11th meeting of the school committee to order. Um we let's see we have one member who's going to join via Zoom. We're currently all in person, but let's just in the interest of belt and suspenders. We'll do everything by roll call. So I'll do a call to order. Tom >> here. >> Laura
>> here. >> Carla >> here. >> And Sean is here. Um Aaron won't join us. won't be joining us tonight and then uh I expect Sarah to join us on Zoom in the next 15 minutes or so. Um okay, so quick recap of our review of our agenda
and then we'll jump right in. Um we'll start with public comment. So for anything that is not on the agenda, we'll give the public an opportunity to speak. Uh we'll then move to our focus on excellence consent agenda uh and then reports. We've got a couple students here and then as well as the superintendent and liaison reports. Um,
as we move into new business, we'll uh be we'll uh take the FY25 Q4 financial update, including some some uh anticipated budget transfers, a discussion of um essentially our audit report, and then uh community preservation act presentation. We may
take things out of order as we've got some guests, you know, guest speakers this evening. So, we may take a few of those items out of order. When we move into old business, we've got uh some minor revisions to the RMHS student handbook to review and approve and then we'll have a brief follow-up discussion on the um Malberry Forest Monatory
School and Journ. So, that is our agenda for the evening. Um so, I'll start with public comment. Is there anybody who would like to speak on anything that's not on the agenda tonight? >> Okay. Uh with that, we can go to our focus on excellence and I'll hand it to Dr. Milichesky.
>> Great. We're thrilled tonight to uh highlight our food service department. Uh so, as you know, our food service department's made some pretty amazing uh I would say improvements uh over the last couple of years, both in terms of the quality of offerings for our students and as a result, the amount of students who are participating, the
quality of feedback. Every metric points to the program really moving in the right direction. Uh something that we have not talked a lot about is uh Katherine Franetti's and her team's vision for and uh and also bringing a lot of our food service opportunities to our summer programming. So tonight we are not just celebrating them launching
summer programming. are celebrating them uh receiving a USDA award uh called Turnup the Beat which they were one of four uh districts across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to receive that award which recognizes districts uh who are providing high quality nutritious offerings uh to students and
families outside of the uh 180day schedule. So uh we are again continue to be so thankful and appreciative of Miss Franzetti's leadership the incredible work of her team. So, we want to give her a few minutes to share a little bit about just uh what the award like kind of what programming they were offering
that led them to win the award and also maybe some things that are on the docket ahead for the program. So, we'd like to invite up Miss Franetti. >> Thank you, Dr. Milchesky. Um, good evening everyone. Uh, I'm excited to share that this past year our
food service department was honored with the USDA Turnup the Beat award um at the silver level. Um, and being one of four in Massachusetts in our year two was quite phenomenal for us. Um, this is a national recognized award uh for summer food programs uh that go above and
beyond in serving fresh, nutrient-dense and high quality meals. To give you perspective, we were one of only four districts, excuse me, in Massachusetts to receive this recognition. So that puts reading on the map, not only regionally, but also nationally. For us, it's not just an award, it's a true
reflection of the excellence we bring to our work, not only during the school year, but also year round. Um, our summer food program is still relatively young. Uh, we only launched in 2024, and yet in just one year, it has already doubled in size. Uh we partnered with
the uh neighboring YMCA's in Wuburn, Waltham, and a local science camp in Wuburn. As uh additionally, we're offering open meal sites in Wuburn Township. Um this program has also offered us to be able to offer a breakfast to our extended school year students here in Reading as well as
partnered with the uh MLL program for um a tutoring program that they were offering at the Reading Library for the summer. Um the growth shows both the demand for summer meals in the and the ability of our team to expand and adapt quickly serving not only our own students but also families across the
neighboring communities. We are also able to support excuse me um the MLL program was a new tutoring program that we had here at the Reading Library and the students were able to take home lunches which was awesome for them and an incentive to come and for the
tutoring program. Um, one of the biggest impacts for our program has been our staff retention with this with this uh summer program. Uh, before the program, we really struggled with uh losing staff over the summer months. Uh, coming back in Octo in September rather, scrambling
to fill positions. That constant cycle really halted our ability to build a strong team and truly move the pro program forward. Now, by keeping staff employed through employed, excuse me, through the summer, we've built stability. This year we came back in September with just one open position of
which we filled within the first week of school. That's a remarkable shift coming from, you know, sometimes five and six open positions every school year. Um it sets us up to be able to build a strong and and and cohesive team every school
year. Uh the summer program is a fully federal reimburseed program that operates separately from our school year uh meal program. One requirement uh is that it ends each school uh excuse me, each summer uh breaking an even balance. So, as we've expanded the program and
serve more meals throughout the summer months, uh we've increased funds that has allowed us to purchase equipment and small appliances uh items that we can use during the summer program, but also carry over into our school year. A small and meaningful example uh just today at
Birch Meadow Elementary School, students enjoyed homemade hummus made in our new food processor uh that we purchased over the summer. And that is a direct result of this program. New equipment uh allows us to further expand our scratchmade foods and offer more fresh meals on a
daily basis. Additionally, um this program with our staff working year round has offered us um truly an an opportunity to invest time and energy into training and professional development. Uh we've been able to train our staff over the summer
months and new equipment, new software systems. Um we've also strengthened the consistency in recipes and uh service standards across the district. We've also really been able to build a strong team and a strong culture within
our department. For me, that is the most important part of this program is having the whole district come together under one space and really work together. Um, one small little story, toward the end of the summer, we had uh two new managers that promoted from a cafeteria
worker into a manager role. Uh, one in Joshua Eaton and one in Parker Middle School. And each of them spoke with each other over the summer and exchanged the fact that their fifth graders would be their sixth graders and they could work together to offer meals that those kids liked and they could help each other
grow, which I just hearing that exchange over the summer was just such a positive change for for our whole team. Um what used to feel like eight separate kitchens working eight separate programs has now truly unified into one department working together supporting
each other learning from each other and always keeping students at the center. Um as mentioned before we are looking to continue our partnerships and increase our um continue to expand rather. Uh we've we're really excited to expand our
catering department, which we've uh flored a little bit over the summer. Uh we've partnered with uh local town entities and uh programs within the town to help with uh catering opportunities for ourselves and them. And we've also been able to part partner with other local vendors. That gives us the chance
to highlight the talents of our staff, support our community events, and strengthen local connections. It's yet another example of how our program is growing beyond just the cafeteria walls and becoming a true community partner. In writing what I was going to say this
evening, I was truly reflecting on the past three years and I'm just super struck of how far we've come as a whole in these past three years plus. Uh we've gone from being a department that was sometimes fragmented um to one stable
truly unified department um and now nationally recognized which is quite incredible for myself and our team. Um we've built a team that is truly confident within themselves, confident in the program. They're collaborative. They're truly proud of what they do on a daily basis. And this award being one of
only four districts in Massachusetts is proof that others see it, too. Most importantly, I want to say how proud I am of our staff. Um, their dedication, their creativity, and their teamwork are what makes these achievements possible. Um, we've built something truly special
together as a team. And while the Turn Up to Be award is a milestone worth celebrating, it's also just the beginning for where we see our department going. Um, I want to thank you all for the opportunity um to be of service to this community. Um, it really truly is an honor to be able to do what
I do on a daily basis and just it's it's absolutely awesome to come to work every day. So, thank you for the opportunity that I have to be the soup food service director and to lead this team. So, thank you. >> What questions do folks have?
>> Katherine, you mind sharing a little bit about obviously all these partnerships over the summer just like grown and it's incredible to see that list. Do you mind sharing a little bit? I think people would like to hear how do you build these partnerships? How many of them are you reaching out to proactively to go find? How many are reaching out to you? >> Sure. >> How do you what does that look like? So,
>> um I mean we it really is me reaching out. Um uh our produce is is is uh supported from uh Produce Connection which is right in Wakefield. Um we've partnered with uh Delar Panadas as well for our vegetarian option and that was me driving down the street and seeing them and giving him a call. Um,
additionally, uh, I, you know, I work with the town on a daily basis and, you know, it's just that conversation piece of going in there and saying, "Oh, you do this? Yeah, we do this." And, you know, it's it's just been me getting out there, me seeing Reading. I'm not a native to reading. Um, and it's just
been just really word of mouth and and that building that community by reaching out. >> I think I've said this maybe every time you've come here, I want to say it again. Um, you know, every once in a while you'll, you know, parents will react to something that's on the menu and they're like, I don't know if, you
know, elementary school kids I will say the the changes we made over the last couple years have done more to expand my kids pallets than my own cooking skills ever could. So, um, I'm I'm very appreciative for, uh, stretching the limits of maybe what some people think is normal for, you know, elementary and middle school diet. So, I appreciate it.
