And if you did, the attorney general's office says that would in fact be a violation of the open meeting law. They're they're more clear there than they are about social media. Although social media is is a place where they're getting to a point where they're going to be more clear. I think I think it looks like that's where it's going. Um I'm very happy to see no phones on the table. Not only are the public watching you, well, your phone's there. You probably have someone at home you want to pay attention to, right? I mean, I have grandchildren. I used to have children. Um, I still have children, but they used to be young and I worried about them all the time. What are they up to now? Are they cooking? Have they forgot the stoves on? You know, things like that. Um, when you're sitting in these meetings and folks are watching you online, they are watching you.
So our medical benefits fund is in a stable position. Our goal is to have two months in reserves. We at the end of January we had 1.75. So would like to see that number come up a little bit but certainly not an alarming number. Um and it actually is up from January 2025 where our reserve was 1.54 months. So um although it's below the two, it is in a better position than we were in January 2025. Um so again, we're seeing some variable claim expenditures, but the increased contributions of $1.2 million have allowed us to maintain overall reserve stability. Uh the one thing of note in the actual um report itself, not the narrative, is we did get our first stop-loss reimbursement for $27,8. So again, that's for uh reimbursements over $175,000. We do have uh prescription rebates at $350,000. Um but you can see our claim layout from July 2025 through January.
[laughter] >> Uh, any discussion? Can you repeat that again? >> You can snapshot this for recordification. >> Uh, seeing none, uh, Vice Chair Wai for the vote. Chair goes I. >> I vote yes. Senator Fukunaga. >> Senator Kim. >> I, >> Senator Favlla. >> I, >> Chair, your recommendations adopted. >> Thank you, Chair. Um, we're going to thank you for your amendments and keeping uh, the enterprise zones uh, whole as to the whole intent. So, I appreciate that. So the same recommendation for the committee on education to pass with a SD1 chair votes I >> members SB 2816 chair's recommendation pass with amendment chair vai vice chair's excused senator Fukunaga >> I senator I vote yes senator Dort >> I >> chair recommendations adopted >> thank you with that we are journ thank you members Hello and welcome to the joint hearing with the Senate Committee's Economic Development, Tourism, and Water, Land, Culture, and the Arts.
>> Dr. We had a long meeting this morning, but most of the day meeting, but uh Dr. Dr. Gro, he really hit the nail on the head and he said, "The whole project is like a duck on the water. Below the water line, the feet are just going like crazy and on top everything just looks nice and calm." And that's exactly what this project is. He he really is nailing the head with that one. So, uh, it's Ryan and and Kim that were here earlier really doing a good job just staying on top of everything and putting out the fires. And there's there's so much involved that is just behind the scenes that these guys are taking care of. and we elected to go with Cobalt in a different which is who Kim represents that's our owner's rep and she's really done a great job in keeping up with the projects and we give her a lot of lot of tasks and she always comes through keeps everything's focused and uh really I think a good decision [clears throat] that was that was made so >> we're pleased and then the uh the auditorium is going to be I can't wait for everybody to see it in fact I might try to I'm gonna put Taylor on the spot here so if you might go take a video at this stage right now.
They're watching if you're listening. They're watching if you're taking the information in or if you're sitting on your phone for threequarters of the meeting texting one. Number two, anyone who sees you texting during an open public meeting as a board member could request those text messages as public record. 2.1. The only text messages you would have to provide in such a request is text messages that happen to be on the topic you're discussing or any matter under your purview. So if you are texting your kids or your mom or your whomever you're texting um you would not have to provide that. But there have been a number of u of city officials um in some of the big cities and some school committee members who have been really badly embarrassed um by text messages they were sending to one another about other members about other people present at the meeting.
um where our new HSA plan year begins as well, started in January 1st of this year. Not all of our staff is on the HSA plan. We also offer, you know, PO and HMO, but the majority of our staff that have medical insurance through us are on the HSA mostly because we've eliminated th those options on contracts. The last being available to the teachers in 2027, I believe. So that's what I have. >> Last what is available in 2027? Yeah, I want to check. It's 2027 or 2028, but that's the last contract, any contract that will allow for the uh HMO or PO. Everyone else has been routed to the HSA >> or high deductible plan. >> Other questions? >> Does that conclude your report? >> That concludes my report. >> Thank you very much, Miss Taylor. Um, we are moving on to personnel committee.
This is our 10:02 PM agenda. We have a one minute time limit for all testifiers. Um, Chair uh, Chris Lee, Senator Lee, who's joining us along with the Waterland and Culture and Arts Committee. This agenda has six bills. Um, you know, I know we are short on time today. Uh, we have your testimonies. If you can stand on your testimonies, that would be super helpful. Uh, so let's get started. It's a uh first up the testifiers list we have department of agriculture and biocurity um >> dab please >> 2156imony. >> Thank you. Uh next up [clears throat] Georgia Skinner with Creative Industries DB >> Skinner Creative Industries intent. >> Thank you. Next up, Barry Shong for Department of Land and Natural Resources. >> Thank you. Next up, Lauren Yasaka. >> Oh, okay. Thank you. It's too good. You didn't zoom in in person. Um, next up, Director Tokyo from Department of Business and Economic Development.
