WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=bGNCVzQbzYY

Part: 1

1
00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:32.079
This government meeting is brought to you by Eastworks and our local cable subscribers. Okay. So, I'm going to call to order the Southampton School Committee meeting for June 10th, 2026. Um, first thing we're going to do is

2
00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:47.440
really just me and Dylan. I guess you guys can also look over it, but the meeting minutes, which I had a question from the um administrative system. It really was a 30 minute meeting last month and I was like,

3
00:00:47.440 --> 00:01:13.200
>> yes, it was actually. I was like, it was very quick. um may also recommend we >> Dylan if you don't see any uh >> yet. Uh I'll make a motion to approve the minutes of May 13, 2026. >> Okay. Um I guess I'll second it.

4
00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:34.000
>> Any member consent that? >> Okay. Second. Okay. Kate. Uh, all in favor? >> I. >> Perfect. Closed. >> Okay, meetings are minutes are good. Um, we're going to do public comment. So, if

5
00:01:34.000 --> 00:02:09.679
anyone has anything they'd like to say to the board, you may come up and talk now. Nope. Okay, you're up. Have some handouts. Nice. Thank you. So, I need to give you my name and

6
00:02:09.679 --> 00:02:24.879
address and all that. I'm Stephie Cho, 3 East Street. Um, I am both a teacher with 21 years of experience and a parent of a fourth grader at Norris. The reason I'm here is to share information as a concerned parent and educator, about a

7
00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:40.800
valuable opportunity that has directly benefited my classroom and could support many others, specifically at Norris School. I have extensive experience using Donor's Choose and have seen firsthand the positive impact it can have on students and classrooms. Donor's

8
00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:55.840
Choose provides a valuable opportunity for teachers to obtain materials and resources that often cannot be purchased through existing school budgets. During my 21 years as a teacher, I have successfully used Donor's Choose to bring numerous materials into my

9
00:02:55.840 --> 00:03:11.360
classroom. Many of the items featured on the front of this handout were funded through my donors choose projects for my classroom. Additional resources I have received include soccer balls, goals, pennies for student activities, a color printer, ink, a laminator, and

10
00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:26.959
laminating pouches, math manipulatives, organizational supplies, and many other classroom essentials that directly support student learning. Donor's Choose is simple for teachers to use. First, a teacher creates a free account and designs a project describing the

11
00:03:26.959 --> 00:03:42.159
materials or resources needed for students. The requested items are selected from approved vendors through the donor's choose platform. Once the project is reviewed and rep and approved, it is posted online where community members, families, businesses,

12
00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:57.840
and other supporters can choose to donate. When the project is fully funded, donors choose purchases the materials directly and ships them to the school. Teachers then share photos and thank you notes so donors can see the impact of their contributions on

13
00:03:57.840 --> 00:04:13.599
students. Uh Norris Elementary School already has a presence on the donor's choose website, making it easy for community members to view and support projects from our school. Uh page three of this handout highlights some of the features uh visitors would see when they

14
00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:29.280
access the Norris Elementary School page, including active classroom projects, teacher profiles, funding progress, and the impact these donations have on students and classrooms. This school specific page helps connect donors directly with the needs of our classrooms and allows them to see how

15
00:04:29.280 --> 00:04:46.560
their contributions benefit our students and teachers. One of the most important lessons I've learned is the value of planning ahead. Each spring, I create a donor's choose project focused on supplies and materials needed for the beginning of the next school year. By submitting projects before summer break,

16
00:04:46.560 --> 00:05:02.560
there is time for them to be funded and delivered, allowing students and teachers to start the skew school year with the resources they need already in place. This proactive approach helps alleviate the financial burden many teachers face when preparing their classrooms for a new group of students.

17
00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:18.400
I would also like to offer my support to educators at North School who may be interested in using donor's choose. I would be happy to provide a presentation for teachers, guide them through creating an account and assist them in developing and submitting their first projects. Having successfully funded

18
00:05:18.400 --> 00:05:33.440
numerous projects over the years, I can share strategies and best practices that increase the likelihood of success. Thank you for considering my request and for your time. I appreciate the opportunity to share this resource and would be grateful for the chance to help support and train our teachers in using

19
00:05:33.440 --> 00:05:49.120
donors twos so more classrooms can benefit from these opportunities. So, I also want you to know I do not work for Donor's Choose. I It's just like a really amazing resource. So, if you have any questions, you know, I'm free to answer anything.

20
00:05:49.120 --> 00:06:05.199
>> Um, thank you. I actually had asked Stephie to come and do this. I kind of forgot about it, but because she and um her partner Alice has talked to me about it, and I figured I didn't know that there was teachers that already used it. So, that's kind of good to know that it's already being used.

21
00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:22.639
>> Yeah. um but that faced with you know our budget issues and supply line issues that this would be a great way and she said you know she would be offering to help set up things for teachers and help them get started. So I figured it would be a good way to throw it out there to everyone so that we all had that out

22
00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:39.360
there if we needed help. So >> can you send this to me electronically? >> Um yeah this was like uh I absolutely can. I also already created in case you were welcoming me to do this like a presentation that can be shared if I met with a couple teachers they can spread

23
00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:56.639
you know the love um you know I kind of um had some materials I was like hey could you guys use this and I like was like what do you think about this I know it's the end of the year and teachers are like done cuz I'm right there right now but um you know I think many would

24
00:06:56.639 --> 00:07:12.880
be excited it's kind of also fun you get to shop on someone else's time. Um, you know, so um I can also email you my availability if you wanted. Um, so that um it's a very short window, I know, but for sure. >> Sounds good. Thank you. >> Okay.

25
00:07:12.880 --> 00:07:32.800
>> Thank you. >> Seeing no more public comment, we'll move on. We got the warrants taken care of, so we're good there. Um, did anyone have any announcements or correspondence? Not you guys. Me neither. Okay. Um, so I'm going to go a little out of order.

26
00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:48.720
I'm going to ask everyone welcome our new committee. We have three new committee members um joining Dylan and I. Um, if you guys would just state your names, maybe a sentence about yourself and then we will do the elections of officers and committee assignments

27
00:07:48.720 --> 00:08:04.800
before we get into the rest of the agenda. You want to start, Michelle? >> Sure. Um, my name is Michelle D. Rocher. Um, I joined this committee because I'm very passionate obviously about education and I am finishing my 22nd year in public education next week. So, I'm very excited to be part of this and

28
00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:20.639
um it's very meaningful to me. So, I look forward to that. >> My name is Ashley Stone. Um, I have a daughter at Norris School. I'm on the PTO and also on the um board of the Council on Aging and I'm excited to be

29
00:08:20.639 --> 00:08:35.760
more involved with the school committee now as well. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> Hi everyone. I'm Kate Stafice. Um I obviously live right here in Southampton. I by day I'm a physician assistant at Kulie and I currently serve on the board of health. Um so I have

30
00:08:35.760 --> 00:08:53.519
some town administrative experience. I wanted to join because I have two young daughters, three and a half and 22 months. And so I really want to give back to the community but also help shape decisions that will affect them later on. So happy to be here. >> Thank you. All right. Um, so I think we

31
00:08:53.519 --> 00:09:10.000
still have to reelect >> I nominate Jen Johnson to serve as the chair of the Southampton School Committee. >> Second. >> Perfect. Would we like to vote on that? >> Discussion. >> Any any discussion? I'd like to oppose or throw their name in the ring. Very

32
00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:33.760
excited for you to be taking. >> Yes. Um, okay. Um, all those in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Okay, that's me. >> Great. Um, I nominate Dylan Moffley for vice chair. Second.

33
00:09:33.760 --> 00:09:48.959
>> Any discussion? >> No. Perfect. Great. All in favor? >> I love that. Um, what else do we have? Dylan, clerk. >> Clerk. >> Okay, so clerk is the position I held previously on the committee. It's

34
00:09:48.959 --> 00:10:04.000
basically if during a meeting something is not um being minutes aren't being taken by veto's assistant, you may have to take minutes for the meeting, but mostly it's to take minutes for our executive sessions um when it's only

35
00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:20.079
allowed to be us. So, is there anyone that would like >> Well, can we discuss all of the options first? >> That's pretty much >> No, sir. That's it. >> Okay. Yeah, that's the only >> only cuz I just finished up my term in the PTO as a not a clerk, secretary. >> So, yes. So, as far as like committee

36
00:10:20.079 --> 00:10:37.200
positions, it's just chair, vice chair, and clerk. But then we have um select board rep, Hampshire regional rep, which if there's no opposition to that, I I was this that this past year, I would continue doing that. Um there's school

37
00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:54.240
council, which Dylan has said he would like to do. um >> PTO and CES. I can talk about CES a little bit. CES. I've done most of these committee assignments. >> Um >> for those in education probably know what the CES. It's the collaborative for educational services. It's based out of

38
00:10:54.240 --> 00:11:10.240
Northampton. Really amazing organization. They operate Hec Academy and Mount Tom Academy, two out of district placement schools. And they also provide after school programming uh for many many of the schools in the district for uh traditional students as well as special specialized afterchool

39
00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:27.600
care for uh special needs students as well as um they do professional development for the school districts as well. >> Great nonprofit. Unfortunately, with my day job, I'm finding I've got some conflicts in there. So, it's I can't continue with them anymore.

40
00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:43.040
>> Right. And their meetings are usually every other >> it's yeah they meet like 8 to 10 times a year. There are Zoom meetings or you can go on to Holly Street >> um and meet with them in their main building in Northampton but you there's always a Zoom option. The meetings are very well structured um and it's it's

41
00:11:43.040 --> 00:11:58.640
interesting if nothing else. >> Right. >> So those are the other positions that we need to be taken. But for clerk anyone >> I'm happy to be clerk. >> Yes. >> Yep. >> Okay. Well then I nominate Ashley Stone for clerk. >> I was going to volunteer too. Great. So, second.

42
00:11:58.640 --> 00:12:15.200
>> Perfect. >> All in favor? >> I gave me two. >> In all fairness, you did do it. >> I know. >> Do we have um someone taking notes on the uh live

43
00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:35.519
feed? >> It's being recorded. Right. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Jess usually watches back the Yeah. All right. So, we got that. We got that. me. So out of the um again I would ask to stay on Hampshire nominate Jen Johnson

44
00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:50.880
to serve as the liaison to the Hampshire Juice Commission. >> Second. >> Fantastic. Any discussion about that? Would anyone else like it? I would just like to let you know that >> it's a doozy. >> Yeah, I was interested in that. But that's okay.

45
00:12:50.880 --> 00:13:05.839
>> I'm interested just to know like I I like to know all of what's going on. But that's that's your >> There may also be an empty Hampshire regional seat still. So if you did want to serve up there, you can go to the select board and they'll point you. >> I know. And I was going to do that, >> but I backed out because Kim told me

46
00:13:05.839 --> 00:13:21.120
that's a lot to take on. >> Yeah. >> So I said, "Okay, maybe we start with one thing." Um >> Okay. >> Um >> but in terms of a rep, I would be happy to support that. But go ahead. >> It's legitimately the same thing. >> Oh, I see. Okay. It's you. It's the same

47
00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:35.920
as if you went up there and said you wanted to be the Hampshire regional seat. I have I have a vote. I have everything is the same. >> Okay, I see. Okay. >> Um I don't know about that. >> Those meetings are Mondays, correct?

48
00:13:35.920 --> 00:13:51.920
>> Yes. Yes. Yes. Um >> and and an extra Mondays and Thursdays and >> it's usually a new member who gets the fork assignment up there, but we have the what? >> It's usually a new member. who gets that fortune assignment.

