Perfect. Click. Good evening and welcome to the September 17th uh meeting of the Milton School Committee. I call the meeting to order. Uh we will start with the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Great. Okay.
You're there. You're over there. I think you're over there. Yeah. Here. We can pass. You don't have to be here. Yeah. Great. We The first item up is to approve the September the agenda for the meeting. Do
we have any changes regulations? The only thing that I know is that for the um for item B, the review and approval of Milton subcommittee and advisory committees, it will just be a discussion, not a vote tonight.
Oh, okay. Um and then and I think that was the only thing that I had. Anybody else have any changes? If not, we have approval. Great. All right. We will start um as we do. We
have public comment in accordance with school committee policy. We welcome members of the community to share their perspectives with us during public comment. We have set aside up to 15 minutes for this part of the meeting and individuals may speak for up to three minutes. While the school committee does not respond directly to public comment, there may be opportunities for members
to address issues that are raised over the course of the meeting when relevant topics are on our agenda. We strive to engage in respectful discourse during our meetings and ask that public comment speaker speakers keep that in mind. speakers should introduce themselves for the record. So there is nobody here in
the room and I don't know if there is anybody online who is here for public comment. If you are, could you raise your hand? No hands. Nope. No hands. All right. Seeing no one, we will move on.
The next agenda is the item is as I moved my agenda all around is the chair's report and we will be starting with um reviewing the uh discussion and approval of the 25 26
school committee goals. So we discussed them last week. um we agreed to um split off into a smaller subgroup um edit those and then share them back out with everybody for any um individual comments. Um and then we would review
them today. We can still obviously tweak if there's any minor word smithing that needs to be done, but the goal is to review those and get those approved today. So Mark is putting up the draft and this is available for people to see or know.
Mark. Yes, it's the same screen shared right now. Great. Um, so thank you Nathan. He was very helpful in editing these. Um, so we stuck with the the same, you know, categories that we had. Um, just went through and and just as we said kind of
really tried to word smmith them. Um, so do we want to just read through them? Does it help to read through it or just have everybody read through it on their own? They look good to me. The only small edit word smithing edit I think it's word smithing edit is number one instead of mcast competency determination
requirements I think my thought was it was like high school graduation and competency determination requirements other than that the wording looks good pull that back up do you want me to
write yeah do you mind like that. Anything else? Do you guys want to read this just in case people are listening on the radio? Sure, we can read through it the podcast and they don't have the words in front of them. Sure. Um, so the first one is to ensure
rigorous and equitable education for Milton students regularly evaluate progress towards FY26 teaching and learning priorities including facilitating selection of a new K to 5 ELA curriculum and monitoring district progress on high school graduation and
competency determination requirements. The second one is to steward taxpayer resources and sustain core services, manage FY26 to a balanced budget, and develop an FY27 budget that advances district priorities in partnership with town boards and the Milton community.
Number three is to create a welcoming, equitable district where every student and staff member thrives. Embed DEIB across all school committee governance work. Number four is to maintain stable operations and productive labor relationships. Negotiate timely and fiscally responsible successor
agreements with all relevant relevant collective bargaining units. And number five is to build trust in a positive district culture and climate. Engage the community proactively and consistently. So these tie in with the superintendent's goals as well as the goals that
they align with them and then the goals set. I'll make a motion to approve the Milton School Committee goals for 2025 2026. Second. I'll second. All in favor.
Great. That was quick. Excellent. Work on that. Thanks. Thanks, Nathan. Thanks, everyone. Um the next item is to review and approve um the Milton School Committee subcommittee and advisory
committees. Um, so we I shared with you um an email that we had gotten um and regarding the um climate action committee and that the person who had applied for
that was um selected from an like asked to to apply through another channel through another board to that action committee. And the hope was that we would get somebody who um was interested in the schools and had an understanding of the climate action
priorities. Um to date we don't have anybody but the um the chair of the CP uh climate action planning committee had suggested that he would um be comfortable waiting until we had the appropriate person who had that interest and experience.
Um and I'm glad that he wants to wait because we don't have anybody else in the the folder right now. So, that one we can wait. The second thing is we got an application today that I put in the folder for the um oh my gosh, the I always forget the name of this. The
committee, the the budget coordination budget coordination committee. I always want to call it the tri board. The budget coordination committee. So, we had an application in there which included the resume and their application. So, since we're all just seeing it today, um, does it make sense to vote on it? But if there's any
comment or discussions about that candidate, um, we can open the floor to that. So, we're discussing the candidate today and voting on the application next time.
