001go into executive session for the purpose of considering an open meeting law complaint against the school committee um under purpose one. I apologize I usually have the uh writing in front of me but I don't have it right now. So um >> so move >> second >> motion and a second. This is roll call vote. Uh Alan >> I >> Shannon >> I. >> Jess >> I. >> Chris >> I. >> Sue >> I. >> And the chair votes I. It's unanimous. Thank you very much. All right. I want to take a copy of the meeting. It >> was a long time ago, but yeah. No, they and they taped it. Everything was Things have changed quite a bit. It's kind of neat. >> You know what hasn't changed is the Wi-Fi. >> The horrible
002Wi-Fi access. >> I think they do it on purpose. That's what my sense says. Anyway, >> I think they do. Yeah. What we should do is give us a password to >> decent Wi-Fi. >> Maybe we can talk to Mike about that. >> Sean, well, actually, so the the Wi-Fi access in here is brutal. >> Agreed. >> It's not just here. >> At least the MHS guest access. >> So maybe we could get permission to sign on to the >> access. I'm assuming it's a little better. >> Your personal device or the school device? >> Yeah, the the school device will connect for you because it's on the it's >> Oh, it's on, >> you know, like how if you bring your own device to school, certain personal things have to get set up. Yeah,
003I think we'd have to ask for that if we're not going to use the school issue devices. >> Well, some of us don't have >> We all We all set. >> We're using our word laptop. Uh chair will entertain a motion to uh exit uh executive session. >> So moved. >> I have a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion and second. Allan. Roll call. >> I. >> Shannon. >> I. >> Jess. >> I. >> Chris. >> I. >> Sue. >> I. >> And the chair votes I. It's unanimous. Thank you very much. We are back in uh public um session. I would ask that you please stand if you're able for the pledge to the flag. Thank you. United States. >> Thank you. I realize that it's not on the agenda, but
004I would like to take a moment of silence as it is uh se uh September 11th. Thank you. Uh before we enter into uh public sess uh for public comment, I wish to remind everyone that the public comment period is three minutes per person. We ask that you utilize this time to speak on matters meaningful to you. That you recognize that there are others who are wish to speak and be kind enough to respect the three-minute aotment in order to allow others their opportunity as well. I will politely inform you when you are about to run out of time so you can finish uh your thoughts and concerns. And if you run over a few seconds, that is permissible. I'm allowing it as a test run, but please do not try to abuse or take
005advantage of that goodwill. Uh lastly, we request for you to state your first and last name uh for the minutes of this meeting. Um and once again, going forward, this will be my preamble before every public comment section, but I understand that this is no way perfect. So if anyone has any thoughts on a better way to communicate the affforementioned pieces, uh please reach out to me. Thank you. Thanks. >> Hi, Bridget Karns. I want to thank this committee again for taking the time to vet the problem presented by Superintendent Lions regarding the misuse of public accommodation law in the student handbook. The substantial difference in the two anti-discrimination laws is not insignificant. Given her credentials with bar dues paid by this district and a career specializing in education law, it's highly improbable that this
006was a simple mistake. Basic 10th grade reading comprehension, critical thinking, and a bit of research led to the truth. So if we assume that the superintendent is competent, which I do, then that only leaves us with the intention behind the use of 272 to be intentionally to mislead staff, this committee, students, and parents. The failsafe should have been your legal counsel, but they too had to change their opinion when presented with facts from a parent. A parent should not have to be this vigilant about what is happening in our schools. Nor should there be any reason to question the motives of the person hired to lead this district. This is why you have a trust issue. Stop making excuses. You have the authority to make change and restore trust. This leads me to the question
007I asked regarding the locker room last time, which was rejected by the chair only to be answered when posed by a different parent. I won't waste time on pointing out the disperate treatment that I receive, but I will question just who the chair of this committee is because the number of times I see the chair look for direction from the other end of the table up there is ridiculous. I may not be able to hear what you are saying, but the remainder of this committee has a responsibility to either put an end to what is happening during public meetings so that everything is heard by the public or appoint a new chair. Since we know that there is no locker room policy, the bathroom policy language is not broad enough to encompass all sex segregated
008spaces. And this committee voted to approve only what has been presented to them. Based upon this handbook, the ability for gender non-conforming students to use the bathroom of the gender that they identify with is limited to just that, the bathroom. Upon reading this handbook, parents and students have the expectation that locker rooms will remain sex segregated. So for the purposes of changing clothing or showering for gym or sports, gender non-conforming students will continue to have access to sex segregated locker rooms, the allgender locker room, or maybe they can elect to change in the bathroom of their choice. A parent or student cannot read into this handbook a policy handbook policy, a provision which the administration did not put there, nor that this committee did not approve of, whether the admission was inadvertent or on purpose.
