I would like to call this meeting of the Narroans Regional School District School Committee to order. If you could all please rise for the pledge. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you so much for being here this evening. Um, as a reminder, this meeting is being live streamed and recorded and is available for to view on YouTube. Um,
so moving into our regular business of the meeting. Um, we'll start with a meeting minute review. So, I would entertain a motion to approve the meeting minutes of May 21st, 2026 as written. Motion by Sean, second by
Heather. Any questions or comments on those minutes? Seeing none, all in favor? >> Opposed? Abstained. And I say yes. So that is unanimous. Moving on, I would entertain a motion to
approve the meeting minutes of June 4th, 2026 as written. >> So moved. >> Motion by Sean. Second. Second by Heather. Any questions or comments on those minutes? Seating none. All in favor? >> Opposed?
Abstained. And I say yes. So that is unanimous. And then finally finishing up our regular business. I would also entertain a motion to accept the bills and payroll warrants as presented. >> So moved. >> Motion by Sean. >> Second. >> Second by Heather. Any questions or
comments on those bills and payroll? Seeing none, all in favor? >> Opposed? Abstain. and I say yes. So that is unanimous. >> Moving on, our student representative is not here this evening. Um is there
anyone who would like to give public input this evening? >> Okay, go ahead. Um as per usual, say your name and your town. >> Um and we'll start with the three minutes and then see if you need more. >> Okay, great. Thanks. Uh John Valentine,
Templeton Mass. Thank you for having me tonight. Um, so you're all very well-intended people, every single one of you. Um, and we appreciate that and it's it's a high
dancing work. Um, but I'm here to say that there's a disconnect in terms of well intent and affordability. There's simply no money in the town.
there's zero money left. Uh the town is facing dire consequences. So, who knows what will happen with Philipston on the 30th of this month in terms whether they pass the override or not. Um but we need to start focusing on
the good intent versus reality of what the town has for money. as I found out early in the process that this town has immense powers. This board here, this the school committee
when they pass the budget and it's passed by the town town uh town meetings, it's it's it's law and it is what it is. So, um we want good stuff for our kids, but there's no money. There's an affordability issue there.
So, we have to scale it back. If you can't afford to have it, you can't have it. And this board needs to realize that and this superintendent needs to realize that. Uh but also it perplexes me that Philston is missing
two members. I I see it on the agenda. So I'll defer to that. But I would like those somehow filled either through special elections or awareness or or however you have proposed to get that done. But this is an incomplete committee, school committee committee.
We're facing such important things. And we should look for what's happening in for the rest of 2027 budgets, but look ahead for 2028 cuz if we need to make difficult decisions this past year, which
apparently there were, there's going to be even more on fiscal year 28. with thousands people. This is a low and moderate income people owning 1,700 people in Philston, 8,300
people >> in Templeton, low and moderate income, small rural community. We have to live within our means >> based on what we have. Thank you. >> Yes, Jeff Bennett, Tin Mass. And just in
case anybody has trouble discerning, I'm speaking as a private resident. Uh I was looking on the town website because it's all about school budget right now and and town budgets. And under the policy page, the fiscal management budget
adoption procedures uh which was adopted in April 2014, revised in February 2022, last reviewed April 2014, but it it highlights a section of national law, chapter 7116b, and it talks about the budget is not
approved at least 2/3 of the member municipalities. This is a two member district. Mass General Law Chapter 7116B. It does reference two member districts and their budget process. I would find it more appropriate for that to be that
information to be posted on the district website rather than something that has no relevance to the two member town district. Um, I've also looked at the uh the budget
presentation from back in March uh for fiscal 27 and it has in here it talks about preschool and funding and one teacher. Uh whether that's refers to prek or not, I don't know. But according to the rack documents that are on your
website, uh it speaks that the the last agreement that checked all the boxes that went to all the places it was supposed to go is the 1977 agreement that funds pay through 12. Uh
so I I don't know how this how we're if we're funding or billion pounds for prek when the last agreement uh that Desi and uh Mars said we're technically following
