001Hi Ellie. >> Hello Ellie. There you are. >> Just joined. We've got Curtis. [snorts] >> Hi, Natasha. Hi, Sarah. All right, it's six o'clock. We have um six of our seven. I'm going to go ahead and get us started for everybody's um sake and call this meeting to order. Um it is Thursday, January 8th, 6 p.m. It's the McCra Regional School District School Committee. This meeting will take place virtually pursuant to the law signed by Governor Healey on March 28th, 2025. which extends the temporary provisions pertaining to the open meeting law. This meeting will be livereamed on willynet.org and broadcast live on Spectrum cable TV channel 1303 in Williamstown. This meeting will be available on demand as video on demand within 24 hours after this meeting and on willynet.org. Um all right, with that call
002to order, I'm going to go right into reading our mission statement. Um, 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. Um, so moving into the agenda, we have our student update on the agenda, but Joe has shared there will not be a student update today, unfortunately. Hopefully, we will get one next month. Um, so next we'll jump right to number four with the um, Superintendent Certificate of Academic Excellence Award. And Joe, I'm going to hand that one over to you. >> Sounds good. And thank you Natasha for being here. Thank you Sarah and Chris for
003being here as well. I apologize that we're not I this is one of those moments that I really wish we could all just be in person to to take in the warmth of just being around each other and celebrating somebody um who has worked so hard and accomplished so much during their career at Mount Greylock. But we're going to do what we can here tonight to celebrate you and then uh I look forward to providing the certificate to you in in person sometime soon uh in front of your peers perhaps. Uh so the Massachusetts >> Sorry, did we lose Sarah and Natasha on the call? >> I I see them and I see them waving and nodding. So yeah, >> we do. Okay. I just don't see them. All right. Great. >> Um pardon. you
004can go into the people and pin them. And I guess that's just on your own screen, but >> sorry Sarah Natasha to make you uncomfortable, but I pinned you so I could watch you while Joe spoke. Um, but I'm telling the rest of the school committee you can do that as well. All right, go ahead Joe. >> I I can even pause for people to pin them if if they would like. But uh so the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendent gives us the opportunity to award one senior each year with a certificate of academic excellence. They ask that the student be at or near the top of their class academically. After that, it's up to the district to decide which student receives the honor. You, Natasha, have an impressive set of peers, so being at
005or near the top of your class is no small feat. Uh you have been consistently exemplary in every opportunity put in front of you by our program of study and you have shared yourself with your classmates through your work on the school council and as a music teaching assistant. But you have far surpassed our thresholds by nurturing and excelling at things that we not only want to see in our students and children, but also in ourselves across classical music, German, and the classics to name a few areas of interest and excellence. You have crafted independent studies here at Mount Greylock and sought opportunities at Williams College that have allowed you to explore passions with depth and breadth that is extraordinary. When I read the syllabus for the higher level course that you're currently taking at
006Williams, injustice and morals in German literature, it was readily apparent that you have already expanded your horizons to work alongside German majors at the highest levels. I didn't ask for your permission, so I won't publicize where you're headed next in life, but it's impressive as well. So, thank you, Natasha, for being you and for accepting our certificate of academic excellence this year. Congratulations. Like I just want to get the actual claps going too. Um so I I don't know if you'd like to say anything. You you can just say hi. I'm Natasha and and and walk away. But um I appreciate you being here. Thank you. >> Thank you. And I am very honored to receive this award. I have many deserving, very deserving classmates. So thank you. And thank you to all my great
007teachers at Mount Greylock who have helped me and encouraged me and pushed me to go further. Thank you. >> Congratulations, Natasha. >> Thank you. >> Absolute congratulations and thank you for that um description, Joe, so we and everyone listening can see what an amazing student Natasha is. and um and uh what our what who who who comes to our school. So, thank you very much. [snorts] Congratulations, Natasha. >> Thank you again. >> Enjoy your evening. >> Yes, >> you too. >> I also got a picture of them on the screen in case that's useful anywhere. It just looks all three of them. It looks great. Um so, all right. I want to stay in the celebration, but we do have business. >> Thanks, Sarah. Thanks, Christopher. Thank you. >> Appreciate you joining us. [snorts] >>
008Thank you all so much. Have a great evening. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. Bye. Bye. >> It's the best part of the year. >> Oh my gosh, I get tearary thinking about great students like Natasha. Um, all right. We now have public comment. Um, I don't know if anyone who is here is hoping to speak. Um, and I don't know enough about Google Meet to know how to um, open it up. So, I guess if you are interested in public comment, if you want to come off mute or raise your hand or somehow signal to me. >> Uh, ju just because she she's the only one here. I think from the public. >> Um Ellie, would you like to give public comment? >> I would I would very much like to. Um and I submitted
009it in writing. Um just kind of so people have it. Um I am Ellie Cott. I am a resident of Williamstown and I have a two kids at Williamstown Elementary at the moment. While policy EFBA is primarily focused on meal modifications for students with disabilities or medical needs, it presi provides a solid foundation to introduce higher standards for the entire student body. It is my hope that the district recognizes that minimum standards are a floor, not the ceiling. We should strive to provide highquality nutrient-dense meals that support the cognitive and physical development of all students, not just those that may require modifications. For many students, school meals account for one-third of their annual nutrition. Reliable access to high-quality food is a fundamental matter of equity. It is well established that students must be wellnourished to
010be cognitively ready to learn. And I have some citations of some studies below. Um, our current program ensures that school meals meet the minimum meal pattern requirements set by the USDA. I urge the district to set the bar a bit higher and exceed the baseline mandates. I recommend that the school committee establish a policy either within or dovetailed with EFBA that prioritizes whole foods, reduction of additives, reduction of highly processed ingredients, eliminating use of artificial sweeteners, and initiate or bolster farm-to-school purchasing. Only one school in Berkshire County utilized the Massachusetts Fresh Grant. Mount Greylock has an opportunity to take advantage of the local agricultural to to provide the freshest possible ingredients and include the community sense of belonging. The draft notes for policy EFBA encourage considering cultural, religious, and ethnic preferences. Can we view inclusive
