Manchester-Essex Regional District School Committee Meeting | April 7, 2026

001Uh, welcome everyone. I would like to call to order the Manchester Essex Regional School District School Committee meeting on April 7th, 2026 at 6:03 p.m. And as we start every meeting, we'll open up to any public comment. If you are joining us online, please put your name and your full name and address into the chat if you have any public comments. And I don't know if we have any public comments in person. >> Okay. So, we'll hold a minute. If you are online and would like to make a public comment, please do so. All right, not seeing any tonight. We will move right along to our students report. >> Yeah, thanks. >> Thank you as always for joining us. Megan, it's been a while since you've been here. So, it's good to see you. >>

002Good. Um, I will preface this with if my calendar serves correctly, we haven't met since the last meeting. Um, as a group, so this is from Maggie and talking to people report. Um, it's been a while. So, to catch up, we've had a lot going on, but my favorite most important thing, Steam night was such a big success. And especially want to shout out a huge thank you to Mr. Water and Mr. Janak for all of the hard work they put into that. Um it was such a awesome experience to get to display all of the student work and also have a lot of like there's very big community turnout. So it was really cool. Um and just overall a very incredible event and I'm glad that we've gotten to continue this even with the

003shift in who was managing it. It was very well done. Um additionally robotics has wrapped up for the year. They won multiple awards but sadly did not advance to the next round of their competition but it sounds like they had a very fun time. Um, we also had contemporary ensemble night which had a really good turnout. Um, both middle and high school contemporary rock bands and both jazz bands performed there. Um, and it was it was a wonderful evening full of music. Um, debate I know one part of the team placed at states recently which was wonderful but they are done with competitions for the year as well. Um, and they are now on to planning fundraisers and such for the next upcoming year. Um, now on to more now stuff. Spring sports have officially

004begun. They have practices and games very frequently at this point. Um, full full swing and quarter 4 has started, which means all of our seniors are off doing their score things. So, the building's feeling a little bit more empty, but it looks like they're all having a lot of fun with Senior Assassin. I've seen some pretty creative attacks there. Um, we're coming up on April break, which means the Spain trip is coming up, which I'm very excited for, and there's been quite a bit of talk about. Um, I know DECA at this point has moved on fully to focusing on their international competition in Atlanta. I was told that the itinerary was recently finalized and supposedly is super fun. So, that'll be great. Um, for performing arts, we have the spring concert this Thursday at

0056:00. So that's all high school music classes will be performing there. And then the only other thing that I really have um as a heads up at least juniors and possibly seniors, but I don't know if anyone else um and I haven't been able to discuss this with the administration yet like to reach out and ask, but we received an email last Thursday about a class action settlement against the company Naviance um for a potential uh what was it? it was data security breaches. >> Um, so I don't have further insight into this, but it has been a topic of conversation. Like people check their email very infrequently, but when they do, they're like, "Oh, that looks important." Um, so that's come up a few different times, but other than that, that's all I've currently

006got. So if you have any questions, >> perfect. Any questions for May? to that and I know the deadline for the line but >> yes >> of course >> not necessarily a deadline you can still sign up but there is a increase but yes it looks like it's going to be fun um I think we have a pretty decent sized group signed up at this point so >> and I'm looking forward to hearing about fun >> yes yes I think that's already being discussed um me and two other students at least that I've heard of are working with the adults at church to um help play those. So, it'll be cool. They were just talking about that. So, it's everybody's right up. Yeah. Good. And I think you dropped to 17. >> Really? Great. Yeah.

007We're going up. >> Yeah. Awesome. >> Thanks so much. >> Thanks. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um I don't have a specific chair person tonight, so we'll move right into the consent agenda. Uh, I'll make a motion to accept the financial memo from April 7th, 2026. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any questions? >> So, I just had one question for Pam that I think could be addressed later. Okay, I'll listen there. And I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from March 17th, 2026. >> All those Any questions or concerns? All is there something else? And I'll make a motion to approve the out of spirit list. You have any excuse? >> That's suggest it's an athletic competition and get a second. >> Second. >> Sorry. >> It's just the annual um sailing competition

008for Portland. Yeah. that they qualify for they need to move as they >> any questions regarding no um that wasn't there something else thank you and we're moving right along to our secondary reports I think first up is elementary facilities yep I've got a report for us um we met on March 24th we had a two-part The first hour from 6:00 to roughly 7:00 p.m. was what we were calling a gallery walk with um posters, mounted posters of the five designs that are still um under consideration in the categories of code upgrade, addition, renovation, and three new build um designs plus um a poster of the evaluation criteria that we're using. that red, yellow, green chart were up around the cafeteria and anyone from the public could come and look and put post-it notes with

009their feedback on it and talk to the people who were all involved. Um it was good turnout. Um I'd say probably 15 to 20 people who were unaffiliated with the SBC um were were there. They shared input verbally and like I said with the postits, all of that's being compiled with board feedback as well for review of the next meeting. Um those posters we took we had intended talked about later that night um to put them on display in the third floor at the town hall but for a few reasons that wasn't the best venue but working with um Carla Christensen librarian extraordinaire um we have them on display in the young adult room at the Essex library. So um there's also a little sheet there with QR code that people can um stop in

010take a look at them and share their feedback anytime. Those will be up there until our next SBC meeting. Um I'll get into that in a minute. So, um following the gallery walk, public part of that, we had a regular business meeting. We approved vouchers um to pay for the mailer that went out for the community meetings and also the creation of the video that Pam um showed you guys here at the last meeting that I missed. Um we are still on time and on budget. We approved minutes and then the rest of the meeting really was just a discussion of the designs from our perspective also sharing the input that what we were taking in from the gallery walk the public feedback that we were getting and coming up with you know any opinions

011and unanswered questions but we've been discussing these at great length in every meeting. So there's not a whole lot new really there. It's just that the vague unanswered question um that we were hearing, you know, from the public and also within our group, from members in meetings and outside of meetings and email is, you know, what are these going to cost and what the impact of taxpayers going to be? That's that's just the big question. And so, um it is good that we're able to evaluate these designs on their own merit without that. But until we have that information, it's really theoretical um because that's going to be a huge driver of this decision. So um they have gone out for to the cost estimators. If you want to know more about that process um

012watch the meeting reporting from the 24th. Um Christina would be g or maybe someone gave a really good explanation about that whole process. Um, so on April 14th, next week, we have two meetings. And on April 14th, it's a regular SBC business meeting and we'll have our first look at or first review together of those estimates. And then on the 16th, 2 days later, we have a community meeting. So, it's like the second half of this design review community meeting. Um, and we'll review that info with the community. So things to keep in mind between now and then would be that these estimates are very very rough and mainly useful to consider the designs against each other rather than as final numbers even back of the envelope math and and breaking out into you know

013a portion that's not really effective at this point. It's mostly so that we can have that information to compare against each other to come up with a preferred option um for submission to MSDA. um and they're going to continue to be refined once we actually start the real design process. So that's important to keep in mind. Um on the 14th though in our business meeting we are likely to take a straw poll to see if there's a clear front runner at this point among the SBC members. Um and if there is then at that point the the presentation for the 16th will be kind of tailored to that. It'll include all the information, but tailored to help the community understand what the front runner is and why, what our reasoning is for that. Um, and

014things that we'll Sorry, I can't I can't see out and in the same things here. Um, things we'll be taking into consideration as we do that will be things like the project cost in total versus what's reimbursible. um costs associated with phased construction, which some of these designs will call for, additional site work balanced against smaller building envelope and better use of the site, all of those considerations. Um so again, that presentation on the 16th will incorporate that outcome if we have one, but it won't have been the vote because we want to still take in the public input at the community meeting and then at our meeting on April 28th, we will vote on a preferred schematic design to advance. Do you have something different than that? I think they're going to want us

015to try to close out that vote by the 16th because we have to vote for the PSR report. >> okay. So, that's the >> So, after we take in the community input on the 16th, we'll go into business meeting mode to take a vote. >> That's what that's just >> Got it. Okay. Y um on April 28th, we can approve the PSR, the preferred schematic report. So that's the deliverable that has to be sent into MSBA for approval. Everything we do has to be defensible and it has to be documented. We have to be able to show all of our work and this is one of those deliverables that allows for that. Um so for November December timing for a special town meeting vote um everything is on the website. uh be in touch with

016with questions, be in touch with input. Feel free to direct people to the Essex library to look at those, but those things will come down on the 14th because at that point they may be out of date with with the next iteration. Um >> but um yeah, it's going along swimmingly. One thing, it's pertinent to this report, but it's more for this committee. Um, I have on a couple occasions, including at this meeting, taken input from someone in the public about the idea that it is actually effective to hold hybrid meetings where people can vote. And I know it's something that's come up back and forth here as we never really solidified a plan here. Um, so I'm just going to report out and say that our SBC meetings regularly have 20 22 people >>

017on them. We do them hybrid. Everybody is allowed to vote. Everybody participates fully and we've had no problems. So I know early on coming back from CO and doing this it was kind of a question but it might be something that this committee wants to take up at some point. So I'm putting it out there in a public meeting so that perhaps that can be um on discussion in future because it really if it is effective still there's no there's no downside that I've seen. But that's it. >> Thank you Joseph. Can I ask how much engagement the display at the library has been getting? Do we have a sense of that or like how many people have responded to the survey? >> No, I because I don't get that. >> Lauren should be able

018to tell us more. Rachel, >> we'll know what they're getting next Tuesday. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I I do think the turnout was good at the meeting, but I didn't see a whole lot of younger families there. And I know they're really hard to reach because a lot of the families that are going to benefit from this project or their kids are going to directly be impacted by the projects haven't even entered the district yet. So, um I sent an email encouraging that we put it up. We have a link. I I see the surveys on the website, which is awesome. Can we boost it on social media? Can we, you know, get it out? Um I could put it in this newsletter but I know we want to keep the two committees separate. So

019maybe that's not appropriate but however whatever mechanisms we can use to like boost that and get it out in the time that we have while it's still relevant. So the communications group started a discussion about this and the they landed on not putting it out because of the amount of context that one would need to interpret the documents. So I did circulate after you had sent the suggestion to the committee again and didn't really hear back from anybody. Yeah. >> So it's just kind of hanging out there. I'm >> I'm open to it, but if we still have that same sentiment that without Jim's explanation as to the fact that they're not really looking at plans, they're looking at massings and what we're really looking at is the comparability of the site locations. I don't

