NMRSD School Committee 1/13/2026

001Welcome everybody to North Middle Sex Regional School District School Committee meeting on January 13, 20126. It is 602 and in attendance we have Randy Rush here, Carla Lima. Carla You want to say here? Sorry. >> Here. I was trying to get to it. >> That's okay. Kim Craraven >> in prison. >> Jackie White >> here. >> Mike Leosier >> here. >> And for our student rep, we have Natalie Sup >> here. >> For administration, we have Superintendent Brad Morgan. here. >> Kevin Kir >> here. >> Dr. Reese >> here. >> Ryan Demar >> and >> here. >> And then Lisa Bloom has joined as a committee member >> here. >> And we have Robin Ivy as our administrative assistant. All right. I'll take a motion on the cons consent agenda for approval. Uh I move

002that we approve the consent agenda uh with minutes from December 16th, 2025. Warrants, accounts payable, warrant warrants 26, 1218 for 70 777,415 and30 uh 261 1230 for 501,48214. for 114,150 uh sorry 114,15069 cents. Payroll warrants approved December 18th, 2025 and December 31st, 2025 and the acceptance of donations in to Hawthon Brook from Boxtops for Education for Education Programs and $62.80 to Spalding Memorial School from Boxtops for Education for Education Programs. >> I second. >> And Lisa, that is Randy Rush with a motion and then Lisa Bloom with a second. And it's a roll call vote. Mike, >> yes. >> Jackie, >> yes. >> Kim, >> yes. >> Lisa Bloom, >> yes. >> Carla Lima, >> yes. >> Randy, >> and myself is yes. And just for the record, Nancy Haynes has joined the call as

003well. All right, moving down to public comment. Robin, >> we have two people registered for public comment. I'm just going to ask them to raise their hand. We can see where they are uh in our participants and then I can allow them to talk. So, I have Kyle Brown registered as well as Mr. Patrick McI. While we're waiting Pat Okay, I'll take I'll allow Patrick to talk first and then um I think we have Kyle as well and then I'll read the letter if that's okay. Lisa, >> okay, you should be all set. Patrick, >> thank you very much. Um I just want to because we've been going down this road with the select board for many, many years. um back when they decided to put a fire department in state building over the high

004school, I mean over the elementary school and getting the elementary school brought up. I know a lot of residents within Ashby objected to them. I even know that Brad objected to them, tried to get the school added into the funding. Um but it was never done because it was it was it would have been too much to get approved by the community. But now we're in this boat. We have no school. Now, what I want to know is, you know, the money's not an issue to me, people. I just want to know, are they going to do it? If they have to raise my taxes, do it. But stop these games of saying we're going to use OPA funds and then the money goes to buy a dump truck when we only have two highway

005people. They got to make a decision and they got to stick by it. If they're not going to, then we're going to be in the same boat 5 years from now. And it was David and and and um Kathy that made the decision to put the fire station over us. And this is why we're in this jam now. This has to stop. Thank you. >> Thank you, Patrick. >> Mr. Brown, if you're on the call, if you could raise your hand so I could can give you access to speak. There we go. You should be all set. Mr. Brown, >> Mr. Brown, before you do speak, would you say your name and your address for the record? mute. Uh, my name is Kyle Brown. My address is 1090 D Whipswitch Road. Um, I'm trying I'm

006just trying to find out what we're doing with the school. What What is the What are we going to be doing with it? Hello. Well, this is public comment and it is one of our policies that we don't respond during public comment as it's something that the public can come and comment. We don't have a direct communication with the people speaking. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Robin. Let me just get the letter. I'm going to read a letter dated December 30th, 2025. Uh it's from the town of Ashb, the office of the select board. Dear Chair Martin and members of the committee, the Ashb Select Board is writing again 53 days after our initial letter in November regarding the future of Ashby Elementary School. As you know, your committee voted this past March

007to pause operations at Ashby Elementary School and move the students to school in Towns. And since the Massachusetts School Building Authority granted the requested pause, it directed the school committee to develop and discuss plans for Ashby Elementary. Yet, since March, there has been little to no public discussion on this matter with the full committee. This lack of engagement is deeply concerning given the significance of AES to the district and most importantly to the students who depend on it. at your December 16th, 2025 meeting following budget discussions, the superintendent requested that the committee vote at their next meeting in January 2026 on whether to lift the pause, permanently um I'm sorry, lift the pause or permanently close Ashby Elementary. Such a decision, one that will have profound and lasting consequences for students, families, and the town

008of Ashb, cannot and should not be made hastily. It depends careful, transparent deliberation and a thorough review of all operations. The committee should have been presented with a list of viable options at the outset of the pause last March. We understand that the school committee now includes new members who are not part of the original decision. This makes it even more critical that the committee take the time to fully examine accurate budget figures, enrollment projections, and the board broader impact on educational equity before making any final determination. Closing AES would not only drop the lives of our youngest learners, but also undermine the district's commitment to equitable education across all member towns. Ashby Elementary is more than a school. It's the heart of our community and the cornerstone of local education. The Ashby Select Board

009strongly urges the committee to act responsibly and transparently before any vote is taken. All relevant facts and financial data must be shared and discussed openly. We remain steadfast in our support for AES and believe it can and should continue to serve the educational needs of our students. We call on the committee to take the necessary steps to reopen Asheville Elementary School in August 2026 and reaffirm its commitment to fairness and opportunity for every child in the district on behalf of the Ashley Select Board. Find Paul Lorsa. >> Thank you, Robin. All right. >> And that is all we have for public. >> That's all we have for public comment. Okay. Thank you. Um I also want to indicate that Jeremy Hammond um joined the call. All right. Moving on to the chairperson report. Um, I'd

010like to congratulate the NMR RHS International Club for their generous donation to the Hifer or Heer International. There is a press release for everyone. If you haven't read it, I encourage you to go see how well our students um gave a gift to the Heer International. All right. And I think that's all of my comments tonight. Uh, the student rep, Natalie Stupac. >> Hi. Let me just pull up my thing real quick. Okay. So for our student council and class office, I have that the freshman and junior classes will be hosting our winter semiformmal on the 24th of January. And then that prior to break student council ran a faculty cheer event that was successful. And then NHS like all the honor societies, so Ro, there was nothing to note. And then for sports, it's

011just kind of the middle of the winter sports season, so there's nothing like super eventful. And that's pretty much all that I have. Lisa, you are on mute. There we go. Thank you, Natalie, um for your report. Um moving on to the superintendent report. Um Superintendent Morgan, >> I don't have anything until later in the meeting. >> All right, moving on to the assistant superintendent report. Dr. Ree, >> good evening everyone. Uh just a reminder that tomorrow is a late start professional development day. Students will begin their day uh earlier or later in the morning. Um and our staff will start at their normal time um participating in a variety of professional development activities around um the curriculum materials. We're using curriculum mapping, doing some work around um inclusion and co-eing strategies um among other

012activities that staff are participating in. Thank you, Dr. Lee, and thank you for the reminder of a late start tomorrow. All right, we are moving on to new business and outofstate trip request from Ryan Dear. Ryan, >> yeah. Uh, good evening. Uh just um this is a request for the annual baseball trip. Um they go down this year it's March 27th through the 29th. They go down to the Cape um basically as part of their preseason and they'll leave the 27th which is a Friday after school. Uh they'll take our the mini bus, the athletic mini bus, and then um another van and uh they'll go down, they go to Hyannis. Um well, that's where they stay. Um they'll play their games in Mashp. Um the parents and you know, everyone goes down there. They

013have a block of rooms there at um it's called the Emerald Resort. I think it's changing its name again. Um, but that's well they'll stay and then throughout the day they'll play or over the weekend they'll play about three to four games uh between some Cape Cod baseball teams to get ready for the upcoming season. Um there's about 20 kids that'll go, three coaches and then a number of parents will go as well for chaperoons. I know in the packet I provided coach uh kind of layout of what the events are, the agenda and things like that talking about um you know there's the supervision but then also um the the room checks and things like that. Um, one additional thing that's not in here is actually their weekend down at the Cape is actually

014going to coincide with the Massachusetts um, uh, Athletic Directors Association conference which is going to actually be in the same hotel. So, I'll be there as a as an additional kind of um, chaperone. Um, and then also in terms of the medical side of things, at all the games there is an athletic trainer and nurse. And then um, and then there's every year there's a parent uh, that will be the contact for the the the medicine and things like that. I know last year they met with the nurses at the high school prior to going on the trip just to kind of review any necessary uh, medicine right now um, or that they may need to hand out over the trip. Um, but I know our nurses right now are going through and just finalizing

015if there's any uh medicine that um a trained professional would need to hand out to a student. Um, thank you Mr. Demar for that update. Any questions for anyone? >> All right. Would somebody like to make the motion? >> Sure. Uh, I'll move that the school committee vote and approve the NMRHS baseball team trip to Cape Cod from March 27th to 29, 2026. >> I second. >> That is Jackie White with a motion and Lisa Bloom with a second. It is a roll call vote. Randy Rush, >> yes. Mike Lab Labosier. >> Yes. >> Kim Craraven, >> yes. >> Jackie White, >> yes. >> Carla Lima, >> yes. >> Lisa Bloom, >> yes. >> And myself is Yes. All right. Congratulations. Have fun on the trip. >> Thank you. >> We are moving on um

016to our nurse, Katherine Ham. Hamson um on menstrual supply provision. >> Catherine. >> Hi, thank you. So um some of you may be aware that um for the past couple of years we have been providing all of the menstrual supplies in all of the bathrooms free of charge as part of a movement towards something called me menstrual equity. Um and um there is a group called Free Period out of Southeast Massachusetts that has been advocating strongly for this um besides in public schools in in any kind of public buildings. Um but in addition to their advocacy, they also work to um provide resources and they acquired a $500,000 grant from the state to supply um menstrual supplies to all public schools. It's a first come, first- ser basis. We got in under the wire and

017were able to get 30,000 tampons and pads um which and they're which may not mean something to some people, but they're very high quality um organic cotton. Um and the equivalent cost if we were to buy these is between 12 and $15,000. So, I just thought you might like to hear about something positive and um this should take us well through the rest of this year and save us um a significant amount. >> Thank you for that update. Um, being that this is a donation to the schools, um, I think we need to have a vote to accept it since we need to accept all, uh, donations and grants and things. Um, thank you very much, Katherine, for securing that. Um, I'm certain that it means a lot to a lot of people in the

018district. Um, so Lisa, if you'll take a motion now, I will make one. >> I will take a motion. I will move uh that the that the uh district accept the donation of the menstrual supplies. >> I second. >> That is Randy Rush with the motion and Lisa Bloom with a second. It is a roll call vote. We will start with Mike Leoier. >> Yes. >> Labelier. >> Carla Lima. >> Yes. >> Jackie White. >> Yes. Ken Craraven, >> yes. >> Lisa Bloom, >> yes. >> Randy Rush, >> yes. >> And myself, yes. I am going to back up for a second and ask if anyone has any questions of Mrs. Hansen. All right. Well, we are moving on. All right. Thank you. Okay. We're going to the proposed school committee governance guide which I

019sent out earlier this week to everyone. This was a guide that Randy and I put together about our norms. Um norms and >> Lisa. >> Oh, Natalie. >> Yes, my student representative. >> Okay, Natalie, go ahead. Sorry, we'll back up. I was just wondering if like you'd prefer me to be present for the like this point on in the meeting or if it was okay if I left. >> Okay, let you leave that. Sorry. >> Thank you. Have a great evening. >> All right, returning to the governance guide. Um as it it goes over the role of the committee, the public meetings, the meeting norms and professional conduct and how we govern and the communication. Is everyone wanting this to be read out loud or how do they want to go about talking about this

020document? Any suggestions? I would I wouldn't say read it out loud, but maybe just um maybe go through the main sections of it and and just just summarize each of the sections with just like a a sentence each. >> Okay. Um >> I don't know if we can screen share simultaneously just so everyone has it in front of them. >> Let me Let me find the function to screen share. >> And I'm saying that more for the benefit. I know we all have access to it, but just for the public that's on the call as well if they want to follow along. Are you able to see it? >> Yes. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> All right. So, this is the North Middle Sex Regional School Committee governance guide. We broke it down into sections.

021We did the role of the committee. What is the role of the committee? Setting the educational goals, hiring and evaluating the superintendent and advocating to represent the needs of the students. We also do the collective bargaining. That is that insight. Does anyone have any comments on this section or anything that needs to be updated? Seeing no hands, I'll move on to the public meetings. Public meetings are the business meeting held in public. Uh the public participation is welcome during the public comment. Public comment is a sharing input but not a Q&A section. Meetings are conducted efficiently and respectfully effectively and and respectfully. Any questions about the public meetings? And I know that I read all of those. Moving on to the meeting norms and professional conduct. We promote a safe and respectful and inclusive space.

