Call the meeting of the Woodio Regional Vote School Committee to order. You please call the role. >> Mr. Early, >> present. >> Miss Sullivan, >> present. >> Mr. Rossy >> here. >> Miss Carpenter here. >> Mr. Fitzgerald >> here. >> Mr. Murphy here.
>> Mr. Padley here. Miss LOL >> here. >> Mr. Yes. M >> I'm here. >> Miss Okconor >> here. >> Mr. Soski >> here. And the chair >> here. >> Uh y'all please join us for a pledge of >> allegiance. The chair
>> to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Uh those attending tonight's meeting should be aware that the meeting is being audio and video recorded by Woody
Votech. Any audience member who wishes to record any part of the meeting must inform the chairperson who will announce the recording. This is toi comply with the mass wiretap statute. First item on the agenda is public comment. Is there anyone here for public comment? Public comment. Anybody
once, twice, and uh nothing submitted online for public comment. >> Mr. Canon. >> Uh, approval of the minutes February 25th, 2026 minutes of the regular school committee meeting. Is there a motion? >> Motion to approve. >> Motion by Mr. Murphy. Seconded by Mr. Fitzgerald. Any discussion?
>> Seeing none, please call the role. >> Mr. Early? >> Yes. >> Miss Sullivan? Yes. >> Mr. Rossy? Yes. Miss Carpenter? Yes. Mr. Fitzgerald? Yes. >> Mr. Murphy? >> Yes. >> Mr. Paggley? >> Yes. >> Miss LOL? >> Yes. >> Mr. Bow? >> Yes. >> Miss TR? Yes. >> Mr. Okconor? >> Yes.
>> Mr. Saskki? Yes. >> And the chair. >> Yes. Passes. Payments of bills, financial report, treasures report, February. Um, is there a vote to approve the treasur's report? >> Motion to approve. >> Motion by M. True. >> Second. >> Seconded by Mrs. Fitzgerald. Any discussion? Seeing none, please call the role. >> Mr. Early,
>> yes. >> Miss Sullivan, yes. >> Mr. Rossy, >> yes. >> Miss Coer, yes. Mr. Fitzgerald, yes. >> Mr. Murphy, yes. >> Mr. Padley, yes. >> Miss L. Yes. >> Mr. B. Yes. >> M. Drew. Yes. >> Miss Okconor. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Powski. Yes. And the chair. >> Yes. Passes. Our
student representative, Mr. Dico, is not here tonight. Um, so we're going to go to the next item on the agenda is the principal assistant superintendent report. Mr. Leanis, school happenings. >> Good evening, Mr. Chairman, Superintendent Lynch, rest of the school committee members. Uh, spring sports are
almost here. It looks like we had a nice melt with uh, mother nature. Uh as our winter season came to an end, I just want to thank all the student athletes, coaches for their dedication, commitment, and hard work uh throughout the entire season. March 12th, that's
tomorrow at 6 p.m. we have our winter sports banquet uh that will be in the cafeteria and then they branch off into the different rooms uh per you know, sport. Uh a special shout out to our wrestling team uh and especially you've heard the name Olivia Leone uh and I
know uh Superintendent Lynch could talk about her too as well, our freshman state champion. And um again uh just amazing to have someone in some of the pictures that we uh shared uh that actually the coaches shared with us of her on the mat and uh just just a a real
animal but a real sweet kid and it was amazing seeing her wrestling. So, congratulations to Olivia Leone. Also, congratulations to the Wittier Amesberry hockey team. Uh, they went to the States as well. Uh, they lost to Bill Ricker. I believe Bill Ricker last year was the
state champ and girls basketball team who also made an impressive run in the state tournament. Uh, and we're incredibly proud of our athletes, our student ath athletes as the future is bright and they're very young. So, all spring sport teams are set to start
Monday the 16th of March. Uh, on Friday the 13th um at 12:30, we had our highly anticipated third annual student basketball game. Um, and it was a winter pep rally. And when we uh think of pep rallies, we're like, "Oh boy, how are we
going to fit everybody in there?" Uh, and it was a great idea. Uh, thanks to the student government and the government adviserss. uh eighth period uh seventh eighth period everybody came down we all filled the gym and we watched the faculty uh take on the
