WEBVTT METADATA Video-Count: 1 Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=4UAABBELnHM NOTE MEETING SECTIONS: Part 1 (Video ID: 4UAABBELnHM): - 00:04:57: Meeting Call to Order and Citizen Comments - 00:06:02: Reviewing School Committee Protocols and Mission Statement - 00:07:27: Superintendent Report: State Revenue, Budget, Strategic Planning - 00:13:29: School Safety Drills and Radio Frequency Updates - 00:15:36: MCAS Testing Updates and Thank You - 00:16:10: Student Government Representative Update and Consent Agenda - 00:17:36: Recognizing Outgoing School Committee Members - 00:19:17: Superintendent Summative Evidence Review and Deadlines - 00:21:24: Superintendent Evaluation Submission Details and Discussion - 00:26:57: Northshore Education Consortium Budget and Initiatives - 00:31:22: Town Meeting Recap and Budget Vote Success - 00:33:31: Potential Actions if Budget Override Fails to Pass - 00:37:52: Planning for a Possible School Committee Meeting - 00:42:59: Clarifying Budget Scenarios and Override Vote Failures - 00:45:13: Committee Reports: Capital Finance, Policy, Negotiations - 00:47:15: Secretary Report, Inboxes, Chair Report Discussion - 00:50:00: History Day Achievements and Upcoming National Competition - 00:52:26: Average Meeting Time and Adjournment Part: 1 1 00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:13.680 I'll do this later. >> Okay. All right. Good evening. I call to order the meeting of the Hamilton Regional School Committee on Thursday, April 14th, 2026 at 700 p.m. Want to remind everyone that this meeting is 2 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:31.759 being recorded and livereamed. Um, and first up, we have an opportunity for citizens comments. I'm going to just give Eric a moment to Is the Zoom is up? >> Okay. Um, it doesn't look like anyone on 3 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:46.639 Zoom is ready to offer a citizen's comment. Is that right? >> Correct. No one here yet. >> I'm going to Is there anyone in the room that's interested in a comment? Because if not, I'm not going to subject you all to my thoughts about citizens comments. 4 00:05:46.639 --> 00:06:02.800 Okay. All right. Seeing none, we will go ahead and close citizens comments. >> Closing now. >> All right. Um, next up, um, I did not 5 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:20.479 print it, but would someone be willing to read number nine from our school committee protocols? >> Sure. >> Thank you, Amy. As elected members of the Hamilton Munham Regional School Committee, we including the superintendent accept the 6 00:06:20.479 --> 00:06:37.440 high honor and trust that has been placed in us to ensure that the students of the district receive the best education possible. To that end, we hereby commit to the following in the conduct of our business. >> Say number seven. >> Nine. >> Nine. Sorry. All members will maintain 7 00:06:37.440 --> 00:06:55.520 the confidentiality of privilege information and will respect the open meeting law. Thank you. Um, and now Julia, would you read a portion of the mission statement? >> The Hamilton Regional >> Oh, you should be I think you're on. 8 00:06:55.520 --> 00:07:11.680 >> Okay. >> The Hamilton Wenham Regional School District School Committee's mission is to ensure our schools create graduates with a passion for lifelong learning together with the critical skills needed to maximize their potential. The Hamilton Wenham Regional School 9 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:27.120 Committee will lead and inspire a district that attracts and retains highquality educators by acknowledging and respecting their expertise and professionalism. >> Thank you. 10 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:49.120 All right. Next up is to you, Eric, for a superintendent report. >> Great. Thank you. Uh a few things on the agenda tonight. I wanted to talk a little bit about the state revenues. Uh we get site revenue reports from the Mars Group Mass 11 00:07:49.120 --> 00:08:03.199 Association of Regional School Districts. Um FY26 year-to date collections are at 30.6 billion which is about uh 980 million or 3% more than actuals from last fiscal year. So that's 12 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:21.759 a good sign. Um, and it's 653 million or 2 point I think it's 2.2% above the year-to- date benchmark. Um, the the budget, as you know, is in process now. The governor had released her budget uh couple months ago. It's uh in ways and 13 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:38.320 means right now. They're looking at a number of things including um amendments for surplus funds. Uh last year we were eligible for some surplus funds. The problem that that we have is they came I think on June 28th when we closed the budget on June 30th. So 14 00:08:38.320 --> 00:08:53.440 there's no room to spend any of the surplus funds. So uh there are a number of amendments that are um uh should come to fruition for surplus funds including transportation uh special ed circuit breaker and uh monies attached to the student 15 00:08:53.440 --> 00:09:08.800 opportunities act which in the current uh budget is uh set at 150 per student. in the FY27 governor's budget, she dropped it to 75 per student, which basically washes away the work that 16 00:09:08.800 --> 00:09:24.959 we've done with the student opportunity act for the for the last uh seven years. So, the ways and means is working on surplus funding now. Um, House and the Senate will get their budget versions together and move those forward. Uh, 17 00:09:24.959 --> 00:09:41.440 both uh have been in heavy conversation with superintendents around the state. They've been at town meetings. They've been out and and listening and understanding what's happening with the budget. So, I think we'll see some positive numbers come out of some of the budgets, including opportunities to bump 18 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:59.279 up some of our S SOA monies and um circuit breaker and regional transportation because they're not fully funded again in the in the current governor's version. So, we'll we'll hope to see that change. Um right now, I think our regional transportation's funded at 61% It should 19 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:14.880 