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requirements of the open meeting law. Please be advised that this meeting is being broadcast at a later date over the Leenberg public access channel. We are also on Zoom. Uh that link is available online um through the town of through the agenda on the town of Lunberg's

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website. Um it can also be found later on the Lunberg access YouTube channel within 24 hours after the meeting. The agenda lists all topics which may be discussed at the meeting and those reasonably anticipated by the chair. Votes may be taken as a result of these discussions. Not all items listed may in

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fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the expectant permitted by open meeting law. So we're going to rise for the pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God,

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indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Um, so Okay, we're going to do public comment for prior issues. Is there public

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comment from the public? >> Prior issues. >> Yes, prior issue. Okay. Am I prior issue? >> Yes, you are. >> Both in the both senses actually. [laughter] ancestry. >> Uh I am Anthony Scullenbriny. Uh there

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is another one in the room. Uh I'm his father and I'm really really proud to say that. >> Um I wanted to uh come before the uh the the school committee to talk about buildings and building construction and repair. Um, I have been uh participating

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in the Lunberg Municipal Building Design Committee for uh 5 years and uh my comments do not represent the official position of the Lunberg Municipal Building Design Committee because unfortunately we haven't had a

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discussion about the relationship between the u improvement/replacement of Turkey Hill Elementary School, which I think is uh really kind of a shame. Uh but I can say as in an official capacity

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as the vice chair of the master plan steering committee that at last the master plan steering the master plan was approved Monday night by the planning board. And why that is important to the discussion and the impact on Turkey Hill

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Elementary School is that that plan prioritized two projects for the next 10 years for the town of Lunberg. That's not to say that the priorities couldn't change, but that plan as approved says that Turkey

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Hill and Town Administrative facilities is the number one and number two priority for this community. And I can tell you having been a citizen and living in Lunberg for the last 6 years that it's time to call the question on Turkey Hill Elementary School. And I say

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that not because I think the building is in poor condition, but because the building has needs that need to be addressed. At the very top of the list is its handicap uh it's ADA issues. Um

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it is most unfair to the children and and the employees um that work in that school that that building is not handicap accessible. And with each passing day, another student has to endure what's already a really rigorous

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and sometimes very unfortunate path and in the life that they find themselves in to to have to go to a school that's not handicap accessible. That needs to change. There are other obvious things that need to be done with the school. But it's time to call the question. The town has committed to making this a

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priority as evidenced by the approval of the master plan and and uh and it's a long process much longer than what I had understood it to be and you can't miss the window that's going to come up here in January of 2027.

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This is a long process. If you miss the window, you've just added two more years to a long process. And unfortunately unfortunately Lunberg has a history of not treating its school buildings well and I call upon the school committee to

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make that make a reversal in that in that plan and that direction. Um the the last thing that I'll say is that everybody knows that the schools um have financial issues. You know we're going you're you are going to have an open discussion tonight about you know the

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additional funding that's going to come from the state. But there's two things here. There is the money that you need to operate and there's the money that you need to have the right right facility for those operations to take place. And you need to work those

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simultaneously. No matter how difficult that is and this will be difficult, you need to work those at the same time. Don't ignore the buildings at the expense of the operations and vice versa. Don't ignore the operations just

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because you have a building that needs some work done to it. Um, it's time to call the question. Uh, let the state help you make the decision as to whether it's new or it's going to be repaired. Um, I think the building has great bones and I can say that based on being a

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civil engineer who has spent 46 years working in the civil engineering business and working particularly with older buildings. So, make the right decision. Call the question. Don't miss that application window in January of 2027. Thank you.

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>> Thank you. >> Do we have other public comment from the public? >> Do we have anyone on Zoom? >> I do not see no on Zoom. >> Okay. Um,

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so we're gonna Sorry, we're going to do the chair's report. Should I do that now or should we do executive session? >> Let's do executive. Okay. So, we have or Mr. McDonald, do you need to get back home because we had talked about doing something out of order? >> We are good. >> Okay. You sure? >> Yep.

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>> You enjoying the quiet? >> Okay. Um, so we are actually going to enter executive session. Can I get a motion to take it out of order? >> I'll I'll make a motion to take executive session out of order and go into executive session. >> I'll second. Sorry.

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>> Okay. Oh. Um, and Jean is online, so we'll do a roll call vote. Miss Gilman, >> yes. >> Mr. Skully, >> yes. >> Miss Russell, >> yes. >> Thank you. And I for me. So, we're going to enter executive session. We're going to go in the other room. Um, and then we

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will be back as soon as we can. Okay, we are back in regular session. Bear with me one minute while I unlock everything. Okay. Oh, it worked.

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Thank you. That is awesome. Okay. So, chair's report. Um, we've had a few things happen. Um, so to update, after our last meeting, one of the members of the school committee, Miss Gilman, acting as

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a citizen and not on behalf of the school committee, submitted a petition to the town clerk for a call for a special town meeting. This triggered a legal process where the select board now legally must hold a special town meeting

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within 45 days. Um, this special town meeting is going to be in addition to the November special town meeting. Uh, so we're calling it the extra special town meeting. [laughter] It will be held on Thursday, September 3rd. Uh, we're going to talk more about it on our agenda tonight um, down the line, but

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and any action we want to take in relation to this September 3rd extra special town meeting. But I did want to explain briefly at the top what was going on there. Um, and I also want to apologize because I think in our last meeting on Zoom, I know the audio cut out a lot. It was hard to follow and I

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apologize for that. And I think I failed to adequately explain to the public what we were doing in regards to the extra funding coming in from the state and where we're at. So, I've been fully engrossed with these numbers and these discussions for so long and I failed to

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realize that it's probably very confusing to other people um because I am not a natural teacher and do not have that gift. So, um I want to go back and break down the numbers. So, I have a slideshow on the cherry sheet and the numbers and we're going to go through

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it. Um so, let me >> Laura, you did do a good job last time. Don't >> I don't think hard on yourself. I >> I feel like I I just sort of jumped ahead on people. >> It's hard on Zoom. >> It's hard on Zoom. >> Yeah. >> So, um, yeah, you guys can.

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>> Okay. >> So, this is the Massachusetts Department of Revenues, Division of Local Services Cherry Sheet Estimates. I'm going to show you a chart in a second that is this exact chart, but distilled down with the information that's pertinent to

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us. You can find it yourself online. You can just Google DLS Cherry Sheets. I would add Massachusetts in there. And then you can go to the municipal cherry sheets. You choose Lunberg from the drop down menu. Um, and then it'll have that year. It's called a cherry sheet because

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historically it was printed on bright red paper. I had that question. Um, and there are two sides to this sheet. I'm showing you the first side here, which is receipts. That's the money coming in. There's also estimated assessments and charges, which is money we as the town

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pay to the state for various programs or charges for things like the student the town is sending to charter schools or out of district. Um, what matters to hear to us is the difference between the first budget proposal, the governor's budget, and the final budget she signs months later. The

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town manager has to build the town budget early in the year, and when she starts building that budget, this is the only budget that's available. the FY27 governor's local aid proposal. This is the budget our town budget is built on and the assumptions in our budget come

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from this column here. The aid numbers in this budget are typically lower than what ends up making it through. So, we are building our town budget on more conservative, safe numbers. Um, there's nothing wrong with the way

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we do it. I I tend to like the way we do it because there's less bad surprises later and we can be prepared. The state budget process is a multi-step process where the governor proposes an initial budget and then it goes to the state house where they have new numbers.

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Then it goes to the Senate where the numbers change and then it goes to a conference committee that ultimately the House and the Senate come to a consensus and vote on. Then it goes to the governor's desk and she either signs it or she can veto all of it or parts of it. And it is a long, that's a very

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simple explanation of a long multi-month process with lots of hearings and discussions. And like anything in government, it's inefficient, inconsistent, unpredictable, and convoluted. Um, the cherry sheets online have all the versions have all the versions. But the one we care about here

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is the governor's local aid proposal and the final budget signed by the governor. So this column I added, it's not on the cherry sheet. It's the difference between the FY27 governor's budget and the FY27 final budget.

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Okay, a very brief overview of chapter 70. Um, chapter 70 is the very complicated formula for state funding to the schools. It is very complicated and it would take me way too long. It would take me about hours to explain. It starts, it looks at

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the ability for the town to pay for its schools. Then it looks at the needs of the students and how much the student body should cost to educate. It gives us a baseline for minimal funding that we the foundation budget. Then the state gives us a portion of that money in

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funding. Other towns will get more. Um but there's there's a minimal level of funding that all towns get. It is really more complicated than that, but that's what we're going to go with for now. Most >> that's actually a great description. [laughter] >> Yeah. Most towns fund

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most towns fund over their foundation budget. The formula is old. It's outdated. It has not been updated. Um it's decades old. It didn't keep up with inflation and it does not reflect the modern cost to educate a student. Uh Lunberg, like nearly other every other

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town like us, funds the schools at a level higher than the minimum state requirement because state has a minimum level that towns need to fund their schools at. But we fund above that because the reality of what it costs to educate a Lunberg student is way more. And historically voters of this town

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wanted decent schools and a decent education for its kids. So for the numbers we chapter 70, school transportation doesn't apply to us. The number is always zero. Charter tuition reimbursement is to mitigate the financial impact of charter

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school tuition that the town has to pay. We'll talk about that more later. This one is highly variable from year to year based on what they felt like funding. Smart growth school reimbursement is another confusing funding mechanism. It's a zoning district that translates

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into more money from the state and school choice receiving tuition is tuition from outside students attending Lunberg schools. I mean charts uh this is chapter 70. These go back 15 years.

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You can go back more. I stopped at 15 years. Um, this is chapter 70 by year. I did not adjust this for inflation. This is just the numbers. Um, so starts in 2012 and this year FY27.

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You can see chapter 70 has only gone up. Although we had a few flat years in the beginning of this decade that did not reflect actual trends in inflation or our cost. So 15 years of historic data. Uh, this is charter tuition reimbursement. This one is all over the place. It's

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wildly unpredictable. It's an easy way for the state legislature to give us more one-time money without it falling into hold harmless in chapter 70. If they put all that money in chapter 70, towns would fall into hold harmless and they couldn't get less money next year.

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Um so this some of the money going into this is a signal that extra money might not come next year. Smart growth in 2025. So, this one is also unpredictable. Only 53

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municipalities have these 40R smart growth districts. It's a zoning district um based on zoning to increase denser housing. I think ours is a little our we have one district in town. It's a little under nine acres. It's 201.

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It's heavily dependent on the population of school kids eligible living in that small district. It is volatile as you can see from 2025 number dropping all the way down to zero. Um so these these are and I'm highlighting

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this so we know what we can count on for money and what might be onetime money. School choices students from outside of town who choose to attend Lunberg schools. Every year the school committee can vote to open seats in certain grades. We usually do them at the high

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school. And as you can see, this has been decreasing uh for 15 years. And I know there's a little blip up there. Um but the general trend is decreasing. Um now here's the fun part. This is our increases in the education area of the

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cherry sheets. Um, it's $135,915 additional in chapter 70 funds, $116,413 more in charter tuition reimbursement, $160,187,000 in smart growth. If you'll remember, the

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charter tuition and the smart growth are highly variable from year to year, and the school choice has been steadily decreasing. Uh, it went up this year. Historically, the town has taken any increases and it has not traditionally

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appropriated them to the schools. Any money that is going to go from here to any department in town needs to be appropriated by a voted town meeting. That's how the law works. In November town meeting of 2024, Mandy Gilman as a citizen did submit a

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warrant article for the increase that year. Did you pass? >> No, actually the school committee did it. >> We did that. >> Yeah. Brian was the chair. >> Okay. And it was Brian who did it. >> Thank you. >> That was good to know. >> It was about I looked it up though. It was $60,000 I think that year or it was it was a much smaller sum.

