All right. Excellent. Today is Wednesday, April 8th, 2026. The time is now 6:40, and we will call the regular meeting of the Westport School Committee to order. Uh, under MGL chapter 3A,
section 20F. This meeting is being recorded. On March 28th, 2025, Governor Healey signed into law a bill which extends the temporary provisions pertaining to the open meeting law to June 30th, 2027. Specifically, this further extension allows public bodies to continue holding meetings remotely
without a quorum of the public body physically present at a meeting location and to provide adequate uh and u alternative access to remote meetings. The language does not make any subst sub substantive changes to the open meeting law other than extending the expiration date of the temporary provisions
regarding remote meetings from March 31st, 2025 to June 30th, 2027. And with that, we'll I'll ask everyone to please uh stand for the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of America to the republic for it stands
nation. And thank you all for joining us and packing into the uh the conference room this evening as the auditorium is is booked. Uh at this time we'll have a opportunity for an opportunity for comments and statements from the public. Any comments from the public at this
time. All right. Hearing that we'll move on to ourformational agenda and we will begin with our student representatives. Mr. Ke, take it away. >> All right. Good afternoon all school committee members in attendance. I just have a little bit of news to share with you about the high school. First off,
the third term is quickly coming to an end and report cards will be available on the community portal by the end of the day on Monday, April 13th. Next Tuesday, April 14th, is a half day for students and students at the Westport Middle School will be dismissed at 11:00 a.m. Spring vacation is right around the corner and will start on Monday, April
20th, Patriots Day, and students will return to school on Monday, April 27th. MCCAST testing is in full swing across the district. Grades five and six took English MCCAST last week and grades seven and eight will finish taking it tomorrow. Grade 10 will have MCCAST testing for math on May 20th and 21st
and grade nine biology testing will take place on June 2nd and 3rd. The Westport High School student council advocates and RISE are sponsoring the 3rd annual Jaden Arjo Memorial Scholarship Fund Bowling Fundraiser. This will take place this coming Sunday, April 12th, from 4
to 6:00 p.m. Registration closed yesterday and we're hoping for a great turnout. The junior class student council will be hosting a game night next Wednesday, April 15th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Admission will be $5. And please spread the news and come support our student body. Excitement and anticipation is building as the Westport
Drama Club is rehearsing for their performance of Hadestown. The show will open on Friday, May 8th at 7 p.m. And there will be two performances on Saturday, May 9th at 2:00 p.m. and 7 p.m. And the final performance will be Sunday, May 10th at 2 p.m. Tickets are already available to purchase on zephy.com. And you can look for the link
on the Westport Music Boosters Facebook page. Please come out to support and enjoy this incredible show. And also save the date. The Westport High School Junior and Senior Prom will take place on Friday, May 15th at the Fall River Country Club. Stay tuned for more information and watch out for permission slips to purchase tickets. Now for some
news concerning sports. Spring sports are underway and all of our teams are starting play with great enthusiasm and dedication. First off, boys varsity city baseball is currently 0 and2 and had a home game today against Southeastern Regional Folk Tech, which is 5 to2. The Wildcat Classic spring baseball
tournament will take place on Tuesday, April 21st to the 23rd. Our Wildcats will play Wearham on Tuesday, April 21st at 11:00 a.m. Boys varsity lacrosse is 0 and4 and their next home game will take place this Friday, April 10th against Old Colony Regional Folk Tech. Girls
varsity softball has had some amazing highlights for the start of their season and the record is currently 1-2. They played at home today against Southshore Technical High School which they won 21 to9. Their next home game will be on Monday, April 13th against Diamond. Girls varsity tennis is off to an
exciting start and their record is 1-2. They won their match on Monday in a sweep against Joseph Case and their next home match is this Thursday at 3:30 against Wear him. Boys varsity tennis has started with an amazing record of 2-1. They kicked off their season with a sweep against Secon High School. Their
next home match will take place on Tuesday, April 14th at 3:30 against Tiverton High School. We're very excited for all of our upcoming games and matches and appreciate the support from all those who attend and cheer on our athletes. Go Wildcats. >> Excellent. Thank you very much. Most
appreciate any questions, comments from the committee. All right, hearing none, we'll move on. Thank you very much, good concern. And again about sorry about shutting you out, shutting the door on you for the executive session, but thank you very much. >> All right, so next up on theformational agenda
>> is the superintendent report. Dr. Roy. >> Okay, I just to update the committee on we had a power surge yesterday which knocked out internet and phones. The internet is back up. The phones are back
up at the west and the Mac, but the phones are not back up here. We have uh a backup plan where we've hardwired good oldfashioned phones into the wall. Um so we're getting that message out to parents. The issue was a controller, so
a piece of hardware for the phone system got got damaged and I believe this happened in the past. The good news is we've already been before this happened, we've been working towards a cloud-based version um of our phone system so that this won't happen. So we're not housing
the hardware. hardware can get damaged here. That will start next year. Uh the other thing I want to alert the committee and the public to is that I did send out a a letter and a small survey to parents on social media and
digital use usage because as we know um even I think it's today the house was voting on a proposal to ban cell phones and as well as allow any child under 14
to to be able to access a social media platform. Um so we are also feeling the impact of digital media screen time on kids and how it is negatively impacting
them. So, I have a letter out to parents with some resources for parents as well as a short survey to see what the parent and student needs are so that we can continue to support our families. Uh, I also want to report that report, if you have not seen it, the trophy
cases are are almost they're getting there. We don't have quite all the glasses in, but the trophy cases, we want to thank Diamond for their partnership for for building them. Uh they look beautiful across from the auditorium behind the gym. If you've not seen them, please go take a look. And
we've got some trophies in there already. So, we're getting there. The the Westport, we are in full swing. Thanks for the coordination of our principles and Miss Hargraves with the Westport 250th committee. We have a
couple of things going on. One is going to happen in front of the high school here on April 30th. reenactment of the Abner Brown Well ride. It's like Paul Rivere. There wasn't just a Paul River. There was someone who actually rode on
his horse right by here. Um, and so there's a reenactment that I know our middle school is participating with. The West team, they have their own committee to honor us for honor America for the 250th. They have a a work in progress
called a timeline, a historical timeline. And so in West Fashion, they're going to be learning about history while they also develop this parade that will be uh through the decades and around the school. So
they're working on that. And I think uh Japanese exchange program. I was I had a chance to pop in to the assembly. I had not seen that before. That was a lot of I learned a lot about the Japanese students. So, it's nice to see them
integrated here. And so, kudos to Miss Shared and is it Mr. Manis >> that that is doing that as well as we have our DC trip the eighth grade DC trip April 28th. I believe Miss Sampers knows all about that. And
>> yeah, is it Mr. Who's running? Is it Mr. Persico or >> Mrs. Roy and M? >> Yes. So, thank you for them. I I love all this experiential learning that our kids are able to get. So, thank you. >> Thank you very much. Any questions,
comments from the committee at this time? >> No, just bringing up trips. Uh they're also going to be uh traveling to South Korea, too. I know my daughter is going. >> That's a big trip, too. >> That's amazing, right? >> Yeah. What a great opportunity.
>> And I I did I didn't just want to follow up one thing. You the as everyone knows have been a a continual issue with this. So, uh it's your intention to to bring in this cloud-based system here. So, >> it is it'll be fully in swing in June.
By the end of June, it will be cloud-based, but just so people do know, if the internet does go down momentarily, the phone system does go down with it. But soon as the internet comes back up, the phone system comes right back on. here. What happened was
the main controller that's in this building, when we had a circuit surge over here, it blew out the controller and that kind of took our phone system out. So, we have a new one being shipped out tonight, but we've made arrangements
with across the school to have extra walkie-talkies. We people have cell phones. People we've got some oldfashioned Batman phones as we call them and have put them in attached to our fax machine lines to be able to have
access to call in and out of. So >> just one other question too for Dr. Roy. Um the calendar for this year, has there been any discussion um with the the
snow days and days. I don't know if there I was that's why I was looking to see if there's any place else on the agenda that this may come up again. Um because I know Rhode Island got a waiver for >> Yeah, I think I mentioned in the my update last
month uh we get out June 24th. We do not qualify for the waiver according to Massachusetts uh criteria. So our Yep. our staff and our students will be here till the 24th. Um then my followup question is is the curriculum going to
follow those days too? I mean meaning there are by extending the school year there's there's programs that are going on that kids are now and I'm speaking basically on behalf of my own daughter. um she has um some class programs that
she that start right after that basically that extra week which is now going to cause a problem for going forward. Um, I guess my question was or would be, is
there a way that we can keep the original format but just have those extra days just tacked on at the end, meaning like their finals and stuff won't be affected or >> um, so I think in those individual cases, you're probably best off just
talking directly to the school. Okay. About that because that's, >> you know, every kid might be a little bit differently how how this is impacting them. No, I I that's what I was I just didn't know if this has ever been done or if there you know how that would work if
>> Yeah. I mean the commissioner is clear that we need to meet our 900 hours of instructional time in our 180 days. >> Yeah. >> So that's that's been very clear that's what he's coming down from. And so going to the 24th we will meet that.
