Okay. Uh, good evening, Hollist, and welcome to the February 12th, uh, Hollist School Committee meeting. Um, we'll call to order. It's 7:06ish. Um,
we are going to start with the regular session. So, I'll entertain a m motion to approve the consent agenda. >> So, move second. >> All in favor? That passes. Um,
and then we will move on to our report. >> Could just one second. Yes. As part of the consent agenda, I just would like to call out the fact that we what we just accepted was a gift from the Holl Youth Basketball Association for $13,500 to help uh fix the basketball hoops in the middle school gym. Um, that's just an
incredible, you know, donation on on their part and we really uh appreciate that and thank them. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Sorry. >> No, thank you. I I was I was like do should I say it now or wait till the um uh anyway go ahead. So
>> sorry >> uh report from student representatives please. >> So um we've been busy with um sports and one act. So get right into it. This past weekend the student directed one acts took place with performances on Friday
and Saturday night. Student directors, writers, and actors had lots of creative freedom to make and direct stories that drew lots of laughter and even some tears from the audiences. And then also on Saturday, a matinea performance by Unified Theater, which is a combination of actors with and without disabilities
led by Levi Donaghhue gave students in special education a chance to shine on stage. And recently students have re received all states chorus recommendations at the district level audition to join the all states ensembles and Adele Boggas and Minlay
qualified for their respective ensembles and will perform be performing in March. >> Um the boys varsity basketball team reached the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and they are looking for looking to close out a strong season in their final two games before heading
into the postseason. Um it was a very busy weekend for many team sports as they go off to compete in their state competitions. Um the the boys and girls track and field divisional 4 state meet is tomorrow which is the teams are led by Lucy Down
and Max Harrington who have break broken many school records um this season and they look forward to continue sorry um their success. The swim team has had their division two state meet this weekend as well as two
skiers from the combined Hollston ski team. Maggie Morton and Paul McGrath qualified for their MIAA state championship finishing eighth and 13th respectively in the overall season results. Um, finally, wrestling has sectionals this Saturday at our very own
fieldhouse. >> And this past Tuesday was opportunities night at HHS and lots of students came to present on endorsements, clubs, and programs. And as you will see in the hallways, excellent student art honors work is still up for viewing. And in these past two days, National Honor
Society volunteers have been giving tours to eighth graders, and a freshman panel was assembled to help start a smooth transition from the middle school to the high school. And then juniors and other grades have had class meetings detailing the schedule changes for next year. And thus far, students feel that
they have the necessary resources to start to prepare for the school year next year. And to close regarding the appointment of Dr. James Kimmo Carter, the student advisory council and students look forward to eventually building a strong working relationship. Thank you.
>> Thank you. That's great. >> Um see school committee individual comments. So Joe, no. >> Uh I'll just raise up the um opportunities night as well. Um that was on Tuesday. It was a
really nice display of the programs, the activities, and just the student experience that um are available at Hollston High School. Really nice presentations by some of um our 9th through 12th graders highlighting um a number of activities, internships, um
and different honors that they're part of. Um and just really want to thank Mr. List and the staff and students for putting that together. >> Nothing for me. get just on the opportunities night. I mean, I think it really highlights a lot of the great things that are that are going in at
Hollison High School that I think maybe aren't necessarily seen broadly. So, especially as students are making their decisions on uh eighth graders are making their decisions on on where to go next year for 9th grade, uh it's definitely worth at least watching that video, seeing what's what's out there at Holland High School uh to include that
as part of the decision-m process. So, thank you, Mr. List, and everyone who participated. No additional comment. >> I'll just echo the opportunities night. I thought was really excellent and really fun to see all of the stuff that
goes on here at Hollison High School um in one place at one time was really kind of exciting. So, thank you. Um let's see. I don't believe we have any public comment. Is there anyone? >> No one on the Zoom. Nope. Um so, we will
move right along to the high school schedule update. Mr. This is not the schedule, but I know not all of y'all were there. So, these are the flyers we just gave out to highlights what's going on at the high school. So, I just want to make sure you all had um some copies of it. Uh I did
send that out to all the families um this afternoon once we got the video all processed. So, there's video of the opportunities that was there. Um, I think with the with the change in schedule, it was a really great opportunity uh for parents in the community to see what what what's offered at the high school. Um, and and
really highlight our our staff. Um, these the what what was shown at the opportunity were were a little bit of all the what what makes high school special beyond um just your everyday classroom experience. Um, and and and all the hard work that the teachers put
in in that way. Um, and in putting it together, as I said, it was a it was uh really like an all-we inspiring uh moments to put it together when you because uh when you're in the trenches every day, you don't actually uh get to appreciate uh what happens uh at the
school um as as sort of all the cogs are spinning and and working together. But um to be able to put that all together in one place was really neat. Um and for the kids to be able to present that and the staff to be able to present that was was cool. Um, I think the student representatives uh shared a lot of what I was going to to to say, but we had um
the eighth graders up here this week to talk about um the the transition. We we that's more of an opportunity for the students to speak to other students um to talk to ninth graders, uh to talk to some of our um seniors, uh about the high school experience here, ask the
questions, the important questions like what the pizza tastes like, uh you know, all the deep the deep dive. Um, so you know, that was uh it was it was really cool to sit here and to watch our students talk about their school experience here. Um, and and uh sort of helped the uh the incoming freshmen to
to feel comfortable um as they transition. Um, also over the past um week and a half things moved around because of snow. Um but we had meetings with um each of the the the students in grades 9 through 11 uh to talk about the schedule for next year. Um just to give
them an opportunity to understand um what classes they might take based on what they're taking now. Um you know it's complicated for them because you know they they had whatever it was in their mind built around the current schedule and so now they wanted to see
how it fit in um to the to the new schedule. Um and so they were really able to do that and understand um what they need to take, what options we have, what electives will be offered um you know how because you know there it understand year-long versus semester
classes. Um and so as the the students said it uh the feedback that we got from students was was really positive um in helping them to understand um before the process really uh gets underway. um because that it's it's crazy that we're almost there, but um right after
vacation on on uh the first week of March, students at the high school will start meeting in small groups with their counselors. Um they start to go through um what their journey looks like at the high school. Um, at that same time, we're going to be sharing out with both the high school and the middle school
um, a a brand new program of studies that will be easy to read, will be uh, very streamlined so the parents can see, you know, sort of exactly what a student's journey is 9 through 12 here. Um, so all of that will go out um, the the week after February vacation. Um,
and that will give enough time for students to talk to counselors, to families, um, and to start course selection um, on March 17th, um, between March 17th and the end of March. So, they'll have about two weeks to go into the system, pick their
classes. Um, and on March 16th, we'll have our program of studies night. Um, where we'll go over that. Um, it's usually mostly attended by eighth grade families. Um but I'm encouraging families of students, you know, really 8 through 11 to come so they can ask the questions and really understand um
what's what's what the transition is going to be. So any questions? No. >> All right. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Always good to see you all. >> Thank you. Thanks for coming. >> Okay. Um, next up we have the
superintendent's FY27 budget. All right. So, tonight Dr. Jordan and I are going to both um present the proposed FY27 budget at the snapshot short of time that we're in right now as of February 12th. So, we're going to give the rationale
for the proposed budget, what a level services budget looks like, what the town projected budget or deficit might look like, the priority needs requests that we presented with principles in January, and then additional capital requests for FY27. So, when we do our process just like we
did in the previous years, we're aligning with the strategic plan and strategic initiatives, and you saw us present that with the priority needs in January. We will be in year five of priority needs, I'm sorry, of our strategic plan next year. So, you'll likely want to work with the new superintendent and the leadership team
to start the process for building a new strategic plan. And as of last year as well, transportation and tuition are very impactful. Um, the changes that we've talked about in the past for FY27 are still uncertain just like we had u concerns last year. We did account for
all the known personnel increases that we have at this moment and some of that David will be talking about as far as retirements and resignations as of this snapshot in time as well. Town of Hollist like many places is also experiencing challenges but um I'd say given where we are not in the shape that
some districts you're hearing on the news are a lot more concerns than we're having. So, we we still feel good about where we are, but that doesn't mean we don't have challenges. And we did take all of that in consideration as we tried to build the budget for you tonight. David,
uh it's not clear exactly what um our tuition reimbursement will be for the FY26 uh year. um FY25 um we we knew by this point that our tuition reimbursement would be 75%. Um a
surprise at the end of this last fiscal year is uh that uh transportation was also reimbursed at 75% where historically it's budgeted or reimbured right around 40% 44%. So um that was a nice uh buffer to receive uh in June
July um for us. uh it's not I'd say it's less likely uh for the FY25 because it's the prior year's reimbursement that you're receiving uh that we would be reimbursed um at that full 75% uh but
what we are budgeted for um is is about 40% uh anticipated about 40% in our reimbursement is what we budgeted for in FY27. So, our just so to to give you an idea of circuit breaker, circuit breaker is a 2-year, we have two years to spend
it. Um, we always use it in the second year. So, the year that we receive it, we use that amount as the budgeted amount for the next uh the next year that we're we're using. So, it's a two-year uh process that we have. So, just for those of us that don't know
what level services means, I just always like to remind that it's really looking at the current year's level of services and projecting what it would cost to do exactly what we're doing right now with personnel and resources that we currently have and what we would need to maintain that for next year.
So um David had presented in January on January 8th what the potential level services budget would look like like and if you look at the snapshot in time on January 8th he was projecting 4.98% before we consider any priority needs or
capital needs. I will show you here on the uh there's a tab here open for student services that we do have the numbers in there. I'm not going to go through all of that now, but we do have the numbers that we're projecting for next year. Oops, I got to change the
>> I'd say just kind of as what you'll notice in uh and thank you to Dr. Katalo who couldn't be here for putting that presentation together. Um a major driver for us is that that we did predict in our three-year model is we are seeing a reduction in our out of district
placements. Um and we will this is our current current year at 39 uh students. Um, and we are looking at additional reductions in the FY27 uh, in our outer districts as well. >> So, these slides are in your packet. We can speak to it a little bit right now, but then if you have further questions,
we might ask you to hold those for when Barbara's back on February 26th. So, if you look at the years 2020 through 2025, they give us the enrollment data on Desi is is updated every fall around October. Our BIMS data
goes in there and all of our SIMS data. So, if you look at the increase at the town and at the state level, you'll see that we are up um in special education IEPs for students and the state is up as well. And there's a lot of discussion about that. If you saw in the news,
Patrick Topweiler is no longer going to be the secretary um of education. It's going to be going to Dr. Ricky from Salem. And that was the one of the articles I read today was talking about how we're seeing it increase statewide for special ed costs and needs.
