Hi, welcome to the school committee meeting. What is today? Uh >> July 24th >> 2025 and we are going to call the meeting to order. Want to rise for the pledge of >> allegiance. Algiance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Right. So, we have public comment if anybody is here.
Did you give public comment? Anyone? No. >> No public comment. >> Wonderful. Well, I'd like to start um our meeting off tonight and recognize that it's superintendent Bishop's first meeting and welcome. And we're so glad to have you here as superintendent in his report in a little bit. He's going
to tell us what he's been up to for the almost month he has been superintendent, but we're really excited. Does anybody else have any recognitions that they would >> Okay, so we will jump right into that. Superintendent. >> Great. Thank you. And um recognizing you
for being named chair in your first meeting. Congratulations. Uh so I'm excited for my first superintendent report on July 24th, 2025. It's actually my 15-year wedding anniversary as well. My wife putting up with me for that many years. So um and I put together a brief
presentation that Mr. abroad is going to put up on the screen here. That includes some highlights from the summer, an overview of my early entry planning, a few building updates and events, and what I'm calling the top of the hill spotlight to recognize students and staff that make our school special. So, with it with that, I'll jump right in.
Uh, first, some highlights. I want to congratulate Mattie Recupo, a recent high school graduate who was named the 2024 25 Gatorade Massachusetts girls soccer player of the year, great, >> which is an incredible honor. Uh, Maddie led the Hillers to a 162-2 record this
past season, scoring 28 goals and 15 assists. And she'll be continuing her academic and athletic career at Princeton this fall. So, we wish her the best of luck. >> Next, I'm excited to introduce our new school committee representative, rising
seniors Ryan Click and Ella Schneider. >> Um, Ryan and Ella are both involved in nearly every aspect of high school life, from academics to extracurriculars to leadership roles. I'm looking forward to having the two of them as part of this committee. Um, not only because they're great kids, but also because we can
ensure that we always have consistency of a voice here from the students. So, we're going to make sure that we have a schedule that at least one of them will be here at each one of our meetings. Uh, next, um, eighth grader Hopington's eighth grader De Ya Meta uh, captured his first state championship recently with a win in the middle school division
of the Barry S. Spiegel Chess Cup. He'll be headed to HHS in a few weeks and hopefully, fingers crossed, he plays on our chess club. And I also want to thank CPAC for hosting a ice cream social on Saturday, July 12th at Marathon School. Uh it was a wonderful event that brought
families together in an inclusive, friendly, and welcoming setting. Uh and we're grateful to CPAC for their continued efforts to support connection and community. And also thank you to Hapio for providing the ice cream. So next, transitioning into my early entry planning. Uh as part of my
transition into the role, I've been focusing mostly on listening and learning. Over the past few weeks, I've begun my listening tour meeting with staff, families, community members, and even some students to hear about their experience, their hopes, their concerns, uh, and their ideas for the future of HPS. Uh, these early conversations have
certainly been extremely helpful for me to help understand the strengths and the challenges, the opportunities that lie ahead. Uh, and I look forward to sharing these key themes and finding as the work continues throughout the course of the year. I've had the opportunity also with Mr. abroad to attend the superintendent conference in MASHP last week which was
a great networking opportunity. Uh we both learned a lot and took a lot away from that experience. Uh while I was there I was able to meet with my NISP my new superintendent induction program cohort. There are 27 of us uh in the state of Massachusetts >> and I also uh met my superintendent
mentor Jane Trembley. She's a retired superintendent from Lynfield. She seems wonderful. We've had two meetings already. So I'm looking forward to our work together. And speaking of that work, at our next meeting, I'll be presenting the formal entry planning process to all of you for your your eyes and your approval. So, I'm excited about
that. It's a little bit about the why, the how, and the what we're going to be doing over the course of the year. Uh, and the motto that we're kind of all going into it are the 27 of us across the street is this idea of think big, start small, and learn fast. And I'm certainly learning fast. I can tell you that now. Uh, and so in terms of some
general updates, um, throughout the course of the year, I would like to do kind of updates on each building, uh, between school committee meetings so everybody knows what's going on. Obviously, this time of year, there's not a ton happening in the summer before our next meeting, but we do have a few. Uh, I'll start at Elmwood. Uh, they have an open house in
a scavenger hunt on August 12th. Uh, it'll be two different sessions, one from 8:30 to 11:00, one from 1:30 to 4:00. uh families and students have the opportunity to do a self-guided tour to meet the administrators, the counselors, and we're hoping to see as many Elwood families as possible. Next, Hopkins has
their family information night on the 13th of August at 7 p.m. over Google Meet. Uh also, uh the building, and I know we're going to talk a little bit about construction shortly, but is on schedule to open for staff only on the 19th. Uh on that date, it'll no longer
be considered a construction site, but construction activities will be wrapping up. So, we'll need to be flexible and work together. Uh we'll have an update at our next school committee meeting about the project and what school will look like uh for our opening day for our Hopkins our Hopkins kiddos and staff uh from our construction partners. And then
the last >> tremendous amount of work going on there this summer. >> Yeah. Tremendous. Yeah. Yeah. I was at a meeting this morning uh toward the building a few times. So, um there's a lot of work going on. Everybody seems to be um doing what they need to be doing. So, we're moving in the right direction, which is great. Um, and then the last update is kind of a pre-K to 12 across
the district. Uh, we had nearly 80 educators uh participate in a two-day professional development following the last day of school that was run by Mr. Lebr uh entitled Breaking Barriers. Uh, the presenter was Dr. Claudia Raldi from Leslie University. Uh, in the PD focused on the intersectionality of dy
identified students, those who have needs as well as English language learners. Uh the initial feedback that we got from staff was very positive and we look forward to continuing that work ahead together. And we'll wrap up with the top of the hill spotlight. I want to take a moment
uh to talk a little bit about a group that is outstanding. Um you know, this is going to be something I plan to bring to my superintendent reports each week. Uh and tonight I'm highlighting the extended year program ESY. It's been an incredible to see the level of engagement, care, support provided to the students over the summer. A big
thank you to Ashley Smurless and our entire ESY staff for their dedication and hard work. They've created a meaningful and joyful experience for our students. You can see some photos there. We have yoga in the top left. We have some mindfulness in the bottom, bowling as well as a birthday party. And our
next slide, it shows the staff at both the high school and marathon school. That's where the ESY programs are. So, uh, we can't thank them enough for for all of their efforts. And I also wanted to put in a plug that we have our ESY traditional family social event on July 30th at 11:00 at Marathon School where
there'll be fun activities, pizza, and ice cream for all. So looking forward to that. And just on a personal note, I want to thank everyone from central office, uh, Miss Rothermick, Mr. Labro, the rest of the central office families, staff, community members for their support and kindness as I transitioned into this role. Um, I appreciate the
grace that people have showed me. Uh, and I'm excited to get to work. So, thank you. And that's the superintendent's report. >> Sounds great. Thank you. Any questions? Yeah. >> Could you reply uh repeat the date and time for the um ESY ending party?
>> Yes, I certainly can. It is the 30th, so next Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at Marathon School. I think it runs from 11 to 12:30. >> Great. >> Great. Great start there. Awesome. I also around the sidelines of town I have
heard that you have had a great uh entry and that people have been pleased to to see you there. So >> that's great. Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Feels like a while since we've been at the table here together. >> It has on this side of the table. >> It's a different view. >> Is it now?
>> A little different view. All right. If we have no other questions, we'll move on. Um school committee chair report. I have warrant number 25 121S. Number 25 1212 12S 122S sorry 25 123S 25 124S 25
125S 25 126S 2527S 25 128S and they're included in they've been improved and they're included in your folder. I've done a lot of signing and getting uh prepared to do signing was better.