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>> Um we So this is the larger. Yep. This is the larger cherry sheet receipts. Here we can see the majority of the increase was to education coded funding but the town also saw a slight increase in UGGA and VBS and the elderly. UGGA U

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GGA is unrestricted general government aid. I know it's tiny. It was hard to fit. Um VBS is for the visually impaired and the elderly. Um the total increase was $491,988. Yeah, they're going to stay small. I'm

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sorry. Um there is a second part to the cherry sheet which is assessments and charges, money we owe to the state. It is important to look at this piece too and not just the aid. We pay for participation in programs like the central mass mosquito control project.

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We pay into the MBTA and regional transit. And down here at the bottom, we also pay into charter schools. In Massachusetts, charter schools are public schools outside of the local and regional district. They're free for parents and children to to send your

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student to, but the state assesses a charge on the town for the tuition. Tuition is based off the average cost of educating a student in your town. The charter tuition reimbursement from a few slides ago was designed to mitigate these charges and to mitigate the

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financial loss. Not entirely, but to help mitigate the financial loss of a student deciding to attend a charter school instead of our district schools. School choice sending tuition is similar, but it's a different formula for the cost. In Massachusetts, you can choose to send your child to another

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town's schools if that school has seats open. It's not a money maker for towns. You get less than it costs to educate the child. And the state legislator, the chapter 7 formula has not increased that cost in since they said it in I

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think the early 90s. Uh so it did not keep up. But there are strategic reasons that school committees decide to open up seats. like if you have very small class sizes in one grade and you want to absorb more kids without having to lay off teachers

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or at the high school level sometimes it's beneficial to have more students which means more options and more classes to choose from for scheduling. So there's reasons we do it. Um and I want to be upfront. I think these numbers are going to increase dramatically next year. Uh I know that

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when a local school gets to the point that ours might be at, parents start looking for other educational opportunities. It is a real loss to the town. There is a financial cost to the town that will ultimately hurt taxpayers. And there is a cost to the community when a child and their family

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leaves to go somewhere else for education. It's better for everyone when we can provide schools that make community members want to stay. And there is a real sadness to being a town that cannot provide ample educational opportunities for its citizens.

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So our school choice sending tuition decreased. charter schools sending tuition increased for a subtotal of $15,326 in extra assessments. Uh, and those were the only state assessments that went up

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were all in education. Okay, last slide is back to the first one. So, we can subtract from the $491,988 the $15,326 in extra assessments and we get $476,662

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in additional aid coming from the state. So, that is where we are with the numbers. >> Can I add just one thing? >> Yeah. I just want to thank all the parents and community members and all the people who attended hearings, including the students who attended a

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hearing with me this spring and everyone who's written emails to our legislators. This is what that can do, right? So, I know it seems like a long haul. It is a long haul that no government is not easy. It's not quick fix, but our

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passion and our continued emails and our continued crying out for help from the state brought in this extra money. So, I just want to thank every single person who sent an email and every single person who reached out to their legislator, and I'm going to continue to ask people to do that because

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I guess I'm relentless. I don't know. But I I know we can get more money. But thank you everyone, including members of this committee who continue to sign on letters and do things, you know, to get more money, >> drive people, >> drive people to the state house. Oh, that was me.

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>> Okay, so that was my >> Thank you, Laura. >> No problem. Um, so hopefully that helps clear up some of the questions about the numbers or it just made it a whole lot more. >> No, that was really good. >> Um, okay. Student representatives report. Did she she went home?

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>> She was here in her new job that we were around. >> Oh, okay. That's amazing. Um, okay. Review and approve minutes. Did we have minutes? I didn't I didn't see any. Okay. So, yeah. Cruising right along. Uh, review and

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approve line item transfers, warrants, and donations. We have so many and that was the main reason for this meeting. Um so let's >> Hi Chris. >> Hello. Good evening. >> The line item transfers.

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>> I'll try to go through these as quickly as possible. >> Did you want to go? >> Yeah. >> Are these Where are these in the folder? Are these just >> They're here. They're just in the um big folder. It says budget dreams. >> Cool. 729,

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right? >> So, all the transfers tonight are just to cover overages and the accounts that they were in. I'll start with the first one. We're going to be transferring $7,535 for maintenance of buildings to

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maintenance of grounds, contracted services. And that's just to cover grounds contracted servers overage. Okay. You want us to vote on this as a package or one at a time? Before we continue with this, I just want to make

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the public aware this is something that generally happens within a school budget at the end of the year is that similar to your household budget, sometimes your expenses are higher in some areas and less than another and you move funds

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around within your staying within your budget. And that's what these line item transfers are doing. Exactly. >> All school committees across Massachusetts. >> All school committs are doing this right now. >> Yeah. This is a very normal thing that you do at the end of the year.

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>> The second is to cover maintenance overtime overage and we're taking $114.58 from maintenance salaries and transferring it to maintenance overtime salaries. Do you guys have any questions on that one?

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>> No. Okay. >> The next one is to cover elementary and primary school custodian salary overages. We will be transferring a total of $13,950.61 from middle school custodians and high

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school custodians to elementary school custodians and primary school custodians. >> Yep, that makes sense. Any questions? Okay. >> Next is to cover athletic security overage

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and we'll be transferring $2,894 from athletic transportation to special detail athletic events. >> Okay. And that that's the cost of police or >> police custodians.

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>> Athletic event. Yeah. custodians. Okay. >> Okay. >> The next one is to cover regular transportation overage and we're taking $11,000 from heating charges where we

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had a little bit extra money to regular transportation to cover the overage for that. >> Um Were there unexpected costs with regular transportation? >> It was just budgeted too low for the

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year from the previous year. >> Have we revised the budget? >> We did for the 27. >> Okay. >> Hold on. You're ahead of me. Okay. >> You guys got questions? Okay. >> Nope. >> The next is to cover high school

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guidance and high school guidance secretary salary overages. We will be transferring $16,170.37 from middle school guidance counselors to high school guidance counselors and high school guidance secretary cost.

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>> And Chris, some of that was because that's a big number was incurred because of the scheduling issues that happened over the summer. >> Correct. >> Oh, when we had to pay extra. >> Correct. Okay. I was wondering where that was. >> Yeah, that's fine. >> How that was gonna come out. That was last last summer, which was this this

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year. Um before Jean's back on Zoom, right? >> Is Jean back on Zoom? >> Is Jean back on Zoom? >> I do see Jean. >> Okay. I just wanted to double check and make sure. Okay. Sorry. Continue. You got

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>> the next one is to cover high school substitute overage. will be transferring $2,460 from high school long-term substitutes to high school regular substitutes. >> Perfectly. Yep.

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Okay. The next one is to cover the high school principal salary overage. And there will we will be transferring $9,663.95 from middle school administrative

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secretary to high school principal assistant principal. >> Okay. Can you explain that one? What happened there? So, those were just line items that were too low in the budget for salaries. Um, they've been corrected

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though for 27 going forward. >> That's my next question. Um, okay. The next one's kind of long. It's to cover hospital tutoring, ACE special ed paras, primary school specialed paras,

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elementary school specialed paras, and middle school specialed paras and high school special ed paras overage. And we would be taking $81,75.96 from high school sped resource room

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teacher and be transferring it to hospital tutoring. A sped pair of professionals, primary school sped paraprofessionals, elementary sped paraprofessionals,

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middle school sped special ed pair of professionals, and high school specialed pair of professionals. >> Was that an unfilled position? >> I think it was a leave of >> a leave of absence. >> A leave of absence. >> Oh, okay. All right. No

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makes sense. Jean, if you have questions, you can just yell out, too. And I believe this is the last one for tonight. It's to cover the superintendent general supplies overage. And we're transferring $3,584.8

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from dues meetings to general supplies. >> What dues and meetings didn't we end up? There are a couple that I didn't go to. >> Yeah, there were a couple events. >> Yeah, part of your contract. >> It is part of my contract, but I didn't use the full map last year. compensation.

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All right. Okay. Was that everything? >> Bricks. Yeah. >> Oh, I think that's everything for the year, right? >> No, there might be a there might be a couple of more coming. >> Okay. >> Can I ask a general question? >> Yeah. >> What percentage of the budget did we

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spend this year? >> So, I looked at it earlier. So, we're at we spent out all the expenses. We're at 100.2%. 2%. With the salaries, I'm still working on

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that right now. I'm not sure. I know right now it's going to be it's going to be close to >> 100%. >> Not to 100%. There's going to be a little excess, but there's it's going to be close. So the

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overage that happened that caused the kuruffle at the beginning of the year. >> Yeah. >> That was like what percentage of our budget? Like the 654? >> Uh it was a little over 600,000 I believe was what we gave back.

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>> Uh I believe it was like 2 and a half% of our budget. >> We're going to be we'll be less than that. >> Okay. >> How confident are you, Chris, in that prediction? I'm pretty confident after looking at the numbers again today. >> Thank you.

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>> Yeah, this is I know summer is Yeah, you don't get summers off because it's the end of the fiscal year and it just gets a lot. >> Okay. Is there anything else that you want to do? >> We have to vote on these just we do have to vote on them as a

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>> So, can I get a motion to accept the line item transfers? I'll make a motion to accept the line item transfers. >> I'll second. >> Okay, we're going to have to do a roll call vote. Miss Gilman, >> yes. >> Mr. Scoring, >> yes. >> Miss Russell, >> yes.

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>> And I for me, motion passes unanimously. So, go transfer. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, up next is donations, I think. >> Yep. Let's do so real quick. We had

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warrants sending out of $1,57.91. Uh and then donations, we have a bunch, which is exciting. Um so if you'll look the LEAF grants um LEAF the Lunbergation

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Accelerator Foundation um had their first year of funding. They raised over $10,000 um and are dispersing six grants. Uh you can look in your packet for them. I

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should have written out a very quick summary of them and I didn't. Um, so I just outline for people what they're doing. Sorry, give me one second. I should have written that out and I didn't. Oh,

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you're the mess. Okay. So, it is uh the ACE Outpost digital wireless sound system with headsets and lapel mics, erector sets for grades three to five, STEM, creating confident young researchers, uh Revolution and

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Lunenburgg, and SLA News and Spin Science magazine subscriptions totaling 10,716. Um so, thank you very much to Leaf for that. Um, thank you for civil for going after all that money. Um, so we need to

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vote to approve those grants. Can we vote as a package? >> Okay. Make a motion to accept the LEA grants. >> Granted, I would second. >> Okay. Uh, it's going to be a roll call vote. Miss Gilman, >> yes. >> Mr. Schooly, >> yes. >> Miss Russell,

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>> yes. >> And an I for me. So that is unanimous. Thank you. Oh, she put it here. That's fantastic. Should have looked here. Okay. So, motion passes and thank you. And I will send this down. Um,

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next up is what do we have next? Um, do musicators in the folder. >> It's Yeah, it's right here. Yeah. >> Okay. Looneyberg Musicators. Okay. >> Laura, do you want to come up and >> Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. at the uh Laura

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version, president of the Lunberg Musicators 389 Malpus Road. Um we are happy to provide two uh donations. We've got a $300 donation for uniforms for color guard. We have too many color guard this year and we need more

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uniforms. So [laughter] >> yeah, I'm smiling. Um yeah, at last count we have 38 band and color guard members. We have triple more than triple 38. That's amazing. >> We have more than tripled in three years. Yes. The kids are doing an

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amazing job recruiting. And our fifth grade band, I go back to, you know, >> when can I go see them? >> Our fifth grade band is, you know, they're they're coming back up through the ranks. So, we're we're on the other side, I hope, of knock on wood, of the co pandemic. So, yeah. So thrilled. So,

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we need some new tunics. We may need some flags. Miss McGregor is taking inventory of the show and what we might need for additional flags. So, this $300 is for that. Color guard gloves and maybe some shoes as well. And if kids need more, we'll [snorts] step up for

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more. But we'll start with that. >> Are they going to be in the homecoming parade? >> So, they'll be in the home every Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah. So, we're Yeah. So thrilled. And we're getting ready for band camp in a couple of weeks in about three weeks. So, yeah, we're really thrilled. So, so we have that. We are

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also happy to provide $1,213 for the middle school jazz stipen and to fund that so that we can keep our middle school jazz band which we are super excited about. And I will say within about half an hour one day they found themselves a bass player because they

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needed a bass player. So for some things so the kids again stepping up and reaching out to their friends and a little friendly peer pressure to [laughter] to purchase a bass. But yeah, we're thrilled um with both of those and and uh grateful to Miss McGregor and Mr. Shelton for just keeping the kids super

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excited about the band, about playing in concert band, jazz band, and in marching band as well. So, >> the middle school jazz band is such a treasure and such a treat. And >> yeah, >> I legitimately enjoy going to those concerts like they're >> and it makes such a difference. Mr.

