--------- So Karen, you say present. >> Present. >> Jessica, >> present. >> And Lauren, present. >> All right. And I'll open the um Halifax board of selectment meeting for Monday, August 25th, 2025. Here with us is um
Selectman Tom Pratt, Selectman Bill Smith, myself, Selectman Jonathan Celig. Just to let everybody know, this meeting is being recorded by Area 58. And we usually start with a pledge of allegiance. If you guys will indulge me, that'd be great.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. >> Um I will also say the meeting's being
recorded because we're the school committee. >> Absolutely. >> Um by area 58. And um also that if anyone wants to make an audio or video recording of this meeting at this time to please let me know. Um I wanted to have a moment of silence for Mr. Bay
Ranchen who passed away over the summer. So if we could take a moment Thank you. And we really appreciate his service to the school and um he will be missed greatly by everyone. Um are there
any visitors that wish to speak? >> No. Oh, well, do you want to speak in addition to >> Oh, I didn't know if I was supposed to speak. >> Oh, no. No. Sorry. >> Yeah. >> Well, we'll uh we're going to go through
that in just a second. But any other visitors besides the um candidates for being appointed to the school committee? Sorry, not more clear. All right. Um so at this time we'll appoint we're looking to appoint a new Halifax school
committee member and have a vote. Um so is our other candidate here? >> Yeah, we have both candidates here. >> Okay, perfect. >> I I was just wondering Lauren if I may. Is Lori Do we know if Lori's coming this? is not coming. >> Not coming. All right. So, interesting. Okay. Then then I think we're all
systems ahead. >> Okay. So, I was going I wanted to invite both candidates to sit at the end of the table. >> Um and then um I'll give an outline of how we're going to proceed. Um so first we
will allow each of you to give an opening statement of up to three minutes and then we are going the boards will take turns asking questions of both of you. you'll each get a turn to answer the questions so someone doesn't have like you know you don't get your whole
interview and then you get your so um and then um after all the questions you'll conclude with a 1 to two minute statement and we'll go to that point. So um if you would like just because you're sitting closer if you would like to introduce
yourself and make your statement. >> Of course. So my name is Jodie Goyette. Um I live here in Halifax on writer's way. Um I am interested in joining the school committee. Um the education I think of our children is very important and therefore the Halifax of elementary
school is very important. Um I am hoping to get more involved in the town. My background I work as an attorney for the state. So I feel like I would really um but the skills that I would bring to the table is really listening to the different issues that there are and the
information that needs to be um decided you know and viewed and look at that information and partially look to find the information and seek the information that's needed to make best decisions. That's something that I do on a daily basis in my role uh as my work and then
u to use all the information that I can to make a uh impartial decision. So, I think that that's those are skills that would help in the school committee. Um, so I'm sorry I didn't really come more prepared with a statement or anything, but that's why I want to join the committee and
hopefully work with everybody here. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, >> Lauren. Hi. Um, I'm Lauren Ree Brower. I live here in Halifax. Last year, I had a child at each school. I just recently watched my my older daughter graduate, which was wonderful. Um, I currently am
the president and have been the president for the last three years of the PTO up at the high school. I also sit on the school council. Uh, in addition, I've been a special educator for the last 20 years. Um and I am also a board-certified behavior analyst and I
feel that I have a unique perspective uh as far as the um the function of how an educational system would work um where resources resources could come from uh but also where where they're
especially needed uh where we wouldn't want to cut but where maybe we could without causing harm to the student body. Thank you. Um, we'll open up to questions. Does anyone have any questions to start off with from the
school committee? >> I have some. >> Yeah, I know. I didn't want to like we had similar questions. I want to steal your Go ahead. >> You can steal my I don't own any. Um, so um the atmosphere at a school is very
important. Um and as a school committee, part of our job is to support the uh goals and of the school and the district. And um I'm blanking on the goals. Can you name
the four off the top of your head? Sorry, I know it's in the packet. >> District goals. >> The district goals. >> No, >> no, I'm not. I I was looking I'm looking in the general direction. >> I was told there wasn't going to be a test this evening. I'm getting everyone back into
>> pop quiz. >> Building community. >> Building community >> using data and research based instructional strategies to provide all students with access to the curriculum. >> Mhm.
>> The third is to create an aligned and engaging curriculum prek through 12. Mhm. And this last one includes >> the fourth one is supports and structures to enhance learning opportunities for all students, >> right? Because all students need to feel
safe in order to learn. And as a school committee member, what would you do to support the goals of the district, which I didn't want to mess them up really, so that's why. Thank you. >> Teasing. >> Um, since you went first, we'll let Lauren go first on this question.
>> Sure. Um well, first and foremost would be to look at the data that we have. What's working and what's not working? Um where are our charts showing us where we should be and where have we been and what didn't work before should be clearly marked within that. Uh in
addition, you know, we need to be able to support our teachers. Uh are they how do we support them? By making sure they have access to best practices. So is the curriculum that they're getting is it
data backed? Is it showing the best um results in student learning and not necessarily just on test wise but you know are the kids getting a full opportunity to learn not just you know
sorry oftent times we care more about um the score rather than how they got to the score and most kids don't learn that way. So if we're preparing them again with best practices, is it
databacked? Can we do it? Um and giving the teachers the tools that they need and that doesn't necessarily mean throwing money at whatever uh new fad is out there. What's already worked? What curriculum are we utilizing that we know
works based across state goals? Um for example, are we using I Ready? are we using green 180? These are proven systems that show growth. Um, and if we're not utilizing proven systems that show growth, then we're not going to see
that in our results. We're not going to watch our district move up. And instead, I don't know how to word this, but in order to to give the teachers what they need to teach the kids, we have to have the best product or tools, right? So if
we're not providing them with those tools and we're just picking the tools that sound the best rather than making sure that the tools that are backed and we know our best based on the data and research and best practices given then we're not really giving them much right.
So we need to make sure that we're we understand those things that we can present them with. >> Judy just guys just speak just a little bit more. You guys, >> the acoustics are tough in here.
