001Thank you everybody for being here. I'd like to call to order the women school committee budget subcommittee for uh May 6, 2026. Um Chair Nardone could not be here tonight. We um also our condolences to the Tanner and Nardone family for the loss of their um mother Josephine Tanner. um hope to see next week and and them all well. We will start with contracts and procurement with a student transportation update. >> Great. Thank you, chair. Um the update tonight, it's a brief update. Uh we will keep agenda item on, but for tonight, we're still going through the process as we talked about prior meetings. An IFB public opening occurred on April 15th. There's an apparent response of low bidder. We're going through the due diligence phase right now. We're still on track for a notice
002of award um by May 13. Um and that's all I have for an update this evening. I appreciate our guests coming tonight. So I don't know if you want to open up to >> Sure. Before I open it up to the public, is there any committee questions related to the student transportation update? >> I will open it up to the public for anybody to comment or um come up to the microphone. the student transport. Hi everyone. >> Yeah, we're sorry. Hi. Um, good evening. My name is Sula Bossier, as you probably heard me say several times over the last week. Um, I work for First Student as the driver of Wayouth Bus 7 and as you are aware, we the school bus drivers who we're all here today have been attending the meetings for the
003last few weeks due to our concern about the bid for the school bus contract. When I spoke last week, I pointed out several factors that may have caused the NRT bid to come in significantly lower than the first student bid. The pricing used by NRT was most likely based on a 5-hour day to run a route when in reality it takes more than six hours per day to run our routes. And the cost of the late buses was most likely not included because there was no separate line item for it. So, the bid submitted by NRT is unrealistically low and they would most likely become a financial problem to the town of Weaimoth. It was stated by Brian Smith last week at the last budget meeting that the committee will vote to award the contract
004to the lowest responsible bidder, and that's the important word, responsible. A responsible bid means the company submitting the proposal has a proven track record of success and the financial resources needed to properly run the contract to ensure success. Submitting a financially deficient bid demonstrates that NRT is not a responsible bidder. Company submitting an unrealistically low bid is not being responsible. A company with a poor per performance track record due to constant staffing shortages leaving dozens of children without a way to get to school each day is not being responsible. As I mentioned last week, most of the first student way drivers will not stay and work for NRT. So, how will they address hiring a large number of new drivers? The city of Framingham terminated the NRT contract in 2023 due to constant driver shortages.
005They had shortages of more than 20 drivers every day in the entire school year. Even when NRT offered signon bonuses and higher pay, they were unable to attract people to come work for them. Google NRT online and you will find many other cities and towns experiencing similar situations with staffing shortages and service delays. So, as the date towards awarding the contract gets closer, we ask you to carefully scrutinize the reputation and track record of NRT. They are not and should not be considered a responsible bidder. The children and families in the town of Weimoth deserve much better than NRT. first student has been and will continue to be the most reliable and responsible choice. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening members of the school committee. My name is Michelle McCrovich. I'm a Teamsters
006representative of Teamsters Local 653. Thank you again for for having all of us. This is the third time we've come before you and our message remains the same. The town of Weimoth needs to protect their drivers and they certainly can do so. You can make the right decision that will directly affect the safety of our children, the stability of our community and the livelihoods of the men and women who have safely transported WHEMA students for years. For the past few weeks, not not only have you heard concerns from me, but also from bus drivers, parents, teachers, nurses, and many community members from emails, phone calls, and these meetings. They are all standing behind and supporting the drivers. They have said clearly they do not want to lose the first person their child sees in the
007morning and the last person they see after school. These drivers are a part of the fabric of this community. Now, let's talk about those drivers. The people who actually make this system work. Driving a school bus is not easy. It's a 40ft metal vehicle filled with 60 to 70 students who are not quiet. They're not still, and they are not predictable. Many people try this job and quickly realize it's not for them. It takes skill, patience, rigorous training, good judgment, and experience. And the current roster of way drivers we have now love what they do. They are seasoned and established. They know the roads. They know the neighborhoods. They know the routines. They know the children and the families. I want to be clear. I am not here for first unit. I am not here
008for NRT. I am here for the drivers. The people who have been a part of this community and way school system for decades need to plan for their future. These drivers currently have a Teamsters contract, a can a contract you can keep intact and demand that any new company would need to adopt in order to protect these drivers. That contract gives them a livable wage, health care options, retirement funding, benefits, guarantees, and job protections. They are not asking for more than what is in their current contract. They are only asking not to lose what they already have, which is maintaining standards. every other school employee who works with ways children's teachers, traffic supervisors, paraprofessionals, custodians, cafeteria workers, maintenance, all have contracts that protect them. Why should the school bus drivers have this security taken away
009from them? All they have earned through years of work and dedication gone. And if the awarded bidder does not honor their contract, these drivers have already let you know they will not drive forth unless their protections are guaranteed. And if they leave, we schools will be left scrambling for drivers in the middle of a nationwide driver shortage. This is not a smooth transition. This is a safety risk. And where is a new company going to find dozens of drivers in the same with the same level of commitment and care without a contract? Here's a critical point. NRT has acknowledged receiving everything they need to honor these drivers contracts. They have received a petition signed by the drivers, a copy, a full copy of the teamster's contract, a memorandum to sign stating NRT will honor their
010contract. They have all of it and NRT has not signed. That speaks volumes. Again, I have copies right here now. The NRT can sign and show good faith to the wayment drivers that they will accept their Teamsters contract. As I have stated before, the Way School Committee also has the opportunity right now to stand up for the drivers. As part of the award process, you can require NRT to honor the current Teamsters contract so these drivers can continue doing the job they have dedicated years of their lives to doing safely and professionally. So if there is a change in transportation companies, it can be done smoothly. I urge you again to do what is right. Ensure that the decision you make is based on a full, accurate, and fair understanding of what this job truly
011requires and needs. And if you make a commitment with NRT, demand NRT also makes a commitment to the drivers. Thank you. Anybody else that would like to public comment on student transportation? Seeing no >> chair just says so thank you to everyone who came tonight. I also want to thank in the back here is Faith Holland. She's our transportation manager. Uh thank you to Faith for attending tonight and all we are listening to you and we appreciate you coming here tonight. >> Moving on. Were there any prior meeting questions and answers? >> I don't think so. >> Revisit. >> So we will move on to grants and gifts. and we'll skip over that. >> Skipping over to that. >> Nothing there. >> Audits and reports. >> Nothing there. >> Moving on to fiscal year 27
012budget planning. >> Thank you. Um so our new budget book is available for the public and um online and obviously the committee council administrators. Um it's a it's a great uh expression of our budget tells the story. Uh but I do just want to take a moment to thank uh the Wildcat Creative Club which is our CTE graphic design program at the high school who is run by Tom Bradillo. Um this book in all its beauty is produced at the high school. Um so a lot of districts will pay a lot of money to outsource this to have um consultants come in and prepare this but this is our work that we do here that is expressed through this book that is printed by the high school students. So I just wanted to give them
