5/26/26 School Committee Meeting

001All right, we're good. >> All right, I'd like to call the school committee meeting to order for May 26, 2026. If we could all stand 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. I sent an email earlier today, but just to keep the public aware uh in the absence of a chair, the vice chair or secretary uh runs the meeting and I've been asked to run the meeting. So, um that's what's happening tonight. Um the school committee meeting will be in person for school committee members and the public. A remote auction will remain available for community members unable to attend in person. Join from a Mac, PC,

002iPad, iPhone, or Android device. Please click the link to join. This meeting of the found school committee is being recorded in accordance with Massachusetts open meeting law. Anyone who wishes to make an audio or video recording of this meeting must first notify the chair or the acting chair. That's me. Please raise your hand and make your presence known if you intend to record the meeting. Okay. Um, do we have anybody for student advisory? Is TA not here? >> Not here. Not tonight. Okay. And I see no one for public comment. Did anyone change their mind after the paper was pulled? >> Seeing none, we'll take an update from the superintendent. >> Thank you. Um, so I don't know if you have noticed the beds around the flag pole. Um, right down here the tail. Um,

003but on Saturday, May 16th, the Rotary International Day of Service, um, the Rotary Rotary cleaned the beds, they planted balls, uh, and they added the flags for Memorial Day. And so it looks very pretty, some of the nicest we've seen in quite some time. So, um, very happy, uh, that we had that. They also planted flowers around the East Bamouth Elementary flag pole, cleaned up their front um garden bed and painted some tables and they cleaned up the grounds at Men Hall and Morris Pond. Um those were the requested schools for help and so they came out and did that. So thank you very much to the founder. On uh May uh 16th, Opal Lee walk also took place. We had a good turnout. Um and so it was fun to meet new community members

004and and take the walk. Um at along the the path u Morris Pond No Place for Hate um uh group and the Lawrence students, they made signs that um the community could read along the walk and it was about why Opal Lee made the 2.5 mile walk for justice. So, it was a it was a good day. Beautiful day and um the students did a great job. Uh last Monday we had legislators breakfast. Um we had two school committee members uh that attended. Thank you very much. And uh we had uh represented Moley attended as our representative um along with others across the Cape. Um the key talking points uh this year was chapter 70 funding um special education out of district uh funding transportation and declining enrollment. All things that we have in common

005across the um the Cape and Islands. Um several districts had to go out for overrides this year um and that was shared um and then other districts that are potentially looking for overrides in the next year or two. So, um it is um the funding issues are are really hitting um across Cape Islands. It's really hitting across Massachusetts, but um we were able to have um breakout sessions and talk about that. So, that was that was good. Uh last Thursday, um the Fmouth High School Honor Society held their annual ceremony for the students who left us much too soon. Um it was a um a beautiful memorial. Um we had uh students that um did readings um the found high school reparatory singers um sang um the road home and the planting of the flowers

006with the families um who were present uh in our garden. So it was very beautiful. I'm glad it's a it's a beautiful transit um tradition for Fmouth. I'm so glad we we continue that. Today opened up my inbox and it said congratulations and I was like wow that's always a good news right. So, so uh it was from Mass Department of Environmental Protection. Uh they announced um green team awards for environmental leadership in uh prek to 12 uh schools. So this is what they said about Mullen Hall. The Mullen Hall School Green Team led by Shannon Carlson participated in schoolwide composting, recycling, and reuse programs that reduced the volume of trash and diverted 250 lbs of food scraps to compost each month. The green team then incorporated the fresh compost into their on-site garden beds,

007which serve as a learning space for all to enjoy on campus. So, that was very nice to open up. they are going to receive a $250 gift card. Uh, and just in May, in 2 weeks, this is pretty phenomenal here, 611 lbs of scrap um just these past two weeks um that went to compost. Um, I want to give a shout out to um, Principal Rosemary because um, they've been working on this for a few years. So she also um contributed um greatly to the success uh of the school and then Shannon stepped right in and just took it to a new level. Um, also a shout out to Rose. Um, she's continuing her work at East Bmouth and u for the first year um the uh Mass um DP also recognized the fourth grade

008green team at East Bamouth um as an impressive award uh and they will be receiving birthday stickers. So, um, and at the high school, I don't know how many student or how many of you were able to go see Legally Blonde, um, the spring musical, but I have to tell you, Adeline Birmingham, she's a junior, was a fantastic L. Woods. >> Uh, her voice just was spectacular. It the the whole show was just meant for her. It was great. But the entire cast, as always, gave an outstanding performance. Moving on to sports. Um the sports tennis finished the regular season undefeated 16 uh zero. They're in the playoffs that begins Thursday. They are in the seventh seed in division 3. Girls tennis finished their season with a 124 record and are ninth seed. They um

009play their first playoff on Friday. Girls lacrosse finished the regular season 126 and they are 12th seed. Their first playoff game is Wednesday. Boys lacrosse finished the regular season 163 and baseball finished 14-4 and both teams are in the postseason tournament. So very exciting, good spring. Um tomorrow is a big day here. We have Clipper Community Game Day and I'm going to turn over to Sandy so she can talk about the community game day. >> So tomorrow we're going to have an exciting event at the high school from 9:30 to 1:00. We're going to have approximately 75 of our students from preK to high school um competing in some competing I shouldn't say competing necessarily because we're going to have cooperative games too, but we're going to have games like a field day for all

010of our students who may um may have participated in unified sports if they have them at their school or or not. So, we're going to open the day with the um honor guard and then as I said, we're going to have some cooperative games. We're going to have relays, parachute. Um we have a lot of peer mentors um not only from the high school but also from the elementary school who will be assisting the students in participating in the games. So we also have a dunk tank that we have some high school peer mentors that actually really advocated for. So they're excited that um we have an art activity. So hopefully something for everyone. So really excited about this. Our special education building administrators helped you know pull pull the event together. We got t-shirts

011for everyone. So, we're pretty excited about it. >> Come by if you like. >> Thank you, Sandy. Um, my other updates will come through the agenda items as we get through. >> Great. Thanks. Does anyone have any questions? All right. Um, in my haste to start the meeting on time, I forgot to welcome Nick and Jane to so please forgive me, but uh let's welcome Nick and Jane and welcome back Susan. Sorry. Uh, next up we have a presentation by FEF. >> Okay. Hi. >> Hi, Ellen. This is Ellen here. >> And uh, >> so I have a most recent impact report for you to have as a souvenir. So exciting. Folks, too. was rolled away in the chair there. >> So, first I want to thank you all a lot for giving me this

012opportunity to talk about at the um the partnership that we have the district on this very can you hear me? >> Yeah. >> Is very important to us. Um and I'm going to I mean a lot of this I think people may already know but I'm just going to speak to it just to make sure. So since 2006, FBF has awarded over $1.9 million to innovative project grants in within within the school system. That equal over 900 projects in growing. So that's very exciting. Um and the the aim of it really when it was founded in 2005 was to be able to to ensure that budget restraints were not the reason for innovative teaching to happen within the classroom. um and that is happening. So we we supplement we don't we don't make up the

013budget or anything in terms of public public budget but we supplement it. Um so um the 202526 school year FF awarded 31 project grants totaling $14,471 dollars covering diverse areas such as author visits and social emotional curricula. Um and that equ we have both we have um new project grants continuing project grants and many grants. So um in terms of the new project grants that was 15 new and 16 continuing and the continuing are based on new projects that were successful and have an innovative or a way to build capacity new ways of learning and activities that they learned from the previous year. So it's really a capacity building effort. Um, so this year 20 26 27 and those of you who were at the last school meeting probably saw the the school community saw

014the list of the different projects that were >> that were funding. That was exciting. So there's 31 again for both full or partial funding and a total made a total of 125,930. So, we're really proud of the um impact, proud in terms of our relationship with the with the teachers and students and administrators who make this happen. So, what I want to do is to take some memories from um two teachers and one from a student that talked about the impact of the grants for themselves. They do a much better job than I do. Um so, the first one is about the music technology grant that um that provided body workstations at the Lawrence School. And so Eileen Ka is the teacher who um provided this information for me. She's the music teacher and the

015choir director. So these are Eileen's words. The music technology grant has transformed the seventh and eighth grade general music program at Lawrence School by creating a more engaging and hands-on learning environment for students. Through FBF support, all students enrolled in the seventh and eighth grade music classes now have access to modern individual music technology workstations with large display screens in support that support learning and performance on the ukulele, guitar, and piano keyboard and a variety of musical styles including pop, rock, blues, and jazz. Um the technology also strengthens instruction in music production, recording and creative composition projects while giving students opportunities to explore their musical creativity through songwriting, digital music projects and collaborative music making activities. These resources have increased student engagement, confidence, independence, and creativity by allowing every student to actively participate in making,

016performing, and creating music. Next one I'm going to talk about is with Tara Draper. And Tara is the Ksix library computer and computer science teacher and department coordinator at Eastbouth Elementary School. Um and she has been a long-term recipient of different graders through FDF. She's does amazing work. Um the Felmouth Education Foundation, these again these are Terrace words. The Felmouth Education Foundation has been an integral support of the East Bmouth Elementary School Library and Makerpace. Without their support, I would not be able to provide the experiences and materials that all East Bmouth students take part in on an almost daily basis. Thanks to FF, our maker space provides a wide variety of materials that are accessible to students of all ages and abilities, providing them the opportunity to participate in hands-on creative independent learning. Additionally,

017um Eastbound students have had the amazing opportunity to be visited by two Calikott Honor um winning illustrators um Cherry Mo and Christopher Denise. These instantly became core memories for all of our students as evident by how often they are spoken about throughout the school year. um she says FBF supports students and school communities have found no matter how small or how large the dream a grant might be and that's really that was like really great to hear because that's really what we want to fund the dreams you know because the budget takes care of the basics really and what you said but the dreams that's what's really key so whenever that gets mentioned from a teacher student that's that's what we that's what we want that's validating so the next one I want to talk

018about the regal seagulls. They are very exciting. So in here you see a description of their first year and they have done amazing I'm sure most of you know work that they've done um in just two years. Um so they um they because they recently competed in Houston >> um in the world championships very exciting and there and the success was made possible through the support of sponsors like yeah they had other support as well but we paid it we contributed quite so wanting to um so it's amazing what they produced in just two years and so um as you may know they were interviewed two of the students are interviewed in GBH um all things considered. And so I thought what I would do is I would pull out a piece of the interview