is the 77 which is K through uh 12. And lastly, the rack process create put forth a new regional agreement with an amendment and the procedures say that it's supposed to go to both towns, both member towns. The selectman have to put it in front of
their annual or special town meeting depending on the schedule. Templeton did it. Philipston selectmen have so far refused to put that in front of town meeting. So I am asking wondering why the Philipston members of this committee are not going to the Philipston selectmen and asking them telling them
they they're supposed to do this put this in front of the voters so they can vote yes or no doesn't matter they get their vote and if that's not going to work why shouldn't the members of this committee from Philipton were supposed to look out for the district and their parents tell the parents they have the
option of doing a citizens petition to force the calling of a town meeting and to put the uh agreement in front of the voters so they have their say and that would be following the regional agreement because if they haven't done that do we have an agreement can we be
build for anything you know before that goes to desi and the stuff really hits the fan you know thank you for your time here. All right. >> Anyone else? >> Okay. Thank you very much. Um to our
members from the public who spoke this evening. Um NDEA is off wrapping up the end of the year, I am sure. Um so we will move into budget updates starting with FY26. Winding down everything. Um Lori just
processed our last payroll today and we'll finalize it on Monday and then she just has the balloon payments to process for teachers. So that's all done invoices and
everything. So, for FY27 budget update, I'll start with um the at Philipston special town meeting. Um they did vote in favor of the school budget. That does not close the process. Um they still have to um
vote that in at the ballot. Um because their vote for the budget was tied to an override. Um and so we have to pass on that June 30th as well. Um Dr. Sar, do you want to add anything to that? At this time really at this point we're
we're there. We have to act as though there will be a 112th because June 30th is the deadline by which we have to declare to the state um what our budget is, but we won't actually know until after that ballot is processed. Um and
so either way we're active we're we're taking the right measures and then after June 30th that would then determine exactly what happens next. Um which would start with school committee if they did not vote in the positive school committee would need to meet and then
vote again on a budget number. Um at which point that would then activate the districtwide. All of the paperwork that was required for the commissioner to come up with a one well number has been submitted to it was done last week. So I would imagine
probably by the end of next week we would have something >> some sort of a response in >> Okay. So right July one. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um so we have some regular uh
work to do under budget um which is the budget transfers. Um so I gave a little bit of a preview of this. So essentially um the the line item budget the school committee controls is um for each of the
levels of 1,00 2,000 300s etc. Below that level central office has control over the line items. And so what happens is that um at the end of the year if budget has needed to move in between in
between any of um the DOE code um budget line items then we review those um with central office and make a determination of how to move those so that so the central office can balance the budget ultimately across these. So, um I'm
going to everyone has um a link to the document to review it on their personal computers. So, um just as a note, this is under the end of year budget transfers um agenda item. Um but I will hand it over to Amory to go through
those in greater detail. Um so, there is just a few lines that we need to adjust. Um one of them is obviously health insurance. You've heard me talk a lot about that this year about um
how awful that has been. Um the reason for it is we've just had higher enrollment in our health insurance. We received a 63% increase for the retirees and that starts in January. It's not
July like the rest of the people. Um, so we also had to pay 45% of our deficit from FY25 and we had voted to use some of our END money for that, but there was still a
balance of $100,000. So, um, I am proposing asking you to vote to move 200,000 from the 2,000 construction lines to the fixed charges to cover that health insurance deficit. and then
200,000 from instruction. You're probably asking why do we have that there? Because we've had several maternity leave where the staff goes unpaid Monday night on asking you. >> I thought I was trying to call Susie.
It's It didn't work. >> It's not working. Technology may not be your strong suit. >> We'll review that later. Um, can we So, we forward your um your time of arrival.