>> Okay. >> All right. Excellent. So uh thank you again. Hear nothing further from the committee on this item. We'll move to the curriculum director report. Evening everyone as mentioned is in
high school but at the elementary school testing their testing was impacted by that power outage testing started. started and then everything went down for the day and then started back up
today on Friday. But students did an amazing job. with it on the radar for them. I'm excited to let you all know that has
been selected to receive nearly $25,000 in a grant from the 18. I mentioned my last update that we received a grant from the foundation to support the implementation of the democratic knowledge project. Now we have a second that will will
allow our fifth through seventh grade teachers to participate in a similar professional learning cohort program over the course of years. They'll be provided professional development, individual implementation support and an ongoing cohort model. This will be
focused on implementing the investigating history program and it will bring more high quality applied learning for students in Westport and will connect really well to the We're excited about that opportunity for
our teachers and our students. We are getting our vacation camps. It runs Tuesday through Friday vacation. The hours of it will be 8 to 12. Um students will engage in a variety of
center based activities as well as STEM exploration activities with the goal of maintaining math skills and deepening student. Um I'm also excited to be able to celebrate the official induction of our
students to our innovation career pathways programming. You may have received an email from me inviting you to attend our induction ceremony. So hopefully you'll be able to carve out some time in your busy schedules to join us. been a multi-year endeavor for Westport
and a lot of hard work by many individuals to get the innovation career pathways up and running. Here we are. We've got four students enrolled in our advanced manufacturing pathway and 20 students enrolled in our
healthare and social assistance. Uh we also have five who are in the process. So a potential of five more students to be enrolled for this year. Um of those students are actually
exciting and it's a really great opportunity for them and finally our professional development day on May 7th is our final one for the year. We are centering that day on a
simple but powerful idea that Dr. has articulated very well on many occasions. say that the community is our platform and so we're embracing that and we are creating opportunities for our staff to connect with people and programs that
make Westport and our surrounding area. So on May 7th, teachers will engage in some field experiences with partners including the Westport Land Trust, Westport Alliance, Westport Historical Society Coalition, and the New Fishing Heritage
Center, as well as some others that we're still working to finalize. Um the goal of this is to light a spark for our teachers to deepen our teachers connection to this community so they can insin uh I do believe I'll be able to be at
the uh ceremony on So uh hope we have others join us as well. Uh any comments, questions from the committee at this time. >> All right. Thank you. Mer is >> moving on now. We'll have the business manager report. Mr. Posa,
>> I have nothing new to report. I know that we are going to be speaking with Mr. Jendro a little later on in the agenda. So we will >> excellent. Excellent. Thank you so much. >> Uh so we'll uh we'll move now to committee liaison reports. Uh
Uh nothing to report at this time. >> Okay, Mr. Chico. >> Thank you, Miss Hers. nothing to report. >> Okay. And uh so I uh actually I guess I'm not the school committee rep on the audit committee. I serve on the audit committee, but I'll let I'll let you
take that, Mr. Gender. I'll go right. >> So I Yeah, there's two things. One, the audit committee um met. So, our audit for the town is um Anthony Rosselli is the consultant that the town works for to perform our our outside audits. Um
the last few years there's been a lot of progress made um in the accounting office and the treasur's office in town and you know this the audit identified no material weaknesses um or deficiencies which is good to hear. Um the audit report is a is should
be available on the town's website. If it's not, it will be soon and it'll also be presented at a full select board meeting um in the upcoming months. They produce to us what's called a a governance letter and in that identifies some items for the town to keep an eye
on. Um we perform better than some towns in some areas and there are obviously still some improvements we have to that they recommended that we make in some areas. Um there has been progress. The last report identified some um outstanding balances and warrant articles from years ago and um similar
uh circumstances but that's I know the accountant and the treasurer have worked hard to address those. So that's just the high level overview but that'll be presented in more detail at an upcoming uh select board meeting. Um the other is the school building committee also uh
recently met. We met on the 31st of March and went over a few items. Um so a couple of things that we looked at was the dennitrification system. So there's an issue that's and I want to thank also Kimlette and and Paul Puland for all
their continued efforts on on these items because there's there's still some stuff to go through. U there was talk of replacing the the wood chips with stone because of some issues that that are happening uh as a result of the wood chips that are there. U we discussed the trophy case
installation which the superintendent uh discussed earlier and then some outstanding items with with uh Gail Associates which is our consultant for the um the roof. So uh that was the latest update. We'll be I think meeting
again in the next maybe month or two and then I'll give an update to the committee then. We're working diligently towards close out hopefully sometime soon. Um we're working to, you know, help get some punch list items addressed that there's been discussion on what's
left in the uh in the bond in the authorization for the building project. So, I'm sure that'll be coming up as we look to close out the project officially. So, that's all I had. >> Excellent. Thank you. And just to follow up on that, thank you to everyone who
continues to to work on the uh the rather long punch list that uh that you've been going through for many years. Uh but uh it it does look like that that the close out is coming sooner rather than later. So thanks again for everybody for their work on the school
building committee. So, with that, we'll move on to the next item on ourformational agenda, which is to acknowledge the Westport Community Schools bill warrant for March 20th, 2026 in the amount of $248,739.40 as well as the warrant dated on April
3rd, 2026 in the amount of $254,626.94. Any uh comment statements on on the warrants? Hearing none, we'll consider those acknowledged. We'll now move on to uh the athletics and fields report.
Morris, our athletic director, and >> Mr. Pand, would you like to come over this way? Just pull up a chair right there. Is it a question or am I supposed to just >> I I think we're just Yeah, I think it was just just had a general updates and
I know that this was uh requested agenda item just to go over some of the uh >> some of the uh I think there were questions on on the coach line coaching lineup for spring sports and and any other >> Yep. All spring sport coaches have been
hired. Um, we are off into the about second almost second two and a half weeks into the spring season. Um, as Ryan reported, our teams are are everybody's trying to shake it out. We haven't really had a lot of games. Um, a lot of rescheduling, but um, but we're
out there and I just want to commend Paul and his crew. Um, we we got the baseball field and the softball field uh up and running and uh with a lot of new material and the they're probably in the best baseball field looks the best it's ever been, I think, since it's probably
was installed. Um, or before that, ever. Um, and and same thing with the with the softball field. And and because of the conditioner that Paul put on the softball field, it's it's not there's a couple of lowlying spots, but it's um now you don't walk in and it's not just
sludge. So it's it's looking Yeah, it's a lot better. Even with with a little bit of rain, it it doesn't affect it as much. So yeah, that's what I have for the >> Do you want to give a little bit of overview about what the issues with?
>> Yeah. So basically, um the baseball field, we did a complete overhaul. We brought in like uh 35 tons of material. Um, we cut in the rec cut in all the diamonds, opened up the base paths because uh grass was just encroaching for not being maintained like the right
the 100% the right way and it might need that every like every few years or so. But now it's going to be easier easier for us to maintain going forward now that we have all the new material down the conditioner mixed in with the field. Um, we uh we rebuilt the mound um back
to back to specifications and um and we did the same with the softball field recut and everything. We didn't bring material in for that, but um it probably be a later uh project that we get done later. That one didn't need as much uh material. So, >> understood. And and just to I guess
circle back a little bit, so there were some issues with the fields at the beginning of the year that have been uh I just wanted to commend all the work that you've been doing toh to remedy that. I know originally there was concern that we would have to have uh uh many different uh you know outside field
consultants taking care of all this all the time and it seems like uh you you've been able to to cover a whole lot in house and that that makes a huge difference and yeah I I concur. It looks better than I think it has ever since this this building.
>> Thanks. I appreciate it. Absolutely. >> Uh so any uh comment statements? Yeah, I just think um coaching wise um it seems like multiple seasons that we're like right up against like the season and you
know still having to fill positions. Um I don't know if strategy-wise it makes sense or you what's done currently or if we need to try to post earlier. Um you know again I see things on social media and parents are asking and things of like season starts Monday, do we have a
coach yet? Um and again not on the varsity level but on the lower levels and I know those are typically can be sometimes revolving doors and they're tough to fill. Um but just some concerns there. Um and then fields they I was out there today and they do look great. Um and you know again you can't predict 2
feet of snow or 3 feet of snow and and everything else that's there. But again publicly um we get reports and things of like you know all right we're not playing on them. Okay they're soft. I get that. Whatever. But then like the bleachers were still in the middle of the baseball field like last week um and
things like that. So you know I think just for us and to you know minimize concerns I think a lot of times the the perception and the you know people driving by like how do you play baseball with bleachers from field hockey um still in the middle of the of the field um some of those things you know get
thrown at us and and don't necessarily look good. In the end the finished product looks great. Um so you know great job there. Um but I think there are still some concerns that we see or hear of that we don't necessarily have answers for. >> Um to address first the coaching
situation that was the the spring coaches were posted in easily December I believe. Um so uh or maybe even before that November or December. Um we had a lot of shifting around the break. Um, I
lost my I I gotten word that two of my softball coaches were not coming back at February break. Um, I we had some shifting within the uh baseball program with again somebody not coming back and um that had applied and I accepted them
in the system and so and then it was really difficult to fill um one of the baseball positions. Um so that was at the 11th hour. Um, luckily, um, Mike Fernandees helped get a guy and that was he's been absolutely amazing. And so I
think we're in really good position. I'm probably posting the spring sports in the next like couple of weeks. Uh, I mean, I'm sorry, the fall sports in the next couple of weeks. So, um, last year we posted the fall sports in at the end of May, beginning of June. I'm looking to do that the beginning of May because
we have two we have positions we need to have be filled. Um, and I think most of them are coming back, but there are two that we need to fill. And then, um, yeah, winter I is usually posted sometime in the summer. So, um, try to get ahead of it as much as I can. Um,
I've had a lot of conversations. Unfortunately, um, everybody in the state at our at our conference a couple weeks ago was talking about the lack of, uh, coaches or people that are willing to coach at the high school level, whether it's a time management thing as far as getting
out in time for school or it's just lack of wanting to deal with parents to be fair and and things like that. And um, it was a topic of discussion for sure. Um it is becoming more increasingly difficult, but we'll do our best to try
to get the best people we possibly can and I think we have a great group right now working with our our uh spring athletes. Miss your hand up. kind of hard to hear something but
um so this is now our fourth year in this building this year and it never seems like we can start a season on the field again knowing all of that but I thought that all the
work with his outside company so that we could start the season on the field at the start of the season and all that
kind of place and I notic home Friday and there was baseball because they play in the middle of the two baseball field because they
are so like what the challenges are Are we ever starting to be able to use the field? >> Well, it's a couple of things. One, it's it's very different when you're talking
about like the work that they did in the fall was to the grass areas. It wasn't to the infield >> because the sprinkle the sprinkler was um >> Right. the sprinkler system was broken and so grass died. >> Yeah. And so the the infield Can you hear? Okay. Okay, just wanted to make sure. Um, so
this is the work we did at the fields here was the infield surface, which you know is mud. So if you you can't really play baseball or softball if you're stepping and you're sinking in, you know, three or four inches, um, it's not
safe. It's it's the ball won't move and you're gonna just ruin the surface. So, so regardless of like us bringing in new material and everything else, like we've continuously since the fields were built or like at least when I've been here, we've used started to use the fields in
in um in 2024 for the first time. Um the material is it's either concrete when it was dry or sludge when it was wet. and there wasn't really a lot of in between um except for on dry days when we could
we could resurface it. So, it's been a work in progress. I think like I said at the beginning, I think the work that Paul has done and we've done this spring will hopefully um continuously adding different types of material to the material that we have, I think will make
the surface stronger, more playable, more absorbent um for when we have inclement weather. Um, as far as the the lacrosse and baseball situation, that is an ongoing issue. Lacrosse was added
here without a real regulation size field. So, I think the first year they played on the old field hockey field on the side, which is not a regulation length or width. So, when I got here, I took the space that was the soccer old
soccer field, and I said, "This is a varsity sport. it should have be played in the proper dimensions and so I put it there. So it is a challenge um with middle school and sometimes JV practices
that they have to either practice um on one of the softball fields if softball's not there which also have the ability to move the bases so they are in the same distance um over there or they maybe do fly balls on the practice field hockey field. They go in the batting
cage inside the building. So, there's a lot of shuffling with those teams as as far as where they are and what they're doing. Um, and we just our coaches just do the best to make it work. But on game days for lacrosse, that lacrosse varsity team becomes a priority. Um, so that's
just what we have to do until, you know, we find a surface that that lacrosse can play on over here eventually. That would be a that'd be the ideal situation. Um but for now we have to shuffle and make the best of of that situation. And as
for um getting the fields ready like on time and everything, it it is uh weather dependent because um we did have all that snow and then the season starts. Uh they wanted to have like some of the fields we that we got ready down at the old high school ready for this uh March
16th and the snow we barely had like two days where the snow melted and then so just to have an area for them to even practice was kind of a um a big deal just to get that done. And then like I said, and then we had we had material here, but that was just not usable. So
we we worked right up until we work late days that we could actually get out there. And then when it and then it was just raining every other day. So it's kind of hard to um when you have a we have things set, but if the weather doesn't uh cooperate, it's kind of difficult. But we do have a field
management plan and and um set in place now. So going forward, it will be um taken care of the the best way that it can now. So, >> is there a plan for um maintenance of the old high school fields? >> So, um we we have uh we cut them all in
to uh this this March March before March 16th and um we spread some material that was there. Um we do need to do more work to with those fields, but like I said, we're kind of managing um getting just getting them out to practice and then getting these games getting these fields
ready over here. And then we're going to we are going to do more work over there though. Yes. >> Great. You mentioned like having the full size field, right? High school if there is a lacrosse meeting. That way it's not disrupting the practices and
you know work that needs to be done for those teams because we're taking basically both outfield >> it it would be an outfield. You'd be displacing somebody at any point in time. The way our fields are structured
right now the outfield of the field hockey field is the outfield of baseball. The soccer field is the outfield of softball. So you would be be displacing any of those teams to practice at any point in time. in the field.