We could vote on it next time. Yeah, we have vote in the agenda. I just felt like since everybody just got it today, but if I haven't fully reviewed it yet. Yeah, that's fine. I didn't think so because it it came it came in late. Um, so just I don't know if there is
question or comments or discussion on it today. Again, like I said, it just came in the folder this afternoon. Um, if not, then we can hold off on that. Any discussion around it? Um I I mean if we want to discuss a
little bit we can I'm happy to share an opinion which is I think this we avoiding the person's name. Okay. um in their application. Um I think they make a case for you know an
interest in this work following um following school committee meetings and select board meetings. strong interest in municipal finance and budgetary analysis um involved in Milton's education systems in different ways um and has a
professional background that's relevant. So I'm I would be supportive of of this person being on the committee. Me too based on same Yeah. Yeah. And I I think also just they've
been actively involved in I think you were saying this but actively involved in volunteer positions within the town as well as town government which I think is great. So they're coming in with an understanding y of it and the finance experience is big.
Yeah. Anyone else? this no further discussion. We can um let people review this more carefully and then we can add this to an agenda item for the next meeting. Do you want to for facil would we do we
want to wait for facilities to do the vote for that? However, we can wait because then you can do the screen sharing. I am still screen sharing. Yeah. All right. So that will go on the next agenda. uh for a agenda item on our next
meeting. Um the next thing we were do uh on the agenda is to discuss option to pursue additional one-year waiver for the interim superintendent. So this um the idea offering um interim superintendent failen an
additional or looking at exploring an additional one-year term came up during our retreat. Um since then I think we've all had time to see um the work that he's doing see I think also
we've gotten greater insight still to the amount of work that needs to be done in the coming year. Um and so this idea of um looking to extend his the one-year contract for an additional one-year contract um
given came up and so that what we've been doing since then is exploring what that would take to do that. So we've reached out to the MASC and the MASS. It's not um it's not unprecedented to do it, but
it's also um not um common. It's not something that that happens all the time to extend for an interim one-year contract for a retiree for a retiree. Yes. Um it's getting a waiver for that. So, I think that our
the place that where we are is that we've you know, we've had a couple of years of instability. We are on our sixth superintendent in five years. As he's getting into the work further, we're recognizing the need to reestablish and reaffirm some of the processes and procedures. So, we really
feel like as a community, as a school committee, as a district, having an additional year of of stability is the right way to go. So what we would need to do um is we would have to write a letter of appeal to uh the to um desi to
the commissioner as well as the board that um approves this stating our case and sort of stating the extenduating circumstances under which we're looking to add one year. So that um that is what we would like to do. In order to do that
we need to get the board's approval that that's the path that we would like to take. So, and if we want to discuss that, if people have any concerns or questions about that, um, we can discuss that. We can discuss what it takes. We have, as I said in this letter, we've been given, um, permission to say that
we have the support of the MASC and the MASS in this um, in pursuing this additional year waiver. Um, which I think is which is great and very helpful and they're willing to do what they can to support us in this. Um, so I don't know if there's any questions or
discussion around that. or if everybody's comfortable. Amanda, I just appreciate the work you've been doing to on our behalf to sort of explore these um the situation and to connect with MASC and MASS to get
their input. Um and personally, I I don't feel any differently from when we first discussed this in August at our retreat. um if anything I' with what we've learned since then as we've seen Superintendent Failen launch this year
and also as we've come to even greater understanding of sort of where we're at and the work that we're needing to do to stabilize the district which was the goal that we initially discussed um with an interim superintendent in the first place but then even first
broaching this idea of a potential extension for a second interim I mean, I personally just feel um as strongly, if not more strongly, that this is what makes sense
with the ultimate goal of ensuring that the next permanent superintendent of the district has a really solid chance at being successful. So, that's what I'm staying focused on. And to me, this is
very much worth exploring. Um, so that's that's how I feel about it. Um, I'm in favor of pursuing this. I understand it's not a guarantee. Um, and so I think the sooner we can if this is something that we
agree we want to pursue, the sooner we can do that, the better so that we understand like what our options actually are. I agree. So, is there a deadline when we have to send this appeal letters in? Is there what
