001Did we lose Julia? I see her name, but her screen is blank. >> I'm not sure. She is coming in from a different from a home kind of location. So it's possible that the internet Can Christina call us to order and and get us started >> or would you rather wait? Oh, she just told me to kick it off. >> Huh? She said she can hear and see everything, but she should probably log off and log back in. >> Yeah. >> Um, okay. Well, let's get started. Um, I would like to call the Mount Greylock Regional School District School Committee to order. It is Thursday, April 9th at 6:02 p.m. We are meeting remotely via Google Meet. Uh, this I'm I'm trying to read my screen and it's really tiny. I used to have this
002printed out. The meeting will take place virtually and it will be live streamed on Willlet and broadcast live on Spectrum Cable TV 1303 Williamstown and it will be a available on the Mount Greylock YouTube channel within 24 hours of the meeting's conclusion. If we could call uh the role starting with Jose >> Constantine is here. Green here. >> Malloy here. >> Here >> and Conry is here. >> And Bowen is here. Can you see and hear me? >> Yay. >> I I apologize for that. I have no idea what happened. Um, thank you, Christina, for for calling us in. Um, and everyone's roll called. So, >> yes. >> Um, I'm gonna do a cold call and ask Jose to read the mission. Oh, wow. This is I'm not I don't know if I'm prepared for
003this, but I'm gonna give it a go. Uh at Mount Greylock Regional School District, our mission is to create a community of learners working together in a safe and challenging learning environment that encourages restorativebased processes, respect, inclusive diversity, courtesy, integrity, and responsibility through high expectations and cooperation resulting in lifelong learning and personal growth. >> Thank you. Um, next on our list on our agenda, we have a student update. I'm not seeing a student. >> We do not have a student in attendance right now. We should have, but we do not. >> Okay. Okay. Um, and then uh we can move to public comment. I also don't believe we have anyone from the uh we do have some folks at least somebody from the public. Is there any public comment? All right. Hearing none, um we
004will move to approve the minutes. And I am looking for a motion to approve the minutes from March 19th, 2026. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Carrie. Is there a second? >> I will second. >> Thank you, Christina. Any discussion about those minutes? hearing none. Um, let's go to a roll call vote starting with Christina. >> Connor I. >> Constantine. I >> Green I. >> Malloy. I >> Miller I. >> Ow. And I. Great. Those pass. Um, and then we let's move to our wellness committee update. I think that's me. Hello everybody. Um, I just want to take a couple of minutes to give you a little bit of an update on some work we've been doing. Uh, Joe and I have been co-chairing the wellness committee which is a renewed district um, committee. We
005have 16 people and it's a pretty broad range of stakeholders who representing food services, BNG, teachers, parents, admin. We have the school nurse from Lansboro and we have several students on the committee that three times so far. We have another meeting coming up soon in April. Um since the last time the district has convened a wellness committee, DESIE has come out with a lot of new guidance and some really helpful tools. And so the focus of our work so far has been using their local wellness policy strengths checklist to analyze uh our current school committee policy ADF. Um we I will suffice it to say it needs some work. Um we in addition to that we have taken the categories that DESIE really wants us to focus on school meal programming, competitive food and beverage,
006nutrition and food system education, um PE and education, staff wellness and social emotional climate and caregiver engagement. And we surveyed our members to kind of get a sense of why people were there and what interested them the most. So, we had a pretty good range of what people are really interested in. And then we also asked for people to rank their top three um categories that they feel need the most immediate attention. And those were in this order, school meal programming, nutrition and food system education, and then social emotional climate and caregiver engagement. So, that's going to be the focus of our work this year. Um, I think we knew this would happen, but when we started to meet and talk things through, we were excited because the scope broadened and sometimes it's a little
007scary. Um, this, but it's really exciting because I think we'll have a path for many years to come for really important work for the district. Um, we're currently working with the committee drafting a new wellness policy that takes into consideration all of Desi's requirements. And we're having really thoughtful discussions with the group about items that DESIE says are recommended as guidance, but they're not requirements. And so we will include those prioritized by our group. Um some of them we're we're going to choose to hold off on and others we will include in the draft. Um and then we will be sending that pretty soon u to the policy subcommittee for your consideration. And Joe, I don't know if you want to mention the related work that we're we're Joe and I have been looking at
008some grants and writing grants and so I think he might want to pop in on that. >> Sure. We have two uh Joelle's been leading a fresh grant application for FY27. Um and the focus in FY27 by DESIE happens to be uh food and food system education and and things like uh funding trips to um local farms. Um, and so we've been reaching out to local farms and considering teacher interests and trying to figure out how we can line up an application that speaks to our needs and to the local farm economy. Um, and so that is one. And then number two is through our conversations within the wellness committee, we also identified that two of our three schools have flourishing salad bar efforts during lunch. one does not. Um that one is Williamstown Elementary
009School and um so we found a salad bar grant that um was open and we put in our application for it. Um we're waiting to hear back and hopefully that will fund a new salad bar um to provide equity across all three schools in terms of how uh lunch opportunities are laid out for students. Those are the two grant applications that we're currently working on that are also in in some coordination with the wellness committee. And um we are also we're we within the wellness committee are admiring what our food services group is already doing as far as purchasing from local farms. And we are noting that we need to do a much better job of promoting that across the district and and within cafeterias. Um, and we're also looking at ways that we can
010expand that effort, which, um, which have been great, too. So, um, Tammy Jennings has led a couple of new, um, vendor purchasing group opportunities that that Desessie has out where we're trying to band together with other, uh, both K through 12 institutions as well as local colleges to try to, um, do more with local food procurement. Um, and we're we're moving down that path as well. So, a lot of good wellness committee and related activity happening. >> That's >> and Joel covered. Yeah, you that was >> I think that's it. Yeah, >> that sounds really great. So question um when do you think we would be so that you're applying for the grant for the salad bar and that's something that we may know about when like approximately >> we would we would know about
011it later this spring and it would arrive this summer for installation and and use in the fall. >> Okay. And then um the same with the work um in terms of working with local farms that would be to set things up for next year. >> Due the end of May. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And in terms of acquiring food from local farms, we actually through our conversations we realized that there are a number of initiatives that were already underway. We're starting to figure out how should we promote those. Um and uh we have another a new vendor relationship that just kicked off a few weeks ago. Um that will be a part of that promotion. And then some of the larger procurement efforts, those are going to take more time, but I think they're the
012kind of thing that would be ready in time for the fall. Um because it requires organizing and and figuring out the right legal procurement paths and then getting it all documented and going in time for the fall. Any other questions for Joe or Joelle? Thank you for that work. We know uh how beneficial it is for us beneficial it is for our students and how much our parents um appreciate it too. So thank you very much. I think Joelle you are just to keep talking um and share our the annual professional development priorities for FY27. >> Yes. Um I am trying to keep it short though for you this evening. Um so our you have this you I think that you have this in your packet. Um we are thinking very much about the budget.
