So, remember to vote, remember to support the budget, and let's go get a picture over by the wall. Okay, come on. What is it? >> Good job. I Good job. You're playing She said she >> Okay, I'm going to reconvene this meeting and um that's always a great thing that went on um with our kids watching what they've done and their accomplishments. So, now we're going to go to um we'll go to public comment and we'll open up to anybody in the audience that has anything to say for public comment. >> If you just for the record, we just name it. Sure. >> Hi, good evening at 30 South Street in Pollinsville. Um, as always, I'd like to thank the board for their service to the team on the stage. Um, I'll keep this brief because it's faculty Tuesday, so I need to get out early.
That's just the way it is, right? >> Right. And I would say I mean I think you know like well not only really so I think this this we could really use them in my mind what is it that makes you feel this way. So the positive responses that is a different way to look at it. So you can still see it's still over half or majority positive already. >> And then the next question for that same my school feeling last questions are safe perception 46% their school creates a positive work environment trying to keep up um also positive and median And now we'll look at our middle school. >> And again, middle school only. And when we get to elementary, same statement. My school. >> This one is a little over the years. So not not a clear. So my thought is this really >> we also have that merge and leaving their old school to new school mostly.
Hearing none, the measure is adopted. Thank you. Next up is HB 2097. This authorizes administrator's driver's license revocation hearings to be conducted using interactive conference technology. Clarifies that evidence in hearings conducted via interactive conference technology may be submitted and exchanged electronically. Uh, recommendation here is to pass as is. Questions or concerns? If not, Vice Chair. HB 2097 HD1 SD1 recommendation to pass as is. Any no votes or reservations?
As our costume designer she brings characters to life with incredible creativity and attention to detail. She plays a huge role in our CTE technical theater classes by teaching students real-world skills like sewing, problem-solving and craftsmanship. We would be nowhere without her. So thank you very much for all you do. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Next we have our teacher Stacy Ventress. >> [applause] >> You get to tell us who's with you, too. Um I brought my husband Travis Ventress who also teaches at Williams Field. >> [applause] >> So even before I got here I knew Stacy. I know when I was even at Sossaman we got to practice track and field sometimes at Higley and I'm walking and I see her she's with her kids for sports medicine. Hey do you guys need anything? They have we having a we had a meet there and they did everything and you just heard her no no and it was just like clockwork.
This project encourages us to begin with the end in mind as we design and create and be proactive during our learning by trying new ideas and solving challenges. Hello, my name is Tenley Minke and I'm a member of the culture action team on student lighthouse. Together we get together to get everyone excited about voting, we had held a spirit week and created posters and chalk art around the school. On voting day, students wore the color of the project they supported. We also held a school wide assembly where each project was presented and celebrated. After the assembly, students visited the scorpion voting room at the at their assigned time to cast their ballots. The students showed up showed leadership by being proactive and making responsible choices as voters and we all thought win-win by respecting each other's opinions. And the winner was Scorpion Synergy City. >> [applause] >> Hello, my name is Lily Butta and I'm a member of the culture action team on student lighthouse.
Um where if you had a sibling, there was an automatic enrollment. And so, that's why my thing is like I just want to make it clear there is no automatic enrollment. You can There's a priority process, but you can't be automatically enrolled into the regional district. Third best in line. Yeah, I think it was in another district, not here, and they had um so if they had eight choice seats, they would hold a sibling choice seat lottery. And then they would hold a non-sibling choice seat lottery. Is that something that that would come from policy, or is that something that is procedurally up to the superintendent and their designates to decide how that works? My understanding is procedurally because the seats are Again, like Martha was saying, it depends on the number of seats that we have available. Um and so that actually would I My understanding is it would not it would be uh the district.
Um there is money that is uh we had allocated for curriculum review. Um we will put that aside and if we can try to find another source for that money, there sometimes are grants. Uh we've also um I reached out to Senator Kennedy or actually they reached out to us with some potential earmark grant money. We went back to them and said, "Hey, we'd love some money for curriculum." And they said, "Well, maybe not right now." So, we are working diligently to try to find money and we will commit to not doing this unless we can find an alternative source. So, that comes to a total of $122,000 of savings all around. Um then when we get to Boylston, Boylston had a much tougher number to meet. Um there were a lot more challenges. This is this comes from the fact that they're at their levy limit.