013a shout out. That's amazing. >> Um, so we're going to jump in first to our fee cycle review. I'll um bring up on the screen here. Um, the agenda and we'll just got to take a couple things out of order. First like to um back to the actual fees. First, we're going to do some of the rates that we pay our workers. Um the first one is ESY. So, the recommendation for this year, so this will be on July 1st, is um to adjust the teacher tutor rate, the nurse rate, related services rates from, I believe it was 3875 an hour to $40 an hour. The other rates we're recommending to maintain um as you may be aware within the unit D contract uh we have with our ESPs. They get their contractual rate during
014the summer. Um these rates would be for folks that don't work for public schools coming to work for us. So we want to maintain these rates but bump up the teacher nurse related services rate. So, um happy to and um Meg Me and Christ are here too if you have any questions related to ESY rates for us. >> Um related kind of unrelated how has this increased the amount of staff that we are taking from women public schools? >> We've had a tremendous amount of applicants for where we're probably going to have more applicants than we can we actually have positions for. So, we've had a lot of internal candidates for all of our positions. um teachers filling teacher positions has been the one area that still has challenged for us, but we have staff
015that work in the programs that want to work as teachers. >> And is this pretty industry standards for rates? >> It's it's pretty comparable. Um some districts go by their daily rate. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Any other questions? Go. >> How many um teachers do we usually have? Like how many are over the summer? Is it like one for each grade or? >> Um, so it's one for each of our district-wide programs. Okay. It just depends. Sometimes if not as many students are attending over the summer that we have during the school year, you might have some combined classes. So it might be a little bit smaller number, but it's pretty consistent with our district-wide programs that we have over the school year. We have those same pro programs running during the summer. And
016then we also have some students that just get tutoring services over the summer. So, we have teachers. There's maybe about eight teachers that tutor over the summer as well for our special education programs. >> Is it five days a week? >> It's four days. >> Four days. Okay. >> And there's also Q5. So, that's a high school summer. Um, so that's credit recovery over the summer. There's I think four teachers in that. Um, we have a title four program still running under Bin Cooper. Um, that has one or two teachers there supporting some of our alternative pathways over the summer. And then we have an EL um funded uh through title three um program that runs through the summer as well. I think there's probably three or four teachers with that as well. >> And
017that's four four days a week. >> Well, they're all pretty four days a week. And then there's um one of the special education programs last a little bit longer. >> Yes. So the majority of the programs are four weeks and our C programs run to six weeks. >> Four hours a day. Four days a week. >> Thank you. I um so I know that ESY stands for extended school year. I mean I'm very naive with what this program is and what it means for our students. So if you could just kind of like break it down for me. >> Yes, >> that'd be great. >> So um students qualify for extended school year to prevent substantial regression in their skills. So it's really not intended for our students to learn new skills over the summer.
018it's just to help maintain those skills. So there's no substantial regression of skills when they return to school in September. So for some students that's academics. For other students, it might be for social emotional or behavioral or just their ability to engage in routines. Um so it's really individualized for each student what services they need over the summer, but that's the overall intent of it. >> Okay, great. Thank you. >> Any other questions from the committee? Moving on, Mr. Smith. >> Substitute rates look at our substitute rates. Um, and as you'll as you'll see with our fees too, we we do comparable analysis of comps, other districts, what they pay. We look at what the cost impact is to the budget when we make any adjustments. So, we have several here. um our preassigned building
019sub and our teacher rate will go from 11325 a day to 115 a day. Um build that that us up in as as we look at comparable rates around the area. Um you try to look at geographical comps of substitutes because that's the pools you're pulling from. Uh our EFP rate would go from 97.25 to $100 per day. Our nurse would go from 38.50 50 to $40 per day. L LPM would go to from 3225 to $35 a day. Our traffic supers would maintain as well as our CDL subs. Our van drivers would go from 1950 to $20 an hour. Our retired teacher would maintain um retired sorry van driver would maintain a 24. and then our van monitor and cafeteria aids would bump up to750. Um our long-term sub schedule has changed slightly. So
020up until uh it's after day 6060 it refers to the teacher's contract. So this this is managed through negotiations up until day 60 we managed through this document here. So we've increased from 13425 to $150 a day for days 1 through30 that in LTS. So basically if a teacher goes out longterm during the year you want consistency in the same educator in the classroom. So if if someone's going out for you know half the year uh days 1 through 30 would be at this 150 rate and 31 through 60 would jump from 16125 to 175 per day and those are our proposed rates for substitutes beginning 92026. >> Any questions from committee? >> Are these based on six hours? uh say right >> six I think six two five six and a half depending on
021the school >> but it's really the bell to bell day not to be on today >> um what currently does the van monitor in the cafeteria aid make right now >> sorry Kelly >> sorry um can you just repeat what is the van monitor in the cafeteria aid make right now >> oh sorry um it is I do have that right here. Currently, I missed it. I apologies. Currently 16 for the fan monitor goes to 1750. >> Okay. >> And cafier aid is at 17 goes to 1750. So, we're trying to keep consistent among those two groups. >> Okay. >> And just the last one, I'm sorry, I think I might have missed it. What is the teacher making per day? All right. >> The first one or the second one? >> The second the
022second one says teacher >> 11325 per day to 115 per day. >> Thank you. >> And that so the there's probably a question folks have is what's the difference between the first and the second line? The first line is is staff that they're in the building all year as a preassigned building stuff. So they're they're full-time employees that they have benefits, but that's the rate they get. And usually what we see is um it might be a newer educator like someone young out of the college is trying to get into a district. So they start here, they build a relationship with the building. It's a good audition. Um where the second line is truly like that daily sub that people sign up for and they might jump around different buildings and they might jump between
023different towns. >> So preassigned would be like a float like >> correct. >> And a teacher would be like we need somebody ASAP >> in the Y correct. Any other questions from the committee? >> Moving on to third. We're uh proposing no changes. I apologize for the small print, but I guess along in the show there's no being proposed by the athletic director for the rates >> and she was going to you going to speak a little bit more about that athletic sub. So at the athletic subcommittee, she's she could answer any additional questions and um we just felt that um that meeting next week rather than have her come to >> right. >> Okay. Now on to um the proposed rates. So as we've discussed and we'll get to at the end um we
024look at rates every year regardless. We look at the cost of the programs that they fund. We look at comparable districts to see what they're charging for fees. Um and then we look at the impact of families for increases. This year is unique because um the ability for the operating budget to supplement these programs has been diminished due to um what our operating budget projection is for next year. So, part of our funding plan through the mayor's office um was to realize some increases in fees as revenue to offset the decrease in the operating budget. Um because those funds have to they we can no longer um utilize certain funds out of the operating budget to supplement the the programs whether it be busing or athletics. That number we came in at was roughly 100,000.