>> Yeah, I think what she's saying is you're you're eliminating two baseball fields by having one lacrosse game. Whereas if you played lacrosse in an outfield here, you'd lose one baseball or softball field wherever it is only one one field which is the which is the
JVM school. Technically, it is a JVM middle school field. um which right now JV and varsity because our numbers are low are actually practicing and they're overlapping their practice um here at the high school. So really only middle
school baseball is supposed to be using that field from this point forward. Now that this field as of today is back online here, the baseball field here, JV and varsity baseball, unless there's like severe weather where the field doesn't hold up, we will send them over
there. But right now, the only team that is going to utilize the field over there is middle school baseball. The other field that is used to be the old JV field hasn't really been online. It doesn't it doesn't drain. So unless
>> we're >> Yeah. Unless I mean unless there's like several days of dryness. I mean I think they were able to use it once so far this year. Literally probably since I've been here in 2023. I've seen that field not a puddle like a lake where literally
ducks and swans have been in it um maybe two or three times. So you know that field is offline. So we're really not not even utilizing that field. And so, um, this is kind of the best case scenario. I would love to get I I looked at it from a logistics standpoint as far
as game schedules and things like that. Also, the the size of the field and um lining it and everything else here for lacrosse, I don't I mean, right now, I don't think it's like a feasible model, but
>> I know the 177 field has that I'm just trying to figure out the way we can get our kids on real little competitive teams in our district
at all anyway not to Um last year we were ex when we were exploring and uncertained um as to what was going to happen to the old high school and obviously that is still kind of a question mark is what is going to
happen to that property. Um we did explore it. Um, a lot of the feedback I got on those, are you talking about the baseball and softball fields that they've created? >> Right. Right. >> Yeah. I I have you been on that field? I I haven't been on it in like a year or
so, but it it was pretty much a hay pasture, so I don't know if if they've um done anything. Have you been on it? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. It's actually in good shape. >> Okay. It's in there's irrigation there. Um >> yeah, >> it's >> uh I mean it could be a possibility. Um
it's just a matter of trying to get that as a rental and do we have to create more money for that to happen? But it's a possibility. We've only explored because that when we explored it, that field wasn't really operational. I know. I've been over I was over there when like a youth field hockey thing was
going on um back in 2023 and 24 and it wasn't a I didn't think it was a playable surface for a varsity sport, but um you know if they've done more work to it potentially. We were talking about the baseball and softball fields which I I
don't know if they're quite um the size that we're looking for for some of our teams. maybe for middle school. >> I just want to make sure that the best experience and I think it was a little challenging to start the spring season.
Again, this is not a criticism. This is like coming from a place of like I just want the best for our teams and our kids. And it was so fluid obviously because of the challenges we were having with the weather that whole
pouring rain of snow and all that but we were a little challenged with I didn't speak from what I heard but from what I know from my experience and I will also but it was a little
knowing okay starting making everyone that wasn't really very wellunicated and then there was a challenge like Monday night
in the gym school tomorrow at night so am I going to have to drop their stuff in the day the referring to the app.
So I don't know that we could ask questions and I don't think that happened this year. I'm just curious. I'm trying to reach out to other parents if they know what's going on. So I think it was
a little feedback to make sure that the communication works well for our goal, right? want to participate in athletics, but also district, right? >> Um, yeah, I' I've really pretty much
have gotten about maybe three questions or complaints about communication. Um, I try to I mean, our our coaches are all adults and um, you know, they're given the app. They're I I ask them, some are incredible. Um, Matt Camper every week,
you know, I I encourage them. them. I show them samples every week, every Sunday. He lays out the week, what's going to happen, when the bus is leaving, um what when when what days they have games, um and things like that. You know, other coaches I have to
continuously encourage and recommend. And what I find is is, you know, some of them as soon as I make a change, they're on it and they put it in and then others don't. So then I have to recognize it. And with a lot of um moving parts, it's
sometimes difficult for me to get on myself to to see who's done it and who hasn't. And um I try to put out like everybody. Um you know, I think you know the communication as far as the tryyouts, I mean, that's pretty standard the first three days. That's that's in
our handbook. That's that's everything. If it was like who selected um I mean that's a question for the coach and and that communication. I will say too, a lot of the onus should kind of go on some of our athletes sometimes because I
when I talk to the coaches, 95% of the time the coach is explaining what's going on the next day at the end of practice. And a lot of the only the two complaints or three complaints I've received is the kid wasn't paying attention and didn't relay that information back to um their parents.
And so, um, when it was explicitly stated that we're going to be here tomorrow or baseball's going to be, um, at the old high school for the rest of the week because our field will not be playable probably until at least next week. That was explicitly stated on several occasions. And it's just, you
know, getting that information back. So, if we're looking at, you know, maybe our middle school teams, but any of our varsity teams, if you're eighth grade or higher, that that really because before the communication app, that was the communication, right? And so, um, but I I had another conversation with our
coaches yesterday about it because we had a mishap and I, you know, I'm like, this is not what we want to do. So, the I I instilled the app a few years ago and um, you know, again, I think it works tremendously, but, you know, now
everybody's relying on it. So, when you don't get that one piece of information, um, you know, that can be a problem. But I think a good chunk of our coaches use it very well and we'll continue to continue to enforce it and um I'll continue to harp on making sure that it is crystal clear.
>> I know. Oh, so the meeting situation um I what I found was I've done I did it for two years and what I found was like fall I get a ton of people um and then winter
there's you know so say you know fall there's o over 200 kids that that register for you know so if you take even 30% of the people will actually show up still a good chunk of people filling the auditorium with a hundred
kids in the winter, you know, you're maybe getting 25 families and then they've kind of heard a lot of the same information. So, I wasn't I was literally looking at a few people. Um so, it really wasn't worth it I felt to do it in the um in the winter. I did it
in the spring. Again, by the time some of a lot of our athletes play multiple sports, so by the time I got to the spring, even though we still have likeund, you know, last year we had 150. This year we had about 138 uh registrations. Um, you know, I just was
like, I don't think that I'm going to get the I kept seeing the spring was tapered down because they already heard it and so they already kind of knew. Um, so I didn't do it. And so what I do, and I don't think anybody really opens it and reads it, is I send the same slideshow that I would present with all
of the same information. Um, it had it had when practices were, it had um everything in it in the email that I attach it to. I give all of the same information of what's happening, when our practice times are, when tryyouts are, blah, blah, blah. And um and then I
proceed to get several emails about when it is because people just don't read their emails unfortunately. So you know um I think I'm still moving forward going to do an all sports. My idea is to just do an all sports one in the fall. That's what I'm as I ask other
colleagues. That's what a lot of people are doing. So in the fall you just do a kickoff and get anybody who wants to come. You try to get as many coaches there as you can for meet and greets and things like that and then go from there. So, >> just one about on the sports youth thing
and I I know it's it is a great tool. Um, and to me, you know, I'm sure and I'm, you know, probably speaking for everybody here, we want to support you and that and it seems like you've made it a non-negotiable, which is awesome, um, with your coaches. So, um, the coaches
need to know that it's non-negotiable because so many people are are on that and paying attention to it. And as you said, when it when there is a miscommunication or whatever, then um you know, if it's you're going to get the complaint, you know, not necessarily
the coaches. So, you know, again, just in an evaluation tool and everything else that you do, um with your job and your coaches, you've made it a non-negotiable, it sounds like, and we want to support you with that. Um because it is it's there's so many moving parts. There's so many kids over a span of eight grades and and multiple
teams. um you know so it really it really is relied on um by everyone. So um it's a great tool and it and it really does work well. >> Yeah. I again I have some that like use it when
>> right and you know a lot of things the SK you know some coaches put the practice schedule in there and then others don't. I can't, you know, I can't physically do it for them. But, um, and some, you know, some are giving drills, like Matt Camper is giving drills and ideas or video clips from different
things. Like, some get are very into it and others I can't get them to just say like practice is changed to indoors or we're going to we just want to use the batting cages so we're inside. Um, you know, so I I I get it and I I I you know, I've been yelling and and
screaming a lot um this spring about it just to get a couple people to to really, you know, take it on. But um and again, some, you know, I think I have a lot of my middle school sports where I encourage them, you know, they do a great job of like as they're coming back from an away game to make sure, you
know, those kids definitely don't have cars. They're like, "Hey, you know, ETA is, you know, 6:35 because, you know, be there at the school for pickup." And so some are some are fantastic with it and and um you know so work in progress.
