This government meeting is brought to you by Eastworks and our local cable subscribers. Right. Good evening everyone. We are going to call to order this regular session meeting of the East Hampton School Committee. Excuse me. Uh Bonnie Atkins
>> here. >> Sam Hunter >> here. >> Linda Marque >> here. >> Uh Mayor Derby >> here. >> Okay. And chair Laura Scott present. Uh Eric Gayak and Megan Harvey are not with us today. Good luck to Eric and his son at their baseball game. And
congratulations to Megan on the birth of a gorgeous baby girl. Lil Gemma has joined World of Friday before April vacation and the family is doing very well and drinking up all the baby love and we send them all of our best. We miss Megan deeply but she's in a better
place. Okay, we are going to move on to our consent agenda items. We're going to start with finance. Um, I will entertain a motion to approve all the finance um agenda items below in um including a motion to approve the school payroll
dated April 16th, 2026 in the amount of $662,37362 and a motion to approve the accounts payable authorization for payment dated April 16th, 2026 in the amount of $679,79353. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Sam. Can I get a second?
>> Second. >> Thank you, Linda. All those in favor? I >> I opposed abstensions. Consent agenda for finance passes. I will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda for other items which includes a motion to approve the minutes of the um April
14th, 2026 regular session and executive session meetings. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Sam. Can I get a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Bonnie. All those in favor? >> I opposed abstensions. Motion carries. Gonna move on to announcements. We do
not have any gifts to report to my knowledge. And that brings us to our student representative update. Are we going to do rock paper scissors? Are we MVS or EHS first tonight? >> EHS can vote. >> All righty. >> I see a pattern here. Jess. Jess. So,
>> go right ahead. >> All righty. Tomorrow we um the EHS student council is going to go to the Western Massachusetts Association for Student Councils spring conference at Greenfield High School. So, there will be kind of like a signing out of last year's executive board um or this year's
executive board and some fun little workshops um and activities and then the candidates will give their speeches. I'm running for secretary um so that's kind of scary but it'll be fun. >> Then the following day um or well on the
7th of next month we have our executive board elections. There is one candidate for president, two for vice president, one for secretary, two for historian, and two for treasurer. The following day on the 8th, we have our final kids night out of the year uh from 6:00 to 9:00
with pizza, arts and crafts, games in the gym, a movie, and a few other things. The cost for that is $25. The class of 2028 is hosting a pancake and bingo night from 5:30 to 7:30 this Friday. On the 1st, there will be pancakes and various prizes ranging from
gift baskets to gift cards. We are continuing to plan our end of year events such as the senior barbecue. Um maybe a field day. That's kind of up in the air right now. Um and then our end of year awards night/banquet will be on the 27th. Uh but as for the student
council, that's pretty much it for the rest of the year. >> Wonderful. >> Awesome. >> Mr. Henry Lugana, what happens at NPS? >> Um everyone came back from break and it was um good. >> We got a headcount. Okay, good. >> Yeah. Um and um Mr. Goule, the um middle
school um band teacher, is doing a flower fundraiser. Um and um uh at the end of May, the New York trip for eighth graders is coming up. >> Nice. What are you guys going to do in New York?
>> Um I think we're going to a theme park and then learning about stuff. >> A theme park? >> Yeah, Coney Island, I think. >> Wow. That was a cool. >> You know what that is? That's apppropo. It is apppropo for East Hampton kids to go to Coney Island. I support that. All
right. >> And then um there are lots of track meets, baseball games happening. >> Softball. >> Yeah, softball. >> Let's not forget our lady friends. >> Um >> awesome. >> Yeah, >> you just came from a track meet, I hear. >> Yeah. >> I'm sorry that you didn't get to throw
the javelin. >> Thank you. >> Next time. >> Thank you, Henry. Also, I like your shirt. >> Thank you. We can talk about it later. Uh we are going to move to public comment now. Come on in and have a seat. Yes. >> Ordinance >> back there.
>> Uh the ordinance is downstairs. >> Ordinance is downstairs >> directly in the back. >> It'll be in this furthest back room one floor down. >> And you can take that staircase, ma'am. That staircase with the exit sign is your fastest way. >> This one right here. Right to your right
by the chairs. Yep. >> You're very welcome. Um, we're all here to help one another out. City government, >> that's a community. >> That's right. Okay, so we are moving to public comment. I was so excited thinking we had a member from the public here with us in person to comment. Turns
out she was just looking for a different meeting. So maybe any of our remote friends have thoughts to share. Raise your virtual hand. Just watching tonight and thank you for that. We appreciate you. At this point, we're going to close public comment. Um, the
next item on our agenda is our superintendent update. Let me just say one thing very quickly. What >> surprise? No, I'm kidding. >> Um, the elephant in the room. I think we've alluded to this once before. We'll
have more to share on this in the coming weeks, but we do want to acknowledge that last evening the city council held a special meeting where they had a unanimous vote to approve the recommendation of the budget task force to have a proposition 2 and a half
override question uh seeking an amount of money. The amount is $6.9 million and that election will be held on June 9th. Um, we will have more details to share from the school side of things and how that affects us and and what we are seeking to do to support our fellow
departments in the city and to preserve the services and the character and the way of life that we've come to know and love. Um, we didn't want to say nothing on this, but uh these are work work that's in motion and we'll be dealing with one item tonight directly related to that. >> Yeah, >> Superintendent Balch.
