the open meeting law. Please be advised that this meeting is being broadcast at a later date over the Lunberg public access channel. Link uh there's a zoom link and a link for the public access channel in the agenda. This meeting will be broadcast at a later date through the
local access cable channel and on the public access Facebook page which can be and will be found at the Lutenberg access YouTube channel within 24 hours of the meeting. This agenda lists all the topics which may be discussed at the meeting and are those reasonably anticipated by the chair. Votes may be
taken as a result of the discussion. Not all items listed may be in fact may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by the open meeting law. Um before we go to the pledge of allegiance, um just so everybody's aware, Laura will be here.
She had a performance for her kid. Um, so she will be here somewhere around 7:30. Um, all stand. >> I pledge algiance 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. >> Right. So, first thing up on the agenda is public comment for prior issues. Anybody who would like to leave a comment about stuff we've brought up
before, more than welcome to do so. Maybe just identify yourself and uh your address. >> Hi, I'm Sarah Cammer. I live at 304 Lancaster Avenue. Um, I just wanted to thank this committee and our superintendent for
your efforts this year and looking at what our students really need first. Um, and bringing that to the table. Um, some things I do want to mention that I think you have thought about are that 5% of children in Lunberg live in poverty and
six% 6% of seniors are according to the census. That's real data. And if you look at the census, the majority of Lunberg is not per our capita. So when I think about equity in town, I think
about what our seniors need and I think about what our impoverished students need first. And I have to say, I do serve on another board, but I'm not speaking for them right now. Um, and on that board, it's the board of assessors.
Uh many exemptions have been put forth to handle impoverished seniors who maybe still own a home in Lunenburgg and our town has worked to address that problem that issue um for the past two years at
least and those exemptions they're called exemptions of taxes and those exemptions had not been looked at for 20some years. those levels have been raised, approved by the town, and that is how we address seniors living in poverty in Lunberg.
Um, and I want to bring that up because a refrain I'm constantly hearing is that we are evicting seniors from their homes based on our taxes. But with these exemptions, if we would like to change
whatever those exemptions are, those levels to address that issue in Lunberg, we have recourse for that. And I I wanted to bring that up because it's important to take care of the elderly and it's important to take care of the young. They do not have to be in
conflict with each other. And that conflict is false. Um, it is used to I I believe to reduce raising taxes, period. And I'm not sure there are many seniors that like to see younger kids have
reduced opportunities because they themselves are impoverished. I think they would prefer to see those opportunities for kids. So, if we need to change those exemptions, there is a method for that. And um the other thing I wanted to say is 5% of our kids. I
said it already, 5%. Think about that number. It's not hard for me to think about because I lived that life. I went to middle school wearing my brother's old clothes. I got a paper when I was 11 and I didn't
have to deal with that anymore. But that's not an easy thing to do around here. There are no sidewalks. You'll get run over on Massav. That's why we have to bus our students. That's why we should not have busing fees for our students. It it it's appalling. Um so I
just wanted to point those things out. It is up to this board and the town to put those thoughts before our tribe board because guess what? Every time you guys meet, I'm at the board of assessors handing abatements for people who um
have found their taxes are too high and I'm signing letters for exemptions for people who should have those things. Oh, and aside from exemptions, we've also passed the senior means testing in this town to reduce those taxes as well. So
the next time somebody brings up that Grammyy's going to have to choose between paying for her house and her medications, that is not because the school is asking for too much money. They are doing the right thing by our students. And I hope that you will continue to impress that
upon that upon the boards that you're talking to. Thanks. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else have any public comment? Liz, is there anybody online? >> No.
>> Anybody up here comment? >> All right. Um, okay. So, moving on to the next agenda item, chairs report. So, there are two things I want to bring up. Number one, after 42 years of trying, Coach K fin finally has a girls state
champion division five in winner track. If anybody ever doubts that persistence pays. Oh, we have one. >> I'm sorry. >> Oh, sure. >> Sure, sure, sure. >> All right, let's go back. >> His name is Chris Roarge.
>> Mr. Ro, can you hear us? >> Yes, I can. Thank you. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Fantastic. Um, I am here to speak on new business. Um, >> thank you, Mr. Chairman, and members of the committee. Uh, my name is >> I just want to make sure you're aware
new business will be at the LA at the end. >> Okay. So, public comment on new business is at the end. >> Yes. >> Okay. Then I will wait here patiently. My apologies. >> Um, unless we want to take >> Do we care if we take them out of order? >> No, I don't care.
>> Okay. Mr. We're going to take you out of order so you don't have to wait. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. Um, so again, um, my name is Christopher Rob and I am the staff rep for Ask Me Council 93. We represent about 65 workers here in Lunberg serving as
paraprofessionals, office personnel, and of course, school custodians. Um, I wanted to comment on the discussion about potentially privatizing the school custodians. Privatization would result in the loss of jobs that these men and women love and the loss of their pension and affordable and quality health
insurance coverage for themselves and their families. It would also be a loss for parents, students, and teachers across Lunenburgg who rightly recognize these men and women for what they are, a critical part of the fiber of the school community. These students and teachers
know and trust these custodians. I've seen it in person when I'm in your buildings. Um, and they rely on them every day. Not just for keeping the schools clean, but for intangible things, the most important of which is serving as an important layer of security during these troubling times.
They're the eyes and ears of your schools. And when something or someone seems out of place, they're often the first to notice and take action. ASME has decades of experience with watching employers hand over this important work to private for-profit companies. And
what we can tell you for sure is that you will lose your current workforce to neighboring communities. Replacing that workforce would be a revolving door of strangers with no connection to your students, your teachers, or your community. And that's because the only way these proposals are profitable for
private companies is if they drastically slash the wages and benefits of the workers. But look, we realize that tough economic times are happening right now and they require tough decisions. If you are considering taking a vote that would cut the legs out from under these workers, I respectfully request you
challenge and fully vet any supposed cost savings that you will achieve through privatization. And we can tell you again based on decades of experience that any savings will be short-term at best. That's because the pattern is always the same. A for-profit company
secures the contract with a low ball bid. A few years pass and then the district loses the infrastructure to provide the service in house and then the cost of the contract starts going up every single year. You'll also start to see hidden fees and extra costs for
things such as shoveling school driveways and walkways and staffing special events, things that are currently handled by the in-house staff. Before long, the district is paying more for much less. In addition, you'll also be dealing with a whole other set of problems that you perhaps never
envisioned. When you have some time over the next few days, search the Mobile Sun archives for what happened in Chelmsford when they made the mistake of privatizing their school custodial services, a mistake they ultimately had to correct by bringing the service back in house. You'll find that the cost
savings were exaggerated. And you'll also see that over just a few years, four employees of the contractor were arrested for offenses ranging from outstanding warrants to prescription drug crimes to theft of school laptops, cash, and even students prescription
drugs out of a locked cabinet. This is one example of how things can go bad very quickly when you get rid of trusted employees for the possibility of some short-term savings. In closing, we want to stress that we stand ready to work with the district to find solutions that
will not replace your trusted custodians with a part-time minimum wage cleaning crew. To close, I just have two specific questions for the administration to ponder as they continue to crunch numbers. When you lay off these workers, what's the cost of meeting your contractual obligation to pay them for
unused paid leave time? And will that cost be reflected in what you present to the committee? And when all these workers refuse the lousy job offers that they get from the private contractor, have you estimated the cost of unemployment benefits that the town will have to reimburse to the state? For
those who may not be aware, Brookline uses a reimbursement option, meaning that they do not pay UI tax, but they are responsible. Sorry, this is supposed to be for you Lunberg. That was 50% of their pay for as long as 6 months that they were responsible for. And with that, I thank you for your
time. >> Thank you, Mr. R. That was a really thoughtful and helpful perspective. I just want to say uh I was a custodian for three years. I am well aware of the value added and the layer of security.
And also um they've saved me about $1,200 in lost earbuds because my son can't keep track of anything. So, thank you for your comment. Can I make >> Thank you for your service. >> Am I able to comment or are we not? >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Um and I apologize. I don't know many of
the custodial staff, but Mr. Jose, um I just just to kind of jump on how it's more than just cleaning up messes and fixing things. When my daughter Norah entered kindergarten, Mr. Jose was the one that put in the sinks that she could reach and the faucets and the
extenders and offered to build things if needed. Um and every morning we see Mr. Jose and he's more than just a custodial staff to her. Um, we talk about you a lot actually and his and his songs that he sings. Um, and we have lots of
conversations about how it's really, you know, it's really helpful when you clean up your mess and we don't we don't leave it for other people to clean up and things like that. But he he is more than a custodial staff to my daughter. He made um school accessible for her in many ways which I greatly appreciate. Thank you so much.
>> I would also if we're making public comments a minute. >> Sure. Um, I would like to for the people at home recognize the sheer amount of custodial staff that we have that have shown up today. I'd also like to mention, I mean, from a student's perspective, it's not just cleaning up
messes. I mean, I see someone here who has let me into the tech booth multiple times when, um, when it gets locked. Um, as a band student, I've made personal connections with two different um, people who have had the band hallway when I come in very late at night
realizing I forgot my saxophone. Um, you can ask almost any of my friends. I was devastated at one point. The old custodian that was in the band hallway when we were in middle school got moved down to Turkey Hill and we were all so sad when he told us he would not be
there. Um it is not just about cleaning messes even to students and the students do recognize you and do appreciate everything that you do for us. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? All right.
So the next thing I wanted to mention in chair's report is last week at our school board meeting and at the finance committee I had mentioned that on the is it the 18th >> on the 18th of March we will be
presenting our budget with cuts and because we don't know exactly what the cuts were but we knew that they would be bad based on prior experience I flippantly called it the shoot your favorite puppy budget and uh we I received feedback that that is
insensitive and I want to apologize but I also want to make sure that people are aware. I wanted to get people alerted to the problem but it's hard to do when you don't know the scope or scale of the problem because the budgets are still
being worked on. And so I didn't want to scare anybody but at the same time I didn't want to make people think that it wasn't a big deal. And I I I had hoped that the language would engage with people and it very clearly did, but maybe it was a little too much. So, I
apologize. Um, and >> I think it's a good point to say that none of us volunteered for this job to have to cut positions. And I think >> yes, >> not to put the chairman, but the chairman is trying to express I think his
>> deep commitment to what we can what we can do and the idea of having to present cuts is just so devastating um that while maybe his words were not what others would choose, I appreciate his
concern for the gravity of the situation because as the next few weeks go on, we are going to hear from more and more people who are upset about what is being proposed and none of us are doing that because we want to do that. >> Right. I it's it's just like a really tough position to be in. Yes. Because
you know like >> a lot of jobs are self- selecting but like volunteer jobs are especially self- selecting. And when you self- select volunteer to work for schools the idea of cutting school programming is just not what you want to be doing. But when you add on top of that that like all of
us have kids in this district. It's not just that we're like cutting something we vowed to protect, but in a lot of ways we could cut things that hurt our own kids. And so it's it's a hard it's a fine line to walk. But, you know, like you have that on one side, but on the
other side you don't want to be, you know, like Chicken Little. And I feel like sometimes, especially, you know, maybe more so in national politics that everybody's like sky is falling chicken little and there's all of this pressure to say, you know, look how bad things
are. But like we don't know. And so the only way I could think of, you know, saying that was to be the, you know, sharp tongue. And so I apologize for that. I want to make sure that that people know that I heard those criticisms and it was not the right way
to do it. Um, that being said, I have never been accused by my wife of being overly sensitive. >> So it's very shocking. >> Could I say something? >> Sure. >> Uh, Chris Stevens, director of facilities. Yeah. >> Um, these guys are the back of them.
>> I'm sorry. >> Um, you know, I rely on these guys every day. I call them at night. Can you do this? Can you do that? And they do it. And they might not like it, but they do it. And to get rid of them would be devastating. I mean, it's there's too
many moving parts to a school to to have it work like that. You know, it works good maybe in an office building when everybody's gone and they're in there for an hour and they take the trash out and shut the door behind them, but when everything is going on on a daily basis here, these guys make this place run
behind the scenes and nobody even knows, you know. So, that being said, terrible idea, it will not work. So, bottom line, thank you. >> Appreciate that. >> All right. Um,
and the next thing on the agenda is the student representatives report. >> Um, I don't have much of a report from today. Um, on Friday districtwide, we are wearing green for Hattie. Um, but mostly the school committee today asked me to just be here to speak on behalf of
our student body in the decisions that are being made. So, I don't have much of a report for you guys. I I do want to say that the stuff that you presented last week, I presented it at FENCOM and it answered a bunch of questions in a way that we've not really had a chance
to answer before. >> So, I I know technically anything I say is public comment, but feel free to ask me questions. And I was talking to um Miss Fortuna or Dr. Fortune, sorry. Um and she said I should still be up here.
So, >> you should be. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> All right. Um, let's go to the next agenda item to review and approve minutes. Um, do we have a chance to review the minutes that were in the folder? >> Did they? >> I don't think there are any.