>> They're terrible. You have to pretend, >> which I always feel like I'm not angry. I'm just talking loud. >> Oh no, she's angry. >> Watch out for me. Yeah, >> go ahead. So, I would say more for um
making sure you talked about part of the goals being like the safety and inclusion and community based. Um, I think it's important to like listen to the teachers and listen to the employees and the people who work in this field and what they do and how you know how they do and how they believe would be the best way and then to gather the
resources that show the different ways to do it, the ways you know that maybe not be the best way that be the best and to make a decision using that information. Um, I also think, you know, it's important for the students to feel safe and in anything that maybe different community um, you know, events
or working with the PTO or things like that to make sure that everybody feels included, including the people that work there as well as the students. It's very important. That's when you listed off the goals, the things that I kind of highlighted in mine was the the concerns, the safety of the children, feeling that they're safe here, and the
community based inclusion. >> Thank you. Do you have a question? here. >> Um, sure. Uh, just so I guess this jumps back to Judy here. Um, >> Jody, >> sorry. >> That's okay. >> Sorry about that. Uh, what do you see are the biggest challenges for our school district? And do you have any
spitball ideas as to how we could at least initially try to tackle them? >> Well, so I think just with the the last fiscal year and this fiscal year always and the most challenging thing for the school system is budget. um and looking at the budget and trying to figure out
where the money can come from that you need and hopefully you know not cutting services and if that has to be done what would be the best way to do that. Um I don't specifically have any ideas at the moment. Um but I definitely think that that's a huge, you know, conversation in
a long-term um plan and and research and things like that to go through. I definitely think that that's probably the most important um hurdle right now that the that the school's facing. >> Good. Thank you.
>> Okay. So, um right now a huge chunk of our budget school I mean districtwide would be special education. Am I right? And and I noticed when I was looking at our budget that we outsource a lot of
our um services because that's what we have available. Um I know Jonathan had you had told me we're not a true um regional, right? We're not >> Yeah. not full regional >> which is almost it's actually incredibly
unfortunate because under a full regional we would not need to have separate SLPs or OT's in every school. you could have one and you would hire SLPAS or codas to work under them which would alleviate some of that funding.
Um, and you know obviously it would it would create a job or two because you would have your SLPAS or your Kodas. Um, but it would also free up some of that money. The other thing too is if you if you know you had
the right special educators or not that we don't because we have some wonderful educators here. Uh but if you have the right services within the school, you don't have to outsource it. It costs a hell of a lot more to outsource it than it does to
have it in in school. Um, and there's a there's a here at this school alone, I mean, I can tell you that you have a former reading specialist who is pretty phenomenal sitting back there. Um, I had
a kindergartener who left here reading well above grade level. Um, and that's insanity. Like so good. So, uh, so if you have the right people doing the right thing, we wouldn't need to outsource. Uh, I know that it costs
the district. I think it's close to $5,000 a term, I think it is, or a month. A month, I'm sorry, a month to send a child to Reeds Collaborative. It's a lot of money for one child to go to an outsourced place. So, if we can bring
our students back in districts, if it were more of a full district, uh it would alleviate financial pressure on the towns, but I also think having our kids at home in their home schools is
better for our kids all around. These are at some point they're not always going to be out of district, right? They're going to want to come back to district. They want to want to build those relationships within district that they're not going to have if we cannot bring them back.
>> Thank you. >> Um, do you have any questions? >> Do you a main question and I'm sure that everybody is wondering this is if you want to be on the school committee now, why did you not consider running in May?
You want to take first? >> Sure. >> Uh Lauren's turn. >> I stole. I was going to run. I actually um had planned all last year and we had some
things come up that kind of took our attention away. And I said, "All right, I'll just wait till next year." My husband and I sat. We had a conversation at that time that maybe next year would be a better opportunity to do so or the next round, right?
And uh and then this happened and it seemed like maybe it was supposed to be this year. So the plan was in place, the ideas were were made. Um, I discussed it with uh some friends I have on the Silver Lake School Committee and the
Kingston committee and and some other folks around town who had asked if I want to run and we discussed it and it was a plan. I had board and then life happened and we said, "Oh, this might be better for us next year." But then when
this kind of opened up, it was like, "Well, maybe it is this year that needs to happen." for me wasn't even in my purview in May. It wasn't even it wasn't even an idea in my mind. Um I was just finishing up. So my my oldest is entering kindergarten
this year. Uh so that's when I was like, "Okay, you know, once they did their whole graduation thing, the summer hit. I said, "Okay, I want to get involved. Where do I want to most get involved in the school system?" Um because this is where my kids are going to go to school. And I have a kindergartenner coming in
this year. I have a prek um a daughter in prek starting this year. So, she'll be here next year as well. Um, so I really want to be involved in the town, in the community, and so at this point in my life with my children, I feel like this is really what holds my interest. I think I'd be able to to do um to best
like give my assets to Okay. And we do want to thank you like we, you know, we do appreciate you. >> No, I know. >> I was going to ask the same question. Do you have >> anybody on the board have one? Bill.
Yeah. >> Um, what do you believe are the most important characteristics of an effective school board and of an individual member? >> Jody first. >> Start with Jody, not Judy. >> That's my fault. I'm sorry. Sorry, I
start. >> I think it's important to have someone who can really like look at an issue, the issue at hand, and to be open-minded and to um really accept the information, find information that's important to make the decision and to make an impartial decision, not a decision that most would benefit them or their
beliefs, but who's going to benefit the whole school and the whole district. um that I think is important as for the comm the whole board the whole committee as well as the individual people who sit in it because we really want to make sure we do the best for the children and for the school not for any person's like
own please. >> Lauren, >> sure. I think um as a whole the committee itself should be compassionate um willing to listen to the ideas of the parents that are going to come and want
to to talk to the committee and uh to the teachers and the the administrative and support staff. They're are going to need the committee's assistance um and obviously the support right for what they need to get done. And then on a
personal level, uh, same as Jod said, someone who is willing to look at the whole big the big picture, not just the focused in part that kind of reflects on their own goals. Although I do think that your own, you know, ideals and goals will play a
part. I mean, they would be ignorant to say that it won't. Um, but to be willing to see outside of yourself to see the big picture, I think is also very important. >> Thank you. That's good. Okay. >> Oh, you have a question. Okay.
