to the Holio School Committee meeting. It is 503 April 28th. Roll call, please. Mayor Garcia here. Here present. LeBron Martinez.
Miss Tenzy Williams. A key Mr. Zaza Mr. Mr. Wilson present. Please all rise for the pledge of allegiance.
I aliance to the flag of the United States of America for one nation for all. And I see that there is no student showcase. Do we have any public comment?
Yeah. Right. Student reports. I'm sorry. So, we're moving on to the report of the interim commissioner. Please come up to the mic. [Laughter]
We are all eager to hear from you. So, please go ahead and welcome. Thank you so much. Uh, and I'm joined uh this evening by Deputy Commissioner uh Lauren Woo, who uh you all know and have worked closely with uh for some time. Again,
I'm Pat Tutweiler. I am the Secretary of Education, also the interim commissioner of education. And um we have um there's three things that I'd like to do this evening. Um, one is offer gratitude and
commendation to all of you, to this board, to the district leadership, to the uh, teachers, educators and staff of the Holy Oak public schools, as well as the students and families. It's been a long journey uh, that's brought you to this really important benchmark and I'm
sure and I know uh, that it's the result of hard work, uh, creativity, innovation, thoughtfulness uh, and I just want to extend to you my my my deep thanks for your work. I know that was through a pandemic as well, which uh having been a superintendent during that
period of time, I know how hard that is, but I I really do appreciate all the work that's been done that leads us to this really important point. Um the other thing that I want to do is just kind of frame up um our time here with you. we are prepared to present to you a
set of exit asurances um which uh really drive and there's a a slide deck there as well and I think paper copies uh coming along uh in just a moment um this is a piece of the transition process uh from receiverhip
uh to to local control uh that uh both law and regulation uh offers the commissioner the right to sort of um keep key pieces of the turnaround plan in that transitional period uh as you move on to to local control. What we'd
like to do is first offer you a highlevel uh what are these and what are they designed to do uh and then I'll turn it over to Deputy Commissioner Woo who will walk you through each one of them. um providing both uh what are the exit asurances explicitly and then the
rationale behind them as well how they're designed to support uh continued improvement uh to sustain the trajectory that uh the district has been on. So if we could go to the next slide please.
Um so what is what are uh exit asurances? Uh if we were talking about a school that was moving from underperforming status uh or moving out of underperforming status, uh we would name that uh there are uh specific things again that the commissioner wants
to see uh remain uh in that school as they transition out that are designed to support that continued improvement trajectory. Holio is the first district to come out of receiverhip. So this is a first. But really the same mindset exists around the identification of key
pieces of the turnaround plan um that that should maintain. This is a a feature that exists uh both in statute and regulation. A um sort of um uh an opportunity that the commissioner uh can take advantage of to ensure that the the
district continues to move uh in a positive direction. Next slide, please. Couple of uh key pieces that I want to point out uh relative to the exit asurances. Uh first and foremost, they
are uh squarely in the purview of uh the commissioner. The commissioner can decide exactly uh which pieces of the turnaround plan um he she or they thinks is best fit to continue uh that improvement trajectory. Uh those
asurances do need to be signed both by the uh mayor and the superintendent. I want to name that those signatures are not endorsements of the exit assurances uh per se, but more a an acknowledgement of them uh and a commitment to um
implementing them as they continue through that transitional period. Can I ask a question on that? Certainly. Oh, well, I'm not I don't mind the questions. So, what I'm wondering about is just with the signatures on there, is that that the
mayor understands that or is that as the chair of the school committee acting on behalf of the school committee? I believe that um the statute requires the uh chair of the school committee. Uh so in that in that capacity as so acting
unilaterally or should the school committee have taken a vote to understand these exit assurances? I don't think that it requires a school committee vote. Okay. So, it's a unilateral decision by the chair, but not an acknowledgement of the school committee, but solely of one person. Correct. And an acknowledgement of
receipt of Okay. the exit assurances. Okay. Right. Okay. Yeah. I think that's more of Sorry. Excuse me, Commissioner. Sorry, Mayor Garcia. Yeah. No, it's just more of like a receipt. So, it's not me approving anything per se. It's just
Correct. Okay. Correct. I think if the school committee wanted to take a vote that to accept these and to commitment to implement then we would be happily um we would put your names on the document but I think that would be something the school committee could
discuss. Mr. Sh it's more I bring it up that no one person I mean the chair just can't make decisions. So if this is an acknowledgement that a piece of paper has been received then that's one thing. if it's a acceptance of this or an understanding of it, the school committee hasn't agreed to that as with
any document that would be committed to. So, it's I mean the only commitment is by a vote. And that's my point is that the signature doesn't mean that agreement or acceptance of the school committee. Not that we wouldn't, it's just we're all learning as a new pathway
on this moving forward. For sure. Sure. Um, as I said in the outset, uh, the exit assurances are designed to support the transition from receiverhip to local control. Uh, and, uh, the commissioner,
uh, does reserve the right to discontinue any one of the, uh, exit assurances over the 2-year period of their existence. And then at the end of that 2-year period, uh the commissioner can either discontinue all of them,
decide that there are one, two, or more of them that he, she or they would like to uh continue. Uh but they are designed to be transitional in nature. And so that first benchmark is that two-year
period. Next slide, please. Um, in as much as the exit asurances are in the square uh squarely in the purview of the the commissioner, uh, I I don't want that to conote that uh, the commissioner wrote them in a back room with no consultation or interaction with
others. In fact, there was a a great deal of this and I commend uh uh former acting commissioner Johnson who uh collaborated uh and consulted substantively um with uh a number of people uh with the mayor, with district
leadership. Uh also want to highlight uh that the uh union was consulted both uh local leadership the hta uh local leadership as well as uh statewide leadership uh as well and the development of the uh exit asurances. uh
I've been in this role, it'll be a month tomorrow. Uh but continued, no one's counting, continued that uh tradition of uh consultation and communication um with a host of folks uh members of this board uh the mayor uh as well as uh
leadership from uh the HTA as well. Next slide, please. So as I said in the outset, the uh exit assurances again are really designed to work in service of continued improvement to keep the district moving along the
trajectory uh that it was that uh brought us to this important benchmark. Uh it's it's our understanding that uh the strategic plan uh I believe the theme is huntos podmos uh has been developed and largely uh reflects a lot of the features of the
turnaround plan. Right. uh the uh early literacy practices uh culturally and linguist linguistically responsive multi-tered systems of support language access uh so forth and so on. The exit assurances are uh explicitly and uh in
targeted fashion designed to support the implementation of that strategic plan and the furtherance of that strategic plan. And so there are, and you'll hear this uh in Deputy Commissioner Woo's um uh explanation of each one of the exit
exit asurances, you'll see the connection between that ex exit assurance and um the kinds of uh things that we want to see happen that are reflected in the strategic plan. Me pause there and see if there are any questions I can answer
clarifying or otherwise. Miss Wilson, are we going to be getting a copy of this presentation after? Okay. Because it's just I can't read it. So, it's very difficult for me to read this and be able to comment on it
because I I can't read anything on that page except the top line. Thank you. This is wait time. Uh good good wait time. Hearing no questions. I will turn it
over to Dr. Woo. Yeah. So, as the commissioner said, what you'll see in the actual exit assurances document that we've handed out to the committee are the specific areas of the teaching and learning sections of the turnaround plan that are going to be sustained post receiverhip.
um and those are aligned directly to your strategic plan. And so really what we wanted to do in this part of the um priority area one, priority area two, priority area three, and priority area five was really just emphasize what you're already doing so that that work
continues. Next slide. when you get to appendix A. So, the turnaround plan contains um a uh an appendix um called appendix A. It's the working conditions um that are put in place for the collective bargaining agreements. Um these provisions of the
turnaround plan have been modified and kept in um and modified based on the engagement that we did with you all um in executive session also with the union themselves. And so it incorporates the feedback that we received from from the specific groups that we engaged with. The first feature that we're keeping in
place is um around the school-based decision-m. And so currently in your turnaround plan, it identifies that individual schools will create an operational plan where we've made a modification and what we're keeping in place is that schools in grade band um
spans will now be implementing operational plans based on those specific levels. So elementary, middle, and at the high school level. We think that consistency across grade span bands um in implementing features of the turnaround
plan and the strategic plan to ensure consistency across those bands is going to be really important going forward especially through this transition. The next feature of the turnaround plan that we're keeping in place um in appendix A is related to the professional compensation system. So, as
you all know, the collective bargaining agreement currently has in place a performance-based compensation system that contains career ladders and advancement on that ladder is based on performance. Um we are choosing to um depending on what happens um with
collective bargaining um and with um you all as the committee um a component of the future compensation system should contain a path that compensates teachers based on evaluation um and based on performance. And so we've modified that language, you can see it highlighted um
here in the document um where uh just a component of that system going forward will be based on performance and contain a career ladder. The next feature of the turnaround plan is related to the teaching and learning time. Next slide.
Um and so where this um feature is continuing to uh be in place is that we currently in the turnaround plan specify a certain amount of days and hours um that the district should abide by. Um
and we have removed that minimum threshold. Um and so where the calendar and the school schedule will still be determined by the receiver and in consultation with the school committee, um the specific number of hours um identified by the turnaround plan have
been removed. Miss Wilson. So, the school calendar um there we're in the process of updating all of our policies and our policy is is that the school committee votes on the calendar. It's not a sole decision by the superintendent. So, when when you say
that the superintendent will establish the school calendar, are you then saying that the superintendent does not need to seek guidance or approval of the school committee for that decision? The turnaround plan, the exit assurances specify that the superintendent will do
so in consultation with the school committee. Where does it say that? in the opening of the exit um exit assurances because I I I'm just I'm having a very difficult time following the document
that was just given to us, understanding it in a way that I'm going to be able to speak to it even at home, never mind with any individual who's concerned about what's happening in our district.
I I'm just I'm having a very hard time not being able to see this and being able to follow along and understand what we are getting back so far, what we are not. So I just want to be clear about
that. Sure. So on in your document um after you get through the cover memo on the very first page of the actual exit asurances document in the opening preamble it discusses both the statutory and regulatory provisions um for the
exit asurances. And then we did note here that where the turnaround plan references receiver, we've changed those references to superintendent going forward because at the end of receiverhip, the receiver title and position no longer exists because the school committee um retains their
authority. Um and where we've said that the where we've replaced receiver with superintendent, we noted that the superintendent will exercise any additional authority granted by these exit assurances and consultation with the school committee. Miss Wilton. So the key term is in
consultation, not in not that the school committee is approving it. He can just consult with us or she or they and if we don't like it, the superintendent can just make a unilateral decision is how
this reads to me. Mr. Sheen. Yeah. I I think it's something too that when as we talked about the brief previous slides that um I was part of the discussion with Dr.
Rivera Cologne and the secretary um and the deputy commissioner about some of the exit asurances and I think one of the things that they reinforce too that yes it's in consultation but the superintendent is still first and foremost an employee of the committee right um so that just like with with
bargaining that it's the school committee's approval be with it because they are their employee. It's the same thing that the the my perception on the word consulted is that it's a high level of consultation with the school committee
and would probably still be an acceptance from the school committee on that, but they would present the calendar. Um, and that's how it was presented to us. I don't know if that's anything you or the secretary want to comment on if that's something that you still feel the same with that.
