Good evening everyone. Today is Tuesday, June 9th, and the time is 6:34 p.m. And I'd like to call this meeting to order. First on our agenda is the meeting minutes from May 26th. Any questions or comments on those?
All right. Hearing none, I will take the motion. >> Um, I'd like to make a motion to accept the meeting minutes for May 26, 2026. >> Can I have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I.
>> Next is warrant 68,7173, and 74. Questions or comments on any of those? They're in here in the folder. We'll get them around for signatures. >> I had a look at them. They looked fine to me. So, um I would move that we approve. Accept.
Approve. >> I think approve is fine. >> A second. >> Uh all those in favor? >> I. >> All righty. Moving right along.
Visitors comments. Any citizen wishing to speak before the committee must sign in with the administrative assistant prior to the opening of the regular session of the school committee. The visitor will identify themselves by name and address and shall speak for no longer than 3 minutes. For anyone unable to sign in ahead of time, we ask that you clearly state your name and address
so that this information can be included in the record for the meeting. No visitors. No, Brena. All right. New business. Senior class trip by Miss Drain. I believe that that's been postponed. >> Has been postponed. Yes.
Uh, David, you're up. >> All right. Disposal of obsolete and dysfunctional technology. >> This is a vote that I request every year at this time when we do our summer maintenance. Um, we have devices that
have failed during the school year that either are not repairable or the cost of repair exceeds the value um of the device. Um, we have equipment that's also obsolete that cannot be um,
justifiable to use. Um, so I'm requesting again uh, to authorize me to do this. We have a company we've been using for several years. They pick the equipment up. Um, they take it back to their facility and they properly uh,
recycle uh, the devices. They disassemble the devices. They try to recycle the plastics to metals and re and repurpose them. And they do all this uh without charging us a fee. And um on any media that has any data on it, um
they destroy the data and they send us a certificate indicating that the data has been destroyed. >> So move. >> Can I have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I I have a question about that. >> Oh, sure. Sorry. um does it have any
value and how will you determine the value? Well, like for example, we have we we if we we have Chromebooks that um that have um failed and you know if for examp if the Chromebook was purchased 5
years ago for say $200 and I sent it out to be um examined or I examined it and the motherboard on it has failed, the keyboard has failed on it or monitor whatever you know, the
price of repair, say $300. We only paid $200 for it. On a device like that, the only value to it is the the uh is the value of recycled materials. >> How many units have
>> like for Chrome? Uh um when I go through when I go through when we do our inventory in a in a couple weeks, we'll know more, but I'm guessing right now for Chromebooks, it'll probably be around 50. There'll probably be some other miscellaneous items. >> Is there a value um Todd party B where
things have to be bid? I have a Do you have a written contract with this company? >> They sign a doc they sign a a document um you know um that I provide to them. It's a boilerplate document that they're going to do this in a legal way and responsible way etc etc from.
>> How about on the financial end? if there's no there's no cost to the district for the service. Um so we wouldn't use you know wouldn't fall under regular procurement. >> Well I know the disposal has requirements but
they're they're they've reached their useful life where we don't have a resale value to do an auction or to do a sale of disposed equipment. So, if I can just put some perspective on it, like if you have a device that's an older device that is still
operational, it's not broken, it's still, but it's old and it's performing slowly, these some companies will want to buy them back. They know the schools will want a newer device, they'll offer to buy them from you and they'll maybe
offer you two between$2 and $5 per device. So even if you were talking a 100 devices, you're talking, you know, at most a few hundred dollars. And I think that falls under the thresholds of 30b. >> Okay.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Do we need to re um vote, Tom? Are you comfortable with that? >> Oh, yes. I voted. Yes. >> Okay, great. I just wanted to make sure. >> I just want you busy. I hope I don't I'm sorry. I No, no, no. I just wanted to make sure you were comfortable with your vote. So
if you if you wanted to >> vote, I just want to be >> resend. We can um >> Oh, no. Just so I >> Yeah, absolutely. I >> thank you everybody. Thank you. >> Um the next one is disposal of damaged materials from the English department. There's a list of English materials. You can see some of them uh the books are
over 30 years old and they've been used quite a bit. So the bindings are broken and you know they're just at the end of their useful life. Um so we um many of the books are being replaced especially some of the novels. Um just a little more recent versions. Um so the vast
majority of them will go in the recycling. It um so we just need to dispose of them and we're looking for some um a vote to dispose of these uh older collections. You will see a collection grade 9, grade 10, grade 11 and grade 12. And those are about 10
years but we did purchase that new curriculum from last or got that new curriculum from last time. So, um, we don't need those books anymore. So, that's what we have from the English department. >> Any questions or comments? >> Yeah, I would just say that um, um,
having been through this myself so many times um, in another life, you can spend an awful lot of manh hours trying to find out ways to give these away. And um and uh that actually costs a lot
of money. >> We did that in one of my former district. We shrunk wrap them all, put them out, send them out to uh other countries. >> Other countries. >> Yeah. We're just going to dispose of them in the recycle. >> And usually the ones that they choose are so bad. No one's going to want them anyway.