020know people what kind of feedback we give it, but I'm I'm open to doing it and it's not hard to it's not hard to get it out there. People want to try feedback in that way. >> Yeah. >> So I that's why I put it back to the communications group. >> Yeah. you can just pass my thoughts along to them and their she right to them to say do we want to reconsider what the original decision was and I really don't think back from what Kim said I'm not opposed to it but it seemed like people were apprehensive about it to begin with so so Kim and I both have said the same thing and just we could check in with the group >> just serves two purposes not just to also get their feedback

021but to get people really excited about it like seeing those visuals were really exciting about, you know, what the layout could be and this how it lays on the site. You start to be able to envision it and it's just really exciting. So, I want to get people excited about it. It's really positive. >> I'm open to getting it out there in any way people feel. I I think we we would need to put it back to because again, it's the communications that's that's their job. So, we have to we can put it back out again. But the response we got was was that that said once we are out of the once the preferred schematic I'm trying not to use all the um initials um once the preferred schematic report is in then we're

022moving into the actual design phase where it's like what do you want this to look and feel like and at that point I think that it's a whole different level of engagement for interested families who are going to use this building. Um >> sorry what stage is that? this next the next one right after this meeting this um >> April 16th meeting. >> No, starting in May. >> Oh, starting in May. Once they pick where it's going to sit on site and then they start to really design the building. Like right now we just have blocks and we could do this type of blocking or the front of the site. This type of block needs to work at the back of the site. This is a block concept if you add a renovation added in

023addition. But we don't really know what that's going to look like. Um there are they start so that you can see that it >> it will start to scale up and you'll start to see a rendering of what the front walkway would look like and that's where there's a lot of choice involved. Everything from materials, the colors to the amount of glass. Um and when you go back through some of the memorial school materials, that's when you started to see the little schematic on everything we sent out Vshape. So I think that piece is coming and that's why you've got all of those invites which is PE because summer is going to be the big design period making sure we're blocking in all the necessary um subdies that have to happen so they have the

024answers to those questions so that they can actually design. And I think part of that too that that I'm learning along the way is that's also the the process period in which we're going to find a lot of nipping and tucking. And so for the people who are the budget hawks and looking to save every square inch that you know that's the time that this is going to happen. But conversely for people who really want to advocate for flex spaces or for you know just different kinds of spaces that's the time for them to weigh in as well. And so, >> right, >> this is when ra that's when I'd rather see us put a full a bigger effort into specifically the families that are going to potentially be utilizing the space. >> Yeah. It's

025going to be extra important that we hear from them as much as we hear from the NIPS. >> Exactly. We want to hear from everybody. We went abroad and in one of our more recent conversations we were talking about when we went into P as the schematic design phase memorial were like 84,000 or 85,000 square ft. It dropped back to about 77. So there's going to be considerable >> reduction once they know which design they're working with and how to start putting things together. Yeah. >> So it's exciting. Yeah, but we could put people between now and the end of the week toward the library. >> Yes, that would be I don't know how that's going without a lot because there's not a lot there people are actually making use of it. >> All right,

026any questions for you? >> Next is finance subcommittee. I wasn't able to make >> So we had a short meeting with a committee of one. Yes. Um it the main thing on our agenda we're actually going to talk about today. So we didn't spend all that much time on it, but um I thought Michelle it might be useful for everybody to hear a couple updates you gave on like snow removal andor bus. >> We've got that coming. >> All right, perfect. Thank you. uh the policy and advocacy committee meet >> um we didn't meet but um I have a newsletter here for school committee approval um and then I also I went today on the hill and I had just like a brief comment to share on that and I don't know if you want

027me to do that at the end as my school committee comment or now as a member of the policy and advocacy subcommittee. >> That was a good time. >> Okay. Um well it was I don't know. Were you there? >> I was sick. >> Okay. Um so yeah I didn't want to speak for both of us but um for me it was a really fascinating I'd never been to the state house before. was really fascinating and um I think Teresa said in the past that it really helps put in perspective like the the context in which we're operating and how our district we are struggling like with the finances and how tight things are but we're not struggling as much as many other districts and I wanted to put a plug and just put a

028bug in our put plant the seeds to for this committee to think about like it doesn't feel like absolutely vital that we advocate right now. But the fact that things are so tight and so stretched here, it is it's not going to get easier. And it makes it that much more important for a communities like Manchester and Essex to step up and raise an alarm at the state house because they're hearing from like there was a teacher from uh or a school committee member, excuse me, from Chelsea who spoke like very beautifully about some of their challenges and I think they expect to hear from communities like Chelsea. But when communities like Manchester Essex start to come to the state house and say like this is not sustainable, then they might be more likely to

029listen. So I think I'm excited about I'm grateful to Jake for writing that chapter 70 letter and I'm motivated to try to do some real advocacy um in the future. So, I plan to go back if and you know and when it allows and invite you all to think about that with me in the next year or so or whenever because there's something coming up right in the in the fall in the fall. >> Yeah. >> So, like right next door we use the policy and advocacy subcommittee to brainstorm. >> I would I would enjoy that. Um, full disclosure, the school building committee is a far bigger time commitment than I than the one meeting a month that I was initially. I have at least two meetings every single week between the two committees. So,

030um, I'm in favor of whatever y'all want because I'm not going to be volunteering for additional committees next year. >> Okay, that's fair. Okay. So, be happy to walk with me. >> Yeah. Likewise. And we'll have another a new school committee member coming on eventually. Um, so if she'd be interested, we our subcommittees, I'm assuming, will kind of get shuffled as someone new joins. So, >> we usually reorganize. >> Great. >> All right. The negotiation. Sorry. Any questions for >> the newsletter? Uh, Do you want me to summarize or have you all read it? I don't want to waste your time. >> Summarize. Um the school committee newsletter is for our two March meetings, March 3rd and March 17. Um the first item is the Essex Elementary School building project. keeping the language the same

031as um the school building committee is using but just really skimming the surface and um directing people to the official website. Um I also wanted to be sure to publish the meetings. Um and I can link to that survey if we think it's a good idea, but um it's not included in here. Um, today I added this portion about the FY27 budget because it is very much still in process and we do have town meetings coming up where people are going to need to vote. Constituents need to vote to approve this budget in both towns and as far as I know, Essex is pursuing an an override and so voters need to know that and what's on the table um as far as their budget and and a link to that budget. um so that

032people can see it for themselves. And Pam and I finalized the numbers. That's why you see some scribbles there. The 3.5% increase is the number. I also briefly mentioned the school choice seats that were retain or maintaining them by just replacing the three exiting students. Um, I mentioned the donation at or the scoreboard at Coach Edfield and um, I thank the specific organizations and um, company at the bank that made that possible, the class of 2025. Um, there's the I list the middle school principal search and I knew I added a link to Pam's announcement about him so people can find out more information about it than just is written here. Um, there's a blurp here on the teacher professional development. I thought this was really well done and nicely lays out what teachers were

033up to and gives people an access to resources that if they want to learn more. Um, and then also Michelle's presentation about the capital plan highlighting a couple of key items. Um, yeah, so that's it. Um, we wanted to also talk about potentially if relevant pertinent things are discussed tonight, incorporating that into this newsletter. Pam and I would work together to do that because we won't be meeting again until May. And so this newsletter will be what people have in hand going in the last thing that we can communicate before going into town meeting. And so we might want to use this me like tie this meeting to this so that it's all wrapped up in one package. Um so we want to kind of pre what do we what do we call it process

034approval the process of kind of >> so I don't know how you want to vote on >> Yeah. We'll have short business meetings before each town meeting but we'll be short. >> Okay. So I don't know how you want to vote on that or the committee I'm sorry. No, I was just going to say I make a motion to approve the newsletter subject to additional revisions based on the uh pract and and give authority to them to move forward. Only comment I have is let's try not to make it too too much longer because it's already two pages. >> I was already messing with spacing on all the only two pages and I can't go over >> I think four sentences or something that would be fine but maybe just run out of steam and

035not >> the school choice piece is included in the budget and so that might be able to just come out you know um I'd be fine with that. So those are the types of endings that we can we can talk about to try to keep it as concise as possible and it'll go around and people can send back. Oh we'll have another we just won't have a chance to bring it back here. >> No, I'm in favor of that. I just think it's it's a lot longer than maybe something. >> We're already got scared not red. >> Thank you for putting these together. No. >> Thank you for your feedback. >> Do we need to vote? >> Yeah. Y second. All those in favor of motion. Thank you. >> Uh the negotiation team did not

036move on to our super report. We'll start with the classic overlap. I'll be just shouting out that we have two um arts events coming up in April, the spring concert this week and then after the break, the arts festival and open night, the um the middle high school. the two exciting things coming up and we are working on the end ofear master list of all the potential events that you could put in your calendar which we should have um ready for you um before the breaks. So I'll circulate that um when that's available. We're just tying up some loose ends. Um we have so much going on. I'm going to start with a shout out to the casting crew of Fifth Ray Play. It was it was really fun. I know they had three really

037well attended performances. So that is a heavy lift every year but a really exciting way to bring the schools together. Um you know the kids are going to be joining each other in sixth grade. So um the entire cast and crew for all the time and effort just deserve an you know a big round of applause for not just the performance but the effort uh that goes into wrinkling two partials into one. It's just it's really amazing to see. Um, and I think just over time it's really becoming it's fifth grade play has been different types of traditions for different schools and it's kind of exciting to see it starting to take root as a joint district um activity. So thrilled to see that take place and then I left on the table a copy

038of the independent. I started making a list of all of the great things that have been happening at the high school to shout out kids and programs and it just got exhaustive. So I said, "Hey Julie, why don't you join us? um we give the class of 2026 a shout out because they are off on score. Again, redundancy um in our um presentations and you can kind of run down all of the good things that um you can find in the independent. >> Yeah, >> your kids been up to some really great um stuff. So, you you should definitely have the the joy of of sharing. So, we're gonna I'm going to stop talking and turn it over to you. >> Okay. I was just reading my latest copy of The Independent. Um I hope

