Okay, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to call the meeting to order. >> One second and I'm going to let everyone in. Okay. Sorry. >> Oh, sure. [laughter] >> Hello. >> Oh, there she is. >> Okay.
>> Hello. It's Sarah here. >> We hear you, Sarah. Sarah is the the telephone. Yeah, I'm on the I'm on the telephone until until I get home in about 20 minutes and then I'll be on video Zoom. >> Okay, great.
>> Uh, okay. I'd like to call to order the June meeting, June uh 9th, 2026 regular meeting of the Minute Man Regional High School. I would like a motion to adopt remote participation as listed in the agenda, please. >> So moved. >> Second.
>> Very good. Roll call vote. Pay is not here. So we begin with Sarah. >> Sarah Migu Arlington. Yes. >> Linda Herbison Bolton. Yes. >> Marqueely Dover. Yes. >> Lancaster. Yes.
>> Darren Mosto. Lexington. Yes. >> Jeff [snorts] Dulan Neen. Yes. >> Lucas Joe. Yes. >> Great. Julia. Have we had any uh previously submitted public comment? >> No public comment. Jeff. >> Okay, got that adoption of that. I get
that. Very good. Move on to the consent agenda. The consent agenda call has the following items. Uh were there donations listed in the packet? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.
I'll call that. Let me just verify donations. Yes. Two. Uh good. Two donations. Right. Wood and Skills USA. Very good. There was a large list of
uh laptops which I believe have uh lived their useful life and the minutes. All those things are on the consent agenda. I would like a motion to approve the items of the consent agenda as written, but we have a comment from Heidi first. >> We do. Julia, um will you make me a
co-host, please? >> Certainly. >> And I can assist with uh the uh mute. Yeah, I just fixed that, too. >> Okay, very good. Uh, I'd like a motion to approve the elements of the consent
agenda as in the agenda, please. >> Second. >> Okay, great. We have a comment there from Alistister Duca. >> There's there's one sentence that doesn't make a whole lot of sense towards the end of the minutes. Um,
uh, Sharon actually pointed it out to me and, um, we could just delete the sentence. It is, Hang on a second. Uh, >> okay. I'm going to take the minutes off the consent agenda then and we'll take that separate. >> Yeah.
>> So, we are only going to be voting right now on the uh, donations and the surplus property, not the minutes. Any questions or comments on the items on the consent agenda that we're leaving there?
Very well then. Roll call vote. Pam is not here. So we begin with um Sarah. >> You're on mute. >> Sarah Monty Arlington. Yes. >> Linda Herbison Bolton. Yes. March do yes
>> lane faster yes >> Sharon Mau Lexington yes >> Jeffanum yes >> Lucas yes >> very good so let's put now a motion on just the minutes then we'll make the change so would somebody like to move the minutes of May 12th 2026 please
>> moved have a second >> seconded >> great and the change that you would like to make is removal of >> the sentence that starts Mr. Luca noted the recent increase in policy reviews and observed that many proposed policy updates have originated from the
continued reflecting and engagement the policy development and review process. I think we can just scratch that sentence. >> Very good. Uh so any objection to altering the motion to be the minutes as written with that sentence moved from either whoever
made the motion or seconded. Would that be uh acceptable to those two people? >> Yes. >> Very good. That is now the revised motion is the minutes as uh written with that one sentence removed. Any other questions or comments on the minutes?
>> The minutes were very long. >> Linda has a question. >> Yes, Linda, I can't hear you. You're on mute. Linda is still on mute. >> Looks like she's not. >> We are asking Linda to unmute.
>> Correct. >> Might have lost her. >> Seems like she lost her video, too. There we go. Okay, Linda, you're still on mute. >> Unmuting. >> Unmute. Okay, good. Can you hear me now?
>> Yes. >> Great. Um, there's a misspelling of a last name, Budro. I think it's written in there twice and the first time it's misspelled. >> Okay. So, that change will be made, but I'm not that's a I'm not going to ask
for a amendment. That's just a misspelling. Very good. >> Any other questions or comments on the minutes? >> Very good. Well, roll call vote. Sarah. >> Sarah Montigue, Arlington, yes.
>> Linda Herbison, Bolton, yes. >> Marculi Dover, yes. >> Yes. >> Must Lexington, yes. Jeff Stulan needen. Yes. >> Gustoau. Yes. >> Okay. Very good.
Chair's report. Uh well, we're not going to say uh thank you to Pam because she's not here right now, but I uh I don't know what the time frame is going to be of Actton replacing her. She is our member until she is replaced. At any rate, whether she's
still a member or not, we will see her in July in person and we'll say our goodbye to her then. Um uh though I don't know the time frame of how Actton is going to move. Um
our our regular July uh school committee meeting is our reorganizational meeting. It is in person and is on July 7th. Now I do have a few comments about the reorganizational meeting, but I'd like to get to the bulk of the work we have to do today. So, if there's no
objection, I would like to delay uh my comments on the re reorganization meeting until just before item 10 because I want to get to some important work. I do have some extensive comments on at this time if there's no objection. Seeing no objection, that will the
comments will be before item 10. I'm making note so I don't forget. Very good. Okay. And talking about the uh important work we have to do today, I believe the
next item is a executive session to discuss uh contract negotiations. So, I'm going to ask uh a motion to enter executive session
to return to open session. I want to include Julie. I'm going to include uh Heidi, even though we probably won't need her. So, just in case we need to bring her in, I'm going to say include Heidi, too. uh and the purpose is pursuant to MGL
chapter 38 section 21 A2 for the purpose of discussing strategy as it relates to contract negotiations with non-UN personnel the superintendent director. So I'm making that motion. Do I have a second? >> Second.
>> Very good. Roll call vote starting with Sarah. She is >> Sarah was kicked off. Um she is calling back in. >> Okay. Well, we'll uh go through our this vote without her and then we'll wait for
the start of the executive session for her. So that would mean that we are beginning with Linda. >> Um Linda Herbison Bolton, yes. >> Marky Dover, yes. >> Charlie Lancaster, yes. >> Sharon Mosto, Lexington, yes.
