>> Secretary Webb and defective. >> I also abstained because I'm not as familiar with this as I would like to be. Um, and I feel like having the mayor here would be very helpful. So, I don't know if we can resend the vote and possibly table this. >> I think we can. We can vote to rescend the vote. >> Motion to rescend that vote. >> Second. >> Great. Can you call the vote about rescending the vote? >> Sure. >> We love municipality >> politics and rules. >> Secretary Webb, I am a yes. Vice Chair Childs, >> yes. Member Teneive. >> Yes. >> Mayor, she's not here. All right. Member Dman, >> yes. >> Member Goodwin, >> yes. >> Chair Ston, >> yes. Okay. So, we have rescended the vote on item B. And now, I would like to say we're going to put that on our May agenda and revisit.
So, I really just want to focus on all that and be able to then make some good uh analyses that I can bring back to the board. Uh and yes, if if those are things we have to talk about again or for some reason they seem like reallocated to do something different would be better, those are great conversations that we have to have. Yeah. I mean like I said, I mean I just think that there are areas, right? Um or you know, we've spoken that there are areas, right? That the foundation isn't as strong as we would want it to be or maybe the system that we have in place isn't necessarily how you foresee it being the most beneficial, right? Um so, I just want to make sure that we always have an eye on improving um what we have because I think that we have a real opportunity um right now under your leadership and under, you know, the great staff that we have to really focus our attention on, you know, strengthening what we do have and you know, continue to do what we do really well and then focus on some areas that we aren't doing very well in.
So, for the Favors program? Uh I'm not sure if it's a favor Favors program. I would imagine it might be. Oh, I think >> was $2 million that was left on the table, wasn't spent. And so, like, Senator Hashimoto, I want to make sure that, you know, this doesn't happen again. Yeah, so we're on track to spend all of our Favors dollars this year. And as I shared >> year we didn't spend the $2 million or what did we spend? Uh I would have to pull the numbers to be exactly sure on what we did last year. I'm very much steeped in this year. Okay, well, you need to be deep in history, otherwise you're not going to, you know, because there's a tendency for uh many of our departments, including the OE, make the same mistakes or repeat themselves, and we don't want that.
>> None. Thank you. >> Thank you for confirming. With that, we will take a vote on item 7.02. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. Any opposed? Hearing? None. The motion passes unanimously. That brings us to item 7.03, Gabriel's and Dr. Fletcher will be presenting us with this. >> Thank you, Madam President, members of the board. The memorandum of understanding between CUSD and Gabriel's Angels effective July 1, 2026 through June 30th, 2027 is attached for approval. Gabriel's Angels provides registered pet therapy teams, a human handler, and a registered therapy animal for inperson visits to identified CUSD schools provided with parent garden permission. Gabriel's Angels provides the following programs. Cause for resilience where therapy teams visit a small group of youth during a semester to promote resiliency through animal focused skill building activities. Activities and lessons focus on core strengths such as teamwork, relationships, self-regulation, kindness, celebrating differences, respect, and obviously resilience.
>> Yeah. The table gets turned. >> It's postponed till our May meeting. >> Very good. Um I think that I might actually have the the ability to just do that. >> I do not know that. Do we want to look that up and learn? >> We will look that up and learn. And for now we'll vote. >> Please call the vote about postponing. You seconded the I have member Denise the motion to postpone. >> I'll second it. >> Thank you. >> Very good. >> Thank you, Dan. >> Please call the vote about postponing this item to our May agenda. >> Secretary Webb, I'm a yes. Vice Chair Childs, >> yes. >> Member Denive, >> yes. >> Member Dyman, >> yes. >> Member Goodwin, >> yes. >> Chair Ston, >> yes. >> Thank you. >> Excellent. Moving on. Um item C, motion for member DE to have the school committee support bill H560S391 about climate literacy brought to us by Mass Ottabbon Statewide Youth Climate Leadership Program.
Yes. Nan, >> you seconded the motion to resend the vote. >> I believe member Goodwin. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Okay, we'll come back to that item B. Um, >> do we have to have a motion to table it? >> Yes. >> Sorry. >> That's all right. It takes us all >> in the spirit of Robert's rules. And I'm glad that we're rescending things and changing things like we should not be afraid to use Robert's rules and flex it. >> We're flexing our little our little muscles. Um, >> yes. >> If if I may, um, I am not an expert on Robert's rules, but I think I we did hear this the last meeting. Um, the tableabling. >> Oh, right. Postponing. It has to. You're so right. You're so right. We have to postpone, not table. >> That's right. Great. We are postponing and not tableabling because at the end of a meeting, if it's on the table, the table gets wiped clean.
