001process here in our district. That's an example of something that I'll always try to tie in for you what we what I'm taking from this conference and how I'm bringing it back into the district. So, that app is one example. Um, in addition to the keynotes, which I'll talk about in a minute, um, I attended individual sessions and this is where I was able to build my own agenda and self- select into those items. So, a different superintendent would have gone to all different sessions or maybe the same ones. It's all it's all very specific. Um, but I attended ones involving using credibility to stay rooted and reclaim leadership opportunities. That was a presentation presented by another superintendent here in the Commonwealth. These are my favorite style of sessions because it usually involves a superintendent
002presenting an idea that they've already worked on. This largely involved the management of other school leaders. Um, and I think taking the time to learn about the leadership of other leaders is important. Um, and this is one of the places where I can do that. The next item, leading strategically, achieving ambitious goals in challenging times, is put on by a provider and a bookw writer. That leading strategically is actually a text that's been used in the NSET program that I engaged in in others. Um, it encourages us to use live examples from situations in our district, not to breach confidentiality, but to just get an idea of a goal that we're trying to achieve and how we're trying to stay rigorous when there are other distractions, you know, presenting themselves. Um, from there, we did
003I went to the presentation with our new commissioner of education, Pedro Martinez. No, not that Pedro Martinez. Um, who has just started his post here in Massachusetts after being in the Chicago public schools. and it was helpful to just hear his entry plan into the district. He's certainly much like any other new position going to spend a lot of time um listening and learning. He does not know Massachusetts and that I think is um there's an undercurrent within the state that there is a desire to have our leaders be from Massachusetts, but I I don't think it's an insurmountable um obstacle. I did have the opportunity to talk with him one-on-one um and I'm excited to see what he does next. I mean, time will tell. Um, it was a kind of bird's eye view
004style presentation. Um, the next session I went to was called unleashing AI potential. Um, and it was about u building your district's AI working group. Director Siciliano Siciliano and I started an AI group this year. This was presented by the Marshfield Public Schools and it was um definitely my favorite presentation of the entire week. um it gave me very concrete examples of how we can start this very important conversation about artificial intelligence within our school community. I don't think it's something that is universally understood. And so we spent a long time talking about how do we engage with parents about this? How do we engage with our students about this? And then how do we engage with our educators about this knowing that AI is already here and many many students are already using it.
005So um that was that session. Um, the next was putting students first, which was looking at school climate and uncertain times. I was able to go to a presentation again with the Newton superintendent, um, and another veteran superintendent using a platform that they have that looked really fancy, but quite honestly was expensive. Um, and how they're managing data and using actually that was using AI prompts in order to share data out with the public. So, I I mean, it's interesting. I don't know that it's immediately portable for us. Um, we then heard I then went to a session from AASA, that's the uh National Association for School Superintendent basically and it was a federal policy presentation which was really helpful to just get some insight into what's going on with title grants, funding, um, you
006know, executive orders. There's a new administration so there's a lot to discuss quite honestly. And then finally, we had a legal presentation. Uh, Kelly Gonzalez is MASS's attorney who just recently took over for Mike Long. She's been there a long time, but um, they gave a robust update on what's going on in the in the legal landscape in the context of education. So, always a favorite of mine. Um, in terms of the keynotes, there were very obvious uh themes and you know, the uncertainty that we're facing right now with our landscape is one of them. the turbulent climate um you know is really on the tip of everyone's mind really. Um and then the most important part is keeping students at the center of what we do because you cannot control what's happening. Um the
007only thing that you really can do is try to make decisions from a studentbased perspective. So these are important messages. Um the collegial meetings I engaged with involved the old colony roundt that I already am part of and that's a setup meeting for the entire year. what topics do we want to discuss, when are we going to meet, kind of a housekeeping meeting, but an important one all the same. Um, and we're looking at sort of piloting what we're seeing at this conference to bring present. We also hear presenters at those meetings and I encouraged actually I encouraged the group to say there's so much talent within our state. Can we bring presenters to us in a mini version of this on a more regular basis? I personally think I there's a lot to be
008learned from one another and there's many many talented administrators across the state. um that I think would help us do that. The keynote presentation themes, um Leona Tate was on a was on a panel with a Project 351 student as well as Pat Tutweiler. Um really unpacking the history of desegregation of American schools. It was extremely powerful. She's one of the New Orleans four. If you're at home going, "Refresh my memory." Um there were four black students that desegregated this country's schools. Um, many many people know about Ruby Bridges because I think that's a there's a there's kind of a connotation about Ruby and I think she's a very public figure. But there were three other girls who were in a different school altogether. Leona Tate was one of them. Um, definitely the highlight of
009the week, very powerful and again um, reminding us about what we do and and why we choose this vocation. We heard from BD Wong and if you're a law and order fan then you already know who BD Wong is um or if you like the silver actually he's been theater he's been um movies and he and he's been on TV so all the screens um but he came and talked about the intersectionality of identity and its importance for our students as a as a person who's of Asian descent and gay I think it is once again just reminding us how important it is for our children to see themselves in their leaders And I think that's really important in a room full of 275 superintendent, most of whom are white and male. So that was
010that presentation. And then finally, and most of you will know about this because you attended it last year, Tim Shrivever did an entire presentation on the dignity project. And you'll remember how much about this because I liked it so much and I like it even more. In fact, I'm the one who recommended that they bring this forward to the whole state. And I'm sure I wasn't the only one who did. But his whole premise is about reducing contempt in discourse. Um, and I continue to believe that to be an essential goal of school systems and school committees. Um, I have requested more paperwork on this. I think it's kind of an interesting line to tow. Um, but an important one because it's not very important whether or not people disagree. It is very important with
011how they disagree. And while that's important to model for our students, it's also essential for the smooth running of our school system and governmental bodies as well. So that's a recap of what the um MASC I mean the MASS uh conference was. Before I move on to the next item, do you have any questions about the conference? >> Uh through you, Mr. Chair. >> Yes, Jess. Um just wondering the AI session that you went to um did it include discussions about not just how it's used by students but how it's used by teachers as well in all different subjects and administration and or methods not subjects. >> Yes. Um yes it touched it certainly touched on educator use but it was predominantly focused on do you have guidelines? Do you have a policy? So, here
012in Middleboro, we have some verbiage in our handbook about AI. There is no school committee policy. Um, and that's not wrong. This is that new. Um, AI didn't really exist prior to I think I think chat GPT was 2022 or 2023, but you know what I mean. We're not we're not very far. Um, and we're not alone. Most people don't have a policy. So, this is an example with rather than rush to a policy where this is still developing minuteby minute. I think it's really critically important that the district sit down and try to develop some guidelines, engage the public, get feedback from not just the student population, not just the educator population, not just the parent population, but even other colleagues. You can, you know, trial guidelines long before we come to you and
013say we'd like this to be a policy or we think, you know what I mean? The I think the big fear is the minute you put pen to paper and you're and you're specific, now you're locked in. And I and one thing my m one of my major takeaways is AI is actually changing week by week already. >> So before we can do any of those things I think we need to start a very needed conversation. There's a lot of fear around artificial intelligence in both the educator community and the parent and student community. Um and I think there's a lot right now there is no access to it through our school devices and that includes personnel. Okay. So it's locked down. But I don't think that that's the desire. I I don't think that's
014where we want to stay. I think we want to begin this conversation and try to present some education around this topic before um you know before we've we've already hit snags, you know. So, uh that's how I would answer that question. Thank you. Sure. >> Any other questions? >> Okay. With that, I'll move to the next item, which is the update on the Lincoln D. Lynch school roof. And with that, I will call Director of Business and Finance, Michael Peron, and Director of Facilities, Andy Farley, up with me. This is wonderful. And I'm going to scooch over. This is one of the changes this evening. You'll see presenters. >> I was just saying to Zeke, this is wonderful. I am so glad to have you guys up here so I can see you. >> Good
015evening. >> So, we have an update with the U LDL roof. So, let me do a little history because uh back at the May 8th school committee meeting, a vote was taken to accept an award for uh the LDL roof from WPI Construction in the amount of 427 427,000. Um, the bid contained uh one addendum that required biders to include a 20-year annual maintenance program mirroring the uh manufacturer's warranty of 20 years. Um, the main part of it was that it was to be performed by the installer of the roof. So, keep that in mind because that is a keeps coming into play. All biders uh had attested that they would comply with the addendum, thus making them responsive, which is why we brought that to you. Early on, we had some concerns with the
016lowest bidder due to the fact that while they bid an allowable um manufactured product, we were concerned that they wouldn't be able to carry out the maintenance program. Uh so we're trying to add maintenance to some of these projects, long-term maintenance, which will help us in the future. So this again, this the addendum specifically stated that the maintenance program will be performed by the employees of the awarded roofing company. Mr. Farley was more concerned than I was at first and he he sent out at the request of the uh or suggestion of the uh engineer and they said sent sent emails to all three of them asking for um companies that uh they had done this work with uh referrals um and uh some projects that they have worked on over the past or currently.
