001Good evening everyone and welcome to the regular meeting of the Cohasset School Committee. Today is Wednesday, December 3rd uh 2025. We will do a um we will call the meeting to order with a roll call. Um Mr. Dial >> here virtually. >> Thank you, Mr. Dial. Um Mr. Evans, I know runs a few minutes late. Um Mr. Mlen >> present. >> Mr. Squatrio >> present. >> Jen Leski present. We do have a quorum and we will uh begin our meeting. Please stand if you are able to do so for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you folks. This is Corey Evans Reese's hand.
002It looks like he is attending virtually perhaps. Um, Mr. Evans, if you can hear me. I'm working on getting you a panelist. Okay. So, please let the minutes reflect that Mr. Evans is also present. Um, >> thank you. >> Apologies everybody. My my wife got tied up at the library. So, >> great. All right. So, um this is the part of our meeting that is um dedicated to um public comment. Um we will take comments from anyone who is here in person and or anyone who is online. um uh participating via Zoom. Um and we welcome all comments that you may may have. Um I will note that this is a particularly busy time for all of our teachers, administrators, um families, students alike. Um, so we wish everyone um sort of a some calm
003during this most busy season of playoff games and new sports starting and winter concerts um and all of the other things that go along um with this last um few weeks of 2025. Um I don't see any public comments. Um so we will move on to our invited guests. But I have to say unfortunately um Dylan Juel who is on the superintendent um student advisory council is unable to join us tonight um as as we had planned because he is on the debate team and the debate team is either competing or meeting or practicing. Um so I find that to be an absolutely excellent excuse to not be here and we look forward to Dylan joining us um the next time we meet. So we'll move straight ahead into block D uh the superintendent report.
004>> All right. Thank you. Um, I'm starting off in a similar way that you did, Chair Leeski. Um, hoping that everyone had a nice Thanksgiving and letting folks know that we're entering one of the busiest times of the school year, the three weeks between Thanksgiving and winter break. And so, I have some dates that I want to share so that everyone can make sure their calendars are accurate. Um, so first and foremost, tomorrow we are inviting everybody in the community down to Gillette to watch the Cohasset football team take on Aimsbury in the Super Bowl. Um, if you haven't ever been when they play there, it is a fantastic event. Um, and it is just so fun to watch our kids on the on the Patriots Field. There's nothing like it. And so we hope
005they win. Wednesday the 10th is the middle school concert that is here in the auditorium. Friday the 12th at 9:30 a.m. is the grade three concert at Deer Hill. Tuesday the 16th is the high school concert here in our auditorium. And a reminder to all families that the 19th is a full day of school, but it is the last day of school prior to the winter break. and we look forward to seeing all families and all students again on January 5th, 2026. Um, because it's such a busy time, just want to make people aware as well that the other elementary school concerts, their winter concerts are actually held in January. So hopefully that gives people a little bit of breathing space. want to provide a few updates on what we're doing as a district and
006on our work with regard to the strategic plan. So, first of all, as everybody is aware, Miss Owens, who's been amazing, is um retiring at the end of this school year. We are in the process of hiring a new director of finance and operations. Our committee has been meeting. That committee consists of myself, Dr. Scholins, Mr. Stapleton, Jerry Ballard, and Karen Croll from our business office, Principal Scott, Principal Gardet, Venio Cordone, who's the director of food service. Um, Mr. Evans, Linda Cole, who is the Cohassid town treasurer, and community member Victoria Latanzi. We met to review the 13 applications that came in. And after in reviewing all of those applications, we've invited seven of those folks in for a first round interview. Those interviews will happen on the 10th and 11th. The goal of that
007screening committee is to after those first round of interviews recommend finalists to me so we can have a finalist round of interviews. We're trying to have that happen before we go on break. And the finalist days will consist of a series of forums where candidates will be able to meet with leadership members of the business office, myself and school committee. And then all of those who attend the forums will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the final candidates. And then once a decision is made, I will be making a recommendation for hire to you the school committee after the new year. So that process is ongoing and we are excited to have seven applicants for our interview process. Um our new strategic plan has challenged us to learn, grow, and be inspired together and
008it sets a goal to build opportunities for teacher leadership within the district into more intentionally designed meaningful professional learning opportunities for staff. So to that end, our rejuvenated professional learning committee has been meeting to plan a teacher-led professional development day that will be held on Monday, December 22nd, so in just a couple of weeks. We're very excited about this day. Our theme is balance and belonging. The morning is focused on strategies teachers at all grade levels and in a variety of content areas can use in their classrooms. And the afternoon is focused on teacher wellness and well-being. In all, we've had 35 educators create workshops, some of them together, some of them individually that will be offered to their colleagues, which is an amazing response. And I'm really excited about the day and grateful to
009all of the staff who'll be facilitating the learning experiences and to the professional learning committee who are planning the the event. The communications committee has also been meeting and we are going to be sending out a survey soon to all families requesting information and feedback about district and school level communication. We know that December is a tough time of year, but we're going to try and do things a little bit differently. We will send it out, but we're also going to try and capitalize between December and January on the captive audiences that we have at sporting events and concerts. We hope that by encouraging people to complete the survey while they are sitting in their seats that we will get a greater response rate than we typically do. And once the committee has had time
010to process the results of that survey and make recommendations, we will share an update with you. Those are all of my general updates. Um, if there are any questions on those before I go into staff attendance, I can take any questions. >> Mr. Dial, comments or questions? Sure. Thank you. Evans, >> love the idea. Yeah, love the idea that um you're using captive audiences. That's that's great. Um so uh hopefully we get some feedback. Breaking through so hard, so I hope we can find a way to connect with people more effectively. >> Mr. Quest, thank you to the attention. And I will add my thanks and also um thank you to those um teachers and staff who are leading um their colleagues in seminars. I think that that's just um learning from one another and
011learning from peers. Not only do as a teacher, you understand what it's like to be in the district and so can really tailor your coursework um or course day um accordingly. Um, but I think it's also nice to see each other as experts um, within the the teaching community. So, um, thank you. I think that's also helpful. All right. So, um, recently news outlets have covered a press release from the Department of Education about staff attendance. So, school districts across the state have always reported staff attendance to DESIE as part of our end ofear reports. This is the first time Desi has released staff attendance publicly about districts. Um, for this report, Desi has defined an absence as missing more than half of a workday for a reason that falls outside of paid school vacation
012time or district approved professional development activities. So that means they have counted things like sick days, bereavement days, school business days, and long-term leaves like parental leaves, maternity, paternity, adoption leaves, medical leaves like surgery. All of those days are factored into this this attendance data. The data is released in the aggregate. They are not going to be publishing individual teacher attendance or administrator attendance. And they are being more public with staff attendance because they're also making a concerted effort to improve student attendance, which all of our districts across the state are also making that concerted effort to continue to improve student attendance because if students aren't in school, they can't be they're not learning. Um I recognize that if they're like on some amazing adventure, you know, the pyramids in Egypt, there's learning happening. But
013in general, when students are not in school, they they're not learning what needs to be learned. Um, so I want to share with you, we took that attendance data and I created um a chart that shows us against the state and us against all of our local neighboring districts. Um, I'll pull it up and then I will comment on that. So this is us compared to our local districts. Um the blue is administrators, the gold I'll call it is all staff. So that's teachers and administrators and the green is teachers. Um and what you can see here this is cohasset. And what you can see is that our attendance rates are higher than all of our neighboring districts and above the state totals. And so we're very proud of this. We're very grateful to our
014teachers who continue to show their professionalism, their dedication to their students on a daily basis here in Cohasset. Um, you know, this doesn't show us any cause for alarm. Um, it really shows us that we have something to be proud of here, but we did want to share it with you because it has been something that has been in the news. So, that's really all I have for my superintendence report. If there are any questions about the attendance data, happy to take those questions. >> Mr. Dial, questions. Uh I I you you you've covered all all the questions I might have, but I guess just to put a put a point on it, uh we report this data to Desessie, so I I imagine nothing here came as a surprise to you uh with respect
