001He thought I was still pull up to the curb. So, >> so he's right, but he just doesn't know. >> Had a hard time the sports meeting tonight, too. >> There's so much. >> Yeah, me too. >> I had to go in and smooth things over. >> I'm sorry. >> Sorry. >> There's a hierarchy of responsibility. >> I want to be here, but >> Oh, I thought no. >> [laughter] >> I break enough sports face here. >> Ult. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah, but I I get all like they >> I don't think besides >> like she forged me like weekly newsletters and stuff. >> And maybe >> I don't know what that is though. >> Nobody else here. >> Yeah, last time. >> All right. >> You all right? >> I am. >> Yep. Okay.
002>> Good evening everyone. I'm going to call this meeting to order. I'll ask if you are able if you could please rise for the pledge of allegiance now that you got nice and settled. >> [snorts] >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. I'd like to inform everyone that this meeting is being recorded by Middle Educational Television. If anyone in the audience is taping this meeting, either audio or video, please inform us at this time. [snorts] All right. So, we'll now move on to the public comment portion of our agenda. We do ask that you state the your name for the record and direct all your comments through me,
003the chair. We ask that your comments relate to items within the purview of the school committee. Please note that personal complaints regarding personnel or students should be directed to the appropriate administrator outside of this meeting. The committee will not engage in discussion with the speaker or take action on any matters not on the agenda tonight. We allow three minutes per speaker. So, just please be mindful of the time. If you are here to speak on the budget, I would ask that you wait until we begin the budget public hearing around 3:45, but the floor is now open for regular public comment. >> I think you meant >> 6:45. Sorry. Oh, it's been a long day. Okay, >> Ashley, please. >> Ashley Fernie, 7 Maple Road. Um, I just wanted to publicly state that on Monday,
004March 23rd at 6:00 p.m., the Mary Kay Good is offering a candidates night. Um, confirmed right now is everyone running for school committee. We also have free child care available, um, crafts, games, and snacks. So, I just wanted to welcome everyone um, Monday, March 23rd. >> Thank you, Ashley. Anyone else for public comment? Hi, Alexis Burrows, uh, resident of Middleboro, 75 Warham Street. Um, I just want to kind of forward some information that was given to me by a fellow parent actually from the mech. Um, I wanted to see if you were aware considering the state of our roof and ceiling at the complex. Um, I think she had forward this information to the school committee and I just wanted to make other folks aware. Um, but there is the Massachusetts School Building Authority that
005this parent had come across. Um, and apparently this is an application that schools can um, apply for, but we only have until the 17th. um possibly a lottery situation where we could get funding from the state to help us possibly fix the roof um on the complex. Um so I just wanted to see if any folks were aware of this. So considering the situation, also thank you for um the town and also the school district for bringing in an inspector um to have our MKG looked at. I'm hoping that HBB will also be looked at as well because they're also dealing with some leaks um in multiple classrooms and in the gymnasium um and other areas as well because we're just looking out for the kids' health and safety and the safe of our the
006safety of our staff as well. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else for public comment this evening? >> [snorts] >> Hi Tony QP teacher MHS. Um so [clears throat] I I had some time to go through the uh budget that was posted on the agenda for the high school. Well, it wasn't posted for the high school. It was posted for um the overall school budget. And I I just had some questions about that. So [clears throat] when what was on there for the top lines were expended 2024, expended 2025, approved 26, and requested 27. Is that correct to everyone's knowledge? Okay. [clears throat] So it looks like there were some significant jumps in there. And I just want to highlight a couple of them and I don't really know why they were they were
007so significant but we have talked about the increasing special ed costs. [cough] OTPT expended in in 24 was $522,000 expended in 25 was 940 and then approved in 26 was $824. So the requested non salary on 27 was $622,000. Okay. So that it looks like it kind of was at around 500 went up uh approved for a little bit more and then requested in line with that with the special ed in other districts and 24 was expended 1 million just about $200,000 and then [clears throat] it seems to decline. expended in 25 uh was $955,000 and then approved in 26 was $485,000. So I I saw a trend of man that's really going down but then it jumps to $5.2 million on a requested non- salary. That's the out of district placements which you guys
008did put that in the budget and that was just a significant jump from expended 24 to what was requested in 27. So that was really one of the questions. Some of my thinking was man if that's a $4 million increase. You know what? And and that seems like some students with some serious needs because they're they're requiring out of district placements. What would it have looked like if we actually took that $4 million and invested it into the schools? How many salaries could we have paid for specialists to work with students like that? You know, if we paid $3 and a half million dollars in salaries, could we have saved 500,000? I don't know. Um, [clears throat] other lines that jumped out to me I and when I was going through these things and I
009see like a 10% increase over the three years, I was like, "Okay, well that that's kind of in line." If I saw a 60% increase, some of the lines were more than that. I saw a 343% increase in some things. And and I tried to just stick with non salary items to not make it confusing. So like a athletics and other expenses line expended uh 24 was $824 requested 27 was $97,000. So that's a huge increase to me. I don't know how maybe something got moved or or they needed there was a large expense that came up but there's only a few more lines here. Tech PD Tech IT uh PD uh and it says Tech PD conference on the on the line. $360 expended in 24 uh expended in 25 was $1,000. So to
010me, if somebody came to me and said, "Hey, look, we want to do some PD in 26. We're looking for a little bit more $1,500 2,000. Okay. You even double what you did and spend 25, but $15,500 was approved. >> Tony, I will ask if you can just wrap it up. You'll have more time for budget at the budget hearing. >> Okay. I thought that was on the agenda tonight. >> This is the standard public comment. The budget hearing will be called to order separately. >> Oh, okay. I can save the rest for then. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thanks. [applause] Hi, Bridget Karns. I'm not sure if you're going to answer this, but just confusion because there's constant switching on whether we can talk on agenda items or discussion items. So, uh, you have
011been telling me that I can only talk on discussion items, but these are agenda items. The budget and the superintendent, those are things we can talk on. >> Public comment, you can speak on anything you wish. We just ask that we will not have any discussion about any agit any item that is not on the agenda throughout the meeting. We won't speak to anything >> until we get to the agenda item. You may bring up anything you wish. >> So, we can speak on any agenda item, not limited to discussion items, which you told me at the last meeting. >> At public comment, >> I'm not talking about public comment. At public comment you may can you may say anything you wish. Discussion items are when we will have discussions. >> Okay. So there's a
012agenda item called discussion item but we can talk on the budget agenda item and we can talk on the item that is superintendent. We can talk on any agenda item. Sounds wonderful. Thanks Jess. Any other public comment tonight? All right, we'll now do the uh report from the student representatives. Please go ahead, gentlemen. Uh okay, to start, we have two district-wide announcements. There will be an early release date tomorrow. Check your schedules for all dismissal times. And the town's I voted sticker design contest opened on the 9th. Entries are categorized into three age groups, under 7, 8 to 12, and 13 to 18. Templates can be found at the town clerk's office or their website. The deadline to submit is May 4th, 2026. At the Mech, they would ask you to join them for the
013Mech Family Literacy and Math Night on the 31st from 5:30 to 7:00. Doors will be open from 5:30 to 5:45. All prek and kindergarten families are welcome to attend. Students will be playing a variety of literacy and math games. You will also receive valuable information on how to support your young reader and mathematician at home. Please RSVP by Tuesday, March 24th, so that they can account for all the materials and pizza that they will need to provide. And all attending families will be entered to win one of their fun raffle baskets, which will be announced at 6:30 that night in the gym. And students can also choose free books for their home library. The March word of the month is responsibility. Children are learning how to be responsible for their actions and words at home
014and at school. Uh the mech is grateful to partner with the high school and the community to have special guest readers from the National English Honor Society come to and read to some of the classes at the MECH. We would like to thank Mrs. Bradbury, Miss Fostello, Miss Bradley, Miss Paling, Miss Setcher, I believe. You can correct me if I'm wrong. Miss Cook, Miss Stoker, and Miss O'Hare O'Heleron for inviting our students in. Some students even connected with their old elementary school teacher, which made it for a very special day. We want to thank the students Tristan Mayer, Victoria Gamble, Camzy Natchinke, Sam Soul, Megan Youngquist, Ella Isael, Violet Morrison, Kylie Gilpatrick, Maline Kirkpatrick, Lily Price, and Naomi Noble. And we would also like to thank our school committee chair, Jessica Chart, for coming in
015to reading to some of the kids as well. Uh, Mrs. Casey, the National English Honor Society here at Middleboro High School has collaborated with the HPB this week and hopes to extend this opportunity further to the entire district. So, thank you and keep reading. And the last thing is that family teacher conferences are the week of March 16th. >> All right. And then moving on to MKG, the MKG PTA will be hosting a school committee candidates night on Monday, March 23rd at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria. And our students are having a great time enjoying their spring clubs. And for both MKG and HBB, grades will now close March 24th. Report cards will be issued April 6th on Aspen and will be sent home the following day. Another thing for both the HPB and the
016MKG is that their third grade musical performances concluded today. They were March 10th to March 12th. So congratulations to everyone who participated in that. And the above and beyond winners from the HPB for grade four are Jackson Nolles. for grade two are Kelsey Barry, Brooke Crane, Jameson Groves, and Fred Phillips. >> All right. And then moving on to NMS spring parent teacher conferences have been scheduled for Thursday, April 2nd from 4:30 to 6:30. These are inerson conferences except from 6:00 to 6:30, which is virtual. Signups will be shared tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. Please join the PTA for Middbor Mania Wrestling on Friday, March 27th. The first bell is at 6 PM. And following school committee approval, uh, Principal Mclofflin is excited to announce that they will be scheduling an eighth grade trip starting next year
017to Washington DC from June 7th to 10th in 2027. Anformational meeting will take place in the NMS auditorium from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, March 25th. Students will arrive by train in reserved cars to Z to DC, stay in area hotels for three nights, and their trip includes all meals, all transportation, and floor security at the hotels. Okay, there's again, there's a lot for the high school. First of all, we want to congratulate the 30 members of the student council, including our school committee rep, Jackson Collins, who attended the Massachusetts Association of Student Council state conference last week. Bran said that to see our student leaders represent our school with such pride and excellence was truly amazing. Each member of the delegation led with pride and learn new things to make our school even
018better. We want to congratulate Lexi Boyd for her outstanding campaign for MASC vice president. Her leadership and vision truly created a garden of leadership for our state. We are very proud of Lexi. And we want to congratulate Nina Travers for being nominated for the 2026 MASC unsung hero award. Uh, congratulations to the entire student council for being named a 2026 Gold Council of Excellence for their outstanding work within our school. An additional note of thanks to Ryan Penny and Tyler Kamo for their outstanding job at creating the book of excellence. We want to congratulate Lily Price, Keith Melo, and Natalie Corey for being named the MASC 2026 Commonwealth Award winners for their commitment to student leadership and our school. And a last congratulation to Mr. Ryan Sylvia for being named the 2026 administrator of the
