--------- Hello. >> Hello. How exciting. We're in. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> All right. Does that mean Jeremy's in? Is he the host? >> I'm assuming he's the host. Oh, I got a
lot of Why am I >> Hold on. I got a >> All right, I'm gonna rejoin. >> I'm in here twice. I'm not sure how much. >> Yeah, I don't know what happened. I um I went in through
the Zoomuler for this meeting and it didn't bring me here, I guess. Um, so I was waiting there for everyone else to join and I don't know where I was, but then I went to the town calendar and clicked into here. So, >> here we are. I don't know.
>> I have no idea what happened. I'm so over tech. I actually was trying to get my my main computer, not my Chromebook, to work like I did last time we did this and um it was not cooperating. So then I didn't understand why. It doesn't matter. We're here now. It's all great.
Um, warned me that the Wi-Fi was is shoddy tonight. They've been doing some work in Barry, so I thought it was me. >> No, I just don't understand. Like, it it worries me a little bit um that there's a Zoom meeting uh that inside of my
Zoom, which I'm hosting from, that there is uh yeah, that the link from the Zoom brings me to a room with no one. But I guess it doesn't matter as long as the one that comes from the public postings brings us here. So, here we are. Yay. Um, hi
everybody. >> Hello. >> Let's see. Are we recording? Yes, we are. Good. All right. So, let's call uh this belated meeting of the Sheets uh school committee policy subcommittee to order at 6:39.
Um, we have first on our agenda the approval of the minutes from January 15th, 2026. >> Um, what's that? Some moved. I will second that. All in favor myui
jack. >> Thank you Leah. Um so the policies that we have for review are the um second read for IHBE remote learning um and JL for library materials section and
adoption. Uh I don't believe that we need to vote on those. We just need to discuss those. Correct. Well, it's your second read, so this is when you will take the vote. >> Okay, perfect. Like I said, all we have to do is vote on these. Um,
so, uh, Leo, do you want to make the the move? And >> yeah, >> let me see. I'm looking at my notes. I have four four policies for second read. Is that
right? or like vote from second read to >> we do we have two that are review they are current policies we have that have been minor updates to be honest usually uh the first one is just a reference that was added and then there are two that are on a second read that are
policies to be added so you are correct there are four total on second read >> okay all right so I will vote to move um hold on Sorry. Let me just open my the
agenda so that I move the right ones. >> Look at me. I printed them out for a change. >> So much easier. >> Okay. All right. So, I um I move to
have um Wait. Okay. So for the ones for the policies for review on second read those if we are fine with the way they are we will
just leave them as is. Right. >> Correct. We will mark them as reviewed. >> Um we will add the update on the first policy that of the new reference because the policy itself hasn't changed. >> Yeah. >> So if you're good with that it will just be marked as reviewed. It does not have
to go to committee. We'll just mark it that it was reviewed by policy because there's no changes >> with this. We'll make this date. >> Okay. All right. So, I move um to keep
the policies IHB and JL um as is no changes. >> I will second that. Um I guess we don't need discussion because we said the piece as we did it. So all in favor myui >> Jack I
>> awesome. Um so the policies to be added our second read is IGB support services programs and I am I only can read that as I am. I can't say that's I am I am I am R health education.
>> Um so I move to have IGB and IHM added to the full school committee agenda for review. All right. I Yep. >> That is great. >> I will second it. Was there any discussion that we needed to have on those?
>> I didn't have any. >> No, I don't have anything either. >> Okay. So, uh all in favor I >> Jack I. >> It's unanimous. Um it's so strange to have a two person subcommittee. Um all right. policies to
be added are for the first read are library resources, JND access to digital resources and JNDB use of technology in instructions. So, these we don't have to vote on, but if we have any um concerns or any sort of things that we want to
change or add, we can do so. Right. >> Um I did have one thing on JD. Um so, I know we don't have a director of technology, >> right? >> We we do have a director of technology.
>> Oh, we do. Where did that happen? So, uh, Shootsberry has, uh, Debbie Lee who, um, is the, uh, media teacher, but she is also the director. She handles all the -ate, the procurement, the, um, I
will say Shootsberry is in much better shape than many of the the union um, people who are multitasking that position because she's very very strong in the technology. She's really a gem. Um, and so she we do have a director of
technology. >> Thanks. >> Cool. That was my Oh. Um, and then the other question I had was um the school library. I feel like I should know this, but I don't actually know if we have a school library. >> We do.
>> We do. It's very robust. It's We're very fortunate to have Heather Lubenstein at the helm. She brings in authors and really makes books come alive for kids. Like I think the challenges that she does, she had me help Battle of Books last week for the MCBA celebration. And
there that is why those the kids are just such avid readers. I mean, >> we've had cases where we've had to tell people like, "Okay, you have to stop reading now because it's, you know, they like sneak it under their desk. It's amazing. They are readers for sure." >> That's great. >> And fourth grade one, much to the
>> Yeah. much to the disappointment of my fifth grader. >> Much to the sugar of the fifth grade, >> they have next year. >> Uh yeah. So anyway, that was uh that. So yeah, the library is great and we even uh yeah, great. It's a great library. Um
so anything else that we need to talk about with that? All right, then I move to ajourn. >> Can I move to Yeah. What do you got? I just have one question because I think we ended up having
>> going into my second year. I'm trying to streamline this a little bit >> because we will break in June. I'm going to I'd like the policies like not to be mid policy >> when we start back up in September. So,
I'm going to suggest that we end policy in >> with the April meeting because that will make >> it have time to get through the school committee by June if that makes sense. >> Makes perfect sense. So, usually our May meeting is our reorganization meeting.
>> So, we could still have that long as we're not bringing policy, >> right? So then we can just well we can just finish off the policy because if we move that next month then that will become part of the stuff that needs to be read, >> right? So that should be all set. Okay. So we'll have our uh our our next policy
meeting is April 16th. That will be our last policy subcommittee meeting for this uh for this term. That make sense? Okay. >> Um I don't know if the can I as the chair of the sub policy move things? I don't know. Do you want to move Leah to adjurnn and then I'll second it?
I move to adjourn the policy meeting. >> I second. All in favor? May you? >> Jack I >> All right. And uh >> our next meeting is at the same time as their quarters um fundraiser that they do. >> Okay. >> The PTO does. So
>> are you gonna phone in? We all phone in. We could have an in-person meeting. >> We could quarters. All right. >> Thanks everyone. All right. See you soon. Okay. Bye. Part: 2
All right. Um, we're just waiting on an so we could give that another minute here before we officially come to order. Get our last snacks together. Uh Jeremy, can I ask if um the person
with the phone number is one of the um school committee members? >> That's a good question that I don't know. Um can 413 uh 4134
I can't even read tonight. 413. >> If you're not just Yeah, I don't I don't know that it is. If you are uh if the phone number is a uh school committee member, if they could just uh let us know, that would be great. I think we have everybody else here, right?
Uh Anna's here, Katrina's here, Nate's here, and Leah's here. So, no, that would not be a school committee member. Okay. Um, so I'm going to call this uh this meeting of the uh Shespberry School
Committee to order at 7:02. Um, see we have a pretty full virtual room. So I'd like to start off by uh oh wasn't here. Whoops. Uh I'd like to start off with uh public comment. Um generally if anyone
from the public comments uh we I think uh we start the meeting with that. So, if anybody who's here for the public that would like to comment, um, if you could just raise your hand and we'll acknowledge you and, uh, and and let us speak. >> All right. Uh, VA, go ahead. >> Yeah, I see a hand up.