Um, so sorry, we'll go back to reviewing the budget. So the reason we have an extra in the instructional line is because we've had a few maternity leave that members have gone unmissed they
didn't have enough time to cover it. Plus we've also had two opening commissions that we know for long themselves and that is less money than a salary would be. So there's that. Then I am proposing
taking 66,000 on our maintenance lines and moving it to our tuition lines because the number of school choice and charter students that left the district this year was a lot higher than what the cherry sheets
had estimated. Um and the reason we have money in the non last year is it was for fuel. We did extremely well. So, we saved a bit of money in those line items. >> Okay, that's it.
>> All right. So, I'll put a motion on the table. Um, and then we can go into any questions we might have. Um, so I would entertain a motion to accept the budget transfers for FY26 as presented. Motion by Sean, second by Hank. Okay. Any
questions or comments about those budget transfers or how those work? Do you actually have it? >> I think I think I would just like to I would just like to see all the line items, but um you know I'm comfortable with the wise. So >> yeah,
>> you know I just I want to see it all add up, but that's just who I am. >> You can see it actually more in detail, but detail access to >> Very good. Thank you so much. Hey, you you have to do a little math, but I got mouthless.
>> Yeah, I'm fine. >> He'll fix your computer while I'm I'm good. Thank you. >> No worries. >> Any other questions or comments? Do you meant to go through those or you can be passive?
>> Okay. So, um we have a motion on the table. Um, so all in favor of moving these line items as presented. >> I >> I opposed abstained
and I say yes. So that is unanimous. >> Going moving into the business manager report um not really >> because I don't say what it is. Um on the grant side, we're just winding down doing not grants to get those spent by
June 30th. >> Um and the only thing I would add is we are anticipating that next year we will start in a budget freeze. That was a discussion that we started to have. And so I just want to share that, you
know, as much as, you know, we're we're hopeful that things get passed, even if things get passed and that's the budget we're we are managing towards, we are already anticipating starting in a budget freeze. >> And the staff has already been given their reduced line items for their
supplies. So they have their new limits that they have to adhere to. So >> yeah. So, I want to make it clear like we're already starting and thinking about what is it that we need to do fiscally in order to stick to the budget less than 1.3 million um which is already starting us in a bunch of
things. So, >> all right, moving into the superintendent's formative assessment. Um, so as a reminder for folks, I know that we went through this last time, but um, to go into some additional detail, so the superintendent and the district's
goals are set on two-year cycles. And so the superintendent gets reviews twice during the cycle. The first mid midterm review is um, called the formative assessment, which is is, you know, how is the superintendent making progress
against the goals that have been set? And then at the end of the two-year period, there's what's called a summitive assessment where we take a look at um the you know, has have the goals been met, how successfully have they been met, and so the superintendent
gets rated on their performance. Um in order to provide justification for that, the superintendent um goes through and offers um evidence against each of the areas um so that it is clear you know what has the work what is the work that has been
done how close are we to you know achieving those goals etc. Um and so what happens is that each school committee member has an opportunity to submit their um feedback on the superintendent's performance to me. Then
what I do is I take anything that is submitted and I essentially look and across the data and anywhere where you know let's say if there's if there's full agreement on a particular rating then I just put in that rating. if there
is any you know variety in what the rating is then I take I take basically what the average is um and so that is how the ratings get put in and then any comments that are submitted to me are
included um and so we didn't have a ton of comments this year uh but what comments there were I did include um so what we'll do is that we'll run through this um for Dr. C he will have an opportunity to ask any questions and then we do have to vote on it because in
order to consider the this particular part of the cycle complete we have to vote and then it has to be submitted to the state. Okay. >> Anything you wanted to add Dr. Sage? >> All right. So going through we'll start
on uh the first page of the assessment. So essentially the first step is to assess progress against goals. This is an overall rating that ultimately makes up the ratings that are detailed further below in the document. Um the first
standard is the professional practice goals. The second being student learning goals, the third being the strict improvement goals. Um against each of those, the overall rating um across the board was significant progress. Moving into a little bit more of the
detail. Um we then have the second part which is to assess the performance on standards of which there are four. There is instructional leadership, management and operations, family and community engagement, professional culture. Again
these are also summaries of what comes below. So we'll go into some additional detail below. Um but in all of these the rating came back as proficient. Um and then that there's an overall
