Welcome everybody to the North Middle Sex Regional School District School Committee meeting on April 12th, 2025. It is 6:02. I'm going to call the meeting to order. This call is or this session is being
recorded. I'll have a roll call vote. Randy Rush here. Keenan Prince here. Jackie White here. Kim Craraven
here. Patrick McFillips here. Alexander Benudi. I'm going to get that. Alexander, I'm here.
Thank you. And then we have several from administration. Would you guys like me to introduce you? Lisa Bloom is in the waiting area by the way. Yeah, I promoted her. She's coming in. Okay. Thank you. Would you guys like me to introduce who is all on the call
or just I think we can probably do it when it's when it's our opportunity to speak if that makes sense. And Lisa Bloom is in the call as well. Lisa, we just took roll call. Yes, I'm here. All right. Thank you everyone.
All right. I'm going to take a motion for the consent agenda as presented or I move that we take the consent agenda as presented. All right.
Second. Okay. So that is Kim Craraven and Patrick McFillips. Any discussions on the consent agenda. All right. Then we take a roll call vote for this.
Keenan. Yes. Patrick McFillips. Yes. Craraven. Yes. E. White. Yes. Randy Raj. Yes.
Uh, Lisa Bloom. Yes. Alex Alexander Benudi. Yes. And myself? Yes. All right. Moving on to public comment. Robin, was there any public comment?
No, I didn't have anyone signed up for public comment. All right. Then moving on to the chairperson report. I have a few announcements. First, I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. It is disappearing quickly
and soon we will be starting school again. So, um I first off would like to make a thank you to Dylan for watching us on YouTube. He came to me this summer during an event and said he watched us on YouTube and that we were celebrities
for him. So all of you to say hi to Dylan and he was very kind. So and he's a young man and it was very nice for him to do that to follow us. Um we another announcement we're looking to do our
meetings in person. Um look for more announcements to come out as we um finish out that process. I'd also like to welcome Jackie White. She was appointed as a pepro representative and I'd like her to introduce herself and say just a little
bit about herself to everyone. Thank you Lisa. Hi everyone. We're actually away on vacation. So thus the moose that you see behind me. Um crazy turn of events. Yes. Um I know we had a member recently step down. So when the
position did come open, I threw my hat into the ring again. So Alex, good to see you here uh again. Um, but yes, I am looking forward to serving again. I've got two kiddos who uh one has gone through the district already and is 19, currently at Middle Sex Community, and
another is going to be a junior this year. Um, so looking forward to serving uh at least a two-year term, and uh ready to get going. Thanks, Lisa. Thank you, Jackie. I also have another announcement. Um
Carrie Batterdsby, the Ashb representative, has resigned. I received her resignation this morning. Um and so I did ask her if I could announce in the public meeting tonight that she has resigned and she did say give me that um
okay to do that. So Ashby will be looking for a new representative. Uh Randy um I'd also just like to say that I'd like to step down from the vice chair position. Okay. All right. We'll
handle that at the end of the meeting with All right. Going on. Um, superintendent, your report, please. Just switching screens. Give me one
moment, please. Okay. So, I I've got a multiple things to report on. If it's okay, I'd like to report on them and then take any questions at the end if that's acceptable. Just um addressing first um we're
preparing to close out FY 2025 and we did finish the year with just under $2.9 million in the black uh due to some significant cutbacks in the late winter and spring. This surplus again really reflects close fiscal management when it
became clear that both FY26, our current school year coming up, but also FY27 would be a significant challenge. all of these funds uh will roll into END automatically. Uh in addition, there were several other um
additional source of un of unanticipated revenue. Uh we received just under $270,000 in miscellaneous um revenue, but of that close to $250,000 was from the Valley
Collaborative uh from tuitions. um money returning to the district that goes into END. Also, our Mishoba Minute Man um health group, we received just over $1 million and approximately half of that was put
back into school choice revolving which was used to assist with that transition and the other half is going into END uh as dictated. And then we received close to $60,000 in Medicaid and just over $250,000
in investment income. And all of that goes into END. Um, school choice, just to point out, is separate from END, but at this point, um, all of our remaining FY25 funds and revenue is being moved into the excess and deficiency fund. Uh
what is unfortunate about this is that these funds cannot be utilized um until that money is certified by the state which generally does not happen until February. Um so that is something that we could potentially look at at the end of FY26 or possibly to assist with the
FY27 budget. So that is it on the FY25 budget. did want to connect with everyone um regarding the high school football program. Uh there was we did get word last week that with dropping numbers, we
only had 14 students ultimately sign up for the program. It is something uh that is a concern statewide. It's not just happening here in N&M. It is happening statewide and it's really a combination of some of it is being attributed
according to the MIAA to concussion issues but most of it is really being attributed to the rise in club sports. Uh football is not the only program that is struggling and by that I mean many of the athletes that generally play
football um basketball, ice hockey, lacrosse and baseball players are oftent times playing those sports now year round for a club team. um they're able to play for the high school team in most cases in those particular sports but generally speaking uh club sports are
having a significant impact on high school sports programming again not just in N&M but across the state and across the nation for that matter as many students are specializing in one sport now so in talking with Graten Dunible
their roster was also below 20 so we will be co-oping with them for the 2025 season. The hope was to get a press release out for that um early last week, but the MIAA, who did tell us that they would have an answer because it is
something they have to vote on all co-op programs last Wednesday, did not give us official word until late this afternoon, about an hour before this meeting. So, I'm sharing with everyone now. Essentially, Grat Dunible has four home games this year. North Middle Sex
because Grant and Dunel has more players. Um they have the ability to host the program. So we will have one home game with the possibility of more depending upon weather because they do not have a turf field. Um again the reason for the co-op is consistent with
national trends in football uh due to the reasons I outlined. Uh last year our roster ended up being 30 players. Um and by the time we got to our last game, we were down to 16 um due to injuries and
other reasons. But in addition to that, of those 30 players, 17 of them were seniors and they have since graduated. As far as NM is concerned, Coach Rivers will be joining the Graten Dunible staff. He will receive the full um head coaching stipend and he will serve as
the primary liaison and point of contact for our student athletes and assist with transportation to and from practices in in the afternoon. There will be at this point uh there does not appear to be a need for any additional stipens to be paid because the rest of the staff will
be rounded out by GD. Um there's already been a pretty significant push u from the community to see if something can be done to bring NM back uh either in 2026, possibly 2027. And that is something
that I am more than happy to work with athletic director Demar, Principal Smith on, as well as with any community members that are interested in engaging in this push to again bring NM back to having its own independent program. But for now, that co-op agreement um is a
two-year commitment. It is something that we can step out of after a year, but for now, we've been approved for a two-year um commitment to work with GD. Also wanted to talk a little bit about high school participation. Um with some
of the increased user fees, we do not have final numbers yet, but something that I do want everyone to pay close attention to, and I will share the final numbers once we have them. it's still relatively busy this time of year with students registering because many do wait until the last um couple weeks of
registration is that we are dropping in enrollment. Um and that is something we have seen coming. We are working on putting together something for the committee to show that the drop in enrollment is not just at the high school but it's basically with with some of the es and flows we're seeing at
particular grade levels. and we are down to 649 students at the high school which also is playing a role in some of those lower football numbers um and potentially some other areas as well. So it's a high school I I want to say 8
years ago when I came was close to 850 students. Uh and again we have had some classes that are relatively large, some classes that are relatively small. Um and right now we are dealing with um really four classes that have been small
for quite some time. And it does appear as though North Middle Sex is as a district has an aging population. And by that I mean we have families that have sent kids to the school district but they're also remaining in the school district. Um and it's something it's a
trend again that happens in other other districts other communities as well and it's something that eventually will turn but right now we are dealing with some low enrollment numbers. Um also I had mentioned to the committee we had not um tracked participation in extracurricular
activities historically. That is something that Mr. Demar will be monitoring moving forward. So that's something I'll be able to share with the committee as well um come the end of the school year and possibly over the course of the year as well just to just as just to check in
updating everyone on the uh Squan Cookook and Spalding Memorial School drop offs, the elementary start start times and length of the school day for the 2025 2026 school year. Uh this will involve not necessarily a calendar change but it does change the start and
end times which are part of the school calendar. Um we have worked on this with DBUS. We've been working with DBUS since the spring. Um and what we've been able to do is basically set up a 15minute window from student arrival to student start time at all three of our
elementary schools. The difference is is that both Squan Cookook and Spalding um we have the students arriving at 8:50 and a planned start time for 9:05 a.m. in both buildings where Varnenbrook is slightly different with a student
arrival time at 8:45 and a start time at 9:00. Um dismissal times would be 3:10 for Squan Cookook and Spalding and 3:05 for Varnen Brook. So Varnenbrook is remaining the same. This will be added to the school calendar provided it is
approved by the committee tonight. Um so it is not something that you have to remember. It should be again if it's approved it will be published ASAP and will be made available to the public and it will be a part of the school district calendar for 2526.
Couple other issues I just wanted to update everyone on. We are looking at pursuing some career and technical education um initiatives. Um, I have met with Monty Tech. I met with them back on July 7th and I attended a meeting with the Department of Ed back on August 4th
and I actually had the Department of Ed come to visit NM back in the spring and we are going to look to pursue some of the grant money that's available. There's $und00 million that's available at the state level and they are looking to possibly award schools anywhere from
15 to $35 million um for comprehensive high schools. looking to add um career and tech programs, but a lot of this is going to be based on the program type, the demand um in the area, what do the weight list look like, and then the
regional needs. So, our next steps will be to survey families in the district, collaborate with our member career tech schools, both Monty and Ashoba Tech, but more Monty because they do have a fairly large weight list and that's what they're basing this money off of. and
also coordinate and do some work with Mass Hire. The grant timeline is that we do have to submit a letter of intent to apply for the grant by September 15th and all applications are due on October 31st and awards will be announced on
December 1st. This is a three-year um grant and it's something that will end on June 30th, 2028. So it is something again based on the weight lists that exist at Monty Tech um we may be in a position to potentially add some programs and assist with those weight
list not just to benefit students in the North Middle Sex Regional School District but also some of our communities uh out in the periphery as well would have the potential opportunity to come to the school district as well. And lastly uh just two important trainings the administration
has gone through. Um we had John Gilfoil and Associates provide us with a special education um training for administrators that there were two full day trainings for us. Um and that was done with members of the Air Shirley team as well.
Um that was done on July 30th and 31st. The sessions were interactive and covered a broad range of special education topics and other issues that offer really immediate practical value. And then on Thursday of this week, we are having a specialist come in for from
AI for education to offer training to our administrative team on an overview of artificial intelligence discussing myths and the historical evolution hands-on experience looking at using chat GPT notebook LM napkin AI along
with some guided activities prompt engineering and then ethical considerations that we have to look at for our staff and students around academic integrity. and responsible use and things of that nature. So looking forward to that training um
and really staying current with that because I do think that for students to be competitive, we do have to look at AI as something that is likely going to be here for a long time and we have to make sure that not only we as administrators understand it, but our staff are prepared to work with students and our
students are prepared to know how to properly use it. And so we're going to do the very best we can to educate them on that. I can take any questions if you have them at this time. I have a question. Oh, R. I'm gonna go with my question first. Randy, go ahead.
Um, mine was about the the letter of intent and what do you need from the school committee to fill out the paperwork or things like that? What do you need? Anything from us? So, um, the meeting was Wednesday of
last week. So, we are still gathering information on how to best go about this. Um, I have already reached out um to our local community colleges to see if there's anything that they can potentially help out with and I'll be reaching out to Mass Hire on the
workforce investment for board as well as well as the NHoba um commerce. So, I'm going to be looking at those. But first and foremost um in talking to Monty and also Nishoba the first thing that we need to do is put together a survey to our families and they
recommend doing that survey for essentially our sixth, 7th, 8th and 9th grade students. Uh so it's not something that they recommend for all students um or even current um high school students beyond grade nine because this is something that's going to take a couple
years to get up and running. So we they really recommend surveying just based on best practice from um from career and teched on looking at the future students of the high school and again how to best um offer programs that they would be
interested in because again there's certainly a need and having worked in that area for a number of years um I can use advanced manufacturing as a good example um there is a significant need in that area but getting students to
actually go into it is is really a challenge. So we have to make sure that that that the need also matches on some level the student interest or else we won't be able to fill the programs. So September 15th just getting back to
that we will look um to apply for the letter of intent and make sure that we're hitting hitting the timelines. We'll keep school committee um you know certainly informed along the way. This is something that um was shared with me several months ago from
Sen uh by Senator Cronin really and a push to expand seats and expand offerings uh that many students are being closed off to right now up in our area. All right, Randy. Um I'll continue along with those uh
questions. um with these programs um are these programs that we're going to be fully in charge of. Is there any help with getting curriculum? Uh being that we haven't uh worked with these programs before and the tech schools Monti and
Nishoba both have uh many many years of tried um programs and curriculums. Um is there going to be help there? um is there going to be any connection to those schools or is it really just uh working with them that we're going to take some off of their weight list
weight list? So there's really two ways to go about it. The first way would be putting the programs in ourselves and the second way would be establishing an MVP academy and an MVP academy basically would work directly under the vocational schools.
That is not something um that Monty Tech is interested in right now because they started one a few years ago. Um with districts that feed into Monty Tech that have lengthy weight lists. Two of those being Naraganset and Gardener. Um and
they're not looking to expand that program at this point in time. So we would likely be looking to do it on our own, but on our own would come with um a significant amount of support from the state. uh but also from Monty Tech in my
meetings with them, they would very much like to be involved. Um and even though uh it's not something that they would be directly overseeing, they're very willing to help out and they're very interested in making sure that the students that aren't getting into Monty
Tech uh for whatever reason it may be have the opportunity to pursue a career in tech area. So the support would be there both from the state and also from Monty. And it's not that Nishoba is not willing to assist, but Nishoba does not
have the weight list right now that Monty does. So really, our push is going to be that that Monty and Ashb is the only community that that feeds into Monty Tech. But in addition to that, there are several communities that feed into Monty Tech in our immediate area
that have weight lists and students are not getting in. So again, there's that potential to pull students from other districts as well. Okay. Um, at what point will something be put together where the school committee will understand what um what
fee, you know, how much it's going to cost basically the district to get this program up and running and how much it's going to cost to run versus how much we're getting from the state uh to get approval from us because um you know, talking in the air sounds like a fantastic program. I'd love to bring
some of that into the district. Uh but we, you know, are in the middle of budget crisis after budget crisis after budget crisis. We closed a school last year and if this program is going to get uh take a few years to get off the ground if we go down this road and we
actually approve it, are we going to have the space? Because a decision uh to have uh students in Ashbine needs to be made. If we're going to need the space, we have to figure out something on how to use the building until it's ready. How is all that going to work?
Right. So, u I am in communication with Jesse around um what the what the guard rails are around Ashb um being that we have to make a decision within the next year um and plan to work with Desi on
whether it's Ashb whether it's Swanook Spalding or perhaps another location within the school district. Is the MSBA willing to give us time in order to develop programs provided that whatever we do in any of those buildings that's
going to be used to educate students. What Monty Tech is recommending and again this is just coming from Monty Tech is that is that we start small um and as long as we run less than five programs we do not need a career in tech director. Once you go over five, you
have to have a director um by the by the CMR at the state level. Uh they're recommending that we look first and foremost at classroombased programs. Um marketing, engineering, business, things of those sort to see if
there's a need there. Because if there is a need, legal studies would be another one. Um to and again, if there is a need, we have the classroom space. um in staying away from things such as carpentry or advanced manufacturing
which would be extremely expensive to open because of the equipment that would need to be purchased. So both the state is looking at that um also Monty Tech is recommending that and that's something again that we would look at through sending out a survey and working with
Mass Hire to see what are the actual needs and what are the costs going to look like. Uh, one question that I did ask and I I I did get the answer because I was struggling to get the answer at first was that if students tuition in to
this program, it is not school choice, they would have to pay the tuition in amount which would be in in the range of 20 to $23,000 per student. So it would be the district um that the student is coming from that would be paying for that much like they would be at at one
of the vocational schools because the goal is to increase seats. So obviously if money like that is coming in for every student that comes in from outside the district that is something that will help support the programs as well. Um but as far as the grant from my
understanding right now the grant is meant to cover the teacher and equipment. It is not necessarily meant to um redesign a building um or to um to cover significant construction. The
grant is to literally implement programs and be ready to implement programs. So the goal would be initially to look at things such as classroom based career areas and potentially some agricultural programs at some point as well.
