001I will call to order this meeting of the Somerset Berkley Regional School Committee at 6:01 p.m. Do notice having been posted pursuant to the open meeting law any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium. Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions may be made whether perceived or unperceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible. We'll do a roll call of members present. Ms. Ferrara? Present. Uh Mr. Pasternak? Present. Ms. Solomon? Present. And the chair is present. Also with us this evening our superintendent of schools Dr. Jeffrey Schoonover, our chief financial officer Raquel Pellerin, our director of special education Meg Ashton, and our recording secretary Robin Vaccaro. Uh could we please rise for the pledge? I pledge allegiance to
002the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you everyone. Please note that the next regularly scheduled meeting of this committee will be held on Tuesday, May 5th, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. here in the Somerset Berkley Regional High School Library. First item on the agenda this evening under student teaching and learning was an update from our student reps. Um I don't know did they pass anything on to you Dr. Schoonover? Okay. Um catch up with them next time. It is a busy time of year, spring sports and such. Um the next item on the agenda is recognition of our March visionaries. The committee would like to commend the following students: Hazel Aiken, resilient; Sarah Doucette, empathetic;
003Troy Farria, resilient; Olivia Harden, digital citizen; Theo Murphy, independent; Chloe Perotti Academic, Paisley Silvia Academic, and Luke Tidman Respectful. Congratulations to those students. The next item on the agenda is public input on topics on the agenda. Is there any public input this evening? Okay. You're perfect timing. We have a student representative. Matthew? She's not coming She doesn't think she's able to. So, she's not coming. Okay. All right. Um The next item on the agenda it under new business is to discuss and act on the 2026-2027 school choice participate participation. You received a memo from Dr. Spoonover with information about that. I don't know if you want to elaborate. >> Yeah. I tend to give you a little bit more information than what you need, but just to show to provide some background about what the
004projected enrollments are for next year. Um So, we currently have eight 888 students attending Somerset Berkley right now. Uh we are forecasting an incoming grade nine class of 203 students. That is assuming we have 15 school choice seats. Uh but I I provided some information just about what we currently know from Berkley Middle School and Somerset Middle School as uh the vocational schools recently had their lotteries. Uh so, we are projecting out of the 185 students who are currently attending Somerset Middle School uh that we will be receiving 146 here. That's after the 36 typical students who attend Dighton and three who we know are going to Bristol Aggie. At Berkley Middle, they have a combination of their resident students and school choice, 84 in all. 42 of those of the resident Berkley students will
005be attending Somerset Berkley. And I gave you some information regarding how many are going to Bristol Plymouth, Bristol Aggie and some of the private schools. So with those two, the 146 and the 42, we're forecasting 188 students from Somerset and Berkley. And there are of the 14 school choice students right now at Berkley Middle School, five of those have been grandfathered in to the system before the school choice rules changed several years ago. So they if they can come directly here without having to go to into a lottery. There are four other school choice students at Berkley Middle School in eighth grade who would have to go into the lottery since they came in after that that date, whenever that was. So my recommendation is as we've done in the past, 15 school choice students
006bringing us to a total grade nine of 203. And I'm always concerned about over relying on school choice. We've seen some districts who do that and then if something changes, it's just it's not something I'd like to do. I think the 15 per year has worked well for us now for 10 or more years. So I would recommend maintaining that same system. Thank you, Dr. Swenson. Are there any questions or comments from the committee? I just have a question for clarification please. first time on both of these. So, you have five grandfather Yes. EMS students. And then four additional. So, you're saying that's Well, the There's a separate set of dates for the school choice and um Berkeley, is that what it is? Uh it's some number of So, about I don't know how many
