a quick uh quick uh meeting tonight. Uh for please join me in the uh pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. Uh I don't believe we have any members from the public wishing to speak tonight. Do we miss Bravo? We see anybody. >> I don't think we have anyone in the
>> No, we don't. Sorry about that. >> No, thank you. >> You're welcome. >> All right. All right. With that, we will move on toformational items. Dr. Campbell. >> Yes. So, um I want to first thank Martha for joining us. happy to announce that
um most of you know Martha Ducer, a former principal of West Elementary School, who will be now joining us at central office as our new director of human resources. So, super happy to have Martha joining us um in this new role. She's got a lot of work to do. She's
been busy already and she's only been on the job for a very short time, but I just wanted to give Martha an opportunity to to meet uh virtually um members of the committee, members of the public who may be watching from home. So know Martha, if you just want to say
hello. >> Hello. No, no, thank you so much for inviting me um on tonight. So it's a very excited for this new adventure and really looking forward to working with all of you. Congratulations. >> Thank you.
>> Yeah. Welcome, Martha. We're very much looking forward to your uh everything you bring to this role. >> Thank you. >> Any any of our members have any questions or comments from Miss Inducer? >> We're very lucky to have you.
>> I appreciate that. Thank you. I think we joked um when I made the announcement that we had a long list for for Martha already. So um no, but we're we're really excited to have her and she's as I said, she's already been busy um you know, jumping
right in and working with her team, working with with all of us with with Dr. Blaze Dell, Dr. Rogers and myself. I know we have a meeting I think set up for Thursday as well. You may have a meeting as another meeting with Dr. Rogers about some other matters, but um
she's been she's been moving right along already. So happy to have her. >> Excellent. All right. So, I think that was quick and uh painless. These are good to go.
All right. Next up, we've got uh few school committee matters. First was a policy adoption. Uh Dr. Rogers. >> Yep. So, um, while the policy committee didn't have a formal meeting, these are really just some updates, um, specifically regarding Martha's position
and changing some of the wording. Um, adding, um, Dr. Blazell as the assistant superintendent for what's your title now, Adam? Finance and something. >> School operations. Yes. >> Oh, finance and operations. Thank you. Um, and then there was an update to the
law. It was actually updated last year. We didn't get to it. Um, and I might need Adam's help, but it has to do with school fundraising and um, schools having the ability to organize um, raffles. So, I'm happy to go through them one by one. Again, some of them are
are pretty cut and dry and very quick edits. Um, the first one is school choice. So, again, this is a change in mass general law. So, any sibling of a student already enrolled in the district shall see receive priority for admission. Um, the charter schools were already doing this. that was just um
formalized this year. So we added that as number three. Um file EA. Um so again this is just an updated regulation for bus driver examin
examinations. They no longer need to um need no longer need proof of freedom from tuberculosis, but they still need to provide medical certification. So that's just a slight change in the law. And then for GCGB,
um I just deleted as determin as determined by the superintendent of human resources is that position no longer um is in effect. So that decision would be made by either Martha or Adam. um KDB. Um again, I just updated the
language to reflect the director of human resources or the assistant superintendent of finance and operations advertising in the school KHB. So, this is a very small change. Um we didn't feel like it was necessary to burden the school committee with um
advertising with the school, especially with South getting the updated um scoreboard and things like that. those things and those changes happen very quickly. Um so we just revise the policy to indicate the superintendent or their designate which would most likely be Adam um for this particular policy um
with regard to um publications and advertising on school billboards. And then the next batch is again relative to um new state law and regulations regarding organizing raffles or games of chance. So it just updates
the next several policy again on um solicitation in public schools. So JJ um I added a bullet there. Students and student groups are barred from state law and regulations from organizing raffles and games of chance participating in the sales or purchasing tickets of such
games. And Adam, do you I I don't know the history of this one. Do you know a little bit about from your side of the business administration world? This is something that we've been actually operating on really currently to be honest with you. Um, no student group can sponsor a raffle. It has to be
um PTA, a booster, someone that already go that can go to the town clerk and get a raffle permit. So if if someone's creating a doing a raffle, it is really it's sponsored by some it has to be sponsored by some other group. And that's our current practice now as well.
