001going to call this um Wednesday, May 13, 2026 meeting to order. Can we get a roll call, please? >> Mr. D >> here. >> M Riley >> here. >> Miss Stewart >> here. >> Thank you. Um we have Mr. Mo is just joining as a guest. If anyone has any questions with that, I salute to the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium. Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are be made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and are
002deemed acknowledged and permissible. 2-1 citizens input. Do we have any written citizens input? We do not. Okay. Moving on to item three discussion. 3-1 review the public comment policy of the for school committee behed to the agenda at the request of um some members of the committee and we will go through it today. Um, so the only concerns that I have with this policy is um just the way we've implemented it. Not necessarily the language. Just speaking my for myself as one member. For example, from what I've seen in the past, you you have citizens inputs that are submitted in writing. If they're submitted to a subcommittee, the chairs of said subcommittee never see the citizens inputs. that are that are submitted in writing that read out loud. The chair of the school committee has
003been informed in the past about some citizens input that were have been submitted. So, there seems to be an imbalance there. Um, I'm not sure what the process is of looking at them beforehand, if it's selective, if we're um not giving someone who's being called up just the opportunity to respond. I I don't have an issue with necessarily the content of what's submitted, but just more of um just allow just following due process and allowing someone the opportunity to respond if they're called out and not be surprised. Again, if the chair of the school committee is seeing the citizen input beforehand, so should subcommittee members and so should members of the committee. It shouldn't just be the chair. my opinion. Um, like to open it up for discussion. Whoever would like to go first. >>
004Um, I agree. If if one gets it, everybody should get it. As far as that goes, um, I think that we need to post more on how citizens input actually works. I think we have people that come to to the meetings and they don't know exactly how it works. So, they don't know that they have to be there beforehand. They don't know that they have to sign the paper. They don't know how the the process goes. It is on our website, but not everybody goes to the website and we're in 2026. People go to, you know, social media and they go to different things. And I think we just need to put it on all spaces available. >> So, how about um I don't know currently and maybe Deb can answer this. Do we post
005our agendas on our social media? >> We do not. And I think we should do that also. That could be a place where we could post the agenda like after we post it publicly, post it on the district Facebook or whatever we use. I don't know what we use on the district sites and you can attach the directions for public like a link to the directions for public comment. So people see it, they want to come to the meeting because they want something on the agenda, they can click on the link to have the directions to how we could even put how to submit public comment or participate in public comment. Click and then goes right to those directions. I don't know. I'm just >> because and No, you're right. It gives the directions and
006it also will give Deb's email if somebody wants to speak. >> That's on our website. So, you can just click that and attach it as a link. >> Correct. >> But I think that we I think that people need to know all avenues on how to speak and if they want to be able to come down, I think that we need to tell them exactly where they need, you know, to be there 15 minutes beforehand or however beforehand they need. Just to interject, I I agree specific. Just at the last meeting, we had um actually a member of the public that wanted to speak. They didn't know where to even retrieve the document, went, where it was, how to sign up, and um to Miss Riley's point about the agenda, I just received a call
007today asking um where the agenda was on the website. I know it's on the city's website, so we're meeting the law there. And I'm sure it's po the our agenda I'm assuming is posted on the district website as well, but we need to make it easier for the public to a access those documents and also access our backup as well at least the public publicly accessible documents. For example, I'm [snorts] as a member of the I receive the city council backup all the time even though I'm not a member of the city council. So, just making the agenda in this documents easier, making it easier for citizens to um sign up for public comment and just making it easier for members of the committee to be able to respond when anything's mentioned. I think it's
008important and also as well and I know we want some some members of the committee want to not respond to public input. That's been our policy that we don't respond. >> It shouldn't be because we voted to take it out, >> but >> Well, that's Well, that's that's an issue in itself. >> It was approved on November 18th of 24th. >> Yeah, I I remember I remember we had that discussion, but we did vote to remove the the language. I I was but I I think just um if there's anything that is said we should be able and said in a mass scale that needs to be corrected we either through the superintendent or through the chair the vice chair we need information corrected we need to make sure we're um being respectful and and