>> All right, we have a couple updates. So the first one um is sort of a logistical recommendation. We have a planned school committee meeting on June 9th. A recommendation to move that to June 11th. Um we've requested the space. Um
just a recommendation to all of you to do that. >> Um we're going to pause. Can we get a I'd like to cruise right through this. So let's June 11th is a Thursday. It would be at 6 p.m. here in the same room. >> That's fine with me. >> Okay. I would entertain a motion to move
the June 9th regular session school committee meeting to June 11th beginning at 6 p.m. in the same room. >> Uh so moved. >> Thank you, Sam. Can I get a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Bonnie. Any other questions, comments, or discussion before we vote on that? >> And I'd like to thank the East Hampton Tenants Association for um graciously
giving us the space. So, >> appreciated that. That's >> and we would welcome their attendance if they have thoughts to share on the 11th because we support their um endeavors as well. All right. So, we are going to vote. All those in favor of moving that meeting from June 9th to June 11 say I.
>> Opposed. Absentious. Okay. Motion carries. Go ahead, Dr. Balsh. >> All right. The second update is also related to June 9th. So, we have two options for your consideration this evening. Um, and it's in regards to our
school committee approved calendar, school calendar. So, um, voting day, if voting day is on June 9th, East Hampton High School is our voting location. So, we have, um, two options on the table for you. Um, the first option, um, would
be that we close EHS for one day on June 9th for voting. Um, we've worked um, the clerk's office will need both the cafeteria and the gymnasium spaces for voting for all five precincts. um teachers that would impact so school
would close for just the high school on the 9th. We would still have um Mountain View would still go to school. Um we informed the bus company that we would need to make these changes and you know they said that's not a problem logistically speaking. Um but what it
does impact is we'd have to add a day to the school calendar. So instead of Monday, June 22nd, um, EHS students would have school on June 23rd as well. >> Just the high school students. >> And would that be a half day as well as the 22nd? Would the 22nd and the 23rd
both be half days? >> So Monday full day, Tuesday would be the half day. So we'd bump it down. >> Okay. So the 22nd would now become a half or a full day and the 23rd would be a half a day. Yes. Okay. Um, and the second option that we could try to
consider, but um, just thinking about like the logistics, um, we could do try to do a half a day at EHS on June 9th. Um, we'd have to move all of the tables if it rain. We'd have to move all the tables outside. If it rained, we'd still
need access to the kitchen. We'd sort of have a space where students, you know, are in the space that the voters are coming into. It would be really hard to we have to serve lunch on a half day. >> So if we did a half day, um we we'd still have to try to figure out how to
do a graband-go sort of lunch style. We also are trying to figure we'd have to figure out parking for that day. So where would students park? Where would staff park? We'd have to try to figure out some sort of shuttle system if we did a half day or have everybody park on
the side streets. And we'd have to work that out with the East Hampton Police Department. Um but we would need the kitchen operational. So the kitchen abuts the the um >> which is also the main entrance to the building. >> Yeah. >> So um those are the two options though
that for consideration it would be to um have the add the school day or um but it is your school approved calendar. So let's open this up for discussion. Mayor, do you want to start or end? >> I can end. >> Okay. Bonnie, do you have anything or Jess? >> Jess is the only person who goes to high
school. totally noted. >> As much as I don't like having to go to school um for an extra day, I think it is the better decision to have the school closed that day and just move to Tuesday being the or the 23rd being the last day of school
because I just don't think the school population could really handle that. I don't know, tons of people coming in and going out and having to close down the gym where there's classes happening and then the cafeteria being half used or something. So, I think it would make sense to have the school fully closed on
voting day. >> Bonnie, that's my feeling. I can't even imagine just trying to like do everything. And there's and you know, there's already a lot of understandable stress about the voting day. Mhm.
