So moved. Second. Roll call vote. Akerman, I. Crow, I. Crouch, I. Atkinson, I. Molton, I. Tumino, I. Wants, I. Motion passes. The April 13th, 2026 meeting minutes are accepted. Next on the agenda, we have member prerogative, commissioner education, various topics. Does anyone have any prerogatives? Online? I think so. Beckett, if you're out tomorrow, can you swing by uh Grinnell Park to see if they picked up the trash Yes. >> that I have from the cleanup? Cuz I did it on Sunday. Yes, I can check in on that. Yeah. I didn't do Grinnell Park. I just did Sudbury River. Got you. Anyone else?
I thank um Dr. T-Bolt and Mrs. Pavo for the work that they've done in working with the professional development committee and those folks across the district to be able to provide this kind of professional learning where staff across the district whether you're high schools or middle or elementary staff are able to come together and really the the professional learning is is based upon the interest that staff and faculty have let us know that they're interested in being provided with professional development that in turn not only supports the implementation of our strategic plan but individual staff uh their their IPIPS um that's their professional in individual um instructional plan and it also contributes to them being able to earn the the PDPs their PDPs toward reertification um at the high school level advanced placement exams have begun and If you have a high schooler who's in involved in this, you know that or a teacher, by the way, you know there's a certain amount of anxiety that goes along with that.
Good job by Illingsworth to save it and keep it in. Ball's disrupted from Agawam and Parsons comes up with it. 30 seconds left. Spartans should be waiting for last shot. Marino with the ball looking to do a little two-man with her and Whitwer. Marino goes left, turns around, goes around the back of the cage. Gets the ball over to Parsons. Parsons with 12 10 seconds left. Parsons looking to go all the way around. Nothing there. She flicks the ball back to Illingsworth. Illingsworth to Mack Whitwer and time runs out. >> Good defense by Agawam to not let the Spartans have a shot off as Spartans go into the halftime 12 to 3. >> Mhm. >> We're back with second half action. Spartans up 12 to 3. False start on Marino. Gianna Byron with goal and Aquitworth five, Parsons with one, Billings with two, Crimmins one, Pellegrino with two, Mahoney with one, Rozario with one, and Pazinski with one for Agawam.
So consent agenda typically takes historically I've tracked your meetings for three years. Average what do you think your consent have usually averaged? >> Two minutes. >> Yeah. If that >> a minute. >> Yeah. >> One to two minutes. 15 seconds. >> I only think of two meetings. >> Yeah, me too. >> Yep. >> Right. >> So, this is just one of those just because it was the last meeting, right? Um and then in your in your action items, I also don't want to tell you I don't want you to receive this message saying don't talk about things at action. That's that's absolutely not what we're saying. >> Well, also there's stuff by law we can't not talk about in action items. >> Yeah. And the conversation I really enjoyed the last couple of months of watching your board meetings, you're wrestling with coming to terms with what does 50% look like and how do we how do we get to that point?
So, also AP exams started today, um, with AP Bio, AP Micro, and AP Euro, which I really hope I did well in. >> [laughter] >> They continue for the next few weeks. Everyone, please pray for me tomorrow for >> [laughter] >> Um, senior prom was also a few weeks ago. Um, it was just great to see everyone dressed up, having fun, and celebrating the end of the year. Um, we also have a lot of concerts coming up with the jazz concert, the orchestra concert, and the band concerts, and choir next week, too, I think. Um, senior awards were last week, where we got to recognize all of our incredible seniors with the distribution of cords, scholarships, and academic awards. And spring sports continued to be in full swing. Um, for resources, for the decision day last Friday, everyone wore their college shirts, um, and the college and career center was giving ice cream to seniors who completed a survey.
And we're looking at kindergarten enrollment right now. So, we um had kindergarten round up and so now we're looking at the numbers and if we don't need uh a section here, maybe we need a section over there or if somebody resigns, then we will shift. And so, right now we're heavy in town. We just had a meeting this morning on staffing. I I think it's our job to to do that and not wait until we have to cut. >> Yeah. Yeah, I I would >> [cough] >> Now, that that can be bothersome for some teachers because um they worry about, okay, if we get to if I only have four kids and my program's going away. We don't want the program to go away. >> Yeah, no. But but we need to be cognizant of numbers. Mhm. I mean, that's why we've been able to support those low numbers with that additional funding.