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Sheldon will tell you, it makes such a difference when they move up into high school then too as well. and just really fantastic. So, yep. So, we're thrilled. We're happy to provide both those. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> You're welcome. >> Letting us continue. Okay. I'll make a motion to accept the donations with

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Thank you. >> I will second that. >> Okay. Roll call vote. Miss Gilman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Schooly. >> Miss Russell. >> And I for me. Uh motion passes. Okay. Um,

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sports transportation, sports transportation, transportation. That one is in the packet, I think. Okay. So, do you want to talk about the one thing? >> Oh, yes. So, I want to thank our

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generous football boosters. They had offered to purchase extra helmets for our students, but because it is integral to student safety when playing football to have a helmet, the district will be

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paying the cost for those extra helmets. So, um that donation request has been withdrawn um from your folders. >> Thank you to them for being willing to step up and do what we really need to be doing. Um but thank you. That was very

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appreciative. Okay. Uh, so the second one is the Friends of the Lunberg High Football Booster Program. Do you want to come up? >> Yeah. >> And I appreciate how you guys ended up structuring this.

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>> Yes. Thank you. So, I mentioned at the last meeting um in light of transportation being cut from the athletic budget, the boosters wants to provide one-way transportation to away games for the football team and for the cheerleaders. Um in our original um

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request or our donation sheet, we had only had one bus, but including the cheerleaders is going to make it so that we need to provide two buses, which we have the funds for. Um and we're happy to donate the $3,100 something dollars

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to um purchase transportation two away games for the football team and the cheerleaders. Um but we're hoping to do that in three separate donations so that we have some money in our treasury to start the season, [laughter] which I've gotten approval for. So,

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um >> that's wonderful. And I want to thank Tony for spending the time working with the boosters to um >> definitely so much. So yeah, just to make sure that we are in comp and and and found a really solution.

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>> Really really encouraging the support we got from from Tony and from the school committee and from the superintendent about to make this work. And it's it it's a really important part of the culture of the game to have the awake buses and we're so happy that that is

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able to endure. So we appreciate all your support and your advocacy and um yeah >> so I make a motion to accept the donation. >> I will second. >> Okay. Uh all in favor Gilman I >> Mr. Schooly >> I. >> Miss Russell

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>> I thank you. >> Thank you so much. Thank you. >> I just wanted to say that this the football team and the effort that the boosters made and the effort that the coach made to like problem solve and make this work. This is the template we need to have everybody who is doing

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booster work, especially for boosters that need a little bit more. It's a little bit more complex. And you guys did a great job. It wasn't something like I I don't feel like I like you guys did it all and it [laughter] was just a really helpful thing. The only thing I

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did was I sent a mean lawyer email that said, "This is a yes or no. I don't want long explanations. [laughter] I don't want to spend any money." So, >> it was the perfect email to the school committee lawyer. Don't give me an explanation. >> It worked very well. The the district's

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lawyer got back with a yes. >> She really just replied yes. Yes. >> Okay, sounds good. Let's go. >> So, I need to have a lawyer on the committee. >> Thank you. [laughter] So, thank you. >> Very much appreciated. >> Thank you. It's going to be a fun fall season.

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>> Thank you guys. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh up next is the superintendent's report. Excellent. Good evening, members of the school committee and the public. Thank you for the opportunity to provide an update. It has been an incredibly

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busy summer across the district with significant progress made on several fronts as we prepare for the upcoming year. First and foremost, there has been a tremendous amount of activity regarding hiring. We have successfully filled several key positions with outstanding

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candidates. I'm confident that these new additions to our team will bring fresh energy and expertise to our schools. While I originally planned to provide a detailed breakdown of these hires in a subsequent report, I wanted to highlight the positive momentum in this critical area by sharing our recent appointments

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with you tonight because I'm so excited about them. Um, Carly Baker has been hired at the middle high school to be our social work adjustment counselor. Caitlyn Ignulo is our new assistant principal at Turkey Hill Elementary

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School, replacing Dr. Cormier after her retirement. Jessica Cormier D, I think I said that right, is going to be our new um, chemistry teacher up here at the high school replacing Dr. Freriedman. Um,

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Robert Robert Papazon is going to be our new 0.5 athletic director replacing Miss Burns. Nick Banks is going to be the new computer tech replacing Walter Tro as Walter heads off for his college adventures.

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Cara Harukunowitz, who you saw here earlier, is going to be our new Zoom host to the school committee and our event manager, [laughter] replacing Walter. Eteliz Viola is going to be the new assistant principal at the

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high school, replacing um Miss Ducan, who moved to the middle school. Gina Gonslaves is going to be our new recording secretary for the school committee. She's replacing Miss Fuller, who resigned from her position earlier this year.

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Sandra Richie is going to be the new guidance secretary, replacing Sandra Shehy, who's transferred to special education to be the assistant to um Mrs. Canskum. Deanna Burn is a new par professional at the primary. Kenzie

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Manon is the new um social worker um adjustment counselor here replacing Tony Tada. Eric Shehan. Um, I'm going to pause on that one because I'm not sure that one is actually happening. Denix Mendes is hired at the primary school um

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as a custodian replacing Lisa Glenny, which is that hard to fill nighttime custodian position or keep fil that hard um to fill nighttime position. I'm very pleased to announce some excellent news regarding district

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funding. First, the FY26 airmark funding to approve our 10 passenger vans has been finalized finally, and I'm happy to report that the vans have been ordered. This is fantastic news for our smaller programs. Our team, our team, our administrative team will be meeting next

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week to work out the systems and structures for deploying these vans efficiently. That's the next piece of work that we have to do. Additionally, we received a letter from Senator John Cronin's office informing us that they have successfully secured $175,000

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in earmarks for FY27 specifically designated for system infrastructure upgrades. In the coming weeks, I will be working closely with the technology and buildings and grounds departments to develop a comprehensive spending plan for these funds. Um, I also want to provide a brief

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update on the issue of the unpaid scholarship funds. Please know that we actively worked with town officials to resolve this matter as quickly and equitably as possible. I really want to commend my central office team who did a lot of researching and has been communicating about this problem since

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um early May um with the town in order to resolve this. The town has notified that the issue has been resolved. This was a priority for us and we were committed to finding a solution that honored the intent of these scholarships and supported our students. In the

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spirit of community partnership, I recently had a very productive meeting with Christa Dvau, the town's new recreation director. We discussed various ways our departments can collaborate more closely. We are exploring how the recreation department might help fill potential gaps in

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programming benefiting both our students and adult residents. I'm excited about the possibilities this partnership presents for expanding opportunities within our town. We have some good news about our ESSA entitlement grants. The allocation, that's the elementary um

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school and secondary education act. Um the allocations for title 2 and title 4 were relatively flat with some slight decreases. Title two was $28,443. Title 4 was $15,19. The good news here is our Title One

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allocation was substantially more than we were originally totally told to expect, coming in at $193,820. >> We were banking on $96,000. Wow. What are you for the increase? >> I don't know. Um, and we're not asking.

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>> Well, I'm just I want to make >> I didn't mean if there's an increase in low income students. No, it's not an increase in selling. >> It's just Yeah, that was >> What is the title two number? >> Uh, title 2 was $28,443. >> I think they just figured out how to use

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the formula more effectively to support us than what they were initially planning on. Just like the state budget numbers changed, the federal numbers change. >> We have to spend that money. I'm going to tell you. We intend to use our title 2 funding to support highquality

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evidence-based professional development in mathematics to strengthen educator content knowledge and instructional practice. Professional learning will focus on effective implementation of highquality instructional materials, researchbased instructional strategies, data informed decision-making, and

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equitable access to rigorous mathematics instruction. These activities are designed to increase instructional effectiveness and raise student achievement in mathematics in alignment with the mass curriculum frameworks. Title two must be spent on professional

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development. So that is our plan. Based on the district's comprehensive needs assessment, title 4 part A funds will be used to support safe and healthy students by providing evidence-based consultation and coaching to strengthen trauma-informed practices and improve

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school climate. Our intention is to use title one funds to provide instructional coaching to build educator leadership capacity, strengthen evidence-based literacy instruction, and improve outcomes, academic outcomes for students who are

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failing or are at most risk of failing to meet the AC Massachusetts academic standards. That is our plan. and you later as we get into more discussion, you will see how the plan all ties in for our funding

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>> development and networking. On a professional development note, I recently attended the annual Massachusetts Superintendent Conference. It was a valuable experience. I had the opportunity to interact with several experts regarding the Massachusetts School Building Authority process,

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gathering insights that will be crucial as we navigate our own facility needs and submitt of our statement of interest. um this winter. Additionally, I met with the founder of Ignite Tutoring, engaging in a compelling conversation about innovative approaches for student support. In closing, while

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the summer is often viewed as a quiet time for schools, the reality behind the scenes is one of focused preparation and strategic planning. the progress we've made in hiring, the exciting funding secured for our new vans and district infrastructure, the ongoing efforts to resolve the scholarship issue, our

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promising collaboration with the recreation department, and the valuable insights gained from the recent conference all point toward a strong start to the new academic year. I'm confident that the work we are doing now will translate into positive outcomes for our student and staff. Thank you, and I'm happy to answer any questions

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you may have. Have the checks for the scholarships all been written and given to the students? >> Yes, they have. >> Thank you. >> The final one was given Monday, correct, Liz? >> The final check was Monday. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you, Liz, for trying to

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untangle that knot because >> it's important that students get their scholarships, especially before college starts [clears throat] in a few weeks. Um, okay. Thank you for that. Um,

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all right. So, the title one is just we're not seeing an influx in >> No, I think it's really the federal government kind of figured some things out. Um, surprisingly, >> I take it take it. Um,

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>> okay. >> Thank you for listing all the hires. I was happy to see there was an article in the ledger about one of our new hires. I think that was >> about Miss Biola, right? >> Miss Biola. I thought that was nice like people. I know not everyone gets the ledger, but it's it's good to >> Yeah, it was a great article. Anybody

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out there, please go back and read it. It's just nice to see and happy to have. Is our new athletic director started yet? >> He is starting on his first. >> Excellent. >> Great. I just know that's an area of interest. >> I'm [laughter] excited about that one. >> Yes. >> He knows the challenge he's walking into. >> He knows the challenge he's walking

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into. I'm excited that he has a good business background and I think he will get us the systems and structures that we need to help strengthen our athletic program. It is a difficult role to fill because there are so many different skill sets necessary.