is there a deadline for when we need to send this appeal letter? No, I think it's just to to Lizz's point, the sooner we send it, the sooner we have an indication of which way they would go. Yeah. Yeah. Um, so I think it's just and then just recognizing now that that we
want to do that, understanding that um if there was a plan B, then we would want to start thinking about that sooner than later. Yeah. Do we have any sense of how long we does MASC have any guidance
on how long they think it would take the um board to get back to us and give us some certainty um around this. I'm just wondering because obviously when we talked to him SC about just the superintendent permanent superintendent
search process. So that conversation was like well you start in the summer to establish the process and by now we doing I forget exactly what but we'd be at least a little bit into that. And so I think for me the worst case scenario is
missing somehow like this does not work out for whatever reason the board does not allow it right the waiver is not possible and then we end in a scenario where we're too late to search for his permanent superintendent or the pool is really poor and then we have to have an interim
a different interim superintendent for another like that would be awful. So I guess like more is there you is there more discussion on like what the plan B is and like what is the kind of uh RIP cord kind of timeline to say like we we just we need to move forward with
um a process to try and get good candidates. They did not indicate a timeline when we spoke. Um I don't remember Glenn saying anything. I think Go ahead. Say something. Well I think there's a two different
paths for a plan B. I mean, one plan B path is still to explore um additional time with Superintendent Failen, just not under a waiver if the waiver were not to be approved.
And there are ways that we've seen um retirees, you know, be employed. It just it's a it's a matter of the level of compensation that they're allowed to have. So I think one plan B would be you
know to think about that piece with him right um and I think there are various ways that you know that that that could look um so that's a
parallel path that probably needs to be explored and then the other plan B would be like you're saying the need to just pivot and do a search. And um you know, one thing I was
um thinking about to be totally honest, just to put out there is if that if we were to arrive at a place where we needed to do that, which I agree would be like not a good scenario, that would
only be if plan A and then plan B with superintendent failing were not going to work. um then I think at that point it would maybe make sense to also consider all of our options for a search including not necessarily working with
MASC um if there's a firm that's better equipped to like really manage a um an efficient and like really rigorous search. But that problem with that is budget obviously
and we don't have a budget to work with a firm. Um but I think that that's something that we should explore. I mean, I feel like if we were appealing to the commissioner outside
there because there's no deadline because this is just um this is us, you know, essentially seeking for an exception to be made, which I think is possible to make that case given, as you said, six superintendents in five years.
A new permanent superintendent next year would be our seventh superintendent in six years. So to me that's an extenduating circumstance that should be like feasible to explain as a rationale. But I think that we would be looking for MASC and MASS to help us get that
message through to the commissioner to be able to like get a quick response because I would imagine he should understand or his staff should understand that like time is of the essence for us to work. So, I don't know what to expect
reasonably, but if you're going to work with those MASS, MASC through a channel to like Yes. help have their advocacy supporting us then, right? I feel like it should be
relatively timely, right? It should be um right right away that we should be able to get some indication, right? like we'd like to send out the letter, you know, started working on it as soon, you know, with the hopes that this would go forward. If it doesn't,
obviously didn't obviously, but the goal would be to get the letter out ideally by the end of the week. Um, or at the latest the beginning of next week and then, as I said, we've gotten the support from MASS to say that we follow maybe the following. I think it's I
think that's something we could ask as a followup to that. But to Lizz's point, I think then we do follow that parallel path for plan B so that we be, you know, we we know sort of
what that looks like and worst case scenario, it's plan C. So Amanda, if the um if we agree to pursue this, what what would be the process for the
letter like as far as the committee approving the direction but then right I guess on the letter itself. Um, so we could draft the letter. I think since the the committee is um
since it's coming from the Milton School Committee, I would assume that we would get a and share it with the committee and then individually share feedback on that to me and then get it out.
Like I said, that's probably more realistic than if we're if we're getting everybody's feedback to get it out early next week. But that would be because I just want obviously if everybody's name is being signed to it, I want everybody to have seen it and be comfortable with it. So I think tonight would be vote to approve the direction.
We draft the letter. We share it with the rest of the committee. We get feedback and approval. It goes out and then that kind of starts the clock. Will MASC review the letter and give us input on it?