015to our our attendance then. >> No. >> Great. >> I guess you know what, we always know that our attendance and our teachers are really great about it. What we didn't know is how we compared to other districts and now we do. >> Great. Yeah. So it seems like we we compare very favorably. I I know we've talked about that and um in in areas and and I think it's it's good that we're on the on the positive side of the ledger on that one. >> Mr. Evans, >> no comments, but yeah, great data. >> I also have no comments, but I think you know obviously these are small fluctuations we're talking about, but it is definitely still encouraging and makes a difference. >> Mr. Mullen, >> thank you. co has it staff and our
016teachers for being on top there. I love that hunter green line there showing that our teachers are are as Mr. mentioned it's it's a minor fluctuation but still yeah >> it's good to be on top. >> It is. >> So thank you everyone for your dedication to our students and our school and our families and our community. >> Couldn't have said it better myself, Mr. Mlen. Thank you. Thank you teachers. Um because it does, being a teacher myself, it does mean making your dentist appointments after 400 p.m. which were sometimes hard to get those appointments um and needing to sort of uh get your car serviced at 6:00 a.m. Um, so, you know, I hope that um in addition to just um being really grateful to you for for showing up and and being here
017and and being engaged with our kids all the time, but but are also rearranging your personal lives around your um your workday, which is pretty inflexible. Um so, thank you. Um all right, Dr. Collins, teaching and learning. >> Thank you. So, um I um have brought to you past couple of meetings is the policy the new policy for the middle school pathway exploration policy um IH A I A and this is a requirement by the state. So, this is your third read. Um, and we are required to do this. And it really, just as a reminder, is we've always been doing this, but now we have a policy that talks about the fact that we offer the opportunities for our middle school, our eighth graders to see vocational schools within our area. Um, and that
018would be Southshore Tech and then, um, Norfick. And so we have always done it and will continue to, but we just needed to make sure we had a policy. So I'm asking for you to consider it to vote. Um we have had the opportunity to um discuss, ask questions, get clarifications. Are there any lingering points at this at this point? Have any community members speak well, please? If not, does everyone feel? >> And I'm I'm sorry, my my audio broke for a second there. Leslie, would you mind just doing the last two seconds of your your thing? >> Sure. I'd like to give anyone an opportunity for any final words they have on >> Well, no. I I heard you. I from Dr. Collins. >> Oh, you Oh, from me. Okay. And I'm sorry. What
019did of course you don't know what you didn't hear because you couldn't hear it. >> So, um, but this is the policy for the middle school and it's looking making sure that there are exploration pathways for them. Um and so this is for um us to make sure that we are making that making opportunities for our eighth graders and our families to know about our vocational school and also Norfick Aggie. Um they usually come here and then they also will provide field trips um for our you know for our eighth graders to go visit. >> My apologies. It broke up and I thought you'd said you changed something from the prior time we talked about this. I just want to make sure I didn't I didn't miss something. So, if there are no further comments
020or questions at this point, um we'd be seeking a motion um to approve the middle school pathway exploration policy as presented. >> So, move. >> Thank you. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Uh we'll do a roll call vote. Mr. Dial, >> I. >> Thank you, Mr. Evans. >> Hi, >> Mr. Squadrio. Hi, >> Mr. Mlen. Hi, >> Jesus. I consider it approved. >> Thank you very much. >> It's not even a consider it approved. It is approved. >> Thank you so much. I'm very happy about that. Thank you. We appreciate it. All right. >> Have that added to our policies. And then we have two other policies and you'll see that I have first and second read. I've asked that we do that because one is competency determination and the
021other one is graduation requirements. And the reason I'm asking you to fasttrack these a little bit is the fact that um this is also a requirement by the state. If you remember last year the people of Massachusetts voted to eliminate MCCAST as a graduation requirement. They are asking districts to come up with a plan to determine competency determinations and um that will include policies. It includes courses um and as well as metrics for determining the achievement and we are to submit all this by the 31st of this month. Um we've been waiting for guidance from Desi. They told us they would give us some guidance in November. They gave it to us on December 1. So we've been kind of waiting because we knew they were going to give guidance and we didn't want to
022have to come back to you. However, that doesn't seem to be the case um because they gave it to us on the first. They also had a webinar this morning. they are sticking with that timeline. However, they've given their guidance which um is has seven components to it. So, we're going to be in front of you again to ask you to change the policy based on what they're going to tell us, but I need to have the policy done before the 31st today of December of this year. Um they're asking us to still fill everything in and then they're going to tell us what to do. So, >> can I add to that? Yes. They literally this morning on the webinar they had a webinar specifically with the commissioner, the secretary of education, the president
023of MASS and I think every superintendent and the assistant superintendent in the state. Um and they literally said we recognize that we just gave you this information on Monday and we are definitely going to ask you to continue to submit by December by the end of December. Um so they know oh well because actually the association of school superintendent have given them the feedback that the fact that they ask us to do things then give us the guidance and then have us come back um doesn't feel good and feels as though it undermines trust and legitimacy with the public. Um but at the same time we need to follow the desi timeline and submit and so we are ask going to ask you again to revise this once they have completed their process of like
024what they s gave today is actually just the draft in their their midpoint recommendations. They're still doing work in their final recommendations they said won't be available until June. >> So thank you. That's exactly right. Thank you. Um, so what we've done is we have worked with other districts also. We've looked at what other people are doing. Most of us are all on the same page and if you've seen the news, all of us since mid November have been asking their school committees to, um, approve their competency determinations. And so, um, it's based on what we need to accomplish, what students need to do, and it's always it's what we've always been doing for our students. It's just that we've removed the MCCAST part of it. So they have certain English requirements, they have um
025mathematics requirements, um science and US history and so um that would be the compet competency determination policy and that's IKF. I can I pull up my screen for you. So that's this one and it also addresses special education um students also in this as a process um to follow. And then the second one is graduations. Um and then the other one. There we go. And then the graduation requirements. These are what we've always had. So um it's we didn't have a policy actually for graduation. So we added that in addition to because we're going to because we're going to have to have it anyway. So those are the two policies that we have in place. So you can we can wait until the 17th, which is perfectly fine. If you want to look at them
026over and think about it, have questions, if you want to vote for it today, you can do that also. Feels kind of foolish saying it this way, but um we're going to have to put it in front of you anyway next year when they tell us exactly what we have to have. >> I'm wondering, we have Principal Ryan Scott here. Um um Principal Scott, would you like to join us for any questions? um from the um high school principal perspective on graduation requirements and >> yeah changes and and sort of how this impacts operations and also principles I think they've been in this from the beginning principal Scott had >> working with other principles and trying to kind of figure out what we're supposed to do. Do you have any words you would like to
027share with us up front or >> Yeah, I would just say the graduation requirements are what they've evolved to be over the years. We've made some minor changes as coursework has changed. Um but that doesn't change. Our graduation requirements are much more stringent than the states. So the thought process among all the principles was um it's kind of nonsensical to have two because if you're going to meet ours, you will automatically meet the states. However, if they implement some of the things that they're suggesting, um that would include like um an end of course assessment, which is essentially MCAST rebranded, um we want to allow ourselves the flexibility for all of our students who are transfers, who are special ed to be able to meet those uh in addition to ours. So, >> um, we'll
028see if any board members have any and or committee members, excuse me, have any, um, initial questions or comments. Mr. Dial. >> So, for a threshold matter, just to make sure I understand, we're being asked to review at this point two new policies at the request of DESIE competency determination and then graduation requirements. Can you maybe maybe you you said this but I was just trying to digest that concept uh at this point but how does this compare from yesterday to today? Like are these just memorializing what we currently do or are there things in here that are different than our current model for both competency determination and for graduation requirements? >> It's essentially the same language that we've had with the elimination of MCCAST as a graduation requirement. So the prior to that it
029said that you had to take a certain number of courses, you had to pass two years of English, you had to pass a science. We've just specified what those courses are the same as it was before. >> And did we not have it as a policy before? I remember we talked about this and when when the MCAST and we we we decided what the um was it not a just a policy or or what's changed here? >> Was always in the program of studies, right? Um it just wasn't >> Oh, that's what it was. So it's always been Got it. So this is this is a policy level school committee policy level issue that is being elevated out of the program of studies for the composite determination. Is that also true for the graduation requirements?
