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Hey, we're just about to get started. So, it's probably picking me up right now. So, just a reminder to folks that are in the room, the mic is incredibly powerful. As a matter of fact, it's better at picking up all of your voices than ours. So, just a reminder that if you are having side

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conversations, it will pick up your side conversations and it will record them as part of the video. So, if you don't wish your side conversations to be part of the video, then our strong suggestion is grab a pen and a pencil and write to your neighbor if you

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need to. But, just wanted to be clear about that for everybody. All right. With that said, I would like to call this meeting of the Narragansett Regional School District School Committee to order. If everyone would please rise for the pledge.

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>> 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. >> Thanks so much, everyone. As a reminder,

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this meeting is being live streamed and recorded. It's my earlier message. Um and it's available to watch on YouTube. Um so, just to give a bit of a lay of the land, um we're going to go through some of our regular business between 5:30

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and 6:00, including um looking at the budget. We'll talk about that in a moment. At 6:00, um we will suspend the sole school committee meeting to hold a multi-board session for those who are here. So, that starts at 6:00. Um we

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will then go through the business of looking at a district-wide meeting, um as well as well as selecting that district-wide meeting. Then, we'll close out that multi-board meeting and we will go back to the regularly scheduled school committee meetings. We do have some additional

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business and need um executive session this evening, um but thought it would be better to do that after the multi-board portion. Okay? All right. Having gone through all of that, our first order of business this evening

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um is approval of minutes. So, I will now entertain a motion to approve the meeting minutes of June 18th, 2026 as written. >> So moved. >> Motion by Shawn. >> Second. >> Seconded by Heather. Any questions or comments on those minutes?

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Seeing none, all in favor? Opposed? Abstained? And I say yes, so that is unanimous. >> Right. >> And for your business, bills and payroll, I would accept a motion to accept the bills and payroll warrants

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as presented. >> So moved. >> Motion by Shawn, seconded second by Heather. Any questions or comments about the bills and payroll? Seeing none, all in favor? Opposed? Abstained?

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And I say yes, so that is unanimous. Okay, so we do have a public input portion of our meeting this evening. Uh and we would welcome folks from the public who would like to speak. Uh so if you do wish to speak, if you can just make sure that your name is on the sheet

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down here. You do not have to decide until you've decided to speak. Uh it says that public input will be 12 minutes total, but what I'll do this evening is I will suspend the full 12 minutes, but I will hold everybody to 3 minutes per person just to be efficient

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and respectful of everybody's time who's here. Okay? Um so do I have My volunteer timekeeper has already set up her phone, uh which I deeply appreciate. And so if whoever is first on the list would like to go, um

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we look forward to hearing from you. >> Good evening. Uh John Valentine, um South Main Street, Carver, Mass. So um I was wondering what happens on 12 on this June 30th, whatever leftover monies, whatever

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happens to leftover monies. So I guess that goes into a excess and deficiency um order. So my understanding is potentially there could be $650,000 leftover fiscal year '26.

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So, I'm hoping that would go towards fiscal year '27 so that there'd be less money that the town would have to divvy up. I'm not sure if that's the process, but it's probably unlikely. But, the people of both towns need to understand

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that this school committee asked for over 10% increase, received a which amounted to 1.7 million dollars. So, you're asking for money year over year in increase. You're not even spending

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the money that you were approved for. Now, with a 25 million dollar budget, 2 3% that's not spent is understandable. But, the same token, that money needs to be put towards fiscal year '27

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so the towns can have money to survive. They're being a good partner to the towns. We're all in this together, but it doesn't seem that's that's how it works in terms of budgets and everything else. So, the town needs to be aware when we have this district meeting that there is

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leftover money from last year, and where it's going and what it's going to be used for, and what was the previous balance towards that. Um that should be used for for money is for the budget. It's all about transparency.

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The select board wants to do another override. They're considering that. The taxpayers are not interested in an override. They're interested in good stewards of the taxpayer money. Senior citizens of this town are not for tax increases.

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Live within your means so we all survive together off the same dollar. That's all that I ask. Um looking over the budget that is posted on the Narragansett school committee site,

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There's lots of items that that even a individual with a layman's um time's up. >> 30 seconds. >> 30 seconds. Anyhow, this left in that budget that could be that will only add to

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uh um excess to no deficiency. So, there could be more pencil shopping in that area. But, it's all about transparency to the town people. Both towns need to be aware of this excess money. But, I find it really offensive to ask for 10% increases

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you're not even spending the previous year's full budget. Thank you. >> Who's next? I see a couple names that I don't know if people just signed in because they were coming in or if those signed in to speak. >> Okay. I'm good, then.