We could ask them to. We walked through what the content should be. Okay. I mean, you know, we talked about we sh we shared our story. They said that's a very compelling story. Those are the details that you need to include, but you know, we could get there and put
on it. And the, as I understand it, just reading about this today, the w is for it's a critical shortage waiver, right? is that the waiver that we're operating under here. So, we have to demonstrate
that there's a shortage critical shortage viable superintendent. Mhm. I assume in the letter um which I think the the fact that we have had seven superintendents in six years or whatever the number is, I think is a is an
important data point to to help prove that out. Mhm. Um but I think having either MASS or MASC um review it with that lens could be useful. I I agree. I think the thing to keep in
mind though is um how do I put it necess we're looking for a waiver but we aren't necessar we're we're trying to not have to go through the process of looking again opening up the search because then we
are just right negating what we've said which is you know we're opening up to the opportunity that we would have our seventh superintendent in a short amount of time and then somebody else coming in an interim and coming in and starting again, right? So that would not work.
So it's like do that. We are yes, we're talking about that waiver process and and that there's to your point the shortage, but it's more the fact that we are looking for stability and not it's not that we're looking for yet another candidate. It's that we feel
like the district needs and keeping the same person here for all of the reasons that we stated. So it's sort of an it's nuanced. They know what you're saying, but it's we are requesting that waiver, but we're requesting to not have to open it up because we found that person already.
But I and I I do think with that lens, it it would be helpful for them to read it and just say yes. Are we asking them to extend the existing waiver or issue a new one? Do we know? Um, I think to extend it.
Yeah, to extend it, I would say. um but typically only extend in a six-month increment. That's part of the challenge. And so I think it would be asking for something more than they typically do, which would essentially
a commitment to like say that um they understand the the rationale for extending it through next year even though like we're not there yet. We're it's not yet June. you know, we were going through this process in June last
year or this year. Um, so I think yeah, I think it's just about I mean the commissioner like the commissioner's role is to ensure the success of all the districts
in Massachusetts. I think we just have to help it be understood that like, you know, we sought an interim superintendent for the sake of bringing stability to this district. And what we've realized is that it will take more
than one year to achieve that stability given what we've been through as a district and that we have someone here now who's equipped to see that through. Um and that was when we went through the
critical ridge process last last spring in which we did consider candidates who including people who are not retired. Um that's you know the process that we went through and there were some very strong candidates. Um, and
you know, Superintendent Failen just did have that additional level of experience, especially that was relevant to our district because of his community having been similar to Milton and also having been through similar,
you know, challenges that we face around the um, override the school building project and whatnot. So, that all added up. Not to mention that he happens to have worked here previously and like he
therefore has that familiarity. So, I'd like to think the commissioner would share our sense that this makes logical like sense to continue the interim like
the it would be premature to go out like this month to try to attract a really strong candidate to come in here. And I just would really love for whomever joins as our next permanent superintendent to be someone who stays
here, right? You know, and really like has a sustained and successful tenure and it's not there's just so much that still needs to get resolved through the processes that have
been set in motion, right? It just has to be seen through, right? and we've heard him talking about how he's doing that prepared to do that. So that's why I don't need to like keep just but I do think it's very helpful
and important for the community to sort sort of understand like all the different considerations because it is a big decision, right? Um but I think we just have to like go for
it, you know. Um, if it doesn't work, we'll have to figure out what what else we can do. Did you say what you No, I mean I agree with a a lot of what Lizzie said. I think yeah, my my concern
is just on the if it doesn't go for it. I guess just being clear on what is that timeline because I just we we can't put the district in a situation where we have another interim a non John Palin interim superintendent for next year. I don't think we have the bench, right?
Like if if it would be another thing too if we had some consistency over a number of years within the assistant superintendent role and like John could help support that person like even take over as a permanent like we just have no bench behind this. We've had so much churn within those roles and
so you know I think we either need I think either solution of like we you know extend John and I I was a little more hesitant of that plan more people I've just talked to work within the district like is overwhelmingly kind of positive.
