Joe, are you expecting anyone else from the school? >> Joel Brookner will join me, but she's helping get the concert going and she she might be a bit late, too. >> Okay. Excellent.
So, it is 6 o'clock. We have our um expected members here, school committee members here. So, I am going to call this meeting to order. uh 6 o'clock at Thursday, November 6th. Um this meeting will take place virtually pursuant to
the law signed by Governor Healey on March 28th, 2025. This meeting will be livereamed on Willlet and broadcast live on Spectrum Cable TV uh channel 1303 in Williamstown. Meetings will be available as video on demand within 24 hours after
this meeting on the mgrsd YouTube channel and on willynet.org. With all of that said, um I am gonna start our roll call and say Bowen here. >> Conry here.
>> Elenvine here. >> Green here. >> Miller here. >> Great. All right. Thank you. I'll read the mission. Um then at Mount Greylock Regional School District, our mission is to create a community of learners
working together in a safe and challenging learning environment that encourages restorative based processes, respect, inclusive diversity, courtesy, integrity, and responsibility through high expectations and cooperation resulting in lifelong learning and
personal growth. With that, I will check in. I don't see any public comment and I'd received nothing. Um, and Joe just shared that we will not have our student update today. The students were
not able to attend. So, I am going to hand it over to Joe for our annual school committee reorganization per policy. >> Why, thank you. And this is my second time around trying to go through this
policy BDA. And and I believe the first time I I didn't do it correctly. And this time I'm also wondering whether or not I will do it correctly. But I believe that I am supposed to uh request in a roll call fashion that each member announce the name of the candidate for
chair of their choice. And at the end of that ballot, I will ask if any member wishes to change their vote. I will then declare the ballot closed and announce the vote.
So I believe that means that we um we can we can do it in a way that that Julia has has made enjoyable. Um we can we can start how about if we start with uh C is for Conry.
Um, and now I say Julia Bowen for chair. >> Alphenbine. Julia Bowen for chair. >> You'll be the next within that if you're if you're able. Steve, we can come back to to Carrie once she reconnects.
>> Okay. Um I I I don't want to say anybody's name until I know that they're willing to serve. So I will provisionally say Julia's name conditioned on her willingness to serve. >> Sounds fair enough. Uh Carrie, have you
returned? >> All right. Uh Julia, I'll bring it to you and I'll and I'll double up with uh allowing you to answer Stephen's question. >> I I would be honored to serve again. Um so yes, I would I would and I'd be
honored to do it. >> Thank you. And then now Carrie, we're going to return to you. So far we've we've um heard from each of the other members. Uh starting with Christina going up alphabetically and then back around. Um, so far, uh, each member has said the name Julia Bowen, and Julia has
indicated that she would be willing to act as chair, um, if that was the committee as well. But now it is your turn to, um, indicate the committee member that you would like to see on the ballot for chair.
>> And we're doing them one by one. Or can we not? Yeah, one by one. Okay. Um, I'm going to be boring and just go with Julia. Okay. >> All right. So now wi with with all of all of that uh done
um as there is only one person um would somebody like to move a motion that Julia Bowen be appointed chair of the school committee through to November of next year? >> So move.
>> Uh second. So, we have a a move and a second. Um, roll call vote. And this time we'll start with green. >> Green. I >> Miller I.
>> Bowen. I. >> Conry. I. >> Elvin. Bine. I. >> All right. And uh with with that roll call, the motion succeeds. And there are
five members present. So, uh, Julia, both thank you and congratulations. And I'm not sure which in which order to offer that, but I shall now turn the meeting over to you as chair of the school committee. >> Thank you. I have my acceptance. Oh, no,
there's no acceptance speech, but thank you. Thank you for that um trust, and uh I hope to continue to earn it. Uh, also as always, let me know if I'm doing something to lose it. Um, so I I so appreciate this committee and want to
make sure that we continue to work as well as we work together. It does appear that I should be following the same policy, which is a different it feels different than what we've normally done. Um, but I am seeking
nominations for now the vice chair. Um, so I will call the role and each member should announce the name of the candidate of their choice. Um, and then we'll do the same process and and we are
going to start with Stephen this time. >> I'm going to pass again until I know who's willing to serve. Do we need to choose somebody from a different town or is that just something we try to do? >> Policy does not call for that. That is our historical
um our historical process. >> I will pass then until I know who is willing to serve. >> And and apologies Curtis, I skipped you, but you get to start the next one. Um so I will I would like Christina to serve as the vice chair. >> I would accept that nomination. I don't
Do I vote for myself? I don't That's such a weird thing. >> Yeah. You >> first have to nominate yourselves because we're going around. >> Right. >> Right. >> I guess I nominate. >> Yes. >> Really awkward.
>> I nominate Christina Conry. >> Christina. Thank you. >> Stephen. >> I will second the nomination. Or I guess I No, I I nominate Christina. >> Okay, great. So, could could we have a
motion to uh nominate Christina for vice chair, please? >> I'll nominate to make it easy for the minute writer. >> Thank you. >> Curtis. Um, so I guess it's we're going to do a roll call vote for Christina to be the vice chair.