>> What would you say is your biggest strength that you would bring to the school committee? So, not your personal strength, but what strength you'd bring as a member of the school committee. You said that >> back to Lauren. >> I think I think just my um knowledge of the educational system as a whole as it
is. I've been doing this for 20 years specifically in special education. I've been a board certified behavior analyst for the last three. that took forever to get to but and you know I'm currently working uh in on
sorry currently in continuing my studies in the area of education uh I do hold two master's degrees in education uh so well one in special education and one in applied behavior analysis kind of go hand in hand I suppose uh and so this is
just where I've spent the last 20 years of my life so I kind of know it I I hope inside and Oh, so >> so I don't have a lot of personal experience within the education, you know, system, but I do in my have a lot
of experience myself is listening to everybody. And so my job, I'm a a hearings officer, a review examiner, so I hear people every day, all day long, um, in hearings. And everybody has their own sides. And it's so important, I think, to listen and to really hear what
everybody is saying. Um, and to give the opportunity for for inclusion and for everybody to speak their their mind and to speak how it is, you know, what they they feel. So, I think it's important to listen and I think as a board that would be important to listen. I also think it's important after the listening
portion is to get the relevant information that we need. You know what I mean? To make to make the decision that best suits. So I think it's kind of repetitive for my last answer, but at the same time I think listening is an additional and the ability to do that partially important.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. So I'll just start. Um thank you both for uh coming tonight. Thank you for throwing your name in the in the ring. Um it's not easy to do that. Um I think the benefit here for either or both of you um in some degree would be that this is an interim position. um you
know, filling a spot now should a decision be made and then reelected, you know, up for re-election in May. So, I think it's like a sweet spot to introduce yourself, get your feet wet, learn something along the way, um and then decide if this is a long-term commitment for you because this is a big
commitment. Um so, thank you for volunteering school committee. Uh the school system has a lot of moving parts always. Uh people will tell you that. Uh this is a particularly stressful time or year coming up for both Halifax Elementary and the regional committee
with budgets and so forth. And it's pretty easy to point to where the the leverage is coming from. You know, there's state issues, there's funding issues, there's special education, there's a lot of things going on. So my question is this is maybe not so much tonight, but in May in a general
election. This is an elected position elected by the voters. Um, so my question is, how would you balance the discussions that you might hear or see from friends, social media, uh, pressures that you might feel, whether they're internal or external, based on
budgetary decisions that you might have to make in the spring this year and an ongoing basis? How do you weigh out your job as a school committee member while keeping in the back of your mind that you're an elected position, elected uh,
member of uh, of the town? Sure. Um, so I think that I would, you know, truthfully you would be able to, you talk to the peers and talk to different people who live here and review all the things on social media, but I think that the bal that wouldn't really necessarily
have to be like a balance. It would be for me the information where things have to go and what's best for the town, not necessarily if somebody thinks this is going to be better. or somebody not involved in the committee or not involved in the school, the people who are making the decision, you know, and who are given the support. Um, I feel
like that I wouldn't I wouldn't weigh it. I would look at the information that was put in front of me and the information that I needed to to view to to make that determination and put aside the comments on Facebook and the discussion around the town and things like that cuz while it's important and
everybody has a say, it's everybody's town, you know, everybody lives here. I think that the point of a committee is to make those decisions because the town elected the you know elected the person and I think it's important that they make the decisions without the weigh the weighing of your community members your
neighbors whoever the comments on Facebook and things like that. >> Well, I think first and foremost it is an elective position. So when you're running you're running based on a platform. this is what I intend to this
is what I want to bring to the table and if people are voting for you then they're also voting for what you said you were plann to bring to the table uh so that's one thing so then if the ideals of that then changes I mean that's what you were asked to do when
you you signed up when you ran you said this is what I stand for AB and C and the people elect you they also said they also stand for AB and C um so that is just like you have to kind of stay true to what you said that you have to do. Um and then secondly, you have to look at
the data in front of you. This is education is very data driven. So we know where money needs to go based on the data or we know what changes need to be made based on the data. So regardless of what everybody outside
thinks, if they don't have the data, incredibly they have no idea. I mean, I can sit here and talk all day about special education costs this and that costs that. I don't have your data in front of me. So your data in front of me could tell me a completely different
story of where the puzzle pieces fit. So I think again you have to stay true to what you said you were going to do because that's why people elected you to do it and then also work with what's in front of you. Okay. >> Can I jump one more really quick?
>> Yeah, I have a question. You have one. You go. We'll go ping pong. Your turn. It's my turn. Ladies first. Um >> so um as mentioned this is a fairly significant time commitment. Um the meeting dates are posted typically once a month but we also have subcommittees
possible negotiations. There's a lot of things where we have to have a quorum in order to accomplish what the meeting is for. So do you feel like you have the time in your life right now to commit to that? which I
guess is sort of a yes or no answer. >> Well, you you can elaborate more, but >> I do. I'm down a child now. >> Although I spend a lot of time sniffling about that. Uh yes, the time is is there. >> Okay, Jody,
>> I also have the time available. I mean, I do work a 9 well the 9 toive job 4:30. So, I'm available 4:30, you know, every night at that. Um so, I have a good support. I do have two kids, but I have a good support system. My husband works um par not every day. So he's definitely um cares, you know, cares for the ch
children when I'm not there. So I would be able to make all the commitments. >> Okay. >> Um one of the I'm sure if you take a quick survey of our school committee members, one of their least favorite things, ladies, is probably budget. >> Yeah. >> Going over that budget, right? So how do you um stack up as far as budget
experience? Looking at a budget, understanding budgets, making necessary budget cuts. What's your budget experience? Don't you >> I think it's Joe. >> I don't know. >> Um so for budgets um honestly I feel
like my experience would be limited to just the different things that I've done in my um old my jobs um and and doing some like work for myself, but I just envisioned like tables, spreadsheets, and everybody going down, you know, line to line and kind of going through everything where you can move things
from um and things like that. So why while I've never gone through a budget specifically other than you know like item by item other than looking at the town budgets when it comes out and the town meetings and things like that um I feel confident that I would be able to
to help and to get in there and to really like analyze the different numbers and to kind of see where everything can be allocated or reallocated or >> good creative creative suggestions on how to change things if needed. >> Thank you.
Um, well, I run the PTO at the high school. We have a budget. Uh, in addition, we are a new 501c3, which I did 3 years ago. It went into fruition 2 years ago, which is
super exciting. Uh, and so that's I have to deal with that. I have to account for every dollar that we have and and send it to the state. I do that with my treasur. I do not do it alone. I'm a couple. Um but yes uh in addition your
household budget as a parent uh and I have to teach living skills daily living skills which does include teaching students how to manage a small budget not a large budget but can put things in a ledger and add them up.