>> Jeff Stom, yes. Lucas, yes. We are all back, Jeff. Thank you. >> Okay, very good. I would like a motion to approve the employment contract for the superintendent director for the period of July 1st, 2026 through June
30, 2031. Please, could somebody make that motion? So moved >> nurse made that motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. And under discussion. Uh let it be known that this that the the fact that we're taking this vote so
quickly does not indicate that we haven't spent a lot of time on this issue. We've had uh many meetings uh of multiple hours with the negotiation team and the superintendent director. The school committee has met in
executive session multiple times and we just had another meeting tonight. We have deliberated on this. We've talked about it extensively and if the uh superintendent still wants us to move forward, I'm going to put the vote on the table. So, superintendent,
do you still want us to move forward? >> I would be absolutely honored to continue to serve minute man. I appreciate >> Great. We have a motion that has been made and seconded. I now call Is there any further final discussion on this?
Very good. Roll call vote. Pam. >> Pam Nurse Actton. Yes. >> Sarah Montu Arlington. Yes. >> Linda Herbison Bolton. Yes. >> Marculi Dover. Yes. >> Last.
>> Sharon Mosto. Lexington. Yes. >> Jeff Stulan Nem. Yes. Alistister Luca Stowe. Yes. >> And it is unanimous. So congratulations superintendent. Uh we are uh very happy to offer you
this contract. I think that it shows a great deal of respect and confidence by the school committee and your leadership. And if there any comments you'd like to make about it, now would be the time to do so.
>> Thank you. Um I want to say it's been a wonderful almost two years here. Um the staff, the administrators um and the students have made it um just a wonderful experience and I can't wait to continue serving um and I appreciate the
school committee um for being so communicative and um and committed um very very much. Thank you. And we need to take one more vote because there's one element that could not be legally put in the contract that we did negotiate and discuss and that
was to allow uh for this uh current year uh the superintendent to sell back 10 vacation days. That is part is part of our discussion but it cannot be part of the contract. So I'd like a motion to do so. Please
move. I'm seconded. >> Very good. Any discussion on that item? Very good. Roll call vote. Pam >> Amner. Yes. >> Sarah Montigue. Arlington. Yes.
>> Linda Herbison Bolton. Yes. >> Marqueely Dover. Yes. >> Lancaster. Yes. >> Taran Mto Lexington. Yes. >> Jeff Stan. Yes. >> Lucasto. Yes. >> Very good. And that concludes our
responsibility in um uh that we promised two years ago in reviewing and um uh coming to terms with the superintendent's contract and that item is now complete. Okay. Now, uh shortly before we went
into an executive session, uh the superintendent mentioned that there was an item from the good of the organization which I neglected to ask her about. So with the uh with the uh um agreement of the school committee, I like to do that now. And Pam, you can
take off whenever you need to. Pam is um has something that she's important that she has to do and she just came out of the goodness of her heart to bring us over the finish line here, but you can you can you should depart whenever it is appropriate. >> Okay. Thank you all very much.
>> Thank you, Pam. >> Thank you. >> Um thank you, Jeff. I I do have one item. Um I'd like to read to you something that I sent to the entire staff
um few days maybe a week ago. Oh no, May 27th. Feels like five minutes ago. Um, it's an announcement and um, I'm reading this because I'm a little emotional just to talk, but it's my pleasure and also
sadness to congratulate Amy Peralt on her new position as the Shaw Sheen Director of Support Services, which will begin July 1, 2026. Amy has served Minute Man for over a decade in several capacities, including
assistant superintendent. As a leader who put who put students first, she has been an invaluable member of the E team through several administrations. Personally, Amy has been a trusted adviser who supported me in all aspects of my role as Minute Man's new
superintendent, and I am eternally grateful for her support during my transition to Minute Man. I wish her success and happiness in her new chapter. Um, and I would just like to um recognize Amy who's here tonight. Um,
since literally my first month, um, Amy has been nothing but professional, committed. Um and uh I think considering the uh I don't know what the word is for what was happening
previously drama previously at Midmman considering what was happening previously Amy is one of the key players to um help us turn the tide to where we are today. Um, so, uh, Shasheen's gain
is our loss. And, um, I wanted to make sure we formally recognize her for her service and commitment to Minute Man here tonight. >> Would Amy like to make any, uh, comments while we have her here? >> I don't want to be emotional either. I
have loved my time at Minute Man. It has I I've grown up at Minute Man is what I've been saying. Um like Heidi said, over a decade and I've served in many different capacities. Um I've learned so much and I will always take Minute Man
and hold it in my heart with me wherever I go. Um it's a wonderful school and a wonderful place to work. I'm looking forward to new challenges and new adventures, but I will I will always love Minute Man and always miss it.
any uh school committee member comments just say from my point of view that all my interactions with you Amy have been positive and helpful. That's I guess a fairly strong thing to say but that's that's my comment. Uh Sharon. >> Yeah. So Amy, I'm just going to say thank you because I've had the pleasure
of interacting with you as the parent of a special ed student, as the CPAC chair, and then here in the school committee. So thank you for all your work and all your dedication to Minute Man. And [clears throat] this is Sarah Montigu and Amy, I just want to wish you
lots of success in your new role. >> Thank you. >> Okay. And Charlene, >> yeah, I wanted to wish you best of luck as well and sad to see you go, but um you know, we've always had positive
interactions as well, so um I know you'll do great at Shashi. >> Thank you, >> Alice. Luca, >> thank you. Amy and Shasheen will be lucky to see your smile. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you, Amy. >> Very good. Is that your only item for the good of the organization? It is a big one. >> It is. >> Okay. Very good. Principal's leadership report. Mr. Principal, I think you have a few things
to share with us today. >> Unfortunately, um, uh, no student reps. >> No. And thank you. Um, we are currently getting ready for elections in the fall, so our student reps will be ready to go when we return to school. Um
f first of all that's a hard act to follow with Amy so I'll do the best I can on the on this report but um very positive because I do want to talk about graduation get the there we go um had a wonderful time on
um June 1st as you know we had to uh move the date for our Skills USA seniors uh had the ability to go um right after they had completed our ceremony that day. Uh we had 155 students that ended
up graduating that day. Things a little bit different. Everything had to be a little bit earlier due to the fact that we had a earlier start to graduation. Again, if you remember, that was due to the time that we could change over for the LOL Auditorium. So, students arrived
at Minute Man at 9. Uh we did a full practice in the gymnasium, a student brunch uh in the Paul River with the staff. We then boarded our buses, headed over to L Memorial, did another uh quick run through uh to prepare for the
ceremony. Um, I will say this and this is just a side note. It is very unique and wonderful that we have this day where all the students congregate at Minute Man and we bust them over there.
