That works. Good evening everyone. It's 7 o'clock and I'd like to call together the December 11th, 2025 school committee meeting. If you would please rise. I'm going to the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance 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. >> All right. >> All right. This evening, we have our consent agenda posted, which are the minutes from the November 20th, 2025
meeting, as well as an oath to bills and payroll. Everybody get a chance to review the minutes. So there's a motion to accept the consent agenda. >> I move that we accept the consent agenda. Motion >> made by Elaine. Second, seconded by Sean. All those in favor by saying I.
>> I. >> That passes. Uh this our first opportunity for interested citizens. Wait till the end. >> Nope. Not planning. >> If there's anybody with us this evening that would like to speak before the school committee either in person or on
Zoom, it's your first chance. There'll be a second chance at the end of the meeting. I see you shaking me out, but I just like to say to public record Alex. All right, we'll close that portion of the meeting and we'll move into recognition. Um, Sedar Pami is with us this evening.
Thank you for joining us. If you would please uh share with us the student representatives report. >> Yes, start with Sugarlane. would like to thank the PD PTA for funding their upcoming mad science presentation for students and through the success of the fund run they would also like students
to be able to enjoy this fun science presentation next week. Uh Sugarland would also like to uh wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. Uh next Russell Street students will participate in the hour of code and AI assembly and classroom activities tomorrow. The lead engineer of code.org or will be the
guest speaker and talk with students about how coding and AI is changing the world moving forward. Additionally, they have trimester one report cards posted next week and they're looking forward to learning and growth at Russell Street moving forward. Additionally, they hope
that all families also have a meaningful holiday season. Uh the high school we had this past weekend the LHS drama club performed Our Town Thursday evening through Sunday afternoon directed by Mr. D. host. And then the LHS musicians performed their winter concert last
night on December 10th led by Miss Bridge. And also congratulations to the fine arts students and faculty for their shows. And winter athletics are also starting up now with boys and girls basketball, ice hockey, and indoor track also starting up.
>> So much. Thank you. >> All right. Uh unfortunately, Superintendent Kelly Clint is not able to be with us this evening. He took a uh slip and fall on some black ice and is uh resting his back. Um so I'm going to invite uh director of teaching and
learning Beth Steel to the podium who is going to present uh certificate of academic excellence to Sedart on behalf of ASS in uh superintendent's absence. So thank you for being here. >> Yeah, absolutely. Thank you Sid. Thank you for being here. You can absolutely
stand up. This is all about you and you deserve every moment of this recognition. >> So this recognition as indicated in the name is awarded by the school superintendent but unfortunately Dr. Glen is not able to be here this evening um which he regrets but he will come see you in person on his return.
>> Um so that being that being said it's my privilege to be able to speak to this for for you this evening. >> So um as we know the award um certificate of academic excellence being awarded to you this evening. This award recognizes high achieving high school seniors for academic excellence,
leadership, and community involvement. The recipient of this award is typically in the top percentage of their class and demonstrates strong character, leadership, and service. This award highlights Sedarth's scholarly achievements, his intellectual growth, and his contributions to Wilson public schools. Sid has challenged and advanced
his intellect every year at LHS by taking advanced coursework throughout his academic career. Quite impressive. the the courses that he has taken on from freshman year all the way through. And you may remember that he brings this intellect outside of LHS as well. Uh for
example, by presenting this at the science fair, which last year we were fortunate enough to hear about SID science fair project on let me see if I can make sure I get this correct. Experimentally evaluating the effects of temperature on hydrogen fuel cell power
production and electrolyer efficiency. >> Super impressive. I still very by that um it's very easy to see why ST is the recipient of this award. He's an MHS member, has routinely received highest honors recognitions, been a captain of
the STEM research club, a varsity soccer player, and then outside of school, also was a financial director for the um youth board and a youth board member of the Science Cardinal nonprofit organization, an Eagle Scout, a secondderee black belt taekwond do instructor, and a Brigham Women's
Hospital volunteer. I hope I've not embarrassed you too much, but this is so such impressive work and contributions that you have had here. So, it's my great honor to award to you the certificate of academic funds on behalf of superintendent.
>> Open it so we can see. There you go. >> Yeah, it's official. >> All right, here we One, two, three. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> You must have a clone or something to be
able to get off. >> Not sweet. >> Um, all right. Uh, Superintendent Clenchie usually offers some other form of recognition, but in his absence, we'll let that go. Uh others can feel free to join in tonight, but if you
think of anything, uh we have three presentations to cover this evening. Uh the first of which is the athletics update. So I'll invite U athletic director Mike Lind to the podium to provide an update um over fall and winter programming. >> Yeah, good evening. Thanks for inviting me.
>> Of course. >> Um so opening slide, not much there, but uh next slide. Uh so as Sedarth mentioned, we just we did just finish up fall and we're transitioning to winter at this point. Um we offer nine sports in the
fall as you can see there. They had multiple levels uh varsity, JB and middle school. We had nine sports. We had 17 teams and we had 290 athletes, student athletes. We played over 200 contests this fall between the high
school and the middle school. uh our fall participation. Um we do have some programs that are of concern right now. Um as far as low participation uh the number one being varsity football um something I plan to
talk about with uh Kelly clenching next week. We're going to sit down and have to make some probably tough decisions as to what we're going to do moving forward because the trajectory of it isn't looking good either. Um but some of the other programs are very strong as far as participation. Um for me it always
starts with participation. So you know getting students engaged in athletics is how we then teach them everything from sportsmanship to life lessons to then uh often times reaching excellence and success um in our in our different
sports. But uh like I say, most of the sports are strong. The participation is right where we needed to be in order to have the levels we'd like. Uh but we're definitely not in a great place with the sport of football. And wasn't all that long ago we had about 60 players and this year we had 24. So uh we're not the
only community seeing this, but um it's definitely a concern for me. I was the football coach for a long time, but uh not sure what we can do about it right now. So again, we're going to work on that. Next slide, please. Our middle school participation, uh you
can see we have five different sports at the middle school. Um, those numbers are very strong. Obviously, some of those sports even require cuts, which I don't love from a from a standpoint. Um, but sometimes you just have to limit the amount of players on the team in order
to keep everybody happy with playing time. But, um, so there's our fall participation for the middle school. Next slide, please. Um, fall varsity records. Um, we were we don't really ga I don't particularly gauge the success
of a season on the record. Um, I think most people do because you're used to watching sports on TV and college and professional sports. It's kind of a business and that's what they have to have to win in order to keep their job. Um, you know, we measure success of a season. Did we have a a positive journey
together? Did we did we learn beyond the classroom? um did we exhibit sportsmanship that would represent our school and our town in a positive manner. These are all messages that we send to our coaches um be before every season or in the formative stage of every season which we just did this on
uh Tuesday. We have a meeting with all of our student athletes in the theater and we go over all kinds of information as far as what we expect from our student athletes and um so we look for our student athletes and our coaches to have a positive educational journey. But
yes, we would always strive to be successful in terms of wins and losses. Um, but you can see the records. I don't need to read them off to you, but I figured I'd provide those for you. Uh, next slide. Um, girls soccer is it's a thing in Littleton. Uh, boys and girls soccer.
Soccer is very popular in Littleton, as most of you likely know. Our youth soccer organization is incredible with 4 to 500 um, Littleton students or Littleton kids playing every year. And then that feeds into the high school program are very strong in the sport of
soccer and bo boys and girls. Girls were fortunate to have the the best season they've ever had in the history of um sport. Uh they went all the way to the state championship game. Uh they won the final four for the third time or they they made it to the final four for the third time and that's a trophy round for
the MIA. So we'll be adding another girls soccer trophy to our cases if you come to the lobby at the high school. They made it to the state championship game. We the other team scored with I think it was like a minute left. I can't remember exactly but um you know it was
it was hard but uh to get to that point and um we're town was very excited about it. Uh Littleton police incredibly um supportive of us. I asked them to help us with some escorts in and out of town uh for some of those games that were
headed to um when we were headed to the headed back from the final four and headed to the state championship and they were right and helped us do that. I and the and the players and the coaches really appreciate it. They said how much fun that was. So that was pretty cool. Um
so far we've had a couple of our student athletes uh sign to continue their athletic journey. Uh we have Audrey Doyle and again you know we had a very strong soccer team so here we are with a couple of our girls that are moving on to play uh the collegiate level and Alex
Corey Audrey going to endocott and playing and Alex to St. Michaels. Um so we're proud of that. Um we're a week and a half into the winter sports season. We do start contests tomorrow. We've got uh girls basketball at home, boys basketball, and
ice hockey away. Um, we I do see some new members to the school committee. So, I do think it's important that I maybe cover this with with you. Uh, that we have 12 sports available to our our students in the winter. They're not necessarily all of our all our own
sports, though. We do have co-op arrangements or agreements with some neighboring schools. It really allows us as a small school district. I think this year we have 460 students at Littleton High School. So, we're very comprehensive for a school that size, but we don't necessarily have every
sport under our roof, but it does work out quite well for us. Um, you know, we have boys and girls basketball, boys and girls indoor track. Boys ice hockey. Um, and you can see all the levels that we have for those different sports on the slide. Uh, girls ice hockey, we've had this in place for well over a decade at
this point. Uh, we're very fortunate to send our girls to Westford Academy. Um, the next slide has the numbers. I want to say it's like five or six and it's typically around there. Obviously can't have a girls ice hockey team with five or six girls, but um we're it's been a really good partnership with them.
