meeting in session. Pledge allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. Roll call vote. Madame Secretary, Miss Bancort here. Mr. Kitchen here. Mr. Olivera here. Miss Treup here. Mrs. Roberto here. Dr. Marlin here. Mr. Sheay here. Miss Pimemental
I'm here. Okay. Reading over the notice of the meeting. This is this is to notify you that a regular meeting of the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School District Committee
will be held on Tuesday, October 14th, 2025 at 11:21 Ashley Boulevard, New Bedford, Mass at 6 p.m. in the student forum. Any public comments?
Uh, Miss Sarah Herbert is here and also Mr. Serge Manise. No executive session. No executive session today. It's going to be okay. Hello everyone. Hello. I guess introduce myself. Serge Manise
brother and welcome to the new new member. All my all my children were carne kids. So, um, we just wanted to take a moment to, uh, specifically the students in the carpentry and electrical programs and,
uh, the leadership of, uh, Wild, Frank Gonzal, and Jeremy who supports and building and I'm here with them because I'm a board member at OSS. Sarah tell you more about the school and
the pavilion. Um, but We had a uh a few years ago and um discussions about building a pavilion and the cost. And so we made the connection with the outside construction uh team and they supported us in um completing the project. Well,
it's not fully done, but most of it is complete. And um OSS is an outstanding place. Um a lot of their students do come here. So, we've seen um the results of our uh girls in the greater New Beford education in middle school. Um you see some of
those girls see um young kids. Wow. Thank you, Serge. Um I am so grateful to Serge for that incredible introduction. I'm just gonna drop this down a second. I he made a
beautiful introduction of all the pertinent details. I hope that in a moment there'll be a picture for you to behold of the pavilion that your students and your team built at our school. So maybe that'll go up for lobby. Um but really we're here to say thank you. the
um the privilege of being able to have this pavilion on our campus that was built for a school by students um was really meaningful to us in partnership with Ro um was also really meaningful to us and the idea was a beautiful one. It
was exciting to watch the pavilion get built. There you can see it up. Um, and we did send you um an outline that Jill here um who's our director of operations tracked as the project was completed. Um, and the pavilion,
uh, the lights were strung just this fall. There's another portion that's going to be built on the front of the school building that's complimentary to this beautiful construction that your students put together. Um, and that will happen in the next few months. It's small in comparison, but
that will bring the whole project full circle. And again, it makes us feel really happy knowing that this was built by students for students at our sister's school. And we're partnership. And yeah, our sister school, if you don't know of
it, we do serve uh girls from the greater New Bedford area in grades five, six, seven, and eight up to 18 students per class. There are some gradu many graduates attend voke and even some associated with people in this room and we're proud of our graduates and really
pleased for approaching v. So thanks any questions and college he's fine with being last on the agenda. Yeah, just a compliment to them getting this started and I agree too when students build things for the community
is there for a very long long long time and kids will come back on that look and say I was part of that. So that's awesome. And I'm proud of our sister school. I have a niece that graduated from there who this year graduated from Boston College. I also had a granddaughter that
graduated from there and is graduating from um this year from S University of San Diego. So very good school. Thank you very much. Thank you. Yes.
Next we have the uh reading the public comment. Yeah, we did. Okay. Reading and acceptance of the meetings of the September 9th, 2025 meeting. Committee members have re
received a copy of the minutes of the September 9th, 2025 meeting. Request for approval. Motion to approve. Second. All those in favor? Opposed?
Extensions. Hearing none passed reports approval of the bill included in your backup material is a copy of warrant 26-03
in the amount of 1.4 41385251 for your approval. Request approval. Second. Those in favor? I opposed
abstensions. Hearing none approved. Superintendent Shout. Superintendent Watson will recognize staff for extraordinary efforts. Thank you, Madam Chair. And uh this
month I'd like to just call I mean there's a lot of great work happening throughout the building but I'd like to just highlight um an email I received from one of our newer teachers kind of celebrating the work of another firstear teacher. So, uh, this this month I want to, uh, call out Kenny Paulino, who is a
brand new instructor in the metal joining fabric shop, uh, working with some students, um, and it was called out by one of our newer special educators, Juliana Vieiraa, uh, who is celebrating the work that he has done with some of the students, um, in that class. And so this just a signal or a sign of some of
the great work that's happening every day in our classrooms. Um and also the work that our that our educators are doing with all students uh as they pursue their uh different exploratory backgrounds and shop selection process for all kids. So really proud of that effort, really proud of those uh new teachers reaching out to share some of
the great things that are happening in our school and I want to kind of highlight that this evening. Thank you. Okay. Student representatives report. Okay. So the report this month will be brief due to the fact that our student council meeting was postponed numerous
times this month. So I don't have much to discuss with you pertaining what happens at those meetings. What I do have is our homecoming week. We have decided on a date. Our homecoming is October 25th in the welcome center from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Our tickets our tickets are $6 a piece if memory serves
and they are already on sale. Our theme is the Wizard of Oz which is something we've never done here. So, our color scheme is green, gold, ruby red, blue, anything that really goes with that. And we have sent out forms to vote for our homecoming king and queen. We have 22
females running for homecoming queen and 18 males running for homecoming king. And they will be announced at the football game the night before. We had our class elections and our class debate for our presidential and vice presidential candidates went very well. Everybody was very optimistic and
answered their questions extremely well. the results of our class election. Our president is Jordan Diaz. He is in business technology. Our vice president is Owen Figurito. He is in nursing. Our secretary is me. I'm in legal and protective services.
