001And we are expecting Ursula and Curtis, right? >> To the best of my knowledge, yes. >> Okay. Wonderful. >> And they are both here now. >> Okay. >> First is the U. That >> is the U. >> That icon that you might see. Yeah. Great. Great. Um, okay. And it's 5:59, so I will wait for 20 seconds. All right. I am going to call this meeting to order of the Mount Greylock Regional School District School Committee on Thursday, March 19th at 6 PM. Uh, this meeting will be livereamed on willynet.org and broadcast on SpectrumCable TV channel 1303 in Williamstown. Meetings will be available as video on demand within 24 hours after this meeting on the MGRSD YouTube channel. So, with that call to order, I will ask for a roll call. So, I will start.
002This is one where we name ourselves. Bowen here. >> Conry here. >> Constantine here. >> Elenbine here. >> Green here. >> Ursula, are you here? So maybe she's signed in but not yet on. Okay. Um so uh we have a a big important meeting tonight to uh discuss our budget. Um and we're going to I hope and anticipate that as people are joining they are um some are planning for public comment. Um I'm going to open by reading the mission statement and I just want to um remind us all how important reading this mission statement is as we are talking about our budget. Um, we will then move into public uh the student update. Will we have a student, Joe? Okay. Um, and then we'll have public comment. Um, so for public comment, if people
003want to start getting in line, I encourage you to raise your hand by pressing the little hand at the bottom of your screen. Um, and then we will know that you are um getting in line for public comment. The mission uh the mission at Mount Greylock Regional School District um our 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 restorative based processes, respect, inclusive diversity, courtesy, integrity, and responsibility through high expectations and cooperation resulting in lifelong learning and personal growth. All right, we are ready for the student update. >> Our student has not yet joined. >> So perhaps do public comment first and then shift back to that if that's okay with the committee. >> Yeah, let's let's
004do that. Um I'm going to go in the order in which hands are raised. So, if you have just if you have joined while I was reading the mission or while the meeting was opening um and you would like to speak, please raise your hand at the bottom of the screen. Just press that button at the bottom of the screen. Um and then I a couple things I want to say about public comment. Um one is thank you in advance. Um we appreciate uh the the public coming and sharing your perspective. Um, number two, uh, we ask that you keep your comments to three minutes. And I will be keeping a timer, and I don't want to cut anybody off, but I do need to keep us and consistent. I will hold up when you
005have one minute left to the best of my ability, and then 30 seconds left to the best of my ability. Um, so that you have a sense of where you are in in the timing. Um, and I again, we appreciate you coming to to share your thoughts. All right. Um on our list we've got um David and Devon Bartell's who have are two different people. Um and so they have both want to give public comment. Uh I'm aware of that. So whichever one of you would like to go first um I will I will um have you go. >> I think ladies go first. So I'd like to go first. Hi everyone. My name is Devon Bartell's. Um thank you very much for letting me speak tonight. I'm the parent of two current students at
006West and I'm a member of the West PTO FS for West. Uh I'm speaking tonight to um ask this um board to create a budget that reflects the requests made by both the school councils of West and Mount Greylock. um and also to maybe consider um moving forward to create budgets that are even more aspirational because I think that there's a hunger for that right now in our community. So, um I think in prior meetings it was the term the jewel or crown jewel was used to describe the school district and um I I it's a real draw to move here. certainly was for me and my family. And so, um, I would argue that we cannot rest on our laurels and that maybe it's, um, it's more of a garden that needs to be
007continually nourished and continually invested in um, and that we cannot create a level service budget. Um, that is just not going to cut it because there are additional needs. And in listening to your prior meetings, I was really shocked to hear that despite an acknowledgment of these additional needs from families and students, that our district is actually the second lowest spending per capita district in our county and that we are maybe two to $3,000 per student per year lower than the state average. So, wow. I don't think that's a time to necessarily give us a pat on the back even though it probably reflects the high value of of what the educational experience in the Mount Greylock Regional School District. I would instead say that you're running it really lean and boy um another way
008of looking at it might be that every child is missing out on $2 to $3,000 a year of additional enrichment. And so it's a chance for us to catch up um and to think about and get aspirational about our goals. So, um, in kind of thinking about that, um, I I would have to say that, uh, in speaking with other parents, I really think there is a willingness to support bigger budgets and, um, it takes money. If you don't ask for it, you don't get it. So, um, the PTO at West is actively working on creating a free child care uh, in the in the auditorium during the town meeting to facilitate parental participation. at town meeting, we will go to bat for something. Um, and we want to just give you courage to give
009us something that we can get behind and vote on and be excited about, okay? Because there is a hunger for this and we are going to rally for it. So, please don't be afraid to ask for what you need on behalf of your teachers and students. Please um don't don't continue to give them ask them ask them to do more with less, okay? Because we we've done that for a while now. I think it's time that we get more aspirational. And I would also maybe think about if this committee or this board hasn't already approaching um Williams College if it's really that dire of a budgetary year that there needs to be an addressing of the taxexempt elephant in the room. So uh something that I think is a very reasonable ask of the college
010to help out with. Thank you very much. I appreciate what you guys and what you do. Thank you. >> Thank you Devin. David, are you next? >> Sure, I'm happy to go next. Okay, great. >> So, good evening everybody. Um, David, parent of two, soon to be three West kids. Um, I emailed prior to a earlier meeting and Julia got back to me regarding the importance of parental presence and support. At town hall meeting, Devin spoke to that. I plan to be there and speak up for the budget. Um, which I certainly uh hope is at least uh level service if I got the terminology correct. And I would I really would hope and advocate for more. Um, one thing I just want to say, Joe, I really appreciate you just drawing a line in
011the I purchase article saying that basically level funding u was not even a worst case scenario we'd even consider. I mean, just to hear that clarity from the leadership does allay some concerns. Um, and so I appreciate that. Um, and I think Curtis, you know, you're mentioned some of your constituents and I do wonder if there's some confusion there regarding the level funding, level service because I was confused for quite some time. And I think that being educationally minded communities, um, I I really hope that uh most people really are setting at the level funding as as kind of the low bar and hopefully people do aspire to more uh for this system. So, um, all that being said, I still am concerned. I mean, there was that DOE report card that came out that
012showed that there are increasing needs across the board in terms of high need students, English learners, uh, disabilities, all kids who may need more help, uh, which we should be helping, but at the same time, not detracting from everybody else, which deacto means an increase of service. um math and ELA scores uh show that some kids aren't at grade level which I think we all agree is just kind of really bad and needs to be remedied. Um and that again will require I think additional resources. So when I looked at what the school council presented, it seemed pretty clear that they articulated kind of what the teachers were saying they needed to meet these unmet needs as they exist now. And that's where the bump from more than just level services uh occurs. And so
013uh I've looked over your PowerPoint. I really salute you for trying to explain the situation that we're in. The headline is oh 13% in Williamstown, right? But that's just because we've been spending down the reserve. Um so we're reaping what we've sewed essentially. And now we need to step up. And I think uh amongst my peers of parents, I'm hearing that message. It's time to step up. meet the moment and hopefully go for more. Um, and I see that Fred is on the line. I don't not sure we've met, uh, but, uh, esteemed member of the finance committee. So, hear that the the the parents really are, um, for this and this is what we need for a vibrant town that attracts young families um, to kind of move forward. So, I support you guys.
014I'll be at town meeting speaking up for the budget. Thank you. Thank you, David. Jenna. >> Hey, I'm Jenna. I am a parent of two kids at West, resident of Williamstown, and on the school council. Um, I really appreciate all the time um that everybody has spent on the budget and the conversations I've had this week with several of you, too. Um, I think asking the town for this investment while saying it keeps services level is not something we should feel good about. Um, I think it's coming at a cost to the students. Um, I think that we have uh resisted improvement because of things the town has asked for around making sure we had space for the fire department, which was a need. We have the police department asking to add another staff member.
