like a sec. I don't know. Maybe like a security. We should We should be good. >> All right. Uh >> is Dr. Fortuna? >> Yes, Dr. Fortuna is on. >> Can't see way. >> So before we get started, just going to let everybody know that Dr. Fortuna is joining us by Zoom. Uh so in accordance
with the requirements of the open meeting law, please be advised this meeting is being broadcast live over the Lunberg public access channel. The Zoom link is in the agenda, as is the meeting ID. This meeting will be broadcast live through the local uh access cable channel and the public access Facebook
page and the um link for the public access Facebook page is found in the agenda and will be found on the Lunberg access YouTube channel within 24 hours after the meeting. The 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 these discussions. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by the open meeting law. So the next thing that we do is pledge of allegiance.
>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. All right. Um,
I see that there is a person trying to be admitted to the Zoom. Is that right? No one. >> No. >> Okay. Uh, does anyone have any public comments on prior issues raised at school committee meetings?
Um, okay. See none. Uh, chair's report. I have no chair's report. Um, there's no student representative. So we will move on to wait a second. Oh, we normally do the superintendent report next, but the next thing on the agenda is uh review
and approve minutes. So on the table are minutes for the 115, 123 and 1217 meetings. Has everybody had an opportunity to review those meetings and the minutes? And if so, uh would you be willing to make a motion?
>> Uh did you guys get chance? Okay. Motion to approve the minutes of 115, 123, and 121725. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I I >> uh Okay. Um actually, one thing I want to go back just make a quick comment on
chair's report. We are still looking for a fifth member. It would only be until May. So, you would basically do the crappy part because the budget part is the crappy part. I just want to make sure you know that. But we would be really grateful for anybody who wants to
help out. There is a lot of work to be done between now and when the term would be up and um we have asked and looked for many people and no one wants to do it. So if you want to do the crappy parts of school committee for the next 5
months, please let us know. >> Please come join us. >> It's an appointment. Just to make it clear, it's an appointment. You don't have to run for anything. It's a joint appointment of the school and select board >> and we wouldn't force you to run in May although we would ask nicely.
>> Um so >> but it is the crappy part. >> Maybe two spots then. >> Uh so the next thing is review and approve line items and warrants and donations. And what we have here are the warrants from uh 121325
to 1526. Did everybody get a chance to review those? >> Yes. I did not. >> Did anybody have any questions about those? >> We're just talking about the warrants. >> Yes. There are no Chris. There are no line items, correct? >> No. >> Okay. So, just the warrants. >> Okay. I just wanted to ask Chris a general question about the percentage of
spend we're at and Oh, yeah. Just I just think it's good to report on that every meeting, >> right? I mean, just how you feel about it. >> Have budget update. >> Oh, we do? Okay. Then we can wait. You want us to wait till then? >> Sorry. >> Um, >> no, it's okay. All right. So,
>> we don't have to vote on that. >> There are no action items under that one. We get to superintendence report. >> Dr. Fortuna, take it away. >> Hi, everyone. I don't have much of a superintendent report. It's been fairly quiet with um the winter break
happening. I do have one update for our school committee and that is that our literacy coach abruptly resigned on Monday and we will not be filling that position um going forward.
>> Oh, >> okay. Sounds good. >> Okay. So, that was the grant-f funed position. >> That was the grant funded position. We're going to take those grant funds and Dr. Sari is working to apply them
more to direct um services for children. >> Okay. So, we'll still be able to utilize the grant funds, just not in that salary line. >> Yeah, we'll just have to write an amendment. >> Sounds good. All right. Uh that means we
are on to new business. And the first item up for discussion is solar east coast renewable energy proposal. And I believe that's you gentlemen. So, come on down and identify yourself on the record. >> Good evening, everybody. My name is
Nick. Hold it. N >> Yeah, now it's green. Sorry, that just lets the recording get your voice. >> Good evening, everybody. My name is Nick Falori. I'm the owner of East Coast Renewable Energy. I'm here with one of my colleagues. >> I'm here with or he was here with Matt. I just I'll be the point of contact
forward past this meeting in case you guys have any questions at all. >> So, the reason why we're here today is Matt had reached out to the town uh about installing EV charging stations throughout the town's municipal
buildings and school systems. Uh the state of Massachusetts has some wonderful incentives available and East Coast Renewable um works with those incentives to install the charging stations.
We are offering uh one of two options. Number one, uh one dual port 80 amp charger per street address. Those are the fastest uh level two chargers available.
>> Mhm. >> Or two dual port 50 amp chargers. Now the difference between those is just speed of charge. In most cases, I personally think the 50 amps are perfect. Uh for school systems,
I would say you know the town hall probably an 80 amp cuz people aren't here that long. >> Mhm. >> Uh to give you a little bit understanding the 80 amp you are futurizing yourself cuz most electric vehicles cannot take the full charge
from those 80 amps. So as electric vehicles or really batteries evolve, those charging stations will be uh working perfectly for years to come. The cost to the town
assuming there is no issues with site visits which most of the time takes in the place of uh availability of power to the electrical room and trenching. So depending upon how far the electrical room is
>> to where you want the charging stations, we should be able to do everything at no money out of pocket for the town and the town will own and operate the charging stations 100% themsel. There's a lot of companies out there that are doing what we're doing, but are
requiring a profit share, otherwise known as a host agreement, >> meaning they take a percentage of it. With us, we install it. We install cover the infrastructure equipment that is fit into that incentive pool from the state.
State of Massachusetts has done a wonderful job to uh provide EV incentives or EV infrastructure throughout the uh commonwealth. So this is going to by doing business with us, you will own and operate. There'll be no
money out of pocket and you guys control everything. Now, before I go into any more on this, I'd really like to get an understanding of what questions you have so we can address those questions and then I can continue with the conversation.
>> So, what format will the chargers be? It will be NAS NACS or it will be another format for the chargers. >> We can do whatever you'd like. Okay. We can do one port each. Okay. >> Okay. Most of the vehicles um so my
family has two electric vehicles. We do have a Tesla and a nonTesla. Both vehicles either came with an adapter or you buy an adapter. Okay. Um so I don't I personally don't feel that it's really needed or worried about having the two
different adapters. Uh cuz most cars either come with it or you do buy it. >> So when it comes stock, what will it be? It will be a an A. >> Either one you want. >> Okay. >> It doesn't matter. >> Okay. Um, how how is it like where do
you make your money on this deal? >> Great question. Everybody always wants to know how I make money. >> Yeah. >> So, think of me as a builder. >> Anybody ever build a house or doing an addition to their house? Okay. So, the contractor, general contractor is just
going to go and say, "Okay, to do this job is $100,000, >> right? Whatever you're doing, >> 100 grand." Well, the contractor's price is built into that number. So, the state of Massachusetts through the incentive program has a set number that is
attributed to that uh EV infrastructure per street address. Our number is built into that. >> Mhm. >> That's how we get paid. >> So, you essentially get paid by the state of Massachusetts >> for lack of a better term. Yes. >> Okay. >> By how many get by how many stations
that you put in. >> Sure. like it's like a >> Now, in reality, how the incentive program works is that the money from the state actually goes to the town. >> Mhm. >> And the town remits the payment to us. >> Mhm. >> Okay. So, we can argue the fact that the
town is actually paying us, but it's really no money out of the pocket town's pocket because it's just a transfer of money from the state to you. >> And we use the word the state. >> Uh I don't know if this the money actually comes directly from the state itself. It comes from the incentive
program that is run by the state for clarity. >> So can I ask? >> Sure. Go. >> Uh more structurally for the school committee. The reason we're hearing this is because it would be at our sites, but you would be making the agreement with select board. Is that how it works? Or
do we would have to approve the school sites? >> So other towns that we've gone to? >> Yeah. I'm just curious. >> The the school committee would approve. >> Yeah. >> And then it would ultimately go to the town administrator. Yeah. >> For final approval. >> Okay.
>> Okay. Um whatever money is generated. >> Yeah. >> Can go into the school committee's account. >> Yeah. >> Okay. If the town administrator allows it. >> Okay. >> Um myself having children in sports. >> Mhm. >> Driving to different areas.
>> He adds a benefit to families who have electric vehicles. >> Exactly. So I live in a town called Milford. >> Yeah. If you had an EV charger station right outside right now, I'd be charging. >> And most people who go to sporting events, especially if your kids are younger, they don't have their own
vehicle. You're there at least a half hour before the game, sometimes an hour, then you have the game and you leave about a half hour later. So, you're going to get a really substantial charge with these vehicles >> and a charging station. >> I've never charged a car. So, you just
put your credit card in and you pay that way. I so on my car I have my credit card on file with Tesla. Yep. >> And I never have anything to do. >> So just wherever you go >> I just drive up plug it in and it >> and it I I never even take out my credit card. >> Okay. Correct. >> I just
>> I just want I want to be clear though. >> Y >> with Tesla >> Yeah. >> Okay. It's automatically in the Tesla app. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Anthony, if Anthony went to a non-Tesla charging station >> Yeah. which is I'm going to get into in
a second once all your questions are done. Yeah, >> I recommend the Autel charging stations. We did a lot of those uh for the level three chargers. >> Uh but anyways, if Anthony went to a non-Tesla charging station, he'd either need the app,
>> which is credit card is attached to the app. >> Yeah. >> He can tap the machine. >> Yeah. >> Or insert the credit card. >> Perfect. >> Okay. >> You can even call the credit card. I mean, you can even call the 24-hour customer service number if the whatever reason the credit card um reader isn't working.
>> You can call them and you do it that way. >> So, it's just like gas basically. I mean, you're just getting it at a school because that's where where it's >> So, now all the teachers would or whoever has an electrical vehicle can charge there. Now, I'm not sure what the electric rate is here, >> but on a commercial rate, the electric
rates are lower than residential rates. So you might find teachers actually rather charging at the schools because the cost to charge is cheaper. >> I didn't mean to interrupt. >> Is this incentive program only for schools or will Luna I might have missed this along the way but is Lunberg doing
this in general in other places or is this just for the school? >> Does any would you like me to answer that question? >> Yeah. >> Anyone that knows that this incentive is put on by the state of Massachusetts through the Mass EVP program. Um, Mass EVIP is part of the DP.
This program is offered to any individual or business or entity throughout the Commonwealth. >> Mhm. >> So whether you're with National Grid, Eversource, Unatil, whatever municipal electric, you can qualify.
municipalities, government have a bigger incentive than you know uh for-profit or nonprofits or um apartment complexes so forth and so on. This incentive is for commercial. So any commercial building
uh or entity can take can take part of this. >> Do any commercial buildings or properties in Lunberg right now currently do this? >> To the best of my knowledge uh with my company, >> the answer is no. >> Okay. Okay. I cannot um identify if there's been any other companies out
here doing this or offering it. >> Um but for everybody who's listening, we can offer this to your businesses also. >> So there's no limit to >> where how much it can be offered in one town. >> Not one town, but it is limit per street
address by the incentive program. >> Got it. And you said one charger or one double charger per street address. >> Uh it depends. So 80 amp is one >> or we can do a 50 amp >> and we can put four ports. So whether it's uh four single ports Yeah.
>> or two dual ports. >> Okay. >> So then at the school there would only be one set, right? Because that's one. >> I my my opinion is I would tell you that I think the school should have the 50 amps. >> So four parking spots. >> Yeah. >> Yep.
>> What's the power source for the charger? Because it says solar. We only have the one memo. I don't have anything else on this. >> Um, what's it says solar EV? Is it a solar panel? >> I don't know where that came from. So,
it can be. We can definitely set it up to solar if you want solar on the school on on the property, but this is all pulled from the the electrical bill or the electrical room from the school if you would. >> Uh, if there is a pole on your side of the street, we can pull it from the
pole. >> You know what I'm talking about? >> Okay. and that we wouldn't have to pay for the Okay. >> No, it again it should be all covered within the incentive. >> Yeah. >> Dependent upon our site visit, >> we'll identify if it can all be covered.
Now, we may find out that there's a lot of trenching we need to do. >> So, instead of doing two dual port 50 amps, maybe we can only do one dual port 50 amp >> depending on the actual site. >> Correct. Yep. >> Who owns the unit, the charging units? >> You would.
>> Okay. So, We're doing business with East Coast >> catches on fire. Who's responsible for it? >> Please. >> If it breaks or catches on fire, who's responsible for it? >> We are. You are. You >> own it. It's just like a house. >> So, it's a added liability for the school. >> Correct. But there is a warranty on the
charging stations. >> How long? >> Okay. It's a threeyear warranty with an extension of a 5year warranty. >> Mhm. >> Now, Laura, sorry I don't have my glasses on. Laura, you made a little bit of face there and I understand that. Uh, but I have to ask you, most places, most
things don't really have a warranty over three years. Would you agree? >> Oh, no. I know. We have solar panels that the company >> Oh, that 25 year warranty on solar panels. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But there's no moving parts on a solar panel. >> No. So, it's less likely to catch on fire.
>> We had a fire here on our solar panel. >> Fire on your solar panel. Yes. >> That's why I'm asking. >> That's why everybody's freaked out. >> Oh. on the first day of school. >> First day of school, >> brand new superintendent on her very first day of school caught on fire.
>> I apologize. We're all like this caught on fire. >> So I I that is an odd situation. I've had solar on my house and my rental properties since uh 2015 and I've never had that situation. I'm sorry that's
happened. I I can tell you that the EV charging stations um anything's possible, right? Anything's possible. So, I understand the face now. >> Yeah, totally makes sense. >> It's not out of the realm of possibility
increasing the school's liability barely >> in Luna >> with the Chargers. We can't handle any additional liability or cost right now. >> So, if that is a situation, we can always enter into um what I had mentioned earlier.
interested honestly in Dr. Fortuna and the um our >> facilities director >> facilities director's opinion. So I'm not saying that has to be today, but that's where I would most likely go next because I'd be curious about what they had to say. And then also >> how much money do you does this type of
thing bring in? >> I was just going to say what's the actual profit? So I the profitability is tough to make an assessment. >> Yeah. >> So you got to understand that you have to pay for the electricity. >> Yeah. So that comes off the top. >> We have to understand what your
electrical cost is. >> Mhm. >> You have to decide what you want to charge people to charge. >> Mhm. >> And the one factor we can never identify is how many people are going to charge. The way I look at these charging stations is you have an amenity for
people to charge. the possibility of revenue. >> It's going to show that the town is progressive, which you guys are progressive because you do have solar in some places. >> Unfortunately, you've had a couple problems. Um, which is unfortunate.