025And I'll have more specifics of that number as we go through this. But again, we do feed analysis every year. We look at increasing fees based on the programs they support, based on comparable districts, and based on um the impact of what the increase may be. So, we try to balance all those. We don't want to go up too high. That makes it unrealistic or prices us out of the the market. Um, and we don't want we want to make sure we at least cover our costs if not plus a little to put into a fund balance which I can talk about specifically as we go through. So, athletics is the first one. Um, we are proposing uh 10% increase in athletics uh for all sports with the exception of hockey. Um, we are seeing
026across the state an increase in the cost to run these rinks. Um, for WHA specifically, uh, the the fee looks like it'll be likely increasing the hourly rate that the rink charges, um, $250 to $325 an hour. Still better than a lot of other areas where, you know, you see anywhere from 400 to$450, but the arrangement the town has with DCR, the town just can't give breaks to certain departments or certain customers. So, we we have to pay the rate that's set. Um the mayor's office is talking with DCR. There's a 10-year uh agreement in place with DCR. So that the mayor's office is speaking with them about that. Um but for us, we do have to prepare for next year. And um so that's where the 20% increase is for hockey. So 10% for
027all sports, 20% for hockey. >> And the and I you and I discussed this, the the rink cost has increased 30%. So just even to run the rink, >> right? So utilities is a big labor and utilities utilities is the biggest driver by far. Um so we've we've passed on some of that to the fee. We're able to absorb some of that increase. Uh if you think about things we've been doing with like the banner program um uh Kristen's athletics budget um we've gone through it and we we don't have to do the full 30% increase for hockey. So we're doing a 20% increase. Um and then that rolls down to our family cap. So basically, as a result, the family cap, we're proposing an increase of what results in $20 per season. So a
028family cap, so if if a family has multiple children in the high school participating in multiple sports, the cap was 1,200 a year. That cap is now 1260 per year. >> Any questions? >> Yeah, I'm wondering if we counted to go each section. Is that okay? >> Is there any questions from the committee on that first section? Oh, and I'm sorry, and I missed, as you can see, there's also a new middle school rate. We've talked about middle school sports for um several years now. It was there was opera funding that funded the first couple of years um through the town. Um that funding is gone now. So, the uh in talking with the athletic director and principal Jones, um we came up with a a $50 um cost >> competitive only, not >> correct.
029And that's $50 per sport that they might play. Yeah, for the year >> or for the year. >> For this, it's for the sport. >> Oh, for the sport. >> When we get down to activities >> activities, it's sorry. >> So, it's for the for sport. >> Yeah, just for sport. So, we'll clarify when we get down to activities, but for the competitive sports because there transportation involved >> um officials uh there is a cost of $50 uh per per student per sport. >> Chair, if I may, may I answer the question? Um, so I noticed on the unified sports it's was $50. It's going to go up to 55. So I just one of my questions that I had written down prior to this meter meeting meeting which you've already kind of answered was
030what factors contributed to the proposed fees because when we look further down >> I'll give an example like theater has never had a fee and it's $50. So, I'm just wondering like when you look at this, are you looking at like unified sports, I'm assuming, doesn't run all year. Am I wrong? >> No, they do. >> They do all year. Okay. Because that's what I >> it up between basketball and then track and field, but it's one. >> So, that $55 will cover both. It won't be like they're paying 50 for the basketball and then paying for I just want some >> I that's a question we'll have to clarify. I don't know >> because it is typically the same group that does both. >> Yeah. So the question is is that 50 I believe
031per season. I believe it's per 50 in the fall, 50 in the spring, but we'll have to verify that. >> And so the increase would be to 55. Um and I guess jumping ahead, I'll jump ahead just to answer. No, no, I'll jump ahead just to answer the question. It's just one thing that I picked out that I saw a difference and I was like >> with equity I was just wondering like how many times is this needing and then how much money does it cost for just things like maintenance or staff salaries like and I know that you probably look I I trust that you look at all of that but I'm just I'm new so I just want to know like >> yeah and like you were saying Kelly too just right off
032the bat the staff salaries so they increase every year activities the adviserss um but It's also they do travel. >> Yes. >> So there's a little bit of transportation there too. Yeah. >> And the the increase doesn't necessarily cover the cost of the programs increasing. Um >> it's actually covering less of a lo like so it's less of a loss for us really is what it is >> as we supplement operating. And I'll I'll just for a moment jump down to clubs and activities. That's a new rate. However, we budgeted operating the full cost of student activities and um clubs. So now what we're saying is we can't sustain in the operating budget the full cost. So as we're asking to introduce a rate, but I'll I'll talk specifically about that when we get down
033to that section. >> Okay. >> Um I'm pretty confident that it's a and we'll clarify for next meeting because you guys would probably um likely vote this. >> Um we'll clarify for next meeting if that unified is per season or per year. I believe it's per season. >> Okay. Thank you. And the theater piece just equ we looked at it equitably and and they never they did never pay and they do travel all the theater mom. So I I'm not trying to like on that. >> I am too and I have I have >> looking at that problem paying because I know it was not a >> and I think equity wise you know there is families that are able to pay that that can that want to help out too you know. >> All
034right jump. >> Sorry. Thank you. Anybody else? >> The chair. >> Go whatever direction you want. >> Go. >> Pay rider. Yeah. >> Yes. So, next is pay rider. Um, we typically see increases here. Um, just to put it in context, uh, the operating budget. So, what we typically yield in, uh, pay rider fees is roughly 200 to $250,000 a year. um where the current contract um is 10 times that, right? So, it's just an example of the the fees don't ever completely cover sometimes even touch the full cost of a program, but we charge fees, too. So, we would never we could never increase if we if we increase the cover the full cost, you know, you'd be talking, you know, thousands of dollars. So that that's an example of us balancing what we
035increase the cost for the fee as compared to what we budget. Um having said that we looked at also at comparable districts and um with even with a 20% increase we're at $318 per rider uh which is um below most most districts we looked at. So I think we're doing a good job here in Weimouth of um utilizing oper operating budget to supplement a program to lessen the burden of the cost on the families. Uh so the the rate would go from 265 to 318. Um second child if you have one and then similar to the athletics there's a cap there's a family cap. Um so uh for the third child and beyond there would be a cap in place for pay rider >> and and pay riders have the option for payment arrangements. Right.