007years ago, I'm I'm guessing 6 or 7 years ago, uh the school school choice law changed. Up to that point, school choice students in any feeding feeder school automatically uh were accepted into the high schools. Okay. Um And then once that changed, it it grandfathered those in who were already enrolled as school choice students, but any future school choice kids have to enter the lottery like everyone else. So, of these nine students in um at Berkeley Middle School who are school choice, who want to come to Somerset Berkeley, five are automatic, the other four have to go into the lottery along with the applications of all other school choice students who want to come here. So, the five automatic, and then that'll leave 10 seats for the lottery for a total of 15. So, the
008five would be automatic anyway even if we did it. >> Well, yes. So, it's really >> they come here. the five >> And then the other 10 seats are just for anyone, but would those four They they >> less than those get preference? They would not get preference, no. They have to be in the lottery. All right. Any other questions? Okay. Um in that case, I would entertain a motion to allocate 15 grade nine school choice seats for the 2026-2027 school year. So moved. Second. Motion by Ms. Ferrera and seconded in by Ms. Ashley. Anything further on discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? I Opposed? so voted. Thank you. The next item on the agenda is a citation for Kelly O'Brien. Unfortunately, Kelly couldn't be here this evening for her last meeting. She had
009a work commitment. But Ms. Pereira is kind enough to read the citation into the record for us. At a meeting of the Somerset Berkley Regional School Committee on April 7th, 2026, a citation was prepared signed by members of the committee and voted inscribed in the permanent records. Whereas Kelly O'Brien has served as a valued member of the Somerset Berkley Regional Committee for the past 4 years, and whereas throughout her tenure she has demonstrated commitment to the students and staff of the Somerset Berkley Regional School District with particular care and attention to the condition and improvements of the district's athletic fields, and whereas her efforts have contributed to the maintenance and enhancement of facilities that support student activities and the overall school experience, and be it hereby resolved that the Somerset Berkley Regional School Committee extends
010its sincere appreciation for her service, dedication, and thoughtful contributes contributions to the School Committee and wishes her continued success in her future endeavors. You're welcome. I would entertain a motion to adopt this citation as prepared for Kelly O'Brien. So moved. Second. I have a motion by Mr. Pasternak and seconded by Ms. Ashley. Anything on discussion? All those in favor? I. Opposed, so voted. The next item on the agenda is the annual appointment of the superintendent to the Reads Collaborative Board of Directors. Item in the folder. I think we don't need that. This is standard annual operating procedure. Do you know if there's anything you wanted to add. >> it's just it's just funny already approving things for the 2026-2027 school year. But, yes, this is a standard procedure for the school committee. Any questions? Okay,
011then. I would entertain a motion that Dr. Jeffrey Schoonover be appointed to serve as the Somerset Berkley Regional School District's representative on the Board of Directors of READS Collaborative in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 4E as amended by Chapter 43 of the Acts of 2012 for the 2026-2027 school year. So moved. Second. Motion by Ms. Ashley and seconded by Mr. Pasternak. Anything on discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? So voted. Thank you very much. Next item on the agenda is a Superintendent's update, Dr. Schoonover. >> Okay, a couple of nice items to start. First of all, congratulations to our Health Occupation Students of America, our HOSA club, who recently competed in the Massachusetts competition. We have 20 students who will be attending the international competition in Indianapolis in June.