If we um end up not having Ashb as a viable option when we go to do this, do we actually have enough room in the district? Um or is the declining enrollment where you plan on um putting some of these programs? The the goal would be to use one the
goal would be to use an existing building in the district, whether it be Ashby, Spalding, Squanakook, something along those lines and and and Desi is aware of that. Um, that's one of the things that actually makes North Middle Sex attractive right now that is that we
do have space, but the problem is is that are we are our weight lists significant enough to warrant it compared to other schools that have um significant weight lists, but they again some of those schools may some of those
districts may not have the space that we have. So, in this case, having the space is something that could potentially be helpful to the district because we could utilize it not just for our students, but for other students as well. Um, just talking about enrollment real
quick. Um, Nancy, you'd probably be able to answer this uh faster than Brad. Sorry, no offense to you, Brad. Um, we had stopped school choice a number of years ago. What's the lowest grade that we still have school choice students in? And is that part of our problem with the
declining enrollments? I mean, I could look at that. We haven't had school choice in the younger grades for quite a few years now. I would say three or four. So, I'm guessing like grade five estimate. I don't know if anyone else has it open or I'm just wondering if the the decline in
enrollment um I know you said you were going to do a study. I'd be looking to see how much school choice um is playing into that homeschooling, charter, and choicing out. um because I'm not sure yeah versus uh just a lower um overall uh decline in
the entire district. And I'll let somebody else ask questions. Anyone else? Kenan or Jackie, I see your hand up. So I think you were answering this, Brad, but um it sounds like students would not be able to choose. They'd have
to pick a track essentially, right? If they're in a different physical building. I was thinking if they're all at NM, some students could choose to do like some of the marketing and or business classes in addition to their regular program of studies. So right now if it
is an expansion the students would have to pick a track because part of that track would be having access to the co-op program where basically junior and hopefully all of senior year is out in
that area in the workforce. So it's something where essentially it's a career in tech school and Massachusetts model is very different from other states. Uh there are some states where students take academics in the morning and then they go to the career and tech center like district
like Virginia and Florida do and they go in the afternoon where in Massachusetts it's it's it's very uh regimented in that students are week on week off. So they spend a week in their career tech program and then a week in academics and they alternate back and forth. It's
usually freshman and juniors together, sophomores and seniors together. So there's always students in the class regardless of whether or not co-op is running. Got it. Perfect. Thank you. And then back to the school start time and end time, can you just remind us what the
current times are for those schools? Sure. So um just going back to that um the essentially Varnbrook right now remain the same. Student arrival at 8:45, start time at 9. Squan Cookook and
Spalding bumped by 5 minutes. So instead of arrive arriving at 8:50 and starting at 9:00, they're starting at 8:50 and starting at 9:05. And that was something um again in working with DBUS that they felt was they felt that
five minutes extra was necessary as well as that 15minute window to get students to and from because the buses depending upon where they're coming from. There are some that will let off at at Squanook first and then go to Spalding. There are others that will let off at Spalding first and then go to
Squanakook. that 15minute window is going to be necessary for those buses um to get students to and from both buildings. Got it. Thank you. You're welcome. Randy, along the same lines with the start times, I know there was a number of
questions from the community on how it's going to work if you have children at both schools. How is pickup uh going to work? Um because those lines, if I remember correctly from way back when, and I know there's a lot more people picking up now, um it could take you 20 minutes to get through the line. Um they
are huge and if you have to pick if you happen to be at the back of one line and you still have to get to the other school, how does that going to work? So that's something that honestly we're going to have to wait and see to see how that plays out. We do have to look at the busing situation first uh to to make
sure that the buses are going to get to and from the schools on time. So, we're not totally sure how that's going to work out. Parent drop off and pickup changes often uh fairly regularly. And we do have a number of students again
postcoid that are still um being driven. But we do the priority just because we have to get the buses to and from school on time. that that has been the priority and we will do our very best with parent um drop off and pickup as well, but that's something that we haven't done it
before. So, we're going to have to wait to see how it plays out. Um we're hoping uh there has been a modification at Spalding um with regard to dismissal and that the Jersey barriers um have been removed along 119. So, the buses are
going to be able to get out and exit that way. It's it's an exit only for buses. So, the hope is, and this is something that DBUS requested and we worked with the police department on as well as um as well as the town highway department, is that we're going to be
able to get the buses in and out quickly and hopefully have a positive impact on traffic because we'll be pulling those buses away from um student drop off as well and hopefully eliminating some of the log jam, especially at Spalding um that can be created down at that what's
what's really a difficult intersection. um when people are trying to pull off on that V area back out onto 119, but we'll work on that with the principles as far as again the parent drop off in pickup goes.
Anyone else? Randy, Oops, you're on mute. I'm trying to give other people a chance. So, I was if anybody else would like to speak, please do. Um, so two other things. Uh, first I'll touch upon real quick the AI training that you have for staff. Um, is there any way the
school committee members can also go in there because we do not have a policy on AI. It'd be really good to um kind of see what's being suggested to be used um how it's being used so we can formulate um what we want for the district for AI
and the direction of that. I I I think that would be perfectly fine. We just have to be cautious with um a quorum. Um I believe there are Yeah, I I will double check, but I believe that there are exceptions for trainings and things like that
um as far as uh the quorum, but I can certainly check on that. Um and my other question goes back to the END. Um Nancy, I've heard, you know, I know October 31st we have to submit all of the information to the DEES for
uh certifying the END. um and I've over just the last couple of months it's been December or January or February. Um is there any way to push them for an earlier um certification um for that because with the amount of END
that we're putting on we are going to be well over the 5% range. Uh I know Towns and and Pepperrell are still having uh budget issues and it would be really nice if we can sit here and at least discuss whether we want to uh commit some of that END uh to go back to the
towns um and lower their assessments. So we can ask uh to you know fast forward the certification process. Um what you'll run into I think is if if our certification happens
um November uh the tax rates for the towns have to be set by the end of I believe by the end of December. So you have a really short window to do any kind of votes and have the towns accept it and vote it and then set
a tax rate. So I think it might be not impossible but a bit challenging to try to get it before December 31st. Um because the the reason we're we're often pushed off the ENDS or certifications pushed off is because of the tax rate setting process for all the towns. So
they try to get through all those and then they pick they start working on the END certifications for regional schools. So, um, we should definitely, uh, talk with the towns and see about, uh, timing and if it, um, what kind of benefit it could be to them to lower their assessments. My
guess is even after the tax rate gets set, if we can give them money back and then they can use it for next year, um, it's going to help their budgets regardless. But I I'd want to talk to the towns and and see about that.
Yeah. Yeah. And I think we have a meeting coming up in September, early September for the towns for the budget for FY26. Maybe it's something that could be talked about at that point. Okay. Sorry. Thank you. And that should be all. Sure.
All right. Any more questions? I think I had a question, but I got distracted by something that Nancy said. So, um, all right. I I will share this report with the committee too so you have it. Okay. Thank you, Brad. Mhm.
Moving on to new business. It's the roles and responsibilities recommended new titles. Um that is your area, Superintendent Morgan. Yes. Thank you. So
basically we have a couple positions that I would like approval from the committee on to essentially change um change the titles because the actual job descriptions really need to be adjusted as well. So that alone is reason for a
change. Um and the two positions are um looking at the assistant principal/athletic director at the high school and making that um the athletic director or um excuse me, director of athletics, extracurriculars, testing
administration and afterchool supervisor. Um Mr. Demar um for all intents and purposes is doing that now. Um he has been um overseeing all um test administration in the building whether
it be AP, MCCAST, SATs. Um he has been overseeing the athletics and he has been the on-site supervisor in the afternoon and evenings um when he is on duty. The one thing that he was
not um really overseeing were the extracurriculars. that was something that was just kind of being overseen by um each of the individual um stipended positions. So by having Mr. Demar take
that on as well um again as he began to do last year, we'll be able to get better data, better oversight and supervision of those programs. Um similar to what's happening with athletics to make sure that again the proper supervision is there. Um this was
something that um that was put forward by principal Smith. I'll let Principal Smith um join in and add anything she would like to add as to the rationale behind again moving from assistant principal athletic director that.5 to more of um an extracurricular and
after school type position which is what u Mr. Demar is really doing. Mr. Morgan kind of said it all, but the position over the year has evolved. Um, you know, and having an assistant principal, a full-time assistant principal going into the new school year who's assuming a lot of the assistant
principal roles. Um, we really need someone and Mr. Demar fills that from the midm morning to the a late evening. um and the extracurricular and everything else that he does just adds that and it just the position kind of is involved into this and taking the assistant principal title off and adding
the extracurriculars really does make sense for the safety and security and just like the overhaul of looking at everything and making sure we have data and making sure we have someone that's specifically looking at those aspects. Thank you, Miss Smith. Thank you. And I
I did just want to add to that. Um I I really think that a key piece of this above and beyond the extracurricular is that we really have been lacking in the afterchool um contact person and supervision. And by after school, I it's not like the administration leaves and
goes home. But there is a certain point in time where the principal leaves and the assistant principal leave. And we haven't really had anyone up until this past year be in charge if there's an issue, if if something happens. Um, Mr. Demar does have to work a different
schedule um than Miss Smith and the new assistant principal because if he didn't, he would be working um hours that just could not be worked by an individual um by starting every day at, you know, 6:15 and not getting out until, you know, in some cases 9 9:30 at
night. So he he is someone that comes in many days um prior to lunch, you know, at 10:00 in the morning. There are days, you know, in test administration days when he comes in first thing in the morning. Um but he really does have more of a flexible schedule, but he does provide that supervision in the
afternoon as well. And that's something that we desperately need for safety. So, I'm asking the committee to approve the what's essentially a name change. Um, the athletic director for as long as I can remember, since I've been in the
district anyway, has been working these hours um regardless. So, it's it's tough to be an assistant principal and not, you know, be there for the start of every single day. Uh Randy,
my questions are a little bit more logistical. Um I understand the um the role changes and the responsibilities and I don't have any problems with that. Uh so my first question is
is is the new job description actually developed because the ones that are in the packet look like they're the old ones. So, I don't have anything in front of me other than what you're saying is what they're going to look like. Um, they they should have been shared
because um Amarie Okay. I have no open up. It said position description is assistant director, special education evaluation team leader, grades 5 to 8, gateway out of district coordinator. Um, and
um and then the assistant principal, administrator is what's in the packet. Okay, those again should have been shared because they have been developed. So, I'm not I'm not quite sure if they they could potentially be in a different
location that I'm not aware of, but I I I looked at them before they were shared. Okay. Um Lisa, am I missing or are there in a different spot that I'm looking? Uh let me Okay. Well, people are looking for that.
um the assistant principal uh/athletic uh administrator switching that to um the let me just get that here um to the director of athletics testing administration and after school super supervisor we already have a job
description for a director of athletics I believe um because that was in the position before um does it need do we need to have another title. Can some of these just be
added to that job description and go forward from there? I'm just wondering why we need a full description. You can make changes and alterations to the responsibilities as long as they're not, you know, huge overalls without the permission of the school committee. Um,
you know, different responsibilities are something that changes on on, you know, small basis. Don't know how that how those would compare. No, I mean I think we would be willing to to do whatever the school committee wishes. All we were trying to do was get
the title to match the description u because primarily because things like testing administration doesn't doesn't really go with um athletic director um and even the afterchool supervision piece. It may
not be an athlete um that is in need. Okay. I I can I can maybe see that. And then the other um for the special education um we there already is a special education you're going to an special education
coordinator. What was John Judge's uh position? So uh John Judge was the assistant director of special education. We still position but aside um in addition to that we had um another position that was the
evaluation team leader, the ETL. Uh, and I will let Erin, who's on on the call as well, explain why we're requesting to change that to the special education coordinator because the person this particular person does more than lead
team meetings. Um, and there's there's a good amount of um focus on other areas. So, I'll let um Erin and just so everyone's aware, the rationale is in my report that I'll be sharing um with the committee after this meeting. But Erin, I don't know if you want to add um
additional reasons as to why the name should be changed. Yes, thank you, Superintendent Morgan. I'm Erin Upton. I'm the director of special education. Um and some of the reasons for the name change are what Superintendent Morgan had referred to as
the responsibilities have changed, the the role has changed. So in this particular case, we were looking to make the title match the actual responsibilities in and of the job that description that was already created. So
across the state when um when you think of the role of an evaluation team leader or an ETL, they typically focus on overseeing special education eligibility meetings, running IEP meetings, making sure we're in compliance with IDA and
the Massachusetts regulations. Um here though the role um evolved um and what currently exists as a job description includes additional responsibilities that have um broader leadership um
expectations. There are tasks like coaching and evaluation of staff, overseeing the district's special education programs and supporting the teachers in those and the related service providers and working closely with families. Um, so the duties of
evaluating staff um are are really more in line with the special education administrator license um which and is required for anyone who supervising, evaluating or directing special education program services um or staff
across schools. Um so we feel as though the change in the job title is actually matching the existing job description. Um, we made some very minor adjustments to the job description and I apologize that you don't have the correct one accessible to you. Um, but it it
definitely would allow for um this to create more clarity and reflect the role and the work that's being done and bring us in line with the state norms. Thank you. I checked the folder and the packet and
it has the older ones in them. So, it doesn't again I'm not I'm not sure how that happened. Um it was my understanding that they were that they were moved into the folder. Um yeah, I I don't know. So, I'm sorry to interrupt you, Brad. I don't know if
there was some confusion with um with the documents. So, I do have one which I just put into the folder. Um, and I'm working on getting the other. So, the director of athletics, testing, admin, and after school supervisor of
job description that has been placed in the in the share drive. Uh, Randy, if you want to look at it, I'm working on getting the other one. And if we have to wait on it, we we have to wait on it um until the next meeting. That's yeah I I I appreciate you working on
that right now Robin but there's not enough time to pay attention to the meeting and go through uh and look at the differences between them. We can move it to the next meeting and now you know the description from both of um from Brad and Aaron on what they
are and so then people can further investigate. I would just want to ask does the committee feel as though there's any need for Miss Smith and Miss Upton to be at the next meeting um once the job descriptions are shared and the rationale will be shared with all of you as part of my report.
I would say probably not or something comes up when we review the the work we can request uh it at that time before the meeting. Sounds good. Thank you. All right, Patrick McFillips, you had a question or you're good. I can just hold the next time. I'm good for move on.