039I'm envisioning my face is like three feet by three feet in that room. So I'm going to try to not think about that. >> You're good. You're just up in the corner. >> It has been a very exciting time um at MERHS. We have a lot going on. First, I mean I could go through a lot of things, a lot of stuff Maggie covered, but we had our steam showcase. So we which was a huge success and it was such a great collaborative event between all four schools. We had such great representation. I for this year a like like Maggie said a huge shout out to Liz Drinkwater and Joe Janak. They did an amazing job but the students really helped coordinate and collaborate and they were really running a lot of those booths. So

040it was really nice to see some extra student leadership I guess during that. um which was fantastic. We have a lot of stuff Maggie mentioned, but DECA, we had eight state champions and six finalists. So, our eight state champions will be heading off to Atlanta during right at the tail end of April vacation um to represent MERHS at the um international competition. Um Drama Fest, our high school Drama Fest made it to the semifinals. So, that was a big deal. It's been a long time since they have made gone and advanced that far and there were several awards for the cast and the crew. They were just so excited those weeks which I don't know how they had the energy because they were constantly rehearsing and practicing but they came back so excited and and

041thrilled with their performance. So that was great to see. Um the last a couple weeks ago we had international week which the world language department hosts every year. Michelle Magna does an amazing job. She gets people from we have students present, we have staff present, we have um community members come and present about international travel. And it's a great threeday event that the world language students are able to participate in in listen to some just amazing stories about what people in the community have done all around the world. Um so that was really great. Um, moving on to other classroom things. In the social studies department, they were able to get a Zoom call with Andy Card, who was the he was George W. Bush's chief of staff. He's the person in the photo when

042George Bush is reading to the um children and he gets someone whispers in his ear that the the Twin Towers were attacked. That person whispering in his ear is Andy Card. So the students were able to talk to him and have a zoom call with him which is really exciting and and really cool. Um and the social studies department is also going to participate this Friday in student government day. So they will have Miss Duboce will take off to the state house and take a student with her to get to go onto the floor and participate in what happens in the state house on a day-to-day basis. Um what else? I'm not even I think I'm I might be halfway done. The spring concert. We have a spring concert on Thursday, but we had our

043jazz concert a couple weeks ago. And if you went to the jazz concert, you might have seen the world premiere of the faculty band. So, that was very exciting. And I'm only I can only imagine it's going to grow in size and in talent. We'll see what happens. But it was a really great night and they the students did a great job and there's another concert coming this Thursday. So, a lot going on there. Um, our debate team, they did 13 tournaments this year, so that's pretty amazing. I think last year there were not quite as many, but they participated in 13 tournaments. They're just gaining interest. Um it's it's getting bigger and bigger and Sally Burkowitz has done an amazing job as the club adviser and they're really doing a great job. So that

044the state tournament, they just got a few awards and they're ready looking forward already till for next year. Um Maggie mentioned robotics. Um the art department, there was the congressional art competition where one of our students, Grayson Brooks, took third place. Um, the art department also collaborated with Beach Street Studios and they were able to do an art exhibit with some of the students to showcase their art in a real studio which is very cool. And they also collaborated with 1623 studios and did a ongoing project. So, you know, utilizing people out in the community and getting people in the building to just help share what's going on and and and help teach our students. It was a really great project. And then I think finally score has started. So our seniors had their last

045official I guess full day of school was last Friday. Um students who are continuing with AP exams are coming in for their AP classes, but they're all on score. So they are participating in a variety of different internships. There's lots of cool things that they're able to do. everyone was able to secure something that they were interested in. So, that's exciting. And we'll keep you posted when it is time for them to present their score project, which will be in May. So, they're off and running on on score. Um, we miss them already. It is a much quieter place, as Maggie said, without them, but it's going to just lead right into senior week and prom and balorate and graduation. So, it's it is an exciting time to be at MEHS. >> For our new

046members, do you guys you want a quick brief on the score and what that is? >> I know. I think I know. >> Did you? >> Oh, no. We're good. >> Yeah, I think we're good. >> I think we're good. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, everyone. helping me out >> anytime. >> I never would have gotten it all in never. >> Right. So, I'll just give another one other shout out and congratulations because she did mention uh Liz and Joe doing a fantastic job with the Steam Showcase. Joe just became a dad for the first time. So, baby, baby was born. Baby was born. So, he's very they're thrilled and happy and enjoyed um baby and healthy healthy very healthy all went well. go on to uh when people go through the

047slide deck, this is a link to out to the documentaries that she had mentioned. They are fascinating. I was hoping I wanted to play them, but it's about 30 minutes long. So, I'll send you the link and you can enjoy them if you haven't seen them already. So, after all of that fun stuff, we got some just general um kind of businessy updates for you, MCCAST is underway. I'm sure you've seen all the postings and the signs and and and received your communications as parents. Um, I would just add a reminder that even though MCCAST isn't no longer a graduation requirement, MCCAST is still our major accountability metric. Um, so we still encourage um, families to place importance on it and and help us out by getting their kids here to school and having them

048participate in the assessment. Um it it is it's an important um it's important for all of us to stay on top of that and realize that just because it's not um not the graduation requirement it once was does it hasn't shrunk in importance at this point in our overall structure. Um, so to what Jacob mentioned earlier, it's the snow removal budget. I actually went to Michelle on this because I've heard the towns talking about their snow removal budgets and it's just been a pretty um extraordinary year in terms over the past few. So um we are a bit over budget but I think we're able to account for it and manage it within the context of a larger budget. I don't know if you want to >> Yes. So this past year um has been

049higher than any recent year I could find. Um this past year we spent 103,000 with our snow removal contractor and then we paid to have the Essex roof um shovel twice as hard caution just because of the amount of snow we had. Um so in total we spent about 12 plus,000 um in that budget. Typically we spend between 50 and 70,000. So we are north of where we should be or plan to be typically. Um, but it's a it's a variable I hear every year. Some years we don't spend much, some years we spend quite a bit. Um, I think we'll be able to absorb that within the operating budget. Not easily, but it'll come off of what our um, excess funds are at the end of the year, which typically goes into our END

050calculation. Um, so it may reduce that a little bit, but I think we're okay there. Um, I will have a, you know, presentation next month for you, a projection as of the third quarter, so we'll have definitive numbers there. Um, but overall our our contractors been great. It's funny. I actually went back. We've had these contractors since as far back as I can go. Um, so they have been great. Responsive. Need all our needs and I have some real complaints about that. Don't like what I'm paying them. But I can't control that. Unfortunately, you probably find the numbers unless you went back to 2015. I think that was the last time we had >> Yeah. four days. >> I think they went back to 2010. real honesty, I won't wait back. Um, but yeah, inflation

051inflation death. >> Yes. >> And then while we while you're talking, we can um provide just an update on the transportation contract. You know, our budget accounts for the renewal potential going out to bid. Uh Michelle's been great. We've been looking at all kinds of um options and there's even a state bid list option that I think we're going to be pursuing soon. Want to share a bit about that? >> So, we were planning on going out for state bid. Um, we've actually received some interest from other companies in addition to Salter, who Salter is also interested in our business. Um, which was very promising because typically we're hearing that a lot of bids get one response and that's gifts. So, you're kind of between a rock and a hard place. We have three companies

052that are interested. Um, but we have recently learned that there's also an option of um signing on and using a contract that is a statewide contract for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And in using this contract, you actually have to commit to using electric buses if funding and the buses are available. Um, it would be at no additional cost. It would be basically at the diesel cost contract cost. um and they would apply for grants on behalf of the district to provide electric vehicles or electric electrification of the fleet, but we would not own the vehicles ourselves. Um so I think it's a great opportunity. It's no additional dollars at um something that's great and sustainable and we've been talking about but we were a little discouraged because we were learning the the price tag with

053it is >> we were taking meetings with Sula to investigate >> right doing it because with green school it is the right thing to pursue right >> but it was electric buses are typically two to two and a half times more costly than diesel bus so this was a nice opportunity >> it was very good in fuel cost that also It does. Um, so we are pursuing this. I'm going to talk to another school district who has um just signed this particular state contract for their entire fleet. And we have one of our um neighboring districts who's been using them for a year. So they're very happy with them. So doing a little more investigation, but I think that's the way we should most likely move. Um, and as I stated, it would be at

054the diesel contract cost to us. The one caveat is our bus pricing was set 5 years ago. So, we do have an escalation cost no matter who we go with next year. So, we did build that into next year's budget. So, I think we'll be able to cover that. And I just think it's a win-win situation. >> Any other business item? Um the Northshore Special Education Consortium uh we are a member district. I represent Manchester Estics. We sit on the board as a the superintendent of all the districts. So our members and so we have I do as you do and we kick the tires and go over their annual budget and um make some determinations. So I just wanted to pass along that they did pass the annual budget. We did pass the annual

055budget. It's got a 9.4 increase. Um we have accounted for that in our budget. We've been planning for that all along because we've been active participants in the budget build. Um and we're continuing with the regional transportation project. If you recall last year we had talked about we're trying to create a regional hub for shared um transportation for special education students. So if someone's got coming from Rockport and coming by Manchester Essics can't be with them on the van. I I don't think it met our expectations for this year. I think we're at a break even. we were we had to all kick in about $5,000 to get it off the ground. Um I think the company that they they went with to to spearhead the project got it over their heads. So we've had

056to provide some support around them and consortium has done that. So I think everybody's committed to giving it at least three years and hoping to start to turn it into um a savings opportunity for us. So uh we're going to continue on that. Um, I'm just getting you up to date and I think it's a really interesting point of comparison because they operate similar to a regional school district. Um, but they're more so tied to a private school model in terms of tuitions and heads in and cost per student. So, it also gives you a good sense of what special education costs really do. Um the discussion was up to 15% tuition increase because they're they are having their health their health insurance is up at 15% this year and they're having trouble holding on

057to staff and um I think it's just as we get into our secondary discussion about the budget what we're dealing with here like Lindsay has said it's we are not alone in this. We are really all struggling with a lot of statewide factors that are contributing. So, um, just doing my my duty to report where they're at. And a question about that, Mike. Um, I was I was digging through the their budget book today and I I did think it was interesting in trying to, you know, 9.4 is no small um jump. There's a decrease in heads, but there's also trying to build the reserves back up. So it's like it's all the things we talk about every single year. Is the approval is it just by the members of the group? It's not the