Yeah, I mean I think ultimately in our conversation we had discussed that the school committee still oversees the superintendent is responsible for the evaluation of the superintendent and so those decisions that happened in consultation. If the school committee wasn't adequately satisfied with that
consultation, they could express that in through their oversight and management of of the superintendent commission. Oh, that's that's very straightforward. Um I think your uh description of it
member Sheen is is is spot on. And perhaps as we move forward we can point out where in this document um uh what's being presented is is represented so you can follow along with
it where you see um go to the next So the next exit assurance is on the evaluation. Um and so you'll see in the document that you have in front of you the educator evaluation provision here on page two of that document at the
bottom. And this is the language. Um sorry we should I should have oriented you to this the document. Okay. In the middle column is what you see in the document in front of you. And I've just highlighted um the areas that we adapted from the turnaround plan um after the
feedback that we received. And so what you'll see here is that the educator evaluation system will still be based on the model system that was um developed by DESIE except any future adaptations to that system will be done in consultation with the union. So, we just
wanted to make clear that this the union would be consulted about those um any type of adaptations going forward. Great. Um finally, in the staffing provision, so we're going to the next one. This is um number seven um that
you'll see in your document. Um so in this one where the staffing authorities um previously relied on the receiver to be able to have the autonomy to select staff in filling positions after um consultation with the various
stakeholders. We have included in this provision that um where all other factors are equal seniority will be used as a deciding factor. And finally, the last provision that we're keeping in place relates to the grievance and arbitration provision of
appendix A. This provision applies to only features of the turnaround plan that are being kept in place through these exit assurances. And so um what you'll see here is that the dispute resolution process that's currently in the collective bar agreement that's
currently in the turnaround plan is remaining the same except for an additional step that's been added. Step four you'll see on page four of your document which includes um that an appeal process can happen to the commissioner of elementary and secondary
education. And so if a grievance or a dispute um occurs, it would go through the process that's outlined here. And then if there was a further appeal at the last stage, they would appeal to the commissioner would be a deciding um
party. Correct. It's only for provisions that are part of the exit asurances. Miss Wilson. So, um I I I guess it's a minor thing, but in any um term you use to describe
the superintendent, you have his or he. Um and we've offered the we've offered the interim uh superintendent position to to a male, but after that it could be a
female. So, I'm just wondering why you have his or her in other areas, but the superintendent is referred to only as a he or his for pronouns. I'm I just get picky. I'm sorry. Because we have individuals who
are he, her, and them, and they should be noted that in the form. That's feedback well taken. Um I think uh in the outset I mentioned the superintendent and I actually used three pronouns. Uh uh so uh stylistic not even
stylistic valuesdriven um uh feedback taken on that thing. Miss Wilson, I think it's very hard for me to comment because I haven't really had time to really digest anything. Um, so I really feel at a loss
to make meaningful comments to be very honest which saddens me. Miss Lefave, I'm on the same page with Miss Wilson. Um, so yes, we are receiving this today. it's like in information.
Um, but to really capture and because as you're speaking at the same time I'm trying to read but then I'm getting lost and then I'm getting more confused. Um, and to really process everything that's in here. I'm hoping that today's not a vote to accept the exit asurances.
um but rather to provide us the time to go through these because at the same time I still feel that the school committee has always been vested and we've always looked at what's in the best interest for our students. Uh we weren't just given that opportunity. Um
10 years ago um it was very rapid um when you had five new members who really had a different insight into how we wanted to move um this district forward for our students. So this is also like saying that as if
we can't handle what there is to come to us when we've been here all along together standing strong always making sure that something that wasn't in the interest for the betterment of our students we were vocalizing that. Now
whether the decision was made to continue forth with whatever decision at that time it was at least we know in in our hearts that it wasn't the right decision but at the end of the day we didn't have that decision-making power.
Um, so for me, I would like to have the ability to go through this plus the slides kind of really understand comparing it as well to our turnaround plan because at the end of the day, we want to make sure not only that this
will be reflective of um improving our district, but also the morality and what our staff, our students, our families, our community will think of us as a committee on
whether or not we can even perform our own jobs because it'll still feel as if we're being driven a certain way. Um, I want to make sure that our community has faith in the school committee that no matter what, we're going to stand strong
on our beliefs on what's best for Holy Oak and our students. Mr. machine. So, I think that when this all came up with Commissioner Johnson um month and a half or so ago at our last um transition
meeting, I think it was important that we asked that this be presented in public here so people could understand. But I don't think there was ever a noted um action that the school committee would then not discuss them at all afterwards. And I think that we have
another transition meeting and I think that's something that the chairwoman can compile comment, other school committee members can come like there's ample opportunity to be able to read over this to read over the presentation and then have the subcommittee be able to kind of dig into some of this with the
commissioner um with the deputy commissioner and and be prepared for the transition that's going to happen here and also the transition that's going to be happening again in a month in in Everett. Uh, so I think that there's that opportunity at least to continue that discussion. And I don't think that
I mean I I know I'm not not reading over all this. It's this we we're all going to have questions additional questions now that we see it. So I think that we just use that mechani the mechanism that we have in place to to be able to bring those up. I think would probably be the
best opportunity. I think what was important to us is that we get the exit assurances out, we release them officially so that we can have this conversation. Um, and like you said, member Sheen, you know, we did want to come in public session to be able to present them for the first time. I hope what you'll find is that in the
areas of the teaching and learning provisions that have been kept that it mirrors so closely to the strategic plan that the school committee adopted and that the district created. Um and so that that will feel like a really solid continuation in which the commissioner is endorsing those those aspects. And
then again with the appendix A provisions, you know, we really wanted to make sure that we were modifying them based on the feedback that we were receiving. Um and so um and it's really important for the continuity to be able to keep those aspects in place with that modification.
Miss Lefave. So, I just want to make sure that this last page signed by our mayor and the superintendent because when I hear implement, it just means it's an automatic given. It's it's an acceptance. This is what we're going to
do. Period. Um does not mean that. Instead, it means I would have preferred to see that you know the following signatures represent that the exit asurances uh were received. Um but when I hear implement implement to me means
we're going to do this. Um but you know out of respect for for the school committee, we are a member a 10 member school committee um who's been here the whole time and we just want to
get that same level of respect. um and making sure that this is not a given, that it's an absolute, even though at the end of the day, more than likely it's going to be, but at least give us that opportunity to go through it
versus like, yeah, we're going to hear you, whatever. Um because it's already a done deal. Commissioner Todd. Yeah. Um, you know, we we were really intentional about uh putting the second or third slide in that included the
stakeholder consultation piece because this is uh a collaboration. Um, I also was intentional about including the slide that said, you know, it's in the purview of the commissioner. We want to be close partners with you. We're not, you know, dropping this and running.
We're happy to come back and answer more questions about it. Uh but just want to name again that it it was the result of pretty significant stakeholder consultation and uh we're now at the point where we're having a public conversation about it and absolutely if
more time is needed to let it sink in and think about what questions you might have we're we're happy to continue to partner. So now that this is a is public, right? And now we can talk about it, which is great. Where does it live? If I want to
tell the public, okay, these are the exit assurances and I want them to know where they are. Where do I send them to? It's a great question. So, you're going to receive this in your inbox um right around six o'clock. We wanted to make sure that we did this meeting and talked to you about it, answered any questions.
it's going to go to the community and it'll be posted on your website um the district website including the slide deck that we have here um as well as the letter which you have in English and in Spanish. So what you have is just a cover memo describing what's in the exit asurances and then the actual exitures
document. Thank you. Mr. Colmer, can you people give us in writing where it says someone made a statement here
that under the law under the law only you the commissioner can approve the plan. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Cuz I cuz I just
received this. Yeah, for sure. Miss Wilson. So I guess so. I'm trying to wrap my head around. So Looking forward as of I'm just thinking
as of July 1st is this the document we're going to reference that we are ensuring that we are meeting expectations or is there is it going to
be a different document and is there is there an expectation well first of all I'll start with that one is this going to be the document that we're going to be referencing Yeah, after um June 30th, assuming that the district fully exits receiverhip,
which we um intend for that to happen, um then this the turnaround plan will no longer be in effect and then this is the only the features of the turnaround plan that will continue. Okay. Is there going to be um monitoring
of our adherence to this? And in so what type of um kind of meetings are going to be expected or discussions or communications going to be expected? So um I I want to lift up that there's there's not muscle memory around this
because this has not happened before. But um I I would say I in as much in about a month's time or or maybe two there'll be a new commissioner. I will stay engaged as well. Uh and it's will be my expectation that the commissioner
continues to partner closely with the superintendent. Occasional uh appearances uh with the board to understand how things are going uh in the district. There aren't specific data points or benchmarks or uh elements to
say like if you do this then you know at the uh expiration of the two years these go away. um it just sits in the realm of the commissioner to decide after two years going to dis discontin all of these or I'd like to see this one continue with a rationale for why. Um so
that's that's kind of where we are. Good question. Mr. Sheen, just two things on that. So I and I I will just say like I think that this is this report and not even reading over
it yet is really just a um when we talk about what is guiding us we really need to be focused on the strategic plan and then this is just something on the side that lists out other things like because if we are following what has been in the
strategic plan then nothing in here really matters. Um, and that's and I say I don't say that lightly, but I say that like if we're following what's there, then things in here should be met like in theory. Um, but as far as monitoring,
I mean, there's still the normal like um, center for school support like the the tiered focus monitoring, all that that's going to be going on with every other. So, we'll be getting that normal progress monitor or having that normal progress monitoring just like before.
Miss Lefab, and I'm going to assume we're still going to continue with the local control subcommittee. Um, but now it'll be based off of the exit asurances and if that's uh the will of the of the school
committee cuz although yes, we go back into local control, there's still things in here that obviously um they're expressing that have to continue and which will be re-evaluated in two years from then. But again,
that's the will of the of the committee. Mr. Sheen, I'll just say I think that if that if that maintains and the committee wants to maintain the real focus should be like I said less about this and more about the progress on the strategic plan and that the the real focus on those
benchmarks rather than what's in here. I think that this just complements that. But I think our real focus needs to be on that strategic plan and holding the superintendent accountable for the strategic plan. Mr. Wilson. So I'm just trying to understand this from a teachers
perspective for collective bargaining purposes. So let's just go under item four professional compensation system. So this override So this is the
overriding um system that is in place and that the union cannot negotiate anything other than this. Just to be clear, just to clarify that that under for professional compensation that um it can be modified
but there we must maintain a career path with a component of performance. Right? So we can have that path but we could have a secondary path as well. We don't just have to have the one. So you can negotiate something different.
Okay. And when and then under May I continue? I'm getting it's coming now. The brain's starting to work again. So under teaching and learning time the current um day school schedules will continue. So that's the starting hours,
the ending hours, the amount of hours on learning, the professional development. Is does that is are professional development days considered school schedule or part of the school calendar? Because I'm wondering if union members
are looking to negotiate professional development days and is that something that they're going to be allowed to do. Yes, it falls under the school calendar and the daily school schedule, but I think that the way that it's written here can provide input from the union
and discussions at the table. And I know that you all have gone over the last year in a pilot around your school schedule to try to improve the time that teachers are spending um to improve working conditions. And so, you know, I would imagine that the superintendent um in his role would continue to update the
school committee on the progress um before making, you know, final decisions. So, the union can negotiate this as part of their collective bargaining. This could be in
consultation with the union. Yes. Okay. Mr. Sto. Yeah, Miss Wilson, I just I just wanted to provide a little bit of context here. What was initially in the turnaround plan required a minimum of
about 1,200 hours. Uh I don't know the exact, but that was, you know, back in 2016, you know, uh the school day was, you know, close to eight hours. Mhm. Um and I want to say that since the beginning of
receiverhip, we have uh significantly reduced the amount of of time required um around student learning time and and we're this this current schedule that we have in place which you know we we we
came to all of you and and discussed the pilot that we were implementing today um puts us really close to the minimum required by state state law. So when when you say that there is, you know,
that that some that this can be negotiated, like I I really do think that as it when it when it relates to student learning time, we're we're pretty close to the, you know, the the statemandated minimum number of hours.