019year from the Massachusetts Association of Student Councils. Uh we also want to congratulate the student council for raising over $7,500 for the Special Olympics of Massachusetts with their annual plunge. So well done to them. And thank you to the amazing members of the television production who captured all the moments of the MASC state conference. Josh Horseman, Grace Gorum, Lily Marcus, Aaron Davis, Nate Baldwin, and Taran Clancy. Well done to them. The Yes Club would like to remind people that the 4th annual Cooler Middleboro environmental fair is next Saturday, March 21st from 11 to 2 here at Middleboro High. The fair is sponsored by the Sustainable Middleboro and ENQUA, which stands for New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance along with the MHS student Yes Club. At the fair, there will be some student projects on display. Sustainable
020Middleboro has organized activities, groups, businesses, and utilities to share how you can make your home more comfortable, save money on heating and cooling to make it more sustainable. Bridgewwater State University geology department will bring their large earth ball inflatable globe, and NECA will have activities and display on our local coastal wildlife, including a 43 foot life-size humpback whale inflatable. There's no cost to come to the fair and there are small flyers by the door where the agendas were. Congratulations to the class of 2027 for an outstanding battle the badges event for our community. The event was outstanding and we want to thank Natalie Corey for leading the national anthem on her electric guitar. With the loss of week to the blizzard, it has forced a movement of dates to the closure of quarter 3 and
021quarter 4. So, quarter 3 at the high school will now end on Friday, April 17th, and quarter 4 will begin on Monday, April 27th. Quarter 4 will end on June 30th, 2026, which is the last day of school. And please note at this time there is no change to the senior calendar and end dates. The senior class of 2026 will celebrate their final day of classes on Wednesday, May 27th, 2026. The scholarship program for the class of 2026 is in full swing. The scholarship book is available for the MHS student counciling office or on their website and seniors can pick up their official transcript or unofficial transcript or their attendance record if needed in the school counseling office. The section 1 and two deadline is the 20th, but the section three deadline for most of
022the scholarships is tomorrow. So, if you have a senior who has not turned in any of their scholarships, check in and see if there are any that are due tomorrow. MHS will launch the 2026 to 27 program of studies course selection for all students in grade 9 through 11 on the 16th. Teachers have recommended students for courses within the core content areas throughout the school. You can see these recommendations in Aspen. Um the portal will open for students on Monday, March 16th and will remain open until Monday, March 23rd. Quarter 3 parent teacher conferences will be held on Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 from 5:30 to 7:30. And from what I heard, that event was a success with many parents getting to meet the teachers and getting to check in on their students grades. The World
023Language Department is hosting their annual World Language Week this week. Uh there are some pretty cool events and activities to learn about languages all over the world. For example, we have been hearing guest speakers on the announcements to uh give the morning announcements in their own language or in the language they take at the school. The Spain and France trip for April 2027. Applications are due this week, so take advantage of that. And the world language testing is being offered to juniors and seniors. There's a sign up graphic on the Brans Bolton. And finally, the spring SAT will be held at MHS on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026. Make sure to register and if you have any questions, reach out to your school counselor. >> All right, then we're moving on to athletics. Uh, congratulations to
024all winter athletes on an amazing sports season. Their um, winter sports awards night was Tuesday of this week. Spring sports spring sports are starting soon, so make sure to sign up if you haven't already. And this spring, for the first time at Nichols Middle School, student athletes will be able to compete in the sport of track and field. This is a brand new sport for middle school, so they are really looking forward to getting as many kids on the team as possible. It's a no cut sport, so if you sign up, you've made the team. And middleboro's middle school hockey is looking for players from Middbor, Carver, Wearham, and other local cities and towns to join the 26 to 27 team. Tryyouts are on the 19th at 6 at the Bridgewater Ice Arena. >> All
025right, gentlemen. Thank you so much for your reports. >> I have a question. >> She Hold on. Sue has a question. >> Yes, Sue. >> Either for you or Mr. Brandan. Um, I would love to see the narrative that went along with Ryan's commendation. Uh, if you can get it to us in some way, that would be great. Thank you. >> Thank you, Sue. >> Good. >> All right. Wonderful. Thank you, gentlemen. [applause] So, I'd like to entertain a motion now to uh enter into our public hearing on the budget. >> So, moved. >> Second. [clears throat] >> I have a mo a motion and a second. All those in favor? >> I All right. So, welcome to the public hearing portion of this evening. I want to start by letting everyone know that um
026it was posted on the agenda for a possible vote this evening. We put the agenda together before the joint meeting of the school committee, the select board, and the finance committee occurred on Monday evening. So, we do not plan to vote on the budget this evening. Uh based on that meeting that was held on Monday, we are going to hold off until the next meeting to give time for any follow-up that came from Monday's session. All right. So, here are the ground rules for our hearing this evening. They're very similar to the hearing we had just last week. It was just last week, right? Um, so our hearing will go no longer than three hours. So we will be adjourned before 10 o'clock. Um, and tonight I'm going to start by answering some questions we
027received. Uh, the school committee as a whole has received a number of questions. Um, so the most common ones we've put together some answers to. Um, and then Mike will refresh our memory with where things stand uh with the budget. Um after the budget presentation from Mike, school committee members will each have a few minutes to make a statement if they wish and then we will open the floor to the public. Um we do ask that you just be cognizant of having as many people who are interested in speaking have a chance to speak. So um if you have something more to say, please make sure that everybody else has had a chance to speak once uh before you come back up to the microphone. In interest of being respectful of everyone's time, we do
028ask that if you agree with a previous speaker, some of your comments are just reiterating that u just state your agreement and then move on to any new feedback. Um we are here to listen and record your feedback um as we did with the um reconfiguration. We noted any questions and we will be regrouping and schedule time to answer as many as we can at the next meeting. At the end of the hearing, we will conclude with school committee members being given another uh moment if they wish for any closing remarks. So, as I mentioned, to kick things off, we have prepared answers to some of the most common questions we received. Uh we had a question about any impact um to the curriculum in this budget. Um, as of our latest review, there does
029not appear to be any programs in the curriculum that are being cut that may not have already been phased out. Um, we will pay specific attention to that as well. Um, obviously with the ELA curriculum, there is $200,000 budgeted in the curriculum uh for this year and then $200,000 for next year. We are currently maintaining that budget line item as we um continue to discuss the curriculum as we mentioned at last week's meeting. Um and the reason for that is the state is requiring that all districts move towards a reading curriculum that's grounded in the science of reading as research has demonstrated this type of reading curriculum is most effective for all learners. Um and the second reading is it's part of our response to Desi regarding our improved reading improving our reading scores but
030we will be pursuing state grants for ELA curriculum as they have issued some um opportunities for grants based on these new standards. Second question is has the budget been gone through line by line? Yes, multiple times by both the finance director and the subcommittee since it was first presented. Um, in general, the review of the budgets and ongoing process as estimated versus actual expenses differ, new grants may be received, potential sources of revenue may be introduced, and new potential savings found. So, um, we do continue to review it regularly, but we do have to approve a motion for and the budget before the town election and the town meeting. As part of the budget discussions, we have heard a number of concerns regarding the physical state of the elementary complex. The concerns are being taken
031most seriously. We will have an upcoming agenda item related to the elementary facilities and there are short and long-term considerations for the complex that do need to be discussed. We got asked if we've considered an early retirement incentive. Um that was not something that came up this year, but it is something that will be considered for the future. We've received a number of questions regarding our outofd district placements and the costs for these programs. Um they are exceptionally high costs but we do want to state that the severity of the disabilities for the outofd district places placements cannot be met within the school district and the resources necessary to meet some of the students needs would incur an enormous expense and they are um specialized programs that provide the education that students need that um
032for the number of students in the district that need those types of placements. It's just um not an expense that can be absorbed within the district. Um are multiple administration buildings needed? So we are moving forward with adjusting the administrative buildings. Uh most of the Flora Clark staff will be moving to School Street which will open up Flora Clark to rental availability. And then we are looking at options for the maintenance building that's on Forest Street as well. Can grants be obtained to help with the food services budget? Our food services budget is balanced by the revenue from reimbursement from the state through the free lunch program. So that is one line item in the budget that we do not need to pursue grants for to cover food services since we already get reimbursed for
033those expenses. Why don't we transition to a single principal model for the elementary schools? And this is something that we mentioned um on Monday night at the joint meeting, but it is something that could be considered as another phase of reconfiguration. It is important to note that the average student to principal ratio in Massachusetts is 300 to1. So consolidating administration at the complex is something that we would want time to research and it will be something that can be presented to the new superintendent for evaluation. We have heard a number of suggestions related to reducing director level positions. We have looked at studentf facing needs as well as administrative needs and factored those into the proposed cuts. How are we handling vacant positions? All vacant positions will be eliminated unless required for student needs. One
034of those is such as a school nurse. Buildings can't be opened if there's no nurse in the school. So, we do have to keep that vacant position um in the budget and look to fill it as soon as possible. What percentage of chapter 7 funding are we receiving? the ex-town manager committed to allocating 100% of chapter 70 funding to the schools this year. So, we do hope that that will be the case. Has the school district been audited and will it be? Our end-of-ear financial report was and is audited per DESIE regulations? There was a request for a forensic audit on the school system. These are traditionally expensive. For a budget the size of the school, it would be between $50 and $100,000. So it does not feel appropriate to expend that cost at this
035time. How are devices allocated to students? Devices are assigned per student at the high school, at the Nichols Net School and elementary. Those are onetoone. Mech has devices available within the computer lab and in the classroom. New Chromebooks are purchased every year for incoming 9th graders and then only else to replace devices that reach end of life. We do need to make sure we have enough devices available for testing needs within each of the different grade levels. Um, this relates to something that Tony was asking about. Why are OTPT speech costs so high? We use contracted services for OTPT speech because the need is specialized and would be more expensive to staff those directly within the budget. Um, but there was also a clerical error on the budget spreadsheet that made it incorrectly appear that
036the cost of the contracted services increased by approximately $400,000. The error has been corrected. The error did not result in additional funds because it was offset elsewhere in the budget. So, the funds have now been allocated to the correct line item. How many positions are grant funded? Currently, we have 12 full-time and two part-time positions that are uh funded across different grants, including the federal title grants, the IDA grants, and the comprehensive school health services grant. All of those grants are renewable. The only grant that was utilized for staff this year that was not renewable was the emergency assistance shelter reimbursement that did help offset the cost of three positions. Are line items like supplies monitored throughout the year to see if we're able to use unexpended funds to prepay items for the next year?
