Okay. Okay. >> Um, okay. Good afternoon, Hollist. And, uh, thank you everyone for coming this afternoon. Uh, we have the school committee me school committee here and we've got Ben Sparrow from the select board. Uh, call the meeting to order. It's 5:04
and [snorts] it's uh, June 2nd, which is not our typical schedule, but here we are. Um, so we're here to review and discuss the applicants for the appointment of the one-year school committee open seat. Um, I thought I would start with just a review of the
school committee policy regarding um the member unexpired term fulfillment. Um, so when a vacancy on school committee occurs for any reason, the board of select or the select board and the remaining members of the committee share the responsibility for filling it as
provided in the law. The school committee will notify the select board that a vacancy has been created within 30 days after it has occurred. After written notice has been given by the committee to the select board voters of the town may have the opportunity to state their candidacy.
The two governing bodies will then meet to fill the vacancy by roll call vote. If no voters state their candidacy, notice will again be given to voters so they have another opportunity to state their candidacy. For election to fill a vacancy, a candidate must receive the
majority of the votes of the officers entitled to vote. The person so elected will fill a seat on the committee until the next town election, at which time a member will be elected to serve the remainder of the term, if any. A decision not to fill a vacancy before
the next town election must be made by roll call vote of the two governing bodies. This policy is established by law. Um, so today we do have six applicants. Um, all of these uh people, one person dropped out. So, just in case
anyone has been keeping track. Um, >> are you allowed to say who dropped out? >> Um, [clears throat] >> I mean, >> we can go through like who's here. >> Yeah, I think we can go through who's here. >> Um, so all of the applicants um submitted
letters of interest last week. Um we've invited each of them here to present a public candidate statement. Um recognizing that we had a tight turnaround between when the applications closed and this meeting um candidates were given multiple options to
participate. So um they could come in person um or zoom or we can uh read a written request um a written submission for presenting their statement. Um so at this time I think we'll get started with the applicants. I did have
two people request um to go early. Um we've got Robert Paige. Um he's he's via Zoom. So I think if we can start with Robert um we um we'll just >> Yeah. Thank you. So my name is Robert
Page. I live at 617 Washington Street in Hollist. Uh and I wanted to start by thanking the uh the school committee for making the time um and glad giving us the opportunity to speak. I apologize for not being there in person. I I got a baseball game here at Flag Field in a
couple of minutes. Um and so I want to thank you guys for letting me up here by Zoom. Uh I thought I' I'd start by talking a little bit about why I wanted to uh to apply for the position. Um as a as a child, I moved around a lot. I went to to three different high schools, one
in Alabama, one in Minnesota, one in Kentucky. And so I didn't really uh put down deep roots in any of those places. And uh I really wanted that for my children. And so that's why my my wife and I moved to Pollston uh 10 years ago. We really wanted to be a part of the
community. And so I've uh I've coached some of my my kids sports, coaching some some uh soccer and and baseball now. Um and then I I I also want to want to help out the school system. You know, I'm a big believer in public education. I'm a
product of public education. I I've never actually uh attended a private uh institution. I got my PhD in mathematics in 2005. Um, but actually before I got my degree, um, I actually taught high school for three years. I got a little
burnt out when I was in grad school. And I taught high school mathematics for three years in Batesville, Mississippi. And, uh, that was it was just a hugely formative time for me in my mid20s uh, to to sort of be in that role and and and play that role in in community,
Mississippi. Um, I worked football games, I worked the prom, the project graduation on graduation. I I really saw how how important uh the school was to the community. And so that that's part of my motivation there. Um, uh, the last
20 years I've been a professor at Framingham State. Um, one of the things that attracted me to that job is that it was the, uh, first public teacher college in the country. They called it a normal school back then. Um, and so as part of that job, I get to supervise middle and high school student teachers
and and train those guys before they go out into the field. And so I I visit high schools and middle schools and and actually I was thinking about I've been in some elementary schools as well because the middle school licenses for grades five through eight. So I've seen middle schools and high schools and and some elementary schools all over Eastern
Massachusetts. and and I always take the opportunity to um pick the brains of the supervising practitioners when I'm out and kind of get a feel for how things are going in that school and and and in that community. It's the just something I've always been interested in. Um and then in the past few years, I've
actually moved into supervising some middle school math and science teachers. So, not not just math, but actually some science teachers as well. Um and so I I see a lot of different schools. I see a lot of different school schedules. Uh I see a lot of different schools uh having different resources from other schools,
have different policies and and really every school is is pretty unique and has their own culture. And so that I've got a pretty broad uh exposure to to Massachusetts schools there. I also served as a department chair uh for a term where I had to make all of the
teaching schedules. I had to manage the budget, hire adjunct professors, um meet with the administration and shepherd policy changes through government. Um and we also went through a for renovation we completely renovated the science building on campus. And so for
the for half of the third floor of that building I had to meet with the um architects and the administration and the faculty and kind of be a goeteen between all those guys and say well here's what we want and then the architects would say well here's what we could do and we had to to meet in the middle there. So, um, you know, that's
that's sort of been my my experience lately. And I I just I I feel very strongly about public education and want to want to give back to the community. And that's u, you know, between baseball and and and teaching math, that's kind of kind of all I really do these days. And so I uh I I really appreciate you
guys giving me the opportunity. >> Great. Thank you so much. Um, >> right. Sure. >> Yeah. Thank you. And have a good game. >> Appreciate it. All right. Thanks. >> Okay. Um, >> can I Sorry, just quick question. We're
just They're just giving >> We're just doing statements, >> not interviewing. >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Um, so then I think the we'll we'll move on. We'll do David Kim also had um you had an appointment as well, so we thought we'd put you up further. Thank
you. >> On the schedule. David Kim, 442 Fisk Street. >> Good evening, members of school committee, select board, and members of the Holliston community. My name is David Kim, and I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you tonight
regarding the open one-year school committee position. For those who may not know me, I have spent the last 27 years serving the students, families, and staff of Holliston public schools, including the last 23 as the principal
at the Fred W. Miller Elementary School. Before coming to Hollist, I taught elementary and middle school students in Malboro and overall have a 33y year record in education. Just as importantly, Hollison has also been my
home since 2000. My wife and I raised our son here and he grew up in the community and many of the relationships we value most were built here. Holliston is not simply the place where I worked. It is the place that helped shape my
family and my life. As I prepared to retire from my principal role at the end of the school year, I realized that I still want to serve this community and support our schools in a meaningful way. Public education is changing rapidly and
districts everywhere are facing important challenges involving budgets, staff and student, mental health, staffing, curriculum, communication, and maintaining strong school cultures. I
believe my years and experience inside the Hollison public schools would allow me to contribute positively to those conversations during this one-year appointment. Throughout my career, I have worked closely with teachers, support staff, families, district
leadership, union leadership, multiple superintendent, and school committees. I understand both the day-to-day realities inside our classrooms and the larger district decisions that impact students and staff. I have spent years working on
strategic planning, curriculum implementation, professional development, social emotional learning uh initiatives, school improvement planning, and the use of data to improve student learning and support all students. At Miller School, much of our
current work has focused on strengthening communication with families, improving social emotional supports for students, expanding student voice opportunities, supporting multilingual learners, improving curriculum alignment, and building
strong professional learning communities among our staff. Those priorities connect directly to the district's strategic goals into what families want for their children's schools where students feel safe, supported, challenged, and connected. I also
believe one of my strengths is collaboration. Over the years, I have learned that successful schools are built when people feel heard and respected, even when opinions differ. The best decisions happen when we keep students at the center of the
conversation while balancing the perspectives of families, educators, administrators in the community. Beyond the schools, I have tried to stay actively involved in Hollist through youth sports, church leadership, mentoring, and community service. Those
experience have experiences have reinforced for me how important strong community connections are to the success of our schools. I'm not seeking this opportunity for personal recognition or as a career next step. In many ways,
this comes from gratitude. Hollison Public Schools has given me an incredibly meaningful career, lifelong friendships, and the privilege of working with thousands of students and families over three decades. Serving on
the school committee for this one-year term would be another way for me to give back to a community that has given so much to me and my family. Thank you again for your time, your consideration for and for all that you do to support the students and families of a
Holliston. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Okay, let's see. Um Karen, would you like to go next? >> Sure. >> Thank you. [clears throat] Good evening. Thank you for having me here. I appreciate it. And I speak to
the school committee, select board, members of the community, and the other candidates. I think it's fantastic how many people have thrown their hat in the ring, which shows how many people really do appreciate um our schools, our community, etc. My
name is Karen Auzo Len. I live at 100 Woodland Street. I moved in in 2002. I've been here for 24 years. Um I love this community and that is why I'm here this evening. And I would like to talk to you about um a little bit about my
background, why I'm here, and the passions that I have having been an educator and been in the classroom since 1992. So, um I come from a family that believes in civic engagement and that it isn't
optional. It's a calling. And they did it not not just because they believed they had to. They did it because they believed that the benefit to the people around them was greater than just to themselves. I grew up around water in Rhode Island and if
anyone knows Rhode Island, you can't help but be around water. And my father believed deeply with his whole heart that the Narroansit Bay belonged to everyone. And at that time, everyone could not get to the bay. People who owned the property directly
on the bay were the ones that had the access. But there is a rule that everyone's supposed to have access. So my dad worked with a coalition of ordinary citizens and spent time fighting to establish and protect public access to all points along the bay. It was a slow and
unglamorous process, showing up at meetings, building coalitions, pushing back and entrenched interests, and those who preferred to keep the coastline private. But he did it with decency and persistence, never losing sight of the principle at stake that an entire
community benefits from the resources, not just single people. And this was a very powerful statement to me to really think about the fact that a community is built around its resources and this is what people project themselves to be part of.