But this language definitely, you know, I when I I you know, commend the the commissioner for incorporating this feedback based on the meeting that was had with the uh union leadership. Um because if what was initially in there
was stayed, then you know, we'd be back to the 1,200 hours, right? Um much longer days. Um and so I just I just wanted to provide that context. Wilson, I wasn't speaking so much as to time on learning. I'm talking about
professional development. Um, you know, um, I'm not saying it's it's it's not worthwhile. I'm not saying that it's not relevant, but I feel that um I've gotten input from some educators that we um have way too much um and it's
uh repetitive. And so that's why I was looking at that u professional development days can be negotiated. Miss Lefab, I'm going to put in a motion um that the Holio School Committee uh accept the
exit asurances provided by by Desi. Motion B made by Miss Fave, seconded by Miss Dancler Williams. discussion. Discussion discussion. Seeing no discussion.
Oh, go ahead. I do want the pronouns updated. I'm sorry, but um I I I feel is that I will not vote in acceptance of it um based upon uh pronouns that were used. It's a big thing in my policy and governance. So, yeah. Yeah, absolutely.
We apologize for that. My understanding was that Mr. was going to Okay. So, yeah. Yes, we will make that change. Absolutely. So, if that change is if they're noting that that change is going to be made, I I can Who made the motion?
Originally made the motion. Any chance you can amend it? Of course, I could amend it. And Mr. Sheen shared even a more exciting referral. Okay. Of course, he would. So, uh, the motion would be that the Holio
School Committee vote to accept contingent upon the changes to, um, throughout the the exit assurances on genderneutral language and refer to the local control
subcommittee. Yeah, we do. Okay. Yes, you may. You may second on the amendment. That was Miss Tley Williams. Discussion on the amendment. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? So, the amendment passes.
Now we vote on the motion. All those in favor? I. I. Any opposed? Abstensions. So moved. Motion passes unanimously. Miss Lefave, I ask to move out of out of item out of out of order uh the input
from school committee on commissioner's evaluation of receiver superintendent. Seconded by Mr. Sheen. Any discussion? All those in favor? I I. Any
opposed? So moved. Thank you so much, Commissioner. Thank you so much, Deputy Thank you. We are so so happy that you were able to make it and thank you. Uh Miss Woo, if you can just hold the
reason why I had asked and just in case that I may have misinterpreted at any given point, this way we can have your feedback back. Um on April 22nd um I had um a meeting via
Zoom with uh Lauren Woo and Jennifer Woo and we discussed regarding the evaluation on the current receiver superintendent. So the commissioner must submit um the evaluation by July 1st.
So, with that being said, um because part of the building capacity plan, not the building, the school committee capacity plan, um it says in there that um the school
committee would provide um feedback on the evaluation of the evaluation of the receiver um on May 12th. health. Um do um Mr. Sodto will be providing the quarterly
three updates on progress towards goals. Now what we will be focusing on is the goals that we had approved and took a vote on which is his professional development goal uh student learning
goals and the district goals. Now what we need to determine today is whether two things no one thing first two things. Thank you Devon.
Um, is it going to be that each individual member of the school committee is going to uh comment on the evaluation of the said goals that we had approved or are we referring this to
leadership accountability and measurements and they will be the ones commenting making the comments on it? and on the evaluation and then that will
be presented to the school committee hopefully by June 9th. So that then once approved by the school committee it will go to the commissioner and Lauren
Woo. Correct. Okay. Yes. It's getting hot in here. So, if it's okay with the vice chair discussion on what the school committee would like to do in that aspect, Mr. Sheen, I'm going to make a motion that
the school committee proceed with an evaluation of the superintendent's goals by each member filling out an evaluation form by uh May 23rd and submitting to me for uh aggregation along with the
leadership accountability uh subcommittee. I'll second that motion. discussion. Miss Lefave, which tool will we be using? Who will be sending out that questionnaire? So, the goals won't even be the superintendent
will be presenting the goals at the next meeting in May. And so, the tool will be the already approved document that we have, which is the DESIE approved um superintendent uh evaluation. So after that meeting it'll be ready to go and so members will have from that meeting
which I think is May 5th May 12th May 12th from May 12th until the 23rd so it then can be dealt with by the subcommittee and then it can be presented uh to the superintendent on June 9th and then in time
for whatever commissioner does [Laughter] it to be done by the statute requirement which is July 1st. Okay. So, and I will say just as a reminder, we have already received
um the progress towards the goals. It's not like we're receiving it for the first time on in May. We got an update in February. Uh yeah, Miss Le. So, going off of that, who will be sending
the the evaluation tool to each member? Number one. Number two is Miss Feliciano will have it to send out to everyone. Number two, for those that do not have computer access, will it be provided to them paperbased? Okay. But I need it
back typed. You need it I to be for the committee to aggregate it. So someone's have to find someone to type it for them. It needs to come back typed. Like that's the district can help but it need all comments and it is public. So whatever you put on there is public. If it's not submitted by the 23rd is not submitted. Like that's that's the drop
deadad. It needs to be in my hands electronically. It's going to be a word a billable document but to aggregate it in this short amount of time like we need to use the technology that we have. Miss Wilson. So you want it on so you want it by the 23rd of May. And then
when is your u subcommittee meeting going to review that? I emailed the subcommittee and they agreed to meet on May 28th and then it's going to come back to the full school committee or not full school
committee. It does come back and that would be in 9th. Yep. Okay. And the aggregation all of the raw data will still be with the aggregate. So it's I mean and the school committee can vote to accept the aggregated data or not. Um
but everything will be attached. Thank you. So this is also um a little bit different from a normal superintendent evaluation because there is no statutory requirement on superintendent evaluations. There are statutory
requirements on receiver evaluations. So that's why it's a has to happen. So some of the goals because they're endofear goals, it might be that it's just progress towards the goal. So we won't have necessarily end of year data
whereas with a superintendent evaluation, we could wait until October for MCCast. Like there's just different things that you can wait on and you can't with this. And that's the nature of right when the law was written 12 years ago. More than 12 years ago. Yes. Yes.
the motion. Okay. So, this seems like the natural end of the discussion. So, we will take a vote. All those in favor? I I Any opposed? Extensions. So, moved. Motion passes
unanimously. Sure, she can go now. You can go home. Dr. Tutweiler has to sit back now. Molly, thank you so much for coming out. Thank you. All right, Mr. Sodto, you're up. Thank you. Hold on. Mr. Sheen has a
question. I'll wait a second. um at 6:20 Wednesday afternoon and I went through the whole agenda when I got it and then today when I was looking at it there were new things on the agenda. Were things added to the agenda between email going out? There was nothing changed on the agenda from 6:20 on
Wednesday to today. I haven't changed anything. Okay. Um, and actually I didn't even have access until earlier today, but typically what may So there's the agenda
and then there's the packet. Um, sometimes there will be things added to the packet. We usually try to get them to you. So once the agenda is posted, that's the agenda. But the supporting documentation that's in
the superintendent reports um sometimes those things will come will follow a little later. I've I've been trying to make sure that once the agenda is set all of that is taken care of based on feedback that I had gotten in the past from this committee. So it used to be
where the agenda set and then you know uh a new presentation is is shared like the day of the the meeting. I'm trying to do away with that and in rare in rare situations that'll happen. But we try to get the supporting
documentation of the agenda um to everyone um that Wednesday or Friday before the meeting. But the agenda itself like the agenda topics and what's posted um not the supporting documentation to my knowledge I you know
I I haven't changed anything. Okay. And normally don't. Okay. Thank you. Um, so in in your packet, I included a funding advocacy letter. This is something that our uh executive director of finance is hoping that the school
committee would support. um sending to uh Pat Duffy and Senator Vis um just advocating for some things uh around the fair share act surplus that the state
has. So uh you could see there that you know advocating uh for circuit breaker reimbursement to provide 90% reimbursement would mean uh Holio could potentially see an extra $1.4 million in the budget. um advocating for 100% Mckin
Vento transportation reimbursement that could be approximately $300,000 for Holio and um then advocating for out of district vocational student transportation and providing 100%
uh reimbursement. You could see there 35,000 and then an increase in chapter 70 funding that reflects excess inflation that was capped in previous years. You can see that that's another about another million dollars. So, um
you know, I have already spoken personally to um our our uh local legislators and express this as as um important to Holio. Uh I meet with
them on a monthly basis. Uh but if if it is the will of this body, um our our executive director of finance is hoping that um the school committee is willing to um advocate for for this to our
legislators. Miss Wilson, I'd like to make a motion that we um sign it um as far as the Hoyok school committee and uh send it supporting these uh measures. Seconded by Mr. Isasa, Mr. Wellan.
Thank you. Um yeah. Um thanks again for for the synopsis. Yeah. Um this was vetted through our finance committee back in March. Uh just want to thank Sean, our executive director, for um putting this together for us. So again,
um these are these are um topics to really uh um budget busters really in terms of the transportation, the state not reimbursing us for the full percent for the law. Okay, that's that's
typical. um up in Beacon Hill. Um so hopefully um um we're not the only community that are having these issues. They're all um most of the towns are in the red with transportation costs
going up, etc., etc. um and just the services that we have to provide these days. It's been increased since uh co and the state hasn't um increased the uh the funding for that.
So um just want to thank Mrs. Wilson for the for the motion and hopefully uh we can um um vote on this and um move it on to Boston. Thank you. Seeing that there's no more discussion,
we'll take a vote. All those in favor? I I. Any oppose? Any abstensions? Abstain. So moved. Thank you so much, Mr. Willahan. Thank you. Um yeah,
there was a good uh um article on this in on this topic in this week's um uh Hoyok Sun. Excellent. So, moving on to new
business, outofstate field trips. Motion to um take us a package. No. No. Okay. Let's start all over again. Okay. That the school committee
vote to accept the out ofstate field trip to Stafford Motor Speedway on June 13, 2025. Second by Miss Stencley Williams. Discussion. Miss Wilson, it doesn't have the nurse's signature.
So that causes me concern because it it appears that that's approval are required and it's not signed by the nurse. Mr. Sheen, agreed. I just don't I'm wondering how it got through the principal and the superintendent without the nurse sign off.
Yeah, I mean that that's part of the process. The nurse has to review it within 60 days of the trip happening. They wanted to get this um approval from the the school committee first, but you know it the the nurse will be reviewing this
as they do with every single field trip. Move to table. Second. He's got it. Seconded by Mr. Colmer. Discussion. All those in favor? I I Any
oppose? Abstensions? So moved that the school committee vote to accept the out of state field trip to New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 20th, 2025. Seconded by Mr. Isasa. I second that. Seconded by Miss Wilson.
Discussion. There's no form attached. I didn't I only have the It's underneath. Keep scrolling. It's in the same Oh, it's in the same p I apologize. Yep. I would do Yep. No signature. All those in favor? I I. Any oppose?
Abstensions? So moved. Let's try this again. That the school committee vote to accept the out ofstate field trip to Summers, Connecticut, Sunny's Place on June 6, 2025. Seconded by Mr. Isasa discussion Mr. Sheen. So I noticed
on here and this wouldn't give me cause to not approve this but why if we ask for transportation costs will the bus company not give quotes until these are approved and why would we even be okay with them doing that?