012Um so, congratulations to those 20 students. We have multiple first place winners, a number of students who placed. We have one student, uh Grace Tweedy, who was elected to represent Massachusetts on the HOSA Executive Board. Um so, congratulations to those students, too, and and thanks and congratulations to Ms. Bernstein Ms. Bernstein and um Ms. Littlefield for teaching them and advising them and and Ms. Oliveira uh for another Project Lead the Way teacher. Uh we've talked about the um innovation pathway in biomedical and just the incredible success that they've had. We've gone from some 64 students, I think, uh just 4 years ago to 169 students currently. So, we've seen incredible growth in that program. There's so much interest. So, congratulations to all of them. Um I want to let you know that Congressman Auchincloss will
013be visiting the high school later on this week uh having a student town hall meeting with a number of our students, and he'll also be meeting with some of the adults before that event takes place. So, we're excited to host him here. Uh and today uh Representative Thorb hosted our championship field hockey team up in Boston. They visited the State House. They had their own championship duck tour. Um I think it was a little cold. I don't know how Hopefully, they were well dressed, but thanks to Representative Thorb for hosting our students up there and celebrating their achievement. I I Mr. Francis told me that they had a great day. Uh speaking of sports and Mr. Francis, um I did before our capital planning meeting, I went outside with him just to uh check out
014the baseball field. As you may know, that because of the the work that was done this past summer, the outfield fields are absolutely amazing. With all of the rain that we've had, there's been no gathering of water. It's draining beautifully. The infield has been a little wet. Uh so, we got There's been some work that's been done there this week. Uh and more work, I think, on Thursday. There is a game tentatively scheduled for tomorrow. We're hoping that maybe the winds today will dry it up and they can play, but we'll have to take that on a day-by-day basis. Um but the work is there and uh whatever still needs to be uh completed on the infield this week just to dry it up more, will take place. Um but other than that, everything else
015is looking great out there. Uh and in addition to that, just on your agenda, um sharing with you a few appointments and some resignations. Uh typical um positions that we we tend to see each month. Next item on the agenda um is to discuss the app on budget amendments. Yes, um there are a total of 16 budget amendments. Um what the amendments are meant to do is cover the overages in the line items or the function code line items that exceed 10,000 or 10%. Um we did go deeper in to try to get most of the variances and if and when these are approved, um we can update the budget document to reflect the changes in the '26 budget, which will give you that better alignment when you're comparing that to '27. Um we do
016intend to come back with any future um budget amendments that we have from now until the end of the year that accelerate our plan. At that point, those um amendments would not be in the in the final budget. In that case, I would entertain a motion to approve the budget amendments as outlined in the memo. So moved. Seconded. Motion by Ms. Ashley, seconded by Ms. Pereira. Hearing none, all those in favor? Opposed? So voted. Um the next item on the agenda is as I said, a continued discussion of the 2016-2017 budget. I was waiting for first we vote on the budget. I don't know if The entire budget document is now pulled together that the financials have been approved. Like we had just said, we will update it with the budget amendments for the financial
017section in 2016, but the whole complete document is in the folder for your your review. I'm going to assume that's been shared with the It has. Yes. And their letters for the assistant. Does anyone have any questions? Okay. Um Thank you. And it's been so long since we've seen you tonight. A whole week. Thank you for all your work on that. It's much appreciated. Um The next item on the agenda is this is to approve the Sergeant Brian Cordero Memorial Fund Scholarship. And then this is pretty standard whenever there's a new scholarship only, just comes before the committee for approval. Um So, you can see the form in your folder. Does anyone have any questions? I'd just like to make a comment. Um Sergeant Cordero was a very well-respected member of our police department before
018his very tragic passing. And he was really always, you know, a a great community member, too. He cared deeply about his community and the schools are a big thing to him and um I think this is a great honor to have this scholarship in his name. I just wanted to make that known to everyone. Thank you, Mr. President. I'll just um for everyone's benefit, I'll just read aloud um in the form, it said Brian was loved by many and was very proud of his military service and varied public safety roles. Brian was also very proud to be a Somerset High School graduate. He was very much a people person. This scholarship will do him proud. So, we're grateful um that we can support our students' post-secondary um endeavors um in a way that honors his
019memory. So, thank you to everyone for that. Um I would entertain a motion to establish the Sergeant Brian Cordero Memorial Fund Scholarship. So moved. Second. Motion by Mr. Pasternak, seconded by Ms. Ashley. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? So voted. Um the next item on the agenda is the Capital Planning Subcommittee update. Thank you. Just met. We did just meet. We had our first meeting at 5:00 and we talked about uh we looked over the past uh the one from 2019. Um Mr. Cordero was here, Mr. Corio was here to talk with us, but our where we landed is we're going to look into doing an assessment to have somebody come and actually look and see what needs to be done what the life expectancy is so we can have