009just speaking for myself if a member and you see it on the city council side and I think the city council runs their meetings um efficiently You occasionally see clarifying questions be asked. I don't see an issue with asking a clarifying question from time to time just to get more information. I don't think we should be that stringent in the policy where we're hamstringing ourselves. We But I think we should just know the quorum is the quorum. We know we shouldn't pass out. We shouldn't like exceed any barriers, any boundaries. But um Superend, I saw you had your hand raised if you wanted to. it was something else but in comment you know to what you're saying here um you know I I just think you need to be careful I'm confused you do not
010respond to public comment is >> that's what our policy says that's not been the practice I disagree I do not think we should respond to public comment I think it's a slippery slope also how how come you're going to respond to her but you're not going to respond to him or her or this one it just it leads to discussion that's not on the agenda that we haven't received preparation or backup for. So now you're just kind of speaking off the cuff to a topic that you might not have all of the information about. I I think if it's something that after the meeting we we want to say to the superintendent to someone else, could we make that an agenda item? Could we talk about that at subcommittee? I'd love to know more about
011that or is this an issue? Can you give me some information? But to start going back and forth with the public just leads to to more um disconnect from people. who are you going to talk to and who are you not going to talk to? And I I just think the policy says we don't respond. We should not respond. You can't say in one breath, I want the chair to share all of the public comment because that's what's supposed to happen. And then say, but I'm not going to follow that part and I'm going to ask questions during public comment. We either have to all follow the policy or then then nobody's following the polic. Can I ask for if the administration to look at the minutes for when this was this policy was approved
012because I could have sworn the committee voted four to three at the time to remove that language. So it shouldn't be in the policy if the committee voted to remove the language. Um I I I I somewhat agree with my colleague but to an extent. However, if there's something said at a meeting that needs to be corrected, we should be able to correct it. I don't think we should be we should go off on like lose like lose lose ourselves from the agenda and go off. But I don't think we should hamstring ourselves with language and a policy. It should just be something we should we should follow. But I understand your point, but superintendent, you have something. I I I'm also going to say, you know, that has been the practice in the districts
013and if we don't respond, but there is an opportunity for the chair or through school committee members to ask the superintendent to look into something. Sometimes there's a comment made that the superintendent needs to follow up and respond, you know, to a citizen. You can request that kind of a thing rather than going back and forth during the meeting. So, there is opportunity for that. It isn't that they speak and we never say anything depending on what's said. >> [snorts] >> You know, again, you can you can look at other districts. I'm just telling you, and I agree with um you know, Anna, that it can really become a very slippery slope at a time when you want to hear. You want to hear the input. You want the opportunity, which is why you give
014them three minutes. You want to make sure everybody has and people are people are happy with being heard at that public meeting. I always say this, >> it is a meeting in public. It is not a public meeting. It is a meeting of the school board with administration to receive information. And again, I think you need to be clear about that. >> Yeah. No, I respect that. I think um there might just be a little bit of a philosophical disagreement. I I think um it's important that we keep as as little hamstrings on public common policy as possible. we should allow the public to say what they need to say and um say it respectfully and but at the same time I don't think um like I wouldn't as one member I wouldn't support like
015removing written comment like I said the issues are we need members of the school committee to be prepared if there's written comment and it's calling out a member that member should have the right to respond fully support that but I don't support tightening up the policy per se. And um I also just want to take a look at whether we want to keep the 3 minutes, the 30 minutes for citizens input, three minutes. We have to also realize we are a district that in a committee out of all the other committees, all the other um boards in the city, we receive the most public comment. So, I I don't want to also make changes here that are going to anger the public per se, but um whatever the committee subcommittee here wants to to change,
016we can make recommendations to the full committee. >> I don't mind the three minutes in the 30 minutes and then but like the last time, if we are going to extend at any point, then you do have to read that at the end. So I think that's what you're says if whatever we don't get those 30 minutes have to do at the end >> which which we know >> it needs to also be followed. >> So when we have a policy we need to make sure this policy >> is being >> is also followed like um >> that's what I'm saying then we have to follow all of its life. So, and I agree. I definitely and that's my thing. I think that people should come to the meetings and they should be able to