be it's supposed to be 75% of the total. Uh so we're hoping to get the balance of that at at uh some point. Other things that that are out there uh include um some of the opportunities for uh 20 00:10:14.880 --> 00:10:30.399 amendments to be put into the budget. So, in conversations with our reps uh and our senator, we have been able to uh push and and make the claim to try to get these amendments both put in the surplus but also in the FY27 state 21 00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:47.440 budget so that these things can be fully funded by the time the budget process is complete. So, that's our goal. We're continue to work towards that and um and in speaking with the the legislators, they understand the issues. they are pushing hard to try to figure out how to 22 00:10:47.440 --> 00:11:03.920 make things work. Um, also looking at opportunities to uh look at the the um the realities of what towns are facing, not only on the school district side, but also on the town side. I mean, I think I said at both town meetings that towns of Hamilton and Wam unrestricted 23 00:11:03.920 --> 00:11:19.360 government aid was 1.1%. And when you're, you know, when your aid is $600,000, that's not enough money when you need a police officer and, you know, $100,000 in trash service increase. So uh I'll keep you updated on that. There are things things are seem to be moving forward and moving 24 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:36.880 positively. Um I also wanted to give an update on student uh excuse me the strategic planning. In strategic planning we have uh had five meetings and have gone through the process starting all the way back with the uh current strategic plan. We reviewed it 25 00:11:36.880 --> 00:11:53.839 looked at the things that we did what we didn't complete and really determined a path forward based on that. took all the things that we didn't complete, weighed their options to see whether we should keep them in the process or not. Then we started looking at uh hundreds of documents related to 26 00:11:53.839 --> 00:12:09.040 the district, budget documents, um documents about curriculum, instruction, anything we could find that we could give to these committees. um and started to do the the create the conversations around what this plan looks like, what 27 00:12:09.040 --> 00:12:24.880 our focus areas are, um and then what those how to define those focus areas. So, right now, one of as an example, one of our focus areas in the strategic plan is teaching and learning. And for us, we're looking at what's the next evolution of that. So, when we we start 28 00:12:24.880 --> 00:12:39.839 to look at focus and um so you'll see a change in that. We've started to nail down the actual uh focus areas. We're going to have four focus areas. Again, last meeting, we spent a lot of almost all 90% of the meeting working the group 29 00:12:39.839 --> 00:12:56.720 through a carousel process of uh defining the focus areas based on information that they have generated over the last four meetings previous to this one. Uh so the process is is going well. We uh had to add another meeting. We were supposed to have our last 30 00:12:56.720 --> 00:13:12.560 meeting the end of April, but we're going to need another meeting just to get our initiative sorted out. That's kind of a bigger it's a bigger conversation because once you have the focus areas, you know, what are you going to do comes under it? So, um there's a ton of information that's been generated from the group. We hope to get 31 00:13:12.560 --> 00:13:29.200 that work settled and done so that we have a plan to bring to the committee at some point in June. Outside of that, lots going on in our schools. Uh today, I got to go uh to the high school. They did a uh lockdown drill and uh evacuation drill. They did 32 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:44.720 both and separated it from the middle school. So that helps us to figure out some things like okay, what happens if and it showed us a hole in in our communications, you know, because the high school and middle school are one campus 33 00:13:44.720 --> 00:14:00.160 and the PA system, you can communicate across the whole campus, but when you separate out one building from the other, you can do that with a code. uh some parts of the building don't have an announcement being made. So that gives us an opportunity to tweak some things. 34 00:14:00.160 --> 00:14:16.720 We also learned today that due to the transition of Hamilton near 911 to the Middleton Central uh that took out our uh radio frequency for the Hamilton police. Several of our principles have radios that they can d 35 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:32.800 they can just click to the Hamilton police. Um quick quick remedy. We we actually they all joined the Wenom frequency. So we have that as well. So principles now just we just had to go through the process of making sure that everybody knew there's just one frequency for all of our radios to 36 00:14:32.800 --> 00:14:48.000 communicate when we need police and fire with this new change. So that'll help us moving forward to have just one one uh radio channel. Um instead of four, we have four now. Two one for each police and fire in both communities. Um, so it 37 00:14:48.000 --> 00:15:04.320 was a great opportunity to see. Um, worked out well. Having the fields is nice because now you can spread groups out and get kids into appropriate, you know, lines and locations so that you can do attendance and make sure everybody's where they need to be. So, all the schools go through that uh 38 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:19.120 usually at the beginning of the year at least once and then March when it gets a little bit quieter uh they go through uh either a lockdown or an evacuation or the elementaryaries they do um location recognition. So they'll Buucher, for example, will walk to the library or 39 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:36.160 walk to their, you know, whatever their whatever the building spot is for them to reunite so the kids know where they go and how they get there. So it's just a good opportunity for us to to get around and make those uh connections again. Other than that, MCCAST is the 