013Um and we are also thinking about the work that we already have in progress and we're at a really great stage in a number of areas where we a lot of the work that we'll focus on next year will be building on the capacity of and the expertise of the student of the teachers who we have in district already. So, and I know that you heard from the principles about one of their budget asks was from both elementary schools actually and the high school um asking for time money and you know related to time for teachers to plan. So, you'll see that reflected here. We will be in our second year of our math adoption with I Ready and so for that we'll be continuing to work with our outside PD provider. They're wonderful and
014I've been in education long enough to see lots and lots of PD providers and many are not uh as great but they're really responsive. The people who come to the district are teachers themselves who used the curriculum and they know math and um so we've had really positive feedback on that. So we'll continue that work with K through eight next year. Lanesboro Elementary has started some really exciting work looking at writing instruction. And writing is an area where we've known for a number of years that we particularly in the elementary schools that we really need some work. Um we have we are building time to get alignment between grade levels team collaborative work and um having teachers work on ways to the curriculum development will focus on not a new program but ways we can
015implement writing instruction using what we're already teaching. So how can we use I ready? How can we use the investigating history? how can we use wit and wisdom to enhance writing? Um, we are going to continue our work that we've been doing this year with the equity imperative, but it would be great if they came back next year. Right now, we don't have plans for that. Um, and we really are in a good jumping off stage to be able to continue that work on our own. We have, as you know, a new AI policy and so we will be spending a significant amount of time having departments, grade levels work together on guidelines that go that are in in accordance with the new policy. We will another really great thing that we started this year
016is getting our special educators some really high quality reading, writing, spelling um training using the Orton Gillingham approach. So next year will be the final year of that. It's year two and the there are nine teachers involved right now and really next year is the practicum experience. They've started everybody has started this spring but there's a continuation of that. That's a very very rigorous PD and I think I would like to take a moment just to shout out the special education teachers who are involved with this right now. I think we all knew we could we intellectually knew that it was going to be a lot of work but it has turned out just to be so much work but so exciting to talk to teachers to hear like the the the progress my student
017is making is just tremendous. But it could not happen without a ton of work on part of our teachers. And then we every year we do um deescalation verbal deescalation training and CPI training. There's a two-year cycle. Next year is the this year was the refresher. Next year will be the full training. So that training will happen in the first couple of days of school. And I I we're trying really hard to, you know, keep a a very tight focus and give teachers time to do the things that we know that they need to do. And that is it. If anyone has any questions, Joelle, um I I think about the the role of a teacher, the job of a teacher. Obviously, uh learning new things is a part of their job, but how much
018can they be learning across how many different topics in one year? Um and so I I look at this and I think okay, I can actually I think a lot of it is like specialized to different groups. >> Yes. >> But are there teachers who are like in five of these things? >> Like it's just a lot. They're all critical important initiatives. Keep them all going. I'm not telling you not to. I'm just thinking about the ability for somebody to take in so much while doing their job. >> Yeah. Joe, were you just going to say something? >> The there are some teachers who are involved in two or maybe three of these, but but nobody nobody is doing all of >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. >> And I and I would say that the
019elementary schools have start at the upper grade levels have started to departmentalize a bit more. So if somebody is really heavily involved with the I Ready math, they wouldn't be as heavily involved with the writing in the beginning anyway. Um because they're departmentalizing. >> Okay. >> We're very conscious of overwhelming people. >> Yeah. >> I would Yeah. And I would also add that I I I think that Julia that was a great question because it is one of the greatest challenges in education right now where this year was the big initial mountain climb with with a new math curriculum for our K through8 teachers. Next year the lift will decrease a little bit but we're also layering in writing instruction focus across the entire district. relational discipline is becoming a a a much more frequently
020cited I need more time, I need more experience, I need more expertise. Um, and so figuring out how to have that be positive as opposed to just feeling detrimental or overwhelming is a real challenge. And it's something that would, you know, should lead to an incredible amount of appreciation for what the staff do to try to >> adapt and to try to keep moving forward in the face of really just very little time provided with a lot of a lot of demands. >> Yeah. Yeah. Carrie. >> Uh, thank you Joelle. It sounds great and, you know, a good use of the re resources that we have, right? Um, when you say that the upper grades at the elementary school, uh, I don't remember if it was both schools, but, um, are departmentalizing, does that mean
