But I think the the Oh, absolutely. >> Certainly because sending it to >> the Hopkin board does nothing. No, >> because they can't they they've already stated that they can't support or they can't enforce their restrictions in the town of Ashland. >> So, I think the current land owner >> Yeah. >> needs to get this. >> Yeah. >> Just Joe, um just to clarify conservation commission's involvement in this um someone came before us to delineate the wetlands. Uh wasn't the prospective buyer and it wasn't the land owner. There was somebody working I I suppose on behalf of one of them um that they had mapped the wetlands. They wanted us us to come out to confirm the wetlands. We didn't know anything about this at that time. Right. >> We found out shortly thereafter what was going on. >> Sure. >> Um so the um the only thing that's been approved are where the wetlands are.
They struck me as very knowledgeable, experienced, educated, good people. And I think we are incredibly lucky that our choices between awesome and awesome. >> Okay. Thank you, member Deniv. And then member one, >> I think that they were both eminently qualified and we would be in good hands with either of them. I am team Carol though because she did her homework. She knew about Greenfield. She knew about our particular struggles. She came prepared to discuss us and what we needed. Um she's watched city council meetings. She knew a little bit about us. Uh, I also talked to MASC and they put a little bug in my ear about Carol. So, I was excited to hear from her. I feel like she will really click with the town and the citizens. Um, and I really appreciate that she always centered the students first and talked about concrete ways that we could improve their outcomes, which is the point of our us being here.
Uh there is some technical and non-substantive amendments for clarity and consistency. Uh and so the recommendation is to pass with amendments. Any discussion on this hearing? Not vice chair for the vote for Senate bill 2024. Recommendation is to pass with amendments. >> Chair votes I. Vice chair votes I. Senator excused. Senator Hashimoto. >> Hi. >> Senator. Measures adopted. >> Thank you. uh Senate Bill 2163 relating to public charter schools and this is the for the audits. Now, based on the auditor's testimony and what else we've heard here, I'm going to defer this measure and put the onus on the charter school to make sure that that you um heed to the that they heed to the deadlines and that you folks make whatever changes to to make so that you don't have to go through another audit in your best interest and everybody else's best interest.
Okay. And then so next year, you know, through attrition >> through attrition, >> essentially going to recoup that money into the budget. >> Yep. Absolutely. >> Which we are intending to do what with >> fund this the budget continuing to fund the existing budget needs, >> right? and including the 750 increases for the staffing that are left. >> Okay. But like um does the does that factor into the staffing or the 750 at all or >> cuz like we're spending $1.5 million this year that we're not going to spend next year, >> but our budget's also decreasing by 2 million >> because of the ADM. >> Yeah. So our budget decreased 2 million. >> So we have to get our budget in alignment and get the 2 million out entirely, right? Yes. >> So that'll happen through attrition. So we won't be spending that 2 million at all.
So, not only would this person have to go to the building inspector for a building permit, but they would have to go to the conservation commission >> and they would have to go to the board of health because they would need a septic permit in that lot as well. >> So, we became aware of this whole situation after we confirmed the delineation of the wetlands and it was explained to us and and it became very clear we we support Susan's position. >> Oh, absolutely. Then I would also say just to that point if um our building commissioner sends a letter that a copy of that also goes to the conservation commission and and our board of health too. Yeah. >> And I would also almost think that the conservation commission could also send a letter saying after we did this, we have come, you know, we've we've received new information about this parcel that it needs to stay as open space, >> right?
Um, I also think Sharon would be great. Um, I just think that Carol has a certain Western Massachusetts quality that I think really will endear her to us. And I hope that I hope that we choose her, frankly. >> Okay, I have member Webb and then member Goodwin. >> Um, so I wrote down some things that I really liked about the first candidate and one thing that um, she did say was setting up budget boundaries um, to support the climate if we want it. Um and also just having like listening sessions, being consistent with budgets. Uh not having um answers prior to asking people for opinions. Um these are just some of the notes I jotted down. Um how she took a chance and she walked in as a superintendent during COVID. Um, and then the things that stood out for me for the second person, Carol, was um just how she took the chance on the yonder pouches and, you know, she wasn't sure if she was going to have good feedback or not.