017speak. Yeah. 100%. That's their time to be able to speak to the state. But at the same time, I think that sometimes people forget that when they come and they to talk to us about something, >> it can only be something that's in our purview. So, when they come to us with personnel or something that that's not something that we can do and it it's really not something for the school committee. it should go to the superintendent and that's actually here in the language, >> but it's it's really isn't for us. >> It's Yes, they're going to come and they're going to say it. I'm just saying really that's not the time for it. They can send us an email and they can do all that stuff, but at the end of the day that's
018really not like it's right here. Number three, it's right there regard if it it's regarding personnel or something to do with a student, it's supposed to go to the superintendent because that's not in our you know saying people are going to come up and say what they're going to say. I'm just saying that that's part of it. >> Yeah, that's I mean that's fine. My my only question would be if that's that language is constitutional. If we're putting a um subject matter, content matter um restriction on citizens input. Even if we don't have direct oversight over personnel the district, we still fund them in a way. And I I I'm not arguing that point, but I just don't want to run into um situation in the future where we set ourselves up for litigation just
019because we um >> Well, that's why she said it says in our last number seven, it does say citizens input is not a time for debate or response. But it also says uh something about can't prevent the last sentence says the school committee does not have the authority to prevent all speech that may be upsetting and or offensive. So I think what Chanel is saying is like some of the things people say they should only be talking about the things in our purview but obviously they don't and we don't stop them because of that line because we don't want to violate their free speech. >> We shouldn't. Yes. >> Yeah. So but >> but you also may need to stop them if they start talking about something that is somebody else's protected. >> I I
020think that's our attorney or the chair's job. Individual members don't do that. um the chair or our attorney, whoever's >> whoever's the designated person to say that's beyond the scope because you're not >> freedom of speech does not allow someone to go up and slander someone else like that's not freedom of speech. >> That's a violation student information or talk about right that has to be shut down. >> I think the only but I think the only >> attorney [laughter] they can decide what things are appropriate and what aren't. I'm not going to be the arbiter of what violates the law. That's why we have an attorney at our meeting. So, I think the attorney should shut down anything that would be inappropriate or or whatever. Not us, because I I certainly don't feel what
021things are, >> right? I I agree. I I just don't I just want to be careful of changing language in here that >> I'm not changing anything. That's already what was there. >> Yeah. I'm fine with this policy as is. >> The only thing that we had talked about the reason to bring it to here was written input. >> Yeah. That's the only thing. >> I mean, I think written written input could just be shared with the purpose of sharing it is for the committee. So, if we just received all of the written input, I don't know why we would have to read it, but I'm not against reading it if that's what the committee wants. I'm just thinking the purpose of getting written input is so that we hear about it, the school committee.
022So, why can't we just be sent them so we can read it ahead of time and know about it? >> I I think there's some ADA concerns in there. I know the city council >> Oh, yeah. if you have ADA that that would be the only reason why if you're unable to we have you know a link where you can if you have ADA issues then you could submit some I hear you I think >> I'm not and I'm not against it we could if we want to keep getting it that way that's fine I'm just thinking sometimes we run out of time with all of the people and if we had all the written correspondents we would still all get to see it just wouldn't get read aloud >> I no I understand where
023you're coming from I just think philosophically on my point it providing avenues for the public to to to be heard. We're submitting a written input. Then why don't I'm not suggesting this but then we just get rid of all citizens input and just um and just have everything in writing if but there's a public forum where the public we have open meetings where members of the public can submit input and then this is just another way for members to submit input good bad or indifferent just to um >> I guess I'm just saying there they're commenting to the school committee they're not commenting to the public that's what they do on social media they're coming to make a comment to the school committee. So, if we all received their comments in writing, we would still
024all be getting their comments. If they don't want to write and they want to come in person, we receive their comments because they're there in person. So, that's how I'm viewing it. I'm not they're not the letters aren't for the public. The letters are for us. So, I I'm just saying and you just said we don't always get them. So, what I'm saying is I think we should get them all and I don't think we should have to read them out loud. But again, I'm not if the rest of the committee supports them being read aloud, I'm fine with that, too. I'm just suggesting that as long as we see them all, that is the purpose of public comment. >> Okay. >> But we have to get them all. >> We have to start there.