And then she gave you the numbers here and again seeing our enrollment trends from 2020 through 2026. We're about 2700 students at this time. You can see the number of IPS just like the percentages. You can see the the real numbers there are projected as well
for this year. And similarly 504s that's been kind of up and down but we're currently at 257 students on 504s. And when we get into the priority needs, you'll see how the importance of the EL number is going to matter here because
you'll see we went in 2122 we had about 62 students. We're now up to 97 and with that we have more level ones and level twos. Joanie can talk a little further when we get to that point. But that is a significant amount of hours and needs for students. So the more hours we have
to give, the more staff we need to do so. And that's where you'll see our priority need directly related to that. Some of the drivers that Barbara had talked about were the mental health needs of students. We know that every year we talk about this a lot. We've
seen some our data improving with our Metro West Health survey, but there still a lot of mental health needs of students. The tier one is our big focus this year with MTSS. We told you that we're doing all of our alignment and our work at the district level with our admin team and P with staff is really
focused on tier one. And that's a significant area of need with the hope that that could help over time reduce the number of children on IEPs if they're getting their needs met in tier one. 504 regulations have certainly become more complex and often times we're
writing 504s and students might have a medical plan and a 504. You don't necessarily have to do that, but that's been a practice in the district to do both. So, it just it's it's more plans and more needs for students that we're considering. And I already mentioned the increase in the English language learners. We like to call them
multilingual learners, but the state still calls them ELLL students English language learners. Also, out of district costs, I this shouldn't be anything new to you. Clearly, this has been a topic of concern the last few years of the significant tuition increases. transportation as well. 600 a day can
still be seen, but the district is really working to try to reduce that over time and and lock into lower contracts with work from both Barbara Catalo and Michelle Lame and we certainly have seen an increase in paranal needs and monitors on buses and
that the oneto ones and so forth. So obviously that comes at an additional cost and then we can't account for out of district movements. So where we are right now, we can give you a good overview of what we see for the budget, but we can't predict any movements that might happen later in the year.
So just a couple of things that they're working on is to reduce the cost. Um trying to lock in prices and delivery was an area of concern a few years ago when we couldn't find someone. We often have do delivery services and there's really no moderation of that. So unfortunately those costs were
significantly high. I do know at the state level the inspector general is doing a whole analysis of this and an audit. So hopefully something will come of that for costs in the future. And then this is what we're working on for extended school year. Dr. Catalo is
working with trying to see which students really need the supports in the summer because ultimately we don't want to have to bring them in the summer if we don't have to. We really want them to enjoy and and have playtime in the summer because that's also social emotional development. So, she's been
working with the SSAs to develop checklists and really looking through what the true needs of students are because it's not in the summer. It's really time to try to reduce regression. It's not about trying to gain services in the year. That's what happens in the school year. We try to increase and get
students caught up further, but in the summer, it's really about trying to prevent regression. So, I don't know if you have questions about that that David or I could answer. And if not, there's specific questions that we could also um have for Dr. Katala when she returns.
What's that right now? Okay. All right. Let me put that slides back up. All right. So that was January 8th where we saw things >> just um to stay just here for a second. Um while January 8 was kind of the la
the time that we uh created kind of the or finalized the level services budget. Um what you're going to see in future slides is a major driver being payroll. Payroll the our our our part one was done in November. Um, so as you've heard
maybe Dan talk or to the school committee about is that the the later we get into the year, the more accurate our numbers are and the more we learn about retirements and resignations and things that we can plan for for FY27. Also, things happen in FY26 as well. People people leave, come and go, salaries
change over the course of the year um that kind of kind of make that. So part one uh which is our payroll and salaries was in November and then our student services which was our part three was that was in our at the very beginning of January.
>> So >> go ahead. Um so our our total change um which is fantastic and and somewhat unheard of is um that we payroll uh the driver here is that we are reducing the
budget from where it was by 483,593 uh by just uh rerunning our payroll to this point um this point LA this what I would say is the 11 retirements is more retirements than we had over the course of the entirety of the year last year. Uh but to have 11 retirements um at this
point uh in itself is a large uh number of retirements. So this is this is kind of not something you should always anticipate happening uh but it's happening in our favor um this year which is that we have 11 retirements for resignation. Some of those retirements
um six of those retirements are anticipated for FY27. Uh but we have additional retirements that happened mid year this year partially to this year that we did not anticipate um in our FY25 or in the 25 school year as we're projecting our FY26. Additionally, over
the course of the year um this year we had we mixed into the four resignations are resignations that occurred this year for a variety of reasons uh that occurred during this year. Uh and some are a couple of the resignations are resignations that um we know of uh not
to like Dr. Manard is taking a superintendent position and so that is a resignation. Resignations um happen for great reasons um as well. Um other payroll uh we do have um we do have what are like people in interim positions uh
single-year contracts things that in there. uh we have uh uh lane change adjustments that uh occur as well um in that um some of our FY27 even some of our mid-year retirements what we budgeted as far as the person that we
would replace them with was an M a M's 7 and we hired at a B4. Uh so you get some additional buffer that's built into that as well. So um this again this is kind of uh this snapshot in time uh of where
we are. Um and you know this is kind of the the major movement of the payroll uh that we have. There will be minor adjustments in payroll all the way all the way up to July one well all the way up until the start of the school year uh
as far as how that that works um as well. But the superintendent's budget again accounts for all new known adjustments to level services as of today. The budget will continue to be updated with the most accurate information leading all the way up to Midtown meeting when you eventually have
to just make the call. >> Thank you. So that allowed Dr. Jordan to revise his projected level services budget as of February 9th with this new information down to 3.89%. Which is very helpful. It's still not
getting to where the town thinks that they can fund, but at least it's we're moving in the right direction at this point. And >> those were here last year. Last year at this point, the four we were at 4.21% level services.
>> All right. So, as we have had in recent years, the town administrator, actually should say town manager now, I apologize for that. It's been modeled at 3.25% 25% um over the past few years and again it's a placeholder for FY27. It's not a guarantee until we go through
the whole budget process. And if we do get the 3.25% that is still a 64% deficit of what we think we need for level services for FY27 which is 286,000. So obviously we have to consider that as we make decisions as we move further in
the budget cycle. And it doesn't consider the priority needs at this time as well. So, what are the priority needs? I think when I looked at the numbers from last year, we were at about 450 to 4 to 490 um,000 for what we were identifying as
priority needs. We've really sharpened our pencils even before going into the priority need discussion in January with our principles. We were very realistic with them as to where we are, with the funds we're going to have with a feasibility study potentially coming up um in the spring vote. So with all of
that, they were very very conscientious about considering their real strict priority needs. One that we've talked about probably since the entire time I've been here is trying to fund uh we talked about potentially an assistant director or because the needs in the out of district has incre although the
number of students have decreased in the outer districts, the number of meetings that happen for out of district is significant. And as you saw with the number of IEPs increasing, our SSAs and our student services director are now having more and more meetings. So they can't go out of the district to handle
these out of district meetings. And that's why we really strongly prioritize that we need at least 0.5 hopefully a full-time person later in the cycle in another year or so. But that would be about 60,000 Placentino and Miller. That's why I talked to you about the
ELLL needs this um with Dr. I could tell those slides and Dr. Manard can elaborate on that as well. But again being very conservative to try to fill and get some of those hours to students. Both Classantino and Miller are looking for a half-time tutor that would work in
conjunction with the teachers that are already existing there similar to other models that we have in the district. And then we definitely know that Rams is struggling with 1.0 campus supervisor needs. the amount of time our administrators are managing all of the
needs in the lunchroom and so forth. The model works so well at the high school because we have Kenny the campus supervisor role and he's able to manage multiple things throughout the day and take some of the work off the administrator so they and he also has very good relation with students. So we would look for that same role at RAMs to
try to take away some of those um more preventative and safety needs that the campus supervisor could really monitor in the hallways and lunchroom and so forth. And then also we did add which was great last year in the budget we added the math tutor and that's allowed
us when we presented with the curriculum specialist significant amount of interventions are now able to happen with the curriculum intervention role and now having a a full-time math tutor with that. Similarly we'd like to add a reading tutor to work with the literacy
interventionist role as well. But you look at the total there, 158,000. That's not a lot when you look at trying to do best for students, but we really tightened up our model significantly to try to consider where we are as a town and school system.
So that would get us to a different number now, 46 thou 46 million. And that now brings our projection to 4.25%. As I reminded you earlier, we're modeling a 3.25% projection right now. So we are 1%
away from um you know where we might be in the budget meeting in at the town but there's still time and we have to come up with some creative solutions as we go forward as well. So right now we are looking at reductions to get to that number just like we have in past years.
