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So, thank you very much for the opportunity. So, I'm the opening statement. I I just want to say that I hope that through my resume and the recommendations and conversations that uh you might have had with people that in Chapi, colleagues, staff, people in the community, um I hope you got a little sense of who I am and hopefully we'll expand on that tonight. um that you'll see that I'm a collaborative, empathetic, inspirational leader. And what I would like to do is make sure that all your questions are answered so you understand that I'm steady, I'm dedicated, and I really think that my values align with what you're looking for in Greenfield through talking with people and and through what my research um of Greenfield is. It's very similar to where I come from. It's very similar to some of the things that we've been working on and I just think that I'm really ready to be of service to Greenfield.
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>> Okay. So, does it make sense for us to say upon a request to the school principal if they're being included regardless? >> That's what >> it's not needed. >> Yeah. So, striking this through. >> I hear that. Any other questions about this policy? Um, well, I think that um we're making the assumption that um custodial and non-custodial parents are supplying us the information, >> send out reporting. Um, oftentimes we don't have that information until the non-custodial parent comes forward and says, you know, I'd like to have some information on my child. Also, um sometimes that information isn't uh forthcoming if one of the parents are registering or um so I'm not sure are are we putting ourselves in a situation that we now have to have that information that we're we're responsible. Non-custodial parents shall receive written reports and conference notifications. >> Oneita, you rais a very good point because again when that information the assumption is when we have that information of course we wouldn't keep it.
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>> So the data is not tracked in a way that's easy was easy for us to pull it immediately. So we are getting that data right now. >> Okay. >> That's an important question. We just don't have the answer right now. >> And and I I I [clears throat] you know stay on this this line because again it's like how do we know what the problem is? How do we know that we need to do this five years instead of three years? How do we know maybe we should do it into perpetuity like this bill is asking for unless you know these are things that I think is so important that we know um and maybe three years is not the right amount maybe five is and maybe four is the optimal number right I mean so um yeah I think it's crucial and that you folks are in this position to be able to to look at that numbers and then act on it without us having to have a bill Right.
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So we always throw rocks at the woods. Okay. All right. The last uh the last piece of information that we were requested to bring from HR is an analysis of student teachers over the span of a certain amount of time. So what we did Robin went back through two 2020 which is when we were paying student teachers. So in the columns you'll see at a certain point uh I think row 17 that was when there was a decision that we didn't have the funds available to pay student teachers as teachers and residents. So what you can see is that the effect of that was um that we vastly reduced the number of student teachers that we have. When I say student teacher, I'm talking about they start at the beginning of the semester, they go all the way through to the end of the semester.
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uh we estimated about $1 million for that project. And so uh you know when Beth and I started in this role, we really thought it was important to keep the team together. Um and we'll talk about that a little bit more in the next couple of slides. Um, and so when we were putting this together, our total estimated cost of reconfiguring and refreshing the space as it currently stands uh is uh $490,000 and 87% funded by non- taxpayer dollars and the remaining 13% are two previously approved capital projects. So the earmarks are for the overall improvement of the community center and pedestrian and for pedestrian safety. So thank you to our state legislators, Senate President Karen Spilka and State Representative Jack Lewis for their continued support and service to the community center and the town of Ashland. We have two approved capital projects. So that's the walkway repairs and the great room floor.
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Um, it's going to take a lot of energy and a lot of enthusiasm and I have that. It's going to take time. Um, and I think that I'm a a very stable leader that can help. I would like to enhance all the stuff that you have going great here. And I'd also like to work with the school committee and the teachers and the staff on what you would like to improve and go forward with Greenfield schools. So some of the things that I I want to make sure that I'm focusing on is strong academic inclusive teams that will guide instructional ex excellence and will help with continuous improvement. Um, I'm also really really an advocate for mentoring and supporting staff, making sure that they have everything they need to feel empowered and ready to handle all the complexities of the schools. Um, they need strong academic to be able to deliver strong academics and to help with all the non-academics and social emotional supports that us the students need.