Today I could take you on a tour and I could show you all those access points that still stand. My father, unfortunately, is no longer with us, but when I go on that tour, I think of him and his values deeply. My mother showed a different kind of civic engagement.
And remember, now we're in the 70s. Women didn't have a lot of power, and my mother immediately took on [clears throat] roles of being a Cub Scout leader, a PTA president, and she firmly believed in giving back to her community as well. My family fell on
very hard times. I am not from money. My parents worked very hard to get everything that they gave us and my dad decided that he was going to try to open up his own business and again not a common thing to do in the 70s and so my mother took a job working on the factory
floor at Hasbro um putting together Mr. potato head. Um, and she didn't do it initially by choice. Um, she did it because we needed her to be there and she ran on tough circumstances there. She was the first time she had really
worked with multilanguage learners. [snorts] Um, and my mother is of Portuguese descent, so she understood some of the Portuguese. And what happened was, uh, the factory was changing the quota system. As my mother figured out how to beat the quota system, they kept adding it and making
it harder and changing the timelines. So, the business was cutting corners, trying to save money, didn't want to pay them um the bonuses, so to speak. So, my mother didn't accept it quietly. She organized. She talked to her colleagues. She built consensus and she mobilized
what was then known as the mo the mother's shift from 10 to three so you could be home for your children to stop work and demand fair treatment. She didn't do it to grandstand. She did it because she communicated clearly and she believed that everybody should be treated with with respect and within a
few hours they did reach agreement. Right? Hasbro was just a Pucket company back then. It wasn't a multinational company. But she didn't do it for a title or for a platform. She did it because she has principles and she had people. And she always taught me that
principles and people were enough. I watched both my parents my entire life showing up and doing the unglamorous work. I remember my dad pushing me and my brothers to try to play baseball when girls weren't allowed. And my dad telling me, "You're going to have to
show up and you're just going to have to be better because girls aren't allowed yet." And I did that work and he did that work with me. And the bottom line is I did make the team. That didn't mean the coach had to play me.
Holliston, my family, and how we put stakes down here. My husband and I chose Hollist 24 years ago because of the reputation of the schools. I was already a trained educator. I'd spent time in New York City. Um, and finding a school,
finding a district that had community, had a commitment to their schools, that meant a lot to me. And that is why we signed on the dotted line. The community welcomed us, educated our child, gave our family roots. This is
not something that I take lightly when I talk about community. It's not again a campaign slogan. I use that because I am a trained marketing person. I mean that it's the actual people in the streets. It's my neighbors next door. It's the schools. It's the room parents that give
their time. The neighbors that deserve a school community that is honest with them, accessible to them, and working visibly on their behalf. I do have one child. Their name is Declan. They went through the system prek through 12. They had Mr. Kim. Um
they did work. They did uh elect the French immersion program because during preK Declan came home and we were having dinner one night and said, "Mom, did you know there are people in this world that speak a different language
and [snorts] those people are French and I want to do that?" and I explained this was going to be a little bit harder, but they didn't care. They wanted that they wanted to talk a different language on the playground. Today, Declan is at the University of Maryland on a full scholarship um working toward a PhD in
American literature and teaching at the uh university level and I will tell you they were fortunate enough to have a high a Hollist High School student in a freshman English class that they were instructing and they responded back to me that that student was the most prepared student in the room.
So you should know that um what I love about Holliston is that and Declan will tell you directly that this education has been their foundation but also this district is so important
to all learners that you know the district is changing and I teach in Westboro. I've been there for uh 20 years and our district already has had um that diversity shift and it has been fabulous as a teacher to be part of
that. Um Declan has launched, they are off on their own. I am so proud that they are tackling life. Um but now I have time and I'm not doing this to check a box or to
fill in a spot. I have time and I've dedicated my entire life to public education. I too have been through all public schools. I went I went to Salem State for my teaching degree. Um I went
to Rhode Island College for my undergrad. I went to uh the Fashion Institute of Technology for my degree in fashion design. I've been through all public schools. Um, I've spent 20 years teaching high school business education across multiple communities in
Massachusetts. I do not just teach. I write curriculum from the ground up. I build departments to reach every learner for students most at risk and falling through the cracks to students at who are ready to take on advanced placement learning. Most educators work on one end of the
spectrum. But being an elective teacher, you work simultaneously at all levels. You scaffold when someone in front of you needs it. you work directly um with with some of the parents for students that are most at risk that are having trouble even making it through the system. But every student deserves the
same and education is the great equalizer. I truly believe that and that every child regardless of background deserves that. It is a moral conviction and I live that every single day. On governance um school committee um you
work to do your work transparently. the community clearly um respects that and openly families want to be able to see your reasoning and understand your policies. Um o working, you know, and committed [clears throat] to opening open
governance and re bringing the community in. um making sure that everyone knows that they're what they want to present and and even if you don't or aren't in the moment able to speak about it, but but thanking
people for coming and encouraging all of us to be part of this space that we all support and we all know is the center of our community. Being a high school teacher, you get to have that benefit of that it ends where you are, but it is a
K through 12 experience and every single teacher that's ever touched that student, every single principal, every single administrator, guidance counselor has got them where they are. Not just one, but it's a collective. Um, I've been asked a couple of times about
evaluating superintendent because that doesn't seem to be something that I would work with directly, but I would say to you that, you know, the superintendent um, they make decisions and their vision reaches our classrooms and it is our job to implement it into and so that the
students see it and and when policies are made that are open and easy to implement, it's so impactful to be able to have a superintendent who builds trust within the staff and the staff
knows that trust is just not a soft metric. It's such an important prediction of retention morale of student outcomes and I bring that perspective from being a teacher and we
do like you know written feedback every single year but I'm not actually sitting at the table doing the desi part. where you have your rubric and doing all that um more detailed. However, uh we do know that it is a
process and an honest one and that every evaluation is an important part of the aspect of what you're doing. Budgeting, I would say that I look at it a little bit different than a lot of people. Um I think it's a statement of values.
What is it that we have a as a community believe in? What are we funding? What are we unfunding? Are we doing it fairly with a sharpened scalpel that makes sure that
no one specific learner or group of learners lose? Are we making sure that we do it across the board so it's even, so that it's careful? [sighs] when certain things go unfunded, it seems to have an impact a lot of times
on just like one group. I would also say that with my business education as a background and my degree in business that I do understand financial analysis and economic reasoning um and I've worked in both nonprofits and forprofits.
on the planning board, I did have to weigh competing community um interests and sometimes that wasn't easy. But if you focus on the discipline and you listen to and evaluate the costs and you
understand what the community wants, then you can make an equitable decision. Good policy starts at the ground. It is carried out by people. It is lived through policies at schools, communities.