But again when I'm looking at some of the data on some districts that are having a deficit of three four five million I mean we're clearly not there. So, we've really been careful with our spending and using not using one-time funds to supplement a budget, which is why we're not in the shape that some
other districts are. Capital requests. So, again, if you look at the top there, initially when we presented priority needs, we were estimating about 3,335,000. We've been able to reduce that number by going through again and we're now
looking at a potential of 3,240,000 with the bulk of that being the MSBA feasibility study. So that's something that we've discussed at the town level already. That's obviously a huge chunk of this. But curriculum resources, Dr. Menard has gone back with her curriculum
review teams and we were able to lower some of the curriculum estimates for resources for next year. One of them was um instead of having a pre preK through eight science ask the grade three and five teachers are going to hold off this year and not look for new resources. So
we were able to lower that number. And then we are looking at high school potentially needing $100,000 related to just unforeseen needs with the new schedule. So that's something we've talked about as well. So that would get us to that 3,240,000. You know, I can just qualify why
Miller's not looking at that is because we'll have a new curricular resource for ELA and they really feel like they need to concentrate on that. All right. I know we went pretty fast, so we're happy to answer any questions that either Dr. Manard, Dr. Jordan, or I
could answer related to or go back to any slides they'd like us to go back to. Why is this dete I mean this is what the sort of agreement is that we would normally the level one um there are four levels level one budget request is the um board
approved >> given the schools need more time we reached an agreement with with Travis back when he was here that the superintendent's budget would stand in for the level one um So Dr. T will send that over as soon as we're you know
we're done tonight or maybe you already have because it's it's your it's your number. We're not obviously >> we haven't given him the exact number so we can do that tomorrow. >> Um but around now >> um so that so that the town manager can put together his um budget recommend but I think it's
probably they're having a their Saturday meeting the select board to go over all the budgets they oversee. I think it might be this Saturday. >> No, February 28th. >> February 28th. Um, yeah. >> And we'll be hosting as as usual office hours as we meet into town meeting.
>> Well, we'll have an actual budget hearing on either March 26 or or um April 9th. Um, and then we'll also once we sort of have a finalized budget, we'll we'll have office hours we're presenting to the finance committee for anyone
interested on on March 31st. Um, but yeah, I mean I mean this is this is great news as far as uh really working that that that deficit down significantly to a pretty what should be a manageable number. But um
probably the the easiest uh changes have been have been made already. So um I know Dr. Jordan and Dr. because we're looking at everything as it comes in. But um we'll just continue to keep plugging and looking at different
different options as we look at enrollment and things like that. But right now, I mean, if you look at the news and see where some other districts are, I mean, we are in really good shape at this moment this year.
>> Yes. It's not a race to the bottom though. >> No. And and look, we're in a good place, but we're still we're 300 we're $286,000 away from even beginning to start thinking about funding the the priority needs. Um later tonight, we'll look at a
a letter we'll send to our representatives and and a representative and state senator hopefully help with chapter 70. But um you know it's uh money is certainly not falling off of trees to to help us along. So
>> when you were talking about the um curriculum >> Yes. Sorry. >> The you're you going to focus on the ELA this coming year and then looking for >> for No. So for Placentino, you have
teachers that teach science that do not teach ELA. >> So that's why Miller though they would impact by both, right? And then Rams were looking at science also. So that's why >> just let them focus on one thing right now. Correct. And then right
it's pretty overwhelming, right? Think about it. They just went through Eureka math squared also. So >> but the curriculum will be decided. It will just be purchased at a later date, right? The curriculum resources for prek to 2 and 6 to 8 will be decided. Are you going to are you're not going to pilot a
resource for 3 to five, right? >> Not this year, but we will come back before the school year ends and make a recommendation that'll be presented to the superintendent and the school committee on the resources to use for preK through two science, 6 through 8
science, and elementary ELA. >> I guess I didn't pick up on this when we're talking about a budget. I apologize. Um I totally get putting it off here so that this you know teachers aren't rolling out two different sets of of curriculum but would it be pos I mean
I just as we look at it I'm not an educator as everyone knows. Um but to pick curriculum for K through two and then six through eight but kind of leave a hole and not sort of even have it decided. >> Yeah. I think the issue though is just like we're doing with literacy, they
have so many weeks that they have to actually use the materials and pilot them. So the piloting is what they don't have enough time to do. So that's >> likely that will help prek to 2 will help them decide. They'll end up more than likely tying either into pre-K to 2 or 6 to 8 the materials. But they also
want to look at what is chosen for ELA for the elementary schools to see if any science can be tied into that and connected to that because there are some publishers out there that do both ELA and science. So that's a potential for
Miller. >> Okay. >> I don't know if we'll work out that way. >> But I do understand your concern like it feels like a gap. But >> we did start teaching with um we did purchase some more of the u mystery was it mystery science >> um for the grade 3 to five teachers when
we started the new implementation with um some of them teaching science in the classroom u but the unified arts teachers are still teaching science for prek to >> so what's happened at Miller also very proud of um Ashley Buchard and Carla Krauss who are the Rams in the Miller
STEM curriculum coordinators they work very closely together and really making the mystery science for Miller be strengthened. So even though they won't make a recommendation, we have been
making positive changes for Miller. >> Oh no, obviously there's a lot of work going on. I'm not questioning that at all. Um >> are we is there any benefits of scale purchasing that we're losing but not? No, because if you're No, because like
for Rams and Placentino, we're looking at different things and Miller is what they were kind of talking about potentially would look at different things. But let's say, I'm just making this up. Let's say Plantino decides on product X and then Miller decides on
that same product X, then I work with Dr. Jordan and we do a negotiation with a company to bring down the cost. So yes, we would do that. You know, if they decide to choose it, even though we'd be one year into Plantino, companies look at that, right?
>> So you're saying we might if we if they go with with with X for 3 to five the next year, we might still be able to work out. >> They might actually reduce the preK to two amount. >> Absolutely. >> Because you're giving them a larger >> Absolutely. You can. >> Anything else on that? Any questions
about the budget process or >> I'll give it an opportunity when we get the budget on the rest of this stuff. >> Just a just a comment about um sticking with capital m the maintenance truck. Um one just the the actual truck is this is this is for our maintenance director as
far as the need for that that truck is pretty much aged out and needs to be released. But the but in this in this cost would be a truck with uh with a plow um and something that would be able to support uh a lot of our snow removal
um and our partnership with uh DPW in kind of a pinch especially within our parking lots and our sidewalks. >> I understand we need to retire. How's it does the town take it back and then potentially resell it? like is there a potential?
>> It's um I we could put it up. We I don't know if anybody will want it, but uh we we will try to get some type of cost or we hold on to it. It's unfortunately >> um I I think it's best definitely to not
maintain the truck at the moment. So yeah, >> I think we do have to vote on basically putting up for sale and then I don't know that that then rolls it into the town meeting appropriation for all the select board to then put it up for sale if we kind of release it to I don't know how the exact mechanism goes but I know
we've pass we've voted in the past to sell old. >> Yeah, I mean it go the money goes to the town. So like we the same thing with like our whether we run an auction, we're trying to sell our our assets that way and then that money James Keys typically runs runs a lot of our asset auctions. um as well.
>> Yeah, basically just said that sounds like it's dead on arrival. >> Yeah, >> okay. >> Okay. Um then moving on. Policy, we've got policy GBGB, which is a second reading,
>> right? And there's nothing new, so you don't have to reread it, but you could also do the uh third reading if you wanted to. >> Any questions on this policy? I don't think so. >> Should we wave the third reading? >> Can we wave the third reading and vote
on it? >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I think it's pretty straightforward. So, >> I'll make a motion to wave the third reading. >> Second. >> All in favor? That passes? >> I'll make a motion to to approve GBGB as
presented. Second >> Hillary second. All in favor? >> Great. >> Gives me the heeie jibbies. >> Okay. Yes, I know it's kind of a funny jib he Okay, great. That was easy. And so now
we will go on to central office admin updates. >> Yes. So, if you look in the packet that you received from Lisa, all of the items, there's a whole sheet of accept documents or accepts documents for review and a number of links there. I
don't feel like there's a need to go through it all and you but I'm happy to answer questions about where we are with the the audit report was um fairly good from FY25. In the past, there had been some concerns. are in a better place this year. And they gave you the annual report from FY25.