Um, that is not an usual procedure at graduation. So, everyone's like on their own responsibility to do it. But the fact that we do that really ensures that sure everyone is able to participate. we can also manage any um change that might
occur. So, it's it's really a wonderful thing. I do want to say uh thank you definitely to Miss Dempsey. Uh she really does a great job planning. She makes it easier for me uh because I just follow what she has laid out for me. So,
it's really a wonderful time uh for the planning. She really takes care of all the details. I also just want to quickly give Mr. Fusco a quick shout out. um for reading the names because he is retiring this year and um it was really special
for him to say all the students names as they received their diplomas. So for my part that's it. If you have any questions regarding graduation, I'd be happy to answer them. Well, for those of us that were there as
school committee members, um, and I I was, again, just a just another wonderfully run event. Um, it's I think it's become one of my favorite events of the year, honestly. >> Thank you.
>> Any other comments? Yeah, Sharon. Yeah, I just I think probably one of my favorite parts was the looks on the students faces when they hit the top of the stairs and they had this look of like, "Oh my gosh, this is really happening." And the number of students that we had to sort of stop and say, "Do
you want your diploma?" because they were so excited to get across the stage that they would forget. So, it was really special to see just all the different positive reactions. And I know that like we all couldn't be there, but it it was really great for those of us that were able to be there.
other comments or questions. >> The behavior of the students was superb. There was no goofing around or anything. They're great kids. >> Okay, >> great. So I'm going to turn this next part over to um Katie Bashard, a
director of CTE as she is going to be talking about a outofstate field trip in the fall. >> Great. Thanks Paul. Um so this is the fourth year that our environmental uh program is seeking approval to travel to
Star Island. Um it's a great field trip for them. Uh this year it is going to be on September 15th to the 18th. Uh we have 16 students going. Uh that's a combination of both seniors and sophomores. Uh and then we have three
chaperones going as well. Um the field trip it's multi-purpose. Uh it includes community service. They have invasive species removals. Uh they do some fall native plantings. Uh they have some ecological and climate resilience uh studies. Uh and they have community
building of course as they're together uh for the overnights. Uh which is always fun. Uh so we're seeking approval for a vote uh to attend that with our students in September. >> And you're looking for a vote? >> Yep.
>> Okay. Who would like to make the motion? Alice Luca. I vote move to approve the out ofstate travel for the Minute Man environmental technology students to travel to Star Island, Portsouth, New Hampshire September 15th to 18th, 2026.
>> Second. >> Any uh questions, comments? So, this is a trip they've done in the past uh a number of times. Is that correct? >> Yeah, this is the fourth time. >> Fourth time. And it's been successful the previous three times or else there
wouldn't have been a fourth. So >> this is correct. >> Okay. Very good. Any other questions? School committee members. Very well. Then move to the vote starting with Sarah. >> Sarah Montigue Arlington. Yes.
>> Linda Herbison Bolton. Yes. Mark Hilly Dover. Yes. >> Sharon MTO Lexington. Yes. >> Jeff Stulan. Yes. >> Lucas do. Yes. >> Very good. Is that the end of the principal's leadership report?
>> It is. Thank you very much. >> Okay. Thank you. And things get a little quieter there in another few weeks. You think >> different kind of work, but yes, hopefully a little bit quieter, but more productive when needed be. >> A little bit quieter. Very good. Move on
to the superintendent's leadership report. Heidi Driscoll. >> Thank you. Um update. Uh what I would like to share with all of you is we are waiting um with baited breath on the
state's release of any updates for the competency determination or graduation requirements. Um we are in a good position right now with our program of studies with what we've done with the leads when those are released. Um there
is a potential if um algebra 2 is a requirement with a potential endofyear um assessment that's needed that we would need to make some changes in our program of studies. um our math lead, our guidance lead, uh they're actually
all the leads are very aware of um what uh some options are and we will be coming back to you in July um if and when um the state gives us guidance and we need to take action and I'm happy to answer any questions
about that. Just got to wait and see. Okay. Is that the only item under the superintendent's leadership report? Is that correct? >> Uh yes. Um and well, there's one other item. I I didn't know if Pam would be
here or not at this point, but you will be receiving from me um before the next meeting um my evidence for um for you to consider for my evaluation this year. Um and I've worked with Pam on uh the
structure and that is forthcoming. >> Okay. So next next month is the excitement of the superintendent formal superintendent evaluation and we will be hearing from that by emails. Sam was uh in charge of both these things the superintendent
evaluation and the negotiation. So yeah. Okay. Great. Very good. Uh now the chair actually made a mistake. I skipped over an item in addition to the one I said we were going to do later and I want to come
back to that which is the uh 2026 2027 school committee meeting schedule. So I'd like somebody to put a motion to approve the uh 2026 2027 school committee meeting schedule as included in the packet.
>> Mark Hilly. So move second. Second >> comments and questions on that. >> Alice Luca. >> Um my only question is there's a giant gap between the September 8th and October 20th meeting and I just wondered
why. >> There is a holiday in October. So sometimes that throws it off a week. Uh there's also um religious holidays in there that sometimes throw it off. That's fine. I don't care. I just
wondered. >> Have no fear, Alice. If there's a need for a special meeting because of the gap, we'll have one. >> Okay. Any other questions or comments on the schedule? Very. Well, then bring it to a vote. Sarah
>> Sarah Montgue Arlington. Yes. >> Linda Herbison Bolton. Yes. >> Marily Dover. Yes. line pass. Yes. >> Sharon Mosto, Lexington. Yes. >> Jeff Sulan need. Yes. >> Sucas. Yes.
>> Very good. Okay. School committee members coming back to uh the reorganization meeting that is happening on July 7th. And I have a few comments for you. Uh based upon uh questions that have been asked from school committee members over the last
few months, I have a few things to share with you. The first one is that I will probably uh stand for election one more time as chair. However, uh my feelings will never be hurt if you don't vote for me. I can guarantee that.