>> Uh, thank you for highlighting that. Um, um, I I do get the feedback. Um and um I I I really truly feel that our program um partners with how reading thinks outside of the box to support the student. Um our program is really a
program where a kid gets to try a ramen noodle bowl and see if they like it, you know, and they get if my my true dream is is a kid going home and saying, "Mom, I had curried chicken at lunch today. Can we make that on the weekend?" And and that's that child expanding and
trying and growing. Um, and it's I another one story. We had fish stickicks on the menu today. They're a local uh uh Boston uh company and um child was coming through Barrows Elementary School and um they were offered tartar sauce
and he replied back no thank you. I saw the menu and I brought my own from home. So it was it was one of the greatest moments of my day and uh that's awesome for me. It's it's really incredible. Um, he's very particular about his tarter sauce, as am I. So, I can appreciate
that. >> I bring my own mustard defending part. So, I'm totally with you on that. >> I'm right there with you. >> Yeah. >> You don't like Gordon, >> so I'm a French guy through and through. >> All right. I I will just say because I
always make a comment that I I just can't like it's when I've just kind of walked down the cafeteria being in the school and you know fresh broccoli fuettes and um just walking outside it smells like you're walking by zuka.
>> Oh, >> you it's so nice. and um smoothies in elementary school, like little cups of blueberries and watermelon. And it's just it's edible. It's delicious. And it
it's so important for these kids to have good nutrition >> to be able to to sit and learn all day. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. I I want to thank you for the strategic uh placement of the exhaust fans at the high school because it is right where people are driving by. So, it is perfect when we're
baking muffins in the morning. It's It's quite nice. >> So, you're a rock star. >> Well, thank you. I I couldn't do it without all of the support here and my team and and all of families and whatnot. So, thank you. >> And and Tom did request that I bring a
sample of the new Noodle Bowl. Um this uh speaking of expansion, um this is a the bottom part of this container is paper and fully compostable. The lid is um recyclable. The company is right here in
Massachusetts and the owner, operator, and developer is a UMass Amherst graduate. So, it's within here is our alternative to the hot ramen bowl, which is a cold garlic noodle bowl. And um there is a gluten-free option for Miss
uh Phil. Um but the it's the same noodles and the same uh ingredients as the the ramen noodle bowl. So, it's our fall and spring alternative. So, it's it's pretty tasty. The only allergen is soy.
>> Well, thank you. >> Well, thank you. >> Should we uh take our traditional photo? >> Yeah. But I would love to see if the >> I'm going to put the kids the students on the spot. >> Oh, that's a great question. >> Taste testing. Right on. >> Oh, yeah. You guys are here, right? So, and you've
been here for a little while, right? You were here before she was here as students younger. So, >> the proof in the pudding. >> Oh, yeah. Oh yeah, the food is so much better. >> I was It's gotten like it's gotten >> I appreciate that. No, but the food is
actually so much better. Like >> first day of school, I think there was a I think you guys ran out of like the garlic chicken or whatever. So I I had third lunch, so I didn't end up getting it. But there was a sandwich line, all these different kinds of sandwiches on like real bread that was like toasted
and it was so good. I wanted to go back and get more. But yeah, a lot of people are like seriously enjoying the food so much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> It's gone from like when we were in middle school, I remember we would get like hamburger patties and we were like,
did they draw the grill lines on with exactly like uh so it's gone from that and it's evolved into something where people are actually like wow this this looks good. This like this is real food where it's to the point of and the difference is noticeable. So thank you. >> Well, thank you. Thank you. You deserve proper food.
I agree. I agree. I agree. >> All right. Shall we take our photo in your mouth? >> Pretty good. >> Yeah. You have to tell us when we're not doing so great either. No, >> it's actually really good. Like I
actually look now. I was gonna say [Music] >> pizza smiling or blinking. You want to do the >> I'm going to go home and cry cry on camera.
>> Yeah, that's why I was like >> all right to be you know what was that? >> She said there was glutenree. Are you glutenree? >> I'm not. No, >> we'll eat we'll eat it in Yeah, we'll eat it in the spilled right
in there this evening. I didn't even have >> We'll put it in the fridge for my physical progress. >> I I know. I'm like >> showering. Wait till we're we're deep into the financials. >> I didn't bring water >> financial update. Yeah. >> Okay. Uh with that, let's move on to our consent agenda. Is there a motion?
>> I motion to I move to approve the consent agenda. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Seconded by Tom. Um again, since I expect us to be pseudo hybrid today, we'll do a roll call. Tom, >> yes. Laura, >> yes. >> Carla, >> yes. >> And Sean, yes. Four to zero.
>> Um, okay. Let's move on to reports and we'll start with our students. >> Okay, sounds good. >> Oh, you know, let me get you get all the other mic as well. >> Oh, right. Yeah. >> One of each. >> Oh, thank you. >> Both microphones. There we go. And now we're audible. >> Perfect.
>> All right. Um, starting off beginning of the school year, so a lot of back to school events. Last night, RMHS had back to school night with a great turnout of parents. Uh, and a special thanks to many of the student volunteers that gave their time to help direct people around the building. Uh, which we heard they had some more trouble than the freshman
did. So, that's nice. That's nice that there were people there to help them around. So, um, fall athletic teams are off and running. Shout out to varsity soccer. Uh, in in that note, the RHS varsity volleyball team had a big victory over Melrose this week, um, which is a notorious powerhouse in the
Middle Sex League. So, congratulations to them. The first home football game is tomorrow night where um channel 101.7 radio, the Bull will be sponsoring a field goal competition where the winner could walk away with $10,000 in scholarship money. >> I was a kicker in high school, so here I
come. >> I know I entered it did not I did not get the the lottery winner, so I will not be kicking. But some someone lucky is and I'm excited to see that. Um, RMHS is excited for their upcoming fall musical, Catch Me If You Can, which
auditions took place early September. Uh, and rehearsals are underway, so that'll be coming out soon. And then finally, RHS is excited to announce the start of a math team led by Mr. Princic. Um, who is interested in looking for members to join the competitive math team, which we haven't had at the school
yet before. We've had a math club, I think, but uh, yeah, first time we're having a competitive team. >> Y'all won't be joining that. Um um it's really nice to be back. I missed being here. Excuse my appearance. I came straight from tennis and I will be coming straight from tennis for probably the next few meetings.
>> I can't dress yourself as nice as Alex. >> Um innovation career pathways uh happenings. Um on October 3rd is manufacturing day. I'll be having a field trip to Boston uh Boston Central um in Wuburn. And then on October 10th,
there's the internship fair during lunch for the whole senior class. Yay me. Um and then on October 17th, there's an innovation career pathways Millipur Sigma field trip. And then on um October 23rd is the Boston Center field trip. Um
there will be homecoming week activities um from the 15th through the 19th. Um homecoming week class colors and senior shirt day. 17th is Unity Day. 18th is the homecoming dance. 18th is Walk It Like You Rock It 5K at 8 a.m.
>> That sounds fun. >> Uh, no it doesn't. Um, on the 19th is Sunday Night Lights. And then for school counseling events on um September 17th, our senior guidance parent night. Yay. Um on October 7th is freshman guidance
parent night. On October 8th is financial aid night. And on October 22nd are the PSATs during the school day. And then check out the new school counseling website for more information about upcoming events and services for students and families related to school
and college and career counseling. That is it. Great. Any questions? >> Counseling is going to be busy. >> Counseling is going to be busy >> that time of year. >> It is. >> All right. Thank you both. You know the drill. You're welcome to stick around as long as you like.
Or if you want to go to bed. >> I'm hungry. >> You're hungry. >> You get it. You get it. >> Have a good night. >> Thank you. Have a great night. Have a good one. >> Take it with you. Take the second one, too. >> Yeah. There's another one there. >> That's not a meal by itself. And here's another one. >> You don't mind if I do? >> You should get two.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Have a good night. >> Uh, all right. Well, let's go to uh Dr. Milichesky. >> Great. Uh, good evening, Ready. Nice to see everyone. Uh, two updates. Uh first update, I'd just like to follow up some of the public comment from the August 21st uh school committee meeting in
response to the fieldhouse project. Uh first, we are pleased to share that the fieldhouse project is now essentially complete and all students are now sort of in using uh using the space with just a couple of minor updates that still need to happen. Um and also just as a followup to the comment, our facilities
team and our central office leadership team uh feel strongly that all the spending for the project aligned with the scope of the project. uh and uh are in alignment with sort of how projects have been handled in the past. Also, we you know, we heard, you know, the feedback around more transparency and
more consistency. Uh when there's a project that comes in sort of under budget, uh we appreciate we were, you know, and also agree with that that feedback. So, we're working I see Joe here in the front row. We're working uh we'll be working collaboratively with FINCOM uh to develop a policy that will
help us to do that more consistently than maybe we do it right now, too. So excited about that work ahead. I just like to thank the comm community members as always for the feedback uh both publicly and also many of the conversations of people who took the time to come chat as well. Uh that's what makes us better. So appreciate the
thoughtful feedback and looking forward to continuing to partner on all projects uh moving forward. Uh second update uh just like to give a a shout out to a a parent and an administrator who have partnered together around a really exciting uh community engagement initiative. So Katie Buckley, who was our RHS assistant principal, and Tiffany
Williams, who's a parent, a Boston resident parent, have partnered together to have a first ever uh METCO, the titles Metco Pathways and Job Fair in Boston. So this is open to not only our Boston resident students, but also Boston resident students from all 32 METCO communities. So this is the first
time they're having this program. Uh the program is intended to engage Boston uh industries, partners, uh businesses to offer jobs, internships, programming for students during the school year, during the summer or post-graduation. Um it's
also intended to expose students to a variety of post-secondary paths, uh workforce development, trade schools, gap year programs, study abroad, four universities, community colleges. Um, and it's the the also knowing that many of our um, Boston resident students spend so much time uh, in the suburban
communities, they don't often have the same connections and networks in their own home community. I would just like to thank Tiffany and Katie for launching something that not only impacts our 40 plus high school students, you know, as well, but also all of the students across all of our 32 communities. It is
awesome to see their leadership have a statewide impact. So again, huge thank you and congratulations to Tiffany and Katie for their leadership. excited to see how this impacts our students over the next couple of years. >> That's excellent. >> Thank you. >> Great. >> Uh let's go to leazison reports. We'll start with Tom.