Okay. All right. Moving on. Next item, if it's okay with the committee, could we move the handbooks forward to allow the other um to allow Lori and Kate
to and um Chantel to leave early if that's okay. Everyone on the committee. Okay, that's fine with me. Yep, that's fine with me. Yep, that's good. Okay, great. All right. So, so as we do every year, uh the
handbook is reviewed. Um and this year the handbook committee was made up of a of a building leader at each level. Uh principal Smith, Principal Gaja, and Principal Olmstead, and they reviewed uh
the handbook. also um and Cromwell gap uh prek collaborated as well to make sure any necessary recommendations were made and they again made some recommendations to things that they felt were lacking in the handbook. It has been shared with legal and you should
have in front of you a copy of all the highlighted changes and we do have the three principles here to field any questions that you may have. questions. Ken, hello. So, I have um in reviewing this,
I just have uh three things. Um the first thing on the handbook on page five, we still have Jill Twig there. We're going to need to update that um with Jackie White. Um on this is regarding the senior privileges. Uh so, page 17 of the handbook. Um I think this
one's from Miss Smith. Um I see you just taking a second to get there. Um but um my only question with that was specifically regarding the attendance requirements for the uh uh for seniors heading off campus during
their lunch block. Um the language uh in there seems to suggest that uh the attendance requirements uh are I believe three uh three tardies and three absences. Um I'm sorry I don't have it
up right now. um for the whole year as opposed to the current term. I don't know if that was just a me misunderstanding the language thing, but I just wanted clarification on that. Sure. Um so it says it says during the prior or current term. So um what it we
took this language from the other school districts. Um I I didn't come up with this. I took it from them. Um so we talked about the reasoning why there is that the three it's either three tardies or three absences, no more than that. And it does when it says it does say
during the prior or the current term. So we're starting this in November. So we're going to do it quarter. We're starting with quarter one because we didn't get to know that give the juniors last year the information that they're going to be have this privilege this year. So um that's why we're starting it after quarter one. But it's during that current term that they need to get
approval um before they can even be considered for this. Does that does that answer your question? Yes. Um and for the attendance requirements uh I perm we're referring to quarters here. Yes.
Okay. Um so then great that uh negates my other thing with that. Um my other question was I guess more general. Um I don't know who exactly to target this to. Um on page 29 section 8 um regarding
uh an empowered digital use form says all students and faculty must agree and sign our empowered digital use form prior to students and staff uh members being granted independent access to digital resources in district networks. Um I just wanted some
background on that. Like why is this coming around? Is this just like legal CYA stuff? Um what's that about? That is actually the same thing that we've been using in the past, the acceptable use policy. We've just
modified um the title's different. It's empowered use, but it falls under the same um or holds the same expectations that we've had for years for students and staff to be able to access the internet and our technology system freely. It's nothing new.
Okay. Um, I just asked because when going through and reading it, um, it's specifically it's referencing agreeing to and signing to some sort of thing. And as somebody who just graduated, um, I never signed anything to use the internet. So, if this was something that
just wasn't being enforced before, um, um, I know that they sign it at the elementary level and oftent times that carries through. So they um you don't might not necessarily have to sign it again every year.
All right. Um I it's kind of interesting. An elementary schooler can sign something, but I Well, they have their parents with them. The parents the parents. That's okay. That's that's fair. Um so I think that's that's all I have there.
Yep. Uh if I can just go in Kenan just so you know that is policy JND uh- E1 is the actual form without uh the ending the E1. It's the the policy that we have for that and they've been in
force since uh 2015 um in 2016 I believe. Thank you Randy Alexander. Oh, I was just going to say I'm pretty sure I've signed one of those for my daughter every year. Uh the the
authorization using internet. So, um I think I think parents, as far as I recall, you know, it seemed big packet of things they have to sign every year uh that I get from the school. Yeah. Yes. It it's generally signed it's generally
signed by the parents or by the caregivers. It's not something that is signed by the students. Jackie White. So, I'm forgetting already what are the going back to the absences and tardies. Um, what is the current threshold? Three
three tardies just sounds really low, especially for a kid. I have a kiddo who has like orthodontist appointments and doctor's appointments and things like that. So, that that was just for the senior privileges that we're we're proposing for this year. That's not for the
attendance policy in regards to um doctor's appointments and that type of thing. This is just if they're going to be eligible to be participate in the senior privilege to be able to leave during their 30 minutes of lunch and then come back. Got it. Okay.
All right. Um Randy or Kim, which one? Kim, I'm gonna go. Okay. Kim, thanks. So, just point of clarification for way up in the beginning. I was scrolling to to follow what Kenan um was
asking about, but the um the yellow highlight that says that a student must be in for the full day in order to participate in the extracurricular, whereas it that looks like a change from the half day. Um, and just thinking
about things that are scheduled for an advance for kids, specialized appointments or things like that that might take them out for a bit of the day because now it's saying that if they're even out for a bit of the day for a legitimate absence, they wouldn't be able to participate. Can you just can do you mind telling me
what page you're on? Just I just have to go back to it. We should we should have gone page by page to see if we had questions rather than trying to scroll back and forth here. Um, it is early in the handbook. Um, I think it's
under number four. It's on page 10, I think. Yeah, thank you. Um, under right under number four on page 10. So, um that was added to this year based
on um students who think that so for it used to students who can't have to be for the full to participate. If you have a doctor's appointment, you have a doctor's note or any of the things that are part of our attendance policy and you have legitimatities, that does not count against this. Those are legitimate
things that you're you leave to go with the doctor's appointment because you can only get a certain time of day and you come back, then that's not going to be a problem. These are students that are coming in late and think, "Oh, well, my parent called me in that I can be late, but that doesn't that doesn't allow you to participate. You have to be here for the full day. It has to be a legitimate
doctor's note or one of those um things cited in the attendance policy." Okay. It just where the attendance policy was cited there, but then it was a new addition, it it does seem to create a little bit of conflict. Um
but as as long as everybody's clear on that um that was one you just a question that I have. Yeah. Can we were just clarifying it because we've been doing it we've been have this for years and that we just wanted to make sure that the wording would kind of fell into place.
Okay. Thanks Mandy. Um looking uh just senior privilege since it was brought up already. Um, is 30 minutes really enough time for students to, and Kenan, you may be the
best person here to to answer this question, to leave the school, if they're going to go get food, eat the food because they're not allowed to bring food back into the school. Um, is that really enough time for anybody to do that or is this more intended for to
allow students to just go outside and spend a half an hour on the lawn? So, um it there is plenty of time um in regards and they could do any of those things that you just mentioned. This is um trying to think outside the box in
regards to seniors don't have a lot of privileges except for they get to eat in the annex or outside and over the few years I've had a few students come to me asking if we they could possibly do something like other schools do. Um so that's when we started looking into it. We are in a unique situation here at
North Middle Sex because we have all these places across the street that is quite you know Hannifford and all these fast food and different things like that. Um sometimes it's just for kids that they want to sit outside because they want a break from else and some kids might just go and sit in the gazebo
or might go sit in their car. So the 30 minutes um I I we we are going to try it out and see but I do think that 30 minutes might be enough time. Well piling it. We'll see what happens. Um, and Randy, I I would concur with that um as well. During my experience, 30
minutes is plenty enough time. I'm a little bit biased. I could um the high school is 5 minute walk um down the road from my house. Um but I think the idea of this is more to just give people a little bit more or give seniors a little bit more freedom to get out of the
building. Um I am Yeah, I'm not I'm not opposed to doing that. I think it's a good idea. Um, I just when I mentioned it to my daughter, she was just like, "They're never going to be able to get an order and get back and actually have to eat it before they get into the building." Um, just another opinion, but try it out.
See what happens. I'm sure they will let you know if it's not enough time. Um, you're correct. They will let us know. Right. One other big change I saw at the high school is that no backpacks at the high school like at the middle school.
Um, how is that going to work? because uh I had three kids. Well, I guess two kids went fully all four years through the high through the new high school and one only had two years in the high in the high school. Um and the complaint
always was that they and two of them were athletes. Um that they could never get to their locker in the three minutes it took time to get from one class to the next. Nobody used their lockers because there wasn't enough time. Some kids were late getting to class because
they had to go across the whole building just to walk and get through the crowds. So, how is no backpacks going to work? I I'm I'm envisioning, you know, kids carrying like, you know, five notebooks um and uh and things like that.
So, um, the reason why we're going to wear no backpacks, it one just, you know, consistency with the middle school, but also it's for safety and security with our class sizes, um, at 30, you know, and sometimes plus, and our students are larger because they're are kid adults. Um, all the backpacks in
the room and the amount of kids in there and the desk and chairs, it's very difficult for, um, staff members to be able to walk around and interact and help students and see what they're doing on their Chromebooks. And so the staff have brought it forward in the last year and we kind of looked at that um to
counter some of those things is um to utilize lockers which we have never used the lockers here in the eight years that we've been open um the first year we gave lockers out and no one used them. We maybe have had a handful that have asked for them over the years. So um staff members have worked diligently at
the end of the school year and and us and them school during the summer and we've opened all the lockers to make sure that they will open for them. And um we have also put in place um a increase in passing time. So it used to be three minutes between passing to go, it is now going to be five minutes. Um
and that is so after each class if someone chooses to they can go to their locker. Um we're hoping that with the increase in passing time, one that they can use the locker, two they can use the bathrooms, and three um part of high school it's not just a social piece. And
a lot of times kids don't have classes with their friends. in in the last couple years, um if you come here between classes, you'd see a group of kids that would be in the commons trying to talk to their friends and then they'd scatter off and then sometimes they might be a few seconds late. So, we're hoping that this is going to counter all
that so that way they would spend more time in their class during their class time and not ask for passes to go different things. Um and we're we did, you know, approach it with students and let them know ahead of time. And there was a couple of uh students that had, you know, had we're were kind of gripes about it, but when we started talking to
them and explaining why, we had some great feedback for students about how to give the lockers out. So, we're going to do it by grade level. And the theory, the hope is that they're going to have the same locker for four years. And we did it by pods with their grade level so they can see their friends at the same time. So, that um was extra suggestion
by the students that we were listening to. Okay. I'm glad you were um addressing the time piece because that was that was the big worry because I know chronically it was we don't have time uh my kids would carry wouldn't bring coats to school because they didn't have time to put it in their locker in the morning.
Um so just wanted to make sure about that. Um and I'm and just questioning um the teacher detention is new. I'm assuming that this is just trying to create a smaller level before going to uh the administration to
try and nip some things in the bud. We've always had teacher detentions at the high school. Um teachers give them out, they'd have them stay after to school. They not necessarily talk call them a teacher detention, but they would say please stay after school for five minutes or whatever. So now that we're just putting it in the handbook to notice that there is a teacher detention
that it could be that um the teachers might do. It's just an option for for teachers. And you're right. It's another level that they could do that before it gets to the admin level. Okay. And just the one last thing I have is more logistical on page 44.
Let me go down so I can get the exact language. Uh looking at too far. Okay. Um it was the drop off. Um, and where is it? Uh, oh, sorry, 45, not 44.
45 in the yellow. Students in grades K to four must have a parent or guardian present during drop off. Uh, parents, caregivers in K and two to four must complete a waiver releasing an M. I know this is has always been for the bus drop
off. Can we clarify bus drop off at the end of the day because drop off a lot of parents drop off in the morning to the school and um it that could be problematic, you know, especially if a friend or you know,
someone just drops them off and they go up the stairs. Is that a problem? Uh when I read this, it was just wanting if we can just talk about bus drop off. Yeah, we can add that language in there for sure. And that's it. Great.
All right. Um, Kenan, I can uh defer to Jackie for a second and let her go. Okay, Jackie. Will teachers be giving a little bit of a grace period as we ease into the school year? Things that are forgotten in the locker they need to run back and
grab. As we do with every year, we we get there's a grace period for for students for a variety of reasons and and the lockers and and stuff will be just added to that list. Okay, thank you. And uh Miss Smith, I would just be
curious um to see if you know at the whether it be midway through the year as we go into semester 2 or if we um even at the end of the year um if we can have you know some student feedback on the program. Um obviously I have no stakes
in it anymore. Personally for me, um it's hard for me to envision how this is going to work out. Um you know, I can I can see some potential friction happening. Um but we've handled change grace or we've had a lot of change in the last four years at the high school
level. So um and I think the student body has handled it gracefully. Um but I would be curious um you know in 3 4 months um down the road if we could get some uh whether it be written uh student feedback or if we have some students come in front of the committee and just um tell us about how um they've
experienced the change. Ken, what change are you talking about for like going into the next year for the backpacks, the lack of backpacks and going to a locker system? Like just an update on it, Lori. just yeah just just to just to hear how it
is. Yeah, none not a problem at all. That's fine. Okay, thanks. And I want to add on to that if we get some kind of update on how it works with the seniors having their privileges too, you know, just a little, you know, update. I'm sure.
Absolutely. So, just to see if it works. I mean, we have to test it out. Let's see. That's right. Yep. That's fine. Um, anyone else have any questions? I would like to thank Chantel, Lori, and
Kate for doing the handbook. I know that sometimes it is a tedious task and can take a lot of time. So, thank you for putting it together for the district um or updating the parts that needed to be updated. So, I appreciate that or and I
think as a committee, we appreciate that as well. All right. Any more questions before we take a motion to approve the handbook? May I have a motion? I will move to approve the North Middle Sex Regional School District handbook as
presented. Second. I second. Okay, we got Randy and Alexander. All right. Any more discussion on the handbook? All right. Jackie White,
yes. Keenan Prince, yes. Randy Ralph, yes. Kim Craraven, yes. Patrick McFillips, yes. Lisa Bloom, yes.
Alexander Budi, yes. and like I ban hoodies, right? Okay. Ban hoodies. All right. And Lisa Martin. Yes. So, thank you guys for approval. All right. Moving on.
Uh the district treasurer, Nancy Haynes. Uh yes. Uh we we every year at the organizational meeting um re approve the district treasurer position, but what we've been um sort of dropped off is uh
sometime uh to consider a uh any kind of a change in salary to approve the salary for the district treasurer. Um the district treasur is a school committee appointed um position and um has been in that role for many years. Um I you know
sort of just to split my mind about it but um he had really hasn't had a cola change in salary anything. I just wanted to bring it to the committee to see if they wanted to consider making any change for FY26. Um he's a a very part-time person. um
has a stipend of uh 12, uh669 and um again that's been the same rate for the past at least four or five years I believe. So I didn't know if there was any interest in um I did ask uh Robin to
include that consideration for what the salary change or what the salary should be set at for the next uh organizational meeting. So it'll be in there going forward. we don't won't miss it that way. So in the um in the agenda here, we just
have a blank item like uh 126692 blank number. Are you just asking us to consider whether we want to change the salary at a f future meeting or change the salary right now? I mean either way I it's really your call. It's your uh it's not up to me. I
you know we did budget an increase uh the budget number uh for FY26 is uh just for your info and and uh is 13,936 which that would be if the entire
increase was given to the treasurer it would be a 10% but $1,267 increase. Again, it's up to the committee if you want to defer it. That's fine. And no, it's not a rush or anything. If there's
if you want to consider it, what was that number? Sorry, the 10% increase. The 10% is 13936 and he has and we have not raised the salary for this person for four to five years. Correct.
