Heat. Heat. Good evening and welcome to the Greenfield Public Schools School Committee meeting for Wednesday, December 10th, 2025. If this meeting is being recorded by Greenfield Community Television, if any other persons present or doing the same,
you must notify the chairperson at this time. Don't see any. Um, Secretary Deny, will you call the role? >> Okay. Uh, Chair Johnson >> here. >> Vice Chair Ston
>> here. >> I am here. >> Member Childs >> here. >> Member Goodwin >> here. >> Member Martini >> here. Mayor Disorger is here. Just walked in. So we are all present and accounted for.
>> Excellent. Thank you. >> Move on to uh public comment. Do we have any public comment tonight? >> Yeah. You might have to push it a couple times till it turns green. Oh, okay. Good evening. My name is Albert Johnson
Mousad. Um, and I wanted to appreciate the school committee. Um over the last um six, seven years I know that you have faced a number of significant issues and so your role uh
as members and certainly the role of your chair um have required some significant persistence, great effort and stamina. So I want to appreciate the school committee and and on this evening
uh the last of uh chair Johnson Mousad's um service as school committee I want to appreciate him as well for his stewardship and care um and investment of heart, mind and soul in this work. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Okay. Is there any other public comment in the room? All right. Any com public comments on Zoom? Make yourselves known. Not seeing any. We'll move on to report
of student representatives to the committee. Lauren and Calie. >> Okay. So, starting off with student council. December brings ugly sweaters, staff appreciation breakfast, and volunteer opportunities. Students will be helping with Jingle Fest, and
planning a rally for December 23rd. Uh Key Club, there will be several service opportunities in December, including bell ringing and family dinner for Salvation Army, a gift wrapping station during Jingle Fest, and assisting with the giving back together
toy drive. And congratulations to Elderina Second Janon and Jack Lori for achieving all state soccer honors. Winter athletics started on December 1st, so check out Arbor Live for the schedules. Go wave. For drama club, the
club had a successful run of three performances for Nightfall Stories by Edgar Alan Poe in a blackbox format in mid November. Auditions are being are beginning next week for the spring play, an adaptation of the classic children's
novel, The Secret Garden. Okay. AV club. After a one-year hiatus, the AV club is regrouping and currently has 10 members. Meetings are once a week on Mondays. So far, students in the club are engaging in taking photos and videos at school
events. The Spectrum Club meets every other Wednesday. This month, members will be dedic dedicating some time to being creative together while also scoping out causes on the local, state, and national levels to see how they can
best spend their energy. Trivia Team, formerly known as as school's match wets. The club continues to practice twice a week during lunch. Currently, there are several seniors for matches, but the club is looking for younger students to join. The scheduled as school matchwits filming is on
Saturday, January 24th with the air date to be determined. Mosaic/ students of color club. The club has been meeting weekly on Thursdays and getting to know each other. Recently, the group had a bonding meeting to create a new sign for the club name
Mosaic. Currently, the group is organizing members for the April dodgeball tournament. >> Okay. Hey, does anyone have any questions for us? >> Questions? We don't, but thank you so much. We
really appreciate you coming. >> We'll move on to the um well, the Special Education Parent Advisory Council or CPAC um was scheduled to attend tonight but was unable to at the last minute. So, we'll look forward to having them at a future meeting. Um, so
if Andy Brown from TMS is available to provide the social media impact. Great. >> I'm I'm here. Um, am I able to share uh my slide deck or do you want me to just talk through it?
>> Yes. I just made you a co-host. So go ahead. >> Okay. Excellent. >> Andy, >> if I may, Glenn, >> please. Uh if I may just before you start um we have with us Andy Brown who does our communications and he is here at the request of member Stan and others
who we were talking about this and obviously we have services provided by them and asked a few months ago when we were talking about it you know could if we could get an update on some of the things that this company provides us and what's going on and I know last month in November you brought it to the board and asked for questions. So, um, Andy has a
little presentation to let everybody know what's going on with TMS. They do manage our social media, do newsletters, you know, monitor our social media as well, too, and also do crisis communications for us when we have things, and send out memos to parents during the the weekday if there's a code
in the building or a lockdown, that type of scenario. So, without further ado, it's all yours, Andy. >> Great. Thanks, Roland. Um, I I realize I haven't met a lot of you. Uh, I I've met Glenn and I've met Roland and then I've met met Stephen, but most of you I've
never met in person. Um, I just wanted to talk a little bit very very briefly about our experience and then a little bit about what we do and then I can go into some of the data around social media. Um, I personally have have more
than 30 years experience in communications, 20 working with directly with public schools, universities. um and nonprofits. We I've worked both in internal communication, external communications, and my team has copywriters, editors, uh
designers, photographers, videographers, and social media expertise. And Greenfield has taken advantage of all of that over the past few years. Um for Greenfield, we we focus a lot on messages home to families. uh whether
whether it's newsletters, emails, um as Roland mentioned, we do some crisis communications. Fortunately, we've never had to step in and manage a much larger crisis. Most of them are small and I can talk a little bit about that process. We do some design work around brochures and
flyers. I just did one worked on one with Kelly Halpin. Um the we are frequently pulled in on uh any reports that need to be done to the school committee. So whether you knew it or not, you've seen some of our work. Uh during COVID when Judy HooL was the
interim, we came in and did some video work to ex explain how how back to school was going to work. Uh obviously social media monitoring and responses and posting and then of course um the typical media release, press release
sort of thing. communications planning. We've kind of got a a system down with Roland and with pre uh preceding administrations, so we haven't had to do a lot of planning. So, we probably would want to refresh that sometime in the future. Um, and you fortunately don't
have to talk too much about recruitment or advertising, but these are all the capabilities that we have brought brought to the table in some capacity to Greenfield. Um when we're talking about messaging home to family, we're mostly these days working on newsletters with the
principles and with Roland. Um we've designed the templates in the past via s'more. We update based on best practices and then we edit content. And in some cases we there are two cases specifically we will
step in and we will essentially write the whole newsletter based on input from the principles. Crisis communications. This is one it's an area I I hate to love and love to hate. Um we're part of the crisis
workflow. So when something happens, we're one of the first first groups that's contacted. There's a power to it that we can stop we can keep rumors from expanding beyond the initial the initial building. Kind of build a bubble of
truth, if you will. There's a concept called the the primacy effect. It's when whoever you hear from first is who you're inclined to believe in the future. So if you see it on the news, a
lot of us are are attached to our the news outlets we listen to. That's a combination of the primacy effect because that's where we get our news from and that's who we believe and then the anchoring bias which is everything we hear after that we compare to our
initial our initial thoughts and feelings. So, if we can get the word out with just the facts, even if it's the bare bones because we don't know everything and we explain that this is what we know now and we will keep updating you. And the
key is to keep updating people, we earn the trust of our constituents. So if something happens in a school and there's a lockdown, the police show up for one reason or another, it might even be to just shut off an alarm, we can get
that information out that that's what's happening and then it stops rumors from flying later on. I've had situations where rumors have gotten out of control because not in Greenfield fortunately because we weren't involved in that first level of communication and
obviously you just keep that update going throughout the process. um brochures and flyers. This is the the flyer we just worked on with Kelly. Uh it was for warm the children. Uh it went out a couple weeks ago. The advantage of us doing it over a principal is we can
get it done faster. We and we also we also can create a clear call to action as opposed to burying the lead. and traditional media management. When there's news in the district, it's always nice to tell the media, whether it's radio, uh the the recorder, um any
surrounding papers, it's nice to let them know what's going on so they can if they feel it's newsworthy, they can spread the word beyond our social media. It's also something where we can go in, we have decent relationships with reporters. We can go contact them and
say, "Hey, you got this title wrong. It was 20 students, not 10. we can make those corrections and we can make them very quickly. And then of course there's social media. Um when we started social media with Greenfield, there was a single Twitter
account that was created by a former stu superintendent. There was no access to it and it hadn't been in use for over a year. Um it's still out there. There was no way to access it and shut it down. But it it doesn't post. So there's
really no following anymore. We started posting on Facebook and Instagram in the summer of 2024. Previous administrations had been reluctant to engage on social media and spread the word. So with the new administration, we we came we were able
to start expanding the footprint of Greenfield and getting the word out in some ways faster about what was going on in the district beyond just the newsletter. We also monitor Tik Tok X and Snapchat. And of course, as new
social medias like threads and blue sky pop up, we start monitoring those to make sure there's not a ton of activity around Greenfield. While we're not, we ourselves are not active there. We keep an eye on it to make sure that there are no rumors flying. And I'll get to that
in a minute because something did happen this fall. Um, current followers are 5008. Um, part of that is this summer, um, we were asked to take a hiatus from from posting, so we did, but a lot of your followers for schools will start
ramping up around August. And if they don't see there's a lot of activity, you won't pick up as many followers. Same thing with Instagram. Now, this fall, uh, my colleague Tess Landan, she she
was watching social media, uh, for for anything about Greenfield, um, as we do every day. We go in, spend about 20 minutes every day just looking at social media. We have alerts set, so we check out those alerts. And there was a Tik
Tok video put out by a parent about a letter about a new law. uh that new law actually was a very old law um but the messaging hadn't been updated in years. She shared it out of concern that there
was a new law there was a new law about sharing student information with the military. Um the video itself had a had started started trending. It hadn't reached a tipping point where it had just exploded but it was on its way. Uh
we contacted Roland and and Stephen and we made some recommendations. We created some graphics very quickly made created some direct communications home and it all got sent out referencing the confusion explaining the explaining that it was old. The law had been around for
years and it calmed the situation down almost immediately. People stopped com commenting on the post. Um, as a result, what could have been not a crisis but a
h a challenge to a challenge to trusting the district um and trusting what was coming out. Um, we were able to prevent that turning into anything bigger than what it was. The high school has re reviewed the back to school packet and
has found a couple of other things that they need to update for next year. And we made a recommendation that all recurring communications yearly, especially around back to school, should be reviewed yearly just to make sure everything is up to date.
And then this is our Facebook content overview right now. This is for this is since January 1st. Um, you can see you can see in the graph where the engagement spikes. You can also see in the in the summer months where where no
one was posting at all. It the engagement died down right there. We get a decent number of views outside of of our followers, which is to be expected. Um, most actually 100% of it is organically reached. Whether that's from
a parent sharing it, whether it's because the algorithm is saying, "Hey, this person's from Greenfield. They don't follow, but they should see it." They're you're getting you're you're starting to get some really really good traction.
And this is a this is the same breakdown except as you can see this is this is just about the content. This is about the um the number of followers. So total number of views 182 182,000.
Um, from from your small number of followers, you've got about 70 72,000 views and from non-followers, 109,000, which says to me there's a lot of room to grow grow a following.