021that those students are starting to move to different classrooms for different subjects? Yes. And in Lansboro, they've done that. I don't know how for how long, but it's been matter of course in Lansboro for as long as I know. Um and then that it's slowly creeped into um Williamstown Elementary. It started with math and then and really it makes so much sense as you know content expectations have changed a lot and of course teachers have affinities to certain kinds of subjects but also we can't expect our teachers to be content experts in everything and so yes departmentalizing and yes students are moving sometimes it's between two classrooms sometimes it's between three and in cases where there are four sections it's between are >> and and at Williamson Elementary School where there have been those three
022or four sections, the the efforts started in sixth grade, maybe four, five years ago and then fifth adopted and then fourth adopted and and that's really where it's been. So, so it isn't as though that's happening in K and one and two and it's also very much developmentally appropriate and al and it helps aids in the transition up to seventh grade where all of a sudden you that is the norm. >> Yeah, I was just thinking that. So, and you say Lansboro has had this system for quite some time. So, it's it's great that the elementary schools are aligning on that. I have a related point slashquest on AI um maybe PD for the for the um school committee um along these lines as well but I just wanted to name and I Joe I
023may have sent this to you that there is an AI in education uh session at BCC on May 12th from 9 to 12:30 um with some speakers as well Um, and I'll I'll be there for my own PD. Um, but I it's open to everyone. So, I just want to name it for anyone else who may want to go to that, too. Any other questions about the about our PD priorities for FY27? I I I the the only thing other thing I want to say is this is a wonderful healthy robust list of important things and I appreciate that you are doing that in the face of still our you know um level service budget. Um so that's really wonderful that you can um make that happen. So, thank you. Uh, next is maybe that's
024the segue to the FY27 budget adoption update. And I'm going to start with you, Joe. Yes, we have now completed our annual cycle of spending time with the Williamstown Finance Committee and then with the Lanssboro Finance Committee and Select Board. And uh after the school committee adopts its budget. And both meetings were I I I don't think it's inappropriate to say that they were better than I could have possibly expected. They were they were very collegial, very um there was a lot of detailed understanding of what was driving what we are doing within our budget and why. A lot of good questions, a lot of I think um sharing of of both concerns from all angles um on on behalf of constituents and and realities with with property taxes, but also realities with um the
025the care and the needs uh expressed by by families within our communities. Um so really balanced discussions. I I I do feel as though at the end of every meeting we had some understanding of okay we understand why we're doing this. It's a it's a big ask but you know like let's let's keep moving forward that that there was no full stop. We can't support this or we don't want you to do this. Um, but I think that all the indications are that we really need to do continue to do the best job that we can to educate the public and to also make sure that people show up prepared to vote for this and and what it means, which is we are we are doing the work on behalf of the students within our
026community. We are doing that with a lot of things going against us, but we're doing it in a way that people can understand and support if they if they dig into it and and if they understand the the trade-offs and the decisions that we're making. And so I think that um I also want to thank the the school committee members as well as the the Mount Greylock School Council that um that that wrote a really wonderful piece that actually I should make sure to share with the full school committee um that was shared during public comment uh at the Lansboro meeting on Monday night. Um, so for the school committee members who were who are in attendance, Julia and Carrie and Christina and and Curtis, um, um, I I I would love to also just
027open it up to you to to share what what you experienced, too. So, um, we had known in advance that a number of the members of the Lansboro both select board and finance committee were relatively new and didn't have a lot of the history. Um, so I feel like they benefited from Joe's presentation, the thoroughess of it and kind of taking it from, you know, um, the nuts and bolts to the higher level kind of thing or vice versa, higher level down to nuts and bolts. Um but there was also some confusion about terminology. Um partly because Macan um Jim Brazen from Macan had gone before Mount Greylock which they almost always do right or maybe they always do. Um but again the the folks on these committees particularly in Lansboro, I wasn't there for
028the Williamstown Finance uh committee meeting. Um were just a little bit confused about the same terms being used for different things and really understanding what is revenue and what is expense in terms of the school um the school budget. And also, you know, understanding how the the state codes work within our budget that sometimes just reading through the line items doesn't really make a lot of sense until you understand why the state is coding it that particular way. So, um, you know, there were some tough questions and I think Joe responded really, uh, beautifully to, uh, particularly a question about, you know, why couldn't you trade one staff member for another kind of thing. Um, which, you know, I understand where they're coming from. Um, but, uh, to be able to respond to that kind
029of a question on the fly is not always an easy thing. and to do it with grace. Um, so I think they appreciated that. Um, and it's true. Nobody said, "Well, good job, guys, but no, we can't support this." So, um, it's a little bit unsettling, honestly, um, that they haven't said, "We're happy to support this." um and we don't really know what to expect at either town meeting um at this point. So the main the main thing is for people who choose to support the schools during this challenging time to come to town meeting and vote. So anybody who can encourage your cohort or your whatever groups you're you know your teams any you know um presence is going to be really important just like it was with the school building project just like