011nutrition as a core priority? Our meals can reflect the diversity of our student body as honoring cultural food could be a component of our mission of fostering a sense of belonging for every student expanding beyond disabilities and medical needs. There will be operational impacts and adopting policy EFBA as it is drafted. Staffing and professional development will need need to be expanded. Some, maybe all of those costs can be absorbed by exploring the Massachusetts Fresh Grant. And adopting and expanding, well, sorry, adopting an expanded or supplemented policy, EFBA, and these elevated nutritional standards is a significant undertaking that impacts the heart of Mount Greylock and our community. Our schools house the many young hearts who represent our future. to be wellnourished is a prerequis prerequisite for their success and their success is ultimately what builds and
012sustains our community. Thank you. >> Thank you, Ally. Thank you for sharing that. And I think as you know um we take public comment now and obviously as we speak later um I'm sure we will be referring back to your comments. Um, so >> should we acknowledge all the public comment we got by email as well? There were about half a dozen others who submitted written public comment on the same. >> Yeah, on the same topic with similar requests. Um, and uh, those have been received by the school committee. I've also forwarded them to Joe and I again imagine they will be part of our conversation later today um, or later this evening. So before I go to approving the minutes, I will do the thing that Christina so kindly pointed out that I didn't
013do. This is why she's so helpful. Thank you. Um we didn't call roll. So let's call roll. Um and I will say Bowen here. >> Conry here. >> Constantine here. >> Elfenbine here. >> Green here. Malloy here. Miller here. >> Great. Um, thank you all. So, now we will move to approving the minutes uh from December 11th, 2025. Is there anyone who wants to make a motion to approve those minutes? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Curtis. Is there >> I can second. >> Thank you, Christina. Are there any Is there any discussion, comments, questions? I'll note that the time stamps are back in. Um, so thank you very much for that, Joe. Uh, hearing no other discussion. Um, I will look for a roll call vote starting with you, Christina. >> Christina I. >>
014Constantine abstain. >> Elfine I. >> Green eye. Mallaloy I, >> Miller I, >> and Bowen I. So that passes unanimously. Um, next we will move to the school council budget priorities. Uh, specifically Lansboro. So I think I will just invite Nolan to come off. There you are to come up >> and Nolan I will share the presentation. >> Awesome. Thank you. Good evening everyone. I hope you all had a nice little break or time away. Um the fir I don't >> hold on one second. >> We kind of have a big >> Oh, thank you. Sorry. I I was mostly prepared, but not fully prepared. I admit it. >> I believe in you, Joe. >> Means a lot. >> All right, there we go. [clears throat and cough] That's not the version that I wanted
015to share. Are you sure it works? Wing it. Let's go. >> Okay. >> Can you go to the second slide? >> Yes. >> All right. So, the first order of business is to brag a little about our community, our students, our teachers and staff. Um, I think Joe has already told you that we are a distinguished school by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Um, and I've always found it hard to put it in like how what I don't say rare but obs how cool it is. This year 26 schools in the nation achieve this award. So, and this is for academic excellence and um student growth. So, we were one of 26 schools in the nation to be recognized for our students, and that's students, teachers, staff, creating an awesome educational environment. So, shout
016out to the people at Lansboro. >> Sorry, >> I'll just add that I was able to attend the ceremony or the assembly, I guess. um that Nolan um ran for the announcement to the students and it was great. It was just I was so impressed by um the energy in the room and the pride uh that the students took and how Nolan explained what it means to win this kind of award. Um it was really fun >> [clears throat] >> uh to be there. So congratulations Thank you. Uh so now the meat of this presentation, our uh budget priorities. So the school council started working in September. Um and we start by asking what they want to see. Um and we have teachers, parents, and community members on our school council. We meet monthly. We
017have actually done this new thing. We're pivoting. We do every other month in person and we do a three a 3:30 meeting and a six o'clock meeting so we can make sure everyone can attend consistently. Um so in September I ask what they want to know, what they want to see and then October we review that data and then we have like a second ask like now we've seen this what other questions do you have? What lingers? Um so then we meet in November and we review that data as well and we create an an initial list and then in December we create a final list. Um so our first priority is a math interventionist. This data um is from our new diagnostic tool I ready which assesses students K through six in math and
018ELA. The concern was the difference in the yellow column. Uh the group of students that would receive math intervention would probably make that yellow column match that green column. The math col the math row technically um match the ELA row. And we're hoping that a half-time interventionist would be able to accomplish this. Uh the way I see this working effectively is we have some specialists that are part-time and being able to use the specialists who are also gened teachers to then you uh do math intervention in their classrooms. So that way the intervention would be able to happen three to four times a week. Um, and I know we have a new math curriculum I Ready and we're hope and that's new this year. So I think with the new curriculum and with the math
019interventionist we can help mitigate the the gap that we're seeing. All right. [snorts] So our second priority um is a focused look at writing. Uh here we break down by grade level. So grade three is in green, grade four is in darker green, grade five is in blue, and grade six is in that purplish. Grade six did not have any constructed responses as part of their assessment. But what you'll see is that we were below the state in essay writing in grades three, four, and five. Um not by much, but we're ex we're above the state by a good margin in every other column. So that you know it's it's kind of set off alarm bar alarm alarm bells with the school committee. And then the financial implication here is not we're not looking to
020get a curriculum. We're not looking to hire a person. What we're looking is for time for our teachers to more time for our teachers to meet with each other and [clears throat] talk about what's happening with writing and aligning the writing curriculum to match wit and wisdom and to be more vertically aligned K through six. Um the reason that this is a like I would say our our priority one and two are almost neck andneck. The difference between priority one and priority two is priority one hasn't been hasn't started. Priority two are some of our ELA teachers have already started this work in professional development time looking at our curriculum looking at our frameworks looking at how it matches with wit and wisdom our our ELA curriculum to see how we can align across the
021grade level. Um so that is our second priority. Our third priority, our last priority is short throw projectors. Um, currently half of our classrooms have short throw projectors, a quarter of our special education rooms have short throw projectors and a quarter of our specialists have short throw projectors. Um, observationally, it is great to see teachers and students efficiently and effectively using these interactive whiteboards to go through a lesson. Um, and what we're seeing is with our new curriculums, presentation matters. Both Witten Wisdom and I Ready Math have slides that go interactive slides that go with their curriculum. Um, so having a tool that matches the technology allows our teachers and our students to engage with those interactive lessons more efficiently. Uh, so to get to where we need to, it would be eight short stroke