I'm sorry. Can you repeat the question? It says on transportation costs I have to have this form signed and approved to be able to receive the bus costs. I don't understand why bus company would be functioning like that. Yeah. I'm not I mean honestly I'm not
sure the you know once the the bus company gets this form they're able to like even without the signatures we can plan the the field trip. So I don't is your question is are there
restrictions to the bus company setting up transportation? Is there a requirement that they have school committee approval first or No, I'm So you're the form that your office created list transportation costs and yes, it's been signed off by the teacher, the principal, and you and it says I have to
have this form signed and approved to be able to receive the bus cost. So either the form needs to be changed and we shouldn't be asking transportation costs or the bus company won't give the cost. Like what's the problem? Or the person coordinating the the trip thinks, you know, there's a
misunderstanding there that they think they need school committee approval before they reach out to the bus company. But yeah, there there's nothing preventing us from asking the bus company for transportation costs uh absent a you
know this form. They just need the dates and what bus and the you know estimated number of students so that they can figure out who they have available and what the cost is going to be. So I can speak to the person that coordinated this trip. I can speak to principal
Burke um and uh lay out expectations moving forward that that we get all that information prior to it coming to school committee so I just these forms shouldn't even make it here. So, whoever's checking
these forms like they shouldn't even come into school committee if they're incomplete. And I mean stuff like like there's a problem with the process if we're not getting transport. Like there's something weird with that. Same thing with the nursing. So, they shouldn't even make it to the school committee. It's not that conversation
should have been held a while ago with the person when these this came through on April 4th, I think, or signed on April 4th. So, that that's my issue. So, either the form needs to be changed, which it may need to be changed, or the buzz, like there's some miscommunication, and I'm all for these kids going to Sunny's place, and I'll
approve it, but there's a a breakdown in this like that also just shouldn't be getting signed off. And maybe it's a diff another layer on these. Maybe the school supervis or the whatever the tit one of the two school supervisors should get it before it goes to the superintendent to review to make sure all this is done or I mean there should
be some review and they should probably be getting stamped and dated when they're coming into the office too just so we know when they arrive especially to meet the guidelines. So whenever these come in there should be some sort of record of when they arrive um into there. So there needs to be some process with ease and soon to be any travel
forms that are coming to the school committee because I will also say it as I like the travel policy goes back into effect on July 1. So if there's any travel over the summer of anyone traveling out of state, we need all those forms ASAP to approve for anything
after July 1 um for like just training travel and stuff. So I just like these things can't slip through the cracks. Yeah. Irene, can you make a note of that? Um, you know, it's not for a lack of review. It's just not this this normally had come to me for approval.
And, you know, it for for me to approve this, you know, the the really the the approval for me was about the out ofstate, you know, the out ofstate travel, the out ofstate field trip happening and requiring my approval. a once my approval was in place as the
receiver at you know during receiverhip um the the schools did work to get all that other information and and it just allowed them to get approval from me first and then there's other forms that are filled out once they get closer to the date. So uh point noted I'll make
sure that you know I'm like as I'm reviewing these I will make sure that it's filled out in its entirety. you know, the nurse the nurse approving stuff so far in advance. I could see that being a challenge because they don't know exactly who the students are
that are going to be, you know, are going to be attending the field trip. If the field trip is, you know, 3 months away or two months away and they're working to try to get kids, they try to make sure that they they have a complete roster of the kids first and then that
the nurse approves it. Um, so I could see that, you know, that being the reason why it didn't go to the nurses right away. First, they got to get a list of all the participants, get confirmation that they're going, and then it goes to the nurse and they they take care of that. Those things do
happen. But yeah, I I I could see the, you know, uh, the the concerns that are being brought up, and I could see the questions that are happening. What I will do moving forward is that I'm not going to bring anything um to the school committee unless this these are all
filled out in in their entirety. And um you know in in the scenario that I just mentioned you know um I'd like to you know consult with you Dr. Rivera Coloner Mr. around, you know, the that nurse piece, like if the roster is not set yet and
they they're just looking for approval for an out of state, like that's really the approval piece that they're looking for. Some of the logistics, they haven't ironed out yet, but the the approval, you know, if if the school committee denies the out ofstate field trip, it
it's it's dead and then that other planning doesn't happen. Um, but um, for sure, no point taken and and I'll make sure that these things are filled out in their entirety. Um, I've been, as I've been getting feedback, one of the
questions that I've always gotten was, is there any cost to the student? So, we updated the form to include that. Like, that wasn't on the form before. So, as I'm getting this feedback from all of you and how the things that are important to you as you're approving these, um, I'm going to make, you know,
we We'll make sure to adjust the process and let uh staff members that typically plan these trips know what what the expectation is. And you know, I've also included that additional description page that wasn't there before because I
noticed that some of these forms were coming in and even me as I was approving them, I didn't understand. It's like what where are we going? Why are we go, you know, who's going and um these are things that as you guys are giving us feedback, I'm incorporating into this form. without trying to make this a, you
know, five-page form. Um, hold on, Mr. Wilson. So, one thing that concerns me greatly in these forms was um one things that I found that's concerning to
me is that we don't have a separate line for any small bus transportation that's required because if a student has an IEP and special transportation is checked off on that box, they legally should not
be taking a large bus to any offampus site. They need to be taking a small bus to any via wherever they go because that's the agreed upon, you know, document that the IEP team. So, I would
like that a something to be noted in there about it. Is there any small bus transportation required? um to make sure that it's been thoughtful and I don't want to have to add suggest
that we have the uh director of student services signing off on this but um this has been a constant concern of mine because I feel as though we are putting students on large buses and we are breaking our legal obligation. Thank you,
Miss Tensley Williams. I agreed with Devon and say they make a decision in one way and then when all this stuff comes in there's another decision to make. So sometimes you can quote one price and then when it comes in like oh my god
that the budget is what is this? So I agree with Devon we need to know. So and I Mr. He just answered um Mr. Sodto just answered the question. So I really didn't need to ask it. Mr. Colmore,
and maybe the doctor or the superintendent can answer this question. Uh, a lot of these trips are under grants. Correct. Some are under grants, some are
under, you know, I can't just I can't just give you a blanket statement that all field trips are under grants. Some are grant-f funded, some are funded by through student activity fundraising. Um, and in some cases, you
know, the some students pay to attend. The real question I want to find out is why if it's under a grant or whatever it's under, why are students have to pay for this to go? Most of the trips that have
come to the committee did not have a cost associated to the student. I did look at one today that will be coming that was a $30, you know, it's a combination of fundraising through student activities and a $30 charge to each student. Not
like so far all of the field trips that have come here for out of state travel um were you know the ones that have been put on the agenda and and put in front of you for out ofstate travels. All of that was at no cost to the student but
it's still as part of the form we list what the costs are associated with the trip and what the funding source is. Should be there be anything at all charged to a student to go on field trips?
It depends. I mean, there are scenarios where, you know, uh the school doesn't have it in their budget. They do fundraising and try to make it so that it's 100% free, but um but but aren't and you know, that's not uncommon.
Well, I I'm just concerned about legal. There's nothing illegal about if it's under if it's under grants or things like this and we're denying a student from going. I don't think that anyone has expressed
denying a trip, but um I think that what I've heard tonight is that they'd like that uh committee members would like to make sure the form is filled out in its entirety and um before it comes to the
school committee for approval and that I will do moving forward. Mr. Willahan, thank you. I don't like to micromanage. You know that. But I miss listening to my colleagues. I
think we just got to just um create like it's just a master checklist, you know. You know, nurses provided. Yes. Funding in place, Mrs. Williams. Yes. By what formula? You know, was it a grant? Was
it local fundraising? I know. Um um Mr. Williams had questions before on shops. Shoprons in place. Yes. How many? Yes. Type of transportation. Just a massive checklist. Approval, initial approval,
secondary approval, final approval. It's just it's a massive checklist just to get our ducks in order. Yeah. So, it comes in here and you know, Yeah. I mean, that's that's we can vet it real quick. You know, it just seems like we're going back and forth all the time. So, okay. I appreciate it. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Sheen. All of that, it just needs to be filled out and that's so all that whole checklist is here. It's it just um it just needs to be completed. So, I think we have it like it's just needs to be done, Miss Leave.
So, first just answer me this for what's the purpose that you have to have the nurse's signature on here ahead of time? The purpose is for the nurse to review uh each student that is going. And if there is a student that needs medication
administered and that it has to be by a nurse, then the nurse would be going on that trip. A nurse or a vendor would be going on that trip. Uh if the if the parent isn't, you know, a chaperone already going, that's that's typically why, you
know, the this gets vetted by the nurse. They they take a look at who's going and they review any medical, you know, where they're going and whether or not there's any concerns based on the medical history of the student and they would, you know, they would voice that prior to
the trip. That's fine that they have to do that, but my question is why do they have to be part of the signature versus the process of what needs to be done once the field trip is approved? Because obviously if you don't know who the exact students are, you
just know it's random 25 and they're not going to see it till after the fact to then determine, okay, who did we get back, you know, approval signed by the families that they're going. I think it's more of the system of what the process is going to be
afterwards. So, in my personal opinion, I don't need to know whether the nurse looked at it yet because we still don't know who these students are. Y, but this is approved. But the process should show then that like a different form or something that's internal that you guys
can go back to and you can hold accountable and say, "No, the nurse did sign off and say that she viewed this was the final list of students going. this is how this if we needed to send a nurse with them, whatever. And if you want to provide that after to the school
committee, fine. But the beginning process when you don't even know who's going, that's just right now we're here tableabling. It says here minimum 60 days in advance. We're already past the 60 days. So technically at some point
she should assign this already because we are now less than 60 days. away. Um, and now here we are tableabling and it won't come back till May 12th with the hopes that she did sign off. But at the end of the day,
you're the receiver, you still make decision, we're we're going to accept, you know, but I'm just saying for future if we if we really don't need it there, then find a different process internally. Um, but I think that process
needs to be the same across the board. None of that autonomy as to how each school wants to do it. No, we're not going to have you sign here, but this is going to be the process moving forward and every school has to follow the same and keep that documentation. Yeah, we we
do. So, this was just the approval form. there is a separate form that gets filled out once the approval happens that has a bunch more information. So, I agree with you. I think that there's
like too much on this and we got to consider like pulling stuff out for this initial approval and I'm seeking permission to you know work with somebody on the board to make sure that um you know the the the
the things that matter most to your approval are on this initial stage and the things that don't need to be here we just take out and keep in the like we could we could show you the the entire field trip procedures that includes this form and that includes the forms that
get filled out after the fact which includes permission slips and things like that that need to get filled out specific. So with that being said, wouldn't that be something that policies because obviously this falls under well
we have field trips and policies but then it's a procedure based on that policy. if you're looking for somebody to help adjust this. But my recommendation is get rid of the nurse signature. Whatever is making you making this even
more, get rid of it. Have your process after the fact. Just bring forward the principal signature and make sure that the costs are there. In my opinion, I'm gonna assume like if I wanted to do a bingo trip and I called a bus company, King
Ward, and I say I'd like a quote for this day, they're going to give me a quote, right? I don't understand how we can't get a quote for the other bus that we have to wait till we get it approved. That does that just doesn't make no sense. Yeah. I Yeah,
just saying. And I love bingo. Miss Wilson, first of all, I think the nurse signature is there because of nursing costs because if you look, there's like the first one was for eighth grade students. You know who your eighth grade students are? And does anyone require a nurse to go with them?