for next year. And they had a soccer game after school on how we can get our kids to the game. No, I >> Yeah, I understand. FYI
school day. I I I do my best to try to move the games, but there's so many there's only so many dates on the calendar that you can actually play games or when we are sharing facilities. Um or there's um you know,
if like soccer, if you're on JV soccer and you're play, you know, varsity and JV, everybody travels together. And so a lot of times what I found is especially the a lot of the teams we have in our league and and in the district um if we cancel a JV game, a lot of them won't
want to make up that JV game. Um and so I can't really separate a JV game because I have to play a varsity game, but we have to get the varsity games in. Um scheduling is um we are as a league unlike a lot of other leagues. um
because of the way our league is structured with only um four now five other teams in the league um if we have a 20 game schedule with some of our sports um I have to find you know a lot
of times 12 to you know 10 to 12 other games um as opposed to if you're in Southshore conference you're finding maybe four other games um and there's a league schedule that's created. So when you're
trying to fit in games against area opponents that are in a different conference, their conference schedule is locked in. And so to fit games into um around their other those other conference schedules and to to put our
games in there, I have to get games when I get games. And I see Jay shaking his head because he knows the the the turmoil of that. Um so you got to try to get games when you can get games. And if it's if it's a day of a half day, it has to be a day of a half day. Um, but
ideally, and then with the middle schools, you know, we're given a league schedule. You try to move them around. I try to move it around as much as I possibly can. And some you just you just can't find a date that matches. And so, you know, you still try to not have games on Fridays. That's kind of our
league policy in the middle school. And so um it's it's sometimes becomes really difficult without having three or four games in a in a week which you then you still have to reserve for inclement weather and things like that. So I do my best you know next Tuesday we're going
to have sever it's they're not the only ones that are going to end up playing on that day. Um but the spring is super tight. Um it is it is a super tight season especially with the weather as it is if we have to schedule reschedule
games at going forward we're going to be playing a lot of four game weeks at this point and we're probably going to start to have to play on the weekends. So um if the weather continues to to act like the way it has um we're everybody's in the same boat um across the state. So we
tried our best but I I understand I take note. I look at it every season. And I have the calendar in front of me. As I do it, I mark off dates this season. Uh, you know, to be fair, right now I'm trying to avoid prom. I had so I've had to, you know, move and reschedule games.
Um, because honestly, prom's always been on a Saturday and this year it's on a Friday. Um, I try to, you know, move around games for senior, you know, trip, class trip. Um, and there's, you know, handful of other things. Not try to have games on awards night, not try to have
g, you know, there's just so many dates. you know, there's plays you try to avoid when there's major plays happening. Um, so it's it's there's only so many dates in the season, so you got to try to fit it in. >> Nothing else from the committee at this
time. just say thank you both for for joining us this evening and we'll move on to the uh next >> appreciate all the work I appreciate all the work on the physical condition of the fields too because dealt less less than an ideal product >> thanks
thank you very much >> uh so we'll we'll move on to the next item on our agenda which will be discussing the volunteer requirements continue continue discussion here >> well good evening everybody so I I want to start with an update because this is
the first year that the community service hours are a graduation requirement. So for the class of 2026, so I collected some data for you. We have 71 seniors graduating this year. Of
the 71 seniors, 24 students have completed their hours. That means we have documentation that 20 hours um have been done. Five students have completed some hours. So not yet at the 20 but
more than zero and 42 seniors have zero documented hours. So that of course is concerning. So what have we been doing to promote this? emails go out almost every single day
with volunteer opportunities either in the local community or Fall River, New Bedford, etc. Um, some of our students are going to be participating in math camp and collecting some hours. Um, some of them I'm assuming it's just because
they haven't turned in their forms. So, it's making sure that they know in order for these um those hours to count, we need to have the documentation. Mrs. Rule and I are meeting with the seniors one day next week before vacation to again remind them that this is a
graduation requirement and we are going to game plan for seniors that um do not have hours done by their last day of school which will then require them to return the week before graduation which are days they typically have off and we
will provide them opportunities um during the school day for them to get some of those hours done. So before I move on to the updated um graduation requirement documents, does anybody have any questions regarding the class of 2026?
I think it's great and I think it's great that you're thinking about that and the kids that you know we don't want to hold back or whatever and giving them opportunities um because you know like you said there are plenty um certainly over break and then at the end of the year um when seniors should take
technically be out but um it's a way to make them uh fulfill that commitment still. That's awesome. >> Thank you. Okay. So if we take a look at this document, I just wanted to add more information so that there was some clarity regarding what um does the
graduation requirement of community service hours mean. So we are defining the parameters as they need 20 hours by the time that they graduate. But to avoid the the issue that we're having with the class of 2026, we're really encouraging students
moving forward to try to document five hours a year because that feels far more manageable than 20 hours total. So counselors when they go into um classrooms or they're doing their small group meetings in the career center,
they're really promoting that you can submit hours as early as freshman year. You can leave freshman year with all 20 hours done and you're good to go. you check that box off. The other thing that we were finding is that students sometimes just don't know what community service hours are. They think taking out
the trash at their house counts as time, but we want to clear it up that it doesn't. Um, and so we wanted to give them a list of here's where your hours could come from and here's where your hours cannot come from.
Um, this document also provides them a link to the form that they should be using to monitor all of their hours. Again, we'll remind them that this form needs to get turned into their respective guidance counselors for tracking purposes. And then some questions came up over the spring specifically around hours as they
connect to NHS and STEAL, which are two service um groups within our school. And so this document just provides clarity on um how many hours can count uh for both. Um
so if this is all well and good, it will go into our program of studies and then ultimately make its way into the student handbook. So happy to answer any questions about this. Um my only question and and of course um obviously the emails that um were
received were from members of those clubs. Is the thought process or the rationale behind why just those two clubs um are separate or or different than the others. And I think I know some of the
>> um and I know that they do a lot of that work. But it is to me it's community service um and why they're a little bit different. >> Sure. So I want to make it clear for this year we did that students were could use all of the hours from those
particular groups. So that addressed some of the concerns that had popped up in emails um from students and parents. I always have to think with like my equity hats. So organizations like steel and national honor society are selective organizations. Not everybody has access
to participate in those. So for that, I think there there has to be some differentiation in the hours that can count. Additionally, steel stands for students that exemplify extraordinary leadership. These are our kiddos that are who are going above and beyond. So I think it makes sense to maybe hold them
to a little bit higher of a standard and completing some of the hours. For National Honor Society, it's even easier because they need hours to get into that organization. It's just the hours that are required to be part of that group once you're in it. To also go back to steel, something that I forget to
mention is that part of this too is having students take the responsibility on their own to find community service opportunities and in that club I'm not sure if that's always happening. I think sometimes they bring ideas to the table, but um there's, you know, limitations on
where they can go. So that was the rationale and justification. But I want to make it clear that some of it can count towards both. It was just that 5-hour differentiation. >> So this is the first class that this class has had all four years to complete. >> Correct. So this
>> it was like a phased in kind of >> it was a phased in process and this was something that was brought to the table before I took over both of the buildings which was three years ago now. So, these kiddos have known that this was coming and have had reminders and I know we had
discussions last year about some of the concerns that I had in terms of students getting these opportunities. Um, but we're willing to work with them and provide in-house um hours so that they can still walk and get their diploma. >> I'm not sure if you guys are currently
in communication with the uh Council on Aging, but I'm sure they would love to have students there. >> Yes. And whenever we get opportunities from the council of agent, bam, goes right out to our kiddos. Right. >> Yes. >> Question. Um, for stuff that they can't
do, um, like unpaid work for a family member, i.e. chores or work for a family business? What if it's not a family business? Well, if it's not a family business, um, and they're not getting paid, I
think there could be discussion on just a discussion on what they're doing and then we could could clarify if whether or not it could count. Yeah. >> No, I just >> I'm just talking about like you got to go take your dog for a walk like that that kind of stuff. >> No, I was just trying to figure out, you
know, if there were some local businesses in town that because it's all kind of community, you know, >> 100%. Let's say there was a landscaping company in town that was looking for kiddos to volunteer and do work. Yes, those hours would certainly count.
>> There's a town cleaners on Saturday. >> There's a yard clean up at my house if anybody wants the address. >> The food the food pantry is starting their planting for the garden on Sundays apparently. So there's >> possibly uh >> some hours there too.
And so uh the expectation is that this would be submitted as a this not to be part of the handbook. >> Yes. Is that correct? >> Yeah. More so the program of studies because that's where we outline the graduation requirements. I also like to put it in the handbook just as an additional reminder for kiddos. Um but
that's where it would go. >> Okay. >> What happens if they don't So, I'm curious. >> Well, they're going to have the opportunity to do those hours the week that they're off in between the last day
of school for seniors and graduation on May 30th. So, our um goal is absolutely to get them in at that time and hopefully it will become a moot point. Um but unfortunately we have had
circumstances in the past where some students um may have to go to summer school for one course and they would do an August graduation. And because this is the graduation requirement, we might have to look to that. But I'm going to do my hardest to ensure that that is not the case. That the 71 seniors that are
set to graduate are going to be walking the stage on May 30th. >> Thank you, M. >> Oh, you're welcome. >> Have a good night. you as well. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, we'll move on to our next agenda on theformational agenda, which would be the out of school time
handbook. >> Ladies, have a seat. >> So, I'm going to introduce the two ladies here in front of us. Um, so we have Karen Tvaris on this side. She is the new director of the out of school time program. She was hired in October.
