--------- Don't do the budget again. We just vote. Then the presentation is now >> call a meeting to rise for the pledge. >> To the flag, United States of America. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
>> with liberty and justice for all. >> Roll call. Oh. Oh. >> Vice Chairman Lame will be participating in tonight's meeting. >> Roll call. >> Mr. No, Mr. Hogan >> here. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr.
>> Yeah. >> Mr. Lame [cough and clears throat] >> here. >> Mr. Boo >> here. >> Mr. Richardson. >> Mr. Mor. >> Yes. >> Motion to open the public hearing. >> So moved. >> Second.
>> Okay. >> Good evening everyone. Uh my name is Jill Davis. I'm the superintendent director of Greater Old Technical High School and I'm here with Michael Knight, our school business administrator, and we are here to present Greater Old Technical High School's uh FY27
budget. I'd like to begin by saying our budget presentation tonight was developed based on the governor's house budget proposal and data and input from administrators, teachers, parents, and community partners. and always centered around
improving student achievement in order to develop confident learners and skilled workers. So, as you know, in 2015, uh, the Massachusetts House Senate and the governor approved, uh, the student
opportunity act, and this year is the seventh year or the last year of the opportunity act on the current under the current plan and we will de be developing a new plan uh, moving forward. But this is the last year of
that act uh of where the 1.5 billion billion was put into schools and on the current plan that was developed. Uh as you all know the bill was aimed at t tackling inequity specifically for school districts like ours with high numbers of
English language learners and students with disabilities in order to close the achievement gap. Uh we received this year $49,888 which was a 1.7% increase from last year to chapter 78
aid making our total chapter 70 uh aid 38 million740,488 and the preliminary budget that I will be recommending tonight to the committee of 61 1226,858 includes more than2 million62
[clears throat] million6 help me out with this and 56 uh >> 2 million62 million656 in additional spending which is a 3.39%
increase over this year's budget to get my numbers together. So if we move to the next slide, it it talks about the foundation budget and rates per pupil. This slide outlines revisions to the foundation budget formula which
uh reflects increases as I'll explain in a minute per pupil. So the first increase was uh for vocational students. It was raised to 8 million 1818 18,46.96 which is which is a $692
increase from last year for vocational student. For a special education student uh we receive uh $33,24560. This was an increase of $1,13126 uh from uh last year. For our ELLO
students, we received $3,983.77, which is an increase of $4828. for low-income categories that were added or revised in FY21. Uh they're continued to be maintained in FY27.
Uh we have 50.87% uh students that fall into this category. This is down uh from last year. As a result, we are dropping from category 10 to lowinccome category nine
for which we will be rece which we will be receiving $7,93263. So based on the current rate per pupil expenditure rates provided by the state or set by the state and our current enrollment our overall foundation budget
increased by $964,511 which is a 1.75% increase over this year's budget and this is all net school spending required. uh just to just to note that that uh
which impacted the budget the significant drop from last year can be attributed to the reduction in the LPN program enrollment. Uh and I'm happy to say that that enrollment is restored back up to the 80 students. So we will
see uh a change uh in next year's budget. Uh unfortunately, there was a drop in low-income students and this had a major impact on this year's budget. Uh something that's really not in our control. Uh but just to add a little bit
further, there has been a lot of discussion across the state in regards to low-inccome enrollment across the state uh de decreased as well. So uh moving on,
>> just next slide. adding a little bit of color to that enrollment drop that Miss Davis, uh, Superintendent Davis mentioned. Um, again, the that LPN enrollment we do anticipate to come back, which should bring us about another 20 students. Um, so across the bottom here, I took our per pupil uh
funding amount of 24,023 um, per pupil and added or multiplied that by the 20 students we expect to return to that program for next year. um which would give us uh you know $480,000 lift um into future budgets beyond FY27.
Um so hopefully that helps bring back some additional funding to the district and help us make things financially a little bit more attainable for us here. >> However, there's no guarantee about low income. >> Yeah. >> Maintaining that. And the the lowinccome
numbers again uh you know we showed show showing here on the graph we dropped 76 students which isn't a huge amount. Um but in a percentage wise that dropped us down to just over 50% um or reduction in
levels from that group 10 to group nine um in funding amounts. Um, so while we did still see an increase in the number of students on a year-over-year basis or the rate we get per student on a year-over-year basis of $117.60, um, it feels like a a decrease for us
because that's significantly lower than we would have seen had we maintained level andor maintained the number of students um that qualified [clears throat] for low income. Um so that those drops respectively are the the drop just in group alone from 10 to
nine um accounted for about $756,000 in funding. Oh no, sorry. The the drop in student count the 76 accounted for about $756,000 in funding drop. Um and the again the drop in levels from 10 to nine
accounted for about a $600,000 drop. So all in this is you know well over a million dollar hit um to where we should have or what we would have expected for our funding to be in this year. Um some positive news though is if we look at our percentages of low-income students
by grade level at the bottom here. Um at least our outgoing grades seem to be our lower numbers and our incoming grades uh tend to have a higher percentage right now. Um so if that trend continues hopefully um we'll see that we might jump back up that level and see a
significant funding increase uh in the near term >> and it is a pretty substantial percentage that has been um um decreased from one year to the other like 3.8%. That's actually pretty [clears throat] high considering your student body is still basically the same amount of students
>> almost dead on. It's just just a different mix. Yeah, there's have there's been a lot of discussion across the state statewide about why the decrease >> uh one of the ideas that was brought up uh in regards to the minimum wage being raised that could have some impact on it
and just individuals not applying for uh supplemental services and benefits. >> And the numbers haven't changed. The 48 the 53 999% those whatever >> those levels are always they've never changed. Well, they changed as of the beginning of the Student Opportunity
Act, which was 2021. >> Okay. Well, six years ago. >> Yeah. >> Thereabouts. >> Okay. >> That's when they set those new levels because it usually used to only go to 10. 10 was the top. Now, it actually goes up to 12. Um I only show on that slide that shows the amounts. I only
show the the levels nearest to us because the likelihood of jumping >> two to three levels. I mean, 10 to 12% on a year-over-year basis. >> School district qualify for a 12. Interesting. That would be over 80%. Yes, some of them are way up there. >> Yep.