Um, and I've been writing and working in policy for two decades. I I write the curriculum. Um, it good policies support teachers. As a curriculum writer, it's important to pay attention to the goals and to the rubrics and to the
expectations of the district and of the state. I've negotiated contracts as um a union member and uh last round I was uh on the cont on the negotiation team and the big thing that I will say about that
is that the the language you agree upon is probably one of the biggest pieces of policy you write. It has to turn into how you how teachers respond and it becomes um the guiding principle. It's their
working conditions and when it's done with respect and it's done openly and decency then it's a strategy and agreements can be reached and mutual respect can be held. And last I'll just
close. [laughter] I am ready uh to step in, listen, learn and serve. I believe in open governance, in doing the public's work in public with honesty and transparency. I believe in teaching every learner in building systems that reach the child who is
struggling and doing it with being deliberate so that child can thrive. We have a st we have a saying in teaching, right, that some kids will eat the curriculum out of your hand, but the ones that don't, that's who you're really there for and
that's who you're here for, right? Some kids are going to make it. All you have to do is get out of their way. >> Others really need you and need you to think about that thoughtful policy and that thoughtful connection that we can make in order to be able to get them to
thrive. And so again, um I believe in this community. This community has given so much to my family. Um I believe in the capacity of what we have. I've watched this district for 24
years from the sidelines. Um my family has received extraordinary things. And I want just to close with, you know, this is the community resource that my dad would tell me to get involved in. and you are the principal and the people
that I'd want to work with and give back to and I thank you so much for your time. I apologize for going over um it's an important position. Um and I hope that you will support the right candidate. Thank you.
>> Okay, I think we'll go to Ali Lima next. Select board and school committee members. Um, I'm Allison Lima, 59 Bogto Brook Road. My eldest child walked into Placentino the fall of 2010 for kindergarten and my
youngest two graduate this Sunday. Woohoo. My three kids have vastly different interests. The theater program, music, arts, deca, athletics goes on and on. And to
me at this point in my life, the Hollist public schools seems almost like a time machine where kids go in as kindergarteners at in one side and they walk out in my case becoming and aspiring to become an actor, a nurse and
a real estate developer. So my interest in serving on the school committee comes with this perspective of someone who has experienced an awful lot of different things within Holliston public schools as well as a person who who has no
personal stake in any particular school or policy. As noted in my letter of interest, I have experience with local, municipal, state, and federal government agencies, including serving on both boards and
committees. I'm a licensed structural engineer by trade and a vice president in a global engineering firm. Therefore, I have a lot of experience in things like negotiating, budgeting, adhering to policies and procedures and regulations,
public meetings, supervising and evaluating staff, and developing an annual operating plan. So, do I have tons of transferable skills? 100% yes. Do I presently have intimate knowledge of all things school committee? No. Um,
but just like you, I can learn. Two additional items that make my perspective uh a bit unique is that though I am not in education, my husband Joe is. Um, he's currently a high school teacher in a different district. Before that, he was a middle school dis uh
middle school middle school teacher in a different district. And on his journey to becoming a teacher, he subbed at Placentino in Miller. So though I am not an education myself, I do have that lens of the teacher.
Additionally, I have experience professionally managing the planning, programming and design of all sorts of buildings including schools, both brand new construction as well as renovations, additions, repurposing spaces, replacing
HBAC systems, doors, windows, etc. Um, this is relevant certainly for the future Hollison High School. Um, but quite frankly for all of all of your buildings. So, as to not reiterate my my letter of interest, I I think with my remaining
time, I wanted to give you a sense of who I am as a leader. Um, understanding that we all have our own superpowers, um, as well as areas we're all still working on. Uh the key is of the leader is really to harness each person's
individual strengths. And so with that, knowing that you may be looking for a candidate who has previously expressed interest in joining the school committee and knowing I am not that girl, I wanted to offer a shout out to Karen de Monica. Not only has
Karen previously run for the school committee, she has children's in the schools and is a teacher. She would be a huge asset. Similarly, if you're looking for someone with demonstrated experience in committee leadership in the town with a solid understanding of municipal
finance, I want to give a shout out to Karen Auzo Langton. Between her leadership experience on the planning board and as an educator, she would be fantastic. Perhaps you were looking for someone who is beloved in our community. Someone
who's calm and savvy, who would be a major asset in the teacher contract negotiation, and someone who knows more about our schools than likely everyone else in the room, Dave Kim. Though he's currently a district employee, waiting
until July for him would be well worth the wait. Another facet of my leadership style is that I'm a highly ethical person and deeply committed to equality, fairness, and raising concern of bias. With this lens, I asked the school
committee to consider developing a policy related to endorsements during elections. That Sarah and Dan effectively ran as a slate didn't sit well with me. Nor did the fact that everyone else on the committee endorsed
them. As I sit here today, I wonder about the elephant in the room, which is whether this is an equitable, fair, and unbiased process. Because based on the Facebook campaign, five school committee members have endorsed Dan. And that's
not fair to the rest of us. Whether there is actual bias or perceived bias, it undermines the fidelity of the whole process. And I hope that during de deliberations there's discussion of recusals. So yes, I'm professional and yes, I'm
respectful. Um, but I'm also a straight shooter. I appreciate all your service to the school committee. I thank you for the opportunity to speak and for your consideration of my letter. Thanks. [applause]
Okay. Uh Dan, would you like to >> tough one to follow? Um how's everyone doing? Again, Dan Alfred, 315 High Street. Thank you for taking the time. Um, I thought before getting into my qualifications for the role, I
would uh talk a little bit about my background because I haven't talked a lot about it uh in the past. I've started talking a little bit about it. But like like another candidate, I was raised uh with the sort of philosophy that civic engagement civic engagement was part of sort of what you did um as a
as a member of the community. Uh growing up, my my father was a a six-year member of our local school committee and my mother served for I don't even know how many years, but probably over a decade on our human rights commission uh in in in the town where I grew up. Um they gave back in countless other ways,
coaching, um being part of the the PTO, different different areas. And so, so that was sort of the the um the environment in which I I was raised and sort of how I got involved and why I got involved in in civic engagement as soon
as I as soon as I moved to Hollist um or a year later. So, um you know, until just recently, I've served for for 14 consecutive years on on on elected boards, um the finance committee and the school committee. And I did that not for
for personal gain or any sort of sort of um personal interest, but because I wanted to give back and I want to continue to give back. Um the Hawson public schools are in a very unique year coming up. Uh a very exciting year actually, but also a very challenging year in that we have our four sort of
main administrators turning over, including our our um assistant superintendent of finance and operations who um sort of notified us that he was a finalist just before the election. Um, and that really leads me to sort of why I
think that uh, you know, despite a a very qualified group of of of other applicants, uh, that I'm the best, um, person to do, uh, this job. So, I spent 11 years on the finance committee deeply delving into all the town's budgets, including the schools. Uh I was the
liazison to the school committee um from the finance committee for three or four years including during COVID where we were meeting weekly with with the school committee via via zoom. Um and then I served for three years on the school committee, two as chair and one as chair of our budget. Um I worked very closely
with our our assistant superintendent of finance and operations going line by line on our budget. um in some cases, you know, very very detailed on on all the assumptions. And that is going to be something that would be critical in in the next year as we bring someone new in um to take on that role while also
supporting a new superintendent uh bringing back our our um student services director as well as a new curriculum person. One of the things that I think we've done very well over the last three years uh was the contract negotiations.
So, you know, in addition to being on budget, I was a a member of three us with Don and and Amanda Bigalow on our contract negotiations and we negotiated a contract and subsequent override that is is truly setting this district up for
the future. And as I sort of was doing research for for this meeting and thinking about what I was going to say, I started going back through some of the posts and and and discussions that was me that were had during the override about things that we were going to do. And one of the things that really hit me and this is not something that I did
alone. It was all of us. But we did every single thing that we talked about doing. Now, was the process was everything perfect? No. Are there are there things that I would have done differently had we gone back to to do it all over again? Absolutely. But we did everything we said we were going to do.