>> Um, so at the end of the day, I do think you do have some uh good opportunity by taking advantage of the state of Massachusetts incentive >> and having this onsite. >> Do you have other school districts you've worked with? uh working with. Yes. >> Working with
>> I I regretfully say that none of the school districts have been installed at this point in time. >> Okay. >> Okay. Uh but we have uh one of the municipalities that we installed level three charges at is the town of Chumsford. >> Mhm.
>> Um those charging stations have been installed. They they actually were early adopters and they got approved for the level three incentive. So we have uh five different locations in Chelmsford
on municipal build municipal uh buildings lots that took advantage of the level three charges and also the town of Rentham. >> Okay. So there is an approval process for the incentive program. >> Oh yes. So um with the program that
we're talking about today is the mass EVIP program and as I mentioned it is part of Mass D. Mhm. >> So we have to uh in order to get approved, you identify the site, we will do a site visit. Once the site visit
comes back if all the numbers work, which would we've already presented in the proposal, then we then we'll submit it to mass EVIP for the approval process. Once they approve, then we can install. >> Who submits the approval?
>> We take care of everything. you know, complete white glove service for the town. All the town really needs to do is allow us on site to do our inspections and get a contact person for, you know, signing, let us in and out and stuff
like that. >> Okay. >> When we were on the budget task force is one of the things that we had considered y >> trying to find a way to have it make money. Um, this is different than what we had looked at when we were at the budget task force because I don't believe the incentive program was scaled
up. So, you know, I think that this is not something that I know I know that people in town have thought about doing this. Do you have any um experience with towns that are similar to ours? Like the one town for a whole host of demographic reasons that comes up similar to ours is
Maynard. Have you have you or anybody else worked in Maynard? >> I I can tell you I have not. >> Okay. >> Okay. Uh I cannot again justify any other town any other people who offer the program we're offering. >> Yeah. >> I can tell you this program has not
changed much. Um the reason why I'm able to do this at no cost is because I base my business on volume. >> Okay. I'd rather do >> the whole town of Lunenburgg and then you send me because we do it here then
you tell Fitchburg and >> it's a volume game for me. I'm not looking to do a one hit and move. I'm looking to >> help out the Commonwealth um EV and in infrastructure help out the
town for the amenity uh and then go from there. >> One one question about the Autel system. Can you set like an idle penalty fee? >> Yes, you can. >> Okay. >> So, one of the thing and again we can install whatever charger you want. Okay.
If you say you want a different charger, we'd be happy to do that. Um the Autel network I like a lot, which is what I've installed for the level 3es. If you jump on the Mass Pike and you go to the um rest stops, uh you'll see that they have
Autel stations there. Uh those are again level 3es. We're talking about level twos. You um you will be trained, somebody will be trained uh by Autel/Ready. Ready is kind of the guts of the system and you'll be able to go on to a portal
if you would and set your prices. You can change the prices hourly, however you want. Set your idle fee just like Tesla has it. >> Yeah, >> I'm sure you've at least I know I've been caught with Tesla. >> Never. I have never gotten an idle fee. I will never get an idle fee. Couldn't
believe it. I'm a cheap skate. >> I couldn't believe it. Um, but anyways, >> these things happen. >> Um, but you can set it up however you want. >> Okay. >> You know, lower during the day for the teachers and the students. >> Mhm. >> More expensive in the afternoon for, you
know, somebody like myself coming into town to go to a sporting event. >> That's a good idea. >> How does the unit communicate? Does it need access to our internet or >> It's all Wi-Fi. It comes >> Wi-Fi or cellular. say it's, you know, it depending upon where you are. So, we
were out in Western Mass the other day uh talking to a school district and they have very bad uh internet service and I confirmed with Ready that um they do handle however they do it with Wi-Fi or internet, cellular, whatever it is. So,
there's always a connection one way or shape or form. >> How they do it, I don't know. >> Do you feel like there's a big need at the school for this? I I think the idea would be that it you know like when when you get in your car and you go to find a
place to charge like I've charged in like completely random places. >> So like the hope would be that that plus you know some small regular use within town which >> is there how do people know that it's located there? It'll show up on your
>> It shows up on your Okay. >> Yeah. Shows up on the app. Got it. Um, so Ready part of their service plan, if you would, um, they put it on the big, uh, EV apps. I would recommend obviously the town to put it on their website.
>> Um, there'll be signs that you can put up >> and so forth and so on. >> So, marketing is always great. Um, one of the things that I always talk about with these charging stations >> is the adoption of EV is just getting
bigger and bigger and bigger. So the need for Lunenburgg right now may not be there, >> but you see what is there and you could take advantage of it now at no cost. Perfect example, I know we've got a little ill will with solar.
>> No, I mean I'm fine with the solar. It's the companies that come in and say that it's going to be no cost to us and then there is a cost or they declare bankruptcy at the end of life of the units. But I mean in this case the difference would be we wouldn't be dependent on this.
>> It's just like >> right if it breaks or if it doesn't >> Yeah. If it breaks or it doesn't work without warranty then we just take it down. Right. >> Yeah. The solar are large and we go. >> Yeah. So these things you take it down an electrician just pull it right out.
>> Um uh so how many schools have you completed projects with >> for the level twos? None. >> None. Unfortunately, we're still waiting on Massie VIP to approve the incentives that we've submitted. So, we're um just waiting on those approvals.
>> Is that a year cycle or is it a rolling approval and they just haven't gotten around to it yet? >> Unfortunately, I cannot answer that question. I I I wish I had better answers um for the approval process. I can tell you that we have submitted everything uh for all our deals and
we're just waiting on uh Mass EVIP to start issuing approvals. >> Do we need to have you worked with Unatil before? Does this require working with >> We take care of everything. >> Does this require working with the electrical company? >> Yes. >> Have you worked with Unatil before?
>> Uh solar? Yes. Uh EV to the best of my knowledge? I have not. But again, we take care of everything. >> Okay. Do you have any projects in line for approval that were within UNATIL's coverage map?
>> There are very >> we've got we've got over 200 uh deals. Um I I want to say that we do because we do have a sales rep that's in I think lives in Clinton. >> Mhm. >> So I would imagine we have one or two in
Unatil. Uh actually, you know what? Excuse me. We have an ice rink, one of the ice rinks, uh, that's owned by FMC, >> the FMC rinks. We have submitted that for the approval. So, yes, I do know there is at least one location in
Unatild that we do have because that was one of our deals. Yep. My deals. >> Would you help uh the district choose the place that's most likely to generate revenue or would you rely on us to do that? >> I'm happy to help. >> Yeah. Um
I can tell you that generating revenue I it's it's just not easy to identify. >> Okay. >> Uh one of the things that I want to address with the adoption rate >> I think it was Hilton has recently come out maybe within the last 6 months
>> that the number one searched item for a hotel right now is EV chargers. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, you you see Hilton seeing it and identifying it, it's ultimately just going to get to everywhere. So, taking
advantage of the incentive that the state of Massachusetts has put together through the Mass EV program, >> even if you don't see a need right now, having the opportunity of these charging stations is just in my opinion huge.
Now, if there was a cost, even $2,000, I can appreciate, you know, we don't want to do it because we don't see the need. >> But having this opportunity that we're able to put together at no out-of-pocket cost, again, we still have to do the
site visit and we have to get the approval, >> but I think it's just everybody should take advantage of it. >> What's the average annual maintenance on the Autel units? >> So, the level twos, there's really nothing. If it was a level three, there's a lot because there's a lot of
power going to it. Um, unfortunately, for me to go over and make that judgment call, again, anything could happen. Uh, most of the time, the issues that you encounter is, uh, vandalism, uh, wear and tear, right? I hate to say
it, somebody yanking the cord out. You're an EV driver. I'm sure you've seen cords just left on the ground. >> Oh, yeah. Uh, I find that most EV drivers on the most of the time are courteous and they take care of it >> and they'll put it away, but you always have that one off.
>> Who's responsible for that maintenance? >> We would be okay. >> You you'd be the owner of the charging stations. Not that you want to put more work on the D. Sorry, the um Oh my god. DPW, >> right? Uh but while they're doing their work, you know, if they see something on
the ground, you know, hopefully somebody from the town would pick it up. But >> okay, I have two questions actually. Um >> yes, I'm coming from the big screen behind you. Um one is we would have an
out-ofpocket cost though for the electricity that's running to the units. And my second question is what is the environmental impact of having these units installed?
>> Uh so I can address one question. The environmental impact I don't know how to address it all. So I'd rather not answer that question because I don't want to say the wrong thing because I don't know the answer to that. Um the electrical impact is um you're always going to get
a little bit of electricity used if nobody uses the chargers. So the analogy I give, if you go away on vacation for a full month, you're always going to get an electrical bill, obviously you get your customer charge, but there's always electricity
going into your house. So if nobody uses the charging stations, there's still going to be some electricity going there. So there will be a small bill. Um, however, most of the time we're going to be connecting these to your electrical room
in the school system that we're talking about. So, you're going to see a little bit of an uptick on the electrical bill at the school, but as people use this, the price you charge will ultimately offset uh that electric cost.
Does that make sense? >> It does. Thank you. >> Okay, no problem. I apologize. I can't address the um environmental aspect of it. >> Okay. Can we get more written information as well? If
>> um I can give you whatever you'd like. If I can build you a proposal that has a lot to it. I just need to have an address. >> Yep. >> So, if you would like to email Matt one of your electrical bills for the school, I can build a proposal. It has
everything there. >> Mhm. >> I can send over the warranty that Ready has. So, you can look at that. Any other questions that you may have, please put it in writing. Um, I can get ready to address all the questions. I think it's
best to get the questions answered from the charging station opposed to a salesperson. >> Yeah. Okay. All right. Yeah. We wouldn't I want to talk to our facilities. >> Yeah. That would be interesting to me, but obviously that's outside of >> All right. Does anybody else have any
questions? >> Thank you so much for coming. >> We're really grateful for you to reach out to us and come and answer. >> Yeah, it's interesting. I would want to do Dr. Fortuna, if we're thinking about this, I think we would want to do a short survey of staff and families and just say, >> um, I think we could do something pretty
simple like would would you ever use, you know, we might get a sense of would you ever use the charger, right? >> Like would there be staff? Would it be an incentive for staff? I would I would be interested in that. You know, >> I I appreciate your view. If you don't mind, I just want to go back to what I
had said where Hilton is identifying it's a number one thing. >> You may not have the people in town that would say they would use it now because they don't have the electric vehicle. >> But as the adoption continues to grow,
people will use it. >> Yeah. >> You know what I mean? >> Yeah. I would still be interested though like if there was any need. I mean my sister just bought an electric vehicle so I know and Tony and I were actually talking about it on the way in. So I you know I do know that more people are
going that direction. >> Now one of the things that we may want to do and I'm just going to use Tony as an example here. If Tony wanted to provide me with his home electrical bill and then the school provided us the electrical bill to build the proposal, I
can advise you what your all-in electric rate is for the school and with what Tony is paying. >> Sure. >> So now we can go over and say, okay, I'm just using a number. Yeah. If the school's paying 20 cents a kilowatt hour and Tony's paying 40 cents a kilowatt
hour, well, now >> the school can say, "Let's charge 30 cents a kilowatt hour." Yeah. >> So now it behooves Tony not to charge at his house, >> but at the school. >> Yeah. >> Does that make sense? >> Yeah, it does. >> I like getting in my car in the morning
then. No, I'm kidding. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Thank you so much for your time. >> No problem. >> All right. And uh Laura, if you have any issues with the solar moving forward, we we can definitely help help you out with whatever the issues are. >> Yep. We've I mean, we've repaired and
and it was just there there was a cost and a liability there that I think we should be aware of. >> And we're not in a position to be taking on costs or liabilities, >> but I also think if this would be a perk
or a benefit for our staff, that's something to consider. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. And the liability is much less than I think solar panels on the roof of the school. >> Yeah. Correct. >> So, >> all I was saying is if you have more solar questions and the company you
dealt with is out of business, >> feel free to give us a call and we could definitely help you out there. >> Excellent. Thank you so much. >> Uh, so you have Matt's contact information. Just reach out to him. >> Um, I'm I should be on the email, but he'll add me, okay, with whatever questions and hopefully we can uh take
it to the next step. Again, the next step honestly for us to get anything, if you just send us one electrical bill >> uh for one of the schools, we'll build out the proposal for you. You'll be able to take a look at it. Happy to get on a come back or do a virtual call. Okay. >> And review everything. Okay. >> Excellent.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you very much for having us. >> Thank you. >> Byebye. >> Should I shut this off? >> Yes. >> Oh, well, Peter's coming up now. >> Actually, just leave it on. >> He knows how to turn it on. He's good. >> Thank you. >> Bye. >> All right. Track turf field design plan
discussion. We got three minutes. Tony times it. >> Obviously, I don't time. >> We have not timed one thing. >> I know. After after all that >> after all that discussion, we haven't timed anything. >> So optimistic. It makes >> continue to be optimistic. >> I like that you're still embracing the
optimism. >> Evening. >> Welcome. >> Uh I'm Peter Beardmore, 282 Pleasant Street. I'm your representative to the capital planning committee and uh I've been asked to come here tonight um >> by three different people. >> By three different people. Sorry. Turns
>> out. Wow. >> Uh all good. >> Wasn't me. >> Oh, I feel very welcome. >> You didn't know. >> I'm a little disappointed, Mandy, that you didn't >> that it wasn't me that asked. >> Um so, uh a couple of updates. Um,
first of all, if I could just comment relative to the previous conversation, just some thoughts to consider as you farm this out to the facilities director uh and the superintendent. Um, where you put this, um, obviously the middle high
school is a likely candidate and it's our newest building. Um, but you should be thinking about electrical capacity in the buildings themselves. So, for example, I think we're pretty well tapped out in Turkey Hill. I don't think that that would be a good candidate. >> Yeah. Well, the parking situation is terrible.