017Um, two of them immediately sent the stuff back, information that Andy asked for. The one that was the lowest responsive, we struggled with and it took quite some time for Andy to get the information. Uh, and when he did finally get it, they said um that they would be subbing it out to a third-party vendor, which was now nonresponsive. So, just to make that sure that was the case, uh, town manager allowed us to use the town attorney from, uh, KP Law and he determined from the facts that we had given them that WPI construction was nonresponsive. um and again stating that it was because they were not their employees were not going to be doing the annual maintenance over the 20 years. So the next lowest in responsive bidder is Wayne Roofing and the
018cost of their bid was $50,000. So that is an $82,000 uh increase from WPI. But it is important to note that when Andy and I were at the pre-bid um they suggested that we put this addendum in and get the maintenance warrant um maintenance program for the 20 years and I asked how much that would be and they said roughly 75,000 and then I said how much will the total uh project be and they said roughly 500. So the 509 really is close to what we estimated in the beginning. Um just an update on the revenue. The we have 182,000 in the LDL facility rental and that'll be the first monies we use for the 509 project and then the remaining 327 will come from the districtwide facility. So that's kind of the history and
019where we are. Um I think it is a a wise uh expense for the maintenance over 20 years. So, we are recommending that the committee reverse, and I don't know mechanically how this happens, but reverse its previously approved motion from the May 8th meeting, uh, awarding MPI Construction and uh, making a new motion awarding the project and contract with Wayne Roofing Systems LLC in the amount of 509,000. If you have any technical questions, Andy will be happy to answer >> any questions. >> No technical questions. >> All right. Um, then the chair will entertain a motion to first reverse the motion that we made for WPI. >> So move. >> Uh, I have a motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Motion a second. Any discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor?
020>> I. Those opposed, it's unanimous. Uh the second, Can you just uh read out the name? >> Roofing Systems LLC in the amount of 509,000. Chair will entertain a motion to approve uh the Wayne Roofing uh solutions system solutions >> systems LLC um for the total of 509,000 >> as the uh to award the bid. >> Yeah. To award the bid. Yes. To award the bid for uh LDL. >> So moved. I >> have a motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Motion and second. Discussion. Seeing none, all those in favor? >> I. >> Those opposed. It's unanimous. Thank you very much. I >> think you gave you a couple minutes back on your agenda. >> With that with that, I'll turn to my next item. We'll test how loud it is as
021people exit. and I continue going, you'll have to let me know. Uh, the Reeds collaborative sends quarterly updates. I send these to you. Um, in this case, it was not lengthy, but I think one, it's always important to be reminded that we are a member of the Reeds Collaborative housed here in Middbor. We have been for a long period of time. The Reeds Collaborative provides a host of services um, both clinical and educational schooling services for students of all age in our district and others as well. So, this quarterly report includes updates on their strategic plan. Just as we have one, so do they. Um, executive director Dina Maduros and I meet regularly. I also serve as the vice president of the board for the REITs collaborative. Um, the updates on the strategic plan involve
022the use of crisis go, which is an alert system. If you recall, the REITs collaborative serves the DHH population that stands for deaf and heart of hearing. So crisis go involves different styles of alerts so that if you cannot hear an alarm it'll be presented visually and in other media so that you are aware that you have to exit a building. So they engaged you know that update is about how they're equipping their buildings to meet the needs of their their students and their educator population. They also um adopted a no cell phone use policy and the purchase of what are called yonder pouches. So they are um using one of the pieces of advice that the attorney general's office they've given kind of three different lanes. That's the avenue that the Reeds collaborative is
023looking to go. They are focused on the recruitment and retainment of staff. This continues to be a focus of theirs. They are looking to strengthen curriculum and improve um the quality of services provided to their students. I I always like I think it I find it um helpful to know when we're working on similar topics that means that it's not a Middleboro or a Middleboro public school specific issue. It means it's a little bit bigger. >> And then they're also looking at and I always appreciate this out of this collaborative in particular, but providing cost-effective programs and services. They are fully aware that they are a public-f funed collaborative. So if they are priced too expensive and our district and other districts cannot afford their services, they are pricing themselves right out of the market.
