>> Any discussion? We'll vote signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? >> 26130 pass. 26-131. Approval of engagement letter with Baker Tilly Investment Services. Dr. Brown. >> I recommend the board approve the engagement letter with Baker Tilly Investment Services related to the new construction funds. This agreement is separate for our existing investment services contract with Baker Tilly for operating funds. Notably, the fee for the construction funds is 10 basis points, which is lower than the 12 basis points currently applied to the operating fund. So, asking for permission to enter into the new engagement letter with Baker Tilly. >> Can I get a motion? >> I'll make a motion for 26-131. >> Can I get a second? >> Second.
My long-time buddy here. Yeah. I'm going to be short because Yes. So, So, Laura, I I I've got to know you in wearing four different hats myself. So, first as a principal when I came to Ashland, you were so welcoming. And uh when we first met, you were so just kind and genuinely thoughtful to welcome a new young green principal and provide me with some wonderful advice and wonderful feedback about leading the youngest kids in this town. Um and then I got to meet you as the assistant superintendent and I got to learn about your passionate advocacy for children, always. And how every decision that needs to be made needs to absolutely ensure that the children are what matters the most. Every time, all the time. Then I got to experience Give Kids the World trip with you. And see your empathy, your compassion, and the the way you just truly loved being around young people because you understand the importance of relationships, and that relationships truly make education matter.
>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Seeing none, passes unanimously. Um, all right. So, now we are moved to our school committee reports. Um, starting with the chair's report. So, I had um updated you all couple of months ago that the city council community relations subcommittee had a topic on their agenda related to internships for our students. Um so to that effect they invited me to their meeting uh April 27th I believe it was um to hear more about what they were thinking um and for me to provide sort of my like here's some of the considerations you actually need to be thinking about before you just have a proposal related um because there were lots of like they hadn't thought about the fact that they would be dealing with under 18s and that adds a whole layer of regulation and that they would maybe need to have mentoring plans and that they would have to have some pertinance to our academic IC uh you know endeavor here that that it needs to it can't just be they get free labor.
Um, then I also had a conversation with one of the parents from our special education parent advisory council. Um, and they had a request that they wanted me to to bring to you all just to discuss and see if we would be open to it. Um, they're aware that they have a standing invitation to to come and uh report with us and to talk about their programming. But they were wondering if we would be willing to periodically, not every month, but maybe every other month or, you know, a few times a year, uh send one of us to go attend their meetings. Um this would be a great chance for us to hear directly from our impact parents what's going on, what's happening in our special education programs, how they're actually experiencing them. Um and just I think a more low stakes way to get get in front of our community.
My my eyes are going the older that I get, but I think some soccer girls in here. Um, and I'm glad that you're here tonight. Um, our athletics, our fine arts, and our CTE program. I'm very proud of all those awards that we saw this last week. Um, we just need to tell our story and we just need to uh let our community know how amazing we are because we see it. The ones that show up to those awards ceremonies, we see you and you're amazing. Thank you. Um, I had the honor to well, it was fun. I don't know how honored it was, but um the three of us went to the um Department of Education for uh board members with uh Mr. Hogan. It I have to say that for all the years that I've been on the board that that was probably one of the best conferences I've been to.
They if they come and they have no money on their books, they still walk away with our alternative meal, which is a very generous meal for lunch. I should say turkey and cheese deli sandwich with a fruit and a and a vegetable and and a milk. >> Yep. Basic and simple, >> but they're not going to be hungry. And I think that's the the piece of it that I just want to make very clear is that I think a lot of people just got scared that they're going to have hungry kids, then they can't learn and then behaviors increase again. And I just want people to know that no, we're not going to let kids go hungry no matter what. Um, >> it would be the same for breakfast. If we start charging for breakfast, it will still be an alternative meal. It'll be some sort of an entree, a muffin or a bagel, as well as a fruit and and milk.
>> Any discussion? Okay, we'll vote signify by saying I. >> Any opposed? 26131 pass. 26-132 approval of mini grant from Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction. Dr. Brown, >> I recommend the board approve the mini grant from the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction in the amount of $5,000. The grant will be used to expand sources of strength at the middle and high school alongside hosting a sources of strength workplace well-being training for all certified staff. >> Can I get a motion? >> Make a motion we approve 26132. >> Can I get a second? >> I'll second.