058communities, right? It's >> right. Okay. It's just the group. There's no other approval that it has to get. >> Okay. That's what I was wondering. >> And we're just we also she also went through so Fran Rosenberg is the executive director. She went through a desi process of checklist and one of the reminders is we should be reporting back this year on on some things and this is one of them. So, we've done it on and off through the years depending on whether or not it was out of the ordinary. So, we all got our reminders the book. Um, but but it is it is fascinating to go and sit and flip the seat. >> Um, they're dealing with um some facilities issues. They're feel we're dealing with managing a building project. They're working from

059their reserves. So it's it's everybody's chewing the same balancing act um and trying to figure out how many years in a row you can do the balancing act without it falling apart. So they do great work over there. Um they are a savings for us. They they are our first go-to if we are seeking a district placement. So um it's a great organization and we are very lucky to have it uh staying. So on top of uh that increase and accounting for it in the budget that is sure normal for you but of operation but I feel like that could have been a brutal surprise if we weren't on top and everybody's trying to smooth I mean we have um we're the lower population group there so when we're working with Levier and Lynn the

060impacts to their budget of our city um I don't need to recap the six building project. I've got my trusty remember April 16th. I'm leaving this in there so people updated to see it completely. Um and then we can go to budget update after. So I'm all set unless there are questions. Okay, >> questions. Okay, additional questions. All right, thank you very much pal. Good luck. Heather, you are up if you're ready. >> Heather, do you need me to put up the slides? Monday quicker than I was expecting. So, >> well, she's transitioning. Um, I did text Julie. Only the students got those emails. >> Name to you. So students so we're working on getting follow >> so I'm not going to call I don't know what it is so let me do some by

061next meeting I'll go back >> like I lost stay at seven. It's got like 10 bucks and you can finish maybe like free monitoring for a year. >> We'll do our due diligence to make sure we understand the source of the email too and ensure that it's actually legit. you know, ready kill. >> Great. Um, I had a quick update slide, but you know, you've heard a lot of the celebration, so I just want to emphasize, you know, this time of year is really fun. There's so many great things going. Um, I did want to share a excite some exciting news. We uh our district has been awarded a grant. We are partnering with the 18 Foundation who um has been doing some really exciting work around our state with leading some uh fiscal support

062and professional development partnerships and um building some thoughtful learning networks around Massachusetts in a a few different areas of curriculum work. So the opportunity that we have is we'll be partnering with them for the next three years to support our ongoing implementation of the investigating history curriculum. So, you may recall a few years ago we received a grant to launch the investigating history curriculum. Um, it is, my understanding, the only curriculum that's actually been written essentially by the Department of Education in partnership with some higher ed partners and some other local organizations like Primary Source. Um but they've actually written it to really deeply align with the history social science curriculum frameworks which were updated within the the recent the recent past. Um but the beautiful thing is that this grant is actually helping us

063to expand the curriculum implementation. So our initial grant provided us the resources and support and professional development to bring it into grades five through seven. Um they are this coming year releasing grades three and four. So this grant will provide us um three years of ongoing partnership and professional learning for our teachers. The beauty is we actually get to loop in grades three through seven. So even though some of our teachers have been implementing this, they have done some updates some of the curriculum resources and um as you're getting to know a new tool or platform, it takes a little bit to get your hands around it. So this will give our teachers in grades five, six, and seven who've been doing it the chance to build those professional networks with other districts and colleagues

064who are doing it around the state um have that targeted learning support and also access to the updated curriculum resources while we also roll it out into three three and four classrooms bringing us into a really nice cohesive learning experience for our students as they go through that history of social studies learning throughout our district. So really exciting. um the teacher leaders and school leaders from each of the schools will be going together uh next week to to this organization where we'll get a chance to meet some other districts doing this work and and launch our partnership um this spring. So super exciting um and exciting to have this fiscal support but also that that powerful network and conceptual learning opportunities. Good news, Dave. Um, I did want to share there were some we had

065a chance to preview the PD day with you last time. So, I did just want to walk you through I I did promise that I would give you a little snapshot of the day. Um, I I love professional development days because I feel like it's like a chance to have a PD party and be with your peers and colleagues and learn together and get a chance to connect and network. can also I don't think I think a lot of teachers go into teaching because at some point they've drawn to that idea of learning and and keeping themselves fresh and current and so I think the opportunity to really do that the full day together is really exciting. So um we our day was started first of all I do want to shout out our food

066service which did a phenomenal job having like coffee and breakfast and an amazing lunch and and they just did a great job making it feel like supportive of our staff. Um we started the day with a keynote from Jeff Riley. I didn't share with information about him before in partnership with our day of AI work we've been doing. um he really brought through that idea of that forecasting that impact of AI on teaching, on learning, on educators, on students, on our communities, both in things we need to be thoughtful about and careful of and also potential opportunities and what does it mean for us and a few points in the presentation. You'll see I've just pulled a few uh quotes from our teachers who gave feedback on the day. And um I think he really

067found that great balance of really celebrating the work our teachers are doing, providing us some of those cautionary um mindfulness moments, but also really helping us see the potential opportunity that this this shift in our field has for us. Um after the keynote, our teachers had a chance to go to a few different sessions. We had two longer sessions and then al session longer sessions about 90 minutes. The mini sessions about 45 over a wide range of topics. I just pulled the titles in the presenters for the topics over the few slides and a few snapshots of our educators engaging in this shared collaborative work. Um and teachers had a chance to pick where they needed to go. So it was based on their role on their level on what place they were entering in

068their learning. Um could select over the course of those three sessions which they attended um and had a chance to collaborate and connect with each other. So lots of sessions. One of the biggest pieces of feed, one of the one of the um components of feedback that came up frequently was I was sad because I wish I could have gone to two or three in each of these different groups. So, it's like that that that's a really good that's some good feedback to hear that teachers felt like they had multiple things that would really sort of interest over the course of that day. Um and I grabbed a snapshot. One of our presenters is a BU professor who's really working around that um science um you know anchoring that real world phenomenon in your science

069instruction and how do you design your instruction utilizing student understanding and questioning and inquiry and I loved some of what he noted when he when he shared about his work with us just noting that you have elementary and middle and high school science teachers with civics teachers, special educators, math teachers, reading specialist speech therapists, music teachers all together connecting around learning and how powerful it is to of see that integration and that that real rich power both adults working together and that opportunity to bring that authentic learning connected really deeply and truly across. So I just thought that was kind of a neat little shout out. Um I kind of I I also want to share some of these pieces too because one of the components of the feedback survey was what's your takeaway like

070one specific thing we asked them to say one one strategy or tool that you're really excited to implement in your classroom. And I think the diversity of these answers is also really exciting. So I think teachers really finding a strategy, a resource or, you know, an approach that they're going to take to either strengthen what they're already doing and reinforce um their already powerful instruction, but also some opportunities for us to grow our practice and and some of these opportunities that we've we had a chance to lean into and learn in partnership with each other. So um and definitely want to shout out. So we had a great mix of presenters. it was 50% external presenters and 50% internal. So, I did want to definitely make sure I shared a great shout out to our

071internal presenters. Um, anytime our teachers can learn from and with each other, it's really exciting and powerful. And then you inherently have an embedded expert in your district that you can say, "Hey, can I talk to you?" Or remember when you shared that in thinking about how powerful that learning from and with peers um is. and they just really such a nice job connecting new opportunities, tools, resources, and strategies to the work that's already in place. So, want to shout them out and all their hard work and incredible efforts. All right, that was a PD. Any questions about PD or should I just keep going? Chris, why do you prefer going? >> Keep going. All right, so the other um component that I wanted to share a little bit about was a a quick overview

072of some curricular review processes. We've mentioned quite a few places that it's happening. I think a challenge with curricular review is it's not like there's a point that we're like we are all done. It's like ongoing. It iterates. It's continuous. There's we're going through multiple phases. Um so I thought based on some feedback, it would be a really good time to just do a quick pause to share this is what's going on because a lot is going on. Um and I I believe Pam shared with you like our curriculum review processes document just to talk a little bit about what we do, why we do it. that idea of going through this process is both responsible as a a school district to make sure what we're doing is meeting our needs and is current. But

073also sometimes there are things that can get things moving um shift in state standards data indicator some other pieces that might have us say hey this is something you need to look at and review. Um and when we say that word curriculum it doesn't just mean a book that we bought right curriculum includes what we teach, how we teach it, when we teach it, how do we assess if kids have it. So, we're really thinking holistically when we're talking about that word curriculum. Um, right now I I want to just sort of give you a quick update on the 2526 content areas that are in these three different phases of curriculum review. I'm not going to walk through all of them, but just wanted to share a quick snapshot so you know some of the

074work that's currently happening. Well, you'll see on the left is some of our different content areas that are undergoing the review and what the range is. So, if it's not otherwise noted, it's it's pre-K12. Um, and then on the right is I guess status maybe isn't the best word to use, but some of the steps that we've taken over the course of this year um to help inform that ongoing curriculum work. So, when we're talking about something, for example, data collection, I I could I see data collection on a few of these. Data collection includes assessment data. How are students performing on assessment? And it includes things like enrollment data, data and trends over time, student voice and perspective, community member voice and perspective, um work samples, um classroom observations. So data collection is really

075it's holistically. So we're depending on the content area, the scale, all of that, those can really be an inclusive process. Um so again multiple different content areas working in at different stages. This first stage that I do idea of analyze and identify is really just trying to get to know where are we right now where are we currently in this curriculum work where do we want to go that idea of establishing a vision where do we want to go in mathematics in English in English as a second language for on behalf of our students um and then what do we need to do to get there so we're thinking about current status an effort of where we want to go and where we want to go is informed by reading research arch and publications from

076the field, digging deeply into our state curriculum frameworks and standards, doing that data analysis, um getting that invoice, input and feedback. Um and then this so this stage is really that work which really takes a great deal of time both to get our hands around calibrating with each other making sure we're sharing current understanding um and understanding deeply about where we are and you know where we need to go. um that next stage after you go through that idea of an analyze and identify you move potentially field testing is um sometimes but recommendations and field testing. So that might be what what will take us from where we are to where we need to get and sometimes it is we may need to adopt a curriculum resource. Sometimes it's professional development, sometimes it's course alignment

077and articulation. um it it it's really it depends on the um what that discrepancy is between where we are and where we want to be that goes you go through that process. So um this is a quick snapshot and update of some of the this work that's been taking place over the course of the last few years. Um, for example, the history of social sciences, I noted that investigating history grant that process started three years ago with that initial um, analyze and identify where are we, how aligned are we to the curriculum or not and really realizing with those shifts we were not. And so then that that triggered a need to look at targeted published materials and certain grade bands and for some others some realignment and redesign of curriculum um, maps and units.