>> Y so we're not saying they can't. It's just they have to follow a formal process in order to get um permission from the town in order to run the raffle. >> Yep. Yep. And it's again it's the PTA or a booster club that's doing it. So it's a nonprofit group that's that's doing it. >> So the 50/50 raffles at football games
are still okay. >> Booster club >> booster club run. Um and that is it for our policy update. >> All right. Thank you Dr. Rogers. Do we have any questions from the committee or discussion?
>> Yeah. >> No. >> Um everything I I think is um feasible. The only one I questioned was the uh the decision making on who can advertise. Why did that sit with the school
committee? And I get it. Um, you know, I as much as I don't want to be burdened with anything, if our responsibility contains that, I don't want to remove it just to make our work light load lighter. You know what I mean? I want to Why did we have authority to say no, you
can't have that advertising prior in some type of policy manner and now we're saying, you know, leave it up to the discretion of just the superintendent when it was a committee decision before. like what's the thinking behind that beyond just making less work for us?
>> Yeah, I mean I honestly think so um the Massachusetts Association of School Super um school superintendent school committees um kind of have these canned policies that come out and I think it was just an oversight. I mean certainly we can leave it the way that it is. It would just take a longer period of time. So if we don't have a meeting coming up
and we have somebody who wants to advertise, it just has to go through that process. Um, so I think the thought behind it was just not um not losing out on on a potential sponsorship or things like that if it has to go in front of school committee. If we keep it as
school committee um you know again it would just they would have to put in a proposal. It would have to go on you know it would have to be posted on electri school board. >> Okay. I see what you're saying. So, if you were to sell 10 banners up at the high school and you wanted to sell them
to 10 local businesses before, you'd have to the school committee would have to say, "Okay, you know, Eddie's car wash and Jimmy's Diner." Yeah, I'm fine with that. I just don't want to abdicate any type of, you know, policy authority
where if some type of advertiser at our discretion shouldn't be in the schools, you know what I mean? Like >> I I think as a committee we'd want to but yeah, if if it's just to expedite approval to get folks to, you know, donate and then turn key get something
produced. But I think um that wouldn't stop us from saying, "Hey, you you have this organization advertising and they represent something that shouldn't be in the schools." >> We could still reach into that conversation. Um and and I I'd like to
hear what you know my fellow committee members think because that that's the only thing I was thinking of. I don't want to give up that to say, "Hey, these folks shouldn't be involved in our educational setting." If it was something I don't think our people would do that anyways. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah, we wouldn't want to
completely advocate our ability to have a say if if we chose to step in is what I agree with you, Paul. >> Okay. Yeah, I'm fine with it then if it's just to expedite. But I think >> Yeah. Any other thoughts or concerns from the committee member?
Yeah, I I um share the same concern as Paul in regards to something being advertised and not necessarily all of the information being forthcoming to the superintendent
or the committee um and facing backlash because that's something that we all would be a part of that decision after the fact. It's not, you know, like we opted in, gave approval, and then, you know, we're all sitting with the same
risk. Um, so I do have hesitation in regards to not having a say or um maybe it's something in regards to we will be notified of who who is being sponsored or something. um so that at least the
decision is in it the knowledge of the decision is adjacent versus after the fact um and and can voice concern at that time but not necessarily to Stacy's point having to wait for a meeting and a
proposal and all of the things. I just personally would um hate to receive information after it's been up advertised and now half of the town is upset with us because of something you
know we didn't know or was not um intended. Um the other piece I wanted to share was in regards to the policy around um raffles. Mhm. >> It just made me think of um if we should
be including something within our facilities use policy that if organizations that are renting our our facilities should also be um if if conducting raffles
pulling the appropriate permits just as like some protective language. Adam, I'm just thinking in regards to when I was doing chair and would rent the facility, but I was still responsible for getting the permit from the town. I didn't know
that until someone locally shared that with me. So, just thinking of how our stuff um overlaps from a policy perspective. And then there's
one more piece. Um I think that's it for half. Thank you. >> Yep. >> So I just want to go back to the advertising in schools. So right now that's what we do is it goes through either again the superintendent or their
design. So, you know, if there's a play and there's a play bill and you know, all the businesses that contribute in some way, shape, or form, there's a very long list at the end. Um, you know, I use the example of the new boards, but we have t-shirts with sponsors. So, it's just it's a lot. Um, and of course, you
know, we don't want any backlash either um from certain groups. So it's kind of it's it's kind of I think balancing the line of like you know the businesses in town who want to contribute to you know again a play bill or a play or team
organization those kinds of things. um and sort of where that line is kind of but we can certainly bring this back to the policy committee and kind of talk about that language and what you know we can add something in there regarding you know that would um maybe say something
along the lines of you know is it is consistent with the you know mission and vision of Plymouth Public Schools or something like that. >> Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. I agree with you Dr. Rogers because I'm thinking about you know the some of the school plays and musicals I've been to. you see that the you know the flyer will have
literally it could be a dozen you know advertising and we've never tried to review those but I I do think something where we have the ability to step in and to your point you know at least having some language in there that's you know consistent with the you know um
district's values and mission etc. So at least there's some basis um for review and if we you know ever had to you know make a you have a discussion like that where it's you know there's some basis for it. >> Y perfect.