022projectors. Um, if we we can get one, one's better than zero. Ideally, we'd hopefully just get four to eight. So that way when they go because technology changes so quickly, we're not asking for 31. We're just continue to ask for like four every few years. Those are my those are the school school council's budget priorities. [snorts] What questions do you have for me? >> I have I have one to start. Um I can wrap my head around the cost of short throw projectors. um or I know that's knowable and I can understand the cost of a halftime person um a 0.5 employee but I'm trying to understand the magnitude of the ask for the second. Um you said not a person but time and we all know time is money or time is the tradeoff
023with something else. Um so I'm just wondering where that time comes from. >> So it would be something along the lines of extra sub coverage. Um so to allow our time for our teachers to work one I think in within our school but also across the district and right now we've been you know using and stealing professional development time against I Ready. So when we have an I Ready that's just math we can get our few ELA teachers but then those who teach both subjects can't be in two places at once yet. That technology is not out there. Um, so it'll be trying to find time in the day where they can work together and then hopefully get in each other's classrooms to see what's happening in terms of writing and growing that way. >>
024So I don't I can't put a number on it because I don't know exactly what it'll take, but I imagine it's probably less than $5,000. >> Yeah, that gives me a bound a boundary. So that's helpful. Thank you. >> But I put it in there because I think it's very important for us to focus on based on what we're seeing. oftent times it's great to have priorities that don't necessarily cost a ton of money. They just need a lot of attention and focus. So I I I really appreciate that um being there. >> Other questions? >> Thanks Nolan. Um, do would this be a good opportunity to acknowledge the folks who are on your school governance council for their hard work on this? >> Oh, sure. Uh, let me give a shout out to Mary
025Riley. If you're from Lansboro, you probably know Mary Riley. Um, she's our community member. We have Jen Macowski who is a parent. We have Michelle Zimba who is a teacher, special education teacher, and Andrea Roder who has served as a parent and as a general ed teacher. Great. Thank you. >> Of course. >> And thank you for sharing that process you're following. That seems very uh logical and thoughtful and clearly getting you to good good outcomes. So, thank you. >> Of course. Have a good night everyone. >> Good night. >> And coming up in February, we will have both uh Mount Greylock and Williamtown Elementary School presenting similarly. Um Joe, do you just want to keep the budget conversation going with the next item, the budget development update? >> Yes. So um I do need
026to start getting the finance subcommittee together regularly here. Um the the two many updates that I have are one uh in December the state announced that largely due to the federal shutdown previously the governor's budget was going to be delayed. Um, and the governor's budget currently, and they just let us know yesterday, they think it will be out January 27th. Um, which means we're not going to have any chapter 70 or similar inputs until January 27th for our work. Um, there are two other updates. One is our, it's a good one. Berkshire County Retirement System came out with its assessment for us for the upcoming fiscal year. It's decreased by $200,000 from this year to next year, which is wonderful news. Um, it is due to the the the actuarial methods that they use to
027to determine who owes what. Um, that calculation is more favorable for us now than it had been previously. Um, so we're going to see savings there next year. Um but unfortunately that is more than likely going to be um thoroughly swallowed up by probable health insurance premium increases which again we won't know until the end of January. um the the rumors um just so that you all hear them from me as opposed to seeing them from other school districts in in Berkshire County um that they are not confirmed, but right now the projections look like we might be close to a 20% increase in terms of what is proposed in order to have premiums cover costs. Um that's another thing that's starting to kind of dribble out of um of various rumor mills right now.
028So, we're going to see where that goes. That's not at all confirmed. Um, but if it's true, a 20% increase is, and if that needs to go pretty much all to the appropriated budget, um, that by itself would be a 3.6% increase in our in our assessments. Um, so we're really hoping to see um either that not be true um or to see some pretty significant increases in terms of state funding. um of various sorts. So, that's the that's the quick update that I've got, but we will um I think as we move towards late January, we'll have the finance subcommittee getting together. We need to we need to get that band together. Um and then come February, we'll start to have some early numbers. And I think because of the late cycles that that
029we have from all of our inputs, um it does mean that I'll probably be asking for another kind of late February school committee um gathering of a budget workshop sort um and then we'll we'll move into March where where we typically have our hearing. So even when other deadlines or other um timelines get compressed or or pushed back um ours is is typically that we need to make sure to get numbers to our towns by um mid-March. So um that's what we will figure out how to do. Joe, did you um already say um when Berkshire Health Systems would be able to get us an actual number rather than a rumored kind of when when did they anticipate providing? >> Berkshire Health Group should vote >> those rates at the end of January. So the
030end of January should be when we hear both health insurance premium numbers as well as chapter 70 and transportation and charter reimbursement numbers. >> And just as a reminder, both of our member towns are in the same group, right? So everyone will suffer the same increase. >> Yes. Lansboro and Williamstown are both a part of the Berkshire Health Group as well. Yeah. Okay. Thanks. >> Maybe we should have done this first and then jumped into the certificate of academic excellence award. Although that you know that I I don't know that's that's not perfect either. Curtis, you had a question. >> Just just to have it on the on the record and for any listening now or later or watching now or later, uh the single biggest increase in our budget from last year to this
031year was insurance, was it not? And that was a 16% increase. Am I remembering that? >> Yes. >> Yeah. All right. Just wanted to have that acknowledge that uh that seems to be continuing to suck. >> Yes. >> Are there any other questions on that or do we just want to sigh for a second and Okay. >> Well, it's it's not really on that and it may not be relevant to this agenda item, but it seems relevant to me. Given the spike in flu and COVID and various other things, um are you anticipating another spike in substitution costs this year? Uh we we are experiencing um high sub costs as well and that the budget that we put forward is going to need to take into account significantly increased substitution budgets for all three schools.
032Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. This might be the right time to move to our next agenda item around the Northern Berkshire collaboration, regional collaboration andor regionalization group. Maybe there can be some hope. Carrie >> um so I don't think I have an update since the last time. I know that the um position the consultant position has been posted um that there have been two applicants so far, but they're hoping for more. Was there more in the email that John sent? Um >> no. >> Okay. >> No, just that >> it it's it's up um and active for another couple of weeks. So, um, so that anybody who was interested or any group that was interested in submitting a response would have plenty of time after the after the new year. Um, >> right. And I'm
033told that Julia, you have the names from the towns to propose. So perhaps we could vote I don't know. Did we already vote me and Curtis or should we vote all four as >> I think Joe has all the other two and I think we would vote all four. >> Okay. Okay. >> My would be my >> um suggestion. >> Okay. >> So So I I pointed at you because you've been the one speaking for this. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, that's that's fine. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, we we reached out to to our our two town halls, um, Lansboro and Williamstown, for input around who they might recommend, um, for us to have as as members of, uh, as residents of those two towns, um, with us on on this steering committee. Um, and
034they came back with with two names that are in many ways familiar. Um, Lansboro recommended Lyndon Morris be a part of the group. Um he's somebody who uh has a lot of experience at Mount Greylock as a teacher um and also um participates in the finance committee for uh the town of Lansboro. Um so has a lot of different um both hats as well as knowledge and experience to bring. Um Margot Neely is the person that Williamstown Town Hall brought forward. um someone who is uh who attended or sorry um who has children within the school uh within the school district um currently sits on the finance committee for Williamstown um and and has a real vested interest in in a strong future for the district. So um those are the two names that were
035put forward um and Julia I will leave leave that up to you now. >> Sure. So, with those two names and I think we have discussed but not voted on also continuing Carrie and Curtis in their roles. I think I'm looking for a motion to appoint all four Margot, Lynden, Carrie, and Curtis to represent the district uh with the steering committee of the Northern Berkshire Regional Collaboration Regional. >> Steve Miller also move. >> Thank you, Steve. Is there a second? >> I will second. Thank you, Christina. And discussion, any discussion? >> Um, just one one item, but if anybody wants to go first, that's fine. >> Go ahead, Stephen. >> Just as always, I would like to just reiterate my strong concern about conversations on regionalization before having conversations with the entire community. I'm strongly
036supportive of collaboration. And the reason I keep bringing this up is I have served on committees in the past where things have been done without full transparency. I have been in places where there have been grant proposals where things have been hidden uh deep deep in the documents. And that's why I just want to be very careful as to what are these conversations because regionalization is a very complicated issue when you spread it across multiple towns. I would much rather focus on collaboration and shared resources where I think there's a lot of opportunities to have immediate good. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Stephen. Any other questions or comments on the appointment of these four the steering committee? Hearing none, I'm gonna ask for a roll call vote. Starting with you, Jose. >> Constantine I.
037>> Elen by an I. >> Green eye. >> Malloy. I >> Miller. I >> Owen. I >> Conry I. >> All right. So that passes unanimously. Thank you everybody. And thank you again to Carrie and Curtis H for representing us and Stephen for your advocacy. Thank you. It is. Um we're going to move to the policy subcommittee report and Jose, I'm gonna toss the ball over to you. >> All right. Thank you, Julia. Uh all right. Um you'll see on the agenda, we've got three policies uh listed as discussion items. And I want to highlight that uh policy EFBA is the second time um that we're seeing it as a committee as a discussion item. And uh and I think it's it's only right that we're seeing it again because of the the great feedback
038that we've been receiving from from our community um the community members as we heard in today's public comment uh at our Tuesday subcommittee meeting. We also uh similarly heard uh public comment um kind of reflecting aspirations for how this policy could be amended and what that this policy could speak to. The the policy as you see it written in the agenda uh has text in blue and and apologies that um it it reads as slightly unfinished because it is indeed unfinished a work in progress. uh we as a subcommittee um were thinking of of several things. One uh in that uh bullet point one um starting with our programs that that that might be an opportunity to speak to an aspiration or or a goal that we have as a district with regards to how
039we feed our our students. Um, but it was also acknowledged that there's a a second policy that our subcommittee um I think will plan to look at and that's policy I believe Joe EFC on universal free school meals and that's not on the agenda today. We won't we won't be talking about that but we would love um to open it up to um discussion getting some feedback from our fellow committee members regarding uh you know your thoughts on the ability of policy EFBA to potentially reflect some of the feedback we've been receiving. Um and we also have the open question regarding uh whether if speaking to the need of of amending policy EFBA if indeed you know it might be possible to to include that those as that aspirational language maybe those goals uh in
040a in a separate policy. So those are sort of the overarching questions but we honestly are open feedback. Um, we'll be uh seriously considering any feedback that we receive from our committee members and and continue to receive from the community as we uh work to revise and amend this policy um with the hope that it would appear as an action item in our February meeting. So, sorry for that very long preamble. I'd love to open and Christina hopefully I reflect that reflected our discussion on Tuesday. Um but I'd love to open it up to to discussion from you all. We'd love to hear your feedback. >> Yeah, Carrie. >> So, um I guess I'm wondering if there should be yet a third policy that um speaks to uh food, the quality of food that we
041serve in our schools. And I think if we were to go that route and even if we were to try to include some of the suggestions in one of our existing policies, um I would want to hear from the administration what the obstacles are currently. You know, is it um is it expense? Is it training? Is it, you know, something else um that is impacting um what it is that we serve um and what the what ingredients we use and the choices that are made for uh prepared foods. Um, [clears throat] so I I guess I would like more in and it's something that could that's a conversation that could take place in policy. It could take place in finance. It could be its own agenda item at a school committee meeting because this this
042seems really important. I hadn't heard these concerns uh the concerns that are expressed in all of the um public comment and um I really value the feedback and I want to take it seriously. I'm not sure what the best way is to do that. >> Yeah. And just quickly, sorry Joe, just to jump in. Uh Carrie, we we had that was a part of our discussion on on Tuesday as well, you know, in terms of um how how might we honestly reflect, you know, the the concerns and perhaps needs of our of our students. Um and and you know, a new policy was was something that was, you know, something that that we did talk about. Um but just just wanted to let you know that was certainly a part of our discussion. But Joe,
043I think uh if you want to respond to Carrie. >> Yeah. And and I think it makes sense to over the next few months um take take this policy EFBA policy EFC consideration for a new policy um and couple that with with talking about um and and doing more research with other districts too around other ingredients, other approaches, you know, what staffing looks like. Um, you know, some of that has has training implications, other have financial implication for FTES and and ingredients and things like that. Um, and and to try to find a a better a better sweet spot between um the quality of meals, the the interest of students in in them um and and really trying to trying to maximize that as we go. Um, so it's it's going to be I I