Starting with you, Curtis. >> Alphenbine. I to Christina serving as vice chair. >> Green eye. >> Miller. I >> Bowen I >> Con Henry I.
>> Great. Thank you very much. Um and then we need to do the same for the secretary. And Carrie, we're going to start with you. Um and ask for your nomination for secretary.
>> I nominate Steve Miller for secretary. >> Steve. >> Steve, you get to say whether you're willing to serve, >> right? I just talk to myself. Um, I do that often and I am willing to serve. So, I will nominate myself. >> Great. Then I will nominate you as well, Steve.
>> Christina, you're muted. >> I Sorry. I nominate Steve Miller. >> I nominate Stephen Miller for secretary. >> Great. So, can I have a motion, I guess, to appoint Steve as the secretary?
>> I'll elect him. We're elect >> elect him as a secretary. Okay. >> To keep it, I'll still make the motion. >> Oh, all right. Good. Then I'll second. >> Great. All right. Um, we have a motion and a second and we will start with a roll call vote. And why don't I kick
this one off and I'll say I Bow and I. >> Conry I. >> Elvin by I. >> Green. I. >> Miller. I. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, thank you Christina and Steve for
both also agreeing to continue in these roles. Um, district secretary, it says a vote, but the policy does not include that one. >> That is separate from this policy
>> but we do the same thing. Well, I don't think we need to follow the same because it is the expectation within policy BDB is that the uh the superintendent shall be elected by the committee. So, it's okay.
>> I move to nominate the superintendent as the district secretary. >> Is there a second? >> I will second. Thank you, Christina. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, we'll do a roll call vote. Starting with you, Christina.
>> Connory. I >> Elfin by I. >> Green eye. >> Bowen >> I. >> Bowen I. Great. That passes. I think we have our reorganized
not reorganized uh school committee. Thank you everybody for your participation in that awkward exercise. And now I am looking to move towards approving the minutes from October 8th. Could I have a motion to approve the minutes from October 8th? >> Miller. So move.
>> Thank you, Steve. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Curtis. Any discussion about the minutes? Hearing none, let us go for a roll call vote. Starting with you, Curtis. >> Elfenbine. I
>> sorry um green I I was going to ask do we have a new minute taker? >> We within the district office have been sharing that responsibility and in uh pulling them together monthly >> because I noticed the format changed.
So, >> yes, we've been trying to find a format that will be easier to read as well as to to produce and also that would feature what the motion actually is. Um, that was one of the recommendations from
our auditor uh this past year is that to really clearly see the motion that is being voted on is a very helpful thing because you can often times decipher it, but you should never need to go back to the video to try to figure it out. So, we've been we've made these changes to try to try to do that.
>> Okay. Thank you. I did vote to approve. >> Okay. >> Miller. I >> Ow. And I >> Connor I. >> Great. Thank you. That passes. Um next uh I believe we're going to hear
from you Joe about district efforts related to food security. >> Yes. Uh especially in light of the the current federal shutdown, um we this fall within the district have been um more focused than ever on trying to
ensure that that um food insecurity uh is is something that that we are actively addressing for our our school population. Um and to that end, um the first thing which is a wonderful thing to note is that the state was able to
confirm uh late last week that they now have the funds on hand even if the federal shutdown were to continue to um fully fund without us needing to to do anything uh special or out of the ordinary of any sort um both breakfast
and lunch through the end of December. Um which is which is good news. Uh and then and then second um we started by strengthening relationships with local food pantries in Lansboro and Williamstown. We made sure to um reach
out to them and and coordinate as best we could. Um, one of the one of the challenges that that we note is that um sometimes for families or for our high school students who are the ones responsible for for uh procuring food and and for getting it to the house um
that the opening hours of food pantries are oftentimes during the school day, which is which is definitely not not ideal um for students trying to trying to carry that burden. And so, um, we have already
established a food pantry at Mount Greylock Regional School. Um, a lot of thanks to to our staff there and especially to Samantha Rutz who um led that effort. Um, staff started by um
donating to the food pantry there. We have since broadened that out to the student body. um directed studies and and other groups are currently competing in a in a food drive and uh it has yielded a a wonderful mountain of food that is that is heading home with
students on a regular basis um in a manner that is uh as discreet and and um but effective as as possible. Um alongside that we are opening um similar food pantries at the elementary schools as we speak. Um those food drives will
start next week. we believe um but we're simultaneously making sure that with uh food supplied by staff that we're we're delivering that to homes as well as coordinating with families who are able to pick it up. Um so there it's a little bit different from being able to to send
um food home in a backpack with a with a high school student or a middle school student. So we're we're pushing on on in every way there. Um, we're also coordinating a variety of opportunities, trying to trying to build community meals, um,
selling tickets to to some and providing free tickets to others so that we can invite the community into meals within the elementary schools. Um, we're going to try to make sure that the first time that happens is next weekend, next Friday and Saturday nights. We will um,
staff will be volunteering to to cook and serve and and be there in the kitchens. Um, so we're working on that with our food service staff and and with all of our district and building level staff. Um, all of the school community will will be invited to each of those
evenings. Um, so that means that even though it's hosted by an elementary school, the Mount Greylock Regional School families that are that are there um are are also able to will be able to attend. We will be selling those tickets online. We'll be uh kicking that off either
tomorrow or Monday. um and making sure that that families are um as as aware of that opportunity and participating as possible. Um and then as we push towards Thanksgiving, we're we're trying to figure out some ways to um to navigate
uh that lengthier break as well. So, with all that said, we're we're trying to make sure that students um and families uh selfidentify if at all possible. So, we're we're trying to ask people to to um to make us aware, but
we're also working through all the channels that we do have um to to try to identify students and families um who would benefit. Um so, this is one of those moments where it's where it's a real community effort and um every bit of communication and coordination that