Then there is an annual budget FY27 um projection for costs there associated. We don't have a lot of students that accept. I think we have one or two right now and we use a little bit of transportation. We don't have a lot there at the moment. We're hoping in the
future to be able to um see if more students can be serviced there, but it just hadn't we didn't have a lot of students that had the need for their programs at this time. So, it's it's not a huge impact to us um the changes here, but again, if we're trying to find in some cases um the collaborives can be
less expensive than some of the certainly some of the private schools that we're seeing for tuition. So, we we always do try to look at that as an option. >> Yeah, especially within transportation. Um I'm under transportation subcommittee as far putting together that newer
transportation model. Um so that is something that we do uh as far as our out of district transportation trying to leverage and utilize Except. So uh Michelle um who is our special education coordinator has been working closely with Except Transportation who has a new
director um who is uh who seems really strong um as far as reworking and using some of the transportation software. Luckily enough, the same transportation software that that we use. Um, so we've been able to kind of Kim has been able to kind of talk with them about how to
use that that software effectively to kind of um improve their their cost system as well. >> So again, that's just information we're required to have that um on our agenda quarterly. And then I did want to mention just today, it's actually kind of um fun that
I was able to go to middle school and have my roundt meeting with a number of middle school students. So, what we talked about today was I I said to them um I wanted to know if they knew that they had a new superintendent and what would they like me to share with him about the middle school and they had
positive things to say in most cases, not all about just the unified arts offerings and also um most children felt that they had a good sense of belonging there. Again, perspective. There are some students that felt differently depending on their circumstances. And
then they also um really wanted to highlight just how unique Rams is in general. I did also ask them about the high school and if they knew about the changes that were happening here. Two of the eighth graders were there and they had gone to the um tours yesterday and today. So they really were excited to
hear all of the offerings. I think they did a from what I've been hearing everybody seemed really pleased with as Dr. List I mean principal list shared with you well attended both um in by Zoom and in person. And I think just for the kids to hear about all those offerings, it's been very exciting. And
they had a lot of questions about electives up here. And so it was nice to be able to talk about, you know, where we are in the the cycle with our new schedule. And I also talked to them about the potential of a new building project, which obviously they'd be excited about, but eighth graders and
seventh graders likely wouldn't be in the new building. Sixth graders might. So we did talk about that. But I did say that if the town does move forward in that direction, more than likely the principal and this new superintendent would want to do surveys for students and have their voices heard about what types of programs they'd like to see at
the high school. And so it was it was a great conversation and one of the things that I was pleased to hear um when I said to the students, what would you like me to um encourage the new superintendent with? And they they said we would like you to have him do what you're doing and come meet with us. Because they really felt that's been
positive. So, preK to 8, I've had a lot of really rigorous meetings with um pre-K to 8 students at the high school. They're lacking. Um last year, I felt I had more um visibility with them, but the DSB model, which is great. They've got now they have to sign in and out,
but they also don't have the flexib flexibility to sign up to come see me. So, I'm hoping and that was something I recommended the new superintendent is continuing those models, but also they would have a different place to be able to fit that. We've been trying to fit everything in DSB as you know and that's been one of the challenges but um
definitely the pre-K to8 students are giving a lot of valuable input to you know district needs and helping inform decision-m so so that's been great and I think that's it for me at the moment talked a little bit about the crooken reviews just to give you a quick update so Placentino is working under the
direction of Christa Marino and they're really looking at the possible curate rated um resources and ranking them and kind of seeing using a rubric to see if it would meet Placentino's needs and then see if they could come and have
vendors come in and present to see which ones they're interested in. Ram has done the rubric already and having vendors come in and the committee is ranking those and then going back to their colleagues in the science department and having conversations about what things
they like and what they don't like. Um and that's under the direction of Carla Krauss. And then finally with the um elementary school project working with under the direction of Jenny Man and Caitlyn Kinsky who are working with
School Kit who is an incredible amazing organization that we're working with um and really diving deep into what we need at the elementary school level. Um and we definitely will be able to have a recommendation to you by the end of the year. Um Tracy will be talking about the
Miller principal search and um we are busy working on March PD already getting plans for that. Um and I had another new teacher institute meeting which went very well because we talked about the midyear slump and had ideas for that which kind of everybody's hitting right
now. So that's it. Thank you. >> We had 100 days already. I think we've >> we have had 100 days already. >> That's something I thought I saw. >> Oh, I'm sorry. And I meant to talk about that. We had some amazing 100 day celebrations at the elementary schools. Um really nice job that both um Christa
Marino at Placentino organized as well as Ashley Bashard at Miller. So I went to both of those which is good. >> Uh in your folder um as we kind of discussed something that you appreciated that um Mr. Mr. Budet provided as a as a
budget memo. Uh in budget sub uh we subcommittee we kind of go into greater detail as far as specific lines within the budget. But I do want to get into a habit of providing you all with just kind of a more holistic summary uh outlook um of the budget. Um, you know,
I'm always I'm interested in in feedback of things that you would want in addition uh to this, but just as on a high level of our year-to- date, but um also our grants. Um, we are, as we said about the 101st day of school, we're
about 62% uh through the year. Uh, budget utilization is about 58%. Um, so we're right where we would project that we uh should be. Um that said kind of within some of the highlights um the our percent spent spent currently is exceeding a little bit on some of the
percentage and that's partially because um this at the term change is where we have a lot of our major stipens and um other par uh payment payouts that happen at this point in time. So it creates a little bit of a blip but it's something that we're aware of and know of um
within kind of heating and snow removal. Um, you know, we we have really kind of we're at 82% utilization of our grounds budget. Um, as far as some of that uh snow removal at this point um and added some some other items in there within
the highlights. Um, within grants uh just to kind of give you an understanding of grants, you'll see that um we just to conceptualize how we use grants is you have to actually acrue all of the expenses first into the appropriations budget. then you can draw
down uh from gyms into the grants. So that's why you don't see much grant utilization at this point. Um but uh that will start to happen the closer you get to the end of the year. The other part is the the grant system. You can't even draw down until February 24th uh
any money at all uh on your on your grants. So that's that's why you're kind of seeing some of that. But that gives you a little bit um of a grants picture. I'm happy to answer any questions in the future about some of that. Um the uh you know I know we've had a lot of snow and
I know that that's kind of had had some impacts on arrival and dismissal at um at some of our our buildings. Um I uh I went back it's it's been a good eight years maybe nine years since the last time we maybe seven years that we've had
the last major snow uh that we had. And I went into my inbox and um it wasn't friendly. I'll say that. uh being principal, I was principal of the middle school at that time. Um as far as a lot of our sidewalks being closed, uh traffic 8 years ago uh on Woodland
Street that was backing up as families chose not to use the buses to bring their students to to school. Um I know that um there are some trials and things that we're working through as far as our arrival and dismissal plan at specifically at the Woodling campus. Um
I I have uh the last several days this week have uh observed both arrival and dismissal. Um we do have significantly more cars than we would uh we would historically have in normal conditions. Um that said uh that those road
conditions um are part of our capital plan uh that was approved in the fall to kind of really address that part of the CPC flag project that we're doing to kind of redo and strengthen uh those roads as well and assist within that. um that arrival and dismissal plan. But I'm
very appreciative uh to the principles and the administrators and the staff that are helping uh out with that process. Solar uh on um March 10th, we're going to have some structural engineers to
finalize the um the Rams um uh structural plan uh with uh for solar on the middle school. Um currently kind of we're partnering uh with select is the the group that we're partnering with as far as solar on the Woodland campus. Um
this would be a full solar system for the middle school. Um and then a partial system for on the sing shingled section for the Miller and Placentino school. Um structural social analysis is done for Miller and Placentino. Um they are that's what they're coming out for for
the middle school on March 10th to be able to do that and that will include um our uh James Ke myself um Frank our town manager will be there as well. Um and they'll be out kind of doing with the structural engineer for about a couple hours um at the middle school at that
time. Um we do have uh we have received kind of our internet interconnectivity application received by has been received by Eversource. Um we did um our application was accepted to SMART which is the solar
Massachusetts renewable target uh which is like an incentive for different reimbursements that we can get for our solar uh program. Our next steps though is to describe we're waiting on the green light from Eversource to connect kind of which is kind of like the approval to connect to the grid. Um and then we'll finalize our structural
analysis, go down the town permits, and that process will kind of accelerate pretty quickly once we uh make that connection with um Eversource MSBA. Um we talked a little about this within uh budget sub uh but and you we
saw that within the presentation is that we're we are conservatively currently at a $2.5 million feasibility study. Uh I am working closely with uh James Ke and with our town manager Frank um looking at different comps and specific language
around uh feasibility studies including kind of reaching out with business and facilities directors around that $2.5 million is the is the high end of the feasibility study. There are comps like that that um match the 2.5 million. Um
uh but they on the low end uh that we're seeing as far as within current uh schools around our size is around 1.8 million. Um so you're still within that that range as far as feasibility studies within the comps that we've looked at. So u we will continue to kind of provide greater detail and specifics around uh
feasibility studies and the cost of them. uh including maybe in future presentations providing some greater explanation of like what is in and what is involved in a a feasibility uh study. Um we are in so our module one our
eligibility this is just kind of just a reminder of kind of where we are in the MSBA high school process. Our eligibility period doesn't actually start until June 1st. Uh so it's not we're not behind really the eightball on anything at this mo moment. they do
suggest that you pursue um a feasibility stud study and take two cracks the apple within kind of your town meetings to acquire the capital you'll need for your feasibility study. So uh that said um we won't be receiving an email to really start the process with uh the MSBA until
May 4th. Um and then they'll really start kind of following up with deliverables on May 18th um at that at that point to kind of really jump into the MSBA process. Any questions connected to any of that? That went pretty fast.
>> Really exciting. >> Incredibly exciting. >> Incredible. >> And a tea for you. >> Okay. Um, we can move on to communications. >> All right. I think everyone got the share link. We got a newsletter.
>> I do want to thank the communications subcommittee. We came together yesterday. We put this together. So, we're here to edit. So, feel free to I know someone's already gone in to edit a bit, >> but
>> yeah, feel free to go through each section to we we don't necessarily I'll speak personally for me. It probably shouldn't be pages long. There's a lot to share. So, we're trying to keep snippets of the information really what's import pertinent to the community. Um but certainly if there's
anything missed or need should be omitted just feel free to go in and it the topics we will be covering um announcing Dr. Carter the Hollison High School schedule update Miller elementary principal search MSBA acceptance which you just talked about uh welcoming Jess
back um and then uh FY27 budget update which real time just got updated based on Dr. Kusco's uh presentation. So, >> the only thing I think that we could potentially add, if people are comfortable defining it tonight, is with
the budget here hearing coming up, we should probably start picking out office hours. So, we could potentially put in a couple office hours into this newsletter, too. >> They're mentioned in the budget update. We just don't have the dates, but if we want to align on that, >> we can.
>> And they're going to be later, too. So, probably send you another email. People will probably forget a month plus out. >> Yeah. But maybe some office out like maybe at least something the first part of March and then we would send it again
halfway through. Yeah. >> People are welcome to go sit at Coffee Haven for an hour. >> Rushford. Why don't um when we do the vote for this, we can table it and we'll connect with Sarah. We'll set a time and then I'll send out a
>> set office hours also offline. >> Yeah. and just where we send it to. >> That's a good idea. Is this all the way in one email? >> Yeah. >> It's a lot of information.
>> It's incredibly exciting things to talk about. I was going to work with Dan potentially if if possible have links to then bring you to the specific topics that's a little more HTML to include but
>> that was a thought. Yeah. >> Bullet point newsletter person do six different emails. No, no, but like I don't I don't know like six bullets and then I like the idea of linking like here's the highlight reel and then if you actually want to read more but I don't know but
>> my guess is that not everyone's going to be interested in all these. They do they can do links >> to drop you down you know >> to wear on the floor but it is possible >> if it's not too much work >> it's all great information don't get me
wrong but it's just a lot >> no thank you >> is a good point too I mean a lot of we have always a lot of information share probably starting this quarterly would make sense because we're doing like midyear and you could See there's six at
least if not more topics. So uh if we do quarterly there might be less but >> and I will make sure it is posted also report to approve a vote to approve this. Um, can you >> Yeah, I would just say maybe slight
immaterial edits because I might change some design things, but text would >> reduce it. >> In terms of the principal search, is there more than one listening forum? Are they scheduling more than one forum? >> That I don't know, Joan, do you know the answer to that? Is it u I'm not we
haven't talked about how many forums do >> for the meet and greet type of >> Yeah. Um, we had talked about doing so they're going to be coming do their visits during the day. What were the dates? The third, fourth, and >> Tony, second, third, and fourth. >> I'm sorry. >> The principal search we're doing.
