acknowledge those at the table. Miss Kelly Steele, director of student services. Miss Terry Fleming, director of curriculum. Mr. Jack Higgins, director of finance, and interimm superintendent, Dr. Barbara Starky.
ask tonight if anyone is recording this meeting other than Leam. Seeing none, as always, Lake Cam, thank you for being here. We are going to start this evening with public input. Anyone that would like to speak, please state your name clearly and sign the
sign on sheet. We have three minutes each person, please. >> Good evening. My name is Deborah Petty. I'm the town administrator of the town. and a three town resident as well. As I stand here tonight, I know that you have an impending decision to make about your
budget and the budget that will be approved. But I could not in good conscious pass up the opportunity to express my deep concern of the trajectory of the budget. For the fourth year in the row, I have sat and said that the budget is not sustainable for
the towns. While Freetown is not facing an override this year, significant cuts are being made to balance our budget. The fire department requested funding to hire an additional firefighter and I had to say no. All vacant positions have been removed from the budget and any
line items that were not fully utilized have been removed or reduced. If the school budget continues to increase at its current trajectory, the reality is that municipal departments, particularly public safety, will be the areas forced to absorb the cuts. I value education
deeply. I was born and raised in Freetown and was educated here at Honquit. I received an excellent education and I want the same opportunity for my grandchildren who live here today. At the same time, I value our seniors and residents on fixed
incomes who may no longer be able to remain in town if an override becomes necessary to support continued budget growth. It is also important to recognize that many of the teachers advocating for this budget, including members of the administration, do not live in our town. The tax increases
required to support these increases, will not impact them or their families. The primary role of the school committee is to ensure that our children receive a quality education and that they are safe. And to approve the budget, however, the school budget continues to grow at this pace, the towns will struggle to maintain the public safety
departments that protect our children and residents every day. For the past four years, I have urged that we come together for a roundt discussion to address these challenges challenges. I again implore you to sit down with
municipal leaders and key stakeholders to discuss how we can continue to provide a top-notch education while maintaining the financial sustain sustainability of our communities and preserving our public safety services. I also want to address the suggestion that
Freetown should use its capital stabilization fund to pay the salaries of the teachers. This is just unreasonable. The town has worked diligently to build those funds for long-term capital needs, including the construction and repair of essential
public buildings. To put this in perspective, Freetown's public library does not have indoor plumbing. None. Think about that. You go to work, you can't wash your hands. you have to leave the building to use the restroom. So, I I I want to stress that those were saved
to replace that building and we are working diligently to get a new building. We have never been fighting the school budget. Our goal has been to make it clear that the current path is not sustainable. We are now approaching a point where we will hit a financial
wall. At that point, the cho the choices will be severe cuts to public safety services or significant increases in property taxes. I am again asking the school committee to take seriously my
request for a roundt discussion with key leaders from both towns so that we can develop a solution before these budgets reach a breaking point. So, we need to work together collaboratively and honestly to find a path forward that protects both the
quality of our schools and the financial stability and safety of our communities. Again, I'm going to ask the school committee to affectuate that roundt discussion after we finish this this series of budgets because we cannot
sustain this budget. Thank you. Is there anyone else here for public input? Okay, seeing none, we will move on reports and presentations. My chairman's report, chairwoman's report for today,
I'm going to um Steve is going to take over. We will be addressing uh in this the vote that took place on Thursday. >> Sure. Um I was we were hoping to have an update on the appointment for the vacancy. That matter was tabled at the
joint session last Thursday pending um as Chair Candido recognized and apologized at the same time that there was some procedural missteps um that that warranted some further review by legal legal. Um at this point we haven't heard an update. So essentially the
update is there is no update but I would love to um given the the timeline under the agreement we have 30 days to fill the vacancy and some of the the budget issues. I would love to for this committee to take some action um and entertain a discussion to make a motion
to um make a formal request to to through the chair uh Moren Candido to have the joint committee reconvene reconsider the vote um and and then perhaps resend the vote
and and do the vote um in in a different manner. Um understanding that this is not personal for any of the candidates. Frankly, I thought all three of them were excellent. Um, this is simply about doing the right thing. Also understanding that the outcome of the
vote will likely be the same. But again, I think, you know, this committee on its own has been challenged by a number of open meeting law complaints. And frankly, I'm surprised we haven't seen one the way the proceedings um went out during during that meeting after March
5th. So, I'd love to take action or have a discussion and perhaps a motion to formally request to through the chair of the Lakeville Select Board to to reconvene and and and make a motion to reconsider, resend, and revote that that topic.
>> Okay. I also uh personally reached out to Moren last Friday after the meeting was Thursday um and was requesting similar and have also not heard anything back. So I think that that is appropriate at this point. Someone does have to make a move and get something
going here. Um and so yes, I'll entertain a motion. >> Great. So the mo I guess the motion and then we could have open to discussion with other members would be to formally request um through the chair of the Lakeville Select Board to reconvene the joint
committee um to reconsider the appointment vote that was tabled um to resend the vote and revote the the matter entirely and allow both nominations to proceed and and have the members on the Lakeville side of this school committee and the select board
just vote Great. >> Okay. >> And and again, I want to be clear. Um that would be the motion. But this is in any way not it's not personal. It's simply a request to do the right thing >> and any discussion would be appropriate
at this point. I think it's a strong statement by this committee. Um, you know, given, you know, the the accountability that we hold ourselves to and we've been held to held accountable to by the community, I think it would be a good thing to to continue that moving
forward in in the joint committee. >> Okay, I agree. Um, and I've heard a motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> So, now I have a motion and a second. Let's open this up for discussion. Anyone has questions, concerns, doesn't understand, go for it. Um, I
just would like to share from the the Freetown side. Obviously, we weren't part of the vote. Um, I would be more than happy to work with anybody um that the the legal side um nominates and votes appoints, excuse me.
Um, but only being here for a year and seeing what's gone on with our school committee in particular prior, I am a big fan of making sure this process is transparent and done properly. So, Steve, thank you for bringing it to our
attention as a whole committee. Um, and and yeah, I would I would fully support. Again, I don't I want to work with anybody who is appointed and Lakeville feels is is going to be the best candidate for that one-year appointment.
So, it is nothing personal. Um, and I think that should be abundantly clear as we've made it. But being done properly, I think has to take precedence in this uh in this situation. >> So, thank you. >> And if I could thank you for the comments. If I could just also note there is precedent for the appointment.
Miss Cushing was appointed under a scenario that was very fair and very open and procedurally appropriate and and several months later we ran into a a procedural jam um under this. So I appreciate the comments.
>> Any more discussion? >> Okay. Hearing a motion, a second. No further uh discussion. Do we have to do roll call or all? I think your majority on this >> through the just clarification I think
the formal request should come in the form of a letter. >> Yes. >> Um that we should deliver um sometime soon. I don't know when the 30 days ex we have 30 days to make the appointment if I understand >> I believe the 30 days starts when it is
accepted by this committee which was just in which was just at our last meeting. >> I think it's when it was accepted by the town. But don't we have to acknowledge it? >> You acknowledge it, but I believe it's the acceptance of the town. >> Okay. So, we'll have to get the date for
sure that it was acknowledged by the town clerk because I only have the date in which we acknowledged it here, >> which only I'm sorry, emphasizes the urgency on the time. Absolutely. Just to simply do the right thing. >> So, we will um get a draft together and we'll send a letter over to the select
board so that they also understand what our request is and what our motion is. Um so, good. We'll get all that. We'll get that done. So, all in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Seeing none. Any abstensions?