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>> Correct. Again, Mrs. Burns was a unicorn in that she had so many skills. Um, so congrats on finding someone. Um and hopefully yeah the the numbers piece will also fit nicely into that because we need to start doing

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>> yeah we had years prior to Miss Burns where our numbers have been very entangled in the snarl and we started combing that out last year but there's still a lot of work left to be done in there. So, I'm very happy to have

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somebody with his financial background in the position. >> And I I like when we get people who understand what they're walking into and are willing to take on the challenge, much like Chris where I think we asked you, do you know what you're walking into? And um you were happy happy to do

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it. Um so I think I think that helps when we have people who are excited about this. So thank you. I'm really excited about prayers. >> Isn't it exciting? >> Um, yeah. This is a big year for that. >> Mhm. >> Okay. Uh, does anyone have questions for

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Dr. Fortuna? Miss Russell, did you have any questions? >> No, thank you. Okay. I just wanted to make sure in case I'm I don't want to miss you because I don't have Zoom on my screen. So, if you're raising raising your hand, I cannot see. Um, all right. Up next, we have new business. We

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already did the donations because I just saw donations and did it. So, we did those donations, we did those donations, we did the leaf grants. Bill, are you ready? >> I am. It's >> the fun part. >> Fun part. >> So, now we are going to do the fireworks

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for the 300th anniversary. Um, >> on fireworks. >> Bill's bringing the fun stuff. So, in your folders, there was a slideshow. It's labeled Bloomberg 300th anniversary. Yeah, it's just a sort of a proposal of

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what we have planned and it and it lists their [clears throat] policies and everything. Gives you an idea of what what's going to happen. Doesn't go over the whole show, but just their policies with the insurance information and things like that. >> So, can you start at the beginning? Why are we having fireworks?

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>> All right. So, as everybody hopefully everybody knows, in 2028, it's going to be our 300th anniversary as a town, which is a big deal. Um, one of the traditional events that uh has been done in the past is uh to

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kick off the anniversary year on New Year's Eve of the preceding year, there's a small short fireworks display and it just sort of kicks off the year. um you know and and I usually what we're planning on doing is having some um

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activities around the center involved earlier like the senior center and the teen club um sort of festivities getting together hot chocolate whatever and you know type of thing um and it will it will just be it would end with a fireworks display it may not be at midnight I mean that's

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just some people have to go to bed >> get tired >> um but >> and what do we olive in town. >> It's called The First Night and Night with a K. >> So that that [laughter] >> I love it. >> Uh like I said, it's been done at least

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twice before this, the 250th and 275th. >> Um >> of course. >> So, >> and you need our permission to light off the fireworks. >> Well, I I a couple things. Um I asked the company rep to join us on Zoom, but

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he's has a meeting. I'm not sure he's going to be able to join, but I did ask Chris Roose and I think he might be on Zoom now. If you have any questions because he he is a seasoned veteran in fireworks. He used to work for the company. So, >> he used to work for the exact company. >> Oh, really? Yeah. So, Chris

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>> Chris has many talents. I keep discovering them and they're >> I didn't know that. I didn't know that until he told me. But, uh >> so he he used to work for this company. It has a different name then, but he worked for this company. It was it was called it was called Atlas Fireworks and

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they changed the name to Pyro Technical. Um, one thing that's kind of humorous that one of the um proposed sites of sites we thought about was lighting it off behind TCP and uh the firework company put a key

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wash to that because they said that there might be some damage to the school and so I'm there's probably some people that might want to light the fuse. My suggestion was the roof of CCP and let's let it go. >> But anyway, that that wasn't going to be that was that wasn't going to work anyway. But anyway, we're we're

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proposing using the the grass football field, >> not the turf field, the the the practice field. I guess that's what that is. Um near the end zone closest to the high school. >> And Chris said it was because it it's fenced off. >> Yeah, it's fenced off.

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>> Prevent access to it. Um, and considering the time of year, we don't foresee any kind of damage of any any kind because the ground's frozen. The probably snow in the ground. So, it's not there's not really any issues that in that respect. Um, parking area, we'll

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have to deal with the parking how the par, you know, that's handled. I'm not really sure how that would work. Um, >> but these are probably So, this is going to be I'm on the 300 I'm on the 300th uh committee, too. Um, so it's probably going to be it's a short show.

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>> Yeah, it's only six to eight minutes. >> Um, and it's cold. It's January, so this isn't like a come and put your picnic blanket out on the field and watch the fireworks. It's a stand there after you've been drinking hot cocoa >> in the center of town. >> Well, I mean, people can can pull up on

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Massav and park along Mass Avenue and you'll be able to see it. One of the reasons we wanted it there was to be able to have it visible from anywhere in the town center area. Um, so that we the most central area to do it would be and it's fenced in, so that makes it a lot

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better. So that's uh that's what we're asking. >> It'll be New Year's Eve. >> Yes. >> I just want to get >> 2027. [laughter] It doesn't seem that far away, but it really isn't that far away. >> A whole calendar events. There's going to be something every month. >> Yeah. Yeah.

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>> For the Nobody likes my idea that every for 300 days we all just live as that year. Oh my god. I like shaving too much. >> Nobody like that. >> No, I like shaving. So, um I don't know if anybody has any questions. I think if Chris is on Zoom, he probably be happy

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to answer them if any questions on the the actual how it works, what happens because I don't know that. I know they have to probably have to drive on a field with a with a box truck and there's a trailer with the fireworks on it. >> What happens if it snows and there's

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like huge drifts of snow? >> It'll be beautiful. Well, I know, but how do they get the fireworks on the ground? I actually asked [laughter] Chris. >> No, I think the fireworks are on a trailer. I think they pull a trailer behind that and they the fireworks are on the trailer. >> Plow or snowb blow a path. Okay. >> Well, I mean, if there's that much snow,

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but I I don't you know, it's >> Yeah, hopefully it won't be like this. Um Yeah. So, as you know, my one concern um because I love fireworks was just the the damage to the field because we're not in a position to be taking on any

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additional costs. Um but from what I've seen is any damages to fields either come or to school facilities from fireworks because it turns out it does happen is either um it's summer and the grass catches on fire, right?

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>> Which shouldn't be an issue. No. >> Um or it's illegal fireworks and it's not done by a professional company. Right. >> So, um I think most of my concerns are pretty mitigated. >> Um and I'm very excited about this community event kicking off our 300th

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anniversary. >> Yeah, I know. It's a big deal. >> I'll make a motion to accept the proposal when allowed the fireworks. I was going to ask, does anyone have any questions? >> I I almost responded via email. You had me at fireworks, but the reality is I have not changed my position since you

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had me at fireworks. I'm in. >> Okay. Um, yes, we're good. >> I make a motion to accept the proposal of shooting the fireworks off for the 300th anniversary on the football

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practice field on December 31st as outlined in. >> I I would uh I would second that. >> Big heck yeah. Hopefully get really close and see how they shoot him off. [laughter] >> You're going to be the one that worried about the reason. >> That's why it's [laughter]

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me. >> Um, okay. Roll call vote. Miss Gilman, >> yes. >> Mr. Schooly, >> yes. >> Miss Russell, >> yes. >> And, uh, I guess for me, >> so, >> thank you very much. >> Passes. Thank you. >> Have a good evening. >> Thank you very much, Phil. And thank you

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for all the work that you've put into this. >> You're welcome. >> Okay. Um, all right. So, the FY27 budget, additional state aid, Mandy. Yes. So, I would like to request

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that the school committee reook at our um warrant article that we passed at our last meeting two weeks ago and readjust that warrant article and ask it to be included at the special very special. What do you call it? >> Extra special.

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>> Extra [laughter] special. Well, I was calling it the special special, but I like extra special at the extra special town meeting on September 3rd. Um, so I would like to So I I pulled up what we passed last time. I would like to change the number. I wanted the school

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committee to have a discussion. I thought Laura did a really nice job outlining that extra funding. That is the reason I feel very strongly that we should have this special special town meeting. [snorts] Um, Dr. Dr. Fortuna has been generous enough to put together a proposal if we were to ask for the

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418,000 which is the amount the legislature funded Lunenberg schools above um the governor's proposal. I just want to make sure I got my my language correct. Um you know I think there is an argument

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for us asking for the 475,000 that the schools that the town got as a whole above. Um, you know, we did cut over $800,000 in our budget this year. And, you know, on top of this stuff, I am not going to present as as lovely as Laura

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did. Actually, her her slides were gray. There is an an additional over $300,000 as well that is coming in the state budget. Um, that is one-time money that I'm not asking for. Um, but it is not like the town is not going to get more

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funding um through the budget process. uh the we had paid some bills during town meeting including snow plowing and a few other uh things that came through as earmarks in the state legislature budget. So I don't know Gina and and uh

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Laura and um Tony I know Dr. Fortuna had mentioned with the 418 I don't know if you want to talk a little bit about what you she had sent us some pre-information on what you would think you would spend that last $68,000 on Dr. Fortuna if that were to come to us.

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So, one of the positions to create a balanced budget that we weren't filling due to attrition was a certified occupational therapy assistant. >> Um, in looking at the numbers, while our

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overall enrollment remains steady, we are seeing a rise in the number of students requiring requiring specialized support. Specifically, there are anticipated increases in the case load of students who need occupational therapy services to fully access their education. AOTA, a certified

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occupational therapy assistant, will provide crucial direct support to effectively manage this growing case load working under the guidance of our incredible occupational therapist. Recent changes in state state law strictly limit the use of cool down

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rooms in schools. This is important to the ask for this position. As a district, we fully support creating proactive inclusive environments for all students. However, this legal shift means that many students who previously relied on those spaces now require

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highly individualized sensory plans to help them regulate their emotions and remain engaged in the classroom. Developing and implementing these personalized sensory diets and regulation strategies is incredibly time offensive and requires specialized knowledge. An OT and AOTA is

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specifically trained to execute these plans providing the immediate in the- moment support students need to succeed in their classroom without relying on physical cool down spaces. They also can help write the plans that can be executed by teachers or par professionals in the room. Replacing

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this quota on our team is a vital step in meeting the evolving needs of our students and providing safe, effective and proactive support. So um this is a new requirement from the state the cool down room.

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>> So the cool down room elimination goes into effect or is in effect right now that we can no longer use that. >> When did that start? That was >> um over the summer. was how much money did that come with when they when we were required to shift

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>> zero dollars. [laughter] >> Okay. And zero is none. >> Correct. >> Okay. So, this is another unfunded mandate. >> Correct. >> Where we are told we need to shift what we're doing and it's going to require >> correct >> more co much more cost to us. >> Not saying it's not the right thing to

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do. I'm not saying we don't have the right to do that, but just there is no additional state money. Correct. You're marked for this even though it's going to cost more. >> Yeah. And there's some interesting things about this, too. The state was supposed to supposed to develop

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professional development opportunities for teachers. We still have not seen that. >> Oh, will that happen before the beginning of the school year? >> Most likely not. >> Okay. Um >> I also did look through some of our stuff and it looks like we're down an OT. >> We're down a um a certified occupational

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assistant, >> right? Which is which is Yeah. Yes, this is a >> we cut this position to get we cut this position to get to switch. That's what I >> But now it's >> and it's needed. It wasn't We didn't cut it because it wasn't needed. We cut it because of the fun financial situation.