we can that we can muster is is really important to have. So that is in many ways it's an extraordinarily bright spot within a within a pretty pretty dark moment. So um I'm I'm really thankful for the for the staff, for the students, for the families that are all that are
all participating and also accepting um help that is that is oftentimes very much needed. So um that's the quick update. Yes, Carrie. So, are there ways uh that community community members could donate things
either for the food pantry or donate help for the dinners or h and how do people who are not on parents square find out about the meals that they can I assume that there's a way to purchase
tickets or or um support families and not necessarily attend the dinners but just buy tickets for others. >> We're going to start as soon as we have all the information concrete and avail. We're going to get that out first
through Parent Square. I'll definitely make sure that school committee members, especially those who aren't on Parent Square, are very well aware. And we're going to have flyers with QR codes that will make it easy for people to be able to to do that. We're going to try to get those flyers up into places so that uh
all of our school community can um can see it and and participate both in terms of uh donating as well as as well as joining for the meals. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> And thank you to all the staff um who have brainstormed this and who are
working to um you know make it happen. Um, it's just an amazing show of support for our communities. >> Agreed. Especially on top of all they already do for our students to then step in and do this as well. Um, really
grateful. >> All right. So, that that's that item for us. >> Okay. Um, then why don't we move to the outcome subcommittee? I think that's you, Curtis, if you can.
>> It's a little of me and a little of Joe. It might be a little mix and mash of things. Joe, are you able to share the slide deck on your screen, please? >> Yes, I am. >> Thanks. >> And ironically, I'm going have to turn off my camera because my computer lags
when I'm on camera and someone else shares their screen. But I'm still here, I promise. These are my lips continuing to move. There we go. >> Hold on one second. Sorry. >> While while Joe is getting that loaded,
could uh Curtis maybe you could remind us who's on the subcommittee? >> Uh gee, who is on the subcommittee? Uh that is myself as the chair. Uh Stephen and Jose, is that correct? Did I do that right? Yeah.
>> Yes, you did. It's a squad of dudes totally at random. It's not deliberate in any way. Uh but I did want to acknowledge that. Um and we've >> also people who join us who are not formally on the subcommittee. >> Oh, absolutely. Joe and Joelle are also
uh not members of the subcommittee but uh attend meetings and and give us very helpful things uh including lots of data uh which is part of but not all of what we're going to be talking about uh both subcommittee and tonight. So the outcome
subcommittee is a uh crack task force of basically looking at different measurements of outcomes within and around our district. Uh and the measurements can be something as
simple as test score data or something as complex as survey data and covers the experience both of the education in the building and what what the outcome of that is at all levels uh and after
graduation hoping to continue to harvest data from our students as graduates. uh some highlights of the work that we've done so far and what we've looked at. There are some strengths uh significant strengths significantly reduced chronic absenteeism uh at both Lansboro
Elementary School and at MGRS. Uh I almost automatically corrected that to MJ RHS, but then remember that that isn't MGRHS anymore and that I'm just getting old to remember all the initials. Um, we have had continued high performance across most grades and
subjects relative to state averages. When you compare both our uh ELA and math MCCAST scores, our science MCCAST scores, uh we continue to uh do the work of providing uh educational outcomes
that are above uh most if not all of state averages across grades and subjects. Um some challenges we find in that same uh collection of data. The eighth grade math scores comparatively remain low uh
and elementary level writing scores do need improvement across the board. And that's not unique to our district by any means. Uh one note I want to say about the eighth grade math scores is that uh it's very dangerous to look at a small data set and make large uh assumptions
based on that. Uh, and one thing that is incredibly important in statistics is context. And when we look at the scores in the eighth grade math scores being lower than where we want them to be, but then look at those same students as they test in 10th grade two years later and
seeing the scores well above the state average and moving back toward where we want them to be. Uh it's important to note that uh majority a lot of our students are getting essentially a two-year math curriculum in a year and
some of the material that is covered on the MCCAST in the spring is stuff they haven't seen since September. And so we can start asking questions of whether or not that dip in the data in eighth grade is uh a a worthy expense in the aims of
getting the scores that we get in the 10th grade and dig further into what that data means. um some next steps. Uh we have continued math curriculum implementation with I Ready. Uh and again my personal experience with I Ready having worked
with it as a teacher in other districts uh and everything I know from administrators who've worked at it uh it takes years of work to make it usable data that can help shape and and inform on our instruction to yield the the
highest pro highest quality product of education possible. um the continued writing program implementation with Whit Wisdom and improvements at the elementary level. Uh identifying and assessing key drivers of Williamstown Elementary School's high chronic absenteeism rate. And again, when we
talk about data without a context, we just look at the numbers, but with context, there are factors that are unique to Williamstown uh that Lansboro Elementary School doesn't encounter. For example, parents who live by the Williams College schedule because that
is their employer. that doesn't exactly line up with the greylock schedule and calendar. So, that can lead to some absentee issues. Uh, and not all absenteeism uh is it's very dangerous for a teacher or school committee member
to say this, but not all absenteeism is bad. When you are going to experience something amazing, visit a college, uh those are important things. If you are supporting a family member through a difficult time in their health, that's
an important thing. There are very good and valid reasons to be absent. Our goal is to minimize both the level of absence and the impact that absence has on the instruction and on the work of the students. Uh and continued implementation of new diagnostic tools
that create regular and granular feedback loops much like what I've just discussed. Uh Joe, anything you want to add to that? Uh, not at the moment. I think I think we can probably move move through some of the some of the more detailed data and then and then jump back out into
conversation. >> Sounds good. Uh, next slide, please. In regards to the date of chronic absenteeism, Joe, I might actually turn this back to you uh to tell us a little bit about what we're looking at.