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Oh, I'm going to yield. >> So, this is a reminder to folks, this is the time during which folks in the public can speak. As we move forward with the meeting, we're not going to go into like a Q&A session or things. So, if there are things that you want to say or if there are things that you want to hear about,

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please use this time. I'll give one more chance for anyone who might want to speak um just because, you know, we certainly do want to make sure that we're hearing from folks that are here. Um but, if everyone is good, we will move on. >> I have a question. Like to ask you if I ask a question,

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will you answer it? >> So, it's not a question and response, but I would write down question. >> I see. There's no questions. You just want a public comment. That's what that is. Okay, never mind.

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>> We will move on. >> M. D. A is not present this evening. Um, and so we will move into our budget conversation. Um, so this will be both a discussion and a vote. Um, the votes are all attached um, to the agenda item.

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Um, so essentially just to get everybody on the same page, where where are we? What what's happened? Let's just do a quick recap. Um, so during the Templeton town meeting, the um, the proposed budget for the school

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committee for the um, total amount for Templeton of the $9,975,000 um, and $10 did pass um, for the total budget of $26,987,139. As has been discussed in a lot of

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different forums, that represented um, $1.3 million in cuts from what was a level service budget. Um, but that budget amount did preserve um, things that the public uh, came in and spoke that said, "These things are very

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important to us." Including the MVP programs, including um, athletics and extracurriculars, etc. Um, because Phillipston had voted previous to that date and had voted for a level

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level funded plus 2.5% amount, they then had the opportunity to reconsider the budget. Um, that did pass at their special town meeting, um, but then subsequently did not pass on the ballot because they made the passing of the

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school budget contingent upon the passing of an override. It did not pass by 12 votes. Um, and so that then triggered a couple of different things. Number one is that the school district immediately put into

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1/12. We had already been preparing for that scenario. What 1/12 means is that we're currently operating on what's called a level-funded budget, which means they're operating based on FY26 budget currently, which means we cannot spend during each month until an

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alternate budget passes anything more than what we spent um, if that budget were divided evenly over the 12 months. But, I do remember. >> Oh, pretty close. >> Pretty close. All right, close enough. Um, and so, what has been triggered here is that

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first, we have to revote a budget as a school committee, which is what we're going to discuss and then revote on here. Um, and then that budget then needs to be considered at a district-wide meeting where Templeton and Phillipston um, community members

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will gather to then vote on whatever budget it is that the school committee votes on this evening. Um, so, I am going to pause for a moment to give you an opportunity to talk about access and deficiency and how that gets applied, which is, I know, everyone's

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favorite topic. Um, but if you could give everyone through the background on how that works and how to understand it >> Sorry. >> as a part of the total process. >> Yep. Um, so, excess and deficiency is

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expenses that didn't get spent in the budget and revenue that came in above what you were expecting. So, for FY27, the district is putting forward 500,000 of its E&D towards that

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budget, which we use just about all of our E&D towards the next year's budget every year. Um, I haven't done the one for FY26. It goes to the Department of Revenue in the fall. You cannot use that until it

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becomes certified. So, the money left over from FY 26 does not work for FY 27. It would be available for FY 28. >> So, just to provide some clarity, that is this is a pretty standard

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school district budgeting process, um whereby those monies get used in 2 years forward essentially. So, FY 25's get used in FY 27, FY 26 get used in FY

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28. So, it always does get applied. So, FY 25's is $500,000, which was applied to reduce the stress and stressors of FY 27. But, we can't use anything from FY 26 until the state approves excess and deficiency in the

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fall, so it cannot actually be used until FY 28. So, all of that is available, in state statutes, etc., should you wish to look further, um but it is one of the most confusing aspects of

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um school funding that comes up every year. School Committee members ask questions about it every year, um and so it's a very common topic to address. All right? That being said, I would open it up to my fellow School Committee members to

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discuss where we are. So, really where we're at is that we have this $26,987,139 budget for FY 27 as the last budget that we voted on collectively. Um regardless of whether we vote the

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same budget or a different budget, we do have to revote this evening. Um and we have to recertify it all the way through those fun nine budget items that everyone loves hearing me read about.

