Order the regular meeting of the Minute Man Regional High School school committee for Tuesday, April 7, 20 26. I do not need a vote for remote participation.
And I remembered that I don't need that. Uh we did not have public comments submitted but um we are in person. Okay. Very good. Consent agenda. Uh donations disposal of surplus property
for which we've had a photographic for in great detail and said submit. Would somebody like to move the consent agenda? >> So move second. >> Second. any comments on any of the items on the consent for agenda including the
two sets of >> I just have one comment on the minutes from the 19th which is that um on number four >> for executive session I actually did vote yes and I'm noted as absent so >> okay great so I'm going to um allow the
motion to continue with that chain without if there's no objection any other comments on Any items on the consent agenda? Very well. Then roll call vote starting with >> No. No. >> Oh yes. >> No. Goodness. Roll call.
>> Yes. All in favor. All oppose. >> All abstensions. Passes unanimously. But I do have to remember roll call vote. >> That's right. That's correct. Okay. Chair's report. Do we have items for the good of the organization
this day? Good morning, Mark. >> Yes, >> I was just at a lacrosse game and the the boys lacrosse team won. They've had four games so far and three wins out of the four. So, they're off to a great season. >> Great. Uh how long does their season go
till >> May? So it got a lot left was the right very good >> discussion. >> Yes. >> I don't know who gets the credit for this, but I'm loving all of the social media posts about all the media projects. So I don't know who's doing
that, but those have been incredible to see all the great projects that are happening. So thank you. >> Yeah, I will make sure that the message gets passed along. >> Yes, our welding projects have been absolutely right. Yeah, it's just really cool because you feel like you're connected more to see what's actually
happening. So, >> make sure I pass that along that comes out of our admissions and marketing. Um, Aaron Nordson does them and we actually have a co-op student together. >> Thanks. >> Yeah, they're great.
>> Good. All the discussion of town meetings is is a reminder that any school committee member who feels uncomfortable uh knowing how to deal with their town during town meeting or they're having a specific issue this year that they would
like assistance with. One uh possible assistance is of course presentations by either the business manager or the the superintendent. Another one is support and on the experience of your fellow schoolers
to just remember a reminder that if you're having an issue uh and we know that at least one town meeting is not going smoothly this year from their point of view may be fine from our point just reach out and let us know and
support is okay that's all that's all I have to say yes Alex >> which towns accept Where have where have we gone? Oh, no. Finance committee has the only town meeting we went to is Lex. They're the
first and may have not passed um the whole >> Right. >> But I will say that the presentation that Heidi and Nikki did was fabulous and they had a couple of questions that were asked and they did a great job of
explaining things. I think our business manager has a >> majority of our town meetings are the first Monday in May. So that's six of our nine town meetings. So um by that point we can report at the May school
committee meeting that um the twothird vote um should have um passed so we can give it at the end of the next school committee. Do we need to arm wrestle to figure out um who uh which town Heidi
and Nikki will be going to? We already did beat it up, but you you have me and >> I think some you know there was some um bedding going on. >> I now I know that's not a drive home.
Okay, I have one that good. Any other comments on town meeting? >> Very good. Principal's leadership report. Just going to share my screen and see.
>> Well, the camera actually won't get you because uh the presentation will be on everybody's love to see you. So, hello. Hello. We don't need the microphones. It's recording from other >> see
Jamie being star for us there. Um so the junior class has had two main fundraisers this month. Um the first one being the crispy cream fundraiser and the second one the March the volleyball March Madness. Um, for the first one, the crispy cream, we raised a total of
$4,591. Um, about 340 $3,443 went to our class. The rest of it went towards like the actual doughnut sales to Crispy Cream. Uh, but we had over a 100 families and students purchase the
donuts or donate. Um, and then for the second thing, March Madness, we had a total of 17 seven teams to sign up and $15 per team. So, it was a total of $105 that we made. >> It's a lot of cream.