>> Absolutely. So, just like we referenced at the start, um, Lansboro and Mount Greylock saw truly phenomenal improvement in in student attendance across all of the the both at the high
level and within subgroups. Um and and this I I really credit to um students and families for prioritizing being in school, but also the the staff the the way that they were able to reach out and and demonstrate with families and and
coordinate with them to ensure that students were in. Um these improvements were in I I I think they were within the top 1 or 2% within the entire state. Um which is which is really saying a lot. Um and um so hopefully uh that effort
continues. You know, that right now our um chronic absenteeism rates at at those two schools are are so low um that uh that we're really a standout across the state and and the the effort right now is to try to maintain that level. Um because just like Curtis said, there are
various circumstances that that lead to students being absent. um and and trying to bring that down to zero is um while it's certainly a a worthwhile endeavor, it's it's probably not a very realistic one. So figuring out um how to maintain
the numbers that we have here um is is the goal. Meanwhile, at Williamtown Elementary School, we have a number of factors um that actually led to a to a slippage in um in the attendance rates there. Um some of them are structural in
that um students across all of the subgroups um did last year take some extended absences away from school for a variety of good reasons. Um uh but that is not always the case. Um, and so, uh, trying to figure out how to more
personally and more effectively address, uh, students and their families and making sure that they're in school, uh, as much as humanly possible is is definitely a more concerted effort at Williamstown Elementary School this year. Um the other side of the structural structural bit is that when
students do intentionally take uh lengthier um time away from school um that uh does sometimes lead to um just by the very nature of a of a lengthier trip um that student being within this
grouping and and that's a structural issue that that is difficult for us to address. Um so we are we are aware and working in that area. Um in this year >> you may have so you or Curtis may have
mentioned this but what how do we define chronic is it that yeah sorry >> the the state's definition for chronic absenteeism is uh being absent for 10% or more of the school year. So when there are 180 days in a in a school
year, it's uh being absent whether you're whether it's excused or unexcused uh for 18 or more days um puts you into that into that category. >> Okay. And our maximum
allowable absentee is 18 days as well or is it lower than that? We we do have both excused and unexcused absence types that we utilize
as a way to really try to try to uh keep students in school as much as possible. But within the state's data, this accountability data that that that we see on school profiles on the on Desessie's website and when Desi talks about chronic absenteeism, they don't
differentiate between excused or unexcused. um and a student has a right to attend school no matter how many no matter how many days that they miss. So um so it's really a a moving metric with um definitions that are based on um
things that are that are come up with to create standardized normalized type of conversations. >> Any other questions on this? One note I would add is that the work that we have been doing over the past few years and and and in the years prior
just not with the same language on creating a greater sense of belonging for all students I think shows up in this data. Uh I'm not saying it's a onetoone correlary. I'm just saying that the more you feel you belong at school the more likely you are to go.
>> Yes. All right. So now we have both ELA and math featured here u at the at the district level. This is ELA. The next slide is math. Um just looking at at how we stand relative to the state in terms of absolute performance. Um we look at
both um absolute performance as well as growth metrics. the the growth metric looking at how a student did relative to to the prior year within MCCAST um and how our students are growing relative to um students um within the same subgroups
across schools. Um so we look at both this top level data as well as different forms of data and disagregated down into into subgroups. Um, and that's a lot of what we were doing in the outcome subcommittee over the last two meetings
of of that subcommittee. So, ELA, um, like we alluded to, still performing much higher than than state averages. Um, oftentimes trending with the state in terms of, um, performance over time. um with math. Uh the gap between us and
the state um averages had been closing pretty consistently here over the last few years. As you can see, um our adoption of I Ready, um this year within the elementary and uh and middle school years, um is expected to gradually show
a pretty marketked improvement as we had not updated our math curriculum in um I believe we were coming up on 20 years at the point where where we started to make the shift. Um so updating to a standards aligned um much more um methodical and
um and uh structured approach to teaching math um within all those grade levels is is expected to benefit us. And so I think over the next 3 to 5 years we're going to see um a gradual um but significant improvement within within
this area across all those grade levels including grade grade 8. um which which is a a real area of both focus and and concern for us. Any other questions on this MCCAST and accountability data?