>> Rubber stamp. >> I do not have a rubber stamp, but I now >> think I figured out digital signing. >> Oh, yeah. >> Which is very exciting. Welcome, Mr. Masters. >> Good. >> Sorry, I'm late. >> The traffic out there is horrible. >> We assigned you some extra things while
you were gone. >> J's going to take everything you assigned to me. Uh, I'm just smiling because going through the the warrants is a little bit of a tongue twister. >> Yes, it is a little bit of a tongue. I'm trying to get really quick. I got really quick when we were doing the um, you
know, breaking into executive session for the superintendent search because we had to do that every night. So, >> we'll see. >> All right. Laza reports. Anybody been doing anything this summer? >> Were you on the last one? >> I was on the last. I can talk about the
last um elementary school building committee meeting. Um if you did not read the news in the independent, we are 32,000 under >> million. I thought it was million >> million. Sorry. Million dollars. Sorry. Under budget. I've been working on budgets all day at work. >> Oo.
>> Um so that is great news. This it's a I mean we haven't broken ground yet. So we are reserving that right that this is not exactly um going to decrease but um
Mr. Eye will talk in a little bit about how excited he is about this project and how well it is going and how our bids are coming in. Um so that has been really exciting news. >> That's great. >> That was a big big news out. All right,
Mrs. Rothch. Thank you. Um, so next what we're going to talk about are energy conservation projects for Hopington High School and I'd like to invite Jess Farber of CMTA
up to the table. Um, so we put out an RFQ for these energy management service companies, uh, basically for comprehensive performance-based energy conservation
projects for the high school. If you look at the 10-year capital plan, most of that HVAC line really is the high school for the coming years. Um, Marathon's in good shape. Charleswood obviously is taking over Elmwood.
Hopkins is um obviously underway and so what you have left is the middle school and the high school. So this is really focused right now at the high school. Um so we had five companies uh turn in a
bid and through the um our group we met and also had uh interviews and CMTA was selected um as our vendor. And as a reminder this is uh
to further address uh the net zero resolution that was adopted by the town of Hopkin. And that reads, just as a reminder to the community, the town of Hopington commits to a net zero goal of 2045 to eliminate or offset all carbon
emissions, including municipal, commercial, and residential sources with intermediate milestones of 50% emissions by 2030 and 75% emissions by 2037. So, this is an effort to walk that path.
Um and again I introduced Jess Farber u with CMTA. CMTA has been the designer on both the Hopkins and Charleswood um in terms of these efforts in both of those buildings. So
>> yeah, thanks further. >> Yeah, I can add a little bit to that. I suppose I'm not prepared for a presentation, but I'm happy to give you a quick summary of what we're going to be doing. So, we've been a uh enjoyed doing the work in the community for the past couple of years with the schools um with Charleswood and with Hopkins. And
so, we want to continue that relationship with you and um try to improve these buildings because we know there's a lot of unmet need in the middle school and in the high school. And and we're going to help get as much done as we can through finding energy savings within those buildings to help offset and pay for this. So, it's a
guaranteed energy savings contract. uh we'll identify our first step is really to do an overall assessment of the buildings and come up with some ideas of what we think we can do, what some costs would be to develop a project. So that's what ultimately the first step will be. So boots on the ground will occur, you
know, a week after next or so is what we're thinking before school gets back in session, what we're hoping we can do. It makes sense. So, we're going to try to do that and then we'll come back and be presenting to you much more details of what we found and what we think some options would be um in those two buildings to to work on the goals that
Susan mentioned as well as a big part of what we're looking at. How can we look to reduce fossil fuel emissions in those two buildings? The high school probably has the biggest need and has the biggest target. So, that's probably the one we will start and then but we will come ultimately come up with a comprehensive plan for all of it and figure out what
we can afford to do in the beginning. so you have a master plan to work against over a period of time. So that's really kind of our our first steps that we'll do um in the beginning. So we'll be moving fast. I think we want to be able to present um when when did you I forgot
what you even told me in September >> for >> probably in September. We have a meeting tomorrow to really Yeah. >> begin the whole process. >> So we'll start tomorrow. We'll set some of those. But I'll be I'm sure I'll be back here presenting u more details as we go. I just live in Medfield, so I'm close by. Um, so it's easy for me to get
over here. So, but if you have any questions, I can try to answer them now or talk later. However, however you like. >> No, I think it would be great if um we invite our friends from the sustainable green committee to come to that meeting as well. I think they'd be interested. >> Yes. When we present our findings and
and you know that path forward that we discuss, uh, sustainable green would be very interested. Yes. So, we're going to do testing to figure out what the emissions are, how we can be greener,
>> correct? >> And that will yield cost savings or potentially cost savings, and what's the process to get those answers cost? And where where's that budget come from? >> So, the there's a couple ways that it'll be looked at. you we'll have to first evaluate what the targets are in the
building and where we see um opportunities for reduction and then we'll evaluate what we think those savings will be and that's what we'll present. So I don't have any of those answers yet because we haven't done that part yet but we know that um in the high school for example um it's you're
heavily reliant on on fossil fuel boilers to heat the building. So, we're going to be looking at ways we can reduce I don't think we're going to eliminate completely in this first phase, but how we can reduce those numbers to work towards the town's targets. >> And as a reminder, in the in the 10-year
capital plan, all those boiler replacements are coming due. So, >> right, so we alternative, you know, replace in kind, >> right? So, we marry together. Um, that's why we look at age of life and putting that plan together of a timeline to we
don't want to, you know, I'm not going to tell you to go tear something out that's new. That doesn't make it's not fiscally responsible to tear out something just to tear it out to reduce emissions. We need to be in a pragmatic way from zero to the end. And so that's we'll we'll develop what that overall plan is and identify those targets once
we know more. >> Does that help? >> Where where does the budget come for for all of it? it's come out of the school comm or the school budget or >> uh it would most likely be capital requests >> and so then we will have you know the projects we will be presenting will have
energy savings with them so a portion of that could be funded through the savings that come out of that energy there's probably not I'm speculating but there's probably not a path where it's 100% that way I just don't know that we can find that much savings to pay for these are pretty significant capital upgrades that are required but it'll help offset that
on top of that um the utility incentives are pretty substantial with mass save. So, we've already contacted them and have a meeting set up. We're going to be set meeting them next week to find out what some potential re incentives would be. You still have to make the investment, but we could receive those incentives back which you could use then
to pay down the debt with some of that as well. >> Formal or the presentation you make, there'll be data on what the carbon emissions currently are and what other like schools are. >> Okay. Yes, sir. Yeah. We we'll be looking at the utility bills to
determine what the emissions are from the fossil fuel from the natural gas and we can we can evaluate we'll know that for >> um it's a pretty easy calculation to do. So we'll be able to do that pretty quick. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> It's my understanding that our HVAC things are in our three-year capital plan as well. Yeah.
>> Right. >> Great. >> Any other questions? Okay. Thank you. Appreciate the opportunity. I'll go back to my seat now. Thank you. You're welcome. Bang. >> Did you have something Nancy that you want to say?
>> Are we looking to make a motion here? >> Yes. >> Oh, okay. That wasn't in my agenda. Sorry. Oh, yes, it is. Okay. >> Does somebody want to make a motion? >> I move to approve the assistant superintendent of finance to execute a contract with CMTA for energy
conservation project for the Hopkin High School. >> Second. >> Great. I'll approve. I >> I >> any Okay. Thank you. >> All right. My understanding is we have
Mr. Everly on Zoom. >> You have me as well as um Carly Spinx. So Carly has served as your project manager for the Hopkins project for much of the um project from the very inception and so she will actually be providing tonight's update.
>> Wonderful. Thank you. >> Yeah, nice to meet everybody. Um so tonight we are seeking approval for amendment number six which is for Perkins Eastman for additional design, engineering and construction administration services related to the
loop road construction. Um back in May, the school committee had initially approved $150,000 for this scope. Um we've used that to authorize Perkins Eastman to start their work on the loop road and they've had the survey team out there this week um actively surveying.