>> Yes. >> I see no questions. >> Um, it's nice to see you guys in person. This is fun. Um, all right. I'm going to do a quick report on some of the senior events that are coming up. So, the first one is our big senior trip that's happening. Um, we are so tickets are on
sale. We got a final price ticket price going. Um, that's the flyer that is being sent around or will be sent out very shortly. The yellow box is where the QR code is going to go. It's not just going to be a yellow box forever. Um, chaperones. We have right now, I believe, five chaperones already signed
up to go. A mix between parents and teachers who volunteered. Um, we are in the process of reaching out to more teachers and other parents who are would be willing to come hang out with us for two nights. Um, and then transportation as well is in the works. We have some prices already settled and we're going
to get our hands on some lessons soon. Um, the next thing is bingo that is happening this Friday. This is a parent only event. It is for people 21 plus. Um, it is going to be held at I believe
the >> Yes. Okay. It is at the club. Yes. At the club. Um, that is going to be happening this Friday. There will be a musical bingo as well as some silent auction items. Um we are in the process of um collecting some of these items. We
were able to reach out to many different companies in the area and they were very willing to donate some items to us which was very kind of them and then we will able to we will be able to auction them off this Friday. Um babysitting is going to happen here at Minute Man. Um, we
don't have any signups yet, so whether or not people need us um will depend on if it happens or not. Um, but we were going to offer some babysitting nights for those parents who still have some little ones. Um, and then prom is the next big thing that's going on for us. It is going to happen on May 15th.
Tickets are going on sale very soon, which is really exciting. Um, and then other than that, we have our prom decoration committee is going to start meeting very soon. And yeah, those are some things that are going on in the senior class right now. >> Where will it probably be held? >> Um, it will be held at the Ocean Center
in Salisbury, right? Yes. Ocean Front Event Center. >> Yes. >> I may be the only one, but what is Musical Bingdom? Um, it is I believe where you have we have a company coming to do it, but from what I understand
it's like a song is played and then if that if you know the name of the song then you can cross it off and then you have to get bingo from the names of the songs. >> Yeah, I played it before. It's a lot of fun. >> Yeah, we're excited. We were able to get um some company to come help us out. >> So the fun Friday night event, small
committee members. >> Yes, we'd love to see you there. >> And it's 21 and over. >> Yeah. small comments or questions. School can members >> curious with the senior trip tickets on
sale, have you um got any sense on how interested folks are? >> Um it seems like there are a lot of seniors that are interested just kind of chatting with parents right now before buying tickets. >> Yeah. >> Committee members who cannot buy tickets to go. >> No, I'm so sorry. We cannot invite you.
>> Not our senior, >> right? Thank you for our Charlene for inviting me to hold >> okay so thank you very much for having us and uh feel free to go back to your home >> thank you
>> um I'm going to take over the presentation probably makes more sense since I'm controlling the computer here to stay in this area although I I like to stand up and present an educator from a classroom. So, it's
always nice to to do that as well. Um, so um again I I come to you uh bearing requests of approvals for field trips. Starting with that, uh we have two that are one is our overnight trip for our
Skills USA state competition tomorrow and it'll be between April 30th and May 2nd. Uh as you know in the past we have students that have uh meddled in their district competitions and that's with their technical and leadership results
and we have our advisor here as well uh Dr. Paladino is here as well so she can answer any direct questions regarding our skill students. Uh we also have four students that from MTI correct? Yes, four students from our night class that
also qualified to go into um this competition as well. Uh this is our yearly state competition that occurs with Skills USA if you qualify. Um our first and second place uh students are the majority of students that tend to
go. Um, we also have other students as well that are part of um that didn't have to qualify through districts but can automatically be part of our state competition. Um, so they're requesting a vote from the school committee to do
their overnight trip in Lo. >> Put the motion on the table. Please tell us I was to travel for the skills students to attend the skills state competition
in Marboro April 30 to second 2026. >> Very good. Uh comments and questions. How many students do you believe will be going to this? >> 90 people in total. So that includes students um students who are double
registered as contestants in delegates. They don't they don't count once and uh seven shackles. >> And how does this compare to a typical year respectively this distance? >> I do not have that information. I would defer to the chapter secretary if she
has an idea of what numbers were last year. >> Yes, I believe that this is in fact more students than recent past years. However, not significant. They may have in the past. >> Good size number to make. Alice, >> do they still allow members of the public to go and final awards?