019that um Ethan Pitier did on during his interview as a way so we have his student perspective as well. So um this is Ethan the differences between and he's speaking from Houston. He's being interviewed there in in Houston. That sounds pretty interesting. of the differences between this year and last year. We we really weren't expecting to have as many resources as we did, as many mentors and support as we did. So to really have access to all of that thanks to sponsors like Both Education Foundation, Both Public Schools, our wonderful mentors, and the dedication of all our team members. It's been a dream for me. This is nothing less than exactly what we should have in every public school in every school system. really. So those are I wanted to you see the impact within

020their stories and the breath and they and the um the regal seagulls are a good example of a continuing grant you know so that they did really great work the first year and although I knew they had done they had done some things before we wanted money to build up for that and then just what they were able to accomplish within that year with the support from the whole community you know that we're grateful to be a part of. So looking ahead, we have this Thursday the grantee reception and the grantee reception is when all of the all the folks who are getting awards for the 2526 school year um get their get get formally recognized that yes, you got the grant and also we celebrate their innovation and in their dream. um the next

021season for the mini grants. Mini grants are um $350 grants that happen within the school year that if something comes up that the teacher thinks, "Oh my gosh, I really want to do this, but I didn't think of it before this moment, then they apply and and when it fits, which it almost always does, they get that." So that's only it'll start up again in September. It is really ending now. And then the applications for the 2027 grants will be um open in January and then in April is when the decisions get we bring in April we bring it the information to you and then formalize the decision and then we have the grant reception and you go again the next year. >> So thank you so much for everything that you do and um

022I don't have anything else to say that you are. >> Thank you. Does anyone have any questions for everyone? >> Oh, Ellen, please come back. Do you have a question? >> Please come back. >> No, they had >> I don't have a question, but we cannot thank you enough. >> What you do for, like I said last time, but I say again, what you do for our students is just so wonderful. our teachers and our students benefit greatly and it is such an asset and a privilege to end up the work that you do. Thank you. >> Oh, thank you Margaret. I appreciate that. >> If I may, I um if anybody else want to say anything? >> No. No, no, no. Go ahead. >> Um so I'm a teacher and I've been associated with

023three other school districts. Never has any kind of support like this been >> my experience in other school districts. And um it's amazing the gen generosity that you show and it's also a testament to the support of the community. So thank you for your work. >> You're welcome. I mean that this the community support is really amazing. So for example, there's someone who knew about the work that was happening with the VO seagulls and spoke to Camela and wanted to have a significant donation made directed towards them. I mean, that's the kind of support that we that we I mean, we're all in this, right? So, when we see that kind of reinforcement, it makes it all worth it. >> Jane, so for my first night, this was a wonderful >> presentation. So, I appreciate

024it. >> And as a former principal, I'm always happy when someone else has >> for teachers to to see. So, I appreciate that. I think for me as an administrator because born has a similar program but you know we're kind of like the fourst stepchildren in terms of the amount of money that we raise which is amazing. So um I think what's wonderful for the teachers is that they have an opportunity to make those standards come alive standards and it's really in these types of activities where students make meaning about what the teachers are trying to teach them and they wouldn't be able to do without this kind of support and subsidy. So >> that's beautifully said. Thank you. That's our intention. >> I've been on um many in FEF funded uh field trip. So,

025I've seen the amazing work that FEF does in real time and to see the uh educators come up with ideas and apply for grants or mini grants in the moment and then watch how it unrolls with the students and then seeing the students um like what their product is back whether it be, you know, art students um and going to New York City. I feel like that's the most recent one like that. >> It's so impressive and we are to echo some of my other colleagues at the table. We are so lucky in Fmouth and I really don't think that people realize how lucky that we truly are um and how special FEF is. So, thank you so much. We appreciate you. I'm so glad I came to >> All right, moving on to the

026presentation of the capital plan. >> So, um before you got the updated um plan, um this is a draft of course um we present tonight and then uh we will bring uh back for a vote uh in June. So, I'm going to turn it over to Paul. We're really focused on um the October 2026 uh town meeting section, but he will also speak about the November and the April, I'm sure. >> Okay. So, I'll just uh if if we can just to make sure everybody has the right sheets, the you look at the total amount, it's 1,655. Uh it's the total amount. And I'm just going to walk you down from the top there. Uh the first fun we're asking for is $800,000. That is to impose the skylight um at the fieldhouse uh that

027has been leaking I think from the day it was put in 1973. So uh we're finally uh going to have that uh enclosed uh with some lighting that gives some sense that it's actually a skylight. So it doesn't you don't lose that um um lighting that uh comes in through it. Uh but we'll be able to go through the constant problem we're not facing it it leaking all the time and are having a cancer game in that field. So um so that would be uh that's been studied uh through come November and then the construction will happen sometime in 27 a year from this summer. Okay. And then dropping down really these next quests are all systemwide. Um so uh the first line is the cameras. I mentioned before we had an article in April

028for 250,000. Uh the cameras were 100,000 there. We're adding another 100,000. We are largely both replacing older cameras that you know some of these cameras have been u purchased before 2013. uh we have to bring them up because they don't have uh sufficient software uh to be part of the new system. So we're replacing those uh cameras but as part of the safety and security measures that we've taken uh we are adding cameras so we get higher resolution especially in the areas like parking lots, playing fields and so on. um so that uh we can identify individuals as they come on more clearly onto the the grounds of the school. So uh this component u would be roughly 100,000. We've continued to do that. We've evaluated every single school as we went on to this

029new panel platform. Uh and then now we're prioritizing among schools how to phase into both the April article and this article. If we see this doors is uh a you know we have this on the article every on the capital program every year. This is just replacement or repair of doors roughly 10 you know every school door is roughly $10,000. Uh so we we go through every school uh and replace doors as the normal wear and tear occurs. Uh is there gaps between the you know on the double door doors closing gaps for there rust on the on the bottom of the door which is frequently because of rain and snow uh we end up by taking them out and replacing. So that's just an ongoing effort that we uh we maintain. Uh the next

030as well is floor and clear repairs again across the district. Uh so we evaluate throughout the year each school. Uh we place older towers, distribute these project I think pretty fairly so that uh you know every school gets somewhat done at their schools to improve uh the conditions of the tile in their buildings. Um and then the next article down is van purchases. Uh this is roughly two vans for this year. Um as you may know, we've been uh two van purchases. We've been buying one electric, one gas. Uh the electric van that we purchased this year was November, last November's article uh is being delivered soon. uh and then in the next couple weeks, but that van will be used on the special education route. So, the first time it would be actively used

031within the the busing system um during the year. And we're doing that to the test to see if it can do, you know, three runs a day um in a year. And if it's we're successful with that, we'll keep building up the vans uh using electric buses as opposed to gas gas. And the final article is $150,000 and that's replacement of essentially our districtwide telephones um systems to do it under one uh provider. uh they're now moving so that Verizon is will no longer be support uh the copper wires that are going into the buildings. Uh they're getting out of that. Um so we'll look to a uh a cloud-based solution um that will handle our phone lines. Uh there also requirements that we have now phones in every single room uh as opposed to

032just in the main rooms of the uh of the building. So uh that 150,000 cover that and then upgrade the PA systems we need. So the total amount is 1,655 that will be on the capital plan. Uh this August will apply for CPC funding. uh for a playground major playground renovation. Uh we're in the process evaluating that. Uh we will likely uh that once we apply in August the interview in in the fall, make a decision and then it comes up for uh April town meeting is the final step of that. So that's the 500,000 and that's a recent estimate based on what we see for example about T ticket the cost of that playground and some component to it. >> Does anyone have any questions? >> I just have one question. >> Sure. >>

033Um so Paul in terms of the so I understand your statement that you're trying to increase the resolution of the cameras. Yeah. >> Does it also come with increased storage capacity on this? >> Yes. So what our camera system is now cloud-based storage. So the cameras themselves will have onsite will have 30-day storage. We'll also have another 30-day storage and u that follows our policy. But after that, you know, we don't need beyond 30 days. >> All right. Yeah. I I just noticed um going through the um you talked about every year the these the doors of Flory. I noticed price goes down. I never seen prices go down. Prices go up. So I was wondering how come I put prices >> because it's a great question. some of the years they they went down

034because we were uh conscious of we don't know exactly when a large project or what the full dollar amount is going to be. This was a and I want to emphasize it 100,000 times. This was an estimate a ballpark estimate that no one's done real serious math here for this number. So, we're trying to be sensitive to the the immediate later years by reducing some of the capital uh requests, but we've made pretty good headway with the flooring. Um so, you know, at some point uh we'll be lowering this number. >> I had sort of the same question because numbers change. They go up or they go down. Is that sort of the same idea for all of these categories? Yeah. >> And then and if you look at, for example, windows, you know, um

035we have, you know, we have double plane windows in all of our buildings today. >> We are going to get into the this cycle of having to replace these windows down the road. So, you know, you'll see where we have been working on flooring in the past few years. We're going to start working on uh window replacements going forward. um more specifically the AC projects why they why the numbers are so different every year. >> Uh they were originally estimates uh that we received for putting in uh AC in the elementary schools. So we haven't changed that. However, with the projects that we're about to talk about later on on the uh on the geothermal pumps, um there's an air conditioning component to that. So, we've kept this in here. Uh but these numbers may

036change as we get further towards that. Um depending on if we receive any other grants as well. So, >> Nick, >> yeah. Um, I pulled out my warm book from November. >> Yeah. >> Um, the this past November, Tommy, and uh, the program budget in that, which granted was an estimate, but that was uh, over $2.5 million, and now we're looking at 1.6 million. So, it's like a $900,000 difference. And I'm just wondering why um, it went down by 900,000 from basically last year to this year for FY27. Uh I think the the big if you look at uh under the next year's uh estimate for November 27 uh meeting under the boiler for North Thelmouth. >> Yes. And though that's the difference the the number so in January of this year north uh the

037uh MSBA accelerated repair program is opening up. It opens up every two years and you can submit projects for uh MSBA subsidy and in the accelerated repair project you can do boilers and windows. Uh the boilers have to be geothermal. Uh and you can do windows as well in roofing projects. So since we would apply in January, we wouldn't find out until October and we would probably put it on the next following year's cycle uh for approval. That's why I kind of shifted it one year. >> Okay. And uh a second observation is that um the capital plan is a little bit um uh it doesn't have as much detail as some of the other departments throughout the town. Um like for example um I counted again going back to November there were 31 rows

038in the 10-year capital plan which kind of sounds like a lot until you look at mees that's marine and environmental services which is not a huge department they probably have at least 60 rows uh and the budget is much smaller so um I would encourage um us to think more holistically about things that we can put into the capital request. Just cuz we put it on the list doesn't mean we're going to get it. But if it's not on the list, then the finance committee tends to come and look at things and be like, well, they only added that last year. It must not have been that urgent. >> so the more we can pile in here, the better. >> Yeah. And and to that point, uh one of the reasons why we shifted uh