students and the faculty won uh it was exciting it was a showdown on the court and it was fun-filled afternoon with a friendly competition uh this fantastic event was a memorable highlight of the school year and more importantly the kids had a blast and then I think we
sent them off to to vacation so it was a nice touch and we do have some faculty members one in particular that could play on a college college team which he's he's amazing. So anyway, uh Skills USA on March 12th we had a we have 180
168 students representing our vocational areas and they're participating in their qualifying exam. The skills uh community service team is hosting a diaper drive the March 24 March 21st to support families in need. And uh please bring
your donated diapers or wipes to the school store. Uh if you have those all week 2 freshmen started their shops today, March 11th, week one already started. And then uh uh fundraising for the uh Whittier Techch Foundation is at
Mission Oak in Newport. Doors open at 7 PM. Uh light appetizers on sale for the comedy night. That's April 10th. So pencil that in. Fun event. We uh did it last year, I believe. Um lot of fun at the Mission Oak. Saturday school uh for
attendance makeup starts March 28th and that's from 8 to 2. We'll give them a full day of fun uh with ingenuity uh and make sure that they're they're making up the days and students have 10 or more absences or can do that and it goes all
the way uh till uh June what? Yeah, actually middle June and then uh we're exempt that Saturday with uh Memorial Weekend. I believe that's the 23rd. That Saturday, senior graduation uh activities and events is out there on the principal updates. Uh we're also,
you know, we penciled in uh as soon as we left last year, the beautiful event of the blue ocean down in Salsbury with the prom. Uh it just it's a great night for the kids. And our graduate graduation date is that Thursday the 29th and then that Tuesday the 27th is
the prom. English MCAST for sophomores takes place uh March 24th and 25th. We get the reverse half days uh 9, 11, and 12. So, we're still taking the MCCAST even though it's not required for graduation. And we'll just we we've notified on the updates to the the
parents that those will be reverse half days. And Friday, April 10th, report cards uh will be issued for term three. So, we're just flying through. And then Thursdays after school, uh this is kind of a nice touch is new to us. The National Technical Honor Society, um
they are this is part of their service hours. They're going to tutor uh kids uh you know so kids are going to tutor kids and the National Technical Honor Society um they'll be doing that. So we'll see what kind of uh you know see what kind of uh you know events that we have or
kids that show up for that. So be nice because our kids are tutoring kids. Awesome. >> Thank you. >> That's all I got. >> Questions. >> Thank you everyone. >> Seeing none. Thank you. >> Next up business manager Miss Cosmus. the MSBA appropriation for feasibility
study. >> Good evening, Mr. Chair, Madam Superintendent, members of the committee. I have a few things for you this evening. The first is the MSBA appropriation for the feasibility study. You've heard us talk about the project. You heard the superintendent refer to the feasibility study earlier. So, as
you know, over the past several months, we have been in the eligibility phase of the school building project. We are now nearing the end of that and we expect to move on to the stage which is the feasibility stage. One of the requirements of the feasibility stage is
for the school committee to vote to authorize an appropriation to cover the cost of the feasibility study associated with this project. The district presently has 2,92,83744 in its capital projects special revenue
fund. We are requesting that the school committee vote to authorize an appropriation of 2,500,000 from this account which will be used to cover the anticipated costs of the feasibility study. The MSBA does require
that the school committee take a vote using the exact language that they provide and I believe that that language has been left um on your seats this evening in preparation for this vote. >> All right, I do have that. Um I'll read it. minutes long. Um, and then if