>> Hi, everyone. Sorry, now I'm lowering my hand. >> All right. >> Clicking that lowering hand button. Hi, I'm Viva Butler. Um, I'm a PAR educator at SCES and uh co-president of the Shootsbury Education Association. And I'm just going to read a brief statement
on behalf of the majority of our members. Um, first off, we'd like to express our gratitude to the Shootsbury community and Shootsbury School Committee for recognizing the value of education and prioritizing funding our elementary school so students can thrive and grow. We deeply appreciate the work
that goes into developing and managing the Union 28 budget and we recognize that these decisions are neither simple nor made lightly. At the same time, we'd like to share some thoughts from our membership. As a small school community, we believe it's important to prioritize resources in ways that most directly
support the needs of our students in classrooms. We hope to see continued emphasis on sustaining and strengthening supports that have the most immediate impact on student learning. As our community is aware, Shootes has received accolades for the high achievement of our students. Specifically, we've been
awarded special recognition from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for our 2023 24 MCCAST scores and accountability ratings which met or exceeded all targets in both achievement and growth for our student performance outcomes. In addition, this past September, we received an additional
certific certification certificate of recognition for raising our math MCCAST scores to prepandemic levels, an achievement few schools in the state accomplished. These are acknowledgements our community should rightfully be proud of. Despite these tangible successes, we've noticed that the level of curriculum oversight and data collection
has grown significantly in the past year. While we understand the intention behind gathering data to inform instruction, the current level of oversight can sometimes impede our ability to focus on the valuable time spent directly supporting student learning. We would welcome a thoughtful
review of how these processes can best support both instructional effectiveness and the daily realities of a small school. Additionally, we want to highlight the dedication of our school-based staff, specifically our pair of professionals. Over the years, the increases in compensation for support staff have been considerably
smaller than those at some Union 28 administrative levels. The teachers, PAR educators, and staff working with students every day are truly the heart of Shootsbury Elementary School and investing in them is essential to maintaining the strength of our school community. We respectfully encourage the school committee to examine these
budgetary priorities and consider ways to ensure that resources are balanced in a way that reflects the needs of our small school. We would also welcome opportunities for continued collaboration and communication so that a range of perspectives can help inform these important decisions. We recognize that the budget conversation involves
many stakeholders and we appreciate the opportunity to share our perspective as you consider the upcoming budget. Thank you for listening to our concerns. >> Thank you very much. Viva, can I ask well that you could, if it's all right with you, could you please forward that
statement to us as well so that we can have that read over. Thank you. Um, are there other >> Jeremy? I think you're on mute. >> So, I was just going to ask if there's anybody else that wants to make a public comment. My first time running a
meeting. Um, okay. Uh so if I do not see anyone else raising their hand, we will move on. I do want to say Viva, thank you for um for that statement and thank you for um yeah, thank you for all of all of the pieces. I think that uh generally I
think we're all on the on the same page with that and I appreciate you bringing um your concerns to us as well around uh the data and oversight um and the budget funding. I appreciate that very much. Uh I'm just going to ask one more time if there is Oh, hold on. There's a few more
people that are just coming in. So, let me give them a second as well. All right. So, for those who are just joining us, um we are still in a public comment period and so I'm just asking that if anybody would like to make a comment, they could just raise their hand and I will acknowledge you and uh
allow you to speak. Okay. Um, seeing no hands raised, we will move on to our uh our next agenda item, which is a review of the agenda and the perpetual calendar. Um, the agenda was posted uh along with the meeting. So, I'm hoping that people have
seen that and have looked at that. Um, as far as perpetual calendar goes, um, we are currently in March. So, uh, we are at the deadline. And I don't know what the actual So, do you know what the deadline for filing for election was?
>> Uh the 21st. The nomination papers can be in on Saturday the 21st. That's the latest. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, we have till the 21st. So, we're still uh still time. Should folks want to run for school committee. Um
>> I believe we need if you know anybody encourage somebody to run. >> So, no one No one's filing papers. >> I think I am the only one. >> Okay, good to know. All right.
>> Yep, that is good to know. So, um yeah, so we have till the 21st to file papers uh to run in the election with town meeting. Uh we have the final review tonight for the upcoming budget. Um there was a newsletter put together. I
missed the deadline to write a uh a quick newsletter. Uh, and I'm sorry for that, but there is uh our town um it's not our town, but there is a newsletter being put together uh this year. Um school council, it says here, is uh working on surveys. Um and I don't know
if that's something that is still occurring or something that um we should keep on the perpetual calendar. >> Working on school surveys like the Desi school survey. >> No, this is like school council. >> Oh, school council. the school council
survey. We can keep that on there. We could >> Okay. >> visit that. >> All right. Um, in terms of Emmeris Regional, uh, you know, uh, Anna will fill us in on that later, but it's supposed to be around their final regional budget vote as well. Um, and then in union 28, uh, we're still
working on the superintendent evaluation. We were discussing that at our last meeting. Um, and discussing the school year calendar in advance of a vote for that. Those are the things that are on the calendar. Um, moving on to our fourth agenda item.
We've got warrants. Um, and so what do we have for warrants this month? >> All right. So, I have four warrants. Uh, two accounts payable. 3019 from March 3rd for $44,637.84
84 and 3020 from March 17th for $1,566.82. Two from payroll uh number 318 from March 2nd for $91,36622 and 319 from March 16th for $90,837.36. Um, I think there's been some more
recent warrants. Um, but that happened after I had uh put everything into the agenda. So, um, you'll get those next month. >> Thank you, Caitlyn. Um, all right, moving on. Approval of the minutes. Uh, we have the approval minutes from
February 12th, 2026. We can get a movement and a second. >> So, moved. >> Second. >> Thank you, Leah. Thank you Nate. Um any discussion? Okay, seeing none, all in favor? May you eyes?
>> I heard I >> All right, >> Trevor. >> Were you flagging something? >> So there is there's one um amendation that um Anna brought to my attention um for approving the school improvement
plan. Should that be fiscal year 2026 2027 or should it be academic year 2026 2027 >> academic year >> and it's longer than 27? >> Well, it has to be reviewed every year. So, it can be a multi-year document, but it has to be reviewed every year, but it
goes by academic year, Trevor. >> Okay. Thank you. >> What's the difference between fiscal year and academic year? July 1 to June 30th is the fiscal year and the school year is the you know August Septemberish until the end of June.
>> Okay. So the school year is just the nine months. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Um All right. So we had a unanimous vote. There's an amendment uh on that just for clarification. Good. Uh so moving on to unfinished business and
updates are always popular. Um capital projects and building process. Nate, do you want to update us on that? >> Okay, sure thing. Um I see that we have Frank McInn
um here. So um that's fantastic. He can help um out in a lot of this um capital projects and building stuff that's going on. I've been super busy. Um yesterday I had a capital planning meeting and then
uh Fincom that went pretty late. Um, and I don't know if Frank wants to start. We could talk about the oil tank uh as one of the issues. I could talk about the um the items that I put forth and that process and what's moving on on
to towards warrants. I don't know Frank if if you have a time constraint if you'd like to chime in. >> Um I don't know how long of a explanation you want me to give of the uh the oil spill. I think it would
probably be uh you know good little synopsis I think um yeah today. So >> I think that would be helpful just to clue people in and then we can move forward with what's what we're trying to do about it. >> Okay. Last week I got an email from the Matt the head custodian that he was
pumping out the vault tank where the pumps are like he does every seasonal time and there was a smell and pink liquid. From there, uh, we determined there was, uh, oil in the tank and the the vault
and, uh, I notified, uh, the town administrator, Haley, and Haley started a bunch of things in motion, talking to the board of health, uh, the chief uh, Lenny, the fire chief, and we called Mass Department
environmental protection. We also called Titan Bond who handles our PAST um and a lot of people got involved and I called to change things up uh Royal Steam uh heating company and you know it's
Royal Steam means it's been around a little bit and they're the company that put in the new system at the new library and people on my buildings committee were very impressed with them and they hired them to for one-year management of that system. So, I wanted to bring him
in to see what they do. Uh, something different than the last guy. Um, DP came and said the oil was fro the ground was frozen, so the oil didn't penetrate too much. U, but it did go off into the drains and
into the stream. We found out it got into the stream because the kids said there were rainbows in the stream. So, um, the following day, uh, Western Mass Environmental came, uh, with Titan Bond to pipe pump out the tank.
Uh, we had 40 39 gallons of oil and about 80 gallons of water in the vault tank where the two pumps are that pumped the heating oil into the school to the day tank. Uh, it was an all day project. Um they
vacuumed everything out. They dug as much as they could out that day of the surface dirt and they had to come back today to finish up. Um Royal Steam came back. This guy Phil did a wonderful job. He went down to the
vault, took a picture of the leak. We were lucky the leak was on the tank side of an old pump and it was just dripping. It wasn't gushing. and uh he went back in after they vacuumed it out and uh
turned a valve off and we're at a stage now where they'll have to give us a pro a propos proposal on working on the leak and all that area. Uh, Titan Bomb thinks the area is uh where it should be for this small of a leak.
And uh they installed uh booms, which are absorbent pads, these long uh 10-ft round white things. They put them in the the vault where the pump is. They put them in the two drainage ditchs
in the uh basketball court area. Uh and then they put five on the stream all going way down every so many feet to absorb any water. Uh that Friday we did smell some oil in the
stream but it was residual probably from the culvert out output and the Titan bomb the scientists weren't weren't uh that worried about it. Uh where we are now, uh there's some drums there that have to be picked up and then they're
going to go they they've got to do a proposal to pick the drums up and bring them someplace. Uh the clocks started ticking last week and I was informed from Sam from Titan Bomb that NAS
D usually wants these things taken care of within 60 days. So, Titanbond has to come up with a an alternative thing for us to work on there on on site. We're lucky when they change something years ago. They put four bore holes around the
tank. So, Mass D said that's a good thing. We might not have to drill and we can test the groundwater to see if any oil leaked out out of the vault. Hopefully, it didn't because that brings it to a whole another level. So, we're in phase one now. just waiting for D to
give us some more answers on which direction we're going until they go that route. Uh everything's up in the air because we have to basically um test the water around it and get you know hopefully it'll be clean and we'll
get a sign off. >> So that's where we are. >> Thank you so much. >> You want to add anything Nate or that was pretty that was pretty great presentation. Thank you. Uh, you know, this has been a ongoing thing. I think it was, what day was it? Tuesday of last
week? Monday or Tuesday? >> Yeah, Tuesday of last week. That evening, I had a capital planning meeting. Um, they had they had tabled, um, I had presented a a parking lot proposal. Um, and the capital planning
tabled that. So, um, Frank and Ann and I met that afternoon and we kind of scrambled and came up with an idea of getting, uh, an engineering study and putting, uh, that putting the parking
lot back on the table. Um, but a smaller engineering study to kind of get us, uh, um, to another level. Uh, keep this ball rolling. And this would give us h a
survey and um a site map of the parking lot. And then we can take that and go with what the D has for the oil tank. Um we can look at those two um
forms or proposals um and we can come up with a plan, a longer term plan. Um I I reached out to Birksher uh design group uh that uh the next day um and asked them for to get me a
proposal for how much it would cost to um get this uh engineering study together. Uh they came by uh got in touch with me on on Saturday um and they had a large proposal that um came up
with a $40,000 uh price tag. Um, I had a few questions about the proposal and we talked I talked to Carlos on Monday and we kind of went through the proposal and what we kind of were really looking for and now
uh you know he came up with a second proposal by the end of the day of $15,800 to get this engineering study. And this is the first phase. And the first phase would be um a survey of the area for
$7,800. And this would be like a every 10-ft kind of marker. It would uh do a very extensive survey of the whole parking lot area and driveway. Uh it would also
include um some bore holes down to see what the substrate uh of the um parking lot is, whether we need to go all the way down to ground level or if we can just kind of mill that first layer and
put asphalt on top. Um and then um the third would be the um the GPS and um and site mapping of the area. So that ticket price is is uh 15,800. I presented that
uh yesterday to capital planning in that passed. So that's kind of like the first step t phase one of this kind of understanding. Um uh I was also able to meet with Scott Barlo. Um, you know, this is going to be a long
process. This probably won't, uh, this parking lot probably won't happen till 2008, 2009, uh, 2028, 2029. Um, so I met with Scott Barlo, of Barlo paving um, the other day and we kind of looked at what we can do in the meantime to kind
of deal with the frosties um, and the sidewalk and parking lot and hopefully next week we'll get um, an idea of the price of of that. We do have money set aside u about $24,000 set aside to deal with the sidewalk repair.