Does anybody have any questions? >> Not seeing any at this time. >> Okay. So, that that's that's our update. I know it was intended. >> Okay. Yeah, that it was intended to be a
social media impact update, but I wanted to make sure that the whole committee and the community knew that it wasn't just about social media. There's a lot more to communications, especially with schools. Schools require
not a lighter touch, just a there there's a there there are nuances to schools communicating home to parents and to the community at large because you want to make sure you you address all constituents. >> Andy, I think when I when there weren't
any questions, it might have been because people thought you were going to proceed, but now the people know that it's the end of your presentation. And actually, if you want to um stop your screen share so people can see you. Um, but now there are some questions for you as I saw Stacy and then Secretary
Denive. >> Yeah, thank you for giving this presentation. Um, you know, just appreciate you all's willingness to to put it together. Um, I was really curious about if there's specific types
of content that people are reacting to or specific types of posts, even if it's not the content, but like yeah any particular yeah >> sure mo most of the posts we get a lot of traction from elementary school posts
especially when we have more than one photo uh high school high school we get more traction on Instagram and that's to be expected because the audience on Instagram tends to tends to lean a little younger the demographic on Facebook tends to lean a little older to
parents um so we get on I'd say on Facebook it's mostly elementary school post about what's going on in the different schools. Um, some some schools perform better than others. Uh, and that's a matter of engagement within those schools. And there are ways we can
build that further uh to make making sure that principles continually share that, hey, we do have a presence on Facebook. You should check it out there to keep up with what's going on in the schools. Um we we currently don't do a lot with what
the school committee is talking about or at at the central office level. Um for instance with other districts I'll do and when grants are awarded we'll post about hey we as a district we received this grant and
this is going to be for this and this is how it's going to benefit our students. Um the community generally likes that because it they they understand better how how the money in general whether it's a grant or it's their it's taxpayer
money is being used. Um and that's important for the that's an important part of the overall story of schools. Secretary Denive, >> now that I'm thinking about it, I think my question might be an Andy Pquette question because my question is about
billing for social media. I'm wondering if we pay for a all-encompassing package or if you bill us based on what you do on social media. >> It is a retainer contract.
>> Okay. So, it's a set amount every time. >> It's a Exactly. and we we try to do as much as possible with um we base it on between >> around 40 hours a month. >> Okay. I guess I'm just wondering because
I think that it would be great to have a more transparent way to show what we're spending on it in regards to our warrants so that we know what we're paying, what the what hours we're getting. But that might be an Andy Pquette kind of deep dive question in
the future. >> If I may, uh, I mean, we can share. >> Oh, okay. Well, >> hi Andy. >> Hello. Uh, we can share. I mean, there is a contract we have that explicitly spells out the services that are provided. I mean, that's something that
we can include in a packet that shows these are all the services enumerated through uh what it is that we've been doing kind of on a month-to-month basis. >> I know about the contract. I remember all of that. I guess I'm just thinking about how we
communicate to the public to justify that we're doing this and we're spending this money as part of our transparency obligations is really what I'm trying to get at. And maybe that's just a conversation to have later. >> So you don't have to answer it now.
>> Okay. >> Thank you. Member Childs. >> Hi. Thank you for this presentation. Um out of curiosity, this personal curiosity, I want to know what design software you use for the flyers and
communications. And then less just for my own personal curiosity. um the flyers and templates that uh you make for us, aside from the Greenfield branding, uh how customized are they versus standardized across other districts that
also use your services? It's >> I depending on the purpose, uh I I'll either use Illustrator or Inesign. Um I they're the they're the industry standard and they're the most flexible.
And as far as templates go, I customize Greenfield has their own set of standards that we use internally. Uh we we've asked a few times and I haven't talked to Roland about this about putting together a style guide for you guys um so that colors are standardized.
We've standardized them ourselves um using the colors from from the Greenfield Public Schools logo. Uh but it would be I think beneficial for the district as a whole to have a style guide so everybody's on the same page.
Uh but as far as uh we we obviously don't necessarily do one-offs because it's much faster to create a template for for a purpose in Greenfield that we can modify as we go. But everything that Greenfield uses, no other district uses.
>> Thank you. And I think that style guide idea is a wonderful one. >> Thank you. That that was very informative. um on the um style guide and branding. We're working on that as well through
the city because I don't know that much about it, but I guess it really matters that the branding is done so that everybody recognizes one place. So I don't know if our communication uh director had reached out to you because
he's working on that through the city. So that for instance, everybody's using the same, you know, color green or whatever it is. Has Jonathan Weber reached out to you yet? >> I haven't heard from him, but I I've heard from Jonathan via Roland about
other things, but not about a style guide. >> Okay. >> Roland has an answer for you on that. >> Mayor, he has reached out to me and I did meet with Jonathan just last week. >> Thank you. And just one follow-up question if I may on the Facebook uh posts etc. This is
not something that I know much about at all. Again from the communication director um are you archiving or saving the Facebook posts the >> that's the tech technology department and the school school department has a
software that is capturing all the posts and responses. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. Terrific. >> Any other questions for Andy? Andy, thank you so much for your work for the schools and for your presentation tonight. We really appreciate it.
>> You're welcome. It's my pleasure. >> And I'm remembering um how hard we worked during the budget season last year when we were working on presentations for city councilors. So, that's another thing that you've helped us with is kind of communication with with uh other parts of the Greenfield
government. So, thank you for that work. >> You're welcome. >> All right. I think our next item is reports of the administration. So, Andy, you're up. >> Good evening, everyone. I apologize for
not being there tonight. Um, you have your December update. uh as of the time of the running report, but I am happy to report uh the city finance department has closed the FY25
activity on Monday. So, uh we'll be able to get back to the revolving account reports, but you have in your uh packets the local budget uh capital and u with the status as to where things are as of
December. Um, we still had again because of it not being closed, some negative incumbrances still showing up. Uh, there was a payroll that was run that uh had not had the incumbrances released. So on the memo, you have the I'm going to say
the reconciliation down to the balance uh unencumbered as of the running of the report. In addition to that, as I've been doing, updating you on special education, uh we have three new students uh from
last month that we have been told we have fiscal responsibility for. We have determined an estimated amount for one of those. Uh the other two were in discussions and uh finalizing those with uh various state agencies and the other
school districts just to ensure that we indeed do have fiscal responsibility. If so, how much? But that has increased now the special education tuition overage. I say budget overage up to $456,366.
Um, I can answer any questions you might have. And again, as I want to remind everyone regarding that overage, um we are in no need to go to the city for an additional appropriation because those funds are available in the uh special
education tuition revolving account. Questions from the committee? Not seeing any. Thank you so much, Andy. Andy. >> Uh, you're welcome. I see somebody in, uh, Zoom has their hand raised, though. >> Oh, well, we don't recognize
>> Oh, that's right. Yes. Yep. >> Um, so, uh, I wanted to say, Andy, how much I've enjoyed working with you over the last six and a half years, and thank you so much for everything you give to the Greenfield Public Schools. >> Well, the feelings mutual, chair.
>> Okay. Uh, we'll move on to the assistant superintendent, Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan. Good evening. My report is in your packet. Um I did provide just a brief professional
learning update as well as some um grants updates and um some information about our ongoing reading challenge. So in terms of professional learning
um Today was day two of learning walks, our third round of learning walks in the district um where myself and the principles. Today actually we're joined by members of Desi's um statewide system
support team at Federal Street and Newton Elementary where we visit classrooms throughout the district. Um, it's an important part of our work for monitoring the instructional trends, assessing implementation of our
initiatives, and planning next steps in professional learning. Um, it's a way for us to gauge the effectiveness of previous professional learning and identify places where teachers might be looking for additional support or
resources. I can tell you after um visiting the two elementary I I'll speak specific to the elementaryaries today um the consistency in which we saw the inter the literacy intervention
block being used is a credit to our teachers and principles for their implementation. We've been doing a lot of training um for the past few years, but it really launched I would say last spring when we
offered an optional training on the core and pass diagnostic assessment. And when it was optional, I think we had 35 K through four um teachers volunteer to participate. And
while there have been times I have been wary about putting more on teachers plates, the teachers continue to say this is the right thing. We're getting the right information. We feel good about this for the most part and they're
also giving feedback about places where they're feeling like they might not have enough resources or enough training or enough support. Um, but I can say in the 16 months or so that I've been in the district, I've never been on
learning walks in two different schools that have still been so consistent. And I would anticipate based on what we've seen in the previous learning walks that to continue when we visit Discovery this week. Um, the work at GMS and GHS is a little bit
different. Um but we're seeing a lot of positives there. And in the places where we're seeing some struggles and some challenges, I think the principles and instructional leadership teams and teachers
are showing a willingness to take whatever steps need to be done. I think there's a feeling that teachers have some more resources than they may have had um or may have more support in
using those resources and I get the sense that they're feeling empowered by that and I can't speak for a whole faculty of teachers in the district but the general consensus both in our previous learning walks at our um
professional learning days and what we saw about today is the teachers will willingness to take on these new things. Um they're seeing the benefit for their students and I know personally um I'm looking forward to the second benchmark
which takes place in mid to late January because that's a real indicator of the work that's been done. We took that first benchmark in September. Students are coming back from summer break and things like that. So it's really a baseline. This second one is gonna tell
us the growth that we've made or places that we need to pay additional attention as we get into the spring um for lack of better term testing season. In terms of grants update, we had um four teachers at GHS attend a two-day
generation citizen institute last week. Uh this is in a this is for the FY26 civics teaching and learning grant that I've notified the committee about prior and the main objective of of this grant is to implement a civics curriculum that
leads to a civics potentially showcase or project for our students. And we really want to work with our teachers to figure out h how this can be best managed um at the classroom level because I think there's some challenges
when you're teaching a US one or US2 history course and now you're trying to build a civics project on top of that. So, we're working with Generation Citizen and our teachers are working with Generation Citizen to identify where we can make some
sacrifices in what maybe we've been teaching or what parts of their curriculum would be redundant. So h how do we build a nice workflow that leads to um students who are civically engaged and knowledgeable about their
communities and state and um the national um conversations going around around going around about civics's education. So really excited about that work. also just submitted and I know Miss Rancor is
in the audience today as well the USDA farm to school grant. So this is a little bit new for me. Last year we had um an exper an an ex not an experience a veteran to green field food service director and fortunately that food
service director left and we've been transitioning a new person in and Kristen's been great to work with. But what's new for me is having my hand in writing grants for farm to school and USDA and visiting other community school
um garden programs. So this was an opportunity that was born out of work that had been done by Greta and the previous um food service administration, but it led us to
this um partnership with Grow Food Northampton where they're writing a USDA farmtoschool grant and they have typically worked with the Northampton public schools but they've included Greenfield in their grant proposal this year and our grant proposal includes um
equipment for green houses at our elementary schools, for gardens at our elementary schools, for um supplies, for training for our food services, how they can take um locally grown foods and
bring them into our cafeterias and things like that. So, really exciting about that. Now, of course, like most grants, I'm letting you know that we've submitted it recently, and then by the time I tell you whether we received it or not, it's going to be a forgotten
memory probably because I don't anticipate we'll hear until May or June. Um, and it would be a two-year grant that would begin in the fall of 2026. So, we have our fingers crossed on that. And then um I last month I updated
everyone that we were restarting or we're once again having the Greenfield Public Schools and Thunderbird stick to reading challenge that kicked off um the week before or the week of Thanksgiving. And while I had announced at that time
that Boomer would be at all the turkey trots, unfortunately Boomer fell ill and was not able to attend turkey trots the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. But we are rescheduling with Boomer so that he can come in late um December before the
break. And our goal is to have him visit all five schools that he hasn't visited because he was well enough to attend AAL last Tuesday. And the superintendent and I were there um to see um Boomer walk through the halls of AAL. And um
>> is Boomering to see those young students see this massive bird? >> Who's Boomer? >> Boomer I'm sorry. Boomer is the mascot for the uh Springfield Thunderbirds. I suppose Boomer is a Thunderbird sort. >> Can he come to a school committee meeting? I want to see that.