It's not a scientific survey or anything but everybody I've talked to just overwhelmingly positive on like how they're feeling about things this year versus prior years. Um, and so that that gives me more more hope in this as being kind of the right path for again another
year. I do think that the downside of this that just needs to be said is it delays any long-term view of systemic improvement for the district just because as John has said with us in meeting like he is not here and so he is
stabilizing and laying a foundation but he's just not able to engage in processes that are would necessitate kind of a three-year time horizon and there's a lot of just structural improvement things that require that type of time horizon. Um, we obviously
have other good people in instruction roles who are not just going to sit on their hands, but like from that top down kind of viewpoint of this is what it means to teach at in Milton, this is what it means to learn in Milton, like that is just something I don't think even John
being the best interim ever, he's not going to be able to do just because he his time will sunset. Um, and so totally like we but we need we need a person who will be here and will stay. And so I I do hear the the feelings that as much
progress as maybe John has done these last couple months still the idea of bringing in somebody else into this um in October to say like hey we're all kind of set here. We're ready for our next superintendent that feels very soon and it's honestly sad that we are at that place that we actually need a
whole another year of this. Um but okay so also though I think you know he had given everything you just said he he has also indicated you know that he's not just sitting
accepting the status quo. He's very much like driving the focus on teaching and learning in the classrooms and making sure that all everybody's getting supported, evaluated in ways that go beyond what has been occurring like so I
think that there will be some movement right even and with the data focus and everything else but I'm wondering with what you just raised so like as part of this discussion Would it work to say, "Okay, two meetings from now is October
22nd." Mhm. Um would it work to say Amanda if you proceed with this plan you know to get everyone's feedback approval and then to send the letter like it would be the hope that by
October 22nd we would have an indication around the like whether or not we can move this forward through the waiver and maybe if not Mark like at on October 22nd maybe we should
revisit those plan plan B's. I mean would that help to sort of say like set a timeline for ourselves? I mean because realistically like I don't think that I think that would
retain options open to us like if we try to understand by the end of October like where we're at. I think that that's still I mean last time like Anna when we were doing the search we were doing interviews in December we extended an
offer in January and I remember that we were like the first we were ahead of everyone else in the process. So you know I'm just wondering if that would help with what you were just saying to kind
of set a goal for ourselves. Yeah. From my perspective, setting some type of timeline for just so we make sure we have a conversation on like where where are we and where are we seeing where this will land for next year would be helpful. It'd be great if we could have it by the 8th. Um
but you know I think the 22nd or the whatever the 22nd is reasonable to try and get us to that point. Um, and I think if we when we send out the letter, you know, we can figure out who to follow up with with the that commission and say, you know, and say
what's realistic, what's a realistic time diet to get feedback in one way or another. Um, so then it it could be because of the calendar like that's three weeks away October 8th because of there being five
W or whatever it is. Mhm. Five Wednesday. Five Wednesdays in October I guess whatever. Yeah, that's more more time than we typically have between meetings. So maybe they maybe they would be able to get back to you.
Mhm. Would um MASS and MASC be able to advocate on our behalf as well separately on their own? Yes. They they've indicated they will do that. Okay. Yeah. And they're basically their timeline starts when we send it out. So
Okay. We'll let them know the letter went out and then they're willing to do outreach on our behalf. Okay. Yeah. so that we could get an indication from them as well based on conversations that they're having if yes you know kind of what does they probably done this process many
many times yeah I think the only difference is the the um commissioners new okay so whereas previously they had had a history now they're just like you know it's somebody new that adds a you know it adds somewhat of a
complexity a wrinkle to it yeah um but yeah I mean I think I do think it makes sense to have a timeline as opposed to saying like, hey, you know, whenever we find out and then we'll go. So, putting something in um maybe use that as a placeholder now.
If we get a sense of anything earlier, we can reach out and then adjust as needed, but then talk about it then. So, we'd send a letter out and then say 10:22 is when we would circle back on this.
Sounds if not if not soon as Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Does does that feel comfortable to everybody? Okay. Yeah. Is there anything else? Anything else you want to consider? No. All right. So then we need to make a
motion just so that it's not a binding thing, but just so it shows that everybody is in support of the decision that we're moving forward with. Um so um I can make the motion. That'd be great. Motion is made to approve and then it just went away.
Sorry. Sorry. Motion is made to approve pursuing an additional one-year waiver for interim superintendent John Failen. Second. All in favor? Great.