>> Interesting. Thank you. >> So, the revenue for this year's U budget is going to be made up from uh the categories displayed here. The our excess and deficiency funding, we're going to be using $525,000
from our excess and deficiency or savings account. We're also going to be recognizing what I call other school revenue. This is a interest income from holding money within banks. Um we have we use a high interest uh savings account uh for most of our funding that sits so that we do have some sort of a
return on that as well as the Medicaid reimbursement. I know there's questions about that program and what it will um bring next year and in the future years. But um this $450,000 mark seems to [cough and clears throat] be or feels like a sustainable mark for the school
district and what we've seen pretty historically. um our assessments to our member communities always a big part of our funding making up $19,911,370 this year up $1,46,68 on a year-over-year basis. Um that's just based most of the increase is going
to be based off of the uh minimum contribution increases dictated by the state by the enrollment per town um sending to our school as well as the transportation. And again, uh, last year we used a pretty hefty offset of excess transportation that was rolled over from
the FY24 budget to offset 26. Now, we still have some from 25 that we're rolling over to 27, [clears throat] but it's a smaller portion. I believe it was down from, you know, 750 down to 550 uh, using rough numbers. And the, uh, cost of our
transportation contract did increase as we went out to bid this year. So, uh, your increases are kind of twofold there. And then debt tends to decrease on a year-over-year basis a little bit. Not a huge dollar figure for any specific town. >> The student counts changed by much, Mike?
>> Um, not >> in the I don't have it off the top of my head, but in your budget book, if you go to tab, I think nine. >> Tab nine. Sure. Okay. >> We'll give you your enrollments. There were some changes >> per town. Got >> on a per town basis. I mean, >> and it looks like Draet has gone down by
28 students. >> Draet took a little dip. Um, LOL remained pretty steady. Um, on a percentage basis, Dunville was up pretty high, which is why their assessment jumped to nearly 50% on a year-over-year basis because having so few students enrolled here, even, you know, an extra
three to four students really moves the needle for them assessment wise. Um, so there's a lot of variability in that, but that's why probably seeing lower percentage increases to a town like Drake that did have a decrease in the population coming in. Um, Kingsboro seeing another higher percentage
increase again because uh their enrollment increased to the district in the year. >> Such a surprise that Drake is just so everybody's everybody's clear, >> the school is not asking for more contributions from the cities and towns. This is the state with the assessment. >> Yeah, this is just the
>> I just want to make sure everybody's clear that's watching. We're not asking for anything more. >> Yeah. No, we're still living at the bare the minimum the state says that we can assess and then we're required by law to provide transportation. Uh we do put it out for bid. We try to cut costs where we can on transportation. Actually over
the last six years we did reduce by one bus which helps save a little bit of money to all of our talents. Um but unfortunately you know the costs are the cost on some of these things. >> But I just want to make sure it's clear that we're not asking for anything. >> No >> beyond our assessment. Um the next the
biggest portion of our budget our budget funding comes from the state. Uh we're getting 38,740,488 in chapter 7 funding, which is just your direct education funding. Um and a reimbursement for transportation of an estimated 1.5 million. This number has
been teased up and down depending on the where they are in the state process. Um but that 15 number feels like a a safe number for the district to use um in this budget and moving forward. Um, so again that brings our total revenue of
$61,126,858. [snorts] So the next slide is our budget priorities. Uh, uh, this slide directly connects the FY26 budget to the priorities uh, with investments. Each of the four priorities
that you see here on your screen are deliberate strategies whether strengthening curriculum and instruction, expanding student supports, modernizing our learning environments or deepening college and career planning
and expanding community partnerships. Most importantly, this budget is not just about maintaining programs. It's about improving results for all students. So just some of the priorities, high quality curriculum instruction and authentic assessment,
supporting students in advancing learning, equipment and technology and innovative learning environments and college and career planning and community partnerships are are all four of our priorities. Any questions about the
priorities or the items highlighted under the priorities? >> None here. >> Okay. >> Moving on. >> So to achieve those uh priorities, uh the way we're going to plan to spend our funding for the coming fiscal year is
outlined in front of you here. The big notable changes on the on the board here are things like your fixed charges, which is going to be um insurance um prime is the primary driver there. Um as [clears throat] well as your other services, which is again that
transportation cost that tends to increase on a year-over-year basis. Um even though it is being offset slightly. Um you can see in the instructional line, I mean it's a very small increase. um that doesn't accurately accurately reflect what would be required for an
even rollover budget of services today, our services tomorrow. Um we've gone pretty hard after where we can make cuts through the budget. Um because even our contract increase alone to the teaching staff and support staff covered in that instructional line would have grass
would have vastly um surpassed that $215,000 increase. So we took a hard look at everyone's supply budgets. anything else. >> Everywhere that we could squeeze, we squeezed through this budget. Um, and that was really the big things that we
we took on this year is making sure that, you know, even though it was a 3% increase, that 3% increase wasn't even sustainable to get us on a year-over-year basis to the things we have today or exactly even to the things we'll have tomorrow. >> How long is that service going on for,