49
00:13:51.920 --> 00:14:08.399
>> But our kind chair has volunteered to take it under itself. >> Um I just feel like I just the part hard part is is that it's a lot to take in >> and for like the first half of the year you're just like I don't know what's going on >> in headlights. Yeah. >> And then by the now I'm like oh okay

50
00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:24.800
like I get it. >> So but again >> it's a 17 member committee. So >> Okay. >> Yes. >> And then the other committees like just to get a sense of the the how often they meet. So the C CS is eight to >> eight to 10 times a year. Uh occasionally budget season they might

51
00:14:24.800 --> 00:14:41.440
meet twice in a month but typically it's once a month or once every six to eight weeks. >> Okay. >> Uh PTO meets >> once a month. Second Tuesday of the month. >> Yeah. 10 times a year if they don't meet over the summer. Right. Or do they >> 11 times a year? Yeah. We just take July off. >> And then um

52
00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:56.560
>> is there another one? >> Select board. >> School council. I'm I'm >> Oh, I for No, select board too. >> That's you. I'm flex. Uh the select board is uh are we sending someone to select board every meeting? >> I don't think so. Once a month. >> If someone wants to go to school.

53
00:14:56.560 --> 00:15:11.040
>> I mean, it just happened to work out that John was on the school committee and the select board. So, he was just always there. So, that was easy. But, I mean, >> I would also be willing to say that the the current select board chair would be more than willing to share information with the select board representative

54
00:15:11.040 --> 00:15:27.360
about school related matters if they wanted to. >> Right. I'm going to be chairing the PTO next year. Is there Yeah. I mean, yeah, I would love to have one last meeting of >> nominate Ashley to be PTO rep. Any uh

55
00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:42.800
second on that one? >> Second. >> Perfect. All in favor? >> I >> PTO it is. I Sorry, I suppose I said >> I am uh happy to take over the CES. >> Beautiful. I nominate Kate. Wait, what was your last name again? I'm sorry.

56
00:15:42.800 --> 00:15:58.399
>> What about me? >> Zap. I don't have a job. If you want to travel, what would you like? >> You can have Hampshire if you want Hampshire. >> Well, I'm very I'm very um I'm very interested. I'm just interested in what did you say? Thursdays and Mondays >> on what you say about >> for select board.

57
00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:15.360
>> No, no, no. You mentioned about the Hampshire committee. >> Hampshire regional. It's they do Mondays is their regular meetings once a month. >> Okay. >> Plus they do you if you're on a subcommittee that'll meet once a month. >> Yep. Plus, they end up having random meetings here and there for policy dis because they have they have very strict

58
00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:32.079
guidelines on how late their meetings can run. And you would think that a 9:30 mandatory end time with a 6:00 meeting start would allow you to get all of your business done, but often times it doesn't. >> Nope. >> So, special meetings have to get scheduled 48 hours notice, which would be a Thursday.

59
00:16:32.079 --> 00:16:49.040
>> Not that it happens often, but it happens occasionally. >> Yep. It's more a matter of my children and I guess it's just me. So I have to figure that out. Um >> or if you want to take school counsel, I'd be happy to do select board too. I'm open to

60
00:16:49.040 --> 00:17:07.280
>> same. I'm not picky. >> Yeah. >> Or if you want school counsel and everyone's >> committ um say that again. We So we don't need a selector person or something.

61
00:17:07.280 --> 00:17:24.959
>> Absolutely. >> Not particularly, but >> yeah. I don't know about the It's always just been John. >> Yeah. >> You know what I mean? Like it's just always been him. So like >> Do you want to do >> what I want to take in? >> What's school council? I don't I guess I'm not sure what that is. School

62
00:17:24.959 --> 00:17:40.799
Council is a group of educators, parents, administrators, and a school committee member who discuss the school improvement plan and the goals of improving the school >> as well as budget >> as well as budget. >> When's that? >> Tuesdays. Um, every month, every month

63
00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:57.360
and a half. And I will, you know, if you are on the school council, I update everybody in September to get a new parent volunteer or community volunteer, teacher volunteer. Um, and then we set the agenda, the um, the dates of when we meet for the year at the beginning of the school year. >> Okay. And there's already somebody that

64
00:17:57.360 --> 00:18:12.799
does that, Joe. >> It was Margaret. >> I'd be happy to do that. >> If you want to do that one, I will. >> I'd be happy to do that. >> Okay. >> We meet at 3:30. >> 3:30. >> 3:30 in the afternoon on that on Tuesday. >> I can't do that.

65
00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:28.000
>> I have meetings till 3:15 and I teach in Connecticut. So, >> and for everyone, normally leaving school and then coming back is hard for the people that work at the school. Um, >> sorry. >> I don't know. Do you guys want to split the Can you

66
00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:44.000
>> No, it's f I'll do it. I will I >> Well, there are there are um is it usually like two days a two times a month that I could I just can't be can't commit to that. >> It wouldn't be every Tuesday. Did you say two times a month? >> I know, but I just don't know. >> Okay.

67
00:18:44.000 --> 00:19:04.400
>> All right. So Kate, you still want to do the SEC? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Yes. Okay. So I nominate Kate for the SEC or CES. >> Second. >> Thank you. Um all in favor? >> I. >> Perfect. All right. So we got PTO, we

68
00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:20.880
got CS, we got >> uh Dylan, you want school counsel? >> Sorry. If if you could make it work, Michelle, I'm happy to. I think so. >> It's just that that's the days that we have meetings. And so I'm I'm in Connecticut. So 3 to 3:15. I already

69
00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:35.840
drive too fast to come home for my children. So it's >> probably not an option only because we meet three times a month, but I don't know >> what dates. So I it's it's random. I could certainly attend on days I'm available. But

70
00:19:35.840 --> 00:19:52.240
>> you said Tuesdays at 3:30. >> Yeah. I mean, if that would work for me if you would. I I'm just trying to make things easier. >> I could do that if you don't want to do that, Dylan. And you could do CES. I'm open to whatever.

71
00:19:52.240 --> 00:20:06.160
>> Okay. I could do CES. >> Yes. So, I will do the school council. >> So, you you you withdraw from your >> I was going to say CS with >> I move to appoint Michelle D. Roer. D Rocher or D Roer?

72
00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:24.000
>> D Rocher. the brochure as >> uh CES representative. >> Okay. Second. >> Okay. Ashley, >> we have a lovely. >> All in favor? >> Ideally. >> Perfect. >> And I will nominate Kate Saves to serve as the school council.

73
00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:40.080
>> Second. All in favor of Kate for school council. >> I >> I will fall on the select board if you want me to. >> I do. >> I'm not. I will tell you. Will I nominate Dylan Mosby select board? >> I second that

74
00:20:40.080 --> 00:20:57.039
>> every meeting. I will tell you that for >> No, absolutely. >> Well, I'll just tell you from board of health, we don't send a representative >> to the select board meetings. So, >> no. And especially with John doing PTO given a leazison.

75
00:20:57.039 --> 00:21:13.440
>> All right. Thank you. >> I don't mind. So, good. >> Um, all those in favor of Dylan for select board. I >> I council >> I want the >> I'm easy on this committee.

76
00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:28.799
>> Dylan, nominate me for Hampshire Regional. We didn't do that one yet. >> We did. I did you first. >> Yeah, we did. That was >> You were number one. >> You were number Yeah. >> Number one. >> That assignment is such a such a great one. I wanted to get it done. >> You should just come with me a couple times. >> I was going to say I might I would

77
00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:46.559
actually I would like to >> Okay. >> I'm very much interested in it. I just want to make sure it works with um I don't want to take on too much and then feel overwhelmed. >> I totally get it. All right. So, I think we've taken care of all those things. Uh principal's report. We just got a little

78
00:21:46.559 --> 00:22:03.120
um paper from Alisa. So, normally this would be in the packet. I apologize that it was not. Um currently we're at 481 students which is the same as last month but um two more than a year ago. So, some of the school

79
00:22:03.120 --> 00:22:17.919
events we've had since our last meeting, May 22nd, we held our chick our chick hatching party in kindergarten, which was very well attended by parents of all kindergarten classes. And K2 had fire trucks, ambulance, the police visiting outside for students to see and touch

80
00:22:17.919 --> 00:22:32.960
the truck and talk to some of the um the workers, the police officers and um firefighters, which was fantastic. May 29th, grade 1 visited Stanley Park. grade four visited bank ESB for a field trip on June 2nd. And then we were lucky

81
00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:50.159
that we were chosen um by Bank ESB to have two people come and do some financial literacy lessons with the students which was really great. Um happened to be Miss Pioneer Valley teen and she's a student in Westfield and she had to do some uh community service. So she came with a representative from

82
00:22:50.159 --> 00:23:07.600
bank. They started off with $150 and they showed them um some some um items that if they'd like to purchase and as they went through all the items, the items were more and more and more costly and by the end they figured out who was budgeting the best and they had

83
00:23:07.600 --> 00:23:23.600
conversations about that. That was that was really nice. Um Quidditch was held on June 3rd during the day for students and staff at nighttime and the staff beat the students by a landslide. It was our 25th year. There's a very nice write up in the gazette today,

84
00:23:23.600 --> 00:23:38.799
either today or it's online today and it'll be out tomorrow. I don't know which, but and the senior walkthrough was held on Thursday, June 4th. It was great. We had Hampshire Regional students that came to Norris. We had Smith vocational students that had attended Norms Norris. And we had a a Pope Francis student who went to Norris

85
00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:54.080
and had graduated. So, um it was really nice to see the kids come back. Birkshshire Theater Group presented Shake a Shakespeare musical to K to6 students on June 5th. It was fantastic. They've been great in the past, but this year they had they were miked up and the

86
00:23:54.080 --> 00:24:10.080
kids could really hear and it was really beady and and wrappy and the kids really loved it. They were great um responsible, respectful and good audience. The Norris Talent Show is back um and is being held tonight at Norris School as we speak. Um and kids are very

87
00:24:10.080 --> 00:24:25.760
excited to be up on that stage again. They haven't been up there since pre-COVID, I would say. >> Exciting. It's great. >> Perfect. We're just doing all our end of year activities and I'll have more next time. >> Yeah. I got a question for you. >> Yes. >> Uh we may have addressed the prior meeting. If we did, I apologize. Uh do

88
00:24:25.760 --> 00:24:41.679
we have any out of state field trips coming up in the next month prior to our next meeting? >> No. >> You sure? >> No. >> South the Connecticut. >> Yes, we do. We have one going to Sunny's place. >> I was like, is there something?

89
00:24:41.679 --> 00:24:57.440
>> I move that we authorize the William E. Norris school to have an out of state field trip on 2017 from Sun's place in Connecticut. >> I Connecticut's right not that far. It doesn't feel like out of state. >> Okay.

90
00:24:57.440 --> 00:25:11.760
>> Isn't it like a lawyer to ask a question he already knows the answer? >> Yeah, >> slightly. Yes. >> I I second. Yes. >> It's a field trip for six. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> What? >> We take a vote. >> Oh, yeah. Sorry. Uh I forgot we had a

91
00:25:11.760 --> 00:25:28.320
vote on that. Um all those in favor I I opposed. >> Good. Perfect. Kids get to go to Connecticut. >> Thank you. I'll get you the paper so you can sign your name. >> Jen, is it you? >> Yeah, Jen signs it. >> I'll bring it to you. >> The motion included language that the chair can sign on behalf of the committee as well.