>> There are none. Okay. >> Good. >> All right. Move on. Uh, review and approve line item transfers, warrants, and donations. >> We do have those. >> All right. >> Grace, would you like to come do it transfers? >> We have donations and line item
transfers. Get ready. Good evening. The first transfer we have for tonight, it's in the amount of $54,548.50 and it's to transfer funds to represent the new allocations for the S SOA grant. the fun >> student opportunity
>> or student opportunity grant >> uh the funds will be going from grant instructional staff salaries to I won't go through all of them but the below >> and can you just remind us Chris this is what Dr. soft started presented to us
because we had a reading specialist who >> left. Correct. Right. And that that funding is not going to be available next year. So we're using it for other things. Correct. >> Correct. >> Why are we transferring $54,000 for wasn't it 42,000? >> So that was the amount that was paid out
during the year. The 54,000 is the excess remaining >> other way around. The second transfer is to transfer funds to purchase testing materials for special education at the primary school and it's for $462.7
and we will be transferring them from the the supply line item math supplies, art supplies, periodicals, library expenses, guidance supplies, repair office machines and general supplies to primary school special ed instructional material
account. >> This zeros out all of those >> correct >> line items halfway through the year. >> Yes. >> I don't love that. But where else is it going to come from? I guess. Um >> yeah, the repair office some of those
will we need those that money? >> I don't believe so. Um, a lot of them were small amounts from accounts that we had that we needed to transfer that we need to transfer for testing materials. >> Okay. >> Yeah, we're just zeroing out a lot of
accounts. That's fine. Those accounts will still have some remaining funds. Are we zeroing out all those accounts? >> We are zeroing out >> everything. >> Everything but just general supplies. >> Yeah. Okay.
>> Can you give us a little update? I know you did at the FinCom meeting on Thursday. Where are we in terms of spending and in terms of the year? >> So, we're at 63.4%. >> Okay. >> Is that good? When's our next >> What's our next report on that?
>> Uh the quarterly report will be at the first meeting in April. >> Okay. >> So, you feel like we're on track? >> We are on track >> to spend everything. >> Yes. Even with the heat >> Yeah. or not spend everything so that we can pay for the heat.
>> Yes. >> Yeah. I mean, you know, with last year's situation, we obviously don't want to be we don't want to be so which I know is a delicate balance. I'm not trying to >> Right. >> All right. >> Motion to approve the two transfers as
outlined. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I I >> All right. Thank you. Thank you, Chris. Um, there are two there are three donations, correct? >> Um, looks like
>> there's two. Yeah. >> Can I just speak for a moment? >> Yeah. Come up to the mic. >> So, the two donations are in the donation folder, but there also is one tied to a scholarship. >> That's in the scholarship folder that you'll see. Okay. >> Did you get my email? Mhm.
>> Busy hall. >> Yeah. >> So, um the the first donation is for the bookf fair and the box tops. Uh so this is an amount of let me make sure I get this right. $2,96.65
$2310 and $2,119.75. Uh, and it is, uh, intended for, and this is the, uh, PTO book fair and boxtops, and is intended for field trips and presentations. Um, I'd look for a motion to accept this donation with
gratitude. >> A second. >> All right. All in favor? >> I >> I >> All right. Uh, the next one is for Girls on the Run. Just going to pause here. Girls on the Run is an amazingly awesome charity. So,
Super great. Great. Glad to see that they're involved in the school. This is for $220 and uh it is intended purposes for girls on the run. Um I look for a motion to accept this donation with gratitude.
>> Oh, that's so nice. >> Yeah. Super nice. >> Motion to accept this very kind donation. Thanks. >> Yes. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> All right. Now there is one other
donation and it is a scholarship. >> Can I say something? >> Sure. >> So um my mom actually went to high school with Betsy Parker and um she was really pleased. She was actually quite upset when she found out Betsy passed
away uh recently, very recently. Um and that at her last reunion um Betsy was there and she had a really nice time with her. So, um it's so nice that Betsy's, uh legacy, she's leaving a scholarship
for a senior at Lunberg who had played at least three sports during their high school experience and did some other things. So, I just thought it's very nice that her family has has left that. And my mom, Don Johnson, um has very
very fond memories of Betsy. So, >> she was a teacher. >> She was a teacher and an athlete in Connecticut. Um, >> yeah. >> So, let me ask you some dumb questions. >> Yeah. >> She went to school in Lunberg.
>> She did. She graduated with my mom. So, class of 76. >> Okay. >> So, she was quite young. >> Um, uh, so yeah, we were away two weeks ago when she found out from a friend. Um
she my mom wrote on her Facebook one tribute read PE was so lots and lots of people wrote on the obituary online and uh my mom quoted some of them PE was our favorite subject growing up and Miss Parker was a big reason why she was a special teacher and such a positive int
impact on our lives. Miss Parker was a wonderful teacher and a very caring person. I'm not a star in athletics, but she always made everyone h sure everyone had fun, learned a positive lesson, and gained confidence. Someone else wrote else wrote, "She was a generational instructor that really touched the lives
of everyone she worked with. She was a driving force in the school system and beyond. She would be truly missed." >> Um, I know this is a little unusual, but they they provided a a bunch of information in the Betsy B. Parker scholarship document version one. Would
it be inappropriate to read this? I I this is incredible. >> I don't think it's in I think it's very appropriate. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Uh so >> such a nice donation. >> Yes. Uh Betsy B. Parker scholarship is presented each year to a graduating student athlete that has earned a varsity letter a varsity letter in three
sports during their four years at Lunberg High School. Betsy felt that it is extremely hard to participate in three sports. Maintain your grades and be in good standing in the school and the Lunberg community. Betsy Parker, class of 1976, was inducted into the Lunberg Hall of
Fame in 2019. Betsy was a four sport athlete at the Lunberg High School. At the time of her graduation in 1976, she had been a varsity starter for four years in field hockey and basketball and for three years in softball. In her sophomore year, she participated in
track and field and was the Wuset League District and state champion in javelin >> for one year. >> Holy cow. She was cap a team captain in her senior year in three sports, basketball, field hockey, and softball. She led the ba her
basketball team in scoring her senior year when the team was district three finalist. She was named the Nightcrier athlete of the year her senior year, becoming the first female recipient of that award. Betsy went on to be a teacher and coach for over 40 years in
the Manchester public schools in Connecticut. >> Mansfield, >> oh, I'm sorry, man. uh Mansfield public schools in Connecticut. She tre she treasured her time at Lunberg High School and hopes that this award will help recipients with their continuing education expenses. Betsy Parker was a
trailblazer, athlete, educator, and coach. This year's recipient of the uh Betsy B. Parker scholarship is and then that part will be filled in later. The criteria for judging the award that participated in at least three varsity sports during their time in Lunenburgg wants to continue their education beyond
high school. Um, uh, Betsy asked that the preference be given to a three sport athlete that would express interest in becoming a teacher. Is in good standing in the school and the local community as determined by school committee that judges candidates for any local Lunberg High School scholarship. If a female and
male athlete meet the criteria in a given year, the interest is to be split between equally between the two. I cannot think of a better way to leave a legacy. Like that's just the best thing you could do. So, um, do we want
to, uh, accept this incredible donation with gratitude? >> Anybody want to make a motion? >> Motion to accept this very generous donation uh, in honor of Betsy B. Parker. >> Second.
>> All in favor? >> Yes. Yes. >> All right, let's go to the agenda item. like just you we've been doing a lot of really terrible work. >> Yeah. It's >> just like so nice to see. It's so nice to see. >> Well, and that Lunberg was such a big
part and she didn't work here, you know. She she just grew up here. >> Yeah. >> So, all right. Turn it over to you. >> Okay. >> You have to follow that. >> Sorry. I know this is going to be hard. Um before we dive into tonight's into
tonight's budget discussions, I want to take a moment to provide an important update and correction regarding the financial figures that we've been reviewing or that I sent out to the community. As we all know, building a school budget is a highly dynamic process, especially at this point in the
process when refinements are being made. There are a lot of moving pieces and we are constantly working with changing numbers. Recently, a community member, TJ Laughlin, hi TJ, reached out to point out a discrepancy in our latest numbers. Upon reviewing the calculations, I
realized TJ was absolutely right. I had made a mathematical error. I want to be entirely clear. This was my mistake and mine alone. It was not an error by our business manager, Chris, or anyone else on our staff. I own it completely. Specifically, while adjusting the numbers, I inadvertently double counted
the $500,000 in free cash and incorrectly factored in approximately $19,000 in anticipated trim costs. Because of this miscalculation, the deficit I previously reported was artificially inflated. The silver lining here is that the accurate actual deficit
we are facing is lower than what was previously stated. It is currently anticipated to be1,978,37. While I certainly never want to make an error in our reporting, catching and correcting these things is exactly why we have an open iterative bud public
process. I want to publicly thank TJ for his sharp eye and his close attention to our budget. Because he reached out, we are able to correct the public record here tonight before any further decisions are made. As we move forward with the agenda this evening, we will be working from these corrected figures and
I anticipate that the committee may make some additional adjustments as we continue our work. To ensure everyone is on the same page, I will be issuing an updated letter to the entire community on Friday. That letter will briefly explain this correction and clearly outline our updated financial standing. Thank you for all your understanding,
your engagement, and your collaboration as we work through this process together. >> I just want to say this publicly. Um, building a budget is really difficult to do and doing math by committee is exceptionally difficult to do. And so it
I'm grateful that TJ caught this error and I'm grateful that we've put it out there and been transparent about how it was done. But I think that it's important to know and for the public to know that these things happen all the time. They've happened every year I've been on school committee. It is just the
nature of the beast. And you know, the budget is vastly more complicated than the school calendar, but I think this year is the first year we did not have a correction on the school calendar. So like it's just the the way things work when you have an open democracy and an
effort to be transparent and at the same time doing something very complex and difficult. Unfortunately, when we make a mistake like that, it's different than if like the US Congress makes a mistake. like they probably spend more on napkins than you know the difference was between
what we calculated. So here it's a an error that you know change is a big number but it's not didn't change it in a bad way and it is something that has happened literally every year. So >> and it is still very early. Yes,
>> we're early in the budget process. So that's why these things get >> discovered. Although at this point I think we should just bring TJ in um to look at budget >> open invitation to the fifth slot on school committee >> like >> as does anybody else. >> Yeah, if he's in the corner of a meeting
making a face, it's probably time to stop and ask him what he's found. Um >> we've done that. We've literally done that. >> Yeah, we have at least twice. >> Um just ask what was the original budget deficit number cuz I had >> 2.4 million. >> Oh, okay.
down to 1.9 >> and the only place that number really appeared was that letter actually and honestly I >> I'm glad TJ looks at things that's close to because that's and I think we all are. So, but you know we're still very early in the budget process. We haven't submitted a number for a potential
override um official like we haven't put anything on the warrant yet. So, this is really good that things were caught early. Um, >> one year we did the emergency meeting and I was in the lunchroom and where were you? You were some Peter was at
like a Red Sox >> in the car. >> Red Sox game >> picking up the kid off the bus. >> We've done this before. This is like >> um so it's not Yeah. And I'm very grateful that we're still I mean it's it's March, the beginning of March, so we're still very early. Not very early, but we're early in the process and we
are certainly farther than we ahead at this stage than we were last year. Um, so thank you for the honesty and transparency and that is very appreciated and it is good to know that we're not dealing with as much of a
deficit >> and that's to the restoration level this >> I just for the public there was two numbers in >> does that affect does that affect our level service? >> Yes. >> Okay. So it also affects So what's our new number for level service? How short
will we be? >> 900. Yeah. >> So be 900 short >> in if that counts new growth and um would that count the town the town managers budget? >> You know what that's really nice if if
we had to make something because when you originally had said I was panicking that we would have to make an additional half million. >> So thank you for going in that direction and not the other one. >> Thank you. Yes.
>> Yeah. And thank you again to CJ for um being kind about it when we make errors. >> Yes. And this is why we want people involved in our process. This is why we're being so transparent I think this year is >> nobody's perfect and mistakes happen.
And so I I really appreciate that and I appreciate the grace that I know the community will extend. >> All right. Any other comments that we want to make before we go up to the next item on the
new budget or new business? >> This one. >> All right, >> Mr. Tori, I'm assuming this is you. >> Yes. >> All right. I have um some papers
I'm going to pass out to you folks. >> Did I assume correctly? >> Yes, you did. Is this the field trip? >> Yes. I am so excited about this. >> Oh, good. Uh, take one. Pass it on. >> Yeah. Can I come? What grade What grade is this for? >> Uh, 10th and 11th. >> Yes.
>> It drives me crazy that like the kids don't go. It's right there. It's right there. It's so close. And I'm so thrilled by this. >> Good. >> All right. Good evening. My name is Haley Tori. I've been teaching in
Lunberg for 14 years. I have a deep personal love for place-based learning. I've seen firsthand how a student's face lights up when they realize they aren't just reading a story, they are standing exactly where the story happened. That
is why I made place-based learning my smart goal this school year. And this field trip will be the culmination of a year-long practice of place-based learning in my US history classes. I am planning to bring my 10th grade US history and 11th grade AP US history
classes to Minute Man National Historical Park. This trip is a hands-on history learning opportunity for our students to walk the battlefield and see where the soldiers of the revolution once stood. If all students come who are
eligible, there will be 48 students in total on this trip. This trip is especially important because this year our country is celebrating America 250, the 250th birthday of our country. At Minute Man, our students will visit the
very place where our country was created and defined. To make this happen, I applied for and secured a competitive grant from the American Battlefield Trust. They are the largest battlefield preservation group in the country and they award these grants based on a
competitive national application process. It's an honor for Lunberg to be recognized and it shows our commitment to excellence in the classroom. I want to be very clear on the financial side so we can ensure a reimbursement uh with
their grant. We are keeping costs very low. Students will only need to pay $5 each. The trust provides a reimbursement of up to $500. We will need to pay debus company
upfront and that cost is $731.50. To get our money back, we have to be perfect with our payments and paperwork. I must submit all receipts and the reimbursement form within five business days of the trip. We need to be good about paying on time and have no delays
to guarantee the trust honors the grant. And there are specific grant requirements. The National Battlefield Trust has prepared a press release, which I've given you their copy of, and I would need to send it with my personalizations to our local newspaper
so the community can celebrate our students and also feature the generous gift by the National Battlefield Trust. And I will need the school committee's help of getting that published. I hope in the Lunberg ledger. I will also be required to take and submit at least
seven rightsfree photos of the trip to the trust and required to send those along with student thank you notes shortly after the conclusion of our trip to the trust. Thank you for considering this and helping to bring this experience to our 10th and 11th graders.