>> I I don't know what kind of poll I have with Boomer, but I can certainly ask. >> So, the challenge is that we're asking students to read for 20 minutes at least 20 times between Thanksgiving and New Year's. If they do that and they fill out um the form that was distributed at
schools, they'll receive uh opportunity to have a free ticket to the Springfield Thunderbirds game on Saturday, January 24th. So those forms are due back to school when students come back the Tuesday, January 6th, because we know it
would be difficult to remember that on Monday, January 5th. So >> if school committee members want to read the policy handbook for 20 minutes 20 times, could they also get tickets to that? >> If they right, it's it's students only
are getting the free tickets. But um we I just want to encourage families again if your students are participating, please provide the clearest email addresses possible because that's how the Thunderbirds will reach out to you.
Um, and last year we hit some snags because it was difficult to um, read the email addresses that were submitted. So, because once we get them, we submit that to the Thunderbirds and they issue a link where families can purchase additional tickets and um, the students
who completed the challenge will get their free ticket. Oh, >> I'll just add on to that that if you're a family that participates, check your spam folder because the Thunderbird's email with your ticket information could end up there instead. Um, and also it's
a wonderful program. Um, my family's excited to participate in it again and I hope we get as good of turnout as we did last year because last year we had some pretty massive numbers, didn't we? >> We did. I think over 200 Greenfield folks, students, parents,
families, administration staff attended over two different days. Unfortunately, last year the Saturday night turned out to be one of their most popular nights, so it ended up selling out, but they did issue Greenfield residents who participated the ticket to another game
so they could still attend. >> Superintendent, >> no, I was just pointing that they had question. Oh, but I think or do you have more? >> That is it. >> Okay. >> For tonight. Thank you. >> You're up and then we'll ask you both questions. Yeah. >> Thank you everyone. Um, good evening. In
your packets, you have just a brief uh enrollment update. So, from October to now, we have added three students to our roles. So, we are at 1345 students right now. as an FYI. And then
we have some nice updates for you. Um obviously, um you have a few things from November, just some past and some future things happening. All of our schools had nice turkey trots the day before Thanksgiving. And uh Assistant Superintendent Sullivan and I were able to get around to and I went to every
school that day, the Wednesday before, and never saw so many active children running and going around. Um they were all all different, every school has different things happening. Federal Street did lops around their school. I went to four corners and they ran through the neighborhood and were coming
around and many of these students just kept going and going and going. Uh so I I know what teachers put up with in terms of the energy. There's no doubt about it. And it was a little overcast day, a little slight drizzle maybe, but that didn't seem to stop all the fun and having everybody get ready for the long
weekend that time. One of our students last night was just presented by the mayor and the human rights commission an award for creating a logo contest. It was Cesaly Paterno, seventh grader at Greenfield Middle
School. So, we're very proud of her and she received that and actually was in the newspaper today as well. So, um and shout out on on the flip side to the Greenfield Recorder. They really do a nice job of covering a lot of our things and reach out. They're proactive, I will say, in that in sense of calling me or
other principles to seeing what they can do. So, thank you to them for that. The Greenfield Middle School is partnering with the Greenfield Public Library through a it's a grant, Libraries Without Borders, which will allow six field trips for our students to go to the Greenfield Public Library this year.
And as coming off the heels of what assistant superintendent Sullivan mentioned in terms of reading, right, anything we can do to have our students either read more and as many of you are probably aware, it's come down to years ago people were worried about what people were reading and if they only
read certain things. Now it's read, right? Read anything whether it's comic books, magazines, newspapers, fiction, non-fiction, you name it, biographies, read as long as the students are reading. and we seem to be doing a nice job of that in Greenfield. So, thank you
to everybody for that. A nice shout out to our National Honor Society at the high school who once again coming up next week will be volunteering in the adopt a family program this year where they are adopting a family as a team as well as spending a day distributing food and
gifts out to our community. I'd also like to thank National Honor Society and the Key Club for volunteering for babysitting during some superintendent search meetings and out the groups that they had come out. Uh many of you know we were one of four statewide listening
tours last month and had a great turnout here in Greenfield, one of the highest they've had. And I just wanted to let our school committee members know and I think the mayor is already aware that I did present to the Greenfield Citizens Academy that was run by the mayor's chief of staff and had great interactive
discussions with the citizens who are out there and they're bringing in different departments for different nights uh full of questions and I think the more we can get out as you heard from right Andy Brown in terms of communication and us getting out in front of the community and not being and I mean this in a polite way I don't
think anybody's afraid but not being afraid to answer questions. Right. I always tell people we're an open book. This is a public, you know, institution. There's no secrets. You might think there are. There's not. You'll find them in that sense. So, we'll answer any questions that people have in that
sense. I would also want to congratulate Nate Woodard. Many of you know know ma Nate. Nate was just recently honored last week as by the Gary Rome surprise squad. So they came up to Greenfield High School and gave Nate Nate $1,000 in
the whole school. Greenfield High did a great job. Thank you, Principal Browning, etc. and everybody who helped up there. They were in the gymnasium. We had uh Nate was diverted into in my office doing a presentation before that.
Went to the high school, his family was there, the whole school, the band. He walked in very surprised. And you've probably seen it on TV how they do that. in the past and Gary Rome who is so generous all the time had his two dogs there and so that was filmed last
Wednesday I believe and sometimes it takes about a week or so for them to kind of splice it all together they had a drone in the gym flying they they were doing a lot of stuff so that should be probably out pretty soon any day now if not this week and if it was our thank you seth appreciate that so you're going
to see Nate on TV and that's going to give great press for Greenfield High School and the Greenfield public schools as well. Also, I want to thank the Greenfield Education Foundation. They are a group that supports many initiatives that our
teachers put in. Our teachers will put in for things that are not able to be funded by our schools. They might be some extra things and they have just awarded I was fortunate enough to meet with them and meet them last month and attend their meeting. And I want to let you know that they have awarded
a few things for this next in this next cycle. They awarded teacher Anna Marhea $1,400 to fund the raising of trout in the classroom for a study of life cycles, food cycles, and water chemistry. They also awarded Emily Regowski $1,550
to help fund transportation to the Boston Science Museum for all chemistry students at Greenfield High School. And Greenfield High will cover a good portion of that as well. They awarded Jenny Horton $62,965 to purchase seven waterproof Bluetooth
speakers for the classrooms at AAL. They awarded Lisa Morrison $2,822 to purchase equipment for instruction in cooperative games for students in physical education in grades 5 to 7 at Greenfield Middle School. And finally, in November, they awarded Anna Hartman
$3,200 to help fund transportation to the airport on their spring trip to France for the French Club members and anybody who's involved in that. They also um have done great things in the past and they're continuing to do them. They were a great group of people
that I was able to meet with. I know many of you probably know who they are and they accept donations obviously for anything that could be done. Um, so anybody who would like to help and has a little extra money, they could give to the Greenfield Education Foundation. And finally, I would like to close with I
was fortunate enough last Thursday night to attend a dinner once a year. The Massachusetts Associated School Superintendent, MASS, your sister side to the MASC, gives each superintendent in the state an award to give out to different
students, to one of their top students who has done a lot of things. And it's not just to a student who has the top grades, and we all know that, you know, they people have top grades, but it's somebody who has high grades, very high in the top five to 10 of the class, and who does a lot of other things. And I was fortunate enough to give the award
to our senior Sophia Ra, I'm going to kill her name, Rockowitz. Thank you. And I have it phonetically spelled right there. Sophia Rockowitz. And had dinner there with her mom and dad and her sister who's a sophomore at our school, Ella, as well. Hopefully, she'll follow in her footsteps. But I want to let you
know just a few things. Uh Sophia is the saludiatoran right now and has received the University of Rochester's Bostonian law honorary science award for high achievement in science and math from Greenfield High School. She's a member of the National Honor Society. Has high honors taking this year four advanced
placement classes physics, Spanish 5, English, and calculus. Four in one year, right? I mean that is almost unheard of in that sense. She is the president for NHS, vice president of the Spanish club, on the student council, does a lot out in the community
as well through her church. She volunteers with the bread of life, spending Saturdays preparing and delivering food for residents in need. She is also senior captain of the softball team, state champion two times in 22 and 23. And she is a waitress. She works at a
local restaurant and pub every Saturday and Sunday and as a Subway artist at Subway. in and during the winter time. This was Titus. I used to be a ski instructor at Berkshire East. She and her family are ski instructors at Mount Snow where she teaches special needs
students and developmentally delayed children and adults on how to ski up there. So very busy and a great representative for Greenfield High School and the Greenfield public schools. And you may have seen in the article we had did again great coverage from the recorder. Thank you to them.
And I had mentioned in the article and at my speech about Sophia and to the other schools there, it was all the Franklin County schools were at the tech school for a dinner in the award presentation. And I want to just reiterate this to our audience as well too that when we watch the news,
sometimes we see a lot of negative things on the news and they'll tell you almost now that you shouldn't watch the news in life in that sense. But when you sit in a room that night with top students from all eight schools in Franklin County and you'll see our top
schools, our top kids and all of our good kids here at Greenfield High as well too. I'm just inspired again to realize that we are in good hands. As I get older and someday we'll have to go to the doctor and need different services. Uh and you see the young ladies who are reading here before us
tonight. There are a lot of good students out there. So do not lose faith in our students or humanity because as we age people will be able to take care of us and do a lot of good things for us in that sense. So uh that was my presentation. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Questions for the superintendent and the assistant superintendent? >> Mayor, I don't have any questions but that was just wonderful and uplifting from the two of you actually. wonderful to hear about that USDA grant and that
was such exciting news that you shared and happy news with all of us. And I I also thought that that grant where six trips to the library was that's incredible because you're getting them there six times and making that I think
that will be winning for the rest of their life. So, thank you very much. >> Any other questions or comments? Okay, let's move on to the consent agenda. Um, are there any items on the
consent agenda that any member would like to uh consider separately? Vice Chair Ston, >> I'd like to consider items G and H, the job descriptions separately. >> Okay. Any others? Uh, member Goodwin?
>> Uh, the policies. >> Okay. Okay. So that is item B, approve school committee policy AC >> and the other is the draft competency determination. >> Yes. Okay. >> So we're like to hear a motion to
approve the consent agenda items A, D, E, and F excluding items B, C, G, and H. >> So moved. Motion from member Martini and a second from member Goodwin. Uh any discussion?