92
00:25:28.320 --> 00:25:43.840
>> Okay. >> I heard that. >> I heard that, too. Uh, yeah, I can sign it in the morning. >> Okay. Um, okay. Superintendent report. >> Okay. So the superintendent's report uh as is usual there are some things that

93
00:25:43.840 --> 00:25:58.880
are appropriate for all the schools and some that aren't. Uh the first thing that really is uh important I think is uh sec uh letter B and it's a message from Rep. Sabadosa who has really done some amazing advocacy work for rural and

94
00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:16.640
um regional schools. She is now the committee chair of the ARPAC, which is the Rural Policy Advisory Commission, and she's putting some uh uh info sessions out and scheduling time to meet with different advocacy groups, one

95
00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:33.120
being education. Uh the last meeting that she had was with uh educators who were interested in that, and I was the only superintendent there. So, it was really an opportunity for me to speak to her and her team about the needs of our schools and our districts. Um, since

96
00:26:33.120 --> 00:26:51.039
I've been in the in the five districts, Lindsay Sabadosa has been an amazing advocate and supporter of our schools. And so, her in that position, I think, is uh is going to have benefit as we move forward uh in these uh troubled budgetary times. Um the second uh point

97
00:26:51.039 --> 00:27:06.000
I wanted to see have you see was letter C and it's another guidance that was put forward um about schools child care providers high higher ed campuses healthcare facilities and places of worship on interacting with ICE and it's

98
00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:23.520
really just a guidance on um best practice for your front office and your administrators at the site to uh interact with and be aware of the rights and responsibilities of the schools when interacting with uh with ICE. And so

99
00:27:23.520 --> 00:27:40.559
early on in uh in the year, I put out a a guidance that was um based on what we had received initially that's going to be uh reframed. Uh Kimberly D uh Kimberly um Roach is looking at the guidance from the state and she's going

100
00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:57.840
to work on something to tailor for um our our districts. Um the the next one is really important also. It's the Mass Building Authority did a survey of every school in the Commonwealth. And so my first day on the job, I got a call from the MSBA and they

101
00:27:57.840 --> 00:28:13.679
were scheduling meetings with each of the schools in the in the five districts and they did a comprehensive assessment of the facilities, the power plants, um everything, lighting, you name it. And so that work is now um available for

102
00:28:13.679 --> 00:28:30.799
anybody who wants to take a look at it. And I think if as we move forward with any capital projects, it'd probably um prove us in goodstead to take a look at the survey and what came out on Norris um before we think about any projects that we want to pursue. Um so those are

103
00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:44.799
all live links. So anything that's underlined in my report is a live link for those who haven't seen it. And so you can just click on it and take a look on um what is available. Uh and the last two uh the I'm actually going to do G

104
00:28:44.799 --> 00:29:01.039
before F. And G talks about a policy update process for the five districts. And the reason I wanted to look at this is the the principles and the leadership team at central office met January, December, January and we were talking about policies and updating policy

105
00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:18.559
manuals and really the only membership or the only body that has the membership to have a subcommittee focused on policies is Hampshire Regional. And so there's a standing committee or subcommittee up there that looks at policies to update their policy manual. And we wanted to think about well how

106
00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:34.880
can we make make sure that those policies that are appropriate for the elementary schools are being updated also in those policy manuals. So what we determined is that what we were going to do is of course if we get something from the MASC or we get something from our attorney or the state etc. it's going to

107
00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:49.919
go right to the chair the superintendent and the principal and we'll look at putting it on an agenda. But if the uh the Hampshire regional subcommittee starts putting out policies, for example, the AI policy J NDE, which they

108
00:29:49.919 --> 00:30:06.000
did this year, then we would push it down to the elementary school levels when appropriate. So, we just want to have a protocol in place so that all the policy manuals were being updated uniformly. Uh, one of the things that I was tasked with when I was hired was to

109
00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:22.080
ensure that our governance agreements, our policy manuals, our handbooks were up to uh up to speed with respect to um everything that is is going on p uh in in the community in the um commonwealth

110
00:30:22.080 --> 00:30:37.200
and in in the in in the state. So, we have to make sure that we are have a process in place and I think this puts it in place. Um so next year I would suggest that we get an AI policy on the books for um for a first read second

111
00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:53.679
read here and uh so you know one of the components of that is a list of approved vendors and uh Brian Gilman is our IT director and so in line with the new policy we needed a list of approved vendors and he in fact did that and we

112
00:30:53.679 --> 00:31:10.880
have it provided. So everything's there for us to take to the next step for our policy manual at uh uh South Don. >> Perfect. Um anyone have any questions? >> Nope. Great. >> Okay. Um I am the chair, but I do not

113
00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:26.559
have a chair's report. Uh Hampshire Regal School Committee, also me, we met Monday. Um definitely a different vibe now that there's um a lot of people gone, a lot of new people. Um but

114
00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:41.600
basically we did talk about policy stuff like Veto just talked about and how it will filter down so that the elementary schools will update their policy manuals as well. Um other than that, there actually wasn't a lot that we talked about.

115
00:31:41.600 --> 00:31:57.039
>> New new chair and vice chair Trish Coulson Montgomery and Carol Barkham. So we don't do our reorganization up there or they don't do the reorganization up there until August. So interm vice chair is Trish and what's

116
00:31:57.039 --> 00:32:14.159
>> uh Carol Barkham is the >> Carol is vice chair. >> Trish Culsa Montgomery is the uh uh prom chair because we couldn't do the reorganization until the last town meeting closed and Westampton hasn't closed yet. They closed on the 22nd. So

117
00:32:14.159 --> 00:32:30.159
we couldn't find a new chair. We had to do a temporary until we can reorganize. >> Right. That was that. >> Yep. >> Not that. But whatever happened with the budget? Did four of the five towns pass the Hampshire regional budget? >> As far as I know passed it. >> Yes.

118
00:32:30.159 --> 00:32:44.880
>> Yeah. The last >> That's done. That's That's all set. >> That is all set. The last to meet was Williamsburg and they passed it. >> I was going to say as far as I know, they all passed. Um, well, Ashley, since you are on the PTO

119
00:32:44.880 --> 00:33:02.000
and going to be our PTO rep, any uh news from the PTO? >> Yes, the PTO met yesterday, last night. Um, we did appoint a new board. So, myself, I will be chair um co-chairing with Kathleen Borcowski, who is new to

120
00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:19.120
the PTO for next year. Um, Rachel Mack is going to stay on as our treasur. She has one more year left in her term. Caitlyn Garvey is switching to secretary. Trisha Rogers came back on as one of our large members. And um yeah, we just kind of wrapped up the school

121
00:33:19.120 --> 00:33:34.960
year, talked about our final um spendings and resolving our budget for the year and then some potential plans for the summer of looking to try to organize some community engagement events. >> Oh, cool. >> Um and start planning for the start of the school year.

122
00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:50.720
>> Awesome. Thank you. Any questions for Ashley? >> No. Um, school council always, you got anything on school? >> Yes, we met yesterday. Um, it was our last meeting. We were looking at the school improvement plan and tweaking a few things based on the fact that the

123
00:33:50.720 --> 00:34:06.640
budget override of the 1.9 U passed and we are going to reinstate um two full-time reading intervention teachers and the math intervention teacher, which is going to change some of the goals that we had. We weren't able to have the math in there uh previously, so it's not ready. So, it'll be in the next couple

124
00:34:06.640 --> 00:34:21.599
meetings that I'll bring in. >> Perfect. >> Uh Dylan, >> uh May 27th was the last meeting. That was a preliminary budget meeting. I was unable to attend. I had another commitment that night. The next meeting,

125
00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:37.839
>> Kate, if you're interested, is um June 24th at 6:00 p.m. I will forward >> a current Oh, sorry, Michelle. I got back afterwards. I'm still >> Well, they changed it up on you 24 p.m.

126
00:34:37.839 --> 00:34:54.000
I will notify them that you are the new representative and get them in touch with you. >> Okay. >> Uh and I'll forward you the last executive summary so you kind of have a update on where things are. >> Um and there's no select board update because none of us are there. All right,

127
00:34:54.000 --> 00:35:10.720
Don, >> we're on to you lady. >> Okay. >> You want me to hand anything out, Don? >> Uh no, that's okay. >> Sure. >> Yeah. All right. >> I have some things. >> I know you do. >> We have a couple. >> So, I'll start here and you can start

128
00:35:10.720 --> 00:35:36.480
down the school council. >> Welcome to Michelle. Is it Ashley? Yes. >> And Kate. I'm Don Scaparati. I'm the business administrator. report to Veto Peron. Um I'm your financial resource. Um the school committee is really in

129
00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:51.839
charge of the budget. Um so I try to provide information for you that will help inform decisions that you make. So um one of the things that we do is uh go through the budget and monthly

130
00:35:51.839 --> 00:36:07.680
distribute our year-to- date actuals versus budget. And um today we're going to talk about line item transfers. And the line item transfers are basically looking at the budget, seeing where there are variances to the budget. And

131
00:36:07.680 --> 00:36:22.880
if you're over budget in a line, then we have to transfer budget from someplace that's under um so that it all comes out in the end. So let's see. I do have some line item transfers and and you'll need to approve those. I just got to find

132
00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:40.160
here they are. So, these these accompany that document right there. And I forgotten that we were that we had three new members today. >> What I'll do is I'll send you via email the actual budget document um that was

133
00:36:40.160 --> 00:36:55.680
developed and um that will help to orient you. But I can tell you if you want to take down a couple of numbers, I can tell you the important ones um before we get to that document. The total budget for approved

134
00:36:55.680 --> 00:37:14.720
budget for FY26 is um 6,622719. So that's the gross budget before any offsets or before any revenues. And then the total revenues that the school committee advanced as offsets against

135
00:37:14.720 --> 00:37:36.720
that budget were were 763,137. So that um the budget less the revenue uh resulted in a town contribution of 5,859582. So that's what we're uh the nut we're trying to crack right there. We want to come in at that number.

136
00:37:36.720 --> 00:37:53.119
So um the I think just to orient you I will give you one more piece of paper >> because you never have enough for me and that's that's basically taking the gross

137
00:37:53.119 --> 00:38:08.480
budget and subtracting or identifying the revenues that we have to use in order to get down to the number that we want to achieve for the town contribution. ution. Thank you. >> And forgive me for silly questions, but

138
00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:24.160
as we orient is are we basically talking about like future planning and what was just voted on or is this kind of >> this is this is finishing out the year? Yes. So FY26, this is finishing out FY26 and then we'll talk about FY27 another

139
00:38:24.160 --> 00:38:42.079
time. But um so FY26, if it's consistent with what I said, that first light blue column is 6,622. So that's what was voted. the um the town contribution is the 5859582 and we get to that by subtracting all of

140
00:38:42.079 --> 00:38:57.359
the numbers on the very first line that go across. And so there are certain grants and reimbursement accounts that we get on a regular basis every year. And school choice is one of them. Um you're probably familiar with school

141
00:38:57.359 --> 00:39:13.440
choice where everybody who comes in pays $5,000. um when you go out to charter school or vocational school, you pay the full boat. So if it's 22,000, it ranges somewhere between 22 and 29,000 to send

142
00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:31.200
um a child to a um vocational school, which I don't know that there are any elementary vocational schools, but um a charter school. So, school choice is money coming in and then there's a foundation reserve grant which is a one-time grant, but we were

143
00:39:31.200 --> 00:39:46.240
able to allocate the town of Southampton allocated 120,000 towards the school. And then rural aid, you'll notice that it was voted on the top line. That's what that the amount voted. It was voted at 85,000. At the time we do the budget,

144
00:39:46.240 --> 00:40:03.359
we do not have the number. And this year, unfortunately, um the number came in lower. You'll see the number right below that. It came in at 246. So, right off the bat, we were 20,400 short. Um so, then you continue across

145
00:40:03.359 --> 00:40:19.200
and you'll see um sped 240, that's for um special education costs that come through the federal grant that are administered by the state. And that came in right about on track. Um same with the sped 262 which is targeted for

146
00:40:19.200 --> 00:40:35.440
elementary school and then title one, title two and title four. You'll see they came in and title one and title two for Southampton came in a little bit more. Um and then circuit breaker and if you've been in a school you're probably familiar with circuit breaker for those

147
00:40:35.440 --> 00:40:50.880
who haven't. Um, it is it's really the amount of reimbursement that the state provides based on what you spent the prior year on special education costs. And in order to achieve that, there's a

148
00:40:50.880 --> 00:41:06.880
certain threshold that you must meet per student in order to generate a U reimbursement. And it's pretty high. So it's 50,000. It's it's upwards of 50,000 and it goes up each year. So that threshold you have to ma meet and then

149
00:41:06.880 --> 00:41:22.480
once you've met it, you get money beyond that. So that um we projected at 155 and it came in at about 166. Oh, and then you'll see the red alert um right above there. Do you see that? >> Okay.