They have the another crew scheduled for asphalt cores for the um beginning of August. Um so that was what we considered phase one. Um when finalizing their proposals, the consultants identified some challenges that they had had when going through the concom
approval process um on both Hopkins and Charleswood. And because of that, they are looking for some allowances to cover um additional risk as part of that scope. Um Chris and I have reviewed those costs and we do feel that they're appropriate given the history of the
Concom approval. Um, so the amendment tonight we're requesting approval for phase two in the amount of $69,300 which would cover the additional permitting and construction admin administration costs for the consultants. Um, this is um a budget
number. So um this number could ultimately decrease if during the process we find that we don't need to do as much as um they're thinking they might have to with concom. it's not going to exceed the 69,000. Um so the total of phase one which you already
approved and two equals um just over $217,000. Um I will my last note is um if during the planning board approval and concom um approval reviews they determined that we need to uh include additional storm
water management as part of the project. there would be an additional fee to do that scope of uh roughly $33,000 for the civil engineer. Um that's something that we won't know until we go through the process and if it is required we would come back for a separate approval. Um
but for tonight we're just looking for approval for the 69,300. Um does anyone have any questions at all? >> You mentioned Charleswood as well. That was just your experience in concom with Charleswood. It has nothing to do with
this. >> So, >> yeah. Yes. Um, as as um I know uh Chris McMasters and um Kayla know um Concom was uh challenging for Charleswood. We ended up there twice um for both the
road and the school, but also for Hopkins. um you have a very diligent concom in the town of Hopkington and they want to make sure that um they protect the waterways which is their charge um but it can make it somewhat unpredictable when you're doing something that is essentially a
replacement kind. So, um certain like the example I would give you is that they wanted us to thoroughly study um before allowing drainage off the road to continue as it is whether or not we could contain them with catch basins. And it took providing um a alternate
that showed eight catch basins over 400 ft that would still partially flood the road in a heavy storm before they were willing to accept that moving on. And from a civil engineering perspective, that's a lot of extra design and drafting that they have to do as part of
their design work. Um, and so they're less they're I think it's fair of them to protect themselves in this case. >> Great. Thank you. Understood. Would somebody like to make a motion or have any other questions
before we make a motion? >> Question. >> I move Oh, you have a question? I move to approve amendment six for Perkins Eastman of Design and Engineering cost to repave the loop road of $69,300 and to authorize Susan Rothermeck to approve the final proposals.
>> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Great. Thank you. >> All right. Construction update. >> I'm also going to defer this one to Carly. Carly is also the author of your
monthly report on the Hopkins project every month and so I'll help her out with the Charleswood stuff but she is fully capable of covering Hopkins. >> Thanks Chris. Um for this update do you have the slides that you're clicking through or
>> we have a report it looks like. >> Okay. So I can just give you some um some highle information u running through that. So, um, for safety, we have, at the time we issued that report, we hadn't had any incidents. There was a minor incident this week, um, where they
were doing some, um, site prep on the loop road and, um, one of the, um, the site crew, um, had a piece of concrete that came that was um, demoed. It it rolled and hit him in the leg a little
bit. Um, and um, he ended up needing to go to the hospital. Um we're monitoring that situation, but from conversation with Commodore today, he is doing better. Um so that's the only update to that item there. Um budget and
schedulewise. So uh the project remains on budget. Um and we have no major schedule concerns at this time. Um we are in really good shape to be able to turn over the school um as promised on the 19th for the teachers to start
coming back in there. Um um and then um next next slide if you could. Thank you. Um so this just gives you this slide and the next slide just really give you an overview of the work that is progressing right now. Um it's
really all hands on deck everywhere around the site. Um uh they are currently working on the loop road and the north parking lot. um setting new granite curb and prepping the parking lot and the road for binder and asphalt.
Um in the new addition, they're continuing work there. We have all the exterior brick up uh at this point and the windows are installed. Um in the coming slides, you'll see a couple pictures of that. It's really coming along nicely. um their main focus right
now is on the renovation of the existing building and getting that turned over um for um August 19th. Um so they're working really diligently in there and everything is going very smoothly. Um we have all of our um owner procured
vendors like the access point installation team, projectors, phones, everyone's lined up to be there the weeks of um August 11th and completed by the 18th. So that's all going smoothly. Um and the big items for next month are
completing the renovation work. Um moving all of the items back into the classrooms and turning over the building to the school. um commissioning the new rooftop equipment that we had set uh setting the generator in place and also getting permanent power for the new
addition which is a big milestone. Um next slide please. >> Thank you. Uh for change orders, we had one change order that was approved um in the month of July. Um that was for $257,000. The majority of that was for um the
rental cost of the temporary kitchen. Um, next slide, please. Thank you. Um, and then for budget wise, there's no um no updates to our OPM contract value or the architect right
now. Um, this will be updated to reflect amendments five and six for the loop road items that I just ran through. Um, but that's it for Hopkins. Did anyone have any questions before Christmas to Charleswood? >> No. questions. >> We're good. Thank you.
>> Great. Thank you. >> And Charles, what I'll be really quick. Um the the general contractor is mobilized on site while we're continuing to work through um concom issues, but we have um begun tree clearing. Um it's tough to see from the road, but you can
definitely see that some actions have been taken. They've already abated the house and are preparing to get permission to demo it. Um overall it's been um a fast start and rate has shown themselves to be very aggressive and so we continue to um review what they're
providing in their plan and um offer comments. I think over the next couple of months we'll uh get in a more um more of a rhythm as we get established on site. There is not currently a trailer on site, but we do have on a daily basis a Vertex employee who surveys the site
and is available if any neighbors have questions. I think the only other thing that I would say is in discussions with um your new superintendent, Evan Bishop, um today uh we'll be back to see you on the 14th with information about what parents can expect as they either return
to Hopkins or begin at Hopkins with their children in the fall um in the start of the school year. And so we hope to um see you then and share some of the exciting uh progress that um we will be at as we finish one of the first of very
two challenging summers um in the renovation of that school. >> Thank you very much. We appreciate it. >> There's no other questions. Um we appreciate your time and we look forward to seeing you in August. Thank you. >> Thank you everyone.
>> Thank you. >> All right. Federal grant funding report. Mr. Lebron. >> All right. >> Like to note that it's 659 and we're already halfway through. >> Oh, that just feels like you >> I know. I was going to say the superintendent and I might have have a goal.
>> I will. >> Oh, he wouldn't do that. >> You're telling us we're early. Just >> I know. I'm sorry. All right. I haven't even started and you're asking me to get move like I think I'm I think I'm screen mirroring. There we go. All right. Well,
good evening everyone. Uh it's good to see everyone. Uh Summer's treating everyone well. I can tell. Um tonight, what I'd like to do is update you on the state of federal entitlement grants as it relates to the Hopkins Public Schools. Uh to do so, I'm going to try to as quickly as possible give you a
little federal entitlement grant 101. um and then give you some raw numbers and talk about some of the potential impacts um that we may or may not uh feel uh should the should there be a an ongoing freeze in the release of federal entitlement grant money. So um to start
a little bit of background um entitlement grants are approved by Congress through the Every Student Succeeds Act which was signed into law in 2015. uh it's officially known as ESSA and it replaced the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002. Now, all of these
acts are are um are successor acts of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that was signed uh into law in 1965. So, it is through these that there are 22 federal programs that that release
funding. They're grouped under nine titles. So, you hear title one, title two, title three. So there are nine titles and Hopington is eligible for four of them. So we'll talk we'll talk just about what those are and what those impacts look like. But first a little bit of background. If you've been
following the news, you might have heard some of these things. Some of these things have been headlines. Some of these things you actually had to dig a little bit deeper to to know the story on. So I'll go through them point by point. So on June 30th, the United States Department of Education informed states that there was going to be an immediate pause in the funding
distribution and the simultaneous programmatic review by the feds of various entitlement grant programs. Now the reason that that's of note is um for decades we have assumed and it has played out that we have re the states have received allocations on or before
July 1st. And so June 30th this year, states were caught off guard when they were told you're not actually going to be getting those those dollar figures uh the next day. So the um federal government has has announced this and has identified that
the the energy behind this is working to um assure alignment with current executive orders and uh the administrative priorities of the presidential administration. So a couple things to note. Title One funds were distributed on July 1st.