039to the approach we now take where we have systemwide buckets, >> Yeah. is that if we do a flooring project and we would start to name them individually, it became really difficult to transfer. If you had $50,000 for Ticket and you had $50,000 for East Falma or you had $50,000 for Men Hall and one project was up money and that is the project was $55,000 and one project was $45,000. It became difficult to transfer that as the project was live. So what we do is we ask for a pool of money and then we spend that pool based on the estimates of how these projects cost and allows us much greater flexibility to attack the need as opposed to coming in with very specific projects in mind. It just gives us a bucket that you

040know it takes us weeks to come up with all the individual estimates and then we you know then to do the bidding process and so on. So given you know assigning a pool and giving us that flexibility to allocate a project. So if we put, you know, $50,000 in the high school, well, that may give me a little bit extra to put over at, you know, Mullen Hall. Um because we rebalance it as the new estimates command. I hope that makes sense to you, too. >> Yeah. No, I understand. I just uh I think we and I understand you don't want to have a million little pots. Yeah. Um but the there's not just the number of roads but the total dollars uh as a function of how big the schools are as a percentage

041of the total town budget. the capital dollar figure, you know, the number of buildings, number of vehicles, the number of equipment, like it's a very substantial part and it's not fully reflected in the capital plan, I don't think. And as you I'm very concerned about the fiscal challenges ahead that um superintendent mentioned in her presentation. And I think that the more we are have these challenges, funding challenges essentially in the documentation we have, the better. Why? It's a good point. >> Super. Um, quick question. I I'm wondering if we're able to utilize the league sheriff's department for the paint painting at any point. >> That's it's difficult to do that. Right. Just with the because we have so much activity going on in the schools themselves. >> Okay. >> So, we still, you know, often

042times it's students in there. Okay, thank you. >> Um, quick question about the playground, the CPC funds, the 500,000. Are is any of that going to be allocated for Ticket? >> No, I think Ticket is almost completely covered at this point. They've done a phenomenal job of raising the funds. This 500,000 would be for the next project. Remember, we still have the application in for urgent funding with uh the CPC for 150,000 for T ticket if we need funding. So that that so urgent funding request for CBC they open up in April, they get decided in August. So that process we applied in April, we decided in August and then they go to town meeting in November for approval. So that if we needed money money under the T ticket project, that would be the

043CPC pool, not this. >> So is this 500,000 um earmarked for a single playground and is that the one at Northmouth? Well, we'll have to make a choice between North Felmouth, East Felmouth, and uh the preschool playground at the high school. Those three. >> Okay. But it will be one of the three or it will be dispersed. >> It will be one. It'll be renovating one playground. >> Okay. >> That was my question, too. >> Quick one. Um you what with the vans? What passenger what size passenger van? I think they're uh 12 or 14. >> Okay. >> So, under you don't need a license. >> Yeah. No, you don't need a CD. And >> I have one more question about I think it's similar to what J said with the security cameras. Will there

044be additional capital funds in later years as the technology improves? >> Uh there. Yes. Okay. I mean this will be camera is always part of our capital plan. >> Okay. Yeah. Uh but it will we will you know especially for replacements of damages or vandalism so I just want to make sure >> I don't really have a comment about the budget but more about the skylight the high school and anyone who knows me knows this has been coming. Um I'm sorry to see it go. I I know that it's been leaking. I know that it's been an issue, but um as somebody who's been in that school and that's the only source of light that you see during the day sometimes when you have internal classrooms um I know that the renovation has opened up

045some windows. I just um I'm disappointed. I'm sorry it's leaking. I'm sorry we can't fix it. Um that's kind of my main comment. I think you'll find that the design will actually give you better quality lighting. >> It's not necessarily about the light of more the natural light >> in my opinion. Unfortunately, if you go in there today, the the material that's on there has filtered out. >> I know it's garbage. >> It's not garbage. >> I get it. Anyway, anyone else? No. Okay, moving on to um Thank you so much, Paul. I appreciate that was comprehensive and thank you for the chart. Very helpful uh update on sustainability projects. So, as I had sent out information last week, um BMW was one of nine districts um that was selected. There were about 69 68

04669 applications for 19 million. Um nine were selected. Balmouth was awarded uh 5 million. Um so we feel very fortunate. Um but that doesn't happen by chance. Um, I want to uh give a shout out to Paul and uh Stephanie Madson um the sustainability coordinator uh for the town comm uh I'm sorry and um Kevin I don't know I did it over at the uh tea ticket um because it was a it was a lot of coordinated effort u and a lot of work that went into it. So um we're very fortunate. Uh Paul's going to give a little bit of an update of what we know right now. Um and uh some immediate next steps. Um but we know uh as you remember when we submitted the the application, we submitted it uh for

047either Ticket Elementary School or for Eastbound Elementary School. Um and so in the um next coming months, we'll be um having to to make that decision at some point, but Paul's going to give a little update on on next steps. >> Okay. Um so just quickly so in terms of next steps so uh Dr. Dor mentioned uh we receive um we haven't received the cash yet but we receiving $5 million. Um the next step in our process is we've issued an RFQ request for qualification to select a partner a vendor to work with us on a design the testing design and installation of the geothermal heat pump at either East RT ticket. Um that selection process will be done through mid June. Uh a number of vendors were on site uh touring these Hamilton ticket

048uh last week. Um and the next step after selection the vendors would be uh would be applying for yet another grant which is a testing grant. Um, and these testing grants allow you to do the drilling uh at each location uh to test if a geothermal pump will work uh at those locations. Now, there are other locations like Mass Maritime that have these installed that work well that um and so we won't suspect an issue, but part of the process is we have to go through and test each location to make sure that uh that the system can operate effectively. As you know that the heat pump is essentially series of pipes that are placed underneath the ground in the field of each of the uh buildings. Uh and then it exchanges either heat or

049cool uh you know the hot the hot water is cooled down uh in the case of the summer and then it's piped back into the building and either heats up the building or cools down. Um so drilling these testing is critical to uh you know before we get into the design and installation. Once that is done then you'll have a basis to make a decision uh one of the requirements is for the grant is that the school remain a K through uh 12 school is not uh some combination of those for the next 20 years. um although in the future, you know, one of our efforts is to try to get prek involved in that. It's just it's not involved in it today because that's how the legislation was originally written. So uh so uh

050that's the next step is to do the testing, determine which school to move forward with and then it would likely be the summer of 2027 that the uh uh PE pumps would be actually installed. All right. So there's nothing illegal for you to decide on today. you just have to continue the effort that we've been moving. What I wanted to say is that this piece of this graph and this was a pretty competitive market. I I think when we first talked about this, you know, I mentioned that although I mentioned we had a pretty good chance of getting this as well and and we in fact did. Um but one of the reasons I think we've gotten it as a district is that we have been making progress in sustainability uh substantial progress uh in

051sustainability over the last couple years. So this summer uh we'll be installing the solar canopies at the high school and at uh and at uh North Falmouth. uh those solar canopies for uh North Falmouth will generate about 87% uh of North's power electrical usage rather. Uh and it's about 15% or so of the high school's electrical usage. Um so those will be trouble ready this summer. And yeah, for those new to the committee, this was in a joint project with Select Energy. Select Energy actually advances the capital. They build uh solar canopies and then they charge us a fixed rate back for electricity for the next 25 years. So they lock in the electricity rate, but electricity grows anywhere from 2 and a half to 3%. um the cost of electricity. So over time over

052the 25 years we'll save in that differential between what they're charging us and what the expected rate of uh electricity is. We'll be saving close to $2 million over the 25 years uh for those two projects combined. Yeah. So again, this is the recent work that we're doing for East Ticket is sort of the the next chapter on what we've been progressing over the last several years on. Um with that, I'll let you ask questions. I'm just wondering I don't remember from the initial conversation when we applied for the grant what the cost savings is anticipated will be for utilities in the building that we pick. So this is uh for for this particular grant and for this project those cost savings are fully to us as opposed to the uh cost savings for uh

053the high school or family uh of Fouth Elementary. >> I don't have I don't have a number for you to say that but >> to the extent where reducing our natural gas bill substantially through the heat pumps uh and not and hopefully our electricity bill is only going up a component of that. That savings will be all to our benefit as opposed to splitting that with select energy which is fronting the cost for the solar panels. is >> so in terms of maintenance and repairs to the solar cities, how is that covered? >> That is covered by select energy. So that that's their responsibility. >> Yeah. Okay. So there's no charge back. >> No charge back. Katrina. >> Um, so I actually was camping this weekend at the sandwich and was with somebody who turned

054out to be working school grants or green school works grants and he said, "Wow, the project is really exciting and interesting. You guys are doing some cool things and he's hoping that it'll be like a what's the word? Like a landmark project that we can point to and be like here's how you do geothermal school." Um, so that was exciting to hear. Um, I know it's way down the line for Choose English School, but having just gotten that presentation on the Ticket Playground, it's totally communityf funded. Um, I do hope that that remains a K through 12 or K through 4 school. Um, and my my question for you, Paul, is the location of the digging. My I think I told you my dad has geothermal at their house, and that was our entire the

055entire yard was a huge pit to put that in. So, do you have to put it under a soccer field or something? Yeah, it would uh for East Salmon would go in the playfield. If you look at the front of the building, playing field to the left because the boiler room is right there as well. Remember the cost is >> piping that through the ground to the boiler room for Ticket. It'll probably most likely my guess will be behind the T ticket. Uh boiler room is to the right of the building. Oh >> and and and next to that is the parking area. Now that's it's not to say that it can't be in that parking area. It's just would be more construction work related to so uh but but that that's part of that's

056we've talked about that uh but we you know it we haven't picked a definitive location. >> Yeah. I imagine for a building as large as a school, it's going to be a big area that has to be >> That's right. And in the and the good part about Ticket and the East, both of them have a large launch to run these pipes through. >> Uh I have a question. The uh geod does it go underground? Are the kids losing playground space? >> Okay. So it's all >> once it's done, they would need to know it's there. >> Okay. Yeah, it's very >> feel like I need that, but I also feel like I needed to ask that. >> Anybody else questions? Mike, >> just one came from what you just said, Melissa. It won't affect

057the playgrounds, but if something goes on top of it and the pipe breaks like there's a field of those geodmo tubes, are you able to put something on top of it like a parking structure or a playground or it's supposed to be left open for the field? >> No, it would I can't answer that question. A parking lot, but but the field, you don't have to worry about it. You, in other words, you can have multiple wells in the playing field, >> the kids would it would not be a trip hazard. It would the wells would be permanently dug and made a cover. I'm just saying that there was like a leak and you had to go back in to repair it. Is it better being a design? >> Yes. Yes. >> Sorry. My parents