40 00:15:36.160 --> 00:15:52.880 ELA MCCAST is is closing in on the end. We had a lot of makeups so far. There's a few more for the rest of the week and then those will taper out and we'll go on vacation next week and uh come back and be looking staring in the face at the math MCCAST in miday. So that's 41 00:15:52.880 --> 00:16:10.880 about it from me for now. >> Thank you. Anybody have questions for Eric? >> All right. Thank you. Um, our next up is our student government representative and she um let 42 00:16:10.880 --> 00:16:27.440 us know that she I think she has a game actually. She's at a game and so she will arrive if that ends in time and we'll make um invite her in then, but if not, >> hope she's winning the game. >> She was concerned that she might show up 43 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:42.800 in her uniform. That's perfectly fine. >> That would be represent. >> Absolutely. Okay. Okay, that would be absolutely okay. Um, so we will hold that open and um if EIE arrives, we will welcome her then. Um, does anyone have 44 00:16:42.800 --> 00:16:58.800 any items from the consent agenda that they'd like to have held? >> No. >> Julia, >> I move that we accept the consent agenda as presented. >> Second. >> Second by Kristen Non. All those in favor? 45 00:16:58.800 --> 00:17:18.720 That is uh five in favor of the members present and the motion passes. Okay. Thank you to friends of Winthre and the Institute for Savings. Institution for Savings. Yes. Really 46 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:36.000 nice. Um always always nice to see those lovely donations. >> Great. >> Um next up is new business. I am gonna actually turn this over to Amy because I'm >> and Amy's going to turn it over to me. >> Oh, yep. 47 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:50.799 >> Turn it over to Eric. >> Yeah. Um, as we all know, this is the final meeting for this group and there are several uh members on the on the committee who are ending their terms 48 00:17:50.799 --> 00:18:08.160 whether it be three, two, one year. Um there's various terms and those will come to an end and be recentered next uh excuse me in two days and Tuesday uh Thursday when we have our elections but I wanted to take a moment to recognize the three members that have spent their 49 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:23.360 time with us and worked with us this year and many other years um and just say thank you to each of you for your time, your dedication and commitment to the district kids and the things that we do within our community. Um, these are little cards that I'm going to need back 50 00:18:23.360 --> 00:18:39.840 by the end of the night night. They're for a sweatshirt, a district, you know, we want you to be in district swag. And then, um, just let us know your size and I will take it from there and get them back to you. So, Dana Lara, >> thank you very much. 51 00:18:39.840 --> 00:19:02.799 Megan Benson and Kristen Noon. >> Thank you. >> As far apart as possible. >> Yay. I'm so excited for my sweatshirt. >> Believe it or not, it'll be my first general swag. 52 00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:17.679 >> Awesome. You're in. >> And yeah, exactly. >> Serve a little while I get one. H. All right. Thank you. That's very sweet. >> Thank you all. >> Um, all right. Uh, next up is right back to Eric. Um, superintendent summitative 53 00:19:17.679 --> 00:19:34.320 evidence. Um, I don't know if you want to say anything or if you want me to just lead you in, but go ahead. >> Okay. Uh, back in February, we I gave you the midyear uh, evidence summary for you to use in 54 00:19:34.320 --> 00:19:50.000 my evaluation. And this is the final um document. Just keep in mind I'm still working. I still have still still have two and a half more months to to finish out the year. So a lot of things on here might still say ongoing or they might say that 55 00:19:50.000 --> 00:20:06.000 they're still in process. U there are just a number of things like the strategic plan is a great example. It'll continue through probably June. it just I I did write about as much as we could with all of the work that we've done this year and um all the the issues that 56 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:21.039 um needed to be expanded upon from February are in here now. So you should have a fairly complete picture of the work I started doing, have been doing, and will continue to do uh for the district. And it's it's all the same 57 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:36.559 except for I just kind of continued writing in the reflection area or updated what was ongoing and what u might needed. So this will this documents for you to use as you evaluate me over the next weeks and um I'm certainly available at any time to 58 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:51.760 answer qu there's a lot here. There's 20 20ome pages of information but certainly answer any questions if people need questions answered within here. There are lots of links. Um, if you open a link and it's a copy, it's because there are live documents being used in the 59 00:20:51.760 --> 00:21:09.120 district. So, I had to kind of manipulate them a little so that they weren't all being moved all around. So, um, but you should be able to see everything. It should be open. Everything should be open and available to you. And certainly anything I can do to answer questions, clarify something, please reach out. 60 00:21:09.120 --> 00:21:24.080 >> Dana, can we review the deadlines? >> I was just going to do that. It's like you read my mind. Um so um you should all have already received um and let me know if you didn't um some information about the um superintendent evaluation. >> Yeah. 61 00:21:24.080 --> 00:21:38.720 >> Look um and please look at that and let me know if you have any process questions or any questions. But the deadline for um individuals to submit is May 17th. And I believe that we agreed they were 62 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:57.280 gonna we were going to submit to Julia. Um and >> and what's my deadline? >> And and I don't remember >> Julia will provide it to Janelle by June 1st so that we can have a review of the draft on June 4th. Um anticipating a 63 