078So that's just a quick snapshot example of sort of like one of the content areas that we've now taken that analysis and moved it towards some of those action steps. Um as well as science, technology, engineering which is in that again that second stage of where we were where we hope to go and starting this process of thinking about what are those next step potential recommendations and what what field testing when I say field testing um what I mean by that is you could call it piloting as well. um getting a chance to try what options are out there. Sometimes it means there's potential published resources that might help meet our need. So we might try a few different ones and get our hands on it. It might include going to visit other districts or

079schools that might be trying it to get feedback and input from a teachers observe it in place. So field testing itself really means like taking it for a test drive. What does it mean? What does it look like? What does it get us to where we need to go? Um and then that implementation stage is when you go from that initial where we are where we are where we want to be to what do we need to do to get there to now let's do it. So for example, our world language um had been doing some of that deep review two year three three years ago um two and a half years ago last year did a lot of that um that next steps of those recommendations the field testing pieces and they're right now

080in the process of doing some of those deep updating doing some of those networking within the um professional organization around the state um and shifting some of our curriculum in a really explicit way like the adjustment of assessments that they're doing together vertically as a whole department. So when a student's moving through, we're looking at their fluency, we really can think about what does it mean across the grades and together as a department. So thank yeah. So that's examples of different places that it's happening, but um each individual department is maybe in a different phase in a different step and some of the steps that are happening within them are going to depend depending on the size of your department, your level, your scale. Um so that's probably a good place for me to go.

081Any questions for everyone? >> Sure. >> Hi, Jake. >> I love that you gave us these updates. >> Okay. >> I think we've gotten quite a few of these in the past year. Um, and I and this one feels a little more in depth than the appreciate that. Thank you. Mhm. >> I'd still have would love to hear some more detail about some of these because what I don't get from this is, you know, what are what are the recommendations that led to these kind of action bullets that you've got or, you know, to what end is all this effort toward, right? What's what's changing about student experience because of all this work? And so, um, you know, how does it how does it promote authentic learning or vision of graduate or student engagement development?

082So, at some point, it'd be great to actually see what's driving these or what what the outcomes of these efforts are supposed to be because the the checklist of a of a a curriculum name doesn't help us understand why or where it's where it's leading to. Um so, with that as a as a re reiterate a request, >> um a couple specifics. Um the question that I had asked Pam uh regarding our voucher was there was a um a charge for a literacy audit in in what we just approved in ter um but that uh that literacy audit implies that you know an implementation group ELA and literacy K5. So I just wanted if you would speak a little bit to where that is fitting in um to to this to this process. >> Sure.

083For for that piece um the the partnership with um from the vouchers with TNTP which is an organization that's helping us actually go through this first initial stage with our English department 6 through 12 >> 62. >> Yes. So that's actually supporting our phase one of that analysis and identify. So literally doing that pro the audit process where are we currently using in curating all of those different data sets to help us understand where we currently are based on those different inputs and then also guiding and facilitating that work towards where we want to be in that vision writing and development >> and are we typically hiring somebody to help us do that initial look at for all these >> I know we did it for K5 literacy in part because we also changed curriculum

084then but >> that's a good question I would say we have different um professional partnerships at different states depending on the content area and what that work what that work is. Um in this one it was an opportunity to partner with an organization that's doing a lot of work around adolescent literacy around the state of Massachusetts. So it was really well timed and that was essentially the work that they were doing with other districts around the state. Um in that second piece of that secondary literacy is that it's it's a really new part of the conversation. A lot of the literacy conversation that's been taking place has been very early foundational literacy focused. So it was a real opportunity for us to partner with an organization doing this in partnership with our state um and

085in partnership to help guide that. So it was a really welltimed partnership for us um also simultaneously while multiple pieces of these are going and running you know a little bit of like balancing spinning plates. So making sure that all of them got to move forward with the right focus, support and attention. Um and so we have had different external supports at different stages of the process but it's not always necessarily stage one. So it sounds like you're using the word literacy for six very purposefully because we don't I mean often we just refer to it as English or English language arts or whatever. Is there is there a what's the reasoning for using literacy? >> I'm using it casually interchangeably with ELA. >> Okay. Thank you for that. Uh my last question then um

086uh several of these have 912 course additions expansions. Is is that um in partnership with thinking about closing out some older courses or are these literally add new courses to the program of studies? Um any of the ones that noted that would have already been through the process that you went through with program of studies pieces that comes when they present and the department chairs present and sometimes it is phasing out other courses and replacement of currency. Sometimes it's maybe a course that was not aligned at their you know updating and sometimes it's actual for example like the science marine biology addition with a lot of feedback and input from the student listening sessions during that review that really raised that up as a as a hope and a demand from that piece. So um

087any of those pieces was any of those processes that had been ruled out with you all with some of the pieces that maybe courses that have been listed in the program studies but not run um that maybe these are some of them might be updates of it some of them might be taking the place of it but okay yeah that's that you're welcome. >> Thank you so much for your time. Thank you again for all the work that I need to announce. >> Good stuff. It's fine. Thank you. I just offer one um historic point before Heather arrived here the K5 literacy case or K8 literacy but because of the significant shift in methodology and new learning it you it couldn't be done and it took us just to get the nail. So I think

088similarly now 612 it's very still having left but a lot of him so I think it's been a very interesting experience going through that good things can happen >> exciting stuff lots of stuff happening >> nice I just wanted to echo Heather's um comments on thanking the teacher superintendent the other teachers and how much that is a lot of extra work And but I think for me as a teacher, some of the most valuable and meaningful professional development experiences was from my colleagues in my building. And so I wanted to acknowledge that and that extra effort and give that thanks extra double double thanks. That's how a lot of teacher leaders and principles and directors get started, right? It's that interest in wanting to to peer lead and then build. Yeah, it's cool and very

089impactful. >> So, moving on to our budget update on the meeting. So in my notes um when last we met there was general unbelief but no confirmation that Essex would need um an override but we've since gotten confirmation as saying in fact will be um pursuing an override and in fact that it's going to be a two-piece override one for schools and one for town. Um I think the the numbers I don't know how relevant the town number is to us but the way I understand it they need about $268,000 and additional funds for town expenses 186 for school. Um we have they have not come we haven't had a collaboration meeting but we also haven't had any request for further refinement of the budget. Um, and my understanding is that they are comfortable with

090I mean I've listened to a couple of town meetings. I've spoken with some some reps who happen to be on the on the building committee and I think they're comfortable going forward with this at this point. Um, why I bring it here tonight is mostly just to have a conversation over how we as a group would like to approach overrides. We've done different things at different times and different overrides have had different levels of meaning impact. So, I think the goal tonight was really just to bring it forth for a point of discussion and to see if there's any action that we should be taking over the next couple of months um or any reconsideration that we want to make of the budget. So, I had sent a few, you know, questions to start to

091think about coming into tonight. I guess I'll back up just for a second and and kind of go back and Lindsay kind of teed up for us very nicely and just note that again we're not this isn't just a local issue. We're working really um with the full context of a statewide pending financial crisis I guess is how people are framing it in that special ed cost, transportation cost, state funding under chapter 70 and then state funding to towns under that unrestricted um aid is really putting a lot of pressure and putting a lot of responsibility back on town especially towns like ours. So the local impact is and if you're reading the paper, you're seeing it. There are more towns needing more drastic overrides and more frequently. Um so I would say to look

092big before we look small in that we're not alone. This is something I think many towns like ours and and ourselves are going to be wrestling with year in and year out in terms of how to make um the budget work. part of the advocacy that I think the good bills in uh that Lindsay references is something that another group that I'm part of in the region is the regional superintendent group and we array the legislators with these points over and over again. I just toss this in here as a snapshot of this is our legislative platform. This is what we're going after. We're hoping that they can support um support us with and they're all things that we think regardless of whether you're a rural town or city school or a school like Manchester

093Essex, these are some fundamental pieces that would have a positive impact on any I think the through line and why I spent time to put this in is these are all the key whether it's our budget, Hamilton's budget, Hamilton's budget, we are all struggling with those same key variables that are not within our day-to-day control. that are continuing to put pressure on our ability to make ends meet. So, with all that said, in knowing that, I think what I'm trying to say is we are all in this together. Whether you're on the board of selectmen or on the school, regardless of town, we all have external pressures on our finances that are making it very difficult um to make ends meet. So when we approach our thinking about the override, if we can keep that

094in mind and then think about um how we want to go forward this year knowing that we have a couple of long-term objectives. We have the Essex Elementary Project um that we would really like to be able to get off the ground and we have a long-term plan looking out to 29 um to be work on a large correction, a structural correction if you will to our budget. So, knowing that um Essex is going to be asking town meeting and then the voters to approve an additional $187,000 in funding for us, questions before us tonight are, are we confident with our budgets? I mean, I think when we came to it, we all agreed that it was a reasonable and responsible budget, not just for this year, but for the coming years. Are we still

095there? And if we are, then how do you want to prepare for the potential outcomes of the override? Um, and I proposed two general concepts. Wait and see, deal with it in May or um, figure out a plan now and publish that plan and talk about what the potential implications are. And then if we are going down the planning route, what reductions um, kind of what's on the table, what's off the table for areas to consider. Do you want us to consider programs? Do you want us to consider people? we want to try to get to it through um some combination of pedophones and and things like that. So that's kind of the the big guide for our discussion. So if we want to maybe just take them in order and start with are we

096still in the same place with the FY27 amended budget in terms of that being our best best foot forward. >> So I I'll just say you know we we set down this road. we've already made fiscal decisions in order to keep things as reasonable as we can and as calm as we can and um you know I wouldn't want to upset that in any way at this point in particular. Um so I think for me I I think we should play that out. I think um it's you know to me the wait and see is the best strategy because we're 80% of the way there even if it fails we're 80 we've already made pretty big fiscal decisions to get us 80% of the way there >> and if it fails then we have to

097figure out what the next 15 20% are and we have potentially some some ways to deal with that but I don't think it's worth stirring the pot at this point trying to discuss it map. I think we wait and see what that >> and bringing back to your question earlier today. Last year we were looking at $2 million. So I mean this the scale is >> much lower back. I disagree. Um I think that the voters at town meeting and at the ballot need to know what they're voting on. And if we don't tell them, then they don't know. So the numbers are not just numbers. They are people and programs that if a vote goes a certain way, people, students, children will lose, adults will lose could potentially lose jobs, etc. Um, I think

