Welcome to the East Law Meadow Public Schools School Committee meeting. Uh it's May 26, 2026 at 6:17. Uh please rise for 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 in Brussel, the liberty of a call to order. Um, sorry. Roll call. >> Pamela Blair, assistant superintendent
for business. Gregory Thompson, Cordman Smith, superintendent of schools, >> Antella Rashella, >> William Strawther, >> Amy Dentto, Heather Brown, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. >> Anna Flanigan, student representative. >> Thank you. Approval of minutes.
>> I would move that we approve the May 11th, 2026 regular session meeting minutes as presented. >> Made by Greg, seconded by William. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Any nays? Carries over four to zero. Do
>> you want to modify the agenda? >> Sure. >> Uh I would move that we modify tonight's agenda to add 7.1 under new business payroll coordination. Payroll coordinator job description. >> Um do we have to vote on that? Y.
>> Okay. Motion made by Greg. Second. >> Seconded by Amy. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Any nays? Carries over four to zero. Thank you for that. Um committee and
subcommittee communications. Greg, you want to start? >> Sure. Uh last Wednesday attended the uh Ginspoon Excellence in Teachers Award. Antella and Gordon and Heather were there as well. Um had four teachers
recognized. Uh, always a great um event for those folks. Um, some updates on the high school project. We are looking now to um do some of the additional things that we didn't know we would originally be able to do in terms of uh funding. Some of those things are lights on the
outdoor basketball courts, potentially lights on the baseball and softball fields, and furniture and bleachers for the tennis courts, none of which were originally in the project. >> Are there lights on the tennis courts, too? There are current already lights on the tennis courts. Yep.
>> Um and we're also working on the um away bleachers for the stadium. Um there's some additional costs for those above the grant uh that we received, but uh we're working to finalize those as well. And then finally, um I've gotten involved in the time capsule project. Uh
this is the 1976 time capsule. It's 50 years now uh in the making. It's uh ripe and ready to be removed. Uh so this Thursday, the 28th, uh 8 a.m., we will be at Heritage Park with excavator uh in search of the 1976 time capsule, which
we will be opening. Uh there's an event Saturday at the historical commission um uh uh to to actually show what's in it and to take um things for the 2026 time capsule that will be going in the place
of the 1976 time capsule back into the ground to uh again ripen for 50 years. >> The do they know exactly where it is? >> Yeah, we're in search or that >> you sound. >> Do you want me to tell you the story? I mean, how much time do we got? I told Amy the story, but so we look for it. We
have pictures of where it was put in the ground. There is a marker for it. There's a here lies the time capsule from 1976, opened in 2026. Um, the company that's going to come remove it, the vault company that we're getting new one from, gave a poker, a ground poker
to me. And so we spent an hour and a half last week looking for the thing. Uh, and it's a lot of work forcing it in the ground and then getting it out of the ground is even harder. We didn't find it. >> So, um, stay tuned.
>> Like, how deep? How deep? >> Well, typically being in the business, um, graves are dug 6 ft plus the minus the 2 and 1/2. So, 3 and 1/2 ft. They should be You should hit concrete. We didn't hit anything. So, >> I have faith that it's there. >> How big is it?
>> It's uh about 2 and 1/2 by 7. >> Like a coffin. >> It's a It's a vault. >> Okay. >> Which you would put in and then close up. It's concrete. >> Wow. >> All right. >> And so we purchased a new one. >> Six feet. >> I didn't bury it. >> No, you went down six feet.
>> And typically a typical grave is six feet under, right? You know, like freeze, but then you put the box in is 2 and 1/2 ft above that. So at 3 and 1/2 ft, you should hit. Well, we weren't hitting. >> Wow. >> We will find it Thursday morning. It will be found. Anyway, thank you for your time >> and your
>> Thank you for this time. The animation was great. >> I know. I like that. I liked it. All right. I don't have anything. Nothing to report. >> No. >> Um, so tomorrow is the senior's last day of school. >> Y.
>> And then we have our senior field trip to Boston next Wednesday. You're going to see a Red Sox game, go to the aquarium, right? >> And then graduation is next Friday. >> Mhm. >> Um, our little big kids nursery school had their graduation last week. Um, our Ben and Chorus students participated in
the Memorial Day ceremonies this weekend. And our girls lacrosse and boys tennis won their third Western Mass Championships in a row. And girls softball won for the second time since 1984. >> Nice. >> I know. I saw some of that on social media that our teams are doing really
well. >> Yeah. >> So, it's my last meeting. >> Yay. I mean, >> you've been great. We're going to miss you. Thank you for all your time and effort. I know >> all the processes that you've helped us with
>> been great >> and all your input as well. >> Thank you. >> Um all right, presentations >> is a good segue. So in honor of your last meeting, Miss Plan because you've been such an
incredible student liaison, we want to get you something. I will recognize that if in recognition presented to Anna Flanigan, student rep E school committee May 26, 2026. >> Thank you. I'm glad you hug.