>> And so I honestly wouldn't want the teachers and the staff to have to be wondering what was happening through that entire day while they're functioning um you know at the level we're always
asking them to function at. And so I would really be you know very appreciative of closing it and then extending for another day. >> Hey do you have thoughts? Um, if I was in high school, um, I wouldn't
really want to have an extra day of school, but um, I also like it would be like really compact and you would get home like really late if you had a half day um, like during the voting day. >> So, I think it is like for the best if
you um, like shut down school on June 9th. >> Solidarity with the high school students. All right, Linda. >> You know, as I listen to Jess and Henry talk about this and I'm thinking that we are going to ask the community to make
some sacrifices and to see that these these two students are saying, "Well, we understand and we'd rather not have to have this extra day, but we're willing to make this sacrifice for our community." And I just think that kind of shows what a special community that
we are have here in East Hampton. And I think we're talking about having a community come together and try to do what would be the best for all of us. So, kudos to the two of you. You inspire me every day and it's why I like to be here.
>> Thank you, Linda. Well said, Sam. Um, so I uh I occasionally get um feedback from the public about and as soon as this June 9th was floated. I got a lot of messages from folks um being like is school going to is is there going to be
another day of school on the calendar? Does this change the last day of school? They were all like so far all the folks that I have heard from are Mountain View parents. So I just want to cl like really get it out there. This doesn't affect the Mountain View schedule. This is just the high school schedule. And I think um I I I think it makes sense. I
think it sounds logistically more possible uh just in general. And we want to make sure that the vote is, you know, that that people feel confident that the vote is um is happening with the least amount of problems. >> Um so I think it would I I would I would
prefer to add an extra day on um for the high school um and have them um not go to school that day. >> Mayor, >> for me, it's the logistics. I think, excuse me, if if we had to move stuff outside and it was raining, >> that would be problematic. So, I mean, I
think the cleanest uh most efficient way is to just extend school one day. >> Um I would make two Oh, Jessica, go ahead. >> I have a quick question. Yeah. >> Um how would that affect finals? >> So, I the we're going to work on that with Mr. Evans um in the educators. I
don't think it will impact finals cuz >> it also won't impact seniors. Thursday, Fridays are finals. >> Okay. That's because the thing is the student council is going to I think like six people are going to a conference that's in New Hampshire on Monday. >> Yeah. I think we're going to plan to
keep finals on Thursday, Friday. >> Don't quote me on that, but that is the discussion that we we had. We're going to keep finals where they are and extend maybe the makeup window there. >> Good question. Um, I had two thoughts on this when the superintendent and I first discussed it.
Um, two concerns that I want to voice for the public. The first is having this election run functionally exactly like any other election we have in the city. Yeah. >> Um, it doesn't need to affect Mountain View because we've now consolidated all the precincts into the high school. But
the idea of for example not opening voting till later in the day or having there not be sufficient parking. Um that was one consideration is we we don't want to appear certainly most people will assume that the folks behind this table are going to support an override to preserve the work that we have done
thus far and we don't want to appear to be putting our finger on the scale of an election by shortening that or making it more difficult for anyone in any way. So that's one basket. The other is just um a security concern. Uh we don't typically allow unfettered access into
the high school or any school when school is in session. And we also don't have a an electing uh an electorate that is accustomed to having to show identification of any sort when they go in to vote. So it seemed to me to, you know, to both protect students and staff
and also to allow the public the free access that they expect on election day. It seemed to me to be the most cogent path forward. Um, would anybody care to make a motion as to either one of the two options presented by the superintendent? >> I I I'll make the motion that I believe
that we should add an extra day at the end of the year for the high school students and close the high school for the June 9th election. >> Thank you, Linda. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Sam. Any further comments, questions, discussion before we vote?
Okay, seeing none, all those in favor? I I >> opposed abstensions. Motion carries for the first uh proposal. Thank you so much, Dr. Boscher. I know a lot of work went into presenting those two options and a lot of Yeah, we we appreciate you. We appreciate Mr. Evans and
I have a quick yes presentation too. All right. Um the next item that I have to present um I had shared with the staff um at both schools sort of a timeline a budgetary timeline
um for us and sort of next steps because you know I think there was a lot of questions and I wanted to make sure that we were giving as much information as possible um when it was possible. Michelle, if you need a minute, I can
move on to that um to the next two items on new business while you're working on that. Is that okay? >> Sure. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um so, we're going to skip ahead briefly. Um under new business, we have um we are looking the uh city council president Connie Denim had reached out
to me. Uh the city has a TNGI committee which is transgender, non-binary, gender diverse and interex committee and they had requested I think it is um customary for the school committee to send a representative. So what we're
looking to do tonight is to see if anyone present here this evening is interested in uh volunteering for that role. if we do find and select someone to put forward, they would then go through the city council appointments process um in the hopes of joining that
committee. Um so I would open up the table to see if anyone has any thoughts or interests or questions about that committee and service on it. >> I um Yes, Bobby. um I would be very interested um and it's something that
I'm actually very passionate about um in my life and my work and um I had actually thought at one point when I heard about this committee but I wanted to make sure like I wasn't going to then commit to something that I couldn't do.