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But before I move forward on any budget vote, I wanted to get a sense of where is the school committee in terms of re-voting the budget as we had certified it during our last meeting

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or our last certification meeting or is there a change that anyone would like to see? And let's have that conversation. Don't start a list. >> Um, I I just want to if I may, I just want to back up if if we can ask him cuz I felt his question was answered there so I just

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wanted to make sure that he felt his question was answered. >> But it's not a back and forth and so I can't yeah, I understand. I will be happy to follow up with him following the meeting so that >> I understand. >> kind of personal conversations opposed to a >> No, I again, I I felt happy with it so I just wanted to make sure that was clear.

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I'm good. >> Okay. Okay. >> I can speak for um, I came tonight prepared after digging in maybe what 25th 26th look at these

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numbers to stand firm in what we voted through. Who wants to vote again? Stand firm. >> I can speak to where I land but I as chair I like to make sure that the other folks around me get heard first. So if there are comments, I'm going to try and

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I will let's not leave space for that before I share where I'm sitting at just because I don't I want to leave space for the individual that needs to sit on this committee. So, I said this before, so I'll repeat it again here.

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The options that are on the like I hear I hear the conversation that there's fault. I I I honestly can never understand where that comes from. Um because I watched this district tighten belts and tighten belts again

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and tighten belts again to accommodate rising costs while trying to maintain services to students. And we're now at a point where the services we're talking about cutting for students are are services that are directly tied to their social,

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emotional, and school success well-being overall. Um you know, I am sincerely concerned that you know, being in you know, two small towns to cut

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athletics and extracurriculars for the students in this district and what that would do to those students to not have access to those. Now, folks who are of means still have access to potentially, you know, pay for those

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athletics outside of the school district and I recognize that. That's not the set of students I'm worried about. I am worried about our students who are most vulnerable to cuts in services at schools. And you know, there there are multiple studies that show

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you know, just how reliant those students are on the services the schools provide. The town could tell me differently during a district wide meeting that they disagree with me. They could and then they would be forced to operate with whatever budget

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the towns give us at that time. And I absolutely recognize the risk that we need to be taking by putting through this budget and then letting towns decide. I get that. We've We've read that book. We We've seen the ending

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before and it's not always pretty. And we know that. That said, as the school committee chair, I feel it's my responsibility to fight for those students right up until that moment that the community votes on a budget amount that forces me to cut those services. It's

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not something that I can do willingly or advocate for to my fellow school committee members because of the direct harm that I know it will cause. And so that is where I stand as chair and why I believe that this remains to

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be the correct budget. It is still a budget that requires many and multiple cuts across our schools and ones that hurt. And yet, I remain unwilling to cut those types of services from our students. I

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remain unwilling to cut empty key programs from our students. And so that is where I stand. One more chance or otherwise, what I will do is put the first vote on the floor. And should it not pass, then we will go

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back to discussion and figure out where we are. I'm going to try this just like I did today and I'll track the time. I'm setting my glasses. I would entertain a motion that the Narragansett Regional School District School Committee vote and

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certify the amount of $26,987,139 for the FY27 budget. >> So moved. >> Motion by Shawn, second by Hank. I'm going to do a roll call vote. >> Hank? >> Aye. >> Shawn? >> Aye. >> Elizabeth? >> Aye. >> Danielle? >> Aye. >> Heather? >> Aye. >> Yazmine? >> Aye.

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>> And I say yes, so that is unanimous. I would entertain a motion that the Narragansett Regional School District School Committee vote the estimated income of $13,247,157 for the FY27 budget, which is based on the Chapter 70 aid from the Governor's

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House 1 budget submission. >> So moved. >> Motion by Shawn. >> Second. >> Second by Hank. Any questions or comments? Seeing none, roll call vote. Hank? >> Aye. >> Shawn? >> Aye. >> Elizabeth? >> Aye. >> Danielle? >> Aye. >> Heather? >> Aye. >> Yazmine? >> Aye.

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>> And I say yes, so that is unanimous. I would entertain a motion that the Narragansett Regional School District School Committee vote the estimated income of $733,082 for the FY27 budget, which is based on the Chapter 71 aid from the Governor's

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House 1 budget submission. Motion by Shawn. >> Second. >> Second [clears throat] by Hank. Any questions or comments? Seeing none, Hank? >> Aye. >> Shawn? >> Aye. >> Elizabeth? >> Aye. >> Danielle? >> Aye. >> Heather? >> Aye. >> Yazmine? >> Aye.

