the parents are supportive now, the administration is. So, it's something that that uh we passed and uh we included some money in it for implementation as well. Um so, I'm hoping that that gets to the governor's desk before and so that we it can be implemented statewide before next September school year. Um, we are also doing what we can to to fight some of the federal uh administration's policies. We um passed a bill to safeguard women's health and protect uh women's health care rights um which was signed by the governor last summer. We are taking steps to protect our immigrants and make sure that that uh they are not just taken from the streets that hopefully we can help uh alleviate some of the fear. We know that in many school districts our children are not going to school. Parents are afraid of dropping them off for being taken.
It was not a longtime tradition. It was not promoted by the coaches. It was not known by any adult. The football staff did not try to cover it up. Our team word PAIA was not a felty acronym. It actually means love, friendship, and brotherhood. It's engraved on the headstone of one of our boys that we lost in a car accident. And the online cowards that disrespect our word, they disrespect his memory. I asked a board member, a friend of mine from the Cottonwood district, well respected. I asked him if you ever did you ever go against the attorney's recommendations. He said yes. He said I always rule we tried to rule on in truth, integrity, community and kids. Never out of fear. I don't really don't know any of you on the board and none of you have taken the time to get to know me.
But I think part of the issue is maybe for the bus drivers, how many how much input are are they giving DOE what what they need to be able to uh stop a student from getting on the bus when they have been misbehaving and DOE recognizes that and does something about it. >> Yeah, we're gonna we continue to communicate with our buses about that. I think with this letter going out, we're going to reach out to the bus companies to get more specific feedback on how we can work together with them on this. >> Why has it taken so long to for you to do this >> to send out the letter? >> Yeah. I >> I think we've been trying to address it incident by incident, but I think we felt that because of the shortage, this may not be the primary factor that why people don't want to be bus drivers, but it is a factor.
When I'm saying that we're adding behavioral supports or social emotional supports, we are talking about adding a district BCBA. We're talking about bringing in clinicians who can work with our students. We're talking about adding certificated staff members. We're not talking about adding aids. So, in addition to doing that, we are certainly looking at class size to determine what is the new normal for us. But full transparency when we're talking or thinking about decision making of deploying capital in that way we have to think about spending in two ways. There is nonreoccurring costs and then there are reoccurring costs. So let's just say for example the decision was made to use the $500,000 that we got in state aid to hire four more teachers because that's what potentially would have gotten us. If next year state aid was cut to $200,000 we would be eliminating three staff members.
What makes it even more special though is this student probably doesn't even realize that. On top of a rigorous class schedule, this student is starring in the upcoming production of Mamma Mia, has scored well every year in solo and ensemble, is a two-time sick district six first chair orchestra cellist, and a three-time all state orchestra cellist. He's also a member of the math team, the scholar bowl team, the scholar bowl uh the aces team, and the cross country team. When he's in my class, however, his ability to analyze literature is beyond measure. Much to my chagrin, he wants to major to become an astrophysicist with a minor in computer science. So, I often joke with him because he's wears so many hats that perhaps he should just be an adjunct literature professor on the side for fun. Quite frankly, Jonah Valaski, you are >> [laughter] [applause] >> He is one of the most well-rounded individuals I've ever met and I'm excited to see where you're soaring next.
>> Robert D. >> Yes. Brings down item number nine, superintendent comments. Uh, a few things. Um, spring break is right around the corner. Uh, that means we're threequarters of the way through this school year. Um, and looking at where we are, um, proud of the teachers. I mean, this is the roughest stretch for teacher students is from Christmas to spring break. It's the longest stretch. The weather's usually not great as we found out as we go away. Um so proud of our teachers, um proud of our administrators, proud of our support staff making it through those those times and those folks are going safe travel those folks that are going um elsewhere. Uh we mentioned the roof a little bit. Um something the board and I will have to decide is are we going to turn this in on an insurance claim or we're not.
