All right. In accordance with the open meeting law, please be advised that this meeting is being broadcast at a later date over the Lunberg public access channel. The Zoom link is in the agenda as is the meeting ID number. This meeting will be broadcast at a later date through the
public the local public access channel and on the uh public as access Facebook page. The uh link for that is also in the agenda and will be found on the Lunberg Public Access YouTube channel within 24 hours of the meeting. This agenda lists all topics which may be discussed at the meeting and are those
reasonably anticipated by the chair. Votes may be taken as a result of these discussions. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by the open meeting law. So the first thing that we do is 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. Um,
>> recording in progress. >> All right. So, the third thing on the agenda is uh public comment on prior issues. Does anybody have any public comments? Hi, this is Kim Duffy. You're on the line. Can you hear me? >> Hi, Kim. >> Hi, Kim.
>> You did a great job last night. >> Thank you very much. Um, so yeah, Kim Duffy, 1479 Massab. Um, thanks for letting me have um a minute on here. I am actually on my way to your meeting because I wanted to um just discuss
something that I've tried to communicate um previously about the master plan because we've been um see trying to get some of the formal feedback from you on the school committee. Um a lot of the recommendations on the master plan do
pertain pretty directly to your committee. So, we would love to have any feedback um you'd be willing to provide about those recommendations that could impact um you know the schools and I have print outs with me for when I arrive. So, I'll probably make it for
your um closing public comment or committee reports if that works for you guys. I also have to just find your room. I've never been there before. >> That's right. What we could do is we could do it as a committee report and Emily could do it. By the way, Kim, so
you know, uh both my father and Emily have told me that I am screwing this up. So, it is my fault. Uh I will make sure that it's on the agenda for next time if you need something more than what we'll do during the committee update. Is that okay?
>> Uh sorry, could you repeat that last part I just cut out? I said if you if you need something more than what what the agenda will allow for tonight, we can make sure that it's on the agenda for next time. Does that work? >> Uh, sure. When was the next meeting?
>> Two weeks. >> December 3rd. >> Two weeks. Is that before December 10th? >> Yes. December 3rd. >> Oh, okay. Perfect. Yeah, we'll we'll do that. We'll um we'll talk at committee report out and then we'll see if we need more. >> Okay. All right. Thank
>> Thank you. >> Thanks. Um, is there any other public comment? >> Oh, Kim, if you're still there, turn left when you go in the through the main doors. >> Yeah. So, the same doors to go into like the high school auditorium, but turn left down the ramp. >> Yep. Turn left before you get to the
stairs. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. Um, uh, other than the, uh, so the next thing on the agenda, item number four is chair's report. Uh, I think everybody was here, so this will be quick. We were
able to get uh town meeting to vote in favor of the establishment of a special education recovery fund and I thank everybody for their support. Uh Dr. Fortuna, thank you for uh giving me the data. I really appreciate it. And I
thank uh the town manager for uh helping with the slideshow when I did not know how to use the clicker which only has three buttons. So like how dumb am I? Um the next thing on the agenda is the student representative report. There is no student representative. And then that
brings us to item number six, which is review and approve minutes. Um I the minutes were in the >> there's no minutes. >> There's no minutes. All right. Skip that. Number seven, review and approve line item transfers, warrants, and donations. So
>> Oh, we have a donation, >> don't we? >> Oh, there's no transfers to >> No transfers, just donations. >> Mhm. There's no donation. Are there two donations? >> There are two donations. Do you want me to do I'll just do this? Yeah. Okay. Uh the first donation is from Hannerford's help schools and it is Hold on.
>> Is there a dot between the six and the four? >> No, >> it's 3,600. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, the the first one is a donation from Hanford Health Schools and it is a check in the amount of $3,640. Um, it is going to the high school gift
account and uh they do not require a presentation to school committee. Does anybody have any questions about this one? No questions. Uh, I make a motion to accept this with gratitude. Is there anybody that will second? >> Second.
>> All right. And then roll call vote. >> Emily, how do you vote? >> Yes. >> Mandy? >> Yes. Laura. >> Yeah. >> And I for myself. So this one passes. I will sign it and then send it down for signatures. Um
>> we have to roll vote for donations. >> Damn. Okay. >> Anybody? >> The next one is also from Hannford Alps. >> Thank you. >> And it is for $558. It does not uh allocate to a specific
account. And so um I'll look for a motion to accept this one. >> Motion to accept. And um anybody opposed since we're not doing a roll call vote? >> If it's not allocated to a specific account, where does it end up?
>> It'll end up in their field trip account. I think this one's for Turkey Hill. >> Turkey Hill. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Awesome. >> All right. And then these will go down. Everybody just sign them as they go down. >> The next thing on the item is the
superintendent report. Hi everyone. So, I'd like to start with something to celebrate. This is hot off the press news. In fact, the girls themselves are finding out about this at their banquet tonight. I am incredibly
proud to announce that the Lunberg field hockey team and their coaches have been selected as the winners of the prestigious 2025 Central Massachusetts Field Hockey Official Sportsmanship Award. This award holds special significance because it is voted on directly by the officials who manage the
games. Established in 2013, it recognizes teams that go beyond just athletic skill to exemplify the true spirit of the sport. The officials selected our team because of the integrity, honesty, fairness, and graciousness they displayed on the field throughout the season. To be recognized
by the officials as a team they genuinely enjoy officiating is a testament to the character of our student athletes and the leadership of our coaching staff. Congratulations to the entire program for representing Lunenburgg with such distinction.
Our spot at light on excellence highlights three teachers this week. Uh Ms. Re Mrs. Rearen's lesson on the 1793 yellow fever epidemic masterfully bridged student engagement in academic river and rigor by first analyzing the
traits of fictional monsters, unpredictably unpredictability, violence, etc. Students performed a sophisticated conceptual transfer applying those traits to the historical disease. This approach moved the discussion from simple metaphor to
evidence-based argumentation rooted in the text. The lesson culminated in a metacognitive poll allowing students to connect their psychological understanding of fear with historical experience. A prime example of deep student centered learning. Emily
Clark, sixth grade science class. Miss Clark's lesson on wave energy transfer was a model of instructional alignment. utilized highquality video modeling to successfully bridge abstract theory with real world observation. Crucially, the lesson concluded with a digital exit
ticket providing immediate actionable data on student comprehension. This tight cycle of clear objectives, visual instruction, and rapid formative assessment ensured maximum learning efficiency and allowed for instant targeted followup. Miss Pipoli at the
primary school. Chairperson Scullenbrini and I had the pleasure of visiting Ms. Pipoli's classroom together where we observed a cooperative pumpkin cloud dough activity being prepared for. This lesson seamlessly integrated math and science concepts into a task that was
highly developmentally appropriate. It was evident that the staff was leading with heart, fostering teamwork, and providing students with an immediate sense of accomplishment. This visit perfectly captured the joy of learning, turning a tactile activity into a moment
of profound purpose and pride. Our finance update year-to-ate spending. Year-to- date expenditures currently stand at 37.5% of the FY26 appropriation. Once the final November payroll is processed, we
project that the figure will rise to approximately 39%. This represents a favor favorable position compared to the prior fiscal year when spending sat between 42 and 43% of this interval. Overall, we we
remain fiscally healthy and are operating well within our budgetary projections. Where are we in the budget timeline? This is so exciting. I'm happy to report that we are right on schedule with our FY27 budget build. Having met all of our
goals to this point, we're actually um have Chris and I have our final budget conference with teachers tomorrow here at the middle school. Um, these individual meetings have actually been a highlight of the budget process where
teachers hear what the strategy is that the principles and the district um are employing for the budget, provide us feedback on that, and um we come to a consensus together that we're moving in the right direction. And then what's
next? Our first look for town officials is Monday evening at the tri board meeting. Um, and then we move to early December, the superintendent's first draft and town update. Mid December, community
budget forum number one. Mid to late December, this is actually going to be on 1217. We've scheduled it already, is our school committee workshop number one. The school committee reviews the assumptions and gap analysis and provides initial direction to the superintendent for
revising the budget draft. Lunberg community reminders. As we look ahead to the upcoming holiday season that the chairperson is already dressed for, I have just a couple of important calendar reminders to for our families in the community. First, please remember
that next Wednesday, November 26, the day immediately preceding Thanksgiving, is a half day for all students across the district. We want to ensure everyone has ample time to travel and prepare for the holiday. So, please check your specific school's dismissal time to
ensure a smooth transition into the break. Looking just a little further ahead, I can't believe it's just a little further ahead. I am also delighted to invite everyone to one of Lunberg's most cherished traditions. The annual holiday tree lighting ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, December 4th at
6 p.m. We will be gathering at the town gazebo for music, candy canes, Santa, and plenty of community spirit to officially kick off the season. It is always wonderful to see so many of our students and families celebrating together. So, we hope to see you there. That concludes my superintendence
report. >> Excellent. All right. Uh, next item is 9A. >> Can I ask a question? >> Sure. on the superintendence report. I had a question about our year-to-ate spending that I know I think some people
who are aware of the surplus might ask, which is, are we in the right place? If we're slightly behind where we were last fiscal year, but we had such a massive surplus, does that mean we're still on track, or should I be concerned? And I'm asking because I think other
people might be wondering. Great question. >> So, we are still on track to spend out um our budget for the year. Um like Dr. Fortuna said, we're at 37.5%. Um payroll is running us about $75,000.
Um so I project between the next payroll, we're going to be probably at 40 to 42% spent out, which is pretty good. It's comparable to last year. Um, but I think we're spending down a little bit more and last year
there was a freeze, so we haven't had that yet. >> Okay. So, we're on track to spend most of our money. >> Yes. >> Okay. I think the difference this year for you and the public to know is that we're actually watching this so we know
how much money we have. We're reporting it out publicly at every school committee meeting so that we're being completely transparent with where we have spent money, where we still have um some funds, and that's allowing us to
create a fiscal plan um for the district going through the school year. >> Okay. Excellent. Thank you. >> Stay there, Chris. >> Sorry. >> Get ready. >> All right. Um, any other comments or feedback? >> Um,
>> and congrats to the girls field hockey team. Proud. Wonderful to hear. Yeah. >> I just want to say publicly do this and I told you Juliana that time that we
spent in that classroom was so rejuvenating. It made me really glad that I volunteer my time to do school committee work. And those educators and those kids are truly remarkable. It was
the best experience I had the whole week for sure. It was great. So, I'm glad that I was able to do that. >> Thank you. I enjoyed it. >> Um, uh, new business action item 9A is, uh, the FY25 end of year report, which
is why I believe you were instructed to just state it. >> So, Chris, go ahead. So, for all those that don't know, uh the end of the year report, it's a very large Excel workbook where every expense that the school and
town pays um for that that fiscal year. It's recorded and analyzed by the state. Um it's also a way for the state to verify that all funds contributed by them and the town are allocated according to their chart of account format. Um and what you have before you
is our report that was uh yeah uh that was done by our consultant TMS. Um if you have any questions, I know it's a lot a lot of numbers to look at right now. Um, and also I'd like to report
that um, I ran a budget report today for FY25 and it looks like the available budget or the surplus sat at $556,13644, which is a little lower than it was
before. And that's obviously subject to it could change depending on the closing of the books. So that's where it stands right now. >> The town hasn't closed their books yet. So there could be additional charges
that need to be applied to that. So the number will go down, not up. >> Correct. >> Okay. So our books are closed and have been closed, >> but the town's books >> the town's books aren't closed yet. So if there's any accounting that needs to be changed or
um any fixes, then that would happen. on their end. >> Okay. Normally the town's books are closed by now. Is >> there's a lot of transition in the town accounting department right now and so
they're delayed in closing their books this year. >> Okay. But we're we've done >> we've done everything that we've needed to do. >> Okay. >> For this TMS report, did you go over the numbers? >> I did go over the numbers with um the TMS consultant.
>> Okay. So, we've had your eyes on it, too. >> Yeah. >> Um, I just want to bring up that at town meeting last night, there was some discussion of this surplus. So, I don't know if this is the right place to discuss this, but I would I would like the school committee to do some education on what a surplus actually
means. Um, late this afternoon, I put together a draft statement that I would read to my colleagues or have you guys look at that maybe in two weeks, we could release to the public. There was also some discussion I think of possibly sitting down with the ledger um if available um because I just think that
in general accounting is confusing and I was concerned there were some citizens who seem to think this money was missing and that is not what happened at all. It's just that uh you know I think the people in the room understand it but for the for the audience just that you know
it is we all budgeting is estimating on in a nonprofit um space and in a a government space and you know we are monitoring it much more closely this year and you know that there are changes there are going to be changes it's never
a static situation so you know it was money that we had appropriated for specific areas that for various reasons was not spent. >> Um, >> and so I don't know what my colleagues think about that, but I think it's also important that other town departments also have Yes.
>> significant surpluses. However, >> absolutely surplus. Yeah. We're we're trying to be very transparent and that is why we talked openly and had a memo about the surplus and because >> the surplus was far higher this year
>> than in past years or it should have been. >> Yeah. And I think I think town officials are aware, but I think it would be nice for the public to be aware of the situation. So I'm happy to I'm not allowed to because of open meeting laws send you a statement all of you. So I I did draft something. Happy to share.
>> She could read it. Do you want I mean it's long. >> Is everybody in favor? But just >> I mean it's not that long. >> Is everybody in favor of having Mandy read the draft statement so that we don't have to do open meeting law? >> Sure. >> Baloney. >> Yes. Okay. >> We'll do that. So, the Lunberg School Committee would like to clarify recent
questions regarding the funds that were returned at the end of the fiscal year. These funds were not lost, misplaced, or unaccounted for. They represent money that had been budgeted, but it ultimately was not spent. Each year, our budget is built on projections, expected
costs for staffing, services, and student needs. In some cases, these estimates change during the year. The past fiscal year, several of our anticipated expenses did not m materialize as expected. As a result, the district finished the year with
unspent funds. This type of year-end balance is common in town departments and in nonprofit organizations where budgets are also based on estimates that natur naturally shift over time. We understand that this outcome is especially concerning given that it
occurred during a year we asked for an override. We recognize how important it is that the community has confidence in both our budgeting process and our stewardship of taxpayer resources. We are seriously sorry for the frustration or confusion this may have caused. Many
of the unspent funds were the result of I wrote ad reasons here. So I was thinking we might just point to the fact that there was staff turnover um and also some definitely some building maintenance issues that were not addressed that should have been and
>> and a couple email that to us now so I can read it now that you've read it aloud and it's not a >> um >> just cuz I >> we remain committed to continuous improvement in our budgeting practices and to transparent communications. We appreciate the ongoing support. So um so I'm not I'm fine with changing. I just
came up with something quick. I just thought we should say something. >> There were also a couple purchases that didn't happen. >> Yes, that's a good idea. >> That's a add that to the list of reasons. >> Anyone else? I'm not sure how to simply explain the grant confusion.
