And unfortunately her time was taken up by uh bringing the executive director to this meeting in which I had no knowledge about. Uh and within that meeting she also took all of the time to discuss and to talk and to complain. Um so unfortunately uh we are up against a mountain here and a real hill and it's important that we put people in position that will have a forwardinking vision and be able to challenge the system, bring new ideas but then also most importantly ask hard questions. Um and with that chair I I will be supporting >> your I just wanted to state my reason for recommending that we not advise with consent. It was a collaborative decision. you know, I talk to my colleagues and make sure that um we're on the same page on certain things. I've talked with people in the community with teachers and based on some of our hearings that we've had and things that we've brought up, the responses that received um in those hearings, that is the basis for the decision.
Keep in mind that if you're a new nominee, then we give you the benefit of the doubt to, you know, but if you're a returning one, then we're going to ask you on your performance and what you've accomplished, what you haven't accomplished. But if you're in a leadership role now, that even puts you on a higher level, then we expect the leadership and we expect you to be able to um respond to some of these concerns. So it's a higher level um that we look at. So keeping that in mind. So with that um the chair will vote I to not advise and consent. >> Members, this governor's message number 658. Chair's recommendation is to not advise and consent. Chair votes I. Vice chair is excused. Senator Fukunaz excuse. I vote I. Senator Dort >> I. Chair recommendations adopted. >> Thank you. U moving on to U GM657 for the Kina Sorz for a term to expire 6:30 2028.
The uh recommendation is to advise and consent. >> Members, this is governor's message number 657 charge recommendations advise and consent noting the excuse of Senator Kedani and Fukunaga for this measure and all others. Anyone voting with reservations or no with all others voting I recommendations adopted. >> Thank you. And for GM652 for the nomination for Jonathan Guillotine to term expire 6:30 2027 recommendation is to advise and consent.
Any discussion chai >> members governor's message 652 chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. A members voting with reservations or nos others voting I recommendations adopted. >> Thank you for GM509. This is for gubernatorial nominee Kumari Moss for a term to expire 6:30 2029. Uh the recommendation is to advise and consent.
Discussion hearing none shai members this is governor's message number 509 chair's recommendations advising consent. Any members voting with reservations or nos with all voting I recommendations adopted. >> Thank you for GM654 uh for the nominee Daphne Okunaga for a term to expire 6:30 2022. Recommendation is to advise and consent.
Discussion hearing none. Chair votes I >> members governor's message 654 chair's recommendations advise and consent any members voting with reservations or no with all his voting eye recommendations adopted. >> Okay. And for GM 655 for gator nominee Natasha Nali to term to expire 6:30 2028. I've already said we will defer this measure since she has not been here to answer uh questions. Uh moving on to GM6 56 for gubanatorial nominee Dale Araki for a term to expire 6:30 2028. Recommendation is to advise and consent.
Any discussion hearing? None. Chair votes I. >> Members, governor's message 656 charge recommendation is advise and consent. Any members voting with reservations or no with all others voting I. Recommendations adopted. >> Thank you.
And finally for GM757 recommendation um for gubernatorial nominee Logan Okita for a term to expire 6:30 2029 uh is to advise and consent discussion hearing none chair votes I >> members governor's message number 757 chair's recommendations advise and consent chair uh any members voting with reservations or no without others voting I recommendations adopted >> with that we're going to congratulate all of you thank you all for being here all the testifiers as well appreciate that uh we are ajourned
Mhm. >> I thought it was going to be like a lapel mic or something or maybe a Bob Barker microphone. >> GoPro. >> Yeah, ooh, better. All right, we're going to go ahead and get our start with our executive sessions. We've got three executive ex We've got three executive sessions tonight. We're not in a rush. We can just take our time. We've got three executive sessions tonight. Uh pursuant to all three are pursuant to ARS 38-431.03A1 to discuss the potential appointment of Carrie Castro as principal of Mesquite High School. The second executive session is the same but to discuss the potential appointment of Elise Torbert as principal of Gilbert Classical Classical Academy. And the third executive session is the same suit to discuss the potential appointment of Tyler Dumas as assistant superintendent of teaching and learning. Is there a motion to move into executive session?
Hello Clockers, my name is Halley Silver with WACA and today I'll be bringing you some essential Ashland updates. On March 26th, town officials held a public forum to discuss the FY27 budget and a proposed override under Proposition 2 and 1/2. The meeting brought together the Select Board and the School Committee to address financial challenges facing our community. The key proposal on the table is an override totaling $2.75 million for Ashland schools. For the average homeowner, that could mean an increase of about $420 annually based on a property assessed at $737,000. Town Manager Michael Herbert emphasized that the budget crunch isn't about poor management. It's what he calls a math problem driven by rising fixed costs such as health insurance, pensions, and regional obligations. Meanwhile, Superintendent Jim Adams pointed out that the district is running with staffing levels from 2017 even as student enrollment climbs. Adams warned that if the override doesn't pass this year, the town could face a much larger $5 million request in the future.
meeting on Tuesday, March 31st at 11:35 a.m. Could we do a roll call, please? Mary Beckwith? Here. John Nunes? Yeah. Chris Oliver? Here. Kathleen Amaral? Beth Caldwell? I just say we're here to discuss the agenda item of looking at the proposed revised school committee school budget for FY 27. I would just remind everyone, Mary, that this meeting is being video recorded for live broadcast and future broadcast. Okay. This meeting is being recorded for live broadcast as well as for future broadcast on DCTV. So, shall we begin with a review of the proposed changes to the budget? Could we discuss the more fully? Yeah, I I would just say I know that Mr. Carli had forwarded to you an updated document update that updates some of our proposed revisions to the budget.