015Like, I think it's time that we also need to look at what the school absolutely needs. I'm going to focus on West because I think that Greylock is more complicated because I think Lanesboro and uh Williamstown have different challenges. Um, I think adding a math interventionist to uh West would not impact Lanesboro's budget. It would create less than 1% increase and we could be improving the K12 opportunities and I truly mean K12 because it has been shown that elementary schools are the highest leverage window for intervention from math. Um, we also know that elementary math struggles have lifelong consequences. um their K through five uh students with persistent low math skills are less 13% less likely to graduate high school, 29% less likely to um grad attend college. It's come out that math scores in
016elementary school are one of the strongest indicators of earning potential for someone's life. Um we also see that the MCCAST has been going down since 2021 and 2022 in math. This isn't new. It's been steadily going down. And if we don't change our behavior, we shouldn't expect improvement. And I understand that we want to impact the town as little as possible, but less than 1% is not a gamecher here, but it is a game changer to those students. And it's a position that affects K through six. And that also means that those kids when they go to Greylock will be better prepared. Um, I think this is something that you have had a lot of writing comment. And I also hope the select board is aware of how much right in common because people couldn't
017always attend this. But it's something that we feel really really passionately about. We don't want to lose a role that we already have at West to fill this. We want to add a staff member because also with this math interventionist that means that teachers can spend less time bringing kids up to grade level in math which is also an issue in classes and more time with kids at grade level and also supporting in other ways. Freeing time up for teachers means more space for small groups and other critical work areas and there's a large trickle down effect there. So I really really hope that as you guys are the stewards for what the district needs and not just how do we make the leanest budget possible and keep functioning that you really advocate for the
018best outcome for these students and these schools. Thank you. >> Thank you Jenna. Um, for anyone who has joined uh since public comment started and if you would like to speak, please raise your hand by clicking that little hand at the bottom of the screen. Um, we have two more uh in line now. Oh, sorry. Starting with with you, Ash. Uh Ash, if you are speaking, >> I have to hit the correct button or none of you can hear me. Um I this is totally new for me, you know, the online thing. Um just kidding. So anyway, um my name is Ashbell and I am the parent of two children at West who have benefited from the reading specialists there. Um, and both of my children, um, have gotten to experience the reading specialists, um,
019expertise at Wes. Um, and they got to experience it during their kindergarten year, which was so essential. Um, I say this because I think that we are probably losing out on really valuable educational time by not having a math a math specialist. um especially in the early elementary years. Um as Jenna stated with all those beautiful facts and figures, um it is so vital and um one semester of intervention can have payoff for years and years and years to come. Um, I saw both of my children's reading comprehension, reading levels, letter comprehension go through the roof with that little extra boost that they needed that they were so fortunately able to receive by having reading interventionists at the elementary school. Um, I think that we we have to do that for math also. Um it
020is vital that we are using the the time that these students have in those um formative years to get them the education that they need. Um and that's that's all I wanted to say. >> Thank you. Thank you. Um Julia, we go to you. that. Um, oh, sorry, my husband's on his laptop right next to me, so I'm echoing. Um, my name is Julia Koshan and I have two kids at West, a first grader and a third grader. And we actually moved to Williamstown specifically because of the school system. So, this hits really close to home for us. Um, and I just want to echo what everyone else on the call has already said tonight and just add my voice and support. We chose this community because we believe in it and I'd love to
021see the school committee uh make the kind of investment that shows that they do, too. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Just going to make one last call for any public comment. Ally, Corey, Ally, Ali, >> Ally. Allie's good. >> Allie. Okay. >> Hey. Um, I'm Ally. Uh, Corey. Um, I'm I'm Ash's spouse, but I wanted to add something. um we have as we have two kids at um at Wes. I wanted to add one other piece um that I think is really important about adding a math interventionist which I think has been talked about by other folks but just specifically the the really large benefits it it will have for um uh for students who don't have access to a lot of math support in the way that it's taught in the
022United States. Um we have uh a lot of folks in this community um who are really uh valued members of the community and should be treated as such. Um and when we have specialists in the schools that can help with this um with this kind of stuff, it makes a huge difference for those kids specifically. Um and uh and I think it is uh really important for us to put um the comparatively small amount of funding that it would take to have this position as a math specialist, you know, at West um to to put that money there in order to benefit um our it will benefit our whole community and it will specifically benefit I think at most um those children. and we have a commitment um you know uh as a as a
023public education system to doing that work. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Any other public comment? So, seeing none, I'm gonna um close public comment and check back with you. Joe, do you know if our student has arrived for the student update? >> Yes, we do have Chris here now. >> Right. >> And Kishv, if you're able to go ahead and unmute yourself. >> Hello. >> Wonderful. >> So, sorry. Um, my camera's not working right now, so I'm sorry about that. Um, so I'm sorry for being late. Um, so for the student update, um, right now we're kind of transitioning from the end of winter sports. All winter sports have been done for a few weeks and now the spring season has started. So most teams have started practices this week. Um, practices have
024started. Um, the spring drama is starting um, as well this week. Um, from a student government perspective, um, seniors are figuring out, um, what the end of the year is going to look like, prom, um, the trip. Um, from the student council perspective, um, we've been trying to, uh, start a section in the counseling department where people can get uh, test prep books for free. So, they can get ACT books, AP books, SAT books. Um and we're basically doing that based off donations from um previous years and from people who have books um from older years. Um and additionally I think from uh academically I think we have um the talent show and the art show also coming up in a few weeks. Um, so some of the art classes I've been starting to kind
025of prepare um and figure that out. Um, sorry I'm a little bit unprepared, so I'm just trying to jog my thoughts. Um um and then from the academics perspective more so um I would say for some of the AP classes um the AP tests um and AP tests are starting to look around the corner so students are starting to look at that um and I think it's kind of the middle of the quarter towards the end so teachers are starting to um pro um starting to kind of and units um starting to go into the fourth quarter. So I hope if you have any questions you can ask me. Um but I'm I tried my best. Sorry. >> Are there and and thank you for stepping in to to do this too. >> Yes. Any
026questions for Chris? >> Good luck Chrisv with the end of senior year. Thank you so much >> to you and and to all the students, but especially the seniors who are ending their high school career. >> Thank you so much. Have a good day, everyone. >> Thank you. You too. All right. Um, Carrie, >> so I have a point of order question and I'm really sorry I didn't think of this ahead of the meeting because I didn't look carefully enough at the agenda, but the way we've done public hearings before we've done the public hearing and then moved into the school. So, I'm noticing this is kind of part of the school committee meeting. We're going to do a presentation, but is that >> um ju >> does that fit with what we need to
027be doing in terms of a public hearing? >> Okay. >> Both ways are valid. Um and this given the nature of this meeting and all the content within it, this order felt felt most natural. >> All right. Thanks. >> Yep. >> Um okay. Uh we are going to move to approve our minutes um from February 12th, March 3rd, and March 17th. Uh so can I have a motion to approve the minutes from February 12th? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Curtis. Is there a second? >> I will second. >> Thank you, Christina. Any discussion about the minutes from February 12th? >> No. Okay. Um let's do roll call vote starting with Christina. >> Conry I >> Constantine I. >> Elfen by an I. >> Green eye. >> Malloy I. >> And I uh Bowen abstain
028because I missed that meeting. Um that passes. That motion passes. Let's move to March 3rd, 2026. Uh, again, can I have a motion to approve those minutes? >> So, move. >> Thank you, Curtis. Is there a second? >> Second from Christina. Any discussion about those? >> All right, Jose, you get to kick us off. >> Constantine. I >> Green I. Malloy abstain. >> Bowen I. >> Connor I. >> And that motion passes. And then uh let's look at the March 17, 2026 minutes. Um >> so moved. >> Thank you. Curtis moves to accept those. Christina moves to accept those. Any discussion about the March 17th minutes from two nights ago? >> I have a discussion. I was >> I was not there so I was absent and I did not vote. >> And yet in
029the minutes it says otherwise. >> Yes. Okay. >> Wouldn't that be nice if we could get credit for being places where we aren't? Um, any other comments, questions, discussion about the March 17th minutes? >> Hearing none. I Curtis, why don't you kick us off? >> Elenvine. I >> Green I. >> Malloy I. >> Bowen I. >> Conry I. >> Constantine. I >> All right. Thank you. Those are the um those all pass and we can move now to the uh budget discussion and adoption. And for that I hand it to you Carrie uh to do with Joe. >> Uh Joe, do you want me to give an overview or do you want to just go into the slide presentation? What's easiest for you? >> I am comfortable. However, and however all of you want to
030proceed and given that we had gone through this same presentation on Monday or on Tuesday, I'm also okay if we say let's let's just use your summary carry as the opener for the discussion and then and then move from there. Whatever you all feel most comfortable with. Great for me. >> What does the committee want? Jose, I >> I think you know even though Tuesday's meeting was a you know public meeting and the agenda packet was was public, I think it might be helpful for uh for folks who are in attendance today and who may be listening in either now or later to to maybe Joe if you wouldn't mind just just just going through that again. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, I mean, I can give a few minutes of intro. Um, although my
031dogs are about to start barking, this is a really tough year. Um, the numbers that we're bringing to our member towns are considerably higher than what they've been historically. There are real reasons for that. We know where the numbers are coming from. We know that some of that is a one-time cost. Some of that is although it's going to the base um some of that is cost that we have to meet but can't necessarily control or predict and may happen next year may not happen for another five years. We don't know. Some of it is contractual that we do have control over to an extent. You know we pride ourselves in how we take care of our faculty and our staff. Um, so we try to meet our obligations there as best we can and
032certainly we meet our contracts. So by meeting our obligations I mean to the people that are serving our kids, right? Um, some of the costs are hitting our towns as much as they are the school district. Things like healthcare, they're seeing the same percentage increases that we're seeing. and hopefully that doesn't happen again next year. Um, but the numbers are high, the percentages are high, they're a bit of a shock to the system. So, uh, one of the comments that we received from the public um, mentioned that as long as we were going high, why not go higher, right? Um the the purpose of the PowerPoint is to really lay out um what we know about this budget this year and to explain every detail that we can um and to account for every dollar
033that we spend. Is it true that if we add a position to Williamstown Elementary, it doesn't affect the Lanssboro budget? You know, that's a question that Joe may want to incorporate into his presentation, right? Um, we haven't heard too much from um the town of Lansboro. We have not heard from parents. We've not heard from stakeholders. we've not heard from elected officials. Um it's really um a little actually disconcerting because we don't have an official response or an unofficial response to this budget. All we know is that we are asking for what we need to educate our kids this year. Um could we use more? Yes, absolutely. And part of that is a reduction in state federal funding, right? Uh we're not getting the kind of support from our lo our our state and federal
034government that we have gotten in the past and even that wasn't sufficient. So to see those numbers go down is really um it's really tough uh on a public school system to feel unsupported by our elected officials at the state and federal level. Um, but that said, I want to compliment our, you know, our superintendent slash business director, our staff, our teachers, and everyone who had input on this budget, our school governance councils, everyone did the work, everyone pitched in. I want to thank the parents for giving us feedback. It's really important that we hear from you about your priorities and your um ambitions for this school district that is serving your kids. Um so with that said, let's go through the PowerPoint. All right, I'm going to go ahead and screen share just so
035that people people can uh see this is also for anybody who would prefer it. It's also in the packet that is online and linked um via the the school committee calendar. Um as the file name is the FY it's 06 FY27 budget FAQ V2. Um, this has slight modifications since Tuesday night and I will make sure to call those out. Um, but other than that, I will I will move right into our status and our values. Um, we do have excellent schools. We do have stable enrollment. Um, and and those are two things that u not every school in our region um can can really call to, especially the stable enrollment here over the last five or six years. Um, families continue to want to move to our town for our schools and I really
036appreciated um the families pointing that out um within their comments tonight as well. Um at the same time, our students needs and our families needs are are all increasing. Um our communities expect our schools to improve, not just not just stay the same. And from the number of families that we had speaking out tonight, um I I think that's that's uh very evident in a wonderful way. Um, in terms of how we go about doing that, we are continually updating our curricula. Um, we are in year one of a brand new math curriculum, which is the first, uh, new adoption in the last 20 years. Um, which is a a critical moment within our math instruction work at the elementary schools and at the middle middle school. Um and then in terms of providing a
037diversity of high school offerings, that is that is a struggle and it's also something that that we are actively grappling with on a on a yearly basis right now. Um as costs are increasing and as our school our high school remains a a high school that is wonderful but also in the spectrum of high schools across Massachusetts and across the country is a relatively small high school. figuring out how to offer both quantity and quality is an increasing challenge and one that we are we really need to try to meet. Um different differentiating instruction to support each student. Um, a lot of the focus that is within our our staff groups, our our teachers working um and improving what they are doing daily is in trying to make sure that it's not just meeting students
038where they are, but it's making sure that each student receives exactly what they need in order to take the next best step in their learning. Um, that's an area of our work that that has been a focus within the district improvement plan and it's certainly there within the new math curriculum, within the ELA curriculum that we continue to work on um, and in the ways that our school council at Mount Greylock is advocating for additional intervention and support um, across the spectrum in order to be able to have the right um, progression for students so that so that that learning curve is is steep enough but not too steep. um and in ways that really really assist them. Addressing student needs that detract from our students opportunities to learn and grow as people. Um this
