[Music] Jean Fox >> here. >> Carolyn Go here. >> Sher Barrett here. >> Robin Clark. >> Derek Gracia here. >> Steve Owens here. >> Laura Ramston >> here. Wilson >> here. >> Okay. Recording the meeting. We have
Lake Cam and Leah. Okay, that's good. Pledge of allegiance. Would you join me, please? >> I aliance 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. >> Anyone here for public participation? >> Um, minutes. We want to zip through this agenda. >> Approve those. Thank you. I have a motion. Do I have And the These are the February 7. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Thank you. >> We have a second. Yes. >> Second. >> Now I do. Any discussion? >> Do we need to reference the joint meeting with at all? >> I'm sorry. >> This was the joint meeting with the towns. We need to reference that they
were present. >> I don't think so. They called their own meeting order. Um it wouldn't have been a bad idea to put in much Steve but we met with them but it's kind of covered um the very first item under seven new business for town administrators in
attendance. >> Okay. >> Done. >> All right. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? Motion carries. >> I'll make for a motion for the executive session minutes >> with the >> with the stipulation >> that we hold off
>> that one. Okay. And I have a second. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. Any >> opposed? Any obst? >> Oh, there it is. Thank you. >> Sorry.
>> It's going to take an hour to read. >> Good cherry. >> Good. >> Um, so without further ado, um, let's have our presentation so you can get on the road safely. >> Thank you. So, ARHS had the Voice of Democracy winners present at the
Freetown VSW last week and include Shawn Busy, Cam Silver, and Carly Muner. All gave excellent presentations. Thank you to John Redy's for supporting this competition and Mrs. Barnacote for attending. Auditions for the music festival sponsored by the Southeastern
Mass School Band Masters Association were held February 3rd and the following upon students made the ensemble. Reena Carta, Grace Kudo, Kylie Gracian, Grace Manning, and Kelsey Rio. Congratulations to them. Jack Dupri, Becky Goodfellow,
Reena Carta, Ben Kitchen, Katie Little, Reese Maders, and Emily Porter all participated in the fifth annual high school honor band festival. ARHS held a technical school and military fair. Over 50 10th, 11th, and 12th graders participated. They were able to meet
with reps from various technical as well as military fields. Congrats to all honor students for the second quarter. 4% of the school achieved highest honors, 7% achieved high honors, and 34% achieved honors. The AP chemistry class
with Mrs. Mills toured the MIT nuclear reactor and learned about many research projects that they held hold there. Congratulations to Caitlyn Sardellis for being selected to attend the MIAA annual indoor track and field breakfast. She was also the SEC MVP for track. ARHS
held a Laker Day the Friday before February break. The entire student body and staff attended and we received a citation from the state reps Kol Fiola Ko Oral and Paul Schmidt for the Aonquit's outstanding MCCAST scores as well as the school committee chair Jean
Fox presenting a banner on behalf of the school committee. Also, dude be nice week came to its conclusion with a keynote speaker Ed Gity. Julia Norton, Jordan McClowski, and Kate Sardalis all finished fifth overall for the pentathlon for states. Kate also won
3,15 points which qualified her for nationals. The Laker hockey team had an excellent season but lost to a very good team NSET. Jared Stevens on the hockey team received his 100th point. Jaden Estrada won the division 3 wrestling
championship. And the boys basketball team won the SCC sportsmanship award and is now in the finals. Congrats to Sophie Goer who was named the SEC MVP for basketball. The ARHS spring sports registration is now open for all who are
interested. And following dude be nice week. ARHS is hosting a Red Cross blood drive and is encouraging all eligible students and staff to donate blood. The annual Bristol Community College on the spot admission day was a productive day with 30 grade 12 students meeting with
admissions counselors and were accepted on the spot. There will be another session Thursday, March 29th for interested people. And finally, the class of 2019 will have a college admissions seminar for parents and guardians on Thursday, March 22nd at 6
p.m. in the ARHS lecture hall. >> Nothing going on. >> It was a busy month. >> Thank you so much. You're welcome. >> I really appreciate you covered all the bases very quickly. So now you should probably go and get home. >> Rever, where are you off to tomorrow? >> I'm off to Deca States to participate in
my category. And right now Cam Silva, who is the other rep, is at MASC, which is the Massachusetts Associated Student Council state event and hopefully win gold council. So a lot going on this month. Good luck. Good luck. >> Congratulations and thank you again for
braving the elements inform us. Have a good >> So, one thing I just wanted to highlight on there that maybe put a little bit more bigger font than the superintendent is that sportsmanship award that the entire team made. I had the opportunity to go to the game the other night. Um, >> I heard it was incredible.
>> My kids are still young enough that they like to hang out with their cool dad. At least that's the story I'm going to stick with. They just need a ride really. Um, but the sportsmanship that they displayed was absolutely impressive. both all aspects of the game
before, during, after. Uh not only the students in the stand we should be proud of but the entire team. Uh as a parent seeing the number of young kids in the stands who witnessed that both the shaking of the officials hands, the attention of the national anthem,
everything, it didn't go unnoticed. So uh kudos to the high school athletic department. uh from a parent perspective, thanks to those students and their parents because it was a refreshing to see in spite of everything else going on in the world
that something like this and the sportsman that just played. So really should be highlighted a little bit more than you know I know we just talked about it but a team award is pretty impressive that >> is absolutely impressive and thank you for bringing that up but it's almost the dude be nice week. I'm sorry that was incredible sending all the right
messages wearing the shirts. Um, pretty good stuff to to set the tone and these are trying times in schools. So, as we all know and we've had many discussions over the last couple of weeks about how it's scary out there to see us come together as a community, whether it's in the athletic fields or in the
classrooms, even at pep rallies. Pretty pretty impressive and feel really good about it. So, thank you. Um, school improvement plan updates are going to be postponed to August August. Yeah, right. April 4. April 4th meeting, right?
>> We have a meeting on the 21st, but the next presentations will be on the 4th. There'll be school improvement plans in addition to the public the budget hearing on the 4th. >> Yeah. Yeah. And that's fine. It'll be a lot, but we'll do it. Um, so all business class size, staffing, >> informationational been a couple of
months, so I provide you with an update. If you notice, there's a change of about three students, but it really there's no rhyme or reason to it. If you notice, you'll four four down at swamps at one up at elementary school. But it does even speak to the fact that even during times where you wouldn't think there would be much change, there is change
even from January a couple months out. I just will continue to keep you updated on enrollment. Be happy to answer any specific questions. >> Well, there's movement even at this time. Yeah, >> thank you. Um >> I think it speaks more to families in general.
>> That's what I meant more than anything movement of families. I think they're moving whenever it's they can. >> Um so are you going to do the budget? Yes. So the the 18 budget was provided as a summary piece. FINCOM did have um we did meet um and really the update is
as Mr. Baker has been sharing with you very tight, right? We're going to be certifying some dollar a dollar amount in just a moment which is consistent with the dollar amount that Mr. Baker has been presenting. >> We continue to monitor the circumstances and situation and um you know I'll give you more details as we kind of progress.
We are not you know we are not limiting spending. If something needs to be t taken care of, it's being taken care of and obviously we'll have to take a close look at this. But it, you know, in all likelihood, as Mr. Baker has alluded to in more than one occasion, uh, not only will the money be spent, but we may have
to tap into that $84,000 as well to close out the books this year. So, >> um, okay. Yeah, he's been right on. Yes, Steve, >> related to the budget, anything this last storm that sort of uh hit us uh in an excess? >> Yeah, we have. So, we had a couple of
it's well, when you consider maybe I guess some of our neighbors and some of the devastation that has transpired along the coast and so forth, I guess it doesn't um I guess appeal to to to that extent. But, we did have a a freezer go down at the high school. So, we lost
about $5,000 worth of of food um which will which will take some of the profit from our food service piece that will come right out of that account. Y >> um it was a result of of of power going out and and and a failure there. Um we are hopeful that we can submit
reimbursement for that though based on the emergency situation. Um we'll take a look at it. Um we had a door and a window at at a swamp in a couple of areas where we had some water. Um but in general on the campus in good shape we had an issue with pool as it relates to
pool a pump motor as a result of the power going down. still um and Steve as you know from your from your Laker piece um still don't have that back up and running at this point. So it's off season for our kids but not for groups that are that are using the facility um
taking a look at that. So I would say in general you know all things considered obviously we don't want any difficulties um could have been far worse but we did have a couple of situations the the most dramatic I would say would be the pool damage and the food service >> food we have no backup generators for
those systems. Yeah, we have a um yeah, we have a well, we have generators here. Um it it burnt down with the power went out and so we're trying to figure out what transpired there. The other schools were fine. Um and we're going to see if we can seek some reimbursement as it relates to submitting paperwork as it relates to that piece.