They're coming to do site visits on the second, third, and fourth. Yes. >> And then in the evening there'll be a webinar um meet and greet because we had found that to have been more successful than in person on the evenings for each night. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I think we should include the
dates. Should I say tenatively scheduled or are they firmly scheduled or >> second third what? Yes, correct. >> I mean it's just still working out the logistics but those are the dates >> that is with the assumption. We haven't decided on
>> finalist >> finalist yet. So that could change. >> Um do we know approximately when a decision will be made? >> I can't hear what she said. >> Approximately when a decision will be made >> shortly after that. I mean, >> we will bring forward that night. The
committee's deliberating that night. So, we will bring the final candidates forward the >> fourth >> uh 24th. >> No, the week before. >> Yeah. The 24th will >> correct decide the final candidates. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um once finalists are selected by
the committee, site visits will be scheduled for early March followed by final interviews. But do we know approximately when we'll make a selection? I obviously working with the new superintendent would be involved in that decision. So once we know the finals, it'll be shortly after that. I
haven't worked out any dates with him yet. >> So it would just have to be after those site visits and the community forum. >> So >> So do we anticipate a decision by late March? >> Oh, I think earlier than that probably. >> So we anticipate a decision? >> Yes. Like the week after the site visits
probably is what we've typically done the week after. >> Yeah. I I had a I'd met with uh Dr. Carter yesterday or the day before. Um it's blended together now. And um his he didn't know exact we didn't
because we hadn't solidified exactly when those dates were but he saw in his mind um himself and a small group of admin meeting uh with the finalists um either on those days or um immediately
after that day to make a decision um pretty much within within the few days of with either on the day the last day of it or within a couple days of it. >> Yeah. going to the next week maybe is the latest >> anticipated decision. I feel like that's what I would want out of this
>> because we also know we're trying to build in the next search as well right after that. So in the budget update we have the 26th through April 9th. Do you know when we'll know >> for budget hearing?
>> Jordan, do you have a preference? >> Ready? >> Uh, budget hearing 26th of March or April 9th. Which one would you prefer? >> Either is fine. >> Uh, we just have to make sure we have
the 45 days. Is it 45? >> It's It's actually 48 hours. >> Oh, sorry. 48 hours. >> Yeah, >> 48. No, >> it's 45 days. >> It's something long. I don't know. I thought 45 was a little long, but it's definitely something. >> Yeah, >> we do have to have it in the newspaper. So many weeks.
>> It's more than that. >> Why don't we do the budget hearing on March 26th? >> I thought it was 30 to 45 days. >> Okay. All right. Let's see if we can do it March 26 and make sure we're >> just throw it tentatively. I can't believe we had to postpone it one year because we missed the deadline, but I
didn't think it was 45, but I thought it was definitely more than >> 30 maybe >> something something. >> It has to be post. >> No, there's a special this is a legal requirement that has to be >> posting, >> right? Right. Posting advertising go in the paper. Yeah.
>> Why don't we do this? I'll leave 26. I'll confer with Dr. Jordan on any posting requirements and we may flip it before it gets sent out, but I I'd rather put one date than two dates cuz >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay.
>> Thank you. >> Because we had March 12th as the projected budget update >> in this u in our presentation schedule. in April 9th. Is that what you were saying? April 9th is the way we talked about public hearing. >> Okay.
>> April 26th is a last going to do March 26th. >> March 26th. Sorry. March 26th or April 9th is the >> I'm just this is what was projected last year. But it I mean >> it would be ideal to do it before we before we do the finance committee >> because then we can in theory vote on it
after the the hearing to adopt it as our our budget request. It's just what the finance committee generally wants. If we're for whatever reason if we if we've missed the deadline to do March 26th then we'll kick it to April 9th.
So I'm reading I just out confirm but I reading mass law says mass a school committee must publish notice of its proposed annual budget uh public hearing in a local news newspaper with general circulation at least 7 days prior to the hearing date as required by
MGL7 budget must also be made public at least 48 hours before the hearing. So seven days is less than >> I don't we were definitely outside outside of seven days. I don't whatever. >> So
>> that's a little that's what it says. >> Yeah. I thought to >> So we're good 26 Dr. Jordan. >> Yeah. Yeah. And I I will confirm with all my different people and resources on the exact days. >> Yeah. Just shoot me a message if
>> we Oh, and by the way, we'll probably send Monday. Fridays are not good days to send things out. >> Except that Monday's a break. >> All right. Okay. >> Neither of them great options, but I probably tomorrow would be
>> better. I'll talk to Dan if we can get the links in >> and we're going to pick at least one office hour to put in this newsletter. >> Yes, I'll text. >> Okay. >> For the budget, right? >> Just an office hour.
>> We could I mean it might be better to put it up top because it could be on any of these topics. >> Okay. >> Do you want to just do March 21st on Saturday? >> Yeah. two rusher.
We could do two on Saturday, 9:00 am and two, but depending if people prefer coffee or >> No, it's March 21st, >> but two two works. Yeah. >> Okay.
>> I'm not going to put an end time cuz it's kind of pointless. At least we know >> it's technically office hour. >> There's something implied, but >> yeah, >> I'll leave it at that.
>> Okay, >> okay, I'll entertain a motion to approve the newsletter as put together by the communications committee. Um, Yeah, with immaterial updates. >> Immaterial updates and possibly some
formatting to make it a little streamlined. >> Yeah. >> Second. >> All in favor? Great. And thank you communications for putting that together. >> Okay. Uh policy.
>> Yeah. Budget. >> Um we had a budget meeting uh this evening. It was very long. Um then we came here uh and we'll talk we'll have more when we discuss the the MSBA update but uh other than that we you know we
went over the uh the superintendent's budget with the team and >> preschool tuition >> um are we that's on and then also discuss preschool tuition which is also um set for new business.
>> Okay. um superintendent. >> I just leave you on there so that um okay, old business uh Miller principal search update. So, I know we already talked about a number of items on my my notes here, but uh on Tuesday
there was a 13 person um committee that met made up of um parents, uh administrators, teachers, faculty, staff, um school committee member uh to finalize the questions that we'll be using and the process that we'll use for um finalizing as well as the rubrics and such. Um we narrowed down our candidates
and the um interviews will take place on the 23rd and 24th of um February. Uh at that point we anticipate being able to move forward a few candidates to start those interviews on the March 2nd, 3rd, and 4th with um community forums as we mentioned already um and opportunities
for the community to engage and meet the candidates during those days. >> How many candidates do we have >> or coming in to interview? >> We're hoping to narrow it down to three finalists. >> How many do we have, Lily? >> I don't believe I'm allowed to answer that question.
>> They're hoping to narrow it down to three finalists. Great. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Um, so the MSB MSBA update, I had one thing I wanted to bring up, but then if anyone else has other
updates, feel free. Um, so we've been talking to the select board um about creating a working group. Um, we're still kind of working through the details on that, but I believe it the intent uh has to do with kind of putting
together a memo memorand of understanding about how we'll work with the select board and kind of who's doing what, what we need to be looking at over the next few months and then, you know, in the future. So, um, they've appointed
Tina Hine from the select board and we talked about two, um, school committee members and, um, Tina had mentioned it would probably be about four meetings from, you know,
between now and the end of March um, to just get things started and then we'll figure out from there. So I guess um is there anyone who's interested in working on this working group anyway? Okay,
>> Frank, >> you'll do it. Okay, great. >> Thank you so much. >> So um >> incredibly excited. I'll entertain a motion to approve Frank and Hillary to join the working group with Tina.
>> Moved by John. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Thank you, Chris. >> And Tina also asked if we would um set a date for the first meeting. >> Okay. >> So, I know there's vacation next week. Um so, I wonder if we'd look at like
>> But you they could meet >> you could meet. I mean, it's up to you really. Tina said she's available >> pretty much after 3 PM and most evenings. So, >> is there a date you would like? >> Sensing a theme.
>> Bring your baby, Frank. >> Yes, bring the baby. >> I can meet Wednesday, Thursday, next week or the following week. >> Are you doing holiday week though or break? >> It's up to you. I'm good with break loop, Amanda. I don't do we know Tina's availability. >> She said after >> even next week.
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> Next week might be >> um Monday than Wednesday 18. >> Yeah. >> Um 5:30. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. Just just quickly, so while the working group is working on the memorandum of understanding, you know, I talked with you and Ben Ben Sparl about just making sure that we we're working with Dr. Jordan to dial in on a number for the for the feasibility study. And
so we're going to be working sort of as a kind of a capital request. So through budget uh subcommittee bring in uh at least James Kee and um Frank uh our town manager and whoever else you know is necessary to make sure that it's a
collaborative process but um Doug Jordan has done a ton of work. So I don't think there's like a ton of work to to be done on dialing in the number but there's might be some negotiation over how we how we strategize it. even even earlier this week, but also last week and the week before. Um I've had meetings with
James Kee and and Frank just to kind of look discuss that process process. >> No, I know you've done a ton of work and then also >> just reviewing some stuff probably helping at least with some direction on a presentation of what is a feasibility study, what does it include, why does it
cost so much? Um, okay. So, next item is the 25 26 school calendar. I believe we need to vote on the last day of school, >> right? Because we had the two snow days so far. So, that puts us at the 24th
based on that and hoping for no more. >> Are we are we want to wait another month? >> Are we ready to take that vote or is do we need to wait a little longer? it it's really what your preference is because I mean you would like to think people know
that we'd have the two days but some people do wait for that information so you know >> there's no perfect answer for that >> we can vote now we can always revote it at least the updated to keep people >> where we are currently
>> okay so um the current last day of school is a half day on June 24th North. Am I reading that correct? >> With the snow days. >> With the snow days. Yeah. Um Okay. So,
I'll entertain a motion to approve June 24th as the last day of school. >> You still have a choice, right? >> We don't really have a choice, >> right? >> So, second.
>> All in favor? That passes. Um, okay. And then we wanted to talk a little bit about the 2627 school calendar. Um, I think linked here is what we had initially talked about. I
did put Tracy had come up with some other suggestions. It's that's in the folder too if you want to if anyone wants to pull that up. So just refreshing my memory when we last spoke about the calendar we talked did we vote on the
beginning and end dates only and kind of tabled the rest. Okay. Although I actually wanted to bring up a possibility like reook at that as well. I don't know what official motion needs to be made to reopen that conversation. Um >> nothing to start thinkable.
