Call the meeting of the William Regional Vocational Technical High School school committee to order. >> Please call the RO. >> Mr. Early >> here. >> Miss Sullivan. >> Mr. Rossi >> here. >> Miss Carpenter >> here. >> Mr. Dai
>> here. >> Mr. Fitzgerald >> here. >> Mr. Paglia >> here. >> Mr. Murphy >> here. >> Miss LOL >> here. >> Mr. V. >> Yes. >> Miss TR >> online. >> She's online. Can't hear her.
>> Is her mic working? >> Are you on mute? >> Can't hear her. Are you on mute, Joanna? >> Move up the volume. >> Give us a bump. >> She can't be here.
Mr. Try now, please. I will but to comply with um the remote meeting we can't hear both ways she not participate in the meeting. >> Continue the roll call. She can't participate until >> we get >> Miss Okana
>> here. >> Mr. Soski >> chair. M you say something please. Thank you. Are you hearing it on the TV, please? >> Please join us for the
>> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the stands nationy andice for all. Those attending tonight's meeting should be aware that the meeting is being audio and video recorded by Woodere Tech. Any
audience member who wish to record any part of the meeting must inform the chairperson who will announce the recording. This is to comply with the mass wiretap statute. First item on the agenda is public comment. Is there anybody here for public comment? >> Hi, I'm Michael Coburn. one of the
Salsbury selectmen and also on the building board and also has been working since the beginning actually the end stage of the building being built the first project supported then support it now just wanted to say thank you to Moren and Scott for our meeting on
Monday we really want to work with you guys as leaders of our communities um with Scott Moren there I think a lot of miscommunication that was going on may be solved now. Um, and I just want to say to both Moren and Scott, thank
you for coming. I know all the other leaders like to hear from you guys. Uh, we're going to have to really work hard together to understand each other more. I think after the last meeting, I was a little concerned. Um, I think moving forward, I think we have a better light of be able to work with each other.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. And thank you, Mike, for inviting me. >> Anyone else here for public comment? Anyone else for public comment? Did we receive any um written public comment? >> We did not. >> All right. Seeing no more, we'll move on
to to the next item on the agenda. Approval of minutes September 10th, 2025 minutes of the regular school committee meeting. Is there a motion? >> So moved by Mr. Murphy to approve, seconded by Miss Lel. Any discussion? >> Seeing none, please call the RO. >> Mr. Early.
>> Yes. Mr. Rossy, >> yes. >> Miss Carpenter, >> yes. >> Mr. De, >> yes. >> Mr. Fitzgerald, >> yes. >> Mr. Paglia, >> yes. >> Mr. Murphy, >> yes. >> Miss Lel, >> yes. >> Mr. Bow, >> yes. >> Miss True.
>> Can't hear her again. >> Miss Okana. >> Yes. >> And the chair? >> Yes. Passes. Payments of bills financial report. There is no treasures report. October will be on the November agenda. >> Communication student representative
report Richard Dico. >> Good evening Mr. Chairman, Superintendent Lynch and members of the school committee. Let's get right into it. The varsity football team is off to a strong start with a record of three and one. The JV team is undefeated at 4-0 and the freshman team is also on a
winning streak. Both the boys and girls cross country teams are performing well. The girls team remains undefeated and will compete against Greater LOL next week. The boys team is being led by their top runner who has not lost a race so far this season. The girls volleyball team is progressing steadily through its
season. After a slow start, the boys soccer team has shown improvement. The team is undefeated in its last three games, tying with Arlington Catholic, Noa, and Bull Catholic. Optimism is building as the season continues. The girls soccer team is off to a 1 and6
start with only two seniors. The team is very young but continues to improve every day. This week the team will play at home against LOL on Wednesday and Lawrence on Thursday. Two matches that present strong opportunities for success. Now getting into the clubs. The student government is busy preparing for
spirit week and the annual homecoming dance. Spirit week will take place October 6th to the 10th with themed activities designed to encourage schoolwide participation. On Thursday, October 9th, a fall pep rally will be held from 1 to 2 pm featuring games such as musical chairs. On Friday, October
10th, the homecoming dance will be held with tickets on sale for $10 in the school store during lunch. The multicultural club has held two successful meetings to start the year. Several freshmen have joined and actively contributed. One volunteered to present about her heritage country,
Greece, while two others delivered morning announcements for Hispanic Hispanic Heritage Month. Returning members on leadership roles and continue to volunteer. Members of the Interact Club have already volunteered at two community events. The the team Haveril River
Ruckus and the Haveril Rotaries Club diaper drive. The first official meeting of the year will be held on Tuesday, October 7th, where members will plan a fundraiser to purchase holiday cards for distribution at local nursing homes. The National Honor Society is preparing
for another year of academic leadership and community service. Skills USA is beginning to its yearly planning and recruitment process. The yearbook club has begun collecting senior portraits. At present, only 30 portraits have been submitted, but with approximately 280 expected by the end of
October. Reminders are sent out to seniors and parents in June and September with the third reminder scheduled for mid-occtober. Portraits will be accepted until the first week of December. Fall sports photography is underway. Boys soccer and cross country photos have already been completed, while girls soccer and volleyball will
be photograph by the end of the week. The first draft of the yearbook cover design has been approved and the final version will be sent to the printer by the first week of November. The environmental club will hold its first meeting this Thursday. A record number of students signed up during the
club fair and members will share ideas for projects. The club will also receive Blanding turtles throughout the week uh through the Head Start program organized by the Parker River Clean Water Association. The poetry club has already met twice this year. Students have written and
shared poetry and the critique provided have been both constructive and positive. The ski club is completing preseason planning for three trips this winter. Based on last year's student survey, members expressed interest in more night skiing. The club is therefore
planning two night trips and one Saturday trip. The journalism club has met twice this year and enthusiasm for the first issue is high. The first edition will be published on November 2nd just in time for open house. A total of five issues will be released this
year featuring sports coverage, club spotlights, and other school events. Drama club students are preparing for their first one act play night scheduled for November 7th at 7:00. Auditions are taking place this week and rehearsals will begin next week. Two student
directed plays, The Bench and um I think the psych teacher is dead will be performed. The art club has started designing pieces for this year's big dog show. Students will be building props to decorate the dog statue at Bradford Commons at the end of October. And the
chess club has been seen has seen a strong start with more than a dozen new 9th grade members and many returning students. A student survey indicated strong interest in tournaments which will begin in a few weeks after player assessments are complete. That is the student report.
>> Thank you. Next item on the agenda is the principal assistant superintendent, Mr. Leanus. Good evening, Mr. Chairman, superintendent Lynch, rest of the school committee members. I have some happenings that have been going on. Uh
meet the academic night. Uh the teacher night took place on Thursday, September 18th. Uh all academic teachers were present uh from 5:30 to 7:30 and parents and guardians follow their students schedule. Uh teachers held presentations with their parents including an
introduction and a brief overview of the course and the syllabus of the courses. Teachers planned on about a 10-minute uh presentation and it was quite a success. Again, this year we we also kicked off our kindness and gratitude book drive uh
where stu where students and staff are invited to donate books that no longer that they don't no longer need. Donations will be collected within the home room. So they've already started collecting books, children's books from the home rooms. And then the idea would
be um until February, October, Friday, October 3rd, the collections will stop and each of the 11 surrounding uh Whittier Techch communities will receive a Whittier Techch built library box uh filled with donated books which will be stationed within each community. So,
it's going to be pretty neat and just a kindness and and I know our vocational teachers have worked with their crew uh to design these um these book boxes which have are built by Whittier Tech. So, it's awesome. Spirit week is next week. I don't know if Ricky touched on
spirit week and I'm sure he did, but I just want to go over it. Another fun week for our for our kids. October 6th through Friday the 10th. Uh we we have our dance that's coming up. But first of all, I'll say Monday's neon day. Uh
Tuesday is barbecue dad and soccer mom day. Wednesday uh is music uh merch madness day. I know um Miss Lynch and and I will be uh dressing up for that. Uh and then Thursday, class color day, which each uh class has their own colors
to represent. And on Friday, set sail day uh nautical theme. So just some fun stuff happening. Uh and then at the end of the week on Friday, and we're still looking for some staff uh chaperones, uh we should do a fine because we we have the dance. We have our homecoming dance
on Friday night. Uh in the last I think this is our third year of existence, I think with the homecoming dance. Uh and we have about 7 800 of our wittier students that are that are invited only to this dance. So, lot of fun for the kids. Uh and uh you know, it's been a
success. clubs. As you heard, uh just give you some stats. 289 kids are uh supporting and and connected to 21 of our clubs. Our homecoming dance, like I said, will be Friday. Uh tickets are $10 and Whittier for uh from 7 to 9. It's
going to be on Friday, but tickets are $10 and it's only for Whittier Tech students. Um also, our first advisory board meeting is coming up on Wednesday, October 15th at 6 PM in the cafeteria. And then our school counseling department has been working with the
college admissions representatives throughout the throughout the year. Our annual fall college fair will take place Thursday, October 23rd during our lunches for our students like we do every year grade 11 and 12 students. Also, uh on Friday, October 24th, Woody
Tech uh will host its Hall of Fame dinner, our second one uh in its existence at the Havville Country Club uh from the beginning. It will begin at 6 PM. Tickets for the event can be purchased through the foundation and I think uh the deadline is when for about
the 15th to purchase a ticket for the hall of fame. So that another great event for the tech. Uh the PSATs uh will be administered here at Whittier Tech October 22nd uh 21st and 22nd and over 100 students have signed up so far.