037Yes, that is standard operations. Mike begins that process in the fourth quarter. If he can buy more paper this year to help allow the paper to be available and not have to be expended in the next year, those types of things are regularly done. So, those are some of the most common questions we got. I hope those answers are helpful. Um Mike, with that over to you for a refresher on where we stand on the budget. >> Thank you. [clears throat] >> So, we've gone through this uh presentation twice now, so um forgive me if it seems like I'm going uh a little quicker. Uh we'll also have uh the ability to answer questions during the public hearing. Um so, we have budget drivers. I've talked about these. These are things that we uh help
038us build our budget things that we have to have. Um all of our contractual uh and fixed cost salary increases uh transportation for all students uh and our special ed which we've talked about it uh a number of times as the costs increase. Uh the three main constraints are again special ed costs, um reduction in our alternative funding sources. I'll get into that a little later. And then declining financial uh federal and state uh funding. Those funds are starting to uh diminish or go down and that has put pressure on the budget. Also, first one is special ed. Uh I just this is a summary of uh the last four years and the increase which has almost doubled uh since 2324. Um the number of students uh is going up but it's not going up
039uh as as fast as the cost of those uh tuitions. Uh but we're spending uh nearly five million on tuitions. Um the alternative funding sources um is is probably the biggest um uh issue that we're having with this year's budget. So we had to reduce uh our facility rental the amount we used the current year uh by 650,000. Our school choice was reduced by 112,000. Uh and then um we try to uh prepay tuitions at the end of the year for next year and I don't believe at this point we will be able to do that but I will definitely look into it and anyone that we could pay will help offset the uh deficit. And last I mentioned the uh funding state and and federal funding. So, the migrant grant money that was mentioned
040that we had three positions out of now uh is gone and that they're moved back into the operating budget. Uh the overall chapter 70 is uh right now projected to be down um due to assessments and charter enrollment that will be looked at uh when the final number comes out. um title two, title three grants uh are projected to be eliminated and then our other grants are being reduced. So when you take all of that um and this is the 10,000 foot level and just take the salaries and expenses they total 50 million uh 600,000 you'll see that salaries are 38 million which is over 75% of our budget. Uh here's a side by side of the uh alternate fund sources uh just to show you the difference in in what we were able to
041offset last year. 6.7 uh million in 26 and that was reduced to 5.2 million in 27 again because of the diminishing revenues. So if you take the total um budget of 50.6 6 million. Uh the offsets, the lower amount of offsets at 5.2 million. General fund budget request is 45 million. Uh 45 almost 4 million. So our level service funds need is the 45.4. The local fund appropriation was 3.25% and that leaves us with a shortfall of $2.2 million. So the only change since the last time uh this was presented to the committee uh on 21226 we had a total in order to meet that 2.2 2 million. We had a reduction of 29.5 positions, 23 uh obviously at the top there uh in in teaching uh in coaching positions. Uh one of them is
042currently vacant and uh I just noted that the average attrition during each year is about 15. So, we're hoping that through that we could lower that number or it's less um people uh leaving the district. Uh since then, we received word that we could uh utilize 200,000 from transportation and that allowed us uh and a couple of other anticipated um retirements and um uh people leaving the district. And so we uh are comfortable saying that we could lower the original 23 FTE to 18 and that would give uh leave a total of 24.5 total positions. We will continue to work with the town and hopefully get better uh information as the year goes on and and help uh with those reductions. >> Mike, can I just interrupt just for one second? Uh sure. >> Uh
043for a point of clarification also make sure that I'm clear. Mhm. >> Um so the 24.5 is the number of positions that um that are going to at this point would be eliminated. Correct. >> Correct. >> That is not the number of people that we think are going to be um laid off. Correct. >> Correct. because of the uh each year from now to the end of the year we do receive resignations uh or andor people announcing that they are retiring. So it's positions there but hopefully it will not be people because we'll have vacancies and once the vacancies created we could remove them. So if I were to take the top line um teachers, coaches and that 18 if uh we have one that is already vacant. So that would not be some a
044person that we would eliminate. >> Correct? >> That brings it down to 17. >> Correct. >> And then if we had the average attrition that we typically have and that this is just a forecast, it's a guess based on what's happened in other years. That's another 15. >> Yes. >> And that so that would bring that 18 positions down to two people. >> Five >> potentially potentially potentially. I'm just trying I just want to make sure that people understand what [clears throat] um >> the description that we've been talking about that people understand >> concretely what that means. Yes. So if we make those reductions, uh the request for the budget would be 48,37169. The offsets again don't change. So that's 5,221,169 and that would balances to the town allocation of $43,150,000. This is our
045total uh request budget. Uh it's a combination of the operating budget of the 43,150. Um the town sets aside 4.4 million uh for our transportation budget and then I break out the 5.221 uh in offsets. Uh this is just a different way to look at it. Um and the circuit breaker is the largest uh for the special ed reimbursement for 3 million. The idea grant is 940,000 and all the other uh revolving ground uh accounts that I mentioned earlier total up to 1,281,139 and our total FY27 budget is 52,86,147. Um, we, as the chair said, we're not going to uh vote the budget tonight, but this is will be the motion. It has all the numbers that I just mentioned. Um, and that will be presented again on the 26th. Um, but I will go
046back and allow >> you. >> Um, yeah. So, let me I'll answer one question, Mr. Qupy. If you have your budget, I don't know if you have uh the version on the far right column. Do you have the FY? Yeah. So, if you if you would go back to the tuition line that you were talking about just so I could explain to you because it is confusing. It was confusing when I started here, but now I get it. So you are correct that uh I'm just going to take the tuition non-public. In 24 we expensed 647,000. In 25 we expense 553,000. There was a dip last year 249,000 we spent uh and we're requesting 3.2 million this year. And I wish your we could end there and that I made that mistake and that it
047was that much different. But if you go to the right column, you remember I said circuit breaker will offset by 3 million. So the 3 million is taken out and in the final column we're projected to spend 704 because we're going to use circuit breaker. So you really want to focus on the on the final column. So that is confusing, but we'd like to show transparency that we will spend 3.2. The general fund will only pick up 704,000 because we do get a large reimbursement in circuit breaker if that makes sense. And it does in this the next line down is tuitions to our collaboratives. So that looks like 537,024 324,025,000 last year and now we're asking for one uh 1,967 but the idea grant for 940,000 we put all tuitions in that it lowers
048the 1.9 to 567. So, I hope I that makes that a little clearer. Okay. Thank you. >> All right. So, we will now open the mic for public comment >> or not public comment, public hearing. It's been a long week, everyone. Please forgive me. [snorts] >> Thank you for that clarification. Um, [clears throat] so then I guess I would need clarification on some other lines. Um so if you go just below that on the same page into athletics >> right um on the bottom line it says other expenses ad same page as the tuitions page five. >> Yeah there was a switch and I'll have to check that with with Ryan. Um, so we approved 76,428 and then we're requesting 97,000. There's no offsets on that. Um, and the athletics does come up in three
049areas. This is in the central. Uh, then there's the lines in the high school and then in the middle school. I will take a look at all those together to see um if he was if he has um the only reason I say that is because again and I I did that makes sense what you were talking about earlier but when I see expended 24 $827 I see expended 25 $1392 I see an approved budget 26 for $76,000 that's a really big jump to me. And then if I go all the way to the right, like you're saying, fiscal year 27 budget less offset $97,462. >> I agree. I I will take a look at it. I know Ryan has two different funding sources himself. So he has user fees and then he has a
050portion in the general. If he could pay for stuff out of the user fees, he'll go there first. But I will definitely look at that and then uh kind of compare it with the the um the line items he has in both the high school budget itself, the athletics and then the uh middle school and just make sure they're aligned. We did change and I I mentioned this the other night. We changed last year to a new accounting system with totally different account numbers. So, it's going to take a couple years to have all of them kind of align um and putting uh the expense in the right line item. But I will double double and triple check that. >> Um page seven and this could be because of of munis. I mean I I
051don't know just reclassification on certain things. uh supplies principal. Uh three lines from the bottom on page seven. >> We're in the high school 320. >> Yep. Uh yep. 320. It's three lines from the bottom. So uh basically $12,000 $12,444 then 65,000 for that's the approved for 26. So that's what's in the the budget now. and then move to the right budget uh less offset 53,000. Yes, I I'll look at that and I'll I'll get with Mr. Brandan. I I don't know if that is uh a change over from the account accounting system. Uh I know that varies sometimes from year to year. We have um uh we had the NIA ask visit and there was a number of supplies in there for one year. So I I will check on that uh on the
05253,000 in principal supplies. Um the graduation one seems to be in line, but I I'll look into >> Yeah, like anything that was in line. I I mean I'm just thinking about like a regular kind of budget from year to year like okay if I spend you know $5,000 on food one year and I it's you know 5600 the next all right you know I'm budgeting 6500 even just with inflation it's going up a lot but you know 50 grand that's a lot um the net page 10 other expense MHS uh like one two three Four, five, six, seven lines down. >> What's Can you give me the account number? >> Uh, let's see. So, it's still 320, I believe. >> Yeah, we're in still in the high school. >> It is starting from the
053left. Uh 1 320573 other expense MHS says expended budget 6400 24 expended budget uh 25 6400 >> um the if you look at the third um one two Three. Fourth set of numbers. It's four. If you can give me those. That's where I could. Did you say 25? >> Uh, no. No. It's 2410. >> 2410 under instructional material. >> It should be right above that. It's there's it says other instructional materials is 2415. And then right above that right here uh the 56400 and uh and then 30,000. So we lowered it from the 56 again uh I can get and get more detail. I don't want to pull it up right now. >> True. But that I mean the expended in 24 was 6,400. The expended in 25 was 6,400 and then what you're saying