And I can take questions if there are any. >> Can we get them paid on time? I I think I'm not asking we can. I'm Is this something we can strive to work in partnership
with the town manager and the town finance director to make sure that that happens? >> What happens if it if the town can't rate? So for not sure how to the school department submits our bills
to the town. I'm telling everyone this. I know that We submit our bills to the town and then the town pays our bills out of the town accounts. The the town has been through some
uh staffing transition transitions and uh things don't always get paid quickly. Uh it's been an ongoing issue. I'm hoping things are good. We just hired the not just hire an amazing woman
up there. Um, but I I'm What can we do to make sure this gets it's communication? Okay. >> It'll it'll be a push through. So, I'll talk to Jen and Karen. >> Do we have Can we do >> we do we have like a petty cash account?
We do not. >> We don't have access to the accounts that >> correct the donation, >> right? We can't >> the PTO donations what just went into that's not >> No, that is specifically um for the schools. You donated that for the specific schools. We do have a student
activities account. >> That's what I'm thinking. >> Yeah. But that's run by town hall. >> No, the student activities account we can. >> So >> So we can take a look at how that balance. >> Yeah. Okay. because I want to make sure I you are doing so much hard work to get
this done and I don't I don't want the process up at town hall to be what >> holds it up >> and that's exactly why I put those very stringent >> um requirements >> May 29th is
>> and not for that amount of money >> the town would frown upon >> okay but I still not getting paid >> so it wouldn't be until May 29th. >> Yeah. So May 29th is the >> date and that's why we're doing this so early.
>> Um and I could even too like ask the students early to get those $5, but of course the $5 only makes the difference up between $500. So >> what we could do, Miss Story, is you could have um book the buses now and
have debus send us a bill for them and we'll submit it now. >> So therefore, we could just have and that's the only cost. I communicated with um a ranger at Minute Man last year um when I got the grant um when the application process happened and they
are a no cost uh for their ranger talks >> um yeah so we can just go >> the only cost of this field trip >> is the buses is the bus >> and that's really >> and you got a grant for that for most of that. >> Mhm. Yep. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. So, and that's something we we often run into is the transportation is
really the barrier to a lot of these trips. And that's why this is such an amazing opportunity because it's paying for most of it. And $5 is so reasonable. Students can handle that no problem.
>> Yeah. My one concern is just >> making sure. >> Yes. And that's my concern. >> Dumb red dig doesn't hurt you. >> We'll explore every avenue to make sure that that happens. >> Okay. Yeah. just because sometime but um this sounds amazing. I think this is fantastic. Uh thank you for having the
initiative to go out and apply for this very competitive grant. Thank you for getting >> this competitive grant. >> Um and I do like I said I think we live so close >> yes to where American history started.
>> Um not close enough for Lunberg troops to get there. Um just but uh so I think it's amazing that you get to take them. >> We have one question. >> Yeah.
>> I know it's only $5, but let's say a student didn't have the $5. Is there >> I mean I would probably >> help them out. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Or like maybe another parent could offer to >> And that has happened. We've had that in the past happen where um you know
students are open to paying for other students or parents um volunteer and sometimes that happens without us even knowing. >> Um yes, that's something just in general I know I and I know we've had a ton on our plates, but it's something I would really like the school district to begin
to do is to allow like actually just write on the field trip forms if you'd like to donate to cover another child. As I think Laura told me, they use that at Parker where her daughter goes. >> Yep. When you dishes. >> Yeah. And I just think it's something like a lot of parents might just say yes
or or and you know have to have some sort of I guess you know maybe if if we had too many donors where it would go or whatever, but I would really like the schools to try to figure something out. >> When you fill out the permissions form, there's a little checklist that says I would like to pay all of or partial for another student to attend. And then you
can either pay all of it or you can do another >> like a partial donation. Liz, would we be able to to draft a policy that allows us to do that in the policy subcommittee and bring it to the full school committee? >> Sure. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> We talked about that a lot. >> We had talked about it.
>> Yes. $5 to pay for someone else. >> I mean, and for some people that might be nothing and some people that might be a lot. >> Exactly. And if there's a family that's willing to, you know, >> Yeah. >> But thank you for keeping it so reasonable. Um, and I So, is it all day?
>> Yes. Uh, we would be leaving here at 8 uh a.m. and then coming back for the buses at 2:30. >> It's good timing. Uh, and they'll bring lunches and we'll do the hot lunch. >> Is Is there any name for chaperon? >> Yes. So, there will be uh three spots
for chaperones. So, if you're interested, you can certainly I mean, ask your son if he wants to. >> He'll never remember it. >> Yeah. Right. Um, but uh yeah, we are open to three uh chaperones. Um, I honestly can't remember if I'm included
in that number. Um, so I'd have to double check, but I think there's either 53 spots on the bus or 52. I can't remember, but um yeah, we I'm looking at three chaperones. >> I'll put my name in.
>> Is it one bus? >> It is one bus. Yep. And I have the perfect number. I have 20 students in AP and a total of 28 in my US history. So if everyone goes, that's a good number for us and shepher. >> Is that definitely going to happen next
year though? >> It's the same number. Oh, you're doing it this year. >> I'm doing it in May of this year. Okay. Yes. And I mean you are more than welcome to apply for these grants every year, but they obviously give preference to schools who haven't >> Yeah. who haven't >> gotten it yet. Um, but I mean I I
wouldn't mind trying again, especially if it's successful. >> Have you taken a class there before? >> I've never taken a class there before. No. >> So, I mean it'll be an adventure, but I'm excited. >> I think this is so worthwhile. We live so close and to take them there is
>> I got to go to one in high school. >> I want to commend you for something that the place based learning and like putting things in like giving them real context makes a huge difference. Like I mean my son is in your class. Those are the lessons that really stick out for
him. Um I can tell you that like you know we we watched Glory on Martin Luther King Day weekend and my fifth grader it really had an impact on um we gone to the the Martin Luther King um memorial in Boston Common like just
being in those places and putting context the history really really makes a difference. And so this is a great idea. I will bend the will of the universe to make sure that red tape does not mess you up. >> I really appreciate it. That means a lot
to me. So, thank you. >> Okay. >> Thank you for doing this an action item. >> Uh yes. >> Okay. >> M motion to approve the acceptance of the American Battlefield Trust grant reimbursement uh for the field
trip to Battlefield. >> A second. >> All in favor? All right. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you again. >> All right. Discussion on outsourcing facilities and grounds. That's the next
item. >> So, the committee has a memo in last week's packet that I um wrote recommending that we not take this action because
of many of the reasons that the ask me rep um stated earlier. We will never get the quality of employee that we currently have
working for an agency. from our crews that were out two hours early this morning making sure that your kids didn't fall on their heads coming in to school to what I see we have Duma who
makes adorable no cost toilet paper snowmen to make the teachers happy Jimmy G who I see greeting the students in the morning um to um Jose playing his ukulele and singing for the campus.
These aren't things that you can put a price tag on. These are things that are part of the fabric of the Lunberg community. I reached out to my fellow superintendent. And the data that I received back from them was they're
either also exploring this idea or they outsourced and it was a disaster and they're in the process of undoing that. Um, I heard back from about 12 of my colleagues when I put that out there. I
also have been, and this is just a perfect example of what you won't get. I had been working with a company to put um a number value on it so I could give you a net savings, not the gross savings, and I haven't heard back from
them. Um, so if that is the company that's managing people that are in our schools, that is not a very favorable sign. And this is actually one of the smaller companies that I reached out to purposely to see if we could get the
same scope and feel, but this is a move that I think in the long run will end up costing us money and not saving us money. >> Can I ask you a question? if we did like the the the cost driver
that was mentioned at the tri board meeting was the cost of pensions and they were basically conceding that the cost of the replacement would be roughly the same. So you wouldn't see any savings year over year but it would be a
savings over time in the pension payments. The question I have is if we were to do this and disband the knowledgeable, competent, and integrated work staff that we have and rely on a third party, what's to prevent that
third party from doing to us in the grounds of maintenance what the bus companies do to us in transportation? >> Nothing. >> I was thinking about this. Um, number one, the security issue >> when your office moved to Turkey Hill. I
went to the wrong door on the the first time. Oh, one of you guys met me there. Like, who are you? Why are you here? And I was like, oh, oh, no. You very first line of defense when it comes to
who should be in the schools, knowing the students, knowing who should be there. Not saying that's your job, but saying you do it anyways. Um uh and the other thing was I was thinking about this was before I was on the school committee. It was several
years ago. We had a stretch in May when it was brutally hot or June. It was brutally hot and the kids were just Turkey Hill gets so hot >> and it was awful. Like the kids were melting. Turkey Hill's got no air conditioners. Uh, some of the kids were
having class in the foyer in the front so they could sit on the on the slate floor and get some coolness. And at one point, I think they took a field trip over to the auditorium at the other school cuz that's how hot it was. And Dr. Burnham told me how maintenance was showing up at like 4 in the morning
>> setting up fans and funneling the cool evening air, the cool night air through the school. But you can't do that when nobody's there. and guys did it. Uh, and they were doing it late at night and
first of all, it was maintenance's idea to do that to keep the schools because you cared. Um, and to work those kind of hours to get a few degrees more of coolness so kids could stay healthy and not be fainting from heat exhaustion.
Um, we wouldn't get that from a contractor. I mean, I'm sure we wouldn't get those ideas. we wouldn't get the creativity which I think in the long run does save us money. I'm thinking of uh when you moved offices and suddenly you know um they needed some heat
adjustments and the windows are not typical windows and you know I think it was I'm not I think it was Chris somebody built the boards to go in the windows >> to jury fit it because we don't have the money to be buying the specialized products that will fit in there. And
then um the heater coil fabrication that we just talked about last month. That was whose idea was >> Tim I believe. >> Um it was Tim's idea to do the the fabrication because they don't make those anymore. Uh and that saves us a
lot of money. >> I think uh I'm just going to go back to this morning and snow and ice removal. That is something that would be an added cost to any contract that we had. I know there's people sitting in this room that
have been up since 4 o'clock working this morning to make sure that your kids got to school. And I just I think it's important they often go unseen and unrecognized
um by the public because they're so good at what they do and the value add is not always recognized. And in a way, I'm glad we're having this conversation because we can publicly acknowledge that
um what they add to the fabric of our schools. Um but it this is a decision that I would caution against. I I understand the finance committee has been pushing a
little bit for more outsourcing and I I am a little not in this case convinced on the argument for outsourcing in some cases because we don't carry the town carries the pension cost. We carry the health insurance cost, the benefits
cost, the the op costs are we carry that it adds to it. But when we're hiring a third-party company to give us that product, that cost has to pass somewhere or it's
not a benefit the employees will be getting that the employees need. So it by adding another layer to the relationship, we're losing and they're losing. And that this does not seem like a smart
move. I think I understand the the want to outsource and I >> but can you cuz I haven't heard one positive thing about doing it actually >> like >> this whole conversation I haven't heard one thing about >> so why it would be a great idea other
than people working for us and then they retired the town pays for their health insurance forever >> and there's long-term costs associated with that and finance committ sees a lot of the pressure on that side of things
because the school has so many more employees. >> I there's a financial pressure. >> I think the other things outweigh that. >> They do. Absolutely do. >> I think they do. >> Sorry. >> Especially in this case, it's important to acknowledge and I know many people,
we are a business, right? We have a multi-million dollar budget. We are a business, but we can't operate all the time like corporate America. So where this might make sense in a corporation, it does not make sense in the business
where you're dealing with children. And >> you know, as Carara said, having relationships, personal relationships with our custodial crew um and getting to know them. I I just think you're absolutely right, Laura. It's the
pension and the god costs that the town is concerned. So, we don't carry that in our budget. That is on the the town side of things. So, we don't see that financial pressure, which is why the the finance committee brings it up sometimes. Um,
>> I think it is a a valid argument for in some way, but I I do think in this case it certainly does not overweigh the the human cost. Um, and I I think it's such a necessary
and vital position that we don't mess around with it by outsourcing it. Is this an action item or was this just >> for our edification? Okay. Yeah. Because I I would not support this. >> I I don't I agree with everything
everyone has said. I just think the one thing about discussing it is we are in a very bad spot, right? So I I I think we can't put a quantitative number on it and I don't think it's the right call, but I just think that the public needs
to know we are in a bad spot, right? Like this would not be something that we would be bringing up, right, if we were not >> like really continuing to feel the financial pressures. It was a discussion brought up by the the financial
>> by the finance committee >> by the financial restraints we're under because of the tight budget. Yeah, it's not I mean I don't think it's the right call, but I just I think I feel like I'm always the one up here saying like we're in a bad space, but like I just think that that's where, you
know, we're in a bad place. >> And I agree that we're in an untenable >> financial situation, >> financial situation that something has to break. But I don't think that just as
>> I don't think social workers is the way to go. I don't think that this is the way to go in my opinion based on >> um Google Lemonster public schools when when Lemonster tried to do this a bunch of schools. >> Yeah. No, I tried it for a year. It's
not it's not something that I think is being successful. >> Yeah. Know and I trust your your you know your So I just don't I just don't want I don't want people to think it's great and we're not looking at things. >> Right. Exactly. No. And I think I think the public I guess what I'm trying to say is the public deserves us looking at
everything. Right. And so that's >> we're gonna make everyone mad, >> right? I mean eventually eventually one of these conversations is going to be we're gonna have to vote for it. So I just think that's my point, right? I'm not saying I want to vote for this. I think this is not the right call, >> but eventually there's going to be something I also don't think is the
right call that we're probably going to have to, you know. So, one thing that I I would like to hear more about is the cost savings that in-house custodial staff save building administrators.