036>> So all so all um first and foremost anyone who's pre- reduced or direct certification doesn't pay a fee or it's a reduced fee. Uh and then per school committee policy, all the principles have the ability and the authority to work with families on payment plans. Okay. >> Um and then >> there's no set set amount though. They just it's basically >> simple form. >> Okay. >> There's a simple form that we introduced a couple years ago that um families can fill out um to meet with the principal. It's obviously it's discreet private between the principal and the family on payment plans. And in addition, this we have programs out there, you know, like the um the banner program at the high school has helped with um and dream the dream catcher race has helped
037with athletics and funding to support families that that need it. >> Okay. Any other questions for pay rider? Moving on to WHS child care. WHS childare different than um our early child care program here. Um it was part of the CT program um mostly utilized by staff. Um and it's a childare program that takes place at the high school. Um you'll see a consistent um throughout this um when we can. We we try to do it more than 10% uh this year for what we're our analysis. So we like athletics, we're proposing a 10% increase in the rates for child care at the high school. And you can see the difference. There's infant, toddler, and preschool rates. >> Is that full week? >> I think it's every day. >> Yeah, it's every school day. >>
038Every school day. School day. Yeah. So the same hours that they're in for school >> roughly. I think it's like an hour >> from the high school. Okay. >> Yeah. I want to say it's an eight hour day. >> Okay. >> It's a longer day. And like I mentioned, the program is utilized I probably I think exclusively by our staff, but not just the high school staff. This staff from Chapman and primary schools that utilize the program. >> It's a great benefit if you look at the cost. >> That's you know >> I work here when I do >> they have a waiting list >> waiting list every year. So yeah. >> Any questions from the committee? Go ahead. >> Do you ever have It says staff rates. Do you ever have like do you
039have a separate number for if it's not a staff rate or is it typically just always staff? >> Typically as long as I can remember it's >> the waiting list is pretty >> I would imagine. And we always service our staff first. >> Yeah. >> Moving on to CT postgrad. >> Yes. Um so this is for um and again I don't think we've had I think one in the last 10 years I believe um someone who tuitions in to CT but again we have so much the demand is so high we don't have any slots available so I don't I don't think we need to spend much time on this one we're just as I mentioned we're doing blanket increase 10% so that that's will increase the CTE rate uh by 10% but again anyone
040in the CT program now it's our students they're not paying So there's no spots for a postgrad if they if they wanted to. >> No, I want to say 2017's the last time we had someone. >> I remember when I went to Blue Hills, there was always like at least three or four postgrads. >> And now you see with the lottery, there's just no >> Evening High School. Um we're looking closely at this with Principal Monahan. Evening High School and Q5, which I think we'll get to. Um, so this is an example. We're trying to balance the increase with the cost of, you know, what we charge someone. So, we're doing 10%. I we should probably increasing more based on um the fact that the high school does have supplement, the evening high school revolving
041fund. Same with Q5, which we'll get into. Um, so but principal Mon's looking at other ways we can be creative to to make that that fund um balance. So, for now, we're just proposing a 10% increase when it should probably be higher. >> Yep. >> Questions. Clubs and activities. >> So, clubs and activities. So, we just touched on um we'll continue to talk through here. Instrument, um that's going up $3. Um photography. So, these are high school rates that are introduced. Um well, they're existing. Sorry. uh AP exams, which I believe is a set rate. Um >> who sets it? >> The College Board. >> College Board. >> But the two the two below there on that section is what we just talked about. These are new they're not new programs, but they're they're new
042rates that we we will charge uh potentially. So, it's $50 for club activities and $50 for theater. And as the superintendent mentioned, whether you do one club, it's it's kind of that that college model. Whether you do one club or 10 clubs, you're just going to get assessed $50 for the year. >> Basically, just like an additional fee, >> $50 per student, basically >> per student per year >> and however many clubs and activities you want to participate in. Mhm. >> Again, it's just to help, you know, talking with um Principal Mahan, Principal Jones, it's it's really to help, you know, they budget for these in operating budget, but it helps us to free up dollars to do other things within our operating budget by charging this fee >> and it continues to support our
043afterchool activities because we don't right now they're flourishing, kids are after school, we don't want to start to minimize the availability of after school activities as well. And Brian, the question I had for you for theater that included festival season as well. >> Yes. >> So it's 50 for the year. >> For the year. Yeah. So >> any questions? >> No. If they needed it, would they be able to use Dream Catcher? Is that something that if they applied for would they be able to do Dream Catcher for that? >> I don't know. >> I believe that's I I believe that's specific to athletics. >> Athletics. >> I do. Yeah. But it's something we could definitely >> look at. >> But the banner program might be some of the >> Yeah. Okay. >> They has
044such a great boosters, too. They're just amazing. >> Incredible. Yeah. >> And that's a lot of the when um parents are struggling with athletics or a payment, sometimes the boosters support, >> a lot of the boosters will pay for a couple of um athletic, >> right? >> Um class dues. So just a again across the board 10% increase on class dues. I don't think we've incre increased them in a while. This >> no each year say >> each year that they get paid. >> We hope I mean a lot of times they'll get to the senior year and I think that's what our you know we're trying to support families along the way so that when they get to the senior year there's not a huge price tag sitting over them. Um the so what
045you'll see a lot of times is if you want to go to homecoming you have to have some community service done and some fees paid. So we try to have some things along the way um to incentivize our families to keep up. >> Makes sense. >> Questions from the community. Why the big jump from sophomore to junior and then juniors >> the pros? >> Yeah, the cruise all the activities. >> Yeah, the senior activity or >> way more activity. >> Yeah, but even just the junior prom and um getting ready for the senior prom and then they usually sometimes have to pay a fee depending on the fundraising that happens in their years. Like sometimes the prom is $10, sometimes it's $40. It depends where it is. It depends on how much you fund raise.
