Good morning and welcome to the Greenfield Public Schools uh special school committee meeting for Friday, October 17th, 2025. Uh this meeting is being recorded by the committee. If any other persons present
are doing the same, you must notify the chairperson at this time. Not hearing any. Uh, Secretary Denise, will you call the role? >> Chair Johnson Massad, >> present.
>> Vice Chair Ston >> here. >> Member Childs >> here. >> Member Goodwin >> here. >> Elizabeth Den, I'm here. Mayor, member Martini. Okay, you have a quorum minus the mayor
and member Martini. >> Excellent. So, we're um starting at 8:04 a.m. Is there any public comment this morning? Okay, great. Um let's move on to
Superintendent Search Committee composition. Um Secretary, I mean, Vice Chair Son, um are we able to share a screen or do folks have access to the shared with them?
yesterday on my phone. >> I can probably work that. Well, let me see why I do that. >> Essentially, what I what it is that I'm asking to be shared is a PowerPoint part two that is a revisitation of decisions
that we need to make, which is the screening committee of the salary. So, it just has my proposal here for what the makeup or the composition looks like. Um, and then my r little and my perfect example for how
they get chosen in the process there. So, I'll just state it out loud while while you're continuing to do that. Glenn, but my proposal is to have um the three school committee members, myself, and the mayor, uh which are already part of
the steering committee, to have three school staff, preferably an admin, a teaching staff, and a support staff. three parents that we will do our best to be representative across grades and student demographics. Um, and two broad community members that
do not have to be parents, just interested citizens, potentially representatives, business school, potentially representative of our senior population um who all of us have a vested interest in where our schools go and who leadership is. So that's that's
my proposal. That brings us to um that's an 11 person committee. So luckily there we don't get tied and it seems broadly representative without becoming a wheelie. So that's
that is my I'd love to hear what folks reactions to that. >> Let's do a motion first and then we'll discuss reaction. So motion to approve the composition as uh presented by Mr. Joseph to approve >> and seconded. >> Okay. So we have a motion for member
Goodwin and a second for member Charles. Is there discussion? I have two thoughts. Um one of them is you know 11 is well within that 9 to 12 range. Do we want to have allow ourselves the flexibility of 12 if we're having
trouble with the makeup? And then the other thought I have is uh what about people who are double dippers? Like I mean everyone would be assumed to be a member of the community but parents can easily also be teachers. >> And and then also you know your special
populations like okay three parents representative across student demographics. I really want to make sure that we have a special needs population parent in there. Like I I think it would be horrible if we didn't have one of them
speaking up for our more vulnerable populations >> about 12 being um special just like you stakeholder. >> Well, I don't know that we need to have that special. I think it just might be a good idea to have some sort of
flexibility because what if you pick someone and then they end up being unavailable and that's a third of the representation on right there. >> So here's the here's the deal about this this screening committee.
when we put out the call for people to put in their their letters of interest. Um, it's going to include all of the time commitment and the dates that they must be available. And I hate to community I hate to say it. These are and Elizabeth
has a question. Um, these are fixed dates. These are not dates that are willy-nilly. You must like if you're going to send your letter of interest, you must be available during the dates in mid November where we will actually be applicable to us. That's just going to
be one of these deals and that has to be invid um I would be open to a 12th member if we really uh feel strongly about having that. I do think that this is also outreach we can be doing like as a for
instance one of the immediate uh places we need to And this this invitation to participate is to our CF who has that experience that those the parents that we would like to like or to spread amongst their network um in order to really get it get it out there. So I
think it's part of personal like making sure that we're clear who like that we have this priority. We want to make sure that if we have it 25% of our students will support our students with disabilities maybe more than that then we want that experience that perspective
and those needs represented. and I'm open to the people who gather. >> We have Elizabeth and then >> um let me lower my volume. [sighs and gasps] I am just really cognizant that this is
the third time for me doing a um hiring a superintendent and I think that it's so wonderful that we're finally doing this process of community engagement with it. I think that's been sorely lacking. So
I'm so I'm so proud of us. Like I really want to commend you Stacy for making this so accessible and succinct and I think it's really special that we're doing this. But I also worry that um I think we should keep records of how
those meetings go and who attends because what I'm worried about is that people are going to commit to go but then they're not going to go. And I'm worried that if we don't [clears throat] have as many people as are willing, when you know the rubber meets the road, you're only going to have half the
people show up. I'm just worried about attendance um to these meetings and therefore not getting all of the perspectives that we need. So, I just want to make sure that we keep really good records of who attends, um, how often people show up. Um, because if we
have to do this in the future, hope may we never have to do this in the future, we'll know what that process was like because it's not always, you know, community engagement um, you know, that that goes well. I hope that makes sense.