someone wants to make it as a motion that the school committee of the Woodia Regional Vocational Technical District hereby appropriates the amount of 2 million $500,000 for the purposes of paying the cost of a feasibility study for the Whittier Regional Vocational High School at the
existing site located at 115 Abury Line Road, Hil, Massachusetts, and in the alternative at the Northern Essex Community College Havilus site located at 100 Elliot Street, Havil, Massachusetts incl. including all costs incidental and related thereto the study
said amount to be expended under the discretion of the Woodia Regional Vocational High School Building Committee. To meet this appropriation, the district is authorized to expend such amount from the capital projects fund under and pursuant to the district's agreement as amended or pursuant to any other enabling
authority. The district acknowledges that the Massachusetts School Building Authority Grant Program is a non-entitlement discretionary program based on need as determined by the MSBA and that any cost the district occurs in excess of any grant approved by and
received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the district. There a motion >> motion to approve the 2,500,000 for the purpose of paying feasibility study as described by the chief
>> motion by Mr. Murphy seconded by >> Mr. Fitzgerald discussion >> Mr. Earl >> is this also going to include not just Northern Essex like we did last time we came up with three options >> there going to be four >> there's going to be four now
>> so Northern Essex community college building there building here a renovation in addition or an renovation >> okay is Northern Essex going to be any of this. Originally, we talked about it, >> right? We're working through that, >> but right now we're gonna we're gonna find it out.
>> Fred, >> thank you. >> Thank you. Um, so you said that in that account is about 2,900 >> 2,900, 92837.
>> So if the amount were um so the amount that we're approving tonight's 25, if that was um to go over any um any amount it would be compensated >> still money in that account? >> In that account? >> No, that will leave 900,000 in the
account and a lot of the monies from the account were the reimbursements from the last feasibility study. >> So, we're asking to use 2.5 million of it. >> I'm saying if the cost of the feasibility study say the number is more than it has, >> we'd have to come back for an
additional. Okay. Yep. That was my question. Thank you. Any other Mr. >> uh well I understand you're talking with Northern Northern Essics. Is it safe to say as long as they're included in the planning process and there's an
evaluation for you know northern Essex site. We do anticipate them paying something. >> That is that is our understanding and we again we're still working through the details of that with our attorneys. And I believe you mentioned earlier that
that money is not like his 2.5 million pushed. It's as we use it, it is spent. So if it stops somewhere along the line, >> not all that money is gone, >> right? Yeah. This is the money we're allocating for a full study. If for some reason the study stops, the money would
be reimbured to that account. >> Any other question, Mr. Rossy? >> And there's nothing we can use from the previous >> There was a lot of discussion about that. um MSBA was really clear that we needed a full complete study. >> Um and then after having some
discussions um people really felt like, you know, having a full study um is probably the best thing because there were questions about the previous study and making sure that um basically all the te's and eyes are dotted. Thank you, >> Mr. Early. There's another question. Can
we use part of that study we had before? >> No. >> Nothing. >> No. Thank you. >> Any other discussion? >> See none. Call the roll. >> Mr. Early.
>> Yes. >> Miss Sullivan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Rossy. >> Yes. >> Miss Carpenter. Yes. >> Mr. Fitzgerald. Yes. >> Mr. Murphy. Yes. >> Mr. >> M. L. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bo. >> Yes. >> M. Drew. >> Yes. >> Mr. Okconor. >> Yes. >> Mr. Slovki. >> Yes.
