School Committee Meeting - 5/20/2026

001Good evening everyone. Welcome to the May 20th, 2026 meeting of the Colassic School Committee. Uh would all members who are present please indicate so and roll call. Miss Yeti. >> Yes. >> Mr. Evans. >> Evans present. >> Mr. Dial will be a few minutes late. Um and Craig Mlo and I am present. So that gives us a quorum of three members. So we'll call the meeting to order. Would all who are able please stand for the presentation of the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty, justice for all. >> All right. As always, this meeting is being streamed uh on Facebook, being broadcast on 143 TV. You can participate virtually uh by utilizing

002the link to Zoom at the top of the agenda and then um using the Q&A feature to make any questions or comments known. We'll monitoring that periodically. Um in addition, uh this is the public comment section of the meeting where if you have a comment or a discussion point or question um that is not related to something on the agenda, please raise it now. Feel free to raise it now. there's no one in the audience in person, so I'm essentially addressing the uh the virtual audience. Uh feel free to raise that point by using the Q&A feature, but if it's relates to something that's on the agenda, just hold on to that thought until we arrive at that point in the meeting. We'd be happy to hear your thoughts. So, I'll give uh a few

003seconds for folks at home to use the Q&A feature if they have something to say. And in the meantime, we'll note that Mr. Welcome Mr. D to the meeting showed up right after we started at 603. >> I'll accept your welcome. Glad to be here. >> I'm not seeing any questions or comments or public comments. So, we'll move on. Uh as this is the first school committee meeting following an election, a town election, we are required to uh reorganize the committee and revisit the officer positions. So the way we do that is we take nominations. The nomination must be seconded um and then accepted and then we'll all vote on that. So we are taking um nominations for we'll go from um the chair position to the vice chair position to the secretary position. Uh

004those are the three positions that we would be uh establishing today or reorganizing rather. Um the chair position of course is the facilitator of the meetings. Chair is responsible for um creating and organizing the agenda along with the superintendent of schools. Chair often serves as the primary contact for the superintendent of schools and is also responsible for the composition of the sum summitive evaluation of our superintendent of schools uh at the end of each academic year. uh chair uh their opinion is no more important than any other uh five members of the committee or are they four members of the committee and um um they have the same vote. So um with that said that description is there are there any nominations for a chairperson for the Yes, Mr. D point of order. >> One

005more. >> Sure. >> We don't have this on the agenda >> but nevertheless we uh we have to do it. So I understand that. May I would it be appropriate to suggest we in light of the agenda question but also in light of the fact that we are missing someone from the committee tonight to table that operate this meeting? Um can the can the committee officially vote to table that discussion for the next meeting? That way all five members can be present for the election of uh officers. >> Um it's it's it's said that we should do this the first meeting after the election. So, uh I I think we should do it. And uh um Miss Le is aware of that. >> Okay. >> Um and um you do um you did uh remind

006me of a point that I wanted to make. Traditionally, the school committee does not um does not implement the new uh organization until the following meeting. So, a lot of other boards immediately shift around and then someone's running the meeting um all of the sudden. We don't do that. So, we'll I'll continue to run this meeting and then whoever is selected as the chairperson for the uh 2026 2027 academic year will then take over the next meeting. >> Understood. >> All right. So, with that said, we'll uh accept nominations for the role of chairperson first. Are there any nominations? >> Should we open for discussion as to who would like to serve in that role? Um, sure. >> Would anybody like to serve in that role of the chair? Um, I'll I'll say I've served

007in chair for two years. Uh, it's a very rewarding role. You get to learn a lot about the school and its operations. Um, I am not sure that at this point in my professional life I have the amount of time that that role takes to commit to it uh to do it in a way that I would want to do it. Well, I'm not nominating myself, but um I see some other ballot candidates around. >> Well, I I mean, Mr. Evans, would you willing to take it on? >> Yes, I would be willing to to do it. Um I I my question for the committee is is purely one of of um if we're going to enter into this next year discussing uh budget FY28 these things I want to be sure that I have

008the bandwidth for that. Uh but I also want to be sure I'm in whatever position is best to deliver that message. So if that message is stronger uh with me serving as chair, I'd be willing to obviously do that. uh but if it's something that uh it would be a better situation where I wasn't serving that role as well as trying to really push forward the the financial discussion. Uh I'm agnostic so willing to do it but I just my number one goal in this is to be sure we have a financial plan uh that sustains us. So I'll do that forever whatever seat you guys think is the best. >> Okay. Well there's a limited number of options. >> Lots of words I will do. >> I will nominate Mr. Cory Evans is to

009as as chair. >> Okay. There's been a nomination. Is there a second to nom to the nomination for Cory Evans for chairperson of the 2026 7 year? >> I second. >> It's been uh there's been a nomination a second. Uh Mr. Evans, do you accept the nomination? >> Yes. >> Okay. Having a nomination seconded and accepted, I'd ask for a vote on uh Corey Evans as chairperson for the 2627 year. All in favor? I >> I >> opposed. Vote clearly carries by a vote of four school committee members. So congratulations Mr. >> I just kept saying my vote to one. >> Okay. Uh so it's three to one. Three votes in favor. It's a majority vote and one extension. Thank you. >> Yeah. The next position is that a vice chairperson. The vice chairperson is

010required to assist the chairperson as needed and will be required to run meetings in the absence of the chairperson. >> I nominate Craig Mullen. >> Okay. >> Second. >> Okay. Accept that nomination. >> I. >> All in favor of Craig McClullen for vice chairperson for 2627 count academic year. I >> I >> All opposed extensions. >> I'm voting for myself. >> Sure. So, uh, all in favor, uh, there's four people in favor. Uh, no one against, no extensions. So, that passes. Next position is secretary. Uh, secretary is required to, um, record and submit minutes for consideration and vote. Um, recording the activity of school committee. >> I can't imagine a better person than Mr. Dial to continue. >> I can imagine any other person than Mr. >> Always been excellent. But finally, we still I

011don't think we have any minutes to approve this. I'm like, but I did submit minutes >> for the past like >> I thought she was a very >> recogniz willing to support and that you know I mean we're we're all busy. So he's like I'm willing to go to so >> given that there are sitting in at this committee only two options. Miss Zy would you like to be the secretary? If not, I have secretarial experience and I will take on the mantle while you get your >> I'd like to get my bearings. Yes, that would be great. Sea legs would be good. >> I nominate Lance Dial for secretary for 26 27 academic year. Okay, there's been a nomination second. Do you accept, Mr. Dial? >> I suppose. >> I knew this was going

012to happen. >> Limited amount of office. >> That's what my wife said. nominate. And a nomination has been seconded and accepted. All in favor of Lance Dial serving as SE 2627 academic year. I >> all opposed. I'll I'll record myself as a yay. >> Okay. Uh so that is four votes in favor. Zero opposed. Zero extensions. Whatever. All right. Uh having done that, we will certainly table the committee assignments, things of that nature. That's not something we have to do. Um, and we'll move right on to our invited guests. Um, are we uh which what are we? >> Um, Principal Scott is going to go first. >> All right. So, we'll invite our high school principal, Brian Scott, to share with us the school improvement plan for Cohas High School. >> Um, share just this.

013>> Yeah, >> great. >> You should have all just denominated. I know. I thought about that, too. >> But I felt I kind of felt bad. >> She would have been a little upset. >> That's fair enough. >> Bad. That's true. >> You heard it in the background. >> I know. Yes. I got a text. She said, "It's yours. I can." >> Okay. >> The minutes reflected it, too. I don't want to tell you. >> All right. Uh, >> it's on it way. >> All right. So, I'm presenting the uh end of the year school improvement plan for uh 2026 and the school improvement plan for 2027. We have had a a tremendous level of accomplishment this year. Um academically, extracurricularly, some of the highlights this year mirror that of last year. We are very

014highly ranked school. Um, we have multiple platinum, gold, and silver awards in our nas national scholastic and art writing program. We won the uh I guess 25 26 um football state championship. 100 accepted% acceptance rates of four-year colleges for students who applied. Every senior that applied got in. there were of the 86% reporting 190 schools were um part of that acceptance rate and we have two teachers presenting tonight as best practices to the state um which is great. They're out in Devon today. Mr. Rudy who's in the middle school and Miss uh Dr. Duncan who's at the high school. So very proud of of what we've been able to accomplish this year. Um our AP numbers are through the roof. This is very difficult to see, but I can share this out. Um, these are