Because then Curtis, I think we're going to turn to what the outcome subcommittee is going to be looking at for the remainder of this year. >> Absolutely, Julia. Um I So Joe, can you just remind us um
this year and or what did it also start last year? The kind of more um intentional data cycles that the faculty are using to look at I the interim assessments or I ready data and you know
make adjustments through the year >> that that's a big shift for this year. Yeah. where across as many categories, groupings, um we we are finding uh concerted time with staff to be able to
look at existing data um with in in more detail as teams, but we're also adopting I Ready within both math and ELA for uh benchmark assessments, >> right, >> three times a year, which which will yield um standards aligned, more
granular um yeah >> more ready to use data um in a timely fashion so that adjustments can be made midy year as well >> right that's that thank you that everything I've seen in my professional life is that is one of the most
important things to do to help teachers really understand where kids are at and what they need um and we're you know the MCATs are important ultimately we want kids to learn the MCATs are a good metric to show kids are learning and that that's super helpful to make sure kids are learning what they need. So
awesome. Anybody else on this before we >> so our process and goals for school year 2526 uh the elementary and middle school ages we are focused on understanding the MCCAST
the diagnostic assessment data that we're collecting now attendance data and also importantly the panorama survey data uh all of the above is true for summer all of the high school age group, but we have additional work to do relative to our high school age group.
As you'll see below, uh in high school, we are focusing on what are the datadriven outcomes to look for. Not everything boils down to a test score or a data point, uh especially the smaller the set of data. and also to look at uh
things like uh a AP and how classroom grades and AP test scores correlate if they do and uh other things like not just the graduation rate data or the MCCAST data or the SGP. Uh there's lots
of little pieces to look at. Um and what qualifies as a positive outcome is a widely varied and subjective thing. uh it depends on both the individual student and the context in which that outcome was achieved. Are we talking
about internships? Are we talking about um uh SAT uh results uh college acceptances so on uh not everyone's positive outcome is the same as everyone else's. Uh and that's important to note.
Uh now is a very good moment for the district to invest in a vision and values conversation that incorporates families, staff and graduates, all the stakeholders uh in this district. Uh and the subcommittee will be a participant in that process and bring that work back
to the full school committee. Uh and this will be a multi-year multi-year process. Uh and we'll update regularly through subcommittee reports similar to this. Uh, anything else you want to add, Joe? >> I I think you hit on all those points
that we've been talking about. Thank you. >> My pleasure. And thank you. And wow, my radiator is really loud. Can you hear that? >> No. >> Good.
>> Excellent. Any other questions around the outcomes subcommittee report? Thank you to the subcommittee for kicking this off and getting this started. I think it's uh so super important for us to have a a group that's looking at our outcomes uh since
that's a critical part of what we're really here for. Um and who can speak to and understand them at a deeper level. Um so thank you for that work. Um Joe, I'm going to move over to you. No, is it Carrie? Carrie and Curtis, who who's going to
speak to the Northern Berkshire Regional Collaboration? >> Well, I think Joe, why don't you get it started? Um, we were all at the meeting and um I you know, I I think Curtis and I can chime in and then we have a motion
for the committee basically. >> Sure. So, the the group has met once. Um it it was really a a get to know each other. Um get to know the different perspectives and the and the different things that we know we're all bringing into the conversation. Um and we on the
part of Mount Greylock um we we shared where our enrollment is, how how full our middle and high school already is as far as physical capacity. Um but the ways that we are challenged by costs that we um that we experience really the
the continually escalating costs of any given item. Um as well as some of some of the areas where um with greater numbers um whether it's in special education or other places we might be able to figure out um how to better serve our students through better
programming that is that is closer to home um than some of the the services that we need to use. Um so uh we shared that on our part. Other districts shared shared their perspectives. Um some of the other districts have uh enrollment
pictures that are that are much more um uh negative in in in terms of uh showing decline um than our own. And um but we do all share the the continually escalating costs on a on a per um type of good
product service uh basis. Um, so with that, we then turned our attention to trying to figure out how we might go through a process of developing an RFP for a consulting firm to look at data of all sorts and and bring it back in ways that um that our communities can can use
to understand how collaboration um can help. Um and so this this group will be working on that um over the next month developing that RFP so that it can come back for approval by
each of the school committees um within within the regional collaboration group. Um we also have and this is where we can segue into um the need to uh have an appointed steering committee to interact
with that consulting firm once it is selected through the RFP process. So what we're going to tackle next is a recommendation from the working group that we have right now around what the composition of the steering committee um
can be for the next months or years as as the region works with the consulting firm on this. Um you do have an item in your packet which is the proposal that the working group wrote for how they recommend each
um each member send um individuals to participate in the steering committee. Um so I can turn that one over to Carrie or Curtis to >> I can take that. So um we talked about this group as the
working group that is going to be you know finalizing the RFP but that the steering committee which hasn't yet been assembled um would be taking the RFP working with the consultant and doing
that work as it moves forward as Joe just explained. So um the recommendation after much discussion is what you have in the packet that um the superintendent would all participate exeicio and non-
voting and that there would be up to four members from each of the participating districts. uh with a recommendation that there be two school committee members and then two other representatives from the town or uh town