025>> Yeah. We get them all and then, you know, goes from there. But I think that we need to bring that up though cuz we you got to realize sometimes that when people do they're sending stuff in, they're doing it like um like a keyboard warrior. They're they're willing to say it and say a whole bunch of stuff on paper because somebody else is reading it for them versus them coming in. Abledbodied people coming in and saying it. >> I I don't disagree with you >> and I think that's where we have like a lot of the back I have. Listen, I I will go out and help somebody come all the way in and talk and I will ask for an extra hour to let people talk. I'd rather them just be there in
026person and talk than to send it. The letters will get I read all of them. I read every single one when we get them in. >> Right. >> I I No, I do as well. I think we all do. I I don't think um I think just going just going back to here is um so what does the subcommittee want to do with this with this document? refer it as is. Make a change. >> I think that the I think that we should make the change for to see what the committee as a whole has to say as far as written input because we all we all have a thought, but let's see what the committee as a whole, >> right? This I mean at the full committee any member can make a vote an
027amendment to this. Um but what are we recommending as a >> This is fine. I again. Yeah, I agree. I'm fine with it as is. The only thing that I think could be up for discussion is is written comment just shared directly with the school committee and not read aloud. I think that's the only option kind. So, do we want to present that as a possible change and let the committee vote? Is that what you're is that what you're asking? >> That's what that's that's up to the subcommittee. Um, I'll let you make the motion if you want, but >> so why I'll make the motion that we bring the option to the full committee if written testimony will just be emailed to every member ahead of the meeting or if they or we could
028continue the practice of reading them aloud. >> That's fine. I guess my only question with the motion is um are that the recommendation of the of the committee? We can make that option. We you can present or even I like the committee will know that they have the option to change that. >> Yeah. Is that the recommendation of the like regardless of what the motion said, we refer this as is. There's still the option there. >> The subcommittee is making a recommendation on this policy to the full committee. >> So, you want us to pick one, not >> I think that just makes >> submit it up as an option is what you're saying. >> I think that just makes more sense because the committee can make because then if we just submit it as
029an option, we're just creating a little bit more confusion. I just think we should just pick to submit it as is or recommend it as is or recommend it with a change. Um then we could still change it as is. But I'll leave it up to >> What do you think, Chanel? I could go either way. So if you want to keep it as >> I'll make a motion. I'm I'll just make a motion we refer the beed policy as is with a neutral recommendation. Okay. >> And then >> Okay, I'll second that. And >> but wait, did we add in there that no regardless of either way we want all written to be sent to all of us? >> Well, this says we would receive it all, just not receiving it. Again, everyone should
030be following the policy. Period. Right. That's >> the only question I would have is um I still stand by the fact that this policy was not voted as written, was not the way the committee voted. And I encourage the I know the you all weren't here at the time, but I would encourage the administration to go look back at the ministers to make sure the language matches this policy because we do we do have an issue. If I can just finish, we do have an issue across the board of things the committee votes to do does not get added into the policy. That that's a that's a that's a systemic issue that we have. That's not even just with this policy. However, now that we have it brought up, just so there's no confusion, the
031policy that the school committee voted for in November of 2024 should be the policy that's presented to the committee and then we can vote at that time to change it. If like if Mr. Riley wants to put in a language that we don't respond to input, but the the committee's vote at the time should be what's in the policy. I think that's fair. But M. So then should we be moving this until we know what the policy actually says? >> We're not really that then we're back to the we're back to the we're not really making a recommendation. >> I'll make about this. How about we make a motion to table and we can >> let's get the real let's get the minutes and verify what what was voted on. I think that's we should
032start there. Mult, >> when you say you're not receiving the um communications, is that from our end? You're not getting it. It's going to the school committee website. They can write in on that website, right? Or that your web page. Is that where it's coming from? >> Should we do something at our end for you to support that? >> Yeah. So, I think what the issue is, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, the written inputs that are submitted, >> they're read out loud, we never see those beforehand, we get and um >> so so if we were to um if I get access to the school committee uh website into that part, I could I could have them um download them and get them ready for you for the meeting. >> Sure. So, the
033written inputs are submitted to Miss Cabraw. >> Okay. and that's the person that is on the um the website. So just maybe just when Miss Cabraw sees them just forwarding it to the school committee or here's a better idea. Miss Cabraw I believe is already on the um the school committee um the generic email that we're all attached to. >> So maybe we can just change we could potentially just change the language >> to um if we receive written input to be the school committee it be sent to the school committee or that can just be a procedure just so Miss Cabraw gets this. So if if we do decide to have them read out loud still, Miss Cabraw still gets it and the committee also gets a copy at the same time. So uh
034but we'll have that debate agenda make the agenda. >> Yeah, I'm just I'm just trying to understand. So in other words, presently the chair gets it and the vice chair >> I think they go to Mrs. Cabal but there >> right and then she's >> somebody else is the arbiter of where it goes after that. >> Okay. So for each member to receive >> each I'll just I'll just clarify that real quickly since M cab is here. M cabal when you um if I can ask if when you currently receive an input >> who would receive them first? Is it attorney Assad the chair? >> No one. >> Attorney Assad doesn't >> unless there's an individual's name that's mentioned. Um that's when attorney Assad would review to There needs to be redactions done when I'm