It's very early in the morning. I think I mean one of the things is keeping track of who they are and maybe what special group they represent. So like an ELLL parent, a special ed parent, um
community member who also maybe has grandchildren in the schools. Um just to see how many different people you're you're reaching out to. Um, and I think the other piece of this is people who we
normally would reach out to who don't really get online. Um, there are people through newsletters, um, through teachers, through schools getting the word out. Um, absolutely. Which speaks to the second part of the whole deal,
which is our outreach recruitment strategy for this. So, something Mel said reminded me of something back from my days at Federal Street School. How I think at one point they stopped calling things parent and outreach and instead it would be guardian or family to speak to the kids
who were being raised by grandparents or other people. So, we might want to change parents to family >> just so that they know that, you know, they're a grandparent but they are the one who does the school stuff. So this
is their role of this committee. >> Superintendent. >> Um just regarding that um in other places that I've worked, we've changed the term to caregivers. >> Perfect. Caregivers >> seems to be seem to be at at time a good catchall because not everybody
has parents as you mentioned, >> right? Not all caregivers are formal guardians and so on. Right. >> Any other discussion? Okay, call the vote. Secretary Denine, will you
>> Chair Johnson MSAD? >> Um, I'm I've been reading my Robert's rules and I'm going to try to stay out of discussions and stay out of voting as much as I can. So maybe in the future you can ask does the chair wish to vote? That's what they do at city council meetings, but I'll say at at the end ask
me if I wish to vote. >> Yeah. Okay. Do you want Okay, we'll we'll start that now. Okay. Secretary Dio, yes. Uh, Vice Chair Ston, >> yes. >> Uh, member Childs, >> yes. >> Member Goodwin, >> yes.
>> And does the chair wish to vote? >> No. >> Thank you. >> And we'll move on to um discussion of salary range for superintendent vice chair sex.
>> Great. Um so we're revisiting this after uh being being informed that the salary proposal that I had originally put forward is laughably low which after doing my own work I agree. So my original proposal from LA last week was
it just last week was 155 to 175k. Um after doing a bit of homework which we've got on this front that the one has provided and I also put some additional um information in these slides as well um my new proposal is having a range of
180 to 200k which I know sounds like an a lot. It is a lot I think for many of the folks who live in this community that sounds like an incredible salary. If it is I would be happy to be making that. Um, and when you look at the field around, when you think about the kinds
of credentials and the kinds of experience that it takes to do this job and to do it well, when we think about the kinds of experience we want someone to come into this role with, um, we need to be able to pay the premium that that it takes to get the staff that we want.