>> Yes. >> No, not change that. >> Yes. >> Oh, wow. >> It will be live streamed. Starts at 10:00 on Saturday and will last until 2 p.m. on Saturday. So, if anyone has never been to this event, um it's very
important to to understand what this is because it is unique to the vocational environment. It's nothing nothing like anything you have in a regular high school. They cannot access this at regular school and it is a very interesting developmental experience for
the students. Um, so if you haven't if you haven't seen this in action, if you have no idea what they do at it, it is one of the best educational experiences available to high school students in my opinion. >> Could I find more information online
because I am new to this? >> Yeah, I I will send you some information. It's great. >> Any other questions or comments on this before we bring it to a vote? I just >> one more thing about Skills USA. If I am not mistaken, Julia, did didn't I
include the Skills USA annual report as a backup >> couple days ago? >> So, if you look at your backup, you should actually have a full annual report from Skills USA. And if you can't find that, Julia will resend it to you.
Um, but also just good. Further discussion? All in favor? Motion on the table. Um opposed and extensions. If motion passes unanimously.
One more. >> Yes. Um recently our ed rising students um competed at the state competition. Uh we do have a good amount of students. I would say about eight. Am I correct? >> There were nine. >> Nine.
>> Nine that qualified. Eight or nine that qualified um for the national competition. Uh they did start this last year and um they competed last year and they made it to nationals last year and they competed again this year and they're making it to nationals again. Um
the key for them is that um we're looking for approval of a vote to go >> but it is pending on the fundraising that they are currently doing right now. >> I put the motion on the table, please move is moving it. Go ahead.
>> Yeah. Um, I move to approve the out of state travel for the Minaman Educators Rising Students to attend the 2026 Educator Rising National Conference in Portland, Oregon, June 20th to the 24th, 2026. >> Second.
>> Very good. Further discussion, questions on this item? I think we talked about this not so long ago. >> We have. And I would like to make a point about fundraising. Correct me if I'm wrong, but um at the Arlington Town
meeting, the bake sale >> Yep. >> Okay. >> will be to fund Ed Rising specific. Correct. >> And I think Arlington wiped us out last year. >> Yes. >> Yes. Me and Miss Mcdana were the ones running it last year.
>> Yeah. So, it's wonder. Very. Well, then all in favor of motion on the table, please. Anybody opposed? Any extensions? Passes unanimous there. And >> if you didn't notice in the two pictures, I hold our student reps or
so. We have a great athletic group of students here. Uh the final part of my presentations is to give you your admissions update that we've been doing monthly. Um again, if you look by towns, we have our slots allocations. We have all these
>> that is pretty hard for us to see. >> It is hard, isn't it? >> Is it in our packets? Is >> there any way to make that bigger? >> I'm going to give it a try. >> Well, Paul, will you share us the total accepted?
>> Yes. >> By town. And then the total decline. So, accepted and declined, nondecided. So, we we can see where we are. Currently this is only member towns. We have not accepted any outofd district
students. We are still receiving some member town applications which always um are ahead of any out of district. April 1st was the day the chapter 74 forms went out to out of district students. We
need to wait 10 days to see what comes back. we are eagerly waiting and at our feedback meeting which is on the 14th um we'll be talking about what that looks like for um the remainder of the year but Paul can read you the update by town
>> right so Arlington currently we have 45 accepted 11 have declined and zero undecided uh for Bolton we have eight accepted three uh that declined and zero that is undecided
For conquered, we have 10 of acceptance, five that declined and one that's undecided. Uh for do we have two that have accepted, zero that have declined, and zero that are un um undecided.
For Lancaster, we have 15 students that have accepted, two that have declined, and zero that have been undecided. For Lexington, we have 50 students that have accepted. Nine uh have declined and zero have been
undecided. For NEM, we have 17 students that have accepted, five that declined, and zero that is undecided. And then for Stow, we have 10 uh students that have accepted, four that are undecided, and zero that
have I'm sorry, four that have declined, and zero that are unaccept uh that are undecided. So, we have a total again of 180 students that have accepted. We've had 47 students that um 47 students that have decided to
decline. And actually this number here is incorrect on the bottom. It's actually one student that is undecided. If you go back to conquered, we have one student that's undecided. >> The yellow is last year, correct? >> Yes.