058has not been problem in 20 years. So hopefully anyone else. >> All right. Great. Thank you very much. Very helpful. >> Uh next we have review and act on town meeting Arthle's North Palmouth project. >> So we've been um sharing as as much as we we know and can share about the North Palmouth uh elementary school. I think the most important thing uh is that um we've had two different companies and they have that the building is safe. Um the concern is um when the next snow load comes. So I just want to make that clear first. Um tonight we're really talking about um funding um u avenues um for this and so Paul's going to share um uh a potential uh special town meeting. >> Yeah. So what's in front of you I want

059to emphasize is a contingency measure. Uh it is not the expected amount. It's a contingency based on what the final uh insurance company coverage will be. We know it's going to be definitely for room 40. uh there is a good chance it may go well beyond that. We if this meeting tonight was next week sometime, we would be dealing with this very differently. The reason we need to sort of set this up is that so we could have a town meeting uh get set up for a town meeting if we were didn't need one. But I'm I'm trying to be cautious in what I say, but this is a contingency. Uh uh it it uh we had a a incredibly thorough review this week weekend with an engineer and the contractor that from Maya uh

060the insurance company. So, it was uh um I think we're in a different state than we were uh uh prior to this weekend. So, we just need to get this into the process and then if we don't need it, um we come back, we cancel, uh the funding request going forward. But I think it's safe to say without getting into details that this memo will change substantially on fire early as next week. So we're waiting on that. >> So on Monday night you will see it on the agenda for the select board um to uh set a town meeting. Um again, um know that that's just in the in the queue. It has to happen. That doesn't mean that um you know, we may or may not need it. But if you see that next

061Monday, that doesn't indicate that we will need it. It's just if we don't get it in on Monday, we can't follow that process. Um the next step would be if we still have not heard back the report um the select board would uh on um June 8th would be making a a decision about the article and June 12th but would be scheduled for um then come to to discuss it. Uh we are hoping and or I should say we're very hopeful that we will know something before it starts getting down that line but not before next Monday. And part of this is I if I could just add one other component. We have such a short window this summer to do this. Uh we need to get this all set up. Uh and we can't

062we can't wait for the insurance company to come back and let us then uh take you know take up whatever balance it may be. We have to do a parallel path here until we get a final decision from the insurance. >> You know, I just have one question about this um draft uh that's in front of us. Um, in the explanation, it refers to in addition to the above funding sources, 200,000 is being allocated from the FY26 school department operating budget. Um, I think that this needs to be at least rewritten because we can't spend money in FY27 that's allocated in FY26. So, I think what you mean is maybe it's already been encumbered. we would encumber it uh in 26 for 27 because technically the work will begin as soon as school is out.

063So on January se 27th they're going to be moving in and beginning work. So if there's any uh any amount that we're responsible we we can encumber this now for um out of our budget. So, >> so then I guess I would just change your explanation to avoid confusion with the nitpickers um that were is not being allocated from the FY26 budget. It has been appropriated or encumbered from the FY26 budget just to be totally clear. >> We can make that change. So, can I just ask if we're making that change because we're going to vote? >> Hold on. Has been appropriated or encumbered from the FY26. >> Yeah, I would say has been appropriated >> appropriate >> from the FY26 school. So, instead of is being allocated, say has been encumbered. >> I think

064that fixes it. >> Okay. >> The explanation is not binding on a town meeting article anyway. Sure. But it just would potentially draw some confusion. >> I appreciate the clarity. Thank you, Nick. >> Sure, >> we can. >> No, me. >> Sure. >> Okay. Um Paul, any efforts in regards to um getting assistance from the state in regards to the timeline uh between our meetings, our local meetings and our town meeting, the possibility of moving that town meeting if we need it up um to give you more of a window. >> It it it would be very difficult. We have spoke with the MSBA. They can't act until they have the insurance. >> Okay. uh document the report. Um and now we're into we're going to move immediately uh to if we need funds to

065that uh July meeting. They said they will try uh to help. >> Okay. Uh but their timeline to do a summer type project that would be really difficult under the MSP uh to do that to to do an emergency project that quickly. It's it it just takes them longer. They have to send in their engineers. They have to review the entire project. It it so I I wouldn't hold out hope that we would get MSBA funded. Okay, I think I might have been confusing with my question in regards to can we get any um um due to posting etc after the local meetings have been uh gone through all the procedures uh and then we'd have to post for an um emergency town meeting. >> Yeah. Is there any help from the state in regards

066to closing that window so it could be earlier in July perhaps which gives you more time to get things accomplished afterwards? >> Uh that's sort of out of my realm. That's really in the town's realm. They've looked at this as the the whiteboard dates is what they need in order to do the next the earliest possible July 20th I think it's a proposed date um to do it earlier. They have to push everything else up further. So there's a notification period that they require from their end. Um I I and I think the defining point is when we want to make sure that we have time to get this insurance report. >> Okay. So, I don't think pulling it up further helps us on that. >> You're just going to be under time. >> Um,

067so regarding the the money aspect of this, you know, it has to be fixed. So, I I I'm supportive of that, but I have an overarching concern, which is um the building safety. And I'm looking at it as a if I had a child at North Fmouth and I know um we've heard multiple times the building is safe and I have you know I absolutely trust but there's trust and verify it to me if I were a parent um you know uh principal Vieiraa has sent out some really excellent communication that's been very specific but it would be much more reassuring if the name attached to whomever is saying that the building is safe. Is it the town of Felmouth building inspectors? Is it a particular engineering firm? I think that that's important information to

068communicate to parents, not just the building is safe. Um, and I would like to hear that as a as a school committee member. Um, the other thing is I think several of us have questions about the the roof project and I know that that's not something you are are prepared to talk about tonight, but we do have to have that conversation and um we can't have it in executive session. That's not one of the um criteria for meeting an executive session. So, we have to have it in open meeting. So, um I'm hoping that we have here some more specificity on just exactly who is saying the building is safe and I'm hoping that communication will go out to parents in the community. And let me show everybody there are now two structural engineers uh

069that have reviewed it and made that determination. That is not coming from us. um that the struct the structural engine that have been present in the building including this week have made that determination with the exception of the rooms that uh we mentioned room 40 and room 30 I mean just stating this absolutely stinks I mean the building is beautiful right now and you know we did all this beautiful work it's all you know and and I just feel for the teachers because they were uprooted last summer and now they're going to get uprooted again and you know it's just it's just so not ideal. Um so one of my um concerns is trying is h is just making sure that we can communicate with with the community especially town meeting members how this is

070all h like you how did you describe that these things are sort of happening in parallel because when when it appears on the select board agenda that we're going to have a special town meeting if then suddenly we're not having one everybody's going to just be wondering what the heck is going on. So, um maybe a communication, you know, to town meeting members about why it's happening in this way and it's about, you know, the window and the insurance and all those moving parts. I think might be helpful so that people aren't confused. >> Y microphone. Thank you, Paul, and thank you for I went over there, the engineer, all that good stuff. But to Kelly's point and to Glender's point, I'm going to marry these two together. So would it be possible, this is

071communication wise, to get the engineer to kind of explain to both town meeting members what's going on and the parents. So then one group is like, "Oh, we have to fund this." And the other group is like, "All my kids are safe." Just an idea. Um, and I I did see the emails from the principal, which were good. and you had um sent out one or you had sent out one weeks ago. Um but I just think that the more communication especially to put parents at ease and also to get the town meeting members to understand like this is why we're doing this would be beneficial. But other than that, thank you Paul. I to be honest with you I I enjoy the same thing. uh to have them the emphasis has been on evaluating

072the building up until this point in evaluating the solution for it. So uh and just recognized Saturday the latest structural engineer was by glad we have a second opinion on this because I think it's critical um to have that independent opinion of it. Uh we do want to get something from them. Uh I I just we are under a time crunch. It's Tuesday. We just got through this on Saturday. We are working towards that. So uh and to have a meeting where they presented uh I I would I would welcome that for us to communicate what they find as structural engineers. That's a challenge for me to be happy. No, I was just smiling like no. >> Um, what where were the structural companies from? Were they from the town or and the insurance company

073or both? >> No, they they're two separate firms. One uh loan consultants that we used initially. Uh and then second is the uh structural engineer that was sent in by Maya M I A CR company referred to as Maya but um I'd have to look at the first >> um do we should we have the town building inspector? I don't know what is ordinary for >> building inspector's been at the building several times three times. Is there anybody else that should look at it that in your opinion? >> I I I think right now we have two very solid opinions of structural engineers. What we need is the solution defined um and then move forward with funding it. Um I don't think there's a question about a problem. I think we need to find the

074the reinforcement mechanism for uh the trusses. So, but I think I mean the time building inspector was aware of the situation. He was there responding with me >> and he he or she also feels that it's safe for students to be >> Yeah. Yeah. They they they listen to the engineers involved in at each step. So, uh when we had our engineer review the plans, the building inspector was there reviewing the plans, the temporary reinforcement and the long-term solution. And again result of u u the most recent Saturday's visit and he's waiting on the report as well from my engineer. If I may I would feel better as a parent um having a name attached to it. I mean, not that I don't trust everyone, but um if it were my kids in that building,

075I'd want to know >> who's putting their um I just for all the for all the reasons. So, that's my thought. Anyone else? No. Great. Thank you very much for all. Yes. Uh, is there a motion to act on the town meeting article that has been amended to say the total estimated cost of the structural repairs of 1.9 excuse me 1,900,000 in addition to the above funding sources $200,000 is excuse me has been appropriated from FY26 budget >> encumbered budget >> encumbered income I thought you said appropriated. I said encumbered and I thought Sorry about that. >> Talking about Okay. $200,000 has been encumbered from the FY26 school department operating budget. It is anticipated that the total cost will be further offset by insurance proceeds. The amount of insurance coverage is not known at this

076time. Is there a motion? >> Thank you, Kelly. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any additional comments, concerns? All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? It passes. Thank you. Moving on to act on the superintendent evaluation. at your seat. Yes, Margaret. >> I move that we um we move the evaluation up for month. Um that's my motion and my rationale is that we have too many new members of the school committee who have not had time to look at the evaluations ought to review them when I was first on this committee the same thing happened. So my motion is and I talked to um MFC we do not have to do it tonight. Matter of fact I was told we could do it two or three months from now. I think

077one motion should give you time to review the evaluations so because they will be cut to vote. >> Is there a second to Margaret's motion? >> Second. >> Okay. Uh is there any discussion, Mike? >> Um we have policies in our own policy manual school committee that these are supposed to be done before the spring election. So delaying it any further I don't think makes sense. And no offense to Jane or Nick here, >> but I believe that their role on the evaluation would just be storing the process. >> Correct. >> Yeah. So, I mean, people want to, it's fine. I just I don't I'm not in favor of it. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Mike. >> Jane, >> I just want to state I wouldn't be comfortable voting either. >> That's fine. >> You

078know, um I think in fairness to Dr. I think, you know, I would need to be here for a year to familiar recognize myself with the evaluation tool to see any evidence that was submitted to support her evaluation to really learn and understand the tool itself. And um so I I just think in fairness it's not appropriate and that's okay. Um, can I just read uh what I believe that everyone on the committee received from um town council O'Keefe? Any municipal board like the school committee operates as a corporate body, meaning the the committee operates as a whole of interchangeable members over time. It is expected that newly elected or appointed members will vote on prior business that occurred before their election or appointment. Extension is not required unless a member believes that they are

079unable to do so because they have insufficient information to vote in an educated manner. So um I believe believe that was forwarded to every member of the committee. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else comments? >> Could I just follow? And so I understand what you're saying, but I'm just saying for me personally, I don't feel that because even in looking at some of the scores, I'm struggling to understand how there can be such a disparity on some of the scores for leads improvement. Is it the tool? Is it the evidence? Is it a process? And I I'm just not sure any exploration into those themes on my end could be solved in a year, but in a month. I'd rather have part of our process be to look at the tool before we implement it.