>> That's a great point. So, you know, in looking in doing the research ahead of tonight, um there were a lot of places that offered custodial services and some of them were pointing out and I think this is not good for their outsourcing case that 15% of time for building
administrators is dedicated to custodial maintenance issues. And if we have to take that time away from our highest paid and most important employees and have them spend, you know, more
time, like 20% of their time, because now they have to interface with a company that interfaces with the custodial staff, are we really going to save money doing that? I just like, you know, if Mr. San >> doesn't get back to you as well, >> right? Like if Mr. pantry says uh you
know go take care of something in the gym like if we have a an outsourced unit like >> somebody will have to show them you know like okay this is the gym and when I say the gym I actually mean the weight room and the weight room has these you know like all of those things that the people
that are here already know and you know like I think that you know comparing it to like comparing us to a business is helpful in one sense and that it gives us some sort orientation for our budget. But like if
you look at other entities like us, it's over and over again it doesn't seem like the outsourcing of you know tasks like this >> where you know the personal touch the people involved make a difference. you know, if we were making widgets, I would
be more inclined to look at outsourcing, but we are making educated children. And so, you know, I just I I don't know in in the end if it's going to save us anything, especially if it means that the most critical people in our system,
which are already overt taxed, and that means the building administrators are compelled to deal with a layer of bureaucracy that they currently don't have. what did we do? And then I I also have a fear of, you know, the bus company
problem rearing its head in another way. You know, like the the more that we go towards outsourcing, the more our school budget and our town budget are vulnerable to the whims of a company, you know, like I think Chris, please correct me if this is wrong, but you
were looking for the information from Debus and it looks like it's a 15% increase. >> Correct. That's that outstrips inflation by a factor of five. And if we open ourselves up to yet another essential
service being outsourced, we could have a problem where, you know, instead of going to FinCon, going to the select board, and going to town meeting and explaining healthcare, we can't control, busing, we can't control, and
utilities and heat we can't control. Now, we're going to add a fourth thing to that list. the less control we have over those things, the less nimble we can be when the time gets tough. So, I haven't I haven't ruled, you know, like I haven't made up my mind like very
clearly I'm in favor, but I think that there are are arguments that people could make that would be convincing. I just I haven't heard them. Like, if somebody came to me and said, >> right, >> we'll save, you know, $2 million next year, >> maybe. But like I I don't even I don't
know how they would do that math. Like I just don't know how they would get there. >> You also Yeah. It's And it's hard to quantify. >> Sure. >> The human element and the the agility of the school system to respond. >> I I the the you know the the future risk
thing is always like the busing thing. We >> Massachusetts has a historic problem with busing. Mandy tipped me off to this. I did like a deep dive. It is clearly because of the mafia families in New York sending people up here. Uh not that all of us thinking it was mafia
time. >> That's true, isn't it? We're going to get if we end up dead, it's because the mafia own. >> But I what I'm trying to say is like I don't want to expose >> I mean I feel like if you're like >> I don't want to expose us to the same vulnerabilities that we have with the
busing company. The elevator company is a good point because >> we outsource our elevator maintenance >> anymore. They charge whatever they want. >> We outsource the elevator maintenance and we are at their mercy. >> Is that true? >> Mhm. >> Yeah. That's why it's been so expensive.
>> Okay. So, there you go. That's why for most of the year we only had one of our elevators working. >> Yeah. I don't think you got the vote for it. >> Okay. >> Is this is this is a discussion, but is this ultimately our vote or does this go somewhere else? No, this is not your vote.
>> It's our perview. It's not on there as a vote. If no one wants to make a motion, then we're not going to do it. And also, we don't we don't have the >> Here's the other thing. I want to make sure that we are clear about our roles. This came up at Fincom on Thursday, but based on the charter,
we have an obligation to consult with FinCom. We do not have an obligation to do what they say. I think for the purpose of comedy, we should certainly accept all of their ideas and solicit them to give us new ideas. But if after deliberations, we have decided that it's
not something we should do, >> the charter ends with us, right? So we we have the role of deciding that >> is advisory board. >> I I just want to say I work in a school and we have had a rotating circulation
of custodial staff. We have not enough maintenance and every time there's a problem I have to put in a ticket and I don't know who it goes to. Um, occasionally it just gets randomly cancelled because that's another person's job. They have it has changed
four times in four years. >> So that's what you're looking at. >> Is it outsourced? >> Yes. >> And our facilities director is trying to find a new one that's better. I think what we got is >> I think we we have I think we have
discussed this enough. >> Yeah, absolutely. I >> I'm not sure if it needs to be put back on the agenda for about >> No, I I I certainly don't see a scenario where I would support it. >> Thank you guys for coming. >> I think we're going to do that thing where you convince me.
>> Oh, yeah. I've been on this. Yeah. >> Can I ask a question? >> Yeah. Come up to the Do you want to come up to the mic? >> It's just very short. >> I'm sorry. I know is the they keep the feed they keep the nickel at home and then they text us and say we >> the decision god forbid is made to
outsource the custodial when would these folks get to know that information do you know when you go to a vote >> it would come to a vote when we vote the final budget which um won't be for a little bit yet
>> I like month two months three months Um, I think we'll probably get there um at the beginning of April is what I'm thinking. >> Oh, okay. Yeah. >> All right. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Anybody Anybody want to talk about this anymore? >> No.
>> No, we're good. Me neither. >> I don't think it, like you said, I don't think it needs to go back on an agenda. I think we discussed it and it's not a good idea. >> Sounds good. Uh, all right. Let's move on to the next
thing on the agenda, which is old action uh or old business. It's an action item for the 2027 budget and then a facilities update. Um, if we take the facilities update out of order, will that allow people to go home early?
>> Yes. All right. Motion to move it out of order. He needs to go to bed. They've been up. >> Let's get Let's get them Let's get people to vet if they need to go to bed. >> All right. Yeah. Uh, do we have to vote on >> I would make I would ask for a motion to change the order of the agenda. >> Second.
>> All in favor? >> Yes. >> All right. Let's do the facilities update first. >> I'm usually the second do my job today. >> You also have a copy of this in your Sorry. >> All right. As for the capital projects,
the primary weatherization, which is the final part of the capital green communities projects, have been completed. Um, National Grid has come and done all inspections of the BMS system running in conjunction with the boiler system and has released their reimbursement check to the town of
Wenberg for the sum of $43,35. Um, we got the check unfortunately the other day and it was written out to the primary school. So, we actually had to get back in touch with them and to rewrite the check to the town. So, we should have it by next week. Um, so that
marks the final completion of the capital projects. Um, the Silies, I'm sorry. >> That's all the capital. >> Everything is been done. Done. That was the last of it. We were waiting and waiting and waiting and finally they came a couple weeks ago and finished the weatherization on a few doors at the
primary school and >> getting the inspection for the BMS and all that. Those are the only things in that. >> And we have no more outstanding capital projects. >> Nope. They all got finished. They're all done. >> I just That's amazing. Yeah, >> because
We have been waiting quite a while, >> right? >> Um there have been a lot of pending capital projects and >> they a lot of them got done this summer. >> Yeah, it was a busy summer. It was very busy. But yeah, everything just for the most part it just
>> it worked out. Usually doesn't happen that good, but there was a few little bumps in the road here and there, but nothing nothing that big. We're usually in May worrying about the last minute budget items up to town meeting and then also worrying about where the capital projects are. >> Yeah. Right.
>> So to have the budget as far along as it is and the capital projects to be done. >> Yeah. >> Wash your hands of it. >> Yes. >> Um as for facilities, she has been working with it to have the BMS system which is located here on a PC in Rene's office.
>> What is the BMS system? It is the uh building management system for the HVAC. Um well, we can go in on our computer and we can move the heat. We can bump the heat up, turn it off, do whatever we need to do, figure out what's not working. It'll give us um alarms and
tell us some kind of sensor on those on the fritz. And this building's smarter than you think it is. It's it's a lot smarter than I am. Anyway, um, so we need to move this system over. Every time we lose power, whatnot, the
system crashes. Next thing you know, we go to get in, Tim, I, and we can't access it. And I got to get on the horn with Jordan. He gets on the horn with Walter. He knows what's going on. So anyway, it's on an old computer and it's basically at the end of its life
and it needs to get moved off of that. And are we putting in it onto the servers here? >> I believe so. Yes. >> Yes. Is that one of our servers or is that a cloud server? >> One of our servers. >> The cloud server was a lot more money I believe. >> Also,
>> a lot more. So, we went with the bottom hilarious thing to hack. >> A very common thing because people don't expect it. >> Um, okay. So, that's just going to be on the server here.
>> Yeah, it'll be more reliable at this point. Um, so where was it? Oh, yes. So, >> uh, Galaxy Technologies has given us the, uh, quote, $3,200 and they'll be working with it on getting that taken
care of. >> And we have the money to do that. >> Yes. >> So, anytime I see that, >> it's one of those things where if we don't do it now, it'll be too late. >> Yeah. No, no, we should do it. >> This is This is an important one. >> I'm just I just wanted to make sure. Um,
we had all the emergency signs. We had a lot of backup batteries at Turkey Hill for the uh, light up um, emergency signs. We had the guys go through and replace all the backup batteries on those. So, anything happens or goes out, they'll be lit right back up. Um, with all the melting and freezing, we got
roof leaks everywhere. Um, between us and contractors, we've been staying on top of those. Um, >> can you go back to the um, bathrooms for ADA compliance, the sinks? Yes, I skip that. Oh, yeah. Second paragraph. >> Sorry. Yep. Uh, we got pricing to uh
replace the sinks, the boys and girls bathrooms to make them ADA compliant. >> Is that at Turkey Hill? >> And that's at Turkey Hill. That's to do four get the sinks in those four uh gang bathrooms. The staff bathrooms are pretty much already all set. >> Okay. >> Um, but they need to be the gang
bathrooms need to be brought up and >> Oh, those weird sinks are going away. Yes, those step. Yeah, those old Yeah. >> Yep. >> So cool. >> Those will be going away. I think they're gonna I think they were looking at putting in a one piece unit that has a a
sink on one side and a regular one on the other side. >> Y >> So kill two birds with one stone. >> What is that? And so that'll cost 26,000. >> That was at a cost. Yeah. Yep. >> Where's that coming out of? So, we're hoping this is what we were talking
about, rewriting the earmark for >> um and if it doesn't, it hopefully the heating and electricity won't throw us too off in the budget and hopefully we'll have money um left over in FY26. I think this is too important to not do.
We'll figure it out. >> At this point, >> not doing it because we can't afford it is a bad idea. >> I agree. Uh so this we will just figure out. Um >> what's the idea of we har or harvesting stuff from Pacios?
>> So Pacios game bathrooms over there. The all the hardware for the bathroom stalls and everything they they're already ADA over there. They have the big doors to be able to go in. >> Oh. >> So it's in great shape. So we're just going to >> yard that out of there. >> And I think there's enough over there. I
talked to Chris and he's like if you leave me a door or two that'd be cool. just in case >> the food pantry, >> but this is in the window where they have it shut down. They're not even >> in the area. >> They put a wall up and lock the door and
shut the heat off and drain the water system out. So, this stuff's just sitting there. >> Yeah. >> Whose idea was that? Whose idea was that? >> How much money would that save us? >> Oh my god. I'll I can find out. I I will get on the horn with a company that does. >> That's a great idea. I mean, I
>> thousands. Yes, let's do it. >> Not sending stuff to a landfill and reusing what we >> already I've installed those before. So, between me and we can get it done over the summer time. >> Are the sinks there ADA compliant? >> Those sinks a lot of those we don't those sinks are
>> cuz they're ancient. >> They're not even that they're but they're always problematic. >> Okay, >> we've had problems with it because they they got the sensors and everything. >> It's just >> But at least the door >> reinventing the wheel. all the doors, the walls, the pilasters, all the
hardware, grab bars, it's all there. The only thing we might have to buy is a couple of mirrors, maybe a a couple of toilet seats to bring out the seat, you know, on a toilet. But other than that, I've already talked to the building inspector. He's good because we might have to end up illuminating um one stall
like a one toilet and the boys >> y >> to make that happen. Um but other than that, he's like, "Well, as long as there's not a line going out the door." I've never seen a line going out. So, I think we'll be fine >> about the logistics of getting rid of a stall. >> Yes. Okay,
>> that's fantastic. That would be amazing. >> Other than that, I mean, basically those costs. Yeah, that that 26,000 and then they wouldn't be >> be minuscule after that if all that works out. And >> let's do it. And that should be this summer. As soon as
>> Yep. soon as school's out. I'm going to probably have them go over as soon as the weather starts to get a little better. and and uh have maintenance go over and just start dismantling everything and get it brought over to Turkey, put all the hardware and boxes and put all the doors and pile them up
and we'll reassess when the time is right. >> Fantastic. Thank you. >> Great. >> Thank you. >> Great ideas. >> Um so yeah, and then like I said with all the melting and freezing, we've had roof leaks going on everywhere and I'm sure we're at the very beginning of it right
now since it's warming up and there's a whole lot of snow up there. So Do you have to get up there and shovel it off when it gets >> We have in some spots where it's safe enough to get up there, but I've had contractors go up in some of the areas where we know it's base probably coming from a a roof drain and it needs to be
reflashed. >> Is it flat up there? Is it rubber membrane? >> Yeah. You know, >> good old flat roofing. >> Why do we do that? >> I don't know either. Everybody does this. Every school. >> The primary has The primary isn't >> No, the primary It's got It has some And
there's leaks over there, too. Trust there. >> I just I don't understand flat roofs in New England. >> Yeah, I don't either. >> Doesn't make sense. >> Doesn't make this one extreme than the other. >> Best part about the triangle roofs evacuating. There was so much snow load down there.