>> We're fortunate with the swimming and diving. I think we're at about seven over there right now and that's with Bramfield. Uh boys and girls alpine skiing with Lunberg. We've been doing this for a number of years too. And um gymnastics as well. So, a lot of these
co-ops don't have a lot of student athletes participating from our school, but we're able to um serve all of our students with the sport that they want to play for the most part. Um, and even this past fall um I actually think I'm neglected to put
on the slide, but we had a new co-op this past fall in the sport of girls volleyball, which um sorry I missed that earlier, but we had two two student athletes over there at Air Shirley. So, and you should also know that we host um Bramfield and Parker and our boys ice
hockey program. So, there's 11 teams that that we run at Littleton uh within Littleton public schools, but 17 teams total um that students can access with our co-op arrangements. Um we have 176
student athletes right now. We'll we will play over 170 contests this winter. Um, one last thing on co-ops you should understand is that some people think it's as simple as, well, I got I've got a kid who wants to play a certain sport. Can you can you go to this school and play? It's not that simple. They're
two-year agreements with the MIA. They involve a lot of paperwork. They involve a lot of um you have to prove that this co-op should exist, not and it can't just be that there's a student at your school that has the interest. The host school has to have the need. And in
these situations, you know, most these situations year in and year out, that host school would fit that criteria that they have the need to bring in students in those particular sports because it tend to be specialty sports. And we also are fortunate to be able to send our
students to go and play those sports that we may that we may not have. Uh, next slide, please. Uh, this is participation a little preliminary right now. I think this has changed a little bit because we're in that formative stage. Um, for instance,
like boys basketball, I I put 21 because when I put this slide, um, and since Dallas, it was 21, but it's up to 24 now. Um, girls basketball strong in 19, boys indoor track 38, girls indoor track
20. You can see our ice hockey numbers what I was talking about there. that number is now used to be we used we're typically in the mid30s. Um so that number is of concern for us. Um but of that 24 the in the parenthesis there what that stands for is 16 Littleton six
promfield and two Parker just so you know the makeup of our co cooperative team um ice hockey is an expensive sport to run. Steve's nodding his head saying, "Yeah, it's expensive to run." Yeah. And uh so, you know, we boost the numbers a little bit. Um help with the budgeting
for uh with those athletic fees coming in. But um uh and then uh girls ice hockey, like I said, we've got a handful of girls going over Westford and uh you see the swimming and diving and all those different numbers. I mean, alpine skiing is two. Actually, I think it's one. One of those student athletes was
unable to do it. So sometimes it's very very small numbers of kids that are going over to another school to participate in those co-ops. Um should touch upon that unified bowling we're in our oh boy I think this is our third or fourth winter doing that. Um it's been
great. Um we're one of the only schools that does this. Uh mo a lot of schools do the unified basketball and a lot of schools do unified track but we were looking and then they take a break in the winter because the winter's tricky. It's hard with facilities and uh the weather and everything, but we came up
with this unified bowling idea. It's been great um for those to those for those students and uh we're back back doing that again this winter. Um at the middle school, we don't have a lot of offerings in the winter. We have boys and girls basketball and as you can
see that, you know, the participation numbers, you're not accessing a lot of students um with your winter numbers in at the middle school level. um just it's hard to do because it's all facility driven typically. Um just to keep everybody I guess um
informed about you know participation trends. I've already mentioned that it any athletic director we're going to talk about participating first and foremost um and you know seeing that our programs are hopefully healthy with students want wanting to participate. Um
I think I have eight years up there. What I'm trying to demonstrate here is the what I call the co effect and I don't really like addressing it but you can't we have to acknowledge that you know prior to that we were at like 69 to 70% participation
through that we were below 60 we came out of it and we've been in the low 60s ever since. So I've not seen our numbers rebound to that to the pre preandemic um numbers. Uh it's not that there's not the programs there, they're there. Um
you know, certain sports like baseball and softball, we used to have three levels. Now we had we've had two ever since then. Um you know, we're the programs are there for students. It's just a matter of them having the interest or um you know, in order to participate. Um we're certainly doing
everything we can to encourage that. But uh anyways, that's that's an interesting slide. And yeah, it's pretty much it. Any questions? Yes. Um, does this reflect any inter mural leagues that you have
and maybe even like um what are the football way where the belt flag football and and stuff like that just you know I just >> also you would know this >> are are is that one of the ways that we
could >> um help bring some more participation back in get some kids more interested by by putting a little bit of energy into inter mural or J you know JV some of the like build a build an interest kind of
groups. >> Yeah. So um I've been at high school for 25 years now and way back in the early days we did have intramurals but it was um wasn't very popular and it just kind of fizzled out. um at the high school level
uh seems to us that like students either want to play like you know an actual traveling sport um or they want to do other things. Um so the intramurals was a we used to have an I think I I was the intramural director way back in the
early days and um but it just kind of fell off and doesn't seem like there's really been no push to get that back. Um, flag football is something that we do at the youth level in Littleton. Um, it's something that is emerging for
girls. Actually, there's girls flag football in the spring. It's currently a club. It's not it's not it's an MSAA club. It's not an MIA um sport, but it is emerging. It's something that um I have talked about with our current head football coach. Um something that we we
we plan to talk about and look at and see if there's interest there. Um, we play a powder puff game every year, uh, heading into Thanksgiving and it's very popular and, um, as a former football guy, I see the girls out there playing and they're pretty good and they get pretty good within about a week and
a half of practicing. >> You know, they don't practice all that long and they're out there throwing the ball around and catching and it's it's pretty awesome actually. But, um, >> yeah, I mean, I think with the sport of football, I truly think anything is possible. back on the on to that topic
that I don't know where football's headed. I definitely know that you're seeing some trends particularly in this part of the country that um you may see flag football become a a sport for boys and girls um if it if that's what uh
seems like the appetite is. Um I'm not making that prediction. I'm just saying those are things that I think are within the realm of possibility. The other thing too is state of Massachusetts could look at um eightman football which like the state of Maine has. Um many states in the Midwest have it because
they're just so small the high schools. >> Um and then on the girls side of things, yes, flag football is is picking up momentum uh in the state and that's a spring sport or spring activity I should say. >> Yeah. >> I just was thinking in terms of you know things we could do >> Yeah.
>> to to offer up ways for kids to take part in sports without like big commitments. this fun and then they catch the fever. >> Right. Right. Right. Yeah. >> What What would be the pros and cons of getting into a cooperative arrangement
with another district for football? >> So, that's that's the focus of my meeting with uh Kelly this week, next week I should say. We'll >> I think we're at that point now. Um I've already had formative and early discussions with Air Shirley. Um that's
our most logical school to do this with. We're just we just want to see what um Wilton High School's had football for 60 years. 1965 was the first season and you know here we are. And um so this is something that we don't want to
completely lose. So, some of the things we need to talk about is a lot of times with the co-ops, like with with the boys ice hockey co-op, we take in those those prom and partner kids and they become our student athletes in a in a relationship with those
schools, but for the most part, they're our kids at that point. And when we send the girls over to play soccer academy, you know, I check physicals, I check their academic eligibility. Beyond that, they're now becoming Littleton High School students, Westford Academy student athletes wearing those uniforms.
Um, so we're hoping to kind of strike more of a balance with the the football, I hope, so that there's identity for both schools even within the branding and perhaps within the funding and everything. So, it's something we have to talk about um and see where we're moving forward. Hopefully both because
Air Shirley's in a little better shape than us, but not much. So, um, yes, we are definitely looking at that. We're going to have to >> I know it's a it's a tough moment to get to, but I remember you coming to present last year and you were already worried about it. So, um
>> it's >> it's a tough moment. >> Yeah, it is. And you know, there's a tremendous appetite um for the sport of football. Like if we had uh six home games this year, um the September and October games were there were a lot of
people in attendance, the band, the cheerleaders. Um they are major community events. Um and we run other we run a lot of night games. Um every every sport gets four at the alumni field that night and soccer draws quite well. Um
field hockey draws some people, but nothing draws like a football game. And um it just does. And uh Kelly came into the Thanksgiving Day game. I was talking he was taking it all in and he you know we were both saying it's just going to be a shame if we can't continue to have
some uh have football but um you know right now we just don't have the critical amount of player kids that want to play and u so but yeah we're looking at that. >> Well good luck to you with that difficult conversation. Yeah. >> Yeah. I think go ahead.
>> Yeah. >> Oh, I was just going to say, so maybe Mike doesn't have to say it. I think one of the risks of running a co-op is that it then brings it harder to bring it back to Littleton >> because the students are then driving to Shirley for practice. The games are at
maybe we could have home game. You know, maybe they do want to give us some home games here. >> Yes. But, you know, then you're looking at like the eighth graders, seventh graders coming up and it's like I might choose another sport versus signing up for football because it's really no I want to go with my friends. I want to stay in town. So, it it just the numbers
could go down even more. But you got to do what you got to do. If that's the only thing we can do, it's better to have it's better to have that option for some students than to not operate at all. I was like, these are just like ticky tacky questions, but I'm just kind of curious. >> During the co-op,
>> do they pay like when when we send the girl to WA, do they pay the WA fee or they pay our fee? >> There's a No, there's there's a business side to sports 100%. You know, sports are expensive to run and um >> all of our co-ops, whether we're the host or guest,
>> they pay the fee to the school district, right? >> Bronfield and Parker kids play pay our fee to us. Our girls played the Westford Academy fee and so on and so forth. Our girls played the air surely fee when they went over there for volleyball. >> Right. >> So
with with the football one um even though techni technically it would just be a co-op as far as the MIA is concerned what I'm hoping to maybe get more close to more of a merger with Littleton and Air Shirley. >> And it's always with the hopes that both
schools would be able to go back to being self sustainable. >> Yeah. And so football um whereas most co-ops you don't you don't have a a program that's kind of um going out of business and then you join. Most of them
are you know a school has the sport and a school does not have the sport and you bring them in. So this is unique that >> two schools surely in a little better shape than us but not you know they they numbers were in the 20s or high 20s or whatever this year too. So, they weren't in great
shape, but they can move forward. But, this is unique that you talk about a sport we've had for 60 years, and I think they've also had it that long, too. I mean, they've had >> I don't know how many of you know about the Morris brothers, but I mean, they've had guys go to the NFL from here Shirley's program. So, but their program, same thing. They've seen a
dramatic decrease in participation and uh you know, there's a lot of sports to choose from and there's a lot of information out there and and uh people are nervous about head injuries and as they should be. Um, so those are all things I think that contribute to where where football's at these days. Um, it's
still the number one consumer product by a lot, but as far as people want to watch the Patriots and everything, but at the high school level in New England, which we're not alone seeing this in a lot of communities >> in the DC8 game, do they shrink the field? >> They do. Um, most of the time they they
they trim it down. Um, I believe it's just the width is trimmed down. Yeah, >> I think it's full length, but um yeah, you know, it came up for a rule change. Um the rule change proposals come up every two years in the MIA and they get voted on by elementary schools. It came up for the I believe the first time
ever, the last rule change. So, um it's it's real and it's if there was eightman football, we we would we would move forward. We'd be okay cuz you take two linemen off and one skilled position player and um you don't need large
rosters to do it. And uh you know it's real popular in places like the Dakotas, Nebraska, place where you see really um small communities maybe not in land mass but populationwise. >> Sure. >> Yeah. >> Uh but did you say we're in a position
to have girls flag football this spring 26 or it's something that we're targeting 27 or 28? We think it's coming. >> We're talking we're talking about it. I talked about it with the current head football coach and he was interested. I said, "Hey, this would be maybe if I was still coaching, >> if I was still coaching football, I
would I would want to do this because um it it looks like fun to me." Um and I know some schools are doing it, >> right? >> Would it be something? Well, the hard part is is that, you know, spring is a huge participation season for us. How many how many girls would be interested in doing it?
>> They can do it if if they're running because it's a club. >> A girl who was say running track, she could also do this. if you if you made it a sport, they can't one sport per season, bonafide. But uh >> yeah, >> so that's why it's kind of state of club for a couple reasons. They they um they
feel like maybe that bolsters more participation and you maybe you wouldn't have the same commitment level as like a true MIA sport. It'd be lower. Um there's fewer contests, but it's it's emerging for sure and it's going to be an Olympic sport. So >> I can tell you all about it. So there
there was so we had a we had a >> my two girls >> girls flag football league in Littleton. So the Littleton flag football program >> continues to grow year after year and it grew to the point where the girls were playing in their own league against other girls from other towns. Right.