>> I'm abstaining. >> One extension of Courtney. So, motion passes. So, we will get that taken care of. We can work on a letter um and get a letter over to the select board as soon as possible. Great. Okay, moving on. Our ARHS student
representative, Cam, what do you have for us tonight? Good evening everyone. The spring is a very busy time here at Aponquit, especially with spring sports starting on Monday, March 16th. Now that winter sports are over, I would like to congratulate all of our winter
sports teams. And a special shout out to the Lady Lakers basketball team who made it to the final four up in Worcester last week or on Monday and the Aonoquit hockey team with their co-op with Bishop Stang. Next week, students will be
attending JA Titan, which is a business simulation kind of game opportunity for students interested in business to earn scholarship money. This junior achievement program is funded by local
banks and students competing have the opportunity to win scholarship money. This will take place at UMass Dartmouth next week and it's a free field trip for students and they will be provided with lunch. And then on the topic of business, DECA kicks off tomorrow for
the state development conference in Seapport Boston. So we'll be heading there tomorrow morning after first period. and I wish everyone luck in their compet competitive events, role plays, writtens.
And next Thursday, the 19th, there is a solo ensemble concert here at the high school in the auditorium. This is the second time that this has this event has occurred and all ARHS students can
participate if interested, even if they're not involved with the band or the choir. and we are hoping that this will continue into the years to come. And lastly, I would also like to reiterate that the spring musical will be on April 10th and 11th, as I had
mentioned last week, where the Aonoquit players will be performing Frozen, the musical in the auditorium. We are looking forward to an exciting month here at Aonoquit. And I thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Cam. Great job. Moving on to the interimm superintendent
report. All right, first thing we have tonight is a spotlight from our students at ARHS. So, at this time, I will call Principal Dessert to the podium. Jeff, do you mind just closing that door? >> It's at the top.
>> Top left. >> There you go. Thank you. We don't want any of those interruptions. >> Okay. Thank you for allowing us to be your spotlight this month. I'm sure that you've seen that the student number keeps growing and growing at these meet
at these meetings and so we thought that it would be very important for you to understand why our core value is self- advocacy and we teach civics at aquipit but the class of 2029 came in already ready for that that's the freshman there
are 24 freshmen in front of you um at my last count one sophomore and other grades behind you they came in ready to take their place here and to have their voice heard. So, this is a completely studentdriven presentation and I'll turn it over to them now.
>> When asked what school we go to, we are proud to say of Regional High School. Being a Laker to us means many different things. I am Arian of Aopoulos and to me being a Laker means being able to express myself through the many different clubs we have to offer. I'm a part of Life Club, Green Team, and DECA.
I'm Kennedy Porer. To me, being a Laker means having my teachers support me through everything I do. Hi, I'm Emma Decker, and to me, being a Laker means having my voice heard and responded to. For me, this is through our student council, where I'm one of the class of 2029 representatives. The student council at Aponit excels in putting on
events for everyone to participate in and enjoy. Having the opportunity to try so many different clubs and participate in so many different aspects of the school is what it means to be a Laker and what we're so glad to have the ability to do. So to me being a Laker means having the ability to participate
in all areas of our school. >> Hi, I am Maya Kubak. To me being a Laker means having after school sports in which all students may participate and have an equal chance to excel. I participate in soccer and track here at Aonquit. Competing in the sports teams at Aonquit means becoming a team member.
Learning to grow with your team and learning how to be a good teammate to others. This is just a small portion of the skills I have learned from playing sports at Aonquit. >> Hello, my name is Hannah Ashley. My fellow Pierce and I would like to discuss how certain career paths can positively impact our future and how
Ponquit offers us the opportunity to grow and achieve our goals. For my for my career path, I would like to be an English teacher. So, I look forward to taking Ela honors and public speaking as an elective. >> Hello, my name is Aiden and I'm aiming for a career in mechanical engineering.
I plan on taking the electives for computer AED design and the various levels of engineering. >> Hello, my name is Paula George. I'm grateful for the many opportunities granted by the school such as the career pathways and the sports officiating courses that give us real experience to
help us succeed. Thank you. Hello, my name is Vivian Frid and in the future I aspire to be a psychiatrist. I'm super excited to take a variety of courses such as AP psychology and my future at Aponquit as it will make me more prepared and competitive for my future career. >> Hi, my name is Emmy Manis and in the
future I'm hoping to attend and graduate law school to become a lawyer. I'm interested in taking many different classes that will benefit my career path, such as your world today, criminal law, AP research, and communications. >> Hello, my name is Macy. When I'm older, my dream job is to be an endocrinologist. And the classes that will bring me the most success success
in my in reaching my goal are AP biology as well as anatomy and physiology. Hello, I'm Roya Zachary and for my future career, I aspire to be a neurosurgeon. and a class that would make the most impact with the AP bio, but any other club or class that is medical or anatomy related can make an
impact as well, such as HOSA, anatomy and physiology and our innovative career pathway and health career. The classes we choose to take at Pronag Regional High School have a large impact on not only the careers we want to pursue, the types of people we set out to be in the future.
>> Hello to everyone. My name is Adrien Mendes. For many, showing up to school just isn't enough to make a difference. Our class of 2029 has taken a great interest in these feelings, not solely because it can make us look good, but because of the civic virtue it allows us
to possess. We began believing that students can truly have a voice within the school by simply showing up to these events. And us being here today is proof of that theory. This is the result of our hard work over the course of several months. I know that for me personally, I choose to stay after school and come to
these meetings so that I am well educated when it comes to things like planning, town events, and even the school budget. It's important to be aware of the things that will ultimately affect me. Ignorance is a curse that prevents us from progress. I'm here because I want progress no matter the
weight. But we all have something that drives us. Please allow my fellow classmates to express their motives for attending. Hi, my name is Will Schwarz and the main reason I attend these school committee meetings is because we are a high performing school on a budget price. I have learned about other schools who have been in decline and I
want to save us from that. I believe that we must invest in our education to succeed. >> Hi, my name is La. I deeply about my school and feel is important to know what is going on at a deeper level. I feel the most important reason I attend these meetings is so that I can not only know important issues but also help find
solutions. We are the future of Aonquit and we determine our upcoming years here as we shape the school for the students that will fill these halls after us. It is in our hands to make a difference and provide a stable environment for the future of our school. >> Hi, my name is Nathan Ferrari and I make sure to come to these meet monthly meetings because the decisions that are made in this room directly impact my
future. I believe that it is my responsibility as a student to stay informed and involved behind the scenes at my school. >> Hello, I'm Ali Lamstro. I choose to attend these meetings because I care about what is happening at in our school district and how it will affect us it as a whole and our lives as students. It
also helps me understand the process of government and give me opportunities to make my voice heard. I hope to inspire other Lakers to join us here from all four years. I believe that since we have the opportunity to use our voices, we should take it. >> Good evening. I'm no Rodriguez. I attend these important school committee
meetings because it helps me become a leader and create skills such as public speaking, understanding government process, and advocating for myself and others. Decisions create ripples and I want to be someone who creates ripples that drive meaningful change. >> Hello all, my name is Leather Stoke and I am honored to be here tonight. My
whole life, my family has always told me to use my voice, passion, and intelligence for good. Since I was a young child, my mom has always said, "Do the right thing even if it makes you uncover." But luckily for me, I have my friends with me tonight. I am here because I was for the good of all
people, and I'm hoping that being here will pave the way for the impacts I've made as an adult. I'm here to support my peers, my teachers, those that come after me, and those that came before me. Thank you. >> Good evening, everyone. My name is Nia K. As a student at Ponquit, I believe that it is incredibly beneficial that
students take part in civic virtue. I wake up every weekday and devote my time to becoming educated at this school. I believe that being here and sharing my voice will ultimately teach me leadership and allow me to represent my school so that I can be a part of crucial changes that can change the day-to-day lives of others.