Um so I can kind of put a new draft together and then we'll put it on the agenda for August. >> I'll run that through the policy committee again. >> Just that and the rest of them I think we're Sounds like we're good. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Oh, and yeah. Yeah. And it sounds Yeah. Miss Bryant's fundraising comment.
Yeah, that would potentially add to a the facility use policy, which I think do does make sense to protect us um from >> Yeah. >> You someone not not following the rules that we weren't uh in charge of.
>> Yeah. And I'll work with Stacy to put that language in. Um because I just wrote wrote a quick sentence of basically if a group is renting the building or grounds and conducting a raffle or 50 fifth 50 which is still a raffle but sometimes they look at differently um the group is responsible
to obtain a raffle permit from the town clerk something. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So typically what happens is once they get approved by school committee then I give anything that's relative to Adam copies of everything that was approved and that way he can update his manual. >> All right. Do we have a motion on this
uh item? >> Motion approved. >> All right. First we have Mr. Bryan with the second and we will do roll call vote since we are remote. Uh I'll just go in order how you appear on my screen. Uh Miss Haywood,
>> yes. >> Miss Jackson, >> yes. >> Uh Miss Bryant, >> yes. >> And Mr. Sarellis, >> yes. >> And I vote yes. All right, that is unanimous. Thank you, Dr. Rogers. >> You're welcome.
>> Let me go back to my agenda. All right, next up, I'll let kind of following the the theme of talking about fundraising. Uh Dr. uh Blazelle, you have an update on uh fundraising for the district. >> Yes. So, tonight you will see two um
attachments on the agenda. Um just reporting on FY26 fundraising activities. Um this year our schools brought in just under $800,000 in fundraising um and netted um just over $500,000. So it was just over 64%.
Obviously, as you know, some fundraisers bring in a higher percentage um return of event return of um investment than others. Um I was miss losing that word for a minute. Um but um so our schools have brought in quite a quite a bit of
money this year. >> Yeah, I was blown away by the total that uh North brought in at their fundraising machine there. >> Yes. Um >> and you're right there there is a drastic range as well in terms of how much how profitable some of them are. Some of them uh you know maybe double
their money and some of them have almost no investment and uh it's all profit. So any uh questions or concerns from the committee see nothing. All right. Thank you Dr. Bizzel. All right. We're moving quickly here. Uh
oh, back to you. I forgot back to Blazelle. You got the capital improvements uh project status for the summer. >> All right, so there is a lot going on this summer. Um quite a bit. Um so the first thing just to bring everybody up to date is the hedge and cold spring um
project. Um we are in the process of doing a designer selection. So we're looking at an architect at this point in time. Um we had a walkthrough today with approximately 20 different firms. um who have until I think it's July 29th, I should have wrote the date down, but I
think it's July 29th to submit proposals. Um and then we'll bring those proposals to the Masters of School Building Authority. Um South Elementary School HVAC, this has been a topic of conversation for a couple years. Um we tried to look at a couple different routes here. Um but what we ended up
doing is we ended up um going out and looking for an ESCO, basically an energy savings company. So, um, we had a bid and awarded the contract to Emoresco. So, Emoresco will be doing, um, some engineering for us to design the HVAC
for Salt Elementary. And while they're at it, as part of this program that's allowable through the state, is they're really looking at all energy savings that possibly can be done. Um, so hopefully we'll start seeing some progress um, within the next um, four to six months or so. Um, the athletic turf
at North has just been completed. if you get a chance to go down there, they it's absolutely beautiful. Um there's a couple pictures that they are that the company sent me today with one in the water in the background from a drone and it it's absolutely amazing. Um Nathaniel Morton stairwells, they're currently in