Mike? Um it we have until I believe it's 2038 is when the last bond is done. >> Okay. And it's all roughly the same number. $1.2 million. It's actually decreased decreases. Yeah. >> Based on you know us us paying more principal than interest just like a
mortgage. >> And and within the last it doesn't really have any notable drop until it's 2028 or 20 can't be 2020. It's not that close. It's toward the end of the loans. So getting closer toward that I
think it's 2038 um time frame. I think two years before that one of the loans is completely done. So the loans were staggered when the construction project started between 14-16 there was an early loan and then a later loan. One of the loans drops off I believe it's two years prior to the uh 2038 date. So I think
it's 2036 one's done completely and then 2038 u the second one will follow it or thereabouts. Um so there will be a more significant reduction at the end but up until that point >> 26 years 30,000 >> five years from now >> it'll be more
>> should be more or less the same. >> Got you terrific. Thanks. >> So again when we look at some of those uh categorical drops in expenditure on a year-over-year basis um supplies, equipments, and texts, we really pinched the pennies hard here. I mean we cut
$964,000 out of those budgets. uh your plant services, our plant services and maintenance budgets. We really tried to dial it down and just get what's necessary for maintaining what's here in place. Not [clears throat] not many bu building improvements planned or uh
changes to plant. Again, that debt service drops every year. School choice because of the popularity of vocational schooling. Um I don't believe anyone any of the vocational schools are operating without a weight list now. Um, so no school choice is occurring from our member communities to other vocational
schools. Uh, everyone that's seeking a vocational education is getting it here at Greater LOL. [clears throat] Again, when you looked at the increases in accounts, um, your salaries and substitute budgets on a year-over-year basis, the contracts that are negotiated would have been 1.3 million. Again, we
took that big $964,000 cut uh to the instructional line to get that um area of the budget down. Uh again, your transportation, even though uh we're offsetting some of this, we had a $500,000 increase. Um and your big big ones right now, which is really a trend
across the street, are benefits. Um benefits and retirement. Um health insurance is it's tough place to be right now. >> Um I don't think there are many districts in the state of Massachusetts that are going to see a single digit increase on a percentage basis of their health insurance. And we're not immune
to that. even being in a health insurance trust. We've had very good runs the last four years. Um you know, you got got to pay for claims though and unfortunately um things are up. That's going to be what it is. Um so we're it's a big cost and it's going to be one that
I think dominates the conversation of budgets for at least a couple of years anyway. [snorts] [clears throat] >> Let me ask um >> substitutes. What are we sending spending on substitutes per year? Is that sort of a fix? Is that sort of a a
flatline or has it been gone up? Um >> come up it's come up a bit because we adjusted the rates two or three years ago. Um we spend just just shy of $400,000 probably in substitutes a year. Uh I think on daily substitutes it's you
know 350,000 roughly uh and then we end up with some long-term substitutes based on planned medical or other leaves uh throughout the year here and there. >> Okay. Um the some of the long-term subs get offset by salary savings if if available. Um but you know just around
keep it right around 400,000 is >> roughly that seems to be what it's been over the past number of years. >> Okay. Always in that flat line. >> Yeah. It hasn't Yeah, we haven't I mean we haven't really seen a lot of fluctuation in that. I mean even when we increased the rates I mean there was a little bit of a bump but not um not
wild. And it sounds like we've got a pretty good core group of substitutes for the building that are relatively reliable. Most most of them daily or you know a few times a week and they tend to continue coming back. >> We really haven't had any issues at all this year.
>> Mr. Would you >> I would say in terms of >> providing for [clears throat] >> Thank you. So the next slide is about personnel
changes. As Mike has said, do trying to balance the budget and doing some of the funding constraints that we're faced. Uh the following personnel changes are going to occur. We're fortunate that by
attrition we're able to to uh re save some funding with the position of our advanced manufacturing instructor that's retiring and we are not going to to uh to hire another instructor for that
program. We have a part-time home monitor that uh due to retirement, we're going to made the decision not to move forward with that position and a groundskeeper uh that we're made the decision not to
move forward with that position. As far as uh position eliminations, uh we're looking at eliminating uh tutors uh as well as one uh a one staff member
from the HR department. Again, uh the HR department is a non-contractual position and if you recall, the tutors were uh non-contractual that were instituted as a result of the S SOA money. And then uh
we're going to add a position and only one position which is veterary science instructor uh needed to open the veterary science program and those are the personnel uh changes that would occur to balance the 27 budget
>> the advanced manufacturing were um um a couple of people retiring there. >> So in the one person is retiring from the advanced manufacturing program. uh another person has announced their retirement from the program and due to
the lack of interest over the last seven years uh we are looking to close that program and uh with the idea of using some of the equipment in that program and the skills that are connected with
that equipment uh to integrate into some of our other programs like engineering, electron electronics, information technology, CAD. >> Great. So, we'll use the equipment and unfortunately, >> not all the equipment, just some of the the equipment. Yes. And then we'll make
a decision when that time comes. But there is a process through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. There's something new this year as as a as as soon as December that you have to submit an application to close a program. >> Oh, gotcha.