I I walked up on the catwalks today and just the rigging and the and the curtains and everything that we have is is just unbelievable. I mean, it's the the complexity of this project is just mindboggling. And when you really see it behind the scenes, it's it's really it's really exciting. So, >> sorry to put you on the spot, but but [laughter] uh I was thinking I I should have grabbed my phone and started taking some video because it's really >> and and the auditorium right now, if it's after hours, we've got partial occupancy. You don't need to wear a hard hat, but you might want to go through the gymnasium as as well with the hard hat and get some video of that. I will tell you now that they've closed in that back wall and they've got the concrete in there. I standing in that space, it's it's weirded because everything seems to be really huge and then as they start entering things, you start thinking, is it all going to fit?
Um, you probably all remember about four or five years ago, there was a big uh violation that occurred in the in Boston, the Boston public schools, when some folks were um disparaging the name of their student representatives. Um, and those things all got published in the Boston Globe because that's the kind of thing that sells well newspapers or online clicks or whatever it is we're looking for. So, just be thoughtful, please. I know you're all thoughtful people, and that's what I'm asking you to do. Also, it's happened to everybody. We're sitting in a meeting and we get an email from someone and we see the tagline and we say, "Oh, I better look at this. This is about what we're talking about." It happens a lot. If that happens to you, and I asked this question um at an in-person training I attended about five or six years ago, if you get information on a matter that the board is currently discussing from someone who decided to be a good citizen and email it to you, the best thing you can do is share it with the rest of the committee if it's pertinent information.
Miss Cullinin, would you like to move forward with >> this personel? >> We are looking for the appointment of the director of pupil personnel. Uh the motion that will be placed on the floor is that the Cheshire Board of Education appoint Christina Sherwood as director of pupil Personnel Services effective July 1, 2026 to be compensated based upon the collective bargaining agreement between the Cheshire Board of Education and the Cheshire Administrative Personnel. >> Do we want a second? Do we have a second to that, Miss Fitzgerald? and then um we'll have some discussion. Dr. Solar. >> Sure. Thank you very much. Um this is uh an exciting time and if not a little bit bittersweet for the Cheshire Public Schools as we uh have the daunting task of replacing our current pupil personnel services director, Miss Robin Anne Kerry, who served in that role since um I think 2020.
>> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Next up on Mary Alice Evans for office of planning and sustainable development. Mary Alice chairs and members first of all apologies. Second of all apology for wanting to uh explain my testimony. Um we support DE's uh intent. Uh but we offer a I think a simpler solution that is to amend uh HRS chapter 2011-14 which is the consolidated the processing uh section that's already in HRS uh and to add the oversight commission to that subsection as a new subsection rather than the entire part. And I would also say that the amendments to chapter 205 the one 4.5 which adds building as a permitted to the egg district is appropriate but the change to chapter 20-6 special use permits would subject film permits for a special use permit process that was designed for longterm substantive uses and it's intentional slow and careful that does not fit the film industry's needs at all.
And then it gets huge again. It's >> that's really exciting though. So, >> yeah. >> Can't wait for the open house for the public to see it. >> So, Dr. Grody, when you said when we're going to have the the play in the auditorium. Um, what about [snorts] the use of the band room and choir room? When when what's the plan for moving in there? >> The choir room is after spring break because we will be moving the choir room out. I believe everybody else will be moving in at the beginning of next school year. So that is that is the at the end of spring break is when the um I believe all of it will be down to just the punch lists and so the choir is moving in because that's where phase three our current choir room is going to be uh the walls are going to be taken down the pit that it is for it is going to get filled and it's going to be part of the um >> cafeteria.
Um, otherwise you do put yourself at greater risk for violating the open meeting law because you've had something shared with you that you're taking into consideration um that the rest of the committee doesn't have. It's best practice um and the best way to keep you out of trouble uh should anyone decide in the future to file some sort of an OML complaint about that kind of thing. Make sense? People always want to be so helpful to us and we trust people, right? If people have our phone number, we must trust them. Um, but sometimes they're not always accurate and the things they sent us is all I can say. Share it with your members. Have that conversation. Uh, talk about the pros and cons of it.