And our academy B representative is Anthony Elisia. He is also a classmate of mine in legal and protective services. We have one that I know of, a class representative. Her name is Adelinie Perez Rustand. She is in early childhood education. Now, I have something on my report that doesn't
pertain to our school, but I think it's something that I'm doing that the committee would like to know. I will be the first grade in Red Vote Tech student to represent our school at the 2025 Massachusetts delegate assembly day. It is October 18th, which is this Saturday. It's at the atrium at Mass Bay Community
College in Welssley, Massachusetts. So, next month, I'll have more about what that is, what I did there, but I'm excited to, you know, represent our school at the delegate assembly. Good for you. Madison, congratulations.
Congratulations. Yeah, good job. Addison report. Yep. Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll uh jump into this one. She's unable to be here this evening. So, in your artisan report, this is our back to school report uh for October of 2025. and notice uh information from both our STEM
and humanities departments uh as well as our Academy A and Academy B uh CTE areas kind of highlighting the work including the work that you heard earlier tonight from our sister school uh that was part of our outside construction project. So um certainly welcome to entertain any
questions related to the posted in there but that's a brief summary of this month. Okay. Um, parent communications. Superintendent Watson will bring members up to date on the par on the POSUP checks.
Thank you, uh, Madam Chair. Again, so uh, you'll include, you'll notice the twoe POSUP, uh, reports that are included in your packets. Um, again, these are, um, handled by our our community relations folks. uh when these come in any parents that have left comments or have comments to share with
us uh we are returning those phone calls and passing them to the appropriate departments. Uh this is part of a comprehensive strategy that you know that we use both possible page platform and ger feedback specifically from parents stakeholders about the work
these are in the last few weeks. Okay. Thank you. New business. Vote to adopt the 202526 weighted lottery admissions policy. Included in your backup material is a
copy of the final weighted lottery admissions policy and a copy of the document showing the changes from last month's meeting. Yes. Thank you again, Madam Chair. So, I want to call the committee members attentions to the second uh document that is here. as the first document. In
fact, there's a clean copy of the admissions policy we're requesting your approval on tonight. I want to highlight just a few changes that will be since the last draft you saw. On the fourth page uh under eligibility, we'll note that the district has added the
following language to its eligibility section. In addition, the district requires that all applicants demonstrate proof of residency as a condition of admission as a resident. If district residency is not confirmed prior to the admissions lottery date, the application will be considered ineligible. And this is a part of a broader effort for us to
ensure that all applicants are residents in one of our three sending communities. This is a broader strategy we're employing across all four grades, but working to uh make sure that we implement effectively as students enter into our school.
On page nine, you'll see two uh additional uh pieces. All offers of admissions will be sent to the email address that is on the application and then there is a paragraph listed around the weight list duration and the change of residency uh forms that are listed
within our policy. Those are the only recommended changes to the drafts that we've seen over the last several months and we would request uh favorable action on our admissions policy tonight. Um I also want to highlight the policy is written with 565 or so seats. Uh but if
approval happens with a new program that we've submitted applications for and construction craft labor or the development expansion of our business and office tech program, which we expect both to happen, uh that number would be amended to closer to 625 students for the fall. We won't know that until that
process is underway this winter. But I just want to be really clear with the public kind of outline that we're giving you the facts as we know them today, but want to signal uh what where we believe we'll be in 5 months from now by the time this lottery is actually adopted. Executed.
Thank you. Okay. Are we going to vote on it tonight? Yes, please. Yes. With that expansion came up last time, uh what are we going to do for the academics? Yeah, I I so it's a great point and we are, you know, aggressively
looking at a lot of options and you'll see some of that feedback from from our visits last week and I know Wayne and Cindy will talk about the aviation piece. Uh we do believe that we're in pretty good shape to handle the 50 or so kids from the freshman class. That becomes a little bit more of a hurdle as we grow. Uh but uh we do feel pretty
confident in terms of where we're at right now. We have at least two, probably four academic spaces that will be made readily available for the fall. certainly enough to handle the additional kids for the first couple of years. Um, and then we'll go from there. The lunchroom we have we have started is
is also a concern. Uh, we're looking at some new lunch tables that'll be able to sit 12 kids around rather than the eight uh in order to accommodate a potential increase of close to 200 students over four years. So, uh, we're on top of that. It is a concern and we are we are kind of aggressively monitoring that.
So, thank you. I make a motion that we policy. Second. All those in favor? Can we um before we vote on it? Any discussion? Just for discussion. Um I'd just be remiss if I didn't um voice
my opposition to the lottery in general. Um I didn't support it when it was one that Voke Tech had done. I certainly don't support the statemandated uh portion of this lottery. I think what we've done in order to try to fix
one injustice that we feel is happening, we've created another and that's to not reward the students who have done everything that you've asked them to do to try hard to get good marks to watch their discipline to show up to school.