022Cameras are required during virtual meetings. Members are prepared to discuss agenda items. We avoid side conversations and limited use of cell phones. All ideas are welcomed and considered. We address respectfully and promptly concerns. We RSVP to all meetings. Once the vote is taken, we support that outcome and we support one another as professionals, encourage um differing opinions, follow the ethical standards and committee policies and we work collaboratively with the towns and support the district's success. Any questions? Any additions to that area? >> Jackie. >> Yeah. So I think again this is a new document for at least our the members that are currently on the committee. Um I know Lisa you had mentioned that in the past at every meeting we would read through some of the norms just to kind of center us all

023and remind us that this is what we're here to do and how we're here to do it. I guess my question for all of us is we know that there have been definitely some contentious meetings over the last year where um perhaps respect among members and upholding those sorts of values was maybe not followed. So how do we as a group want to make sure that we're carrying forward with this? Is it something that we call out right away? Is it something where we take a breather after a meeting and um kind of go to Lisa as chair to to help us work through them? Um just curious what everyone's thoughts are around that. >> Anyone have any thoughts? >> Kim's got her hand up. >> Yeah. So I I had similar question on the

024um you know the implementation and then just one kind of notation um cameras are required um there's sometimes when people have technical difficulties or they can't get their camera on um so I don't know if we want to soften that language a little bit um you know maybe cameras are expected and the the governance piece piece of using the governance document is a question that I had about the entire document like Jackie did. >> So, Randy, >> if Mike had something, go ahead, Mike. >> Yeah, I was just going to say so I mean it it sounds like, you know, the so first of all, I love, you know, these ideas. because I think these are important things to sort of put down in writing as sort of norms and expectations. But I think you

025know part of sort of the you know school committee doesn't really have a mechanism for sort of for lack of a better term enforcing these norms. These are sort of just things that we agree to as school committee members and then we we sort of are expected to abide by these norms. But I I I think you know if there is disagreements regarding it I think that you know talk you I think if you have an issue like with another member I think going to the chair first and saying hey I have an issue I'd like to address get it addressed and essentially mediate the discussion um and obviously if you know the chair is the other involved party then maybe you go to another member and and talk it out and essentially have someone

026mediate the discussion between you and whoever the uh the other party in your disagreement is because I think that sometimes just having a third party involved can sort of help guide the discussion and you know they can ask questions and and things like that. >> Thank you Mike Carla. Yeah, I think that Jackie had a valid um you know, questionnaire and I think it's something for us to if we're not able to determine now something something for us to think about because um I understand what Mike said, you know, have a a third person, but you know, realistically that hasn't happened in the past. And you know I've I've as a parent not as a school committee member have sat through so many meetings where you know um I think my kindergartener could have done

027better you know in terms of you know being respectful towards others. So I I guess it is important I think to have some type of you know um what happens if people are being disrespectful, rude, bullying others in the school committee during a meeting where we're really here supposed to be you know collaborating with each other to really come to a resolution. Um I I think you know now may not be the time but it's something that we should definitely put into you know into there I think as to what is the resolution because obviously when when one or two people are being heated and not being respectful towards another um how do we resolve that? Anyone else? I would agree we, you know, even though these are things that we are agreeing and we

028don't have like a penal um co code on what happens if you violate it. Um it it is something that we should try to hold each other accountable to. um not to make meetings long, but what I would say is if there's a conduct that is not meeting these criteria and it's disrupting the meeting, then they should be called out in the meeting. Um if it's something that is just kind of like you'd really like you have a problem with somebody, you'd like them to be a little bit different and it's not really disrupting, then that could probably be taken offline and handled outside the meeting. Um, yeah, that's just just a personal feeling. Um, and it's difficult to call people out um in the middle of things and online, but uh we should probably

029come up with some way of doing that. >> Carla, >> Lisa, do you want to go first? I'm sorry. I I've already spoken, but I I I think I think more also in in a repeat offender type of thing. I I know in this new group we haven't had you know knock on wood we've been I think very um collaboratively but I've seen in the past where there has been so many repeat offend offenders into that you know respect of the norms and professionalism I think that you know that's where it you know it becomes a little you know should there be something more than just you know someone being called Lisa Bloom. >> Uh yeah, I just wanted to say that I totally agree with Carla um that we do have to have respect

030for each other. Um because it has made our school committee just so dysfunctional in the past. So um I mean we're all adults. We're not young children. So there's no reason why we can't respect each other. Thank you. >> All right. I think it's all valid points from everyone and I know that times are contentious and there are things happening within the district that are heated and and heavy at times and it does make um people upset. But we do need to move forward on things. And I think as a group, we all need to realize when we hit that boundary and say that we may need to take a step back or we need to take a break if it gets too contentious during a meeting. Um, and anyone I think can call out

031and say, "I need a recess for two minutes." And we can do that. I think that that's a good way to step away for a bit. Um, that's how I would handle some of these if things got too contentious among people. Um, it is good practice. Um, I do think that cameras required may need to be lightened a little bit because I do understand like there are technical difficulties and some people can't be on a camera because of the um the bandwidth. it doesn't work. And so I do understand that one. We can lighten that one. Does anyone have any suggestion to put with it? >> Yeah, I think you could just say uh cameras are expected to be used during virtual meetings unless technical difficulties or limitations make it not feasible. >> Okay. I

032may shorten that a little bit. My >> Yeah. Yeah. But you get the idea. >> I get the idea. I get the idea. All right, Jackie. Um, just remind me, I don't have the live document in front of me to scroll. Is there anything in here about like attendance and if you can't make a meeting like how to >> um there is like please um >> I know that there's the RSVP to meetings to ensure quorum. So >> maybe maybe a follow a follow on to that that says uh if you RSVP yes to a meeting, you're expected to attend that meeting. >> Is that again I just I'm thinking back to like you know we have some good strong attendance from the public tonight and they may be wondering like okay where is my

033either town representative or why is there not a full house a full committee operating tonight? Obviously sometimes things come up. We do make every effort of course to to be here but you know is there some quick punch list at the top of the meeting that says so and so is not here for whatever reason. So >> I don't know legally if we can disclose those things. >> Right. So >> Lisa, >> go ahead, Kim. >> Um this morning, you know, because we had a member that we knew was going to be absent for very valid reasons. And so when we did the roll call, I I mentioned um that member and that it was an excused absence. You know, that it was we knew exactly why they couldn't come. They didn't have to tell

034everybody why, >> but you as you know, you as the chair would know, I as the chair of finance knew why that member couldn't attend. And I let people know that it wasn't just dismissing the meeting that, you know, excused. >> I think that's helpful. >> Yeah. and I can bring everybody up to date. The two absent members do did contact me and tell me that they could not attend tonight for different reasons. >> Perfect. >> Any other questions about this? So, we will I will adjust where the cameras about virtual meetings. We'll adjust that statement. Any other things that need to be adjusted? I'm not seeing any plans. Moving down to how we govern. We conduct business through a published agenda developed by the chair and superintendent. Act only as a collective body. Individual

035individuals members individual members have no independent authority. Base decisions on research, best practice, public input, and finance financial impact. Respect subcommittee recommendations. Maintain confidential confidentiality of executive session discussions. Focus on continuous improvement, not assigning blame. I know that I'm reading it all out, but I think how we govern is important for the public to hear. Any questions? Any concerns? Seeing none. Moving on. Communication. Practice proactive communication and avoid surprises. Share motion and materials in advance when possible. Direct requests for information through the superintendent and the chair. Encourage the model adherence to the district's chain of command and school committee. Individual members may share personal views while clearly stating that they do not speak for the full committee. Any questions on the communication part? Now the Oh, go ahead, Kim. Um, I'm I'm thinking sort of

036this through a little bit. um you know, direct requests through the superintendent and the chair. Um I appreciate that and you know the the meeting information. Sorry, I'm looking at at my document and trying to look at you guys at the same time because you're just too small, Lisa. Um >> no, I can't expand it. Sorry. >> It's okay. We'll we'll teach you how to do that. Um but the I I think that's really important for the uh committee itself and for the administration and staff so that they know what the protocol and the process is and you know I'm much more accustomed to all correspondents going through the chair. I think it helps to streamline um kind of what's coming and going. I know that does put a little bit of extra responsibility on

037the chair. Um, but that's always what I've kind of had as policy and practice when documents are going out. So, I'd love to you see what the rest of the committee feels about that. Randy, >> um, as far as requests going through the chair, um, we generally, historically, and it doesn't mean we can't change going forward, but historically, um, we've basically done that with the exception of the business manager. Um, as uh, the school committee, we're in charge of the budget and she has all the information that we and she's our eyes and our ears into everything in the budget. And so, um, information requests to the business manager has not always been, uh, had to go through the chair and the superintendent. Um, but we've communicated, uh, directly with, uh, Nancy in the past.

038Again, um, if that causes problems, um, we can certainly look at changing that. Um, but it's just always been that way just because that is the bulk of what we do through the year and the only way we have insight. you know, from my perspective, I I appreciate that and know that um that office does hold a wealth of knowledge for us. Um but I think because of that, having a a process so we know so that you know a few of us aren't asking similar questions, it is the only thing, right? Is not it's not to prevent access. It's just to streamline it. Like I might word something one way and Lisa Bloom might word it another way, but if the chair hears it, they're like, "Oh, wait. You know, there's there's two requests

039for similar." And then bring that to the office to say this is what's being asked for and can can you create a report? You they might be able to create one report instead of two reports. So it's just more on the efficiency side, not to prevent those requests coming in because you know collectively we all look at it at a different lens but I just think it can you know streamline to maximize their time. Anyone else have any comments? Carla? >> Yeah, I mean I have, you know, gone directly to the superintendent for certain questions that I think were, you know, timely needed and I didn't see, you know, the need to go through the chair to get to him to get an answer and then wait few days before Lisa can even reply. So

040I I always CC Lisa on things like that or at least I try to. So at least she's aware that there's a request for a certain thing and that if someone else asked for it, she's at least in a loop, but I'm going directly to the source so that, you know, there isn't a lag in getting that that resource back, especially since we're always on a very tight timeline to get things done and, you know, there's a limited time that we, you know, advocate towards, you know, the school committee out of our own, you know, personal time. So, you know, I think having the chair have visibility to it, I think helps. Um, but I think at times, you know, it does make sense to go directly to the source and having, you know, the

041chair have visibility to it. That's just my two cents on it. >> Um, Lisa, I'll let you talk in one second. I'm just going to back up some of this information. Sometimes what has happened and I know it's happened this last year is that it seems like we as like individual members have given assignments to um Brad's team and that makes it hard because Brad may have them working on some other kind of assignment. So that's where we need to be respectful of their time. Um, and so that's why the ask was put out earlier this year that things go through the superintendent and chair so Brad can actually give to his team a timeline of when things can be sent out and done because he's assigning them tasks to do behind the backgrounds that

042we're not necessarily seeing that have to be done. And I know that with the business um office this year, Nancy is only working 60% of the time and trying to train Kevin on the new things that he needs or the things that he has to model. So I think this year there was a little more that we needed to step back and you know give our list to Brad and um go that way. So, just a little background for everyone on that. Lisa Bloom. >> Um, I I do kind of agree with um Carla um that we should definitely CCU, but um because I don't think everything should be censored by the chair. Also, >> I don't think it's censored. I don't think I have censored things um or a chair shouldn't censor things, but

043I think what we're requesting here is that go to the superintendent and the chair so that the chair is aware of all of what is happening. You know, if it does involve the chair, of course, don't CC the chair, but All right, Lisa, do you want to continue or Kim? Okay. >> Yeah. So, when you um sent these out to us, again, reflecting on sort of what I've been used to in the past, um and then also referring to the MASC and what they had put out and they actually, you know, recommend as a best practice um that school committee members will channel requests for information, reports, and data through the superintendent and school committee chair rather than directly to staff. Anything else permanent or any changes to this or adding anything? Kim, do you

044have another question? >> Oh, no. I just forgot to put my hand down. I apologize. So, is this a document that people want to use and sign? I've seen other committees or Randy and I when we were watch looking and researching other places the committee members actually signed this kind of as a contract that they would adhere to these things. Um, is that something that the committee is interested in doing? I don't I don't know that we necessarily would need to sign it because I don't think it would be binding anyways. But we I think we could I think we could vote to adopt these as our as our you know governance adopt this as our governance guide and you know and you and have it moving forward and say that this is what we're

045going to adhere to. But I don't necessarily think that signing it is necessary. >> Thank you. Uh, Kim, >> um, so I'm going to back you up just a little bit. I felt like we went from discussion of how to to deal with um the requests um without a resolution. Um, so I, you know, I think that that's an important matter. I don't know if we need to mull it over and bring it back. Um but that is something that you know I feel that there's a little bit lack of I don't know adherence to it. So if there's questions you know it's in there now for the director the requests um through the superintendent and the chair but I feel like there might be a differing opinion in how we go about resolving that.

046All right, >> Mike. So I think that from a from purely from a like you said sort of a um organizational and kind of processed uh perspective it does make sense for information requests to go through you know again superintendent and chair meaning that like you send an email to the superintendent you CC the chair and that way the chair knows what has been asked of the superintendent So that um you know so that way you know if somebody else you know makes a similar request then the chair can be like well we already know we already have that information and can just um you know I mean well presumably that information would be provided out to the rest of the committee as well but like let's say somebody forgot that we had that information

047and they ask it again you can sort of remind them that like oh we already requested that information and here's the report. Um but I and but I do think that um it's probably best that if we have in the past made you know requests directly to other district staff that's probably something we want to phase out and only do in situations where like for some reason there's like something that needs like a vast collaboration between a school committee and like uh you know the business manager or somebody else and then you you know, make an exception for that request to the superintendent like, hey, can we just talk directly to this person for a little while? Um, so that, you know, so that we can get this worked out. But in general, stick to

048the policy of going through the superintendent for all that stuff. >> Anyone else? I'm good. Thanks, Kim. Did you have something, Kim? Or you're good. Are people now? I'll go forward again. Are people okay with this document? All right. Um, are they okay with the title being governance guide? >> Yeah. >> All right. Then I'll take a motion to and just put the caveat in that um I will update the cameras required part with for technical situations. We will it will not be required. >> All right. >> And I will I will All right. Let's see if I can do this. I will move that we vote to accept this governance guide with the affformentioned edit to the um to the cameras provision um to uh accept this governance guide as a governance guide for

049the school committee. >> second. >> All right. So that was Mike Leos the bossier and Jackie White with the second. It is a roll call vote. Mike, >> yes. >> You guys are over on my other side. I can't see you all at once. >> Um, Mike, Jackie, >> yes. >> Carla, >> yes. >> Lisa Bloom, >> yes. >> Andy Rush, >> yes. >> Kim, Kim Craraven, >> yes. >> And myself is yes. Thank you everyone. Okay. Now, how do I shut off sharing? It's usually the same the same button that you did to start sharing will turn into a stop sharing button. >> Oh, here we go. There it is. >> No, that's not it. >> No. >> Be right in the center at the bottom. >> Right. Turn on. No. >> A green

050arrow that says share. Right at the bottom. Should be right there. >> Okay. There. >> Green. It should be right under the um closed caption >> next to the raise hand. >> It's also alt s. >> There you go, Randy. >> Okay, thank you. >> Did that work? about to stop recording >> should be to the left of that two over >> in the more section at the bottom where it says stop recording the left is is captions and to left of that. It should be share. That's where it is on my screen. >> I have the share, but it doesn't give me the options. It just says share. >> What happens when you click it again? >> Wants me to share more. >> Depending if you had an update or not, the stop share