009For all I know, the people who drafted the handbook language drew the line at the bathroom and wanted to maintain sex segregated spaces where children change as a matter of privacy, modesty, and safety. I threw you a softball last time. You guys missed. You had the opportunity to table it and you didn't. That's how I read it. The handbook does not say anything about the locker rooms. Thank you, >> Teresa Carurikio. I'm wondering whether the school committee considered prior to voting on the approving the bathroom policy or what they were advised regarding federal law changes to maintain segre sex segregated bathrooms. I understand that this policy is legally allowed in Massachusetts, but current Title 9 and federal executive orders make it clear that is illegal under federal law. Currently, five Virginia schools were investigated by
010the DOE and have been referred to the DOJ. We do not know the outcome of that process right now. But what is the plan of this committee? To violate federal law until they're investigated in hopes that no one reports them, or is this a wait and see the outcome before you decide it is prudent to become compliant with federal law? I understand that you don't answer questions at public comment, but I think you should volunteer that information to the community. Thank you. >> Thank you. Hi, Sarah Zagorus. Um, just a question. Um, I guess not a question because you can't answer questions, but um, I would just like it added to an agenda. Um, about looking at again why staff are leaving. Uh, we had every single special ed coordinator in every building resign and
011then now the um, special ed coordinator and the director of special ed have also resigned. So, I really feel like we need to explore further that whether it's an HR department for the town, a separate um committee set up to look at what happened. When I saw it in June that a whole bunch of every building had a special ed coordinator leave, I thought maybe it was a funding issue, but now they're filling those slots with new people. So, I really would like to see explore why it is that we had a mass exodus of special ed and now the director is leaving as well. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Is there anyone else for public comment? Seeing none, we'll move on. We'll move on to item six, which are discussion items. Um
012the reports from student representative is to be determined from what I know that they are holding some sort of vote, but I know that uh Jess will be handling at least uh the Yeah. today's >> I am I am representing as a student representative. Um so uh from all schools a reminder that Friday September 19th is the first early release day. Release times are for futures and MHS at 11:30 a.m. for Nickels at 12 noon. MKG and HBB at 100 pm. Mech kindergarten releases at 12:45m. For Mech PreK, it's the normal AM session release at 11:15 a.m. And there's no PM sessions on the half days. So, an update from Mech uh from Principal Tracy Lord. Mech happily welcomed our new kindergarten and preschool students. They have been learning classroom and school routines as well
013as our PBIS, the positive behavioral system. I don't remember what the I stands for. Expected versus unexpected behaviors. Students are looking are learning how to be safe, be kind, and be ready in all areas of the school. We look forward to families visiting the school at our open house Wednesday, October 8th from 5:30 to 7. from HBB. Principal Shamba Daniels appreciates the warm welcome from everyone in Middbor. They're having a great start to the year. HBB open house is September 24th uh from 6 to Sorry, my scroll scrolled too far. Um, HBB open house is from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Um, HBB the first PTA meeting is on September 16th at 6:30 p.m. The HBB PTA uh wants to remind everybody that at that HBB open house on the September 24th will be bookf
014fair night. They are also hosting a membership drive on September 27th at HBB from 9:00 am to 1 pm. Uh the membership drive will double as a fill a bin textile drive where they can accept clothing in any condition, stuffed animals, shoes, linens, accessories, and for any questions you can email ptbbgmail.com. MKG Principal Lisa White says thank you to all of our students, families, and staff for a great opening to the school year. The MKG open house is Thursday, September 25th from 6:00 to 7:30. They look forward to seeing all of the MKG families. And be on the lookout for the MKG fall club information. Signups will be going out soon. And for the MKG PTA, MKG's first meeting, the PTA first meeting is kicking off Monday the 15th at 5:00 p. am in the
015MKG library. You do not need to be a paid member to join and they encourage everyone to come say hi. Uh the PTA is looking forward to the fund run which is scheduled for Monday, November 3rd, and it will be their largest fundraising event to date. Nichols Middle School principal Tim Mclofflin says, "We are excited for our open house next Thursday, the 18th, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. It'll be great to see all of our Nicholls families at three grade levels." He was also excited to see the soccer teams in cross country and volleyball kick off their seasons in the last few days. Uh we had a high turnout and I was impressed with the soccer matches, both opening wins, and I'm looking forward to getting to watch the cross country and volleyball teams in