Uh kids are they're afraid their kid will be taken so that the parent will have to go get them. They're not going to work. uh businesses. I'm hearing from businesses where they don't have the employees to continue their businesses because of this. So, we're we're taking a look and uh we will we will try to do what we can. Unfortunately, immigration is totally a federal issue. So, we are limited, but I believe that we need to take some steps to protect our residents. And I started a a committee uh soon after uh Trump was sworn in, honestly. And the mission of that committee is overall what can we do to protect our residents, defend our values because I believe Massachusetts values are very special and help lead us during these hard times. So with that, um, I appreciate you inviting me. I look forward to your continued partnership and helping Ashland and its residents.
I guess you're learning about me on Facebook or maybe some headline news. But let me introduce myself. I'm a Christian and I have a relationship with Jesus Christ. I was inducted February into the West Valley Hall of Fame. I coached and built a great football program at West Valley for 30 years. I am the second winningest coach in the North State. I'm arguably the best fundraiser in the North State. My crab beads raised $1 million in the last 10 years that I was there. I love helping boys become great men. It's actually my passion. I am a transformational coach. That means I love kids and I love kids more than I love winning. Apparently, that is not the man you want coaching your voice from your vote the other night against a 6o committee vote to reinstate me. I wanted to ask tonight if three of you might reconsider me.
So, we just wanted to address it. It's been around for a long time and you know I think that you got to get in front of stuff. You cannot just say you know individually and all because of a bus a shortage because etiquette and and decorum it should be should be foremost no matter what right that's what we teach the students in the classroom hopefully the same kind of behavior should be on the bus so that's not something that should be tolerated but I'm just saying that when these things are happening it just seems like folks are late to to the game and and you're getting you know as a bandaid instead is being proactive in trying to address this stuff and so only now you're coming out with a letter. I mean that's crazy, right? >> Yeah. In hindsight, we should have sent it out sooner.
That was the past sort of up and down that took place here. We don't want to repeat the past. We want to make sure that we are effectively and efficiently managing the finances that we know we have control over, i.e. not state aid aotment and then use that effective budgeting to deploy capital when we need it for things like increasing the number of because we will be financially sure that it is not a one-year fix or a two-year fix that we will be able to budget for that staff member to be here for 25 years. That's what we have to look at when we're looking at so making sure that we are being fiscally responsible and financially prudent in our decision making about that. But if you're asking me whether or not I'm concerned about class size, specifically K to 5, I was a preK to 2 principal and I was also a K to 5 principal.
>> [applause] >> Good evening and congratulations to all of our soaring eagles. This is a great honor for you. Um my name is Ford Barnfield. I'm a science teacher here at CHS as well as one of the coaches of the track and field team. I'm currently in my eighth year of teaching and I've had the privilege of coaching multiple sports and teaching a variety of classes. Now in my fourth year at Columbia, I truly enjoy tonight as it puts a spotlight on some of our students who really shine through. This year, my soaring eagle recipient is Selene Capion. Any teacher who has already had the experience of teaching Selene is fully aware of how exemplary of a student she is. Her kindness and thoughtfulness is always a positive influence in the class. Whether offering to help a classmate who is struggling or simply brightening somebody's day with a kind word.
We'll have some more information for you that I'll send out um that will be bids to get it fixed. Uh we have some preliminary numbers that look like they're going to be in that $250 to $350,000. Our deductible is $161,000. uh if we turn it in to insurance uh we risk probably a pretty good risk that our our premiums are going to go up which comes out of the um operations fund which is everything. So I've been in contact with um insurance company both our local insurance company and also um the claim rep from the larger company and they both have kind of hinted the same thing. Hey, we can turn it in um but probably we're going to see a premium increase uh at the end. So, it's a calculated risk we'll have to take um to figure out which way we want to go moving forward uh with that with that claim.
You know, this is my home. I've lived here for, geez, uh, almost 40 years. Um, it's amazing. Time really does fly. Uh, but I love it here. And so, thank you very much. >> Thank you, J. Before I ask, uh, open it up questions on the board, uh, Representative Lewis, you're still here, so you haven't had an opportunity to vote yet, so we would love to hear from you before runoff. >> I really wish I I were there with you. Uh, Wednesdays we have votes. Uh most Wednesdays our votes don't go past uh five or six. Uh today I think we're assuming we're going to be here for several more hours. Uh but because we're advocating for uh funding for uh transportation and education today, I know you'd rather all me be here at the state house advocating for money to come back home to Ashland uh than there in the room with you.