039is a another way of saying that when there are disruptions within a classroom that harm a student or that disrupt the learning that's happening um those are that's an increasing area of need. Um sometimes we call it behavior, sometimes we call it behavior intervention. Um that's an area where in many ways our district for many years did not have as much of a focus and perhaps as much of a need as many other districts. Um and right now we are we are working hard to to try to get ahead of whatever curve is there. Um our school councils and our district office have studied and expressed priority needs. Um those needs I'll I'll go into those for a second. um as I think that they're also there in the packet as appendices and I will
040not be able to adequately cover all of the things that our school councils presented over the last few months of presentations. Um but certainly it is a math interventionist for each of our elementary schools. It is additional support around around all of the ways that they work whether it's classroom materials or technology within schools. um at the middle and high school. It's it's an additional math teacher um to be able to um release some of the pressure on larger class sizes within the high school and the middle middle school as well as being able to offer a greater diversity of courses within the math department. Um it is also an additional FTE that given the nature of our small school, the school council presented as being spread across a number of different departments. Um and
041and that's I think going to be an increasing theme as we look at the need to be able to increase a course here, a course there, try to open up another section in another place. Um that ends up leading to more fractional FTEEs that that will be presented over the years. In addition to that, a behaviorist 504 coordinator. Um those were the marquee requests from from the middle high school. Um, I will also say that I this year I've really appreciated the involvement of not just the public but the school councils in a way that I think is it's blossoming. Um, and it's helping to advocate for every bit of need in every way that we can. Um, in a way that's really healthy. Um and and hopefully those voices know from from each of
042us by the end of this meeting and by the end of the budget approval cycle um that however we're doing this um at the end of the night that that we are active in these discussions with them and that and that there is give and take and trying to figure out how to how to best manage those needs and and the overall budget. Um so within the draft budget that we have been working on for the last few weeks um despite those very concrete needs and and all that's gone into them um our we had talked about how our local state and federal funding picture does not immediately support any expansion of our resources. Um that is not without an even more substantial ask than the one that we're asking for which is I I
043believe I I haven't heard anything to the country. I believe it's a historic number as far as the percentage increases. Um the budget as proposed does not contain increases in staffing um or significant investments in other capabilities, supplies, services. Um and in terms of why that is. We'll go into that here in slides in a second. Um but the budget as in the packet right now shows a 10.99% increase for the town of Lansboro in its assessment across operating capital and a 13.61 61% increase for Williamstown. Are there any questions on that? Before we start to talk about the remainder of these slides about what's causing the increase, what the challenges are, and how to put it in context, I I want to chunk this up a little bit more if we can. Not a
044one. All right. So, what is causing the increase for our towns? even if we did not spend another penny. Um we are in the year where um over the last six years we and our towns have had conversations annually about the the financial situation of the towns and the desire to make sure that the district spends all of the funds that it has on hand before it raises uh additional funds through excessive not excessive uh larger than than desirable uh property tax increases. Um and so we are now in a year where um just staying still would need to would we would need the towns to cover $625,000 that had previously been covered by reserves within prior year budgets. Um federal and state support has declined by 60,000. Um, a lot of that decline is
045although our chapter 70 funding is up, the state's rural aid line is down significantly. Um, and the state of Massachusetts is slated to receive 10% less across the board from the federal government in terms of all the federal grants that we receive annually. So collectively that $685,000 in costs that same same budget last year um we would have covered through reserves and through state and federal funding. And we are now asking our local towns to pick up those costs. Things do cost more this year. uh health insurance as we've talked about for for the last few months um up by 8.75% and we have a compounding factor which is more employees need to take our insurance now than ever before. So we have a greater percentage of our employees on our insurance. Um that's about
046a $750,000 increase within this budget across the three schools. Uh out of district tuition and transportation costs for for programs that our students need but that we do not offer within our district. Um, that's $550,000 in increases. Utilities, transportation, custodial and classroom supplies, all of the things that are within this budget add up to about $100,000 increase. Required maintenance, whether it's replacing a fire hydrant at Mount Craylock or um continuing to work on our roofs at our elementary schools or u working and servicing the the Univvent heating systems that are in Lansboro Elementary School. Um that's an increase of $80,000 across our maintenance lines within the three schools. Um and then across the 325 people that we employ full and part-time, our contractual obligations increase from this year to the next by $840,000. So we
047have done things to try to mitigate that. Um we are finding natural reductions in things that will not immediately hurt our students. Those are um we are reorganizing the district office such that um two positions that were formerly more focused on business and finance and academic technology um are being um converted into a single position that is focused on student staff and family support um in all of the ways that our expanding needs call for. So that we will have a district office that has a superintendent. It has an assistant superintendent focused on teaching and learning and then a director focused on students, staff and family support so that we can address all of the holistic needs of students and families with focus within each area of need. Uh in terms of other reductions, we
048have um a natural decrease in textbook expenditures related to being in year two of a curriculum roll out. um that is not something that will that will hurt our students learning um by depriving them of materials or anything like that. Um this is something that that always happens when you're in year two of of a curriculum rollup. um within professional development. Um we have already talked internally uh for the last year about this coming year being a year where we need staff to be able to spend time together working in small groups doing data reviews, working on writing curriculum together more than we need outside resources assisting in that work. Um so this again is something where we are turning inward and and we are giving our staff that time to collaborate ourselves time to
049collaborate. Um within software we are both decreasing our reliance on software overall um within some of our student learning platforms. Um and we are also starting to make some cuts on some of the lower utilization software um that that is not as uh desired by by teachers and uh and departments within the within the school district. Our legal council uh this is this is just a a good news thing that because we have low utilization uh our retainer related to their services has decreased by $14,000. Uh within insurance um this is property and and non-health insurance. So all the non-emp employee insurance we have lower costs there due to our good record over the last 5 to 10 years. Utilities despite higher costs we have invested over the years in u a variety of energy
050conservation and efficiency projects. And with that, we've been able to see some places where either we've slowed what would otherwise be a market increase in fuel and and other utility costs. And in some cases within our buildings, we've actually been able to see net decreases in overall costs to our advantage. So, uh, the question, this is a new slide from Tuesday night. Is this budget level staffing level service level funded? This budget has a decrease of the one district office position that we talked about and a natural decline in paraprofessional FTEES of two that is that is paraprofessionals are already departing and um for the paraprofessional positions that are described as being um one-on- ones by by the the nature of an IEP team working collaborating and and making that decision. Um that has naturally
051declined by two. Um so that is is another uh integral part of this budget. Um so it is not level staffed but no employees are losing their job with this budget. However, and that's important to note and I know that that's not enough. Um but I do want to make sure that at every turn whenever there is a question that we are making sure our staff know exactly what this budget contains for them and their lives next year. Um this budget does not or does provide level services for students based on all the programs the courses that we're offering um moving moving into next year. This budget is not level funded. A level funded bud budget would not cover all the likefor-like things that have cost increases and it would not cover the areas where
052we are obligated to increase our expenditures, tuition and transportation uh or some of the increased maintenance costs that we have that need to be addressed in this coming year. So that addresses the level staffing, level service, level funded question. I do want to pause there for a second and see if there are any questions about that just because I know that that phraseiology is uh important to be able to use over the next couple of months. Um Joe, the concept of a level service budget, I get why I get why it's called level service. Um, and I know that you've been I I'm wondering if that's a little bit confusing because I I believe you have been trying to figure out some some shifts within the budget that we have. Do that might switch services.
053So I I guess I don't know if you can speak to that if that question is clear or if that distinction is clear >> that that distinction. So, >> it's not the exact service. >> I'm not sure which things you want to talk about doing that are new. Um, certainly with the refocusing of the district office, making sure that there is a dedicated >> staff member with expertise, history, and a focus on that work. That will be an increase in in services to students and to families and to staff members. uh but in terms of what are the departments that we have, what are the courses that we offer, what are the ways that there is no elimination of a program, there is no elimin elimination of a classroom or or opportunity. Um but as
054with any year certainly things will be a little bit different next year and I would argue that we're increasing services around student student support um as we move into next year with it. Yeah. Thank you. >> Yep. Any other questions on that from the committee? No. Okay. Will we always need increases this large? This is a question that I think um given some of the news articles that that are are being put out especially in the eastern part of the state about death spirals and about how costs are spiraling out of control in in rural parts of the of the state. Um that is not the case with us. Uh I I I don't I don't see that happening. Um, so no, more than 85% of the increase within this budget is associated with things
055that either cannot, like no longer having reserves and needing to shift that spending over to our towns, or probably won't all happen at the same time, like massive increases in health insurance costs, significant increases in tuition and transportation costs, and seeing generally everything in our world costing more. um significantly like for like um in in years. So there are many years where where we will come forward and we'll say health insurance increased but tuition and transportation and capital expenses decreased. There are other years where we say tuition transportation increase but health insurance is leveled uh for the coming year. Um, this is a year where two out of the three less predictable things on a year-to-year basis are happening at once along with the question around uh transitioning reserve from reserve spending to town spending.
056Um that said, um it it's impossible to say none of these things will be happening next year or in future years, but the likelihood that they all happen in the same way is low both historically and in terms of just logic for how how all of this works uh for us as a district moving forward. Um we do have the more predictable things with multi-year cycles. um our our payroll generally via collective bargaining agreements and and other contracts um tends to be very predictable certainly over the course of three to five year cycles. And then our long-term vendor contracts like uh regular education transportation um very stable, very predictable over time. So the question of why is our district spending so much? Why do we spend so much? And I I I welcome the the
057public comment on this. Um we don't we are and this is the this is DESI's most recent data that was published um based on 2024 numbers. Oftentimes the state's merger and and normalization of data across districts takes takes a year or two to um to get out. Um but we are the second lowest spending district per pupil in Bergkshire County. Um, I do want to say that some of the districts that are uh that have significantly higher numbers for us than us, uh, the the the logic that somebody outside of our district would use to explain why that is are some other districts already need to and do provide a greater range of services, whether it's dinner service or other things like that to their students based on the students needs. than we do. Although
058my rebuttal to that is our students needs are increasing year overyear in a way that is um seeing us catch up with other districts. And then the other one is when you're a smaller district, we are now the third largest district in Berkshire County. oftentimes your cost per pupil is higher to provide the same type of thing to to a student that a larger district does because various functions are spread across a larger number of students. Um and and that would be the case for for some of these districts that are smaller than us. Um so the other data point on this s on this slide that is surprising to most people that see it, Mount Greylock is the third largest by enrollment in Bergkshire County. Now, um that is a very different picture from
059even 5 years ago, um much less 10 or 15 years ago. And it's something that we certainly are are happy that our enrollment is is staying strong. Um but it's also an area where and again I think speaking to some of the things that that families said tonight, um people are trying to move into our district. oftentimes I have phone calls from families that say, "How can we come to your schools? We can't find a house to buy that is affordable. Um, are there any other avenues in?" And I and I love those phone conversations because we are able to talk about different people to reach out to, ways to think about trying to buy a home. Um and and and it's a wonderful thing, but it's also something for us to nurture, something for
060us to work on with our towns so that we make sure our schools remain that draw for people coming into um our region. The question of haven't we had big big increases often? Um the answer is no. between FY20 and FY24, our increases were were on the lower end of of many around around the county. Um that has changed in FY26. Um as last year we saw a what is by most standards a very large increase. Um and it will need to continue this year as we make our final transition from reserve spending to um local town spending. Now in terms of uh appendices the the shift here uh from Tuesday night to tonight is that within excess defic excess and deficiency tuition and school choice um we've now added a final column which is
061projected numbers for FY27 um END it should be noted the excess and deficiency indicated here um the the number that is there for 2026 the $574,220. That is the number that the state stamped and certified uh late in the fall of 2025. So during this school year, saying this is the amount of money that you are guaranteed to have from this point onward for your FY27 budget or if you need it within your FY26 budget, but it's not the money, it does not include the money that you budgeted to use out of END in FY26 here. Um that's an important point that I think sometimes gets gets lost in conversation. So I wanted to make sure to bring it up tonight because I know that the conversation might dive into some of these details later.