030>> Okay. And and these are except for the MCCAST which we talked about last year. These are otherwise identical to what we currently have in our program of studies. >> Yeah. >> Correct. >> Yeah. With the exception of an appeals process. Right. Put that in. >> We had to put it in a bills process because it can go back in time now that the law has changed. And so we have to give those who have I'm not going to use the word graduated because technically they're appealing if they graduated. So um left the district because they've aged out. Um if they weren't able to >> if they got a certific Yeah. If they got a certificate of completion versus a diploma, we now have an appeals process for them to come back and appeal that
031to get a diploma. >> But that's a minimumation for this district. >> Yeah. >> It would involve someone who didn't take and pass, I guess. >> It doesn't really have. >> Okay. And and where did that how did that how did you develop that appeals process? We haven't had one before. Did you was there a baseline or an example that we started from? >> It is. We looked at what other districts were doing and so we we kept it very simple because we know that the state's going to give us more language >> and basically we would just retroactively apply the current standard. So we would review the students coursework um if that aligns with what the current competitive determination is and that would be crouch for a favorable deal. >> Okay, that that's super
032helpful. I'll just I'll just note from my perspective, I'm I'm I'd like to spend some time thinking about this as opposed to look and and allow the community have feedback on this. These are obviously whether our kids graduate or are competent for uh for entering society are important roles of the school and I don't want to just rush that through a school committee meeting. So, um I will uh I thank you for that and it's helpful. It doesn't sound like there's a big delta there, but I do want to be thoughtful about it. So, appreciate your input. >> Thank you, Mr. Dial. Uh, Mr. Evans. >> Yes, thanks. Principal Scott, did you did I hear you correctly? Did you say that our internal documents are somewhat different or they have a higher standard? Is did
033I hear that correctly? >> So, every local community gets to set their own graduation standards in addition to what the minimum standards of the state are. >> Those have always been published in our program of studies and those continue to be the same. So, in the case of a student that would meet the state requirement but not our requirement, does that how does that get solved or is that not even a thing that can happen? >> They still have to meet ours. So, ours is a much higher standard, right? >> So, were you to transfer out of Cohassid, you may have already meet met that local district's requirements, but you would if you transferred in and it only met the state minimum, you'd need a few more semesters. Okay. So, we're not compelled to change
034our our standards downwards due to this new guidance. Okay. All right. Thank you. >> No, it's really memorializing what we already do. >> Mr. Squadrio, >> thank you to everybody for putting up with this. Um, personally, just throwing it out there. I'm not binding to this. I'm happy to vote on this knowing that one again, it is just memorializing what we've already established. I went through all these requirements and I was like, "Oh, this is all the same." Um, so with that being said, I as an individual would be comfortable with it, but if other people want to give it time for the next two weeks, I think that's perfectly fine as well. But mostly just because it's not changing anything. Um, but yeah, I guess my question, I know you brought up some of
035the criteria that Desi was >> mentioning this morning. >> Yes. Has anything I know it's it's very recent, but has anything major popped out that maybe we're missing or or do you think we're pretty closely aligned? Do you have an idea of that yet? >> The requirements are going to be very interesting to see where they land because there are now seven dimensions and the seven dimensions include the possibility of end of course exams. So you take US1 and you take the state US1 exam. But if you don't pass the state exam, there's no real recourse for what happens. So, one of the things that the principles were talking about was when we're explaining competency, do you need to just pass the course or do you need to pass the exam? And what constitutes competency?
036Um because if you don't, then what do you have what do you do? You don't retake it because you've already got the credits, but do you have to retake the exam? How does that work? There's all kinds of questions around that. Um they also have included the possibility of a capstone portfolio project um >> in addition to taking the assessment that will be grand. >> Right. Yeah. This is all together. Um so we would have to think about how that gets offered. Um is that a second first semester second semester senior course? Uh who teaches it? There's a possibility of a financial literacy component. So again like who teaches that? What do we give up in order to put that in the schedule? Um, you know, obviously we do offer, we just don't mandate it.