015just some of the the college acceptances everywhere from well, I don't want to say I don't want to even say a range because every school is important to the the students decision on what is best for them. But the range of schools from MIT to state schools to community colleges to the workforce is phenomenal. Uh and so I'm very proud of our our teachers, our guidance counselors, and and everyone else for making that happen. this here in terms of the school improvement plan. We've done a ton of foundational work and I almost think of it as parallel work that has been done with with the district but also concentric circles that are building out very much in alignment in a way that I've never seen in this district before. So, one of the things that

016we tried to do was develop a vision for um unified teaching learning experiences within the school. We've had excellent conversations with faculty. We've broken down uh what works, what doesn't work. We're still in the midst of that. And there's been a a parallel district team working on defining deeper learning experiences and what that means for kids. And we had, you know, our challenge success uh consultants come in. All of that is aligned in what we think we can do, what we think we do well, and what we think we can do better. So, it's in the yellow because it isn't quite there yet, but I think we're going to be there very short. As part of that, we implemented some surveys. We completed those surveys. So, that's in the green. I think we have really

017maximized our tier one instruction to include um consistent supports for students. I think that at our CPAC meeting uh last week, our students really demonstrated very articulately too what we were able to do for them that didn't prevent them from chasing any dream they had academically. And and that for me is the most important thing because you know we don't track we allow for a lot of of breath and opportunity and kids who want to take that opportunity can go in different directions and all of our students at that which I think were all of our students our seniors uh who had IEPs were very much in support of of what we're doing. So I think that's great. Our second goal was around student success and we are still in the midst of defining what

018that means in a broader term than um I think is typically accepted which is you know you get a good education you get a good GPA you go to a you know quote unquote good school you get a good job you make money you're happy that doesn't really pan out for most adults Most people who have any experience know that it's it's very different that the road is windy and you make different choices. And so I I think we're um we're poised to make that definition. I think we're just waiting for some, you know, closure in our districtwide committee, you know, assignments to define exactly what that is and have some parent and student put into that. I think we have a very good dashboard of success metrics and I I this is one of

019the things that I I kind of pride myself on the last six, seven years. We we have a lot of longitudinal data that talks about behaviors that talks about um preventative factors that talks about confidence that talks about individual student um self-awareness about what they're able to do and what they wish they could do. And so I think we have a really good dashboard of of what that needs to be. We just need to document that and publish it. And again, you know, establishing those baseline goals. So taking that challenge success data, for example, taking our YB Y RBS data and making that um kind of ground zero for what we want to do next year, I think is important. So we're not quite there yet, but I think we're going to be there very

020soon. We've done a ton of work and Dr. Scolins has directed this auditing our existing curricular our curriculum. Um that is a work in process having served on several accreditation committees. It's never a done deal. Um so it's probably always lives in the yellow, but I think we're in really good shape with publishing our our curriculum. I think Dr. Stones can talk about that later tonight. uh so that there are some public facing documents. Um but I I'm in I'm very confident that we are doing the highest level of academic curriculum and identifying where PD is needed. So again like we have a PD committee that's districtwide. I think we have some great thoughts about where PD can go and it's centric across maybe four buckets. what the role of AI is, what the role

021of um or what deeper learning means, what inclusive community means. All of these things I think are buckets that our our teachers are engaged in, have very strong ideas on. I had a very robust email exchange with an English teacher today about the role of AI and you know really like at what point is it not their authentic voice if they use AI as a supplement to what they're doing and I I think that's stuff that those PD committees can really tackle. I think we have the uh interest and the talent to do it ourselves and so I'm very excited about where that's going to go. And then our third goal was around athletics. We had an audit last year uh where we had a consultant come in and provide some recommendations. We established an

022athletics committee which has been very robust. We have several parents, the athletic director and myself, uh several students, several coaches. Uh so we've established that committee. We can go to the to the next one. >> Sorry. Yeah. We've identified an athletics mission statement that's in alignment with our vision of the graduate. But that is all done and we're really in the process of doing and it should be finalized by the end of June if not by definitely September but we'd like to have it by June uh so that it can lead into our fall sports is an athletic game book. Uh there's been a lot of robust discussion about really setting expectations for parents and athletes and coaches around what athletics means in high school. Um, so we're we're far along the way in that.

023And we've also identified uh a couple of other ways that we can generate revenue and potentially um you know supplement the athletics budget um in more specific ways that that replicate what other towns are doing. So I I feel like we're in really good shape with that. I credit coach for funding. And then the next step because we just kind of ran out of time and I think we're doing a lot of this already. So I think it's it's really pulling the pieces together is developing a comprehensive uh student athlete development program that includes leadership training, sportsmanship, health, wellness, um time management, all the stuff that that both come out of the child success survey um but also things that would involve our guidance counselors. You know, I I I have a daughter who's 14

024who might like to play college lacrosse and you know, the information that I'm getting is that they start looking at kids as young as 8th grade. So whether I agree with that or not, it's the reality. And you know, I think we should start talking to our kids about what their future goals are uh beyond that. But one of the things that our guidance department has done is try to align themselves with the national what's called ASKA model. Uh and I don't remember what the acronym stands for, but the ASKA model um is kind of the gold standard. There are no schools in Massachusetts that I know meet it and we're trying to get accredited through that. So if we can do that, we can align, you know, what our our practices are with what's

025in the best interest of kids. So So looking ahead to 2006 2007, we want to kind of expand our conversations around eco learning and student centered learning as as opposed to the teacher centered learning. We want to evaluate grading and homework. I think that's going to take several years to really unpack because as a parent and as a principal, I don't know that grading communicates clearly enough to students or families what kids need to do to be successful. Um, so we're going to work on that. I I think we're going to define student success in a much broader audience. I think we want to understand a little bit more about what our students stress levels are uh and our staff experience so that we can alleviate stress for both not to remove stress um because

026I think that's a natural part of life but to to balance that with wellness whether that is scheduling or having a um you know crash course in what it means to go from freshman year to sophomore year. We have a couple of initiatives where we're looking at creating mentorship programs for some of our more vulnerable uh populations. Uh we're going to obviously engage students in in dialogue to see what that means. I want to promote authentic student dialogue so that they can actually be themselves and and tell us their stories and celebrate their own identities in ways that are that are great. um and you know eventually branch that out into communities or into the larger coast community that I think is a a tremendous resource and I think people just need more guidance as

027to how they can help and where our kids can fit into that. So um obviously we'll do that in alignment with the you know school council with collaboration uh with staff and the student input and with the school committee. So that is essential. >> Yeah. Thank you, Principal Scott. Any questions for Principal Scott? Feel free to ask it. Nicole >> on the uh the PD thing. Um it's funny because obviously PD is something that is offline, right? Parents don't see it, students don't see it. >> Yeah. Um but especially right now and you know we went through a budget crisis where PD was one of the things I've looked at really hard and I think it's one of the one of those kind of soft targets if you will where okay we can move these

028around but what you point out >> exact so you don't feel it but it's one of those things where especially as we change as education changes with the advent of AI and even if we're looking at uh if we even want to have less computers in classrooms there's we're in this kind of rapid changing environment. So, as we talk about going forward, I'm looking forward to hearing more about what you're hearing from the teachers, but also us talking about how we communicate to the town how important this is because I do think it's one of the things that people don't >> we have no way of appreciating that we don't appreciate that we don't see it. >> It It's one of those things that it's like sacrificing the build of your new house on the

029foundation. Um, and you can have all the best shingles and all the best architecture and all, you know, the light in the room and all that stuff, but if the foundation crumbles, you got a big problem. And, you know, our our the thing that I've said since I've been here is that it's the best faculty that I've ever worked with in the sense that they all want to get better. They're competitive with with each other. They want the best for kids and they're open to the new brain research. you know, it's different than a corporation where, and I've worked in industry where, you know, it kind of comes down and you're taught all the latest, you know, accounting rules or, you know, um, legal changes and and all that stuff. And that's you know obviously

030you know the DESI rules are part of it but the the the teachers who connect be best with kids haven't been necessarily in the academic circles to get that training and as the kids evolve which they see and can articulate they don't necessarily have the complement of outside resources to adapt to that in ways that they can understand and change. and our faculty is very open to that. So, I'm very grateful to the CF for what challenge success did for us. I know it was a big lift. I know it was a lot of money. I know it it doesn't immediately translate into impacts impacting students, but it definitely translates into what we're able to do in the classroom um on a relatively limited PD budget, you know, uh and PD time, which is more