>> Good evening. My name is Karin and I'm a freshman here at Apon. We come to these meetings because we care about our school community and here is where the behind-the-scenes actions that shape our school day happen. Many decisions that impact our classes, resources, opportunities, and even our daily lives are made by this committee. As students,
we are the ones directly affected by those decisions. Most students spend more time here at school than they do at home. And that is why the student body should care about showing up. Being present matters. When students show up, it shows that we value the direction our school goes in and the risks we are facing. The student body cares deeply
about being involved because this is our education, community, and our lives. We want to understand the reasoning behind your choices to ensure that student perspectives are part of the conversation and will continue to be. Our being here does not just benefit us, but it benefits the future students who
will walk these halls long after we leave. By attending these meetings, we we show respect for our peers and the incredible staff who work behind the scenes to ensure our experience at Quanquit is the best it can be. Thank you for your time. Try to keep it short and sweet for you despite the numbers, but they're willing
to answer any questions you may have. You guys did a great job. We love seeing you in the audience. You are our future and we do appreciate you taking your time out of your busy schedules to come here and what sometimes we're struggling to get here after a long day, but you
guys grew right through it and you're seeing what happens and all of this does impact you. So, we appreciate you being here and it means a lot to see your faces out on that crowd. >> Thank you. >> THANKS. I ECHO THE THANKS of Chair Blum for all
of our students who are here tonight and have been coming to all of these meetings. And thank you, Principal Dessert, for organizing tonight's presentation. Uh if we're moving right along on the agenda uh this evening, we uh we have a donation that we're looking for you to accept on behalf of AES, but with the
permission of Chair Blum, I'd like to just take this opportunity to uh introduce our our interim principal from AES. Would that be okay? >> Yes, please. >> All right, Dr. Dale, I saw you come in. >> I was struggling to get here. >> I didn't know which door to go in.
>> Well, you found us. >> Yes, I did. >> This is >> Welcome. Welcome, Dr. Neil. >> Hi. Hi. Please. I'm Justine Dale and I'm glad to be here. Um I'm so pleased to see the um the students because I'm working with the little ones and I'm so so thrilled with them and I can see what
they're going to grow up to be here. So confident and engaged and that was fabulous. So um I wanted to let you know I've only been here for three days and I can already feel the love. I I am just adoring the students and staff at AES and I'm feeling so welcomed. there's so
much to go, you know, to jump in at this time of the year and say, you know, I'm going to take you to the next four months. Um, my message to everybody is that I'm not going to be making big changes. I'm here to support teaching and learning and to be available and to
learn as I go and to reflect on anything that might come up so that I can then share that information u with central office. I want to thank Dr. Starky for um giving me this opportunity. I come to with 32 years experience in teaching across the country, east coast, west,
west coast, midwest, teaching, administration, lots of different things, but my favorite spot is in the elementary building. So, um, thank you for the opportunity and if I can help anybody, just let me know. >> Welcome. I heard you got quite the welcome from the students as well.
>> I did. I got this huge sign in the cafeteria and that was my focus school this week is just to be seen. I want them to see my face and know who I am. So, I've been spending lots of time in the cafeteria eating and eating and eating and eating and um today was tater tots and they were like my favorite. So,
um yes, I think that I can I can honestly say right now those children know who I am. >> Great. >> So, thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Dr. J. >> Thank you. >> So, with that, we're seeking your acceptance this evening of a donation from the PTO. It's you can see a list of
supplies there. There were supplies uh collected at the GG Winterfest, which was an incredibly well attended uh event. Terry Fleming can attest to that. Uh and all of the supplies will be used by the AES teachers in their classrooms.
If you have any questions about that. Okay, moving right along. We have another outofstate field trip uh from FLMS. This is to the Roger Williams Park Zoo. Uh it is scheduled for May 22nd. It is for 122 grade 8 students to engage in
a project called math at the zoo. Uh to to your question at the last meeting. Uh member Breitman, student admission is $14 and the transportation cost to the students is $11 for a total cost of $25. Uh and all of the other information has been provided to you uh regarding the
trip. So if you have any questions, I can entertain those at this time. >> Seeing none, >> it is a two-day trip, right? What was that? >> Is it two days? It does say per day and I think that usually they're field trips just because it's not on the slide if
>> Right. Correct. All right. This is a one day trip. >> May 22. >> May 22nd. >> Okay. >> All right. If we have no other questions, I'll just move on. I did put an update uh to the previous outofstate field trip that you approved uh in
response to the question about the charge to students. uh in your folder. And you can see that the trip to the Breakers Mansion does have uh an associated cost. Admission charge to students is $5.50. Transportation is $1,650 for a total student cost of $22
for that field trip that you had approved last week. Thank you. No other questions. Uh I'll move on to a hot topic for this evening. Uh that is a proposed change to the 2526 school
calendar. Uh so everybody has really been in anticipation about the end of the school year. Thank you to the blizzard. Uh currently our school year is scheduled to end for students and staff on June 29th of 2026. In the state of Massachusetts, we need
to conduct 180 days of school. Uh and at the secondary level, we need to have 990 hours of school within that 180 days. the commissioner of public education in the state of Massachusetts has the ability to wave learning days should
there be an instance I think you might recall last year fees uh had a day waved as a result of a heating issue I think in the building uh but the commissioner cannot wave learning time just to be clear so currently uh in order to apply
for any type of waiver to truncate the school year in any way we had to meet certain criteria So in order to not have to come here on June 29th and to end our school day on June 26th uh which seems to be quite preferred by
uh staff and families and folks who were not intending to be here uh basically the week of 4th of July uh we have these criteria we have to meet. The first criteria is that the district has used all five planned snow days. those additional five days that you vote into the school calendar and we have in fact
used all five of those and then two more. uh we needed to make sure we are meeting our instructional hour requirement in particular at the secondary level and we do that at all levels across the district and we'll have done that uh even with the these
seven days that we we have missed uh that we have scheduled out with full days of school through June 26th uh to make up for our snow days and we have and in fact we are going until the 29th. So we've checked three boxes in the uh
out of four for criteria. The fourth uh criterion is that we have repurposed any remaining districtwide professional development days and any remaining school closure days outside of April vacation and required holidays. And this
is where we fall a little bit short right now because we have an early release day scheduled for March 20th. Students are leaving at the half day mark and teachers are staying on for professional development. So in order to be able to apply for the waiver of that
180th day and truncate our school year at 179 on June 26th, we would have to take the March 20th 1 half day for students and extend that to a full day for students in order to be able to apply for the waiver. There are two
other days that that might readily come to folks mind when you think about the remainder of the school year and you think about days outside of April school vacation that could be utilized. Um a day that comes to mind is uh what is referred to as Good Friday. Uh but that is a day in which employees can observe
uh their religious inclinations. But in addition, it is a a paid holiday for one of our two units across the district and for a number of our contract employees. So, it doesn't quite fall uh as a day that we could use. And then we also have
a day in the contract April 17th. That is the Friday before April vacation. And that is a contractual obligation we have to both of the larger units in the district. So those days would not be eligible to be used to make up any school time. So right now, in order to
be able to apply for a waiver to remove June 29th and end the school year on the 26th, we would have to forego the remaining PD time that we have, which is on March 20th. So that's what we're looking for you to have some type of discussion about tonight. Would you like
me to apply for that waiver to try to truncate school and and end on 179? And if you would like me to apply for that waiver, then you would have to vote tonight to change the school calendar and extend March 20th to a full day, full instructional day for students.