She comes with 15 years of experience in the field of early childhood education. Uh graduated from Bridgewater State University with her bachelor's degree in early education and care and special ed inclusive studies. She also is an EEC certified as a teacher, director 1,
director 2, lead teacher preschool, and lead teacher infant toddler. Um then we have Tanya Camarra over here who is the program coordinator. Um she was hired in November of 2025. She comes with 20 years of experience in the field of
early childhood education. She graduated from Bristol Community College with associates degree in early childhood education. She has her EEC certification, director certification. She's also a lifelong resident of Westport and has graduated from Westport
schools and her children now attend Westport Community Schools. Um, yes, Circle of Life. Um, so they are going to kind of give you a little bit of an update. They bring before you the um OST handbook, the revisions for next school year, and there's just a few of them,
but they're also going to give you a little rundown of we've had a a couple of audits in between um relicensing visits, and I'm going to let Karen start off and just kind of review. We can send you her the document that was done
afterwards if you want, but she's just going to kind of give you a little update. >> Hi everybody. So the out of school program currently operates at two separate locations. We employ 14 staff members altogether including myself as the director, Tanya as program coordinator. We also have a site
coordinator and 11 group leaders. Three of those group group leaders actually are teacher assistants that work over at the west as well. So our morning program is run at the elementary school and we primarily use the cafeteria area. We also do utilize the gym when we're able to. And currently we have 38 children
enrolled in the morning program with four staff members usually on daily. The program provides a breakfast a cereal breakfast every single day and students that go over to the Macumber school get bus there around 8:15 in the morning. The afternoon program is currently
operated inside of the old high school. Our typical hours of operation are between 3:00 and 5:30. On school vacation days we are open for full days which is 8 to 4:30. And then we are also open for most of the um half days for the school. So on those days our hours of operation are from going to be from
12:00 to 4:30. So the afternoon snack we provide we for the afternoons we do provide a snack daily and on the full days parents are required to pack a lunch. So the afternoon program as of right now we have about 65 students enrolled. Students get buses to us o over from the
elementary school and the mumber school. We have classrooms designated to each grade from kindergarten up until grade four. And we do also at this time have one preschool enroll preschooler enrolled and they are in the kindergarten classroom. All other children are school aged. The afternoon
program um basically we have various activities that we offer to the children every single day. We have an art room that we utilize for different types of crafts and activities as well as different STEM activities. We offer free play in classrooms. We do organized games and play in the gym. We utilize
the outdoor playground areas as well. Um, we also have been recently coordinating with the Westport Land Trust organization and they've been coming in for visits with our students as well. Um, since my time arriving at the OST program, I have implemented the use of an app called Brightitewheel. So,
Brightitewheel is basically an app for early childhood head centers and it offers us the opportunity to be able to communicate back and forth with parents. so we can send them pictures and videos and updates throughout the day. And we are also currently using it for um attendance tracking. My goal is for the
beginning of the summer program to begin using a feature on it for tuition payments. So tuition tracking will be directly on the app that'll make parents being able to pay a lot easier because everything will be on there. Invoices will be sent out usually on a Friday and parents will have until the following
Monday to pay them. Um let me see. Overall, the usage of the app has been going very well. Parents like having the open communication. They like getting the updates. It has been We've gotten really great feedback so far and parents are also very excited to be able to use the tuition payment
feature on the app. So, a few things that I wanted to adjust from the handbook. Um, I did highlight in there so I can go through it page by page. So, the page numbers are on the top right corner and we are going to start on page two. So, I do have highlighted
some of the adjustments that I wanted to make. Um, the first is going to be I want to implement a $25 registration fee. So, this registration fee is going to basically hold the child slot to begin for the new school year program. It's common practice amongst most child care centers. So, we're hoping to
implement that and we're also hoping to apply those registration fees to get some new school year materials for the classrooms and for the children. So, that's usually a period during the year where we have to buy lots of paper, lots of art materials, and that'll help go towards that. Um, we're also hoping to
have students and families pick set schedules. Very common practice again amongst childcare centers. Um, we do have a couple of families that don't have set schedules and it causes a lot of difficulties with staffing and ratios because we do have to abide by a certain teacher to student ratio and if we have kids just popping in, it messes with
that and that we're not going by EEC regulations. So, I did offer an option that if parents are unable to basically set a sketch set schedule for their children that they can have a sort of drop in agreement so they can reach out to administration beforehand and say, "Hey, do you have room on this day? Can my
child add for the day?" If we have room, we'll definitely make the accommodation to have them add. If we don't then they unfortunately can't come for that day. Um and then on the next page is page seven. So on page seven um hours of operation
for early release days are going to be from 12 to 4:30. And I also would like to implement the cost of the half days being a little bit more. As of right now, the half-day program is the same as the regular school year programs. We are open for an extra two hours during the half day programs. So, I wanted to
increase it from 30 to 45 just to basically accommodate those that extra two hours that we're providing services and paying staff. >> Can I just ask what are the old the oldest kids that that attend? >> So, we go up to fourth graders. So, we have kindergarten to fourth graders and then we do have one preschooler.
>> Thank you. >> All right. And then the final changes would be on page 11. So, as I stated before, my goal is hopefully to get Bright Wheel all set up and going for um as far as tuition payments for the summer program. So, as
of right now, the banking and routing routing numbers are already all set in the system. It's just a matter of putting in the payment plans for parents and getting it up and going for the summer program. Um, we also want to implement a $10 late fee that Brightwheel has a feature that it could automatically be applied. We do have
some families that struggle with paying tuition payments on time and we want to try to avoid that. So, we're hoping that by implementing a late fee, it'll kind of enforce making sure that tuition payments are getting paid on time because we're a self-sustaining program and when parents families aren't paying then the income's not coming to the program.
Um, so tuition, we want to have tuition to be due to the program regardless of children's attendance. As of right now, the program parents are only paying if their child arrives for the day. Common practice amongst ch amongst the child care field is that you pay for your
child's slot regardless if they attend or not because we do have the issue where we have a child enrolled full-time. They're only coming one to two times a month and then all those other days the child's not arriving. So, we're not receiving income for that slot that we're holding for the child.
Um, let me see. And then, but what we do want to do to kind of like help with that is that we will not charge families for days that we're closed, whether it be weather, whether it be for the winter break or whether they be um absent because of an afterchool program over at
the West Mumb School. But what will not be waved is if a child's out sick or if they're just taking off a day just because those days will still have to be paid. And we are going to um have tuition not tuition waved for family
trips and vacations up to two weeks because I know there were a few families that had asked me, "Oh, we're taking a a summer trip for like a week. Can that not be paid?" and my decision along with Michelle, we were discussing it and we thought that two weeks would be sufficient that can be waved that parents can use those times and then any
longer than that then there'll be a $50 holding fee to continue to hold the slots >> and that is it. Any questions? >> Well, thank you first and welcome. >> Thank you. >> So, I I think the changes are
thoughtful. I think they're responsive to some challenges and >> concerns that I've had. I know that it's a self-sustaining revolving account, but you know, from a predictability standpoint, it's tough if you're in a position where >> you don't know if the revenue is coming in if it's a daily payment. You don't
know if that can cover staff and you still have to cover other expenses. So, I think that the set scheduling will give you some predictability, which is >> yes, >> helpful. Um, I know that's >> some months are better than others >> and that will probably help with that. So, I appreciate the the thoughtfulness
that went into that. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, I would echo that. Um had some concerns on how the payment structure has been in the Yeah. in the past and I I really appreciate the the efforts >> to uh kind of fixing some of these issues. Um I just want to clarify a
couple things. So, first of all, via uh Bright Wheel the app. >> So, is there a fee associated with paying on the app? >> Yes, there is a small fee. There is um I don't know the percentage off the top of my head. I can't get back to you on that, but I do know it's probably like up to like a dollar or so.
>> Okay. But to be clear, checks are still accepted. >> Yes, checks will still be accepted. Yes. >> So, uh the second question uh regarding the the holding fee. So, is that a $50 holding fee per week or is that a $58 holding fee just to hold?
>> So, after the two weeks of Yeah. the basic of the family vacation, they have up to two weeks. After that, it's just $50 flat rate to hold the slot. >> Okay. I know that we did have like a family that they were out for a month. So the two weeks were covered and after that the 50 hold $50 holding fee would color cover the remainder of the weeks.
>> Okay. And again that goes to just trying to figure out the predictability. >> Yes. >> Okay. Excellent. No, I I I again I really appreciate the effort that's gone into making these changes because I think um you know it's a great program. It's it's very very helpful to to
families in Westport. I I am glad to see >> that that predictability is going to be there. That has always been a question of mine because I know it is not a common practice to do a daily. So this is this is good. And also uh so you mentioned is it Brightitewheel that
you're also using for to to keep keep track of attendance now. So some kind of so on bright wheel it's broken down by classrooms and teachers have the avail the availability on the app to be able to sign in a child sign them out and parents also get that notification so they know what room their child is in at all times.
>> Excellent. All right. Excellent. So our uh I know you said 38 in the morning, 65 in the afternoon. Would you consider that capacity at this point or is there >> um so the morning is operating at full capacity. The afternoon we do have some we can have hold up to 90 children but we just don't have the staffing to accommodate that at this time.