098I don't I say this as an ardented supporter of the Essex Elementary Building project. I think we have a financial and moral obligation to to get that building done for the kids inside that building and also for our own budget. We can't keep dumping money into that building. So, I do want to see EES built, but I actually think it will help us get it built if we're honest with people about what's on the table with the override vote and the town meeting vote, the ballot vote, and at town needs to be both, right? Like, people need to know all of that and they need to show up and vote which way they want for all of that. And then that passing will suess set us up for a more successful school vote in the

099fall because I'll tell you in my sorry and then the worst case scenario is people aren't this isn't on their radar. We're kind of flying under the radar and then all of a sudden out of nowhere people didn't show up for town meeting. They didn't know. Oh, look. Out of nowhere, it's like we're have to cut I don't want to throw a number out there cuz it's inflammatory, but like we have to cut proance and people are like, "Well, well, why?" And and it's like, "Well, this failed." And then it's a whole spiral, right? So, I would rather lead with full information on the table, informed voters, and trust that people will take that information and vote in the way that um that their hearts tell them to and that has trended in the past

100bit in the direction of supporting the public schools. Um I don't think it has to be a fear-mongering thing. I think it can just be anformational thing. >> I don't know. I I'm with Jake. I don't want us to negotiate against ourselves. I don't want to do a repeat of was it last year or last year and the year before where we had people been, you know, seniors who have graduated coming back and pleading that we not cut specific programs that we might do that. I'm wondering though if we can I mean we we did consider we had at least three different options I would call if we could maybe be remind voters that here were the things we looked at and what we're talking about is a level services. We're not talking about expanding

101the curriculum. We're not talking about hiring a bunch of new teachers, right? We're talking about continuing what we had already last year and voted on something we wanted and we're just stating the course. And here's the good news. We managed to avoid some of the increases that we'll fear. I think we can talk about how health care costs have been budgeted to increase a lot more than they actually did. So, we can talk about efforts we've made to minimize increases. You know, the fact that we're coming with a pretty low increase, I think is incredible. I mean, it's a big testament and to you and to the efforts of smoke district to be fiscally responsible. So, I'm kind of hearing both of you, but what I don't want to do is is go you either

102vote this or we're going to cut arts, we're going to cut world languages, we're going to cut is if you're going to do that then number one, I heard enough about from teachers last year and how difficult it was for them and not knowing until when was it May or something? Are they going to be still employed the next year or not? I wouldn't want to be with >> But don't they need to know? The opposite. >> Um I'm just going to answer all the questions and you'll see kind of where it where it falls here. Um I am still confident in a three and a half% budget. Um looking every day in the news, there's another town with an override. I think math all that I saw today it was over with $1.2 million.

103These are large overrun masks mask. This is a tiny amount comparatively. Um the town itself is trying to catch up from a couple decades of stagnation of not keeping up with with um with inflation even. And so, um, given the the size of the override and the strong support last year for, um, for the override, I am very confident in this three and a half% budget. Um, so to answer the question, how how do you prepare? I also am in favor of the wait and see again given the strong um response last year. Um I expect that you will be planning internally for contingencies. I think it might be wise for us I think we mentioned we talked about this at SBC to potentially set uh a meeting date in case we need an emergency

104meeting right after the Tuesday ballot vote in Essex, but this is less than a month away. This the town meeting is May 7th. um or May 4th, excuse me. So, this is less than a month away at this point. Um and while I under I in other years have been a strong advocate for put it on the table so that people can show up and and know what what is potentially at risk here. Again, it's the very small dollar value and the strong support that we had last year that makes me feel like I'd like to take this. Let's see if Essex will do exactly what Greg Fedishfield has been suggesting for many many years, which is do a series of small overrides to keep up a little bit at a time rather than this

105huge massive massive one. So if that's the case, then then to sort of answer the the approach question, well, what is the message then? Basically in my mind the message here is that we as a school committee have actively chosen in early planning to get all of the information out to towns to make we support the autonomy of our town's leaders in deciding how best to handle that. But here we've taken a multi-year approach that keeps us in the 3 and 12% range which is predictable and stable and responsible looking at all of the factors that go into this and that the planned use of reserves is responsive to our town's ongoing budget pressures. But in as far as the the educational part of this, we are preserving our strong education. we have strong education

106in our in our two towns with this district and that this keeping the um you know keeping with that multi-year plan and being responsive with the use of reserves is preserving our strong education. So that's that's the message. If it fails then we have you know we know the process. How many times have we had to go through this? um we know what happens and then we're going to have to look at what the the options are. Um I do not think I don't think both our towns are in it for a half million dollars of cuts right now, but there are real pressures in people's wallets. So I am in favor of of letting this play out. My hope is that the town of Essex leadership will come to the table with a message

107that's similar to that. like, yeah, we we're doing this multi-year approach. Here's why we're choosing to handle it this way. Um that, you know, here's why we have it broken down between town and school. There's not one for Northshore Tech. Here's why. Help us understand all of that. But I um I am very confident looking at all of the the pressures that are here that that this strong education um at a 3.5% growth is very responsible and certainly not worth putting our students and teachers and staff through the nightmare that has been the scare of losing a job. Mhm. I'm just I I'm not in favor of that at this point. That was my spiel. >> I also am very comfortable with our budget at this point. As everyone on the committee has mentioned before,

108um we will have the opportunity to talk about our budget when our motion comes up town meeting. So everyone that's attending will have an understanding of what our budget represents this year. So sure that will be done very well and will do a great job presenting that as she did last year. Um I would caution against um you know looking at what our options are now. I think it's the responsibility of Essex to decide on you know town leadership which they've done decide on how they want to fund their budget and in >> four week or in a month we will have an understanding of where the school district stands and at that point in time uh we may have some decisions to make but I would not anticipate to to do that. Uh I

109do think it's very important to uh to Lindsay's point though I do think it's very important to notify people now whether we would like to do that that this is something that's on the table and I'm not sure what that looks like because I know we have restrictions on what we can do but if there's a way to >> share just you know notification that there is, you know, override in the town of Essex. It's important for you to, you know, pay attention to this town meeting. Make sure that you vote, you know, those are not type of rules get sent out. But, uh, >> I we know real clearly how they can get sent. >> I got a text message yesterday that Essex teachers didn't know that there was even an Essex elementary teachers

110didn't know. by all people. So that just like gives me pause and the fact that we we we we developed a multi-year plan, but the towns weren't able to get on board with a multi-year plan. So I don't view this as a multi-year solution at all. I view this as we're using a ton of our reserves and that alone makes me uncomfortable. Um, so I'm I'm comfortable with this budget with the caveat that I don't we can't keep using reserves to this degree year after year. And if we don't have access to those reserves or or we draw them down, you know, we're looking at astronomical budget increases with no way to to moderate them or modulate them for the town partners. So, um, I have that in my mind. And then I have also

111that the override for $185,727 in Essex results in $487,000 worth of cuts in our school, which is quite a bit. It's not like five school choice seats. It's a lot. Um, and yeah, I just feel like if if I I communicate in a way that doesn't cause fear, but I I do hear the concerns. So, just to the point that nobody, this is our first over discussion about it's not really that well broadcast even among essence residents at this point. This is they just relatively information end of March, right? that there's a board of selective meeting I think on the 23rd. So it's and we have I don't know that any meeting officially been so I think it's just been because we do have good context and conversation. So there isn't hasn't been and I

112wouldn't want to get out ahead of this discussion with starting to broadcast something because if we don't know what we're broadcasting I think just hearing that there is one people interpret it their own way and put things into action that would put things into action that may not be added the warrant has been published now it's official >> and and taking a wait and see it uh from me does not mean we don't message, >> Right. We talk about all the the reasons that we took the actions we did and what we're trying to accomplish. We say all that kind of thing to the point of Chris was, you know, making a statement at town meeting in particular before. Right. What I what what to me wait and see means is that we do not

113start what even if it's presented as information results in a scare tactic. That's what I think we need to avoid. >> I'm with you on that. I don't think there's a way to present the information of these are the potential cuts that would take place that don't either either result in a scare tactic um an alarmist reaction because of beloved staff or or departments or that don't look like well why didn't you just do that in the first place like I I I this is it's a unique opportunity with a smalish amount um to see if we have the messaging that like if we can do this on the strength of what we do here. And like I said, I don't think any but I don't think our two towns are interested in a half

114million dollars in cuts. Part of the messaging has to be this is what that would be. The numbers are there, but identifying heads with that. I think this is a unique opportunity to get out of that to test out to try to explain that year-to-year year-over-year implication of cutting too short because when you cut too short, you're you're setting yourself up for a decline next year. Um, so I think that was the reasoning behind the three and a half. you can present budget to try to keep it there or you keep it there next year and be converted. >> One other thought I had too is that with this approach of you know laying it out for the next three years of of use of reserves planned use of reserves being responsive to our town

115budgets as you pointed out and as we all have seen the whole state is in this right now. It's not like four years ago or five years ago when when CO was a big thing but we were just looking at this little tiny like you know, thing that spiral into a bit of things. Everybody's dealing with this, like you said, the the points that everybody is dealing with. So, our planned use of reserves, I think I'm not sure that we would see a solution in two years, but I think it's enough time for the state to be hearing from enough people that are having failed override attempts because they are much larger asks. um and for us to have a sense of whether there will be any meaningful action that comes from that and give

116us a chance also like you said to advocate for that where we've got that time planned if we have our towns on board with three and a half% as a responsible target. Um I think by the end of that we would have a pretty good idea of whether we could expect any meaningful action. I'm hesitant. I I'm hesitant about like the Greg Feder spiel strategy of like this series of small overrides. I like I am not hesitant about that makes sense. What I don't think Greg argued for, but correct me if I'm wrong because I wasn't at all the table for all of those, was a series of small overrides and then a huge override as a correction, which is what we're depending on the state to to do something potentially in a couple years.