All right. Any Jackie, wait. How many hours does he do? Is it weekly or monthly? Um, it's it I don't know the exact number, but I want to say roughly 5 hours a week or so, I want to say. And I think I have that somewhere. Uh, I could
double check with him. Um, you know, probably 5 to 10 depending on the week. He's handles all of the payroll uh tax payments, any transfers of funds for warrants, uh bond related um issuance, uh keeping
track of the debt service, reporting the cash at the end of the year to debt department of local services. So it it it it fluctuates, but I would maybe on average guess that it's probably 5 hours a week. Randy, um is there like a going rate that's
typical in in district different districts, whether it be an hourly rate or a for the year? I I don't have it's not much and and if we haven't given him a raise in four years. Um we've never had a problem with the treasur. He's always done uh right
by the district and done everything well um and everything that we need. Um but I'm just curious um you know what other districts are are paying. I I did not pull um other districts. I mean some of them have a different structure. So sometimes it's a little
hard to compare apples to apples where we have a district accountant. other districts might not, in which case the treasurer's position might be slightly differently structured different, but I'm I could look at some of the regional schools and see what those rates look like. Jake Mc Phillips,
uh, this is a you did the five hours, let's say 5 to 10, seven hours. Is that 52 weeks a year? That's all year or does he do like teacher like the nine nine and a half months? Uh, no, it's year round. Okay. Uh, Jackie, wait. Are are you able to share his name and
what he does? Like, does he do other part-time work or have other employment? Oops. Nancy, you're on mute, Nancy. Yeah. So, he was appointed Mis Hartnett. He's been the district treasurer for many years. Uh, he also has been the
treasurer. Uh, he works for the town of Graten. Um, and I believe he's scaled back his role there, but he still works for the town of Graten. So, he does this as a part-time position, Jackie. Um, so that or all new members, so you have guidance on this. He is
somebody that the school committee appoints. We appoint the treasurer at our, um, organizational meeting. Is there anything I need to add to that, Randy, about the treasurer? I think. No, really not much. We We appoint him
and he works with Nancy and and does what we need. Yeah. And again, it's not a rush to do this. I just um I just noticed it and wanted to bring it forward ination. Anyone
thoughts? Anyone want to make a motion? It is budgeted, correct, for next year, Nancy? Yes, it's budgeted. Um the budget for next year, I if if you're wanting to assign the whole budget, that's not
necessarily required, but it's uh 13936. 13,936. I will I will make a motion. Um I move that the school committee approve this district treasurer stipen increase from $12,69
to $13,936. I'll second that. And Kim will second that. All right. Any more discussion? All right. Patrick McFillips. Yes. Lisa Bloom.
Yes. Let's see. Alexander Vancou, yes. Kenan Prince, yes. Kim Craraven, yes. Jackie White, yes. Randy Rous.
Yes. And my Lisa Martin. Yes. All right. Thank you everyone. Moving on. Um, so this is a proposal that, um,
Randy and I have talked about bringing in a team building or building or training. She's been working with MASC and she can fill you on what MSA MSC training is looking like. Um, Tony is
somebody that was recommended from Brad. Brad's worked with him a little bit on different things. He was a former superintendent. He now goes around doing team building exercises for different things for districts, um, different
organizations. Um, Brad maybe can give a little more input on Tony. Brad, whoops, you're on mute. You're on mute, Brad. Thank you. sorry that we have to go back to the calendar uh after we talk Mr.
Ben. Um so in in talking with the school committee I know that there was a request for some team building work. So, I reached out um to other superintendents and other um people that
again that I work with on some of the collaboratives. And when I put the word out for who would be a good person, um Tony Bent's name was uh given to me by Chris Scott, who is the executive director of the Valley Collaborative. Um
he's been working with the Valley Collaborative since the name change um several years ago. um and has been working with the board of directors there which I serve on. Um much of that work happened prior to my um arrival. Um
it happened so in essence prior to 2018, but he did extensive work with the Valley Collaborative Board of Directors, the administration in really writing that ship um because there were there were several issues um that needed to be addressed. So Tony Ben's name was given
to me. Tony is a former superintendent graten dunstable. I believe he also has worked as a school committee member. Um has worked with unions. So um I don't have any direct personal experience in working with Tony outside of some presentations he did during the new
superintendent's induction program, but he came very very highly recommended by the executive director at the Valley Collaborative, Chris Scott. So and then I'm going to add on to that. I reached out to Tony and talked to him.
He does not come without a price. So, he does give a session for three hours. It's a half a day session um for $1,500. He covers the roles and responsibilities um strengthening relationships
within the committee and the district leadership deepening the understanding of school committee work with the governance accountability and collaboration. Randy and I did talk about having MASC do the roles and responsibilities
part of it and then having him possibly fill in the three hours with the strengthening of relationships and the understanding of the school committee work. Um he also offers before you go into the big session of 3 hours, he offers many
pre sessions individually. Um a 30 minute zoom with each individual committee member. Um and those come at a price of $75 to $100 each. And these are a way for the icebreaker so he gets to know you and the concerns that you have
um and how you want to work with within the team. So any discussion? Do people want to go forward with this? Jackie White,
obviously the new person here, but I think any opportunity to have some like outside help in setting cultural norms and figuring out how to work together, it sounds like really great investment.
Oh, and I'm going to add one more thing is when Randy and I had spoke about this, we talked about how we would make it like a potluck dinner before and then all of us sit around, eat some food and then go into it. Tony would not charge for the potluck dinner. He would only do
the 3 hours after just to make it clear to the public that we are not paying for his dinner here necessarily or his time. All right, Randy, I was just going to say um at this point in time with such a young
school committee um I think we can use all the training we really can get. Uh MASC will be coming in for roles and responsibilities. I also am talking to them about coming in for other um trainings as we need. I'm hoping to have them in here three or four times. Uh but
I think a little bit of team building um along with going over what our roles are and how we're supposed to be working together and uh how to work the most efficiently together is going to be extremely beneficial. Um as we don't have a lot of institutional knowledge that's being handed down with Lisa and
I, the only ones with over two years of experience. Um so I I would highly recommend and um very much advocate for this training. And I'm going to second what Randy has said on that. I would advocate for it
too because then everyone comes into the training and can learn exactly what what is going on and some team building for all of you to get to know each other just a little bit. Um
and we do there is an MSC conference that is beneficial to everyone. Um, we have money aotted to the school committee for that training and it's great training. If anyone wants
to participate in that, um, you'll be getting pamphlets in the mail and you'll see those. I don't know. Lisa, have you Lisa Bloom, have you gone to the Cape for the training? No, I haven't.
Okay. Lisa, it's not really training. It's a conference. So you're conference. Yeah. Yeah. Conference is a little bit different than training. It's uh there's a lot of different um sessions that you can go to on different areas of um
school committee um duties and work and things that people are working on. Everything from um you know you can take the chart in the course uh there. They do offer that at the end of it. Um, but you'll have an LGBTQ
um and incorporating that in in um lots of different subjects that can be quite invigorating um as far as working on the committee and bringing stuff back to the district. If anybody does have the time, if not this year, then I would definitely say look at next year um or the next couple years uh taking a trip
down there. Um it really is worthwhile to go. you you can um network with other school committee uh members uh from other districts. You can um you know they have vendors there, you know, see if there's any ideas to bring back to the district. There's just so much going
on there. It's definitely worthwhile. Yeah. And like Randy said, they do offer the charting the course at the end of it. So, it is a good time to get charting the course and as a new member. Any more questions or concerns?
All right. Uh Randy, the propos or the MASC um training session for roles and responsibilities, are we looking for September 30th for that? Correct. September 30th is when they're going to be coming in. Um they were looking at
our um um school committee um calendar and that was one of the work sessions that we had. Uh, so that would be a Tuesday at six o'clock. Um, and I believe they said that they can either do it in person or on Zoom, whichever we
prefer. I know we were trying for our work sessions in in person. I think we could aim for an inperson. I don't think I think it will be in person. The roles and responsibilities. And if anybody is interested um with
MASC, we our field director, her name is Alicia Melon. um you should feel free to reach out to her for any questions that you have. Um if we can't answer them or just want to talk to MASC about them, go on their website. You her email is
there, phone number. Um or I can try and put you in touch if you're having difficulties, but she is a resource for the district. Um Patrick McFillips. So that's uh end of fiscal year for the government. So I don't know if I'll be able to attend that. That's typically
like our our busiest night of the year um at work. September 30. Yeah. I may be able to call in from work for some of it, but that's typically like not a not a good day for us.
That's okay. That's good to know. Thank you, Patrick. Anyone else? Does somebody want to make a motion to bring Tony in for the team building? I will move that we vote to bring uh Tony Bent into the district uh for the
proposed uh training that he has offered. I second. That is Randy and Lisa Bloom. Any more discussion? Keenan France.
Yes. Alexander Benudi. Yes. Patrick McFillips. Abstain. All right. Lisa Bloom. Yes. Kim Craraven.
Yes. Randy Rous. Yes. Jackie White. Did I get you? No, you did not get me. And yes. All right. And myself. Yes. Going around the screen trying to You guys keep
moving. And so All right. Moving on. School start times discussion. This is um something that Kim Kim Craraven requested that we discuss. Okay. Brad, can I just go back to um just to have
the district calendar um Okay. updated again. And so I'm just asking the committee to um essentially approve the modification to the district calendar. The the school start times are now part of the district calendar. So
the modified start times, start and end times for Squanakook and Spalding have been adjusted by 5 minutes. They've been shared with the association as well um and worked out with debus. So I just need a committee to to approve that change. Again, it's not a calendar
change, but it's part of the calendar. All right. Do we want to move that up from old business right now and make the change? And it's it it's number three on the um on the um
Hang on. Sorry. It's number three under new business. It's right after the district treasurer. Okay. All right. I I pulled up a wrong sorry wrong. I got a wrong agenda. All right, let's
do the calendar before we go to the start time. Sorry, Kim. Any other discussions on the calendar? Was there any updates to the calendar? It's just the start times. That's it. Start times. Okay. Um I
yeah, Lisa, I I like to see it on the agenda. Not that I don't want to vote this in, but um I have an agenda up at the bottom. It says update posted on August 12th at 10:30 a.m. And number three
under new business is the handbook. Is Brad on it? Do you have that? Yeah, I don't I don't have that on the agenda. Um, I I feel like we should still be able to vote on this. I think we didn't reasonably anticipate it, so I
feel like it should be um acceptable to vote on it, and I'm comfortable making a motion if that's okay. The agenda I'm working off of is the agenda that's that's posted with the Zoom meeting. Yeah, Brad, it could be there were multiple agendas posted because there
were so many changes um with errors that were in documents submitted in the packet. So, okay. Um I'm sorry. You could be working off of No. That's okay. And if if if I may, um
Madam Chair, that the superintendent wants to discuss school start times. He's seeing it on an agenda that he has and we do have school start time discussion on this agenda. So I could see where that would be confusing that
even if he saw one agenda with it on number three and this agenda has it on number five, he might not have known that it was an agenda item that I had asked for as opposed to the agenda item that he had asked for. So I think there could have
been a level of confusion or conflict that we both had the need for the school start time discussion but for different reasons. It and just just to be honest, I'm not sure and Randy would know this better than I. This isn't really a calendar
change. Um it's it's not changing the calendar. So I'm not even sure this is something that needs to be voted on. Um, it is a school start time change, but it's not technically a calendar change. We added these items to the calendar
just to make it more user friendly for families as well as snow as well as snow day protocols and things like that. Those are all part of the district calendar. Now, so Madam Chair, it would seem like that
is under day-to-day operations. that would not require our approval. That's how I understand that as well. I'm going to defer to Randy since she is Yeah.
Um Yeah, I would um Well, I'm a minute. I'm just going to mute while the phone answers. Okay. So, while she's muted, I just want to clarify it's something that the superintendent would be able to send out to parents. It could be posted somewhere
different for convenience of families. It's on the it's on the calendar now, so they don't have to go look for it. That does not seem like and I mean we did the school committee did approve the MOA that went with this
for the teachers. Correct. That was our duty to do the MOA. Correct. I I'm not sure if that was a part of the MOA or not. Yeah. The I'm sorry.
No, go ahead, Randy. I was just going to say is um school start times are something for the school committee. They are in the handbook. So, uh that is part of how we approve them. Um and if these
were correct in the handbook, then they're already approved as far as the uh the start times. I think just adding them to the calendar, you're not changing the calendar. I don't think it's something that we need to put in as a change. Okay, great. Thank you.
I am all set then. Um, did we have an amendment to the calendar for the snow dates, Brad, that you talked about um that dates that you could not bring? Oh, we have we have I have a request on the school committee calendar.
Yes. Yes. Okay. Oh, see that's where I'm getting confused because I can't see the SC on the calendar. Sorry. That's okay. multiple multiple calendars on the agenda. Okay, I got it.
All right, now we're going back to school start time discussion. Uh, thank you for adding this to the agenda for me. Um, okay. For those that have been on the school committee since May, you might recall that there was a teacher that had sent
in some information regarding school start times and in discussing it further with some other folks um there was mentioned that um before her passing that Sue Robbins uh looked into this as well. I don't have all the background on
this, but what I wanted to uh bring up was the differences in the school start times within the area um and that we are the earliest start time and there is a lot of research even in my um my
professional work around sleep and sleep studies and I didn't know if we could entertain um having a working group put together with a school committ person um some teachers, parents and staff um and and even some students to discuss the
start time and for perspective um at the time that I got the information back in May the start time for North Middle Sex was 7:12 and Broen Dunable was 7:27 um
was 7:35 Lemonster 7:30 and then um Littleton was 8:20 and there's uh Lunberg was 8:00. So there's some variations and then at that time school of sports starting at 4 p.m. so
that there might not be an impact. I'm not asking us for us to debate the merits of earlier or later the same start times, but given the um amount of research that's out there and the attention on this topic, if the
committee would entertain a group getting together to do some more research and um either giving suggestions that we should stay the same, make a change or what have you. whatever comes out of that working group discussion.
Patrick McFillips. I mean, yeah, I'd be I'd be comfortable with some sort of working group. Um, I'd be really curious on student parent input on that because I think that at the end of the day would be the priority if it's something they're interested in and and if we can get the union to agree to it, I don't know why we we shouldn't
look into it. Anyone else? Uh, Jackie White, uh, ditto, exactly what Patrick said. And I think Kim is, um, thanks for providing the start times for the other districts around us because I think that's really interesting, especially
looking at Littleton and Lunenburgg. I had no idea. Um, so I'm all for putting a group of us together to work through this. Um, Alexander Vancoui. Yeah, I'm actually I am all for this as well. Um, I will point out that Lunenburgg the um the high school is
also the middle school. So middle school and high school start at 8 in Lunenburgg. So it's kind of like not an apples to apples comparison. But on the whole, yeah, I'm I'm totally for this. like um it's at least worth uh looking
into. Um teenagers tend to sleep later and uh you know the teenagers tend to sleep later than adults. So I I get it. Yeah. Um now with you know you might you definitely need parent input and at the end of the day you know might we might
not be able to make huge changes but yeah I'm absolutely full of the Thank you. Um, Randy, a little bit of history is the school start times uh that Susan Robbins was looking into and had a subcommittee uh
looking into had she actually had people come into the district uh to do presentations on it. It was at the time when there was a lot of sleep studies going on especially with the high school and driving. Um the um the push at that time was to look at probably switching
the elementary school with the high school start times and having the elementary school start earlier. Uh we unfortunately with the busing situation uh we can't condense down to two levels um because of uh the number of buses and
the cost to the district. Um and so a lot of districts um at that time were looking and some of them did go ahead and switch and make the high school starting um on their third tier versus uh their first tier. There were other things that were uh being thrown around
as possibilities as well, but I know we definitely had I think it was the uh director of the sleep um center at Children's Hospital come in and do a presentation. I'd have to look back at what her name was. So, there was a lot of work and I can see if we still have anything on the drive uh to kind of aid
in um at least some background information and what we've already looked at and uh and where information for resources are. I am definitely in favor of doing this. As far as the school committee, this would be something that um we would need to probably want to create the subcommittee
with a scope and a purpose uh for a one year and we can define you know um where members are going to be from. Community is just fine. and then uh approve the subcommittee to have this go forward. So great. Um thank you for uh your
willingness, Randy, to go ahead and and pull some of that past information. Um and I do want to make sure that we go into it with you know just open mind of what is the here and now. Um even given some of the history there. Um so so
given that um I I don't know that it needs a formal motion. Um, but I'm happy to create the backend work to present it to the school committee next time for a formal vote. I just did not want to go through all that
effort um to create like a scope to present to the committee if there was not interest, but it does seem like there's interest. I would think that that would be great, Kim, if you want to do the scope and we can bring it back to another meeting um for approval and then we can address we
can um assign the committee for that as well. Perfect. I will have that um it to Robin in enough time to send it out with the agenda for our next meeting. And I see superintendent might have his hand up. I
I just wanted to add that there is a significant amount of information on the drive. Um as as um Randy had stated um around start times um much of it is um Susan Robbins's work. Um there are some
presentations on there as well. So all of that still um is on the district Google Drive. Given I wasn't here at that time, does anyone recall was there a subcommittee that had it formed or was it just um
something that she was researching? There was a formal um subcommittee. Okay, thank you. Moving on. Um the committee meeting and posting requirements um the propose of
uh process and timeline. We need to set um some expectations with this um as we begin meetings and some norms around this. Um it's scheduling getting the materials in to um Robin at a certain
time. You know, everyone for our own review to get them in and things like that. Making sure that we're checking the calendar to see who's all scheduled if we have multiple meetings going on in the week. things like that. Um, so I just want to bring this forward for a
little discussion on what people want to establish for the norms. Um, Robin may have some input on how long it takes her to process things. So, anyone have any input in how things should be set for
the agenda? We do have the 48 hour rule that we do have to post agendas and have information out there, but some of the our meetings can be large and have um a certain number of materials with them. So, we'd like to give time for
all of the administration actually to gather those things or if we have to gather them and get them to Robin and Robin has to publish them and we want her to have to we want her to be able to publish them once and be done. I know that there are always exceptions that
things will trickle in late, but we would like to avoid those because it makes us it makes it easier for everyone if everything is in and everything is flowing correctly. All right. Any discussion? Kim, I seem to be remembering that we were
talking that in order for the PDF to be compiled. Um, we were looking at a week out if I remember correctly for getting the information to to Robin to compile. Um it and in my mind it also goes a
little further than just the compiling of the agenda and it's the process that we use to request information as well that needs protocols and parameters around it.