We extended the time of each school by 15 minutes and put those that time into the instructional day. We um we changed the start times to align Plantino and Miller and to go from three bus routes to two bus routes and that's working. Um
we um have an agreement with the with the teachers to change the the uh the high school schedule, something that hadn't been done in over 25 years and will be going into place next year. Sorry, next year. And I was in a in a sort of a
parent chatter with uh with Mr. List a few weeks ago and he said that normally when they run the schedule for the first time, they get about a thousand errors. Meaning kids who just you can't fit the whole schedule together. when they ran this schedule through the system, they had 93 the first time. So, we've got a
schedule that's working. Is it the Is it the absolute best schedule I would personally come up with? No. Is it a a huge jump from where we had before? Absolutely. And it is something that is going to benefit kids tremendously by taking everything out of DSB and allowing DSP to be what it really needs
to be, which is a intervention type block for kids to go and get extra help that that they need. So in in the coming year, what I think this school committee needs is someone who fundamentally understands all the challenges and has the history
and the knowledge to be able to participate and add value day one. And not just add value in the sense of being, you know, a smart person in the room, being able to come up with ideas, but having the the the um the history, the the knowledge of what was done before and how that
applies to what what happened in the future. How did certain issues interact with other issues? How much of the of the um all the little things, the day-to-day things that people don't see that the school committee does that takes up so much time, but is also critical to sort
of the the ongoing strong operations of the district. Um, you know, people I think know that there's a lot of work that goes on to the school committee, but see the members meet every couple weeks for 3 to 8 hours and um, you know,
think that that is the preponderance of the um the work, but it's it's the work on the subcommittees. It's the you know, it's the conference calls to discuss things that are coming up. It's the without a quorum but w but with um you
know continued thought on what to prioritize what to to to not prioritize what have we done in the past what do we need to do going forward so anyway I I you all know me pretty well so I don't think I need to to to drown on about this um but we've got a challenging year
coming up we've got the school building com school building really kicking off we've got a lot of different things that um my 14 years of experience working with the town, working um with all the different players um and then working directly with our budget, knowing our budget as probably well as anybody in
the district currently start or starting July 1st um is going to be absolutely critical. So with that, I I I think I will we'll wrap up. I've made my main points, but uh so I appreciate your time and consideration.
>> Thank you. >> And Um, then I'm going to uh read a statement for Karen de Monica. She is currently on a plane, so she she was like, "I can't zoom. I can't be in there." And I said, "That's fine. Don't worry." Um, so this is um
>> and this is in addition to what she had submitted her letter, >> right? Yes. She sent me a letter uh an additional statement this morning. So she had um submitted her application Friday, but this is an addition. So, dear members of the school committee, I
apologize for being unable to attend today's meeting. I'm currently traveling with my son Wesley for an important opportunity that has arisen for him. I wanted to take a moment to share why I'm interested in serving on the school committee. Sometimes meaningful opportunities present themselves in
unexpected ways. While pursuing this role was not something I had initially envisioned at this time, the opportunity arose and I recognized it as a meaningful way to give back to the community in an area where I believe I can make a valuable contribution.
As an educator, like many individuals who have served on school committee before me, I can offer a perspective that may help inform thoughtful decision m making. While our focus must always remain on what is best for students, achieving that goal requires us to
consider the needs and perspectives of parents, teachers, and the broader community as well. Student centered initiatives are ultimately carried out by educators, supported by families, and sustained by community engagement.
When people feel heard, valued, and supported, they are better positioned to contribute to the successful implementation of those initiatives. In addition, I believe I bring valuable experience related to school facilities
and long-term planning. I served on the new building committee for two years, two of the five years in Ashland, and have also experienced the process of transitioning into a newly constructed school in my current district. These experiences have provided me with
insight into parts of the planning and decision-making phases of a building project and then the practical realities that emerge once a building is occupied. I understand the importance of making decisions that not only meet immediate
needs but also support students, staff, and the community for years to come. I would be able to contribute informed feedback throughout the process and offer perspective on how design and operational decisions ultimately impact the daily experience of those who learn
and work in the building. One of my strengths is my ability to understand and appreciate differing viewpoints even when I may not personally agree with them. I believe in finding common ground and building consensus and I would bring that collaborative approach to the work
of the school committee. Uh Sarah mentioned that there are currently few long-erving members on the committee. I view that not as a challenge but as an opportunity. Rather than focusing on lack of experience, I see the potential for fresh perspectives, new ideas, and
renewed energy to help move our schools forward in meaningful ways. I would be honored to serve if selected. At this point in my life, I have the capacity to dedicate the time, energy, and commitment that this role deserves. I would welcome the opportunity to
contribute to the continued success of our schools and community. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Karen de Monica. Yes. Thank you, Karen. Okay. Um let me see.
So um so at this time I guess I would invite um we've you know we've heard the presentations we've received um the statements of interest through the application process. And I guess I would, if you're so willing, I'd like to
invite comments like individually from each member. Um, if we can just kind of get an idea of where, you know, what your thoughts are. >> Um, based on what we've heard, um, this evening, um,
>> I say one little thing before you just >> of course >> um, from uh, people don't know that chair. Um just to what what I'm hoping and asking for um uh is that we tonight
can winnow this down to a couple candidates for consideration by everyone for an appointment next week like next Monday. That's kind of what I was hoping for um as part of the as an exercise to and since my board isn't
here, I was hoping to have I want to make sure that they're represented and able to participate in the process. >> I agree with Sarah and that I'd like to have a discussion about the candidates and >> Sure. I straight off the candidate statements. >> Sure.
>> I I guess I'd like to hear each person's perspective on what they heard. >> I guess my To follow up on Ben, what Ben's saying, what is the goal tonight? Are we are we narrowing it down to three that will then come back next week and
interview [clears throat] publicly or like what was >> I mean I guess it I guess it depends on what people are thinking. >> Okay. >> So to me and again this is my perspective. I think if we're talking about people and if there are candidates
that seem to be rising to you know, amongst multiple people. I think it's fair to put that out there. >> Sure. >> And the process is on Monday at the
select board, we would gather select board and school committee for a full vote. Is that right? That's what >> because all everyone who you'd have to attend to vote, but it would basically the expectation would be >> the nine of us would vote to make the
appointment and it's a majority vote. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. So, I guess at this time I was thinking we could kind of go one one at a time, talk about what you've heard among these candidates based on the statements, based on any other conversations. I we talked to a bunch of
them. Um, I talked to people over the weekend. Um, you know, and if um, as part of your comments, if you can identify one or perhaps two candidates who you believe would be the strongest um, contenders to
help meet the school committee's needs effectively um, over the next year. I guess I'd like I'd be interested to hear where people are landing. >> Ask a question. So, um, I know Ben's not officially on our board, but he's here as like a group member. This is like or
are you looking to also contribute? >> I would love to hear perspective as well. >> Yeah. No, I would love to. I just wanted to make sure. >> If you want to go first, you're welcome to start. >> Sure. Whatever you think. Sure. >> Um, first I did want to say thank you to the candidates and for everybody to uh
make their statements and to uh put themselves out there for this uh for this position. Um, I've gone through appointment processes where one person wants the vote, wants the position. So, it's uh uh a testament to the importance and the value that the school committee
provides that we we got seven letters certainly and one dropped out. But um I think um you know it's uh it's very interesting hearing from each person um getting a little bit of perspective and understanding of variety of different
things from from each person. I think each candidate has a lot to contribute and a lot of experience to to present um to the schools and to the to the community.