>> Yeah. >> Again, it was a situation was a short time, but obviously with any commodity like that, you really can't chance that. So obviously we >> made that determination. >> You had a generator here and it failed. No, we have a generator. So, we have we have we have emergency generators at the
schools and what happened is it's on a three-phase piece. Um, it only kicked in one phase, so it didn't record that the power had been out. As a result, it had to be manually turned on here. At the other two schools, it did read that. Um, we're trying to clarify how that would
happen, how we can fix that in the future. So, the feed that came in through the high school, and I and I apologize, I don't have the details where you really need your business manager and director facilities to share it. It's not that it wasn't functioning, but it did wasn't reading that power had been out. I actually happened to be here that afternoon as we were waiting for
kids. The two elementary schools kept power. Keep in mind our last two buses, our kids got home at the elementary school on Friday at the last bus left SVS at 6:10 and at at as at swam the
last students were picked up after 6:00 had power. Both of those satellite schools, administrators, principles and all support staff were there. the intermediate school and middle school generators went on. This generator did not go on and I was I was generally concerned quite frankly because it should have the the the background was
we kic manually kicked it on. It wasn't reading that there it wasn't receiving sufficient enough power. So um so it's dark here actually we had kids here and obviously we had administrators here and we kind of addressed the issue. Thankfully it was early enough in the day >> um that that didn't trigger that but
that's the reason it should have functioned properly. See, >> so I guess that the short answer this will be a postmortem of things that didn't work and ways that we can try address in the future. Correct. >> Yeah, we kind of I think I think from a people perspective we handled it well. We had really kind of prepared meaning making sure that office staff were
present. So one of the decisions that we made early on is that any students who went to a home where their children well keep in mind we had roads blocked at that point. So in some instances there weren't people that were at home or they couldn't get home. So the plan was that
we would return any of those students so the bus route can continue and that they would remain there until parents got there. We had circumstance. I had a parent reach out to me and say to literally say to me, "So when I pick up my child now, what do I do? I can't get home."
Um Friday night I offered pizza. I was I mean literally they couldn't get back to their own home. But I mean my concern was obviously making sure the child was with the parent. >> Well, what is that? Why the buses left late then? Yeah. So we had aware of that. Yeah. So we had uh well the buses weren't well the high school piece well
late because yeah by time literally you couldn't get to roads and sections and things because of trees. >> So it was the rrooting and all of that. >> So the good news is with technology today we we can one call bus routes so we can identify groups of students and let parents know because right we all
have been there. At the end of the day, you're wondering what's happening. >> Yeah. Frantic >> and and um administrators. Um so it was a good Tuesday when we had kind of a a debriefing with all the principles. We we talked about the conversation. What did we learn from that experience and what can we do a little bit better um
moving forward? Uh Ken Rosendi said to me, he's been doing this what 31 years. I think I said that 29. He's going to be beat by two. He said it was probably the second worst day that he's experienced. Interestingly, right, not even a snowstorm per se, but the the you know
the road blockage, the power outages, the failure for radios going down in those type of circumstances. So, >> did you have another question? No, it's >> all right. >> End of the day, Kenny called me about 6:20 and when those last kids were home and he called me on my cell uh and said, you know, good news is that what we have
to report is all our kids are home and safe. >> That's the bottom line right there. We can look at procedures and we'll do a postmortem on this one because you know losing stuff like that, not having generators kick in. We can't help all the trees that went down. That was everywhere. But
>> um yeah. Okay. Thank you for that. Um so 6 C the update >> 6C is really going to be through executive session and then out, right? Where the position is that we're going to ask the committee to take action on this. We have already had one uh transition day with what potentially
officially will be the new director. Um she spent some time meeting uh support staff with the understanding that hopefully we were going to take actually when I met with her yesterday, she was in the district for about 3 hours with Mr. Baker and this business staff. I had indicated to her I wasn't sure we were going to have this meeting tonight and
that the formal vote would need to take place probably on the 21st because at the time speaking of weather and circumstances I was considering potentially cancing all after school activities and >> uh so forth but the the update is uh we are progressing and certainly I would ask the committee to take action tonight which we intend to do a little bit later
on. >> Okay. So the END certification we need to vote on. I would request that you vote um >> to approve the closing entries on the attached as presented by Mr. Baker. >> Right. >> So move. >> So second. >> Okay. I have a motion and a second there. Any discussion?
>> Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Any extension? Motion carries. Wash cash. Um new business um budget progress report. >> So Mr. Baker has provided as he did with the regional fincom uh not only the
budget summary but for the 19 an updated assessment sheet there not the easiest to read per se. I get that. Um but what I would would say to you is what I would point to um from a month ago we have made a couple of changes to the assessment moving forward for the public
hearing on April 4th. Um I would first point to line 11. This is not as significant. A couple of adjustments had to be made to the two towns. the bottom line number was the same. There had to be some adjustments in relation to capital debt um in one town compared to
the other. So the bottom line number on the right hand column on line number 11 is is the same. It was an adjustment within the two towns. It was a minor adjustment under $10,000 that needed to be corrected. The other item that I would bring to your attention is the bottom line increase for the assessment
and percentage has not changed, but we have reduced the request for the stabilization fund to $250,000. So that money has been rolled into the operational assessment piece to cover anticipated projected costs in special
education. If you recall, that number in February when I initially presented that was something like 506. If you recall even further my preliminary indicate ideas when I had presented early on in January, I was talking 650, right? I was
looking at the total sped cost that uh that we had in incurred through through um through END last year reduced that amount trying to be conservative to 506. It's now been reduced down to 250. I recognize the committee hasn't taken action. It doesn't change the bottom line.
>> We need to understand the wise because uh I don't understand. >> Yeah. So the so the the reason that that number has been reduced is the attempt was $500,000 to build into stabilization. It is was quite clear as we looked at projected cost in special education that we knew we were going to
need $250,000 of that. So rather than have a budget number of $500,000 where in July we were going to make a request, we built it right into the assessment. So bottom line didn't change the dollar amount for the town. All right. um for the
assessment, but it allowed us to again, if you think of the spirit of of a stabilization fund, it's unanticipated, >> right? >> Costs. We knew that cost. So, we felt it was important that we make that reduction early on. It doesn't it doesn't mean that this committee
couldn't choose to to put more money into that. But if you do that on top of that, obviously, then the assessment becomes greater. My intent here was not to increase the total assessment. I just don't want to keep seeing it wiggle because I mean I need to make an argument for this. >> Yeah. >> Um that's
>> so we shared that at fincom as well. >> I I can give you a fing update but Derrick had his hand. >> Oh, I'm sorry Derek. >> Do you want to go? >> Um >> you may be saying exactly what I'm >> um so regarding the the stabilization fund um
that is a topic of discussion that we are having at the FINCOM level. Um there are some questions that Fred and the administration need to get back to Fincom and and ultimately this committee as well uh as far as where the funding
of that account can come from. Um so there is as far as how the articles are presented at town meeting um one of the representative towns was open to the fact of funding that account not necessarily through operating revenues but through stabilization free cash what
have you. But we we do have some work that we need to get some information from the administration. Um the other question is what amount should we be asking for? Um I am still of the belief that we should be asking for the amount that we had to take out of END to put into that.
>> That's where I was going >> and and uh especially if the funding aspect conversation is up. I think we need to be that's where we need to start from. Um and I think that's the topic of the conversation that needs to come from there. Um so that's one topic area that
from a budget perspective that I think we need to discuss for that. Uh and you know we can open up different people. >> So not to interrupt Steve but just for clarification. So on that second document that total amount is listed there. It's that 648 figure. Sorry >> that was it.