031than we need more time than we do money, you know. Um, our faculty are are phenomenal at at coming up with creative resources to, you know, address the needs of kids. We we just need a little bit more outside help to to do that. But yeah, 100%. Like people don't always see it and it it makes a tremendous impact. >> And you will see it. The professional learning committee has met all year, right? And there'll be a presentation at one of the next two with the whole of two meetings with the entire plan for next year. >> Wonderful. >> Um so Princ um you're in report. >> Mhm. >> Congratulations. I think that's I think that's a I think that was a a great report. Um taking off my school committee at the moment. It's

032because of things like this that I'm super excited that I have my first enroly in high school coming up next year. So, uh, very excited about that. And I'll put back on the school committee hat. One of the things that makes people really excited about that, I think, and I'm really encouraged by is your continued focus on the redefinition of success. >> I think that's incredibly novel thing to do. And, um, I' I'd encourage you to to, you know, obviously you're you're leaning into that jargon thing, but to continue focusing on that. And one of the things you mentioned on another item is that, you know, this item always lives in the yellow. I think that definition of success is always something that's always going to live in the yellow. It's always something to to

033think about and you know figuring out ways to especially at this time when we start looking at college acceptances and you know it was refreshing to see no slide on there saying we had five Ivy League acceptances or we had 10. It's just all the schools are important. I think that is, you know, you're living you're you're walking the walk and and living the, you know, the definition of success isn't just this narrow band. And I think the more we put that into our community, I think the the the better off we are. Um, so I I I really support all the initiatives around that. Um, and then we went on, you mentioned your your your daughter wanting to play college lacrosse and and the way the world is changing a little bit, you know,

034and it's true that people are looking at kids and younger and younger and it is going to be hard to facilitate that for kids who want it without making kids who don't feel like they have to want it, >> right? And so I don't have any advice for you on that other than to note that as you're creating opportunities for people that we need to for encouraging people who are overachievers, but we also recognize ways to, you know, recognize and encourage the people who want different things. And I think that goes right back into your your definition of success. So I'm uh I'm super excited about that. And then the last point you mentioned is is grading. I think grading is another thing that that goes into that. I'd love for us to focus on

035that in the coming year and work with you as a committee. We are seeing in the collegiate level education people revisit grading, you know, reimposing curves and saying, you know, limits on A's and and that sort of thing. Um, I don't know what the answer is there, but but I think the the the original purpose of griding, which is to communicate to you where you are as far as expectations, has kind of been lost because it's been a it's been a success measure. Yeah. >> So, uh I think there's a lot of tools and a lot of ways to employ your your continued review of what it means to succeed um to solve all these issues. So, I'm super encouraged by that. >> I have a couple of comments. Um I I mentioned I was

036at the baseball game today and the tennis match, but baseball game I was talking to a parent and I said, Sean, it's not the question of getting schools. Our message has to be getting into the right school for you because too many kids are focused on the over >> and you know our kids people don't have the perspective that our kids get into phenomenal schools a lot of times I'm like wow that I didn't I didn't see that um but they've earned it you know to the grading point Mr. Scopali is the expert and he can certainly talk to it. You know, I followed a lot about the Harvard uh grading curve and all that stuff. And I kind of agree with the outlier that says we shouldn't pit kids against each other. If kids

037can achieve that level, great. It's not limiting the number of days. It's it's making sure that they have the skills to do the job. And if we're lying to them and saying like, you know, yeah, it's good enough, you know, so that you get the A to get on the transcript, that's not doing them any favors. Um, so I I don't see it as a limiting the number of A's and and readjusting any kind of curve. I think it's measuring kids against performance and I think our kids rise to a level of incredible performance and I think our teachers do that for, you know, help them do that for themselves. Um, so in terms of like redefining success, it doesn't come down to, you know, again, what the bumper sticker on the car says, even

038though that might make you feel good. It's about what is the best fit for you. Um, and I truly believe that. And I I I think that's that's a great metric to have and I think our kids are starting to embrace that. >> Yeah. And it g I mean it the bumper stick on the car gives you a path but that may not be the path that is best for who you who you are and who you want to be. >> Yeah. You know not everyone needs to be a tech CEO titan. Uh and but I would I would surprise that most people would not want I would want that. >> That seems like a really stressful job. Um not that I don't have a stressful job in itself but I like what I do.

039>> Yeah. Um, but uh it's it's important to make sure people are thinking about these things in the context of the broader well-lived life as opposed to just the bumper sticker. So, I I really appreciate that. I was glad to see it here and hope to see see more of it both as a member and as a as a new parent of a student. >> Yeah, I'm I'm really optimistic about where we're about to go. I think your your kids and and Craig's kids will will head to like a all of them I think will really uh benefit from it. So Benedict, sorry I went over my three minutes. >> That's all right, Mr. Not like we have any climate control issues in the federal very >> short sleeve shirt on before we go through.

040>> Uh Miss Z, any uh any comments, questions? >> No, that was great. Thanks. >> Uh yeah, thank you, Mr. Scott. As always, I think uh you and your staff I think deliver an amazing high school education to our kids. So Mr. dial in a lot of topics I wanted to hit on and I just I'm curious what what's the so you might have mentioned this I I like missed it what what's the timeline for the for redefining success like you know because ultimately I agree that it's sort of a living definition but that said kind of like a mission or vision statement it would be nice to have something where it's concrete for the kids because along with everything we just said and and the perspective we're trying to bring when you're 17 years

041old you don't necessarily realize that So, it's kind of on the adults to sort of communicate that concept. So, do you do you have I'm not trying to put pressure on you. I'm just curious is like where are you in like how how far are we from sort of establishing what that might look like? And is it something that's going to be complex or is it going to be a fairly simple thing where where it'll it'll announce to kids fairly clearly like what what what we're thinking, you know, the goal is. >> For me personally and as a principal, I would not overspecify anything. I think the vision of the graduate outlines a really good broad framework for success. We want good kids who grow purposefully and are connected to something bigger than themselves. Having

042said that, I think that there is a mentality among students and families and I can appreciate that about what that looks like in practicality in terms of college acceptances or even going to college. I think the work that we've done and I'll defer a little bit to the superintendent, the assistant superintendent. I think we can come up with a definition within the next year that builds upon all of the stuff we've done with the vision of the graduate, all of the data that we have from our surveys, all of the feedback that we have from challenge success, and most importantly, all of the different forums of students that we've had that talk about what success really is for them that we can come up with a definition that works. perks for everybody. Um, by the

043end of next year, I I I I really I I think schools take a long time to do some of these things that I think we can do within with by the end of the year and I think we we established a good foundation for that, but I I will defer if you think there's a different timeline. >> No, I think that's accurate. We actually talked about it today at our leadership meeting. We reviewed all the report that came in from the challenge success day um and talked about how that can help guide the definition because it's not just a high school definition. >> It's a district success, it's school success, and it's student success. So, it's all nested within each other. And it has to be success for a 10th grader and a fourth

044grader. And what do those look like? So that's why it's going to take us the year. We'll have some broad information to start sharing from the start of next year, but it's going to take us some time to get all of those nested pieces in place so that they're coherent and aligned and make sense. >> Okay. I think the guiding question is what is the best version of yourself? Everybody wants to answer adults, kids. Like, you know, I was saying to somebody um after a meeting that we had at at the learning Thomas today on the wellness committee and the the teacher said, you know, I'm so impressed with how this student has matured. And they said, you know, all of the powers that make them um superheroes can either be used for good or

045for bad. And if you put kids in positions that allow them to choose the good, they always take it. They always take it. Um, and I think if if we create those conditions for kids, we're going to we're going to create some kids who are very happy with their lives. And that's what I want. >> Yeah. And I think the sort of uh prototype you just mentioned is it's the reason I asked is I think it will be important to help drive kids. And the reason I was focusing on high school is cuz a second grader may not really have the cognitive wherewithal to understand, oh, this definition of success, but a high schooler would if we publish something that is is is is targeting the kids and understand what that is. Um, but something

046you just said, I think most age groups would would understand what that means generally. Maybe not the oscillators, but um maybe some of them, right? But you know, I wonder like as a kid growing up, >> they do. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> If you define it in a way that they can understand. >> Sure. And that's what I'm saying. >> They all want to be successful too. No matter how old they are, they want that. >> Yeah. And I think the difference is like it's not it's not merit based. Like there is merit and we should celebrate all that, but it's growthbased. If if you remember yourself as a you know kid and I I remember putting you know a poster on my wall saying this is what I want to be as a