Um I think uh listening to this I have a couple a few that I sort of feel like I'd like to talk with further um next week in my opinion. Um, you know, I'll I'll come
out there and say like I think uh David Kim is definitely somebody that I would love to talk to a little bit more and uh but his his incredible amount of experience within the districts in understanding a variety of different um issues and ideas I think is uh
valuable and I think could be a wonderful contribution. Um, I would also say uh Karen Lankton, her extensive educational experience and variety of different kinds of experiences within the community I think um offers
something that I think would be very valuable as well. And uh I also would suggest also Alli Lima with her uh experience in engineering particularly as we explore things with the MSBA having some kind of perspective on structure and things like that I think
could be uh very valuable and insightful um as part of the conversation. So that's that's where I'm at at this point in listening to people and I think they're all incredibly valuable, thoughtful, and experienced individuals and um I think uh the choice is a
difficult one for all of us. So that's all I have to say. >> I echo everything Ben said. This is a really difficult decision. I we have a lot of really strong candidates in front of us. Um, I would also like to see Alli
Lima um, come back for an interview. Um, I really liked her building experience. Um, I really, as we all know, I'm have my own thoughts on processes. Um, and I really appreciated her perspective on
the whole appointment process and maybe solidifying something around that. Um, I think that shows a level of critical thinking that would be very valuable to the school committee. Um, I also liked uh Karen Dematica for her MSBA
experience. I think, you know, the fact that we don't have anybody who has ever really directly worked with the MSBA. Um, and we now have an opportunity to bring somebody in who has. I think that's incredibly valuable. Um Karen
Lankton is also a really strong uh candidate with her experience in education and also um sitting on a municipal board. She kind of she knows the inner workings of government um and also wears that education lens. So that
would be my recommendation. >> Firstly, I want to thank everyone who put in a letter of interest. Um I know it takes a lot and then certainly coming off um you know an election putting in one in and then also coming after the fact it it's a lot. Um and it was really
good submissions to make this a really tough decision. At this point I struggle to name a single candidate but there are a few things mentioned that I think are important to think about. MSBA is one of them.
We will have a school building committee that manages that. So yes, having a school committee is important, but I look at what's important to me is where we are from a financial lens going into the next few years. Any year we can be
in a really tough position. We have seen that time time just yesterday again with districts that are mismanaging funds not in a notorious way but simply and you got to be on top of this on an everyday basis to ensure we're not in a budget
shortfall that is super important to me and being on budget subcommittee just seeing the inner workings of that is important. So whoever we go with someone that can manage that same way we are going to a negotiation year. Previous to
24 we didn't really have a contract for two years and the damage it did between us and the teachers having someone that can craftfully work through that process. Um and and point blank we got a lot of emails and I completely
understand and emails on all sides. The election did send a message. However, in the next year, we have a lot of things we need to navigate through to set us up for the future with an entire new I mean basically entirely new central office um that we'll need to
partner with and work with. There there's a lot of change. There is little to no stability. So the conversation around listen we we need a different way of thinking. Absolutely true. But literally when we're replacing everyone that is hard to swallow um and it's going to be hard to navigate just with
all the different opinions. So you know if if you asked me to narrow it down I do think Dan would be the most appropriate candidate. But I would like to see a further conversation with one other as
a comparison. Like this is not a vote. I'm not voting. I'm just putting out where I stand in terms of where my head's at in terms of the issues we face immediately. Um, which then can change long term. But right now, that's where my head's at.
>> Um, again, I would like to reiterate that thank you for all the volunteers. We having seven people step up was great. And regardless of what decisions are made over the next week, I look forward to that level of engagement moving forward for future elections and um subcommittees and whatnot because that um is not always the level of
turnout we have. Um I think one of our roles as a community member and committee member is to look sort of a little bit bigger picture than maybe sort of small nuanced um ideas. And as much as I would like to think that we
have a good balance here, we do. But I think we also have some gaps as a committee at the moment that I would like to see sort of filled in. And I I think the next person that um fills this seat needs to make some of those um gaps filled. Um I know personally I am not a
numbers person. My brain just doesn't work in that. It just doesn't work like that. So looking at the candidates um hearing those that spoke about having a number sense particularly around budget negotiation and the future with the MSBA, that's really where I think um we need that experience. It's not to say that we couldn't handle it and we
wouldn't in regardless of who's here, but um having that level of expertise is what I think we need. Um I think it's our job to be able to identify our strengths but also our weaknesses and um for that that I would like to see a little bit of continuity um in those
areas particularly around the fact um as has been mentioned before with our completely almost completely new central office um having someone both in the superintendent role as well as the finance and operations we need those connections among all of our committees. So with that um I would
like to see Dan Alfred moved forward as a um person um for this role. Um I was also impressed with Mr. Paige. Um I liked his um connection to math um as well as his strong connection to a lot
of our schools and our future educators. >> Um so I also just want to thank those that volunteered for this one-year appointment. Um, there were more than I expected and I think that really speaks to our town's tradition of community and uh, service. Um, I also want to just
kind of explain a little bit about how I was thinking about this as we as I reviewed kind of the candidate statements and listened as well and took some notes. Um, we also received several emails over the past week uh, from community members expressing support for one or more candidates. um but also to
kind of talk through how they were hoping the school committee um would think through this. And there was a theme that really emerged for me in reading through all of those statements was the importance of selecting someone who can collaborate effectively with a variety of stakeholders including the
Holland Federation of Teachers which was named specifically um someone who has budget expertise as we enter into a period of leadership transition and state and federal financial uncertaint uncertainty and someone who will make the needs of students and educational
programming at the center of decision-m and someone who is committed to serving all families in our district. So, those are the things that kind of really spoke out to me um as I'm from all of those statements as I'm thinking about this. But I'm also thinking about what's happening for Hollist in the next
few year especi role. I'm not thinking so much about the MSBA even though that's really big um for Holl next year, but we're only going to have one person from the school committee representative um on that. So, I'm kind of thinking about this more holistically in terms of um our work
ahead. Someone who's positioned to contribute immediately um either through experience in local governance, education, budgeting, negotiation, or some of the other areas that are aligned with our priorities next year.
So in kind of thinking about that, I think that that each of the candidates brought something um whether education experience, um experience with governance or policies that but I think kind of the ones that really rose a little bit
further for me with deeper experience. Um Karen Langston brings experience as an educator, service on the planning board, experience with collective bargaining as a union member, um which I think would help her hit the ground running. And then of course Dan Alfred
um has a long-standing commitment to Hollston through both the finance and the school committees. Uh former chair of the budget committee. He he really kind of walked us through, presented the budget with to us in terms that, you know, made made it made sense to me and
also advocated worked collaboratively with the town um to advocate for the school's needs um and was really instrumental in the collective bargaining uh a few years ago. So, in thinking about, you know, who I would
recommend, um that's what I'm thinking about in terms of the experience and the skills that we need. Again, I want to reiterate, thank you for everyone that's applied. We really appreciate it. Um, it's it's, you know, it makes our
decision um time consuming putting, you know, a lot of thought into this and I appreciate your willingness to come here tonight and provide a candidate statement whether over um Zoom or here in person um or having had it read. I
also I took the opportunity when we received the applications and the contact numbers to reach out to each of the candidates and I was lucky enough that they they were each able to speak with me. And I think that that's important because I think sometimes, you know, we've been in the heat of the seat
and and being in front of the mic and providing your candidate statement. I'm thankful that the community had that opportunity, but I'm also glad that I could speak informally with you. Um, I think there was a school committee member when I got on that said, I should have talked to you before you ran, "If you had any idea how much work this was,
you would never have done it." And, and I just wanted to make sure each of you knew sort of what we do. And I think you you really all did. So, it was good to know that we had so many community members that were connected um to what the roles and responsibilities in this job are. Um but in in having those
discussions with each of the candidates um you know I I I I think of the big four right in terms of what we do. Um the big four being in my mind um negotiations, budget, policy and
superintendent evaluation. Um and I was able to speak with each candidate about their experience with that. Right. and and very much, you know, I think Ally spoke very eloquently to I can learn um and that I have transferable skills. So, I'm not looking for somebody necessarily
that's been on the committee, but that you've done this in your job. So, it was it was a pleasure to speak with each of you and I know um Karen um had served on on the planning committee and understands the roles and obligations of public office having to make difficult
decisions. Um and again I'm I'm really thankful that so many people have applied um and that we have this difficult decision to make. Um in considering that um I'm I I guess you
know we have had a number of emails. I thought I I am reading through them. I' I've thought about each and every one of them. Um one person had written to us and said I'll close by saying this. We see at the federal level what happens when the wrong people are put in positions for the wrong reasons. The
goal of the appointment is to choose someone who is best for the committee and meaning the committee right here right now. Um and and in that email talked a lot about budget and finance and the needs of our school. So when I talk about the big four and I talk about
negotiations and budget and policy and superintendent eval um for what this next year looks like, what weighs on me um is that the areas that that I feel like we need the
greatest strengths in um for this one-year appointment is budget and finance. Um, and I I guess I also wanted to speak to because I' I've I heard um again from others that wrote um that Dan
had lost. And I do just want to point out we as a committee um have been here before. I think it was about 11 years ago. there was um an appointment and that was following an election where um the candidate that was appointed had
lost and when they lost they lost with about 48.9% of the votes. Um here we've just had an election um Sarah and Jess both brought in about 61% of the votes and Dan had just under 50% at 49.9%.