So, that would be in part of the cost. That's why the nurse is signing off on this is my assumption because of nurses costs and there's a section for nurses comments. So that's why I think it's there. And secondly, I'd be happy to
work um not as part of uh the policy but as an individual member of the school committee to help our uh receiver superintendent with this form. Mr. Assassa, in view of the comments made about the nurse uh nurse's signature, might we not want to
reconsider the ones we table? or we get that out of the way. Mr. Sheen, until something's changed, I mean, it's unless the procedures are going to change, but I'm following the procedures set by the receivers's office who
created the form. Maybe nurse is necessary. We There could be a law that says, I mean, until we So, Mr. Colmore, I think that at the present time, the way the
situation is that rather than table it for the present time until it's solved, give the discretion to the superintendent whether to allow these things to happen. I mean, we can't we can't stay and wait
and wait and wait until all this stuff is compiled to allow to allow a students to go on a field trip or something like this. I think we ought to just give the superintendent of school the authority
until such time as we make a real progress on this, then let's leave it that way. Is that fave? He already has it. We're just voting to accept and say
great, have fun. But to approve it, it's already been approved. It's going to happen. We're just I guess when we move forward as of July 1st, this is this is what needs to happen because then it's going to fall on us approving it. So,
we've got to fix this process. But at this time, June 6 and June 13th are going to happen. September 20th isn't going to happen until that one gets figured out, revised, whatever, what have you. But I mean, if they don't know
who's going to go June 6th or June 13th, I highly doubt they know who's going to go September 20th. Mr. Sheen, just to make a point, there's the one at hand is not missing that information at all. And there's a motion on the floor to approve the medaf trip.
Yeah, that one's Yeah. Seeing that this discussion is over. All those in favor? I I Any oppose? Any abstensions? So moved. All right. Next up, we have
budget transfer. Transfer for approval. Mr. Willahan, does um Mr. Sod want to speak on it first and I'll piggyback on it. Yeah. Uh all of these order. Can we have a motion
for like for the discussion? I'll make the motion to allow Mr. Sto to speak on the issue. Mr. It's a motion. Second it discussion. I think the motion was the action that
was going to be necessary, not just permission to speak. I think we're looking for an actionable motion. I think the motion that they're motion to um accept the transfer requests.
Right. Do we have a second? Second by Mr. Isasa. Discussion. Mr. Z. Yeah, I mean the information um on all of these transfers is uh in is
linked into the agenda. Um the uh first one pupil services is to cover consumables um for some new curriculum that we purchased um and realized that we needed uh more materials and kits for
students. So that's going to be coming from the pupil service software line and move to instructional materials. Um this did go to
the full this went to subcommittee and uh is now seeking approval of the full committee as did all of these. Um the second two lines is for from contingency to contracted services and that's to
cover the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission um for facilitation of the community advisory board work. Um just uh to note there the there there is already a contract in place with that vendor. So this would we haven't processed any uh
payments to the vendor or anything like that. We're waiting for this transfer to happen so that once we do get build, we're able to process that. Um, and then the last one is also one that was already in in front of the committee and
went to subcommittee for review and is now coming back. Um and that's for uh two students that had moved um into the district and are attending Lawrence School um where the behavior tech support is is needed to support their
their transition to the new school. Miss Wilson, so the special ed curriculum that's been brought before us already and we've already reviewed that new curriculum as a school committee. You didn't review the curriculum per se, but that that's new curriculum that we
have in place and we need more of it. Did the school committee ever review the curriculum? I don't think that you've reviewed any of the curriculum that we have. Okay. I'm just because as we move forward, that is something um as we update our
policies, I think we are supposed to be um allowed to uh preview it. um and offer comments, you know. Um so I that's why I was just asking that. Yeah, I I there was so last year when we did a a brand new curriculum
implementation of uh grades 3 to 5 ELA, we did do a presentation to the school committee. Um I you know trying to jog my memory if that this was included in that um or not but I you
know I can tell you that whenever moving forward and you know since I've over the last year and a half as we've been talking about local control these are things that I am looking always looking to bring forward to the committee. I
think my my leadership team is tired of me asking is there a school committee policy on this and when are we going to the school committee on this like that's you know like that they that's loud and clear just as with the field trips we
have been uh bringing these uh you know although the receiver has the ability to approve them we're trying to get in the habit of being ready for local control and that those are some things that um you know if we were implementing a new
curriculum for next year that that would be coming to this body. Thank you Mr. Wellahan. Thanks again. Yeah. Um these transfers were
um they're vetted I think at our March meeting um with the finance director. Um, I know that last one with the um registered behavior behavioral technicians, I think this is the second
time that we've um transfer money for this type of a support. I know Mrs. Wilson had um concerns that jobs are being uh they're being um process through contract. um there's just a need
for um there's just a need for that type of a of um uh support with our students. Um again, this is the second time that that cost has come come to us. Um I'm not sure whether that's going to um
continue going forward, but um these were um approved and we're asking for your support tonight. Thank you. Seeing no other discussion. All those in favor? I. Any oppose? Abstensions? So
moved. Next up, we have approval of meeting minutes. I have a motion. I'll make a motion that the school committee vote to approve the meeting minutes of February 24th, 2025.
Seconded by Miss Stansley Williams. Any discussion. All those in favor? I I. Any oppose? Abstensions? So moved. That's a school committee vote to accept and approve the meeting minutes of March
10th, 2025 school committee meeting. Seconded by Mr. Isasa. Any discussion? All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Abstensions? So moved.
Make a motion to vote and accept the meeting minutes of January 23rd, 2025 of the finance and operations subcommittee. Second. Seconded by Miss Favor. Discussion. All those in favor? I. Any
opposed? Abstensions. So moved that the school committee vote to accept and accept the meeting minutes of February 27th, 2025 finance and operations subcommittee meeting
seconded by Mr. Isasa. Discussion Mr. Willahing. Thank you. Yeah, these um the minutes in our packet, those are like the rough draft minutes from that meeting. So, I'm going to ask um we that the um the the finance committee
approved a set of minutes that are not included in your packet tonight. So, I'm just going to ask that we table those minutes that you have tonight and we'll get you a revised copy at our next meeting. So, moved.
Right. Discussion. Yes. Mr. Colmore. I move to second and the motion. All right. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? So moved. Updates on committees
policy and governance subcommittee. Miss Wilson, we had a uh a lengthy meeting this past Wednesday. Um we've gotten through most of the section I which is a significant accomplishment. Um, so we just have J, which is another
lengthy um, policy section K and L. And then there are some miscellaneous ones um that were on hold. So we should be you should be seeing more on a regular basis um um coming
through. So, um, and our next meeting is I want to say the what? May 7th. I have it scheduled at 5:30. It may be needed to change to 6, but I I will let the uh individuals know
that are on the committee and all school committee members. So, it would be May 7th. We're going to finish up with I and move to J. And um just as a note, we are cleaning up many policies
um that are part of a union contract. Um we don't feel there's a need to have things in both a policy and the contract because the contract supersedes the policy. So, we want to make sure that we have what's currently
in the contract. That's that is what is working. Did that make sense? Okay. Thank you, Mr. Soda. Um, Miss Wilson, I think
Shaina is going to be reaching out to you because May 7th we have the Pioneer Valley Excellence and Teaching Award dinner that uh myself and and some team members are going to so if my attendance is going to be required at that meeting
um you know that that we have a scheduling conflict there but I know that normally you guys review them, send them to full committee for comments and then I'm able to approve them or or review them after the full committee sees them. So, I don't know if that's
going to be a problem, but you know, I just wanted to make you aware of that. We can connect after the at some point discussing if there's concerns or if there's a designate you could have attend. Mr. Shane, I thought members of the
school committee were typically invited to that too, but we haven't received anything from your office, Mr. Sodto. Yeah, I can I I'll I'll touch base with Shaina tomorrow. She I She just made me aware of it today that I you know that the event she You just found out the
event was May 7th. I'm sure I found out that the event was May 7th, but every Monday I meet with Shaya and we go over the next couple of weeks and that was a conversation that we had today. So,
um, we I you know, we'll we'll Is there anyone that would like to attend? Like I would be happy to accommodate that. Probably once the details go out, we could reply to Shaneo. Yeah. Okay. You So, next up, finance and operations
subcommittee. Mr. Willahan again. Thank you. Yeah. Um the finance and operations um subcommittee met on April 17th. Um had a good meeting. Um we talked about
the the um the letter um that we voted on tonight for the uh um increased student support um revenue from the state. So, that was that was
brought up at our last meeting. Um, we talked about a um the 2000 um fiscal year 26 budget calendar and we're working on that. Um we're looking to have
the budget presentation to the full committee on May 12th and then we're hoping to have the public hearing on the budget on May 27th. And so, um, I I'm I'm a little worried that we're behind on that. Um, some
towns have already, um, adopted their budgets. So, um, that's the news for that. If, um, Mr. Sto can respond to that. Yeah, I don't I don't think the public hearing is scheduled for May 27th. I've been
working with, uh, Miss Feliciano and uh, it's an estimate, Dr. Rivera Cologne. We're looking to have just our budget our budget balance budget presentation and hearing with with all of you either the 12th or the 28th and then the the
public hearing will be scheduled sometime in June. Um but I'm working with uh Dr. to Rivera Cologne to finalize that that that timeline and it's not you know it is very much out of
line with other communities because there you know other communities um their their budget doesn't rely so heavily on state funding um because our budget relies on on state funding so heavily to the tune of 88% we we this is
this is right on par in fact this is earlier than what we're normally what what we normally do. Uh it's usually in June when we actually have that, you know, that you know that final presentation, but we're ready to to have that in May. Um and and that's typical.
Um you guys uh seen the the budget calendar as part of the transition to local control plan or uh or the capacity building plan. Um and and this is right in line with with with that. Okay. Thank you for that. And then um our next
meeting is uh scheduled for May 22nd. Thank you, Mr. Sheen. So, I'm just curious. The letter that was voted on tonight was already discussed by subcommittee. Yes, that was vetted. How did it get
there? Because we didn't refer it to subcommittee. um we put it on the um agenda in the finance uh in the finance I thought our process was that things come to the full committee they get referred to subcommittee the subcommittees don't
refer so we've discussed this before that so what is the process yeah I thought it was just like uh the the transfers that are kind of bunching back and forth but like subcommittees don't just bring up their own like the school committee has to send things to subcommittee Like how did it get
from did the subcommittee create it like h how were things bypassing the committee the school committee can I just Mana yeah um that was emailed by Sean to Mr.
um for his agendas. That's all I got. I just don't know how business is brought to subcommittees before it comes here. If we want to change our process, things go to subcommittee, but the process is the committee refers stuff down. Not that and like I I didn't know
that like maybe it was on the agenda, but I haven't seen minutes from that meeting to know that was discussed. It wasn't noted on the agenda that a action was taken by the committee and that was a recommendation like it. So I just if there so did the committee actually vote on that letter and was
that a recommendation to the school committee? Um the committee voted to send it here for we need to know that like we we've discussed this before like so is the process that items come here and
then go to subcommittees? Yeah madam vice like is that the processes be taken? Yes. Okay. I mean and we've run into this with that committee. So, like there needs to be a discussion with this chief financial officer that it's just not whatever he wants to put on the agenda goes on the agenda. That stuff has to come here
first because we've seen transfers just go and come back like this. There seems to be a breakdown in communication and I thought we fixed it a couple months ago with the problem is the faith. I think we all need to take accountability for our own subcommittees.