In my opinion, 27 absences almost 10% of the school year is absurd. Um also for eligibility, if you look at the um no suspensions or expulsions, this is for possession of a dangerous
firearm or assault of an educational staff member. In order for the the infractions must be a felony level and the student must be either made an admission of guilt in court or have the case educated. That makes these are the students that
we're going to put into a lottery. This makes no sense. And we've we've singled out a group of hardworking students who are doing everything they can to get in here sometimes because their family member is a carpenter, plumber, whatever, and they want to follow in the
family footsteps. I I just think we've taken that group and we've just slighted them so badly. And if I were to vote for this policy, it would be it would be that I endorse the policy. And I just want to make clear, in no way do I endorse this policy in any shape or
form or manner because I think it's prejudice to another group of of students. And I think we've done a great injustice if we accept this. Strangely enough, when Cindy and I were up in Westfield School District, their school committee had the guts to vote this
down. Now, we don't know what the ramifications will be if they don't have a policy. That's yet to be found. But I give them credit for having the backbone to stand up and say, "This isn't right." And to send it back to the state and
say, "Here, you can have your policy. Let's figure out something better." But they had the guts to stand up and say, "No, because this isn't fair." So, it's not just me. And I I you know, I have people who call me all the time and say, "What are you folks doing with this
admissions policy? This lottery is absurd." And I I totally agree with them. And I'm glad to see that another school committee had the backbone to stand up to it. And I'm sure they're not going to be the only ones. I'm sure other school committees will stand up and say this is this is not right. So I
will be a no vote. I don't think there's any surprise there. But I think the committee really needs to take a hard look before they endorse a policy like this. Make sure that you know what's in it and what you're really doing for the students who are trying hard. I don't think anybody who's a minority student
can't try hard. show up to school and stay out of trouble. I don't think that's a lot to ask of a person. You're talking about minority students. Thank you. No, I'm saying we're trying to fix a particular group of lowincome or maybe minority to to get them into the school. That's what seems to be
minority students are trying hard and some of them are I mean the same. I mean, but that's all you have to do. Try hard. Show up to school. I don't think anybody most of our kids do. We're talking about disabled children as well. We're not just singling out. And
for you to say minority students, that's No, I'm not trying to pick out any particular group, but I think that those are the the different groups that we're trying to fix that we're trying to get into the school. And I I meant no uh you know, no insult by that. I'm just saying if we're trying to fix low income, let's
let's take that group of people and we're trying to fix it. I don't think we're asking a lot for them to just try hard, get decent marks because the marks don't count. Show up to school at least more than 27 times is what they're asking and stay out of trouble.
Yeah. But no, I mean there's a lot of minority students that want to be here and have all those credentials also. So I mean I don't understand the single I don't understand how the singling out of the minorities. I I just Not singling
out the minority group. I want to reinforce that is not what my intention using that as an example of the groups that have been discussed. Low uh lowinccome, minority, some of the special needs groups. Those are the ones
that we've been discussing. Employ students that are low income as well and not hardworking. So I think it's you can't categorize one particular group. Okay. And I'm sure everybody has, you know, different feelings on this is just my particular feeling on this this
policy that I can't endorse. Mr. Shay, I'm sure as a former administrator, I agree with Wayne and where he's going and I understand 100%. Um,
I think some of the vocation, and this is my own opinion, some of the smaller vocational schools have the ability to fight it because they're small. I don't know how big Westfield is. But, you know, when you have a 100 kids, 200
kids, 300 kids, my fear, Wayne, is that we are one of the biggest vocational schools in the state, over 2,000 kids. it. The Department of Education has handcuffed
us in many ways and sometimes they have the the the the stick to do that and I'm looking at what Mr. Watson along with Marielle along with everybody that's sitting over here as ministers they've spent a lot of time on this and
even though my heart is saying what and support that and hopefully down the road when things settle down that maybe we can look at it and tweak it to encourage those things you talked about going to
school and all those things. But I would fear that and they've done this Department of Education on record has come after the school in the past and make us an example of and I would hate to see that
come on us and I think you know right now we don't have the cards to to to challenge it. So I I other schools yes let them go for it and maybe we'll find out. they do nothing to those smaller schools, then we have something that we
can go back and say, "Wait a minute, time out. Just because we're big, you're going to make us do something different." So, is with the heart that I'm I'm I understand. But I also think that we got
to play ball with them to get this passed, to get this going, to get it done hopefully with our own community members. And and Mr. watch and I had a conversation earlier. He feels that the relationships with Dartmouth New Befford
Haven in the past is incur good right am I right improving is improving because the fact of what he's we need that and once that happens we can maybe have a discussion on on how can we tweak it right now I'm not going
to go against him and have us use an example in the state you know and say effort I got to be careful. The word that came to my head. No, we're going to make you an example
of then I'm going to make an example of Westfield. Yeah. I'm going to make an example of us. Greater low greater Lawrence. So I touche on your words. I support it. But I said I'm going to support this because I think it's our
only avenue to move forward in the conversation. Any other discussion? With the I guess wideness of the attendance policy, have we considered
revising our student handbook on those two qualifying events, attendance and and discipline? Uh the handbook in what sense, Paul? Well, if you're all five days, you can be removed. Yeah. Unexcused absence basically. I
mean, if if they're basically if there's a if there's a student that out 20 days, he's going to get a ball, right? But if he comes here and he's out 20 days, he's not especially on the cycle, the six day cycle in the shop, he's not going to have time to make those up. So, he's always going to be lagging behind. So,