046Head check. >> Moving on to W Adams EC. >> Thank you. And I I see principal Perez is here. I wouldn't you would you mind jumping up just in case questions pop up? Um >> the spotlight. >> So this is um >> your spotlight. This is uh so again this is a program where um we're balancing the the increase in the cost to run the program with what we charge families what our comparable districts are. So Mora Alys and I spend a lot of time during the year talking about um the rates. Uh so for this year for next year we're proposing 5% which really just covers the increase in the cost of the program itself and staffing. Um it's not any additional amount. Um, so we're comfortable financially with that 5%. We spoke with
047Mo. She's communicating with families. But, um, if anyone has questions, that's why I asked Mo to come up too. So, thank you Moa for being here. And if anything you want to add to that, more >> we want to talk about, um, registration fee or do you want to put that off to the fall? >> So, we could Yeah. So, part of um, and it wouldn't necessarily be an additional fee. It would be part of um, the registration fee would roll into their tuition payment, right? >> No. So when they come in to register, they pay $50. So one of the things we've noticed many other private um and public schools have a $100 registration fee. And I think just by increasing it, it's a little bit more money where they don't. We typically have
048about 30 families every summer between when we start in February and the end of the summer that unenrolled. Um, and I think just having a little bit of a higher fee will make them think about it because it's a lot of work to go through our weight list and 30 more families to come in. >> Does that go towards their first tuition payment though? >> It does not. Okay. Very separate. And it we put it directly towards um school supplies for kids. >> Okay. So, that was my mistake. So, I um because it's an additional cost. It wouldn't if it doesn't go towards that tuition. >> Yeah. >> All right. We'll add that. So, we're going to add a $100. Thank you for the recommendation. We're going to add a for next time you'll see
049a $100 registration. >> 5050, right? >> It's 50 right now. We're looking to increase it to 100. >> Yep. >> Okay. 52 >> for next year. >> So, what happens if you have those 30? You just go to the wait list. >> Yeah. We It It's typically 30 to 35. You know, many families may be on the fence. Um some of them may be looking for a longer day if they can't get into Champions. Some families move. Um depending upon tuition. Some people may say, "Oh, it's a it's a little tight." There's all sorts of reasons, but I just think having a little bit of a higher fee really makes them think about it because it is a lot of work to kind of, >> you know, redo the class list, get someone else to
050come in. Sometimes we call in a few people and we try to take them in order. So, it's a little bit challenging. >> Any questions for Laura? >> Thanks, Mom. Thank you. Uh we can skip over school lunch. Um I'll clarify. So with school lunch, obviously it's it's free first breakfast, first meal for anyone. Um if a second meal that these charges apply the adult staff um the national school lunch program does not apply to the adult staff lunches. So there's still a cost there, but we're not proposing to increase that because um our food service director said what we charge now is within the national school program um mandate. Q5 >> Q5 more than 15% again um uh principal Monahan's looking at that program closely um maybe some changes and tweaks to it um
051can help but for now uh we're just recommending a 15% to keep up with the increase in costs. >> Is Q5 a full day too? >> No, it's um >> subject specific. It's um class actually in specific online but there's teachers here support them through the online process and then it's um as as they finish they finish. So if you're kind of moving quickly through you might not be here for the entire four weeks. >> So what is that >> the fee the cost? So >> what is it? >> So there's fees associated with the online subscription and then there's fees for the teachers that are here supporting them. Okay. So we have a teacher and I think um humanities, math, science, and then special education here at all times during it. So that's where
052that would come. And then there's a coordinator for it. >> Okay. >> Science. I'll have to look into that. But there's at least three teachers here plus the coordinator. >> Thank you. >> Parking. That's kind of self-explanatory. >> Yep. 10% parking stickers. Still good deal of the district. >> No increase. Um we've introduced these rates and increased them in the past. Uh giving what the the cost versus um what we charge families. We're maintaining these rates. Uh we've also as um assistance soup frat has outlined. Just phil philos philosophically we've made some changes to the Chromebook program for next year that we've already implemented this year. Um as a result we will see a likely decrease in loss and breakage. I told I I shared with Brian that we went through a um issue with
053a Chromebook and it was like seamless. It was amazing. >> That's great to hear. I'll let Brett know. >> Hall rental again across the board 10% um you know we try to work with our renters um and uh just utility cost increase contractual increases of of employees. Uh we we are trying to support our local youth sports leagues and we do give them a a what we see feel is a very um a very um great for our buildings compared to going to you know maybe a facility in handover. Um so those you can see those rates outlined there and then we do partner with um Steve Riley for park and recck and Donnie Norton have an auditorium. Um there's MOAs in place for those areas. So we make sure that um our custodial costs
054at least are covered for those spaces. So we um through Louise we um bill inter interdep departmental billing for the our staff that are um on those fields and in in the building in the department space that Donnie manages. >> I this this always confuses me. So if an outside forprofit comes in >> and rents the high school's auditorium >> Mhm. >> they're writing the check to the town or they writing the check to us. >> So right now if it's the high school us directly. >> Okay. And that goes into the revolving >> our building use revolving. >> And which ones do not come? >> The plan the um well planetarium does as well. Right now it's Chapman auditorium. >> Okay. because that space is um no so new and the amount of investment
055in technology and equipment. Um Donnie does a great job of maintaining that space. Um so it's not only he's not only programming it with rentals, but he's also maintaining the space, making sure equipment, everything's working. Um he he has a revolving fund, so if something is needed for that space, he can access that. Um so right now the high school uh the Chapman auditorium and then um the other area that's ours is the high school athletic field. So again park and wreck we rent it out. >> Yeah. >> But also park and wreck rents it out and park and wreck rents it out. It's our guys on the field. So we we charge for our guys. Um so Steve pays that. Sim similarly we pay park and wreck for the use of um the pool
056and the rink. >> Makes sense. So but we don't see we don't see basically what we bring in for those spaces. >> We can see we we can see it's just not in a school account. >> Okay. >> It's in a town account. >> Okay. Did you have question? >> Yeah. Like for field day when Chapman goes to >> level. Yeah. Do we pay? Um, >> it's really the auditorium that you >> Yeah, >> the Chapman >> Chapman auditorium is booked every weekend. >> All summer. Yeah. >> But where is the high school auditorium on here? Is that just the standard per hour? >> Yes. >> That's the auditorium. The top the $66. >> Yes. >> And the 132. Okay. Auditorium. >> You guys. And then can I can I make three one more question?