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>> And I say yes, so that is unanimous. I would entertain a motion that the Narragansett Regional School District School Committee vote the estimated income of $43,340 for the FY27 budget, which is based on the charter school reimbursement from the FY27 cherry sheet estimates.

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>> So moved. >> Motion by Shawn. >> Second. >> Second by Hank. Any questions or comments? Seeing none. Hank? >> Aye. >> Shawn? >> Aye. >> Lisbeth? >> Aye. >> Danielle? >> Aye. >> Heather? >> Aye. >> Yazmine? >> Aye.

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>> And I say yes, so that is unanimous. I would entertain a motion that the Narragansett Regional School District School Committee vote the estimated income of $500,000 for the FY27 budget, which is based on the FY25 certified and excess and deficiency. >> So moved.

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>> Motion by Shawn. >> Second. >> Second by Hank. Any questions or comments? Seeing none. Hank? >> Aye. >> Shawn? >> Aye. >> Lisbeth? >> Aye. >> Danielle? >> Aye. >> Heather? >> Aye. >> Yazmine? >> Aye. >> And I say yes, so that is unanimous.

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I would entertain a motion that the Narragansett Regional School District School Committee vote the estimated income of $145,000 for the FY27 budget, which is based on FY27 Medicaid receipts. >> So moved. >> Motion by Shawn. >> Second. >> Second by Hank. Any questions or

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comments? Seeing none. Hank? >> Aye. >> Shawn? >> Aye. >> Lisbeth? >> Aye. >> Danielle? >> Aye. >> Heather? >> Aye. >> Yazmine? >> Aye. >> And I say yes, so that is unanimous. I would entertain a motion that the Narragansett Regional School District

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School Committee vote the assessment amount to Templeton in the amount of $9,829,831. >> So moved. >> Motion by Shawn. >> Second. >> Second by Hank. Any questions or comments? Seeing none. Hank? >> Aye. >> Shawn? >> Aye. >> Lisbeth? >> Aye. >> Danielle?

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>> Aye. >> Heather? >> Aye. >> Yazmine? >> Aye. >> And I say yes, so that is unanimous. I'm just going to remind folks in the audience that your conversation is being picked up. I would to a motion that the Mary E. Baker Regional School District School

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Committee vote the assessment amount to Phillipston in the amount of $2,317,536. >> So moved. >> Motion by Shawn. >> Second. >> Seconded by Hank. Any questions or comments? Seeing none, Hank. >> Aye. >> Shawn. >> Aye.

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>> Elizabeth. Danielle. >> Aye. >> Heather. >> Aye. >> Yazmine. >> Aye. >> And I say yes, so that is unanimous. I would entertain a motion that the Mary E. Baker Regional School District School Committee vote the debt service of $170,819,

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of which $145,179 be Templeton's assessment and $25,640 be Phillipston's assessment. >> So moved. >> Motion by Shawn. >> Second. >> Seconded by Hank. Any questions or comments? Seeing none, Hank. >> Aye.

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>> Shawn. >> Aye. >> Elizabeth. >> Aye. >> Danielle. >> Aye. >> Heather. >> Aye. >> Yazmine. >> Aye. >> And I say yes, so that is unanimous. Okay. Thank you everyone. Um so I will

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say that the School Committee meeting is going into recess and in 5 minutes we will start the multi-board meeting. Okay. Yes. I'd entertain a motion to recess. >> So moved. >> Motion by Shawn. >> Second. >> Sec- uh we'll give it to Heather this

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time. Um any questions or comments? All in favor? >> Aye. >> All right, excellent. Thank you. >> All right, everyone. We're back. Thank you so much for that brief recess. And so right now we're going to start our joint

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meeting and so first I will call the Narragansett Regional School District School Committee back into session for the multi-board meeting and then I'll pass it over to you, Jeff. Okay? >> At this time I would call the Duxbury Select Board meeting to order at 6:00

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p.m. and we do have a quorum. >> And I would call the Narragansett Regional School District School Committee order and also have a quorum. All right. Um so, we have a proposed date of August 3rd, um 2026.