it's going to be an issue. Yeah. If they're chronically absent in the handbook, in the student handbook, then there's something to hold them accountable for. And if they have a discipline issue where rather it's a uh equity issue then they can be removed
also. So we we haven't had those conversations about revisions to the student handbook at this point. I I did have a conversation with the dean of freshman this morning uh about what we're seeing from freshmen uh this year, right? In terms of attendance, in terms of
behavior, in terms of performance, and how that compares to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. And I don't think this will be surprising to you, right? Uh you know, we're going to look at all of those factors as it relates to performance in in in shops, but we we've just started this process with the with
the lottery we had last year. Uh and and I think anyone would tell you that yeah there there's a few more discipline issues in the first month or so of the year this year than there have been in the past but it's it's not a 100 kids out of 565 right uh are there 20 kids or 25 kids that you know have adjusted
maybe but I would prefer to answer the question this way I would like to see what the data tells us about an entire year. I would like to see what that looks like. Uh we are working both with uh the analytic folks that we have locally as well as some national companies on data dashboards to to cross
validate attendance grades and discipline data. Uh and I would be much more comfortable coming back to present the findings of that 6 months or a year from now preferably two to three years from now as we will with the exploratory data to kind of showcase what the impact
of the policy change has been. Um I I think Mr. Oliver is coming at this from a from a strong heart. Him and I have had a number of conversations with this. So, I I'm not reading anything into the dialogue. I don't personally think Westfield will survive this big or small. Uh this is a state regulation
now. Um it is what it is, right? I think um I think I think that it's going to land where it lands. Um and for us, I want to make sure that um I've said this out loud before and I I've told our partners who I do think the relationships are improving. The answer
to this this conversation started seven or eight years ago in one direction, right? It should end in another and that is that every child in Massachusetts should have access to a free and public education of his or her choosing. That includes the expansion at wall-to-wall
CTE schools. It includes the expansion of chapter 74 programs at comprehensive schools where possible. We should be providing a free and public education to every kid. So that's, you know, I know where we are today. It's one of the reasons why I'm recommending that our admissions policy look at 625 kids. and
we're going to keep chasing new programs and additions to this building and partner with our sending districts to do that. I informed Mr. Oliver as well as some leadership here. Uh the town of Fair Haven has submitted an in a letter of intent to open an afterdark partnership with Greater New Bever Tech.
Uh we don't know about that yet either, but I think that's fantastic. Uh and we're looking to run it in the electrical program. Um, so there's a lot of good things happening to make sure that kids have more access to Voke Ed uh in our area and that's where I see this battle today uh and where we're trying
to make sure that we have continued conversations with our partners on one more comment. Sorry. Sorry to go on what Paul mentioned. Um, many years ago we were accused of as a as a principal
and superintendent that we accept kids in but then we throw them out if they don't do what we say. And that wasn't the case. You know, the case was that because that's how this whole thing started about with the mayor
who I do like. I said, you know, you got to have you're in public education, so you got to accept all kids. you can't do um standards and basically kids left the school because they didn't want to follow the rules and the rules
were that you will stay after school you come back on Saturday morning we did and that's when they left but I I was accused personally by others in the community by saying well yeah he comes in after a month you don't like him you know doesn't do what you say you throw
him back to the cities or towns That was not the case. And you you want to defend it. We said no, they will get suspended. I don't want I'm not going to get suspended. Then you you you go to back to your Sunday school. But they decided
to leave because they wouldn't follow the rules. Right. So I think what we have to do I I like what the way you're going that they're not need let's get get more interaction and more you know involvement with it but we can't just send them back because they're not over
because that's 1980 80 you know and we got hammered for that. Yeah. And I used to say we we didn't throw the kid out. He didn't want to stay here because he or she weren't following the rules. Exactly. So I think we have to be careful that how we handle it but we
have to have more intervention. So does that make sense that being confusing? No. And I I agree with everything you're saying there. The other thing is in those days you know I'll go back we didn't have the services that we have now for kids that we were not available. There wasn't
all these other services that are there to help these kids. A kid that doesn't come to school because a lot of times we don't know the reason why these kids not coming to school every day. there's a lot of extenduating circumstances in their homes and whatever, but now we have
programs in place. We have people in place um to assist those kids. So, I don't see that as being as much of a problem as we did back 20 years ago maybe or 30 years ago when when that was going on. But Mr. Sheay's correct. Um we
were accused all the time of sending kids back. Oh, you don't they don't do what you want. You just send them back and you have no consequences. That was not the case. I can attest to that. But I the difference now is correct. Those same kids now have services available to them
that that weren't available back then as well. I want to just add in for your benefit as well. We can share this. I've directed the team. I want to know why kids are leaving the district. Right. So, uh we have a process. Uh it's been a long time of of a paper process. Uh we
have it for staff as well. So I just want to inform the committee and the public at large is I've directed the team to engage in an electronic system through our thought exchange platform that will literally use the intelligence factors available to us to summarize uh those reasons, right? Because right now
if I were to walk into the human resources office and ask why the last 25 folks have left the district and some of you folks have asked me those questions, I would need to dissect individual papers. uh if I asked why the last hundred kids in the last five years didn't get their shop or whatever the
reason was, we would have a process through the paper. So this summer I directed the team and I followed through to the point where they're not all thrilled with me at times. But we're going to move that to an electronic system that is everchanging and ever encapsulating new information to build a