00:21:57.280 --> 00:22:13.679 vote on the 18th. Um, I guess hypothetically could be on the fourth if no one had any >> edits on the draft. I guess that would be possible. Um, so does anyone have any questions about that? 64 00:22:13.679 --> 00:22:31.120 Um, I um I don't know if we want to I don't know. I I kind of have it in my um chair's notes, but maybe I'll bring it up then. It's or it might fall into this, too. is that I I do have want to get feedback from um 65 00:22:31.120 --> 00:22:49.039 the group about um whether we want any kind of a workshop. It'll be maybe it's better to have a more complic it's a little bit tricky because um Megan could still come to the workshop. I think um we don't know who all is going to be sitting in these chairs. Um, we've in 66 00:22:49.039 --> 00:23:06.000 the past usually done a workshop just on the process for how to create the evaluation. So maybe I'll leave that to everyone to sort of determine whether we want to put that on the calendar. We have some other calendar questions. Um, 67 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:21.840 it's certainly something back several years ago, we used to have the MASC come in and teach us a workshop. We did that for I don't know several years and then the last couple years we've done it ourselves because we've got people that know how to do it. So um 68 00:23:21.840 --> 00:23:38.400 >> I would also say I mean it's not violating open meeting law if you call me >> or you call Dana or Amy and ask a process question. Dana and I did that. >> Um we've done that probably almost every year. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Asking each other. Okay. I'm trying to 69 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:54.799 figure out how this fits into like >> piece two of the whatever >> which focus which which you know which focus item is this or where do I find such and such a document or that kind of thing. Um 70 00:23:54.799 --> 00:24:10.400 um so anyway maybe we'll just hold that and we can talk about it maybe during the chair report or people can talk about it offline but I just want to I know I found that workshop to be helpful. I don't know how whether you guys have dived in. It might be helpful to look at it first and then sort of see whether you think you might need a 71 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:27.600 workshop or not if you feel like it's self-explanatory. Um, and I will say to the three of us, >> um, just like we talked about that you you can only write about the time that you're actually on the committee. 72 00:24:27.600 --> 00:24:43.679 So, we'll just leave it at that. And that all individual evaluations are public, not just the summitative one. >> Correct. But the one that the summitive one is the one that we as collectively >> but anyone can look at. >> You can look at them after. But you 73 00:24:43.679 --> 00:25:00.000 can't look at them ahead of time and share each other. That's >> No, no, no, no. >> Afterwards. >> But I just mean whatever you write in there >> is public. Correct. It's public information, right? With your name on it. >> Um Okay. Yes. >> So correct. Thank you, Julia. Um, all 74 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:15.520 right. Anybody have any questions on that? Okay. >> Um, I'll ask later. It's like super >> Yes, please do. >> No, no, it's it's actually that's why I said we had a workshop cuz it's there's a lot. Yeah. >> Well, so 75 00:25:15.520 --> 00:25:32.880 I guess I cuz I I'm assuming at some point my email account is going to be shut down. >> No, I'll leave it open. We'll make sure. Okay, perfect. Great. Great. No, that's a good question. solves it. No, and and it's a question I already asked again. 76 00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:49.039 >> Okay. >> Um, no, that's a good question. Um, yeah, because you'll still have work to do. So, again, you won't have access to new >> things, but >> you would have access to all the things you need in order to answer to write. >> Okay. >> Um, >> perfect. And I will say um in the past 77 00:25:49.039 --> 00:26:05.200 that will be a decision that this the committee can make a afterwards after you know at the next upcoming meeting but in the past typically members who had since left the committee would be invited to the meeting. They're not 78 00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:21.400 allowed to vote but they'd be invited to contribute and ask questions and answer something if their document is being discussed. Um, and obviously that would be voluntary people. Not that this isn't all voluntary. >> This is also 79 00:26:23.679 --> 00:26:40.640 um All right. Um All right. Anything else on that? Okay. >> No. >> Um, >> thank you for the thorough thorough evidence. >> Yes, there's a lot there. >> Makes our job a lot easier. >> Yes. Um, and I will say there are a lot 80 00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:57.360 of there are a lot of links. A lot of links. >> Hey, I like the more the better. The more the better. >> Anything you need help understanding, just let me know. >> Yeah. >> Um, >> happy to meet with anybody, talk to you on the phone, whatever. >> Um, back to you, Eric, for our 81 00:26:57.360 --> 00:27:13.520 Northshore Education Consortium. As you all know, I am on the board of the Northshore Education Consortium and as part of my duties, uh bring information back and forth between the board and the committee. Uh the 82 00:27:13.520 --> 00:27:29.360 document that's exit on the exhibit is they're approved the the budget we just approved for FY27. So, I wanted people to see that and just kind of hit a couple of highlights because I think we dealt with the same exact issues. 