>> Um two things. Um one's liaison, one's just other update. Um leaison wise, I did confirm as I talked about last meeting with CPAC that they would like us to uh listen and hear and potentially advocate for a CPAC awareness month for
November. Um so I've asked Sean if we can get that on the agenda for October. um and he gratefully agreed. So, uh thank you for that, Sean. That's one thing. The second is um I've been asked to testify at the House and Senate hearings on the new right to read bill
um next Tuesday. Um not on behalf of us, but on behalf of me in my role. Um happy to do or share with anybody else if anybody's curious about it or or whatnot as we as we go through it. I think I only technically have two minutes, but I
don't know when. Um, so, you know, my focus is going to be on our our advocacy and the work that we did as a school committee um to drive some of that u and work with our administration, not by ourselves, but with the administration and as well as focus on the outcomes because we've seen some really really
strong outcomes. Um, so anyway, just FYI for that. >> That's pretty exciting. >> Great. >> Make them count. >> Yeah. Uh Laura, >> no report. >> Carla, >> um just a quick update on Kllum. Um
since the design development um started a few months ago, we had an initial series of like 30 40 meetings. We're doing that second round. So we've kind of done an initial round. It went through the MSBA. Now we're doing kind
of a second round. So, we're in we're just taking um every aspect of the project and the design of the spaces and we're doing like the it it's we're just constantly revisiting the design um and and improving it as we go along. So, we
make recommendations, the design teams with their consultants and subconultants get together and um we just keep kind of spiraling and we'll keep going until um until it's right. Uh we will be having an abutters meeting to keep the people
around Kellum involved. Um we will be having a meeting open to the public just to kind of give information. Our time for like asking for input is kind of over but we want to make sure we're always really communicating effectively.
So um don't forget about kllumschool.com website which has all of our information on it. Um, things are going right. >> Great. >> Good. >> Uh, and I have no additional report
tonight. Um, okay. So, let's go into the body of our agenda here. Um, Sarah and Joe, is it just the two of you? You're not waiting on anybody else? I assume it's okay with you if we take you out of order and start with you. Okay. So, let's take a motion to uh take uh E3 out of order, please.
>> Um, I move to take E3 out of order. Second. >> Second. I guess I I almost forgot. I could just make Yeah, exactly. I've done the same. Seconded by Tom. >> Let's do a roll call. Tom. >> Yes. >> Laura. >> Yes. >> Carla. Yes.
>> And Sean. Yes. Okay. So, we will move on to our CPA presentation. I've got the situ where our students were or right there next to Tom. >> Yeah. If you guys want to sit right there, that's okay. Yeah. We'll adjust that in a second. >> We're going to check back here. One is
for Zoom and one is for RCTV I believe. >> Oh, we just sort of speak generally region >> talk in that direction. >> So, >> so thank you for letting us come. Are we starting or >> Well, I was waiting for the slides to show up. >> Oh, you want to scooch over so you can see? >> No, but I can I can see it on there. Yeah. No,
>> technology. >> I've been here before. >> I have presented to the school committee before. >> Okay. >> Um, so and I've done occasionally we do a thing in here. >> I'm sorry. show them. >> Uh, >> no. It's showing the slides.
>> In the picture? >> No, it's not showing me the picture right now, so I'm not sure. >> Focus. >> Yeah, we have them now, Tom. We're good. >> Okay, >> we're good. >> Oh, okay. >> Thanks. >> Yeah, we don't see ourselves on there, but as long as everyone else does, that's fine. >> Y >> All right. Um, so thank you for
including us in your agenda. Uh, next slide, please. >> Yeah. >> So, we're the we are here from the uh Community Preservation Study Committee. What is the Community Preservation Act? Um, it is a Massachusetts law that permits communities uh to levy a small property tax search charge uh for
community preservation type projects. Um the state contributes a match to it. Um which is >> variable. >> It is variable. It's we can talk we can go into detail about that if you like. Um and uh notably uh 200 over 200 of the
351 towns and cities in Massachusetts have adopted the CPA. Reading has not uh yet. Uh next slide. So uh in 2024 the select board established a study committee to look into the CPA for reading. This is
ordinarily the first process in potentially adopting the CPA. Um, uh, we have representatives from all the different committees. >> Historical, affordable housing, open space, conservation. >> Yep. >> That's it, right? >> Yep. >> Yeah.
>> And, uh, we were originally created with the November 2024 election in mind. We're now looking at November 2026. Next slide. >> So, what is this, uh, study committee doing? Uh, we've looked at when CP uh, writing considered the CPA in the past. Um we did uh over 20 years ago in in
2003 uh they also formed a study committee in uh 2006 but it was defeated at town meeting. Um and then uh we've looked at what our peer communities do. Uh 11 of our 21 peer communities. It's about as close to a dead split as you could get. Uh Winchester flipped the
balance when they adopted the CPA uh just uh last year. And then uh but looking how much money would raise, what it would cost taxpayers, and what are projects that uh CPA could fund. >> That's the exciting part. >> Yeah. >> So now we're reaching out to all kinds
of different, you know, committees, boards, uh you know, organizations in town that, you know, would be >> potentially able to get some of the funding. >> Exactly. Or or otherwise be be stakeholders in this. Right. >> And so um >> next slide.
So, just running quickly through and the slides are disappear. That's okay. Oh, there we go. Um, running running quickly. By the way, I'm I'm mindful. Uh, Sean did tell us to keep us under 10 minutes. So, I am I'm >> You're doing great. >> You're doing fine. >> Going fine. So, um uh uh so yes, uh open
space preservation, anything related to uh caring for or acquiring uh of our open spaces. Town Forest, Bear Meadow, Matara Cabin, Pine Veil, all kinds of things. Uh, next slide, please.
Uh, this one is a little uh literally closer to home for the school committee. Um, recreation. Um, any outdoor recreation stuff can be considered open space preservation and >> playgrounds. >> Yes, school playgrounds, playing fields. >> Uh, Birch Meadow phase one and phase two
would have been eligible to be CPA projects. Um, if there's ever going to be a phase three, that would likewise be. Um, uh, and, uh, you know, I live I'm a I'm a Barrow's dad. I'm painfully aware of the condition of the Barrow's tennis courts, which we have not been
able to find money to repair for I think it's been pushed back something like 10 years on the capital plan. >> Um, and uh, yeah, so this is likely to be a very popular use of CPA funds given how reading already spends. Uh it's it's
uh it's tax dollars. Uh next slide. U would you like to talk about historic preservation? >> Sure. I'll speak because I'm here I I'm on the committee because I'm a member of the historic commission and uh it's really exciting with now that we are going to have a chance to do something with the Pleasant Street building coming
up to know that um historical buildings that the town owns such as Town Hall um the town hall annex, Josh Weaton, Parker Middle School. I mean, I think there's about eight. I don't want to go I I won't bore you, but I'll just say that um when you need to do um renovations,
including making things ADA um accessible um can all be funded by CPA funds. So that's really exciting and it's very exciting for the historical commission because sometimes like for instance uh repairing something on town hall is an is an enormous priority
because we have a tight budget but being able to access CPA funding for that is will make a big difference and in keeping our community looking good and our buildings in tip-top shape. Yes, I believe uh Joshua Eaton and Parker are the two school buildings that
are uh have the historic classification uh to be eligible for CPA projects. >> Uh next slide. >> Um uh so CPA also uh funds affordable housing. Um this is a acute need in our
community. Um my microphone is moving. I bet that's not good for the sound quality. Let's keep that there. So yes, um the you know reading has the reading housing authority in a number of properties. The waiting list is insane. Uh you know it's
it's three years if you are on the you know short list as a as a qualifying veteran and uh otherwise a decade. >> Um it's notable that there are a lot of state and federal programs for affordable housing that often require a local component, a local match. So you might think when we talk about numbers
later like we can't buy a house in Reading for that. What you can buy an apartment building with that? Are you kidding? Oh. Um, no. But you could put in Reading's share and then unlock a much larger grant. Um, and that's what other communities uh in Massachusetts tend to do for affordable housing with
their CPA funds. Uh, next slide. Uh, so um how much money would we raise? Um, this is is based on the actual fiscal year 25 um property values um for a couple different search charge rates.