But what I really wanted to do is I've been asked uh over the year a number of times, well, what actually does do the officers do? Especially what does the chair do? because uh whether it's this coming uh month or a year from this
month, you're going to have different people as officers. And uh I think it's a fair to give you some idea of what um the position entails. So, uh I'm going to spend u more time
than I like to talking. And I'm happy that Alice is here because she can keep me honest. So if I miss something else description of what was that? >> I will keep you honest and I will keep you brief.
>> Yes. Okay. It won't be as brief as I would like because there's a lot of stuff. So um first I want to uh remind you of something or you may not even know it. We are a a somewhat unusual school committee because the first of
all we are a regional school uh committee which mean and we only have a single school to look after and that gives us some advantages. Um the school is a specialty school. It is a targeted school which also gives us some interesting challenges
and we are uh have historically been activists in the state not for just for minute man but for a career tech education as a whole and those are kind of unusual things for a school committee to do. And let me share with you that it
is no accident that we that even though it looked very much like the district was going to close, we managed to instead uh keep it open and build a new school. And there are many reasons why that was
successful, but one of them is the time and sacrifice made by many, many school committee members way beyond the call of duty. Um the new building would not have happened without us
and the effectiveness that we have had over the years is the thing that we want to retain regardless of who are the officers or who are the school committee members. So um a few things to understand about
the job of chair. Uh first just remember that the uh the main job not the only job but the main job of the school committee members include setting policy uh overseeing the budget and selecting
and evaluating the superintendent which obviously we did something important with that tonight. The most important thing you should remember and this is not how it works in some places is that the chair is not the boss of the school committee. The main job of the chair is to create
an environment in which the school committee is as effective as possible. That is the job of the chair. Um, one thing that is uh extremely member
extremely important for a school committee member is although you never lose sight of the concerns of your sending community, if you're on this school committee, your focus must be on the benefit of the
children that are under our purview. That is fact number one. And as a school committee chair, the worst problems that we've had over my tenure on the school committee is when we have members who have forgotten that
either because they are pursuing their own personal objective or they feel like they're an extension of their board of select men or fin [clears throat] that's their main job, not the benefit of the students. And I mentioned that
because when you are the chair, it is even more so that you have to focus on uh the kids less than your uh uh community.
And in some communities, there's a lot of micromanagement of the school committee member. kind of an implied threat that if you don't do what we want, we're going to be unhappy with you and yell at you and get rid of you. And if you're going to want
to be the chair, you have to understand that uh you cannot give in to that pressure and you have to be able to deal with it. I had uh some pressure at the beginning of my tenure from uh from Needm, but
eventually learned to get along really well. But there are other school committee members who were really essentially bullied into doing things that were not necessarily advantageous for the children here. So you have to be able to
to deal with that. Now here are some of the things that the chair needs to do. The first thing is you need to sign a number of scary legal and financial documents. So some documents are put in front of you in which you don't fully
understand all aspects of it. So you're relying on the staff at Minute Man, but you're the one responsible. It's your signature that's going on. Um it is uh very important to
uh create the correct balance of authority between the administration and the school committee. Okay, which means strong oversight but not no micromanagement. And that is uh the role of the school committee and the
role especially of the chair is to manage that um the balance of that relationship. And with some superintendents that's not an easy thing to do. Others it's better. And uh sometimes you have to sit down
and work those issues out. Uh the chair is the one who decides when the school committee is allowed to use the legal counsel and that can sometimes be challenging because on one hand when to use the
legal counsel it cost you money but if you don't lo use the legal counsel in certain incidents it's going to cost you a lot more money. So that's one of the uh jobs of the chair is to decide when legal counsel is appropriate and the chair makes the
decision based on their knowledge and what other school committee members say and sometimes consultation with the superintendent. Um let's see uh and another important committee uh uh job of the chair at least the way we run things is that when
we have uh subcommittees right it is the chair that proposes the subcommittees and the membership of the subcommittees for the year and then the school committee decides but is the chair and when I'm chair I
spend a lot of time looking at a list of uh subcommittees that we're going to need for this year and deciding uh who I think would best serve on those committees and I do it based on uh your requests
uh what we know is coming up uh recommendations for other people that takes a lot of time to do that and um there are usually some changes during the meeting when we have the meeting to to vote on it but it's important to get that right Because the way that we work,
one of the reasons why we have so many unanimous votes is that our main issues go to our subcommittee who do the the bulk of the work and bring it back to the full committee for discussion and back to the subcommittee
and to the full committee. That's very important that our subcommittees are doing their job. And if you see how well the um negotiation subcommittee did and the amount of work that they spent uh to bring us to this very simple vote
today, you know, but there's not a lot of a lot of complicated stuff went behind it. So, it's very important to try to get the right group of people with the right skill set uh and the ones who want to learn the right skill sets.
That's something that takes a long time and of course the chair is the one who is primarily responsible for the agenda. But let me tell you how that works. So the way that the agenda works is it is set during the officer's meeting. That is the purpose of the officer's
meeting is to set the agenda. Uh but and the way that it works is that the superintendent and the administration knows the flow of the year through the school and what they do for every officer's meeting is that they prepare their proposed agenda with the stuff that they know about.
Then we get together with the officers and the officers bring their knowledge of things that are happening or things that may be upcoming or things that they've seen or or talked about and we may modify the agenda based on the uh
comments from the officers and that process is cooperative because obviously the administration has a huge stake in what the agenda says. It is virtually never controversial.
Uh we may disagree on which month a particular item is brought up, but that's about it. That's how the process works. The superintendent makes a proposal for the agenda, draft agenda. The school committee member, the officers get together. We review with the superintendent. We make some
changes. That's the draft agenda. And uh there's usually two weeks before between the draft agenda and where we actually meet. And as events unfold, the chair may suggest that the superintendent make additional changes in the agenda
uh between the officers meeting and the and when we actually post it and meet. So that's how that works. Okay, any questions on that process? By the way, it's worked out very well for us over the years.