Um so that we are are not stepping in the way of other requests or timely requests or things that are going on. um that we should not be putting um
undue work on staff um requests from staff that maybe aren't from the meeting. So, if we're doing a committee meeting, um our regular committee subcommittees, um that we have a process for requesting the information that we might need for a
meeting as well as what we might have to be presenting to Robin to create the agendas. And I I don't know if that was in your line when you were thinking committee meeting poster requirements. I was thinking our regular committee and our subcommittee really need a process.
Yes. Um along those lines too because we do need to establish more norms and with everyone being new and not knowing what the process is necessarily, we need to make sure everyone understands this process.
Is is it something that you're asking for direct feedback now on what our thoughts should be for more of the process or would you like us to reflect on you know past documents and make suggestions that way? Like what is what is the best forum
for this? Could I could I jump in real quick? Yes, Patrick. This sounds like something great and easy for the operations subcommittee to take a look at and work with Robin on to to work on those processes and procedures if that's
something that would interest the committee. Um Patrick and Randy Randy you flipped over on the other side of my screen. Um
the Look at Oops. Randy, go ahead. Oh, okay. Um, you had just froze. You froze. I'm not sure if you froze for everybody or just me, but I didn't hear anything that you said there. Yeah, I thought it was me, too. You
froze for everybody, Lisa. I froze for everyone. Okay. Yeah, nothing. Okay, I'll try not to freeze again. Go, Randy. Okay. Um, I was just going to say, um,
that we definitely need a backup. Um, uh, although we, you know, Robin is appointed as a secretary and it is in her, uh, job description, uh, that she is the secretary and does this work for
the committee, gets paid for it. Uh but we do need to have a backup uh for when she's out on vacation, when she's out sick. Um we just we definitely need to have uh a more robust system for how to do this. Um I would certainly want to take a look
at what the process that uh Robin goes through. I'm not sure if uh we can simplify that uh because uh needing you know needing you know a lot of you know a couple of days just to get a document together to post seems a little
excessive. Um I know in the past I used to work with uh Joan um Landers to post and it was a fairly simple process back then. We didn't have the links back then um and not everything was online. So, I know times have changed. Um, but a second set of eyes to see if we can
simplify the process so that we can get something quickly. It will use Robin's time uh more efficiently. It will help out um any of the chairs uh to be able to get their meetings posted uh quickly and efficiently. Um and I think uh
having some backups and other people being able to do the process would be helpful for everybody. Um Kenan Yeah. Um, and I I don't want to discount what Robin does whatsoever. Um, I I looking at these agendas and looking at
other school committee agendas, this is far and away more detailed in every aspect than what any other district could possibly hope for. Um, and all the putting together this drive definitely takes um, a very significant amount of time to get all the documents put
together and get it from everybody. Um, but I just want to defer back to what Patrick said. I think this is something great to toss to a subcommittee efficiency or operations. Um, and I yeah, I think that'd be the best move going forward. Robin,
so I just wanted to give a little feedback before you um before you all start meeting. uh you know it it in reality when um when work is coming in you know I it a week sounds great but
when when you think of a week that's really five work days so when I get an agenda there is a process and you know I think there's always room for improvement and um what I'm I'm hoping for in how I view things here in the
district is um I try to set everyone up around me for success whether that is a custodian um you know when I'm leaving for the night and they haven't come around yet I put the barrels outside of my office um so they don't have to unlock the office come in you know so I
I think it's important you know especially you know when we're reducing staff year after year that um that we're efficient and we're setting each other up for success. So um you know in and we all know this with the school committee um in the work that we do that things
are going to come up um as they they do daily. Um but we have lots of subcommittees and we have the school committee. I also support you know um the superintendent office the assistant superintendent office um and then all senior leadership. So whether it's
principles or I'm answering the phone. So there are lots of moving parts. Um, and I I think it's it's reasonable to look at the process and and how things are being done. I pride myself on being efficient. Um, however, if um, you know,
I I don't it's not setting me up for success if I'm if I'm getting things um, with less than 24 hours to post. Um, or you know, there have been times where things come in at 10:30 at night and I'm asked to post um, before 8:00 the next
morning. Um so yeah, I think it would be a great idea and I would really appreciate it. Um you know, school committee is a volunteer position and uh you all have your own um careers and your your family. So um you know, anything we can do to make your lives
easier and and me supporting you um you know, in my life easier and making sure that the information that we have out to our our constituents and the community is accurate. Um, and so, you know, I feel as though we have enough time to plan and put these things together, then
we're putting our best foot forward. And, um, you know, I'm able to put my best work forward. When we're scrambling and doing things last minute, it can, you know, it opens us up for mistakes. Um, so I I I encourage this. I'm excited about looking at the process and seeing
what we can do to um to improve it. So, thank you for taking the time to do it. Yeah. Thank you, Robin. Um, Tim or you took your hand up. Um, uh, Patrick.
So, it's it's 8 o'clock and we have a a lot of stuff to go still. I I'd like to move that we move this topic to the the operation subcommittee to allow them to work on a solution for a future meeting. We we will move that to that.
Second. Well, we don't need a vote. I'm just going to move it down to them if that's okay. Is every I don't think we need a formal vote, right? We'll just assign. Yes, I agree. No, no vote. Okay,
thanks everyone. Moving on. Moving on to the school committee calendar. No, there is a few changes. Brad, sure. So, I just wanted to recommend um when looking at the school committee
calendar, um currently the joint board's meeting, which is a very important meeting, is scheduled for Tuesday, February 10th, which is fine. Um the potential problem is going to be if that's if there's a snow date making it
the 11th because of the national conference that is occurring at that point in time. So I'm just asking the committee to consider making the joint board's meeting on the 9th with the snow date on the 10th. So making it Monday,
Tuesday as opposed to Tuesday, Wednesday. we I don't see any way we can push it off or delay it um even a week because of school vacation and things of that of that nature. So, it's an
important meeting. I don't recall having to change it because of snow um or because of weather reasons in the past, but I think having the snow date is beneficial and hoping that there's enough time to potentially make this
change. Um where it's at several months away, so I'm asking the school committee to consider it. Any questions? Uh Patrick I just never put my hand down from before. Sorry. Okay, Robin,
do you have your hand up or was that from before? I didn't put my hand on either. Sorry about that. Oh, okay. Sorry. Anyone have any questions or concerns? Anyone want to see none, anyone want to make a motion?
I move to vote the school committee approve the 25 2025 2026 school committee calendar as amended. I second the motion. Okay. So, that is Keenan and Alexander.
Any questions? Any concerns? All right. Um, taking a vote. Randy Ro, sorry. Jackie White, yes. Patrick McFillips, yes. Bloom, yes.
Alexander Vancoui, yes. Kenan Francois, yes. Um, Kim Craraven, yes. Myself, yes. Thank you very much. Moving on to the superintendent's
evaluation, the composite evaluation. So, what the school committee every year or I guess we voted this last year to do it a two-year cycle going forward um is
tasked with creating a evaluation, a composite evaluation. Each individual school committee member needs to create their own evaluation. They're given goals which the school committee helps Brad to set his goals.
He gives us the goals early on and then we evaluate on those goals. Okay. So what is presented here is a summation of all of those evaluations together. And I'm going to read
something about from the MASC about the evaluation document itself. The summation evaluation is a public evaluation of the superintendent. The superintendent only has one evaluator, the committee as a whole, and therefore only one evaluation. The final
evaluation of the superintendent is intended to pro provide feedback that will help the s superintendent know where the committee believes the superintendent has been successful and where improvements may be warranted to serve the district and the
superintendent well. The sumnit sumitative evaluation should provide objective feedback. It should also be limited to the goals and standards agreed upon at the beginning of the cycle and limited to the ch time frame of the cycle.
Now there is several questions in the public about the individual reports. I did reach out to the lawyer and I'm going to or the individual evaluations. I did reach out to the lawyer or our lawyer to make sure that I was releasing
things correctly and in the right manner. So his feedback is if the committee creates a composite evaluation for the superintendent that con composite must be discussed during open session which we're going to discuss it
and is a public record and ultimately becomes part of the superintendent's personnel file. If the individual committee members evaluations are not discussed or and or disclosed during the open session, they
remain confidential and will not be part of the public record. As the committee operates with a composite model, there is no need for the individual committee members to use their individual evaluations at the public evaluation meeting.
So that was the guidance from the lawyer. I wanted to make sure that I shared that with everyone. Um I did share this in an email earlier with the committee when I release the composite which when I release the composite it also was released to the public.
Um any questions Randy? I I understand um that uh we the evaluation is because we work as a board and our votes are
composite. Um our past practice has always been that the um individual um evaluations are public records and can be requested. Uh bec whether we them or not um we as a committee can decide to make
them public documents. Um that is a choice that the school committee can vote on uh to make them. Um and just wanted to put that out there that that uh just because we don't have to doesn't mean that we can't.
Yes. I want to point out because I did go back in what we have done in past practices and um Craig Hansen who was a past um school committee chair had sent out a notification to the committee about saying how it's regular practice
that the individual ratings are not shared um at at the meeting and we only review on the composite. And the reason for this reason only the composite evaluation falls under the
open meeting law disclosure requirement since the other materials are not used in the meeting and we do not post these on the website because the evaluation is so solely based on the composite ratings. So I know that in past practices we have put out our
evaluations. Um but then there has been instances where we have not. Yeah. And I'm not saying that we we have uh you know put them out in the meetings. Um, but we've always operated, at least I've always been told and
operated under the um under the impression that uh they are public records um if requested uh that we would produce them. Thank you. Um and I don't I don't want to go against what uh anything that the
lawyer shared with us because he's our legal counsel. Um is the purpose of this section in the meeting are we do we have any discussion among the members on the super I'm we've all read it um on the superintendent's evaluation. Um
I you know in the efficient in the interest of efficiency it is 806 um and we are substantially behind schedule. Um so if we just want to kickstart the discussion um or if there is no discussion then we can just move on.
All right anyone? Randy um I just have a question about uh why we have departed from the uh style of summitive report that we've done in the past. Um I do know that there this is a legitimate method to use. So I'm not
questioning whether this is legitimate. Um but in past we have always put um members comments from their individual uh uh evaluations as part of the sumitive uh versus just a full summary
and this was not discussed with the committee whether we were changing that format. Um and I'm just wondering uh why that was uh changed uh without a discussion. I I did the summitative report and
I craft crafted it to collect the collective sentiment. I did um talk with Nick about this as well. Um he said you only have to grab the sentiment. The reason that I did not use individual
direct quotes is because um I practiced discretion with that because I wanted to preserve the privacy of the individuals and the confidentiality of some of the feedback.
Um, and I felt that the sentiment was a better way to capture this than opening everyone else up for negative feedback or legal actions possibly if that was a possibility
because and another reason why I was very careful with this doing it this manner is there has been a case where somebody used a wrong word and there has been a lawsuit that has been in the works. And that was something that Nick
had sent out on a or Nick's company had sent out about some legal action that was taken. So I just wanted to be careful. So that was my reasoning. Uh Lisa Bloom.
Um what if we want our individual um evaluations posted and open for public record? That is up to you. Um you can discuss them if you'd like.
So can I request mine to be posted? Um can I take a second? Kim Craraven, thank you. Um, so I have read um some of the documentation about the composite
and I certainly would not want to put the district into a precarious situation by releasing something that is supposed to go into a personnel file. Um, I also, um, do not want for for myself, um, for the
district, for the superintendent, for any of my material that was supposed to be part of a composite um, to be to be part of this because the whole point of the composite um, is to gather information and make sure that it
is compiled in such a way that is informative, instructive, and based on the goals and not on things extraneous to the goals or personal feelings. So I certainly do not want to get caught up in anything
that the district or the school committee might do. Um so it you know might even cause me to not participate in the discussion. Randy, along those lines, talking about uh what actually was put together here, um I do
have uh some concerns. Uh one that I don't feel that my um viewpoints for my uh places for uh improvement um were incorporated in
this. I think this document as a whole uh lacks a lot of details about some of the work good work that um Superintendent Morgan has done um as far as uh let me take a look. I have a
number of things that he had cited that he had done, bringing uh students to different um leadership workshops, uh working with project 211, actually doing uh going to the state house and uh and uh talking at the hearings and uh from
everything from that to um I guess I apologize I don't have them at the tip of my fingers here. um just a lot of the other specifics that kind of support some of the things that he did in the district, they're not in here. Uh so reading this um if I had no idea what
the superintendent had done this year, um I see a lot of platitudes. He did wonderful here and he did se several things here. Um, but there's no specifics to uh solidify and I would really like to see some of those good things that he has done solidified in
his review. Um, because not only is it to look back on, but the community should be able to see that. Um, but also a little bit more specifics on where he can improve. Um, just saying in general that he can improve doesn't help the superintendent understand um, where we
think the specifics are. um on on what there were problems with this year and what he can work on for next year. Um, so I think it's a little too general. Um, and I'd like to see some more specificity put into this. Um, what about like the school committee
members that have stepped down from last year, so they're not even on this meeting to say anything about their evaluations? They're not. That one gets tricky and I asked uh guidance from Nick as well
because they are public. They can make public comments but since this is a voting body and so I'm not Randy I'm not clear on what how that works because usually when we have done evaluations
we've done them a few different ways. We've not had like a set standard on well obviously if they're not on the committee they can't vote. Um yeah I think Lisa Bloom was just talking about um them giving their input as far as the composite um because they did
give input into the composite. Um personally I wouldn't have a problem if somebody wanted to make a comment about this uh because this is supposed to be representative of everybody who put in an evaluation. Um um but I be willing to listen to what other
members um were on that on that point. Lisa, do you still have a question? Um yeah. So if you look under the attorney general's office, um it says that um are the evaluations of
individual members public? And it says yes. If the individual evaluations are used to in the creation of a composite document, they are considered public record and I I believe all the
evaluation should be available to the public. So I am going off the guidance of the lawyer and this was the guidance I was given by the lawyer. I'm just Well, you can look up the attorney
general's law. the Massachusetts attorney general's law. I unless I misheard um it the the lawyer specified that if the individual wants to make their own evaluation public
record they or like bring it into the public they can do so. They have every right to do so. Did I hear that correctly? if they want to use it in open discussion in an open meeting it becomes public record
right so I think Lisa Bloom I think your concern here is if you if you want your evaluation made public um I would just say it like say your feedback on in relation to the composite uh tier um as
this is the time to do so but also So the school committee members that have stepped down from last year aren't here in the meeting. So and they might want theirs public. And I do want to go back and talk about what the composite is. We can add more
to the composite. We can I can go back and look more and add more information into the composite. Um and we can bring it back. But say for instance, everyone wants to bring out their evaluation. That is nine
evaluators for Brad when by law you're required one as a committee, right? The the individuals are not binding. They are part of the working document that went into the composite. the composite is the only one that is a
legal document going into the superintendent's file. I think we're all in agreement with that Kim. Thank you. So I think Randy just rounded out with um you know the most important part is that we are in agreement that
it's one evaluation. The school committee is as a whole. We are not to be seen as individuals during this and the association for school committees is pretty clear um that we are to take all the information and put it into one and
only one goes in as a permanent record. So as long as we are moving to that if each individual has a different thought on it like I said so be it. Um, but I am not um willing to go against legal counsel's advice on that and put myself
or the district in any peril. Anyone else? Am I hearing that more? You want more things added, Randy? Correct. Yeah, I Good. and I can go back and anal analys an analyze it again.