So the fact that I could do it through my work right >> with school committee would actually be ideal. >> Anybody else? I would just like to say that we are fortunate to have Bonnie Atkins on our school committee >> and this committee is fortunate. >> We can ex and and the city is fortunate
to have her and so I fully support Bonnie >> 100%. >> Uh I would entertain a motion to put Bonnie Atkins name forward to the city council appointments committee for consideration. >> Uh sure. Uh I uh move to put um to nominate.
>> You can say so moved. >> So moved. Oh, yeah. So moved. Yeah. Uh, can I get a second? >> I'll second that. >> Thank you, Linda. All those in favor? >> Opposed? Abstensions? Motion carries. Thank you so much, Bonnie. We appreciate you. Um, so I will notify uh city council president Denim and have her
reach out to you to figure out what the next steps are. Great. Okay, great. Um, Michelle, are you ready? >> Yeah. Okay, great. Great. Okay, we um All right, we put together just sort of a a couple slides just to give everybody
I think a little bit of context to share what we shared with staff um about our timeline and about some budgetary considerations. So, I'm just going to do a short presentation about, you know, sort of what this looks and feels like for our faculty, staff, and for school
committee in our collaboration. And just a reminder, you know, our core values are going to be ever important during this time and just to stay grounded in those. I'm really proud of the work that we did to get these core values and to have, you know, sort of this
representation of who we are and and what we believe in, a commitment to learning, a community of belonging. And as we navigate the next, you know, 45 days, 44 days, thinking about, you know, who we are and how we engage with one
another and how we show care and concern and consideration for every member of our community, I think is so important. Um and I I just want to stay grounded in those core values. Um we have some some next steps that we need to do and just
at a very high level, you know, our job is to present and prepare scenarios for the school committee's consideration. Um including what it looks like for reductions and position impacts, you know, whether we have an override or not
override. So our job as the school department is to present those to you and we are committed to collaborating with our EA, so the East Hampton Education Association as partners in this work. We can't do this work without the unions and we know that. Um so
having them on board and being very clear and consistent in our communication with them is going to be very important. and for the school committee as well as we develop sort of our strategy what it looks like if we have to non-renew educators if we have reduction in force and what does that
look like when we have to you know potentially call educators back. So, we want to be transparent throughout this process and we want to make sure that through every step of the way that we are communicating with our staff and with the the larger community and we have some, you know, some steps that we're going to take and you'll see the
timeline throughout this process. And, you know, our job is to enact all of the budget considerations that according to our EA contract and to the school committee's approved budget. So, what has happened? So, I just kind of wanted to walk everybody through. So,
how did we get here and what do we need to do now? So, just to set the stage, you know, we worked sort of all year long on our budget. Um, on February 2nd, we pre prepared a level service budget. We collaborated with the mayor's office, the finance committee, and on March
24th, we presented a budget to all of you which was approved. So, that is currently our standing budget. Um and you know in that budgetary decision we we had already made some adjustments to
to present that budget to you we had already done some cost shifts and some analysis in that and as we talked about sort of we reduced an administrator position throughout that. So we made some cuts um sort of strategically and reallocations through that process. Um
we we did um we renegotiated our copier contract. So we had embedded some sort of cost savings already into FY27 and you know we had some plans to convert some positions. Um and you know now that we're faced with this new
fiscal reality sort of we have to take a step back. Um we the city identified that we had this in fact structural defici deficit that we needed to pivot and now our next step as the school department is you know to vi to provide
you with sort of two budget scenarios. The first one is if there is an override that's approved, right? So, you know, we heard the mayor talk about, you know, there was this larger deficit. We got down to $6.9 million. Um, but that has
to come that still requires some cuts for the school department. Um, you know, small adjustments that we can make to help, you know, sort of um make uh get up to where we need to be. And then scenario two is if the override is not
approved, right? The school committee will need to, you know, consider phase reductions including non-renewals and reduction in force. And both of those scenarios require us to have real fiscal responsibility, transparent, and we have to meet the needs of our students as
well. So we will you will review and vote. Um, and you know this this is such an evolving process like by the time I sent the a memo to the staff on Thursday of last week and I've already had to make some changes to that. So just know
that you know sort of as developments occur. This is sort of not a very this is not it's not a timeline that is hard and fast. >> Michelle, can I ask interrupt for one second and have you go back one slide? Yeah. >> I just want to make a point of clarification for the public. So there's scenario two, scenario one and scenario
two. What we what you referred to in the last slide was our level service budget which had some redistribution and some you know some massaging of position. So we were offering a similar level of service and slightly different positions and is at the same cost. >> Yes. >> And now what we're talking about the
difference between one and two. One is if the override was is to be approved on June 9th. Scenario two is if it is not approved. So what Dr. Mr. Bal is referring to in scenario one that the override is approved but we're still making further cuts is that gap between
the 6.9 million and the roughly 8 million. There is a gap in between there that the budget task force decided they were not going to ask the public for an 8 plus million override. They scaled that back to 6.9 million and now individual city departments are being
tasked with finding some further savings from the budgets they had already created. So that is what we're talking about. These things are complicated and we're going to try to repeat this as often as necessary and update people as new information, but we just want to try it's a it's a big moving machine. I
apologize Michelle. >> No, thank you. Um, and so we have some meetings, right? We voted for our to move the June 9th to June 11th. So May 12th, May 26th, and June 11th. So what is going to happen at those meetings? So
at the next school committee meeting we are all going to discuss discuss what we need to do to make sure that we are prepared for both scenarios. So um you you we will present to you our recommendations as the school department
and you tell us how we need to move forward at that meeting. Um May 26 we're going to actually discuss what those two budget scenarios look like. The one with the override is a potential reduction of
500,000. The one the budget scenario without the override is a potential reduction of $2.75 million. >> Interject one more time. So when Dr. Balch is saying potential reduction, she's saying here's the level service budget that we approved unanimously
earlier this year. So the $500,000 reduction or the $2.75 million reduction are reductions from that level service budget that we have already passed. That is our current standing budget. I'm sorry to keep beating the dead horse, but this stuff is confusing. I just want to keep people on the same page.
