Um that K-2 embedded systematic and explicit phonics is robust. Um I know an embedded phonics can be scary, but this one is actually a full phonics curriculum. It has a rich knowledge base um so students are reading um with any topic and building their um knowledge on that topic through engaging with multiple different um texts and articles on that topic and really building their knowledge on that. Um there is writing and research and grammar and um language and um speaking and listening all built in there. So, it is a full comprehensive um program. It is rigorous and engaging. It is developmentally appropriate so that all the texts that they are reading are the right for their age and their development. Um and the last one I uh there's a lot of teacher supports in there. Um >> [snorts] >> both for um student access. So, if they need um English language supports in there, if a student is on an IEP, supports for them there, as well as engagement and skill development.
>> Sure, it would be fine. Are you volunteering, Rachel? >> Yeah, I'm happy to. >> Thank you. >> Yes. >> I'm gonna open it and then share screen. Okay, I'm going to stop sharing and we'll let Rachel do that. Thank you. >> Yes, everybody can see. >> Okay. So, um I have you all had a chance to look at this? Um so I'm wondering if people have >> point of order. I can't hear you, Margaret. Sorry. You can't hear me. >> Try talk again. I might need to have my audio on for you when I'm sharing screen. Talk again, Margaret. >> Okay. Can you hear me now, William? >> It sounds like you're whispering. I don't know what's going on. Sorry. >> It's >> I can hear Margaret fine. >> Okay. It must just be my connection. I apologize. >> Sorry, William. >> That's okay.
Like, you know, they said we're high, but they weren't able to say by how much. Yeah, we I we we did still go to our I think our our our budget hearing and and approval with numbers that were above where this the towns wanted us to be, and there was a a bit of a process. Um you know, which is typical. I mean, I will say I I don't think I you know, you they're still wrangling through some of their budget. I mean, when we were at at Berlin, um Beth Can attest, I mean, they pulled up their whole spreadsheet and were walking through item by item, and they had just gotten a number from ASABET that they were plugging in and trying to figure things out. So, you know, we we're all in the same place. We're all still working our on our budget.
we should use them correctly um and as they are properly defined. Our ch proposed changes include uh a change to section 518 which is the special dimensional and site layout standards specifically 518.1B.2.a that is on your screen now. It is regarding what is permitted in the front yard of a residential zoning district and we are proposing to change solid waste containers to curb carts. Second change that we are proposing is to in section 520 which is landscaping screening and buffering specifically subsection 520.6. on your screen is are the track changes and final changes of our proposed amendment. We are amending it to specifically apply screening and buffering for solid waste container points of storage when it's visible from a street, a park or residential zoning district. Um, and with curb [clears throat] carts um and as usual curb carts on parcels with single and two family dwellings are still exempt.
Um, do you guys have any questions? I don't have questions but I I think this is really really important because having a sense of belonging connection um especially as we get into a more competitive educational environment. >> Yes. I just I want us to be best at that because I think that is what travels word of mouth with families was oh I just I went into this school and I felt such a part of the school and I was really you know I saw the I did the tour and I talked to these teachers and they were very impressive and that's I think that's just a key really key part and >> um you know we do we do want to feel like a family for everyone. We do want everyone to >> to feel like they're wanted here and and that their voice matters.
And then the last one I'll name is it is cost-effective for us. It is a one-time purchase, um and there's also digital access that comes with this as well. So, that takes us to our next steps. Um we will be creating our professional learning plan to onboard our teachers and our instructional coaches, literacy coaches, to all the materials, um once we move past our um vote. Tonight, we are able to move forward with um working with the vendor for that. And then also to schedule the ordering and delivery of the materials. With that, I will turn it back over.
All right. So, um I'm wondering I guess first of all Oh, well, we can go down through here. Some of these things are pretty obvious. Um, you know, the charting the course. Um, I appreciated the what went into this orientation meeting with the chair and superintendent because I my experience is that in the past is it either didn't happen or it was very brief. Um, I think that I think that um this is much more comprehensive. Um, I >> Margaret Jenny and Sarah Best have their hands up. I don't know if you want >> Okay, Sarah Bess. Um, so I I don't know if um Jenny added or updated anything that was on here before, but policy BIA is a already a policy. >> The document that I wrote just operationalized it and created links to >> all of links where there needed some needed to be.