037Um, and then there's some strange things like you have to complete the FAFSA. >> Um, and the rationale behind that was that they want to make sure everyone has a path to postsecary opportunities. I don't see that as a huge challenge for us, nor do I really see it as the role of the school. Um, but that's a component of it. There's a CTA component of it, uh, which wouldn't apply to us. um trying to think of what >> there's a my or there's a um the CTE which is the >> well it's about job planning and in discovering using a a program they have my cap we actually use a different program >> 360 >> um to start in middle school so kids can start to think about what path they want to take
038>> postgraduation so that was a requirement which we do Right. >> Y but whether or not we have to comply with what the state tool is versus use our own. >> Um you know those are a lot of questions that people had. Do the AP exams supplement the end of course exams or there's all kinds of questions. >> So they've kind of just thrown these ideas out. They if I'm understanding correctly they haven't >> given specific points as to what districts are going out to >> or financial or or financial. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Or timeline >> for implementation, >> Mr. McFallen. >> Uh thank you. Yeah, just note uh as a point of order, I don't think it would be appropriate for us to vote on this anyway. Um because um we didn't
039note on the agenda that it was uh right for vote. So, um I don't think it'd be appropriate to vote on it. And um even though I think if it was starred we could because uh um with respect to um Mr. Dial's comments there just aren't any change. The only changes are the ones that were legal legally obligated to make. So um there are no substantive changes to anything that has already been in place and voted on repeatedly in the district. Um that's it. I do want to take a moment to just quickly voice my frustration with Desi, who I believe to be uh an acting after the fact organization repeatedly. They've proven themselves this way on most impactful issues and uh it's annoying and it's frustrating to districts that are trying to operate um
040in a successful fashion. They did it during the pandemic. I thought their their guidance um was was um very underwhelming. um they're doing it with this this was voted uh on that that ballot question November 2024 and uh they're just getting around to um some very uh ambiguous amorphous sort of um ideas or concepts about what they're going to do for graduation requirements more than a year later and um you know it's it's very frustrating. I also think that, you know, they just had which our superintendents uh participated in those forums. Um those were like not more than a month ago. Um and now they're rolling this out which shows to to me that demonstrate that those were completely performative and had no substance whatsoever and they did not take any content or or perspective
041or insight that was shared in those forms into consideration in formulating whatever um you know halfbaked plan they rolled out. Um, and I find it frustrating that they're then telling us to vote on policies that are broadcasting to our communities what the graduation requirements are, even though they're not going to be the graduation requirements for long. So I would just add that because of that I think that we should just note on these policies and make it clear something to the effect of you know um these policies are subject to change in the near future given Desi's you know assertions that you know however you word it I'm not going to I can't come up with it now but I think you understand basically the caveat that you all shared right now and I just
042wanted to vote that because I mean I just want to voice my concerns because I mean I think that they they they can and should do better Desi um for our communities for the residents of Massachusetts. and um and certainly for the residents of Gohas who I'm concerned with. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. I share many of those sentiments. Um, additionally, just the time that it requires of our school administrators um to do this multiple times within one academic year um seems to be taking energy um away from other endeavors um which is unfortunate. Um, thank you, Principal Scott, for being here. Um, and I think, uh, as mentioned, this was not up for a vote tonight. So, this does give everyone um, committee member um, an additional opportunity to read
043through um, and to, um, come up with any questions um, that you may have and we will, um, put this forward for a vote um, at our meeting on the 17th. Thank you. Student services update, Mr. Michael Stapleton. Thank you. >> Good evening, everyone. I just have a brief update tonight. Um, starting first uh with the data sharing, which I do each time that I'm here. Um so for a relatively short month with the Thanksgiving break and Veterans Day, um student services special education had a busy month with 38 total meetings. At the elementary level, there were three annual reviews, um seven initial evaluations, um sorry, re-evaluations, nine initial evaluations. Um all nine of those requests did come from a family. Um three of those students were bound eligible or the others were not. Um
044there were three um class resident um or private students who attend private school evaluations. At the secondary level, there were seven annual reviews. There were eight re-evaluations. Um two initial evaluations. Both initial evaluations came um from families. Um both students were were not eligible um for special education at this time. But I did want to highlight and just thinking I know last minute we had talked about like the functioning of MTSS and how this works. I think it's worth noting that so today was the 62nd day of school. So when we think about MTSS and like the different um at each building level the different ser uh services that can be put into place when students are struggling whether that's work with the reading specialist or math specialist executive functioning support at the high school.
045I'm not shocked to see that MTSS during this month of November. So testing would have started right 30 days prior um within this 45day window to hold the meetings. Um and so again, our teams are working pretty closely with students to put interventions into place immediately rather than just jumping right to initial evaluations to determine eligibility for services. Um so obviously I do notice that you know um for both the elementary and secondary um during the month of November again thinking about that window of time. Um I'm not surprised to see that when I think about the different supports that have been put into place you at the middle school the reading intervention supports um and then at the elementary school too um work with both reading and math specialists. Um but I did want
046to just note that. Um, and so that's something that I'll continue to monitor. Um, you know, and we do see some families come back from the summer in requests pretty quickly. Um, if they, you know, something happened over the summer or if they have some concerns about how the year is starting. Um, it's also interesting to see when referrals come through after parent teacher conferences. Um, sometimes that's something that we're working on and thinking about how, you know, general education teachers share how students are doing and then also trust in the process with the work that the reading and math specialists do. Um then also just like those tier one supports that can be put into place through the DECAP um the district accommodation plan um which I'm also happy to present on at a
047future meeting as well. Um different accommodations that are available to all students. Um and then for out of district meetings I held two annual reviews again so a very busy month with 38 meetings. This didn't make it out in time for your packets and I'm happy to resend it out. Um but I did update this um you know monitoring of um where we are special education response wise. Um so currently there's 276 active and accepted IEPs within the district. Um we're waiting on responses for 27 families. Um we do have a very small percentage of um rejected IPS which are in process um which would be Greek meeting teams and moving through that rejection process. And then we currently have 38 um pending evaluations which could be initial evaluations or re-evaluations. So um school psychologists
048and related service providers who conduct those re-evaluations and initial evaluations are very busy at this time. Um you know with the high number you know 38 total active evaluations. Um I mentioned in my previous presentations that you know this is a major compliance year for um the office of student services and so I'm I'm going to speak to the findings from the circuit breaker audit which took place. Um and so circuit breaker is um you know the the so the desi districts and school finance office completed an examination of the claims reported by perhaps for this fiscal year um for the special education reimbursement program um commonly known as circuit breaker um and so circuit breaker is a way to support districts um with very high special education costs um typically for out of district
049students um and related to specialized transportation which um you know across the commonwealth right now is a major area um of concern for districts as um you know it's you know it's very high and costly um to transport port students um and then also for um identified out of district placements. And so DESIE um were on site um for the full school day on November 12th. Um so we hosted them down in central office. There were two representatives who came um and they you know comprehensively reviewed our claims that were made. Um so I have to give a major shout out to Teresa Miller um the administrative assistant for the office of student services um whose you know major responsibility is like that claiming process and how we um document claims, how we monitor student
050you know um just like the the start to finish nuts and bolts of how we report claims using the Champ system, the DESI system um and then how we monitor and then receive that funding back. And so the major finding was that um you know the district was very well prepared for the audit because you know Teresa um had conducted and myself um had reviewed a pre- audit that took place and so we went through each student who is eligible for circuit paper reimbursement um and made sure that the reporting that we completed lines up with um you know how we reported funding for the transportation costs and then also the tuition costs. Um so the system um the audit did not find any systematic errors in how we um complete claims um and served
051in you know Jesse's words to confirm the district's understanding of the circuit breaker claim process. Um, and I found it, you know, I'm only my second year as director of student services. And again, Teresa does manage a lot of this responsibility for circuit breaker. Um, just really helpful to like affirm like my understanding of circuit breaker, how it works. And then also just to open lines of communication with the Desi representatives. They were very helpful during the entire start, like when we was notified that we're being audited for our pre- audit and then when they were on site in person. Um, and so they really helped us think about our systems, how we do things, um, and then just areas to tweak and improve. Um so overall I would say it was a successful day.