Hopefully, I told them that we don't have a lot of money and hopefully that will that will be affordable. Um, the other two things on the uh capital plan that passed the capital planning, I think I emailed you um uh last after
last meeting that I unfortunately missed. Um was the two snowblowers for $6,000. This is uh coming down from a $34,000 tractor um that um uh we I worked with
the capital planning and Matt um Foster the custodian and we kind of dwindled it down and were able to realize that yeah like he could probably get it done with two really nice these are awesome snowb blowers with cat um treads and um he could get a lot lot
of snow removed that way. Um and then the other one was the um >> curtain >> the curtain that the mechanics to the um the divider in the gymnasium. And uh we had a a a quote for $15,000 to
replace the mechanics. This was from like I think 2022. Um and you know my uh Frank and his team, the buildings committee are um looking into uh alternatives to a mechanic. We've we they've discovered a
walk draw which is kind of just a pull pull the curtain across. Um this price tag is $3,000 to $10,000 depending on what we do. So that that could be a significant savings there. And uh yeah, Frank and his team are
going to help with procurement of that. I don't know if you have anything you want to say about that, Frank. But yeah, I appreciate appreciate uh the only thing I forgot to mention and it's important to mention is the monies that are involved so far with the oil. I just want to back up a little. Uh Titan
Bomb's going to Titan Bond is going to be between 8 and $10,000 for their services for their testings and everything else. Western Environmental is between five and six. um about $1,000 plus for the day, two days for Royal
Steam, $6 to $8,000 to do whatever they have to do in the hole. And the good news is uh we have insurance for it with a $10,000 deductible. So, we're around $23,000. And uh so we'll have to come up with
about 13 to $15,000 for the the short term. Uh but the oil leak was insured and we don't we don't have to go into your your all's money. I think this the u money is going to come from town hall somehow. So I just want to let you all
know that. >> Appreciate that. Thank you. >> Um the other thing, sorry, Jimmy. >> No, go ahead. Um, Caitlyn shared with me today um a a Excel spreadsheet um for future capital planning projects going
out to what 2045 or something. Uh it's super helpful. Capital planning uh committee is looking for that kind of projection. So, it's that list has stuff from the um
cafeteria, from the kitchen needs, um and uh I plugged in the numbers that I knew. Um you know, the projected costs of of the parking lot I put in, you know, so we have 15,800
this year. um that'll be I forget the exact number, but it's like a 20, you know, for the remaining tasks of that of of this that $40,000 study that's going to be uh $22,000 maybe next year. And then maybe we can push that forward. Um
the price tag I put for projected 2029 2028 um cost for the parking lot if we just can mill and pave that's uh he said it's about $300,000. If we have to go down to ground level
and do some excavating that could be anywhere um to you know up to $500 uh000. That's significantly less than the 1.2 two million like ticker a t a sticker shock that I had uh when we
first talked. So that was that was a relief but still a significant cost. So thank you Caitlyn for putting that together. >> Thank you Nate for all of that leg work and it's crazy. Um Anna you have a
question. So, um, you were talking a little bit about all of the survey work that's going to be done related to the parking lot, and I was just wondering if any of that could be expanded to
do a tiny bit of work on uh identifying whether the school grounds is a suitable location for geothermal. I think that's that's kind of the idea. I think that's >> Oh yes, >> that's part of this this whole larger plan. If we can get this survey done,
then we can actually look at the area. So that that's the thing. It's it's part of this whole structure um to figure out what's the next steps. Uh you know, it's obvious. I mean, I think the goal of this town is to get off fossil fuels. So
that's a goal. This oil tank leak is kind of is problematic. So, it's all kind of playing into each other. And again, this this uh investment um is the first step in kind of solving this riddle, this puzzle. There's a um 30
30,000 gallon um water suppression tank. I've talked to Carlos about drainage, about runoff. part of the, you know, the plan will be to like try to funnel some of that rain runoff into a holding tank to help supplement the, you know, fire
suppression system. So, yeah, there's a lot of moving parts. It's pretty crazy. And it's um yeah, I I just appreciate town hall folks at town hall, Frank, you know, all these people like we're trying to communicate, trying to get this
figured out. Michael Decara of of the ECAC. We're trying to comm communicating with him. So, yeah, it's there's a lot of moving parts. There's a lot of people involved. Yeah, it's pretty intense. Frank, >> I I just wanted to add about the thermal
uh the buildings committee uh was uh this select board as a buildings committee to do energy studies and we've been doing that with Eversource uh and Michael Dary is doing the ECAC on that and Jeff Quackenbush has already looked
into an engineering study for the geothermal and it's about $50,000 just for that to do everything. Um, so we had a lot on our plate on my meeting on Wednesday to talk about, you know,
if we have to replace the tank, it's another 48,000, but you know, of engineering studies. So that's where it's uh juggling right now and we don't know where it's it's all the crystal ball what D makes us do and hopefully nothing much and then we can go forward
with that and we're meeting with energy source on Monday to have a conversation about a game plan because there's some funding money out there and they've given us some updates for your building and other buildings. We're just the buildings committee is going to go over that with Eversource but the
thermal is in the plans. to do the survey or you know explore that. So want to let you all know that. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, that's true. And I forgot to add that the part of the survey is the ADA compliant. Um there's been some um flags
that came up. There's one spot near the cafeteria uh back entrance that the ramp goes up and there's like a fire hydrant right there. So you can't really get a wheelchair around that. So yeah, there are definitely uh things issues that we
have to address sooner than later. >> Okay. Thank you, Nate. Thank you, Frank. Um Shannon, you had a question. >> Yeah, I just wanted to thank um you know, Frank has been out there spending a lot of time. I ran into him this this week. Um, Ann has been out there for a
lot of time, but I feel like Nate should be setting up camp there because it seems like, you know, he jumped on being on, you know, the capital uh, subcommittee and it's been a full-time job for him, right? And between, you
know, the tank and then the it's just been one thing after another and he has >> spent a tremendous amount of time. And so, I just wanted to acknowledge that we see how hard he's working. Um, and it's like one rock turns over and there's another another thing going. So, um, we
we do appreciate it and we know that this is un, you know, uncharted territory for a a small town and and it's been nice to see the collaboration even though there's still a lot of moving parts. So, I just wanted to >> uh give a little shout out to Nate because I do appreciate it.
>> Yeah. >> I just want to say, too, that if you're looking to get together socially with Nate, he might actually invite you to come see the tank. um and have a talk around the tank. That might be your social engagement with me. >> Um >> that's right. >> Thanks for giving me the ride down
there, Nate. That was nice. >> Um so yeah, uh so it sounds like just to recap, it sounds like we as of right now, uh DP's not super concerned, but we are going to have to do some more testing to make sure that nothing made it out of the vault. Um but the surface stuff that we uh were worried about last
week has been taken care of. That's the long and the short of it. Yes. >> Yes. for now. Okay. So, um, and Nate, I just wanted to say too, I my only question was about the the fire department holding tank and it sounds like that's that's that's all part of it. Everyone's aware. I was going to ask
one how to bring them into the process as well. >> There's a lot of moving parts in this. >> Yeah, they need this parking lot to move forward for them for them to kick in that what they need to do. So, that's that's part of this survey. We need to
to get that the ball rolling for them to figure out where they're going to put this. You know, you know, are they can they if we take the tank out of the ground, can we put the the the you know, the holding tank for the water there? I don't know. You know, these are things
that we'll have to like look at and you know, sometime we're gonna have to have a meeting with everybody and everybody puts their input and then we look at that and we hopefully Carlos from uh Bergkshire Design that's hopefully what they're about. That's what they do is they take a lot of
people, a lot of input, they hear hear from a lot of different parties, they put that together and then they come up and we figure out a design plan. >> Yeah. Yeah, I mean it seems, you know, if we were able to move forward towards geothermal or like we talked about I
think last year the idea of an external above ground tank um to get away from that then you know like the Arlo Guthrie song I guess like if you're going to dig a hole you might as well put something else down in that hole. Why build two holes if you're going to be taking something out? So that might be a possibility too.