>> So, we've been taking care of those issues and they kept coming up, but we've been staying on top of it for the most part. So, it's not not that big a deal. But, um during the cold snap a few weeks back, um we locked out. We went around uh Tim and myself, we went through put all the boilers on manual
during all that those cold weeks there. Um put everything in hand. Um and just basically put it in occupy for everything so that all the water just keeps circulating hot water. And lucky for us, we no issues all that. There's a
lot of schools that could say different. I'll tell you that. feeling it. >> Um, >> what is a univvent? >> Univvent's like the the heating system in the in the classrooms, you know, like the in the bookshelf thing and then you see >> that's like a univvent or the thing in the ceiling that's got it. >> You look up and it's blowing down those
those they got motors and belts and >> okay, >> they in the winter time they're running like non-stop. So, you end up burning motors out and burning belts out if not both. Usually the motor goes and it takes the belt with it and whatnot. So, we've been replacing those
as needed. Um, we've I just hooked up with another vendor um that supplies those because a lot of times you can't get them. You have to go through an HBAC company to get them. I found one that we can get them ourselves and do them at a fraction of the cost. And instead of
paying $1,800 for an HBAC company to come in, it's costing us like three or $400 to go get parts. If I get the Tim over there, my my guy over there, he's pretty good. Swaps him out and whatnot.
So, it saves a lot of money. Um, so we've had one resignation. Um, Dustin Tbaglia, he was at primary. Great kid, great job. Did a great job. He just got a job closer to home. He's got young, so that was the only problem there. And um
we had a new hire that replaced John Conway uh here. Uh Ryan Lzick. I believe his mother works here. >> I believe >> he seemed like a great great candidate. Um he worked over at Market Basket. So
give him the opportunity. I think he's going to do great do good things here. And we have an open position full-time evening custodian at the primary. I think we did. I think we just filled it yesterday. So, >> so we have no open positions. >> So, right now I think
>> this position open. >> Uh this is the one that just put his resignation and we just handed out a um offered the job today to somebody. So, >> okay. >> Things are going good. >> That's new. >> That is new. >> I mean, not for this year, but like
there have been other years that that has not >> Yeah. >> Yeah. We've been staying right on it. >> I noticed too. I was in here for something else and Fantastic. Yeah, here. >> We need it. You know, you can't we can't afford to have it too many too much
downtime with that because trying to cycle people in a couple hours here, a couple hours there. They're not getting >> the building's not getting what it needs. You know, >> last year was a rough year for you guys. >> No, but uh we got a bunch of great new hires and they're doing fantastic. So,
>> okay. >> Can't be happier. >> Is this an action? Do we have to go? >> Yes. Questions? Are there any questions about the uh report? >> No. >> Uh I would like to see a motion to
approve the report. >> Motion to accept the facilities report with our gratitude. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you, Chris. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Chris. >> All right. >> All right. Let's go to the next.
>> Thank you, Chris. Um FY27 budget. >> Oh, good news. >> More budget stuff. >> Less good news. Come on up. >> See money. Come on up. >> Thank you for coming. >> Thank you everybody.
>> Thank you guys. So, in your folder tonight, you had an updated FY27 projection. >> Um, it Chris highlighted all the things for you that have been changed. Um, they are in yellow. They are mostly salaries.
Um you'll see there we needed to um adjusted the high school um principal and assistant principal salary line that was overbudgeted and previously. So that is going to result in a savings of
$72,695. Um and then a cost to the budget is we need to factor in the teacher salary adjustments for education. >> Um so this is for teachers that move
from like a master's 5 to a master. >> We hadn't already we hadn't already calculated. >> I was finalizing it. >> Do you have an easy way to do that or is it by hand? Do we have some sort of program that does? Cuz I >> I'm trying to figure out in Unice if
that will calculate, but >> for example, if a teacher goes from just a master's level zero and their education bumps up more than to the 15. >> Yeah. >> I don't know if Munis can do that calculation.
>> Uh I'm still trying to figure that out right now. >> I feel like that would be programmable, but you don't have time to sit there and do it because it that would be a bunch of work. >> Yeah. >> Um because yeah, those are complicated and for the the public's edification uh
because I didn't always know this when a teacher teacher raises are based on how many um longevity how how long they've been here, how many years. >> Yeah. >> And as they get continuing education credits, they bump up in the column. So
it adjusts their salary upwards with each year that they're here and with the amount of education, postgraduate, is that what we call it? Postgraduate education they get. Uh which makes it difficult to always know and calculate
ahead of time. Uh, and sometimes those bumps are decent size and if we have enough people doing that, then it makes it a it makes it hard to do exact budgeting. But again, we're trying.
>> We mostly deal with people, students, and exact exact budgeting is never going to happen. >> May I ask on average how many like staff members are getting bought per year? It depends on the year in car. Um, so every
year until they reach what we call step 13, we call them steps and lanes. So every year until they reach step 13, they get a cost of living raise. And then um depending on what continuing
education, what graduate classes they're taking, they um can move over the columns on the counter. We call that a lean increase. Um and so it depends. Um some years we have bigger years, some years we have smaller years. Um there is
a notification date within their contract that they have to notify if they intend to um move lanes. However, um sometimes teachers that intended to don't. Um so that makes this more more
of a fluid type. You guys do already know kind of like the maximum amount of teachers that might be. >> No, because it it can vary every year. It could be all of a sudden all of our teachers would >> they have all have already put in like their intention to bump lanes by this
point. >> Oh, I see what you're asking. >> Yes. Okay. Yes. >> But you have to understand too that this information is all collected via paper and needs to be transferred and translated. We lose we lose a lot of
paper needs to be um inputed in um transferred into a usable format for our finance director for Liz has a lot to do with this. Penny um in our office has a lot to do with this as well. So it's a pretty labor intensive process
>> and they're teachers so they love going back to school. >> Yeah. Taking more classes. I I'm really surprised that the um the teachers I'm surprised that we have the column masters plus 75. Um >> that's 75 credits. >> Yeah, that's a lot.
>> That's more than a doctorate. >> Yeah, that's a master's degree and then 75 more credits. >> Uh and you know, is it do we have more teachers than normal that do this? I feel like we have a lot of teachers that continue their education above and
beyond. Um, >> I can tell you how many did it this year. >> I can tell you they just I knew you'd be like learning in school. >> I believe it's 27. >> Wow. 27. >> That's crazy. >> But no, I just wanted to highlight that
this is one of the things that makes exact budgeting >> very >> very difficult and that it's a constantly moving organism. >> Yes. Um the other um issue is some
reorganization of the athletic department. I don't know if the committee wants to discuss that tonight. You have a memo in your packet or >> action item or is this you would >> we're showing you we're showing you what it would look like if it were rolled into the budget. I think we should
absolutely discuss it. >> Sure. So >> do you want to discuss it now or do you want to move on? >> Let's do it now. Uh the proposal is to do what? >> The proposal is to move from an athletic trainer model to an EMT model for the
sports that we're required to have some level of medical supervision at. We currently contract with a doctor at um New Mass who is um available. He actually is at our football games for
the students. I believe the athletic trainers who connected us with that doctor. >> I believe I believe he is. We have a outstanding athletic trainer with amazing credentials. >> His credentials are ridiculous.
>> Yes, he is very >> he was the on medical staff. >> Yes, he is. He is absolutely amazing. But when we are charged with looking at things, this is one of the things that we decided to look at. We had some
experience with contracting this year and we um working with Mrs. Burns, we figured we can cover this just the sports that required to. So, it's a lower level of service, just the sports
that we're required to for $9,000. What we lose is an athletic trainer has the ability to evaluate a student and decide whether they can return to the game. Whereas a licensed EMT can only
determine if they need further medical evaluation after an injury. They can't decide if they're okay to return to a game. The other con >> Can I ask a question? Yeah. >> And coach, you might be able to help us on this. >> Sure. What's the effect of switching to
the EMT model on being able to field a team? So, if they can't I'm assuming that if they can't say they're eligible to return to play, that means they're pulled. They're out. >> Is that right? >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Yeah. But until the until they get
assessed. >> Yes. >> But like they're they're out for that game. They're not coming. What happens if someone gets a head injury, the EMT says you don't need to go to the hospital, but they're out of the game and then they >> I I just Oh, man. >> They just sit there. >> Yeah.
>> Can I throw something? >> Sure. I don't know if you want to call. >> Yes, sure. >> Um >> Yeah. And again, part of this too is not like if we had this out service that was the EMT, that's for games. What we're not factoring in here too is like on a
daily basis, the attention that the athletic trainer provides to our student athletes too is insurmountable. Like we can have somebody that's covering us. Figured I was loud enough. Let's see. >> You're set. Thanks. Um
when we talk about this EMT service we can be doing, this is for games. This is like on a week- toweek basis obviously, but what it's not factoring in is like in the situation that something could be happening in practices on a day-to-day basis. Like we said too, this EMT service could be telling us if a student
is able to return to play or if they are getting injured within competitions. It's not factoring in if any of these variables which could possibly happen in practices are also not happening practices. So this is a service that you know we as coaches it we can you know
we're trained to identify if there are certain things that we feel like a kid is not suitable to participate or play and that's our job as coaches but to have that resource that is professionally trained and has the experience as somebody like Dave does um that's a resource that we are
desperately in need of that's going to really harm us if we move to this other um option. So, is the model that you're proposing that we have only an athletic director, no athletic trainer, and then use the EMTs at the required places?
>> Correct. >> Have Have you looked at I mean, I know we've talked about this, >> but have we looked at splitting it as an athletic trainer, athletic director position? >> They're two very different skill sets. In order to be able to fill that, we'd have to find a uniform. Um, and I don't
think that we would be able to fill those roles. >> And to be honest, I'm not sure that someone who could fill both those roles would want to come here with the budget uncertainties and the way the staff morale from
the constant threat of cuts. We're not a very uh competitive employer right now because of the uncertainty. I I think they would probably choose to go somewhere that was a little more stable. >> If I can mention another factor of this
too, one of the things mentioned in the question and answer that you guys did with FinCom as well too. Um, as far as what's required for competition too, you need to have somebody on site in order to have the competition. If you are unable to, you have to forfeit as the
home >> uh sport. The thing that we could run the risk of is because and we've seen this at other times too. We're like we have competed against other teams. We've competed against other programs that have followed a model similar to what you
guys are suggesting here. And while you know again we have a doctor that we've built a relationship with that's reliable, that's also and again it's kind of going back to the bus thing. It's kind of going back to what we talked about with custodians. You are now putting it in jeopardy because you are you are relying
on an outside source. there and and there's a rare chance, but it is a chance that if you aren't able to get staffing, you don't have somebody to represent, then you need to forfeit and our kids are losing experiences because we can't staff.
And part of the this I can extrapolate on this con a little bit is you're not um contracting with the individual EMT. You're actually contracting with the EMS um service >> which is less >> Yeah.
So my main concern with this and at first I was like oh that's an excellent state is the head injury part of it is that I think that is vital. I think we have been very lucky in this district right
now. I've had a long time without incidents and I'm just so nervous because the way that sports are played now we're playing on turf field. I am so concerned about the head injuries and I know uh you
>> two years ago we had a school committee meeting where our doctor at UMass talked to us about >> the prevalence the prevalence of head injuries really surprised about volleyball being dangerous I was like
>> um and that really put into perspective for me I mean this this is kind of the the health and safety and potentially the lives of our students. And I'm I don't know. I'm very nervous about
this one. And I I understand why and that net savings is a lot, but I would I'm so nervous about head injuries. Um, I also do want to say for people watching because I know we're going to
get sports parents and sports students because our trainer is extremely popular uh and does a fantastic job that the the hardest part about school committee is that we have to make decisions about
positions not people and that is one of the most difficult things to do. So, just keep that in mind. But, uh, yeah, I just the head injury thing I don't know if I can get >> Can I Do you mind if I ask some
questions? >> No, go ahead. Could you I'm sorry. I don't know what you coach. >> I'm sorry. My name's Casey McDonald. I'm a teacher in the school and I'm also the football coach, >> which is great. I just >> Sorry. >> How did you not know who he was? You're the biggest towny on the planet.
