Good evening everyone. Today is Tuesday, March 24th, and the time is 6:38 p.m. And I'd like to call this meeting to order. First on our agenda is our consent agenda. Um, meeting minutes from February 24th. Any questions or comments
on the m on the meeting minutes? >> Hearing none. I'll take the motion. >> I make a motion to accept the February 24th, 2026 meeting minutes. >> I have a second. >> I'll second. >> All those in favor? >> I.
>> Next is warrants 53, 55, 56, and 58 which are going around for signature. Questions or comments? Hearing none, I'll take the motion. >> I'll make the motion uh to accept
warrants uh 53, 55, 56, and 58. >> Uh can I have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Next is 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 that you clearly state your name and address so that this information can be included in the record for the meeting.
Seeing there's no visitors, we'll move along. Brena is not here for student representative. Did she pass anything along? Probably not. >> Okay. Next new business, the MSBA statement of interest. >> I will explain that. It's fun.
Each year we are um put into a queue to um support the school district in the event that we would like to do any accelerated project, redo the school, any uh projects that require funding from the state of Massachusetts and the uh school building authority. Um
although we don't typically have any um projects in mind, it's important that we fill out this yearly um SOI which is um submission. What's it called? Statement of interest. I just had a mental block there. um to put it in every year. Um
because if we don't put it in every year, if indeed the time comes for us to either do some sort of project, whether it be accelerated project or a new building project, we have to start at the very bottom and it could take 5 to seven years to get into the queue. So we do this every single year so that when
the state comes through and says, "Are you interested in uh opening a project?" they'll meet with us and we'll make a determination and they'll say um we're interested in moving you forward and we may say the town's not interested but we can keep our name in the queue so we don't have to start at the bottom of the list every year. So the town sign
something that says that we're willing to explore that and we are also have to take a vote um to say that the school committee is interested in keeping our names up on the top of the list if indeed we do something. So that is something we do every year. Um and uh it's the same. So we have to make a
motion to vote on that. >> So do you want me I read it first and then we take the motion and vote on it um after. >> Correct. Having convened in an open meeting on March 24th, 2026, prior to the SOI submission closing date, the
Graanby Public Schools School Committee in accordance with its charter by laws and ordinances has voted to authorize the superintendent to submit to the Massachusetts School Building Authority the statement of interest form dated March 16th, 2026 for the Graanby Junior Senior High School located at 387 East
State Street, Grahamby, Mass 01033, which describes and explains the following deficiency. deficiencies and the priority categories for which an application may be submitted to the Massachusetts School Building Authority in the future. Number five, replacement, renovation, or
modernization of school facility systems such as roofs, windows, boilers, heating, and ventilation systems to increase energy conservation and decrease energy related cost in a school facility. Number seven, replacement of or addition to obsolete buildings in
order to provide a for a full range of programs specifically acknowledges that by sub for a full range of programs that by submitting the statement of interest form, the Massachusetts School Building Authority in no way guarantees the acceptance or the approval of the
application, the awarding of the grant or any other funding commitment from the Massachusetts School Building Authority or commits the Graby Public School District to filing an application for funding with the Massachusetts School Building Authority. So that's as Mary Jane just um stated, it just keeps us in
um in the queue. If there are no further there are no questions, I'll take the motion and you can just say, you know, as >> Thank you. That was exactly what I was looking for. Can I have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor? I do need a roll call for that.
>> No, last year we did not have >> I didn't think so. I just wanted to make sure. >> Yeah. Nothing's being committed except resubmitting the soi. >> Right. Right. That's what I thought. But >> and Jen, you will be getting a email about signing two places. One with the school.
>> The worst email situation ever. But I will >> You'll be getting that I submit this in. You and the chief. >> I'm going to see if my work mouse with the little dongle will work better. I think it'll be easier. >> Oh, my signature mouse little thing. So, >> it's insane. So, you'll be getting that.
I'll probably submit it um tomorrow or or Thursday. Excellent. >> And uh but we have till April 15th. So um but I'd like to get it in as soon as possible so we get it off my plate. >> Excellent. That's okay. Uh next is school choice numbers. And Stacy put something in our folder.
>> She did for this. >> Oh, wait a minute. This is the wrong one I have in here. >> Okay. I know she sent an email as well >> cuz this is not the right one that I see in my folder. If you you I should have updated it on the agenda. If you click from the agenda, the hyperlink.
>> Okay, I'll do that. I was just looking at what was in there. Perfect. >> Don't believe I removed the other one. >> Okay, it is in the it's in a hyperlink. Thank you. >> So, if you click the hyperlink, you're good. >> Yep. Perfect. >> So, if you take a look at we um took a look at our school choice numbers um for next year. Good news is we really have a
nice robust kindergarten class coming in. We have I think s uh Stacy said she is our uh data services. She said we have I think she said 63 61 students in the sense she's 61 I think what she said in the census 61.
Right now we have about 45 people who have already enrolled for kindergarten. Um she has a few folks that she hasn't been able to get a hold of. They are part of the census but we haven't heard from them yet. So, we're still trying to actively um reach those families to have their children registered if indeed they
want to be part of that. So, as a result of that, we will not be adding any proposed seats to kindergarten. Um we are offering seats in uh grade 1, grade two, um actually every grade except for grade three at this point. Uh we're offering seats and and the senior uh
grade uh three and grade 12 are the two grades we are not offering um slots to. Is there a reason why we're not offering for seniors? >> Um, not really. I think just because of scheduling, honestly. Uh, the schedules are created next year.
>> Um, there's sometimes concerns of their previous program of studies. >> I go through all this every time, but if we had a student move in that was going to be enrolling in the senior class, we were going to make it work. So, what did we do?
We're currently losing more out and one one >> if we >> I don't know. I just >> it's certainly within your I mean the principles did this you know we've worked to talk to them about today. I >> I I don't honestly think we've ever had anyone take us up on it but it just feels exclusionary to me. Number one
number two we were going to you're going to have to make accommodations if a student moves into town that is a senior. And number three like why do we want to perceive that we're closing doors to to people? >> Yeah. like, you know, what's the number you're thinking? >> I don't know. I one or two is fine. Like we've we've every time we've done this,
if we hit the max of what we had open and there's people that are interested, it comes back to us. We talk about it. Um, do we have room to accommodate? I just don't want to see someone get turned away for the sheer fact that there might be a problem with scheduling.