Also, Woody Techch uh continues its commitment to safety. Uh we are, you know, setting up uh with our crew to set up for Alice drills that we do within our system along with some fire drills uh so we can keep try to keep this place as safe as possible. And open house
pencil in uh November 2nd from 1 to 4 p.m. coming up. That's all I have for you if you have any questions. Yes, sir. How well attended is the open house night beginning of the year? September 18th. >> You mean the the uh meet the meet the
teacher meet the meet the teacher night. Uh it's second year that we've done this and very well attended. We we stagger the starts. >> Uh and >> yeah, all things considering um you know it's a it's a quick meeting. They go through they get to see their child's
classroom. Uh it's academics only. Um, so they're in there and they go through and it was >> You say 50% >> I would say I would say a little bit over 50%. I think we had this year maybe and I'll get my statistician maybe 65 maybe 65 70 >> most
of lot Yeah. And and we usually measure that when the parking lot's full out here and it was full. >> So um I think it was well attended. I think Ricky I I probably make it maybe could speak to that too. And you know the last couple years if you can Ricky I
know you're a senior so but like like um associate principal um Jensen said that she you know is mostly attended by the freshman and some of the the crew that's new to us. So >> but lot of fun. You know they're able to see their teacher and they they fly through and they're asking questions
what a big place this is and >> get acclimated to the place. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you for the question. Any other questions? >> Seeing none. Thank you. >> Thank you for very much everyone. >> Next item on the agenda is the business manager, Miss Cosmus. No report posted.
I will say, Miss Cosmos, we could save on our energy costs if we didn't have the heat at 100 degrees in here. So, you might want to notate that for the future. Next item on the agenda is career technical education coordinators Amanda
Crosby and Paul Muskitz. Mr. Chairman, Superintendent Lynch School Committee, thank you for this time um for us to come and my co-coordinator Amanda Crosby will um
give you our CTE uh update. Um, this is my sixth year as a vocational technical coordinator and I oversee the uh, CTE programs, advanced manufacturing, automotive collision and
repair, automotive technology, CAD drafting, carpentry, electrical, electronics, robotics, engineering, HVACR, marine service technology, masonry, metal fabrication and welding.
plumbing and heating and I also oversee the cooperative education program. >> Good evening um school committee chair, superintendent Lynch and school committee. Um my name is Am Crosby. I am the co-vocational coordinator with Paul. Um I over this is my fifth year in this
role. I oversee culinary, hospitality, business technology, marketing, cosmetology, design and visual communications, dental assisting, uh medical assisting, health assisting, early education care, community and visual arts, um entrepreneurship, adult
education, and then CTI programming. >> The next slide is uh community events and updates. Um this is only a few things on the on the list that uh we have uh slated for this year. Um our uh carpentry students are
right now out at the Georgetown electric light rebuilding stairs on at their facility out an exterior stairway in their facility. Um we will also be scheduling um for Georgetown Water Department to remove a door and replace
it with a new window. Um we are also um working on uh re redoing some of the old Haveril Fire Department signs at some of the stations. We did one last year um and they liked it so much they asked us
if we could do a few more. So we're in the process of um working on that. Another uh project that um we're working on is we got contacted by the Haveril um historical society to make a new sign.
Well, no, to make a sign. It's it's there isn't one right now. Um and it's for the Lake Whittier dance hall that some people don't have a clue that there was ever such a thing. um because it was
built in the early 1920 and it burnt down later that year. So, it wasn't even there for one year. Um but there's a spot where it was built and I guess is part of the foundation there and so we're we offered to uh make them a sign.
Our CAD drafting department uh and carpentry department are designing a certain sign to they'll they'll okay whatever we write on it. Um another that's on the on the uh horizon is a masonry, carpentry, and HVAC
program and possibly a plumbing program. We'll be doing some uh work at the Cogwell Art Center. Um they're refurbishing the Cogwell uh school and making that into an art center and they they're raising money. So that's why we
really don't have a date on when that might happen. Um next slide. Next slide. Cooperative education update. My favorite part of my job. Um,
right now we have as of today 179 students, which is 56.6% of our senior class on co-op. So, it's uh going off at a really good pace for uh hopefully um beating out last year's
uh numbers. And we're working hard. The senior teachers are working hard. the senior students are out there looking for jobs on their own also and we're trying to uh get those numbers up. Um new companies and partners are are
coming up every week almost uh with taking on some of our kids. We also are continuing our partnership with the Mass Division of Apprenticeship Standards um our electrical department and we're hoping to include our plumbing
department. Um we we have to submit student names and they have to pass the recommendation of the teacher and also the the administration that these kids are the best of the best and they actually get their pre-apprentice
um cards so that they can then go and work on uh union wage jobs and the students actually make very very good money when they that happens. Um the next slide is uh our industry recognized
credentials in the new frameworks from DESIE. Um it's required to uh have students receive industry related credentials and we we have been working for the last three years on building that. Um 279 juniors will be taking OSHA
10 uh credentials. 215 sophomores will be working on their hutwork credentiing. um HVAC um there's 24 seniors. So they they took the the test last year as juniors, but
24 seniors pass the EPA um 40 F CFR part 82 subp part F under section 608 refrigeration um certification, which is a great great uh thing to have in their
back pocket. Um they're also working on A2L which is now flammable refrigerant service certification. And so there's more and more of that type of uh work out there that our industry partners are working on. So it benefits us to get our
students uh credentials in that. A new thing we're starting this year, we purchased 12 new uh train the trainer modules from a company called Hard Hat 360. Um it's right now it's our construction uh transportation and
manufacturing clusters that are participating in that. Um and it is uh the the the teachers will have to get certified first so that then they can certify our students. And so um some of the certifications are uh protective uh
equipment, PPE, hand and power tools, lockout tagout, fall protection, scaffolding, ladder safety, sizzle lift, excavation and trenching safety, confined spaces, machine guarding, respiratory protection, man overboard
and maritime walking, work surfaces. So, we try to get a bunch of different uh types of credentials for safety credentials for our students and we'll be working on uh soph third third and fourth quarter freshman
sophomores and juniors to try and get it done before they go out to co-op. So, some of the career and technical program updates. Um, we have robotics, automation, and engineering technology.
We're looking into um adding that uh program to our electronics engineering technology program that we have now. Um there is a big need for um mechanical electrical electrical mechanical
technicians out there in the in the industry. And we feel that teaching our students robotics and mechatronics is something that's going to just be great for the school, great for our students, and get our students more jobs.
um freshman Wildcat speaker series. Uh we had a former student, Aurora Valente. She came in, she now she now is a professor in at UNH and uh she came to talk to our freshman about work ethic,
um trying your hardest and everything that you do. Um learn from mistakes. She she gave a whole bunch of different uh mistakes that she made over the years as a as a a growing uh adult and and and in
her in her career and in her education. And it it was great because the it was awesome that you didn't hear a pin drop this freshman 320 plus freshman in the auditorium and it would it went out. It went flawless. And
so it was real great to have her come in and and speak at the beginning of the school year. Uh she was a health uh occupation student and graduated in 2011. Freshman Safety Shoe Program, Brunt Workware. If you haven't heard about
Brunt Workware, um they're a company right out of uh Reading and um they've exploded as far as uh how big they are. They're across the country and even in in over in UK um selling work boots. Um
they have a policy where you buy a pair of work boots and even if you wore them and didn't like them, you could send them back and get your money back. So with that being said, they can't resell those. And
this is our now our third year doing this program. We got over 300 pair of boots from them. Um, and almost almost I'm going to say 170 plus freshman uh accepted those boots as a donation
from Brunt Workware. So, we're super grateful for Brunt Workware and now all the vocational schools in the state are now jumping on board and they're giving them to all vocational schools in the state of Massachusetts if there's a
need. So, I just like to say thank you publicly to Brunt Workware for for their generosity. Um, updated CTE frameworks. The remaining 10 programs needing frameworks updates will be released and
updated during the 2526 school year. Um what that means is um all of our shop areas will now have a new frameworks. They'll be able to start working on uh new new standards and be able to teach
the students up to uh the new standards of department of education. Um, it will also mean that we have to redo our scopes in sequence and be able to come up to speed with that.