Um, but I was so glad to witness all of that. It was so wonderful to see the students students are. So, I'm glad I glad I came in person. Um, for those who think that Canton is not fiscally responsible when it comes to educating them, know that statistically the median household income in Canton is higher than average. Yet our per pupil expenditure is below average. I think our children and our education professionals deserve much better than below average. And yet each year the board of education is asked to cut more and more. This is despite predictable increases for the next year that are not even included. I learned this year that part of the decision as to if there will be a two or three hour delay is due to resources for snow removal. More specifically, it has to do with the tractor at CIS.
>> So at middle school staff >> they were sure and so it'd be interesting to see school by school. This is our data for elementary. It's over seven elementary. So that is very good. Um but then when we look at that same statement again this is a step up still positive and a negative rules that take some time with Michigan 84% of our staff at the middle school. Well, I just see how um somebody go all the way to the middle school and make the big that big change. I'm hoping that they feel comfortable and staff and parents too, right? >> California that we can call this one again from bullying. We used to have um >> well they used to say I forgot the name of it but um classroom so many people were participating so that they were just in their school now I think we need >> something like that.
Hearing none, the measure is adopted. Thank you. Next up is HB 2121. Beginning January 1st, 2027, prohibits the sale, offer for sale, or distribution for sale of any disposable electronic smoking device in the state. Uh, recommendation here is Uh, I'm going to defer it and the reason for this SB 2175, which has a less challengeable title is moving on the house side, so we'll defer this one. HB 2152 relating to dog attacks. Um, So, the recommendation is to make some amendments. Um, but if you don't like them, Chair, Chair Gabbard, we can do otherwise. Um, the recommendation and our recommendation on is on page three line 16 and page four line Uh, oh, lines 12 and 13. Limit persons who may kill the dog to to the owner of the livestock or their agents, which may include family members. And make the application to district court just like any other filing to district court and a judge may order the dog euthanized.
So now I get to Williams Field and the the term I think of from our core values for Stacy is selflessness and I think of that cuz I think of the things that she's done since I've been there. This is her third classroom. And I told her she has the same one for next year so she gets to stay there. She will teach whatever you ask her to teach. So next year I asked her would you teach anatomy? And she's going to teach some sections of anatomy. She's going to teach physical education, she's going to teach sports medicine. She does whatever is best for kids. And you see it the smile that you just saw all the time and I think we needed this year hey we have some kids that didn't finish their CPR. Could you help us? Yes, I can. So really will go out of her way to make sure that kids are successful and we can't function as schools if we don't have people like Stacy so thank you very much.
We are excited to bring Scorpion Synergy City to life. This project will help us stay active, build relationships and continue synergizing during recess. Most importantly, it will help us sharpen the saw by taking care of our bodies, building friendships and having fun. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to use our voices, show leadership and make a difference in our school. >> [applause] >> Hi, my name is Layla Johnson and I'm in ninth grade. Hi, my name is Shirley Whitmer and I'm in eighth grade. Hi, my name is Kennedy Block and I'm in eighth grade. >> Hi, my name is Riley Shaw and I'm in eighth grade. Hi, my name is Willow Kellam and I'm in seventh grade. Hello, my name is Quinn Carlson and I'm in eighth grade. Hi, I'm Matthew Rojewski and I'm in seventh grade. Hi, I'm Tiger Shepherd and I'm in eighth grade.
Yes. That's my understanding as well. Thank you, Martha. Do you have more? Yeah, I said it all. So, what in I think it I think it was 2019, the Massachusetts changed the law. So, it wasn't a decision like a local decision. Massachusetts changed the law that said, "Once you are in a district, you are just there to the end of that district." And if that district then filters into another one. So, what happened was any kid who was in at 2019 got grandfathered in. So, it's not that they like so That's what this year was. That's what That's what's happening this year is that those kids have transitioned all the way through. Um my understanding is that also you cannot So, once So, like so if a kid from Rhinotown great Springfield comes to Pelham, once they're done in sixth grade, they're not Pelham kids anymore, they're back to being a Springfield kid.