080>> Sure. >> And ask what evidence we want submitted to support the tool and >> Sure. >> and so forth. Again, just in fairness to I think >> um I have a couple things to say. Um one that we're voting we'd be voting on the summitive not the individuals. um it would not necessarily be what was um in or how the eval how it got here like how we came to this document that you see today but more of you've received the document and you've reviewed it um with the presentation available if we want to look at it um Mike is right that we are out of our policy for the superintendent and in my opinion we're not doing her a service um by not by I don't want to say kicking it down the

081curb because I hear what you're saying Margaret um but I also feel like this has been picked at and p we we need to we need to land this plane so that we can all move forward kind of thing in In my opinion, um, as far as the getting yourself familiar, Jane, with the tool, I can 100% appreciate that and hear what you're saying. Um, it was a clunky process this year for a variety of reasons. Um, in past years, it has not been this clunky. Um, and again, it was for a variety of reasons, and I I don't want to call out any specific reasons. Um I've done a smidge of research and other districts in the state don't have an evaluation team. They use uh the tool. There is one person usually the

082chair or the secretary who compiles gives a presentation and um then does the summitative evaluation of which is discussed in public. So perhaps that's something that uh this committee could uh consider in the future. So, um those are just my thoughts on this. Um again, I think this should have been voted prior to the election, but we cannot uh go back. So, um right now we have a motion and a second on the table. Um so, if everyone feels it's okay, I'd like to see if we can vote on Margaret's motion. Could you just restate the motion so I can be clear? Margaret, go ahead. >> Yeah, I move that the evaluation be put out for so that the members can do materials. All of the materials. >> Okay. And there was a second by

083Susan. Okay. All in favor? Margaret? All opposed? Any abstensions? Nick. Okay. The motion doesn't pass. Uh Sharon, could you please put the superintendent summitive evaluation up on the screen, please? At your seats, you will see the summitive evaluation uh as presented. You will also see um the corrected redactions from a single um evaluation that you had received in the original large packet of the individuals. Uh please be respectful and replace what um what this document is replacing and destroy it appropriately. Um thank you. Go ahead Sharon. We can all kind of follow along. The first page is the end of cycle summitive evaluation report as compiled um by the evaluation team with Terry as the evaluator as the chair. The next page is the performance goals. Um, and again I should say forgive me for

084being clunky on this because I did not put this together. I was not on the evaluation committee. So, um, I'm doing my best. The student learning goals, the professional goals, goal one and goal two. The next page shows district improving improvement goal. That's goal three. The next one is district district improvement goal two and that is listed as goal four. And the last page is the end of cycle summitive evaluation report uh that shows proficient and former chair miss has chosen not to put any evaluator comments. So at this time I would just like to say that I I would like to put some guard rails around. I know that everyone has been itching to say all the things that they want to say. um we are past due of when this should have been

085presented. We have failed, in my opinion, we failed the superintendent by not providing her with a summited evaluation before the election. That being said, I think it's important that we um have a very brief discussion on this. I want to remind the committee that your personal evaluations that you made to the superintendent were your personal comments. So, I'll use myself as an example. I did an evaluation. The comments I made for the superintendent were for the superintendent. Yes, they are a matter of public record and the public can certainly go and look at them, but my comments are not for the public. My comments are for the superintendent. So, I just I I want to just remind everyone of that. And I also want to remind everyone that um it's not easy being evaluated ever

086and then having it be on TV and in public. So while I understand that this past year has not been easy for anyone and I I'm sure that there are lots of strong conversations that we would like to hold and have. Um, I would like to um be graceful about this and remind ourselves that we are all humans here and that we are all respecting each other at the table. So, if you would like to make a very brief statement, I also would like to say that if your personal evaluation has any sort of redactions in it, please do not read them and please do not rephrase them. Um, that is all. Mike, do you want to be or Kelly, do you have a question on the process or >> No, I was going to

087make a motion to accept it so we can discuss it. >> That's great. >> I make a motion that we accept the summited narrative. >> Okay. So, just to clarify, accepted means accepting that the the overall rating. Is that what we're or we're just accepting that we're moving on to discussion? >> We are accepting that we are that the summit that we got at our >> so that the over so I would like to make a comment about the overall rating. So >> we can >> I don't know if we're voting to accept that summitative now or if we're just moving on to discussion. So I don't want to um get stuck where we have been stuck before. Um so right now we are we there's a motion on the table and a second for

088discussion of this. If at the end of the discussion you do not feel comfortable voting the evaluation, you don't have to vote for it. >> Okay. So it's just for motion for discussion. That's okay. That's >> and then at the end of discussion >> that's not what I moved. I move that we accept the summitative that we have at RC and then like a regular motion. >> Okay. Am I am I >> Yeah. I think what you're saying is you're mo moving to accept the summative. >> Yeah. >> It's been a second. People can talk far or against it. That's their choice. >> Correct. >> That but the the motion's on the floor. You can talk far or against it. That's the choice that one has. >> That's right. and then we will vote after

089discussion to approve it or to excuse me to accept it or not accept it. >> Thank you. >> Okay, Mike, would you like to start? >> Yeah, just one point not about the individuals or the or the the process and I had I actually took notes but I'm not going to say my notes. I'll keep it short. The one thing I will say is that the regulations from DESIE state that standard one needs improvement. The overall has to be needs improvement. So I cannot vote for this um evaluation as presented because it goes goes against the DESIE standards and that's all I have for that. >> Thank you Ellie. Um I just wanted to highlight um the first sentence in my comments which was that in I think my 12 or so years on the

090committee I have never had an overall rating of exemplary for a superintendent but I did this year and um it that is taking into account consistent fiscal security um recent contract negotiations that insurance staff retention continuing to be the taking the lead in um incoming school choice students and the list just goes on and on and on. Um, but taking all of that aside, I I really I agree with what you had said at the start. You know, I I feel like when I looked through the individual evaluations, what I felt was that almost what Jamie said, you know, there's so much discrepancy. It makes me think that, you know, it is it was our problem. You know, that that somehow the process wasn't smooth. We weren't clear. we didn't set clear expectations from the

091start and you know that we sort of failed in that. And so if we as a as a group can you know hopefully commit next year to from the very beginning being more well-defined, more clear um and more collaborative in it. I I think it'll have a better result than this bumpy process that we've had this year. >> Thank you. Um again to support what um my colleague Mr. Halen said that legally the law or excuse me it's a regulation um that 604 CMR 35.04 to be rated proficient overall an administrator must be at minimum rated proficient on standard 1. And I just want to read the criteria for needs improvement which will justify why I gave a needs improvement on that. Um identifies multiple sources of evidence related to student learning to assess the

092district's strengths and areas for improvement. But these datas are not comprehensive and/or analysis is insufficient or inaccurate. uses appropriate data to make some but not all decisions related to organizational performance, educator effectiveness for student learning. And um that is the crux of what standard one um requires of the superintendent. And we had quite a conversation about the um necessity to be uh presented as a committee with student achievement data to um be better informed and to use that decision to drive instruction and to use it to evaluate all of our schools. So that is why I gave it needs improvement. >> Thank you, Susan. Um, I have to agree with Kelly and Jamie and I'll leave it at that. >> Thank you, Nick. Thank you, Nick. Katrina, can I just ask a process question because

093last year we were told that if we hadn't read from our individual valuations, they were not public. So, can anyone clarify that for me? Like Mike and Susan did not read. Does that mean that theirs are not public? >> They're all public. >> Everything is public. Last year there was a lot of confusion. But we did I had to follow I didn't know so I followed up with Andy Wall last year to find out that they are. So the document that was handed out to us at the meeting when we first got this is already public. So, this is not going to be um a happymaking comment, but um my document has been redacted and it was redacted when it was handed out initially and it has been further redacted here in these handouts and

094I fully understand why someone would want to redact my document. But, um the reason for the redaction does not stand up. I've been waiting for further clarification from our legal council. Um, I don't believe it's the responsibility of someone on the committee to redact my document and my comments. And the reason I don't believe that is because it pertains to executive session and the reason for going into the executive session is no longer valid or ongoing. So from that standpoint, this cannot be redacted. It's not confidential. The other reason is that it's it's complicated and messy. I won't get into it and I will abide by what you said, Melissa, but this should not be redacted. Um, and also, and what I'm just going to go back before I read from mine briefly, um, the

095original document that was handed out to us, I understand that it was a mistake and that this should have been in there and somebody didn't redact my fully. They redacted only the first page. That is a public document. I am not going to destroy the document that was handed out to us in a public meeting. Anybody can make a record. >> Katrina, I hear what you're saying. I hear I totally hear what you're saying. And >> you can't tell me to destroy it. You can't tell us to destroy a document that is public. >> Except Katrina, we're asking you to be graceful on this. >> I'm I'm going to continue to be graceful. >> The evaluation team, as I was told, got legal guidance for the redactions. This was not personal. I have no course

096in this race other than I'm trying to just uphold the what little we have right now. Quite honestly, >> I never saw that council and the council I asked for. >> I'm sorry that you didn't see I that that is a a process problem. But unfortunately, that is not anything that we can control right now tonight. >> Well, somebody could have forwarded that to me. >> You're doing that. >> Correct. But I'm not the someone and right now I'm trying to run a meeting and I'm just trying to get us This is not personal to you, Melissa. >> Thank you. >> Um I believe that it was very clunky, but um I was a legal counsel that validated and excused this and gave a reason for it. I never saw it. >> Okay. >> And