Um, one thing that we the committee study committee has to do is come up with a recommendation for what searchcharge rate the town should consider. Um, so this is one of the big questions for us. >> I think it's worth adding to it could be as high as 3% but it was sort of recommended to us that to to start at
1.5. Correct. >> Yes. Most communities there are there are additional uh matches that are unlocked if you go to the full 3%. However, uh those are sort of means tested to favor smaller and less affluent communities. Uh reading is is
um uh does not meet those criteria and would not especially benefit from the 3% level. So, um, uh, yes, and the state match, it's worth mentioning that, um, the state match is funded by a special, uh, fund that is, uh, uh, every transaction at the
registry of deeds, uh, you pay a $50 fee into the, um, state community preservation fund, >> trust >> or trust, sorry. Yes. And then they um every year they divide that um and uh so depending on how much real estate activity there is the amount of match
can vary significantly almost like a factor of three in just a few years here. >> Um 20% is probably a a uh you know a useful ballpark for for uh planning although you're not guaranteed uh anything in particular.
So, >> and they're looking for ways to expand um how they can get some money into that trust, >> right? >> It was a 100% match when the program was new, but it's been a long time since then. >> Yeah. Darn. Next slide.
>> Uh next slide, please. >> I'm working on it. >> Thank you. I appreciate it. >> There it goes. >> All right. Okay. Um this is is this is the other question that is is um a very natural first question for many people which is what would it cost me as
a taxpayer? Um it's slightly more complicated than 1% of your current taxes because there are exemptions for the uh the first $100,000 of the property value >> for everybody. >> Uh yeah or well strictly speaking that's optional but um and the committee has not voted on it but I cannot imagine
that we would not recommend that exemption for for writing. And there's also a senior exemption, isn't there? >> Yes, there is a low income exemption. There's a low and medium income senior exemption. Uh and then you can exempt uh uh we've talked about exempting
commercial property, which is a fairly small share of writing property. >> Um indeed, the numbers that uh we have here are based only on uh residential property. So um but yes so it's it's in the you know ballpark of of you know 50 100 or 150
for five half a percent 1% one and a half percent for an average uh house in in reading >> per year. >> Per year. Yes. That's right. That's not per bill that's per year. >> So uh next slide. Y >> my clicker has given up the ghost.
Sorry. >> Yes. So, um, uh, timeline, um, uh, well, actually, I need to correct that first bullet. I'm not sure there will be anformational report to town meeting. Uh, we have to discuss that at our next committee meeting. >> Um, but, uh, you know, we'll report to
the select board this winter, sort of fulfill our charge. >> Um, uh, then, u, you know, town meeting could vote in April 2026 whether or not to put CPA on the ballot. CPA must be approved by the voters of Reading, um, not just town meeting. So, town meeting
votes to put on the ballot and then the voters vote. Um, there are other ways to get on the ballot with a petition and so forth, but this is probably the easiest way. Uh, and then yes, it would be some time after adopting it to actually set up the apparatus for um deciding how the
funds are spent. Um, so that's another thing that we have to be uh realistic about when people say, "Oh, my my my historic building needs a new roof right now." And I'm like, >> "Yeah, unless you can wait three years, um, uh, we might not be able to help you
with that specific project." Uh, next slide. So, yes. So, what, um, what can you all do and why are we here taking up a few minutes of your precious time? Um, you know, we'd love to hear input from everyone about possible search charge
rates. Obviously, we get, you know, we get more if we give more. That's you know there's no um uh the uh the and then uh you know we'll get a 20% match on whatever we collect whether it's more or less 20% more 20% less um we are also
very interested in ideas you know we collected a lot of ideas but we're still interested in more of of how CPA uh could benefit rating what kind of projects we might do um and then uh as uh I think you all went through all of this in the course of the Kllum school.
So you probably know better than or at least as well as we do um the rules around uh uh political activity. But it turns out that I guess you uh as a policymaking board we can um we are free to express our opinions to town meeting about how town meeting can vote um but
not uh to engage political activity as would be related to a you know election in November. And that's it for us. If you have any questions for us we'd love to chat. I might just add um because usually we
mention like for instance Parker Middle School which is a historical building had to get a new roof. That would have been under CPA eligibility that was how much? >> It's a complicated one because we actually borrowed a lot more than it ended up costing. Um but it was I think it was something like 900,000 or a
million is what the roof cost. >> Wow. >> And also for instance with the Kilum school I don't think that there was funding set aside yet for playground. So, in the event that they want to add uh playground, that would be eligible for CPA funding.
>> I didn't know that. >> Yeah. >> Anybody want to start? >> I'll start. >> Go for it, Tom. >> So, I'll start I'll start the the I'm not so sure uh side of it, which you probably expected, Joe. Um right. >> I'd be disappointed anyway. Go for it, Tom.
>> So, conceptually, I you know, the concept is great. Part of the reason why the state reimbursement has gone down is because more towns have gone into it. There's only so much money to go around and it's going to be spread peanut butter thin, right? So, us adding is not going to increase the amount. It's going to
decrease unless they find another funding source. To your point, >> um but we'll see what happens because >> yeah, we'll see what happens. Um my biggest concern is the timing, right? We just got done talking at time meeting
about override passage. We just passed two rather large debt exclusions. Um, and you know, this would theoretically, depending on how you look at the forecast the timing of an override, be right before or right
around an override vote. Um, which to me, if this pass and then we go back the next year for an override, the override is doomed to fail. Um and so um I'm really concerned about how this would impact other finances around the
town and then it's locked into these use cases and only these use cases whereas we can address these use cases yes without matching of any sort but we can address these use cases as we had as we have historically through our normal capital planning and whatnot pro
prospect after an override related process. So timing to me is the biggest concern overall. Um and I and the match is not as attractive anywhere near as attractive as it was before. The Fed concept um has its own problems these
days. Maybe by then it will not be as much of a problem. Who knows, right? Or will be in a different problem from a federal perspective. Um but I just don't know that we can count on even that. So maybe too late to the the party to a
degree. Um, that's my my perspective, but I'd love to hear I'd love it to be positive. I just don't I have the real concern about the timing of it. Um, and all the override conversations we're having. >> I would suggest going to the coalition's website. I don't know if you've looked
at it yet, but they have data since the beginning of the project and you can see how um how and they also just recently did their annual report which is where they and they posted that and sort of saying what their strategies are going going to be going forward. So I I I
think it's really fascinating and has so much data and they also have a Facebook page where they are constantly posting every week different community CPA projects and they go into the little bit of breakdown and you can go back to this coalition page and they collect that data there. So I think what you're
saying is same sort of things we all have all been discussing. We had the person from the coalition come and talk to us and because we had similar questions. So um they are looking for more um sources to add to the trust fund and um and one of the other things is to
think that as in reading as we're buying and selling properties we've been adding to this trust fund for all these years but never gotten any of that money back which we would be continuing to be adding. So um I hear what you're saying about you know the two competing. I think we're always going to have that.
It seems like that was one of the reasons why we ended up moving it down was because it was, you know, um we had the killum school project and you know, it was just like it's really hard to find the right window. So, and and it's I think um one of the things that um I
like about the community um preservation act is that it's it's it's driven by the community, you know, um organizations themselves. So, they they would be the ones who submit the applications. It's not so so much it's not the town saying this is what we're going to do with the money. So even an average person could
submit an application that fits any of those categories to pair up and um uh I which which is nice because we know that we would have that money to be doing things like for instance we've had everybody come and talk to us from all the different committees and
particularly conservation o and open space and I never knew really the the breadth of the work that they do and how little funding they have. I mean, I I felt like the historical commission was low man on the totem pole, but and then the
affordable housing. Oh my, we're way behind on that. And so Margaret Donnelly, how do you say her last name? Margaret. Yeah. So she works in affordable housing in what what city is it in Boston or something? And she really explained to
all of us how the CPA is like um is like a key that can unlock so much more funding from programs. and she has a lot of experience with that. And I think we're sort of stuck here in Reading on affordable housing. We have a very teenytiny affordable housing trust fund
that can't really do a whole lot. So, um, and it's $50 a year, $100 a year, 150 a year, and then, you know, there are exemption categories for people that are low income and seniors. >> So, it Go ahead.