>> Jeez, man. >> Her kids aren't in the kids aren't in high school yet. last name only person in all that he know >> um I don't know his last name for McDonald is he a towny >> and I just moved here like four years ago so we're trying >> no next year a few more years I still
have a few initiations on this >> I had like half my like half my family ended up moving to this town with me too like >> oh look at that >> we so not to get off topic because the Lord knows like you guys are here long enough as it was but like as we were moving here like my parents also moved here my father is working in the school as well too like
>> no I think that does Yeah. No, I feel like you probably are going to be attending. >> Wait, wait, wait. My wife's pregnant. So, like, does the kid count as a >> town? Totally. Totally. >> And then their family. >> Who's your dad if he works? >> Mr. Mac over and he works with par
professionals. >> Oh, >> the guy that looks like me. Well, um, >> what >> happen if instead of doing the the trainer thing that we looked at the
athletic transportation budget because that's the other item that's in and so like there are like two different ideas like the first idea would be well three different ideas. The one that FinCon proposed was to take the cost and add it to the sports fee. Mhm.
>> The problem with that is I think that that the cost would be so overwhelming that it would it' be essentially the same as cutting. >> I tell you right now, like the the athletic fees is one of the biggest things we struggle with as far as like retention of student athletes because there's so many kids that especially in high school, there's a lot of kids that are on the bubble about whether they
want to do a certain sport or not. And there is a chunk of kids that the minute you bring up >> $600 >> a fee, it's like it turns them away from the sport. You know what I mean? >> That's and that is a challenge. Sorry. >> Okay. So, the first model would be to
take the cost of transportation and div it up by the number of student athletes and make it work that way. The second idea would be to and this is the one that I' I'd like your input on because that one is just the other one's just a problem.
>> If there was some way to limit the travel. So like your your team is a little different, but like my son is on the track team >> and they go to Reggie like four or five weekends in a row and as we drive out
there, we probably pass 25 different tracks in different high schools that don't have the bank track feature that makes everybody want to run at Reggie. But if we had an agreement inside like the Midwatch League to limit travel, do
you think that that would be enough to get the the cost down in terms of athletic train? Cuz like it's all coming, you know, like we have it in these different pots and one's a revolving account and one's part of the line item in a budget, but ultimately it's it's coming from the same pool of
money, which is taxpayer dollars. And so if there's a way to like pair one off the other, could we make it like a an agreement or a pact with other athletic directors and coaches to limit travel and save the money?
>> I I'll be honest and I think some of that is something you might want to ask Miss Burns about who's like it's definitely a question that might be a little bit more for her than for me. What I will say is like as far as transportation, at least from the perspective that I have as a football coach, like I feel like there's definitely been an effort to help with
that issue and try to remedy that issue a little bit. Um, I know working with Miss Burns as far as like our scheduling for the last two years, like that's definitely been an effort and with Mr. Bigalow the year before, too. That's been an effort to try and get things to become a little bit closer to home, you know, obviously. And, you know, when I
first came here, you know, we kind of were graced with >> What was the farthest place you guys go? So now the the furthest one that we are set for for next year will probably be I want to say Leicester but if you look at that in comparison to like
>> when I first got here we had a Martha's Vineyard trip that was put on and obviously like again that was not it wasn't the best thing to kind of like come into the town and be like oh hey we are now bringing kids on a boat. Um we struggled to schedule the next year and we ended up being stuck with the only
game that was available which was going to Nahhat. So for two years in a row, we brought kids out that far. We had been trying desperately to get away from that. Successfully the last two years, we have been able to get ourselves back to being a little bit more local. So I can only speak on behalf of what we've been doing with football. But as far as
trying to find ways to get things to become much more local to solve some of that burden, it's definitely been an effort that we've been trying to put together. So >> I think we might want to talk to the sports. >> Yeah. parents. I think we need an info session because I have questions and we don't have Peter to answer them
>> and I really don't want to make De >> Nobody wants to do that. >> Um >> we love De >> I guess I can I just So I think there's two things for me. The first thing is I would like to fund all of these positions, but we have to be reasonable about what we ask for in an
override. And I think that's one thing that you know because right now we're still talking about an override budget, right? We're not talking about a budget. >> Talking about the cuts. >> We aren't even talking about cuts. So, I think that's something I'm always trying to reframe this conversation around is right like this is none of this is going to be possible. Not none of this, but a
lot of things we're even discussing are not going to be possible in a budget that does not include some sort of an override. Right. >> So, I think my position and my kids play sports and my kid, God bless him, must decide to play football, but and he's tiny but um
>> he'll be fine. Oh yeah, >> I know. We're good. >> They're training him as a safety, isn't it? >> Um, but anyways, I just feel like it is very difficult for us to go to the town that we need a full-time athletic director and a full-time trainer. And
that has just always been my position. It has nothing to do with the trainer, has nothing to do with athletic director, right? I just think that is a difficult cell. Now, if sports parents are so committed to this, right? Like maybe we go back and include both in our
override budget, but we need those votes and like I'm a member of this political committee, right? We need people to vote for an override to be able to preserve those things, right? And I think that's just something that we can talk about rearranging the chairs
on the Titanic, right? But if you know for 40 grand here and 50 grand there but if we don't get an override we're going to be down like a million $2 million. So I just think that's my thing. So you know I told um Dr. Fortuna I am fine with this proposal if she thinks this is the best way to go forward. It has
absolutely nothing to do with the trainer. Has absolutely nothing to do with um you know sports and my kids playing sports and they're going to be here one day playing sports. But I just feel like we do need to figure out sort of something and the sports
transportation is so expensive. Um, and people are already paying for their kids to go on our buses just to come to school, right? We're already charging people for that, which nobody on this board wants to do. And I don't want to do it either. It was my idea last year, but I wanted to preserve a, you know, a teacher. It's not like I want to be
paying for my kids to go, you know, on the bus. Um, but, you know, going back to the data Dr. Fortuna has shown us about how terrible our reading scores are, right? Like this is just I have to protect the core of what school is. So I guess that's my thing. I'm fine if we,
you know, if we if the we think the town will take the extra 40 grand, right, in our override proposal, but I also think sometimes we have to be realistic. What are we asking for? And one thing like I think might be, you know, how much sports fees come in? What is the sports fees exactly paying for? That may be in
the questionnaire. didn't read at all if if the um I didn't get through all the questions that the finance committee asked. >> It's just not >> um but you know like if we're getting 20 grand in sport I have literally no idea what we're getting sports fees. So you know we're getting 20 grand in sports fees and this entire sports program is
costing us $400,000 and we're charging you know right and we're charging people to ride the bus to school for the regular school day. I just feel like something has to give. And so I guess I guess that's my rant. >> And one thing if I can with that too and
obviously it's something that I've heard you say >> like almost at nauseium. No offense like for the last 3 years is like everybody's going to need to take a haircut. Everybody need a haircut and like people are aware of that and obviously like people are going to come and fight for whatever they care about in each aspect. >> Um
there's like and I think people are aware and people are accepting of the fact that like there are going to be some sacrifices that have to be made in certain areas. There's no question about it. just when it relates to this with an athletic trainer position. The part that is concerning is going a lot back to
what Laura had mentioned. I'm sorry. I was really afraid to butcher your last name, but >> no, that was perfect. >> Oh, cool. >> That was really good. >> That is something that is revolving around our kids safety. And while we as coaches are trained and certified to aid
in that effort, we are talking about somebody who is on a daily basis focused on the well-being of our kids. That if we try to talk about this model where we are going to an outsourced EMT kind of a model, our kids are not getting that
more individualized attention, more day-to-day attention. There are a lot of things that are going to fall through the cracks if you do not have that attention. And I'll be that honest with you, there's probably going to be some parents that do not want their kids to participate in sports if we do not have that service because they're going to
feel like their kids are not safe. >> But the but the trainer is not at every game. We're still hiring people to go to the trainer is at every game. >> He's at every home and what? >> Every lacrosse. >> No, but not every sports game. >> No, just >> because he can't be the ones with the highest risk.
>> No, the MIAA requires him to be at certain things. certain things he also goes to others like he goes to soccer >> but he has to be the ones with the highest risk of head injuries which is where my >> the head injury the head injury thing
really anchor I mean I know kids who've been on the concussion protocol I mean talk can you talk about we have students who have actual concussions >> I know where that is followed up >> I hate to I hate to be that person right but
I agree I agree I want a trigger I I want everything. I want more than we can give our kids, right? I We were just told we can't outsource the custodians. I agree. I don't want to outsource the custodians. They seem amazing, right? They do great work, but we also are
being told we have to cut $900,000 from our budget. >> We're not talking about the cuts budget right now, >> right? But event part of the conversation. >> Okay. So, >> Mrs. Burns just emailed me with a correction that Dave goes to every game
for every sport. >> Okay. >> Why is that? >> Oh my lord. >> How? >> I would also he secretly twins. >> That's crazy. >> I would also just like to mention that I mean like the schools are not the only department struggling. I mean like our EMS services are so down right now. Our
fire department isn't fully staffed. To be able to get an EMT at every game like Dave is is probably going to cost way more than it would to keep Dave here. >> We also had an incident at a football game last year where Dave >> Yeah.
>> was standing there at the exact right time. >> Yeah. I mean, again, not to like go back to like specific examples, but like with students, with everybody, we had a coach faint on a sideline. >> Yeah. >> And Dave is right on him. >> That's what I'm He's He's right
>> Yep. >> there. And I >> So, Coach McDonald, I guess the question I have is sort of an overarching question. What can we do as a school committee to advocate for the student athletes
>> in a way that helps convince the rest of the town? Because if you listen to the the the tenor of questions from Fincom and this is their role and I don't slight them for it and you know I think Anna did a very good job of doing her research and showing where we were and
comparing us to similar school districts like we need ammunition and we can't get it. >> Cutting this >> you guys have the ammunition and you know like to carry the metaphor forward. We have the gun. You have the
bullets. We need the bullets. >> But your modif your metaphors get in trouble after >> you know we need you. We need you guys to to help us >> putting this position in the restoration override budget
>> is not going to make it easier for people to advocate for the budget. And I will say too, like I and I think this is obviously something you guys have been struggling with a little bit too where is like where's that line between like what you guys are legally allowed to communicate versus like I I I feel like
a lot of times in the last 3 years with this whole process and I'm only speaking on behalf of the athletics for this and and I apologize for that but like it's only until we get to the part that we start talking about what could we possibly lose that people start to panic and then show up for
these things. >> You know what I mean? You guys started talking about how on March 18th there's going to be a budget for when things have to get cut and that is probably going to be around the time that everybody starts showing up, but like when there when there's smoke there's fire and all a sudden people are showing
up a little bit later. I guess one of the things and not to kind of keep going in circles with you guys is like how what is the best way that we can help to communicate information. What can we do to get people more you know around this a little bit more often? Um, and just be able to share information obviously
legally within the parameters of what you guys are allowed to do. I think the biggest thing too is to just continue to listen to the kids testimonies because like you guys know there's always like that one meeting that the kids are going to come here pound the table and tell and talk about what matters to them and you I know you guys appreciate that and I know you guys
response every year is we don't need to hear it. We know it. it needs to go to other people and I think we need to encourage those people to take the next step cuz for a lot of our kids who one the fact that we've asked kids to be so involved in this process in the first
place is insane and we have amazing kids that have with no hesitation done so and I think it's been amazing. >> Oh yeah. No, she's fantastic. But I've had kids that have like come to me in the school with anxiety and paranoia
because like they don't know what's going to happen and they want to speak up these things. For a lot of kids, they're afraid to. And the fact that we've had some kids do that, I would love to find a way if we could kind of inform and educate kids about like how
to bring this not past you guys, but like obviously you guys have conversations with think, you have conversations through your tribe board. I think they those boards need to hear student athlete and kids in general because it's not just student athletes,
it's the band, it's our theater program. It's everybody. >> Can I suggest instead of just bringing them to these boards, >> they bring all of their parents, any family members in town, >> right, >> to >> town meeting.