>> And you know that. So, anyway, for whatever that's worth, the other thing though, we were speaking before the meeting, um these are exactly the kinds of folks that I think we should be tapping uh to have some conversations about potential solar canopies and those types of projects that we've talked
about previously um for our parking lots. And maybe if something like that can be packaged together with a charging, you know, kind of thing, maybe that would make better sense. So that's what I thought it was when I saw the agenda. So, >> um, any event, just offhand thoughts that came to mind during that
conversation. Um, the capital planning committee, uh, got off to a late start, uh, this year. Um, largely just organizational and dealing with staffing changes in town. um and getting organized with proposals from uh various
department heads. And we finished our work uh on the Wednesday just prior to Christmas week uh for the fall um which is effectively to put together a prioritized list of the requests that we received as part of this capital
planning round. And I furnished that prioritized list to you via email on December 18th. Um, so you should have that in your email. Um, for the, uh, school related projects,
um, I'll just read off the top three just so you're aware. Um, the the first one is a DPW uh, related request uh to complete the bridge construction at Flatill Road. There's a long history of
bad contracts and other um debacles associated with that project and it it needs to be completed because right now it's not traversible. >> Um a patrol cruiser uh is number two. Um
number three is a replacement of the town's brush truck. Um that truck is used for brush fires and it has it's a it's built the current version is built on a Chevy square body pickup truck um
that is you know able to four-wheel drive go into areas like conservation land and whatnot for for brush fires. Um I believe the current truck is from 1984. Um so suffice to say it's served beyond its usable lifespan uh and needs to be
replaced with something more modern. Uh and then the the first two schools uh related projects that have appeared are number four and five um both related to the design work that has been requested at the primary school uh for the playground and the the driveway um
expansion. Um number six is the second police cruiser. Um the next school uh related project is number nine which is the uh intercoms at the Turkey Hill and Primary School for the entrance doors and the the cameras
that are associated with those those buzzers. Um and then the safety film and the mower are 14 and 15. Uh and the heat for the maintenance garage is number 19. Uh in total
there were uh $3.267 million of requests this year. Uh on average over the course of the last several years, we have been able to fund about a million and a half dollars uh in capital requests. Um but that's largely
driven by available funds, right? So that's um unexpended capital from previous years from projects that we've shut down for whatever reason um or completed under budget. Um free cash
which is directed largely by uh policy uh by town fiscal policy uh and raise and appropriate funds that come from the the tax base. Um there are other mechanisms for funding the capital plan. Uh these include um stabilization funds.
Uh there is a special purpose stabilization fund that has been discussed this year. I believe the current balance on that fund is a little over $2 million. Um that is really oriented for large fire engine purchases is really the the intent of that stabilization fund. Um that's a
potential funding source, for example, for the brush truck. Mhm. >> Um that's a ultimately a judge judgment call that the capital planning committee will weigh in on, but it's ultimately the town manager's call uh in terms of the proposal for town meeting. Um but
that's a potential revenue source, for example. Um and then other sources would include both um uh non-exempt and exempted borrowing. So, we could decide at town meeting to borrow funds for projects uh and or we could um tie this
into a request for um either a capital exemption or a borrowing exemption um for something that would sit above the levy limit. Can I stop you right there because that's something I would like to know more about is that
>> so my basic understanding of capital bar capital planning and it's not that big but you know is that we do we do this this capital fund every year based mostly on free cash and other sources and if not we have to go and get a levy
limit increase which is like a two and a half process. It's not technically a two and a half very similar. >> It's very similar. Um, is there any money in the budget that's town budget generally that pays like that you we borrow for projects like I thought maybe
firet truck was what I was thinking you know big big purchases that are um that don't have to go to town meeting as a levy increase is is that so you called it an exemption and a >> non-exemption. There's exempted and non-exempted, right? So the the
difference is non-exempted is it fits within the 2 and a half levy limit. >> You would service that debt based on your levy limit. >> Yeah. >> Exempted borrowing would be something that you'd have to go to the ballot box and say this is going to be above the tax and we're all going to pay out of pocket to service that debt,
>> right? It's like a new school. >> And historically, the exempted borrowing has been used for new schools, the library, the fire station, like those types of projects. Um, but we have also used exempted borrowing, for example, for
>> um the pavement program that we voted for five or six years ago to to bring the the streets up up to par. So, there's a variety of different options here that that we could look at. Over the course of the last seven or eight years, we've been very conventional and have done none of the above.
>> So, but on the non-exempt side, >> that is really there's not an area on the non-exempt side. So, one of the things we've discussed just basically a little bit is the problem with Turkey. You know, we would like to go to Turkey Hill. We'd like to go to MSBA and start
that process. But obviously, as you well know, having served on this committee, you know, that Turkey Hill has a lot of issu ADA issues that we would like to in the interim >> be able to address is really the your professional your expert opinion on this. I don't know if it's professional.
Your expert opinion on the, you know, on the capital planning or your experience, would the only option be for us to put any of those changes on our capital planning request for the year or we'd have to go for an exemption? >> So, you're asking all the right questions.
>> Okay, good. Um, however, I think based on my understanding of some of the predicaments that we are in specifically with Turkey Hill, >> yes, >> the numbers we are likely talking about and the ramifications associated with
ADA, >> yeah, >> is going to put us into exempted space no matter what. Right? So by comparison, the way I would think of this is non-exempt projects are on the scale of hundreds of thousands to, you know,
individual digit millions. >> Yeah. >> Exempted projects are like 10 and above, right? Or or that scale or above, right? You know, and again, this is just Pete Beardmore throwing numbers around. >> I I just think scale that you would need to be thinking about these things is
kind of how you should do it. The other thing though to keep in mind, and I didn't bring these numbers tonight, um, because once again, you've asked me more questions, Mandy, than I was prepared to answer. >> I'm so sorry. >> No worries. No, no, no, you're not. I love talking about this stuff, is that we have knocked off actually a lot of
non-exempted debt service over the course of the last several years. And what has happened as a result of that is we we've taken the money that we in that we have in the past used for debt service and used it for the regular budget because we're broke. Right. Right. And that is not necessarily good
financial management because we need to be actually using all of our potential sources of capital to be able to continue to invest in capital. And right now we're not doing much of anything. Um, and in doing that, what we're actually doing is making ourselves
dependent on that debt service money such that we cannot ultimately go and invest in the capital projects we need to invest in. It's kind of like, well, I can't buy a house cuz I got to pay my rent, right? It's it's a very similar kind of um problem. So, amongst the
things >> that we have talked about um informally and formally amongst members of the capital planning committee and the town manager are for example looking at the track and field project. Yes. good, which is also something that needs to
>> um which you know is on the table right now is a proposal for bumping up on $200,000 for engineering and and prep work. >> Um but a project that will likely cost about $2 million or more. >> Yeah,
>> that would be a project that would likely be in the non-exempted space, right? So that's possible as a possible path. the parking lot for the primary school is a potential path. Um
there's um in addition to Turkey Hill, as it turns out, it's only a 20-year-old building. We need to do a lot of work on our public safety building. It was crap construction and it needs a new roof. It needs a lot of new uh uh updated infrastructure work. So, those are
potential things that are sitting on capital plan requests right now. that we may need to look at either bringing us separate articles or bundling or something. I don't think it's going to happen in this year because there's other things to deal with in the current regular
annual town meeting. >> Um but we should be looking at I think as early as next special town meeting um to think about funding some of these larger. >> But you think we could possibly fund some of these larger in a non-exempt space? >> Yes, I do.
>> I mean hopefully. I mean I'm going to say it. I mean, I think everyone thinks we're going to need an override this year. So, obviously, I don't think that's a good plan to try to do both at the same time. But I do think we don't want to wait. But actually, that to me in a non-exempt space, you're just voting on it as part of the regular
budget. You don't have to go to >> It's a town meeting vote. >> It's just a town meeting vote. It's not a town meeting and a ballot vote. >> Now, let let's get back to the if you don't mind. >> Yeah. No, I'm so sorry, but I just I'm grateful you're here because this is important. So what happened over the course of the last 6 months as you know
is you know all of the departments had difficulty kind of getting aligned with the town manager and the schedule and her way of thinking our way of thinking in terms of how to do this. It all came about a little bit late but probably the latest and most difficult project was
figuring out how to do the engineering and a really good estimate and bid prep for the track and field facility. M >> um that proposal came in that same week that we met last. I believe it came in on the 16th of December. Um and was forwarded to me by the facilities
director and the superintendent. Um as I said earlier, it came in at just south of $200,000 196 or something like that, uh by a company called Gail and Associates. Um, in my mind
that needs we need to come up with a plan for that as soon as possible because you can't do the next thing. You can't figure out how you're going to >> Yeah. >> dig a, you know, break ground until you have the engineering and bid work done for that project. Um, as well as something that is the basis of a
proposal to bring to town meeting to say we want to do non-exempted borrowing. >> To be clear, when you say break ground, we are not doing anything new. We are fixing and maintaining old. >> Yes. But I can assure you it will involve excavators that will break. >> Oh, sure. I just don't want somebody who
is watching this meeting. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's not a new building. It's a We're fixing the old things. >> We're going to build something new there. >> In the possible 2 million, which I know is just a rough estimate. Is that include the new surface? >> Yes. >> Okay. cuz I was told a while ago we are
at the almost at the light the end of the life of that surface and it's going to be unsafe for >> 2 million the all-in cost that is almost >> Kentucky windage. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> It's not >> it's not 10 >> cuz I know we've divided some of it up.
>> No, it's this would be the the totality of the proposal in front of us from an engineering perspective is the whole project. >> Yeah. >> It's what I call the hill and the field. Yeah. So, tell us the the the report's 200 pages. I readily admit I did not read the 200 page report.
>> Nor did I in it entirety, but it's No, it's a good size report. >> I mean, I I sorry. >> Yeah. So, so what this is is a this will get us to this will bring us to bid ready documents for that project. Right. >> Right. >> Um so, it's all of the testing work that
needs to be done uh around that that area. There are drainage considerations that we have a pretty good idea of, but do need to do something. >> Yeah, that's what I want to know. Not as much the proposal, but just like what exactly we we need to do. We need a new surface. >> We need drainage. >> We need drainage.
There's new construction. Well, or >> walls. >> There's Yeah, there's >> think of it as everything from the top of the hill to the track effectively needs to get touched in one fashion or another. >> Um, and then there's the surface itself. Now, there is also some drainage
consideration that needs to be considered um because the water from that area goes into that gully that kind of runs by the behind the tennis courts >> um beside um Hillside. >> Yeah, Hillside Drive. >> Hillside Drive >> behind that uh and then down into Massav
and that area. Um there are some um holding tanks uh at least one that sits in that rather wet field uh that Turkey Hill uses and in the past sports teams have used for practice below the lower >> the track and field. um that does need
to be part of the consideration, which is why when you look at the boundary in that in that uh document that you received, it actually includes the Turkey Hill Field um because there is drainage that goes into that area and that needs to be part of that analysis and design as well.
>> Yeah. I want to point that out too that it's also been a Turkey Hill issue with the um Lake Turkey Hill, the swamp as the kids call it. >> Yeah. So, so >> right by the playground area, the >> while that is a problem, >> yeah, I >> I can tell you >> from my own experience that dates back
to my sixth grade year in 1983, >> Lake Turkey Hill has always existed. So, it has really nothing to do with the track and field complex that came in in 2006. But there, so I don't think that this is going to fix that problem ever.
Um but but it does touch the space under the back half of it and the the holding tanks are over by where the discus throwing area is on that right side if you were looking at it from the track and field. >> So if we fix this thing it's not it's
probably not going to >> it's not going to fix the lake problem. >> Okay. >> It just won't. >> Okay. Because that's been an ongoing issue for kids. Um, but that's >> Can I ask a question unrelated to the turf but related to the capital plan
proposal? >> I think that for too long we have looked at the Turkey Hill rebuild or renovation as something that we want to try to avoid tripping the trigger of ADA and not being grandfathered in anymore. I do
not think that that is a legitimate concern for two reasons. Number one, we need to treat everybody as if they are welcome. That is more important than anything else. But number two, it has been a like a a roadblock or a mental
block that has prevented us from doing almost anything in Turkey Hill, whether we need it or not. >> Yes, >> it is time for that to go away. It is just something that keeps us in a holding pattern above the airport forever. and like no meaningful
renovation will be able to avoid that threshold. So who cares if it exists? >> So um >> well you and I have had this discussion >> two thoughts though just to share publicly. Uh thought number one is solving the problem has to pass a
political >> and an incomplete plan is the first way. >> I totally agree >> 100% >> right. Um, and so far there is not a complete plan. And I think I don't want to put words in your mouth, but I think
that portraying something as we just have to start knocking it down without an understanding of the full financial ramifications and being able to explain it in a way that the average voter can sort of understand the ramifications
I think is a recipe for a failure. >> I totally agree. So, and my other observation would be I think you guys set a goal for this year to come up with a position on Turkey Hill. >> Yes. >> So, so I can tell you that the position of the capital planning committee
>> is we are waiting for your position. >> So, what do you want it to be? Well, so this is so this is the thing. Can I can I So I joined this committee and I pushed why did we not why aren't we going to the MSBA like you know the MSBA will pay you know and for me personally
Turkey Hill is not a I was not thinking I am okay renovating Turkey Hill if a professional tells me that's what we should be doing but just deciding to you know spend the town's money 100% because if you don't go through MSBA there's no state there's no state money I really
felt like we should go through the MSBA process Dr. Dr. Fortuna was was kind enough to go back and analyze whether she thought they had the capacity this year to apply through the MSBA process. She has recommended we wait one year because of the budget this year, which is understandable and we want to do it
well. So, but then I think so I think that we agreed on and we voted on that we were did we vote on it? I think we did. We're going to do that. In the interim though, I am concerned that the MSBA program, right, even if we apply next year, we may not get in, you know, and if we do get in, it's still a five
to sevenyear process. You know, what are we doing in the interim for students who that school district, that school is not functioning in a way that addresses their disability, right? I mean, I think that's a real concern for us and the town. Um, so that's why I'm asking you
these questions. Yeah. And about how you know because I don't think that the entire ADA study I understand we don't want to spend that money, right, to bring like the what was the number on the ADA study? >> 16 million. >> 16 million. >> 16 million. >> Yeah. And I think is >> way low
>> is probably way low. So is there a way that we as a committee could charge the superintendent and the facilities director to think about are there specific areas we could address? I think is this what you're saying Tony? Yes. >> Like and how do we work that you know
ASAP while still trying to get on the >> MSBA because we want the most financially efficient decision within the capital planning process. Well, this is what but I think this is you're asking the right question. First of all question for you. >> I agree with everything that you just said. >> Yeah.