054the the budget offset was 30 grand. So again a significant $24,000 jump. >> Correct. >> And that that that's you know halfway to some an ESP salary there. >> Yep. I I'll get Mr. Brandan go through uh because when the when the uh department heads submit their budgets they do line item uh there's more they don't just give me that number 30,400 they justify it with what they are going to purchase but it's definitely worth looking deeper into >> these are kind of some of the the micro things that I'm I'm just looking at as far as the macro things >> uh that I think that you guys did a good job of putting together that overall the overall cost to middle borrow from the general seemed with some of the offset seemed to range
055between it you said it was 43 million and then the additional transportation brought it up to the 47 million >> correct >> so that percentage of the overall middle borrow budget right if which I think is above of $100 million. >> I think it's 114. So that brings me to then that our school budget is less than 47% of the overall. Correct. >> That's probably actually even less >> 43, >> right? Because if we had 100 million, then 47 million would be 47%. I've done some research into other towns surrounding and bordering Mass uh Middlebar and from what I'm seeing every single other town that borders Middlebar is above 50%. Overall going to education. So ju just for the the public to know. >> Um I think >> Mr. QP, could you repeat that, please?
056[clears throat] >> Every other town bordering Middle, Carver, uh, Lakeville, Bridgewater, >> the nine towns that border Middle. >> Yep. Every single one is above 50% of their overall budget going toward education. And we are down >> I said I said conservatively 47% but it looks like with $114 million overall budget and 47 put in by us uh to directly to the school department it's actually less. >> I would ask that you uh bring that up the next select board meeting. Well, I I certainly can and and I think that we we're one of the things that I was coming here to do and that if I've spoken about is our need to work together. So on March 31st, there's a ways and means uh hearing at the state house and what I see in
057Middlebar is that we have uh you know we're in this region where we're we're not the quinseies of the world. We don't have a ton uh we don't have a public transportation system here in Middlear. I we know we're the second largest land area town in the state. Is that correct? >> Absolutely. >> So we we have a lot of roads here. Uh and you know, thinking back a couple weeks ago, we we we missed three days of school uh because we got to get those roads plowed and and we got to, you know, be able to clear them to get kids to school. And that's that's a tough thing to do. Um so, and we're not the only town in southeastern Massachusetts that's struggling right now. I mean, if anybody's looked at the news,
058I mean, Lakeville's had a $2.5 million shortfall as well. So I think what we have to do, you know, and I would love for some of you to join me to go to the state house and and and say, "Hey, look, we have an we are also we just moved the train station from Lakeville to Middlebar, right? Everybody knows about that." And I've spoken about this before that there's an enormous amount of housing being built. So it seems fair for us to go as a united front and this was mentioned at the select board meeting the other day as well to go there to the ways and means and say look my goal is not to stress out seniors who are living on social security in town with with an aging population of b baby
059boomers. Not at all. like I just don't see that as a great solution and I don't think that the community does either. So I think it's time that we really do get together and go there as a united front. You know it would be great to have a select board member there too, maybe somebody from school committee, somebody from the teachers union to go there and say look we need money for transportation because those costs have gone through the roof. We need money for circuit breaker because those have gone through the roof. I mean, yeah, we're relying on that $3 million to come back into that fund, but we looked at it. I have it right here. It was $1.5 million to 5.2. That's a huge jump. And and we are not looking to stress
060everybody out with raising everyone's taxes. That is not it. because we know we've had the the school built. Yes. I think at this point the $110 million was a good good price because I see other schools being built for three times that. Four four times that. Now, we weren't on the hook for $ 110 million. We did get $65 million from the state, but on top of the police department getting built, the um DPW getting built, I think it's been enormously stressful for residents of Middle, but I do think that we all agree we value kids and we value education. So, we got to fight for it. Please join me uh on March 31st. And I would also put it out there that that is a school day and [clears throat] you know that would
061be very difficult for me to not be here uh for my students you know and then I look at okay well how am I going to do that do I have a professional day do I take a sick day you know I would love to work with the team and say hey you know this is something that you're going to do for the town so we're going to get grant you a professional day to go there and do it thank you very much >> thank >> [applause] >> Good evening everyone. Um, I just have a few questions. Um, first off, I have some things I've heard through the grapevine that could be potential savings because I'm not here to complain. I hope it doesn't seem like I'm here to complain every time. I'm here to
062try to help you and other folks look for solutions, but I will also be raising some concerns just for awareness. Um, first off, ESR funds. Um, my question is, how many jobs were created and how much money from that is trying to be rolled into the operational budget? >> Do you have that? >> Um, yeah, I can find. So, the No, you had that piece of paper. Um the esser funds were spent and done with a couple years ago. >> Yes. >> Um >> so it's the the um >> uh migrant >> So right so the the funds that were used this year were from the migrant fund. >> Okay. So, I'm talking about the original positions that were created with the ESSER funds and it seems like, you know, our district was moving money
063around to keep certain positions. So, my question is these jobs that were created, >> how many were there? How much money are they trying to be rolled into the operational budget? >> We're just looking for the We We pulled the information. So, if you want to >> Yeah, of course. I'm just trying to be concise. I need to pull an email. Um, if you give me a few minutes, I'll grab I'll take your time information. >> As long as it doesn't deduct my time. >> You I did not give a time limit. >> Okay. I wasn't sure. No, I I go to different things. >> I'll keep going on. >> Okay. Perfect. Thank you. I appreciate it. Um, okay. So, also at the select board meeting, I was present for that night and I heard
064Terresa Farley give uh an idea um to roll the director of PPS and the sped director into one role. Um potentially saving roughly $150,000 since I think one of those roles are vacant anyways or there's an interim situation. Um could that be a possibility? >> Sorry, Mike's the one to answer that. No worries. >> I know. I believe that's something, Mike. The combining back of PPS and SPED was something that was being looked into. >> Yes. If if um uh that could definitely be a combined uh those two um functions can be combined into one. Some districts do that. I think most do. >> Okay. So, to confirm, you're talking about my second question, which was those two positions being rolled into one. >> Correct. Correct. Okay, awesome. Just >> if you will. I found
065I found the information. >> Sure. I'll let you talk. No worries. Thank you. >> So, the administrative salaries were uh director of student services, uh the coordinator of nursing, K12 curriculum coordinators, which was two positions. Um the coordinator of technology was paid out of Esser even though that position was in the district prior to ESSER [clears throat] coming in. It was just for the one or two years. Esser was around for a number of years. There was one, two, and three. Oh. Um the instructional and professional staff salaries was a guidance counselor and um two social workers uh school physicians and school nurses.5 uh and the U float nurse one uh MKG classroom teacher and then we added uh building base substitutes uh and five lunch monitors. The lunch monitors are paid out of the
066food service. Yes. So, it is out of federal funding. It's not general, but the question was what is paid out of there? So, thank you. >> We include those. And then support staff >> was an ESP for a TLC program. Uh, four ESPs, one at uh Nicholls, the high school, MKG, and the mech. And then the last was a district data specialist that no longer exists. >> Thank you. That was a long list. I appreciate you giving me that information. That was long. Thank you. No, I appreciate it. Really. Um, okay. So, I I guess my whole thing is, okay, clearly there are studentf facing positions in those roles. Of course, we have to maintain compliance with IEPs, making sure our ESPs are or the number of ESPs are appropriately staffing our kiddos that need
067those services. Um, so my hope is that, you know, absolutely there are some things that make sense in an operational budget. There are also some things that I just also hope will be considered because if you're looking at 18 classroom teachers versus two positions, I hope we can understand the value of that. Um, another thing I'd like to >> Alexis, just a quick point of clarification. Yes, we do want to make sure that when you're looking at that 18 number that is classroom teacher, it's >> folks covered under that joint contract, but it it's teachers and instructional coaches. >> So, it's not all >> No. And I I understand that. I just also want to make sure interventionists as well. You know, it's it's you want to make sure folks who are servicing our students,
068>> and I'm not saying one person is more important than the other, but I I will say, you know, the need is there. Um, and if you have less staff to service those students for intervention or higher classroom sizes, it it makes an impact on the experience of these kids. Um, actually rolling off of that, uh, since Monday at select board when I mentioned we had one classroom displaced, now we have two at MKG. Um, we have, uh, one, the first classroom was moved to our computer lab. Thank you to our uh STEM teacher that was kind enough to be okay with that displacement, but that is also a situation. But we had a uh second grade classroom that ended up having to move because the leaks were just so bad uh that students could
069not stay in that space. So now they are moved to the library, which means we don't have a library for our MKG kids. And also too, our ESP is pulled so often that even before all this happened, my class has only been a library two maybe three times. So, if we're trying to push for literacy, we need to get these kids in a library. Um, just another point to bring up. Um, another question is I'm really really happy to hear that there is a uh consideration of taking one of the admin buildings and possibly putting them out for rent. Um, may obviously you probably can't give me a number, but just picking your brain. Uh, is there a potential amount that we could receive from renting out School Street? >> It's the other way around.