044think what probably makes the most sense given also the time of year that we're in is to really take our time with this and keep talking about it over the course of the next few months between policy, finance, and then at the full school committee. Um, try to incorporate it into the budget as we can um for next year and and also just try to make sure that we get it right and don't make promises that we can't keep. Um but but also um try to figure out how to commit the right of amount right amount of attention to it. Um because anytime you're thinking about either overhauling or significantly modifying in any way um what you're purchasing and and what staff are doing and how many staff you have um you uh that that's
045a major project. Um and it's and it's one that's that's here in front of us and uh I look forward to tackling it um along with with our staff. So I I guess my question now is what does that mean for this policy? Should we consider moving this forward because it addresses meal modifications and then um address the overall um issue of what is being served and how to improve that. Yeah, I think >> in a longer >> Yeah, given, you know, this is the the original language. I think Joe was was coming straight from MASC uh and it's a policy that we don't have and and and should have on the books or some some version of uh what's been recommended by MASC. I think uh Carrie what I think will happen when the
046subcommittee gets a chance to deliberate further some of the language um I'm hopeful that we'll be able to offer up language that speaks to some of the concerns that have been raised uh from our our community members. um but to do it in a way that uh is is thoughtful um and that reflects the fact that you know this this has to be an ongoing conversation that integrates you know the finance subcommittee policy and governance subcommittee in in in conversations with the full committee. So um I think this will be policy EFBA I see being just one step towards um you know toward moving towards where we'll where we should be and I think where our community wants us to be regarding uh nutrition and types of foods served at our in our schools. Did
047I get that right Joe? Yeah, I I think that depending upon the policy and governances conversation next month either EFBA will as a pure meal modification policy um be put forward with a for a vote and alongside that saying and we are now working on EFC or a new policy. Um, that might be one take or it might be we want to hold this one and and adopt numerous policies all at once um later in the year. EFBA is not one. It's one that I want to make sure we have adopted in time for next school year when the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is going to start to do audits around um who has this policy and this set of procedures in place. Um but it's it's not something that we uh need
048to rush to adopt here this month or next month necessarily. Um although it's always nice to make progress where we can and to continue to to um take steps forward from there. >> Yeah. Uh any other comments or or feedback for the subcommittee regarding uh regarding this policy? >> Yeah, Julia. I mean, I it's it's somewhat regarding the policy, but maybe more regarding the um public comment we had on the policy. Um, which I'm extremely grateful for all the parents who have raised um their uh concern and their perspective about how we could be doing better by all of our students. Um I two two things that come to mind. One is I really appreciated um the one parent who said um sometimes small changes you just making continuous incremental small changes can really change
049things over time and I and I want to encourage us I would love I would love tomorrow to be able to do all of this. I am concerned about what's possible when we hear about Berkshire um you know the the health group and other expenses that we know are coming up. there's going to be some priorities, but I so I really appreciated the idea that can we just make incremental improvements. Um, and then the other thing um which is really it kind of goes back to Carrie and Curtis's um work and Joe's work with the regional collaboration. I don't think we're the only district that is um likely facing this. We might be the only one talking about it right now. Um but this sometimes these things are better when they're addressed through economies of
050scale. And so I just want to name that maybe we think about um and and in places like in in bigger cities sometimes there's a central food source that then you know distributes to to others and it just feels like this potentially could be a place for collaboration. >> Thank you Julia. Um any other any other comments that uh or feedback that folks would would like to make? Um, just as a reminder, we're going to continue working on this as a subcommittee and uh would continue welcoming uh further feedback from the community. Uh, our subcommittee meetings are are public. Um, and uh and we we welcome uh public comment at our at our next subcommittee meeting and and and look forward to to continue receiving feedback. All right. I believe I'll speak solely just in
051case I'm rushing through, but I don't think so. Uh, I think we're up to policy J AI, use of artificial intelligence. Um, this policy appeared, sorry, Joe, I think this is the first time uh this is this is the first time we're seeing it as a discussion item. Sorry. So, it appeared as an information item. Um, we've been uh think it feels like we've been thinking about this for for some time now. Uh we received the subcommittee public comment uh on this policy that I believe has been shared with everyone and it's part of our agenda uh our meeting packet. Um you can uh can see what what that comment was and hopefully you've been able to to read that. Um but we would love as we you know we want to acknowledge similarly to
052policy EFBA um that that certainly in this dynamic period of of AI and and machine learning and the like this is this is going to be a policy that we will likely need to revisit regularly and refine and revise um giving new challenges to learning and potentially also new opportunities for learning. Uh the four bullet points that you see are all action items. They speak to um effectively a requirement by the district in essence by Joe and and his team to ensure that we do have a system of procedures for vetting and approving AI tools, that we have a means for evaluating AI tools and instructional instructional practices. Um that we are actively working to develop educational opportunities. uh and and are actively working to provide professional development uh opportunities for for staff. So these
053are um are works in progress or or or certainly Joe and his team are working uh towards those goals probably even as we speak even although we haven't or maybe these are aspirational goals I'll say Joe uh assuming that we we we are are going to be adopting this policy but we we welcome feedback uh from you all uh regarding you know your impressions or questions that you might have regarding this policy as you see it. Uh Joe, uh uh just to make sure that we're all clear, this is uh the MASC does not have a model policy document. Um and in many respects, we are um blazing some kind of trail by by trying to be reflective and and thoughtful with regards to uh the use and misuse of AI in in our in
054our district. But Joe, I don't know if you want to to offer a bit more context. Sorry, K. Just give Joe just a chance to offer some context that I might have missed. Uh no I think so MASC and and uh the department of elementary and secondary education both say we don't have any model policies um but we encourage you to adopt policies and procedures um to address the you know the rapid changes that are associated with artificial intelligence. Um speaking to the public comment um a bit because I I did then meet with Jack um Jackis who's both a student at Mount Greylock and a resident um within the district. um who um we we talked about the separation between policy and and procedure or guidance um and the ways that that this is
055really a a policy and and the the northeast the Northport East Northport um school district's guidance that is also included in the packet that that he had provided. that's that's down at the level of guidance. And I think his um the the the main thrust of his interest is in let's make sure to not just say what you can't do. Let's come up with ways to figure out what people can do. um because it's incredibly important that students and staff um develop a a solid understanding and and an ability to utilize artificial intelligence um within good boundaries and and in good ways. Um and so uh his recommendation to us which which I think is is wonderful is go ahead and adopt a policy. Make sure that it promotes the type of guidance and the
056kind the kind of depth that you want as a district to exist. Um and then place some good concrete timelines and expectations on the administration um coming back with that guidance. Um and and so we talked about how if we were to adopt a policy like this next month um within our natural flow of information item, discussion item and action item um that the school committee does do that and say um and we expect an update on the development of guidance in June and again in in October once you've had a little bit of time with staff back um in the school year and that we want to really stay a breast of of how this is developing. Um, so it's it's guidance that I wholeheartedly agree with from from one of our talented students.