Title One is not impacted by any of this. So if you hear conversation or if I talk about entitlement grant funding or freezes tonight, Title One is not impacted. Title One funds are already um those dollars have already been received by the states. Massachusetts uh being one of them. Massachusetts right now is
working to identify the allocations that all of the different uh local educational authorities, otherwise known as school districts, are going to uh to be receiving. So, we of course are sitting eagerly by our our emails waiting for it to ding with that with that dollar amount.
Um, in addition to title one, the two special education grants, so IDEIDA or the individuals with disabilities education act as well as the federal special education and early childhood entitlement grant are not impacted. Those grants are not impacted. Same thing, those monies have already been
released to the states and states are are working right now on those allocations. Now, grant funding for summer and afterchool programs, this was in the news last week. That money was reviewed, those programs were reviewed, and that money was released on July 18th. I tell you that even though it has no impact on
the Hopington public schools because we do not receive funding for those programs, um the bulk of the grants, so the about $5 billion is still currently under review and those are funding dollars that in support programs including English learners, professional development, student academic supports,
migrant services, and adult education. We do not have a time frame on the review or release of those funds. Uh the federal government is allowed, case law tells us that federal the feds are allowed to do a programmatic review at any time. However, um after September
30th, um my my legal eagle research is telling me that after September 30th, that's a date to watch because that's when um states will start to be able to push a little bit more aggressively against the federal government because at that point um
>> in layman's terms, yeah, the laws the law is not being compromised. So, um more to come on that. >> So, what are they? So, title one is used for improving basic programs and strengthening core programs for academic um and low achieving students. So, this
is really when we think about reading and writing and math. Title two talks about building up our teacher force, building up the program that we have um to make sure that our students are experiencing an excellent education. Title three is for supplementing programming related to the support of
English learners. And title four is about creating safe, healthy, and supportive, highquality educational learning environments for all students. So with that in mind, how have how is the Hopkins public schools used this money in the past? Really quickly, Title
One has primarily been used for uh supporting the funding for literacy interventionists, otherwise known as as reading tutors. So we have historically had reading tutors in place across the elementary schools as well as one at the middle school. That's the primary use of
our title one funding. Title two is used to support our new teachers largely. So we use that money to fund stipens for our uh existing Hopkinson teachers to support I'm sorry to serve as mentors to our first year teachers coming into the district. We also use this funding to
support mentor training because all the mentors by law need to be trained. Uh we use that money to support new educator orientation and to support our PD day which takes place every November. This year in particular, we've used some of this money to support some book studies so that teachers who wanted to
participate in in professional development outside the school day uh could do that. We could purchase texts and stipen people to do that. Um as well as some targeted professional development at the elementary level as we roll out new elementary science and social studies and civics programs.
Title three has been largely used to support a title three ESOL tutor at at Marathon. Um and Title 4 has been used for a host of things, but most recently we have used them because one of one of Title 4's uh levers is leveraging
technology to support u innovation and learning in our schools. And so most recently we have used that along with our new science program at the elementary school uh to uh invest in a product called the Magiscope um which is not a microscope nor is it magic but it's a great thing that helps students
really uh explore science and support that hands-on approach to to what we're doing. Will you give us a demonstration at some >> next meeting I will have one for each of you? >> Possibly. >> That sounds like not true. >> No, I good good call.
>> I just wonder how it works. That's >> Yeah, it's it's actually a low tech device. Um and that's part of the ma part of the magic of it. >> Therefore, the magic scope. >> There you go. Okay. >> Is there any abracadabra that you say? >> Okay. Excellent. >> So, what do the allocations look like?
So historically since I have um been managing uh funding these are the um allocations that we've got. You can see that there are no dramatic swings from year to year. The the largest one probably was uh well there's two. Title
one uh from FY24 to 25 we jumped up $12,000 in our allocation. Title three um from 24 to 25 decreased significantly. And that is that calculation has to do with the number of English learners that we have in the
district when the allocation is being calculated. >> Interesting. >> So, um, title one, we are awaiting our award for next year. Titles 2, three, and four, uh, those are currently in a federal hold. So, we are the the state doesn't have the the dollar to start thinking about those allocations.
>> So, worst case is we're short 90,000 approximately. >> About >> You you you beat me to it. You beat me to the last slide. Yes. So, if we are um if we are down 47, like let's say if we use this FY25's numbers, uh let's say
we're down 47,000 in title 2, uh 30 uh 36,000 in title 3, 10,000 in title 4. Um we would have to make some conscious decisions about how we're going to make up the difference there. There are some things that we we we have to do under our new uh contract between the uh
school committee and the teachers association. uh we've increased the amount that we pay our uh new teacher mentors. Uh it used to be a stipend of of $500 or $1,000. It's now $1,200. So that's a in right now we have about 25
new educators coming into the district, although there's always those August surprises. So if we conservatively say that there are 25, we're looking at a a guaranteed expense of $30,000. In addition to that, uh we use that money for professional development. So we would have to make some decisions about
that. Possibly the most tangible right now is that again that title three ESOL tutor that we fund that's funded exclusively out of that grant. Uh so if that money is not available there there is not that money to fund that that position uh moving ahead. So I've given
you a lot there is no quiz but I'm happy to to clarify or round out any points that I have shared with you. I don't I don't need any clarification so much, but I think this is really good information and if it could go up uh on the page on the district where the
school committee reports go, >> that might be helpful. >> Community I get a lot of questions about it. >> Okay. Happy to do that. >> That I really appreciate you bringing that in uh because I we have had questions about it and it's of interest
to us as well. So, thank you. >> And there's a lot of chatter across the state. You know, Evan and I just last week were with with folks from across the state and uh this is certainly a question. It's it's an unknown right now because we could get to the point where everything is funded as as it always has
been. Um but we just historically know by now that when what the dollar amounts look like. So we don't have that right now. So we're a little we just have to think >> I mean I would have thought it was a lot more money. >> Sure. >> Um it seems almost like nothing. There
was an article in the Metro West Daily News about Framingham. They're facing several million. Yes. Okay. Yeah. I'm curious. Don't >> we don't have >> qualify is the right word or don't need it. >> Yeah. I mean, the larger the larger the district, the larger the dollar amount, but also the the makeup of the community
is also part of it too. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Great. >> Okay. Thank you very much. That's very helpful. Um, Hopington Education Foundation grants. >> Great. All right. Well, thank you, Mr.
