Perfect. Okay, it is six o'clock, so I'm going to call this meeting of the Kingston School Committee to order with roll call. Uh, Jennifer Crouchin >> here, Jesse Keith >> here, >> Sheila Vaughn here, Jeannie Coleman >> here, and I am here. >> This meeting is being recorded. Anyone
intending to make an audio or video recording of this meeting should notify the chair at this time. Okay, seeing none, do we have any visitors this evening? >> Um, >> yeah, now would be good because we don't
have teachers further on our agenda. >> So, go now. >> Yeah, >> perfect. >> Oh, yeah. Please. Yes. Please make sure the green light is on the microphone. >> Resolution. I'm going to keep you on a hawk mic all night. >> Oh, you don't you sure you want to hear that?
>> All right. So, there's a push. Okay. Hi, I'm uh Stephanie Ne. >> It should be green. Oh, >> hi. I'm Stephanie Neans and I am second grade teacher at KEES
and um happy new year. Happy New Year. Um, so, um, I'm here to say that, um, we're here. Um, we're all the kids were really tired today, [laughter]
>> including my class was very mellow. Um but we just started off our new year um doing like uh new procedures and I mean reviewing procedures and um and then starting right into the our
academic curriculum and our New Year's resolutions and what goals we want to achieve for the new year. >> Great. Awesome. >> Great year. >> Well, welcome back. >> All right. Thank you. You too. >> Thank you. All right. >> God bless her. My second grader was
definitely My second grader was definitely not ready to go back. >> Okay. Uh, school committee correspondents. We have not had any since last month. PTO report. Um, I do not see Barbara. I don't know if anybody has anything. I know they had their
wrapping booth at the mall in December that seemed like it was pretty successful. >> It was busy. I don't know about how it turned out. >> Well, we will we'll find out next month. And the breakfast with Santa was Oh, no. Not breakfast with Santa. The holiday
event celebration was awesome. >> The Winterfest was awesome. By the way, I I volunteered and that was pretty darn amazing. So, I give it up to them. It was definitely great at KIS this year. I don't know if we talk about, but just to let you know, it was great at KISS and I thought it was a really great event.
>> That's awesome. That's really good to hear. All right. Okay, next we have our consent agenda which I am going to ask if we could just remove the minutes from December 1st just because there were some typos but otherwise if there is a motion to approve the consent agenda.
>> Motion to approve the consent agenda absent the minutes from December 1st 2025. >> You have a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I I >> Okay. And then you must have got the there's Karen Rener. >> Yes. And there were just a few spelling typos uh within the minutes from
December 1st which have been provided to our secretary Sue. So I if anybody wants me to read them all I can. Otherwise if someone wants to make a motion to approve the minutes just as amended the spelling. >> Okay. I'll make a motion to uh as
amended. >> Second. All in favor? >> I >> I >> super. All right. New business. in your folder. You guys all have a copy of the proposed 2026 2027 school calendar.