150
00:41:22.480 --> 00:41:38.720
>> And that's that's saying that we are going to advance 40,000 from our preschool revolving account to to offset the budget. And the reason I just put red alert, that's really for me up there is to say I don't believe that we're going to be able to achieve that this

151
00:41:38.720 --> 00:41:54.480
year. We have a deficit in our preschool revolving account. So I'll know once all of the uh dollars get uh deposited and I don't know that yet, but I do know that we started the year out with a deficit.

152
00:41:54.480 --> 00:42:12.000
Basically, uh, Alisa does charge for preschool, but if you have special ed needs, then nobody pays or that that particular student doesn't pay. And so, we have a number of non-paying students. And so, I don't know that we're going to be able to use that 40,000. That's why

153
00:42:12.000 --> 00:42:27.280
I've put it in at zero and we'll see where we end up. So, all told, um, so that's what those lines are. and it says variance to voted offsets and then the amount the amount in the GL and this is some other details. I just don't want to

154
00:42:27.280 --> 00:42:42.960
bore you with those details. I'll just say if you want to circle a number, it's the it's the one that says total SRF, which is special revenue funds, and it says 545,963 because you'll see that number again when we go through this other document.

155
00:42:42.960 --> 00:42:59.440
But basically, that number is we need to take that amount off the expenditure report you're seeing. We want to subtract that from the budget because that's what we said we were going to do. We're going to offset the budget by that amount and we're going to offset the actuals by that amount and

156
00:42:59.440 --> 00:43:16.400
that hasn't been done yet and we'll talk about why and we'll talk about how to how we're going to do that. So the the first the next thing really is to look at these documents this document and you'll see that highlighted in yellow are those lines where we are over

157
00:43:16.400 --> 00:43:34.000
budget. Now in March and in April the school committee voted on line item transfers um already. So there were some lines that we we knew were going to be over and we're over then and so we took we redistributed money from one to the to the next. So the first the first one

158
00:43:34.000 --> 00:43:50.400
that is um so what we're going to try to do with the line item transfers is to uh resolve some of those. So if you look at this paper and what we've tried to do is make it you know easier to look at. There's so many numbers but on here it says page two. So, if you flip to page

159
00:43:50.400 --> 00:44:06.640
two, you'll see that I'm going to see page 22 21. All right. If you look at the math uh four lines down, you'll see the math interventionist has a budget of 38663 and a year-to-ate date actual of zero.

160
00:44:06.640 --> 00:44:23.520
Um, that was one of the positions that was cut, but not all of the budget got cut. It just got distributed somewhere else. So, suffice it to say that that 38,000 is available. um because we're going to be under that budget. That's why it's a positive over

161
00:44:23.520 --> 00:44:40.960
on the far right column and we're going to redistribute it across 1 through 11 on this page. So, there's copier supplies that are over a teeny bit. They're um substitute line as of this moment is over by about 7,000. And then

162
00:44:40.960 --> 00:44:57.920
the technology, psych, medical, etc., etc. are over as you see there. Not surprisingly, fuel is over this year by about $9,500. So there's about 21,026 of expenses that are over that we're going to cover with that math

163
00:44:57.920 --> 00:45:13.359
interventionist, a portion of the math interventionist numbers. Any questions on that? Okay. So then we're moving on. Again, we're using some additional money that was available from the math interventionist and and the reading interventionist interventionist

164
00:45:13.359 --> 00:45:28.160
to cover what's called sick buyback. That's basically when um people retire and their sick time left, they can buy that back or or they get paid out for that, I think, is a better way to say it. They're not buying it back. We are giving it to them. They've earned it and

165
00:45:28.160 --> 00:45:45.359
we're and we're paying that out. And so, um Alisa, you have about four retirements this year. >> Um and so typically we plan for one and the budget would have a certain amount in it and we're over by by quite a bit. So, we're over that 21,000. So, that covers that and those those are the

166
00:45:45.359 --> 00:46:01.520
total of the line item transfers that we would be asking for. Um, now there are other lines and you you'll have to vote on that. Um, before you do, I just want to point out that there are other lines that we haven't included because they're going to be part of they're going to be

167
00:46:01.520 --> 00:46:18.560
there's two reasons. One, they're going to be part of when we looked at those offsets across the top of that other page. We're going to be making offsets so that they won't end up being over. So when we meet again, they'll be resolved

168
00:46:18.560 --> 00:46:34.880
or we'll ask for more money to be moved around. So um then uh so I think the next order of business would be if you agree with this if we could get your approval and then Jen's signature.

169
00:46:34.880 --> 00:46:52.560
>> I I move that we authorize that we Scratch that. I move that we authorize the line item transfers within the general fund budget for fiscal year 26 submitted by the BIS district business administrator dated Wednesday, June 10th, 2026 and authorize the chair to

170
00:46:52.560 --> 00:47:10.480
sign on behalf of the committee. >> Second. >> Um, any discussion? >> Can I ask a question? Um, so with all of these, did we zero out that 38 and then tapped into the reading? >> Yes.

171
00:47:10.480 --> 00:47:26.880
>> So the 38's all done. >> That will be, we don't do it until we get your approval. >> Right. Right. Right. I just didn't know like looking at this. I was >> Exactly. the It takes all the 38 and then we tapped into the reading a little bit. And so what we'll do now once we have your approval, we'll factor this in and I can re I can produce this for you

172
00:47:26.880 --> 00:47:43.040
either for next time or I can distribute it electronically prior to that. >> Perfect. Um because it deals with money, we have to do a roll call vote >> before we have your questions. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Yes. What would you like to ask? >> So these line item transfers cover this

173
00:47:43.040 --> 00:47:59.920
42,203. We're still potentially seeing a shortfall on this. Do you anticipate that additional line item transfers in the existing budget will be able to cover that or are we going to be looking into additional school committee reserve funds for those? >> I believe that we will not be looking into any additional reserve funds. I

174
00:47:59.920 --> 00:48:15.839
believe that we'll be able to cover it with that. And I've got another little surprise at the end. Um, which is basically >> for the best though. >> You don't have to wait till the end. I'll tell you now. >> Well, we can wait. >> We're in the middle of a motion.

175
00:48:15.839 --> 00:48:34.079
>> So, let's let's stick on this. >> Yeah. >> Are there any other people that would like to ask any questions? >> Yes. So, are you speaking about this 40,000 that we're unsure uncertain about? >> Yes. >> In terms of being able to cover that without an additional warning. Okay. Yes. And if you look on that sheet,

176
00:48:34.079 --> 00:48:50.880
um you'll see that while we are clearly under on that 40,000, we are over on a and we are also clearly under on that 20,400. So you're talking about the 412 286 the the one over there. Yeah, I think we will be able to cover that and

177
00:48:50.880 --> 00:49:07.119
um I'll let you know how next week next time. I I just that's just >> Yeah, I don't think we're going to be I don't think we're going to be in the red. Let's put it that way. >> I like that. >> Any other questions?

178
00:49:07.119 --> 00:49:23.599
>> Okay, hearing none. Roll call vote. Um Roer, >> I say yes. >> You say your name and then your name and then with you. Yay. Nay or >> Oh, okay. Michelle D. Roer. Yay. >> Okay. Ashley Stone. Yay. >> Modly. Hi.

179
00:49:23.599 --> 00:49:39.440
>> Saves. Yay. >> Uh Jos. Okay. >> Okay. So, that's great. The other thing I wanted to point out, and you'll see on one of the lines, so you'll see it on, let me just get that for you. Page three

180
00:49:39.440 --> 00:49:53.920
about six lines down, you'll see programs out of district. So, that programs out of district is tuition for out of district students. So, sped students who have placements outside. And right now, you'll see it says 220.

181
00:49:53.920 --> 00:50:10.680
What I want to distribute is a is the history of that line in terms of how it was originally developed. What the answer sheet is over here. I want to give that one to you.

182
00:50:13.440 --> 00:50:31.839
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I know it's not fascinating to me actually. That's good news. Um, >> so what I wanted to what I want to point out is that the out of district tuition was originally budgeted at 400 almost

183
00:50:31.839 --> 00:50:47.520
494,000 and um as a result of the good work done by um our pupil services director, otherwise known as the sped director um she worked very hard to get a residential placement to stay in

184
00:50:47.520 --> 00:51:04.800
district. So that residential placement added quite a bit to the budget and um our current forecast instead of being 493 or 494 is one um almost 190. So we will have saved well I don't want to say

185
00:51:04.800 --> 00:51:20.880
we yeah we've saved 304,000 out of the budget almost 305. Now the next item shows that glad I'm glad that we were under in that line because we were over in others and so some of the line item transfers that you

186
00:51:20.880 --> 00:51:36.800
approved earlier in the year and um took up 177 of that 304. And then we have offsets that um are going to go to sped 240 or other sources

187
00:51:36.800 --> 00:51:52.240
of revenue. So we subtract that. So that gives us a revised budget total of 220, which you will see on page three under the budget column. And then from there, you'll see that we

188
00:51:52.240 --> 00:52:07.760
charge $98,000 so far against that 220. And then if you go over to the next to the last column, there's an encumbered amount. We already have invoices and POS for that. We have POS for that and the invoices haven't been processed but we're holding those in reserve. So

189
00:52:07.760 --> 00:52:25.040
that's what that 15,000 is. So once so you look at the actuals and the encumbered and that means the remaining balance is the 106840 which you see on page three there. The other thing that I wanted to point out is that if we do in fact achieve the forecast that the pupil

190
00:52:25.040 --> 00:52:41.760
services director has um put forth, we would be spending another 76,000 and in the end we would be $30,000 over. So rather than being 300 and something thousand over, we're going to be 30,000 over because we've used that money for

191
00:52:41.760 --> 00:52:57.599
other things. So, I just wanted to point out this because I I've never seen a variance quite this large in, you know, Southampton. And so, I wanted you to be aware that that's happened, but we're still um working hard to ensure that we stay within the budget.

192
00:52:57.599 --> 00:53:13.680
>> Um, >> pardon me, >> a question on that. >> Yes. >> If we're looking so parts of this question, they both they both apply to fiscal year 27. >> Yes. Since we've seen variances from fiscal year 26 of overages, were those a

193
00:53:13.680 --> 00:53:30.720
calculated into the fiscal year 27 budget so that we wouldn't potentially be running over on those lines? And b >> um if our sped costs were substantially lower in 26, what did we budget for circuit breaker in 27? Are we

194
00:53:30.720 --> 00:53:47.359
potentially have an under and offsets there? Okay. So the state the first one again how how are things looking for 27. >> So we'll separate two questions really. The first one really is you know we spent we had this overage of originally $177,000

195
00:53:47.359 --> 00:54:03.200
right or more than that $330,000. We we suck that up in the line item transfers >> and we're going to suck up probably the remaining in the line item transfers which tells me we had a budget deficit at $250,000 planning purposes but we were 250 short >> in 26.

196
00:54:03.200 --> 00:54:18.480
>> Were those already corrected in 27 or can we expect further overages in 27? >> Okay, so um first of all the I want to talk about the sped expense. So the sped expense for including not only the out

197
00:54:18.480 --> 00:54:36.319
of district but tu uh transportation etc was about um 627,026. So it's this line out of district tuition plus out of district transportation um contracted services and next year it's scheduled to it's um

198
00:54:36.319 --> 00:54:52.480
projected to be about 200,000 less around 439. So, first of all, we won't have that major difference and we're we're not projecting a residential for this particular student. It's just the 439.

