Um, I'd like to open this meeting of the town's public school committee. Um, do I say the date? Yes. Okay. Um, today is July 8th. Okay. So, please have a pledge
of 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. Read the mission, please.
Sure. The found public schools creates worldclass student learning experiences. Our Clippers are empowered to pursue their goals with curiosity, integrity, and resiliency. Clippers are creative, inquisitive, and engaged learners who participate in their community as
socially responsible citizens. Clippers effectively communicate and solve problems that impact the world around them. Okay. Um, this meeting of the found school committee is being recorded in accordance with Massachusetts open
meeting law. Anyone who wishes to make an audio or video recording of this meeting must first notify the chair. Is there anybody? Thank you. Okay. So, I guess the first thing we'll start with is public comment.
Is there any public comment? Okie do. All right. Moving along, we will now have an update from the superintendent. All right. So, um thank you. So yesterday we started our um ESY, extended school year program um at the
high school. Uh we had a lot of happy faces coming in um both uh adults and um students and I have to tell you it is uh a perfect example of our Clipper experience and the excellence that um we
provide um here in um it's um we were uh this year we were fully staffed um from the very beginning for a while now and uh we were raring to go and it was great. Also that started Monday uh was our camp invention. Another I think
excellent uh example of um uh the Clipper experience that our students have here in Falmouth that um many do not other other uh other places. Um but we had um so lots of students um
show up and they're going to do lots of problem solving and scientific thing. I walked in today and they're getting ready for coding and um so very um exciting um for our summer programs. Uh later in the summer we have a four-week
program um uh that is the uh enrichment for Lawrence students and we have a three-week program of the credit recovery for the high school. So we are all set and ready to go and we um the the high school is just very active. Um
on aside from that, um stopped in a couple times and I am just absolutely amazed at the number of students that are coming in to our wellness center this summer. We started it a couple years ago where we staffed um the wellness center um between wellness
center and the field and having it open for our students and um each year it has grown. I was there the other day and there was a whole group of students playing volleyball. um they were in the wellness center and I walked out to the field and we had 28 students um doing
drills on the uh field um for football and it was just so the whole school just seemed so active and um alive and it's just so great in the summertime to see so much movement. It's um great. So um just open up with that. Uh and I want to
uh you know been giving u budget updates. just uh the governor did sign the budget. Uh she vetoed 130 million of the overall budget uh which is actually less than the last two years. So that's actually
um good news. Of the 130 um the charter talking in the education realm the um charter school reimbursement um uh dropped by 20 million but everything else stayed the same. So for us in Falmouth uh we this year uh we
in FY205 we had 9,621 um 389 for chapter 70 and next year it'll be 9,832139. Uh so uh we will uh the town receives those dollars and so there will be an
increase to the town on that on the federal level. Um we the state did receive um the money for title one a title 1D Perkins McKenna uh Vento and IDA and so that money uh we have so I
know that we've talked a lot about this year you know we have 100 uh 1.6 6 million in uh federal dollars. And so that's the majority. The uh grants that they are that we did not receive and that the state is telling us to prepare.
Um we're not receiving them this year. It still could happen, but we should be preparing um that we will not see are the title 1 C, title 2 A, title 3A, title 4 A, and title 4 B. And I'll explain each one. So uh of the um of
those we have three of the five are uh ones that we have. Title 2A is our um we look at it as our professional development grant and um we have about 66,000 plus um in that the title three
um grant um helps us with um our multilingual um learners that um and that's we get about 31,000 for that. and title four um we get about $35,000. Total is going to be 133 um uh,000
basically um that we are now um looking to see where um if there's anything that we you know that we can tighten up may not um do but um also um looking at some other um funding that we can make that up. So, all in all, compared to where we
were uh several months ago and and our worries, I think that uh as disappointed as I am that, you know, we're looking at that 133 um,000, we're in much better shape than, you know, than what we were we we were concerned about. So, uh and
we'll be able to do that. We'll give updates um through the year. I just wanted to let you know where our standing is um on that. Terry, can we ask questions? Excuse me. Can we ask a question? Can I question? So can do we what's the flexibility for
like chapter 70? Can we use those dollars to make because chapter 70 is going up but the other things are going down. Can we use those dollars to try and make up that shortfall or does is there money actually gets passed to us. So some years in the past it has and
some it hasn't. It goes to the town. Okay. and our budget was set at the um 9 you know 9,621,000 for the FY26 school year. So the extra 210,000 [Music] um750
we may not enter in our budget till the following year. Okay. So I mean those are some little it's a good question. Some of the little details that I think we have to work out now that we actually have actual um you know the governor signed the budget and we actually have actual numbers now.