>> Sounds like we have the right guy on the job. Thank you so much Nate for that. Um so the next uh agenda item is the 2026 to 2027 um academic calendar. I am going to try uh to actually um project this to
you. I usually just sit back and watch while other people awkwardly do this. So uh let me see if I can if I can make this happen. Um, sorry. Of course, this happens when
we have most people in the meeting. Oh, there we go. I found it. Um, so I don't know. Does anybody does is is there calendar on anyone's screen right now? No. >> Not yet. >> No,
>> not yet. Okay, I'm working on it. I'm good. >> You're doing great. >> Thank you. I like the positive reinforcement. >> Keep your keep your cool. It'll be good. >> This is what I tell myself every time I try to share a screen. >> I just like I, you know, we had this
moment, little aside, we had uh this moment where it looked like, according to the newspaper, it looked like the school that I work at might have to go to virtual briefly. And I was like ready to check myself into an insane asylum. We're not We're not doing that again. Um
it's not happening. We got really good at this at one point and then um since then I've not gotten so great at Okay, here we go. So, I'm going to share that.
And I guess >> All right. So this is our Shootsberry Elementary School 2026 2027 um calendar. All right. Uh so it shows us I believe starting here on the 26th
of August. Is that correct? >> 24th I believe, right? >> 24th. Okay. >> Staff begins first day for students is the 26th. >> So yes, that's the first day for students. >> Okay. So staff begins August 24th. First day of school for grades K through six
is August 26th. the prek programs begin on August 31st, which uh would have us out of school. This is last day of school to be determined. Um do we have a general idea of what that would be?
>> Yeah, it's that it is the 11th without snow days and the 18th 21st somewhere around area if we include the five snow days we typically build into our calendar. >> I see that now. Thank you. All right.
So, um that is the schedule. Um and we need to uh we need to vote on this. So, I guess if we could get a move and we could get a uh a second, then we can have a little discussion on it if there's anything that people feel uh
discuss. So, >> can I ask I look You sure can. Yes, 100%. before we move. Um >> yes, >> the uh October 16th
um work day. >> Mhm. >> I'm just wondering if moving that to October 9th would be possible or
if there's a reason that it's on the 16th. It's aligned with our professional development. >> Yes. >> And it's aligned with when we can potentially get I I'm guessing you're thinking because it would make for a long weekend. >> Yes.
>> It's hard to get because it's going to be a long weekend. It's hard to get some professional development ex people to come in and present because they also like the long weekend. Um, and so that was aligned with potential
speakers and that sort of thing. >> Okay. Thanks. >> I move to approve the calendar. >> Second. >> Okay. Any other discussion um around the calendar? All right. Seeing none, let's uh take a
vote. All in favor? Mayui, >> I >> heard I >> Jack I. >> Long copi. >> It is unanimous and I will stop sharing now. That was scary for a minute. All right. So, uh we're moving on. The next
agenda item um was the uh JIC CFB bullying prevention. Um and I think the idea was brought up uh by a few people the idea of discussing um how bullying is identified and how bullying is sort of dealt with um at the school level and
uh I know Anna do you want to say any more from your side on the questions that have been brought up? Yeah. So, uh, so first of all, one question would be, um, has there been a bullying prevention and implementation plan developed and
has that been shared? Um, I think it would be great if it could be posted or um, sent around to the school committee members so that we know what the bullying prevention and implementation plan is. And then secondly,
um it would be uh interesting to know how many how many reports of bullying have been submitted to the administration and what their outcomes were. So I don't need I don't
want any confidential information. I don't want um names or grades or anything like that. I just want to know how many bullying reports have been sub submitted or uh received in Shootsbury
and um what the outcome of those cases were, how fast it was resolved, um that kind of information. And then just sort of like has there been a change in the amount of reports?
um year to year. >> Sorry, I lost connection. Um Barry's having some issues with Wi-Fi tonight, but I from the gist of what I heard and you can um I can clarify more. We haven't had any bully investigations, full bully, like the bully
investigations and I checked in with our um school psychologist and there wasn't for years um that she's been there as well. So um we do have a lot of conversations and our bully prevention is included with our choose love. So our
school is unique in that it has a social emotional um special that meets every single week and students get direct lessons from the choose love curriculum and then as they get older there's another um there's another curriculum that they tap into to really talk to
kids about what is bullying, what's acceptable, what's being mean. And I know that our policy really gets into detail, but our school does a lot around um choosing safety, respect, choosing responsibility, and choosing love. Also, at our assemblies, we always start with
that and talk a little bit more about that and what that looks like and feels like. Um I know that whenever there's an issue, we have a really robust team of support to help figure out what's going on because a lot of times students might not tell us. they might go home and tell
parents and then we only have one side of the story when we dive more in more deeply into it. It can all start from a misunderstanding or somebody thought that something was funny. So I don't know if you remember the cheese touch that was a big issue in the past where people would say like oh I have the cheese touch and touch people and I
guess if you cross your fingers then you're inoculated from it. It's similar to the um circle circle circle dot I have the cootie shot. So just things like that. We want to make sure that we're really talking to kids about how that makes other people feel and uh handling things like that all the way to
um misunderstandings about what children have said about each other and what's acceptable and what's not. So we really believe in educating the students. Like if you think about how young they are and how much experience they have with working in groups of people, we really want to have those um honest conversations in a safe environment
where we can we can change and and help students understand why something might be perceived as as like a bullying type behavior and stop it before it becomes, you know, something. So um we do encourage students to talk to us and we encourage students to to talk to their
families and to uh let us know what's going on. So, a lot of times the I think the most nerve-wracking thing is things can be done really quietly and add up for students. So, we want to make sure that we're getting to the bottom of that because that's that can be as hurtful as a punch. Um, >> so, but so you're saying that you
haven't had any reports of the these types of incidents at all? >> No, no, no, not that not that have gone to the level of a bullying investigation. So, in order I know Shannon, your hand is up. Did you want to speak to the policy on it? The Oh, >> no. You certainly can. I was just going to I think we were going in the same
direction. So, feel free. >> Sure. So, in order for it to be bullying, it has to be a balance of an imbalance of power between the people that are that are being bullied, there has to be um like a threatening type of a thing that's repeated. And uh luckily,
anytime we've had a complaint of a student being mean to each other, we've been able to kind of build a plan, do like a safety plan for that student, have students have conversations. it's really student specific as to what's going on. So, um, again, like we offer a
bullying investigation if that's if that's we kind of do the work around it to get to the bottom of any complaints that people have, but um, like I said, it's it's really about figuring out what the root cause of it and what's what's
actually happening. And then we have different we have our behavior matrix that goes through the rules of the school and then we have different students needing different levels of exposure to it and practice with it and we we go from there. So it depends on on what's going on for the individual
students. >> Anna to your point about um I think do we have students in right kids are learning just like they're learning to read their learning behavior. students can behave badly and can be mean, but it may not meet the definition
of a bull of a bullying incident. >> And so they're still dealt with, right? And it's through and I think Ann spoke a lot about the preventative measures, the relationship building that is happening to teach behavior just like we would teach an academic skill. But for it to
be meet the definition of bullying um it would have to be as Ann said an imbalance of power repeated and targeted. So a student who behaves badly let's say at lunch to
everybody is a student who is behaving badly. It's not a bullying incident because it's not necessarily targeted to an individual student or set of students. Does that make sense? So there's probably been lots of behavioral
things that the staff and Ian have interceded with, but they wouldn't meet the requirements of bullying, which we would keep it. That's a reportable thing that we keep for Desi, right? Anyone can be offered a bullying investigation, but the outcome of that,
it may not have been a bullying incident if it didn't meet those three criteria, if that makes sense. >> Okay. I've heard of at least two kids who have had what I would call a tough time this year.