052It was a high stress day. Um obviously to have Desi on site like right next door in the community use room. Um but it was a positive um experience for myself and for Teresa. Um and you know overall went really well. My next update um again relating to compliance um is just the formal notification of our English learner education program tiered focus monitoring. So after the holiday break that's coming up on January 7th, um the Department of Elementary and Secondary Office of Language Acquisition will conduct the tiered focus monitoring for class public schools. This is done every six years to monitor compliance with both state and federal um English learner education laws and regulations. Um I've mentioned this before um you know this monitoring process really will look at the English learner education program across
053the district. It will look at student assessment, how we identify English language learners, uh what programs are in place, um parent and community involvement in this programming, um the curriculum instruction, um student support services for students who are English language learners. It looks at lensure and requirements for faculty um staff and administration. So, it really does a comprehensive overview of the full program um and looks at student records and you know how the program is functioning um within KASA public schools. And so I did want to announce this tonight because the survey um for those, you know, we have a small number of families and students that fall within this category of English language learners, you know, it's under 10 students across the district, but those families will be receiving a survey that's mandated through
054this process. And that will be going out on Friday um from my office um you know, from my email. And so that survey will be huge because those um results will also be u reviewed by through this tier focus monitoring. So it allow parents um the ability to just provide input on the English learner education program here. Um and we'll ask some very specific questions about how things are working. Um and so that again that will be sent out on this Friday. Um and then those results will go right to Desessie. Um David Parker is the name of the Desi representative who I've been working with um for the initial you know um orientation type activities for this process um which is you know culminated in my submitting of documentation review of our policy handbook
055and procedures. Um, and so that will be a virtual site visit. Since we don't have that many students that fall within this category, um, they won't be on site. Um, it will take place uh, virtually. And that will include interviews with myself, with our English learner, um, teacher, Mora Burke. Um, and then with a high school general education teacher who's SEI endorsed and then an elementary teacher who's SEI endorsed. And so they'll be again reviewing comprehensively the program. and I'm happy to share those results, you know, when those are publicly made following um the tier focus monitoring site visit, virtual site visit. And then my last update um is just the CPAC um procedural um or schedule change. Um originally the school psychologists were scheduled to be at our um at the December meeting which
056is taking place next week. Um but due to a conflict I had to flip-flop that. So I've been in touch with um you know Sarah Davis, Jamie Scott, and Stephanie Saunders. um the CPAC representatives and so the CPAC meeting scheduled for December 11th will still take place in the communities room next week but the school psychologist will be presenting on January 8th instead. So I just highlighted that and I know Sarah was planning on sending out a correspondence to just so people are aware. Um so that was just one change that I wanted to mention today. Um but if any questions you can reach out to myself or to Sarah um or any of the contacts listed there regarding CPAC. So that is my update for tonight. and I'm happy to answer any questions that
057anyone has. >> Fantastic. Thank you, Mr. Stapleton. Mr. Dial, >> question. Once again, thank you, Mr. Stapleton. Very, uh, very informative update, you >> Mr. Evans, >> congratulations on making it through the audit. Um, it's a, you know, complicated process, but it's so important for our budget and to, you know, be correct on this through and through. So, nice work by your department. And are we at 75% this year like previous years or has they changed it for us? >> Correct. Yep. 75%. And that's again what I was speaking to just of like it was a timely audit too, right? Um well it came quickly but like just thinking of like the climate and where we are currently. Um it really reaffirmed the systems that are in place. Um so again a positive um despite
058you know the pressure of that on the day of. >> Excellent. Thank you. >> Thank you. um Mr. Squatrio and um before Mr. Squatrio speaks um um u Miss Saunders is watching virtually and if she would like to um join us as a member of CPAC um and to um sort of join us on screen right now. She's more than welcome to do so. Um just give me the little wave signal and I'll promote you to a panelist um for um this section, but absolutely no obligation to do so. I sometimes eat dinner and watch committee meetings myself. So, thank you. All right, Mr. >> Um, thank you again. Um, congratulations on the audit. I know this perfect storm is continuing. Um, so just overall very important. Thank you, >> Mr. >> Thank you, Madam
059Chair. Uh, as always, inspiring confidence. Uh, you and your teams disabled and thank you so much for the excellent work you're doing. >> I'd also like to add my thanks. Um I feel like that is the best description of why um numbers of students being um and I'm totally losing the word I'm put forward to recommended to um or as seeking or family seeking um evaluation um that I have heard ever. So um and that's in a really long time that I've been on this earth. Um so thank you for that. Um, and thank you for thinking about those questions that we as committee members have asked before. Um, as well as um questions that the public in general um may have. I also appreciate your attention to um everything going on with um your
060audits. Um that is a lot of extra work on top of everything else that you're managing so well. So, thank you for that. Um I do have one comment for CPAC. CPAC, I love the little um visual we had. Um, if possible, if you have CPAC emails or best um, email to contact you at when it says questions you can reach out to, it would be lovely to have that um, little piece of information there. I just noticed it. I was like, "Oh, what if I wanted to write to you and say hello?" Um, >> I can add that and send that out. >> Great. Thank you. >> All right. Oh, and we do have a question um up here. >> Okay. Thank you. >> My ability to use Yes, Michael. Thank you for your
061hard work. >> Yes, from CPAC. >> All right, so we can move on to budget resources and governance. Okay. Um, so this is the final read for capital requests. Since the last time that I brought our capital requests to you, we have had the opportunity as a leadership team to fine-tune and finalize our capital requests for FY27 and have a meeting with uh representative from the capital committee uh from the town side. And so we're feeling confident about the requests that we will be we would like to make this year. Um, I'm going to share my screen, show you what that final list looks like. I will note that we are still waiting on a couple of prices to come in, but we have some information. So, some ongoing requests, the bus leases and the
062multi-use van, multi-use vehicle lease, not a van. Um, those are ongoing. We have 10 buses that we would be looking to continue to lease. Total cost there is 196,23 $196,236. Um the multi-use vehicle lease, this is year two of five, that's $22,000. We are in year four of four of an replacing our interactive whiteboards. We did half of Ozgood and half of Deer Hill this year. This fourth year would finalize finish that. So the other half of Deer Hill and the other half of Ozgood. The cost there is $127,689. Um we have last year started some security enhancements, some camera installations, some replacement of cameras across the district. Um, this is year two of two of that project. It would finalize some replacements and upgrades here at the middle school high school and do some
063outdoor cameras that have been missing or are no longer working or are too um grainy to be used anymore. I've spoken with Ron. He's asked a couple times. They came out, I want to say like two and a half weeks ago. We haven't received the quote yet. So, that quote should be coming in any day now. Ron had hoped to have that for me today, but didn't. Um, so we know that that's not going to be more than what it was last year, and we know that the capital planning board is expecting that second year of that request. The recurring furniture line item, that's something we've talked with the capital planning board about. It allows us to upgrade furniture as as needed. this year. Last year, we were able to do some of the spaces
064at the middle school and high school. We would use this year's funding to start replacing some classroom furniture and doing some model classrooms so that we can start to get a sense of what furniture we want to be moving towards for the type of learning that we're doing in our in our schools. Um, and should we get invited into an MSBA process, one of two things can happen with any furniture we're purchasing now is that it can be moved to a new building andor it can start going down to the elementary schools to replace some of their needed furniture as well. Um, on the last version of this, we were talking about the fence for the alumni field and potential netting. in conversations between last meeting and this meeting. Those two items are actually going