>> You went from two girls to nine girls to four girls teams. >> Wow. >> In just three years. >> Yeah. Four total players then nine total players and now or girls. >> Yeah. >> Wow. and their skill level to your point phenomenal the growth from even what we
saw last year in first practice to like >> plays and train like it was unbelievable. >> Yeah. So um we'll continue that dialogue and um I'm not ruling out anything as far as if the interest is there and um it's not it's it's not an expensive thing to get started you know because it's
>> you're not talking a full-fledged sport. you're talking a a club statement >> for the coach which is like >> I think they're like $500 $500 or something like that. I'm not sure the exact amount but um and then the equipment's minimal and uh so have to
find out more about it but uh Air Shirley currently does it. Lemonster's doing it. I don't know what other schools in our league um are doing it but I do plan to um you know look into it further. >> And then my last I think this is my last question. >> Yeah. the uh the participation rate 63%
for I guess that's the prior year. Is that is that about average for the similarsized districts that we sort of compare ourselves to is I mean is that normal? >> So when we were when we were 69% we would be considered above average. Yes,
100%. I was always I was always hoping we'd hit that 70%. Um I've been the athletic director for 21 years. Um during my time when I started we had um we had 14 sports we have 24 now if u so we've added a lot of sports yeah um over
the over the years um and and when I say we've added 10 three of those were the unified sports but again it increases participation and it hits a population that was not really gaining access to that but then we've added seven like you know varsity sports as well that that's how we've kind of gotten our sports up
to six up to like that 69% range. >> Yeah. Um, we've just seen a decrease. You know, we used to have three levels, we only have two levels now. We used to have two levels, we have maybe one level. So, um, you know, things are evolving and I I can't explain exactly
why, but um, >> we'll we'll we'll see what where percentage is at the end of this year. >> Yep. >> In terms of participation, um, >> I went to the Lemon Sturf like the Lemonster Thanksgiving Day game because my son wanted to see that Osiris. Yeah.
>> And the band is included in this calculation, but between the football team, the cheerleaders, and the band, >> they must have had 75% of their high school uniform that day. It was like the wildest thing. Like >> the amount of students involved in that. >> Um, and the game was a the game was a
blood bath. >> So you see Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know, that's not a good matchup anymore. Talk about the Swans in the state, but that that happens. But what you're seeing there is now with this, you know, I know it's been a long time in football, but um you're seeing pockets of places that
football is still where it always was. Lemonster is one of those places. >> Yeah. >> Where uh they have I think they haveundred and I I want to say last time I think the AD told they have like 130 kids playing football in that you know in that >> and it's got the youth program, right?
>> The youth pro. So our youth program again, you know, uh during COVID that was we came out of CO and it was it was done. It was over and um now you look three four years later, you don't have that pipeline anymore of kids that are playing and here at high school level uh
trying to figure out a path forward with with low numbers. So um >> but football had to evolve and change. I think it has. I think that you know most places have flag to get get kids started and then eventually they want to probably play tackle football. on the girls side of course it's flag but um so
the good thing in Littleton is the flag is still very u strongly in place for boys and girls we know that we're just missing that middle piece and that you know high school participation right now isn't so hot but uh uh yeah it can it can it can swing back you know pendulums
kind of you see that you see that happen you see things eb and flow all the time um you see where it goes in the years to come but right now we got to figure out a path forward for next Yeah, >> two things. >> Girls slack football. We often played
swimmer with Westford, so they seem to have an up and down girls. >> Okay, good to know. Yeah. >> Yeah, we played their teams. And then are the middle school sports sixth through 8th or typically just seventh eighth graders? >> So they are they are seventh through 8th unless we don't fill it up with seventh
and eighth graders. Then we open up to sixth grade participation. Uh so like um we have sixth graders, right? >> This fall. So most falls, most fall, um we've needed sixth graders to fill up the field hockey program down there. Um so we did that this fall. Uh you know,
soccer, we were we had to make cuts in soccer. So seventh and eighth grade, we're going to prioritize those kids. Y >> um >> so yes, it it varies. >> Okay. And then in the spring, is there middle school baseball and softball or >> Great question. So baseball and softball, two of those sports that we
always had three levels. and three levels is what you want, you know, to keep kids playing on a develop developmentally appropriate level. >> Um, came out of COVID with two levels and made the decision to go JB and varsity because the town has, you know, up through eighth grade and then use
utilize eighth grade waivers as needed to fill up the JB roster. Well, that eighth grade waivers turned into seventh and eighth grade waivers turned into basically predominantly middle school kids playing at the JB level. and we made the decision after last season that um we're going to go middle school and
varsity. >> So, middle school baseball softball is coming back this spring. And um so, >> pardon me. And um logistically, that's not great for us because just because of the fields. We we only really have one
baseball field and one softball field now. Um they're awesome fields. um which I'm going to just one thing I want to touch upon before I finished up here as a new baseball field. But um so instead of do it was more of a logistics piece and also maybe those maybe those two or
three ninth graders that aren't on varsity that by doing JB you you kept you keep them playing but like last year our JB baseball team was 100% seventh and eighth graders. They actually did okay. But um in the middle school, we didn't field a JB thing, but we would have fielded a middle school team six
through eight. >> Yeah. >> So, we came through that season saying we've got to do the middle school varsity. And logistically, it's tricky because high school baseball, varsity, and JVs played Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and middle schools played Tuesday, Thursday. >> And you really can't deviate from that
because there's not enough officials. We got to spread them out across five days. But, uh so we'll work I'm already working with the coaches. We're going to we're going to figure out field programming and everything to make that all work. But we will have so this spring we'll have middle school baseball and softball, middle school outdoor track. So half of the sports we run at
the high school will be available to middle schoolers. We won't have we won't have middle school boys, girls lacrosse. We won't have middle school boys girls uh tennis. >> Okay. So, and that brings me to another thing I wanted to I didn't put on the slides because I didn't have any like aerial shots yet because these projects
were wrapping up like when almost like when snow was starting to fly, whatever. But, uh, you probably driven by. We have uh, new Dennis. This was a LPS and more so PRCE having the funding for this, but um, through the community preservation
acts, I believe. Um, we have new tennis courts. I'm super excited about that. Those those courts are right beside the middle school gym. Um we've had the least desirable tennis playing situation of any school on our schedule for all 21 of my years as athletic directors. So it
has been not even close. We for many for the first half or that first 15 years we would we had two courts at the high school and two beside um central office. So we would we would the team would arrive couple matches would get played
there. would get back on the bus with our kids and their kids and then drive across town. It's not great in any way, shape, or form. And then we struck a deal with that um the Weber property where we have two courts behind there, but they're on private land and um we've had problems with those courts flooding.
They weren't I don't think they were installed properly. So, we were still playing in split locations, but we were at least not having to take a bus to get there. This will be the first year in all of my 21 years actually in the history of having tennis because even in the old days they used to have two at
the old high school and then two besides central office. This be the first year where we can have four matches being played simultaneously all in view of all the coaches. The coaches can be together and then the kids that are waiting to get on the courts. Um so tennis is five scoring matches. We'll play four scoring
matches with one scoring match left to play and then we'll put we'll put um exhibition or JV matches on the other three. So, it's going to be amazing. And um repurpose the high school courts. They're still tennis courts, but um
they're going to be more pickle ball orientated over there at the high school. That's going to be more park and wreck program. Um so, and that's the better location for that because you can't disturb. There's really no neighbors there to disturb. Mhm. >> You couldn't really do pickle ball at the middle school because you've got a you've got a neighborhood right there on
the other side of the arites. >> So, those tennis courts very exciting. Take a look at them. Uh there's no nets up anymore, but uh they they they're they're really excited about that. I'm excited about next spring seeing those first match get played in and all the home matches. And then um the Wickham
baseball field, which is the one um over in front of Russell Street School, has been fully renovated. And essentially what we we wanted to do was we wanted to bring that up to the same um the same specs as the Jet softball field which is
beside the turf which became which came with the turf project as part of that funding. So the baseball field is um you know full fence uh 40ft uh back stop that contain your mile balls. Um and yeah so in the spring we won't be
playing any high school sports at the high school. Um >> we run a shuttle bus every day but you know we just figured it was probably just at this point rather than just playing baseball up there was probably better to go all in at the other site because we're already running the shuttle bus and we have to place. And
then the other thing is about three or four years now, couple years now, I don't know how many years we've been doing it, but we really solved all of the youth soccer and youth sports field issue problems because when we made the the high school into a giant soccer complex, fall and spring, we really have
we have enough green space probably for the first time in all the years I've been here to service all the youth sports because the spring it used to be really tricky. baseball, softball, boys, girls lacrosse, and boys girls uh or youth youth, I should say, youth soccer, youth baseball, softball, youth lacrosse, all competing for space. There
wasn't enough. >> But there's still a baseball or softball field at the high school. >> There are, but they're um they haven't been maintained in about four years. >> Okay. But that's going to stay in existence >> for now. They may be removed at some point if it doesn't seem like there's going to be a major swell back to
baseball and softball and just you have more soccer fields. Um because uh you know there's the soccer participation at the youth level is is u you know a gigantic offer. So you you need you need green space for that you know and uh
>> so that's been a positive too. And we were we were we arrived at where we did with the Wickham field because of the soar project going back how many years that was ago now? um about three or four I'm not I can't remember exactly but somewhere in that range that once they
made the discharge site that was right where uh into the outfield of the baseball field and in the soccer field so we couldn't use them in that process we people decided they like playing over at the Wickham field because that site is just much more uh going on every day
with and just that's how we arrived at at this uh you know place in time with that renovation taking John, >> real quick, I just wondering has Littleton ever had a wrestling program? >> Yes. Um had wrestling had a co-op with
wrestling and we that the most recently that was with the show tech and um there was one, you know, we thought there'd be more, but there was one student who went over there and then he didn't want to do it anymore. And once you don't have any students to send that way, um you know,
there's there really no you're not going to keep it going because it's you have to renew them every two years. So not not having any interest recently in that, not saying it won't happen again. There are wrestling programs in the area that Littleton could join likely because
that is one of those sports that schools that have it a lot of times. Uh the numbers aren't um the numbers would support adding a school a lot of times. wrestled. They did hit >> the um do any of the softball or
baseball uh districts that we play, do they ever have night games >> or day sports only? >> I know we have the softball lights, but we don't use them for the varsity program. >> Well, well, we haven't had a spring where those lights were in place. >> Okay. >> They just got finished.
>> Yeah. So, um, there's the only the only town around us that has that has lighted fields is Hudson. Um, so I do think they play and they have a lighted baseball and a lighted softball. >> Okay. >> And I I do believe they don't we don't play them in those sports. We're going to be they're u they're very strong in
those sports. Um, but they're the only towns around us I know of. Uh, and I think Marorrow's um Marorrow has lighted baseball and softball, but most towns do not have it's a big it's a it's a daytime sport. >> Do they do the ads want a night game?
Can you get night officials? Can >> players I mean when they have the facilities, do they put night games on their schedule or do they just not? >> They I think they maybe to put a put some on. I don't know how many um schools that have the lights we don't they're not on our schedule typically.
Um there's only a couple of them. Um, you know, lighting a baseball field is uh I know that the jet took four poles. I I think lighting baseball field would take as many as six poles, I think, to do it right. Um, it's it's a pretty major endeavor. And um, you know, you
you light a rectangular turf field, we use our turf field, football, cheerleading, boys soccer, girls soccer, field hockey, boys and girls lacrosse. You're seven sports. We use it for baseball and softball. Since we got the turf field, our baseball softball teams
don't start the first two weeks in the gym anymore. We put them on the turf and put each of them on one side of the field and now they're at least they're on, you know, 50 60 yards worth of turf as opposed to being in a high school gym and like, you know, breaking lights and
everything. Yeah. So, um, so the amount of use you get out of that, but, uh, baseball would be, you know, a pretty significant undertaking for nine 91 baseball games. Or if you rented it out though, maybe, uh, you know, then you have other usage for
>> Yeah. And it doesn't have much use for the youth program either because the diamond's too big. >> Diamond's too big. And and I think some years you have a team at that level, some years you don't. But with us going back to having a middle school baseball team, I'm thinking that youth baseball might not field a full diamond team. They might just say, "Let the middle
school team uh handle it." >> Yeah. But on the other hand, they once those lights um got turned on at Jet this past fall, they were out there like every night cuz you know, I'm there all the time. We're either finishing daytime
games when it's getting dark or we're doing night games and they were out there like I mean like it was new of course you know it's like the new car effect but um you know those lights were on like every night and they had youth youth softball and youth baseball um using that. >> Yeah >> because they're going to put the
portable mound on it I think. So they're going to get a lot of use out of that uh like net field. >> Great. >> Yeah. >> Great. >> Thanks for the update. >> Hey lots of questions. Lots of interest. >> Just for the record, I believe this
would probably be Mike's last reporting to the committee. >> Uh well, yeah, we were going to invite him back in the spring. Okay. But yes. >> Yeah. I think I usually do a a winter spring one. Some years I have, some years I haven't. But uh yeah, we can do that. Okay. Y appreciate it.