062Um so the FY26 to FY27 number um that shift is just based on the END spending that we are planning um for uh for FY27 within the draft budget. If we were to change that number, um, that would increase or or decrease accordingly. Um, in terms of how we would positively impact this reserve account, it would be by either receiving more local, state, or federal aid that we spend than we spend. Um, well, by receiving more than we projected or by spending less than we projected. That that's the only way that funds get deposited into this account. school choice add an FY27 um add an FY27 column. We are currently projecting a beginning balance within that account in FY27 of $125,000. And the way our budget was set up for this uh for this coming
063year, we're planning on having our spending equal our revenue. Um the revenue number here of $510,000 is hopefully conservative. Um it should be given where our school choice enrollment is right now. Um but this does not take into account any kind of significant expansion in school choice enrollment or a sudden exodus of school choice students who we are planning on continuing forward with next year. And then in terms of tuition, um we're we're currently projecting starting FY27 with a $50,000 uh balance in that account. Revenue of $450,000, similar to school choice spending of $450,000. That revenue number, it should be noted, is based on current projections within Hancock and New Ashford for tuition out to our district numbers. um that subject to change based on people moving in or out or deciding to attend um
064a different uh a different school whether it's Macan or a tuition out school that those towns have for high school in New York State with an ending balance equal to the beginning balance. Um so that is the slide set. A lot of that was repetitive with Tuesday night, but hopefully for for folks who are who are joining us, it it just helps to set the stage for what people will be um carrying on in conversation for the remainder of of the evening. Um if I missed anything, I apologize. The sometimes that kind of a monologue does not feel all that wonderful. Joe, um, do you want to speak to this issue of adding FTE to one school affecting one town? >> Oh, yep. Sorry. >> Just on the technical side. >> Yes. On the technical
065side, each of our elementary schools budgets, 100% of the costs associated with that elementary school are embedded within covered by the that local town's assessment. So, if there was an increase of $120,000 in Williamstown Elementary School's budget, Williamstown's assessment would increase accordingly. Lansboro's assessment would not be impacted at all. At Mount Greylock Regional School, the operating assessment is split based on the 5-year trailing average of each town's contribution in terms of enrollment to Mount Greylock. Um, and that right now is right around 69% Williamstown, 31% Lansboro based on the on the last five years of enrollment. And was our uh commenter correct that it represents a 1% increase? Hey, let me just plug the number in precisely so that I and the the $120,000 number that I that I put out there would cover um
066teacher FT and and assuming that that they take our health insurance with a with a family. Um, and that would that would increase the town of Williamstown's assessment um from the 13.61% that we talked about to a 14.42%. So less than >> a little less than 1%. >> Less than 1%. >> Thank you. Yep. >> Questions. Um, Joe, I don't I don't know I I don't know enough about how this then works at the town level. um anything that we're going to ask for is obviously going to be a big discussion at the town. And if I think about just that extra, like what what does that mean for a family who owns a I don't know what the average house price is in Williamstown right now, 350,000. Like what what does that mean then?
067We don't from our seats here tonight, we don't have the ability to estimate the property tax increase associated with with this. It's it's dependent upon the other sources of revenue that the town has. The the I'm I'm pretty sure that even within the finance committee cycle right now, they'd be talking about what kind of new growth >> they are they are planning on seeing. Um, one of the things that that I do want the the drum beat for everybody who is on this Google Meet to to hear is that our two towns have some of the higher property tax rates in in the county. that that is often referred to as being the challenge >> associated with increasing for instance spending on schools more and more we need to make sure that right alongside property
068tax increases are that it wouldn't be as challenging if commercial and residential real estate was being improved or built because that brings new value into those property tax roles and makes it so that without needing to increase property taxes, you're able to fund things like increase costs within school districts. And I think the more that mantra can be said, the more we can make sure that we don't make our towns less affordable to live in. Um, the other aspect of that that ties to to what was being presented earlier is that we still have very strong local resident populations and enrollment. The number of people who work for our district or who work in the area who say I can't find a home to buy is significant. And for people who say that is because
069of property tax rates, I I personally I don't agree with that. I think it's about whether or not there is affordable housing available to begin with, the value of the house, the cost of the house. That goes handinhand with property tax rates. Um but we need more housing that is affordable um w within our within our region. And and so the more all of us can work on that collectively, um the easier some of these conversations are going to be in future years where we need to um figure out how to do more through more for our students. I would also add that just as it is our responsibility to advocate for all the kids in our district. It is the responsibility of the town finance and select boards to advocate for all the citizens
070in town. those who struggle to afford the current property taxes and those who don't. So talking about, you know, adding a percent or less than a percent um is a real hardship for people. Um it it's not just theoretical. I think we need to keep that in mind as well. >> Jose, sorry. >> No, sorry, Carrie. And thank you both for all the incredible work that has gone into this. And and um I'm starting to lose track of of how many years Julie and I have have been on this committee together. I think we we're on our sixth year or headed towards there pretty quickly. Um I can't recall in the nearly six years that have had the privilege of serving on the school committee that we've ever had a really great budget year. I
071think it's always been something that we've carefully navigated and something that I'm proud that we have, you know, heeded the call from our town finance committees and and select boards and in presenting a budget that is sensitive to the challenges that our our member towns are facing. Um I've been thinking long and hard about how to approach the you know this conversation today and I'm thinking just at the moment um you know we are hearing I think at least I suspect certainly from families who are uh who have children in our district and in Williamstown. We're hearing, I think, very clearly, a need or a desire to um answer the call of the hard work that's gone on in in in the school council at Williamsontown Elementary. Um at a recent school committee meeting, you
072know, I asked our wonderful principal there, you know, if we could identify the the two priority areas that um that Williamson Elementary really does, you know, sort of need to address or is looking for investment in. um the math interventionist came out you know uh immediately. Uh the need for a specialist in that area I think is is reflected in as we all know uh some of the challenges that um are appearing in our MCCAST scores uh in in math. Uh we also heard uh a desire to provide discretionary funds for teachers so they wouldn't have to go out of pocket to buy tissues and and the like for their classroom. But I I want to focus just well I think stay staying on this track. We're hearing from constituents from families in Williamstown um
073to present a budget to ask for what Williamstown Elementary School needs, which is I think we heard quite clearly to ha to ask that of our of Williamstown um at the upcoming town meeting. Um, I don't see any reason why we shouldn't ask for what the school council clearly articulated, uh, what our principal, I think, effectively advocated for, uh, for what the data clearly demonstrate is a real learning need and an opportunity to meet, you know, a learning challenge that is is happening in in that particular school. Um, I'm sensitive to the fact that we are a unified school district made up of two member towns, but at the same time, I want to acknowledge that we're hearing quite clearly today and quite clearly over the past few weeks or so um that that our
074constituents want us to do more. They want us to represent them and they want us to to to present what we need, to ask what we need at our upcoming town meeting. And that that's sitting really heavy on me today. >> Julia, go ahead. >> Uh, >> thank you. Let me just say thank you Jose for sharing those thoughts. Um I am like you Jose also struggling to figure out how to approach this and um and I agree we are here like we are I agree with you Carrie that the select board is respons the select board and the finance committee are representing all the citizens and we are representing the schools and in our seat as representing the schools we should be pushing for and advocating for what we think our students students need
075most. So I'm I'm right with you Jose. Um my question though that I'm struggling with in my head is around kind of riskreward. Um and what does advocacy what should advocacy mean in the short term and the long term? Like what decisions does that lead us to make in the short term and the long term? And um I do think and have really appreciated and I think we've all benefited from um really good partnerships with our towns um the finance boards and the the finance committees and select boards. Um and I don't want to lose that. Um because I think that you know I don't I don't think they've told us to hold back. I think we just worked with them to figure out how to work together. And I and I don't know how
076they would feel if we said to add more um if we wanted to add that teacher. Um but I am worried that if we if we push we lose like we don't get the budget passed at all. And so like the risk I'm I'm trying to weigh in my head is um what happens if we push and we can't get the budget through and and then we just have a a bunch of uncertainty and and um challenges in other ways that at least the last time I remember being through one of those cycles um I was one of the teachers who was laid off. I was one of 10 teachers who was laid off. Um, and I ended up leaving the district and I and I just I'm worried about that kind of negative outcome
077if we can't get a budget passed. And obviously when I was in the district, I was a math teacher. So I do believe um, you know, math interventionist feels like near and dear and important and close to my heart and super important. So then what's the risk of not serving our students? Um, and so I'm just I'm I'm personally just sitting with this the two risks. um and wondering which one is more detrimental to the most students. >> Joe, am I right that both uh school governance councils requested math interventionists, both Lansboro and Williamstown? >> Yes. And do we have a solution for the Lansboro math interventionists or not? Really? >> The the the solution without an additional FTE uh does involve and and again our our two elementary schools have very different. They are
078very different both wonderful schools. Lans Elementary School is has one a little bit more than half the enrollment. Um, when you walk in the front door, I'm I'm saying this because I think most of the people on this call are from Williamstown. When you walk in the front door of Lansboro Elementary School, within 20 seconds, you can walk to every corner of the building and say hi and collaborate and do things. Williamstown Elementary School, it's a massive building. It takes minutes to get from the principal's office up to some corners of the building uh walking. Um we can certainly do it faster when we're running. We've we've done that, too. Uh but through that differing nature, many times Linds Elementary School already has portions of an FTE dedicated to one thing, another portion dedicated to
079another thing in a way that Williamtown Elementary School, given its scale, does not operate that way. Uh and so Lanesburg Elementary School's path without um having another FTE is to is to allocate within the current FTEES and find the way to have a a point something interventionist doing math uh work with students. Um and and so that's something that we've certainly strategized around and and tried to figure out how how we would do. Um, so, so if this budget were to pass in a way that said Williamstown Elementary School gains an additional FTE, um, it is not that Lansboro Elementary School would necessarily be without a math intervention capability next year. Um, but it would be different and and it would be different in the same way that that both schools are are already by
080their very nature different um, and wonderful in ways that are that are very unique, too. Um, so that I know that's a little bit of a political answer. I I think both schools would always love to have more resources, but so would Mount Greylock um as a middle high school with with what it does. So, I'll leave it at that. >> Um, Julia, I I just want to ask a question and then I'll go back to you. Is that all right? Um, so there's a reason that you as our superintendent and business director in one um felt that the math interventionist at Williamstown Elementary School was not something that we could or should put in the budget this year. Um, we're hearing from families and um, they're saying they're hearing from teachers that this can't
081be done without. Um, that this is a need that um, has to be met, that it's a need and not a want. and it should have been put in this budget. So, we have two different perspectives here and I don't want to put you too much on the spot, but there must be another way to look at this where >> it's okay. It's my job. >> All right. >> I'm not you don't need to feel feel bad about that at all. Um the the reason that the position was not in the budget as presented, it's a it's a series of of things that play into it. The the first is that this is a historic budget in and of itself in terms of the percentage increases that that we are asking for. Um, we do,
082I think, have a lot of support and sympathy from Williamstown town hall around how we are here, why we are here, and why it's important that we get this budget passed. And I appreciate that because a number that says 13.61%, 61%. It's It's massive. Um and and so I think that was part one saying, "Look, we're we're already going numerous percentage points higher than what they had plugged in as a we are making space for an incredibly high increase." I I I think the most recent conversation that they had was that they were saying we we need to brace for maybe 11 as a as a percentage and 11% as an increase. Um so so so that was part one you know that that partnership that work and trying to figure out how to how
083to do it. Um part two is that we are in year one of rolling out our new math curriculum. um we are start we are still learning how to how to live within it and how to grow and how to maximize what we do. Um layering in additional supports while while undoubtedly helpful um waiting a year and figuring out how those supports will best be utilized also creates the the continual need to figure out how to maximize what we have. and and and I know that does not sound um like the shoot for the stars approach. Um but it's also a pretty real way to try to manage rolling something out, learning it, growing within it, and maximizing its use. Um, and then part three is that as we look to the next few years
084at our elementary schools and at our middle high school, we we do have other needs that are also going to be very important. We've we've talked a lot within this committee over the last few years about the need to make sure that we are addressing students on the whole as opposed to only the academic needs of students. Um conflict between students, conflicts between students and staff, staff and staff, all of that needs attention. it needs care because it impacts everything else about their lives and about the ways that that they grow. Um, so knowing that we're going to need to invest there is also I think weighing on my mind in a way where I look at it and I say every time I hire somebody, every time we hire somebody, that is a commitment.