097the original document was not redacted like this. And so the public should ask for the original document because it's >> they're not going to get it. >> Great. Okay. So moving on. I agree with my colleague. Was it you or you? One of you said um we had it when needs improvement five of them for standard one and whatever that little law at the back page of Desi says um this should not be professioned according to that. I'm not a lawyer and every lawyer has a different opinion it seems. Um so I will just read briefly from my comments on the first page from one section. The accountability data could have been handled differently and reviewed as a normal standard part of the school's annual DESIE report review. The superintendent could have reviewed the data

098in a matter-of-fact analysis and conducted a public discussion of best ways to improve our progress toward accountability target ratings. She refused, despite the fact that other districts do this routinely during their public meetings every year. This was a missed opportunity to share her professional insights, analyze the bright spots and areas for improvement, and bring the district together around a productive and proactive goal of bringing our district and individual school ratings up. >> Thank you, Margaret. Okay. Um, um, I I want to say that I do think the evaluation is really a reflection more of us than the superintendent. Um, I also want to say that I talked to Glenn Kutchner and to Sean and um I've also talked to other district chairs and they have clearly said number one we couldn't postpone this but also

099um that deciding about proficient is done by the person who does this and so uh it is as it has been said there are various ways to do this and so Um, it was done that way. Um, I also want to say that last year I gave the superintendent a lot of um, you know, the last category. >> No, >> last year I gave the super Yes. Get through this. I did this exceeding and it was said by at the meeting that in fact normally proficient is quite good and so this year I said okay proficient is quite good I will do basically proficient um and actually before I left because I went away for a week uh I met the superintendent and said to her you know not going to give you the kind

100of evaluation I gave you last year because in fact I've been told and I felt felt somewhat chastised last year that I had done, you know, I had done that. And so I let her know that I was away and I was getting the evaluations and as we're coming in, I was very surprised. And so I asked for a phone conference with the superintendent. I said, I do apologize. I see that obviously exceeding uh expectations is um what other people have done and so maybe I do not feel since I've seen other evaluations that I should change mine I think that's an outcome but um I just wanted you to know that >> thank you J >> can I say one more thing sure you know always tells us what questions are good to ask

101and I think it's very important for us to know what our roles are and what questions we us that in fact we ask certain questions and it's a superintendent's job to follow up and operational. That's all I have. >> Thank you. M Jane, >> I have so many thoughts but I'm not going to um share them. But mostly what I'm feeling as I'm sitting here is that I feel badly for all of you. You know, your commitment to want to serve the town of Health and and the students is admirable. I'm not sure where the train went off the tracks, but obviously it has. So, as I stated earlier, I don't feel I can participate in this, but I will say that I'm happy to help this coming year. I'm happy to be on whatever

102subcommittee you need me to be on. I've had experience with all of this. Um but I think if we make the process better and we'll have less disparity and more uniformity in the process itself and hopefully we'll come to the same outcome so that if we can focus on true evidence and true data and not opinion or feeling you know then we should have some integrity in the process. >> Thank you J. If I may um I have given evaluations um through all the years I've been sitting at this table and I take extraordinarily pride in them. I try to stick to data. I try to stick to facts. Um, if ever there was a time that I didn't agree with something that the current superintendent or previous superintendent was doing throughout the year, I

103always gave them the benefit of the doubt at the halfway mark or perhaps along the way to say, "I don't really agree with what you're doing. I feel like you could have done this differently or how can we fix this relationship?" Um, so for the people that want to wait till the end evaluation to um spring things out on the superintendent, it's really unfair. And if you've had conversations along the way, then I think that your evaluation is admirable. So I I defend my evaluation because I had multiple conversations with the superintendent along the way. It has been a rocky rough year. I am hopeful that uh we are moving forward this year. I have, you know, I truly think that we failed uh as a committee for not putting making this evaluation happen before

104the election as it is in the superintendent's contract. That's on us. Um I hear everyone's frustration and quite honestly Jane, I don't know where the wheels fell off the wagon either and I've been here the whole time. So I think um the way that we move forward is that we tomorrow start again and come back to the table and say this is a new year. This is how we're going to make it better this year and we put our best foot forward. I don't know how else to do it. I really don't. So those are my thoughts on that. Is there any further discussion on the evaluation, the summitative evaluation? Seeing none, for clarity, I think we should do a roll call vote. Mike >> H or no. >> Okay. Well, Jess Cohen, no. >>

105S Augusta, yes. >> Abstain. >> Okay. Nothing new. >> Yes. >> No website. >> What's it? Yes. So we have Mike. No. Comedy. Yes. No. We have one, two, three. Am I reading that right? Three nos. Four. >> Mike is a no. Kelly is a yes. Blended is a no. One. Two. You got four. >> Katrina is a no. >> One, two, carries. >> The motion carries. >> Okay. Can I just ask a process question, please? >> How how do we square the legal requirement with our vote? Is that something that we need to get guidance from legal counsel on? >> I think that's a great question, Glenda. Um, and I think that perhaps figuring out which legal council we are going to get it from. >> That's crucial. >> And um and and again

106that needs to be part of the new foot moving forward. >> Perhaps new is the chair can take that as an action item. Maybe >> that's a great action item. >> Okay. I don't understand. I don't understand. I don't understand. They're going to get legal counsel on the vote >> because it's against regulations what we just did which is illegal. >> Why is it against regulations? >> I don't want to speak out of turn but >> that's okay. >> So because DESIE has regulations that when you do a a summitive evaluation you have to follow certain steps and processes and one of those is standard one. If it's a needs improvement, which it was five to four, then standard one needs improvement. The overall needs to be by regulation and Glenda said a number. >>

107Yeah, it needs to be needs improvement. So by us just approving a proficient evaluation, it goes directly against the state regulations. So that was my concern on us doing this at the time. So, so whatever what MFC told Nate Glenn and Sean is incorrect >> and that's why we're moving on and that's why tomorrow is a new day and we are going to figure out who we are going to talk to legally. One person not multiple and this is how we put our ship in the correct position moving forward. I don't know how else to say it. Moving on. act on the medication delegation procedures. >> So, um we uh voted a uh policy around um the med delegation um some time ago. Um this procedure not all uh procedures come to the um the

108school committee. However, uh in the regulations on this, the procedures also have to be voted by the school committee. So, you've uh adopted the policy. Um the um procedures were written by Dr. Parkinson and our head nurse um Sharon Okconor um and reviewed uh by Sandy Capsellis and uh Mary Gans as legal counsel. So they do align um they're in your packet. I don't know if anyone has questions. Um it did go to policy subcommittee. policy subcommittee reviewed and uh recommended it that it moved to um the full school committee. Also, because of the timeline and needing to um get these uh put into action, it is not a first read and then an act, we uh move straight to an act because you approve the policy for the time. >> Are there any Go

109ahead, Kelly. >> I have two questions. Um so number two under medication orders this the first page number two the last line said that the medication order it says medication order from a licensed prescriber shall include and the last bullet says diagnosis or condition if deemed confidential. And I'm guessing it means unless deemed confidential because you wouldn't want it in there if it's confidential. Am I reading it right? because there's another place that happens later where it says unless right >> you're right. >> Yes. >> So I think that's right. >> Can I can I speak to that just as a professional? Um, as a professional, everybody who would be privy to this order from the physician has been HIPPA trained and putting a medical condition, it falls under HIPPA. So everything is confidential. even

110having even the student's name associated with the medication is all claws under HIPPA. So I feel like if deemed confidential or as it is as it is unless confidential later that doesn't make any sense to me because any and all medication or medical record of any kind is protected by HIPPA including the >> perfect for the school. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, I'll defer to Sandy on that one. It I was I noticed it because later on it says >> unless so it it should always be unless confidential. >> No, it should always be confidential unless Furpa is different than HIPPA. Has different guidelines than HIPPA, I should say. Okay. So Ben, I I'd like it to say unless confidential on that one. And then there's some other um spot further down under um student

111admin or self- administration, sorry, self- administration. Um the last bullet, the sentence doesn't it doesn't read right. So it says if requested by the school nurse, the licensed prescriber provides a written order for the student self-administration as monitored base. It's like something happened there. >> Hold on. Where are you? >> Under self administration. >> Sorry, I don't know what >> That's okay. >> There's a little star there. >> Yeah, there's like a little last bullet has a star at the end of it. It looks like something either is supposed to be in there or got cut out or I don't know what happened. Unless it's supposed to be if the if requested by the school nurse, the licensed prescriber provides a written order for said prescription like insulin or >> Okay, that makes sense. And

112then the next sentence just starts the student administration. Okay, that makes that makes sense. Um >> I'm just thinking of um prescriptions that a student would self-medicate for like an inhaler or insulin. >> Um so maybe it just needs to be another bullet. The next one would be the next bullet starting >> where it starts the student self- administration is monitor because then it's talking that whole paragraph is talking about monitoring. >> Got it. >> Okay. So the unless line and then um adding a bullet point a bullet for the student self- administration monitoring. >> Okay. Uh anyone else comments? Melissa, do you feel good about it? Um, I do now. Thank you, Kelly, for seeing that. Um, this was Glenda. You definitely didn't have this at policy. >> Um, so I appreciate uh >>

113you didn't have policy. >> We had it, but not in this um format. We had it, but just not in this format. >> All right. Is there a motion? Oh, yes. >> Sure. How? So this also crosses over with the um the policy that we did about administering epinephrine before. Is this is that now bundled under this or are they separate things that we did back in the winter for administering that all goes along? Okay. So that's like talking inside this. Okay. Um I'll move to accept it as edited. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Any absention? Nick. Okay, great. Moving on to reorganizing the board. So in years past we have um again just uh for clarification had the um sitting chair uh do the reorganization. Our sitting chair

114did not seek re-election. We have had this in the past. Uh and the vice chair in that past also did not seek re-election. So the secretary uh did the reorganization of the chair and then it was handed over to the superintendent. Our policy states otherwise. Our policy states that if the chair is not available and the vice chair that the secretary would run the meeting. As a reminder to the email that I sent this morning, uh Glende has asked me to run this and I'm happy to do it. So, are there any questions on that process or our policy? Seeing none, why don't we open up the nominations for chair? >> I like to nominate myself. >> Are there any other uh nominations for chair? I'd like to nominate Mik. >> Are there any other