And I would describe their situation as being bullied. I don't know if it is one person doing the bullying, if it is multiple kids doing the bullying, but it is one kid or two kids, two separate
incidences of kids feeling like they are the brunt of something. And I don't know if it rises to the level of the legal definition of bullying or if it is a I have a really
low tolerance for bullying. And to say that it wasn't as big of a deal. There was It's not an imbalance of power because it's a peer that I mean >> peers can have an imbalance of power. They certainly can have an imbalance
power. That's not what I'm meaning to suggest. >> I don't Yeah. I I think that when a kid is being mean to another kid repeatedly, that's bullying. That's all it needs. That's all it needs. It is some kid being mean to the
same kid because it's that kid and they they want to they are targeting that kid and they've done it more than once, >> right? But that would be targeted. So I think a student can be having a difficult time and that would be something I would say Anna you should
tell that parent to reach out to an because that's a school level problem and that's where it really has to be solved and >> but I'm just saying like I was I was surprised that that had not been reported and so I I don't know what the
>> right I don't know if we want I don't know if we can discuss it here but I mean I don't want to touch I don't want to talk about >> if somebody wants to do a have a bully investigation then I would absolutely reach out to me that that absolutely because we will we would do that. I'm just I'm just trying to say that if it
like it is that criteria that's reportable to the state. It doesn't mean that we don't handle incidents of children being mean as they're learning and growing. You know, it's it's it h I mean it does happen. It happen and it's not because a lot of times it is not
malicious. It is just kids that don't understand yet. When I say this it's not funny. I saw it on a Tik Tok. I saw it on a YouTube. It was so funny. Kids laugh. It's not funny. Really bringing that point home that we are not here to be awful to each other. And how it feels for another student isn't the same as
how it feels for you. How what can we do to make sure that we're not doing that sort of thing. And we have a lot of ears. We have a lot of adults. And as you know, like our our parents and our staff are so dedicated. They're listening to the kids. So, a lot of times it's like things that might have happened at a at a birthday party over
the weekend or it could be something that happened on the bus, places that we don't have as many ears on incidents that we really um could be really concerning if if students bring that in. But again, like Shannon said, I mean, just have that person reach out to me because if a bully investigation needs
to be done, we'll do it. So, >> does do parents and students know what to do? Uh but I mean we've we've directly taught that. We've directly talked about what to do. Sixth grade students just took a survey about if they feel like
people have been targeting or if people have been mean and people have been bullying. And we're going to use that data to help sort do like a a discussion about that with the students and talking about really sussing out what is what is mean, what are we not accepting, what are those like quiet things that have
been happening and talk about it. But it's tricky too because then when you bring it up and the whole group doesn't want to talk about it because they feel like they've already dealt with it. I mean it's it's uh it's it's hard and what the rules are when you're in prek are different from sixth grade. So you really want to make sure that um
children are at the very minimum being safe, respectful, responsible and being being accountable for what they're saying and what they're doing. >> So >> um so Katrina has her head up. You just can I just ask again just so the three criteria for balance for for bullying
are an imbalance of power right which doesn't have to be an age >> can be among grades yeah it definitely can be a same age student that's not about older younger kind of thing >> and and it has to be threatening repeatedly what was the third one >> it has to be targeted >> targeted >> so it's not someone who misbehaves every
day in the cafeteria to everyone because they don't know how to behave does that make sense >> the bullying is that directed to one or a particular group of students. So, I guess my question would be along the lines of like if there's a student who like you just described, Shannon, who's
like like is known to struggle with um struggle with behavior in lots of different places around the school, but they also are, you know, they're if if they are are in a period of time where they're targeting one
individual or kind of enticing other people to kind of gang up on that individual, like does that rise to the level of bullying even though that student's kind of at loose ends, you know, at large. >> So, that would be a student, right, who's behaving badly and it's a
behavioral issue. And that doesn't mean that there's not consequences around a number of things, but it's it may not necessarily it may be a behavioral infraction, but it may not meet the criteria of bullying. It may >> even if they're even if they're kind of
even if even if for a period of time they're targeting on they're targeting kind of a spec a specific or a few specific individuals. >> Well, if they were targeting them repeatedly then it would meet the the benchmark. But if you have a student, right, who just like he's mean to everybody on the bus,
>> that's a student who who it's a behavioral issue and and that would be something that the school would have to deal with. It may not meet the criteria of bullying, though. >> Yeah. I mean, I just I worry too. I obviously I deal with with students at a higher grade level. Um but you know I
think that my concern as an educator is that oftentimes um reports get made um and the investigation happens in what I hear as an educator is like well it kind of went both ways. this kid said, you know, this is how that went down and this and I feel like sometimes that's
used as a way to kind of avoid and I'm not saying this is happening in Shootsbury necessarily, but I'm saying like that's used as a way to kind of avoid the kind of bullying the documentation or the u the bullying. And I and I hear students complain about this too where it's like, you know, this kid was doing this and targeting me and targeting me. I didn't feel safe about
it, but then he said this, this, and this and it came out as a sort of like, well, you know, there was a little bit on either side and like that's My concern is that like they're that students who feel targeted or feel like somebody is um
feel like somebody is sort of organizing sort of targeted um hazing or bullying of them that that is sort of honored and respected as well and not you know it doesn't get lost in the like kind of both sidism that I think sometimes can
happen with kids when they're put on the spot about behavior um and they're feeling. >> So I think >> what you're mentioning would probably meet I mean there's a very in in our policy the steps of an investigation are outlined. So it's not it's not an
arbitrary tell me about this. I mean it's it's down to a timeline around that. And I just I I want to be cautious that the state has set forth a very clear definition of what they considering consider to be bullying. that doesn't mean it's absolving someone
of poor behavior and the consequences that can and should go with that. Um and and sometimes it is both. Um but I think to Ann's point, she's not saying that there's been no behavioral reports at
Shootsberry. What she's saying is none have met the criteria um for bullying. Anyone can facilitate a bullying a request for a bullying investigation. It can be a staff person, it can be a student, it can be a parent. So certainly if a parent feels um you
know my child's having a really hard time and boy this feels like bullying to me. The next the the appropriate step would be to reach out to an and have the conversation and an could start a bullying investigation. And sometimes you have a bullying investigation that
is found it's not to be bully it's not meeting the criteria of bullying but there is going to be some consequence or safety. there's going to be something that comes out of it. Um because there's something that's that's a miss that's making that student feel uncomfort. One
student feel uncomfortable and another might be behaving badly. So I just I I want to clarify that not every misbehaving student falls under the category of a bully. >> Okay. Um Katrina and then Nate.
>> Yeah. I just wanted to clarify around two areas. One I think I just got clarification. So even if it's not a bullying, if it's not deemed to be a bullying situation, that doesn't mean that there's no intervention. >> Correct. >> To help either student, right? Okay. And then I just wanted to clarify just to
understand a little bit more of like your concern. Is this something where you know you've heard of behavior that you feel would be bullying and you want to clarify the policy around this or is this a situation where the bullying was
reported and an investigation was initiated and there like it was not handled? Okay, so we're talking about like exp hasn't been like >> not addressed. It just hasn't been open to be addressed yet, right?
because those are sort of two different situations. >> I would say it's more the former than the latter. It was definitely not um a mishandled investigation. There's nothing nothing like that. No, I would not say that.
Nate. >> Yeah, I guess it's kind of like that disconnect between what Anna is saying um about these two students and you know what what we know uh about the choose love program and what Jessica the work
Jessica does and it's just like how is that happening? How are two students, you know, feeling like they are subjected to this kind of mistreatment and where, you know, even if it's not like a bullying policy, like where are
we going wrong? What's going where are we falling short that these two students and, you know, those are just the ones we know about, like what what can we do to kind of uh address address this even without a bully policy? like and it's
it's it's hard to to fathom like cuz I know how what the choose love program is and how how beneficial it is. So, I just wonder if there's other tactics we can do, like if there's other ways, like, you know, you're bringing in Tik Tok, you're bringing in these new this new
world of bullying and and meanness that it's just like I don't know, I don't know how to do. I do have, you know, one suggestion, um, which would just be that like, you know, and again, not, you know, I'll I'll bring my own experience into this instead of like, you know, whatever, but like I know that there
have been times where I've been worried about like my student has reported things that he has been upset about or he feels like he's being targeted. And I will say that initially on I found it really hard like I didn't know about as a parent, I didn't know about the bullying plan process. Um, of course I'm on the school committee so I can like go
into the policies and I can look into the things, right? But I didn't find it to be incredibly um easy to kind of know or understand. It wasn't something I knew to start off with. And even when I started to try to
figure out what like the school bullying, you know, the plan was like I had access because I knew where to look. So, I just wonder maybe if you know in one of the principal newsletters or something if we could kind of maybe um and do kind of a blurb about choose love
and what that means to our school and also just kind of you know and parents if you have concerns you know that your child is you know um is facing bullying or like that this is the this is the way anyone could access this report like that sort of thing. so that it's really
clear to the school community that um a we take it seriously, right? Like we're very we are very concerned about these sort of things and b this is the process because I don't know that that's I don't know that that's um that that would be clear to all parents um in the
community. That might be one way of >> I think sharing about the choose love is is a great idea and that let parents know and I think it's important for you as committee members to know when people right they live near they're your neighbors and your friends when they
come to you to refer them to the building because we can't hash it out here at a school committee meeting. Oh, no. This is Yeah, this is this is a more general piece, but >> but I love the idea about sharing about because I think you're right. People may not know about the choose love
curriculum and to Nate's point, it's a great curriculum. It's a great and I think to to let parents know we devote time to this. We have skilled, you know, you spoke about Jessica, you know, we have skilled people delivering this curriculum because we believe in creating an inclusive environment where
everybody feels welcome and we're trying to be proactive in teaching that skill. I think, you know, doing something like that will, you know, remind parents that we're partners with them in this. And then if they have continuing concerns or want to learn more about the curriculum
that they should reach out to Ann and she'll, you know, depending on what their question is, put them in touch with the right people or meet with them because we do want all children to feel safe and welcomed and um in school, right? Because it's it's that whole
Maslo theory, right? If you don't feel safe, you're not going to be performing your best in any um uh spot. So, we definitely want them to do that, but I would um I love the suggestion about that. And then if if you hear that because you have a different relationship with them certainly than
Ann and I do as people who don't live in the community, um encourage them to reach out to, you know, a a teacher or to the building so that we can make sure that we're creating and and helping create an environment where all kids can thrive. And if teachers notice a kid
who's often the brunt of negative behavior, um it's not just a let's correct this for the moment in the classroom, but if it's, you know, if it's ongoing that they should actually take it up a level and report it to the principal and make sure that it doesn't
just stay between them and the teacher. I think that um some teachers may not be aware of when it needs to be reported and when it needs to be addressed in the classroom and a a little review every once in a while um is always helpful. >> We do we do it at the beginning of the
year and then typically in right before around before April vacation is usually when kids start to forget their manners. But we are very clear. We actually directly teach the expectations. AMD, our school psychologist, co-ees with Jessica um Carlson Binger for these
lessons. It's very well thought out and planned and um they do put things in the Roadtown News. So, if people are reading the Roadtown News, they're already well familiar with what what the program is, but I hate to give any more time because I know it's getting late. We have a full house tonight. So, um but I'm happy to
address any concerns that people have. Um, not to belver it either, but I do think that like I I agree that the the emphasizing the choose love is great, but at the end of that just like I think as much as we are going to reach out, as much as we can inform the community, something at the end of that that says
if your student is, you know, please reach out to the building reach. I think that would be a good piece as well, just to kind of like to not just be like, "Hey, look, we're doing this great thing." And but like also just to invite people into to make the comments I think
would be a good thing from um the school whether it's in a newsletter or whether it's an aside, but like in some way to just kind of say, "Hey, you know, if your student experiences whatever or feels this way, feel free to reach out to us. We we value this." I think that
would be good. Um, all right. So, moving on. Student uh superintendent report I should say. Does anybody else have any other comments on that before we move on? Okay. So, superintendent report. Shannon, go ahead.