It's very possible that, you know, the number we we vote next week on the 10th, we realistically can't increase going forward. But if we have some changes, and as I said, there may be some changes that um bubble up that may be positive um based on my conversations with Janelle that may that we won't have the answer on the 10th, but we may have the answer in the weeks that follow. So, there may be some room to have a conversation about even some normal savings coming into the budget as maybe some conversations happen. Right? The the big goal is is just so that we're not having to negotiate on the floor of town meeting. I think you know, everyone remembers where they were 2 years ago and sort of what that ended up being. Um but there's a lot of room for conversation up until then and some give and take and um you know, listening to what what Berlin had to say, listening to what Boylston has to say, um look at what we think is responsible, and even start working on what's a what's a path to sustainability.
The changes will clarify that screening and buffering is required for the point of storage, not necessarily point of collection, which could be out near the street and only when existing buildings do not already provide screening. A third [gasps] amendment that we are proposing is to section 529.1 addressing zoning permits. Um the change we are proposing is to change dumpster to solid waste container. um that reference and our fourth amendment proposed is in section 529.8 8 which deals with required plan information. In paragraph D the dimensional plan layout and in paragraph H the landscape plan. We are amending whatever term we have come up with on our own to the actual term of solid waste enclosure uh container points of storage and points of collection. >> Thank you. Planner Deo. >> We have one more amendment though. I'll be [laughter] quicker. It's to the definition of open space.
>> Absolutely. >> Um I I just want to say, yeah, I think it's just to kind of jump on Jill's point, I think it is so important. I think a lot of people choose Gil Public Schools because of the culture that we have here. I think it's important to maintain that. um how do you um you know evaluate like the effectiveness of like own school culture? You know, >> it's it's hard and that was actually one of our most challenging pieces because we came up with some fantastic goals as a committee and then when we took it to the rest of the district continuous improvement plan group, they're like these aren't measurable because that is a challenge. And so we're in the process of reworking that. Um we know that we do want to look at um like survey data but at the same time we have so many surveys out there right and so how do we get intentional about making sure that we don't have survey fatigue that we are asking the right questions that we are actually using the data that we're collecting in the best way possible.
Do we have any questions or comments for the board? President Wade. Um thank you so much, Ms. Davis. Um I just like to kind of emphasize it Thank you so much for that explanation. It really seems that this is a really thought-out process, and so I really appreciate the time that you all have taken on this. Um in addition to kind of some of the questions, what's lucky being board members is we get to kind of ask some extra questions. Um so, I'm so grateful for your answers on that, but I just want the community to know like I love political neutrality in these kind of situations, so I just want to ensure that overall Core Knowledge is what this curriculum focuses on. I'm going to Before I answer, I would like to for you to clarify what you mean by Core Knowledge. Oh, the core >> [sighs] >> Good question.
So, >> you know, MASC charting the course I think is is a law. Um, and then um you know items one through six and then um are are part of the policy already. and then the the material those are links um from that were already in there. And then number seven is what I I wrote unless Jenny has other items that she has added or updated in there. I have um I see that this doesn't have the yearly agenda in it which um it had the region. >> Sorry, I'm scrolling up now. >> It's okay. >> Oh, there it is right there. I do have an update. I've been working on the Pelum Pelum agenda. I think this is a link to the regional one. Um, >> yeah. So, the document I shared with Margaret, um, I did not change the spirit of what you wrote, Sarah Best, because it seemed really thorough and I just wanted to thank you for doing all of this work because it's super helpful and I think it is a practice that we should put in place going forward for new school committee members.
You know, if you were an individual and you have a savings account and you run into a situation, right? You don't just think about that one situation. You then think about, particularly if it's something that's going to change your ongoing costs, what you need to change in your life. Do you need to go out and get a second job and raise more money? Do you need to cut something else out of your life? Maybe Netflix isn't so important, right? What have you? So, our budget is not I mean, I'm using a an analogy I think most people can understand. It's a little more complicated than that, but there may be reasons and opportunities to have those conversations in a responsible way with the towns about how we work on creating a path to sustainability, right? And many things can be on the table ranging from potential cuts, possibly draconian who you know, or you know, overrides are on the table.