Um if so I mean if it's supposed to come here first then we have to say to whomever sends it to us we got to send it first to the school committee and then because I mean yes the finance is working directly with the chief financial officer
um and the chief financial officer might find things like oh we need this but then it's up to us to be like well that's going to go to the committee first so they can refer um you know It's different for a lot of the people who are now working within
the district as to what it looks like coming out of receiverhip and what it means like how our policies are. So it's just again every and this is why I asked to
pull some things from the policies that were being brought forth because I do have questions um as to and we'll talk about that after Mr. Willah. Yeah, thank you. Yeah,
that's a valid point. So, um, we'll try to have the items come here first for discussion and they and then be referred back to the committee. And since we were on that topic, anything that you guys want on the
agenda for the full committee has to be sent to me so that way I know and I can work with Miss Felisiano to put things on the agenda. and they have to be sent to me two weeks before. So that way I have enough time to be able to have all
the supporting documents for the agenda. If you do it later, you know, it's not going to be happening in the next meeting and you need a little bit of patience and organization for that. So that way we can do that and and again
you know so that that way all those things are approved by me and then Miss Feliciano is able to post those items in the agenda for whatever the next meeting is going to be. So that's the process and we have to make sure that we stick with
it. Next we have joint city council school committee. Any reports? No. Local control subcommittee. Miss Lefave. So, I've been attending just like an outsider um the community advisory teams
because I'm not part of it please. Um I go as an outsider observing this way I know what's happening. I've been meeting with Eric Weiss and Gabriella via Zoom just making sure that they're sent you
know the agendas are being sent within time. Uh what are they doing? But for everyone to know, May 19th is the the community forums and it's going to be two that night. Uh from 4:30 to 6:00
it'll be at Kelly School and then from 6:30 to 8 it will be held at Holioai North Campus. Now remember, if we all show up, we are not to be together. Um,
so please no five people, five of us in a table listening to other people because I'm sure you're gonna say something in that table. So please by all means spread yourselves out and just be there to observe and listen because really it's about us listening and not
putting in our two cents. We can put our two cents all we want when we come back here. Um, but that's about it. Uh, local control, thanks to our wonderful member here, Mr. Sheen, we have now referred to
the local control subcommittee the lovely exit asurances and um obviously the strategic plan will be attached with that. Thank you. So no no meeting yet. I will find
out where they sorry. So, the Kelly school one on May 19th is going to be from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. And then that same night from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. It'll be at Holio Kai
North. There is going to be a virtual option. I'm sorry I I I stepped out from the community advisory team meeting today to make sure that I got here on time. Um, so I can't recall when the virtual is going to be, but once I have that
information, I will share it along if you again if you want to participate and hear from the community on the virtual end too. Thank you, Mr. Fave. Leadership accountability and measurement subcommittee. So, Mr. for my subcommittee. We are meeting the
28th of May and that's to discuss the uh class rank topic that got referred out and the superintendent's evaluation. Um and just to assist member Lefave, the virtual meeting of the community advisory committee is May 21st at 6:00
from 6:00 to 7:30. Thank you. Thank you. Moving on. Ongoing business policy removal, Miss Wilson. So, um it's been grouped. Um so, the first section has been recommended
that we remove these policies. Um there are uh there is information um attached in the attachments that reference um the rationale behind. So I um I think it probably might be best if we go through
each of these individually or uh can we make a motion for them to be all the ones that are listed to be removed in a group. So I'm going to So I'm going to make a motion that we vote on Miss Leave
was about to make a motion. Oh yeah. that the school committee vote to receive recommendation to remove above policies and recommend that the receiver I'm going to amend that one. Um if if you don't mind um as for the
recommendation that the school committee vote to receive recommendations to remove above policies to become effective July 1st, 2025. Second is Tley Williams. discussion, Mr. Colmore.
Yeah, in in discussion, uh, I received a copy and you all received a copy of the one that was written in 1913 or whatever. Okay. What do we have a copy right now
of when this is going to start? I mean, a copy of the new policy, Miss Wilson. So these so this group of policies we're recommending removal. So there would not be any policies put in their place. They are outdated. They are
no longer part they are covered in other policies and they're duplicated. So the subcommittee felt that all of these warranted um removal. Mr. Willahan. I think we need to like list
like the uh the letters at least in the motion. So CCA that want me to do that? I have it right in front of me too. So um the policies being considered are CCA B D
C H B C H C C L D B F D K C- R and D H Mr. Sheen policy
DKC-R. It's one of two that doesn't actually say why we're removing. So, this turns to be more of a a procedure and that's why we felt as though we didn't need this policy
uh because it's covered under procedures because the policy itself speaks to what can be reimbursed and the and expenses and that um this is something that we felt was just no longer needed. Where is it
covered under though? What D KC itself is still a policy. So if you were to So if we look up D KC nope hold on that one. No, hold on.
It's a fab. I have here that DKC-R is also GCI-R. So, it would be under personnel GDI. Sorry, I'm just looking at four different places. Staff staff travel guidelines. All
right, let me just look one more place. I just have to look at several Mr. Soda. Yeah, I mean that is correct. I think there was uh the discussion at the subcommittee was that there was some redundancy with GC CID-R
um and DK-R being the same. We are going to be adding D KC. So what happened was that we had the
DKC-R but we never had the actual policy. So, um, we are going to be adding DKC, which is, if my document would like to let me open it back because now I have to go
somewhere else because it's not letting me open it. I apologize with all of you. So DKC is TRA staff travel expenses and it um because it's a we're not a regional so that's why there is no R
and I believe if I give me one more moment and I'm so sorry but this I knew this was going to be taking time to get through all the different sections. So DKC the in expense
reimbursements policy that we are going to propose um talks to um travel requests um school committee members must have prior approval staff travel requests within budgetary limits. Each request is judged on the basis of its
benefit to the district. Did that answer your question, Mr. Sheen? Mr. Sheen. So, what I'm looking here, I'm looking at our policy manual and I see that we have the DKC-R. Correct. We still have though the
GCID-R in our policy. So, all we're doing though is eliminating eliminating the DKC-R because it's covered in the GCID-R. Correct. We're not removing at this point. We are not making any recommendations for that for G. Correct. Okay. So, it's this is just this is just
removing that because it's in two different places. Okay. It just and in the future we are going to be adding the actual policy about expenses. Thank you, Mr. And then
on DH, sorry, I'm now I'm trying to get Yes, there's just no note on here of why it's being removed. Give me one moment. I'm going to pull up. And you said DH.
Yeah. Uh, we felt as though um This only speaks so the main purpose of this is bonded employees and it speaks to the fact that the m municipality will pay for the cost of the bond and I believe we felt it was um
self-explanatory that the municipality would pay for the cost of the bond we're removing DH fully. Yes, it was recommended. So, no one will be bonded. No, it's not
saying no one's going to be bonded. I can understand where you're saying that, though. So, you're concerned with removal of this, we're not speaking to bonded employees is your concern. I I guess the policy just goes away if we remove it. That's what I'm unclear
on. the policy would go away, but uh employees would still be bonded. that under another policy or I was just doing a quick search and I do not see any other policy um with regards to that
and are people currently bonded? Superintendent can't say that. I mean are there are people already bonded? When you say people, like are you saying all? Well, it says each employee of the school district who is assigned the responsibility of receiving and
dispersing school funds will be bonded individually or covered by a blanket bond. Yeah, I think the the treasurer is the only one that disperses school funds. So, there's definitely some separation of duties there. No one in the school
department disperses funds. It goes through a requisition process and the treasurer themselves cuts checks. So, but it says receives and disperses. Yeah. Same thing like like when when money is received, it goes to the
treasurer and put into um put into the the our MUNS system. So, no one touches it from like no one. Yeah. So that's through grant funds through What about
student activity funds? Student activities is different. So student activity funds um that that's definitely different. We we receive it but then it goes to you know it goes through the layers of approval and then gets submitted to the treasurer for
depositing. So were those people bonded? Um, I don't I don't have the answer to that question, so I'm going to have to follow up on that. So, let's table DH. Second. I'll make a motion that we table Sorry, I make a motion that we table DH to get
clarification on bonding. Second. Second by Miss Fave. Discussion. All those in favor? I I any opposed? So moved. Are there any other questions regarding
any of the policies? So I'll put in the motion that this Well, if there's a removal of one, do we have to Okay. All right. So we'll go with all the others. Okay. All those in favor? I. Any opposed?
Abstensions. So moved. The next one we have policy first reading. Mr. Sheen. I will make a motion to receive the changes of policy CB school superintendent as a first reading.
I have a second. We're doing it by individual my plan. Okay. I second. Seconded by Miss Wilson. Discussion. Seeing no discussion. All those in
favor? I. Any opposed? Abstensions. So moved. Next motion. M. A motion to uh receive and recommend changes to policy CBD superintendent contract as a first reading
seconded by Mr. Angel Williams discussion. All those in favor I. Any opposed? Abstensions. So moved. Next motion. You are doing so well. I know. Keep it
going. I'll make a motion to accept policy CBI evaluation of the superintendent as a first reading. Second. Seconded by Miss Fib. Discussion. All those in favor? I. Any oppose?
Extensions. So moved. Next motion. Make a motion to approve policy CCB line and staff relations as a first reading. Second. Seconded by Mr. Fave discussion. Mr. Fave. So, real quickly, if we can just
uh I don't know fix whatever, but it's repetitive on your proposed policy. Um because we said we're going to add the third paragraph from MASC model and change school system, but it's repetitive on the second
paragraph. So I don't know if you just want to remove that the the whole sentence in the second paragraph. What second par sentence? So if you look it'll say it is ex in the second paragraph it'll say it is expected that the established lines of authority will
serve most purposes but all personnel will have the right to appeal any decision made by an administrative officer through established grievance proced. I see it now. Thank you. So, so you're looking if we can just remove remove it from the second
paragraph, I guess, because you you were adding it as a third paragraph or just remove the third paragraph because you already have it in the second. Yep. Mr. Sheen, so I guess I need to know more in
practice. So I understand that bargaining employees probably have an established grievance procedure through their collective bargaining agreement. What about non-bargaining employees? This is what the non-bargaining this is
um their relationship. So this is personnel that refer matters to the administrator, right? But I guess for a non-bargaining employee, if they're if they're taking their right to appeal the decision made
by an admin uh appeal to any decision made by an administrative officer through established grievance procedures, what are the grievance procedures for a non-bargaining employee? Mr. Sodto. Yes. So if if an
employee, you know, if the employee always has the right to to appeal a decision that, you know, um that a principal makes. Um
but you know and so I guess we we would have to look at the employee handbook to see that language. So um cuz that's where all you know that's where all matters related to non-bargaining
employees would be spelled out. So I'd have to look at that language. But I'm trying to think in practice you know uh when there is you know a you know either a you know uh when there's disciplinary action being taken um by either by a
principal or a supervisor and an employee wants to appeal that decision to the the superintendent that does that does that has happened in practice. Um, but I, you know, I I don't have it off the top of my head. I would want to
look at the employee handbook to see if there's anything in there, uh, related to to grievances, Mr. Sheen. So, I guess I'm okay with this. I don't Well, there'll be have to be an amendment anyways because it is
duplicated on here, but I guess I'm okay with that in theory as a first reading on this. But I need more clarity on that that it actually is spelled out in the employee handbook or the personnel handbook
because if not we're then creating a process. So which is fine but this policy just needs to be ready that now the personnel handbook needs to be updated with a procedure for um non-bargaining employees with a grievance process. So, and that's not
something that typically non-bargaining employees wouldn't necessarily go through an established grievance procedure, and this is therefore establishing a grievance procedure for those employees. But it seems like you're in support of that because it's it's there, but I just I would need to
know more about that in the second. Like I said, I'm okay right now, but Right. Okay. So then the motion would be to amend may may make a motion an amendment to the emot to the motion to accept this
that we would in the second paragraph we will delete the one um where it starts it is expected all the way through procedures um in order so it's not duplicated. Do we have a second on the amendment? Second.