>> So can you go over to Lexington? I think that's the biggest >> change here. >> Um so last year we had 21 students when all was said and done. um we had 59
applicants and 50 accepted and said yes we're coming. So that is a very large jump that is not typical that far outpaces the graduating seniors. Do you remember how many graduating seniors do
we have 21%? >> Yeah 21. >> Is that the right Oh my gosh. Okay. We have 21. >> So that looks like it's slot allocation though. Is that that's not that's how many seats were allotted out of 175 based on
>> I can't see I can't see the title. >> I think it says slot allocation. >> So I can tell you right now with the amount of seniors that are leaving that is nearly double. >> Yeah. So we're we don't know the reason
why but we speculate that's a comment >> class of 25 14 graduate >> for less >> it's amazing >> how do we feel about these numbers point acceptance cycle
>> so these numbers are if you think about where we were in September and October which I think people were very tentative because it was the lottery that for whatever reasons. We are in very good shape. I do want to commend Paul and
Katie Bousard and everyone else who pitched in um to add some um additional visibility um during this admission season. Drew um broke down some technical barriers that were very very
helpful. Um so initially it seemed that we would be able to accept all out of district and all of district. That is not where we are right now. The question that we'll be answering at EMAC or or by the time
we get the numbers we'll be reporting to EMAC is do we have room for out of district students? um because we we may not we don't want to be a point where someone comes out
and we and we don't have space like we have had in the past. Um so that's a wonderful thing. Um but it it's it's also challenging and the question with the lottery is um do we run this I mean
my recommendation will be that if kids exist from out of district we do run a lottery to give numbers but that doesn't mean we have seats open it means that exists so if we did have seats open we'd
be able to start from the top and Um does that make sense? >> So just a couple of points that was mentioned before as well. We are still managing some late applicants within district. Um you know so we want to make
sure that they have their seats as as you said. Um and then our chapter 74s that we started on April 1st. We're still waiting for those. So even though I think I gave you a number of 18, we don't know if they're approved chapter 74. Those are just 108
applicants that we have at this point in time. So, we're still awaiting that number. This is some new numbers that are up here that I have put up. Um, we sent out our enrollment packets earlier than we did last year already. We have 75 students that have completely
finished their enrollment packets, >> which is high. >> That's high. And you know, we're we're again, these things we know will ramp up over break uh based off of what we're seeing coming in, which is really good. And it's a principle that helps me huge because I have to plan out the schedules
for these students. So knowing who's coming and knowing what the needs are, um that's that's a big step in the great right direction. We also have 85 students that have already registered to sign up for our assessment day on May 2nd. So, it's funny, you know, we were
talking about skills. Um, I remember we had the assessment day last year and I was watching on an iPad our skills competition when all our freshman students were were taking their assessments and we use those again that information because we have all students
coming from different districts, right? It's not like a typical comprehensive where you're coming from middle school, you got that and you're moving forward. And so we use these assessments so we can plan our scheduling as well. Make sure the students are able to do that. And then this is the last number there
is to have 67 confirmed incoming freshmen right now. And again, this number is going to rev up, but they're already signed up for orientation at the end of August. So I just wanted to give you some updated uh numbers that we've been watching
forward. So you are um enthusiastic about the family's enthusiasm in signing up for these events early. >> Yes, I am very very enthusiastic about >> this question. Of course, >> this is this might be an email question
and I don't know, but um would it be possible for us to just get maybe we already have it somewhere and I apologize for asking this, but could we get the data of graduating seniors by town from like last year this year and then we can look at that and compare it? I mean, I know Lexington's obviously a
huge change. >> I think we have that on our on our chart on our presentation. I thought so too, but I would I think it would be I think it's somewhere in there. But I was I think it would be really interesting to look at like are there other towns that have gone up down or stayed the same? Like obviously Lexington there's a huge