progress. They're painting, sanding, and redoing all the sand stairwells there. Um the flag pole that was taken down in the storm back um January, February, I can't even remember when there was kind of blends all together. Um, right now we have a we have a flag pole that we are
looking to purchase. Um, but because Nathaniel Morton is now in historic district, um, we do need to go to the historic commission. So, Matt Derky is going to be attending a meeting on the 22nd um, for approval. Um, and it's just a standard white flag pole. There's nothing fancy about it, but it is just a
standard. >> No, no more wood. >> No more wood, unfortunately. That is a one in a one in a That's a one in a lifetime type pole um that we won't be able to get. Um the the concrete pad at South High School, we opened the bid because that
is part of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Grant to put a metal building there. So, they're going to be doing some concrete work on the pad there next to the school and then we have a bid for the metal building that's going to be put up that's going to be open next week. Um the Plymouth South Middle
School chiller, the bid will be open next week. So, we'll we'll be able to move forward on that. It's about a six week turnaround be for a piece of equipment to be ready. Um so that puts us kind of right back when school opens. So we're going to have to be working with the company whoever wins that bid.
Um central office generator. We're still waiting for that equipment. Um back a couple years ago, we approved a rubber roof replacement at Manamett Elementary School. Um that project was finished over the winter. Um so that project is complete. We'll be doing a PCI fire
alarm system upgrade. Um, we're finishing the the procurement for that. Um, the administration building, the Koopa, because this is always if you drove if you drove down South Street before they they put the gas station in, um, you could see it. It looked really bad. Um, so we're looking at getting
quotes on that. So hopefully we'll have that closer to DB done in the fall. Um, the PFN move to PCIs is complete. Um, the Plymouth Early Childhood Center North, um, there's a receptionist window that they're going to cut in. So it
changes the entrance for early childhood center. So parents can enter more from the parking lot than through the playground now. So that's been done. Um the early childhood south um we are working on repairs and renovations. Um the move is complete. So the the move is
fully complete from PCIS and Manamett to South Middle School. So that has happened. Um we're still working on finishing sinks and toilets in the bathrooms. We're finishing some painting in the hallway. The classrooms are done. Um, we're still doing a little bit more paving to widen that roadway in the
back. Um, we got to move work on some technology about moving screens from PCIS to the South Middle School. Um, and we're working on some some cleats for the swings as well. So, we got a little bit more work to do down at Early Childhood South. Um, but we're going to
we'll be ready and raring to go as soon as school opens. So, um, that's a quick quick synopsis of all the projects that are going on. a busy busy summer for for facilities. Um any uh any questions or comments from
the committee members not seeing any hands. All right. Thank you for that Dr. Biso. >> You're welcome. >> All right. We will move on to uh superintendent report. Dr. Camp. >> Thank you Mr. Bazano. Yeah. Busy summer indeed. a lot of great projects and and
the turf to Dr. Bla1 Doll's point is absolutely beautiful at North. You have to swing by if you have a chance or we could send you some aerial photos too. They're spectacular. Um summer programming. Uh we got a lot going on. The extended school year program began
right after the 4th and I believe we finished Camp Invention today. It's the first time I mean excuse me that this is the 13th year that we've had Camp Invention running. So, um, for for the committee sake and for the public's sake, I'm going to share my screen to show where Oh, why can't I do this
allows? Can you see my Oh, hold on one second. I'm sorry. Why this isn't working? Let's hope to share my screen. not working. >> Unfortunately, >> our security measures are too good, man.
