This government meeting is brought to you by Eastworks and our local cable subscribers something. Okay. All right. So, I'm calling the meeting to order at 6:04. Um, routine matters. First up, approval of minutes. The minutes are in the packets.
if you'd like to peruse them. >> Uh there's a Jen's name's missing at N in >> both minutes. >> All right. All right. So, replace any J N with Jeene N. >> Double N gen all the way.
>> All right. >> Same thing under policy. >> Yep. I'm just going to say Jen as needed. And >> yeah, Jen as needed. There you go. >> Move to approve the minutes as amended. >> Uh second. >> All in favor? Or actually any
discussion? >> All in favor? >> I. >> Is that a yes? All right. You >> squeaked. >> You squeaked. All right. You've been hanging around with that cat too long. All right. Um there's no public here, so there's no public comment right now.
Circulation of warrants. We're not doing that on um we're doing that electronically. Announcements. The only one I want to um veto I want to make sure I get this straight. January 5th, five committees meeting, right? Okay. So, January 5th,
>> 6 o'clock, it's either going to be at Hampshire or on Zoom. We don't know yet, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. But it will be the start of the Hampshire meeting and the purpose of it is for the central office budget presentation. Correct. >> Correct. So, mark your calendars, folks.
Um, and I just wanted to be sure you guys had that. >> The date >> January 5th. Yep. 6:00 p.m. >> And it's either our Hampshire regional or Zoom. That will be determined. >> Correct. >> Okay. And it's for the central office budget presentation. >> Okay. So, that was the only thing I
wanted to be sure I got to you guys today. I just found out about yesterday. All right. Um, principal report. >> Okay. In your packet, you have our the principal report for December. Our enrollment is at 475 students. Um some
community activity. We had Thanksgiving baskets um through a wonderful community initiative led by Melissa Stevens, a local realer. Several families at Norris um were able to receive Thanksgiving baskets filled with food items, games, and winter gear. Local families generously created and donated these
baskets in an effort to support others within our community. This is the third time we've done this with Melissa. Um she has coordinated and organized an event for Hampshire Regional Families. We're grateful for her dedication and deeply appreciate the ongoing support
for our community. Um field trip and fun stuff. Park Ranger Scott Gawson from the Springfield Armory um came to visit our sixth graders to lead a lesson around analyzing primary sources through archival photographs. Um, sixth grade teachers developed a
kindness project with where the sixth grade students visited K to2 classrooms talk about being kind and how to show kindness. And then students chatted and colored kindness posters together. That was right before the Thanksgiving break. It was not it didn't take a lot of time. It was just something nice that they did
together. Um, grade five um the staff from the Hitchcock Center are coming in to teach lessons to our fifth graders on December 5th, 8th, and 17th. Students are going to be developing problem solving skills related to water quality, air quality, and climate change. They
will use design and engineering challenges to understand nature-based solutions um to environmental challenges or changes. Identify new career pathways and get excited and inspired about science, nature, and climate change solutions. We were subawwarded this uh
grant through the school's exploring engineering design and sustainability. It's a seeds program. So I think Hitchcock Center was awarded it and then they asked to work with us. So we were the subordinates. And then we have a half day of school on December 12th and we will be continuing
our district-wide work with horizontal teaming across the district. Any questions for Elisa? Okay. Thanks, Veto. >> So I I'd like to piggyback on that initiative around kindness at um at
Norris. I was uh on campus today and uh got out at recess and was it K and one out there? Yeah. So K and one were out at recess and I was just wandering around talking to the kids and watching them do their thing and they're lined up. So I was watching them line up and
watching the teachers uh getting them ready to go back inside. And this little boy looked up at me and said, "What are you doing?" And I said, "Well, I'm just watching you guys get back inside." And he's kindergarten. And he goes, "Well, would you like to come to our class with us?"