047basketball player. I want to you know develop a left hand. I want to do this. I want to make this team. I want to whatever. Like that's growthbased. It's not error based. I didn't say I want to be the best kid in the world because I have no idea what the the context is, right? I want to be the best version of myself. And I think it, you know, when we have kids in in Osgood, I material who are saying like, I want to be the best at, you know, the MCCAST, that's a weird metric. You know, I think if it was I want to develop these skills and do this by the time I leave, kids can they can relate to that for sure. >> Yeah, that's that's what I was driving at. >>

048Yeah. Right. Well, thank you, Principal Scott. appreciate the um the encouraging presentation. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next is our middle school principal, Mr. John Scotty. >> Are you doing the improvement plans, too? >> Are we doing the improvement plans, too? >> So, he just shared the >> I thought that I thought it was a report and a plan. So you have the plans in your packet, the full plans for review, but they're just sharing out in >> presentations that let me correct the minutes. >> All right, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Scott. >> Good evening, folks. >> Nice to see you. Thank you. It's great to be here. I'm going to go through the first three slides pretty quickly and I'll be able to sit a little bit more detail for the three following

049slides. Um, so our first school improvement goal for this year was fostering a culture of joy. just to explain the pictures here. Um I think it's worth it's worth spending some time with this. Uh the one you see on the left is one of our eighth graders in a auditorium with probably 350 people calling his mother to say how much he loves her and appreciates her. And this was a guest speaker Ed Gity that came in uh with many thanks to our cohassent education foundation um for that. And then there on the right we had some different activity days uh one of which was gratitude day the day before Thanksgiving. This was a bunch of kids in a classroom who signed up uh to make friendship bracelets. Um so just as a nice activity there.

050Our second goal was high quality teaching, learning and leading and uh our fantastic staff there on the left finding ways for them to be more involved, excuse me, with various leadership decisions. And then on the right, those are our two interventionists, math and ELA. Um, and I'm excited about the ways that they um when we talk about supporting not just our our learners who struggle but also our advanced learners and ones who are ready for a challenge. Um, yes AI artificial intelligence is important but so is AI actual intelligence right and so the fact that we have two um two content specialists here who will be able to help with that is exciting. Our third goal is um focused on MTSS, multi-tered systems of support. Um I'm as big an Excel geek as anyone and

051uh happy I will spare you though the details of um of what we created as far as a tracking document to really help make our NTSS process more consistent. We had the advantage of timing where um Desi I can't remember it was an audit, a review, something that was intentional where they came in reviewing the process and so we had the advantage of seeing what it is that they want at the end when it comes to the reports. We're able to use that and work our way backwards everything from the referral process to the communication that happens to monitoring. Um and so that's something that we're uh happy to be able to do. Having said that, I'll be happy to sit a little bit on the first goal where we talked about culture of joy.

052Um, more whole school activities for students and staff, gratitude days. Uh, many students would say that was the highlight so far this year. Uh, hopefully we'll have some more highlights before the year is out. Uh, again, looking at community connections, uh, one of the ones that I'm excited about is I believe it's the first time ever that we're having a grade eight promotion ceremony. >> Um, so we're going to be doing that this year. Um, I'm excited for that to do that. Um and again we will see how it goes the first time and um we will be making adjustments. Uh one thing I would like to say for the benefit of anyone at home though is I know it's difficult uh to attend things during the school day. That's why we're working with 143TV

053both to have it live streamed but also to have it recorded. So even if it's not the same as being there in person, but it's at least an option that uh parents and caregivers will have uh for again the first ever promotion ceremony for our eighth graders. And then the schedule was a big issue. Uh specifically lockers. Lockers is a huge issue. Um I'm happy to say that we're partnering with our student council. We're looking at uh potentially slight tweaks to our schedule um to allow a little bit more passing time throughout the day so that students will have more time. We're also going to pilot. There are some student council volunteers who are going to pilot um not having a lock on their lockers and uh also more accessible lockers for some students. um

054small I'm talking maybe like three kids for each of those options just to get a sense see how it goes. It's something that is important to folks and I'm happy to um again take an opportunity to to respond to that. Second goal as I mentioned that that teaching learning and leading um extension activities and enrichment activities for all students of course but as I mentioned high achieving students during the process we're looking at u diffit is uh something that we want to oversimplify but the idea is teachers can take their their actual lesson plans upload it to this generative AI app and basically say make it harder make it easier um and it's able to do that again like most AI it is not a perfect system, but the the amount of time that that

055can save teachers. And again, I just want you to imagine that you if you're a teacher and you have students of varying abilities now, 30 seconds, right, with the appropriate prompting, you could potentially have um here's this handout for you, here's this handout for you, not more work, right? But but deeper to align with the deeper learning. As I mentioned, our interventionists, I I think we can never just rely solely, right, on technology. uh our math interventionist for example is actually licensed and has worked for uh I believe gifted and talented was the actual certification when she worked at leaders in New Jersey. So someone in house who has experience with that as well. So that's something that we're we're looking forward to to building in for next year. Of course, there's the department specific

056work which you know our great department chairs have uh spearheaded that work number of areas whether that's instruction curriculum uh instructional practices or assessment and as I mentioned the leadership opportunities we've we have team liaison at one point person for each team including our specialist team it helps streamline communication we have monthly meetings uh we meet with our PSO as well just again trying to find opportunities for leadership among our staff and at faculty meetings we've adopted a for the faculty by the faculty model so that uh the topics we discuss come from the faculty and uh if they're feeling up for it um to also facilitate those meetings as well and then finally with the MTSS as I mentioned we there's no need for us to get into the specific tracking sheet but that

057is something that's available if you are so interested it really is just making sure that we are doing a better job of tracking everything as I mentioned from the referral process to the interventions um are are they successful are they not successful who being referred. Uh to me one of the important things is it allows us to do a demographic analysis at the end. Who are the people who among our student are getting these interventions? Um and is that appropriate? Are there any disproportionatality disproportionalities there that we should maybe keep in mind? So that's the overall big picture there. As far as looking ahead to next year, I'm not going to say that we are done with joy. We will keep joy going. Um, but a culture of kindness and and I might actually even

058reframe that as a culture of inclusion in terms of what we want to look at. Um, kindness to me it's it's what we're looking for, but it can also feel very big where inclusion I think feels much more concrete to our students. Uh, and again, there's the connections there uh to our to our strategic plan, but this really was driven from the student focus groups I had this year as well as team meetings in terms of hearing um how things are going there. It also connects to our challenge success data um as far as it's a strength that a lot of our students identify but it's not a strength that all of our students identify for our school. So rather it's not necessarily a deficit that we need to get to a certain level to

059my mind it's a strength that we can expand to everybody. Uh again, in line with the high school, looking at the assessment practices, including homework. Um it's nice where uh again, including the work that was done at Dared Hill, I was able to go to some of those um some of those great meetings and and roundt discussions with our fifth graders, uh which was great. And again, it's continuing that work from the elementary level, anticipating the work at the high school level, and just a lot of the teacher discussions that I've had throughout the year as well. As principal Scott mentioned, it's something that my own experience I have a lot of experience with and so I'm excited to be able to bring that to the district. And then learning outside the classroom. This uh

060is based uh mainly on student feedback um and and also parent caregiver input that I've had whether that's through our school council or just in conversations about the projects and the assignments that feel most meaningful. Um and so I'm excited for that. Clearly project-based learning is is uh a great connection to that as is just the general idea of deeper learning. But really this is again and it's it's worded very intentionally um outside the classroom could be out in the community. It could be out of a middle school classroom and into a high school classroom. It could be into a an elementary classroom. But the idea that learning is something that you don't just put on a piece of paper to get a grade on and it's done, right? That it it can and it

061should live beyond that. And that's ultimately what we're excited about, looking forward to do for next year. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Scotty. Are there any questions or comments uh for Mr. Scotty? Anyone just ask you like this is going to sound really bad, but I'm losing track of all sorts, but this is your first year, right? >> Correct. >> Yeah. So, good. That's my thought. >> So, congratulations on a strong first year. going on. I think that uh the school first continued. So that was that was good. >> Uh and and you have accomplished a lot. Uh I mean this is this was a this is this was a great report. Uh and you've zeroed in on a couple things. One that I can't help but notice and I hope our former um

062committee member Mr. Kieran is is watching is lockers. It's been a perennial issue at uh at at um middle school and and high school. Um, and I I don't know that I don't know I don't know about what what what the answer is or what even the problem is. There there has been times where parents are like you need to use lockers but the kids don't want to use lockers. Then there's been kids who are worried about using the locks. Uh, and is there a simpler thing? Then there's been the time thing. Um, but it seems to be everyone gravitates just carrying around all their books with them. Um, so if you can crack that one that'll be uh that'll be impressive. Um, and I think experimenting with things like okay well you you don't

063have you don't have to use a lot. So just just just just just do that. Maybe that maybe that will make things easier. Um but there seems to be definitely a gravity towards kids just carrying their stuff with them. And you know what's weird? When I was in high school, I carried my stuff with me. I had a locker in here once and I was like, "Yeah, not for me." >> Um but um that that's that's interesting. So anyway, the rest of the presentation, looking forward, I'm super excited to see where you uh where you go. Um while I have one job leaving middle school, uh in a couple years I'll have another one coming in. So, uh, still excited about, uh, about seeing where the school grows from personal facility. Thank you very much.