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>> We do. That's right. >> And I think that that and so Kate when you made the suggestion I was like yes absolutely. But I think you rais a very good point is if we don't have the information or know where that non-custodial parent is or how to get in touch of them touch with them, we may not be able to do so until um so we could say um you know when the when the district has the proper contact information of a non-custodial parent, they will receive this and in circumstances where we do not, it'll be received upon written request for the school principal. So what if in this language here we say non-custodial parents who provide >> contact information shall receive written reports and conference notifications. Um >> or we could say when when the district um >> when the district has proper contact information, a non-custodial parent will receive written reports and conference notifications.
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>> So, so Senator, we know that teachers reach the end of the 3 years and need to and can no longer be employed. Um, we know that so our request is to extend beyond 3 years whether it's 5 years or as which there's a different vehicle for 5 years. Um, that that would be that would be um helpful and then this bill does not provide a limitation. So I think any moving beyond the three years is important but whether it's five or you know 10 is the magic number it that's not there's no data to um to back up >> at this point we have no data to to do anything because you're not giving it to us. Well, what we know is the number of teachers who are at their um third year this year who would be um hang on. >> What's the total number of emergency hires that you have?
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This is the last step in their credentiing process, right? They're getting ready to graduate, they get their uh degree, they go to AD, they get their certification. That's different than on the other side of that column is internships. And we thought it would be helpful for you to see that we have a lot of individuals that are coming to us that have to do 20 hours, 40 hours and they're in the classrooms and they're observing. Um, so that's that's where that divide is. So, uh, also kind of give you an idea of where they were coming from, ASU, NAU, GCU. Um, couple of things as we're looking forward. We have a partnership with ASU. We're now a partner that is um a preferred student teacher district. So there are three districts in central Phoenix, Madison, Scottsdale, and Kraton that ASU will partner with us. teachers that have been encouraged to apply and are hired by ASU uh can now be student teachers, get paid by ASU, be an employee of ASU, get tuition waiverss that are transferable, and um also they get PD hours.
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We have insurance recovery funds from the two floods of 2023 that we'll be utilizing. We'll be utilizing some of the recreation revolving account and then the remaining will be grants, donations, and rebates. And we wanted to give a quick shout out and thank you to the friends of the Council on Aging for their generous donation towards the patio. And thank you to Sam Riley, our sustainability coordinator, for her work on the green communities grant. And we were recently made aware of another grant opportunity which we'll be applying for which could potentially go towards this project. It's in the amount of $10,000 and it's specifically for the expansion and improvement of the food pantry. So, thank [snorts] you to Ara who's here tonight and uh Yushi, our food resource coordinator on that great work. The timeline, so the food pantry moves tomorrow. Um they are all packed up and uh ready to go.
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So, if you were to choose me, I would come here with an open mind, a lot of thoughtful questions, a lot of questions. Um, and I would also want to examine all your systems and structures. I saw a little bit today. I would like to dive deep in what you have for structures, how they're working, how they're improving student experience, how they're helping staff help student experience. And finally, um I just want Greenfield Public Schools to continue to be and strive to be a place where every single student and staff feels respected, valued, and understand for the students what they would like to see in their future. So, I'm really excited about the opportunity. I'm really excited to answer your questions, and um I hope you will see that I could be the best fit for superintendent Thank you so much for for coming to Greenfield.
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Or we could leave the original >> when the one non-custodial parents provide contact information. the district shall or >> as long as the district has >> shall supply they shall receive. Yeah, >> that makes sense. >> That was a good point, Lita. >> Very good. >> I'm going to highlight the whole sentence because I've done I think a complete language alteration. >> Yes. I'm wondering is that received? We don't have to reiterate from the sentence before where it says unless there is an order from the court to the contrary, right? That just carries >> carries over. >> Yeah, I think it's I think it carries over and that that is >> it carries over that. Yes, it carries over. I the reason why I changed it is it felt like the onus was on the non-custodial parent and sometimes we receive orders in which the custodial parent that was the one that registered them is the one that is obligated to provide both contact information.
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>> So, there's the there's an emergency hire permit and there are about a thousand teachers this year who are in that case six uh 400 of them have already completed a teacher education program but are in the process of getting their license. the HST um lobbyist mentioned at another hearing that for example she transferred instate and had been licensed elsewhere but needed to start as an emergency hireer to get her paperwork done. Um but there are about 600 who have not completed a teacher education program at the time um and they have not yet completed the teacher education program. >> So 1,000 emergency hires out of how many how many teachers? >> A little over 12,000. >> So a little over 12,000. So about 10%. Uh it's about 8%. Yes. >> 8% 10%. Um is any of this having to do with with any obstacles in getting the license?
