be able to uh do that for next year. Uh but to your point it does happen from time to time. We do
have families that uh do move out of the district. We we have put them in the school choice program whether they want to uh typically we look at our seniors who will be staying. There is actually school committee uh policy language that does allow the superintendent the
flexibility to allow seniors to stay outside of the school choice program. So I I think we would exercise I would exercise that uh right case by case to allow students to to stay but they just wouldn't be categorized under a school.
I guess I would just know some again a personal friend of one my child is a junior and they stayed here their junior year they chase but raised in the ring community you know from kindergarten but stay here with their parents so I guess I would just
ask that again I get the senior piece but also it impacts some of our juniors and to move if they don't have to move what our ability or flexibility is to do that again it's on case by case situation I'm not school choice, but how do we accommodate or potentially
think about that? >> Who who is someone that's been in? >> Do we have other questions on this? >> We know the breakdown of students basically how many seniors do each
currently participating choice. I have that we currently have five seniors uh nine juniors, four 10th graders and six nth graders and then those three other students postgrad next summer. I just think
that's a relevant piece in this conversation capacity at 15 and reducing by five that's going to bring additional funds in which they can justify more teaching positions and add to the budget piece just for longterm sustainability.
Um I also want to point out so I wasn't aware of this until Mr. Powers brought this to budget. So we approved last year 15 nth graders to school choice in we're only have six students um that are participating in the program. So,
there's not a ton of students. I know with the class sizes high and losing staff and electives, um this has been brought up as a concern from many community members. Why are we participating in school choice as a program if we have high class sizes? So,
in fact, these numbers are not really that impactful. We only had six students come in as nth graders when we actually have up to 15 spots available. I I don't know. But um
I think that a lot of that some of the kids that again there's only 24 kids that are through school choice. Um is many of those kids actually I think are very active in our after school programs and
our sports programs um and are engaging our community beyond the 7 to 2 o'lock hours. is from what I witness sometimes at school. >> I don't know. Again, I hate to make that assumption. I think
>> Well, I I I I think it's safe to say certainly in of those 24, we do have students that participate in extracurricular activities certainly. Um, but there are some of those 24 that do just leave at the end of the day and go back to their home communities and
and don't take advantage of, you know, the extracurriculars that we're offering. >> Do I have any other school committee comments or questions? >> I would just say if we >> um, you know, as as we as we as we think
about where we are in the budget cycle, one of the things I've talked about I was had the privilege of joining the committee in May is is is public confidence. Public confidence in our spending, public confidence in our fiscal decisions and you can do a lot of things with numbers. um right and and
say it's a potential revenue source and it might be um you can say it's a small number right you know not welcoming six or nine or 15 new kids into the high school next year doesn't meaningfully impact class size but I also think people will look at it and go it's
16,000 odd dollars per people we get $5,000 that's negative $11,000 so I'm just curious for for folks because if we are going to potentially in a situation should ask for an override whether it's one student or 15 students, right?
111,000 times 15. People look at that and go, I'm not going to support that. Um, I just I'm curious what the the rebuttal from from the from the the school might be uh or the school committee because I I don't know how to answer that question, but I know it's one because it's it's one I've been
asked. I have an answer at least a part partial answer from my perspective. 1617,000 cost per is not the marginal cost of people. What's the marginal cost of adding one student to a classroom? It's
yes, it's tougher on a teacher. No question about that. But we're paying the teacher the same amount. We're paying the administration the same amount. The we're paying the custodian at the school the same amount. pay Miss Watson the same amount. That all goes
into the per pupil cost. You would actually argue in the alternative, the more students we have, those fixed costs get spread over more people and the cost per people goes down.