And so I was like, "I would love to go to your class with you." So I followed him inside and they took their boots off and everything. We went in there and the teacher said something about a kindness thing. She goes, "That was very," cuz I told her what he said to me. She goes, "Oh, that was very kind of you to invite him in." And you know, so I introduced
myself and I was there for uh for their choice activity in the afternoon. But it was just so sweet and I was like, "Wow, that's really nice." But it's >> I heard about this >> in action. It's so just >> yeah, >> it reaffirms the work that the teachers and the um and the educators do at the
school >> to to see something like that and hear it and I didn't know that they were doing a kindness thing until um Alisa announced it just now. But then it just clicked in my head and I was like, "Wow, that is just amazing." >> Wow. >> You know, this little boy was just felt
enough to say, "Hey, come on with us. It'll be fun. >> You guys are awesome. Um, so, so I just wanted to share that I've been trying to get into the schools and the different classes. I've been focusing at the uh the sixth grade level across the districts just so I can see the
implementation of the curricula. Uh, and they're doing an amazing job with that. But today I was feeling going to early childhood and it was really nice. I'm glad I did. Um so my report uh we we received a notice from on 19th or so um
from commissioner Martinez and he was talking about the department of education and the fact that the title grants are no longer going title one title two etc are no longer going to be administered by the department of ed and they're going to the department of labor. Uh and the uh the only real
significant grant program is the idea. So the special ed grants are going to stay with the department ed at this time. Um I we anticipate more questions about that and how it might be administered and uh facilitated but uh at this point there was no further
information from the the dees or the commissioner. So we expect uh further guidance on that. Um we're working on the uh tuition agreement for Worthington. Uh right now we're in active negotiations. Uh there was a a
series of listening sessions on chapter 70 um funding and the needs that uh districts are facing and so they did listening sessions. I know Don attended a couple of them. I went to the uh the online version. I didn't give any
testimony, but what I did was I went to the uh the MASS, the Mass Association of School Superintendent site. Uh and I took all their all the uh testimony that had been given to date and I used AI to summarize it. And so I then reviewed the
testimony and I wrote an advocacy letter and submitted it uh to um to the state uh about the needs of the rural and the regional districts. Um, and so that that was shared to the
chairs and the uh superintendent report and then I'm drafting the uh central office town reports that go to each of the uh the towns and I shared that really my intent there is to to share the goals that we have the vision that
we have at the at the central office level um to to show where we are and where we want to be with respect to uh kind of the 20,000 foot view of education in the five districts.
>> Any questions for veto? >> Okay. Thank you, Veto. >> All right. I don't have a chair's report because >> I don't anything I need to say is parts of other things. Um Hampshire Regional, Jen, >> uh
hold on one second. Let's see. Did we talk about anything exciting? Oh. Oh, there was actually Yes, there was two students who came and gave a >> I guess they talk during public comment,
right? The two kids, the >> Yes. >> Uh it was a senior and a junior and they were talking about the cell phone policy at the high school and wanting to have it um altered to have the yonder pouches be optional for seniors and have it be like a senior privilege. and they
dressed very appropriately and had a nice presentation. Um, we didn't really do anything other than listen to them for it. Um, we talked about the GIC and that kind of stuff. Um,
oh, and that Well, Don's probably going to talk about this, but what >> about that you hired someone for the accountant position? >> Um, It starts in one week. >> So, yeah, that was about it. >> That's exciting. >> Yeah,
>> mostly it was just about insurance stuff. >> Okay, any questions for Jen? >> Okay, so thanks, Jen. Uh, PTO, I went last night. They had a very successful holiday bazaar and um they're doing really well with their fundraising this
year. I think this year so far they've raised I didn't say it um almost $28,000. Um >> they also they're also which is great because they're really helping out with things that >> are needed not there are needs not
wants. Um for example they are providing the funding for mulch for the play structure area. >> They bought a keyboard for the music they paid for keyboard for the music teacher. Um, and they um paid I think they I think they authorized up to like
$500 for some third grade just basic classroom supplies that since we don't have a supply line since all our supply lines were zeroed out because the override failed um PTO is helping where they can. They're also um the field trips for the Hitchcock Center. PTO is
also contributing to the cost of the buses for um those field trips. >> Yeah. And let's see, they're doing another Thunderbirds night. It's going to be March 14th. Um, they didn't want to inundate people right now with stuff, but I think when the kids come back
after winter break, I think they're going to be sending flyers and stuff home about the Thunderbirds. So, >> yeah. >> You ever call it the holiday bizarre? >> Is this the Apple Fest? >> Not going there, people.