>> I'd make that motion based on that. >> Can I have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> All right. Uh community relations discussion. This stems from the last meeting where we were talking about how we can get some information out to
people and so it's not a true subcommittee sort of meeting. It's just let's try to get some some ideas out there. I guess spitball would be a pretty appropriate term or blue sky or any one of those lovely terms. And uh
let's hear it. What do y'all got? Well, I I think um recently a group that I was involved with, we worked the fair uh the craft fair on Memorial Day weekend and um you know, we gave away
free tomato plants and um for non um when you're not making a prof nonprofit groups, it's free. It was only $20 for the booth anyway, but it was $20. But I think it'd be a good opportunity to go into, you know, involve the students,
especially where we're talking about having them involved with civics. Um, you know, really there's been such a decline in civics that I think there's an opportunity for them to be engaged, whether even to have the band come out and play for, you know, half an hour.
>> I agree with you 100%. But I will say that a lot of these student groups already do their own things. So, if the band marches in the parade, that's something that um the band and GMPA, I'm assuming, would have something to do with. Each of the classes do fundraisers
at charter day and different things like that. And students are yes, what we're trying to pro um promote, but they are not school committee. They do not have really like it's what we're doing it for, but it's this group, us, and the
policies and things that we promote that we're trying to get >> provide information like a booth with maybe recent newsletters or something. So, we've done I I will I'm I'm not saying that we can't try again, but we have had um we have done that. A former
superintendent went to that same craft fair and did dino days and did charter days and the I hate to say it this way, but I'm going to We don't really have money for chachkis. We don't really have money to do things that cost money to
print stuff and do things. So it was kind of like shaking hands and kissing babies which is good but also at the same time like I don't know how what the attraction is to come and sit and talk to us. People come to us when there's a
a problem and what we need to do from my perspective is try to engage people to get them to attend meetings, watch meetings, things like that. So, um, we can certainly dovetail on some of those,
um, ideas, but I also want it to be worthwhile for our time besides the meetings and anything else that you have going on. Liz has an incredibly full pate besides all the stuff that she does being a grandmother and a mom and everything else, right? Like, I want to make sure that we don't put ourselves
sign ourselves up to do things with with no reward or no benefit. And I'll already be engaged on both those days >> doing something for your your other groups. >> Other group. Yes. >> As will I doing things with the girls with my girls in different different
capacities. So that's where I think you know it's important around budget time >> right >> to to do that. It's important whenever there's something that's major coming up like when we had discussions about the kitchen or discussions about the generator or
>> we get people come in when they have a complaint when they're when people are upset about lighting or sidewalks or cracks or whatever. But what we have to do is try to bridge the gra gap. And I will say during CO and following COVID when we were still
broadcasting live um we had a lot more attendance and that has been I don't think I don't know that we can still >> we can >> we can >> so maybe we try to do that and have our meetings be live again. Um
>> these exciting meetings. >> Yeah. I mean you know we might have had one whole viewer. >> People will log on. If they know they might be able to listen to it while they're, you know, cooking or doing something, maybe they need >> I hate to tell you the number of school
committee meetings that weren't mine that I've watched. So, yeah, people might actually do >> for sure. Um, and you know, I I think that that is an option, but I just don't know h my biggest concern is as we get into the next budget season, which
scarily enough is only a few months away. um how do we engage people sooner, better, differently? >> Uh I have maybe a slightly different focus and I was impressed with what you said last week um at the last meeting.