>> Yeah, go ahead. Yeah, I was going to say the the one other thing I would add um is that um uh so uh look I looked over the um uh that same thing where where I you know found just how long the brows tennis courts have post postponed. That was a project where I was looking at uh
past capital plans and how they've evolved over the last uh 10 years and reading has spent about rough I mean I'm not a expert on on who can make a you know official qualification of whether a project would have been CPA eligible or not but it looks as if we spent about
$10 million in 10 years on CPA eligible projects. So that's stuff that the, you know, voters and elected, uh, you know, representatives, uh, in town meeting, you know, have been choosing to fund in our current situation. So, if we're
going to do it anyway, I would love to get 20% off. Um, that is is one of one of my um arguments for this. >> But you're right, there is never a good time. We did uh there was a question about we couldn't have made November 24. We could have gone for the local
election in April 25, but no, because we were about to have the votes on the vote on Kellum. >> Um, anybody else want to go? Um, I am so broadly supportive of the concept. Um, I would be interested to hear whether there's any real discussion about sort
of supplementing the funding sources because I think all Tom's Tom's concerns are fair. Um, you know, maybe this is a discussion for another day, but I I also agree with Tom's point. I I do think there's real risk that this would imperel an override if we, you know, given the sequencing
and, you know, frankly, an override, which might mean 3, four, 5% of the budget is going to be more important to us than, you know, than this in terms of, you know, keeping our operating expenses um afloat. And so, um, I wonder if we think about a strate, you know, we
meaning the global we, not we, um, think about a strategy where, um, when we get to the point where we're talking about an override in a number, do we pull this out and attach the votes and say, you know, instead of a 3% override, it's a 2% override and a 1%, you know, CPA.
You know what I mean? somehow tie those so that and then the the messaging is we're managing the sort of the scale of the override by attaching some of this to the CPA which comes with additional money from the state right um >> I could get behind that >> you know >> if the if the if the raw number coming
in is essentially the only problem is it's locked into these things right >> so if the number is right to the to the one million number Joe to your perspective perhaps we can figure that out >> I think Joe's point is a good one though that over any any period of more than a year or two we're likely to spend at or above what the CPA would be eligible
for. So, >> um, you know, so I I just I agree. I I would have the same concerns as Tom. I'm I'm very supportive of the concept. I'm very supportive even if it's only a 14% match. It's, you know, it's still the math makes sense. You know, it makes makes all the sense in the world. I I do
worry about the, you know, the viability um and the impact on override. >> That's a good suggestion. We hadn't even thought of anything like that. >> No, that's a good idea. I mean there are of course there are state laws about exactly how you adopt the CPA and like it has to be >> it' be two different ballot measures you
run the chance of of losing CPA and winning over Sure. >> Well it would it would be um it has to be at a um so it can't be a special election. Um so um I know overrides are sometimes special elections sometimes tied in with a local election. Um uh so
yeah there are complexities there but it's a cool idea. I like it. And while I'm here, I state for the record, even though I've just spent Lord knows how much time over the last year studying the CPA. Uh, if you told me to pick one, I'm like, you get one of the two, I'll override. Okay, let's go. Right. This
has been fun. >> No, but it's a fair point. There's I mean, there's never a good time for this. We're always, you know, we're always fresh off an override, talking about the next override, considering a debt exclusion. like it's just the nature of municipal financing in Massachusetts that you're always putting you're always asking people to sign up
to pay more. >> Um there's never going to be a long clean period where you know everybody's like you know they haven't asked me in a long time I'd love to pay more taxes. >> Um it just doesn't happen. So >> nobody says I'd love to pay more taxes. >> Nobody ever says that right. So um
you know again I personally I'm supportive. I would vote for it whether it was with an override, before an override, after an override, but I think in terms of the viability and sort of not imperiling an anticipated override, I think we'd have to think carefully about that sequencing. >> Yeah,
>> that's an excellent point. >> I I I was one of my questions which you may have just answered was that um this wouldn't be a special election, right? It would always be coupled with an >> interestingly it's required to not be a special election. It must either be a regularly scheduled state or local
election. >> Okay, perfect. >> I think that's so you can't play turnout games. >> Can't play turnout games. Exactly. >> Okay, fine. Sure. >> Or you can't, you know, force people to to pay for an election as well. >> Well, that's right. Um I I I um I I
agree with what is being said here just with the terms of the override. I'm really sensitive to we just asked people to do two huge building projects. Um, and and I know, you know, even when you're talking about our buildings in town, we should be doing one every few
years, right? Um, and that's just part of how you run a, you know, a town. But, um, I just think it it's it's either a little too soon or a little too late depending on how you look at it. Um, but I do the concept,
like you said, I'd rather get 20% off a a project I'm going to do. I can totally get behind that. Um, I just think the timing right now is just not the best timing, >> but I do appreciate I really appreciate
you guys even looking into it and and putting the committee together and all that. >> One of your other questions was what are the best and highest uses? Just my personal opinion, we always always always need more wreck spaces, right? There's forever a need for more wreck facilities indoors, outdoors, you know,
of all stripes. So, um, you know, I don't know, I don't want to speak on behalf of everybody, but I think for the students of this town, a priority would be more fields, more indoor spaces, you know, more courts, right? Like that's there's never enough, you know, we we we know there's always more demand than
there is capacity for sports in particular in this town. Um, but you know, other types of activities as well. >> But I think you can also take every every um category there, right? conservation and invasive species and historical like you could you could see
the benefit of all of it. Um >> so it's the money would definitely be used. There's no doubt about it. >> Any other questions or comments? >> I would echo the the recreation side of it and Birch Meadow 3. I think actually
it may not be more it may be better. Right. So part of the problem with some of the space we have is that it becomes a swamp and you can't play in it, right? So behind Coolage becomes a swamp and you can't play in it. Over at Simons becomes a swamp and you can't play in it. So maybe it's just a matter of how
do we use the space as well and what do we do to improve the space? So what's going on with one and two? Great. Or what happened with one? What's going on with two? Great. If three includes other things, awesome. Uh trails, you know, Sean and I were both on the um ARPA committee, right? And we heard many of
the same type of things about all the things they try to do that they don't run up run for uh don't have any money for. We also heard from historical at that point in time. Um little I mean sometimes a little bit helps in each of those places. So it'll be interesting >> the archavist that was amazing.
>> It'll be interesting to see if this passes how the process of allocation works, >> right? um and what the grant application process is. And the you know, one of the other things that is just a fact of the matter is when towns do it,
towns do building, it costs more. We just it it costs more for us to do it than if it's a private related thing. So, can CPA do things privately since it's not? I don't think so. I would guess it still has to go through the whole town procurement process and all that stuff.
So even if you allocated 800,000 but the budget came back at a million, does that mean you have to wait for the next year? I mean because you don't have something else to go back to or or can it be paired maybe that's another question. Can it be paired with additional funding from the town?
>> So you know here's 800,000 from CPA and town we need 200,000 the town meeting has to approve. >> We have seen examples of that. >> Almost all that your questions are on their website. So if you want if you feel like >> he's got up on the screen. >> I got up on the screen. >> Oh, is it on the screen? >> Oh, good.
>> He's listening to what you're saying. >> Yes, I am. >> Yeah. >> You know, different allocation process, but functionally it can almost operate like a revolving fund >> to support projects that you're paying for, you know, other from other um >> yeah, >> other pools. >> That's another thing that that didn't
wasn't obvious to me, but um you can uh towns can borrow against it. Mhm. >> Um so if you want to do something big with your CPA funds, um you don't have to save up the money for 30 years and then build it. You could borrow against
it and and you know pay it off uh the you know uh heaven knows taxes don't go down. So it is a safe bet that you will be you know have at least that much money every year in CPA funds to pay it back with. >> Interesting. Okay. >> Yeah. Right.
>> All right. Thank you both. Appreciate you all so much for your time. Thank you indeed. >> And excellent comments and questions. >> Okay. Uh let's move to the Q4 finance update. And I think we've got some cost transfers to discuss. Um Phil, I saw you
on the line there. You should be able to take yourself off of mute and I can uh bring up your your slides. >> And Sarah's on now, too, so you know >> we can hear you. Yep. And um sorry Phil just before you jump in for the for the record Sarah joined uh at about 7:25.
Um all right go ahead Phil I've got your slides. Um >> so can I move the slides up? >> Uh I can bring them up. Bear with me just one second. >> I can bring them up too. >> Okay. Yeah you're yeah go for it if that's easier. Go for it. >> I got it
here. That one there. They brought the messiest possible thing for us to try. >> Sir, can you see it? >> Yep. >> Yeah. Can you just go full screen? >> Yeah. Over here. >> Is that better? >> Yes. >> Yes, sir.
>> Okay. So, this is for um financials. You know, we did the beginning of July. Not a whole lot of change. Um, so a couple of things as I noted in my memo that on the general fund we have returning from the town a
total of 59,994 which is made up of two components 5674 that's currently uh left in the general fund as you can see on the report here and then over here 54,320
that we anticipating getting back from the insurance company for our two IT um problems that we had last year where we spent about $74,000 on that uh district funds. There's a $10,000 deductible for
each of those claims. So that brings it down by 20 and that gets us down to the $54,000. When that money comes in, that will be sent break from the general fund. So, in total, it's just $6 short of returning 60,000 back to the town.
