And Veterans Day is a Wednesday this year. So, we're that's not our fault. >> [laughter] >> But I mean like sometimes you stack things like up into like if it's on like a Tuesday you can do the professional like it's just it's bad it's a badly timed calendar between starting so early cuz it's the earliest you're going to it's just the way the calendar fell this year. It's not But I guess I don't know like so why is it 24th chosen not the 25th or what? >> What month are you looking at? So, September. Like why is that a Thursday? And October, [clears throat] why is that a Thursday? And just it just I You could also move the the fifth, the early release for the conferences. You could move that to the 10th or the second. I know a few people spoke a few teachers, I believe, spoke to that.
I I get that we can't move the PD and I don't think everybody got that or appreciated that that Berlin is now polling place polling. We just wanted to do a PD on that day. So, but you could if you wanted to, you know, I don't know if November 2nd is too early for conferences. You can move it to the 10th. The Wednesday, the 10th November. So, November 2nd or the 10th? Yeah. Yeah. I I I I lost you for a second. So, talk to me a little bit more about that. Is that what you're looking at? >> So, the 5th it's a Thursday, right? You first So, that week I get what Jess is saying. For working parents, that week the first week in November they have a full day off on the 3rd and I we I get why. And then it's a half day on that Thursday, right?
So, some families, if it was pushed together might be like, "Hey, we're going to take a long weekend and go away." But, this doesn't allow you to do that and it just is kind of difficult for people that work. Or like families that have to work. >> go away for conferences? >> But, I think some people do. I don't know. >> but I if you're going to move it, I would move it to the 10th and not the 2nd cuz then no one's going to go to conferences. Yeah. I guess I was thinking more of the other Thursdays. And you mean and I you're saying move the Thursday the Thursdays to Fridays instead. So, so the only thing I'm going to say to you once again, going back to what Beth said earlier, I appreciate parent comments, right, on the Good Fridays and the half days and Thanksgiving.
A lot of time put into a planning committee by this group right here that went by month by month, day by day trying to get a calendar. Um I I really was hoping that we have feedback from you guys earlier so that we could have made some adjustments. So, we could have came today to get a calendar voted on. That's the reason why we gave it to you um over a month ago. But, I just know we put a lot of time and really thoughtful about these calendars and they're all I can be smiling cuz I know how much work we put into this calendar, right? So, if there's something very specific you want us to look at, but just going all over the place right now is just making it difficult for us. So, just give me the an exact thing you want us to look at.
>> Now, I know we we heard some from some teachers about this tonight, but did you pass this by the the heads of the union? >> That's right. It went to the union. Yeah, and the union gets input. Um they don't get to make a final decision on it, but they can give us input on this. What was their input? Similar to about the Good Friday and the day before Thanksgiving. Those are the two things that >> sold on the the Good Friday thing last year, but after seeing the news articles that came out, I I fully am on board with the reasoning behind that. And I know I got a little got a little bit of concern from people. So, I'm calling it a non-school day, right, that day? >> happens to be on Good Friday. >> That happens to be a Good Friday, yes.
Also, not for nothing, it's literally the flu. I mean, it worked out great for us cuz we had the flu. Yeah. But, it I feel like that time everyone is so sick and I guess I love having that long little break cuz it'll be a nice little break for all the germs to kind of Sure. I I'm sorry to interrupt, Mike. No, it's all right. No, that's a good point. We we dealt with the same thing. Um I I got I got stopped by some teachers, to be honest, when I was at the school the other day at BMS because we still have not put air conditioners in there. Some of them agree with me. We do have a limited thing that we don't want to start before Labor Day. Oh, yeah. I didn't even think of that. It's going to be ungodly hot at BMS.
It's hot and you want to be in school on June 30th, June 23rd, yes. June 23rd is our last day and I was very >> day? June 23rd. >> No, I mean that on this calendar. So, if you added how many days would you have to add? That is actually And August is brutal in August. I know. They didn't just pick random days. They picked the days based on a lot of information. Listen, June 23rd is going to be could be warm this year as well, too, right? So, June's a tough month as well. We're already going deep into June this year and and we were >> Sometimes it's hot in October. What's that? Sometimes it's hot in October. But, usually it's brutal at the end of August because it's been so hot all summer. At least in June it's not as warm in those rooms because it's been cool all summer.