>> Yeah. Um, we we do need to start tackling a lot of these budget items and I have a number of other ones, but I'll ask the chair, do you want to just focus these one at a time or do you want to >> um well, I guess you've answered
partially yarn about the number here. I need I need >> I understand where the administration is coming from and this is this has been a question that I I know I have asked is the monies that were requesting from this funds are not required as of today
for the operating budget coming in in in good faith after looking at some of the budget more he couldn't say >> correct >> correct >> that's why the number was reduced that we were going to need to use some of that money >> right >> are there other questions on E and D before we move on yes shar
END or the special ed? >> I mean special ed. >> Okay, >> that's where I met. Yes, >> mine's a quick one, Derek. Um so in Ellen's report tonight, she reports out that um one of the elementary schools
has um the staff has considered that the district the district should consider creating indistrict programming for those students who demonstrate concerns and so forth. in this budget are we addressing in service in in
>> the staffing number um is has not been increased to reflect that program to date >> has not been >> has not been correct the monies would be available it would be a matter of moving monummies from tuition into staffing if in fact that program was created that's the the so when Ellen references that
and the elementary does have a need it would be the idea of building an additional classroom teacher paraprofessional and as as a result designating students who were considered out of district and bringing those students back. So it so I I that's why I
answered the question in the way I did. Sher, do we have monies available to address those program needs? The answer is yes, but they are currently designated in the area of tuition because those students are projected to be out of school, out of district pending this program.
>> It's why I so I just want to be clear. It's why if you're wondering how I got how do you take a $500,000 number and whittle it down to 250. It's it's trying to be conservative about realizing you need to make sure you have enough money but also projecting what the costs are and that's the type of conversation >> as long as that's done in infin. That's
fine. We just need to kind of hone in on something. here. >> Um, yeah, I want you to come back to me, but I'm going to tell you right now, I'm not in favor of a stabilization fund, and I want to explain further, but I want to let >> other people and I think you'll get the reasoning we get there.
>> Laura, >> um, I just had a question about the programming that Ellen's thinking of. Is she thinking of a subsparate program altogether? So it's not just related service pri providers to >> No, it would be a sub-searate program um that we feel could be addressed through
a teacher and probably some of our professional support. Some of the additional services we could cover through other staffing that we have. >> But this is not to bring children back into our district. >> Yeah. what they're on. >> It would also address potentially some
some some identified students who have yet um to to be placed but potentially could be if we don't don't have the necessary supports in place. So it' be both. >> But again when you create a program you have to have you have to show some capacity >> and the capacity would be where's your
identified students right where you where you getting those students from. Initially they would be from from identified current out of district students. That program would also benefit current students who might not be identified that but that could use some supports at a swamp as you know um
there's a need for that as well. Anybody else on this? Oh, you have more. I'm sorry. >> I'm sure we're all worried here. I mean, we are so we're cutting it so close. Um, if you're going to get into the special
education stabilization, I don't want to see us make some decisions tonight or next week or next month and then come September have to immediately go to the to the stabilization fund. I'd rather see more in the in the budget. quite frankly to make sure that
we can do what obviously our staff is saying, our principles, our administrators and our staff is saying that we need. >> So Derek, maybe this is time for you to launch into why. >> Um, yeah. Well, this goes back to Steve's point about the initial 650,000
in that stabilization fund. >> I totally disagree with that and and I voted to create the fund and approval, just so you know. But I wanted the discussion to continue. And the more I've thought about it over time, the more I've come to the conclusion that why would we take money that once came out of END and put it in a stabilization
fund? Why wouldn't we want the money back in END? So the mechanism for that or partially in my mind is to remove school school choice as an offset to the budget for the towns.
Therefore, school choice flowing through to END. Am I correct, Rick, in that in that um >> ultimately money that would be remaining you'd certify and and right it'd be correct. >> So, that's a mechanism to get money to flow through END rather than create a
stabilization account and have our hands tied. There could be, let me give you an instance. We just heard about END. We just had an event at the schools that could have cost us money. What are the towns going to tell us when we say we have no money? >> Sorry, cut your budget.
>> So, all this discussion that we're having about programming and needs is going to go away because we're just going to continue to whittle at it. Now, I said this at the the the the finance meeting and I'll say it at this table and I mean it. I'll say it publicly. The cameras are here. I believe that we've
been strangled f financially by the towns over the last few years. Keep in mind that the towns have added to their free cash and stabilization accounts during the time when we've been using END to subsidize our budget. The towns have money to support this budget. It
comes down to their will. It's really that simple. The fact is if we go to the towns and say we want to offset END, we already started to cease the queasiness at the FINCOM meeting. It started to get very queasy over there. What do you mean? There's ways that we
can look at this budget creatively to get money to flow through into END. And it's not 650,000 folks. If we reduce that offset, we're not getting 650,000 back. We're getting a piece of the pie back. But I'll take a piece of that pie in END than I'll take 500,000 or 250
right now in that stabilization fund. It's a it's a much more sustainable budget and and I would certainly ask Rick his opinion on that. Feel free. I think you know Rick and Fred's opinion to weigh in on that. My my my opinion,
not to put any words in anyone's mouth. Let me back up a little bit. We're going to go we're going to reduce E and D this year at the end of this year possibly. It looks like >> correct. We're losing a senior finance official,
business district person in this district who's oversaw this budget to have the next budget come in with somebody who hasn't worked in this district. Don't get me wrong, the superintendent's here and I have all the faith in the world in him. But I also don't want to hamstring somebody else
that comes in this district with no money. not not to how is that person going to look when they're the ones that have to say with Rick we got to cut the budget because X Y and Z or we got to make these substantial
costly cuts. I would tell you that I could support going in this direction in the event the towns did couldn't support this. The fact of the matter is I could demonstrate to all of you that the towns can and the town should go along with
reducing down and offsetting the school choice uh fund. My opinion. Um if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer. Rick, >> can you give me your opinion or the the the the committee's opinion on
>> what your position would be having money flowing to END versus a stabilization? I don't disagree with with anything that Derek has shared with you tonight. I've shared that at FinCom. Both Mr. Baker and I would support obviously um the bottom line assessment rolling all that
money into operational which would allow latitude. Again, keep in mind we created the special education stabilization fund in an attempt to get town support if we can keep that bottom line, which you can if you that 250 is coming out of that assessment. So it's not an increase. So if in fact that balance was zero but the
assessment didn't change, we would be in a better situation as a school district. I am just not convinced the towns are there yet to support that. To Derek's point on on the school choice, the only difference in being is that if we take that away that as an offset revenue-wise without some
compensation, we're going to have to increase the assessment. >> Correct. >> Which I would also be supportive of if we could if we gain town support on. Um, I'd like to think, and I'm sure everyone would agree, that we would support the
funding to a special ed stabilization fund if our END wasn't in the position it was. >> Okay. So, but I think people can weigh in there. Um, any other stabilization fund, I would agree. I would not want it because I do want to go into A&D but the
special ed is an area that we're always going to have conversations where funds are not going to be. So I believe that there is a mechanism that we are going to be using these funds in the future for this type of conversation. So this is why I think it's area we should be
funding. The other piece is I'm 99% sure that this is an area that can be funded by the town outside of their operating which is where we were going to get the support from. If we just add it into E and D, that is a much different conversation with the towns and at town
meeting. We saw it last year and I don't think that this body should be in any position to want to go back to that approach to do it, which is why I'm in support of doing the full 648 to the special ed fund and not just having it
flow into END in that case. Um, I just want to clarify the school choice and that could be a separate conversation that we have there. Um, keep in mind school choice funds, we just can't put it into END. We are restricted to what we can spend that on. So, it's not
something that we can go in and go fix a generator or boiler or what have you. So, we are limited into what we can actually spend that and that came out clear from Fred at the FinCom meeting. So, uh, in order to keep it on the focus on the sped piece, that's my opinion on
that. And, uh, >> chime in Jar. Yeah, just a a quick rebuttal. Um, for on Steve's first point, if the towns did agree and had a mechanism outside to fund 650,000, not 250,000, that may be something I'd be
inclined to say, okay, let's look at that. However, let me back up. Creating a stabilization account, in my opinion, we're only kidding ourselves. That's what END is for. That's what END continues to be for. So if END was funded appropriately, there wouldn't be any discussion of a
stabilization fund account because we'd continue to fund END and flow through it. The stabilization account only is going to act as an END account except it's going to be more restrictive >> and it's going to >> I I might not be quite in agreement with that because it's there are plenty of
uncertainties. That's what an END fund is for. But in the sped world, they seem to be escalating at an exponential rate. And I don't care how careful you are with your END. If you get a hit like last year every single year, >> but Gene, it's a funding. What what I'm
saying is you're saying that's a sustainability issue of using END like we have. I'm saying we have to be funded appropriately by the towns and END and then END closes out and and we have that issue and that's a continuing issue. That's a continuing commitment from the towns to do that. The stabilization fund
is going to be a onetime fund and if it gets used, we're going to have to go back and and be part of the assessment again. So, it's the same ultimately you're getting around it a different way. >> Well, let me ask you both. What was the tone and tenor of the meeting, the direction that you felt the towns were
going in? They know we know they have stabilization. They know we know we need more money. Um >> Um I'd love to answer that. I would love for you to >> um I'm not here to worry about what the towns want to do because they're only doing what they feel is in their best interest, not what's in the best
interest of the town. The towns, in my opinion, have no appetite to do anything but reduce their but to reduce their assessment, >> right? That doesn't make us as a school district a very >> although I do Eric you have to agree and both Steve as you know when I had
stepped out my last statement was so I did not hear any objection or opposition to the bottom line assessment and I intentionally said that knowing that there wasn't a vote or action taken but you had both towns represented and there was not objection to the bottom line dollar amount.