Um, in terms of the other items that we planned, we did do a technology request for approximately 350,000. We did 1.2 million for our special ed tuition prepays and we did the transfer 225,000 to the special education reserve fund.
So all three of those uh we were able to do as we had go into the last couple reports um at the end of the year. So those are all taken care of as well. Um and then do I take the transfer now because we do
have to folks do have to vote on a year and transfer which is in the memo but it's also you can see it. I move my mouse here. This is what it looks like here in terms of the transfer. just move money around from the different cost centers because the way the budget's
voted. Uh we're moving budget funds between the cost centers. It needs to be approved by the school committee. >> Yeah. Um any any questions? >> Yeah. Just um any questions on what Phil presented so far before we take a motion for the transfer? We can still talk about the transfer, but
>> Okay, let's let's take the motion >> for for the motion. I'm going to talk about all the cost centers in the from column and then I'll do the two column. >> Perfect. >> Okay. Uh move to approve the budget transfer between cost centers for the fiscal year 25 end of year
reconciliations as follows from the following cost centers. Administration $15,3728 regular day 9 $392,8805 health services $15,80 extracurricular $18,896.31
athletics $40,4648 school facil ilities $5,59161 going to the following cost centers. Special education $400,75350. technology 87,343 with a total in both columns of
$487,00078753. >> Second. >> Seconded by Carla. Any >> second by Tom. >> Sorry. Seconded by Tom. Motion by Carla. Seconded by Tom. Uh any discussion on the transfers? Uh, one quick one, and this might be a technicality, so push me back if you need to. Sean, do we need to
approve the special education transfer first since it seems to be a predecessor of the rest? >> That you approve the special education transfer back in June. >> We we approved recommendation. We didn't actually approve the actual transfer
because it was it gave you some flexibility back in June. >> Yeah. Well, well, the way it was ordered is that you approve returns for up to 225,000. So, I don't know. I I was under the impression that would cover whatever that number is and we just report the number back to you. Um, if you feel that
you need to take a second vote, I'm not going to not for me to stand in the way of that. >> Um, I think there's probably no harm in us taking a second vote. >> I don't think there's harm in either. I was going to try and look at the notes to make sure I looked at the memo.
>> Yeah, I I mean it's not there's no downside to taking a second vote. Tom, do you mind making a motion? >> Yeah. I move to approve 225,000 from the special education transfer from the special education um cost center to uh the special education reserve fund.
>> Second. >> Seconded by Carla. Any discussion about that transfer? >> Okay. Uh let's go to a roll call vote. Uh Tom, >> yes. >> Laura, >> yes. Carla, >> yes. >> Sarah, >> yes. >> And Sean, yes. That carries five to
zero. Okay. So, now we'll return to the motion on the end ofear transfers, um, which is on the table and has been seconded by Tom. Any further discussion before we go to a vote on those? Okay. Roll call. Tom, >> yes. >> Laura, >> yes.
>> Carla, >> yes. >> Sarah, >> yes. >> And Sean, yes. Five to zero. Okay. Um, Phil, do we want to go to um, well, do you want to just pick up from there? >> Yeah, I'm just going to I'm not going to
go into detail on all of these. Just point out a few of the highlights on the grants. You know, the end of the year, we appreciate um, we are carrying over money in the title grants that we always try to try to maximize as much as we can and we are back to the rule that the bot
could carry over is 15% of your initial grant. So we need to stay within um those parameters. But all in all, if you look um this year 24 grant really 48 bucks left that we need to spend. So that we've done a good job cleaning all those up and closing them out. Um we've
got about 368,000 in carryover across the various grants going into uh fiscal year 26. So it's always a good place to be. And I just want to point out that we had a couple other grants that hadn't near the end of the year with the project summer heat.
That was $2,000 grant that showed that I talked about very good presentation and we had a computer science professional development grant that we also got. So, you know, the staff across the district does a very good job of finding all these other grants that are out there
and getting them. So, so I I I need to uh I guess directly as well taking those grants up because it's always a lot of work getting the >> getting the applications in.
Um, any question on the grants? >> Nope. >> And one quick one. One quick one real quick. Real quick. Sorry, Phil. Maybe more for Tom. Um, can you go back a page, Phil? >> Yeah. Um, >> it appears that our carryover for METCO
has gone down by about $40,000. Do we have any concerns about that with staffing levels now and with forthcoming state funding for the next year or anything else like that? >> We do. I think without a significant increase in the sort of state allocation for METCO, we're going to have to continue to make some difficult
decisions around uh an FY27. Um, I think that we feel this our kind of our most important part of our Mechco budget right now is our staffing. So, we just have to continue to look at other spots where we can be creative and be flexible. Unfortunately, as you know that we're already pretty thin on everything on on the grant right now.
So, uh, yes, we have concerns on that. We've uh I actually met with Cindy and Jericho yesterday to map out what that could look like in the future. But it's definitely something we're planning you know early and planning for sort of worst case scenario that you know as we know we haven't you know received the level of support the last couple years in the budget as we would have wanted to
or that many have been advocating for. >> Has there been any news coming on me headquarters with the new CEO or anything else like >> Nope. Not publicly announced yet. That'll be a challenge, right? Um I did want to back up just one thing. I know Mr. Wise, I think you had a
question of Superintendent Garer today as to where we are in terms of the 2% on um the uh special ed fund. Our net school spending for fiscal year 25 for the end of year report was approximately
$66 million. So that puts the 2% at around 1.3 million. So we're uh just about where we want to be in terms of 1% right now. >> Great. Phil, thank you for the followup. I appreciate it. >> I almost forgot. >> I did forget. So you beat me to it.
All right. Um the accounts um overall not a bad year. You know, some changes here and there. I know for the drama. Um I believe part of the issue they had last year was that some of the u fees they pay to be able to use the materials
really went up. So that's a a big thing there. Um I do want to point out the extended day program. Um I had said previous year previously the year that we're looking to try to break even but we came very close end up about $24,000 short. But as they pointed out in their
um August presentation to the committee, you know, they've made a lot of changes to the program to get to college incorporate even for fiscal year 45. And you know, they're I think they've got a good plan in place for fiscal year 26 going forward in order to make sure that
um that program tries to at least break even if not um have a little bit on the positive side. So I'm comfortable where we're at are. I've had some good conversations with the folks over there making some changes on the accounting system as well to make it a little bit
easier to track things. Um I will tell you that the biggest issue that I have is for some reason we're not able to put budgets into munis for the revolving accounts and I'm not sure why. So it
makes it kind of difficult to get really good a way for the folks to be able to manage their budget at the county system that they've given that information. So they're going to be working on that this year to figure out another way to do it. Um the other one that I wanted to point
out um was school lunch program. Um that looks like it's really ugly in terms of year end, but there's a couple reasons for that. Um, reason number one is there's about $116,000 of revenue from June that hasn't been posted yet. So, that would bring that
number down. Um, Katie probably also mentioned in her presentation that we spent probably close to 4 million if you go through every day with a fine cone in terms of capital expenditures is the uh system. We bought the van for 95,000
which was initially on the city's capital plan. We pulled that back in. because we had enough in the balance for the school lunch program to do that. She replaced some ovens and I know she's got plans in place already for this year to replace some more ovens. So, it's really nice to be in that position where we
have enough money in uh the balance to be able to do that. Um so, that takes care of that. So, all in all, we did end up with an operating loss of around 175,000 and you part of that is started a lot of things. and try out a whole lot of
different things and similar to what we did with the uh after school programs. You know, there's some learning curve there and some bumps as we go through. Um but I think going forward, Katie and I will work very closely in terms of making sure that we match up uh the
revenues with the uh expenses. One of the things that caught us a bit by surprise this past year was the increase in the cost of a lot of her um food supplies. you know, we really got hit. Um, a lot of them do some shortages at
various points of the year on needs. So, that was a little bit higher than anticipated. But again, this is also another one where you can't put a budget into unit. So, it's hard to manage program if you don't have a budget in your county system to uh be able to help
you guide you. So, again, Katie and I got to work on that and be able to give her some reports that she can work with, that I can work with. Um, and so for fiscal year 26, um, I think we got a good plan in place as well to, uh, get the overall program practice back to
being self-sufficient. Um, I'm very excited about our stalker expansion of the summer programs. I think that's really great. As well as the catering business, and I'm sure she put the plug in there. I'll put the plug in there as well. um food services does a lot of does a great job of catering for any of
your um meetings that you might have whether it's on campus or when you go off campus. So, you know, keep us in mind and you know the price you're better than any place else. So, and you know, they do a good job. The food's very good. I mean, I tell you something is a restricted diet, they do a great
job with the gluten-free items. They do great gluten-free rollups for lunch. And so, I'm just putting that out there as you know, try to sell the program to everyone. Other than that, at this point, oh, I I did also want to say when we looked when I first got here and I looked at the
balance in the low school unfro fund, I was very excited because it's very nice healthy balance, but the state's not happy with it because it's too much money. So, you know, it's always the eternal battle in the state where they like you to have no more than 3 months
operating expenses in your food service account. Well, I had battles with before where I could program. We had more than that and I once said to uh the woman who was doing the uh review, so what would you like me to do? I don't have any capital
expenses. You're welcome to start telling them to start serving lobster. Bring it down. So, in any case, that's just my little story on that. But all in all, I think program is totally in good shape. you know, we had a few warning bumps um for last year, but we know what
happened. We know what's going on. And as I said, the superintendent, you know, the 26, we're going to fine tune the program and get it where it needs to be. So, on the revolving house, that's really all that I wanted to highlight. Any other I'm sorry, any questions?