Okay. Now, the chair also has a special relationship with the superintendent and a large portion of that is that the superintendent has responsibility to notify the school committee of things
that may come under the school committee's purview. But a lot of the things that the superintendent figure out in advance are things that may not end up being important or are personnel issues
which are not to be made public in the short term sometimes in any term at all. So I get a uh a number of phone calls from Heidi on these issues and some superintendents have very good
judgment in in letting so when they when she notifies me that's notifying the school committee and then we have a discussion if necessary as to do we notify the rest of the school committee now or we wait to see how this unfolds
or it's just a heads up that an incident may end up in the newspaper. I'm just giving you a heads up. So, we might have a little discussion of that and then um we make a decision and we move on. And Heidi's judgment in in which issues
to bring to the uh to the chair are is very good. The best I think of any uh superintendent I've ever interacted with. But that's that is part of the relationship of the chair and the superintendent.
the chair does give advice to the superintendent, listens to the superintendent's concerns and uh sometimes there's a notification that legal issues may be coming up that are not immediate to go on an
agenda item. Uh but keep in mind that this is coming down the pike maybe. Okay. So, that's another thing that the chair has to do. And although the the the chair is not the boss of the school committee, they
do have a leadership role because they're usually the point man for information. Get more information from the superintendent and also from school committee members who sometimes contact the chair with uh concerns or incidents
that may be coming up. And a lot of the things that the chair is contacted with end up uh if they cannot be resolved as agenda items. Uh maybe not immediately but eventually but the chair does have a sources of
information that are not always available to everybody on the school committee immediately. Um the chair also according to our policy is the spokesperson for the school committee but the chair does not use that
authority very often. Uh because one of the things we have to learn as a school committee member is that it's very important to close our mouths that we always listen to other people who have concerns
and m and uh but usually it is then you bring it to the superintendent or to the chair and then is disposed of in some method. But a school committee member is not supposed to uh talk much or express an
opinion, just accept information for the most part. And when you're chair, uh that goes doubly so. You have to close your mouth even harder, except for in exceptional circumstances in which you may have to make a pronouncement on behalf of the
school committee. Doesn't do it very often. The chair obviously chairs the meetings. Okay. So, uh in case you haven't remembered,
we have a number of policies in our policy book that are specific to the school committee. One in particular is be rules of order. The rules of order are our substitute for Robert's rules of order. U most
organizations in the world refer to Robert's rules of order as their parliamentary procedure and 99.9% of them don't really use it. They do a bunch of stuff that pretends to use Robert's rules.
So what we did here at Minute Man instead is say well let us see what is really effective for running our meetings and let us put that actually in writing. So uh we have uh rules of order that the
the chair does follow. Now you don't see most of the items under those rules of order because most of them are when things are going off a little bit. And when you have as cooperative and professional a school committee as we
have, you don't have to use those levers in running the meeting very often. But the chair has to know it in case things uh do go south which is especially true when you have school
committee members who are not cooperative and do not know how to act in a organization. And if school committee members have not read those rules of order, the minute man rules of order, you should do so. And if you do decide to be chair, you
should get a copy of Robert's rules in order and skim it. It's only 800 pages long. The latest draft I looked at, I did I did skim it and from that I and I think Alice was very helpful in developing the Minute Man rules of order which probably should be updated.
>> So that's what Jeff >> Yes, you Jeff. It was you who did the Minute Man rules of order and I'm just reminding you of the time. >> Yeah. Okay. I'm almost done. Um let's see.
Oh, so finally um the time commitment is chair. I'd say in a really easy month 15 20 hours for the month and really bad months 40 or more. Is that about accurate, Alice?
Yes. So that's the time commitment. 15 or so for an easy month for some of those really bad months. And I've had a few of them, 40 to 60 or even more. I've had a few.
And um uh and the vice chair is the chair just waiting to be a chair. You know, with the chair is not available to be at a meeting, the vice chair takes over. And if something were to happen to the chair, the vice chair takes over. Otherwise, the vice chair is the um
confidant of the chair. and the chair shares some information with the vice chair in case the chair vice chair has to take over. But the hourly um work of the vice chair is small next to that of the chair unless
they have a particular duty they have to do. And the the secretary of course is in charge of working with the U recorder Julia on the minutes and that can be very time consuming too but not 40 to 60 hours a month. No. Okay. So, um that's
basically what I had to share with you. Uh are there any comments and questions at this time? And as I said, either this year or in the future, somebody else is going to be doing the job.
and um uh time commitment, micromanagement by your community, keeping your mouth shut are some of the most important things you have to remember. And um running the meeting has been very pleasant with you guys, very
pleasant, but there have been people for whom it has not been pleasant at all. That is not the case today. Who knows what the future holds. Okay. Sorry to bend your ear for so long, but I have been asked about this sort of thing, and now I fulfilled that
obligation. Very good. Finance Committee report, Sarah. >> Okay. [clears throat] Um, I my quick report is that we met recently to review warrants and approve them as we always
do every two weeks, but we have nothing for the school committee to vote on tonight. So, that is the conclusion of my report. >> Okay. Sigh. So sad no finance item. I bet Nikki is >> I'm so sad we don't have to take you
through lots of spreadsheets tonight. [laughter] >> Nikki's probably in tears. Jeeoff, should we record that as the shortest finance committee meet announcement ever? >> We've had that same announcement a few other times. [laughter]
>> On occasion, we do. I'll work on even my my brevity when we have these opportunities. [laughter] >> Subcommittee reports, capital planning subcommittee, Alice Duca. >> Well, this won't be very long. Um we met on May 20th as subcommittee. I want to
thank um Ford Spalding and Steve Leoo who continue to serve on the capital planning subcommittee. We generally meet during the daytime. They are very valuable to us for their long expertise on the Minute Man building and um their
expertise in town uh affairs with regard to Mr. Leoo especially. So, uh, Superintendent Driscoll, Michelle Rosundes, and Nikki Andre were there. Um, so [clears throat] we heard a report on the north building. The north building is the one that is housing the
huge equipment that you hear about from time to time. >> Um, Michelle Zenis reported that the last about the last pieces of this project. Um, you know, this was a couple weeks ago. So, >> Alice, you're fading. >> May 20th. Um, it was very close to
finished. Can you hear me? >> Yes. Now we can hear you. >> Sorry. It seems as if there's a dead zone like you know a foot back from I have to kind of move forward. Um so the last piece of the project we're getting
finished and um in late May. Um so the horiculture department was going to be working on a pathway. The space was fully ADA compliant for the town of Lincoln and the space was cooling as expected on a hot day which is a big deal. Um they were getting ready to shut
down drain and move the giant equipment and get it calibrated recalibrated after the move by the company H. Um and the moving was done by a professional company and the move was organized by Al St. George who as I understand it is
like a hero for Minute Man. So um it Mr. St. George when I hear that he's involved I just know it's fine. So, um, the school should be signed off on the move into the building for the new school year. Um, it was very close to finished. Uh, is that still true or is
it actually finished? >> I think right now we're just waiting for a meeting with Desi. I'm not sure. I'm not sure if George is there or can hear I see his name. Um, but I saw in my calendar that we have a meeting for a walkth through with them. That's correct. Right, Paul?