Okay. Um I'm I think we can just vote, right? Just all all in favor? Yeah. All in favor? >> I. >> All against? I'll abstain. So the motion carries. So
then let's take each item and turn. So, we'll move on to um I'd like to hear a motion to approve school committee policy AC non-discrimination. >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. So, um and would you like to
present about this one? >> Happy to take that one. This was on for a first read last month. At that time, I let you know that the attorney had not had a chance to look at it. Um, but based on the red information there, the
attorney has now had a chance to look at it and said there were a couple of things that were out of date. So, this would bring the policy up to date as well as include um number seven that Mr. Messing and I
had suggested for the integrated monitoring review that's taking place um in the district currently. Any discussion or questions? Okay. All in favor?
>> I. >> Any opposed? I'll abstain. The motion carries. Moving on. I'd like to hear a motion to approve the draft competency determination graduation requirements as presented. >> So moved.
>> Motion from member child. Is there a second? Second from the mayor. Uh will you present on this too, Mr. Sullivan? >> Of course. So, this again was on um as a first read last month, has been
uh pretty much a standing item on our agenda since the summer. Um, I actually just said to the instructional leadership team at the high school today that I have not been in this role for more than 16 months and
this is the second iteration of this. And we also now have the um governor's council has proposed recommendations that we anticipate will go through public comment and eventually get
go through the legis legislature and um become law likely late in next spring early summer. So there will be another iteration down the road. >> Any questions or comments? member Goodwin.
>> I guess that was my question. I mean, it's sort of a doomed policy that it's going to change again um based on what the state is up to. So, do we want to >> we're required to submit all districts throughout the state are required to
submit an updated compet competency determination by uh the 31st of December. and they have acknowledged that that will change but they have maintained that deadline. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? I'll abstain. So the motion carries. I'd like to hear a motion to approve item G, restorative practices
coordinator job description. >> So moved. Thank me. Motion from member Childs and a second from the mayor. Um let's see. Uh do you want to raise your question? >> Yeah. I guess the the big question that
I had about both of these um which I know we're only voting on G at this moment, but it was related to having an advertised salary range, which I know we make reference to a range that exists, but I I ran into this when I was putting together the superintendent one, but there's a new law that we actually have
to have numbers in there. So, I just before we approve it, I want to make sure we have everything we need. >> Let me jump in on that. >> Um, yeah, I'll jump in on that portion, not the job description. They're two separate things. The way I the way I see it, this is a job description. And then
when we do post it, whether it's on school or via social media, we will then add the salary to it. So, job descriptions, we have a job description booklet with job descriptions. They don't all have salaries. Salaries correspond to contracts. They change every year, that type of scenario. So,
we're asking and and by all means, we'll be happy to talk salaries with you as well, too. But this is for we we're putting forward the job description. >> So, I'm not trying to be evasive. >> It's that Yeah. If you have the the salary on the job description, then you
have to continuously reapprove every job description with anytime the salary changes. >> Okay, remember good one. I'm even more basic. Is this money in our current budget or in grants?
>> Both positions. Well, I know we're only talking about one, but both are through grants. >> Member Ston. >> Yeah. Returning specifically back to this restorative practices coordinator, I noticed that there wasn't like a any statement about like high school diploma
required or certain other credentiing required. there was a lot of experience which I appreciated but I was wondering is there that piece that is going to be expected to be added at some point or or what >> we could we certainly could add it I think we were looking to get the
broadest range of candidates possible and while those things weren't specifically included some of the other descriptions we felt would provide that experience or in order to have had that experience you would have needed a high
school diploma or um other degrees from higher institutions of higher education. Any other discussion? All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? I'll abstain. Like to hear
a motion to approve the innovation career pathways coordinator Greenfield High School job description. >> So moved. >> Is there a second? Second. >> Any discussion? Um, did you catch the motion in the
second? It was uh >> Sexton second. Yes. Great. Okay. Any discussion on that? All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? I'll abstain. The motion carries. Vice Chair Ston, will you share with us
the superintendent search update? >> I sure can. Um, so I we can't get obviously into too many details and specifics, but I do feel comfortable sharing that we received 25 applications for our superintendent position. Um,
yeah, which we felt was a good number. um and represented uh you know I think that there are that we are a district of interest and that there are people who are like actually wanting I think and not just willing to serve here. Um so
excited about that. We are working our way through the process of narrowing down that pool to our interview list, our initial interview list and then after those interviews will be conducted next week. Um after that we will narrow
the pool down even further to submit the finalists to the full school committee. This will happen just before we break for the holidays and then when we come back us as a full school committee those of us who will still be here um we'll continue on in the process. We'll get an
orientation from uh NZDC about formulating final questions and setting actual like an interview schedule etc. possibly setting up meet and greets and that sort of thing um in the early like January as soon as we get back time
frame. Um and then from there we will do our interviews in January we'll have our deliberations and by February we will have the vote to select our final candidate. So that's the timeline from here on out. Are there any questions about any of that?
>> Great. All set. Thank you. Uh well, I I thought I would uh take a sort of point of personal privilege to share some reflections after serving on the school committee for six and a half
years. And one place my mind goes is that the idea of broadly educating the public uh using public funds and reaching every young person in our community is a relatively recent in
innovation in in h human human history. It's been very unusual uh for this to happen and um a very exciting thing to to get to be a part of. Um that project of of educating every young person is
very special and important and it can't happen the way that it does without um an institution like the school committee um functioning and working and working through policies and budgets and so on. And so it's been a real honor for me to
get to be a um a part of it and to play a role in um in some ways I think uh protecting this as a as an institution. Um these these institutions both
locally, state and regional and national level. We're all facing a lot of challenges. uh we're being reminded on a regular basis that our democracy really relies on us a kind of a continual and perpetual effort. It's not something we
can just assume or take for granted. And I'd say there have been some norms that have been challenged both inside and outside the school committee in my time serving here. And um I'm proud of what we've been able to do together to um
keep the school committee uh functioning and serving uh green fields well. And um I wanted to uh appreciate in particular uh Vice Chair Ston. I I feel like you re
represented both working hard to fulfill your duties as a school committee member but also looking ahead and taking initiative to develop yourself as a leader and to learn more about how this committee runs and I know the next
committee will choose who they want to have as their chair. But never the however that works out I feel like your um your energy and initiative towards seeing wanting to learn and wanting men
asking for mentorship and um stepping up taking more and more leadership has been um very impressive and I feel like everyone here has worked hard to um with the best of intentions to serve
Greenfield. um whether we all agree or not. That's we're actually not supposed to all agree all the time. So, congratulations us. We've succeeded at not agreeing and um and it's been an honor to work with all of you. It's been in some ways
I think it's been the hardest job I've ever had to to be on the committee um and and to to chair. Sometimes it's felt like I'm hanging from the edge of a cliff and people are stomping on my fingertips to get me to fall off. And I
wanted to appreciate member Martini and member Den. we ran together uh for to serve on this committee together and there were some key times when I was on the the verge of quitting and you kept me from doing it and I really appreciate
it because I'm very uh glad uh to be leaving at the end of my term instead of in the middle of it. Um so um uh I yeah I wanna want to thank every everybody um this the administration all the all the
different administrators that we've had over the years have it's been I've learned a lot from everybody and um working closely together and sometimes some gallows humor and laughing to keep from crying. um they say it's a
thankless job, but as soon as someone says it's such a thankless job, they usually follow up by saying thank you so much for what you're doing. And uh so it's actually not thank thankless. And I for members of the public who might be listening, don't don't under don't underestimate
um the value of saying thank you to us uh and having it not be a thankless job uh sometimes can make a a real difference to us. um because sometimes the job is really hard. So, thank you for your for everybody's uh support, for
your vote when I've when I've been on the ballot and for the opportunity to serve as your chair. It's been an honor. Okay, from that to the budget and finance report. Member Martini. >> Hi there. uh budget and finance just met
on Monday this week and uh proceeded with updating our uh budget guidelines to provide for the superintendent. Uh we will well I will not because uh my term is up but uh prior to the next school
committee meeting budget and finance will uh meet again and receive some getbacks that uh we need for information from school administration in order to finalize those um those guidelines. And I anticipate that uh the subcommittee
will be able to bring a set of proposed budget guidelines to the full committee in January. Uh and uh like I spoke about the last time, um budget and finance had agreed to uh proceed with an effort to
create a budget book uh for Greenfield rather than um what we have previously had which is our annual uh hearing wi with a PowerPoint style presentation and the uh spreadsheet kind of um
nitty-gritty information. uh we uh decided to go ahead and try to provide something that's more digestible that presents information in multiple uh different ways so that people can access
it um in ways that work for them. So uh that's a very big undertaking and uh the subcommittee had decided on uh proceeding with an executive summary portion. Um, typically speaking, a budget book would create also entail
several other sections um, such as an organizational section, anformational section, different things like that. However, the executive uh, summary section is quite substantive all by itself. So, uh, that seemed like uh, the best place to start. And at our uh,
meeting that we just had, members had the opportunity to um, bring forward specific items that they would like to see. um and based on uh draft uh of a executive summary I'll call it a booklet
since it's part of a full budget book. Um so I feel like that was a good start. Uh there is a draft document uh and the subcommittee will go ahead and carry that work forward. Um it does involve
quite a bit of information gathering and distilling but I think it will be really beneficial to be able to present uh the most important aspects of the budget in um visuals and graphics as well as chart form as well as narrative form and just
um offer this information to all kinds of uh all kinds of brains uh who process things different ways. So, um I'm excited to see that go forward and and I um wish the the subcommittee
the best of luck. Um and is it all right if I >> make a little personal comment? This is my last my last school committee meeting. My term is is up. >> Um so, I just wanted to uh say thank you
to everyone. Um, I have been, um, heartened to see the, um, herculean work that our school administration and staff have been um, doing over these last few years to uh, move the needle on student
achievement, especially when it comes to literacy. That needle is heavy. It's hard to move. And uh, I I that issue is near and dear to my heart. So, uh, I'm really glad to hear the, um,
continued work that the assistant superintendent keeps telling us about, um, at meetings and look forward to listening from the sidelines, um, as things go forward. And, um, I wanted to, um, say thank you to our three members
who attended the annual MASC conference this year. Um it may sound like I don't know kind of a random thing. Um but I really appreciate um those members who have who go forward and um get training
for themselves in how to be the best school committee member you can be because most people come into this not really knowing what they don't know. Um and it takes um it's a lot to ask a person to take so much time out of their personal life. you know, everybody here
is busy working um parenting, doing all the things. Um and um and I appreciate um members taking that on. Um I wanted to say thank you to member child's for um offering to do the work of updating
the annual budget calendar this year. Also facilitating our meeting on Monday because I was um still getting over um laryngitis at the time and didn't sound great. Um so thank you for um you know doing the work. Um I appreciate uh
member Deniv for the legislative work that you've done over the last few years. You've really created um groundwork that didn't exist before on this committee and have u just made just a huge difference and you really deserve the um the award that you
received for your work as a committee member. Uh and I have to echo um Chair Johnson Mousad's comments that because uh time and again I have just been impressed by Vice Chair Ston and the
sheer amount of personal time and um investment that you put into your work on the committee. You do so much of the work uh between all of the um subcommittee work that you have done, the vice chair responsibilities, our uh
collective bargaining representative and spearheading the uh work of finding a new superintendent. Um I um I just and to top that all off actually walking the walk and volunteering in our schools um
being there for our kids. I'm really inspired by you and I just appreciate your leadership. So, I want to to just highlight that. Um, and lastly, Glenn, um, uh, one thing I think sums it up for me.