Thank you. So just for clarification, the title one is intact. Title one and what is and IA the are our two biggest um grants. Okay. And what was for um
title four is so title title four we're able to use um for student learning experience. Um, so you can use it for instruction, um, technology and digital tools, but we historically flex title 4 into title two.
Okay. And send it that way. Thank you. You're welcome. You're all set. Thank you. All right. Next on our agenda will be a first read on the budget development timeline.
So, um, in front of you, you have the the flowchart. this is what you uh receive every year. Uh it pretty much looks the same. Um uh last year we started adding a meeting in September. Uh we have uh continued
that practice uh just um as we think it's it's good to start the year out um with the budget subcommittee and and talk about um the funding from the very beginning. Um but it follows the same um you know suit. We have some budget uh subcommittee on uh the 16th. Uh we have
a budget subcommittee uh on uh October 28th and then um yeah. Okay. So then and then the um budget subcommittee meetings then pick up in November and then December. In
between um Paul will u work with the principles on the the school budgets and then they get submitted. um we'll review those and um we Paul and I will present a preliminary budget at the end of
November and then we'll do a full presentation in December. We'll repeat the presentation uh in um uh January uh which right before the budget hearing which will be January 13th and then um the school
committee is slated to vote on the budget on January 27th and then we'll be ready and in line for the FENCOM in February. Are there any questions? My red starting with the right move around. Any questions? My is are these the only subcommittee
meetings we're going to have for us or are we going to have more subcommittee meetings from internal group? Um I think Paul is planning on some additional meetings. Um but this is the budget with Ben. Okay, that's what I thought. I just wanted to clarify that. Thank you.
No. Okay. Um, so I'm wondering if we already had a chance to share this with Fincom or if we can. So I just they have a different schedule than we have. I just want to make sure they can make it to the ones that Yep. I wouldn't want to double book us.
Well, I I'll make sure you know that when you go back to I'm sure it's fine, but I don't want to seem like that, you know, it don't have to be an older site. There's not much changes from year to year. Yeah. I mean there I mean there's actually no change from the last year the the schedule so I'm going to guess that um it'll be fine but we will
definitely check with them. Okay. Thank you. The next item on the agenda is to act on student activities accounts. We had no questions or comments since the first read. So
we've had no questions or comments since and we had no questions or comments. So, it I would like to make a motion to um or no, I would like someone to make a motion to I'll make a motion. Second. Second. Okay. All those in favor?
I Okay. Is there do you have a question? No. No. Say I. Any um nos? Any abstensions? Okay. Unanimous. Thank you. Next will be to act on the capital plan. So, there is a change if if you'll turn to the capital plan. uh when we
presented this last time um fall um had presented 870,000 um and it came to our attention this is um this is why we do first read and then we have it came to our attention that we forgot the playground mats which is a new item for us if you'll remember last
year it got uh shifted from DPW into our um school budget and so uh or capital budget um and so we um we did unfortunately leave that off. So you will that's the only change in what you're voting and as we had stated um
the last meeting you are voting for the FY26 capital um plan only. So we only vote on one year at a time that will actually be uh presented at the November town meeting. Um so that the change there is the playground maps at the bottom uh
that brought it to 900,000. Any comments or questions starting with Kelly this time? Nope. Thanks, Chris. Nope. No. No. No. Okay. All right. So, all those in favor?