>> So, I think that is our >> correct. And are the pavers in that that that I'm not sure about >> that? I I haven't got back there to verify that, but >> Okay. So, we are very close if not at our last meeting and um it will be open
for students um not just for working on on it but working in it. Um and the largest machines were u miraculously moved. >> Okay. So the um freed up space after moving all the big machines the freed up space allows the school to redistribute
the students. So from what I understood there were three students plus a teacher crammed around a advanced manufacturing machine each machine and these advanced manufacturing machines are going to be further apart and set up in a U and so they will not have three students and a
teacher like you know crammed around each machine. it'll be much much better. Um, and then I also heard that a grant from the trustees of the town of conquered will add a new machine and Katie Buchard and Melissa, I don't have her last name, submitted a grant
proposal for that. So, that is very cool that one of our member towns is supporting our projects. Um, the district has been in discussion with neighbors around Mil Street regarding the vet science setup there and they've been having meetings with the ZBA and um, I'm sure we'll hear more about that
in the near future. Um, there was one response to the RFP for the Tmont building and that process is still underway. You have to stay tuned on that. Um meanwhile um the district pays to maintain the sprinkler system, the heat, the electricity, everything else
on the existing empty building out of a revolving account. So just keep that in mind that you've got an empty building that you've got to kind of keep alive and it's just costing us money. That was that is a key piece of information for what comes next. Um we also heard that
the roof on 20 Mil Street is finished and that the fume hood was in process. fume hoods are critical path. Um, and that the MSBA recommissioning report is in process and the testing for that had been finalized as of May 20th. So, that's a little while ago, but that's
what I heard. Phase two of the fields is still on hold uh while some personnel changes were completed, but that's also something that the superintendent has on her front burner. So, that's all I have from capital planning.
That is a long and impressive list of items. It >> was very cool to to to see all this stuff being done because, you know, we've as a school committee been very focused on trying not to be that school that leaves all that stuff undone and
then wonders why your building's falling down. So, I really feel pretty good about that. Uh, yes, >> I have two updates since our last meeting. Um the Lincoln Zoning Board of Appeals did meet and they denied the appeal and agreed that um the clinic of
course meets the Dover amendment um and we're good to go. So that is wonderful. Um and we did um hire um a new director of operations for our facilities. His name is Brian Hayes and he will be
joining us July 1. >> Yay. Okay. some forward motion on more things. That's great. So that's it for capital planning. >> Very good. Superintendent negotiations and evaluation subcommittee. I think that
the Heidi Driscoll mentioned uh the fact that uh we are going to have the evaluation in July. You'll be receiving information about it between now and then. and uh you'll you'll you'll uh we will share with you what you need
to do to complete the evaluation. That's my understanding, Heidi. Is that correct? Yes. Okay. Very good. Policy subcommittee, we're back to Alice. >> Okay. So, um again, I want to thank um
Sharon MTO and Stephanie Albernaz who's on the call. I see her. I see you, Stephanie. Um, so you know, they're a great team. We're a great team. People who really care about language can do this type of
work and enjoy it. And I want to thank both of you for caring about that. Um, so the formatting and conversion project is ongoing. As you know, there's a gigantic notebook of basically of policies that's on the web. a lot of them are not really useful to Minute Man
and weeding those out and trying to make sure the ones that we do have actually reflect what goes on at Minute Man is important as it is the third central job of the school committee. Um and it it allows you to form the kind of um kind
of media and school that you want. Like if you think about education reform and trying to make a better school, that is where you can um talk through the things that you care about. So that's why we like it. Um so [clears throat] we
reviewed a few policies that'll be coming back after further edits. One having to do with bus driver examination and training and one having to do with library material selection and adoption. Um and then in your packet you have a bunch of votes. So, if you want to look
at number 11 and uh we're going to make an edit to one of them, but most of these um you've seen before. I didn't receive any questions about any of them. Uh Julia, did we have any questions from anybody? >> I did not, Alice.
>> Okay. So, the policy subcommittee really beats these to death and we we actually review all of the legal references and make sure that they don't have ones in there that refer to the laws that were removed from the state law or anything
like that. And um I really appreciate uh Sharon, especially Stephanie for both of you for your hard work. So, uh, the first one, we want to have a motion to adopt homebound instruction, which is policy IHBF, school committee
policy, as presented and replace the current Minute Man policy. But I would like to remind you that at the last school committee meeting, and it's in the minutes of that meeting, we changed the word assistant superintendent of student services to principal or their
design. So, that correction has to be made. And also the word there's um we need to word add the word consecutive. Um so there's a a section that says for
a period of not fewer than um 14 school days and it should say for a period of not fewer than 14 consecutive school days. You can see how that would matter. There's our consecutive days. So with those two changes um to the one in your
policy um can we get a motion as as read >> second >> discussion? Second. >> Seeing none, should we take it to a vote um for roll call vote? >> Start with Sarah.
>> Sarah Montigue. Arlington. Yes. >> Linda Herbison Boltson. Yes. >> Ariel Dover. Yes. >> Cabra Lancast. Yes. >> Karen Mosto. Lexington. Yes. >> Jeff Stan. Yes. >> Alistister Lucas. Yes. And although it
might seem, you know, efficient to just have one motion and adopt all of these at the same time, it would not be fair to the public. Um, some people really care a lot about some of these policies and they need to know what happened and not just have something go flying by and they just
they didn't even hear about it and stuff like that. So, we're going to go through them one by one. The next one is the English learner education policy, IHBA. The motion would be to adopt the English learner education policy IHBA as
presented. >> So moved. >> Seconded. >> Second. Oh >> discussion. >> Seeing none we can vote.