030it was at other um really difficult budget votes um because this is just an unusual year. We hope it's an unusual year and if people come to town meeting either one not educated about what's behind this school budget, it's going to be um a hard cell. So educating in advance and um trying to mitigate confusion on the floor of the town meetings will be um part of our responsibility I think in appro in how we approach this. >> That might be uh unless unless others who were there want to add. Christina if you want to say anything else about Monday. Um, I think both Joe and and Carrie captured what I would what I would say as well. Um, but this might be a good segue into so what are we doing um in from
031our seats to support um the towns understanding what is in our budget um and why um so that that confusion is mitigated at our or minimized at the at the town meetings. So, I want to share a couple ideas, but then I also want to open it up for others who have additional thoughts around how we might do this. Um, and so I've I've talked to Joe and and I know Joe's on the um, you know, pushing in a couple areas. I talked to Carrie um, to get some background on how she has been around for other big pushes in our towns. Um, and I think it it kind of boils down to, you know, certainly at the end of the day, making sure people come and are informed um and and are posit are
032going to vote positively for our budget. Like that's that's just what we're working towards. Um, in your packs is a draft of an FAQ. Um, but I've already made edits to it. So So it's definitely not the final one. Um, but I we want to make sure we have a really good FAQ that explains to people um, you know, what is in this budget, why it is what it is, um, you know, the importance of being able to pass it, etc. Um, so that they there's an, you know, if we can get out an FAQ, um, I've talked to the, um, Jenna Hassenamp from the West school council and I hope to talk to the other school council parents. um to try to set up um information sessions for parents to be able to learn
033about it and then have them support us getting the word out among the among the families. Um I know child care was um requested or raised and that's a big one. Um I think Joe knows a little bit more about this. I I know at least in Williamstown right now the FS for West group is setting up child care and we need to make sure we get it set up in Lanesboro. Um and uh so so child care information out there, parent information groups um and I guess Joe, what am I missing? You're working with student council some. is that >> I'm I'm working with student council. We know that all of the various um parent guardian teacher groups are interested in in helping um it's it's the west FS for west group that has
034really run with setting up child care in at Williamstown Elementary for that town meeting. Um, we do need to coordinate with their sibling group at Lansboro to kind of to gel that. Uh, the student council at Mount Greylock has said they'd love to help with with child care. They'd love to find all of the 18year-olds that they can and make sure that they register uh at Mount Greylock. They'd like talking points to work with their families and and with their peers families. So they're they're very engaged. Um, which has been wonderful. Um, and they also view this as really a a a good moment to learn about how funding happens at the at the for education in K through 12 in Massachusetts and what are town meetings and how how do you gain representation there,
035things like that. So they've been asking all of those questions which has been wonderful. Um, so it's really served a dual purpose in in many ways. Excellent. Are there um school committee members, are there other ideas that you have or other thoughts that you might have to ensure we're we have full rooms with people who support us and um and are and are there Christina? >> Yeah. So, couple questions. FAQ, where where is this getting posted so people can see it would be one question. Second question is it sort of tossed out we have these amazing coral groups in our schools and what a great way to get families to town meetings if their children are you know I think in Lansboro they do the national anthem so maybe the children could sing in the
036national anthem and that might get some more parents into those spaces. >> Brilliant. Brilliant. >> It's a really good creative idea. I like it. Um I can reach out to Lansboro Town Hall and and see if that might be in addition to the to the evening if we can organize it and and to uh to others at Lansboro Elementary and Mount Greylock. >> Yeah, I I can reach out in uh Williamstown for that. Uh Julia, you you and I had talked about the possibility of doing something on willing, like having Deb Dayne do a an interview just about the budget to help educate folks and that could go online and be shared in both towns, both communities. >> Excellent. Yep. >> Yeah. And what were we thinking for the flyer? Were we hoping to like
037have that available at area businesses or are there school events um coming up that we could just, you know, be present at and have the flyers and talk to people. >> There are plenty of athletic events there. There's a track meet at Mount Greylock tomorrow afternoon starting at 4. >> Um, and >> there'll be others before that. >> Oh, yeah. Um, but but but I think that we can start to um >> start to lay out a calendar and figure out who can attend what and and how we can how we can make sure to get information out facts. Um my uh I think I think all of those and any information session we can hold for families if they can uh the in Williamstown and I assume we could would hope we could do
038something in Lansboro at drop off for example um and h have a place to be able to talk to families and give them the FAQ. Um uh and then even just posting it, right? Just making it digitally available um would also >> the idea. >> I wonder if thinking about, you know, showing up at games and things. I wonder if it would be possible to have um just a card with a QR code um that links to the FAQ so that >> I mean I don't mind going up to people and saying, "Do you plan to attend town meeting? Do you have any questions about the budget for the school district? >> Here's a link to the FAQ. Why don't you look at it? >> You know, we can talk kind of thing. >> Yep.