So you've been out there done the grunt work, you've done a lot of these things and I applaud you and I think it's paid off a little bit >> because see I look at it slightly different. I just don't want them. They would pitch Fox at the town meeting
saying you're spending too much money. If they're quiet or not enough money, if they're quiet, then I think we I was always happy. If my rate payers were were quiet, I was happy. Nobody came and complained and we did our thing and we moved on. And so I always thought
knowledge was good and I was did all the things you said and I sent out tons of information. One one way I was wondering is on the So you said you don't have money to to send them out, but we do this town does send out two tax bills a
year, right? They do quarterly bills twice a year. And I don't know who bids that, who does it, but I used to do the billing. And when I bid it, I bid it. I bid inserts and they want your business so bad they penny it. They'll print your insert and they'll put 15 They put
16,000 in there for me for a penny each because they want your other contract. >> Yeah. I Well, >> that's certainly well above my pay grade and it's also not really um my circus or my monkeys as far as like who the tax bills or anything like that. We're kind
of our own anomaly over here. I don't know if you have any it would be we can certainly ask reach righting out to find out what's the appetite for a collaboration on mailings you know with the >> I just don't want that get build back
necessarily for the cherry seat we you know like I don't everything that we do we get charged back so we'd have to be we don't have a budget for that so where whatever we spend comes out of the overall budget >> I think one step at a time I think if
you the concept. If you like the concept, that's fine. If you don't like the concept, that's that's fine. >> So, what would we what would we put in it? >> What what I would like to do is I'd stop. I can only talk about myself a little bit. And my name is all old while retired. You kind of Brianna kind of
blew me away a little bit. >> Brena Bren, I'm sorry. >> Are great. >> And she did. I thought you did a very good job last night highlighting all the things. All of a sudden, what I pay every month in taxes is a good deal. I didn't know that. My neighbors didn't
know that. And old people like me vote. You know, they I was looking around. There was a lot of old people there last night. And it was nice to see a few young people. I wish there was a heck of a lot more. And I don't want them come. I don't care if they come if they don't come. I just don't want them
complaining. I want them to say, "Hey, I I spend $670 every month I put away to pay my taxes." And I want to say, "Hey, I got something for those taxes. I'm thrilled with what my children got for an education here. So I think I have to pay it forward and it's a little bit
more popular from when I talked to as I said just my all over my street and um they kind of felt the same way. We don't know what what they're doing there or anything like that. I said, "Hey, it's a it's a pretty exciting place. They're not going to I I don't go to the sports
anymore. I probably am young, but I always did when my kids were young or that, you know, we did everything. And I coached at the high school for a number of years. I mean, you know, it was different as you get old, but >> Trevor gets the most decorated uh um uh spectator award. He went to more games
than anybody I know. >> Well, it was it was enjoyable. It was it was, you know, especially considering the way the World Cup tickets are. Maybe including a sports are good deal >> in the for the is it August billing or >> public TV
it's just it might be a crazy idea >> I meant I meant >> maybe that's that's one good thing you start with right so most people don't have cable >> and you decided normally or something that's already been taped
>> certain size paper trifold and you get panels. You can put >> huh something you want. >> Well, I'm on the communications committee for the town. Um so, one of the things we are looking forward and we're doing is a newsletter as far as highlighting certain departments and
everything. Um another thing that so we're going to be working on that when our charge is renewed in July. Um but another thing that I was is mentioned is you know doing coffee talks like for instance at night having a login and like it could be posted in the newsletters of the high school and the elementary school of an hour where a
school committee member just kind of sits and listens if anybody wants to come on and ask any questions or anything like that and it's remote. It's not something you have to show up to and if anybody shows up you're locked in for that hour from 6:00 to 7:00 and then >> call it a day you know that way they're
not coming to a formal meeting. >> I like it. >> Yes. That's a nice idea to So, and maybe we already do this and I apologize for not knowing. Um, >> do Excuse me. There's one more coming. Sorry. >> Folks, like us. >> Okay.
>> Vote. >> We vote. >> I vote. >> We don't We don't listen. >> I was 18. >> Me, too. Same. Um um you know uh maybe we do this um if we have a chorus or some fantastic group
doing something you know jazzy artwise visual arts. Uh maybe around the major holidays. Uh there could be a walkthrough or you know a presentation or a performance down at one of the lunchons at the senior center. I mean
they get a good crowd down there. Um um and it's it's really a a they're a lively bunch. Um and I think they'd appreciate that. Um and then maybe along with that um school administrator, school committee member could attend and
and after the presentation's done sort of just give them a twominut here's what's up next in our world. Um if you have any questions or interest, you know, we could schedule a we could do a coffee hour down there or we could help them bag their, you know, when they're
bagging vegetables in the fall or that kind of thing and just be available. So I I think it's fine to dovetail, but I don't think it's our charge to necessarily schedule events on behalf of the students. >> No, no, no. But but I would think and I don't know, the school would probably
love the opportunity to have kids who are performing or doing something fantastic show that >> showcase that. >> Yes, we did. That was a regular occurrence uh when the senior meals were served at the junior senior high school.
Um, and so it was, you know, embedded into the structure and it didn't add the layer of transportation and like all of those things. And so I said it is a practice that had happened. >> Can we bring lunches back? We had talked about that a little bit.