024And I appreciate Reeds has had this um practice for a long period of time through its leadership where they're actually mindful about what their services cost and deliberately trying to not create problems not just within their own budget and fiscal systems, but within ours as well. Um much of that update is about the purchase of their new building at 399 Old Colony Road in Norton. if any of you want to go or kind of see I mean it's not open yet but I'm be happy to arrange um a tour and just you know so that you can see just be reminded that this was the solution to um many decades long situation where the DHH programs at the earlier levels were housed in other school districts um they have for many years now been in
025Norton and the Norton needed the space back for their own enrollment so kudos to the executive director they were able to purchase purchase a new building. It did have a small impact as you can read in the report. They did have to dip into one-time funds um because of the extensive nature, but for the collaborative to own property, which is unusual for collaborives, it increases their solveny. Um so this is a decision that was I believe unanimously supported um which you also voted on as a board earlier this year. And then finally, just a reminder that their FY25 annual report and FY25 financial audit has been approved by DEESSE as a collaborative. They fall under many of the same processes and regulations that we do. They are considered a public school system even though they
026their existence is a public collaborative. Any questions about the Reeds quarterly? Okay. So with that, I'll call up our athletic director, Ryan Sylvia, to come and talk with you about not just triple E, but sort of where we've been with this as a community. Um, some of the sources that we consult with and um some of the expectations as we head into the fall season where this has historically presented some concern with us. So, welcome, Mr. Sylvia. Thank you. All right. So, a little bit of background information. I have a few slides. Uh most of this information came right from the um Department of Public Health website, mass.gov. Uh triple E is a rare disease. Um since the virus was identified in Massachusetts in 1938, there's been just over 115 cases that have occurred. So,
027roughly 1.3 per year. The majority of cases typically have been from Bristol, Plymouth, and Norfolk counties. Uh however, in an active year, human cases can occur throughout the state. Over 23 years of testing in Massachusetts uh or testing in Massachusetts shows the majority of human cases occur occur after August 30th. It tends to be like the highly active time of the mosquitoes. And uh Massachusetts Department of Public Health conducts weekly testing from June through October and shares information with the public and town health departments. A town bytown risk map uh is available on the mass.gov website so anybody can look up this information on mass.gov and see exactly which towns have these different risk levels of triple E. Um so I'm just giving that background information because in Middlear um you know it seems to
028always come up where in Plymouth County um there's a lot of standing water, there's rivers and lakes and things like that and so we have uh we tend to have higher risk levels than some of the other neighboring communities. Uh next slide here. So this is just a risk map that I I pulled for July 22nd when I was putting the presentation together a few days ago. Um so as you can see you have remote is in the dark blue, light blue is low risk level, yellow is moderate risk level and then orange is high risk level and red is critical. So as of right now everybody's kind of in the remote or low range um which is good. Um I had a nice conversation with our health agent uh Kayla Smith and have been
029in collaboration with the um the health department and just making sure that we're kind of all on the same page and trying to make the best decisions we can. And so when we start defining these risk levels um you know we're really starting to look at the moderate and high and critical risk levels. I think last year um just a little background we ended up making a decision uh to move some of our evening activities that were occurred between dusk and dawn and because middleboro Lakeville Carver region was kind of teetering on the high to critical range and that's when we made that decision and then something that had I hadn't seen happen in my 15 years doing this is it actually got reduced before the first frost down to a moderate level uh midseason
030and that's when we went back and we were able to have a few uh night or evening events um safely and so you know that's fine. Yep. So planning and guidance um I talked about collaboration with the town and the health department um scheduled spraying of the playing fields and surrounding wooded wooded areas at all five schools. We've we've done that um every year and we'll continue to do that. It hasn't been scheduled yet, but I'm working with Andy Farley to do that. Just making sure that the um Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project has access to the buildings and the grounds. Uh but we're ready to kind of pull the trigger on that any any day now. Um and then insect repellent, having that available in the medical kits and also encouraging families to kind
031of pack it in bags and things like that. Um, and then working with the custodial staff to remove standing water from outdoor areas at the school. Um, and those are the those are the four things. If you look at the the flyer there that they put out, that's what they put out last year uh for the high and critical areas. And so, um, it's those three things along with considering uh rescheduling outdoor activities that happen between dusk and dawn. And so, um, if we actually can go to the next slide, I think that's where we start to have the discussion. Um, so who decides when to cancel and and ultimately it kind of falls on myself and our superintendent and our principles and thing, you know, our school administration. Um, but the Middleboro Health Department's
032going to make recommendations based on information they they get from the Department of Public Health. That's where the town is going to make their recommendations. Um, from my experiments, it's unlikely that the select board and the health department is going to mandate any cancellations um for any public or private entities and and probably for good reason, right? They're not going to put any mandate that the whole town has to shut down because of the mosquitoes. But um but we have to do what we need to do to keep everybody safe. And then the school district obviously is tasked with making that decision. So, how do we handle the Department of Public Health recommendations uh for the various risk levels? Um and we have two major priorities. You know, we want to provide the best experience
033we possibly can, you know, and hosting some evening activities with sporting events. Uh those some of these athletic events are full community events. It's not just a football game. It's um cheerleaders, it's youth cheerleaders, youth football, uh the band, the majorettes, and all the whole student body. I mean, we're talking about, you know, somewhere in the range of 800 to a,000 people, you know, at a home game. Um and then so you know so we we want to provide that experience but at the same time we have to keep everybody safe and so when we decided to put this on the agenda for um July it was because usually when this happens it's like this fast reaction because all of a sudden the health department said oh we're at a high risk we're at crit
034critical uh level of of risk. What do we do? Um, and so I just kind of wanted to present it and so that everybody could hear kind of the, you know, the background. That's how it happens. And and we hope that we don't get into any of those risk levels and we don't have to try to make those difficult decisions. But, um, we're just going to make the best decision we can based on the information. I I think, you know, one thing, the more I thought about it, and we've been through this many years, is there's kind of like four things, right? like we got to remove standing water, we're going to spray for mosquitoes, we're going to wear long clothing, and we're going to have um you and we're going to wear insect repellent,
035you know, if we're going to recommend that people wear insect repellent. And then the last piece is considering moving those games. So, um we can do all those other things to keep us safe without moving the games. And ultimately, families and and students um have a decision to make if they want to participate in those activities, right? like if we're in a higher critical uh risk level. Um but at the same time we have to we you know we want to just make the best decision for everybody that we can. So um discussion questions >> Mr. Chair for you. >> Yes >> through you. I just wanted to add there was one other piece which is that um Mr. Sylvia also is in constant contact with other athletic directors. So oftentimes when you're talking about
036a football or anything, field hockey game, whatever game, um there's another town that we have to take into consideration and how they feel even if our risk is the same or if our risk is at different levels. So I will say that's just another piece that even last year when we made that difficult decision, it still wasn't done in a vacuum. If you were if you recall, there were other areas that joined Middle Burough um because we all felt we we were forced into a situation where we had to prioritize health and safety of our community. So with that, I mean any other questions? I just wanted to clarify that part. >> Any other questions? Thank you so much for your presentation. >> Thanks. What I can tell you about that is you can expect