>> Sarah Montigue Arlington. Yes. >> Linda Herbison Bolton. Yes. >> Marculi Dover. Yes. Sorry, I was having technical difficulties. Um, my turn to vote. >> Yep. >> Okay. Sean Cabal Lancaster. Yes.
>> Sharon MTO Lexington. Yes. >> Jeff Stan needed yes. >> Alistister Lucastow. Yes. The next one is Student Services Program School Committee Policy. IHBA. Um, this one is to adopt the school student services program as presented
and replace the current policy IHBA which was called special needs programs and services which is an antiquated title. Um, this is the new policy would be uh lined up with the MASC codes.
>> Mark Keely so moved. >> Second. Second. >> Thank you. Matthews. >> Um, anybody have any questions about that one? Seeing none, we can move to the vote.
>> Sarah Montigue, Arlington, yes. >> Linda Herbison, Bolton, yes. >> Marily Dover, yes. >> Yes. >> Sarah Ma, Lexington, yes. >> Just do yes. >> Lucasto, yes. The next one has to do
with summer school. We talked at length about this at the last meeting. Summer school school committee policy IHCA. This is to adopt the summer school policy as presented and replace the current Minutemen policy IHCA which was called summer school courses internet or
correspondence courses. It gives you an idea of how old that was. >> Correspondence. That's funny. [laughter] >> Okay. Do we have any second? >> Nobody. Thank you. Thank you, God. Okay.
So, now we have to um have any discussion. Any discussion? No. And then we're going to move to the vote. >> Sarah Montu Arlington. Yes. >> Linda Herbison Bolton. Yes. >> Marky Dover. Yes. >> Alan Caster. Yes.
>> Erin Mto Lexington. Yes. >> Jeff Stan. Yes, >> Austin Lucas do. Yes. The next one is about instructional materials. Um, as you know, the school committee does not um select instructional materials. They used to back in the bad old days, but
they do not anymore. Instructional materials school committee policy J to vote to adopt revised instructional material school committee policy J as presented. Um, [clears throat] that's that's it.
So move. >> Second. >> Second. >> Thank you. Anybody want to comment on that one? >> So Alice, this is one of those examples of where we went just for people to be aware of where we went through all those regulations and found stuff that wasn't
accurate anymore and stuff that wasn't there. So that this is just an example of what Alice was talking about earlier. >> Thank you. Yes. Yes, it was. >> Uh okay. Okay. So, we could go to a vote on that one.
>> Sarah, >> Sarah, are you there? >> Oh, I'm sorry. I I misunderstood. Yes. Sarah Montu Arlington. Yes. >> Linda Herbison Bolton. Yes. >> Mercury Dover. Yes. >> Last. Yes.
>> Must Lexington. Yes. Jeff. Yes. Also, Lucas Joe, yes, we're almost done. Off-campus work projects. You know that the students at Minute Man do off-campus work projects in general in the MASC policies. They don't do off-campus workshops if they're not in a vocational
school. So, this is kind of a nice one. Um, the motion is to move off-campus work projects school committee policy IHB to second reading as amended. Um, we amended it last time. So, uh,
do we have a motion? So, moved. >> Seconded. >> Thank you. >> I do have a comment on this one. >> Jeff, go first. >> Yeah. Okay. I just say that it has
language. It says above persons in it, which could be confusing to the reader. >> What does it say? above persons when referring to the people who would be um um let's see above persons instructional
materials off cameas work by says um the school district expects that the above persons shall comply as all staff members shall so it's just not 100% clear above persons what that refers to
so I would not uh word process says wordsmith this now I just say that that's my comment for you for the uh next version of it the >> okay [clears throat] this is the second reading so it would be do you want us to take it back and come up with better language or >> I thought it says move to second reading
>> I think this is our first reading of this one >> yeah so this one you're moving to the second reading so just take I'm going to vote yes on it just take that as a comment and you can determine if the comment is merit or not >> okay sounds good thank you for reading >> and necessary And my my question was
[clears throat] this aligns with the co-op programs, right? Or are or does this >> relate to like one-off things? If a student wants to do uh a one-time project with a nonprofit in carpentry or something like that,
>> I can uh this is not about co-op. This is about off-campus work projects like Al St. George does. He actually is our stipened manager of off-campus work projects. So he takes a crew to go um
work on a particular project for a community or you know a town or a business. >> That's what those are for. >> Got it. >> Heidi, this is like the um like the health assisting kids that go to nursing
homes and things too. Correct. >> Anything that is off-campus that is um that is not as an co-op. you're an individual kid going. These are actual um contracted um planned events.
>> So, so if I could interject, like for example, we do Habitat for Humanity this year. Now, St. George oversees that with the electrical, the plumbing, the con, the carpentry, and um our kids go out to those sites to participate.
>> Okay. Um, does that answer your question? >> Yes. Thank you very much, >> Alice. I think one more thing about this one is that we had to add in the CTE for this one because it doesn't exist anywhere in mask and we couldn't find it
in other like we searched through all of their policies. So, we felt like we needed to keep IHP, but then we added in the CTE. Is >> that correct, Stephanie and Alice? Am I remembering that correctly? >> I'm just checking the minutes. Hang on a second. Uh yes, that's correct. So we are adding
to the code. It says IHP, but we're adding -ect CTE to make sure that it's clear that that's a that's one that belongs to the vocational school environment. That's not a, you know, one that we could actually find the right
policy for. So yes. So that'll be JF. Sorry, that'll be um IHB-C. Yep. So can we do we have a motion on that one? I'm sorry. I've got lost. Yes, we do. Okay. All right. And anyone else have any
remarks? No. Seeing none, we'll uh take a vote on that one. Sarah Montu Arlington. Yes. >> Yeah. >> Linda Herbison Bolton. Yes. >> Marily Dover. Yes.
>> Charlie Lancaster. Yes. >> Most Lexington. Yes. >> Jeff Stan. Yes. >> Yes. We have two more. >> School choice. School committee policy. JFBB. So this is the policy that the school
district does not do. School choice. Um, the primary reason, which we actually have to state when we take the vote, is because of the amount of money that they spend on school choice, which is $5,000 per student.