Dr. P. So, thank you. Um, please take a look at the the calendar. Uh, it includes uh inservice days starting on August 31st and September [snorts] 1st and then the first day of school for students on September 2nd. You'll notice
that our inservice days during the school year take place on uh September 1st for state elections that will help facilitate um overcrowding at KES in particular and then uh November
3rd in service day elections again. Um so se several of our schools throughout our districts uh serve as um polling and election places. So this is why we've scheduled them a little bit differently this year and that's why those dates tend to change. Everything else is for
the most part uh the same as last year or about the same. Uh we try to um schedule things as closely to how they were done last year if possible. If in fact we like how they're going and if they're not then we propose a a substantive change to you. You'll notice
that the last day of school is uh predicted to be June 17th, but we've also worked in five snow days, which would bring us to June 25th, which would be the last day of school, including five snow days. On the back of the calendar, you'll see
information about no school announcements, early release days, and the tenative close of school with notes about half days um for the tenative last days of schools and the contacts which would be updated um as we uh have
changes. So, for example, when this was put in the packet, um we had not had a contract with our new director of finance and operation who will be with us in March of 2026. So, that will be
updated um upon uh Sarah's retirement. Other than that, um I'm looking for any questions and your vote of support for this calendar. We would need all of our committees to approve the calendar before it became an official calendar. >> One question. I think this is new, but
I'm not 100%. I see all the dates for the back to school open house and curriculum nights. >> That is that new this year? >> We've had them in the past. We have them earlier than usual this year. We >> Oh, okay. I just don't remember seeing the calendar. >> And we do our best so that we try not to
book other things, >> right, >> on the same night. It gets a little bit complicated, especially at the high school level with sports, but we do our best to try to keep >> Sure. >> Uh, >> that's helpful to have >> similar events on different people can plan accordingly. >> Agreed. Um, if I can just point out that
Tuesday prior to the Wednesday prior to Labor Day is actually typically not a day that we would have been back in school anyway. So, that works out really well because the kids aren't losing a day of school for that inservice day. That's great. And if I'm not [snorts] mistaken, that's why there's also one on February 22nd proposed, which is the
Monday following February break, which is great. That always helps for anyone that wants to get >> the day in scheme weekend. So, um, thank you, Dr. Proof, for reminding everyone that it's not official until it's been approved by all four school committees. I've had a
couple people asking about the start of the school year since we last met. So, >> does anyone want to make a motion to approve the calendar as presented? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> All in favor? >> I >> I
>> Excellent. Thank you very much. >> Good way to start the new year, too. >> Yes. >> All right. Um, next up is our regionalization study update, which we still have not met since December. >> Nope. Um we have meeting on January
[snorts] 21st so we will have some kind of update in February. Okay. Administration reports. Dr. Bubble or actually um yeah Jake do you want to Okay. Changing up a little this month.
>> Okay. Hi Mr. G. I'm here. Dr. Wila couldn't make it. So [clears throat] [laughter] um we have an update for our outdoor classroom. Um I've been spearheading this with our committee. So um we have purchases pending um with a few
companies for outdoor seating. So we um purchased enough tables to support two classrooms. They're like circular. I think they're like called polywood. So they're weather resistant. Um and we do have handicap accessible ones as well. Uh we have a wind sock now. So that's
very exciting. So that's going up on a 10-ft pole so kids can see the direction of the wind. Um you know about our weather station? >> Yes. Walter, can I interrupt? >> Walter. Yes, it is Walter. I was hoping for I was hoping for brainstorm, but Walter's good. I like that. Um, we're
ordering um see-through planter boxes for the spring. So, it's like the kids can see the roots through the soil and um a great experience for them. Um, we are also working with some KF members for a grant through kids gardening. Um,
they can fund um schools that uh to support youth gardening projects. So hoping we get that grant as well because that can help with a lot of the raised beds and the horicultural stuff we want to do. Um HMH we had a consultant come and do two model math lessons per grade and our teachers observed. They come
back on the 14th and we'll observe our teachers this time. Uh our teachers have shown great dedication to implementing this and they're trying their best to do so with great fidelity. Hill for Literacy is coming uh starting this week. They're giving us five days of literacy coaching.
we were finally able to hire our title one position. She starts this week. >> Yay. >> Very good. So, we're hoping um to uh have this come into play for grade two and help fill gap some gaps, support our MTSS process, and increase student achievement. And lastly, multicultural
night is coming up on the 22nd. Um we started this a couple years ago. This is a very uh awesome event for the community. So far we have countries of Panama, Brazil, Italy, Sweden, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Australia, and Romania.
>> So, so far so good. Yeah. Last year we had 10 countries. Right now, I think we're at eight or nine. So, um, and some new ones. Australia is new this year, so that's good. >> That is cool. That's awesome. >> Okay. >> A lot of good things happening. [snorts] >> Yeah. >> Um, Mr. Galooi, can you just share that the funding source for the outdoor
classroom came from the support of the Kingston Foundation for Education? Yeah, KF question. >> Yes, KF is is the funds we get from Boosteron. Um KF uh supports funding those projects. So, we're using a majority of those funds for the outdoor
classroom we used for the pavilion. So, they're continuing to support us in basically outfitting that whole area um each year with with different uh enrichment opportunities for kids. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, >> that's great. [snorts] >> All right.