So. Com- Completely agree. Thank you. I just have a quick comment. So, for me um I think it would be helpful if between now and the next budget season, we have we come back together and look at our 5-year strategic plan. Um I know that there's one in existence. Um when I was leading or trying to lead through the the budget discussions for this coming fiscal year, there were some disconnects between the the the money and the strategy. And so, I think that needs to be a better connection first. And then to your point, Stephen, we then we can ferret out areas in which we want to thrive in 5 years and areas in which, you know, we're we're not focusing on that as a strategy. So, for me that that would be the most help- helpful um discussion first. Well said. Well, let's I'm sorry.
Senator Deporte. Senator, pivot a little bit, um kind of going to the system and the modernization, because the reso actually calls out the DOE's reliance on handwritten records. So, um So, it's a two-part question, but number one, why is DOE still operating without a digital tracking system? And then number two, what is the timeline for you guys to centralize and have a verifiable system? The The procurement process for the software took quite a long time, and we finalized the contract in February. We're currently uh writing the the rollout timeline, and we'll be rolling out our the software through next year. We're starting a pilot this um April and May, and then piloting through the summer at our summer sites, and we'll begin rolling out by complex area in August. Okay, so it will be live in August of this year? Yes, in some complex areas, and then fully rolled out by the end of the school year.
Animals, books, and children. The ABC program therapy teams visit three individual youth in first, second, and or third grade during a semester to improve each youth fluency while enhancing their confidence and motivation to read. And finally, community support visits. Therapy teams visit typically once during a specified time of need to provide joy and canine comfort in times of stress. Thank you, Dr. Fletcher. Do you have a motion for item 7.03? Madam President, um I move that we approve Gabriel Angels the memor memorandum of understanding between CSD and Gabriel's Angels effective July 1st 2026 through June 30th 2027 as stated in item 73. >> Thank you Mr. Heat. Do I have a second? >> I'll seconded by Miss Mod and have the motion the table and I'll check in. It looks like Mr. Norris has a comment or question. >> Yeah, I actually had this pulled off a from last meeting.
>> Sorry, me again. All right. So, this came to me from an email from a constituent um who asked that we would support bill H560 S391 about climate literacy. So, I move that the Greenfield School Committee support this bill about climate literacy brought to us by Mass Ottabon Statewide Youth Climate Leadership Program. It aligns with our values. It aligns with our mission statement. Um, it tells our youth that we support their climate initiatives and that we understand that their planet is suffering and we are going to work with them as adults to preserve life on this planet is really what it says. So, I think that it's really lovely that that the Mass Audabon um I'm going to get their whole thing correct that their Mass Audabon statewide youth climate leadership program contacted us. That's that's really nice. That means that they understand that we're a body that can lend support and the email did say that they understood that we have a sustainability club at the high school and that they have worked with Greenfield students on these projects.
>> Yeah. The table gets turned. >> It's postponed till our main meeting. >> Very good. Um, I think that I might actually have the the ability to just do that. >> I do not know that. Do we want to look that up and learn? >> We will look that up and learn. And for now, we'll vote. >> Please call the vote about postponing. >> Seconded. I have member the motion to postpone. >> I'll second it. >> Thank you. >> Very good. Thank you, Dan. Please call the vote about postponing this item to our May agenda. >> Secretary Webb, I'm a yes. Vice Chair Childs, >> yes. >> Member Deniv, >> yes. >> Member Dyman, >> yes. Member Goodwin. >> Yes. >> Chair Ston. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Excellent. Moving on. Um item C. Motion for member Den to have the school committee support bill H560S391 about climate literacy brought to us by Mass Ottabon Statewide Youth Climate Leadership Program.
Go ahead. Yes. Yeah, I have I have a big concern with the two sections of CLES. I mean, I would obviously need to have more information, but um I'd want to look at class size updates on that. Um you know, where those cuts would be. And I'm just thinking of timelines. So, our next meeting's May 6th. So, that at that meeting is when we're going to deliberate and make those decisions. Because we'd have to by then, right? >> Yes. In the in the meantime, we would um because as you all may be aware, um May 1st is the deadline for non-tenured staff to receive a letter of notification whether they be returning or not. So, we would most likely have to provide some notifications to folks. Right. So, that was kind of my my next question. So, are we thinking that we're going to have a special meeting prior to May 1st because We I think we may need to.
Sorry, what school year? By the end of next school year, so by the end of >> May 2027. Okay, so it will be live this August 2026. Yes. And then it will be fully functioning next year. 2027 August. And the school year will be school year. The school year will be rolling out by complex area. Okay, very good. Thank you, Chan. Okay, just to follow up on that. Um So, how long ago we set the 10% requirement to meet 10% buying local by 2025? Was it 2020 we said that? mandate 30 by 30, that was the um legislative mandate, right? Right, but then you had to be 10% by 2025, which you didn't hit. You only got what, 5.43%? So, we knew this back in 2020. Yeah. So, from 2020 to now, only now we're doing some of this stuff? I mean, only now you're talking to the farmers?
