001All right, let's uh take attendance to ensure that we have a quorum. Mayor Christensen? Here. Mr. Dromey? Here. Mr. McCarthy? Ms. Fadafora? Here. Ms. MacLeod? Here. Ms. Moriarty? Here. Mr. Piazza? Mr. Bernard? Ms. Rose-Iversen? Okay, so we have a quorum sufficient to allow us to gather. Let's get into this agenda item, and I think the way we do that is go to uh the author to give us a real brief introduction of it again. So, let me go to Mr. Piazza. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh So, there's a major issue that one way or the other will affect children enrolled in Malden public schools. I propose this resolution to initiate public debate about that issue. The public elected us to this role, and so we owe them transparency, accountability, and good public debate, basic element
002of democracy. School budgets are complex. They're layered with formulas and contingencies that try to assign dollar values to tough questions. And that's before you consider the larger question of how a school budget interacts with the rest city budget. As individuals who elected by the public because of our special concern or expertise in questions like these, we have a role to play in helping a busy public understand a complicated issue. It's not just my opinion. Indeed, in a memo released February 2015, the Office of Campaign and Political Finance states that, quote, "Officials may discuss a ballot question at any time, including at an official public meeting of a government body, such as a Board of Selectmen or School Committee, end quote." That memo also states, quote, "Officials may endorse or vote as a body to endorse
003ballot question, and may issue statements supporting or opposing ballot question, end quote." Along those lines, I partnered with member Bernard to write a resolution that endorses the override. I support it because I believe that more money is good for children. [snorts] Children, who by the way are our most crucial priority, that's also a quote from the policy manual that governs this body. If folks see it differently, they can vote against it. It's a non-binding resolution. It will pass, not pass, but the public who elected us will know where we stand and will hopefully be more informed about the choice that they face. [snorts] So, with that, make a motion to open discussion. All right, everyone. Uh first you want to make a motion to uh adopt, right? I'd like to Yes, thank you. I'd like
004to make a motion to to adopt the resolution. Is there a second? Seconded by Ms. Hoarty. For purposes of discussion, all right, what say you, everyone? Any questions, queries, qualms, concerns about it? And Madam Clerk, did Mr. Bernard join? You haven't seen him yet. Okay. We thought Mr. Bernard was going to join remotely, but he hasn't as of yet, so let's go to Ms. Rose Zeiberg. Thank you, Mr. Chair. In looking over the resolve, um I have a question and would like to suggest a possible changing in word, a little amendment. Where it says um now therefore be it resolved that the committee declares a local revenue increase to benefit students and families of Malden public schools, both in terms of services they receive in district schools, as well as the services they receive as
005residents of Malden. I think that a more logical one would be to say that we resolve that the committee supports a local revenue increase, um rather than declares a local revenue increase, because we don't have the ability to actually do that. To the author? I want to make sure that I fully understand. This sounds perfectly reasonable. I just want to make sure I fully understand the the language, so instead of saying now be it further resolved that the committee declares a local revenue, that the committee supports a local revenue increase to to benefit students and families in Malden. So, just change the word declares to support. Yes. Okay. All right, let's hold that, Ms. Rose-Iversen. Anyone else? Uh let's see, Ms. Pettefor. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um So, I just wanted to be very clear
006before we took our vote on where I stand cuz I think I'm probably the outlier here tonight. Um and please excuse me cuz I I wrote up some notes. So, the city council has chosen to put a tax override before the voters and that is their role. Um and I am so in favor of anything going out to the residents of Malden to be able to decide on what is best for us. But tonight, we're being asked as a school committee to formally endorse that override. And based on my experience, um I'm not comfortable doing that. For 7 years on this committee, members did not have access to our warrants. Um I don't know anything before that. The Municipal Modernization Act of 2016 allowed bodies like ours to choose members to approve on our behalf,
007and that is the chair. And up until last May, this body was never provided copies or access to warrants until I started asking. We also have policies regarding school committee approval for grant funding and for transfers between salary accounts and operations and maintenance, and those items have never been brought before us for approval. Again, further lack of transparency um when it comes to our finances. We recently had grant funding where our $15,000 was returned because we did not spend those funds. And in fact, as the finance chair, I learned during the city council finance meeting that this district did not meet net school spending last year. I did not hear about it from our finance manager or from our chair. And that would have been important information to share with this committee. So, as we
008talk about transparency and finances, that is something this committee has lacked for eight plus years. Um I can't speak to the city's financial practices, but at this point, we have not been given a clear explanation of where additional overhead funds will actually go. Um so, I will be asking for this body to take back approval of the warrants and until uh full transparency and strong financial oversight, I will be voting no. Anybody else? Okay, so let's take up uh Ms. Rosaiberg's amendment first. I think we could consider it friendly, right? We don't need to vote on that. You're willing to accept that change. I'm willing to accept that change. >> Yeah. Okay. All right, so Madam Clerk, it will say um support, right? Rather than declares, Ms. Rosaiberg. Correct? Is that what it was? Uh
009what was the We had decided to change in in the first like part of So, the part that begins, "Now, therefore, be it resolved." We're going to change the word declares to support. Good. All right, everyone. There you have it. Any other questions, queries, qualms, concerns? Hearing none, let's call the roll, Madam Clerk. Mr. Gerami? Yes. Mr. McCarthy? Ms. Batafora? No. Ms. Macklin? Yes. Ms. Hordy? Yes. Mr. Piazza? Yes. Mr. Bernard? Ms. Rose Eiberg? Mr. Christiansen? Yes. All right. We'll now entertain a motion to adjourn. Motion by Ms. Houghty, seconded by Ms. Macklin. All those in favor say "Aye". Aye. >> Anybody opposed? The Ayes have it. School Committee is hereby adjourned.