085and and and if and if the decision tonight is to is to add funding into the budget to hire a math interventionist, that commitment is going to be there to make sure that that individual knows. And it's a it's a luxury in some ways that we've had within this district. But it's also been one of our real strengths in that when we hire people, we don't have them turning around a year later saying, "Well, because of a budget cut or a reallocation, am I losing my job?" Um, and that commitment to people allows us to typically hire the absolute best people that we can find and and to build those relationships with them in ways where um our students really benefit. and and so thinking about the risk associated with having too high of a
086budget increase this year and then trying to sustain that in future years while also needing to invest in other areas um is is another aspect but but I understand where families are coming from too know the absolute best for our students that we possibly can and reach for every star that we can find. um and and that and that that's a very real way to to aspire to um to the district moving as well. So I that's the layered set of thoughts that that we had gone through when when building this um but I also have a lot of respect for for all the other perspectives. So it's certainly not a hardline stance on anything. >> Thank you. Appreciate that explanation, Julia. And then Jose >> Julia, are you muted perhaps? >> Yeah, I was.
087Thanks. Um, I put my hand down but didn't come off mute. Um, I appreciate Joe that you've just enumerated other potential risks that, you know, weren't, you know, when I think about this riskreward formula going on in my mind, but the risk future risks that I might not have thought about. So, I appreciate you naming those. Um, and Carrie, I think you were getting at kind of a question I have. I think we're talking about this as if it's all or nothing and if we don't have the math interventionist there's no um like we're ignoring the need a math a need for students in the elementary school. Um, and then so I'm wondering, uh, you know, even with the continued adoption of the new math curriculum, like is there are there other ways we can
088support teachers without a human um, that could still support math instruction strategies in the elementary school that and and maybe already thinking about these that that also reduces the like it's not the same as a person, but that can reduce the um you know the the what we lose by not hiring somebody. But >> like are there other ways to be improving the support for math instruction in that in the elementary school >> short of adding an FTE? And we also have Joelle on the call if we want to. >> Yeah. Professional. Is it professional development? Is it some use different use of technology? Is it um are we seeing gains in the um with the implementation of the new math curriculum that we think are going to also slightly reduce the need for an
089intervention is like are there other ways that we can feel comfortable that the math instruction will continue to improve? >> Year two of use of the new math curriculum will certainly see improvements in terms of instruction. I mean, teaching something, utilizing a tool for the first time in any >> in any walk of life. >> Um, >> you're always better off the second time, the third time. >> Um, so so I think that's that might just be a truism. Uh, what what families are asking for is for the uh a stronger catalyst, a stronger boost to be available. and and and I don't think that there is that there is no technology that's that's um somehow a replacement for that. And I think you probably already said it might not be a replacement, but can
090it be a a something else? Um the the the other the other aspect that is embedded within this budget is making sure that even though we don't have as much outside professional development um available through funding with this, we are making sure that we're that we are crafting the schedules and figuring out the the contractual time to be able to have people working together which will lead to collaborative >> improvement on instruction. instruction data reviews, customizing instruction for students. Um, so that's, you know, that I think is also just that is true within this budget. Um, and and I don't want when I talked about decreasing, uh, professional development spending. Um, one of the areas that is maintained within this budget is in year two of the I Ready roll out, there is still work
091with the I Ready team. So with that curriculum development team itself embedded within this. It's just that we aren't looking to additional new things outside of that in the same way that we might if additional funding was was available. So that's a partial answer to your question that that there's no substitute, but there's also um it isn't as though things are going to stay the same next year, right, as they are this year. >> Thank you. Thanks, Julia. Jose, >> need to unmute myself and lower my hand again. Uh, thank you, Carrie. Uh, I I want to take this moment, you know, um, to slightly reframe what we've heard this evening from from uh, constituents, parents, and caregivers uh, in Williamstown. you know, the request for the math interventionist, you know, is is is not
092an uninformed request. It's it's coming in stemming from the incredible work of our school council, school governance council at Williamstown Elementary. Uh a council that um has seated on it parents and caregivers and teachers who know the curriculum, who know the the challenges and and opportunities that the new math curriculum provides. It al also has on it our administrators who are um who know what's going on I think I suspect intimately in their in their school. Uh we know as a school committee we've seen the data you know the MCCAST results that I think uh are indicating a problematic trend at certain grade levels. Whether or how the pandemic has influenced that we don't know but these are all clearly identified in the data. We've also heard from folks this evening and from our school
093councils to to represent them to particularly to Williamstown at at the town meeting and to literally just simply ask for what we need. So pivoting slightly, Joe, at a earlier meeting, um we you brought up an opportunity within Williamstown Elementary to provide math interventionist support by either reallocating FTE or or somehow um you know utilizing the resources that we currently have available at Williamstown Elementary. didn't hear that come up this evening. So, I'm curious about the status of that potential and then as well as if we do try to meet this need by reallocating FTE or uh reimagining resources, what what do we lose? Right? So, there's there's always going to be a loss and I don't think we've heard that quite clearly yet if that is still a potential for for us to address
094this need. If if the budget were to move forward without dedicated funding for the additional FTE, then the the only path forward for gaining a math intervention capability would be to um and and this would be a conversation within the school and within the district around the number of sections per grade and whether or not there was a grade that could decrease in terms of the number of sections leading to increased class sizes within that grade. Um, and and having that teaching FTE that is that was there shift to a math intervention position. And and I am not saying at all that that is definitely what would happen if if if the budget um was not increased to to do it, but that would be the path. Um and and part of the reason that
095that is a conceivable movement is that when you look at the top 30 elementary schools in the state of Massachusetts by most metrics, whether it's percentage of students meeting or exceeding um within MCCAST results or or all of the other numbers that that that we can draw upon within DESI's data. um our class sizes at Williamston Elementary School are uh in some situations significantly smaller on average than that pool of high-erforming schools. So when you look at a school whose average class size is right around 16 versus the schools whose average class sizes are 19 or 20, uh it is not a shift to have lower quality classrooms and instruction and opportunities for students necessarily to see that kind of increase in class size. Um it's to the contrary based on the data. However, I
096know that Williamstown and Williamstown Elementary School and this district have oftentimes stuck to trying to keep those elementary school class sizes as small as they have been. Um, and so that would be a serious conversation around pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages, and ways that that we want to think about things moving forward. And I think that no matter what we do in this year, as we look at the expanding variety of student needs that exist within the elementary school level, we need to carry on those conversations. Hopefully, we're able to do it methodically in ways that incorporate all of our staff, our school council, and and here so that we really do it very intentionally. But um but the the fact that we have more intervention needs, more response needs, more transitions between classrooms
097needs that exist both academically and in terms of behavior. Um we're going to need to make some some what should be difficult choices around how we allocate staff and and what functions they serve. um that is not something that's being forced by this budget, but I think it is something that as we look over the next five years, it needs to be an active conversation with within our communities. Um and and at Lansburg Elementary School, once again, given the nature of the size of the school and and the the different ways that it operates, um it has a nuanced version of that same conversation that that it needs to have. Um and and so I think that's that's how we would approach it. Um, and I know that that's also not what families want to
098hear. Um, so I but but I do feel like it's it's my responsibility to at least lay it out there as that's that's the conversation that we need to have. Um, if we want what's absolutely best for our students and if we want to do that within the financial means of whatever those are and figuring out what that bound is is important. Um, but we're going to need to have the conversations and make the decisions and and be able to move forward in a way that that is for the long-term betterment of our of our students. Joe, is it fair to say that if it's not added in this year that we could prioritize or would prioritize the request for math intervention in how we think about our staffing um at the elementary schools in
099the coming years when we consider, you know, these issues that you've just raised? I I I think it would very likely be within the priority list that the school council would would keep. Um that said, there there might be other needs that >> gel and materialize and and um become higher priorities, but I would view that as being an important school council, important school staff conversation. So I wouldn't make any promises in in either direction. >> Um yeah. Yeah. So, I'll just take a moment to reminisce um back to the 20110s and 12s when you know we were looking at five 6% and that was unheard of um at that point in time. And we had to make decisions to eliminate positions and to um cut teachers and to cut sports programs. Uh it's why
100we have so many co-op programs now. Um to eliminate bus routes. Um you know, these are hard and painful decisions. Um, and I wouldn't be surprised if our towns asked us to think more in that direction than in terms of adding a position in this particular budget year. Um, because we do have precedent for that. Um and a lot of those town officials that um needed us to bring those numbers down, they may not be in office right now, but they will be at town meeting a lot of them and we'll want to see us do the work to get the numbers down and not necessarily to u bring them up this year. So I I keep saying this year because we know that this year is different and I also um respect the need
101to give new curriculum time uh for everybody to adjust to it and to benefit from it as best that they can. Um, and I would think in the first year that's not going to happen, right? Um, and that the second year will tell us much more. And by the time we get to budget season, we'll know, is it a math interventionist or is it something else that is really needed permanently at the elementary school? Because it it's, as Joe said, it's permanent. It's not like we're creating a three-year position that will sunset. This is someone that we will have either in that role or some other role into the future. And I do not feel that we can make that particular commitment in this budget year. And that doesn't mean that I don't fully respect
102the position of advocating for one. I do. I do. Absolutely. And I appreciate all those who have advocated. I appreciate that the need exists, but the need may present differently. in year two of that program. And given what our budget outlooks will be um in the next three years, I don't anticipate state funding going up in any significant respect, federal funding, who knows? Um it certainly won't go up. It may continue to decline. So, we're we're in a tough spot. um all of all of those who are advocating for education right now. Uh Curtis. Yeah. Uh thank you Carrie uh and everyone else. Um Joe, I just wanted to so so that everyone uh watching now or later uh understands what it looks like if we are to propose a budget that is not uh
103accepted by Williamstown, what what the time frame of that looks like, what how what starting the school year without a budget looks like, because my recollection was that it would be uh level funded by month. to the previous year's budget or something like that, but I I haven't been in that situation, so I can't remember if that's accurate. >> Yeah. vote. >> so Curtis, we we do if either town votes down the budget or both towns, doesn't matter if even one, um it comes back to the school committee and we have a certain period of time, I think it's two weeks to present a new to vote a new budget and then it has to go to um another town meeting, which is a cost to the towns, right? they don't necessarily like calling special