20 superintendents wrestled with the same exact issues that 83 00:27:29.360 --> 00:27:44.720 they're wrestling with in their own districts. Um this budget we cut we'll we'll end up cutting between eight and 10 positions just to kind of get our numbers down um spending on different areas non-contractual administrative 84 00:27:44.720 --> 00:28:01.679 areas. We reduced uh several of the line items within their budget uh and it still had uh increases of 9.4% overall. Uh the difference is this is a tuitionbased program. So we can reflect that in tuition increases. And there are 85 00:28:01.679 --> 00:28:18.640 two levels of tu tuition. There's member and non-member. So we pay $5,000 a year to be a member of the North uh shore consortium which gives us reduced rates for kids who need out of district placements uh who could could get out of district placements in one of their 86 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:35.200 programs. Um, so we kept anywhere between nine and 15 kids depending on the time of the year in this program. Um, but as part of my duties, I guess on the board, my job is to bring this information back and to um, just give 87 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:52.399 you an update of their budget and where they're at. This is a group that worked with us to reduce transportation costs for some of our districts by um, really grouping routes for out of district placements. So, that was helpful. It saved our district about $130,000, 88 00:28:52.399 --> 00:29:09.679 $131,000, I think. Um, and we're going to try to expand that for next year, try to continue to work that uh out. Um, there's also uh donations that they get annually to cover some of their expenses. Uh they they last year had a 89 00:29:09.679 --> 00:29:25.679 massive roof project which turned into a roofing and HVAC project. It was about a $14 million project that we approved two years ago. um they are still trying to wrap that up and when you look through their budget you see kind of they have money market accounts of $2 million but 90 00:29:25.679 --> 00:29:42.240 that that money's actually set aside so that they can pay those those bills for those debts that are coming. Uh the other big change is we just signed a contract to move the um Northshore Recovery High School which was located 91 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:59.360 in Beverly um on the Sawyer Road property where Northshore Consortium is to uh the Cummings building uh in Beverly the the big the Cummings Center um into that facility because we get a better rental, we get a uh a much bigger 92 00:29:59.360 --> 00:30:14.159 property and we're going to try and expand it. It's been rebranded, renamed. Um, it'll be the Northshore Phoenix High School and and really uh a different look at how to attract clientele for school districts. Right now, a lot of 93 00:30:14.159 --> 00:30:30.799 school districts have have responded to kids who need addiction, drug, alcohol addiction help by inhouse. We've been able to manage that more in house than we ever have. So that kind of reduced the program uh the rec north noshore recovery high school programs headcount 94 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:47.120 which is a dent in the budget because it it it cost you tuition. So they've rebranded the program and recreated the program so that they can try to increase tuition inre increase their headcount um and give give more opportunities to some of the older kids that that need these 95 00:30:47.120 --> 00:31:04.320 specialized programs. So lots of fun things and interesting things going on. Um this budget book is just is printed annually and just one of the expectation is that we have it as an agenda item but also talk about it um because I'm a board member. So I just wanted to bring that forward and make everybody aware. 96 00:31:04.320 --> 00:31:22.880 >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you for that. Um Okay, so next up is a town meeting recap. Um, so I don't know whether you want to 97 00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:37.679 speak to it or me. >> Yeah, I I mean I can speak to it. It was interesting to have town meeting on two different days this year, not one day all day. Um, as we all know now, all of our six votes, 98 00:31:37.679 --> 00:31:53.519 uh, the budget under the levy, override, and debt exclusion all passed by their needed majority votes. Uh most impressed was the debt exclusion. Uh always makes you nervous on a debt exclusion because of the 2/3 99 00:31:53.519 --> 00:32:10.960 requirement, but we had um uh great showing at the meetings. I think there were 427 at one count. >> 429 I think >> 429 something at the the Hamilton meeting which was great. Um, but it was good to see the numbers that people really understand and really support 100 00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:27.840 what we do. And I think that was the message that was sent at at both town meetings that um people get it. They understand the budget difficulties. They understand that we're not inflating programs and adding things that we don't need. It's just really the the the same issue that every household is dealing 101 00:32:27.840 --> 00:32:43.760 with right now. Expenses just continue to climb. So, I appreciate the support of the the community members and the towns and um all the work that everybody did along the way to get these budgets to this point. Uh but I think, you know, we we we had a great showing for for 102 00:32:43.760 --> 00:32:58.320 each of the the town meetings and look forward to the election on Thursday. >> Yes, election Thursday. >> All right. Anybody have anything else to add about town meetings? I just wanted to add that I think these types of things are always a team effort 103 00:32:58.320 --> 00:33:15.440 and I also think that um the students really I think participated as part of the team this goound and I was so proud of our students who spoke at both town meetings. They were so thoughtful, wellprepared, had great things to say. I'm glad that the moderators in both 104 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:31.360 towns, you know, made it possible for them to speak and that was really um wonderful to see. So thank you. >> Agreed. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Um, unless anybody has anything else. Moving 105 00:33:31.360 --> 00:33:48.399 on. All right. Um, so this Eric and I put this on here because even though so I'll just be really upfront. So 106 00:33:48.399 --> 00:34:05.120 the we still have another vote. It's on Thursday. um both um well for the budget um I mean and the roof or both on Thursday. Um I had a really good conversation with um 107 00:34:05.120 --> 00:34:21.359 our uh representative from Mars which is the Mass Association of Regional Schools. We belong to them as well as the MASC. Um and um I I just those of you that know 108 00:34:21.359 --> 00:34:37.760 me, I like to know what the possibilities are. So I am not saying that I feel this could happen. I mean it's going to happen, but I wanted to know what happens if that if the uh 109 00:34:37.760 --> 00:34:53.359 school budget does not override does not pass on the ballot. And one of the good things about that conversation was she said that the first thing you need to remember is that if that occurs, the first thing that you want to do immediately is contact uh the department 110 00:34:53.359 --> 00:35:08.720 of education, contact Jessie and they will provide us with a representative to guide us as to what to do next. So I thought that was really helpful information. Um she was clearly had 111 00:35:08.720 --> 00:35:25.839 already talked to many people around the state about this question. Um she also made it clear that if the budget doesn't pass, we actually don't have an approved budget. The school committee has to have 112 00:35:25.839 --> 00:35:40.400 another conversation. So, one of the things and Eric and I actually discussed that's why we have this agenda item is that she sort of recommended and we had already sort of thought about you might want to if it doesn't pass you want to 113 00:35:40.400 --> 00:35:56.079 have a meeting about what to do. And so anyway, this is why we sort of put it out there about looking all to all of you because the next meeting that we have scheduled 114 00:35:56.079 --> 00:36:12.079 currently is not until um May 7th and that's a big gap. And so I'm putting it out there. This I'm asking does the committee want to put a 115 00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:28.560 potential if needed meeting and this is a proposed date which is the 30th. Um >> yes please. >> So the T and I talked this through because go back to Vinnie's presentation 116 00:36:28.560 --> 00:36:45.599 about the timeline. You have 30 days from the time it fails. So all of a sudden your timeline gets really short like 8 days or 10 days left if you wait until that May 7th meeting and the reality is you probably have some new members on the committee and they have 117 00:36:45.599 --> 00:37:03.200 no acclamation to the budget itself to make a decision on what to do next whether you know we I think he he had gone through all Vinnie went through all those decisions like do nothing trim it back some more or accept the under the levy budget. Um, so those decisions would have to be made within 30 days and 118 00:37:03.200 --> 00:37:20.240 then contact made to the towns to request a special town meeting. Right. So that's that was really >> Yeah. Exactly. And I want to just be clear and and we sort of knew that but this the conversation with Mars reiterated that no if this were to occur 119 00:37:20.240 --> 00:37:36.400 and again it's I not saying that it would but that the that the committee has to do take some action like because the budget that was put forward was not the budget if it were to fail is not the budget that was approved. 120 00:37:37.359 --> 00:37:52.079 some action needs to be taken. >> Planning a potential meeting is fine, >> like an if needed. >> An if needed. I I looked at it and and we talked about it as somewhat like we usually have that meeting in February. The if needed meeting that like if the 121 00:37:52.079 --> 00:38:07.920 school committee budget has an issue, we always have an extra emergency meeting just if needed. Um, and just to clarify, just out of curiosity, so we the 30 days is to present the new budget at town meeting or just to make moves to go towards so 122 00:38:07.920 --> 00:38:23.760 >> make your decision. >> It's up to make your decision >> for us to approve a budget within the 30 days. >> Yes. To approve a budget >> to approve a budget, right? >> School committee too, >> right? And and then there are all kinds of things that if that doesn't happen like and that's why you would have a desi representative kind of guiding you 123 00:38:23.760 --> 00:38:40.560 and helping you and >> Okay. So again, this is all just being overly prepared like >> um >> you were thinking April 30th, >> correct? That's a Thursday. Um yeah. 124 00:38:40.560 --> 00:38:56.400 >> Um yep. Just to make sure I'm clear, if the override fails at the ballot in either town on the 16th, it does not pass. >> Correct. And we do also still technically have an 125 00:38:56.400 --> 00:39:13.520 approved levy levy limit budget. >> Well, so the towns >> the towns do, but we don't >> we have not put like that is one of the many things that could occur is that the school committee could vote on a on that level >> on a levy limit and then does that need 126 00:39:13.520 --> 00:39:30.000 to go back to town meeting or it does not because the towns have approved that dollar amount? >> I do not think that it does but that's something we would be in consultation with. >> Okay. item. So, >> yeah, because we put a full budget, we put 41 million and some change forward. >> Mhm. >> Any change to that, even though it was 127 00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:46.480 approved by the town, still has to come back and you have to either accept the to say we'll take the vote for under the levy only or um anything other than the total amount that you voted for on February 12th requires you to make a decision. >> Okay. Does it have to go back to another 128 00:39:46.480 --> 00:40:01.760 ballot vote though? >> Only if it requires an override. If it's the levy limit budget, there's not. >> Got it. Got it. Okay. >> Right. That's a great question. I'm glad you're right. Right. Because the what's on the ballot is just the override. So, yeah, that's a good question. Yeah. 129 00:40:01.760 --> 00:40:19.760 >> So, in theory, if we put forth a lesser override amount, it would go through two town meetings again and then the ballot, >> I think. So, >> okay. Again, it would depend on the number. Okay. Because if you dropped it to a certain point, wenom might not need 130 00:40:19.760 --> 00:40:35.760 an override. It it depends on the number you >> right because they already approved the fourth. So it would >> So if you're less than the approved override amounts, you then could in theory just go to the ballot. I'm just trying to kind of play out the scenarios of