>> So, that application has been submitted. Uh I I think we gave the program a fair seven years. We have the data to show that there's a lack of interest in the program and uh we're going to move
forward uh because to fund that program cost cost a lot of money and with the retiring of teachers it's it's the right decision for the students and the school community to use that space for something else. >> So it'll take three years to close that
program. Correct. Uh no I think I I think it can be done in two years >> from now based on nutrition. Yes. Sure. So it's two years three years ago thought of you knew there was a couple. >> It will not have impact on anyone
currently enrolled in the program. >> Great. >> Yes. It would not have a impact on anyone currently enrolled in the program. >> They'll graduate. >> Just to be clear. >> Yeah. Of course not. Great. Terrific. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, additionally, we talked about on the revenue slide the use of excess and
deficiency from our budget this year. This is for some non-net school spending uh, net school spending eligible costs. Um, in the first two on my list here, which is the Medicaid filing for UMass Med, uh, which we then get the Medicaid reimbursement for, um, as well as our
contribution to OPED that we made the commitment to, I believe it was last budget year or the year before that we try to continue this funding um, as long as we could. Uh, and then additionally, we're going to be using um a pretty substantial chunk, the $493,000 to offset the cost of operations in this
year's budget, which will be sustainable for a couple of years, but maybe not uh forever. So, this will be something that we have to keep an eye on and make sure that through time this number will start reducing a little bit uh to meet the the available funding that hopefully will
come back in some of our areas that were a little deficient or decreasing on this year. So to summarize our FY27 budget, we'll begin with starting with our operating budget of 57,115,233, which all must be spent on education
uh to meet net school spending needs. And our expenditures are as follows. transportation costs which are $2,759,395 a debt service of1,227,230 OEB which is $25,000 leaving us an operating budget of
61,126,858. On the other side of your screen, we have our revenue sources uh uh which is s which are is sufficient to sustain our proposed uh budget which is of 61,126,858. This includes minimum local contribution
from our cities and towns which total 17,424,745. a transportation assessment of 1,259,395 and a debt assessment of 1,227,230 for a total assessment amongst our four towns of $19,911,370.
Uh again, our chapter 78 of 38 uh,740,488, our chapter 71 transportation aid of 1,500,000, our excess in deficiency of 525,000
and other school income from Medicaid and interest of 450,000 allows our budget to balance for a proposed total of 61,126,858. And that is our proposed FY27 budget for
Greater Technical High School. >> Put in a motion to approve the budget. >> No, that's at the next meeting. >> This is just a presentation to the public of the budget. >> Great. Are there any public participants wishing to speak tonight?
>> No, Mr. Chairman, >> close the public hear. A vote on the fiscal 27th budget will take place during the regular school committee meeting at 6:30 p.m. >> Thank you. >> Motion to close the public hearing.
>> Motion. Second. Mr. Hogan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sheen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ger. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lame. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bahu. >> Yes. >> Mr. Richardson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Morren. >> Yes.
>> Going to take a brief recess and begin the regular meeting at 6:30. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Part: 2
Call the meeting to order. >> Rise for the pledge of >> allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag. >> Allegiance to the flag, United States >> to the republic stands nation. >> One nation under God, indivisible,
liberty and justice for all. Vice Chairman Lame and Committeeman Hogan will be participating tonight's meeting remotely. Roll call. >> Mr. >> Here, Mr. Hogan. >> Mr. Hogan >> present.
>> Mr. Sheen >> here. >> Mr. Ger >> here. >> Mr. Lame >> here. >> Mr. Richardson >> here. >> Mr. B >> here. >> Mr. M. Yes. Um, Mr. G, has anyone signed up for public health?
>> Uh, there's nobody signed up, Mr. Chairman. >> No. >> No. >> Okay. I'll turn it over to the report of the student rep. >> Thank you, sir. Skills USA held the district 4 competition here at Greater LOL Tech on Thursday, March 11th, 2026.
Over 250 students participated in technical testing and professional development during this one-day event. The highlight of the day was the postco competition career ready carnival where members played midway style games while learning from representatives from the
IBE EW local 103 mass hire align credit union skills USA mass alumni school counseling office cooperative education office army national guard and more. We are eagerly awaiting the results of the competition to see which of our students have qualified for the state event next
month. believe we have received those results and it was a recordbreaking year. The environmental and recycling club kicked off March by exploring geology through a hands-on rock categorization activity where members practice identifying the grouping rocks based on
observable properties. Students continue to lead our schoolwide recycling efforts, collecting and sorting materials to promote sustainability across the building. As spring approaches, the club is also preparing to start seedlings and plan small planting projects to support our campus
green spaces. Model UN is hard at work writing position papers for their upcoming conference at UMass LOL in April. The selected delegates are very excited for their upcoming debates against students from over 30 local high schools. In addition, members of model UN attended
the empowering citizens conference hosted by district attorney Marian Ryan where they enjoyed learning from policy makers and civic leaders including Justice Jorge of the Mass Supreme Judicial Court and Senator John J. Cronin.