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Um >> and we thought we could [clears throat] skate by >> and we thought we could skate by. The thing I would like to to ask as well is would you say possibly this these are the types of positions that help keep kids in district? >> Yes. >> So could we just elaborate on that for the public? Again, it's something that we understand as a school committee, but

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just a sentence or two. >> Yeah. So, if we're not able to provide a free and appropriate public education in the district, we are required to provide out placements for students. If we have a student that is highly disregulated

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that we can't use a cool down space and we can't provide a sensory diet for then we have potentially have students that are very disregulated very disruptive >> to their own education and the education

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of others and we would it would be incumbent upon us to consider outplacements. Now, I'm not saying that our out placements might not we might not see an increase in outplacements either. This gives us another tool in our tool belt to stop that.

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>> Yeah. And and being in in the classroom or in the school district is better for students. >> Absolutely. The research all bears >> the research all bears that out >> that it's better both for the spe the student with special needs as well as the student in general education.

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>> In general education. So cutting positions like this are sort of short-term gains for possible long-term costs, >> disasters, you know, I mean literally those kind of things. Yeah.

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>> Um, can we talk about so the 418 I believe sorry before we do that I want to >> Y >> it's a little bit of a knot L I know we talked about this earlier today >> because you submitted this the request for the town meeting. >> Yeah

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>> and attached to it but and you did that as a private citizen. >> Yeah. Um, so we as a committee need to decide if we It was Tony brought to my attention that when we voted on the um warrant article, we didn't specify

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>> a date. >> Yeah. >> For that. >> Um, so I guess I want to untangle if we as a committee submit our own article because right now there is an open warrant for the there for our it's Yeah. Open warrant.

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>> Yeah. Like agenda, the agenda for town meeting >> because every town meeting there is a period where it is open and anyone can submit a warrant article. Um, and that closes August 7th. Uh, they they opened it right away and it's open now and anyone can submit a warrant article as a

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town body. We can submit one without the signatures. Um, so that is my request. Okay? Because if we do that, the request is still attached to yours as a citizen too. So the request that I requested as a

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citizen was for more money for the schools and that over 200 whatever many people signed. It did not have an exact amount on it. It just said we would like to have a special town meeting to discuss further money for the schools. Um, yep. To see if the town will vote to

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raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds, which is the typical language, yeah, >> a sum of money, non-specific, y >> to supplement the school department's fiscal year 2027 FY 2027 operating budget or take any other action relative there too, and further the undersigned

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petitioners request that upon certification of this petition by the Templar. And and then you talk about the 45 statute day statutory clock and the dates. Um but it doesn't it doesn't specify an amount um just to supplement. So I want to

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>> right because I as a although I submitted the request as a private citizen I am not going so rogue that I wouldn't want the school department to have a say in where the funding is most needed. Um and Dr. Fortuna had already presented a spending plan to us up to

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the $350,000. So, I would like to express to my colleagues here on the school committee that I think the 418 or even the 475 is money that we should be able to spend. Um, and I am asking the warrant

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article from two weeks ago for us to amend that warrant article to the amount we decide on and for that warrant article to be on the warrant at the next town meeting which will now be occurring on September 3rd. As a private citizen, I will have to discuss with town council

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as the petitioner, you know, if we vote on this as a asking as a school committee to add to the warrant. I will I I will verbally say here I will not be pursuing extra money from another, you know, the one the citizens petition filed because I believe that that

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when people were signing that petition, I asked them to sign to force a town meeting for more money for the schools. I didn't say how much money it had to be and people were aware of that when they signed it. Uh and you know I think that me as a member of this body respect Dr. Fortuna and her leadership team and want

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to spend the money in the most thoughtful effective way possible. Um you know so that that is why I had asked Dr. Fortuna for a proposal for what you know what she would think would be the best way to spend that money. And I know there's been some concern about the money being volatile. Um, I think that

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the cherry sheet has gone up every year over the last 20 years. And I also believe that my my children and all the children in this district only go to school one each year. They only have so many years in school. And while I am not asking for one time I believe I'm not asking for onetime funding. Onetime

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funding would be free cash. We have over $9 million in our stabilization account. I am not asking for any of that money. I'm not asking for the And stabilization mean the town. >> The town does. Yes. I'm sorry. The town has over $9 million is my understanding in our stabilization fund and the town is getting more free cash which will

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have to filter through and will not be spent for another year and a half and I as a school committee member am respecting you know the idea that we are not asking for onetime money but I feel very strongly that this money is money that families and kids and parents lobby

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the legislature for. The legislature said spend it on schools and for some reason the town does not want to spend it on the schools. So, and that is why I've asked people to sign. I collected signatures with the help of many people including select board member Leighton

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um Anna Lockwood who I've disagreed with on a lot of things. Um my sister did a lot of work you know so and you know we collected signatures in three days. this was not a um controversial move by people and you know if the select board had acted on our first request you know

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I've heard a lot in the in the discourse about how this is so much work for everyone but you know if they had acted upon our request at the end of June when we asked them to do this we wouldn't be doing this right when school started so that that is my strong position I don't know Tony if you have anything to say

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about the 418 versus the 475 or Gan you know cuz I I would love your support um because I really believe the school committee should be the ones who ask for what we believe is the most important um you know the most important positions

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under Dr. Fortuna's leadership. >> I want to clarify if this becomes a school committee effort. Yeah. >> Um and I'm not saying this is a reason not to do it. I just want us >> the members to be aware. Yep. >> If this is a school committee effort, then it's we need to be aware of the

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demands on the time of of our staff as far as presenting and ask for information >> because the timing of this special town meeting means it is being held the first week of school. Dr. Fortuna, as we heard tonight, has a lot of new staff

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starting. Um, I don't foresee it as being as exciting as the first day of school last year. I hope not. [laughter] Um, but I I do want us just to be aware

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about the demands on our already stretched thin staff. Um, there everyone is dealing with increased pressures and decreased staffing. Um, and the timing does make it difficult, but it's not a reason to do it. I just want us Yeah. to be aware >> and I appreciate that and I appreciate

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Dr. Fortuna's willingness to discuss and work on this stuff with me and to talk about this, you know, and and come up with a proposal for additional funding. Um, and you know, and and I'm hopeful we're going to continue to get some more money. The next thing I'm going to ask you guys to do is I wrote a letter to the legislature asking for some

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additional money. the governor proposed. Um, but you know, as each year ticks by, all of our children is getting are getting older and every child is getting older and every year that we don't because my you know, sorry, are you laughing at my speech?

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>> That was hilarious. >> Um, I'm just saying every child I'm not saying this is about my kid. I guess you only get first grade once. You only get that chance to learn to read and engage with materials once. You don't get to go back and do it again. >> Exactly. And and that's why I don't want

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people in the audience and at home to think this is for my kid because honestly this is not for my kid. This is for all the children in our district that need these services and are continuing to be told that they are not important enough to get these services. >> So the second thing I want us to keep in

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mind is that if this becomes a school committee effort with the warrant article then the request needs to abide by school committee and state open meeting law rules with us doing our work in meetings. >> Yeah. and having the discussion during meetings because I know that there was tension when it came to citizens

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petitions in the past with the school committee's ability to pivot or adapt quickly to changing situations because we could only do things in two week chunks when we were meeting. Um because it's it is difficult. So I just want that to be aware too. I mean I just feel like but I want people to be aware.

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>> Yeah. I just feel like citizens petitions, there's a reason it's written into this and there's a reason we have public town meeting and there's a reason that all these things exist and I can't sleep at night if I don't use all the tools in my toolbox to help the children of this town in a community that I love.

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>> Yeah. And I definitely think if we do submit a war article, I would like it if you could meet with the town lawyer and untangle the citizens petition part from the school >> Sure. part because I it's a little bit complicated and I just >> I think people are making it complicated

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because they want it to be complicated. >> What if we did this? What if >> personally I'm not I'm not putting that on you, Laura. I'm putting it on the fact that people want things to be complicated when they aren't really that complicated. >> What if we did this? What if we just

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said that we would uh take the language of the original warrant article and edit it and then vote upon that new language as a school committee. We do that. We've done that multiple times. And that way, whoever originated it doesn't matter. It is now ours.

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>> She's worried because I filed the petition that is going to be a different article on the warrant because I filed it and I'm the person of record of it that I'm going to go around. You guys, >> I'm not worried go around. I'm just worried it's going to confuse people. But I think we can easily straighten it

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out. >> I just have to talk to the I I'm not going to withdraw it because I don't want withdrawing it to withdraw the I think it's triggered. >> Well, I mean, I can ask for zero dollars on that one, right? And ask for our money on ours. I'm happy to work it out,

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but I just think it's less I think there's a lot of people in town who want it to be complicated because obviously it's easier to blame me for things being complicated than to actually >> But like what if we just did what if we just did what I proposed, which is take

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>> the the current proposal, >> make it ours, and then put the number in. Yeah. Like what I'm saying is there's also a second one that is filed when people sign. That's what Laura's working. But >> hers hers it's very it's open-ended. So what she said >> I didn't put a number on it because I

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didn't want to go around the school committee process basically. So, but I agree cuz like you pointed out um we did not specify a date for the warrant article that we proposed and I don't even >> the only thing I would want to amend if

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the only thing I think people would want to amend would would be the amount um because we could just submit it and the chair of the select board has asked that we just send over our language if we do end up with language. >> Um I think that's a nice compromise. Yeah.

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>> Um and that it would allow us to take ownership of it in a way that would let staff work on it without running into >> Yes. And I promise I won't ask too many more questions. I feel like Dr. Fortuna has come up with a good presentation. I know she will. >> She's also a born teacher.

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>> I know. And she'll have to present it that day at town meeting, but I'm hopeful that town meeting, you know, will be >> Yeah. And we'll have the two um the finance committee meetings. >> Yeah. And the finance committee meetings. Yep. which I I promise I will attend. Even if Laura can't be there, I

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will be there if you want me or if Laura can, whatever, you know, whatever you need. >> Um, >> whatever you need from me. I mean, I'm willing to attend any meetings that >> if we did the if we did the 418 number as opposed to

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the 350 number, we know what the additional money would be going to based on what Dr. Fortuner just said. And so the proposal at the floor of the extra special town meeting would be instead of an allocation of $350,000, it would be

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$419,000. And the difference between those two numbers would be spent on X and the $350,000 would be spent on Y. And so every single person would essentially know not only what the menu item is, but the price on the menu,

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>> which isn't how I love funding schools, right? I think this is extraordinary circumstances that we've had to take because we're not getting what we need. >> And I think this is I think the fact that Mandy collected so many signatures so quickly reflects >> how people are feeling in this town

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>> about what we need for the schools and willing to go to bat to get what we need for the schools. Um, but I think traditionally I I really don't want to get in the habit of peace meal funding the schools based on warrant articles and us saying here's what we're going to

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spend it on because for example with Lakota situations change. Last year we didn't have paras at one school and then we had some moveins and we suddenly needed paras at that school. Budgets change. We

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are year to year a very it's it's volatile because there are they're children and they have changing needs and it people move in and they have needs. So >> and I think not to interrupt [snorts] you but I think that is an important something for the public to be aware of and other town boards. I do agree with

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that. I do agree that you know I had sort of talked to Dr. Fortuna offline about maybe a spending priority list if we were to get additional funding and it's not that Dr. Dr. Fortuna could justify another $5 million. I truly truly believe that, you know, that we

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could spend a significant amount of money more, but putting things in a list that's one after another doesn't really look at the whole picture of the needs in this moment. And so I I understand why that is a difficult way to budget. And I do think people who work in

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corporate settings or work in other settings who look at our budget um and are dealing with widgets, right? Isn't that what Mrs. Do uh Mrs. Z used to say? They're dealing with widgets, not children. And you know, we have to serve every child that comes in the door and

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we could have a child who shows up tomorrow who we need to educate who has vastly different needs than anyone who is currently in our system. So I 100% agree with what you're saying. I just feel very strongly that this money is the work of a lot of people and if we

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don't spend it on the schools, what happens when we don't what does the legislature say? You didn't really need it, which is not true. >> So, I think one hurdle we're going to have to consider, and I I stand by the spending plan because right now what we need are people.