You made one comment, um, I don't even know how long ago now, but it's always stays with me. Um, that you never refer to our students as kids. Um people talk about our kids as kids oftentimes, but you said that you
like to to refer to them as students because these are not um just kids. These are people whose whole adult lives are going to be affected by the decisions we make today. And um and so I wanted you to know that I have taken
that on and I always refer to our students as our students and respect them as such. Um so thank you for um for schooling me. on that. >> Thank you. And thank you for uh revolutionizing our budget process and
holding us to the highest standards out there for what it our process can look like and the level of community engagement that we can have. Um policy and program report. That's that's me. Um so uh Secretary Den, Vice Chair
Sexton and I met as the policy committee and um we were tasked with um coming up with some recommend well taking a fresh look at our agenda building um items as listed in our student handbook. I our
school committee handbook. Um and we do have some recommendations for the school committee to consider. Um we were looking basically at at two sides of the coin. on the one hand wanting to um
ask members to take responsibility in their agenda requests for really giving a full amount of of thought and care into um those requests when submitting them to the chair. Uh Secretary Geneive uh shared a model that's um by a sister
district of ours um where people actually fill out kind of a a template for an agenda request in advance. It just kind of gives a chance for people to make sure they're doing their leg work and preparing well so that the school committee will be well well
prepared for whatever agenda items people are putting forward. Um and uh has already done some leg work gathering those uh temp some model templates for the school committee to consider if you decide to um take that up. the other uh
side of the coin. Um so wanting to make sure members have some type of recourse if they put in a request for an agenda item and for some reason it does not appear in any way on
the agenda. Um that um we have a agenda template that includes an item like what is in our agenda tonight. If you look under new business, we've included at time of posting no topics reasonably
anticipated by the chairperson. That hopefully would give members an opportunity to raise items that weren't on the agenda. if they did go through the process and for some reason the school committee chair was not um following the process um there would be
a chance for people to at least make a motion that an item be on an agenda for a future meeting um and then the committee could vote and discuss that. So, I guess the motion would be if the
committee would direct the policy committee uh to work on those recommendations and to bring um specific language to a future uh school committee meeting. >> So, moved.
>> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. We have a motion from member childs and a second from the mayor. Uh discussion. >> I have a question about that. Is is that something that most other Did anybody
look is it something that a lot of other schools do? >> Um well, Secretary Dave, maybe you can talk about this. He brought this to us. Um the the district that does it and how the impact it has on their meetings.
>> Sure. So when I was in Hyannes, I took a class on how to make your meetings two hours or less. That's what it was called. Okay. So of course I ran right to that. >> And it was held by Pioneer Valley
Regional District. And they have a really interesting plan that they've implemented. And what it is is everybody who wants to put anything on the agenda, be it the superintendent, everybody, even the business manager,
they all fill out a yellow memo and it states what the report is or what the request is, what it's about, who it involves, ration, everything is an embedded link. And at the bottom of the
memo, it says what the action is. Is this something to discuss? Is this something to be reported on or is there a motion to be made? And the motion to be made is already written out. And so every memo in yellow when you flip through their packet, which is decorated
with student artwork, I just want to say it's beautiful. It's a whole another level. They even said they would come and teach us how to do this. Um, all of the memos in yellow when you go through the packet, you know that those are things you have to read and
understand because those are things that are going to come up in the meeting. All of the budget reports, if it's money going out is in green. If it's money coming in, it's blue. If it's money we
have to talk about, it's red. There's like a there's a whole color coding system that's beautiful and the entire thing is tiled together in one single PDF organized. And the goal behind this is that you have this packet organized in such a way
that you will read those yellow memos and you will be prepared because the motion is already at the bottom. But there's also the secondary Robert's rules thing where if something that you asked to have on an agenda isn't on the agenda. When I had this
problem, I called MASC and they told me, "Will you go ahead and you um object to the agenda and make a motion that your uh item is added to the agenda?" And it's up to the school committee as a whole to vote on whether or not they want that taken up in the current
meeting. um or you can hopefully have it added to the next one. So, you may not win that vote, but that's the official process. So, because of how they organize this memo system, they say that they don't run into that sort of thing.
And people are um incentivized to digest those yellow memos and understand what's happening prior to the meeting. And so, everything being pre-done makes everything go fast. because all of the work is supposed to be done in subcommittees. So it these
memos are like subcommittee recommendations with motions at the bottom also. So this is just part of making the the train run on time and faster. >> Thank you. Other questions, comments.
Okay, >> mayor see you thinking so take your time. No, I just so um this for the superintendent and the assistant superintendent. Have we seen this at other places? I'm just curious. Have you ever have you worked with that at other
school systems? >> I haven't seen too much of exactly what member DN described. Generally, I've seen people follow the order of what's on the agenda is to be spoken about that day and then they can bring up things during new business at the end. Um, a
lot of times those aren't taken care of. They're usually added for the next meeting. Um, and I'm not an expert. I'm not a lawyer in terms of all that stuff and not an expert in Robert's rules of orders, but have been following it. Um, from a lot of the things we see from our
own city clerk's office here in this role, my role right now with Greenfield, um, yeah, you probably have a little leeway, as member Den mentioned, to do it. If you did a lot, you'd probably get some push back by people saying, "Well, and put that out ahead of time, right? So I can show up and speak about it or
do something for that, which is why meetings have to be posted so early and >> information out there and that stuff. So I I do think that there are times, don't get me wrong, where things come up that need to be acted on that evening. Absolutely. But I don't think I think
there's that right that you got to weigh it. you're not putting that line in there so that every night you can just keep the meeting because remember the the start of her topic was keep it under two hours not just keep bringing things and adding to it as well. So I think that it's a good concept that we should
definitely look into. you. >> Yeah, I mean the the idea of having a set place on the agenda with u you know that's kind of open with under new business came out of okay mask tells you
you can make a motion to amend the agenda or add something to it. But if you're not the chair and it's not on the agenda, when do you make that motion? So if the school committee had a kind of a a policy of always having that item there, it kind of creates a opportunity
for members to add new business items and and maybe the phrasing isn't exactly what's on our agenda tonight, but something like that. Any other discussion? All right, let's vote. All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed?
I'll abstain. The motion carries. Thank you, everybody. Uh we'll move on to school committee city council relations under the uh report from executive subcommittee on medium and long range strategy. The open
item for us was um our invitation to uh the city council president to meet with the executive committee bringing any any um one she wished to bring with her to that meeting to discuss um the school committee city council relationship. Um
the uh president got back to me a few days ago and um you know with obviously not an ideal time to initiate that conversation because both the school committee and the uh city council may have new leadership in uh January, but I
I sensed a willingness on her part to for that to to happen um in 2026. Um, so that's sort of the update on on that item.
Um, let's see. Next is the Oh, any questions on that? Okay, we should Where are we on that? Let's see. Is that on the agenda? Yeah, we do need But do we have anything on this? I
think this one got carried over, but what is not fresh? this recommendation from community engagement subcommittee. Did we act on that last month? >> What's that? >> Oh, can you put on your um like >> they haven't had any precinct meetings.
>> Okay. >> They're anticipating them happening on starting next year and they're to happen on even numbered years. So, they were giving us a heads up at the joint meeting. >> Ah, okay. Great. So I I think that's a that's a yes from the school committee,
right? We probably don't even need to vote on that. People will want to participate in that. Okay. Um so yes, uh plan for the December city council meeting, whether and whom to designate as a representative, approving specific
talking points. Is there a motion on that item? Mayor. >> Um, I had motion to have the superintendent go this month. Um, that would be my motion because I I
thought of a couple of reasons why um several of us will be doing. >> We can get to your reasons during the discussion, but can you also say what you wish the superintendent to do at the meeting? um something like he did tonight with an
update on things that were happening in the school. And um Great. Okay. So, the motion is to uh for the school committee to direct the superintendent to attend the December city council meeting uh providing an
update on the Greenfield public schools. Is that right, Mayor? >> Great. >> Yes. >> Is there a second? >> Second. Second for member Goodwin. Discussion. Member Goodwin. >> I think because you were inspiring and
positive and and it would be really nice for the city council to hear all that positive, especially before budget season begins where we have to make hard choices. So, I think it would just be, you know, I feel better. I think
everybody was was really feeling positive and I think you're the person who brought that here and so I think it should be brought there as well. So I'm sorry it's another night. >> Any other discussion? Uh member childs.
>> So I think my memory serves correctly and I've gone back to the meeting minutes from uh November. I believe that we were going to ask for that accountability data report for December at the city council.
>> Uh misreading things. >> I did we vote on that? I can't remember. >> Um motion amendment send superintendent and vice chair Stacy Ston to highlight to share highlights from GPS and SS to update on the search committee. Do we
wish to provide any direction to either? No has come. uh vote uh yes passed with one abstension. >> Okay. So, we discussed sending I I believe Assistant Superintendent Sullivan to the December meeting, but we didn't take a vote on that as a body. Is
that correct? >> Um I I believe that is correct. Okay. >> Based on the motion amendment I'm reading off of the minutes right now. >> Great. Okay. So, let's stick to the motion we have right now for the superintendent. Uh, any other discussion
on sending the superintendent to provide updates on the Greenfield public schools? Okay. Um, I guess I will take the liberty of sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sharing my perspective although I think I'm a bit of an outlier on this one. Um,
so I I personally think that the superintendent and assistant superintendent do a great job giving a thorough presentation on the Greenfield public schools at this meeting, which is the Greenfield School Committee meeting.
And um I while I recognize the superintendent's extremely well compensated and there certainly are sacrifices that are expected of him for family time and so on to attend meetings. I just think it's very it's a
lot to stay that late in the day to make a few nice comments about the Greenfield public schools. I guess I would um and at times, you know, then then it gets opened up and I I believe this happened
last time where city councilors ask questions or make comments that are that haven't been provided in advance. there hasn't been an opportunity to prepare and sometimes the the tone of the questions is not exactly
constructive. So I I guess I'm not a huge fan of this um this but even though it has been quite a precedent for quite a long time in Greenfield, I would at least encourage members to consider encouraging the superintendent to
participate by Zoom so he could at least go home and you know be with family and and and then maybe pop on for for whatever the the short duration of the presentation is if you are going to to support the mayor's motion. So,
Secretary Geneive, >> you are not the outlier, Glenn. >> Okay. >> I also took this class in Hyannis, the city council relations class, and should the superintendent go to the city council meetings class?
and they very sternly looked me in the eye and said, "Are you the employer of record of the superintendent or is the city council the employer of record of the superintendent?" And they urged us to uh
be cognizant of that. And so, you're not the outlier. I completely agree with you, but I also understand that the city council appreciates and wants these reports, especially when they're positive. Um, but I also find it kind of odd that it
has to be done twice when such excellent reports are given during the meeting here and that's the week before the city council. So I I hope that in the future we can just vote uh as needed for these things in respect of their time.