117That's that would be nice. I hope for that, too. Yeah. >> And also, if the state doesn't come through, >> we draw down our reserves this year. We draw down our reserves next year. This year we're drawing down, it was 8%, now it's 5.5%, drawing it down further, drawing it down further. So then we we have a do or die massive override. That doesn't feel after a series of small overrides even with using our reserves. >> So So Wednesday, I absolutely hear you and I think that's worthy of discussion for the next budget. >> Yeah. >> I don't think that can impact this year's budget because we've already committed to that strategy. I have a challenge with one mirror. This this this I'm from what I heard at our collaboration meeting. I'm not prepared to

118>> personally I don't think >> we we as a committee did not commit to that three years. Right. That's on the table as a as a as a potential right. We we took the first year step towards that. But we have not said this is our threeyear agreed upon plan. Right. I think we could we could if we heard the right thing from our from our >> but for this year we chose that strategy given that that trajectory that longer term three-year kind of >> trajectory or outline right we've chosen this strategy given all the factors >> I guess there's nothing stopping us from staying on a multi for see that's not but a multi-year small override if that becomes the course of action then maybe you don't need a charge well corrections and model

119that out. We model doing this until we couldn't do it anymore. But if we are getting into a habit or a routine where it's every one year, every other year um then that might be sustainable. We can certainly model on that building future. I would say a couple variables, a couple things that are very different this year than last year is we did have success with our budget last year. So we started from a higher we had a higher starting point. Um so the 3.5 was attainable and we were able to do that by kind of re-examining oped. So I think we have different levers in the wait and see the the state is working on some of the requests around transportation dollars um special ed reimbursements and things like that. Um so there could

120I wouldn't hold out hope but there could be some changes there. it gives us another month or so to watch our special education audit district um that there be changes. I mean the changes be not in our favor that um we also do have exiting staff so we can have they may not be the best choices but there could be choices that are attrition based and not um go based that may not have zero program impact um and there may be cutbacks of staff as opposed to full off layoff you know full layoff. So, we might have some levers and I would say one thing we would we do take a wait and see. We want to be very open-minded to revisiting school choice as a revenue stream and to offset the need for a

121cut. Yeah. And we have it will advance it could advance the conversation we wanted to have in the fall, but you could easily bring in 20 seats and $100,000 if you wanted to. What it does is it takes off the table the whole concept that you allow them all to metriculate out and then you think you're going to have some cuts. I don't seek we're so caspy with these classes. I don't think that you let them go and then you get significant cut options. Um so that's something we could revisit um to look at a revenue source as opposed to a cut and then you can revisit the cut. So those would be the activity that we talked about. >> Yeah. I I'd hate to bank it on that, but >> especially in short notice

122>> on short notice. Yeah, I I would probably let that one go as as you develop for next year, but those would be so >> we adjusted our own pads. We can't revisit that. >> Yeah. I don't think any of them would be what's the phrase I want to use? They wouldn't be recommended decisions or decisions I we would make if we didn't have to. But I think looking at the state, looking at the world, looking at the things people are wrestling with, if that's a situation we find ourselves, that's where it might be a situation where we are three entities that have to work together all with our individual pressures. We might have to make choices that be able to make. This is an interesting, you know, look at like you've pointed out that

123there's not a a a threeparty commitment to the the plan, the strategy that we discussed for our, you know, budget for this year. And I certainly was looking at it in a in a holistic way for multi-year. I absolutely was. Um, but even if we do that, the towns can still choose to raise revenues however they choose and it's simply not in our hands. And so to me that's that's uh it highlights the importance of being very confident in what we've done that we that I feel very confident in my service representing my town and having looked been part of this been an active participant in all of this and being willing to carry that message that this is responsible it's smart it's good for the community it's good for both communities it's good for

124our school community and and carry that forward but it is a short time frame >> and so anything that feels like chaos is getting thrown out there very quickly and I I' I've just seen I've seen the impact. I'm sure you guys have too. see how it impacts the students and I see how it impacts the teachers and I I do not want to put that level of chaos out there especially knowing that it you know we do have a number of levers that we might have to consider but we can't consider them >> tonight in preparation for you know May 4th it's just the the timing is too short but I am just confident that this is responsible and that we can advocate for this without the scare of what you might lose what

125you might lose is the strong district we built at a really reasonable rate. And in the short term, I think what we have to figure out a way to explain this what it does for the average taxpayer is it creates a greater burden for them down the line. So, if we draw back, if we pull back or have to cut back $500,000, it's not going to be something that doesn't show itself next year. And we need to try to climb back out of the hole because we're starting we'll be starting to dig a hole of using one-time monies and short-term trims to try to get us over the hump. >> Too bad. >> I know. >> So, that Yeah, >> I'll work on that. I hear you all. And I don't really I really don't

126want drama either. I agree that it's not healthy. However, I've also I do think that this that this will hinge on our ability to communicate our process ahead of town meeting, not just at town meeting. And I have seen the bandwidth that we have as a group and as a district to and the processes that it takes to work on those communications. And I am wondering what the flat is because uh the time, the effort, the workflow, approving official communications um is is a process and we have an important message. We're we're not if we're saying okay we're not going to be specific to voters but we are still going to communicate how responsible this age and and how important it is for our communities but in a non-specific way right like what is our

127messaging on that who is working on that when and how >> well I think we I think we have the pieces of the message it's all it's all been laid on the table here but when and the how is key one because we don't have another meeting until the the day of >> Manchester town Exactly. >> Um so >> the newsletter what you're saying and you have >> level services budget obtain program you know do you want to add a couple studies there and then we leverage the newsletter because the newsletter will bless the text. >> I think that is a vehicle partly I'm really glad we have it in place. >> Okay. Secondly, I think that is an effective vehicle that we could do that with for something of this magnitude. I don't so

128far the newsletter has mainly been Pam and I with thankfully some edits um when people are able to I feel that this is so important. I would want more eyes on it and more input so that we're I mean you're a phenomenal writer so that we're very specific and careful in our messaging. So there is a sense of importance there without it being this panic, right? Um how do you thread that needle and how do you communicate what we're proud of about the budget while also explaining like we're using a lot of reserves and explaining that there will be cuts if this doesn't pass, but without saying what those cuts are, right? Like I I'm grappling with that. That's not obvious to me. So I would really want some help with that if it's going

129to be the newsletter. I'm wondering if the messaging should be of ethics to us because this really is and Chris, you're echoing in my head. We're not proposing something that forcing into everyone into having to fund something beyond the norm. We are coming in with a basically level services minimum minimal average growth budget and Essex is having a hard time um meeting its assessment. So Essex is going to ask the town the way they've structured their budget the way they're were going about it is they're asking the town for its additional budget of two different portions. I think that's more part of the explanation. It's not there may be a defense of our budget necessary at town meeting or an explanation of our budget at town meeting but the ask I think the explanation here

130is the the financing mechanisms in Essex. So maybe it's a conversation with a couple of the collaboration team members in Essex about how they would like to approach this. You know if they're going to get up and they're going to go to town meeting and and do what's been done in Manchester last several times we've have to go around and endorse it. that that could be a whole that's a whole different approach to this than we've had in the past. >> Yeah, we really had no hand in this. This wasn't like a conversation. Okay, the budget's coming in and so if you know if you can do pull this this year, we could avoid this. This we didn't have a hand in this. This was everything got worked out. there was as much collaboration meeting

131as as there was interest for and then this was decided at the finance committee level and presented. So it's not like we don't have ownership of this and I think we do need to find out from town leaders in Essex how they are planning to this is their ask like you said it's this isn't our ask it's not a replenishment of reserves it's not it this isn't our ask and it hasn't even been >> any I I do think we have to be a little bit careful of say just because it takes the form of an override you have to treat it special I understand why we do that because it has to go through an extra step. But we're asking just as much of Manchester as we are of ES6. Essics are just chosen

132to put it in the form of >> Right. >> Yeah. >> Um so we have to be careful that this isn't an Essex issue, >> right? >> But the override >> the over it's in the form of an override and that requires an extra step, right? which which has a higher bar than a town meeting vote, which is why we give it attention. But the cast from our budget perspective is just as big for Manchester as it is for Essex. It's just the form is different at town. >> I don't think I get where you're going with that. Sorry. You should get >> I just don't want this to become an Essex thing. >> Well, it is an essence thing. I mean, it's it's a I see what you're saying that we're distributing this authority

133to the agreed upon formula, but it's essentially choice. What I'm saying is we don't maybe we're saying the same thing in a different way. I'm saying we don't need to blow it up like we're bringing something to the table and they said no, you've got to cut all this, but we're bringing it anyway. There was no discussion. There was no request or anything. This is just how they're choosing to structure the budget. Everything we've heard from the collaboration meeting and from sitting in on FINCOM and select court meetings and I think in both towns is that they're appreciative of the number that we came up with right and they recognize we took steps to keep it reasonable. So perhaps they have states what I'm saying and I don't think figure out the right language right

134yeah >> which is last year we were at 7% right >> it was out of the norm >> and it was out of the norm and we were battling an extraordinary healthcare increase and there was a lot to explain at 7 like if your going up it's upset there's a lot to explain >> um we're back down into the average um expected steady stable it's coming back it's a cash race so It's not like we're we're looking for help or it the way it's structured, it just it's landing differently for each town and their capacity to deal with it within their local revenue. So, can I propose something? Um Tony Barleta from Manchester has done an phenomenal job of explaining the articles for town meeting and I think that it might be prudent for our

135committee maybe through our chair which might make the most sense or vice chair or whoever's willing to just write a thing um up for the cricket or whatever in the spirit of what Tony did for the other articles saying this is this was our budget process. This is a summary of it. This is a this is like how we got here. Um and and then put it out there. Um because I know like I found his writing very helpful for understanding the $30 million of project capital projects that Manchester voters are facing this spring. Um, and I think that we could, it would not be a heavy lift to do a similar communication. And it doesn't have to be long. It doesn't have to be complicated. >> It's like a letter to the editor. >>

136Yeah. >> I would I would also want to ask, is Essex already planning to do such a thing? Because that's the town administrator for Manchester. Essex may be planning to do such a thing. Um, and that doesn't preclude our committee from saying, "Here's how, you know, we got here. We're in full support of this article >> for these reasons." That doesn't include that. But I would just want to give they may have a plan for their messaging. >> But just to clarify, Tony didn't do it for school. >> No, I don't know. But he did it for >> Not that I've seen yet. >> Yeah, I think he might still don't know because he's doing it like a series basically. >> I don't know. It seemed like the last one I read was kind of