037to get updates about triple E in the uh Friday flash. So, you know, keep an eye out. Certainly, if anything is more urgent, I wouldn't wait for a flash. I would notify you right away. Um, but we thought it would be helpful to have a proactive conversation this year and I'd like to keep it on the July conversation for every July. Um, it just feels like the right thing, the right way rather than to be reactive, to be proactive. >> Yes. Is there anyone else out there who would have a question on the presentation at all? I forgot to ask. All right. Thank you very much. With that, I would like to call Principal Tracy Lord forward to talk about the Memorial Early Childhood Center um and a changing logo at our school. While she
038is getting set up, I will just point out that our Memorial Early Childhood Center houses both our prek program and also our kindergarten grade level. And what makes mech unusual is that all of the kindergarteners go on to elementary school after one year time. This can make um decisions on something like a logo very difficult because you don't have unless it's a prek family who's multiple years in our program and there are certainly some families that fall into that category. you don't always have the same well of families that you would in a three, four or fiveyear school where families, you know, really do have many years together. So with that, welcome Principal Lord and I will if you want I'll slide for you or Yeah, go ahead. >> Thank you, Superintendent Lions and school
039committee. >> Oops. Sorry. >> No, it's okay. Now I'll stop touching. It's okay. Okay. So, our current Mech logo has um some sayings on it. Be honest, be caring, be respectful, be a bucket filler. So, the bucket fillers started around maybe 2013,4. Um it was something that we were doing at the time. It's kind of an abstract concept for kids to be filling an invisible bucket. Um the idea is that by doing kind things that you are filling someone's bucket and then in turn filling your own. Um but this logo actually does not have the name of our school anywhere on it. It does have MECC but then underneath it has making every child count. Um so there's been questions like from people outside of the district. If I looked at this I wouldn't know
040what it is actually representing. And then the image is a little bit confusing. Um, we've heard from kids thinking that it looks like a trampoline. Um, kids jumping on a trampoline. It's supposed to be a bucket. So, um, this, as Superintendent Lions said, has kind of been in discussion for the last couple of years, um, through our PBIS team, leadership meetings, um, school council, and so I sent out a staff survey um, to all our staff just asking some questions. So the first one was if they liked our current logo and if they felt that it accurately represents our school and our population. And 90% of our staff um said they did not like it and that it did not accurately represent our school. So, um, the change, why we're looking for the change, we're
041looking for something that our youngest learners can identify a little bit more with, something that represents our core values and clearly represents our school. So, this is an example of some of the posters that are around our school. These are in all common areas. There's posters in the classroom, cafeteria, hallway, bathrooms, and on all of the posters we have our motto, which is be safe, be kind, be ready. And so from that, our discussion came of maybe we should do a be um because we're constantly saying, and this is something that I say in morning announcements, too. Remember to be safe, be kind, be ready. Um so again going back to the survey um 100% of our staff members said that they feel this motto should be on our new logo and um 75% of
042our staff said that they have already incorporated this into their classrooms in some way. So why bees? Um there are other reasons other than they're just cute looking. Um some of the things they represent. So bees represent community and teamwork. Each bee works hard to make the hive a success while looking out for one another. Uh growth and transformation that they go through. They have a complex life cycle and as they grow and change, so do their roles. Um so just like preschoolers and kindergarteners, they come in, this is their first experience with school. They're learning so much right away and going through lots of changes throughout the year. Um and then hard work and perseverance. um that we try to instill in them. Um just like bees do, they travel long distances for nectar,
043pollen, work tirelessly and dedicate themselves to the whole colony. Um we try to promote teamwork in the classrooms and um really looking out for one another and and trying your best. So with that um this is the design that director Sicciliano um and I have worked on together. So this clearly states our school name at the top and then our motto at the bottom be safe, be kind, be ready with a B in the middle and then our acronym of MECC. So this is what we would like to adopt as our new mech level. >> Very nicely done. >> Thank you. >> How often do you get 100% people agree >> in any survey? Right. >> Any any questions or Mr. Chair? >> So as many of you know, Principal Lord was um our one
044of our kindergarten teachers, Mrs. Lord and has been part of the effort. This mech logo discussion has been on the table. I know PTA has been part of that conversation for the last couple of years and it was really important that Principal Lord as one of her first acts really kind of take the be by both antenna and put this change to paper. I actually heard Treasure Gonzalez talking with her PTA president was saying we're going to use this logo so it'll be available on the spirit store. And so now there's one uniform logo and I know that was a concern of PTA as well as the mech administration and staff. Um, and I just wanted to commend Principal Lord because it is not only totally adorable but uh I think fits very nicely with
045the work going on and I think that's what anchors a powerful logo to a school community is does it actually have meaning for them and and I think it does especially with 100% on a survey. >> Right. Right. >> Through you Mr. Chair. >> Yes. just >> um I think it's adorable also. Um I also think it >> um >> is clean and clear. I think it will replicate well. I think it will be great on t-shirts and apparel and um I think it will be a wonderful uh kind of first view of promoting all of the um the foundational concepts that you guys really uh promote within the school. So I thank you for continuing this effort through all your different roles at Mech. And um also just want to take a quick moment
046to uh officially welcome you in as the um new permanent uh principal at Max. So thank you for having this be your your first >> uh major motion before the school committee. >> Um so it's not necessarily in our um action items to vote on this. I don't see it in our action items to vote on it. No, Mr. Chair, I don't believe that you have to vote for it. We thought it was important to bring it to you. I know Director Siciliano and Principal Lord are working on kind of a more PR formal roll out of the logo. We just didn't want to take that step without um bringing it to you. And now keep an eye out. You're you'll start to see PR on this very item. And I have a feeling I
047know what I'm going to be for Halloween this year. So, we all >> So, I know we don't have to vote, but may I make a motion that we as a school committee uh publicly endorse the new logo and support it? >> A motion and a second. >> Second. >> Uh uh discussion. I think it's a great idea. I think it's amazing and I think I think all of us uh do support it. So, all those in favor? >> I I >> it's unanimous. >> Thank you so much. Have a great night. Thank you, Principal Lord. And so that brings us to my final item of the evening, which is an update on the exit survey task force. I just wanted to thank um both Sue and Jess for your time with this committee. You've
048been responsive and available for meetings. We had our last meeting on July 8th with our MEA presidents. Um we had it was important for the task force to make sure we consulted with MEA. we've kind of talked about them a lot, not really them specifically, but about this action and everybody um you really unanimously felt like it was important to bring that to them and get their um opinions and thoughts on that. Um and I would say that we had a healthy robust conversation. We talked about public records and whether or not these would become public records, the anonymity of the documents, would names be on the documents. We had some discussion around that. We also just discussed about a little more about the interest of MEA members in participation in general with something like
049this. Um the MEA presidents said they would vet this concept, both concepts, the exit survey and then also an employee satisfaction survey because the task force also talked about the need to be engaging with membership not just at the time that they're exiting but in general about their satisfaction here working here in the district. and they said they'd be vetting that. Um there is a you know a MEA union meeting at one of our at our opening day and so I believe Sue you were going to provide some input for MEA to share. I mean you have until the end of August there's time to to collect that together. Um but I do believe that to be the next steps to really receive feedback from the MEA membership. In the meantime, I'll be sending a
050message after tonight's meeting with um the town HR, the town manager, our MPS technology director, Siciliano, to just discuss deployment of our our pilot process for the fall of 25 to try this. Hey, what does this look like? How do we set this up? What type of response rate are we getting? All those logistics need to be in place. Um so, we'll be working on that. That'll be the next meeting to be scheduled. I anticipate that there will be a next update on this item in September um this year just to allow the group to meet again. I anticipate we'll meet in August and then have something to report out. Um with that, any questions on this item? >> Any other questions? All right. >> And that completes my report for this evening. >> Thank