057Um, so the Mullen Field, >> um, does does that money go towards when they rent it, does it go like does that go towards the track is like >> I have an update. >> Does not. >> Okay. >> I have an up she I we talked about this. I have an update for you. Okay. >> Yeah. Just strictly for the field >> because that would be is the field capital or not? >> Yes. I Brian and I touch base. I update you afterwards. >> Thank you. >> Welcome. Any other questions? >> Nope. >> The last one there, um, we are working diligently on, so do we have the charging station at the Adams Pingry High School in Chapman? Right now, there's several different platforms across the town. We're trying to get on one platform. One
058piece of this is we are um we're in the process of working with the town closing out the um Chapman project, if you can believe it. that is still going on in terms of so Alyssa's side job is is doing that work with MSBA to help um close out that project completely. Um we will then need to get on a standard platform across the town for charging stations. When that happens the committee has already voted $150 per kilowatt hour. We're recommending just the cost of everything right now increasing to $1.75 per per kilow hour. But our goal is um depending on when this work is done um related to Chapman um be for next fiscal to get a standard platform across the entire town. >> So the what they use at town hall is different
059than what we use. >> Yeah, it was the charging stations were introduced over a number of years using grant funds. >> Part of the stipulation of the grant funds is that it was public access to the stations. So we held off on charging. >> But now that's that time has passed. So we need to start charging to at least cover our cost of utilities. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. >> That's it. Fiscal year 27 updates. >> Yes. So before I turn over the superintendent and um executive director, um I just want to give an update. Oh, actually I'm sorry. I'm not done on fees. >> Okay. >> There's more. Hold on, we need a summary. >> There's more. >> There's something else. >> So, to summarize, should the committee vote next time fees? And we'll
060come back with those couple questions. Um, >> we did an analysis, we we were projecting around $100,000. When you factor in the increases that we just discussed and then you subtract out what the cost increases, the programs are, we're going to net roughly $96,000. So, $95,911 to be exact. Um there's also a question of council when we go to the man next week. So we might actually have something that shows a graphic that shows that. But just for the committee to be aware, part of our funding plan for next year is to utilize fee increases to fully fund the budget and that would come with um approximately 95 $96,000 in fee increases. >> Sounds very responsive. >> Yeah. Thank you. All right. Before I turn it over, um my only update from the state level
061is um the budget process from the governor's to houseways means through the senate um it looks like um what we've what what is reflected in our budget of $160 per student is what we might see next year um for chapter 70 that increase of 160 per pupil which is the highest nominal amount that we've seen since ed reform back in 9394. So last year was 150. We've seen years of 75. It's the minimum statutory amount of $30 per pupil. But it looks like for for next year's budget, we can count on $160 per pupil. Um of the 319 districts across the state, 275 us will receive that minimum amount. Um and then some other districts will receive more than that. But, uh, in terms of what what we're we've been talking about with funding our
062budget, um, those kind of unknowns below the line there that we've talked about, um, chapter 70 looks like it will come in at that 160 per pupil increase, which the town has committed to us. >> Great. Thank you. >> Turn over to Matt. >> Yeah, thanks, Brian. Um, kind of looking at the fee increase summary. um 95,000 close to $96,000. Sometimes it doesn't seem like a lot in a budget that's almost 95 million. Um but as we are now, every single dollar counts as we try to plan for next year. Um so as we talk about fee increases, we understand how hard that is for our families right now and we try so hard to stay away from fee increases. But if you look at this position, I mean that number, that is a position,
063a teaching position in our in our schools. And um where we are now, we're getting pretty close to the end of a budget season that's been um as we've said a million times, a very long and arduous >> budget cycle. Um very emotional, um very exhausting for a lot of us. Um and this executive team, all of us here, parents involved as well, staff involved. We've had to make a lot of difficult decisions um over the last you know few months um and we're getting down to the time where we need to start to act on some of the decisions because we are getting into the time where hiring is very critical for us. Um we've talked about um how difficult it is to hire staff um midy year. Um it starts to get more
064difficult at the end of May into June. So, we're we're trying to be um really thoughtful and like I've said before, this isn't something we're just doing now. We've been thinking about these plans and options and everything throughout the year. Um as we start to kind of talk through some of the shifts that we're doing, um you know, of course, we would have um love to see a lot more money coming, you know, to our schools this year, but it is a reality of where we are right now and we're doing the best we can with what we have and the whole town is doing that right now, which we appreciate. um some of the shifts that I I just wanted to mention a couple of shifts because you'll start to see them this week
065as like I said it's important that we start to post for some things. Um so um one of the uh administrative positions at the central level was we had a coordinator for uh world languages and English learners. Um we are not going to move forward with that coordinator. We're going to transition or shift that position to our student services. Um, one thing that we realize um, more and more every year is our students need more supports. Um, and our job is to support our kids so they can access our curriculum. That's our job, right? And so when we see kids struggling that they can't access our curriculum, we need to address that. Um, so we'll be seeing a posting um, for student services this week, that would be an administrative job. Um, and I'm going
066to turn it over to Meg Valico in a second, but just to give a little bit of background, in a previous administration, there was um, kind of with a lot of that um, SR money, there was a thought process that um, all of our schools would have all the preK and the elementaryaries, they'd all have assistant principles. And the goal was to have all the assistant principles be um, kind of the lead special education person in the building. Um, what we're seeing as a team is that's not working. one, we lost four assistant principles in um our elementary. So, right there and then um that's not supporting the schools. And then the other piece was um when you look at a true assistant principal in the building, they're usually very new to their administrative role.