Okay. So, deferred indefinitely. Uh for Senate Bill 2125, this is uh relating to teacher licensing. Uh removes the three-year employment limit for unlicensed teachers. Uh members, you know, I've hear both sides of the argument. We want licensed teachers teaching our students, but at the same time, what is the alternative? The alternative is having no teacher in the classroom. That is also not acceptable. What happens in the rural areas? Um, and so I'd like to recommend at this point because the concerns about being this being into perpetuity that we amend it to say five years. I know there's another bill out there and put a fiveyear on that. But at the same time also in the committee report, we'd like to talk about the obstacles that uh facing some of this licensing and that it is not intended to be a long-term solution. Um but certainly it seems as though it takes anywhere from 2 to 3 years already to if everything goes right to be able to be at that licensing point and yet there there are other obstacles.
We're making up the 2 million loss this year with the fund balance reserves. Next year we need to get back to not spending all our money and rolling whatever percentage uh into fund balance reserves. >> So it'll go into the carry forward again. >> It would go into the carry forward. Yeah. >> That's what I was looking for. Okay. Thank you. I have I know that um some groups were >> some groups were addressed for the compression um this past school year or this for this school year um or that were recommended. Is that same is that different than what the pay scale compression is? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> So some of those compressions like we did some changes for nurses. We added the dollar for the bus drivers. We did that out of a 200 Oh, I forgot to talk about that. We did that.
Because of the deed restriction that's on it already from from past action. >> That makes sense. Y >> more letters they get better. Thank you. >> I just wanted to add one thing. I don't know if this is a matter of Hopkin didn't think that they could speak for Ashland's land or whatever, but they technically because that permit goes with the project, they did have the authority to enforce it. So anyway, the >> they are now saying that they don't feel like they have the ability to enforce it, but it's in >> they do have the they do have the ability. The other thing it's um I didn't get a chance to go to the uh Ashland Historical Commission, but I've been in contact with them and they said that there are articles of historical and cultural significance to the American Indians on that land as well, just as there is on the adjoining Hopington parcel because way back when in history that land and the house that I'm living in actually was part of Hopkin, but when Unionville bought surrounding land from communities that became part of became part of it.
I know it sounds like a weird thing, but as a parent, I'm not a huge Yonder pouch supporter. Um, but my child doesn't have a cell phone. Um, she's just a stable leader. I agree with member Deniv saying she did her homework on us. um she comes from a place that has 15 schools. So she comes from a district rather than a regional school. So that for me was also something and her longevity when I look at her resume in the same district and working her way up the ladder which I know is something um we do value or I value as a person. >> Thank you. member Goodwin, then member Nitton. >> When I walked in here tonight, I could have gone either way. I've spent hours reading about two amazing educators, looking at what they've done, where they've been. And I had one concern, and it came from my love for literacy.
So I think that you know five years may be uh a reasonable number at this point in time. We don't have all the data. Hopefully we'll get some data by the time it gets to ways and means.
This some more of that money is a 200,000 that the committee has um or meet and confer has recommended for two years in a row to continue that 200,000 to keep working on compression. So just so you know whatever compression um will get we keep that to the side and uh if it's actual compression so schedule fixes are need to be part of our dollars but the compression of um so an example is A12 right now on the classified is the lowest rate that's the one making if we were at minimum wage you would make minimum wage you do have minimum wage uh positions in district, it's usually like a part-time crossing guard. They're getting like an hour and a half a day or a duty aid that's uh just coming on to help, you know, invol, you know, on the campus and get paid a little bit for that.
>> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Thank you, Susan. >> So, do we need to take a vote on this letter? I think we need to take a Have you all had the opportunity to read the >> I move that we submit the letter as presented by Joe and updated by by Lisa, but we include the recipients of the current land owner, the person who has the agreement to purchase the land. Um, as well as who else did we say? I think that's it. >> I think so. >> And Susan, you have that information addresses that we could send that out to. and conser and our the Ashlin Conservation Commission and our building commissioner >> second and board of health >> board of health because they're going to have to request the uh [clears throat] sewer permit. >> Okay. Is there a second?