>> Let me let me let me let me tag on to that a little bit. I agree with what Rick's saying. The discussion at least when I I left the meeting a little early so I didn't get into that level of the discussion, but Rick's point is that this is my point. If you agree that that's what your assessment is, don't
tell me how the money flows through my budget, >> right? >> That's our problem and us to deal with. I can't have the towns tell us we're going to give you that town 5% increase, let's say. And this is where we want you to put it. The towns have been made have
made it clear in the past that we give you a sum of money that we we can afford and it's up to you to decide what to do with it. That's right. >> I'm sorry. Don't tell me that I'm going to give you 250,000 and you have to put it in the stabilization fund or else I'm not going to fund that budget. What does that tell you?
>> That's a problem for me. Okay, let me back up on Steve's uh point with school choice. Um I lost my train of thought, Steve. um >> where the money can be spent specifically. >> Yeah. Where the money can be spent. So yeah, although it has restrictions, it
frees up other areas because now we're spending money in those areas that we're not spending school choice now. So all that is is moving buckets around. Yeah. >> So you could say how that that works. Our budget is very very large and has a lot of ways that you can fund things. So
you could take that restriction of school choice, apply it, and use other funds in a different manner. Rick, am I correct on that? >> Correct. So >> I mean keep in mind that the entire board when I presented this budget I was trying to do two things. I was trying to balance establish that 2 and a half%
assessment >> right which were the parameters knowing what the town had established. Trying to recoup some money >> for what has been really a flawed or broken system which is we've been take depleting our END. We all know that now. and trying to kind of almost split the
difference of the two, realizing that ideally we would have $648,000 rolled into the assessment and that would give us where we need to be. I wasn't convinced the towns I'm still not convinced the town's ready to support that. So, this was kind of the blend of
that, right? It was kind of the difference of >> Well, we talked about it over a year ago. How are we going to do this? So, yes. >> So, just to clarify, >> I just want to finish my one uh statement to you. Can I just finish to Rick's point right now? And and to Steve's point, I think Steve's right. If
we all had E and D, we would all love to support the stabilization fund. Correct. We haven't in the budgets in the last few 3 to four years haven't shown an ability to gain any END. >> No, we haven't. So for us to create a
stabilization fund to continue to have no END to me is a financial atrocity for this this committee to go down that road. >> And the fact to get and D is really a result of them not supporting us with a >> that's correct. So that's where I mean the strangle hold comes. That's where I
mean we're getting pushed down because >> we're not going to be allowed to do that. So, what I don't want to see is I think this committee, >> just like the towns do themselves, has to take a position that they believe is what's in the best interest of the district.
>> Not of what not not what not what we think we're going to get for money or what we we we get elected to do a job here, right? >> We get elected to do what's in the best interest of the district. We got to balance that with the towns. I agree. But ultimately, our job is to make sure we're providing a top-notch
program. I mean, we all celebrated this year, right? When we had the banner put out in front of the school, we all celebrated. We got to continue that celebration and that to Rick's point, raise the bar. I mean, that's getting a little old, right, Rick? But, I mean, we continue to tout that. But, um, but you
know what? If we're going to do that, to Rick's to Rick's point, and what the one thing he stays on point, the one thing I got to say is if we're going to continue to do that, we need support. >> And we need to stand up for what we're elected to do, not to not to stand back and say, "Well, this is what we think
the town's going to give us, so we're going to go with that cuz that's that's put us in this position right now." That's right. >> Yeah. And we went and we had quite the battle last year just to try to recoup what was actually taken away. >> And we still have no END. >> And we still have no A&D. So you know you absolutely and everyone I think
agrees with you. Unfortunately we've been in a strangle hold with the town. So the question is from a strategy perspective what are our next steps to make sure that happens. And I guess it's starting with your fincom discussion. I still don't have a good read on on you
know if the if we're going to have World War II or if we're going to have dialogue. Um because so far I'm not sensing dialogue. Um I'm going to disagree with that. >> Okay. >> Okay. And and my first statement is
>> I don't think this body should wait on FinCom. Okay. That's the first thing, right? We we should provide some direction. We should provide some feedback back to the administration on that through that. >> Um as far as the dialogue, uh it was clear that they from one town they
couldn't support the full assessment as we presented out of their operational revenues. Got it? >> Meaning their tax revenues that they collect, right? That they collect. Okay. Now, doesn't mean they have free cash or what have you. But there was open dialogue around
whether we could present something and they could fund that out of the town stabilization, free cash, something outside of their tax rules. So, there was that and this is where some of the homework that we do have that we want to have before the next meeting. So there was some dialogue around that aspect of
it and uh we tried to keep it to let's talk about this year and not talk about prior years and I think that's where we need to keep the conversation >> and they are also wanting to look forward so as we are I mean the fact is with $84,000 of stabilization there's no forward
>> I I I agree and quite frankly we're not going to get that in one full swoop whether it's carried directly through the town or not. So, and this is and again I would be against any other stabilization account, right? We're against a transportation run for that very reason. That's right. But where this is such a volatile topic around
sped, this is going to be money that is going to be needed probably on an annual basis whether we use total amount. No, because I think this is where we need to talk about a ceiling, a floor, where those different topics come into. We
also have to be keenly aware of the um lack of consistency on state reimbursements with respect to sp um and even though I'm hearing some rumors that circuit breaker might be a little bit better, I don't have any confidence in that. Um and I don't think any of us is
confident that we're going to get the kinds of reimbursements that we used to get fairly substantial numbers on that. That's been trending downward for a long time. I don't see that changing at all. And yet the demands coupled with ELLL demands now
>> put us in uh a far more difficult situation with respect to these kinds of expenses and we don't have anything to go into there. >> Um yeah, I don't want to go round and run. I kind of want to get moving too, but I I want to make one point and this does go a little bit backwards. Steve was right that the town made it clear
that they couldn't support the current budget out of its operating funds. The town that same town said that last year. >> That's right. And that same town closed money to END and free cash and spent money at special town meeting. >> Yep. >> So now both towns could that I'm not
going to point one town. That happens in both towns. It does. >> So I don't rely on that information because it's not accurate. >> When Bob Bob Clark asked a great question at every town meeting, he says after the town meeting is over, how much money is left?