199
00:54:52.480 --> 00:55:09.280
Okay, that's the one side. And then the other side is on those areas where we were over spent. Um, what can we expect for next year? And I would say um we still might we we still might be off a little on the substitutes. Everybody seems to be a little going over on the

200
00:55:09.280 --> 00:55:25.760
substitute line. So, I don't know if I mean and we had increased that, hadn't we, Elisa? The substitute line >> increase it a little year. Yeah. And we're still over. So, um, a lot of a lot of sick days being taken. >> Well, yeah. $7,000 variance I think we can usually absorb into a budget, but

201
00:55:25.760 --> 00:55:39.760
when we're talking there, there was a couple earlier in the year where we were doing 20 or $30,000. >> That's true. That's true. Now, um I would suspect we're let's see about um we're 22,000 over. So I think we had we

202
00:55:39.760 --> 00:55:57.280
had projected 12. So we had budgeted um for the retirements. I don't expect we'll have four retirements next year. So I don't think we'll be over there. Um and then uh I'll do a more detailed analysis, but we we tried to project

203
00:55:57.280 --> 00:56:13.440
where we thought we would be. we had increased money for the fuel expense because that's been we expect that that will continue to go up um or you know relative to 26 and everything else. If you'll remember during the budget season

204
00:56:13.440 --> 00:56:29.680
we level funded be in order to meet our our objectives and get our budget passed. So yes, we may be over and um we are going to have to watch it very carefully. We we're going to have to watch it very carefully.

205
00:56:29.680 --> 00:56:47.119
>> So that $200,000 buffer this time around because that line item down. >> That's correct. >> So um you know there is no crystal ball but we've done our best during the budget cycle to anticipate the costs that we thought were going to go up that we could manage to include in our

206
00:56:47.119 --> 00:57:04.079
budget. And then we have restored a number of things >> um including positions. So, um, that's the situation there. I we'll monitor that closely as we go forward. >> Great. >> Okay.

207
00:57:04.079 --> 00:57:22.000
Uh, let's see. And I think, um, I guess I would ask next time, do you I'll bring a budget for or send you a budget for the new folks for 26 and I'll distribute the 27 budget since everybody else has seen that. Is there anything else that you would like to have

208
00:57:22.000 --> 00:57:38.400
or do you suggest having? >> No, that's wonderful. Um, >> I don't want to steal your thunder. I have a couple questions, but if you're if you're done, >> I'm done. I'm really done. We have I have one thing to report just under that line that says what's happening in >> Where are we at with I was just gonna

209
00:57:38.400 --> 00:57:54.640
ask where are we at with end of year reporting and audits and with end of year reporting audits and getting everything that we're you know the ongoing >> Okay. The ongoing stuff. Well, I'm I'm happy to say all of the end of year reports are done. Southampton was done I don't know a month ago while ago after

210
00:57:54.640 --> 00:58:11.680
our last meeting I think and then um Hampshire Regional which was the real bear was it's just the largest and more complicated that was um recently submitted. So we're clean with the state on that. Um, we have things to do for the regionals that we don't do that your

211
00:58:11.680 --> 00:58:28.720
accountant does for Southampton like um what's called the uh END excess and deficiency or free cash. We still have to file that for the regionals. That's also quite a hefty lift. Um but that reporting is all good. Um the the thing that has taken up and is taking up some

212
00:58:28.720 --> 00:58:45.200
time now and will have some impacts um is that we were just so excited three weeks ago when we got our assistant business administrator and we had a full house, but that only lasted for a few minutes when our payroll um specialist

213
00:58:45.200 --> 00:59:01.280
resigned. And um we didn't drive him out per se, but he was he was really driving an hour and he found a remote job that paid more. >> We were remote. Why was it physically we were very remote?

214
00:59:01.280 --> 00:59:20.079
>> Yes, we were. What was the issue? We were literally remote. >> Yeah, he wanted remote in the other direction. So unfortunately, so that's causing me a great and veto a great deal of work and >> concern. Yeah. Concern because we have

215
00:59:20.079 --> 00:59:36.079
to be able to pay people. Now, when it comes to Southampton, we we provide the gross pay and then and then your treasurer there does all the deductions. But when it comes to the two regionals, we do the full boat, all the deductions and the payroll. And um when we've we've interviewed people and the people we

216
00:59:36.079 --> 00:59:51.520
want are $20,000 more than our budget. And so pretty soon we're going to have to do something about that. We may have to hire somebody that's $20,000 more than our budget. And that means we're going to have to trim somewhere. So I don't know. We're we're

217
00:59:51.520 --> 01:00:07.680
continuing to look, but that's that hopefully a short-term problem. So that's really all I have to report today. >> Thank you. It's always Dawn. >> I can attest. >> Yes. >> I sat in Don's office today for like 2

218
01:00:07.680 --> 01:00:23.920
hours >> and I don't know how she does it. So, >> but what we said is she could come and see how the sausage was made or she could just have the sausage and >> never eat that sausage again. >> I was I give all the kudos. You guys definitely work very hard in

219
01:00:23.920 --> 01:00:39.280
>> well there's a lot of numbers moving in a lot of different directions and we did kind of have a moment of holding our breath when we saw what was that why were we under by so much >> just think if you regionalize you'd have more budget to do >> we'd have fewer budgets

220
01:00:39.280 --> 01:00:54.640
>> I have a question too are are these items like then itemized anywhere like publicly so like if you have these values >> oh the detailed list >> correct like is there like a list of things like what what is this where does these numbers come from? >> Yes, that's a great question. That's the

221
01:00:54.640 --> 01:01:10.400
summary report and there is a detail report that would would kind of identify loosely, you know, what's in there. >> Sure. Okay. >> Yeah. And as part of your warrant, just so you know, moving forward, you'll be getting the warrants every two weeks. >> They with those warrants are detailed

222
01:01:10.400 --> 01:01:26.799
spending reports as well as every single invoice in which account it is coming from. So you will have >> okay >> the level of granularity that you never wish you never even knew you wanted. >> Yeah. >> And I can produce the the um I can produce the detailed report if you just want wouldn't want me to make 10 copies

223
01:01:26.799 --> 01:01:42.799
of it because it would be killing about a thousand trees but we can I can send it electronically >> which is which will be good. >> And also I was curious about um where so if suddenly we were able to um nail down a residential placement that's in district where where might that be?

224
01:01:42.799 --> 01:01:57.680
Well, we can't disclose. >> Well, and I can't Yeah. And I can't say that it was in district. What I meant was it wasn't residential. That's what I really should have said. Rather than being residential, it was an out of district placement still, but not not a residential, not a live-in situation.

225
01:01:57.680 --> 01:02:13.200
Yeah. Yeah. Thank you for clarifying that. >> And realistically, we're always looking for the least restrictive environment for our kids. So, this was a a situation where Amy really did some great work with the family and um it worked out the best for the student that it possibly could. >> Yeah. And and so I wanted to mention two

226
01:02:13.200 --> 01:02:28.880
other things because you had mentioned I think you mentioned circuit breaker in in one of your questions. >> That was I you so next year what did we budget for circuit breaker and is this reduction in special education cost this year going to affect our budget for next year? >> Well that's a good question and

227
01:02:28.880 --> 01:02:45.960
up to >> what we budgeted let me just see uh give me one more second and I'll tell you what we budgeted for last year I mean for next year. I have one more question after. >> Um questions do is we can just go question.

228
01:02:46.160 --> 01:03:07.359
>> Okay. Um all right. What we budgeted for next year in circuit breaker >> is we anticipated that it was going down and we budgeted less. >> Thank you. So this year we budgeted the

229
01:03:07.359 --> 01:03:23.280
150 I think it was in the offset. Is that what you saw? And then >> and then next year it is the 75,000. >> Yeah. Um, and so depending on where we end up, and and this was going to be a question that I had. Depending on where

230
01:03:23.280 --> 01:03:39.359
we end up, we may want to shift money from the general fund, you know, general fund to these various other offset categories. Mhm. >> Um, and

231
01:03:39.359 --> 01:03:55.280
if we don't need to use all of our offsets, let's say we end up being under, then the question is which one do we want to use and which one don't we want to use? >> We don't want to use school choice. >> Okay. Right. >> Because we can that's revolving. Anything that's revolving that we can tap, we don't want to use,

232
01:03:55.280 --> 01:04:11.440
>> right? And we and we will carry over anything that we can like if we do have some circuit breaker left over. We had about 5,000 from the previous year to carry over. If we have any to carry over, we'll do that. And >> and the way it works is we have to use what we've rolled over from the previous year,

233
01:04:11.440 --> 01:04:27.039
>> right? So I think obviously it would always be general fund number one, any expiring return funds number two, non-expire non- returnturnable expiring funds three, and then revolving funds four. >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. So, um, >> that makes sense.

234
01:04:27.039 --> 01:04:44.079
>> That makes sense. And I didn't know if we had questions if there's anybody designated on the school committee. Would it be the chair I would talk with and say, "Jen, >> yeah, >> we're thinking about this or we're thinking about that." >> Um, is is the chair authorized to make

235
01:04:44.079 --> 01:04:59.119
those decisions if we have to do it before the next meeting? >> Oh, you should need to. I can't see where are you gonna need a situation where you're spending where you're where you're changing a previously determined offsets because we don't assign offsets to line items in our budget. I mean that's no

236
01:04:59.119 --> 01:05:14.400
>> we just create our budget and if it's >> well let's just say like that 40,000 let's just say that we didn't get anything extra >> and we had the $40,000 deficit from >> rural a or we had 20 from rural aid and 40 from 40 from preschool.

237
01:05:14.400 --> 01:05:31.520
>> Yeah. Um, and we said we're not going to use preschool. I think you have to revote that as a as a group. You don't want to or you don't feel you need to. >> We don't need to. We set a budget, >> right? We set a budget. If I wish I had the packet with me that just has your

238
01:05:31.520 --> 01:05:48.160
your expenses on one side, your offsets and your your your money out, your money in. >> Always do. Yeah. >> Right. >> She always has her stuff with her. >> It's you got your money out, your money in. we basically can spend my view of well except for obviously there's certain expenses that are tied to

239
01:05:48.160 --> 01:06:03.920
certain grants that we have to spend in that direction right I mean certain sped 240 title one title 4 money we have to spend in a certain way that's that's non-negotiable that's federal law >> if yeah basically but beyond that I mean when we're talking additional school

240
01:06:03.920 --> 01:06:21.200
anything that's within the control of the school committee right which would be school choice tuition uh revolving any of the revolving foundation reserve. That's done anyway. Preschool revolving. Um and rural aid

241
01:06:21.200 --> 01:06:38.640
and circuit breaker. Um well circuit and no um but those those are kind of ours to use but we don't have it's >> those are always last. Anything revolving is always last. Wherever anything else we always go general fund first. >> Okay. So, I think that you've given me

242
01:06:38.640 --> 01:06:54.799
some direction that I can use as we close out. >> Yep. >> Yeah. Thank you so much. >> All set. >> And that might just be a notification of X is what we did as opposed to may we do this product, right? >> 100% because the budget's the budget's the budget where we put we've

243
01:06:54.799 --> 01:07:10.720
authorized. Don't look at the budget as this comes out of this buckets except of course for those grant. I have to caveat that. This is you may spend up to this dollar amount from this account for the purposes of funding the total budget of 6,622,719. >> Okay.