051might actually be at the top and like it kind of if you hover it'll drop down. That's how it used to be. So, yours might not have updated. Oh, maybe it's at the top. I got it, Lisa. I did it for you. Thanks, Kevin. >> Teamwork. >> Technical difficulties. Sorry, everyone. All right, moving on to the next agenda item. We are moving on to the food service contract advisors that is going to be presented by Nancy Haynes and Kevin Kamir. >> Well, if it's okay, I'll jump in. >> Yep. Go ahead. Uh we are approaching the end of our um food food service contract uh with Fresh Picks. We went out to um for request for proposals a little over 5 years ago actually. Um and we did a the contract requires a one-year contract

052with four optional renewals and we have approached the fourth year of the optional renewals. So we will be going out to for proposal for food service uh company and uh last time we did this we had a small committee um we'll be getting in proposals and the committee will review those and um review the criteria that we select in the in the request for proposal um to advise um and to respond to the various uh vendors. So I I was just looking for maybe somewhere between one and three members to help uh with that process if there's interest. It's really fairly flexible. It could be district employees, could be staff or combination. There could be a I believe there might even have been a parent last time. Um or or Lisa, you probably remember better,

053but um I just wanted to reach out to the committee and um see if there was some interest for this for participating. I was one of the members that did helped with the food service um contracts the last time. It can be fun. We did get samples from one company, but the committee could not test them because not everyone gave samples. So, um I don't know how many people are interested. Is there anyone interested in doing this? It is pretty straightforward. Um, >> Nancy, what's the time commitment, do you think? >> Sorry, what was that? >> What's the time commitment? >> Uh, it probably varies, but it depends on how many proposals we receive. I think the last time it was probably a few hours, two or three times. So, let's say somewhere between four

054and six hours. And I mean Nancy will send you the proposal so you can read them all online and then you just get to together and meet or meet with the companies as well with the representatives of the company and it all depends on how many RFPs are answered back >> right and some of the some of it depends on how we'd like to approach it. You can have interviews be a part of the conversations and then if we had interviews that might take a little longer. I'm going to throw it back to the people that have joined tonight too because again we have great participation. So if there are people listening in, parents, community members who might have some time to dedicate to helping out with that effort, um maybe just email school committee

055and let us know and we can make that connection with Nancy. >> Is there any just timeline uh we haven't fully developed the RFP. A lot of it is plate that we're required to include. >> Um Desi has a s a template that's required. So that that that will speed things up, but we should be having this these conversations in the next couple months and probably be completed by um maybe the end of March, early April. Is there anybody on the committee that is interested to be a representative? >> Kim, >> so I'd be interested, but I don't know if it conflicts with the TEO grant, like if I get myself into a conflict there. >> And I wouldn't try the food. If everybody brought food samples, I wouldn't try the food, >> but I

056like the contract language piece of it. Um, so you all can figure that out if you need someone to look at the contract language piece and the contract will come back to everyone at on the committee. >> Yeah. Before like this is a committee just to do the leg work and come and make a a suggestion. Is that correct? That's how we did it the last time, Nancy. >> Right. Is that correct? >> Um, I can help with this. I didn't enjoy it the last time. >> Yeah, it's not absolutely required to that a school community member be on it. I think we just uh offered it up and if people want to think about that, there's still time. So, um, and I certainly could share the last contract so you have a feel for

057that as well. Do we need a motion to for anybody to be on the committee or to serve as a liaison? How does the committee feel? >> Manny, I would say if you are volunteering right now, we can certainly vote you on. As far as other members, I don't think we need to. Um, if Nancy uh go has just approves anybody who wants to be on it. Um, >> let's do it that way. Then it's official and we can >> make it. >> I move I move uh that the school committee appoint uh Lisa Martin to serve on the food services team and to review and consider proposals submitted by food service companies. Yes, >> that is uh Randy made the motion and Jackie seconded. >> Randy, >> yes. >> Jackie, >> yes. >> Kim,

058>> yes. >> Uh Lisa Bloom, >> yes. >> Carla, >> yes. >> Mike Leosier, >> yes. >> And myself is yes. All right, moving on to the ADA self evaluation RFP review team. I think this is you, Dr. Ree. >> Yes. So, very similar requests to the food services. As you know, last month, uh, you approved the receipt of the $60,000 grant to conduct the ADA self-evaluation. Um, we've put out the RFP. Uh, bids are due by Jan January 20th. So, we're a little bit ahead of the process for the food services. So, we're just looking to see if there's a committee member that wants to be part of the process to review the U proposals that have come in. And um it would probably be a similar time commitment as Nancy had mentioned, but

059over the next couple weeks, >> is there an interest by anyone on this team? I have a question. >> Okay. >> Is it uh and I'm sorry I keep pushing on the time commitment. I'm just trying to be very mindful of where we're all spending time. Um is it you think four to six hours like meeting or is it just actually reviewing on our own the proposals that come in? >> My sense would be it would be review that time would probably be primarily reviewing the proposals on your own. Um and then we would sit down and look at what there's a scoring sheet um that's been established. So you'd go through and score it and then we'd sit down together and go through the scores and then again if we had decided that there

060were any interviews that we needed to have based on the review, we would then set that up. >> Okay. >> I think most of the time would be kind of offline, you know, at your own leisure. >> Okay, perfect. I'm happy to do it. the Jackie is interested. Is there anyone else that is interested? All right, Jackie, I think that spot is yours. Uh, can I take a motion from someone? I will move uh the school committee vote to appoint Jackie White to serve on the ADA self-evaluation RFP review team responsible for securing a contractor to complete the ADA self-evaluation process. I second. >> That was Randy with a motion and Lisa Bloom with a second. >> Carla Lima, >> yes. >> Jackie White, >> yes. >> Lisa Bloom, >> yes. >> Craraven, >> yes.

061>> Michael Labosier, >> yes. >> Randy Rush, >> yes. >> And myself is yes. Congratulations, Jackie. All right, moving on to number six on our new business capacity projections update. Randy had approached me with um a slideshow that she wanted to give, but I want to talk to the committee to give her approval to send this out to everyone to look at. Um, so I'm going to give it over to you, Randy, and you're going to explain your um slide deck that you gave me and then what the request is. >> Well, the request was actually to uh present it tonight. Uh, the um slide slideshow that I have is um I titled it the current capacity and projections for NMRSD. Um, basically all I did was take all of the information that we've gotten

062from the district, um, pull it together because it's come in a couple of different, uh, documents and in different forms. Um, and then I went on to the DEESSE website to gather more information to complete the story on the capacity and the projections uh, for the district. And I wanted to share that out with everybody so everyone had a full picture of where the district is at uh per all the data that is there all in one place. >> Right. Any questions? Carla, >> I I I did look into that and it's quite confusing to dig into it. Is is it possible to have it shared so that she can at least walk us through all the different things? I did read it, but it for me it's super confusing. >> Kim, >> um, so

063I appreciate research and looking at things. Um just wondering you know given the importance of this um if it's better as a small subcommittee group getting together um some representatives from administration and staff um working on the school committee to look at this as as a group rather than just an individual member presentation. >> Jackie White I think similar to what Kim is saying, there's a lot to it, and I'm not trying to punt this, but it seems like, you know, one of the norms and and things that we should try to work on, too, is just our adherence to timing that we're spending on each agenda item. And I feel like this warrants its own like section, right? And I don't know that tonight is the night to do that given some of the

064other more like weightier conversations that we need to have. So I don't know >> Randy >> the reason I had put this together for tonight and I did request it um at least a week in advance uh to have this is just that is it gives a lot of information that um about the capacity through the deesc website and all of the um data that is out there and is just presenting the data that we don't have so that when we're looking at the capacity of the district and we're looking at all these weighty issues that we need to vote on in two weeks. We've had time to look at all of the information and we all have the same information to look at. >> Yeah, I I totally agree. This should be shared with

065all of us at the same time. Kim, do you have your hand up? >> Yeah, Carla does too, though. >> Okay. >> Do you want either one? >> Yeah. Um, I I I agree. I think given, you know, that we do have to make some decisions or at least we were asked to make some decisions in a very tight timeline coming up. I I I like what Kim said about, you know, a group coming together, but I think given the timeline on this, I think it's not, you know, um it doesn't make sense where we've been had asked from the superintendent to make some decisions during the very next school committee meeting, which is within two weeks. I think it's really very very relevant to get an understanding of, you know, capacity and I think

066we've been asking for that as well for a while. So >> Kim, >> I'm going to defer to Jackie. >> Jackie, >> I think I explained myself incorrectly. I'm I'm with what what you said, Randy. Like I think it needs to have its due time and I think it's important that we see it tonight. So, I guess my question is, can we modify the end of our agenda for this evening so that we don't feel the pressure that we need to get through all of the other things perhaps? I don't know. This is just an idea. >> All right, Kim. >> So, again, I'm I'm research focused. I appreciate the research. Um, I just feel, you know, we are a school committee and that it's uncomfortable a bit for me for not not that research

067is coming forward, but that one person would do research to bring to the committee. Um, sounds like we've got the tools, you know, um, quite honestly, Randy sent out an email. I I've looked at many of those places, you know, those sites on my own. I I think when it comes like one person to the committee, it's harder to look at it collectively as coming together from the NM district with the committee and the staff and the administration. You know, we've got resources with Jeremy who knows all of this really well. I think there's different context that can then come together be more enriching when it's done collectively. Mike. >> Yeah, I think I I don't have any problem with like having that information presented tonight. I think, you know, there's no reason that we

068can't see the information, just take it in and then, you know, not act on it tonight. We don't, you know, we don't need to do anything with that information right now. I think that that information we can receive it and then we have time to incorporate it into all the other information that we have and try you know use it to help us make our decisions moving forward. >> Carla >> I agree and first of all I want to thank Randy that's quite a lot of research that you've done and I haven't been able to do that on my own so I appreciate you bringing that forward. Um, as Kim mentioned, I think, you know, if if it's uncomfortable after it's presented and, you know, it warrants that, you know, the entire school committee feels

069like that there should be a a subcommittee or something else, I think at that point, we can we can determine, but I think this is information. It's just information that Randy pulled together from the website that everyone clicked in and we can see what it is. But I really had a hard time just following it. So I think you know for us to see I think it doesn't hurt any of us to to be presented that information and if there's additional questions and if we feel like a group or a subcommittee should be doing it then you know before this next meeting that we are supposed to make votes on I think if someone's able to do that and collectively present it before then you know I think given the timeline it doesn't warrant for

070for us to not view it at this point and and we have been asking for this data I think for a while And you know, I think it's information that we should look at. >> Yeah. I guess if it's the will of everyone to have a presentation, maybe make it optional at the end. Um, again, it's it's information that's been called. um if if it's just straight information like we can look at information that's given to us and then come back and discuss it um rather than adding to the agenda >> Brad and then I'll go to you Randy. I just wanted to clarify. I'm not um I'm not I just want to make sure that everyone's aware. Um I I know the committee has been asking for um the amount of space that we

071have in the district and that was shared um quite some time ago with the committee. Uh and I do think it's important just to share that uh that was originally uh developed by each building administrator and then myself and Mr. Hammond walked through every building in the district and looked at every single space in the district to um to ensure that everything we had was as accurate as possible. So I I just want to put that out there to the committee. Um we did not look at at Desi quite frankly just because they're not in the district. Um, and I'm not saying that their information is not valuable, but um, I do think it's important that the information we got from our building leaders, uh, our principles, assistant principles in the building, knowing their spaces,

072knowing their buildings, and then both myself and Mr. Hammond, uh, doing walkthroughs of each plant and looking at each physical plant in every space within those buildings to ensure accuracy, um, was was pretty thorough. Um, again, I'm not saying that that um that that the slides are not valuable. I'm not saying that at all. But I I do want to put out there that we did share information with the committee when it was asked for and we did it in a pretty quick turnaround time. >> Randy, >> Brad, I am not disputing anything that the um district has provided us. A matter of fact, I used the information that you gave and I just kind of rounded out the story. Uh it's more um on enrollment and enrollment trends. >> Yeah. >> Um and looking

073historically and where we're at with some additional information that uh Desi had. Um I am not disputing anything as far as uh what the administration has told us about the capacity in the buildings currently. >> Sure. Okay. >> Um so this really is more about the enrollment and the trends and um and where students are going. Um, and I had mentioned that and or rather offered to put in a couple extra comments to explain a couple things I was going to do in person and just send this out ahead of time so that everybody had a chance to look at this before the meeting. Um, that was my um original understanding that this was going to be in the packet so everybody could see it beforehand. Um, so I really wanted everyone to go ahead

074and see this to be able to absorb it, especially with the tight uh time frame that we have. >> Sure. Thank you, >> Carla. >> Yeah, I I again I don't see the issue of us viewing it. Um, I think it's all information that will help us in this decision that we have to make. And it's, you know, again, Brad, thank you so much for sharing that information. We did get that information, but I'm also a very much like visual data person, and I think this helps us, you know, with projections and everything else. So, I I don't see why we we shouldn't share it at this point, you know. Anyone else? So, I do have a concern and I'm just putting it out there and it's not when data is um put together um

075and it's just shared, it has to be objective. It can't come from one viewpoint. And so when one person has put it together, sometimes you get a biased view. And that is my only concern is because it could be any type of request an individual on this committee could do and bring it forward and say here's my data everyone. This is what I have researched. It may not be what like the committee wants to go down. Like I'm saying like if somebody came and said this is curriculum. Well, we have people that do curriculum. Gary does curriculum and things like that. So I just get concerned. Um that's my only concern is if one individual comes forward with information and asks a request to do a presentation. That is my concern. All right, Randy. Uh,

076>> I would respectfully say that, uh, we are a committee that brings information to each other and has discussions to discuss things. Um, if there is something that is overlapping a curriculum and somebody wants to bring something forward and do a presentation, it is up to everybody here um, after the presentation uh, to sit there and say that's in our purview, that's not in our purview. Um, we want to put that off to a subcommittee. um you know, whatever we want to do with the information, but we're here to as long as it has to do with something that we vote on and something that uh we are discussing. What's the difference between a presentation and me just sitting here and spouting off and telling everybody everything that's in my presentation? Because I can certainly

077go ahead and do that. I thought visually would be a nice way to present it that people can take it afterwards or rather one of them beforehand to be able to look at graphs and data and I have links to the reports that I pulled the information from so that people can absorb it and look at it and decide for themselves what the data is telling them and whether it's pertinent and what they want to do with it. And I would expect that from anybody who is presenting or talking in this meeting. Jackie, >> um I agree 100% with what Randy just said and I appreciate Lisa that you're, you know, thinking about us, you know, not being presented with biased information, but I I do think that's our job here is to take what

