Um and then yeah any questions [snorts] that I can answer >> board members. >> Um so as someone who has struggled with math in the past I shudder to think about having an online math class and so with that the the students that you showed um seem to really be engaged. So one do you find that same level of engagement outside of math? Um and if so, what is it that you're doing um that is that is developing or bringing that level of engagement? >> Um yes, I think we do see that across all content areas. Um I think it's just again connecting and making it more personable and also starts with building relationships. Um Dr. Lman gave me a great opportunity to like build my staff and so each person was hired specifically for their skill set and maximizing what that would look like.
It was really cool. Um, let me see. Deputy is in the process of becoming SIM certified and this was a big key step for that. Um, let's see. So, full circle, here's our little hatchers. Um, these were my prek stu four students last year who are now my kindergarten students. Um, we kept these chicks in the classroom for about a week and then I took them home, raised them over the summer. When the coupe was brought and everything was ready to go, I brought them in. Uh it took a little bit for us to swap out some of the roosters and hens and stuff when they grew up. And then our flock was complete. And our little kindergarten friends turned into chicken tenders where they have helped take care of the chickens. They go out and they feed them and they collect the eggs and they get so excited about how many is out there each day.
I will miss Lori and her weekly, if not daily, texts just checking in on me and the district. I wish you the best of luck in your next adventure with the grandchildren. I thank Rob, Jake, Joey, Becca, and Chrissy for sharing you with this community and with me. Ashland is better for it. Thank you. You're welcome. >> [applause] >> Oh my gosh. Um >> [laughter] >> The Anyone can come grab one. Paul Paul knew that I was certainly was going to need them. Uh I had something I was going to say when we did committee reports, but if you wouldn't mind, I'm seeing so many people that I'm talking about in in my written comments. So, um I'd like to share share that now if that's okay. You're still the chair. All right. I'm sharing it now, whether you like it or not. Is that okay with all of you?
You couldn't put me down. I had a family I don't know why they're all the ones that have to do with slices. No, but here's the thing. I had one two earlier, okay? It was after Yep, it is. All right, let's Okay. Yeah. >> It's a start, by the way. Or Give me a what? Oh, wow. Right here. Running in a circle. Yeah, the captain's left the ship. Let's go, Billy. Let's finish up. Let's go, boys. Finish up, boys. I'm Jeff. Jeff off. I'm Jeff. Yeah, so I'm bringing him down. Oh, yeah. Good job, Billy. He's enjoying it. Yeah, he's good. It's nice to get to play to try to spend some time with them. It's a non-scheduled game. You got that, right? Do everything you Okay. So, they're doing great. Yes, Billy. This is a good day. I'm feeling good. Attaboy, Billy. Good chance they're ALL GOING TO LEARNING AS MUCH AS WE CAN teach them.
Fowler with that one-handed reel. Nice pick up. Oh, that Atwood pass to Harnett. Harnett miraculously got it somehow and still had a look at the net. Now it's going to be Oh, it's Yeah, it's going to be Mustang ball. 3:09 left to go. I did talk to Cam Crandall on the sideline. He's got quite the quite the action down there, quite the footage. So, I'll be putting that on the gram, DS Cable TV. This is Behan with it in that side corner, passing it behind the net to Dorr. Dorr to Behan. It's like Pillard was saying something. Good defense here by the Raiders. Weisman all over him. Pass, Pillard shot, saved by Abscess. Great reflexes. All right, what is going on? It's like it's going to be blue ball. Ball coming up now, goes to Behan up to Pillard to Brown, back to Pillard. Back to Brown.
Do members have any questions? Comments, concerns, not a single one. It's okay if we don't, but if you got one, >> I can have one for Stephen. Um, I noticed that the April I guess it's more of a comment. The April vacation was lower than the February. Is this the first year doing the April and the February? >> We did both last year as well. And April was a little smaller last year as well. Yes, member Deniv. >> Mr. Joy, am I not seeing this correctly? We have the yonder cell phone report is just the policy. >> No. >> Oh, you're going to talk about it. Okay. Because I didn't see it in the thing. Okay, never mind. Erase. Erase. >> All right. Any other questions though specifically for uh Mr. Pette or Mr. Sullivan. >> All right, seeing none, Roland, do you have the floor?
Do members have any questions, comments, concerns? Not a single one. >> It's okay if we don't, but if you got one, >> I can have one for Stephen. Um, I noticed that the April, this more of a comment, the April vacation was lower than the February. Is this the first year doing the April and the February? We did both last year as well and April was a little smaller last year as well. >> Yes, member Den. >> Mr. Joy, am I not seeing this correctly? We have the yonder cell phone report is just the policy. >> Oh, you're gonna talk about it. Okay. Because I didn't see it in the thing. Okay, never mind. Erase. Erase. All right. Any other questions though specifically for uh Mr. Pette or Mr. Sullivan? >> All right. Seeing none. Roland, you have the floor. >> There we go. Thank you.