016person soon. Overall, I have been very proud of the way our kids and staff has started off the year. High energy, high engagement, and lots of smiles and fist fist bumps in the hallway. The Nicholls PTA, they have an upcoming event at Fiser Pub fundraiser night. Uh join us for a delicious fundraiser on Thursday, September 25th from 4 to 900 PM. Uh, the PTA will receive a 20% donation on all dinein and takeout orders, but you must show the paper or digital flyer. Fischer's Pub is at 360 Wearham Street in Middbor. Um, if you are interested in getting that flyer, I'm sure it will be going out to Nichols Parents, but you can also email nmsabortgmail.com. They also sent me a copy, so feel free to email me and I'll forward it along. So, you
017can have it in your email and show it digitally. Uh, the NMSPTA also has uh sent me some ongoing ways to support their fundraising efforts. They're having a fundraiser that they're calling Write the Check. It's a non-selling fundraiser, just write a check or Venmo to help continue to support the NMS students. That's what my mother asked every student who ever anytime we ever did a fundraiser when I was in school, she said, "Can I just write a check?" So, kudos for putting that one together. Uh, the NMS spiritware store is open all year. Links are available on the PTA Facebook page and in Tiger Times. And again, if you have any questions, you can email. The Nicholls PTA meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 6 PM in the Nichols Media
018Center. So, their next meeting is Tuesday, October 4th. All dates for the year are set and they're on the district calendar. For MHS, Principal Brangan uh sent out that the high school is bringing to close a wonderful two week of welcome activities through our welcome week program. Welcome week comes to an end tomorrow with the Aloha Bash, which is the pre-event before the football game. Um, that's their first home game, uh, which begins at 6:30 p.m. The fine arts program conducted auditions for the production of Hades Town Teen Edition, which will be performed November 21st through the 23rd. I hear the cast list should be posted tomorrow. Um, the SCW and music programs are in full swing for a wonderful year of the arts ahead. Class of 2029 will host their class elections for class
019officers on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. And the fall open house will take place on Wednesday, September 17th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. And athletics is starting off strong with games, practices, and team dinners. There was one update that I missed that I will find uh related to the Mech PTA. And the Mech PTA uh their first meeting is September 25th at 5:30 PTM. The meeting will be at Mech and um this meeting is electing the board for the school year, new board. All four board positions are open. So again, the mech PTA first meeting September 25th at 5:30 p.m. >> Thank you very much. And we'll hand it over to the superintendent's report. Michael, >> thank you. So, um I'm happy to report that the um opening day and first day of school
020was uh absolutely fantastic. I visited four schools um and uh right at the beginning and it I didn't even realize it was the first day of school. It could have been the 90th. Um kids were in their place. There was I didn't see anybody. So, I talked to the principles. Uh, I got chastised for using the Q word. I said it was quiet and they just said no, don't say that. So, even though I'm not supposed to say I have to because it was just absolutely unbelievable how quiet it was. And um, so I emailed all of them to give me some uh, points on uh, what to talk about tonight because I couldn't see much going on there because it was just running as smooth as the middle of the year. Um, and so
021they sent me some bullets. I'm not going to read all of them, but there are four themes that were pretty common. Uh, and one was a the smoothest opening they've had. Uh, two, they talked about their staff levels and that they're either um close or fully staffed at this point. Matter of fact, the Nickels had um and for the new principles, it was a little harder because they got a late start. Nicholls had 15 vacancies on July 5th and they filled all of them. Um the third was and the last two are my favorite. They uh they said they started the year with a focus on building relationships with student and families. And I think that's important. Uh and lastly uh and another very positive was that all of them said that students and staff
022morale is extremely high and I think all four of those are very important and it um again it was a great start uh and I'm happy to report that out um and maybe at some point we'll have the principles here to talk about that a little more. >> Thank you very much. Yeah. Mike or sorry, Mr. Chair, can you >> Yes, please go ahead. >> I just want to uh express um similar uh sentiments that I've heard uh from a lot of different people on whether they're families or staff. Um it seems like the year is off to a strong start. One uh theme that I've kind of pulled from a lot of the emails and conversations have been uh the communication pieces. >> Um a lot of people are very happy with the parent
023square. Um, I know a lot of families at the Nickels have um, given a lot of great feedback and um, I want to thank uh, Director Sicciliano and Terry from the bus company. The uh, using the parent square for text alerts about when the bus's times are going to be if they're going to be a little late has really put a lot of people at ease. Um, so thank you. And I've got some uh anecdotes from families who've had former teachers reach out through it, just checking in on the kiddos on their first day of school in a different classroom. And that's something uh you can't really learn in PD. Um it's just a testament to our staff. Um just how much they really love and care about the development of our kids. So I