039Yep. That's a great idea. >> I was just gonna I was just going to mention too, Julia, I always try to share these things on my personal social media and if folks do that then it just is seen by more people hopefully and drum up interest and questions and support for the meeting. So, I'll definitely do that and hopefully we all can. >> Yep. >> Do Do we recommend turning off comments for those kinds of posts or are we >> It's not a bad idea. >> Yeah, >> I hadn't really thought about it, but um yeah, just share the information and that's the goal. >> Yeah. any other so I'm I'm hearing so so let me name I'm hearing all these I'm going to organize this in a way where I hope to be able
040to reach out to school committee members with for example a calendar of events that maybe you're going to anyway um not all of them but maybe you're going to something anyway and you can you can bring something and help be the spokesperson at those events um for things like I'm just I'm going to be reaching out asking looking for help in attendance at these things because I can try to organize and pull it together and project manage and be at what I can. Um, but there's seven of us and it'd be really great if all of us could contribute in different ways um at different events. Jose. >> Yeah. I'm wondering, Julie, as you kind of name the the types of labor that um you'd like us to commit to commit to. Um, I wonder
041if we can collaborate or work collaboratively with our school councils. Um, I have a feeling they have a vested interest in this and would want to see >> of our budget be successful. So, I I don't know. Uh, I think you might have the best points of contact, but I I wonder if we can coordinate uh >> Yep. I think I think that's right. If there's a calendar of events and we just know who it is, it doesn't have to only be the seven of us or the eight with Joe or whomever, but we do have, I think, a lot of invested parents who are also ready to help. >> Exactly. >> Good point. I think it's worth mentioning, thinking back on the Lansboro um joint meeting on Monday, that um there was a parent
042and a finance committee member who both uh seemed to sorry uh who both spoke in support of adding um a math interventionist. And I believe um in Williamstown there may be a motion on the floor of the town meeting. So I was just wondering if either Julia or Joe could speak to that so that we're all aware of what to expect. >> Um I know the group in Joe I can start and you can fill in. Um I know the group in Williamstown um and they they did speak at finance committee as well. Um they would like to see the addition as as we all heard here too of a um math interventionist at the elementary school and uh at present plan to put out an amendment um to our budget at the at town
043meeting. They are working um in advance to understand how to do that as smoothly as possible. So they're in contact with town hall. they'll be checking in with our town moderator. Um, and they also will be uh working to have information ready. Um, so I'm in touch with them just to make sure our information is coherent um and works together uh and so that it doesn't get confusing at at town hall or at town meeting. Joe, is there anything you want to add to that? all of what you said and I've been in touch with them and our town manager and their legal counsel and and and others as well. So, we're we're all we're all working in that direction and and I'll I'll do the same for Lansboro. >> That sounds great. Thank you.
044>> Yeah. Any other thoughts, ideas? Christina, another brilliant one's coming to you. It's not brilliant, but I was thinking about this um last night with the FAQ since we know there's been asks from both towns for both elementary schools, I think, to have math interventionists added to the budget, do we put in the FAQ what that would do to the increase? And then the other thing I was thinking that I know has been helpful in the past, especially for folks in Lansboro, was an understanding of what the increase means with a dollar value >> for their for their own tax bill. >> Yeah. >> So that's something we need to get from the town, right? Um >> yeah. Yeah. And and it's not necessarily an easy thing to to have from the town either. So
045it's um it's a good aspiration. We'll have to figure out to what extent we can have it feel neat and concise and accurate. Well, the I mean what we could do is say what it would do to the percentage increase in each town, right? >> The amendment. The amendments. >> Yes. Yes. >> For both the assessment and the percentage increase. So we Yeah. Yes. >> We could name that. >> Yep. Um, but I hear you Christina asking even the overall growth in the budget and what how that would change somebody's tax bill. Yeah. >> Yeah. I believe I know you know historically with the building project with the field project it was like this is essentially you know your fancy coffee once a month kind of >> Yeah. Right. ution, you know, like just to
046try to put it in a in perspective in some way that it's hopefully not tragic. >> Yeah, I agree with that because as a Lansboro resident, um I'm like, well, if we go up 10%. And every other town committee goes up 10% so my tax bill goes up 10%. That's a lot. So maybe if we could help wrangle in that kind of thinking, you know, and the town could give us some more accurate info, that would be helpful. Mhm. >> Yeah. Because that just to just to put put a a descriptor to that thought, even if our budget goes up 10% and every other department goes up 10%. That does not necessarily mean that a property tax bill goes up 10%. Because >> there you go. >> On the the growth in the tax base.
047So, so if some of those new properties in Lansboro >> are becoming taxable, like where we see all the construction on Route 7, >> that, >> you know, those are going to be new taxes paid into the town of Lanesboro. And that means that that helps not have to decrease property taxes when expenditures increase. And but that's also, I think, a part of what we fortunately or unfortunately need to become increasingly aware of. an advocates for because it it can't be equated that any spending increase equals an increase in property taxes. It just won't it won't work. >> No, but honestly like just doing logical math that's where my mind went. So if we can help people understand that you okay your tax bill isn't going to go up by 10% next year hopefully um
048that would be really good information to share. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So yes. >> Yeah. Um, Julia, do do you mind if I interject for one second and and I don't want I don't want to put her on the spot, but >> Brena, if you're here for the student council, if I if if you just wave, then we'll make sure to note that in a second we should do that. But if you're not here for the student council, just hang out. It's so great to see you here and I appreciate you being here. Okay. All right. >> Thank you. Sorry about the awkwardness of it. >> Um, so we'll come back to the student update. Is that okay? All right. Awesome. Um any other questions on or any other thoughts on there's a lot that
049you all have shared. Um let me maybe put it this way. There's a lot you've all shared. I will try to turn this into a work plan and um activity set to find volunteers to help in a variety of ways. I will be in touch with you. If you could also be thinking about who else I should be in touch with um that would be great. And um and then Joe, maybe you Carrie and me can carry I'm thinking finance for you like what what is the impact on the like find figure out the way to best explain the impact this has on finances um for in for residents. Okay. All right. Um, with that, um, before we move to the superintendent evaluation process discussion, um, I will go back now to Brena. Um, if
050you can give us the Mount Greylock student update. >> Um, yeah. Hi. I'm I'm really sorry I did I got the meeting time wrong. Um, >> you're here and we're grateful. Um, and so spring sports have all started. We had I think every sports had their first game by now. There's uh baseball and lacrosse today and track tomorrow. Um, and the spring drama has also started. They had a quick play today during lunch that a lot of people went to and it was a um big success I think. And um on student council, we're working on getting test prep books available at the guidance office and we're organizing um a spring trash pickup and um initiatives with Sweetwood right now. >> Wonderful. Sorry again for um >> No, thank you so much for popping in.