051you. >> We'll move on to item five, which is subcommittee updates. I will hand it over to the chairman of the subcommittee. >> Thank you. Um so the first item for the um policy subcommittee is going through the second reads on the policies that we announced first reads of at the last meeting. Um the second read um of a policy gives us the opportunity to have any discussion about any feedback you have after being able to review it from the announcement of the first read. um it doesn't actually mean we have to read aloud the entire policy at the meeting. Um so you know there's a lot of them on the list here. So just to kind of note that part of the process isn't actually reading everything aloud. Um but the first policy that
052uh we will discuss if there are any points of discussion is policy GBA which is the staff ethics and conflict of interest. So um there were some minor changes in just in terms of updating language to modernize it. Um and then there was a significant paragraph that was added at the um based on the MESC model policy that was very specifically uh just incorporating into our policy the current state requirement to do the state ethics online training every two years which we are all informed of um when we take office anyway. Um so it's not new information. It's just uh helpful to reinforce it in our um our ethics policy that we need to take regular ethics training. Um so with that being said um I will open up for any questions or items of
053discussion for this policy. >> Questions and discussion for GBEA. >> Does doesn't appear to be any. >> All right. Moving on to the second policy. So the second policy is a combo. So it's JJH. JJH is our student late night or overnight travel policy and then IOJ which is our field trip policy. So these were brought up because there were some um there was a lot of discussion and and confusion around the process of bringing a field trip to the school committee. Um when does a field trip need to be approved by the school committee versus when is it something that is kind of like entirely in building uh process. So both of these policies, we compared the current MPS policy, the current MASC policy, mushed them together, and made something that's very Middleboro specific
054because we felt based on feedback from the district that it was important. Um so the most important part about the late night or overnight travel is to reinforce that anything that has planned late night which is between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. or no overnight travel has to have approval of the school committee that is based on state law. There is no uh notation in the state law and that this was confirmed with our attorneys that this has to include anything related to outofstate travel. This was important for us because we do have a lot of field trips to the Roger Williams Park Zoo which is probably closer for many of us to get to in Middbor than it is to try to get to Axbridge and go to Southwick because it's like so far
055off the highway it takes forever to get there. Um, so there is nothing in the law specific to out of state. Um, I think the assumption is most of the time if you go out of state, it requires late night or overnight and not so when you live so close to the smallest state. Um so we were able to clarify that in the policy that anything with planned late night or overnight travel has to come to the school committee. Um we do need the um preparations for that trip to be presented for us in order for us to make those consideration and that it does require approval no less than 30 days prior to that scheduled trip. Um, and then there's just the the consistent uh statements about you can't solicit privately run trips um
056through the school district. Um, we only consider approval of school sanctioned trips and things like that. So that's policy JJH. it had less um in it, but it does incorporate the clarification of what we need. And also noting that um referencing our change that was already approved at a previous meeting about the potential for um a time-sensitive approval if there is a field trip that has planned or late night travel. Um especially if it's something related to like a a competition or something that's going to run on the other side of the state later in the night. Um, and it's something that we don't know about until you get to that that phase of a process that there is still that ability for a time-sensitive approval if necessary due to the gap between school committee
057meetings. Uh, policy for field trips. Um so this was um discussed and reviewed and we felt that it would be helpful in the policy to clarify the different types of field trips and therefore have it more clear which types of field trips require certain types of approvals. So an academic field trip is just something where you leave the campus but it's part of the curriculum and it's during the day. There's no out of state, there's no late night. Um, and it is something where an entire class is expected to participate and it has to be accessible to all students in that class to attend. Um, so it's an instructional experience. Um, because there's no overnight travel or no planned travel between 12:00 a.m. and 6 p.m., these academic field trips can be approved by a
058principal. co-curricular field trips or off-campus field trips, but they're not part of a class. So, it's not the the class going to the science museum to watch a presentation on something they've been learning about in class. This is the um student council going on a trip or um a um after school club, the key club, deciding to organize to go to an event or something like that. So, these are during the daytime, but they also still don't require an overnight. They can be instate or out of state. These are optional because they're part of clubs participating in voluntary. Um, but there still needs to be uh educational benefit consistent with what that group is about. These also require approval by the principal. No overnight travel, no planned travel between uh 12:00 a.m. and 6 a.m.
059Then we get to an overnight field trip in state or out of state because out of state or uh overnight, those require principal, superintendent, and school committee approval. And there is still um if it's going to be overnight, they still have to not plan travel between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. as part of that trip. And then we have our fantastic international trips um which obviously require overnight stays and they are not in the uh uh the same country and this requires a proposal three months in advance. Um, in order to have that proposal, it has to be approved by the department head, the principal and the superintendent and then it can come to the school committee and we have to do we have to approve before it's announced to families or and students. So,
060just like been happening all along with our um our recent trip by the foreign language department. The last item are athletic travel. Athletic travel has its own approval process through all of the the forms that you have to fill out when your uh student is part of an Mia team. So, uh this basically just says that the athletic travel has to adhere to our late night and overnight policy, but additional approvals are not necessary as that's all captured already by all of the protocols under the athletic department. Um, so that is just kind of clarifying everything and you know if a history class wants to go to the Middleboro history museum as a field trip within the class, they can work through that through the principal. But if they want to um go on an
061overnight stay at the science museum and sleep over at the science museum, got to come to us first. So any questions on that? pretty thorough explanation. So, thank you. >> Well, I thank the the subcommittee for working um on this one with us to make sure that we could make sure it was clear and that um this can now go back to the principles as they're working on their different field trip uh forms for filling things out. so they can make sure all the right approvals based on the type of field trip it is and hopefully streamline that process for them and encourage these types of um additional educational opportunities for our students. All right, next is KCD and KCDA. So KCD is the policy on public gifts to schools. Um KCDA is a policy
062that was called gifts and contributions in our current uh policy manual. So KCDA has been removed from the MPS or MASC model policy handbook. Um, so we reviewed both the old policies and the new and what we as a subcommittee decided is that in general updating KCD to match MASC made sense because it's following Massachusetts state laws and guidelines, but we did still feel that there were items in KCDA that were worthwhile to retain. So we have incorporated them into KCD. So what we are proposing is a more robust KCD policy and then removing KCDA because it will be redundant because it's all combined into one. So the big changes with KCD is um the MC language updates are really just cleaning up language to make it easier to understand. Um the items that we
063felt from KCDA we wanted to include is just some criteria about what um type of gift is appropriate to be accepted um by the district. So the types of gifts, you know, basically there's can't be strings attached. Uh they have to be um consistent with the goals of our school district. Um the donor themselves have to be um acceptable to the school committee. um there's no hidden costs related to the acceptance of the gift and it's not in conflict of the law or our policy. So those were the changes we thought were the clarifications we thought were important to incorporate to make um it more clear what type of gifts are appropriate. Any questions on KCD or the removal of KCDA? All right. KHA is uh public solicitations in the school. This one um just
064re needed minor updates. Um in general um anywhere that it said parents, we've updated to parents guardians. Anywhere it said school system, we've updated it to say school district. Those kinds of small changes. Um there was a recommendation to change uh previously we had a distinction between what grade levels could have direct solicitation um without superintendent permission versus where you couldn't have any and we basically just said you can't do any direct solicitation of students or employees without the school committee approval. Um so that's the the more significant change there is we want to know before everybody gets solicited. So, any questions on that? Okay. So, um I would like to make a motion to um approve policies GBA, JJH, IOJA, KCD, and KHA to move on to a third read at which point we
