Welcome to the Monday, May 5th, 2025 meeting of the Dennis Sharmath Regional School Committee. Please stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. We will start with our student representatives report. Miss Powers. Good evening everybody. Thank you so much for having me. Unfortunately, Ava
is not here tonight, but she was in the amazing DY production of High School Musical over the weekend. So, I'm sure she's wiped, and I know she wasn't at school today. I'm not sure what's going on there, but she did so incredible over the weekend that you're going to have to excuse her for today, but we had a showing Friday night, Saturday night,
and Sunday afternoon. And I was able to make it to the Sunday afternoon showing, and it was probably the best musical I've seen put on at DY over my five years. And it was so amazing because usually at DY I find that theater sort of like more closed off and it's like the same kids every year and this really
was like a huge broad opening and there was kids from everywhere, people that had never tried it before and Miss McMahon, our theater director, is very very open about having as many people join doing however much they can and it was so incredible to see everybody try it out for the first time. Uh, as for
sports, spring sports season has been amazing as per usual at UI. Our girls track team and boys track team are both undefeated and our coach um coach for was just inducted to the DY Hall of Fame last week. So spirit's been very very high for the track teams. And our
baseball team just defeated Barnesville for which is sort of like groundbreaking. It had been a few years I'm pretty sure. So it was an 8 to3 defeat. And also our boys lacrosse just had their senior night and they won in that. So rest of the senior nights will be coming up shortly. Just waiting on some dates for those. But everybody's
really excited to be capping off the season. Uh we also had our AP exam start on Friday. So the next two weeks are going to be a lot of cramming from our students, but the Friday one was the art exam. So it wasn't really like a written exam, but art students had the entire day to work on finishing their
portfolio. And then real exam started today and they're going to go through the 16th. And then there's a lot coming up at the end of the month, but we have another meeting in between. So, I don't want to spoil too much, but a lot of great things like our DY Pops concert will be coming up very shortly. Thank
you guys. Thank you so much. Uh, next we have discussion about our district treasury reorganization. All right. Thank you. Um so as previously discussed uh in an earlier meeting um the the treasurer
role has traditionally been held in DY by a school committee member um currently held uh currently held uh by Miss Landers and largely before about a month and a half ago um it was largely
sort of a ceremonial role um and the functions of the treasurer were done through the assistant treasurer position in the district. Um the transfer the large ones being the transferring of district funds um in the district. Um
and then there were other administrative assistant tasks that were sat underneath the assistant treasurer role. Um and because and again just sort of recap stuff we've already discussed the um the role
of treasurer has to be separate from your director finance position and however that's sort of c you know categorized that one job is responsible for overseeing business operations you know your day-to-day accounting etc etc
and the other one is responsible for the district's cash flow for moving money within the district, managing the district's money. Uh, and that's deliberate through statute so that the one person who's writing the checks can't also um actually be responsible
for the money. So, you know, in theory, worst case scenario, you can't write checks to yourself, right? Um, so there's a separation of power um there on purpose in the statute. So, all that being said, we've had the assistant treasurer position. the person retired
from that position and we've been in a little bit of a limbo position. We've set up a system for where we are now that allows um and is being supported by the the current structure. The treasurer role is being supported by the business office to to to allow us to continue to
function. But we'd like to move to a more permanent solution where we create a treasurer role that isn't house or isn't held by a school committee member. um still is beholdened to the school committee. Um school committee still has to sign off on all the warrants. Still
has the same governance structure as you always have as as the school committee. It's still your responsibility as school committee, but that instead of having an assistant treasurer that we have a treasurer. Um and so the model going forward would we would still have a
director of finance um that would be still be responsible for the day-to-day business operations overseeing accounting payables requisitions budget payroll etc. Um, and then we would create a treasurer position. Um, which would be a part-time position. Um, that would be different than the assistant
treasurer because it would be held by somebody with a business background. Uh, and then that person would be responsible for overseeing in the district's cash flow, cash on hand, transfer of funds, um, investing funds,
um, and then, like I said, managing the cash flow. You have a copy of the proposed job description in your packet. Um and then we would redistribute the administrative tasks that were and largely we've already had to start to do some of that some of the administrative tasks that sat underneath the u
administr uh the assistant treasurer position within central office. Um and then what you have also is just because it was asked at a previous meeting, you have uh an opinion from the legal counsel about just whether all this is
um kosher. Um, so you can see the legal opinion from our attorney in the packet. Um, as I've mentioned, this is a structure that is used by other regional school districts. It's a structure that's used by uh, Cape Cod Tech, which is again organized similarly to us and
that they sort of operate financially like a like municipality. Regions operate like their own municipality. in, you know, in Yarmouth, they have a director of finance and a treasurer, two separate folks for the same reasons. Um
so and as our own sort of at least from a finance standpoint acting as our own municipality we have to have the two separate positions and this would be allowing um us for to op continue to operate that way but just straight slightly
differently from a structure standpoint um than we currently operate as a region. Um, and what I'd be looking for is a first to answer any questions, but then I'd be looking for a motion from the school committee to approve the job description, which would allow us to
post and then look to get somebody into the position. And then once we and that would all be sort of the idea would be to start this in July July one and then once we get things in place structurally get the right people in the right places. Um then would come back to the
committee to get a a motion to transition away from the school the school committee member being the position and uh being the treasurer and move the treasury function from the school committee to this new position. Um, but so really all I'm looking for tonight is for the school committee to
approve the job description and give me the permission to post it and and look to fill it. Any questions, Miss Landers? Um, my only question is that this is a long list of duties and responsibilities and I realize some of them are probably,
you know, pretty pretty quickly done or, you know, somewhat already carved out, but um, it says it's part-time 14 hours a week. And I just wanted to check in on, you know, 14 hours. It also says
that there's some um come time for over 14 hours or I think that's what that means here. Um is it expected that it will often go beyond the 14 hours or do you think that all this is easily accomplished within 14? I'm sure you picked it for a good reason, but I just
would want to hear the logic on that. Yeah. So, this one is structured after um a position from a neighboring school district uh basically copied from that job description. Some of those jobs, you know, occur every week and some of those
jobs like in the job description, some of those tasks um occur, you know, once a year or once a month, right? So they're not all like every time every week. Um and so the person doing the job in the neighboring school district,
that's the structure. And then periodically, you might need to go over, but it's very infrequently that you need to go over the time. Mr. New on the comp time, is that something that's going to be negotiated or is that something that's going to be set by you?