>> Mike intend to retire as well. >> Yeah. >> So we will make sure to have you back. >> Yes. >> Yep. >> Before you wrap up. So, thank you for everything you do. >> Thank you. >> The offerings, the participation, it's amazing. >> Yeah. Well, Littleton's Littleton is pretty awesome and it's been a great
place to be and hence it's why >> people don't typically leave here. You know, I've been here for 25 years. I've been uh grateful to be here. So, it's been great. Uh it's been my life and everything and raised our own kids here and uh it's been great. But, uh ready
for the next chapter, but got this year though to finish off. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Thank you. >> All right. Our second presentation this evening is fiscal year 25 proposed capital requests by business manager Steve Mark.
>> Yeah. So, uh reports are in your packet. It's on the screen. You can't read it. I'll go to the next page where I zoom in. So, this will actually be a recap of uh the projects we did in FY25 and then I'll give a summary of where projects we're looking at for FY26 as well. So in
FY25 uh this was from the uh the 10-year capital plan that we submit to the town every year we update that submit that to the town and they include that in the capital planning. Um so this past year
uh we had done um some major high school rooftop unit replacements. Uh we had done the one at the auditorium. Uh and the one at the auditorium is probably almost as long as this room is wide. That's a big big unit. Um 70 tons. Uh I
forgot how much it weighed. Um but we did that unit and we did two other units uh on the high school as well. And that was a combination of uh capital money uh in addition to um some uh town had some ARPA federal money that they were able
to uh use to help offset some of these projects as well. So um we did those projects um this past summer. We also did some high school flooring. Um, this past summer we did the uh main academic hallway. We did the foreign language
wing hallway and we did the athletic uh hallway. Uh, put down new flooring down the flooring there was there was uh starting to deteriorate and showing signs of wear. So, we had that replaced. Um, so those are the big projects uh we
did last year. Um and then um just to remind the committee that 125,000 uh that was uh additional funding that we needed for the big um auditorium RTU unit. We had got prior funding from
that the year before went out to bid. Uh bids came in higher than we anticipated. So uh we had uh a request for an additional 125,000 to help offset that. And then uh working with the town and um the assistant manager uh and the finance
director uh we were able to use um some ARA federal funds as well and that project had to be completed by the end of this month. So uh we did that and we're good shape of that. So that those are the big projects that we did for FY25. Uh FY26
uh again it's in there and I'll zoom in on uh the specifics. Um we are looking at going out to bid for uh middle school rooftop units. Um there are some units up there that are
requiring a lot of maintenance and a lot of issues uh going on to those. So we are looking to replace those. The high school boilers uh we are postponing that. We are not uh uh we are not pursuing that at this point in time. Uh we did apply for MSBA funding. were told
that couldn't have two projects at the same time. Um so that got um denied by MSBA. However, the good news is well bad good news bad news. Um we recently had one of the high school boiler sections
crack which is what we're worried about. Um we were able to talk to our um contractor and he is he is able to get uh some sections. So apparently some miraculously showed up from the last time we did this which was 3 or 4 years
ago. Um I suspect what happened is um some of these boilers were replaced by other communities and I believe these are probably recycled full. So um and that's why there's um some available. So >> we're not in an immediate need to
replace that at this point in time which is good news um because there are sections available. Um, right now it's down. We're down in one boiler right now, uh, because the other one's cracked and it's shut down. So, hopefully it stays up during this cold weather. So,
um, >> we are, >> what's the estimated repair on bringing the down one back up? >> Uh, it's about $10,000. Yeah. N or $10,000 or something like that. So, >> is the technology on these boilers obsolete or something? Is that why you're having a hard time finding parts?
Uh because nobody does cast iron boilers anymore. >> Yeah. >> They're all doing condensing boilers. That's different technologies and different uh inner structures and working. >> I don't remember what the differences are, but nobody's doing big huge cast. I mean, you know, the the high school
boiler um the two of them at the high school, they're in the basement. I mean, they're as long as for me to the other side of the road. They're huge. just big cast iron, >> lots of cast iron sections and the water flows through and it's got flames underneath it and all sorts of stuff industrial.
>> Yeah, they're they're kind of being phased out uh in the industry. Uh and a lot of um uh the big push these days are heat pumps. Uh so they're getting rid of boilers going to heat pumps which are usually all electric as well. Uh so we're looking at those options as well
um for the rooftop units at the middle school to see if that's an option. One of those one of the one one of the problems with going to heat pumps is the building itself isn't designed for the extra weight that heat pumps have. And so um I've talked to some districts that
they they've done heat pumps but they've had to do some internal structural supports to support those. Um tends to increase the price tag quite a bit. So, we're looking at all options. We're working with um our in town engineer uh and coming up with options.
So, um so we're looking at um potentially potentially up to five middle school rooftop units. Um depending on um the estimates and the bids, uh we'll probably do a base bid and then some add
alternates. So, if we can add additional uh with the funding that we have, then we'll do that and get as many done as we can. Um for the middle school again um the boilers were pushed off. Uh the track resurface I'm I'm working on that um now uh we're putting bids together.
Um we're also going to combine that hopefully. Uh we had talked about that last year and possibly using uh CPC funds or donating money to CPC funds and then they get the match and then CPC would pay for the track resurface. So,
we're working with those details as well. Um, trying to maximize those dollars uh that the town has. Uh, and then it's not on the list. Uh, but we did have an issue this year with uh speaking of the alumni field lights, we had um some issues with those. So, we
are actually looking uh working with um Musco at this point in time to put a bid package together um to replace those lights uh at Alumni Field and those will be LED lights probably similar to what was put on uh at Jet Field. So, they'll
be the state-of-the-art as Justin said, I think they'll be able to flash when there's a touchdown or a score or something. So, >> the girls state final, you were know, right? the Grove State Finals soccer game. Whatever lighting package they had, that's what we wanted.
>> It was right. Wasn't that such wasn't that such a cool experience? Like lights and everything. Yeah. >> You know, it's funny like Mike's saying like, you know, football like is, you know, brings the community out >> and >> you know, you put something on Friday night, be it lacrosse or field hockey or boys or girls soccer, and you got the
lights and the music. I mean, >> it's a whole new experience. >> Game we didn't know a single person playing. >> It was a whole new experience. >> Yeah. Wow. Yeah. >> So, we're looking at those for alumni field. Um going to put a bid package together, go up to bid, um and hopefully
get that done next summer. Um maybe sooner. We'll see. But, um just two quick questions. One, I there was like a question I wanted to ask Mike and it was about the track because I knew we were going to talk about it. So, I just wanted his opinion on the track. Um, yeah, I I do think
that whenever the time is right, we need to do the trap. We We don't want to do it too early and you certainly don't want to do it too late because then it's more than just a resurface. >> Yeah. No, this is the time to do it. Uh, it's been 12 years, I believe. Um, Mike and I have toured the track with the
track uh companies and some engineers. Uh, we all agreed that this is the time to resurface the track. Uh, so we're working on that. This is the um Friends of Littleton Track. Yep. That's not the exact name of the organization, but >> uh they made a donation a few years ago.
We've been holding some of that money for this $4,000 purpose. >> They have likely uh some more money to donate to the project as well. You're probably aware of that. >> Yes. But, um, let's take a look at what they've given us in the past, what they might be able to give us in the future,
where our funds are, how we can best, uh, apply those funds for any matching or all that stuff. >> Yep. We certainly will do that. Okay. >> Absolutely. Um, the other project that's on here is the Russell Street playground. Um, we we fixed the sidewalks that we had some issue with
some tree roots wrecking the sidewalks. We fixed those. That was a tripping hazard. also an impairment to um some of our handicapped kids getting to the park to the playground. Uh we also put down a rubber surface on the playground. Um no more bar walts at the Russell Street School anyway. Um so that makes it much
more handicap accessible as well uh for those students and we think that was um a definite improvement to that. So um again for FY26 we're also looking there is some additional flooring uh we need to finish up at the high school um
hallway flooring um uh the the um guidance hallway um that floor needs to be replaced. Uh and then uh for the future ones we'll also start looking at working on some classrooms as well. So um those are the bulk of the big
projects that we're doing. So, um, >> so you said it earlier because we're in the MSBA program with the Shaker Lane School. I just want to cl like clarifying question that prevents us from accessing any MSBA money for things
like boilers or roofs or >> windows or whatever like you. >> That's my understanding. Yes. Until the Shico Lane school is quote unquote substantially complete. Okay. So, >> so 28. >> Yeah. That's too bad. You were hoping to get
that MS for the >> We were hoping that they would come through that help us help us do that. But we were told absolutely no, you can't do that. So >> I mean it's reasonable. >> Substantially if the kids are ran
August of 29, right? >> Correct. Yeah. Uh August of 29. That really is the beginning of fiscal year 30. So the first time we'd be able to be this would be fiscal year 31. And here we are talking about fiscal
year 26. That's five years. Correct. >> So we would need if we need we needed to do a roof, we needed to do a boil, if we had any, you know, one, two, $4 million expenses, we wouldn't be looking at any um state aid for any of those things.
>> As I understand it, that's correct. Um but we have worked and and um those conversations had been part of um the whole discussion when we were talking about funding lane
>> and capital projects and um Steve and the Fincom committee is aware of potentially having to fund these projects as well. So that's in their plan. I don't remember all the details but it is being discussed by the town >> and I think our part of that plan is to
apply every year as so long as we would be eligible. >> Yeah. So if we're not eligible there's no sense in applying but if we're eligible we said we'll apply we'll apply we'll apply and eventually we hope to get it. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> There is a chance
that's great but they did. >> Good or they change the rules. Sure. >> Okay. >> Thank you for keeping on this. It's it's great that we're maintaining our assets
and not letting them fall into disrepair. So, it's >> not every district is so diligent. No, I I I can tell you stories of I've heard from other districts as well, but um I mean, look, we have a um we have a a maintenance program with a company that
we've uh been dealing with for I've been here 19 years and they've been our contract. We go out to bid every 5 years and they keep winning the bid. So, um they're um great company to work with. They understand our systems um know our buildings inside and out. Um, and they
do a great job maintaining um, preventive maintenance as well. Uh, the contract we have with them is replacements or for if a if a if a motor goes, a pump goes, it's on them to replace it, not us because it's part of
the contract. So, it behooves them to maintain those uh, to be running as efficiently as possible. So, um, so we have a great working relationship with u that contractor. Thank you. be glad to answer any other questions or
provide other information. >> This is outstanding. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Thank you. >> Want to take us through the year budget report? >> Yep. Let me pull it up. Uh so
reports in the packet. Um again, um there are no concerns here. Um we we uh forecast we have uh sufficient funds to get us through the rest of the year. Um you know, meet all of our
obligations, payroll expenses, special ed, tuition, uh all of those costs. Um on the one of the kind of good news, I guess, is we were in a contract for natural gas that we had entered in a couple years ago. um when the prices
were higher than they are. So, we were kind of locked into that. Uh that contract had just ended. So, uh we immediately as soon as that contract ended, we saw um a rate reduction of um almost half of what we were paying for
natural gas. Um, we are also working with uh the new assistant town administrator on um a townwide natural gas purchasing contract where
all of the town buildings are included in um kind of like a co-op purchase uh with other towns as well. So hopefully we might even be able to get lower lower than lower rates than what we're current currently paying. So, um it's kind of
good news. I mean, natural gas is still is still creeping up. Um as you know it from home, the the prices are still up, but um we're we're trying trying to save money everywhere we can. So, um so that's on the good news. So, um again, there's you
know, the financial report is here. Uh nothing, no concerns about um there are no big unknown expenses that are um coming down the road that we're aware of at this point in time. So we'll be in good shape.
