Um she started the annual bingo bingo night over 30 years ago which serves as the fire department's biggest fundraiser. Um Mary was a board of health member assisting in creating local regulations to prevent our youth and community members um for the head head concussions uh pesticide regulations food management regulations. She's assisted with D in reshaping the House Street landfill and following compliance. She's created the Sharps program, including obtaining grants for purchases of containers. Um, and for many years, she worked with the board of health as a volunteer nurse during um H1N1 vac and ran H1 vac H1N1 vaccine clinics and flu clinics as well of as well as helping patients throughout the community. Um the list would go on and on the things that Mary did. Um and I this year's awards going to be is being awarded to the Ashland Emergency Fund which was one thing that Mary also worked with.
Goal. He somehow quickly gets up on the board a little bit less than a minute into the game with a goal by Angelina Trulio. That's Trulio's fifth goal of the season. Angelina Trulio. Minichog's only win on the season is their home opener as they beat Mount Greylock 7 to five. Marino on the draw gets up goes goes five hole on a chog girl and picks up the ball and gets down the field goes back to Witworth. Whitward cuts back around has the other side of the field as she takes on three girls gets over the restraining line and will set up the saw meal offense. Addy Jordan with the ball oneonone with the and she'll get shooting space. my kid. Addy Jordan on the eight meter. False start by Jordan. Lucky for Minhog because it's probably going to go in. Ch quickly gets the ball up the field.
What do I mean by that? Um um before I begin this plan, I I would like to take the opportunity to share um what what is our purpose of a community school district? What is our mission? What is bringing us together? Um we want to be bold. We want to be brave. Um and we also we want to be recognized of Babok Unified School District um by making sure that uh Babok Unifi School District employee support students to be healthy, inspiring, motivating, developing and achieving graduates. um by today um under the umbrella of the u mission and under the support of the governing board um the purpose of today um I have three main goals that I want to accomplish by presenting this information. Number one, I want to uh be transparent and provide critical event uh timelines to staff and community members. Um, I want to define areas requiring the process to plan accordingly, establish necessary steps for parents to know what to do uh for staff how to prepare and for students what to expect.
And that brings us to approval agenda. I move the governing board approve the agenda as presented. May I have a second? No, we got to pull um item L so that we can approve it as that's not approval of consent. I'm approving the agenda. Oh, sorry. I'm tired. Right. It's okay. But um wait, wait. Aren't you going to remove the table items 11? There was something. I knew there was something. Yeah, we're going to table it the Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You're talking about 11 A and B. Okay. So, I move the governing board approve the agenda as presented with the exception of tableabling items L A and B. L no not L. Just A and B. 11 A and B. 11 A and B. Second. All those in favor? I I Any hearing? None. Motion passes. All right. And that brings us to governing board reports.
Um and I just want to give a little brief history of the um Ashland Emergency Fund. Um, in 1987, B Montenegro, Department of Public Safety Director, and Rick Galani, a town select board member, placed a wishing well at the Sunnyside Cafe to collect money on behalf of Ashland's town folk in need. When they had collected about $150 in change, they brought it to Isabelle Harrison, the town's youth advisory director and de facto social services officer. It took Isabelle about 10 seconds to thank them and another 20 minutes to point out that the $150, while very welcome, was just a drop in the bucket when compared to the realistic need that could be found in Ashland at the time. With Isabelle's lecture in mind, Ben, John Ellsworth, and five other concerned citizens founded the Ashlin Emergency Fund. In the 35 years since, the fund has collected and dispersed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Ashland citizens in need.
[Music] Grace Howard on it as Stackwitz has the ball. Stackitz feeds it in, turns around. Jenna Holly with the save. Jenna Holly quickly out to Jordan. Jordan up to Truly Kasich. Kasich flying down the line up the field. She'll take him oneon-one. Oh, she backs out smartly, gets it in to Jordan, who misses just wide. Calibri's there, picks up the ball, quickly set up the Essome Middle offense. Gets the ball back to Jordan. Jordan at the X. Jordan over to Calib. Calib throws. Nice play by Nana Calibies. Nice feed by Jordan. Nice pass. Oh, nice pass by Jordan to Calibri who scores her first goal of the game. Calibri's fifth goal on the season as well. Nana Calib lost a a tough game the other day in Whan. I think the officials there only got participation award trophies and that's why they try to call an even game getting hosed on a lot of the calls in my opinion and a lot of the fans opinion but nevertheless lost 11 to 10 in overtime in a hard-fought battle.