They cannot tax more without doing a 2 and 1/2 override. Um if we were to put more on the town meeting warrant, um they would uh indicate this subject to a 2 and 1/2 override. Um at this point, the likelihood that a 2 and 1/2 override is going to go through with no preparation um is pretty low. Um so, we have been working to get to their numbers. We said there was a little bit of movement um from a few things, but this is really where we are with them. So, we're looking at two special education paraprofessionals. To be honest, we really reevaluated needs. We looked at um you know, what we were holding for potential and and we felt that those cuts were um tenable. Um then we really get into a lot of the items that say cut for budget. We just had to decide like what cuts can we make that won't impact required services.
It was gifted to the school years ago after it was no longer needed by the town. So, in addition to fancy snow tracking technology and consultations, it's a little tractor that could albeit. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Thank you for your kindness. Uh, seeing no one else in the audience, we'll go online. Anybody online car that would like to speak for public comment? >> If you're joining us online, you can use that raise hand feature of Zoom and I will call on you by your Zoom name. >> We only have one person online and their hand is not raised. >> Okay. And I'm going to close public comment and thank you for those comments. I appreciate you. Okay. Uh, from the chairman's corner, I have a few things. Um, number one is we know that we're in the middle of the budget season and it's always important for board members to be to to be visible and to put yourself out there to answer questions to make sure there's no misunderstanding.
I think they're workshops, >> right? Listen to them. >> How do we know if you have a conversation with individually as a team at different schools? >> Yes. the district for an example with each other. So they're asking forward in the same program with these different areas, right? The culture adults, right? >> We're busy. I don't know. classroom different institute or I know they used to have a big session. Where do you put everybody? How do you get any good professional development? >> And that's the same thing when we had the um that belly when they were having the parents um >> oh my gosh when comes to inspire >> and they get right. >> Do they have it everywhere? because now we are at level three where we're actually training the parental notes and all of those things but I think we have really great participation that many staff are not aware of the roles and expectations stand out to you Mr.
And we'll remove the joint and several liability on page six line seven, which I'm not sure it means anything in this context. Um, and it does have a bad date, so you can tinker at conference if you want. Okay. Sounds good. Other questions or concerns? If not, Vice Chair. HB 2152 HD2 SD1 recommendation to pass with amendments. Any no votes or reservations?
>> [applause] >> And our student is Brad Cole. >> [applause] >> Okay Brad, who's here with you? My mom, grandma and dad. Okay. >> [applause] >> So I chose Brad because I actually got to know him a little bit this year cuz he's a teacher's assistant in the front office. And how I got to know him was simply the support that he gives to people in the front office. Our TAs will run passes. We asked them to make copies this year. We asked them to do a lot of other things but then there's a another young lady that we moved in to be a TA in first in the period that he's here. And I don't know if he even knows this but she has some struggles with people. Now when you see the two of them I mean they're just not buddies but you can just see there's communication all the time.
For idea collection, we made sure the school was included as much as we could. We filmed a video explaining what SPB is and created a form where everyone could submit a school improvement idea. We took the top ideas and looked on how we could make it happen. Eventually, we ended up with four projects and we had the entire school go down to the library and write down their vote on a ballot. We then got our winning project. In order to develop our project, we had weekly meetings, researched ideas, asked experts for guidance and worked on developing our project. We also had to call vendors, schedule meetings and talk to staff members to help bring our ideas to life. My group's project was project lunch makeover. At the beginning of the year, my group surveyed the student body to find what improvements needed to be made the most.
And so then it's part then they're back in the lottery of choice into the region. Yeah. So there's they're divided now. Um and I think there are there are some like like they said there's you there's like a little bit of ability to have some preference for siblings, but DESE is pretty clear that you can't make That's the only Yeah, and and then it is like the school committee gets to decide if you're going to participate in the A school choice receiving district. And then how that happens is an administration decision. So even if so say for Pelham, we the school committee decides that they're going to we are going to receive students, but our our administration decides our classrooms are full, then even though we've decided to be a school choice, we're it doesn't mean we have to take more students or we have or we can take more students.