>> Anybody else? >> You want to take up discussion on that now? We >> entirely up to you. >> Yeah. Does anyone have any questions? Go ahead. >> Um impact on the bus service is there. He's okay with that. >> He is okay with food services. >> Okay. Um
PD. I assume it's the way Terry works. It's already been planned. >> Yes, we have a plan for staff to um earn those PDPs in a flexible manner. >> What ends up happening is if you vote to to do this and we have a full instructional day, the PD time is
missing and then we apply for the waiver. If we're granted the waiver, the teaching staff who would be engaging in that PD owes the district time. So, the PD would would happen anyway, just not on that day. >> Okay. And then that's in between seasons for
sports. So there's no impact on athletics. >> It does not. Although spring sports starts next week, but it won't impact any contests. >> Okay. >> Did you have a question? Go ahead. >> Uh more of a comment. I'm glad you brought it up tonight and not two weeks from tonight because that would be a
little after. >> Be after the fact. >> So this was our option. So thank you for looking into that. >> Mhm. We have a recommendation for Mr. Porio. >> Oh, you mean the senior who who's had
seven days he doesn't make up. >> All right. Any more discussion questions? Go ahead. >> Why is it absent April vacation? That's probably a very obvious answer, but I don't know what it is. >> That's the commissioner's purpose. >> And he didn't. There was no sort of explanation.
>> Not not provided. No. Okay, >> Becky. >> Um, what was the day that we would >> March 20th? >> Okay. >> Would be a full day instead of a half day. >> We would have to move. Not that this would be a rationale. We would have to move media day for the athletes is that afternoon.
>> Okay. >> Again, not that that is a decision maker, but just for awareness. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> We'd certainly work with you on that. >> What's that? If if the committee's decision is to extend that to a full instructional day, we would certainly work with the with boosters on that.
>> Yes. >> Um Okay. So, any more discussion on that? Okay, we can move on. >> All right. Thank you very much. I'll turn things over to Terry Fleming. >> Good evening. Um tonight, uh my first item is requesting another grant
approval. Uh this is a approval of the democratic knowledge project DKP grant from the 18 foundation. The 18 foundation and its civic construction and learning programming is supported by the department of elementary and secondary education. The democratic knowledge project in partnership with
the mass department of elementary and secondary ed are supporting teacherdesigned and led K to2 civics pathways in Massachusetts. These civics professional learning opportunities will let Massachusetts educ educators personalize participation according to the needs, learning preferences, and
schedules. I think that I should reach out to some of our nth grade students to make sure they're involved in some of those conversations. Um, and it should be noted that the Democratic Knowledge Project designs and delivers highquality, engaging professional development opportunities that explore many facets of civic
education and are grounded in the day-to-day work of our teachers. Um, this grant will provide three years of professional learning development to eighth grade social studies teachers using um, Desi Civics aligned resources to blend with their currently developed units
um, and the civics project. And I actually met today with Brian Laru and uh, Laura Barnacote and we discussed our throughine for civics projects. And so um, this is timely. The funds for this grant are paid directly to the PD provider. We do not take any funds in um
to the district. It is strictly PD professional development for them. And if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer those. Any questions? >> Okay, seeing none.
>> Okay, then I will go into the next slide, which is my the rest of my report. Um, it is the time of year when we do our student opportunity act progress report. It is a three-year plan. Um, so most of you probably recall the first year. Uh, last year being our
first year. This is year two. On your report, you'll see the um the goals that we have. Our first one is positive school environment. Uh, we are looking to increase anonymous student feedback forms and measure school culture and climate um to ensure student mental
health and well-being. We are on target for this uh goal. As a district, we continue to work on increasing student and stakeholder voices to build positive learning environments where students can access learning. Uh this year, we partnered with core creative partners to continue to build staff resources to
approach each student and colleague with a positive mindset um that is aware of and determined to support each other where they begin their learning journey. Um acknowledging that the priority is to have our students in school, counselors, administrators, and teachers strive to ensure students know how important they
are to our learning community. Um although our chronic absenteeism, which is one of the data points, increased in school year 23 24, um we are or in 24 to 25, excuse me, we are seeing a decrease overall in absenteeism, which is one of the metrics that we're using to measure.
Our second goal is an early literacy screening and support. Um we are uh determined to increase our kindergarten readiness as measured by improved um grade level assessments given in December and January for kindergarten students in reading and math and to
decrease our tier 2 to tier three supports um over a three-year period. Um we have we are on target for meeting this goal as we continue to be uh focal a focal point using our early literacy screening and support in our elementary buildings. Um data meetings are being
held following every benchmark assessment with um fluid movement. I like to call it a permeable membrane um of student support being provided by our literacy specialists and our interventionists. Um progress monitoring provides data goals and regular review of each
student's growth and their next steps. Um, and through the work that uh, Kelly has done with her team, the MTSS uh, process is becoming more and more finite as we really itemize um, very individual needs for every student. Um, at the middle of the year benchmark as Swampset
had a 90 90.36% of their identified students met targeted growth. And at Freetown Elementary, it was ironic. It is exactly the same percentage. 90.36 of Stu identified students met targeted growth. And at grades, 82.14%
of the identified students met targeted growth in literacy. So, um we're thrilled with those numbers and we're looking forward to a continued growth, which unfortunately this is reported mid year. So, um but I will let you know how the end of year goes um when that comes. So, we are on target for that goal. And
our third and last goal um is our high quality secondary pathways and programs. Um increase in innovative courses offered, improved retention and enrollment rates, and a positive response to um career pathways and courses in the school. Um and I actually
believe that we are on target to exceed this goal as as you heard many of our 9th grade students um recognize the pathways they were interested in and those uh internships that they're looking forward to um this school year. The middle school and high school have made great strides in building a
foundation of accessible high-quality secondary pathways and programs to the students. The first project lead the way course design and modeling is in process at the middle school. We are actually in Framingham yesterday um working with colleagues and uh uh Katie Holmes was
there with me um as we worked on building in our second project lead the way course which is app creators and that is targeted to begin next year. At the high school we had our first innovative career pathway this year. healthcare was initiated and next year
we are be beginning our second pathway business and finance. Over 70 students expressed interest in these pathways following the most recent request form and both of these pathways begin um began due to strong interests from the student groups HOSA and DECA as well as being top market careers in our area
based on mass hire data and as you can tell student voice is important to us. Um and on that slide, a couple of our favorites, Alex and Cam, as they have done their civic um duty and um putting their voice forward for our students.