bubble, but I'm just curious if there's other changes. Our experience twice now with man in the shovel district is when the high school shovel is being renovated and now built,
we had huge bumps and then big drop soon as the new building's done, it changes. So that is just something I've noticed out there. >> I'll just add the biggest uh the two towns that we've seen the biggest grows in are Needam and
Several years ago, Actton went through a big job wreck um and you know resulted in a lot of conversation within town and I'm happy to talk about
what happened and um how that was managed. You would like >> I would love that. Please. >> Um, I would like to say at this point I have a very good relationship with our sending district superintendants and I
feel like a part of this is that the superintendent are giving us positive lip service and not preventing access. Um, the policies were a big deal. I have physically been to visit with our superintendent from the central districts and they have been um, very
communicative. Well, I >> that's not always >> I was going to ask you about that because this was the year that they all had to get that policy saying that they would provide access for everybody and I was wondering if that was in any way indicative. >> Um maybe um I actually presented to the
parliament school committee with the superintendent. I gave them a model policy that they all appreciated it used. It's great. Um it it it's been a very positive connection and I think
they appreciate what we do and it is different because I think what happens across the state isn't really always indicative of what's happening in the Indian district. Well, I noticed on a previous slide from a previous meeting, the percentage of when you were looking at the number of
kids who had the ability to apply a minute from each town, but and then like the percentage that actually did, Lexington was actually quite low. And then this year, um, if I recall correctly, there was like a small like of the number of eighth graders that were available, it was low, but then
it's this year not everybody had, you know, was given the information. So, I'm not familiar with with that reference, but I I can tell you right now there are fewer school-aged children um across the state, including in in all
of our towns. Um historically about 7% of the people who are eligible to attend Minute Man out of these towns do attend Minute Man. with us maintaining and keeping our enrollment the same or going higher when
there are actually actually fewer kids that exist means that percentage is going up. So this is an interesting time um for that. Um so that's that's something to keep in mind. So when you
hear other districts saying we have fewer students, they literally have fewer students because they don't exist on consult. >> So we're going to have a lot more to say about this the next major shoot to draw is to understand how many those audit it's a big number of audit district
students who apply but the number who would be allowed to have an opportunity to come spaces is going to be a fraction of that. So we won't know that for a week or two. um until the 14th
>> couple 14th of this month >> of this month between the 10th and the 14th right and then we'll have another important piece of information then they have to do some um algorithm to determine try to think about how many of
these students will not show up in September kind of thinking so how many out of district students can we allow in a lot educate the guesswork and we'll talk more about that in a week or two. Very good.
Does that conclude the um principal leadership report? >> It did. Thank you very much. >> Good. Thank you. Move on to the superintendent leadership. >> Thank you. Um so for our state update um
I want to keep um the graduation requirements discussion um front and center for us. The discussion across the state has been about mass core and does that become the graduation requirement
for everyone across the state. Um the biggest challenge for us and I think for many school districts is that the algebra 2 piece of mass would be required. And if we are looking at end of course
exams that means there would be an end of course exam where you need the course plus mastery um in algebra 2 which is a substantially higher standard than MCAST. Um, so that is something I just wanted
to put out there. Um, it looks like there would still be a waiver or brace or whatever you want to call it for vocational schools for foreign language and for um, one unit of art, but that is not an issue for women because we do
offer those things. That's not true at at all schools that have 50% vocational programming. Um, we are hoping that we will hear something by the end of the year. I think currently what we have in our handbook and what we have in our policy
um will be able to carry us forward at least for another year. But in both of those places uh there's uh a note or a a statement that says if the state changes we do need to follow the state regulations.