020a better plan moving forward. So they're going to work on that and then we'll probably come back next month with some information as to what costs would be for the committee to discuss. And see if that's something we want to fund. Okay. So that's it. All right. We look forward to your update. Thank you. Next on the agenda under other matters information updates Miss Solomon are there any updates from Berkeley? Our last meeting was the budget presentation. Which I don't think I need to delve too deep into. I have stated before um they requested 6% cut across the board for for everyone which obviously is is not great. Um so it wasn't a fun presentation necessarily. Um there is an override on the ballot which I think I mentioned as well. Um 4.8 million for
021the override amount um and our elections are on uh 59 May 9th. Next week's school committee meeting the um superintendent intends to list the specific proposed cuts should the override um not pass. We're talking she's saying between 10 and 15. Um our next meeting will have those specific cuts. It's not great news from Berkeley but that's That's our update. Um that means is that next Monday? It's the 13th so Monday yes. Thank you. Um any updates from Somerset? So, Somerset is still working on our budget. And we actually have not taken a final vote on our budget. Um and had our public hearing. I believe that's our next meeting. Our next meeting is also after the election, so we'll be reorganizing. So, this might be my last meeting. We don't We never We don't know
022until we get to the meeting who's going to be sitting in these seats. Um so, I just want to thank you all for allowing me to fully participate in this committee and um you know, hopefully if if I'm not back next year, hopefully I'll be back someday. Um and and otherwise, you know, you'll see me on the other side for sure. Well, we'd love to have you back. You bring a lot to the committee, both both of you. Thank you. Your elections aren't until Yeah, our elections aren't until May, so I'll You have a long time. You may see me again. I won't say I'll be back. >> a stay of execution. Yeah, I'm not liking these updates. But we understand, but um yeah. See you either way. Um Okay. Um anything else that's good
023on updates? All right. Next item on the agenda, topics not anticipated by the chair. Um I have one. I'll probably just mention it as an action item for a future meeting, but I have nothing else. No. Um So, the next item is action items for future meetings. Just add um the HOSA advisors reached out to us with the good news that Dr. Schoonover shared. They are also um looking for some financial support to help with the trip to the international competition in June. Um we didn't feel like we could get that request through in time for this meeting. It came up sort of last minute and we wanted to make sure the committee had time to consider that. So, we'll we will agenda that item for the um for the next meeting. Just so give
024time to Yeah, the trip is not till June. Right, and we actually have to approve the trip as well. So, two pieces. So, that'll be on the agenda for the next meeting. Um I recall we gave them some financial support last year, correct? Who was who was that? Deca? Yeah. I think it would be nice to kind of have those totals from last year, so Okay. We can do that. Um does anyone have anything else they want to agenda for the next meeting? Maybe we should do capital improvements, too. So, hopefully if we have that information, we can put that before Mhm. this board. Okay. Okay. I don't know if I have let Robin know I know I mentioned it before, but um our on-site for our um uh integrated monitoring review uh is next
025week. So, I told Robin if we put on the May, I'll be able to give you a lot more information based on their on-site um what we're learning from there. So, I'll give you an update on the May. That would be great. As always, if other items come up, just please call let us know. Uh we have our bid opening for the uh the uh track resurfacing on April 15th, so I'll have an update uh for you on that whatever the bid is. Fabulous. All right. Um next item on the agenda, um if there are no objections, we'll take them as a batch. Um I would um entertain a motion to approve the March 3rd, March 12th, March 16th, and March 31st, 2026 open session minutes as presented. So moved. Second. Motion by Ms. Ashley
026seconded by Ms. Pereira. Anything on discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? I. Opposed? So voted. Um Next, we have some executive session minutes where you can see redactions are highlighted. Um I would entertain a motion to approve the executive session minutes of March 3rd, 2026 as presented and to release them with redactions. So moved. Second. Um, motion by Ms. Ashley seconded by Ms. Pereira. Anything on discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? I. Opposed? So voted. Um And then, um next, I would entertain a motion to enter into executive session pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30A Section 21 A3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares.
027American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Administrative Assistants and Custodians. And I would note that the committee will not return to open session. I have a motion. So moved. Motion by Ms. Um Ashley. I have a second, Mr. Pasternak. I think we'll do a roll call. Um all those in favor, Mr. Pasternak? I. Ms. Pereira? >> I. Ms. Ashley? >> I. Ms. Solomon? >> I. And the chair votes I. Okay. Um