So I have called our council member this afternoon to let him know that I was highly concerned and that that was that's a real problem. Like we need that expertise and we need that partnership from them. There was uh another council member that was in our meeting this morning. She heard all of our feedback. Uh that was a number one issue that all the superintendent expressed concern about. She said she was going to take that back to council so that they can find, you know, an avenue, a better way to be able to support that effort. Um you know, uh the captain was there that oversees that work. we made sure to let him know we appreciate their partnership and everything that they've done. We've always been able to depend on those resources and so we'd like to make sure that gets sustained. So I think that's um a really important piece that I wanted to mention.
Kaylee Marie Grippentrog I want to thank my parents for supporting me endlessly. Miss Webster for always being a friendly face. After high school, I plan to pursue a degree in animal science. >> [applause] >> Max Gudonis >> [cheering] >> I want to thank my mom, grandma, coach Shawn, my teachers and friends for helping me to get through high school. I would never have gotten to this point without you. You have helped me grow into the man I am today and I couldn't be more thankful. Pierce Capercamp I want to thank God, my family, and my awesome mentor Kevin. Village High School shaped me into the man I am today and I will always be one of the best parts of my life. Grace Francis Harmon I'd like to thank my friends who make everyday fun and who are always there for me. My parents for always pushing me to do better and for being my number one cheerleaders.
When we had I don't know how many girls came, but just say 30. 30 or 40 girls came and said we wanted to flag football. Then Mike went ahead and we went ahead and contact the AIA and we had football. if you had a hundred girls come out for soccer or want to play soccer and come to us next year, then we figure something out and put them in. But right now, we're not seeing the number of kids coming out. So, I'll ask you at the end so we can get through so we don't run out of time. >> Okay. >> Um what direction you guys want me to do and we'll we'll adjust accordingly. >> Um technology, these are more backend stuff that you probably won't recognize or see um because they're just ways that we're moving around and changing different software programs to go ahead and do a savings in the back end.
Again, part of being online is because of there's so many other distractions, you personally have to be engaging. Kids have to want to come to your class. And that starts with the relationship that you've built with them. And then also the content that we're delivering. You know, we can't just sit up there. And I think there's a huge [clears throat] um misunderstanding or misconceptions that virtual students just kind of are you're there on the computer. And we offer asynchronous just means not live where you're doing work outside of your teacher, but then also synchronous sessions where they're actually meeting with their classroom teacher with lesson plans that they created and that engagement aspects of it. So um I think it's just incorporating all of those things um to continue to push them to be motivated to come and participate. >> Thank you. >> I have Go ahead.
And I think we're up till 8. So every hen is laying eggs. Um we have the friends of the flock and they are friends in the community and they donate money to help fund the monthly supplies to care for the chickens. In exchange they receive fresh fresh eggs. Um some comments that have been left for our students from our friends of the flock. I am so happy to participate in the friends of the flock program. The chicken tenders in deputy elementary school are awesome. These memories of caring for chickens will last forever. Keep up the good work. I'm so proud of the students for taking on this new task. It is so heartwarm heartwarming to see our deputy students so excited to feed, take care of, and collect the eggs every day. So, if you would like to participate with Friends of the Flock, reach out to Mrs.
Yes. Talking a lot tonight, but you don't have to >> [laughter] >> And I'm still going to text you. Okay. Serving Ashland Public Schools and the Ashland community has been one of the great privileges of my life. And as I step away, I'm filled with so much gratitude. Jim, you're one of the most effective leaders I've ever had the chance to work with. You bring the rare combination of high expectations, tireless work ethic, empathy, and vulnerability. You've always made this work feel like a partnership. And you've helped all of us grow while also being open to feedback to grow yourself. One of your greatest strengths is your ability to recognize talent, and because of that, we've all benefited from working alongside outstanding people like Mike and Chris and so many incredible principals, teachers, and staff. >> [snorts] >> I value and appreciate all members of the Ashland Educators Association who sent me beautiful flowers today.