Thank you. Okay. The next item I believe is the I just lost my agenda. Finance. Yep. This finance subcommittee report. Great. Um, finance uh met this morning. Uh, we
talked a lot about the um budget. Uh, so we reviewed the draft budget from last year um the context for this year uh with Katie. John uh was not there this morning obviously um and kind of talked through budget coordination with the town administrator and with the warrant
committee. Uh we already have a scheduled meeting with the town administrator on October 15th where they will come in um and present information on kind of revenue and expense projections for the town. Those are obviously very impactful for what that means for our budget. Uh and then we're
we still just working through the warrant committee coordination piece. Um again the new chair has I think doing a good job from what I can see in the viewing the things but like just trying to get a sense get aligned with what he envisions for the committee and um what
we are hoping to do in terms of being productive with the warrant committee this year. So um moving forward with that I think uh the superintendent and the chair of the warrant committee are going to connect when the superintendent returns um and we'll have some uh coordination on that. Uh we expect to
have an updated draft of the calendar for our next finance committee meeting uh which is in two weeks. And so once we have that and discuss it, we'll share that with the committee at large too. And I think that'll be on an upcoming agenda just to make sure everybody's kind of on the same page as to what we anticipate around the kind of budget uh
cycle. Did you say October 15th? October 15th for the meeting with the town with the town administrator. Yeah. At the finance committee meeting. Yeah. Yeah. Um then uh yeah, so that was the the
primary thing we discussed. We also discussed a little bit about kind of um reporting um finalized some discussion on reporting um just like the quarterly reports you know what is the information that the committee is looking to see from Katie and conversation with Katie
and John uh around kind of the standard report and then diving into details in certain areas of of kind of question or concern based upon uh issues have come up prior years and just um interests and questions from the committee members. So that was good. And we talked a little bit about the budget coordination
committee which we'll give an update on here too. That was I think mostly mostly the conversation today. Anything I missed? No. Great. Thank you. Questions on the finance.
I think you're just going to keep talking because you're next up on the school building committee. I'll do the motions first for the uh vendor warrant. So I did forward the vendor warrant 10 and 11 this morning. uh reviewed those today before and after finance. Uh so I will make a motion to approve vendor warrant 10 in the amount
of $542,769 payable on 91125 as well as vendor warrant 11 in the amount of $777,88.95 payable on 91825. Is there a second? Second. Second. Great. All in favor
and warrants. Uh facilities. Yep. Oh yeah. So our facilities advisory committee met yesterday um at the in the superintendent's conference room. We was
u Amanda's now part of part of the committee and we have Katie now also as part of the committee. So um we did um ask the members if they wanted to continue on which um all of them did and I checked with Matt who was not present at the meeting. He also confirmed he
wanted to stay on. So um that was there. We basically got an update from Tom McCarthy our facilities director uh for all of our town buildings and schools. Um he said the fourth the third floor of Cunningham and Kolycott went really well
on time. They finished um no issues, no hiccups, no change order. I would think there was a small slightly small change order on something, but um very minor. They said they worked really well with um with because Cunningham Collott does
run camps and programs throughout the summer. So with all of that, they just worked around it and were in the buildings before the students came in and left before the students were dismissed. So there was no issues um with that. and um they um wrapped
everything up before school started and heard the space looks amazing. Um I'm still figuring out um dates with him for all of us to go and see. It might be individually depending on our schedules, but um um he said he'll get back to me
on that. Um then he talked about um like just updates that they did over the summer. They were really busy this summer. Um things like um the they had replaced five water bubblers. They had the like not so nice ones um they had
put in a few years ago, replaced them with better ones. I know that was a that was an area that we were very concerned about those water bubblers. So got those. Um they replaced one of the Glover um through uh PTO. Um they had the parking lots redone. If you're
outside, you see fresh, clean stripes everywhere. So they did all of that. uh slightly wider too, so they're not as narrow. Um so it's great. Um and then repair the driveway in the back of the Tucker. Um they put mini splits in the head rooms at the high school and also
inserted a wall between a large high school classroom and brought broken up into two rooms. Um they installed pavers at the back of the high school. They had like some sort of um gravel a gravel before that was getting stuck in the doors and they couldn't really close the door. So they um they use