profile so that a year from now if asked why the last 50 kids left the district, I can provide you with a summary of the reasons why that is the case. Same with staff over five years. Those numbers might be in the hundreds, but it will begin to paint a picture of the what we
think. Why is it that kids come and then leave? Why is it that staff take different positions? We need to know those answers in order to make the kind of datainformed decisions to improve practice. Um, so I just want to let the community know and you folks know that we're launching a new approach to that
this year, which I expect uh will be up and running shortly. uh because we need to begin to collect that data in a real usable way that it's available at the fingertips of a computer. So hopefully that will address some of those questions that are being raised here. And I like the staff part of it too
because we want to keep staff and we have seen some have left and they're personal reasons but it' be nice to know if they are personal or whatever. So that's right. I think you're on the right track of getting that data and hopefully we stay out of the uh it's just a shift of mindset. We're
doing it already, but I don't I don't want to go through 75 sheets of paper to try to figure out what the common theme is, right? The technology that's available today in the world will do it for us and we'll have it in a much quicker time to be able to assess the same thing that Mr. Olivera started this
conversation with. What is the impact of student attendance on performance in CT areas? The intelligence will do that for us once I get our systems in place. And we're beginning to move down that path as well. And we all know the way out of poverty is education. And for some of our kids at the end of four years at a
comprehensive high school, they have nothing but a piece of paper. At vocational school, they have a trade immediately marketable. They can go out into the workforce. So I think, you know, that's a huge impact for this community. Just discussion, just one question on clarification. Um
on the admissions um number one it says that obviously if we get more seats more applications and we have seats combination of a lottery and a selective criteria will determine which students will be admitted. Right. So it's basically identifying the
selective criteria the ones you mentioned the 27 absences and the uh criteria to be in the lottery. That's correct. It under the state regulations. You know if that was one and the same or if that was a separate No no no no that's the same thing. And I can tell you we already have more applicants than seats are available for
the class of 2030. We're just over that now. I want to say it's like 570 something or 600. It just crossed that number. So any more discussion there? None. Has there been a motion? There's been a motion to second.
Miss Roberto made a motion. Do we have a second? Second. I think it was seconded. I think we I think we seconded it already. Yeah. Okay. All those in favor? I I oppose. I abstensions
hearing. None. Pass. Okay. Move to approve the competency determination for the classes of 2026 and 27. Including your backup material is a copy
of the competence competency determination for the classes of 2026 and 2027. I'm gonna hand that off to our academic director, Common Emerald. Is that an option pitch?
That's a quick pitch. Um, so after the repeal of MCCAST as a CD requirement last December, we adopted an interim CD for the class of 2025. And in the absence of a DESI state mandate, we do need to have one for the classes
of 2026 and beyond. So, a group of us sat together, reviewed this with department heads, folks in guidance, special ed department um to look this over to ensure that we are meeting the state mandates for this and that it is not in conflict with our local graduation requirements. So, in order
for students to earn a diploma from Greater New Bedford VTEC, they'd have to meet all the local graduation requirements in addition to the CD requirements outlined in the handout. And these are aligned with the coursework and the standards that were
tested on MCCAST. So the two requirements were successful completion of coursework and demonstrating mastery. So we've defined successful completion of coursework as a final grade in the course in accordance with our grading
policy. So 65% or better a student has successfully completed the course. Mastery is a passing grade 65% or better on the final assessment for that course. And of course, our coursework, our assessments are aligned with grade level
standards. And all students are entitled to a free and public education. So, we'll continue to ensure that every student is receiving the special ed and English language support that they require just as they have been for the MCCAST. Um, and some students weren't
successful immediately on MCCAST. they needed a little more time. We've built that in here as well. Students can attend summer school for support on either um mastery of coursework or successful mastery on that final exam. We want to make sure that students continue to have an opportunity to meet
both the CD and the graduation requirements. So that is English 9 and 10 or ESL 9 and 10 which counts as an English class. The way our curriculum is written for our English learners, it is algebra 1 in geometry
and six credits in science. Right now, students take six credits of biology, but it can be in any of the MCCAST tested subjects. There is also a requirement for class of 2027 and beyond to demonstrate mastery in US history. So, we have um three
credits in US history. again successful successful completion of coursework and demonstrating mastery with um successful passing of the final assessment for the course whatever that may be questions I just had a quick one is that
the all the credits that are required or there additional elective credits and fizz and all of those too that's just for the CDMIC in addition to all of the graduation requirements as they have been in our um in our handbook. So the vocational
credits, attendance requirements, all those things still stand. Great. Thank you. Comment. This basically replaces the MCCAST component of the composite termination, but the local graduation requirements are unchanged in the handbook. Want to clarify? Just a question. Is this like MCCAST
light or MCCAST heavy? In other words, MCAST light. You know, our staff was taught basically what to prepare for the MCCAST test. They given us data or information what to teach so
that the compensate test they would include in their teaching. How is staff know what the compensate test going to be? Well, all our curriculum, our curriculum documents, our assessments are aligned to the curriculum frameworks grade level that are tested on MCCAST. So when we
certify this coursework, which really is just us reviewing it to ensure everything is aligned, that it matches up with what the state is telling us, those curriculum documents, the curriculum frameworks are telling us we need to be teaching that students need to be proficient in by the end of algebra 1, geometry, English 9, English
10. So there is what we have been doing. Yes. You know, and just know the word MCCAST is out and determinations in the same thing. Right. Right. And there isn't a test that's sent down by the state that we lock the school down for two days.