Labrador. Did a great He's been on top of this grant. So, thank you very much for that presentation. Excellent. >> Uh, so I want to start by thanking the Hopping Education Foundation. Uh, I've had the pleasure of working with the HF for many years and and truly appreciate their ongoing support and partnership and dedication to our schools. So, uh,
I'm looking for your approval of the following six HF grants. Uh, I'll start with the the little little ones and work our way up to the big ones. Uh the grant totals around $15,164.30. Uh the first grant is at Marathon School uh titled Takis. It's a provides
professional development for teachers and speech language pathologists to enhance students language comprehension and expression using visual supports in the amount of $4,715.50. Uh moving up to Elmwood, they have two grants through the age gift. Uh first is supporting mental health uh which funds
youth mental health and first aid training for teachers and paraprofessionals to better support students social emotional mental health needs in the amount of $2,449.96. Next at Elmwood is a books for all uh which is purchasing books that promote cultural awareness and inclusion of multilingual students and families
totaling $1,36343. Uh now shifting to the middle school they have two grants. Uh the first is the critical thinking through TQE which supports writing and analytical skill development using thoughts, questions, and epiphanies. Uh it encourages students to reflect deeply, ask meaningful questions, and share insights
while engaging with texts and discussions. And that amount is $2,167. The other middle school is a pollinator garden, which establishes a native plant garden to support local pollinators like bees and butterflies. It will also serve as a hands-on learning space for
students to explore environmental topics. that total is $618.38. And the final grant um I actually had a little bit to do with working with uh D King and Pat O'Brien at the high school, two of our counselors, is the No Social Media November uh digital detox uh which
will promote digital wellness through training for staff and student leaders culminating in a schoolwide digital detox challenge. Uh we're hoping this will not only raise awareness about the impact of social media on mental health, productivity, and well-being, but also encourage students to take a meaningful pledge to refrain from social media for
a month. So, we're excited about that. So, that is in the amount of $3,850. >> Great. And we don't need individual motions on each of these. We can just do it as a block. >> Yes. >> Okay. I move to accept the above listed 2025 Hopkins Education Foundation grants
in the amount of $15,16430. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Great. A huge thank you to the educational foundation who does a lot of work >> wonderful >> on our behalf to fund wonderful programs that and to everyone who donates. I
personally had a friend who ran the marathon for heft this year. So she did a line share of some of this some of this fundraising herself. >> Yeah, their commitment to innovation and excellence continues to make a a big difference at the school. So we really appreciate them.
>> Great. And oh, sorry. >> I've just was going to say they've done some really interesting and uh high quality things for the district. >> Thank you. >> That's amazing. >> All right. Well, while we're on the donation wagon, let's go into project. >> Yeah. I'd also like to thank CPAC for
their support of the Project Shark program. I think we all know that Project Shark is an acronym for CPAC helps aid resources for kids. Uh their partnership and advocacy play a vital role in ensuring all students feel seen, supported, and included. Uh and I'm seeking approval to accept Project Shark
donations for Marathon School in the amount of $386.81. These donations include sensory toys, kinetic sand, wiggle seats, books, among many other things. >> That's great. I move to accept the marathon donations in the amount of $386.81.
>> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Special education reserve fund spending. >> Thank you. Um so as you recall the special education reserve fund was
created at the May 2022 town meeting. Um the special education budget for out of district tuition estimate for both FY25 and 26 will fully expend the fund. Uh to expend the appropriation we need a
majority vote both of the school committee and the select board. Um and as always we would spend the general fund appropriation before we would spend the the reserve fund. Um but I am
looking to have that permission um for both the 25 and 26 for the fund appropriation of a million 94024. >> So what is our impact if we're spending it down to zero? I mean what does that mean?
>> Uh so each year it has been reappropriated. >> Okay. >> Um so we did not spend the full amount. I believe there was about 47,000 that was unspent in a previous year and so at town meeting we only asked for the
difference. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I move to approve I Oh, wrong one. Sorry. >> Um >> I move to approve spending from the special education reserve fund for FY25
and FY26. Second. >> All in favor? I >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> That's great. >> All right. School calendar survey. >> Yes. So, I I wanted to to raise the topic of our school calendar. Uh, as you know, we've continued to receive some
feedback from from families about the length of our school year. Uh, and obviously this isn't a new conversation. We've had calendar committees both in 201819, which I was a part of, uh, in 21-22, and then we most recently sent a survey out in in 2024. Um, I've shared with you a draft of a potential email
that could go out to families to gather some more targeted feedback on their thoughts. Uh, but before moving forward, I I'd appreciate the committee's guidance on how you'd like to approach this next phase, whether it's uh additional engagement, uh, forming another working group or a different direction altogether.
>> I'll start if that's okay. Um, so >> I was actually prior to being on the school committee, um, I was part of a calendar subcommittee that was of the school committee back a long time ago. Uh, and it it brought out a lot of engagement with the community, a lot of
people who had very strong feelings one way or the other, some focus groups, um, survey and whatnot. I know we've done similar, I think, with the following iterations, although I was not on the on the calendar subcommittee for either of those.
Um, I appreciate that we're already thinking about this now before we get to the fall. I My hope personally would be that we do another subcommittee. I know that um not everybody loves subcommittees, but I think it would get us allow us to
get information from people in different areas. Not everybody. Some people filter out the emails, I think, but um to get additional information to have people show up um if they feel moved to talk to potentially invite in
um different people that would have, you know, strong impacts on it. The and I don't know where everybody else is with that. I in terms of the survey, I think because we just did a survey, if we were only going to do a survey again, I don't know how much different data
that would yield, >> but I think also if we're only doing a survey, >> and that's kind of the completeness of what we're doing. I I feel like it's giving the optic that the school committee is going to do um either choice A or choice B depending on the popular vote. Mhm.
>> And that's um while we get emails and other things, it's not an exact science to kind of go by. That would be my >> I do agree. I think we do need to have a committee. >> I think there's there a lot of points of view I I hear from
people who say, you know, gets out so late. We need to do something. Um, and I I guess we as individuals when we hear people talking about we need to encourage those people to come so that people who
think everything getting out so late is a good thing. um I think might help them understand why other people think that and I understand that uh child care and all those things are are difficult
but on the other hand the child care is difficult when the school runs so late um >> difficult in the summer as well >> I would also my hope would be that um we
could kind of target and target's the wrong word But different um groups including like the teachers for example because >> if we go with one thing the teachers may have a very strong feeling because it may create hardships for them or maybe they they have hardships right now under
the existing calendar that that >> should be held out to kind of say okay what happens if then um but also are there other creative ways besides just looking at the holidays that we could accomplish shortening our year not shortening but getting out a little bit earlier
I don't think um I don't think we can we obviously can't start earlier but if we could somehow find as an appreciation of time in there and some of the questions we've gotten from the community have asked about the impact on instruction and I think
there's no better answer to that than our faculty to be able to answer that. >> Yeah. Yeah. I I think I've heard from people too that um we do half days and um they find that sometimes it's like the fall is I think the fall is the
biggest problem because there are so many holidays in there and there's so many times that um they're not getting the same amount of instruction and on a teacher's perspective that's really tough is to have those
breaks and then when you get end of the second semester, it becomes a grind because you're going and going and going and going. >> Is the issue that school runs too deep in the summer or is it multiffactor? Are
there other issues with because it seems like the data and anecdotally >> half the people like it as is. >> Yeah. half want to see it changed and of the half that want to see it changed, they're not a voting block either where it's like, okay, we need to end by this date and take these holidays off, but
don't take those holidays off. >> Yeah. >> Is there a consensus of we just want like we want to be done and not go past June 19th, right? is that kind of anecdotally that's what I've heard like >> with one or two snow days or is it three
snow days or two snow days we push where now you have to come beyond June 19th. >> Yeah. >> Is that >> Mhm. >> And that sometimes pushes into the next week >> pushes into which happened this year. Yeah. I mean that's that's a little bit of the feedback that I've been getting recently just about because other
schools were getting out earlier than we were. So that's what caused the >> Are they putting pressure on you to not have snow days? Is there >> It's already starting already. >> Is there is there an ability on this in the second half of the year to have almost flex schedules that if there's a lot of
snow that there are either holidays or there's ways to be creative with Saturday classes which make teachers go ballistic. >> Chris, your name is going to be all over the news tomorrow.
>> I don't care. I'm just again again I think we're going to half the people will be upset if we change it. It just seems to be from the surveys and just anecdotally half the town is going to be upset one way or the other
>> and if the general consensus is we just want the school year ending sooner so summer vacation doesn't push into that next week. Is there a way if there are certain amount of snow days
that holidays or parts of uh you know I don't even know what holidays are in March, April and May off hand other than April vacation. >> St. Patrick's Day. >> Mhm. >> We don't get we don't get that. >> That's wrong. >> April like April vacation, you know.