The reason why is that this is an extraordinarily popular program. In fact, we had um had them presented at our club meeting last month as well. Um I think this is an incredible effort. Uh really grabs the attention of the kids. Uh, I think it really helps particularly when there's a real stressful situation at campus and being a very big district. Stuff happens all the time. So, I think they're doing a lot of good out there. So, I just want to make sure we recognize their effort. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Morris. Any other questions or comments? >> All right. Well, I'm happy to see this um resource available and appreciate the partnership from Gabriel's Angels. It really does make the difference and we ensure that our students needs are met in multiple ways to meet those needs. Um, with that we have this motion on the table.
So that's why I brought it forward at the behest of a of this group. >> Great. Thank you. We have a motion. Is there a second? I will second this. discussion. I see you, member Goodwin. >> A, is there a cost? And B, do they have a a structured curriculum that they want us to use or is it up to us? I am not sure that I can answer that question, but I could forward you, >> okay, >> this constituent's email and you could ask them personally those questions if you like. I think that what they're gathering is um support statewide from many school committees that they've worked with in Western Massachusetts particularly maybe. Um, that's what I got from the email, but I can forward that to you and you can pursue those questions, but I think that they're just looking to gather as much support as possible.
>> Sorry, me again. All right. So, this came to me from an email from a constituent. um who asked that we would support bill H560 S391 about climate literacy. So I move that the Greenfield School Committee support this bill about climate literacy brought to us by Mass Ottabbon statewide youth climate leadership program. It aligns with our values. It aligns with our mission statement. Um, it tells our youth that we support their climate initiatives and that we understand that their planet is suffering and we are going to work with them as adults to preserve life on this planet is really what it says. So, I think that it's really lovely that that the Mass Audabon um I'm going to get their whole thing correct that their Mass Audabon statewide youth climate leadership program contacted us. That's that's really nice. That means that they understand that we're a body that can lend support.
Right. Or I know in the past we've given slips to Right. everyone. Right. Right. I think the board would need to make that decision. that decision before. I'm sorry? We've made that decision before to do that. I think the board would need to make that decision. Um I was not part of the board when that happened. Um what's the what's the like psychic impact on a school when that happens? It's It's It's not It's never happened It's never happened in our in our district. It's not great. In some districts, it's a it's an annual [snorts] practice. So, I think it's um less of a psychic impact. >> teacher. You're always on the chopping chopping block, right? Yeah. Yeah. And I think I think in in some places where where it is just common practice, it's it's less. I think um I I understand and and correct me if I'm wrong that at one point it was a common practice here, but then that stopped.
Only now we're doing these things? I mean, that's probably the reason why you guys only got 5.43% right? But again, this is this is typical of DOE. You guys are so delayed or you don't And according to the audit is that you just didn't take it seriously or you didn't want to do it according to the audit. I'm not saying that, that's what the audit said. So, um you know, the reason that the department is not ready to develop a coordinated plan to align with local farmer capacity with the Aina kitchen network grow up is like So, but why why haven't you done it and developed it sooner? Well, we're doing it now and have been. Okay, that's what I keep hearing. We're doing it now when it should have been done yesterday, right? I mean, that's why the goals are set, right? To to you benchmarks.
All those in favor of item 7.03, please say I. I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed? Hearing none. The motion passes unanimously and we're at item 7.04 everyone. That is consideration and possible adoption of a resolution providing for all matters relating to the sale and insurance of school equipment bonds project of 2025 series A and that will be presented by Miss Barry with some support I see here. All right, Madam President, members of the board consideration and possible adoption of a resolution provided for all matters related to the sale and issuance of school improvement bonds of the district including delegation to the superintendent and chief finan financial officer of the district to determine certain matters related to their two. The resolution before the governing board authorizes the issuance of bonds to the district to raise funds for capital projects of the district. The bonds represent the first installment of an aggregated voted principal amount of $271,500,000 to school improvement bonds authorized at the election.
>> Okay. >> Yes. To to my knowledge, because this is supporting um legislation, not necessarily supporting a mandate for us that we would enact at this exact moment. There's not a specific curriculum. this is sort of supporting a broad like another state sort of initiative. Um >> it comes from that I'm sure then would go through another >> three or four years of implementation, regulation, promulgation, that sort of thing. So this is not a this is not something that we will have to to turn around in the fall. What we would be doing really is just supporting our Ammerst neighbors and the and representative Dom of Ammerst and saying, "Hey, your neighbors also support similar things and we stand with you in solidarity." Often these resolutions are just that. It's not really anything more than showing solidarity and support in a formal way, but it is our charge as a body.