>> No, I think it's very important and as we can say it, we >> again have to we have to just reiterate. So, if we pass the override, we still have to find $500,00 million out of a budget that we passed.
>> Yep. And so we're that's going to need some real critical thinking, sacrifice, and you know, because that's what we're doing. >> That's what we're asking the community to do as well. So this is our good faith showing. >> If it doesn't, we're talking about I'm going to say in my opinion, a $2 million
>> almost three >> almost three, which would be extremely difficult for us to be able to provide services that anyone in this community has expected. >> That's right. And so May 12 and May 26 are where will be furnished. It will be
one opportunity, one of many, for the public to hear more detail about what exactly that would look like. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> Correct. >> Thank you. >> Um and then June 11th will be sort of the final budget. We'll know the status
of the override at that time and we will officially have our budget on the table at that meeting. Um and again we really want to make sure that we are transparent and I appreciate you reiterating you know what this means and what the impact is in the two different
scenarios. Um so this timeline um has changed already but um sort of the things that have happened. We had our press conference. We had um city council meeting and that was last night where they voted for the language of the override. the city clerk, Marian Giza,
sent out the information um right before this meeting about the vote. So, um and then the next step that has to happen, so the the items in blue are what the mayor has set forward as the timeline and the timeline in gray is the timeline
for East Hampton Public Schools. So, um Mayor Derby will present his budget to the city council on May 6th. So that will help inform you know our final numbers for our May 12th meeting. Um I
am hosting meetings with the whole staff at EHS and MVS on May 12th and May 13th. Um just to talk to the staff about, you know, what's going to happen, you know, what next steps look like. I'm sure there's going to be a lot of questions.
um you know and we will answer them to the best of our ability and what this looks like. But I think you know it'll be some real opportunities for um members of the East Hampton Public Schools to listen in on school committee meetings because I think that will be a very reliable source of information and
to pay attention to the city council meetings as well because these things are happening concurrently and I I feel like there'll be a lot of information to share during th during those opportunities. Um, and I'll do my best to continue to be transparent and
communicate with the staff as well. Um, so like I said, May 12th is the school committee budget. You're going to get those. Uh, we're going to talk about, you know, what needs to happen next in terms of the non-renewals. You will direct us to do, you know, what do we
have to do for the reduction in force or the non-renewal notice. Um May 15th will be um the day that we have set for non-renewals of nonprofessional teaching status educators. Um the contract
deadline is June 15th. Um but we want um we want to be transparent with people that people you know and that you will know sort of your status on May 15th. And so for the public, these non-professional status, it's not that
these teachers are not professionals. What that means is that they are three years or fewer working in district and at the end of their third year in district, they have the opportunity to be moved into professional status, which is somewhat similar to tenure. >> Yes. Correct. So so long as an educator
has been three consecutive years in a position with a license teaching under the appropriate license on that third year there are circumstances if you have maternity leave or whatever but on that third the first day of that third year you become a teacher with professional
teaching status. So, um, that will be the day that we May 15th, it's a month in advance of, you know, sort of the contractual last contractually obligated day. Um, and then May 26th, um, we'll talk about some addition the
budget scenarios, the one with the override and one without the override, and we'll be very clear about what those, you know, what it looks like for the school community. Um May 27th um we have scheduled um
we'll have school committee the night before and then the next day the school department will be presenting our school budget to the city council um finance committee the following day >> which is what we would typically do in this scenario. What you're presenting to
them are two budget scenarios rather than just one. >> Yes. Um and then we have voting day on June 9th. Um and then June 11th we have another school committee meeting and
we'll know sort of whether we um had a successful um override or not and what do we do with our next steps with the budget and then June 12th if we do have a successful override we'll initiate the recall process. We'll have all of this
work sort of done in advance, but we want educators that are being recalled to know before the last day of school um about their position in the district. We might not have all of the answers, but we will try to, you know, recall as many educators as possible and let people be
very clear on educators status because that June 15th date, um, although it is in the contract for non-professional teaching status, um, I I believe that we should hold that same date for teachers with professional teaching status um, as
well. So, we're going to June 15th will be sort of the day that we use across the board. I think it is only fair for everyone. And then um June 17th um city council votes to finalize the budget.