>> That's a sweet. >> Yeah, I think that's a great idea. Got a picture. >> Really? >> Hey, can we get a picture and Gordon with >> Yes, of course. >> We'll give it to Mr. Paige for the >> Should I hold >> weekly update? Yes, definitely need to
hold it. >> I'm only standing for you, Ann. I can't stop it. >> It could have been fabulous. >> Um, all there. >> There you go. Whatever you want. It's up to you.
Right on the middle. Okay. Ready? Get that. >> Nice. >> Oh, thank you guys. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Sam. You're welcome. >> All right. >> All the input that you provided and
you've helped select the next superintendent, so you've shaped districts for years to come. >> Thank you, guys. >> All right. Um, Miss Blair, I think you're up next. >> Yes, I am. So, in your packet, you're
going to see a a letter from Principal uh Steve Pearson. And I'm very happy and proud to say that um he is asking the school committee to accept a generous $1,000 gift card awarded to our seventh grade students as the result of their outstanding
participation in the Young Writer Stranger Sagas writing contest for 10 to 18 year olds. Our seventh grade earned this recognition for having the greatest number of student submissions accepted for publication in the contest. The board of the young writers wrote, "A
huge congratulations also to Burland Park Middle School who were chosen as the school with our favorite set of entries. They have won young writers award of excellence and an incredible $1,000 gift card. All the gift card proceeds will be to purchase materials and supplies that will directly support
literacy instruction in the classrooms. So congratulations to them. I just need you to officially accept it and they will uh >> expend the funds. >> Wonderful. Can I get a motion? >> Where is it going? Into the Birch. >> It is going into Well, it's a it's a gift card. Yeah. So, they're going to it's a student activity.
>> So, I would move to accept the $1,000 Amazon gift card from Young Writers uh to Burch Park Middle School gift account. >> Okay. Motion made by Greg. >> Seconded by Amy. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I I any nays
passes four to zero. >> Great. Thank you. I'll let them know tomorrow. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. Some old business. Have a question by >> So, uh as everyone remembers, uh at our last meeting, we had members um from the
Eleaf board uh discussing with us the possibility of hosting their gala event for next winter. um at the new high school and it was a a good discussion, a lot of good ideas and one of the things
that came out of that discussion was the request to send out to the list serve um are there other districts that have done something like this because uh it would be their gala event which is a fundraising event. It's an adult event
and it does involve alcohol. >> Uh so a temporary liquor license would be needed. So it wasn't an incredible response. Uh out of the list serve of roughly 300 and some odd um superintendent, I received 11 responses.
Uh eight of which were positive. So the positive ones were the Beverly Public Schools, Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Tech. Uh they hold an annual event of this nature. That's Blackstone, Essex Tech. So the tech schools seem to
do this pretty regularly. Um, so they hold events like this often. Pathfinder Regional is considering hosting an event like this. Uh, North Attboro Public Schools has hosted a few events similar to this. Tri County Regional Vocational
Technical School has hosted an event. West Bridgewater Public Schools. They are opening a new school and doing an event similar. So, it would be very similar to us. And Smith Bo has hosted events like this. Okay.
Um, do we need to vote on anything or >> So, I think where we left the discussion was, um, is this something that, uh, the committee would consider pursuing um, with the idea that maybe it's a
a way of getting the community together, certainly for the ELA gala, which raises money for the many grants that ELA so generously supplies each year, but also as a way to thank the community that maybe that would get more people possibly to come out who don't always
attend necessarily the e-leaf gallas that have taken place over the last >> few years >> few years. >> Mhm. >> Um none of the districts that responded indicated because this was a question that was asked in our discussion that
they felt it was precedent setting that uh you had to every group that came before you. Uh there was a question I asked that you had to say yes because you've said yes to eafie and in one case person said that they did it once and or the district said
they did it once and they have not had a subsequent request for about 12 years and they just recently had a an additional request. So this will be their second. >> I know ELF was meeting as a board the following day after our meeting last week. Have we heard from them in terms
of their intentions? Do they still want to move forward? Cuz I thought we said to them >> to let us know. >> Let us know before we voted. No, we haven't heard from them. >> I haven't heard from them. I think they're still like >> undecided. >> Deciding whether or not they're going to pursue. >> So, I would say um until they come with
a formal request that maybe we don't accept, but if we could collectively come up with a consensus that we would be open, I would I would be open for it as one member of five. And I think if others are there >> um without setting a precedent, if they
came with a request, most likely it would pass. Um >> but I don't know that we would need to vote yet if they're not actually requesting it. >> Why can't we just grant it today to them whether or not they to full circle it,
that's on them. >> That way we don't need to go through the rigomearroll again. I think they they do they did discuss this uh need to decide or make sure that they're planning to have a professional staff catering. >> Yeah. >> Um and any number of the respondents did
say we definitely want a professional staff >> doing the bartending, >> right? That shouldn't be would require that. Yeah. >> You got to go. >> I have to go. >> Yeah. Sorry. Is that okay? >> Talk to her. She's interested. >> Yeah. Yeah. She already said, "Do you
want a So, we're not going to vote." >> Do you want to vote? >> I don't. >> Do you want to vote? >> I would. I would vote. >> All right. >> Okay. >> So, then they >> move to allow Elie to um um sell alcoholic beverages subject to uh
approval from town council for one day >> host their gala. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And host >> next year uh with a temporary liquor license. >> Okay. I'll I'll change that, Sam. Thank you, Gordon. >> Sure. Um and also to require a professional staff um
>> professional caterer and bartender. >> Professional caterer and bartender. >> Motion made by Greg. >> Second. >> Second by William. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Any nays? Carries over four to zero. Thanks Amy. Sorry.