I mean, if you look at Enloe and Harrison and North and Rights and all the things that have been done to these facilities to keep them upgraded. Uh the money that taxpayers are putting into them so that these kids have quality places to play and uh where families can view the games and everything. I think it's just amazing. A lot of times that gets pushed aside and taken for granted, but it's it's a big part of what our facilities department does. So, we want to accommodate uh thank Steve and and the corporation for everything they do because if you go to Bossier, it's a different Bossier High School than you know, when I was on the track, they were Sanders. Okay. And uh and uh so, now they're with tennis courts and just a a little bit of everything that we are investing in. I think students, we want them to [snorts] be student athletes, and we want them to have good facilities to to do their skills, and so, thank you for >> I have a Well, I have a question.
I think to end for tonight, I definitely want to spend a little extra time talking about my staff. Um I think this year um has proven that the high school staff is by far the best ever. I'm sorry, guys. Uh I love every single one of them. Um they have helped me more than I could probably say this year. Um they've given support. Um they've they step up for our students on a daily basis. Um I get to see them interact. I get to see them on the academic side. I get to see them on the fun social side um at our different events. And you know, it is Teacher Appreciation Week and we do get to celebrate them and I always say it's just a little portion of what we can do to support them because they are the they are the heart of our building and without them, I don't think we would be where we are today.
So that's where it's a space where we kind of cover district-wide initiatives, things that that are going on in the district, but as well as a space for them to be able to share any concerns, any questions, and we we usually address it right away. So if it's an issue at a school or a program that they want implemented in our district, um we try to follow up pretty quickly. So that that means monthly um from 7 to 8 and it's uh usually on yeah it Max Clemens um who is our um beracy coordinator our sea bacy coordinator um and I facilitate that meeting. I guess, you know, we should have started off with this question a little bit earlier, and I'm jumping into it now. Around how many languages do we serve [laughter] here in in the in the districts? >> Oh, a lot.
No, hearing none. Uh do I hear a motion to adjourn? So moved. Second. Roll call vote. Akerman, I. Crow, I. Crouch, I. Atkinson, I. Molton, I. Tumino, I. Wants, I.
And so for the families that are listening out there and have a high schooler who's involved in this and just do the best you can to support them because it is an anxious time for kids. uh but uh we are for the next two weeks we'll be testing across a wide range of subject areas that include history, English, science, math, computer science and world language world languages which I again applaud the Dartmouth High School uh leadership and staff for uh being able to offer these expanded opportunities for students to participate in AP classes. And if you remember, we've actually been recognized by the state for having uh such a high percentage of students who are engaged with AP classes. Um at Dartmouth Middle School, some of you know because I know that you were visit you have visited and been able to uh experience students presenting their civics projects.
Ball's loose. Shresth comes up with it. Turns around, takes a Giovanni took a shot. Saved by Julia Gray as Mahoney giving chase to gray. Gray airmails it. The ball goes all the way up to Mack Whitwer looking to turn around. Mack Whitwer takes a shot, blows one by the goalie, put the Spartans up 13 to 3. Mack's sixth goal of the game. With the 13th goal of the game, the Spartans now up 10. Always tough for the opposing team to make up that 10-goal difference when the clock is is running. Marino on the draw. Ball's up. Marino knocks it loose. Mack Whitwer giving chase to it. She comes up with it, temporarily loses it, stays in bounds, and will set up the Spartans offense. Whitwer over to McKeckney, back to Marino. Marino over to Devoy, Devoy to Pellegrino back to Devoy. Now it looks like Agwam's getting into play little tighter defense with the with that running clock, and it send seems to work out as Giovanni knocks the ball loose from Devoy.