>> Good. Any questions for Steve? >> Great. Thank you. Great. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you very much. All right. We've got um one piece of new business this evening, which is an update from the uh superintendent search subcommittee. So, I'll ask uh clerk Lane
and member Sean to present the three options. Um, three or four. Three, I guess. >> Three. Yep. >> Four with free a >> I'll I'll read it as the agenda says the three options uh for the school committee to consider regarding the
engagement of our superintendent search firm. Three firms, four options. Yes. >> Awesome. Good. So, starting off, uh, thank you to Alex for pushing out the application. Join the search committee. Uh we are
accepting applications till January 5th at 3M. Uh we're then going to uh the 9th in order to talk and uh recommend uh you should be appointed for our community. Uh the superintendent search committee will be made up of school department
employees and local residents. Um moving on to hiring a firm. I did want to say Ela did a great job of reaching out to the firms. She is definitely the plan contact for all three. She did a great job. this uh scoreeet as well but I just wanted to give given the likely spending
money and how important this decision is I wanted to walk through uh some of the proposals. So this is Hazard Young. So I think overall they are a national firm and so I think it was really smart
to pull them in. That gives us a good lens into the choices that we you know spend a little more money. Um so again I'm going to kind of whip through these slides. Okay. So um so perfect. Yeah. So again got a national uh reach. Um they
have like a four-phase approach. Uh basically engage, recruit, select, transition. Um they do have uh some good supports for um the transition uh luck. Uh so let's see go down
go down to the select phase and we'll want this in the record so people won't see that page. So yeah, so they will help us uh planning uh timeline for the committee uh books on interviews. Um they helps
with publishing uh ports for the community. Um and then if you keep going um I think the big piece with them again is their national reach so they can recruit uh a bigger pool of applicants. I think the debate is whether or not
that's always good. I think sometimes you know we've discussed perhaps we want someone that has much experience. So, is it valuable to have a national reach? We can debate um we just skip to the fee structure. Um that one just the fee structure if you
would. Perfect. So, you'll notice between the three, this is definitely most expensive. Uh they come in about 25 grand. Um the other two are significantly up less than that. Again, you're paying for um a national profile,
you're paying for uh some war in depth background checks, uh and so on. I know links a little bit too once we start discussing, but wanted to kind of present that. Uh go to the tenative timeline. It's a couple of slides.
Making jump on it. Um perfect. So I think this is likely going to be timeline for most of the options we have right now and I are standing up for search committee in December January we would start process of understanding what uh
community wants u the application process would open up uh and then by March or April we would be able to have candidates recommended to the full school committee and move forward and And we skipped down to NASDAQ.
So Linds offers a little bit less than the other two. Uh they uh they have outreach as well. They have a guided search. Uh they help with publicity. Um they do have a separate cost for that.
uh they estimated about $3500 to $5,500. Um they have an affiliate discount 20%. But um uh so with the guided search uh they would assign us consultant. I think with all of these reps that's roughly how it work uh and then their cost would be
roughly 12,000 to 20,000. I know the score sheet uh has that as well. So again we would have an affiliate discount about 20% as well. So um uh so yeah so coming in less than hya
and then the last one uh if I skip down to mask um so mask ends up being the cheapest option uh they're 115 um I would say that we also have an existing relationship with them we have a local
person that we work with so there's an existing relationship there which is great uh we and I spoke with them. I've had a good good conversation. Um I think uh so just a little background mask is mass association of school committees.
Uh they have over 160 searches they've done the last two decades. Uh it's a good experience and again they're pulling for mass mostly which I think from my point of view is really good. Uh they have extensive experience uh as well.
also um they have a 1200 person recruitment list. Uh but I think overall my viewpoint discussed is that it feels like mask is probably the best bang for a buck. I know this also is definitely related to a free option. I do think it's likely
worth it uh to pay for the additional help. Um so again we can post we can discuss but uh yeah I wanted to have a robust live show so people can go back and look as we discussed. I'll let you take over it.
>> Oh, okay. Um, so you all have this side byside comparison. Um, I thought that would be fulfilled so that we're comparing apples to apples. >> Um, the proposals obviously are formatted differently. So, it was kind of difficult to look at them without a
score sheet. So, um, my impressions from reading the proposal. So HYA is the national firm and they um you know the proposal had a lot of marketing in it. So the things that they seem to be promoting the most with their
services are their um it's not just that they have a national reach but they actively recruit. So it's not like they're just posting the oper the uh the job. They're reaching out to people that they know that might be a good fit. So that was unique to that proposal.
>> They're offering like a head hunting. >> A head hunting. That is the term for it. Yep. >> And also the thing that they seem very proud of is their their protocol for background checks. So they've developed this process that um is more rigorous
than what you typically get for background checks. Um so those seem to be the two big benefits. The in my mind the drawback is that because they're national, they're not in Massachusetts, they're in Illinois.
Our consultant um they do have a Massachusetts based consultant. He's in Situit. Um and Janine asked a good question before the meeting. Has he been on a school committee? And it looked from his long bio. I didn't see anything about school committee work. was more
consulting at a um with um national organizations. So um you know that's a kind of a a little more with HYA. Um NASDAQ had the briefest proposal so it
was um we didn't have quite as much information. They are regional in that they they operate throughout New England. So our goal with these proposals was to find you know one national firm, one regional firm, one
state focused firm. Um so you know looking side by side with the others they didn't provide as much. Um there's plenty of school communities um in Massachusetts that do go with Nestec. Um, these are the the three that we've
got proposals from are the top three that school committees choose in Massachusetts. Okay. >> Um, and then we've got two options from the Mass Association of School Committees. Um, we, as Sean mentioned, we've met a
couple times with our consultant, um, Alicia Min, who's who's a local. So she's I first met her. She was on the Westford school committee when I was in leadership there. So I met her because I was in this setting. You know, I was
presenting to her and she was asking me questions. Um she's now on the Noba Tech school committee, but um she is one of four field directors for mask. Um she happens to be in our region. So, this is
just like a big coincidence that if we do go with them, our consultant would be this person we already know. Um, and she spent some time with us uh with a detailed description of all of the steps that they would help us with. Um, some
of it is would be free. We would get technical support um because we're a member. Um, the full contract provides a lot more support. Um, so you can see on the score sheet all of the
the X's, all of the things that that they would provide for us. So, um, they do, um, you know, I was originally concerned like if we go with a Massachusetts based search firm, does that mean we're only recruiting within Massachusetts? But no, they recruit
nationally. So, um, you know, I don't think they've got the bells and whistles that HYA has, but they definitely, um, post nationally. And one other thing to consider with all three of these search
firms, paid advertising would be on top of their rate for proposal. So say if we if we put a paid ad in a Boston Globe or an education week or you know any any number of journals that would be an
additional cost um about 4,000 per ad. So that would be on us to decide how much we wanted to advertise. Um so I you know we I don't know if you guys have any questions. You know there's a lot more information. I don't
know how deep you want to go. Um I mean what you just brought up like um when one does a search I mean are there networks where everybody's just part of it and and you can really like reach everybody through these networks or do
we need to put paid ads in? I mean like to be thorough and to >> Well, they were recommending two paid ads. >> Okay. >> Just to um make sure we're reaching people outside of their network. So kind of add $4,000 to anything. Yeah. We're
spending here except except >> Yeah. 4,000 per ad. Yeah. So and that would be part of, you know, once we contract with the search firm and start developing our strategy, the strategy would dictate >> how much advertising we want to do. Yeah. >> Okay.
>> Um my other question was so so staffing, I mean I've met a lot of people from mast and they know Massachusetts. Um, do you did you get the feeling that HYA I mean they're very professional.
Can we rely on them to understand the legal the the regulatory landscape here in Mass? Um to I you know I just assume there are things that we can and can't do and I would lean on mask for that. Um but but do you think
we can trust HYA to do that and and that their staff will also like really understand um the roles that we have here in Massachusetts and how >> Yeah. Well, it was it's interesting when you read the proposals because they're
um it's almost like when you buy a house, you know how there's the sellers real estate agent and there's the buyer's real estate agent. It kind of felt like that like it felt like HYA was more the sellers a like more the more
representing the executives. >> Okay. Whereas the Mass Association for School Committees was more the buyer representative, you know, does that make sense? >> Um like they the things that they support us with and that they talk about
are the actual steps that swoon committees have to take in this process. like they get very granular about you do this and you do this and you do this and the other proposals didn't get even though they were very long they didn't
get into that level they were more um you know promoting their reputation as you know head hunters or their background checks etc but um you know the proposal that we got from mask which
was also lengthy um goes through step by step with you know how we would in January have a community forum where we would have opportunities to hear from the community. We would also develop a survey to send out to the community. So
we would take the information from that develop our vision for what we're looking for in a school superintendent. We would use that vision to design a brochure. Um, and mask has a graphic designer that
they use to design the brochure. So, it's not the same brochure from every community like it would we would have our own branding on it and so forth. And then that brochure is what gets posted um and then
um they also develop an application. So say somebody sees the brochure, they reach out, yes, I want to apply, then mask will have already helped us develop an application form that the candidates get sent so that every it helps with,
you know, comparing apples to apples. Um, all of the firms um would screen resumeumés for us um and rate them. um they would help us with developing
interview questions. You know, they've when we talked with Alicia Malum from Mass, she said they've got a bank of interview questions that are their favorites from when they've done this process with other districts and we could pick the ones that work for our community, add our own, you know, and
it's um we're still running the process. It's just that we're getting these supports from the search firm. Um, if we go with full contract with mask, they are the ones that interface with the candidates. So, they would be
arranging the interviews, they would be contacting unsuccessful candidates, that thing nobody ever likes to do. um they would um you know but at the end of the day we would get the finalists as
a full school committee to interview um and they will have already been screened. Um and so these will be our three, four, five candidates that we will interview as a full committee in open meeting. Um
there's a whole process for that too which I'll get into later. But um and then the other thing that we would get if we go with a full contract with mask is an um onboarding for all of us after the after we select
our next superintendent. So they would conduct a workshop um that talks about roles and responsibilities um you know onboarding the the superintendent but also helping us develop our relationship with the new
superintendent. Um mask also has a feature in their full contract where if the superintendent fails to complete two years of service, we could reinstate the search process at no cost.