064>> Thank you. Yeah. And I just want to acknowledge, of course, any success I've had, the team, whether it's the leadership team, um, the teachers that I work with, the all the staff that I work with, your support as well. So, very lucky to be part of the great I especially like the joy and seeing those the kids doing that type of thing. And I know that you guys have assemblies every now and again during utilities and it's it's great. It's it's nice for the kids to have something else rather than you just sitting in utility and >> Yeah. >> always needy. >> Yeah. >> Sometimes it's needed, >> you know. Thank you. I like the the highlight of the the grade 8 promotion. Um we were talking about during one of the homework forums.

065>> Uh that the transition between schools needs, you know, this should be fluid. And it was in the context of obviously uh students that are deer hill maybe not getting as much homework and then hitting the middle school and kind of being flooded and we have to do a better job of uh having both ends communicate. But I think that's even the the grade eight, you know, to to build the bridges where it's not you're not kind of the corners are being cut and you're on your own now, but you're being guided to the next step. I think that's just a holistic view that kind of it aligns with everything talked about this one year. So, um that's I think uh obviously as they come in and as they go out having having those is

066great. So, >> Thank you, Mr. Scott Bloody. Your uh your report was great. Uh you are I think in your first year you've proven yourself to be a super dynamic educator. We're very lucky to have you. Um for me middle school is I I you know I now have um a middle like right in the middle of the middle school experience. Early teens are such a like interesting age. Our superintendent was a middle school principal. So I I there's something really special about that developmental group from from a elementary and secondary education perspective. um growing up getting a lot of independence um you know you know getting more in the adult side in the physical sense of things but still in the intellectual sense of things a lot very emotional still very much a child

067it's a really interesting time in someone's life and I think it takes very special people to um confront that with great success like you do and I think we're you know very I'm very grateful that we that we brought you on board and that we found you Um, you're doing a great job there. And I love I I I like the idea of the I do think a a big of um a a discouraging feature about lockers is the lock. I think the kids feel that they don't have the time to fiddle around with the lock and they're going to be late to class. It stresses them out. Oh, I'm not going to do it. >> I know. I feel like we don't need the locks. Like in Deer Hill, they don't have locks. >>

068It's in the name though. >> And um well, the name unlockers. >> Unlockers. >> Oh, very good. Very. But I just >> I I just feel like that's a really interesting idea because I think it might take I mean I don't see the kids going into anyone else. I just don't see them doing it. It becomes a problem becomes a problem, right? But I I feel like it's a it's a it's a worthwhile endeavor. So it's interesting and that's just you know I mean everything you talked about was was interesting and and impactful but this is something that stuck out. It's you know it is it's a perennial issue. >> If I if I may I think it's timely too, right? we're looking at potentially a new building. Like this is an ability for us

069to have some data to to try some things out to experiment. >> Definitely >> because if we're going to have lockers, we need to make sure they're going to be used because if we're not going to have lockers potentially, >> It's a lot of space that we can save. So, for sure. And that goes actually the new building goes to a lot of what you were talking about exploring different things for a field change and different approach is like I mean, you know, how we're going to use the space, be purposeful about that. So, that's a really good point. But thank you, Scott Buddy. Appreciate you. >> Retinal scanners actually would be a good one. >> That was on my list. >> That doesn't cost money at all. >> Well, we'll cover that later. We

070got this all the >> Okay. Thank you so much. Thank you. Appreciate you being here. Next is the superintendent's report. Turn the meeting to our superintendent of school, Dr. Sarah Strang. >> Thank you very much. So over the last two weeks, we've continued with endofear celebrations of our students and their accomplishments. Last week, our Deer Hill students put on a fabulous rendition of The Lion King. Our ogood students shared their artwork with families. And the high school art and music students capped their year and for the seniors their time as part of the arts program with an art show and concert last night. It was awesome. Um, it's always like this that event is always this celebration and then there's like this little bit of sadness because it's over for a whole group of kids.

071Um, so it's just a really special night. Um, and last night many seniors were honored for their accomplishments, but the following students earned special recognition. So the CP Harvey Jazz Award went to Basil Aashi. The faculty recognition award for art went to Toby Carpenter. For music went to Kevin. The um music award for character and integrity went to Paul Chapman. The leadership award went to Kylie Zedi and the John Philips Soua award went to Ronan Kieran. And so that was very nice for all of those students. and then students who were in banding course for all four years were recognized and so it was just a very celebratory night. Um, our Deer Hill students have also been showing off their spelling skills. So bear with me for one moment here. Um, third, fourth, and fifth

072grade spelling be happened this week. And so we want to congratulate all of the students who participated over the last three days and recognize the following students for winning and coming in second for their respective grade levels. So in third grade, first place went to Charlie Maher and Cooper Pinard. Second place went to Chris Ford and Oliver Lee. Fourth grade, first place went to Charlie Topalon and Reed Romano. And second place went to Lucy Yoner and Haley Guarasino. And in fifth grade, it's too bad that Jake is done because his brother Ben Squadrio and Patrick O'Keefe came in first place and Katherine Floric and Reese Leonard came in or Leonard came in um second place. So congratulations to all of our spellers. And finally, just a reminder to all families that this Friday is an

073early release day for our schools. Um, our teachers will be working on wrapping up curriculum work and doing some placement work for next school year. And additionally, it is prom on Friday. And so for anyone who enjoys catching all of our seniors and many of our juniors on the red carpet, you can head to the town common for 6:00. The seniors then will have one week left of classes before senior week and graduation will be on June 6th at 1:00 p.m. at the music circus and we invite all to attend. So that's my report and then I have two other pieces but any questions on the report? Okay. Um, so we've been talking since I was started and before about the MSBA process for the middle school and high school and we are part of

074the process with the MSBA. We are in the eligibility phase which is phase one and the next task that is part of phase one is to form a school building committee. Um, for those of you who in the community don't know about the MSBA process, they require every district who's pursuing a school construction or renovation project to establish a school building committee um before the project can move forward. This building committee will be the governing body of the entire process. They're responsible for guiding decision making, ensuring community accountability, working in partnership with the NBA, the MSBA. They will help hire the owner's project manager, the design firm. They will make sure that we're staying on on task and on track, and they will help finalize what um project we end up moving forward with. Um

075the committee composition is very much dictated by the MSBA and requires representation from all stakeholders including town government, school leadership, finance, facilities, community members and students which is a new addition actually for the MSBA. Um so we are in a place where we have all but one member established for our school building committee. We have to turn this in to the MSBA by June 1st. And so I am happy to share that our school building committee will consist of for town leadership. It will be represented by the new town manager Michelle Liry. Elected officials, a select board member will be Will Ashton. A school committee member will be um Mr. Mlen. School district leadership will include myself, our new assistant superintendent, Beth Wilcox, our new director of finance and operations, Carrie Simmons, and both principles

076who you saw tonight, Principal Scott and Principal Scott Pedi. Um, you have to have facilities and planning expertise. So, Nick Bardi, who is the director of facilities for the town and district, will be on the committee. And then you have to have the person in charge in the town who is um approved to oversee and approve building projects. So that will be our director of planning for the town, John Helen. um for financial oversight. In addition to our director of finance and operations, our town accountant Beth Mosley will be on the committee and we have a liaison to the advisory board who will be Mark Cameron and we're still working with capital planning to secure a liaison from their committee. um you then have to have a series of community members who have experience in

077the field or in a relevant field that is um important to the project. So um we will have Jason Earles who I think most people know was very much a part of getting this where it is. Um, as the person who ran the school facilities committee, this is different than that committee because this is guided by the MSBA has way more people. Um, John Teriyaki who's an architect in town, Tyler McFersonson who is in construction, Tina Lad who's also in construction and design. And Ryan Andis who is also in construction and all many of them have construction in like public facility buildings. Um, and then Kelly McNeel is another parent and community rep and she brings communication and community relations expertise. Um, we have teachers on this committee and this is a rather large community