>> Go at it. >> I know. I mean, obviously there's some stuff that's contractual with the we'd have to to work out, but you know, I I >> I hear you in terms of the the dynamic of the kind of 50 I wouldn't say I don't know if it's 5050. Yeah, I would have to look at the survey. >> The survey it it did and it was it was
different because there were a number of different questions asked in different ways, but it there was no clear directive from the data that I >> felt when we were looking. >> Yeah, I agree. There was no clear directive. I also felt like some of the questions were leading into each other and and murky and I feel like the
>> design of the survey was unclear. Um so I think we ended up with unclear results >> from an unclear survey. Um but it's also it's a challenging topic. It's difficult. I have said before I would feel uncomfortable removing any one
group's holidays and not remove like >> that doesn't sit comfortably with me. um to say, you know, this group deserves their religious celebrant days off and this other group does not. Um so that's
sticky. >> Are other school districts getting out earlier because they just observe federal holidays? >> It it it depends. It's it depends on the district. Um but you know, the the district that I live in is going to a calendar similar to what we have this
past year, but prior to that, it was we didn't have the same amount of holidays in that town. So, I think it's just depending on like the values and the thoughts of the school committee and the community and what we feel is best. Um, but that's why in the email that I shared with you, Jamie, I I I I agree
with you in terms of picking and choosing is a really um I don't know if that's the the best course of action in terms of the holiday. >> There'll be no problems with that. >> Yeah. I do feel what we have now it's I think it reflects the community but if we're going to go in a different direction I almost feel like it has to be just the federal holidays
>> which includes important dates. I just don't know where the middle is. But >> and I know we've talked about having a March break but then obviously >> yeah if those are so important >> then perhaps >> one of the weeks off could be given up.
um which would make a lot also I I think it would be really nice if we did a screening committee but we had people who came on to it with a strong perspective so that it could really be
discussed and perhaps even broadcast their discussions on where they're coming from. The the other thing that was done during one iteration of the calendar and I I can't remember which one was that there were religious leaders locally who came
in to speak about >> some some things can be celebrated potentially in a in I don't like the idea of trying to choose one or the other but some when you look at like Christmas Eve for example and um and it happens to be a
holiday I celebrate um But I is it possible that there are things like that where there could be a half day because Christmas is also a holiday and or um you know Good Friday. Do the services tend to be in the afternoon or at a
certain point that an early release would allow for that or I you know I'm not throwing those out specifically but >> maybe guidance beyond you're smiling because you know people are getting really mad just >> I'm just thinking about your email inbox. Yeah. >> Would
thinking about Good Friday. I >> tend to think services are in the morning. >> I was thinking they're like 4 p.m. 4 p.m. >> I think that there's I believe going back um I believe there are stations of the cross scheduled at different times of day >> but different times multiple times.
>> Um and absolutely there may be some folks who are going to multiple sessions of stations of the cross. Um, but even when I was, you know, a very practicing Catholic, the only thing we did on Good Friday was in the evening, like a 400 p.m., 5:00 p.m. >> Oh, you were lucky. My mother made us
sit at the kitchen table and listen to all the stuff broadcast from our church. >> Maybe that was a Pennsylvania, New Jersey difference. I don't know. >> I know it was a Virginia Irish jing. >> Oh, okay. >> Anyway, I I don't want to go too deep into the weeds. I can feel like I've opened up a big conversation, but it
might be something that would be of interest to the a subcommittee to then present some different options to us and a preferred option potentially would be my >> there's value to having everyone's voice heard in an equal way. >> Yeah.
>> Um even though we cannot necessarily honor every single person's voice. >> That makes sense. >> Why couldn't there people are going to yell at us either way? probably the fact understandably we would be happy to hear their voice. >> I mean I do think there there we have
gotten more emails about this topic than any other topic >> this year. >> This year? Yes. Uh it might we might just need time for people to voice what they feel about this publicly. >> Yeah.
>> Was this an odd year? Do in some years do some of these holidays fall on weekends and was this just a bad year? And that's what's prompted all the push back. >> I think this this coming school year is a particularly >> impacted year.
>> Okay. >> Which we discussed. Yeah. >> Yeah. When we talked about the school calendar, >> would there be a way to >> you have >> I don't know. I'm sure there there are certain individuals who are more vocal
and have a clearer picture of their their thoughts and what there be any way that that subcommittee could be, you know, uh equaled out that all opinions got kind of represented by a strong
>> I I think we should have detailed membership and it I actually thought to propose a similar membership that to what we had in the superintendent the search committee. >> I Yes, I like a lot of staff, we had
cultural organization. I think it's would be helpful if we had in terms of like a diverse group of like so not all people that celebrate like some people who maybe don't celebrate any religious holidays some people who
celebrate >> you know different different faith backgrounds that would help >> even out the discussion. Uh-huh. >> Would we be able to in in in selection um ask like what is your point of view on
this? What what opinion are you representing? >> I think that gets tricky. >> Well, sure. >> I'm just curious, is there a consensus among staff and faculty? >> I think obviously I know that was brought up. It's an important group to
include in what direction we go with the calendar. >> Do they all like how it is now? Do they want to chop it in half? Get up early. Do they or is it as >> um is it as diverse as the people in town? >> People like it, half don't or a third
don't care or >> I think one of the things that Mr. Bishop highlights appropriately is that um you know most of our professionals don't live in Hopington and many of them have children in neighboring communities. So for us to to not stay with that that pattern and that cadence
is problematic. Um you know there are a couple things in our contract that that like the Friday before Labor Day is a contractual no school day. >> Um that that's something that's just part of our agreement >> and the teachers are not interested in discussing that. >> We try. So, so that so that's an examp
that's that's one example there. You know, Chris to your earlier point, you know, um you know, the communities that are well out well before Junth tend to follow a very standard Judeo-Christian calendar and um you know, Hopington Hopkins population isn't that right as
whole. So, I think that's there's a little bit of a difference there. also of I I think importance would be if if there's a particular time when we know we're not going to have enough teachers because it's something that a lot of people would be and I think
that's how we ended up having school on having no school on Christmas Eve. >> When my oldest kids were young there was a half day then and I think there was um I think what happened was there were too many people who teachers out for sub coverage. So right now we are probably
as inclusive as you can get and the downside of that is we just may go a little bit later than other districts by a day or two in the summer. >> And it's not all districts that many of our um districts around us got out the
same day as we did. >> Right. But to your point, there there aren't other holidays out there that would I think would it's not I don't think we'd be expanding our days off. >> I mean, so we're being super inclusive, >> which is great. >> Yep. >> Mhm. >> We maybe get out a little bit later than
some, but the same time as a bunch. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Is it I mean, I guess the question is, do you want to This calendar we have now, we haven't had for that long. Do you want to see how it goes for a few years before you bring everybody back
together? Because it is a pretty quick turnaround. I know we were getting a lot of emails, but >> to Chris's point, is it something we want to form a working group or see how things kind of progress? >> We know. So, this coming year it's not great as a lot of these holidays fall on
school days. The last day of school this year, >> there's more that fall in school on weekdays. >> Yeah, I'm looking at the So, we'd be talking about the 26 27th school year anyway. Looking at that calendar, that last day of school looks like the already June 22nd. >> June 22nd
>> without any snow days or >> without without any snow days. >> Well, you're definitely >> That's a Monday. >> It's a Monday. >> Yeah, >> no. Actually, it's a Tuesday. It's a Tuesday. It's a Tuesday. >> Yeah. But that year, he's definitely going to get pressure for no school days from every group except the seniors who
don't have to make it up. >> Seniors love it. >> Absolutely. I I think there's value to discussing for the year after. I mean, obviously this calendar, this school year calendar is set. Um, >> but in having some discussion
>> if there I I know it's only a couple of days that it feels like we'd be able to to try to when you look at even the holidays, but I feel like because we said we would do this back when we had the conversation about the calendar, if we
don't have it, I I feel like we've potentially >> created a you know a group >> and is the goal to just hear people's opinions and kind of record them and be able to discuss them because I think understanding our goal is our goal that we we take the focus group and we say
okay we're going to change everything >> or is it we're going to bring back the feedback weigh it discuss it potentially use the feedback to craft a survey that doesn't have as murky results I think figuring figuring out like what the end point is.