>> Thank you, Terry. >> Um grant information is continuing to be released. Um we don't have numbers until um August, so I can't give an update more on that. Um we are up to date on access testing and we the state actually extended the timeline for access testing, but we had finished ours here.
Um, thank you to our Yale educators. Um, they did a great job keeping on task even through the blizzard. I mean, not during the blizzard, but um, they kept on schedule with our testing um, for of students. And all of our materials were returned prior to the original due date.
And then on your document, you'll see uh, STMath impact study results. Uh, a little graphic there uh, um, based on the 2021 2022 cohort, uh, 10.68% 68% of uh our students performed 10.68
percentile points higher on the MCCAST than um peers that did not have STMath in their schools. So, so yay GG. >> Yay. GG. >> GG. >> Do you have any questions for me? >> Thank you.
>> Yeah. Thank you. It's great to see everything's continuing to move in an upward direction. >> I agree. Okay. With that, we move on to our uh director of finance and operations for an updated budget presentation for you.
>> Yes, thank you. Uh there are um this is we we've talked about this budget a few times and you've seen some of these slides before, but I think it's useful for us to discuss and and review um that the the this budget was certainly put together with the perspective that the decisions uh around this budget will
certainly um create ripples going forward over the long term within our communities. Uh we have a um commitment within this budget to ensure the daily academic, social, civic and athletic experience where that our students deserve and currently re receive today.
Um, as we go through, as you recall, when we when we were looking at these this budget and started, we started uh before the governor's budget, um, with really the focus on having not only the school committee, but also our community had the opportunity to look at the items
within the budget. uh not necessarily looking at the bottom line but to see and spend some time with the budget prior to looking at a bottom line to understand what are uh the key elements that are going into this budget so that we could have have a conversation around
those things. Um so then when we did get the governor's budget then we could we could incorporate the uh those those pieces of data that allowed an assessment to to be created for each one of the towns. But ultimately that conversation around where does the what is the purpose of this budget still
exists and those are in those lines that are on those budget books that you have in front of you today. We talked uh several times about the the limitations of chapter 70. Um this is certainly a conversation that is being held uh at the state house. It's being held in school committee meetings across the
state. It's being held I'm hoping it's being held at at at dinner tables as well. And certainly if it is, we we want to provide the opportunity for uh our community members to use these form letters to communicate with their uh their state representatives and the
state senators to devo their um interest in having the chapter 70 calculation to be adjusted to assist in districts like ourselves. We um our health insurance number we have received since we started this process. It is uh lower than we
expected which was certainly helpful for the development of the budget. We are continue to look into other ways that we can save including property and casualty insurance. The updated budget as of February 25th when we had the health insurance numbers the overall budget number became
53,319,217. That number is uh 3,434,234 greater than the previous year. Tonight uh as part of this the on the agenda is the opportunity to vote on the budget. That budget is that budget vote is going to come in several
parts because our budget comes in several parts. We have our general fund budget which we have to vote in two what two two steps uh because we have a a school committee member who has a a family member that is on staff. So salaries and non- salaries are broken down for the general fund. You will also
vote for the the budget for school choice which you will you've seen on the assessment the budget for school choice is 505,000. So you'll be voting to use you'll be voting for that to be the budget for the school choice fund in the same way you're voting for the general fund. And then you'll also be voting for
the circuit breaker fund budget and that is I believe it's $1,910,816. So when we get to those places there are four votes u to include all of those funds that are included uh within our budget. There are two other elements of
our budget that are not voted on. That is the idea special education grant and the title grants. Those wouldn't be voted on by the school committee because we don't have those numbers and those are determined by the federal government. But those we use those
numbers the numbers we have as estimates and those are spec for specific services that we provide within the district. The general fund um is you'll see is 49 was at I'm sorry on February 25th was 49,542,654
which an increase from the prior year of of 3,454,915 an increase of 7.49%. We go down a little bit further. We'll come back to this because I think it's important to that when the school committee we can go to the next slide. Um this is where the assessments were on
February 25th with uh Freetown having an assessment in 27 of 15,44,195 and Lakeville with an assessment of 20,134,18181. The access and deficiency at this time from the current in the current year is 2,159,937.
I'm assuming that by now many of you can recite that number, right? You can you see it in your sleep. I certainly do along with a number of these other ones. And last week um the school committee voted to utilize um the option A+ in the
form of uh END to support the budget and to relieve the assessment numbers for the towns that reduced the Freetown and Lakeville assessments to 14,641,365 for Freetown and 19,66,827 for Lakeville.
So you'll see here that in fact the general fund this did not change the budget but it changed the general fund because by voting for the to utilize that money in the general fund specifically for the fire suppression project which was approximately $200,000
and it had been set aside as a capital project assessed to the towns by by absorbing it into the END it becomes part of the general fund and no longer part of the capital calculation. So the general fund number increases by that amount, the approximately 200,000. It's
a little less than 200,000, but it does not change the budget in any way. It just simply moves where it's being paid out of. Instead of being capital addressed to the towns, assessed to the towns as capital, it's being assessed to the school committee in the form of general fund money through END.
And you can see that those numbers match up from before the same uh from the prior slide as a result of the vote to use END the new numbers and the new assessments new assessment rates and the new percentage increases for the two towns. >> And this is where I take over and remind
us all that since the beginning of this uh these presentations back all the way back to January 12th, we've been talking about the importance of programmatic continuity for all of our students. Uh if you recall back in January, the principles who are here tonight as a show of support for the budget uh each
came to the podium and talked to you about the importance of these programs for students. I won't go through uh every element on the slide because I've done that several times for you here and I went through all of the elements on this slide as well as the next two slides at our joint meeting last week.
And you did hear uh tonight from a number of students at the high school talking about the importance of their daily programming of their AP classes and of their innovation career pathway opportunities. And all of those programs are very important whether they're uh math interventionist down at the
elementary school all the way up to, you know, VHS offerings at the high school. Every student is impacted by every dollar in the budget. And I thank you for giving strong consideration to the continuity of all of these programs uh as you face the decision regarding the budget. Uh moving on, last week at the joint
meeting, uh and I did share with you and I I believe we even did it the night before the comparison of local per pupil expenditure. I don't want to belabor the point, but in the FLRSD, we are 282 out of 292 for our per pupil spending. When you subtract vocational and charter
schools from the formula, we are in the bottom 10. Uh we are 376 of 396 for our per pupil spending for all districts, putting us in the bottom 20. And we did hear again tonight the concern for sustainability which I do share in terms
of economic sustainability. Uh however I am concerned as well with the academic athletic civil and social sustainability uh of our students daily experience in the schools if we do not fund the budget. Uh moving on again, last week we
did uh share a comparison with you for our local South Coast community schools. Once again, highlighting the fact that our per pupil expenditure is lower than everyone else in the South Coast and our academic, athletic, civic, and social programming exceeds uh what happens in
many of those other schools in particular when it comes to MCCAST and our academic achievement. Uh moving right along. Uh we did share with you last week uh some very staggering and sobering numbers. Uh if the budget comes in below level service
to uh to respond to a question that I was provided by uh Chair Candido, you know what happens if it's below level service and we give you exactly what was budgeted. we end up cutting $3.5 million from the budget, which means all those one-time expenses would be coming back
to you and saying we need to resend your vote because we can't in good conscience buy those things when we were cutting staff. Uh, and not that any of those things are friv frivolous in any way, but uh, no offense to Ryan Blanchard and we recognize the importance of network switches, but we would we would be
keeping a teacher before we put those network switches in place. uh we would be cutting 50 positions across the district on top of the 11 that we cut last year. I want to be transparent and that the 50 positions are not all full-time, but they are 50 people who work with students in the district. At
least 33 are full-time. Uh we would be reducing a program and a half at the high school. That's one half of our dropout prevention program and all of VHS learning for that total reduction. Uh and then just the the last slide which is even more sobering. This is if
if there is uh no opportunity for an override. Uh and we are closer to a level funded budget than level service. Uh again, we're looking at the uh removal of those onetime expenses and coming back to you and asking you to resend your vote to use END for those
things so we could take perhaps some money out of END to to uh address some other matters. We would be cutting 58 to 60 positions across the district. Again, transparency, not all full-time, but 58 to 60 people who work with our students every day on top of the 11 cuts that we
made last year. And again, it is a program in half at the high school in order to uh cut $4.1 million from the budget. And we conclude our slide deck presentation uh with our next steps. As always, we will take action on any
decisions made here at the school committee. We will continue to gather information, update you on any of that information in your binders and through presentation. We will continue to engage our stakeholders and decision makers. There was a call this evening at the microphone for a round table for future
discussion about budgeting which I am more than amendable uh to engaging in with members from both towns. Uh there was a free town select board meeting last night. So this slide is just slightly out of date uh two nights ago. And there is a Lakeville Select Board meeting happening on March 17th uh
at 5:45 location to be determined at which the budget will be discussed. >> Does anybody have any questions for myself or Mr. Higgins? >> Seeing none. >> Do we have any idea when the state budget's going to be finalized?