Questions about about that? Um yeah, you just mentioned that because we're a trade school, we do have a waiver for the foreign language requirement, >> right? So that that means um math core of English, four years of math, three
years of science, two years of history, one world history, one US history, so on and so forth. reading this. I'm I'm not reading it off the sheet, but um one unit of art and um two unit or two
courses, right, of foreign language. That is what mass core is. That's typically what you need to get into a state school. Um and that is what uh that is a standard that exists that is not required by anything, but it's best practice. So, we report to the state, do
your students meet mass score, and if so, how many mass score? Um, actually, the department of ed um had me review some data with them to compare their reporting system to see if what they are looking at matches. Um, we just did a
sample to check some data because they monitor that and they report that out on the school report card um on um you know, on the district profiles. We as vocational schools, our students are not required to take two years of a foreign
language math school. But we ours would still say yes even if our students did not either and not the one unit of art. Thank you. >> Yeah, no problem. >> So if if they
make sure I understand I may not bother saying this. Well, no one really does. Um, but under what they're talking about for math school, would that require a change in the math curriculum that we're teaching here? >> Yes, it would. Okay. Because
if algebra 2 is required and for some students, especially our students with a mass math disability and they break up the algebra one or the two years, we would never want them to take a course for graduation
that their senior year. That would be a incredibly dangerous thing to do. um we would want to do that um earlier if there is an edge of course that connected. Um so I am saying that to give us
have an awareness of it but that is not something that is make a decision about right >> guidance you saw the new program of studies um Diane Dempsey has been all over this um we are preparing for plan A
B C D um and they have done a really good job making sure they understand that all all of those pieces But that algebra 2 would have the biggest impact not just on us but across the state
>> is the um proposed um end of course test one that uh we develop or one that is given and graded by the state. I've heard it both ways. The proposed where
we are right now end of course exam would be developed and given by the state. >> If there is a portfolio or a capstone project that would be something that is I guess elements would be developed by
the state and it be locally scored. Those pieces those details we do not know but those are all on the table. It may take them a while to create the test and the mechanism for grading
it. So it might be a bit before that becomes a but the only other thing I will state is that I remember the consteration when the MCAST was introduced the fear on career tech schools and I
also remember the staff here saying basically when I asked them I did it every year especially the early years of the MCCAST is the MCAST helping you or harm took them a while to figure out how to worked here. They always said, you
know, calm down. Get it under control. We think it's mostly good for the students in the long run, which it proved to be. So, I am um I am uh concerned about um the timing.
I'm concerned about the getting started, but I'm not concerned about eventual success on it. We've been down this path. We'll see. Got a ways to go.
Questions or comments? Yes. >> Are you commenting this? we don't even know what they would be implementing. That would be step one. What what is it? And then there'll be some followup from that and then they will give us guidance
for what that looks like. However, I I want to remind all of us about the graduation policy requirements that came out fast and furious. We were one of the first districts, if not the first
district to get our graduation policy in because it came so quickly and uh I think if I'm not mistaken, was it last August? outs. It came in August and we didn't want to start the school
year without uh making sure we had a clear policy and so there wasn't a lot of um empathy for what has to happen at a school school district with with kids. But um but again I do feel like a policy
subcommittee or I mean everybody stepped up to the plate should make sure that we have a a safe plan um for whatever is transitioning state. I do believe my recollection was that based on the superintendent's recommendation, we actually had a discussion meeting on
that and I appreciate the school committee members uh that I that as as chair I don't have to worry about the fact the membership understands that from time to time special meetings are required. I don't get a lot of push back from that. I do appreciate that. I try
not to do it often than we need to but we need to. So, I've only been retired for a couple of months and I'm already forgetting the things I was so deep into. >> Can you do a little reminder the difference between the graduation
requirements and the competency? Um, >> yes. >> Determination. >> Our local I'm sorry. No, no. Our local graduation requirements are what we determine or what you determined as a
school committee to say we require XYZ. You can require community service hours. You can require English math work. You could even require guests. You could that's all up to you as a local body. This
competency determination is something that is through the state. So right now we also have a local competency determination for the interim which is what our policies are that graduation
requirements conversation would replace that. So right now we have you need uh two years of English you need algebra 1 and geometry. It matches um the competency determination requirements match the
requirements of MCAST essential. Um and now the replacing that with NASCOR is is uh is very different. >> Very good. Uh school calendar changes.