>> I mean, the grant thing is basically that we budgeted anticip we budgeted so that if we didn't win the grant, we would be okay. When we won the grant, we did not go back and correct the record. >> Right. >> That's it. >> So, I mean, if you think the public should know that in this statement, I'm fine adding it. I, you know, I want it
to be short enough that people read it, you know, but >> I do think this is this is my take. I do think that the town meeting floor comments made it clear that what people understand to have had happen is at
least inaccurate if not completely wrong. I think that there is >> right >> at best uh incorrect information and or at least partial incorrect information and I don't think that like explaining it is
that complicated. I think like showing people where the shortfalls are is relatively easy thanks to Chris's work, thanks to Dr. Fortuna's work. >> I think that the bigger question that we have to wrestle with, especially for the statement and if we talk to the ledger
when we talk to the ledger is why that happened. And I think that diagnosing why that happened is more difficult, right? Like at the end of the day, the buck stops with the superintendent. And
so to say it fell on the last superintendent is true but not useful. And I think that what we probably need to have ready for the public is a better understanding of sort of the management
stuff that happened. Um like I have my perspective from when I was on school committee like how could how could you miss this? And it was like well you know like we had nine budgets every year and we didn't really have full-time people most of the time and then the people
that we did have in those positions had no prior experience in those positions or very limited experience. So it was like that was one thing. Then we the outside consultants that we had they were not flagging these issues for us. And so it was like if there were
there were multiple redundancies to prevent this from happening. and they all fail. And so like that's a really unsatisfactory answer. >> Yeah. And I think in my personal opinion, right? And and Chris, obviously this is your expertise area as well as
Dr. Cortuna, it seems like to me that these kind of things happen in many many departments. But what usually happens is we are tracking it closely enough that we can spend the money in other areas of need. >> Right? And that would be a public
process that would come before the school committee as a line item transfer. Right? So I think that granted, you know, we should be spending obviously everything in each line item based on the budgeting from a year earlier, but you know, making those
determinations 12 months in advance is very difficult and impossible, right? So generally what happens with a lot of budgeting in my opinion in my experience on the nonprofit side, right, is that there will be money sometimes to be spent at the end of the year that has
been budgeted for things that maybe, you know, have not happened and the board will have to reapprove moving some money around, right? And that is what we do through the line item transfer process. >> Um, >> and sometimes it goes in the other direction in which there's >> areas we've all Yeah. and money has to
be transferred >> because we can't determine 100% of the time what you know especially we have people coming and going you know positions leaving and stuff >> children who change >> right children who change um so so that's sort of my do we want to go into
that much explanation in the statement I don't know right I don't I I want something that people at least not everyone is going to understand it but I would like us at least to try to dispel some of the rumor that the money
was disappeared, right? And I thought this town manager did a great job last night trying to explain that as well, but it's just not an easy concept sometimes. >> So, we might also I noticed I think two comments about did the schools give the money back to the town >> and the answer is there was not money to
give back. The town holds the money. we simply did not spend it and then the the money >> remains in possession of the town where it becomes free cash and then is spent on capital projects and such. So the money is not lost. The money is still there. It just now it's in the town
budget. >> So can can I ask the two professionals what do you think about the statement? What do you think about sitting down with the ledger? How complex should the statement be?
Um >> I personally think the statement should be very simple um and clear for the community to understand. I think we should sit down with the ledger. I think we should talk about both past mistakes
and missteps, but also the steps that we're taking to correct them this year because um we're working really hard to do that. And on our road to May, I think we should provide regular updates to the
community about what's happening and each step of the process. >> Would you be willing to provide some feedback on a statement? >> Absolutely. >> Yes. And I'm open to any feedback. I just think a starting point is a good place to start. >> It is always a good place.
>> Like it's always good to have something to respond to. So >> Chris, what do you think? >> Yeah, I think I agree with Dr. Fortuna. I think it should be simple. Um, I think the people should just know that we there was it's not like the money was
just disappeared. It was held by the town. It was appropriated. We never spent it. So, it's still held by the town. It goes back into free cash and then they decide what to do with it. >> All right. Um,
>> so could we maybe Dr. Dr. Patuna could give me some feedback and I could and um >> add it to the agenda >> and we can and we can hopefully approve it in two weeks whenever we decide. Does that work for folks? >> Sounds great. >> And then if you guys uh are you thinking you'll reach out to the ledger and just see >> I already did. >> Look at that. Tony, did you
>> Okay. >> Awesome. Thank you all. >> Thank you for putting that together. >> Yeah, I did the same concerns like oh we need to do a little more educating. If you have feedback, you can send it to Dr. opportunity actually because we can't communicate outside but she can take your feedback right before the next
meeting. >> Can I ask some questions about the document you gave us? >> If you like. Yes. >> So one of the things that we presented last night at special town meeting was the increased costs for out of district placement. And
so I'm trying to track those on the sheet. >> Okay. What sheet are you looking? What number sheet? >> I thought I had it, but then >> Yeah. Where? >> Oh, third page. >> Uh line,
>> uh 217. >> Yeah. >> And 218. Are those the two >> that we're talking about? >> Yeah. So, the tuition to non-public schools is the 988,000. Those would be special ed costs. >> Okay. So
>> there's another line for that too, isn't there? >> And then the tuition to the collaborives. >> Yeah. Okay. Which line is that? >> That's right below. >> Yeah. Okay. >> So when we said to the the town last night that these costs have gone up dramatically
>> from 2023 until now, they have more than tripled. >> Correct. Yes. So, I think one of the good things about last night was since we did create the special education reserve fund that we could have, if we had it before, we could have taken a
some of the money that was in the surplus and put it away for special education costs. >> Um, I believe it's 2% of >> um net school spending. Yeah. >> Um, so that could have been put aside
from the surplus, but it wasn't. >> So, our net school spending last year was $21 million. >> It was 21,584,939. >> Oh, >> that's on the first page. So, we could have taken almost the
entire amount, $420,000, and that would have been had the special education reserve fund existed a year ago, that would have funded at least almost certainly at least one out of district placement. So, 420,000.
>> Yeah. So, out of district placements are getting very expensive. Yes. >> Um, >> they're probably ranging between 3 and 800,000 right now. >> And that could be for out of >> 300 800,000.
>> Those on our collaborative tuitions. >> Those are our other district tuitions. >> Okay. And so just like run this through like a hypothetical. >> Yeah. Let's say that instead of special town meeting 2025
five, we did this in 2024. We could have had the remittances to the town fund that special education recovery fund to the tune of $420,000, which would leave like less than
$150,000 as our surplus. And that's well within our our >> surplus over the last 10 years. Correct. >> Yeah. >> Does that work >> with appropriation approval? >> Correct. That's what approval.
>> It would have to be appropriated, but it would have been something that we could have just plugged in and we would have been able to absorb on average at least one out of district. >> Yeah. >> Can you remind me what the appropriation process like how that gets appropriated?
happen at special town meeting or at >> so town meeting what Adam Costa there's a regulation that controls it and I don't want to >> if the town manager that's listening she should hop in right now but my
understanding is that the regulation he showed me indicated that we can include it as part of our budget or it can be a separate budget item but either way the appropriation has to be approved on town meeting floor.
>> Okay, >> but it could be a part of the budget that we presented. >> Correct. >> As the school >> but whatever wherever it is presented the ultimate control remains with the citizens of the town. So let me ask you this as a hypothetical
extending the original hypothetical given that we have these tripling in costs. Do you think it would was wise to us for us to have done that? And then if it was wise, do you think it would be wise to
fund it via the surplus? >> Of of course. >> Okay. I just I I I genuinely don't know. Like Mr. Manard had referenced that. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mr. Menard and I try to take notes of what he says. And so when he said that last night, it seemed obvious to me, but
then there was like push back and I was like, this is basically money that's going to us anyway. >> Yeah. >> So like if we fund it, not that we are, we have to consult with the other boards, but if we were to fund it through that mechanism, do you think that that would in any way impact our
ability to spend money on student achievement related items? >> No. >> Okay. It would always be after the fact. >> Yes, it would always be after the fact. And where I mean where does that surplus end up anyways? Where is it going? Free cash. >> Free cash. >> It normally goes to free cash for the
town which then they use on capital projects or >> right >> extra things that we did. >> And I think it's important to point out also we spent 97.8% of the allocated budget like to put things in.
>> Yeah. Is the special is the transportation included in the tuition for the out of district because we have to transport them. >> I think that's a separate line. >> That's a separate line. >> Okay. So, where's that? I'm just curious cuz that's something we could also use
the reserve fund for, right? >> That's correct. >> It is. Forgot about that. >> Yeah, cuz that's um So, do you know where that's located? >> I don't know off the top. That's okay. But I can I can find >> I'm just curious about how big of a jump it's made. >> It's included in 195. Obviously, it
would jump if kids are if the number of kids are jumping, the amount of transportation is also going to be jumping up higher. It's going to cost more. >> Line 195 on the same page is 1.5 million, but our contract with debusing is not that much. >> Yeah, >> it has to be a million.
>> Yeah. So, it's mixed. It's like 800,000. >> But is that is that out of district transportation or is that >> it's both? I think 195 represents transportation in general. It's not broken up. Oh, is there a way to figure out how much? >> Yeah, there I could find an actual
expenditure for it. Um, I would have to do some re research though on what we spent last year, >> but I I think our contract with D is like 870,000. >> If you look on page, but D isn't going to be transported. >> Schedule 19, >> right? So, what I'm saying is you would
take the number in 195 and subtract 107. No. If you go to schedule 19, which is page like four or five in this packet, it says pupil transportation regular day 1 million special ed 491. >> Oh, really? >> Yeah. >> Which page you're on?
>> It says schedule 19 on the top. I don't know what number it is. Sorry. >> That was pure luck. I said it right there. >> I thought you were just that good. >> Yeah, I'm really that good now. people transportation, special education, and it adds up together.
Yeah. So, $491,000, which is again >> could be surplus. >> So, we could have we could have used the entire surplus >> for busing >> to fund, >> but we don't want a surplus, right? >> Right. Right. But I'm saying like if this would have happened, >> there's always going to be
>> a different order, right? >> This would the issue would never have been a problem. like we would have just put it into the surplus and it would have been ready to go. >> It's essentially a safe. >> I know a lot of these questions are questions you know the answer to and and
I know some of the answers, but I'm what I'm trying to say is like this is a thought process and we're not just like >> we're not making things up. We're not putting the cart before the person. >> Although I think Chris made like a really good point when he said it's like a savings account. You know, you don't
expect your house to burn down, but if it does, you need insurance and some savings. So, >> you have emergency savings. You >> I don't know why we wouldn't want to have that extra cushion when it's not really taking away from anything else so
that we're not stuck with $500,000 in special education transportation that we might not have expected if we get an extra out of district student. That's right. at some point >> what um there's a couple of comments that I want to make. One, until
recently, our special educ student services director Juliana has done an excellent job of predicting who's moving in. It's been over the past two years that those moveins have been volatile and unpredictable. She also learned
yesterday that if we were to add a single student um if we needed a van for a single student with a monitor that would cost us $70,000 >> if we couldn't regionalize and from this year's
>> it would come from this year's budget. Correct. So the the issue with that is that when it comes from this year's budget and we don't have any emergency savings because that is not how >> we're taking it from something else. >> Municipal buzz. Yeah, it has to come from somewhere and that means it would
have to come from cuts to the rest of the school system and we don't want to do that and >> it is really difficult every year watching us I don't I want us to be able to provide students with the services without it causing a panic or cuts elsewhere and
this enables us to but we don't need to reitigate it because we got it passed so it was a good idea >> but thank you Chris this is this This is amazing. >> Yeah, >> this is my third year on the school committee and I really to have this. >> Yeah. And I just like to note too that
it's not just it's also looked at by the state, but it is also audited as well. So if when the auditors look at it, if there's any changes, they come back to us that and then we make those. >> It's the Desi auditors. Correct. >> Correct. >> Do we get in trouble if there are issues or they just come back? >> We can make amendments.
>> They just say fix this. >> Yeah. They will just say fix this and you can make an amendment to the report. That was a lot of my concern was this report being correct. >> Yes, you can make changes on it and then sue it. >> Okay. So, >> but it's good to have another set of eyes. >> A lot of eyes on it. Yeah.
>> Um, was there anything in here that concerned you or made you nervous about what we're doing? >> Not nervous. I think >> the only the things that stand out is just um obviously the special education
costs are rising. Um, and then I think just being cuz there are some districts that only meet net school spending to the penny and we're quite a bit above it. So that's also good.
>> It's good for us, but it costs us more. >> It does cost us more and it costs the taxpayer more. >> Yep. Because every dollar we spend above net school spending, the t the state is not kicking that in. Right. But I'm not arguing we shouldn't be doing that because that is literally the bare bare
minimum. Um but chapter 70 needs to be looked at. >> If you have questions about chapter 70 formula funding, where would be a good forum to voice those questions, Mandy? >> Um there's an event tomorrow night at Graten Dunstable. Uh I think it's at the
high school, but I can look the forum up. It's at 6 o'clock. our state uh delegation is putting it together and chairman Ken Gordon who chairs the education committee is going to be there. Uh we have a few people from town who are speaking on the panel. Please come wear your Lunberg blue. We would
love to have a big crowd and I know it's three nights in a row with the town but you get to hang out with me again. >> It's been a lot >> but it is important for citizens. >> It is very important. I think it really helped last year all of the people in Lunberg especially
um who wrote emails and contacted legislature even though I think they were a little getting sick of hearing us by the end. That's the job. >> But that is that's what get things done. >> Yeah. >> Um >> thank you Chris. >> Thank you. >> Do you have any other comments you wanted to make about Okay. All right.
All right. Anybody else have any questions for Chris? All right. Uh thank you. Uh, let's do >> I think the next one's you too. >> Substitute teacher pay. Yeah, >> it's actually me, but Chris is going to tell you that it's okay.
>> Okay. >> Chris, can we afford this? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> So, >> the purpose of You have a memo in your folder. I And I apologize. Your folder was populated late. It's just been kind of a crazy week. >> Something else going on.
>> Yeah. I apologize. The purpose of this memo is to recommend an immediate adjustment to the daily compensation rate for substitute teachers in Lunberg public schools. Current data indicates that our district's pay rates have fallen significantly behind those of peer districts, negatively impacting our
our ability to recruit and retain essential substitute coverage. Currently, Lunberg Public Schools compensates daily substitutes at a rate of $85 per day for a 6 and a half hour day. A review of the five surrounding districts schools, Lemonston, the show,
Cizer, Air Shirley, and Fitchburg reveals a highly competitive market where Lunenburgg is currently the lowest paying district among the sample group. The following rates are currently offered by our neighbors. Number regional $125 a day. Fittsburgh public
schools $125 a day. Caiser School offers a range of $112 to $125 a day. Lemonster Public Schools offers a range from $100 to $120 a day and Air Shirley Regional
is $97.50 a day. The average daily substitute rate across the surrounding districts is $111.90 a day. Currently, Lunenburgg's rate of 85% is $26.90 below the regional average. This
disparity places the district at a significant disadvantage as prospective substitutes can earn nearly 32% more by accepting assignments in neighboring towns. Our FY25 budgeted amount for substitutes
was 149,500. What we've spent as of 111625 is $29,175.17 with a remaining balance of $120,325. Given the remaining balance in the substitute line item, we believe there
is fiscal capacities to support a rate of adjustment for the remainder of the academic year to ensure our classrooms remain fully staffed. So my recommendation this evening is to align Lunenburgg public schools with the current regional market average and ensure we attract highquality
candidates. I recommend increasing the daily substitute rate to $112 per day effective immediately. This figure is derived directly from the regional average of $111.90. By adjusting our rate to $112, we move
from the bottom of the pay scale to a competitive medium position comparable to Caiser School and exceeding the base rates of Air Shirley and Lemonster for their non-licensed substitutes. Our substitute position rate of pay
would be for a daily substitute $112. We would also increase our longterm substitute from 16 to 40 days to $127 to remain competitive with the range. And we would keep our long-term substitute for 41 plus days at the
current rate of $260. I respectfully request the school committee vote to approve the increase of the daily substitute teacher rate from $85 a day to $112 a day and the long-term substitute pay 16 to 40 days to $127 a day.