So, it is not lost on me that he did not win the election. But I think there is when we when we look to what the voters said, we did have 520 voters of of 10,042 voters that did want to see Mr. Alfred in this seat. Um and again Jess
when when we came and and reached out to you about an appointment um it wasn't lost on me sort of the percentage by which you know of voters that you had when you lost but the tenacity like the the having brought the campaign and
coming back again for this um that meant something to me right because you understood the level of of um at that point you had had that year you knew what this was all about and you went back at it. Um, so I I I do I I had to
really try and thoughtfully consider um the individuals that wrote to us and and said um you know regarding each candidate and and the fact that he had lost he also had just under 50% of the votes and I think that does mean something the the 520 voters of
Palestine. Um so in terms of talking about candidates I I have to say that in speaking um so Dan is one of the candidates that I strongly want to consider here. Um, I I also felt in my conversations with Karen Demato, I I did
like what she told me in terms of budget and her work with the Ashlin School District, um, her perspective on negotiations and work she's done there and also having sat with the, um, building committee for three years. Um, but overall in terms of what I see for
the one-year appointment and our greatest needs on the committee, um, completing my seventh year here now, I do I do really worry about negotiations and budget in that area and, um, and he has the demonstrated experiences
experience in that area. Okay. So, I will weigh in as well. Um, again, thank you. I it is wonderful to have the interest here um from so many um but just from where I sit I guess I feel
like the district has so much work to do just in this upcoming year um as has been mentioned many times before this point um our central office admin team is going to be almost completely new teacher negotiations in the fall um you
know the MSBA high school project um but most critically in my mind uh will be facing ever tightening budget issues. Um there was just a news article or little clip this morning that um it was over 50 m municipalities in Massachusetts had
override ballot questions in 2026. It's it's not going to get any better. Um there's one district that's um considering athletic fees up to $1,400 for hockey. Um, and it's it's like
just crazy for one season for a public high school. Um, and that's in addition to significant budget cuts. These are really hard times and it it's just we really need to understand where our numbers are, what the budget is, and how
to put that together. Um, and it's not lost on me that, you know, in addition to these difficult budget times, we've also just lost our assistant superintendent of finance and operations. Um, and while I know we'll do our best to come up with a solution to fill that position and ensure a
successful transition, it's really clear to me that we need a school committee member that's wellversed in municipal finance and who has experience working on budget to help make this work. I truly thank all of the candidates for applying. I truly appreciate the support
for our schools that you've demonstrated by your expression of interest. I really appreciate um you've got a variety of of backgrounds, you know, education, um experience in our school buildings, on other town boards, and yet I just really
um feel like my job right now is to advocate for our schools and to put forth the person who I really think is the best fit for what we need right now for this coming year. Um we're we are a young committee overall. I just entered
my second term. Don is the only one who's had more than one term. The rest of us are all in our first first term. So, um there is a steep learning curve. Um and I don't feel like we have the time to
waste at this juncture where all of these things are happening. Um so I guess for me I my support really is for Dan. So um I I know we did receive a lot of
letters and there were a lot of support and there were almost as equal amount of emails we had were concerns and some of those were very serious. Um I had two people reach out to me who said that
they felt intimidated at office hours and felt threatened and I think we need to take those very seriously. I understand the finance piece and I I I wholeheartedly support that. Um, but we
need to think about the liabilities we're taking on it, too. If we have somebody on our committee who people have already come up and said, "I don't feel safe around this person." We really need to
think critically about that. And we need to think critically about what it looks like to the community when I mean I know I hear what you're saying that it wasn't as big of a margin as as people perceive it to be with the
election but the fact is the community did choose this and we need to just be very careful about how we navigate this if if if we're going to move forward with Dan because the public perception is we're
going to get backlash. I'm almost certain of it. >> I know that we did receive two emails saying something um to that effect um and expressing some concerns. Now, that's two people's opinion. We I wasn't there, so I can't, you know, speak on
that. But we also the other hand also received two emails in support for his character and uh talking about what he has done for families in this town. So, I think we need to take both of those together, especially if we weren't present for these um for this. You know,
>> I got 14 emails. >> Yeah. >> About one candidate. Some in support, some against. Um and some of those emails were not all sent to you folks. They were sent to the select board. Um I just got them today, so I certainly can
forward things along. Um, but I've I've got a considerable amount of conversation about one candidate and for and against and not conversations about other candidates. And I have I I have concerns um about
I'd like to have more than one candidate on Monday coming forward. I'd like to have it at least be able to have a choice to make on Monday and we can have a deeper conversation and allow the community who's now who now knows the names of the people that we're talking
about can have an opportunity to weigh in on it. So, I think that's something that needs to be um public and allowed for that community engagement to hear more information from other people. Jesse, you referenced the email with an interaction just so you know those
office hours as we always typically have our two or three school committee members. Sarah and I were there. >> Yeah, >> feel free to ask any questions you'd like. Um so I I did not agree with that >> um uh email whatsoever. I was present
for that. >> Yeah, same the same. There's a lot of dangerous [clears throat] language being thrown around on both sides and I think we need to be reflective of that and understand that there are I think Ally said it
perfectly. No one is perfect. I think certainly all of us need to look at each other in the mirror and say look at ourselves in the mirror and say we have things we want to improve on. Um and I think everyone in the room that put an application in could say the same thing. Now change is not easy. I think we all
can agree that as well. And when we want to bring change, you create a schism of cons and pros and they're more loudly put out there. Um, and I I it is obviously we can quantify each piece of
feedback, but clearly there's a divide and I don't appreciate it's not I don't appreciate I am fearful of the rhetoric getting put around around one individual that honestly is not who he is.
There are a lot of things I have said on the record and I will say off the record, I will say publicly like there are things that yes make things challenging sometimes to work with. But if you do look at the progress that was made and you have to look at
process and he called it out himself and I think there's areas where we could have improved some process but the progress made is transformational like joining this committee I was told multiple times make sure you run multiple times because it takes multiple terms to get used to and
I feel like I've been in a whirlwind of the last two years starting with the first day with the uh contract negotiation uh ending and then the override starting. that does not happen without courage and you know I I do think the community had
courage in bringing these for to the forefront but there really was an individual to bring us there uh as well and that was in dam and I do think we do not need to blow this up it is a one-year appointment it is a short-term appointment this is not the future of the school committee this future of the
school committee gets decided every year at the ballot so I I guess my ask is we we We be careful about the rhetoric J. We do not want to make this a character assassination. Um that is not our purpose here and and certainly let's
speak facts versus emotion. >> But how do you know that that's rhetoric? Like that's your >> Let's bring the facts then. Jess, you said on your website that you'd like to see all three of you guys running on the committee. >> Yes. >> And now we're assassinating character of individuals.
>> I am not assassinating character. >> Well, we're we're introducing bring the facts then let's have the facts. telling you that I got an email. I had several emails from people who were concerned about their safety. Okay. And I am bringing that to you. We are having a conversation.
>> Let's do so respectfully. Please >> to the the question at hand is really just we have a number of candidates. I guess in my mind we've heard a lot. Um,
>> I think we >> I would like to I actually would like to make a motion at this point to put forth Dan Alfred as the school committee recommendation to be considered on June 8th. >> Um, so you making that motion and then I'll second that.
>> Um, >> are you going to propose anyone else at that time? >> I'm not going to propose anyone else and we at this time it deliberate anymore. We are not going. >> We're not going to have any other consideration. >> Well, I think we need to we'd have to vote on Sarah's motion.
>> I understand. But I'm asking you, are we going to make any other recommendation for anyone else to be brought forward on June 8th? Or are you saying that you the school committee only wants to look at one candidate?