Lastly, I want which it was discussed um this particular letter that was sent to the parents and guardians of BIE students. The area in which I want to focus is um stated on this later in this letter which is the alternatives to uh bureau of educa uh Indian education. Um as Baboki Unified School District um it is one of the alternatives. Um it's I don't know and we don't know and as a community right now I don't want to express that anything is happening to the VA schools. I want to clarify that at this point there's no information out there that says that anything is happening to VIA schools. What we are trying to accomplish as one of the alternative options in the district is to provide some guidelines and process that may be necessary to facilitate um and and clarify to our conitu constituents what to do in the event something did happen um to our BIE schools.
Miss Ays, I'll go ahead and start with you. All right. Good evening everyone. Um, I just have a few things. Um, we went to our NSBA uh, conference and um, so I just wanted to talk about a few of the things that um, I got out of this one. Um they had a lot of things um about uh public schools and how to have family and community engagement um which I went to a couple but I think we do it better than what they had there. So I think we're really good about that. So um those weren't the best. Um but my favorite one that I went to which of course is um public funds for public schools. um talking about the um adoption and expansion of um vouchers and NEA was the uh people that presented this. They always seem to be my favorite ones.
So again, this year's Mary Mortonson awards going to be awarded to the um Ashland Emergency Fund and um you are going to read the proclamation. I will read the proclamation. Thanks Ed. Uh, so this is the board of health proclamation. Whereas the Ashlin board of health in honor of our longtime board of health member Mary Penny Mortonson has established an annual award in her name. And whereas the Ashlin Board of Health will present annually the Mary Penny Mortonson Public Health Award to deserving a deserving community member or group by nomination and a vote of the board. And whereas the Ashlin Emergency Fund was founded in 1987 thanks to the concern and compassion of residents Isabelle Harrison, John Ellsworth, Rick Galani, Ben Montenegro, Jim and Denise Eddie, Jim and Lorraine Hickeyi, and Chris Patadelis, sorry, Papadelis, thank you. who recognized there were many needs in the town and sought for a way to help their fellow residents during times of hardship and adversity.
Marino back on the draw. East Lino gets the third draw in a row as Marino will get the ball up the line. Feeling some pressure by the miniog. Gets the ball over to Lucas. Lucasich to Jordan. Jordan makes a move. Dodge by takes a shot off the goalie. Saved by the goalie. out of bounds as McConnell will bring the ball in. Gets to KIB has the ball. Kos has one goal in the season. She's looking to get the ball off the field. Looks like she's got a little bit of wheels behind her. She gets by Trulio and Calib and Machog will set up their [Music] offense. Close up with the ball. Passes it over to Sarno. Sarn know from what Mass Live stats have they're she's their leading scorer with four goals. Nice move by Minichog. Goes in now getting a call and Minichog will have their first scoring opportunity on an 8 meter.
Um but I want to make that clarification today. The purpose I do not want to ring the alarm or I'm not stating or indicating that something is happening to BIA school. It is based on this letter and based on the information that was shared um during the town hall um asking for what the alternatives to Bureau of Indian Education. I want to make sure that us being our neighbors and being uh the alternative and being one of the options. Um how does um a state funded school works? Um and what are some timelines and what are some facts that we need that we need to be aware um in the event something were to happen. Also, I want to open it up to our governing board, to our members of my team, uh, and then members of that community. There's anything that can help us to be prepared for any, uh, anything that might have happened.
I don't know why. Um that was being facitious cuz I'm a member of NEA. Um so a couple of things there. Um they were talking about how we use our words and that they matter. So making sure that we call them vouchers instead of school choice. um because some people of course don't have that school choice. Um and then the one thing that they wanted us to to think about which of course I I'm sure all of educators have thought about is um what accountability and transparency measures should be applied to private schools that accept vouchers. And of course I think most of us just want the fairness. They should be tested. um they should receive the same kind of funds that we do if they're tested and they should accept everyone on their campus instead of picking and choosing. Um and then of course uh countering the perception that private schools are better than public schools um because they are not on equal grounds.
And whereas the Ashen Emergency Fund since its founding has given over $3 million in emergency financial support to over 250 members of the Ashlin community who were in need of assistance. needs ranging from putting food on the table to housing and utility assistance to help with medical expenses to getting through personal traumatic events. And whereas the Ashen Emergency Fund in 2024 bought Thanksgiving meals for 131 families and provided $170,16646 in assistance, more than they had ever provided to a single uh in a single year during their 37-year history. And whereas the Ashen Emergency Fund relies entirely on donations and grants to provide the assistance that they do, 100% of donations are distributed by volunteers to those in need. Mary Penny Mortonson started Friday Night Bingo and Ashton Fire Department fundraiser which for many years raised funds and support for the Ashen Emergency Fund. And now therefore, we the board of health for the town of Ashton do hereby recognize and honor the Ashton Emergency Fund.