rating um that you know encompasses both of those sections um against which the rating was proficient and the comment is as follows. Uh the superintendent has made significant progress towards the district's goals by strengthening the systems that support teaching and
learning, increasing the use of data to identify and address student needs, engaging stakeholders in meaningful district initiatives, and improving communication and transparency with the community. The work completed to date has created a stronger foundation for student success and positions the
district well to continue advancing its strategic priorities. Now is where we move into the detail. Uh so we'll start with the student learning goal. Um so the goal for the knowledge of folks here is that by June 2027 we
will identify and address students needs across academic and social emotional domains to ensure equitable educational opportunities for all students to increase the percentage of students at or above grade level in ELA and math by 5% on the district benchmark
assessments. These are then linked to focus indicators. Um there's a number of them in the rubric. Um in this case it's 1 A, 1 B, 1 C, 2 C, and 3B. Um I won't go into great detail on the rubric just
because it's very extensive and anyone who would like more information um is readily available. Um so the evidence that was submitted against that um was the 2025 to 2028 district strategic improvement plan. There was also um
instructional calendars and stage one of curriculum maps developed at all K through 12 health and PE courses. Um they realigned data practices for Naragans at Regional High School's academic coaching programs for identification of students in need of
services and monitoring student progress. Learning work walkthroughs were also presented as evidence. um MCCAST data and beginning of year and middle of um STAR assessments and against that um the rating was
significant progress um which is typically appropriate for this point in the um in the formative assessment. The next is also a student learning goal. So there's actually two STEM learning goals. Um this one relates to
professional practice. Um by June 2027 we will narrow the achievement gap between students with disabilities and all students on district benchmark assessments and MCCAST. The evidence submitted was analytic view um which was developed and added a data dashboard to
disagregate data for SWD and um students with disabilities and English learner populations. Um there is also data submitted around um students with disabilities the beginning of year and middle of um star
assessment data. Um the district participation ongoing DESIE and special education strategy sessions focused on developing and implementing an action plan which is also linked to to support special education compliance for areas of needs improvement and realign data
practices for the high school's academic coaching program to support identification of students in need of services um along with ongoing English learner curriculum development. Again, the rating was significant progress. The next was the district improvement
goal. Um, this goal specifically is defined as by June 2027, we will develop and roll out a district-wide portrait of a warrior outlining the skills, attributes, and dispositions our community holds for all Ganset graduates. Um, in this case, evidence
submitted was the research portrait of a learner/graduate processes and products, surveyed stakeholders to gather input and help establish priorities, collaboratively analyze data, collaboratively developed a portrait of a lawyer, and upcoming work towards
developing promotional materials that would be rolled out with all students. Again, significant progress readings. And then finally, professional practice goal being district improvement goal number two. um continue strengthening timely, responsive, collaborative and inclusive internal and external
communication. Um so evidence submitted um includes noting video uh community survey to gather input to develop portrait of a warrior um the reports at school committee meetings um in collaboration with analytic view. They developed and launched a public data
dashboard um on budget enrollment and demographic data. They updated our budget section of our website to keep the public informed. There's also been ongoing communication regarding the MSBA roof project with multiple examples and ongoing communication regarding the FY27
budget again with multiple examples and again the rating of significant progress was given. It then goes into the full rubric um to rate each item of the rubric that is then connected to the district goals. Um and so you heard me
mention those earlier IA, IB, etc. I won't read these in full because it takes quite some time, but I will go through each one. Um so the the first set of rubric are related to instructional leadership and the evidence presented as well as the goals
are linked to IIA curriculum, IV instruction, IC assessment and IE data informed decisionm. Um and across each of those the rating of proficient was given. The comment submitted was the superintendent has
made meaningful progress across standards IIA, IB, IC and IE through continued work to strengthen curriculum development, instructional practices, and the district's use of data to support student learning. Efforts to improve instructional monitoring, expand
access to student performance data, and enhance systems for identifying and addressing student needs have established a strong foundation for informed decision-making across the district. While much of this work remains ongoing, the evidence reflects steady progress towards the district's goals and priorities.