>> Margaret, tell us about school council. >> Gonna tell you about it. Okay. So, we met yesterday. Um, we have two new um, parents on the council. Kimberly Escardo, she has a fourth grader and a sixth grader, and Brook McMahon, who has a first grader, and then Megan Johnson,
kindergarten teacher, and Margaret Larson. Um, we had, it was our first meeting, so I sort of went over what the council does and how they can help out. Uh we talked about next dates for meeting which is January 13th and we looked at the information that Jen gave
us on the possibility or the need for um a cell phone policy at some point and I asked them for their feedback if they have any but they're going to come back with it next month. >> Thank you >> Dylan. >> They're currently meeting right now. So
um >> okay >> I will provide I will provide an update based upon the ex executive summary that I received post meeting. >> All right and I don't have a select board update. So there we go. All right. >> Okay. >> Don >> um I don't know if you have
>> I don't have any financials. >> Okay. So let me get this. This is this month's um expenditure report. I'm >> sorry. >> It's okay. That way nobody looked ahead. >> Yeah. Thank you.
>> Thanks. >> I like numbers. >> Okay. So, um the situation on the um budget report is that I'm happy to say that we produced one and um we're still scrubbing it. Uh and let me give you a
couple of uh areas where you'll see, you know, you may have some questions and some things that we have to do. So, right off the bat, neurodeiversity program, it looks like nobody's being paid, but that's not quite true. Um, we have to get the right people in um the
act they're getting paid. They're just showing up in like sped um in the sped lines and so we have to get them in the right buckets. So, that's still being scrubbed. Um then when you look down to the assistant principal, I just wanted to mention this because we'd had some
conversations before. I haven't had a chance to talk with Alisa, but the the assistant principal's salary right now is being charged to school choice and I think we had a conversation about that at one point and we said we don't want to do that. So I just wanted to be sure
I don't know Lisa if you remember that conversation or if anybody on the committee remembers that. Uh so do you >> I I keep saying that we took it out of school choice but I a couple years ago. Yeah. Yeah. A couple years ago. Yeah. So, I I thought so and so I can still
see that it's in school choice. We are going to take it out and move it in here. Um the budget is there. We're going to put the actuals there. Okay. Um but I just wanted to make sure that I I was me remembering that correctly. Um and then you know the the numbers that
are in the incumbrance column, let's say. So for for the principal um you can see there's a budgeted number there's the year-to- date expense and then this was this is what would be remaining to be paid in order to meet that full budget number. And so that is how it is
um that's how it is supposed to work. This line is working correctly where you at the very beginning of the year they put in the full amount in the incumbrance and then it declines as it's paid. Um and so that one's working well. There are some lines that aren't working quite as well. Um, but they will all get
there um eventually. Um, and then let's see. I wanted to point out a couple of other things. If you look down at the kindergarten teacher, um, I'm not certain that we have all of the actuals in there to date. Um, so I've just I've
highlighted some things for myself that we're going to continue to look at. Um, and then we're going to I'm going to be meeting with our external accountant who is is checking these things out and then I'll be meeting with Alisa once we feel we have it more stable. Um, so if you look for example in in on page two in
the MA teacher math remediation that was a position if I'm not mistaken that was >> both of them were cut >> were cut and so that budget actually um that reflects what the person was being paid but that budget has been moved to elsewhere. Um it's not that that needs
to come out. You cut the budget, but the remaining amounts, pardon me, >> there's no people, >> right? But the but the rema there should be no budget either. That budget is just a remnant and it needs to be allocated appropriately. So that's an example of
something that's not quite right. Um also, if you look at the grade six, you'll see that that looks like we're going to be over by um over 72,000. and we're looking into that. I think the um declination that we talked about in the