government or community or however whatever works best for each of the districts. Um and then you can see the purview of the um steering committee would be selecting
the vendor, analyzing the results and managing procuring the finances for doing the work. uh because I believe the initial grant is going toward the consultant um and then establishing
communication between the collaborative and the broader community. So, we talked about outreach and holding listening sessions and discussion sessions in each of the communities um and making recommendations
for what those collaborations could look like. and the steering committee wouldn't have any authority um all decisions about um approving uh committee structures and approving
the who whatever uh consulting group is hired and whatever recommendations are made that kind of thing everything goes before the individual school committees well one thing we didn't discuss for approval or or not and one thing we
didn't discuss is, you know, what would constitute um approval in general, right? We didn't say, well, it's a simple majority of the districts present or participating
or it's a majority uh or everyone has to agree or no or nothing P. So, we haven't gotten to that kind of nitty-gritty, but the the basic message is that everything goes back to the school committees for
approval. Um so anyway, the structure and I'm happy to move uh just to get it up for discussion um that um a motion that says each member school committee will appoint four voting members to the
Northern Berkshire Educational Collaborative Steering Committee. Actually, this isn't a motion. Never mind. I'm not making a motion. Considerations for appointed delegation shall include representation from the member school committee, representation
from town or municipal government, and representation from each town or city without adding to the total membership of the steering committee. Additionally, the superintendence of each entity will serve exeicio. So, the reason I'm not
making a motion is because we're really not ready to appoint. uh we don't have people in mind. This is the reason we're bringing this up at this committee meeting. I think there will be a larger discussion about this whole process um
at next month's school committee meeting, but we would like to make sure that this committee is on board with this structure. So maybe there should be a motion. Um but we're not ready to appoint actual members. I guess I I
guess that's the difference. So Julia, what do you think? Should there be a motion to accept this structure and that way we have the ability to reach out to town governments and >> um start to to see who might be
interested. It seems that um the question of how of how the sum total of all the school committees adds up together to move forward is is still a
question before we could move forward. But at this point I think we should have a vote to say that we will or won't you know support the structure. You know I don't want to >> Yeah. Um so I think yes I think we should I think um if you wanted to make
that motion to start the conversation I think that would be wise. >> Okay. So the motion would be to approve the structure as presented from the uh working group on educational collaboration in Northern Ber County.
>> I'll second and I have a hopefully friendly amendment. >> Well I don't think we can amend it Steve. I'm just going to put that out there because this is a shared motion. This mo same motion is basically going to every school committee I believe. But
>> well I I just wanted to say that first since our district encompasses two towns since our district encompasses two towns I would like to say that for us it should have at least one representative from each town. >> Yes. And that we did discuss um I can
assure you we discussed because you know uh the Northern Birkshire school union or supervisory union I think has five towns right so it's kind of who is willing to participate but in our case um yes uh one school committee member
from each town and then hopefully one member of town government or town representation from each town. I don't I personally don't feel like we need to make that part of the motion because that was such a big part of the discussion. It's it's
kind of up to us as to how we structure it. >> That that looks like that's how it's written in the proposal. >> Yeah. But but what it doesn't say, Julia, and to Steve's point, it doesn't say that you have to have a representative from each member town of
your district. And there's a reason for that because some districts have more than two member towns. >> Yeah. >> Uh it says considerations from each >> shall include considerations consideration shall include doesn't mean it's required.
>> Yes. >> But we should be thinking about it. And what I hear you saying is that's something we can do relatively easily with only two towns in our district. >> Right. And as we have two school committee me two school committee slots. It's very easy to make sure we do that.
It would be great to also have one representative from each town government as well. But I I'm fine with just informally if the committee agrees that this is a goal we want to go for to leave it at that. >> We have a motion and a second. Any other
discussion? Um I I do have a item about one of the goals which mentioned regionalization. I'm happy to save that for later or just to say a few brief words right now. >> Well, it's a regionalization and or
collaboration. >> Right. >> Right. So it's very broad at this point and there is no discussion um happening right now. There was mention about the um you know
the the failed vote in South County because the only item on the table was full regionalization and the goal here is to present a an array of options. I think
there are four that were laid out in the conversation that we had. um and um not to limit it to one option such as regionalization. So that might be one of them, but it would be one of four that
would be explored >> by the consultants. >> Yeah. >> Right. I just want to say this right now for our representatives to bring back to the consultants and I'm happy to talk to the consultants. Uh it was a lot of work to successfully regionalize our two towns and there's a lot of moving parts
to go in and just want to keep on the radar the challenges of that and the concern about having a super region without buying from the towns. >> Well, I think again outreach to the towns throughout this process is going
to be absolutely key. So that we know um or the steering committee can um make sure that that the work that it does is in alignment with what the member towns are talking about.
>> Yeah. >> And Julie, am I right that next month there will be an opportunity to discuss this further? I I don't think the our next meeting is not until after
No, we have a When do we have our next meeting? >> It's like December. >> Yeah, our next meeting is December 11th. The the collaboration group meets November 8 >> 18th.