And lastly, I I got to wear the hat of seeing how you were with my own child. And that means more than anything. So, when your own kid says how much they care for someone, that means a lot. It's like if the dog likes you. >> [laughter] >> So, so if if if she I believe that she's probably a representative of every child that you've ever encountered in this district. So, from my family, Aw. thank you. Oh my god. >> Thank you for everything. Thank you. >> You are you are a true model of what an exemplary school committee chair should be for the state of Massachusetts. Thank you, Mike. Yeah, and I treasure all those times as well. I wish she'd let me go first, Mike. >> [laughter] >> When I thought about this time and what I wanted to say to you, I thought about the two things you've always been steadfast on, which is always being committed to kids, advocating for them, and no drama for us.
It actually has to be meaningful for our students as well. So with that um I think that they're going to go back to the drawing board and see if this is something they're still interested in. I'm not sure that our students would have fit that what they actually need. um what they need is a communications intern and I'm not sure that our students are it for them right now given the additional regulation that it would take for them to actually accomplish the task. That being said, the conversation still on the table. I am in general a fan of internships with municipal government um to the extent that it is a a safe and supportive endeavor, you know, uh activity or endeavor for our kids. Um but that's sort of where we stand on that. Um, it was a good good conversation. Um, and I'm glad I'm glad that I was there to help them think think it through a little bit.
Um, so I so I promised them that I would bring it here and ask you all. So here we are. I'm bringing this up. Um, our options. We can choose, you know, they can sort of talk tell us the month prior, hey, we want someone next month. Um, and we can choose an individual at that time or we can name a person and say you're the person, you're going to go every time. That's sort of up to us how we would like to handle it. Does anyone have thoughts about that? Yes, indeed. >> I think it would be wonderful if we could rotate this >> this labor um not because it's labor, but because each person should have an opportunity to hear from these parents and to learn more about the special special education services in our district. And um I've been sort of really cognizant over the years of how sometimes one person or another will end up getting stuck with like all of the information and we are we don't do a great job of like disseminating it and keeping it um in one place for everyone to to learn from.
It was great. Um learned a lot. Um so that was fun. Um I think that every board member that that is a board member should go to those to that one specifically. Um we are one board member short this time. Um Mr. Steven Ray is no longer going to be with us. He he um chose to uh step down due to some um conflicts of interest. So, he won't be there. And we've um reached out to Joe Bashard and she uh is not going to replace him uh at this point. So, um we will wait for elections for the board that seat to be filled. Um with that, I think we will move on to um public comments. We have a short video to watch. This is a time for the public to comment. The board [music] invites the viewpoints of citizens throughout the district and considers the responsible presentation these viewpoints vital to the efficient operation of the district.
>> Thank you, Mr. Herman. >> Um, just a couple of things. So, to piggy back on member Lopez's statement, this isn't something new as far as feeding students if they don't have money to pay. So, this isn't a new process when it comes to supporting students. We're already doing that with lunch. Correct. A student arrives today. We're already providing that resource. So, uh, one, I applaud you having this conversation. I know it was not easy. It wasn't easy when you brought this to us as a board. It hasn't been easy for us either. It's our job. One of the roles um, as a governing board member to be fiscally responsible. Lucky for us, we as a uh, district has been awarded fiscal responsibility awards, things to you and your staff. And so the fact that when you brought this to us, it hit our emotional, you know, as as people, um, we care about that.
>> Any discussion? Okay, we'll vote signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? >> 26132 passed. 26-133 approval of job descriptions. There's three. First one is farmtop manager. Second one is farmtop assistant manager. Third one is student success specialist. Dr. Brown. >> Yeah. I'm recommending the board approve the job descriptions. Farmtop manager. This is um a revised job title from farmtop coordinator to farmtop manager. Then adding a farmtop assistant manager. It's a new job description. Um the farmtop assistant manager is design designated as full-time and salaried and funding for that position would be sourced from the growing minds farmtop profits and the applicable grants. Um and then third, a student success specialist. I'm recommending the approval of a new student success specialist job description. This specialist will lead a comprehensive student support system integrating academic intervention with career readiness and work-based learning. The position requires leading datadriven intervention systems and coordinating the workbased learning placements to ensure compliance with school goals and DOE expectations and CTE standards.