104town meetings, but in this case, they would have to. So, we're adding cost to the process. Um, if it's still voted down by either or both, then it goes to the state and we are allotted a um a monthby-month aortionment um based on the FY26 budget. And I think we already heard from Joe that I mean that that is level funding. That is the definition of level funding and we cannot function on level funding. So we have to respect the limitations that our towns have. Um, we are political figures. We are elected officials the same way our select boards and finance committee well finance I think is appointed in Williamstown. But um, in any case, we have to be respectful of the needs of our towns and and it is a risk. it is a
105a rather large risk um presenting a uh 10 and 13% budget. I I would be very pleasantly surprised if that passed. Um, I'm I'm half expecting to come back to the table and rework this budget if it doesn't, right? So, no one has that, you know, view into the future. Yes. If we get uh if lots of families come out to support the budget, it has a better chance of passing. Absolutely. Um I really appreciate that the Williamstown PTO is stepping up with child care. That's excellent. Um maybe the Lanssboro um PTO or PTA um can do that as well or the governance councils can help. Um but um but there will be also people who come out to oppose this budget. So, we have to think about the dialogue that will be taking place
106at our town meetings as well. Not just the votes, but the things that people will say. And um if people feel like we're not respecting them, then we're going to hear that in in public comments. And I worry about that a little bit, too. Um, Christina or Ursula, do you want to say Jose has his hand up, but just want to make sure that everyone has a chance to speak. I have very difficulty speaking right now but um I feel that everyone has made the points and ask the questions that I would want to ask. So thank you. >> All right, thanks Ursula. >> Yeah, I feel the same way. The only thing I was going to add though, I feel like we had a similar situation in Lansboro a few years ago where the
107town's people were looking for I think it was when we added another kindergarten teacher and split the class. Um, and that came up at the town meeting. It wasn't part of the school budget, but somebody made the motion at the town meeting to add however many thousands of dollars to the line item for the school budget and um to add a teacher and they made their case and then that budget passed at the town. So, even if I agree with everything you've said, Carrie, as far as fiscal responsibility and and our role as a school committee, but it might be a way for the Williamstown folks to maybe approach that if if they still wish to bring it to the town independently of the school committee. >> Thanks, Ursula. I don't know if people have
108thoughts about um amending the budget on the floor of town meeting and preferences for um you know getting ahead of that or welcoming it. I I don't have a strong feeling about it, but we can think about that. Jose, >> thank you. Uh thank you, Carrie. and and thanks to everyone uh all my colleagues, all my peers on the on the school committee for all the care, thoughtfulness, the the hard work that we put in for many years now in support of our district, in support of our our students, support of our families. Um I also appreciate that we're trying to navigate a lot of challenges, a lot of competing expectations, maybe even demands placed on us as a district. But I do think we are missing an opportunity here. I think we've I think
109we're hearing quite clearly passionately from constituents in Williamstown to approach our town and to ask for what we need. I think we've heard uh from folks this evening uh a real desire to help us, right? the the PTO and and and and and members of our community who are eager to do what it takes to get folks to the Williamstown town meeting. I think we owe it to our constituents to give them a budget to fight for, to advocate for, and I I know that this is an incredibly difficult year, but I I do worry that we're we're missing an opportunity to to support the work of our school council at Williamson Elementary and to support, you know, the families the way we're hearing. They they really want our students to be supported. So, thank
110you. >> Um Julia, I was going to invite Jose to make a motion. Do you want to make a comment before that? I got them both. Okay. Um I I appreciate what Jose said and I'm still in this riskreward space and I am um I'm just sitting with the fact that we have imperfect information. We don't know how our towns are going to respond. We know how fortunately we ha we know we have a a um vocal engaged parent group who will support it, but we do have 200ome people at our town meetings and often they are um not school age parents. Um and so it and then I hear that um you know 16 versus 19 or 20 in a class and I I know the parents on the call are likely thinking well
111my gosh that's not what we want either you know more people in a in a classroom. Um but to hear that, you know, there are actually like that that would be more comparable with like situated schools um that could free up space for a math interventionist um in the budget. Um and I'm really intrigued by the idea of Ursula's like what's happened in Lansboro in the past and wonder like is it amending the budget from the town floor? Could we could we be prepared should that amendment come forward on the town floor um with what all the numbers would mean and and is that like I I feel like that would be an important ground swell and a way to get have more information to make this decision. The risk I want to I personally
112want to avoid is having to go to level funding um a month-by-month level funding. that that scares me more than anything. Um, and so when I think about riskreward, I think there might be another way to solve not perfectly the math interventionist. Um, but the risk of being level going into level funding mode is so bad that that's the risk I want to mitigate against. So I just want to share where my thinking is at. Thanks, Julia. Um Curtis, >> getting those two buttons down. It's click click. Uh thank you. Uh I do want to say uh that as a math teacher of 15 years, uh the value the crucial nature of math intervention in instruction uh is does not escape me uh in any way. And I have worked in multiple districts where we
113always wanted more in terms of math interventionists uh both in middle and high school settings. I haven't worked in elementary school in a hot minute. Um uh also it's s super super depressing. All of this talk is super depressing. So I don't want to waste a lot of time but here's like a 20 second joke my dad told me. uh my dear departed Jewish father. Uh he says uh uh his father's sitting drinking coffee. The son runs into the room and says, "Dad, I need to borrow $50." And the father says, " $40? Good God, what do you need $30 for?" Um and I bring up that joke uh both because it makes me think of my dad uh and because when I think of the concept of we're going to ask for a lot,
114why not ask for a little bit more? Uh, in a corporate setting, which I screwed around in before becoming a teacher, there are different pros and cons to the over ask. Um, and in this current situation, Williamstown will hear the over ask long before Lansboro hears the un unaffected ask, no matter what happens. Um, but in terms of a strategy, which is not how I like to think about any of this work, uh, if Williamstown were to be confronted with a 14point instead of a 13point because the community rallied and said, "We really want this thing." uh whether it comes in the proposed budget or in the form of an add-on on the floor of the town meeting, which uh uh sounds great uh and terrifies me at the same time because add-ons can also
115bring on subtractions. Uh uh amendments to the budget on the floor can be a scary thing. Uh but if it were to pass uh it would pave I think uh the way a little bit for an increased likelihood of the uh almost 11% in the town of Lanesboro if they see that Williamstown has said yes to either the 14 point or the 13 point. Just throwing that out there as in terms of perceiving it as a strategy. Um, but the the bottom line for for me and and for Christina and Ursula is that we we're going to be bringing this this the current situation in Lansboro no matter what happens with the math interventions being added into the budget now or being added into the budget on the floor or not being added into the
116budget at all. Uh, and so I I'm not in a position where I feel like I can say no, I can't approve this budget because it doesn't have everything that I think Williamstown Elementary School needs in it in that it doesn't have the math interventionist, but because I represent the people of Lansboro in the schools. Uh, I work for the schools, but the people of Lansboro are just going to sit back and be like, "Well, do what you're going to do, Williamstown." So, in terms of my role tonight, uh while a participant, I also feel like a spectator in that uh if if all four of the the school committee members from Williamtown were like, "We want to change it and add this." I'd be like, "Let's do that." And if all four of you
117said, "We don't want to change a thing. We want to go with the ask," as it's currently phrased, uh I would go with that. Uh and that puts an unfair amount of pressure on the four of you. But there it is. uh but it's important for the people who are observing this process to understand that the prioritization of needs that has led to us having the budget where it is right now uh it it certainly didn't happen in a vacuum and it didn't happen without hearing and seeing firsthand the need for this. So whatever the decision that comes out of our meeting tonight, I hope people will rally around it to support it at the town meetings. uh whether or not they get every part that they want because the truth is the towns could
118very well say no to the 13 or the 11. And I uh I hope people are prepared for that battle uh one battle after another. Thank you. >> Thank you, Curtis. So, um, I'm going to move the budget as presented. And there might be an amendment on our floor, but is there a second to the budget as presented? >> I'll second. >> Okay. So, further discussion or amendments? Yeah, go ahead, Jose. >> Thank you, Carrie. And just I'll I'll likely need some some guidance uh in terms of what of how we proceed, but I want to preface it by again just reiterating how grateful I am to work with each and every one of you. I mean, we are faced frequently with really difficult decisions. There have been many of occasion that we have disagreed
119on on how to proceed. Um, but we do it with respect for each other. Um, and and and while acknowledging the commitment that each and every one of us has to our districts and I I've said this recently, you know, I I truly believe our public schools are the crown jewel of our communities and and they they draw wonderful families into our school districts. Um, I'm excited by a future where we're welcoming of of new families into this district and we're thinking creatively and and you know about how we diversify tax base that we can continue caring for our students in a sustainable way. So with that preface, I do I do think that we owe it to, you know, folks who are here this evening with us um to just have a record of
120how we're thinking about this. So this is where I could use some guidance. If I were to request an amendment to your motion, Carrie, that would include uh an additional FTE or the funds that would allow for an additional FTE in the Williamstown Elementary School. you know, that would be dedicated to a math interventionist. Is is that Can you help me phrase what that amendment might might sound like? Would that Did I say it? >> Yeah, it's pretty much what you just said. Um, you'd like to amend the original motion to include a um math interventionist in the Williamstown Elementary School budget. >> Thank you, Carrie. >> Yep. So, is there a second to Jose's amendment? >> I'll second that. >> Sorry, my landline is ringing and no one calls me on my landline. Um,
121>> it's a landline. >> Okay, >> I know a landline. >> Um, so now, uh, discussion on the amendment. I I I feel like I've said all I have to say. >> Okay. >> Um I will I will reiterate uh deep gratitude to the parents for their engagement and bringing that forward and to our school committee for really deeply listening and trying to find the way through that supports the the most the our district the best. And we may differ in how we think that happens, but I am so deeply grateful for this group um and for the way we approach challenges. Thanks, Julia. Anybody else on the amendment to add FTE? And Curtis, just a reminder, you you don't just represent Lansboro. You're elected by both towns. You represent both towns. You only have
122to show up to one. Yeah, you do. All the kids in both towns. You only have to show up to one town meeting, but that's fair. Um, all right. Let's roll call vote and we can start with Julia. >> I'm voting on the amendment. >> The amendment. This is the amendment only. >> Um, I vote no. Christine alphabetically. Conry. No. >> Constantine. I >> alen I green. No. >> Malloy. No. >> Okay. That amendment does not pass. And we are on to back to the original budget as presented. Um Joe, do you have the numbers just off hand? >> Yes. Uh may I screen share the full motion so that >> Yep. >> It makes it easier to I'm I'm just making the text large enough here to do that. Uh one second. Is that
123large enough to read? Should I try to make it larger? Okay. >> Yep. >> So, this is a motion to approve the Mount Greylock Regional School District budget for the fiscal year starting July 1st, 27, right? Oh, 2026 and ending June 30th, 2020. a gross operating budget of 30 million $96,041, a general fund operating budget of 28,954,541, and a capital budget of $1,719,75. Lanssboro's budget assessment is 7,586,284 in operating and $517,532 in capital funds. Williamstown's budget assessment is 16,843,270 in operating funds and 1,21 thou,543 in capital funds. Thank you, Joe. And that was seconded by Julia. >> Is there any more discussion on the budget as presented? All right, we'll roll call starting with Julia. >> Uh, Bow and I. >> Conry I. >> Constantine. I >> Elen B. I >> Green I. >> Malloy.