065will be able to make any we are still able to make any adjustments, but ideally hopefully we're moving into vote to approve the policy. If there's anything that comes up last minute, we can make amendments and still vote to approve it at that time. So, I make a motion. >> So, there is a motion on the table to approve the policies GBA, JJ H, OJ, AA, KCDA, and KC KCD. >> KC, not KCDA. Just approve KCD. >> Approve KCD >> and Kha and KHA. >> Uh, do I have a second? >> Second. >> There's a motion, a second. Um, all those in favor actually discussion at all on any of these pieces. All right. All those in favor? >> I I >> those opposed. It's unanimous. >> All right. So, I would also like to
066make a motion to remove KCDA from our policy, but to do so contingent upon the approval of KCD, so we don't remove it before we have it incorporated in the new one. So motion to um move KCDA along for removal contingent upon the approval of KCD. >> There is a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion and second. Uh discussion. Those in favor I >> I. >> Those opposed. It's unanimous. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Okay. So the next items uh fall under the category of um policy um first reads. So we have kind of separated our first reads into significant changes and first reads with minor changes. Um and um before we get to them, anything to be a minor change is primarily grammatical formatting. Those changes that I mentioned
067with changing district to system, parents to parents and guardians. I do highlight them all in the, you know, the strike through and the yellow highlights when they're provided to you. If at any point when I put something under a minor change and you say that's more significant, please uh feel free to say you or to make a motion to move it into the other bucket and then we can move along a different path. Um but in the interest of expediting this process because there are 324 policies that we need to review and discuss. Um the hope is that anything with a minor policy, we can make a motion to forego the three reads process, make those minor updates and move them along. But again, if at any point there's a single policy or multiple of
068that listing that we want to move through, we can make adjustments. Um, anything with significant changes or related to uh major discussion items in the district, we're going to try to put into that other bucket item, which is a first read with more significant changes where um what we are doing is we are noting the um the announcement that policy BEDH for public comment will uh be proposed for a second read at the next meeting. So that is >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes. >> Uh I'd like to make a motion to table this first read. >> There's a motion to table the first read. I will second for discussion. >> Second. >> Well, I thought I already had second. Yeah, I had seconded. Sorry. Sorry. I beat you to the punch. >> I apologize. Um
069we will now go into discussion for uh tableabling. Um >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes. Um, so the question being why? Uh, and before I get into the depth of the why, uh, I first really want to thank Jess for the work that she's done on these policies. Uh, as she said, whatever the number is, it's a very large number. Uh, and the work that she's done in the research uh, and um, putting things together for the subcommittee to review. Uh, I I sincerely thank you. So, uh, I wanted to say that first. And then secondly, I also want to thank people that came forward and and gave input on this particular one uh for our consideration and and that is what we want to hear uh is uh your respectful uh input when possible. Uh
070so why am I asking for this to be tabled at this moment? We really only began talking about making changes in this way to this when we were doing our our um school committee uh evaluation. and our mask representative when we started talking about our meeting um began talking to us about uh open law and its its implications for how we run our meeting, what uh what the best practices were and made some really strong recommendations around how this should be changed. Um as a result of that, that was only last Thursday, uh I believe I may have my days wrong. Um, as a result of that, we wanted to get this process, if we were going to look at this, because of the first, second, third read, which again, I commend Jess for wanting
071to get us through this as efficiently as possible. Um, wanted to get it on the agenda. We had, we called a meeting for that Tuesday to begin to look at it. And again, our mask representative came to that meeting and he uh provided us with more information around the nuances of of the open um open law, where it applied, where we might be at risk, those kinds of things. He also uh strongly gave us recommendations around what the mask uh best practices were, which are important to consider. Um I do think that and then you know how we had some this was I believe a 45 minute meeting 45 to 50 minute meeting um and we had some conversations about how that might work in middlear and with you know how how that was going
072to happen. Um uh I at the time felt like I really wanted more time to think about all of that and I think um anyone that attend anyone that has attended this evening um we can see that this is a very complex issue and it's a complex issue for a variety of whether no matter what side of this issue you're on or this conversation that you're on it's complex and why is it complex? We have a variety of factors that we need to take into consideration. one, it's always absolute that we must follow the law. uh that my opinion uh secondly uh I think that it's very we need to balance the need and I'm talking about our need to hear from the community around topics um what how that conversation should take place um
073with protecting the time for us to talk with one another about these topics and do what people have elected us to do talk with one another, listen to the input and then make a decision. Uh thirdly, um we need to I believe take into consideration the town and the community that we live in and what the culture for governance is here. I I I've done some and what other towns are doing that are in similar circumstances. Uh I have reached out and and talked with some other boards about how they operate and why. Um, and I've gained some and I've started looking on the website and about how other towns are grappling and many are are grappling with this and I've really walked away with the idea that I think that the subcommittee needs to
074come back together and really think about both the input that we've gotten here also information that I've gathered from other places and I know that others have started doing that. um and really think thoughtfully and I know I'm we all are trying to do this. I am not saying that anyone is not trying to do this but I believe we need more time and I think the subcommittee to bring these documents together see if we can you know plow through that a little bit more um and come together in a consensus uh around this um for a first read that then goes through the steps that uh this policy should go through um before it's approved and that's the reason why I'm asking to table it to refer it back to subcommittee. >> Thank you.
075Any other comments? >> Yes, >> please. >> Through you, Mr. Chair. Um, so I I absolutely respect your stance on this, Sue. Um, and agree that the subcommittee has more to talk about. Um my reason for at the subcommittee meeting for voting to bring this forward for a first read is um the second read doesn't necessarily have to happen at the next meeting. Um but by posting it as a first read, we are um allowing the full committee to engage with the draft of the policy and start to think about it and prepare for it. And I did feel that because we all knew updating this policy was something we had to do very carefully. Um and I thought it would be important for the discussion to include the full the full school committee. Um
076and to allow that to start to occur um rather than start to occur sooner rather than um having all of those discussions. um more at the subcommittee level because of the impact that this policy has on our processes as a full committee. So that was my reasoning. Um I do think that um you'll actually see if you haven't seen it yet in your email, I've thrown out some dates or a date to to potentially gather the subcommittee next week. Um, but I did just want to uh begin the process of engaging the full uh school committee on the process and that's why I wanted it to be on the agenda for a first read. So um I think we have the same goal of having continued conversation and looking into everything further. Um just a
077little different way of potentially going about it. >> Agreed. >> Any other uh questions or comments on this matter? I'd just like to second most of what Sue said. >> All right. >> Um, for me, I mean, I I did have some concerns as I was reading through it and obviously, you know, the public had quite a few concerns as well. um was very very apparent in reading through some of the comments online that after reading through the policy myself I I think maybe it was kind of misconstrued of what the public's expectation was in this policy that was written versus what you know is eventually going to be flown be put out in you know out in the open. So, for me, I mean, there's a couple things that I would like to see
078changed and just kind of have some input on that um before we do put it out because again, just thinking back to the town that we live in, the community, what the expectation has been for such a long period of time to suddenly change the way we run and operate things. Um, you know, it it's a tough thing to to throw out there. So, um I do appreciate Sue wanting to kind of just kind of stop this for a moment and just take a minute to kind of really think about this and um get the input of of everybody. >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes. >> Um through you to just if I may ask a question. >> Yes, absolutely. Um so in the subcommittee uh is it are we can we ask for input to