Um, Job Ready 360, we took on this um, program as a as a pilot with a few few shop areas to see if we really wanted to use it. Um, at first when I first heard about it at a at a seminar that Amanda and I attended,
I was like, well, this might be just another software that they just want you to buy. But when we took it and took it for a ride and tried it out, it's going to be a really really good program for for the school. It's going to be like a
a onestop shop where the the vocational teachers can go to one spot. they can be able to do their lesson plans, advisory board, uh invitations, um resumeumés, uh a competency tracker is
done on it. Uh we're going to try and implement our co-op paperwork through this program and receiving the grades from the co-op uh employers through this and the the the staff that we hired to
learn it and be trained on it. they love it and so it's it's getting pushed out now and there's probably so many other things that you can do on it that we haven't even touched the surface yet. So that's really exciting u part of uh what
we're doing for our updates. >> Now Amanda Crosby >> I'm just going to give you some updates on adult education as I'm sure you saw some of our students walking in. Um we have a very healthy adult education program. Um most p most uh students seek
our program out when they sign up for another one and they're unable to fill their classes. Um so we have 145 uh students tier 1 through five electrical average class size of 24. Um 132 um tier uh one through five plumbing class size
I can't see because it's 26. Um we are launching our next cosmetology program that's for adults. So we'll have 10 students enrolled in that beginning January of 2026. Um we have about a hundred students enrolled in personal enrichment. Um and that is uh introduction to woodworking,
introduction to electrical, sewing, photography and um last year we started doing just one night uh cooking classes and we've continued that with cooking series. Um we just did a jams and jelly class. It was very popular. And then I think Monday we're doing um starter
sourdough ready to rise. Um we mailed uh 75,000 brochures out to the homes for um registration uh just classes that are available. Um it really helps fill some of our programs especially like cosmetology that are a little bit tougher to fill. Um and we
anticipate about 100 plus students uh to enroll for the spring for our personal enrichment courses. Um career technical initiative grant announcement. I skipped no I didn't. Um so Whittier Tech was um selected to host
um uh Lauren Jones, the Department of Secretary of Labor Workforce um where they came to Whittier and they announced all of the grant recipients for round 10 CTI. Um she toured um the school. Um it was unique because a lot of the times when they go to these schools, they're
just doing a grant announcement, but we had a hundred kids working in the building in the training program. Um so we were very excited. We're very proud of our program um to show that off. Uh so the grant there was 23 grant recipients that were invited to attend for round 10. Um and it was a a very
nice day to celebrate not only the CTI program but the the Whittier Tech CTI program. Um just some updates for CTI. Uh we run it in the summer. It's a it's a grant-f funed program. It's for individuals who are considered undermployed or um
unemployed. Uh 90 students completed it over the summer of 2025 in eight different training areas. Um we we have uh direct our director of community partnerships, Tia Gerber, who really uh kind of hit the hits the ground running. I think she's already been to five
career fairs this year. Um but her efforts in those um high schools really showed in our population this year as it was a very uh young crowd and mostly recently graduated high school students um which is kind of the target audience that we're we're recruiting for the
program. Um 50% of the students have confirmed employment in the 30-day followup. So that's really good. We have a couple that have confirmed um close to 30 days um and we'll continue to work with them over the next year to confirm employment and assist them should they um need help finding employment. And um
on to round 10. Uh ground we we awarded um $931,000 so that we can run the CTI program during the summer of 2026. Um and just some updates on grant funding. Um we were awarded um a million
dollars for the metal fab welding equipment uh lab modernization. So we did most of the equipment purchases last year. Um and we are working on now doing some updates to the shop. Um being mindful that most of the stuff needs to be movable, portable. Um there's some
things that we do need to fix while we're here. um which is the ventilation because even if you know we're here for five, six more years um it still needs to be updated because it's very poor ventilation um and get a couple more pieces of equipment. So that should be
uh completed by June um the end of June 2026. Uh we were just awarded $42,000 for the career and technical education partnership grant. Um that is the CVTE exploratory program. Um that this will be the fifth year that we will offer this. is the superintendent's baby. She
loves it. She said to me, "Let's do this program." And I'm like, "Next year." And she's like, "Nope, this year." I was like, "Okay." So, we open up spots to the high community high school students so that they can come for eight weeks and explore one program a week that then they can enroll into CTI. So, it was
really nice this summer. I think there was seven students from that program and they were with us all summer. and now even to see them walking in and coming for night school for electrical plumbing to see really how we're able to support um the the high school uh students that graduate and they really don't have a
pathway um and ongoing efforts. There is a new CTE expansion grant um that we will apply for um doesn't mean we will get it but we will sure try for electrical and plumbing and that will be um with a goal of getting them new equipment and increasing capacity in
those programs. And that is it. Any questions? >> Um, yes. About the co-op program, I'm just wondering how many businesses, entities, the municipal uh do we interact with and what kind of
like how easy or hard is it to kind of feed that supply of businesses? Is there a big churn or it's like the same people over and over? >> So, we do have Um I I've been in the
school going on 30 years. So we have um partners that have been with us since 30 years or more. Um they rely on us to uh bring in um HVAC or uh plumbing students
and some electrical students. And I would say that 60 to 70% of those students stay on board and stay working at those companies after graduation. Um, I'm going to say off the top of my head, and I can give you an exact number, we
have approximately 130 to 140 uh in industry partners working with us uh on co-op. There may be times where a company won't take someone in one year, but that's because either the work isn't
there or what have you. But, um, we we we supply the Marramac Valley area uh workforce with great uh gusto and it's uh just a good good thing and you
you if you come to the advisory board the majority of the people there are our co-op partners. >> Thank you. >> What else? >> I just had um the CTI program the employment success I think that's such a
great step that you guys have in that program. Can you just talk about that a little bit? highlight. >> Sure. Yeah. Um, so it's a grant funded program through um, Commonwealth Corporation. Whittier actually was one of the first groups to ever apply and be awarded the grant. So we started way back in round one uh, before even I was
in this position. Um, we so they come in this we spend the year really recruiting at high schools and we we welcome anyone to come to the program as long as they meet the criteria. Um, but our focus has really been on graduating high school students. Um, they come in and they spend seven weeks with us. They 200
hours of training. In addition to the career training, we have career coaches that work with them all summer. So, they're um going on field trips. They're bringing um industry people in for interviews. Uh we're working on them. Our goal really is to have them employed before they walk out the door. Um we we
have incentives for attendance. We have incentives for um post postmployment. Um and we really work with them to get them where they they need to be as far as um employed. >> The checkin after the program is over. >> Yep. So, we we have a a 30-day check-in
and then um they continue to have outreach either with the person that enrolled them or their their um career counselor throughout the next we are we are required through the grant to follow up with them up into a year. >> Yeah, I think that I think that's a fabulous >> we we tell the kids you're and I say
kids because they are younger, but we tell the CTI students like you are you are part of our Whittier family. So if you ever need anything from us, you know, we that's what we're here for. We are here to support you. >> I think that's ab absolutely amazing thing for the community. >> Yeah. And it used to be done through in
partnership with Mass Hire. Um and we were actually one of the pilot programs that was allowed to do it all because we kept saying Mass Hire is wonderful. Um they're just stretched beyond um their capacity. And we always said to them, if you ever have the opportunity for us to be able to do this grant 100% wittier,
let's do it. And then this is this will be our third year that we're going to be able to do it all with here. >> Excellent. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Seeing none. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next item on the agenda, reports and
recommendations of the superintendent. Madam superintendent, >> evening, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. Um, on Friday, September 12th through the 13th, I attended the MASS, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendent Executive Superintendent retreat in Cambridge. There was discussion regarding current trends in
the superintendency and legislative priorities for this school year. On Thursday, September 18th, I met with Mike McCarthy and Jen Ball from Northern Essex. We continue to meet regularly and work through concerns and issues regarding the possible building project. On Thursday, September 18th, I attended the remote Northshore superintendent