Um, and so, uh, I really appreciate you providing this. if you wanted to take a moment to explain the play just information. These are this current year's salaries for a number of districts that are in our job comparisons as well. It's just the
meeting. >> Yep. Yes. We are recording this meeting. Um, I'm happy to see that our members judge was right because I went uh town and we both there. >> Very nice. >> What I presented for you after talking
with me yesterday afternoon about lack of some stuff. So, I did some homework quickly yesterday afternoon and last night. Um, these are some numbers that are available to me as a superintendent through various
sites and things like that I've given you and some information that probably wouldn't be readily available as well as how long people have served and what their degrees are. Generally, I'm not looking to share this a whole lot in that sense, but the dollar figures are for real. So, the September, the superintendent, you see an FY25, those
are actual salaries of last school year. That's FY25. Um, this year's results, unless you do personal digging, were compiled in a place where I was able to grab this current year. They're being compiled right now by an organization. I did add,
and it does, it's a little typo. It should be FY26 and 27. I all I did for those two columns was add 3% on top of it each year. And that's an assumption, right? That sure people were getting 3%. But some people get two and a half, some get three and a half, who knows? in that range just to show you where they would
be. I'd also just bring to your attention too that on the 27 which is next year because that's the job you're filling that last column for next year in that sense you'll have some openings obviously you know we'll be open here Greenfield Gil Montigue is searching for
a superintendent right now and then if you go a little farther down Northampton also is on that list meadow superintendent announced his retirement after 15 years he'll be retiring um I gave grouping wise more geographical
because a lot of the superintendent salary truly will will lie geographically the dart I didn't reach out and I say reach to the darts in eastern and central mass because life changes out there the salary rise >> in that sense and rightly so cost of
living is expensive that type of scenario so to compare apples to apples I did keep it a little more geographical so you see your Franklin County um comparables comps in the top then I went a little to the east right um and a little on the other side of Quavin and
then more in the Hampshire County area and a little in Hampton County down below. A lot of it will come when you're discussing and looking at things would be really number of students too. Number of students become an issue a factor in it and also the community itself. You
are the county seat here in Franklin County. So you are the big guy, the big girl in that sense, right? A big person in in that sense. And with that come different issues that you deal with. Whether it's uh special education population, low-income population, high
needs population, e population, you're generally going to have more of that than your surrounding. And I say g different things will change with that. So this is just as an FYI as after we were talking yesterday, figured I'd help
you out, try to help you out. No, >> we have a few of the same uh districts that we that we chat or that are represented here, but we have a couple of ones that are different as well. >> I've got Clinton in here, Washington, etc. Those are the dark districts that
has and they're comparable enough in terms of size and really the range that I'm that I'm proposing to fit and I think that range likely to attract you.
So you want a motion and can you repeat the range? >> Um I move that wealth of the schools accept the salary superintendent salary range of 180 to $200,000 per year uh
effective. So moved second. Okay. Any discussion? Uh, secretary, >> I guess I just want to like realize and put on the table that even though I I'm totally into the salary range. I think
it's great, but part of that there's the base salary and then there are a lot of additional things that we're going to bake into the contract >> that are not part of the base salary. And that could be like $15,000 a year for travel. It could be like $10,000 a
year for, you know, professional development. There are larger numbers that we're may not have in our heads yet or we might just now be thinking of that are going to go into this. So I think maybe should we state that we're
thinking [gasps] wave your hands, make the lights turn on. Hi. [laughter] Are we thinking that this base salary is is before we add these things on or are we thinking that we're including all of these additional things into it? So,
we're thinking all-encompassing. >> This is just the base salary. This does not include benefits. >> Okay. This is not including benefits. >> It needs to be two bases that I gave you not including benefits. >> Yes. Both both the credit that this
provided and the one that's in Well, they're they're on just the base. >> Okay. All right. I think that's an important thing to know because whatever our base is going to be, we're get ready to add like $20,000. >> Yes. >> So, just to have that in our minds as
we're working through this. All right. Thank you so much. I wasn't clear on that. I think >> other discussion. Secretary J, will you call a vote? Member Goodwin,
>> yes. >> Member Childs, >> yes. >> Vice Chair Ston, >> yes. >> I'm a yes. Chair, would you like to vote? >> No. >> Okay. [laughter] >> Thank you. Okay. Um, >> um, I think those are the only times
sensitive things you needed from us. Vice Chair sexing about the search work great. >> Okay. Um I also added because we got an email
that came in and is time sensitive. um discuss an impossible discussion and possible action response to state chapter 7 local contribution study public comments session at Greenfield High School November 6. So, Senator
Commerford emailed us and basically um the chapter um 70 formula has two sides. Um well, it actually this is is not just about this is not actually about chapter 7. The chapter 70 is the the funding the
state provides the schools and then there's also a funding formula for the amount that municipalities contribute. And that aspect of it hasn't been studied I guess for eight years and 18 years. Okay. Yes. 18 years. Um and so
they basically they want to do a study on it and they would like um not to be doing that in a vacuum. They want to hear from um from folks um their thoughts about that. Um so
um there's there are a lot of different public comment sessions um starting on on Thursday in Boxford. Um but one of them will be November 6th right here at the Greenfield High School.