>> About the MSBA about needing to do what we can in the inter room. I agree with all of it. >> Yes. The problem that we have is that is one of capacity. >> Well, right. I mean, >> it's not just the capacity of the superintendent and the facilities directed to engage the MSBA, which I
understand is a looked at. I understand. >> But it's also I we've got $3.2 million of requests and we will probably have less than half of the money to fulfill those requests. And Turkey Hill is not on this list, >> right? Is not at all. We don't have a good proposal. So it's you're lacking a
proposal and even if you had a good proposal, you're still going up against other very pressing needs in the town. So I well I I think you're asking all the right questions. I guess my answer to Tony is is I don't have a good answer
for you other than the capital planning committee cannot make a proposal to you. That's not our role. >> Yeah. >> Right. Our role is to receive what you ask of us and then help the town manager work through how to make priorities. >> So I guess part of what I'm Yeah. So
part of what I'm saying to you I guess is sort of with being on this committee before and part of the capital planning. Do you think if you were in our position, you would try to come up with a few smaller interim things we could do in the and put that on our capital plan each month? I mean each year our
requests should we have a specific other process? you know, because I because if we ask for five million, we're not going to get funded. So >> So, so Mandy, my answer to you is yes. >> However, >> it needs to be couched within a stated
plan intent. >> Why? >> Because you're not going to have a full plan, right? You're not going to have a full plan until you have a full project. But but you could what you could do is you could say our intent is to renovate this building under the MSBA program is to do a special program with the MSBA.
Yeah. It's to knock it down and build a new pro building on the TC Pasio's property. Whatever it is, I do think you need a stated intent, right? And then we could begin to understand these requests within the context of what is the life
of the investment that you're asking us to make, right? Especially if we're going to knock down a building, right? >> Um, you know, and but it it would give us a a a frame of reference that currently we just don't have, >> right? And I think my issue with some of
that, not issue, but my question or or thoughts on that is I personally do not want the school committee to make the decision about whether we're going to knock down the building or we're going to renovate until we have some expert advice. And when I talked to the MSBA about it, they said, "No, don't do any
of that before us." The pro the process with the MSBA includes a feasibility study. It includes a lot of those things. >> So I think it's a bit of a catch. So, it's a bit of a catch 22. Saying we're going to knock the building down, I think feels or we're going to renovate feels a little disingenuous if the four
of us up here who know nothing about building construction, right? And really know nothing about I mean, except uh except Emily about teaching young kids, right? I mean, like, you know, what is the most um >> I don't know any of this. >> Hey, you say that. >> I don't know what I'm doing. I well
>> so we have been putting in Turkey Hill projects as needed and they've been funded by capital planning completed I mean but again they're these are on the >> but they haven't been ADA >> we're still out of compliance and how long can we do that we >> I mean there's laws around that right I
mean long >> we would have to make that our priority for next year because the capital planning just met and set their priorities >> for for the next fiscal year that would have to be a priority to ours for next year that a town can go that long
>> being non-compliant. >> So, it's >> that is true, >> but but the building that you're in is in that position as >> No, I'm I'm talking townide. Like, I mean, it it Yeah, >> I I've by the way, >> I haven't been involved in town. >> We're not alone. Like I would I would tell you that of all the municipalities
in the state is how compant we just took money to for an ADA sidewalk on the front of this building and took that money to pay a water bill we've owed for several years. >> That's what I'm saying. Like I don't there's rules and regulations, >> but I think that's probably beyond Peter's.
>> Yeah. >> Um so first of all Oh yeah, Dr. Fortuna. Sorry your face is frozen. >> I'm here. >> Hi Dr. Fortuna. Hi. Um, one of the things that I wanted
to say is Emily, we actually can be out of compliance due to the age of the building that we're talking about. If we do renovations up to a certain um dollar amount, then we would have to make the whole building compliant. So, we're not
breaking any laws. it where what we're doing we can argue on ethical and moral grounds but not on legal grounds um at this point and I think what I heard the
committee say when we were doing capital planning was that those primary school projects were our priority so that's what we put forward as our priority were the cap um for capital planning
were those two um primary projects. Um and as you can see, they were the ones that are made it fairly high up the list. Thank you to the capital planning committee for that. Um, I want us to be
really, really clear and I do think we're in a bit of a catch 22 like Mandy said with Turkey Hill and that we don't want to be making proposals before we have a feasibility study, before we
really know the scope of the work that needs to be done with the building as a whole, >> because we don't want to be throwing ing tens of thousands of dollars at a problem that in the next 3 years we
could just be tearing down. Um so that puts us in a difficult place. So I just want us to be thinking of the context that we're operating in as well. And I don't want we do have tur a Turkey Hill
discussion on the agenda and this can count as that if you would like. But I also don't want us to get too far a field from the field, which is why we have Mr. Vidmore here. >> Thank you. Um, >> we also need to talk to Peter about our
priority for the track in context of this year and what we're trying to do politically in regards to our budget this year because I think ideally we would work on getting the track done this year, but
we're likely to also be asking for an override. >> So, I don't think that first of all, it's important to to to go back to the distinction that Mandy made around exempt and non-exempt, right? I I yeah
it's just the >> so where I would never recommend or I'm certainly not recommending at this point and it always very important to point out here when we're talking about capital projects >> capital planning committee and the town manager are partners in this right so
we're going to have opinions but they need to be a part of the discussion ultimately once we formulate what we want to do >> you make the recommendations ultimately >> so my my view on this is that originally When Laura and I you you and I have
talked about this for hours. So for the for everybody else's benefit, we've talked about various scenarios that include what if we just bundled the whole thing, came up with an estimate and put it all in at once and tried to get the whole project done in the summer of 27. That's actually been discussed.
The problem with that is I don't think that we would be able to do that in good conscience because we don't actually know what the cost is going to be and we won't know what the cost is going to be until we let this engineering project come to come to fruition. >> And again, what was the cost of the
engineering >> uh 196 let's say 200. So my recommendation is first and foremost, interestingly, the warrant opened today, is that the school committee
make a request of the town manager to put in a placeholder article to fund that project, >> the engineering study. >> The engineering project for the track and field >> as non-exempt as >> No, as an exempt
>> as a project. Forget about the funding for a minute. Okay, sorry. Forget about the forget about the funding for a moment >> as a project as a separate >> article. The reason being is it didn't go through the capital planning process. >> We didn't have a number. >> We're going to do a capital planning article and then we would do this
article, right? >> I would ask that that be put like placeholder into the town warrant as we go through the warrant building process. >> The town manager is well aware of this. She and I have talked about this ad nauseium. Like Laura and I have talked
about this ad nauseium. She's aware of it. As it turns out, we don't have $200,000 kicking around. As it turns out, we don't even know what our free cash situation is. Like there's a lot >> No. And it won't be until late January or early February. >> Will Will it be certified in time for
the May town meeting? >> God willing. Yeah. >> Will those funds be available? Because there's a chunk of change going. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No. Well, we need the free cash to be able to fund the capital plan. So, um we don't have a free cash number right now. So, this whole capital
plan thing is going to be late is going to the process is going to continue to be delayed to include the town manager's okay >> capital plan proposal that is due by charter on February 1st. I'd be very surprised if that was a complete plan come February 1st again because of the
funding uh um challenges. Um, but there isn't $200,000 laying around to do this project. We got to figure this out over the budget process together with the town manager and the capital planning committee. So unlike under the previous
town managers leadership, she purposely excluded the capital planning committee from financing discussions. There was prioritization of capital and then there was financing of capital and she excluded the capital planning committee from that process.
The current town manager reads the charter the way I read it and has committed to including the capital planning committee in that process together with the finance committee, school committee, select board uh to figure this out and to to you know together come to some sort of consensus
around these priorities. The capital planning committee is aware of the problem. I have discussed it at every single capital planning committee meeting. It is not a surprise the the track issue. >> They're aware that it's going to be brought as a separate thing
>> and it'll be on our agenda. I think it's 28 January when we meet next. So >> capital in it might be nice to get your support the the a vote or >> Yeah. Yeah. So in any event I I just want to kind of just give you that picture. So imagine the scenario capital
plan goes forward is town a town meeting. Whatever it is, an article comes forward at town meeting for the track and field engineering that particular project we can contract for as soon as it's approved by town meeting. You don't have to go through a
normal bidding process for that type of project. I don't know why, but okay. >> Let's take it. I don't know why >> town manager said it just this doesn't need >> an engineering project is a little bit different from a building project for whatever reason. So, um we could contract that almost immediately. work couldn't start until 1 July.
>> Mhm. >> Um if we get the work done quickly and get to a design and a number and and a proposal for special town meeting in November, we could potentially bring a non-exempted borrowing article.
>> Okay. >> To special town meeting next November and do the project in the summer of 27. >> Yeah. >> Cuz doing in this in the summer is ideal. >> You got to do in the summer. It's the only you got >> it's a summer project. >> It's it's ideal to Yeah, we because we need to use
>> it's going to this is going to affect sports in a in a pretty big way and >> so so that's the scenario that >> that would be great. >> That's the scenario we've discussed you know um it also considers candidly
we really don't want to mix the bulk of this expense and that discussion with the override discussion. Everybody's going to know it's coming and anybody who opposes the override will probably bring up this topic, but it's a different topic for a different day. >> We're going to have no opposition. >> Oh, sure. Um, but it's a different topic
for a different day. The way I see >> kidding. I'm just kidding. >> Um, but but I don't but I don't think it's in anybody's best interest to bring it all together. >> Yeah. No, no, no, no, no. I think this is seems to me this seems like a good plan. So, what else do you need from us? How manager going to ask you the capital planning to
prioritize this in relation to the rest of the capital planning because it comes out of a similar pot if we don't do >> non we don't know where it's going to come from but ultimately again capital planning committee's responsibility is 100% advisory we have no actual
operational power >> I know but that advisory is important when we're asking >> but yeah I mean I I think that you know we have the chairman chairman of the finance committee is on our committee. We have the chairman of the select board is on our committee like you know so together we're going to the chairman of
the of the planning board is on our committee. So together we're going to figure this out. Okay. that I think I think that so what are your guys thoughts on the timeline for that
in regards to and so it would mean if we were asking for an override there would be if I'm looking at this from the opinion of someone who doesn't want to spend more money on the schools there would be an article for an override maybe which is going to be for the whole town it's
not going to just be for the schools yes unless we needed to be I mean >> yeah I know but I just I I want to put that out. >> So there will be an override. >> There's a need everywhere. >> There would also be the schools asking for an additional $200,000 >> but I mean I think that's fine.
>> What do you think, Tony? >> It's it's a hard ask, but I also I don't know that this can wait. >> It can't. I mean, I think that that that we have to explain to people that the stuff in the field is really about
maintenance of something we already owe. And we can defer maintenance, but it will just cost more. And I think that we've got to make sure that we separate the field issues from the
override. And I think that both will be a fight. And I think both will have opposition from probably largely the same group of people. >> There is a there are two issues that relate to the fact that we eventually need to do it, but I think
that there's a certain sense of urgency that need to be included in every discussion on this. The first has to do with the safety of athletes. So because of the drainage situation and the wear and tear on that turf field
you're you're there's additional risk the the longer we kick that can and the track itself is also deteriorating. So there's a risk to runners as well. >> Yeah. >> Um the other problem is is that there's a risk to our ability to program
>> on there relating to both the safety of athletes but also just our ability to program. If that wall >> falls >> onto the track, >> it's over. Game over. Like, we can't program that field. >> Yeah. >> So, you know, that that could happen
before the summer of 27, right? It it very well could happen. But so, there's a there's a real sense of urgency that deals with both safety as well as our ability to program. >> Yeah. I mean, I think that this goes back to the discussion we had before
about the athletic director. All of these things are important, but some are more important than others, right? And if we can't program athletic stuff, that's a real problem. >> Especially in that facility, it just particularly in the fall, it's just
>> so heavily programmed. >> But if we can't get our reading comprehension levels in third grade above 50%. That that field doesn't matter. Sorry. I mean >> it matters less than the 50%.
>> As compared to the the reading it does not matter. It just that's it. I mean we got to understand that what we do here. >> Again Tony I understand your logic. These are political and emotional issues. If you have a kid in the third grade
>> sure >> it's one thing. If you have a kid who's a football player and a sophomore in high school it's another thing. >> Sure. >> Right. And and I think that >> you have a duty. >> What if you have both >> to take care of all of them, right? >> I will. >> Yeah. I mean, I have a kid in the fifth
grade and a runner that uses that field. >> So, you know, I got to take care of all of them. >> Same. >> Yeah. Oh, I >> uh is there anything else anybody wants to talk to Peter about? >> Um is this a this is >> this was only I think I have at least one minute left. >> That was minutes. >> This is a discussion.
>> Okay. Because I would like to >> Mr. Chairman. Oh >> yes, >> Mr. Chairman, this is the town manager. I am none and I cannot change my name for some reason. >> Oh, I like that. It's >> But to the extent that it it assists
your conversation this evening, I am in support of finding a way to fund this project to fund the design and engineering of this project. So to the extent that assists your vote this evening, I just wanted that to be heard. >> That makes that makes a a very big difference.
>> Thank you. What are your thoughts on the timeline? Do you agree with the timeline of that? Um, you know, next fiscal year this the engineering study. >> I think that we should start the design and engineering study as soon as
possible and then it would depend how long that really takes to be ready to go. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> So, can we tell Peter that he's got our support to keep? >> Yes. >> Yeah. And I would ask you, and I don't think you need to do it formally, but you know, request of the superintendent to formally make that request for a
>> an article. >> Okay. >> Just as a placeholder, >> so we don't forget. >> We can do that. >> And I want to say thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Continuing to pursue this uh because it is really important, but it is also very
dense and I'm trying not to use the word boring. >> It's not boring. >> It's It's not. But it's also you're passionate about it and I very much appreciate you continuing to push for this >> and over and and >> kick it along and I hope you >> we'll get it done.