124I. >> So I've not been here for the entire conversation. So rather than asking for a recap, um, can I just abstain? >> Yes, >> I'm just going to abstain. >> Y, thanks, Steve. >> Yep. >> I just want to make sure it goes in the record that that's why I'm abstaining. >> Okay. Um, so that motion passes and um we'll be presenting the budgets as they were just read um to our member towns. Um, do you Joe, do you want to give the dates of the meetings with the towns again? I know that uh we meet with the town of Williamstown on April 25th and Julia and Joe will be there to present the f sorry March 25th. What did I say? >> Next Wednesday night said April but >> Oh, sorry. >> Okay.
125So Julia and Joe will be there to present to the Williamstown Finance Committee and then there is a joint meeting. Is it a joint meeting of the finance and um select board in Lansboro on >> what's I believe? >> April 6th. Okay. All right. And then we have the uh two town meetings coming up. So we'll get feedback um presumably from our member towns and then um we'll proceed from there. Thank you all for that discussion. Thank you. Um, I also want to just note, um, you all know me as somebody who tries to keep us to our time and our on our agenda, and I did know we went way over, um, on that, but, I didn't think there was a more important conversation than that one to have. So, I appreciate hanging tight.
126It's going to be a longer meeting than normal. Um, we are now moving to the Mount Greylock boys soccer preseason field trip approval request. Lindsay has come on. I think Lindsay is speaking to it. >> I I certainly can. And I know Coach Kaploff is also coming on. Um, and I saw Ashley's name, so Ward Bianke might be on with us as well. Um, if coach is on, I'm going to let him do most of it, but just briefly wanted to say thanks to Krishaw for the shout out of all the activities that we're starting this week. Um, and just a quick note, it has been one full year of of having a track outback. And I just wanted to again thank this committee because it was so nice on Monday to have 140 students
127out on a track, especially because Williams break didn't work out with ours this year. Um, so that was so wonderful to have back there. So, thank you for that. Um, I just see Coach Kapalof coming on now, but this is something he presented to me um, a little while ago, came in, said, "Hey, can I think about doing this?" We said, "Sure." He took it, worked with a couple other people to come up with a plan. So, coach, if you want to give a brief summary of your plan, go right ahead. >> Sure. >> Thank you, Lindsay. Um, hello everyone. Uh, I'll start with a fun fact if that's okay. Uh Julia and I were hired the same year at Montgrey Lock High School and uh her in the math department, myself in the history
128department, we're also laid off in the same year and neither of us came back. So that's a that's a real thing, you know, when you when someone makes you leave, uh it doesn't always mean that you can come back. And um I have been in your shoes. I was on the school committee for four years and was the chair for two of them. and we were fighting the same things using many of the same words that you are right now. I feel for you guys because I was there. So, thank you for your work. Um, so I had what I can describe as nothing less than the absolute privilege of coaching the boys soccer team this past fall. Um, I just fell in love with the group of boys that we had. I affectionately call
129them my bunch of knuckleheads uh because IQ amongst teenage boys often isn't additive but actually subtractive when they all get together and um we just we had a blast together. Uh reflecting on the season, I remember a couple of times both when I was in high school and also when I coached at Mount Greylock from 2001 to 2008 of trips that we were able to take to do training out of our area and I remember them fondly as a time to be with teammates in a different setting and um I was hoping to provide something like that for my team this coming preseason in the fall. I've been in touch with Deerfield Academy and um they have uh just to be clear, I didn't ask for this, but they have graciously uh offered to pay
130for almost the entirety um of an overnight uh where we would go and do some of our pre-season training at their facility in Deerfield. Um our booster club is more than able to pick up the remaining, thousand or $1,200 that it'll cost. So there's no uh cost to the school and it would give us a chance um as the majority of our team um to be able to go and do something that's just us and uh and do that offsite. Uh my plan was to bring all of the juniors and all of the seniors. So whether they're on JV or varsity, uh anybody who's a junior or a senior would be welcome to come. um as well as there' probably be a small handful of freshman or sophomores uh who are being considered for varsity
131at that time. So, we would bring them as well. Uh my assistant and JV coach, Zach uh Kramer, who is spectacular this past year, um would stay here with his boys um and we would do some sort of activity with them uh that the group going away would not be able to do. So, it might be training under the lights at night or something like that. Um, so that the students are looking across at each other instead of up and down at each other. Yeah, I don't know that I have anything else. I could talk on this for a few more minutes, but um, as Julia noted, you guys are already over time and I don't want to make you go over more time, but I'm happy to answer any questions. >> I don't Carrie.
132Oh, I don't know if this is for uh Lin Lindsay or for Chris, but um well, thanks for the proposal, first of all, and um second, I'm I'm a little concerned about precedent um that uh either this is something that we that all of our teams are going to want to do, it's a great idea, right? Um but the flip side of that question is have have teams done this before. So Chris you mentioned that when you were a student you had done something like this. So it's a little while ago. Um >> it's a little while ago. I appreciate you saying it's not more than an era ago. >> Yeah. Uh but I also did this uh coach Dills and I I think in 2007 did this um a couple of times. We went
133out to New York um on a couple of occasions. We also went to upstate New York um on a couple of occasions to do overnights with the team. So it's been a while although you know since co in 2020 something like this these things have just sort of like disappeared. But this was something that Greylock teams would do at least on occasion. um okay >> up until 2020. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Uh we have all the parents we need uh is and one of them is another coach. Um my assistant coach uh Jacob Riser will be coming with us as well as Ed Bianke who's currently coaching the track team. Um and two other parents. We'll have like a six to one adult to student or athlete ratio. Um which I feel like
134is plenty. and we'll be spending virtually uh the entire two training days at Deerfield Academy um which is very contained and and wonderful. And then we'd be renting um platform tents at Zor uh for our evening sleepover. I I will add that um there have been slight adjustments to the original proposal that coach gave us. Um Mr. Schutz and I sorry Jake and I looked at it. He's talking to students here. Jake and I looked at it a little bit. We even consulted Joe on a few pieces of it and we did make some changes um just to get more contained, get more making sure we're we're safe areas and and things like that um along the way. So, we did make some slight adjustments to the original um which was still a great idea.