078each member is is sharing with us and has taken the time to put together and we use our own critical thinking skills to figure out and sus out and then we discuss. Like that's the beauty of us being on meetings together. Carla, >> I I think Jackie just spoke took the words right out of my mouth. So, >> okay, Lisa. Boom. >> I totally 100% agree with Jackie and Carla. Um, so moving forward, what how would people like this because we do have an agenda full of items yet? Um, Carla, >> I think if we had already done the presentation, we might have already been done with in instead of this long discussion personally. >> Well, we can't go back in time. So, what do we want to do going forward? I I would like

079to move to have the presentation for us and so we can move forward. >> Do we want to put it at do we want to put it at the end or do we want to do it right now? >> I'm going say either one is fine with me. Um I can go through it fairly quickly um and then share a share it with everybody so they can look at it in depth. Mike. >> Yeah, I think if you can do the, you know, the fast presentation version of it, um, you know, that as as reasonably quickly as you can, then we can get through it and then we can, you know, peruse it in more detail later. So try not to get bogged down in any of the details for this presentation and then maybe

080we come back people can come back with more questions at the next meeting if there's any unanswered questions um after reviewing the information later. >> All right, Brandy, do you want to share your screen? Or do I have something? >> Yep, she can. >> Yes, she can. Okay, you're muted, Randy. Okay. Is my screen being shared? >> Yes. Okay. Because it doesn't show on my actual screen there. It only shows up there. >> We can hear you. >> All right. So, the current capacity and projections for North Middle Sex Regional School District. This is just going through exactly what this um district had given us the administration. Um I just put it into a little bit you know with totals you know the one uh district is from the class size analysis 121025 provided by

081the admin. exactly what they have with the number of students in each grade. Um I took out anything except for steps and steps is what we're looking at moving uh peppen 5 to 8 per 5 to8 and the high school all provided by the district. No changes. Um I'll skip the questions for right now. The NZDC enrollment projections we all got this in our packets. So you can take a look at what the projections are. where they're looking at uh birth rates are very consistent going forward um and we have a declining enrollment um through the next 10 years a very slow one um this is a uh graph that I put together the uh years FY19 20 21 22 23 through 26 these are all K to2 enrollment numbers for the district from directly

082from the DEESC website. So I went to their profiles page, got the numbers of how many kindergarten kids, first, second, third through 12th. Um, what I did from year to year is I looked at the same cohort. So the kindergarten uh FY19, 219 students to the first grade in FY20 and how whether the um enrollment increased or decreased. I have it colorcoded for anything over 3%, it's yellow. if it was a positive over 3% increase and I have it read when it was negative uh more than 3% increase. So we can kind of get a quick visual of uh the en the cohorts going forward and what we lost. You can uh see I have 21 and 22 star because those were the COVID years and those were really kind of anomalies let's just say

083with enrollments um different trends you can see is 8th to 9th grade um we have increasingly lost more students this particular year in FY26 um we have a number of grades that we lost a significant number of students in um this is a yearly gain or losses this is just th those percentages put in numbers from FY19 again I skipped over the COVID years 23 24 25 and 26 this is the number of students in the same cohort that was lost from when one year to the next um as you can see um it's been increasing FY19 was before COVID uh we are losing significantly more students um over the years than we were before COVID um class size analysis modified this is um in gray here this is exactly what the um district had

084given us for the draft of the unused potential space full classrooms only. I know there were some smaller classrooms listed on there and there's some move room to move around, but I was trying to get the big picture. Uh current grades uh with averages above 24. Um you can go ahead and I I listed those available classrooms with the steps asis with a maximum of 24 classrooms. So obviously um at Hawthon Brook they had three grades that were over the uh 24 average per class. They would need an extra classroom for each one of those grades bringing their free classrooms down to two. Um currently uh there's four classrooms at Varnbrook and Nissitid that are being used for steps programs. And so then we I took a look over here if those left Varnbrook and

085Nissitet um how many available classrooms we would have in each of the schools. You can take a look at that later and I have that data. Um this is uh the grade level enrollment pre and postcoid. So FY19 to FY26. Um uh this is school age children in the three towns remain the same and I'll get to that in just a moment. Um you can see the kindergarten um there's a difference of five students there. There's a difference in sixth grade from precoid to after COVID of 50 students in the sixth grade. We have a difference in the seventh grade of 27 students less 50 at the high school. It's even more that we have less from 2019 to 2026. Um with the overall um 273 students lost between FY19 and FY26. Um the FY19

086classrooms used versus FY26. So I have a s um document I will send to everybody. It was just a a FY19 enrollment projections from FY19. Um this is the number of classrooms for um K through uh or K through eight is what I was uh using here uh for SECCC uh right now uh because it would be K to1 AES and SMS I combined those. Um so if you could take a look at the information here on space we may need if we go back up to the same levels of FY19. Um, the attending students report. This is one of the most revealing uh reports that I found on the DEES website. The link is down below. Um, what this tells us is of all of the total school age students in the three towns

087where each of them are enrolled. Uh academic regional schools would be um North Middle Sex, vocational schools, collaboratives, charters, out of district uh public schools would be the school choice out um homeschooled instate and out of state private and parochial schools. As you can see, um the trend um for private schools is going up. Uh there's been a steady increase since 22. Um the uh but the school age population has remained the same from 2015 or rather um very similar 2019 on with losses of 15 and 17 going forward. Again in a graph form this is the total attendance. So this is the students that are of school age in the three towns. Uh the red is how many attend public schools. you can see the trend downward and um in NMRSD. So uh in

088our district you can see the trend going down although the number of students there have not changed. Uh attendance outside of the school you can see vote tech has had a huge increase in students going. You have private and parochial schools have a huge increase um in them. homeschool had the large increase over um COVID years and it's kind of settling out much higher than it was in FY19. Again, more information from the DEES. This is the school choice enrollments. You can see we have stopped school choice in um it's a nice trend to see the school choice out has gone down but our I didn't do the percentages with our decreasing uh population but you can see we are now paying for students going out of district much more than we are getting money

089back. This is the revenue last year. You can see $23,000 in and we were charged $397,000 going out where it's usually been more coming in than going out. Um and again uh charter school tuition which is actually much more expensive to us than the um the school choice because we're paying a full tuition and being charged. Um you can see this is just for North Middle Sex. Our tuition has been um typically up around 800, but we're having years um in 900 million dollars that we're being charged. If we can get these students back in the district, uh it'll do our budget wonders. And I will stop sharing there. I'll leave the questions um on my slides. Um I can take those out as well. I will share that. And if anybody has any questions

090here, again, it's just really kind of looking at um our declining enrollments. Um, are we doing things in the district that kids don't want to come here? The kids are still here in the three towns, but we not getting them into our school. Is that going to change? Do we need to keep capacity for those students? It's questions that everybody needs to think about uh when we're looking at permanently closing a school and changing our capacities. And that's it. >> All right. Thank you, Randon. Anyone have any quick questions or do they want time to absorb it and then come back? >> Mike, >> I just wanted to say thank thank you for putting that together. You know, obviously you went through it real quick, but I could already see there's a lot of good

091information in there. Just helpful to sort of put some of that in perspective. I've seen some of that information in the past at various other, you know, presentations, but it it does do a pretty good job, it seems like, of summing up all that information. So, I appreciate that. >> Kim, you're on mute. Kim, >> uh, just wondering why the, um, step kids for Squanica and Horon were not listed. I'm sorry the what the steps >> step you had those blank >> for cook and hon uh there is no step students there right now all the step students are at um Varnbrook and is desert they are looking for next year there's talk about them moving to uh towns and schools for next What about the LEAP kids? Are they not >> I did not

092include those because they're not changing and they're also a small cohort and I didn't want to kind of put those numbers up here in case they're that number. I didn't know what the lowest number I could say as far as being in a program without identifying them. >> So th those are things that with a presentation some disclaimer, right? because now this information goes out. It's now public information. This is why I say putting these things on a on a committee level so that there'd be something on that slide to explain it. So I'm here with you as part of the committee. I see that I can ask you that question kind of knowing what's going on. But if that goes out into the community, they don't know. This is why I said it's really

093important to bring information like this with a committee before it comes back. Okay, I can put a disclaimer on it and it's I hear you as far as not wanting to put out uh bad information. But it's no different than if I say something and it's incorrect except now this was officially now becomes part of our public record. And I'm not dismissing. I love research. I love bringing things forward, but I love collaboration. So we can do things like that >> because it's harder when you're working independently for just a small thing like that. >> And respectfully, if we had started this a year ago when we were looking at all the enrollments and we had a committee looking at this, we would have had the time for all the collaboration. We have two weeks

094to make a decision and I thought it very important to get this information out. >> So I apologize for any small errors, but use your judgment. Take a look. You have the links to everything. um the information with all of the other specialty programs. Um I think that we're in meetings. They may be public records as well. >> Carla, >> again, I'm going to piggyback on Mike and and and thank you, Randy, for putting this together. I'm a very visual person. I like seeing graphs and for me, it really helps to just visualize things. So, I know we didn't nominate you to do this and I appreciate you going, you know, taking a lot of time to do this cuz I know it would have taken me forever to try to put this together on

095my my end. So, I appreciate that. And again, I think it's what Randy said, you know, we got to absorb it. If we feel at the end of this meeting that collectively we we want to see more and do a subcommittee, then I think we need to also extend any additional voting based on, you know, the data that we can collect and put together. So, I appreciate it, Randy. Uh, yes. I want to just say thank you, Randy. This is a lot of work to put to this together and with our time frame of, you know, having to make a vote soon. Um, you know, it's important for us all to see and for our community see as well. Um, I mean, it's part of our transparency with our community. So, and now questions can

096be answered. Thank you. >> And like it's nothing against Randy putting this presentation again. I want to make that clear that mine is more about the process that we have to take to get the presentation right. Um, that's my only concern is that we follow a process. All right, Carla. I'm sorry, Lisa, and I appreciate that you mentioning that. And I think I'm going to piggyback on Randy. I think if we had started this back in September or maybe even end of last year, I think if we had this data right in front of us as a subcommittee or other committee, I I think, you know, maybe we could have gotten even more data and more graphic and more, you know, visual for everyone to see. So, um that >> I think um Kim, >>

097yeah, I think the only other thing to um just reflecting on it um that there was the question about surge capacity. So, in context, I'm not exactly sure what that surge capacity is referencing. um especially where at the finance committee meeting we you know are hearing and the um trends show that we have declining enrollment and then there was the information about homeschooling and kind of on that you know the kids are here in the district but they're choosing something else and I think it's just around around 5 and a half% increase don't quote me on the exact number but across the country homeschooling is up too so there again like the information when it comes out. I like it to just be a little more, I guess, tempered to put us into context. And

098you know, Mike and Lisa were there this morning when we were talking about averages. Like averages isn't necessarily the most helpful indicator um when we're looking at things because that can give a really distorted picture. And it's not not dismissing it. I think it's great. Um I love I love research and taking initiative. It's just as a committee being able to work on it jointly and and kind of answering some of those questions as we go. >> All right, Randy, >> I I appreciate that perspective. Um, but the the main purpose of this is to decide, do we think these are the trends that are going to change? Um, Vogue Tech is very very uh big right now across the country. Is that going to change? homeschooling was less. Did we do anything in the

099district? Did the uh budget crisis we've been having the last few years drive students out? Do we think they're going to come back in? Private and parochial. Again, a lot of those happened um at COVID um when those kids graduate and new kids come in, do we think that trend of that really high um private school and parochial school is going to continue or are these students going to come back to the district? And as a committee, we need to think about that. Kind of consider looking around whatever sources you have. If you think we're going to have students coming back into the district, then you have to decide, do we want to have the capacity in the district for when that happens or do we want to rely on search capacity, which I believe

100um if we close Ashby's search capacity is going to be um the um the mobile classrooms. Brad has definitely said that that is something he sees in the future of the district and we as a committee have to decide is that something that we want to consider for the district that we're going to think of mobile classrooms as um solutions in the future or do we want to keep more capacity now? It's all decisions to make but this is the basic information that allows everyone to think about it. All right, I think it's time to move on. So, thank you Randy for the presentation and please send that out and we'll just please give it to Robin too as a file to put in our documentation. All right, moving on to the Valley Collaborative FY25

101annual report and FY25 audit and FY26 update. Brad, is there anything with the Valley Collaborative or this just sharing information out to the public? >> Just sharing information. >> It'sformational. Yep. >> All right. Um, we do have an executive session that got placed on today. I did go to the legal team and ask because we did have an update that I needed to update the committee in on before we move forward in the rest of the um meeting. So, would somebody make the motion to go into executive session? And we are reconvening. >> Somebody got the motion. The committee moves into executive session. >> You actually have to read it. >> Read it. >> Uh, >> do you have it up, Jackie? Or I can read it. >> I do have the agenda. I just

102don't see it. So, if someone else has it handy, go go for it. >> Um, I will move uh to meet in executive session pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30A section 21A for the following purpose. Purpose two, to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with non-union personnel superintendent of schools. >> I second. >> All right, that is Brandy making a motion and Lisa seconding it. Mike, yes, sorry. Brandon Rush, >> yes. >> Lisa Bloom, >> yes. >> Jackie White, >> yes. >> Kim Craraven, >> yes. >> Carla Lima, >> yes. >> And myself. And I think I have to read the statement as you guys go into executive sess session. Um, right. I read it again. Correct, Robin? >> Uh, yeah,

103you can either read it here or read it in the executive session. >> I'll read it in executive session. All right. If I can ask everybody to log off um or make sure that they're cameras are off and they're muted. We'll wait till everyone joins and then I need to take a roll call vote again or not a vote, a roll call. >> Roll call. Yep. I can just remind um members to raise their hand so I can promote them. There you go. Thank you. Robin, can you note in the minutes that Keenan France um joined our meeting? >> Yes. >> As a member at this time. And is everyone? >> I don't see Carla yet. >> Um let's see. Oh, she's just raising. She just raised her hand. >> Thank you, Ka. >> All

104right, we are reconvening in open session. I need to take a roll call of all the members that are present. Lisa Bloom, >> yes. >> Andy Rush, >> yes. Kenan Francois. >> Yes. >> Craven. >> Yes. >> Carla Lima. >> Yes. >> Jackie White. >> Yes. >> Mike Labosier. >> Yes. >> Lisa Martin. Present. All right. I'm going to hand this to Kim. >> Thank you very much. Um I'm bringing up the topic here of the superintendent's contract. Um we have been working um collectively as a committee with the superintendent and we have agreed to extend the superintendent's contract um that will end on June 30th, 2030. and the compensation for the superintendent will keep with the same uh cadence as his prior contract with the 3% per year. Um so that is no different.