I'll make a motion. I'll second. All those in favor? Any nos or abstensions? Okay. Unanimous. Good. Next on the agenda is to act on town meeting article to replenish
special education save with leion. Thank you. Uh so as you know we've talked uh all through last school year uh about needing to um draw down funds uh from the stabilization fund. Uh we'd also talked to you about uh in November
asking for it to be uh replenished. So Paul u has presented to you uh in your packet the language um just to u make sure that we're all on the same page. Uh, I'm going to read what we're asking um to uh vote and that is what's in in
red to see if the town will vote to appropriate $1 million to replenish the special education stabilization fund for the purposes of funding cost associated with the provision of special education to determine how the same shall be raised and by whom expended or do or
take any other action in the matter um on request of the select board. And with that said, know that the uh substantial nothing would change uh with that, but uh it could get tweaked um at town uh
hall uh could be the the um town manager or um uh the business manager at the town could change a little bit on that, but that that's what you're voting on is that piece of it. So, basically, you're voting to um ask the town
um to vote to replenish the the fund by one million. Comments or questions? We'll start in the middle. Um Glenda, no. No. Sue, no. No. Um just one comment and it has nothing to do with the actual um language that
we vote on um that since the language, this potential language in black is in here. I I always find at town meeting that there's not always but there's sometimes confusion about the phrase outofd district education and so in that sentence after um before the bold where
it says an increase in the number of students needing outofd district education I I just don't want people to think that that means charter schools or kids going to the tech that if it said out of district special education it might be more clear
we can u yeah we'll make note of that Um can I Margaret could it be for our students who need out of district education? Something like that. I think it's important that they know that it's our students that we're not it's public school public school students who need out of
district who need special education out of public education. I think that's important for them to understand. I absolutely because it's always a question people are like why are we putting stable education money for Yeah. for kids to go to the tech guide. We'll we'll um suggest that language. No
guarantee it's not tracking. Thanks. I just can't remember how much we um when we did this the last time, how much was it? Is this kind of a normal amount? I just can't remember. Is this going to come as a shock to people? We've had this conversation for a couple of weeks. Uh we've had it we've had it on the
floor of town meeting. Uh we've had it with uh finance committee several times over the last couple years. Um, so I don't think this is going to be a surprise, okay, to anyone. Um, but but Paul's done a nice job u communicating it to everyone. Certainly town meeting
on a regular or town uh, town offices, town manager, assistant town manager, finance um person, you know, on a regular basis, but we certainly have um everyone else as well. But thank you,
Melissa. No m. Okay. So, would someone make a motion then? I move that we accept the the material as amended. Well, we're not amended. So, we're just Yes, we did. We amended it.
She amended what we're going to um suggest. Ben Pal, you're only voting on the red. Okay. Yes. I'm sorry. I thought you make a motion to accept the red. Is there I make a motion to accept the material written in red for article 20.
Okay. All those in favor? Any opposed? Any absentence? Thank you. Next item is to act on surplus journey books. Yeah. So the reason we have a surplus of journey books is because we um have
moved to uh the e education for our ELA program uh kindergarten through 6th grade. Um you've heard um Dr. Tyer report on this through this year. Uh we've actually um have the uh new curriculum. Um it we started uh
professional development uh in May with the teachers and um the initial that the the PD will continue throughout next year. Um but we um one of the things we talked about we needed a new curriculum. Uh so that we really were um in
mostly in a one-stop shop we have um the the science of reading. We have always met the science of reading but it's been through journeys and through you know this program and and developing some of our own um uh materials. Uh but in this
in this is uh one of the um programs that was certainly reviewed by Jessie and was on the list that meets the the science reading. We're very pleased we went uh through Sonia led um a rigorous process last year of um looking starting
with three programs and having you know teachers look at those. We got it down to two. They piloted it um and then we um then the selection came and then we got started. So these books um now um moving if you'll you'll see
um per grade level across the um the schools the number of um books that are that we need to surplus um that we will no longer be using. Um I think Sonia put a note at the end um I think which we
always try to see if someone would want them or use them so that we can repurpose. Um, but just please know that's very difficult and that may or may not happen. Comments or questions? Starting with Kelly this time? Nope. None. Thanks.