>> It certainly beats where they're being served lunches now. >> I mean, now that we have lunch, you know, Todd and I briefly discussed it, but we hadn't really flushed anything out, but I we did, you know, talk about the red hats. Um, >> yeah, >> a little bit. And, uh, it's something we
can certainly talk to the town. I'd love to bring this the seniors back. >> They really are an interesting group of >> I mean, I don't go there every day by any means. I've been in there a couple of different times and I've enjoyed myself. >> We can talk to the new town administrator and the senior services. I
think that's a great idea. That's a good start. >> And one of the things I would like to do, speaking of new town administrator, which also goes to community, I would like to invite him here. >> I was going to. Yes. just so we can meet him and have him, >> you know, probably the first time he comes through the schools and
>> see if I can schedule him. He >> maybe we can do a tour. Okay. >> We met with new town administrator last Wednesday. >> Did he go through both schools? >> Mary Mary Jane and I gave him a tour of both schools. Um into the bowels of the
junior senior high school uh through through both buildings. Um, so he was a very productive meeting. >> We thought an hour and a half in the locker room. >> We did. >> We went into the boys locker room, >> the bad, the ugly. >> Um, >> good >> into the boiler room. >> Love it.
>> And in both buildings to show this, you know, the striking comparison between them. Um, you know, gave him, you know, a little bit of the age and, you know, some of the transitions in this building. >> I can see if you can come to our next June meeting for sure. So,
>> and providing some um just sports schedules to be down there or for production, you know, the coral um activities that just happened at the elementary, for example, just so they had a couple copies of those flyers, even if they're half page.
>> Mhm. >> Um you know, a week or two before the events come up. uh just so that they get in the routine of seeing it and may they may eventually say, "Wow, they are interested in us knowing and maybe we could go by and maybe it starts with one
or two uh and maybe they get in for lunch the next day and say how wonderful it was." It's things like that grow especially when they have the opportunity to see things that the students are doing. They're that's more interesting than us.
>> Mhm. I can I can talk to the town administrator and senior services and see who we can do that. And I don't think it's a it won't be a big stretch for us to print out a few um sport schedules I can bring to the senior center for sure and maybe the library if people are interested. Those are easy.
Again, it's not a lot of money. We're not passing it yet, but a few pieces of paper. Um so those are it wouldn't be. >> So basketball's inside, right? No weather. Uh fall sports start off the weather's always very nice. spring sports usually end up the weather's very nice. Um it was questionable this year
about spring sports. >> Yeah, >> I can certainly do I can do some work on this and and report back to you and see what I'm put on the communication committee with the town. So >> this is what they want. This is what folks need to know about um and want to
know about as opposed to us sitting here behind our computers talking about paperwork that we need to, >> you know, at a business meeting, >> right? Um, >> I just uh but I think it's important maybe if we make some of those connections to be able to have
connections with people when we're doing the budget forum and the you know right um >> I don't know for sure but I believe that there's a gentleman that watches our budget meetings. he came to a few um and he doesn't ask as many questions now on
town floor about the budget and I believe that's because we've I know I have personally engaged him now and I always make sure that I shake his hand, say hello to him, talk to him. So it it doesn't feel as foreign now.
There's somebody that he he knows my name. He's I've seen him out and about and he you know he says hi Jen how are you? So there's been a little bit of a connection made >> and I think that that helps you know and and sometimes some of these people now ask questions in our favor.
>> Well yes >> which is good. Um so >> we can start slowly. I think it's the kind of thing that will build through word of mouth. >> Yeah. And but that's where I'm just I'm not sure how to get the word of mouth started, but the community
>> relations or communications work community relations and talking about the tax bill starting and then you know see we just have to know what we would put on the >> on a flyer. >> Yeah. Well, I think that's >> part of it. Yeah.
>> Even the incest might be a year or two away because the you might have a contract that doesn't allow it. I'm just saying can we explore cuz I could I go to the clerk's office and ask him or is that out of bounds? I shouldn't be doing something. >> Probably Todd would stop. Uh sir. >> Okay.
>> Just I mean I don't know what it's going to look like or maybe Jenny can because she's on that community uh >> communications committee. >> When we did the survey for the town um we were looking for feedback as far as communications for the town and what what people were happy about that about
all everything in between. One of the things that we did, we actually printed um QR codes that we inserted into the census that the town clerk actually put into the census and it went to every household. And so that we actually got um double the amount of what Belter Town
had their surveys that they submitted in their communications committee. We got over 450 responses from our >> Oh, nice. >> for our >> That was on uh you also posted that on. >> It was everywhere. It was all over the place.
>> Perfect. Anything else on um on this? All right. So, maybe we'll put it back on the agenda again for July or No, we're not having a meeting in July. August. >> Yep. >> And I can say what I've >> done on that and give me a vote or
>> Yeah. Put something together and see what we can >> It's like, you know, one step at a time, right? >> Yeah, for sure. I like it. I think that this is a a good way to um move forward. Next is policy J subsection first read.
>> Did we have a I didn't see it in here, but maybe I'm in the wrong place. It should be in the agenda. >> Oh, right. The linking the link. >> The link is on the agenda because we only did one agenda. This particular agenda needs to be this particular policy has to be in place for September.