All right. A vote on the amendment. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Abstensions. Now on the motion. All those in favor? I. Any
opposed? So moved. Excuse me. Is there any discussion on this motion? First, we we had discussion on this already. Next up, make a motion. Make a motion to approve policy CE administrative
councils, cabinets, and committees as a first reading. Second. Seconded by Miss Fave. Discussion. So, this policy miss Wilson. I'm I apologize. I just started. I apologize to Madame Vice
Chair. Um so this when we are making minor decisions like this where we're just changing the genderneutral to a genderneutral pronoun or we are changing the word system to district or youth to students. We've
made a blanket decision that they do not that these do not need to come forward that we can just make those minor changes. Is that Yes, that's my understanding. Correct. So, as far as this goes, this was just a minor change. Okay.
Um, yeah. Sorry. Any other discussion? All right. Miss Wilson, sorry. I do need to make a change to the first line. He, she, they, and change he, she to they, because I
missed it myself for CE. And just so people know, I'm going in in my little thing and updating these as we go. So, I apologize for missing
that. We forgive you. Thank you. If I withdraw the motion or what's your pleasure? So since this was a minor change, it didn't it did not need to go through I'll withdraw my motion. Yeah. The full sounds good. I'll make a motion now to
approve CHA deCHC development and regulations as a first reading. Do we have a second? Second by Mr. Colomar missave. Okay. I just need clarification then for one moment
because on the Yeah, we just talked about so even though if it's a minor change for gender neutral just help me to understand are we just going straight through and saying that it the policies to become effective on July 1 because that we did not say.
So my understanding is that the policies that we are approving right now will be effective July 1st. We haven't said that. We only set it to one. That's the the second reading ones are the ones that we haven't even gotten
there yet. Right. The first reading we still have to post. Okay. No, cuz Okay. Because I was just wondering because you said about the the administrative council cabinet one, it was the gender that it didn't have to come. It doesn't need to go through. We That's what we said. We said if it was just a minor
change, but it's going to be posted. It's going to follow that that track or no. Do you I do understand what you're saying. Can we go to the motion at hand? Y same thing. on the
motion. Mr. Sheen, so just clarity on the new language that Can we tell me which policy we're at now? I apologize. Please go ahead. I apologize. So, the procedure concerning a particular group or groups in the schools will be
distributed to the groups group of groups prior to the effective date of the procedure. Mhm. I mean, I'll just say it seems kind of open. It could be an hour before the email comes out or is this intended to be a week be like it
just it could be I'm sending this email and here's this policy to this group 30 seconds ahead of time. Y um in the MASC guideline uh policy that we were referring to, it did not have a structured time. Um, if we so choose, we
can absolutely add that into prior, you know, you know, five business days prior to we can as a group can add that in. I will make a motion to table and refer back to policy committee. Okay. I
seconded by Mr. Kommer. Discussion. I don't point of order. No discussions on table. Oh, sorry. All right. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Yes.
Abstensions. So moved. Miss Wilson, can I clarify? The whole purpose of the first pass is to make adjustments that the school committee wants because if you just send this back to the policy and governance
subcommittee, we don't know what you're looking for. If you're looking for a timeline, that is something that I being, you know, chair of this subcommittee is looking for. That's why we have a first pass. So if you have any
suggestions to modify it, that's what I'm looking for. If it's an easy modification, that's the whole purpose of the first read before we post. Mr. Sheen, then if it's okay with the vice chair and the committee, I'll withdraw my motion to table and I'm
going to make a motion to amend. Uh so where it says the procedure concerning up to group or groups in the schools will be distributed to the group or groups at least three business days prior to the effective date of the procedure
seconded by Mr. Three business days discussion. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Pastensions. So moved. Now on the motion. All those in
favor? I I. Any opposed? Abstensions. So move. Motion passes unanimously. Right on to the next gender. Make a motion to approve CHCA as a first reading.
Discussion Mr. on on discussion of what the superintendent brought up earlier about employees that are not point of order. This is that's not in the motion. The
motion is a the policy dealing with of handbook of directives of regulation. Discussion on the motion. Right. All those in favor? I I. Any opposed? Abstensions. So moved.
I'm losing stuff. It's CHD. So, that one doesn't need action, right? I'll make a motion to approve CM. Oh, never mind. It doesn't need to be. Okay. So these are all minor changes.
Madam vice chair. Yes, Miss Wilson. So CHD administrative administration and policy absence. Um there's it was a minor policy. So we do not need to make that uh change. And is that also true for CM? Yeah. And
the same for CM. It's changing system to district. Do we need a motion for DEA? Um, it's we're just looking for a format change on this. Um, we had some language that was in bold when it was printed. So, it's just a formatting change so
that there's no motion needed for this. Okay. I'll make a motion to approve DB annual budget as a first reading. Do we have a second? Yes. As move. Make a second. A second discussion. Miss
Lefave. So when I'm looking at DB and when we get to DBD, the proposed change on DBD is exactly what DB proposed change is. So is this proposed change on this one
belong to this one or does it belong to the other one just pulling up my long notes for section D. What's the policy again? D. So right now we're on DB, but DBD's proposed change
is is well when it's clean because I don't have anything highlighted. It's the exact same reading as what you're proposing in DB. Uh there should have been uh changes to this. So I'm going to um I'm going to
make a motion that we table this because um there should have been second both or just the I'm just I'm just doing DB right now. Okay. There was a second on that. All those in favor? I I I any opposed
abstensions is tabled and that was only on DB, correct? DB, correct? Okay. DB. Yeah. Now we're on DBD. DBD. Budget planning. I don't even know what to say. Like would it be wrong if I said to table it?
No, it wouldn't be wrong. Okay. So motion to table DBD budget planning and refer back to the policy subcommittee. Seconded by Mr. Elsie Williams. All those in favor? I. Any opposed?
Abstensions. So moved. Move to approve DD funding proposals and applications as a first reading seconded by Mr. Isasa. Discussion Miss Lefave. Okay. So, this is the one that I
think I really need to understand. You just talked a minute ago, Mr. Sheen, about um things going straight to to um subcommittees and never coming here. So, Miss
Wilson, I read the proposed updates. Okay. And I'm I I understand from you of what Miss Lefon from MASC explained that the school committee cannot transfer their authority or abdicate and will seek
professional opinion. You explained that within a cost center would need approval from the school committee. But then I got lost in this other in this other part. So if Mr. Wellahan or Miss Wilson can please explain because
how I'm interpreting this is nothing from finance is coming to the school committee for our approval. It's more so for anformational purpose only that all those other
decisions will be made by the finance and operations subcommittee. So can someone explain to me what we're doing just so that I know Mr. Sheen? I guess I'm also just unclear for
clarity. So, I read the current HPS policy that's here. Yeah. And there's a proposed update, but that proposed update, I don't understand at all what the actual proposal is because it's a lot of quotations and it's not actual
policy lang. So, I'm just I'm open to anything. I just need to understand what the actual proposal is. We ask we table this. Second. Second. All those in favor? I. Any
opposed? Abstensions. So moved. Make a motion to approve DEC as a first reading. What about D? Oh, yeah. Sorry. Back up. Do I have a second? Second discussion. Just adding the cross
reference. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Abstensions. So moved. Make a motion to approve DI fiscal accounting and reporting as a first reading. Second discussion.
Oh, go ahead. Mr. Sheen. All those in favor? I I opposed abstensions. So moved motion to approve DIE as a first reading. Second if I miss a fave
discussion see none. All those in favor I. Any oppose? Abstensions. So moved. Motion to approve DGA purchasing authority as a first reading. Seconded
by Mr. Fab discussion Mr. Sheen. So, I'm reading here the notes that are on here and that's just for our internal use just so we want to make sure that that will not be included in the policy. It's just trying to give some background information.
Right. Do we have the actual like city ordinance to cross reference on here? We do not. And we add that for the second reading.
DJ fine city ordinance. Absolutely. We can do that. Further discussion. All right. All those in favor I I. Any opposed? Abstensions. So moved. Make a motion to approve DJ.
I think it's be called procurement requirements. It would be as a first reading. Second that discussion. So it is looking at changing um the title because it is about procurement and not just bidding
requirements and it's adding uh more information Mr. Shin. So I'm also concerned by in the proposed policy where it says for any supply or service
over 50,000 bids will be advertised appropriately just because for consistency we remove the 25,000 threshold for purchases and materials but we're leaving in the 50 and we've
seen I just think if the law changes and changes the thresholds why would we bind ourselves to those I mean so we could have lower thresholds than the law or city ordinance establishes, but we set a lower threshold and
that just seems um it just seems challenging. So, I'm going to make a motion to amend in the third paragraph um for any supply to read for any
supplier service any any supply and service. Hold on. Give me one second and I'm going to go with you on that. So, give me one second. DJ, correct? Yeah. Want to capture what you're saying.
Thank you. All right. Second par third paragraph. Third paragraph. So, so to strike out the line for any supply or service at over 50,000. Mhm. I think that this I'm going to make a motion to table
this second. I need to read over this second that by Mr. Colin. I will commit to bringing back some suggestion like I can help you. Yeah, I just need to look at the law like to see how to word it has changed. Yeah, we just needed to be more
flexibility to follow the law rather than to bind ourselves. So, make a motion to table. Second. Seconded by Miss Wilson. All those in favor? I. Any oppose? Abstensions? Tabled.
Motion. Make a motion to approve AE commitment to accomplishments um as a second reading and to adopt as of July 1st 2025. Second
discussion seeing none. All those in favor? I I. Any opposed? Abstensions. So move. Make a motion to approve AA school district legal status as a second reading and to adopt as of July 1st, 2025. Second. Seconded by Miss Lef.
Oh, Mr. Isasa. I couldn't hear you. Make a motion to approve policy. We didn't take a vote yet. Sorry. I know. We got we got it going. All those in favor? I. Any opposed?
Abstensions? So moved. Make a motion to approve policy AD. Mission statement is a second reading effective July 1st, 2025. Second. Seconded by Miss Wilson. Discussion. All those in favor? I. Any opposed?
Abstensions? So moved. Make a motion to approve ADC as a second reading and approve as of July 1st, 2025. It sounds like Williams on the second
discussion. Mr. Willahan, this policy was broken by the students when I was in high school every day. Every every day. Not by me. It was by me. I did. I did smoke cigarettes on campus. I'm a horrible person. Yes, I
did in high school. Mr. Sheen. So, just clarity on this. Yes. Um the in the agenda it says that the title is smoking on school premise, but in the body the original policy is ADC tobacco products
on school premises prohibited. So which one is it? ADB A. No no no no like which title is what you're saying. So in the agenda it's titled as smoking on school premises on in the policy it's
says ADC tobacco products on school premise prohibited. I'm just wondering what just for clarity how this is supposed to be titled. I'm assuming tobacco products is how it should be titled. Give me
one moment while I deep see. Correct. That's just tobacco products on school premises prohibited. Okay. So, just for the I mean that's fine. Just it's in there. It's just so we have for the record.
Okay. So, with that being said, I I think the action needs to be included in in that title and the action is the use. Well, it talks about use of it. What if they're carrying it in their
bag? It's Are we saying it's prohibited? So, if it's in their car, it's prohibited. And And you can fire an employee for having uh a lighter or a pack of cigarettes in
their vehicle. They're not smoking it on property because everywhere else is talking about use of any tobacco product. It's using it. They're not using it. The action is the use. Mr.
Shane Give me one second. There is a document uh GBED tobacco and ecigarette use. is prohibited. Smoking or using it is prohibited. And let me go one more back.