Um, because I was really hoping we would have somebody who, you know, had promoted literacywide. But then I looked at team Carol as a licensed she is a licensed superintendent and a licensed special educator which means she has literacy because that is what you do. She also has um her undergrad degree because they're both very strong science people. Her undergrad degree is in English language arts. So, as an educator for 40 some odd years, she impressed me off the charts. She knows what she's talking about. It to walk into um postcoavid and say we're putting all your cell phones away was as she said a career breaker. She could have lost her job. She stood behind the teachers. She listened to them and that she could have lost her job. She made a choice to stand for the teachers and the children because she believed it was the right thing to do.
Um and um so any discussion? Hearing no discussion. Uh vice chair recommendation is to pass with amendments. >> Senate bill 2125 to pass with amendments. Chair Makim >> I. >> Vice chair votes I. Senator Fukun the excuse. Senator Hashimoto. >> Hi. >> Senator Dorti. >> Measures adopted. Madam >> thank you for Senate Bill 2091. I think this measure needs a lot more discussion. this um grant program, the concerns around that about bonuses and so forth really needs to be um um vetted better. And so I'm going to recommend we defer this measure. We have other bus bills coming up and we can always um take out measures from here and include it into the upcoming bills. So um deferred and then for Senate Bill 2395, I also recommend that we defer it at this time. The DOE is in fact giving out school buses and then if we find that is not adequate then we can um revive this measure.
Um, unfortunately, we have like six positions on our lowest tier. Um so for classified compression we're recommending to take that 200 and go and spread the classified tiers out so that they have uh depth for um uh job advancement. So right now the way the schedules are set up is it Joel you said our ed sex or something are on one of our lowest tiers comparable to a crossing guard. I don't know. I would say when my years in school, the responsibility of crossing guard was very different than an edech. So um uh some of our or uh operational departments don't have spread so they have no upward mobility and like all the techs are making this you know level um we want to spread that out so that techs can have room for growth and improvement. Supervisors have the ability to move people and give them more responsibilities.
>> Second. >> Okay. All those in favor? >> That's 5. Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Oh, yes. Robera, >> can I just ask a quick question? Who's that letter initially addressed to? I heard all the copies were >> it was originally addressed to the director in Hopkin, the director of municipal inspections. Um but we're going to send it to the current land owner and the people who have an agreement to purchase as well as um our boards here in town. >> Okay. Um, in May of 2025 at their annual town meeting, they accepted the gift of the land >> and they accepted the Hopington land to protect that, not the Ashlin land, >> right? But their open space chair is kind of checking into that and they have a meeting tomorrow night that I'm planning to go to because he seemed a little uncertain about whether they included Ashland and it's appears that they did not.
So, hands down, I am team Carol. >> Member Diamond. >> Uh it it sounds like uh there's a great deal of agreement in the room. Um I I I agree that we are blessed to have interviewed two highly qualified candidates. Um looking at both of their records of accomplishment, there's a lot of things to admire about these candidates. Um the impression that I get is that um Sharon Kunwir uh has been working in a district with a rather high achieving school, the Eio Smith school um with a very good record of uh sending students to higher ed. And um this is a candidate who would be likely to bring um a higher level of rigor to our schools. Um and and has a great deal of other advantages that she would bring. Um, however, when I think about who's the best fit for Greenfield, I'm also just drawn to Carol Cruiser because um because she did her homework, because um she seems to care about Greenfield and understand what a city like Greenfield is like.
So, that's kind of what we're going to come back after we do the work with the committee. That's the committee work and that's what we're hoping uh to come out of here as another recommendation to continue uh with the 200,000. We don't always use it all. So, you know, we'll cost it out and bring it back and tell you, but anything we don't use just rolls to the into the budget balance carry forward to help the budget. So to clarify the 200 the 200,000 given yearly is to work with the compression with all groups and the pay scale compression is another part to it. Correct. >> In order for us to even work on job compression we got to fix schedules and that's what we committed to doing here. And that's what we um as a committee need to agree on on what groups versus the 200,000 currently yearly are being addressed already.