035reading. Um but otherwise when a citizen's input is submitted to me, it is read as is. >> But who does it go to? >> The mayor does not prior to um the meetings or anything. >> So he has only a copy. Okay. >> So we don't get a copy because she's reading it out loud as if it were a public spoken comment. >> Correct. >> That's what you're saying, Deb. >> Correct. to me and you know they say it's citizens input to be read for that meeting I will look at it and if there is an individual's name or something then I if I question it um then I will send it to attorney Assad and have him review it and then if he feels that it should be redacted then he tells me that
036whatever portion um is not to be read you know most of the times it's individual's names um or it mentions in specific um in regards to maybe an investigation or something. Um otherwise um you know when I receive citizens input u it is not forwarded to the mayor. The mayor doesn't tell me which ones to read or not read. Uh I get citizens input and I read it as is. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Yep. Perfect. I just want to um quickly just not to hold this up longer, but make a motion to the table just to add and this is going back a few years. I'm not sure the and I'm happy that the process has changed. What used to happen and I can speak from firsthand experience maybe four or five years ago
037was when during the co times if you were to submit a a citizen input sign up if you had something in writing the mayor would take it the mayor would go with attorney Assad and go through them and then make redactions or say you can't read it or you get thrown out of the meeting. I can say that because it hap it's happened to me. So, um, just speaking from past experience, I'm I'm glad I'm glad it's um I'm glad we've gotten better with the process. I [laughter] I I agree. It should be everyone or no one >> sounds like we've moved past that. Let's be glad we have moved past that. >> So, um I'll entertain a motion to table. >> Say made second. All those in favor? I I all those opposed. >>
0383-2 will be fratization policy. I'll refer to the administration on this one if they have something they wish to present. >> What I have for you, what I same as before, it's it's really title nine that we follow and um we would follow the title N rules and regulations and MASC and everybody I talked to. Um I did reach out to a couple superintendents. They I I'm sure Anna will say this. You're following Title N. You're following uh uh their the policy. And then in in our um in our handbook for um the school district and our policies, we can put in there um conduct on becoming unprofessional. We can and we have that um in some of our languages, you know, we don't hand out, we don't give our personal emails. We don't we
039don't talk on social media with students. we should not be giving our students a Facebook um you know access to our own our personal Facebooks. So um and those things that I would certainly look at going forward um and I know superintendent it's going to talk about a couple of these things as we now we're talking about river but I I did take off the whole title line off of of of MASC but this is what everybody's using um >> yes pretty much. So, I have in the backup here three sample um staff conduct. >> Yeah. >> Student fratinization policies. >> Are you recommending that we adopt one of these? >> So, I have in the back up here sample anti-ratinization policy. >> I think I I g I don't know what I would recommend.
040That's up to you. But I think we gave them it's from I'm just I'm saying for a public identification. We have um a anti-ratinization policy from Dennis Yarmouth. Yes, >> we have one from Randolph. >> Yes. >> And we have one from Mass Chester Esex Regional School Committee. Um I think some I think what we want to do is we just don't want adults having inappropriate situations with students >> and um but we don't want to trample on anyone's um >> we don't want to we don't want to go over the top with with any policies, >> right? it uh when when I went and reviewed MASC, it was you follow Title N and then you can sort of put it in your code of conduct or or your school handbook policy for um staff
041handbook um and conduct policy. MGL has um conduct uh on becoming professional uh conduct on unbecoming of professional professionals. >> So those are in there. Um I the fratization policies that some people have they've they've sort of minced them together. Um it's up to you. I mean it's how you want to do it. I I go by the law. I don't think that any teacher should be fratonizing with any student. >> And there was and I can't remember the date. I'm dating myself but uh MASC did uh a training on this and it it I believe it's this one here. So one that is Manchester, but I'd have to I'd have to check this. They did a big >> looks like what I've had. >> But you look at Dennis Yamoth, they've added in all
042kinds of additional, you know, information. >> 2024, they did a big >> right >> on on Title N and for the for MASS >> when we were down at um the Massachusetts Superintendent Association. That's where they did all of the title a lot of Title N training through that week. >> When we go to our um conference, >> it was all on this. It was a lot of title N. >> Miss Riley, >> I do like and I'm going to start by saying I usually hate long policies, but I actually like how explicit Dennis Yarn is going to say anything to question. It's very specific on what what would be considered inappropriate title from NASC. I I do like that it's so explicit because sometimes if there's not enough description, folks think they're not breaking
043the policy. They're looking for a little gray. So, I do like the explicitness of this one and all the detail. >> Mr. Mullers, do we have a staff uh handbook? >> That was a excellent question. Do we have a staff handbook? I was just going to ask that question. >> I I don't know if there's a actual staff handbook, but I have seen some things upstairs. I know that we need an actual staff handbook in policy. Um, but I I I probably should have said I had one in EB, but um >> uh it should be in your staff handbook. I mean, it should everything should be spelled out, >> right? [snorts] >> So, we don't know if we have one. >> So, I don't know. >> I I don't believe I don't believe we
044do because I just looked into that recently myself after we talked about at the facilities meeting doing potentially um some changes with an attendance policy. So, that's what made me look. I didn't see anything. I think it's just like a district, but that really just mainly covers students. >> Yeah. >> Um, >> there should be >> most districts have them, >> of course. Um, >> but I I agree with Miss Riley. I think the when I looked at the three, I like the Dennis Yarmouth one the most. >> Um, >> they added a lot of >> MR. >> So, I'll make a motion that we ask Deb to replace everywhere it says just Dennis Yarmouth Regional School District. We make that the Fall River Public School District >> and refer that to the full committee.