>> So, can I make a comment? >> If you uh did seven seven hours of work at $15 an hour, which is the state minimum wage, you would make more than $85 a day. >> Mhm. So if I went and worked at Dunkin
Donuts, I would make more than working as a substitute teacher. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> And uh this comparison that I use often is I was substitute teaching 30 some odd years ago. I received $75 a day then and
small towns like Lindenburg. Um, so the cost of this, have we figured in the para contract? We pay I cannot remember the exact details and I don't have it in front of me, but we we pay paras at the sub rate after they hit a
certain number of hours. Have we figured that into this? Because this was actually last maybe two years ago. The par contract took a long time. We were discussing we tried to raise sub
pay last year and then there just wasn't room in the budget which was really unfortunate. Um does this affect that as well? We will of >> Yeah. So just for some numbers, so at
the same time last year, we had spent through November $57,90.96. >> Why have we spent less this year? >> Yeah, because we can't attract subs. >> So what happens when a class doesn't have a sub? We pull a par to do from a
student who needs the support of a parah to cover the classroom that would be uncovered for the day. >> Okay. >> And we pay them the daily sub rate. >> We do. When we pay them the daily sub rate, where does that extra pay from the daily sub rate come from in the budget?
>> The subline. >> That comes from the subline. >> Yes. So, we're about $28,000 less right now spent out than we were last year. And I ran the numbers. So, for last year, we had budgeted the same
amount. It's 1495. We transferred in 50. So, we spent about 202, but we're less than 20% spent out right now for the year on substitute pay because
the 29,175 divided by the what was budgeted, it's comes out to be about 19%. And we're just we're we're not getting the substitutes right now um that we did last year.
>> Oh, yeah. You don't have to. I mean, we absolutely need to do this. I just want to make sure that when we're calculating in >> how much we're going to spend, we're not just going off of that because it's also >> we'll we'll have subs finally to pay.
Um, but it also does affect the Paris. >> Mhm. >> Okay. But we kept that in mind. I just wanted to make sure. >> Um, is $112 enough or is that what we can afford right now at this time? I think that's both enough and what we can afford at this time. I'm trying to be
very conservative with the number. Um, like Dr. Fatuna said, when we took the numbers, we took them at the low end of what the other districts are offering. So, for example, Lemonster offers $100 a day for a non-licensed teacher and $120
a day for a licensed teacher. I believe in Fitsburg they offer $150 a day for a licensed teacher. >> What? Um, so we when we took the average, it was from the low end of what the surrounding
districts were offering. >> I think this is great and very happy that you found room in the budget. Um, because it really bothered me that we couldn't do this last year because we are just not paying the subs enough.
If I could make a quick I I do think it matters. And the reason why I think it matters is because uh one of my children had there was a Spanish class like three years ago or two years ago that had like multiple subs and it was so difficult for those kids to get traction and he
had you know real learning loss because there was no sustained plan or direction. And it wasn't anybody's fault. it was just the fact that like the subs we couldn't retain one long enough to make it work. Um and so like
there are student achievement impacts and there are real examples of it. So I think that you know increasing the the rate is something that we need to do to remain competitive. By the way, uh Dr. Fortuna, your $75 in 1995 would be
$159.84 today. >> Wow. So, I think that we we we do need to do this. So, um I'm glad we have the money to do it. Any any other comments or questions? >> No, I think it's great because just like
uh Dr. Patrun was saying if we're taking pairs away to sub for other teachers during meetings or absences or whatever is going on in their life then those kids that are specifically allotted that parah for a reason is not getting the support they need.
>> Yeah, that's a real >> which is going to end up causing many other chain reaction problems. We already have Paris tracking the time that they're missing because it will result in some cases in compensatory
services. >> Yeah. >> Which are more than more than $85 a day cost. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Did you have anything? >> No. >> Well, then I motion to raise the subpay to $112 for a teacher substitute. $112 a
day. long-term sub uh substitute 16 to 40 days $127 and the long-term substitute 41 more than 41 days $260. I second. >> All in favor? >> I I >> Yes. >> All right. Excellent. Thanks, Chris.
>> Thank you. This is This feels good. You sure you're >> I know. You're good. You're good. uh the revision of the FY27 capital plan vote.
>> Yes. So after meeting with the capital planning committee and a separate meeting with the chair of the capital planning committee and after extensive discussions with Chris Stevens, we
realized that the order that we had some things needed to be separated out in order to actually have the work occur. So, um, what we have in fiscal year 27 right now is the primary school
feasibility study for the entry and driveway expansion and the primary school designer services for playground equipment. Um, figuring we need those before we can proceed with the
construction or the um, actual building of the playground. One thing that we do have that we're very excited about is we have quotes, at least verbal quotes for most of these
items. Um there's one slide, the hidden slide that you can see for the Turkey Hill hot water tank, which was one of the school committee's priorities that falls below the level for capital expenditure um for the quote. So that's
why that slide is hidden right now. >> That is significantly less. >> That's good. >> Yes. So we could probably >> just take it off. >> Fingers crossed we can find a place for that at the end of this year. >> Correct. >> Mhm. >> That's great.
>> Okay, that is fantastic. >> Can I give some feedback on this based on our >> meeting? Um, so we had been told by capital planning they don't want ranges. So, for the first slide, just pick the
$25,000 number. Um, because they capital planning, the way they do, they put it all in a spreadsheet and they they can't do ranges. Um, for the school door intercoms, if it's per building, we should put the total price very clearly up there.
>> Thank you, Chris. Um, I'm very excited about the hot water thing. Um, field. The field is going to be weird. Yeah, the field probably won't all of it won't be a capital project. We'll have to think of a way to fund it because
it'll exceed the capital project budget. >> I think it's going to end up having to be regular borrowing. But >> so Chris um walked the field today. >> We are tomorrow. >> Oh, tomorrow. >> Tomorrow at 10 a.m. >> That's right. Today's not Thursday. It's only Wednesday.
>> I know, right? >> It's been a very long They're walking um the field with Gail Construction. And there's a couple of other um firms that Chris Ha Chris Stevens hasn't heard back from yet, but we'd like to get their
opinion as well. >> Okay. I appreciate the speed at which he's getting this done. Um, >> can you just educate me on the capital planning committee? I know they put all these requests from all the different groups together. What happens if they
don't fund like, you know, up to slide 10? Do we just bump it to next year? Is that usually what happens? >> Usually what happens? Um, so is there amount they usually commit to or is it just >> I think reasonably what we can expect to
have funded this year are is the work for the primary driveway and primary playground. >> Okay. >> And I'm hoping they'll throw in intercoms or a lawn mower. >> Yep. >> Um Okay. And where there was an update.
Where did the update go? There was also an update on our capital projects that I appreciated. >> Oh yeah, there is an update for FY24 and FY25. >> Was that a slide or was that a >> No, it's a PDF. Let me It's the scan um
Chris Stevens document. I forgot to rename it. >> Okay. >> Um for the fiscal year 2425 capital improvements progress at Turkey Hill, we have completed our security upgrade. It was completed in October and all
invoices have been paid. The total cost for that was $134,269. The fire alarm project was completed in August 2025 and all invoices are paid. The cost for that was $322,240. The exterior door upgrade, which was not
all the exterior doors at Turkey Hill, which is important to know. >> So, we should put that part of it. on there as well was completed August 2025 and all invoices paid the cost of that was $164,482 and the minisplit project completed in
August 25 all invoices are uh primary all invoices are paid the cost of that was $499,900 we currently do not have any capital planning projects scheduled for FY26 >> we finish Did we finish them all?
>> Some of these were >> Yeah. >> This was a very So there was a lot of delays. >> Oh, because we don't have money for it. >> So we still need to ask, but I mean for this year because we didn't >> we finished everything that we already got.
>> Um so anything on here that wasn't exactly what they allocated for or the parameters changed a little because we couldn't afford it, >> we should note. Yes. >> For them. So, um, like if if parts of it went undone
or if it costs I guess I'd like to see also how much we have been allocated >> compared to this. Is this a scan of a print? >> Yes. Okay. Just going to bite my tongue. >> Thank you.
Um so yeah if yeah if we could note how much had been allocate I think they would appreciate it in the in in our new transparent way and also it would be useful for me because I cannot remember how much we had allocated in the scope of each
project. >> We can definitely do that. Um like the min the mini split project the one completed August 2025 that was part two. So, we should say how many units we had asked for and how many were completed and how much there is left to go. Uh,
but other than that, I like that we're doing an update. The capital planning kind of asked for an update. >> Um, which I also think is nice because they give us all this money and they don't get updates. >> We could stick some pictures of the mini splitter.
>> Mini splitter, too. We can throw a mini splitter, too, >> I don't know, some happy students who aren't dying in the heat. Um maybe not. >> Can't do that right now. >> Yeah. >> Do we have to accept the um revisions? >> So because it changed, we have to vote
on it again. >> Should we move to >> I would I would make a motion to approve the >> capital plan recommendations as described in the document. >> I'll second that.
>> All right. All in favor? >> I. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. Uh, >> put this together. >> Next thing on the agenda. Can we do this? I I just want to We're all here.
Kim is here. Would you mind if Would anybody object if we took her out of order? >> No. Let's not make >> because we're going to be here forever and you don't need to be here forever. >> You lasted a town meeting longer than me. >> So, you got to come up. Uh let's do uh a
uh a subcommittee update from Emily and Emily introduce Kim >> master plan. >> So what's going on? Why have I messed this up for sure? So, back in September, um Kim and the master plan steering committee sent out
some information asking for feedback from committees across town, including the school committee, um based on the goals and recommendations that we've been working on, wanting to know which parts the school committee felt they
were responsible for, which ones they felt really strongly about, what were needs versus wants. things like that. So, there was a spreadsheet we were supposed to all discuss and then decide what we think. >> You got a hassle as a share.
>> Oh, no, she did. >> And share with the master planning steering committee to put on the master spreadsheet, which helped design the goals that Kim presented >> yesterday. I was surprised about how much of the master plan involved people
asking things. It was not surprised. I think it's a good thing to that we're thank >> a big part of the town but it's we definitely feature a lot >> a perfect >> super super condensed >> so yeah what the print out is in front
of you is um the there's an Excel spreadsheet that was also forwarded um if you prefer to look at that electronically uh but this is um just the recommendations provided through public feedback relevant to the school committee um you'll Notice on the top
row there's columns that ask questions to try to prompt um you know your board's discussions as well as answer those to help us the master plan steering committee as well as our consultant um understand right is this
actually relevant to you um you know if you we were to try to get the other boards as well as your board to implement this going forward over the next 10 20 years what is the impact of doing that um whether it's like a bylaw, money, maybe you're working on other
projects and you actually don't want to do this. Um, you know, any sort of information along those lines would be very useful for us because obviously we don't want to put something in our master plan that is, you know, maybe not accurate. I mean, because this was all through public
feedback. Um, but and then combined through the consultant. So, we just want to make sure we're all aligned with here the public this is what they want and can we actually do it? Is it something that can be implemented or is it >> Yeah. >> already happening? Is it already? >> Yeah, exactly. Because there's been a
lot of things on here that, you know, we've been reviewing and we're like, "Oh, well, we're actually already doing this, but people just aren't aware of it." Um, >> so can can I just go through quickly and like give you what I think the answers are to some of these? So, >> allow and continue to allow the use of
school grounds and community events. So, we we that is within our purview. We do have policies and uh we uh the policies you can get from Liz I don't remember them off the top of my head the numbers um this is something that we enjoy doing
you know the school is a town resource and we do that the only and please correct me if I'm wrong the only thing that we do is we prioritize school related events then the next tier down is town and then after that it's
it's done differently there are costs they're all readily available. So, that one I think is straightforwardly dealt with. Inventory and create a long-term plan for all town owned buildings and land. We do this already and this is also governed by policy. I
can provide you with those policies. The one thing I am going to tell you is something that you probably are already really aware of, especially because you know my dad. >> Um, yes. the property division like if you looked at the the deed the property
division among the Brooks House Pacios and other school is not clear. >> So we don't really and I don't think that in the five years I've been on school committee anybody has ever said that this is the answer to that. So that is some that issue is beyond our
control. Well, >> I mean, we can't change what the deed said, but >> clearing it up isn't, but it >> Oh, sure. >> hasn't there's been so many other >> Yes. >> priorities. Yeah. >> And like the the one of the issues is if you look at the deed for the Brooks
house, it was a donation to the town from a farmer done in, you know, the 1840s or something. It's ancient. I mean, it's that and that's not the oldest one that we had to deal with. So, they're they're like truly ancient documents. Um, renovate Turkey Hill. Uh,
that is something that we're going to talk about tonight. >> Is specifically was renovate. Why did renovate Turkey Hill get put there as opposed to >> that was the most that was the most public feedback was to renovate versus knocking it down and building a new
>> Okay. No, that's really good. talked about both options, but during public forums and public meetings we've had the surveys, that's what people checked off the most. >> No, this is fantastic information, which is why I think we should be working
closely with you guys because you're about to disband and finish your project. >> Yeah. >> But then reform an implementation committee. So >> we're not going anywhere. Well, some of us >> some of us >> because I think there's a lot of partners out there and knowing that information is really valuable
information. >> Yeah. And that that's why I think it's especially important to like bring this all back to the committees. Um because yeah, that's not the first thing that time I've heard a committee say that like, oh, that's great to know, you know. So, I I think we're going to talk
about the MSBA stuff later because I don't want to narrow ourselves into a choice because it's on the master plan. >> Yeah. So, let's >> So, I would prefer to >> phrase it differently. >> So, yeah, in terms of context of the
master plan, it's not like a these are all the things that we absolutely have to do. It's a list of things that like the public has expressed that they want. So it will help guide our decisions going forward through all the committees. Um and and if we have the opportunity to do these things, so obviously like we will be able to get to
all of them. Um it's just as the opportunities arise like where funding opens up or that we're approved for funding um for certain things, then we might be able to do them, you know. So it's it's not like this is going to govern the budget or govern like what everybody does. It's just this is the
framework that you know what we're required to have and we want to have. Yeah. And I think there's a lot I know we're going to talk about it in a little bit, but I think there's a lot of >> debate on whether we renovate or build a new school. And I think it's pretty I
would say it's >> pretty split, but this was >> more, you know what I mean? Like it's it's very there's so many pros and cons to both of them that I think it's hard for the public to make an ultimate decision on what they want because we don't have all the information. concern
would be that if the evidence became overwhelming that building new was the way to go, we'd be at a little bit of an uphill battle because people could point to the master plan and say, "No, we're planning on renovating." >> I think we could even say renovate
>> or rebuild >> or um address >> develop a plan for Turkey Hill. That's the only thing the master plan. I think what we kind of came to similar to what the school committee's kind of come to
is that we've been talking about this forever. Y >> and there's never a plan in place. >> Figure out Turkey Hill, >> right? Like so I think we also have similar discussions like >> we just need to do something with Turkey Hill and we need to figure out what that best choice is going to be. >> Okay.