>> Yep. I I again, it's >> because you're going to have to fix it if someone moves in. >> We did mention that today at our meeting. So, you know, we said it's totally up to the the school committee. These are just recommendations given to us by the principles. >> Has anyone um has anyone ever I we've we've had seats open the past couple years because I I feel like I've
>> not we have any seniors that we opened them last year for the seniors but nobody there didn't have >> so I just to me you know >> couple year a couple years ago we had um at least one senior choice in their senior partway into the senior year. Um,
I just, you know, things happen in neighboring school districts and different things like >> things are happening in neighboring school districts, >> right? >> Yeah. >> It's certainly within your right. I'm not, we're again, we are not opposed to having somebody in there if if that if the school committee chooses that.
>> I'm just one voice, one voice. All of this is up for discussion. Um, that's my opinion. I don't know what you all feel, but you know, I don't I would hate to see a zero there. Um, you know, just like with any one of these, if someone snaps it up and we feel like there's more, we can talk about adding an
additional one. But >> our senior class is 43 kids. I >> be nice to I I would agree. Is it nice to >> if we get up to 45 and 12th? I'm also very open to anybody's thoughts about going up to 45 and 11 and uh 10 and 11
as well. >> Yeah. I I mean, you know, I I know that the school can accommodate it. I graduated with 69. We had plenty of room. I think we would for some of the like 10th grade they're already planning on the number of sections that they
have. We talked about that today. We would need >> uh we wouldn't be able to really increase >> the uh number of sections if we go much more than what's proposed >> because the number of staffing that really we did have that discussion today >> because we're yeah we're not in a
position to add staff to accommodate school choice >> seat really there. No, no. I I >> I know that's never been the intention of the committee. >> It's definitely not. And I, you know, I just um I also know that we're not filling up our school choice seats as much as we used to, it feels like. So, um you know, but I definitely want to
see I personally would like to see something for seniors. I doubt anyone's going to take it, but >> Sure. >> So, I would move that we add school choice seats for seniors in the 26 27th school year. >> I I >> second.
>> All those in favor? All right. I >> I think you have to vote. >> We have to do the whole thing, but this is just for us. Just that. So, >> the next motion will be uh for all of the >> the rest of them. And for the East Meadow, the rest of the East Meadow numbers, how are we feeling about that?
>> Is that uh what we have um are we going to struggle with class size and teachers and everything else? >> No, we're able to make the adjustments that we need to maintain proper class sizes. Excellent. And that's why we
probably don't have any open for third grade because there's already 42 residents are already um school choice in which makes sense because we can't hire somebody to >> All right, that makes sense. >> It's good that the uh um kindergarten is
growing. So, we're really we're moving in a positive direction for that. And I do know that we've talked today there's some new houses being put up in the town. So, hopefully we'll start to see some growth. We're kind of looking forward to that. We've had we've had some growth. We what happens though is that we get them in the lower grades and
we seem to lose them as as they get forward. >> I would like to have an update to make sure um that all of these kids are enrolled because you know if it doesn't seem like we're at 45 you said currently enrolled right >> for what? >> For kindergarten. >> Oh the current enrollment. Yes. They
have completed their packets. >> They have completed it. >> So 45 to 63. There's a little bit of a discrepancy. >> We have 15 students who were on the census but we have not heard from those families yet. We are working. I know that >> has anyone talked with children first? >> We did talk to children first. >> We've been in contact with >> Is any of that in the 15?
>> There are no that's additional five. >> Okay. So that's actually 20 on the census that aren't accounted for. >> That's a good question. I don't know the answer to that. But there are five students at Children's First. Um >> and they're all Graanby residents. So that's 20 that are accounted on the census that are not here, >> right?
>> I don't know if we >> unless the 15 comes down to 10. >> I didn't we didn't talk about that today. I I assumed it was part of this. H that's a good question. I'll find out. >> So I just want to keep tabs on that because if >> 15 of those kids don't come here, then
we should open up spots, >> right? >> Oh, for sure. We can definitely do that. And I know that when I talked to Stacy today at our instru at our leadership team, she did say that Jenny's going to doing some some Did you say you're doing some research for her? Yeah, I just she sent me the names of the students and
their addresses and basically I can do what I can with Google searching and finding information and being able to >> We have a detective on the on the >> Are they still, you know, are they still residing in Green since the census was done? >> Homes. Do we have homeschoolers?
>> We do. We do few. And you know, one of the things I gave to the the principles today, actually to uh Stacy and the uh and the uh elementary principal was to locate at least the five people that are that are at Children's First, what are their plans? Are they coming here or are
they going to private schools, homeschool? So, I did ask them for that information. >> Typically, what we've seen with the children first um is it works better for the parents because they can drop them off at 6:00 and they can stay till 6:30. Do they have kindergarten in the um in
the day? I would say I'm going to throw out a number. It's totally off the top of my head, but probably like 80 to 85% of them end up enrolling with us and they stay with us for a good while. It just for that
kindergarten piece, right? >> They're um it just works better for >> extended such >> extended day, you know. So, and then when they find out that they're, you know, they can take the bus from here to Children First and everything else and they feel like their kids are ready, >> um, it usually becomes a little bit
easier. But we've had, we have kids that are in seventh and eighth grade now that started in, um, children first kindergarten. So, >> right. >> Um, so that is something I gave to them today to to work on and we'll have information, but we can also revisit this number. So, what we can do is we'll I'll I'll see what we um have for
kindergarten and I can bring it back to the say the mid the end of the April meeting and see what happens. >> Yeah, we just I'd just like to keep tabs on it from now until um probably end of May or >> we can do that. >> One never knows if South Hadley eliminates sports, which of course is always a play vote for our override.
>> Yeah, but there's already a boots on the ground um booster club >> situation. We we Todd will remember we had that happen here. Save Our Sports was the birth of the booster club here in Graanby. And >> um I know >> what year was that? Probably
>> the fall of ' 89. >> We did tour fundraising for >> facing them in South >> my senior year high school. >> But you had sports. We the booster club came through. >> So it was enough for just the varsity for the fall and then the select board
and the town voted to appropriate the full for the winter and the spring sports that year. Mhm. >> Well, I don't think we're going to be there yet. We'll see as we move on with the budget, but we'll see. >> Right. Um but yeah, so there could be some movement with that for for sure for
the upper grades, I would think. >> But we'll see. You never know. >> So, we'll definitely keep an eye on this. You can vote on what we have and we can always revisit it and I will uh continue to bring you updates uh how that looks and what we have. all the uh job all the all the school choice um
recipients come to Jinny and we can let you know you know how many people are applying for each grade and uh the sign is going out tomorrow morning um and I know we talked about you know uh doing a little bit advertising and how to get that and Alli's working with she's going to work with Mrs. funks class to have
the kids create a video. I think she talked about that today, how we can get out and let them know that the Grand is a great place for the students to come and uh we're going to do a little bit of that. Talk about putting something in the Sentinel and and looked a little looking at the um gazette, but um because that might be a little far out for us because it's to the north. So,
we're trying to decide how to advertise that within Graanby and South Hadley. So, you know, we're talking about that today as well. So, it's one thing to put the numbers out there, but how are we going to let folks that we want to be let them know? So that's what we talked about today at our meeting. >> If there's no further discussion, I'll
take the motion and all you can um we can either say as posted or read them aloud. What would you prefer? >> Um as posted probably Well, you had the two seats, so I Yeah. >> So I'll take the motion. >> I would Okay. You
>> You go. Well, I'm ready if you're ready. Yeah. So motion to accept the proposed school choice. um availability for 2627 as presented. >> I have a second. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> And that's what we already made the
motion to add. >> Thanks. >> I >> I >> Excellent. All right. So now we're going to um adjourn to subcommittees. Um when you when we come back, we can talk about the dates because I think one of the dates there might be a conflict
list that you sent. >> Okay. Uh because I think it's going to be up against one of our forum dates with the push back schedule. >> Oh, for um >> the subcommittee dates that she wanted to have post. We >> were looking at 5:00. >> I think you had 5:30 in the email.