>> Typically, it's not until June uh when they gone through all of the different steps. Uh next week we have a uh virtual meeting through the um Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools. Uh they are usually a pretty good advocate uh well they they are a very good advocate
for certainly for the needs of regional schools. They're also a pretty good source of information and they they have conversations with the the people on the state h in the state house who have some understanding of what's going forward and and what are what what are the trends that they're looking at. If you
recall last year, we had several conversations around this relative to the possibility of increase in regional transportation costs or or funding. As it turns out, they've provided it in the form of additional um uh circuit breaker funding. So, those conversations have
not come out. They we haven't heard those things yet. Quite honestly, we're a little we are s we're earlier in the process this year. If you recall, the vote last year was several weeks later. If there are no other questions on regarding the budget, Mr. Higgins will
move forward. >> Yes, absolutely. So, um you have in your packets the um most recent general fund summary as well as fund balances for all of our revolving uh funds within the district. Um so, and you know, I asked
the review of those. We we keep very close eye on the particularly the general fund summary right now um as we go through what what has been a an expensive winter with cold weather as well as snow removal. Um certainly we are we are there very thankful for the
assistance that we received from MIMA to do uh a significant amount of cleaning that or clearing of the snow in in in conjunction with our with our staff who did an amazing job and we were very appreciative of their work as well. Uh we're also very appreciative of the of
Lakeville. Um the chief uh the fire chief uh Mike O'Brien has um reached out to us and and made us aware of the opportunity to maybe get some reimbursement through MIMA for some of the costs that we've have we've had to incur as a result of the storm. So we're
in that process as well. Um and we've identified a number of costs with the intent and hope to be able to get those those things reimbursed. Um last week at the joint meeting a question came up about school choice. What was our what was our current school choice? And I thought it would be
important to share with the school committee correct right now an understanding of where the estimate is for our school choice at the end of this year. We will have at the end of this year approximately $500,000 in our school choice revolving account. That is what we have. We're budgeting $55,000
for the uh school choice. But we will be receiving in each year we'll be receiving approximately $250 to $300,000 next year in school in school choice funding. So the purpose of bringing it down as we were as you may recall we we are in the current year we we had
significant amount of school choice money had built up over the last several years when money had been coming in. We hadn't had the need to use school choice. We wanted to use the federal money first. So u school choice had built up. It was necessary to start spending that down. um really in an
effort to provide some relief to the towns. So two years ago we we utilized about $700,000 of school choice. In the current year we're utilizing $800,000 of school choice, but you can see the numbers starting to we're going to have next year we'll have at the end of next
year we'll have about $250,000. We'll be able to use that in the next year. So, by use by by bringing it down gradually over a two-year period, we're not going to reach a cliff and say, well, now there's instead of $300,000 hitting the general fund budget, which is what
happened in the current year, it in this case, it could it would be 750, you know, 650, whatever the whatever the shortfall would be. So, this gradual process is what we've structured and the school choice, as I said, the end of this year, what we have in the budget is essentially what's going to be voted to be used next year. for this year.
>> Uh we have uh a special education van FL number three that is in need of new tires. Uh if you recall you the school committee voted for the uh sale of several of our old surplus vans. We have done so. Those vans have all been sold. We've received the funding for that.
It's now in our miscellaneous receipts uh uh revolving fund. And so I'm asking the school committee to vote to utilize some of those funds in the amount of $195.33 to replace the tires on that special education van. Uh which really is an
opportunity for us to save a little bit of money in the general fund in the current year. Uh in addition to that um as part of our audit this year in conversation with our auditor uh we have a fund balance in our general fund that
I the research I can do only goes back to 2012 basically to prior to the um right up to the to the regionalization. So I I I suspect what occurred was at at regionalization, but I don't have I I don't have the answer because I don't I can't get a hold of the person who would
have been involved in 2012 is that when the regionalization took place, there was a um a refund by the Souththeastern Massachusetts Health Group to the district of $27,48.88. It was it has been sitting as a fund
balance within our general fund uh since then carried over every year. Uh the school committee the auditor uh suggested that as we are going through this process of cleaning up a number of things that are existing within in the general fund and all these revolving
accounts. His suggestion was that it is probably more you know it is it is within this it is time for it to be moved into the the balance sheet at the end of the year so that it can hit END. So that's that also is what the school committee will be asked to do is to vote
to um to move that from fund balance to the um to the balance sheet for the end of the year. >> Thank you. >> Any questions for Mr. Higgins? >> Is that what how many tires is that? I'm just out of
>> thinking the same. >> I mean tires. That's tires, too. Yeah. So that's a great question. If you'd like, I'll go find out. I thought it was four, but you're right. That seems like it's kind of low. >> It see it's pretty low. Yeah. But but I I will find out. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Thanks. >> Probably. >> You said it, Mr.
>> Please share that. >> All right. And now we will hear from director of student services, Kelly Steel. >> All right. This is just my quarterly update kind of just updating numbers. Um so I just do right now I'm doing kind of quarterly updates year-over-year that's up on the screen for comparison. Um so
overall we are at uh 555 students on IEPs both in district and out of district which is an increase of 33 from September to now. Um which puts us pretty much on track um maybe a little bit above where I thought we might be through the end of the year which I was guessing about 563. That number is
really hard to predict but kind of right where I thought it would be in that arena. Um things to note, I won't go through everything piece by piece in my uploaded report, but our biggest increase um is preschool, which is what we typically would in, you know, assume um because we have kids that get referred when they turn three and that
happens throughout the year. Um and then after that, it's our younger grades. Our kindergarten, our first grades are up um at Asawwampset. All grades are up by um besides preK at Asaw Wampset to that's different. That's usually speech only or service only students at Asawset. It's
not our preschool program. So sometimes a student might drop off and that's why it might be down a number. So that's what happened there. Um and then once you head over to grades it's a smaller increase of two students. Um and students also start to not qualify as they get older if they've kind of close that gap. So that's why you see less
FLMS we are up seven um at the middle school and then at the high school we're down seven. So for secondary we're kind of right where we were again expected. Out of district I have 35 students. Um, so from the beginning of the year to now we're down one out of district student.