>> Yeah. Okay. So, we have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? I don't remember where we left off. So, Curtis, I'm calling on you to start with our roll call. Roll call vote. >> Elfenbine. I
>> Miller. >> Green. I >> Bowen. I >> I >> Conry I. >> All right. So that motion passes. Yes. Thank you. >> Thanks everyone. Um so Joe, are you
planning to reach out to the member towns as the superintendent and see how they want to potentially address this request? Yes, I I will coordinate with Julia and we'll make sure that both town halls
understand the the the history and the opportunity and um and so that they have a chance to shape how they might each send send somebody uh for for us to to then appoint to this group.
>> Right. And I think at the November 18th meeting, the goal is to not finalize, but close to finalize the RFP. So, we should be able to share a draft RFP with member potential um representatives from
the town um because I think that would be only fair to be able to do that. >> All right. Thank you, Carrie, Curtis, and Joe for that work. I'm just thinking about the intense coordination to work across so many
districts on such a complicated set of questions. So, thank you for that. Thank you for that work and for bringing it back here. >> It was a really productive discussion. I think it's a group that is organized and focused and wanting to get things done. So, that that helps.
>> Great. Okay. And that's it for the report. Okay. Um, so I'm now going to ask Curtis to step in for Jose at for the policy subcommittee. There we go. Hello. Uh, from the policy
subcommittee, we have two items today. We have an action item and we have an information item. Uh the first uh is the action item IKF which is the competency determination policy uh on which we'll be voting tonight. Uh Joe, do we want to
share it on screen or should I read it or are we what's how do you want to >> I can certainly share it on the screen. >> Right on. Um, it is and while I'm navigating in that direction, it is the
same as what was reviewed during the last meeting with the updates indicated by the committee during that last meeting which were um the simple one down at the
end. we removed the dead link that that the state had um had uh had there within the model policy. And then the second item was uh we added references to 603 CMR30
which is the state regulation that um that leads to the language within policies needing to be specific to the MCCAST assessments administered in 2023 as well as why US history only applies to the graduating
class of 2027 and beyond. Um so those were the those are the two areas that we had discussed during the last meeting and that then the policy subcommittee when it met uh this week made sure to um get in place. So with that um everything
else is consistent with what was seen during the last meeting and it is ready for adoption. It's already been moved to the floor of the school committee uh by the policy subcommittee. And now the the next step is is for there to be a second
discussion and a vote. >> A second. >> Any discussion? Um, I just have a general question as to whether all of our faculty who teach seniors and would be providing these
assessments and capstone uh projects have had eyes on this policy and if they were if they had an opportunity to give any feedback. the the the bulk of the policy was developed by the the curriculum leaders
um in collaboration with the counseling office and the principal's office at Mount Greylock. Um so it it it went through a a staff process for development. Um and then it was the policy subcommittee that that did the review. Um so it so it happened in that order. >> Perfect. >> Yeah,
>> that sounds great. Thank you. So we have a motion from the subcommittee, a second from Carrie. Any other discussion? Hearing none, we will ask Carrie to launch our roll call vote, please.
>> Green I, >> Miller, I. >> Bowen, I. >> Conry, I. >> Elfenbine, I. >> Great. That passes. Thank you. >> The second item from the policy subcommittee, policy and governance,
sorry, subcommittee is EFBA, the school food and nutrition meal modifications policy. Uh, this is purely an information item at this time. Joe, do you want to talk a little bit about it? >> Uh, I don't I think right now it's just
in the packet so that people can peruse it, be aware, and then be ready to discuss it next time. Excellent. That's it from policy and governance. >> Great. Thank you. Um, finance subcommittee,
is that you, Carrie? >> So, I noticed there's a timeline, a budget timeline in the packet. Um, and um, let's take a look at that. Joe, is there anything specific you wanted to mention
about the budget timeline? >> Uh, it it's consistent with with prior years. Um, we are this year stacking all of our school council budget input um to that that first meeting in in January to give them all time to um to meet through
December. Um, so we will have probably a lengthier um chunk of our January meeting that will be school council input. Um and then um
March 12th is the public hearing date. Um that is uh I keep on feeling like it it edges a little bit earlier every year with the with the cycle of the school committee. Um but that is very much in line with what the towns would prefer in
order for their finance committees to to be able to to work with the information. Um, so we're going to try to try to do that um so that we can have as smooth of a process overall as possible. Um, so there will be a lot of meeting, a lot of
discussion uh over the course of January and February. Um, and it needs to be compressed in that way for a regional school district because we don't know some of the largest inputs and drivers within our budget until uh late January,
early February, namely um where the state's chapter 70, where the governor's budget is, as well as um what our health insurance premiums will look like for the coming year. Um, so we're going to do as much preparatory work as we can prior to the end of January, but then
it's really the month of February where we get to do um more of the uh draft decision making in preparation for the March decisions. Um so I have a question about the um
the presentations for the from the school council. So normally they're slides right and with any luck they'll get put into the packet right in advance so that we have a chance to kind of
um process them. Um, but sometimes it's like right up to the minute and I totally understand that. Um, I guess what I'm wondering is because it's all going to be coming at the same meeting if there could be a chart that actually
just lists um each of the school council recommendations, you know, side by side by side. You know, I one of the one of the unfortunate
side effects I think of this process is that it sometimes feels like the councils are competing against each other, which is really not how this plays out. And I don't want to
I don't want to um give more of an impression of that, but I I would like to be able to keep straight which requests are coming from which council in some kind of a chart format if that's possible.