>> Thank you. Um to piggyback on that, um depending on how the budget season goes, um there are large misunderstandings of the budget process in town and how it happens. And
there's a strong possibility that you can be accused of not caring about the school or our kids when in fact we only have the amount of money that we have. And so I guess it's more of a fair warning like how would you know how would Yeah. It's more it's more you know
that that you know I'm >> giddy up >> very concerned yeah about that and like you know is that something that you could tolerate okay that people you know the a lot of misinformation gets out there. One of the things we've
worked on as a school committee is to be as upfront and transparent. The only time you can actually discuss school committee issues is at a school committee meeting. And this is a public meeting that we're having that the public is allowed to witness. It's not supposed to be like a, you know, back
and forth. I mean, we've had different types of meetings at different times where as the chair I have allowed comment from the but um I I don't know. I guess my question is and you don't really have to answer out loud, but is this is that something that would be you
know you would be able to tolerate because >> thick skin? >> Yeah. Do you stay do you have you know cuz it's it's because you are here with the intent I mean you both have clearly said that you're here with the intent of keeping our schools excellent you know
and so you know that and I assume really that's why most people are on school committee right that they care about the school so and sometimes that gets lost to people so anyway I guess that wasn't really a question or a rhetorical
Yeah. Anyway, do you have um any other questions? >> I can just one more sentence on that exact point was where I was going to go. I think you know not that it's conflict within a committee or a board but difference of opinion is okay. Um that's how we learn. That's how other vantage points get brought up and so forth. So do you have not a learning style but how
do you deal with not confrontation? I don't anticipate difficulty. >> Disagreement. >> Disagreement. How do you deal with disagreement different opinions? I'm assuming we're all cordial and open to learning, but how do you specifically deal with a committee member who might have a, you know, just position from where you stand?
>> We're not all going to agree at all times. Uh, I guess the real thick of it is you just have to still be cordial. You still have to be respectful to the other person. And, you know, if you can maintain that, typically we can
find some common ground. we can both stand together and if that's the case we can build from there as opposed to our separate corners. >> Yeah. And I agree. I mean a similar answer. I think it's important to say you know what you believe and what you want and it's more important I think to
calmly and patiently listen to the other person that maybe has a different opinion than you and then start to work together to see okay well let's come to a a common ground. Let's compromise. How can we work um together to do to do those things? So, >> okay.
Any other questions from the school committee? Do you have any more questions? >> I think we're good. >> Good. >> Oh, yeah. Okay. So, now we'll give you each the opportunity to give a closing statement. >> One to two minutes. Yeah. I mean,
whatever you feel comfortable with. >> Sure. Um so thank you for coming for allowing me to come today um and to talk to you and to tell you the different reasons why I want to be here. Um I do have you know a lot of experience of of
of working with conflict and I have a thick skin. I I know caution. I would be totally fine with whatever people say on Facebook and neighbors and things like that. Um I don't take that to heart. Um, and that's just something that kind of comes with my territory in my normal and
day-to-day um, as an attorney. But I also am really, I don't know, I'm excited. I want the first I want the best person, you know, to be to be able to join the committee. So, if it's not me, I thank you very much for having me and I want the committee to have the best person. So, um, but I am excited,
you know, and hopeful to work with the committee as well. Um, I also would like you to choose who you think is the best person for the job. Um, that being said, I do think that I bring a lot to the table with 20 years of
experience within the education system here in Massachusetts. Uh, I want to see our town flourish and I want to see our kids flourish and I'd like to see our kids be prepared and us keep great teachers
like this who is amazing. Um, I had children in other school districts and they did not get what she provided to me. So, and I think that's important across the board. I think um my daughter Ariel had
wonderful teachers up at Silver Lake and I hate to see, you know, when we have to let them go or when we have to shuffle things around when there are other ways that we could do things to keep it great.
This is a great little town, so let's keep making it that way. Good. >> Um, okay. Uh, so at this time we'll have a Thank you so much. You can return to the seats in the >> And I do I no matter the outcome
tonight. Oh, sorry. >> I would please encourage both whichever however the outcome, you know, obviously it's going to be a decision amongst the six of us, but please run whatever the outcome because you know this you've made well I'll
speak for myself. You've made the decision really difficult tonight. >> Anyway, um anyway, >> are you welcome to stay or should we go or >> No, you should stay. You can hang up. >> Thank you. >> Um so now I'll open up any discussion
and then I mean I pretty much said what I had to say. They've made it a really difficult choice. >> Exactly. >> I wish it was a school committee of six. >> I know. Although that'd be hard with split votes, I think. Yeah. >> No, I think both candidates have
definite strengths. Um, and different strengths. You know, I I loved how much school experience Lauren has and I loved the law background with Jod. >> Uh, I think both would be assets to the and I'm not being happy sunshine here. I think both would be great assets to the
committee. So, it truly is a very very difficult choice. >> Agreed. I think that, you know, it's always difficult when you have two people for one spot, two people just looking to volunteer help. So, it's hard to say, you know, thanks but no thanks. So, I encourage someone, whoever's not chosen to find another avenue to
contribute, whether it's this position at a later time or some other position in town cuz there's a lot of help that we need, a lot of good people who are looking to do it. We can always use more. So, uh, but thank you both for your time. So, my summary, both solid candidates. Um, there was two things that I I thought, um, worth mentioning
again. Uh I'm somebody new to the town uh political scene. I didn't hold the public office before. There's some benefit to having experience in that. There's also some experience in having no prior experience. Uh coming in with a fresh, you know, clean slate and learning on the fly. I think this is
like a sweet spot for an eight or nine month try out. Not from your perspective, but from the candidates's perspective to see if this is something that they want to commit to for a multi-year period. Uh I also liked one of the answers that talked about collaboration with the current administration and teachers asking them what they thought. I know that's not
unilaterally how it works but the more input the better uh from people who are in the trenches I think is a good thing. Gathering the most information you have with hard data and opinions from people who are in the know are always beneficial. So those are the two things that I kind of look at. >> Any other comments?
I feel that as an educator myself, you would think that they would go hand in hand, but really the role of a school committee member is so far removed from the world of making decisions about education that um I would say that that was not a
strength for me particularly. It's just not a space for me to have that voice. Um but I think rather understanding law and policy which is really our role >> is a greater strength for that. So I I
just feel that um having an attorney on board here to help us with lots of the policy decisions we make I think would be an advantage. >> I agree. >> Anyone else have a comment? Mhm.