Yeah, this is uh so just it's a great question, Mr. Shay, and kind of a foreshadow of what's to come. This is an interim step uh while the governor's council is working on new competency determination language and we're not quite prepared to to share that tonight, although I have seen an initial draft of
those recommendations from the committee that's chaired by Secretary Tutweiler and Commissioner Martinez. it is coming out and I think more clarity uh in the spring fall winter to spring around that issue about what the state plans to do for the class of 2028 and beyond. Um so
this is an interim step that all school districts are required to take by December 31st of 2025 to have their own composite determination locally for the classes of 2026 and 2027. But there is additional guidance coming from the state around what will replace the
MCCAST and there is a much more stringent plan in the works compared to this. And this document does indicate under um part two competency determination that if DESIE or the state articulates requirements for a CD a student must pass any state required
assessments, projects or expectations as applicable and if they defer the CD to the district, this is what we would follow. Right? So this for those few years. More discussion questions.
Thank you very much. Do we have to take a vote? Make the motion. Second. Second. All those in favor? I opposed. Extensions.
Seeing none. Passes. Okay. A vote to change the date 2026 graduation. the change in skills USA dates, excuse me, for this year. We recommend moving
the 2026 graduation to Friday, May 29th from June 5th. Copies of the school calendars are attached for reference. Just briefly, uh, Skills USA has been moved up this year due to, uh, the World
Cup being held in Atlanta at the end of that month. So, it is the week of June 1st, the 5th. Uh, while there is no way for us to know if any of our students will participate in the nationals, several have before. Uh, and it's concerning enough to many of us in the vocational technical schools that we
should move our graduation date out of an abundance of caution so that our students are not um forced to choose between graduation or skills. So my recommendation is that we move the graduation to Friday, May 29th. Take a vote.
Make a motion that we change graduation to May 29th of 2026. Second. Second. All those in favor? I I opposed. Hearing none passes.
Okay. Update of aviation program exploration committee. Superintendent Watson. Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm going to turn the lion share of this time over to Dr. Marlin and Mr. Olivera uh who joined uh Mr. Pas and Mr. Aruda and myself last
week on a tour of two aviation programs across the state at Greater War aviation program this year and then at Westfield Tech who is in their 10th or 11th year now of running that program. Um I wanted them to have the ability to discuss what
they saw with with their fellow members tonight and to let you all know that a complete um report on that um those dates that we were out v visiting those schools will be available in your November 10th packet. So, um,
we all went as a team and, uh, it was quite impressive to see where the first school was, the school that's just kind of starting up and, um, where the other school has been for a while. It was it was kind of took me back a little bit
when we saw how much um uh Greater Lawrence was spending on some of the building and construction. But I was happy to see that the next day when we went to an established program that they were able to work with what they
already had. in fact taking a building that was from 1910 uh revising it and um kind of moving forward. So um that was the most impressive thing. I just think also and you'll see some of the pictures that
we've taken um next time we have a meeting just the amount of engagement by the students um very serious about this program and how enthusiastic they were about the
possibility of working as a uh aviation mechanic and just the potential of the program. I was very very excited about obviously this has to go through a process and um there are there's a a lot
of work that has to be done before we really move forward but I think all in all that you know my recommendation at this very time would be that we just keep moving forward and investigating um what's available. We uh we also still
do have partners from the airport and um Michael Roujo was very kind to come with us and um he's had he's had some reflection which we'll discuss next time um that it
is something that this school could do. It is something that we could do within a a budget. So Wayne, what do you think? Yeah, excuse me. And yeah, not to repeat anything that uh Cindy said cuz I do agree with all of that. We had a very
good visit. It was interesting to see uh Greater Lawrence who had an abundance of space and had a brand new hanger and then we went to Westfield who had limited space but two seems like are going to be great programs with a lot of interest. And I
would have to say even with that brand new hanger um that was gorgeous, I kind of like the the old hanger at the airport, which had an abundance of space, but it had the character of um you know, of just a working hanger. And I I think I appreciated that one more
than seeing the brand new uh hanger that hasn't even been used yet. So, um you know, we get to see both ends of the spectrum and it definitely is doable. Uh the energy from the students was there when you talked to the students they were so excited about what they were
doing. Uh you know you asked them how you know what do you think of the program? Do this is great. It's wonderful. They couldn't didn't have enough good things to say about it. So um you know I think exploring this is the right path at this point and yeah we'll give you some more information uh
next month. But um you know just to be clear also this is an aviation mechanic program because I've had a few people ask me why are we trying to teach students to fly? Question. Yeah we this is not a pilot program.
This is a aviation mechanic program. So let's be clear with that. Right off the right off the ground. Okay. Yeah. I know there's a little pun there but um yeah just a a really good well worth uh worthy visit. So yeah, thank you.