Got it. Right. So, I have um >> All right. Thank you. >> Good evening. Uh welcome to the March 31st, 2026 meeting of the school committee. My name is Loiser and I call this meeting to order at uh 6:25. Um, our item on the agenda is to for um to approve the outofstate uh field trip for fourth graders. Do I have a motion um to move the approval of the out of the strip field trip for the fourth graders? >> Jesse Hall. So, >> thanks Jesse. Do I have a second? >> K. Second. >> Thank all in favor. >> Thank you. So, motion move. >> Thank you. Um, now I'm going to call uh call the meeting for adjournment at this 6:26. >> Thank you. Thanks. Happy fourth graders. >> Where are they going? >> Rhode Island Museum of Museum. >> It's just right over the border.
Okay. Um, chair statement. This meeting is being recorded by the budget, finance, and warrant subcommittee. If any other persons present are also recording, you must notify the chairperson at this time. No notifications. Calling the meeting to order. Uh, March 30th, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. Uh, roll call of members. Uh, member Goodwin here. Uh member web >> here >> and uh subcommittee chair child's here. So we are all present. Uh the next item. Okay, that was our five minutes into meeting random Zoom reboot, but we should be back. And let's see. Sorry, just getting the chat and participants windows open. Okay, public comment. Seeing no members of the public online or in the room, but if someone shows up later, I'd be more than happy to reopen public comment for them. So, moving on to the next item, approval of March 23rd, 2026 draft subcommittee uh minutes.
>> So moved. >> Thank you, Mr. Brainard. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Ms. Humphreys. All those in favor of moving into executive session, say I. >> I.
Officials also highlighted Ashland's history of fiscal conservatism, noting efforts to minimize the impact on taxpayers while maintaining quality services and public safety. Residents should mark their calendars. The in-person town meeting is set for May 6th followed by the town election on May 19th. For those wanting more info, the town will publish a dedicated budget and override page on the official website featuring the forum slides, a recording of the meeting, and responses to pre-submitted and live questions from the public. That's the latest on Ashland's budget and school funding plans. We'll continue to follow the story as the town moves closer to the vote. In community news, the Ashland Police Department is hosting a food drive on April 3rd and 4th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Market Basket in Ashland. They're collecting donations to support the Ashland Food Pantry and are asking for your help to support families in need.
And so, this is an opportunity for us to have discussion about that and answer any questions that you may have. Are we able for the viewing public, are we able to put that um uh updated draft revision um on Zoom? Let me get it to you. Is someone able to share their screen? Yeah, we're working on that right now. >> Yep. Perfect. I am always happy um to start off if no one else has anything um Madam Vice Chair. Um that's fine with us. Is it okay with you, Mr. Noons? >> Perfect. I've got some I've got some comments, but I'll you know. Yeah, let's let's wait till it's up on the screen, please. Sure. I um Mr. Oliver, are you going to uh refer to to uh that document that Mr. Kylie sent us? Yes, I'm going to Yeah, I'm going to be Okay.
>> Yeah. I'll talk good. >> That was an annual trip. I guess I have a present for you. They're reacting. That's >> good. >> So, are we ready? >> Okay. So that being said, we're going to call our re our joint school committee meeting together at what time is it now? 6:30 on Tuesday, March 31st, 2026. So first of all, do we have any community comments either in person or online? No. Okay. Seeing none, then we will move to our presentation for the AI program. >> All right. So, I'm going to turn it over to Assistant Superintendent Conlin to introduce our guests and give a little bit of context if that's okay. >> Right. >> As he multitasks here, >> Super Conlin is getting this together. We could do need a robot to do this for me. All right. So uh we have been talking as a district I feel like for four five years the coming of AI um doing professional learning and development with our teachers and um we've gotten to a point now where we felt like we needed some firmer guidelines in place.
>> So, moved. >> We have a motion from uh member Goodwin and I will second. Oh, unless member Webb, do you want a second? Because you can. >> Second. >> Okay. Uh do we need time to look over it? Are we ready to vote? Um if you're ready to vote, we can go ahead and vote. Member Webb. >> Sounds good. >> Okay. Member Webb. Yes. >> Yes. >> And I'm a yes. So, the minutes are approved unanimously. Okay. Now, to the fun part. Discussion of warrants paid and received in March 2026.
>> Any opposed? And we are in executive session. We'll go ahead and go over to the first floor conference room. >> Mhm. >> on. We're waiting on one of Oh. Waiting on one of our board members and our superintendent. So, what we're going to do is we're going to turn the mic on if anybody has any jokes they want to come up and tell, you're welcome to. Just kidding. That was a joke. Um so, if you all just bear with us and give us a few minutes, we'll get started as soon as we can. Thank you. Thank you all for being here. All right. We'll go ahead and get started now. Uh want to already did, but I'll do it again. Welcome everybody to our board meeting tonight, March 31st. And we want to welcome everybody that's watching online.