070>> Oh, sorry. >> Flora Clark isn't large enough to accommodate all of the folks who need to be there. So, Flora Clark would move to School Street. >> Got it. Here's a wild idea. I don't know if this is possible. Again, just thinking outside the box. Um, do we have room in the town annex? Do we have room in the town hall? Does the school district need to be in a separate building? Can we all kind of just get along in the town buildings that are kind of open? Um, is there a way to save money getting rid of two admin buildings if we have room in the annex or the town hall because that's a possibility? We could have two buildings that could be rented out. Um, just considering that, trying to find different
071ways to cut the excess and give money back to where it's needed most. Um, okay. uh ELA curriculum. So I understand you know um as uh one of you had mentioned that of course we are still budgeting for the $200,000 for the ELA program this year and next year. Of course DESIE needs us to have an approved curriculum. Um when do we need to have this approved curriculum purchased by? >> We're looking into that. We're I you know I mentioned that we were going to set up a a committee um but there's no exact timeline uh you know a delay is okay >> that given by the state I don't mean to interrupt you but you're saying like by the state we don't have like a deadline per se >> no I I think if
072the state knows that we are moving in the right direction it would obviously be much more helpful. >> Okay. Um the reason why I'm bringing this up is yes there is a push for science of reading. Um I was offered uh the year before last year to be a part of a professional development group. Um where we actually took the science of reading course. um we were kind of geared as like the science of reading people and then our assumption not assumption but we were kind of told like hey we're going to learn about science of reading and then how we can apply it to the workshop model uh readers workshop model in the primary grades. I can't speak for upper grades I can only speak what I know from the elementary level. Um so
073of course there's time there's money involved with training people. We gave a PD presentation um and then things just changed. I mean, we have a unit of study that was developed and tweaked for many years that is based off of Massachusetts state standards very critically, I might add. And I've seen my co-workers, colleagues really take a lot of time and pour into it to make it better. Not that I'm saying this is the end- all beall, but we do have a curriculum. Maybe not everyone is a fan of it, but it is has it's standardsbased. There are products. It is been worked on for a number of years by veteran and experienced teachers. Um we do have a phonics systematic phonics curriculum UFly that we've been implementing. So there is a push for phonics instruction.
074Um, we have a lot of things going on that we do teach, we do, but I think the problem was is curriculum messages kept changing. It was in constant flux. Um, and we never stuck with something. Every year it always changed. So, the professional developments that were given and in my mind it's wasted money if we keep going back and forth. And also to add, our professional developments that are given, spend money, yes, on professional developments that are beneficial to staff that we can follow through. But a lot of these speakers, don't get me wrong, a lot of these speakers are great. They're motivating. They're awesome to talk to. I have nothing against them. However, how much money are we spending for these kumbaya moments? And I'm not saying that to be mean because I'm
075all about like getting to know people and chatting and having fun. But I get it. We we have to have certain professional development points, but why why can't we just tap in to the resources we have within a district. Tap in our experienced staff. Have them help us run in home inhouse professional developments. Have us come up with our PDPs. maybe share during professional development half days. Here's a wild idea. Um, give us the time we need to collaborate with our colleagues because one of the things about the reconfiguration is we don't have time to collaborate with our colleagues. Um, I'm trying to think of cutting the excess. I don't know how much money we spend on some of these professional developments, but we could trim the budget that way, too. Yes, we can go
076to select board. I was there Monday. Yes, I had my speech to them and saying, you know, the the schools are suffering, but we also have to do our fair share as a school district and showed the town that we are also trying to make an effort with smart choices with our money so that they're not thinking we're just wildly spending money and then going and asking them for more. That's just we have to find a middle ground, guys. So, these are all the things I wanted to bring up. Thank you, Mr. Peroon, for answering my question. and sorry that I had to ask you to dig through that information, but I appreciate you for that. Um, and thank you for taking your time sitting through these really long school committee meetings we've had because
077I'm a parent. I'm a teacher, building rep, yes, but it's not me versus you. It's not me versus admin. I'm trying to figure out a way with you and everybody else. How can we save the experience? How can we maintain our schools? because we have a lot of issues at our complex right now. How do we make sure we keep enough staff? Because again, we have all those developments and apartments coming. We are going to have larger class sizes. And how can we be smart with our money? And to add, if we're worried about reading scores, especially in terms of special education, let's buy our subspar. They don't have curriculum. They're trying to do their own. [applause] So, I get it. There are students that deserve outside of district placement. Absolutely. Because their their needs
078are much higher than what we can give. But I almost wonder what if we have a subsparate curriculum, what if we have better facilities? What if we have more staffing? The whatifs? I can't answer that because I am not an experienced special education teacher. I just work with awesome ones. I just only hear what they tell me. But we got to think outside of the box. So, thank you so much for your time, guys. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Um, I just have a couple of things. First, I noticed a lot of high school kids here and a lot of elementary school kids. So, I just want to say thank you for showing up. Clearly, you guys care as much as we do. So, thank you for being here. [applause] Um, I just had a
079couple questions. So, at the board of select meeting, I forget who talked about it, but they talked about the crazy water and electric bill. Um, I have said for quite some time now, we could have an amazing fundraiser if we learned how to shut the water off in the bathrooms. You can go to the complex at any time and walk by any bathroom and it's like there's a ghost in there. The water's constantly running. Um, as a mom, it like burns my head. Shut the water off. save the fish. Um, same thing with the heat. The heat turns on one day and doesn't go off until the next date that's on the calendar. Some days it's 70° outside and the heat is kicking to 70° inside. I'm just trying to think of ways to save
080money. It is so hot in that complex. We could not saying put a new heating system in, shut it off. Um, there's a burning question. Who is cut? Where are the cuts? It says 18 teachers and two admin and that you're hoping that attrition keeps that number low, but as a parent, I don't want hopes and dreams that we're only going to go down to cutting two teachers. Are we having those conversations? Who plans on retiring or are we waiting? >> Not until the budget is voted. >> Okay. I mean, if I was about to retire with this mess, I' i'd get out, but we don't know if it's going to be 15. Um, so I I just don't like that we're hoping it goes down to two with the number being so large at
08118. And is there a plan on where those teachers are cut? If it is 18, is it like five from this school, six from this school? Is there a plan? >> There is a plan. >> Will we know the plan? >> When the budget is voted. >> Oh, so when it's still in a deficit. Okay. Um, the other consideration slide was not shown today. Um, I was at the select meeting on Monday and I saw that the other consideration slide mentioned that the reconfiguration was on there after being told several times that the reconfiguration was not due to the deficit in the budget. Um, on there was also discussed that step two of the reconfiguration was to go down to one school at the complex with one admin which was not stated at the reconfiguration
082meeting. Um I again I'm just asking for transparency because that is >> actually just a point of clarification. It was mentioned as a possible next step if it was decided to go in that direction. It wasn't a definite >> which is wonderful if it was at the reconfiguration meeting that we all sat for two three hours talking about it. I just it just builds that non-transparent like another we're not paying attention. Let's slide it in there. That's just my point of view. That's just what I've heard. And also just to go back to your other one, reconfiguration or not doesn't have any real impact on the budget. I think it was it's really as a response. It was a planned as a response to make whatever is going to happen better for everyone. I know
083that's under contention, but yeah, it's it's not to save money. >> Well, I agree to disagree because it was on the other consideration on the budget slideshow. So, you can't have apples and oranges and mix them. Um, and then the last thing I have um to state is, and this is way out of my realm, so I could be out in left field, but the pool, I know the pool has issues. I know it needs repairs. I see the line for rental has gone way down. I know that our um swim teams and whatnot are no longer able to use our pool and they're renting elsewhere. I think the Y again out of my realm. Have we looked into the cost of what it would be to fix the pool so that the teams can
084still use it and maybe use that as a rental piece? >> Yeah, we spoke about that sort of early on this year. It it was far more than the original hoped for 200,000. Okay. >> And the just to do the assessment to determine what was actually needed was so costly that we didn't pursue that yet um because of budget constraints. >> Okay. And and to clarify why that's true, and Allan, you can correct me because I'm probably going to be wrong. Um once you're going to do repairs to a certain level, then all the ADA considerations take into place. And when you look, if if you're someone that's been in that pool area, the number of ADA >> Not since I was nine. >> No. Well, then you've been in there. [laughter] >> Probably hasn't
085changed. uh the number of ADA considerations with the locker rooms um all sorts of other things. It really made it astronomical to go in there and fix that pool. >> Okay, that I get that. It's just like Mrs. Burrows, we're all trying to think of how we can save this. >> Totally understand why the question is asked. Totally understand. >> So that's all I have right now. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] uh Alex Cook, East Main Street. Um I just want to say thank you to the three wonder the three wonderful speakers before me and I agree with pretty much all of their points. Um I just want to ask a quick clarifying question uh regarding devices. You said devices are issued on a 1:1 ratio at the high school, the middle school level
086and the elementary or >> correct. Okay. I think one big reduction or maybe not big reduction but at least a decent reduction we could make is I do not believe our elementary students need a onetoone device ratio. We are so worried about our students and our their screen time already. I do not think it's healthy for them to be looking at a screen all day especially when we know they're probably going to be looking at a screen the moment they go home. I do understand it was a really good idea and a necess a necessity for them during COVID, but I think we are no longer in remote learning. Our elementary students do not need to be scaring at screens and tablets all day. I think we should return at least our elementary school students