Nope. Um, will we be able to get a presentation on the new um the new curriculum? Oh, absolutely. Look forward I look forward um to having that on the agenda. Yeah. Okay. unless you
um I think I asked this last year, but can you just remind me why it is difficult to find homes for used textbooks? Is it because everybody's moving to a new curriculum around the country and nobody is? So, two two things. I mean, sometimes we we look at other countries that we may be able to provide materials. It's very
difficult to have them shipped. Um and and it's just it's a process that's that's very difficult as far as locally. That's absolutely right. I mean, journeys is really not um on the list and everyone's moving to, you know, um different curriculum. So, it's it's hard
in state, but it's hard to actually get them out. Yeah. Yeah. I know. I was thinking of cab, but Yeah, I know. Um, I mean the only chance we have with that is um some load some suitcases and and either on our trip
over everyone takes an extra suitcase or when they come to visit we load up which we we we've been doing actually the last couple trips as we've been trying to do. So I mean that is a possibility. Yeah. Okay. Thank you, Mar. No. Okay. All right. Would someone make a motion
then to I make a motion to approve this? I'll second it. Second. Who wants it? Okay. All right. All those in favor? Any opposed? Any abstent?
Okay. Next will be to act on our operating protocols. I'll just say something about this. Okay. Um it's I believe a state regulation or may maybe it's MASC
recommendation. Margaret, you got me stumbling over those letters now. Um, anyway, that it's done after the elections. We usually tackle it in the summer, so we made a few little edits and it's basically our yearly review of
our protocols. We um had 18 going into this year. We combined two into one, so now we only have 17. Um, it's basically our operations, our communications, and our decision making.
We only have 16. Yeah. What's missing? Um, this number. Oh, okay. 13. Oh, there we go. See, I told you and then the number nine um is out of alignment.
Yeah, we can fix this. This was just the the draft, but they're they're all Okay. Anybody want to Maybe if somebody could just read one from each category just to bring them to life. Chris, would you read um number one of or pick anyone
you want from operations? Okay. Um I'll do number seven. um operate respectfully and in accordance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts over meeting law in deliberations while maintaining operational and executive session confidentiality.
Okay, I'll do one. Oh, okay. I was just volunteer. Not everybody likes to be called. How about um 13? Uh channel questions, concerns, and requests for information or data through the school committee chair and the superintendent rather than directly
to district staff. I'll do one. All right, Melissa, go ahead. I'm going to do number four. Acknowledge that a school committee meeting is a business meeting of the school committee that is held in public, not a public meeting. Okay, I'll do number 15.
Go ahead. Engage in critical thinking, expecting all committee members to freely offer differing points of view as part of the discussion prior to making a board decision. Margaret number one represent the needs interest and achievements of all
students in the district and place these above all else in the decisions that we make. So new 14 keep an open mind and strive to make decisions by consensus using the best information available at the time considering available facts, research,
best practice, public input and the superintendent and other members recommendations, proposals and suggestions. Glenda, I'll do 10. uh work to build trust between and among school committee members, the superintendent, staff,
students, parents, and guardians in the town and the town administration by treating everyone with dignity and respect. Okay. So, that was some of the um protocols that we try to adhere to each
and every year. Okay. So would somebody make a motion to accept these new protocols as a motion if Chris will second it? Okay. All those in favor? Any opposed? Any abstensions? Okay.
Now we have routine business which will be your minutes. Okay. Is there any discussion about minutes? Any edits or anything? No. No. Okay. Somebody make a motion. I'm going to make a motion.
Well, second. Okay. All those in favor? Any um abstensions or nos? Okay. They pass. Okay. Any committee reports?