>> I know. >> I want to know how much money is left. And the fact of the matter is there is always money. >> Always. Yep. Yeah. And I've you've done that. >> I did. And I also but last year I asked the same question. >> So I again I'm not asking that we raid the town's coffers. But if we're going
to have this conversation and transparency, then I can't be told that we can only afford this budget >> over. we had to go in stabilization or it's a 2 and a half override when the town ends up with a million dollars at the end of the day. >> I know
>> that is that is that is what frustrates me to all ends. If we're going to have the conversation about supporting or not supporting a budget, let's be real and what I've asked the finance months and months ago is and and Steve asked this as well, credit to Steve, bring your
budgets here as well cuz when we open our books, we want you to open yours. that has not happened in my mind. >> Well, that's unsatisfactory. Uh Laura, then Bob, >> I think one of the concerns that we have to think about going forward in terms of the assessment piece is that if we do
have to dip into the special ed stabilization fund for an unanticipated cost, if it's a tuition, that student may be at that placement the following year and for 10 more years. And then it becomes a part of our operational budget
and we can't dip into that stabilization fund year after year for that. Correct. >> And then it becomes a part of the assessment to the towns. And if that's increasing, are they going to say you still have 2 and a half% and you've got to take it from somewhere else. >> And I think that that's what we were
trying to avoid by >> developing the stabilization fund in the first place is >> I do too. >> And I don't know if we're just >> getting ourselves into a >> Well, right now it's kind of convoluted. I agree. >> Yeah. Uh,
I know this dialogue, but I I can't help historically because of my history be skeptical of that dialogue. Uh, as Derek point out to put money into the stabilization fund at the end after hearing we have no money, we have no money, we have no money. I mean,
philosophically for years now, I just get the feeling that even if they have money, they don't want to give it to the schools. And how do you how do you correct how do you correct that? How do you get you need to get that word out? I mean, because >> it's frustrating to me to see at the end
all so much money in free cash going in and yet we're told no, we can't we can't we can't we can't and then all of a sudden here's this very large amount going into going into the their stabilization plan. So, yeah, dialogue, yes. Philosophically, I'm not convinced that
they really want to want to help us. No, I I think I agree. Um, >> in light of to try and get this moving forward, I think one of the question is >> what is it that this committee wants to see as a dollar amount
>> into that specialed fund and quite frankly I think it's somewhere between zero and 648. Um, so I think from a direction standpoint that we can guide the conversation at fin. the number that we want to
present of what we want to have them fund in this special ed account. >> Yep. I agree. Um and you're waiting on additional information, too. >> I I we're wait we're waiting on information agent on the presentation. We can always put in xx with the dollar
amount. It's more of the fact that because it's part of the assessment sheet. >> So, it's the big number. >> Yeah. So, so the question is, you know, what is it that we would like to see of that number? I know Rick has presented 250 uh that's come down and I know he's
sensitive as far as how the assessment sheet plays out, >> but what is it that from a district perspective we want him? I'm of the opinion it's the full 648, >> right? >> But let's just figure out a number and move forward with and then go from there. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, I'm going to give my vote. My vote is to take the 375 off of
school choice offset and don't fund stabilization because the special ed stabilization account. the 375 >> um take the 375 off as an offset. >> That's a separate discussion. Let's just focus on the the special education stabilization. >> It goes hand in hand. It goes hand in hand. >> The way he presented it, it is
connected. >> So you don't fund that account in my opinion, but you totally take the 375 out of the offset in the assessment sheet. >> But I think we're clear that 375 is not going to cover the base. >> Rick just confirmed if we that would be
a better mechanism. He said that was a better mechanism. He didn't speak to the amount. >> So, so if if you took that that line of thinking, you would need to come up with another $125,000 to cover the gap. >> That's what I thought. >> Okay. So, >> you either have to increase the assessment or
>> cut services as it relates to the program or come up with some other mechanism where you're bringing more revenue in >> or or increase the assessment. Right. I'm not saying I disagree with the the logic, but I'm just saying for that >> I'm looking for the number and that's not >> and that's a good question because I didn't I don't know that number. I didn't run those numbers.
>> I didn't know the number either. That's why I wanted to know. So So you're at 500 with that >> math >> pretty much. Yeah. 375 plus 125 500. >> You'd have to increase you'd have to you'd have to increase 150,000 to on top
of the 375 to the towns. No, cuz if you're taking 250 out and you're taking so you're not >> you're zero the stabilization, my understanding. So what you're doing is you're you're 375US 250. >> You're rolling 250 into the operational and then removing 375. That's how I get
the 125. >> I think that's Yeah, I see. Are we good? Is that what you're saying? >> That's correct. And we're still short 125 after that. Correct. >> That's what he said. Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah, I want I looked on those numbers myself, but >> well, I also want us to get out of here
pretty soon and I don't think we have >> No, I I think this is a >> school choice is totally separate conversation, right? And I think that's something that we need to and I it while I agree with the logic about where school choice funds, I'm not I'm not supportive of the idea of of cutting it
all together, right? I think that number is more like flatline from last year. like we don't we're pulling in more revenue, but I only want to use what we used last year as an offset and that will that will build up the END in that fashion. But I think at this point it would be $300,000. Last year the offset
was 300. So it would be reduced by $75,000 >> which would fall within the current assessment that we're presenting. >> Correct. So that so I so that's why I was saying it's a separate conversation as far as a direction we want to go within that. So
>> can Jean if I if I may just again the time frame we've got another school committee meeting on March 21st my budget hearing >> is April 4th which is a month away and at that point it's still two weeks later with the committee makes to make a vote. So it just would be real important from
a public hearing perspective I would and Mr. Baker could speak. If the account is established by both towns, this body's already voted it and the decision by this board was to reduce it to a zero balance but keep the
assessment the same. I would certainly be supportive of that as superintendent because the bottom line is it would allow us greater flexibility within the monies that we had to look at END or maybe to reestablish some monies down the line in special education stabilization. I was not convinced when
I made my initial presentation though that the towns would support that piece. >> What you're basically saying at that point is that the towns are going to support the percentage increase that you have in front of you of 5.9 in Freetown
and 3.6 in our operational and they've already made it clear at least in Lakeville that they were not willing to do that. So that's why I I had built in some monies in there. Eric, >> what I don't understand is if if your assessment doesn't change and it's the
same amount of money, why don't you support this mechanism? >> I don't. >> It is beyond comprehension other than to say we want to control your money and your dollars. And that is not what they're elected to do. That's what we're
elected to do. >> So I totally disagree with that. Uh my philosophy is this philosophy the towns have always told us from the beginning. >> We give you what we we can afford. >> You do what you want you want with it. >> If the towns can accept those increases,
there should be there should be no caveat. Oh, I can fund this, but I'm only funding it if you put it over here in this bucket. That is totally >> But that's not what they said. That's not what one of the towns have said. They they have said specifically that
they could not support the full assessment as we had to put in which includes the um special ed fund of 250,000. It was the last income meeting uh out of their operating taxable revenue.
>> Yep. And that's why they they I think they they would show some support for stabilization because they would take monies from other areas other than >> correct. But correct me if I'm wrong, their assessment doesn't change though, >> right? >> They're still getting assessed the same money. Where they pull it from is a different story. >> Correct. >> So that doesn't change their assessment.
They could go to town meeting and say, "Hey, we agree with this. This is how we want to fund it." >> So I don't think that them saying, "Hey, we don't agree with this, but we agree with the stabilization, so we can fund it this way." Makes any sense to me. Their assessment is not going to change.
We're going to go to them and say, "You got to give us this kind of money." Yeah, I >> I would love clarification to know that is is it fac is it true that we can change that assessment in order to
accommodate the town's ability to fund it out of a their own different parts of money. >> Well, that's the question. >> That's the question that we have. >> The question >> I don't my belief is I don't think that you can change the assessment. The assessment's the assessment. they can identify the resources to fund that
assessment but I don't think it's going to change the number >> and they have and again I'm not taking the position of supporting this town's position but the town has been consistent at least sharing with me that they do not feel that they should support operational the operational budget from budget from one time
>> yep >> unanticipated funds that's what their argument has been I'm not saying I'm in agreement with that but let me just finish with this in all of this remember we have not build the towns for that $650,000 that we took out of END.