087to pen and paper and maybe even our middle school students. I do understand high school students have a bit more to handle, so a device does make at least a little more sense. I also want to maybe consider looking at I know you mentioned new Chromebooks are bought for uh incoming freshmen. Um is that every year or is that just like as new students are added? >> No, it's every year because they don't the onetoone devices don't stay with the students. They don't take them home at the middle school or the elementary school. Okay? but they become the students device and Chromebooks don't usually last more than the four years. That's kind of the lifespan of a Chromebook. >> Okay, that's fair. >> So, they get them at beginning of high school and they hope
088to keep them for the entirety of high school. >> All right, that's fair. Thank you for clarifying. Um, I'd also maybe consider suggesting instead of like a Chromebook, a tablet might be better. I know I got an iPad for Christmas and truthfully, I'm finding it as good as a laptop. So, that might be a consideration. I'd also really >> these are these are these are not laptops. These are >> baseline model. Okay. >> Chromebook internet only. Nothing loaded on them. You have to use everything to the Google classroom. >> All right. Fair enough. Thank you for clarifying. Um, I'd also really I think it was I do think it was mentioned at the select board meeting on Monday, but I would ask the school committee to really seriously reconsider a 300k salary for a superintendent.
089I understand that is an important position. It does deserve a good paycheck, but I think a paycheck of $300,000 plus dollars when our teachers are working part-time jobs to pay for supplies for their students is ridiculous. Like I said, I understand a superintendent is a good position. It should come with a good paycheck, but not at the expense of our teachers and certainly not at the expense of our students. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] Hi everybody. Uh Sam Moer, Ever Street. Um first I wanted to say I wanted to thank all of you for going to the joint meeting earlier in the week. I think it was illuminating for a lot of the town to see the school committee and the select board and the fincom sitting in one room. Um, I have a
090question kind of at the end, but to lead up to it, I want to throw out some napkin math that I was just doing really quickly during this meeting. So, the state of Massachusetts has 8 bill11 million in a rainy day stabilization fund right now at 302 towns in the state of Massachusetts. If $2 million was allotted per town from the state government, that would be $64 million. That's a conservative number. I just threw it out based on what I've been hearing in our needs. That leaves 7 bill57 million left in the stabilization fund. So, I wanted to know if well a um the same kind of napkin math. I'm going to run through it and go and speak at select board and talk to FinCom and and send all this information out to you
091guys through the proper channels. But has there been any lobbying of the the state government to come help with this? cuz it's not just Middleboro, it's towns all over the state who need this kind of help to pay for special ed, to pay for teachers, to pay for facilities. So, has there any been any kind of joint resource talking to other school committees, other select boards or other towns to reach into the stabilization fund? >> So, the MASC, the Mass, the Massachusetts Associated School Committee, is not the student council one. Um, they have a day on the hill every year. The upcoming day is on um March 30th I think >> 31st. >> Uh no the MAC day on the hill is the day before the ways. So um that is exactly every year that
092is what it is is school committees from across the state >> coming together um with the MASC executives to lobby and petition for all of these causes. And um you know based on the conference that we attended in November um these are shared challenges and shared goals for everyone to um to lobby for better funding especially for the same things that we're struggling with. >> Fantastic. And and members of this school committee plan to be there on the 30th this year? >> Um I am attempting to clear my work schedule to be able to go. >> All right. [snorts] Thank you so much. >> [applause] >> Hi, Bridget Karns. Um, I had a question about the ratio of the principles to admins. Like how do they determine, you know, 300 to one admin? Like how
093is that calculated? >> I think I was the one that that was looking it up. It's not in the it was a general database and it didn't have the strict methodology of it. Um it it is not calculated in the Desi um database like other things are and it referred to that but it seemed to be a general number that we could start to look from. >> Yeah. And >> 300 students to one that's what you said. Yep. 300 students to one admin. >> Um >> to one principal. Sorry. >> Because admin covers >> a larger Yeah. I just I mean I just don't know how you come to that. Do you just you know I I work in a district where we have um elementary schools that are small with maybe 300 students and
094and one principal and also an elementary school that has a thousand students and one principal. So I'm like they're you know within the same district we have all sorts of size elementary schools all have one principal. Um the bigger ones have two assistants. So it's you know I don't know if other districts are determining that. And I'm like, are you just kind of averaging out how many elementary students are? I just don't know how that number came to >> and a very fair point. And I think that that was why um uh that we said that this is really something that the next superintendent before we move in in any direction, we really need to do some good research on that to see what we think is appropriate for Middleboro. >> Okay. Thank you. I
095just want to clarify that because it seemed like kind of an argument or a statement of like that's, you know, that's the standard. The way Jess presented it to me seemed like that's >> and it was my statistic. So, >> right. But she presented it. >> It was average. Uh, it's average. It was put out as average, not a standard. And it talked about how there are ones that are just like you did. There are ones that are lower and here's an average. That's what average is, >> right? Um the other thing is I really support this whole I would love to see Chromebooks and decrease use of um technology and personalized devices at the elementary level. Um and listening to some of the teachers in the last several meetings seeing the same research that
096I'm seeing about you know years ago we were sold when my kids were at that level when they started to transition their teens. Um, now they started to transition. We were sold all of the research. You know, I hear the science of reading, I hear this research, I hear that research, and this technology is where we needed to go and this was going to revolutionize everything. And now the research is all showing, you know, at that time I was opposed to it. I had a second grader that was going to a onetoone device at that at that point. Um, and they were going all the way down to K. And common sense to me was that that didn't make sense. I didn't need research. Just as a parent, I knew screen time wasn't good. I
097knew that if we keep putting screens in front of kids that how they learn is different. That if they're not doing math with paper and pencil, my kids didn't seem to learn math with paper and pencil. Um, and I feel like there's a detriment to that and whatever. That's my own opinion. Um, but the research is coming out and they're showing that this generation, this younger generation for the first time ever, um, is not smarter than the previous generation. So all generations have always shown that the next generation their scores however they assess and determine that they're smarter are always smarter than the previous generation until this one. Um and they're actually looking at it and they're showing decreased white matter development in brains. There's brain development, there's neurology. I listened and talked to some
098of these teachers who talked about this reading program that's the science of reading and Desi wants a science related program and this reading program is all on Chromebooks. But then there's alternate evidence that says that it's uh they need real physical texts. That's what I heard some of these teachers talking about physical text versus learning reading through um a device. Um the thing is and I so I'm fully on like let's get rid of this, right? Let's go back to papers, pencils, the cost comes down, all of that. But I also know it's a tricky predicament because in my opinion, one of the reasons we moved to that onetoone device is because of MCCAST. MCCAST started um shortly after that. Third grade is where MCCAST starts and MCCAST are all taken on a device. In
099order to get your students proficient on just the use of a device, you had to keep going down grades. And they put us in a very difficult position of forcing us in in taking these MCATs on a device to make it more convenient for adults to score and measure and determine. And so the need to go to a device was not always in the best interest of children. It was in the best interest of adults. It was in the best interest of Desi or whoever wants to measure a school. And it places districts in very difficult positions. And as the research changes and says these devices aren't developmental. Where can we go? We cannot pull them. So it, you know, I really it's it's tough when you hear teachers say we do have curriculum. We
100have great curriculum. Our curriculum is turning over constantly. We can't get a handle on the curriculum we have because you want to change it every other year based on what Desi says this year, Desessie says next year. You know, I would love to see just the teachers being able to go back to just teaching um and stop switching their curriculums. I don't again I don't have skin in that game, but I've been listening to the teachers and I'm listening to what we have to do. Um, and I feel like we get placed in these predicaments because of decisions that DESIE makes that the state makes and then the state doesn't fund. And that's not a solution. That's not something you can necessarily solve. Um, but I would love to see the trends in education shift
101away from um, devices. >> Thank you. [applause] Uh, hi. I'm Dylan Ro. I'm a student here at Midbar High School. And, uh, I apologize if this is an ignorant question or redundant to things that have been asked in the past, but I was wondering about the use of, you know, we've been talking a lot about everyone being every student being issued a oneto one device. I was wondering about the BYOD program we had here about where students would be able to bring in their own devices and I because we all use Google classroom and other online materials daily and I was wondering why the program was cut. I understand that the internet has an extremely large amount of content that's inappropriate for schooling in the district, but we have we have contracts that we students
102and our parents sign about not doing those things. And if we can't get thing everything indirectly blocked, why wouldn't we be able to bring that back and hold students accountable, have make sure that parents teach their kids about what they can and can't do in school and hold them accountable for it or like that's what the contracts are for. And I understand that there might be security issues as well, but if we could work smarter about what is being blocked on school internet and preventing scams on the district level instead of working harder by spending more money on school devices for every single student, I'm wondering if we'd be able to save costs by allowing students and both teachers as well to use their own devices. I'm not sure if teachers are, but maybe the
103money saved, it might be negligent. might end up amounting to nothing. But if we're trying to save everything we can, I figured it's worth looking at. >> We could look at that. I my staff will not allow me to answer questions regarding technology because that is not my experience. So I will get with our IT director and come up. I I know some of the things you mentioned are concerns though, security and all those things, but we can get you a a more thorough answer. >> Thank you, Don. >> [clears throat] [applause] >> Sorry, I'm not trying to answer your question, but just um and I don't know from this district or whatever, but I think security might be the main reason. Um several districts, including the one I worked in, were hacked last year.