>> Um I am requesting a motion to appoint someone then followed by a second. >> I'll make a motion to appoint Jodie Goyette as school committee member. >> So moved. >> All right. And now um we will have a
vote, a roll call vote. Um I'll start with my committee. Is that okay? >> Yeah, go for it. >> Oh, I guess I'm in charge. >> You're the you're the boss. There you go. You have I just have school, you know. >> No, this is yours. Go ahead. >> Uh Karen,
>> yes. >> Jessica, >> yes. >> Myself self, Lauren is a yes. >> Uh Jonathan Celig, yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. Um so we have appointed a candidate at this
point. Congratulations. And again, like I said, just love meeting you. It was a hard decision. Thank you. Um and yes, thank you so much. And please um please do run. >> Yeah, >> please. >> Yes.
>> Um and uh so now I guess like the town clerk will be in touch because you have to be sworn in. So >> yeah, if you want to swing in tomorrow, Jody, I don't know or what your schedule is. Uh there'll be a card for you to fill out. >> Um and you're off and running. >> Awesome. Thanks so much. Thank you everybody.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Can I adjourn our meeting? Well, I think we're done here. >> Yes. >> All right. I will entertain a motion for the board of selectment to adjurnn. >> Before you do that, just real quick, 30 seconds. I'd just like to acknowledge quickly the new principal and the
assistant principal, vice principal, who both made an effort to attend, my understanding, the kindergarten orientation uh last week, which I thought was a terrific start and a step in the right direction. We both present. Uh I think it says something about the leadership through the door. So, I appreciate that as a parent and person.
>> He wants his kid to get A's. Who's in? >> I know. I know what's going on. >> It's working. It's working, Tom. >> All right. On that note, entertain a motion to adjourn. Do I have a second? All those in favor? >> I. Thank you. For selectment is done at
6:51. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, guys. Good luck. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And now we'll continue with the rest of the >> Thanks, guys. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. [Music] executive session. >> It's executive session.
>> Yeah. Um All right. No, I'm okay. Thank you. Hi there. Um, >> but the public >> Well, I mean, honestly, either of them would have been great. Yeah. I did that. >> No. Yes, feel free to stay, you know.
Um, so I will entertain a motion to adjourn to executive session pursuant to MGL C308 S2 to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for collective bar bargaining, Halifax, teacher
association, and HTA, MOA.8 8 and S7 to comply with any general or special law approval of executive sessions minutes of 82825 and return to open session. >> So moved. >> So moved. >> Making a second.
>> Second. >> All right. And roll call. Karen. >> Yes. >> Jessica. >> Yes. >> And I am also a yes. And I apologize that we have to go into an executive session. So we'll let you know when you can come back. I don't know.
>> You can you can stay if you if you'd like. It's you just won't be able to contribute because you haven't been part of a negotiation. Part: 2
is um $39,478. Okay. Um is there anything anyone wants to remove from consent agenda? Okay. So, can we just need a motion to um without objection the remaining the
items will be approved on the consent agenda. So, um can I get just I guess make a motion I'll make a motion to approve um the consent agend consent agenda approval of minutes July 8th, 2025 and approval of bill schedule.
Okay, I'll second and we'll have a vote. Karen, yes. Jessica, yes. And I'm a yes. So, all right. So, now for new business, we um have the Halifax teachers contract discussion and vote. So, all you need to do is a motion. Yeah,
because we already, you know, um I'll make a motion to approve the Halifax teachers contract for the next three I don't did I just say the next three years. Okay. Anyone second? Second.
Yes. Karen Jessica. Yes. And myself as a yes. And then um we have had a request for a memorial for Mr. Bay Ransion to be put into this um some sort
of memorial um from in his memory and actually I we put it on the agenda but the school does not have the authority to make that decision. So and the person who requested it also isn't able to be here tonight but it's something that we're going to have to because the
building is owned by the town. something we have to go to the town which actually I wish we had kept the board of selecting here a little bit longer so we could discuss with them the parameters of that but just you know ideas are being brought forth but we just have to make sure we follow the proper channels
and um so I'm not sure if there's really I mean I as a school committee we can vote to support something to memorial you know that we would which um that's pretty much what can do. So, okay.
Um, I would vote to support it. Okay. As long as the town Yeah. Okay. And I can reach out to the board of selectman and say, you know, the school committee voted to support something. How do we go about it? What's the Okay.
Any ideas on what um I think a garden. Go ahead. Oh, thank you. Yeah, you can speak to it. Thank you. So, the parent reached out and she was talking about a like a potential garden that she would take responsibility for to manage. Um, some
other ideas have been floating out there too about ways that we can honor Mr. B um because of his impact not only within the Halifax community but with the greater community with his uh with his huge contributions to sports in the area uh and you know just a kind of like some
other ideas too about um supporting him. So, that's how it came out. Um, apparently actually emailed just on some principles reported to me and then um, you know, just kind of going through the right channels to make sure that something happened or could happen.
Okay. Yeah, I would imagine like sometimes a scholarship for something. Well, that's something the HTA can do, but I mean I don't know as a community how that works, but I know like the HTA could create a scholarship or um, I'm
not sure. I mean, we'd have to look into it for like I don't think the school committee can do that, but Joe, so um in in terms of anything related to the building, anything attached to the building or naming of the building, whether it be a plaque or um a
dedication of a a part of the building, you'd have to go through the town to see if they have any requirements or bylaws that would uh dictate how that process would be achieved. So that's the reason why we're recommending going to the town
to find out that process first. Okay. Um I would any further discussion? Okay. I'll make a motion to explore with the town and with our support. The school committee supports something and uh I
hate to use the word something, but a an appropriate memorial for Mr. B that represents his contribution to the school and the town. I'll second that. Okay. Karen. Yes. Jessica. Yes. And myself is a yes. Thank you.
Thank you. Um I can speak to full regionalization. Okay. Thank you. So Sarah and I have been attending full regionalization meetings on a fairly regular uh uh basis with uh representatives from
our school committees and representatives from our towns and um working with the Collins Center to come up with a proposal that will reflect uh a study that will look into the costs and possible benefits of full regionalization. Um that will include uh
some sort of financial uh forecasting so that uh if the school committees and the town decide to move forward to bring this proposal to the community, they would have an understanding of what the the potential costs and benefits would be. So that has taken most of our
summertime with the Collins Center and we'll be meeting again in September and we hope to have more information following that. Great. And we anticipate that this process will take about a a year uh to conduct the the research going into it.