Um, so that's the overall on my numbers. I will say, um, I didn't put in my report, but we've done 330 evaluations to date in the district, which is a really big number. Um, and that's with four school psychologists. So, um, but also they're not all most are done by the school psychologist, but we also
have speech and language, our OT's, our BCBA, and our physical therapists. Um, and then we have smaller contracted services that do an evaluation here or there for vision, deaf and heart of hearing, transition assessments, and aiology. So, I'm assuming we're going to hit at least 350 evaluations uh by the
end of the year. All done within the right timelines and completed um effectively by the staff. So, I give a big shout out to all of our evaluators because that's a heavy task for them to do. Um, so it's just a summary. We do have CPAC April 7th. Um, Dr. Dreer is coming. He's a neuroscychologist and is
going to be um doing a presentation and then kind of a Q&A. So, it's a great opportunity for parents to come and be able to talk to a neuroscychologist. It's going to be right here in the library at 6:30 again on Tuesday, April 7th. So, that's what I have for you tonight. If you have any questions, I
can answer them. >> Thank you. And thank you for your leadership because that is a lot of assessments. >> They're an amazing team. I can't speak highly enough of our of our assessment team. Thank you. And I think we have some late breaking news from Mr. Higgins regarding the tire. >> Thank you for bringing that to my
attention. >> Robert is going to hit the road. >> So it is it is $195.33 cents per tire or four tires at the total cost of 78132. >> All right. So we actually need four tires. >> We do need four tires. Four new tires. >> Okay. >> Yes.
>> All right. So uh turn things back over to you. Yep. Give me one second. Okay. So, moving on to our school committee subcommittee and district committee reports. Let's start with the regional finance committee.
>> The regional finance committee um met last evening and in accordance with the regional agreement, we did vote on a recommended budget and um the recommended budget that was voted on was for the level services budget as presented by central office. So, thank you to the regional finance committee
members for um your flexibility and we had to reschedule the meeting a couple times and um thank you for helping to meet our obligation. >> Thank you, Courtney, and thank you for the recommendation. Intern Superintendent Evaluation
Committee. >> Um we have the final draft ready for the summit of evaluation ready to be signed. Um thank you again Dr. Starky and to the leadership team and and throughout all the teachers and staff in the district for um another great year. I think the recommendation is another one-year
evaluation next year. >> Excellent. >> And a new evidence binder. >> Um wealth andness health committee, there's nothing. Policy committee, >> no update. >> Capital committee, >> nothing new at this time.
>> Uh pool subcommittee. Um, yep. Sure. Certainly not as lengthy of an update as last week. Um, but as I did mention last week, uh, we met with, uh, with Jack. Thank you for your time, uh, and efforts. Um, we are working, um, toward RFPs for the leasing and repair of the
Graze pool. Um, we have a lot of interest from the community in fundraising and donations. Um, so we're taking the steps to ensure um that we use the right path uh to be able to do
that. Um, and I I would I would come to you very soon as a full committee to um allow us to fund raise properly to get this project started more. >> Okay. Thank you. And thank you for your
hard work and everyone's hard work. I know that uh it's been very time strenuous but you guys have done a great job so I appreciate it. Um anything under discussion items? I have something. Um so
to my right here, Mr. Steve, this is his last meeting. So I definitely want to thank you for your service and for being an amazing uh vice chair to me this year. I do appreciate it. And again, I appreciate your service. It's been an absolute pleasure serving with you for
all these years and we're going to miss you. So, yeah, there's that. Um, this is my last meeting as chair, I believe. So, that's exciting and sad at the same time. Um, both Bob and I are up
for reelection, so who knows if we'll be sitting here um at the next meeting as well. So, I'd like to take this time to say thank you to our community, to our students, to our teachers, to everybody. Um, it's been wonderful supporting you. It's been great being on this committee.
It's been fun being chair. Um, never thought I'd get to the 12th month, but here I am. Uh, and still sane. So, um, yeah, we'll see what happens and we look forward to being here if we are elected. If not, again, it's been a great run and we really appreciate the communities
getting together and the solidarity you guys show is is pretty remarkable. So I am proud to have been served on this committee for all of you. >> Yep. I would ECHO >> I I would echo those sentiments. Uh >> 38 years right here.
>> 38 years. >> Been an honor and a privilege. Uh obviously I'd like to continue, but if not, uh I look forward to watching Dancing with the Stars with my wife. >> Oh, no. No. Hopefully she's not watching. >> But but I'd like also to thank the
community for all their support over the years and I hope it can continue. >> Yeah. >> If I could just comment. Um >> don't leave. No. >> Thank you for the kind words. And hi, my name is Steve. I come to these meetings
because I care about the school community. I stole that line from our civic leaders, but it truly means a lot. It it's been an honor and a privilege to serve. I've especially I think I started in a pand started for the beginning of a pandemic out of a pandemic three
superintendent. Um my most enjoyable um moments or meetings has been watching students talk about their school, principles talk about their school, teachers talk about their school in this great leadership talk about the school system. And
although I understand um the issues with the budget, um I have no doubt I'm taking a vote tonight that supports both teachers, staff, and students. And to steal a a line from my friend, um we've always been known for a district that
does more with less, but eventually be less becomes less. And and that resonated with me. So, thank you everyone. I appreciate um serving and the kind words >> and THANK YOU AND I REALLY THINK THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT year and I feel as a team we've really
gotten a lot accomplished this year and I'm very proud of that. So let's just continue on on that same train going the positive direction. Um okay. So is that all for discussion items?
>> Moving on to our action items. So I will entertain a motion to approve the interimm superintendent summarative evaluation as presented at the 342026 FRSC meeting. This is a majority of
vote. >> So moved. Second. >> Second. >> Okay. Hearing a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> Seeing none. Thank you very much. It was quite a packet. I expected nothing less. Um and you did a great job putting the summitative together. So, thank you very
much for that. Uh, all in favor say I. >> I >> I. Any opposed? Seeing none, any abstension? Seeing none, motion passes. I will now entertain a motion to accept the AEA AEA AES PTO donations as
presented. >> So moved. >> So good. >> Okay. Hearing a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> Just thank you to the aswamset PTO. >> Yes. Thank you very much. Those items are always needed in every classroom. So, it's wonderful. Um, okay. Motion,
second discussion. All in favor say I. I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Seeing none, any abstensions? Seeing none, motion passes. I will now entertain a motion to approve the FML
LMS out ofstate field trip as presented. >> So move. >> Second. Seeing a hearing a motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say I. I. >> I. Any opposed? Any abstension? Motion
passes. Okay. I will entertain a motion to adjust the 2025 2026 school year calendar to meet waiver application requirements, which entails 320 becoming a full instructional day.
I just added that part just so we all know what we're talking about. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Any discussion? >> Seeing none, all in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? >> Any abstensions?
Motion passes. >> Need lunch that day. Kim. >> Yes. Next up is a vote uh a motion to accept the 18 Foundation Democratic Knowledge Partners Grant as presented.