067So, to put something so um difficult, you know, special education law is very very difficult to understand. I don't understand it some days. Um our professionals understand it. So to ask a first year administrator to come in and oversee special education I don't think was um really a long-term plan for our district. So that's kind of a little bit of our thought process as well um as we move to um another administrator being um of student services and I'll turn it over to me to talk a little bit about what that position will look like. >> Thanks Mel. So kind of paired with that it and the shift in the structure of student services, we clearly are seeing like exponential growing needs of our students. Um, we've been working really hard around inclusive programming and
068I think one of those shifts has been our communication enhancement program and that partial inclusion strand um, which is primarily at Hamilton which is great but again it's a very quickly growing program. And what we're also seeing is that educators coming out of programs don't have the experience and the knowledge base to be able to, you know, support our students to the best of their ability. And that's really on us to be able to provide more proactive training and mentorship for our new educators. We really want to be able to support them so that we can retain our staff. I think we all know that that's been an issue across the district this year. Um, and our kids deserve better deserve better. So, we really want to make sure that we have people in the
069buildings more. Having another administrator would allow us to divide our responsibilities up a little bit better so that we can be in buildings more consistently and be more proactive with that training. and mentorship um along with the teachers that we intend to hire as our um programming is moving up to elementary. We've talked about float ABAs, BCBAS, all of those staff. Again, as we're hiring, we see the need to give more proactive training and support. Um we also know that the academic interventions we look at MCCAST scores for special education students are not where they should be as well. So we have a lot of areas of priority that we want to work on and that means we've got to be able to be there to support. Ultimately our principles are there to support students
070on a daily basis but I think our principles also need more more training and support from district administrators to be able to do that effectively. That's not their area of expertise either. So um that's really kind of the overall goal in providing that administrative to support so that our buildings then have the capacity to do it daytoday. >> Yeah. Thank you Meg. And one of the other positions that we're looking at, um, we've talked about it here at the table is, um, trying to add a BCBA to the district. Um, so reviewing some of our programs, reviewing some of the schools. We think an addition of a, um, full-time BCBA will be added as well. And some of these shifts were made possible. We had some retirements this year that we really weren't expecting. Um,
071a higher number than usual. Um, so that's where we're able to do some shifts as well. >> I have a question. >> Yes, go ahead. >> I do too. So this new position, we have department heads of special education at the secondary level. So we'd have them at middle and high school. What would the difference between this administrator position and those positions be? So like what is really their their job duties at that point? >> So the the building based administrators at the middle and the high school, they still are doing all of those. They're overseeing all the special education steps. I think our vision is to be able to have more XYZ's. What I would really like to see is a special educational teacher who student in the classroom and knows what it's like
072to work with say say students with autism in our C every day and support that inclusion. So if we could better prioritize them based on skill sets of each administrator and really working with those strands. I'll tell you for example professional development day we might be like doing you know modules that we're sending off to different programs I just even um special ed department head at the high school would be spread thin to be able to provide the training for all of the prohost within the building it's so individualized for each of the programs and then also including special ed teachers so I think having that district administrator that can oversee a whole strand of a program or take on kind of all of that um instruction for our inclusion programming whether it's reading instruction
073or working more on our math. It will allow for more consistency from each of the levels and also kind of keeping that expertise on that one area. >> So basically the administrator would be the in-classroom support and the department heads at the secondary level would be kind of overseeing the process of IEPs kind of compliance that type of stuff. >> Yeah. And they still would be handling the day-to-day. I think it's establishing the vision, making sure that our programs are all doing things with consistency and then pushing that down to our administrators and our staff. And again, right now, I think it's just too hard for our building administrators to do all of that all at once. That they need somebody to come in and kind of set that vision, make sure everybody knows what
074the practices are, what the procedures are, and really train staff and administrators that are involved in that so that eventually you can push that down to our building administrators to do that more effectively. But they need a lot more training and support in it right now, too. And from the parent perspective, is this somebody that's going to be interacting with parents or would they still kind of go to the same people that we >> They could be interacting with parents. I think it would still go through that kind of chain of command like we, you know, to go first to the building administrator and then work through the district administrators, but hopefully we're interfacing with families much more frequently because it gives us more of that availability. >> So, is this considered a new position?
075So would we do we have a job description that is posting that do we need to approve it as a new it's kind of a new position. >> It's a coordinator position. So we have job descriptions of coordinators in the district. Um so >> but they'll have certain criteria that they're going to have to meet like certifications and all that >> already. Yeah. So, we used to have like a general coordinator like job description template and then there's like curriculum coordinators, the special education coordinators. So, I Yeah. >> Yeah. It hasn't been filled. It's a It's a new position in the budget, but it's a position that exists. >> I just Yeah, >> but you'll see a job description and a job posting, >> but Okay. Yeah. >> Can I just make sure that I'm
076understanding this correctly? So they're going to eliminate all assistant principles. >> No, we don't. What I was saying? >> Yeah. Oh, I'm sorry. >> Like my heart. It's like >> So what I was saying is the plan was that we would have originally >> Okay. >> nine assistant principles, right? We already eliminated four of those, right? So the plan of having an assistant principal in every building to oversee and support special education is already a problem for us. So the the assistant principles that are there are remaining, but the reality is their job is being an assistant principal. They're learning, they're making relationships, they're overseeing student behaviors, parent calls, all of those things, right? So the thought process of that they would then also oversee and be boots on the ground for special education. If
077they are able to do that, that's amazing. But I think that was an expectation um realistic. It really >> Yeah, it really was unrealistic. So what I was just saying without all of those, you know, nine, we're down to five assistant principles. We already have a flaw in that in that system to begin with. >> Okay. So like I know at Hamilton I think I saw that their principal isn't coming back. Are you planning to replace that? >> It's already been posted and they're in the process. >> I just want to So any of the any of the schools that have assistant principles, they'll remain having assistant principles. >> Some of these programs really eyes on that. Um, so I just >> 100%. Yeah, we were just trying to explain why there's still a need.
078I mean, we're looking at our job postings now. We have a handful of postings for um our C programs and assuming they're new teachers. Um, they just need so much support, you know, and it really can't be Christy or Meg running around to all the buildings, you know, trying to regularly support them. >> Great. Thank you for clarifying. Chrissy runs a lot. The um the workload that the eliminated position was doing, where is that going? >> It's a great question, Cindy. It's a great question. So, um assistant superintendent Fatalo and myself will be overseeing like the E. I always did as an assistant director a long time ago. >> One more thing. >> Um but it's something I I mean I have knowledge of. I think it's a great thing for um assistant superintendent Fred
079Aloo to start to understand it's an amazing department that um they really just need support. It's so wellrun. Um we just have to make sure they feel supported in the process and that you know we have um a TFM coming up which is a a review of the department. So we'll go through that. Um but I'm really not that worried about our um EL staff. They're amazing. >> When is the TFM up for EL? >> I think it's this year. MST and focus monitoring. >> Yeah, I think they changed their name again. >> Yeah, >> why not? Another acronym. >> Yeah, IMR. They really refer to MLS now. Multi. >> So, I just it's but I try to say ELS because I feel like that's the where >> did you have a question? >> Yeah,
080I was kind of it's basically Cindy's question. Um, so you said we're not moving forward with world language, I guess. Can you just describe the position that we're not moving forward with? >> Yeah, so uh Stephanie Margates, she oversaw um world languages in the middle school and the high school and also the e um teachers and the programming at the elementaryaries. So English learner programs at the all elementaryaries. >> Okay. So who would oversee the Spanish teacher? >> We probably would have a lead teachers at the buildings. Yeah, potentially. I feel like you have another question. I got a lot of things going through my brain I'm trying to process. Well, first of all, I just want to say thank you for going through the fees like so thoroughly and also thank you for this
081discussion about this big change. I think that that's a really important discussion to have ahead of time. Um I would like to see more discussions like that like this um leading up to like big curriculum changes like with French or with steam um like just so that we can kind of wrap our heads around it, get everybody's input and then we can come back and make like a decision where everybody feels heard and belonging. That way we don't have anybody who's I mean you can't please everybody. We know that and you know I've said to you know I I don't envy the thing the decisions that you have to make. Um but it's this is a great conversation and and a good example of transparency and belonging and all that jazz. Um, I guess like
082I guess I would just want like a first of all anything to support the kids. Like you know there's without a doubt like needs are expanding and we need to make sure that we're supporting all of our students 100%. I guess I just want to make sure that moving forward this is the best way to utilize our money and maximize the support we can give them. Does that make does that make sense? Um, like I'm thinking of Algra who has made a comment multiple times that she wants to see studentf facing positions and people who are really with kids dayto-day. So I'm not saying like administrative positions are sometimes boots on the ground. A lot of times they are. I guess I just want to make sure that if this is the route we're going
083that um we really get our bang for our buck as far as reaching the most students that we can reach. Does that make sense? >> It does. >> Yeah. I think for fortunately I don't think it's we have to add staffing. I mean we always have to add staffing. It's filling those needs I think has been the issue. Yeah. The proper candidates, you know. >> Yeah. We didn't have a full staff in special education at all this year. >> Yeah, I think I think people exiting was more of an issue than >> and I hear you. You're saying Ashley and Algra has mentioned that as well and I completely agree right when you say boots on the grounds the most impact to the students but if we have brand new teachers in there and they
084don't feel supported and they feel overwhelmed and they leave us we're really not doing them or our students um justice. And I think that's what we've been recognizing is um we have to get ahead of these things. We have to be planful. We have to um you know bring in the educators so that they feel supported and that our kids and our families feel supported. >> Yeah. >> Some of these students again are co our co kids too and and we have to we have to really and the teachers some of the educators were learning in a not in a class. So I think supporting them any way we can I think is is what we need to do. >> You know yeah they were they were learning Zoom. Yeah >> in their college days.