>> Um and then there will also be a virtual public hearing on on Tuesday, November 18th. Um, so I guess I was wondering if we as a school committee um had thoughts that we wanted to put forward
collectively and or if there's someone we wanted to designate to go um and represent the school committee at the hearing on November 6. Um and so I guess
um might be useful to start with just a discussion. Do people have thoughts about the form formula about the municipal funding? Okay. So people people do. Um so maybe one
place to start would be just to give um if we can um uh just give members a chance to to share their thoughts and we'll let you you know one person speak at a time and no one speaking twice
until everyone who wishes to has had a chance to speak once. Um so people who want to share their thoughts that's me with the soap box. >> Okay. >> Um so yes this is an old formula. It has
not at all been touched in well over a decade. It's one that because it just calculates okay how much can the town afford to pay? That has not kept up with the reality of life. And even when it was first put into place it was inadequate. So, we're talking about
something that was out of date at the moment it was implemented. And there have been all sorts of contributing factors since then. Like, I'm sure that the people who originally put this formula together had good intentions and didn't think health insurance was going
to drive towns into the ground or the transportation issues coming up now. Um, you you can't just constantly live your life making the decision based on bad data because of a formula that was flawed. You have to be able to adjust these. And the first step to that is to
study and see, okay, here's how these rural districts are being hurt. Here's how other districts might be treated better than others demographically. Um, like certain wealthy districts,
they're what they're able to pay versus what they end up having to pay radically different. And so you'll have certain districts with higher needs populations that will be paying well over what the state says they have to pay while still being unable to have the basic paras to
fulfill their IEP needs just because what they need versus what the state says radically different. So I am strongly in favor of this study. Uh it's one of the early steps to meaningful school funding reform at the state level
which districts like Greenfield and a lot of our neighbors desperately need. >> Okay, another good one. >> We also are are not even the same um organizations we used to be. We are
providing services that we have never provided before as schools. And as someone who's been an educator, an administrator, and also worked um in the Burgkur, a lot of school districts just survive
on grant writing, federal money and state grants, and they are dwindling to the point of non-existence. So even with aggressive grant writers, >> folks can pause. Yeah, just just touch it. It's They can
still see us. >> Okay, we're freaking out before. >> Okay, we lost you for a second, but you didn't lose us there. Okay. >> So, um, a lot of districts that have lost, um, there used to be kindergarten
grants. There used to be Title One was a major grant. Now, it's kind of like barely there. And, um, there were state grants that funded teachers jobs. We had we were Massachusetts was a place where you could get money to help the schools.