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>> Yeah. >> Um, one hurdle we're going to have to clear is the idea of this being one-time money and the finance committee being able to support the plan. Yeah, because the funding is going towards people >> a lot of

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>> not all of it though, which is I think the ignite tutoring was a nod to that reality that we would love to hire one more reading tutor, but instead >> Yeah, we we'd actually hire rather hire a staffer, but >> we would much God I would always rather put children in front of real human well

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I mean they're real humans but inerson relationships than a computer screen but this is the reality of what we're facing. So I I think there are concessions. >> There are definitely concessions there. >> I hear you and staff with this is difficult. >> I'm willing to help you data wise. Um one of the things Laura did was I

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thought she did a really good job with the chapter 70. I would like to look at the cherry sheets over the last 10 to 15 years and I can make you a chart because I do think that that money really generally has not gone down. I I you know I I someone else told me they looked over the last 15 years and it had

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not gone down. I will confirm that and get that information to you because I I think that is another argument that and you know we are not the only district that's in this position. Um >> there are districts all over the state that are in this position and nobody

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wants to hire staff on one time money. Um but I truly believe that this is not onetime money because we also have a lot of onetime money I'm not going after. Right. And I do think that that's a concession from me. It's not a concession from the school committee, but you know, I do want to put it out

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there. If I had asked people to sign something to spend the $350,000 of one-time money, I think people would have signed that, too. So, you know, that is something I am staying away from. >> If you give me like three minutes, >> I can make you a chart of the cherry

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sheet subtotal for all education items. But you are right. It has trended upwards. [clears throat] >> In 2012, it was $4,977 4. I already did this. Yeah, I was curious. >> Um, I only went back 15 years. >> I never said it was just chapter 70. It's always full education total for

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all. This is a subtotal for all education. Um, school choice. And then back in like 2015, we were getting a lunch thing, too. Um, but I took that out. >> And given the release of student data into the MCCAST parent portal, I'm hoping that we'll be able to use some of

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our data from MCAST testing last year to help support this culture. >> Yeah. Will that be available before this meeting? >> I think it may be. We didn't get it till October last year. >> I don't know what she asked. I'm sorry.

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>> So on August 14th, the parent portal goes live, right? >> So the data should be unembargoed soon. >> That's what that's what I'm that's what I'm thinking. Yes, that's soon. >> Well, the parents can get their children's data at that time. the

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districtwide data I would assume because that would make sense, right? >> But I can't say that. >> It would not make we >> It wouldn't make sense data. >> It doesn't mean the state will do it, but >> I guess I could see that it's one thing

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for me to be your parent and get your data versus the entire district. I don't know what that will look like. >> The state's still working, but they're building the parent portal airplane while they're flying. I [snorts] it sounds like last year again it wasn't ready for prime time. >> Yeah. And then we didn't get numbers

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>> and now they're saying August 14th. We'll see. >> Okay. Well, that would be handy if that information could come out. >> Yes. >> And also I the last thing I want to say to the town and to the voters and to the and to the the leadership is that through the work of Margaret Scarsdale,

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there is a commission that is going to start meeting. And I know a commission does not sound that exciting, but this commission is going to look at the chapter 70 formula and has to report back in the fall of FY28. [snorts] That is not soon, but that is a light at the end of this tunnel. And I will continue

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to push this committee and I know we all have only so much time, but you know to really weigh in on that because to me that is where we are going to see hopefully structural change to the chapter 70 formula which is essential to fixing the funding problem across our

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state. And so to me every $400,000 is pushing towards that hopeful moment where we are going to hopefully see the reality of funding that's needed. So, um, that's really important for me to that

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this is, you know, the public always asks, "Is it going to be every year? Is it going to be every year?" Yes, it is. But also, we have something coming that hopefully is going to be more structural change. >> And to clarify for the voters, um, Mandy, this will not be an increase to their tax rate like an override.

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>> Exactly. That is a great point. This is not an override. This is money the state has already collected and has given to the town. So, >> let's be clear. This is our money. >> It is our money. Yes. >> This is our tax money that we have paid to the state. The state is giving back to us. So when people get upset that

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like where's this money coming? It is ours. They are using our money. They are our employees. >> Everyone in government is our >> past few years. We've received less of our money back to our towns and it has been spent elsewhere. Unrestricted

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general government aid. Um the Mass Municipal Association released a report called the perfect storm about um the lack of unrestricted general government aid and generally our state tax money and how little of it is being returned

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to towns. And that is one of the huge reasons Lunberg is struggling and other towns like us without an incredibly wealthy tax base or commercial base to lean on. That is part of the reason we are struggling so much. Yeah. >> Um, so I like Tony's solution. >> Okay.

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>> About the we submit a warrant article >> and we amend the warrant article that we already voted on. >> We already voted on it and we didn't specify when. Um, and if you want to amend it >> the amount. So I I'm going to read it now. Um, as voted on last meeting, it

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was to see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate an additional sum of $350,000 and no sense for the FY27 operating budget for the school department or to take any other action relative there too. Um, and then we had a summary which is on

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July 7th, but I made the 9th. uh Governor Healey signed the FY27 state budget which made available $418,056 more in education specific receipts that the town then the town's FY27 budget initially anticipated the school committee is requesting $350,000 from

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additional education receipts from the state for the FY27 school year. This article would appropriate that amount to the school budget. >> So I'd make a motion to make that um edit to $418,56. Is that what you said the number was? >> Yeah.

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>> I think you just read it out loud. >> Uh 4418,56 is the subtotal of all education item increases >> and to submit that for um the upcoming extra special town meeting. >> I would second that. >> Yeah, nodding is not a second.

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>> Yeah, sorry. >> Um okay. uh discussion. I >> I think that the the first of all, I think that at our previous really quick meeting, we did not vote on the amount.

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We we had a >> we did vote on the amount. >> Oh, yeah. I'm sorry. We did not vote the date and we did not vote on whether or not we would ask for uh an extra special town meeting. And so, the fact that we are doing this now in no way contradicts

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what we had voted on before. The reason I'm voting to support more money than I did before was because before we didn't have any avenue or leverage to get more money from the town. Now that we do, I

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want all the money. Period. >> Thank you. >> Jean, do you have any input? I agree with what Tony and Mandy have said that that money was directed toward the schools. We should get the entire

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amount of the money for the schools. >> Thank you. Um I'm going to vote yes on this even though I know that I had met with the town manager and I had met with Renee and we talked about the $350,000.

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Um, but I can't in good conscious I can't not vote to get the schools as much money as they need. I just can't. And I I apologize for that. I just um I can't see me voting no to get the schools what they need. I can't if a no

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vote for me means we're not going to get the certified occupational therapy assistance that children in this town need. That's just not something I can I've really struggled with this because I I do feel like I met as the chair with the

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town manager and with uh Renee but on the other hand I just when you think about what this money represents and the students that it helps I so I am going to vote yes >> I just want to say something a very wise person who was the chair of the

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philosophy department at Xavier University when I went there told me and this is the most important thing I learned as an undergraduate A wise person is always one good argument away from changing their mind. >> So I don't think you should worry a second about

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>> doing is going back on your word. >> We quote we have a fiduciary duty to make sure that we speak for the children. >> Yeah. >> And they don't get a chance to vote on how we spend their money >> even though they're the ones whose lives are affected. I mean the services that

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this provides >> will make a difference in children's lives. I mean that's un unequivocal in my mind. >> Can we touch again? Would you mind if we touched again on why we are not using this money? Why we would not plan on using this money for classroom teachers?

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Because I I know why. Um but I do feel that there is a dialogue in town about well you guys complain about class sizes so much and then you get money and then you don't just hire classroom teachers. So can we talk a little bit about that? Yeah,

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there's actually three reasons why. One is the practicality of hiring a good um classroom teacher on September 3rd when this is finally appropriated. >> Um all of the strongest candidates will have already been hired in other

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districts. Number two is research bears out that intervention actually has uh yields a higher result um almost eight times higher than um a

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classroom teacher or reducing class sizes unless you reduce your class sizes to 15 or under which is not something that we're in a position to do. Oh, >> and >> oh to live in a world where >> I know just like the the idea that we

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could even and then the third reason is it is the precariousness of this funding and recognizing that um I I feel confident in these decisions and I feel

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planning into the next budget cycle um these decisions will continue to be important >> um and critical positions for our district to have. They are positions that we have previously cut. I believe our student data is going to bear out

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that the continuous cutting of these support positions has in fact harmed the learning of our children. Um and so that is one of the reasons that we're working on restoring these and not classroom

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teachers. However, people can expect that we will be asking for the restoration of those classroom teachers um when we do the FY20 budget. >> And in addition, >> in addition, we're not we need those teachers back. We are not saying those teachers are not important. We're not

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saying they're not necessary, >> but what we have been forced to do is triage. We're dealing with an emergency situation in which >> we are trying to spend the money in a targeted way, >> right? And peace budgeting and the peace

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bill budgeting is not the ideal way to do it. I mean, so that's why that like we've all discussed, right? >> Yeah. Um >> Okay. So, >> can we take a formal vote? >> Yeah, we made I was going to say you made a motion and then we had a large discussion. So, >> I made a motion. I think Tony seconded

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it. So, what were the specifics of it? I want to retype the um school budget. Um let me make a new copy. I want to I want to retype the um warrant so I have it exact. Make a copy

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uh 729 article. Okay. So, you are what I wanted to say uh to see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate an additional sum of $418,56

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more. No, not more. 4418,56 and no cents for the FY27 operating budget for the school department. >> Did I do that right? 5656 $56 and no sense for the FY27 operating

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budget for the school department or take any other action relative there too. Yeah. >> And then um >> Okay. >> I made the motion >> and Tony you second it. >> Okay. So it's a roll call vote. Miss Gilman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Schooly. >> Yep.

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>> Miss Russell. >> Yes. >> And it's a yes for me. So the motion passes. >> Can I ask my second thing about the FY27 budget now? Yes. That we're we're going to do that now. So, in addition to this money that the

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governor uh that that the was in the FY27 budget, the governor Healey proposed the other day an additional $100 million of the millionaire's tax money to be spent on schools um with a

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a targeted per pupil amount. um and that needs to go through the legislature in order for that to happen. The good news is that the language proposed would come straight to the schools so it wouldn't have to go through town meeting. Um so I

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wrote a letter that I'm hopeful that uh the school committee will sign and that we can send tomorrow to the legislature. >> Did you send that to everyone? >> It's in the folder. >> Oh, okay. >> Um I sent it to Liz earlier today. It says letter to legislature. We kept you really busy.