What change do you want? Well, I it is very ironic that I'm bringing this today because I I thought I was bringing it because snow is over and um I saw those big flakes today. Um but we needed to adjust our last day of school. So, if
you look in your packet, um, we have the original date was June 10th and we're keeping that on the calendar so people can be aware
and our current 100th day updated is the 16th. And what we did was so people would say, well, why is that so late? What happened? We have the yellow exits on our um snow days. So you we have half
days marked. We have the original last day and snow days are um the yellow's. And if you look, we do still have 90 and 90 days. We have an even number of Christmas.
So you're looking for a motion to approve the revised count. Is that correct? >> That as as um submit to you. Yes. >> Very good discussion. The snow days pay go on. That's the way
it works. Right. I'll then have moved to a vote on favor motion table opposed and extensions and it passes unanimously. >> Uh we are also looking for the school
committee's um vote regarding school choice tonight. May want to explain what schools are allowing you to take this vote. Yeah, >> when the 1993 they decided it was $5,000 and it's not changed since.
>> Well, they may not even know what school choice is. >> So, >> so if you if a school district participates in school choice, if we have um available seats, people could choose or elect to come to Minute Man.
Um this is typically something that's done in comprehensive school districts uh but many do not um because of the financial burden the unpredictability of the financial burden.
>> If you fail to take this full time automatically or a school choice school you have to take the kids who want. So, it's a uh really a queer part of the law that we have to vote not to participate in. And if you
know how much it costs to educate a student here, the amount that you get for being in school choices, five grand has not changed since >> the dinosaurs ruled the earth. >> So, would somebody like to make the motion? Yes. as not to participate in
school. So thank you. >> Yes, I would like to make the motion not to participate school choice for the 2026 2027 year entry forum the department of elementary and secondary education at this decision before the June
second. There's a second. Any further discussion on the weird need to take a vote to not participate? >> I understand the vote, but is there a push to um increase the amount at least?
>> Oh, we tried to see we relied on one of the um biggest controversies we had our member town was a number of years. We relied very much on school choice. >> Yeah. and uh and then the difference was
less of course 5,000 used to be worth $5,000. So yes, there was uh many attempts to raise it and it was always gave up.
I can tell you that whole story. >> So thanks. >> It was a long time ago. Any further discussion on motion and panel? Well then uh all in favor of the motion on the table opposed abstensions
passes unanimously. Thank you. Okay. Does that conclude the superintendent's leadership report? >> It does. >> Good finance report. Sarah, >> we met recently to review and approve the warrants. We do that twice a month.
And tonight we'll need a vote on the certified excess of deficiency. and Nikki is here to give us a little bit of background. >> Hi everyone. Um so each year we vote excess and deficiency um for our budget
which is essentially if you think about like a for-profit entity revenue minus expenses is kind of the the profit or fund balance in a in a nonprofit. Um so there's uh certain guidelines that we can't exceed more than 5%. Um, so we
give back to the towns. Um, in our original budget that you voted in January, um, we voted to use $650,000. Um, so that vote is essentially the same. The only thing that has changed now is that the state certified those
numbers. Um, so they asked for the minutes that vote the certified. That's why I'm asking you tonight for the same exact vote with the certified number. Um so when we go to certify next year, we can submit those minutes um with the
with the report in order to get certified with the state. Be nice and simple. Um so I would like a motion to authorize $650,000 from the certified excess and deficiency fund to reduce member town assessments
for the fiscal year 27 budget. Charlie was to say uh any discussion on our revote to make it official for the state. Very well then. All in favor motion the tables opposed
and abstensions. Very good. Thank you very much. Passes unanimous. >> That concludes. >> Uh yes. >> Can I add one? Um I believe on your um yes
>> I got so excited out loud. Your seat you will have our audit which was completed as of March 31st. Um our auditors will be presenting it at the May meeting along with my wonderful finance um quarterly report.
So um I anticipate that being a little bit longer of a meeting. Um, we're providing this to you in advance so you can have time to look through it um at your leisure uh prior to the May school committee meeting um and the auditors
will be available if you have any questions at the meeting. Um also please feel free um to reach out should you have any questions. But um as our chair likes that uh request, we have a one-page summary of the reports, the
purposes of it. Um how there were no findings, no issues um with the audit and the auditors will come in May to uh confirm that >> no findings. That means that the finding was excellent.