065to be combined to become a a CPC request. Um we've talked about that with um Principal Scott, with athletic director Rotundi, and with Michelle Liry um our interim town manager and have had initial conversations with some CPC members. So that we're we're taking that we're going to move it into that process and as a result of those conversations moving the football uprights into this year's requests. Um we have a an older request. Mr. Roandi has asked for a new quote updated quote. Um again had hoped to get that by today but it hasn't come in yet. Some of these were at the mercy of the provide the suppliers. Um, but the old request, the old invoice or estimate had it about 134,000. So, we know it's going to come in a little bit higher than
066that, but not significantly higher than that. And then the performance risers for the visual and performing arts department are a a high need um so that we can make sure that our students are both using safer risers and risers that are ADA compliant. Um, so we know that that total is going to go up a bit when we get those last two estimates, but this is what we would propose to you as what we present to the capital planning board at the end of this month. We are planning to meet with them, December 15th, I think it is. It's a Monday, and hoping to get all of the finalized supporting documentation to them the week before. So I would ask you know if there are any questions and after questions that there be a vote
067so that we can move this forward to meet the capital planning board deadlines. >> Thank you Dr. Shannon. Um we'll start with Mr. Dial. >> Great. Thank thank you very much. I I dropped the uh thing off the screen so I I lost the thing. >> Um but but maybe maybe my head's more important. I don't know. Um, but I I I definitely agree with the red ones and I agree with the the yellow the yellows and the and the blues. I just have two questions. One on the security enhancements. Um, I've I've read the memo on that. Was this I understand the need to replace failing equipment. We should definitely do that. Um but as far as enhancing and adding uh have we had any consultation with police or um security professionals in order
068to figure out what we should be enhancing and why we should be enhancing it um to make sure we're we're investing in the right places for the right reasons. So the principles have walked with the security um company and with Ron through technology and we did have the first year. So last year I um officer Taylor walked with them. So this is year two of that process. So officer Taylor was involved in year one >> and this is just this is the same plan from >> Yep. they just walked in again to double check because only half of what we had asked for at the middle school high school was done in year one. Um so they >> walked it again to figure out what exact you know to secure that request and then also
069the outdoors is the second >> and then the the second question on the on the football uprights I'd see we're accelerating that forward. Is that is that a safety issue? Because I know we have applied for again another year of of MSBA support. Um but if we were to need to use that area for something else um you know I don't want us to invest good capital into temporary res. We we had the same discussion when we um accepted the gift for the scoreboard. So just want to make sure that's been been thought about as we make this request. >> It has been thought about. I think, you know, we'll know soon and based on the feasibility study that we did last year, um though we'll have to redo a feasibility study, if we get
070into the MSBA process, um the options that came out of the first feasibility study, I think only one option was for a building to be on the football field. Um, so the majority of options that have been designed so far would keep the football field in place so that when building and construction was happening, that field could still be in use. If that changed, we would have we would reconsider um putting the football uprights >> and and and I'm assum I'm assuming this and we obviously don't want to not do something because of contingency we don't know about. So that that's that's fine. But I guess is it imperative that they're done? Is it a safety issue that we need to do it now or or because it was on next year's budget, right? >>
071I Yeah, >> because I know they're kind of leaning. >> They are leaning. I I don't know that it's a safety issue as much as it's uh an issue when they're playing and other teams are coming. Um and it's been a request for for a while. And so I think it could be postponed. And at the same time, I think it's something that if we have a sense that the football field is going to remain, it would be timely to do that. >> Yeah. And then, and I can't remember if you you'd said this. I was looking at the some of the other materials. Do we have a rough estimate of I have no idea. There's not like a football upright store, so I have no idea how much football uprightes would cost. Our couple
072yearear-old estimate puts it between 13 and $14,000. So we're just waiting for the updated estimate which I assume will only be a few thousand dollar more than that. >> Although with inflation maybe it'll be like 900,000 >> and depending on where it's coming from that could impact the price as well. >> Great. So great that that those are all my questions. Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Evans. Yeah, for for the uprightes, um certainly I think it's something we can just put on the list and if it's a small enough amount and capital has enough money for it, great. And um sometimes they can you can fit a lot of kind of small projects in in the margins once all the big stuff comes through. So um even if it's, you know, 10 or 15
073$20,000, we can, you know, put that in front of them and, you know, see see where it falls out. Um, no questions on the bus leases on the red items. Obviously, uh, the athletic uh, bus as well, although we do have to capital did request that we give them a little bit of a usage report. I haven't done a follow-up on that yet. We'll do that. Uh, boards, this will be the final year. That's great. Um, and the furniture, that's going to be a recurring task. Uh, I forgot who mentioned it, but somebody mentioned that um, capital budget is expecting a lot of these. we should be prepared to be having the same conversations from scratch because uh the majority three of the capital budget members are going to be new. So there's really only
074one carryover uh outside of one person who had just joined. So uh when we walk into those meetings, we should be prepared to really start from scratch about all these different things because um a lot of the institutional knowledge isn't going to be there anymore. Uh on the cameras um I know this is the final read. Um during the first read, I expressed some concerns uh about some information that I I still don't fully understand on these requests. Uh and then during our second read, I requested that we have a uh we look at the camera policy. Uh I think right now we're in a heightened environment and understanding you know both uh privacy concerns uh security reasons and you know what our policies are on on all the facets of that. Um these you
075know this these kind of things are are really front and center now. So uh I remain um not entirely comfortable with with this request. Um you know it's going to be $200,000 of cameras. It's a lot of cameras. It's a lot of money. Uh, and um, I'd like to spend some time understanding and and tightening up our policies before um, you know, making another $100,000 investment on that line. Um, that's um, that's been my position uh, previously. It's it's still today. I haven't um, we haven't really had a chance as a board to discuss it. So, that's something that I'd prefer to uh, table as much as we could. uh and you know if we can bring it back up uh you know a few weeks after we kind of have an our internal conversations
076I think that'd be that'd be wonderful. >> Thank you Mr. Evans Mr. Um really only one question. It's just just to clarify on the security enhancements item. I looked back at the FY26 request and it was in the ballpark like 90 to 100. I think we're expecting something similar for this year as well. >> Yes. >> Okay. And it may be a little bit less because we did a lot more at Deer Hill um last year versus this year we'll really just be finishing up middle school and high school. The sort of unknown is is how the outdoor cameras compared to the cost of what was done at Deer Hill. It may be a little less >> Mr. I guess just with regards to any of the capital improvements we make and the concerns uh
077related to the parallel sort of MSBA process just remember that you know even if that even if as a community today we approved a new school which we're we we're far from that because we don't even know if anything's that that subsidy is coming our way it would take years for that school to be built and and the feasibility to be conducted feasibility study we conducted previously on our own. Um, part of that was to uh help inform us in terms of what options would be available to us on site while our students were still coming and attending class in this building. And um and that's because we have limited reload options in this small town. So um I all of those options contemplated um that scenario. So, it would be the continued use of
078this building for several years to come. So, I don't think any of these are um necessarily wasted investments. I mean, we have to continue to maintain the building that we're in regardless of what might or might not happen in the future. So, um thank you um to our uh our finance staff and our central office staff for putting this together and for all the time and thought you put into it. I love the CBC um addition or thought relative to the the stadium. That's a really great idea. >> It's not my idea. Michelle L. So, thank you to her. >> We support Michelle L. She's great. Thank her. Um, I think I I actually was planning to echo what you said about this that this building, whether we are accepted into an MSBA program or