>> I have I have the two Tuesday the 31st next week and Tuesday the 7th the following week. So that would be the two, but the forum isn't until 6:30. >> 6:30. I thought it was 6 usually. No. Did we do 6:30? >> 6:30 for the hearing. >> Yeah. And then we pushed school committee out of our >> Okay. >> Yeah. So those are those are okay as far
as those. >> And Mike Mike's not here tonight but um it just it seems like um given conditions not only here but everywhere um sitting and listening to the conversation is incredibly valuable. So
um I can give up some more of my time to meet so that we can do that. Yeah. >> Trevor agreed. >> Okay. Um, so do we still have some things to be able to discuss, Todd, in subcommittee? >> Um, we could talk about our meeting from
last week. >> Okay. >> And follow up from that. And >> All right. So, why don't we um adjourn for um cuz you guys can still talk about evaluation tonight. >> No, I thought we could do it next week, Monday. Um Tuesday. Okay. We'll do
evaluation and um with Mayor Jane and um I don't know how do you have a subcommittee with one member. >> Uh I was just going to have >> get an update. >> Just get an update and then but we can we can um if it's all right we can just adjourn for like 15 minutes. You guys
can listen can't participate. >> Yeah. I'm going to go actually we have to remove ourselves from the table so there's not a quorum of committee at the table >> and then we'll um we'll just do that. >> I do that. I think it's just everybody. It's finance, finance, finance, >> right? That's why I really want to get the update. So, um, we'll we'll adjourn
for like 15 minutes and then we'll be back. >> All right. And we're back. So, we just had our um subcommittee meetings. We only did um a budget discussion
evaluation will be meeting um separately next week. Those meetings will be posted. Todd. So, we met with the Atkintown administrator, the chair of the finance committee, school committee chair, superintendent myself, and a
consultant for I'm not sure that's the right term, but >> she he said me. Oh, yeah. >> Um, so we met last week for a preliminary discussion for the FY27 budget. Um I had presented um in December an original
draft of our budget which was just slightly over 2% increase over FY26. Um at that time the governor's cherry sheet had not been released so preliminary numbers for chapter 70 required local contribution. um school choice estimates um and then
some additional estimates that we use for grants and other revolving accounts weren't included in that December version. Uh I've since sent a more recent version. Um there's a couple of key pieces of information that we're
waiting for from the town. Um one is the inind expenses. So those are costs that the town bills back to the school. Um there are administrative expenses for the town. Um
so it's assists with payroll. There's some things on that side. Our school resource officer falls under an inkind expense. Um facilities maintenance like mowing and some additional work that they'll do on campus. Uh but the big
piece of that is health insurance. And the health insurance costs, as most people know, have been um I'll say skyrocketing. Uh a simplified growth is about 50%
um in this calendar year um with the anticipated increases for next year. So without that number, that's really uh limiting our full picture of our budget. um last year it was well over $2
million that is reduced or is charged back to the town. And uh the other piece of information uh the past four fiscal years the schools have received $600,000 over the required local contribution and
we're not sure to what level the community uh is going to or be able to support that number. So without those two key pieces of information, we don't have our full picture of what our funding level is. Um so we as I said, we
have a scenario where we are proposing a 2% increase. Um without some of those other things, it could potentially be a deficit for us. that would have to be lead to reducing
some new asks, some uh some small increases that we were looking to close a deficit. Um if those num depending on what those numbers are, it could lead us to more significant cuts. Um so the range right now is really dependent on
what information the town uh provides us. Um so meeting this past week, it was determined that we would push back our budget cycle. um so that we could give the town more time to get us that information and still meet our
obligations uh for town meeting deadlines. So our forum is moved back one week um to next Tuesday the 31st. Then uh the following week we will have our forum um at our hearing on the 31st.
This is where the community can come listen to the presentation and participate, ask questions, um dig into our budget process a little bit more and hopefully have uh some dialogue with the community as to what their priorities
are and how we can support a budget that maintains what we offer to our students. I think that is the my goal is to have a budget that maintains our services for our students. We know that that there are fiscal constraints and it is not the
time for significant growth in a budget. Um but maintenance is extremely important. Um another piece that I discussed in the subcommittee is a a term that's called maintenance of effort. There are key federal grants for special
education and supporting um our students in um other their main academic areas. and they're tied to the district spending at least the same amount on education year-over-year. If
we go below a fiscal year's um spending on education, um we jeopardize losing hundreds of thousands of dollars of federal funds. So, the maintenance part of this uh is not just our programming, but it is also uh our
funding is conditional on that. So, um we need some ideas uh on how we can get people to come and participate for the um for the forum. So, um I know we can get it uh in the
newsletters for both schools. Can we put it on the sign? >> Um >> Good idea. Yep. Put on the sign >> if anyone works. It's already for the newsletters. Um, does anyone have a Facebook account, Instagram? >> Yep.