>> And everyone's kind of at a standstill right now. >> Yep. >> Yeah. And obviously it kind of um competes with other building priorities that we've identified through this plan which includes Sprite Town Hall and Ritter um you know and then also you know our parks, Marshall Parks. So that
we have a a big grouping of um like these seemingly prioritized groups of projects identified through this that like the plan is okay so we have these four or five different areas. We don't want them to compete with each other. Now that we know we have these four or five different areas, how can we plan to
be able to do all of these if you know or maybe we have to pick only three but through the budget because we can't pay for it all and obviously if we don't have a plan we don't do anything. So um yeah it's just we have to identify all the things work them together and so Turkey Hill is just one part of it.
>> All right. Uh the next thing on here develop a fiveyear strategic school forecasting plan. We are doing that. It will be unveiled. We're doing we're doing >> I think we three is probably the most realistic that we're >> three is generally how long contracts
last. It's how long we really can plan for. >> So Kim, one thing I wanted to point out and and why this might be an issue is Massachusetts law governs the length of collective bargaining agreements and it sets them at three years and because
almost all of our employees are subject to the collective bargaining agreements that exist. a five-year plan for school doesn't really fit. It's like asking, you know, what five cars do you want for your or five tires do you want for your car, right? So, for us, it's really a
three-year strategic plan for that reason. So, like a five-year plan would be especially pointless because it's going to land in the middle of a contract. >> So, for us, it's just a little different. >> Yeah, that's fair. I think that exactly the feedback we're looking for is because stuff in here is five. You're like, well, this only makes sense to be
three. And I think that makes total sense for I guess it sounds like for um I guess it pay like you know salaries and and all of that is our biggest driver. >> It's our cost driver. >> Okay. Yeah. Because um I think for Yeah. for funding because but you fund other
things besides that, right? >> Correct. >> Yeah. Are those other things able to be funded on a longer term? >> They really aren't. Um given the volatility of the markets and the changing population of students that we serve, 3 years is what I feel
comfortable with. Anything after 3 years would be a guess and would not be helpful at all. Um we are going to do this as part of an entire strategic planning process, not just for a fiscal strategic plan. The fiscal strategic
plan will follow our educational plan for students. >> Okay, good enough. Thank you. >> Um the next one, continue to provide after school extended care options. We already do this. There's policies and I'm sure that can provide you with the numbers. The last three are all related
and I don't know the answer to those, but it has to do with community gardening, the greenhouse, and public access to the greenhouse. Didn't we do a pol Liz? Did we do a policy about this two years ago >> about the greenhouse? >> Yes. >> No. >> Okay.
>> No, we don't have a policy about the greenhouse. >> I will say that >> who knows a lot about the greenhouse though is John Dear. >> Yes. >> Do >> she's a science teacher at LHS >> and she runs the horiculture classes
>> so she would know a lot about the greenhouse. I will say that if we can find a way to do something like that that it definitely helps when we let the community be part of experience the joys
of this building. Um when it comes to getting funding for a new school uh because it it just engenders a lot of goodwill. >> Yeah. And then other people get to come and see the school. Like for example, I had never been to the schools because I
had no reason to until a couple of weeks ago. Um, you know, to see Turkey Hill. Exactly. So that by itself, just being there and having a reason to go to the school automatically like gives you more of an opinion. Um, yeah. >> Yeah. And it it helps tie us in. And I
know there are logistical and safety and privacy reasons that we don't just invite the community into the school, but there was a trend for us to become kind of a separate island. And I'm very aware of that going into what's going to
be trying to get turkey something with Turkey Hill funded that that we should be making overures. >> Kim, can I ask you a question about the the gardening stuff? >> Yes. Are you looking for us to develop a policy or do you because like if we
don't have one do does master planning need us to develop one? >> So if we were to do this the question is would we need a policy and if we do need a policy then we would need to have one made in order to make it happen. >> Okay. >> So that's all that I would really need
to know is like if do these things like right do we have a policy already? Right. Do we plan want if we need to if we wanted to do this do we need to make a policy? I I think given the the nature of the security and privacy concerns, we would need to have some kind of policy. Don't you agree? >> I agree.
>> Okay. >> Do we still do the plant sale? We did. We do plant sale before town meeting, which is >> Mhm. >> That's Yeah. So, we do Don does Don >> I know Don is amazing retirement. >> What? >> She's retiring.
>> Yeah. She posted it on her Facebook. Yeah. >> Oh, that's going to be a real loss cuz she's a and she runs homecoming parade, but she said she has someone to >> Mrs. Tori is the backup for she's going to be the new >> Okay. Yeah, she I Mrs. Garen just said that at some point recently publicly
that she was retiring soon >> and that's why we have like when you walk in our building there are beautiful plants and then she swaps them out in other parts of the >> schools so there's live plants where the kids are and I think that's just such a it's a really small thing but it just
adds >> have you didn't been of the building >> no I've only been to the auditorium >> it's like a veritable >> so this way it's kind of a mirror that So just keep going down the hallway on on the right and then you'll >> Oh, nice. Yeah, I will definitely
>> It's beautiful and it's such a nice thing for the kids. >> Yeah. >> Anyway, so >> so do they have programs like within the school like during during school hours or like classes? >> Oh, okay. >> Yep. And then Yeah, they do the public plant sale which I think is a really
nice thing way to connect the gardening program to the public. plus >> what's the vision of the public using the greenhouse? I'm curious what that would look like.
>> It's a great question. Um I think that the level of feedback didn't quite get into that level of detail um in terms of like what we would use it for, but I mean I think it would be I I mean I don't really know what the greenhouse is used for now. Is it just for like ornamental plants? Is it for is it rated for like edible foods or you know like
vegetables or just kind of other types of plants? I think you know more about plants than you're letting up. >> What >> I said you know more about plants than you're letting up >> a little bit. I do I a little bit of gardening. >> I feel like when it was brought up it was more about engaging a community more
but also if it wasn't being used often enough is there a way we could get more use out of it? >> It is being used frequently. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. And I think that's just something a lot of people just don't know. >> Yeah. These were informed. They sent out a lot of surveys that people Well, it
was but there was like three. So, >> um there are three surveys and like four public meetings. >> So, they had public meetings and they had surveys where people could write their own >> suggestions >> and a surprising number of them included the greenhouse at the school.
>> Yeah. Some of the questions they were prompted you were able to like give like write free text comments under each of them as well. So, all of that was combined. So um the the surveys were designed to be like very broad at the beginning and then as people provided feedback it was tailored more and more specific.
>> Well I'm very cognizant that the community funded the greenhouse and MSBA and did not my only trepidation trepidation with this is that it's a classroom space where the materials stay
in the classroom that they're using. Um, and they do really wonderful things like they graft plants together to create new varietals. I I have one in my office right now. Um, so that would be my only
intrepidation about the public access to the greenhouse. I think we could I think we could come up with some solutions like if it's a just a plant night where we have people repotting like I think we could something like that would be great during school
>> hours or more public notice about the plant sale and more advertisement about the plant sale >> um just to highlight it. Yeah, I think it's like, you know, it was just to evaluate the idea and like what limitations would we need to establish
like and with relatively like no information really about what the greenhouse is currently used for. So, there's a lot of >> Yeah. >> Yeah. things will be able to answer each and every one of your car questions. >> We're generally pretty defensive about um keeping the public or our school
spaces safe and >> which Yeah. So, that's important. Yeah. So not knowing that right it is an active classroom that students actively use it right. So I think um you know I don't think anyone would want to like intrude on the student space and having those other events like you know the
plant sale like or like other events happening there I think would be um a good kind of compromise. So but you don't have to decide that today. It was just evaluation of and now I've yeah written down all of that >> and it's also just good to know that that's what the public is thinking that
>> Yeah. Yeah. And so so we obviously we have gardening in the school program. Um developing a community garden. I think that's probably outside of of this. Um it was more towards the second half of that. >> Um so yes, we already so continue to incorporate gardening into school
programs. So I guess what's keeping the question here is like what's keeping this program alive like to you know long term? I know right now you have the teachers to do it and it's active but like how would we the public like wants to ensure that that continues >> appropriate funding
>> appropriate funding and align it align with the educational standards set forth by the state for the high school. >> Okay. All right. Other side. >> Sorry it's two sides. >> There's more. >> The rest
>> deceiving but there is not it's not a whole page. uh funds school steam part uh programs as part of the school budget. Uh that is within our control and it is based on appropriations from the district. Um the other thing that I
I would say is that a lot of the curriculum requirements are set forth by Desi and we don't have control over those but how you create classes that meet that curriculum requirement that is something that teachers would do without the school committee. Um
>> but yeah, I would argue that this is outside the scope of the master plan. And >> yeah, the create a Lunberg trades program. I that would be a great idea, but again, it's based on appropriations and we would that's something that we
would definitely be looking that I would I think that we should be looking into. >> We are also limited by our contract with Monty Tech. Correct. We're we're limited by state law that we can't offer any of the same programs that Monty Tech offers. We have to offer something
participate in Monty Tech. We cannot duplicate or replicate the programs being offered by Monty Tech. >> Um >> I think this definitely something the state would have to be more involved in. I do know >> the state if the state changed the rules that would be fantastic.
um so that we could offer our students >> a little taste of the trades program or a large taste of the trades program, but we are we're bound by that contract as much as >> it's a Monty Techch contract. >> Yes. >> Well, yeah. And it's the it's the law.
>> Yeah, >> it's state law governing um uh technical high schools. It's >> so is the state law like we have a trade school within 10 miles like you can't duplicate it or >> like it I don't think it's a mile thing. >> I think it's because we sent
>> I think it's a um it's a trade school that you're a member of. >> Correct. >> Um so >> so we send kids from here. >> Lemonster has a trade school. They don't participate in the Monty Techch program. Correct me if I'm wrong, but so because they don't send students to Monty
Techch, they have their own trade program and they can do in their curriculum as they see fit. >> So if we decided not to be in this Monte Techch contract, then we could >> Yeah. But we're not. >> Yeah. I'm not suggesting, but I'm just saying like that that's what's binding
us is that we're in this contract voluntarily. >> Yeah. It's the contract plus the state law. >> But we would I don't see us as ever stopping. We could never offer what money tech offers. >> Right. Right. Yeah. So, and I think that's very
>> there's a lot of politics about that, too. So, there's been a lot of state politics about >> I understand that there's this push. I know that last year one of the select board or two years ago voted no for the override because we don't offer trade programs. >> But we can't.
>> But we can't, right? But we have our delightful policy that we're going to be talking later um about which is about the amount of exposure that we have to offer our middle school students to the trades via Monty and how we have to
document that and report it to the state. >> That's the second read policy tonight. >> Interesting. >> I just wonder someday we could work out something with money tech like a >> stay away from this and we'll stay away from that. >> No, like an after school program. I mean, I'm just going to warn you, the
politics of trade schools are it's it's a Senator Cronin is very involved. He's because of the way that they choose kids to go to trade schools. We've not talked about it in this forum. I think I agree with Senator Cronin. Uh, you know,
because trade schools around the state can select students. They don't have to, it's not just a lottery. Lunberg has to take every child. Monty Techch can choose who they take. There's been some changes at the state board of education about that. I mean, just so you know, I
mean, it there is sort of a minefield, right, Superintendent Dr. Fortuna? Um, >> that this would, you know, I think there the sentiment behind it is really good and I actually think that there could be some benefits to our students, but I just think it's something bigger than
us. >> Yeah. So, >> so the next one on the list is uh research funding grants. research funding grants for afterchool education options for students of all ages. We already do that. There are policies that will cover that. Provide after school
educational options. Same thing. Same policy >> that's mostly self-funded like by students themselves. We do after school >> activities. They're not really offering them right now, >> right? Well, they do them Turkey Hill. >> Turkey Hill does sometimes. >> There's a weight list though for primary.
>> Yeah. Yeah. So, I guess like what is um creating that weight list? Is it like space funding or both? >> It's fun. >> Just funding. Okay. >> Funding and personnel to run it. When our budget when our budget is this bare bones,
>> you have to make decisions and >> the continue to seek grants opportunities for school buildings upgrades according to the build green building standards. We are always doing that. >> Um we did that with the the mini split units >> and so that's just a part of the process
that we always engage in. >> Yeah. the primary school. We only recently started engaging that. >> Do you know who manages that? Like who watches out for those grants? >> So yeah, the green communities committee. I'm also on that. Um >> well then there. >> Yeah. So um yeah, so when you're talking
about mini splits, I was like that um put out a light bulb in my head, but yeah. Of um like are you aware of green communities? Because I'm sure you are, but yeah, they've done a lot of grants for um in most recently primary school for the mini splits. Definitely. Yeah, reach out to Dave Blat for and I'm glad you're aware of of that as well. So,
that's really mostly what that pertains to is like let's keep um working with those types of grant programs for the school upgrades when we're considering um HVAC or weatherization and all that. >> Yeah, >> I think it's um very interesting. We're going to have a conversation about the
MSBA later, but there's increased funding. Um I'm thinking specifically of Turkey Hill >> if you for different levels of lead certification um for your green building as you build. >> So um that is definitely something I
think the committee will be looking at if we decide to pursue a new a new build for Turkey Hill. >> Yeah. Yeah. And um if for another thing for like new builds is like it would have to have all the um since we're a green community like um uh what's the
underground heat system? Um >> geothermal. >> Yeah. Like geo we'd have to like explore like geo things like geothermal whatever. It like definitely couldn't be like gas or oil type of situation. So funding yeah for that would be needed. >> Um the the next one on this the upgrade
school facilities to meet accessibility standards. We are always dealing with that. We have dozens of policies. There is state law. There are federal laws, >> but we're not doing it. >> Right. And I think that's where it all comes back to on the master plan.
>> And it is ultimately money. Um the you know like the example that's easiest to call to mind is we are trying to figure out a way to understand the impact of renovations at Turkey Hill that do and don't trigger
revamping the entire building for accessibility purposes and it's all just money. >> So this is something we are doing all the time. We are limited on implementing things because of grandfathering rules and funding. Mhm. >> Um and then the last one, develop
uniform town signage and also consider non-light polluting lighting. Start with municipal buildings. Consider all at one point. I have no idea what that means. So I >> Yeah, I'll try I'll try to explain it.