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>> 7:29. Um I mean I can read it. Basically it would to be to the Senate President, the speaker, the chair of both chairs of Ways and Means. Um on behalf of Lunberg School Committee, we respectfully and urgently request your support and swift passage of House 5586, an act making

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appropriations for fiscal year 2027 to supplement certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects. Specifically, we urge you to approve swiftly approve the per pupil increase proposed by Governor Healey and maintain current legislative language that sends these

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funds directly to school districts with local expenditure decisions. >> Okay. >> Um >> I changed my last name spelling on there. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Did I spell your name wrong? >> Yeah, I think it's the Mickey Mouse one. >> Um [laughter] so, >> um

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>> do you mind do you want me not to say disaster? Our district has got staff positions for the last three years and it's on the brink of disaster. Is that a little melodramatic? >> I actually thought it was not melodramatic enough. >> I don't want Dr. Fortuna I don't I don't want Dr. Fortuna to think that we're criticizing her because that's not what this is at all.

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>> No, I I don't think we're on the brink of disaster. >> The brink of we're on we've cut staff. I I wanted you to say we're in crisis and >> Sure. There you go. >> Are in crisis. Okay. >> We are. I mean >> um honestly the what is written is not

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as important as the volume of letters they get in some ways. So I uh but I have this I'm hoping we might approve this. >> I write letters to Margaret's car still that way sometimes you already know this letter write it in. Yes. And um I would encourage anyone if anyone is still on Zoom. I posted this in a Facebook group

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and any emails people want to send to the Senate President >> and the speaker I heard they got over 400 emails on this but none were from Lunenburgg. So you want to >> what? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um so I absolutely I'm happy to

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sign this. Um do we want to sign it as a committee? >> Yeah. I mean if we vote on it and we can sign it as a committee, right? >> Um Tony, do you want to make a motion for us to sign on? Is are you okay with the wording letter crisis? Yeah, I I'll make a motion to accept uh Mandy's

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letter uh to the legislature regarding the hund00 million allocation for >> Does it better if we sign it in person and then mail it in or does >> No, I think it would be better if we just PDF and email it to the folks which I can get Liz Exactly who um

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>> Okay. Um get I'll send it from my email. >> Yeah, that would be great. >> And um actually we can all do that. >> Yeah. Yeah, that'd be great. I can send everyone the email addresses um and just PDF it or take the draft off of it. You you tell me tomorrow what you need help with and I will get it. >> Yeah. Um

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>> or Laura because you'll have to I mean Liz will have to put on Mutterhead, right? >> Mhm. >> Yes. >> So >> yeah, you know how to do I don't know how to put things on. Um I don't know how to do that cool little draft thing you do. [laughter] >> Um I don't know why that impresses me of all the amazing things you do.

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[laughter] That one always gets me. >> The power of the jack. There's a million other magical things you can do, too. But um Okay. So, did you make a motion? >> Yes, >> he did. Yeah, I seconded. >> Okay. We'll call vote. Miss Gilman. >> Yes. >> Mr. School Greetings, Miss Russell.

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>> Yes. >> And a yes from me. >> This could be another $170,000 for the district. And uh Dr. Fortuna did give us a proposal on that as well. This is very TBD though because this money I don't know that we're going to get this money, but we should ask for it. >> Yes. I was I was actually very

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irritated. Number one, I've seen people saying online, "Didn't the governor just give you all that money?" No. >> The [laughter] governor proposed that the Senate and the House give us all that money. >> Yeah. >> Uh and they haven't voted on it yet. Um so, no, she did not. And number two,

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it's not all that money. And I'm not going to scoff at $175,000, but that is not enough to restore four teacher positions. That is not enough to restore the things that we are missing. It is a drop in the bucket and um I

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didn't want to put that in the letter, but it's it's not enough. Um so this is not going to magically make the financial issues go away. >> So okay. Yeah. Um do you want me to comment? No, I'll figure out how to sign

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that or just send it. Okay. All right. Thank you. Um now the fun part. Are we we're good with that? >> Yeah. Custodialou memorandum of understanding. We entered into negotiations with the

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custodians union. They are an absolute delight. Um love the custodians. They keep things running. Um so do you want to highlight? >> Yeah. So I really appreciated the spirit

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in which um both sides um approached the table. Our negotiating team for the school committee was Laura and Mandy. Um, and for the um, Ask Me 93, it was

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Rich Crafty, um, Jimmy Gentilia, and I'm forgetting who the third person was. >> Oh my gosh, they had a good They had a great team, too.

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>> They do. >> They do. They definitely negotiated with the vast idea um of their members and and I can't read the signature. >> Oh, Tim McKenna. Oh, how could I forget

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Tim? And Tim McKenna was the third member. Their negotiating team. >> I taught special ed. >> That was amazing. >> I can read anything. [laughter] Um, so in FY27, the custodians will receive

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a 3.5 increase. In FY20, a 2.5% increase in FY29, [snorts] an additional 2.5% increase. In addition, we added two steps because longevity um, keeping people in these key positions has been

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an issue for us. Um, article five of the contract, we're changing the dues deduction language that was in the contract to more closely match the language on their ask me membership cards. Um, article six, the grievance

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and arbitration process where removing all instances of working days and we're replacing with business days. Article seven um for arbitration, we're changing AAA to the labor relations connection um

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which actually makes permanent the side letter in article 22 section 9 and section three of article 7 where striking the first sentence notwithstanding anything to the contrary no dispute shall be a subject for arbitration unless it involves the

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discharge of an employee as specified in article five of this agreement because We all know there's any violation of the contract is subject to the grievance and arbitration process. Um, article 10, section 15, no one outside the

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bargaining unit shall perform work normally done by those employees within the bargaining unit on a permanent or indefinite basis. Temporary employees may be employed to assist with the work inside or outside the buildings. Temporary workers shall not work more for than six consecutive months. And it

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is understood between the district and the union that temporary workers shall not be used to erode any rights or benefits or bargaining unit members covered by this agreement. The district shall notify the union of start date, work location, and anticipated length of

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service for any temporary workers. Article 22 for miscellaneous provisions. Section two, longevity. We added a longevity step again aimed at retention for custodians that have worked with us

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for five to nine years of $500. Um, we also changed the other longevity amounts from a percentage to a dollar base to make budgeting slightly simpler for all of us, um, including our

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workers. Um, 10 to 14 years will be $1,000. 15 to 19 years will be $1,250. 20 plus years will be $1,750. And section five under article 22 miscellaneous provisions is the clothing

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and allowance and we're increasing that to $455. This has been ratified by the ask me council 93 um based on their signatures and the PDF you have in your folder. And we're looking for the school committee to do the same.

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>> All right. Mandy, you're on the negotiating team. Do you want to make the motion? >> Yeah, sure. or actually before we >> I mean it was a great >> yeah I mean we talked about it in executive session but it was a very amendable process and everyone worked together well so I'll make a motion to

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accept the changes the new contract for the >> I will second >> okay roll call vote Gilman >> yes >> Mr. school and breeding. >> Yes, >> Miss Russell. >> Yes. >> And a yes from me. >> Just want to say that it is delightful

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to have people that are serious, prepared, and ready to go. >> In what? Negotiating. >> Yes. >> Yes. Oh, no. They were they were wonderful. >> Not just them, you guys. Like, it is so helpful. You would be shocked at how many times you go to these sessions and

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it's just a bunch of fostering. >> We didn't have any of that. >> No, that was good. And I mean, >> and I don't mean that the the sessions here. I meant that from my professional experience where it's just miserable. >> It was fantastic to hear how much the custodians and and our maintenance

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people just truly care. >> They care about the students. They care about the conditions of the school. Um Rich was talking about after he retires things he he needs to see done because um he's worried about what's going to

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happen to things after he's retired. It was just I don't know it's it's really great. We have our I think one of our biggest strengths in Lunenburgg is our employees. Um so this was a good process. Okay. Uh,

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old business FY26 budget updates on your end. Do we want to table this until we have more information? >> Kind of talk about that information. >> Do uh do I have to vote on table? >> Yes. >> Okay. Can I get a motion to table? >> Make a motion to table.

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>> I'll second. >> Okay. Uh, roll call vote. Miss Gilman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Skull Greeny. >> Yes. >> Miss Russell? >> Yes. >> And a yes for me. Okay. um public comment for issues discussed tonight. >> Oh yeah, of

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>> course. One more thing. Uh Laura version 389 Mulpus Road. Um I just want to thank Miss Gman and the others in their efforts to secure that extra funding. Um, I think it's a strong statement that the state says this is what we're

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allocating for education. That that comes back to those that educate our students and that it doesn't get used for other things. I think that um it truly is um what it should be used for. Additional funding under the the governor's per student is from the

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millionaire's tax that is in our constitution that those funds are used for education and infrastructure. If the governor is saying that those funds are coming from that tax, that's what the taxpayers paid it in for. It is in the constitution. That is not a discussion

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that that money comes back. I know that our kids are already struggling with the full impact of some of the cuts that have already been made year after year. We have not even touched on restoring things that have been cut for several years. So, this is not extra money. this

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is our taxes that went in that what the voters voted to say that this was for education and infrastructure and if that's what they're sending it back for per student then they're clearly telling us where those funds are coming from and that's our responsibility to fund them and spend them that way. So I don't

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think that that's even a discussion in my personal opinion. Um we're already uh just a couple of things to note. I know I've got a a junior in the in this in the high school. Um already looking at larger class sizes, fewer elective choices next year. Um my junior can't

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take a PE class. >> She's going to have to double up her senior year. So going into college, she has to double up in their senior year to get her PE credits in because there is no room right now in for her to take a PE class in her junior year. I

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I hope that doesn't have an impact on what her future plans are and if somebody's looking at her transcript saying you have to double up be I mean there's just things like that our kids should not face these repercussions for the decisions that we're being forced to make. Okay. So just things

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like that. Um, I just want to, you know, I'd like to if if we can get that where that email needs to go and really encourage the public. It does make a difference when the voters make their voices heard. Those emails do get looked

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at and it's not like there's 7 billion of them that they're getting and they're not going to get to yours. They get 400 emails. They're looking at 400 emails. It's just that's the thing. And to have Lunberg not be the who where where's Lunberg to be oh this is Lunenburgg this

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is you know the squeaky wheel gets the oil. Absolutely. Absolutely. And I think like I said I think it was a very good point Mr. Sclandi made as well. These are this is our money that was paid in. They're we're not getting extra money. We're not taking money from other cities

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and towns. We've paid this money in. They're sending it back to us. And I think it's exceedingly important that if it's coming back and they're telling us it's education that that's where that money goes. >> So, okay. Thank you very much. >> Appreciate that. >> Okay. Do we have one? Okay.