>> Well, we can vote on it. >> You can vote on it. You absolutely can. But if you're only going to make amend one candidate, I'm going to bring all six candidates back next Monday to talk to all of them, right? Or you can propose a few
candidates and narrow the pool and we can just talk to those candidates. So I'm asking for more than one candidate for next week. >> Now, when you went through this process with the library last year, >> and we didn't like that process. we didn't work with them as well as we
should have and we want to fix that for some >> and that's part of the reason why we're here right now >> within what the um the bylaw it is the same bylaw as last year correct >> absolutely >> so um and nothing was done in the last year to change that correct
>> okay um I also I guess thinking back to when the school committee and the select board collaborated on this back in 2015 um you know they were invited to a joint meeting we attended um and uh there were
three three candidates. It also this is in that um in that situation uh the candidate was appointed in a five to four vote um and um there was discussion. They were able to get this done in one meeting. I'm not I'm you
know I I think that um certainly we've had we everyone was invited to discussion. We've invited the candidates to drive by their statements. We've all been provided with their letters of interest. Um, we've all had opportunity over the last few days with contact information to reach out, do our due
diligence. We saw the posting that appeared last week that said potential vote. Um, I'm ready to move forward on Sarah's motion and I would [snorts] I would um, you know, it's been seconded and I think we should we should vote. I just want to be clear. I am not trying
to be combative. I just as I hear all of Dan's strengths being discussed, I think it's also important to acknowledge >> on the line. She's got her hand. >> I think it's also important to acknowledge the challenges that we've faced in the last three years. And I
think there was a large oversight of that in our conversation just now. I don't think I was given a fair chance to speak about the emails in opposition whereas you've all shared the glor like
the emails in that show Dan strengths absolutely but I didn't hear the other side of that come from any of >> I don't think it's appropriate here to do that publicly >> I mean what are the >> as I wouldn't well then that's fine we
don't want to get into details But the sheer number and the fact that there's so much weight being given to the positives and not the negatives like this is what we're >> So I will say when we did the superintendent um discussion and debate
it it was challenging to sort of wrap my head around that we were only focusing on the positive because I did have opinions in multiple directions that I wanted to share. Um, and I think it was a conscious effort on everyone's part and especially myself included, to make sure we were only focusing on the positive and that we were electing the
best candidate because of their highlights and not because of anyone else's low lightss. And I think that's what we need to focus on. >> Okay. I think it's just trying to respect the the public space that this is and that wanting to kind of bring forth people's positives and focus on that. Um, kind of understanding these
are people especially volunteering for a position and so just wanting to make sure that's where our conversation stayed. I also think like my reflection on this after seven years and Ben, you've probably had this too. Sometimes it's the heat of the seat. You're going to be making decisions and I know you're you're new to this, Jess, but you're
going to make difficult decisions and not everyone's going to agree with them and they're going to be very passionate about it. Um it's not lost on me that some of the emails that were received were also from people who were fervently against the override. Um, and so I do I
look at it with in the context of um, you know, it it's certainly not lost on them that you negotiated a contract along with myself and the rest of school committee that tied us to an override. Um, so I think there there is a lot of history behind all of that, but I I do
agree. I'd like to focus on on the strengths. Um, and I'd like to move forward today. >> I think Tina Tina, did you want to have a Can you guys hear me? Okay. >> Yes. >> I'm sorry that I'm identified by my
phone number, but this is Tina from the select board. >> Hi, Tina. >> And I apologize for joining late. Uh I believe I've joined at a point where I hear the school committee alone looking to make a recommendation to the select board. You are not looking for a vote
from this is a jointly posted meeting. Uh I I if I understand correctly in this moment you are not looking for any kind of uh input from the select board members prior to the vote the motion that uh Sarah presented
>> trying to understand process. >> Yeah the motion that was on the floor is that the school committee is going to recommend Dan Alfred to Monday night. >> Okay. So I I do apologize for joining late. I will watch the meeting later. I
suppose I'm I'm I'm not surprised by the motion given that the school committee supported Dan Alfred for his candidacy. Uh and so what I perhaps have missed is the the consideration of the other candidates and their strengths. Um so
I'll have to watch the meeting to understand. Ben, I think I heard you say that you would look to bring other candidates forward for the select board meeting on the 8th. Yes, we can talk. >> I think we should have multiple candidates to be able to hear from them on the 8th.
>> And I'm not opposed to bringing Dan forward on the 8th. I I am opposed to presenting him as our only candidate. I feel very very strongly that we should have at least one other person
preferably two there on June 8th. >> I mean that was the communication that was given to the select board is that there would be a screening of candidates and a slate would be presented. That was my understanding. That was the way I had talked about it to
>> that was my request and that was what I had put forward as um a proposal for our participation this evening. If I known it was just going to be a school committee recommendation. I wouldn't >> I understand the request. I guess my my thought is that I've heard Dan Alfred
from >> Sure. I'm asking the majority of school committ but what I'm asking is are there going to be other candidates that you're putting forward as possible >> other school committee members also mentioned candidates that had strengths
and that they were interested in speaking more to are are you now >> so Ben I've heard you say that a couple times are there going to be for and and what I haven't heard um is a school committee member who's made a motion for that um so I guess in the absence of
having made that motion Uh the answer might be no, but I do think the order of operations here is for us to vote on this motion. >> Sure. >> Um >> I just wanted to make sure I understood because the way the motion was phrased was that the school committee was going to recommendation that this was the
candidate. That's the way I understood it. Perhaps I misunderstood. I I thought it was if it's a candidate to bring forward, that's a different but the motion I heard was the candidate for the school. >> Understood. And I also understood that was your request to Sarah. But in fairness, we have to meet as a committee
and and Sarah can't speak solely on behalf, you know, she she's not speaking for all of us. And part of it is having that opportunity for us to have engaged with the candidates, to hear from the candidates, to discuss the candidates, and then decide what we're going to do. So, I do think we need to we have to
take a a vote on the motion. I also I think if we look at to Jess's point about the candidates like what other candidate was mentioned no one else had like a majority vote. So Dan I don't want to waste anyone else's time also like I value the fact that they volunteered um if there is a majority
already in place and if I understand correctly it's a majority vote at this point um even once we get to your the select board meeting on Monday night. >> Um so I understand really have a chance to interview anybody or ask I I have not had that chance.
didn't call anyone over the phone. >> I was not aware that that was part of the process. >> So, similar again when the school committee and the select board um were involved in this process about 11 years ago, um they did it that night. They had
a joint meeting. Um the candidates presented and they did a vote. I think they they were able to cover um three candidates within about an hour. Um, so I I think that I feel like I've done my due diligence and I'm ready to vote. Um,
which is again why I seconded the motion. >> I didn't either. Just let you have that. >> No, I was interested to hear the statements and the letters and you know I heard a lot of the information I think that we needed. >> I think it's clear the process around
this is not entirely clear in our bylaws and that's something that >> should be another issue. >> But yeah, exactly. It's a whole other issue and we're not here to debate that. We're not that's not on the agenda. But I I think that is this whole process for all of us is uncomfortable because there's nothing that's truly there's
very few specifics. So there's a lot of room for interpretation which I think we're debating here >> and and I hear you Ben because I think what I heard when when you discussed the candidates is this is not your pick and I've been in your seat but it might not you know the vote might not go that way.