So, um, when, so, you know, when you go and you see like bright fluorescent lights, um, I think, you know, it's mostly like for businesses cuz this started out more more vague of like all town signs, but so it's it's been narrowed down to just the municipal
buildings and I don't I don't know if we already have a policy on this or if it's something we already work on like in terms of like the town build the signs and things that are outside of I mean for you guys would be the schools like all the school signs Would we ever have I know we have the light outside of um
the on that side of the road with like the advertisements, >> but um for like the the actual signs and the lighting to have like a uniform town sign um like in terms of colors, font sizes just to like make it more cohesive um
>> branding for Lunberg like you see a sign and you know that that's a policies around the blue knight the usage of the blue knights but I don't think we have anything on signage in particular. Is that right? >> We don't. I just say let the town
>> There's a town policy on that. >> Oh, >> there is there's a town policy on that. >> Kevin, the answer is always ask >> is the town policy. Are we do we follow the town in that town policy? >> You mean like what signs are allowed or what they should look like? So, there
are town there's a town policy that tells us what election signs that we can put out, all different types of signs. So, um if you town manager, you'd be able to get that. I probably do have it in my
>> like sizes. I think >> my historical >> you're more talking about like a cohesive look for signs so that when you see a sign and it's that font and that color, >> you know it's a Lunberg municipal building, >> right? like as we replace signs like they're replaced using having this
specific look to it and it's not like a back lit bright sign like bright sign because like for also like environmental purposes for light pollution um but then also write like a a town branding like cohesiveness. So like as we replace the town buildings it has to be like this
shade of green with this font color. I mean I know it's relatively shade. I wish we honestly would just pick a hex pick a hex code and that's Lunberg blue, >> right? >> See? Yeah. No, no, >> that's exactly what you're talking about.
>> No, we don't have that. Yes. I really wish we would just pick a shade of Lunberg blue and that's our blue. Um, and I'm We have a lot of different signs and some of ours are handcarved,
>> so I wouldn't want to change the handcarved signs. We could make a requirement that the signs have to be handcarved. >> We can't afford that. No signs of the primary sign. >> But I do I I'm always >> I just want the signs to be adorned with
clothing items. >> Yes. >> The more the more the better. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. If that's the rule that all signs must have certain clothing items strewn over them. >> Okay. >> Yes. Absolutely. I'll I'll have it in there
for town meeting. Um, okay. So, overall though, you guys are receptive to that. So, like if that were to come to fruition, the school committee wouldn't be like, "No, we don't want this uniform town signage because we don't want to have that on our school." >> I would prefer to have endemic signs
like we have because they're representative of the kids. >> I would prefer that it be guidelines and not rules. >> Okay. because of the cost issues sometimes in a hurry we're going to get a sign and we're going to get what's cheap but if there were general guidelines then we
had the time and money >> then I mean this is beyond our this is you and facilities >> yeah it wouldn't be like we would require them all to be changed it would be like as things are >> but even as things break sometimes for example this summer we needed to in a we
relocated to from TC Pasios to Turkey Hill and so our facilities director got an awning and he got a sign that says superintendent's office and that happened very quickly. >> Yes. And it has no light pollution at all.
>> Like you can't even see it. >> Exactly. >> So really >> that backpack we need a light on. >> Lights or something. >> So >> I just don't want you. Okay. Um, so I would prefer it be guidelines personally
because um, I would hate for branding to get in the way of uh, spending dollars on students. >> The other thing is a lot of the signage on campus, if you notice, is is gifted >> and so like it would be very difficult
to mandate that people give us things like that. >> That's fair. So, okay. >> I think that, you know, the school may be like the Christmas tree with homemade ornaments as opposed to the Christmas tree with Pottery Barn ornaments, but no one likes the Christmas tree with Pottery Barn, >> right? >> Yeah. Okay.
>> They're boring. >> Yeah. But if they were guidelines and we had to get a new sign for somewhere and we had >> Right. And you had the ability to >> then we could look and say, "What are the town guidelines?" But >> I would rather not be beholden to rules. we have to f follow stylistically
because those extra dollars that we would have to spend to implement that those come direct those come out of funds that we'd like to spend on students. >> Yeah. No, that makes sense. Perfect. Um, no, this was this was wonderful. I'm very glad I was able to get your feedback on these. Um, >> thank you for doing this. >> Thank you so much.
>> Sorry we took a while to do. >> It's okay. It was before December 10th, which is really the final deadline. >> And you're not the last ones. >> We made it. >> Oh, good. >> Yep. Still waiting on a planning board. which is ironic. Um that who charges
committee um but soon but okay well thank you very much. I'll reach back out if I have any other questions but yeah so no need for any additional followup um unless I reach out to you but >> thank you can you email me your slides from last night?
>> Oh yeah the >> on the website. >> Oh yeah. Um I they're put up however with Jen. >> Okay. Put the town manager. she has them and all of them. But yes, I can also forward that to you as well >> because they were really informative. You you went fast, which is good with
fast, but >> yeah, we had there definitely a lot of details on them and we had more slides at our like public info sessions. Um >> Oh, so that is it. >> It was very similar to the one if you attended the most recent one at Smoke Stack. Um but >> it's on YouTube, so I'll go >> I'll just send it to you. It's easier
because it has all the same content. Um so yeah, I had to go fast. I didn't want to take up too much time. So I really didn't expect to be there until midnight, but At least it wasn't midnight 10 when the lights went dark. >> Thank you very much.
>> Thank you for being on. >> All right. Uh that's a very good segue into a short discussion, please of uh Turkey Hill. So here's what I think we should do a little bit differently in Turkey.
>> Can I just talk? >> I think we should have each person have three minutes. >> Can I just tell you what I learned? because I think that's going to determine what we should decide or if we need a discussion right now, >> right? >> Sure. All right. >> So, uh I was tasked with talking to someone at the MSBA. I talked to the
director of operations the other day. He said, "Do not hire a consultant and do not decide at this point whether you want to renovate or you want to build new." That is the process that the MSBA goes through. So, he said if we want to apply, there's two tracks you can apply
for. There's a track which is a their core program which is like possible renovations or you know uh or rebuilds or there's a second track that is more replacing windows and doors, replacing
um ceilings, not ceilings, roofs, those kind of things. This January, they're opening the core program for input. The renovation program or the smaller project program only has openings every
other year. Um, I sent everyone a or we posted it, Jody put it, uh, Dr. Fortuna put it in the folder. Uh, the MSBA presented at the Mesa conference last week. Um, there is a webinar in January that talks about how you would submit a
letter of intent to the Mass School Building Authority. The percentages of people they accept on the renovation side is very high. I think on the core program side, it's not as high, but I don't know what they did this year because they don't announce who they're choosing to enter the pipeline until
December. >> Um, can we do? >> I said, "Do we need a feasibility study? Do we need any of this stuff?" He said no you don't but any information you have to share i.e. the reports that uh Dr. Fornish Tunish had shared previously
um the mass school building authority goes every 10 years they come and look at schools. 10 years ago Turkey Hill got a three out of four which is not good. Um and they're coming again this year. It's it's like on they come and look at facilities and you know how does it look what all this stuff. You can find it on
their website. I can send links to people if they want, but I did some research yesterday. So, I would propose that we ask the school committee, I mean that we ask the superintendent and her staff with help from the school committee to attend the, you know, attend this thing in January, see what a
letter of intent process would look like and we submit to, you know, to the school to the Mass School Building Authority. Um, we could get, you know, I think 37% is their floor. They pay 37% of whatever you do and it goes up from there. Um, I just don't know why we
wouldn't try to get money from the state for whatever we're doing >> and then we don't have to have the renovate or build new discussions >> because they're the ones who will facilitate and pay for that. >> I was so excited to read that part of it. So they ultimately decide if we would run.
>> We would ultimately decide, but they would pick us to give us a grant so we could have these kind of conversations and have actual engineers and stuff give us, you know, like people who do this work give us options basically if you go through the pipeline.
>> I'm hoping but the grant would be for a specific amount, right? >> We would have to be chosen for the grant which would then it sounds like they and Dr. Fortuna, I don't know if you've been through this in other districts, but of course, right? I mean, is this how it works? I mean, it's an 8-year process.
It's a long time, but I think >> it can be up to I have a friend who works in air, surely. She said, you know, they're in they're in the queue. You know, it takes a while, but I just don't know why we wouldn't have experts help us figure out what we need and
possibly get 30 to 40% of it paid for by the state. >> Do you want to do the core program or the accelerated repair? Why don't let's let's listen to what Dr. Fortuna has to say. >> Okay. >> I agree. We should become involved with MSBA. I don't think we should do the
accelerated repair. That building needs more than the accelerated repair. >> Y >> I am totally in favor of doing a statement of interest, but it's not just a ladder. >> Yeah. >> It's a It's a huge lift.
>> It's a big pro project. And so we would need help to do that given the amount of staff that we currently have. >> Okay. >> Um with just having Chris and the business office, Chris Stevens and myself being the primary workers on it.
>> Um it would require a bigger team process to do it. >> Okay. >> Um >> having done it before, they need to be carefully crafted if because it's a highly competitive process. if you want your building selected, but I'm not saying that that's an impediment not to
do it. Yeah. >> I just want the board and the community to be aware of what a heavy lift it it will be. >> Okay. >> And we'll learn more about it in January. That's why they do the superintendent table in January. >> Yeah. And I signed up even though then I realized it was superintendent. So I
don't know if I can go but I figured I would listen. >> They don't check your super but it's on Zoom so I figured I could just listen. um a thank you. So I so I'm not so I will publicly say I'm not against hiring someone if that's the way to go, but I also don't want us to just
be, you know, like committing to just hiring and hiring and hiring. But I really feel very strongly I do not want to decide renovation or build in a vacuum. And I feel like that's what people want us to do. And I just don't I just don't feel comfortable doing that.
>> No, I I agree with what you're saying. I will learn more about the process, but I do know in other districts, I've been in three districts now that have had one was um a renovation. Yeah.
>> One was and two were complete new builds. Um, and it is a lengthy, highly competitive process um, that I might recommend a consultant to that's had
success in getting one of these through to help. >> How much does that kind of thing cost? >> I don't know. >> Okay. I mean, that's So, can you come to us next meeting with a rough cost? And I imagine you might know people already that
>> I do. I I have one person in mind that um was responsible for the new middle school in Hudson. Yeah. >> Um so that he could be a possibility. He's recently retired. >> Um so that could be a possibility. Um I
could come to you um with that. And then um some examples. I think there's public examples of statements of interest. >> I Googled it a little bit. it looked like some some of it has questions already populated. So then I didn't really know if that meant that we
had to wait till January to see what kind of questions they were asking. He did say to me and I had a very short conversation with this gentleman. But I learned better talking to someone. So I wanted to find someone who worked there. um you know he basically said all the stuff I mentioned right was things that
we would want to submit with our letter of interest right like our ADA uh report and the things that had been done but you know and it is a competitive process but I just feel very strongly I do not want to make a decision about renovating a building when I have no idea what that means
>> and I think we're a realistic timeline the process opens in January and closes in April >> right so we really need to evaluate if within in that fourmonth window if we do it this year or if we delay into next year.
>> Okay. Um the other thing just so you know what he told me about the Excel uh his name is Matt Donovan at the accelerated um uh repair program. It does have a much higher percentage of people that they accept. But he said we don't put lipstick on a pig. So if your
building was born built in you know 1967 >> our windows are too old for some of >> you know what I mean. He didn't obviously he has no authority of what they're but he acted like sounded like that's not what we were yeah really looking for. >> Would you recommend starting this year
or waiting a year? >> I need to refamiliarize myself with the process a little bit more um before I can make a solid recommendation. >> Can we talk about it in two weeks acceptable and then you'll get a little
more information? Yeah. >> And then I'm relieved that MSBA will facilitate the discussions about renovation and rehab because it's we we don't need to keep rehashing with the information we have. Um, and I think
it's important to note that we're every town in Massachusetts goes through this periodically where they have to refurbish or build new schools. So, we're not alone in this and there are people who know what to do. That's why it's a competitive process and I I do
believe that this would be a huge first step for us >> to to go through and if we go through the competitive process and we don't get chosen >> then we submit again another year. >> We submit another year or we'll have at least a sense of where we are in the right because there is some public
>> response. Yes, you have to present in front of the board. You there's >> a lot of work. It's pretty. >> I'm just going to say this and I I don't I don't know if anybody wants to hear this, but I do not think that we should submit a letter of intent this year. My
understanding from when we looked at this last time was that the letter of intent process is incredibly complex. And it's not that you get penalized for doing it. Like you don't like if you fail one year, they don't like bump you
down the list if you submit the next year. It's that the amount of time and energy we would spend doing a crappy one one year is not that much different from the amount of time and energy we would spend doing a good one if we had more of
a runway. And I think that if we're talking about opening it in January, like that's less than what is it? It's less than 50 days away. >> It's due in April. >> Yeah. Yeah. But like the process starts officially. the shotgun goes off and you
you know the race starts in January where you're getting information you know what they're looking for you know what they're going to prioritize in terms of funding and so like we would we would be too far behind the eightball to start now especially given that we have
a new superintendent a new business manager and a looming fiscal crisis that we're going to have to deal with so I think that we should explore this but I would be it would be hard to persuade me that it would be best to just shoot our
shot, you know, as soon as possible. Like I don't want to do I don't want to do a halfass job. I want to do like a full ass job or whatever the oppos opposite of that is. And so like I'm I'm happy to go about gathering information. The information that we gathered last
time was very similar. I'm also concerned about the opacity of the process. it is daunting to figure out, especially beforehand, what they're going to claim is a priority. And so we would like
we're essentially going to start building this plan without knowing what they're going to say is a priority. And that is really challenging. And I think that like if we had a plan ready and then learned what their priorities were,
we could modify the plan to meet those priorities as opposed to making the plan and learning of the priorities at the same time. So like I I I definitely do not want to put this on the back burner. I would like to have some kind of forward movement, but I think that the
runway that we have right now is just not long enough to do a job that will make a difference. like we will spend an enormous amount of time and energy for people who don't have it on a process where we're not going to make it this year. Like I I just can't foresee us
putting together anything with the current staff that we have that will win a bid. Maybe I'm wrong and I'm I'm happy to be convinced I'm wrong, but I just think that like this is this is not a you know like you don't like have chat
GPT write you a letter. It is a much more in-depth thing. And since we don't even know what they're going to prioritize, >> but we're never going to know what they're going to prioritize. >> My idea is I just dropped a sample so SOI from 2025. >> I was wondering about that into your packet.
>> So I would like to wait till next week and see what Dr. Fortuna has to say because I think she has >> a handle on >> the time demands that and the time that her and Mr. McNamera and Mr. Stevens
could even put into this and um I imagine if we talk to her consultant >> see what's feasible but I am not a fan of delaying if we don't have to. I think there are a number of things in town that
sort of hinge on what we decide to do with Turkey Hill. I think last night I asked if they could hold off on the kids kingdom till we made a decision about Turkey Hill. So, I'd like to not delay at least starting this process. Um, we've been waiting a while in line for
this. As Carol said, when it's our turn in line, and I think it might be our turn in line, and we should probably step up. >> That's fine. But I >> I just think the only way through hard things, you're I think the only way through hard things is through hard
things. And we're always going to be overworked and underpaid. And that's just how the world works. And so if we don't make a I just >> you can't do all things all the time. That's my point. >> Let's see what ne let's see what next meeting is and then we'll
>> give me some time and I'll let you know if we're if we have the capacity to do it and do it well. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Because I don't want to do something then I >> I agree and maybe the next year, you know, maybe we then look at it in two years. But the thing is I am not I am
not willing to leave the money on the table. So the only way you get the money is going through the process. >> We also need >> I mean that the state is not going to chip in if we don't go through the process. So that that's the catch 22 >> and the town manager also has to sign
off >> and the select board and stuff. I did read that um that that has to be submitted when you submit in April. So we should >> we'll have to we should maybe mention that at >> Y >> at the tri board meeting. And I I guess the message here is if it's a no, tell
us no and we'll hear you. >> Um, so let us know for next week. >> We'll definitely do that. >> That's a lot of things we added to the agenda. >> All right, let's uh Can we skip the Turkey Hill discussion since we just discuss?