incumbrance isn't working correctly. So, I've got to look at that and see if it's if it is in fact the incumbrance or if not all the right people are in there. So, um then if we get down to um let's
see what's another one I wanted to talk about uh the paraprofessional line. So at the very bottom of that, >> hang just why are there two substitute lines? >> Okay, so a good question. So you see the substitute line that's in caps. >> Y
>> um that is an obsolete account. And so we are removing the ones there are a number of things that you'll see in capital letters like that. They're being removed but it didn't quite get removed cuz if you look over in the encumbrance that has to be moved. So before once we
move the encumbrance then that line will disappear. But until we put it where it's supposed to be, um it's it's showing up. The following line is where it belongs. So you'll see there are a few um differences in terms of account numbers. And that's what we're trying to
straighten out both what we'd call the chart of accounts, getting things in the right buckets, trying to move towards getting things in the location where Desi wants them, so when you do the end ofear report, you can just pick it up and it'll work a little bit more
smoothly. Um then uh if you go to page three and you look at the capital sped para profofessionals you'll see nothing in there but you'll see the incumbrance that also needs to be moved to the a couple lines down you'll see sped para
educators. So that line will go away. So next month you'll see a report that's more reliable and you can actually look at it and see where you are. There are some some holes in here. What does extended year
services paras mean? Is that the additional stipens for toileting and that kind of thing? >> No, that's summer school. It's your typically what it means is summer program, but you tell me what it means in your >> the line you asked about extended year services- paras
>> page three. >> That should extended year should be summer school. >> Summer school. Yeah. And about the Paris, we'll have to see what that means. For some people, for some um schools, they have the Paris listed separately from some of the other
activity. And I don't know if Alisa wants it that way. So, when we meet with her, we'll go over that. It probably will end up just saying extended year services, which is just summer school. Um the other thing I want to point out is the sped transport is is all
transportation lines. So, for example, um unlike all the other schools, transportation is budgeted at the town level for Southampton and we and the central office had been paying those bills, but we've spoken with the accountant at Southampton and we've
reached a for this year an understanding that all of the bills, we will look at them, but they will be sent to the accountant so that they're not showing up here. They shouldn't be coming out of your budget. So, we've taken them out, but you'll look at the incumbrance that has to be removed as well. Once that
gets removed, then there'll be nothing showing up in either the budget or the actuals on the school's budget. So, it won't be removed from the school's budget. It will be added to the town's budget where the where the budget
allocation is. >> Um, >> is that sped and regular ed? >> That's sped, regular ed, and >> vocational. vocational. Yeah. Yeah. And then there's one that's called sped transportation homeless. That that will
also be Yeah. The Mckin Vento and we're going to re label that so it doesn't say homeless, but it'll say Mckin Vento. >> Um the central office salaries are showing like they're over and that's not the case. But um things have to get again in the right buckets and we'll put
them there and and as I said next next uh month it'll be more reliable. The next page is page five. And there's something that I wanted to talk about with respect to that. Um, if you go down midway there, you'll see utilities. There's septic rush, uh,
rubbish removal, electricity, internet, telephone. Um, somewhere in there, there's fuel, you know, up at the top there. Um, we got some bills in this month that were pretty high. And um for you have holio gas
>> for your Yeah. And then you have um >> Eversource >> Eversource for the electricity. And so we were looking at the gas bill. It came in this month at and the electricity bill. They were really high. And so there's an energy audit person. I don't
know if you're aware of that, but um West Hampton had gotten a grant. Do you want to talk about what that is? >> Yeah. the energy manager uh is a shared grant between West Hampton, Southampton, and Williamsburg. And Dan Abramson was hired. I sat on that hiring committee.