>> And the chair. >> Yes. passes. >> I have a bid result to report to you. An RFP was issued in January to upgrade the ventilation system in the metal fab shop. We received two bids. Hall Sheet Metal Works was the lowest responsible
bidder. They were awarded the contract for 92,000 and the funding for this project is covered under one of our mass skills capital grants. So that is not coming out of the district, but it is fully grant funed. I also have in your packet the approval
of Witson's Food Service Management Company contract and it is amendment number three. It says the original RFP that we did was for a 5-year period. However, the State Bureau of Nutrition requires that the contracts be approved
in one-year increments. Therefore, this request being is being brought to you again. It's year four of the contract, but amendment three. The management fee will be 13,38 and the administrative fee will be 600 61,993
which is an increase of 4.2% based on the March US consumer price index food away from home northeast urban over the prior fiscal year. That's a mouthful. I would also like to thank Joanna Wood and her entire food service staff at this time for the great job that they are
doing to ensure that our students are wellfed every day. I'm pleased to report report that our daily breakfast counts are up nearly a hundred students than they were last year to over 400 students a day and the daily lunch counts
indicate that nearly 100,000 I mean 1,000 of our students or almost 80% of our kids are eating lunch every day. So she's really made a lot of improvements down there and it shows with the meal counts that we're seeing a
>> motion motion. >> Yeah, I need a motion to uh extend by a year, right? That's correct. One year extension. >> I'm sorry. >> One year extension. Correct. >> Yes. >> I'll make a motion to extend contract.
>> Motion by Mr. Fitzgerald. >> Second. >> Second by M. True. Any discussion? >> The only question I had is I saw that it's up 4.2% based on the consumer price index. I saw the contractual language says that that's the maximum allowed percentage. we have any back and forth
on a negotiation with that or do we just automatically accept the maximum? >> We always have to go up whatever the price they usually go up whatever the price index is. >> Okay. I only ask because the language says that that's the maximum allowable but it doesn't say that that's what it's tied to.
>> Okay. Any other discussion? >> Mr. Early? >> Yes. >> Miss Sullivan? Yes. >> Mr. Ross? Yes. >> Miss Car? Yes. Mr. Fitzgerald? Yes. >> Mr. Murphy? Yes. Mr. Padley? Yes. M. >> Yes. >> Mr. B. Yes. M. TR. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Slovski.
>> Yes. And the chair. >> Yes. Passes. >> We also have your variance analysis. We did one after the last four months. I think we did it through October. So, I did another fourmonth analysis for you. Seems to be on track. I did want to point out one thing. You probably see a
lot of yellows in some of the salary lines. And you might be thinking, "Wait a minute. We made an adjustment for salaries um in a transfer back in November or December. Well, one of the things was the budget also at the time, the salaries at that time had the old longevity rates in and she did not
update the longevity rates. The payroll person did not long update the longevity rates until around November. So what you see those yellow lines are just a reflection mostly of the longevity rate adjustments and they they total about 61,000 and we have about 135,000 in the
instructional line. So those will be closed out at the end of the year. Otherwise we're very much on track. >> Any questions? >> Mr. Yeah. The 33,95 that's on the staff attendance tuition
reimbursement. Yes, I broke those out. Those are part of professional development. What we did was because we came up with a a ball a $70,000 number, I wanted to break the tuition reimbursements out specifically
out of professional development so we would be able to keep track of it and make sure we did not go over that number >> total. >> Yes, that's why we have it separated so we can see what that number is. There was one other auto technology
>> down 10 minus 10,000. >> What are you talking about? This the supplies. >> Yes. No, it says equipment. Well, yeah, you could say supplies. It says equipment auto technology balance. >> They may they may not have needed to have purchased what they thought.
Remember, we do the budgets well over a year in advance. Sometimes we're able to buy things at the end of the year when we have additional monies at the end of the year. I would have to find out about that, but that's probably what might have happened to that one. >> That's all I have right now.
>> Any other questions? >> I'm almost done. I promise. I have good news to share. On March 4th, we received notification from the Mass Department of Revenue that our 2026 excess and deficiency was certified in
the amount of 1,315,658. So, we are well positioned to hopefully put more money in at the end of this year in our stabilization fund and build up some of the funds that way. And I want to thank the superintendent who's always such a so easy to work with because she always says this is not my
money. This is taxpayer money and there's nothing that really goes on here unless we have a discussion about it. And I think that is why we are in such a very healthy sound financial position. >> Thank you. Mr. Early, >> what's the maximum we can put in there? >> 5%. So we're down. We we always keep it
under. We never want to be that close. I think it's a million five or something. >> So you're within. >> Oh yeah, we're within. Absolutely. And that's all I have and thank you very much for your support of the budget. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Reports and recommendations of the superintendent. Madam superintendent.