>> So we did two things at once. I cannot get my Nothing is working. >> I don't know. >> What was the next agenda item? >> The municipal design building committee. Yeah, that was it was supposed to be the planning committee. Um I named the wrong committee for those. >> Oh, okay. The one that >> So, we just had that.
>> Oh, excellent. That's great. >> That is one of the reasons why I was confused about what was being asked cuz I I got those two committees mixed up and I was like, we just talked about this, but that's my me being dumb. >> Oh, good. Cuz I'm like trying to support bands. Yes. >> Transport bands.
>> Oh, we got good news on vans. >> Yes, we have good news on bands. So, um, who who put it? >> Wait, I thought we spent the van money on I Ready. >> Oh, yeah. So, no, we got there was there was confusion about it because of the way.
>> Great. Cuz we had spent money on Ready and Bor and then that that's when I saw this, I thought, wait, didn't we already spend this money? >> No, it's more money. >> We had two general earmark appropriations. that is what we used um to pay for I Ready and the other things
that I presented um to the committee. We also had a very specific earmark was that the district was not to expend um less than $195,000 to purchase to
>> to purchase transport vans for students. So, I updated I went and I got updated quotes from Jere today. I'm going to actually ask you to just look at the
second quote um for the low roof, the low roof. Um the high roof bands are kind of like the people movers, the Mercedes people movers that you see. >> Um we could get one of those. However,
the driving would be more difficult. Um, and >> and that was for 2025 and the bottom one's for 2026. >> Yes. The 2026 the um issue would be we couldn't take delivery for 3 to 6
months. Mhm. >> But um that I think is worth the tradeoff to have an easier driving vehicle >> since we will be having staff trained.
This van for one van is $67,419. That comes kitted out with the 7D package, which is what we need to legally transport students. Okay. >> How many kits does it fit? Um, we will only be able to fit seven students on
each one. Um, plus the driver. Um, we can't buy a larger van because it's, um, now illegal in Massachusetts to do that. >> So, that's why it it will be a seven passenger van. So, we'll have two um, so
we can transport 14 um, people >> and that comes up to I think I did the math. It's something like 124,000 um as a round number. That will leave us the remaining money to pay for licensing
for whoever is going to drive the van as well as um provide stipens for whoever is going to drive the van because our staff isn't going to do it without compensation. >> Y are we thinking coaches mostly for like sporting events?
>> Um it won't be. We're thinking assistant coaches. Um coaches um right now um because the coach has so many other responsibilities >> um >> but there are certain teams that have under that many kids
>> yes so um Shenina and I are going to work to figure out the differences but these can also be used for more than sports we can use them for science olympiad we can use them for >> um our ACE students um because we don't have any a students that are physically
um impacted right now. So, we could use it to transport them to their job sites and we'll lose the transportation reimbursement um that we have. >> Is accessibility and our ability to
transport students with physical handicap going to be an issue? >> Not with these vans because we would just have to >> we could always hire >> we would still have to hire a wheelchair van. I just wanted to check on that. >> Yeah. Okay, let's do it. We have a lot more to talk about.
>> Do we need more than one quote? >> Do we know anyone who owns a dealership? >> We probably do need more than one quote because I'm sure Jet is not on the state bid list. Okay, I will work on that. Um, >> but this is a rough cost and we can afford J. >> This this is the actual cost if we went
with Jet. So, and we can afford to. >> Let's do it. Do we have to vote? >> This is a discussion item. >> Yeah, it's a discussion. >> Perfect. And thank you for looking into this. I'm sorry that I'm pushing us along, but we have to talk about budget and we have to talk about cashlessness >> and it's nice. >> Yeah.
>> All right. >> Thank you. Sorry. I don't need to rush you. I just I >> I just wanted to make sure we had to were all at town meeting later than I was last >> preliminary discussion of budget. >> All right. >> Another late dropped into your um folder
is an initial FY27 budget memo that I'm just going to actually read right now. This is our initial budget memo. It's um the preliminary version of the superintendent's budget and I'm informing you of some key assumptions,
drivers, and personnel priorities. As we begin the development of the fiscal year 27 budget, I'm writing to provide the committee with what I just said. Our primary strategic goal for this budget is clear. Despite rising operational costs, we must maintain our current
staffing levels. That is not an option in this budget. We cannot sustain any staffing loss >> any further staffing loss. >> Yes. And add critical positions to support student intervention and enrollment needs. This has been heard loud and clear from the people that are
closest to the work from our school administrators and from our student data. To achieve this, we are pri prioritizing people over paper. making the difficult decision to pause funding for significant portions of general supplies and to invest in direct student
support. The key budget drivers and fixed costs blow my mind this year. Our health insurance, we have projected an increase of 20%. This is our most significant driver this year. Student transportation, we have a potential
increase of 15%. general supplies given the market rate and the research that I have done on this tells us to budget 12 to 15% increases for that and our salaries our
teachers are um getting a 3.5% COLA and our par professionals are getting a 3% cola. So that all that is if we did level funded our budget would be up by that amount. So given the 12% inflation
on general supplies and the steep hike in healthcare, a business as usual budget is not feasible to or in other words a level funded budget is not feasible to offset these costs without reducing staff. We are recommending a pause on specific general office supply
purchases as determined by the principal and staff in each building and approved by the superintendent. One of my goals with this budget process has been to be very transparent with our staff um so that they know what's happening and
there are no surprises for them. We are not because I'm convinced this is part of what the mistake um was last year. We will not be providing nine budgets. We will be providing three if we will provide a level service budget, a level
funded budget and a um necessary increase, a prioritized budget. Okay, we are building the prioritized budget now. Um, and we are going to support interventionists, paraprofessionals, and teachers because that's going to provide
a higher RRI for our student success than some of the materials that we're currently using. Our assessment of student data, particularly regarding academic intervention, requires us to add specific positions. Below is the breakdown of necessary additions and restructuring by building and
department. I want you to know this has been shared with all teachers except for our middle school teachers, which is going to happen tomorrow. But any teacher that wants to come to one of Chris and I's wonderful chats about the
budget. Um we've completed the cycle at three of our four schools. >> Thank you for doing that. >> We Yeah, it's been fun actually. I've really enjoyed them. >> It's good to meet everyone. not meet but just to releate too. >> And we've also gathered teacher voice
through surveys which further backs up um the strate strategic additions. We are not replacing everything that is cut. We I truly believe that that last year I truly believe that that is an unreasonable ask given how much the cost
of other things are going up for the town. So I met with the principles. We prioritized a strategic three-year um strategy to get back to those staffing levels. And this is what we
prioritized for year one. Um at the primary school, we're going to add a 1.0 interventionist to address early literacy and math gaps. We're going to do some kindergarten support restructuring. And this I want to credit the staff at the primary school for
coming up with. This was not an idea that I would have come up with, but they came up with it and it's very workable. We're going to add a 1.0 kindergarten par profofessional. We're going to do that by identifying strategic um cuts
and supplies that Mrs. Squire believes that they can achieve the salary. We're going to reassign the existing MTSS PAR professional to kindergarten. So, this impact will allows for more equitable support across four kindergarten
classrooms. We still have that fifth one that's not there yet, but two classes will have special education powers in them and two will have general education powers in them. Um, and there will only be one classroom that doesn't have a
specifically assigned power to them, but we will work something out. And this almost meets the original ask that Miss Squire had for three par professionals. So, we were very excited to get to this point. The staff was very happy that we
got to this point >> years ago. That's we I mean, we're getting back to staffing levels. There have been so many cuts that there used to be a parrot in each kindergarten classroom >> and we had six kindergarten teachers >> which is a very reasonable thing to have
and having had a kid go through when we had the paras and a kid go through without >> I think it's it's a little ridiculous we don't have paras in kindergarten I do not know how these kindergarten teachers are doing it >> now with the class sizes that they have they have large class sizes for
kindergarten and they don't have assigned paras >> I also think that By prioritizing kindergarten we will redown benefits throughout their time in Luniver. >> Yes. >> Yes. That is a fundamental year. So this
is I am very frustrated that we are getting that we have gone so far and we have made so many cuts over the years that now we're getting back to where we were when my oldest kid started school 10 years ago.
But this is I'm I'm very excited. This is a necess This is necessary. >> This is excellent. >> At Turkey Hill Elementary School, one of the cuts that you made last year, um, you may recall, is a special educator. Yes.
>> And we now have one person doing the role of special educator and interventionist. It's untenable. She can't meet her special ed case load and provide intervention to students as well. She and I met last week to um
establish some stop gap measures that could help her get through this year, but next year we really need to have a 1.0 interventionist at Cherokee Hill, especially when only 46% of of our third grade is reaching reading proficiency.
>> Oh god. >> Our at the middle school again, it's an interventionist. As you can see, we're prioritizing intervention for our students. We need to close serious academic gaps that um our students are demonstrating right now. At the high
school, we are prioritizing adding a 1.0 world language teacher. Our rising 8th grade class is 155 students. Our choices without adding an eighth um our without adding the world language teacher would
be not to offer world language in grade 8 or to cut our Latin program. Neither of those were acceptable to Mr. Santry or I. So that's why we're prioritizing the addition of the 1.0 world language.
>> And this was a cut for that last was this a cut last year or was this a proposed? I don't remember. It was somewhere on a list. >> Okay. Cuz >> is the >> the eighth grade class is huge. >> The bubble class. >> So is the seventh grade. >> It is the seventh grade. >> It's the cut class.
>> That is the bubble class. >> Yeah. Yeah. My niece is in it. It's huge. Under 155 students. >> Yeah. I think we did the this cup last year. >> It there was a snowstorm or something. >> I'm not kidding.
Um, we also are prioritizing a point4 music teacher because a point4 teacher is not a huge ask and this will allow Mr. Santry to move closer to his goals of offering more electives for students. We're choosing to offer those in the
music realm because we are having such an increase in students that are interested in middle school band um that we may be able to build back a full band which would be very very exciting which I think is a testament to the fifth
grade band the Mr. Alistister's fifth grade band that is getting them into the music program when they're young enough to still think it's cool and it get and it's it makes the bridge into middle school and I think that's why we're building a much stronger program >> and you'll recall that that fifth grade
band was something that we were able to restore this year. Yes. >> Which is continuing to help >> and my son is doing it. Um in student services we are readding because this was a cut last year a bridge teacher and a bridge power
professional. Um these positions are critical for our in district programming for students requiring significant social emotional or transitional support. We have really found this year not having that program has really been
detrimental to those students um social emotional learning and behavioral issues and um has created um several more disciplinary issues here at the high school than we're traditionally used of
having. Um we also need to add a 1.0 I know English language teacher um because and I'll provide you all with this data in subsequent um but our e population is increasing greatly our English learner population which is wonderful. We're
going to have learners with the superpower of being bilingual but we also have the responsibility of teaching them English. And then for district Y for administration, um I feel very strongly that we need to
go back to a full-time athletic director and a full-time principal. Our students aren't getting the support from the assistant principles that they were able to get before because um Shenina is really um doing more of the athletic
director work. They're both full-time jobs. >> Yeah. Um, and Karma can't do it all. And if you think about it, we really have half a principal in the high school because the other half of his time is spent here at the middle school. So, it
is essential to have two assistant principles there. So, this preliminary budget represents a needs-based approach. By absorbing the 20% health insurance and 15% transportation hikes and offsetting supply costs, we aim to
protect the integrity of our classroom instruction. And Chris can give you the bottom line of what the budget is right now. D >> Wow, that's a that's a setup for an LU. Let's uh >> he has it memorized.
>> What's the number? I don't have it memorized, but my computer uh died. So >> um >> do you want to look at the >> No, no, I think I know the numbers. >> Um so with all the additions right now, the
budget for FY27 is looking to be 27,895,42. Um, right now for FY26, our budget's 26 million.2. I don't know the exact number for that.
It's 26.2 million, >> but um, >> so that's an increase of 1.6 million or so. >> About that. >> Okay. What's the percentage? Was it 8? We could do that on there. I did it or I think it's >> And I think one of the other things Dr. Fortuna didn't talk about was another
driver is utility costs. Um um I'm actually going to be talking to Unatel tomorrow to find out exactly what we should project for 27 28 and 29. Um right now I'm thinking it's going to be
about 15%. Um, I believe we budgeted a little bit around it was 235 236,000 for electricity in FY26.
>> And that's one of the areas we're running a little hot in right now. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. We're running what? >> A little hot. >> We're spending a little more than we Yeah. >> anticipated >> and they're still not super responsive. like the power outage that took a while
to get here. >> It's way better than it used to be. >> At least At least they're the same to consumers and to municipalities. They're just jerks everywhere. >> He's meeting nicer. >> Well, be nice.
>> Honestly, >> it's a big number. >> Yeah, >> it's lower than I thought it was going to be. It is. So I mean so I think that alone to me makes me feel like >> these are very strategic position. Like it is clear that these are well thought
out strategic readitions to try and stem some of the pain of the cuts of last year, >> right? >> Um I I it's not too >> it's not a fix forever, but it's a it's strategic ambitious step in a threeyear
plan. >> This is not too ambitious. We're not going to, you know, we're not adding in another five foreign languages. And th this is very doable. Um
I I guess I wanted to say thank you for being this is very strategic. I feel like every single one of these ads um I wasn't aware of the EL teacher thing, but almost all these ads are things that um were on my priority list to restore.
I actually called Dr. fortunate to talk about the kindergarten paras and she said, "I have good news." >> Um because the kindergarten para thing has really >> Yeah, I've heard from some families that it's just not >> It's hard. It's very hard. >> I don't know how those teachers are doing it.
>> No, the new teacher started on Monday. Carla is no longer teaching kindergarten >> when we did our visit. >> Cara was teaching kindergarten. Oh my goodness. >> Yes. Mrs. teaching kindergarten for about the past month. She jumps in and does whatever like she's
>> she's everywhere doing every job. >> Yeah. >> Um she's a blessing. >> Is it Johnny Cash? >> Mhm. >> So I guess Yeah. And I'm I am really happy that we decided not to cut eighth grade world language. I think eighth grade is still too late to be starting a
world language. So I would have vehemently fought against that. And I think that I eighth grade is the bare minimum we can do for these kids. Um, and we're offering very few languages compared to other places. >> Spanish, Latin, and French.
>> Spanish, Latin, French. >> That's actually offering Latin is rare. >> No, >> we're not getting real. >> We're not getting rid of Latin. >> I love Latin. I took Latin. >> I think I think Latin is the most valuable language actually um because it helps you so much with English
>> and I loved history. So, it was it's good. I think that's like a good >> I could rant about how how great Latin is forever. Um, so I'm I'm happy that we're accommodating that new bubble class coming up and that we put in the music teacher because electives are very important. I know it's not the core
reading, writing, arithmetic, but those electives are very important to students and they help with the scheduling difficulties at the high school because we are a small school. So, we do not have as much flexibility as larger schools when it comes to scheduling.