round table planning meeting. I'm a part of this group and we plan for the Northshore superintendent about what professional development would like to have um at our meetings. On Monday, September 22nd, I uh went to the Raleigh Public Library bench. I was there from 2
to three and unfortunately no one wanted to meet with me, so I sat there all by myself for an hour. But hey, it was beautiful day, so I enjoyed it. Um but next time, next year when that comes through, Caesar Bernie back there, someone come and sit with me for an
hour. Um, on Monday, September 22nd, I attended the Whittier Techch Alumni Council meeting and I want to thank Tia Gerber for organizing this meeting. There are about eight attendees at this meeting. We discuss various ideas how to get people more involved. We really feel moving forward as if we're moving
forward with a building project, we really need to get our alumni um support and understanding and advocacy and um show them what Whittier did for them and what um how their life has improved by coming to Whittier Tech. So um that's
been a real thing that we've been really trying to work on um the last couple school years. On Friday, um, September 26, I attended the superintendent principal meeting with local schools at Northern Essex Community College at the Lawrence campus. This was an opportunity to hear what's going on with at Northern
Essex, their programs offered and services provided at the school, and most of the superintendents and principles within the area were at that meeting. On Friday, September 26, I attended the Northshore Superintendent Roundt Meeting in Danverse. On Saturday, September 27th, I along with Cara Cosmus
attended the 50th reunion of Whittier Tech at the Roma Restaurant in Haveril. Um there were about four or five other classes celebrating, but there were about a hundred or so people at that event. So again, trying to get out there more um and let them see us and hear us and and say we need your help um as we
move forward. On Monday, September 29th, I attended the special meeting at the municipal working group. we continue to meet and discuss communication strategies and how to all get on the same page. And thank you, Michael, for for your kind words. On Monday, September 29th, I attended the Marramac Valley um taste of the Marramac Valley
with Amanda Crosby. What an event. Um there was food from um probably 20 25 vendors. Uh Woodier Tech was there, Greater Lawrence was there, and I really want to thank Nick Hedonian, Nicole Graosa, and Christina Parent and our students. Um they did amazing job
showing what woodier attack is all about and um we really did shine at that event. I I'm hearing that there might be a haver taste a taste of haveril coming. So um I can't wait. Anyway, we continue to work through the eligibility items on our MS uh due to MSBA by October 30th.
These include the school district questionnaire, the enrollment questionnaire, chapter 74 vocational technical viability documentation. You're going to hear Amanda talk a little bit more about that. Uh, and again, I'm grateful for the municipal working group. They are ready to get to work amending the regional agreement. There's a lot to consider, but all are
anxious to get to work on the rack. Um, the original agreement needs to be amended um and agreed to by all of our municipalities before we can move from the feasibility stage to the schematic stage. So, there is a real sense of urgency of getting starting at least to
get this work done. So, please don't forget about our open house on November 2nd. And please don't forget about our Hall of Fame dinner. Um, it was wonderful two years ago. This is only our second year. You can imagine Whittier is 50 years old. This is our only second um time doing a Hall of Fame
dinner. Um, and Bev Dalvo and her team have put in an incredible amount of work to get that accomplished. So, thank you. Next, chapter 74 programs to be studied as part of the feasibility study for the proposed project. >> Yes. So, I'm going to have Amanda Crosby
um come back up again to talk about possible programs for us to research um as we're looking at a possible building project. And again, this is just us exploring these possibilities um as we start moving forward with eligibility and
possibly into feasibility. We would have to know if this was the direction we were heading in um once we complete feasibility. So, um so just to give you an idea of our existing chapter 74 programs that we have, um and they are done by clusters. Um Paul and I both went over them um
seeing the areas that we oversee. Um part of this list um that has been removed is um early education care and uh design and visual communication because those are in the process of um having closure plans. Um so potential chapter 74
pathways that um we met as an administration group. Um we utilized the northeast regional blueprint really to see where there is a need um in our area uh for pathways that could be potential uh successes for our students. Um and the list that we decided on was uh
criminal justice, public safety, environmental science, uh sustainability, facilities, maintenance management, information support services and networking, robotics and automation engineering technology which will be added to the existing electronics engineering techn technology. Um and
then uh veterinary science again they were selected through looking at the northeast regional blueprint um entry level employment opportunities which was important. We really want to make sure that we provide our students pathways to be successful right out of Whittier, but also um additional pathways uh
post-secary if they wanted to continue into um you know a two-year or four-year degree. Um so I just did some um statistics uh with the new frameworks. Desi has really put together a very nice website um that gives us a whole lot of information. Um, so I just did some um
like screenshots of the different pathways um really looking for job growth, medium wages and um current jobs that are in. So emergency medical technicians, public safety, telecommunications for criminal justice, um environmental sciences, sustainability with agriculture
technicians uh with 47 annual openings, medium uh wage of 79,000 and then 221 new jobs. uh facilities maintenance um firstline supervisor um housekeeping janitorial workers uh so annual opening 3500
57,949 for medium wage and then 1379 new jobs um information support uh service and networking since I've been in this role this this as long as uh has been on a high demand field in um the regional
blueprint for this area um it continues to pop up continues to be an area that we have high needs in um so it's it's definitely a fitting program. So computer user support specialist um and then database architects uh robotics and animation engineering
technology um I know uh this is something we're looking to um put forward now um as a nice complement to our existing electronics robotics program um and this really makes that that program full circle with the electronics and then the automation uh
technology and then veterinary science um 71 um 7100 annual openings. Uh 51,000 for the minimum wage and then 700 jobs. That's it. >> You need a
>> So we need a vote from the school committee to um at least start exploring these as possible opportunities um as we move forward with the MSBA process. >> Is there a motion? >> I think Mr. >> As soon as we get the motion on the table, then we'll go to question.
>> One second. Hold on one second. I want to get the motion on the table first and then we'll do questions. >> I will make the motion to accept the CTE potential programs for evaluation. >> Motion by Mr. Seconded by >> Second
>> Mr. Early um and then Mr. Early, Mr. Fitzgerald both want have questions. >> Where are you getting this data that you know there 7100 openings there's 700 new jobs. So this is from the if you go on the website for the there's a whole new
CTE framework website and right on that website is where they the state has pulled this and gathered this for us the teachers. >> This is statewide. >> Statewide. Yes. >> Yes. >> Yeah. I notice a lot of the new openings that you're looking at um probably don't
require but obviously it's more college education be very helpful in extending those careers. I got an email back in May from a IPS eighth grader regarding avionics and stuff and he was curious about us looking into something like that as a he
breaks it right down pretty decent here where shortage of 30,000 pilots that and you know not enough people entering that field you know was that on the list of what you looked at >> it was not I know Paul has looked into it so I'll let him speak to that >> so um approximately three or four years
ago we looked to that um to add now. And um first off, there's only a few schools in the state that offer it. Um, I spoke with uh,
uh, Westfit Academy, I believe it was, um, that has that program, and they said to me that if they didn't live, I mean, if they didn't have the school right down the street from an airport, it probably wouldn't been something that
they would have been able to uh, do. Um they had two uh former Air Force um air air mechanics, aviation mechanics as their staff members. Um they got because
of that connection they got all kinds of donations. Um I believe and I don't not sure that Lawrence has tried to start that program and they've run into a lot of uh problems. um even though they have
uh a small hanger right over in North Andover. So to have something like that where Greater Lawrence is right next door to us and having it, it was something that we thought that we needed to put put off
to the side in these other uh areas made more sense. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to say this is a fantastic idea. As someone who is currently studying criminal justice at Marram College, I can't express how
um happy I am for you guys exploring this. One question though, it would be if someone were to complete a program such as criminal justice or environmental science. How would um college would college credits be allocated prior to enrollment of a college through this program?