078because we're really talking about two schools, right? And so you need to have all of the people and then when it comes to teachers, we need to have teachers and students from both schools. So, um, Erin Ryan, Erin Foley from the middle school, Blair Duncan, Adam Sasso from the high school, and Kathy Serudi who bridges both. And then most importantly, we have our students from both schools. We'll have Zoe Lee, Mano Stein, Georgia Gregory, Molly Irwin, and Matt Frasier. Um, I'm excited to have their voices at the table. I've done this work twice before and never before has the MSBA required students to be part of the official committee. I've had students be involved in other ways, but this is a really nice change for them. Um, so we will send the finalized list to

079the MSBA by June 1st. The work of this committee doesn't actually begin for quite some time. Um it really doesn't begin until sta phase two of the process. Um but my goal is actually to bring the whole committee together in the fall just to at least meet one another and talk about what the full process looks like. Um so we're well on our way. We have a large committee. My other part the other reason I'm not concerned about the size of the committee is because I know that some people can attend on one night, other people can't. So, this will give us a really good group at every meeting. Um, and the varied perspectives will really help keep us on track and moving forward and hopefully result in a really good product that we can

080share with the community. So, just an update on where we are with that. Any questions? >> It's an incredible roster. It is a big committee, but it really working with work with most of the people on that >> just and it's going to be important that every decision they make is one that is you know is well thought out I think >> so that's encouraging >> yeah it's a very experienced group which is nice >> from a logistics perspective are you planning a just because that number of people it's hard to get a actual working group together I mean you're more kind of a you know it's less a committee and more just like a a forum. Uh will there be subcommittees that actually are tasked with specific things to >> there are there's actually

081um very specific tasks that will be accomplished in different very specific conversations that will happen at each meeting. Um and so everybody will have opportunity to weigh in as we're making decisions. The only time we'll have subcommittees, we'll have a subcommittee for hiring the OPM and we'll have a subcommittee for hiring the um design firm, but other than that, it is everybody together. >> And is it like like everybody votes? >> Not everybody will be eligible to vote. There are certain criteria for who's eligible to vote. >> Okay. Well, it's it will be this will be a black belt exercise in in in management. So, but it is it is a stellar roster and it doesn't surprise me at all that co coasset can bring ray experience to bear in this. So, >> um I'm

082looking forward to seeing where that goes. >> All right. Um I also wanted to share out so last meeting we shared our end of year goals and I had shared with you that all of our strategic planning committees would be wrapping up at the end after that meeting and as we get to the end of the year and our communications committee has wrapped up. Um, and so I wanted to share with you in a little bit more detail the work of that committee and then the work of that committee moving forward. This is not a one-year committee. It's going to be a multi-year committee. Um, and it was a small but mighty committee. It was myself, it was Dr. Scolins, Alex Sullivan, Lisa Borderly, Jen Asher, and Sean Turner. Um and we are expanding that

083group next year as well and bringing in a few more people. Um but this year we set a foundation for communications and we did a lot of the work that had been outlined in the strategic plan. And so we met monthly throughout the year and we conducted a comprehensive audit of all of our communications practices, the tools that we use and the stories that we do and we don't tell to the community. Um, and we went right to families. We did a survey with our families and they confirmed several things that we suspected. One is that they rely heavily on our emails and our newsletters. Um, I knew that the newsletters were being used. I didn't realize how heavily people relied on them. And so that was really good information to have. Um, and they

084also want communication that's clear, concise, timely, and easy to act on. And so, you know, when you look at this plan, you'll see that one of our goals next year will be, okay, we know that the newsletters are important. How do we enhance them? How do we have a more consistent um brand on them? How do we have a more consistent order of operations when people receive them? And that there's some consistent information that's shared at no matter what newsletter you get. Um at the same time, we heard that they're frustrated by inconsistencies, that there's too many links with not enough information. Um, and there's li limited visibility into the schools. I think that's big one of the biggest learnings that we have is how do we get what we do every day in every

085school out into the public? How do we tell our story of teaching and learning? because you listen to the presentations at these meetings and you hear about the accolades and you hear about the awards but you don't get to see the actual teaching and learning happening and that's where the magic is. So how do we put that out into the world in a different way? Um and so there's strong work, but we have to be better at how we are making that visible. Um so our communication plan is a two-year plan and it's really how do we communicate clearly and how do we tell our story. Um year one is focused on building that next layer of the foundation. It's streamlining our tools, standardizing newsletters and email. um establishing predictable send schedules. There's a lot

086of research out there about what's the best time to send. The reality is there's no best time for everybody, but there are better times than others. And so we'll we'll work on that. Um and how do we build some cohesive branding and storytelling across the whole district? will engage high school students in that work because it's real and it's relevant and it helps them build their resume for whatever they want to do next. And we have students who are deeply invested in this work. It's it's a passion for them and we want them to be able to celebrate not only what is happening in our schools but celebrate the work that they do as well. Um and our goal is really to communicate the value of the Cohasset public schools education. Um it will help

087us lay groundwork for ongoing support and broader support from the community. And then in year two, see this is year two right here. Um we hope to actually have a new communication system. Right now, we're still using a couple different um tools because of contracts. We're not in a place yet to switch, but we want to be ready to switch when we um and to use a platform that is more user friendly, more accessible, more um streamlined, and actually is more all-encompassing for families. lots of other districts are using some of these tools and we want to be ready to to make that shift when we can and we we'll share more about that with all of you as we get closer to that decision point um as we head into year two. Um and

088we want to continue to personalize the communication by school and by interests and expand how we talk about teaching and learning. Um it's all really important. Our kids are what we care about most. And some children are really good at coming home and telling whoever's there what happened during the day in great detail and sharing all of their work. And some students when you say, "How was school?" They say, "Fine." and you pick and you pull and you try to get that information, but it's hard sometimes, right? They've had a long day just like we are when we get home from work. We don't always want to recount everything. So, how do we share with our families? Because it's really great stuff that's happening. And when you know as families what's happening in the schools

089now, it's a different conversation when you sit down to dinner or when you're in your car with your kiddo. And it's not how is school it's hey I saw that you did this really cool project on you know water tell me about that gets far greater response than how is school and we want to give our parents the tools to be able to have those conversations so there's a lot of work still to be done but I think we are poised to really do that work well. Um, so this is the plan we have. It may flex and be fluid a little bit. Some things from year one may bump to year two. Some things from year two may bump to year one. But um, overall, we're hoping to provide all of our families and

090the wider Cohassid community um, with more information about the Cohasset public schools so we can tell a story of what a great district this is. >> Thank you, Dr. Shannon. Um just for clarification before we uh ask questions are are we are when you talk about a communication platform are you talking about Aspen? >> No Aspen is a student management system that's a very different we're talking about the the website that we use. We're talking about Blackboard the things that we use to push out communication. >> Greg will not be leading that committee if we just >> that's a very >> one can be optimistic. Okay. Um So, if anyone has questions for Dr. Shannon on um on on her presentation on communication plan, >> we got a few things. Um one, um I don't

091want to relitigate or introduce any more noise. Um but at Oz School Council, we had a really good robust discussion among the parents about, hey, how's it going? And I do wonder if this is something that we could task each school council with coming up with their own kind of answer because I do think the answers will vary depending on the age group. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. So and it was just it was really good time to kind of have five people work to kind of get through all the different scenarios and come up with kind of a clarified okay this was what would make sense for all of us. Uh second thing is on the the time frame um and again I'm coming from the the marketing world uh where um you know we

092did a lot of our own research and testing in times of day AP testing you know Tuesday at 10 or 11. Uh eventually we actually got to the point where we could tell for everyone everyone on our newsletter list that was hundreds of thousands what time of day they were most likely to interact with something. So I don't think we'll get that far, but I do think that should look at interactive like if we're try different things and see then what the interactive level is, the interaction level is um to try to figure out what's best. So we've got the the research, but also we can respond to people um more dynamically. It doesn't have to be one thing. Um, and then I had a third thing, but I went off topic and it was

093the Aspen thing this year. >> Wing your room over. >> Okay. >> Anything else? >> Um, I'm just going to this this as good time as any to raise my locker thing uh that I've been raising for years and maybe it's a bad idea. No one's just told me it's a bad idea, but I asked I asked about it and it maybe it has happened. No one's told me. Um, but I would have thought that it'd be a great idea for us to have a school brochure. >> Oh, that was it. >> So, so like you know you go to the private schools and they have this like little brochure tells you about the school. It's kind of glossy cover thing. Not that much, but it you look at it you're like that's really impressive