And that is sort of the timeline as we have it right now. >> Okay. Does anyone have questions? Sam? >> Um I just have a question about that June 15th. Um, so on that day, ideally, the the idea is that everybody knows if
they're coming back next year on June 15th essentially. >> Yes. >> Will they necessarily know like where they're going to be teaching? >> No, we we might not be able to tell them the specific grade that they're going to be teaching in, but they will know whether they have a teaching position, a
par position, um, or if they're, you know, OTP, whatever it is. >> Okay. So it's so it's everybody in the district, not just the teaching staff as well. >> Correct. Yeah, we're going to um 2.75. Um >> yeah, >> that's a lot of our
>> that is there will Yeah. >> Anyone else? >> Yes, Bonnie. >> Um it's not a question. I I just know like what we're talking about are people's lives.
>> Mhm. >> We're talking about I mean this is where I'm I'm being Megan right now. Um >> someone has to >> We're Thank you, Megan. Um we're talking about people's lives. We're talking about our
educational system. We're talking about an extraordinary superintendent who's had an extraordinary first year. And this is a lot. Um, this is a lot for our city. This is a lot for our school
committee. This is a lot for our students most especially. And I think at every step of the way, we have to take pause and make sure that we're kind to each other
because reality is people are in survival mode. You know, do I have a job? Things are already extremely challenging in the world. And I just really want all of us,
you know, you've done so well, Michelle, really talking about this, like even the language allows us to take a breath because there's a little bit of distancing sometimes when we talk about things like non-renewals. These are people and I know that all of
us in having conversations um city council as well and being in those meetings we feel the gravity and so for I don't want for a second for us to lose sight of that
and I thank you Michelle. This is a really hard thing to have to present. I want to take a second to to piggyback off of that that this is not just we are we are this is a lot for us and for what this and for what it means for our
responsibility for the school department. The school department is not the only one sitting here with these sites on us. Um, you know, our our care and our thoughts are going out to our friends and colleagues in the police department and the fire department and DPW and central office and all the
people who are making sure the trains run on time and people who are seeing, you know, their names and their work bismerched because people are frustrated and scared about having an additional financial burden placed on them. And I think it's important to reiterate Bonnie is saying is the majority of these
people are themselves East Hampton residents. They are members of our community whether they live here or not. They work here. They support us. Um these are incredibly challenging times. The one bright note I will say is I'm really heartened by the leadership we've had from the mayor's office. The
partnership we formed with the city council and our own central office team has been incredible and I can't imagine trying to face a challenge like this without this band of people who are just so deeply committed to doing what's best for all of us. So, >> thank you, Bonnie,
>> for that touchstone. >> And I think it always goes back to community for me. I mean, you may get used to hearing it, but that's just what I believe in. >> And when I first ran for for a school committee, I remember saying we are a
community and we have a responsibility. That's what a community is. A community is a group of people who have responsibilities to each other and this is tough
and finances are tough but we should never confuse that money is impacting lives as Bonnie said and it's so easy to look at a sheet and see numbers 8 point whatever
this this and this to this. But in reality, what we're really talking about here is that we would dramatically change the quality in this community. And I
know that I'm just confident that each person that I know and those who are struggling and are saying, "I don't know how I could possibly vote for that because you don't have the money." is that we've just got
to be as continue to be kind. But what I appreciate so much is Michelle when you present this to us. I know that you were doing that from a place when you say transparency. When we talk about being authentic, we
talk about it's not fair to not give people this opportunity to know these things. This is what responsible community looks like to me at least. And I just know that like Laura said,
we're going to we're going to try to do our best to continue to provide for me. My role is to provide for this right here. >> That's why I was elected. I was elected to provide the educational services that
this these students need and and that's that's it. >> Anyone else? >> Um, >> go ahead, Jess. >> Go ahead, Jess. I just kind of want to repeat what I had said last night in
that um I don't think I could imagine East Hampton High School and every single East Hampton school without every single teacher, staff member, club, opportunity that we offer, class that we offer that isn't currently there. Now, I
tried to think when I heard that if the override doesn't pass, we'd have to cut teachers. Are there teachers that we could cut? And I couldn't think of a single teacher that if we cut it wouldn't impact tons of kids and tons of students. Like so I just want everybody
to really think about that that as much as this is an impact on our community and that our community is going to have to put more money um towards taxes and property taxes um that this is also going to impact heavily our schools um
this override if it doesn't pass. Sam. >> Um, I uh I feel like I've when I started in in East Hampton, like started working, uh started getting involved in the schools, I just feel like we were in such a different place. We were such a
different district then. It is like unrecognizable to be honest. I mean, you were here too, Laura, at that time. And it just it feels like um it was really it was really hard to see the progress while it was happening. And then in the last like two years, it's really just
kind of snapped into focus. And it's and it's, you know, to me, I've just kind of been like, this is this actually is working. Like the stuff that we're doing actually matters. Um, and it's it's really exciting to see something work and to see your work really matter. And
um it would it would be really devastating for all of it to be undone. But um the stuff that we were able to do before still matters. >> Yeah. like and we were still able to um to make a difference and to make it
better and um we're gonna keep doing that. >> I'm gonna point out once more too this resurgence that you're talking about and the renaissance of the school department. It's not just a school department. >> Look at police and fire from where they were 10 or 15 years ago. Look at DPW from where they were. The planning department from where they were.