>> This is a mechanism to do that. That's my point. We have not been made whole on that. And the town's reaction to that at FinCom was, "Well, you never asked for it." That was the town's reaction at FINCOM of, >> "Hey, we never The fact of the matter is
in my belief, and I explained this at Fincom, I I felt like we were trying to work with the towns. We took it out of END in hopes that the towns would recognize that they were complaining they had no money. So we we went we're at a point now that hey, you know what? It's different. We understand that
you've closed money into END. We've never been made whole. And the reaction is, well, you didn't build me for it. >> Yeah. >> Recognize the fact that we have no END. This whole mechanism is a political ploy for the town to control your budget,
people. That's what it is. Well, it is. It is. It's the largest budget. They're hindsight. It whatever. But >> yeah, it's it's kind of sad that we certainly heard make us whole from the other side multiple multiple times.
>> We certainly did >> multiple times. Remember folks, we did make a piece of of we did make good faith effort years ago to make a town hall out of our END funds. >> That's Bob's point.
>> And and that has not been recognized either. So, >> well, you paid the you paid the last amount of that. So, last year, >> yeah, that was about making somebody whole and yeah, that was problematic, but whatever. Okay. So, we have additional discussion. Did you have
additional budgets? I >> we could always have additional discussion here. I think we need to in support of the administration provide some direction here. So I do think that and and I'd like the specifically on the next agenda if we're not going to do anything tonight. I do think we need to
come up with that number. Um >> that 648 is what we should be asking for. And I I I I don't remember the town saying never build us. But um >> we can go for I think school choice is another topic area that we need to have a conversation on. Right. As far as what's the number that we want to Oh,
I'm as I said, we we've talked we disagree about what the number is. I think that we should be flatlined and go with the $300,000 in our offset um and do that. I I think we need to get out of the mechanism that our first line of defense is we can't touch it because
it's paying five teachers, right? I think we need to give the discussion back to the school committee of well what we would like to apply these funds to. Granted we have a small area that we can do that. So school choice is another area that we need to to
>> I'm saying that it's kind of married to the other discussion and you disagree with me. >> Well, there's an assessment discussion, right? But we have to come up with some sort of philosophy because right now year-over-year we just say here's what's coming in for school choice. We're going to apply it here and we and our hands are tied as far as what we want to do
with it. Uh it's a revenue piece. It's something that we can flow through the budget in that case. >> Yeah. And we have been it was generated for revenue. Now we have to figure out where to put it. >> So >> um Okay. So what else? So the other piece is um
you know as we look through this budget here there are areas of the budget for example the wish lists right some of the items I sit there and I chuckle and I said wow I can't believe you're asking for that u but there are other areas that actually make perfect sense to me
but it comes down to a financial discussion right um and it's not that I sit there and want to increase the assessment left over right there but I think there are opport opportunities in here that we can challenge the administration or even the building principles to say hey listen you want
this what what can we give up in return where the ultimate goal that I want to better the services for the kids in as a whole right um you know we we've talked a little bit about grade level powers and the overall effectiveness of them
right I think we all agree that we want grade level powers but the and even the principles have said it it it's great in principle. We just don't have enough of them to really make an an effective component to it. So, do we keep those in the budget? Do we apply those funds to somewhere else in the budget? What is that? And this is where I think some of
these conversations need to go. >> Some of these conversations happen at the building level. >> They did and then ultimately I were >> right. I mean the conversations when they're building their budgets at the building level things like AP textbooks
all these things that we need are in there as was the Freetown librarian for a decade. So I think that happens the question is should we have participated in the building level discussion? Well, no. It's a it's a it's a different budgeting question to ask, right? So,
it's more of the fact of, for example, uh, hey, elementary school teacher, I'm going to give you 75K, 100K of your budget. How would you spend it? And what would you give me back in return? Right? So, would they, hey, you know what? I really need that special education
teacher. I can apply the dollars there and I can remove these two functions. Right? It's it's more of a challenge in those type of cases. And I I think that's a fair question. to the building principles of how would they spend the money, right? They're not going to cut
out certain things in that. So, um, and again, some of those wish list items in the buildings, they would make perfect sense and other ones requires a little bit of thought process thinking and maybe the answer is nothing. But these are some of the questions that I think need to happen at the the building
level. >> Yeah. So, I I mean, I can speak to that. I mean obviously the procedure process is that does take place but keep in mind there are limitations and parameters established by this board as it relates to class size and pair of professionals that limit a principal to feel they have
the discretion to obviously make a determination that a classroom teacher comes before that. I I intentionally didn't use the words wish list by the way. I simply identified those items that are not included in this budget because I don't necessarily think they're wishes. I think they are the reality of what's necessary and needed
for future programs and services. So I do wanted the group to know that the principles absolutely did their due diligence and and kind of made discretionary decisions as it relates to what funding they had available to them. But it is within the parameters that we are going to have regular classroom pair
of professionals for example. Um and would would a principal given some discretion maybe look to use that money somewhere else? Yeah, I think I think the potential exists. I mean the principal is going to be here for the budget hearing. >> Um and I think those are decisions once an assessment and a dollar amount is made that can be that can be taken up
after right after the budget as well. It doesn't limit your opportunities once you have the monies and available you can then kind of make some some personnel type of decisions if that's the case. So, I just, you know, again, I bottom line on the stabilization piece, the the
dollar amount, um, whatever the board ultimately would like to see me present in the public hearing on April 4th as a b my only my biggest concern would obviously be what, if any, impact will that have on the bottom line assessment? I mean, because I wouldn't disagree with
Steve. If you can establish $648,000 in the special education stabilization and keep the assessment, what that's done is reduced the do the the operational money. Right? If you don't increase the assessment but increase the stabilization, you've
limited your spending mechanism. So, if you're going to increase the special education stabilization amount from the 250 that I've presented, you need to know that either the assessment has to go up to that same amount or it's going to compromise something that's within the
budget. So, I just want to make sure that's clear. I'm okay whatever the dollar amount is, but understand that you need to does have an impact on the bottom line assessment. >> Right. So, what's the next step? Because we've done this now at 7:30. >> Um, and I'm still not clear on what direction we're going in. Um, I guess
you're looking for an idea of an amount, which is really something that needs to be deliberated. Not >> I don't need that amount. >> Um, I I just don't know what we do next. >> I I don't need that amount right now. I'm just saying that's the conversation the committee ultimately has to have prior to taking vote and action and
that's a month away. >> And and just to be clear, Rick, what we fund to the We're asking two questions here. You you build your operating budget to think what we need for special ed costs and if that's the additional 250 that's fine. >> Correct.
>> We're asking is the the 648 still does the same and you deal with the operating. So the ultimate goal here is >> as we know it today there would be no withdrawal from that special ed fund into operating if we if things were to
happen today. And we know that's going to change. >> Correct. >> Right. But what you're what you've done is said that I think I'm going to be 250 short and I've already increased my operating assessment and that's what we should do and still proceed with that. Correct. What I'm saying is we don't reduce the special ed request by 250
because of that. >> Okay. >> I would agree. >> But yeah, these are areas that we should be tackling. These are areas that we should be doing in the other in in Rick's point something that we can tackle afterwards but things that we need to tackle. The other one is future
planning technology. What are we doing for the next couple of years around that? Because some of it may be resources that we have in place, right? And I don't think we have a solid plan as far as what we need to do. And that's going to really tie to budgetary items
that we want to put in place and not just live to a two and a half. We need to we need to have those conversations. and I don't feel that we're having them and I don't think we should be relying on BINCOM to have those discussions. >> Yeah. No, we shouldn't. Derek,
>> yeah, I agree with Steve. Um, ultimately I think what I what I threw out there and what Steve's talking about a food for thought for the committee. I really think that we we're not in a position at this time to make any recommendation number recommendation. And what I would encourage the committee is if you have
questions about the ideas I have or Steve has, certainly Rick's available, Fred's available, Steve and I could share with our ideas. And I'm not saying that there's there could be a >> a hybrid solution here, but the fact is we got to throw these things out there
in in hopes that we could come to some agreement with the towns. I'm throwing my ideas out there by all means. I'm not saying they're end all be all. That's what it is. I actually agree. Steve and I have a lot of discussion. You guys may may or may not know. We beat things up. We talk at fincom.