But as you said, they're lies damn lies in statistics. >> Thank you, Mr. Conra. >> Can I ask if you know I know last when we and I think actually the past few years when we've voted yes for school
choice um there has been an understanding I don't remember it was in the vote that the school choice numbers would be capped so last year our specific vote was nth grade only with a limit of 15 students
and again the students that are already here continue on they don't they are not counted in that Mr. Selenus. >> So, so with that, so would a vote, is there a number right now being
considered for what would be for next school year for the cap? >> Um, if we did not consider, if we did not pass a motion to withdraw, Mrs. Would you have a recommendation as to how many students you would want to
accept for the high school to put you on the spot? I don't think I can provide you with the number. My professional opinion is not important um to your decision, but I would have to think about what the
number would be. We're already maxed at our class size. Um I I think it would be fiscally responsible and educationally sound to kind of look at where we're currently and say we need to pause the program until we can stabilize
where we are at. Um it's not a forever decision. It's just a year decision. So I just think it's hard to turn to a teacher and say, "Oh, by the way, Mr. Hoy, I'm going to put two more kids in your class. It's already 32." And
earlier you heard from from Esther that's a student talking about the impact of having 30 something kids in a class. I know we say, "Oh, it's it's not a large number." And it's not. I know 24 is not a large number, but the law stipulates pretty clearly has seats available. I can't tell you seats
available, so I'm not sure what that number would be. >> Thank you, Mrs. Watson. >> Mrs. Conrad, >> I think I heard what Mrs. Watson was just putting down. Um, but I'm um, but Superman Powers,
I'm just curious your recommendation at this point for the district is that we do not do school choice. Am I hearing that? >> Yes, it would be my professional opinion that we pause school choice for next year for welcoming new students in. Um
certainly you know we are giving up funds but if we were going to cap it at such a small number to make it reasonable you know we we'd be looking at and I I shouldn't say it because every dollar counts but it's not going to be a
windfall. Uh you know if we were to cap it at five freshmen next year you'd only be looking at you know $25,000. That's not going to solve our you know current situations. And if anything, as Miss Watson just mentioned and as you
heard from Esther, it just places an additional burden because I don't think we're going to be in a situation next year where our class sizes are going down. And I do think we have to look at it from that standpoint. How can we at this point minimize any additional
negative impacts on class size and on the classroom? Uh I I know obviously we are giving up the funding that goes along with it. Uh but that would only be the funding for the new students. not the funding for the students that currently remain. We would still receive funding for that. So, it is it is my
recommendation as a superintendent to pause school choice for next year and then obviously reevaluate it uh if our conditions change or we find that you know maybe we uh maybe I you know recommended this uh you know without
seeing something that I'm not anticipating. We can certainly revisit it next year but I think at this It would be my recommendation to to support not going forward with school choice. >> Thank you, Mr. Powers. Seeing no more questions or discussion,
I will entertain a motion to withdraw from school choice for the 2026 2027 school year due to high class size and budgetary constraints. >> Motion made by Mr. Fitzgib. Do I have a second? Mrs. Mrs. Hoy Thomas. Any other
further discussion or questions on that? >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Yes. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Um the next item then is a point which is the followup vote on choice of the
2026 2027 school year if applicable to determine um grades and or student allocations. Um the next item would be 2026 2027 school calendar. The first Good evening, Madam Chair. I'm back to
the school committee, Mr. Powers. Um, I'm here tonight to talk about the calendar, which I know is in your packet, um, for next year. Um, I'll take a few moments to walk you through it. Um, in the interest of time, I'll try to go two months at a time.
Um, starting with the conclusion of summer 26, we're planning to bring our district staff back together for two days leading up to the start of the school year, August 31st and September 1st for professional development and obligation.
Our proposed first day of school for grades 1 through 12 is on September 2nd and would like to welcome preK and K students on the following day, September 3rd. Unlike prior years, the calendar for next year, the first days of school will
take place prior to the Labor Day holiday for all staff members. Our concern every year, particularly this year, we're really feeling it. The later we conclude our school year, um the later the later we start, the later we conclude our school year. Um and so also
in 2026, the Labor Day falls a bit later than usual. So that um helps to make this decision pretty clear. Mary, is that permissible in the current teacher contract to start? >> We have been in consultation with our um
regarding the decision. >> Thank you. >> Um in 2026, Labor Day falls a bit later. Um we're going to be closed on September 4th and 7th and returning to school on September 8th, 2026. October 7th is our first early release
day for all students, which will allow for staff professional development in October 12th, Indigenous People's Day or school that day. October 28th is also an early release day that will be for parent teacher
conferences at the elementary and middle school level and professional development opportunity for the high school staff and local. In November, we'll have the customary days off due to Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. November 11th early
release on November 25th and November 26th and 27th for Thanksgiving. Also in November, we're proposing to have November 3rd as a no school day for students and a professional development day for staff. This is due election day.