>> Well yeah so in theory it could be >> so in theory yes but right now >> yes right now we're masked out. >> Okay. Have there been like other positions posted that there just recruitment challenges or >> um as of right now we don't have any positions posted. It was kind of like me
coming into like the the program. I didn't want to change anything too drastic too quickly. So it was me getting like accustomed to the staff that we currently have. And then I have hired a couple of TAs but we do have them more so as floaters as of right now. The summer program depending on the
enrollment I know we do have a pretty extensive weight list right now for the summer program. I'm hoping within like the next couple weeks or so to see what I have for staffing wise and then if I need to open that up for more staff so that way we can enroll more children in the summer program. >> I just got a um so the the morning class
the morning session um goes from what was the times? >> It's 7 to 8:30. >> 7 to 8:30 and then so those employees then leave. Yes. And then >> some may come back for the afternoon session. Yes. So, we do have a couple that will come in again for the
afternoon. A lot of them are college students, so they honestly go to their own classes during the middle of the day and then they come back. They go to the former high school for the afternoon program. >> And so, then like the full-time staff, yourself and the program directors and stuff, >> that's a full-time
8 to five job or something like that. >> Yeah, I work um eight hours daily, so 40 hours a week. And Tanya usually work six hours daily. >> Okay. And what are those hours? Just curious. My hours vary day to day. So some I do like to pop into the morning program at least twice a week. So then I'll do like a 7 to 3:30 type of shift
sometimes or I'll go to the OST program and I'll do like a 9:00 to 5:30. So I'm there to the to the afternoon as well. So my schedule varies but it's depending on like if I'm needed in the morning or if I'm needed more so in the afternoon. >> I guess my question was is there a supervisor on? Yes. >> Somebody at all times?
>> Yes. Always. Yes. So either myself or Tanya is always there for the afternoon and then we actually have a site coordinator. So site coordinators are able to open and they're able to close. So at at this time usually the site coordinator is the person who's supervising the morning.
>> The last question that I had was just to make sure are these changes going to be uh communicated even now as opposed to Okay. So just making sure that it's not going to be any surprises come uh >> in theory this would this would uh
>> would these policies begin with the summer program? >> Yes. >> Okay. So So be as long as it it it shouldn't come as a surprise when it >> Yes. Yes. And I have been open with communicate openly communicating with all the families. So they do know that these changes are coming and I did let them know that we'd be bringing it up to
the school committee and that once it gets approval by you guys then we will implement them into the program >> and Karen has actually they've spent a lot Karen and Tanya have spent a lot of time like teaching the families how to use Brightwheel >> because it is an app on their phone as well. So a lot of them we tried to
transition them into a whole different method where they can use we got iPads for them so that they can actually sign the students in when they come. They sign the parents out when they leave. I think it helps with scheduling too. There's like a lot of different options for it. But it is a great program like
they were saying they can put photos on there of kids for the day and >> whatnot. So >> and also just I guess being able to track the data as a little >> Yes. Yeah. and it puts everything collectively in one place rather than having a bunch of unnecessary paperwork. >> How has the the parent reception been so far?
>> Parents really love Brightwill. They definitely like we've gotten a lot of compliments on them. Just like loving that we're being able to communicate more efficiently because email like outside of work hours like we're not always checking our email and even throughout the day like if we step away from our computers we're not getting an email right away with Brightitewheel. We're getting as a notification right to
the tablets that each staff member has. So, we're able to get it right then and there and then we can commun communicate back and forth with them. >> Just one quick thought on the the holding holding fee. It may be I think too too drastically or whatever, but is it would it make sense to add an
additional sentence with a maximum length of the holding fee? >> Um, that's something >> just the thought of like >> No, it's definitely paid the $50 program up to two weeks or something, >> right? Or, you know, they >> September comes around and we're taking off of September. Yeah, here's your $50
fee. And then they don't >> they come back >> come back until January and they say, "Yeah, but I paid the $50 >> just again in terms of staffing and things like that." >> And I I I would say probably maybe maybe a little longer. I mean, I know I guess two weeks, two weeks, close to a month, but you know,
>> I want to get the flexibility. Yes. you know, for >> uh for parents, but at the same time, yeah, the predictability I do agree it should not necessarily be open-ended just because >> um so did you have >> Yeah, I just I'm I'm unfortunately not
as familiar with this program as I would like to be, but um is since it's self-sufficient, um >> is it basically if you can afford to do it, you can be in it, or is there a you know fories that struggling and you know
obviously with times like now >> you know everything's up in cost you I'm just kind of concerned that if they're late there's going to be a $10 fee and those $10 fees per week now you're looking at $40
>> um you may start being detrimental to families then >> trying to make sure that you're being >> you're you're collecting the money I mean if we're if we're going week to week with our budget for this program just to think how some of these families
might be going week to week with their own budgets and um you know I'm just concerned that if somebody misses a payment >> that these $10 fees start racking you up. I mean it's kind of like a late fee with your you know your checking
account. You hate to see that $35, you know, and then almost two more things is posted and now it's I mean that's a little more drastic, but you know, it's kind of the same feeling here if people are missing. >> I think they're already struggling. >> Yeah, I think the program's been very lenient with this like we've
>> there been some families that have been behind a couple of months and it does start to pose an issue at that point for the revolving account. It's not a program that makes like 80,000 a year. You know, we probably maybe 20,000 a year, but it's self-supporting.
>> All of their salaries come out of the revolving account. Nothing comes out of the general budget. So, the program basically just pays for itself. But one of the things I think intention of this is not necessarily to >> hurt people, but to kind of like
>> there's a few every so often. So, we're dealing with a few parents now that we're trying, you know, work with them like what's what can we do to you know, help with this. We try not to just cut people off immediately and be like, "Nope, you didn't pay." >> Either you're out of the program or you,
you know, can't pay. >> Gotcha. >> They do have opportunities >> with us being certified under EEC. We do also accept PA vouchers. So, a PACE voucher is basically for a family where they may be struggling, depending on where they are financially, they can apply for a PACE voucher through EEC and if they get approved, the voucher comes
to me and that basically covers a portion if not all the tuition rate. So families do have the option to apply for that. >> Do do you happen to have off hand the number of of pace? >> I currently have I believe it's about 10 students who are currently on PACE vouchers
>> and I believe their tuition rates are going up as well for their reimbursement. >> So yes, so PACE pays us a certain portion depending on what the state rates are at that time. So their rates are going to be going up within like this next month as well. >> One of the difficult parts right now with the vouches
>> the the there's like a huge like waiting list >> weight list. Yeah. To get onto >> some people have been waiting for like two years to get on the PACE voucher. So it is very difficult for that piece of it. I think I think we probably would have a lot more families participating
if they knew that they could access the voucher piece of it. It's not something we have control over. They have to apply through the through EEC and then they get on a waiting list and then they wait for and it could be up to two years before they even see acceptance for that
and then again the pro it's difficult for I mean we're very lucky like these ladies are very lucky and we're very lucky as a district because the we have a lot of students that are either Westport students that have come back and are in college and work at 7 o'clock
in the morning leave at 8:15 go to college for the day then they come back again in the afternoon it's a tough position to fill it's not like even it's not even like mother hours or father hours job like that's the time you need to be home with your kids to get them
ready for school get them off the bus so this is something that's almost more difficult >> what are what are the requirements for staff like age- wise college >> so age- wise we usually have them to be like at least 18 so as of right now I
think our youngest staff member is 19 years old so the requirements um are basically it is a very um entry level position so they have to complete EEC essentials training which is basically just a training amongst like the field how to interact with students what are the basics to the EEC regulations so
they need to complete that first aid training get a background check those types of things and then if all that goes through then they're able to start the program >> I was just we got 50 students that are going to be looking for volunteer time >> and when she um when she was mentioning that was actually I was like oh it would
be an opportunity that they could volunteer with the out of school time Yes, >> we have had we've had quite a few seniors that have come back. >> There was no option after school coverage for
right in a familiar surrounding in an air, you know, surrounding that they're used to being in all day long. So, it definitely keeps that money. >> Correct. >> Correct. >> Excellent. So, um, I appreciate
appreciate all the effort going into this and welcome. Little late now, but >> nice to meet you all. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you both. >> So, at this time, I will uh entertain a motion from our action agenda to act on
approving this handbook with the caveat that a time certain date be added in to the uh the voucher hold. >> Yes, >> I'll make that motion. move and second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, we'll move to a vote and we'll take a roll call vote. Mr.
>> Mel, Fred, >> I Jason >> Pico and I, Christopher Thrasher. And that is approved. Thank you very much once again. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you ladies. Have a good night. You too. Thank you, too. >> You too.
>> Excellent. Moving on. The next item on our agenda is the fiscal year 2027 budget update. Turn this over to vice chair, Mr. Gendro. Please take >> Okay. So, we started out um after our diligent budget process internally in
the district. Um we then handed over our recommended budget to the select board. Um after we approved our recommendation, the select board took a look at it. They came in with their recommended number which originally was 24,744
332. Um that was their recommendation. We had had some discussions with uh the town administrator and and between myself, town administrator Michelle and Fran um on how we can work to get that closer. So the number I think from what we
initially think we're at did get a little closer, but we were looking for a little bit more. Um and so that number was approved by the select board. So it then went to the finance committee and after some discussions with the finance
committee um that number is now and the number that will be printed in the town meeting warrant is $24,824,332. So, that number uh does not include the $80,000 for the uh device upgrades that we originally had in our in our budget
uh request, but there that's getting paid for through a separate warrant article. Um as a as a from free cash. So, that'll be separate from the operating budget. Um, this number is also $80,000 higher than the select board's number, which means
that based on uh both the backout of the the the Chromebooks and the devices out of the operating budget and um looking at our at our recommended budget that this committee approved, this would support obviously this is subject to approval after the town meeting approves
the final budget. Um, but this will be printed in the warrant. So we with this number we can support all of our contractual obligations and our anticipated increases to existing line items. Um this will also support we a
pri priorities of this committee um were the social studies position because of the enrollment there was a there was a higher class sizes in that particular department um and also the career pathways. So this would this budget would support both of those um in
addition to all of our meeting all of our contractual obligations. So um over the last few finance committee meetings I I spoke and um advocated for um this number because I think this is a responsible number. We we have to live
within the constraints of the town budget. We're limited by um Prop 2 and a half. We're limited by the limited new growth in town. So we know what what where we have to stay. So this number in addition to doing all that also reduces our free cash from last year. So it's
it's a reduction in the free cash allocation I believe by $50,000. Um it's it's gone down. So that's the kind of the trajectory that the finance committee, the select board, and I think uh what where our goals have been expressed to be too. So I think this
this number checks a lot of boxes. Um it it I think does right by the district. it meets the needs that we have right now while living within the the revenue constraints that we have as a town and recognizing the needs of our other departments to provide services for our for our residents. Um so I'm I'm proud
of this. Um and I again want to thank the the business department, Michelle Fran, Holly was involved in those discussions um and the building uh the building leaders for for their work on this and and informing us on their
requests and priorities. Um, as I mentioned, I I spoke at the last few select board meetings on this and and it took a little while to get to this point, but um I certainly want to thank the select board um for their diligence in looking at this, the town administrator for his
communication with us and the uh the finance committee of course um for their for their approval of this. I I you know I there wasn't really much much push back which I think is great. I think we we clearly as a committee in our in our presentation to the finance committee and in subsequent meetings afterwards
outlined the need for uh for this and um so I think the finance committee recognized that. Um so I'm appreciative of their of their support of this and I you know proud of this number. Um just on a procedural note, this is obviously subject to the approval of town meeting,
but that is the number that will be printed in the warrant. So the when they read off the finance committee's recommendations for the for the overall town budget, this will be uh part of it. And then within that overall number, this committee has um purview to uh
decide kind of where that's where that's spent. So, uh, we'll we'll take another look at this after the numbers approved, but that's that's where it's at right now. Um, so just wanted to give the committee an update on that and, uh, thank everyone for their efforts.