And if we didn't have a July meeting, >> I wanted to make sure we got through the reading. >> Click on the Desi put some new information about seclusion. They gave a new definition of seclusion. They want to clarify what it meant to be a timeout rule. >> Um some requirement for timeout spaces
>> and and just you know official documentation. So there just some it's a pretty extensive policy that it was vetted through attorneys and um >> just ready to put it. >> Can you just define for me what seclusion is? >> Yeah, it means um
>> Oh. Oh. Oh, I see it. I see it. I got it. Got it. Got it. Yep. Okay. It's really for students um there it is who um who the word I'm looking for who um often
times it's students with special needs who have um behaviors that make them very anxious and have a lot of anxiety and have a lot of deregulation. So in the past, you know, there were certain things you had to do over a certain amount of time, but they really wanted to expand on that. They don't want really want anybody holding students
down or restraining them. So they really wanted to make it more of a inclusive practice. You know, how and give the students a choice. You know, if you're if you're do we clear a classroom out, we you know, we don't want them to be violent. So it's really taking the time to identify, you know, what is seclusion
look like and what where would you use it? So we'd have to train the staff on it. So I wanted to get it sooner or later so that we have the summer to prepare for it and train the staff in August and September. So when when the school year started. Well, and so these are all also the training is a requirement of law.
>> Correct. >> U the policy now the up we always had a policy now we have an updated policy which is again required um by law um keeping uh students in timeout has
changed significantly. Maybe you've noticed that for example um in the hallway at East Meadow here there's a um what do you call that? A sensory walk. Yeah, >> for for little ones who get disregulated and maybe they hop around or you know
try to jump. >> You can see you can see the Yeah. >> Um and so there's various ways you can try to um >> um deescalate. >> Correct. >> Um before you
It's not that long ago, 15 20 years, uh schools had padded rooms. >> Exactly. with doors with no windows and they were putting kids in those rooms because they were violent and nobody you know what do we do right if we restrain them well they were probably restrained
to get there but schools were being um sued children were being hurt because people who weren't properly trained were mishandling students I'm not talking about Gramby I'm talking about generally that's why we ended up with this law >> um
>> just tweaking it again >> so there's no more use of those seclusion rooms, >> right? >> Uh you have to similar to the updated suspension and exclusion laws, you have to try certain um you you have to be
able to demonstrate that you've tried these deescalation techniques. They have to be in place. People have to be trained on them. It's really best for students. Um and it's another unfunded mandate. Um
but >> but it is good >> to get to this particular policy. This was written by our special ed attorney who works with Hessie no to me >> Hessi Lee. >> Yeah. Anyway, four word name and I
always tongue twist myself on it and they are certainly uh one of the if if not the premier special ed um legal representation across the state probably. >> So we really don't need to worry about it. I don't know that we necessarily need to have a first or second read because we're not going to adjust
anything that's been appointed. >> But it's a new I'm just I I would ask that we wave the readings. >> That's what I'm saying. >> And just approve. >> That's what I'm saying. I don't think we need to do anything. It's being it's a mandate. We don't really have a choice in the matter. It's comply with law and
attorneys have vetted it. So, >> um I have a question on that. >> Of course. Now, so I went I went to 603 CMR 46. >> This is almost that, but it's not that. >> I read every word of this. I did not
read every single word of that, but I picked out the ones that I had a question on on this and it didn't match in every case. It's actually the seclusion one does not match. >> We're good. We go with we go with the attorney. Our embedded this. Well,
>> we don't we don't have a choice of our attorney. >> No, you do. >> We really don't. We're not going to go against legal advice. >> I think Well, then he should put it in writing. So, I think someone should take a look at that and see what what is the difference and why. So um so the one
that's in um >> we can >> let me just finish and then then you can decide at at 603 um CMR 46 that says effective in August at the bottom. So I assume there isn't anything right now.
>> That's right. But you do have something in your handbook and this doesn't quite I couldn't read the handbook because it was so tiny but it does have a lot of the same topics and it looks pretty pretty good. Um I
one question was are those copies available? Could I have a copy of the handbook that I can actually read? >> I'll print it out. Sec. The second thing on this is I just actually have two things I take exception to after reading the regulations on and that's a
regulation. It's not statutory. It's a regulation. >> It's it's in terms of what DESIE requires of policy. Um it it's not MGL but it is a regulation that has to be followed by the schools. >> Well, it's it's a regulation and I've
>> I fought those battles with with both the EPA and D. So there's a big difference between statutory and regulatory. >> There is policy. >> There sure is. So especially policy. Yep. >> So under under seclusion, if you want to take a look at your copies, I'll go. There is one thing that's not in that
one which is kind of strange to me. It says seclusion. Involuntary confinement of restore a student alone in a room or area with or without adult supervision. Now, in that one, everything's the same except it doesn't say with or without
adult supervision. I was wondering if we would want to put a child who could selfinflict or be a problem without supervision. I found that I found that one kind of disturbing and it does and it's different than what's on online.