051>> We're super grateful. Do does anybody have questions for what Brena just shared? >> Go ahead, Jose. >> Hey, Brena. Thanks for being here. Just just curious to learn more about the initiatives at at Sweetwood that that are being planned. Could you Yeah. What's going on there? Um yeah, we have we've been kind of trying to get something going with them for a while now. And um we have a meeting with them next Thursday cuz they have kind of like a a body like a governing body kind of like student council for them too. And so we're meeting with their council to discuss. It'll probably go like well we probably won't get to do much this year but it'll probably be more for next year just like community more engagement stuff. I know we were
052trying to get them at some of the um performances and like stuff. Yeah. Thank you. >> Any other questions for Brena? >> Thank you, Brena. Thank you for coming and we hope we see you again. >> Thank you. >> Um, okay. So, now we will move to the superintendent evaluation process discussion. Um, so, uh, Joe and I have started talking about his evaluation this year and, um, I'm thinking we follow a process similar to what we did last year. Um, which would mean Joe would come back in May with an update on the goals that he set for the year. And then we would all have um you know a week to 10 days to complete the rubric um with the designated um uh areas that he had flagged that would were tied to his
053goals um week to 10 days which then would give me time to coalate everything um and bring a draft for the uh school committee to review and hopefully approve at our June meeting. Um, so I want to um propose that as in terms of our process and our timing. Um, and I will take Did I forget anything, Joe? I think that's okay. Um, I I will take any questions or thoughts about that. All right, great. So, we'll assume that's the process. Um, and we'll get working on it. Thank you. >> Would you like me to move on to the next item? >> I would if you could move us to the vision and values process timeline update. >> Yes. So, included in your packet is a slide which is like what you saw um two
054months ago, but it has updated date targets. Um, I think that this budget season for me and and for the committee and for the school councils has been more consuming than we could even have imagined. Um, and so with that, Julia and I put our heads together a bit earlier this week and talked about ways that we can make sure to get quality work done just on a slightly different timeline around the vision and values process. And so rather than trying to hold coordinate a lot of data work and then hold events here in the spring in May and June while we're also in the midst of trying to make sure that the budget gets approved. We talked about using that instead as some of the groundwork laying time, some of the quiet period, collecting
055data, starting to work with students and staff internally, and then planning over the course of the summer for events that will happen in at the end of August and in September. Um, so as people are coming back from break and then working more feverishly but but hopefully with a with a more concerted um body of resources and and time to work with that get it into workable form. We do still feel a a good time crunch around trying to have this committee as it's currently comprised get through that process and hopefully prior to some people moving on if they do um in in November um being able to to get through a draft and then and then an approval. Um so we're looking at a slightly compressed timeline but one that we think works in
056terms of all the things that need to happen. So, I wanted to share that here, hear any feedback, um, but also make sure that we started to to come to terms with some of the things that we're doing and the and the time that we have to do them. Any questions on that? And there is a slide in the packet and it's also available to the public. So, it's it's it's there with that updated set of information. So, it's it's been stamped in some way for everybody. So, have you thought about how to overcome the challenge of summer and just getting people to respond or come out for or you know, >> we are intentionally just not planning on having events over the summer just because I I don't think realistically we would get staff
057attending. Many families would not be able to attend. So this really pushes the the being with people to actively work with them on on the development. It pushes that into the end of August when people start to come back in the late 20s of August and then into September. >> Okay. >> Yep. Hi Curtis, >> we're we're doing the vision, values, development timeline uh update right now. >> Thank you. Any other questions about that? I think it certainly speaks to the number of hats we've been asking Joe and Joelle to wear. um that we just can't do it all at the same time. Um so appreciate your um your work, Joe and Joelle. Um and you know, we we get it. So, all right. Next on our agenda is school choice. Joe, I think that's
058you. >> Yes. And I'll speak to this in two ways. Uh, first off, I I put a copy of our current policy into the packet. Um, it's a policy that that I I think needs revision quite honestly as I've looked at it year after year. Um, so we're going to take that up at the policy subcommittee over the next few months. But in the meantime, the way the policy is currently written, it says that every year we're going to vote well it it's got some double negative type situations. What we've done traditionally for the last I think six years that or this will be the sixth year um is we voted annually to continue participating in the in the school choice program which does not mean that we're changing the number of students. It doesn't
059mean that we're changing our approach to it. It's just a vote to continue participating in the Massachusetts school choice program. Um once we revise the policy to be in line with our practice, we will no longer do this. The policy will state that the we participate in the school choice program until the school committee makes a decision to not participate. Um which is the other version of the MASC model policy and we really should have that one given what we actually do. Um, so what I would ask is that the school committee um move a motion to continue participation in the Massachusetts School Choice Program for another year in the same way that it has for many years. >> Did I hear someone make that motion? >> All right, >> give it to Curtis. >>