>> We would have to look at articulation agreements. So all of these programs were we took into account um the possible you know re relocating to northern Essex and knowing that they had the the sheriffs um over there. So that was one of the reasons why criminal
justice was on our list. Um but we would we would be open to looking at articulation agreements so that our students could be getting credit while they're at Whittier and they go to college. We currently have that with our um CAD drafting program and our is advanced manufacturing advanced
manufacturing where our students we have concurrent enrollment. So we would like to have that as a pathway as well with these these new programs. >> Thank you. >> Yes. >> Uh yeah I was just um wondering what's your process moving forward in terms of
you know evaluating the markets etc etc. Uh and I guess I know that uh M The Mass Hire folks have their own data. Now, is that data that Mass Hire is collecting going into the Desi stuff? And is this the same thing or is there another layer
of data that you could look at that might be a little bit more regionally focused? >> The Mass Hire would be utilizing the Northeast Regional Blueprint. They're they're part of that group that develops that plan. Um I I cannot cite exactly where Jesse is pulling their information
from, but I know that it is it's statewide because It's not just looking at ours. So that's why we used the Northeast regional blueprint to see where the highest demands were within our area for career pathways. >> Pristo just curious under environmental science
and sustainability. One of the things I hear a lot in municipalities is about water and wastewater treatment plant operators, water technicians like sampling. Is that was that something in this region that popped out or >> um that particular Yes, we actually have
a plumbing student that got his um the highest he was 18 got the highest um certification that that we had and we actually ran a night school course for wastewater certification um last last semester. So um it's definitely a
pathway for our students and it would be something that would be entry level. >> Any other questions? Mr. >> Oh, go ahead. >> Um, I know you talked about the one for
that the sister program to electronics and robotics, but how uh with the EMT program, wouldn't that naturally just fit into the health assisting? >> The vet, it's >> the EMT, the emergency medical
technician. >> Um, I don't believe that's a chapter 74 program. is one of your It's under public safety. >> It's that's one of the career pathways. >> Oh, okay. >> So, the vet Yeah, the Vette is Yes.
We're hoping that the Vette pathway actually eases some of the burden from our >> This is under criminal justice and public safety. >> Okay. >> The EMT program, which I I believe you've done before. >> We've done it as an adult education. Yes. Yeah. >> Yeah. The the EMT falls under the
criminal justice. In fact, they're changing the name from criminal justice to I can't remember what it is, but um but it falls under that same uh shop area because many police officers have
that training >> and so um they could go off in either direction. >> Mr. Early, >> I believe a senior that just graduated treatment license working for the town of Aramac right now. That came through
your >> Yes, he was. He is. And uh he was the youngest uh person in the state of Massachusetts to ever get that lure. He was a plumbing student, but decided he wanted to go that route. So, >> thank you.
>> Any other questions? >> Seeing none, motions on the table. >> Mr. Early. >> Yes. >> Mr. Rossi. >> Yes. >> Miss Carpenter. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lie. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fitzgerald. Yes. >> Mr. Paglia. Yes. >> Mr. Murphy.
>> Yes. >> Miss LOL. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bo. >> Yes. >> Miss TR. >> Yes. >> Miss Okconor. >> Yes. >> And the chair. >> Yes. Passes. Next item on the agenda. Out of steel.
Outofate field trip request. CAD. >> Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, I have an outofstate uh field trip request to Shay Concrete at Ningham, New Hampshire um for the CAD design. So, it's pre-casting and production for CAD design. They will be going on October
17th, and there'll be 26 students, grades 10 through 12. >> You have another one, too. Why don't we take them together? >> I do. I have an out of state for the wrestling tournament on December 13th, 2025 at Salem, New Hampshire. Um, and at this time we have, it looks like 14
students that will be attending them. >> Is there a motion to approve both? >> Motion to approve the two out of state field trips. >> Motion by Mr. Murphy, >> seconded by Mr. Fitzgerald. >> Any discussion? Mr. Early, >> we have the proper paperwork. >> I will have it before they go. >> Thank you.
>> Any other discussion? Seeing none, please call the RO. >> Mr. Early, >> yes. >> Mr. Rossy, >> yes. >> Miss Carpenter, >> yes. >> M. Yes. Mr. Fitzgerald. >> Yes. >> Mr. Paglia, >> yes. >> Mr. Murphy, >> yes. >> Miss LOL. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Bo, >> yes. >> Miss TR, >> Miss Okconor, >> yes. >> And the chair? >> Yes. Passes. >> Next item on the Thank you, Madam Superintendent. Uh, next item on the agenda is new business. Vote to add
Frank Cousins as co-chair of the school building committee. Um, I put this on the agenda to ha add him as a co-chair uh with uh former mayor Rorach uh in speaking to the uh municipalities. I
think there's uh overwhelming support uh to have them as co-chairs leading this. Um so wanted to put that forward. We've already submitted the initial list. This would amend it to add um former sheriff Cousins as the co-chair with uh former
mayor Rorach working in tandem. Uh again, we've had uh discussions with the uh the cities and towns and there seems to be universal support um for that as the uh the the leadership team of the school building committee.
So, if there's any questions, if not, if someone could make that as a motion to appoint him since I can't make a motion from the chair. >> Motion to add Frank Cousins as co-chair of the school building committee. >> Motion by Mr. Murphy, seconded by Mr.
Fitzgerald. Any discussion? Mr. Early, >> was this discussed at your recent meeting amongst the cities and towns? >> Um, did that come up? I don't think that came up. That has come up in some some other conversations um that we've had uh
more one-on-one with some of the uh the town leaders. >> Anyone else? Mr. Dele, >> um I'm just going to note that I'm going to object to this, but it has nothing to do with Mr. Cousins. It has more to do with the fact that it's highly unusual
for a school committee to appoint the chairs or the vice chairs of the school building committee. That's usually a task that's left to the school building committee um at their first meeting. So I just didn't want it to seem like I was
was a vote of no confidence in Mr. >> Any other discussion low >> how was the original chair selected? >> Um it was uh a recommendation by me >> with a letter submitted at the last meeting. Not sure if you were
>> No, I wasn't. That's right. >> Anyone else? Seeing none, call the roll. >> Mr. Early, >> yes. >> Mr. Rossy, >> yes. >> Miss Carpenter, >> yes. >> Mr. Lie, >> no. >> Mr. Fitzgerald, >> yes.
>> Mr. Paglia, >> yes. >> Mr. Murphy, >> yes. >> Miss Lel, >> yes. >> Mr. Bow, >> yes. >> Miss TR, >> Miss Okconor, >> yes. >> And the chair. >> Yes. Next item on the agenda, appoint school
committee member as liaison to the municipal working group. Mr. Lie, >> um I don't know that action is necessary. I think it's more just a question of the municipal working group. Uh is the municipal working group now essentially morphing into the regional
agreement amendment committee or is that two separate bodies? I would say that that's their intention, you know, is is to start moving forward with a regional agreement and start getting to work. >> Yeah. So, they'll essentially become the
that committee. Okay. So, then I think I would withdraw this because I know we have four >> I'm not sure if that's 100% accurate though because then it would technically be a subcommittee of the school committee where all those meetings have to be posted. I don't know if they intend to meet on their own like they've
been doing. So, I I'm not sure that I understood it as that they were going to disband and not >> No, I don't think they were going to disband, but I think they wanted to start working on a regional agreement, >> right? But I my understanding was I thought they were still going to probably do both because one is technically a subcommittee of the school
committee, right? >> Subject to the open meeting law requirements. >> Yeah. I mean, that makes sense because I think there's going to be things that come up that they're going to want to discuss um as municipal working group. >> Yeah. >> Well, I the
The agenda item stems from conversations about um whether or not there should be school committee uh liaison to the municipal working group. Um and I think initially I was under the impression that the municipal working group was not
looking for an involvement of school committee but then subsequent conversations that I've had with members of the municipal working group have led me to um believe that they have been desiring to have committee representation. So if they are remaining
as such and that's a separate body the regional uh agreement amendment committee is a separate body then I would say is it appropriate to have liaons to the municipal working group.
It's my understanding that members of of that committee have asked why there's not school committee participation. >> Excuse you, Mr. Chairman. Uh I couldn't hear quite well. You could uh so could either speak louder or someone's Yeah, I did not hear any of that.