104Our district, the computer systems were hacked um and essentially held hostage for billions of dollars. It took the entire network out. no students, no staff had any access to any computers. We had MCCAST coming. We weren't the only district. Fall River this happened to um some of the other districts and so we've seen security really increase. So I imagine that because your personalized device would have access but they can't require you to put certain security things on. I I have no idea if that's the right answer. >> It is part of it. Absolutely. I'm just going to say out there from personal experience when I say we went from I forget it was sometime around this time of the year till the end of the year without a network. The district had to pay for
105hotspots in order to get the kids back up and running for staff to get back up and running. Um it really was um probably way more costly than having kids come in with their own devices. Um I'm just a wild guess. >> Yeah, that is definitely part of it. Thank you, Bridget. Hi. Um, I'm Liam Cole. I'm a student at Middberry. I'm a junior. Um, I was wondering with the possibility of [snorts] state assistance being part of the major solution for this problem with this deficit. Um, I I was wondering since you talked about that day that you have for like lobbying in mass with other districts, but perhaps there could be some form of like public display of [snorts] the fact that we could very well uh benefit from assistance from the state level
106government. I was wondering if maybe it could be through the teachers union or justed public display of at the like um the like whatever public building we have if there could be some form of I I hesitate to use the word protest because we're not really protest anything but some form of display. I wonder if we could organize something like that to show that this is something the town cares a lot about and if it could increase state attention on our problems. Do you think that that could be something that could help? >> I'm gonna since you mentioned the teachers union, I'm gonna defer to some of the blue shirts in the room, but I love the idea of students and teachers getting together. >> I think especially if it's a student organized event, I
107think that that could >> bring a lot of attention to it. I don't know if we're collap Okay, cool. Um, I'm going to [applause] I obviously I don't have a action plan or anything, but I'm going to start doing my part in researching that. Um, thank you all for your time. >> Thank you. [applause] >> And also keep keep us informed. I for one would love to participate with you. >> Thank you. [applause] Good evening. Bob Sullivan, Cedar Street. Before I get on to what I was going to say, appreciate the time you folks are putting into this and allowing folks to talk as much as they can. And um thank you and protest. Use the word pro. [applause] our state legislators, our senators, the reps, they've been talking about looking at the state funding
108and they haven't done anything and I think it was 15 years ago they were talking about we have to reook what happened in 93 and they were talking about 15 years ago. So protest protests they just sat back and has let this happen. I don't say it's all on them but they haven't done anything to improve this. They I think they addressed six or seven I'm getting off too deep, but six six or seven um districts that they had a certain term for that did receive increases. There's a lot of other towns and cities that didn't receive anything. I'm just going to back up one um point came up earlier maybe the superintendent um the ESSER funds. I just did a quick countdown. Was it roughly 16 20 positions that have been carried forward within
109the budget through the ESSA funds >> ballpark? >> I think that sounds about right. >> 9 10 14. >> Yeah, I'm looking at just real quick 14. >> Okay. So they've been carried because they were put in by the funds that one shot deal and they've been carried through the budget up to now even correct. Thank you. [clears throat] >> Anyone else? Okay. Thank you all for attending, for participating. Um, I know we've had multiple evenings now where we've had chances to hear your feedback, but um, it's always important to make sure that we give this budget a chance to be heard by everyone and and for you to have a chance to speak. Um, so I will see if anybody on the committee wants to make any concluding remarks or the superintendent before we
110return to the regularly scheduled school committee meeting. >> Maybe not any of my remarks, but when we had the um the meeting on Monday with the select board and the finance committee, we kind of discussed like a next step of maybe reconvening on the 23rd. [clears throat] Has that been confirmed just for everyone to >> No, we haven't heard which date. Um there were a couple dates thrown out but we haven't had a confirmation from uh se the select board as to what the plan is for the regrouping. So we're still >> re if it is scheduled it would be through the select board that will >> Yes. Yeah. >> Yeah. It was and the the proposal was for another joint meeting. So it would be through them. Um they do have a regularly scheduled
111select board meeting on Monday as well. So I don't know if we'll know more after that. >> Okay. Perfect. Thank you. Anyone else? >> Allan. Uh, >> I love the idea of a protest. Absolutely love it. Uh, 10 years ago, I was going to um to meetings regarding I was on the select board. I wasn't on the school comp, but regarding hearings uh well, hearings regarding uh school funding because the the formula was broken. um they modified it a little bit and there was an article in the Gazette just the other day and the formula was broken. Um there's I heard something on the radio how I like and I I don't want to say numbers but there's a whole bunch of uh gateway cities that are were in the position that we are in
112now and they modified that that formula and now they're flush with cash and rural communities are being uh underfunded. So, it is a it is an issue with the uh with the state government. I don't have the best track record with the state government. I've been yelling at them for years. Um the uh Tony QP, you mentioned the Ways and Means Committee on the 31st. The uh Senator Rodri is from Westport. He's actually a very very nice guy. He's the chair of that committee and I would absolutely recommend trying to talk to him. Um, problem is is he doesn't make the decision on his own, but he is a good guy and he will absolutely listen to you. Um, write your write your local reps, write your state senator, write the governor, and call. One
113of the best ways to facilitate a conversation in those big government buildings with all the representatives is to get in touch with their staff and create a buzz with their staff because they talk to each other. If you had a hundred people call a 100red reps in one day, the place would be a buzz. So send a quick email and you can send the same email every Monday if you want and then follow up with a phone call. Hey, I'm just calling because I want to know what your position is on the um on the on the school funding statewide school funding budget and create that buzz. And that's that's how you start to change. But you have to you have to be the um the impetus of those conversations at the state house because
114they're talking about everything else except us. They I and shame on us. We let them. You know, we're not the only community around here that's facing a $2 million budget. Uh budget deficit, I should say. >> Including our own representatives, right? I think also >> absolutely. >> Yeah. >> We're in a unique position. We have three state reps and one state senator. You know, I now the upside is we have three. The downside is we have three and they all kind of point at each other hoping that somebody else is going to do it. But let's get on them. You know, >> I think that's another great idea for the students. Letterw writing campaign, email campaign, phone call campaign. >> Protest protest. Walk out of school. Go block an intersection. >> He didn't say that.