244
01:07:10.720 --> 01:07:27.520
>> So he said you can spend up to 5,859582 of general fund money and then the rest are the offsets and then how you spend those except for the grant money is discretionary within the budget. I mean, Jenna obviously knows what she's doing, so she wants to >> obviously >> uh you know, if you want to we I'm I mean, I don't want to speak for everyone

245
01:07:27.520 --> 01:07:42.880
else, but I'm comfortable with, you know, those conversations if you have questions. >> Okay, that sounds great. >> That sounds great. Thank you very much. And if any of the new people want to have a more in-depth review, just give me a a shout out. >> Can I ask one more? I this is a burning

246
01:07:42.880 --> 01:07:58.240
question. So I'm curious about so if we are ending this fiscal year and we're looking at out of district placements like Smith vocational for instance and transportation costs how do how >> out of district out of district placements would be sped and so that wouldn't be vocational. Yeah that would

247
01:07:58.240 --> 01:08:14.160
just be out of district special education. >> Yeah just so let's say though for instance that a child is um entering nth grade >> on a special ed plan that is going to be moving to an out of district placement. When do we have to confirm that? So, if

248
01:08:14.160 --> 01:08:30.239
they, let's say, they were offered a pos a placement at Smith and they've decided and changed their mind or they haven't confirmed, when do we need to have that? I'm just curious like how do we how do we iron out these numbers >> and solidify these numbers if that's still a kind of a revolving door?

249
01:08:30.239 --> 01:08:44.640
>> Well, in terms of >> welcome to the budget process. >> Yeah, it is it is definitely iterative, but um Veto, you have to sign people students applications by is it April or >> April 1th? >> April. April one is when if they have to be in >> clarify a couple things. Smith doesn't

250
01:08:44.640 --> 01:09:00.640
matter. We don't we pay for Smith out of Southampton loan >> if it a out of district placement is not a choice. Out of district's placements is a IEP mandated through either the IEP process okay or through a board of special education appeal placement. They

251
01:09:00.640 --> 01:09:15.920
are non-negotiable. They are non they are an assigned cost to the appropriate district that then goes back to the town. So Smith for example, Smith vocational is paid to the town as tuition. That is not an out of district place. >> We're talking something like May Institute or something like that. Okay.

252
01:09:15.920 --> 01:09:32.080
>> So out of district placement then gets assigned. So if it's a seventh, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th grader, whatever, that's assigned up to the regional budget which is then a portioned back down to the town as an expense. >> Okay. >> So that's so it's not they don't really it's not >> Yep. Okay. No, that makes sense to me.

253
01:09:32.080 --> 01:09:48.319
Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other questions for Dom? >> Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Sorry, it's too many questions. >> No, absolutely. More questions, but um okay, so next on the budget is policy

254
01:09:48.319 --> 01:10:03.760
JICDD, which I is me as well. So, I at our last meeting um and just in general um was tasked a couple months ago with developing a cell phone smartwatch

255
01:10:03.760 --> 01:10:20.800
smartwatches all electronical personal devices policy because though in the handbook it does say um you know what is expected of students while at school um we needed the policy to back that up kind of a thing. And

256
01:10:20.800 --> 01:10:38.400
also Massachusetts is pushing for a bell-to-bell um law through the uh legislature which to my knowledge has not yet completely passed. But in head ahead of all of that, we wanted to have something in place. Um so I wrote a

257
01:10:38.400 --> 01:10:56.640
policy based on other surrounding towns that had a policy based on what our handbook says and we did a first read last meeting. The policy that you guys have in your packet is an updated version after I had shared it with our

258
01:10:56.640 --> 01:11:13.199
council, um, Kimberly Roach, and had her weigh in on language to make sure that we covered all of our bases. So, you don't have it in color, but, um, anything that was strucken out >> is what I had that she recommended to

259
01:11:13.199 --> 01:11:29.199
get taken out. Um, and my original policy really wasn't that long. It was basically just the first paragraph up here, this part that she struck out and like the little part on the exemptions at the end. So, what you see

260
01:11:29.199 --> 01:11:46.640
in there um as new stuff is not in red, but paragraphs 2, 3, 4 is her recommendations. So everyone, we can read this and decide to vote on it and make it part of our policy, we can since

261
01:11:46.640 --> 01:12:03.040
three of you are new. >> I'm going to suggest if it's okay with the chair that this is such a substantial revision to the policy as previously presented that this should be a first read. >> Perfection. So that was my other thought is that since it's vast, well, I

262
01:12:03.040 --> 01:12:19.760
shouldn't say it's vastly different. It's just more wordy and covers all bases as far as like theft and the school's responsibility um to this. I've also had personal um correspondence with a parent who

263
01:12:19.760 --> 01:12:35.840
um was also active in getting this policy ball rolling and asked that we take an approach similar to the high school and have it be um I want to make sure I quote this person

264
01:12:35.840 --> 01:12:54.000
correctly as far as what he I can't remember what the wording he used um as oh inaccessible like the kids not having it just off or having it whatever but having it completely inaccessible to the children whether that be through

265
01:12:54.000 --> 01:13:11.840
yonder pouches um I don't know I know some schools might do like little caddies the kids have to put them in I think that works better at that level of the high school because almost all those kids have phones I don't really think that's a case for here, but I suppose

266
01:13:11.840 --> 01:13:28.159
that's up for discussion amongst committee members. Um, I can tell you based on what you just heard that I don't think the cost of yonder pouches is feasible at the Norse or necessarily warranted. Um, >> right.

267
01:13:28.159 --> 01:13:42.719
>> I mean, >> I would agree. >> I I know we've talked and that it's not a huge issue. >> Um, it's more just keeping it that way. And the piece I think that is going to be a little bit of a sticking point

268
01:13:42.719 --> 01:13:58.640
maybe with some parents is kids that have the smart watches, like kids that have Apple watches and stuff. Like technically those shouldn't be on your kid while they're at school. >> And I know a lot of kids do wear them, but that is something that is covered under this

269
01:13:58.640 --> 01:14:14.880
whole thing, >> right? >> Um, did you officially make that motion or you just >> You need a motion. >> Huh? Don't need a motion. >> We don't need a motion. Nope. Okay. So, does anyone else want to chime in anything right now or we're just going to take this as a first read? You guys

270
01:14:14.880 --> 01:14:29.600
can look at it and we'll talk about it again in August. >> And just to clarify because I missed the for a second, there is not an active policy in place or there is >> there in the handbook, the student handbook has a procedure of what is expected for the kids. So, this is just

271
01:14:29.600 --> 01:14:46.560
to add like a backup to that to show that they have a leg to stand on when they say, "Yeah, this is what's supposed to happen." Sounds good. Okay, perfect. Moving right along. Um, we're skipping old business

272
01:14:46.560 --> 01:15:02.000
choice, seats, information. >> Oh, school choice. Okay. >> Want me to go? >> Yep. Go ahead. >> Okay. So, we have currently 52 students enrolled to come to kindergarten next year. 52. And there are four classes

273
01:15:02.000 --> 01:15:18.719
because we were able to open up a fourth class due to the successful override. Um, I would like to take in five school of choice students who happen to be siblings of students that are already at Norris. So, that would give us 57. Um, and we know that over the summer we

274
01:15:18.719 --> 01:15:36.560
will, you know, get more kids. So even if we get up to 60, right, there will be 15 in a class, which is phenomenal, but it is possible that we would get more than three students move into town, >> you know, over the summer. We've always had about, you know, up to six, I would

275
01:15:36.560 --> 01:15:52.560
say. So we also have to be careful because when they go to first grade, we still only have three classes. So if we were at 60, there would be 20 in each class in first grade. when they go to first grade if they stay stays at three. Um if we move to four at some point, you

276
01:15:52.560 --> 01:16:08.640
know, who knows, >> right? >> That's even better. But I think that's a safe number to just take in those five and and not ones. And seven are leaving from sixth grade and we take in five. So it's not >> right >> a huge difference. >> Just for a learning process, it is it is

277
01:16:08.640 --> 01:16:24.080
at your discretion to take any school of choice. How does that process work? Do you have you required to take some or >> uh the school committee voted last month to continue to be a school of choice school and then they looked to me to come up with numbers that are reasonable

278
01:16:24.080 --> 01:16:40.640
for what we can fit at the school based on numbers. Great. >> And I think we have a legal requirement to take the siblings, don't we? >> Past practice. I don't know if it's necessarily >> I think it's in the statute. >> If there's space available, >> yeah, as long as there's space available, siblings would be

279
01:16:40.640 --> 01:16:57.120
>> right. But if we didn't have space available this year because the override, >> right? >> Yeah. If the override had failed, it would have been a different conversation. But because >> the community voted the way they did, the override passed, we're able to open another section and

280
01:16:57.120 --> 01:17:13.120
>> right >> decreased the numbers of kids at pres uh kindergarten including but at the same time adding being able to add the siblings of the students that are already there to keep families together. >> Right. Mhm. >> And then if because if we didn't allow them to come, we might lose those

281
01:17:13.120 --> 01:17:28.320
siblings in the other grades where they go and bring their kids to right >> the same school in another town. >> Right. >> I apologize. I skipped out. Can you tell me how many school choice students you have? >> We have four uh in the principal report.

282
01:17:28.320 --> 01:17:44.480
I think it's 40. Yeah, 40. But seven are in sixth grade, so they'll be leaving. >> So we would be down to what? 33. So it' be relatively almost >> you want us to approve five or do you want us to approve up to a higher number if >> I want only approve five?

283
01:17:44.480 --> 01:18:02.080
>> Do we actually >> well >> right >> are they approving? >> I don't think we we don't approve it. Realistically, you voted to >> right stay school choice. >> Stay school school choice. And so, different committees have done different

284
01:18:02.080 --> 01:18:18.400
things. In my experience, once the school committee vows uh votes to take school choice, then the principal determines how best to facilitate that in the building. Sounds good. >> Can I mention one other thing we talk

285
01:18:18.400 --> 01:18:34.080
about choice that I forgot to say when Dylan was asking about circuit breaker? So five $5,000 times 40 was 20 is uh 20 $200,000. >> Um and that's what we we projected. And

286
01:18:34.080 --> 01:18:49.199
if you look on that page that has the long um colored numbers, you'll see we had about 180,000. We weren't quite sure what we were going to get. So we had about 180,000 in that first column that says school choice. And so that sort of

287
01:18:49.199 --> 01:19:06.400
tracks to um these numbers. The other thing that goes there um is if we have an out of if we have a school shape student who is on an IEP and we get circuit

288
01:19:06.400 --> 01:19:22.640
breaker money for that. It it doesn't stay in the circuit breaker column. The state puts it into your school choice. And I just think that's important to everybody know >> we get dollar for dollar on that. Correct. we get dollar for dollar for school choice especially we get dollar

289
01:19:22.640 --> 01:19:37.760
choice we get dollar for dollar so while we said 180,000 we we will by the end of the year get more than that because they will be depositing the circuit breaker amount into the school

290
01:19:37.760 --> 01:19:53.840
choice so if you get a report that has a fund balance on it that seems larger and you saw that number on that page I just wanted you to know why that might be Right. >> And on the opposite token is the out of district represent those who choiced

291
01:19:53.840 --> 01:20:10.239
out. >> No. >> No. Those are students who have been placed out of district because we were not able to meet their needs exact. >> Okay. Those are costly. Yeah. >> Special ed. And maybe it should say that on there like that's that on your budget sheet when you get it. It'll say special

292
01:20:10.239 --> 01:20:27.280
ed um section and it will have out of district tuition and out of district transportation. That's only for special ed students. Okay, >> correct me if I'm wrong, but the way they did to get really into the weeds on it, the sausage factory metaphor to continue for for charter out and for

293
01:20:27.280 --> 01:20:43.280
school choice out, that is an automatic deduction out of the town's chapter 70 side funding that comes off and then whereas the school choice in is money that comes separately from that and goes into the educational line item budget under the purview of the school

294
01:20:43.280 --> 01:20:58.719
committee >> in the in the elementary schools. That's exactly right. >> Mhm. in the regionals. In the regional, >> don't talk about the regionals. Don't talk about the regional. >> Do we get data to know the amount of students out? Like is that readily available? >> Yeah, Desi has it on their website if

295
01:20:58.719 --> 01:21:13.840
you're curious about it. >> Okay. Thanks. >> If you go to the school profiles on Desi, >> it'll give you by district, total out, total kid, by grade, enrollment data, all that. All that data is there. >> Where is it? There is in the cherry

296
01:21:13.840 --> 01:21:29.760
sheets for the DLS. Do you know >> is it on the cherry sheets from DLS or is it on the DESI school profile? >> It's from DLS. >> It's from DS. So yeah, sorry. If you go to division of local services on the town budgeting on the educational side, it will give you the amount money out. I

297
01:21:29.760 --> 01:21:46.080
think that student counts might be on Desi's website though. >> Yes. >> See? >> Great. Thanks. >> Any other questions about school choice? >> No. Veto, you're up. >> I'm up. >> You're up.

