001All right. So, we'll come back to order. Tracy is with us now. Tracy, what do you have for us? >> Um, so what I would suggest, Mr. Chair, is that um there also is of course the feedback that you had from the visits. >> Um, and then I also have feedback from the um following up on your references as well as the feedback that was given by those who met the candidates when they were in district. Uh, as you may or may not know, we had a survey that was out in the field. Um I don't want to overemphasize that um in every case there were fewer than 20 responses per individual but I am happy to share some of those reflections as well. Um you might consider whether you want to potentially take it
002candidate by candidate maybe Mr. Chair. >> Yeah let's have uh some of the feedback maybe and then we'll talk about the visits and >> um >> okay >> start at the top in order there I guess. >> Okay. So start start with the go in order of this evening or go in alphabetical order. >> Uh the order of the evening. Let's >> go. Um so speaking of Mr. McCormick um I'm looking at the um so first of all looking at the uh refle the information that was given by the references and let me just note that in every case um because we're particularly because of the day we had in Massachusetts yesterday and I was talking to educators um I did talk I did manage to talk to all of the um ones for Dr.
003Conway otherwise I did not I made all the phone calls but not everybody got back to me. So let me just be clarifi clear in terms of that. Um but uh there was a lot of emphasis from Mr. McCormack in terms of um emphasis on seeking new opportunities and partnerships particularly um in the smaller communities, smaller districts that he had been in um that he kind of grew to fill the roles that were needed um referencing of course things like small central offices and that sort of thing. um that he's actually recruited good talent. Uh people want to work for him [clears throat] and that he um has the best interest of the children at heart. Um there was uh some appreciation that came from within the district of his experiences with alternative pathways and
004the the sort of outreach for those kinds of opportunities. Um and uh there was there was a lot of appreciation for that sort of innovation given the constraints um both fiscal and staffing of a smaller district. >> Do you want me to keep going or you want to do the visit on that one? >> Um yeah >> I was thinking that yeah like if we're just talking about him if we could then talk about each of the sites. >> Yeah. So the the visit who visited >> Jess and I was great. >> Yeah, I took some notes after if that's okay. Um, [clears throat] >> so we the setup was a little bit different than what I saw from Joanne Manard. So we um took a well chatted with him first uh in the office
005which was within um added on to the elementary school and the high school is right walking two minutes away. Um, so we talked with him and then we talked with a group of like walked around the school, talked to a group of teachers there from the elementary school which was a good assortment of different staff. Um, and then we went over to the middle high school and walked around and then talked to a group of students and then we talked with a really good representation of staff as well. And then we toured half before and half after of the middle high school. Um, >> what did you take away from the visit though? Like what? >> So, yeah, you walked around and talked to a bunch of people, but like what what's the feeling that
006you got from >> So, I mean the the groups were all saying he is incredible. He knows people by name, students, teachers. Um, he knows personal information and really goes out of the way to make people feel like they belong. Um he's created the entire budget himself. He doesn't have a finance director. Um and he is everyone basically. They cut a million dollars from his budget last year and um still maintain the integrity of the program. Um the staff, the students were all really sad that he was leaving um but really wanted the best for him. Um, two prior superintendents followed him to the district for less pay and a further commute, which I think speaks volumes. Um, he knew the students names as they're walking through the building. He was really good at advocating
007grant writing for new programs to create a lot from nothing that their budget. Uh, created pathways for the students, which he showed us. Um, and working hard to create a safe space for all students, especially stu uh, special education. Yeah, it was pretty much she hit all the points. He was beloved. I think we met with his admin team as well as I think we had a core group. We had high school teachers, too, I think. Yeah. Um, but I felt like he represented himself exactly how he represented himself in the district in the interview today. So, it wasn't like meeting with a separate person and hearing something totally different. It was very consistent with what his staff and the students said. And just to echo what Jess said, like we walked through ele elementary