>> It's impossible. >> You don't need a motion to to talk about it. Yeah, >> we can talk about So I I will admit that I approved that thinking, oh, this year was the 25th, 24th, not realizing that the 24th put us two full weeks before Labor Day. Um and when that came to it
was just last week that that came to my um attention. I you know the precedent of that is certainly not two weeks before. There are a few districts in the area that have similarly played around with doing some PD days for staff on that week before with students starting on the 31st to try and help at the end
particularly with Junth being celebrated on a Friday. It does make things a little more complicated. Um but I think we need to look at that week a little bit more directly. Um I also realized just today actually that um for our varsity athletes as well um the MIA
dictates when um preseason can start and it can't start until the 24th. So we're essentially having our students come back, our high schoolers come back to school and also having them um do all of their uh preseason work that typically happens the week before school. So that's another thing that I haven't I
don't know that we've mentioned either. Um, so I think we need to talk a little bit more about what this might look like. >> Other than the sports piece, what's the issue with presidents two weeks before Labor Day? >> It's just never been done. I mean, that's just >> typically it's the week before.
>> This is the latest Labor Day can ever be, >> right? It's very late. >> Um, many districts have restrictions in their contracts of when they can start school. And so that's one reason why there are a lot of schools that are starting with first staff day on the 31st and first uh student day on the
second. Um if we were to push to that type of schedule though, we would be looking at like the 24th or 25th of June before snow days, before anything. Whereas you have a town like Medfield which is starting on the 2nd and they're getting
out on the 17th of June. So like >> but are they cutting PD days out though or how how are they navig >> the 185 days for um staff is also part of what is different in Hollist versus some of the other districts that are giving out sooner as well. Um a lot of
districts are 182 183. Um, so I don't maybe I'm alone in that concern, but I >> So I I No, no. I So I mentioned last time we were discussing this that I would sort of be in favor of moving the PD day from the 11th to the 25th to start school on the 26th, which I
believe is the same day we started this year for students. um and keeping that as a half day still, but um then you'd have two full uh days for teachers, then a half day, and then so you push it back a little bit. So at
least, you know, I didn't realize athletes couldn't start before then. So that that gives them a couple days. >> Can't happen. So try always before, >> but that also by moving one PD day, that wouldn't change our end date either. So
it wouldn't start pushing us into, you know, >> you're just saying like the games would start that. >> So according to the 2026 season, full practice may begin the second Monday preceding Labor Day. No team may have more than 13 single practice sessions, double sessions before Labor Day. >> But they have to
>> Can't they get around that though with captain's practice? My own children did that in high school. >> Captain practices, yes, but the coaches and the tryyouts can't happen two weeks preceding. So impact like >> the start of the season, right? It should be >> What about starting 27?
>> Well, that was one of the things that I had thrown like I mean and again there have been multiple tabs I was playing around with lots of things and at one point I had like paper copies in my like what is this craziness? So I mean I there's a a lot the second tab there that I had put in there the alternative start to looks at that Frank and says if
the teachers start on the 27th and 28th um then we are able to take off that um September 11th full day PD and I I know we had talked um earlier this week and that the thought was that a PD before the start of school could be a little tough. There are a lot of districts that
do it um particularly with the weekend in there for teachers to sort of have a chance to regroup. then they also have that half day on the 31st to do some of their mandatory trainings. Um, so I I do think it's feasible and then our students aren't starting until the 31st. Um, and then also make September a
little less disjointed if we move that PD day before. >> Um, I don't know. >> I would love to see a PD at least one PD day before school started just to >> moving the first day for students to the 31st kicks us to the 22nd.
>> Yeah. So I I I I'm really I I >> understand the concerns. >> 12 PD days though, right? >> Well, you'd have to I mean you'd have to get back two days to get you to the
17th. >> Yep. >> So with four full day PD and also one opening day that gets to the 185, right? when we when they had an agreement in the past and David would has witnessed this when I got here we were doing three
full day PD opening day which is four full days and then four half days so it was more PD time but it wasn't as efficient that's why we went to back to the four full day PD days and that's been talked about PD council but then when that happened students went to 181 days because we were losing time on
learning so we'd have to go back that was the agreement that so it would still be the same amount of this the day would and the same and we we had um with principles that I met with they felt it was much more disruptive to families when we added all those extra half days. It's more days for child care needs and
things like that. Um and the scheduling of PD was why we went to four full days and that's been really helpful with the two par days. So that was kind of all the stuff that we've dealt with every year. report of April break usually. >> I'm speaking Anderson.
>> So I know we had and when in our conversation earlier this week is there I couldn't find you in the contract what exactly the required number of hours that the teachers have to have. I know they have 185 paid days but those don't all count as PD. What are the hours of PD we need to
>> it's it's not to find the hours. It's the past practice. That's what it's come down to. So there there were two models. It was one model that they had been given uh four full day PDs which was the 24 hours and then there was an agreement at some point. I don't know exactly when that happened. The PD council met
because we have a PD council has to have input into this and in those meetings prior to both my arrival and I don't know if David knows when that shift happened but they was an agreement and a president set that they would do three full day I'm sorry. Yeah, three full day and four half days. So then that would
be the model. I would think the PD council would expect that. We we'd have to bargain that with them um and meet with them about that which would make seven more days for parent more days for parents to have child care because of those. >> Is it three full days or two?
>> Two. >> Right now it's the four full days. But when Nope, it's one day for opening and four full day PDS. when we went to the when we had the model in place with the three full day PDs, it was opening day, three full day PDs and then four half
days so that they were getting um a little more PD in that model. So I think that the precedent was that that was the precedent that the teachers had in the past. So we'd have to bargain the impact
probably of the change. or at least with the PD council I would think. >> I am concerned pushing the date as far as the 22nd just knowing snow could be a thing and well and my guess is though I don't have anything to support this so
I'm just totally guessing but my had to guess I'd say the attendance is worse on the 22nd than it is you know August 26th. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> But again I'm just totally making that up. >> Yeah. Monday and people gone like sorry this year I'd imagine when we push it
out pushing out now it's it's going to be late. >> Uh >> yeah and then if you had to push it out a couple days. >> Yeah. >> So with teachers first day in this what we were just discussing 26 would be their first day and then the 27th be the students.
>> There's a couple different options. >> Okay. But would a compromise be to have teachers start have the orientation be on the 24th, a full day PD on the 25th, and then students on the 26th >> and that would be a half day. >> That would be a half day part of
>> I would be I would be in favor of that. >> Is that the third option? Alternative PD? >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> And students look it out on the 15th. >> Yeah. >> Would September 11th PD would become the 25th? >> Yeah. >> Just to bring something up. So the
people planning the PD do not work during the summer. So that would be hard because then they're planning that back to school PD day when just to kind of bring that up. >> We just added two day
>> um >> because they leave for the summer. So >> So is is that the one that would have been planned out for September 11th? >> Yes, they have. >> Understood. Okay. So are they planning it between the 24th and and the 10th? >> Yes. A lot of times they have the topics
planned as hard as mapped out but they don't but if you know some of our staff do the pres actual presentation as part of their positions. >> We do a lot of in-house PD we don't have a lot of funding for >> we've seen other districts do this right including I think Weston has as much as
two days. Um how do they do that? Have you have you encountered that in >> I mean in my district we do have the two days. I haven't worked on the planning part of that, so I can't speak to that. >> Maybe they hire some. I don't know. It depends on the size of the district and the funding they have. >> The hard thing is going to be that the
feedback I've gotten from the PD council is they do not want a PD day that like right at the beginning of the school because they are prepping their classrooms. So, it would be hard for them to do that. I mean, I just I've heard that
since I've gotten here. Yeah, >> and I understand that part of it, but I think what we're also looking at the continuity for our students to continue to add these full days is really hard, especially in the beginning. Um, >> I don't know. >> In September, the continuity is hard.
There's two Mondays off, >> right? So, to now add an additional day, >> I mean, this year was awful. First 10 weeks of the school year, seven of them were four day weeks or or less. Well, I think they were 40 weeks, but that
Um, >> I think that's a good reason to strongly consider it at the beginning of the year then. >> You know, we we could consider you could consider moving the September PD day to October
>> to have less interrupted in, you know what I mean? In the first month concerned about, >> but the November PDA, November PDA is very useful because that's when we bring other districts together to for the year. >> Yeah. assume you're adding another week in October and still a week in November,
>> right? No, I don't know. This Yeah, we go through this every year. It's very challenging. >> Is there harm in giving it a try? >> I mean, there How many people uh Dr. Bernhard would you say are involved in planning uh the
>> your um admin and your curriculum coordinators and your tech integration specialist? So, but how many how many of those are >> BCBAs? >> Nonies, >> BCBAS, right? Counselors.
Um, how many what? I'm sorry. >> How many the the teacher contract? >> Uh, well, all of the tech integration specialists, so that's three. >> And the interventionist, that's nine.
>> So, that's 11. And how many hours would you say that they spend prepping? >> It's it's not just the prepping. It's they're talking to people at the beginning of the school year and finding out really
solidifying what the needs are. So you would have to prep it this spring with not knowing truly what the needs are for the fall. But wouldn't they know the spring and summer like based on the data based on what they're seeing in the
classroom what the need would be for the fall? >> No, there's a lot of you know like if we're looking at just give you an example like AI uh tech integration specialists are doing a lot of AI things that changes so much what we are doing
right now um the tools that we're using. I I just it would be tough. It would be tough. But I mean, if they're 11 people and they need 10 hours, that's 110 hours. And so if they were given 110 hours of of summer work at $30 an hour, we're talking about $3,000 to
>> do they have to negotiate it with a PD counsel? >> I don't I don't I I that's either I don't know what's in the contract is that we have a PD council that's supposed to have input. You know what I'm saying? So that that is contractual that that group has to meet to discuss these kinds of things. >> So I don't I think we'd have to go back.