298
01:21:46.480 --> 01:22:02.320
I will just say school committee five out of five me >> um speak no speaking of that because we had this conversation again at Hampshire and I was like ah let's point out that only 10 of us did it do I have to do it twice >> no >> okay so it counted

299
01:22:02.320 --> 01:22:18.800
>> you check off what committees you're on >> yeah I did that >> now when the first year we did it electronically you had to do it twice >> okay >> ask me how I know um >> cuz you were me >> but No, now they've done it once. >> So, this is just Vita's going to talk about his superintendent valuation. Um,

300
01:22:18.800 --> 01:22:34.800
next year you guys will all get this email and I'll have the valuation and all the fun of that. So, this is the results of all of it. It's actually very like it's part of our actual job as school committee and not everyone takes it seriously, but we do here. So,

301
01:22:34.800 --> 01:22:52.400
>> so I think it's really important as Jen was saying to to recognize that there you know the two three main u responsibilities of a school committee are finances policy and superintendent the evaluation hiring firing etc. Um and

302
01:22:52.400 --> 01:23:07.040
the the mode that the five districts determined in to uh implement the evaluation uh was through the all district committee agreement which

303
01:23:07.040 --> 01:23:22.639
in my two years has been implemented differently because chairs rotate every year. So last year the chair was the chair of the Hampshire committee. This year the chair was from

304
01:23:22.639 --> 01:23:40.239
Southampton. Next year it'll be West Hampton, etc. Or as long as that >> I forgot when he just said that I said I forgot that one. >> As long as the uh agreement stays in force because there's discussion at the ADC level whether or not um the

305
01:23:40.239 --> 01:23:57.040
agreement as it's uh created written stays. uh because one thing it's it hasn't ever been approved by the state. So that's a whole another conversation that we can get into. But with respect to this year uh and last year for that matter, one of the things

306
01:23:57.040 --> 01:24:14.080
that I've always tried to do is is be reflective in what I do to g to get input from the stakeholders with whom I work. So as a principal, I was asking teachers and parents and students, you know, how am I doing? What am I doing? and very specific questions about uh about my roles, responsibilities and how

307
01:24:14.080 --> 01:24:29.520
I can improve those things. Um similarly as a superintendent I've asked uh I've sent email uh excuse me uh surveys to uh stakeholder groups uh including principles uh students teachers

308
01:24:29.520 --> 01:24:45.360
um the the school committees of course and that data was uh the the fodder for um the evaluation that was done this year. Um, the evaluations in Massachusetts are structured around four

309
01:24:45.360 --> 01:25:02.800
standards. And so there's goals that are written, there's standards by which you are assessed. And then I like to get some um some qualitative data and feedback input from the different stakeholder groups. And you'll see all

310
01:25:02.800 --> 01:25:19.920
that stuff there. Um I'm very happy to say on the whole uh my goals were identified as either met or meeting. My uh standards were met as either proficient or exemplary. Uh so that's great and that's you know that that

311
01:25:19.920 --> 01:25:37.679
makes me uh at least happy that there's a perception that I'm doing the right thing. But what was really significant for me and what I really wanted to focus on was the feedback and input I received from the various groups from teachers to school committee to stakeholders. Now I didn't

312
01:25:37.679 --> 01:25:53.600
get as many responses as I would have liked but I can't control that and it's not a mandatory thing except for you. So what I tried to do was say, okay, that's wonderful. Um, my goals and my performance were rated X, but what I

313
01:25:53.600 --> 01:26:08.480
really want to focus on is the feedback I received. And so, for example, one of the things that I looked at was communication. Communication writ large, I got some pretty good feedback on that. But there was some specific input I received on how I was delivering

314
01:26:08.480 --> 01:26:24.639
information to the school committee, how I was delivering information to uh parents, for example. um how I was uh taking uh feedback input from teachers and then um communicating it to the central office team. So those are the

315
01:26:24.639 --> 01:26:40.480
things I really focused on and I've always been a pro practitioner who has felt that um I I can improve in what I'm doing based on the feedback, the input I'm receiving. So I try to be uh someone

316
01:26:40.480 --> 01:26:57.760
that's open to constructive criticism and I use that in the creation of my goals in the next cycle, you know. So it's kind of an iterative thing. Operate from a growth mindset, you know, don't take things too personally and really think about how you can improve on your on your craft. So uh for example, the

317
01:26:57.760 --> 01:27:12.560
communication with the school committee. Some of the school committee members felt like I was given too much highlevel stuff and they wanted more um schoolbased uh communication in what I was sharing with them. Now

318
01:27:12.560 --> 01:27:28.000
part of the reason I stayed at the higher level was I wanted to the principles to be able to communicate what was going on in their school. Um but I I heard that feedback and what I really heard was let me work with um my director of people's services and my uh

319
01:27:28.000 --> 01:27:45.440
assistant superintendent of curriculum instruction and assessment and really talk about more uh low-level stuff that we are doing in conjunction with the principles around instructional leadership around professional development around um curriculum and

320
01:27:45.440 --> 01:28:01.679
assessment. And so that's what I'm going to take from that feedback. And next year I'll have a goal around communication that's more specific to those things. And that's kind of the mindset I bring to the um the uh the

321
01:28:01.679 --> 01:28:19.440
process. So there were specific things around communication. There were specific things and this is one of the not a hazard but it's a reality of feedback that I get. Some of it is really for the principles. They give me information about they want to change

322
01:28:19.440 --> 01:28:36.400
this and that's a principal thing. So what I'm going to do is I'm going to sit down with a leadership team over the summer and we're going to look at some of the responses that are principal specific even though I receive them and we're going to talk about hey uh there's some thoughts about um X at Norris. What

323
01:28:36.400 --> 01:28:54.480
can we do here to ensure that parents feel heard around this topic? whatever it is. And I got more of that at the high school level than I did at the elementary school level. Rigor in our classroom. How many of our kids are going to uh uh the highlevel tier uh

324
01:28:54.480 --> 01:29:09.120
colleges? What are we doing about work-based learning? What are we doing to prepare kids for the world of work? So, that stuff is stuff that I'm going to talk about with Michael Fet, curriculum director, and um Lauren Hot

325
01:29:09.120 --> 01:29:24.480
and her team. So there there's a a few buckets that I have kind of dancing around in my head right now that um are going to drive the work we do this summer and really inform the work that I do. Uh I shouldn't say that that we do

326
01:29:24.480 --> 01:29:40.960
next year. Um, you know, there was there's there was a lot of feedback that we've re that I received that was applauding the work that was done in the financial financial section section of the central office. And um there's more

327
01:29:40.960 --> 01:29:57.920
work to be done, but we were hired and Don and I were just talking about this. We were hired with with a three-year contract. Why? Because everybody that knew anything about what was going on here said, "You're going to need three years to fix it." and we're making good progress and it's grinding us some of us

328
01:29:57.920 --> 01:30:14.320
down more than others, but we're getting it done and we're going to continue to do the work, but we have work left to do. And um I I I am confident that we're going to be able to get it done uh as long as there's no more premium hikes and

329
01:30:14.320 --> 01:30:29.840
there's no more surprises that we receive uh as we move forward. >> That's all I got. >> Does anyone have any questions for Dr. Well, I just want to say thank you so much for that response. I mean, we're just meeting, but that says a lot about your character. I mean, in healthcare, I

330
01:30:29.840 --> 01:30:45.199
can tell you right now this is incredibly comprehensive and to to take this and see it as a constructive opportunity is such a positive light. And so, I really appreciate your comments and all you're doing for our town. Thank you.

331
01:30:45.199 --> 01:31:12.159
and on too. >> Constructive criticism and looks at it as positive. >> Yeah. >> You know, and publicly, you don't seem to hold it. >> Well, I got a heavy bag in the barn. >> You guys good down there? >> Mhm.

332
01:31:12.159 --> 01:31:29.360
>> I'm just curious why there's only 11 responses. That's from all the school committees. >> 23. >> No, there's 23 total from the school committees. >> Oh, this said 11 here. That was just >> um that stakeholders. >> It's um each one has a different topic. So, that one at the top, read the bold. It might be stakeholders. It might be uh

333
01:31:29.360 --> 01:31:44.239
students. >> Oh, stakeholder voices. And then this >> Yeah, stakeholder voices. >> Yeah, I was just curious. It was a very >> And I misspoke when I was principal. I I got it from students. I haven't uh queried students for feedback. I leave

334
01:31:44.239 --> 01:32:00.800
that to principles. >> I just stay closer. Okay. All right. Um, wonderful. >> Thank you for everything you've done. It's been a an amazing couple years. Um, and I will I know it's in here. I will say I've heard this from our constituents. Your visibility and

335
01:32:00.800 --> 01:32:17.199
engagement at the local level is is appre is well noticed and very appreciated. >> Yep. >> Thank you. I appreciate you saying that. And really, that's the stuff that makes the job doable. >> I was going to say you know, not that I want to hang out with you guys at school committee, but really it's the events,

336
01:32:17.199 --> 01:32:32.080
the softball games, and the performances and and being part of the life of the schools that >> the fact that when my son was here and he was trying to read the names, I'm like, "That says Dr. Peron," he goes, "Dr. Peron is coming here." I was like,

337
01:32:32.080 --> 01:32:47.760
"Yep." So, like, and that speaks a lot to your character as like beyond all the other stuff. um because I mean some people can handle all the numbers but not everyone can do that. So very appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> And I will obviously speak about that

338
01:32:47.760 --> 01:33:03.040
too. So some prime examples, I think you were on the job it like two weeks or whatever it was, two months, not even and it was like the first couple weeks of school and I was dropping off a couple of children at New Hangingham and you were on the playground with these children hanging out talking to them and I looked over and I thought what a

339
01:33:03.040 --> 01:33:20.239
beautiful thing because you don't see where I work we don't have any visibility and so to see that and then my daughter and Jen's daughter were in this little tiny 20-minute performance last year and you were there. You're the every single thing that we've ever attended. You've been there and that to me with all of not this is not one, this

340
01:33:20.239 --> 01:33:35.199
is not one school. This is a multitude of schools and you're at every single thing and that speaks volumes and in so many ways for everybody for teachers, for parents, for kids, for everybody. I just think it's such an amazing thing. And when you were in process of being hired, I was telling everybody about

341
01:33:35.199 --> 01:33:51.840
like the the I don't know the energy that you exude to people is very genuine. And I think for many it's like oh well especially in politics you see a lot of that it's like oh okay people butter you up but it it is not. You are 100% everything that you speak of is amazing and we are very grateful for

342
01:33:51.840 --> 01:34:07.199
you. So thank you. >> I I appreciate it >> for all of what you mean to our children. >> All right. On that uh lovely note our normal scheduled business is done. >> Can we talk about the softball field? >> We we're not going to talk about

343
01:34:07.199 --> 01:34:22.320
softball field. What do you mean? It says name it. Oh, right. Okay. So, seeing as our esteemed superintendent brought up the fact that we have a ADC, we need people to be elected to that committee, too. >> You're automatically one of them.