pavers back there and it looks really nice. Uh replace a power unit at the elev um on the elevator at Tucker. Um and then the they he talked about custodians just working hard to like get the floors all finished and redone before school started and just kind of
working around all the uh um all the things that were happening at our schools over the summer. That was a that was a big deal because there was so much happening and working around that without any interruption. So, um, one of the things that they're looking to do is the sound system in the auditorium
that's going to start in, um, December and that is going to be the auditorium will be accessible, but the sound system won't be working for 6 weeks. Um, so it takes about that much time to like for them to like I think it's as old as when the um I believe he said it's as old as when the buildings were
built. So, they're really outdated. So, um, it'll take some time. So that just the sound will be down but they can still have access to the space during those um um six weeks. And then we talked a
little bit about just you um replacing some of the units uh like boilers and rooftop units and like but um most of the schools with the exception um of one of them are just kind of on like a a
maintenance plan. So if things break or fix they they come in and service those things. So they're just kind of looking at that. So, I mean, these are like and we also talked about like some rebate offers at our previous meeting with Alex Hatch that came in um and that he wanted
to be interested in as well. So, th those are just discussions that we're continuing to have that's just ongoing. But um um and then uh they um so I mean the other big thing is we're moving our meetings from Mondays to Tuesdays just
schedule wise personally for me because Mondays are harder now with but and everybody was very kind about being flexible about that. So um and then we just that was really it. Um
that's all we have. So But um yeah, and I will definitely follow back up with Tom and get some dates to you guys to come go see the space and we're going to hopefully have our next facilities meeting if you want to come
in the space. So that'll be our incentive to come to a meeting. Well, the facilities advisory meeting will happen at just so we can see the work. So cool. Yeah. So we'll see. I I was so lucky. I went to Cunningham
open house so I got to walk this. Oh, you did? It's very nice. The hallway is actually wider. It's okay. Maybe because no um lockers on the hallway yet. So it it seems a lot wider. The the floors obviously everything is new.
Um but the light is kind of So the temporary temporary Yeah, it definitely I think they have Yeah, they're supposed to get it in like a month or so. Yeah. A couple teacher told me about how the the boys bathroom is on a different
floor or the end of the hallway all the way to another side. So every time when they do some kind of messy stuff like for science project and stuff, they will have to walk all the way to the another floor or the end of the hallway to wash their hands. So they really hope to had a sink in their classroom if possible. So
okay, just want to bring that feedback. Okay. No, that's that's really good to know. But it's really nice. I really like it. Yeah. Yeah. And I think uh in terms of the he also mentioned like for what they would like to do is in the next couple
weeks start cleaning up the the fourth floor space so that they can start ripping up the ceiling up there over February and April break so that they'll be ready to go when they get so they're on on um
schedule for September or end of August for um of next year for the fourth floor space. Yeah, they really did a great job. Behind coming. They did that, too. Yeah, that's new also. Yeah, it looks so much better. Yeah,
that's great. Great. Thank you. All right. School building committee report. Are we done? Oh, sorry. We have to vote to reaffirm the members. Yep. Okay. Do you have them? I think we should list them. Yes. Yes, we can.
Thank you. motion. It just doesn't have the needs. Oh, it doesn't have the needs. Okay. Okay. So, I will make a motion to reaffirm the members of the facilities advisory
committee and I will list them. Um, okay. Sorry. So we have uh Debbie Delmare, Anthony Lee Sheridan, Kenneth Sherman, and Matt Morang as our community members who are part of that committee. We'll second. Thank you.
Great. All in favor? Great. Thank you. It's a great group of uh volunteers. Yes, they are. They're great. Um All right. uh school building committee, sorry. Uh school building committee met
on Monday. Um mostly just again an update kind of on timeline and process. We are still to hear back from MSBA. Uh it we are in that kind of module. We've completed everything completed a while ago, but it has to go in front of
the board um the MSBA board to get voted on to push us into the next module. They're next they meet every other month, which is unfortunate. Uh, so we were not on the August agenda. The next agenda is October and then December. We are not clear if we're going to make the
October agenda. We're not clear if we'll make the December agenda. Um, so we are doing some outreach to uh MSBA and some elected folks to see if they can help get us on the October because right now we are kind of sitting on our hands a little bit until we get through MSBA.