057um and and an approach that I would uh I would very much welcome and um and I think that as we get through here the next month um talking about those four bullet points and are are there aspects that we want to make sure um we are taking into account or asking the administration to to work on um that go beyond what is mentioned there. Um and that's where I'd love love your help as um thinkers and representatives too. Thanks, Joe. And sorry, Carrie, that I uh didn't want to Yeah. But >> um actually Joe responded to my question, which was how the committee or administration has taken into consideration the feedback from Jack because I mean it's an excellent letter and it really he raises so many good points. Um, and I do wonder
058if there is something more forceful um, or more forward thinking, I guess, that could be put into this policy regarding the teaching of AI um, to students um, as a requirement, Right? Like so it's almost akin to financial literacy. Like we all know that our students need to leave secondary education being financially literate. We now know our students also need to leave secondary education being literate in AI. Um and you know certainly entering the job world um they're going to encounter it. um and they already are encountering it on a daily basis. So, should we be more proactive and assertive about how our educators should be um [clears throat] teaching it and not just >> Well, I won't say not just I'll leave it at that. >> Yeah, I think thank you Carrie. That's a
059really great point and it's something that um we we'll we'll certainly consider and and deliberate on the next time that we meet as a subcommittee. >> Yeah, Julia. >> Yeah, I wanted maybe maybe to double down on that point, but also a a couple I don't want to word smith necessarily, but um a question about a word. Um, when I read this policy as written, um, which FYI, I asked Joe if he had consulted AI to write the policy on AI and he had not. [laughter] So, um, so it's a very personally thoughtful, very tailored to our district. Um, you know, all that knowledge is in Joe's head. Anyway, um this feels like it's written in a way to um be be forewarned about AI more than embracing. And so I'm and I'm not saying
060I I I would love to see it be more even. And I um am happy to spend time like pointing out where I think that could be true. Um, one particular word I'm just curious about, um, the third bullet point, uh, developing educational opportunities for students focused on the ethical, effective, and critical use of AI. I'm like, I don't know what critical means there. Um, but appropriate use feels like it's a more for me and may it might just be semantics in my own mind. Um, but >> yeah, I'd let you I can say my reading as a subcommittee member and Christina and and Curtis can offer their perspective as well is that uh you know much like um needing to be critical of information that we might glean from social media, you know, needing
061to parse out uh what's accurate versus inaccurate, you know, and as as we there are plentiful examples of how AI um you generative generative tools uh might invent references for instance that don't actually exist you know that's my reading of that term but but Joe is the author >> maybe it's critical and appropriate >> right >> should both be there >> I I I think that either or both would would be effective critical to me meant essential use as opposed to intuitive use. >> Um, and I think that to me is and I there might be better better words for it, but it but it was thinking about ways to encourage students to utilize artificial intelligence that expand their abilities that that don't replace, you know, that that don't mean that you you don't bother
062thinking about it. you instead just plug it in because the computers are going to do it as well as you're going to do it. And and as a student, the importance of training your own brain to think critically about things in front of you um is really important. So I I think that there's plenty of words smmithing that we can and should do. Um and and I really welcome all the conversations like this and it's one of the reasons why this might also be another area where um I know that we talked about vision and values being the bulk of our retreat on January 21st but I think having some space to potentially um do some exercises and talk about some word smithing in that setting might might also be good so that then when
063we come back in February in a setting more like this one that we can uh that we can utilize that effectively and critically. >> Thank you. I just want to just back up, Julie. Thank you for that. It sounds like maybe critical and appropriate are both terms needed in in in that in that line. Um uh let's see any any other comments regarding uh this policy or feedback or questions. All right. So we are off to our our last one uh on our agenda which is policy KBG on parent advisory councils. Also a new uh would be a new policy that our district uh would be adopting. And Joe uh correct me if I'm wrong. This this language does come almost verbatim from the model policy by uh by by MASC. >> Yes, this is
064a a new MASC recommended policy. Um really just making sure that school districts um have doc have good policy and documentation around the requirements that exist at the state level for having parent advisory councils both within special education as well as under certain circumstances within multiple lingual uh multiple language learner um uh contexts um for families. And so this is uh we have not received any public comment on it. Um it is stock really from MASC and it's and it's kind of just pushing us to um abide by the law. Um and it and it describes it uh in that way. So um this one I think is we haven't made any changes in the last month and and I think it's ready to move as an action item next month uh pending conversation here.