>> This is the most elaborate scheme I have ever seen to get hot dogs and hamburgers at the snack shack. >> He's going to get >> I might come back on the school. You know, >> let me tell you this. >> I might run for I might run for board of health next. If this gets done, I will make sure we have hot dogs and
hamburgers, even if it's just for you, Peter. >> And if you want to consider capital planning next year, too, cuz we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. >> This project is not done. And I think that it it's the kind of project that does need a committed person. >> We'll see about that >> to pushing for it
>> and you've got the most comprehensive overview of it. But I I really do appreciate all the work that's gone into it. >> I'm glad to do it. It's a pleasure. Thank you for the opportunity. >> Thank you. Thank you for answering all my questions related to it. >> Well, Capital Planning, thank you for rating our number one and two priorities so highly.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Pure beer more commemorative hot dog machine. >> I would love it. >> Incredible. >> All right. >> All right. So, that was three minutes. >> Yeah, that was definitely three minutes. Let's move on to the Kids Kingdom relocation
uh topic. I wanted to put this on the agenda. So, here's what happened. I was uh the select board reached out and asked if we would consider uh taking uh actually I I don't know why it's in discussion. We're gonna
>> this is an action item. >> We're going to have to do this as a vote. Um about kids kingdom. And so I I spoke to Caesar on Monday and his proposal was and I I sent it as an email. >> Do you want me to read it?
>> Yes. >> The kids kingdom playground discussion. Liz put it in our folder. Would the school board approve a plan for Kids Kingdom that would allow for a reasonable relocation? That is, for example, moving it 20 feet in one direction. The school board would retain the right to review plans once they are drawn up. The language in this email was
reviewed and approved by the select board chair. >> Okay. So, after thinking about this more, I would support giving them the ability to do that, but I would like to give them the whole thing back. And I want to make this case and it I'm happy
to answer questions, but I just want to lay out my case really quickly. When the school goes to town meeting and presents its budget, one of the concerns that we always face is why our costs are
increasing at rates not commensurate with student enrollment and higher than other departments in the town. And everybody on this dis knows the answer. The people in the town do not know the answer. And the answer is because we are
the only department that carries our own insurance, our employee insurance in our budget. And so whenever budget costs go up for healthcare, unlike other departments in town, that gets put in our budget. And that was because many
years ago there was a deal between the schools and the town where once or twice there was small profits to be had in the health insurance line and so the school said well we'll just take them so that we get the profits. That was a poor
decision on the part of whoever made it because that will never occur again. But we have suffered because we are taking something that is not endemic to our purview and we are handling it for no
reason. And my concern is that if we hold on to Kids Kingdom that something like that will happen and we will again be saddled with financial burdens. Not because it's related to student achievement or education, but simply
because of a one-off that happened for sort of inexplicable reasons. >> Well, there was a school there. >> Sure, there was a school there, but there's not a school there now. So, like we don't have any continuing interest in kids kingdom. And so, I would support
what Caesar had asked that we would take a vote and make them give them reasonable to move it. But I would also go one step further and say we should give care, custody, and control of Kids Kingdom back to the town of Lunenburgg. Period. I do not want that on our books.
I do not want to spend any money. I I just it's like insane to me that we would spend money on like fixing those things or repairing those things or maintaining those things. And you know, we need an interventionist at Turkey Hill. Like what? It's even further a
field both literally and figuratively than like you know the discussion Peter and I had about what would we prioritize when we compare two things like athletics are really valuable. It teaches kids leadership and sportsmanship and working together. It
also provides an incentive for a lot of kids to come to school that would otherwise wouldn't. So like there is a there is a correlation between athletics and student achievement. I cannot see any correlation whatsoever between the maintenance of and control of kids
kingdom and student achievement. So I we can do this however we want. We can have a debate. We can go down the line and state our positions. But I just think we got to get rid of this thing. It's going to be an albatross sooner or later. It could be, you know, something could happen where we have to spend hundreds
of thousands of dollars to fix it. And I just don't want that to be ours. I just don't want it to be ours right now. >> I asked oh I think it was a year and a half or two years ago for us to table the discussion about Kids Kingdom when this first came before us a long time ago
>> only because we didn't know what we were going to do with Turkey Hill and we still don't know that. However, when this year it came up I thought we would have the answer to that >> sooner. But now that we've postponed the Turkey Hill process uh an additional
year, I understand why. Not happy about it, but I also understand that we can only do what we can do and we can't do more than than we can. Um, I think it would be only fair to return Kids Kingdom to the town.
Uh, with the understanding that the town understands, the select board and the town manager understand how important this playground is culturally to the town of Lunberg >> and what it means to the children of Lunberg. And not just the students of Lunberg. I'm talking about the kids who
haven't started yet, the kids who go to different schools. it's it's central to to children in Lunberg. Um so that be considered when thinking about parking for the senior center. Um but I think
it's only right at this point that we do remit it. And I have a list of priorities for when I joined the school committee and things I'd like to get done. And one of them was figure out the kids kingdom situation because sometimes it was questionable who owned it and >> oh careful
>> so many times. >> So that that's been on my list of priorities to give it back to the town because it's a liability we don't need at this point. Um, >> I have a >> I just wanted to hold off on it till we made a decision about Turkey Hill, but at this point I think it is unfair for us to hold on to it
>> now that we've said we're going to wait another year for the Turkey Hill issue and it's not a more immediate. >> I have a standing email about once every six months to Karen Menard saying who controls this part and it's just like no one even knows like why are we doing this? I mean, and it's we're a small
town and sometimes there's nice cooperation and especially as of late. Y >> um there's been nice cooperation, but I think in this case, I'm >> I think we should vote to remit it to the town. >> Yeah, I think Laura, well said. I
appreciate all that. As a parent, I just think it's a really important place. So, I hope that, you know, the town finds a good place for it, but it's not really the school committee's responsibility anymore. I do think that we need I do want to say um it's not an extremely accessible
playground. Uh my own kid gets stuck on it sometimes. Uh and it probably needs updates more in line with 2026 standards. >> Uh however, that is not a cost that we
are the school is in a position to take on right now. And I would I think that would have to be a parentled or community-led effort and not a fight for the school committee. >> Yeah, I agree. >> You know anything? >> I'm not saying anything.
>> Okay. >> It's okay. Yeah. So, >> an opinion. >> Okay. >> I don't want to. >> Okay. Um, you can vote however you want. Okay. So, I'm I'm okay with remitting it to the town, but I'm going to keep an eye on it and become a very irritating
citizen. >> I do want to say one thing about this. >> Since town meeting, the town manager has been exceptionally diligent in keeping everyone
Caesar May Chrisard on on the loop about what's going on. And I think that like to the extent that there was some grimacing about communication, all of that has been fixed. I think that both the town manager and Caesar have done a really good job of making sure that
everybody on this committee and especially prompting me to make sure everybody on this committee was really good about knowing where we are in the process. >> Okay. >> So, um, whatever we vote, I just want to make that clear. >> Do you want me to make a motion or how do we word this? You're the lawyer. Uh I
think we we should >> you want to make this? >> Yeah, I I'll make a motional to remmit care custody and control of kids kingdom to the town >> too. >> Okay. Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> I >> opposed.
Abstain. >> Abstain. >> Okay. >> All right. Passes. >> Done. >> Wait. Does that All right. It's not ours anymore. >> Not ours anymore. >> Oh, that feels weird. >> That's fine. Now, if we could just get rid of the healthcare line item. I had two goals when I came. >> Oh, I think we should have healthare. I
think other departments should carry it too because >> Oh, that's fine. We want to do that then. >> Let's keep moving. It is an associated cost of employment. >> That's a different debate. All right. >> Okay. >> All right. Uh, old business, the midyear curriculum report. >> Hi everyone.
>> Hello on the screen. Hi. >> Hi. >> Hi, everybody. I had to move because for some reason my kitchen lights kept getting shut off. So hopefully we're okay now. Um I promised to keep it within my 5 minutes. I actually I actually started a stopwatch. I know
that I sent over a really comprehensive report with a lot of information. Y >> and so I decided to try to pair that right down so that I don't go over my five minutes. Um, but as you can see in my report, I it's just really important that when we talk about curriculum and
instruction that we ground all of our discussions and what research shows shows us improve student learning. So, um, tonight when I talk about some of the things that we're doing in Lunenburgg, I am going to talk about effect size. An effect size is a
researchbased measure of how we impact an instruction of of how much impact excuse me an instructional practice has on student achievement. An effect size of 0.40 is generally considered about
one year of academic growth and higher effect sizes indicate stronger impact. You all have probably heard that before, but I just wanted to emphasize the point that 04 is sort of the hinge point and we're looking for any practice resource
that hits us at 04 and and above. Typically 04 to 0.59 would be what we consider to be a moderate effect size and anything above.59 would be a greater effect size. So the reason why that's important is again if
if we say that point for for some reason my screen is only showing me so I I I think you can all see me but anyway I'm just going to get myself >> we can see you >> okay great I can only see me it's awful um I love I love technology um so uh
again when we think about point4 one year of generally one year of academic growth and then anything uh greater than that helps us really to to have that makeup growth. And I know that there's a lot of concern about our literacy achievement right now. But one thing I
will say is that I'm I was really pleasantly surprised when I came to Lunenburgg and when I saw all the things that are going on, when I saw the resources that we have, um, how the PLC's are conducted, the work that the the principles are doing directly with
the teachers, we're actually starting at a really good place. I've I've been in places where, you know, teachers are just opening balanced literacy materials and and that is terrifying. We're not there at all. So, we're actually in a
really good place. So, um again, I'll move on, but our district really prioritizes practices that are consistently shown by research to have moderate to large effect sizes even in even with our our constrained resources that we have. Obviously, tier one
literacy instruction is our greatest priority and research shows that effective tier one instruction has a large effect on reading outcomes, often greater than than.7. in in um primary at the K2 level. Our
instruction emphasizes explicit foundational skills with language and knowledge and explicit systematic early reading instruction shows large effects oftent times 6 to to 0.9 which is great.
In uh at Turkey Hill in grades 3 to 5, our instruction focuses primarily on fluency, vocabulary, building background knowledge and then comprehension. One thing I want to emphasize is that comprehension is an outcome. When all of the other processes work the way that we
that they should rather, then we are then we have students that are comprehending text. That's a shift from what we think of traditional balanced literacy where we're trying to just um teach comprehension skills in isolation without building those foundational
literacy skills. And we know that research tells us that vocabulary and knowledge building shows moderate effects on comprehension somewhere around 4 to6%. In grades 6 through 8, students regularly engage with complex text,
complex grade level text with the amplify curriculum. I was so happy when I found out that the middle school has amplify. And we know that research tells us that maintaining rigor produces long-term effects or greater long-term effects than lowering text complexity. I
had the pleasure of working with a researcher from Harvard um Dr. Non Lasso a couple of years ago with with a project and she talks a lot about how we need to make sure that we're exposing our students to to grade level complex text because we want to make sure that
they have lang they have access to the language of academia. Um, she talks about how students do not develop academic language through simplified texts, but through sustained engagement with complex contentrich texts that are paired with explicit language
instruction. And that's not just Dr. Lassau's work that that comes from a number of peer-reviewed articles, but Noni Lo is somebody that I just thought I would mention. In grades 9 through 12, our literacy instruction emphasizes analysis, evidence-based writing, and
academic discourse. And we know that research tells us that explicit writing and argumentation instruction shows large effects, oftentimes 0.5 all the way up to 0.9. Our district really uses stable research aligned literacy
programs across all of the grade spans. And we know that consistent implementation yields moderate effects greater than 0.4. Our assessments are used to guide instruction and monitor our progress in literacy. Our formative assessments and progress monitoring or
formative assessments and progress monitoring show moderate effects between 0.4 and.5. And then also um one thing that I noticed here is that we have a lot of additional literacy support and it's allocated strategically based on student
data. We're getting ready to have our data meetings coming up next month because we're conducting our doubles assessments. And so I'm really looking forward to that and we know that targeted in targeted intervention produces larger effects than unargeted
support often greater than 0.5. Our district built is really prioritizing building internal instructional capacity which I think is a really good thing. We know that job embedded professional learning shows moderate to large effects.5 to 7. And if you think about
it, why would we not try to to build internal capacity rather than always bringing somebody into the district? We want our teachers to be as equipped as they can be and and they're really doing the work. When it comes to math and science instruction, um the math and
science instruction in Lunberg is aligned K12 to the Massachusetts standards which obviously are aligned to the the NGSS. And we know that standards aligned instruction shows moderate positive effects 4 to 6. In Lunenburgg
in grades K through 5, our math and science curriculum emphasize both conceptual understanding and reasoning. And we know that conceptual approaches show moderate to large effects.5 to 7. Um our elementary science instruction is
grounded in real world phenomena and investigation. Our phenomena based and we know that phenomena based instruction shows moderate effects 4 to 6. One thing I did point out in my um in my report is that we would love to see open sed move
down to K2 at some point. So just kind of a little plug for that. And then additionally in grades 6 through 8, our science instruction maintains rigor while supporting productive struggle. Research tells us that productive struggle supports moderate gains and
learning transfer point 4 to point 6. And then at the high school level, I I had the um the pleasure of going through the program of studies and I learned that our students are engaging in rigorous standards aligned coursework al across all the pathways and research
tells us that rigorous coursework shows moderate to large effects on postsecary readiness 0.5 um and above. So lots of good things happening here. Again, this is like week four for me. By the way, I went over I lied. I'm at eight and a
half minutes. Um, keep going. I tried. >> No, this is fantastic. Please. >> I really tried. Um, but um, yeah, this is really like week four for me. The first the the fourth real full week for me. So all of the information that I
gathered was through, you know, attending meetings, classroom observations, speaking to teachers, speaking to administrators, but I'm fairly confident that everything I put in the comprehensive report is it accurately reflects what's going on in Lunenburgg. And and there's good stuff
here, like really good stuff. I know that the the the data isn't where we want it to be, but I I'm really encouraged by what's happening here. >> Doc, Dr. Dr. Sari, can I ask you a question about the the third grade reading performance?
So, one of the things that I had noticed when I was looking through this and then I looked through it earlier today during my lunch hour, there is an association between increased uh textual complexity and a temporary dip in comprehension. Is
that a possible explanation or is the are those two things different? Like I I don't even know. I mean, I'm just asking. >> Well, the first thing is this. when it comes to MCCAST tests, I mean, the students have never been exposed to that type of assessment before. So, that in itself presents a significant challenge.