>> Yes, I blocked my I've I've limited myself as well. Um anyways, uh for the public, if you go to um our website, you'll see a tab on the on the website that is named um summer. So, it's right above human resources, right on the main
page. Um, has a lot of great information, but on that summer tab, if you click on it, it's going to open you to a summer happenings. It's a wonderful publication that was put together by Miss Hurley, our academic coordinators. Has everything from summer meals, summer
reading, summer math, science, um, all kinds of things you can do at the library. um things that the the um Plymouth Family Network is doing during the summer, the summer conference series, um the Plymouth Public Schools family um
resource guide in its entirety, as well as um honors and AP work, um things that are being done, the young entrepreneurs at the Waterfront Festival. There's just so much uh included in that. I would just encourage you to to take a peek at
that and we can also push that out as a reminder through our social media. But just want to thank um everyone for putting that together. Um as Dr. Blaze Del just mentioned the the preschool move the PFN has taken place. Um so
classrooms that are being relocated from PCS to South Middle have gone there as well as PFN that happened a week or so ago. Uh still a punch list as Dr. Blisdell mentioned. Uh but the things are moving along uh in the next couple of weeks. We've actually set up a
meeting for about in about I think a little over two weeks to kind of go through and and tour the space uh with the with the committee. Um we would like to arrange a visit with the the entire school committee at sometime in August.
Um, so once we get further along with finalizing that, I'll we'll make sure to send out an invitation so you can see firsthand how this space has turned out. It's I think it's going to be a wonderful addition for our community to have um the expansion at both locations.
Um, as we mentioned that Miss Ducer is now director of HR, we will be seeking an interimm principal for West Elementary um and doing a search for a permanent principal in early spring. So, we we intentionally did that because of
the timing um of this position. Um we did post for an intermal applicants and we'll be scheduling interviews soon um and hope to wrap that up in the next couple of weeks. Um and again, we'll do a permanent search in
the spring which will will involve uh the entire West community um as we typically do for those administrative positions. Another thing that's in the summer programming guide that I wanted to mention is our summer food service program. So, um, as the committee knows,
kids 18 and under can enjoy free meals all summer long through the pen public schools. And this is sponsored by USDA as well as the Department of Ed's summer food service program. So, it started actually last week, I believe, I think
July 7th and runs through August 7th. Um, so at Hedge Elementary School, you can get breakfast at 9:00 to 9:45 and then receive lunch from 11:30 to 12:30 and that is Monday through Friday. Uh,
no age verification required. Um, kids 18 under, again, eat free. And then in addition, um, PCIs is also a location for summer eats. That breakfast program begins at 8:30 and runs till 9:00. and the lunch is at 11:00 and runs to 12. So
again, it's great opportunity for for our community. Um I wanted to give some highle summary of uh the final FY27 state budget which was signed by Governor Healey on the 9th. So overall I think it's a positive and stabilizing
funding plan for us for the coming year. So total state K to2 education funding is rising by 480 million which is a 5% increase. Um so bringing the total state investment just under 9.4 billion. So
this really I think provides some stability in some places where local revenues are are and shortfalls are um are real and the potential federal funding cuts um create some uncertainty. So, so the state has certainly helped coming into this fiscal year. So,
there's a few key takeaways I believe for our district and how it would help us. So, first, chapter 70 aid is increasing by 4%. So, uh minimum aid is officially set at a dollar, excuse me, $160 per pupil. Um there were 15%
approximately districts that receive statewide uh foundation increases above that baseline. Plymouth was not one of the 15% but we did receive that 4% increase to chapter 70. Uh second there is a boost to special ed circuit
breaker. So for FY27 uh the state's appropriation is being heavily augmented by a supplemental budget um of $152 million from the recent FY26 supplemental. So that brings the total circuit breaker up by about
23% uh which will allow it to fully fund the state's 75% reimbursement target for instruction and tuition which is good. That's it's very promising. Um and then related to chapter 70, the uh this
budget established a I believe I mentioned this before, a new foundation budget review commission uh to rep uh which will ultimately report out um October of 28th. So really looking at um
broadening the beyond the traditional formula to review rural school aid, charter impacts, local contribution studies and out of district special ed transportation is a part of that too. So um look forward to seeing what that review commission reports and again
that's that's that's a ways away but that's that's in the works. Um, it's also worth noting, and I think this comes from our local legislators and the work that they've done, um, that the state is scrutinizing special education transportation, really ramping up
reporting requirements for out of district special ed transportation costs. Um, because the state is launching a formal study to find ways to improve special ed transportation marketplace. Um, so we should receive a report um, next July regarding that. So,
I think that is promising. That shows that um there's people listening. Um it's certainly not just a Plymouth issue, but transportation is an issue across the state. So, um those are my updates for this evening.