Um, one thing that HYA did had proposed that was unique is they have key performance indicators that we could use to measure and assess progress of our new superintendent. But I don't know, we have our superintendent evaluation uh
protocol which I think would kind of take care of that. But so that's sort of the the process and this would all you know we're as Sean mentioned I think it's the first week in January we're going to select our search committee we've already got about 32 applicants
from the Google form. >> I was going to ask how many applicants and then how many parents was it against? >> Yeah so we are so what well Sean why don't you speak to that because that was the part you worked on the most. >> Yeah. So currently there's two responses. Um, right.
So, >> and also how many are you looking for? >> How many like So, we were debating probably 13 by 15 odd number. >> Okay. >> Um, past that, we're not sure. It would depend on the quality of candidates. >> Well, we're trying to represent various
constituencies in the town. So, it wouldn't be like all Russell school, Russell Street School parents, for example. it will be, you know, on on the form they have to check a box saying what constituency they represent. So we
we had a long list because we were trying to also think that we might have some duplicates, right? So you could be a board member but also a parent, you know, that kind of thing. So, um, that's going to be our job in the first week in
January is to try to to select a well-balanced search committee that represents multiple constituencies in town. >> Exactly. Yeah. So we basically had a category for each school saying whether a teacher and then whether or not you're a parent. We also included parent of a
child under five figuring um you know ultimately the kids the school system CPAC PTA member um central office school administration member of the town board. We're trying to kind of get an idea uh you know who they'd be representing like
was saying getting a good cross-section. So yeah there's been 32 responses. Um I would say that most of them have been uh parents or events. Um and probably could use more applications from school this
way. >> Um any other >> questions? >> Yeah, there's a orientation that is uniform. You want us to come to the orientation? >> That's just for the search committee.
>> Yeah. So that you uh you could yeah this is so this the job of the search committee is to screen the candidates and so the search firm will um will give us a list of names of
people that pass their criteria. >> Yeah. And then um you know that's the work that the search committee will do is try to winnow that down to three or four or five at the most candidates for the full
committee to interview. So um yeah I mean Sean, what do you think? Did school committee members come? >> Welcome to public games as well, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I mean you could there there really isn't cap on that either. You said three, four or five >> of finalists. >> Oh finalists. Okay. Yeah, cuz I'm
confused. If they're presenting somewhere between two and four, I mean, they should interview six, seven, eight and then >> Yeah, >> I know you were thinking. >> Thanks for doing that. That's why I included eight. Um,
>> yeah. So, that that all makes sense. Um, >> but are we part of the search committee that will also screen candidates or we are just >> the school committee? No. No. >> No. Including Elaine and Sean? Well, we're on we're the subcommittee, >> right? >> So,
>> so what you know there's there there should be at least one school committee member on the superintendent search committee. >> Yeah. >> Well, they're what they're what the two of them are responsible for doing >> is coming back to us next school committee meeting and presenting who
they believe should be on the search committee. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And they might dec >> or one of them and then here are the other 12 or 13 or 14 people >> and we'll make that decision next meeting. >> Got it. Okay. >> This meeting what we're trying to do is
select our path forward with professional help. >> Yeah. Well, and the the other thing I realize now this sounds a little confusing. So um we already get free technical support from mask and so we are using that
um for the orientation for the screening committee. So that's the the first question on the forum is are you available on January 20 from 7 to 8. Yeah. >> And that will be >> for Alicia Malin from mask to come
orient the screening committee uh for the work going forward. And so she's even if we don't end up going with mask for the contract, she's providing this service for us um through the free
technical support because we're a member of mask. Is it? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I think to reiterate too, right? So yes, either one or both of us will end up on the search committee, but we ultimately decide who it is, right? We interview the last mentioned the last two to five candidates we have. We make the final
decision. >> Yeah. Yeah. I think that um we can't have a forum until we're interviewing the finalists, right? >> That's the problem. >> I'm asking questions about the process because of it. Now, I know that today we're not doing that, but because it's
helpful to know sort of at which point in each part of the process a school committee member is involved because it sort of highlights where all these supports will come into play. That's the reason I'm clarifying. So there should be school committee involvement >> the whole way >> throughout the entire process
>> uh because of open meeting law and all that good stuff. The the heavy lifting is going to be done by John and Elaine as subcommittee members but each decision will be made by the five of us right now. >> And we plan to um present an update at
every school committee meeting. >> Yeah. and and also involve the the full committee in making decisions as as Justin was saying like along the way like tonight we're hoping to have a motion to choose which search firm we're
going to contract with. >> Other question about the search firms and the process that they where they help. um under HYA it looked like uh I had noticed that public relations and there were some other things that were add-ons
like it wasn't included in in their basic costs. Um did you get a sense as you were interviewing as you were talking to the firms like what is the need for like public relations? >> I'm really glad you asked that because I forgot to mention that. So, uh, you may
know that the school district contracts with JGPR to do the public relations for the school district. So, sometimes we get these emails from JGPR. Well, they they actually send it to Kelly and then Kelly sends it to us, you know, just um
announcing, you know, interesting things that have been happening in the district. But we they can also support us with PR um with this search. >> Okay. >> So it's a little tricky because P is
their point person because you know he it's when the way Kelly uses them it's it's through operations and so this is the one and only time when we would be the point person because Kelly can't hire his own replacement. >> Right. >> So um that's Sean. Do you happen to talk
with Kelly about, you know, how >> like do they have experience doing this too? I mean, I'm kind of >> Well, they would like who knows what they're doing, >> right? Well, they would partner with the search firm to help us message the
community. >> Okay. >> I think that would be the biggest goal for them, right? to keep the I mean this is a huge part of this process is that you know we got the community paying attention now with this Shaker Lane thing and I think the fact that we've
gotten so many people responding to this this survey to be on the screening committee like 32 is a much higher number than I was expecting. >> Okay. >> Um we've got people's attention. We have a very engaged community right now and
so we have to make sure that we're messaging all the different the steps that we're taking to make sure that we're listening to the community that the community is helping us develop our vision for what we want for our next superintendent like all those things
have to be messaged and so um >> do you want to say more about that >> great idea though right you said that you were interested in building out a web page for sorry I'll let because >> Okay. Yeah. So, um we've as part of our work with the
subcommittee, we've been stalking other districts and seeing how they do this. >> Good. >> Good. And you know, one of the things that we've been noticing is that many school committees that are going through this process of a superintendent search develop their own web page that's linked
to the school committee web page that's linked to the school district web page that's linked to the town web page. So, it buries it a little bit. That may be a thing that we might want to talk about how to not have it so buried. But, um, I
think we definitely should come up with a strategy, a plan for how we're going to communicate all of these steps to the community so that when we do vote on who our next superintendent is going to be, we don't have folks
saying, "Why is this the first time hearing of this?" Exactly. You know, so >> we absolutely want the whole town to be sick of us by the time we're voting on it. >> They may be that already, but >> but that's all right. I mean like but like yeah please quit asking us about it just vote on it. Yeah,
>> to the point I discussed with just a little bit about creating a communication subcommittee uh some that tonight or probably next meeting the agenda but uh likely you know I'm trying to do this podcast just was on the last episode um I think Ela will be joining
to talk about the search next episode but just in general like evaluating what the website looks like for the school committee evaluating what points out HR um thoughts I've had and I discussed with Alex is that I'm going to have a virtual office hour once a month so like 7:30 to 9. So people that, you know,
can't necessarily get here, maybe they don't want to talk in front of the whole town, they can talk. Um, you know, perhaps we have uh some kind of survey that goes out to the town, get an idea of uh uh things that they might want the school committee to do, right? So just something
Justin, myself, and Kelly will likely do that subcommittee. >> Yeah, we can. That's a great idea. We're on full support of that. I would imagine we can um we can make that official next meeting. Great. >> Kelly's back. Um, lots of good ideas.
Uh, lots of information shared thus far. In looking at the survey results of the 32 respondents, we're currently still seeking a an applicant. Um, someone from the staff from Russell
Street, someone from the staff from the middle school. Um, all other boxes have been checked. the uh Russell Street parents are in the leap. >> Noticed that. Yeah. >> Um I I guess what I would like to hear next
is just maybe from the two of you uh where you've sort of because you've spent the most time on this, where you think the best option for us is and then we can as a committee talk about the pros and cons of those options and then maybe try to land someplace that makes sense. >> So
>> yeah, >> I'm not sure which one of you wants to start. Maybe you can talk about where you who your favorite is and why. >> Sure. >> I can start if you want me to. >> Um my recommendation I think Sean and I have already discussed this. We agree on this that we would like to go with the
full contract with mask and when we met with Alicia the way she she presented it very succinctly. It's that with the technical support, we're running the search with their support. With the full contract, they're running
the search with our with our input. So, it's just like who's got the bulk of the work. And there's a ton of work, you know, and um I feel like
what they're charging the 115 seems very reasonable for all of the support that we would get. Um the other the other reason I'm leaning toward this that I'm recommending this and Sean spoke to this earlier is that we know who we're
getting. You know, we we already know Alicia Mal and we know that she's um very very smart, hardworking. She knows all the ins and outs of this. She's done it multiple times before. She just finished up with Glosser.
What was the other one she was talking about? Beverly or something. Um but anyway, this is what she does. And she's um I like that she knows the Massachusetts communities. She even knows the field of superintendent
candidates that that are applying and you know it goes in cycles like you know you've got a pool of candidates that applies for a superintendent position only one gets it and then that pool you know regroups and applies to the next one. So you know because she's local she
kind of watches all that movement and um knows who's not getting hired for certain reasons. you know, it's that inside information that is compelling to me. I feel like HAA would be the expensive way to go.
Um, they I feel like if if we were a large urban district looking for a national search, you know, that our person may be in Arizona right now or, you know, but I just don't feel like we're that kind of community. >> If we were Boston >> or even Yeah, if we were Boston it but
we're Littleton. like I really feel like there's someone in Massachusetts that's there for us. Um and Nestec just felt like it had the least to offer or at least they didn't have a proposal >> that um
>> perhaps we're lacking that we have MASC and the services provided otherwise maybe net would be the best choice. True. Not every state has >> an association that uh that offers these work services. >> And the other thing, you know, that I feel like Alicia knows the community
because, you know, Westford's in our backyard, our front yard, whatever, you know, but so she kind of gets the vibe in this part of the state. Um, and you know, I mean, she's she's on the
school committee for Nishoba Tech. I mean, that's our region, too. So um that I I feel it's a little daunting to do it just with the techn technical support like then we would be the ones reaching out to the candidates. We would
you know just all of that um you know I I feel like it would be a more professionally run search if we had to address. >> So I have something to add on that but it looks like you've got everything that you said. Absolutely.
And I think Janine mentioned the fact that you know you were fair with the person from HYA found a school committee right obviously know Alicia has done it now multiple times I think that's really great um I think also that uh
um you have plans to make but um yeah I think that they are cost effective at 115 is very reasonable obviously to get a bigger pool with advertising is additional but um I think it's someone we already know someone worked with and someone trust
Um I'm uh um that's helpful and I appreciate the recommendation. I personally I'm sort of between the two options with the MASC. Um so perhaps I have like a slightly different perspective on the 115 spent
because I served on the town administrator search committee twice. So, I worked closely with uh the town of Littleton's human resource department and that application process was run in town by folks on the payroll. And um I'd
like to kind of speak to that and then talk about the differences between what we would receive at no cost, just our regular association dues, and then maybe what what the 115 actually boils down to because we need some help and the professional services are offered. But I
just I want to look more closely at what we're getting for the 115 because um all the things that you shared were great, but you know, Harvard just had a superintendent search. They selected one person. If those applicants are still
seeking a superintendentship, I can guarantee you they're going to see >> our posting. >> Um as well as others that are floating around. I'm willing to bet that this network of superintendent or assistant superintendent that exist in
Massachusetts are pretty well plugged in to the MASC. And I don't think Alicia's not going to share with someone that we're looking for superant because we didn't stroke the 115 check. >> So I'm not sure like that a lot of those soft uh features aren't going to come without
writing the check anyways. Um, so I I guess in full disclosure, I'm advocating for not writing the check. Um, and seeing if we can do this ourselves. And I if by all means you can talk me out of that, that's totally fine.