>> We can have the kids put it on their class pages, too, >> because a lot of parents follow those. >> That's a good idea. >> I'll talk it up at some sports stuff. Um, >> I just don't know that I can have it at,
you know, do we put signs up at Duncan? Like, I I just don't know. Like, I want to make sure we get participation. I want to try to see um >> I would love to have some people here >> presenting send Mr. Demarrai an email just he's come before with questions and
it's nice to have him have some questions and you know he can be um he can be a great advocate sometimes if he's understanding what's happening I think um >> it's going to be in the sentinel this week we're required to public uh post it
in the newspaper so the legal notice uh is out as well. >> Is there any you guys have any ideas? Um, no. I wish I did. >> Um, we put I mean offer food,
babysitting. What? These are the things that draw people. >> Well, we can talk to um NHS if there's any NHS kids that need hours to, you know, >> babysit. >> To babysit. We've done that in the past. Y >> we've just had them come and no one's
shown. But we can uh >> I can bring that to the high school principal for sure. Well, that's what the parents certainly parents with younger kids that's their base. Sorry, >> yeah, babysitting. Um, and you know,
>> and I guess the other question is what what are we presenting? >> Right. >> That's a big question. What are we presenting scenarios? >> Because we don't know. >> Yeah. >> Right. We have the ability to present
several scenarios. uh we want to be >> can we present all of the scenarios or will is there a possibility that we'll have something to be able to narrow down our scenarios before next week. >> That's our hope. That's our hope. >> Right. We did not get a definitive
time or date that we would get the additional information that we need from uh the town, >> but they do know that we moved the hearing to the 31st. So, that being said, >> yeah, >> it's Tuesday. Maybe you could we can give a little nudge tomorrow and just
remind them that we've got this coming up and we need to know um you know do we how they would like us to proceed perhaps. >> Okay. Um,
and then do we do we do the three scenarios? >> I would give you a chance to have conversations and >> I'm prepared for whatever the committee would like to see in the hearing.
>> I can put together anything. >> I I feel like we need to do them all. Right. I >> I wouldn't disagree with that. I it >> if we don't >> I'm trying to bite my tongue, Jen, but we can't say to to kids on IEPs, we're
not really sure when we can give you the services, but we'll get them to you sometime. You know, we can't tell students at the high school. We're not really sure if we'll get to the National
Honor Society this year, but >> Well, we'll try. But I we we don't know right now, but we're going to We'll know by the time we vote. >> I hope so. >> We have to. >> We sure do. >> And we've never not known. It's it >> just it's right now we there's so so
many this is not a great um year for you Liz because it's you you think we do everything backwards. >> No Jen is not on your side. I know this is not coming from the school side. >> No I mean the collective weekly like the town of Graanby week um which I am a
part of. I mean I'm a part of it too >> but I I think that it's unfortunate we the forum I think we need to have u pres um discussions but when we make that decision at April 28th everyone
will know then like we will have had to make a decision >> I sure hope so. Um, >> so I, you know, I appreciate what you're saying, but >> I'm concerned that, you know, >> we all are, but the thing is is what we're talking about right now is to have what kind of conversation we want to
have at our forum and how to get people here, >> but we're not I don't also want to sound the alarm and have all sorts of moving parts of her things and because you can't walk it back. Well, um
>> I mean there's certainly alarm bells are ringing, but >> I've been communicating with legislators um about the needs around rural districts in our district in particular. Um I know that um state legislature moves in twoear cycles. I don't expect
anything big, but uh um I kind of wish some of these meetings at the town level were public meetings so people could attend and fully understand what the conversations are. Um
there's a lot going on here that um people should have the right to have the right to know about. Taxes in this town um are not low as you know. Um, people who enroll their children in
public schools have an absolute right uh to expect that, you know, their elected officials are doing the best job that they can. Um, heck, I'm a senior citizen. I, you know, there's there's a lot going on. We want to know about public safety, right? We want to know
about the schools, which is really the hub of the town. your town is only as good as your schools. I think that that's a common saying, but I think it's really quite true. Um, and if you look at our neighbors, even if
they only pass the small override at 9 million and we can't maintain level services, what does that mean for kids who might be considering or parents might say, "Well, we'll just drive 2 minutes down
the road and take our kids to South." It's kind of frustrating for me because I believe schools and I know you all do and that's why you're here. Schools is where the magic happens in our community. Um, so I'm sorry I'll step down off that
soap box. But I do have some real questions if I may ask. Are we there? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Of the 2 million in chargebacks from the town, how much of that is insurance or ballpark? You know, ballpark.
um >> large number of charge events. >> That was last year's number. >> It's it's probably going to be more this year. >> I mean, there's a lot of communities, a lot of communities that negotiate a sort of an agreement with the town about
chargebacks. Um >> so we do not have an existing agreement with the town on that nice. Um so FY26 in kind expenses were 2,986,000.
Um insurance for active and retired employees uh was 1,165,000. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Um so understanding the general chargebacks which is services provided by town hall,
services provided by maintenance. >> Um is would it be a lot of work or does a list exist of what the chargebacks are by category? Um so the admin administrative services are 121,000
in their FY26 estimates. Uh operations and maintenance was 19,000. Um >> employee retirement separate from health insurance is 515,000.
So those are the uh categories that make up our inind expenses. H just seems high to me. So, it it will I'm just curious. That'll make me ask more questions elsewhere.
Um I appreciate your work and as I've said a million times, finance is not my strong suit, but um the more information that we can get, the easier it becomes, right? >> Yeah. >> So, thank you. >> You're welcome.
And Jen, I appreciate the time you spend with these folks because I'm sure it has to be incredibly frustrating for you. >> Yeah, it's my lunchtime. My my real job, my big girl job, the one like I actually get paid for job. >> No, I'm I can't relate with that.
>> Um, other questions? >> I don't have any more questions on that, but maybe. >> Okay, so I guess we're presenting for right now. Now, I think we should prepare to pre present all three
scenarios. >> Um, agree. >> And I think unfortunately I think we need to um honestly start with the worst and work backwards. >> I'd rather get cuz I I don't know. I
mean, I'm not feeling great. I don't I don't know where to do that. And I think we need to get if we get numbers from the town ahead of time. I don't think we need to do that. Correct. >> Well, it depends on what the numbers are. >> Well, obviously, >> right?
>> Well, right. If the worst case scenario, I I hope it's not the worst case scenario. >> No, I mean, I just of course and then, you know, we're going to have a new town administrator. We're going to have new people. And then maybe it's time to talk about some of those, you know, agreements and different things because we'll have all
new players. And it's not like we haven't talked about those things before. Um, >> well, never hurts to talk about them again. Well, >> for sure. >> Again, the older I get, the more I I acknowledge that change is hard, but sometimes once you've made that change
and crossed that bridge, you realize, gosh, I wish I would have done this sooner. we, you know, we've, it's hard to um probably see from being relatively new, but the amount of change that we've made for the better since I've been on this
committee. Um, and I'm not saying I'm not saying it like it's me that did that change. I'm just happened to be part of it as we've done that. Um, is uh would be startling to you. I am sure quite sure that it would be >> you know from where from the
relationship we have with the town now as compared to when I started there would be no conversations it would only be email so we've made great strides and I don't want to jeopardize
that and you know um it's it's gotten a lot better so we've made changes we're making strides Um, but we'll stay focused and, you know, >> I appreciate you having the fortitude
um to say things you've said. Um, but I have to say, shame on all of us if we can't begin begin to try to be more transparent with one another because that would be good for the town side and that would certainly
be good for the school side. I don't think anyone's trying to not be >> I know, but seems as though we could try and do a little better. We're We're all on the same team. We really are.