The music club, dance club, and competitive dance team are c are collaborating to present the third annual spring performing arts spectacular. This year's show will take place on Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 at 6 p.m. in the lecture hall and will
feature dance, music, and singing. It promises to be a great show. You may also see a sneak peek of the drama club's 2026 show, Checking In. Educators Rising students earned silver medals at the state conference held in
March at UMass Boston in the children's literature category, qualifying them for the national competition in Portland, Oregon. The club also participated in Read Across America Week, organizing and leading literacy activities with the preschool program. This event promoted
reading and early literacy in a fun, engaging way for young learners. The competitive gaming club hosted a Super Smash Bros. tournament in conjunction with the Skills USA Winter Blast Dance held on Friday, March 6th, 2026,
and it was a smashing success. 118 students attended the dance with 20 competitors signed up for the tournament. Dozens of spectators cheered on the gamers and enjoyed open playtime following the tournament. The dance club attended a performance of River Dance on
Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 at the LOL Memorial Auditorium. The students were amazed by the performers incredible skill as well as the set design, lighting, and choreography. While the performance celebrated Irish step dancing, it also showcased its unique connections to other styles, including
hip-hop and Latin dance. The freshman and sophomore planning committee are headed to Roller Kingdom on March 20th, 2026 for an afternoon of laser tag, skating, and fun. Meanwhile, the junior plasting committee is off to Apex in Marboro to try their hand at laser tag
before tackling the escape room at breakout games. The senior class can c the senior class planning committee is gearing up for the busy spring season. The caps and gowns have been ordered. Diploma covers have arrived. The yearbook is ready to go to
print and prom planning is underway. This year's senior prom will be held on Friday, May 8th, 2026 at the Boston Marriott in Burlington. The theme will be old Hollywood gala and will feature the glitz and glam of the era. Both boys and girls basketball has great mo had
great moments during their respective seasons with each returning the majority of their rosters for next season. The future looks for for both. Our competitive dance team fielded another strong squad in year five of the program. The Griffin dancers recently
competed at the MSSA state competition on February 28th, taking home first place in the hiphop category. The Greater LOL Nishobate Tech Greater Lawrence ice hockey team had a strong campaign finishing with 11 wins on the season and qualifying for the
MIAA state tournament. Griffin indoor track had another banner year. The girls and boys team captured both the regular season and league meet title, finishing unbeaten on the season. Several team members also qualified for MIAA state,
all state, New England and national competitions. The swim and dive team had another tremendous run of success with several team members finishing among the top place winners in the CAC league meet as well as capturing first at the state vocational competition. Multiple
swimmers also qualified for the MIAA championship meets. Our Griffin cheer team continued to build on their successful fall campaigns, capturing both the state vocational and CAC league titles. The Lady Griffins capped off their banner year by taking home first
place at the Divisional One Regional and State Championship competitions. Griffin Wrestling once again tackled the toughest season schedule of any program around. The results were as usual outstanding with a number of place winners at the MIAA sectional state and
all state tournaments. That's all. >> Thank you. >> Very good. Motion to approve the minutes of February 12th. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Mr. >> In favor,
>> Mr. Hogan. >> Mr. Hogan. >> Mr. Sheen. >> Yes. >> Mr. K. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lame. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bahu. >> Yes. >> Mr. Richardson. Yes, >> Mr. Warren. >> Yes.
Uh motion to wave the reading for the warrant. >> Mr. Sh. >> Mr. Nako >> in favor. >> Mr. Hogan. >> Mr. Sheen. >> Yes. >> Mr. G. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lame.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Bahu. >> Yes. >> Mr. Richardson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mor. >> Yes. Motion to approve the expenditures of 6,447,87455. >> Motion second. >> Mr. No >> in favor. >> Mr. Hogan.