>> But, um, every dollar that we spend is a dollar that doesn't end up in a classroom. >> Um, this is a super important decision, but if we can end up with the same candidate pool without spending the 115, why why wouldn't we? Um,
so in terms of what they offer and what they don't offer, like I'll just run through this pretty quickly, like development of vision, including district needs and goals, um, I think we I think we have that. I think we have a strategic plan. I think we've got a bunch of staff that's willing to talk with us, a bunch of
staff's going to end up on the sub on search committee, and there there are discussions are going to take place about where we're strong and where we need improvement and and the like. Um, develop a timeline was already shared tonight that we have a timeline. We that
probably is the timeline. Define scope of search. Um, I think that's naturally I'm I'm not sure what that actually means, but I think it's going to kind of take care of itself. Recruitment through networks, that's not awkward in either thing in either one of the categories here, but I I think that's going to
happen either way. Like I believe that once the job posting happens through the various networks of superintendents, assistant superintendent, other districts leaderships, I think people are going to learn about this
um distribution of the application form interested candidates. I believe that the town at Littleton Human Resources would handle that for us. This is we are the ones we were not um >> you might remember when we met with Alicia she recommended that
>> check >> well no that we do all of the um the search ourselves and not go through the town human resources. >> No >> because we're the ones hiring the the superintendent. >> We absolutely are the ones hiring the superintendent. make the decisions,
but there's no reason why they couldn't post the the electronic link and receive. >> Oh, absolutely. But they wouldn't be part of the hiring process. They could post stuff. >> I'm not suggesting that they are part of the hiring process. Not suggesting they
have a seat on the subcommittee or they're involved in any of the decision-m. >> I'm just suggesting that they could >> distribute the application. >> I think you're already getting there. One of the particular points for me is background checks. That's an important piece. >> Yeah. >> That they could do that they might know
through their network, right? Like they might know again what she said might know why they didn't get another job, right? >> Yeah. Might be a little harder for us to parse out. That has some value to me. >> Abs. That's a really good point. So, I was under the impression that that is
likely a Corey running someone's criminal background, possibly running someone's credit. What else? >> Oh, calling the references, >> talking to other folks in Yeah. I mean, there's >> you're paying for the incentive patient
some degree. >> Right. Right. >> It's not just what you're talking about is the onboarding of a new hire like the things get checked before they get hired. But >> right, like there it would be um
yeah, talking to the references >> and also Yeah. >> Have you ever talked to references before? >> They're they're references, >> right? And there's a trick to it. Like if they're just saying general good stuff, that's not a good reference. If
they're giving specifics, that is a good reference. And so you can kind of see through those, but I would prefer having someone um who does this for a living be in charge of the background checks. Um
and also they would be guiding us through the interview process, too. So there's a >> it's it's a lot of work for a volunteer. I'm telling you to we all totally get it.
>> Yeah. I mean, we have jobs, too. So, >> was you know, >> um Well, what I was gonna say, Justin, I totally understand the point of there is a candidate pool and most likely, like you said, there's a tra traveling candidate pool, if you will, and
internal candidates and whatever. And so, if we did this option or this opt option, would we end up with the same candidates? Maybe. Would we end up hiring the same candidate? We would have in either scenario maybe, but in this case, this is the most important decision for our committee, for this
town, for this district. $11,500 after somebody stayed for 20 plus years. The goal being again, >> 40 possible years, let's say, in a dream, 30 even for $11,000 to ensure not just that we got the right candidate,
but that the process was done in the most high quality way possible. And I'm thinking back to school start times. I heard about that trying to get past years and years and years and years. And I remember talking to Kelly about it and saying the difference this time was
process that we brought all the families were involved, all the teachers were involved. I mean the data, the communication of all the things and the way that that passed and we had community buy in. Same with Shaker Lane. I think the process was outstanding in the whole way through. I worry with
the volunteer and how much work this is and just some technical assistance versus having a really high quality process though the result we may end up with the same person but that process I think is going to make all the difference in the community buyin for me that $11,000
seems worth it for that reason. That's a huge point, I think. You know, like being able to no matter what, no matter where we go, we know we've we've crossed every tea and dot every eye. And I appreciate I mean, I would love an extra
$11,000 anywhere in our school's district. But yeah, being wise about how I spent it, that was a great point to be. >> When did the time administrator search? Mhm. >> How did that process go? >> Yeah. So, um I can share that. So, the
application goes out, right? Uh those that are seeking, those that are looking, I mean, it hits it hits every search board there is out there. Um you know, roughly like 20 applicants come came in. All right. And and you know,
let's say the there was some turnover in that position, right? So perhaps the um perhaps it wasn't as a sought-after job or people didn't know what they were getting themselves into like we could have a high performing school district with somebody exiting after 15 years.
They're you know select board was having their fights and whatever. Um so applicants came in some were local some were uh some were you know known to us. You know you could um you could ask around you could try to figure out who these people were. you could try to
figure out where they why they left and where they came from. And some were national. People were applying from Arizona. People were applying from California. Um people were applying and you speculated that maybe they were trying to move back this way because of family or something like that. Um so the
the reach appeared to be large. Uh the applicant pool I would say was qualified in terms of like the final six that I saw. The three that we ended up putting forward to the select board were all very different but I would have felt comfortable with any one of them
being selected. Um and then ultimately we ended up with Jim and prior to that we ended up with Anthony. Um and that was 100% volunteer job. So, you know, we we sifted through the applications, we talked about them, we ranked them.
>> Um, ultimately we invited six in for interviews over the course of two nights. Uh, probably, you know, eight hours worth of time and then the three final candidates went before the select board. So, I get that like $11,500
plus maybe some advertising that we do, which I want to talk more about with I want to have a like I want to talk more about how we might be able to use the existing PR firm to do that for us. um isn't like it's a drop in the bucket, but I want to make sure you guys
understand what you're getting for the 115 because in my opinion as it stands right now, I don't think we're getting a whole lot more for the 115 because I really do think that the same application's going to go out whether or not we write the check or not. You're
going to get the 8 to 15 people if that's on a subcommittee. You're going to get the same applicant pool. The community is engaged. I mean, I've looked at the names. they recognize a lot of them and we're interested in doing this this job. Um, MASC, whether we pay or not, is going to
offer us a bank of questions that they believe are uh have been successful. I would like us to create some of our own questions as well. Um, I I just I just want you guys to really like identify that the 115 is worth it and these are the following reasons and
I'm all on board, but right now I'm still thinking that the 115 is not necessary and the 15 people that want to end up on this uh screening committee are would be able to do it with with the technical support and without the full buyin.
>> I have another question about earnest. Um, if we were to even before we take a look, but if we were to take a look at the pool that we get from Massachusetts and say, hm, we'd love to see a little more a little more diverse, you know, like can you cast your net wider and
mask >> well goes on the internet so cast as wide as it can go. >> Oh, well, I don't know who sees what, you I mean like like there are channels that stay in different in in different silos, you know.
>> So, let me rephrase this. >> I see your point because it it goes out. So, anyone that's looking >> would see it, >> but what you guys have talked about a little bit is perhaps maybe there are people that aren't even looking that would be good candidates. >> Um, and I've already had some of those
conversations. I had them down at the Cape and I've had them locally within various communities like, "Oh, by the way, we're looking." So, if you know somebody upandcomer or, you know, someone who's an assistant that's probably, you know, happy with their job, but I would want to make sure they
would see our posting and give it a consideration. Um, >> so yeah, I don't I mean, you you certainly can do that one way or another. you um >> there's also >> they post the application, they come in, the screening community decides we need to post again, you know, we need to do
something differently because with this applicant pool, we only are we're not interested in enough people. >> I I Yeah, I'm like looking to mask for like and where would we do that that would be different and and and better than what I some you know something I
could come up with. >> Yeah. But also um if we are finding some raw talent that might not have the experience um that I'd love to keep in the the the
pool of of who we were considering. I'd also love to have um more experienced people help with that interview um because I would love to have have a an um an
applicant pool that includes maybe even people that have never been a superintendent before, but they have raw talent. And I guess I'd feel more confident if we had a little more support when doing that. Unless you want
to say like, listen, if they don't have 20 years as an as a superintendent, we aren't in a position to even move forward, you know, which which which is legit. Um I'm absolutely a stance we can take, but it's just you know I mean it's
just something that I've been thinking about like um you know >> well to your point the um with the full contract Alicia would attend the interviews with us. >> So with her experience having done this in multiple districts, she might pick up
on things that >> other folks on the screening committee don't pick up on >> or or the full school committee. Yeah. Um, the other thing I wanted to say, you know, when you were describing the process for hiring the town administrator, it is very similar, but
there's a whole front end piece with hiring a superintendent that's different from hiring a town administrator because we have to reach out to the community and find out what they want to see in a school in a uh superintendent. we have
to develop our vision board so that we make sure that whoever we're bringing in is a good fit for our school district which is not a a thing that you typically worry about with the town administrator like you know >> well and then just like one more one
more thing and then the um you know the development of a brochure which is unique to our community that then goes out when we post the job that that development of this um you know asking
asking to figure out who's the best fit for our particular needs and it's not like every district wants the same thing. So, and I also think that would be a good process for our community to really be thinking about how do we see
highquality education? Like what kind of a leader do we want? You know, do we want somebody who's you know, a manager that can keep um you know can keep everything running efficiently and smoothly or do we want like an instructional leader that's going to do
some innovative things or you know what is it that we want? So that whole piece I think really comes before we ever start posting the job. >> Yeah. So I'm glad you brought that up. I'd like to respond. So I forgot I failed to mention this and and thank you
for reminding me. Um so the when I went through the process with the town administrator search I did it twice. Second time, don't think we did it the first time. The second time we actually divided up and we all met with two or
three departments. So that would be like in a a similar fashion to us offering these community input sessions. We met with the departments. We had questions to ask them and then we allowed them to give us feedback on what they that's their boss and he's running it, you
know, running the entire town per the guidance of the direction of the select board. Um, so we did do just that >> and it was a valuable process, a two-way, right? Like we got some feedback from them and all the
departments felt heard. >> Yeah. >> And that's exactly with whether or not we go with the 115 check or no check. We're going to offer the community input sessions. We're going to have community-based screening committee.
I guess I'm trying to say is all these things and it's not like we're arguing over $100,000. It's only 115, but we're going to do all these things anyways. >> Yeah, but do we want help writing the brochure or do we want to write a brochure ourselves? >> I think it's included in both. So,
>> I'm not even sure like that. >> Oh, maybe a bad example. Yeah, >> like to use that point like I'm not sure the brochure moves the needle on on the process like this could be done without a brochure. Well,
we would be unusual if we didn't have a brochure. That's part of the process that school districts go through. >> So, you're really honing in on what are we getting for our loan? >> I just want to make I just want to make sure you guys are like 115 is worth it to me for these following reasons
because >> as I sit right now >> and again, I know I'm only trying to save 115, but I'm like we can do this ourselves, >> right? So let's let's look at the X's where Right. those specifically because not the brochure Ela going to let that one. >> Yeah, I know. I wasing.