And um the intent, it's a three-year grant uh is to do energy audits, identify grants, write grants, and try and improve the uh energy management systems in each of the buildings uh for the schools, but also for the town. So,
the municipal side, uh, Doug, Finn, um, Scott, and oh gosh, Williamsburg, I'm for >> uh, Nick. >> Nick >> at the moment. Yeah. >> Um, we all work together to to, uh, get this position. It's totally grant funded. Uh, but he's really doing some
some great work around energy audits and identifying need and then pairing that need to specific grants that are out there. So, um we're hopeful that we're going to realize some uh some savings ultimately, but ideally we're going to
fix some of the problematic u inefficiencies in our systems. >> Yeah. And he's this particular person is so knowledgeable and he's he's really he's really good. And so, um, he was meeting with veto and I this week and I asked if he would look over some of the
bills and give me an analysis, um, because they're around like this winter they they come in at somewhere between 17 and $20,000 a month. And um so the kilowatt hour usage looks about what it is about what it was last year,
but he he provided some analysis and I will give you uh like he had some some charts and things that you really would like. And so um I will get I'm going to give that to you next next time or send it to you between now and then once he's had a chance to fully scrub this and
we've given him some info. But the thing that I found most notable and wanted to bring to your attention so so that um you could bring it back to the town and also we'll talk to Scott about it. But what he looked at is what the um energy
use intensity metrics are. And the national average for that um for elementary schools is somewhere between 45 and 68 um kilowatt BTUs or kilobtus
and per square foot. So so 45 to 68 per square foot. And um Norris right now is calculating at 123 and so it base it per square foot which which means that the equipment is probably not terribly
energy efficient and he is going to take a look at that. Don't know if it's the equipment or if there's not seals along the doors that there's a lot of air infiltration, things like that. But that was a a huge statistic and it's one that we're going to have to watch when it
comes to electricity and and our heating. um here and see if we can make some improvements. So that stat was interesting and I think really that's those are the highlights. Um I will as I said we'll
scrub this between now and the next time and we will have um more an analysis and more reliable uh numbers on there. But so far so good. Um then as Jen mentioned, we did hire a um an
accountant. The accountant ended up having a certified government um accounting degree versus CPA and I'm thrilled with that. Um she has um she's currently the assistant accountant or assistant auditor is what they call them
in the cities uh for the town of Westfield and um she is starting a week from today. Um she impressed everybody. It was a unanimous decision by the search committee and um she's I I'm
really looking forward to having her having her here. So that's good. And then we have continued um for the assistant business administrator search. I think the last time I was here, I reported that that person had resigned. And um Veto, I would say we've had some
very good candidates and um we we've sort of narrowed it down to two and we're in we've interviewed both of them and they're coming back next week. So I hope to have a good report by the time we um get together again. Um I think
those are the highlights. >> Anything like >> pardon me? End of year reports or >> Oh, the end of year reports. Oh, I should talk about that. Yeah, sorry about that. Yeah, I must have blocked that from my mind. Um the the end of year reports. So, they are due at the end of September and Veto and I meet
every month with the um with the Desi people and uh the head of the finance group there. So, they kne they knew we weren't going to be get getting them in timely. Um we filed for an extension. We received it. Um but we still haven't gotten them in. And so the rule is if
you don't have them in by December 12th, which we will not, that there's a chance they could, we got the form letter that said there's a chance that they could withhold our state aid. And so, um, we don't want that to happen. Um, we've
told them what we're doing. We can't move any faster right now. And, um, we'll see what happens. But, um, for we've got that for all of the schools, all five schools. And so I've done a cash flow analysis for um the
the largest one for Hampshire regional and for the two regionals and and we'll have to look and see if we don't get that aid. I have to talk with um Bradley. I think we'll be okay because it's not going to go on for months and months. It would be a suspension for a
month or so. Um but so far we don't think we're going to have a cash flow problem. But but I need to work with Bradley on that. Um, in order to do the end of year reports, and I'm not saying that this is the reason because we we're not we're not prepared, but in order to do the end of year report, the town for
the municipal towns, they have their books have to be closed and Southampton's books aren't closed yet. They're projecting to have them closed at the end of this month. And so as that comes together, then Bradley and I will work together to um ensure we have
the our books and their books are aligned and that we can rely on that information and fill out the report. So for the three municipals, the um if you if the books aren't closed for the town, we can't do the reports. We're even if the books were closed today, I will tell