>> Town meeting >> May 2nd. >> They need a sponsor to speak if they're under 18. >> And then sponsor >> and then they have to go and make sure those parents vote >> and that and that was the point I was getting to and thank you for it just it's just like you know it's basically
like throwing I feel like I am happy to hear from students and I want to hear from them right but it it's it feels like basically people are fighting over the last piece of pie right so that that is that is the difficult position to be in here and that's all I'm trying to say is that but >> because like what happened last year
>> was counterproductive in the sense that >> it did not forward the agenda and it put us at odds with each other >> and we are all trying to do the same thing and the result was
athletics got very few cuts compared to everybody else. That means that if there are cuts, athletics is going to get decimated because it's the first in line. It's had the least impact, right? We don't want that to happen. No. >> And so what I'm trying to figure out and
you're a really good conduit for this because you come to these meetings, you are very articulate. The kids adore you. My son talks about how you help people with their PRs in in the wait room every day. Uh is we need we need to figure out
a way to have that advocacy be more effective than coming to us. It's like we're all on board. We all volunteered. We self- selected. We're here to make sure that happens. >> Yeah. >> But like for example, when Cara
explained last week about how her schedule weakened the appearance of her college transcript, when we went to FinCom and I said class choice matters and Dr. Fortuna said class choice matters and then we got push back. I used Cara's example and everyone was
silenced. It was skepticism, real world example. argument is over. >> And I guess that's the point I was trying to get at and again and I'm agreeing with you like the testimony kind of deal that we've had in the past where the kids come to you pound the
table here. I would love to see if we could find a way to get that to happen at that next level where like again to your point like we bring up information that like that you're bringing up in here, right? I remember like I was watching last tribal meeting when like Miss Miller and Miss Foil and we have
teacher representatives that are fighting for the cause and and like getting those kind of testimonials is speaking volumes, right? >> And they don't even have to go like I obviously what I would prefer >> what I would prefer, Mr. cameraman. I would definitely prefer this is if each
one of the student athletes came to town meeting and because they were under 18, they had to have a sponsor and that sponsor was an eligible voter. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. Bring a voter. >> So that would be helpful. That's the ideal situation. But if they can't do
that when they come to us, if there was like and I talked to Dr. Fortuner about this today, I want to meet with the boosters. I want to meet with the coaches so that we can have an or a a way of organizing advocacy because I think that like all
of these stories matter. There was a young man who spoke last year who I didn't know who's on the football team. My neighbor is Julia Callahan. I reached out to her. I was like, "Do you know this person?" And she gave me this wonderful story and I was convinced that like but for your efforts and but for the football team, his life would not be
fun. and his ability to speak in public was largely because he knew he had his teammates behind him. >> Mhm. >> And when I knew that story, everything became much more powerful. And so like organizing the advocacy both
here at school committee and on the town meeting floor, if we do that, I think that we can, you know, make it much more effective. >> Yeah. I mean, and I'm with you like whatever we can do to get more open communication between those groups. >> Yeah.
>> On our side, we're all for. >> Okay. >> You know, like again, like I just we got to figure out what you guys have legally allowed to communicate with us and what we can do in return because that's where the dicey bit comes. But >> it's not really that complicated. I don't >> I just know like you guys have mentioned like sharing information ahead of time. But
>> um I would also like to add send students to us to the student representatives. When I am sitting here, it is not as a student who's in the band, a student who's doing these things. I am here as the voice of our student council, but our student council
is the voice of our students. All students should know who the reps in their grade are, and they should be saying things to those people who will bring it up in our student council meetings to me. Today, I walk into student council, I'm like, "What would you guys like to me to bring to school
committee?" and everyone's just like, uh, advocate for us on the budget. If students have specific concerns, bring them to your reps because that is why I'm here. >> It is to advocate for the student body of Lunenburgg High School. And I can't
do that. We as a student government cannot do that if people aren't telling us what their problems are. So when you're saying, "How do we get students more involved?" If a student comes to you, ask them, "Do you know who the reps in your grade are?" Talk to one of your student council reps about that because
that's what we're for. That's what we're elected for. >> Um, in addition to going to town meeting, I would also suggest that our students talk to the select board >> and get them to commit to putting the override on the ballot. >> Yeah.
>> Because uh they didn't last year. So even though it passed the town meeting, it >> I think >> was not voted on. >> I think this year >> and >> just to be safe, let's get everybody. >> Oh yeah. I mean it would be amazing board too, >> right? It would be amazing if we had a
group of students go to the select board meeting and speak in open meeting at the open meeting at the beginning and remind them tell them these kind of stories. >> Sounds like coming and you're you're you're yelling at the people who are advocating for you. >> Yeah. Why? >> I mean, I get why. It's an obvious
conduit for the fear and the stress that the students are feeling. I get why, but >> but you can see I'm feeling the feel fear and stress too, right? I mean, I mean, that is that is my honest I don't >> and that was the part that I was getting at again here. But no, they really need to go there. Yeah, >> but that was the part I was getting at
too where again to to your guys credit like the level of transparency this year as opposed to years past has been night and day. I think in years past it came from a place of a little bit of panic where like kids didn't know who to go to. They didn't know who to respond to.
Um and again like and I I'm I'm speaking as an educator in the school and as an athletic coach I try to juggle with like what am I allowed to say, what am I not allowed to say, you know, and I think that's where we get a lot of the issue sometimes is like what is the best way to point them forward in a course of
direction and having these conversations right now has been tremendous in that help. You know what I mean? So, >> you grew up in town. Do you remember as a high schooler being concerned that your after school activities, your extracurriculars, your band, your music,
do you remember stress about those being cut and worries about the budget? >> I mean, I don't know if I went to school during more robust times. You know what I mean? I I mean, I was here from 97 to 2001. I honestly don't
>> pretty good time. >> I mean, it was a pretty good time. I don't really remember >> being um I just think it's not fair that I know there are a lot of people in town who sent their kids to Lunberg schools who children are not currently in the school system thinking, well, my kids
went through Lunberg and it was great. I went through Lunberg and I did great. I came out great. And I guess my point here is that um a lot of them didn't feel this stress that we're putting and I think it's not
fair that students would be worried that what they need out of education might not be available to them. >> My siblings graduated in 2019 and 2021 respectively. And when I started like coming to these and they would see me on Life Thursdays and be like, "What are you doing at the school at 10 p.m." I
would be like, "Oh, well, they're discussing budget. Like, I need to make sure that the stuff I care about isn't being cut." They would be like, "What? There's a budget?" Like, it wasn't a problem. And I think now students are becoming far more aware of like what's
going on behind the scenes, but at the same time that's good because they also remember being blindsided sometimes by like, oh, this class isn't being offered anymore. What I was supposed to take that class. Kids just didn't know as much about what was going on as well.
>> And I think I've been saying this for literally three years now. Um, Lunberg Schools has been running extremely lean for many years. We trimmed all of the extras. We've trimmed so much fat from it. So
that at this point when we are facing these budget deficits, there is nothing left to trim. And I've been saying it for two years because it's true. and we've been sort of uh getting by,
but this this year is is a real make it or break it year. So, can I in the interest of us not being here till midnight, can I ask that we table the trainer discussion until we see Dr. Fortuna's proposal for the
cuts? >> So, I think this proposal was for the restoration budget, >> right? But I don't know that I want to make a decision about my position on this until I see the ugly. >> I mean, in a in a cuts budget, yeah,
this is for me in a cuts budget, this would absolutely be on the table because I'm not sure, >> right? But the thing is like maybe >> sports are going to look like in a cuts budget because we have to cut $900,000, >> right? And I understand that, Laura, but I'm just saying like maybe I don't want to agree to this because maybe I do want to keep if we're, you know, if we're
going to go to a town meeting vote and we're going to go to an override, maybe trying to save this 40 grand or whatever it was. Was it 406 46 46 >> is more work than it's worth, right? Like maybe in the override but in a potential override budget, maybe we do
want to we want the 46 grand because is that going to be the difference between the override passing and not passing? I don't know that it is right. >> I think it would make a difference. >> I really >> What do you think, coach? >> Which way? Which way do you think it's gonna make a difference? >> Would it make it?
>> What? Which way do you think it's going to make a difference? >> I think that if we cut the athletic trainer, we would lose support from some of the sports parents who would be very frustrated that an override vote would still lose them this very vital position. >> Okay. No, I I just because that's why I
>> Well, that's why I'm not sure I'm ready to sort of make a decision either way, I guess, until I see the other. When do you need a decision by? >> So, what we're trying to do right now is get the override ask for the restoration budget down to
>> under 2 million. Yes, >> it has to be under 2 million. >> And it is right now it's at a million nine. We'd like to get it >> down a little more >> and we're going to have to make some decisions eventually like about what
we're going to cut like we have >> very limited few spaces that we can go. We had um Chris and I were able to meet with Renee Mi today who had a great idea about taking the money raised from
transportation fees once we have the final accounting from the town off the top of our transportation budget for next year. So that whatever we get for fees this year will apply to the transportation budget, but we'll take it off >> as an offset
>> as an offset to the budget. Um there there are very very few places we have left to go and >> and this is for the restoration budget to bring.
>> So has the select board given you a number that they want us to be under? >> No for the restoration >> that's going to come at the tri board meeting which um hopefully will be next Tuesday. Tony and Emily please respond to a right when I got it. Excellent. She said
we had to re-rely because she didn't know who replied in the first round. >> Oh, >> we have to fill it out. >> Right. Is what? She sent another email. >> I didn't see that one. Um, >> so my main concern is that if I were a
sports parent and this and I was going to be losing this as as if I was a sports parent whose child was playing a high risk of concussion sport and we were taking away the athletic trainer, I'd be upset and maybe not as supportive of the override
budget. Uh, because I know we had a lot of outcry over this in the past. Um, I don't think I would vote for this. I understand we're trying to cut costs wherever we can. I understand that only
what 30% of Massachusetts schools have or 30% of the schools that Anna surveyed >> have a full-time athletic trainer. Um, I'm just we have a lot of sports participation in this school
and I have very serious concerns about the concussion risk. Students die from concussions. Students die from traumatic brain injuries. Students have lifelong cognitive disabilities as a result of brain
injuries. um especially if they have a concussion and then they are not aware they do and they go back and play. Subsequent brain injuries are extremely dangerous and it's not always
obvious and I I know that our athletic trainer that is one of their biggest things they do is monitor the students and we we have students on concussion protocols. So, do we vote on this tonight? I guess is what I'm saying. >> You want You don't have to vote on it
tonight. What I'd like though is what we're trying to get you is a budget that reflects kind of the will of the committee. So, we >> final restoration budget >> to get to an override number. >> Correct.
>> Okay. And now we're at 1.9. >> So, that's my question here as well. But when I just did the map here, >> it's different with this budget, but if we restore the full-time athletic trainer and go back to the
>> still way more, and I know we don't do budget by committee, but I mean math by committee, but if I'm looking at the total actuals, >> right, last year versus this year, shouldn't that number be 1.9 million? the difference between this and this.
>> No, it's the difference between that and that plus the town appropriation. Chris can explain because he's way better than >> it's the difference between what we're asking for in a restoration budget and what we are expecting to get from the
town manager based on 2 and a half% growth plus new growth, new building. >> I got it. No, I got it. I got it in my mind. So, it's because there is money There is some money that's going to be part of I get it. No, you don't have to. I got it. >> Here's my concern.
I am concerned that on one hand, if we cut $46,000 in the athletic trainer, we lose a large contingency of very active voters. On the other hand, I am concerned that
if we keep adding things back in >> that we are going to alienate people who are on the fence and the reasonleness of our ask is the guiding light for their vote. >> Yes. And we are adding back in because
>> we just can't keep adding that. We did this last year and it didn't work. >> We're taking the athletic director that was currently halftime. >> Yeah. And we're making that athletic director full-time. >> And we would keep the athletic trainer, right? >> Because everyone keeps telling me who's
come before this committee that we need a full-time athletic director. >> Would this be keeping a full-time athletic director >> and then cutting the trainer? >> And that's what I'm proposing. That's what's proposed here. And or we could go back to the athletic h part-time
athletic director and >> correct >> and full-time trainer, but we're always restoring the the assistant principal job to a full-time job. >> Yes. >> Yeah, that's a non that's an utterly >> I I agree with that. But I just think we need to be really clear about what our
this conversation is. We either can in my mind, we can either keep the trainer and make our athletic director work part-time or we could keep a full-time athletic director and lose the trainer. I think >> I don't think we can have it all. >> I think for purposes of this conversation tonight that I we will not
have the votes either way to produce. So I would >> there's also >> I would look for a motion to table this till >> there are people whose jobs we're talking about. >> I agree. >> And by putting it off for another two weeks, >> I'm uncomfortable with that. But
whatever we vote on tonight is not going to get final with the >> No, because we we have to wait for an override to pass, >> right? >> Yeah. >> But I just want to be cognizant of the fact the people we're discussing >> are aware it's being discussed and I
think it's not it makes people nervous >> when we just table things, right? But um I mean I I just Yeah. I mean, I don't I don't
I do you have an opinion about any of this? >> I mean, I'd like to wait if we can. >> Okay. >> But >> I mean, I'm happy to keep full-time everything if but that but then we're going back to a half an athletic director. I mean, >> whatever. >> I I think that we got I don't think that
we have enough of a consensus to give >> Dr. for a direction. >> Agreed. >> On the bright side, the athletic trainer, I think it's been three years of these discussions, which is unfortunate, but everyone's
>> So, if we go back to the original athletic structure, it would add an additional $42,886 to the budget. And that's the full-time AD and the full-time athletic trainer. Correct, Chris? half. >> Oh, halftime ad, >> halftime ad, fulltime athletic uh
trainer. >> Okay. All right. Um, so >> it would add 46,000. So >> 42,000. >> It would add 42,000. So the budget with the one Okay. It was not in there. >> Let's Let's look I'm looking for motions
either way. I I don't care. >> Make a motion in the negative. >> I would uh to table. You can make a motion to table or you can make a motion >> to vote >> any which way. >> Make a motion to table it.
>> Uh, anybody want to second that? >> I'll second it. >> All right. All in favor of tableabling the issue relating to the FY27 budget and the structure of the athletic department. >> All in favor? >> I I all those. >> I'm going to vote no. >> All right. But
>> that's okay. I can't force you guys to keep talking. >> Can I ask one more question? >> Sure. Um, just to help facilitate our work. >> Yes. I'm sorry. I hope you >> What I'm sensing as, and we haven't
gotten a number yet. We haven't had that tri board meeting yet. What I'm sensing right now, it's the will of the committee to keep that budget deficit at the 1.9
and go forth with that number. That's the number that we should present next week. That's the number that we feel we truly need. Is that am I getting the right temperature so that we can be prepared for that meeting on Tuesday night?