024just want to express that to you and if you could disseminate that um I will. That's really great. Thank you. >> You make a good point. I I forgot there was one. It wasn't so much a common theme, and it should have been, but uh Principal Daniels said in one of her bullets and even uh the bus um drop off, everyone was on time on the first day. That does not happen. I've been doing this for 32 years. Transportation is always and it it it's not a fault of anybody. It just happens. But they were um they were on time and in the uh MKG they beat last year by 17 minutes on the first day. So pretty impressive. >> Great, Mr. >> Chair. Uh yes. >> Similarly at Berkeland, I I have heard really
025wonderful things about uh our new principal and the culture that's being set up there and her responsiveness. I've heard um several reports about that. Uh the one area that that I've heard some concerns is about the special ed and I am wondering if at the next meeting maybe you could update us on um the changes and and how that is all being taken care of. >> Yeah, I could do a little more um thorough um update. We did send communication to parents. I sent that to the committee um detailing that, but I can get more into it and we'll have a little more um uh of how we're going to move forward with the situation there. It's all positive. I think it's I think it's a good plan. Uh and uh but I can update
026that. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions for Mike? >> Thank you, Mike. >> Thank you. >> We'll move on to uh subcommittee uh updates. Um policy updates. >> Yeah, let's begin. Um, so we had a policy subcommittee meeting on Monday. Excuse me. Based on uh the uh directive set out at the prior meeting, we wanted to find time before October to meet and that was Monday. Um so we did put together a mission statement, a vision statement and core values as a draft that um I'll plan to present at the next meeting. >> Thank you. Um, and we also looked at the policy goal and we put more more of a a smart goal as Shannon Dur helped us focus on um for the policy update. So, we'll bring that up to the next
027meeting as well. Um, and just wanted to give a quick update as to where we stand. So, the line items on my spreadsheet for the policies is up to 328. Um there may be a few more additions based on the latest MASC policy newsletter. Um my initial review is up to 60%. Um but that's just the first you know that's me reviewing looking at what we have compared to MASC and any discrepancies for us to then proceed with. Um I have gotten through nine of the 12 sections but the three that are remaining are probably the biggest. Uh so I still have to go through the personnel instruction and students. Um but of those that um we have we have done a first read on 12 and a half%. So that's good. will take something.
028Um, and actually all of those have been approved through to uh final and we've got another 15% that are in the review process either um going to district staff with questions because it falls into their department for their feedback before it comes to the subcommittee with the legal review or um items that we're discussing at the subcommittee level. So, just wanted to say we're making progress. Um, and then one other thing to just mention, um, because we did get, um, at least one, uh, parent email related to, uh, cell phone policy, just wanted to, uh, reiterate that the the state has not finalized the the language of what's going to change yet. Um, but we are closely monitoring it. And so, obviously, once we hear what the state uh, regulation is, then we can go
029further from there. But I know that um in speaking with principal Brandan and talking with uh Mike, he knows that they're um the middle school as well, they they are um hyper aware of making sure that they start strong at the beginning of the year with monitoring cell phone usage and adhering to the policies that are already in the handbooks and everybody's just staying in tune for what might happen next. >> Thank you very much. Uh moving on to item eight, uh the consent agenda. Uh mo chair will entertain a motion to approve uh the donations that are in here as presented. >> So moved. >> I have a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion and second. All those in favor? >> I. It's unanimous. >> Um >> what's up? >> Will
030you read them out, please? >> I will read them out. That's just what I was about to say. Donation from uh Korea Korea Fence Company uh for two gates to be installed at Mary Kate. Good elementary school. Donation from CPAC and the drug uh sorry and the Doug Fluy Foundation. My apologies. Uh communication board at Mary K. Good elementary. And donation to Middlebar High School speech and theater workshop from the Lewis family. Uh yes, that is my family. Uh they did this before. Um and so that are those. We'll move on to uh item nine which is informational. Uh I will read these out. There are two fundraisers. Uh Mary Kay Good Elementary School family dance which is October 24th and uh B which is fundraisers for uh Jontine Mickels Middle School Junior Middle School
031PTA. Uh Spirit Wear online store write the check winter carnival which is January 30th and textile bin drive. Um and uh we have a number of uh resignations, retirements, and new hires. And uh I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Motion and second. Those in favor? >> I It's unanimous. Thank you very much. Have a fantastic rest of your evening. >> Zeke, please uh extend thanks to your family.