On December 2nd, we're planning an early release for students allowing for a full day of professional development for staff. in December 2026. And then in January, we'll have the usual holiday breaks. Um half day on
December 23rd and winter recess from December 24th through January 1st. We're proposing a return to school day on Monday, January 4th, 2027. In January and February, we have Martin
Luther King Day on January 18th. In February, vacation from February 15th through February 19th with additional early release date for students and professional development for staff. Those will occur on January 13th and January 22nd.
In March and April, we have early release dates planned for staff development. Specifically, those dates are March 3rd and April 14th. We also have a half day to allow for parent teacher conferences on March 31st for K and professional development for
the high school. On that particular day, there'll be no prek sessions. Um, this allows us to do um prek screenings and any subsequent evaluations. If we do if we have that day, those things can take
place throughout the last months of school versus waiting until the end of the year um for evaluations to take place. We have a half day of school on Good Friday, March 26 for students and staff. And vacation is scheduled from
April 19th through March 20th. April 19th through April 23rd, sorry. In our last months, um for May in June, we have one last release date for students and professional development for staff, May
5th. Memorial Day is scheduled May 31st. And the last day for preK and K will be planned for June 9th that year, 2027. And the last day for all other levels is planned for June 16th, which brings us
to 180 days. That last day will be an early release day. The 23rd is listed um 20 June 23rd, 2027 is listed as a last day um an additional last day which accounts for those five additional days that we have to have in
the calendar to get to 185 days um for DESI requirement. So every year, you know, we kind of wait and see. We do this a little early, especially the first read. We wait and see um what kind of dates we're going to get for EDCAST testing. And sometimes we
have to make modifications um to the calendar based on what those dates might be. So if we have to do that, we'll come back to the committee for that. >> Thank you. Do we have questions, comments, concerns on the calendar? Mr.
>> Thank you. I'm going to check channel my inner Mr. Don. Um there's going to be a state primary sometime in September on a Tuesday. Um could we just look at that and make sure we're comfortable with
um the volume of people coming in to vote at that state primary and uh the access to the school that the schools that will be available. >> Thank you. We will do that. Thank you. >> And that would be staff day.
>> If it does hold true, >> Miss Thomas, is there a reason the professional development is done on Wednesdays? That's correct. Yeah. I mean, there's no necessarily rhyme or reason. I think we um just one year saw that most of our half
days fell and we just continue that practice. But if there's suggestions about looking at different days for some reason good, I don't there's not much that I think would prohibit us from changing some of those. >> Thank you,
>> Mr. Selena. Um, so just two things. One and a half days, the one before April, right before April break. I just think that needs to be looked at, especially since
>> Yeah. The last one in May is April F. for an entire meeting right before uh timing is tough on that also. And then just looking at June, I believe Junth is going to be on celebrated on that Friday. I think the last day actually
>> for the extent of what the snow days. >> Yeah, we have to get some clarification that because we we did look at the um Mass State website which does say um Saturday holidays are observed on Saturdays, Sunday holidays are observed
on Monday. It then did go on to say that federal holidays um federal holidays typically if they fall on Saturdays may be prior, but then the state guidance also said that um
states don't have to go by the federal holiday guidance because states, I guess, approve the holidays themselves. So, right now, state guidance says Saturday holiday falls on Saturday. That's when it's celebrated, but we can certainly get some clarification on
that. >> Is that how the contract is written also for that Junth holiday the staff? um if it falls on a Saturday. Yes. And it's observed on a Saturday. >> Thank you,
>> Mr. Thanks. So, ju just to follow up with the the happy days, you know, just looking at like the, you know, in-depth professional development like could there be more, you know, dayong P like a dayong PD? Um just, you know, from what
parents have said from like my experience as well of like the professional development like to have real robust professional development day. Um it may be helpful to have, you know, whether it's a full day in March, right? Or a full day somewhere else. Uh
and just looking at maybe a little more on like that professional development angle of being able to really get into topics in depthly to really build the teams, that type of thing. Uh I don't know if it would just be worth looking at maybe changing some of the half days
to a full PD day. How does that that impact student time then if we change that to a full day with students off the entire day? >> Well, it it would would add to the end of the school year. Uh so if we had a you know full PD day right now that