And today, it's an aggressive act um to to engage in. uh you spent a lot of time in Worcester shaking hands and trying to beg for money. And so I would say that Massachusetts there was a an implication
in that formula that Massachusetts was wealthy and had a lot of money. And there are a lot of places in Massachusetts where that is not true. People are making decisions about medications versus food. And I think
it's really disturbing that the formula hasn't been looked at um in so long. Um we are not the same people um and Massachusetts has been struggling for a long time and it's I'm really um I had planned to be there just as a a
citizen and as an educator um wanting to speak on behalf of what has happened to education in Massachusetts. >> Any other Vice Chair. >> Um I just really want to highlight this as an opportunity for us to really work
with our city counterparts because this is the portion of the budget like the portion of our finance where we come together. This is the local contribution portion. Um and it's the part where we are rocking a hard place year after year because of the inadequacy of the formula
itself. And so I'm really hoping that not only can we be present, but I'd love to see some folks from the city council or some of our other municipal boards and committees um present in our case because it's it's the venue happens to
be schools, but the but the issues that we're talking about are communitywide. Secretary, >> we cannot hear you. >> You're on mute still. Sorry. Sorry. Um, I think that this is a real testament to the work that we've
done as a committee. We went to Beacon Hill now three times and we spoke specifically about chapter 70 funding formula and we asked that they start to have these public input sessions and
revisit the formula. And I feel like, you know, go us, cuz we went and we said it with all the other school committees and we made a big stink about it. And maybe this is one of the reasons why they're willing to have the conversation. I can't attend on Thursday
because I teach a class that night, but I will be at the virtual forum. Um, but I think that the main thing that people people talk a lot about the about, you know, it being about local contribution, but the problem is that the flaw of chapter 70 is that it caps everything at
a 4.5% inflation. So, if inflation is higher, we then have a budget shortfall. We're not getting the money that we need to fill that gap. So, if we want to continue to pay the teachers and continue to increase their salaries during um contract negotiations, we're
having to do that straight from our pockets from just straight from local people. We're not getting the money that we need from the state to fill fill that gap. So, I think it's sort of important for people to understand that it's it's an actual flaw in the math and it's been
that way for a long time and we're all struggling to fill the gap however we can and that puts a real strain on, you know, our working families and our communities. [snorts] So, um, you know, I think that I think that we shouldn't
rest on any laurels and in May we got to go right back to the state house and keep pushing because I don't think that they want to do this. Their subcommittee hasn't met in years and years to evaluate this. And that's one of the things that we told them when we were there that you haven't met, you haven't
re-evaluated, you have to get in a room together and have this conversation because it affects all of us and Greenfield has not received its proper amount of state funding in years. So, if anyone out there listening can go and lend your voice, do so. This is your big
moment of advocacy and the virtual forum. I'm so glad they're also doing that so that we can chime in at other times. Great. Um, well, maybe we're ready to sum what you want to say something. >> Just one last thing on that. I I think
we should give a shout out to certain people who've also been big in pulling together this information and working with Senator Commerford. People like Doug Selwin and especially Jesus Slava who's no longer a Greenfield resident, but still advocating on behalf of
Greenfield and still working with the senator. So this is already something that community members have been very good with their advocates a advocacy. So I'm just seconding what uh member Deniv just said about how the
community really can make a difference here. >> Okay. Um so I think um in terms of I think there's two two aspects. what does the committee want to say and who do we
want to designate to say it where and when. So let me take a stab at um a very basic resolution of the committee. Um, so I'd like to hear a motion that the school committee is resolved that this
this formula um need is long overdue for study um because of the way uh communities like green feel they're unfairly burdened with the cost of education.
>> So moved second. >> All right. Is there any other discussion on that? Happy with this resolution as it is. If we designate someone to actually go say something about some facts and figures
as part of that. >> Yes. Okay. Great. Okay. Um, so what we'll we'll maybe vote on this resolution and then figure out how to designate someone and figure out their talking points before they represent.
Okay. Um, any other discussion on the the resolution? Okay. Secretary Den, will you call the vote? >> I'm a yes. Vice Chair Ston, >> yes. >> Member Childs, >> yes. >> Member Goodwin,
>> yes. Chair, would you like to vote and how? >> No, thank you. And um Okay. So, uh I guess there's I think it would be good at both the Greenfield hearing and the virtual
hearing to have someone from the committee designated to speak on behalf of the committee. Um so maybe we can figure out who and then work out how the their talking points are going to come together. Um, so who is interested and
available in um representing at the inerson um uh public hearing at the high school? Raising my hand vice chair. >> Okay. So I I I need to check a conflict like I think I am but
>> Okay. Oh, and uh you have your hand up, secretary, but I think you said you couldn't make that one. Oh, you're on mute. I can't make that one, but I would love to um see an speak if possible because
she was with us and participated in the meetings that we had to prepare for our advocacy work um and went. So, she has some direct experience with with that. >> All right. Would you like to make a
motion that Ann represent us at the Inerson um public comment session? >> Yes, I would. I make a motion that Ann represent us at the public comment session on November 6th. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. If we vote for you, would you accept?