>> Almost like a listening tour, too. >> Yeah, that's what I was thinking. >> Yeah, I it would be nice if they would maybe what we would need to do is have one of our meetings and that that would basically be it. If
you want to talk to us about the calendar and your ideas, come and we'll listen. That way other if broadcast the the the community has the opportunity to listen also. >> And I'll just throw this in there. I'm
looking at the calendar for 2627 the 22nd being the last day. If we kept the calendar the same if we went to just let's just say just federal holidays it would actually be the 15th we'd get out. So it's just a week earlier just based on >> five days. Yeah. >> So just something to think about. And I
think the next year after that, uh, 27 28 looks like it would only be about a 3 or 4 day difference. So just >> for, you know, putting it out there. >> All right. >> So, are we leaning towards a listening
session or a committee? Somebody want to make a motion for >> I mean I like the listening session idea. I think that provides more opportunity for people to speak. Um I I can see the benefit of a subcommittee to
gather opinions and help develop or maybe we develop or Mr. Why don't we have the listening session and then if we then need a committee? >> Yeah. Maybe >> I like Jamie's idea of >> let's let's hear from everyone. >> Yeah. Yeah. Cuz like they have they want
like they need to share it with us. We want to hear it. I >> I would propose doing two separate listening sessions. One by Zoom in a different time. >> Yeah. day than what we would do for school committee and then setting aside maybe an hour in a school committee
>> meeting to to have it inclusive of one of our meetings. >> Uh yeah, because I think would the Zoom be some people are more comfortable that way. >> Yeah. It would be >> and childare an issue >> and it would be recorded,
>> right? I mean that would be my assumption. We don't have to record it if it's just for people to be able to see it. Exactly. Or they missed it and they can can listen in. Um, and if push came to shove, if we still
weren't sure, we would probably have had a preview of the people who have strong arguments, thoughtful arguments, and a strong voice that could become what do they call that
now? stakeholders >> and also people with strong feelings who maybe aren't as loud always that in I don't mean loud is a bad word but I mean there are sometimes people who are >> need more invitation in and encouragement to
>> absolutely >> be you know where we are >> y >> um >> all right do we want to set some dates for this um I'm looking at our school committee schedule when we might be able to take
time. It looks like October 9th there might be some opportunity at that. Do we think that that gives us enough time? We generally approved the calendar January, Februaryish. Is that my recollection? >> I'd have to go back and take a look. I'm
not entirely sure the the time frame of >> It's not on my schedule. laid out many things for me. But >> would it be the listening tour um first before that or >> do do you think we could do is it too aggressive to try to do September 18th
to >> Yeah, I think doing it earlier is >> you think earlier is better >> before we start budget? >> Well, yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I don't know what's on the school improvement. school improvement plans
from the different buildings. So, >> I mean, I assume once the school year gets started, things start getting piled up and maybe earlier in the school year >> might be able to find an hour to >> do you know if there are any um it feels like often we're getting into
the back to school nights. >> Yeah. >> Is that for those? Are they early? >> How was that? That was kind of one of my thoughts too and that we could advertise these at the back to school. >> But I was each principal stated, "Oh, hey, come to the listen the school committee listening session about the
calendar on >> I was thinking maybe if we could do >> the the Zoom one though, if we're not going to do the in one at our school committee meeting in >> September, typically they're earlier in the month if we wanted to push out to
in the past end of September. >> Yeah. In the past, we've had good response on Sunday evenings. >> Okay. Yeah. >> By Zoom. >> Uh and then do the 9th council meeting. Um it would be I think um really
effective if we could get um the independent to do write up a separate story about what we're trying to do that would encourage people to get here and if they feel strongly
>> we really want to hear them. >> Sounds good. Um maybe we can >> maybe a press but well or maybe a press release because it it >> the school stuff is typically covered by Susan. >> Okay. >> Um but maybe a press release that could be released to multiple
um local outlets to make sure that um we're getting the word out. >> The 21st or the 28th. So if we do on the 18th um then following it up on the a few days later >> you mean >> are we are we
>> I thought we were going to do >> the 9th for the school committee meeting and do the zoom one earlier than that 21st in the zoom >> yeah the 21st September 21st >> is that >> okay and then um calendar listening all right
do we have to >> time motion >> do we need a motion for this. >> All right. How >> Oh, I mean we could. Is there a time? >> Is there a time that we're going to do that? >> Historically worked well on Sunday evenings. >> Yeah, >> we've done seven in the past, but you
know, I >> since school committees at seven usually anyway, we will stick with that time. Sounds good. Somebody want to put that into a motion? >> Do we need a motion of that? >> We don't know, but we're going to do it anyway.
>> Okay. I move in order to gather information for the calendar discussion that we release a uh do a press release to multiple outlets which outlines what we're trying to do
and shares the dates we're thought about that we have um October 9th will be um the school committee will be devoted to hearing public opinion on uh the calendar.
Oh, no. Yeah. And September 21st will be uh Sunday evening, there will be a Zoom meeting at 700 p.m. where people can express their thoughts. Can I make a suggestion for an amendment just in case there's a problem after this meeting
with the actual dates that we've instead of specifying the dates say that we're going to do two listening sessions, one by Zoom, one in person. >> That's great. >> Okay. And George, I can figure out how to type it up. >> Sounds good.
>> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I Great. Thank you. All right, we're reviewing liaison roles. There's a lot of them. Um,
so starting does everybody have their chart available? Starting media spokesperson, chair and superintendent. we have any changes about that? >> It it's historically really always been
the chair because the chair often has >> direct communication about things that can't be discussed as an entire group >> like because of the quorum issues like if something happened on a you know one day you might get the
have a conversation with Mr. Bishop but we wouldn't be able to call everybody together. >> I've experienced that. >> Yes. And the same with le leg legislator liaison.
Um I do think it might be I don't know if now is the time to bring up it would be great to um come together to are we allowed to do that come together to meet with our legislature legislators >> if it's a public >> if it's a public hosted meeting. Maybe
we'll talk about that at a later date. >> All right. or have two people do it at a time. >> Yeah. Or Yeah, that's it too. Um budget advisory group >> also usually the chair >> also the chair
>> it. Yes, it has. Although just >> if there are things that feel like as the chair you don't want to take on the budget advisory group has historically was always the chair of the school committee, the select board and appropriations. The last couple of
years, the select board has designated somebody else. >> Okay. >> I'm happy with it being you. >> Okay. >> But >> I think that is >> appropriations >> fine right now. >> Yeah. Chris might be good in that. >> The what? >> Chris might be good on that.
>> Appropriations is a different board. >> Okay. >> He's just he's the first person to talk about message. Yes. Yes. >> Unless you have a dying watch. >> I remember up updates and stuff that go back and forth between the towns.
>> I guarantee you I would do a good job. >> I know you would, Matt. >> I don't need the job, but I would do a good job. >> I'm just trying to help you feel included. >> Yeah, I appreciate that. >> All right. Policy review working group. >> We currently have
>> I want to stay >> and Susan. Great. I think that sounds wonderful. um executive session minutes. Oh, Jamie's been doing that. Jamie's really good at that. >> I don't mind keeping it, but I would also not mind if someone else really
wanted to. Um I know Geette has been very patient with me in my um formatting. >> Well, you >> I feel like you excel at that. I would never be able to equal that. >> Me neither. >> Thank you. Unless >> I would stink at that.