344
01:34:22.320 --> 01:34:37.520
>> Oh, man. >> That's me. >> Sure it is. As chair, >> all district chair committee. >> You are, you know, you're not John just did Kim just finished up her term, right? >> Kim was uh Yes, it was the chair. >> The actual chair.

345
01:34:37.520 --> 01:34:53.360
>> I'm just saying. So the nice part is for the next four years there will not be a Southampton chair. Um so you are as chair are a member there is a second elected member and there can also be an alternate member. This committee meets they meet they have not been meeting

346
01:34:53.360 --> 01:35:10.239
much. It's a few times a year. The primary responsibility is a superintendent evaluation. It's usually a subcommittee of that that prepares the questions and then the whole committee reviews it and presents it. If there are issues of >> that's how that works.

347
01:35:10.239 --> 01:35:26.560
>> Yeah. Well, so it used to be >> it used to be because I remember the pre-ADC it used to be each individual committee would do a superintendent evaluation >> um and would then have to then report back to superintendent. The part of the

348
01:35:26.560 --> 01:35:41.920
ADC that there was a whole bunch of other stuff that was supposed to come out of it but the committee couldn't agree upon how the vote sharing was going to go is a short version of it. um but is now two representatives from every committee. So there's 10 members on this committee. The primary responsibility is like I said

349
01:35:41.920 --> 01:35:57.679
superintendent evaluation. It is also if there is complaints about the superintendent or superintendent discipline, the ADC first meets on that issue and then makes recommendations to all the committees regarding appropriate action because each each committee would

350
01:35:57.679 --> 01:36:13.840
then have to vote separately on any discipline. There was talk at one time, I believe, of the ADC looking at at the HRSD, um, the Hampshire Regional School District, uh, regional agreement as well

351
01:36:13.840 --> 01:36:31.199
as a superintendency agreement, uh, and trying to figure out how that actually looks. There's a lot of work just background to that. We are not part of the Hampshire Regional School District. We are the Southampton School District. Hampshire Regional School District is comprised of one school that is the Hampshire Regional High School. Um, and

352
01:36:31.199 --> 01:36:46.480
part of the ADC work is also reviewing that, which I believe is ongoing work as well. That's I don't think that's going to be ongoing for a while. I would assume >> we're talking about the >> the state HRSD the state approval of the HRSD agreement. >> The regional agreement? >> Yeah. Yeah.

353
01:36:46.480 --> 01:37:02.320
>> Yeah. The regional agreement actually um we've been working on all year. Um, >> is that under ADC or is that separate? >> No, that's separate. Separate. That's separate. >> Never mind that. >> Yeah, that's separate. That >> Yeah. Basically ADC now has been reduced primarily to superintendent evaluation,

354
01:37:02.320 --> 01:37:16.960
superintendent discipline >> and the initial budget presentation. >> Right. The initial central office budget present. >> Central office. Exactly. >> Central office budget. >> So cuz what the way the central once this once the central office budget is set and one committee is it one

355
01:37:16.960 --> 01:37:34.159
committee approves or is it just it just gets aortioned basically is what happens. >> We all have to approve it. the what happens is the ADC >> hears it and recommends to the other committees, but realistically there's no binding vote that the ADC has over

356
01:37:34.159 --> 01:37:49.600
Southampton, >> but there's no there's no vote on the central office budget either. It is an aortionment to each to it's just an aortionment. It's a line. >> It's a piece of >> it's a line item. >> No, we've voted. >> They each have to >> we each vote on the budget. >> Central office budget. >> Yeah. Oh, do we? >> Yes. Yes. Don't you remember when we

357
01:37:49.600 --> 01:38:06.080
were all there and we had to then >> Oh, that's right. We have to do that >> caucus and have that one big meeting. >> I forgot about that. I blocked it. >> I know you have a big meeting. >> Yeah. The >> remember if there was ever any approval. >> Well, what the problem the reality is

358
01:38:06.080 --> 01:38:21.440
getting everybody together and having um an all committees meeting, >> right, >> to uh vote is challenging because it's tough to get quorums. It's tough to get everybody there. So what we did was we had a Zoom. Didn't we do a Zoom? We did

359
01:38:21.440 --> 01:38:38.080
Zoom for it and No. No. >> Was it live? >> Yes, we're at We were in the auditorium. >> Amy did her thing. We did that. That's right. That's right. The STEM teacher at >> Out of my head. >> I know. >> Well, it's it's like it's what was that this year?

360
01:38:38.080 --> 01:38:54.080
>> So fun, you guys. I can't wait for you to get to do it. >> So anyway, um >> who wants to join me on ABC? 66 union that's a whole I don't know why that's who's got union six boards but

361
01:38:54.080 --> 01:39:09.840
union 666 >> so so I was going to send an email to the chairs about this we had a meeting with Desi >> and Desi said the commissioner of education in Massachusetts has never

362
01:39:09.840 --> 01:39:26.880
approved the disillusion of union 66. So from the state's perspective, >> what does that mean? >> There is still a union 66. >> What is a union 66? >> A superintendency union. It's called >> which towns?

363
01:39:26.880 --> 01:39:43.440
>> I've never seen the agreement. That's part of the problem. I've asked when I got here. It's in the folder. It's in one of >> You're in a union that you don't >> No, no, no, no. It's a superintendency union, meaning there's a a a group of towns that have agreed to have a superintendent that oversees central

364
01:39:43.440 --> 01:40:01.280
office and does X, Y, and Z. But I asked the state for the agreement. >> School union. >> Yes. School years in 66. >> You had an actual labor union. No, that's what you were saying. And I was like, no, it's got it. Got it. >> But but I've asked to to see it. Dylan,

365
01:40:01.280 --> 01:40:17.760
if you have a copy of it, I would love to see it. All right. dig >> cuz right now I'm focused on um the regional agreement for the high school. Once that's done and we're getting there, it has to come to all the towns and get approved because it's never it hasn't been updated since 97,

366
01:40:17.760 --> 01:40:34.639
>> which is one of the first things I heard also when I got here. So, we got to update that. Hasn't been updated for 20 some odd years. Like, oh, that's good. So, we've been working on that with a lawyer and with the state. The next step is once we have it to a a place where um

367
01:40:34.639 --> 01:40:51.760
it's presentable, we're going to present it to each of the towns that have to approve it. But that's a whole another process. The next thing that to look at was uh Union 66 then ADC agreement. >> Fantastic. >> So I got that going for me.

368
01:40:51.760 --> 01:41:08.560
>> Would anyone like to nominate themselves to be my second in command at ADC? >> Yes. Okay. Michelle, it would I nominate Michelle D. Roger as uh my >> I will I will I will nominate just as because you're already on there. >> Oh, sorry. Unless of course somebody else wants to.

369
01:41:08.560 --> 01:41:24.000
>> Nope. Nope. >> My time on that one, too. >> I'll approve. I nominate Michelle. >> And I'll second. >> Perfect. >> All in favor? >> I. >> And if you want to nominate an alternate, I will do that. >> You will be the alternate or you will nominate.

370
01:41:24.000 --> 01:41:39.840
>> I will be the alternate. >> Would anyone else like to be an alternate before Dylan? So lovely takes on that option. >> What's that? >> Okay. Well, someone else >> I'll nominate Dylan. I've >> never had to do it. So I nominating him

371
01:41:39.840 --> 01:41:56.239
for >> finally. I got one last >> ADC alternate. >> Alternate. >> Sorry, I got one more thing, too. >> Um, all that approve, I mean all in favor. I >> I >> Do we need a new sick bank representative as well? >> What the heck is going on?

372
01:41:56.239 --> 01:42:11.679
I feel like positions like >> Yeah, I haven't received any requests this year. >> We need I think committ >> There should be a committee representative >> who sits on the sick bank. It's a contractual obligation. >> If no one else wants it, I'll do it. But if it's >> or I'll do it, too. >> Either way,

373
01:42:11.679 --> 01:42:28.080
>> whatever. >> You want They usually need to in the deck. That's the only deck. >> Oh, they need to. Okay. >> Um, what is What are Michelle? >> I can't even send a text message from my classroom. You really can't get anything. It's a bomb shelter. >> If I'll explain what it is first.

374
01:42:28.080 --> 01:42:42.480
>> Yeah, sure. >> Is a it as part of the cont the contract with the Southampton Association, there's a sick leave bank where they donate time on an annual basis where they donate it once and they have access to this bank of sick time if someone

375
01:42:42.480 --> 01:42:57.840
goes out on an extended leave. Most public employment does not have short-term disability. This is the equivalent, if you will, of a short if if you need to be out on extended illness. A they union members are allowed to access this bank of time. It is granted in certain chunks of of days.

376
01:42:57.840 --> 01:43:14.719
I think it's 15 out 15 days for the first and then thereafter 10 or something like that. Whatever the contract says. >> It's a voluntary donation. >> It's a voluntary donation and then it is ultimately there's a the then that there's a sick leave bank committee which is comprised of the principal,

377
01:43:14.719 --> 01:43:29.679
a school committee member. >> Are you superendent? My apologies. the superintendent, a school committee member, and then one or two. >> Usually, it's the president of the union and a member of either the um

378
01:43:29.679 --> 01:43:46.320
>> the the uh assistant >> Yeah. >> the uh what's the >> two units called? We have the teachers union and the >> So, it's depending on who's asking one of those representatives comes, >> right? >> And it's just you listen to the they

379
01:43:46.320 --> 01:44:01.520
usually come with um >> request. Yep. >> And you listen to it and you either approve it or deny it. >> Yeah. It's a determination. Are they eligible? Uh and then it's a determination of how how it's uh provided or not and why. >> Interesting.

380
01:44:01.520 --> 01:44:20.000
>> Are employees sub do they are they covered by that kind of consideration? >> Who >> you >> employees that are not teachers? >> No, it's a contractual. It's in the contract >> for the union. >> And it meets during the day, you're

381
01:44:20.000 --> 01:44:34.159
saying >> it if it it it meets once every four years. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. I I I did have one last year >> and one one or two will come up every now and then. And it's it meets if you want. >> You usually, just to be clear, usually

382
01:44:34.159 --> 01:44:50.639
it's it's right after school. Y >> um just cuz the members at least two of the members are coming from >> Sure. I'd be happy to do that only I have a very personal connection to that but I if you want to by all means I think it's I think it's a very very important thing that we do and I'm very

383
01:44:50.639 --> 01:45:07.440
attached to that. >> Okay. So I'm going to nominate >> Michelle as bankrupt. Anyone else? >> Perfect. All in favor? >> All right. Now vice chair. Is there anything else that I missed in my lovely first meeting as chair? >> Sorry. Oh, you did a great executive

384
01:45:07.440 --> 01:45:23.199
session. >> We're ready for that. Yay. Okay. Um this will conclude the public portion of our meeting tonight. We will now be entering into executive session with MGL chapter 3030A 21A3 to discuss strategy with respect to

385
01:45:23.199 --> 01:45:38.239
collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a deter detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigation position of the public body and the chair so declares I do declare uh for the Southampton teachers association teachers p professionals administrative assistants and custodians

386
01:45:38.239 --> 01:45:55.360
>> and we're not entering >> and we are not coming back to public session no >> and we would like to invite anybody >> and We would like to invite the principal and Dom and superintendent. >> So moved. >> Do I hear a second?

387
01:45:55.360 --> 01:46:14.159
>> Second. >> Um Kate second. Uh we need a roll call vote for this one. >> Can you clarify? >> Just clarify what the the chapter it's. executive session to talk about um collective bargaining negotiations.

388
01:46:14.159 --> 01:46:27.159
>> Sure. Okay. Michelle, >> Ashley Stone I >> Okay, John Sn. We're done. Goodbye, people.