Phil, did you sorry were you were you I think you were suggesting that because we can't put these into Munis, it presents a challenge in terms of managing these budgets particularly for these larger these larger line items like extended day and school lunch. Is there not I mean could we not use like an offtheshelf
you know an offtheshelf >> sort of piece of software at least for internally managing them? >> That's that's what we're going to end up doing. >> Okay. you know, and maybe it's much more sophisticated probably than Excel spreadsheet to put it in there. >> Yeah. >> I just need something that I can provide
to both Katie and um McKenzie and these other gentlemen and Chris, you know, give them something that they can see to work with. >> So, we're going to be doing that. >> So, I would like to be able to put it
into munis. for some reason it's not the way the town does itself. Um it's not that it can't be done it's just the way the town does it. So yes we'll be we'll be doing it elsewhere
from my perspective. Yes program are our two big businesses so to speak and we need to be able to run it like a business be able to see the numbers rather than you know waiting for the surprises to show up. >> Yep. And but part of the the most frustrating thing out of the school
program is always the delay getting the reimbursements from the state. So we're always trying to figure out, you know, where we are with that. So we're going to make some operational changes to help it out. I will say, and I don't know if Kate said in her um presentation, she made a lot of good operational changes.
The one that I really like is that for this year, all the elementary schools, the kids no longer have to key in their PIN number. Then he's going to give it a card that has a barcode on it and each of the registers now have the barcode here. And so they just swipe the card underneath it, get their lunch and off
they go. You know, they only have 20 minutes for lunch. It's really improved getting students through the uh the check off line. So they do have, you know, glass kids are going through the line with 3 minutes left in the lunch period. So I'm very pleased with that.
So >> thank you. >> Any question? Any other questions? >> If not, move down. >> Sorry, hang on, Phil. Sorry. We have we have a question from Dr. Cororm here in the audience.
>> Stock here. >> Yep, that's good. >> Jeffrey Corum Richard, I was just curious. Um, I see after school activities Parker with tens of thousands of dollars of activity and extracurricular with no activity and I'm just kind of
curious, you know, in terms of, you know, balancing opportunities at the two middle schools. If you could comment on why the discrepancy in those two lines and why Koolage isn't doing anything after school or why it appears that way. >> Uh, with all honesty, doctor, I can't
comment on that right now. I'll have to look into it and get back to you. Um, probably one month. >> Okay. Okay. Go ahead, Phil. >> Okay. >> All right. Give donations early changes
here since the uh July 7th presentation on this um student activity counts. The other thing I do want to note as we I've said before that the uh high school class of 25 it account balance is zero.
So there's no need for the community to have to vote to transfer any money out because that account is now closed on our books. Um and then finally just the scholarships that are held in trust in the town. This is more just for information for people to see this. that
these are the ones that we don't do accounting for and not really responsible for. They're being held in trust on the town side. But want to continue providing this to you folks so that we're all have the same knowledge basis to where we are
with those. So, um so that is the Q4 of the end of the year. You know, in good shape overall. I think we're we're pretty well positioned for 26 and
also looking down the road at 27 trying to position ourselves as well um as we try to as we go through the next couple of years um with the hope that we're able to maintain everything that the superintendent want us to do. >> Phyllis just maybe just something I've
never never noticed before. Um, what's the difference between a scholarship donation fund and a scholarship in trust? I'm again I'm going to say I'm not really sure myself. It's just the way some of these things get set up. Um, it's a bad answer, I
know, and I haven't spent a whole lot of time thinking into it because I haven't been in a um district before that had this many broken up this way. Typically, all the scholarships are for the high school and the high school just managed it in terms
of their involving accounts and but for some reason we have a lot of these in the trust is the way they were legally set up. But >> okay, >> I will I will have a better answer and get back at the next meeting so that everyone understands what it is because I need to better understand what they
are. >> Okay, thank you. Okay, any um any other questions from anyone before we move on to the uh sort of audit report? >> No. >> Thank you, Phil. >> Thanks, Phil.
>> Thank you. Thanks. >> All right. Um, stop sharing. Where did I go? Okay, here we are. >> All right. Um, I guess when I go to my next item, which is the interview report.
>> You are. >> All right. I'm going to bring something up. I I'd like to put it in perspective for this. So, give me a moment here. I want to share another another screen. Share
this one. Okay. So, report you have in front of you is something that's required by testing. You know, we fill out the infamous end of year report, which is a very detailed, very time consuming, very
pain in the you know what to get done. Because this workbook which I have up here on the screen, do you see this Excel worksheet? >> Yep. >> Yep. >> This thing was probably, let me put it this way. This is my 15th year uh in
this business and this workbook hasn't changed in those 15 years. So, it it's been out there for a long time. Um the report itself, as you can see, was a clean report. There are no reported findings. I also like to say that this is not an audit. This is an agreed upon
procedures which is about two levels below an audit. Essentially what happens is that Jay Sullivan puts together a list of procedures that he wants all the accounting firms to do on each of our industry reports and every year you know he wants to look at some of the same
things year for year and then every year or so we will add in a new item or take out an item. I know about eight years ago to really looked one of the um accounting first look at on this was the transportation
cost and how they were broken out and that's probably where they're trying to get a better understanding side in terms of trying to get reimbursement from that but this is the way the report basically works is this
is what's known as schedule three and schedule three is where we have to fill out for each of our programschools what we spend on direct educational expenses. Now, I just like to point out to people
that this thing is 22 columns long and 120 lines down, which means there's approximately 2,28 cells where you can theoretically have to make an entry. Now obviously we don't you know we typically use you know just
the regular day and uh special ed undistributed and all that but you have to do this for each of the schools. And the hardest part about this is that there is no way to tie it to anything. In other words, this has to be data
entry um number by number because they just have not gotten the way yet to be able to link it to another worksheet or an accounting system or anything. So, it's a lot of detailed work and it's a lot of
work breaking these expenses out. The good news is for our accounting system, if you can see where my mouse is right now, we do have within our general ed account numbers, a portion of the lawn account number that ties to these desi
function codes. So, it gives us a head start on that. But again, we have to do for each of the schools as well as um the uh preschool and also districtwide. So there's 10 of these that have to be entered. And then once that's done,
there's a bunch of other reports that we have to do where what we just put on schedule 3 all carries over to schedule one. And then we have to do more entries of schedule one for the expenses that are not direct um educ um education
expenses. So all the you know the front office expenses or back office expenses and things like that. So it's I just want to say it's a lot of work. There's a lot of entries and when you go and look at this as you can see there's no findings. That means everything they
check work the way the entries were made into the right locations. The backup that was tied up what we did on that. So I am very and I had absolutely nothing to do with this. I want to make sure we're all clear on that because this was before I got here. Uh Kate did 99.99% of
this and um it was very well done and I nothing I enjoy more than having a clean report from this. So it's also for you folks if you want to really dig into it. Um it it's a good way to really understand
um the overall expenses of um education because it's not just the budget that you folks approve. It's also expenses such as health insurance, health insurance retirees, bond payments, interest on bonds, all
that gets added up. So if you look at it, I believe for 24 the overall actual amount of money spent on education, including what you also have to pay out to the um the books and things like that was somewhere in the neighborhood of $89
million. I believe it's somewhere in here. But, you know, it's it gives a lot of information, but it's a hell of a lot of work to get it there. So, anytime you get back a clean report and also there are no amendments, in
other words, corrections that have to be made, that's a very good report and we have no corrections that need to be posted. So, again, um I think you have uh work well done by Kate last year and you know, I've already set expectations for this year. keep it going at the same
time. So, you know, I think it's important for you folks to see this and uh just let you know, you know, this is one of the things that we're required to do along with all the other reporting that we have to do for the state. So, any questions on this? I mean, if you ever if you're really curious
someday and you want to go through it, I'd be happy to sit down with anyone. We go through if if you really like to get into the numbers or if you can't sleep at night, I'm sure I can. >> Thanks, Phil. >> I think I echo your appreciation for a
clean report is my takeaway on all this. >> Um, I got I gota take wins. I got take somewhere. So, there you go. Just a win. So, I like it. >> And Kate's phenomenal. We agree with you in that regard, too. Yep. Okay. Any >> that's all I have on that.