The next session section is section two. Section two reflects management and operations with the district goals tied specifically to 2C which is scheduling and management information systems against which um a proficient rating was
given. And the comment reads, "The superintendent has strengthened the district's data and reporting systems in ways to support student achievement, informed decision-making, and public transparency. Through the development of student performance dashboards, public facing budget and enrollment dashboards,
and improved systems for monitoring student interventions, the district is better positioned to track progress, identify needs, and provide stakeholders with meaningful access to information. The next goes on to standard three which is family and community engagement
against which the district goals relate to 3B which is sharing responsibility and 3C communication. Against 3B sharing responsibility a rating of proficient was given against 3C communication and a rating of exemplary was given.
The comment here is that the superintendent has demonstrated a commitment to open and consistent communication through public dashboards, informational videos, website enhancements, budget presentation, surveys, and regular outreach to staff and fam staff, families, unions, municipal leaders, and the community.
These efforts have improved transparency and access to information while helping stakeholders better understand district priorities, major initiatives, and the rationale behind key decisions. One um comment I will make here is that pretty consistently um the committee has given
feedback over the past few years about like hey we need better communication from the schools or we need you know we need um school grains to be updated consistently etc. And while I will say I think that will always be a work in progress because it is extremely difficult to get a school community of
this many members to all communicate in the same way consistently every single year I see additional improvements made to what's coming out because you know like as an example um school brains I felt was updated much more consistently
this year versus previous. So you can definitely see some of those things happening. So, while that isn't reflective of comments here, I did want to recognize that that has been a consistent point of feedback in the past. Um, and while it wasn't the focus >> this time around, we do continue to see
that progress even when it's not on the district goals specifically. >> So, >> moving along to standard 4, professional culture. Um the ratings here were given against 4 A committed to high standards,
4 B cultural proficiency, 4E shared vision. Against all of these, a rating of proficiency was given. Here the comment was the superintendent has made meaningful progress in advancing the district's strategic priorities through a continued focus on student achievement, equity, and long-term
planning. The work to develop the portrait of a warrior stands out as a particularly strong example of stakeholder engagement, bringing together voices from across the district and community to define what we all what we want all Ganset graduates to know,
value, and be able to do together. These efforts have strengthened alignment around district goals and created a clearer path forward for the work ahead. There amends need reading to all of you.
Um, so I will put a for first I'm going to give Dr. C an opportunity to comment and then we'll get a motion on the floor and we'll ask any questions. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I I always I always do appreciate the effort of
these. I know that they're they're lengthy and they're, you know, at times, you know, confusing because there's a lot of information, a lot of data that um that goes into these and so it almost sometimes looks like a a data dump at
times. You know, we talked the committee knows how I feel about the evaluative process in general. Um and so but but the the good news or what I've always liked about this uh uh this process is that um every every good thing that that
has been derived or has been worked on here in the district is uh is the work of others. You know I certainly don't stand here taking credit for it. It's, you know, when when the when the committee decides what the focus areas forward, um, you
know, we have a great team of people who do really great work. So, you know, you talk about the schools that has been it's been a passion project and trying to communicate as as well as we can. you know that's the efforts of everyone technology
department buildings principles student and read and just really um you know for whatever you know whatever you know success had and we've had quite a few here it really is on the backs of the the folks who do the real work and so
I'm always happy to take you know to uh I guess take a mandle for that for them in this setting but truly to do all the you know, the hard work in terms of moving forward. You know, um
our priorities might have to change a little bit next year just given, you know, all the changes that are regardless of how the budget falls. Um you know, we're we're going to have to change a few things. We're going to have to prioritize a little bit differently. We're going to have we're going to have
to work a little bit differently. Um and certainly our priorities will have to be you know realigned a bit in terms of where we where we have without having the Molly or the position um of the assistant superintendent or someone who's actually overseeing curriculum um
at the district level. You know, I don't know that we I can tell you in the last 15 or 20 years, if not longer, we've never not had a position here that has been dedicated some that. So, that'll be a new venture.