>> Okay. And I did shave my head. in case anyone was wondering, like maybe he looks different. I don't know. I think I did sign in as a guest potentially. I'm not sure. [laughter] So, I was like, I've never asked to sign in, but I didn't know if it was a new policy. I haven't been here in a while. Um, [laughter] but I think I I lost most
of my hair that year. We had like 200 5-year-olds. [laughter] So, after that, I was just like, let's just shave it all off. So, >> okay. Thank you. >> Um, speaking of which, when does kindergarten enrollment open for K? [snorts] >> I don't know that. Technically, it's you can always enroll, but it's something we'll talk about dates this week at our
meeting. >> Okay. >> Excellent. >> Thank you. >> Oh my gosh. >> Okay. [laughter] Thank you. >> And I'm obviously not going to be able to follow that one. >> Um, so I have the update for KIS. Um, if
you were there, if anyone went to the band and music concert, it was phenomenal. I heard it was absolutely amazing. We had Sandy Brighten, who is the long-term sub right now. Um, and I just heard amazing things about it. Um, HMH will be coming to KISS on the 13th
and I believe that they're going to be observing um, the teachers will observe model lessons from HMH and I it might be certain grade levels this time. Um, fifth and sixth grade student council is collecting hats, gloves, and scarf drive starting next week. So, that's exciting.
Um, grade three did a make and take. So, parents came in to volunteer and make a craft with their student. Um, we have some field trips coming up. So sixth grade is heading to Gillette uh this Thursday actually. Uh grade three is going to Plymouth Pexic on 14th 15th and grade five is going to Well Museum in
February. So those are the updates I have. Any questions? >> Thank you very much. >> To turn it off and then we have Sarah with the financial report. Her final financial report for us. She'll be I'll
be here next month, too. >> She'll be here. >> Yes. >> Okay. Just kidding. Her second to final. [clears throat] >> I do not have anything in addition to what was in the consent agenda. >> Excellent. No news is good news. Dr. Clifford. >> Okay. I just have a few updates, a few
mid to midyear updates. Uh the first one is the K through2 ELA steering committee um has been meeting all fall and met on December 2nd. The last meeting was December 2nd. During that meeting, they unpacked standards by reviewing data and discussing observations with the
committee. Also, they received updates about progress towards the district's literacy plan and core program reviews. Both the elementary and middle school curriculum councils will conduct field tests of the LA core program starting in January and proceeding until April. We'll present the findings in May to the
school committee. Future meetings for this group are on February 24th and April 28th. The K through2 math steering committee um is in its second year and conducted meetings this fall and they last met on December 9th. They were able to review the implementation of both HMH
and illustrative math. They were also able to check in regarding plans for professional development for next year. Um the HMH activity timeline which I've included includes visits to each of the schools from HMH consultants. will continue this winter as we just uh discussed and in the process of adding
some spring dates and dates for ongoing professional development and coaching for next school year too. Um the K through2 science, technology, and engineering steering committee um will begin their curriculum review in September of 26. And I also added the
spring 2026 MCCAST testing windows below for grades three through eight ELA math, science, technology, engineering, and civics. those are on um my my memo. And then the grade 10 ELA mathematics dates are also on there too. And the principles will be sending out reminders
to families um of the windows for MCCAST that are um that we have. And so those are just some quick updates on everything curriculum wise. Thank you. >> That's great. Thank you. >> Any questions for Dr. Clifford? Okay. All right. Dr. P. Thank you for
your support of the calendar and I will keep you updated as the other committees um review and um examine the calendar. The budget presentation, we have no updates. Um we hope to have updates for you by the February meeting with potentially more information from the
state and we're going to be meeting with the administrative review team this Thursday at 5:00 pm and at that time we'll be reviewing some of the shared costs and contracts related to that. So at the joint meeting also that's typically when uh the silver lake committee and the joint committee of the
elementary schools uh formally vote their shared cost budget which will also have implications for Kingston. >> Okay. >> But that will be after we meet in February. >> That date has not been it's either the April date or it has not been set yet
for >> for Union 31. >> Union 31 I think is February 25th. Sounds familiar, but >> it does. >> February 26th is the joint school committee. >> Thank you. >> February before you retire. There we go. It's my birthday.