Yes. Basically, what I'm asking to be put in here are the specifics. Um Brad gave a very well-rounded um self assessment on what he accomplished, how he accomplished it. Um those uh those
items should be in his evaluation. Um those are the things that we tell him these you know you told us you did abcde E. We agree that ABCD were absolutely fantastic. You did a wonderful job on those. We want to give you the kudos. We want to give you the recognition that
you did those things. Um, and if there was areas for improvement, we can't just say, "Well, you have to do better with communication." That doesn't tell them anything. if there were specifics that people had for uh areas of improvement like I had areas of improvement with
reaching out to the community as far as closing a building which was in my um my individual one u that's more specific that's a specific type of uh communication that's a specific um area that he can work on just saying communication doesn't give him a lot of
direction on what we're thinking that could be improved and so I do want to point out that This is why we have a discussion in public about it because and we have we can change the document and so that is
feedback that is and I can tell you it's not easy to make a document for nine to 10 people. I would say we we should probably get into working with uh um AI. Um it can comp compose all of this and bring it
into one document really quick and easy these days. my my father-in-law has been working on that where you put in documents and it does a nice summary um as well as a reading with the DEESC they actually suggest that somebody not on the committee does a composite if you're
going to be doing the sumitive um like this where where you're not using specific um people's comments and having used AI some I um you have to be careful in that you get it quoted correctly and there Oh yeah, you
actually absolutely have to review it. Absolutely have to review what AI puts out. But it's a it's a interesting uh way to think about going about this because again even the dees suggests an outside independent person take the
evaluations and um create a summary of those. Yes. So it being late and I know that I will take the document back and create more of a substantial document more in
it. Um is there any suggestions that I can take from the committee right now? I know Randy you want more specifics? Yes. Anyone else? Can I just ask so Legal reviews
the cumulative. Do they do would would they legal legal does not review it? Legal does not review it. The the um cumulative one or the summation one. I just went to legal advice how to
release documents. Now, is is that something we could have them review for accuracy of the board and for for We would have to pay for it, Patrick. But I mean, if that's the step that I'm sure they would do that. I don't know
how other I have not heard of a committee doing that. Randy, have you where they've had a legal team do it? No. several of the things typically I mean legal really is kind of looking at um they're they're they're not going to
they're going to be able to say if something in there is illegal but again I mean the chances are um it it's I mean I had to look at that case that uh that Lisa was referring to but I have not heard of issues um in the past and I
have not heard of anybody using legal to review their documents. doesn't mean we can't, but I'm just saying I have not heard it. And like I did research on several like several chairs. I read the same things like Randy had mentioned about how to
put this document together. I mean, we all have the the document from MASC2 um and their guidelines as well. Patrick, any more questions? Is this something that we as the
members who wrote appraisals can see all of the appraisals to better understand how we came up with this cumulative? I I'm just curious how we got it because I know I wrote paragraphs upon
paragraphs. So like I I I I feel like just based on how I'm leading and how I feel like what what Randy and Lisa are concerned about I'm just not sure how what
I'm also trying to speak very carefully. Um, I guess I'm just not understanding their full concern. Well, I think what they're saying, I'm hearing Randy and Lisa, that more needs
to be added to the document. Um, more like examples of all the things. So, when I I'm just going to ask them, I guess. Do you want more stuff in there or more of
your stuff? Because if if that's what it is that then it's not accumulative anymore. I was looking for both. Um mine being part of it is um there there is very little cited here. Even all of the wonderful things that Brad has done this
year. Um the specifics of what he got accomplished are missing. I mean, I can pull up his um self assessment and probably find 10 examples at least of things that he did that everyone agrees are good and they're not
cited. Yeah. So, that is definitely one concern because I'm looking at this document as a whole. Uh it's not telling anybody any specific it's an evaluation. You're saying what they did well, not that
they're a great person. Yay. great person that does nobody anything good. You got to say why they're a great person, why they did good things, as well as the next steps, which are um places to improve. You have to be specific. You
can't just say go and improve. You have to have specific areas and things that you did. That's a good document. That's a good evaluation if it has those attributes. So, I am going to since it is getting late,
I'm going to ask that we pull this back. I will reanalyze it. Could I ask Kim to help reanalyze it to make sure that all of the things are looking correct for everyone?
Because she has had out of like the four like there's five of us on this that have done the review that are on this call right now. Kim is the newest, but I think she has some
experience in her background giving her government job to understand how to pull things together because she did public relations, public things. She may be the more qualified with this
if that is okay by the committee. May I ask a question? Yes, Jackie. What happens if like like you said there are nine evaluators on this. What happens if people disagree on what's good, what's bad? Like where is the discussion that happens around that
in this meeting is when it it has to be an open discussion on his evaluation. Okay. So we'd have to we'd review the discussion. We'd review what is said in the cumulative So, I just think it would be helpful if you and Kim came back and said, "Here's
where we see some differences. Let's discuss." Right. That would Sorry to give you more work for things, Kim, but and sorry to suggest it. I should have asked if you wanted to take that on
public record now. You said I had my hand up. Um not sure if you saw it. Whoops. Sorry, you're blocked by something on my screen. Sorry. Go ahead, Kim. Um no problem. So my my only ask would be for legal counsel if I have access to
all of the documents and not just your composite as you know as an editor saying like what does this word actually mean or I can interpret this word two different ways or this is a run-on sentence is totally different and is that okay? I would want to make sure that that's totally okay. Um and then I
think when we do that when it becomes more um specific that we have to make sure that there's no um attribution to like a person when we do it. Yeah. Uh Lisa Bloom.
Oh, did you call me? You cut out your your hand. Yes, Lisa. Uh, yeah. Okay. So, the individual um evaluations have always been provided to each school committee member, which I believe they should be so
everybody we can all see each other's. So, I asked Nick about this and those are individual basis ones that report to Brad, not to everyone. There are
individual guidance. So it would be up to the individual if you want to share yours or you know if Jackie did it Eval if she wants to share it with the committee but
everyone has to have their own. Okay. What about the school committee members that have stepped down? I And what if one of the school committee members that stepped down hasn't done one?
Well, Jill Twig was the only school committee member that qualified to do one and she chose not to do one. Okay. So like each of us as a school committee member who are doing these evaluation should be able to read each other so we
know you know Kim Craven. Yeah. So in a composite evaluation the focus should be on a a evaluator or team as we're moving to taking
everything and put it together. It is not the purview of other committee members to dive into what others said. We run on a composite process to have one document that goes into the superintendent's file. This is not a
debate between committee members. So I don't see any relevance to all of us having everybody's document to pour through. We want to do question why you listed one thing and maybe I listed another or maybe we both listed the same
thing and one as a positive and one as a negative. This is not a debate about how we scored, but what the composite score is for the superintendent. Randy, just to kind of go a little bit on what
um Lisa Bloom is saying, and I I understand both sides of the of the argument that's being made here. Um, it's hard to take a look at a composite, especially if you had a view that's not
there and you want and you're wondering, is it because I was one of nine that felt that way and so the average didn't feel that way and so it's not in the composite, which is exactly how it should be. um or was it left out on purpose or
accidentally or um it was missed or something like that. So being able to see each other's um evaluations kind of give you a perspective of how many people felt the same way you did um to understand why it is or is not in the
document. I also understand um that it can be considered uh deliberation um and so after the fact probably is a is a better way um to distribute that um because I guess I was told that uh reading um everyone's um
review is almost like talking to them. So we want to be careful of that getting it beforehand um which that's uh something I had never uh thought about or considered. Um but it does make it a little bit more difficult um when your views are not there to understand whether you're just in the minority or
it's just not it was missed. So and Randy I want to go back to your point because that's where I struggled and I wanted to make sure that we were following this process correctly with the release of documents and who gets what because there's a lot of different
things out there. And even when I talked to Nick about it, he said there are several ways and I said, "Well, what's the legal way of doing this?" And so he's and he said several school committees don't do it correctly.
And so I want to make sure that we're following the process legally correctly. Kenan. Yeah. And I think we've established that if you at the end after that we're going back um and creating a new composite
more detailed composite report and if you still are not satisfied with um that composite report or you don't feel you accurately reflected um you are well within your rights to read your own evaluation into the
public. Um, so I I don't know if we have anything other to say on this topic, but I think we can move on to our next Yeah. All right. Anyone have any questions? All right, moving on.
Jackie White subcommittee appointments. I don't know if you're looking for because I was flipping to the agenda. It got off of my screen. Okay. Jackie White wants or Jackie, can you tell us what committee you would love to be on?
Sure. Um, and just to preface this by saying I want to go where it's most needed, right? So, if there's a spot where we need to have other members step in, definitely let me know. But the policy subcommittee and the school committee operations are the two that
are kind of top of mind for me. All right. Is anybody objecting or Patrick McFillips? Operations is is down a member now with with with Carrie leaving. Um, just with
Jackie's background, I think she'd be a great fit on the operations committee if that's something that would interest her. Love to have her. Yeah. And policy as well is down, right, Randy? All right. So, can would somebody please make the
motion or make a motion to appoint Jackie to those? Whoops, Randy. I will make a motion uh to um appoint Jackie White to the policy and the school committee operations
subcommittees. Second. All right. Uh Randy, yes. Jackie, yes. Patrick, yes. Lisa Bloom, yes.
Alexander, Kenan Prince, yes. Kim Craraven, Kim, she stepped away. We'll just say she abstained. Or no, I don't know. How do you handle
that, Randy? when they step away. Is it an extension or Yeah. Yeah. Basically, it' be um an abstension. Oh, there's Kim. She's back. Kim is a yes. So, sorry you couldn't hear me. Um No, I I'm saying yes, but I'm I'm not.
Oh, okay. Got you. Okay. Um and Liz Martin. Yes. All right. Moving on. I think it is finance is the next one. That is you, Kim. Can Can we just take a like a three minute recess?
Yes. Can I get a motion just to take a threem minute recess? To take a threem minute recess. I second. Okay, that is Patrick and Jackie. Randy, yes. Lisa Bloom,
yes. Alexander Vanity, yes. Keenan Vens. Yes. Patrick, yes. Uh, Jackie White, yes.
And myself, yes. Right. Um, Lisa Bloom and Alexander. Alexander, are you back? Yeah, I'm here. All right. All right. Coming out of recess. Um,
keep me honest. Kim and Randy, do we have to take a formal vote to come back in? Never had a recess, so I don't know. Yeah. Okay. Um, I think you just have to reconfirm the roll call. Okay, I'll reconirm.
All right. Um, I'm going to take a roll call that everyone has returned from recess. Kenan Francois. Yes. Patrick McFillips here. Lisa Bloom here. Alexander Vancoui
here. Craraven here. Randy Roush here. And Jackie White here. And myself. All right. Going on to the subcommittee report. Um Kim,
you have finance. Yes. Thank you so much. Um we've had the opportunity to meet twice and we did meet um on July 17th and August 11th and
a big part of the discussion of each uh was the FY 25 and 26 budget and the superintendent did point out some of the key things that we had discussed um that there was approximately 2.8 8 in the budget that will have a few incumbrance
against it and then we'll need to be certified and one of the topics of discussions moving into FY26 is what some of the assessments will be and what that will mean for us. Um Lisa, I see you have your hand up.
Yeah. Can you speak just a tiny bit louder? It's hard to hear you. Sure. Let me try to turn my sound up a little bit. Thank you. Thank you. Does that help a little? Okay. Thanks.
Um so looking forward to while there was uh some resources left after the year and there is some supplemental um and increases in what will be reimbursed for FY26. We just have to make sure that any
assessments coming in um you that we know where we're at. And along that line, if moving ahead from our July to our August, is a request for September, if possible, if not by October, to take
a look at the hiring pattern and any filled unfilled positions and where people came in at and the effect that that might have on the FY26 budget because obviously if there were some late hires, you know, that gives some relief. Um but we just need to to see
that once everything is set for the new year. So we've asked for that to come forward. Um we had discussed some of the um infrastructure funding and what had come through and I think at some point the superintendent may um you know give us more details on on how that is going
to be um spent the best um strategy for that. But, you know, there was some money that came in outside of the regular budget process for some infrastructure. Um, one of the things that we requested, we've talked about it
a little bit here, is tracking the um expenses and the revenues related to activities. Um, and that goes along with what the superintendent had said too is, you know, the numbers and the involvement over the years of the students. Um
so the other um that we were uh looking at is the community representation for the committee and I had looked at the past um job description that was there and wanted to bring it back to the
committee in its totality is that for the community representation it was just for Ashb and I would like to extend it so that there's representation for the finance committee from each of the communities that they would be non-
voting members that they wouldn't be in any potential executive sessions but that we would afford that opportunity. Um the other thing that we had discussed is uh an input session and um it was mentioned that some of the input sessions on the budget in years past had
been like long days um a couple Saturdays. I wasn't looking at something like that. Just more an opportunity where we could get feedback from community members and engage more in discussion, not just with the community input that we have at the beginning of
each of the meetings. And I have for the um finance subcommittee added community input at the beginning and at the end so that we could hear what folks were saying going into the meeting and then based on our discussion if new questions came up so that community didn't have to
wait till our next meeting they could give some comments there in case there would be something that was on their top of mind that we could collect for the next meeting. So I'd love to hear some feedback on that when I'm done. Um, the other thing that I had asked about was the contracts that might be
coming up that would have budget impacts. Um, wondering, you know, if there were technology contracts, things that might be impacted by, you know, tariffs or increases and the ones that are coming up is the fresh pick contract and there had been school committee
representation the last time that had come about. So, I'd like the the group to be prepared um that there'll be an ask for that um coming up in the next few months here is for someone to participate in that particular um contract review. And then there'll be
one coming up for the Blue Cross Blue Shield. And while there's been some questions about where we um had moved to go into Blue Cross Blue Shield direct and community members wondering if that was indeed the cheapest and that was the
least expensive, but that would have to be renewed and seeing what might um come of that particular uh contract. The debus contract goes through FY27. So we will have to um you know live with
that contract through the next budget cycle. But then when that one comes up for renewal, taking a look at that. Um, that did lead us to some discussions over these meetings about things that we might might want to move from the finance committee to the legislative
committee. And both of those had the budgetary impact related to transportation. and that um during the transportation hearing um when they were asking questions back of those that were presenting
they asked is full funding of transportation the only solution or might there be legislative changes that would alleviate some of the costs on the district schools. So for me that left that there was a little bit of an opening to have that discussion. And then the other part um that has been in
discussion is that many schools are just getting back one bid when the transportation goes out and there's been discussion about how to um make that a more competitive process. Um looking at that. So those are two items that I
would suggest that we bring forward to the legislative committee to see if that committee would like to look at them. So of the two asks and to-dos related to this report is um sort of the the thought and will of the full committee
on the community representation and then the thought and will of the full committee on moving some things over that are impacting finances but are truly under the legislative committee. And now the new um that I didn't have in my report um originally but I do now is
we need another member because we are losing Carrie. Yes. All right. So let's go with the first one is what was your first one Kim? Was the representation.