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>> Two online. >> We have Anna Lockwood. >> Okay. >> We might have to call them out. >> Okay. Anna Lockwood, do you want to unmute? >> Um, sure. Can you hear me well? >> Yes. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Um I made

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several notes throughout your meeting that I've been watching the whole thing. Um first uh well not first because like I said I made the notes. Um thank you to Dr. Fortuna for giving details of theou

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about the custodial agreement. That's much more details than um I as a citizen heard and received from uh comparing to what I heard about

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there was another contract negotiation um related to the DPW employees which was but my point is is it's good for residents and citizens who are voting or

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who we are paying our taxes and we are doing our due diligence um you know to hear exactly what is changing um so it's wonderful to have heard from you uh the details on that

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contract um also I want to say that I did look at the last past 10 years of cherry sheet nap income. So if we just were to look

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at the how much money the state gave us, how much money the state took away from us, but in the past 10 years, I can attest to the fact that we never received less money the following year

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than we received today. So therefore, that the extra money added to our charit whatever whatever way >> [clears throat] >> the state decides to break that down because I think that's the point of the

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cherry sheet is, you know, they I I I don't know the point of the cherishy to be honest, but uh they they figure out a way to always, you know, allocate more money the following year or the same money than

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the year before. So even on the years that we had less money on related to you know the 40b less money on tuition reimbursement like and when you look at

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as one part of money we always get more and what's interesting about that when you follow the budget ears and I know sometimes I I talk numbers and people are like people don't hear numbers but I I talk numbers is um the top has never

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really been like oh you're receiving less money on you know tuition reimbursement and therefore the schools are going to get less money that has never been the practice of Uber and that has been honestly for the school

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department a good thing within the last 10 years so this idea that you know this is not recurring money it's it's fictitious ious it doesn't bear with the data and you know I was in the um fin

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meeting last week and people said oh that was 2009 and 2001 it's like yeah let's not operate on the two exceptions that we were able to manage. So anyway, so this recurring

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money, this this $400,000 $418,000 we just voted needs to be added to your budget and you should expect that as a recurring money next year. Um, also I

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wanted to thank the people for um in this committee that are willing to do something different. I know Mandy really went outside um you know what has been done but I think she got something important done.

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Um the school committee voted on June 24th to request the special town meeting and the select board failed to take any action whatever means there was and um to to act on that request and Mandy was like

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you know what the Massachusetts MGL's as a statute allows me to collect 200 signatures let me tell you I think she collected over 300 signatures so good for Sandy to not be willing to just do the same thing over and over um again

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and just act on what's what's the right thing for the students of Bloomberg and honestly for the taxpayer like like we failed to pass an override. Yes, Mandy, thank you. I acknowledge we have been in different positions, but it's like this

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is money coming from the state that we pay to the state and and we're willing to not take any like it's it is illogical to me in any possible way that I can think of that someone is not

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willing to take action on this. So, thank for Thank you, Mandy, for being bravey brave enough to do to do this uncomfortable thing and thank for the school committee members to um to do this, you know, taking the vote

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that you guys did today for them. Um, so the you vote for the 418, but I think the total extra money for um Bloomberg was close to 470,000. I think the total I I honestly think

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that uh the school department was the department that had to cut the most >> as part of their overall budget. >> Yeah. >> And I would think that the entire amount of money would have been assigned to the school department.

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Um, also I want to give kudos to Mandy for making award article that was appropriate to bring to this meeting because the final number and to bring to a town meeting is usually on the motion and I think one

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thing that I can see I'm not saying the select board is trying to sabotage this. Usually the slashboard makes motions um and brings warrants from committees and and I think you know I hope the

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slashboard step up to the plate and it behaves as it always is always has done and brings the motion and don't make more drama than it needs to be on this it and by the way this is a special time

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meeting I know we're trying to say it's an extra but this special town meeting. Thank you. This is special time meeting >> and it is allowed by state law and um and you should not be putting special qualifier into it. It is a motion that

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was a town meeting that was selected by all the 300 plus citizens and residents of town that did that. So this is not a spe special top meeting. This is a special to meeting as allowed by the

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town by uh state law and uh I hope the state the select board steps up to the plate and don't become obstructionists um in this process. >> I wonder who would help us if they did. [laughter]

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>> Thank you very much Miss Lockwood. >> Thank you. >> Thank you Anna. >> We have Cara Cara, if you want to speak, >> I just had like a quick question about something that was mentioned earlier. >> Yeah.

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>> Then when listing new staff, you mentioned a part-time AD. Will they also be a part-time vice principal or no? >> No, they will not be fair. That was an excellent question. >> I just wasn't sure because Miss Burns

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was both. So, I wasn't sure if the new AD would be the case. >> Thank you. >> Given the money that the budget, it looks like we're going to hire a full-time assistant principal. So, >> should

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assistant principal. >> Yeah. Should a town meeting appropriate the funds. >> Yeah. Which is what we had two years ago. >> Yeah. >> Um, >> great. >> We >> Thank you. We had to separate out the positions because like I said with the athletic director, the ability to do

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that job requires a really specific but varied skill set and finding someone who can do that and be a vice principal. Um >> it's difficult. >> Mrs. Burns was was a rare unicorn. Um so it just it didn't work. Um so we're

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going to have a halftime. It was budgeted as half and half. So now we're going to have a halftime athletic director and then uh should town meeting appropriate the money we'll have two full-time assistant principles which is the staffing level

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appropriate >> the school this size. >> Thank you Cara. Is there anyone else on Zoom? >> No there's no more >> just no one in the room. Okay. Uh so we're not done yet. Um okay so reports

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from subcommittees. I actually got some. >> Oh, >> because municipal build I don't know if you heard Tony, municipal building design met last night. >> It I I heard on the way into work and on the way home from work. >> Um so last night there was a joint

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meeting of the select board and the municipal design committee that for some reason I didn't think was going to be three hours long but it was. Um so Dave Blad did a presentation uh because he has absorbed a lot of information about

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um the green communities um and grants available and the NSBA. So he'd also like to come and talk to us because he has >> information specific to the schools. Um so he talked a lot about that. If you're interested, I suggest looking at um the

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the meeting because he it's just there's a lot of dense information. um about what the state is doing as far as uh help, financial help for towns planning renovations or new buildings. Um and

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then we discussed TCP uh and the building. We did not take an official vote. It was not on our agenda. Um but we did take kind of a straw poll about what we think the future of TCP should be. And the general consensus with one

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very vocal no um was that the the TCP likely should come down and that there is no municipal use for it and that the building has um it has gotten a lot worse since we were in it. We vac uh the schools vacated one wing of the building

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in right when Dr. Fortuna started. Um there was a flood and there is a lot of water damage. The roof is shot. The roof was done in 1986. Supposed to be a 20-year roof. In 2012, they did a the town did a

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fix on the roof that was supposed to get us one or two more years. Um, and we're at the point where they can't even walk on the roof because there is no oil left in the membrane. And even walking on the roof destroys it. You can't even look at it. You can't get up there to fix it. Um

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so we also at our at our next meeting um the municipal design committee is going to look at the needs and the high priority wants of the town. Um and then look at the buildings available and see

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what fits what. Uh and talk about next spaces. Uh and we're also going to look at the square footage requirements of a town hall to see what will fit where. Has anyone else done? >> But we're not building a new town hall. We're not recommending building a new town hall.

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>> I have mentioned multiple times my personal opinion, which is that in a time when parents are facing the realities of the education funding levels that I don't foresee people as ever voting for any building project

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when there's 30 kids in a classroom or when our kids aren't getting what they need. Yeah, you can sign my name on that. I'm not loaning any new buildings >> until >> nobody puts a addition on their house when they can't pay the electric bill. >> Yeah. So, um I have made that point.

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>> Or if you do, that's not smart. [laughter] >> I think some people do. It's just not Yeah. Um and that was that was it for subcommittees. I had a 300th anniversary one, too, but I don't think I'm technically a school committee member on

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there. Uh but we're having fireworks. We did restart the athletic advisory committee. >> Okay. >> And the purpose of the athletic advisory committee when it was originally started among other things was to help with the

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integration of fundraising from booster clubs and the legal requirements imposed upon the school district by state and federal law. because of the cuts that were administered or part of the budget out

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uh shortfalls or the budget consequences of failing to pass an override. Um we've had a huge uptick in the number of people interested in providing fundraising for various athletic uh groups. And so to help with that,

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what we're going to do is we're going to restart the athletic advisory committee. And largely it's going to be focused on uh helping steer fundraising efforts and acting as an advocate for the booster clubs within the school system so that

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we never turn away a penny of money raised by volunteers. Uh it is an ownorous process. I will say it is sometimes emotionally fraught. But I think that uh the football boosters

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provided a template for everyone on how to get things done. And my hope is that uh Mandy and I are going to be on the committee. I think unfortunately isn't Tim by auto automatic yet by procedure on the committee. And then I think Peter

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Beard has also volunteered as has a couple of other people. So once the school year starts or if there is something urgent before the school year, uh reach out to Mandy or I and we will get it started. We've already done a little bit of the work as you can see with the the thing that we passed

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tonight. Um I I can't tell you guys how how great it was to have the football boosters really sort of think through the process and try to do the thing that was most helpful to everyone. It wasn't about what can I do to make this work

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for my kid or my team. It was what can we do to make this work for everyone. And so that's [clears throat] the kind of spirit that we need and a time of crisis. And I think about how in World War II, our grandparents used to have

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metal drives and it was a way for everybody in America to support the war effort. And we are obviously not at war. Well, no, we actually are at war. Um, we are not in the same dire situation that we were in World War II, but having the

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community organized in a way that supports the entire community is the only way through this problem. Whether it is organizing extra special town meeting or collecting 300 signatures or figuring out how best to spend fundraising money, we've got to all do

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this together. and the football team showed how to do that. >> Thank you for helping to navigate this >> um in a way that gets everybody what they need and for setting such a good precedent for the cooperation between

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sports. >> That was fantastic. >> I think the the coach owes a everybody owes a debt of gratitude to Coach McDonald because not only did he do it, but he did it when he had a new baby. >> Yes, they have a new baby. >> Yeah, I found that very impressive. Very

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cute. cancel. >> Okay. Mandy, did you do It's kind of early through, so >> I'm not on many committees. >> Okay, Miss Russell, I think you're good, too. Are you good? >> Yep. >> All right. Um, topics for future discussion. What do you want to talk about?

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>> MSBA. >> Yeah, MSBA. Definitely. >> So, we're going to need a primer and I think we're going to all need to start familiarizing ourselves with this, which I'm not looking forward to because that's a lot of dense information. Oh, it's awful. >> Put together a little presentation. >> Yeah, that would be helpful. Just

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>> we Yeah, and educate the public, too. We need to start getting um >> We need to start getting everything together and talking about that. Um this is to be clear, a Turkey Hill renovation or rebuild is going to be a very long process. Um

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like six years at the absolute minimum. I think it's going to be more like 12. Um, so this is not a fast process, but we do need to begin the process and now is now is the time. Um, so we're getting

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in line and starting the process. There's a state process we go through. >> Okay. Um, anything else? I do not think we are meeting in August, but we might need to meet via Zoom to do line item transfers. Um, are we still able to do those for

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FY? When is the cut off for that? >> I don't believe there is a cut off. >> Not right now anyway. >> Not right now anyway. >> Okay. >> Because I remember we were doing them in September of last year. >> Okay. Um so we will get to those. Um

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yeah, if there's a whole bunch, we can do an August meeting if you need if you need that. If not, we're not meeting again till September. Um although we will have a meeting of the finance committee prior to that. So, we're not We are meeting the day before the special town meeting, >> are we? >> And that is the next time we're meeting.

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>> Absolutely. >> But we do have a meeting with the finance committee prior to that. >> Mhm. >> Yep. So, let me know and I will come. >> Okay. Let me know if you want me to come. >> I don't know if you want. [laughter] >> All right. Can I get a motion to adjourn? >> I'll make a motion to adjourn.

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>> I'll second. >> All right. Miss Gilman, >> we have to do a roll call. Miss Gilman, >> Mr. school in Brady. >> Yes. >> Miss Russell, >> yes. >> And yes for me. Okay. Thank you. Have fun tomorrow, Jean. Bye. Thank you. Bye.