Um, again, I I again, the district's been around since 1954, 1955. So, I didn't say things like, "Oh, it's never happened." I had but I can tell you in the last 20 years I can say that >> we've always had >> sure um the other big change as as folks
know is that we'll have one building principle for middle high one contiguous building it fits it it it uh it it makes sense. Um we've we've been tinkering with that for a bit as everyone knows at least from folks on the committee the
last couple years. Um and so now it's, you know, now it's time to see how the middle high school kind of format um will look. Uh we have great people who are going to do it. So I quite frankly I feel good about it because people that
we have here, but it'll be different. It'll just be different. Um so all that being said, as we as we figure out where we where we stand come September, call it September. Um, yeah, there'll be a
lot of changes. It's But, you know, again, we're we're well poised to handle whatever comes our way. It'll just be a lot different. We'll have to kind of we'll have to kind of um figure out different ways to uh to meet the goals, but I appreciate the time, the effort
into the ocean. >> So, I would entertain a motion to accept the formative assessment as presented. >> Motion by Sean. Second second by Heather. >> Any questions? I'll answer what you think >> and certainly you can feel feel free to give ad hoc commentary like I did in
that space to Dr. Cman. You also just want to point out that I um >> particularly over the past couple years, I appreciate all the public appearances that you made at the events. That's something that I mentioned um a while ago and and I I've been to all of them
and I've seen you at all all of them. So, and I know that you're busy. So, I I do appreciate that. >> Thank you. >> I love it. You know, if there's if there are kids there, then in general, you know, it's a good place for me to be. Um, just we're all just going to be
adults or something. If there are kids present and or ice cream, kids are usually usually a pretty good. >> I hear you're up for a good water and a good and a good water. Exactly.
And anything else? when you uh talk about, you know, that need that's going to be to realign priorities. The one thing I'd say is I appreciate having gotten to know you over the years that um I know some of the your your priorities are um and you
know, we talk about student learning and and I've heard you say multiple times over the years that there are aspects here that I know very very dearly this year that of student safety and you've always made a commitment that that is a non-negotiable. So, um >> thank you for that in the past. thinking
for that going forward because I know that's going to be in your mind. >> Sure. >> And that's something that sometimes um you know some people, you know, want to say, well, what's this money for? What's that money for? And I'm talking about community in general more than um here. But people sitting here, we know that
there are parts of this budget that we we only see the overview of because student privacy and student safety is ingrained in the line, the details of that number. that's not something anyone here um you know you are safeguarding
that for those kids. So I appreciate that. >> Thank you. On that note, I I can't help but, you know, honestly point out or at least mention this is it'd be awful if I didn't the help of the Ted PD and the
fire department and the ambulance service who um probably more times than people, you know, now we've we've had situations where we've come um our SR man dedicated to the SRO program. called
wasn't the first and certainly he was either the second or third or whatever the case first if I if I remember my history correct um so you know that it's it's a team effort when it comes to um and
parents and people you know too but yeah we want to make sure I shout out to the SRO who really do a great job for us so thank you Right. So we have a motion on the table to accept the formative assessment as
presented. So all in favor I >> opposed. Abstain. And I say yes. Though that is against. Okay. So we have I I'd like to get through these appointments. What I'd like to propose to the committee if
anyone is opposed is we had someone volunteer for CPAC and someone volunteer for PTO. So I'm proposing to do those first and then come back to the other two for which I have not met volunteers yet. Does that work for everybody around the table? Okay. So
thank you Elizabeth Bond for volunteering um for CPAC. So as such I would like to I would entertain a motion to appoint Elizabeth Bond as the liazison to the NRSD CPAC. Motion by Sean second by Hank. Any questions or comments?