I I think we really are. And sometimes it doesn't feel that way. like I I'd like like to know more from the town's perspective um about the issues that affect the schools.
>> Well, I don't again I >> I know I know you're trying and I do appreciate it. >> I also think that it's not a fair assumption right now. It's no one planned for the town administrator that they hired to to leave in such a manner.
>> I understand. >> And the the things fallen the way that they did, right? So, I don't >> I I think when we say things, we have to be careful because it's not I
don't think anyone's doing anything intentionally right now. They're holding numbers >> good. >> I I truly, you know, >> I truly >> I don't believe it's intentional because select board members can't just >> I I don't think anyone has access and they the more they dug into stuff, the
more problems that they found. So, you know, I I don't And then you get somebody back in and you have they have to then dig out, right? Like it's not it's not like they just decided to not give we we we were well past that. We used to get that where they just wouldn't give us the information.
>> And then we would have to go on town floor and ask for additional money all the time and have like pitchforks. Um, but now we're at the point where we're having very open conversations. And listen, they could he could very easily have said,
>> "Give us your budget. I need your number and he's willing to work with us." Right? So, and that's that's the collective he over there. That's the inter town administrator, >> the interim town administrator of um Chief O'Grady, the consultants and Chris
Chris Martin um you know, John Liber was even willing to say yes, let's wait and see what we're at. don't have the information. You know, it was probably for a bad situation the I think the least troublesome outcome.
>> But we're making progress. >> We're making progress. They could have said, "Hey, by the way, we're not going to give um the schools any additional money." So, you know, and >> then we'd be one of uh what would we turn into then? One of six communities across the Commonwealth get nothing.
>> So, we don't need to we don't need to talk about it, right? Like I appreciate what you're saying, but let's you know >> I look at So I do drop off and pick up every day, right? And I'm only at the elementary school, but wherever I've been, I did this with my own kids. I
spend a lot of time in schools. Um maybe I should run for the state legislature, although I'm sure I don't have the heart for that. um all of these students and a lot of this is on the state right now and not on the
towns. Um but students who uh who live in rural school districts who are struggling the most right now. Um 200 rural school districts in the state of Massachusetts out of 300 200 rural school districts.
>> I think every rural compared to their compared to their formula, right? >> Considered No, but we're still considered >> we're considered rural but not as rural as we could be. >> True. True. Um, you know, these students deserve uh everything uh that students
in larger communities are getting. They deserve everything that students in Lexington, in Cambridge, >> and they're still getting chapter 70 money and they're funding millions above. >> I I agree. I know you do. 100%. But that
that's not going to that doesn't do us any good right here. Well, >> like that that's not something that the Grahamby school committee can change. >> Well, if enough people decide that they're uhitted enough to legislator people here to have our own discussion
about our own hearing because that's what we need to stay focused on. >> That would be great. I'll let everybody all the 12 people I know in Branby that they should come. >> Well, it's 12 more that that hear about it, right? >> Yes. you know, so and we've got to get people to come and be able to have these
very blunt conversations, but talking about things that really cannot we we have to kind of stay focused on our charge and that's really to be concerned about Graanby and talking about what they get in Lexington or get in Lee is really not going to help us because it's that that's not something that we can
change in the here and now. That's like a separate project, right? That's not >> I think it's all tied together, but to to some degree that's right. Yes. Okay. If there are no further questions for the for this, we can move on to our standing reports.
Further questions? You sure, Liz? I know you >> Oh, no. I don't have any. >> Are you sure? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Standing reports. Superintendent. >> Um, spring sports began March 16th. Uh, we had a staff PD day on the 18th. Um,
uh, East Meadow had a, um, we'll talk each of the schools. East Meadow. Uh we talked to Officer Gilly talked to the East Meadow staff and they talked about the reunification Jill and we want to thank the families who um follow the directions with picking up their students. So we appreciate that. Um but there was um the went fairly well. I
don't want to specifically say where issues are because it is a public um but we did have some things we're going to work with the staff over. Uh there was a little bit of communication between the elementary and the high school um you know when we started the drill, but other than that um you know we it went fairly well and we have our orders
moving forward on on how to um shore up some of the minor glitches. Honestly, they we did a very nice job. I was very impressed with that. And then we had a uh a follow-up meeting with the chiefs and uh and the admin team and and you know to to discuss it. So, and the staff was uh
both schools talked to with their staffs about it and we got some feedback from them as well and we'll continue to update that as we move on and and we're thinking about doing a reunification drill off campus perhaps next year. Um so that's just something we're thinking about in the future. Um so additional
things that happened at East Meadow, the instructional staff did a deescalation training. um per professional did a self-guided modules to the masters partnership for youth and talking about the importance of self-regulation and engagement through executive function. Uh at the high school the teachers
worked on their performance assessments and then our social workers and some of the um providers worked on transitioning planning for with the students uh for their students. Our pair professionals worked on the same um self-guided modules as the elementary school and our
guidance worked on the program of study. um to talk about what that looks like next year and uh start working on schedules. Um I did put in the results of our IMR review that was I've been talking about it all year. I actually gave you the full IMR results for you to take a look at. I did have a quick
PowerPoint presentation. I'd like to you can follow along with me on that and ask me some questions if you'd like to go over that with me. Um but suffice to say I just wanted to let you know that we did overall we did really well and we did not get any uh non-compliance. We
got several um not fully implemented yet. So we are working right now on trying to um remediate some of their findings. Um so um those are what I'm going over right now. The methodology was they first of all early on they took to uh took copies
of all our documents what they looked what they were looking for and we uploaded a lot of information. They interviewed the staff and the parents. They came to here and talk and looked at our facilities. Um they looked at our policies and procedures and then they evaluated our uh student support
services. So based on those uh methods these are some of the findings. So uh e compliance area were special education student information some civil rights standards student discipline procedures bullying prevention our physical restraint policies and curriculum review. So these are the areas that we
just need to show up a little bit of what we're doing. Again they um a lot of it was some practices procedures we were doing most of the things. It's just the documentation to support what we're doing really is what we needed to uh that's the actual report. Uh this is the PowerPoint presentation.