Seems like too that uh the two schools are willing to help us so that we won't have to rewrite a lot of the curriculum and the path that the program might possibly go, but there are people that we can reach out to that will be of assistance. So we won't be going in
there cold. Um, no, it was just it it was amazing. And it was amazing to see how how really focused these students were and very serious. Like when I went up to them originally and said, "So, hey, tell me about this program. What do you think about this program?" They're
like, "Excuse me?" Uh, you know, trying to take them away from what they were the work that they were on, you know, but they were and obviously they hadn't been prompted. they they would answer the question and um they're all in in some kind of uniform of sorts. They're
all very proud of themselves and you know just carrying themselves like they really were aviation. They were betting you before they answered the question to know who you were and that's right representing before they answered the question. They they I didn't have my badge on. You
did. So Oh wow. Yeah. It was it was wonderful. exciting. Good. Just a quick question and as naive, we have automotive, we have diesel and now aviation mechanic. So, is that
they're all three separate areas or does it crossover with diesel? I mean, yeah, and that that's a good point because I think both Cindy and I went in there with the question about that and I think there's there is a lot of separation um because you're going to do
um what do they refer to? obviously mechanics um the mechanics of the engine but also aircraft uh structure. So there's a whole lot of different areas. I don't know if you could even, you know, start them off in
a say a gas engine program, you know, is it really for the basic basics, but as a freshman, there's a a whole criteria. Um, so the mechanical or the engines and the flight and all that. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Structure of the aircraft and and things like that. Um, and because they've made
the point like if you're a freshman and you miss a good portion of that program, they have to leave it blank because you can't start over. They couldn't bring somebody in halfway through the year and expect them to catch up. So, it's a lot of criteria that you have to meet and Yeah, I appreciate it. Thank you.
Yeah, but that that's a question we went in with. Okay. There's a there's a road ahead, right? So, we'll do the report in November and I think we we got we want to keep talking about this. This program is different in the sense that the FAA is highly involved, right? Uh so, it's not like a lot of the other
chapter 74 programs. Mr. Salva makes a great point like I don't know how this flushes out in the conversation of admissions, right? You can't be absent 20 days, you won't you won't make it through the program. So, what does that look like in a high school? Westfield was 10 years ago under a different
situation than what Lawrence is operating and Lawrence is just starting. So, we don't know necessarily how that plays out. Both schools told us and although Dr. Marlin is correct, we'll probably be a little bit better because they're going to share materials with us. But you're looking at a four-year kind of runway before you get this
runway. Figured I'd just making sure everybody's still paying attention. So tagging on to mean I just I just want to say we planned that last week. Yeah, we need it. The way things are going right now and down thing, right? Up and down. Yes. Okay, I got it.
You know, I we'll talk more about it next month, but I just kind of want to make sure folks are understand. I think the next big decision will be as we approach the budget season where we are in this process, whether we're ready or not ready this year, but we need to probably be moving in that direction. It is a multi-year arc to get this program
off the ground and also the question about space uh because we will need to identify some number of square footage within the the building and that includes if we're able to negotiate something with the city around the hanger that's down there. So, there's a lot of political work as well as work within our existing structure that we
have to. We'll talk more about that. That will be included in the report next month. Thank you. Back. Any more questions? No. Okay. Moving along. Uh we vote to adopt the following policies.
Included in your backup material are copies of the policies to be adop uh adopted. Make a motion to take them all in one vote. Second. All those in favor? I opposed. abstensions
hearing. None. Have to have a motion to Right. Somebody want to make a motion to uh Yeah, we did. We did it all in one. It's all in one. Okay. Right.
Okay. Um vote to approve out ofate travel for students athletics. Mr. Brian Methia is requesting approval for our out ofstate travel for the following winter track Providence Korea
and Tech in January of 2026. Spring track Plains New York for Lux Games in May of 2026. boys volleyball URI for roadie
invitational in April of 2026 on all those trips are reoccurring we've made those trips um just about annually uh the only one weight plains New York we did not travel to last year that was a financial issue the the cost is just
really starting to go up so uh we've decided to go every other year for track but in terms of um theational at the proh Providence Career and Tech and the Roadie for boys volleyball. We've traveled there just about annually and
athletic director. I don't know if anyone has any questions on those events. Let's get the going. I make a motion to approve all three. Second. Second. All those in favor? Opposed? Abstensions?
Hearing none. Question is approved. See, easy Ryan sat here all this time. We have another one from Anything else you Well, no, just a school trip. I don't think that's Yeah, we can take that one. I don't know.
Yeah, letter J. Uh, Madam Chair. Okay. All right. Uh, vote to approve out of country travel for the travel club. Yeah, that's under student activities. Yep. So this year's trip um the advisors
um have decided on a trip to Lisbon, Seville, and Madrid. They're looking approval for um little change to our last trip which happened I believe during April vacation. This one would be um after the school year. It' be June 18th to the 26th. That'll be a 9-day
trip. Um the cost of it would be about 4,200 per student, a little over 5,000 per adult. Um we have Cassandra Alves is our um our advisor. Kelly Hagerty and David Von Alves who went on the trip to
Portugal last year have agreed to go on that trip as well. Cassandra would not be traveling. Um she has a young family at home so she's not quite ready to leave for a extended period of time. Um but after talking to
Kelly and Dave um EF tours where is the use them again? Yep. that we use them for Portugal. Um, they have a student to staff ratio of six to one. Um, so we would probably need to look for a another advisor or two depending on how many students we
have. Uh, we won't have that number until after the trip. We're all volunteers. We're here. We're That's the trip we have planned um that we're hoping to get approval for so we can start the process of uh vetting student interest and finalizing all the
plans that are already in place. Okay. Any questions? Request of approval. Motion to approve. Second. All those in favor? I I opposed. Abstensions.