So, it would be based upon the hourly rate, the PDM rate, hour per hour. Yes. So, for every hour worked over, you have an hour compensation. Yes. Correct. Okay. Thank you. And then for our purposes in June, we do
a reorg meeting. We would continue to keep a treasurer until voted differently. I assume. Okay. Yeah. I will be very happy to give up my
job that I have now acquired without ever signing up for it. So yes, as much as I enjoy transferring large sums of money in my free time, okay, I look forward to this transition. Any other questions?
I'll move to approve the uh job description for treasurer as printed. Second. We have a motion in a second. Any further questions? All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Any abstain?
Go ahead and post from what you talked about. We might have a applicant already. Yes. That might be available around that time. Around the same time. Yes. I hope further timeline updates when we get to the superintendent report. Perfect. All right. Um so moving al sorry it's your agenda,
not mine. Yeah. The next is the ME. It's silly. You're going to be the speaker, but Emmy small building committee. All right. So, um, next item in your packet, uh, is the, uh, we put out a call probably already three or four
weeks ago at this point, uh, for volunteers for the Emmy small building committee. Uh as the school committee will remember uh we entered our eligibility period on April 1st and we have a series of tasks we have to
complete in that eligibility period which ends on the 26th of December. One of those is forming a school building committee and so all the folks that have volunteered we have slots for all of them. Uh my recommendation uh everybody is qualified. You can see each person
fits into an appropriate slot. We have a nice well-rounded group. I do think there's a couple of positions we could probably still recruit. Um, but we have we have a good basis. Um, what we do need to discuss is two things. One, we
need a school committee representative to the com to the building committee and then uh when I submit this to the MSBA, I need to indicate who the chair of the school building committee will be. So
the conversation for the school committee is does the school committee want to appoint who the chair of the school building committee is going to be or do you all want to approve the this school committee? There's some motion
language for you to consider in the packet and then I can work on assembling the group and then have them nominate a chair in their first meeting. I don't know what I know who the chair of the last meeting or of the last building committee for this building was. I just
don't know. I don't have the history here to know how that came to be. Uh um really it's within your purview as I see it to go either direction. Um and it's not a decision I felt was mine to make. Um and I wanted to bring it to you all
to have have some um discussion around. Miss Landers, I think we appointed Joe, the chair of the last building committee, as the school committee representative on the building. I mean, there were a couple school committee representatives on that building
committee, but I think we appointed Joe, Mr. Morrison, Joe Tierney were the two members. And I don't know what Joe's role was at the time, if he was the chair or vice chair of the school committee, but I don't think that made a difference. He was neither. He was
neither. Okay. Um I don't think and there was like overlapping times where he became the chair while he was still and then came off but um I I would like to I would like us to appoint the chair. That would be my opinion. Um and I don't
know if someone's already stepped up but you know I would yeah after reviewing this and you know looking at all the things the only suggestion I had um and I obviously feedback is that since it is a this specifically a Yarmouth school that it would be a Yarmouth
representative. Um I know Phil has served before. I have no problem serving on this committee. Um Mr. Martin, I didn't know your feeling or if there was any interest, but I have no problem serving as the a committee member. Okay. Therefore,
uh as a Yarmouth representative, I have no problem um joining this committee and as we we had a small discussion uh prior to this with one of the committee members. There's still people that may be added. Um we're going to look at maybe other key stakeholders that are not represented on this that we may
reach out to um before we finalize this. Um but Mr. New, do you feel that one school committee member is adequate? I think right now it would be um there's a long way before we really start
getting moving. I think once we have the beginning parts of it, as more tasks and more things increase, I think it's there's a time where we can add. I think the last one had 30. It was like it was a very large number. Um, but I think for the where we are right now with the
number of people on here plus uh the school committee position which is listed and then possibly one other, it'd be a good start for the building committee. Uh the responsibilities of the school committee person that is on the committee are they more extensive than
those of the other committee members? Are your responsibilities greater? Do you have to answer you know more questions? It it's similar to the liaison of any of our groups whether it's the what all of our subcommittee. So their responsibility is to um give a
feedback and give updates to the rest of the committee. So just as as any other committee that we have it's very similar. Now again because I've never participated in anything of this sort on this level. Um the responsibilities of this building committee are they going
to be the ones deciding on the design work? Are they going to be the ones that are are are the lead on this and they're going to report to us and to Mark? Yep. So, as with any subcommittee, they they are the ones who make the recommendations and then the school committee would be the ones who would
make final decisions on anything. And then are they going to be working with the faculty of that school to uh have their input on what they feel are best practices for design for an elementary school and their particular areas of expertise? Yeah, the current principal
uh Miss Mahadei is on the building committee. We do have some teachers and parents. I think Mr. I saw the teachers. I was just saying so that there's a broad representation at least uh an opportunity for those faculty members and administrators that are on the committee. Uh they're going to provide
the rest of the faculty opportunities for input. Yeah. And I know specifically for this school and some people know better than me, but there was input. I know they we went they went and looked at furniture and they looked at a variety of different things um and had discussions of of a variety of different
things that happened on the inside. And Miss Landers can Yeah, but even before we got to like bringing them in to pick out furniture, there were multiple listening sessions where there was like faculty and staff, there was parents, there were community members. We held
lots of listening sessions and community forums where people could come in, look at the plans, talk about plans and designs, bring their expertise, and you know, people are also welcomed. Anybody can always talk to members of this building committee. Um, but yeah, there's always going to
be staff, community, stakeholder input. Yep. And when it gets to us to vote on, you know, we can also, you know, get input from whoever we'd like when we're voting on these on their proposals. Thank you.