It's the off season and Any requests for follow-ups? Yes, Margaret. Um, understanding that we're going to be talking about the decrease in um, and I I don't mean this. I thought somehow the conversation would come up before since
we're having a decrease in membership in our schools over the last 30 years and we're going to have to make some major decisions. Um, and we're not going to have another meeting until September. Um, I was thinking maybe it would be good for us to have a meeting maybe in August or something. so we could just
have a major discussion about what's happening uh what our thoughts are as we read the materials that we've been given. Um because we're going to have regular agenda items and this is a major issue that we're going to have to be
looking at next year. And so I I just think it might be and we haven't talked about it yet. I think it might be good if we in fact have a meeting in August where we spend a meeting just talking about that. Totally. So noted.
Um I have a I have a quick follow-up question. Two meetings ago or was it three meetings ago, we had done that very elaborate complex effort to get the building task force to give us their recommendation on the motion that we had amended and they did not formally do
that. And so I'm wondering what the next step is for that. Um so you're talking about their final report? No. Oh, I'm sorry. Um, so Mike's motion that I then amended. Um, we referred it to this the building
needs task force and they were supposed to report back on the 24th and I forgot to ask about it on the 24th. Um, so we never got a closure on that which means we never actually voted on the motion as amended. Can I speak to that?
Sure. I definitely gave an update on 24. Yes. Did you give an update about specifically them responding to that? Well, in any case, we didn't vote. We didn't close out the vote. So, I don't I don't know if we need to do that in September or if we just It was just an update from building
needs on how the group wrapped up the Okay, there's nothing. Sorry, I didn't mean to jump that on you. It's just something I forgot about when uh we were talking about protocols and I don't know what the protocol is for that. So, but what you did report on um was and this is was the decision that
not to consider. Correct. And but the one in seven and any out recommendations and options on the table, right? Okay. All right. Yeah. This I mean I don't know what more you want to do. No, it was more about the procedure of
our vote. I don't know if we finished it because we were pending them coming back and I I don't know if we were supposed to anyway. We could do some offline research for that. I don't think anybody has the answer right now. No. And I forgot to ask.
No, no. And feel free to ask it. Okay. We'll we'll research it for you. Okay. Okay. Um I propo to both of your comments and I apologize. I was not here for the meeting of the 24th. So perhaps this was
discussed, but following the it was the update of the building needs task force. Um where where are we with that? Are we getting a report? Are we going to have a
discussion? Um perhaps this was talked about at the previous meeting, but um I'm I'm unclear about next steps as far as where we are with that. So the committee has um dissolved now because they have and they do have a
final report and I did receive the the final report. We did not have it on June 25th to um the share out, but we do have the final report now. Um, and when will we be getting that and when will we be disc I'm just wondering h you know what our
next you know how we're proceeding now. I guess that's what Margaret and and if I I was I wasn't the only person at that meeting but I think that what the task force did leave was they made some decisions that they sent to us
but then they also said that it's up to the school committee to work it out. you know, they made some recommendations, but it was our job to implement them and make decisions about them. And I think that sort of speaks to what you're asking about, Katrina. Yeah.
Okay. So, that seems to be on three people's minds. So, we'll be getting back to you about that three. Okay. All of us. Actually, I would like to know if other members think that maybe we should have a meeting uh because we we're going to have a full agenda for the year and this
is a major issue that we have to deal with and that I think it would be in our all of our best interest to have a meeting in August where we just focus on the issues and be have a beginning discussion, not make any decisions, just have a discussion
because time is moving along. Chris, I'm I'm in total agreement with that. I think the the faster we can kind of start that conversation the better. Okay. Yeah. So, enough. It's a majority
anyway, but already we can hear that. So, how that's going to come about is what I meant about getting back to you. Okay. Okay. All right. You don't. Right. So, with all that being said, it's time
to move into executive session now. So, uh, electing a motion to move into executive session to conduct strategies session with respect to negotiations with FEA units A, B, C, and D. Having these discussions in public session may
be detrimental to the school committee's bargaining committee. Second, I' anticipated that the school committee will not return to open session. Right. You need a second. All those in favor? Was it a roll call vote? Roll call vote.
Yes. Yes. August. Yes. Yes. Listen, yes. Susie, yes. And MadiRas, yes. So, thank you.