>> Thank you. Any other discussion? Member Goodwin. >> I like the idea of Zoom. I mean, just to pop on and then pop off. I like the presence piece. I mean, it's it's something that
I don't even know when it started, but I know it's in charters and all these documents. >> It's not in the charter. I'm sorry. It's just not. >> So, I think Zoom is the answer. >> Thank you. Any other discussion,
Mayor? To me it I would it wouldn't matter to me whether the the superintendent went in person or by Zoom. I think I would, you know, that could be a personal
choice, but it is in the um it's in the code and it was a longterm history of that and I think it although um member Denive had a valid point about us just having this meeting where we get all of
this information, I would just ask everybody to think for a minute if to find out all of the city information just yourselves to think do do you actually watch city councils to see what is happening you know citywide? My guess
would be although you you may and um you may but many people do not and so it gives an opportunity because it's televised and widely watched for people to know what's happening. Um, additionally,
as I said, it is in the code that so there's part of me that likes to follow the ordinances and code that we have. So, until that's changed, I but I don't doesn't matter to me which whether it's in person or via Zoom. We have hybrid
meetings for all meetings now, which is a wonderful thing so that people can participate remotely, which works for so many people. So, >> I'd just like to clarify that this the city council does have the authority to create a code for themselves about
what's on their agenda. And what they have put on their agenda is a standing item where the school committee may, if we choose, go and take advantage of that platform. But the city council cannot put into their code a requirement that
this school committee or the superintendent attend their meeting any more than we could vote to require the city council president come to our meeting because there certainly are people who watch school committee meetings and don't watch city council meetings who might benefit from having
an update on what happen is happening at city council. So, I just don't I think I feel like right there you can kind of see the um the confusing um power dynamics I guess at play or the the conf confusion of our co-equal roles as
different uh branches of the Greenfield City uh government with our own kind of authority and um responsibilities. Um so I just feel like it has there has been something about it that has been confusing. I feel like the optics create a a scenario where it looks like the
city council plays some role of oversight in the day-to-day operations of the Greenfield public schools. And I just think that's confusing since that's really our role as a school committee when when they have the opportunity to just ask whatever question in whatever
tone they wish on any topic they wish. Um, I think that that creates a a picture of authority that uh is actually not um in the charter or or in any code. Any other discussion? member Goodwin,
>> I love that rebel side of you and but I guess the part of me is sitting here and I've been listening to the desire to work better with the city council and people from both the city council and the school committee to work
together. So I'm just maybe that's the first topic of those people working together to address the the whole issue um and coming up
with an understanding that that's not going to happen. I mean, maybe that is the the mission of those first meetings because I'm with you and so I'm listening to you and I'm
going go Glenn and then I'm hearing people want to work like as together as one big committee and I'm going okay so which is it like so are we two separate committees because that's I mean who we
are or are we trying to form one that works together and I think that's so and I sitting here Glenn want to say to you I remember the first time you gave a speech and got on school committee with
Adrien Nunees and I negotiated with you for um with unions. We went through the pandemic together. you gave me Netflix recommendations which were excellent and I've always enjoyed your humor and so I
appreciate everything you have brought to this table and I want you to know that um even though you know we've had differences but I have watched you. I've watched the the madness of school committee that you went through um and
all of the drama that you went through. I was there um and watched all of that play out and so I hope in the future that that drama is not and there's probably a Netflix just for
that. Um but so this is like a okay so I've got Rebel Glenn which totally yes go Glenn and then I've got people saying they want like so I'm sort of like which do I listen to? I mean, and I bet you
have a video game for this. So, I I guess collaboration or rebellion, which would you recommend? This is your last chance to like give a strong recommendation. >> I'm really not proposing rebellion at
all. I think what I'm what I'm saying is in a good working relationship, both parties recognize each other's kind of autonomy and authority and and re respect. And I feel like there has been just through tradition a little bit of a
confusing element of it. And I I will have to say that my initial um foray into this was reactive and it came after a time of intense struggle and difficulty and being raked over the
calls myself, but in particular I feel like watching our business manager and our superintendent get rad over the calls at those meetings one week after being raked over the calls by us. You know, it's our job to rake them over the calls about stuff like that. It's the
city council's job to give us a number of how much money we have to work with in a year. Um, and so I do that's what I'm hopeful for is that whoever's in leadership on the school committee and and in the city council can come together and kind of like let's back up
a little bit here and let's look at what our actual relationship and authority and powers are and work towards a mutually respectful cooperative relationship from that. Secretary Den and then member Martini.
>> I would just say that I hope that in the future that reporting to the city council meetings is the least important way that we interact with the city council. There are so many other ways that we should be interacting with them from joint budget and finance
meetings to um financial workshops so that they can understand why we're the only um city department with statemandated funding issues that they should understand about like that's something that we should champion. Um we can have we can have breakfasts
with them. We can invite them to our annual school tours. We can pick them up in a bus even. There's so many things that we have the power to do in terms of reaching out and ways to work with them that going to the city council meeting to give a report is the least of the
things that we could be doing and probably not even the most important one. So I hope that we are have open minds in the future and explore these other possibilities that other districts have enacted. Member Martini,
>> second everything that Secretary Tene just said. And uh I think from my view I would prefer to wait until the incoming leadership of both bodies has worked out a set of mutual expectations before we
go ahead and um take up more of the superintendent's time and put a superintendent in front of uh a group of folks who uh have sometimes had difficulty
understanding those particular roles and um where those meetings have sometimes uh gone in a direction that has been really negative or insulting. You know, I I would like to see I would like to see
the two bodies have a set of codified mutual expectations that everybody understands and then go from there rather than have it be a well, it's been
a while. Let's just try it again scenario. Uh, and I realize that we have an interim superintendent at the present time, but I think the school committee should act as if we're talking about a permanent
superintendent. Um, one of the most important things that a school committee and the chair can do uh to improve the longevity of a superintendent in the district is to
protect their time. and um to uh to protect them um you know in terms of those fraught difficult situations. Uh so um I'm going to be a no on this one.
No for now. >> Um confession. I did not watch last month's city council meetings. So I wanted to know what did we do last month if anything? We did uh vote to ask the superintendent
to give a report on the public schools and I believe also the report on the superintendent search from vice chair Sexton. Um and then it was opened up for for questions from the um from the city council. >> Okay. So I just wanted to be clear that
we we had been talking about the accountability data last month but we have not presented that to city council yet. That's correct. >> Okay. Because the discussion last Okay. Yeah. >> Just wanted to be clear on that. >> Got it.
>> And then my personal preference is if someone's going to give you a platform, you should use it. That's just my preference. >> Great. Any other discussion? All right. I think it might be helpful to have a roll call vote on this one if
you don't mind. Secretary Denive. >> Chair Johnson. >> No. Vice Chair Ston, >> yes. >> I'm a no. Member Childs, >> yes. >> Member Goodwin, >> abstain.
>> Okay, I'm going to have to do the math on these votes in a minute. Mayor Disorger, >> yes. >> Member Martini, >> no. >> So, we have three nos, one abstension, and >> three yes. >> Three yeses. So, Robert's rules of order
requires us to keep deliberating until we come to a um a conclusion. Let's see. Uh Vice Chair Ston and then Mayor Disorder. >> Yeah, I was the only one who didn't weigh in in the first round of discussion. Um, I voted yes and I intend
to vote yes again because I am of a similar mind of if we have the platform, let's use it, especially if we're essentially doing a PR blitz here to lay some groundwork for a more positive budget session. That is my my singular goal. Um, and they like Roland. They
really do. >> They really do. And um I am perfectly happy with Roland joining remotely and immediately logging off as soon as all the questions are done and going about your business for the rest of the night. Uh that doesn't doesn't bother me at
all. Um but I I do think that it is worthless until we have maybe some codified policies to continue with press practice rather than stopping the relationship altogether at this point.
Other discussion, mayor, >> just trying to sway my fellow members here. Um, when we talk about relationships, I fear that not doing
that would appear as a snub as well. And so I just would strongly encourage folks to think again. I tell you, the city council is changing again in January. Um and um I I I
feel that going forward there will be great reception you know in those meetings and I feel that that might harm relations by not doing that and um that's all I have to say
>> member child then secretary geneive >> so in January everything will be reset we'll of new leadership will have the opportunity to come together to a mutually agreed upon rules of engagement. But why don't we end the year on a high point? We've got great
data about the growth that the schools have had. I would rather end on a high point, end with a positive interaction rather than uh just turning down an invitation. That is a standing invitation.
secretary. >> I watched the city council meeting and if I had been treated that way, I would not want to return. So, I do think that it's it's great to go and give a report maybe or you could
do it by Zoom. But, um the the question some of the questions and the directions that they went specifically one person's questions was abusive. So, I don't know that the city council has control in the
moment of their behavior. I'm sorry. I have to say it. It was appalling. I wouldn't want to return. So, and I give great kudos to you, Roland, for how you handled things in such a professional manner. Um, I'm all for resetting
everything in January. Um, if you guys want to go and give a report quick, but I I would feel awful if you all were treated the same way that you were treated at the last meeting next week. So, I just want to say that publicly.
>> Member Martini. >> Uh, can I offer perhaps a friendly amendment that, uh, the superintendent attend by Zoom and present a report, but not take questions? Um, so Mayor, that was your um motion.
Do you accept that as a friendly amendment? >> I don't. And I I'd like to explain why. Um, again, I'm thinking about the future and down the line and relationships, and that's why I'm pushing it. And that's
why I was pushing for to go for for this to happen. I too was there. I too saw what member Deniv saw. But how do you have a relationship with anyone if you're not there? And
secondly, again, I hear your very valid points about does one I'm not a lawyer. Does one body have authority to even put that in uh a in a code or in an ordinance? it is
there and and at the end of it it's I think I believe it says by standing practice to attend and answer um I questions and I don't have that in
front of me so so I I don't accept that because I think it's going to happen I think someone will have um a question and but member Deniv I'm I I I I was there.
So, um Okay. So, you didn't accept the part about questions, but it sounds like you would accept the part about Zoom. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. Um, member Martini, >> I just wanted to make a follow-up
comment that I think it's wonderful for uh, city council members to direct questions to the school committee chair anytime that they would like. Um, and I would still like to for the school committee to do its duty as the employer of the superintendent to protect not
just the superintendent's time but also their person. And um I I appreciate wanting to have a platform um when we have it. And that's hard. It's hard for me to balance
with um putting somebody out there in front of uh kind of a hostile crowd. So um I'm sorry, but I'm still a No. >> Okay. >> Okay. Uh why don't we vote again on the
mayor's motion knowing that if it fails we can try other things. You're not I'm looking at you member good. Yeah >> my head I was sending the ghs band um or
Nate Woodard. Um >> you want to turn on your microphone if you want to speak. Well, let let me put it this way, Member Goodwin, if you don't mind. If you're this ambivalent about the motion, it seems like you might prefer a different motion. So, wonder if you might
consider, you know, voting on this one and then making another motion if you have another idea. We could also >> Oh, wow. >> Um, let's see. I'm lacking my Robert's rules
of order. I guess if we postpone the motion, we wouldn't have anyone there in December. Can >> I ask? >> Yeah. >> Question. >> Yes, please. >> So, can more than one person attend?