>> Wow. So, so basically, you know, um we have to create a corrective action plan and we um talked with the the admin team and our DT talking about what does that look like. Many of the things we're implementing will take place over the
summer and um and and have them fully ready to go for September. Some of the things will come from the school committee. For example, we have to add some verbiage to some of our bullying, physical restraint. there's some new policy coming out for that. Um, but we don't want to add those new policies
until we get official notification because the state added some new things. Um, and we want to make sure we only do it once. We don't want to do things several times. So, um, our folks that worked with us talked about, you know, I don't want I don't want to bring things to the school committee three different times. And one of the things they talked
about is making sure that our policies and procedures are all in the same place with the same verbiage. Sometimes we have you may not have everything followed through in the past. There might be something in the elementary handbook that's not the high school principal. >> Well, it was used for the interruption, but is that not what we were working on
for the policy to make sure all that stuff matches? >> That's what we're doing. Yeah. And that's just if it was just a few things here and there. We're working on that for sure. >> We've gotten up only to section. >> We're not here yet. >> We're talking about handbooks. >> Yeah, she's talking about handbooks now.
>> Yeah, that's Yeah, the hand. So what she's saying is that the some of the verbiage uh that is supported by policies is not the same in both handlers. Correct. There should be consistency. >> Correct. We just have to make sure everything matches. Basically it's m we
need one holder of everything. For example, if I have, you know, high school principal holding something and the elementary school principal holding something, we need one person putting it for both and then doing it that way. >> And the restraints is on seclusion. any updates and we and we we're not cited on
that but they want to make sure that we put that in the handbook which is coming up we should be having information from our attorneys uh >> mid June we're hoping so we kind of held off on that >> so um basically um some new bullying
verbiage we didn't for example we don't have things in our bullying policy against u in the bullying verbiage about specifically pregnant taint so we have to add things like that in So just there really just not anything that is going to be a huge lift for any of us. But
right now with graduation MCCAST it's we we can you know do some of this stuff in the summer and and and in August. Um so let me see what else we had. Um so we just need to look at our discipline code to make sure they all again make sure what matches in one handbook matches in
another handbook. Basically some of those things and some of procedural improvements. For example, when we talked about suspension hearings, we sent suspension letters to the families, but you specifically have to send a suspension letter to the students, which we didn't do. So, now we created letters
for specific students. So, just things like that that we didn't have in place and structures in place. So, those are some things that that came across. Um, and and what are you going to do besides uh if you have to suspense, I mean, what alternatives do you have? So, those are certain things that we have to put in place and we have all those, but again,
a lot of it is not in writing. and they're looking for specific things in writing. So, those are some things that we are cited on. >> Um, one of the things that's going to take us a little bit of time is the curriculum and access review. Um, we don't really have a process or a procedure in place for that. Looking at
our curriculum materials to make that they um meet certain criteria. For example, the last page talked about materials reviewed for stereotypes and generalizations. at the elementary school. All of our curriculums meet
those because they're all curriculums we bought from other places, but we don't as a uh specific teacher oneonone look at that and have a checklist. Does that match that? So, we're looking to do some of that. So, we also need to do eval annual evaluation of your curriculum.
So, those are certain things we have to put in place. And so, um again, we do all of these things, but we just don't have formal um measures in place to support them. And so we are working with the um with the instructional team and working with our principles and uh
trying to get these things in place. Um once our corrective action plan is in place, I will submit it so you can take a look at it and what that looks like and what we will be doing to remedy each of the specific um areas of identification. So again, we have to
update our restraint policy. Um so we uh created a corrective action plan and they're going to be monitoring us for that. Um mostly we'll be talking everything in like I said June, July and August and then after they'll they'll come back to us and say okay that looks
good and we may get a followup mid year to say um are you doing what you said type thing. Um but generally we did a a a pretty good job. We got for the most part we got um like I said partially implemented no non-compliance. So, um, we were pretty happy to be honest with
you for some of the things we submitted. We said, "Oh, I don't know what we're going to get on that." But we did pretty well. Um, >> thank you to the team for that. >> Yeah, they really did a nice job and we'll keep you updated on it. It is a big process. It started LA, as I've been saying, it started last May, I'm
thinking, and they came in July and uh, so I mean, they came in uh, when did they come? January. So, it's a pretty quick turnover. So, we'll uh keep you updated on that and uh I will show you the plan once it gets approved and then you can take a look at it. But we
submitted the action plan the 20th last Friday. So, they're reviewing it now. They may up some of the timelines that it's not acceptable. We want you to do this ahead of time. If that's the case, we'll certainly let you know. But we talked to Michelle from the Department of Ed and she seemed to think that's fine because again, we're a small
district and I guess one of the things we had talked about is some of these bid districts have people to do each of these jobs. We don't. It's us. you know, we have our four people in the at the central office. We don't have, you know, specific people to each of these jobs
for compliance and things like that. So, you know, we have a lot on our plate as individual administrators and teachers. So, she she was very um supportive of that. She said we will uh monitor as best we can. So, that's really all I
have and uh it went pretty well. Generally, we were we were pleased with the overall >> I love it. Yeah. I mean I mean it we didn't get non-compliant which is the goal, >> you know. So that was good.
>> I think that that's great. Great work. >> Yeah, >> I would say so. >> I have to say our Nicole Heru with student services did a great job and all the principles did a fabulous job getting the information she needed. So um it really >> that's a lot of work. >> A giant team effort for them. >> A huge amount. >> They did a really nice job.
>> They did. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome, Todd. Um, so Kendall Page sent me a couple things related to just kind of an update where we are with our school lunch program. Um, one is
the Graby dining and nutrition report 2526. Um, that's in your folder. So it is showing a breakdown of um our meals served for breakfast, lunch, snack. Um
these are total for the districts not broken down by school. Um and where we are in our profit. So our projected profit uh going from his comparison year 2425 to 2526.