065>> Yeah. Thank you, John. Carrie, >> I just have an information question. Um, do we have one of each pack for the district or does each school have its own special education pack and English language learner pack? >> Uh, we have one special education parent advisory council for the district- which is the way it uh that's the way the state >> the state uh pushes us to do it. Um we do not yet have a multiple language learner parent advisory council. Um part of that's due to the the current size of of that population. Um once once that population grows um that will trigger um the creation which which really will those two are tied hand in hand in that until you have a large enough population you probably don't have enough people to um
066create a a higher functioning um attended type of um parent advisory council for it. >> What what is considered the appropriate Oh, serving 100 or more. I see. >> And yeah, and for us it's serving 100 or more or at least >> at least five >> or at least 5%. Whichever one is larger. >> Yeah. >> Or whichever one is smaller. Sorry. >> Any other uh comments or questions regarding uh this policy? All right, Julia. I think we hand it back to you. >> Can I just say thank you to the policy committee uh subcommittee? Yeah, really appreciate you all doing the work on this. >> I I was thinking the same thing and also uh it feels like you have all been quite busy. Um there every meeting we have new new policy. I
067mean it's just you've been very on top of things. So >> Joe, we we we have no one but Joe to thank. So thank you Joe. [laughter] >> [gasps] >> Um thank you all. All right. Um the next thing is to look at um for us to discuss our progress against the goals that we set for ourselves last summer. Um and I shared with everybody the um summary of the input that you all provided. Um so first let me just start with uh gratitude that you all shared your perspective on how we are doing against these four goals. Um you have in front of you I the summary with many thanks to Gemini as well just feel like I should name the use of AI which I found effective and appropriate um to summarize your
068feedback. Um, and I really just want to open it for discussion. And I've got a few thoughts myself, but I want to open it for discussion and and hear folks reactions and and questions that arise. >> My first question is, can you use Gemini for the superintendent evaluation as well? >> Oh, yeah. [laughter] I mean, I are you asking if that's appropriate? Are you asking? >> Yeah, I'm asking. Well, I [snorts] I do think I do think perhaps this is a moment to say how it is used. Um, right. So, I um in this case, I took all of the answers and asked Gemini to summarize in two to three sentences what was in those um in that each column. Um, and then I read them to make sure that it it seemed appropriate um
069based on what was in the column. And I did make adjustments. I that I did not copy paste their you know I did then think through you know what was appropriate >> and personally I would think that would also be appropriate for the superintendent's evaluation. I am open to hearing if others disagree. Um but I think it's you know when when there's specific information provided and helping to summarize that I think it allows um quick use. >> Steve go ahead. No, I I would support using AI to supplement and assist in doing evaluations and in fact I think this could become a excellent opportunity to show you know students and you know staff how this technology can be used properly. I remember on a previous committee where part of the evaluation was looking at documents
070provided which was just a list of meetings attended and so the question is was anything done from going to the meetings other than going to the meetings if you could then have AI search all the documents that were submitted and say find follow-ups from these meetings and then just help focus the conversation you >> I think that's a you know wonderful use. >> Thank you. Any other thoughts specific to Car's question? I think it's a great question, Carrie, and um and perhaps when we get to the point of evaluating Joe this year, we can have that one more fully. Um but I but I think in at the end of the day, what is we are still responsible for what we produce. Um and it's still and this committee needs to say yes, I agree
071with what has been produced. Um and so you know there's no blaming AI. It is still we are responsible for this production. In any case in this case it also didn't feel very high stakes. Um [laughter] but but so but the first question might be does this reflect what you believe you shared? Um and do you have questions or um you know do you see your input in here or do you have questions about other people's input that might be different than yours? Thanks Julia. I I don't know. Um apologies that I'm this thought is formulating in my head as as I as I take up time on the take of time from you all. But um I wonder if if if it would be possible to have uh either an anonymized record of what
072folks shared so that we have that available to judge the synopsis against. just to make sure that we all feel comfortable that every you know and I don't know if folks feel comfortable with that. Um but it might be useful to have a record. Um >> yeah because otherwise I just I don't I have having to trust you and in and Gemini that it accurately you know u summarized what what my colleagues submitted as comment. >> Sure. >> Yeah. >> I think I think that if I think that might I think that's a great point. we didn't I didn't name that it would be I mean it's a public document no matter what right um so I can link this to that spreadsheet um and I can do that you know in when I've used
073it um I think also the the question is if if each person on this call sees what they thought in this document then you Jose don't have to judge if Car's comments were at you know accurately portrayed Fair point. I think you know would that would what this might be reflecting Julie is that I honestly can't remember what I [laughter] trust myself here. [laughter] >> This this is um I I hear you. I hear you. The post January 1 brain. [laughter] Yeah, it's real. Um all right. So, uh, but I I can absolutely go back and and copy or or link the two other um I guess um I I did see my comments in here perhaps with a little less um emotion than I might have expressed them. Um but that's that's fine. That's
074good. Um, I'm wondering are we taking time in the retreat to address some of the questions that are raised or some of the things that were specified that we think we need to work on. >> So at present that's not uh well sorry it is a little bit about the retreat. So um at present we weren't expecting to explicitly discuss all four roles. Um my take and I offer this up as a as a straw man is that goal number one is in progress. Um goal number two has been done. Um >> check. Thank you Curtis. Um goal number three is in progress uh around the outcomes committee. Sorry, Julia, should you state the goals because >> Sure, sure, sure. Goal goal number one being to successfully complete our negotiations with the three bargaining units.
075We know that that's in progress. Um, goal number two is successfully hire a permanent superintendent. Back to Curtis's check. Um, goal number three is establish an outcome subcommittee with a clear remitt and goals for the work of the of the subcommittee. Um, and that is in progress. The subcommittee is is working that through. Um, goal number four was increase the school committee's community outreach through and and with some specific ways that we thought we would do that. Um, and that one feels like we have not made progress. Um when I say the retreat, um we actually will be talking in the retreat around how we as a school committee can support the work of the district alongside Joe to lead a process to gather the community's input around what our vision and values should be
076as a district. Um, and that will by nature require us to um, very much deepen our community outreach. And so I feel like goal number four is embedded in the work of the retreat. Though even if we don't name specifically, that's what we're doing. Does that make sense? Joe, would you say that any differently or? I >> I would just add that we can make sure that all of goal four there, including the community and cultural celebration uh committee, all of that stuff, we can make sure that all of that is being touched upon during the retreat. I would say that goal four in its entirety plus AI can equal the retreat. if if that if that sounds good to folks. >> Okay. >> And do folks feel comfortable that um when I say one