094and I don't I I said probably four years ago, hey, let's have one of those. And you know, it's like, oh, great idea. And then it never happens. So So maybe it's like maybe it never happens. Maybe it's not a great idea. But it for to me that does two things. One, it's it shows parents that we're competing with these other institutions and that we can compete with those other institutions. >> Two, it forces us to think in a bite-sized bit about what what is our school value proposition. And I think we've got a tremendous one. >> And I think of all the schools that we could have, we probably the best brochure. Uh and then when when you've got that, then you've got a concise bit of communication that can inform some of the

095other things. So, I just wanted to put another plug for that for that idea. >> So, I don't think that's a bad idea. I actually think it's a great idea. And we had that conversation with the two adults who are now running the digital the high school digital leaders club. >> And so, I think you will see that come at some point next year. >> Yeah, that I think it' be I think it'd be fun. I would say we haven't had the bandwidth or or the skill set >> to do it, >> but the kids are going to be great at it. >> Yes. So that's a great idea that outsource so that they they get the experience. >> Yeah. >> And it's just, you know, >> and it's great >> experience for them as

096they figure out what they want to do, what they want to be, what they want to do next. So yeah. >> Great. the the univers the universal feedback from the Yazu school council was actually to your point physical papers going home exactly for the reason you stated which is some of these emails are really long and when it's an email or a newsletter that's digital you can just make it go on forever if there's a piece of paper requires a mental process of prioritization and um talked a lot of the parents in the room had really good things to say about the other physical newsletters I know we're trying to get away from paper but now that we're being flooded with all this electronic having some something that goes home or is male but goes

097home with the students that's physical was uh highly sought after in our group. So >> okay just being mindful of time I'm sure you'll be presenting as this evolves absolutely other developments. So we'll move on to um block E. I think that concludes superintendent report. >> It does. Yes. Thank you. >> So move on to block E teaching and learning. Turn the meeting for assistant superintendent of schools Dr. Leslie Stins. >> Thank you. Give me um posts. >> Yes I can. apologize for not doing that earlier. >> And so I'm excited to share all the hard work like you know how all the teachers and administrators and kids everyone works so hard. Um this has been a process that we have um been working on for the past couple of years. click it because then

098something off. So, um, so on our here's our website. We now have our curriculum maps for the secondary, so for middle and high school. And I really just want to thank the teachers, the department chairs, the principles. They have worked so hard over the past couple of years. You're seeing a public-f facing document that is created to be easier to read to um for the community. So, for caregivers and anyone interested to see what is happening. Um they also have ones that are um their maps are much more in-depth and have so much more detail to them. Um and so um I want to give them just so much credit for all the work they've done to formalize it and to make it so that they're across um they're the same across the the district.

099So just for everyone to know, you just come into our website, you hit on departments, and you will come right to curriculum instruction. And there's lots of information on the side here about our curriculum instruction, but you will click on curriculum here. And I also want to thank Lisa Poor Lisi for all her work because she is the brains behind creating all of this. I say I would like it this and she creates it um for for us because um I have no idea how it all works. And so, um, if you scroll down, there's a little blurb and then there are the high school maps and these are all drop downs. So, if you wanted to see what's happening in English, you just click on here and every one of these is a curriculum

100bath. There are some that are still being worked on and some of the work that's going to be done on um Friday. And then you will see a map. And the thing about these is that they can be um updated so they can stay current and it gives you what the unit is what's happening for the unit uh skills and concepts the standards that are um from the mass frameworks and then the essential questions and and during understanding depending on what the content is. And so you can go through and you can see um what's happening and what teachers are doing um and what the expectations are for your child as a student in the Goa public schools. And so there's back here and then you can see that you have a look over here

101visual performing arts everything is there for you to be able to go and see. Some electives are there. Some electives will be worked on um over the summer in particular at the social studies, but um I think I think it's easy for parents and caregivers to access. And again, here's the middle school. Same the titles are the same also the content area. So that'll make it easier for people. Um these are still in process because they had the new standards that we've been working on implementation. So those will be done this um Friday, but you can come over here and you can go science and there's all science and so pretty easy to to get around. And then if you go below um there will be right down here will also be um the elementarymentaries

102and those will be done over the summer. And then down here you can have you can see all the curriculum frameworks and again drop down menus for everything that you need. So I'm going to click Um, we also put them on all the maps. Oh, here they are. >> So, that'll take you to um information for the state. Any questions? >> Any questions, Dr. Scholast? >> Um, well, one one comment then a question. I'll be brief. >> This is incredible. I love this. Uh, I think this is something that will help our families a ton. Uh I know it's something that that our family has looked for and we felt lost that we didn't know where where our there was one a couple years like where are we trying to achieve where are we in

103the school year are we on track and knowing having easy access to this is great one suggestion that may be out of reach. I think this is like super important maybe even important enough to go back and be one of the five things on the homepage instead of buried under a department. Well, you mean so under the tabs here? >> Well, you know, our district, superintendent, school committee, departments, curriculum, students and families. Like I think that's cuz I mean that's that's our core mission is to is to deliver this curriculum. >> Um >> poor Lisy question. >> Yeah, it's but it's it this is this this would be really cool. And if we needed to sacrifice the school committee page, I think we I'd be happy to to to seed the real estate if that's

104curriculum, >> but we could probably fit another one up there. Yeah, I think this is why Lisa's the really this the brilliance behind this because she'll know how >> I just worry that >> if it's under departments and under the side >> you're not going to get as many people finding it >> that need it >> and or they even know it's there. So >> your point is maybe we can explore ways to highlight this. >> No, I just put it up there. If they can't do that then they have to >> Yeah, we could. I mean there's a couple places on the >> Yeah, we might be able to put it down here also. Um depending these I know we can add different ones because we can come back and forth because they're templates.

105>> I don't know how much movement >> but Lisa can figure all of them he can figure out to to restate point this is huge. Let's make sure it's very easy to get to very obvious on our on our homepage. This is this is a a lot of effort has gone into that and I think it'll be a great tool for families and I'm super excited about it. So, if there's a way to make it in people's face, like even all the better. >> Well, I think the less clicks the better. And that's that's something we talk about all the time and even looking at um this website platform, other website platforms. That's real. You get to three clicks, you're done. No one's going any further. >> Like Aspen can be eight clicks in. >>

106That's for that's for another time. >> Might as well be. they were involved. Um but uh anyway though, but yes, I'm glad um and again, I can't thank the teachers and the department chairs and the principles enough. This was their work um all the way. So I'm just happy to be able to share their >> Thank you, St. Anything else? >> Thank you, Dr. Schol. It's a ton of work for everyone. That's a nearly finished product that reflects a lot of work. it is because it's lots of it's not this is simplified but the alignment I think that's been an amazing >> amazing um result of all of this is the alignment prek 12 so it's just been really good work it's been really fun and enjoyable >> it's a big project well thank you

107uh is that the full teaching and learning report all right moving on to block F budget resources governance we do have a gift to consider from the coa education foundation. >> Yeah. >> Um it is uh I mean I'm happy to let you >> um this is pretty amazing as always. We are so incredibly grateful to the CF for their ongoing support. Um this cycle of grants is equal to $101,210. That's a lot of money. And um in a year where we had to make a lot of hard choices, this was incredibly helpful. Um there's an anonymous donor to the CF who donated $100,000 for technology for the secondary school district. And so we did submit a grant. Um, Principal Scott, Principal Scarpleti, um, submitted some technology requests and that was granted of $46,000 worth.

108Um, some of that is for the programming in Adam Sassos classes. Some of it is technology that will support math and science classrooms. There's a lot in there and it's just unbelievable that they were able to support all of that. Um the middle school put in a few grants. You heard Principal Scrapleti talking about his his um not letting joy go and shifting to incorporate more belonging. And so there's a grant that will support that work. And actually um Principal Scott is sort of joining forces in that as well. And so some of that will filter up into the high school which is awesome. Escape the waste is a grant that will support the middle school STEM classroom and curriculum. And then there's a jazz artist and residents who's going to be coming next year

109as well. Um, Dear Hill put in a grant for releasing writers to support the writing program and to excite kids when it comes to writing. Um, near and dear to my heart, because we did have to make so many sacrifices with our budget, we did turn to the CDF to support our professional learning for next year. and they supported in full a grant to support our project-based learning professional development for a cohort of teachers next year. And that's just amazing because it means the work can continue >> and it continue at a high level. Um and so you know you're going to hear when we present the professional learning plan that we have four pathways that teachers are going to be able to choose. Project based learning is one of them. and now we will

110be able to bring in um some support to do that training in a really high quality highlevel way. So I'm just incredibly grateful to the CF for all of their support and would ask that you accept their donation of 101,210. >> So moved. Well, before we do that, are there any questions or comments related to gift? I >> feel like we should stand up and clap. I It's really It's a reallyable thing and it really >> it speaks to somebody's out there listening and um that people out there willing to help exactly where we need it. Um so yeah, whatever whatever show of graciousness. Yes, >> we're extremely lucky for the CF to have a community group like that whose sole mission is to improve the teaching and learning >> uh of our public schools.