>> Yes. >> Okay. Get rid of the conflict. It's less important. >> Oh, I'm sorry. You had a conflict. >> Well, I might, but it's the kind of thing where it's I'm not essential for the other thing. Okay, I'm sorry I didn't hear that. Otherwise, I wouldn't
have jumped in. >> Well, it's because I was in the process of looking on my hand, making sure that I was So, I I have confirmed I'm not essential for that. >> Okay, great. Um, any other discussion on the motion to have member SH represent
us? Okay. Um, Secretary Den, will you call the vote? >> Member Goodwin, >> yes. >> Member Child, >> abstain. Vice Chair Saxon. >> Yes. >> I'm a yes. Chair, would you like to vote?
>> No. Thank you. >> Uh so yes, so I think that's sufficient, right? Um great. Um >> uh great. So congratulations and thank you. Um all right, but then let's move
on to um uh who will represent us at the uh virtual Zoom uh session. Is there a motion? >> I move to appoint member Deniv to represent us at the Zoom session. >> Okay. Is there a second?
Second. Second from Vice Chair Saxton. Discussion. Well, Elizabeth has been the one who's been organizing, going to Beacon Hill. Uh, she has been the one directly engaging and scheduling meetings. She's very
knowledgeable on it and she's already started building these relationships. >> Okay, great. Any other discussion? Secretary, >> can you all does anybody have the event in front of them, the virtual one? Can
you just remind me the time? I want to make sure that I'm writing all of this down with my notes. >> Yeah. Um, it is 4:00 pm to 700 p.m. on Tuesday, November 18th. And there's an online registration
link. And the email about all this is um at the top of um your uh email inbox because I uh superintendent was kind enough to to send that along. >> Thanks. I just also wanted to make sure
the people listening at home know the exact time and I've written it down. So yes, I'm happy to do that if you would like me to. >> Okay. Um, I'm I'm taking a detour because I'm seeing uh Madison's message in the chat with a question about the
vote that we took on the makeup of the search. And I just want to answer that now before I forget. Uh the vote the vote was on the 11 member committee. We we did not amend the uh the original motion to add a 12th member. So it's uh
still the 11 11 member uh body. Yeah. Okay. So, back to um we're on the motion to appoint Elizabeth to represent at the virtual session on Tuesday, November 18th. Uh do we have any other
discussion? >> Secretary Den, will you call the vote? >> Uh sure. I'm a yes. Vice Chair Ston, >> yes. >> Member Childs, >> yes. >> Member Goodwin, >> yes. >> Chair, would you like to vote and how? >> No, thank you. Okay.
>> Um, >> great. So, the motion carries. So, now we we have our main message and we have our two delegates. I guess um I would pro I would propose that um
I guess I'd like to hear a motion that we create a one-time ad hoc working group to develop talking points relative to our resolution. that would be composed of myself, uh, Secretary
Geneva, and member CHS to meet before, um, November 6. >> So moved. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Uh, we'll say you're the second, secretary, although good one tries. So, thank you for that
discussion. [laughter] That was good. Early in the morning. >> Okay. All right, then. What's the >> uh Vice Chair Ston? >> Yes. >> Member Childs? >> Yes. >> Member Goodwin? >> Yes.
>> I'm a yes. Chair, how would you like to vote? >> Uh, I would prefer not to vote. Thank you. >> Okay, it passes. >> That motion carries. Great. So, maybe um the three of us can stay. um uh after
the meeting and work out when when that meeting will take place to develop those topics. Okay. Um then I think we are on to adjournment if I'm not mistaken. So I
motion to from Vice Chair Saxton and a second from member Goodwin. Did you get that secretary? Okay. Um any discussion? Secretary J, will you call the vote? >> I'm a yes. Vice Chair Ston,
>> yes. >> Member Childs, >> yes. >> Member Goodwin, >> yes. >> Chair, >> yes. [laughter] [gasps] >> Okay, we're adjourned and it's unanimous. >> All right,
the recording. Thank you for Thank you.