I agree with what some of what Steve's saying, but I think the committee has to get a comfort level of, you know, all right, let me let's think about this and let's see where we're going. Um, I'm pretty adamant myself on we need to first and foremost our priority should
be obviously funding the district appropriately and building back and yeah, >> that's my priorities. Outside of that, to Steve's point earlier, if we have a good END, then I'm I'd love to have a stabilization account. However, what I would tell you is if the mechanism to to
not flow through END is correct, uh if they're correct, and I think we need clarification on how they can fund this stabilization account, the towns, if there is a way they can fund it or if they are forced to fund it and they can fund it to the tune of 650 and they're
willing to do that out of their own stabilization account, I'd be more willing to listen to to to what that is. But keep in mind, you know, being hamstrung with no END is putting us in a very precarious situation. >> That's not good.
>> I think we need to It's all food for thought at this point. >> All right. I think unless anyone wants to continue beating this into the ground, I think we can move on. >> Oh, the donation. We have to vote on the donation. We have a note from Barbara.
>> The first um the first are four items for the high school. It would be my recommendation that you accept the following donations to the athletic and wellness department as presented by Dr. Starky. So second >> Okay. All in favor? >> Any
any against any abstensions? Obviously those pass and I'm sure the letters have gone out. >> All right. Then we have um >> likewise we have as Swamsit a similar uh generous donation. >> Yes. >> Um for level libraries and also tablets.
recommendation to accept the mo donation as presented. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> And second. >> Um, all in favor? I'm sorry. Discussion. Steve. >> Um, I would never turn away anyone that wants to donate something. My I guess my concern is does does Craig have any
issue that their Galaxy tablets outside >> in fact what's what's not shown here is that was the first step in the process before the donation was made. It was vetted through the technology department both support and and he was supportive of these being purchased um in spite of
the fact it's not consistent with Chromebooks per se but there was a multiple use for this within the classroom and he was comfortable with that from a service perspective as well. >> Sure. >> These are new. Is that correct? >> These are new. Correct.
>> Anybody else? >> All in favor? I >> any closing extensions? >> Then we have field trip elementary heading off to >> Yes. from for Mr. Ward. It's it's an out
of state field trip. So consistent with our policy. That's why the uh field trip which is I believe is pretty self-explanatory. There's a lot of detail. It's May 25th. It would be my recommendation to approve the field trip this out of state field trip as presented by Mr. Ward. Move. Second.
>> Second. All in favor? I opposing extensions. Green. >> Um >> we we do have one item for surplus that came in after the agenda that should be in your packet there. >> It is listed for Mr. Baker from Mr. Souza. Request items to be declared
surplus. Move approve. >> Second. >> Yep. >> Okay. I have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. Oppose. the intentions. Great. I wonder what they're going to do
with this deck on the north. Um audit >> the audit summary. Uh Mr. Baker has provided you an overview in addition to the booklets themselves in the absence of Mr. Baker being here. If you have an opportunity to read through uh riveting these riveting documents um I think the
bottom line is >> um there were no f I guess the bottom line Mr. Baker would typically share is there are no audit findings required to be reported in accordance with the uniform guidances and he would generally say that I this isformational action does not need to be taken in relation to
this. So I just want to make you aware that Steve >> I I do have a couple questions on these reports but I won't bore this committee with them. Um, but I'd like to at least understand we may not have any required findings, but were there any strongly
recommended uh from the audit? And we could, as I said, I could follow up with Fred. >> Yeah, I'd ask that you do that. Um, >> build up and >> if that comes, we can share that. But >> so I could follow up with Fred on them and I understand this is just
>> all right. and then maybe if anything wonderful comes out of that you can share that great >> um security update we had discussions on this I'm happy to see this on the agenda. >> Yeah. So I I don't I I recognize the time frame and and the weather conditions literally outside. I what I
wanted to share with the committee is um this document here or this book this booklet here references not only but really the proactive approach that this district has taken in working with the Lakeville police and the Freetown Police. This contains our crisis manual,
our emergency medical response plan, our assessments which have been done in both towns by de in detail, our security district assessments, our school resource officer, all of the training that our our staff have had for the past four or five years, both on the student and and
staff level. I had a uh a very proactive excellent meeting with both police chiefs and my business manager on Monday. both uh Chief Abbott and um also Chief Alva met with me and in my office and uh we we talked about next steps in
the process and it really was to convey the message to the community that in light of the the tragedy and the shooting in Florida, but in addition to security as late as this weekend as it relates to storm uh pieces, I I have to tell you um the the relationship we built with the police department. I
spent most of my Sunday um from about 7:30 in the morning to 7:30 at night talking to town officials, town departments, both police, getting pictures, trying to make a determination on whether it was safe to have our students return to school on Monday. And it was really a credit and I thanked
both police chiefs for their willingness to step up in one instance where they didn't have a highway coordinator and send pictures and and talk about road closures. So when you talk security, it goes sometimes beyond the campus, right? the schools themselves, but to the towns in itself and and we were real pleased.
I'm doing a followup tomorrow morning at 9:30. I'm doing a walk through at FES with the one school that Freetown's responsible with the police chief in addition to there that we don't have a school resource officer for that school, but we kind of have a designated person, Officer Lebec, who's going to be there doing training in the morning. And we're
taking a look just to give you an idea in 2013 my so two predecessors right two superintendents prior to me Freetown police did a risk assessment for their school as we have done for all the Lakeville schools with Lakeville police they identified 30 recommendations um in
that in those 30 recommendations we have completed 25 and have successfully implemented 25 of them and are working on the other four one of which is actually a revisit at the time it seemed like the right thing to do and now change things change in relation to responses and things. Um, but that's the
the success stories we've had. We're not complacent. I mean, or or simply ignoring the fact that in any given day, we can do things a little bit better. We have spent a great deal of time as this community as this community knows, but also this committee knows in relation to campus security with our high school and
video and cameras and live feed. I was able to share with them in the office. Keep in mind that at my computer I basically have access to all of those as does the the police department in Lakeville. We're working on it in Freetown to get that same access. In other words, they can pull up and actually see everywhere in our building.