>> Thank you for your efforts. >> So, I I just would like to say um, thank you to everyone who has been a part of this process. This is the culmination of a large a very very long process uh, as as was mentioned between the uh, the
business department, the the building leaders, school committee. Um I would be remiss if I if I did not extend a sincere thanks and gratitude to Mr. Jendro. um his efforts both at meetings and and behind the scenes to make sure
that a a reasonable and responsible number uh got got approved uh by the finance committee has has been uh you know I I just I have to say we would not be where we we are and uh we would not
be looking at a town meeting with a budget that uh is going to allow us to to serve the needs of our district were it not for the efforts Mr. Gendro and I just want want everybody to understand uh just how much work he put into making sure that uh
this this budget uh is going to serve the needs of the district. So thank you very much for your efforts and and and again um you know this like I said culmination of a of a long effort. Uh the town meeting just so everyone is aware is on May the 5th
where the final budget will be uh voted on. So again, thanks to everyone. Anything further from community members on this topic? >> I actually have one more thing. So that if you remember from our approved recommended budget, there were three
service delivery uh increases that were part of that. One was the social studies, one was career pathways, the other was a support position, um a student support position. So the intent of that was to be at least partially funded with opioid settlement funds
money. So um if that opportunity arises in the next over the next year where the where that that committee meets and and they're granting requests then we can certainly reopen that discussion. Um but that's so I just wanted to note that
that wasn't just left out that the intent is to continue pursuing that with um with the opioid uh fund settlement advisory committee. So that conversation hasn't hasn't stalled as well. And I'll also note as part of this town meeting um in addition to the operating budget, there's a capital budget that was
approved that's going to be approved. So we have a number of items on there totaling almost a million dollars to address some capital needs that we have as a district. Um so That's a that's a separate warrant article that'll be approved as as part of a larger article for all capital needs across town
departments, but I just wanted to note that as well. Anything further from the committee on this topic? Hearing none, thank you again. We'll move on to uh the next item on our agenda is a discussion on the campground site and M. Ginger, I'm going to turn
this over to you as well. >> Right. So the as probably you all know um the old high school in addition to the old high school discussion kind of being in limbo at the moment um there's also a it so there there's been a need
in the past for fields but I think a more pertinent need um is certainly with the traffic flow. We've seen issues with that. We've we've probably all heard it. I know I have um from residents. So, um, there was a study that was done, I think
I want to say about five or six years ago, um, on that site and what could be done. There were some estimates, there were some preliminary designs made. Um, so the the graphic in your packet shows the entrance where the campground site
is, some parking that flows through to up towards the elementary school um, side. So, The intent is if we can secure funding that obviously doesn't impact the operating budget, whether it's capital
funding, whether it's from another source, if it's a um state or federal money, what wherever it could come from. Um and there are a number of pockets of funding out there that we're that you know I think myself and Michelle and Fran are looking at. Um but if we can
support it and also this is brought up during the school building committee. So there I know they have bond council looking to see if the remaining funds in that were authorized as part of that initial vote if this could be part of the scope. So bond council on the town side is looking into that but if not um
if that doesn't come to fruition then I think we can certainly explore some other funding. So I I think that the thought here um and I'm certainly open to you know the committee's input um and if this moves forward I think we would also probably you know as part of a broader discussion on future plans re
reopen the campground committee but um there's a this is currently under the school department's jurisdiction this this parcel of land which previously was part of the town and it got transferred to us some years ago. Um, so the the picture in front of you shows kind of
the the overall scheme, but I think the initial thought is to have the just the driveway portion and the paved portion added in and then maybe in the perhaps in the future if funding were available or or whatever it may be, then we could
look at what to do with the rest. whether it's fields, whether it's a um you know putting some kind of structure there, whatever or or a combination of both, whatever it may be, we can take a look at that another time. But I think that the thought for now to address some of the public safety concerns um that
we've heard and to I I think just create a better flow because this has historically been an issue since the building opened um to see what we could do with just that portion. So that's the the thought is to initially tackle that. Um and want to recognize
Michelle for her efforts in taking this on too. >> Spent a lot of time walking the camera. >> Yeah. Um, so yeah, that's just the initial there's there's no certainly no action at the moment, but I just wanted to inform the committee that these, you know, conversations are starting to to
happen. Um, and I think probably would be accelerated something happened to the or not happen to the old high school. Um, but so this is just sort of an initial um approaching here and I don't again don't foresee this impacting the operating budget because we're we're seeking whether it's through the bond or
whether it's through um state or federal money or grants or whatever it may be. We're, you know, certainly looking to be creative with how to support this. So, that's the thought. >> Excellent. I do think it's certainly worthwhile to look at ways to mitigate the issues that we've been having with
traffic, especially in long term. you know, obviously if it's able to we're able to uh progress to talking about the the fields improvements certainly good too. But uh uh to get the ball rolling right now on on trying to alleviate the pressure of of single entrance for two
schools I think is a uh is certainly a great certainly a great beginning effort and hopefully uh certainly hope to have more to report to the committee and the community here uh very shortly. So thanks. could just looking at this
picture here. Um what is >> what is the flow patent pattern um >> that oh that we're thinking >> that we're thinking based on this. >> So what one of the patents is having the parent drop offs and pickups. They would
come in through the campground entrance come up and around and then tie into the back of the school for parent drop off and parent pickup like they do now. It's a way middle school for middle high school. It's a way to get these parents off of >> old county roads.
>> That is a merge right over. >> They would merge right over come around. We have staff out there anyway, but it's a way to kind of get a good We probably could get a good 4550 cars off that road. We have aboutundred and this building here is probably about 125 130
parent pickups and drop off. Elementary school is probably closer to like 161 in that range. So, we're kind of looking at a two for one here where we've had to arrange changing the times of pickup and drop off and putting all the buses, unloading all loading all the kids on
the bus, making them sit and wait an extra five minutes to try to get them out. And another idea here is to have the student parking on the in this area, the newer area. So that way we don't have students leaving through the area
that the buses and the parents are coming in currently right now because there's a lot of traffic there and it is a dangerous area. We've watched it. We've stood on Old County Road and thought we one of these days it's going to be an accident. these kids, you know, new drivers, you know, and there's
people in Old County that just don't they just fly by and it's our fault that they're there. So, we really are looking at different options to for the elementary school and the middle school, high school to help keep traffic off whole county. >> So, obviously the plan of for this whole
project is is traffic. And if we were to basically incorporate say 60% of those students back into busing somehow um would that increase the number of buses or >> it would increase right now even I mean
we have a low fee for transportation and they only we only charge seventh through 12th graders. >> Majority by the 12th graders they're typically already in a car. Half of your 11th graders typically in a car. We provide reduced if if any families
qualify. We have about 470 students that are on qualify for low income. Those families if they qualify for any type of low-inccome structure, they receive free transportation. So it's not like we don't provide like we we work with the
families to get them on buses and we push that and let them know listen you could qualify for free transportation put them on the bus a lot of it I think is parents for middle school high school don't want the kids getting on the bus at 6:30 in the morning it's easier that
extra 30 minutes for this age level definitely makes a difference the kids do not want to be leaving anywhere from till like 7 o' you know so that I think piece helps the end of the day it can fluctuate like our end of the day once sports season is going we have less kids
parent pickup but again we there's so many after school activities and stuff happening at different times that sometimes it's the traffic coming in for student activities it's games that are going on parents coming in to get good spots for the games then you've got your
staff leaving so I think I don't know it seems and I don't think we're the only one that's faces this problem I I think that many schools are facing the problem of parent pickup and parent drop offs. Like there's a huge >> foreign to me. >> Yes. It's it's such a huge elementary
school the same way. We have the same thing over at the Mack School. We have like about 176 kids there. And granted, preschool we don't provide transportation for, but you have about 110 parents for kindergarten. And you still probably have about half of them
dropping their kids off to school, which a younger age, I can see that like they want to see the little kids get out and they want to do all of that, but we we have parents that and grandparents that will sit up here at 12:30 in the afternoon. Oh, I see it. I'm >> and say they've got nothing else to do,
so they just come here and sit and read a book. So we encourage them to please don't do that just because it's it's also a safety issue to have vehicles against the building that we don't want there to
>> we have and they go because we don't want to unfortunately like they're like all they'll say they, like I said, they don't want par, they don't want to be putting their kids on a bus at 6:30. Um, a lot of them will say, "Oh, I don't
want my kid riding the bus for an hour." I will tell you that the majority of our buses, students are not on for an hour. By 7:14 to 7:16, unless there's an accident or a backup somewhere, all buses are already
out front unloaded by 7:20, the latest. So the first pickup if it's at 6:30 in the morning, they may be on the bus for 40 minutes. >> Right. Well, bus one, she's pretty quick. So Val can get you there and back in no
time. Yeah, we I mean we've done surveys. You just it's never about the price of the busing which is why it's something we've never gone up on and we have not continued to increase because we were always af we had gone up to 250 a year and then we were afraid that was one of the the
reasons why people were not putting their students on a bus and it really had no impact on that at all. I mean, I have heard that cost of busing was been somewhat of an issue, but one of the other ones was being on the bus for a long period of time the further away you
are from the school. >> That's why I was asking by if we would have to put more buses in the circulation if we somehow almost man not mandated but somehow mandated >> that they would have to at least sign up for busing.