115nominations for chair? Is there any discussion? >> I'm sorry. I'm trying to remember what we did last year. Did everybody as they voted say why they were voting? >> But then we had to stop because we all have to discuss before we vote because remember it's like I say something. >> I'm sorry. What? If we're going to have to we have to discuss first and then vote one at a time. You can't discuss and then vote. Yeah. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So just for a point of clarity. So uh the nominees whether self-nominated or fear nominated they don't discuss or state why they would be a good chair or >> we can definitely do that. >> It just would be helpful to me and I don't want to speak for

116Nick. >> We can definitely do that. I'm sort of um Yes, we can definitely do that. I was sort of in the position of were there any other nominations for anyone else for chair? >> Yeah. >> Kelly, would you like to state your reasons why you should be chair? >> Sure. Um I think um you know I've been chair before so I'm familiar with the the process of trying to manage the meetings, get things on the agenda, manage difference of opinion and I think uh you know we we just we so very much need um to be able to work together over the next year and that's what I want to focus on. um you know, I have the time to do it. I feel like I'm, you know, been on the committee a long

117time and I'm prepared to do so. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Please. >> Um so I agree that we need to hit the ground running with somebody who has experience um on the school committee, but we also need someone who is going to respect the policies, regulations, and laws that um pertain to our functioning. I've served on the policy subcommittee with Melissa and I know that she takes policy very seriously and we need to reestablish trust and transparency with the community and this following policy, following law, um not violating open meeting law is an important step toward doing that. Um I'd also like to state a second reason why I'm supporting her. It's no secret that Melissa and I have clashed in the past. Um, however, we both recognize that we can't do business as usual

118and expect to get anything done. Um, we're both pledging to work together because, um, parents, stu, and especially students deserve better. And, um, I think that she has demonstrated a willingness to allow committee members, even those with dissenting opinions, to be heard, and I think that that's an important part of moving forward as a committee. So, for those two reasons, I'm um I'm supporting my colleague Melissa Key. >> I appreciate your kind words. Um I uh Does anybody else have anything else to say? >> Yeah, I'll speak as well. Um I know everyone at home, the dozens watching were very upset that no one nominated me. Maybe next year, guys. Um, I am going to support Melissa. Uh, I've known Melissa a long time. She's done this with me a long time. Um, and I'm

119going to echo not to the extent of Glenda, but me and Melissa have had differences, but she does always let me talk. That's all I really care about. So, thank you for that. And that's all I'm going to say. Oh, also I see Melissa all the time at events and stuff. So, she is out in the community a lot and does talk to um does talk to a lot of parents, which I think is good. And uh that's it. Thank you, >> Katrina. >> Um I had initially over the year past year thought that I might try to run for the school for the chair, but um I can sort of see the writing on the wall that that would not pan out for me in this time. So um I wish I had voted

120for you my first year when I was sitting here voting for people and I didn't know anybody. Um I think that would have been a good choice. and um I like the way you ran the meeting tonight and I generally respect um the work that you do. So, thank you. >> Anyone else? Um I am struggling on accepting the nomination uh for a variety of reasons. I um I am cautious about the time I am uh going into a new role in my personal career and uh my um personal life has uh taken some unexpected uh turns as well. So, I I am very gracious for the nomination, but I feel as though I would not give it the same justice that Kelly would give it, very reluctantly. I >> I think you should have

121said that in the beginning. Accept the nomination. >> Well, I appreciate your words. Wow. >> Um, and this has not this this and please know this Katrina that something very monumental literally happened on my way here today. So, some of this is completely out of my control and I'm doing the very best to run this meeting the best I can. So, um I I appreciate it and I'm am still grappling with all of it. Some things are just out of our control. Try as we might. >> So, do you do not accept the nomination? >> I I do not accept the nomination. >> Can I nominate myself? >> You can nominate yourself. >> Right. I will nominate myself for chair. Um the reason I'm nominating myself for chair is because I feel very strongly that

122um following the waiting line actually something hold um I do not generally play political games or um manipulating and playing strategic games does not come naturally to me. It's very weird and funky and uncomfortable. Um so for that reason I think that I would be a trustworthy and straightforward person even though I have not agreed with all of you. Um the open meeting law really really matters to me. Um and I will do everything in my power to keep us in compliance and to maintain transparency according to all state laws and our policies. I do not withhold information. I will share whatever I am legally allowed to share with everyone uh on the committee. I have experienced the frustration of asking for agenda items repeatedly with no outcome over the last two years. And I

123will set up a system that you can all agree with or not agree with. We can work it out for all of us. A system that we can use to get everybody's agenda items at least onto a list that we've agreed on and then try to fit them into the agenda that we have agreed on at the beginning of the year. And I think that's fair. Um it's something that I feel very passionate about making sure that everybody's voice is heard. um working towards facilitating meetings. I watched Bob Antinichi lead the building needs task force meetings and his manner of leading those meetings was so inspiring. Um I I hope someday that I will be able to lead a meeting the way he did. Um listening to every voice, keeping the meeting going, recapping what

124was said and saying, "Was that correct? Did I say what everybody said? Is there anything else?" I think his his way is sort of my inspiration. Um uh and I will work diligently to ensure that the school committee has open and lawful communication systems in place for listening to the FBA. Importantly, they have asked for that and it's in their contract. Um listening and surveying parents and importantly listening and surveying students who don't do that and I think it's really important that we should start doing that especially in the elementary schools. We hear a lot from high school. Um, and as a parent of a second grader and a preschooler, it's really important for me that we start doing outreach to the parents and students who are younger who are going to be impacted by

125the choices we're making. Um, so that's that is why I'm nominating myself for sharing. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else comments? Margaret, >> I have a comment and it's a it's not about any age person. U my first year on the uh committee. I felt somewhat um let's see, I don't know the exact word. Um but it seemed like um maybe what I said wasn't valid. Maybe I used that word and I thought that I I think any person on the community felt that way. Um and I had numerous talks with the chair of the committee that then and one of the things the chair of the committee said is everyone has a turn to be chair. Um but in fact it takes a while to really learn what you do as a chair as

126a school committee member. Um, and I think that's really important for all of us to hear. And I know people come with different experiences, so I'm not going to minimize um, we've got a, you know, former principal, we've got someone from the finance committee. I'm not going to minimize their experience. >> Thank you. >> I knew you'd appreciate that. Anyway, um, but I think that's important. Um and I know I've been to the conferences pretty much every year in summer institutes and one of the things of the last conference I went to actually went to two on board meetings on board meetings on boarding new members which is something I think we need to do better. Uh and at those meetings, everyone who was there who had been through a second term said it takes

127a whole full term to really grasp what in fact a school committee member and their focus in their lane is. Uh and actually uh one of the women who's actually a district um coordinator said she said I've been a school communities forever and I'm now in a new district and I've got to learn that you know there's a learning curve and so I just want to make that general comment. >> Thank you Margaret. >> Seeing no more >> can I speak? Thank you. Um I'm going to support Katrina um now that Melissa's out of the race. I do know that there was a year that I tried to get agenda items on over and over again and every meeting it got shut down. Um when it was finally on the agenda it was tabled which

128I found out later on was unethical. We did have open meeting law problems. Um with executive session I think if we do want to move forward we have to move forward and Katrina other than talking a lot. You might hear less from me actually. >> That's it. >> Thank you, Mike. >> Yep. >> Did you have something? >> Oh, sorry. >> Yeah. >> Um uh I just want to thank you both for jumping in as andating yourselves as as for the chair job because I know it's a very substantial amount of work. Um that's point number one. Point number two is um I think it's really difficult for somebody that's new on the board to have to make this choice right out of the gate. Um so that's really challenging. Uh three, I don't know

129anything yet, but um what I you know from this committee um but I am very concerned about the budget. It's my finance background, but I'm just thinking about the budget and I'm thinking about experience. Uh, and because of that, um, I will be supporting Kelly. Um, cuz she has a lot of years on town meeting. She's had a lot of years on the school committee. And we need to make sure that when we go and ask town meeting and we go and ask the voters, we have just a lot of experience and know what we're really what we're doing so we get all our ducks in a row. Um, I will say one last thing. You know, the there have been a bunch of open meeting law things. I'm really not privy to all the

130details. I haven't dug into all that, but those are things that we can learn from and those are very like fixable. Um but experience is not something that just can you can just fix. So um I support it. >> Please. Go on. Sorry. Go ahead. >> Oh, go ahead. Thank you. >> Oh, okay. Um so I I first of all was very sincere in my words and regardless of your position will pledge to um collaborate. So I just wanted to say that that has not changed. Um, regarding the issue of experience that I absolutely uh concur. However, there's a difference between experience for experience sake and experience um doing things the um correct and transparent way. And um one or two open meeting law violations as we've heard from legal counsel, you know, it's Okay.

131But repeated um violations, disregard, and admonishment by the attorney general. Um that's a concern and it's a concern that the community has expressed and it's a concern that um our committee should be um concerned with. And so I think we we know what has happened in the past and if we want to move forward, it's important to have a fresh perspective. And again, the reason that I was supporting Melissa and the reason I will support Katrina is I think we need somebody who will respect our policies, regulations, and laws in terms of how we are functioning as a school committee. And if we don't have that, then it's going to be the wild west as it has been for the past two years since I've been on this committee. >> Thank you. Melissa, it's not

132about me, but can I just add one more little thing? The um chair position is a facilitator and a person who the position is to empower each member of the committee to do their best as a committee member. And so um speaking for myself, I do not have as much experience as Kelly. You're right, Nick. But the position of chair doesn't give any more power than any one of you. It's the the person running the meeting which is just the job description is just to empower each member to do their best to serve the students and to facilitate the meeting running smoothly and lawfully. So my lack of experience in budget and I am a town meeting member but I don't have as much experience. You're right. But that's that's not um critical to being

133the chair. Thank you Jane. Um so once again I have a lot of thoughts but I'm gonna say them all. Um, I guess I would ask as a a new member in hearing common themes um repeatedly from everybody in terms of violating open meeting laws, respecting respectful interactions, being denied agenda, all those what everything that said the attorney general's thing. I guess I would ask each candidate um to, you know, maybe share with us what steps they would take to ensure that these things don't happen again. How do we restore um without a brand new person in place? How do we restore faith in each other? How do we how do we have the community believe that we're going to be able to work together if there's still so much baggage that people have and

134trying to move forward? what what steps could we take to put some of these things truly in our past to move forward? How after unpacking everything, what would you do? Do you want to go first? >> Sure. Um I think Terry made some good progress last year trying to set up strategies and systems for running the meeting, for um managing the oversight of being the chair and making sure that people were heard. And I would try to further that work by ensuring that everybody understands what's on the agenda, what's coming up. Um doing all the duties of the chair of letting people ask questions and doing my best to answer them, but mostly um you know having a a really formalized process that we all agree on through a facilitated discussion. Maybe we could do