Um, so that is that was that part. Um, we did also just talk about some initial conversations about um coordinating with DCR uh essentially there's some improvements
or updates that the state is looking to do on Blue Hills Parkway um that are very preliminary, but they got kind of flagged for Shawn um and I think they got flagged for the town administrator and they shared them with Shawn and so he kind of walked us through a little
bit of like what this what the state is thinking. they have a bunch of different options. We're not really sure which way they're leaning and again it's kind of very early but um given that is a primary avenue for the new school sites. Uh just wanted to keep us updated so that's on our radar and we can be um
kind of trying to coordinate with that group from the states. Um and then also talked about, you know, on Blue Hills uh Parkway right now when you come to Guile Road, you have to turn right. There's no kind of break in the median. And so with a new building there, should could we
connect with DCR to try and create a break in the median to allow traffic buses and and cars um in order to improve traffic flows. So that was part of like the just some some initial conversations of you know what are some of the things we can be thinking about and doing. Um you know regardless of
kind of exactly what the site looks like potentially you know um that might still be something that would happen and so at least have some initial conversations on what that path looks like approvals would need to be so we have that whenever we're ultimately able to move forward. So trying to trying to stay
productive and and move things along. Um, those were the updates unless Nathan members make anything else. Nope, that's it. Great. Any questions? Sounds good. Yeah. Budget coordination committee.
Budget coordination. So, we elected a chair. Um, Megan Heerty from the select board is the chair of the committee. Um, and then we selected uh vice chair. Why am I blanking? Loy. Leroy, thank you. I'm sorry, Leroy.
He's gonna watch us, be mad at me. Uh, Loy is the vice chair. Um, and so we we have that. We talked a lot about just what is our charge, right? What is the goal of the committee? And so talking through is it kind of line item reviews of the budget? Is that where our time is
useful? Um, a lot of I think alignment was found on kind of long-term budget planning, uh, of looking at kind of five-year budgets for the town, uh, town budget, school budget, and what that looks like over kind of a longer period of time. Uh, and then also some discussion of like we're obviously
moving into the current budget season. And so getting the committee kind of aligned on, you know, what that timeline looks kind of as a coordinated town and share budget information. Uh again, some of that will be kind of duplicate work
uh that will also need to happen at the finance committee such as the town administrator. I think the report he'll give us on 1015 will be at the finance will be a similar report that at some point we'll give the budget coordination. So there'll be some redundancy but I think that's just part of ensuring we have strong cross
collaboration. Um and so that was kind of the first uh first meeting. Anything else? I don't think so. Great. All right. Questions?
Thank you. All right. So, the next item is approval of the minutes for the September 3rd meeting which are in the folder. If I ever had a chance to review them,
I'll make a motion to approve the minutes for the Milton School Committee meeting of September 3rd, 2025. Second. All in favor? I understand. I'm so sorry. It's okay.
Great. All right. Um the last thing is uh looking at the next meeting agenda items. So meeting with John. We're trying to plan out two to three meetings out for things that will be on here. And obviously it can be fluid if things come up that we
want to add. So currently we have the DESIE end of year report um subcommittee and advisory committee reports. I think with that we would add a vote for the um budget coordination committee report. I
mean budget coordination committee um appointee appointee. Yeah. So we would add that um but we have the um policy subcommittee because I know that you guys are meeting next coming up that that would be the first reading of a competency determination
um for the finance subcommittee. Uh they're looking to have the FY27 budget calendar at the meeting. That's what's on here. And then the school building committee and then um is there one thing that we were missing that we just talked about? No, that
would just be the vote on the committee. Is there anything else that we're missing that people want to add? I think budget coordination committee I think we'll meet. Okay. Okay. That Anything
else? Uh, when do you have um you're on the student? Yes. Do you have anything schedu We haven't scheduled a time to meet because we could find a common time. So, I'm I'm sending an email to see if
we can have a upcoming date schedule. Great. Um, I think that's it. Unless anybody has anything else to add. When is Sorry. When is this next meeting? Is it the 1st or the 8th?
The ETH. Okay. Um well, I guess I don't know if we have tenatively a discussion of Desie's response to our letter. Yeah. Yeah. We can add that if if we hear from them.
No. So, the negotiation subcommittee is going to be kicking off um I guess next week in just a pre-planning conversation. Um so, I guess we can sort of see what comes of that as far as what the timeline is going to be for
negotiations. We don't know that yet. Um, I don't think it will be time yet to have that on our agenda um at the next meeting, but maybe at an upcoming meeting or if we
have a sense of timeline, we can um share that out. Okay. But you don't think for the next meeting? I will know more after next week. Okay. I just put it in as a holder placeholder and I'm just adding a desi response.
All right. Anything else? No. All right. Last item is I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. Second. 7:59. Let's do this. All in favor? Awesome.
Thank you. Thank you everyone.