>> Okay. Um which which part? I'm not sure. Any of it. >> Um how about you? >> Right from the beginning, the first part of who the groups were and then how they were Yeah, I guess I guess from the beginning. >> Yeah, I guess the question is is the
municipal working group going to continue to exist on as a separate entity or is it going to become the regional agreement amendment committee? And if it's going to become the regional agreement amendment committee, then we already have school committee
representation. That that committee has four school committee representatives. if there's a separate municipal working group which is different than the regional agreement I should just call it the rack um I believe from the conversations that I've
had one of them was Mr. um that they have asked about school committee representation on the municipal working group. So if that's going to continue to exist as its own entity then I I would like to entertain or make a motion that we have liaison to
the municipal working group. >> So Mr. Chairman I mean it would be my understanding that um we have an official body that you know is sanctioned within law the which is the rack and then we have formal municipal
working group, you know, and you know, and they're the same thing except for the four. So, I mean, I think that something naturally will happen. Um,
you know, I think that the the municipal leaders would know not to have I mean, they have to have a posted meeting to have a rack meeting. So our four members would know and if the municipal leaders on their own choice because it's not up
to us wants to meet informally on other issues well more power to them but they are under the owner owners of the open meeting law. So, I I don't know. Uh I I I I don't know if
I I I we don't know. I mean, because right now we have, you know, these two paths, and I think eventually they'll merge into one and be all one happy thing. But I think that I don't I'm not sure if if a motion is is necessary. I just think that, you know,
I you know, the municipal leaders know right from wrong. they, you know, they know what an open meeting law is. Um, and if they attempt, I don't expect them to do any of this, but I mean, if the concern is that, you know, the the
school committee isn't going to have representation on the rack because they're meeting separately. That can't happen. >> That's not the the concern at all. >> Okay. >> Yeah. That's not the concern. Yeah. The concern was that if there is a distinct body, the municipal working group, then
and they desire to have school then >> we should you know be respectful of that but if essentially their role is now >> in a form any formal way I'm not I don't care about their informal meetings but their formal role is now really to move
on to the regional agreement we already have four representatives which is why I said in that case I just withdraw >> the item there was more curiosity and if there was an action to be taken >> so I I think there'll be end up being two I I I think there'll be the subcommittee of the school committee
will be one that meets upon that. But I do think that the municipal working group as has been meeting for a year or whatever they've been meeting now a year and a half does plan to continue at some point. I don't know how often, but I I do believe that there's some plan to to
continue some of their their meetings that they have. >> Is there a way that the group would formally ask for school committee members. >> Yeah. Uh so they they requested my attendance on Monday's meeting.
>> Um I spoke to them about this. Um the feedback that I got was that >> they're not looking for a liaison from from this committee um to be appointed there. Um that if they needed us that they would request us and if we need
them request them. Um, but it's not our committee to appoint a liaison to. It's they're the municipal leaders and it's I don't even think I could appoint somebody to their I I don't think I it'd be like me appointing someone as a
liaison to the Raleigh Board of Selectmen and you just walk in and say, "Hey guys, I'm here. I'm the liaison." Without them saying that they want it. I don't think that we can um do it. The feedback that I got from them was that if they needed us that they would
request us. That was the feedback that they gave me on Monday. Anyone else? >> I've still withdraws her motion. >> There was no second. >> Make a motion, but I just
>> um anyone else go All right. Next item on the agenda actually came up one day. Um, can we can we have a suspension of the rules to discuss the subcommittee that we voted to establish
for the regional agreement? Um, I had some feedback from the municipal leaders. So, but it's not on the agenda because that came up on Monday. So if somebody could make a motion to suspend the rules to discuss the subcommittee um that we established for the reaching
agreement >> to amend >> to suspend the rules >> suspend the rules. Sorry >> discussion second motion by Miss LOL seconded by Mr. Early. Call the RO to suspend the rules. >> Yes. Suspend rules for to do what?
>> To discuss the um >> subcommittee that was establish >> the subcommittee that was established >> discuss and take action or just discuss >> discuss and take action >> requested action by the municipal leaders. >> Do we as a are we as a body going to be
asked to take action to take a vote? >> I'm going to let everyone know what their feedback was and then it'll be up to the committee what they want to do. >> I'm not going to ask you to do anything. I'm going to tell you what their request is. >> And that's uh that's consistent with open meeting law
to take an action even though you have >> if you suspend the rules. >> Okay. No. >> Yes. >> Mr. Early? >> Yes. >> Mr. Rossy? >> Yes. >> Miss Carpenter? >> Yes. >> Mr. Lie? >> No. >> Mr. Fitzgerald? >> Yes. >> Mr. Paglia?
>> Yes. >> Mr. Murphy? Yes. >> Miss LOL? >> Yes. >> Mr. Bo? >> Yes. >> Miss True. Miss Okconor. >> Yes. >> And the chair. >> Yes. Rules are suspended. Um just wanted to bring up at that meeting that they
invited me to um the discussion was had about the um group that was going to be established to amend um the regional agreement. Um and that would obviously be members of the 11 communities, one
member from each. And then we have voted for um four school committee members to also serve on that subcommittee. Um they would like that the four school committee members be non- voting members
of the subcommittee. Um they don't care if the school committee serves on it. Um but I think they they felt that the the issues were
that would be discussed would be more pertinent to maybe them as municipal leaders. So that that was their request. I said I would bring it back to the committee and for discussion. >> So again this isn't a request coming from me.
>> So Mr. Chairman, I'm just wondering did they Did they articulate some reasoning behind that? >> Um, yeah. I think the reasoning was and and Mike is here too if he if he wants to speak on it, but um I think the
reasoning was is that they feel that the issues that I think that are going to be mainly discussed are not potentially school committee issues. um you know they're to do with the funding mechanisms for the cities and towns that you know I think ultimately
they believe is their responsibility as as the municipal leaders. So I think that's where the request was coming from. Um Mike I don't know if you want to >> you're accurate on most of it. I would just also add municipalities were all
worried about odd numbers of votes. So we have all 11 communities all have one vote say I know Ron our rep signed up for it so it sells we would have two votes. That was the the nervous part about the the municipalities are nervous
about votes because we want to be fair to each other. Each one of us get one vote each community. So if you put school board members with voting on it, say Dicks from Hay Roll, we just gained one for each community. So that was the more concerned of being fair to each
other and not having, you know, one vote higher than the other. That was a lot of the discussion. We welcome, we all welcome that school board being on it, but just the vote thing is all of us are extremely nervous about. >> Mr. Early,
>> thank you for coming tonight. Y talking and I think that's a fair thing that you just said. I mean it's only fair to let your your committee there have the vote and >> you know we're here. >> Yep. >> And I can also add that on the ad hoc
that we're on right now, most of us plan on going to the regional agreement because we want to be involved. Last time we weren't. Now we want to be involved. We want to work with you guys. And that's why, you know, we welcome school board members on that too. It just we worry about the votes. That's what we're mostly worried about. And the
ad hoc is probably going to go away for a little bit because we're going to be meeting anyways and then maybe afterwards we get the school built and everything else, but we still want to meet because we we all realize all 11 communities there's a breakdown in information. I don't I mean now I I speak to Mayor
Bar on a regular basis and know Georgetown members that I never did before. Yeah. The coastal communities were really close but we didn't know people up here. So we want to do a better job with our communications. We we recognize our failures and we want to do better. So after the school's built,
God willing, we can move into the ad hoc and still meet with each other like quarterly or monthly, whatever we need to make sure we are here for wood here. >> Anyone else? Miss LOL. >> Um just historically when the regional agreement was originally drafted, it was
drafted by municipal members. There was no school committee. in existence, right? >> There would have been no Woodier Tech school committee in existence because Woodier Tech didn't didn't >> Right. >> who was on that? I wasn't even alive. I have no clue.
>> Uh but yeah, I mean historically the original agreement was drafted by community members. It was it was not it was not a participation by school. They might have been on a school committee. >> I know some at least one was
>> and if we, you know, want to put it on to the I know I just brought it up, so if you guys want to think about it and put it on the next agenda, I think that would probably be fine as well. I don't think that there'll be a meeting before our next meeting. Um, but I did want to bring it up for discussion so that
everyone kind of knew what the request was. If you had questions, you could ask them, understand it, and then if you want, I like I said, I can put it on the next agenda for an actual action if you want. if you don't feel comfort just come up tonight.