So, do we need to nominate you to this committee, Tomas? I would guess we would probably need to nominate me then probably make a or do we have to do the first part to establish we have to vote to establish it committee first and then we'll put you on it. Okay. Correct.
I move that we establish a school building committee for the purpose of overseeing and providing general monitoring of the Margarit small elementary school application process with the Massachusetts school building authority MSBA and to advise the district during the construction of the Margaret small project. This committee will be responsible for ensuring that
the project aligns with all relevant guidelines, schedules, and budgets, while also advising the district on matters related to the construction, application processes with the MSBA. Future additions, revisions, modifications to this building committee shall be at the discretion of the superintendent. Second. So, we have a
motion and a second. Any other questions? All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Any abstained? So, that passes. Okay. So if anyone wants to make the second motion for the member, I move that we appoint Tomas Tolantino to
represent the school committee on the ME small building committee and that he serve as chair of the committee. Second motion and a second. Any questions, comments, concern? All those
in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? Any abstain? Okay, I think we answer those two questions. Perfect. Thank you. And then next we have our subcommittee leazison reports for the school committee leazison. So select board. I know we
have some important tomorrow. Uh the only thing I need to report is Dennis's town meeting is tomorrow at 7:00 in the auditorium down the hall. And for Yarmouth, we had ours last week uh in the um same location and we had
some great feedback. Um and we had uh a couple questions about some things. Um but I think overall um you know we it was a great presentation to our taxpayers of you know they don't necessarily know all the stuff that goes on. So again, it wasn't uh that much of
an override compared to previous years, but I think uh we talked about our relationship that we started in August based on feedback last year with the towns, with the finance committees, with both towns, just keeping them updated where we were and I think um I think our
success was with that collaboration. So obviously we look to continue that. Um so and then we'll continue that tomorrow. Um and we look forward to that. Obviously tomorrow is a little different. It's 330,000 over the 2 and a half% but I think with our explanations
of where how the state decides the money kind of the same thing we did with Yarmouth I think people have a better understanding of it so I'm positive that'll go well so thank you for that and then we have our Cape Cod collaborative Q3 report
uh so um the in your packet you have uh a copy of the third quarter report um And as I've mentioned to the committee before, I serve as a superintendent liaison to the collaborative. Um and uh
so the the collaborative is under a new uh director. Uh and so as part of the articles of agreement, uh they're supposed to be quarterly reports back to the school committees. So this is a uh a the third quarter report. And just to hit some of the highlights for you in
the third quarter report. So the waypoint which is uh one of the three programs uh that the the collaborative runs here uh actually right up the street here in it's the one that's right here in Yarmouth. Uh they welcomed a new director or as an interim director, Mr.