079be given by the other committee members to the subcommittee as we're trying to bring something forward. in terms of um effective processing. Uh if we process all of it at a full meeting, meaning okay, I'm going to bring you all of the stuff that I've I've looked up and everybody's going to do all of those things where maybe we could in the subcommittee we could, you know, condense and summarize and do all of that that we that we then bring something forward. Um could we also allow the other committee members to give their input their thoughts that we can consider in that? >> Um they can I believe the expectation is that um they can share their thoughts to me as as chair and I can present them at the subcommittee meeting but we can't
080have all of the members discussing at the subcommittee meeting. Um, so, you know, that's another reason to put it out there >> for the first read is so everybody gets a chance to start looking at it sooner rather than later. Um, and you know that was really my intent behind the subcommittee meeting happening after it was announced is so now people can have a chance to share their feedback and we can uh regroup um between first read and second read and and make some um have some discussions based on the feedback that we received. >> Yeah. Um, >> but it's already out there. So, they've already seen Yeah. And and it may be that it will be a very different looking policy when it comes back. So, that's >> to to me after we get
081all of that information and maybe we'll affirm what we've got there. But it might be a very different >> policy that it feels like it would be the real first, you know, a second read might, you know, kind of tinker here and there, but a real first read with all of the information that I think we should have deliberated on before this one was published is what is >> understood. >> Okay. So, >> Mr. Chair, through you. >> Yes. >> Um, so I agree with Shannon. I do think there are substantial changes that need to be made before really a first read should take place. Uh if we table it that would give the subcommittee a chance to get the feedback and change it as needed. >> Um is there any more comments or discussion
082on this matter? Um then I would just remind everyone that you know on this particular vote uh to table that um there would no be there would not be a a formal second read soliciting the the input um as a as a discussion in public. You would have to go through the chairman of the of or chairwoman of the uh policy subcommittee to give your input on that matter. But we wouldn't be able to discuss and deliberate until a second read. So we understand that. Okay. Um then with that understanding I will call call it to a vote. I think um for the because of its importance um and for uh uh the minutes I would appreciate if this was a real call vote if that's okay with everyone. Um so um Shannon if you
083would like to begin. >> Yay or nay? >> Yep. A sorry. Uh or is that yay to to table? Yay, please. Yay. >> Um and so I'm going to just give a a quick statement before my vote. Um because of all of the feedback we have received today um and the interest of working um as a unanimous board on certain things of such importance. I will also v vote yay to table and to uh bring it back to subcommittee before we bring it back for a first read. >> Yay. Yay. >> Chair votes yay. Uh, this has been tabled. >> Thank you, Sue, for your thoughtful motion. >> All right. Um, the first read of BE D H E is um I believe um miscatategorized on this. Um, let me just double check myself. Um,
084P E P E P E P E P E P E P E P E P E P E P E D H E No, that one's removing. So, it'll go hand in hand with this one because it's another smoosh them together kind of thing. So, um, just to note, those go hand in hand. So, that'll go along for the ride. >> All right. So, all of the policies for the first reads uh with minor changes. Um before I list all of them, um just in the interest of time, did anybody have any concerns with any of those policies um as presented with the minor changes? >> Uh Mr. Chair, >> yes, please. >> Um given the conversations that we've been having, I would like to take a little deeper look at school committee operational
085goals. Um and um >> BA policy BA. >> Yep. Okay. And so I'm not so sure that I would consider it. I I I would like for the maybe the subcommittee to take a look at it because I have some thoughts about >> Okay. May I ask just quickly because the policy uh BA as it exists is um let me just >> I have it in front of me. >> Not misstate. Um so again the the changes that we proposed were were very minor. So the the um my question for you is since it has not been updated since 2014, would you be amendable to moving it through with the minor updates so that it has at least been touched more recently and bringing it back to subcommittee for another round of discussion? or would
086you rather not update it at all until we get another full chance to review? >> How long do you be think before we would get a chance to full review? >> Um, I would be happy to put it because it connects to everything we're doing right now. I would be happy to put it on the agenda for the um next appropriate subcommittee meeting. Uh, because I think at the next one it's going to be all about beedh. But when we can then reather, I'd be happy to incorporate this into the discussion of whatever is in the next bucket. >> Operationally, what will that mean? So, we would a month would change it and then a month later change it again. >> I think it's going to be a lot more than a month with everything
087that we're potentially going to be discussing. I mean, ideally, we'll be moving along other policies in the meantime, but um it's it's just a thought. Do we do we care if it's updated before it's revised? If you don't, then I will remove it from the first reads bucket. >> And Mr. Chair, may I ask a general question? Anybody else have weigh in on this? >> Uh, if I may, I mean, I I'm not sure there was I didn't really see anything that stood out that was really glaring in there. I mean, as far as the changes that were made. Um what? So um just to clarify in terms of our goals, uh there is nothing in there about our community outreach. Um, and uh, I was quickly looking through this again and I was thinking,
088you know, we really should be talking more generally about what our as a policy what are, you know, when you start talking about goals, that's that's not just changing a word here or there, but really reviewing what are our goals as a a committee. Um, I'd like to think a little bit more deeply about it, I think, is why I was >> Sorry, just if you don't mind. Um, so I I hear what you're saying and I know one of the things we talked about at the meeting last week was clarifying our operating protocols um and having that be a goal of the policy subcommittee as well because we have that document and one of our goals um that we discussed developing after our evaluation was revamping the operational protocols. So in my mind, one
089of the things that we have to do before we can then go back and have a deeper discussion about this specific policy is have those protocol discussions so that we can be very clear on what we think of our policies versus uh codified operational protocols. So, with that discussion still needing to happen, I guess that's one of the things that might need to be um brought up before we could potentially bring this policy back for greater discussion. But if you don't think the changes are significant and the committee thinks that as it is, it's fine, I'm happy to to take it out of the bucket of minor changes. Yeah, I in my way of thinking about things, you talk about goals and then you talk about the protocols to achieve those goals. So, we should
090do the goals first and then so I would like to take it out and have a conversation. Thank you. >> All right. any other policies there that people feel should be um removed from the minor changes bucket. >> I didn't see anything. >> Okay. So then I am going to make a motion. >> Can I just ask I didn't look at it. I apologize again. Uh BEB agenda format. Is there an actual Did I miss this? Is there an actual format for the agenda in here? >> Um, so BE DB for the agenda format. It is on a combined document. Um, BE DB for agenda format. Hold on, I'm scrolling. Um, pretty much just states will have one and how something gets on the agenda. Um it does include as our policy that there will
091be time for uh folks who wish to speak before the committee. Um that the agenda will be distributed and how it's posted and made available. It isn't um there isn't like a sample >> there is that's a separate policy that is more uh I think it's beedb which I have not put on the agenda because >> then I'm good. >> That's one that needs more discussion. So Good. >> Yeah, this is the general outline for and we're going to have one and it's going to have at least these basic things on it, but a structured format is is a different one. >> Thank you. >> Um, okay. So, with that being said, I am going to make a motion to uh forego the three reads process on these policies that I will list momentarily. and
092to approve them as is with the minor updates that have been documented and presented to all of you. So those policies are for the record BAA the evaluation of school committee operational procedures. BCA school committee member ethics, BDD, school committee superintendent relationship. BDE super uh subcommittees of the school committee. BDF advisory committees to the school committee. BEC executive sessions. BEA notification of school committee meetings. BE DB the agenda format. BE DD the rules of order. BEDF voting method. BE special procedures for conducting hearings. BGB policy adoption. BGC policy revision and review. BGD school committee review of procedures. BGE policy dissemination. BHC school committee staff communications. BH use of electronic messaging by school committee members. BIA new school committee member orientation. BIBA school committee conferences, conventions, and workshops. >> Second. >> A motion and a second.
