Like I said, we we would um we would fence off the playground equipment area and just keep people out of it. That if we had to have people come in do it in the fall. But the elevator controls we would have to shut the school without an elevator while that work is being done. So this is a a lean budget, right? And I'm sure you're paying attention to other communities around us, the cuts that they're making, huge millions of dollars, 70 positions in some school districts and my colleagues are making making cuts. We don't want to make any of these. I know it we keep saying that, but it was asked of us to look at the cuts that we need to make at the same time adding these four positions that you that we wanted to vote on to add in there. So again, we we we didn't have much guidance.
We we plan our work and then we execute our work. Some highlighted things that happened in the area of student growth and achievement are that we excuse me we did implement year two of our commissioners network plan. Uh we remain in partnership with the state great partners at the state department of education. Uh and and my apologies. Uh we have a three-year plan that we are currently in the second year of to make sure that we are doing great work on behalf of all students. So we are in the midst and succeeding with executing that that uh that plan and as I mentioned a focused professional development for all staff to targeting the focus areas that I just told you about. In terms of our partnership and community engagement, we have excellent relationship with our small but mighty PTO. Um our students and community members are serving on our school climate committee.
So, thank you board members for your participation and for the deep thinking and we hope that it was helpful for you to have an opportunity to dig deeper. into the youth truth data. We did give you one final assignment at your last uh center and board president. I'm going to turn it over to you and we ask that each of you have an opportunity to share out your your north, south, east, or west. >> Okay. Okay. Well, we'll start with my colleagues. So, I'll start with board vice president. Are you ready? I can move over to Adrian. Okay. So, um excuse me. So, what I wanted to say that I was um I'm sorry. Did Did you post those up there to see which one? I was going to do the middle one. Um yeah, the the the top middle. >> Let me take another question.
Yes, we need to replace it so we have something that's supported by the publisher. And unfortunately, they're aging out some of the things that we have bought. So then they would have a new one and we wouldn't have access into the new one until we go through an RFP process to do it. And if we're going to do that, we're not just going to automatically renew with that. We'll go out for the whole process again. So it comes down to what we've purchased and whether they're being supported or not anymore. Great. Thank you. And I don't expect an answer now, but is it possible to get a total annual cost of K through 6 technology software and replacement like what that looks like just K through 12? K through 6 or K through I'm sorry, K through 6. Thank you. >> K through 6, so the total annual cost hardware and software.
So, it's under the IT budget in Pelham. Thank you. >> So, it came from the Pelham IT budget. Right, under central IS. Okay. William? Yeah, I was going to So, just so clarity for some parents that or someone in the public made a statement tonight. So, the cameras the school gets dismissed at What time? At 2:40. So then the camera's going at like 2:41? Or are they coming on after after school? I have to confirm the time. Okay. Um I >> Would that be nice to be able to the public >> Yeah, I was looking at my email to see if I had the time. Um but I am also trying to present here. So I'll I'll make sure I get that clarified. Okay. And then the you said that it's being on a server that's here in the building. So In the other building, in the school building.
We had a lot of time that we spent really being mindful as you can see. I mean, there's there's nothing else there. We really trimmed as best as we can and these numbers work with both towns have given us. So here we are coming to you and saying, here's where we're at at this point. Those are the numbers this budget we're representing to you right now works with both towns' numbers at this point. All right. Aaron, you're you're all set with your presentation. Yeah, that should end it. I think I have a thank you slide. Hang hang out there Oh well, actually yeah, whenever you want to hang out there, we're going to open it up to public comment if anyone want to make a public comment on anything on the agenda. Proceed. Proceed. Anybody? Just one signing? No, sorry. Anybody? No? I tried to use a a teacher voice.
That is new for us working on school climate work. There are students at the table and I got to tell you the best thing that's happened this whole year. The best ideas that we've had this whole year have come from students serving on that committee. They have given me honest feedback and they come up with the best ideas about how we can do better moving forward. We also uh planned for and have proactively communicated with families through our newsletters and websites. But I also wanted to while while kind of checking that box that we've done those things, we also have clear feedback from our community and those student reps that have said that their impact and their effectiveness is something that we need to work on. So, I want to continue to focus as a school on how we meet the community's needs. We do send those newsletters.