Uh, so, um, we vote to move school choice school committee policy JFBB to second reading as amended. >> So moved. >> Seconded. I have a comment on this one, too.
>> Yes, Mr. Stolen. >> It says following a public hearing. What does that mean? >> It's in the state law. It requires, believe it or not, we're supposed to have a public hearing on school choice. >> Okay. So, is our regular school committee me meeting considered a public
hearing on it? >> I think it has to be posted as a as a public hearing. I don't know that any school district in Massachusetts does it that way, but that's what this >> this is what they require for language. Okay, no problem. >> We researched that one too, Jeeoff. We were like, really? >> Really? What?
>> Wow. >> We've never done it. >> Yeah. >> I I would think that I would think that the school committee meeting would suffice because it follows open meeting law. If it's on the agenda, there's your public meeting.
That's how we're going to interpret it. >> Okay. Yeah. I think when this was started back in 1993, it probably was a hot issue and they required the the school committees to have public hearings because um they
wanted to make sure they actually did it. >> That's my guess. Okay. So, do we have a motion and a second on that one? >> We do. Uh, let's take it to the vote.
>> Sarah Montigue, Arlington, yes. >> Linda Herbison, Bolton, yes. >> Marily Dover, yes. >> Charlie, Lancaster, yes. >> Aaron Mosto, Lexington, yes. >> Jeff Dulan, yes. >> Doug Gustoau, yes. This is the last one.
Public complaints about the the last one for this meeting. Public complaints about the curriculum or instructional materials, school committee policy, KEC. we would move uh that one to second reading as amended. And I want to just
remark that um at a recent meeting a couple of summers ago, MASC recommended that you require that anybody who makes a public complaint have some relationship to the school that a stranger from out of state can't come in and and try to get you to change your
your materials and stuff. Um so that is embedded in the language of the one we're reading. I saw that. I was very happy to see that in here. So, >> yeah. >> Okay. So, do we have a motion? [laughter]
>> Please. >> Thank you. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Anybody [clears throat] want to talk about this one? >> Um, I don't want to I don't have any I just have I'm curious. Has Minute Man
ever had in your tenure as school committee members complaints about the curriculum, instruction materials, or books? >> Nothing that has come to the school committee than my tenure. >> I don't know what goes on that doesn't come to the school committee, but
nothing that's come here. How about you, Jeff? >> Uh, no. But of course, this has become more popular of late, these companies >> in in different in different states. Yeah. Not not yet in Massachusetts. Yes. >> Oh, yes.
>> Happened in Massachusetts. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. There's a lot of controversy regarding literary materials and specifically and and particularly in elementary and middle schools. >> Oh, >> not for us yet though as far as I know.
>> Yeah. We don't attest that we have not um to this date have this at minute man. I can also attest that this is a very relevant issue in other districts, especially with um elementary. >> Yeah. >> Elementary. Yeah. Yeah.
>> So, we're doing the right thing in establishing that a person who would make such a remark or complaint would have to come from the school district. They'd have to be somehow associated with our school district. >> Right. That's smart.
>> We lost you, Alice. >> What? >> We didn't hear the last thing you said. It sounded like you said >> any any further questions or comments on this one. No. >> Seeing none, let's vote. >> Sarah Montigue, Arlington, yes.
>> Linda Herbison, Bolton, yes. >> Marily Dover, yes. Lancaster. Yes. >> Darren Musta, Lexington. Yes. >> Jeff still in muting. Yes. >> Alice to Lucasto. Yes. Thank you again to Sharon and Stephanie. And thank you
all for your attention to this stuff and it was really only 15 minutes out of your lives. Thank you very much. >> I'm going to emphasize a comment that Alison >> Oh, go ahead, Jess. I just have a quick comment. Yeah. [clears throat] >> The important of this is these are now
legal documents that we're responsible for. So these are our policies and people can complain if you don't follow your policies. So when we vote for a policy, it's important for us to understand the policy because it can come back and and
bite you later on. Okay. Just keep that in mind. >> Um and this is Sarah. I just want to add I I appreciate the effort that Stephanie, Sharon, and Alice put into all of this work. Um because as we've
learned along the way, there was a lot of outdated information that just wasn't relevant. Um and I'm sure it took a a lot of work to do it. So, I want to thank the three of you for taking that on. >> Please note that this is the tip of the iceberg and there's a lot more coming
your way. We've got a lot of work to do. Um, [laughter] but we're getting into our groove and we've been very productive at all recent meetings. So, that's been really good. >> Well, then it's good that Stephanie looks like she has a lot of energy. So,
um going to need it. >> Thank you. >> And that does that include the does that conclude the uh policy subcommittee report? >> Yeah, totally. >> Very good. Which brings us to our last item on our
agenda, which is yet another executive session. So, uh, Heidi, do we need anybody to join the school committee other than you or Julia? Is that it? Just you, Julia, and the school committee? >> Uh, yes. Yes. I don't even know if we need the school committee. It's in its
entirety. Andrew, um, do you need just >> the people who it's applicable or can we Okay. So >> yeah, just the just the numbers from um the 2022 2023 time frame. >> So that would be
>> I need to have >> that would be Sarah Montigue because I started in 2023. Are we staying in this room or or do you need me to dial into a new room? >> No, we're going to stay here. But we do need to we do need a quorum. So I think that everybody probably we need at least
five of us in order to There's only two of us who weren't there. >> Yeah. So, I think everybody should stay and and because this issue may come up and harm us later. >> We have seconds in between or quick break.
>> Uh we're going to take a brief break after we move into the executive session. >> Okay. >> So, uh Heidi, who do we need? We need uh you, Julia, and Andrew. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, the school committee members.
So, um uh I I would like a motion to enter executive session. In fact, I'll make the motion. I move that we enter executive session not to return to open session uh to include Julia, Heidi, and Andrew. Is that correct? Good. Uh for the
following reason to discuss strategy with respect to litigation by George Clement as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigation position of the public body and the chair so declares. So, do I have a second? >> Second. >> Roll call vote. Sarah.
>> Sarah Montigue. Arlington. Yes. >> Sorry. Linda Herbson Bolton. Yes. >> Marculi Dover. Yes. >> Lancaster. Yes. Darren Mosto. Lexington. Yes. >> Jeff Stulan. Yes. >> Alistister Lucas do. Yes.