>> Um, so um SCS joined the MCBA uh party uh for students in grades four through six. Um that was held at Irving Elementary. Um there were 120 students from across the four schools who attended the um MCBA party. Um a huge
shout out to our librarians. Um and I know Heather does a great job. There were also so many staff that have been promoting this. Um the event was very well attended. Um and it was a great success. Um SCS took part in um rural
aware school awareness week. They had a a great presentation from um you know representation from the community, from staff, um from students and um all the press around rural aid is certainly appre appreciated. Um some updates and
you can read them in union 28 updates you can read them in the report. Um CPAC has an upcoming meeting that um is open for all um parents, not just um parents whose uh children are receiving uh special education services. There will
be a meeting, it's been sort of rotating around the um union schools, but there will be a meeting just for um Shootsberry parents coming up. Um they're going to be individual meetings at each school. Joint supervisory was
Monday. updates were um provided. Um an update on the midcycle progress of the superintendence goal was provided. Uh we continue to work on our ADA compliance initiatives across the district. Um where we are looking at our um
communication with families being updated and ADA compliant in our website. And that sort of I can sort of empathize with Nate in his capital planning hat of turning over one stone and three others fall down. That's sort of how this ADA compliance around
communication is going. Uh we turn up one thing, we are looking at newsletters and five other things fall uh fall to our plate. So we're working on that. Um but the most exciting news is um a couple of things around some legislative updates. Um the legislature is
continuing some things that they're working on. Um and I heard some you know I heard the comment and I I feel it about the um increased um pressure on on data and recording student performance and all that. The legislature is uh legislature is adopting a literacy
reform legislative act. Um key components around that will be um required literacy instruction on approved um uh high quality curriculum that is based in the science of reading um help with uh ongoing curriculum state
supported professional development needs and um literacy screeners. So um hopefully we're going to get some uh some funding associated with those mandates that are coming. Um there is a Western Mass amendment that Joe Cford has really been championing. Um that
rural schools will receive technical assistant and equitable access to grants um that literacy funds will also be able to use for the now mandated screening tools and implementation efforts. So we're we're hoping that that comes to
pass. Um that bill still needs to go through the House and Senate reconciliation process, but we are anticipating that those mandates will be coming down. Um and all um the talk around rural aid has gotten uh a little
bit of um positive news spin coming. Um we have been um uh contacted about some possible um supplemental funds that will be coming um to Shootsberry um in the amount of $25,000 which would
be used for um some curriculum upgrades. It is still not a completely done deal u but there will be a a press release coming out about it. Um so I want you to to know that that's coming forward. Um >> I think it just has one more vote. I think they just have to make sure.
>> Yeah, there it's it's not a completely done deal. Um but also with that they will be um increasing um some of the rural aid that was cut back. If you remember we had about a four million cut to our already underfunded rural aid.
Rural aid was um we need about $60 million in rural aid to be influxed in annually. Um we had been getting 20. it was cut down from 20 and so there will be some um increase in that um and also
around special education circuit breaker um funds. So um Aaron uh representative uh Saunders Aaron Saunders has been a real champion um around that and specifically around um the schools within Union 28 um Swift River and
Shootsberry. And so, um, I will update you as that fluid situation becomes more finite, but, um, that is some exciting news that we're hoping will come to fruition. >> That's all I got for me.
>> Great. Um, any questions for Shen? >> All right, seeing none, we're moving on to the director of finance and operations. Hi. So, I have um just a couple things. Uh the Shootesberry Elementary budget.
Um so, we were able to get some circuit breaker extraordinary relief money this year, which is a huge help. Uh so, that is and sorry, Trevor, I didn't put it in my director's report, but it's $21,743 uh expected.
um which will help out with some of our special education expenses and the rest of I can project the actually let me see if I can project share. Oh, it says sharing is not turned
on. Wait, no, I'm good. Maybe um There you go. All right. Is everyone able to see our our budget right now for for the year?
Okay. So, um as I've talked about in previous meetings, the the ones in the colorful sort of um orangey red um are salaries. So those are the salaries and
the manual incumbrances for for Shootsbury Elementary School. Um I manually encumber when I can't encumber things through the system. Um we know like for substitute salaries
it's going we will have more substitutes that were going to come in for the rest of the year. Um and with the and this has been updated for our uh extraordinary relief from circuit breaker and these are the union 28 numbers and
right now we have about $146,000 of unencumbered money left for the rest of the year which in comparison to past years to other districts is looking like a
positive number that we won't have to be at the end of the year and figure out how we're going to um how to make up a deficit. So, I'm pretty optimistic, carefully optimistic
that uh this year with a lot of unknown things is going to to end pretty well. Uh the second thing I have on the report is the draft budget
which I'm has not changed since the last meeting. >> Sorry, I'm having trouble getting the piece down. Um, and so our budget right now, which has not
changed since last meeting where you had a preliminary vote, uh, remains the same. It is a 6.32% increase. Um, what screen are you seeing right now?
>> One with a pie chart. >> Yeah, it's a pie chart. >> Okay, good. Just making sure. I'm a little Zoom is a little bit um this is the only the only school that I use Zoom for. Uh so 6.32% increase for uh for the
town that is including the uh the contract and the higher the special education costs. Um it hasn't changed since preliminary vote. So if you would like to do a final vote on it tonight,
this would be the time. But it's unchanged since the last time we looked at it. >> Anna, >> so yeah. Anna, >> can you remind me what um programs with other schools is? I see that there's a
pretty big jump from last year and I just can't remember Burr what it includes. >> So that's our special education at a district placement. >> Okay. Okay. Thanks. Yeah, that that'll do it.
>> Okay, >> Nate. Nate. >> Yeah, I was just uh wondering about the uh substitute teacher. Um did we raise that their pay uh in February? Did that happen? I wasn't at the last meeting, so
I don't know if that went through. I know we voted on that. >> Yes, we did. I think at the um we met in January. I think there was a raise to the substitute teacher
um amount across Union 28. >> Yeah. >> Is that the for the substitute teachers or for teachers who substitute within the school system? that was a substitute teacher hired um
as a substitute, but I have to look back. There may have been a contractual change to um like pair professionals that fill in for teachers. I can't remember what the if
the contract changed that we did two years ago. So, I'd have to to look back into that. Okay. So, yeah. Go ahead. Sorry. >> Or I move to approve. >> Second.
>> All right. All in favor? Mayui. >> Got a lot. I heard I >> I long cope. I >> sounds like it's unanimous. >> That is that the Is there anything else, Caitlyn, that
you Yeah. >> Yeah, just one more thing. So, um I'm starting a 10-year improvement plan for capital planning. So, we have one for another school in our union. Uh so, we're this is like brand new and I'm
developing a capital planning improvement plan for each of the schools. So, I'm collaborating with I met with um our principal Ann today and custodian Matt, food service director Katrina,
technology coordinator Debbie Lee, and um I'm going to talk to Lindsay, our curriculum director also, and I I met with Nate today. uh he talked a little bit about it earlier, but so what we'd
like to do is have a 10-year plan that will have um and actually I think I have that up somewhere. I can probably There we go. Uh let me see if I can share that real quick.