>> That's all right. >> Okay. And then there were three. So I mean certainly this can be tabled if you want um other people to the um folks who are not with us tonight to be in part of this
discussion but this is a continuation at the u at our look at use of facilities and specifically preparing um what we do with the pool as it comes online next
fall. So really two pages in are where um actually three pages in you'll find yellow highlighted portions. >> Yeah. >> Um those are revised or additional items
specifically around how the school department would handle scheduling the redstone quarry. not auditorium >> still in phase >> and this is something we would have to vote to agree on.
>> Well, this is a change to your policy. So, so this is uh >> to accept it. So it' be accepting how rentals and scheduling takes place, which is a combination of looking at what the ELPS or the school department's
needs are, what the aquatic needs of uh the wreck department would be, and then other groups in the town that might be interested in utilizing the Redstone Natiatorum. And then from there, should there be open time that we would
advertise, then others could come in and possibly request a rental. Additionally, um we updated the fee structure because um custodial contract has been changed
within the last year and so that's more representative of what the actual hourly wage is. And then in discussion with uh town manager, the recck department, uh Mr. Thompson, the
high school, we came up with um a possible change in the cost for renting the pool, which would include a lifeguard fee because anyone who's renting the um niatorum would need to have a lifeguard. And so
we built that into the fee. We would supply the lifeguard. >> Yeah. So, so that includes the lifeguard then, right? >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So, lifeguard and the fee to pay for that lifeguard. >> Well, oh, it's 160 an hour. Okay.
>> Um, William, just so you know, we had a great meeting with the town manager, the um Donna Prather, the director from the wreck. >> Um, is it Max or Zack, the aquatics director? >> I want to say Max. >> Max. We have a new aquatics director for
the town who will be really um keeping tabs of the pool. So, we're in a good place with them and it looks like this going to work. >> High school was there, too. >> Yes. >> And the high school. Oh, yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> I was there, too. >> All right. >> Cool. >> Um,
should we just accept this? Yeah, >> even though there's only three of us. Yes, that's three three to >> and there may be changes down the road should you want to change other areas that um like we didn't do anything with gymnasium or auditorium. Um
>> do you know when that was last updated? >> We last updated that I believe in either 20 I want to say 2018. So it's been a while but not a lot of people were asking to use our auditorium. >> All right. They may. Maybe we wait and
see what the actual um requests are. >> Okay. >> What's going on, Rich? >> We're live and in person, but it's good to see you, my friend. >> Hi, Kathy. Hey, Jim. >> How are you? >> Um, all right.
>> I see. >> Can I have a motion? Uh move to approve policy uh KF, community use of school facilities as presented. >> Motion made by Greg. Second, >> seconded by William. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I.
>> I. >> Any naysay? Carries over three to zero. >> Okay. Thank you. We'll get that uh revised and um up on the website through the MASC. >> All right.
Okay. our last item. >> Oh, so I'm requesting Oh, sorry. No, I was on um our payroll coordinator who has been with the district um nearly 30 years is going to retire. Um so we needed to take a look at her uh job description, which hasn't really been
reviewed since 2000. So, um I'm asking the school committee to uh approve that new payroll job payroll coordinator job description. >> You'd already passed it out. >> I did. Yes. Oops. Yeah. Was this
>> Were there specific um changes that you >> Not specifically, just uh newer language uh referencing Munis, our our software? Um acknowledging some of the relationships between the town and the and the uh school department. Just bringing it more up to date.
>> Yes, up to date. As I said, the last one was 2000, so things had changed a little bit. adding in a few more uh details to it. >> Wait, I have a motion. >> Can I have a motion? >> That was a Greg's job. >> Greg's job.
>> Move to uh accept the payroll coordinator job description as presented. Motion made by >> I got to get him in while I can. Well seconded by William. Any further discussion. All those in favor say I.
>> I. Any nays? Carries three to zero. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. That is the end of our meeting tonight. >> Make a motion to adjurnn. >> Your motion to adjurnn. >> Good one, William. Second that.
>> All right. Motion made by William, seconded by Greg. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. >> I. Any nays? >> Carries. Three zero. Cool. Thank you. >> Thank you.