079not, and whether or not we renovate or rebuild um if we are accepted into the program means that we will um effectively be in this building um probably five, six, seven years um close to a decade, which is is around the the lifetime of some of these things that we're um we're purchasing or um proposing to purchase. Um so I think that that's you know the sort of tempering um that and and adjusting the expectations around um what might occur um should we be accepted into the program. Um otherwise I I do appreciate the the the work of everyone involved um committee members um school administration um business office staff in terms of pulling this together. Um it's it's a lot of work um for everyone and a lot of careful attention and good questions
080um so I appreciate all of the engagement um that everyone here has shown including our um our committee uh our community at large. Um I feel as if um budgeting and the school budget has been of of high interest um to to many in the community and I appreciate that level of engagement um as we go through this process and I hope that that um interest and um attention continues. Um it makes us better for it. Um so at this point if there is a motion on the floor um to approve um the capital requests as um presented. So move that chair. >> Okay. Do we have a second? >> Seconded. We'll do a roll call vote. Mr. D. >> I. >> Mr. Evans. >> Can I just make a a point of of order
081request here, which is um rather than asking me to vote on the full slate, can we separate out the cameras? That way I can vote uh on the capital request that I support uh and not be have one vote do the full slate. >> Um I am open to that request assuming the rest of the committee is okay with that. >> My only issue Mr. Evans is that the motion was to approve the capitalist as presented by uh uh by Dr. Shannon tonight. So, I think that um and it's been seconded. So, now I think you need to vote on whether or not you support that motion. >> I was not uh given the opportunity to comment before that motion was made and I am happy to make a motion to amend or um you
082know withdraw the motion or reframe the motion or we can revote after this one is done whichever you think is >> I I'd like to defer to you Mr. in terms of process. This is Harvard level process. I'm more of a I think >> I can make a motion to amend. Right. Right. Since it was a motion, a second. >> It was a motion and it was seconded. I mean, I'm I'm certainly I'm certainly as the one that made the motion in the interest of inclusivity here uh willing to uh withdraw the motion and allow you to comment if Mr. Scratito is willing to withdraw his second. So, we can allow a committee member who is appearing virtually to comment uh on the motion first. I'm happy to do that. >> That would be fine
083by me. Yeah. >> Okay. So, uh I just say >> let's see. Do we want to start by withdrawing the motion um or amending the motion? >> Yes. So, so I I would just I would withdraw the motion at this time. There's been a member that has expressed an interest in um making additional comments before we vote. So, I'd withdraw the motion and I think Mr. Sprito indicated he was willing to withdraw a second to allow Mr. Evans to speak. >> Apologies. I think sometimes we do move quickly um between our ask uh asking for a motion and um the end of of comments. So, I apologize. Um Mr. Evans, you have the floor. >> Oh, no. I would just say I I would uh as a matter of procedure I think if one member
084uh expresses concerns uh on something then uh we we try not to uh do everything as a package deal. Um right so we should be able to bifrocate separate things out whenever there were any. So as I said I'm supporting the whole slate outside of the cameras. So I would like my vote to reflect that uh that support. Uh, as for the cameras, I I uh one of the piece of information which I just learned right now is that um you know, we're also doing out exterior upgrades and this is kind of the information that that I'm I was missing. Uh and I want to state here for the record that I am in full support of any of the exterior upgrades to these buildings. Uh a lot of my concern has to do with
085uh we're doing uh with with you know monitoring of students inside the buildings. Uh, so this is the kind of information that I'm missing where I would like my vote on the cameras to reflect information uh and clarify questions that I may have. So, um, in summary, I'm I would like I would love a motion for everything but the cameras and then if uh the committee feels that they still want to have a motion for the cameras without further clarification, uh, then I can I can vote on that separately. Madam Chair, I will make a motion to approve the budget as permitted on every item except for the cameras. >> Thank you, Mr. Dial. Do we have a second? >> I can second it. >> Second it. We'll do a roll call vote. So, this
086would be to approve bus leases, um the multi-use vehicle, interactive boards, recurring CPS furniture replacement, football uprights, um and the performance risers. Did I say the CPS furniture replacement? I did. Good. >> Yes. >> Right. Um so, we'll do a roll call vote. Mr. Dial, >> I. >> Mr. Evans, >> hi. >> Mr. Squad, I >> Mr. Mlullen. >> No. >> Jen Leleski I. Okay. So that passes as written as um four in favor and one against with no abstensions. >> What does that mean for a vote on the cameras? >> Means that we can't request the money. I'd like to make a motion that we approve the budget request for the cameras. Um, >> correct. >> As presented and discussed at the school committee meeting just a moment ago. >> There a second for
087that motion to approve the request. Thank you. Um, roll call vote. Mr. Dial. I >> Mr. Evans abstain. >> Mr. Squadrino. I >> Mr. Mclen. >> I >> Jen Lelesky. I So that one um passes as well. Um with four voting in favor and one abstension. >> Uh Madam Chair, was my audio incorrect? Did I hear Mr. Member Mlullen vote nay for the first slate? >> Yes. >> Was there an explanation that I missed, Mr. Mlullen? I I didn't know there were any objections to the slate outside of the cameras that I had presented >> there. There were none. Uh I don't I don't need to give an explanation, but I will. Um I was in support of the cameras being on that uh full slate that was presented by the administration. And I was
088in support of the of the the entire ask and at that point there was nothing there was no mechanism through which we could request the funding for the cameras and I thought it important to uh fund the cameras and so if we had just voted on that motion as as it was and did not have the follow-up motion that Mr. dial made, which I had no idea that he would make that um because it seems strange to me that we would vote it in two different I don't understand why we did that. Um that's why I voted against it because I wanted I I was in support of including the cameras on that slate. Would it be accommodating if we redid the the slate now that the the procedure is is clear? My apologies if
089the procedure wasn't clear. um other places we've separated things out um on other boards and such like that. So uh to me it didn't seem like uh procedurally confusing. So my apologies if I wasn't clear on on my procedural request on that one. >> I think we got to the same place and I'm sorry for speaking out of term. Just just I think we got to the same place. So I think we're good. I if I can if I think it would be more fitting and representative of the committee's views if we had a unanimous vote for the balance of the slate as opposed to an objection. Um so I'd like to repropose the approval of remove that we approve all of the items except for the cameras. um and see if we can get
090a second and a unanimous vote so that that goes to advisory and the town with a 5. >> I would action. >> I'd support that motion and second it. It's kind of like a motion to reconsider. Yeah. >> So, we would need that motion. I think Mr. D, was it your intention to make that motion? >> Yes. Was your intention to second it? >> It was my intentions. >> Okay. So, I think we have a motion made and seconded on the on every item to reconsider the first vote on all items except for the cameras. >> So, it seems like now you have to revote on the >> All right. everything but the cameras. >> Yes. >> Because now we voted for the cameras and I think they're trying to get a unanimous vote. So
091that's fine. >> Yes. >> Um so we have that motion on the table which is all items on the slate with the exception of the security enhancements um which were previously um ex um voted on. Um so we'll do a roll call vote. That that motion was made by Mr. Dial, seconded by Mr. Evans. Roll call vote. Mr. Dial. >> Hi. >> Mr. Evans. >> Hi. >> Mr. Squadrio. >> Hi. >> Mr. Mlen. >> Hi. >> Chen Ley. I. >> So um the slate with the exception passes um with all five members um voting anonymously um in support. Thank you all. Um We have next on our so um Superintendent Shannon um please bring this forth to the um capital committee um on the 15th and we look forward to um hearing their feedback. Thank
092you. Let's move ahead. We had discussed last week um school committee office hours. Um it was the first sort of digesting of that piece of um information about having some regular opportunities for the community to meet with members, not a quorum of uh school committee members in a public place. There were several um great ideas that were put forward um about how to achieve that goal um in a way that's sustainable um for both um committee members and works well for community members. Um so just opening up that discussion as well um as to whether or not anyone has had any further thoughts or ideas um that they would like to put forth um to the committee and maybe we develop some next steps on um or some action steps that we can take um