>> Good evening, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. I have a relatively short report because it wasn't too long ago that I saw you. Um on Friday, February 27th, um Woody Tech hosted the Northshore Superintendent Roundt here, uh lunchon, the legislative lunchon. at this meeting, the superintendents of the
Northshore discuss school finance, um capital projects, um what's going on in our our state and in our towns and the the funding that we're we're struggling with. Um so again, it wasn't just chapter 70 funding, but it was also um MSBA and kind of the conflicting
interests that schools are facing within our community. Um you know, police, fire. So, um, you know, I will say that it seems that most towns on the Northshore are having this this issue. Um, and I will say we had, um, we had three legislators here, um, to hear our
discussion. On Monday, March 2nd, I attended the remote MSBA monthly meeting. We're meeting with MSBA monthly, um, just to give them updates about where we are with uh, the school building committee along with the regional amendment committee uh, and with the school committee. So, um, those meetings have been proved to be very
helpful. On Wednesday, March 4th, I attended the regional amendment committee meeting at Northern Essex Community College. At that meeting, town manager and chair of the rack, Angus Jennings, showed a few different ways to possibly change the capital cost and the regional agreement. At this point in the pro process, everyone is attending and
participating. I continue to be hopeful about us finding a future agreement. On Thursday, March 5th, I attended the MAVA monthly remote meeting. On Monday, March 9th, I attended the MSBA again monthly meeting. At this meeting, we shared again the progress of the rack and the
timelines for our goals of completion. Um, so we're really hoping to have a a new regional agreement this time next year um so that we can continue to move forward with the MSBA process. That is a a lofty goal, but everyone is in agreement that that's where we should be. Um, today I attended um the MSBA
MAVA meeting. There are many vocational schools that are in the either eligibility or feasibility or building. Um, and this is a great opportunity. I think there's eight or nine of us um to learn from each other and and get some input about where everyone is at and what the struggles have been. Um our
next regional amendment committee is on April 1st. Um and tonight, as you know, we voted a 3.63% increase on our budget and April 8th at 6:15 is the public hearing for that budget. And that is all I have for you tonight. >> Thank you, Madam Superintendent. New
business, no old business. New business. uh in your packet there's a copy of the school committee self-evaluation form um to be filled out and submitted. It's either in the back end or sent to you online. You can fill that out and submit it. Um I do not reasonably anticipate
it, but I do um we were trying to get scheduled a special meeting in two weeks to review the um business manager um candidates and maybe an item or two besides that. trying to do a special school committee meeting um either we
were looking at um was it Monday >> Monday March 23rd or Monday March 25th >> uh or Wednesday March 25th >> I'm sorry. Yes. >> So I don't know if we want to keep it Wednesday to stay consistent with usually where we are if that works for everybody. >> Okay.
>> Sorry. Can you give more information? I didn't hear what you said. Wednesday, March. >> We were looking at either the tw Monday the 23rd or Wednesday the 25th. >> Okay. >> Um probably easier Wednesday the 25th just to keep it consistent with the Wednesdays if that works for everybody.
>> 6:30. Is there a time? Yeah. Sorry. >> Yeah. We'll just make a motion for a special uh someone wants to make a motion for a special school committee meeting on Wednesday, March 25th at 6:30 the normal time. >> So move. >> Motion by Mr. Murphy, seconded by Mr.