>> All right, let's go down the line. Uh, Mandy, thoughts? >> You know, I mean, this is the beginning of a long process. I'm very grateful that it seems like things are going well right now and that the staff has been so collaborative and that both you and Chris have been so available for, you
know, the staff to talk to. So, you know, I'm I'm happy with this. I think Monday, you know, we're going to have a lot of questions from the tribe board, but I feel confident we're going to be able to answer the questions that they have. And, you know, and if not, we can always come back to them with more answers. But, you know, I think it's really important um for us to continue
to talk about how our great our MCCAST scores and other things are not where we want them to be, you know, and and this community children deserve the resources to make sure that they can be successful. So, I'm I'm >> Is this what we're presenting? >> I'm pleased. I mean, it's it's a big
number, but it's not it's not an insurmountable number. >> Um, I'm happy to see the Paris and intervention this afternoons. That was a big concern for me prior to being on the school committee as a parent of a child in the primary school especially.
>> Um, so I'm glad to see that we're starting to add that back in because >> without those there's just just a chain reaction of other issues like I said earlier. So, I think it's very helpful for the kids and the teachers.
>> My only comment, and this is the same comment I've made the last three years, is we are a very small school to have a full-time athletic director. And I'm not saying that we should split her time. But I think that if I were forced to
choose between an assistant principal in a building that only has one full-time administrator, which is where we're at, and it's karma, I would prefer to have two full-time administrators and no athletic director. Um I I know that that's not popular.
>> Could you go with a halftime? >> Could we add another principal and have two and a half vice principles and a half athletic director? >> The job just because yeah, >> I don't know how she's she's doing two full-time jobs and this is not
sustainable. That has to change. So, okay, >> we could do a halftime athletic director. >> Those are hard to find though, right? Like quality because it is really important that we have a quality athletic director. >> I I I don't think we should ever employ
nonquality people. However, I am not convinced and I have never been convinced and I have basically gone along to get along and I will do it again that we need an athletic director. I just think that like if it is between
interventionists for third grade where only 46% have a a a grade level literacy or an athletic director that serves one half of one of three or one of four schools,
right? It's a very very specialized narrow role. And if you look at the number of students that are served by the athletic director, I I just don't see it as being on the same level as the
other things on this list with maybe the exception of the music teacher. But the music teacher actually serves two roles in that it provides school choice, which we know is very important for high school students, and it provides uh scheduling flexibility. So, like if
we're talking bang for our buck, I just and I know that people disagree with me and that's fine, but like at the end of the day, the athletic director is a want and not a need. And so, like if we're if we're forced to I don't want to choose
any of this. I'd like to keep it all, but I I just am not I'm not as convinced that an athletic director is necessary. Now, Dr. Burnham when she was here basically explained that like it made the superintendent's job significantly
easier because a lot of the things that the superintendent was dealing with before the athletic director were things that were now dealt with by the athletic director. And so maybe that's a way to view it as having like uh you know double dip impact like the music
teacher, but I I just it's not the same. And like, you know, like at the end of the day, we're here to educate kids. And to the extent that sports keep them engaged in the school process, they have real value. And to the extent that they
teach them, you know, lessons about sportsmanship and being a good teammate, they have real value. And to the extent that they teach them about, you know, physical fitness, they have real value. But the athletic director is one step removed from that. Like that's what a
coach does. And we're basically having a manager of coaches. And I think that like spending money on administration when we have dire needs in student facing positions is problematic. >> So you just gave me a perfect segue.
Okay. I have not included something in this report um specifically because I wanted the school committee's permission before Monday to add it in. I would like to do a restructuring of the central office in
order to get Chris more help. >> So, what I would like to do is move Heidi over to Chris and have her continue her accounts payable. And there's some discussion with the town
about the school doing their own payroll. Um, which we're definitely going to need somebody to do. What we have to take off Heidi's plate is the data management and the state data
reporting. That is not a full-time job. I'm asking to add a halftime data manager um into the central office mix so that our state reporting is done accurately and on time since that determines our
funding and we can't afford to make mistakes on that. However, that is not a full-time position. There's plenty of work in it, but we can definitely make do with a halftime position. So, I wanted the committee to discuss that and
let me know how they feel because I know community is very anti-administration. This wouldn't be administrator. It'd be a clerical um position. >> Is there room in the budget? >> Well, it would be more than this number you just gave. Yes. Right. >> Yeah. >> Oh, you mean for next year? Not. I
thought this was okay. >> So, I So, let's go down the line. >> Can I just respond one thing about your athletic director comment? >> Sure. So, as someone who was not athletic and did not play sports, much sports in high school, to me, athletics
is part of the fabric of a community. Football games, events, community events, people being involved with things. So, I understand what you're saying and some of and your position, but I want to raise kids who are
well-rounded, who have a lot of passion for, you know, lots of different things. And I do think that's just something that deserves a mention when we talk about education in a town like Lunberg. It's I understand academics are super
important. I did not go to an Ivy League school. you know, I probably I didn't work as hard as I probably could have, but I still had a full and you know, happy life. And I think, you know, that's part of what we do, too, is help people find what is important to them.
And it may be community and athletics is a big part of that. Um, Emily, do you want to go first on the data person? I I don't really have a strong opinion either way, honestly. I do think it's it's a struggle to ask for more people in central office. You know,
we are asking for a budget that's not cutting positions. So, in that sense, I I think I'm very open to it. I do think that we have an argument that we want to be well staffed with Chris. God forbid Chris got another job like what's happening in the town. Do you know what I mean? What happened and what happened?
No, no. I mean, but really this is this is a reality of the way, you know, municipal and town finance works. So, that's my comment. I don't have a strong >> either way. Um, I think it's a harder sell to the town. It makes an override or asking for
more money than typically allocated to us more difficult because there is a preconceived notion that we should be cutting administrators. Um, however, we run a pretty lean central office where we have people who are doing many jobs
who are working way too much way too many hours. uh to get done what other districts have multiple people doing. So, I am all for this because I really think that we I've been pushing
for this. I think we need more people in the finance office instead of you. I mean, you're doing great. I I really think we need we need to focus on that. Um, I do realize it's a little bit of a harder cell because people just sort of gut instincts don't want to have more
administrators because they're not facing directly with students. Um, but it's it's a clerical position. Um, and I think we could also negate that with we are now in charge of our own we will be in charge of especially if we're going to be doing our own payroll. I mean I don't think >> so. We have to I mean that's not a
>> I I I think it's a good idea. One way that I can negate the perception of too many administrators is, and I've talked to her about this,
is Amy having Amy Resnik go back onto the teachers contract and do more direct service to children. So, she would still do some professional development and um real-time data analysis, but she would
primarily serve students as really a very talented interventionist. Um not one of these intervention positions, but a separate one. >> And that would be removing one more person from an administrative um role in
the district. So really we're trading an administrator for clerical. >> Okay. Good. >> So just my my two cents on this. Um I think that good fiscal practice requires us to have a backup for Chris to the
extent that we can move somebody around and fill that position. I think we should prioritize that. I also think that um I I've Amy has helped helped me a lot in understanding the school stuff
>> along with a lot of other people. Um but I feel like she is an exceptionally good communicator of complex ideas. Um, and so like it's a good thing that we get to keep
her and the students I think honestly will benefit from having her do direct hands-on education. She is really really outstanding. Um, so like if we're if we're trading uh her
role but get to keep her >> for a person that does like clerical data entry work. It seems like a a good trade-off to make. Um I I do think that uh I would want to make sure that whatever
we do for whoever is like I I understand but I also want to make sure that person gets trained so that like if Chris goes on vacation or you know Chris decides that he he wants to do like an extended vacation
>> he wants to not work on a weekend. >> Right. Right. We just have somebody that can kind of help him out. And I think that, you know, >> and Heidi's very capable. >> Yeah, Heidi's been great at a bunch of different roles. And I think that, you know, like the the the things that the
town manager has said at the tri board meeting and in meetings that we've had really convinced me that this is something that we need to do. And I think that our prior experience losing Mr. Cassidy and then sort of like
wandering through the wilderness for a year >> and then what happened after that makes me more convinced that >> our our finance office needs need needs to be beefed up >> and quite frankly I think it will help take some things off Liz's plate as
well. Um we can't survive without Liz. You know that already. But >> this is true. >> But she is doing so much of the financial side as well. She could probably do Chris's job, too. And I know
I'm not insulting Chris by saying that, but I think he knows that. >> Um, >> I'm sorry. He actually asked if Liz could do your job. >> You know what? It doesn't surprise me. She She could. >> Yeah, I don't think she wants to.
Um, but you know, she's a treasure and I think being able to free up some time for her to expand her capabilities and her time um as well will be a benefit of this. >> Okay.
>> And I think if we take the t this is more people in the finance office which is where we need them and this will help prevent >> things from happening in the future. So >> Okay. Do you need a vote or is this just a >> Nope. This is just information for me. Um and so you guys are not surprised
Monday night when I mention this. >> Okay. >> If you could figure out for the meeting. Um so I think it's an 8.1% increase. >> Um but role in the clerical position and then figure out >> how much did we say? 33
>> for the clerical position. >> 35. >> Yeah. >> I believe. >> Yeah. Can I can I just add one more point about presentation and not necessarily the plan. We are the only department that carries health insurance in our budget. And so if we could have a
breakdown of the number total and then the number if we were treated like everybody else, right? Like we have no control over the health insurance. And so when we say to the town or we say to the the citizens of
the town, our budget went up by this much, we're actually not comparing apples to apples. And so like just always have that as like a baseline. >> Yes, >> we we can never, it's very clear to me. We can never give that back. But for
completely arbitrary, non-legal reasons, it switched from the town to us when there was a freak occurrence of a surplus and was it 1996? I forget what you told me. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> And then it >> you just know that like >> and then it bounced and so like we can't
give it back but it is not our cost and it is not comparable to any other department. So >> I still would argue it's our cost and other departments should carry their health. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That we could do it that way. That is true. But like when you say I don't want you to go up there and say we're asking for an 8%
increase because the fire department when they're asking for an increase, they aren't figuring in the 20% >> of the health insurance. >> But the overall town budget does, right? >> Sure. Sure. But I think >> but it's like apples and oranges. They're both fruit, but they're
>> I just want to make sure that we can explain to people in a clear and consistent way. And we have given this up every time we have had this discussion in the last 5 years. It just it's like we're giving away our credibility and we're giving away a way
to show people that we are good stewards of money because we are assuming something that no other department does. >> So, and if you think it works, fine. If you don't, that's fine. I just wanted to put it out there. That's interesting, Tony. I hadn't conceptualized like I've
my feeling is it's all town money, right? Whether we're paying or not. I hadn't really conceptualized this idea of when other departments talk about their increase and it's a smaller increase. It doesn't include that health
insurance. >> The town manager has to account for it in hers, which I think makes it more difficult because health insurance is separate. But we >> and for the report for Monday, I believe that I've already put in the actual cost
for health insurance for FY23, 24, 25, and the budgeted amount for 26 and the projections for 27, 28, and 29. >> Okay. Which is scary. And it's with the clerical with the clerical, it's an 8.2%
increase, which I think is again less. >> Right. So I guess what you're saying, Tony, is right. If you take out the health insurance, >> what's the percentage? >> What is the percentage look like? >> And my guess is it's going to be very comparable to every other part of the >> And so, and to her credit, the town manager last year gave the school
district money to cover that delta. >> Sure. >> In the um in the uh town manager's budget, right? So, that what she didn't make us account for that money, my understanding. >> But it's just it isn't a it isn't an apples to apples. >> It's not a it is absolutely
camera. It is not a crite with the town manager in any way. She was super fair to us. What I am trying to communicate is that when people on town meeting four >> and the ledger, >> look at the number. >> I want them to see the number for what
it is, which is we're carrying >> 14.5% of our budget is health insurance. >> Yeah. 14.5% of our budget is health insurance. And no other department has that that level of encumbrance. And I think that that is that is something that the bud the town's people need to
know. >> We're looking at >> is it the increase in health insurance or health insurance in general? That's about 700,000. >> 700,400 >> with a 20% increase. I believe the projection is about $700,000.
>> 20% of what we're currently paying would be uh $750,000 in health insurance. So $750,000 of the increased >> 1.6 million >> 1.6 million >> or 1.7 let's go with >> $750,000 that is just health insurance
that we are contractually obligated to pay and we should too. >> Oh I disagree with that. >> Okay. Are we good? >> Yeah. >> Did we give you clear >> You gave me clear instructions. I will be ready for Monday. Chris and I are
working hard and we'll bring this home together. Um, I really do I I want to say this and I know Tony you you just said it into the camera. I really move on to thank the town manager for her partnership um through this process. She
has been more than fair. We've had some really good conversations. Um so I it's really been a a joy. um to work with her here. >> I completely agree. When I dealt with
the previous town manager on the budget task force, it was a nightmare. This is way better. >> That is fantastic to hear. I'm glad that you guys are working well together and that communication between departments for two weeks. >> Yes.
>> All right. So, we are on to old business. And then uh >> is there a chance we can put this off for two weeks or do we have to? >> Which one is this? The second reading policies. >> Oh, we always skip over the second reading. >> Oh, but we should discuss. We got a lot
of feedback. >> We got Yes, we got Well, we've got a lot of feedback from one source. That's all I got. >> I I am having problems with the cashless thing. So, >> okay. Do you want to do that now? >> I mean, do you
So if to be clear to people, the policy is not implemented. So we have to read and vote on it, right? So if we do put it off, we're >> voting on it next week. >> How about how about we >> No, if we Well, we need I would like to I would not like to do the second read unless we're going to have a discussion on how
>> how about let's do this. Let's have a discussion of the points brought up for the cashless policy in lie of a second reading and then we'll go back figure out if we need to go back to the drawing board because it doesn't make a it doesn't make sense to do a second reading where we literally just read the
same things we read last time without incorporating any feedback. >> We also got feedback on the advertising at schools. >> Oh, that's interesting. >> Right. Did y >> Yeah, I thought the feedback on that was good. >> I thought it was good, too. >> Honestly, it was it was an easy We can talk about it, but >> Okay. So, do can we let's talk does
anybody have an objection to tackling the instead of doing a second read, we actually talk about people's feedback which I find to be way more valuable. >> Yes, that's my ask. >> Sure. >> Selfishly because Desi is writing me
angry emails. Um, can we find a way to accelerate the middle school pathways competency determination? >> So, that one we had no complaints about. So, >> so that can be our second ratings. Yeah. Well, can I motion >> to wave it
>> to wave the second read only for 5201.03 middle school pathways and for this to be considered the second reading and to ask again that people give feedback >> second >> and 52041
as well. >> Oh 52 and to wave the second reading. Sorry I'm going to continue the motion 5204.01 01 competency comp competency determination to wave the second read for that as well. >> I will second that motion. All in favor?