Yes the representation. Um and just you know thoughts on having someone from each community um be able to come join us, be a liaison out to the communities over and above our our you know our regular work, but
someone that um you wouldn't be a a member of the school committee, but just adding to the conversation around the finance part so you be able to ask more questions and engage in conversation. Um or
or and would you like to have some level of um sort of public input, public hearing where there's more dialogue as we start setting the budget for community at large to ask questions? Any discussion?
Jackie, again, gonna play the new person card for a little bit, but I say why not? I obviously have no idea what the rules are around inviting public comment like that, but I think it's desperately needed and wanted um by so many folks
that are in our towns. Um what did you say at the beginning, Kim, that there was an Ashb representation, but that was the only town? Like, how did we go about getting that person involved? Um, so there was
a job description or a volunteer role um that was established and it was limited to um Ashby only and um that might have worked in the past but as chair I would like to either open it so that each
community has the ability to have someone engaged in discussion actively um rather than just one community and the person will not have a voting role. What Kim is proposing is the person or the the representatives from
each town would not have a voting role on the finance. They would just um put in input and carry with the discussion. And there's ground rules like you know taking things back to Facebook and whatnot like we kind of set the norms
that we want to see them abide by and follow. Well, the the meetings are public, so anything that is said, anyone can take to Facebook, but yeah, we would hope that there's there's not a Facebook discussion about it. Um, but more of a
way to in between meetings actively gather information and have conversations and then come back and have conversations that we can answer questions to someone without it just being a one-way community um comment.
our public um comment sessions are largely just taking in comments and from time to time if it's something you know pointing to a document or a particular number that can be answered um there is time when when there is some feedback but by and large public comment is is
not a discussion or a dialogue Randy yeah I just want to add I I I do think this is um a good thing um we need to find new uh and different ways to get uh community feedback. Um all I will say is
before putting out a request for people to um volunteer for these positions uh that we have it documented very clearly exactly what their role is going to be. um when we had brought on Kathy um we
voted her in and then we're really kind of still discussing whether she could vote, not vote, what she had access to, what she didn't and I really that that caused a lot of problems and delays. Um and if we can just get that set before putting out a request, that's all I ask.
Yeah, I think the suggestion from the um finance committee was they would not have access to emails, things like that. It would they'd be have and not access to executive sessions. They would not be taking part in executive sessions. Just to make that clear to the public. The
executive sessions are held for the committee members and not for the public volunteer. Yeah, I understand about the executive session. Um, but just think about how you're going to get information to them. Uh, I assume they're personal emails that you would email them stuff so they could be prepared to talk about things.
But again, just work out the details beforehand. Patrick McFillips, just to speed up Jackie and some of the other members up who are newer. The reason we only had an Ashb rep last year is because Ashb wasn't represented on
the finance committee um fully. June June wasn't on that committee. So, we had we had atlarge reps but not an ASHB specific rep. Um, I I think that having a representative from all three towns on the finance subcommittee would be
fine. Um, it may be beneficial if they're able to communicate and understand the information and and feed it to people on Facebook. Um, I think a lot of the questions, a lot of the community stuff that comes up is on Facebook. Um, after my first few months, I just stopped responding to things on
Facebook because to my understanding, it was just opening us up to to more issues and and misinformation and just problems. So, I typically respond through email now. Um, I think a great example of somebody and and I don't know her personally, um, Kelly Kelly does a
great job of of of getting information out there. Um, so that's like an example of someone I would hope for um for like a example of how people on this committee could help feed information back to the towns.
So yeah, I'm sorry miss the finance subcommittee meeting. I think it's the first meeting I've missed this year. I'm on vacation this week as well. But um I think it benefits the community to have the members. Raymond, sorry. Yeah.
Uh just with all of the discussion on Facebook, uh we just keep in mind Facebook does not reach the all of the communities, a lot of people don't want to speak up on Facebook. um it can get a lot of information out but in sometimes
what could be very small spheres that sound very loud. Um so I would hope that I think a lot of the the misinformation is on Facebook though. I think a lot of the Oh, I understand that. But if we're looking to reach the community, we have to include uh other ways to get in touch
with people other than just Facebook. That's all. Yes, there's other means of communication that is established through newsletters and different things. And I mean, watching the finance committee meeting, too, is a way that
people stay informed. All right, Kim, you didn't need a formal vote for that. No, I just wanted to get everybody's input. Anybody else have any more input on it? Kenan?
Yeah, I don't know if you saw that um that question from um Chuck Wakovich that came in. Uh but he's just he just asked that Kim or Nancy um provide an overview a brief overview of the final Massachusetts budget on NM. Um I assume he's referring to how the supplemental
is affecting us. So some of that um is still not been communicated. Um and Nancy is still on there. She I don't need to speak for her. um but but not everything has gotten down to her and I don't I don't know Nancy if you want to
um weigh in on that. So we did get some additional money in chapter 70 um and I think there is a it might have been in the finance packet a few two meetings back which we could provide to the full committee. Um and we did get some additional
funding but we also got some increases in our assessments. So we had a little of both. um the charter um and choice assessments were increased but they do end up getting adjusted based on actuals. So I'm kind of on a look and
see basis on that. For right now though uh there isn't a way to increase the or decrease the assessments and increase the revenue because of those offsets. Um so I guess we're just continue to watch that. Um, and I will make sure the
the full committee gets the uh final numbers so I can see that and how it relates to what we voted. Yeah. Um, and you know, the hope for that was that September October time frame that hopefully you have we just
know a little bit more about how that is impacting us and combined with any any offsets from the hiring um or increases Randy, um, is there going to be any consideration of, uh, giving some
assessments back to the towns with the extra money that we're getting in? Again, the towns are hurting right now. Um, and we have a budget that is set. uh if we get extra money um especially in light of all of the END that we're going to have to spend money out of anyway uh
the sooner we can uh consider giving something back I think uh everyone will benefit. Yeah. And and I'm not opposed to that, Randy. I just don't um know what that All right,
Kim. Anything else? Anyone else have any questions? Um the only other what um on this was was anybody wanting to have any type of public hearing. We can talk about those Kim. Okay. Um yeah and I mean it is a potential um we we do
have our big public hearing and sometimes I know Brad has put on um what did you call them? the tours where you went to the places um about the budget things like that where we went to the senior centers and things
they were not well attended. Um, no. Yeah. So, we will we can I think if you pull that back to finance, we can talk to that Kim more and Okay. You know, maybe
Yeah. And maybe the community members that joined may have another avenue that they believe that could help us. Yes. And it could be a multitude of different ways, but I just wanted to get any early input on what folks had. Um then the next one is to just discuss um
shifting to the two transportation related topics over to legislative committee. Yes, I think that Kenan has taken notes and when you schedule your meeting and your agenda, I think you could look at
those Kenan as he's getting prepared. Yeah. Um I have a I do have a lot of information that I've been looking into. Um, I didn't get on the agenda for this meeting. Um, uh, but I hope to have a meeting scheduled within legislative for the
next, um, uh, few weeks or so. Right. Thank you, Ken. Uh Randy, I just want to remind this body that uh although we had uh approved the
legislative uh advocacy subcommittee to be formed, a formal scope and purpose still has not been presented or voted on. Um as the one that I tried putting forward was uh turned down uh to be brought to the full committee. I'm still
waiting to make sure that uh we have an understanding and a vote on the scope and the purpose of that committee is working on that as well. I see his head shaking. All right,
moving on. Um policy Randy or Kim, are you good? Anything else? Yes, I'm good. Unless any further questions of me. All right. Policy Randy.
Hey. Um I I'm sorry. Can I can I just jump in for one second here? Um this this one looks like it's going to be a lot. Uh can I just propose that we pull item four and five forward and do those
first? Um and then do policy last? Um, you can policy generally goes very very quickly. A lot of the times we will take all of these at once for first reading. Um, it usually goes really fast. Keenan. Oh, okay.
You'll see. You'll see here. Go ahead, Randy. So, for people who are new, um, there are no the process for a policy change is it gets brought to the school committee. We vote in what's called a first reading. And that puts the
document um up for review from everyone on the school committee in the school um uh administration and the staff as well as the communities. It'll be up on the website and they will have until usually at least three weeks uh we try um or
till the next meeting before we vote them again as a second reading which would be an adoption at that point in time. Uh generally in the meetings here I will go through quickly. If someone has a question specifically on a policy I can certainly answer it but all of the first readings I would take in one vote.
I would make a motion for that. Um we have a couple of uh policies to resend. That would be a different vote. Um if we did have any for adoption at this time that would be a third vote. Um the majority of these are first reading. Um I will go very quickly through uh these
as far as real quick the changes. So IKF and I KFA graduation requirements and competenc competency determination. These were changed to incorporate the competency uh determination that the state had us do uh with the um MCCAST no
longer being able to be a graduation requirement. Um, EFCD was updated just mainly because of the universal um, meals. Um, and looking at the meal charge, we had a couple of small changes on that. EHA and EHB are brand new
policies that MASC had suggested and we're bringing to you for review. Uh, DKC expense reimbursements. This was simply just clarifying um, where the distance for reimbursement uh, and mileage uh, uh, originates from. policy
adda background checks. This one was adding a um an additional check with the department of child or DCIJS. I forget what all the the um uh department of children and
yeah, children and family. Thank you. Um another check through them uh for uh employees. Um JLCB immunization. Again, this was just clarifying uh a form that is used and language on how to get exemptions. Policy FA facility uh
development goals. This was changed by uh MASC combined. You'll see the two deletions. Those were basically combined into FA creating uh a some changes in a new um policy. So, I will move that the school committee vote for a first
reading for policy IKF, graduation requirements. Policy IKFA competency determination. Policy EFCD meal charge policy. Policy EHAA district security relating to technology. Policy EHB data
and records retention. Policy DKC expense reimbursements. Policy ADDA background checks. Policy JLCB immunization of students. And policy FA facility development goals. I second.
Okay, that was Randy and Lisa. Um, any more discussion? Anyone have any comments on these? And to the new members, you can comment on these. Yep. If you have input, right? As well as over the next couple
of weeks, feel free if you read these and you have comments, send those in. Um that's what this whole period is for is for anybody to give uh feedback and comments on these policies and the public as well. The public as well. Yes.
All right. Seeing no one's hands. Kenan Francois. Yes. Uh Patrick McFillips. I saw your motion. Yes. Yes. Sorry. Andy Rous.
Alexander Vancoui, yes. Jackie White, yes. Lisa Bloom, yes. Craraven, yes. And myself, yes. All right, moving on to your next one.
And then we have two policies that we are looking to rescend. MASC had rescended these policies uh finding them uh either duplicate or um not needed anymore. They combined some of the information into the policy FA which we have for the changes. So, I will move
that we um vote for policy FA- facilities development goals and policy FB-1 facility planning uh to be rescended. I second. All right. Glad and Lisa. Um any
discussion? Keenan? Yes. Uh Patrick McFillips? Yes. Randy Rous? Yes, Alexander Vancoui. Yes, Jackie White. Yes,
Lisa Bloom. Yes, Kim Craraven. Yes. And myself. Yes. Uh the next is the regional agreement. This is something that has been on hold um over the last year with uh everything
that's been going on with AES. Uh this process was started for a lot of the new members here. This process was started probably about three and a half years ago. Now our uh regional agreement is severely out of date. Uh the last uh amendment was in 1994 just simply to
change the school committee um representation back then due to a court order and before that um any of the substance within the agreement was from 1971 or two I think. Um so we definitely were
operating um the majority of the agreement on current laws um just um you know taking a precedent over what was in the regional agreement. We we went about this. We had um community groups get
together. Uh the attorneys um updated a lot of the legal language that we needed in there and the laws. Uh there were a couple areas that we have control over that are not specifically dictated. A couple of the small changes that we made were a rolling average for the October
one enrollments uh in order to do assessments uh for capital projects versus just um the October one um and trying to um take a look at district-wide programs and central office in buildings on how to use
utilize those to uh again for capital uh project or cap capital um uh expenses on how to assess those out to the towns. Um we were also at the time told that we no longer meet one person, one vote. Um
at that time we had uh voted on a uh configuration of um going from what we have now to four members from uh Pil, three from uh Townsend, one from Ashby, and one at large member. Um, I've
recently come across another option that I was not aware of or just did not fully understand at the time that I wanted to bring forward to see if anybody wanted to reconsider the um representations um that we have. So, what I'm uh
proposing I did send out a document on it. Uh there was an um a an error that I had on that document. So, I'm not sure if it got updated in the packet. Um, I am not looking for uh four members from
PEPO, uh, three from Towns, and another two from Pero. That should have been two from Ashby. So, I apologize for that typo. Um, but being that we would have all of those members, basically at large members with town residency requirements.
Um, this way we don't have uh just one at large. Everyone will vote in all the members. We will have to have four from Peril, three from towns, and two from Ashb. Um they'll be split up three, three and three like we have the elections now. And one other option that
we'll have to discuss and see if it's possible with the towns is going to all at large members also allows us to be able to move the elections from the April elections uh for the on the town cycle to the November elections um which
are on the state cycle. Um, thus moving new members not coming in in the middle of budget season. Um, so again, I throw these out there for discussion thought. We don't have to have a vote tonight. Um, you can certainly just have a discussion now and
then think on it and come back uh at the next meeting and decide if we want to uh propose something different to the DEESC. Can I open it up for questions? Okay. Before we move on, I want to say we do not have an Ashb
representative on the call and so I don't know if we hold the discussion until we have somebody representing Ashby. I think we can I think we can certainly start the conversation and just not vote tonight um and fill them in on the
conversations that we had and we'll have more conversations before we vote at another meeting. Okay. Um, Randy, I do have a question. Did this pass through legal? Are we are Yes, I I have been I have been working with legal on this
and this is a an option that is provided by the state that we're allowed to do. Um, I'd have to go back to my email to quote the exact um MGL line that gives us this option. So, I'm I'm going to go first with a
concern that I have about doing an all at large because that would be be meaning that members could vote for everyone across the board. Correct. They can vote for the everyone will vote for all members. So
what could potentially happen is they may not know the Ashb resident and they could write in another candidate or another candidate from Ashby. So Pil and Townsen could do this and knock off
one of their members that really wants to be on the board. That is a concern of mine. The other concern is blind voting, which I call it blind voting is when people go in and they have not researched who to be on the committee. That is a concern of mine. Um,
and I think it actually takes away from Ashb in that you're handing power to Pil and Townsen to decide who technically represents them. So that's my concern about this approach. I don't know what
everyone else has or thinks. Um anyway, uh Kim, uh so when you look at regionalization, there's different policies and practices in general that you can look at for
representation and how representation is done. Um, I'm I'm definitely not in favor um of this from a voting perspective. Quite honestly, I don't want to be taking the time to research
the members from Ashb or Peril as a Townsson voter and then weighing in on my thoughts for their community members. Um, if there's other uh questions coming out about representation and there's a reason why that I'm not understanding, I
think we go on that discussion. Um, but I'm I'm just not in favor of of one community having the the vote power to unseat
somebody that their own community really wants. um that that to me seems more unbalanced than different numbers of members on the committee. So if we are trying to address address representation, I'd like to take a look at um other
models and my question would be how many other regional school districts have all atlarge members versus ones that don't? Um I don't know how many. I do know I spoke with um Blackstone Millville um and they do have the atlarge members um
they actually uh have a population of 75% in one of the towns, 25% in the other towns, but they each have I think it's four members from each town uh voted in at as at large members in that community.