>> Thank you, Dr. Campbell. Lots going on. And questions for Dr. Campbell. And we know we did lose one of our members. temporary. He's going to try to uh rejoin, but we lost Mr. Smart for a bit since he's on the road.
All right, there's no questions for Dr. Campbell. We'll keep moving on. Uh Dr. Blaze Dial retirements. >> Yes, we do. Um AJ Butters is going to be retiring on December 31st as the assistant principal of Plymouth North um for 30 and he's been in the district for
33 years and been a lifelong member of Plymouth. So, he's he's going to be a great loss, but I know he'll you will probably still see him around knowing AJ. >> Yeah. Uh, Mr. Jackson, >> thank you to Mr. Butters for his 33
years of district uh, service to the district and we wish him a happy retirement. And if his response from the students of Plymouth North says anything, I'm sure he's left an indelible mark on our community. Yeah, my uh my family and I'm sure many
others in the district will will miss him dearly. And I'm sure we'll have to we'll have to do something for him come come December since he's not quite retiring yet. So, it's good that it's not happening overnight. All right. Uh next up, we have committee
member reports. Any uh anything members want to report on? Go. I see Miss Jackson's a no. Miss Hwood, anything? All right. Nope. Miss Brian, anything to report on? No. All right. We're the only update I'll remind
her of is our um friends from uh Japan will be here in Plymouth in two and a half weeks. They arrive the evening of the uh 29th. and early in their uh uh itinerary is the uh uh educational
summit that's uh uh happening on the the morning of the uh 30th. So, if you're available for that, definitely let us uh know as you know the one of the educational highlights of the of their visit. And there's plenty of other uh you know, social events throughout the
the four or five days are here, you know, dinners and lunches, etc. So, if you're interested and available, let me know. I will I can give you uh details. I know Miss Jackson's actually a host family, so she'll be uh plenty involved. All right. Uh report to the Plymouth uh
building committee is on. What do we have? Hold on. Uh we had a a quick meeting last week. Um I think there it's similar to uh school committee. Not a lot going on uh in the summer in terms of uh meetings. We covered uh where the
uh uh hedge cold spring uh uh project is in terms of selecting in uh architect there. There's some minor uh um cleanups going on of various uh town buildings. are doing new UAC at uh uh the uh police police station, doing some cleanup work
on one of the fire stations um and doing some uh uh maintenance work on the Memorial Hall. But overall, not nothing super major going on. I think the really the next big major project that'll be happening is the uh uh hopefully we'll be, you know, working on the designing
and building an elementary school. All right, back to you Dr. Blazelle for appointments or for personal reports. Sure. As you know, this is an extremely busy year time of year um throughout the summer and and August. Well, August is summer, but I'm just getting the school
year started. So, we have 11 certificated appointments, five classified appointments, and four resignations. >> All right, thank you for that. And that brings us to our consent agenda. That's a pretty light one. Terms of consent agendas, some home homeschooling uh
plans, a bunch of bills that have been paid the past month or so, and then one uh equipment disposal um item. Any uh anyone needs to pull from the consent agenda? If not, I'll take a motion to approve.
>> I move to approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Thank you. And I see Miss Haywood is seconding. All right, I'll do a roll call vote. Uh, Miss Bryant, >> yes. >> All right, Miss Jackson. >> Yes. >> Miss Haywood.
>> Yes. >> All right. And I vote yes. That is unanimous. All right. And that brings us to the end of our agenda and the record of 36 uh minutes. All right. Um, well, I uh hope
everyone's having a an enjoyable uh uh summer. I'm sure I'll see some of you in two and a half weeks when the folks from Japan are here. And if not, we'll see you at the next meeting in August. Take care, everybody. I will call the close at 7:36 p.m.
>> Have a good night.