>> is going to cool cool off? >> I don't know. I I forgot about that cuz I know it is brutal. We did a tour in September up there and it was almost unbearable. So, so you want to >> to make some more half days in this and then I don't know. We can't predict the weather cuz if we could make predictions like that, we'd all be playing the lottery right now, right? So, we can't. But, I'm giving you a calendar. If you want us to revisit, it's not fair to parents, it's April. Like people need to make plans. >> being asked what when the first day of school is. >> We need to let parents know in terms of when vacation Not only that, but I've got to tell you you go deep into June, I'm really concerned about that week in this year in June because summer camps stop.
So, if a parent's going to need to be that that week in June, they're going to be out. >> comes back after Juneteenth. I know. So, you're in the whole another issue that you're on the other end of who's going to show up for the last few days of school. All right. So, I propose November 5th to the 10th. November 5th. Early release conferences moved to the 10th before the holiday the 11th. That is what I propose. Can you go back to August, too? So, you're taking November 5th Yep, November 5th, wait a minute. November 5th, you want to change that to November 10th. We have to have a motion Would that work? I'm just throwing it out. See if they people turn either way. Confirm either way. I I'm Yeah, I think as long as there's not a very specific reason why that's not That's if it's if it's like, well, it's already contracted with the union that has to be on like a Thursday or something like that, then I I I can we can make that move.
I'm going to ask Lisa and Jay. Does that seem okay? Uh hold on. >> [snorts] >> That is the second Tuesday of the month. Yeah. School committee generally meets on the second Tuesday of the month. School committee is full of a bunch of parents who might want to attend conferences. Maybe that's why we didn't do Tuesdays. I think that's the exact reason why we didn't do Tuesdays. >> [clears throat] >> We could have our meeting on the 3rd. I mean, Well, we could. We're very busy voting. What's that? Just kidding. >> [laughter] >> But, I'm going to be very busy voting. Yeah, I mean, we don't have a school committee calendar yet, do we? No. So, we have to prepare. Okay. Honestly, I'm indifferent. I don't I I thought the somebody from the union rep spoke about that. So, I thought that the union wanted that, but if they I I'm indifferent on that.
I I don't Uh that day actually will be the first school committee meeting with the election. We we wouldn't have a school committee meeting after that. >> want to have it cuz it's election day. We have to have it the 10th. Yeah, and that will be the first meeting with the new members, whoever they are. Right. So, you want to leave it on the 5th? We can meet on the 10th or the 17th. Or you asked for the 4:00 p.m. slot? I don't know. I mean, I'm fine with doing an earlier slot, but I don't know about other people here. Lisa, that doesn't apply to you. Apply to you. Think of how many people might wander in and listen. True, cuz there would be conferences going on here. I I appreciate like it just we're we're looking for all of our parents, right, and all of our teachers.
So, do you want to move it to the 10th? Well, and it would work for us, right? But, what if we need an administrator there at the meeting? They got to be at the school for conferences, right? Yep. They'll be in their buildings. You could move the conferences to the 2nd. And yeah, that's Beth's point. People are going to not necessarily. I mean, they're going to come and vote, too. [clears throat] I personally feel like the experts have spent a lot of time We really have. I mean, I don't know. But, why is the Thursdays in the middle of the week again, like for September and October? I don't get that. Like we moved everything on Wednesday. Why isn't everything on Friday? Just curious. I'm just throwing it out there. Instead of moving it to the 2nd or the 10th or Are we talking about November still?
Yeah, why why wouldn't we Could we move that to Friday? For our Oh, oh, great idea, Jackie. The 5th to the 6th. Yeah. We've done that stuff. We I think in the past, at least I a few years ago we had Well, gotten away from PD days and stuff like that on Fridays because it was an easy way for people >> So, Friday night conference? So, just open on Thursdays, right, and move on. Go. Go. Thank you. You're welcome. Someone doesn't want to be here at conference. Seriously. >> [laughter] >> And not only that, but I got to like 5:00 a.m. It's I was just here for the calendar. I got to go. My dog's missing me. >> [laughter] >> Okay. Uh got a motion, please, to approve the calendar as is. Please. Sure. Beth? Second. Lisa second. Anyone feel free to make an amendment, but otherwise we're going to vote on this.