008school. He knew the paras. He knew the kids. He knew um you know, he was very very involved, very like roll up your sleeves and get involved. And you know, another thing just to echo what she said, he does the budget himself, which I was flabbergasted by that. So impressive. Found ourselves apologizing at the end of each of the groups. I'm like, "Oh, well, thank you and sorry." >> Yeah. Any other feedback, Tracy from >> No, those that's that's everything that I had on Mr. McCormack. >> Okay, let's hear about Joanie. >> Um, so in terms of Dr. Menard, um, one thing that was continually emphasized is sort of the scope of her level of experience because of the the extensive sort of number of different things that she's done um, in K through 12
009in um, various administrative roles. um a lot of discussion around um her strength in terms of curriculum um and curriculum development aligning resources uh that she um also citing the the experience that she has in terms of um industry there also one of the things one of the people that I spoke to is the person who was actually in charge of equity for her current district and something that uh he was reflective of was the way in which that was sort brought to the table all the time by her that that was something that she was very deliberate in terms of doing. Um that it wasn't something that was needing to be advocated for but was in fact being invited to sort of take a chair um that she loves to learn. And there was
010uh in terms of the district feedback that she was very well informed, highly experienced, uh gave very specific examples when asked for things. Um that that she was strong on um much of what was being sought. So, one of the things that the that was on the survey was, you know, here's what you outlined in terms of what you were looking for. The reflections you got back were very strong in terms of Dr. Manard. Um, also that she's well informed and uh pleasant pleasant, positive, engaging, and sort of always brings that to the table whenever she's part of kind of any discussion. >> Uh, Beth and I visited this district. Beth, you want to say anything? Um re look back at um >> your schedule remember. >> Yes, it will all trigger. >> Um we
011talked to we talked to a lot of people. They um she's very knowledgeable. She is very supportive. We talked to um three different principles. They all had made mention of how like supportive she was um in difficult times. Um, we talked to all of their curriculum heads, I think, and curriculum's obviously a very strong suit for her. Um, and she's been very supportive in kind of reestablishing what was going on there. I think she came into a little bit of a messy situation there and she really has straightened it out a lot. Um, and it sounds like they have um difficult situation with like the town and community and >> she's worked very hard at navigating that. >> Yeah, she definitely seemed beloved. >> Any other Yeah, >> no, that's all that was all I
012had in Dr. Yeah. >> Yeah, >> we got an email from a staff member supporting her. >> Miss Hager, the art teacher, had worked with her in a previous district and was thrilled to see her walking through the school. Um, we'll move on to Dr. Conley. >> Sure. In terms of Dr. Conley, one thing I I wanted to sort of just highlight on Dr. Conway, I actually spoke with his current superintendent, Dr. McCollamu. Um, and he noted that he told me this story, which is not something that I had known, which is that he that Dr. Conwe was a finalist for the position of Kentucky Regional Superintendent at the time that they were hiring Dr. Bartholomew. And the school committee essentially went to Dr. forth and said, "We're hiring you as superintendent, but we wanted
013want to see if you can actually also bring on Brent Conway because we're so impressed." Um, and he essentially presented as they've been sort of a partnership for all of their time there. um spoke about his strength in terms of uh alignment of curriculum um universal design for learning in the classroom, the work that he does with the towns uh that he's uh not only very knowledgeable but is very good in front of a group um in terms of presenting and speaking and so forth. Um one of the principles there spoke of his mentorship that in terms of encouraging leadership um in others in the district um his knowledge base uh his thoughtfulness and um that yeah I'm ready all of the times where it says like it would be devastating to lose me in
014the district um as as you are gathering that's frequently the reflection that we get from those who are are are positively seen in their own district. Um in terms of feedback here, uh there was a lot of uh feedback that was positive in terms of um not only his knowledge but also sort of his interactions with um not but not only staff but also students um that he was intelligent, a good speaker, well educated, knowledgeable, um and clearly had a passion for student success. >> Laura and I visited this district. So Laura, do you want to say that? >> Yeah. So, um, something that I noticed, we met with a a lot of different people. It was very well organized. It was the the day flowed. Um, he has a very symbiotic relationship with the