the number of potential votes we would need to do. Again, if there's a 131 00:40:35.760 --> 00:40:51.520 situation where like I think this is what Megan's saying too, it's just a ballot vote and not also two town meeting votes. That's what I'm trying to kind of parse out. in my mind >> I and I and I I think like this is why I was like let's >> let's call Jessie 132 00:40:51.520 --> 00:41:08.079 >> let's call them and let well and and like that my vision would be that that was this is what would be happening on the 30th is we would hopefully have >> all these answers >> all these answers maybe we would even have a representative here explaining to 133 00:41:08.079 --> 00:41:22.880 us >> okay >> you know I can't promise that we would have a res but I mean that would My hope is that we would have >> scenario. >> And so >> Oh, sorry. Go ahead. >> I was just going to say and so Vinnie, I remember when you walked us through all 134 00:41:22.880 --> 00:41:38.240 the scenarios and what could happen, right? And that number is that the number that gets us back to the levy limit like >> uh the levy limit is different for both communities. Um >> Okay. 135 00:41:38.240 --> 00:41:54.160 Okay. Got it. Different than Okay. Yep. Yep. >> Yeah. So you if you had a million you had a million79 in Hamilton and 438 >> if you dropped Hamilton in half >> that will drop Wenom if you drop it a little like that 30 I think it's 30 38% 136 00:41:54.160 --> 00:42:11.359 or something it drops down below the levy >> in Wenom >> in Wenom but >> but you still have an override in Hamilton >> Hamilton yep so then you have >> so it depends on the number you choose >> in kind of you'd look at Hamilton as the bigger number to say okay how do we reduce that and then that would subsequently produce them, 137 00:42:11.359 --> 00:42:27.440 >> right? But I guess when like when you were walking us through the different scenarios of like what could happen, that was just that was not with like that was not assuming like where did that fall in these numbers. 138 00:42:27.440 --> 00:42:43.200 >> Um I believe I gave both numbers to drop him uh to drop wenoms, we would have to drop our budget about 1.5. >> It was for both. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But it but that that represents essentially what we would have to get to to avoid 139 00:42:43.200 --> 00:42:59.599 >> to avoid wenom's override to avoid both. It was that 1.6. >> Yeah. Yep. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay. >> So, we would have to bring ours down to 1.6. >> Yep. >> To avoid uh additional ballot vote. >> Correct. >> If this one fails. 140 00:42:59.599 --> 00:43:16.079 >> That's what Yes. >> Okay. Yep. >> Okay. Um, anybody have anything else? Again, I sincerely hope that this is just, you know, me overthinking and 141 00:43:16.079 --> 00:43:33.040 >> precautionary. >> Yeah. Um, so, um, but anyway, what do people think about Do we want to just Well, maybe if is there anyone you want to make a motion? Um, I move that we put a school 142 00:43:33.040 --> 00:43:48.480 committee meeting on the calendar for April 30th. Second. >> Second by Kristen Noon. Um, is there discussion? Does that >> do we need to call it an if needed meeting? I know we usually put that on 143 00:43:48.480 --> 00:44:03.520 the schedule just so people know that it's might be cancelled. >> Yeah, I think it certainly can be on the website as an if needed. >> Okay. >> If needed. Um, so I mean I think it's pretty clear here. In other words, we'll 144 00:44:03.520 --> 00:44:23.839 know Thursday night whether it's needed or not. >> Um, so um, >> right. Is that date work? I think that's the earliest we could reasonably do it because I feel as though you're coming back from school vacation and have to pull you need a few 145 00:44:23.839 --> 00:44:39.520 days probably to start prepping materials I would assume and then we could meet at you know >> that's it. >> The only thing I would urge is you only have two weeks after that. So you would almost be making that decision in that in that >> Right. Yep. >> Yep. Because otherwise we would need to 146 00:44:39.520 --> 00:44:56.160 coordinate a meeting next week which may not be possible >> right now because it's vacation. >> Yeah. I think that's Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um All right. Um >> right. So, we're all understanding that the motion is to have an if needed 147 00:44:56.160 --> 00:45:12.760 meeting on April 30th. >> Mhm. >> All right. All those in favor? That is unanimous of the five members present and the motion passes. Um okay. gonna 148 00:45:13.200 --> 00:45:35.599 I'm gonna add that. >> Good idea. >> Yeah, just add that so that you >> and I'll send it out to everybody. >> Yeah. And also so it's on your calendar and then you're hopefully surprisingly free on that date. >> Um Okay. Um 149 00:45:35.599 --> 00:45:50.880 so I don't know. this >> I was going to say is this does do we think we covered this the >> skip it yeah >> yeah feel like this was kind of all one and the same the budget discussion >> um okay uh committee reports 150 00:45:50.880 --> 00:46:06.720 capital finance um I don't know when our next meeting is we had a tenative meeting on Monday but we cancelled I don't even know what day it is >> it was Monday >> we cancelled it because uh we didn't need it >> okay >> um >> I believe the next one is the first week 151 00:46:06.720 --> 00:46:19.680 in May. It is >> first week in May. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Um policy. We have a meeting scheduled for April 27th, but I don't know if we have agenda 152 00:46:19.680 --> 00:46:36.400 items needed on there. Um so I will confirm with you Janelle when it gets a little closer. >> Okay. Um negotiations. Um we met today. um 153 00:46:36.400 --> 00:46:55.040 continuing negotiations with the ESP uh union. Um and we did um put several three more meetings on the calendar so that we will um hopefully be able to 154 00:46:55.040 --> 00:47:15.200 keep moving forward. And uh okay, that's that. Um, do we have a secretary report? >> I don't know if any committees have missing minutes. >> I'm realizing we didn't do it. >> We have three. >> Okay. >> We just didn't do it just now. 155 00:47:15.200 --> 00:47:31.359 >> Yeah. >> Sorry. >> Okay. I believe that otherwise we're up to date. >> Okay. >> Policy is missing some outside of my tenure on that sub committee. >> Old ones. >> They're old. So, I I'm sure you've already seen them missing on the list, 156 00:47:31.359 --> 00:47:45.280 but >> yes. Um, >> yeah. And I will say negotiations has the minutes. We just didn't approve them today. My fault. >> Um, my fault. >> No. 157 00:47:45.280 --> 00:48:02.480 Um, okay. Um, thank you for that. Um, Amy, do you have anything in our inboxes? >> A couple things. We had some emails discussing or asking about the confirmation of the last day of school. So, we got that information out. Uh, an email, some technology related emails, 158 00:48:02.480 --> 00:48:19.040 one from our state rep about the cell phone/social media, um, legislature and about technology in the classroom, which has been on my mind lately, too. 159 00:48:19.040 --> 00:48:35.440 So, interesting. Thank you. Yeah, that is interesting. A little little mix of everything there. Um, okay. Um, so I think I already, um, talked about a 160 00:48:35.440 --> 00:48:49.839 couple things that I was going to talk about in the chair report. Um, I feel like them sort of this is a funny week because I, um, 161 00:48:49.839 --> 00:49:07.920 I was very exciting at town meeting to see both of the things pass. and we still have Thursday coming up. Um, so I do want to encourage all voters to participate in 162 00:49:07.920 --> 00:49:25.359 voting um on the election on Thursday um which um just so that everyone knows is from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at uh Wenham Town Hall and at the rec center at Hamilton. Um, 163 00:49:25.359 --> 00:49:43.520 and I don't know. I don't have a wrap-up. I don't have a wrap-up. I This is the I I Yeah, I I I think I'm going to leave it at that. >> In our next meeting after April 30th, we'll have new members. >> We will have new members. Um, 164 00:49:43.520 --> 00:49:58.559 >> members, a mix. >> We will have some new members. >> 30th. >> We will have new members regardless. Um and um yes, we will we will have a new composition of the school committee. Um 165 00:49:58.559 --> 00:50:16.720 and uh I don't think I actually have anything else. I'm sorry that was not >> Can I steal a little of yours then? >> Absolutely. >> I forgot one thing. >> Yeah. >> Uh history day 2026 Mass State History Day. Um on April 11th they there was a 166 00:50:16.720 --> 00:50:32.800 compet the competition was against 75 uh other Massachusetts schools. Largest state competition in Massachusetts uh so far since I think 198 early 1980s. >> Uh two of our projects are going to the national history day contest. >> Cool. Wow. 167 00:50:32.800 --> 00:50:48.160 >> Maryland. So this is very cool. >> Um advancing to the national state cont uh national contest senior group exhibit. Biola Fazio and Sam Lenker, they are doing the the Tylenol murders, the 1982 Tylenol murders, which is uh 168 00:50:48.160 --> 00:51:03.520 >> pretty interesting exhibit if you haven't seen it. And then uh senior group website, Irene Jing and Lydia Wang >> uh one their projects 123, China's reaction to the revolutionary one child policy transforms the state forever. So those two groups are going to the nationals 169 00:51:03.520 --> 00:51:18.800 >> uh at the University of Maryland. Uh we do have a couple of state finalists as well. uh senior group website Helen Lee Juniper Mikey and Calonia Melican. Their project was the website project was students to soldiers the origins and impact of red August. And then uh one 170 00:51:18.800 --> 00:51:35.599 other senior group exhibit which was a state finalist uh senior group exhibit Ellen uh Ellia Lenkar and Nikita Palai did the SS Havana a journey through revolution reaction and reform. So very cool. Always uh interesting to see the 171 00:51:35.599 --> 00:51:52.240 projects that that kids uh choose. Um the two national contest uh advancing groups will go on I think it's June 14th through 18th. They'll be in Baltimore, Maryland. So wish them luck. Bring home 172 00:51:52.240 --> 00:52:08.640 the prize. >> Wow. >> Yes. I I will just say I I mean I did not actually go this year, but if you ever get the chance to go to our history fair here at the high school, >> it's amazing. >> It's amazing. I it I don't I it our kids 173 00:52:08.640 --> 00:52:26.000 are amazing and it is truly um and I don't know what one year that I don't know what how that happened, but one year they invited school committee members to be judges. It was >> it was really cool. >> Fantastic. It was so cool. Um, so that is and congratulations to all of them. 174 00:52:26.000 --> 00:52:42.880 They really do an amazing job. >> Sorry, I stole some of your >> No, that's okay. I I was So, um, I was I was going to pull up my spreadsheet, but somehow I'm signed out and it won't sign me back in. Um, that's okay. I have it written down. Um, I think my last thing 175 00:52:42.880 --> 00:53:00.800 is so, you know, my dream as the chair is to try to have meetings that are not as long. >> All right. So, who wants to take a guess on our average meeting time this year? >> 2 hours. >> Two and a half. >> 90. 176 00:53:00.800 --> 00:53:15.839 >> Five. 95. >> 95 minutes. Okay. >> Um, >> I think we're more like 180 probably. >> Count 170. >> I did not count this meeting mostly because I'm signed out. I can't plug it in anyway. 177 00:53:15.839 --> 00:53:30.240 >> All right. I want Vinnie to guess because Vinnie last time I thought he was convinced he had his own spreadsheet because he had >> I haven't this year. >> Vinnie was that last year Vinnie had it to the minute. Um >> Huh. >> 2 hours and 40 minutes. >> Nah, it's not that. 178 00:53:30.240 --> 00:53:47.599 >> No. All right. 131 minutes. 2 hours and 11 minutes. >> Okay. >> So, my dream was to be under two hours, but we'll get us there. >> If we add tonight in I've already tried my password a couple times. I'm afraid it's going to kick me out. So, I'm not going to try I'm not going to try to log 179 00:53:47.599 --> 00:54:02.160 in again right now. >> Does that mean that I won? By the way, >> you did. Nice work. >> Okay. I move that we adjourn this meeting at 7:49 p.m. >> Second. >> Second by Christian Dune. All those in favor? 180 00:54:02.160 --> 00:54:07.720 And we are adjourned. It's unanimous of the five members present.