So this is just kind of the template, but it's brand new. So, um, talking with with all of them because it's really going to take a lot of effort from everybody to be able to have an idea of what our needs are going to be for the next 10 years. So,
starting with like cafeteria, kitchen, talking to Katrina and Matt about what are the things that we are going to need. So, for um let's say a um the dishwasher, dishwasher might be great now. When do
you think it's going to need to be replaced? Is it going to be in 2032 or 2033? And so, just kind of gauge when we're going to need replacements for for those things in the the cafeteria and
kitchen. uh academic programming. We just bought some, you know, we're buying some new curriculum, but when will that have to be replaced? Uh buildings and buildings and grounds. Um what are the things we're going to need in the future
so that we're able to provide to the town and also have an idea ourselves of what are what are the needs running forward. It's not we're not just putting a band-aid on things that are breaking right now, but be able to project when
things are going to need replacements in the future. Um, also technology and then using this we can sort of spread out what our capital requests are going to be for the next 10 years. Um, I
thought 10 years was a good a good measurement. It's hard, especially with technology, to know what you're going to need in 15 years or 20 years because things change so quickly. But, uh, this is our very first, very new effort in
trying to get a handle on what requests are going to have from the town moving forward. >> This is awesome. This is exactly what Capital Planning and Fincom have asked for from all the departments in town and
for uh us to be kind of spearheading that is pretty awesome. So, thank you Caitlyn. >> Thank you, Nate. >> Anna, this is really great. Um I didn't see sort of like floors in general
included in there. I know they were recently replaced almost all of the school and this the kitchen very recently but it's like it does happen every like what 10 20 years >> it depends on the floor like I give another doc a spreadsheet that has all
the floors when they came in and so we'll be able to update that like Caitlyn just said we just she we just worked on this today so um we have another another dock that we can use to help feed it so >> okay great and like the roof >> also So exciting.
>> We're down to the minute both. >> Excellent. >> Yes, we got all that information. So, we we'll be able to do >> Excellent >> Susie. >> And I think because the people in town change so fast, it's good to have the history of what we already have done
that we've that we've been willing and ready and working on it. So I think having the past history recover um recorded or discussed or framed somehow maybe framed on the wall um it's really an important part of the picture. People
think that there's always problems but there's been a lot of effort and solution. >> Yeah, I have I have this right here. This is uh this is the c ledger history for variance uh um for the capital
plannings from past years. It has the um the roof and everything and it shows that all of this stuff has been under budget and like every project we've done we're under budget. So hats off to the school.
>> Nice job school. >> All right. Uh so is anybody have any other questions for Caitlyn? >> Right. So we're moving on to Ann's report, the principal's report. Well, the best thing about being last is we've already covered a lot of my stuff, so
I'm just going to stick to some of the other stuff. Um, the maple syrup. I don't know if you realize that we have a neighbor that lets us tap a treat. And then I'm hoping with the latest weather, we'll be able to do some of the u create some of the sweet treats that they did last year. They do a lot of math around it, too, and have the kids vote whether
they want their syrup on pancakes or waffles. They do candy. They have a whole lot of things we're looking forward to. Um, our we just had our spring open houses elementary school. welcomed our prospective preschool and kindergarten students for the 26th 27th school year.
We had an amazing time meeting the new recruits and we look forward to welcoming them. Um if everyone accepts the placements they've been offered, we will have 19 preschool students and at least 16 kindergarten students. Um we just did a project collaboratively. I thought it might be interesting to hear
what we do with staff. We work closely every day together, but um don't always take the time to talk about what the positive attributes we see in each other. So, um, staff members took the time to go through a staff list and talk about positive qualities they see in each other. We did a little presentation
and, um, really had a conversation just about about how special it is to work in Tootsesberry. And we, um, had a little presentation with business card size cards that everyone could see what the what the positive words that people said
were about them. It was really great to to come together as a community and we were hoping to be able to continue that and use some funds that in the past they've used a little bit of money for spirit wear and um they use some school choice money to buy um sweatshirts.
We're looking at sweatshirts or t-shirts and part of our school leadership um as choose love goes through their lessons and then at the end the older students partake in being on leadership teams and one is a design team and they've been working on a school motto. So I thought
it would be nice if we have that um it's going to have a moose. Everybody relax, put the antlers down. It's going to be okay. It's still a moose. But then we'll be able to celebrate that student artwork with um an image on some upcoming um things for for for people to
wear. Um the other part of the like I was just going to talk a little bit more about the bullying but I think we have covered that and um I think oh um the risers we were also looking at I don't know if you know but last year when we
did our talent show in the school play we had borrowed risers over from um Swift River and we've uh really developed our music program this year with some more music literacy added more band instruments they have design- ated band time and also chorus opportunities
for students in the upper grades. And we looked at some risers that um are formed risers that are very lightweight that students can put into different configurations. They can actually pick them up. They're not heavy and they have um would have the ability to have all
parents when they come to see the performances, see their students without having to borrow from um from Swift River. So, we're looking at that. We're getting a price on that. They're um they're risers. They're not they're not cheap. They're about um $1,000 per unit
and we would need a couple. So, we've been looking into that, but I can tell you more about that as we get closer to looking at buying that. That is what I have. If there's any questions, >> have you asked the PTO for help with the
fun with funders? >> I did. They're really focusing on funding the fundraisers. They're doing their fundraisers for the field trips. our buses are really quite expensive. So, um that's been a it's it's really unbelievable. The experiences the kids go on are so rich and then the buses are
twice as much as entry into any place we go. So, um we're really focusing on that. But thank you. And this is something that benefits all students too. So, >> Nate, >> yeah, I know that millionaires tax is supposed to be for education and
transportation. any way that we can get them to like be like, "Hey, that's our big expense." You know, that's our expense for the um out of district placement is is transportation costs. Like, what's going on there? You know, >> Shannon, want to take that one? Well, I
know that um one of the things that the superintendent association is really pushing for is that how about an audit of how that money's actually been spent because we don't really know what's in there and we don't really know what the breakdown has been about the spending of
it. It has not happened yet. Um I think um certainly regional transportation costs I mean we can see it in all not just within our union across our neighboring communities. um transportation, um health care, and rising special education costs are just
decimating budgets. And it's it's growing at a rate that is much faster, um than than any change in in um funding or um municipal ability to contribute. And and I can't see it going down with
the rising price of of gasoline and all of that. It's just going to get more expensive. Um I was just quoted um uh for Swift River to go to Mahar which is a 15minute ride. The bus is almost $700
for one bus to go there and back. So it's it's it it's a big systemic problem, right? And and that's you know they their cost. So, I mean, it's um there's been a lot of push for for using that millionaire's tax um the fair fair
share uh money and so far not a lot of movement on on dipping into that. So, I wish I had better news. >> Yeah. Um All right. So, moving on. the Hammers Palum
representatives report. The other highlight of our night. >> Yes. So fun. Okay. So, um we've recently had uh a lot of discussion around
uh a a policy around restraints and uh seclusion. And there have been some questions about how and when restraints and seclusion are used and how the reporting is happening. Um so
we've been discussing how to improve our policies so that everything is more uh clear and that we can ensure that all the schools in the district and um in all of the districts are complying with
the policies. Um we had recclarified our um ICE policies. Basically, we reclarified um
oo we've been working I think the policy committee has been like blowing through like 40 policies just to try to get them all updated. So, we've been doing a bunch of that. We had a budget hearing recently. Um it went pretty smoothly. Um
I think there is a little Ammerst found a little bit of extra money um due to lower health insurance than expected. Um so that added this like.35% of increase over last year that they could
afford. But because of Pelum's dire financial straits, it's not totally clear how that's going to impact the actual district budget. Um I think we have our final vote coming up pretty soon hopefully. Um and it's not totally
clear um if it will pass and at what level it will pass, but hopefully we'll um move that to the towns. We're also discussing a a slight modification to the regional agreement. Right now, the regional
agreement um limits rental costs or rental prices to $100 per classroom per year. We don't think that this is fair. That price was set in like 1960. And um
we're hoping to increase the amount that is the region is able to charge outsiders for or anybody to to use parts of the school. Currently the biggest renter is basically Ammerst. But
um and then so this is all coming into play because of the move of the sixth graders to the middle school. And so then Ammerst will have to rent the space in the middle school to fund to house the sixth grade academy, the Chestnut
Street Academy. Um and then there's, you know, we've have some expiring contracts with like Ammerst Direct and some other places. >> Um in addition, the regional agreement is pretty out ofd. And so we're talking
about updating the entire pol uh agreement because there's language that refers to Ammerst with a um uh select board governance and now they have a town council and so that they just need to do a lot of sort of like language
updating as well as um maybe relooking at some of the the numbers in the agreement. So some of that the very the you know the smaller pieces of language that relate specifically to the ability to rent out space to the Chestnut Street
Academy is coming to the towns hopefully in time for town meetings. So um people should be expecting that. Um and then uh sort of like this idea of updating the regional agreement um is something that
should be on the radar for all of the towns. Um, I think those are the big ticket items. >> Um, >> oh, did I did I tell you that Talib Sadi is not going to be coming back next year and we're
are looking to replace the high school principal? Um, and then we're in the process of hiring some assistant principles um for the Chesant Street Academy and um doing some shuffling within the
elementary schools. >> Okay, thank you very much, Anna. Um, joint supervisory committee report. Um, uh, let's see. Does anybody else want to
start it off and I'll finish it off? No. What would be? Okay, fine. Um, you know, uh, Shannon went over her goals. That was what I remember. Um, this is like one of my first ones in a while that I was able to make. Uh, one
of the things that I did want to bring up from, um, the joint supervisory meeting was at the very end of it. I think it was one of the representatives from Leverett brought up that somebody from Pelum had reached out to him about the possibility of joining the Union 28
district and he didn't know anything more about that and so I kind of just explained um what we've been talking about here in Chutesberry um about you know kind of just trying to plan and reaching out to them and saying you know not us necessarily but the town managers and fincom and stuff talking about like
being open to kind of merging their school into ours but It also just kind of reiterated for me that, you know, there may be some people in Pelum who are still thinking that there's pro maybe some way to keep their elementary
school open and maybe wanting to join our district as a school, which, you know, is a whole other can of worms and much more difficult and I couldn't I mean, I don't know. I have none of the real details, but like it does not seem like a sustainable option. Um, so just
to know that like we're it seems like, you know, it's hard right now because we know that there's been some people in the like we know that there are people talking some of them more um some of them more elected officials or appointed officials, people who have who
are on the FINCOM or town managers, but I think there's also, you know, some there's a lot of people talking, I guess, is what I'm saying. And so, uh, just kind of wanted to put that out there because I just found that sort of interesting. um at the end of the meeting that that was something that you know that that was a conversation that
was happening um between some folks uh between Pelum and Lever. So I just want to throw that out there. I'm sure there's more that I'm missing from the union 28 meeting, but I think that my biggest takeaways were Shannon's report and then and then and that. Does anybody else Katrina, you were there, right? Or
Leah, I don't >> I think the other piece is we're just waiting I think on communication for the midcycle review. Yes, >> that is coming. >> I don't I don't think we have like a particular timeline on when, but >> I actually know that Steve reached out
to Robin to meet next week as the chair to try to get the paperwork all together. So, I'm guessing that you'll you'll get it within the next week or so. >> Yeah, that makes sense. Okay, cool. So, it seems like that's the other piece that we went over and so we'll be we'll be working on that, too.