135We just know now we have to think about some of the things that we didn't necessarily think about as much um before, but um Chris was easily able to adjust and accommodate those. Um so, we did make some changes. >> That's great. >> Julia, do you see Jose? >> Yeah, Jose. >> Thank you, Carrie. And uh and thank you coach for you know I just want to just express gratitude. It's it's uh can be difficult to find you know uh individuals who both have the bandwidth uh the the skill set the ability to connect with young people um and the willingness to to do it. And so grateful that we have you you know who fulfills that role exceptionally. um as as a parent of of someone that you have coached recently, I can I
136can express, you know, that I' or at least I can I' I've I've witnessed how effective and you are and how much our our students have benefited, our student athletes have benefited from you. So, just thank you. Um I also then, you know, this is something that you're bringing before us. Um there is no real cost as I understand it to the district. Um you have it's really well planned, well thought out. um we're not crossing state lines from what I'm gathering. Um so I I would I would love to move that we as a school committee uh pass or or or adopt or allow this this this trip to happen. Um so that's that's my motion that I'd put on the floor. >> Thank you. So we have a motion from Jose so I
137don't have to >> uh should I just >> We have a motion to approve this motion. Sorry to the field trip and I'm a little thrown. Do we have a second? >> Miller second. >> I'll second. Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. We've got a motion from Mosa, a second from Miller. Any other discussion and we're going to move to roll call vote and carry. I'm continuing going around the clock. You We're going to start with you. >> Green I. >> Moy I. >> Miller I. >> Bowen I. Connor I. >> Constantine I. >> Elfenbine I. >> Great. That passes unanimously. Thank you. >> Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Chris. Yes. Thank you, Chris. Thank you, Lindsay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Next on our agenda, flipping back. Um, uh, Joe, the 2627
138school year calendar approval. >> Yes. The uh the calendar that you have in your packet is ready for approval. It is identical to what you saw in draft form last month with the one change being uh that we shifted the afternoon evening uh elementary school parent teacher uh guardian teacher conferences to uh the day right before Veterans Day. So the teachers would then have Veterans Day as a as a day to decompress and and reflect and and move forward. Um and so that's the only change. Uh this has um we've made sure that all of the state and regulatory requirements are are fully met without any issues. um we have enough room for two late starts um at for a Mount Greylock before we would need to be concerned about trying to make up um
139hours to to meet the 990 um which feels manageable from this perspective. And if we needed to, we could shift some of those um early releases towards the end of school into full days. Um and um the union has done its review and we are in good shape in every regard. Um, it's a fairly vanilla calendar as far as start and end dates. Um, and uh, and there's really nothing else to report. >> Thank you. Can I have a motion to approve the calendar as presented? >> So moved, Malor. >> Thank you. Oh, I'll second. >> Okay. Motion by Carrie, second by Ursula. Any discussion? This isn't regarding the calendar for next year, but do we know what the end date is for school this year? Given >> uh yes, the current >> last day
140of school. I've had so many numbers going through my head tonight that I don't want to June 23rd. >> This is a good year for seniors. >> Yeah, >> we've had we've had four snow days. Um, so that's that's what pushed us um not just past Junth, but but in a couple days into that week following. >> And when is the senior last day? >> A lot earlier. >> Yeah, I I don't have that off the top of my head. >> I would probably get it wrong if I tried to guess it right now. >> Um, >> all right. We have a motion and a second. Any other discussion about next year's calendar >> hearing? None. We're gonna go to Ursula. To >> Malloy I. >> Miller. I >> Bowen. I >> Conry. I >>
141Constantine. I >> Dolphin. Bow. I >> Green. I. >> Thank you everybody. That passes. Um, we now have the Northern Berkshire Regional Collaboration andor Regional Regionalization Group update. Is that Carrie or Joe or Curtis? Yeah. Um, so Steve had asked about sharing documentation and um, they were going to set up I didn't check to see if that had been done, but um, Aaron Dean was going to set up a place on the Husk Valley website that could hold the documents and then we were going to share that with you. So, um, we can check on the progress of that next week. Yeah, Joe. a as a starting point on the school committee the the district calendar on our website there is a link to the agenda for next week's meeting embedded inside that agenda are
142the links to the packet material excellent excellent >> okay thank you thanks for doing that um yeah so um at the last meeting uh which you can actually read the minutes of I would imagine now Um we um voted not to accept either of the remaining two applications. So one one was um eliminated prior to the meeting and then the other two were voted down um for uh different reasons. Well, one another one did not meet the um uh outline the the I'm I'm tired. Sorry. >> The specifications that they >> the specifications. Thank you. The specifications >> and neither of them met the financial bounds of the funding available. >> Right. So, the decision was made to uh work up a new um RF RFP, request for proposals that would specify the dollar amount
143available and uh request for request interviews and I think modify the scope of the um the ask because uh a number of the proposals came in um or a couple of them came in much higher than what we have the funds to do. So, the next meeting is on uh is next week on the 25th. Um I won't be there, but Curtis and Fred and um I think Joe will be there after the finance committee meeting or before the finance committee meeting. Yeah. Um they're o they're open to the those meetings are all open to the public and uh they begin at 5:30 I want to say. Yeah. Um and the hope is to draft the new RFP and get it sent out um relatively soon. um leave it up for about a month and
144uh reach out to the folks who had submitted RFPs um and folks who didn't on this first round um as well and just see if we can increase the applicant pool. >> Curtis or Joe, do you want to add anything to that? I know Steve has a question. Yeah, go ahead, Steve. If possible, could you share the meeting documents for the discussion next week if the website is not up and running? Thanks. >> So, I think Joe said that on our website he posted the document or the the link to the agenda which then links within the agenda to the documents. >> So, if you go to the date >> Yeah. Yeah. You're welcome. Okay, is that all on the update? Great. Thank you so much. Um, we will now move to the um the
145mass the MGRSC resolution for MASC consideration regarding the state budget. Um, I know that came through finance committee. I don't know if Carrie, you want to speak to that as chair of finance or if we want >> Well, I'll I'll just say that we voted to recommend it to the school committee. Um so, um if we could have a second to that motion, then we could have discussion. >> Second. >> Okay. Um Steve is here to speak to the motion if anybody has questions or Steve, I don't know if you want to say anything up front. He may have stepped away. Um, he's off. >> I was okay. >> Yeah. Just my, you know, statement that I make all the time, you know, strongly in favor of sharing resources. Very concerned about regionalization. >> Oh,
146sorry. We're on your motion. Uh, the >> my motion. I'm sorry. I I was in a dead zone and I lost things for a moment. >> Yeah, no worries. >> Okay. Did you have anything else you wanted to add to your resolution? >> Uh, basically I I think the discussion we've had over the last couple of, you know, weeks is a strong piece of evidence as to why we need need a resolution like this. There is only a finite amount of resources available. We either need to reallocate the money we have or find new sources of money or ideally both. And you know, right now we are spending a tremendous amount of money at the Commonwealth level that we just can't afford to keep spending on these items, especially when you consider how much money
147we're spending on interest payments. We're doing everything we can at the local level. deal. We have spent a tremendous amount of time and you know hats off to everybody who has worked so hard on this budget, but we see the painful choices we have to make right now in terms of just trying to keep a stable level of service and just how difficult that is. And what we're doing is not going to be sustainable as the years pass. And the only way we're going to really change this is we need to bring responsibility to the state and the federal governments. And so the MASC asks for member committees to submit items for consideration that are applicable to all of us. I think this absolutely falls in the lane. This is something that we are tasked
148for to advocate for education to make sure that we have the resources to do this. So I hope we can support this as a committee and I hope then the MASC and other groups can get behind this. Thanks, Steve. Um, so Julia, do you want the therefore it be resolved to be read out loud or are you okay with it uh people just having read it? >> Um, I'm okay with people having read it. Um, unless somebody wants it read out loud. And the motion from the finance committee was to send it to the resolutions committee of the MASC. So um that's what we would be doing with a positive vote and a negative vote would mean it would not go to the resolutions committee of the MEC and the resolution from finance I believe
149was to have this go to the MESC as a resolution from the full school committee not from the finance subcommittee. We are we are voting on a motion >> for the school committee to send it to the MASC that came to us from the finance Y subcommittee. >> Okay. >> Um I just I want to um express apprec appreciation for the finance committee and for Steve in particular for listening to the feedback from this committee around what felt within our purview and what felt um appropriate to advocate for. And I appreciate how Steve just described we're not ask we're not telling the state how to do this, how to how to um prioritize education funding and ensure that we uh that there's enough. It could be that they raise revenue. It could be that they
150shift costs from somewhere else. We we're not advocating for that. We are advocating for more money. Um and I um so I am really grateful for the work that you put in. Um, Stephen, I know over time with Curtis and now with the finance committee, um, that this that you've been dogged and that this is back before us. >> Julia, do you want to call the vote or >> happy to happy to call the vote and I'm just moving around the clock or so I think it's Ursula next. >> Ursula, you can kick us off. >> Sorry, I was muted. Um >> Malloy I >> Miller I Owen I >> Henry I sorry >> Constantine I >> Elen by I >> Green I >> thank you that's unanimous. Um, in terms of next steps with
151that, Carrie, do you know how we actually submit a proposal or submit a resolution? >> Um, I think it's on the website for MASC, so I would just check there. >> There was also a email that was sent to us to submit proposals. If people are fine, I'm happy to coordinate with Carrie on next steps. >> Well, I guess that is the next question. Who is on point? Um, is that it doesn't I think it actually would come from me and Joe. >> Yeah, I think it has to come from the chair. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, I will um I might be back in touch with you, Steve, but I'll I'll look into it and make sure I get that sent out. >> Okay. Um, next, uh, we have districtwide recent and upcoming
152news and events. >> I think that's you, Joe. >> I I was thankful that that Krishv gave us a wonderful, um, summary. So, I I will not expand on that this month. >> Okay. Terrific. Lots going on. Lots going on. Um >> before we have the next motion, I just want to check in terms of the school committee members who are in this meeting. Is is one of you using the 413 number that is present or is that a member of the public? >> I think it's me, Joe. The one that ends in 29. Okay, great. I'll I'll make sure you're in the breakout room for the executive session. >> I was having all kinds of >> Now I can get out of the way audio in the phone. >> Okay. Yep. >> Okay. Um,
153I am now going to look for a motion to enter into executive session with intent to return to open session for the purposes of discussing the physical condition of an individual for sick leave bank requests and discussing strategy with respect to collective bargaining for the teachers in the ESP contracts. I need a >> Okay, >> Miller moves. Is there a second? >> Second. Thank you. Carrie and Miller, can you please kick off roll call vote? >> Miller I. >> Owen I. >> Conry I. >> Constantine I. >> Elen by I. >> Green. I. >> Malloy. I. >> Great. So we will move into executive session and then we will come back at the end. >> Joe, can you move me from the 617 number or do you need me to log on to my computer?
154I have you in the You should be all set. >> Okay, perfect. >> So, you we're all going to break out one. >> Okay. Are you still there, Joe? Hello. >> Looks like you need them to move you. Steve, >> am I in the breakout session? >> You're not. You're still in the main room with me. >> That's what I thought. It's not letting me leave. >> Why don't you text Joe and see if he can >> I'm going to log out. I was counting. Nobody was with me. All right, I think we are all back. Um, and I am looking for a motion uh to approve the sick leave bank requests as presented in executive session. Miller. So move. >> Thank you. Miller's made the motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank
155you, Curtis. Any discussion? >> Conry. >> What say you? >> Conry. I >> catch us off guard here. Constantine. I >> Elen by an eye. >> Green eye. over to you. >> Thank you. >> Sorry. >> Miller I >> and Bowen I. Excellent. Upcoming meetings. Um we have uh school committee on April 9th at 6 PM right back here on Google Meet. We've already gone through the um finance committee meetings in both of the towns. Town meetings. Um, if all of the town meetings could then be on the agendas, Joe, I think that request came through for each of the next every meeting we have here on out. When are those town meetings? Um, any other meetings that are not listed that should be listed? Okay. Um, any other items for discussion? Not reasonably anticipated
156by me. I don't I didn't have any others. Joe, you're all set. Okay. Any agenda requests for future meetings? All right, then I will look Oh, >> if we could put um MASC division 6 on the next agenda. Um I'm going to day on the hill at the end of March. So I'll be able to report on that. And also I'm participating in a panel on behalf of MASC at um BCC tomorrow. So I can report on those two things. >> Thank you. Thank you. Um All right. With that agenda request in place, I will look for a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Curtis. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Carrie. Um and uh Jose, why don't you kick us off? >> Gladly and and proudly. I'm proud
157of the work that we do together as a as a committee. Uh Constantine I >> Elen I >> Green I Malloy I >> Miller I >> Owen I >> Conry I. >> Thank you everybody. Thank you for the long night and I hope you feel better Christina. >> Thank you. Bye everyone. All right. Bye bye.