you we aren't in a position to do them, but we're trying to um get there. They'll be done six months before they were done last year. So that'll be progress. It's just later than they're actually due. >> Yeah. >> Um so that's the scoop there. And then we have been working diligently on this
analysis for the health plans for those areas that we're responsible for. The town provides the benefits for the teachers in each of the municipal schools. And um one stat I can provide as of this point, we'll have we'll know
more next week, but um there are 73 units within the current um HCGIT, the trust, and we know that nine or 10 are leaving. They've given their formal notice because we had to give a formal notice by December 1. So, it's Southampton, the town of Southampton,
it's Hampshire Regional, Chesterfield Gan Regional, the town of Chesterfield, um and then uh several others. >> We knew that was coming. >> Did they get the Blue Cross of Blue Shield um survey back yet or did you
guys >> That That's part of the survey right there. How many is that's the survey that says how many people have are going to be leaving? Are >> Oh, that's what that's what that's what it was. Yeah. So, so you had to re Blue Cross Blue Shield asked if they if the
trust would survey its membership to find out who's going to be staying and who's going to be leaving >> so that they then remove those claims when they're figuring out their premiums for next year. Um, and so that's what we know. There's an IA meeting on December 17th and we'll find out more
specifically who's going, but those are the those are the ones that I know of so far. Anything else I've forgotten about that? Okay. >> Any questions for Don? >> Any questions? Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Don. >> All right. All right. So, in the
packets, we have um the wellness policy. I said it was a second read with a possible vote, so I don't know if people are going to want to. Um I don't know if everyone has had a chance to read it. Um, >> Jen, I know that you had been you had
>> I have a couple questions, but nothing really like it's basically just >> the legal >> well. So, again, my understanding is everything that's in here is stuff that's required to be in here, >> right? >> So, >> and I don't even know if anybody will have the answers to these questions. So,
>> all right. So, what do you what do you where are you? Um, >> Jen, may I ask, do you have the questions written down or >> just I just kind of went through and highlighted stuff like in the policy that I had questions on. >> Cuz if you want to get them on the record, of course, ask them, but you
could send them to me and I can give them to San Pas, okay, >> nurse leader, and then she could give us the answers. >> Okay. Um, give us a page number, Jen, so we know what we should be looking at. >> Oh, I'm looking at page two. I was just curious like when it says like the district's going to the last bullet
point on page two like do we already have staff development that does like I know at least for like the head kitchen lady I'm pretty sure does professional development like do the rest of them
already do that or like are these I'm just wondering if there's costs that are going to be coming like more incurred cost in these things >> for the upcoming budget like that we don't already have >> okay >> kind of planned for um or if that kind of PD is already built into Elisa's
PD line kind of a thing >> it wouldn't be built into the school's PD line I would say it probably come out of the revolving account okay >> so then that >> and maintaining their certifications and things like that
>> y >> um and then my other question was on the nutrition education like who's doing that? When is it happening? >> I had the same question. >> Who's paying for that? Is there a curriculum?
>> Uh the nurses do some, the gym teacher does some, but I don't have a dedicated health teacher, >> right? I mean, I know that, but I didn't know if this meant that there was going to be cuz I mean, it says part of a sequential interdicciplinary
standardbased program, which I'm guessing is not how it is currently being done. >> Correct. >> So, that would lead me to believe that there's some sort of curriculum that needs to be. So I think one of the questions for that would be a good question for the um
nurse leader is >> so she had said that these things were required. So if this is required how are we going to meet that requirement? >> Right. >> Right. And for our budgeting purposes too we would need to know that. >> Right.
>> Okay. Next Jen anything do you have more? Um, oh, and then the last just the last thing again this would have to go to I think like our specific cafeteria people but the fact that it says each school within the district will intimate implement its own practice with respect
for celebrations for students birthdays, holidays, events. I know that we already do like the treats, the cookies or whatever that the uh cafeteria provides follow and meet the USDA smart snacks guidelines. However, I was wondering if
there was a way for us to add an allergy friendly option for the kid. I know there's kids that, you know, can't have dairy or can't have whatever. If there's some way we can add that into so that it's kind of an all-inclusive
Well, it says inclusive and safe for all students and staff. But do you mean specifically at Norris to not just have cookies? just to have the cookies but also have an option. So if there's a kid in the class, they get to >> be part of it.