>> We we can definitely do that. and uh and and I am also actively >> encouraging schools to um with their school councils do the work to allow make sure the school committee and the community understands what are the strengths that you want to maintain and
and and hold dear within the coming budget. What are priorities that you would have for for change or growth? um and to do that in a way that is not trying to pick between things necessarily. That that's the unfortunate responsibility of the the district
office and the and the school committee ultimately. Um but to really have have these voices be loud and clear as far as um these are our priorities uh within each school building coming through with families, staff, and the principles. Um
and we will also urge um the non-principal chairs to to be present and and hopefully participate as well um if at all possible. That that that's not always a preference of of some people who are who are not um not school committee or or administration. Um but
but we do encourage it because these voices are they are authentic. they are valuable and um trying to have more advocates for our schools and for our budget is is a real priority. >> Yeah. And you know if the co-chair
really has an issue then maybe someone else from the council who doesn't mind you know because having a voice other than the principles as much as we love our principles uh is just really helpful
in indicating to us and to um our constituents that these aren't just coming from the buildings. They're coming from Well, I mean, obviously they're coming from the buildings, but they're not coming from one person in the building.
>> Yes. Thank you. >> Okay, with that, um, I think we can move to our next agenda item. Joe, if you're speaking, you're on mute.
Okay. Um, >> no. I'm I'm just starting to develop the breakout room. >> Oh, okay. Um, I am going to look for a motion to enter into executive session with the intent to return to open
session pursuant to MGL chapter 30A section 21A1 to discuss the physical condition or mental health rather than the professional competence of an individual. Six bank requests and also
section 213 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares uh this is for teacher the teachers union MOA and >> so
>> negotiations priorities. We have a motion from Steve. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you from uh Curtis. Any discussion before we move to roll call vote? Starting with Steve
>> Miller. I >> Owen I. >> Henry I. >> I. >> Green I. >> Great. Thank you. Uh Joe will move us into executive session. We will be returning um for Stephen and Willynette
to know. Um, and we'll be back in a in a little bit Did we lose some people? >> We lost our chair. I wonder if they didn't see the language at the top that says exit
domain meeting. >> If the breakout meeting ends, will they automatically? >> Yeah, they'll get found black, right? >> Yeah. >> There it is. >> We got stuck in there. >> You did. >> Yeah.
I could leave, but Julia could not. And we couldn't figure out why. And then all of a sudden, Julia could leave. I was like, "All right, we're going." So >> So it's 7:41 p.m. right now, and we are all back. >> Okay. >> It was a mut on the chair that we just
elected. >> She got stuck in a virtual room. >> Congratulations, chair. Bye. >> I would like a lesson because even when I said, "Oh, it was actually because it said you will be returned in 30 seconds." It wasn't that I could even click anything still.
>> So anyway, >> all right, we are back in open session. Thank you for that discussion. Um, following that discussion, I am looking for a motion to approve the two sick bank requests as presented in executive session.
>> So moved. >> Thank you, Christina. Is there second? >> Thank you, Curtis. >> My pleasure. >> Um, any discussion? Hearing none, Christina, why don't you lead us off on the >> Conry I. >> Elvin B I
>> Green I >> Bow and I. Great. Um that motion passes and then uh I am looking for a motion to approve the uh MOA for the scheduled use of prep time as presented in executive
session. >> So moved. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Curtis. Uh do a let's do a roll call vote starting with you Curtis. >> Uh to approve the memo of agreement. Is that correct?
>> Uh yes by an I >> Green I. >> Miller I. >> Bowen I. >> Henry I. >> Great. Thank you all. Those are approved. Um,
we have one upcoming meeting on the calendar, our school committee meeting on December 11th at 6 PM. Also on Google Meet, if I can make my way into the room. Um, are there any other meetings that have been scheduled since the
agenda went out? Okay, >> not yet. We're we're close to one for the outcome subcommittee. We're just waiting on one more person to confirm and we will figure out a policy meeting most likely prior to the next meeting. Um and then later in December we might
try to start to get the finance subcommittee together, but it all depends on whether or not we've got good information to start to work with. >> Okay. Okay. Great. Thank you. Um I do not have any other items for discussion. Uh Joe, has anything come up within the
last 48 hours that needs to be discussed tonight? Great. Um, any agenda requests for future meetings? Terrific. Um, then I will look for a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Thanks, Christina.
>> Second. >> Second from Curtis. >> Curtis, you're usually like right there. >> You can tell I'm tired. Also, Joe said duties like a thousand times and and I didn't crack up once. >> Yeah.
>> All right. So, we have a motion and a second. And I'm gonna start with you Curtis for a roll call vote. >> Elen Bine I. >> Green I. >> Miller I. >> Bowen I. >> Conry I. >> All right. Thank you everybody.
>> Thank you. Bye Cub Scouts.