>> We can bring it up with our attorney. >> Yes, I would. I just have two specific things to ask. That's all. Can you um put it in writing to Mary Jane so we can have um your specific things and tell us the second one too, but I'd like to have it in writing for her so she can get it specifically to Kimberly.
>> On the second one, >> it's actually it's um not Kimberly. It's it's Alicia. That's fine. Okay. >> And this one you probably go cuz the training hasn't happened yet cuz it this this happens afterwards, right? all the training. Once this is brought in, you start doing and this other one you
probably just make a actually >> uh see the page seven. Yeah, on page seven on parent engagement, the physical restraint and timeout policy will will post maybe you're going to be doing this in the future will be
posted on the Grammy public school website and within the school handbooks. So, it's not there now. >> We haven't enacted this yet. >> We can't. >> But you know what? Under your code of discipline in it, you have a lot of this stuff already in it. So, it's kind of
neat that it's in the school handbook. So, I'm saying if you took out the word and you're all set, if you're going to be put something in there, >> this has to go. >> We have to vote on it first before it can go in the update can go in our handbook. Okay. >> And so, the way I understand this is you were reading the definitions of
seclusion. >> Yes. And then if you continue on down um page three uh you will see that under prohibitions seclusion is now prohibited.
We cannot do that. There's no mechanical restraint, no medication restraint, no prone restraint. >> There's an exception still. >> Mhm. >> The exceptions for seclusion. So you can is prohibit except on the group basis. So can happen. Well, that's if the
student is a danger to themselves or others, right? >> I I was just concerned about the adult supervision. It's not in those regulations. You have it here. >> We don't have a padded room here anyway. So, nobody would be secluded without I mean, I know it's not in the policy. >> I I can I can certainly look at first
certainly I you know, it could have been something somebody overlooked. I have no problem taking and letting them know. If I may also insert, um, we had a meeting last week, a policy subcommittee meeting. We're meeting again this week. This is one of, I
think, three policies left that we were going to compare with the MASC model. Um Mary Jane was concerned that she has something available quickly so that uh if they print the handbooks before we get to approving uh for example if
there's any changes based on what the MASC model is versus this model um she'd have the opportunity to get them printed. It is our intention if and correct me if I'm wrong that's going to be the first policy we compare >> Yep.
um when we meet again tomorrow. Um it just Mary Jane had um solicited this from our special ed attorney. Um and so understanding the firm and the work that they do uh if they don't
they may not work for every district in the Commonwealth, but I'd wager I guess and say they work% of the school districts in the Commonwealth. So they have a very good reputation for these things. Um but uh barring um some conflict that we see in
the two models tomorrow um anyway we felt that this was worth approving in the interim and I know seclusion is not allowed anymore unless you're in a position where there is a danger to
themselves or others and that is even um that would typically be more in a setting where there's some sort of a weapon involved or I mean a student a large student um can be dangerous. Um,
you know, there's very few situations that exist in this day and age in communities like ours, for example. Not to say they don't, um, they could exist, uh, where a student would would be, um, escalated to that point.
Um, having dealt with some of the staff that I've dealt with over the past year, I can tell you that, um, folks are pretty well tuned in to the kids and their needs. And I think you saw some of that at graduation, right?
You saw some some students who probably would have preferred maybe to where they really worked hard to get them on stage. and my my heart was exploding watching those kids and the pride when they finally got up and got those diplomas. Um
>> they talked about community. >> It's it is it exists. It is alive and well in these in this school district. Um, and I and and I I think that people have good intentions in other districts, but as
the districts get larger and the staff turnover is more frequent and the training isn't necessarily consistent, um, you have, this is why this was rewritten by the state and there's new mandates. Um, you have opportunities for
things that shouldn't happen to happen, right? Um, we will take a very close look at that tomorrow. >> And I just looked at I scanned it the document like you said about the seclusion issue not being observed. It
does equate the seclusion with the timeout >> and the timeout does say that the timeout the student will be continuously observed during the timeout. >> Yes. So they may but again I was I thought some things might been a little
contradictory but >> but I think it's a good policy. I'm glad I'm glad doing it. I'm glad you you're going to try to bring them all three in line. >> We'll pay close attention to your concerns tomorrow. The >> only the only real concern was unobserved.