Larry Carroll. Um on its full PD day, staff members participated in professional development on writing and implementing IEP programs. Um they also have a partnership with Cape Meal uh Cape Kid meals to provide a food pantry for students to access when needed. Their star program which is over in
Austraville enjoyed drumming sessions uh a trip uh to the planetarium and educational activities around Black History Month. Um and then the STAR program also began partnering with uh Cape Kids Meals to provide food to students and hosted two fundra uh
fundraisers for a facility dog. And then uh the collaborative also runs transportation services for uh sportsd transportation services as well as many of the other districts in within the collaborative. So those services remain
focused on recruitment and training for drivers um and other related staff along with strategies for including targeted advertisement on social media uh outreach. um effort uh efforts are also underway to refresh the fleet among um
cost and market challenges. And then during the third quarter, there were several regional uh collaboration efforts including the legislative breakfast which I know several of us participated in. And then they the updated collaborative I mean excuse me
uh articles of agreement which uh you all voted on which includes the acceptance of Plymouth into a full voting member and then ongoing adv advocacy through uh the Massachusetts Organization for Educational Collaboratives. So those are just some of the highlights that are in the third
quarter report for you. Thank you. Next we'll move on to superintendent's report. All right. to start putting some other things on here that other people have to speak to. All right. Um, let's see. So, starting
with donations and acknowledgements. So, donations, there's two uh donations ultimately that you'll get to in the uh the consent agenda, but I just want to highlight um so from the Elks, the Elks donated a series of dictionaries
and thesauruses to the Baker School. So, we just want to thank the do the thank the Elks for their donation to support U programming at at Ezra Baker. And then to the Andrea Hold Holden Foundation um donated another series they they're
very generous to all of our schools, but another series of hundred um or 15 $100 gift cards from to stop and shop that'll support families in needs also at the Ezra Baker School. So again, just great appreciation to um the Ezra um to the
Anga Holden Foundation for that donation. And then as far as acknowledgements go, um everyone may be aware or may not be aware. Uh this week is teacher appreciation week. Um and this is just an important week for us to
pause and take a moment to reflect on the people who make the district work, right? And make the district uh what the district is. Um and um not only and and it's important for us to to highlight the fact that it is teacher appreciate
appreciation week and I also like to try to pause this week and give appreciation for everybody who works inside the district. Um and so as I said I put a message out to the staff this week and I said what we take this week to set aside for teacher appreciation week is a week
that I like to take pause and share my gratitude for all the staff positions that support our school system to be successful. um whether an individual's job is to teach our students or instead they have a job that um that supports um
or one to do one of our equally vital roles in the districts to support our functioning like maintaining our grounds or processing our payroll. Each of the 630 employees that make Dennis Yarmouth Regional School District are integral to our collective progress. There is no unimportant job here in DY. Please know
that what you do matters. It matters to our students, to for our families, and for our community at large. I know that sometimes it's easy to focus on the negative messaging that appears to be everywhere. However, the longer I spend here in DY meeting more folks within our community and among our larger
communities of both Dennis and Yarmouth, I find that we are surrounded by advocates, supporters, and cheerleaders. These supporters, like your superintendent, are very proud of what you do each day uh for this community and are equally appreciative. with deep
gratitude, Mark. And I do find that both from comments that I get at when at town meeting or as I get out to meet with different clubs and organizations outside just the four walls, proverbial four walls of DY that the community
appreciates the work that gets done by the people inside this organization and it is ultimately at the end of the day it's about the people. Um, and it is about the teachers, about the paras, about the custodians, about the maintenance staff, and about all the other people that if I keep going, I'm
going to miss somebody, right? But it's about all the people who make this place um the great place that it is. And this is just a week to take pause and give extra appreciation to those folks. Um, and I guess for the few people who might
be watching it on television today, this is a good week to send that email that you've been maybe waiting to not send uh or that you've, you know, thought about sending just to say thank you. um uh every time over my career that
I've gotten that positive email um is been uh always been much appreciated and well felt uh because oftentimes people for good reason. You send send the one
when you're bothered to buy something. Um, but often times we don't take the time or we don't can't find the time when things are going well to send a message that things are going well. So I would ask during this week to find somebody that has a positive connection
with your child and send that message. This is the week to do it. So that that would be my message around uh for acknowledgements. Moving on, um, Red Wilson Field, uh, the committee had asked for an update on the project with
the YD Red Sox. So, at last, uh, information, the that project is on hold. Uh, they did not get the funding at the levels that they needed to do the the safety upgrades to that field. I know they had some money on an article
in Yarmouth, but it is not enough to get all the renovations done that they wanted to get done to that field, especially in time for their hosting the um uh Allstar game this summer. Is that what it is? I think it's Yeah, the All-Star game. Um so that project is
currently on hold. Um I know they're also have I think they went to CPC for um Dennis as well. Um but that project the update is that that project is currently on hold. Um, yep. Sorry. To the chair, Mr. New.
Thank you. Since I was the one that brought it up at the last meeting, I do have questions. Uh, question number one, are are you still working uh with the YD Red Sox for equity between the softball field and the and the baseball field?
Yeah, the project is contingent on us making sure we're stay in line with Title N. Great. And I have a a second uh point. Um, is there any other high school field on the Cape that hosts uh a summer
league team that has their field named for the summer league team? I don't know the short answer to that one. I know other high school teams host like I know the in Bourne, I'm pretty sure the the Borne team plays on
the high school field. Haritch the same. Yeah. So the question the point going u the baseball field is is named the YD Red Sox field. It's actually Dennis Yarmouth Regional High School baseball field. And has there ever been
consideration given to the fact that we can name our field after our school rather than after the uh baseball team that we host in the summer? I thought the field was Red Wilson Field. I think it is Red Wilson. Red Wilson Field is the name of the but I believe it says on
the side YD Red Sox. I believe it says home of the YD Red Sox I believe. Okay. But the the field itself is called the Red Wilson Field who was a um believe he was a director athletics many years ago. He was a number of years
ago before my time. Uh, again, it said the Red Wilson field, but I just wish there was something that said Dennis Yarmouth rather than Red Wilson and YD Red Sox. It's just, you know, pride in the
district. Yeah, I don't know. It's something I can look into. I don't know much about the the history of the like lettering or the naming signage or Dennis Yarmouth Regional High School, Red Wilson feel. Yeah. Yeah, it's something we could look into. I'm sure