>> This city has seen a department by department transportation or transformation. And um we're gonna fight like hell to preserve all the gains that we've made. >> Yeah. Like I really think we've we've really come a long way and I've just learned I've learned a lot like just and
grown a lot myself. Um and I appreciate the opportunity to have done that and >> um going to try to keep going to try to keep going. >> Yep. And however many dollars we get, we will stretch those dollars to get the absolute best. >> Like we've been through impossible situations before. We'll do it again.
>> That's right. Mayor, >> I feel like I talked a lot last night. Um, you know, for me when we came out of, you know, I was it was really great for me to sit on on the school finances committee meetings. Um, and when we came
out of that, like I was feeling elated and you know, knowing that we had some structural issues, but really thinking and hoping that we were going to be able to pull through this year, knowing that probably next year we would
probably have to go for an override. And it was when the the news um broke for us with my finance team that the chasm had opened and we weren't going to be able to it was it was heartbreaking for me. I
mean as a lifelong educator and a third generation teacher knowing what the impact on the schools was going to be was like more weight than I could bear. And and I take that, you know, very seriously as we look at navigating through this crisis that, you know, for
me there's so much riding on our approach and the steps that we take and how methodical we are and how intentional we are. Uh, and I, you know, I just wanted to say that, you know, for me, this is personal and it means a lot
and I'm going to do whatever it takes to try to get us through this as unscathed as possible and try to mitigate as much as humanly possible to keep us, you know, staying in a place where we can be
really proud of the services that we offer and and continue to take this further. not let it set us back. >> That's right. >> So, I'm going to do whatever I can. >> That's right. Thank you, mayor.
>> Again, we want to commend the mayor's office on their leadership. He has been heavily involved. I'm going to shout out again like our police and fire services this week saved the life of a man with a stroke. He's expected to make a full recovery. They, you know, saved a family who had a devastating house fire. This
is, you know, >> we are stronger together. And so we are going to link arms and uh into the breach. >> I know. Thank you all for that. And you know, as I stand here as my first year being a leader in this district, it has
become so clear to me how special East Hampton is as a place and as a community and how we can and will come together. And I truly believe that. and in the best interest of every single one of our students. We have the most incredible
students and staff in our schools that are nestled in these gorgeous buildings. And I just, you know, being able to lead this year has been so incredible and impactful and we've done such great work and, you know, we have so much to be
proud of. And it's a credit to the community for where we are. And I just really hope that we continue to shine and to grow and um demonstrate our commitment to education. >> Our last note is to shout out our leadership at central office, Dr. Balch
and Julia Sari Franks. I don't know how we would have made it through this far, but this is uh they are both coming up on their first year of service. I have gotten panic phone calls from a couple of citizens saying, "Oh my god, are Michelle and or Julia going to leave because of this?" And I will tell you that in my private conversations with
both the attitude is if it passes that's wonderful and if it doesn't we go to work. >> Yeah. >> Um we are here regardless and we are going to fight. We're going to fight for what we think is best. All right. Anybody else? That's a lot of feelings.
All right. Excellent. >> Put those feelings back in that box. We'll dust that off on June 10th. Excellent. >> We have one more item of new business. Um, looks like we are going to appoint a school committee member as a representative on the East Hampton
Family Center Community Council. >> Can I just say like how this started? So, this is this is through the um the East Hampton Family Center is our local um Oh, it's CFCE. I can't remember what it stands for. >> I don't know. >> It's It's an early early childhood program essentially. Yeah. Great.