Um the profit has dropped, you know, around $50,000. We're still uh in the black. Um what he's attributing that to one is you know the change in enrollment is noticeable um on the school lunch program. Um he's
got a summary page as well. Um so we are enrollment down 30 to 40 students. Um we've served a lot less uh breakfasts at the junior senior high school. He's estimating about 10,000 less breakfasts
um because of the change in the breakfast schedule at the junior senior high school. Um so that's at least on the revenue side. Well, >> can we change it back? >> Uh that would be the principal's scheduling. What they did is they gave
everybody a break at like 9:15 in the morning to do breakfast and covering it was difficult to do coverage and I don't know if we came up let's say I mean we can offer they
students are able to get it up until 8:30 so I guess the students really aren't accessing it. Yeah, I guess when they came down in the morning at 9:30, they would, but you know, it interferes with the class. >> I mean, supposed to be after after breakfast. A lot of schools take
>> the uh breakfast and bring it to the classrooms. We never did that here. >> We there was concern about uh eating in the classroom and the hygienic nature of it. Um particularly those carpeted classrooms and hallways and all of those
things that are a little bit more difficult at the junior senior high school. Um the meal right now is served from 7:15 uh until 7:28. The students uh go to class. That's the bulk of it. They
have the option of uh getting a meal at least through 8:30. If someone is tardy to school, uh they can get a meal, but it is a significant change from the way that the the meals were administered. Um, and so
>> I would have thought it would gone up with the brand new cafeteria, honestly. >> Uh, yeah, I think that, you know, students coming in, they don't necessarily change their arrival time because breakfast has been moved to the beginning of the day versus they were
already in the building um when it was, you know, at the 9:00. Yeah. >> Yeah. Well, that that 10-minute break or whatever they used to have. Um, I just >> to me that's like losing money. Ah, >> so but if it is, you know, it if the
scheduling of it, it better suits the educational needs of the building versus the profitability of the lunch program. >> We can't really use it for anything else but lunch. We can only use it for lunch programs anyway. >> Yeah. >> And you can only carry a certain percentage, >> right? And so I I believe that I
reported to you after uh the review of the food service program that we do. we're we're we've exceeded what we are supposed to have in reserve for our school lunch program. Um so we have to have a a spend down plan for that. Uh so
you know not adding too much to our current surplus. Um so >> refrigerators or something. >> Yeah. No, so there there is equipment. There are things that I'm I'm looking at for upgrading particularly at the junior senior high school because many of the
pieces of equipment are vintage. >> Vintage. I like that. >> Can we like do something for um like act have an additional snack or something? You know, like >> we I can propose it. We did try that and the students didn't really access it was
a couple of years ago because of the students who are staying after school for sports and other activities. um you know potentially go if they're >> do that because they don't get >> if you're a middle schooler a seventh eighth grader you know you're you're ending lunch at se 11:25
and then you're the rest of your school day then 2 hours of practice and you know that's a long time to not have access to a meal but students didn't utilize it uh when we tried to run it. Um I think maybe >> we can discuss that as a as a proposal
going forward. Is that an something we can try and see if it has some >> legs or what? >> I think my food insecurity is a little different now than it was a couple years ago. So something I I like that idea. I as a parent I know when my own children played I mean they were starving by the time the end of the day and then they like you said practice for two hours.
Let's revisit that. I like that idea. >> We don't want to increase the surplus. I get it. I just feel like, you know, >> no, it is it because and I think so if I I want to phrase this the right way as as I maintain my middle school brain. um
they're going to the local convenience store because the snacks that we have to offer are restricted by the it's called the stalker list um that are school approved snacks
and they're not necessarily to the taste of the the the students. And so that I think that was really the why the snack program failed. they'd rather go, you know, to the convenience store and get something because we can't offer those same kind of sweets or salty
snacks or certainly not the sodas or other drinks that they're getting. >> Okay. >> Um but I think it is certainly worth exploring. Um and we have the opportunity um with the you know the junior senior high kitchen fully functional they can it can be offered on
campus. So, we'll see if it's something that will work. >> Even if it's just like extra fruit or some fruit or I think it came out weird. >> Kids will always eat fruit. >> Yeah, I feel like grapes or oranges or bananas or >> Yep. In my experience. >> Nope.
>> Um, no. >> So, the So, again, so there was and and there was a a labor increase. So, we they added a um chef to the high school, a chef manager. So that was a position that hadn't existed since precoid
um as well as an additional um person for serving and preparation. So there's two labor positions uh in there which also affected profitability. >> Um they did a survey a while ago about the food. I should probably put that in there. How the kids felt about lunch. I should send that to I'll bring it to the
next meeting. Um >> I think the food looks fantastic. >> I'm hearing mixed reviews. said, "I think it looks I didn't eat it." I said, "It looks I like I mean there's >> they are trying to diversify. It is certainly uh it's a more robust program
than it was when we were limited by one kitchen." For sure. >> Um and so, um >> I think that's why I think it looks so much better because there's more offerings. For sure. >> Is it still like the two lines? >> Yeah. So, they have >> a regular lunch and then the alle cart. >> Yep. Y >> and they they run
it's not the right term, but I'm going to call it a taco bar. This is a pretty consistent uh alternative option as well as salads, sandwiches. >> I heard the wings are amazing. >> Well, they they've been offering wings that and >> the wings
like I had wings today. >> Walking tacos, which is one of their biggest sellers. So, they take a bag of approved chips and then put all your taco stuff in it. Uh some parts of the country call it a Frito pie. Um so those
are some of the things that >> at the gate at a lot at the booster club for the snack shack. >> Yeah. So anyway, I don't want to belabor that too much, but that's uh those are some of the things. So again, we're still uh profitable. There are some impacts. There's some growth in some of
the meal service with the high school being open, but the bigger impact has been the overall reduction in enrollment. Um, so we're keeping an eye on that. Um, I next part for me is I put
in uh your monthly uh update uh on our budget and our grants and our revolving accounts. Um, overall we are in good shape. The one area that I have concerns about is the building maintenance line
under the facil maintenance and facilities section. Um there have been a number of unanticipated repairs uh especially at East Meadow this year. We had a pump control fail for our septic
system uh at this building. So it required uh considerable work to get that uh running uh properly. Um and so that was unanticipated. I've already notified the finance committee and the
acting town administrator that I would likely be seeking a reserve fund transfer to cover that unanticipated expense. Um, but I'm watching those lines very carefully right now. Um, and so any I'm sorry, any question? I know
that's this document is a lot to go through if you were going to go through it in a very short amount of time. >> Um, what about what happened um with the um >> Yep. I was going to save that for once we were done with this this document. >> Sure.
I have to look at this like more carefully. So, I'm going to take your word for it that we're in the expected place of where we should be. Right. So for I think if if if you're scrolling through it, each funding area has a
summary and at the that bolded line will tell you where we are with funds remaining for the year. Um, so within a subsection there might look like an area is potentially being over spent or close
to overspent or drawn down, but when you look at the whole the section as a whole, you'll find that we're well within our our budget parameters. Um, sometimes we're moving funds, you know, like I did last year. So, I asked the
committee to vote to move money to cover uh substitute costs. I move had the committee vote to move things um mid year when it goes beyond one of the you know funding categories. So >> great.
>> But in your free time if you dive into this and have questions please feel free to email me and I will get I will follow up and answer any of >> but everything's looking good. So, >> so I Yeah, there's no areas that I have concerns with. Um, we I think the $5,000
that you moved for plowing overtime, that's was, you know, so far we're on the right amount despite that blizzard I drove through last night. Um, you know, that we're we're able to to meet those sorts of challenges we faced, you know, mid year. We've had some flexibility.