>> Well, he's stealing our money. That's >> Thank you. You're welcome. >> Great. So, romantic reading, you have an expert. You will be tested on it. It's part of mass core now is for school committee members do
and we'll have plenty of time to question auditors. Very good. Now, does that finance report some of the reports? Enrollment, membership, access, and capacity,
lovingly known as the EMAC. >> Okay. Well, at our last meeting, we reviewed where we were with the enrollment information that um you heard tonight. Not quite as updated as it was
tonight, of course. Um and well, there really are two parts in what we're doing. One is looking at the enrollment both in district and out of district. As Heidi mentioned, we have another meeting coming up on the 14th um where we will
be doing the same. The other piece of our EMAC agenda right now is relates to um requests that we have gotten from two former community districts seeking um you know what it would take to rejoin
the district. So, we've had some very initial conversations about that. And I think since our last meeting, Heidi was going to be having conversations with both of these um of these um
communities. And at our next meeting, because the decision of whether to expand the district is really something that according to our regional district lies with the town. It's something that
we need to be bringing our towns into this conversation. So we were going to be spending a little bit of time you know where are we and how would we plan for a meeting with our towns. So that will be happening that discussion will
be also happening at our meeting for 14. So anything that I have forgotten for those on that concludes the EMAC report superintendent negotiations and evaluation subcommittee pamp.
>> So there are two parts to the superintendent negotiation and evaluation subcommittee. Um one piece is underway, one piece is not yet underway. Um the piece that is underway
um you know has to do with what we'll be discussing in our executive session. So that conversation will be um coming up um a little bit later and you know relates to um the um contract for our
superintendent. The second piece is that the committee is responsible for uh the annual evaluation of our superintendent and um we we meaning I as committee have
not started those conversations with I we need to in order to make sure we have that work um you know taking place in a maybe not quite as timely as we would like manner but as timely as we can make
it. >> Any questions or comments? No. >> Good. That that concludes that report. >> That concludes um the superintendent negotiation and evaluation. >> Great. I believe that Alice has some very very complicated changes for policy
for us and her stuff. >> This is a thrill. So I guess uh the superintendent has we I'm sorry we met last week of March on a Thursday um to discuss policies mostly in I but
also JF. So the superintendent has been going back and forth with Desi since October last week. >> Well, they sent us feedback and I believe they can't correct our policy or approve our policy.
They didn't didn't give us feedback on our admissions polic. They want this one word change that's described page 20 packet and I think um Stephanie Albert made this nice highlighted copy for you.
Um you'll see that the word behavior scratched down replaces it. So the point of this is to vote to that one change in the entire council. >> And you'd like somebody to make a motion to do so.
>> Have a second. >> Second. >> Good. Any discussion on that one or change requested by the state? We don't have to do it, but do we object to make this one change? I am happy to
>> not only do not object, we're happy to do so according to the constraint. Very good. >> Any questions or comments? Onward to the vote. All in favor motion the table and oppose and abstensions.
That passes unanimously. Thank you. >> Is that true? Policy reports. >> Yeah, we got nothing. That's not >> we actually are cruising through section I and we have quite a bit. >> I think I think the beers are now boiled
and moving along. So >> we will be seeing many eyes coming down the pike. >> Exciting reading. >> Excellent. We love it. >> But see it actually does matters and others.
Very good. I believe that that concludes the regular meeting and I'm going to ask for a vote to enter into executive session. Uh I would like um I will actually make a motion. I move that we enter executive
session not to return to open session and to allow the school committee ID and Julia to attend for the following two reasons. A, approval of the draft minutes of March 10th and March 19th, 2026.
B, pursuant to MGL chapter 38, section 21 A2, the purpose of discussing strategy as it relates to contract negotiations with non-union personnel, the superintendent. Would somebody like to second that?
>> Any discussion? And this one does require a roll call. >> Yes. Sarah Arlington. Yes. >> Mark, yes. >> Charlie Lancaster, yes. Chair Lexington, yes. >> Jeff, yes.
>> Okay. So everybody else, thank you very much for attending and the the chair calls a fivem minute