>> I understand Mr. Coburn's point about you know the not having multiple folks from certain towns. I understand that and I appreciate that. Um my guess my question is are we is there any requirements that we have school committee members on
that committee? >> I don't know if there's a legal requirement or not. >> I don't think it's a requirement. I mean obviously communication that this group has with the municipal leaders, the better. So, it's I do think it's very important that there are members here
that are on those committees. Um, you know, we're some we have to work through a bunch of things, right? So, this is this is my first time doing a regional agreement. I was barely born. I was born. I was barely born. Um, but we're going to have to work through some things. We're going to have to get an attorney to help us and make sure that
we have our tees crossed and eyes dotted as we move forward with this process. Um, and that's been the great group is there. You know, we've done a lot of talking, but it's really now time for us to get to work to start doing some of this work. But we're going to have to get an attorney um that is an expert on
regional agreements to make sure um that we're doing that work. But I don't think there's a requirement. There's a requirement that the school committee develop Iraq, you know, develop this and you've already voted for that, right? >> Um and that comes from the school committee, but I don't necessarily think that to there has to be a voting member
on the committ. Where did the idea of having school committee members consultant? Okay. >> The last time um I do think in the interim it might be something worthwhile to to check on. It would be out of the ordinary for the school committee to have a subcommittee where they don't
have voting members on. I I've never done that in 22 years. So it it would be different. Um never really heard of it before. Um, so it it certainly could be something that at the very least we checked on um with the lawyers to make
sure a you know can you do it like this? Can you have basically four school committee members there as non voting members on what is a subcommittee of the school committee? I don't I don't know the answer to that.
>> Do we need a motion to table this until next meeting or >> Yeah. If anyone else wants to ask questions and then when they're done then we could table it and put it on. Well, we wouldn't need to table it because we're under a suspension. So, >> okay. >> There's really no technical item to to table. We just put it on the agenda and
get the answers to the questions that maybe we we're not sure of. >> Uh, Mr. Delay, then Mr. B. >> Yeah, I actually I have no objections to that. I think it makes sense. I think the point of having four members on it, whether they're voting or non- voting, I
know that myself when it comes time to vote on the regional agreement, it would be nice to know that there were four school committee members who participated and could sort of maybe be the liaison to explain the processes. Not that they that the members wouldn't, but I would feel good to know that there
was somebody there that was participating. whether they vote or not is certainly less important to me than that they are able to be present and involved. >> Uh yeah, well I do think it's appropriate uh just to wait a week for
the sake of it. Uh however, as I weigh through all the pros and cons, I think I'm pretty much settled on thanking you for taking the hot potato and handling yourself. >> It's fine. as Dick and a lot of you guys know who's been here for a while, I
support what you guys I'm a tradesman, so I know their importance of those. >> Yeah, you're tackling the tougher questions that, you know, um you guys need ultimately you guys need to make. >> Yep. And I can say all 11 communities were pretty much on board what were
willing to compromise, I guess I should say. >> I mean, I do understand there will be tangent issues. I know that will affect the structure of the school committee and things like that. So obviously we need to be very cognizant but
Mr. >> I've been on here a long time no question about it but I do hear in the community in all the communities because I'm I might be >> there's been a lot of friction but the last two months and a half two months I feel and I hear
that it's getting a lot better. Communication was a big thing. I myself can probably say we probably didn't do a good job communicating a lot of this stuff to a lot of the towns and cities, but we've also had it online everywhere.
But that's not the answer. We probably didn't do a good job and that's what I feel. So, thank you and that board. >> As I told Moren and Scott, you guys were too good at your jobs. That's what it was. We didn't you didn't need us and we didn't hear from you because you were
too good at your jobs. Well, unfortunately when you're going to ask >> that's why we're here. >> Yeah, that's why we're here in the community. You're going to ask the communities for a lot of money and now we need to know what's going on. >> Anyone else on anything on the item? Mr. Rossi?
Yeah, I think it's a a good idea to take take it to the next meeting for us to think about this, talk about it with our members of the community on that committee and uh just to understand how fragile this is looking back at our
>> how we're moving forward. So, >> okay. >> Yep. >> All right. So, we'll put it on the next agenda. In the interim, we'll check with legal counsel on um the legal aspect of it. Can you estab if have the subcommittee of a school committee have non- voting members basically of the
school committee would that be allowed um or not? We'll get the answers to those questions and then put this on the next the next agenda. >> Okay. Could we follow up with that uh rep that we met with last meeting and find out what why he suggest that
>> we have them under contract or something to be able to do that? Great. Thanks. Anything else? Another request on that. All right, seeing none. Next item on the agenda, reports of the
special committees. Uh, executive, nothing. Instructional personnel, there is no report. Plant operations, no report. Salary negotiations, no report. Uh, admissions committee, Miss Lel and Mr. Bow, looks like first you have minutes.
Uh, is there a motion to approve the minutes of the September 17th and 24th admissions subcommittee meeting? >> So move. >> Moved by Mr. B. Seconded by was it Mr. Lie. >> Any discussion? Seeing none, please call the RO. >> Mr. Early,
>> yes. >> Mr. Rossy, >> yes. >> Miss Carpenter, >> yes. >> Mr. Lie, yes. >> Mr. Fitzgerald, yes. >> Mr. Paglia, Mr. Murphy, yes. >> Miss LOL, >> yes. >> Mr. Bo, >> yes. >> Miss TR Miss Okana. >> Yes.
>> And the chair. >> Yes. Passes. Proposed admissions policy. Is that Miss L, Mr. DBO? Madam superintendent. Who who has this? >> So there's another set of minutes. >> Set of minutes. >> I did the 17th and the 24th together.
>> Christine Morrison, the director of people personnel is has a PowerPoint presentation to go over the work that was done by the ad hoc admissions committee. So, um just to inform everyone as we move forward, you have
received a copy of the draft policy. Um um Desi did not give us the um the guide the guidance for this until the end of August and of course they want it by November 1st. So, we've been kind of on a tight timeline. I really want to thank
the um committee members that were part of this. There were some difficult discussions, but I I think that in the end of the day, we have a very good policy. So, I'm going to turn it over to Morrison. >> Yes. Hi. Good evening, Superintendent Lynch, Chairman Wood, and members of the school committee. Um, as Miss Lynch
said, the state of Massachusetts, the elementary the board of elementary and secondary education did vote to um and change the regulations and we received the updated um policy information from Desi on
August 22nd. So, we do need to have our admissions policy turned into Desi for November 1st and we also have to have our new application ready for the public on November 1st. So, the subcommittee met on September
17th. We re reviewed the new regulations, defined the timelines, defined what a complete application is, and we also determined which lottery we would propose, which I'll speak a little bit more about in a second. And on September 24th, we approved the new
application. We talked about transfer applications. We decided on how to aortion the seats from each city and town. uh we talked about how to keep our weight list and also the appeals process a requirement all requirements of the new regulations.
All right. So when it came to the lottery question that is the was the biggest change in the regulations from the state. Um and after a lot of conversation we determined um well we we're proposing that we do use the
qualifying or unweed lottery. that unweighted lottery would be that all completed applications would have one ticket in that lottery. The other lottery is um
was the weighted lottery and it would have those selective criteria that have been used in the past. And when we had that very thoughtful and lively discussion about that, it was it came down to that we think it's more equitable that students would each have
the same share of uh chances in that lottery. And then that with the lottery system, we had to talk about how is it going to be fair to a lot those seats to each city and town. So when we looked at that um just for clarification too that is a
local decision of the school committee. Um we looked at all the options and we are recommending the committee is recommending that we use an average enrollment for each city in town for the last 10 years of the ninth grade enrollment. So that um would seem to be
the most fair and looking at the numbers several different ways that seemed to be the most fair way to do that. So the lottery would be drawn adhering to those a lotments and then will be reviewed each year updated each year to make sure that to mean the fair distribution of
seats. We talked about the weight list for each community. So the lottery would be drawn and each city or town would get their allotment for the seats. when those seats were full. Um if if a student
vacates that seat, say they choose to go someplace else and there's no other students on the wait list for that city or town, then the next person on the general weight list would get that seat. So, we wanted to make sure that it's spelled out and it's clear as to how
that aotment would happen for both just the lottery and the and for the weight list for each city in town. We also talked about the deadlines and so for this coming school year, our current midyear, so we're going to open
up our applications on November 1st. The first round of admissions, the first lottery that will actually be held for our midyear applications. So each year, our ninth grade students have an additional opportunity to apply. Their applications will be due on December 1st
for the midyear admissions. Then all of our regular admissions for fall admissions for grade nine, so our current eighth graders from our cities and towns would be due on January 9th, which is the first Friday, no, the first Friday of the first full week in
January. Then for our 9th and 10th grade admissions for the fall, it would be the next month, February 1st, for those applications. So it is spread out. So, another change because it is very
important that we're allotting these seats through the through the U lottery, we want to make sure that each city and town is paying fairly for each of the students from their from their municipality. So, we are asking students on the application to attest that that
is where they live and that they understand that we are going to ask them for proof of residency prior to their enrollment here at Whittier Tech. So if a student cannot provide that piece of residency when we're verifying it, then we would go to the next available person
on that weight list. So again, we're going to give those uh students two weeks after the application and that is going to be clear from the moment they apply. It's going to be clear on our website and in our policy that that's necessary for it to be to happen. And then we're going to help
them if they need help, but they have 14 days to upload that right through our go to CTE um program. >> And that's it in a nutshell, but I'm very happy to take questions. >> Questions? Mr. Early,
>> quick, can you come up with the percentages for Do you have the data, the percentages for each town? Yes. >> The average were >> Yes, I do. where you going to put it up there. >> I actually don't have a slide for it. Um is that something that you want me to
share about the percentages for the current year? >> Yes, it is. >> All right. For the last 10 years. Absolutely. >> And tell them, >> you know, how many people are students they are. >> Okay. So, we've give I have the percentages and then I also have the the
number for say a class of 340 or a class of 360. So for Amesberry it would be 8% a portion to them. That would be for a class of 340 27 students and a class of 350 28.