Seeing none, all in favor I opposed abstained and I say yes. See that is unanimous and thank you. Let me know if you need any help making discussions but sus is also a great resource. Um and next thanks to Sean. Um I would
entertain a motion to appoint Shan Casease as the leazison to the NRSD PTO. So move >> motion by H. Second by Heather. Any questions or comments? Seeing none, all in favor? >> I
>> opposed abstain and I say yes. So that leaves two positions. Technically, Heather has committed to do the MASC delegate um this um this year should we need her to. Um but like I said, this is a great one for someone else to sign up
for. It's a great learning opportunity. Um and Heather has done it um the past few years outside of this immediate past year. Um, and then the other one is the legislative representative appointments. So, does anyone have any questions about those? We can continue to leave them on.
Um, but at some point we do need to fill them and um, so we'll have to have some discussion. Um, but you know, folks can contact me outside, but are there any questions about this? Okay. Um so what I would ask is that um a yes let's encourage some additional
you know Philipsson members to join in um because work shared is less work for each one of us um and also yes we want we want this committee to be fully represented um so is there any curriculum and
instruction update this evening? Um there are it does appear that we have some surplus items this evening. No or those did not accidentally not last week. My apologies. Um we do have the
option to copy and that was my fault. Um so speaking of school committee vacancies for Philipston. Um so we do post those. We post those on the district Facebook. We post those with the Philipsson newsletter. read most of them.
>> You're just screaming here. So, I read most of them while we were sitting here. Um, so I also, um, annoyingly talked to parents at baseball games at every kid function I can come up with. Um, I have
absolutely done a fair amount of education to Philipston parents about what's happening in Philip and things they should be aware of. I think uh what I have heard back from those Philips residents is they find it challenging to figure out how to participate in their
town government because a lot of their meetings are hosted um in they're hosted in the offices um and while they do also have a regular schedule that is posted online and so I've been doing a lot of helping folks
to better understand where to find information or how to find information. So, I think there's just a general lack of understanding of how to figure out how to be a participant. Um, but yes,
you know, we're I I I don't think there's a single committee member here who isn't like, "Oh, you're from Phillips. Why? How nice to meet you. Do I know something for you?" Um, but getting folks to participate in public service right now is challenging. I
don't think that's a problem that is unique to school committee. I think that's something that both of our towns are facing as well. Um, and you know, I will additionally comment that, you know, participating means sitting in a hot seat sometimes and folks are very
uncomfortable with that. That is the number one feedback I get is oh no I couldn't sit up there and you know have people you know angry with me or shouting at me or you know and I think you know I think we do a pretty good job of maintaining you know very calm and
respectful dialogue. Um but I understand why they have that perception based on what they see on the news for other committees and other areas. I mean, my goodness. I think I I jokingly, but also not jokingly, shared a story about Nantucket school committee members
receiving brownies that were laced with laxatives. Um, so folks see these things in the news and that does not give the worm fuzzies about participating. So, yes, absolutely, we're putting this out there. And also um in order for folks to
feel comfortable participating, we have to create environments in which they feel confident sitting at the table and you know being ready to hear both the good but mostly a lot of criticism. So and that's a hard end of the table to
sit at. So um but yes we are very actively trying to recruit for that and unfortunately that you know finding finding folks in Flipstone has always been a challenge for this committee. Um so thank you to those who stepped up. It might be helpful um just thinking
because Mr. Valentine was mentioning you know well how how does this process kind of happen that if someone you know from the community does want to volunteer for the position what they would need to do and it would be it's typically in the posting. I haven't read the posting but I mean this is how I came to be. Um, I I
I got one of those messages. They have never seen her at a baseball game, but she definitely found me and tracked me down and made polite conversation. And then the real motive came out um and was um asked to show up. And as a matter of
fact, I remember Hank said, "She hasn't liked you. How are we going to just vote?" Um, but what you would do is you you write a letter in um the letters get sent into Dr. cases office and then share with the chair. Um say your your interest. You have to be a Phillips resident in this case because that's the
open seats and um we'd invite you to a school committee meeting where um we were very nice. We would never be very mean but we would be you know a quick interview because outside of an election cycle, it's not a special election, it's a book. So they would come here, show
their interest, um, and then we'd interview, decide to nominate, we'd vote them in. Um, they would only be serving until the next election. And the un remaining portion of that seat, if it's two years left or one year left, um, or
if it's the year that it wouldn't be up due for three years, um, wouldn't be on the next ballot for the for whatever the remaining term is. um that person would only serve until the election day. They could obviously get signatures and get on the ballot for the for a new, you
know, term and be voted in. >> Um as I did a few times, a couple times I I lost count. Um but that's how the process works. So yeah, thanks for asking because they gave us another chance to thank you for going through that.