I believe in doing so you can kill a lie over this community. You could give their boys the coach they wanted. We can recover a football program that's struggling and we can protect boys from a lie. You've said online you want to ret protect boys. Give me a chance to do that. Thank you.
So I'm glad we finally sent it out. >> Well, years should have gone out. I mean, and then constantly yearly, it should be a reminder. You know, school's starting again. Bus bus drivers, we like to remind, you know, these are some of the things we got to make and if there's a problem, this is the number you call. the bus driver should be calling or making a report. I mean that should be yearly and not just once in Cleveland, right? >> Yeah, that's what we plan to do. >> It should push to the point where the the bus company can refuse to transport a student who regularly misbehaves or is, >> you know, not behaving on the bus or, you know, hurting students or even abusing the the driver. No. Do they have the authority? >> Well, that's part of it. >> Yeah, >> but that's why I'm asking you.
So I I am keenly aware of where our class sizes are and I'm looking at all of those things. Is that a commitment that I'm going to ask add staffing at any one of those levels? It is not. But if you're asking me whether or not this budget is going to add staff to address academic support, it is. If you're asking whether is going to add behavioral support and social emotional support for our students. It is. And what I would say is that we are in a financial position. If we needed to deploy capital in the future to bring on additional staff members to decrease class sizes because it was detrimental to student success, we would be in a position to do that. >> Follow question. So you said that hiring let's say four teachers would cost our entire additional spending the teachers are going to add the behavioral support would be additional >> yes they would >> well it's very from my perspective right now when I look at what are the critical mass needs across the district reding class size is not the first.
She demonstrates a level of compassion and awareness that makes her a true role model within the classroom. But then her strong work ethic and curiosity is what sets sets her apart academically. She approaches her work with focus and determination, always striving to do her best and deepen her understanding. Rather than being satisfied with surface level answers, she asks insightful questions and eagerly explores new ideas. >> [snorts] >> Her genuine love of learning and drives love learning and drives her to challenge herself and to continue growing. Seeing a student with this sort of drive and genuine interest makes me feel honored to have her in class. So, that is why I am delighted to finally present the soaring eagle to Selene. >> [applause] >> Hi. I get to go one more time. >> [laughter] >> I'm um actually covering for um my friend um Miss Chelsea Adair.
So, I'll be in touch once we get some bids in here in the next you think Katherine probably the next week or so we'll have some of those in. She has three companies she's going to try to get some quotes from to to figure out what that looks like. Uh looks like probably a total loss on that whole roof, meaning that membrane is compromised all the way back through the L. So, >> probably redoing the whole thing. Um, but there are some options out there that some are more expensive than others. Um, so we'll we'll probably try to get the most durable for the money type of thing. So, just want to give you a heads up on that. Um, also tunnel projects um that insulation removal will start on the 24th of April um by shutting off the boilers. So, they have to have the boilers off by for two or three days because the piping's hot.
So, please accept my apologies and I will try to make it up to you by finding some extra uh money in this supplemental budget we're working on. Uh really appreciate the partnership I have with uh members of the select board, all of you there. Uh the Senate President and I, as you said, work very closely together. I can't imagine uh this work uh that we've done together, this successful work without our close partnership and friendship. and so really appreciate uh her and everything uh we're able to do together. Uh the good thing about going second is she often covers everything in great detail. So I will just check everything off my I'm looking at my notes here. Uh no, in all seriousness, uh couple different a couple additional things I want to uh touch base on. Uh I think uh some of you know uh this year I was assigned or this this session as the house chair of the joint committee on municipalities and regional government.
>> Good evening members of the board. I'm here tonight because the lack of accountability in this room has reached a breaking point. We are watching our district fall into a state of shambles and it's time for direct answers to the question this community has been asking. First, I want to address the legal and ethical reality of your recent actions. To each board member, have you read the district's investigation in full? Are you making educated, objective decisions for our students, or is this a personal vendetta? Sources indicate that during your own queso investigation, admissions were made that suggest personal bias is driving policy. To that end, do any of you hold a law degree? Are we simply being governed by biased opinions at this point? Furthermore, when the reputations of our staff were dragged through the mud, could you ever make a formal statement clearing names on a public level?