105It's just been lengthened. We have uh changed the section on um his goals and objectives because of his tenure time with uh the district. uh DESIE says that after the first contract year, you can go to a bienial um evaluation process that they've laid out that is now in the contract under section five goals and objectives. In that section, there is also discussion about um how the evaluation is conducted. And so uh prior to there was uh language about a written evaluation that it could be signed by the chair and the superintendent and put in a file and that such signature doesn't necessarily indicate agreement and that a uh the superintendent may respond in writing. This has been updated to um mirror some of the best practices and it did go through um there was

106uh legal that had looked at at this language as well and it will be uh each committee member will submit individual feedback only to the chair or their design. A composite evaluation process will be compiled and the written evaluation will be still signed by the chair and the superintendent and placed in the file still does not um indicate any uh agreement or disagreement um if somebody signs it and that no individual documentation of evaluative nature um prepared by an individual member will be retained um in the file just by the individual member. it's individual feedback. Um, but that's not subject to the um public disclosure under Mass General Laws 3A section 22E. And that was actually um something that some of you might remember came out as um a document from the AG's office here

107in Massachusetts related to the um the process of individual evaluations. Um, in section 14 of the contract, um, that covers the vacation policy, um, the superintendent, um, the only change is that he may carry over five unused vacation days per year to the next year, but they can't be carried forward after that. So, they're not going to stack. So if it's um for this year, if there was five, it would go to the next fiscal year, but they would sunset at the end if they would not um be used um and forfeited. Um on the bereavement leave, um the old contract said that bereavement leave have to be consecutive and for um practicality that is um you know, not something that we wanted to to stick to. So that if there's, you know, arrangements that

108need to be made on a Tuesday and then something isn't happening till the next week, um that that would um allow someone to take the days when they need it. Um not when the contract says that they need to be taken. Um and um inclusion of immediate family does include um you know the immediate family members um adopted children, stepchildren and such. Um, so that section is updated and the the only other change um from the old contract again being the dates and then we updated all of the new committee members names so that it will be signed by this committee. So that is um what has been changed in in the document. Um, we do need to do a public vote of this. And did you want to handle the vote, Madam Chair? >>

109Yes, I can handle the vote. Um, do I have a motion to accept the document presented? >> Still moved. >> That was Kenyan Prince. >> Do I have a second? And Mike, was that your second? >> Yes. Yep. a second. Is there any discussion on the before the vote was taken seeing no one's hands? That's I'll go down the list. Carla Lima, >> no. >> Uh Michael Labasio, >> yes. Jackie Wayne, >> yes. >> Randy Rush, >> no. >> Uh, Kenan Franis, >> yes. >> Kim Craraven, >> yes. >> Lisa Bloom, >> I can't hear you. >> No. >> And myself is Yes. All right, moving on to the next item on the agenda is the Ashb Elementary School. Um, Carla, you were going to share the results of the survey with about Ash. >>

110Yes. Um, do you mind sharing on on the screen or um, how do I >> You're asking me. Oh my god. See if I can I do have it up. So share. Can everyone see that? Very small, but um >> we want it bigger. >> Yeah. Are we able to zoom into it? So down on the bottom there's a little magnifying glass. If you hit the plus button to There you go. That should make me >> too big. >> Perfect. >> I'm I'm I'm hard of uh seeing so I have really bad vision. So um we first of all we had an astronomical amount of um responses as you can see. 618 people from the Ashb community chimed in to um to the survey. So, you know, I want to first of all thank the

111the the community for taking their time to actually answer some of the survey from um Ashb um that came out of the Ashb community. So, um the question there um I know people were asking, so do you live in Ashb? So, um, 90 95% of the people said yes. Um, so if we can scroll down and there you go. Um, 96 actually 96 uh 12 of the people said yes. In the next question, for how long have you lived in Ashb? Um, so if we scroll down out of the people, um, 24 people skipped, but most of the people have lived in Ashb for more than 10 years. Um, and the next, um, level is 5 to 10 years. But we had a really um strong community of people that have lived here for a

112long time. Uh 14% of it of them have lived here for less than 5 years. Thank you, Lisa, for that. I appreciate that. I can see all the data below it. And then um out of the 618 people, four of them skipped of people that have children that actually go to our school district um NM school district. So um 36% of them um do have kids that go to the school district and 63% of them don't have children that are in the school district. So about 226 um people that have students in the school district responded uh with a yes. Um out of the all the people that responded, how many of them have had children in the uh NM school district in the past? Um so 63% of those people said yes that they

113have had children in the school district in the past and only um 36% said no. So out of all the people that responded 387 at some point um now or in the past have had children in the school district. And here we ask for people to rank um or the the the Ashb asked for people to rank um the potential use for the building. So, um, they were asking, um, you know, what the community wanted the school building to be used for. So, um, if you can scroll up just a little bit more. I can't really read that small. I'm sorry. Um, just bear with me. I'm going to look at my own hair. Um so um most of the people um public elementary school um more than 50% of the people voted in that

114route. Um technical vocational school and training was second um at highest that people voted for and then early childhood um center as well. um lease out of the building. Um 6% of the people voted that and then sell the building um was even smaller and then other uses um in purple. Um again voting in ranking order of what you know a higher preference to lower preference. Um out of the you know with the following outcome would you support most supportive for the school? Please rank rise up and rise down. And out of those ranking uh space for uh a space that serves all ages and needs um was second highest. um fully operating as a school um was really the highest rating um that we got there in the scores. Um following that was for

115programs that create jobs and internships. And then um a facility that generates rental revenue was, you know, um considered as well. And then the the least um percentage we got is a hub that reduces isolation. And then lastly, I'm not supportive of reusing of a reuse plan. Would you support an override of upgrades and repairs? Um, again, this one here, I I must say based on also the the the comments that we received on the feedback as well, um, there was a lot of people that were unsure, uh, most of the people voted yes that they would support, 41%. So that's 254 people. Um if we look at it, you know, compared to how many of those people that have NM, that would be, you know, students right now, that would probably be close to

116uh the full population. But it's 41% voted yes. And then 38% voted unsure. And then if we look at the comments, I think um the question was you know um people were asked questions of you know would the override and upgrades repair um be followed by you know a yes being reopened and I think a lot of people commented on the open comment as you see there's um a second um document that I shared of all the comments but a lot of people that voted unsure on these overrides they had questions on you know if we override support for repairs would that mean that the repairs would be made so that it could be reused as a school uh versus something else. So there were some questions on that from the community. It was quite

117a few of them on that unsure. And then as well uh would you support the town conducting an assessment of AES? 61% of the people voted yes. So 379 of those people that voted um 14% voted no and again 23% of the people were unsure. Um so a lot of people had comments on this as well. I I'd encourage you to go and read the PDF with the comments from the community, but it asks for you to please rank um importance of um continue use of the building. Um do you have any main concerns? Um I think this question a lot of people had question around the question. Um but um a lot of people had concerns on the overall cost. Um the the next concern was maintenance and staffing um location suitability. Um and

118then again there were concerns around parking and traffic and then um accessibility and safety and um again 65% were really more concerned about the overall cost um in town should not invest in this building. And lastly, um you know, there's the the open feedback uh from the community and there were 250 answers of people that actually took their time to type out. Um a lot of them are very long, some of them are um an entire paragraph, some are two. So I would strongly suggest for the school committee to go back and take your time to read those because the community has a lot of feedback that they took their time to share back with us. Uh which is very I think unusual that we we actually get that much of a feedback as a

119written statement from from a community. So I appreciate it. That's what I have to share on that part. Robin, do you want to put take me off sharing mode? And then Lisa, I I also um I know that there was questions about the ADA as well. Um I don't know if that's going to be shared separately, but um we do have feedback on that, too. Yeah. >> Give me one second. Am I unshared? >> Yes, my screen. Okay. Um, first let's do questions around >> yes >> the survey. Um, and I want to be clear to the public that this was a survey done by the Ashby or by Ash the town of Ashby >> and not by the school district. >> Correct. >> Just to get that on the record there. >> All right,

120questions. Jackie, >> thank you Carla for stepping us through that. Um, I agree that there's so many comments which is really great. Um, lots of feedback there. Um, first a comment and then a question. Just I'm struck by how many um, people responded that don't have kids in district and just wondering and this feeds into my question, how were residents made aware that the survey existed? Um, I would just I would love to hear how the town went about getting the, you know, word out to people that, hey, there's this the survey for you to fill out and if that do you feel like impacted the amount of families that actually responded to it? >> Yeah, from my understanding and again um Mary's not here to comment on it, but the town actually made this

121as a public comment um during one of their meetings. uh they put it on social media and they put it on their um there was a link on the actual town website as well. So the QR code that people would just scan and and would get right into the survey. So how did how did um they keep the integrity of the data meaning did they make sure that people didn't take it twice? How was that kept? that is done through Survey Monkey. So, I don't know details on that, but I know Kim is very much more aware of Survey Monkey, but um I I think every time you go in there, you need to put your information in there when you do the survey. >> Kim, >> I'll just talk to that. So there are

122ways in survey monkey that you can set protocols so that it's not repeated um by the same IP address you can do segregation of it and then you can actually run an analysis um so for example if the IP address is the library um and there's quick repetition of a survey that someone takes it once and then they take it again and then they take it again and then they take it again um an analysis can done to weed those out um and consider them bad, right? Because if each of us were at the library, it's unlikely that that library station would be used by all of us consecutively within the same time frame. And so I I don't know whether that was done or not, but that's ways that not just in Survey Monkey,

123other other survey tools that would have done surveys. that's the process that you go through and so you can weed out those um those ones. So I don't know how it was done in this situation. Um the other way that you can do them um you know obviously is by invite but then everyone would have to have the email address which is not practical for a townwide survey. And this did not require logging in, so anyone could just take it. >> Any other questions? >> Jackie White, >> again, more of a comment. I was struck by how many were unsure if they would support the override. Like for me, I I would have expected to see more like definitive yeses. So my my question I guess for us to think about is like what is

124missing from the context setting that folks feel like they can't make that decision yet. >> Yeah. And again, I think if you read the comments, a lot of those people that put unsure about overrides. And I can speak from being at the last town meeting where people actually commented they were very willing to support any type of override that would maintain a school open in our town. Uh but very unwilling to support any type of override that meant we don't have a school in our town. And that was across the board consensus um in our town meeting. Um, and you'll you'll read that in the comments when you go in depth on it. So that I think the question could have been asked differently. Um, would you support an override if that meant AES would

125be opened as an elementary school? And I think we would have gotten different answers on that or better answers instead of unsure. >> Randy, >> yeah, I I think hindsight is 2020 unfortunately. Uh it usually is in these cases. Um I would imagine uh the cost I mean if we were going to tell them that it's you know $40 million all on them you'd get a lot more of those unsure ones saying no. And if it was you know 5 million there may have been a lot more that said yes. Um so not knowing the context of how much those repairs would be um as well as override versus uh debt exclusion uh could have been if people understand the difference between those um those are two different things. Um so just a lot of

126uh ambiguity about exactly what they were supporting. Um they didn't feel I imagine they didn't feel that they were able to answer that question with a definitive yes or no. Um, but I still think um 600 is a phenomenal uh number uh from such a small town. Um I believe there's like 3,000 residents including uh children who didn't take this uh in the town. Um I have never seen um anything in these three towns with such a high percentage rate coming back. Um so and those comments do express a lot of that uncertainty. So just read those um and you can get some of the answers. Uh Kim, >> thanks uh thanks Carla for the the presentation. Um a couple of the things that we're you know pondering right now that could be called out

127of the survey. A lot of times when you do uh some cross tabs of you know uh those with ones in the school and how they answered on the override and then you can cross tab some other information. You can call it out. you can call it out by their comments so that um preparations can be made should the community want to do an override. Um one of the things that I think is unfortunate um you know before I kind of stepped away from from the process is there were some other questions um in the uh the question about the the assessment. So rather than it just being the single question, there was more depth in there about feasibility study for options and cost um feasibility on the upgrades um support of different funding. you

128just to dig in a little bit and I understand you know the the TA wanted it shorter and she eliminated those questions after you know our small little working group had said these were the questions to move forward and I think the other part that as a school committee member disappointed in not seeing the other collocation so when the survey went out it sort of truncated at just the educational pieces and what I found really interesting is that there was a lot of comments and then we get a lot of comments in our letters about the school really being the hub and the heart of the community, but some of those hub heart questions were eliminated and it might have given us more information on what the community was willing to support um and for

129for the rest of the committee. There were questions originally um that would have been posed about not just early childhood education center child care. It had before and after the vocational that um was still in there, adult education, art, music, culture, shared community, kitchens, training, food prep, co-working, small business space, um colllocation of a senior center, um things that could be shared within the building, um health, fitness, wellness classes, and early on, you know, having that analysis of what Ashby could do revenue, um you know, might be something that gets reconsidered, Carla, by by Ashby to say, would that would that change how people felt on an override if they thought there was a potential for other uses of the facility to address the other section? Um trying to get that funding for the other

130section because that's such a huge consideration for for the town, right? you've got this facility, people are very much, you know, a good number of the people are very much tied to the building. If only a small portion is being used by the school, like what about the other pieces? And I I just feel like now that information is lost off your initial survey to kind of leverage that of would that switch the people that were unsure to being more sure? um if if it attended to some of their needs as well. You know, while you had a good representation, it's just more information um that that you might have um moving forward in the future to see does that does that change the groups that would support putting money into the infrastructure or finding

131fun to address that wing, which is super critical. Um but it's great to have a starting point with information for sure. Yeah, and I agree. And I think right before um I think you you you no longer joined the meetings. We discussed about doing that, but it seemed a little too long of a survey and they really wanted something more granular. Um but I think it's definitely something I can bring back to, you know, to the town and and see if they want to do another survey or maybe even the school district if we want to do a survey asking those questions as well um to the community. But I think there was also that open comment and you'll see that a lot of people did make also other suggestions as well. But um speaking