So we could have an answer by next summer possibly or like a results of their ideally. Yes, that would be great. Mhm. Um do we need to the HTA contracting this or I think it was just a mistake and listed twice. Okay. All right. That's why it seemed
like it. Okay. Thank you. All right. Um, now for our administration report, we have Brian Traina, our new principal. I wanted to introduce. I'm sure you've been introduced about 15 times, but you'll be we'll see how long we call you
the new principal, right? Uh, so, uh, you know, thanks for having me to a school committee that I have to attend all the time. Appreciate it. And, uh, so, a lot's been happening in the in the school. I I came on board on the first and we've really jumped into
hiring and making sure that we're fully staffed as best as possible. We're not fully staffed yet, but we're getting there. Um and we're we're good to go on the first day of school. Um open house is coming up. We're very excited about that. Uh on September 9th, I keep I keep
sending it out and now I now I'm blanking on to it. Uh yeah, September 9th. um here at the building and it's going to be I I can't wait to have the community within the building too because of how hard the custodians have worked over the summer to make sure that the building's prepared. This place
looks absolutely incredible. From the first day that I stepped into the building, uh the maintenance crew had already had all the furniture out of the classrooms and then we're working on finishing the floors, uh working on things that I wasn't even aware of to make sure that the building is going to
be functional. The technology team here in the building has been outstanding to make sure that things are up and running. The Chromebooks, touch views, the rethinking of some different ideas for um our technology classroom and the collaboration with the central office
staff have been um has been fantastic. We kicked off today like the rest of the school district. Uh we started off with a big circle. I'm sure the staff really liked that. uh and just really kind of focus on uh building the community, building um and recognizing that we're here for kids
first and making sure that uh we are focused on making sure that pe kids, staff, and the community know that we belong here and that this is a place where where we can thrive uh educationally. Uh so do you have any other do you have any questions?
Um what's the enrollment? I know we asked you on the tour, but so I don't have the exact numbers for each class, but right now our enrollment number is at 5:35. Okay. Which is seven more than I was telling people. Okay. Mrs. Ry, do you know how many are in the
kindergarten by any chance? 81. 81. Okay, great. Oh, something else that I wanted to add to the process that I'm looking forward that the kindergartener the kindergarten teachers are putting into place for screenings, placement, and then having
the open house is phenomenal. Um, having that face to face interaction with kids right away and then being able to structure their classrooms in the ways that they best see fit uh with the kids. I think I'm really looking forward to seeing for the first time. Uh, I can't
wait for open house too for kindergarten uh during the school day and inviting those families riding school buses uh and getting those kids in here and recognizing that they're heroes and that that they're part of our community now for a very very long time. Something that I really want to stress to parents
as well is that when you come to open house, I'm sure you're all watching this right now. When you come to open house, it's also a time where you're talking with each other and then you're building those connections because you're going to be with each other way longer than you're going to be with me and the people in the classrooms. And building
those relationships all the way up until when they go to Silver Lake Regional High School will be really important, especially if myself or Miss Lubron have to give you a call because something happened in the classroom on the field or on the or on the recess field. Um, you already have a relationship with
those families and with those kids. Great. I don't have any other questions. All right. Um Sarah, so in your digital packets for tonight, the financial report, um you'll notice
that it looks different. There are two different copies of the financial report. There is a summary and then a detail. You can see what I worked on last year. the um redoing the chart of accounts for the for all four entities.
You can see what that looks like in the detail account where you can see, you know, these are the um textbook expenses and these are the professional development expenses. And so things are grouped together in a way um in alignment with other districts in the
state and uh in a way that I think will be easier for you to look at. the I wanted to point out these two reports to you tonight, answer any questions that you had might have about them and to let you know that those will be part of the consent agenda in the future.
Okay. So, the financial report here will be part of the consent agenda. Okay. Yes, you will get it the you know the week in advance or whatever the the deadline is. All right. And also in the consent
agenda, we don't have it for tonight because there aren't any, but the grants and donations, that uh charter of grants and donations, that will be in there as well. Okay. Also, I have for you tonight an updated
closeout. So, since our meeting on July 9th, July 8th, since our meeting on July 8th, the expenses of the district uh increased two approximately $2,988. So, if you look at the closeout document
that I put in your packets for you, um there was an addition of an invoice from Diamond Mechanical that came in. uh an invoice from MD communications and then there were some adjustments that the tech department made from the vendor CDW
which is computer data warehouse and uh company overs. Okay. Do we need to vote or anything or just updated just if you accept the revised close out that would be great. Okay. Make a vote to accept. Okay. Any
questions? I'll make a motion to accept the revised FY25 closeout presented by Sarah. Second. All right. And we'll have a roll call vote. Karen, yes. Jessica, yes. And I'm a yes. And that concludes my part of the
meeting. Thank you. Hi. Hi everyone. Um so I have a few things tonight. The first thing is just an update on professional development this summer. Um we had three different courses that were
um run by research for better teaching. Um the first one was the studying skillful teacher course which we have every summer which is contractual in the first three years teachers take that course which is great. It was at it was at the high school at the middle school a few weeks ago. Um it was really well
attended. So I'm really excited about that. The other course that teachers are taking which is new this year which is also run by research for better teaching is the high um uh high expectations teaching. So studying skillful teachers is sort of the foundational uh course.
High expectations is like the next level and it really focuses on differentiation and kind of some of those more detailed um skills that teachers need. And the other course that we've been going to year round and there was a group that went this summer is analyzing teaching
for student results which is really a course for people who are evaluators that is based on RBT on on the what what teachers learn in those courses. It's this is the evaluators version so that they're evaluating teachers on what they what they've been learning so all the language matches and people know the
terms and all those things. So those are three things that that h were happening this summer. The new teacher orientation happened on August 20th at the high school. Um, and that's a great day. We have all the new teachers together and we talk about lots of things. We do a nice game at the beginning where we ask
them something that they are really they could teach someone something and then something they would like to learn how to do. So, it's a nice get to know you um atmosphere and then they do that great bus ride which Mr. Blet gives them the history of all of the places and they they do that bus ride. So, that's a
great a great day. And then we had a leadership retreat which happened June 25th, June 26th, the first two days. And then August 19th, we had the third day. We talked about data wise, which is really a structure for looking at data in schools. We went over benchmark data.