And when I think about all the things you've heard in this room tonight, I go back to what I said to Mr. Adams we're talking about his evaluation that he gets credit for all the things that he has built. I think the same thing for you. And that everything that we have accomplished as a school district under your leadership, no drama, focused on the kids, made things better. That is somebody else used the word, that's your legacy. And I've been so happy to serve with you for 11 years. The vice chair with you for whatever it's been, nine or 10 something, feels like 20. Yeah. >> Um, you've been a great friend and I will miss you. Thank you, Mark. You as well. Oh my god. So, we have a gift for you Oh my goodness. from the board >> What? and Mr. Adams. Wow.
Um, then I also had a conversation with one of the parents from our special education parent advisory council. Um, and they had a request that they wanted me to to bring to you all just to discuss and see if we would be open to it. um they're aware that they have a standing invitation to come and uh report with us and to talk about their programming, but they were wondering if we would be willing to periodically, not every month, but maybe every other month or, you know, a few times a year, uh send one of us to go attend their meetings. Um this would be a great chance for us to hear directly from our CPAC parents what's going on, what's happening in our special education programs, how they're actually experiencing them. Um, and just I think a more low stakes way to get get in front of our community.
I mean, now we are now we got the handbook going. like it's great but you know so I I'd like to see everybody get a chance to go just like everyone should get a chance to go to hyenas and everyone should get a chance to sit in with the um PTO's and like be the different liaison to the different things so that you can learn you know everybody gets a chance to learn as part of our professional development and also my question is is it virtual the meeting is virtual Okay. I haven't attended yet, so I don't know. Okay. >> Yes. Um, one thing I did bring up to Roland's attention, which he brought it up to me, is that they do meet on the third Wednesday of every month this year. Um, hopefully with us trying not to have conflicts with city council, maybe they might.
Members of the governing board may not discuss items not on the agenda and [music] will be limited to directing staff to study the matter for further consideration and possible decision at a later date. The board therefore [music] establishes the following procedures to receive input from citizens of the district. Any individual desiring to address the board shall complete a form and give this form to the superintendent prior to the board meeting. The board president will keep each speaker to a 3minut [music] time limit. Questions or comments on matters under legal review will not receive a response. Members of the governing board may not discuss items not on the agenda. Personal [music] attacks are discouraged. At the conclusion of a call to the public, individual members of the board may respond [music] to any criticism made by an individual who addressed the board. The expectation [music] of the governing board and district is that everyone treats one another with respect and that the speaker presents viewpoints in a civil manner.
To your point of sharing with the public, what stood out to me is if we don't do something and so hearing that our students were go we're not going to go hungry, absolutely, that made me feel 100% better. But also hearing the impact of if we don't start charging, what that will do. So, if you could go into a little bit more detail about what taking funds from the M fund would actually do so that people can kind of weigh what what we're looking at. >> Yeah, great question. Um, the M fund already has a lot of burden. You know, we get a 2% inflation factor annually from the state and we know real inflation is much greater than 2%. We also have a ton of unfunded mandates. When they implement minimum wage, it's a great thing, but we we feel pressures on minimum wage annually.
And since the diplomas have moved from seven to 27 diploma types, having um this individual will help coordinate those for our students. >> Can I get a motion? >> Make Go ahead. >> Go ahead. >> Want me to do it? I'll make I'll make a motion to approve 26133. >> Can I get a second? >> Second.
That is gorgeous. So, could Could we ask somebody to read what it says on there? Jim, do you Rebecca Rebecca's right here. Right here. It's the seal of Ashland. Rock the babies. Or rock. One or the other. >> [laughter] [applause] >> The chair for the chief. I love it. That's my rocking chair for the babes. So, maybe the last >> That's my new personality now. It's just all about babies. So, it's your meeting, Madam Chair. How would you like to end it? I I just Yeah, um I'm overwhelmed. I mean, I think I just have to process all these amazing things that you have all said. I I I don't even know what to say other than I mean, I'm looking at my family's here. I My nephew is here. My sister-in-laws are here. All of the you administrators and people from the other boards that I've treasured so much.