Mike, you you are fine with starting I just said I'm fine. He didn't make an amendment. He didn't make an amendment. We're We'll never start after Labor Day. We're going to be We're going to be way deep in the June. Deep in the June. No, you have to turn Does anyone want to make an amendment to the calendar? I hypothetically would make an amendment to move the September 24th and the October 22nd to the following Friday, the day after that. Would that be offensive to people? Say that again. So, September 24th moved to the 25th. And then October 22nd moved to the 23rd. We generally talked about not doing those on Fridays, didn't we, and Mondays? But, that's what we did this year. Did we? They're not in the middle of the week. So, we're we're also talking about professional development days, right? So, making sure that all of our teachers are there on those days as well, too.
Fridays are a lot of times people are are And you do teach on that Friday, too. Celebration of Learning was on Friday. Right. No, the green days of PD there's no school days. The green calendar days are all in Yeah, think we had a Wednesday this We only had three and I think there was one Wednesday and one Friday. I would not like to make an offensive motion. No, we're not offended. So, if you have PD already scheduled for those days, I will not make the motion, but if if it is not offensive to all involved, then I will make the motion. Jen Jen Jen Jen Jen Jen Jen Jen Jen Jen Jen Jen So, I will say um sometimes it is easier when professional development falls on a Monday or a Friday, it's easier to feel as though it is not mandatory. You can call in sick.
That's right. We had talked about this a couple years ago with Carol. The con I understand that. The teacher contract is She's saying it for a reason. >> [laughter] >> She She's not saying it it's not true. So, call in sick. Anyone can call in sick. There's a practice in there, if you have to call in sick. No one cares about the notes I write, so you know, right? Licensed professionals. Spent lots of time re developing this. We did. And and again, I just want to go back We gave this to you a long time ago. Respectfully, guys, right? So, if you wanted If you wanted to see that, you should have like given it to us in time to suggest amendment or not? We're not offended. I appreciate your feedback. All those in favor of the motion on the table. I. >> I. Anyone against?
I'm of course against this, but the motion passes 5-1. >> [clears throat] >> You should have voted against this. I did vote against it. I know, I said she should have. All right. Uh the motion passes 5-1. Calendar is set. The first day of school is in these sweltering dog days of summer. August 26th. 24th. >> Yes. No, that's opening day No, it's the 26th. That's opening day for teachers. I have a question. We have the primary on September 1st, so does that mean that that needs to be closed as well? We We talked about that. The primary election with the town It's low attendance, so they are just going to close the door, right? >> Yeah. Yep. They're going to lock the door We thought September they could They could take the bus. Take the bus that day, yeah. It's It's sweltering hot. They're going to want to get out of the building, Megan.
Go outside. So, [laughter] Next time get out of the building and pay for air conditioning, okay? I know. Hey, that comes out of this Let us know when you send out Really? The trailer's on. Oh, yes, there was the trailer. Was it out? Oh, yeah, it was scary. Really? It was scary. Oh, okay. All right. So, the next business item is The next business item is program of studies. All right. Widow Bay. Rich, you want to talk to Widow Bay, I'm going to write it. Yeah, so in your six documents in there, there's one that has all the revisions, so you can literally look at every single comment of why anything was changed. So, hopefully you guys find that helpful. I did include a one-pager that just has all the new proposals that we have on there, and some of those courses are designed based off student choice.
We poll our juniors and other classes in terms of who they want Which one do you want me to open up, Jen? Uh if you want to go to the proposals, please. Good. Thank you. So, these are the the new additions that we talked about looking towards creating pathways for the future. We're looking to be very purposeful with our electives. And uh business was our highest ask for all of our students in terms of what they wanted to do in the future. If they were looking towards if they were going to decide like what their major would be right now, that was 17 out of our 70 kids said that they would take that path, so we built in three new business classes to encourage that and build in those opportunities, as well as as we try to create tracks here at Tantasqua. Um other classes that we've offered here are some additional electives that help with the humanity pieces, supplementing in terms of public speaking, um you know, create other opportunities that we have here.
For the middle school, I think the only elective here is as we're building in a tier two, we have a reading version of this intensive math intensive support. This is the math version. So, um making sure that we're offering for uh both reading and math at the middle school level. If you want, you can also look at what's going to be removed. If you want to pull the removal up, um this does indicate the why. If you took a look at the revisions, but in short, nature of the being, uh we have Steve Pacheco who is retiring. Um he had offered this for a number of years. Um you know, we've talked a lot how do we replace something of this magnitude? Uh we're kind of looking at like our world travelers club to help meet some of these uh additional pieces. Uh European history AP really is just turning into AP world, so it's a it's evolving, so it's not really a a switch, but more of a a tailors throw.