Yeah, that that is that is a huge deal right now. We have a couple of bus monitors that we have put on to try to mitigate that at this moment. Um I do I will work with parents like if I really know there's a parent that's struggling and is like I really can't
come up with the $200, I will work with them so that they pay a payment plan over a course of time so that it's not an inconvenience for them. um busing. If I have buses that are full, I'll change the bus routes to accommodate the number
of buses so we stay within that because each bus costs about $92,000 per bus per year. It is not a cheap task. say we all start >> which has been an issue statewide. >> Yes, it is. >> Continue to hear from other committee
members around the state. >> It's terrible. >> But this campground idea is definitely something that we have spent quite a bit of a time looking at and looking at a long-term plan as well, but phasing it in and we thought no better way to start
the process. Definitely makes sense. >> Yes, definitely was that was a big priority. >> And again, just to underline it one more time, we're not talking about an impact to the general budget here. This is this is absolutely going after grants and state federal funding uh to to achieve
this. So, >> all right. Well, that being said, anything further from committee on this item? >> All right. Excellent. move on to the next item on our agenda which is the discussion of the school year 2026 27 calendar. Uh so one thing
that was sent out I believe as part of the informationform information packet from Dr. Roy earlier uh was or last week was information about the attendance of that first week of school um and the
historical attendance. So when it was before before Labor Day after Labor Day for going back I know that that had been discussed in previous meetings uh but so with that information uh we we we're
still looking at a proposed calendar here uh that would begin on uh school would begin on September the 3. Uh and that would the first the first day of school for grades uh 1 to 12 and
then the uh the kindergarten or the first day for kindergarteners at the Mac will be the 9th. So uh at this point any any questions comments from members of the committee at this time. >> Are there any changes from the first draft to this?
>> No we just provided you additional information. >> Yeah. So again, knowing that there had been some discussion about coming in before Labor Day versus after uh and the effect it would have not not only on the end of the calendar but but on
attendance, it did appear that it wasn't a huge difference and in fact maybe uh was a little better I guess in some some aspects after starting prior to Labor Day. Well, I guess my question was
I don't know if I'm reading this incorrectly, but the first week and the second week, um, you know, we're looking at numbers that were
I guess it was saying that the like I guess the yellow or the year 2020 uh 2022 was was the worst year that we had prior to is that the way I read the email? >> Correct.
>> But we're, you know, the numbers weren't off that much. I mean, 23 there was 48 absences. 25 there was 42, 39, and then 24 was the best year.
>> So, you have to have too Well, that's that was and that's what my question is like what what is the first week and the second week is that the sec the full second week is the first full week is that >> yeah so we we calc that's why you have to look at the percentages because it
just depends on the number of days. So we uh when we did the spreadsheet it if the days vary that's why really Yeah. >> The numbers aren't going to make sense because it depends on how many days were in that particular week. Exactly. That's right. Reason. So when you're looking at
that second week, you know, if you look at the second week average, uh average percent absent, certainly it's clear that in that second week, school year 22 happened to be the worst and it's actually has improved since, right, to
uh this year being sort of the best year. Um, you know, it is what it is. That's what it's telling us. >> Any other questions from the committee? >> All right. Hearing none, uh, I would entertain taking
item item B on our action agenda out of order here to approve the school calendar. >> So moved. >> Good. Seconded. Any further discussion? Hearing none, we'll move to roll call. Mr. Mik.
>> Uh, I Fred Mullik. >> Hiendro. >> Hi Jason Pico. >> Christopher. All right. So 27 calendar is
ratified. We'll move on now to the um so the next item on ourformational agenda is the second read of significant amount of policies. Again, just as a followup from our previous meeting, this u these policies uh I believe there's
over 200 uh that have been updated, the vast majority updated due to changes in uh just language here and there, changes in terminology, no glacier, uh also changes with Massachusetts general laws.
This is an effort that's been undertaken over over several months. the whole school committee, the policy subcommittee, uh, and and all of these all of these changes have been we've gone over them several times at this point. So, uh, this would be the second
read. Um, I would entertain a motion to dispense with the reading of each individual policy, uh, title and and, uh, letter. >> So, move >> second. >> It's been moved and seconded very quickly, and I appreciate that. Mr. Mel,
will take a roll call vote insert. I Fred Mullan >> I Jason Pico >> and I Christopher Thrash. All right. Now having dispensed with the readings we can move on to the to the uh item uh the next item actually well we'll take it out of we can take it out of order as
well on an action agenda to approve uh the these policies approve and implement these policies that are now on their second move. >> Second any further discussion hearing none Mr. Hi, Fred Melik. >> Hi, Jason Pico.
>> And hi, Christopher Thrasher. These policies are hereby implemented. Thank you very much. Uh the next item on our agenda. We're moving to the action agenda now. The uh we have two items remaining on the action agenda. First off is a review and act on the job
description from the director of uh MTSS and social emotional development. And forgive me. I want to make sure that I recall exactly what MTSS >> multi-tered systems of support. This is the student support. >> I was way off. So, thank you. Okay. The
second part I was was off though. So, um so yes. So, this has uh every member of the committee uh was was provided with a uh job description that uh again that was part of the informationational packet sent by Dr. Roy last week. Uh are
there any comment statements on from committee? >> Yes. Um so this is just the position itself, not the this isn't the funding of position. >> No. Right. Exactly. We don't this is a new position to the district and I still
am advocating with the opioid settlement fund committee and so I would love to share that this is an approved job description with them so that they have a a better idea of what we're looking um for this position and why we think that
this that at least a piece of that funding would be appropriate for them. And earlier today, we had a uh a special education subcommittee meeting. Uh we discussed how this particular role would be able to uh not only bridge a gap, I
guess, between our our special education students, but also um some some basically shore up some some issues with making sure nobody falls through the cracks. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, if you ask any teacher right now what is their biggest concern
or headache, they are going to tell you the behavior or this really really you translate that to is the social emotional needs of kids, the mental health needs of kids. It is putting more across anywhere in the United States
across probably you know certainly um the entire world kids mental health in their social emotional development and that's why we put development in there are hurting um partly you know there's lots of about why and I think we all see
it but the teachers feel it and the and the principles feel it and we need to equip ourselves because if kids are not ready socially and emotionally they're they're not going to do well. Their outcomes aren't going to be where
we want them to be. Nor are they you know when we think about what we're trying to do from a long-term perspective. Yes, we want our kids to get into college. Yes, we want them to have good careers. But we want them to have healthy, happy lives, right? Fulfilling lives. And so much of
that happens when they're young and we really want to be able to um put some coordination to these efforts and we need a position that that sort of does it. It will really round out uh the work
that M. Hardra is doing, the work that Moran is doing in special ed. This is sort of a coordinated position to help us round out these needs because as a teacher now you're you're dealing with all of it. You're dealing with your high achievers. You're dealing with the, you
know, you're dealing with kids who are have specialized instruction and specialized needs and you're dealing with kids who are beginning to disengage from school. And so we're, you know, we're trying to make sure that um we support kids and
families with this position. And I will just say I one thing I appreciated about uh that was within this job description. This is a very active role. This is not a sit an office and and writing for us. This is very much interfacing with with uh with
teachers, support, staff, families, all the above. So I really appreciate the uh the thought that have gone into the thoughts that have gone into this. Uh again this is not excuse me this action item does not deal with the funding of this position.
Excuse me. We've been here for for a while. >> So, uh, >> it's far. >> Yeah, >> guess indeed. But, um, but again, I I do think it's very thoughtful thoughtful job description. And there's anything further from the committee.
>> I'll make a motion to approve the job description. >> Excuse me, sir. Has been moved and second. And would that take a roll call? Mr. >> Hi, Fred. get tagged in. >> Iro Pico
>> and I, Christopher Thrasher, thank you very much. >> All right, that is approved. Now, I do believe the only items we have remaining are routine correspondence and notices, which I have none. >> Action action agenda D.
>> All right. >> All right. Item D is to review and act on school committee. for Monday, March 9th, 2026. Quickly before I lose my voice. >> Do I hear a motion? >> Moved. Moved. Moved. Move. Moved. Please. >> Sorry. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded. We'll take
a roll call vote. Mr. Melick. >> I Fred Melnick. I have a >> I Jason Mico. Christopher Thrasher. The minutes are approved. Thank you. Thank you very much. >> That was a test. Sharon, you passed again. >> All right. Next is routine matters. I have no correspondence or notices.
Discussion of future agenda items. I do want to mention uh we are going to have a special meeting uh of the school committee in April here. I um my apologies when we spoke earlier uh Dr. Roy I said the 22nd obviously that is
the week of of school vacation. So we're going to have a special meeting to discuss uh school choice and reorganization uh post post election day. That's going to be on Wednesday the 29th. Uh, >> we're both in We're both on the DC trip.
>> Oh, you're on the DC trip? >> Yes. >> 28, 29, 30, and 1st. >> Perhaps we will try. Uh, >> we do it on the Monday. >> You can want us to log in from the bus. We'll do that. >> Monday.
>> Tuesday. The 20. Yeah. Yeah. No, >> leave on Tuesday. Okay. >> Yeah. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. >> Monday. Can you do it Monday? >> Can we do it Monday? >> Drop off our luggage and attend a meeting. Sounds >> Let's shoot for tentatively Monday. Uh I
know there was a couple people that were interested in that item. So, I'll make sure they are aware of it as well. Uh but bottom line, we're going to have so last week of April, we'll have a special meeting. Topics will be school choice as well as reorganization post election day. Um election day in the town of
Westport is next Tuesday. April the 14th. Any other additional agenda items for this special meeting that anyone wants to bring up at this time? All right. Hearing none, we are uh wait topics. The chair cannot reasonably anticipate 48 hours in advance. I have
none. And now I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Move to second. Roll call vote. Mr. Melik. >> I Fred Mullikro. Jason Bacho >> and I are