We uh did the strategy for district improvement, what we did and what what we're going to do in the future. We talked about instructional leadership, MTSS, and Educ. the edge of climber piece will continue which is a database for all the information that we have for students. Um professional development
days today was the first one we had everybody um at the high school and um Jill did a nice job with her opening um her opening speech to everyone and um today they also folks went back to their buildings and did mandatory trainings
and school-based things. They were able to work in their classrooms. Um tomorrow is a big day. Tomorrow is a big day for math HMH. It's the first day that we're really um providing professional development um for all the different
teachers um really K through 8. So tomorrow is a big day. And at the high school, we're having some AI professional development going on for the middle school and high school teachers. And then on September 2nd, we'll continue with math training um that day. And we also have PD for
specialists and pair professionals and all those things. So that's been a whole extravaganza of planning that's been going on really since probably April. So this is it. This is the packet for tomorrow. Um and the last piece is title grants have been written and submitted
and for Halifax it's title one, title 2, and title 4. Um those funds um this year didn't really the applications didn't come out until probably the end of July, beginning of August. So that was a quick turnaround with the same deadline as it always had been, which was September
9th. So, if we need to make edits, we will, but those have been submitted and as soon as it's approved by Desi, then we can go ahead and and utilize those funds. So, that's everything that I have tonight. Thank you. Do you mind if we circle back to Mr. Brana for a second? I did have a question I forgot to ask. Um, can you
tell me what the um the staff vacancies are just because I don't because I parents are going to talk about it and I want to have it on record so that there's not a lot of like, oh, well, I heard I heard, you know. Yeah, it's a good point. Thank you. Um let's see staff current
vacancies. So um we are in process of doing some uh hiring uh school psychologist, a behavioralist. Um in process for a school library media
teacher and I got back up for you. Okay. It's not a quiz. You're doing a really good job. Okay. I have a spreadsheet in front of you, so I'm cheating. Oh, nice. And you named every one of them. The
only other piece is um pending to cafeteria. Yes. Pending two cafeteria. It's Yes. Yes. And these are in process all of them or um the behavioralist is a is more of a a struggle
which has been a struggle for a while. Yes. I will say with your support though from last year and this year they've been working through it from a behavior standpoint and an RBT standpoint to see what types of applicants we can attract. Okay. So yes um yeah that's a really good point
because um like we have been able to interview different things just things haven't solidified um and um Heather Tucker has been instrumental too in helping us find people um especially for the school psychologist position and um getting getting the word out there for a lot of different things. So thank you
Thank you. All right. Yeah. No, I just I meant to ask and I forgot. All right. Thank you. So, I would just like to welcome both uh Mr. Sorry, and Dr. Tucker for their very first official Halifax School Committee
meeting. So, I I just want to welcome them both. And um I also uh wanted to say that the retreat is really kind of a misnomer. It's really uh it's really a lot of fun.
No. And they and you know it's the principles, it's the assistant principles, it's the directors, it's the coordinators. We all get together over the summer. Uh and we do a lot of work. There's also some team building built in and we try to come up with a a theme each year that makes it a little less
dry. So this year it was Marvel, which is why some of us have our Marvel gear on. Um but it's a lot of work. Um and so I I just want to thank everyone because it really was a team effort and even the
presentation today was the result of a lot of uh teamwork. So in your packet you'll find the draft strategic uh the strategy for district improvement for 2526. And I just want to go over some of the items that are directly related to Halifax for the upcoming school year,
which uh under the strategic uh goal number one uh strengthening our sense of community. You're going to see that we're going to be expanding our anti-bullying and pro-social support by partnering with change makers for good um for a community presentation on
September 29th. Um and it's going to be at the high school, but it's for parents in all four of our districts. And so we're hoping to attract many parents because parents play a key role in helping their children make good decisions and being
um welcoming and and good friends to other children as we kick off the new school year. Uh secondly, we're going to expand participation in the second annual districtwide community curriculum showcase which Halifax participated in last year. We're going to uh make sure
that we fulfill the community rem community member requirement on all of our school councils by October 2025. So please if you are a community member and would are interested in serving on the school council, please contact Mr. Prrena as soon as possible because we
want to make sure that we get input from the community. So um and that's in all of our schools. We're just coming out early so that we can try to get more interest in in helping us. Um the school council is very instrumental in helping
to um come up with a school um improvement plan as well as uh review certain potential changes to the school handbook which ultimately would be approved by the school committee. But it's an important uh committee to be part of.
The second goal is the emphasis of high expectations for all students using research-based strategies, datainformed destruct instruction, not destruction and uh a tiered system of support. So um we're going to be strengthening co-eing
methodology. We're going to be utilizing observations and teacher evaluation um to look for aspects of RBT which uh this year we're going to focus on framing the lesson, communicating the objectives and implementing a criteria for success for students.
And we will be continuing full staff training on edge climbers so that uh our staff becomes more familiar with and it's easier to use um the the data dashboard for things like uh MTSS process or student support team and they
will be implementing the data wise protocol to help frame their data team meetings as well. Um strategic goal number three, we're going to continue to implement the curriculum review. We're in year two for math. So, it will be the implementation of the new math program,
but we'll be starting literacy. And um we will continue to implement assessments three times a year for STAR and DBLE at the elementary level. For our fourth goal, which really focuses on structures that help us to support all of these goals, we're going to be
focusing on the Tritown Committee to examine full regionalization and what that may or may not mean for our communities. We are going to provide training and professional development um which will include this year integrating AI into instruction
and we will be streamlining and accelerating our timeline for the uh FY27 capital and budget planning. So um our my next item on the agenda is that revised timeline. Uh our goal this year
is to get you a budget by December that would be votable. Oh, that's exciting. So, uh that's the that's the word that we're we're using in our meetings. Uh we have sent out um uh
this timeline to all of our school committees. The next step Sarah is is sending out an FY27 budget proposal request memo. We've already had some preliminary conversations with um some of our principles, but uh this will specifically outline their next steps.
Uh the the rollover is being completed so that the principles now have access to their line items, but you'll get a memo on all of that and on what that looks like and we will be here to support know that's a new process here in this building for you. Um, how
soon can the town give us a number typically like of what they're So, the governor's budget comes out in January and we really don't have uh won't have a number from the town
including that until January. But if you think back to the process last year and the year before, we bought brought a proposed to you in January and then there was a lot of discussion going back and forth and and this aggressive budget
calendar really takes that into consideration that we're going to do a lot more work before it comes to you. Okay, sounds great. Thank you. Um we're going to have in September we're going to have a
discussion with each school committee regarding goals and priorities for FY27 budget. So we're looking forward to your recommendations and your requests of us uh sooner sooner the better so that we can start putting together those numbers for you. In October we're going to meet
with the principles the technology director and the director of facilities and the director of student services to review their budget proposals as well. In November, we as usual, we will have our joint meeting where our um tech director, our curriculum coordinator, and our director of student services
will all present uh budgetary overviews regarding um some of the uh the drivers and some of the the um expected trends to look look for in the budget for the upcoming season. And then in the December, we
hope to have what would have been our preliminary budget that we typically give you in January. January. We'll our goal is to get it to you by December. Recognizing that a there are so many things that will still change between then
and March, which is the deadline for the school committee to vote a budget to get it on time to the the town. But the sooner we start talking about it, the the sooner we can think about what uh some of the impact and implications may be for the upcoming school year.