>> Oh no. Um North, what are one or two needs? youth, truth, data surfaced. So I I just feel um and I'm I was looking at all three of course but if I'm focusing on one it based on engagement and engagement I think our needs are um due to the data like I said is that I feel like at the high school that I due to the burning of the goose and and I feel that the some don't feel welcome. I have heard that. I like to know you know what can we do to merge them together to work together. It's like and then you also have a east and a west campus. They do certain things here that they do certain things here. But then again you turn around and look at the middle school which merged three middle schools together. They don't have that situation.
Yeah. Hardware and Everything just based on their technology that they're using. And is it do they have iPads or laptops? Chromebooks. Okay. Yep, if we can just get those numbers, I'd appreciate it. Thank you. Miss Rushcamp, thank you. For all of your information, I appreciate it. This brings [clears throat] us to action items. We are at 7.1 approval of overnight and or out of state staff travel safe and civil.
So here in Pelham, right? Yes. So then if there was an incident your designee would have to come to Pelham to review the footage. I believe so. Okay. That's what I thought you said. I just wanted to clarify that. Yeah. Um And I guess that's all. Oh yeah, I would also add to what um my mind's gone blank. >> I'm reaching out for clarity. For clarity, It is that I I I had a couple interactions with children and children are children. So they all have wonderful stories, right? I used to teach kindergarten and they have magnificent stories they come up with and they're sometimes truth and sometimes not and who knows what. Um but it did seem like that the children believe that the cameras are there to monitor them. And it would be I would hate to I I would want to make sure that our school community is not misrepresenting what the cameras are.
I don't project very well, but I feel compelled to just speak. >> just uh start with your name and town. >> Sure. Um I'm Carrie LaFrancois. I'm from Boylston Elementary School. Um good evening, members of the School Committee. Thank you for the opportunity to speak speak tonight. My name is Carrie LaFrancois. To the kids I'm Miss Carrie and I'm the school adjustment counselor at Boylston Elementary School. I'm here to express my deep concern about the proposed reduction of my position from full-time to 0.5 and more importantly, the significant impact this decision will have on our students. As an adjustment counselor, my role is to support the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of our students so they're able to access their education. This work is not supplemental, it's essential. When students are struggling struggling with anxiety, emotional regulation, peer conflict, or crises, they cannot fully engage in their learning.
We do have up-to-date websites, but there still can sometimes be, are they user friendly? Can families and students get the news and accolades that they need when they need it? That remains an area of focus even though we did what we said we were going to do. I want to do that better even next year. Regarding finances and financial uh planning, we have submitted a responsible budget based upon projections, making sure that we're being mindful uh of the the town's financial resources and and ask for what we need using a responsible approach and the utilization of commissioners network funds which are a part of our turnaround. Effectively planning for where those would best where we can best utilize those funds to uh improve student support and student outcomes. We're effectively utilizing th those funds to further our work. The the incred important work of uh maintaining a positive learning environment in which all students and adults belong.
So, what are we doing in the middle school that we're not working on in the high school? You know, how how can we have them work together? And and and I think it's a concern because it barrels down to the students, right? And I'm very happy to see the elementary school, they're doing great. And I'm glad because those where we start is in the middle school. So, we can bring them up, right? They're fresh. And they also had changes too because they had really close middle schools, elementary schools, and high schools. So I I I like to I know the the community schools has did a great job in the community circles, but it's been already what three years and and I and I'm still seeing that the data still has that need. So the word need is so important that we need to find out what do they do in the middle school or um do we have to learning circles when I mean a personal learning circles because when they feel that they are being heard is more effective so that's I feel strongly about the the needs that's the one I chose that's my Thank you.