This this should begin to help you get over that that that hill of understanding, oh, okay, so if so, if each one of you takes turns coding a board meeting, each if one of I guess in other words, who's taking over next month? who who's going to code next month's or better yet who's going to code this month's board meetings right if you rotate that each of you will become aware the other thing I want to submit to you is that this is how you plan for succession of board officers >> that that a any anyone that takes a seat of a board officer would ideally you would be well aware and you would know and understand that when you set that agenda with the superintendent you stick to something like this and you're hyper sensitive about it you're going to keep running effective board meetings.
They had like different backgrounds to take pictures and they had like gifts and merch for um the different colleges. So, it was just a great experience to just celebrate um you know, everyone putting in the hard work and um just our future. So, really exciting last few weeks and upcoming um weeks, but yeah, everyone's very excited to wrap up the year and finish strong. Thank you. >> Perfect. Well, thank you, Romina. Um yeah, so as Romina said, so our last day of school is May 12th. Um and then graduation's on the 17th, which is Sunday. I can't believe I feel like it went by so fast. Um and I know everyone says that, but this past week um I had the opportunity to go to Atlanta um with DECA for Nationals. We brought um six students and we had one of our students place top 25 in the world.
Right. I mean, we'd like to maintain that, but also, you know, not have six teachers on staff that have four students in each class. So, you know, how can you best use them? Maybe they don't you know, maybe their services are utilized differently than they are not necessarily they're gotten rid of or but Right. Being strategic with how they service. And And to be honest, the BEA is very aware of this. I mean, we we talk about this. So, it's not like they're in the dark Yeah. >> [cough] [clears throat] >> Okay, so it's sunny and bright with the referendum to say, you know. And it's Scott, that's a good question because that to me is my job and that's the principal's job. I think that is our You you need to believe that we are keeping an eye on student-to-teacher ratios and programs. So, they're like a constant.
Um is is there a point person at each school to um guide like navigate the student through the, you know, the collegiate process or NCAA if they're Yeah, and a lot of times that's >> have the talent or is Is it Um you said I know you talked about the coaches, but you know, I just wanted is is it >> Yeah, a lot of times that's going to fall with the with the really with the AD and the counselors um and keeping them up on the rules with what, you know, what the kid needs to do, the clearing house, you know, everybody if they do want to play in college, they're going to have to register through the clearing house, and and um obviously it it tells you what you need, but the counselors are also there to help out with the clearing house part.
So, so thank you. Um a year ago today I was sitting here with you guys talking and I love it ever since. So, um is there any questions that I can answer for you guys? All right. Thank you. Item 10, public comments. We do not have any, so we'll move on to item 11. Item A, personnel report. Item B, FMLA. Item C, new hires. Item D, transfer. Item E, source for staff. Superintendent recommends the board approve the items listed on A, B, C, D, and E. Do I have a motion? Motion? I'll motion. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. We'd like to thank you, Miss Richard and Mrs. Hall for their time here at Knox Community Schools. They've had a big impact on on us. We thank them for that, and we wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors. Mr.
I don't know the number, but we have uh and we have a lot of So, we interesting enough, we have an interpreter course happening right now. And so, we're currently in a course where we're training in the district interpreters. So they'll be able to interpret during special education meetings, during parent meetings, and Ammerst ash actually had they told us the the hardest courses uh languages to find. So >> we had um some interpreters that were uh studying Turkish and Korean and Arabic. Um we have Tigrina and Farsy and um Haitian Creole. And so we have a lot of languages um in our district. Spanish is the most common, but we do have a lot of languages, a lot of diversity, >> and and to be an interpreter, you have to have a certain level of certification according to Desi too. >> Yes. And so there are certain levels.
You know, they had their civic showcase. Three teams were selected to advance to the regional showcase at Dart at at UMass Dartmouth on May 29th. Those projects are focused on women's history and the high school curriculum, suicide awareness and empowering peers. And then there are two Dartmouth High School teams that will participate at the regional level and that includes a project examining inadequate street lighting in the community. So that will be interesting to share with the greater Dartmouth community, not just the school committee. Um, Dartmouth High School also hosted a career fair on April 15th in partnership with business innovation and technology department. Students had the opportunity to connect with professionals across industries, explore internship opportunities for the fall and to engage with future hopefully with future employers that are hiring for summer positions. So that gives them a head start and start some thinking about some of the ways they can spend their summer and earn some money.