>> And it's your birthday. >> Oh, which is why that's right before I retire. [laughter] >> February 26. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> April. >> All right. And then we have subcommittee reports admin review. As Dr. Pru just
said, uh we are meeting on Thursday at 5 o'clock. Um Pilgrim Area Collaborative. Sheila, do you have any updates? >> Yeah, I believe I we we met on December 4th. We didn't So, we're not meeting in January. We're going to meet in February. And really, um, a few things to note is that Becky now sends us a
review of actually what we actually talked about, which is amazing. If every other committee could just do this and give us a little review of what we talked about, so she took notes and goes, "Okay, here's what we talked about to give it to your school committee." So, I love that. So, the surplus, she we talked about that. Giving back the
money. I believe we've already uh talked about that before. We updated a ton of policies um because we're going through the same thing that that the school is going through. And then um we they we we talked about the MASC conference, how
awesome it was. And then um Boston 25 News had a lot of great segments on special education and um ACTUP pack was actually um spotlighted which is pretty awesome. Um and then there was some bids for the new playground which was super
fun. Um so good times. So we will not meet this month. We'll meet um in February. >> Great. >> And I'm the chair. >> Thank you. [clears throat] [snorts] Okay. Uh, Union 31, we just
confirmed the February >> February 26 will be the joint meeting and vote um most likely vote of the shared cost. And um we did meet in December briefly, all of the committees met to approve the short overlap for the incoming business director with Sarah
prior to Sarah's um retirement. And um it was a very successful meeting and I believe it was very well attended. So appreciate everyone getting on for that. So great. Excellent. Thank you. Negotiations. Um we do have a meeting set up with the KTA for later in the
month and will be setting something up with um the support staff soon. Budget advisory. We do not have any updates. Facility over >> sorry back to budget advisory. Um our February meeting is the public budget hearing. So we welcome all to come out
and um advocate for any of the things they'd like to see included in the budget. Um and just a reminder that all of the budget presentations from December are available on the SLRSD website um to be reviewed what our um level service looks like, level funded
and a two and a half looks like. Yes. >> Very important. >> Thank you. Appreciate that. Facility oversight. I don't believe we have any facility updates. Um policy. Oh, we are need to do a or wave a second
reading for the KBE policy about the relations with parent booster organizations which I believe was the one relating to the 501c3 status. >> Okay. Does anybody want to make a motion to >> I will make a motion that we wave the second um reading of policy KBE.
>> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> Okay. policy is or second motion to adopt it. Okay. Somebody else like to make a motion to adopt the policy. >> I'll make a po motion to adopt policy
KBE. >> Second. >> Excellent. All in favor? >> I >> I. >> Great. Thank you very much. And technology. We do not have any technology updates. Other matters unforeseen at time of posting. Is there anything anybody
needed to bring to the committee? No. Okay. Well, in that case, for our fastest meeting ever. >> Oh my god. Motion to adjurnn. >> Yes. If anyone would like to make a [snorts] motion to adjourn this evening, >> just with those dates to remember. >> Yes. Dates to remember. Um there's no
school on January 19th for Martin Luther King Day. And our next meeting, which is the budget hearing, is February 2nd here at 6 p.m. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> There second. >> Second. >> All right. Roll call vote. Jennifer Pouchin >> here. Yes.
>> So, yes, [laughter] >> Jessica. >> Yes. >> She >> Yes. >> Genie Coleman. >> Yes. And I am a Yes. Awesome. Thank you very much, everybody. >> All right. >> That was I know, right?