060Move. Moved by Curtis, seconded by Carrie. All right. Any discussion? >> We can have Ursula second it. Oh, >> yeah. >> Great. All right. Second by Ursula. Any any discussion about that motion? >> I have a question. Um, it's a little bit indirect, but since we're on the topic of school choice, >> Joe, can you refresh my memory on how it works with Macan because I know it's not a straight school choice. >> Uh, so so for students >> in the context of the budget too, I I wanted to just make sure I understood that. >> For students who reside in Lansboro or Williamstown attending Macan, >> yeah. Um, the towns of Lansboro and Williamstown each have a have a relationship themselves with McCann to serve as their de facto vocational school program. Um, as
061a result, what happens is Mount Greylock has an obligation to participate in making sure that that our students have information about Macan. um and and that we facilitate dates for students to visit MacaN if they wish um and that we make sure the information flows as needed. Um and then if students make a decision to attend Macccan, then what happens is they are unenrolled at at the set point in time from Mount Greylock Regional School District and they enroll at Macan and Macccan has its relationship with the two towns such that it notifies the towns that the student is enrolled and the towns pay that tuition directly. So that that those funds do not come out of we don't see revenue and we don't see expenditure related to students within our two towns who choose
062to attend Macan. >> Right? So it's totally separate from like a school of choice where we just pay 5,000 or take 5,000 or whatever the number is now. Uh it just is totally separate. >> The towns the towns pay tuition. It doesn't go through our budget. It goes through the town budget. And I'll also add that the uh one area that that Jim Broen, the superintendent at McCann, is is oftent times addressing with towns is towns don't actually pay per student tuition. They are they have a they are members of like that regional coalition and they pay a rate that does have ties to how many students they send but it's not like a for every student rather than sending X to Mount Greylock they send Y to Macan. That's not the way the math
063works. Um similarly the towns have an obligation to contribute to any capital projects at Macan similar to the way that they have an obligation to contribute to capital projects that we run. So it's a it's a we are we are both regional districts representing our towns and and we have different funding formulas, different ways of operating. Um but but we're also good friends and we serve very different purposes for for our communities. Any other questions about school choice? >> Then I will move us to a roll call vote starting with Jose. >> Constantine. I >> Elfenb. >> Green eye. >> Malloy. I >> Miller. I >> Bowen. I >> Connor I. >> Great. That passes. Um, next on our agenda is Carrie uh with an MASC update. >> Uh, Julia. >> Yeah. >> Would it
064be possible to switch the order and do the executive session now because I'm not going to be able to be alone in a couple of minutes. If that's a problem, then that's fine. I I guess I look to Joe. I'm trying to understand the impact it has on the watching public. Um it it will and in general, >> then just leave it leave it leave it as it is. >> Yeah. I I'm sorry, Steve. I think that that's unfortunately what we need to do. >> Yeah. Um Carrie >> um yes so I did uh provide a document for the packet that has some of the activities that I've been participating in on behalf of MASC as the Bergkshire division um chair. uh we hosted a legislative forum and it was well attended and we did
065talk about you know several of the hot button issues including graduation requirements and foundation budget. Um, the UMass Ames design session on February 14th was something that I participated in because MASC had contributed funds for this project. And this is an effort to design a comprehensive teacher survey uh for the state of Massachusetts that has a core set of questions and then some questions that might rotate through depending on um what's going on in current events and and things like that. So, um they had a a nice uh selection of folks from different parts of different constituencies including uh college students who were helping actually design the survey which was really nice. Um and then um the Burke convening uh the Burke 12 community convening which took place at Berkshire Community College included a panel
066um to discuss the pending graduation requirement uh decision that is being made by the commissioner and the um chair of the department of ed And it was a again an interesting discussion with different points of view and not necessarily agreement on certain things like do we need outside evaluators to assess our students, you know. Um, so two of the people on the panel were members of the graduation council and two of us were uh well Tim Callahan, superintendent of North Adams and then myself and then there was a student who was um is graduating this year from Pittsfield uh public schools. And then on March 29th and 30th and I didn't add this to the document. Um I attended the MASC board meeting um which was in Boston because Day of the Hill I believe
067was on March 30th, a Monday. Um, and so I attended Day on the Hill and there was a presentation at Day on the Hill by the rural schools committee chairs and there's a real push I think finally by MASC to really um augment the voice of the rural schools uh committee which is advocating for increased rural school funding um across the state. And then uh I did meet also with Representative Barretts um a member of his staff to talk about foundation budget and other issues um and plan to continue that conversation. And then finally, um, you should have all received an email that there is a briefing on the funding invol potential funding, uh, demands of the state graduation standards and that's on May 20th. um look for your emails from MASC inviting you to