137like this is the process and it's it seemed like kind of more of a concluding like this is this is kind of like how it all works. So it seems the issue specific issue to issue what might have been done but I don't know for sure. Um we do also just want to add we do do need to be really careful because when we're talking override we do not sell an override. We do not influence the vote. I don't think town meeting has been our issue. It's going to be after the town meeting and then that's going to be have to be handed off to somebody which is point I'm making we have definitely can dust off some old templated articles that and refresh them for the now that basically explain the budget process um

138and what specifically is in this budget and how we you know how we got here without selling. Yeah, I >> that's just very challenging because, you know, we can talk about our budget, but our budget is independent of the Essics facts. >> But if we're proud of it, let's stand behind it. Let's say a lot. I mean, we've talked about it and discussed it and you know, we have all of our stuff online and we >> and we could certainly get something into the cricket if that's not part is that if the audience we need the Manchester town meeting room or the audience you need as exposer post town meeting to ensure they get to the ballot. So one thought on that is it's frankly the the audience we need is cluster daily times not

139in history. So any shoulder news for at least in both of them >> you have capacity we can get something together and >> exchange >> would it be too late too heavy? We've been the last couple years doing the budget booklet as a QR code, >> but could we in a year where there is an override asking what in either town consider mailing out the budget book again because that's something that does make a difference when people have it in their hand and physically can see it. Um rather than actually for the voting population it just thinking logistically it might be >> Yeah. Yeah. So, it's not even a bill. Gotcha. But >> I know it's an I'm not suggesting you have to. I'm just saying that might be one way to be getting the

140word out because people don't look at the budget the same way as when it comes. You know, >> that's kind of like what you were saying like I pulled up the article and what he talks about here is the general fund and then he explains so he talks about over that. So that could be a model just you know basically makes you he talked this year about the general fund specifically if I was on health insurance oped and sanitation well we could pay health insurance oped on reserve or something right just very short and then I don't know if that's something >> the cor well the coralary of having tone of Tony as town measure would be p that would that would you think that would be the equitable source, >> right? >> It I'll

141tell you my budget introduction just goes in a very different direction. It doesn't talk about override. It really just gives a quick twoline summary of three and a half% stem reasonable and responsible and then how it supports. >> Yeah, that that's all we we're not speaking to the overest because we can't to Michelle's point. Yeah, we are we are trying to explain however you know the the steps we've taken to keep it manageable and Sure. I'm definitely doing that. as that included I would just back out and and ask the group what is the problem we're trying to solve and is this solution we're coming up with really addressing that problem or is it just broadening the scope of the work to do and going to invite more questions are good open dialogue is good

142but are we going to start to create a concern where there isn't one I mean the budget we have now my assumption going not to ever take any things for granted but The data shows that we're going to bring it to Manchester Town meeting is well within the Manchester budget. I believe it's about the support of both the finance committee and the board of selectmen. They'll speak to that and it'll pass with something around 80%. I slightly higher or lower depending on whether or not it's progressive honestly. Um so how much of a lift in energy do we want to put into something that is pretty much in play? And really what we want to be doing is working with somebody or triangle just a group of people to help move people from town meeting

143to the bell. Easy to put an article together. Happy to do it. We'll certainly start getting to work on that tomorrow. That's not a problem. But I just I'm trying to create extra >> I'm just trying to figure out it's not extra work. It's are we creating work that creates additional work and and it has a domino effect of away from what we're trying to accomplish in in new areas. >> I remember that it does. >> Yes. Frequently, although I will tell you this this town meeting has things on the warrant that um that make need concern for turnout and support of this budget. like there there will be a need to be effort as typically happens on the part of community members that sort of rally and and take that on. But I think

144that part of part of the problem we're trying to solve with this conversation is to have something recent from an authoritative source >> to point at and say, "Here's where you can see succinctly how we got this. This is what we do. It's right here and it's recent. >> So Teresa, that's that's an action, a solution. What's the problem it's solving? >> The problem it's solving is people that don't know where to turn with that. And so if we've got people in Essex that don't even know there's one of or two over asks right now coming out of town meeting, they don't even know that's the case when they start to hear it. Is it the same budget conversation again? What are they coming in at 7% again? Nope. It was right here in the

145Glouester Daily Times. I just heard about that. They're coming in at three and a half. It's a it's a more standard year and it's a shift. So for me it's a a having that resource there for to do the opposite to not create more chaos. What if we what if we approach town of Essics to do a joint statement? That' be great. want to know um why they can explain why this like because they they have a very deliberate reason for structuring things the way that they do >> just like we have deliberate reason for doing some of the things we do. if they could help to explain if it could be a joint statement, it might show that we we have come to this together. We've collaborated in the process up to this point

146and or this is the best route forward to fund all of the things that SS needs to do. >> Sure. >> Because I think there's a story there >> that is aside from our our budget. Our budget was pretty direct without a lot of there's not a lot of a there's the typical story of we start in December and we do the tenative and then we build it down but it's it's going to be the same story we tell every year which we'll tell again but now it's the decision point is more about how does the town how the town going about making its decisions around funding pieces of certain things in and others and what >> so what if what if we have a two-pronged approach to reach out, see if if they're willing

147to do that. That's a timing and willingness issue. And if so, I think that's great. But if not, at least we have some backup plan that something's coming from here in an authoritative trusted source. But if they are, I think on them because I think I've been hearing everyone say like how they're funding it is not on us. We just we don't have to explain that. They have they that's their strategy and they'll explain that. We just have to explain why our budget is reasonable and responsible. I do want to I do think we should talk tease out some of the specifics just the ones we've been including in the newsletter around reserve pep school choice um and and but not just state them as facts and and and uh I I actually think that

148it's not an eitheror situation like we we do that and we stand behind our budget and we're proud of it and it's succinct and it's fact-based and it's reasonable and also approach how leaders and see if they're willing. Yeah, I don't I don't I hope they are. >> Well, again, we don't know if they already have a plan. That's the thing. I I I don't know if they have a plan for how they're going to if they're going to do something. I think you'd be just like the first couple paragraphs of your budget summary that you do >> that um it's just it's like you'd be writing it anyway or >> the budget book but there's a publisher. I mean the selectman meet >> what's that >> the the essay selectman meet on the 13th

149so it's pretty quick turnar around to get an answer if they need to discuss it if you want to propose something they could discuss it in their meeting we can have an answer we do kind of need that information >> I I think we need that information >> except we we have to remember we don't have another meeting so really we're putting this and pay you know the chairs. It's important to me. >> We the way we have done it is going back to the is I similar to what we did the newsletter. We wrap something up. We certain around with some inputs and then we sign it from the committee. Used to be a prere as long as there I'm fine with that. As long as there's a thing so we got back to

150the committee there. As long as there's a deadline saying like if we don't hear from you by Friday, you're you're saying that you're fine with everything in this letter. So that it it is the work is done in a timely matter manner because we are in a time crunch. >> But we're not uh I would is our time crunch Manchester Town or is there a time crunch time test but if we're >> Yeah, if you want to restate the problem like you've been trying to it's related to ballot, right? opinion. >> I I'm not I'm not as confident with that. I just I know the emphasis on the warrant and and the >> not only that I don't I don't I don't see as big a discrepancy between the town meeting and the government as

151>> you're not concerned. She >> No, I absolutely. Yeah. I Yeah. Maybe that's what I'm trying to say, but haven't been said directly enough. I don't think my cons I don't see our problem this year as being our three and a half% budget. I see our problem this year being the world and all things that are competing the people's um and that's true for >> that's true for >> I would say that's true for Manchester as well. Manchester is, as I said, $30 million to capital projects that um are going to is money, you know, I think part of Tony's letter was explaining how much per million or something like that a house's tax household's tax bill would go up for each of the you add all those up, it's a lot. So, I I

152do think it would serve Manchester as well as Essex to get this ahead of meeting. Um, yeah. >> But to me, if that's our problem, there's no messaging we're going to do in a month is going to change people's thinking about the world or their place in the world. >> On their daily struggle foreseeable future, but I don't think it could hurt. >> I I agree. And the thing that in particular I don't think it can hurt is that last year we just had an override and and >> for extraordinary circumstances I don't think it can hurt to have something out there specifically saying this isn't that this isn't the extraordinary circumstances. This is a standard budget. >> Yeah. In the collaboration meeting I I was pushing I was pushing about having an override at

153all. um which you know they pushed back the assets finance or six time administrator pushed back excellent discussion um but what he was saying is that it's a small amount and you know I get nervous because I think people hear over it and they just think taxes go up nope but his point was that since it's a small amount that it will be um palatable so hopefully believe he's right. But that was an interesting perspective that he shared that the message is to get the voters out that will support such a thing. I hope >> but that's where we have to be careful on seven. Thank you. You're welcome. Yeah. Thanks. >> I'm going to go on. So on the school district page, I was looking at what we I >> Yeah, I'll circulate it.

154We can get it in as a letter to the Cricut. Um, I have to wrestle with the glosser times is helpful, but it might we issue a press release, but they'll do with it, but they will and it will can't they don't they can't just take it as a letter to the editor. >> We can take it as a letter and then it doesn't get changed. We'll get there will be followup questions. Yeah. Yeah. Like what's the implication? Sorry. Let me work on something. I bet you'll be like, "Come on, where's the drama?" There is >> Where's mud? There's mud. >> No, it is nice to have some consensus. I mean, we're talking about how to man like how to approach this, not the merits of of the budget where we're we seem to be

155consensus about how we got to this point >> and um and ready to stand behind what we put forth. So, that's great. >> There got to be a way to simply say good reason. Yeah, >> it's kind of >> I know, but it's not always been the case >> that it's like there's got to be a simple way of trying to explain that where we are is you've been putting a little bit on we're putting things on a credit card so eventually it's going to catch up with us. >> You know, that's not true. >> I think maybe if you use an ounce of prevention, yeah, it's worth a pound. But I do think that is an important message like >> you're giving yourself >> that I think of as me thinks the lady protest

156too. >> I think we've concluded we have to vote or we're good. We answer all our comments. >> Is there any addition call? Okay, I had more comment. I'm sorry. No, wait. I already made the comment earlier about the um that was my only comment. >> Yeah. No, that Sorry. >> I knew there was something. >> All right. Then I'll take a motion to return. >> So move second. >> All those in favor? See that? >> Did we approve warrants or we did that already? Oh, that's right. Cuz I know they're all clapped on to the end.