The the language that's in the text, I excuse me, that's in the assessment is sometimes very different than what kids have been exposed to in grades K through two. The the language even with the performance tasks in the MCAST, they're very sophisticated. That's actually what
we're doing in PLC's this week is we're really breaking, we're deconstructing the performance tasks in some released uh MCCAST items and practice tests so that we can make sure that we're using the same language because sometimes it's not really a demonstration of or it's
not really an indication of what kids know. They just might not know what a word means. So, they might not know what's being asked of them. Like in 8th grade the word delineate is used and I there are a lot of adults that don't know what it means to delineate. So um
you know that happens with third grade as well. The other piece too is um yeah I mean the the texts do get a lot more complex. Everybody says that in K to 2 they're learning to read and then grades three and above you're reading to learn.
I'm not sure that I'm not sure that I agree with that entirely, but I definitely can tell you that the text gets a lot more sophisticated in grades three and up. So, it's just new for students. >> That was amazing.
>> It is so nice to hear. >> I'm glad we're doing that. We're doing things good. you know, we're we're in a decent place. >> I was very surprised by the the complexity and uh how oversimplifying
texts, >> yeah, >> has weaker long-term outcomes, which I need to go learn more about. >> No kidding. >> I have a list of stuff to look up later. Um if you want to send me some things on that because I think that's I think that's really interesting and helpful.
>> Well, I have definitely questions. I have no >> that was so compreh for me but based on my experience at primary so far and I've been there quite a bit I you have some really really talented people there and um they certainly are employing what we know our
best practices that we've had a lot of conversations about multilingual learners. That's my area of I don't want to say it's my area of expertise, but it's what I spent five years studying when I was getting my doctorate. Um and and something that >> Yeah. Well, I don't know about that, but
it it's just really it's really important to me that we're making sure that we serve our multilingual learners appropriately. Um, I I I guess I would have to get more information about exactly what's happening at primary, like if we're
falling short, but I haven't seen that yet. >> Okay, sounds good. >> Yeah, >> Emily, you're the only one that knows what she's actually saying. >> Wait, what? >> I said you're the only one that knows what she's actually saying. >> No pressure. I think it's great that we
have this picture of it because we're seeing all the other numbers that feel really >> bad. >> I'm not saying that there's not room for improvement. Clearly, there is. But it's nice to know that we're doing all we can right now. And even with the lack of some of the staff
that we need, that we're not completely falling behind there. What more could we be doing in a perfect world? What would you add in? Like what what's missing right now? >> Is it just
um this is this is a tricky question. >> You do not have to answer that right away. I mean just staff. Sorry. >> One thing I No, one thing I would say just it that's like easy um is I would love to see more access to more decodable readers at primary.
>> So more I'm sorry. more access to what? Decodable readers. >> Decodable readers. >> What is that? >> So, we we want to get kids into text, right? But kids can't navigate text if there are patterns that they haven't been exposed to yet. So, we teach them
we teach them some patterns, right? And then once they've learned those patterns, then we give them text to practice the skills that they've acquired. And if teachers could have more text to choose from so that kids can have those decodable readers in their hands, that would be great.
>> And that is that's like lowhanging fruit. That's not something that costs a ton of money. It's not extraordinarily cheap, but it that would be really positive, I think. And I actually just had that conversation with some teachers on Monday. >> Okay.
Huh. >> How much Yeah. Do those run? Generally, I don't know the cost, but we use >> We're probably looking at like a couple thousand dollars, I would say, to to really give the teachers what they need. >> But it is a really good way to show that
they're learning >> Yeah. >> what the teachers are teaching because then they can read it to each other, they can read it to a teacher, they can read it to themselves, they can read it out loud. So, you're seeing the fluency of >> of what they're learning coming out. And then as they go to third, you know, up to third grade and they are reading more
complex, >> it's nice to have, it's like a little book. They're like little books or little pamphlets that have sentences, symbol sentences. And if you're working on CBC words, it'll be in the book. Consonant vowel consonant words. It'll be in the in the decodable reader. >> We looked it up last.
>> Yeah, we did look it up last. >> It's I mean, we use them. I I don't work at a public school. It's different, but we use them. And it is as a teacher teaching literacy. It is great to watch them sit there and read through all the things you've taught them for two weeks
and see that they're getting it. And if they're not, you know, backing up and so we do have I don't want I I don't want to give the wrong impression. We do have some decodables for sure. And we're actually really lucky because our core curriculum has passages that align
direct that we can use that align directly to what students are learning in real time. but to give the kids a little bit more variety and to have maybe um some more updated books because some of them some of our students we were talking specifically about um our
high achievers and we want to make sure that they maintain high growth. We don't want to have the kids who are high achievers just have low growth and so some of the better decortable readers almost look like chapter books that have beautiful pictures. kids can, you know,
read real stories and and that would be something that I think would be really helpful for our teachers. >> Excellent. >> Thank you. >> Is there anything we need to do for you? >> Nope. I'm just I dove right in. And
>> that was fantastic. That was fantastic. >> Thanks. >> All right. Wow. The best. >> Look at us. We're just flying. I love getting presentations from teachers because >> Yeah. They know how to do presentations, >> present and teach.
>> All right. Wow. Uh, next thing we have is the 2627 school calendar. >> This is not as exciting as that. >> It's not as exciting. Um, Liz included the feedback that we had received um in
your folders. So, >> if you want to look at that and discuss that. It was interesting to me that some of the feedback we're getting is contradictory. Um, and one um, one school council suggests
that we go with a half day a month for professional development um, instead of the two full days that we have. Somebody else said acknowledged how much parents don't like the half days and suggested that we consolidate all of our
professional development and to um only have full day PD. So that was an interesting piece um for me with that contradiction. I think um also you'll
see that we have um some interesting conversations happening about parent teacher conferences. I actually think that they should be happening earlier in November um myself and it was interesting to see that some schools
want to pilot that model. I think it's a more appropriate time to get families involved in their child's education. You've had them for two months. you have some information about their behavior patterns, their academic patterns, and
it's uh better to get families involved earlier um in what's happening. So, that was an interesting piece of feedback um for me as well. It's interesting because we used to do
conferences earlier and for the last I don't think it was only last year we started they piloted doing in January at the time we we surveyed parents and they liked it. >> Teachers were almost exactly 50/50 on it. really the parents I thought liked
it but um it's interesting now I found my personal experience when they they were earlier is that the teacher didn't have much to say like basically the teacher was like >> well we've only been to the in like maybe they were 6 weeks into school I think they were pretty early and they
were like well we you know we're just getting into a routine in the classroom you know >> by November >> maybe November would be betterve and January is long but >> I do think wherever we were having them I don't know Liz if you know like two years ago there was like a sense of a lot of parents felt like they were going
and the teacher really had nothing to say like the teacher was still sort of adjusting to the new class >> especially the younger grades >> especially the younger grades while I mean kindergarten you don't >> I think I think if I can I think the
only um >> different thing to say about that is that parents would be seeing a little bit more of the problems or issues that may be happening in the classroom earlier than January so that they could
be able. >> Yeah. So maybe November is better. I just think wherever we were having it a few years ago was part of the feedback. People thought January was better. >> So this calendar doesn't have election
day off. And I know that we for years now have had election day off, but that is because we used to a long time ago >> became to vote in the school. And I know that's why a lot of a lot of towns do that because they are the polling place.
And I know that >> historically for a while we had been doing PD days >> in conjunction with other towns. So Laura, that's why we took it off um election day is because we're not polling places and it will allow us to
get more talent if we need to because everybody's vying for speakers on election day. >> Um and this would allow us to be out of that that high pressure market into um a
a less frantically soughtafter time. >> Okay. And this would this affect teachers ability to vote? Was there any feedback about that? >> I mean, um, >> I don't think it would. Polling places are open until 8 um, most polling
places. So, I don't foresee that being an issue. >> Okay. I just wanted to to make sure that because I noticed that change um, I noticed that change. What else? I made notes
and then I had emailed Liz about the the June counting. I'm gonna count that like I I was sitting there counting. Um >> that's good. That's what we want you to >> and so Labor Day is weird this year because and I just want to bring that to people's attention. Labor Day is actually on the 7th.
>> It's my birthday. >> Oh Labor Day is actually on the 7th of September which is incredibly late. Um, and it kind of messes with our normal way we do things.
Oh, and then we had also we were going to talk about the kindergarten starting at the same time as everyone else, which is a change. Um, so was that a request from the principles? >> Correct. The kindergarten start date was
a request from Mrs. Flyer. Um, >> that was and I am on so I can speak to that if you would like. >> You're always where you need to be. I love that. >> Um, so the reason kindergarten started,
they had the three days. We used to do kindergarten screening during those first three days. However, the purpose of kindergarten screening is really to identify students and really put homogeneous groupings of students based
on their kindergarten screening. However, if you're doing it those first three days of school, kids are already placed. >> So, we have moved our kindergarten placement. So, last year we did it in June. It gave us an opportunity to see students. If a student was nervous
coming in, we had over the summer, they could come back. We could res-screen them um and then work on placement over the summer. So, this year, we didn't get it into the calendar last year. We were hoping to
get it into the calendar last year. So, we put it into the calendar this year. We would like to take those three days and move them into June so that kindergarten kids are not in school and we can utilize all of our kindergarten teachers to do kindergarten screening.
Um because currently what we have to do is we have to find a location within the school, free up all of our kindergarten teachers so they can do kindergarten screening and put subs within. So, when I looked at other districts and how they do their kindergarten screening, they
typically kindergarten students don't come to school for those three days. So, we'd like to shift it, have kindergarten start with everyone else and shift it to having three days off in June. And I think I put the second, third, and fourth. I'm not sure.
>> It says 1, two, three, but that's okay. We can >> Yeah, it's a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, I believe, is what we had kind of blocked off middle of the week. Um, for for screening purposes, >> I like the June screening. I think it
lets the incoming kindergarteners get a early taste so they can spend the summer talking about the transition that's going to happen. >> Okay. Right. >> And then just an F just to talk a little bit about um why parent teacher
conferences were moved because I was part of um the administration that did the survey. So we surveyed parents and the problem is at the early levels. We do openhouse in September. You would come in at the end of October for parent
teacher conferences. We are just finishing up our benchmark testing. There's really not a lot of information to share. Parents didn't feel they were getting a lot of information. Report cards don't come out until
November. So, they don't even have a report card. They thought by January you would have your midyear benchmarks. You would have your report card. It would be give it would give a talking point. They'd have more information. Teachers would really know the students. If there were
concerns, teachers would have already reached out to parents. If they were going to MTSS or they had concerns and they wanted to talk to them, teachers would be reaching out ahead of time. Um, so those were some of the concerns. And when we piloted last school year, the feedback
from parents, they really enjoyed having the conferences in January, they felt that it was beneficial for parents versus having it at the beginning of the year. So that is why we continued to have it in January
just for K to 5 if that helps. >> Yes, that's exactly what I remembered. >> So I mean I I it's so this feedback says that parents didn't
the school council apparently said that they thought it should be earlier. Um, >> it says first prior to the other schools. >> Oh, >> well then down below down below it says November, >> right? It says November. So, I
>> think the open houses fill >> there's a gap, you know, seeing where your kid is going to school and seeing their teachers stay. So, I feel like open house really helps to fill >> Yes. that need and our our I don't know how other schools are, but I know that our
teachers, at least in my experience, are very good about proactively reaching out and being willing to meet earlier. >> Yeah. I mean, I don't have a strong opinion either way, honestly. I just think we just piloted it and we asked people what they liked and they said
January. So, why would we go back? That That's my only >> It does. I mean, it still feels a little late. word. But December, >> I'm just I honestly think early December would be ideal, but December is absolutely
insane. And I don't want to add anything to a December calendar ever. >> And we're not talking about middle high school, right? We're just staying November. >> What is the middle high school doing? >> November. >> November. We're not talking about changing that. >> We're doing October. Oh, yeah. I did do
October. >> So, I have a question. We're doing our conferences January 29th of this year. Would it be in our best interest to send a survey out again? This would be our second year doing it. Send a survey out to parents, garner input, and see if the
input is different. Bring that back to school committee. I shared it last year in my weekly update with the families so that they could see what their input was around parent teacher conferences and what our what way we were going to continue to go.
Maybe we share that with school committee and maybe that helps inform your decision around parent teacher conferences. We can always do an update. If you approve a calendar tonight, we can always do an update and include parent teacher conferences at a later
time to the school calendar. >> I think that makes sense. I think if you know one year is probably not enough of a sample size. >> Yep, that's fine. >> Okay. >> All right. Um clar Absolutely. >> That the
>> this is on as a discussion item. Yes. >> Because of this feedback. >> Yeah. >> So after this meeting what will happen is I will take whatever your feedback is and we will put it into another draft version of the calendar. >> Yeah. >> And then we will bring it forth for
meeting is what will happen. So >> all right. So, the schedule for September would be three days and then >> four days. >> Yeah, it would be three days and then a 4 day week, which I feel >> they always do that. >> Yeah, I know. I just really love that
because it it works so well for slowly getting our way back into the swing of things after summer. Um, and I'm glad we still have that set up. Yeah, Liz, we still have on 914 it says first day of school for prek and kindergarten. So, I
guess that would move to be >> just prek. >> Um, I guess my only question um, Mrs. Squire, so you need three days for screening. It just seems like three days off for parents in the beginning of June is sort of strange
>> for those kindergarteners. >> Yeah, we've done it in May in the past, I think, >> that they just didn't have school. Yeah, three days of kindergarteners just don't have school. >> Oh. >> Um I >> I was going to say in in previous years prior they did it in May, we tried to do
it closer to the end of the like as closer to the end so that parents weren't taking with holidays and different days. >> Yeah. I just want to let you know that um the union president has texted me and has indicated that union and admin work
together to discuss how conferences could be better and each building was left to decide a pilot. So I think that if they're working on it and it's not Yeah. >> making people scream, we should let them keep working on it. >> Yeah. And um >> the the teachers are the ones who know
what works um for the students. Can uh so if no one has any more questions. >> Oh the PD days. We should talk about the PD days because so does this have PD days dates in there Liz? What did what did we end up doing for the PD days?
Because one of the feedback was more half days and the other one was no half days. >> Right. >> Yeah. I want to go with the full days. >> Typically in past years what has happened is the PD committee has informed a recommendation. >> Okay. And then the um union presidents
would look at that recommendation and like the pay union and the LEA that type of thing would look at that and then more recommendations would come to us which I would then add to the next draft of >> okay so we'll wait we'll wait for them to figure that out.