So, >> and these numbers are as of February. Yes, this is as of the end of February. There you go. And we just submitted our So, our last payroll for March will be this Friday. So, then that will allow me to close out
March. So, that's why we're >> Got it. Thank you. And then the last uh thing for my report is um a couple weeks ago we had an electrical incident at the junior senior high school where the service line um
the underground service line that feeds the high school uh failed and it needed to be replaced. It was an emergency replacement. Um, under the advisement of the town administrator, I reached out to the provided the information so we could
try to file an insurance claim. The insurance company accepted the claim. >> So, we'll be responsible for the $2,500 deductible rather. I have I don't have the full bill yet. Um, but rather than what the full uh replacement cost would have
been. So, that was a relief to the finance committee chair. I think I won't speak for him while he was there in that same room. So um the one other thing they brought to our attention is there is a transformer on campus that feeds
the building. Um fortunately it is owned by National Grid. It does need to be replaced but National Grid is responsible for that cost. So it will be scheduling when the junior senior high school can have um a day without power.
they again I'm waiting for all of their information whether if it's something that's more urgent I would look to do that over April vacation um if it is not something that needs to be done immediately I'd look to do that over the summer um the only other impact is our
network controls for like Wi-Fi and some of the internet the both buildings are interconnected so when the high school is without power you wouldn't have internet and some of the uh connectivity here So it might impact someone's summer work for a day.
>> So um >> could be a lot worse though. >> Could have been Yes. Yep. So >> Oh, and >> and the high school has an extra day to go to school. >> Yes. >> For their for their extra day off and I should have me as speaking of
electricity, I have put out the bid for the generator replacement. Um so they're due April 16th. Um, so we're looking got the go-ahhead from the acting town administrator to really try to move on that now. And if we need additional
funds, we do have um a capital request um in in case those costs go over what our original estimate was. >> So did you update the busing? >> No, I haven't gotten the name thing from just checking. I didn't think what's the acting town administrator's name?
>> It's uh Chief O'Grady. >> Orady. Yep. Thank you. >> Is he considering applying for the job? >> I think he prefers police chief, but I again I don't want to speak for him. >> I've had only good exchanges with police and fire.
>> I have to say, God bless him. He's >> Yeah. >> doing good job. He's a great guy. >> I agree. >> It's awesome. >> So, that's all that I have. >> And he walked me off the ledge and Meredith crashed. He was first on the scene. And like he's like, "Jen, stay
where you are. I can see her. She's fine. >> Yeah, they seem really grave here. So, all right. Um, Liz, CES, you said you had a bunch. >> CES has become
a part-time job. Um, there's a lot going on at CES. There's a lot of moving parts. I think we've paid a lot of attention to everything that's happening. um that really started to bubble to the surface during the search
for a new leader with our attorney and with staff and things seemed to have quieted a bit. Um, last week we hired an interim executive director
um because the assistant executive director was acting as the interim and um it really became um quite stressful for her.
Uh so I am cautiously optimistic that in the past two weeks uh it's been quiet. Um the CES board I think had its largest attendance ever last week when we hired
um the new in temporary interim executive director. Moren Benenda got the job. She's very excited. I think she the next day she was on the phone with people and um she's a very experienced
superintendent spent her whole career in Worcester um including I don't know what was she there 10 12 years was superintendent so my fingers are crossed uh I think a lot of the politics from the community
that CES building is crossed over which was a really really um interesting for me, stressful for other people time. Um and it seems like again we're we found out that the board had
never done anything like work on policy. Um had never taken into account that law uh by law the board is the employer not of record but the employer of staff at CES.
Um, and so we've we've begun to look um at fulfilling our role more fully um and kind of taking it back from staff who hadn't been doing it. It's been an interesting process. Who knew, you know, until you look at the
law and it tells you what you're supposed to do. So, um, I'm looking forward to a few quiet months going forward with them. But we have started uh meeting once a month now instead of once every two months because there is a lot of work to be done.
>> Wow. >> Yeah. 37 members on that board. Uh usually they're counting frantically to get a quorum. Um I think we had 32 people at the last meeting. Wow. Seems unheard of.
>> It was unheard of for this group. But I think the um issues that brought us here have also brought us together in sort of um the desire to move things forward instead of staying stagnant where they are. And I think it'll make a big difference for
everybody. >> That's great. Excellent. Anything else? Any questions? Okay. So, um before we go into executive session, is there anything that we need um to go
over before next week? Um so the we'll start at 6:30. Is the um hearing a half hour and we'll start school committee at >> there's no school committee. Just a half hour. >> Just a half hour. >> I don't know. It may take if we do all those scenario. It may take a little longer.
>> We agree. >> Yeah, we we can go longer because we don't we did the half hour because we would have school committee following it. Yeah. >> If you we could extend it if the committee wants to have that option. >> Can we run a header on the Gramby community TV or whatever it's called
that runs these videos? >> I guess I can put Jenny in there. I can put Jenny on it. >> Yeah, Jenny. Jenny's. I like Jinny's Facebook page. I mean, it's not Jenny's Facebook page, but I know who's the person behind the posting. >> The the curator.
>> The curator. Yeah. >> Always wanted to be that amusement curator. >> But that might be a way people do watch community TV. >> Quiet. >> Maybe we could have a banner or a p, you know, who knows? >> Well, I'll definitely put on the sign. Uh, I already have um the school choice
numbers application. We can put that on there, too. We I'll put that up as well. We'll talk to Stacy and then as well put them on the slide. >> We'll spread the word and try to >> and it is and it is going into the um >> newsletters >> is going Yep. They took them out. They're supposed to go in this week, but
they took them out and I will uh get it on our we can put on our website and as well >> we get both of those things out. >> All right. Um so no meeting ne next week, just the forum uh hearing. >> Correct. >> Correct.
>> Budget meeting. Yes, that that we'll have that. >> And will one hour be enough for the ego this time around? I saw the documents that were in there. I scanned them. >> Okay. Yeah. Okay. >> All right. If there's nothing else for this, we'll go into
executive session. >> Executive session. The school committee will now enter into executive session under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 3A 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 negotiations for unit A. The school committee will not return to open session. Jenny, can you do a roll call vote please?
>> Mr. Can we do that? Are we making a motion? >> Uh, we usually just do >> Okay, sure. Great. >> All right, Mr. >> I wanted to have it there, >> Miss Leon. Yes, Miss Barton. Hi. >> All right. Thanks, everybody.