Attaboy, Billy. >> Yeah, they're cheering. No, they're cheering. Oh my gosh, tensions between audience audience and player right now. MIDDLE, MIDDLE, MIDDLE. >> I'M HERE. HERE WE GO, GEORGE. >> [cheering] >> SORRY, YEAH. I'M TRYING TO GO BACK. UH, WHERE IS THE BALL, GUYS? 16 18 >> [cheering] >> Oh my gosh. >> [screaming] >> HANDS IT OFF. OH, SORRY. I didn't know I could do that. That's my fault. I didn't like that one. I missed like the goal area. I still have to take a shot. >> Go out there. Come on. Get over here. I got it. Come on, ref. I got it. Come on. COME ON. PASS IT DOWN. COME ON. COME ON. COME ON. COME ON. PASS IT DOWN. COME ON. COME ON. COME ON. >> [cheering] >> COME ON. COME ON. YEAH. OH. SORRY, COMES AROUND, YEAH. HEY, come here. Come here.
Over to Drake. Mustangs working it. Good positioning by the Raiders. And the shot by Dorr. Didn't hit Archie, but Mustangs still working it. Behan shot, saved by Archie. Abscess coming up big there. Peller's pass right up to Brown. Brown just missing on that shot. All right, Mustangs still have possession down by two. Peller unable to get that one. Pass to Neville. Neville to Bahan. Pond's pass couldn't quite connect with Drake. And this is Nostrum. Nostrum dealing with the pressure well. Gets it to Abs this. And now Olair. Great great defensive sequence from the Raiders. Now Senn with it. Senn pass to Fowler. Fowler thought about it. Fowler to Olsen. Olsen buries. Great play there. >> [applause and cheering] >> So, with that Raiders go up by three. 10 to seven right now. 43.2 left to go in the third quarter. Starting to get some separation.
>> Thank you. >> There we go. Thank you. Uh, just a quick one on the U school enrollment. We have 1345 students. That is down four from the month before in April from 1349. On that, I would like to congratulate our bands. had a great showing last week at the Great East Festival. The Greenfield High School band earned a gold medal at the Great East Festival at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield on May 8th. And also our middle school band performed and earned a s silver medal at the festival. After the festival, all the students had went to the annual band trip at Six Flags New England. Like to thank all the teachers and chaperones who worked hard and the band directors for all their hard work. They've done a great program and as mentioned in our student report, there are many more concerts.
Uh just a quick one on the school enrollment. We have 1345 students. That is down four from the month before in April from 1349. On that, I would like to congratulate our bands. Had a great showing last week at the Great East Festival. The Greenfield High School band earned a gold medal at the Great East Festival at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield on May 8th. And also our middle school band performed and earned a se silver medal at the festival. After the festival, all the students had went to the annual band trip at Six Flags New England. Like to thank all the teachers and chaperones who worked hard and the band directors for all their hard work. They've done a great program and as mentioned in our student report, there are many more concerts. Sometimes there are some there's big ones obviously at night and there are also some school ones coming up for the end of the school year.
And then also uh just on positive note, we have open houses happening. Um I want to just remind everyone we still have another round of open houses this week. On Thursday, we have Brooktree, Vincy Park, and Noble. Uh, you know, all the open houses I've attended uh have had great participation from their um their uh families, but also want to let our families know at large, this is a good opportunity to visit our schools. Uh, you know, if you've got an incoming TK or kindergartener, come and take a look at that elementary site. Uh, get to know the staff. you know, it's a good way to also see the next grade level. What are those expectations for the student the next year? Um, our teachers work really hard and their support staff in sharing all the progress that the students have made up to this point in time.
And to all the staff here for giving me the support I needed to succeed. >> [applause] >> Caleb Keith >> [cheering] >> Thank you to my mom, my dad, and my mentors throughout high school for supporting me and always being in my corner. Jessica Laura Heiler >> [cheering] >> I want to thank my family for their love and support in everything I do. My mentor Carolyn for being like my school mom and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for being with me always. In the fall, I will attend Samford University. Mark Hawking >> [cheering] >> Thank you to my mom who has always supported me no matter what was going on and for being the most understanding person in my life. Tawana Ariana Hadza First and foremost, I'd like to thank God for being my strength through high school. I'd also like to thank my mom, my sisters, and all the teachers who've helped me along the way.
So that's 73,000 in savings. A lot of it has to do with Cisco, which is a backend stuff. Craig can go in detail if you want it, but it's just a way for us to go ahead and make sure that our our um the backend stuff that we're doing is uh being utilized to the format that we need to. We will continue to build the budget with a million dollar contingency. Uh for some people maybe in the audience that don't understand, a million dollars sounds like a lot of money. For our business, that's about 3%. If you're in the private sector, you run somewhere between 8 and 10%. So although it seems like a lot of money, there's a lot of different things that could happen that we need to have a contingency for so that we could address. So when you do the overall math, we said that the 60 students lost was a little over a million dollars, but when you add everything up of what you're trying to do, we needed to find a million7.