>> Right. So that will go to the two members of the JSC because they're the voting members. So people who want to give input can still give input. I think they'll share it with everyone. So I'm not even sure who the voting members are from Shootsbury. Um but um you'll you
can all get a copy to see what it looks like and you can give your feedback to your representatives if that >> makes sense. It's getting late. I'm not sure I'm making sense. No, I believe I believe it's me and it's it's Katrina and I who are the
>> I know I see a lot of a lot of people participate and go to that and so you are all you will give your feedback to the people who vote for Shootsberry or who rate me for Shootsberry but I'm always open to all the feedback. >> Okay.
>> And the other piece I forgot and I think we've all probably heard it but it's just worth saying was just the Hampshire Trust update. So the percentage increase being what is it 12.8? I don't have it down in my >> I think it was 12.7. I mean I've I've heard it so many times now it's amazing
that it's not beaten into my head. What is it? >> Yeah. >> 12.48. >> Oh we were both You had the eight though. >> Yeah I don't remember certain digits. Sorry. But yeah that as well. So, I mean, I think and I don't know if that factors into what you were saying about
Amoris as well, but the idea was, you know, there was the 20% last uh spring, 20% last fall, and then we were all concerned that there was going to be 20% again, and they were so kind to only increase 12.48, which if you do the addition is still 50 something% in a
little over a year. Um, so yeah. Um, thank you for reminding me of that. uh CES report. Leah, was there a CES meeting that we have had since we last met? >> Yes, we've actually had a couple
meetings. Um we reviewed complaints that came in regarding the person we selected for the executive director position of CES. Um we are still moving forward with her as the um incoming executive
director. Um but we did um a lot of the school committee or excuse me CES board members um actually did a lot of offline research coming into the meeting um regarding
her evals and like what what the context is in Northampton. Um so a lot of us came in with um additional information outside of what was put in the complaint. Um and we had a chance to ask
her questions about what's come up. Um and we felt like the responses were satisfactory. So um a majority of us felt comfortable moving forward with her as the executive director. Um so she will be starting in July, Dr. Bonner. Um
and we uh confirmed her contract. So um we were able to finalize her contract as well. And we um recently learned, I think either in December or January, that the current
interim director um would like to transition back to her role as um I think she's like um a a a general director for CES. So, she's transitioning back to that role. And so we now need to find a an execut an
interim executive director to hold us over from now through to um July when Dr. Bronner will start. So um we interviewed two candidates last night and um have selected one to move forward
with. Uh so uh we are hoping to uh finalize that and and have the person start next week. Um so moving moving quickly on that but it's a prior superintendent um with like 40 over 40 years of experience
um leading leading educational organizations. Um other than that I I think those are the the key updates for CES.
Thanks. >> Thank you very much. All right. So, uh, moving on to the policy review section of the night. We've got the second read, first vote on homeschooling, uh, special instructional programs and accommodations. So, programs for children with special
needs, uh, the student services program, compensatory Oh, sorry. >> Yes. Go ahead, Anna. >> No, keep going. Okay. After you finish reading, I'll ask my question. Okay. Compensatory uh, education, homebound instruction, and alternative school programs. Yes, Anna.
>> So, my question is about alternative school programs. So, that's why I wanted you to finish. Um, this is I I'm not entirely sure what this policy is supposed to cover. And then, um, where does >> or I can't hear?
>> You can't hear? >> No, I'm sorry. It was my It popped up after it says unstable network connection for me. >> Sorry. I was wondering whether the alternative education programs um what exactly that covers and then
where does the opt out program like if you opt out of sexed is this the alternative education program that and where does that alternative education program >> so that's a different policy that would
go under um instructional and the opt out piece there's a a piece where you can Right. And actually, I think it was a recent policy that we've done. This would be more about students who need um uh uh their needs aren't being met. And so
we may have an alternative program. We could develop in internally. It could be an out of district. It could be um a vocational program. I mean, it's pretty wide in the MASC policy. Um >> so all of these are related to special
ed. Um, it could be related to to a need for an individualized program. Yeah, I mean it could look a lot of different ways, but it's not about opting out of >> Okay.
>> our current curriculum that there are policies around that. It's just not this one. >> Okay. I move to approve Oh, wait. Do we just read these or we approve the first vote? >> No, we have today's the first vote.
>> I move to approve the policies listed. >> Does that work Trevor? All in favor? May you? >> Got a lot of I heard I >> long.
>> Right on. I think we should do it that way from forever. >> I thought we had to read out the the letters. Yeah. Um, so I just wanted to point out too before we move on from this section that uh, Shannon has requested and I think it makes a lot of sense. We haven't done it this way before, but I think it makes a lot of
sense that um, our next policy meeting in Mar in uh, April will be our last policy meeting. So we will clear the docket off so that we don't end up having things kind of overs summering because our last meeting May will be the reorganization meeting after the town election and that'll be the final and
then June will be the final votes on whatever is left in the policy queue um with whatever our new committee um is. So I think that's a really smart way to go about it and that's the way we'll we'll proceed. Um future business, we've got our policy committee meeting uh
April 16th at 6:30. We've got the uh next school committee meeting at April 16th at 7 o'clock. Um and Union 28 joint supervisory one uh that's Monday, May 18th, which will be after our town meeting, I believe. And then um does
anybody have any future agenda items that they would like to add to next month's agenda that they know of right now? >> Do we want to talk? Wait, do we want to talk about uh the Viva's um do we want to address her? We
could throw that she >> if she put that next that um >> we could just talk about that a little more. >> I think that definitely maybe uh if we could just I mean I think for a comm for the committee it would be useful to just kind of hear maybe a little bit more. I
mean, I know we've been talking about it all year, but it would be useful to talk a little bit more about the um the oversight and data. Um, >> so I think the process actually is that the the and I actually was going to draft a letter. It has to go to a joint
labor management. >> It does not go right to the full committee because it could end up with HR kind of thing. So, >> yeah. Yeah. Well, I was going to say the other the other part of the other part of it being, you know, compensation um for, you know, we just finished our contract negotiations last year. So, um
though I hear the the desire for supporting educators at equal level to administrators and whatever. that's not something we can really deal with in an off contract year unless there was a you know >> so I do have other schools within the
union who I meet with the principal um and not we have sort of a standing meeting once every month or once every other month with um union representatives to just sort of have but there's there's a protocol about those kind of concerns which are all valid and
we want to hear them um but coming to the school committee isn't the protocol the protocol is that we start with a joint labor management and hear their concerns and you know how we can address them if we can address them and then it proceeds up. So I don't want to bypass
that because >> um it could put us not following the protocol is could put us in a a precarious position going into negotiations or something like that. So, I actually was was multitasking and drafting an email to invite um them to
to come meet with Ann and I at some point next week and start that discussion and then it's like a trickle up kind of thing and I just want to make sure we're following the right process. >> Thank you. >> So, we'll leave that off the we'll leave that off the agenda and wait on uh wait on the culmination of that. Leah, did
you have a question >> or an agenda item? >> Um not necessarily an agenda item. Um, just that there's another CES meeting on March 25th. So,
>> thank you. >> I can like send those. I don't know if I should maybe just send them to >> I don't know. I don't know how those dropped off of our list. I feel like there was a time where those were on, but I also know that our last our last session last year um I think our CES
attendance was not as um not as diligent as you have been this year. So, it might be good to kind of get that back into the schedule because I think that might be where it dropped off. Um all right, any other items for next month? Okay, let's hear a movement
for >> So moved. All right. Second that I heard. >> I was just going to put the two together. All in favor my UI. See you guys all later. >> Thank you guys. Bye. Thanks.