093soon. I'll just sort of open the floor on this. Mr. Dial, I saw you uncclick. >> Yeah, I'll just I was assuming I was going to be take the alphabetical lead on this one. Um although Cory's going to have to change his name to Mr. Bevvens just to take this burden from me. Um but anyway, I'll just reiterate my concerns uh that I that did last meeting. I'm not sure that we need uh a formal office hours. I think our availability is is high. Uh I do also worry that office hours might chill people's, you know, need or want to reach out individually to us uh via email or other other contacts. um because I'll think okay that we'll just do the office hours which if there are those of us who have less time
094and availability to do those office hours that may be less um interaction with the community for those members. So uh I'm not a huge fan. Uh I certainly don't want to discourage any community member from announcing their availability to um to to the community at any time but to make it a formal school committee policy could also make it you know difficult for those people who have less time to commit to it and you know there could be optics of that as well. So, I just I I'm I'm reticent to support a formal school committee office hours uh for those reasons. Not because I don't want to engage with community, but rather just because I think it changes the optics of our engagement uh in a way that that is may not be uh what
095we're trying to intend. >> Thank you, Mr. D. Mr. Evans. >> Actually going to change my last name to Zeans with a Z. Uh yeah, I I um I think that the takeaway that I that that Mr. dial pointed out was that it doesn't any of us can announce office hours somewhere and we can do it informally. Um so like if uh if any of us wanted to say hey we're going to be available at a certain time for conversation we we could we could do that. Um and uh I think that'd be just as effective as a formal policy without adding the overhead. So um uh but I'm supportive of the idea of open of of uh of uh of the concept. I just don't think that formalizing it makes it any better. I
096think it just makes it a little bit uh more difficult for us. So that's that's my takeaway I think in the >> Thank you, Mr. Evans. Mr. >> Yeah, I think as I've spent more time thinking about this, I know something that I briefly mentioned during the previous discussion on this was it the policy is not so much about increasing our availability as individuals. It's more about setting the tone and setting that expectation, just that background expectation that we are here and available and open. As I said, if if people reach out to me, I'm happy to meet with them and I think everybody else on the committee would agree with that. Um, so I think even just doing something small, I know that one of the ideas that came up at the last meeting
097was somebody from the committee coming to a school committee meeting an hour early and that that's our office hour. Um, I know that's something that would work for me. I I can't speak for others on that, but I think that that would be a good first step towards setting the tone that we are here and open and available to to discuss everything. And if people can't make it, hopefully they will reach out and email whoever is doing the the office hour before that meeting and something can be arranged with that person or somebody else. >> Thank you. >> Um what Mr. Scorto said sounds great. I'd just like to pilot some sort of program. I'm in support of it because it came out of a um a um a family meeting that I had and
098I think that we should take it seriously. It just it's I don't think it's I don't think it diminishes the or chills uh any sort of uh participation that folks might have. I think it just broadens the horizons there. So, um I'm in favor of it. I think that's like I'm totally in favor of that suggestion if uh I know that one of the the concerns were that it would be on like neutral territory and that you know in a safe space but I feel like this is a fairly safe space and just to pilot it and figure out what the overall appetite for it is in the first place. It's probably I think it's fair to also take in consideration the convenience of the members as well and I think that's convenient uh you
099know um system to have it an hour before the meeting. So, I'd be in support of that and, you know, uh I I I'd also be happy on most on most nights to do it um just because I work nearby. But, um I So, I I I I agree with the with the proposal that fashion. >> Um I also appreciate um Mr. Squadrio, your um we're not looking to necessarily increase our availability, but to make people aware of it and make it as accessible as possible. I I appreciate that distinction. And I also agree with you, Mr. Mccullin. I think um that if we could perhaps try between now and May when we um will reconstitute um with um after the elections um maybe the first school committee meeting of every month um we will
100have a school committee member or two here um between uh we start we start six between five and six um and um maybe we even sit at these tables, but we have lots of beautiful cozy chairs um thanks to the CF um close to 10 years ago now, I think. Um and um and maybe we can um put that on the agenda um as well, so that when the agenda goes out, it reminds the public that if they would like to have um a less formal conversation that they can do so on those those first Mondays. Um I I don't know if this is something we need to vote on. Do we Um, >> or do we need to just agree that a handful of us and it doesn't need to be obligated to everyone
101who's doing it? I think I wonder if in the email that goes out with the agenda versus on the agenda. >> Oh, good point. >> Because the agenda would signify >> Thank you. >> a full meeting. Yes. >> But we can I can ask Jennifer to >> Yes. >> add it to the emails that go out to the community. >> Thank you. Thank you. That's much better. And madam chair, I would say we'd only need to vote if we were making it as a formal school committee policy. Um, but if it's, you know, hey, does anyone want to come an hour before and sit in comfy chairs? Like, I don't know that that's something they need to vote. I suppose they just, you know, we just do it. >> I I I agree with that.
102Um, Mr. D. I liked Mr. Mlullen's um use of the word pilot program. Um, I think that this could well be a pilot to see one if the community uses it and two if it works for um the committee at large. Um, and an opportunity to try something and and see if it works. Um, I don't know that it is actually a policy. >> May I just add one more thing which is um, yeah, I mean it's your agenda right as a chair. So I I don't think it's objectionable at all. If you even want to add to an agenda at the bottom, you know, any community member that wishes to meet with the school community member beforehand, you know, reach out, something like that. Um something informal, just giving people some direction in case
103they they miss the email part of it. So because I I also don't want this to not get response because people don't see it, right? So I don't want to set us up for failure. I want to make it, you know, both visible but also not official. Um so where the line is >> do some other communications around um this possibility and I would just recommend that we start in January. December as we started this meeting is a crazy month for everyone. Um >> maybe February. >> What? >> Maybe February because we're coming right back. Maybe February through May. >> Yeah, we'll do it February through May. That's a great suggestion if that works for people. Um, and between us, we can facilitate some sort of sign up um to to do this with absolutely
104zero obligation if it does not work for your schedule. Um, because we will we'll find a way to do that. I miss works close. I live across the street. We we'll make it happen. And said, Mr. Squad, he's not here. Okay, good. All right. Um, that then brings us to reports from school committee, subcommittees, and liaison. Uh, does anyone have a report for us? Okay, thank you. No reports. Um, I have no topics not reasonably anticipated by the chair. We have no minutes to approve. We do need to move into executive session to con uh conduct collective bargaining session regarding teachers. So, we will need a um motion to um adjourn this public meeting um and not to return um after our executive um session is over. Um so, we'll need to do that. >>
105Technical matter. Can we do remote participation in the executive session? I guess we I don't know we've done that before. We've done it before. >> We have had >> we have I don't know we've done it committed, >> but I just make sure because normally we actually like unplug everything and like wheel it away and um make sure that there's not um you know >> send you a separate link. >> Let's do that. That would be good. >> Fantastic right now >> for those um questions. Are there any other questions before we receive a motion to adjourn this public session and commence a executive session with no return to public session afterwards? >> Just a point of order madam chair. >> Yes. >> I think the reason to re move in executive session is misstated
106should be to conduct collective bad bargaining strategy. >> Okay. >> Um not session regarding teachers. >> Okay. Thank you. So motion so that we can move into executive session for reason number two to conduct collective bargaining strategies. >> Yeah, I just think that was a typo on agenda. Yeah, >> thank you. >> Um, so I I make a motion to effect. >> Thank you. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Mr. Dial. >> I, >> Mr. Evans. >> I, >> Mr. Squadrio. >> I, >> Mr. Mclen. >> I, >> Jenki. I this meeting public portion of this meeting is adjourned. Thank you for attending Coasset. Um and committee members will get you back here in just a second. >> Um just I think we should make clear in the we will not be reconvening
107in regular session. We will adjourn from executive session. >> We and we will be adjourning from executive session. Thank you. And Lance, you should have an email with an invitation for a Zoom link. >> I do. I'm going to try and log in via my phone now. So, thank you all and um I'll see you in a moment.