068participate in that because it should be a really good discussion of some of the imple of the graduation requirements that are being uh potentially proposed. I think that's it. Thank you, Carrie, for that report, but more so for your representation and advocacy on our behalf and on rural schools and on all schools. Um, thank you. That is uh a significant lift and I think we're all I see heads nodding. I think we're all grateful. >> Yeah. By the way, I think the rural schools committee has uh representation from most of the Berkshire County districts, but not from ours. So, if anyone was interested in participating on that committee, um you know, you could reach out to the chairs of that committee or let me know and and I can uh put you in touch. >>
069Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. Um, next, sorry I'm deep in the packet here. Um, districtwide recent and upcoming news and events. >> Brena beautifully covered so many things. I do want to highlight one more event that's happening soon. Um, next Saturday, April 18th, uh, 15 of our Mount Greylock students are being featured in a um in an art show um that starts on that date at the Clark. It's it's entitled How Shall We Live? Bergkshire Youth Artists Explore Their Relationship with the Earth in the Time of Climate Change. Um, the grand opening reception is uh so not this Saturday. that we're about to have, but next Saturday from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. at the Lond Center at the Clark. And then it will be on display in the Hunter Studio at the Lond
070Center that's up at Stone Hill at the Clark. Um from that Saturday through Saturday, April 25th um with a variety of times. Information about that is on the Mount Greylock website. Um so you can find it there. Um, but I wanted to note that because it's a different kind of thing that uh that you can do in addition to plays and musicals and athletic events at Mount Greylock. Um, so I encourage it. >> That sounds like the exact week of April break. Is that right? >> That's correct. >> Okay. Got it. Just in case that helps others place when it's happening. Anything else, Joe, for upcoming news and events that you or Brena did not cover? >> Not a thing. >> Okay. Excellent. Thank you. Um then I am going to look for a motion
071to enter into executive session with the intent to return to open session for the purposes of discussing the physical condition of individuals a sick leave bank request um and discussing strategy with respect to collective bargaining for both teachers and the ESP contracts. >> So moved. >> Thank you Curtis. Is there a second? >> Steve seconded. Excellent. Um, we need to do a roll call vote and we're going to start with you Curtis >> Elenbine. I >> screen I >> Malloy I. >> Miller I. >> Bowen I. >> Conry I. >> Constantine I. >> Great. Thank you. Joe, are you sending us somewhere? Excellent. I think we're still waiting for Ursula and Steve. >> While we're waiting, uh, apologies for my, uh, unbelievable lateness. I never in a million years would have thought that a lacrosse
072game that was supposed to start at 4:15 would end uh at 6:30. >> Wow. >> Lacrosse games are typically an hour and 20 to an hour and 30 minutes. Uh it started 35 minutes late and uh had two extended timeouts. One due to injury and one that I will never understand, but uh thank you for your hard work and my absence. Yes, we are. We are glad uh you you were able to make it. So, >> also uh girls lacrosse is three and 0 now. >> Excellent. Um okay, I will look for a motion to approve the sick leave bank request as uh presented in executive session. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Ursula. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Curtis. Uh, and why don't we start with a roll call vote
073with you, Ursula? >> Malloy. I >> I think it would be. >> Thank you. Bowen. I >> Honor I >> opened by an I. >> Green eye. >> Okay. Thank you. That motion passes. Um the uh next I will be looking for a motion to approve the extraordinary leave MOA as presented in executive session. >> So move. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you Curtis. Any discussion about that? Then Steve, if you can start a roll call vote, please. I can try. Miller I >> Bowen I Conry I. >> Constantine I. >> Elen by an eye. >> Green eye. >> Malloy eye. >> Great. Thank you. That passes unanimously. Um all right. Upcoming meetings. Uh we have school committee on May 14th via Google Meet. Um, per your request, somebody's request
074at our last meeting. Um, Joe has included our town upcoming town meeting dates. So, please have those marked on your calendars. As we discussed earlier, Williamstowns is May 19th at 700 p.m. at Williamstown Elementary and Lansboro's is June 9th at 6 p.m. at Lansboro Elementary. And then I have a big request uh for our June school committee meeting. Uh, and I am wondering if we can move it from Thursday, June 11th to Wednesday, June 10th. If folks have their calendars now, >> at the moment, I'm scheduled to be at an MASC meeting on the 10th. >> Okay. >> So, I'm trying to get confirmation of that, but I think those meetings were scheduled a long time ago. >> Okay. The 10th would work for me. >> Works for you. Ursula. >> Curtis. Jose, do you
075know? Thanks, Jose. >> It's not ideal, but I can make it work. >> Okay. Um, Steve, >> I I'll try to make whatever date it is work. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, Carrie, let's stay in touch. I I can't be there the 11th. Um so we let's be in touch and um >> see if Okay. Um All right. Uh if everybody else could just maybe hold both nights for now. Um and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. I have no items that were not reasonably anticipated. I see Joe had none either. Um are there any agenda requests? All right. Hearing none, I I will look for a motion to adjurnn. >> Miller move >> or seconded. >> Okay. Motion from Miller, second from Curtis, and I will kick off roll call
076vote. Uh, I >> I I >> I >> Oh, sorry, Carrie. We have the last names. I got confused. >> I know. I I That was a mess up on my part, but quite fun to see everybody do it. Stephen, are you voting us? Are you gonna say I? >> I will say I as well. >> Excellent. All right. Thank you everybody. Thanks. Have a good night. >> Good night. >> Bye. >> Good times.