Sorry. And well, we covered some of that in the student. Um, I think drugfree workplace. So clarification, it is use
um in we haven't gotten to J yet. This jic talks to a student shall not um regardless of quality possess buy or sell. So when we talk about ad ADC it's the
use. It's not possession. How students are breaking a policy is through JIC when students have possession of that. So, what you're speaking to is
that you want to change the title. I think it the way that it reads right now is tobacco products on school premises prohibited. So, you would like to change the title to be on the use. Make the motion. So, the motion would be use of tobacco
products to amend to amend. Motion to amend ADC to add use of tobacco products on school premises prohibited. Discussion. All those in favor? I I Any opposed? Oh,
you had discussion. Sorry. really quickly. So that was a second reading. Yes. Would it it would still it would it could still propose change for July 1st. Okay. Just just wondering. Thank you. Yeah.
Okay. So we're changing that. Thank you. Right. On the motion. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? So moved. Make a motion to approve ACCE non-discrimination on the basis of
disability um as a second reading effective July 1st, 2025. Second discussion. Messa. Yeah, that's what it's going to be. Yeah, it's going to be on the basis of
disability. Yeah. And the proposed change is disability. Yeah. All those in favor? I I Any opposed? Abstensions. So moved. uh make a motion to approve ACA non-discrimination on the basis of sex
as a second reading um effective July 1st, 2025. We missed one. Oh, we can go back. Okay. Well, then wait. AC No, we're on AC. No, but I made the motion for ACA. Right. Okay. No, we did AC,
right? So, now we're doing ACAB. Thank you. But I made the motion for ACA. For ACA. So yes, Mr. Sheen. Yes. I would like to make a motion to amend the title and change it non-discrimination
on the basis of gender. I'll second that. discussion. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Any extensions? So moved. Now on the main motion.
All those in favor? I I. Any opposed? Abstensions. So moved. A motion to go ahead Mr. She motion to approve ACAB sexual harassment title 9 as a second reading effective July 1st,
2025. Second by Williams. Discussion discussion Mr. Sheen just a question about our process Mr. Soda are you the final decision maker on all complaints?
Yes. Okay. Any further discussion? Mr. Willahan, is there like a backup uh member Mr. Sto to you for that that
purpose like in case you can't um participate for any reason? Is there like a designate backup? Um not currently specified. So,
um I mean I think that I think I've se yeah I mean I think I've seen that in other other policies where you know the main if you know you couldn't participate for whatever reason you know if there's there's a design
Mr. I don't think you can for title n I I don't believe there is a provision for a backup decision maker. Miss Wilson, this is very regulated by
statute and legal. So it would be the superintendent and the title N coordinator. Um yeah any further discussion? I just want to clarify one thing on this
that we do have permission. It was granted that if Beth Gage or Marisel Baresi leave that the school committee has given um the superintendent the ability to update this if as personnel
change and just notify the school committee of that change after the fact in order to have timely information updated. I just wanted to clarify that. Mr. Palmer, I'd just like to get a clarification on the superintendent's
role of an employee that is not in the union. Can I Miss Wilson and what do you mean by his role? Do you mean as far as hiring as far as
far as grievances? as far as termination supervision as far as I'm going to say termination. What I'm getting at is if an employee this discussion has to
be on the motion policy a capab discussing the policy of employees now we're discussing the title n policy sexual harassment well harassment whatever whatever you
want to bring it up. If a an employee of our system uh assaults or uh does not
obey his boss going up from custodian all the way up, right? uh what is the responsibility of this superintendent to do with that
employee? See, I I don't want I in a lot of contracts we've done over the years, the union specifically says if you don't belong to the union uh
after a certain amount of time then uh he or she can be terminated by the superintendent of school. Mr. Colmer the discussion on the motion right now this motion is
about all persons associated with Holio public schools including but not necessarily limited to the committee the administration staff and students are expected to conduct themselves at all times as to provide an atmosphere free from sexual harassment. That's the policy we're
discussing right now. So discussion has to be on the policy. Any other discussion? If not, all those in favor? I I any
opposed? Abstensions. So moved. BBAA as a second reading effect and approve as of July 1st, 2025. Do we have a second? Second. Second. Mr.
Willahan. Discussion. I would say these are minor changes. These were talking about um it was a genderneutral changing it to each member of a team. Is it the students to all students um instead of city public
schools to district and then the gender neutral uh pronoun of their right? All those in favor? I I Any opposed? Abstensions? So moved.
Make a motion to approve BDD as a final reading effective July 1st, 2025. Seconded by Miss Jones Williams. Discussion. Seeing none. All those in favor? I I. Any
opposed? Abstensions. So moved. Motion to approve BDE as a final reading effective July 1st, 2025. Seconded by Miss Fab discussion,
Miss Wilson. So, we're putting the cart before the horse. So, I I just need to clarify that we're going to be talking about um school committee membership and then um so this this
policy speaks to us app moving to having a votedin chairperson and a voted in vice chair. So, I just wanted to say those words out loud that um this speaks to that we're going to be approving the
other policy where we are um you know adopting that we are voting in chairperson and it's not automatically the mayor. So I just wanted to make note of that Mr. Sheen but we're only doing that because the
city solicitor told us we had to. She said yes. the city solicitor. Their legal opinion was that the mayor in our um bylaws and uh for the city, it does not clarify that it is the mayor that it we should have had this. I want to make
that clear for the record. Thank you. This is not something we're just deciding. This was a legal opinion that we've gotten several months ago that the mayor himself secured. Correct. Yeah. Thank you. All right. No further discussion. All
those in favor? I. Any oppose? Abstensions. So moved. Make a motion to approve BDF as a final reading effective July 1st, 2025. Second is in fave. Discussion. We're only adding a legal
reference. All those in favor? I. I. Any oppose? Abstains. So move motion to approve BBBC as a final reading effective July
1st 2025. Second maybe a fave discussion. We are just clarifying the appropriate certifying authority as the chair and the mayor and then also just gender neutral language. All those in favor? I I any opposed
abstensions? So moved. Don't need to do anything to BCA. No. Motion to approve BDA as a second and final reading effective July 1st, 2025.
Do we have a second? Yes. Discussion, Miss Lefave. Okay. So on this one, there's going to be two things. Number one, when you're looking at your clean version, it totally eliminates what you just said that you wanted to do in the first place. So
that's number one. So first of all, I'm going So let's just not look at the clean version. If we just look at the uh the our ver the HPS version and the proposed change version. So if the clean version still has
Yeah, it doesn't talk. Right. So the the question is it's the second sentence. The secretary shall call the role and each member shall answer stating their choice for it
should say chair and a vice chair. That's the only thing we missed the the chairperson in that for that one. But it's above and highlighted. It's above and highlighted. So if we just look at the highlighted of the changes. Yes. We
just look at the highlighted. We are first appoint. We are the secretary does a roll call. We elect a chair. After that we do a roll call and we elect a vice chairperson. if the chair or vice chair is
absent and then we do a prom. And then the second part of that is we have been saying that these are going to be effective July 1st. Do we need to say that this one will be effective January 1st, 2026?
I'm just wondering would we have to then change the current um makeup where the mayor is the chair as of this time. So that's why I'm wondering should we
state that this one will become effective for January 1st, 2026, which then our organizational meeting will be January 6th. Mr. Sheen, I think you made the point that we're not going to have an
organizational meeting in July, right? So the next organizational meeting wouldn't be January. So even if we approve it as of July, it's in effect for January. Yeah. All right. Just want to make sure. Y Miss Dler Williams the chair the vice chair vice chair is
absent the pro what do we do then promote you would vote in for a chairperson prom just for that one meeting miss Wilson typically the chair and vice chair would um communicate to that person or ask that person if they're
willing to step into that role and it wouldn't be a surprise for that person the day of the meeting when they walk in. Just so you know, Mr. Willahan, typically it's the person with the longest service on the committee. Get ready for Mr. Colmore,
Mr. Sheen. Nothing. Oh. All right. See no further discussion. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Abstensions. So
moved. We're almost there, guys. Just wait. Just wait. We got a lot more coming. Motion to approve BDB as a second and final reading effective July 1st, 2025. Second.
Seconded by Mr. Fave. Discussion. Mr. Sheen. So, in the policy, it was a I just lost the policy. We're removing the title
secretary from that of the superintendent. Hold on one second. I'm coming down there. Yes, because in reality I'm sorry, Miss Wilson. Yes, because in reality it's not the
secretary that keeps track of it. It truly is the superintendent or designate that manages keeping um the accurate records. It's always been part of the superintendent's office.
And I believe this was created when we were thinking that the secretary to the superintendent is also the secretary to the school committee and it's not the same. And so we are clarifying that it's the superintendent or the design that is
required to comply with state law for keeping accurate journal of all the meetings. But doesn't mass general law indicate that the superintendent is the secretary? I don't
know. And I think that Miss Lef I don't know. No, actually just says that the school committee shall appoint a secretary who shall keep a permanent record book in which all its votes, orders, and proceedings shall be recorded, which some other school
committees across the the Commonwealth, they elect their own secretary, and it's not actually the superintendent, Miss Wilson. So, historically, it's been our superintendent who's done this. And I think the language is just speaking
and with clarity as to whose role the the person is responsible for this. M I'm just looking at both. I'm like what happened? All right, Mr. Colmore. Uh that's that's
in the superintendent's contract that his duties and responsibility is that he shall keep all the minutes and or his designate shall keep all the minutes of of the
meeting. We we as a board didn't change it. We just hire we just hired who we wanted with the approval of the
superintendent who will be our secretary. All right. All those in favor I I. Any opposed? Abstensions. So moved. Make a motion to approve BDFA as a second and final reading effective July
1st, 2025. Second discussion, Miss Wilson. No, there's just this is a a hot topic uh because this is uh required that every school have a school council and they meet on a regular basis. Um, and so
we're just uh putting this in in into place. Any further discussion? All right. All those in favor? I I Any oppose? Abstensions? So moved.
Make a motion to approve BIBA school committee conferences, convention, workshops as a second and final reading effective July 1st, 2025. Second discussion seeing none. All those in
favor? I I any opposed? Abstensions. So moved. And that concludes that session of the agenda. Are you good, Irene? And I just wanted to highlight an announcement from the mayor. May 13,
city council chambers budget hearing. He wanted us state of the of the city. So 6 pm city council chambers May 13th. He wants us to be there. So May, yes. 6 6 p.m.
May 13. Nope, I will. Miss Wilson, I am double booked that day and I'm not able to be there. I I have a previous work related um commitment.
It happens. Mr. make a motion to executive to enter executive session for the purposes of um negotiations uh because an open session may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the committee for the purposes of interim superintendent
second and not coming back not coming back Mr. Will chair just go back to um announcements um for a second. I just have to make an announcement that to my colleagues and the residents of Ward
Five that I will not be seeking another term this year on um on the board um just for personal reasons and I um look forward to um continuing the work this
year. We have a lot of work to do and I'm committed to that and um I just be happy to meet with anyone from four to five that wants to pull papers and discuss the position. So, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Willahing. And thank you
for your service to our committee and don't go too [Laughter] far, right? Make a motion to enter executive session for the purposes of negotiations uh with
non-un contract uh for the interim superintendent and not return to open session. Seconded by Miss Tensley Williams. Roll call vote, please. Starting with Miss Lef. Miss Leave. Yes. Miss Lebron Martinez.
Uh Miss Tensey Williams. C. Mr. Isaza. Yes. Mr. Willahan. Yes. Camore. Yes. Miss Wilson. Yes. Dr. Mr. Rivera Cologne. Yes. Mr. Sheen.