093Any further discussion? >> All those in favor say I. I. >> I. Those opposed. >> It's unanimous. >> Thank you. All right. So, the last bucket. Um, these policies have been compared against MEC model policies and there are no changes necessary between what we already have in our policy manual and what is um posted or recommended by MASC and and legal review. Um, so with these they do not have to go through a three-read process because they aren't changing. Um, but I thought it was appropriate to bring them to this the full committee because I would like the full committee's endorsement of updating them as having been reviewed as of July 2025 so that our manual can get updated and show that we've reviewed these and as a committee we continue to endorse them as
094our policies. Um, so this is not a first read, second read, third read. This is just a motion to approve updating the last reviewed date on the following policies. Aa, school district legal status. AB the people and their school district. AE commitment to accomplishment. BE school committee meetings. BGF suspension of policies. FA facilities development goals. KLG relations with police authorities. KLK, relations with local governmental authorities, LA, Education Agency relations goals. >> Uh there is a motion to approve the policies from A to I under the policies reviewed with no changes. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Uh there's a motion, a second. Uh any further discussion? Who wants one? Um I keep I didn't get to look at these. Um, and so I'm wondering how much havoc it's going to cost you if uh
095I ask the table this to to to take the vote at the next meeting because I really look voting for something that I've not this was a lot of material. Um, and voting on something that I really truly have not looked at. >> Understood. >> Um, cause me causes me consternation. Uh, so I would have to abstain. Um or if we could table it, I would like to do that. >> Oh, so are you looking to make a secondary motion within this motion? >> Yes. To table to table to um the vote for the next meeting. So we have time to review. >> I don't believe I don't know if it's a secondary motion or if it's an amendment to the motion, but either in either case, I think we all >> new motion on
096the table. >> Yeah, exactly. A new motion. Um so there's a motion on the motion on the table to table. Uh, is there a second? >> I will second that. >> A motion and a second. Um, any further discussion on this matter? All those in favor? I >> I. Those opposed, it's unanimous. Thank you very much. >> Um, so just to in the goal of us as a committee reviewing these policies. I do expect there to be a number of these that I'm hoping to dole out as we go through the meetings. Um, I can't tell you how many there will be, but hopefully as we get through them, they'll get um easier for us to do. Um, but what I will try to do then in order to give more time for review is
097um rather than waiting for the um the shared Google Drive with the agenda and everything that we normally get in the packet. Um, I will start creating the folder for the policies at each specific meeting. Um, and just notify you when they're available to start reviewing so we can just try to give you more time to review. >> Um, and you know, I might put some in and then send you a message a few days later that there's some more in there. Um, but if that will help everybody have a little more time to to read them, I would be happy to to start doing them out incrementally rather than saving them all for one >> uh one big share before the meeting. >> Thank you. >> Okay, >> thank you all. Very helpful and
098I appreciate your uh continuing to help move this process along and facilitate. Um, and just a reminder, if at any point, um, you have concerns with any of the policies as they're presented, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly. Um, and, you know, anything that we do want to um, have a discussion on, I'd be happy to have a discussion on and and adjust which bucket things fall in appropriately. So, um, you know, Sue, if you have others that you you'd look at. Okay. >> Um, you know, we can we can shift them before they get on the agenda and and move them to a different bucket. Um, because the the goal is not to >> push anything through. >> No, I know. >> The goal is to just get the policies done
099at some point >> before another decade has passed. >> Uh, all right. Well, thank you very much, Jess. Um, and thank you for all the work that you continue to do. um you go above and beyond every single time. So, thank you. Um we'll move to the uh consent agenda, which is item uh number 6A, the meeting minutes of June 11th and June 26th. Um before we take a vote on this, I I have been hearing um that the and sorry to surprise you on this. So, I do have a question for you, our lovely superintendent. Um I I've been hearing that the minutes have not been posted, but I'm uh uh >> for the school. Yeah, for the school committee and where they're where are they generally posted? Where would they be posted? >>
100They're not posted as we receive them on our website. >> Those are up. >> If they're not posted, it's because we haven't received them from Christine. >> Understood. >> Um, and sometimes there's just a delay depending on if she was in person or watching after. >> Through you, Mr. Chair. I think the question relates potentially more to subcommittee meetings and where the minutes of those subcommittee meetings are housed. And I think that's >> potentially an operating protocol process that we need to just hash out. I heard. Yeah, I heard. You know, I was just getting a couple things. I wanted to bring it up because that's the stuff that I've been hearing. No surprise. I didn't didn't want any surprises. >> As Zeke and Sue know because they're on the subcommittee with we, you know,
101committee meeting. Um I do send out minutes and we do review them and that kind of thing. So, I think it's just a a logistics of us not knowing where they should go so that they are accessible. So, I think that's just a a process issue that under our operating protocols we should probably clarify. Are there any other questions? >> Uh you uh some of the questions I got this week was they're on our website but not the town clerk and there was some confusion to why or if if you were going to the cl the town clerk >> to look up meetings of different. >> Yeah, understood. Um so is there a way that we can I mean we could probably just talk directly to the >> Yeah, I mean we can share them
102with the town. They would be separate your separate bodies. So that's why >> Okay. But I think a lot of times the if I remember correctly, I'll have to go back and look, but I think on the town agenda web page, the minutes of the meetings get associated to the past agenda item. But we can double check and and you know talk with uh uh Sean and the town clerk about how to link things, share things, whatever the process is, or maybe put a link to say school committee meeting minutes are housed here. click >> whatever the process comes out of what you know future discussions may be you know I think all of us here want to make sure that you can find those minutes and be able to find those minutes wherever so
103I just wanted to bring that up um but uh the chair will entertain a motion to approve the meeting meeting minutes of June 11th and June 26th >> so moved >> uh there is a motion is there a second >> second >> motion and second any discussion uh all those in favor I >> I >> those opposed. It's unanimous. Thank you very much. Um we've gone through all of our action items on seven. Um we have a few resignations here and a lot of new hires. Um is there anyone that wants me to read out? I know sometimes we do. Um okay. >> No, I just would um through you, Mr. chair like to just um recognize a couple of the the the hires that are there just in case uh folks didn't notice them
104in the list. Um uh so just to to note that Shama Daniels um has joined us as the HBB principal. Um and he was introduced at the last meeting by Timothy Mclofflin as the NMS principal. Um, and it was at a previous agenda, but Tracy Lord joined us uh at this meeting as the the mech principal. So, while I am thrilled and excited for all of the hires that are listed here, I did just want to um call those out publicly because I know they are um names that the the uh parents and the students of those schools are um going to be hearing a lot. So, >> and when will Shamba be coming? >> Principal Daniels will be here next meeting. >> Wonderful. >> Um, and even prior to next meeting, there will be
105August meet and greet events for the new principles. So, hopefully earlier in August than later, just so that families have the opportunity to come meet the new principal um and match a face with the name. Uh, Superintendent Lions, if you um can just make sure that um we're notified when those are so that if we are able to attend just to >> um >> absolutely >> welcome them. I would appreciate that. >> Um and in addition to to piggyback off what Jess uh was getting at is that I also want to um just thank all of the new hires for coming aboard and we're all uh so happy that they could join us for the ride. All right. Um, that brings us to item 10, which is adjournment. >> Oh, moved. >> There there is
106a motion to adjurnn. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion and second. All those in favor? >> I. >> Those opposed? It's unanimous. Thank you very much, have a fantastic rest of your evening.