>> I >> I thank you. >> All right. So, >> we will do our third read in two weeks and then vote on it in two weeks and then that will become policy and then Desessie can stop sending you angry emails about that. >> That's totally fine. Yes. >> Um
>> so the here's the gist of the feedback that I got on the cashless campus. Um, and I think this is probably stuff that we had talked about, but I wanted to read this. Um, the this person actually sent me an email and I asked if I could
read it aloud and I think that her comments were exceptionally insightful. So, I think this might help frame the conversation. It said, "To whom I uh to whom it may concern, I strongly disagree with the new proposed policy regarding a cash-free campus at Lunberg Public
Schools. I think it is a dis it is dishonorable to impose a disciplinary action on staff members and members of our community that wish to be able to use cash. It is an imbalance of power and strictly goes against the harassment and bullying policies of our students
and our staff to follow. Imposing this upon our community will have a negative effect on sporting events as well as make it difficult for grandparents, students, and younger siblings to be able to attend a game without the freedom and independence away from
having absolutely from absolutely having to rely on phones or credit cards to get in. In addition, I am sure there will be costs associated with having to implement a method of running credit cards and the additional fees per transaction. Will this cash-free campus
also include the sack snack shack? If so, you'll be taking away the opportunity for younger individuals to practice using real money to buy food and drinks. Younger generation do not need a phone or credit card and mom or dad need don't need to be with them as they practice their independence in a
safe community oriented space. Please reconsider this so that we have a way to enjoy sporting events and the like without other without another means of technology invading daily lives. You can have both simultaneously, but don't punish those that wish to use cash.
Thank you for your attention in this matter. Uh, so I emailed her back and she emailed uh a bunch of questions that we're working on getting answers for her. um >> she brought up points that I had not considered with the freedom of the kids which
>> I think are very good points and have um I think all >> it's changed my thinking on that a little because >> if I don't want to send my kid to a sporting event with a cell phone to use an app to pay I I think that sometimes we make policies that encourage parents
to have phones to send their kids with phones and I think we need to stop doing that. So let me let me take the the pro-cashless position and then then I think we can debate this. So the the first thing was over the summer we had
an accounting irregularity related to how cash was spent and paid to a coach and we had a very difficult time accounting for where that cash came from. Fortunately, we had a very
a very responsible and very ethical person on the other hand on the other side and we were able to sort that out very quickly. But it exposed a weakness in our financial policies and our financial processes that made me
concerned that this would be an easy place to exploit. And basically what I'm talking about is when you have multiple gates and they're not manned by, you know, people that have like they're just manned by different people at different times, it becomes very difficult to
track cash coming in. And if we can't track cash coming in, then it makes it difficult to figure out when cash was going out, which is what happened when the coach was paid. So that was one concern. The other concern was the fact
that because there's no oversight at the gates. It's not just that like we couldn't control money, but it becomes an easy place for people and I don't think this would happen, but you'd have to guard against it. It makes it an easy
place for people to uh take money. Um that hasn't happened. We don't have any knowledge of that happening, but there are examples of that happening in other school districts in Massachusetts and throughout New England. And the process
that we have for the cash or the cashless uh entry, it already exists. It uses pre-existing infrastructure and it does presuppose a credit card or a cell phone. And to the extent that it makes it difficult for grandparents or young
kids, I see this as a classic example of there are no solutions and only trade-offs. One of the concerns that I have is that our credibility took a hit on financial things for a number of different reasons. One of which had to do with how
cash was handled. And if we're going to go to the town and ask for more money, we want to speak with a clear voice that we have engaged in practices to change how we deal with financial things to make the money that taxpayers give us
more secure. And so I think that from my perspective, it stinks that there's some negative implications of this, but the purpose of having good financial policies and being able to show the town
that we're, you know, cleaning up house and taking taking things seriously outweighs the cost. One thing that I was considering and thinking about the concerns Jackie raised is if we and I do think that she's right and Laura you
raised this when we talked about a policy subcommittee that it may be an undue burden on older individuals who are not as familiar with technology and one way we could do that while keeping the cashless policy is to make entry
into facilities hosting events free for seniors. And I think that that would do a couple of different things. Number one, it would allow us to preserve the cash's policy. And number two, it would encourage seniors to participate in
school activities more. If they had to pay nothing, I think that, you know, if there's any barrier at all, getting rid of that barrier would, you know, it would be really helpful. I think, you know, like I remember watching the
homecoming game this year and there was a gentleman sitting in front of me and it was very clear that he had not had children in Lunenburgg public schools for a long time. But he got a great amount of joy out of watching the game. And so maybe we can sort of do two good
things. we could practice more financial uh security and at the same time we could encourage uh participation by seniors in more school events. Um, so like I think you know the the other
objection about kids going to the snack shack. I think the snack shack is a little different but you know the the financial independence that is a real issue. It's just a drawback. But again I think this is an example of there are no solutions only tradeoffs. So that that
would be my summary of the position in defense of the cashless policy maybe with one amendment to allow seniors and and you know we can just go down the line and talk about what we think. Emily, what do you think? >> I mean, I'm a little concerned, not just about the seniors, but about middle schoolers and high schoolers that might
not have a phone. Yeah. >> Or another way to pay other than cash. I mean, I still send my 14-year-old to school with cash for some things. Um, he doesn't have an app to pay or a debit card or anything like that. So, I'm not sure how he would be able to access
things like a school dance or homecoming dance or >> um and he's a he's a athlete, so he doesn't have to pay to go to games, but the snack shack, things like that. Um >> that's a lot that's a big population of kids that are not going to be able to access some of the community things
we're talking about that then we're also not going to get any money for. >> Yeah. So then you're going to take away funding. >> I I can't vote for this policy. I just there's too much feedback. Uh I agree with the seniors situation. My kid is in
fourth grade. He doesn't fifth grade. He doesn't have a cell phone. Plus all the teachers who are running uh field like field trips like all of that stuff. I mean I didn't even think of that. We're not even just talking about games. We're like I send my kid to school with $10 so he can you know uh go on his field trip.
Like selling tickets to the dance. You're going to make kids come in here with a credit card to buy dance tickets for student council. I just >> I feel like I can't I can't support it and and there's no solution for any of those. I was a lot of negative negative feedback. A
>> lot of feedback on stuff feedback on that. >> I mean, if we're worried about the cash at the gates, we should just make going to games free. >> That's my honest opinion is that how much money do we make at the gate for football games? >> It's hard to tell, >> right? So that's fine. So I
>> I don't know how much money we I would ra I would rather make it free. Do you know what I mean? And >> or have a better system >> or have a better system of collecting it. I just >> going in the game. >> I just don't feel like we've thought through enough of the scenarios. Like if we don't have a solution for kids buying
dance tickets at lunch, then I I just can't like kids are not going to be able to go to the dance because they don't have a credit card. Like my kid's not going to have a credit card. Like I hardly want to get him a cell phone when he turns 18. You know what I mean? I just think there's a lot of issues, you know, and my father, who I love dearly and is not terrible with technology,
will not come to the football games if he has to download an app. I mean, that is the serious >> Yeah. >> quote. I just I just don't. >> So, and we can vote on it or we can do whatever. I just I'm not I won't be voting for it. >> So, when when we originally talked about this, I thought we were going to take credit card payments or Venmo or
something at the gate. I didn't realize it was going to be downloading an app. >> Yeah. and inputting my financial information. And um I am a person who can't stand extra apps on my phone and will not download them. Uh and I do not
give my financial information to random apps that have not been vetted. Um and I know we talked about this. Uh I was irritated enough about the P school hack that got some personal information. um my child was not affected, but the
security of the financial information that we are now requiring people to submit to a third party outside of our control, we don't we have no ownership over the security of that information that we're requiring people to do. Uh and I do
think that if I had the choice between stopping in at a game real quick to watch it for a little bit and if I had to download an app to do that, I'm just going to make the choice not to go. So, I'm very against it. However, I very
much understand the issues that led to needing to come up with a trash policy. >> Okay, they'll just walk in. >> So, I'd like to return this back to policy subcommittee. Sure. >> And I'd like us to talk about a different sort of policy we can do that can ensure that if someone mishandles
cash, >> there are steps we can take because we did not have that. So, let me just offer this as a quick rebuttal. In my experience, having dealt with this in my professional life. There is no recourse, right? Generally
speaking, if the money is taken, like in almost every financial fraud case that I've ever handled, if the money is taken, it is spent before people detect it. And your ability to get that money back is almost nil. The law is not very
good at compelling people to pay when they have no ability to pay. So you may get like some kind of punishment like a suspended jail sentence or actual jail sentence, but you won't get your money back. You're just not going to get your money back. And to the extent that we
would have like enough money that makes it worthwhile to have a lawyer, my guess is we would be paying the lawyer and probably not get any of our money back either. And so like I I think that the my concern is the remedies after the
fact are not sufficiently strong to to warrant us doing nothing. And maybe this policy isn't the right thing, but like doing nothing is like we got very lucky the last time. I was thinking about the
the Ben Franklin quote about trading liberty for security and how maybe sometimes we cannot have policies that address everything. >> Sure. >> And maybe we have to just live with that.
>> Are there policies right now in place for cash exchange? >> No. Which is why we tried to address it. >> Why aren't we doing that? >> Yeah. So let's go back to the subcommittee and look at that tells people how to handle cash. Like there needs to be a receipt. You
need to check and balances. Teachers are collecting for a field trip. I'm sure they have to put in the money. >> But right now, we trust our teachers to handle that. >> Oh, this was the this was never a problem. >> No, I'm just that's just an example.
>> Like it is. If if we're worried about moving forward with cash, like why can't we put a policy in place that >> clearly describes what we want to do with cash exchanges across all of these the plant
sale, the the field trips. >> Yeah, we got to snack shack. Like, >> do we have those? Are there any? >> There are procedures in place. A lot of them are internal procedures >> and making sure that um
>> there's turnover sheets that we do. There's um locking of money into safes at night if it's something like having to do with a field trip. >> Yeah. >> There's guidelines from the town that we have to follow. >> Could that be made into policy?
>> What? I'm sorry. >> Could it be made into policy instead of >> some Actually, we do have some. >> All right. So let's >> it depends on what you're talking about because that relates to different policies. But >> let's send that back to policy sub committee and we'll talk about it
>> when it's not >> oh my god >> almost 10:00 >> 950 at night. >> Can we just talk about the um feedback we got about advertising because I think that one we might just want to take the feedback and go with right. Um >> we would have Yeah. >> Uh
>> where is that? >> Uh >> those were really good points. There was something about, you know, our our policy already says has some suggestions about prohibiting certain types of advertising. Um, that this comment suggested we also want to
add political parties, lobbyist groups or companies affiliated with political agendas or lobbyist organizations. I leave it up to this policy subcommittee to what that says, but I I'm fine with that. And then also um uh
>> yeah that was >> so just we take that one policy. >> Sure. >> Yeah, we can take that back. >> We'll take that one back too. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Do we How do we vote on that? Just >> I don't think we have to vote any. We're just doing get feedback. >> We'll take that back to our next policy subcommittee. And I want to say thank
you to all the people who reached out with feedback. There was a lot of people engaged in the process and informing us and I am so appreciative of all of that feedback. So, thank you. >> Okay, what do we got next?
>> All right, I'm sending I'm sending an email to Jackie just because she was so good. >> She that it was fantastic. >> Um I think that we are all we got to do reports from subcommittee. Uh public comment and reports.
>> Any public comment? >> I do not see any public comments. >> All right. Any any uh subcommittee reports, Emily? >> No. >> And any sub reports, Mandy? >> No. I haven't been going to any subcommittees. Am I supposed to be So, I'm going to go to the primary school on
Monday. >> Yeah. >> Was that's mine? >> Yeah. >> And PTA. >> PTO. I go to that sometimes. It's all right. >> I got some. >> Okay. At least it wasn't PD. >> It used to be PD. >> Okay. So, I am also on the 300th
committee. I am not a school committee liaison, but um I think I joined that committee before I joined school committee. >> Uh and I did we did get a question about the use of school grounds for the festival because they want to have like
5,000 people. We're looking at a couple thousand people. I told we've already said no about the bonfire because of the sprinklers. Um so I am going to ask you appreciates. >> Yeah. Can we light a giant fire on the soccer field?
>> We cannot light a fire. >> Everyone's obsessed with the bond. >> I I've had enough of fire this year. >> I just um ask about my >> what I think we should do with the Brooks house. Um, so
>> speaking of that, >> can we use the school grounds like the soccer fields? I I said no to the turf field unless we can perfectly arrange that so we have the festival right before we rip it up. Can we use the school grounds? It would be in the
summer and July when the fields I believe are normally closed to protect the grass. >> Um, but we can talk about this later. Yes. But um they had asked if we could use the school grounds because historically we have used the fields for
festivals and fairs and then in the past we got away from it and we're told no you can't have things on the fields because of the grass and the sports. >> Um but we we can talk about that later. >> Um but I there's also going to be we're hoping to do a logo contest for the
300th anniversary. >> Um and we wanted to extend that to school children. So >> that's awesome. >> And I thought it would be fun if we could just collect all their local submissions and display them somewhere during the festival party. So it's going to be we're trying to do monthly events,
but there's three main events. The first one is called First Night. First uh >> it's late. Night with a K, not first with a K. >> Oh, first night with a K. And that is going to be New Year's Eve
2028 or Yeah. So New Year's New Year's Eve 2027 and there will be either firefight um there will be either fireworks or a laser show and it'll hopefully be somewhere in town maybe the center of town. We did this 25 years ago
for 275. >> Um the fireworks were amazing at 275. Do you remember that? >> They were really good. >> That's awesome. >> I still have my pen. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So it's it's really it's I think it's going to be great. It just be like either little fireworks or some kind of
laser show and a gathering downtown. Um I don't have my stuff in front of me. And then there is going to be another event that I can't talk about yet. That's going to be a community event somewhere. Um and that one's going
to be super exciting and I cannot wait till we can talk about that one. And then there's also going to be a birthday party festival somewhere. Maybe downtown, maybe on near P. We have to figure that out. Um,
>> what about Marshall? >> That's going to be I think Marshall is too small. We determined because there's a lot of people >> who come and the that fair is going to be July 29th, which is the closest to Lunberg's birthday, which is August 1st.
Um, you should join the committee. >> It's it's it's gonna be really fun. And there Oh, and there's going to be a parade on September 10th, I believe. And it's not going to be the homecoming
parade because we had talked last year and decided that that was not enough time because the date is kind of set in stone because the >> what are the little tiny people? The people in the tiny cars. >> Oh. um the Shriners are going to be there and so that day is kind of set in stone and that's going to be September
10th I believe and um there's going to be floats not built by the students but by businesses or any group that wants to build a float. >> I really think alumni should get in this float because how many years I mean I'm
gonna build one. >> How many years have parents watched their kids do this now? >> Me and Julia. >> Yeah. And so, you know, start building your float. Maybe not now. Um, but that's >> school committee float. >> Hope we can do a school committee float. >> Are you going to be on a school committee?
>> In 2028. >> So, it's So, that's going to be September 10th and then hopefully still do homecoming as well, but we had talked last year about it and decided that that was not enough time for students to build floats to combine it with homecoming. >> So, that is the 300th anniversary. Um,
there was a whole bunch of other stuff, but I'm going to skip that. I'm going to table that for next time because it's really late at night. >> All right, I think we are done. >> Okay, motion to adjourn. >> Second. >> We got to do them anything for future, but I think we put a lot of stuff on.
>> All right, motion to adjourn. >> Yay, we're done. >> Thank you everyone. Manager.