>> Yes. Is that a number you're comfortable with? >> It's a number I'm comfortable with. I wanted it under two. We're slightly under two. Um I worry >> what does that give us a percentage of override? >> Um it keeps us at about 57.
>> Is it Is that what the town manager wanted? >> No, she would like us at 53, but I'm >> okay. I would I would obviously do whatever you think is best, but I would prefer us to get to a number that puts it at 53.
>> Why? Um because I think that if the the calculus that I would make is if we go higher than 53, would other committees support uh some
kind of bifurcated override where the override would go to certain parts of the town but not others. >> Do you think that's possible? >> I do. >> Possible. >> And I think I'd rather get something than nothing. And if the town views us as being overly greedy, which I don't think we are, but
if that's the narrative, and the tribe board's will is to put forth a uh, you know, compartmentalized or bifurcated override, >> tiered override. >> Yeah. Well, the tiered override would be >> I mean, I felt like at the last meeting nobody wanted a bifurcated.
>> I hope not, but that seems like that would be >> that's an option. >> An option. So, I would just say that the only way an override passes in any community is if parents vote for it. No override is going to pass without parent vote because nobody else wants to
raise their taxes. >> It just won't. >> It won't. >> I mean, I I just don't I do not believe that any override will ever pass. I mean, they didn't pass the buildings last year. They didn't pass. The only thing that has passed in this town in the >> part of why the buildings didn't pass is
because the parents were so >> many parents many and I I've warned about this, right? >> Many parents were very upset about the number of cuts to the school system and said, "How can we afford this building if we can't afford >> what the schools need?"
>> I I I agree in that the parents are a huge voting block. I totally agree with that. >> I again want to caution um against and this is why I would caution against a tiered override,
>> right, >> is that we are one community. Yes. And we need to stand united. And I I think that the need for the fire department for shift
is critically important to the town and the well-being of the citizens here. And I know I shouldn't be arbitering somebody else's budget, but >> yeah. >> No, the fire department. I mean I No, I mean I I agree with that. I >> completely agree with that. I just think
I'm not against the 57 like down to 53. I just >> How about 55? >> Believe truly compromise >> that that number is irrelevant to whether people vote for it or not. I think I >> I guess that's my point like is that that is sort of backroom conversation
>> the concern of >> do you know what I mean that has nothing to do really with what a voter >> one of the concerns of towns people who are not school adjacent is that the schools are eating up more and more of the budget every year and they want it 50/50 which is not
>> never no school district is >> it's not and I think >> especially when we carry the healthare >> I yeah so >> make it 5050 I I need to go through and make a spreadsheet of what other communities have, but no, there's a desire to keep it at around 50/50. And when we had the
override two years ago, it climbed from 51 to 53. And the concern is if we go to 57. Now every year we are consuming 57% of the budget as opposed to the 53% and that
the school this is I'm not saying this is a my concern but I am saying that this is a concern that people who are not school adjacent or supportive of what we do that is their concern and my concern
would be if I'm fine with the 57 but my concern if we get to 57 is that the town manager in the future, we'll want to adjust our increases less because the the override only has to go to the school the first year. >> Yeah. So, she could always just do 57.
>> And I don't think she would. I think that she would work with us because we have a good partnership with this town manager, but my concern would be that there would be attempts at trying to balance it again in the future, giving us less of an increase in
the future that we would then need to >> cuts forward. We get that overriding it still makes sense. >> But I don't believe that because I think if we need 57%, we need 57%. I don't think our ask is enough. I think that it is extremely conservative. I think you
did a good job of keeping it down, but I have concerns that we're being too conservative in our house. >> And so I think the one thing I agree with some of what like what you say and I understand that the town managers does not have to allocate it to us for years to come. But the school district has
very few levers to raise funds. Very, very few. The town does not have a lot either. I'm not saying that they have a lot. They do not have a lot. But they have a little more control than we do >> with economic development, with things
that could happen in town that have been ignored for years and years and years. And that is not the responsibility of the current select board or the current town manager. And I do not think that is their problem. But the town as a whole needs to take a look at who we want to
be. And the school district wants to and the school committee wants our kids to get a great education. And I believe it is our job to make sure that that happens. And the town cannot be scared to pursue what we need because the thing
is you can't live in a community like ours and not pay higher taxes or have more development or we got to get the state to do something else. Those are the three options. >> State's never going to do anything else. Can I posit one more thing? >> Yeah.
>> Let's go back to the original restoration budget >> um with the adjustments that we had to make which are adjustments up. >> Yeah. >> With the adjustments that we had to make contractually. >> Yeah. >> And use that as our budget because I
don't think proposing a restoration budget and proposing cuts at the same time >> is a wise thing to do. And then I think if we have to make cuts then we put all these ideas back on the table. >> Okay.
>> That's fine. I think that's perfectly reasonable. I just it's so hard to to make very difficult cuts especially ones that would affect the health and safety of our students >> and then even that would involve an override. >> Yes. The cuts budget for anyone listening this is go absolutely athletic
trainer is going to be on the table for a cuts budget. Athletic directors. It's there's going the cuts budget is a different beast. >> We did not table this very well. >> No, we didn't. >> Did you have something you wanted to add? >> I I just wanted to ask um
got kind of in the weeds. >> We did. >> Um I I completely understand. Um, we had a whole you had a whole discussion about trying to add 46,000 in
and then we're concerned about 57% being too high. We'd have to cut that position. What would the other 4% be? >> Yeah. Right. It would be drastic cut >> just logically >> to the restoration. Yeah. >> What in the world would you cut from?
We'd have to eliminate the whole restoration budget and still then we'd require an override just for level service. The biggest drivers of our budget for the community are out of our control. It's transportation,
utilities, and health insurance. Those are completely out of our control. And if you look at how we're budgeted, those items have gone up significantly because of how we've had to forecast that for
next year. And I think that again, this idea of who is in control, right? We don't have control over those cost drivers at all. We have, I'm concerned, underfunded in some cases.
Our um I can't think of the right word for it. our supplies and materials line items. >> And I think what we're asking to restore is completely necessary. I think that restoration budget is born out of what
we see is not working this year because we have previously cut those positions with the exception of the English language learning teacher, but that's due to population increases. So I think what we can control is limiting and I
agree that we could have asked for more. We did not. We could have asked for three times what we asked for and just to restore the positions we cut last year. But I think it's key to know biggest cost drivers are not in our
control and we are simply trying to restore things that we know don't work for students and our students are suffering because we don't have these things >> because 53% is just keeping up with current costs. >> Yeah.
>> Not even restoring those necessary positions. I would also just like to add I mean I've spoken to my parents to friends parents people are far more likely to vote to you know pay more in their taxes if the things they want are coming back
or being kept the same. If you're saying we're going to increase your taxes by this amount but you're still going to lose this this this and this. There's almost no point then in increasing your taxes be if the things you care about
are still going to be gone. If your biggest fear in life is your kid going out playing football and ending up with a concussion and they're saying you can raise your taxes and we'll have someone there who can help prevent that. They're far more likely to say yes than if you say well we can raise your taxes and
there still won't be anyone there to help if that happens. Just >> that's a good point. >> Yep. Excellent. >> All right. So, I'm gonna assume that that operates as agenda item 11 public comment for issues discussed tonight.
>> Well, wait. Can I just say one thing? >> Sure. >> About FY 27. So, two things. I It kind of actually >> segue. No, no, no, no, no. It wasn't about So, >> I wouldn't know. >> Come on. I we were tableabling just the discussion about the um
>> the athletic >> the trainer. >> So the superintendent and the chair of the school committee in Rotten Dunstable sent an email to students, parents, families asking them to write letters to their legislators and I would like us to do the same thing. I would love to have
something because yes, maybe the legislature isn't going to save us today. Maybe they're not going to save us next year. But if we stop asking, they're never going to save us. So, >> we have to continue to ask and it's a pain in the butt and it stinks, but I'm going to go to the public hearing in a few weeks and um
>> and speak, but I would love for us to be able to do something. I volunteered to put it all together. I did draft a letter that I think this committee should send to the chairs of ways and means and to our own legislators. Um, I can't take comments outside of
public meeting because the public meeting law is the worst law written in America. >> That's terrible. >> I don't know if people if Liz would volunteer possibly to take people's edits for us of the letter I wrote if other members of the committee had edits. Could could she do that and send
something back to me and then I could get it set? I mean, we could send it the 18th. That would be fine. But that way having something fully prepared on the 18th to vote on is >> just so the charter me charter watch people are aware I have delegated this
responsibility of the chair to Mandy because of her prior experience in the legislature. >> Do you appreciate that or >> No, we so we did have I did have somebody point out why is certain people doing things. So I will just say that is why we're doing it.
>> We did vote on it actually at the beginning of the year. You voted to chair me to be the chair of the public policy committee. >> Fine. >> Public policy whatever. >> Put that to bed. >> Thank you. Um so, okay. So, as long as the rest of the committee is fine with that, I we will the letter is in your
packets and if you want to send any edits you have to Liz, then we can get it finalized. Thank you for Okay, >> that's all. >> That's all. Now, you can have a >> Okay. All right. Public comment on issues discussed tonight. >> Anybody else? Anybody online?
>> Yeah. Squire. >> All right, Carla, if you're there. >> Yeah, I'm here. >> Hi, Mrs. Squire. Go ahead. >> Can you hear me? Yes. >> Yes. >> So, I just I've been listening to the discussion about positions and it's
really challenging and it's really difficult. I think I've said this the last this is probably my third time saying this, but we're going to be forced to make some difficult decisions. One of the things I hope that we can approach the process with compassion for
colleagues across the organization, and when I say across the organization, I mean our whole town of Lunenburgg, our police department, our fire department. We work collaboratively with all of the departments across the town of Lunberg. So different groups are going to
experience an impact differently. That should not turn into a competition about who is more deserving of the resources because everyone every student in this town is deserving of the resources. But we're going to be faced
and have to make some difficult decisions. I think everyone is working hard. Everyone's going to be affected. So our focus should be on stan understanding each other's constraints and finding the most thoughtful path forward.
We're working hard as an administrative team. We're working with Dr. Fortuna. It's not going to be perfect and yes we have to as Tony was saying something's got to give. We can't keep everything that we want, >> but we have to work together as a
community and come together. Without that, we're going to have fighting within one another. It's not going to be productive. It's not good for students. We've seen this in the past. We've lost really good educators. We can't continue
to do that. I think we have to come to an understanding everyone's going to have to give something if our override doesn't pass. And even with the override passing something, but we have to have some understanding because fighting back and forth. How did
our custodians and maintenance feel? Today we talked about outsourcing. We're going to have uncomfortable conversations. We have to understand everyone and just know that everyone is doing their best. That's it.
>> Thank you, Mrs. >> Is there anyone else? No. >> Okay. Can I do a public comment? >> Yes. >> Um I don't know if we talked about this beginning because I was coming from the event and I was late. Um it was a really challenging week for our bus drivers.
>> Um so I wanted to recognize them and say thank you for getting our students home safe. It was >> yes absolutely crazy few days for them. Uh, and I don't know what this morning was like for them on the early run, but
I very much appreciate them. And I know that sometimes Tony's not a fan of the >> I love our bus drivers. I say good morning to >> We have We have amazing drivers. >> We are very lucky to have bus drivers who very much care about the well-being of our kids.
>> Um, and I just I wanted to say I very much appreciate them. And only yesterday. >> That was yesterday. >> Yeah, >> yesterday was a really rough day and the buses were running late and because they were going slow to get everybody home
safe. Um, and I I >> I appreciate that. So, I wanted to say thank you. >> Yeah, the forecast was very inaccurate. >> I was surprised. I mean, when you canceled, I was surprised just like, oh, it didn't seem that bad. >> I had no idea. >> It was bad. Um, it was
>> Ethan's bus slip back backwards down the hill. >> Oh, good. >> But, um, no, our bus drivers are fantastic and they take the safety of our kids very seriously. Um, and I I just want to say I appreciate that. >> Thank you. >> Yes. And I had one public comment that I
read at Read Across America Day and it was wonderful and I want to thank the teachers who and Jod uh not Jod um Alicia Mcoster who put it together and I got a really nice pile of thank you notes from the students yesterday
which is really cute. >> Anybody else have any public comments? >> All right. Um I know Lori gets mad at me for doing this but I'm I'm fading fast. >> Oh my god. Yeah. I'm tired too that I brought to >> let's just table subcommittees committee
and then topics for future discussion. The only thing is >> coach I want to I want to make sure that the school committee at least one or two of us has an opportunity to talk to coaching staff to the athletic director and to sports boosters to see how we can
organize advocacy in a way that is impactful. >> Yes. Because I think that, you know, as Cara provided us an example last week, you have uh instead of bullets, let's say that they're gems in a mine and you
have to polish those gems every town. I >> say arrows. I think >> arrows is close to the island. >> Um can I ask so I think I've mentioned this before and I don't know if it was at the meeting I had missed. Um if we could do an HR staffing report, like a
quarterly HR staffing report. We are working on that for you. >> Okay. Just because I don't >> we'll present it with our quarterly report. >> I think I think it's important to know or if you know we've got people quitting in mask um or or leaving. I just think that's important and it's nice to see
who we're hiring. >> Um I don't know if other towns do that because they're bigger, but um I thought that was important. >> All right. Looking for a motion. >> Motion to adjurnn at uh 9:34. 934. Uh, second. >> Second.
>> All in favor? I