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Um I know we've reached out to both of our member towns to let them know of this date. Um I don't know if we've gotten any feedback over email, but um any any concern I I haven't heard any concerns raised about that date unless you need to raise them in this moment or if that's working for everyone.

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So far. >> All right. So, uh there was an email from Town Clerk Town Clerk, but it's most of the stuff is the responsibility of the secretaries and the school committee, so as long as it gets posted uh the results get posted within 7 days, then it will

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be appropriate. >> Yes, that's right. The Templeton Town Clerk did have a conflict, but um as you can notice, we are trying to trying to juggle a lot of calendars. >> I say it's mostly the posting of the notices. >> of the posting is the responsibility of the school district. >> Correct. Yeah, and so we will make sure

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that all of that is >> And the newspaper, too. >> Yes, yeah. That's That's all them. >> It's all the posting. It's all the communication is the responsibility of >> There you go. All right. Um and so, the moderator for the district-wide meeting, um I'll let the

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seal just let you briefly um introduce this. >> Thank you. Um there's so but reached out to to find moderator. And Josh Smith um is the moderator I'm a moderator for

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the town of town of Barre. For those for those of us who've been around a bit, um he was the moderator who uh give the meeting outside. Um in the bleachers. If you remember, it was September

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Um I'm just I'm just kind of I'm sure people remember, but it was a different wide meeting and it was also in And so he was the moderator. So, um going to that well again, I reached out, checked Willie's availability, which luckily um he was available.

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Um I provided a uh a resume of sorts. And he's been moderating for since 2019. He's the vice president of Massachusetts Moderators Association. So, I'm on the board of directors of the

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Massachusetts Moderators Association. Um and he comes from different walks of I guess professional life. He has a He has a wonderful reputation and from what I understand. So, that's what I was told. And so, given that he was very

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responsible the last time, um pretty short notice then, um he reached out and he I reached out to him. He's available to moderate. >> So, I think they have to vote individually. So, if you would like >> Yes, as a Yeah, as a note, just as a

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note, uh if both students selectmen are not here, uh according to Desi and Templeton Town Council, I asked that question and I was told then those present vote and choose the moderator, please. >> Yes. >> So, yeah.

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>> That's our Thank you for bringing that up. That's our understanding. >> If you don't show up again, Templeton and Shutesbury members will vote. >> I did check on that just in case. >> And they were We sent out the invitation at the same time it to both towns and unfortunately Phillipston communicated

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that they would be unable to attend. >> But I I just wanted to have that detailed to make sure that the action we take was >> No. Thank you for bringing that up. I do appreciate that. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um so, I would like you um

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go first or would you like me to go first? Cuz I think we have to vote. >> It's up to you. that'd be that'd be fun. >> Okay. Um So you've done for school committee, I would entertain a motion to ex- to appoint Joshua Smith as the moderator of the district-wide school meeting school

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committee meeting on August 3rd, 2026. >> So moved. >> Motion by Shawn. >> Second. >> Second by Heather. Any questions or comments from the school page? See no no >> So I just I I mean other than his resume, I I know nothing about this gentleman. Does Does anybody have any

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past experience other than from 2020 like I would have entertained hearing you know what they had to say as well. I just I don't know anything about this new moderator. That would be my only question. >> So the goal is to identify a neutral moderator and it's based largely on their availability.

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Um, we were able to also provide his resume which is extensive >> Yeah, no and it's good. >> experience and the But there's no experience but >> I didn't know if anybody had any other That was that would be my question to the committee. If the answer's no, then I'm I'm fine with it. >> Just for if if I may Mr. Chair uh

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In 2013, we had a district-wide meeting. Uh At the time the boards were cordial back then. As a matter of fact, the chair and I walked out of the school meeting. That was a big deal. We chose former Templeton town moderator as the

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moderator for the district meeting. The district-wide meeting in 2019, uh we chose Wilson moderator Kevin Flynn. Was that the first one? Said I think I may have said the same thing made the same thing. Well, okay, we'll use that one next time. I think we did here and

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then um Uh wasn't expecting uh another one but But that's that's how we handled it. >> Thank you. >> the last two meetings. And just as a point of interest for your for your it's I still lost that facility 160

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or selectmen of the member of the municipality to join meeting shall by a majority vote of those present appoint a town moderator or any other person acceptable to the board of selectmen to act as moderator and the district secretary shall keep a record of such

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meeting. So it's really the board's choice. >> Um >> But I don't know how to read it out. The one members would they would would give it a second. >> Um >> I I don't like the wording. >> I'm not What What I've seen anybody have

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personal experience. That was my only question. I think I did so. >> Just the last meeting. Um and I could speak to the at the last meeting where that it went very smoothly. I would say. >> That's That's what I'm asking, right? >> [laughter] >> Okay. Of course at that point I was

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still learning all of this. But at that point >> Sure. >> it it I recall that it went smoothly. >> Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> Say that. >> Okay. >> So we have a motion on the table. We have a second. Um any other questions or comments?