135it over the retreat and if I'm not chair I hope we can do this anyway of um how do you get an item on the agenda? How do you um get a legal question answered? What legal um person should you speak to? The questions that have come up over the last year, two years um many of them can be addressed by putting in place systems that as I said before um ease and facilitate and empower each member to do their best. And so um just having really clear guidelines that we all agreed on that make it so that each person can speak. So for example the agenda at the end of the meeting I would ask for people's agenda items or further business as it says on the agenda. Um I would take a list

136of those things and then without taking a formal vote I would say you know is there more than one person who's interested in this item and if there is it goes on a list and that list is transparent and everybody can see that it's there and it gets updated and as things are able to move on to the agenda that process is transparent. um if we have an executive session um making sure everybody understands what's going to be talked about ahead of time in the executive session and if we go beyond that stopping the conversation. So I don't know if that answers your question but those are some concrete things I can think of that would help to ease our way through the year. Kelly >> yeah I agree with a lot of that of

137course. Um so I think um in terms of the agenda process that was a process that I had in place when I was chair before. So people would mention a topic I would say if you want that similar topic follow up with me after the meeting so we wouldn't violate um open meeting law in that moment and we could get a feel for whether or not a lot of people were interested in a topic. Um so that was already a process that I had in place. Um, but I think, you know, I think really we need some training. You know, we we need to take advantage of the MASC field reps and have them come and work with us through these these issues, through a process for identifying, you know, how we get legal questions

138answered and who we ask, a process for setting up the agenda. I mean really we should sit down and this was something I did last when I was chair last. Everybody at the retreat should be looking at the year-long agenda and weigh in then so that we're not constantly reacting in the moment to um to topics for new agenda items when our agendas are already very very full. And I think that would also help us stay in our lane a little bit because we can't constantly be we can't have everything that we're interested in on an agenda. You know, then we that's how we end up in in the weeds talking about managerial things that are beyond our purview. I think it would help us a lot to you rein in our agendas to address

139our goals, the superintendent's goals, the district goals and the things that are within our responsibility. So I think um I think we need some outside help to get to get to that place and that would happen in hopefully a series of retreats where we can take advantage of our MASC field reps. Right. I think we're ready to vote. Mike and >> Katrina Linda. >> Co. Katrina. >> Susan. Kelly. Nick. >> L for Kelly. >> Thank you. Nevin for Margaret. >> Kelly. >> Jane. Kelly. an iTunes for Kelly. Now, I'd like to open the nominate. So, to be clear, Kelly has won chair for the election. Congratulations. >> I'd like to open the nominations up for vice chair. >> I'll nominate Katrina. >> I nominate Melissa. >> I'll second that. Accept it. I will accept it.

140Sorry. Thank you. >> Glenda, do you want to be nominated? >> No. >> Thank you. >> No. >> Are there any other nominations for vice chair? Does anyone want to speak to vice chair? I will speak on my own behalf. I truly appreciate the nomination for chair and I fully intend on helping to write the ship and I truly believe that tomorrow is a new day and it's going to take all of us to work together to get over the hump of last year and not just last year the last year plus. Um, I um I feel like I've sat at this table a long time and recognize that there are things that I still don't know. Um, and that's why I still enjoy being here because I do enjoy learning new things every day

141uh about students, about buildings, about finances, about all of it. I would hope as your vice chair that I would do the very best that I could. Um, as vice chair, one of the big roles that you have is setting up the retreat among other things. And I um have been thinking about things in the last week or so um that I would like to see moving forward specifically for the retreat. one being who do we talk to for things? Who is the point person instead of having multiple point persons and to have clarity with the committee so that everyone knows what we're doing so that we're not having three different answers from five different resources. We don't have five. It's an exaggeration, but you know what I'm saying. So, I I would do my

142very best as your chair, as your excuse me, as your vice chair, and I appreciate the nomination. Um, I also appreciate the nomination. Thank you, Mike. Um, I think one of the things that the vice chair does that I have really appreciated seeing how Terry and Glenda handled it in the last two years is responding to people's emails um in a timely way where they know that we heard them and um are considering their email and it doesn't just uh disappear into the void. And so um that is a job that I would um take very seriously carrying on what Terry and Brenda have set up for that. Um the retreat also I have suggested um a nonprofit organization in the past that did Robert's rules training um which could be extremely helpful for us

143to facilitate our meetings and um we we've had some good retreats and I can think of many ideas myself as well that would be good. Um and also I think you know when I first joined the committee Kelly and I got along very well. We've had a rough rough year, I think, but um I remember leaving meetings and being like, Kelly, that was great. So, you know, I hope we can get back to that place and I would like to work with you. >> Any other comments? Seeing none. >> Oh, sorry, Nick. Go ahead. >> I just have a question. >> Sure. >> Um the vice chair's responsibilities on various boards can be a little bit different. Um, typically they fill in for the chair when they're not around. Correct. And I understand when school

144committee they also um respond to emails. Is there anything else that um the vice chair has typically done the school committee? >> All of those plus the retreat that we just talked about and I would assume organizing any mini retreats or um >> what's the word I'm looking for? Like um >> workshops. Thank you. workshops that we would need moving forward. I would foresee that we would need a number of them for a variety of reasons. >> Can I just add kind of an intangible that I think that um Terry and I had last year was being a thought partner and maintaining the confidentiality of the chair. um that's not in the job description, but it is uh important that the chair have somebody that they can um bounce ideas off of and um and

145that would maintain the confidentiality, agree, disagree um but always support the chair. So I think that that's kind of a unwritten understanding of the vice chair, but I think it's very important to have that. >> I couldn't agree more. I've been vice chair before and I've been chair before and it's absolutely imperative that you have somebody that you can uh bounce things off of that will keep your confidence and that you you h you you have to have that person so um I I couldn't agree more excellent point anyone else seeing none Mike want to start >> hina >> okay for keep Sue August. >> Um, Melissa, >> are you sure? >> First time. >> It's awful. I haven't even met you guys yet. >> Katrina, are you Yeah, you got for yourself. Yeah. Melissa,

146>> thank you, Melissa. Thanks. Uh I appreciate it. Um I promise to do my very best as I said and I'm obviously running for myself as well. So um and I still am very uh grateful for the chair nomination. Um and it is with uh heavy heart that I define that. Now secretary, >> could I nominate >> please? >> Could I nominate Kina Evan? >> Sure. >> Just keep getting bummed out. Don't let your notes bump down. I love being psyched out on the demotion. I just keep getting bumped around. >> All right, >> just hold up your book. >> I do keep notes. True. >> Uh, go ahead. No, go ahead. >> Um, I'd like to nominate Margaret. She's done it before. >> Are we can Are we talking in support or we just

147putting names down? >> Oh, just putting names down. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Excellent. Anyone else nominating anyone? >> Seeing none discussions. >> I nominated Katrina because I think everyone on this committee can acknowledge the copious notes that Katrina Neans takes um for everything. And it was really wonderful having both a secretary and a board member or committee member taking such notes. So we had such amazing documentation. So I feel like um Katrina has proven her bonafiday as far as being a scribe. Too many >> um I think she would do a great job. >> Any other comments? >> I do take a lot of notes. I just had to transition to my third book since being on committee. That's all I'll say about that. And I think um I think it would

148be beneficial to have um somebody who does take a lot of notes to be the secretary so that everything is recorded. Um and I I do keep this completely confidential. So um you can all trust nobody has ever looked in my notebook ever. I would just like to say that for somebody that documents for a living and everything I document is uh of can be held up in court and is considered legal document taking accurate notes is weighs more to be than copious notes. So that that's my comment on all things note takingaking. Um, any other comments? Seeing none. Mike, >> uh, Halen Katrina >> Cohen Katrina Margaret. >> Oh, no. We Sorry. Go ahead. >> Yeah, there's me trying to do things on. >> I'm on you. >> Going with Katrina. Another >> of

149course. Margaret. Margaret. >> Jean. >> Margaret. And Melissa is for Margaret. One, two, three, four. Five for Margaret. One, two, three, four for Katrina. Margaret is the secretary. Thank you. We've had a reorganization of the board. Routine business. Should we switch now? Do we have to move on? >> We only have one. >> We can do whatever you want. >> Congratulations to our if that's okay. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Okay. So, um acting on routine, excuse me, uh, routine business act on the May 12th, 2026 minutes. Is there a motion? >> So, Kelly, is there a second? Second, Katrina. Uh, any discussion? >> Sorry, we're on the which >> these are from May 12th, 2026. >> Yes. >> Did you have questions? >> No. Okay. I I block them. Any discussion? No. And no more

150discuss. No discussion at all. Okay. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Any abstension? >> Great. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Just one thing cuz >> Oh, no. It was accurately depicted there. >> That's okay. Not to worry. It's okay. >> So, motion seconded. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? >> Great. Thank you very much. Uh we're going to act on Is there a motion to act on the May 7th, 2026 minutes? >> Who made a motion? Um I wasn't going to make a motion cuz I wasn't there. >> Oh, okay. I'll make a motion. >> Okay. Is there a second? Second. >> Thank you, Margaret. >> If only all our meetings could be that short. >> No, of course I missed the one minute. Go ahead. >> Yeah. Um the uh the

151talent portion of this says that the committee packets available for the public can be found on the town website. >> I do not believe that's accurate. >> We will make sure that website. I could I see a link for the school committee packets, but that was a dead end. >> Thank you very much. We will um make sure that those are available. Any other discussion? >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Any abstensions? Great. Any committee member reports? >> Margaret. >> Yeah. Um, I belong to the diversity community meeting and I'm sure he could add to what I'm going to say. talked about the day of the morning with the department of chairs, but I think the important thing was that they're going to be doing a survey with all the equity teams um

152to sort of listen to biases um what has been accomplished um they're going to gather data for what should be changed um and uh how the equity teams have been effective and this data will set the agenda for next year. >> Excellent. That's all I Thank you. >> It's great. >> Thank you. >> Any other committee member reports? Katrina, >> it's not a committee, but I just wanted to second Lor's shout out for the Legally Blonde. I went with my daughter and it was wonderful. Such a fantastic cast and um great music and everybody was so talented and bright on stage. It was really great. >> Well done. That's great. I want to second that you know if you have not gone to a high school production you have missed the house school productions are

153just outstanding. They really are I think one of the best productions in this town. Not negating other great talent here but they are outstanding. >> I think my daughter wants to be a set designer because of that. >> That's a very important part. Normally we would have any uh requests for additional information, but um I'm going to leave that out and leave it for the next chair just to any other comments. Seeing none, I would like to make a motion to adjurnn. Is there a second? >> Thank you. We're journed. All in favor? Any opposed now? Okay. Thank you.