that I I would assume that the YD Red Sox maybe paid paid for that field box behind home plate or something. I'm sure they did, hence the the lettering, but I'm sure we can look at it with facilities and athletics um and see. But yeah, makes
sense. Any other questions there? Okay. All right. Moving on. Um so uh director of finance and operations update. So uh as I had mentioned to the committee the first posting and round of interviews uh
we didn't have a series of candidates that moved on to this level superintendent for interviews. So we did put out a second posting from that. We had initially had three candidates that the team was going to interview. Unfortunately, by the time we went to
bring those candidates in, two of those three folks had accepted job offers in another district. This is the nature of the market for this particular position. There's few candidates and when they do get um uh if they are qualified, they get scooped up pretty quick. Uh so the
team did interview the remaining candidate. Uh that candidate was recommended uh who's the packet that you have in front of you, Dr. Susan Gillson was recommended to the superintendent. Um I met with Dr. Gilson on during the April uh break was able to conduct uh I
was actually able to get um most of the references over the April vacation week and um so I provided with provided the committee with uh her letter of interest
uh resume and then just tonight um was able to give you a copy of the draft contract. uh she and I have been going back and forth and were able to settle and finalize the contract over the weekend. As I mentioned, sort of a need
to try to move quickly on this. So, it wasn't originally put on the agenda as a vote because I didn't have anything finalized until literally over the weekend. And what I'd be so my recommendation to the committee would be
that um we uh or she is my candidate and I would um I'm seeking from the committee an a motion to appoint uh Dr. Susan u Wilson as the director of finance and business
operations for the Dennis Yarmmouth Regional School District. As I've mentioned, because of this, this is one of the few positions that uh requires a school committee appointment. Um the way it's structured is based upon the recommendation of the superintendent, but it requires an appointment. Uh I
could wait all the way till the next meeting, but that's two more weeks for potentially her to get scooped up by somebody else. Um and in the nature of this position, I really don't want to wait that long. Um, obviously it's within your purview to decide that you
want more time with it. Uh, but that would not be my recommendation. Uh, and I'm happy to take any questions. Mine is, uh, just from my own understanding, what is the dis difference between assistant superintendent for finance and director
of finance and operations? Yeah. So uh largely in some of the uh leadership responsibilities and supervisory responsibilities over the rest of the um rest of the district. So this is a this assistant superintendent has more
responsibility than the director of finance and business operations. So, and in short, the shortest way I can summarize it is if uh if I'm unavailable, the assistant
superintendent can step in and take over. So, we're going to have one person who can now do that instead of two. Uh and potentially in the future, might we need might I have different ideas for a different organizational structure that
would have two? Yes, but not in this current model. I think this is the best model for us going forward. Um and uh so as or this propo this um structure allows for we would have one assistant
superintendent and then this other position is a director like we have other director positions but is not an assistant superintendent. I know we've had this position previous years. There are compensation differences too.
So full transparency on that. Yeah. Any other questions? Do we have a motion? I move that we appoint Dr. Susan Gillson as the director of finance and operations.
Second. We have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? We required a roll call vote or are we okay with a regular vote? Regular votes is fine. Okay. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Any
abstain? Pass this unanimously. Thank you very much. We look forward to welcoming her in July. Yeah. Well, and my plan is again, this is all put together pretty quickly. I know she would like to come and uh meet the committee at a future meeting. Um, so I'll get her on the agenda for a future
meeting. Um, and then with that, so um, with a July 1 transition and with what we're hoping to have come with the, um, with a transition for the treasurer, uh, and we're hopeful to have some nice
little overlap with the person currently doing um, the job and a new person coming in. So, we should have some some nice continuity. It's been a we've been been a little rough, but um I'm I'm thinking we're we're going to have we'll have some nice continuity or have a nice little conversation this morning.
Um we've gotten through a little bit of a bumpy patch, but we'll I I'm anticipating some some nice continuity and flow um as we move forward. Um all right, so next is the intermediate school or intermediate
middle school field update. Um we had our first planning meeting on Wednesday of last week. The everything's still on schedule for construction to begin on the or actually it's going to start with deconstruction on the 15th of May. Uh
the fir that original meeting or the first meeting was so we were meeting with PMA uh the builders so Rad Sports the designer Nezra and HNA who's the third party organization who's been doing some
of our testing um uh and done some some of the design work as well. So all all parties were present plus the district obviously and the meeting was largely on setting up communication channels uh what's going
to be for on-site supervision um setting up the timelines or confirming the timelines because a lot of the timelines are already in the bid documents. Uh, and then just so the committee is aware, the district, you know, we're
really, as as as you might imagine, at least from from from my perspective, really want to make sure we have tight supervision throughout this whole process. So, we'll have three different groups supervising the deconstruction and the construction process for a couple different reasons. Um, one will
be especially during the deconstruction to make sure that u there's a couple of questions that we still have lingering about um related to the original design that we want to make sure are well documented through photographs. Um, and
then obviously we want to make sure that this gets built exactly the way it's supposed to get built, right? um and that we don't find ourselves in this same spot that we're in now, you know, a few months from now, six months from now when it really starts raining again. Um so we're
definitely making sure that we have real tight supervision. So PM between PMA, Nezra, who's the builder, I mean, excuse me, the designer, and uh H&A, we will have um different levels of supervision and testing at different phases of this project. um all working directly for the
district um supervising the builder RAD um both through the deconstruction phase and the reconstruction phase. Uh and then let's see next is the core values steering committee uh just give the committee some
information. So we had our first meeting on Thursday last week. That meeting was set around uh we established some norms. Uh we reviewed the goals of the group uh which ultimately are to collect a bunch
of feedback from the community and then draft a series of core values for the district and then present those to the committee for final approval. That's high level the the the goals of that group. Um
the group talked about you know what are the what are core values? What's the purpose of core values? We looked at some exemplars more from a structural standpoint. They're ones that I've already shared with you all as a committee. Again, from a structural standpoint, not from a values standpoint, not from a content
standpoint, from a from a structural standpoint. And then worked the last bit of the meeting was working on finalizing the survey tool. Uh they gave some good feedback on I had pre-drafted the survey. They gave some good feedback. We finalized tweak the the survey that then
went out to the school community on Friday. Um and so then at the next meeting they will start to uh analyze the data. I'll show them how to get into the tool and analyze the data. They'll start to analyze the data and then start the the multimemeating process of taking