>> We do >> without having to I know like for one one of my younger son's friends has a lot of allergies. So like his mom will send in when he he knows she knows that someone's doing a birthday thing, she'll send in a special cupcake for him. Yeah,
>> but I didn't know if there was a way that we could kind of cut that out and have some other treat that would be if someone in that classroom needed it could be added with. >> Do you know what I mean? And I think it's hard to meet everybody's but >> right
>> we do have like icy Italian ice which is >> okay >> but then there so if you're allergic to I I may I may not sound 100% educated but if you have a nut allergy so well we wouldn't provide anything from the cafeteria that had anything with nuts in it that so say dairy milk right so you
can't have the cookie but we'll give you an Italian ice >> oh that already could be yes >> okay I didn't know that >> if There are some parents that want to send in something for their child in case their child's class has a thing. They can eat this, right?
>> Um there's other parents who um don't really say anything about it. So we offer a child something that they can have. >> Gotcha. >> But I think >> it would be hard then there might be someone who's alert can't have like red dye number whatever whatever and that
might be in the Italian ice. So, >> I don't really know. Something we should definitely talk about. >> I didn't know about the Italian nice thing. So, that >> kind of is a >> it's like a icy or something. >> Mhm. >> I think it should be discussed though. >> So, as a child as a parent with child
with allergies, I completely appreciate where you're coming from with that. I think it's a great thing that school's doing. I don't think I'd want to see it in our wellness policy >> as a line within the wellness policy. >> Oh, no. I just personally like asking when it's talking about this, do we offer any options?
>> Gotcha. >> To be a more inclusive I don't know I am not saying we need to add specific language in there. I was just curious based on I know our school does X. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Do you have any questions? Dylan, did you have anything else? >> Nope.
>> So I had sort of broader thing I guess. So this is called the five districts wellness policy. Is the is the expectation that all five committees are going to pass the exact same policy
>> that initially? Yes. That's >> is that still the >> I what Kimberly said is that each school committee has to pass the policy for themselves and so it can't be the five. We we so we re we would rename it that it was ours.
>> We would rename it Southampton. Yes. >> So my question then if we're doing that is if we were going to do that would we take out references to the middle and high school because our school doesn't have the middle and high school. >> Yes. >> And would we take out references to the
schools in the districts because it's our singular district? >> Okay. >> Um All right. So, I don't know if you guys want to if you want to vote on this tonight or do you want um do you want to get answers to Jen's
questions? Um especially about the nutrition education. I think that's an important one to know about. Um I'm I'm happy to go through and edit it to make it the Southampton and take out the references to just grades we don't have. Um and just clean it up so it's just
about our single district. So, um, that's why I said a possible vote instead of a definite vote for tonight. So, I will, um, >> makes sense to me. >> I'll do that for for our next meeting. Okay. >> I I will say just on that, I agree completely with the,
uh, program, the health, the health programming portion, the nutritional education portion. Just I will say my reading of it that does not seem to mandate a staffing level. >> Okay. So I would read that to say a program could simply be
>> it could be in a curriculum but it could be part of of of classroom curriculum. It could be part of health of physical education curriculum. So, >> yeah. The thing that that um after Jen mentioned it and I looked at it um more closely, it's the systemic
the kind of like >> structure part of it. And so that that may be missing right now that in kindergarten we do this and in first grade we do this you know and I don't know how how that actually plays out in the classroom but um if it's you know
kind of catches catch can that may not meet the policy >> needs to be a little more structured I would say. Yeah. >> All right. Okay. So then we will um we'll take a look at an edited version. Jen are you going to you're going to send your questions? Okay great. Um,
okay. Then we can move on from that. So, oh, Jen, you're up again. Um, you're so lucky. Okay. So, um, you've been working on cell phone policy. >> Yes. So, I met last week with Alisa and
Veto together. Um, just to talk about uh where we need to go. And based on the information that I got from veto um and that he had got from the state, the bill has passed the Senate and is currently in the House for um it's Senate Bill
2561. Um and basically if this passes as it is, districts are required to adopt and implement the policies by the start of 2627 school year. >> Okay. Um, so we have in our handbook,