132with Mary, I it seems like the town is also willing to discuss with the district um you know other options maybe leasing back part part of the building um you know to share costs to keep it as a school. So there there are you know open discussions with you know the town about that. So there it isn't something that they're completely just off the table. I think it's up to us to negotiate and discuss that with them as as an option. >> Yeah. I I think that the hard part, you know, because I when I came on it was the ask of like what can we look at over the next year to see about viability. um you know some of the other grants will be coming up and having that money to go I

133mean the money the information to go after the money of like hey state you know you've got this around XYZ program and here's our data to support that our community would like that to try to get some of those other things addressed because unfortunately it's not a small dollar amount to make some of the changes um and just thinking long term like and just from a school committee perspective of like, okay, what do we have now for information that can inform the decision making over the long haul? Because if it's an override for one year, does that just fix the building? Um, is there opportunity for other infrastructure funding to come in? and what about sort of the long-term investment, you know, will that be there? So, that's I think still a little bit unsure

134in my mind even from the the survey results, but we got to figure out how Ashby can build on that to to give that information of what does that look like. >> Yeah. And I'm sure if the town says that, you know, the building's being given back to the town, they're going to do a lot more in-depth survey at that point in time. I think this was just an overall feedback of the community to understand what the community is looking for in that building right now. Lisa >> kind of thinks uh what makes people so unsure is because we closed the school for a year on pause and we've talked so much in the past about closing it that they're just unsure. They need more facts and like for us to agree with the town

135and make commitments with them. Anyone else? Thank you, Carla. All right. Um, I'm going to do the ADA compliance thing. Can we do that in your liaison part and bring that up in that part? Sure. >> You have an update in that part. All right. Now, we're moving on. I think the district just is going to give us a little snippet about their survey as they're still compiling the results and things. that. >> So, uh, our survey closed out on Friday, so we just need another day or two and then we should be able to release the compiled results to the committee. Uh, so you'll have the opportunity to see those. Um, our survey was primarily focused on uh, K to4 families at Squanuk and Spalding. Uh, really focusing in on the transition and the

136current experience um, versus previous years. So all of that will um be released again within the next day or two to the committee. So you'll have that information in front of you. I don't know if um anyone else on the admin team uh Miss Haynes, Dr. Baua Ree, Dr. Cormier, Mr. Hammond have anything they'd like to add to that? >> Okay. any sense like if you could share just a sneak peek of how many responses we got? >> Can you share that Dr. Forio? >> Responses 43 from Ashb, one from a school choice family and the rest from town. >> Okay, go again Kevin because you broke up. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Uh there were 43 from Ashb, one was a school choice family and the rest were from Townsen out of 138. But again,

137ju just to clarify, it was K to4 families only >> and some of the kids or some of these are multiple like it's >> Yes, it was um the survey you could only um I mean it was you went to your email you can only um it was set up so that only one could be done um per family. 43 sounds low to me from Ashb. Right. So again, this is like such this is going to be a very heavy thing for us to talk through and I don't know if there obviously we've closed the survey at this point, but wish we had more. I think there's always the wish that we have more >> because something that I should have brought up with the other survey is >> um did we go to the

138population in Ashby that the older population I mean how much in depth did we know what the older generations answered to that survey because I think Ashb I don't know what the percentage is at Ashb of your older population. They're the ones that are paying the taxes and things like that as well. So, that was Sorry, I just came through with that question. All right. Um I have some hands, Carla. Yeah, I think you know the one thing that may have affected at least for me when I saw the survey is it came out two days before Christmas and I personally was away and I didn't even see that survey until I returned and then I got that reminder of hey this is your last day to do the survey. Um and I I was

139looking out for it. So I I don't know how many families actually go away for Christmas week and New Year's, but I think that may have affected, you know, um the survey in in my perspective only because that is something that happened to me. Um and I was looking out for it, but I happened to be away. I was out of the country. I didn't even see it come through my email until it was very last minute. Jackie. >> Um I will say that um as a committee we received pretty much a flood of emails this afternoon. I think most every one of them was from a family pleading their case. I would just put the call out and they're probably not on the meeting right now, but if you know of again that older

140generation in Ashb that's going to have kind of counterpoints to that, I want to make sure we're hearing those voices, too. So, please, if people want to still reach out to school committee members um before our vote, that would be extremely helpful for me >> because again, this impacts the entire community, just not I mean, it impacts critically the school community, but it your community, >> it ripples into the community as well. Um, Carla. >> Yeah. And and again, Jackie, I know you said very few people, but um I'm not representing the town itself, but I was in our last town meeting during the voting at the end of last school year and literally there was the town came out and wait. There was people of all ages. Definitely a lot of the older community

141came out and they spoke during the open comment and and and it was more of the older community that was speaking than your your families with kids in school that were very concerned about the closure of AES and and not supporting the funding override due to the fact that there wouldn't be a school in our district and they didn't have kids in it. So, um just FYI. >> Thank you. All right. Any other questions? Because we will move on to the next topic. All right. I think we're on to the subcommittees. We have finance first. Thank you. Um we had a finance committee meeting today. Um and one of the things that you know is on our agenda is the review and the tracking of the FY26 budget. And while um business administrator Haynes does

142anticipate in the future um there'll be some transfer requests, there's nothing that is um critical for us to address at this time in regard to this budget. Um, and then when we moved into the discussion of the FY27 budget, we have multiple things on the agenda there, um, including, you know, reallocation of space, potential overrides, um, you know, all of those different concerns, um, you know, that we tend to talk about in the in the larger setting as well. Um um one of the things that I had done was asked for an analysis of the uh top 10 categories for under spending in the past 3 to 5 years. There's not a clear-cut um trend there. I was looking to see if there was any trend analysis that would help us um evaluate some different

143information. Um, one of the other things that, um, you we've been trying to track and look at is positions filled within the district, um, versus ones that were anticipated but then had to go to contract status to make sure as we move forward in FY27 that we're not, um, allocating that in two different spots um, to make sure, you know, that we can tighten that as best as possible. you know, the good intentions of what the administration wants to hire. Um, not just for our district in general. There's, um, districts are struggling to fill some of those positions, so they go to contract. So, getting that figured out, um, I did, uh, an analysis based on the superintendent's message that he gave us and trying to think forward of, you know, there's a lot of

144unknowns right now that we don't don't know. You know, we don't know the governor's budget. um we don't know some of the final figures and such um you know what is going to be the per pupil um allocation that we get. So, in anticipation of that, I look to see that the biggest area of change um that we're going to be looking at um through our discussions is the health insurance um you know that the towns were being hit with that as well, but that um the schools might not be hit quite as hard. that we do have to anticipate um in the future the collective bargaining agreement will be coming up and that we have to think about that as we make any changes for this year will be impacted as those contracts come

145up. Um we talked about transportation a bit um and seeing you know if if we can ask um as we go into the next renewal year if there's the possibility um to you know level fund. I mentioned that you know if we don't ask the question it's always no and if we're being asked to um you know cut and be conservative that we need to ask the vendors to do that as well. Um and then looking at the out of district placements. Then some of the key um budget drivers um are the the staffing the enrollments um while declining the IEPs and special education needs uh continue to grow again not just in our district but all over um and looking you know what do we have to anticipate because while we're budgeting for this

146year it's budgeting into the future um trying to look at the opportunities that the district is already doing with the special education and bringing more services back inside. Continuing to look at the transportation efficiencies. You know, there's been um some work done by by DEBUS and that that should be continuing um continuing to look at the building configurations and any potential savings there. Um internal con reconfiguration, external reconfiguration that can happen. Um, and then being aware of any, um, things that, you know, life cycle changes, um, unplanned replacements, like just really keeping an eye on that, which I know that that um, Jeremy does do. Um, but those are things that, you know, we need to be looking at in general. And then looking at the reserve funds and the assessments and where we're we're

147placing our funds. um where staying within allocations things aren't excessive but when you look at what the um requirements are for the retirement fund and you know how do we get there we have some longitudinal things to look at as well I'm trying to you know call that out of of the budget message that the administration put put together. So that was my analysis that I did and through the meeting today the things that we talked about trying to focus in on is right now we've got the budget and we've we know what the municipalities would like us to stay at um which you know they what the budget is for the school and the percentage that goes up is not exactly the same as the assessment. So the 3 plus% that it that the

148school might be going up doesn't necessarily match the the 3-ish% that the town wants us to stay at. It becomes um more of like a 4% assessment to them. Um last year it was around five and it you know we did drive that down so that our ask was uh lower than that 3%. So, it in light of everything that's going on in waiting for the numbers, we asked the administration if they could pull some of the numbers that they already have and create some different scenarios. Um, the first one being what they already did, right? They presented what they think the budget needs to be. We have to be realistic and plan for an override not passing, right? if we're exceeding what eventually comes in as the per pupil and there's a delta between

149what the towns feel that they can um support for for the school department uh versus what the ask is, there needs to be an override ask. But if that fails, then what does that look like? So proactively asking the administration like what does that look like? and then proactively because it's a discussion on the table is um reallocation with the look at um reopening Ashb with the 1.6 six million that um was put together that that would require for reopening, but also factoring in the list um that we did not have for the finance committee, but that um did come out later. And just in, you know, quick back of the envelope um what that would cost, how does that get allocated? Is that something the town's going to take on or does that have

150to go into the budget? So, first column what they asked for. Second column how it matches what the TAs say that they can do. The next column adding in ashb um back online. And then the next column being from what I hear and what I understand is that even with the budget as presented doesn't give the the very best um scenario for the education of the children and what would that look like a very realistic budget. My feeling was if if we're going to ask for an override and I don't know the answer to this question does it mean what what was asked for and really to have it be optimal for the kids? It's and I'm making this up not speaking for the administration. It's three more teachers or it's x number of pairs

151or it's this. If it's just a little bit of a difference from what the override ask would be like I felt like we needed to have that information. So we mold that around and the administration felt like they could put that together um without a lot of conration on their part, a lot of extra time so that we could actually see what that means. The other thing that that I had asked is and it's something Randy that I you know said in your presentation so I wasn't saying it to you. I said it earlier today when I see the average that's not so helpful um because it doesn't give like how many of the classrooms are where the number is for the student uh teacher ratio that's proper like okay so that's the average but

152does that mean there's one that's that's really bad or is it 11 that's really bad so that information would be really helpful for us and to see what the different scenarios do for the education of the And I thought that for us um you know if there is a override ask having that information is going to make it much clearer for us um and and factor in this this looming question that we have of is is it viable feasible um for reallocation of any of the schools based on this information. So, that was our discussion today. Um, and for Lisa and and Mike that were part of the discussion, if there's anything else that you want to add and certainly the administration as well, if I've missed anything from this morning. Yeah, I think that

153that um the the sort of the main thing that we want to get across with that the sort of additional scenarios as you described is that like there's you know there's what's being asked for but then there's all or there's what's like the current preliminary budget is but then there's also you know like even even in the the sort of the narrative statement that they put out they did have a list of like here's positions that we uh didn't add to the budget that we wanted to but you know it would have added too much to the budget request so and it would have put us over the 3 0 it would have been even higher than 3.06% 06% if we had added, you know, there's four FTEEs for grades seven and eight at Natissit

154and um another IT technician like and um special ed program at Hawthorne Brook like those were all left out of the budget to reduce the ask and you know if we sort of had here's the budget with all of those asks and like you know reasonable asks you know especially you know the the additional team for grades seven and eight is is, you know, personal for me because I have a seventh grader who is in a class that is too large and it's, you know, affecting educational outcomes for him. So, that's one of those things that like, you know, for me personally as a as a parent, I would love to have that in the budget, but that's $300,000 that would have to be added to the budget. And, you know, if it were me,

155if it if it were up to me alone, I would say yes, add it to the budget. But, of course, it's not up to me alone. So, um, it it's one one of those things that I think if if we make it clear to people that like there's already things that are being sacrificed just to get to this level and if we really want to talk about like what is best for the students of the district. We're talking about not just you know potential but like building expenses but like teachers lot you know many teachers to to really bring like you said the the classroom sizes back into line with what I think is would be better you know obviously you can't get classroom sizes down to like 10 but you know you you try

156to get them down to a level that is more reasonable than like 30 you know 28 to 30 and potentially higher. I think both both Kim and Mike did a nice job covering what we discussed this morning. >> Brandon, >> I appreciate you uh trying to summarize all of that and I it's not never an easy thing. Um it it is a recurring uh theme though. Um from the time that I started the committee um the budgets we've never had enough money for everything that we've wanted to do. Um obviously it is a balance um of the we'd like love to get the classroom sizes down reduce the costs as efficiently as we can but I will remind the committee that we also need to keep in mind the long-term viability um because we can

157close a building close two buildings um but if we don't have the space for when we have the money to bring the class sizes down. What good does that do us? We have to balance them um and it's uh predictions um and looking at that uh looking at the current needs right now versus um needs in the future. Um just keep that in mind as we're looking at that. I think a 3.06 um budget right now um even though there are things that we didn't put in um I think wanted to say thank you to the administration. I think that's a fantastic uh first round. Um you've obviously put a lot of work into um only having a 3.06% increase. Thank you for that work. Um obviously we have more decisions to be made going

158forward. >> Anyone else? Jackie W >> I don't know if this is the appropriate point to ask this question. So if it's not please let me know. Can someone walk me through the sort of logistics of like for sure at our next committee meeting full committee meeting on January 27th we will be asked to vote yay or nay on reopening Ashby Elementary. That's my first question. Simultaneously with that, once we take that vote, how soon after would we need to make a next decision on potentially closing a different building or trying to keep everything open? So, I think the administration had asked us to make a decision to whether to close Ashby or not next goound so that they can move forward in the budget. to figure out the budget because there is a process

159that has to take place um to figure out the budget. I'm not sure what the time cycle can be. We may have to schedule more meetings. I mean, this is unknown to us cuz none of us know how each other is going to vote or what is going to happen at the next meeting or who's going to collect data and, you know, do research and things like that. So Jackie, I'm sorry I didn't answer your question, but it is unknown. >> Okay, understood >> Carla. >> And I think there were also some stipulations of some asks to be presented to us before that meeting happened so that we can visualize things. So I don't know if all of that has been provided as of yet for us to even make a decision and and look