015superintendent. I know he's an assistant, but you can tell that they really like each other. And he told us, um, Justin, like we the superintendent told us that story and seems like they share a lot. Um, and they work together and they work together really nicely. So, >> my concerns about being an assistant versus a superintendent, he's done a lot of that work already. Um he's a national speaker. He has huge connections at Desi. Um he's speaking all over the place, but he's very much in the schools. People know him. They they see him. He's um approachable by teachers, by students. Um one of the most impressive people that we met was actually at lunch and she was a member of the school committee. She was a teacher in a different district and she's also
016a parent. So I can't think of anybody more qualified to speak to him about him. and she said that and everybody all day was like, "We don't want to sell him to you because we're crying because we love him so much. We don't know how we're going to exist without him because he does everything. He wears many hats. We love him. He's positive. He's, you know, builds us all up." Um, she said that her district is looking for a superintendent next year and she begged him to wait, but it's too far away for him. To me, someone who is a parent, a committee member, and a teacher that says, "I want him for my district." That's a huge sell to me. Um, so that was my take tonight. >> The only thing I'd add was
017um I think Jesse said you met with students there too, but uh they all spoke about focusing on students. We didn't meet with any students, I don't think. And of the 27 people, there were no students. I don't think that we met with were they? >> I don't think so in Paul, but we met with four or five students, >> just with students. Um, and they couldn't speak highly enough about how he had either impacted them or influenced them or helped them in in some way. Um, and I thought that was interesting that he he talks a lot about students and student outcomes, but we actually got to meet with he he set us up to meet with the students to see that in person, too. So, I thought that was >> they were different
018students. They weren't like all a certain kind of students. So, it was like different backgrounds and it was interesting to see that they all liked him and had positive things to say. genuinely >> different classes, different uh activities they were in. >> One was one was an engineering robots robotics team captain I think. >> Uh there was a soccer player who they were bragging about being on the front page of the newspaper for the previous night's game. >> Yeah. He like he brought us the paper to show us that the student didn't even know. Um the robot you want to talk about the robotics at all because that was really interesting. Uh yeah, if you've ever seen like on TV like Battlebots or anything, those shows, it it was like a lab like that. They
019have um they have a traveling team. They have the grants that he talked about >> uh securing bought them these >> traveling cases like you would see at a concert or something like the big black and silver metal cases with all their tools and all their equipment and everything that they travel around with them. So that was pretty impressive. >> It's only three years old and they're nationally known. It was they had the 3D printers going. you were showing us and it was so impressive but over my head at the same time. >> We got to tour the space for the pathways too. >> Yeah. >> Tim McCormick space and they had I guess a prior robotics team there. >> Yeah. >> Um but the space was was >> Tracy. Should we see if there's
020a favorites or >> I think you can Yes, you can. So you can do this one of two ways. You can either ask um you can either open the floor for a motion um to nominate someone or you can um essentially take a straw poll and ask everyone to name the candidate that they would want. Either of those or >> do go like around the table and everyone say their >> How about How about if we just go by each candidate in order and if they're your favorite just raise a hand. >> Is that does that work? >> One favorite? >> One one favorite. Yeah, one favorite. How's that work? >> Just want to clarify. So, we'll just again we'll go in order that they came in here tonight. So, Mr. Tim McCormack, was he
021anyone's favorite? >> Dr. Joanie Manard, was he anyone's favorite? >> Uh, Dr. Brent Conway, was he anyone's favorite? >> Oh my god. >> I didn't think we were all in the same either. >> I'm shocked. All right, then. There we Can I have a motion to >> offer the position of superintendent of schools in Brunson Regional School District to Dr. Frank Conway? >> So moved. >> Lori second. >> I heard Jess first. >> Uh okay. So that motion is now on the floor and anyone would like to discuss for or against. >> I just want to say like we had we had another candidate too who was supposed to be a finalist. He just took a job in Harvard. Dana is wonderful. Um >> all of these people were wonderful. Like I don't want um