You took a long pause there. [laughter] >> Um, it is to the definition of open space and not surprisingly we are recommending approval of these amendments. >> Thank you, Plano Deia. Manager Kelly, there remains no one of the public in chambers. What's our condition? Online. So I shall open and close the public hearing seeing as though there are no members of the public either in present uh chambers present with us nor online. And I will read the proposed motion. The Ann Arbor [clears throat] City Planning Commission hereby recommends that the mayor and city council approve amendments to chapter 55 unified development code sections 5.18, 5.20, 5.29, 29 and 5.37 related to solid waste terms for consistency and accuracy with recent amendments to chapter 26 and the solid waste regulations as proposed in the attached ordinance. Moved by Commissioner Lee, seconded by Commissioner Mills.
And so um through like the staff um for example we can look at retention data um we can look at you know how many of our teachers how many of our classified staff members stay year after year and what was it about their experience that caused them to stay you know what was it or caused them to leave and then we continue to grow from that and learn from it and make adjustments um with students it's our retention you know how are we getting that student enrollment? How are we maintaining it? Um how are we intentionally looking at because the transition from sixth to 7th grade and from 8th to 9th grade is huge. So how are we making sure we do have those um programs, you know, that we we do use, but how are we collecting data and making sure that we're as effective as we possibly can and making sure those kids are feeling like they're welcome and they're excited to go to the next level.
Um not principles, what is it? What were uh from the state requirements. And then the standards from Our standards, yes, sorry. No, you're fine. Um yes, that is what um what the whole program would focus on is our state standards and literacy skills. Okay, fantastic. And I love like when I heard the idea of the phonics being enriched in this You know what I mean? So, I'm so grateful that we're mindful of that and that in a way this will be such a financially conservative to the district. So, thank you so much for thinking about that and and being thorough that it actually will cross those tees and dot the eyes when it comes to the phonics. So, thank you so much. Um And thank you so much for reaching out uh and getting the feedback from everybody who, you know, or who want took the time actually is probably what I should say to let the district know what what they wanted.
Um I I also wanted to just sort of provide some context like this came originally we were sort of noting that we didn't have a formal process and so um a couple of us were asked to sort of take on writing this and then it before we even got very far down that road uh we were told that hey Sarah Best has done a lot of the work for us. So um so I I felt like what you had developed was really strong. There are there is a comment in the version that I shared with Margaret around the documents that are listed 7 C through F or G I believe. Um not all of the current links in that section are accessible to Pelum school committee members. So we would need to create either get add access to Pelum school committee members to where those documents currently live online or create a folder for the Pelum school committee so that we can access those documents.
I know it's a dirty word, but you know, everything should be on the table for conversations going forward um with how we create a sustainable budget um that supports our students. To to To answer the question too is we do not have we don't have exact numbers from Berlin and Bolton. They gave us ball parks but no one has officially said [clears throat] this is the exact number even in Bolton last night and in Berlin last week that they they're still working it out. We don't have official numbers to be worked out. But March 10th is still looming for us right? We need to make sure that we you approve a budget by March 10th so that we can do that 45 days and be ready to present and let the board know what the town wants. Just a couple things on that. So everybody remembers I'm sure Jack in your your first time here when you were part of this back in the PTO a couple years ago.
Is there any discussion? Commissioner Mills. >> I just want to thank staff for including the track changes version since when OC saw it last week. Commissioner Lee, >> just to be clear, all of this is just simply simplifying and making consistent the verbiage and lexicon related to solid waste containers. Correct. >> Um I would say 99% yes. There is some changes in that landscaping and screening section. Um I think if you read that um word for word right now, it implies that the screening goes around all four sides >> of the enclosure. And we wanted to make it clear that we you do not need to screen all four sides. It's specifically screened from view of from those points of view. And if the therefore if the buildings themselves screen not necessary um and that way also you can get to the solid waste. >> So because it's [laughter] not screened on all four sides.
um for the community members if we have culture surveys that go out and just continue to check the pulse of how we're doing. And the one thing that we do talk about as a team over and over again is it it's important to gather that information, but it's even more important and what we use it for, right? And the adjustments. And we have to have a system in place to constantly be evaluating that data that we're collecting and showing everybody, you know, you we we are hearing you. We are making adjustments and we're going to continue to refine our practice to make sure that this is a great place for everybody. So, but it is a challenge. You are you are right. >> Thank you so much. It's so important. I do have one more question and that is because of the security measures that we found necessary.