160at that in depth. Any more questions? >> Randy, u since we are talking about uh the vote in two weeks, one thing that I would like to request um is in the cost to reopen Ashb, it was stated that it was $1.32 million, I believe, in staffing. Um that would be in addition to be able to open up that building. I would love to see that uh broken out as I believe most of the teachers and the staff that work with the teachers would be able to be split. We didn't save that many teachers as far as enrollment and enrollment also went down. Um so I'm imagining that a lot of those teachers will follow the kids that they're not a new cost to the district. Um, so if I can just kind of get

161a breakdown of what that 1.3 million $332 million um actually entails so I know how many positions are being added to the district that would be very helpful. >> Brad and Nancy is and Kevin is that something that can be provided? Just want to >> Yes. >> that Rachel. All right. And that clarification to everyone. >> Okay. Jackie, >> I'd love to avoid abstensions if we can. So, I want to make sure I don't know who's keeping the running list of the asks that we've had um so that everyone feels like they have adequate information to make their decision. >> Well, Kim has >> Oops. Go ahead. I was just going to say ju just to clarify the asks that the administrative team is working on is uh the asks that came out of today's

162finance committee meeting. And in addition to that, what we just talked about was breaking down the costs uh to reopen Ashb. So that's what we're working on as of right now. Um, honestly, in looking at in in looking at the closure of another building that I don't see how that's possible. Um, in addition to um, you know, if if Ashb stays closed, we are going to have clawback money from the MSBA project on that. I don't know what the final figure is. They gave us an estimate last year. Um, they will not give us a final figure until the decision is made. If a decision is made, if we close a second school, I can almost guarantee they will not give us another one-year pause on closing that school and we will have to pay

163clawback on money on that. We will have significant moving costs because it would it would have to be I would imagine it would have to be Spalding Memorial School just because the clawback money is significantly less than it is at Squanook. Guanuk would be a very very high number um due to both a higher clawback number and debt service that is owed on that building. Um so if it were Spalding we'd be talking clawback we would be talking additional moving costs and on top of that we would we are absolutely growing our special education subsparate programs in the district. Um, if we were to have to look at closing Spalding, we would likely have to redistrict students >> into available space at Hawthorne Brook. But again, we'd be running out of space at that point

164likely and we would be unable to do anything with trying to balance our special education subspars. We made the decision about five, six years ago to move them to PEPAL. it made sense the majority of the students were from PEPL but since that time our numbers have grown and in certain programs the majority of students are not from PEPL anymore. Um so we have to do something to um to really um balance that off. uh because Barnum has grown to a point where it is a very very large elementary school at this point and we do have to look at moving um potentially a special education subsupper program into Townsend um at at Squanakook at Spalding and at Hawthorne Brook. The closure of Spalding Memorial to me um would really handcuff the district moving forward

165and I I do not um see a path. I I quite frankly don't believe it's worth looking at because I don't think we would be able to operate effectively in FY27 and beyond. >> Carlina, >> yeah, I think there were some other asks. I don't know if that was already answered, but I remember talking about um you know the the cost of you know um energy I it seems like we've we've maintained the same cost with AES even with it closed um uh consumption's been the same. Has that not changed at all? And then if we do um close AES um the solar that you know we we use some of that energy across the board with the district, how would that look like as well? I think that was one of the other asks

166during our last school committee meeting. Um, I know I personally asked for some plans as well because I I am a visual person. I know Randy presented us with some stuff, you know, from from Desessie, but I also asked that from from the administration, so I don't know if they have that. So, we can get an actual visual of what the classrooms look like and what the actual space looks like. Um, so those were some asks that I had that I I I don't think we got that, but I don't know if anyone else had any other asks during the last meeting. Carla, have you Well, just a second. Carla, have you >> Sorry. >> Carla, have you um gone into all of the schools and toured the schools just like I think that's a

167critical point for everyone is to go into tour the schools because they are laid out differently and so because then you can see the spaces. I mean, visually you see the spaces because I can lay out all of the schools because I've been in them several times and so I can see them laid out and I think that that's important as a committee member to understand and actually be present in the building. >> I agree. I have begun the tour. Yes, I have toured um three of the the the towns and ones and I'm looking to tour the pepper one. Um but I don't think anyone else from the school committee has toured some of them. I think I was the first one. So, just FYI, I think everyone should, but I think >> even

168without touring, I think we should have this visual. I mean, it it it shouldn't be that that that challenging to present. I I don't think >> All right. Um Kim, >> thanks. Um, one thing, um, you know, I know the superintendent is reluctant and I think justifiably so for the immediate future of looking at Spalding, I do think as a committee. Um, for me, all buildings are on the table and I think that it is viable to look at that for the long term. Um, you know, once clawback money would be sort of out of the picture. Um what does it look like for you know the near term? You know we've got a budget for next year. Not sure you know feasible right now but what does it look like three, five and and

169seven years from now um for that facility and for the campuses um with the modulars um with changes and you know there's still unknowns that we have. So, I think that longitudinally looking at that, we we should um but I get the sentiment like right now it's there's too much of a an unknown of what's going on. Um and I know that, you know, one of the TAs did ask to look at at closing another school. Um if that if that is a true ask by the the communities, I we probably do have to do it. Um but I understand why it's you know more um difficult to to do that in the in the short term but I think in the long term as a committee we need to put that on you know

170like a uh Randy had said about our information we should have been looking at that. I don't disagree. Um, but the process of looking at it, I think we need to do it like collectively and really really think this out strategically for not just our tenure on the school committee, but folks that are coming after us. >> Randy, before I go to you, I'm going to go to Brad because I had interrupted him a few times. So, >> so I I I just wanted to clarify as far as um visuals go, the very best we could do would be um building plans which are not um really going to give much of a visual. That that is all we have. Um I mean the high school ones are are certainly higher quality um than some

171of the other ones that we have, but but our buildings are old um many of them. And with that comes um you know the building plans that we have shared previously I I believe with the committee not for a while but we can certainly share those but that is not really going to give you um a clear picture as to what the actual schools themselves look like. Um, as far as moving forward in planning, there is a a brief explanation at the very end of the budget message that talks about um a potential vision that we that we may want to consider. Um again, if Ashb remains closed and I know that um you know looking to potentially take another building offline um and and looking to see what if anything can be done to

172put us in a stronger position to get an approved building project at the Hawthorne Brook uh middle school would be to look at potentially making the Squan Cookook and Hawthorne Brook um campus a a preK to 8 campus. Um, and as I mentioned this morning at finance, it's very difficult to get information um, from the MSBA unless you're actually applying for something. But one of the one of the things that they've looked at, and they do share this over the phone, is they do look at space. And if we have too much space in the district and we have options on where to send kids, it does put us um at a disadvantage to getting an MSBA project. So I again, we've talked before, we've applied for for an MSBA project previously at Hawthorne Brook

173and we were denied. Um, and that is something that to me the district um would would really benefit looking into to see a long range plan down the road is to is this something that the district wants us to pursue. If the district does want us to pursue that, we would likely have to maintain a school like Spalding for overflow during construction and things like that because again, otherwise you're bringing in um temporary classrooms, modular classrooms on a temporary basis until a campus is potentially developed. Again, it's just just a thought, just an idea for long range planning. Um, but I think it's something that we have to start looking at because Hawthorne Brook um does need some upgrades so that it's comparable um to the middle school in Peril which is already old um

174but Hawthorne Brook is significantly older. Um that said just bringing this to a close if the committee wants us to look at clo to look at closing another school we will. Um I we just need to be um asked to do so and that is something we will certainly do. But just to clarify, it does take a considerable amount of time and it is going to put us in a very difficult spot potentially um moving forward especially when it comes to space because we feel comfortable with our space now but Spalding is significantly larger than both Swan Cookook and Ashby as far as a physical plant and number of classrooms. Randy, >> I would agree. Two schools. Um I don't support one school. Um two schools would be absolutely detrimental to this district as far

175as uh capacity uh now and in the future. Um as far as Ashby is concerned since budget is such a large piece or is being presented as such a large piece of why um we should close that building. It has been mentioned uh by Carla and I believe um someone else and I had some convers some light conversations too is um Ashby may be willing to lease back some of the building if we put like K to2 in and half the building is only being used. Ash me Ashby may be willing to lease back some of that building to alleviate some of the costs to the district while we work out all the details of um are we going to keep it to K to2 are we going to go to K to 4 are

176we going to do something else with it but it keeps the building open keeps our options open keeps the capacity in the district um and doesn't cost the full amount um of what it's been costing us over the years that is something I would like at least preliminary conversations to be had on um what kind of money can Ashby afford to pay to lease back some of the building to help us with it? Is are we only talking $50,000? Are we talking $300,000? Um that's important information to uh factor into the cost of reopening Ashb. So, um, before I go to everyone else, I think something else that has to be factored in is there's a lot of work that needs to happen in Asheville, too, with their buildings or with their building. I mean,

177we do have a wing that is can't be occupied or we use it as a school right now. And the longer that sits, the worse it gets for the town to address and for our district to address. So that wing to me is one thing that truly needs to be addressed. So I'm going to go to Kevin before I come back to you, Randy. Kevin. >> All right. Um, am I still cutting off or am I good now? >> You're good. >> Okay. Um, to address the the Ashby heating thing uh briefly and Jeremy might be able to fill in some things. I did talk with Dave Amari about that and his sense is that because of the steam boilers, it's much harder to regulate the heat um unless you have somebody there all the

178time because it's still you still have to heat the water to 212 degrees no matter what no matter what temperature you keep the building at. Like you can't heat the water less because then steam doesn't happen. Um so that's why we weren't really seeing the the savings in heating at Ashby just because of the nature of the system. Um, and that's we we didn't really, I think, think that out thoroughly, but in in practice, that seems to be the issue. And Nancy and I were going over some numbers today, and it's actually costing about what the high school is to heat. Um, so, but that's there's really no way around that just because of the system. Jeremy, >> so I just for a little bit of context, uh, with the question of possibly closing a

179different school and moving the equivalent classes to Ashb, uh, Spalding being the primary one being discussed. Ashb has 13 standard classrooms effectively in it. the largest we have had in that building when you take out for consideration the needs for special education uh even without programs in the building was about 10 classrooms uh so call it home rooms if that's a good way to think of it uh currently at Spalding we have 14 home rooms so we would not be able to just simply move one of the buildings to there without a significant reconfiguration Squanakook is at the very least close to capacity under its current configuration. So it's not like we could just shift a grade over to Squan Cookook. There's not enough room for that. And that was part of where we came

180to the conclusion that we would not be able to close a second building or close a building instead of Ashb. uh any scenarios which certainly as superintendent said we could look deeper into. Uh when we looked into them last year uh through these conversations, it required much more significant district-wide configur reconfiguration uh that affected at least nearly all buildings. Uh so that would be a factor. Uh to kind of follow up on Kevin's piece, my understanding from conversations with Dave Amari is effectively the same as his uh and the issues because of that style of heating and the older heating units, particularly in the original front part of the building. Uh it's kind of an on or off situation. uh and without someone there to kind of turn it off manually when we've reached the

181heat and then turn it back on to keep the pipes from freezing uh it's not really having an impact whether or not the building is occupied. Uh water is a similar issue uh where that particular water system needs to be flushed on a regular basis. They are still utilizing a good deal of water uh because they need to manually flush those pipes. I don't know that it's the same. I just know that it's still a significant one. It's all I had. >> All right, Kim. >> Thanks. Um, so to get back, I think the superintendent said we could do this if there's an ask. um specifically to Spalding and closing that um Jeremy just did a great job of outlining the sort of why not now do that. it's because of those reasons like the

182the the moving of the the chairs doesn't match longitudinally I think it needs to be looked at but not just by you superintendent that there needs to be a full effort by the committee and a group really assessing it um that you know to ask you to do that for for next year is not feasible long term of what the campuses could look like maybe that is feasible as as a long-term project and Randy what what you just were mentioning mentioning about um lease back some of the space. That was why intentionally um with the first version of the survey there was questions included about what the community might be interested in for collocation so that Ashby could potentially launch that. Right. So workspace um community kitchen uh classroom. I had done an analysis on

183um Prescott and the uh the PETA fits on like what they could raise or rent out, but those questions weren't asked. So, that's unfortunate because now like what what would be that um process? So, I think it's a good idea. I just don't like how does that get executed now? I don't expect you to answer that. That's just like questions that I have. It it's a good notion. It's what we were talking about for for months, but now we don't have that information. and how quickly could that get up and running? Um how would it impact the budget now? Um I just think we have that, you know, lack of clarity at this minute. Um but a that notion is a really good notion to to try to accomplish that >> Randy. Um, yes, Kim,

184but in the short term, uh, without a specific use, they may be willing to, um, lease back some of the building to have it as a school and figure that out. So, I think that question needs to be asked on a preliminary basis so that we have that information when we're looking at the financials um, in two weeks. Um, and I also wanted to just piggyback on what Lisa was saying. Absolutely. Every building needs work to be done and and Ashby, we have been talking about things like that 60 wings, uh, that 60s wing and what's going to happen with that, but we still, you know, we've had couple of years now where we keep bringing that up and then we pull the rug out of uh under them saying we're going to close the

185school, so why are they going to negotiate and look and think about what's going on? We have to have those hard conversations with the town and they have to come to the table and be willing to talk about and put things in front of their constituents. Um, but I can understand why they haven't to this point in the last few years because every year we've talked about closing the building. If we give them a commitment that we're going to have this building open, we're going to have those conversations, then we can see if the the people are going to do something and support something. And if they don't, then we have more hard conversations about, okay, we've given you an opportunity. We needed the space in the district. We gave the opportunity for you to

186improve the school. You're not doing that. We have other things in front of us and we have to choose. But they were not given a sufficient amount of um ability to say that they're going to renovate that building. And we do need that room in the uh for capacity in this district. If students come back to this district from homeschooling, from private schools, uh from uh charters, and from wherever else that they are in this district, um and we get even close to the 2019 uh levels, the pre-COVID levels in this district, we will need that space in addition to having more kids coming back for in district programs. We won't have the space. And I personally am not willing to look at search capacity of mobile classrooms. That idea of closing a a building

187now and relying on mobile classrooms in the near future um is a non-negotiable for me. >> All right, Carla. Yeah, I I'd just like to piggyback on on what Randy said that you know Kim, yes, we would love to have those details and I wish you were on board along to the to the end of that that meeting with us to the survey, but unfortunately you weren't able to participate towards the end and give those two cents. But I'm sure the town is willing to do an open meeting with with the town's people to take votes at some point, but you know, the voice of the town has spoken that they they primarily want it as a school. Um, so you know, and and there were options to to do other things with it. So

188I think if if they do lease back part of it, that's up to the town to go back to the town's people at that point and and make votes. Uh, you know, they can do it as a town hall meeting. Um, I've seen the town come as a whole where our auditorium at AES were was so full to make votes of people coming that I didn't even know we had that many people in our town. So, you know, the town's people are definitely willing to come together as what we've seen in the past and and and discuss it at that point if if we give them that, you know, discussion and go back to to to Ashby and say, "Hey, you know, what would this look like? What would you be willing to lease back?"