077and three are in progress, is there any other discussion you want to have here about those two goals, negotiations? Um, as you know, we we went into executive session in December and the plan right now is to go into an executive session every other month or if something else merits it, but just to check in on that. Go ahead. >> Yeah, thanks Julie. I haven't had a chance to to discuss this with Curtis or or Steve. Um, so apologies and apologies that I I had to miss the the previous two school committee meetings. The music was lovely, I will say, uh, to to publicly acknowledge what's been going on at, uh, at Williamstown Elementary. Um, but for goal three, I I certainly would would love to get feedback and hear from you all regarding how
078you would like the outcomes subcommittee to integrate, inform, and support the work of the pool committee. Um, so if at all possible, even if it's just just half an hour at our retreat, would we just would I I personally gain a lot from from hearing from you all how um the outcomes committee subcommittee might support our work. I actually have trouble remembering what that committee and I know that you're working on the remit, but I'm I have trouble remembering why we established that committee and what it is meant to do. Um, do you have like a one sentence or a two sentence like this is the purpose of an outcomes committee handy or have you not gotten quite that far? I know Julia was kind of the brainchild for the outcomes committee. So maybe Julia
079has a sentence or two or I could look it up in the minutes. >> We do have something written down. Okay. >> Julia might be able to recite >> by heart. or not >> in a chance >> in a in a sing Curtis used more words that were more descriptive, but in a during a previous meeting, but in in a in a single sentence, the outcomes subcommittee should look at the data underlying the activity of the of the school district and bring that back um in some processed form to the school committee, whether it is um MCCAST results or panorama data, which is what we're working on later this month, or um diagnostic assessment data or attendance data. So, it's looking at all of that and bringing it back. >> Data analysis is that's how
080I should think of it. Thank you. >> And if it helps, I think of it as the um analogy analogous subcommittee to finance. finance understands much more deeply all of the financial side of the district. This subcommittee will understand much more deeply the academic results or the outcomes, not even just academic but culture, etc. um results to um be really able to be um supporting our budget conversations and thinking about um you know where we're heading as a district and what our needs are. I I think just supplementing what was said, it's not just the outcomes while they're at Greylock, it's the outcomes also when they leave Greylock. Are we preparing the students to pursue their dreams and do what they want to do next? >> Great. So, um Joe, if it's all right with
081you, let's let's try to work on a a schedule that will work that will incorporate some discussion around this as well. at the retreat. >> Do we know what we'd want to spend time on during the retreat? Just because the retreat we've kind of got our plan is hour and a half, then a bite to eat, then an hour. And that does not give us between vision values, all of goal 4 and AI. I feel like each of those can very quickly gobble up 45 minutes or an hour on their own. >> Yeah, I since I made the request don't want to necessarily retract it, but it could be Joe that between you and Curtis and Julia that you have a sense of the charge and the schedule by which we kind of, you know,
082implement that charge or or go about fulfilling that charge. Um, and I'm comfortable with that, especially given the conversation that that I we just had. Um, as a member of the subcommittee, I've certainly learned a lot in this past five minutes. So, that's very helpful for me. So, I'm grateful. Uh, so it's it's Thank you, Carrie, for asking the question. Um, but I but I think that was certainly concerning me like what is it that um how might this this subcommittee's work uh actually improve the work that we're trying to do as a as a full committee? So Julie that you know um you know drawing that correlary correlary with uh with the finance committee is is helpful. Thank you. So I given that you know it's a work in progress and we we'll make
083our way through it. I don't see a need for us to do this uh have a conversation uh on this topic at the retreat. At at the risk of overplaying my AI hand, um it could be useful to take the transcript for this meeting and use that to generate a charge for the committee. So anyway, just a thought. [snorts] Um all right. Any Oh, go ahead, Steve. >> If you're going to do that, I would also feed in the minutes from the ARCA meetings if that was a serious suggestion. >> Yeah. Um, all right. Any other questions or thoughts or comments on the progress against our goals? Again, um, gratitude to all. I think it's really easy to set goals. If we don't come back and check on the goals, we won't see if we're
084making the right progress. Um, so I appreciate you you um, participating in that. um upcoming meetings we have, which we keep referring to, our um winter retreat on January 21st at 6 o'clock. Unfortunately, we won't all be able to be there. We will miss actually Steve and Ursula. Um we had multiple rounds of trying to schedule and it really does unfortunately need to happen in January. Um and so we are um going to need to have not all of us there. Um, and I apologize for that. Um, but all of our schedules are all of our schedules. Um, Ursula and Steve, I will make sure you get the minutes and, um, space to ask questions, uh, going forward. >> Um, >> I would just like to say I'll be thinking of you while you're [laughter]
085>> not sad at all. >> I'm sorry to miss it, though. >> Um, all right. And our next um regularly scheduled school committee meeting is February 12th at 6 PM. Um Joe, you referenced there are some subcommittee meetings coming up perhaps. >> Uh yes, I'm trying tonight to confirm that the outcome subcommittee will be meeting Monday, January 15th. Um that's an old email trail that I just bubbled back up during this meeting. Um, the policy subcommittee will meet during the week of the the February meeting. Um, I'm blanking on its date right now. Um, and I will send an email just because I I think it might be the most effective way to schedule um to Carrie, Steve, and Ursula around uh getting the finance subcommittee together later this month and then probably a couple
086times in February. All right. Thank you. Yes, Curtis. >> Uh, in the spirit of keeping uh everybody in the loop uh about uh performances and other opportunities like that, the Greylock Band has a concert Wednesday, January 14th, 7 PM. >> Wonderful. Thank you. >> And I'm sure there's other stuff, but that's the thing I know about. All right. Um, I do not have any other items for discussion that were not previously anticipated. Joe, I'm just going to double check. You have nothing that has Okay. Um, agenda requests. We've talked a fair amount obviously about our um, retreat. Are there any other agenda requests for upcoming meetings? Okay. Well, we will keep on keeping on. >> We're going to be meeting a lot over the next couple of months. I I I got to say between
087all the sub I think I just rattled off maybe eight meetings that public meetings that we're going to have. >> Um so we and the public will uh have plenty of opportunities. >> Yeah, good point. >> All right. >> Thank you. Oh, sorry. We got We have a motion motion to make. >> We'll have a motion to make, but Steve has raised his hand. >> I was just gonna say while we are meeting a lot, we're not having a three four hour meeting tonight. So, it's worth putting this in perspective. >> Yes. Yes. Um, with much appreciation to everybody. >> Boy, howdy. >> I think we have more frequent but shorter meetings. Um, and it's I can think better anyway. Um, so all right. Uh, I thought I heard Jose make a motion to adjourn.
088>> I'll second. >> Okay. >> I I think Hang on. I think MASC has a learning lunch coming up about the effective use of subcommittees, >> you know. I don't know if we have much to learn, but it's uh >> Okay, >> we might go and just hear what everyone else >> Yes. Yes. Yes. That's great. That's great. All right. So, we have a motion from Jose, a second from Steve. Um, we're going to do a roll call vote starting with you Curtis to adjurnn. >> Elfenbine I to adjurnn. >> Malloy I. Oh, sorry Carrie. >> Green eye. >> Malloy. I >> Miller. I >> Owen. I >> Conry. I >> Constantine. I. >> Thank you everybody. >> Thank you. Good night. Good evening. >> Go Bills.