Awesome resource. Free. They've got free drop in playgroups for children under five. They are they exist to hook up families with supports in the community, get you kind of um oriented. Having a young child is really uh disorienting. I know because I did it a long time ago
and I'm still disoriented. Um it's um so they they're they're there to uh to help folks and to help families. and they have a community council of other community members who are doing the same thing. They uh asked me to be a part of it and I thought it was in my capacity at work and then it turns out it was
they actually wanted a school committee rep. So I attended one meeting unofficially but I was like I think I actually have to be nominated by the school committee to keep coming to these meetings. >> Quintessential Sam Hunter. >> Yeah. It's very much like suddenly I'm on a board and >> I wasn't expecting to be on a board and and now I am. But it's a great group. Um
it's both it's it's actually really cool because it's both um like kind of um state state supports and um publicly funded supports, but then also like there's somebody from Yonder there and there's somebody from uh the Neurobridge there. So it's like folks from uh private companies that are that serve
families uh as well or participate and it's just a cool uh it's a cool uh group. So you know I'd love >> and you don't have enough to do so. >> I would love to continue I'd love to add another meeting to my calendar. Um, >> all right. I will entertain a motion to approve the appointment of Sam Hunter as the school committee representative on
the East Hampton Family Community Council. >> So moved. >> Thank you, mayor. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Linda. All those in favor to discuss. >> Oh, I'm so sorry. Questions, comments, or discussion? Linda, go right ahead. Thank you for the point of order, Linda.
>> I just wanted to ask Sam. Sam, so are you trying to say that you don't ask for permission, you ask for forgiveness? I said that >> generally generally. >> Yeah, you said that. Yeah, I was like, "Yeah, I'm getting there." >> No, that's that's me. That's me. You know, >> so Sam's already there, so we're just
putting the seal. >> Just that I I don't like rubber stamping in general, but I am asking you to rubber stamp this. >> Thanks. >> Unless somebody else really wants >> I just wanted that clarified. >> Julie noted. Any other questions, comments, discussion? Seeing none, all
those in favor? I opposed. Abstensions. Motion carries. Congratulations, Sam. Uh, hope you still have time to I don't know, clean your house or buy groceries. >> It's uh, you know, it's once I think it's once a quarter, so I think >> All right, you can do it. Uh, next we have our school committee updates. Uh,
do we have a policy subcommittee update at this time? >> We don't. And we need to I need to get whip that back into shape because we were waiting for the um, we were waiting for the policy review >> which is on pause. >> That's not happening. >> Is pause. That is on pause currently. Um, we had approved a $3,500 contract to
begin year one of a policy project. We are pausing that until June 10th. >> Yeah. So, let's get through the overrides. >> Partly because we don't even want to start doing that work until July. >> Well, that's kind of how I feel about it. >> And in the event it doesn't pass, we have to consider whether or not we want to spend that. >> So, I haven't we haven't forgotten about
policy. We just have been busy with other stuff. So, prioritization pick that up in a few weeks. >> I think you just said that earlier when you got nominated that we're busy with other stuff. >> Busy with other stuff. Yeah. Exactly. So, we'll make sure that we get that going. >> Excellent. Um, go ahead. CES as well.
The next meeting is is the end of May, May 27th, and um Linda's going to go to that. >> Excellent. >> I will be attending. >> So, here's the thing is I'm still I'm on the warrant committee there. So, I I when I like officially resign, I have to come off of that and Okay. >> Uh but they also like are going to need
somebody to keep signing war. So, I'm going to I'm going to work that out. >> Let's be very honest. Men is there now. Yeah. >> So, maybe you're just hanging as worried about it as I was before. Yeah. Yeah. So, um, so yeah, it'll be fun. >> Any excuse to hang? >> I think we'll be just fine. I think that
I will be an aspirate representative. >> I think absolutely. And I >> pass the baton. Sam, >> they're in good hands. >> From his cold, dead hands. Uh, finance subcommittee, we do not have an update aside from what you saw Dr. Balch
present. Um, our finance chair is on a school an um unofficial school committee maternity leave. Um but we do still have the quorum of myself and Bonnie Atkins. And so um we will be at the disposal of our business director and our
superintendent as we um work through these two scenario proposals. All right, that takes us our next meeting dates will be May 12th and May 26th and June 11th as a superintendent rolled out earlier. I'm going to I'm going to just leave it there and not list all the rest
of the meetings because we'll get there when we get there. Uh, I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Uh, motion to adjurnn. >> Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Linda. We're going to roll call out. Bonnie, >> good night.
>> Linda, >> good night. >> Sam, >> good night. >> Mayor, >> good night. >> Good night, East Hampton. We will see you the next meeting >> when we see you. See you.