wasn't on say an election day if we just pick a day uh you know April 7th Wednesday April 7th and if we made that a day off for students for professional development for staff we would then have to move the end of the school year out. But then it does change contractually
the number of work days that teachers are working because they're working that day which would count towards one of their We added another student date at the end of the year. Now we've, you know, actually tacked on to their their
contraction. >> Mr. Gun, >> when was the last time the district began before Labor Day? I haven't been in the district more than 10 years. My kids are only seventh grade, fourth grade. >> This is my 11th year, Mr. Gothro, and we haven't started before Labor Day uh
during my time. >> I don't really like that. I I I asked because we just started the meeting talking about well Desi's not going to give us any type of relief for snow days and we're going to go later. So now we're starting summer later, we're coming back earlier and we're all aware
of the emotional challenges. My inclination would be let's start after Labor Day and then let's get that relief at the end of next year. We got a bunch of snow days. You know, I it just it just seems with, you know, we're not getting much help from the state with funding. Budgets are going to be
difficult. you know, like let's set ourselves up for a little bit of success. I know student learning is important. Um, but I also think, you know, emotionally that is something that, you know, I think people might have a little chip in their step on. So, um, I just think it might be a something something to consider. Might be a tough
pill to swallow. You go late and then we're back before we not very much time for students or parents or teachers. >> Mr. Uh just just one thing to point out too with uh summer programming for ESY it becomes extremely challenging to hire
people to work that program later school ends. So the more time we can give ourselves in between the more time you give staff to recharge and be ready for that program uh the better ending to start again
for that program. Any other comments? Thank you. Will this come back next month? >> At the end of this month or back in April? >> Yeah. So, couple of weeks. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. >> Next, we have approval of general ledger
warrants. I will entertain a motion to approve the general ledger warrants dated February 5th, 2026 and February 19th, 2026. >> Motion made by Mr. Fitz Given. Do I have a second? Second by Mrs. Conrad Lberto. All those in favor,
>> any opposed? Motion passes. >> I do not have any other business. Um, we have our last public comment period. Once again, the school committee welcomes information, concerns, and opinions from those attending the meeting. In order to give those wishing
an opportunity to speak, ensure compliance with the meeting law and other legal obligations and avoid disruption of the meeting. The committee will not engage with the speaker or one another in deliberation on comments as they are presented during comment periods. The chair will now open up public comment for a period of 12
minutes per policy ped. and would ask anyone who wishes to speak, please approach the podium, state your name and address, and please limit your comments to under three minutes. Do we have anyone that would like to come and speak at the podium? Seeing none, we will close with a
comment. Um, I have some announcements of upcoming dates. We have a budget subcommittee meeting scheduled for Monday, March 9th at 5:30 at the superintendent's conference room. Our school committee budget public hearing is scheduled Wednesday, March 11th at
700 p.m. here at the BR High School lecture hall. Um, I do want to also note the Bridgewater Rainham Education Foundation annual Star Night Gala is scheduled for Saturday, March 14th at 6:30 at Barrett's Old Scotland links in Bridgewater. And please reach out to the
foundation for tickets. I believe they have a couple of more tickets left if anyone would like to attend. Uh we have another budget subcommittee scheduled for Monday, March 16th at 5:30. And our next regular school committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 25th,
2026 at 700 p.m. at the Bridgewater Ringham Regional High School here in the lecture hall. I did move the location of that meeting um from Rainham to here since we will be presenting um it's much easier to present in this venue. Um
announcement. We do have the annual town of Bridgewater and Town of Ringham elections which are scheduled for Saturday, April 25th, 2026. The Edward Odon Middle School in Bridgewater will be open for voting 8 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Rainham Middle School will be open
for voting 10 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. We have one open school committee seat in Bridgewater and one open school committee seat in Rainham that both towns for vote uh vote for those positions as it is regional. Um do any
members have any announcements? Okay, seeing none, I will Ain a motion to adjourn as that concludes our meeting at 8:55 p.m. So moved by Mr. Loach, second by Mr. Fitz Given. All those in favor?
>> Any opposed? Thank you.