>> Any further discussion on this? No. >> Okay. Thanks, Bill. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Thank you. All right. I'm going to stop sharing the screen here. >> All right. >> Okay. Have a great night. >> Good night. Thank you.
>> Um, okay. Let's move to old business and we will go to uh student handbook revisions for our RHS. >> It should be very brief. We're just seeking uh the committee to vote on the revised RMHS student handbook. I see Dr. Cororm here in the audience. I'd like to thank Dr. Cororm for his uh for his
feedback uh but also just consistently providing you know not only attending meetings but consistently being engaged and giving uh a really detailed level of feedback on everything that we do. So really appreciate your partnership, your collaboration and your feedback as always. Uh he provided feedback on three areas that you'll see updated the new version. One around detailing what
happens if there's a tie for Val and S. uh uh addressing the discrepancy between how often grades are updated three or four times and then also uh the last piece that just a grammatical error around sort of some language around dress code. Dr. Corm did provide some other uh updates uh a couple of weeks
ago that we are vetting with legal counsel which we find we got an answer just in the last uh 24 hours here and then also did provide some feedback today too. So there's still some other things that are sort of out there. I would say u smaller items. I don't think there anything that would necessarily substantively change or significantly
change uh sort of the content of the handbook, but uh things that we are certainly looking at to address. So thank you. And I think tonight we're just looking for the vote on those three updates. >> Start with a motion. >> Move to approve the RMHS student
handbook revisions as presented. >> Second. >> Seconded by Laura. Um any discussion? Dr. Cororum? No. Okay. Um Sarah, are you good? Okay. Uh let's move to the vote and we will roll call. Tom,
>> yes. >> Laura, >> yes. >> Carla, >> yes. >> Sarah, >> yes. >> And Sean, yes. Okay. Um so that brings us to our final agenda item of the night. Uh I wanted to do two things with respect to the Malberry Forest School.
Um one is you know give an update on sort of my last outreach to them and where that stands. But first um I wanted to you know sort of publicly you know acknowledge that Carla was right and and apologize to Carla. We talked about it shortly after um you know in private you
know privately shortly after after the meeting. Um, you know, when the question about the gentleman's involvement in in the Boston Hill School came up, um, you know, I was sort of frantically googling trying to figure out what it was you were referring to and, um, missed the disconnect in the dates that he
articulated. And as you said to me later, the math wasn't math. And so, um, you know, I think, uh, it was a, it was a very relevant line of question given that he was there, you know, well into the period where some of those concerns started. um you know in in reflecting on
that meeting um having everybody from that team sort of leave that item as misunderstood I would say and not clarifying that timeline you know gives me some concern and you know creates some pretty serious trust issues from my perspective um but uh you know that's
probably for another day um so anyway just wanted to apologize publicly and acknowledge that that uh I regret you know I regret how that went and um I'm glad Frankly, I'm glad it failed. I'd be here calling for a reconsideration tonight if it had passed. So, um so, uh
with that, the other thing, um that I wanted to share is I did, um again, another thing Carla and I discussed was I I reached out to uh Mary Germanis Saba, who was, you know, kind of the primary speaker there at our last meeting, and just sort of, you know, tried to recap kind of where
we were. Um and I shared with her there were at least three buckets of, you know, major concerns a committee had. um one being certainly the certificate of occupancy, two being a lot of discussion and sort of confusion potentially around um you know the qualifications and what
they were using to qualify the the staff. Um and then three being you know a number of instances including the one we just talked about where there were um you know at best sort of misstatements and potentially misleading statements um
about certain issues um certain issues related to the school and some of the folks involved and the legal structure and and things like that and and we've got open questions there. So, I outlined those to to them in an email um almost two weeks ago. Um and suggested, you
know, they also could watch the video back to see what other concerns the committee might have and suggested that a next step would be to have a meeting with Carla and I before bringing it back before the full school committee just to make sure that before we spent, you know, more of this committee's time, it was likely to be sort of additive and
productive um you know, as a second as a follow-up conversation. Um I've not heard back from them even to acknowledge that note at this point almost two weeks later. Um so I don't know where that leaves us. You know I think we heard through the grapevine that they may be operating at Camp Rice Moody. Um so
maybe they've moved on from you know maybe they've moved on from um Mata. Um but I you know a lot of those challenges and questions that I know several of us probably have are are still valid regardless of where they're operating. Um so that's where we are. I I didn't
want to just sort of take a moment of privilege here. So, I put this as an agenda item. So, if anybody has anything else they want to add, feel free. >> Um Sean, first thank you um for the update. I think that's important. Um and second of all, if they are at Camp Rice
Moody without our approval, how are they operating? Right? And if they're charging tuition for, you know, they can do prek without our approval, >> they can. Um, but if they're doing K1234, which they said they were going to,
how are they operating and what what are our recourse options as a result? Do we have any idea or should we check with legal counsel? >> They can operate um students at my understand my best understanding is students attending that school without our if it doesn't have our approval the
school day would not qualify as being enrolled in you know in a school program. So they may be working some there may be some sort of co-op workaround that you know homeschooling co-op kind of approach that they're um that maybe their council has has advised you know sort of exempts them from that
but the primary benefit to them from receiving our approval other than um you know other than whatever legitimacy comes from that was um you know the legal requirement that students of a you know six six and above be enrolled in a full day program is met. Um, so I I
can't speak to, you know, how they're approaching that or what they're doing at this point. Um, but it's it's a great question. It's probably worthy of following up to understand if they're open and they have students six and older enrolled, you know, how
how are they positioning that to ensure that those students are legally enrolled in a in a school day program for the purposes of the state? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I I will say that there um the the website still contains um information
that they are um at Mata Cabin in Reading Mass. Um I know in another district they had issues where they were um using that as a a location of the school and the town reached out to them and asked them to take it off their
website. Um I think they should be taking that off the website that they're at Mata Cabin. Um, and um, I think it would be nice for it to be clear if what is posted on their website and what is presented to
families there is the same thing. >> Yeah, >> fair points. >> Yeah. >> Um, Laura, Sarah, anything to add on this topic? Um, just that I'm disappointed to hear
that they didn't respond at all to outreach. That's concerning. >> Yeah, it's not great. Do we One more question. I guess Rice Mooney relatively close from an abuing
perspective to Birch Meadow Playground. It's like there's a small forest in between or something else along those lines. I don't expect us to have any concerns. >> Is the forest part of Rice Moody though? Is the forest part of the Rice Moody property up to the >> the question I'm sort of wondering right
where what's the relate what's the what's the connectivity? I know we have a fence and I know they're kids so I'm not really worried about anything happening but just in terms of you know somebody hops a fence or you know I'm just what what other concerns might we
have? We have to make sure we're we're buttoning down anything over at Birch that we may not have had to worry about before. Okay. So, um I expect more to come on this. I will um you know what I'll do if if the
committee's in agreement and we didn't motion any kind of vote. So, you know, we'll just sort of look for tacid agreement here, I suppose. Um, I'll reach out with maybe concerns and some questions about whether and where they are operating. Um, probably copy the
folks from select board conservation about your point, Carla, that they're still sort of advertising they're operating in Mata. So, if that's no longer the case and no longer the intent, you know, and ask that they clarify that. Um, and just a reminder that we're still sort of waiting to hear from them on, you know, whether they
intend to engage with us or not. Um because as we sit here today uh I don't know where that stands. So >> was that email sent only to her or to was it was anyone else to her? She's been the one she's been the sort of liaison you know asking for meetings and providing materials and things like
that. So yeah it was with her. So >> I I I am curious of their um their desire to be in Reading because when you're going to um now to Camp Rice Moody, there's a lot of other places that I'm
sure fit that bill, right? Camp Rice Moody Moody is, you know, near the woods. There are a lot of other opportunities for them to get places potentially closer to their homes or in other places. I'm just curious as to what the the draw is for for outsiders
to come to reading, >> especially when the town >> I do think a Girl Scout owned facility sort of makes a lot of sense because it avoids some of the scheduling conflict concerns that folks have had with Mata, right? You know, >> Girl Scouts are in school during the time that they >> But there are also multiple Girl Scout
scout sites around. >> No, for sure. Yeah, it's not the only one. For sure. >> Just interesting to me. >> No question. >> Yeah. So, okay. So, we'll um Carla and I we can we can connect and sort of, you know, follow up and we'll share an update with this committee, you know, whenever we
have one and um you know, see how this moves forward, but some oddities in this whole event for sure. So, >> okay. >> Okay. >> All right. Um is there another motion?
>> Move to adjourn. >> Is there a second? Second by Carla. Uh, we will roll call. Tom, >> yes. >> Laura, >> yes. >> Carla, >> yes. >> Sarah, >> yes. >> And Sean, yes. We are adjourned. Thanks everyone.