Do we have any questions or comments from the board before I motion? Yes, just bear with me while I get there. All right, so I asked to have this pulled because I dug into it just to kind of understand what this is the purpose of this conference and I and I understand that it's uh the information provided based on my questions was that the purpose is to um proactive behavior management, clear expectations, consistent adult responses to reduce disruption and improve instructional instructional time. Now, um my concern with I I absolutely believe that student behavior is an issue. Uh and I just speaking to educators, that is a big problem in the classroom and I fully support addressing that. Uh but my concern is bringing in new you know, new information or new framework and causing, you know, this teachers to have to learn new tactics or or things like that, which kind of puts more on their plate when their plate is already full.
And that the kids know that the cameras are only on after school hours and they're not on during the regular hours. Like I think we should be up front and honest with the kids of what the plan is. And I'm not saying that adults weren't involved in that conversation. It could have just been kids being kids and there's new cameras and so the assumption is that they're watching their friend who's lying. Now, who knows, right? Um but I I do think it would be nice to be able to tell the parents and or the kids the cameras are not on during the day. They're not there to monitor your behavior. They're not there to make sure you're in line in the hall. Um and just that we're up front and honest with the kids about why the cameras are there. So, I did not know that that was what was being told to the students.
My role is to help remove those barriers so they can succeed both academically and socially. Reducing the school adjustment counseling role to 0.5 would mean taking valuable support away from the students. As it is right now, far more than 0.5 of my day alone is working with scheduled students on an individual or group basis, many of which are not optional. They're legally mandated through student IEPs and 504s. These are students who rely on consistent, structured, and frequent support to function successfully in the school environment. If my role is reduced, students would lose access to these pull-out or push-in supports. This percentage also includes the tier two students who have been identified and require counseling intervention to teach skills such as emotional regulation, coping strategies, and problem-solving, who may need structured daily check-ins, a short-term group, or push-in support during difficult parts of the school day.
We've embedded the CMS way and vision of a graduate. We know the vision of a graduate with its components of what we are looking for students to develop those skills and attributes over time. The CMS way is kindness, respect and responsibility. Those have been a part of our school and school district for a long time. embedding them into communication with students, the work that we do, report cards, our advisory lessons. We're being more explicit about them. So instead of just having it be something that you've heard a couple of times, it's living and breathing throughout our school more than it has in a long time. And we're utilizing school climate data and student feedback to drive our climate works, especially the resilience activities. You've heard me talk about resiliency in years past. It's how we utilize occasional advisory periods to do activities together. you've done one of those, you've seen some examples.
>> We can talk later. >> We could talk later. >> Board Clerk Ramos. >> Yes. Thank you. Uh first of all, I want to thank everyone that has participated in on the survey not only this year but in the past years. And for me um it was very enlightening to see uh all these data points and um you know with the different groups and the different areas that were looked at. So I appreciate the opportunity to u be able to do this right. I think last year we had an overview as a presentation but didn't have an opportunity to dig into um you know all the data points and the different groups and all that. Having said all that it's a it's a lot of information, a lot of data. I was just talking to my peer Adrian here and saying that I mean I could probably do this for four or five hours.
And I know we have policies in place to address behavior issues and I would like for those policies to be implemented and be for us to be consistent um for the administration at each school to you know, talk to the teachers and see what their needs are, what the issues are and be able to address them versus overloading them with more stuff. And you know, I know that our staff has professional development, but I I feel like you know, new things come in and so they go to these conferences and then want to just keep bringing things back where that just creates more work for our teachers and I want our teachers to be able to teach um in an environment that's safe um and so that they can teach what they were hired to teach and our students can learn. Uh but again, adding more to their plate, I don't know if that's what we should be doing um versus implementing our policies and making sure that they have what they need in order to have um a classroom uh where learning is happening.
So, I will definitely have >> don't know if it's being told to the students. >> I know, but I know that that was the conversation amongst the children. And so, I would need some time to go back. I will say that two things, um our IS director, we sent out a call to confirm, but he can he can access the server from his laptop. Um so, he may not necessarily need to be on campus, but it's not cloud-based where all of the stuff is stored to the cloud. It's stored on the server, but he can access the server from from his devices. Um and then you you said something prior to him accessing the server. You asked about the time. Um I'm definitely going to confirm the time. I believe it's around 3:00, but I asked them to to things I could say this to ask the team to clarify for me.