And so do so they also have the capabilities when they're cruisers to do so. So I mean there's some there's some real successes and and one of the things I think that um has happened obviously again is the whole dialogue and the politic you know the politics behind it. We've really kind of refrained from
that. We just talked about how can we make this place safer for our students? How can we make sure people are engaged, all stakeholders in that piece, um I obviously recognize time frame. If I had more time, I certainly um could do so. Um there's some transparency in relation
to communicating to the to to to parents and stakeholders that we're doing that, but there's also a sense of some privacy and security that you don't want to release all that information. Um but it it continues to be a dialogue. Um and we're pleased with that the current I'd
be happy to answer any specific questions. Um >> no I had just asked that you provide this update in light of things that have happened but also I just that I think it's important for people to know that in terms of safety and security we live in a dynamic environment is not static
and you cannot sit back and say what worked last year is going to work this year. Always have to be forward thinking. So I had asked for this review and as it turned out he had already scheduled the meeting with the two chiefs which I was very happy about but we we are we have agreed that these kinds of of dialogues are going to be
happening um regularly because this is the kind of thing that is going to be evolving over time and it must evolve over time to be responsive. So I saw Steve and I saw Bob. >> Um two things. One, I think it's important that the two communities
understand in light of what happens, school cancellations or what have you is an open conversation with the towns. It's not just made correct on a whim. So, what's it that >> um my second is more of a question. Do we think it's
valid or have some value to schedule like anformational meeting? people may not attend, but just to talk a little bit about our security, what we're doing, and have the resource officer, what have you. I think it would open up the lines of communication with the parents is to let them know what the district is doing from a security
perspective because I still think a lot of parents in this community don't understand what we have from a cameras, surveillance, all that aspect or the open communication with the two respective towns, >> police departments. uh you know I don't wonder if just a quick 45 minute hour
meeting is scheduled open meeting that they can come and take a look and listen >> we have done that in the past >> if they don't attend it's it's their own fault but just from a transparency perspective >> well for sometimes for especially for parents of young children some of these meetings aren't easy to attend but >> yeah the the additional procedures that
we haven't done uh how >> hours >> how much is it additional funding that's keeping us from doing that >> no it's not it's not a fun so when I reference those recommendations. What I neglected to mention, there were about 15 or 20 items that they didn't recommend at the time that we've also since with the fluid nature of
activities and changes in procedures and protocols put in place. There are some facility issues that we need to address over there. It's a satellite campus in relation to cameras and and then having a direct feed to the police department that were a little that make it a little bit more challenging over in Freetown
compared to the campus, Bob. To to your point, >> we have signal issues over there, too. So, they're working on that. But I but but there's not something and I want to we talked about this. There is not something that we're saying has to happen from a security perspective, but we're choosing not to because we can't afford it, right? Because at the at the
end of the day, >> it's important for people to know that. Great question, Sherry. Um Steve, I talked to um Rick after the tragedy um about exactly what you're you suggest and he said that he's had a number of
people reach out to him by telephone, by email that he had directed. I almost wonder if we have a bonafide um group to come in and so forth and to come in. I I think perhaps people feel
as though they should go rather than they because it's the right thing to do rather than the fact that they're really worried about it. I think we've got such an open communication with Rick that I'm not sure if I think we need we need one more outing for parents. >> Well, I didn't want to I didn't want to invite it because it looked like it's
kneejerk, but what I wanted to do is make sure we had internal controls. >> Sounds like and Gene referenced the same piece. So what I want to assure people is one thing I think we've done real well here is we've taken the school level piece and those groups that are active the
PTO's the school councils and principles and communication and we've done that. I with all due respect to some of my my colleagues I know that have attempted to have these public forums they've been in empty auditoriums and I guess from my perspective having been in education for
30 years they sound and look good because but they are knee-jerk and and part of what I wanted to share with you is this was a document and things that I had in place I didn't actually do it for the purpose of the the police chief >> I wanted to show that it was current >> the meetings and it is interesting it's
just something I've kind of compiled over time. We're really taking a real proactive approach. And um and it's interesting when I set this up with the chiefs, I should add um not taking too much time. One of the chiefs said, "Is there an issue?" Because we we do have
such dialogue and communication that you know it is we don't necessarily need a scheduled meeting because we email and text and and like and I use the Sunday example. It wasn't related to the shooting. This was in relation to the safety well-being of our buses and our kids traveling. I mean, I had I I So, so
here I had a police chief Sunday morning. Um I I'm literally out in my car getting some gas and he's sending me pictures so I can forward those pictures of those road closures to the transportation director, Mr. Zendes, to make sure that we have made some
adjustments in relation to routes. That was updated throughout the day on Sunday in both towns. >> I absolutely believe that >> where at 1:00 they were saying no longer necessary. I was communicating that. And so, you know, to Steve's point, I do appreciate that. I think sometimes um
that parents feel and through social media feel that like, you know, in a vacuum, I'm kind of sitting there saying, "Looks like it's a windy day. I'm going to not have school." No, I mean, there's a lot of a lot of individuals are part of that process and should be part of that process. Absolutely. >> To make that determination. Technology helps, but I mean, you had some some
town officials stepping up. I had I had I have to tell you both towns, town officials, board of selectmen, um call me individually on Sunday to talk about the status of their towns and where we're at, what they could do to help in the process. Um
>> no, I I really do step up for for those kinds of things and so does um Ken Zendi. >> Yes. >> Um so let's move this along folks. Uh thank you for that too, Rick. I really do appreciate the update. Um >> the school calendar is there just for a first read. >> This is our first read. There were no
action on that. Um >> we have our boards. Oh, I'm sorry, Steve. Go ahead. >> Um just a couple of questions and I think we can look at this at second reading. Um just the placement of like the full professional service day,
November 13th. Um I don't know if there's a particular reason for that particular day. It just seems like it's already so close to Thanksgiving. I know last year we did it on the first which was very much appreciated by the communities because it was a day after Halloween but I think
they were appreciative of the fact that it would be a long weekend but you know we now have a 3-day week and a two and a half day week so uh I didn't know if there was a particular reason for that. Yeah, it was actually it was it was intentionally paired around the weekend. Um to to extend that piece and not make
for three or four consecutive disruptive weeks is really what the rationale and and and you know in the past we've done a couple things. We've tried to mirror our our professional development day with other districts. We did address the after Halloween piece when I looked at at the current calendar being it on a
Thursday to have that type of of of PD and then come back for a Friday. talk about the how what was our attendance going to look like. So I was a little apprehensive honestly about scheduling that it's it's open for dialogue. There's not a requirement that it be on that time frame, but it was intentionally built around um that long
weekend. It does I often have parents say to me that how expensive it is to take a vacation on other times. middle of November is an opportune time and I think some parents will potentially and families maybe take the opportunity of an extended long weekend around Veterans
Day and take advantage of that and maybe not miss school time as a result. So, it was done intentionally, Steve, but it was not it's not something that the committee, you know, couldn't certainly have some dialogue and discussion about. Uh, and then I'm going to reiterate my half day placement in midweek is uh, and
I know we had originally said to poll teachers and community and then we took that off the plate, but I still think a midweek half day is it moving it to the weekend type thing is is immunable to I know parents that would appreciate that and I know teachers were on the same. >> I did do that um, several years. I
pushed for that actually uh years ago and it wasn't successful. I was hoping they could all be on Friday. >> I've kind of split again good and bad and different. I've tried to split that difference a little bit. If you notice, I've actually identified different dates for the PD so it's not just all falling on a Wednesday or Monday or Tuesday. I
kind of have spread that out a little bit. >> Yep. And they are they're split. So this is the first read >> and um we have basically almost a consent agenda thing here. reports if I >> yeah at this point in the absence of the directors for a variety of reasons
weather related and health related I my request would be certainly at the next session on the 21st there's specific question an item that I can answer tonight great otherwise I think the directors >> well I think that we're agreeing as we get into budget anyway we don't need them here for every meeting that we accept the reports and if we have questions we can either direct them
directly to those directors or to you through you >> um so I'm good with that um >> so superintendent we're on the subcommittee. >> Yep. I've put together um what I would consider to be a midcycle progress report for the subcommittee. We haven't established a date, but I hope maybe do
that in the next week or 10 days >> where we can set up a time um so that in fact the committee can begin the activity which needs to be an end of the year evaluation >> for me within kind of a two-year cycle. But I've put a document together that we'll set something up Jean through you as the chair y >> for the subcommittee to meet with me and
I can make sure I share that information. >> And I know they can't wait. Okay, next one is policy >> uh met this evening. We have a couple of policies that need to be went through a first reading. So, they'll be at the
next full meeting for uh approval. Uh there is one uh a wellness uh policy that is updated but as a precursor to that there's a wellness committee in the district and there needs to be a school
committee representative on that. Uh so our position would be is at our first April meeting after town elections where we have the reorg subcommittee that that be added. >> Uh so that way um Sher nominated Bob and
it was unanimously approved. Beautiful thing, Bob. >> Thank you, >> Bob. >> Steve nominated Bob, not Sher. >> What they say about payback? >> Yeah, it's Steve. >> And then, uh, the the rest are policy manuals. We're just going to continue
on. >> I'm running away at it. Okay. Thank you. Um, any other business? >> Well, Bincom, we did meet last Thursday. >> I thought we went to death, but go ahead. Yeah, you did. County did meet and then uh we have a next meeting is
scheduled for the public meeting. So >> Okay. Thank you. >> I just have one question. Other business that may probably come before the meeting. Have we heard from the town of Lakeville? Did they did they vote on the statement of interest? >> No. No. It is it was it is my
understanding that that Mr. Baker is going to go to next Wednesday's board of selectman meeting where they will be placing that on the agenda. >> It was on the agenda for the meeting that they had here. >> Do we know what time? >> I don't have the time frame. I believe the meeting's at 6:30.
>> It was on the agenda for the joint meeting. They didn't get to it if you recall. And then >> Rene take action. >> Could I ask you um to find out where we are on the agenda and just email me? I just I I would like there to be some likely representation there at that
meeting if at all possible. If Mr. Baker is going to be >> Yeah. It's our intent to bring forward make an effort to to go and show our support for the elementary school. I think we should >> we have the information all prepared already.
>> Okay. And it won't take any longer than >> as long as you know exactly when you're going. So helpful. That's why >> I totally agree. next Wednesday. >> So, we have uh an executive session. Do I have a motion? We're not coming back to open session. >> We We do need to come back into open session.
>> That's right. I'm sorry. We do. Absolutely. So, the motion is um to reason number two >> and return to open session. >> Second. Okay.