all that data and getting down to um some statement some terms and then some statements to define those terms to ultimately bring to the committee for for approval. Um but it's a nice well-rounded group good representation
um on that group. And then the last is a student advisory committee to the school committee. So I met with a group of juniors last week. So myself and Miss Bennett was uh this was a group that is
part of their civics action project. So um for anybody on the committee not aware the as part of their as part of a state law that was passed I don't know it's probably five years ago at least at this point. um students in both the
eighth grade and then at one point in high school in DY it ends up being in their junior year they have to do a civics action project. The eighth grade one is obviously not as scaled up as it as the 11th grade one. In the 11th grade one they have to take some type of uh
action and they do it as a class and and it and it can be they really want them to keep it local. Some kids end up taking it like to town meeting or it ends up taking it to the state level. Um the they're really encouraged to try to do something actionable that they can
have a direct impact on. So the the encouragement is to keep it as local as possible. And so this group, their focus was on elevating student voice. I'm paraphrasing their their topic, but that's um largely what it was. So, by the time Miss Bennett and I had got to
the meeting, they had already done a bunch of investigating and a bunch of uh research and they discovered they had discovered the legislation that was passed several years ago, like a long time ago around um student uh
representatives and the student advisory councils um to a school committee. And so they were they're very interested in student voice in the school committee process and how to have student
representatives have more participation in the school committee meeting. Plus the idea that the school committee like if you read the statute the school committee and I put up the packet or put it in your packet that the school committee is supposed to meet with the student advisory council I think it's
like every other month if I remember correctly in the statute um uh to to get to seek counsel from the student advisory council um and so I think there's anyways they're very interested in this group anyways is
interested in that now we did have some discuss USS as well around because some of the things that they want to have some influence on, you know, so like take the I was trying to remember everything that was on the agenda. I'm like, so if you think about everything that's on a school committee agenda, I was trying to sort of parse apart um the role of the school
committee versus the things that they want to have some direct impact on. Um and so we did also talk about some other structures for student voice that are really better suited in the school. Um, and I pointed them towards I had just got back from a NASC visit up in
Brooklyn where they have this really cool um like student legislative body uh which like has influence over their student handbook and like things that are really um grounded in the day-to-day
lives of a school student. Um and so they're going to pursue that as well, but they are still really interested in a conversation with the committee around the role of the the student representatives to the committee and
being actively participating in the the dialogue and the conversation at school committee meetings. And then this the the way the statute talks about this idea around and I and I can tell you from my last district we are still trying to figure it out you know like how to make it all work in some way
because a lot of and this was the conversation I know I had with the students is a lot of the stuff that we talk about I'm sure high school students are not going to find very interesting like a lot of business a lot of the business stuff we talk about it's a
business meeting um so anyways That was that was the discussion. I told them that I would put it on the agenda and we would talk about it. And I I do think they're interested in at least having maybe a representative from school committee come and meet with the group. Um and and I'm happy to facilitate
whatever. And I told them I'm, you know, I meet with you all obviously on a regular basis and I'm sort of their conduit to you all as a committee and I was happy to facilitate whatever next level of this conversation that they wanted to have. And I think that is the end of my stuff.
Yes. Can I just say one thing on this? Of course. So, um, I went to talk to this class. So, it's Miss Williams who I did my civics action project with last year. And I know when we were coming up with topics last year to do it to talk about this was definitely thrown in a lot. And I think it just ended up being
too busy where like we didn't really have a lot of time to focus on it because it is a huge issue and it's like not a huge issue, but I'm saying it's something that was very important to the student body. And I think that from what I got when I went to talk to the class was the biggest thing that they were sort of pioneering for that they wanted
was that idea of like having the su like the student school committee I would say and then having one member of the student school committee sit in the position that I'm in or that Ava's in to be like the representative to the school committee. So the idea is sort of that like people in my position or AA's
position would almost like lead the group was what I got when I talked to them and then so it would be like we would get this the club would get frequent communication through one of us and then like Dr. Smith said every like one or two months it would be that
like mandatory meeting and that was like their biggest thing that they got from when I went to talk to them. Perfect. Yeah. and even reading um what students are allowed to do, speak freely during the meeting at any time. That's
it. Join subcommittees, propose motions. Um I don't think we've ever had someone propose motions, but I know in the past we've had plenty of student uh representatives speak up on topics. I think the, you know, as we're looking at this with, again, you're transitioning
and graduating. Um, I know Miss Bennett will probably know better than I do of how they select the next junior. So, I guess that would probably be part of what they want out of that. So, because typically by before you graduate, they announce
who the next year's junior representative would be and typically um Ava would move on. But that's that's my you know so again as we're now in May and you're having AP finals and getting
ready to transition um that's something we should follow up with to make sure that there is uh a plan for that. So, Marilyn, I'm wondering uh I don't know if you were all part of that meeting, but do each of the members have received
this members handbook or they're just beginning to look at it and think about what they might see as their role or changing a role. So, all I received is that so I spoke to Miss Williams one-on-one and she asked me to come talk to the class. And when I went, I basically just had like they had
a list of probably like 15 questions to ask me about my role here. And I'm sure that if this handbook, if Dr. Smith has it, I'm sure that they've seen it or had some idea of it. I know they were doing a lot of research and they had a lot of sources when I went, but I'm not aware of whether or not they received this
exact copy. Miss Landers. So, the civics project is that they're looking at forming this advisory committee. Um, you know, I'm I don't
know what everybody I would welcome that. I think we would all welcome more student input. I think the the challenge is going to be of course as as Dr. Smith was just saying that a lot of the things that the students are going to be interested in changing are really school
level, right? um changes, not necessarily district level issues. You know, you've seen what we're limited to doing here, right? Budget policy superintendent, right? So, if they're if they want to talk about,
you know, campus rules at the high school, more power to the students, right, to be working with, you know, staff and administration on those changes. So, I think that would be the challenge, but I think it would be great to have more student voices on all the things that we talk about here for sure.