085Yeah probably even like student teaching was probably on Zoom. I don't even know. >> Yeah. Yeah. Thank you very much. Thank you for the questions. Did you >> The only other Oh, sorry. >> Sorry. I feel like I had one more but I might have it might have it might have gone out of my brain if it comes back. While you're thinking of that, Ashley, I'm just going to bring up the um the last thing I had was just the timeline and before we go to public comment. So, um we have Superintendent and I are on Tuesday evening in front of town council's budget management committee and we'll be presenting. Um it's the same presentation you've seen here. Uh, and then we have about 33 questions that we're answering for the council through that presentation
086on um, Tuesday night. And then, uh, May 18th is the annual town meeting. June 15th, the council will hopefully vote the FY27 budget. And then we'll have our final meeting June 24th. Um, as your >> start the next year. >> Next year, they already submit the qu they already submitted the questions. >> Yes, I can share that the questions. >> Yeah, I'll do that. Thank you for that. Mayor, I'll share the questions that we were asked. >> They were pretty simple. >> What we'll do is Friday, we have to send the presentation and the responses to the question back on Friday for Tuesday night's meeting. I'll make sure Kelly also posts guys. >> Thank you. >> Um >> for some weekend reading. Thanks. >> Yeah. And so the only other thing is if um when
087you open up a public comment um folks can hit the Q&A at the bottom of the screen here. Just so folks are aware whatever you type the room's going to see here. So don't beat us up or anything. Yeah. Well, you're right. But we did have one question that I will make sure we answer um Doug Mlan around the kilowatt hours. So, the the rate, Doug, was recommended to us through um as we're looking at platforms in the past, that rate was recommended to us. I'll just make sure that the wording on the fee schedule is correct because it could be something wrong, the wording, but uh thank you for the question, Doug. We'll follow up on that one. >> At this time, I'll open it up to public comment if you want to just
088come up to the mic and public comment. >> I did remember my question. Oh, wait. Hold it. >> Um, um, PD. Oh, okay. So, you know, I hear what you're saying about staff needing to be supportive. One thing that I hear a lot from regular ed teachers is just that the need for like professional development around special education for regular ed teachers. Does that make sense? Because a lot of kids are not diagnosed and they're sitting in the classrooms. So I guess my question to you tying in with this whole supportive piece is like what do you have a plan for that or is that something you're working on like providing PD for reged teachers? So I think that's another important piece of it like we were talking earlier. I think work I mean we
089work closely obviously with assistant superintendent frat but kind of transferring over to what is also supporting all students in gened. You know we have things called like the decap the district curriculum accommodation plan. Those are strategies for all students. Um there has been some training on trauma informed practices but those are things we have a meeting with TLC this morning in terms of those for all students general education. So, student services really crosses over into general education as well and making sure that we're using all of those strategies. So, that's something certainly we'll continue to work on for PD and making sure we're supporting all of our staff in those practices. >> Awesome. >> And it is also Ashley like in when you say general education, what we're seeing is uh from COVID, but also
090from the devices is the behaviors in our classroom um our teachers are really struggling with, right? And um when we're dealing with um students that have access to devices all weekend at nights um it's very it's becoming very challenging for them to not be on devices for seven and eight hours in school. So it's not special education behaviors necessarily, it's just behaviors in general and supporting students in the resilience. And you know, that's why we talk about trying to take some of the technology away from um our younger students and get back to good oldfashioned learning um in the classrooms because um we are just seeing a very different student in front of us that they we need to support them and how to access their learning. >> Yeah. The uh the technology is I
091mean there's a real addiction piece there. >> You know what I mean? especially with the kids who have gone through COVID because we were, you know, as parents myself, like I was relying on it >> and so to pull that away. I mean, I I can I definitely see that. Um, which is why it's great that um Lindsay has been >> working on the, you know, weaning off of the chrome Chromebooks. >> Absolutely. >> Um, okay. And then my other question which it's kind of related to the calendar and I don't know if I should save it for after public comment or um so we don't meet again until June 24th. Correct. >> Right here. >> But it's up. Correct. >> Yeah. I'm just like a little concerned about not having a meeting between now
092and then when the town council goes to vote just because I know like we had talk about like re reallocations which I think you were talking about with the French, right? Like that was a reallocation, right? >> Um I'm just concerned like if there's going to be kind of like a a wrap up or clarity before the town council goes to vote. Does that make sense? >> Yeah. I mean, reallocations and shifts happen all the time. Yeah. So, that's where like we're saying, >> yeah, we're trying to kind of keep people informed, but it's not a a vote of the school committee. It's like we we're voting on our overall budget. Um, and we keep you um informed about how we're addressing needs with um resources, but that's pretty much happens all the time. going
093going back to last meeting, we vote the number. We vote >> money. We don't vote positions or people, you know, I think that's what we focus on. It's great that our administration is transparent in in how that's landing, but they don't have really any obligation to >> So, if the number changes, Ashley, we would of course have to come back. >> If the council took away, we would have to >> We don't anticipate the number changing. >> I see. Okay. Thank you. >> At this time, I'll open it up to public comment. >> Not here. >> I'm not see I'm not seeing anyone else no one else online either. >> All right. I will take a motion to I'll make a motion to sub. Thank you everybody.