>> Thank you, >> superintendent report. Woo. Well, it's only been two weeks since our last report and um so the last two weeks of school of course are just some of the busiest that we have. We've had uh Washington, we had um
>> college school, >> ecology, fair beach and um um we've had field trips at the elementary. We've had field days both indoors and out. Um depending on the weather, um we're you
know obviously we're wrapping up at this point in time. um failing to remember anything of not significance, but certainly it's just been so so busy. I it's hard to >> kindergart.
>> Well, of course, we had graduation and we Oh, the kindergarten graduation. Oh my gosh. Right. So, that was a couple days ago. That was fantastic. We had the undergrad um awards ceremony which is fantastic ceremony as well. the bridge.
We had the fourth grade uh come up to visit um their new gigs here next year. Uh we had the seventh grade do their uh their ceremony as well. So this all happened literally the last day of week um last calendar week. So it's been
really busy. At one time we had what five 500 parents down kindergarten graduation. Um but up here we had 200 parents up here for undergrad and it was just going back and forth to try to get a little bit of um of everything. So um
today being the last full day of u of the school year we come back a portion of money for the half day. Um it was really just wrapping up all the loose ends. Um >> go. >> So great. Um there were no items not
reasonably anticipated. Um any school committee comments this evening. Okay. Um so school subcommittee reports. So most of those subcommittee reports have not met. So I will not go through them one by one. Um what I will say is that um under labor management committee
we did have our final negotiating meeting negotiation meeting with UFCW. Um so we did anticipate being able to have executive session this evening. However, um because uh we have a municipal representative for that and he could not be the cure this evening
because the offices are closed today. Um and so um I apologize that I I I had to put it on the agenda, you know, to make sure that it got there in time for open meeting, but but I did not, you know, I wanted to make sure it was left on there and it's clear as to why we are not having executive session this evening.
So, we will suspend reviewing that contract until a future meeting date um when we can have our municipal representative here at the table with us to review the contract and then to have a vote and um his vote in this case his
James who will be coming here with us is equal to one vote from the school committee member. So, it's like we added a school committee member for the evening just to remind everyone of how that works. Um, so since we do not need that, um, I would remind everyone that
our next scheduled meeting is August 13th, 2026. I do want to say that in that list, we also have August 20th, we are we are anticipating that since we are just moving a meeting earlier in August that we won't need both meetings in August. So I unless anyone is
opposed, I will cancel August 20th. No one's no one's jonesing to have a second meeting that excuse me. >> Yeah. So August 13th is when we confirmed the meeting based on the survey that um Susan did. So if you could all make sure that August 13th is on your calendars, I will be removing
August 20th from the list. Now of course depending what happens with the June 30th vote with Philip, just be on notice that we could have to plan a special meeting of school committee. um at which point we would probably be flexible in
what day of the week it is just in consideration of the fact that it is July and there are a lot of vacations. So we would be going for a first available date that works for the full committee. Um because if we had to do a vote that evening it would require
twothirds voting of the meeting. So >> um as such that concludes our business for this evening. So I would entertain a motion to adjourn. a motion. I will give that to Hank. >> Second by Sean. >> And there are no questions or comments
on that one.