>> I know what I like personally but I'm not going to rearrange the school calendar for what I like. Um we'll go for what gets the most effective PD for our teachers I think. Um, >> I just want less meetings and more emails
period in in all facets of life. >> Track record. >> I know. I know. I'm just saying. Um, one one thing I wanted to do if we're done with the calendar discussion, I did not notice that the midyear curriculum report was an action item. So, can we go back and can somebody make a motion to
accept? >> Motion to accept that excellent midyear curriculum report. Second. >> All in favor? >> I I Okay, >> you go. >> Good job. >> Sorry. >> Did you get texted about that? >> No, I did not get texted. I got texted by a lot of mistakes I made. That was not one of them. I actually noticed that
one myself. Uh, all right. See, money. Uh, we are at >> C money. I'm checking it. You're okay with that nickname, right? Cuz he's just >> I have cleared it with him. >> All right. I'm just checking >> fiscal year 2526 uh budget update
>> and he's living up to it. I look >> so for FY26 it looks like we're on track. Right now we're at 47.3% expended. >> There's going to be about a.5%
reclassification from the PARS that I mentioned in the last meeting. >> Um last year we were only at 47.2% expended at this same time. >> Okay. So, we're about 5.6% above where we were last year. You
might ask why halfway through the year we're not at 50% expended and a lot of it has to do with the winter months coming up. A lot of a lot of the ramp up in expenses, the way the teachers are paid at the end of the year. Um, so
those are some of the notes that I take took away from the budget report that I um provided tonight. >> Yes. cuz our I'm reminding myself our fiscal year starts July 1st, right? >> Correct. Thinking of the school year, but no, it starts July 1.
>> Do you encumber the heating expenses like based on an estimate or >> so? I believe it's based on an estimate. >> Okay. >> Um, hold on one second. >> Sorry. Just because it's been cold and um >> Yeah,
>> I know you can't control that. Uh I was just wondering how we did that if we do it as an estimate per month if we break it if we divide it by 12 or if we um go by average monthly. >> So we do encumber most of it.
>> Okay. Do we is it an average of >> it's an average of the 12 months I believe. >> So we might be over that 50% with heating. >> Well with heating we are over that 50% right now. >> We already are. >> Well no we're in with the incumbrances
we are. We're over that 50%. >> Okay. >> Because we >> because we're halfway through >> because we're halfway through the year. >> Okay. >> Or more than >> But if the heat was extra, then it would Okay. >> Yeah. >> Cuz actually the actual costs are less
in Okay. in the spring. >> So in other words, if we get an unusually long cold spell, we might have problems. But the estimate >> possible >> the estimate includes normal weather. >> Yeah. Okay. So, when I I talked with Dr. Fortuna earlier today and we probably
have about a 1% wiggle room right now. >> Um, which is good and bad because we we know we have the money to spend. >> Mhm. >> Um, what we going to spend it on? Um, that's up to
>> 1% of the budget or 1% just >> 1% of the budget >> eating. So, 1% >> No, just 1% of the budget. >> 1% of 25 million. >> That's fair. >> Yeah. So we're like 1% behind what we would have to be to spend to what we would be at >> to meet the 26 million. >> Yeah. Like to meet the 26 million as of
July 1st. >> That's a good number. I mean that's within our historic norms. >> Okay. >> No, that's just based on historic norms. >> With uh 47% we're at right about now. >> Yeah. >> Um so we have about a 1% wiggle room
we're probably going to have at the end of the year. >> Okay. I mean, we spend less at the beginning of the fiscal year because the first two months there are no students in the building. >> Right. Right. Right. >> Correct. >> Okay. We doing good. >> We are. And I will have um a report for
you probably this weekend or early next weekend on the revolving funds. >> Mhm. >> Yay. So, >> wait, really? >> Yeah. already >> for it'll be updated through most likely 12:31 or 16 >> because there was a lot of cash receipts
posted this week. So, um I should have that to you by either this weekend or early next week. >> Yeah, there is a there's a spreadsheet in the >> Yeah, I noticed there was a spreadsheet in the book and we took it back because there was one formula that was off. Okay. >> Causing beginning and ending balances to
be off by a little bit and I just wanted to make sure they were all accurate. >> You're the best. Thank you. >> It's a glass of wine and some good reading over the weekend. >> And then can you recommend to us at some point like should we be collapsing some of these >> revolving accounts or are they all here
for a reason? >> So I'm not sure if we can just collapse them. >> Okay. >> Um >> it's not a huge problem I guess but it's cleaner. >> We did some of that last year. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> We did some of that last year. That was
remember we closed the class of all of you know >> Yeah. >> the old classes. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. >> Um and that work was done. >> Yeah. I have that money now in class of 2001. >> Yeah. >> Treasure class of 2001. So
>> you you and Peter were out towning each other to figure out which groups were. >> We were out towning each other. Yeah. >> I was like, "All right, everybody's playing the towny drinking game. Go." >> Okay. So yeah, I guess my one thing I had been concerned about was heating.
Um, but this is good. >> Yeah. >> Awesome. >> Is there anything that surprised you in the revolving funds so far? >> Not in the revolving funds. Um, >> okay. What did surprise you then? Because I feel like that's an opening.
>> You know, that's a hard question to answer right off the top of my head. I think the one thing that surprises me is that we are on track to spend out the budget as we should. >> Yeah. >> That surprises you? >> Well, it doesn't surprise me, but I think that's a good thing where
>> given what we did last year. >> Given what happened last year. >> Yeah. And given how chaotic it was to start the year. >> Yeah. >> Okay. That's because of you. And I thank you for that. >> You and Dr. Fortuna have done a very good job. >> Um Okay.
All right. Uh, anybody have any other questions for Chris? >> I will have questions on the revolving fun. That's for next. >> I cannot wait to see that. I like I'm being slightly fac physicious but not too much. I have always wanted to see how the revolving accounts worked cuz
some of them it just seems like they're like this, you know, black box. >> Yeah. So, in the spreadsheet that I will be providing with you, there is going to be acronyms. So for example, CRP is cash cash receipt posted. >> Okay.
>> AP is accounts payable. >> Okay. >> Um so >> are these standard accounting acronyms? >> Yes, there are standard account. >> Okay. So I can All right. >> Yeah. So you don't have to >> can we Google it is the question. That is what I should be able specific where we need Okay. >> All right.
>> And have we converted over to the desi chart of accounts? >> Yeah. >> Completely. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> When did that happen? >> Did >> so nice. Was that a you project? >> Yes, a little. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Well, we we we so in the format
that I gave you, we're we are based on the dusty accounts right now. Um it's just setting them up and which way you format it and muness. >> Okay. >> That's a lot of work. I >> I think you and Dr. Fortuna have done
more than a little. >> You guys have done a lot of work on Thank you. So, >> all right. >> Anybody have any other questions? >> Is this an action item? >> No, this is not an action item. >> All right. Well, then thank you. Thank you. >> All right. >> Very much appreciate this and all of your hard work.
>> He's earning his nickname. >> Revolving accounts. >> I know. I don't even know what it's going to be like. >> It's going to be like Christmas. >> Uh, at least we haven't had somebody tell us that they didn't know they had a revolving account, but that's a good thing. Uh,
>> future of ths. >> Uh, future of ths. I >> can we just table this because we kind of already did it. And also, >> so the one thing I would like to say is if >> No, we cannot. >> No, we can't. Because if there are some I think Peter was pretty clear that if there are some things that we could
touch to do some ADA, we're not going to be able to do this. My concept is we're not going to be able to do the $16 million, right? if we're going to then, but there are some things like there should be ADA compliant bathrooms. So, like if there are a few things that we could
make some changes to request on next year's capital planning, I I personally think we should do that. And I think Dr. Fortuna, I think you'll have to go back and tell us what you you know what you think or maybe the facilities director, it's not a problem for this month. I
just think for the next few months, we should think about >> what are some suggestions that we could put together for capital planning for next year for Turkey Hill based on the idea that we are going to go through the MSBA in the future, but we are living in this building for the next 5 years. The
students of the next decade before we get a school renovated or done, they need >> deserve a school that is accessible, >> right? You also can only spend so much before you have to >> Right. But there's got to be a >> But that cannot be why we do nothing.
>> Well, right. And that's what I'm saying. I think there's got to be a few things. I mean, I don't know. I don't know anything about this, but >> Right. Well, that's what I'm saying. I think there could be a few things that we could >> just as like a a conceptual model.
>> What if we had a discussion about if you know like we plan to do X and if the money is above a certain amount then we would shift so that our default going into the
the MSBA process and our default is set but it's not in concrete yet. So like for example, one of the things you said when we were having this debate and it has stuck with me because I am firmly in the rebuild camp and I was more firmly
in the rebuild camp until you said this. Oh. >> Which was you said suppose that the rebuild is $30 million and because the MSBA could give us money a a new building is 40 million. Well,
does it make sense to do the 30 million when a 40 million is essentially brand new? And I think that like if >> and the state pays for it, >> right? And so like we it our out of pocket cost is 30 million for a rebuild versus 40 million or refurbishment
versus 40 million for a new building. I would prefer to spend the 40 million on the new building, right? because it's so close that you know you would get so many things like the one thing that I think about every time I go into Turkey Hill is the
they're not even elevators I don't even know what they >> lifts >> the lifts those things look like medieval torture devices >> they're awful they're awful and so like we can we can repair them and rehabilitate them and make them look nice but like when I go into the middle
high school and they have actual elevators I'm like this isn't much nicer. Um, and you know, like one of the things I'll tell you is the kids notice those differences. Like I went and talked to Mr. Stevenson's class about civics and municipal politics and stuff that I don't really
like to talk about. And um he one of the kids asked me, you know, I ride the elevator every day and I noticed that our elevator certificate of inspection was out of date by a year. I then uh texted Liz and she's like, "We have the
correct one in the file. It has been inspected. We hadn't put up the copy." So, we put up the copy. >> Kid is so observant. >> The kids really do notice those things. So, like your comment and that kid's question came within like maybe 10 days of each other. And so, I was like, "Uh,
so that that framework seemed to me to say like we have we have this toggle in our heads. we just haven't made it official. So, like maybe the way to to to move this along is to say we're going
to plan on doing a rebuild unless the cost of a new building, and this is both a rebuild with MSBA funds or new building with MSBA funds, is within a certain percentage of each other, right? And that way we have a direction without
having to to commit all of our you know dollars in one one you know path because I think that like fundamentally what you said Mandy was right that like there is a an inflection point on the cost spectrum where it makes no sense for us
to rebuild >> especially on the money front. But but what you were saying when you were proposing it at the beginning, it sounded like you wanted to go at it alone. >> Oh, I never want to go at it alone. But this was we we talked about only ever doing it with the MSBA money. The
concern that I have always had with the MSBA is that the labyrinthine process that you must go through to get money is >> like so daunting and everchanging that, you know, by the time we from the time that we submit our bid until the time we
get our money, the chain the standard and what they're prioritizing in terms of building projects will change, you know, a dozen times in seven years. So like we can't control that. But if we go at it with the directionality and say, you know, the fiscally
responsible thing is what we want to do. >> Yes. >> And that could mean that we rebuild or it could mean that we build new, but we will default to one until we realize the other is better. Right? So like when you
know like I'm looking at things for my house I'm like I would rather you know re replace this than build it new unless I can like get my garage exactly the way I want. >> So can I just understand your motivation to feel like we need to decide? So what
I want to do is get >> you want the town to think that we are not being >> I I I I'm not really >> what does deciding get us >> kind of go what Peter said like if we don't have any kind of plan it looks like we don't know what we want which
we're not sure what we want >> right >> but having what Tony is saying is a plan >> with a default >> and I'm not against it I just want to make sure I understand sort of because I don't I on the other hand don't want to be accused accused of having a million positions, right? That the group says,
"Well, we want to rebuild, >> right?" But so like here's the thing, >> right? Like I don't want to be accused of us saying like, "We're going to rebuild." Then the MSBA comes in and says like all these things and says, "Well, to rebuild is going to cost you this, you know, this and that, blah, blah, blah." And then decide change. >> Are we going to pay the political price
for that? >> So here's what I would say. Like the the concern that I have is there are things that I think that we need to do at Turkey Hill. >> And as Dr. Fortuna pointed out, it makes no sense to invest tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars if we're going to tear down that building,
>> right? >> So, with that in mind, we're sort of we can't get started on any decisions, even capital plan projects for things that don't have anything to do with Turkey Hill. So like for example, if we said
our plan, our preference right now is to >> seek MSBA funds to rehab that building unless the cost of the building with MSBA funds is within 25% of rehabbing. In other words, if it was the difference
between $30 million and $40 million, we would opt for the new building. And then we could use that directionality to make a whole bunch of other preliminary decisions and just move the ball along without committing to one thing over another in the event that that I do
think that there is a possibility that that you could be right and we get to the point where a new building is the financially responsible thing to do even if it's a little bit more expensive, right? like I'd rather spend a nickel to save a dime
>> and do it right now. And I I keep going back to the very first thing I did on school committee which was looked at the air conditioning and what you said about the cost for new if it's close enough. That is exactly what happened with the
air conditioning. And we ended up paying it was $84,000. Like we looked back at the plants, it was $84,000 to do certain installations that would have allowed us to have a whole air conditioning unit. Now, you pay for the air conditioning unit, but that was something that was going to be fixed cost. We ended up
paying $7 million for partial air conditioning, you know, and it was just it's crazy. >> Yeah. So I think that just having some directionality as long as we understand what our goal is like our goal is to be fiscally responsible in uh improving Turkey
health. >> I I agree with that. I think you've made a a a good argument there that I I can get behind that. I think one of the things I think we want to think about with and this is moving forward, right? Is we do want to say what is, you know,
there's things about Turkey Hill that you could rehab that still don't make it into an elementary school. So, so that's one thing I just want to make sure that we're still we're focused on a little bit as well. That the rehab, >> my point on a rehab would not be a rehab just to bring it up to. Do you know what
I mean? A rehab to Turkey Hill. to me >> Laura's Laura's point was about like the central office building. >> Exactly. like like that we just want it to be an elementary school that you know certain things about it educationally which is not my expertise but that educators who educate kids third through
three through five would say this building was not built >> for >> right >> um that so as long as we're keeping that as part of the consideration when we talk about a rehab I'm fine with that you know I just don't want the rehab to focus on let's just do everything to
make it safe >> no no >> you know the rehab has to be a real reh In my mind, >> there's just a lot of hypotheticals that don't change what we would do next year as far as either tear down or rehab. I would still
like us to have a solid concrete action of looking at things we I don't want to use the word smaller but actionable achievable projects that we can undertake at Turkey Hill to make it more accessible or >> enhanced learning for students whether
that be classroom upgrades to specific classrooms that need it >> like the classrooms we visited >> the the ones you know what I'm talking about um or bathrooms or an upgrade of the lift to a more modern lift. lift. Um, >> is there a less modern lift? >> An elevator. Go look at that lift.