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Seeing none, all in favor? All right. Opposed? Abstained? And I say yes so that it's unanimous four or seven folks. And I would hand it over to you, Jeff. >> And that is the very town moderator.

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>> What was the last name? >> Joshua Smith. >> Sir. >> Thank you. They No relation. >> [laughter] >> That's my married name. I'm politically I am not a Smith. And I am not related to >> I just spoke about the police chief last week.

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>> I think um >> At this time I would like to appoint Joshua Smith as the moderator for the district wide meeting. >> Second. >> Motion made and seconded. Any discussion?

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>> Having been at that meeting and we were in the chairs, probably with distance to allow me to Miss Boulder and Miss Graves apart. How long will you do those? An interesting arrangement. And shouting back and forth, but he had

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the microphone. He kept it lively and moving, but he also I don't want to say rule with an iron fist, but there was never a question who was in charge of that meeting and he kept it on track and to to the letter. So, to your point, Mr. Pace.

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>> Yeah. Thank you. >> He kept He held us to task. That's That's what I would say. >> Yes. >> Anything else from the board? >> I have a question. Um will we be using the clickers? And has this moderator used the clickers

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system? >> So, I I spoke well, through communication. I sent an email asking permission to use the clickers. Um in that email, you know, I certainly said, "Look, I'm not sure whom kind of

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in the background runs the clickers. Um but we would, of course, pay someone if that is the case to run, you know, if you Of course, if you've been to the town meeting, you see that there's someone in the back and, you know, typing in whatever uh whatever the case is. I I simply got

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an email back after we gave the number of the total uh number of folks who can fit into the auditorium. We explained what our um overflow space would be, which would be the cafeteria. In doing so, she wrote back, I think it was yesterday or today, so yesterday, that

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um that would be fine, that we could use the clickers. Um so, our our intention is to do exactly that. I want to get the moderator figured out first, um and then go down the list of, you know, of to the

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the most basic point. >> I was just asking if the moderator had ever done a meeting with the clerks and if we were going to possibly use them if they had experience, that's all. >> I can ask him. I don't know. >> Would you

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>> First time for everything. Anything else? Hearing none on the motion, I would ask you to vote, Ms. Curtis. >> I abstain. >> Ms. Colbert? >> Yes. >> Ms. Detour? >> Yes. >> Mr. Man? >> Yes. >> Mr. Vanderslice, yes.

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Four yes, one abstain. >> All right. So, I have to let you adjourn the joint meeting first, and then I will adjourn adjourn joint meeting and then re-adjourn school committee meeting. >> Before before adjourning, if I may. >> Yes, of course. >> It would be helpful if I had the other

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town here as well, but I want to talk about the We want to get the town clerks. I realize that um the Templeton clerk will not be here during August 3rd. I I I understand. But um I guess with permission to reach out to make sure that

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that we are setting up the way they need us to set up, and we'll we'll reach out to both clerks. Um going back to the outdoor meeting, um they were immensely um helpful cuz what we thought was needed was not. So, they they came in and of course took

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care of like what they what they wanted to do. They both talked, and you know, the Phillipston folks went this way to It was It was a bit of a dance, and uh but it was great. We're very organized. It's very large meeting, if folks remember. There was a lot of people there. Also,

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we I don't know if it's the clerk or if it's the board decides where you sit. >> Um I could have sent them a memo. I've been going over to you. >> Oh, that'd be awesome. >> So, so that the licensing project can come in, so the entrance, etc. >> Okay. >> No, I'll go over that. >> Sure thing.