So, can I sit next to Roland? So, if somebody misbehaves, I can be a principal for them at the moment. >> The school committee certainly can vote to have any any member who's willing to attend attend the city council meeting either by Zoom or in person. Um, yes,
>> bring it. Okay. Member Childs, >> I'd like to make a friendly amendment that member Goodwin will be accompanying the superintendent. >> Mayor, you do you accept? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, the current motion is at the
December city council meeting to direct the superintendent to present updates on the Greenfield public schools with member Goodwin uh attending. >> Second. And he can still >> Well, that was your motion. So, just speaking clear. So, who who seconded the
mayor's motion? >> Do you also accept the amendment? >> I don't know. Do you have it? >> Nan. >> Oh, I guess Melody, you you would accept that. >> Did it have the word Zoom in there, too?
>> Yeah. The mayor had already accepted an amendment to make it on Zoom. >> So, yes, I second, third, whatever you want. >> Okay. Okay. So, so the the amend amendment has the friendly amendment has been accepted by mayor who is the first and a member Goodwin who is the second.
So, our vote is on whether to send the superintendent to present an update from the Greenfield public schools with member Goodwin in attendance. Okay. >> Chair Johnson. >> Um I was wondering if I had I guess I
guess I'll just vote. Um, and my vote is yes. >> Vice Chair Ston, >> yes. >> I'm a no. Member Childs, >> yes. >> Member Goodwin, >> yes. >> Mayor, >> yes. >> Member Martini, >> no. >> Passes with two nos.
>> Okay. Um, let's see on this. Um, and maybe this would be an item for a future agenda item, but it seems like there's some important research that needs to be done on on this code. Um, and maybe the mayor would be willing to have the
city's attorney take a look at it. I think our our council has looked at it and um concluded that, you know, that we aren't required to attend. I don't know if there's been a any kind of determination on whether it's a a valid
code to begin with, but it seems like the city council probably can organize their agenda however they wish. They just can't kind of command the presence of others. But if you wouldn't mind looking into that, mayor, that would be great. >> I'd be happy to. >> Thank you. Um, okay.
Moving on. Um, procedures for adherence to open meeting law. Um, the Whoops. What about February? Oh. Oh, great. Okay. So, um, member Martini reminded us at the last meeting that in a former
former, um, open meeting law complaint, the school committee voted to, uh, that to have a training for the school committee um, in response to that complaint and that was never enacted under the prior chair or under me as chair. And so one of my things in trying
to wrap up that loose end is to schedule a open meeting law training as the school committee had voted on um a while back and the superintendent was kind enough to reach out to Liz Lefon for mask and she's willing to come in February.
So that item is taken care of. Any questions on that member ston? It's not a question, but I just want to note that that same meeting will be our vote to approve a candidate for superintendent. >> So,
>> oh, maybe better to look at a future meeting if those are colliding >> or a separate special meeting for the train. You already have it scheduled because >> let's chat about it because >> and work with the next chair on the
right timing. Okay. Uh, member Childs, >> maybe we should encount uh invite the city council if they want to to pop in for that if it's a training special meeting. They could find it useful, too. >> Okay. All right. Any other questions or
comments on the um open meeting law training? Okay. Uh the other one related to open meeting law was um the school committee authorized me to explore with our uh
school committee council um uh how we might go about um creating a a venue for um sharing of communications, electronic communications between members that may have been um to a core or more of the
school committee or a subcommittee. Um and so he he as our uh as our council often does when he takes a fresh look at things um he makes amendments uh recommended amendments um both relevant
to the item brought up and also to other things that may um improve or strengthen the policy. And so you have um uh tonight for for a discussion item um BHE use of electronic messaging by school
committee members. Um I think most of the items in the first four paragraphs where there are revisions primarily for clarity or bringing things up to date with current um descriptions.
um for example adding a sentence um or any other form of electronic communication since new ones are being invented all the time. Uh the item that would be new uh or sub substantially new I think is the final paragraph which
would add in the interest of promoting transparency with the public. The chair of the school committee may at their discretion make public any electronic correspondence exchanged between or among members of the school committee provided that such disclosure complies with all applicable laws including but
not limited to the Massachusetts public records law and the open meeting law. Um so this would be a chance for the committee to discuss and um and share their views on on the changes uh to
policy BHE. The vote on it would happen you could we could discuss you can refer it to the policy committee for further changes and um and then it could be voted on at a future meeting. So any discussion,
mayor, >> this hasn't been to policy? >> Not yet. No, it was uh it was um the result of the school committee directing me to to discuss this with the uh school committee council at the last meeting.
Amber Goodwin. >> So again, I I re I read the last paragraph multiple times >> and it just feels like again people attacking um things that are and I was hoping when
I heard that we were actually going to have a training on open meeting law that we were going to engage in positive growth. And when I read that last paragraph, it sounds like people are just going to be attacking each other. So it sounds negative instead of positive and I'm hoping for positive
growth. Um so I mean the last time this was talked about was at the last school committee meeting and I felt very much attacked. Um, and I I think
whenever somebody questions open meeting law, I know every time I was emailed, I went to the clerk and I got a ruling whether I had violated open meeting law. There are people in our community who
will say there's an open meeting law violation about whatever happens. You need to take it to the clerk and get a ruling. I mean that I think there's misunderstanding about what open meeting law is. And I think the training is a
wonderful step forward. I take this last paragraph as we're just going to be watching each other and big brother is watching and it's all going to be put into some document and that's just the way I'm reading it. So if there's another way to word it that's more
positive. Um because I think my hope is also that the next chair of our school committee is moving us forward and that we're not
stuck in one place. And so um and our school committees have struggled. Glenn, you lived it. Um, and um, and you could have had a your own Netflix show for a while. Um, so I'm
just looking for the positive and I really see first of all the read ink thing. I have two aunts who are English teachers who used ink to correct my thank you notes. So I'm just looking for positives. >> Thank you. Member Childs,
>> what I would propose as a good course of action here is that we tabled this until after the open meeting law training and then have the policy subcommittee look at it again. That would be my preference for an action plan.
>> Okay. So, um, so I think I'm hearing a motion to postpone, uh, postpone the discussion on policy BAG until after the open meeting law and to refer it to the
next policy subcommittee after the open meeting law training. >> Yes. >> Okay, great. Is there a second? Second from member Goodwin. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I.
>> Any opposed? I'll abstain. The motion carries. So, uh this will be sent to this policy committee after the open meeting law training in um this late winter, early spring.
Great. Alrighty. Uh on to uh new business. The um mayor asked me to add this to the agenda. So um the discussion impossible vote. Do we wish to plan for redistricting again?
And if so on what timeline? Um mayor, do you want to speak to this? >> I do and thank you chair for putting that on the agenda. I did put it forward um in light of the fact that um I'm actually called upon to decide on the
capital requests and the it will be difficult you know to put forward different their requests because we did have some for different facilities here and um
we haven't met again whether that should be a subcommittee or all of us talking about it. We we haven't talked about that. So I I will be hardpressed to make decisions on that if we haven't had further discussion about it because there are things for different schools. So that's why I I put it forward now
even though I know it's the end of the year. But the way the capital projects go in January, I'll list some of them. I certainly won't I've gotten them I've received them from all of the different departments and I won't be able to put everybody's forward because there's not
money for it. And so with my practical hat on, which is part of my job, I have to steward the city's finances to the best way possible. We haven't had this discussion again. So, I'm just asking that we Thank
you for putting it on. No motion for tonight. Um, but I I think we need to to start that we need to begin the talk of that. I sent a little bit more information just five minutes before on cost of each facility. And I also
think that there were fifth grade parents that were hoping that their children would be in an elementary school. That's was my reason for asking for that. Thank you. >> And I if I'm hearing you right, mayor,
you're you're talking about wanting to look at redistricting possibly for September. Is that what you're thinking or not? >> Yes. I don't know. Or or just that we talk again because we haven't. And what
prompted me to ask for this was the capital requests. They're at four or five different facilities and I know for a fact that I'm not going to be able to put all the capital requests forward. So not having a discussion about this
will make that difficult for me to to put different items forward. Aaron, Erin, you're not on mute if you don't mind. >> But I still Aaron, can you please mute? Can you
please mute? Thank you. >> Um, okay. Um, let's see. Superintendent, could you give us some context? If the school committee did want to look at um redistricting, what would be a timeline that you think would make sense to start those conversations?
um pretty soon would be the timeline, but it really would come down to how much are you looking to do, right? I mean, if you're looking to >> Right. I hesitate to even say because I'm new to this and wasn't around for your discussion last spring and summer.