Sarno on the 8 meter. Jenna Holly looking to make a stop as she's been doing all year long. Sarno sneaks one by Jenna Holly. Two to one. Just under eight minutes left to go in the first quarter. Marino back on the draw. I believe that's Taylor she's taking the draw against Ball goes out of bounds. Redraw. Esau four- one the last five games against Minichog outscoring the Falcons 71 to 26. It's a good thing for Esau Meadow. However, they've only won four games in their career against Minichog. Their first win coming against the Falcons in 2023. Esau Miles four and 25 against Minichog all time. Jordan with the draw. Jordan wins the draw. She gets the ball over the restraining line. and she'll pulls back, goes through everybody, fires it just wide. Calibri's there. She'll quickly get the ball in. Reset EL's offense. Calib's looking to do a dodge.
It's better to be prepared uh, than not to. Um, I want us to make sure that in the midst of anything that is happening politically, the ones that do not get affected are our students. President Mindia, I'm sorry. I just wanted to to basically state on behalf of the board and to the board that I was a I did participate on different occasions with this um these town halls that were held and I and I do want to make sure it's clear as well that um you know, Mr. Diaz is responding because he was in attendance of that meeting at the same time. I think I want to be able to say as well that, you know, we we're we're not responsible for ringing the bell. I think the bell's been rung and I think we're just trying to and I really wasn't trying to impress on Mr.
So um that probably was my favorite one. And then the other thing that I really liked was the keynote speaker on Friday. Her name was Melissa Stockwell and if you watch the parolympic, she is a parolympian. Um and her story was just amazing. Um she went to the Iraq war. um and she ended up losing her leg and so um she talked about like her struggles and her choices because she always wanted to be an Olympian and um you know she had a hard road ahead of her and uh she was just really inspiring and so I really enjoyed her. Um and then um here the other thing that I want to talk about um so I would like to begin sorry not begin but continue my board report by addressing um the emails that have been sent our way. I want to start by thanking the meet and confer committee members who serve.
As this year's recipient of the Mary Mortonson Public Health Award, we urge all residents to make known their appreciation for the volunteers who make up the Ashen Emergency Fund as well as those who have generously donated to the Ashen Emergency Fund. We wish all good health and good fortune. Thank you very much. So, we will be pres So, we do have some members from the um National Emergency Fund here that will present the award to them up at the podium. Do you want to do that? Yeah. Who's you all coming up or Yep. Room for all. So, also it it's recognized on our the plaque that sits outside the board of health office here at town hall. Um, and the proclamation I will issue to the board, your board on behalf of our board. Welcome. including Isabelle Harrison, one of the founders. Y thank you very much.
Gets by one. Leer there. Oh, nice shot by Calibies. Spins around. The girl scores her second goal of the game. East Meadow up 3-1 with seven minutes to go in the first quarter. Lusk. I think that's how you'd say it. Lusk. She's on the draw this time against Marino. Looks like Minichog's trying to change something up so they can win a draw tonight. Marino throws it up. Whitwaran comes away with it. She quickly gets the ball up the field, fires it, and Mack Whitworth gets her first goal of the game. M Whit scoring six goals the other day against Whan scoring a fantastic goal in the last 30 seconds of the game to force the Spartans to go into overtime. Unfortunately in overtime they couldn't capitalize on winning the draw and Whan came down and scored. Marino back up on the draw. False start. Marino quickly scoops it up over to Witworth.
Diaz. Let's get ready just in case. But at the same time, I think that it's important for us to also hear any questions or concerns from from from other board members. But for me as as the president and attending the meetings and and and just listening to what the comments were, um I'm very very confident that our schools um are capable and able. Um, but I also want us to be to be prepared if there is an influx or or or to some degree if parents want some sort of stability and our school is their choice. then let's make sure that we can give them the best possible and quality that that we can because I would want that if I were if I were living on the west end and my experience on the west end of the nation is that there is so far less than what we have on this end that I would be much more uh happy or at least some degree feel a lot more comfortable if there was an effort from the the neighboring school district or the school district that that serves the nation to have some preparedness in what they're going to do.
I have been serving on my interestbased negotiation team for um several years and I know it's hard work. I appreciate you representing your constituents. I believe in what you're doing and so much so that I pushed that the meet and confer policy be put back um that it be reinstated back into a policy. I wanted to clarify my comments made at the last board meeting. As you all know, I have a broad perspective of many issues uh in education. I have taught for 24 years. I have served as a union leader for 15 years. I uh as president and vice president. Uh I serve have served on this board for four years and recently my district has been um thrown into utter chaos due to a board not holding their one employee the superintendent accountable and believing everything that was uh that everything was financially okay.