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>> And being with the like board registers checks people in, which >> Perfect. >> And it's just We've got to >> Last time >> Um went back to when we had the four meetings. And we're in the auditorium. Um

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the the select board for both towns were on the stage. If I'm looking at the stage to the left. But we're going to set it up exactly the same way. I I want to make sure that that's that's good with the leg works. Quite frankly, I didn't think it'd be an issue, but I just wanted to be sure.

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>> To be or not to be, to be or not to be, but it's I don't know. The opportunity's going to be made available. I've got this here. >> That's where I'm going to put That's where we're going to set up town of Dedham in the middle. Keep it right. >> In in 13 they set it up for both boards to be up one board each. >> One board each, I'm sure. That's good.

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>> All right, thank you. >> Yeah, thank you. >> May I ask a question? Um will we be able to hear? >> So, uh we we we heard cuz I was there. We heard the criticism about the mics or the the speakers.

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What I also heard is that if some folks were heard better than others. So, I did So, we tested the sound system again. Um and when we used the mics no matter where they were on the floor, they were wireless. And on the stage, they were

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>> wired. >> Wired. >> Wired. >> Wired. >> Um So, when we did the check, if you talked into the mic a little bit in the ear to the the wireless ones, it's true. People Depending on how they held it. I don't know else to explain it. So, we did talk with our folks.

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We're going to work on that again. I think that the wired mics work the best. That's That's my understanding when I talked to people afterwards and what worked, what didn't. Wired worked. We're going to try to wire them all if we can. And if not, we're going to make sure that we're you know, we'll turn it up. We'll also

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face them because the speakers are facing out, but you guys can't hear it, correct? That's what it is. Yeah. So, How do I say this? I'm I'm going to We'll figure it out. I don't I don't have any answer right now. Even if we have to set up another speaker in the

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back. >> We couldn't hear the moderator at times in the stage. People on the floor people couldn't understand that. We're not getting any sound back to us. Sounds like something we we can work to address between now and >> So, I want to make sure that those on the stage

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>> Yeah, we could not. >> Okay. All right. So, we need to speaker and we need to put a speaker on the stage somewhere in the back. >> Anything else? Cuz those were good topics. Thank you. Let everybody resettle and I will

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re-adjourn school committee meeting. Yeah. Thank you. Just Have a good night. Goodnight. Thank >> [clears throat] >> Are you going to go ahead and do the executive session now? >> That's that is basically the plan. I can I can do a brief recess if we need to

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just to like yeah. Okay, so I would entertain a motion or I'm not a jerk I'm not agreeing. I'm still in recess. Never mind. I'm good. So if we could just thank you. >> All right. Welcome back everyone. I'm afraid we're back for a very short

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period. We are just going to I'd like to call this meeting of the Merrimack Valley Regional School District School Committee back to order. This is now our regular meeting. However, we are immediately going to entertain a motion to go into

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executive session. Mass General Law chapter 30A section 21A reason number three to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and or litigation with the NDEA as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating

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position of the School Committee and the chair so declares. The School Committee will return to open session immediately following executive session. >> So moved. >> Motion by Shawn. >> Second. >> Second by Hank. We need to roll call vote. >> Shawn. >> Aye. >> Elizabeth. >> Aye. >> Danielle. >> Aye.

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>> Heather. >> Aye. >> Yasmine. >> Aye. >> Hank. >> Aye. >> And I say yes. So that is unanimous. So we will go into executive session and then we will return again. >> I abstain. >> Thank you. I'll second. >> Okay everyone,

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we are back and we do have a vote to give everyone some context. Essentially what was under consideration is a grievance by NDEA. However, after examination of the grievance, it was determined that the

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grievance does not fall under the jurisdiction and so we will make that official with a motion and a vote. So I would entertain a motion to deny the grievance as it falls outside the jurisdiction of the school committee. >> So moved. >> Motion by Shawn. >> Second.

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>> Seconded by Hank. Any questions or comments? Seeing none, Shawn. >> Aye. >> Elizabeth. >> Aye. >> Danielle. >> Aye. >> Heather. >> Aye. >> Yasmine. >> Aye. >> Hank. >> Aye. >> And I say yes, so that is unanimous.

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>> Motion to adjourn. >> [laughter] >> Motion to adjourn by Hank. >> Second. >> Seconded by Shawn. I will go all in favor. As just a reminder, we will have our district wide meeting on August 3rd and we do have our next school committee meeting on August 13th.

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All in favor. >> Aye. >> Thank you very much everyone.