Gerald. >> Uh, any discussion? >> Quick question. Is this remote or here? >> It'll be at here. >> Here. Okay. Thank you. >> Um, if somebody can't make it, obviously they're allowed to. >> Yeah. I just wanted to make sure. >> Yes. In person. >> And this is about the business manager. >> Uh, yes. And there might be another item
or two on the agenda. It will be a special school committee meeting. The agenda will be posted in time on on the items on it. Um, any other discussion? Seeing none, call the role on the um special school committee meeting in two weeks. >> Mr. Early,
>> yes. >> Miss Sullivan, yes. >> Mr. Rossi? >> Yes. >> Miss Carpenter? Yes. Mr. Fitzgerald? Yes. Mr. Murphy? >> Yes. >> Mr. Padley? Miss LOL? >> Yes. >> Mr. Bow? Yes. >> MR? Yes. >> Miss Okconor? >> Yes. >> Mr. Slovas? Yes. And the chair? >> Yes. Passes.
>> Uh reports of the special subcommittees, the executive subcommittee. Uh there's minutes from February 25th, 2026. Can someone make a motion to approve those minutes before me, please? >> Motion by Mr. Fitzgerald. Seconded by >> Second >> Mr. Murphy.
>> Any discussion? Seeing none, please call the RO. >> Mr. Early, >> yes. >> Miss Sullivan, yes. >> Mr. Ross, Miss Coper, yes. >> Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Murphy, >> yes. >> Mr. Pagley, Miss L. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bow, >> yes. >> M. Yes. Miss Okconor, >> yes. >> Mr. Sloski,
>> yes. And the chair? >> Yes. Passes. Um instructional nothing posted. Plant nothing posted. Salary and negotiation nothing posted. And policy nothing posted. Um >> can I just ask um I know we had the admissions
uh committee last spring >> and we had said at that time we would meet again annually to review the policy. Should we be scheduling something? Because I know the admissions has on a timeline for so if any changes
were to be made, would we need to be doing them? >> I mean, I guess we could, but I think we're probably early in the process to see if the state's going to change anything for >> for the next school year or not. Would you say it's probably early early in the process now? >> People still haven't completed their lottery yet. So, I think we can wait a
little bit. Okay. >> Mr. >> I think we still have a new uh That should be not a new one. We have another lottery coming up in May. >> We do. >> I believe we do. I talked to her a
little while ago. Believe there's one in May coming up >> for um for sophomores. >> Sophomores. >> Yeah. Upper class. >> We couldn't we we shouldn't have anything after that anyways >> to then we can also take the temperature
>> of the state where this nightmare is. >> Yeah. Yeah. And and I didn't know if there was going to be any adjustment to the numbers that we had set for this year. >> Right. So, usually it's an October one that they want to have the new policy.
Um and then if we have any adjustment to numbers, we really should include our municipal leaders in that discussion. Um, so let's just see how the upper classman and where we are with freshmen and then maybe June or July have another
meeting regarding the permission policy. >> I'm just trying to remember did we set that and we met in September, right? >> It was under we were >> a little under >> under the gun at that point. >> I know we had to do like two or three
weeks in a row. >> All right. Uh, next item. >> While we're talking about that, a lot of people are asking about appeals and they're appealing something, but I don't know what they're appealing because the
state doesn't want to hear anything. From what I gather, talking to people in the state, they don't want to hear anything about appeals. So, I don't know where that's going to go. So, are we going to have appeals? Are people going to come down and talk? >> Before we get way too far, it's not on
the agenda. So, I I would say that if there's an item somebody wants to put on the next agenda, it'll be an item on the agenda. >> Thank you. >> Um, is there a motion to go into executive session pursuant to MGL chapter 38 section 21 for the following
purposes? Um, to conduct contract negotiations with non-UN personnel, namely the superintendent, because an open session may have a detral effect on the negotiating uh position of the committee. We will return to open session for adjournment purposes only. Um, so You want to make that as a motion
session. >> Motion by Mr. Murphy. >> Seconded by Mr. Fitzgerald. >> Mr. Early. >> Yes. >> Miss Sullivan. Yes. >> Mr. Rossy. Yes. Miss Carpenter. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fitzgerald. Mr. Murphy.
>> Mr. Pad. Miss LOL. >> Yes. >> Mr. B. Yes. M. Tru. Yes. M. Okconor. Yes. Mr. Sask. And the chair. Yes. Passes.