>> Yeah. Oh no. It should never with or without supervision. That is the only line. >> So that's that's sort of how I opened. There was a time when and not that long ago there were these p padded rooms where students would be
>> put and the door was closed and locked and >> all right let's uh so let's not let's not go down the rabbit hole >> we don't want to be there right >> oh my god it was a special we'll bring it back so you know I know >> so we will not be waving any readings
and we'll put it to their next one so we may not be ready in time Okay. All right. Moving on. Superintendent's report. Let me get my report up here. Don't have much to report, but I did want to let you know that I um attached a there was a workshop today uh from the
Massachusetts st taxpayers on the FY27 state budget and K12 education. So, I gave you the link if you're interested in what in what that is about and how talked about a budget process. Chapter 70, special educate reimbursements. just
I thought it'd be interesting for um Mr. Hamill uh because he had never really participated in the budget process. So, I thought you'd appreciate that. And there just a list of end of year activities. Um we had field day on the 28th at East Meta. It was a great day. Um June 4th, we had spring concerts,
grade three and six, K through three. June 5th, we had four through six. Um we had the senior walkthrough and senior awards night. on June 5th, the senior walkthrough, the seniors walked through the East Meadow with their caps and gowns on. And our students lined up um in the elementary school to cheer and
clap for them. And >> other schools call it the clap out. >> Well, yeah. They our Cindy Sykes let them uh let them throw um beach balls and they had confetti. So, it was it was a fun fun afternoon. And they went and practiced for um graduation. They had
senior awards night the same evening. Graduation was incredible. Um I was very proud of our uh high school team. I said that to them today. Um they did a speller job. Students were incredible. Speeches were um amazing. We have some
great students. Uh coming up we have uh the underclassman awards assembly. Um today uh tomorrow uh we have in the morning is the high school in the afternoon is the um junior high. On grade 11 uh June 11th there's grade six
step up. So there'll be some um festivities for the grade six. Uh next week uh on Thursday on June 17th is preschool graduation. Very cute. If you want to come to see that they wear little caps they walk. They're really cute. So and then uh just to remind families
that we have two separate last days of school. June 17th is the elementary school and because we had that power outage um which that's a half day and then on June 18th we had the power outage at the high school so that is also a half day. Um so the students will
be here for that at the high junior and senior high only on the 18th. So we have two two last days of school. We have a few people retiring this year. We have Barbara Bes who has uh spent 29 years here. So she is retiring at the end of this year. Um, she also stated she'll be
back to sub and be available next year. So, um, even though she's retiring, I don't think we've seen the last of Barbara. I think she's, uh, pretty ingrained here. She works for Graanby to go. Um, she really is uh, uh, kids really enjoy her and we love having her here, so we're glad she's decided to
come back and give us a hand next year as well. Mary HooL, she is our payroll specialist. Todd, you want to talk about Mary a little bit? >> Um, Mary, as said, Mary's been here for 24 years. uh has really been a go-to
person for all kinds of human resource um questions that people have, whether insurance, uh their own retirement planning. Um said she's been a a solid member of our school community and the Graby community for for years and years
and helped uh me learn some of the things that I need in transitioning from teaching into the business office. and she is the number one person to make sure everybody gets paid. So that she is instrumental in the district. So it is
going to be a huge loss because Mary has so much institutional knowledge that um we're also grateful that she said if we need her she'll she's only a phone call away. So we're very happy to have that. So so we'd like to wish her congratulations. And then we have Charlene Cludier. She is our um art
instructor here at the elementary school. She's been here about nine years. um she's um taking off her greener pasture. She's thinking about working at O Sturbridge Village and doing some artwork there. So, she's really excited about that. Um she does some great opportunities. If you get a chance to walk through the building, there's some great um sculptures and
clay works and the kids really enjoy art. She does a lot of things um and does a nice job. And so, we're really uh sad to see these folks leave. Um but we will be honoring each of them on uh June 17th at 11:00 at the East Meadow Cafeteria. If you're interested in
stopping by to get some cake and uh wish them a bon fawn farewell, we'd be happy to have you join us there. But we do want to thank them for all the service. They have been great um members of the um community. I did um ask them to come to the meeting at after the next
meeting. I should invite them to this one. Uh so we'll find out if they come up so we can honor them. But uh we we are really happy to have them be part of our team and they're all willing to support us in the future. So, as I said, they have some of that knowledge that we need and they'll be here to help. So, that's what I've got. And I was going to
say that we did have I didn't put in my report, but we did meet with the town administrator, but you already knew that. So, that was that. >> Now, the the prek graduation and the honoring of retirees, are those in the same time frames? Pretty close to one another. >> No, because the prek graduation the
school we have a half day of school. >> Okay. >> So, >> so what time is that going? >> It's in the morning. >> Actually, I think it's at noon. Is it at noon? No, it's well retirees is at noon. The prek gra >> noon. Sorry, that was my fault. I misunderstood. It's 12. >> It's like a 9 or I want to say it's like 9:00. >> 9 in the morning. >> I'm sorry. The 12 It's 12:00 now.