>> Yes, but wait a minute. Don't you use AI to dig? >> I don't know why we don't do that anyways, but I've been shocked. >> I would really like to find out from you what to do because I have a couple meetings I'd like to super >> do that with. >> It's incredible. >> We don't want to embrace that.
>> Well, maybe maybe Jamie will embrace AI. We'll leave that up to her. >> But she's doing a great job. I think that was and I'm I'm I'm thinking that I don't hear anybody like jumping at having it because I won't do it again. >> You used it.
>> I I've done it and it was not my strongest suit. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Well, Jamie will keep it then I'll write it. >> School committee procedures working group. Does this can this be combined with the policy review group?
Is this >> I feel like that would make sense if there's procedures about policies that comes up then >> and often times we have with Carol we would go to the procedures too check those out. >> Yeah. So if there's something that needs >> Yeah.
>> Was there a group doing that last year? I don't think so. Remember I feel it all came together comes up it can just be folded in because >> so we can put in Susan and Jamie for that. And I'd like to have a note that Evan will be bringing cinnamon rolls if he wants us to come on.
>> Evan's bringing cinnamon rolls. Okay, sounds good. >> Ethan, >> we'll second that. >> It's nice to meet you sometimes, too. >> All right. Irvine Torado Committee. >> Toadaro. >> Toaro. >> Do you like that, Chris?
>> I do a great job at it. >> Two hours a year worthwhile. >> I don't think it was even two year hours. I think it was maybe the 30 seconds we discussed. >> No one's done it better than me. >> But I did that in the past, too. I would say I was as stellar at the show. >> See what I hear.
>> Um I I think we should go with Chris. I think he's That sounds really good. >> Absolutely. >> You'd be fools not to. >> Okay. The educational collaborative voting member. I think at our last meeting we did um
appoint Evan as our spokesperson right for that. >> Yeah. >> Okay. A marathon fund committee that Susan you do this >> I never heard anything from them. >> Okay. I I would >> I assume it's got to be meetings. I
don't know why >> they tend to be later in the year. >> I think you'd be great. Are you keeping it or are you trying to pass it along to Nancy? >> I mean, NY's list has gotten really short. >> I I I literally have nothing.
>> She's thirsty for >> Okay, let's pass on time. >> That sounds good. Um, the elementary school building committee. Chris really enjoys that. Correct. >> I do a great job in it.
I have >> when you're there. >> I have had people stop me on the sidewalk and say, "What a great person you are on that committee." >> Not surprised. >> Really? >> Not surprised at all. >> Um,
>> it might be a lot for you to keep it, Kyla. >> Yeah, >> I know. Yeah. >> Yeah. I could pass it along. >> I'm sure you're also >> I only to be truthful, I usually only go when Chris is unable to go. >> Well, that makes sense. It's reasonable. But somebody else would be interested. >> And those are on Mondays.
>> Tuesdays. >> They're on Tuesdays. >> I would be willing to pick that up if there's not somebody. You're the voting member is the voting. >> I'd be willing to >> No big deal. >> To be in Chris's shadow there. >> That's great.
>> Sounds good. Turf field committee. >> Dominate that one, too. >> Okay. Be better if it were an ice committee, right? >> It's true. But >> we don't have any ice and >> Yeah, we're working on it. Flood the turf.
>> Okay. >> All right. Um, youth commission Susan. >> I thought Jamie was on there. >> I remember doing that last year. Um, and there were some there were some nights that were just really tricky with my kids schedules. Um, so I wouldn't mind
>> if if anyone else would like to do it just so that I'm not >> I'll go back and do it. I was going to say that is that like a four o'clock in the afternoon 6:30 on like Wednesdays sometimes and then I believe at least one soccer
practice that I will be attending goes until like 6:15. >> Yeah, I can do that one. >> Already getting some of those f sports schedules. It's too early to talk about fall. >> All right, planning board. Um I cannot do that. Oh, you have
>> conf family conflict event. >> Yes. Um family conflict and then bedtime conflict. Okay. Also since >> who who was doing planning board? >> Chris. >> Chris. >> Oh, well he does a great job on it, right? >> It's phenomenal. >> He's the best.
>> The caveat with the planning board is historically the person who is liaison does not have to go in person for all of the meetings because they're not always discussing things that are >> school related. >> School related. It's kind of being in touch with the chair of the committee
and um >> feels like a Nancy position. >> Uhhuh. Except I think they meet on Mondays which is not a good >> stay on that. >> I just I also have heard that you're the best liaison that we've ever had. >> Exactly.
>> True. Yeah, it's >> it's true. >> All right. Uh appropriation committee >> that is typically the chair. Okay, I will pick that up and select board. >> Also, typically
>> I just go when needed. >> Yeah, it's it, you know, >> it's usually budget season, right? >> Well, it's Yeah, it's it's not even so much the going, which is sometimes definitely important to do. It's the communication with the chair and kind of
following along with what's going on and >> making sure that we're aware if there's something that we should be that okay if our attendance is requested or would be beneficial to us or them or >> the town. >> That sounds good. Okay.
>> And capital improvements. That is also typically the chair. Yeah. And that's typically really just um >> when we have capital it >> it towards the end of the >> Okay. CPAC Susan does a amazing job at CPAC
and I'm not always been available. >> I would like to continue that. >> Yes. I am happy to assist in any way, but I am not always available for the Monday morning meetings and >> I'm available. >> Yeah, >> unfortunately. I loved them when I could
come and then I got a standing meeting put on my calendar. All right. Hop Hopkin organized for prevention. >> That's the afternoon one, I think. Right. >> I never was told about this meeting. I >> did they meet? >> I >> They do meet. Yeah, they do meet. That's
the four o'clock meeting that Nancy was referencing. on Tuesday. >> Oh, >> is anybody interested in this? >> I obviously did not work. >> They meet at 4:00 on Tuesdays in your office. >> No, they meet um I want to say in town hall.
>> Town Hall. >> Yep. >> And I'd pick that up. That would be great. Thank you. >> Thank you, Susan. >> 4:00 on Tuesdays. Okay. town hall. All right. >> Freedom Team. >> So, the Freedom Team does not actually
have an official liaison anymore. >> Okay. We don't have an official liaison. It's certainly a beneficial thing if people are able to, >> but but it definitively was not me last year. >> Okay. >> I have been doing sustainable green. Um,
again, this is a conflict. It's on Mon. They meet on Monday nights and I work on Monday evenings. >> Me too. I have been in contact with the chair. >> I Yeah, like I run into >> 6 something p.m. >> I run into Jeff constantly. Um
>> I keep in contact >> same night as planning board. >> Um >> the same Monday or a different Monday. >> It's only once a month. >> Okay. Mondays. >> I could pick that up. >> And they meet virtually and in person. >> And if it's a time that I can't, I can
just touch base with the chair to get any information we need. and ELPAC. >> Nancy, I know you said you enjoyed that in the past. I only got one meeting and couldn't go to the event last year. Um, so I don't know if you would want to >> I would love to
>> jump back in. I know that that was something you really enjoyed. >> Yeah, thank you. >> And it was lovely. I just only had one thing. >> That sounds great. Well, thank you everyone for those assignments.
>> Who's doing the planning board? Um, >> Chris. >> Chris. Okay. >> Because that's right. He has an award for that. >> For as being the best. >> Yeah. A trophy. I I heard they were giving them a trophy. >> They should.
>> All right. Items by consensus. >> Yeah. >> Oh, I recommend that the school committee approve the items by consensus as listed in your agenda. >> I move to approve items by consensus. >> Second.
>> All in favor? I >> then we're all set. Um would anybody like a motion to adjurnn? >> I move to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I I >> Woohoo. at 7:56.