>> Mr. Sheen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gian. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lame. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bahu. >> Yes. >> Mr. Richardson. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. I'll turn the meeting over to the superintendent director.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The first item on my agenda is uh a very special moment here tonight. I have the privilege of welcoming our Greater LOL Technical High School Winter Varsity Cheer Team and
their head coaches, uh, Mrs. Jen Riley and Miss Maya Medina. So, I'd like to ask them to come forward and kind of circle around the table here, please, because I have some uh some things that I want to highlight
some things I want to highlight about these very special young ladies. So, first of all, I'd like to say that uh these young ladies are the definition of
of a team. Uh they are dedicated, they persevere, they work together, they're supportive of one another, and uh they're kind, they're positive, and just an awesome awesome awesome uh group of
I'm getting emotional, young ladies that uh their ability to work together has proven uh to be outstanding this year. So I'm happy to say that a as a result of their teamwork and their hard work
this year they have captured the 2026 state vocational grand champions, the CAC league champions, the North Regional Division One Champions and the Massachusetts Division One State
Champions. So let's give them So at this moment I was going to introduce you but I think it's I think I want you to each introduce yourselves and I want you to share with me anything that you'd like to share about about
this year's cheer and your and your team and yourself anything that you want to share about your experience. So maybe let's start with our senior cheerleaders who or and our captains. Why don't they step forward, introduce themselves, what program they're in, and just start it
off and share what chair has meant to you. >> Go ahead. I'm gonna go for it. >> Hi, I'm Ava. I'm in carpentry and throughout the years, I've been with team for three years and just seeing the team come together every year and put their all and hard work in, it's really
shown off. And at the beginning of the season, States was biggest thing and finishing the season winning. It's really accomplishing and I'm glad our hard work paid off. >> I'm Julia. I'm in the medical program and I've been here since my freshman
year and it's always been a dream and a goal to win states and I think that this team came together collectively and we accomplished that goal. Hello everyone. My name is Sean from the medical program as well. I've been here since my freshman year and I just think
this program is a great privilege that has been given to a lot of us. Um we're able to just come together and definitely finish together in all the accomplishments that we've had and all the competitions and long hours we've put in from July. So, >> um I'm Jasine. I'm from the hospitality
management program and um I've been here since my junior year and I think the team just really means family to me. Like everyone coming together and the bond really means a lot to me. >> My name is Anda Canada. I am a junior.
This is my second year on the team. I'm in the culinary program. a great place for me to escape to and I am grateful that I have the opportunity to be on the team. >> Hi everyone, my name is Mia Faniff. I
have been on the team for three years. I am in the health assisting program. This team has worked together through we have persevered through so many things and it was such an accomplishment getting to have a state title with these girls. Hi everyone, I'm GA. I'm in the medical
assisting program and this is actually my first year competing with this team and I just want to say it's been very rewarding and I'm very proud of everyone and our coaches for helping us get this far. >> My name is Grace. I'm a sophomore. I'm in HVAC and I think that cheer has just
given given me lifelong friendships and I'm really happy that we could accomplish this together and I wouldn't want to do it My name's Ava. I'm in medical school and I've been on the team for two years since my freshman year. And I think that all of us have put in a great commitment to this and it really shows on the mat
and how we talk to each other and it's a sisterhood that I wouldn't trade for anything else. >> My name is Courtney. I'm a freshman. I'm so exploratory and this is my first like full year on high school competitive team and everyone just made me feel so welcome since fall triyous and it's just
continued to win and I really wouldn't want to compete with anyone else and just winning states felt so good because I love them everybody speak >> well that's awesome and I have to bring up your two coaches because uh behind
the efforts the collaborative efforts of a great team are the coaches. And coaches, why don't you come forward? Why don't you come forward and share your experiences being with this team, being with this team and all the achievements that
you've made this year? >> So, if you had told me seven years ago when I took over as head coach that we would be in this position, I would have kind of just giggled at you. It has definitely been a growth and we have been saying since the summer that if any team was going to do it, These girls,
they're just so driven. You never have to ask them twice to do anything. The long hours, like literally, we practice so many hours a week, I can't even add them up about it. >> Um, they're just lovely kids. They're they're the most coachable team we've ever had.
>> They take such great corrections. They take care of each other. It's just honestly, it's been a pleasure to be part of this and to make school history as the first team to be state champions for cheerleing. It was just it's a moment that's once in a lifetime and
it's just >> and just one more time I just want to say thank you to the coaches to the girls. We are very proud of you. The way you represent the school as as young female athletes has been uh incredible.
Just really really really a class act. So you're appreciated. I wish you all the luck this weekend and uh do your best. >> Nice job. >> So, ladies, are we going to see you back
next month with a New England title? >> Okay. >> Wow. I like it. >> Perfect. Thank you again. >> Great job, guys. Thank you. >> Look at those beautiful >> carpentry HVAC. See that? >> Oh, yeah.
>> Yeah. >> Carpentry HVAC. >> They're very diverse. >> Good for them. like I thought I was a plumber or cheerleader. It's >> okay. >> Impressive. It's impressive. >> They are like incredibly involved, incredibly driven in their job areas. It's good stuff. >> So impressive.
>> I love it. >> So the next item on my agenda is to let everyone know about the annual day on the hill. >> I have received confirmation that the annual day on the hill on the hill is Monday, March 30th for those of you who
would like to attend. and our culinary students will be attending with chef Manalonus as they have every year to provide uh lunch for all the participants and demonstrate their fabulous culinary skills.
The next item on my agenda is the cooperative education report and uh you have been provided a report in your packet and I'm happy to report with a current update that uh 43% of the class
of 2026 are currently on co-op. And something that a little bit of an update from what was in your packet regarding the junior students, we currently have uh 34 junior students out on co-op, which is 6%. I
think in your packet it said 3%. So, as an update, as of today, we have 6% of the junior class out on co-op and 43% of the senior class out on co-op. And that is the cooperative education report.
The next item is I'm looking for your approval to accept a donation of $797 from the Greater Lo Parent Organization and $1,000 from the Greater Lo Community Foundation. Both donations are to support project-based learning during
the school day, as well as to purchase supplies for afterchool craft-based activities to build community connections and form new uh friendships. And this would be provided under the library media services department.
>> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Second. >> In favor, >> Mr. Hogan. >> Mr. Sheen. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ger. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lame.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Bah. >> Yes. >> Mr. Richardson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mo. >> Yes. And the last item on my agenda, I'd like to invite the assistant superintendent and principal, Mr. Barton, to provide you with information regarding and looking for your approval
regarding two outofstate travel requests. >> Hi, good evening. Um, the first outofstate travel request is to uh allow two outstanding and remarkable wrestlers to attend the 2026
National High School Nationals between March 26th and 29th in V Virginia Beach, Virginia. Uh the total cost of that is 5,570. And accompanying them would be Coach Kazowski and Coach Cassidy. And it's of course Anton Jackman and Jacob
Espanola. Coach Cassidy is here to show his support. Um, so I'm looking for a vote to approve that. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Mr. Knuckle >> in favor. >> Mr. Hogan. >> Yes. >> Mr. She.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Kier. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lame. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bah. >> Yes. >> Mr. Richardson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mor. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. And the next one's a little closer to home. It's to have Shaun O'Donald's from the media services
department to attend the 2026 audiovisisual tech showcase addicts showcase in Sherin at the Sherin hotel in Nash New Hampshire on Thursday March 26 2026 and the cost is nothing to the district it's free looking for an
approval for that >> motion motion second >> in favor >> Mr. Hogan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sheen. >> Yes. >> Mr. G. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lame. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Bab. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. Thank you very much. >> Thanks. >> Good luck, coach. Good luck on you. >> Antoine, happy birthday. >> That's right. He's 18. >> Thanks, Tom.
>> And that is the end of my report for this evening. Thank you. report of the business manager. Good evening. So, tonight before the uh school committee meeting, we did have our public hearing on our budget. Um so, at this point, we'd be looking for a
motion to approve the FY27 budget that was presented at the public hearing. Motion to approve the 27 budget. >> Mr. In >> favor, >> Mr. Hogan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sheen,
>> yes. >> Mr. Gian, >> yes. >> Mr. Lain, >> yes. >> Mr. Bahu, >> yes. >> Mr. Richardson, >> yes. >> Mr. Mo, >> yes. >> Um, second item on my agenda this evening would be a couple of budget
transfers. Um, so I've outlined a few budget transfers as we're getting toward the end of the year. We're moving money around, covering any deficiencies we had in the budget. Um, looking at where we might have saved money through the school year. Um, and then just putting things uh kind of tidying up the house
as we get toward the end of the year. As always, I've instructed our budget or our department heads to have their budgets committed or spent um by April so that we can really get a clear picture of how financially we'll end the year. Um so this is kind of the preliminary moves um in that effort to
get things in line for the end of the year. >> One question. >> Sure. >> Um the health insurance it looks like there's a transfer of about $140,000 and and the reason for awaiting licenses.
>> Uh so awaiting licenses is actually from it's uh from the savings side of things on in that instance. Um what we do is when we hire um vocational teachers, oftentimes they come from the field, not from education. Um so they don't have a teaching license, which affects how they
get placed on their salary schedule until they get licensed. Um so as we're getting toward the end of the year, the likelihood of um all of them attaining their licenses um hasn't been met. So taking the savings there, moving it to health insurance, which was slightly
deficient in our budgeting this year. >> Terrific. Thank you. Okay. Motion to approve $479,86187 transfer. >> Second. >> Mr. >> In favor, >> Mr. Hogan.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Sheen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gian. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lame. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bahu. >> Yes. >> Mr. Richardson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mor. >> Yes. >> That'll cover it for tonight. Thank you. Next. Thank you.
>> Okay. business. New business. It's time for the annual rec reorganization of committee and election offices to take effect. April 1, 2026. Any motions to nominate for chairman?
Do we have to? >> Yeah. Curtis. >> Yes. >> I'll second that. >> Hearing none. Nominations are closed. Curtis. >> Congratulations, Mr. Lame.
>> Yes, Mr. Lame. >> Thank you. >> I think you won unanimously. I just say a couple of words. >> No, tomorrow >> in a minute. Curtis, I think >> I voted for
>> finishing up. >> Congratulations, Curtis. >> Congratulations, Curtis. >> Priceless. >> Any motions to nominate? >> Very much, my colleagues. >> Vice chair. >> I'll nominate Kelly Richardson as vice chair. I'll second.
>> Second. Any others hearing? None. Nominations are closed. >> This is all. >> Congratulations, Mr. >> Thank you. >> Have another title on another feather on your cap. >> Congratulations.
>> One, by the way. Any any any motions? >> Nominate secretary. >> I'll nominate Matt Sheen. I second it. >> Any others? Hearing none. Nominations are close. >> Can't believe you lost to those by
fellas. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> I appreciate it. Thank you everybody. >> Can't believe those blanks beat you again, honey. >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay, thank you. Good luck. >> Good team. Good team. >> Okay.