>> I don't know what that Yeah. Is that in the main contract or in >> that's in the contract? >> So you have equal number of union members and equal a number of administrators. >> I just I mean if we're looking at
currently it says September 11th. I just know the first few weeks of school are so chaotic. To think that at that point they're going to have a better grasp of what needs are for PD doesn't seem realistic. >> Right. >> Right. Well, I'm just being realistic about what their jobs are at the end of
the school year. Their jobs at the end of the school year are insane. So, when you're doing interventionist stuff to add another PD planning for I >> I don't know. That's asking a lot. >> It's February though. We're not asking them to do this in May. >> The administrators would probably have >> What I'm even suggesting is we give them
some hours. You could give them hours over the summer when >> check them with the PD council the details. >> I'm sorry. if we could do the summer the the 3,000 or the extra hours, like can we check in and see if that's feasible? >> But then that takes away funds that I have planned for like curriculum review
work. >> Okay. >> So, we we'd also have to ensure that they wanted to come in the summer because it would be voluntary. We can't make them come play in the summer. So, some might and some might not. That's >> Well, they they presumably they wouldn't have to come to school to plan unless
they they wanted to. Uh they could do it via Zoom, email. >> Yeah, I don't know. I mean, every year we let we we reach when we post we post what the work is for the summer and then people either want to do it or they don't. So it I don't know. I I just
don't know if they all would. I I >> And I'm not talking about necessarily using the the the hours that you need and the money that you have for for for summer for summer work. I'm suggesting that if we we would I want to look into it, but I would imagine if we can find 3,000 in favor somewhere, that might be
where we take it from not necessarily take it away from other things that you need to do. >> No, I hear you to to go to Dr. Cait. I I don't know, you know, if they'd be interested in doing this summer. I can't speak for them. So
>> could >> Dr. Jordan have you sat on the council PD council >> meetings? Yeah. >> Uh not not the reason >> update the start and end date per feedback you brought Tracy but then we can come back on the PD day once we have more information or we just wait.
>> I think we wait and >> I'm just concerned because we're going to get into like April. Yeah, we're going to get into like April and realize we still have a calendar. Uh this is exactly what happened last year. >> We need to iron that out in the next two weeks. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, what information do we need be
able to iron that out? >> We could talk to other districts and figure out how they are able to >> um have even as many as two PD days at the beginning of the school year. How are they able to organize that?
>> Um you know, we we still have over six months before these PD days would occur. Um perhaps we could >> reach out at least to the HFT president and who could then also reach out to the
PD council. Yeah, I think we probably >> that would want to reach out directly at least. It's on. >> Yeah. >> Article 13 is where it talks about the PD council and it says that um the parties agreed to a year-long study. It should have said not student of the
model and propose they have a year-long study before making changes. And that's what we did a few years ago is meet with them that year when we moved to the 4day. So like they should have been meeting all this year if we were going to make the change. But >> but we're not changing the model though. We're just changing when that date is happening.
>> Oh okay. You're not >> we're moving it to the 11th to >> Yeah. Okay. You're not saying different four days. You're saying just that one day. >> Okay. >> I would like to do that too. >> No, I know. >> So that all you want to meet about is whether they'd be open to having it
before school starts. Is that is that what you're asking? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And so they have they're if I'm understanding correctly by you saying they're open to it, they have the decision on when their PD falls or just what that PD entails. It's it's
a little bit of both because they have this council that vets the it's if you look at um page 38 uh they agree that the programs and activities are aimed at professional development and are high priorities. They the council is supposed to have input into the topics um and
then they also have to have input into any changes that to the model itself. >> Okay. >> But not necessarily where the days are calendar schedule. I think that >> no that was just part of >> the challenge with the placing it without feedback on um placing it before
the start of the school is more like what would be the state of the professional development on that day and can we get that organized not saying that we can't or not I just we just don't have a good handle on that. So then to like Dan Dan's point like what >> what um uh what kind of stipen or what
type of summer work would we need to offer that would provide that opportunity and how willing would they be able to do it? Um we ha we have in the past not necessarily had it for um for a day before a PD day a day before
the start of school but within the first week of school where the professional development was done during the summer or the sorry the planning for the professional development was done during the summer >> which could be another possibility
if you wanted to have the let's say it's a seven you could actually do it on September 4th is another possibility if you wanted the long weekend for the Labor Day. That's what some districts do, too, right? >> Mhm.
>> Yeah. That's better than breaking up a week. Still another day. But >> Well, the fourth would be breaking up the week though, right? You're breaking up another week. >> Yeah. >> Oh, cuz Labor Day is the seventh. That's correct. >> Yeah. >> It just go away. >> Can we do it on the 8th?
Is it is there >> is there a plan to bring because I know >> part of the rationale for having the full day PD was if you were bringing >> questions do we really want >> presenters in >> well it was also for um would you would you ever bring
>> No I get that but I if you were planning on bringing a presenter in at some point during the year would you ever consider bringing the presenter in at the beginning of the year and having that be the the full day >> not for the work we need to do. You could do a presenter, but it doesn't
move any of the >> well, I mean, >> curriculum reviews forward. >> I think to your point, if we could theoretically bring someone in, but they're not going to be able to do a full day with all staff. Do you know what I mean? Like there's >> it wouldn't meet the needs of everybody. It's six. You wouldn't have one presenter doing a six hour with the
entire, you know, hundreds of people. That would just >> Sometimes we do like um, you know, someone that does part of the day. Like this year we did executive skills and they did three hours with some and then three hours with the others. >> The other thing to think about >> less time that that the Hollist staff
would have to be >> correct. But the other thing to think about, you're going to have a new person in this role. So, for them to come in, I think that would be hard um because they they wouldn't have any input on that
first PD day at all because it would all be planned in the summer, >> would it? So, let's play that back. The person enrolled, >> the person that's hired >> Yep. in my role would not have any say because if it's assigned
>> like you know for the people to work on it in the summer they might not be meeting with the people. You following me? >> But the role would start July 1. >> They they wouldn't be able to work with the staff >> unless it's before >> if they if they can work in the summer. >> Yeah. >> We've had a lot of things that we
brought forward that nobody's applied for because they don't want to work in the summer. >> Okay. I I it's it's just been a thing that's happened since I've been >> I mean I I I look at it from if everyone gets back to 24th and I specifically when that planning starts it's only two
weeks to plan. So how much is actually put together in that time? >> A lot of craziness. >> Some of those staff don't meet with students right away because it's coming together. So they have like full more correct in their students at that really critical time
too. And we were thinking a little bit. >> I mean I I guess I I'd hit pause to find out. I want to know how other school districts are able to pull it off. >> Yeah. Why don't we do some research? >> I've had it when I was a teacher. We hated it but we did it. Um, but it was
because they didn't have specific groups involved and like it was administrators play. That's why I think that the difference probably was. >> So, we could certainly I mean Joanie could certainly see if she can get the group together to discuss it, I would think. Right. >> And bring you feedback.
>> So, our next school committee meeting is March 12th. >> February 26. So would you like to try? >> I'll be happy to join you. >> Second. >> I wouldn't I don't think I'd have feedback though by February 26 from the PD conf.
>> No, probably not >> because we have break next week and >> we don't have a meeting scheduled because they wanted to get through. >> Probably would probably have to be the March 12th. >> Feedback by email. >> Could you ask for feedback by email before the 26th? >> Give them a little few questions survey.
>> Sure. Right. >> Sure. If you can >> Sure. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Great. >> Before the 26th. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay.
>> Okay. >> Okay. So, we will table that and revisit on the 26th. Is that okay? >> Calendar is always one of our toughest conversations. A calendar is is always hard. >> And of all the tough conversations we
have, >> I know feels like it should be straightforward, but it's not. It's looking at >> um just April >> I mean before school starts that we'd have which is there
like so I can ask >> you guys were talking about different things. So I just wanted to qualify it. >> Well, no I think there were two different Yeah. the idea of having one or two PD days, >> right? But on which day though, like Dan had mentioned 24, 25, I was thinking 27,
28. Um, >> there's 25 and 26. >> At any point during that week, >> I mean, I was thinking more toward the end of the week again, so that the students had that additional week. Now, the additional information about the high school athletics, it then gives them that plenty of time before students are starting. That's why I was thinking
those days, but um, >> but you're still looking to end on the 15th. Does that one later? >> No, it'll be the 22nd. >> If we start on the 27th, 28th would be the 22nd. >> Okay. So, that's why I'm asking you know what which ones do you want us to >> Sarah make the decision? >> I think
I guess >> could we start the question or would you open that >> 25th and Sure. So, the week of >> August 20th >> week of August 24th doing one or two PD days. >> Yeah. >> And ending later. one or two PD days. Is
one the date that your convocation date though or >> we would have to have that built in there as well because >> right so it could it would only be one P what you're looking at for me is one PD day right >> because the other day is convocation and
>> come back two days before student >> Gotcha. Okay. Yeah. >> I'm keeping that. >> I think that makes the most sense to start on Wednesday. Um, given what we have, >> yeah, >> we'll get out the same. We wouldn't move
the final date because we're just moving a PD day. And that way, >> I get that you'd then have a slightly shorter first week for for for students, but then once you kind of got really ramped, you'd have a full weekend of of school for that that 31st through 4th of September. And you'd have a 4 day week
the next week and you wouldn't have any other three-day weeks kind of in the middle once you kind of were going >> until March until Thanksgiving actually. I still think it's 27 28th especially starting the 24th two weeks before I just doesn't feel right.
>> It's luckily we won't have to deal with this again for six or seven years but uh you know >> well last time we dealt with it we did it on the 31st. So it was a full week after. >> Granted, we had fewer religious holidays that we had to celebrate.
>> Say if we move the school day to the 31st, it affects our staff payroll. >> Um that creates a 3-week gap uh between their their last paycheck to their first. >> I don't think we're suggesting starting the staff on the first. No, but
>> yeah, the staff earlier. Just a quick reminder, we the calendar next year we 28 we're supposed to talk about like potential change make big changes. >> Is that part of the group that or we're just talking?
>> We're not doing that anymore. >> We're not doing well. >> Not yet. >> This is year to year. >> Okay. So, we'll table that. revisit on the 26th. >> Yes.