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So, it's a significant benefit to our employees. It's a benefit to our district if we can get more student teachers in the door and help recruit them. Yes. Um I don't know yet because the process ended last week for signing up teachers. >> So the you're saying that the mentor teacher gets paid to host the >> correct the student. >> That's like a thousand bucks. >> 900. >> Okay. For for the year for semester >> for the semester >> because they host them for the semester. >> Right. Right. And if they if it's a dualert individual, so they're coming in doing six weeks with general ed and then six weeks with exceptional student services, then it's split in half between those two teachers. >> The two teachers. >> Yeah. >> But what's nice is that's not a cost to us. That's ASU that's paying for.
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Uh so that's fantastic. They are going to be moving to the police substation at 37 Pond Street in the Market Basket Plaza. Thank you to our Ashlin police officers for sharing the space to us. It's it is the best space that we could have asked for for this situation. Um so we are very grateful for that. Um sorting and organizing of the recreation storage and art room is going to begin next week and lead into March. Um bids are due for the construction piece of the human services office and storage um project on February 19th. Um so we have gotten a lot of interest in that. So we're hoping to get a great company to work with. Um construction will begin early March and go through May. Uh they will start with the recreation and senior center storage, move on to the art room, and then build out the human services office and food pantry.
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We really appreciate um having you. >> I'm glad you had a great day. So, and thank you for bringing the warm weather and we really appreciate that. >> I thought you brought it to me. >> I don't know. Um so this question has a couple parts. Um why you for Greenfield and why Greenfield for you? How would you apply your experiences in the context of the Greenfield Public School District? Okay. So, I do think that me for Greenfield and and Greenfield is the perfect place to show what I can do to help you get to where you'd like to be and to celebrate what you already have. So, one of the things that I think that why I'm a great fit for Greenfield is where I my experience is with um districts that need help with their accountability scores. I worked very closely with the Massachusetts SSOS and DESIE to work on building the first um to work on building ILTs and data teams.
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Um and so I just think this puts it just out there of when we have the proper information we will reach out. Any other questions from committee members? >> Kelly, could you just go over the highlighted part? Could you reread it again, please? >> Sure. It says, >> thank you. >> Yeah, it says, "When the district has received contact information, the non-custodial parents shall receive written reports and conference notifications." Okay. >> Thank you. last call.
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There are obstacles uh in teachers completing their teacher education program. That's where we see the most obstacles. Um sometimes these are people who are newly teaching. They might have not yet decided if they want to pursue teaching long term. Um sometimes the cost is an issue. they're making entry-level teacher salary and trying to pay for the program um teacher education program for credits. Another reason is sometimes people working another job or a life a life situation is happening that makes it difficult to complete the program at the same time as as working within the three years. >> Do you folks evaluate these um emergency hires? >> We do. >> In what way? >> They they receive the annual um teacher evaluation that all teachers receive. uh the emergency hired teachers would receive them annually as opposed to our tenure teachers who receive an effective evaluation.
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>> Correct. >> Yep. >> The only other addition to that is that we are uh developing a partnership with Ottawa University. We've not worked with Ottawa specifically um and we're hoping that that'll increase some of the related service provider um you know school psychologists OTPT um as interns they also do teachers so we might see an increase in student teachers through Ottawa.
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Uh the sidewalk work will also probably happen during this time depending on this crazy weather. Um and then we hope to have the food pantry back into its new space in May with the part project completion date of June 1st. Um we will also in turn put out an IFB for the um patio project by the end of March. Um as well as the great room floor um and that will be redone that will be um completed by June 30th. And then obviously um the patio and the walkway in the in the spring when the snow has has melted and the weatherization project um as mentioned will happen in the summer. So keeping the team together we cannot drive this home uh drive this home enough. We think of this building as one team even though it includes three separate departments. This team works together seamlessly and keeping >> [clears throat] >> them all in one building will continue the collaboration.
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