Thank you very much. Um, I had written 2015. I knew that wasn't right though. Um, it just feels like that, right, Rob? But, um, you know, Robin has done such a tremendous job shephering us through some really challenging times, uh, with COVID and the, uh, constant evolution in special education. Uh, and so that means Miss Sherwood has really big shoes to fill. Um, but I don't think we could have found a better replacement for Miss Carrie. Uh, Miss Sherwood has proudly served the Cheshire Public Schools community for the past 10 years. She joined the Cheshire public schools in December 2015 as a special education teacher and has since demonstrated exceptional leadership, most recently serving as our special education uh, elementary special education supervisor since 2021. Prior to coming to Cheshure, she served in a variety of roles in the Ansonia public schools, including substitute teacher, para educator, instructional assistant, and special education teacher.
>> Thank you Marales. Your time is up. >> Thank you. Uh, next up, WA Constantino with Honolulu Film Office supporting the intent and wanted to agree wholeheartedly with the testimony. >> Thank you. Uh, next up, O. I got you two times for Coalition of County Film Offices in Hawaii. >> Yes, I take on the other hat. Um the coalition of county film offices were concerned about the time frame that the current bill uh was proposed. So again supporting the intent but it did not streamline the process and throw our support to the comments that [clears throat] >> Okay. Thank you. Uh next up Irish Barber testifying for Hawaii Film Alliance on Zoom. >> Sorry I'm driving. Um aloha chairs, vice chairs, and members of the committee. We stand on our written comments um that this needs more discussion with subject matter experts. Mahalo. >> Thank you.
Thank you. Yeah. So, that's going to open up that space nicely. It's really this project breaks everything down into some very nice zones, but the choir room will be the first one that moves into the new space. Band will probably be soon to follow. I don't know if they're going to actually move in this year or next. I'm going to let Mr. Reeves. [snorts] Anything else on facilities? Okay. Move on to individual board member comments. And we have anything this evening? No. President's prerogative. If you guys aren't saying anything, I'm not saying anything. So, we do have an executive session this evening. >> And there is an action item after. >> Thank you. We have an action item potentially afterwards. And we're going to go into an executive session this evening for purpose of the employment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of a specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against employee of the public body or legal counsel of the public body to determine its validity pursuant to five CS120C1 and student disciplinary cases pursuant to five CS120C9.
And I've come to the end, but I'm here to answer any questions you have before you get into business. Yes. >> We had an OML violation in 2022. >> Okay. >> And the resolution that we came to was to have OML training. >> Yes. >> And now we finally have >> Yes. It only took us >> four years to do it. And I've seen >> May of 2022. So um saying we we've done it. We did it. >> And I've seen members at charting the course trainings uh where you've had the OML training. Um I also want to note that um under the law, the only public elected public body in Massachusetts that's required to have training on their job, their roles and responsibilities are school committees. So just understand that all the other elected public boards in the community are operating without having ethics.
Miss Sherwood holds degrees from Western Connecticut State University and Southern Connecticut State University and is certified in elementary education, special education, and educational administration. Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to students and families, ensuring access to high quality learning experiences and strong responsive support systems. A committee comprised of the board of board of education representatives, parents, teachers, and administrators interviewed Miss Sherwood and were impressed by her depth of knowledge, collaborative leadership style, and clear vision for student support services. We are confident she will continue to build upon the strong foundation of our pupil personnel services department while keeping students at the center of all of her decisions. Um we're certainly grateful to Miss Carrie for all the years and and of service that she's brought to us, but uh I think we stand here confidently today making this recommendation to the board that um that Miss Sherwood will carry on that tremendous tradition that's been built.
Irish, please pull over. [laughter] Angela Young. >> Aloha. Angela Melody Young Cares. um in strong favor of this legislation. And um so I think what the committee can consider is to take a peek at um all the um other policies that are effective. For example, California, Hollywood, um where farmers typically generate revenue by acting as location scouts or renting their land um to production companies. So in Hollywood, farmers and location scouts build partnerships by listing properties in professional data databases, engaging with film commissions and negotiating location agreements that turn rural a land into profitable short-term film sets. Right? So if um in Hawaii um the committee wishes to enact an effective policy then um it should ask perhaps advice from the industry that knows what it's doing. And so um I think it's a good starting point in coordination with the appropriate county um planning offices to >> Thank you, Angela.
Nine. Would anybody like to make a motion to adjurnn into executive session? >> Motion. >> Thank you, Andrea. Enter a second. >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Lisa. Roll call, please. >> Tyson Search. Yes. Adam Himkin. >> Yes. >> Andrea Corey. >> Yes. >> Greg Meyer. >> Yes. >> Lisa Schumacher. >> Yes. >> Right. We're going to Jordan to executive session. There is one item for action afterwards possibly and then an adjournment. Perfect. Time is 8:34. We're back in open session. Uh we just conclude our executive session. We do have one action item as a result. That is would you like to make a certain motion? I'll make a motion. I move that the board approve a resolution to dismiss and non-renew the employment of K. styles probationary teacher effective the last teacher employment day for the 2026 school term. >> Okay. Okay. We have a motion on the floor.