That's >> Oh gosh. >> Um, an elevator, but those get Oh, Dr. Fortuna, did you Is she >> Yeah, I I think the first place we have to start if we're going to phase this out is the restrooms. Um, the one upstairs and the one downstairs.
>> Um, they they are not accessible. It is really going to be an access problem. um for students. >> Yeah. >> Then I think the elevator project actually might be too expensive for us
to undertake. I know how much the elevator repair cost um to get the second elevator finally working at the high school. Um that could be too expensive, but that is definitely something that we can price out because I think that that's important. um as
well. I think um looking at those smaller projects, >> yeah, >> are really important. But where I would start would be with the restrooms? Um that's where I would go immediately. >> Yeah, that I mean that >> can we do was that included? Was that
priced out? >> I think we just do that. >> Well, I know, but I meant in the um >> study we had done last year. I just don't know if that >> Yes, they were. Was it priced out individually? >> It was on there, but was >> Can we ask Can we ask our facilities director to look at that and then pull
those numbers out of that engineering study? Was it engineering study? That that project study from last year. >> Jody sent us the >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> The whole I sent it to you. I could have Chris pull out the numbers. um the
bathroom and then send us basically a bathroom remodel project so we have at least one accessible >> bathroom and I think that's a good place to start and >> it's it's not hypothetical. It needs to get done regardless of what happens like we don't need to make up our mind
because that does have to happen. Uh and then we can the sooner we have that project we can work towards it. Does that work for people? >> Yeah. And then Tony, do you want to come up with a proposal of what you've said? Like and then we can talk about it in
two weeks and vote on it. Like the what you've said about our >> hypothetical though, >> but like just just to give us >> could give us some guiding principles. >> Something to aim at. >> I don't think we have to hit the bullseye, but we just have to have something to aim at. >> I don't mind having some kind of plan. I think we need I think it's fine. I think
>> to say something, like Randy said, if down the road >> it's going to look like we're switching the whole thing up. waiting for the necessary information and to go through the process. I I think it's hypothes >> but I think we can do both. I think we
can say that this is our what we would like but we also >> are waiting >> are waiting for real decisions and we can say you know this reason and that reason and I think >> to >> if we're going you know we're going to go through this whole override process
most likely in the next few months to have something that if people are asking us those questions we have a plan do you know what I mean and our plan is this is our plan we're not looking for the Taj Mahal like we're not you know we're not asking for a huge Good argument. >> You know, we have already discussed it. >> No, you can. Okay.
>> Yeah, >> that's a good argument. That's perfect. Okay. >> I just >> Okay. So, Tony is going to come up with a proposal and we will vote on it. >> I guess my my default has always been if whatever's cheaper. >> Yeah. Not whatever's cheaper, but you know, >> what is more fiscally responsible?
>> I'd like to do renovation if it's the fiscally responsible thing to do, but okay. It's just I it's going to be weird to quantify because >> I think he can do it. is a lawyer. >> I'm not so optimistic, but I just thought that the like the thing that you
said, Mandy, had rung in my head ever since you said it because I had not thought about the possibility that if we can get the MSBA to give us more money, we're going to get within striking distance of the new. >> I think that's what happens in a lot of
>> 10 to 20 towns end up just building new. >> Yes. and and the MSBA seems a little politically geared towards the business of a new >> you think >> um so I I do suspect that if we go
through the MSBA process we will be pushed in that direction >> that's fine if they want to give us the money >> the funding tends to uh at the moment want people to build new it's better for this >> just like this gentleman who came and presented if the state wants to pay for
it I'm all all ears to take it. >> Yeah. >> Give me the money. >> Okay. Do you want to do committee reports? >> Yeah, let's do committee reports. >> I got none. >> Anybody have any committee reports then? >> Um I just tomorrow's the 8th, right? >> Yes.
>> Tomorrow the 8th, Paxel will be meeting at the Lunberg Middle School at 6 o'clock >> in person. >> In person and Zoom. >> And what does Paxel do for people watching? Um it is the parents advisory council supporting all learners. So
anyone on a 504 IEP or an ELLL learner um can parents can come and get support and advice and resources um share experiences, stories um it's
what >> what happens there stays there. It's it's a supportive support group. >> Okay. Um the PTO met on Monday night. We have our special someone dance. The tickets go on sale tomorrow if any
businesses are listening and want to be sponsors. We're always welcome to take sponsors. We've had a lot of local businesses step up, which is amazing. Um we also have some blankets left for anyone who bought a blanket. Uh I think they're $30. So, you can email the president at the PTO, uh, Shauna, and
she can help you get it if you want to buy one. Um, they're like very large and very soft, actually. They're really nice. >> Can you just say, uh, the businesses that have sponsored, I want to give them >> Oh, yeah. Gatsby Grounds Company is going to be our presenting sponsor,
which is amazing. Powels has given us some, uh, a fundraiser. I actually have a whole list. Uh, >> yeah, I'm I'm happy to give because people have really been wonderful. This town is so nice. >> They're very generous. Um Damon McUade, who's an architect, Lyn Walsh Real
Estate, Styles Company, Photos by Jen, Biotech Builders Group, Nedllo Mechanical, uh Keadings, and uh that's it. But that's it so far. But I I'm I have other people. Oh, um also I heard from Lunberg Diner as well. >> So um
>> delicious pancakes. >> Yes. Very good. So So for those of you who are new, we have two dances, a 3 to five and a six to eight. The 3 to 5 is geared towards the little kids. The six to eight is geared towards the kids from third through fifth grade, which makes it confusing because the earlier dance is
from 3 to 5. But um >> do you need I can volunteer this because I don't have anyone going. >> Yeah. And we'll need volunteers. I'm working on a volunteer spreadsheet. It's actually really fun to volunteer. And I actually already have some teenagers who I've asked. The National Honor Society is usually great. And also have some friends who have teenage girls who
helped last year and thought it was really fun. Um >> banana's fun. I mean, it's bananas fun and it's also like being a volunteer is you teach kids to be volunteers young so they're volunteers for life. >> Ethan goes it it's both bananas and fun. >> Oh, I mean it's insane but I mean I think it's fun. So um and it's a real
success and uh we have 400 tickets to the last the six to eight dance and we've sold out the last three years. So if you want your tickets to the last dance >> what time do they go on sale tomorrow? >> I don't know. I can check what time the email goes out. >> Yeah later. >> Yeah. Um, so thank you everyone for your
support and yeah. Oh, and also we're doing Great Wolf Lodge. The PTO's been amazing. I haven't been going to meetings like I've been doing this. So the women on the PTO and and the men, there's a few men um really been kicking butt. They've been doing a lot of great events cuz it's not just about raising money. There was a movie in December and we have >> Great Wolf Lodge.
>> The Great Wolf Lodge fundraiser is we have no school on March 20th. So March 19th, GreatWolf is giving us, I think, $15 or $20 per uh night that's reserved. And so we've already reserved like 40 families have reserved rooms. So it's
going to be all the Lunberg kids and their friends running around. >> Oh god. >> And the rates are really good because it's a random Thursday night. The kids don't have school the next day. It's $119 for a suite at uh GreatWolf, which is really is a really good deal. >> That includes the water park. >> That includes the water park for both
days. Two days. Um, so yeah, so that as well, we sent a notice out about that the other day, but um, >> all right. >> Yeah, >> any any I have no I have no updates. Uh, >> we do need to appoint somebody to FinCom because George was our rep rep to
FinCom. So, uh, I know that everybody's going to say not it. So, let's figure out an equitable way. It's a lot. >> Do we need to go to the meetings? >> Probably should either go to the meetings or watch them online. >> What days do they meet? >> I don't know. Could we take turns?
>> I'll split it with somebody if you want and we can >> I'm going to tell you right now, I have a homicide that's going to trial in June. I do not have the ability to do this. >> Yeah. >> Sometimes I forget you're a lawyer and I just get really freaked out. >> I mean, >> it's definitely going. We've we've gone down that path.
>> I >> I could probably watch the meetings. I cannot commit to going to the meetings. >> I can try and go. I just >> I will leave it to you guys to figure that out. And then >> try and go and then if I can't >> Yeah. I mean, I'm happy to watch them. Yeah, I'm happy to watch them.
>> I think they're there room or is that just cap? >> Just as the budget starting, I know that we will have to go to some anyways. I just I don't want to overextend myself. >> Yeah. Um >> Oh, and tribard is meeting. >> Oh, tri board's meeting on Monday. >> Uh >> what are the dates? I think Tuesday,
>> so originally it was the 12th. It was 27th. They moved it. So, um >> can't do the 12th, but I can do the 27th. Uh yeah, we do have to be a There's only four of us. Oh, what's quorum now that there's only four? >> It's still It's two.
>> Is it or is it three? >> It's four. If it's five, it's great. >> Oh, it's still I think Dr. Fortuna says three. I think it's still three, but we >> we need to watch We just need to watch that. That's all. >> Um >> so it's on for seven uh at on the 12th
cuz I have it on the 13th. >> It was on the 13th until this week. We already moved. >> It was supposed to originally be on the 13th. Now it's on the 12th and >> and the 20 >> and on the 27th. >> Oh, thank God. Have an all day here now on the 26th. >> Um, so we just I mean we don't have to
have a quorum, but it's polite to show up with a quorum. Um, >> I'll be there. >> Yeah, she texted us about it with bells on as my >> I'm really appreciating this process. Uh, do we have on the agenda for a tri board meeting to talk about the track?
because I would I think that would benefit us to be able to sit down and discuss it with the other two parties we should discuss it with >> which is finance and the select board. >> We don't right now. Um Laura, our next
two meetings are the town manager is going to discuss the remaining town budgets that we haven't heard yet. Um and the next meeting will be to discuss strategies
for any revenue raising means that we have to undertake. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So I think personally my goal is the second meeting of the month we need to collectively
um make sure that we are on the same page with the other entities in town and about what override number we're going to go for if we need an override. Um which I have heard through the grapevine we're going to need an override. So >> we do I mean
>> I mean we don't know that but that the whole town is going to need an override. Um, so Dr. Fortuna, I do hope at our next meeting maybe we can go back to your proposal one more time and just make sure for the FY26 number that we are prepared with that number for the like I know we've talked
about it, you know, and that kind of stuff, but just so that we are very clear again in preparation for that last meeting um when we discuss with our other chairs what number. >> Yep, we will be. >> Yeah. >> All right. I think uh now that we've
done that, is there any any public comment? Anybody here for public comment? >> Anybody on school committee want to make a public comment? >> I just wanted Oh, no. >> I just wanted to say that I am excited about the cooperation between town
departments. >> Yeah. >> Um like talking to capital planning and then the tri board meetings um and the work with the town manager. I I'm excited about the cooperation. And I feel like that is a real theme of this year. >> I do think that the I have noticed the
change since Jet took over. >> It is. It's an it's an I think an attitude change of working together cooperatively and there are hiccups. Uh >> Yep. >> But that's how we grow. >> That's how people work. >> So I do I do I appreciate that and I appreciate our team.
>> Yeah. Um and I just have one quick comment. on uh Christmas Eve, we were driving down to my wife's family in Rhode Island, and my 15-year-old son engaged us for over an hour and a half on the Palestinian Israeli situation.
And it was very clear to me that a lot of what he had learned came from contact with the educators in our town. And >> amazing, >> it was the best Christmas present I could have gotten. It was intelligent.
It was insightful. He had facts and figures and statistics that I was unaware of. He had a really nuanced and consistent philosophical position on why he believed what he did. It was just delightful. And I I don't know, it's not
very often that you you you like you see your kids test, you hang them on the fridge, and that has certain significance, but having uh like a fullthroated discussion about issues of the day with your kid is just incredible. So, I wanted to thank all of
the people that educate our children in this town. Um, I just pulled up the study, the Turkey Hill study, just to clarify, there are 10 accessibility issues identified to be um, worked on over >> whatever amount of years we're talking
about. Um, and the cost was estimated for a million to 1,250,000. And that's not there's a few others that were not as urgent >> for the 10 total. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Let's break that up into manageable. Let's break that up into chunks and we can do all the bathrooms.
There's no no accessibility. Um, so if like you said, if we could figure out how much >> that would cost, we can't exceed 500,000 on >> any one project, right? So, just wanted to >> Oh, we're going to have to double check on the number, but
>> yeah, it's great. >> Topics for future discussion. >> Oh, we should put turkey in the ongoing budget thing. We did the We're going to have to talk about an override soon. >> Sure. Yep. But I think um making sure that we're prepared to go to the last
tri board meeting with a sing single unified voice um is important. Not that we haven't had that already, but I just >> Are we? And we're definitely getting the testing results next week. The change in personnel hasn't affected that. >> What testing results?
>> The reading stuff. >> The dibbles and the >> Oh, the dibbles. >> It may end up being the week after. Oh, good. Kimberly's still here. Um, she's more familiar with the plan. >> Hi. Yes. Um, it probably won't be it
probably won't be for a couple of weeks. Um, what what is the date that you were anticipating? >> When do we have another school committee? >> It was the 21st. >> Yeah, I think it was our next meeting this month. But I also understand that you had a personal >> You know what? We actually might be able
to get that done. I We'll try as hard as we can to make sure that we have that data by that date. I think that's doable. I don't I don't want to rush it. I ju especially because you're you're now short staffed. I just wanted to >> set expectations because I know that we
had promised to talk about those results with a public commenter who also emailed us. >> Interventionists aren't the only ones that administer that. So teachers do as well. >> Okay. Yeah, they were okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> We we we should be okay. >> Okay. I'm not I'm not saying
that's that's a deadline. I just wanted to set expectations so that if someone was expecting results, >> they would know it was later. >> Thank you. >> And thank you again. >> Motion to adjourn. >> It is >> at 9:39. 940.
>> Let's go. That was not too bad. >> Second and second. >> All in favor? I Goodbye everybody. >> Good night. One more.