>> So move. >> Second. >> Hearing a motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Seeing none, motion passes.
I'll entertain a motion to utilize what? >> 78132. >> 781.32 >> so that we have four. >> Thank you. Yes. For four new tires at the cost of $781.32 of the proceeds from the surplus van
sales to purchase and install four new tires for the van. Oh, I guess we should have read that on the second page, huh? >> Okay. Well, we got our answer early enough anyway. >> So moved. Second >> motion and a second. Any discussion? >> I just have a question, I guess. What
was the total that we got for the sale of the surplus bands? >> Um I believe it was 4,000 with eight bands. >> Yeah, >> I was just curious. >> Yeah, >> it's greater than this. >> Yeah. Well, I I assume so, but I just wasn't sure the total. >> I thought you were going to ask if that
includes an alignment >> balance. It's a fair question >> and the undercoating. Okay. Cross proofing. >> All right. So, we have a motion, a second. We've had our discussion. All in favor say I.
>> I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? Seeing none, motion passes. >> I'll now entertain of uh entertain a motion to move the fund balance of 27,48.80
into the general fund for the SMHG membership refund to END balance sheet. Good. So moved. >> Second >> motion and a second. Any discussion? >> Seeing none. All in favor? >> Go ahead. >> I have a question on that. Um does that
put it in uh this year's END to be used by the end of next year? >> So it'll it will be voted to you are by doing this you're voting it to to be into the balance sheet at the end of the year to be calculated as part of the overall END calculation. So
>> ultimately you're voting it to be included in the END calculation. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Any other questions? Okay. We have a motion. We have a second. We have discussion. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? >> No. >> Any
>> I >> Good. Any abstensions. Hearing none. Motion passes. I will now entertain a motion to utilize $55,000 of school choice funds for FY27 budget. >> So moved.
>> This requires I'm sorry, a two-thirds roll call vote. No, you're fine. >> You paused. I thought you were on. >> I know. I'm sorry. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. We have to do a roll call for this. So Barbara, if you could. >> Courtney Breitman, >> yes. >> Robert Clark,
>> yes. >> Jennifer Blunt, >> yes. >> Steven Sylvia, >> yes. >> Melinda Richards, >> yes. Tim Emmery, >> yes. >> Rebecca Kushy, >> yes. >> Okay, so over twothirds we have a unanimous U. So motion passes. Thank you.
Next up, I will entertain a motion to utilize 1,91086 910 816 of circuit breaker funds from FY27 budget. Sorry. Roll call vote 2/3 again. >> So moved. Second
>> motion and a second. Any discussion? >> Seeing none. >> Courtney Breitman, >> yes. >> Robert Clark, >> yes. >> Jennifer Blum, >> yes. >> Steven Sylvia, >> yes. >> Melinda Richards, >> yes. >> Timothy Emory, >> yes. >> Rebecca Kushing, >> yes. >> Okay. Again, with a unanimous decision.
Uh, motion passes. I will now entertain a vote to approve FY27 recommended budget salary portion in the amount of 30 million145221. >> So moved. >> Second
>> motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, it's another roll call vote. >> Courtney Breman, >> yes. >> Robert Clark, >> yes. >> Jennifer Blum, >> yes. >> Steven Sylvia, >> yes. Melinda Richards, >> yes. >> Timothy Emory, >> abstain. >> Rebecca Cushing,
>> yes. >> You have your two. >> Okay, we've met our two/3s. Motion passes. Last but not least, I will entertain a motion to approve the FY27 recommended budget all other portions in
the amount of 19,596. Another two/3s is required. >> So move. Second >> hearing a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> See, go ahead. >> I was just I I just wanted to say, you
know, I heard the concerns from the Freetown town administrator and, you know, I do agree that the round table would be a good idea and I do agree with the comment about the stabilization funds. Um, but to me, you know, we have to make
these difficult decisions and we have to um advocate for the students. And when I saw those the reductions, the potential for reductions, it was very stark. So I think we there's work ahead. I totally agree with that. Um
but I think the continuity of services is very important. >> And I agree, Courtney, and I I just I find it hard to believe I find it hard to digest the fact that we're talking about level services here. We're not going above and beyond. And we literally are
operating at the bare minimum. And yet, >> to reiterate this again, our students are at a high level. Their education is a high level. Our rankings are at a higher level. And yet, >> we're literally functioning at bare
minimum. And a lot of kudos goes out to everybody that's involved. Parents, teachers, students. I mean, you guys are all doing a great job. It just saddens me that we keep hearing this and yet we're not asking for anything or our students and our faculty, no one's
asking for above and beyond. We're literally asking for level services and it's just it's heartbreaking to even have these conversations. It's not as though there's tons of money being wasted in our school department. It's not. And yet here we are making tough
decisions that >> it just it saddens me. That's all. >> Can I add on to that? >> Yes. It's great that we have a culture uh that wants people to come here, but that only goes so far and uh to to see
where where we are as far as the state is concerned, what position we are down at the bottom. Uh it's an incredible tribute first of all to the teachers. Uh but that can't continue because we're going to have good people that leave the district to go to higher paying
districts and we want to we want to keep uh as many people as we can if not all. So it's just I understand I don't understand it either. >> Steve, you want to say something? I would just say from the Lakeville side
also acknowledge um the budgetary concerns um from Lakeville's perspective and the difficult decisions ahead with perhaps an override um discussion at at the next select board meeting. I also appreciate um Miss Petty's comments
about a roundt um with municipal leaders because I think Dr. Starky made a good point at the big joint meeting last week about revenue sources for the town >> and it goes beyond the sustainability of the school budget, but it's about the conversation about exploring revenue
options for for each of the towns um to help with that sustainability conversation. >> Any other questions or comments? >> No, agree with everything everyone pretty much said at this point. And if you need a Freetown um school committee representative for the round table, I
would volunteer as tribute. >> Noted. Yeah, definitely noted. >> Or a community representative. >> Noted. >> We'll save the name plug. >> Okay. Hearing a motion and a second and
having our discussion. Uh again, this is a another twothirds roll call vote. So, if you don't mind, Barbara >> Courtney Breitman, >> yes. >> Robert Clark, >> yes. Jennifer Blum, >> yes. >> Steven Sylvia, >> yes. >> Melinda Richards, >> yes. >> Timothy Emory, >> yes. >> Rebecca Kushing, >> yes. >> Okay. Unanimously, that motion passes.
Thank you all very much. >> May chair, >> I go. Oh, >> you go ahead. >> Okay. Well, just I just found out tonight that the senior citizens breakfast is going to be uh March 25th. That's a Wednesday at 8:00. And I'll be putting up some flyers as I usually do,
but uh mark the calendar. It's a a breakfast like no other. >> It is >> like no other. It >> truly is. >> Taking place at the middle school. >> Yes. >> At the middle school. 8 o'clock. >> I'll be serving coffee. Bob will be serving apple juice and orange juice. >> Um Okay.
>> If I may, Chair, before you adjourn, on behalf of the students and the staff in the district, I thank the school school committee for >> making the decision to support the budget. >> Well, thank you. >> You guys deserve it. Yes. Okay. Any more?
Okay. Seeing 7:22 on March 11th, I am signing off as chair. Um motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oh, hold on. Let's do it right. Okay, we've heard a motion. We've heard a
second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say I. I. I. Have a great night, everyone. Make sure you get out and vote.