111We're sitting in one of the uh >> in in one of the facilities that was gifted by the CF and in my opinion one of the one of the best resources we have in the entire district is this comments. So, uh thank you CF. Uh now, are there any motions to accept the gift for $11,210 as presented by Dr. So moved. Second. >> Motion been made. Seconded by Mr. Evans, made by Mr. Dial. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> All opposed. Extensions. Okay. Motion carries by a vote of four. Members present. Nearly passes. And uh we should issue them one of their letters that we send out thanking them. >> We will. And I know at some point they'll come with the big check. >> We'll do a photo >>

112over a certain amount. >> We'll put that in the newsletter and all of those things. So that >> we will thank them both privately and publicly. >> Mortgages are so weird. >> All right. >> Monthly budget update. Duck Shane. >> Yes. Okay. So >> monthly budget update. We are continuing to track in an okay way for the end of this school year. Um, our current uncommitted balance is just over $2,000 because we are now through the majority of our winter months because it's 95 degrees out. Um, we do off, right? >> Yeah. We do know what our utility costs through the big part of winter are. Um, not a shock. We used more gas than we had in the past because of the heat. Um, but we actually used fewer kilowatts of electricity and so

113there's a bit of a tradeoff there. Um, so I, you know, according to Miss Owen, we're and Beth Mosley who's the town accountant, we're still in good shape. Um, athletics, the spring sports are underway. So, we were collecting all of those spring sports fees, which has put our athletic revolving balance back into the positive, which is where we needed it to be. We knew it would take until spring sports for that to happen, but we are there. Um, the business office is in the process of collecting all outstanding invoices, identifying any other payments that we may need to to do so that they can then and our final um payroll is happening on June 18th. And so at that point, we will really be in a place to know where we may need to still

114do some transfers to revolving accounts or grants. Um we still have about $55,000 in salary savings available to offset some potential deficits. So we are very much feeling confident about ending the year in a positive place. >> All right, overall positive budget update. >> Thank you, Dr. Shane. Any questions or comments relative to the budget budget update is presented by Dr. Shannon? >> One question, the the electrical savings is is pretty significant. Do we have any thoughts as to what we've done right to because if I saw that correctly, it was a savings of $40,000. >> I I I don't know. >> I mean, because I know we've been we've been planning things. We've changed lights. We've done things. Um, it just be I'd just be curious to see if we can figure out, you

115know, what else we've done to maybe double down on that or just make sure that we don't change going forward. >> That might be something we can look at in the coming months. So, >> great. >> Yeah. and point out the consistency of these reports the last, you know, nine months, the projections and the fact that it landed literally on on the the the line that was a hair's width and the whole time consistent messaging and I do think the how we've formatted themes have gotten better. I like what we are >> um and um I do think for next year I'd like to change how we structure how we talk about revolving accounts. M uh but that's for for next year. But otherwise just again want to point out and I've said this to

116everyone I could uh the fact that we are able to be this close and this on market really means we figured stuff out. And so when we say >> when we talk about what we need next year and the year after, >> we're not starting from a place where we're guessing. We're starting from a place of really understanding. I mean, every dollar you're talking again at the end it's not going to be 2,000, but right now a $2,000 you're worth $2,000 of of a 20, you know, $6 million budget. Like that's >> that's remarkably impressive. So um thank you for the work on this. Thanks for the whole team's work on this. Uh, and it really is impressive how consistent and reliable it's been this whole time. >> Thank you, Mr. Steph. Anything else? >>

117All right. Thank you, Dr. Shannon. Moving on to block G, community relations subcommittee updates. Any updates for the committee? Any subcommittee or le liazison positions? >> Nothing here. >> I'm going to serve I don't know if we did, but I'm going to serve as the liaison for the solar array RFP. Okay. I don't know if we have to officially adopt that, but >> um I don't know if it's an official position or not. >> Is it did they were there specifically requesting one? >> They were um they came and presented a couple weeks ago. They were requesting a liaison as they go into this RF process, but it's not >> official. >> It's not an official subcommittee or so. I think you're >> you have my blessings. >> All right. As long you're an update,

118so there you go. All right. Anything else? Seeing none, moving on to block H, open governance. First item on that is or sub item is the topics not recently anticipated. There are none. There are however uh some minutes to approved quite a few. Yep. >> Thanks to our uh repeat term secretary. >> As a matter of logistics, uh we can vote for on these except I was absent on the meetings on the 18th. So I don't know if we'd have a forum for those. Well, allow me to uh to allow me to um dispute you those concerns, Mr. Dial. Um we had been informed by town council recently that uh Miss Maher had requested them to look into this and because minutes are in their words a ministerial act uh and could be rendered impossible

119given forum issues uh you don't actually have to have attended the meeting to vote on the minutes for that meeting. So moving forward, we won't have to worry about that anymore. >> I think that's helpful except I don't feel comfortable voting on the next meeting I haven't attended because I can't just I can't I don't know if it was >> right. So did they thought of So the town council's position is that all we're doing is approving them to post them and so you are able to you can feel free to abstain if you'd like but you are able to vote to approve them so that they are posted. Let's I would recommend we just defer on that one. >> Mr. Dial is his company. >> What what whatever he'd like to do. I'm just

120a form of the committee that we don't need to do that anymore. We've always done that. And in fact, >> for me, it's it's always it's like I didn't know I I never typically required to to not vote. I just would always not vote because I didn't feel like I could. Okay. Not not legally could, but didn't feel like >> Mr. Dial, you do you. Um but I'm just letting everyone know that we can um we can do that. I'm prepared to make a motion >> all at once. >> We'll we'll quickly go we'll we'll we'll quickly just go through them one by one. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. >> Okay. >> All right. So, uh motion approved February 25th, 2026. >> So, moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> opposed. Motion

121passes. March 4th, 2026. >> Moved. Second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. Extensions passes March 18th, 2026. >> Which one? >> Uh there uh is the public hearing on the on the school budget. Is there a motion to approve that? >> Someone move. >> Motion to approve it. >> Thank you, Mrs. Z. Uh is there a second? >> Seconded. >> Thank you. All in favor? I >> I >> opposed. Extensions. >> Abstension. >> Okay. Uh motion passes by three majority vote of three members. Uh March 18, 2026 regular meeting of SC school committee. So move. >> Motion made. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed extensions. >> Okay. Motion passes by vote of three. Majority vote of three members. March 25th, 2026. >> Moved. Second. >> All in

122favor? I >> I opposed extensions passes by a vote. Four members. Uh special meeting for March 31st 26. Motion >> second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed extensions. Motion passes. But four members regular meeting of the April 1st April 1st 1026 regular meeting of the committee. So moved. Second. Um I >> in favor >> I >> opposed extensions. Motion carries by vote four members. Uh regular meeting of April 15, 2026. Move. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> opposed extensions. Passes by a vote of four members. May 6, 2026. >> So moved. >> Second. >> This is the public hearing on school choice. >> So moved. Second. >> All in favor? I >> opposed extensions. Motion carries for vote for four members. And last but not least, the May 6, 2026 regular meeting

123of the school school committee. >> So moved. Second. >> All in favor? >> Possessions. >> That wasn't easy to actually do. >> All right. Uh thank you for doing that, Mr. Dial. And lastly, we have uh executive session. There is a reason to move into executive session as stated on the agenda. That reason is uh number three in um general laws chapter 30 capital A section 21 small A uh which is to discuss strategy related to collective bargaining. Uh in this motion to move into executive session we'll also clearly state that we do not intend to move back into regular session and we'll adjourn directly from executive session. Is there a motion to move into exe executive session for reason number three is state on the agenda? >> So moved. >> Second. Um, all in

124favor we have to do that in roll call. Excuse me. Uh, let's see. Alphabetical chang. >> Mr. Evans. >> I. >> Mrs. Y. >> I. And >> I. Greg Mlen. Uh, that motion carries by uh vote. All members present. Zero. >> All right. Well, thank you everyone for joining us. We will journ directly from executive session. Have a great night. Secretary is for that one.