So, um happy to answer any questions or to listen to any um initial thoughts on the budget process that you may have. Sweating budget. Well, I mean, I feel like we're going to
probably Well, I don't know. I mean, it seems like we're going to have to have a level funded budget at least, you know, like same level as this year. I would guess that's the worst I mean, best case
scenario. I'm hoping, you know, that that's our best case scenario. The level funded budget, same amount of money we had this year. So, I mean, we definitely need that. And I I don't know what kind of what did they call it last year? They didn't call it cuts, reductions. I don't
know what kind of reductions the town's going to request, but as a school committee member, I would like to not have to cut anything, but I feel like if we can work within, you know, the level funded budget that, you know, that that's a place to start
showing that we're trying to be as conservative as possible. That's my thought anyway. Mhm. So that would definitely one request cuz I I really don't see any Well,
I mean even if we were to go for an override if needed, I feel like we really still we can't ask for anymore, you know, just what we need to run the school basically. Do you feel like that's accurate or
So to be clear, you said level funded, but you don't want cuts. There's a difference between level funded and level service, right? Level funded, I know, is not the same as level service. Level service would automatically be an increase, right? So that's why I'm saying level funded,
but hoping I know I can hope. Right. Right. I mean, I guess too for information's sake, although I don't want to make you do a thousand budgets, that a we could see what the difference between a level
funded and level service budget is and have what each means because if we're going to go for an override, I don't, you know, I mean, but again, I want it. It's it's I'm imagining it's going to be tough. I hope the state comes through. But
realistically, we would always start with a level service budget and then say, "Oh, look, it's this much overlevel funded and then have to do some difficult work, right?" Well, I mean, I I suppose I just
was Captain Obvious in my request. So, all right. Any other Okay. But I think it's a good timeline because we had to work so hard on it last year. So we'll start earlier. Hopefully
there there will be a lot of potential changes as things like grants as the state budget comes into view. So again, there's going to be that disclaimer. So the the earlier you get presented with the budget, the more likely those
numbers are going to change. So, we will keep repeating that because sometimes people get upset when they see how vastly different the numbers can be. Well, that's understandable. But also, this year we should have some money come into play that we didn't have this year
because we didn't qualify for it. So, right, like the um the I'm trying to remember what it was called. There was some like money we didn't qualify for. Is it the 270 or
240? So, okay. The former special ed director wasn't confident that Halifax would make the maintenance of effort um this year threshold in order to get the 240 grant
for this year. So, we didn't factor that into any of the budgeting did we actually meet the threshold or we haven't. So at this moment of time, I'm actually asking because the FY24 budget was more of a consortium and
we've obviously un tangled some of those uh webs that have us looking at so um a little bit of a thorn in this side of the department asking some really poignant questions about what does that mean in our maintenance of effort. Um,
you know, Miss and I had a phone call last week where I was asking questions about what does that look like? What does that mean? What are our responsibilities? Um, the way that the the grants are looking at, you have somebody who looks more fiscal in funding and then there's another portion of the grant that looks at more special
education compliance and how we're using the money to increase outcomes for students. And what I appreciate is they don't want to step in each other's buckets, but what it means is not one person could answer all of the questions. So, I reached out to um another person to follow up on that
maintenance bathroom type of question and he sent me to a supervisor right off the bat cuz I already know there were complex which is okay. Um I do have to say, you know, the um finance person just really appreciated the time, effort, and energy that Miss Hickey and I are trying to put in to do it right
and to make sure we have the right questions. And she, you know, like she said, we're not doing brain surgery. You know, we we know everything is fixable. should it mean to me? But I did say to um the you know both sets of teams like
you know we have money for carryover for equitable services that it's not something that specifies to Halifax but more severely in one of the other districts. Um but again our maintenance of effort is reflected right now on an FI24 number that is not accurate and
does not tell the story. while I understand we have numbers that you look at in this spreadsheet does not actually capture the um you know qualitative portion of what's going on. So I'm hoping you'll come back to me real soon but I am pressing those questions
because it's important. Thank you. That's great. I'm sorry I can never remember exactly what things are called. At least you read my mind anyway. All right. Anything else? Um that's it for me.
Okay. Thank you. Hoping for, you know, miracles. Anyway, uh subcommittee reports. We don't have all of our subcommittees fully appointed at this time because we were waiting for our new person. And so I
guess we'll go through um well admin review. No, nothing. That's what I thought. Pilgrim area collaborative. I don't think there's been anything yet in the summer. Union 31, we did have a meeting, but it was to for
talk about the Google um the Google right policy in the handbook which will be going out to to parents when they receive the handbook sign off, right? Negotiations. Um we uh we voted for the
teacher contract tonight and the custodian contract has been settled as well. So yeah. And then capital budget I don't think they met. Policy I don't think met either. Well it was the union 31 covered policy but
and MASC has put out some new policy changes that are being reviewed by uh attorney dupet and once those have been reviewed we'll present them to the policy subcommittee sometime in the fall. Okay. And I think as a member of the school committee, you actually received
those new policy changes in the mail. Um, and then youth and wreck, I don't think we have a leazison right now, but um I'm not I don't think there was any meetings. And then PTO, there hasn't been any meetings. So, um,
other matters unforeseen at time of posting is a new one, but I don't it's it's really just for things that there's no way you could have known that it was going it is not meant for us to abuse, right? Um, but it's it's there in the event of
something like an emergency where we really needed to take care of something that we could not have known 48 hours in advance. Okay. Yep. So, we Excellent put it there just in case. Just in case. I don't think anything came up thankfully. All right. Um huh. Today. Today.
Uh so dates to remember. Uh first day of school is August 27th. Labor Day is September 1st. Teacher inservice. So no school is September 2nd. Early release will be September 25th. Um K through 6. Well, it's all grades and the times are
there. But um our next meeting which is October 6th, 2025 and people will be in touch with about emails and things like that for you for this. So um I at this time I will uh entertain a motion to
adjurnn. Motion to what? I already second. Thank you Karen. Yes. Jessica. Yes. And myself is a yes. Thank you everyone. Nice. Pretty well.
Oh, hey Karen. Have a party.