In Georgetown it would be 4%. So that would be 14 students for a class of 340 and for a class of 350 it would be 14. Sorry I don't have my glasses. For Groveland it would be 3%. That's 10
students for three a class of 340 and 11 students for a class of 350. For Haveril, it would be 68% that would be 231 seats out of 340 and 2300 237 seats out of 350.
For Ipsswitch, it would be 3% that's 10 students with a class of 340 and 200 uh sorry class of 10 and or 11 for 350. For Marramac, it would be 3%. That's 10 students for 340 and 11 students for
350. For Newbury it would be seven uh sorry 2% which is seven students for 340 and seven students for 350. For Newbury Port would be 2% same seven students for each class size.
for Raleigh seven as well for two. So that's 2% again seven and seven. For Salsbury it would be 4% which is 14 students for 340 and 14 students for 350. And for West Newbury it would be 1%
three students for 340 and three students for 350. >> Other questions? >> Yes. So just so I understand one second, Mr. Early. >> Oh, sorry. >> Mr. You had the floor. >> Yeah. And one more question with this
>> and I we I know we talked about it. What is the best meth the best method of two or three of these towns didn't meet their quota? How are the other uh students going to be divided into the other towns? >> Yes. So if a student doesn't meet their
quotota then the next available seat from that city or town would go to the master weight list in order >> of the town >> of the no not first order of the town yes and then if there's no students available left in that then it would go to the general list. >> Thank you.
>> You're welcome. >> Mr. Ross, >> can can you just walk through this so like I know what it looks like like are we pulling 340 seats and seeing how they all So, we're gonna we're actually going to
have a lottery with everybody in it and draw all the names out. So, so there'll be a weight list. So, there'll be a running late sorry weight list in order, but as they're drawn, they're also going into the bucket for their city and town and filling those seats. And we're keeping the weight list in each of those
towns as well in the city. >> Okay. So, if um so like for Marram for instance, you'll get to like however many oh 350 or 600, >> right? It could be 700, right?
>> Okay. And um this is based so every 10 years it would that number wouldn't change, right? >> So that's why we're going to look at it each year to update that >> because it would only because bas it
would be based on the applications not the number of kids. So enrollment we're using enrollment right now but yes we can review and change it if necessary depending on the upcoming number of students school age children
>> right but I think so if you pulled up all the names and you filled like I don't know answer about 27 Georgetown about 14 on and on the static change right >> yes I see your point there so we'll have to look at that that's why that's why
this committee and we have to this each year to to see how >> great thank you very >> what exactly are we considering as res >> so there are three um so it could be a utility bill um school so currently we
do require proof of residency for our students who are in school out of district but have an indistrict address so we'd probably use the same pieces and it would just be one so it would be a utility bill a copy of a lease or mortgage or the identification or passport of the parent with that address
on it. >> Right. And thankfully our sending schools also were providing documents with their home address and their sometimes their parents on their say their transcript and things like that. So we can corroborate that um and just asking for that one piece of proof.
Yeah. You're welcome. >> Under the deadlines, uh, the second one, grade 8, uh, January 9th on 2026. >> Yes. >> Does that happen before the eighth grade tours? >> No, the tours are complete by that time.
>> They are. Okay. And the reason why we chose that seems like a random number, but the reason why we chose that date is we were we're settling more on January 1st >> and the school everyone's on vacation that week and we want to make sure that students have access to help if they need it.
>> Thanks. >> You're welcome. I just want to say having served on the um committee that I just was really proud and appreciative of the work and the thoughtful very thoughtful student centered you know approach that you took
to this um you know I know not everybody is pleased with the state's policy change um but I really felt like you accepted what was and then went on from there to talk you know what's best for students and I personally I've always
been Um, you know, I've like the idea for equity reasons of a fully, you know, blind lottery. So, I'm excited that that might be a direction we're going in. So, thank you for your work. >> Thank you. >> Um, where this mid midyear acceptance is
going to be brand new for everybody and you really only have about a eightweek window to share it with um students and schools. Um, and I guess it's a two-part question. How are you going to get that information out to them? And what
numbers do you anticipate giving them for that? Where this is all great, the numbers that we have are for next September admissions, but for this January admissions, are you going to be able to, and I I'm sure you can't right now, but will you be able to say to each
community, we anticipate that you have zero seats and you will have We can definitely use uh the same data to check those numbers. First, we will have to determine how many seats are available in each of those classes, if there's any seats available, and then
>> um see what the percentages are of our students in those in those cities and towns and decide that >> and regardless, just to point out, regardless, even if I'm from Amesberry, even if you have zero seats, there are other communities that may have seats
available and student could apply and maybe those other towns don't have an applicant and that student could end up taking a Newberry seat. >> That's correct. Because this will still include the lottery, right? So, it'll be drawn in order and then the next
available seat would go to the next student on that general list. >> Yes. And as far as your question, um definitely Jill and I, Jill Caracowitz, who is the director of guidance and admissions, will work together to get that out once this is approved to all
our uh sending school districts and high schools. >> I believe I read somewhere a third party will be verifying the loging process. Who would that third party? >> So we're going to use our vendor go to CTE to come in and do the actual drawing. They'll be on site that for the
drawings all three of them. >> Okay. And the second question, sometimes we have students that move out of the district, stay in state of Mass, and we allow them to stay. This affect would they have to do anything different regarding staying here or can we still just them to stay if they move out of
district? >> That's a school committee decision. >> So you made that decision last June. So again, you would make that decision. >> And I'll just follow up. We did discuss that the possibility of um students moving vocational students who are
automatic transfers and how do they take up those seats and um it's historically it's such a small number that we didn't anticipate it impacting individual communities for those kinds of >> I mean I just figured
it doesn't keep that >> Mr. I too was on the committee and thank everyone that was on it. We have less than eight weeks before the applicate a little less than
eight weeks before the application gets in here and it's going to take them on the other side two and three weeks. So how are you actually going after we app if we approve this tonight? How are you going to go get it to all the schools? sending the weddings to them or
>> so depending on the vote this evening Jill and I have a meeting scheduled tomorrow to talk about that. >> Beautiful. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Mr. W. >> Uh yeah, I would also like to echo the uh great work of the staff and
the thoughtfulness and I guess really just to the committee. I mean this is the first time it's a process. um you know I feel good about our first year that what goes on beyond that you know that's u you know what uh a process
is about so um I'm excited and um we will uh you know fine as we go on >> else is there a motion to approve it the policy
>> I make the motion to approve the second >> Mr. B. >> We did already. >> No, he's making >> um >> Mr. Early second. >> Any further discussion? >> Seeing none, please call the role. >> Mr. Early, >> yes.
>> Mr. Rossy, >> yes. >> Miss Carpenter, yes. >> Mr. Lie, >> yes. >> Mr. Fitzgerald, >> yes. >> Mr. Paglia, yes. >> Mr. Murphy, >> yes. >> Miss LOL, >> yes. >> Mr. Bow, >> yes. >> Miss TR, >> Miss Okconor, >> yes. and the chair.
>> Yes. Passes. >> No executive session posted. Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion to Mr. Fitzgerald. Seconded by half the committee. But we can say Mr. Murphy. >> Okay. >> All in favor of German I. >> Anybody opposed? Seeing none, we are ajourned.