022Tim or Joan to feel like they like they made it because they had so many wonderful things to say. It's just that I feel like Dr. Conway meets a lot of things that we need and has the positive can do attitude that I see this gentleman over here having a lot of the time that lifts us up even when we're struggling. Um and I think that's what's really carried us through and made a lot of progress. So, um, you know, I don't want Tim or Jenny to feel bad. They didn't get the votes just the right fit. And all of us are so different. >> Like, I think we're all shocked that we are really, [laughter] >> it's rare that be surprised. >> When's the last time I had a 6 vote in this [laughter]
023>> and nobody stayed, >> right? >> Well, we haven't yet. >> Well, there you go. We don't know yet. We don't know. I just want to say one thing. Thank you to the search committee cuz I was like unbelievably impressed like you said with all three blown away by how much they've accomplished and so seriously thank you guys for sorting through tons of people and bringing us like what I would consider the cream of crop and so thank you thank you for that because it was a lot of work a lot of 18 >> and some of us had to give away our notes that we were very attached to >> it was almost an altercation but we won't go there but um but the other thing too was thank you to Tracy who ran
024a wonderful like when we picked you one of the reasons we picked you is because it was going to be it was going to make such a hard experience so much easier for us and it really it was a lot of work and you did a ton of work. Thank you. This this process by the end of it we all feel confident that we made the right choice. [clears throat] So we haven't voted yet. [laughter] >> All right. The straw poll. This is Yeah, this is arguments for or against. >> Well, I I just like to echo what Lori said like coming into this stage, I was really confident with any of the four and I, you know, I was like I Yeah, they're all amazing. So, um I'm I really want to thank all
025the candidates that applied and um I wish them all the best. But yeah, I think just, you know, a lot of the things I've circled on my notes and stuff really I think is is exactly what we need. So, I'm excited. >> I just think he's just a really good match. Like they all of their experience is great. All like they are all more than qualified. I just think he's a great match for us and checks a lot of boxes for that. I was I hadn't met him before. I was I was really impressed. He hit a lot of notes or things that I had talked about with just like over Thanksgiving get gettogethers that like parents had said talked about when he talked about like the vertical alignment of like the middle school and
026the high school and like why can't they take the high school classes like that just came up with friends last week and so I was it really it hit a lot of notes for me. This this yes this is huge. >> It he gets it. >> Um I think he's a great match. >> What you spell? I [clears throat] you know I thought they were all so impressive and you know we went to >> we loved Danadeed [laughter] huge fan you know I was really sad when he dropped out. >> I'm happy for him. I think he's a great match for where he's at. >> Exactly. So it I feel like it all was working out the way it should and you know when we were interviewing them and they would speak to I'm like
027oh you're awesome. Oh you're awesome. and I just like how could I like anybody more, you know, and it was just and I really I just felt, >> you know, just intuitively that um that Dr. Conway will be the best for our district. >> All right, Megan, I think you spoke it first with you. >> Yeah. No, I just echoing what everyone said and like Beth hit the nail on the head with so many things that we've been talking about or like that have been, you know, question marks and it sounds like he's already all over it. >> All right. Uh, so all in favor of uh hiring Dr. Brent or offering the position to Dr. Brent Conway, I will do roll call vote. Jess >> I, >> Beth, >> I hi. >> Lisa, >>
028hi. >> Megan, >> hi. >> All right, I'm as well. So, that offer will go out to Dr. Conway. >> If you'd like to take a recess, I'd be glad to call him and come back and give you whatever answer. >> Yes, let's take a recess. Yes, please. >> Nothing. >> All right, we're we're back in session. We'll come to order. Tracy, you've called and what do we have? >> He says I Yes, thank you. He's very excited to get this call. >> All right. >> And I told him one of you would be in touch. >> Congratulations. >> Tracy. >> Uh yeah. Um I did talk with uh so I started talking with Sean and Jonathan about um you know we have to get through a contract with them. So >> uh they are
029on top of it as soon as we tell them who it is and then we'll get in contact with Prince side and we'll work that out. >> We as a committee have to uh we have to figure out what we're going to offer financial. We were originally going to do that tomorrow in a meeting, but we cancelled that meeting. Uh Sean or Jonathan, Shnie and Jonathan both cannot be there even by phone call. So we'll maybe talk about it Tuesday at our full school committee meeting or uh at another time. But uh that's that. I think we're all set with this meeting. >> We're all set. >> Have a motion to return this meeting, please. >> So move. >> Lori second. >> Megan, everybody wants to stay. All in favor? [laughter] >> Any against? >>
030All right, we're journ. Thank you. Congratulations, guys. >> Congratulations, guys.