>> Okay. >> Time to look at. >> So, let's move on to new business. Um, the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction search. >> Of course. Go ahead. Sorry. >> Is it if we're asking the PD council sort of their thoughts on that? Is it
worth asking the community like a 24th start of students on the Wednesday before or the Monday before? probably come to office hours on >> and give us their opinion then like I don't know Google form which would you prefer A or B? Um
>> in case you'll see >> the 26 was the same is the day we started this year. So like I get the calendar's a little wonky with where Labor Day falls but it's not like we're we're starting earlier in the year. >> Yeah. And just learning from the start time survey, Tracy, it will just be a
plethora of 5050 or 3030 depending on >> Well, at least then they have a chance to vote and give their opinion versus us just deciding it's close enough to what we did in the past. Let's keep going. >> The issue is already it's already been out there for two months.
>> Do another office hours. I I I mean the 22nd like just you know >> if we push it now and there's snow days like it just could snowball effect no pun intended to even later. So like we should try to start the calendar as
early like end as early as possible so that if there are other days that okay like what's happening this year not great but if we were ending on the 24th we could go until the end of June. If you did the 22nd and had three scenarios, you'd be the 28th.
>> Yeah, that's it. Could happen. >> We've had two this year. I think there'll be more disruption if we push the scan date than pull up pull push back the start date. >> Yeah,
>> that's I guess we can table it for now. >> Why don't we've done this in the past? Why don't we ask for you know feedback in our conversations and we come back with that it's not full but we come with some feedback that we get
just like anecdotal conversations. >> Okay. Um assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction search. So not sure where we are with that. Did you talk about anything
in budget? >> No. >> Yeah. >> Budget was so long. Um I it it's tough. I I I don't curriculum is very obviously very important and
it's uh at the same time I I'm concerned if we have three assistant superintendent I think without a without necessarily a reason like when we were looking to to bring um
in a very experienced uh student services director. So, you know, I think that with the director we maybe in a better spot though. I think I I don't know. What do other people
think? I agree that for a district our size, three assistant superintendent is >> not Yes, it's it's >> not the >> And just to be clear, so everyone anyone watching for some reason um
assistant superintendent is still just a title. There are directors who make more than assistant superintendents or assistant super it's not it's not necessarily money but it's it's definitely >> I mean correlation there is a correlation but it's not >> Yeah. >> Absolutely. And I agree and I agree and
understand why we um revised the role to be assistant superintendent of student services. Um curriculum instruction is still the heart of what we do. So it feels like it
needs I I'm torn because I agree with you and I but it's still this it's >> torn as well. One thing I think I've seen change over the last few years is more of a um
support role with curriculum coordinators or other positions um that have sort of support like it sort of expanded right um uh with other um supporting um staff
>> which would be a very large central office for a district this size, >> right? >> I do feel having the tighter from an organizational standpoint, having a tighter knit with student services defined today and
curriculum could benefit in many ways. The question is like do we lose some of that core curriculum piece? In my head, pros outweigh the cons. I also wonder about the um and I I honestly don't know the answer to this.
Does it change who applies if it's a director role versus an assistant superintendent role? >> Can't imagine it wouldn't. >> Yeah. I mean, I feel like we had that conversation with the assistant superintendent of finance and operation versus director of finance and operation
talking about the >> um >> I don't think it would push away the right candidate, but obviously a candidate that is looking to grow may not be aligned to that.
>> I I also think I don't want anyone to read this. I mean this is not you know at all a reflection on on our current administration but the our new superintendent incoming superintendent has just spent eight years as the assistant superintendent for teaching
and learning and clearly that's sort of his um his strength. So if ever there's an opportunity to to go to a director level this this might be it. >> And he may want to provide some input on
this too. is a piece we're missing right now, >> too. >> I'm also wondering if there are opportunities longer term to I I know this is more of a bigger district type of thing, but to have someone in a head of elementary curriculum and someone the head of sort
of secondary curriculum. I don't know. There's no right there's no right answer. Yes. >> I Well, I was going to say, do we want to try and have some more conversations with Dr. Carter to to get a better feel for where
>> how he would approach >> structuring? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, maybe we table this discussion a little bit as well and circle back to it either
in February or the first in March. >> Did we have an anticipated timeline for um yes posting a position? >> Initially I did but then I know there was some conversations going on so I I held off. Um the later you go you may
end up wanting to consider an interm at that point for one year. like that might be the outcome depending on I mean there's still if you post if you post it in February and we're able to start the process in March you should be fine the later you get into March I mean you know
it doesn't mean you won't find a candidate it's just the later you go you know >> but you wouldn't need so the the pros and cons right you wouldn't need an assistant superintendent license to be the director but you would need a director's license so you know this it
could It could lead to more candidates. It could lead to different cate could because there's no perfect answer here, right? >> The hiring season starts with superintendents and then then moves to assistant superintendents, then principles and directors, then assistant principles, then teacher. Like so, you
know, if the timeline for assistant superintendent postings, you you want to move pretty quickly. You got some time on director postings. Uh but again, you know, the sooner the better. Um >> just because you have the better pool. >> Yep. Yeah,
>> but I I am with Susan is you isn't to say that the pool that you get will be better or worse because you might based off of the lure that you're carrying you might get different types of applicants. >> Okay. Okay. Next item. Um preschool tuition.
I assume that came up in budget. >> We did. We uh voted to on a recommendation. Um Dr. Jordan, would you like to share that recommendation? >> Well, to move it >> to to increase the tuition by $200, I think what from three uh $3,375
to $3,575. >> And what was the how many years did you said since we last changed? >> I mean, I I've been here for 14. I know spokes been here for 15. Hasn't been changed since then. So I I can't I don't >> see any records of when it was last changed.
>> And we did this with an analysis of what other districts were doing. I think is Ashlin >> 4,000 5,000 >> 5,000. >> Um and this would only bring us to about 2,000. How much the $200 increase would bring
us to what? Yeah. >> 357. and it's still lower than all of our comps except for Milis which we already are. So we're still in the same place. >> Um >> we're still the two and a half hour versus the like actually it's not full day.
>> It's not full day integrative program. >> So it's 15 years and just to remind people the uh the teachers in our in our preschool are full fully licensed you know educators. They're part of the the union. there, you know, the they so they've been, you know, getting the the
cola raises all along. I mean, this is there's definitely inflation within within that program. >> Our the revenue we collect from tuition does not cover our co cover our peers. >> Yeah. Does not cover our costs. So, you
we um we we use it pretty much exclusively for payroll, but does not cover the rest. How much of a deficit is there? >> To get the exact number, but we're we're covering
um we probably have about $300,000 in payroll and we're we're uh we're using about 278,000. So we're And then that's not getting into supplies and other costs as well. >> And this nominal increase isn't going to
close that either. >> No. >> Right. So, we'll still be running at a loss, but I I think after 15 years, it's reasonable. And we're still I mean, looking at what was the comparison? Eight or nine other districts. Um >> yeah,
we're >> So, the comparison districts were Hopkin, Ashlin, Medway, Medfield, Franklin, and Milis. Those are the ones who have comparable programs. So, that's the half day school day programs. Um and and Milis is the only one that was less than everybody else. Medway was the next
closest which was 3900. Um everybody else was and then the next one above that was Hodkin at 4,000 and then everything ramped up from there. >> Okay. Um there any any more discussion? Um I'll
entertain a motion to uh increase the preschool tuition to Accept the school tuition. >> Accept the school tuition. >> 3,5 tuition we we have free school tuition.
3,575. >> I'll make that motion. >> Second by Don. All in favor. >> Okay. The next item, um, we were hoping to vote on the superintendent contract, but, um, we're not quite ready yet. So,
we're going to move that to next meeting or yeah, next meeting at some point. Um, the next thing uh we have a chapter 70 letter just to kind of make our case
for um how that could be improved. Right. So, some of those you were around two years ago will recall that we sent a letter. Um, I basically sort of took that and and and updated it and changed some some
things. Um, but just for the public to know, we we received the governor's budget came out a couple weeks ago and Hollison's chapter 70, which is school funding, uh, was up a very meager uh, 2%. Uh, the overall chapter 70 budget in
the governor's uh, budget was up 3.4%. So, it was below that. I will say in fairness that there are some surrounding districts like Framingham that are getting even less, which is I don't fully understand. there's some enrollment things, but um but 2% is is just, you know, in my mind unacceptable.
It's it's below the 2 and a half% of of Prop 2 and a half. Um it's below where the uh town has been funding our schools at the I think it was 3.6% annual rate over the last few years versus like a 2.3% uh annual increase in our in our chapter
70. Um, and as a town that is uh disproportionately reliant on residential uh property taxes, 88% of our property tax bases is residential. Um, this, you know, is a undue burden on
on our residents to continue to sort of get that out. In fairness to uh Reparina D. A and Senate President Spila uh the governor's budgets the last few figures have been low and and they have been able to get uh our chapter 7 funding higher in the final numbers. So, um,
they have been, uh, very supportive of us and so this is more just a a letter to to let them know that we yet again need their help. >> And this is going to all to Spoka and to >> both this is just uh the the version for
uh, Representative D. Rosa, but it would be the exact same >> letter >> to the Senate President. >> Any comments on the letter? Okay. Entertain a motion to approve this letter and we'll send it to
represent Arena D. Roza and Bela as well. >> So second all >> in favor that passes and let's see I think we've reached the end of our
open session. I just have to read all the executives. Do >> I have to read them all? Oh goodness. Okay. >> I think they're Can you read them once and say >> they're all the same purpose? So I think you can just say purpose and then all the >> Yes.
Um at this point, do I have to do the adjournment of open session for um we will not return >> from which we will not return to go into executive session to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or
litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body. And the chair so declares and we are going to be talking about the nurses, the secretaries, the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, assistant superintendent of
student services, and then >> possibly the superintendent um incoming. So move >> second. >> And we'll do a roll call vote. Joe, >> yes. >> Frank, >> yes. >> Hillary, >> yes. >> Tracy, >> yes. >> Dan,
>> yes. Dylan. >> Yes. >> And I'm a yes. So thank you very much Hollist and good