Uh, committeeman motions. Motion by committeeman Sheen to hire assistant superintendent/principal Michael Batton as the next superintendent directed ending successful contract negotiations. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I had
asked that this be put on the agenda. Um, it was discussed um during our last executive session. Um, in regards to uh negotiating after uh Superintendent Davis announced her retirement, uh I think it is a
natural progression uh to keep the school moving moving in the positive direction that Mrs. Davis has uh you know made the school move in and uh you know me personally I think it's the right choice to succeed uh Miss Davis and all the amazing accomplishments
she's done here and as I put in the motion no pending successful contract negotiations which I think will be good that uh you know Mr. Barton will be our next superintendent. >> Anybody comment?
>> I just um like to go on the record. I mean, I agree with what Matt's saying. Uh, keep the school moving forward and but I think that um we probably should entertain some kind of a process. No, if I understand this right, there could be a public interview that we that the public would be able to watch or attend.
Is that right? That's probably one of the things that they do because we can do this legally, right? To me, the lawyers >> uh I I I wouldn't feel comfortable speaking on that. That's that's your process. I had run this by our attorney
just to make sure that this could be done and uh he signed off on it >> and in and yes um in lower we had a similar situation. Um we did not have a superintendent search. Um we just nominated someone on the floor which is
what Mr. Sheen is doing and ultimately we had a vote and that person was offered a contract to be superintendent. Uh the lawyer wasn't involved. No one was involved. It was something we did on the floor um and took a vote. >> Right.
>> Yep. >> Well, I'm a big fan of um you know, keeping in-house people on the job. I mean, you know, they have a front row seat of everything that's going on here. And obviously, this person that we're talking about right now has been committed employee here in the school for many, many years. But I just thought
it would look better for him if there was some kind of a process. That's all I'm trying to say. But if everybody feels comfortable that we uh move forward, I mean, I know what he's capable of. I don't know if we owe it to the public to show what we know about him. Let him speak. But um >> so can I Yeah.
>> for a second. So I I I think uh I think he has shown the public. I I think over the course of these last six years, the progress that the school has made with him in charge as the assistant superintendent principal in regards to
accountability, in regards to technical program expansion, in regards to all the achievements that we've made over the last six years, it's due to his leadership with with his team and with our staff that have made that all
possible. So I I think uh where the school is now I I think is is a testament to Mr. Barton's hard work. Uh and I I think he would be
the only choice. Uh I I think in this case you know I I might be biased because uh he has been in this building for over 20 years. He has been in multiple positions in this building again starting out as a teacher uh which
I think is critical uh in in any leadership role and I think he has an incredible vision for the school and uh I I would uh I can't think of anybody else that could continue to to move this
school forward than Mr. Barton and the leadership team and the staff that that are here and I'm confident that uh that he uh can do that. >> Well, no better recommendation than your boss. So, I'm good. Thank you.
>> I also spoke to you legal counsel and u it was said that we don't have to have a search. >> No, I knew that. Yeah. I just want to make sure everybody's about >> Thank you, Superintendent. Yeah,
>> we need a vote on that. >> I'll second the motion. >> I'll second, >> Mr. Chairman. >> Yes, >> Mr. Hogan. >> I think the candidate is more than
qualified. Move the question. >> Can you repeat that, Mr. Hogan? Mike's more than qualified as a history teacher classroom worked his way up the system. Could we move the question? >> We already did. >> We did.
>> Question. Question's been moved. >> Mr. >> Mr. Hogan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sheen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Kier. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lame. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bahu.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Richardson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mo. >> Yes. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you very much. I appreciate the support uh that you've given me this evening. Uh but I can also testify that I appreciate the support that you've given me over the six years that I've
been in this position. um certainly hasn't been easy, but I think with um your support and uh advice, uh I think you know we we are here where we are today. So I promise to um faithfully uh
uphold the direction that the school has been um driven and um brought to by Superintendent Davis. I can't uh echo the advice and uh support and uh um
guidance that she's provided. Uh so I I think it would be totally um missed if I didn't express that. And I just would like to say that I think her uh direction that this school has been um
brought in is utterly remarkable and I don't think I could have asked for a better human being to uh to work with. >> So uh she's still got quite a bit of time here. So we need to appreciate that and applaud that. >> Absolutely. >> Um and I have every every bit of me who
wants to do that. So, uh, so I thank you tonight and I appreciate the the attention and the spotlight, but I think, uh, I think for our remaining time here, I think we need to applaud, um, Jill Davis and, uh, everything that she's done for this building because she's given everything to it. >> So, thank you.
>> Team, it takes a team. >> Yeah. And I know I haven't always been easy >> to work with, but I but I appreciate it sincerely. So, thank you. Thank you >> every all all of you. I appreciate it very much. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> I still like my
and motion to approve the minutes of the February 12th finance subcommittee meeting. >> So move to move >> second >> in favor >> Mr. Hogan
>> yes >> yes >> yes >> Mr. L >> yes >> yes >> Mr. Richardson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mor. >> Yes. Before I close the meeting, I'd like to thank everyone for your support all year
long, uh, helping me as a chairman and all your good suggestions. And >> we thank you too, >> superintendent. And also special thanks to Glette for uh, preparing the meetings and uh, following up on us and keeping
us in line. No. >> Good luck. Next group. >> Motion to adjourn. >> That's That's a good one. >> Yeah. >> Mr. In >> Mr. Hogan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sheen.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Mr. L. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Richardson. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. Thanks everybody. Signing off.