which I don't think I fully under uh realized a spot in there that says like cell phones, smartwatches, all those things are not allowed to be on or visible in school during school hours. And then it explains like if
they've se if they're seen, what consequences take place. So we basically need the policy to back >> back that. Um, so I had sent the information of the actual bill, the information of what the handbook says to
Alisa for her to talk about at school council just to get their opinion. Whereas there's parents on the um that committee to see, you know, if there's going to be any push back. The bigger problem though said when we met together like there hasn't really been any cell
phone issues this year. There has been in previous years, but so far this year and most of last year, whatever, there hasn't really been any issues. However, a lot of kids are wearing like Apple watches. >> Mhm. >> And that technically shouldn't be on them while they're at school. I know
there's a couple kids with um insulin things that have them for those medical reasons, which is a different story, but that kind of piece might need to be worked better and more understood to the parents that
>> that counts as a cell phone/personal electronic that doesn't need to be on your kid during school. >> Yeah. >> Kind of a thing. >> My kid would have lost that within 2 days. >> So, we're there. And so the hope is that by the beginning of spring, we'll have a
full policy to bring before everybody and have it done before we even have to worry about whether or not this happens or not. >> So, Jen, for our listening audience, um, in terms of the the what the bill requires, does it require like yonder
pouch or or or is it just put away and not what's what's the language? The language says that it's a bell-to-bell cell phone free policy by 20 fall of 2026. Uh mandatory ban all public K to2 districts must implement a bell-to-bell
cell phone free policy. Meaning student devices must be stored out of sight and out of reach during the school day. >> Okay. So not just like stuck away in your pocket. >> Correct. Doesn't necessarily say that it needs to be a yonder pouch. >> Yeah.
um exemptions will be made for students with medical conditions, IEPs, etc. Um the school has to ensure that there's a method for students to contact their parents in talking with veto at that meeting. I did not know, but they
installed phones in the did you say in the hallway? >> Yeah, in the hallway outside the cafeteria, >> right? So that students during the day if they need to get in touch with a parent can just go and use the phone and call like which I didn't realize which is pretty nice at the high school. Yeah. >> At the high school
>> not here at Norris they just come to the office. >> Right. And at Norris they have the option to just go to the the office. >> I desperately wanted them to install rotary phones >> just for the fun of watching them try to use it. >> Um >> the cord was probably hard enough for
him. >> I know. What is why? >> It says that they're going to provide guidance, model policy, and solicit public input to help. I don't know whether or not that will happen or not. Um, but that's where it's
at. It's basically like they do not want to see any kind of personal electronics during school at all, >> which I obviously can agree with at the high school level, but I mean I don't even know why any of them have it at the elementary school level aside the few kids that need them for
>> other reasons. So, >> any questions for Jen? >> I will just say I would assume NASC will put forth a >> Oh, yeah. And I have looked >> policy once this if this passes I I guess they're holding off to find out what the
final language looks like. >> Right. >> So >> I agree. >> I would I would >> have looked at other schools in our area >> and what their pol I mean they're basically all the same. Some of them are really strict. Some of them are just like we don't want to see him. So cool. Thanks J.
>> All right. Thanks Jen. Thank you for the work on that and your continuing work on it. All right. Um, is there any new business that didn't make it to the agenda? We have a spot that says other. So, anybody? >> Nope. >> All right, cool. All right, then. Um,
I will entertain a motion to move into executive session according to Mass Journal R, Chapter 3A, section 213, to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation. if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the
chair so declares which I do. This is for the Southampton Teachers Association teachers and that we include the uh business manager, principal and superintendent in the executive session. >> Town manager. >> Oh, and Oh, yeah. And um the town administrator.
>> Thank you. I got to check my phone. Yeah. >> And the town administrator. So, is there anyone who wants to make that motion? >> And we're not returning back to public session. Oh, dear God. You You're I'm glad you're here because I'm now I'm asleep. Okay. And we will not be returning to open session.
So moved. Assuming Dylan's quite done. >> All right. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All right. Roll call vote. >> Larson I. >> Shot. I >> Marley I. >> Uh Johnson I.
>> Okay. We are in executive session. Cameas be gone.