If you're looking to move grades, that's one discussion that might be might be something that could be done if it was minor and involved a few classrooms at a few schools. If you were looking to close a school or schools plural, that may be bigger. If you were looking for
different grade configurations, um, right, we still have, as I mentioned to you, almost 1350 students. They have to fit somewhere. And what we're hoping for, right, we all are hoping, um, is to get more students in life and to bring some of our students back from wherever
they're choosing to attend, whether it's private schools, charter schools, um, you name it. them in even if not even attracting more out of district students in for school choice. So the whole combination of all of those in that sense. So it's it's one of those things that
right if it's small could it be done by September? Possibly. If it's something that's very big and involves transportation, busing and closing a school or schools and moving neighborhoods, right? I don't have to tell you the elected officials when you
campaign what will spark the interest of your constituents, right? Um and you'll be you know you don't get a lot you may not get a lot of action right now depending on a certain topic in that we're discussing you talk about moving their children or closing a
school or moving grades in certain schools you'll be inundated in that sense and it may if it's small it may not be as many but if it's large maybe so it's it's an open question and I probably didn't answer your question in that sense like how fast you have to start it um I started July 1 right we
have not talked about that once months. It's five and a half months now at all. And I don't like again I don't know the prior years of history that you did it. I know it did come to from what I've heard a quick end sometime just before the start
of the new fiscal year in that sense. So >> yeah, we we worked on it for several years but then for funding reasons we had to we had to put a hold on it. Remember child and then member Goodwin? So, we have a lot of parents who've been
very engaged and were very committed to the idea of redistricting. And I personally am very biased in favor of a redistricting plan, which something we had prioritized in making it brings fullyear science back to the middle
school, brings fullyear social studies back to the middle school in Spanish. Um, so I'm speaking as someone who likes the redistricting idea, but we need to figure out the best way to be strategic with how to pay for it and how to save
money in doing it because that was where we ran into trouble with last year's budget season. We had the plan, but we didn't have the money. So, I'm not sure the best way to make the decision without having the
financial plan, unless our decision is to make the financial plan, if that makes sense. >> Member Goodwin, do you still have an item? You're uh need to turn your microphone on. So, as a person who knocked on many,
many doors in Greenfield and had lots of conversations with lots of families um and actually in some cases begged especially families who had made choices to take their children out of Greenfield
um for the reasons why. You know, I think also historically, Superintendent Harper and Chairman Adrien Nunees at the time made a promise to the elementary parents that the
fourth and the fifth grade would return to the elementary schools. The fourth and fifth grade were at the middle school. We brought the fourth grade back or they stayed. And then the following year that same group of children who were in third grade stayed for fourth
grade were supposed to stay in fifth grade. We had a pandemic and unfortunately then we had different superintendent and so we lost it's a really a broken promise and what I heard from families is there's been a lot of broken promises
because of the change in staff that just happened as part of the pandemic. Um, and I think I I and Adrien and Kia Burton King and I could give you a list of people who spent every Thursday
afternoon for over a year meeting with all these elementary parents and it was clear your small elementary schools were what what they wanted and they wanted their fourth and their fifth graders back at
the elementary school. if even and the word redistricting makes me itchy because to me that means like we're merging with another district. It's more grade reconfiguration. It's not redistricting. We're not changing our whole district because I
don't like that because that makes everybody nervous like we're becoming part of Mohawk or something. We're trying to bring our elementary students back to where they used to be many many many years ago. So, even if just, you
know, I don't know how much it would cost to just keep the current fourth grade in their elementary schools. I mean, that just means moving some fifth grade teachers um and looking at making sure our our kids at the middle school get a full year of science and social
studies. And we've talked about that in budget budget time. So, but it's not redistricting, it's reconfigurate, a reconfiguration of grades. So, I just wanted to say that >> secretary,
>> I think I should speak up since I am the chair of that subcommittee and I did work on redistricting for three years. So, we have done all of the work and we are ready and prepared to redistrict. All of the work has been done. All of
the listening sessions have been done. And then when you wanted to close the middle school last year, we had to meet to find out what to do budgetarily and how it affected our
redistricting. and the superintendent Pat Node had a meeting with 30 staff members where they basically crammed and tried to figure out what they could do to um alleviate some costs and they
brought forward a plan on a building that they could close, but we did not have the budget information from the mayor's office on what was wanted or even being asked for. So it ended
because we needed the information from you and we didn't get it. So we couldn't go forward and that's where we are. But the redistricting work is done. So we could restart that quite easily. But we just need to know budgetarily how it will work because we had to vote to not
go forward on it because of that. But I think that there is pain here. Parents have pain and it is a broken promise because not only is it about reconfiguring the grades, but it's about equity and we made that pledge many
years ago and we can't fulfill it because of budget reasons, not because of the layout and the setup and the lines and the transportation. Everything was handled and worked through, but we could not execute it because of the money. So, this is a budgetary issue
only. and nothing has changed as far as I know. >> Um, member Martini and then Mayor Dorger. >> Well, I thought I should chime in from budget. So, um, when you're talking about,
uh, the plans that were previously, um, laid out through a great deal of work, um, to get our fifth graders back into our elementary schools, which I don't, I have not heard anyone disagree that that
is what we need to do, that that is what is the most developmentally appropriate, that that's what's in the best interest of our students to bring our fifth graders back to the elementary school and bring our eighth graders back to the middle school. That's that has been an area of I would say at least wide
consensus. Uh and the only reason that we were not able to carry out this painstakingly developed plan last year was because the school department was level funded. So, uh, when we're talking about
making these changes, I if we were to go ahead with that plan, not only would it be all of the things that I just said for our our kids de our students developmentally,
um, but, uh, it would also, um, greatly improve the quality of their education. It would deepen their background knowledge which will improve their reading comprehension which will improve their achievement in everything.
Uh it has the potential to have these exponential effects in multiple different ways. Um and if you go ahead and do something like that it requires it requires positions. Therefore it requires major considerations in our
budget. So, um, for example, adding an additional team at GMS in order to bring that full year of science and social studies in, that would require about six new positions. Well, if we're in if the school department is is in a position where it's being
drastically underfunded, then things like that just don't happen. So, um, I would I would love for the for the committee to I don't know. It's hard for me to say. I want to say that I would love for the committee to take this back up, except that the
committee's already done the work. So really, what the committee needs to take it back up in order for this to translate into a proposed budget that will then translate into something actually happening. So,
uh, that is that is something that is a ways off. Uh, you know, it's hard to just flip a switch on something like that. the the time for the superintendent to provide a proposed budget and a public budget hearing is fast approaching. So, u this
this is not going to make it into this budget, you know, unless something totally unexpected um happens between now and January. So, uh yes, by all means take it up, but we're
talking about time down the road. And in terms of our capital project and how this how this relates um when we're talking about the redistricting plan that was created already um that's that's the consensus
plan. That is what was developed through all of these listening sessions and and through several years of work um as a community that did not include closing schools. So, um, what came up
less than a year ago now was, uh, an alternative plan, I guess, with a suggestion to close the middle school and, um, cram students into the high school. And there was um some misinformation
uh, at the time about how many students you can fit in the high school. Uh and there is a difference between how many people you can put in a building and how many students you can have in a class. How many certain how many students you
can have in a certain type of class. How many rooms are required in order to provide the specialized services that many of our students need because we have a substantial amount of our student body who is entitled to special education services that need to be delivered in certain ways. It's it's
much more complicated than what's your person capacity in the building, you know. So, um, in terms of our capital projects, uh, all of our buildings need work and all of those projects are are important and I don't think any of them should be sidelined in the hope that we're going
to close that building sometime soon. Uh, that's more than two cents. Sorry, that's my 15 cents. >> Mayor, >> hi. So this reminds me of our meetings from last year
>> um to a certain extent. I just um want to say a couple of things. Um my plan to do this was not a plan. Um, so what and
I appreciated the fact that people spent a great deal of time looking at this three years and in those three years um we'd had an uh NASDAQ study the number of students that we had decreased dramatically
and I brought that and I I know that people heard me with this um the numbers changed so plans changed That's how life works. Nobody likes change. I was I I did not want to say out loud
at a meeting what I was thinking because I am very aware of that when you actually just talk about a school, you're talking about people. You're talking about people and students and positions.
And when I was pressed at that meeting for what would I think, I said it, but I did not even want to say out loud what I might be thinking about because I am not the person that would ever make that decision. So, I just want to to um to
say that out loud. Um like all of you, I have children and grandchildren. I want us to provide the best education that we can for our students and every municipality
in Massachusetts is looking at what they can do. I go to to regional meetings, furog meetings. People are at wit's end because things have changed and I don't want to be here at this committee and looked at like it's my that is my fault
because it's not. There are there are mandates that they don't provide the money for. It's very difficult. You think it was hard last year. I don't think any of you would want my job this year. I've had a
preliminary meeting with the insurance company and we're looking at doubledigit increases. This means that even though these are tough discussions that we have to have them and I don't want to be your
enemy, I want to be your teammate and I care about the students the same way that you do. I care about their parents and we we have to we have to have hard discussions. I know
that how there were feelings about that, but I think it's time that we have to put that a little bit to rest and move forward together with what is the best thing. Um, and
lastly, the information was I had I just want to defend myself on that. I was I think I've had one vacation since I've taken this job. I was away for one week and there was not internet where I was. The information did get to the committee
the night before. They have that and I I apologize for any inconvenience on that, but like all of you, I get up every day and do my best. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, I think I'd like to see
if we can move this along, but just one item that I feel like I haven't heard mentioned, um, is, uh, the timing of the redistricting discussions given school committee capacity and the
nature of having an interim superintendent. I just think that the whoever is hired as the next superintendent might want to be on the ground floor of whatever discussions happen. I realize that means waiting until July, but also obviously this there isn't going to be any school
closures or redistricting that really takes place before September. Anyway, the other component of it is just school committee capacity um with uh you know the um the the search and the bringing
on of new members and so on. So just in terms of the the timing of of the discussion, but I do feel like people are right to be noticing this. This isn't just a discussion about numbers of of buildings or ideal placement of
students, but it's also about money and what what's required and the um financially impossible situation that cities are in. And you're right, Mayor would absolutely not want to have your job. And there's been a whole report by the Massachusetts Municipal Association
on essentially the the perfect storm is the name of the report. And it's um it's just about what a terrible uh situation people are in. And I think that what we want in those times when the funding is so tight and those horrible decisions have to be made is just a thoughtful and
mutually respectful uh process where people are brought in on conversations early and often. And um so I appreciate you um bringing this to us um mayor because I think it's it is uh still a loose end that's hanging out there. And
um I appreciate the um the point that it's not just about which buildings are being used, but it's really about the outcomes for our students. Um and that's really what the I feel like there's kind of two different discussions. One one is what
can we cut because the budget is is so tight and how can we try to reduce our footprint to make things less expensive. But then the the whole way that the redistricting um conversation what was at the time I
guess it was called reinvisioning our schools um was really about um student academics and student outcomes. And I think that one thing that I've looking back on that that I regret is that I don't think I realized
what a big price well not a big price tag relative to the value for our students, but what a big big price tag it was to make those changes relative to the tight budget. Um, and so we're we're in this horrible situation where we see
the need of our students. We see wanting to get the fifth grade back to elementary. We see wanting to get the eighth grade out of the high school. Um, and we can't afford it with the current numbers that we've been getting. And I I guess, you know, I obviously it's our
job as a committee to plead to the to the mayor that um to to keep that in mind that the schools really took uh I I feel like a disproportionate hit in your last budget in terms of being level funded and that other departments may
have to make um some sacrifices next year. or it may be their turn um to to uh get less than they need as we did and continued have continued to get less than we need for years and years. Um I realize I took the uh personal
privilege to make a little speech. Is there anyone else who has something else they wanted to share? So, I I guess I would say that we would refer this uh all of this uh discussion to the the next chair of the school committee to uh to think about when and
where to bring it up on an agenda and to get the the redistricting conversations going again. Does that sound right to Okay. All right. Um, and I know you were entitled to a break about half an hour ago, but we had just
started this discussion. So, oh, I guess why don't we quickly do Yeah. But before that, is there does anyone have any uh items not anticipated for new business? Okay. So, we'll vote to enter executive
session and we'll take a fivem minute break between this meeting and the executive session. So, um, pursuant to like to hear a motion to enter into executive session pursuant to Mass General Law Chapter 3A subsection 21 A2 to conduct strategy sessions in
preparation for NE negotiations with non-UN personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with non-UN personnel. The committee will not return to open session. >> So moved. Motion for member child's second from
vice chair ston. Um any discussion? Okay. Um all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstain? Oh. >> Point of order for to go into executive session. >> I think we we might need to do a roll
call. >> Oh, that's right. Of course, you're right. Thank you. Secretary, will you call the roll call? >> Chair Johnson Assad. >> Yes. >> Uh Vice Chair Ston. Yes. >> Yes. Member Childs. >> Yes. >> Member Goodwin. Mayor. >> Yes. >> Member Martini. >> Yes. >> It's unanimous.
>> Okay. And then I think we need a motion to adjourn the um public meeting. >> So moved. >> Motion from Vice Chair Ston and a second from the mayor. Uh any discussion? All those in favor say I.
>> I. Any opposed? Any abstained? So, the regular meeting adjourns at 900 PM.