115He did not He didn't say that. He didn't say that. >> I absolutely said it. [laughter] >> Bran, you didn't hear that. >> Protesting. Send me an email when you're going to be there and I'll see if I can get there. >> [snorts] >> Chris. >> Um, first, uh, in on the topic of PD, Mike and I were talking about that before the meeting to kind of take a look, see if there's anything there. Um, but for, uh, you guys, uh, Alexis and anyone else who actually did some reading PD, science of reading, if you could send any information or templates to us to just look at. Um, in terms of the protest, I think it's a great idea, especially studentled. Your guys's voice matter the most. Um, but in terms of educators, you know,
116your local association, your state association every year asks you to endorse candidates who make the decisions on where the money is spent. I think there is strength in numbers both on the local and state level to reach out from that point of view. Um and again it it whether it's MCCAST or funding and I also uh Tony's principal and superintendent are here tonight. I would urge you both to you know find a way so he can get there and bring some friends and do his thing um if possible. And finally um education is about people not things. It's the kids first, but the ones who really are are there with the kids are the people in the classrooms with them. Um, I think before we vote, it would be prudent for us to go back
117and look line by line and see what things can be eliminated and what people can be safe. And thank you all for coming. [applause] S any >> uncharacteristically I don't have anything more to say other than to thank you all. Um I know it's sometimes this feels a little contentious but it's interesting for me tonight that um as some of the energy has gone from that and really into problem solving. Um having heard your questions are answering them and then coming together and say okay given all that what do we do next? Um, it is really a wonderful process to see develop and unfold. [snorts] >> Go ahead, >> Jess. Real quick, it is confirmed that the next select board meeting about the budget is the 30th. Confirmed. >> Just so you know, >> they
118haven't sent anything to us yet. So, >> coming, but I just got confirmation just so they know. So, they can make their their plan. >> Thank you. >> Um, I appreciate that, Ashley. So, I do just want to make a a mention. I know that it's because of the position we're in. Um, but the past two years, our budget hearings had no one. Um, we didn't have anyone come to the budget hearing and speak or at least last year. It's possible the year before we may have had a couple. Um, but this is the first time that we've sat for, you know, an hour and heard and shared and listened. And I really just want to thank everybody for engaging in the process. I know it's not because the budget is pretty and beautiful and
119nobody's worried about it. Um, but it is, um, great to have the engagement. Um, and thank you all for participating. Um, so stay tuned. As we mentioned, um, we're not voting this evening. Um, we are going to wait. Um, we do have to make sure that we have a vote on the motion in time for the town meeting. So, we'll be talking to the interim town managers since if that meeting's on the 30th and our next meeting's on the 26th and we have to get a vote in in time, um, that could make things a little complex, but we'll have that conversation and see what we can do. So, thank you. Um, I will now entertain a motion to close the public hearing and return to the school committee meeting. >> So, moved. >> Second.
120>> I have a motion and a second. All those in favor? >> I I And now I'm going to take a brief fivem minute recess before we continue with the >> Thank everyone looks at me. [laughter] >> Well, no, now they can look at me, too. I got to get up and walk. >> We're going to take a brief fiveminute recess and then we will return to the school committee meeting. Thank you. That's the only one. Thank you. >> Mike, sorry. Did Joe mention I mean, we need it done. Yeah. money. Come back. too. Whereas Just kidding. >> The other thing is if we have a I think the number one I'm just wondering >> Chris, you good? >> Thank you for your questions. Yep. Thank you. >> Hi everyone. We're going to call our
121meeting back to order. >> Thanks, Chris. >> Oh, she must have limp somewhere. >> Oh, >> yeah. I'm like, so here next year, he's a great kid. Was very different from >> Ken. They're so totally different. You went too far away. >> Take your time. Take your time. Come around this way. It's safer. >> Yeah, that's why. All right, thank you everyone. Our next item on the agenda is the superintendent search and the next steps. So at our last meeting, we had the presentation from MASC in regards to their program. >> Thanks. [laughter] >> Um and how their process works. Um I did also share with the committee um some information that I received from another vendor whose name has completely lost left my mind um with their program and their costs so that we
122have a little we had an option for comparison. Um so I would like to just open up to see if anybody has any thoughts on the pursuing MASC. Yes, >> I'd make the motion that uh I'd like to make the motion that we engage with MASC for a uh superintendent search. [applause] >> Second. I have a motion and a second. Any additional discussion? >> All right. All those in favor? >> I. All right. Motion passes. [applause] >> I will contact Sean tonight probably if it's not too late when we get out of here and let him know. and um he had messaged me asking if uh we had a time frame and I know he's eager to get started >> as soon as possible. Can I amend my agenda to my motion to as soon
123as possible? >> Heard. Um I think he was actually getting a head start on a timeline for us. So um I will contact him this evening and go from there. So thank you everyone. >> Thank you. >> Um our next item is uh um an update on the public hearing on reconfiguration that we had last week. We did want to um reconvene uh discussion with from the committee after having a chance to hear from everyone. Um there were a few questions that came up but in general um the the cons the speakers that spoke and we thank everyone for coming and speaking the majority of the speakers were split between either not approving of a reconfiguration or taking more time. So those were the kind of the two major camps that were there at the
124public hearing. Um, and since then I have heard from some other stakeholders that they are in favor of it and I heard from a few that they weren't comfortable coming to the meeting or they weren't able to come. Um, so Sue and helped put together um some questions based on a quick email exchange that we had and we've been able to get that turned into a survey. So one of the first questions that I'd have for the committee is would you like to send it's a very simple straightforward survey. Would you like us to send out the survey to staff and parents? But if so, when? So, as I see it, our options currently are send it and regroup again after we get uh additional responses. say that we want to send it but we
125don't want to move forward with any decisions and that we would send it to get the information and we would share it with whomever becomes our superintendent or hold off on our survey altogether and wait for a new superintendent and then reconfigure the process then >> yes Alan >> I really think that this is something we should wait until we get a new [applause] I'm not done talking so Um, I think it's an idea that absolutely needs to be explored. I don't want to start that conversation, put it on hold, and then hope that everybody remembers what we were talking about. Um, and I this is, like I said, I think this is a great opportunity for a new school superintendent to get out there, meet the community. We don't have to do meet the
126new superintendent meetings. We can have meet the new superintendent and let's talk about reconfiguration meetings. let's start consolidating some of these many many meetings we've been having. [laughter] Um, but I think it's absolutely the opportunity for the new school superintendent to get in and get involved with the community. And I'd hate to uh hamper that process in any way. And I I don't want to ask everybody to fill up a survey just so we can put it on a shelf and then do it again in a couple months, you know. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Yeah, I agree. I said it when we talked about it before. I think you know this is it something that the new superintendent should tackle and um may have different ideas about how to go about doing it.
127So I don't think we should do anything until that occurs. being the lone voice of dissent. Um I consistently think that the more that we get input from as many people as possible, the better. And it's something that we've heard consistently that um that we need to find ways to hear from people. And we had one way and that was last week when we had the public hearing. Uh, but I too heard from a lot of people that had a different opinion than the people that were here that night. And it I don't I think that we should send out the survey. It's got four choices on it. Um, that just says don't do it. Um, wait until next year and do it, do it next year, or need no need more research. um for
128the people that were not didn't feel able to come and speak, giving them a voice for what we're going to do next and to wait until the next meeting. I think it's worth it so that people can have express their opinion. >> Shannon, do you have anything? >> I would have to agree with Alan and Chris on this one that we just push this off until we have someone in place. >> Okay. And I do hear what you're saying, Sue. I think that um we're not asking people, we're not closing the door on people being able to share their opinion. We're just shifting the timing of um when we're going to ask for it. And um so I think that uh it seems like the consensus, but we can put it to a vote, is
129um to postpone any further discussion about reconfiguration until a new superintendent is in place. >> So moved. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I I real further discussion. >> Yeah. I absolutely think there needs to be a survey when the time is right. I think every parent, every staff member, every taxpayer should have a say and I love hearing on any issue from every stakeholder. So I think that we need to empower the stakeholders to speak to us, but I think doing it after we have a superintendent is the way to go. >> Okay. [applause] Any further discussion? All right. So, we have a motion, a second. All those in favor? >> I opposed. >> No. >> All right. So, the motion passes. [applause] So, that's a
130that's a stay tuned and we will come back to the discussion uh when the time is right. Hey, look, we are now at the last few items. Um so the consent agenda um so I will entertain a motion to uh approve the consent agenda which is our meeting minutes from our meeting last week. The reason we need to approve those so quickly is we need to get that motion we made to the MSBA for the Nickels roof approved and move forward so that we can hit their time frames. Um and also approval of warrants. >> So moved. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> I didn't get that. >> You try again. I think what they said is we have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I
131I consent agenda passes. Uh we did >> just uh Miss Burrows, you still here? >> Miss Burrows, if you want to take No worries. Um if you want to take a look at those minutes, you'll see that the MSBA roof replacement program that you brought up, we are actually participating in that. and it's we're moving forward with it for the Nichols Middle School >> for the middle school. >> So that's an if you want to read a little bit more about it. >> Okay. >> But it is absolutely an avenue we take advantage of whenever possible. >> Yep. All right. So there is anformational item about a field trip for the Henry B. Burken Berkeland school. I think there might be >> that is on hold. Um and so it may be coming back but
132>> All right. Well, it'sformational. It isn't, it is out of state, but not overnight or out of the country, so we don't have to improve it, but we hope to hear more about it soon. Our next school committee meeting is currently scheduled for Thursday, March 26th. It will be here at 6:30. Um, we, as mentioned, will uh be discussing with the the town all of our deadlines and drop deadad dates so we can figure out when the vote on the budget will occur. So, please be on the lookout for the agenda items. With that, the chair will entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second to adjurnn. All those in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. >> Good night.
133Thank you.