>> So conduct a focus group to help guide the process. So it already says support with the development of a community survey. We're getting that either way. What is the focus group specifically that helps guide the process that we would get in the full contract? >> Which one are you on? >> Oh, under community and staff.
>> Community and staff involve. Okay. Oh yes, I skipped a whole bunch of right. I would have gone in order. >> That No, that's fine. That's that's kind of where I left off. >> Yeah, I know. And to your point, some of the Okay, vision. Yes, that's a nice to have. We do have a school committee
vision. We made a mission statement even timeline. You've kind of out outlined it a little bit. >> So, I kind of skipped ahead to like the meat of it. >> Focus group. They're screening and rating the applicants based on our criteria, attending the interview, discussing the interview with us.
notifying unsuccessful applicants and assisting background checks and contract negotiation. That feels like the meat of the stuff, right? That we get additional. >> I'm going to skip the workshop and all that because that's all after too.
>> I admit I'm with Sean and background checks are that's Yeah. And I mean I maybe HR I mean a trained HR professional should
be able to run a strong background check but I don't like it never occurred to me we would use the town's HR department. So >> there are there are like legal background checks the town could offer for us. >> Okay. >> And then I think everyone's aware but like
>> there's only so much that can be asked in an interview. >> Yeah. And there's only so much that can be disclosed by the other party as well, right? >> Um like you can't ask somebody how old they like, you know, by way of example. >> Yeah. >> Um because it's a legal process. So when you call someone through reference,
you're likely going to get yes, they worked here and this was the timeline that they worked. >> You can then, you know, do some due diligence on your own and do some Googling and try to figure it out or call a buddy or buddy's buddy or all this stuff and try to figure out what the working relationship was. But when
you're calling for a reference, um, if they're their listed reference, you're calling like the HR of the other account of, you're not going to get much if anything from those questions because there's legal implications of
what's said during a conversation. >> Are you talking about the references that a person provides as part of their application? Yes. >> Oh, see, my experience is very different. Yeah. I mean, because I've been in this position where I've hired somebody and
I've had to call the references and the the person usually provides references that can speak to specific things that they've done that relate to the job that they're applying for. So, you talk about those experiences and how did that person handle it and then you can ask
follow-up questions about, you know, their leadership style or their management style or whatever. But um and if they just say, "Well, they worked here." That's a bad reference. >> Yeah. >> So, you know, it's >> And did you have a lot of conversations
that kind of went surprisingly like, "Oh, yeah, that's not the person I would hire because they did this and that and you say that, but there are >> where you know right away." >> Yeah. You can tell by the person's tone. You can tell by the lack of detail that
they provide. Um, yeah. I mean, it's it's a nuance thing for sure, but it's an important part of the process. >> You have to know the clues. Did Alicia say? So, we know that there's a lot of districts they've done the full contract with, and it's not that you mentioned those. What about the districts that
they've just untucked? >> Yeah, I don't um I could ask her about that. I don't um she was just talking about the ones that I think she supported with full contract, but I'm not 100% sure. So, so far we've talked about basically Alicia making the phone
calls for 115. >> No, you're talking about you mean the phone calls to the references, >> but also the phone calls to the candidates like she would manage, you know, scheduling the interviews, coming to the interviews,
>> notifying the unsuccessful candidates. >> That's not a huge lift. like your your subcommittee is going to pick three nights probably or two nights and you're going to reach out to the ones you want and say this is your time slot and >> I think we're getting a little dug in. I
think we might be we don't have to >> be a unanimous vote. Like I I feel like we're nobody's convincing anybody. >> Good point. I just you know as we talk through these things I just wanted >> if you guys to one we can just call a vote. I like your point about the 115
and there are plenty of things we can list that we could use that for students learning and show and that is always our mission and goal, right? >> But I can't think of something that will impact students more than the superintendent and their leadership that then impacts the building leadership
that then impacts the teachers that then impacts the students. Like yeah, there is nothing more important than this role in this district in this moment for us. So, I can't think of where how 115 would go further to supporting students than making sure we do this in the best way.
>> Yeah, I'm with you. I just want to know. I'd like to be a yes on the 115 for a reason. >> Yeah. >> And I'm not there, but that's okay. We can vote like >> Yeah, >> we can not be unanimous, >> right? >> But if you guys may be our first time,
>> that was must for my Sean has something to offer. What would be worth? >> Haven't heard it. Uh like honestly um >> how about the onboarding work? So ye so
yes I would pay 115 for after the person is hired for how's it going follow-up training connect with a mentor um all that good stuff because right we're like we're volunteers we're busy we don't have that expertise anyways maybe some of us do but um I would pay
for 115 like I'd be happy to provide to pay for 115 for deferred 180 days on a job or something like that so that they feel supported and all that good stuff But I just I personally feel confident that we're going to have a great process
and a a process where the community feels engaged and everyone that's you know qualified applicants is going to learn of it and they're going to go through that same process whether we write the 115 check or not. Um >> so maybe maybe some more detail on the
support professional development of the new superintendent which is in is is offered in that >> correct the followup is where I see the value but not actually in the selection. So like you're saying we want to make
sure we get the best person maybe the value is in we got the best person but is it a good match afterwards and do they feel supported? >> Yeah. Yeah. So, >> it took us a long way to get there. >> Yeah. >> But if you guys all want to go with the full contract, I see all the value in
the contract as after we've made the pick, >> that's where the value is. >> So, at this point, you see the value. >> Well, let's see. When you >> up until this point, we've been talking about the process and and all that stuff. And I'm here to say
>> that's not worth the 115 in my opinion. The 115 is the stuff that we have just now brought up >> and I mean I don't know but I I see these these line items is very good. I agree it would be nice to know more detail
about support professional development of the new superintendent. I mean that that can be amazing but it it also like what does that >> just be like we're here for. I mean it's in the proposal. This is like a one pager combined, you know, comparing them. >> Oh, it is in the proposal.
>> Yeah, the proposal is quite lengthy and it's and it was >> I did read it but now I'm trying to >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I mean um you know conduct a workshop for the s for the school committee superintendent district admin on roles and responsibilities. If that's just reviewing our policies and making sure
everyone knows what we're doing, there's no value in that. But if it's actually a session like a working session together where we get to know one another and what our expectations are and we share community feedback and they event they learn who we are. They talk about their successes. Um
>> well and just just I wanted to point out that HYA offers a similar workshop for 2500 bucks on top of the contract >> like if we're trying to assign monetary value to something. >> Yeah.
Um, all right. We've talked we've talked it through. I mean, I I see some value in the full contract as it relates to the uh support services provided after we've made our pick.
>> All right. Well, I would like to make a motion then. I move that we select the Mass Association for School Committee's full contract to support the school committee with its search for a new school superintendent. >> Motion made by Lane. >> I second.
>> Seconded by Janine. All those in favor of the K by saying I >> unanimous there. >> Perfect. Thanks very much for the discussion. Sorry if I was >> No, it's good to be thorough. This is really >> advocate on that.
>> This is really important. I'm really glad you raised the issues. >> All right, that's great. Thank you for both of your work. And um when we come next meeting early January, you're going to come back to us with subcommittee recommendation.
>> Yes, the screening committee. >> Sorry, >> we're in the subcommittee. I know we screening committee recommendation. >> Yes. >> Down to the You're going to propose names and we're going to vote on the road. >> Okay. >> No, you don't want to do that. Oh, I I
hadn't thought that. Um >> cuz I want you to be able to go live. >> Okay. >> With that. >> I was with that. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, I had that's not the way I thought we would do it. But that is fine. I just hadn't thought it through that that would be that's absolutely
fine. So, we will >> you don't need to I'm not expecting you to go through and tell us why you selected the whatever it is. >> Yeah. We're good. But it's just >> this is what we accomplished high level summary and here's the recommendation. Yep. >> Yeah. And >> and we probably will have other things
to report on by then, too. I mean, that's that's like a whole month away. >> Good, good, good. Okay. >> Yeah. So, I think, you know, they'll we'll be on the agenda every month until this process is over. So, >> yeah. Something or other. >> Every meeting.
>> Every meeting. >> Yes. Yeah. Absolutely. >> Every meeting. >> Yeah. This, as as Bino said, this is one of the most important things we will ever do in this committee. >> Okay. >> All right. So, I'll um I'll follow up and we'll get started on next steps.
>> Yeah. Um we can sign the contract anytime. So, >> um All right. Our second opportunity for interested citizens, take a brief pause. Hearing none, seeing none, we'll close
interested citizens and we'll roll through the subcommittee reports. PNBC. >> Yeah, I'll kind of combine BBC for the sake of date. Uh we're having a U interviews um Monday at 4:15 S conference room and then uh to make we
moved our time to make kids so people can go to both that and the B uh camp meeting because it's also just across the the parking lot. Um and then we're also doing the second grouping of interviews the following day 7 o'clock
Stern's conference room. Uh so two and two and then uh we will deliberate all in public and then we'll refer to the full Shaker Lane school building committee our selection on Wednesday night. >> Great. >> Uh budget subcommittee got a couple
notes but did you have anything? >> I don't have Okay. So the budget subcommittee uh shared this la we shared this last meeting but you know submitted our initial report to the town. Um we felt really good about it. We we you know we looked at ways to become more
efficient and what the district needs in terms of uh spend and I it's my understanding that the town has received a big surprise in terms of what uh the healthc care coverage is going to be for the following year to the point yeah
that's like the major component. Um, but the the effect of everybody's submissions and where they project revenue to be and expenses with the healthcare and all that stuff, there's a $2 million deficit projected that we the town's got to work through. Um, so
they've gotten back to me and there's a need for the budget subcommittee to get together again in the near future um to try to further examine our budget and see where we might be able to chip in on that deficit. So, um it's not good news, but I'm sharing the news to everybody.
>> Um so, we'll we'll get back together and take a look at that. All right. Um we thought we did great work. You know, >> we did do great work. >> So, we'll just do some more. >> Life comes at you. >> Um policy subcommittee. We met this
afternoon and we shall have working policies for you the next right >> and those might be ones we want to put some time aside because there have been some changes in the world. >> Sure.
>> Since some things since since some things were originally written. So we and we have some things to ask the committee. I would propose that if you think it's going to be a discussion, we actually cover the policies before >> do it in
>> projected at, you know, 9:10 at night. Like, why would we try to get that done at 7:30 or something? >> That'd be great. Great. >> Um, right. >> Yes, please. >> There's a I mean, not all 14, but there's a couple that we want to make sure that we bring in. I'm not saying that we totally lose our
fast ball by 9:00, but um >> I would just hand well let's just handle them all sort of on the first half of the agenda, right? >> Love it. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Cool. Um if there's no other subcommittee reports, new business, old business for the school committee. I'll
just announce that our next meeting is January 8th, 2026. Typo on the agenda that I didn't catch. uh 7:00 p.m. at the Littleton Police Station. Good. Ask for a motion to adjurnn. >> Made by Sean. >> Second.
>> Seconded by Elaine. All those in favor of the kick saying I >> I have officially adjourned. Thank you.