So, um what's the next step on this? Or are we just waiting for the students to move forward from the civics class with this proposal? Are they looking for one of us to speak so I can I can work with Dr. Smith and get one of us to speak to them? Yeah,
because I think it's probably a joint um task in the sense that there's needs to be um a school committee component in that I can't make decisions for the committee and there's going to have to be a school
leadership side in organizing the students and like how do we make how do we form the committee? um what's the election process etc etc where do they meet when do they meet who adi does it need an adviser if it doesn't need an adviser how does that get all set up
like that's that's you know our prerogative as far as the management thing right so I think that way and I did I said to them I said you know if when we meet I think it'd be best that you have school committee member come and have me come at the same time so
that then you don't have to have you know you get questions from them and they're like oh well then you should talk to the superintendent about that like let's just do it at the same time so we can figure out all these problems at the same time. Perfect. Thank you. Uh school committee business policy
subcommittee has a few things to review. So there are three policies uh before you to look at. Um so it and um and how they come to us. How does this policy subcommittee work? Uh this could be a
quick primer reminder to you all. Um, sometimes we're alerted through our state organization, the Mass Association for School Committees, policies that we may want to look at and
update because there's changes in the law, changes in regulations within DESIE or just good practice. Uh sometimes uh internally there's a request to look at a policy from the
superintendent's office um because it's worded awkwardly or it's not quite understood by all. So sometimes we're looking at policies to see how we can just make it as clear and concise as possible because often these policies do
end up in the student handbooks and are available to students and parents. Um and this time around we had one of the policies which is the first one eligibility to enroll which is JFA came
to us of an um uh the discussion period within our agenda. we heard a presentation um from a member in the audience um and so you know what we do with that is we listened we went back we looked at
what our policy was there was a decision to review um and this is how we undergo our review of that um policies should be clear consistent and updated so one of the things that was looked at is at uh
what age does someone uh a young person eligible to enroll? Um and by law you uh in Massachusetts you begin school is compulsory in September of the
calendar year that they turn six. Um in Massachusetts kindergarten is encouraged but non-mandated. practices have changed over the years in
that it's understood and required that schools do have to provide free half-time uh part-time kindergarten for families but it's an optional exercise on the part. All right. So then what we
ended up doing is understanding that we went and looked at several examples. What's common practice? There's no law that you begin at what age you start kindergarten. So what the common practice is consistent. There are about
400 school districts in Massachusetts and all of them have that the young person turned five on or before September 1st and that is consistent. Um it was referenced some place in Desessie
that it looked like some communities waver that but Desi's was clear on on their print out that we don't know if our information is update and accurate. Please check with the local school districts. So there are about 15
districts that look like on Desi's map that they may wave the age. We went and looked at all 15 and all of them have a starting date. You must be five on or before September 1st. Uh that is
consistent in every community on the Cape. And then we believe when we talked about it a little bit more among us, we thought it was good practice. So the only thing we did uh under this charge is we just looked at our current policy.
We reviewed it and we're clear and comfortable that is consistent with good practice. There is no change. Mr. New, so am I correct in that a a child at the
age of six may attend kindergarten? Yes. Okay. So that is a review. So there's no vote and no change on that. I just have a question. I you know so the language all persons between the ages of
five and 21 years of age and then school attendance is mandatory for each child when they attain the age of six. So there's a discrepancy there as far as I'm concerned.
um if we're going to require all children, you know, if you want to say school attendance is mandatory, you know, beginning in first grade, I I just see um a year-long discrepancy. Miss Landers, if you want to make a comment first and
then Mr. Martin, I think that so the first paragraph it says all persons between the ages of five and 21 are entitled. Correct. Right. So you could choose to send a child at age five.
But the second paragraph says it's mandatory starting at age six. So So I'm not sure what I'm saying. What I'm saying is why are we allowing a full year for a child to attend kindergarten? Well, because it's
good practice to send kids to kindergarten, right? We agreed years ago as a district, well maybe you're of a differing opinion, but we agreed years ago as a district that we wanted to provide full day kindergarten in this district even though it's not required
by the state. Okay. The point that I'm getting at is I if we're going to allow a full year starting from five to through age six, which means potentially a child can be seven at some point in their kindergarten year. um
they'd probably go to first grade. Some kids don't go to kindergarten or they go to private kindergarten, right? So, it would be part of their evaluation, right? When they're screened for kindergarten, the question would be if they're five, if they're six years old as part of their screening, and maybe
Maria will or somebody will tell us more. The screening would tell us whether they're going to be going into kindergarten or directly to first grade. No, Maria. So again, I just I'm getting I'm getting to the point of an exceptional child. So what are we going
to do as a school district if there is an exceptionally bright child who wants to metriculate early so that they don't end up being bored or I'm not sure what you mean. I guess at what age are you asking the question? You mean like a fouryear-old?