Hearing none request approved. Did a great job last year. Yeah. Yeah. It went well. This is I like it because it's it's that'll be no time missed. There was no time missed in April either, but yeah, it's a I won't be going. I went to Florida
about six, seven years ago with volleyball. That was enough of me. But country is a That's it. You'll be on duty the whole time. Thank you. Thank you. Goo. Yep. Vote to approve out of state travel
for automotive tech and diesel tech students. Surge. What happened to Serge is requesting approval? Serge is requesting approval for out ofstate travel for the automotive and diesel tech students to
travel to New England Institute of Technology in East Greenwich on October 16th and November 13th, 2025. Motion to approve. Second. All those in favor? I opposed
abstensions and none request is approved. Okay. Vote to approve out of state for marine tech students. Michael McConnell is requesting approval for the marine
tech students to travel to safe harbors marinas in Portmith, Rhode Island on a date to be determined. Rest for approval. So moved. Second. All those in favor?
I opposed. Abstensions. Request approved. Vote to approve out of state travel for design and visual communication students.
I think I want to go on this one. Included in your backup materials, a copy of the request for the design and visual communication students to travel to ABC Disney Studios in New York on November 5th, 2025.
It's looks like a really nice trip. I'll make that. I want to see live shows and looks great. I'll make that motion. We might be able to fly you in. There you go. I have a second. Second.
All those in favor? I oppose extensions. Request do want to go on that one. Chair. So, who are the instructors that are involved with this on the visual trip?
Uh, no. Kathy's one. I don't know. Ria, do we know who that who it is? Wait a minute. I don't think that we know which instructors are going with the kids. Yeah. Um I believe it's Miss Gaspar. U it's got to be media that's that's going that
that wing, but I do not know exactly which instructors are going. Doesn't say is going. You'll be all set. Vote to designate equipment as surplus. Surplus I'll make that motion. Second.
Those in favor? I opposed extensions hearing none. Request approved. Report on P. Report on personal appointments. Retirement are resignations to be received and placed
on file. Early notifications of retirement. One. Michael Nelson, effective July 7th, 2026. Mark Waters, effective October 1st,
2026. Notice of resignation, Ursula Crawwell, effective October 17th, 2025. Make a motion to receive and place on file. Second.
In favor, oppose abstensions hearing none. Request approval. Okay. Communications advisory dinner meeting October 22nd,
2025 at 6:00 p.m. ACT best practices conference feedback. Three, leadership leadership network for women conference feedback.
Make the motion to receive and place on file. Okay. Second. Yes. All right. I just have a I just wanted a comment. That's all on this. I think it was very good. I like the presentation that they did um from the leadership
conference and uh it was really good. It was very informative and I like the layout of how I guess I asked them already how they liked it and they said they really enjoyed it. But it was nice getting that feedback from them to see how how they like the conference as a whole.
Yeah. No, I I'm glad that they enjoyed themselves. I've spoken with all of them. Uh DA is a new group, national group that runs a a women's leadership conference for senior executive leaders within school districts as well as several summits throughout the year. um
partnered with them in the springtime and this was our first venue into that space and I think Pam, Erin and Yolanda did a great job on the write up as well to kind of give us so we're going to continue that this year just so folks know you're seeing the first ones but as as we move through different events
we'll be providing written summaries uh of all conferences that staff members attend uh to the school committee so you're aware of what the takeaways are in every one of those endeavors. So it was very interesting. I like that. It was a good idea. I go to the same event every year. We always hang out together. Great event. I
really It's just a girl power like such a great day and everybody's just like really good workshops and great presenters. Just it's you'd love it. Good. You guys would love it. Yes.
Well, I'm talking to the ladies around the table. They would love it. It's girls only. Girls only. All right. Okay. committee discussion before we go into executive session.
Just for a committee comment. Sure. Just like to give a shout out to Mariel Pas for our new setup here and all of the technology. Um he was very patient when we came down here and moved everything on him. He had something in mind and I say we I
said I think me. Um tried to change a few things. who was very patient and agreeable and he made it work and we've got a lot of um new technology that he brought in. Uh so this was kind of a trial run. I think we did pretty well. So kudos to uh Martial for a great job.
Yeah. And it's very professional and it looks very nice and we can see and hopefully the feedback that we got from some of the towns that the sound was not good will be remedied by the little individual speakers. So that' be good. If you know anybody watched at
home, just try to get some feedback. So, hey, um, going to go into executive session. We have to adjourn this. We have to adjourn this first. Yeah, we're going to read that. We're going in. All right. I got and that will take
uh committee will be adjourning to executive session under chapter 30 section 21 to meet for the purpose of discussing strategy in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel
where discussion is open session would have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the school committee members will not be returning to open session
uh to meet for the purpose. We'll need a roll call. I will need a need a motion. Second. All right. Do we have a motion? To go into executive session. Second. All those in favor?
I Yep. Oh, yeah. Sorry. Yes. Mr. Kitchen. Yes. Mr. Olivera? Yes. Stratup? Yes, Mr. Barbero. Yes, Dr. Marlin. Yes, Mr. Shay. Yes, Miss Pimento. Yes. Can't talk yet. You tell Miss one.
Shut it off. Right.