189You know, and I think that discussion needs to be had before we make a decision to officially close the school and not have any education in there. And then I have another question. And if we do close it, what does it look like for MSBA funding? If we do want to grow and expand other buildings or build, you know, with um um Hawn Brook, would we even be able to get any funding if we decided to close another school in the district? >> Brad, >> um we would likely be able to get funding and and that is part of again we'd have to prove the need. Um but on top of that that could be one method in which we pay repay the clawback money where they give us um slightly less money um in

190a new building project um as a way of repaying back clawback money. Um so there are different we haven't even been told how the MSBA is going to ask for the clawback money. Um c can I add something else? Um Miss Martin? >> Yes. um just because it's come up a couple times now and again this isn't necessarily an easy thing to say but it's been a sentiment in the district among staff uh for sure. Um but if we were to look at reopening Ashby um I I think um all of us at least um in the administration feel that it has to be opened as a fully operational building. Um, one of the issues with Ashb has always been um, equity when it comes to class size. When a class in Ashb got to

19130, it was broken up into two sections of 15. Where in at Spalding and Barnum, those same teachers had in 23, 24, 25, 26 students and there were potentially 15 in Ashb when it had to be broken up into two sections. Something that we have to consider is if we're actually going to consider making Ashb smaller, well then we're putting in um a nurse and an admin assistant where we're looking at potentially 100 students. You know, at at Varnum, the admin assistant has six times the number of students in that building. The nurse has three times the number of students. And these are these are contracted positions. a guidance counselor. There's a couple guidance counselors at Barnum. They have I mean our guidance counselors have loads of 300 students. So, it's very difficult to put

192positions that are contractual in a building where the job volume is so much less. So I I do think we would have to look at filling Ashb so that it is at least on par with what we have now either at Spalding or at Squan Cookook because again and we would have we would have to put a nurse in. A nurse has to be there. A nurse is a contracted position. We could look at other ways. We could look at but again it's a it's a contracted position where we would have to have a nurse just legally in the building. We would have to have a guidance counsel. We'd have to have an admin assistant. And we absolutely can't go back to a situation where we don't have an administrator in the building um part-time.

193That that doesn't work right now. Pretty much everyone at central office is filling in holes because we cut another assistant principal last year. Um and when our principal is out now, there is no assistant principal in in several of our schools. So, it has to be covered. Um, so just I I do ask the committee to look at that. If we're going to look at reopening a building, we have to look at reopening the building and filling the building because job volume is an issue and it's something that is noticed among staff in the district. So just wanted to share that with you, >> Randy. Um >> first the first thing I want to go over is uh yes Brad is correct that we can still get MSBA money for projects in the district if

194we close the school. The caveat is we will not get any money for additional space. So if we wanted to add on to a building we would not get that money. We could renovate the interior, but we would not get money for at least 20 years for additional capacity in the district from the MSBA. That has been stated by them several times to several people. Um, but it would not preclude us from getting a renovation grant in the future or in the near future. Um, as far as how you um, you know, what you put into Ashb if we decide to open it up, uh, Brad, that is completely in your arena. You are, uh, in charge of the operations. If you see fit that that needs to get done, then that is fine. We

195need to make the decision as a school committee about whether we can fit it in the budget um, and whether um, fitting it into the budget is worthwhile for the capacity that we think that the district needs. If we decide that the district needs that capacity, it will get put off to you for how are we going to put students in that building in what size, what capacity in order to keep that building as an educational. If you want to put subs separate uh you know class um special education there and only do that for a year or two while we figure it all out, that's something that you would have to um bring to us as a recommendation. If it's going to be K to2, just Ashby, it's a recommendation that you would bring

196to us. We have to decide, do we need that capacity and are we going to reopen Ashbine? >> Brad, you're on mute. >> Yep. Just to clarify, um, uh, I think it's important to consider that if we are going to re reopen Ashb, it would likely be a town Ashby reopening. So that again all 13 classrooms are being utilized. Um to me that that's what really has to we'd be looking at two sections at every grade level in order to optimize the space. Um and then we would have to look at um al going back to potentially doing an RFP for renting out part of Squanica because we'd have to keep the prek there um in order to avoid clawback money on that. we'd have to keep it as an operational school, but we could

197also look at renting out the other half of that, which again, there is a lot of rental space I still believe that's available in the district. So, that's I don't think that that's a slam dunk by any means. The other pieces is that we really can't move the special education programs there because they have to be with their peers. Um so moving um special education programs there, they'd have to have um inclusion in general education classrooms there as well. >> Anything else? All right, moving on to policy. Okay. Uh for policy, we have four policies that are up for adoption. This is a second reading for adoption. Um I have not received any feedback on any of these from uh staff or the community or the school committee for any changes that they'd like to

198see. Um if anybody has any changes now um that they weren't able to get to me um then please speak up. Um do I have general agreement to take all four of these at once? Hang on a second, Randy. Um, Kim, you have your hand raised. >> Thank you. Unrelated. No objections to what you're asking, Randy, but um I just wanted to let the committee I I do need to drop off. I didn't want to just disappear from the screen. Um but I I have no problem with um Ry's um the policies coming up. And we had talked about one other. I'm sorry that I have to drop off for that. Okay. Right. >> Thanks. >> Thank you, Kim. All right. Okay, go forward, Brandy. >> Okay. Um, so do I have general agreement from

199everybody? Because then I would be great to take these all at once. Okay. Then I'm going to move that the school committee vote to approve policy JLCD, administering medicines to students, JICE, student publications, JICF, gang activity, uh, secret societies, and JIC, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use by students prohibited. Uh, for adoption. >> Second. >> So that was Randy with a motion and Mike with a second. It's a roll call vote. Randy, >> yes. >> Mike, >> yes. >> Vacuum, >> yes. >> Carla, >> yes. >> Lisa Bloom, >> yes. >> And myself, yes. All right. Continue. >> Okay. >> Uh, next policies for a first reading. We had talked about policy DIIB. Uh, the subcommittee had put forward for a first reading. Uh, policy DIIB. Um Kim, unfortunately, she's not here, um had submitted some

200um changes that she would like to see in this one. Unfortunately, after our meeting, um I thought that her her changes which were generally in format and there was a couple of wordings that I thought she had some really good wording on. Um so I incorporated them in um in the copy of the chairs uh edits um or the chairs version. Um so that you can see the two um the content of this of these are exactly the same. Um it's you know looking at uh taking um so this is the fiscal reserves. So it's taking the END out of the budget talks about what END is for um or or any of the fiscal reserves. the different types of fiscal reserves um the how much you know for the END we had talked about

201between 3 to 4% that stayed in all of those things stayed in it's just a slightly different format um and a couple of um wording changes um I hope everyone had a chance to take a look at both of them um I would probably um I'll take some questions now if anyone has any comments between the two versions. >> Okay. >> I don't see any questions for you, Randy. >> Yep. Uh so then I will go ahead and move that we approve policy DIIB, the chair version, um for a first reading. >> Second. >> That was Randy with the motion and Mike with a second. It's a roll call vote. Randy. Yes, >> Mike. >> Yes, >> Jackie White. >> Yes, >> Carla. >> Yes, >> myself is yes. >> Okay. Um, being that this

202is a big change, I do welcome anyone from the community, anyone from uh the, you know, district, school committee members continue to read this, look at how it's going to be, um, and give any feedback that anybody has on this. This is a large change to how we budget. Um, moving on, we have policy DIBA revolving funds. Um, so I will move uh that the school committee uh approve policy DIBA revolving funds for first reading. >> Second. >> That is Randall with a motion and a blur with a second. Randy, >> yes. >> Mike, >> yes. Bloom. >> Yes. >> Jackie Wink. >> Yes. >> Carla Luma. >> Yes. >> And myself. Yes. >> Okay. Um, next we have uh policy JJF, student activity accounts. This was a lot of changes in that. Um, Nancy

203had brought it to our attention that we were I think this is the one that we were out of compliance. Um, MASC had a change. We had modified this quite a bit. Um, so I'm going to move that we that the school committee approve policy JJF, student activity accounts for a first reading. Second, >> that was Randy and we have a second call vote. Randy, >> yes. >> Mike, >> yes. >> Jackie White, >> yes. >> Carlo, >> yes. discipline. >> Yes. And myself is Yes. One moment. Just bring the next one up. One second. Okay. Uh, next we had a very minor change to the use of cell phones and portable communication devices. I did receive um some feedback and I did not have a chance to look and incorporate in here from um

204from Dr. Ree um but we can it was small enough we we'll be able to address it between the first and the second readings Garry's if that's okay. Um but there was just a minor change that we had in here. So, I'm going to move that we approve JICJ and GBF. Both of them are labeled use of cell phones and portable communication devices for a first reading. >> I second. >> That was Randy and Lisa. Um, Rand uh Randy, I have a question. Why the flip-flop on the like it's in parenthesis, >> right? Because they're the same policy, but one is in the student section and one is in the um the personnel section. >> Okay, just to clarify. All right, thank you. Randy, >> yes. >> Mike, >> yes. >> Lisa Bloom, >> yes.

205>> Jackie White, >> yes. >> Carla Lima, >> yes. and myself is yes. >> Um then I will also move that the school committee approve JII student complaints and grievances for a first reading. >> I second. >> That was Randy and Lisa Bloom. >> Randy, >> yes. >> Mike, >> yes. >> Jackie, >> yes. >> Carla, >> yes. >> Lisa Bloom, >> yes. myself. Yes. >> Now, this next one, I I I I I there is so much controversy around this policy, but unfortunately, it is law. Um, but we wanted to put this forth for a first reading. Um, so everyone can start the conversations on this. Uh, this is on um Oh, I'm sorry. No, this is not the one I was thinking it is. I take that back. Um, okay. I apologize. This

206is the wrong policy. I was thinking of something else. >> Um, there is one coming that's really going to be a big one. Um, but this is, uh, this is not it. Um, so I'm going to uh, you know, move that the school committee approve policy JJ, co-curricular and extracurricular activities for a first reading. >> I second. >> That is Randy Rush and Lisa Bloom with the second roll call. Randy, >> yes. >> Mike, >> yes. >> Jackie, >> yes. >> Carla, >> yes. >> Uh, Lisa Bloom, >> yes. Okay, I guess the one I was thinking about didn't make it on here. Um, >> so I apologize. It'll come next. Um, but there's going to be a big change uh to student fundraising activities uh because of law. So, we started some conversations in

207the district. Um, but unfortunately, we have some big changes coming for fundraising. >> All right. Um, chairling, >> just to prevent questions when we're posting these, did I miss a vote for JI or do we need to go back to that one? >> We We did that one. I think >> I just missed it. I >> That's on me. Thank you. >> That's okay. All the letters sound alike. >> All right. >> Okay. But that would be all. >> Moving on. We don't have legislative advocacy tonight or SC operations, community outreach. Um Carla, this is where we received um the ADA information back. Um we discovered that these had gone to the spam folders. So Mary's communication back went to spam folders. >> Um even another communication that she had sent me had gone to

208a spam folder. Can I just add it looks like several of Mary's um communications to me, you and Nancy have gone to spam, but she's using the same email address that she always has. So, I'm I'm not sure what happened. Jeremy, I'm not sure if there's something that you can look at. Previously, we were getting her emails, but the last email I received from her was on December 15th. I can put her email address in a spam bypass. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Go ahead and do >> All right. >> Yeah, I Mine didn't go into spam. So, um >> uh so she did get um she did share the letter um from the state. I think everyone should have gotten that. Um I think Lisa may have shared that after the fact um on

209the ADA. It seems like it's something very minor on the um on the uh survey that was done uh on the ramp. So, it needs um reshaving of the ramp. So, she's already got that out for bid um on that and she's going to ask for an extension. So, they're going to give a until the weather warms up. So, she's hoping till June to get that done. Um and then on the handrail and as well as on the parking. So, um she said that the the town is going to take up that cost. So, it's not going to be transferred over to the district. And it seems like it's something that is closer on the 3,000 less than under $5,000 to get that repair done. >> Okay. Randy, >> um there seems to be a

210an attachment which is the letter from uh the uh AAB. Um that's not this is just the email without attachments. Is there any way that we can get that letter? >> Yeah, I'll get that. Make sure that we get that to you. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, and the letter has pictures. The letter has pictures as well of the ramp showing, you know, it needs a smaller >> um the incline's just a little too high on the pitch. So, she's got already priced out and bids on that to get that shave down so that it's um in compliance with the the angle of the pitch. Any other question? >> That's all I got. >> I do not Jeremy. So, I apologize because apparently not everyone saw the letter and I did. But just for when

211you look at it, one piece that caught my eye that I want to take a closer look at and um determine next steps for asking for clarity is on the parking space requirements themselves. Uh she did clarify in the letter that we don't need more. Uh but the letter has some clear specifications as to where where our current uh handicap parking does not meet compliance. And uh want to circle around with Dave and get some questions answered uh before we can really speak to what that would take. And that's not specifically called out in per email to uh the district as something the town would take care of. So I'm just putting out there is that is an unknown at the moment. >> Thank you Jeremy. All right. Any more questions? All right. Any other

212business? I will take a motion to adjurnn. >> I move that we adjourn. >> I second. >> That was Mike and Lisa Bloom has a second. >> Mike, >> yes. >> Okay. Lisa, >> yes. >> Randy, >> yes. >> Jackie, >> yes. Carla, >> yes. >> And myself is yes. Good night everyone and thank you. >> Good night everybody. >> Night everybody. >> Good night.