I guess a four-year-old. Somebody who's not four-year-old. I guess maybe my point is not well well stated. Um there there's no changes we made currently. So I may recommend I'm wondering you know why do we why don't we just stay between
all people between the ages of five and six can attend kindergarten. Let's be clear, it's not mandated, but they are entitled and kindergarten is available
at a uh by statue at a half-time basis. We do have found that most communities have decided to make kindergarten full day. So, we are consistent, but since 1857 in Massachusetts, the law is you
have to begin school at the age of six. All right. Thank you for the explanation. I appreciate that. And again, as there's there's this is just a review. If there's if you want to review it again and send any feedback, I'm sure the review committee can look
at it at a future time. Nope. And then the next policy All right. The next policy that we uh reviewed was the um J-R student records. Um the policy that
was um existing um we felt was pretty um uh desperately in need of some clarification and kind of you know rewriting and just and and making it more easily absorbable. Um it was it uh uh originally was written and it was
kind of convoluted and a little confusing. Uh so we we cleaned up the language. we, you know, we adopted um uh wording from other uh other sources and kind of put together this so that it's when it's it's coherent and it's
understandable um and it's easy to digest. And the other reason we looked at it, this came from a request of the superintendent that we look at this policy. Uh so in doing so we looked at the document that DESIE had which was
from 2022 and most recently some updates that were provided protecting the rights of parents and kids that the attorney general's office put out. So we use that as guidance as well. Again this is the first reading and has been provided so no votes
required. And then the next one, Mr. Martin. Uh, we also reviewed um KDB, which is the uh public's right to know. Um, the original version of this policy uh
is at the top of the page. Uh the bottom half of the page is the uh proposed uh amendment and um uh not corrections but yeah the amendment to the policy um that we are uh
submitting. Thank you. And again this is for policy KDB. This is the public's right to know. Again this is a first reading as provided. So no vote needed there. Thank you. Next we have on our
agenda our summer meeting schedule. All right. So, um just wanted we're the summer is rapidly approaching and we do not have meetings scheduled for the committee for past the end of June. Um,
and before we are at the end of June and don't have a plan, I wanted to put on the committee's radar um to have you all discuss when you would like to meet in the summer, how often you want to meet in the summer, and do you want to have
uh two business meeting? Well, well, I guess first you need to decide how many times you want to meet and then do you want to have a workshop? Do you want to have um uh two bis you know all business meetings? Just want to sort of figure
all that out. I do we have done some work with a group um that's related to um the committee's uh goal of supporting some of the equity work that uh the committee has as one of your goals that
is available to do work with the committee should you want to do a workshop. But should you not want to do a workshop, we don't we're not committed to to that. But I they are available. Um but I just need to know again if the committee that's also one of the needs here is to know if the committee does
want to do a workshop at the summer then I can work with that vendor and schedule that um that piece in. Manders. Yeah. Yeah, I mean traditionally we've had um two meetings over the summer, one in July, one in August, and we've used it as an opportunity to have workshop
meetings. Uh you know, obviously if there's business that needs to be attended to, there can be a small business portion at the beginning of each of those meetings, but my preference is to have this opportunity for some workshopping that we don't get to do during the year on important
topics. So I would I would support two meetings, both workshops. Anyone else have any feedback? I would agree. The the sessions that we've had in the past have been very helpful. The including the super 10's valuation which I hope
everyone has submitted today. I'll find out shortly. Submitted that today or before I meet at the end of this week to review them. Uh you have time before I meet with Sarah. Um but all the things that we've learned and updates have
always been helpful. So I'm also uh would say one each month and try to do it as a workshop. Stay with Mondays. It's fine. Okay. Yeah. Just Okay. Perfect. So we can review the calendar
and then discuss that. Yeah. I I'll have Sarah work with a committee to find two one date in July and one date in August and um same time frame. Do you want to We typically do five. I think we typically did earlier.
If possible, we typically try to do for five. All right. Yeah, I'll shoot. Like I said, I'll have Sarah put out some dates and um work with the committee to find two dates that work. Perfect. Thank you. Um next is our consent agenda, which again we have the
dictionaries, thesaurus rhyming dictionaries. I guess they can wrap as well with those. Uh Ezra H.B. Baker Innovation School from the benevolent and protective order of the Elks. We have the acceptance of the 15 $100 Stop and Shop gift cards as HBaker Innovation
and then the minutes of April 7th and April 14th. We have a motion and a a second. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Any abstained? None. Uh bills requisition and payroll. I think we did
online. We received one for online today. Calendars. Uh I believe it. Oh, nope. There is one in June. We have an one and a half hour early release this Wednesday. Um if you could figure out that wacky time, good luck. Uh but that we do have that on Wednesday. And then
we have our next school committee meeting on the 19th and then Memorial Day holiday. There's no school on the 26th. Um and say now I know we saw the invitation then uh Yarmouth Regional High School graduation will be on Saturday June 7th.
Um, so that is for calendars, public comment. If anyone's looking to see public raise their hand for public comment, I will read that. If not, we will continue. Looks like I see no one standing for public comment. Any other motions? Motion to
adjurnn. We have a motion. We have a second. I second it. Um, all those in favor say I. I. And he opposed.