But I I will say the way, you know, it the way the current bylaws are set up where there's there's nine of us on this. I mean, we are the body that will be working with this seventh member. And I think, you know, if I if I were to set
this up, I would wait it in a way that we would almost have double votes because we are the person doing the dayto-day. And when you put a person on the committee and they're not doing um their share of the work, I mean that can be a struggle for others too. So I think I made this decision from the
perspective of of having worked with him for three years and even before that as a budget leaison. So I I know he's a workhorse. Um and um and again each each of us that has brought forth you know an
interest in in in moving him forward um knows that they'll be working with him and I think that's important >> and that's absolutely true. Look, I I I understand and I'm not trying to overstate my role here, but what I am trying to say is that I think that there should be a little bit of a a bit of a
process and as that to ensure that the community community hasn't even been able to see all these candidates until tonight to have an understanding and to be able to see which one is the to their uh to their preference and to be able to have an opportunity to weigh in on those
things. And I think that's all I'm asking for. I'm I'm asking for um the to have more than one candidate on Monday night to be able to have a choice to be able to have consideration and to be able to have something that we
can we can talk about. I mean >> deeper conversation >> and I and I and I mean look you know I mean you know there's a lot of there's a wealth of experience. Dan has an incredible amount of experience. He knows what he's doing. He knows a lot of things and I don't I don't debate that. I don't have an issue with that. There's some other questions that I have about
some of the other candidates. Certainly, I mean, one of the things I I'd like to sort of understand here is that with David Jordan uh leaving, you know, what's the plan for filling the role? The way I'm It sounds to me as an outsider, it sounds like Dan's going to be David Jordan. Is he is he applying
for the position? That's almost how it sounds at times. And it just doesn't I'm just trying to understand kind of like, you know, I I want to make sure that you get what you need. I'm not trying to impede anything, but I am trying to make sure that the process is respected and I feel like we need to have a little bit
of time to be able to have that process. And that was the way I had put it forward and so and and wanted to be a part of this. If I if I, you know, my voice is my voice. I only have one voice. I only have one opinion, but I think it's important that the process is
respected and we go through the whole process and have multiple candidates on Monday night. That's all I'm asking for. >> And I hear you. I would like to echo >> I would like to echo Ben's comments. I I heard reference to due diligence being done prior to the meeting tonight. Uh
I'm I'm interested to hear the the types of questions and due diligence work that that was done and and how it was applied to all seven candidate. I'm not questioning it. However, uh to make a decision based on work that individuals did outside of a of a public meeting, uh
I would like to know what that is. I I would also like to know why there is no decision. I understand the motion uh and I understand the process here which is to vote on that motion and you're about to do that. But as the other members of the school committee consider that, I
would ask that you also consider why you would not support first a motion to present more than one candidate. Why is the intent here to present only one candidate? Why not present two or three? What about the other candidates? Do not
raise them up to the level of being considered for a joint a fully joint appointment between the select board and the school committee. Effectively, the select board is uh not an equal um decision making maker here in this
process as you are defining it with this motion. Uh and I I think there's I think the optics of that are concerning. Um, and so I would just encourage the other school committee members as you're considering the motion on the floor that you're about to vote on, again, why not
consider a motion that brings forward more than uh name? >> I think Tracy spoke to that >> and having more thorough deliberation with the full slack board, full school committee on Monday night. And I think Tracy spoke to that in
saying that in in terms of um after listening to the candidate statement, having the information available to us if we wanted to reach out to them and have more of a conversation. Um she spoke to the fact that we we just walked through and asked for people to sort of
outline the two or three candidates and some of the characteristics or um experience that they might bring to this position. And what I think I heard was, well, I know I heard um that there were at least five school committee members
here that supported Dan. And so that again is is I think by Sarah also pointed that out that we we may be in a place or we are in a place to move forward on that. Um and Ben, can you just remind me before Tina spoke, you
said something and I wanted to respond to it, too. Can you just remind me about the very last thing? I apologize. Having a moment here. >> Yeah, I I I probably had a moment too, so I don't I don't remember exactly. If you think of it, just >> Okay. I had a question actually about something Ben had. So maybe this is your
question as well. >> Um but [clears throat] Ben, you mentioned an opportunity. You wanted an opportunity for the public to weigh in um on the candidates put forward. So can you talk about what process you're seeing for that for Jimmy >> for what process I'm seeing for
>> for public to weigh in on candidates? Well, I think, you know, I I I received a number of notes about one candidate, and I think most people don't know who the candidates are, and I'd like to be able to hear from other people about who
they support. And I think, you know, some of the the emails like regardless, you know, certainly some were in support, but some were just kind of I I I want to have other candidates in effect and I'd like to hear from other people once they know who the other
candidates are and to be able to weigh in on it. >> So, is a process for that? Um, people could kind of follow up with their email or contact select board school. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. That would be that would be the process that I would I would expect is to hear emails. I mean, one of the things that I think is very
important to me is being able to hear from the public and being able to get that information. I think that's really critical. Um, and being able to sort of understand a little bit more holistically about community support and input on on topics. >> Yeah, sorry.
>> I did have somebody reach out um and ask if they should be submitting letters of recommendation. It was actually um I'm not going to name names, but because they had heard that letters of recommendation were coming in for
another candidate. I don't think other candidates were even aware that that was something that was being weighed or they had the opportunity to do. So, I think if we narrow it down to two or three, it gives them now a second chance to do
that, put their best foot forward. We sit down, we interview them, there's a back and forth conversation, and it just feels like we're doing our due diligence, right? Like that's that's what the community has asked us to do is do our
due diligence. I think if we just move forward with one candidate, I'm not not even specific to Dan. If this was anybody else, I'd be saying the same exact thing. I think moving forward with just one really I don't know. I just feel like it it
sends the wrong message. >> I guess that's a little different than what the school committee did 11 years ago, right? So, if they've had the meeting and they made the decision that night, they didn't leave this open for a week's worth of um emails or input. Um I don't think I need that. I think that I
am in a place where the experience um on those areas is is really important to me. Um, and so again, this isn't like a second round of the election. Um, you know, if if we're weighing voters, I
think we should consider that um 520 voters just voted for him. Um, so we might not get 520 emails, but that certainly means something, right? Um, so, you know, I think I would like to see us move forward on this motion.
>> That's what I was going to certainly get to as well, that we're looking at a one-year um, appointment. It's not another election. We did that. And like you said, we have 49.9% people agree that this Dan was a candidate that was worthy of sitting at this seat. And so
if that changes and the the voice of the rest of the town decides to vote, which I would love to see them do, then we can do that in a year from now. That that's not what we're doing right now. This is an appointment. It's not a full election at this point. And we had, you know, I got 14 emails over the past 12 hours as
well. Um, and I think that's a small fraction compared to the 500 people that did stand out and vote. >> Yeah, I agree with I I do process is something I think we sometimes overlook. I'm not against and I've said earlier
bringing forth another candidate to have a conversation. What I'm struggling to think through is how we go through this process right now to bring that second or even third candidate because we're so split. Like how would we do that effectively? Um, I think we each had a
someone that we supported. Some had two, but at the end of the day, there's there was no like, okay, we are down to two or three that were really talking about. It was it was a wide swath. So, I'm struggling to figure out how we do it. I'm not philosophically against it. I
also want to, you know, like be mindful of people's times to extend it. Um, so I guess the question and Ben I'd look Tina if you're still on. Um, I agree with you. I think I've publicly said too like boards and committees have not worked
together effectively. Um, and there are reasons why things have happened and why not. I just I'm struggling to figure out in this situation where we're at, take history out of it, how do we effectively move forward with a smaller swath of candidates for per appointment with
where we're at right now? And that's I any guidance that would be helpful. >> I heard quite a few people mention Karen Langden and Ally >> that we should probably I mean we've mentioned loosely but >> almost as much as
>> I would say I get I'm trying I'm trying to struggle to do we need a motion. Do we just vote on the motion that's there >> and um >> and then delivery >> and then see >> what happens next. >> Excuse me. I'm here from the community.
Can I just make ask a question? >> Um let us there there's no public comment. >> There's no public comment. No, sorry. Um, at this point I'll just
Yeah, let's just vote. Does this have to be a roll call or just >> Okay, roll call vote. Jess, >> and this is Can you repeat it? >> Uh, the motion probably not verbatim. Um, was to put forth Dan Alfred as the recommended
candidate to be appointed at the June 8th >> the sole candidate. >> The school committee's recommendation. Frank, >> yes. >> Tracy, >> yes. >> Hillary, >> yes. >> Don, >> yes. >> And I'm a yes.
So that passes and then we're we'll meet again on Monday. >> Yeah. So then we'll be at the school commit at the select board to take the formal appointment. >> Um, and I would make a motion to
adjurnn. >> Second. >> Okay. We'll call vote for that. >> Do we do a motion to adjurnn? Yes. >> Frankie done. >> Yes.
>> Yes. Thank you.