>> I just >> Thank you for putting that in there. >> And both AM and PM go together. >> Correct. >> Yeah, they're very cute. So, >> they're doing Jinnie's son did it last year. >> A luau darling.
>> He's in kindergarten this year. So, that's all I have. >> Any questions for Mary Jane? >> All right, Todd, you're up. >> Uh, the only thing I have to report is uh last night our the school
department's budget was passed at town meeting. Um, there was an amendment made on the floor uh to increase it by $30,000 for playground mulch for the East School. That also successfully
passed. So now we'll move into the implementation phase. Um preparing everything uh for the town and for our new financial software. So we have a quick close of FY26 and getting ready to open FY27.
>> Quick close. >> Quick close. >> Woohoo. >> Wow. And the town does we allow us to pay our June invoices through July um so that we can close out purchases and things like that. So the actual close out will start around August, but we
have to transition >> operations within the buildings to the new fiscal year >> and everything came out good this year in terms of budgeting >> that level service is. Yeah, we we're able to continue what we're doing.
>> But I'm talking about as of you know talking about the past year. >> We're we're still Yeah, we're still in line. There's a couple things that we're watching closely as we get to the final hours of the budget, but >> hours. >> Excellent. >> Seconds,
>> it's ticking down. But yeah, we I'm not anticipating any other than weather. >> Don't want to jinx anything. >> They know what you tell them about the generator last time, I think. So, >> um, we're
finalizing the contract with the vendor. Um, I may have said last time that we had it's about a 30-month a 30-w week lead time to get the generator once the contract is executed and we can move forward. So, it won't be until the winter uh that the generator is actually
installed. Um, but we be able to have a couple phases of that project to move it along. I did want to mention and in case you notice it um next week you did hear the town say that they had USA hauling doing um
>> for the trash trash collection. >> So we have been the recipients because we have empty parking lot have lots of trash bars lined in the parking lot. >> So the the lot between the two buildings will be the staging area for the town's been distribution. In
>> case you're wondering we have a lot of trash. Everybody's cleaning out their classrooms. >> So, they'll be here. Uh, when do they come? The 27th. >> Um, yeah. >> Just so you see, >> the week after school is completely done. >> Oh, we'll have our next meeting by then.
So, >> it's good to hear the schools uh step up for the community again. >> Yeah, we're there for the community. >> We're there. The only thing there was that kind of rumored talk about there might be money left over from the construction of this
facility. That's something you can look over in the summer and say wait a minute maybe there is something kind of money's there or it was just a kind of floated out there and then it kind of died. >> Uh no there is there are funds remaining from the construction of the school. Now
it's what it is available for and how it would be accessed. I'm not sure. >> Okay. >> Um so it it was you know uh voted for that spec for this specific project and whether that is
accessible through a town meeting and a and a vote to reallocate that or if it is specifically designed, you know, designated for construction projects here. Um, I would have to I don't know where I'd start with. I'll start with the town administrator probably, but
that's going to lead to we're gonna we're gonna have I'm sure to get some answers on >> it could mean a nice maintenance kitty or something that you'd like to do. >> The town treasurer did not feel that it was available for maintenance that it was because of the bonding or and it's
related to the MSBA project that it was construction specific. >> That might be just within the framework in which it was authorized. Maybe a reauthorization. >> Right. Right. >> Would be >> that would be wonderful. >> So that um that is all that I have for
this week. >> Anything else? >> All right, Liz, you're up. >> I don't know if you had a meeting or not. CES. Um we are meeting on Monday um for another policy meeting. I think I
reported out on the last board meeting to you. Did I not? >> You did. >> Yeah. >> I I'm not sure when the meetings are with our schedule compared to that. So >> I think uh well the plan is to start meeting once a month over there. Um they had previously been meeting every other
month, but it seems as though uh you know with a new executive director coming on board, it it uh we should be more available and accessible. >> Excellent. All right. Um any other questions as we
finish up this agenda? If not, we will um anything that we want to make sure is on the next meeting agenda, which I believe is >> 21st. >> 23rd. >> 23rd. >> 23rd of this month.
>> Yep. Oh, you guys. I think I have a calendar. If I can just get to that. All right. I'm sure I have it on my calendar. About 20 starting.
All right. If there's nothing else, um we will move along. We will now vote to go into executive session. The school committee will now enter exe into executive session under Massachusetts general law chapter 38 section 21 part A to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or
litigation in an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares we will be discussing wow discussing negotiations for unit A. The school committee will not return to open session. Jenny, can
you do a roll call vote, please? >> Mr. Haml, >> yes. >> Miss Leont, >> yes. >> Mr. Alex, >> yes. >> Miss Bartos, >> I All right, that's it everybody. Thanks very much.