But not all members are at large. Yes, all of them. They have eight members on their committee. um four from Blackstone, four from Millville um all voted as at large members just town residency requirements. Amen.
Thank you for answering that. Yep. I guess I know there's others and there's there's uh different models. I don't know how many others do it that way. Kan, sorry. I um I think I I concur with um you and Kim on this one. Um I don't think this
is necessarily the wisest idea. Um and something that hasn't been brought up yet is say we were to go with this all at large model and then we were to move to the November um cycle. Um you would on paper see an in a vast increase in
turnout um on proper years. So on midterm years and on presidential years. Um but then you have the opar um because these are three-year terms and you're probably going to see a substantial lack of um voter participation there. Um in
addition to when you have national and state candidates on the ballot. Um I people aren't just simply not going to pay attention to the local voter or to the local representative. Um I I think that's a that's proven fact. um at this
point um and having everything on the April cycle whilst it's not ideal that it's in budget season um everyone knows our town election has town officials and we are voting on town people um and just like uh Lisa was saying with all at
large members um I think it does open the door to having disproportion disproportionate power to towns in an ash or I'm sorry towns in Pepwell as the higher population towns um as well as it just makes it far more like difficult to
put in the thought to researching candidates. Um with how busy people are um I most of the time we only have one person in the ballot in one town um and if we have two people on the ballot um it's already hard enough to get enough information on
those people um and adding another three or four names on the same year um just doesn't seem beneficial. Yeah, they would it would be the same uh as right now it only be three members each year. Um and this model does uh allow for
either the April or November. We Yeah, but I hear you on um moving it to the November and worrying about uh it just kind of getting buried with uh with state and federal uh elections there. Randy, have you done any research into
like say they get elected in April, but their term doesn't start until June 30th or something? Um, is there a possibility to do that in our regional agreement? Um, you know, I can ask I can ask. I I've never heard
of that being done. Um, but I can that would be something. It gets Yeah, it gets us past the budget cycle, the June 30th because the state has to put it out. Um, yeah. So, if there's anything out there that has
that or I can research that as well and see if uh Jackie, wait. Whoops, Jackie, you're on mute. Sorry. Um, Randy, can you go over, maybe you mentioned this again, but the
benefit of moving to this structure? Uh the benefit is um basically just trying to get a different um an extra person from Ashb for um representation is one of the benefits. Um the
the population the way that the state uh or the dees has been trying to figure out how to do one person one vote. uh the attorney and I are a little bit at odds with them as far as um what actually meets one person one vote and
they can't give us a solid answer but um basically it came down to 431 um giving more power um on the committee to pilend while keeping Ashb still only at one
member at all possible there's an atlarge member So theoretically they can get a second um that gets you know voted in but we rarely have ever had actually an atlarge member. I'm not sure if we've ever had a nashb rep as an atlarge
member. Um so this kind of gives them those two members to kind of bring them up and have their representation on uh the committee a little bit more. Okay. Thank you. And I also know that we looked at the weighted doing a weighted
vote because some school committees do a weighted vote. Um I also know that at one time we had a proposal to do 13 members on the committee. Um and so it was a discussion in some of those meetings.
All right. Uh Lisa Bloom. Okay. Um just um just want to tell Kanan so when I ran for school committee there were eight candidates I believe or nine um that ran but also like so next year
there'll be three at large seats open. So we could get three Ashby residents that get all three seats. Um, but all three towns were in a regional district and
I don't feel that an atlarge seat should be any different from a regular town seat because we should all represent all three towns the exact same way. So I think it would be important to have
two representatives from uh from Ashb. Thank you. Anyone else have anything? Patrick McIll. Is it possible to move them to November? because I agree that coming in at at the
end of the fiscal cycle is impossible at best. It was it was extremely difficult to get caught up, understand what's happening, especially where it's cuts because out the gate you're brand new to school committee and you're hated. Um so if if there's a way
to to kind of I I agree if we could move it outside of joining as a fiscal year begins and ends that would be great. Uh, I disagree with the 4321 approach as as I understand. Have the
percentages changed enough for Ashby to even have a full vote? Because I know we voted them up to a full vote and they weren't supposed to even have that. Um, and then the final thing is it was with the weighted voting, Randy. Okay. Um, because it was like they got a
point8 of the vote and then we're like, well, it didn't make sense to do a 08. we just go to a complete vote and it was going to be easier to explain to the public instead of having like our budget voted this weighted way. I mean several school committees do a weighted vote.
Yeah, the weighted votes is a little bit more complicated. You're right. Um so um so right now the model that we have that was voted on is a 43 four from Federal, three from Townsend, one from
Ashb, and one at large member is what is uh currently in the original agreement that I'm still going back and forth with deesc to get finalized. Um I can certainly bring back to the next meeting. I will try and do some research and see if anybody, you know, who has November
elections and uh maybe talk to those school committees and see about pros and cons. Um I can uh try and reach out um and see about having a start date after the election uh to get it out of that
cycle and whether that's even possible and then we can discuss uh some of that. But I appreciate the feedback and I will try and bring more information at the next meeting. I I have one follow on question. If this is the time or place to discuss it would be term limits because because like Lisa said, there's
a lot of people that tend to run. Um I just don't know if if term limits I think like six years on and then and then a term off kind of keeps the board fresh and keeps keeps people focused on the schools and less on the politics.
Yeah. And and I would say that a lot of the most stable um school committees um in the Commonwealth have members that have been on for 15 plus years. I was talking with Marboro um chair and their youngest member is on
for 12 years right now. Okay. Um and they have a very uh very effective, very strong uh school committee there. So I think it I think it really just has more to do with the foundation and the
onboarding and the uh procedures that you follow with continuous improvement um that dictate more than trying to be new and and and learn everything again. And you know, also it's up to the towns to elect everybody. And if they feel
somebody's been on for too long, um, or they're too political, then the towns have the right to vote them out. Randy, before we move on, one question. Um, has this been vetted through the towns or have town administrators looked
at this or Not yet. I wanted to see if there was an appetite and what the questions from the school committee were and then I was going to reach out to the towns and see uh how they felt. Okay. All right. Um moving we done with that
discussion? I think we'll move on to the next one. Um it's with the operations and appointing a chairperson for the operations committee. Um the suggested um I am going to suggest that Patrick McFillips be appointed as the
chairperson to the subcommittee for the operations. Um and my feeling is that being a new committee, we need to establish some um other people besides myself and Randy to run chairs be work
with Robin administrators, you know, trying to figure out how to set agendas or information that they can pull from each other. So that's why I'm requesting that uh Patrick McFillips be the chair
of this. Um any input from committee before we take a motion. Jackie, um so I'm just learning how this whole subcommittee thing works too, right? My only perspective on this is just coming
in knowing that Ry's put a significant amount of work and time into kind of thinking this through and getting it off the ground. So, you know, I'm just mindful of that, too. So, that's my only consideration. Thank you, Jackie. Anyone else?
Uh, Lisa Bloom. Uh, yes. I agree with Jackie. Um, I believe Randy should be nominated. Thank you. Anyone else? Kim, thank you. Um,
I would like to see Patrick chair it. Um, I think that there's a lot of opportunity here for Randy as a senior member to be more of a mentor rather than the leader.
And that if we don't start to utilize the opportunities to grow members, um, we are going to be stuck always relying on members that have been around for a longer amount of time. And while I think there's great validity into past
practice and past thoughts, as a member, she would be able to share that information, but having Patrick lead it for me gives a new lens and a new perspective on how to move forward, um, how to get things going. And so I I
would like the opportunity to utilize the the past experiences um in a way to help other members get leadership roles as well. Patrick, uh I just want to say I thought we had a
great first meeting. Um I I do appreciate Ry's passion on this topic and and her knowledge as as being a subcommittee chair and and and chair before. So, I do appreciate um working with her on this. Um so, regardless of how the votes end, I I
plan on continuing to work on this committee with her. Um I think that it would be good to help develop um other candidates and or other committee members and and develop us for for down the road. But, um I'll leave
that up to you guys. Thank you. All right. Anyone else have anything? Yeah. And just I had a quick question and right now policy committee she is chair of policy. Yes.
Yes. Yep. She is chair of policy. Keenan I well I guess I have the opposite question. Uh is Patrick are you currently chairing anything? No. No I am on the finance subcommittee. I've I've not chaired anything.
Okay. Any other questions or concerns? Does someone want to make a motion? I will move that uh the school committee appoint Patrick McFillips as chair of
the school committee operations subcommittee. I would second that. Thank you. We'll second. All right. That was Kenan and Kim. All right, we'll do a vote. Um, Patrick, yes.
Randy, I'm going to upstate. Alex and Alexander. Uh, Kim Craraven, yes. Jackie White, yes.
Uh, Lisa Bloom, no. Kenan Franis. Yes. And myself. Yes. All right. On to the next with the liaison.
Um I'd like to say something, Lisa. Yes. Um I'd like to step down from this committee. Whereas I appreciate wanting to develop leadership, simply putting somebody in a chair position is not the
best way to do that. Um, I have gracefully led from behind, gracefully lent all of my information for many, many years. Um, I do not feel valued. I do not feel
that um that I am appreciated and I I just feel this was a passion of mine and it has been absolutely crushed. The reason why I wanted to chair this particular um committee was for the
actual purpose of it and that is you have to have knowledge of what the school committee and how it runs to know what needs to change to go forward. There was a one-year limit I put on this to try and make some quick change. I'm sure Patrick will do a fabulous job.
It's going to take him time to get up to speed and he's going to take it in the direction that he wants to take it in. Um so basically um you know I have in the for the last three years with the job that I've taken on I have really
experienced a fabulous environment that's supportive that's appreciative that helps develop you um not necessarily with a title. Um and so I'm going to step back from this committee.
I will have my door open for anybody who chooses to come to me, but um I will give you all of my information. I will give you resources, anything I can help you with, but I'm tired of trying to push out the information to everybody
and get shot down and get sidelined. Um so I'm turning the tables. If you need anything from me, I will stay on this committee. I will do my duty. I will try and make it as best as I possibly can, but you're going to have to come to me for that information. Thank you.
May I speak? Is that Randy? I'm I'm sorry you feel that way. I I don't know if this subcommittee succeeds without you. I I genuinely would love to work with you. I would love to work with you as a mentor. I I necessarily don't think that being the chair or not being the
chair is going to have an impact on the changes you want to make. I'm willing to work with you. Like I want to succeed with you. So maybe take the night and think about that. Would that be acceptable? I appreciate it, Patrick. But this the uh school committee has chosen you as
the chair and I cannot be on this committee not being the chair and having that direction. I was gonna more than willing and actually was in my plans to be developing you and Carrie when she was on here or whoever Jackie now that was going to be on here and give you
leadership roles to take this but this was a last straw and I'm I am done right now. I will keep the policy and I will be a good member and I will attend and I will review everything and I will give my opinion
but I can't be on the committee. Sorry you feel that way. Um Kim, thank you, Madam Chair. So I think there's perspective here and this my comments are not about not
appreciating your knowledge or your passion. Um, I can tell you firsthand the committee that I would have wanted to be on was not necessarily finance and certainly not chairing it. Um, I would
have liked to have been on operations or policy, but only so many people can be in so many places. And so when I see a committee member say unless I can have
this role I I don't want to engage um is very unsettling because chairing the committee allows somebody to learn new skills. It is a different process. um there's
things that we have to learn as we go. And if someone doesn't have that opportunity, it doesn't mean that they have a greater voice. It doesn't mean that they have greater knowledge. It doesn't mean that they have all the capacity. What it means is that person is having a different level of
contribution to the committee. And the more that we can learn and grow in different roles and sometimes roles that we don't necessarily want, we are doing that for the good of the order and not the good of ourselves. So, you know, I I would love to be in
policy. I would love to be in operations, but there were other people. And quite honestly, Randy, you had more skills in operation when it comes to school committee. And so when we were setting these, I didn't I didn't ask for that because I felt like your background
was appropriate for that committee. But giving someone the chair does not diminish your contributions or your knowledge. It is giving someone else the active opportunity to lead. And I would
hope that all of us sit back and want to contribute in every way whether it's the exact way that we envisioned or not. And I'm really sorry that you have hurt feelings because I don't think that is the intention of anyone. And I noticed
earlier and we didn't discuss it but you decided to step away from another area where you had wanted that position and you changed you you now have pulled out of that position
as well and so I have to reflect and say is this the same thing because you didn't get the exact appointment that you want you want out of it and I won't go into why and it was it was a decision made at the meeting of who I voted for for school committee chair. But now I'm
seeing in two meetings if if it's not exactly how you want it, you're stepping away. And I think that's really unfortunate for the time, energy, and effort that you've put in your years of school committee. And I think that it's a disservice to our community. And I'm really sorry um that that you feel that
way. I appreciate your comments, Kim. Um and this is a lot more than just the last couple of weeks or months. Um, as far as stepping down from the finance subcommittee, that was a choice that I made to make room for some of the newer
members to join that committee because that's a very important committee. They need the experience on there. as well as I saw it as a uh teaching um opportunity and a chance to see you know a side that I have not seen in a little while always
being on the finance subcommittee and that is to be able to evaluate uh recommendations coming out of the finance subcommittee to be able to make sure that the information coming to the full committee from there is everything that we're supposed to be getting to
show the members that are not on the finance at the moment on how to ask questions and how to evaluate um and and go that way. That is why I stepped down from the finance subcommittee. It was not because it wasn't going my way.
Okay. But you also stepped down as vice chair today. I stepped down as vice chair. It was two in this meeting plus your finance committee won. And again, and I stepped down as the vice chair right now. Madam Chair, I I'm sorry. I don't want to interject here. I think emotions are
high. Um, we're past we're almost going on four hours here. Um, and I' I'd make an I think it's just good to table agenda item five and make an a motion to adjourn for tonight. I second that motion. Okay.
Thank you. We have a motion on the floor to um is it to table to adjourn. All right, it's a motion to adjourn for the night. Um, and it was
Kenan and Alexander. Patrick, yes. Uh, Alexander, yes. Keenan, yes. Lisa Bloom, yes. Jackie White,
yes. Kim Craraven, I would say no. I think this has been an undercurrent of this committee before I got on and at some point it has to be figured out. So personally I'm I'm a no.
Um yes it is uh late but um the democratic process wins. So uh Randy it doesn't really make I'll abstain. We'll join the meeting. I will adjourn as well. Um or yes uh
we'll adjourn. We'll come back to another meeting. All right. Um good night everyone. Thank you. Thank you.