045>> Motion still made. Is there a second? Second >> further discussion. >> Do you have uh clarification? Do you have your attorney review it also? I mean, there's so much in here. >> Um we should because there's no legal reference so that I would I would >> we should have um >> I just want to make sure to make sure we're not missing your contracts. >> I just want to make sure that's a good point. it all aderes to legal and also if we're taking another district's policy just make sure it um but I do yeah >> we may so it mirrors our policy >> could we have that done prior to it going to the full committee so we can bring it to the full committee the reviewed policy by the attorney please >>
046adopted I would just have the attorney review it >> yeah will you be speaking to you want me to speak to attorney sty or do you want >> I just called he's gonna see uh the superintendent on Friday >> okay >> so I do have one thing when there is a change it says for purpose of this policy students refer students refers to all district students in grades prek through 12 I need to say till 22 because we have further than >> students who go to 22 yes who go to 22 so I just need that wording to change a little bit >> that's fine >> that's the only thing that I got a motion >> I think the superintendent got >> okay anything further all those in favor I I >> All those opposed
047motion passes >> 3-3 three is um >> field trip >> district uh travel policies which includes field trips, student overnight travel and staff. My only question on this um before we even begin procedural. So when I reviewed this um the backup for this meeting yesterday last night when it was received we um had the old policies like the current policies of the committee not the old the current policies of the committee and the um the model MASC policies. It appears from looking at the backup now the the district policies were removed and we only have the model MASC policies. I'm not sure if something happened when we um updated the agenda to a um second revised or if there was an error there. >> Sure. >> You are correct, Mr. That was an error on
048my part with the second revision. Um I didn't put the >> No, it's it's it's okay. I'm I'm not trying I just wanted to the only the only concern that I have is just making sure it's any if we're going to adopt the model policies if there's any changes in the language from our policy to the model what those changes would be. Um, I don't even mind if we can even quickly print those out or um just the the old policies just so we can cross reference the two. >> The first one's the same. I just pulled that right. I know that I I'm looking on. >> Oh, awesome. >> Sure. >> Perfect. Thank you. So my thing in field trip so I do have a question that says for number four they have to
049have educational attachment educational program. >> Yeah. Okay. But we have like the band that goes to like six flags. I don't want to stop stuff like that. >> Well typically the band goes to Six Flags. They I you typically they perform somewhere and then they go. It's not just Six Flags. I don't know if that's what's true here. I haven't seen their presentation. >> You know what A3 could go to? We go to Brownstone in Connecticut. Like there's different things like that. That's not necessarily educational. I'm sure we could find a reason. I can I'm telling you they touched grass. That's enough education for them for the day. I'm just saying. Um we >> I mean it has to it >> the field trip itself should be approved by administration. So they're the ones who
050should read it and be like where is the educational value? Because >> I can find an educational value in almost any >> if I I just want to get the administration's um opinion on this. So field trips, do you believe every field trip should have an educational value attached to it? >> I agree. There are times in eighth grade, end of the year, the kids are excited to go to Canoby Lake Park. Uh you know, Six Flags. I think that's wonderful. It's social emotional. Again, you can probably tie it into >> anything. And and as uh Anna said, it is approved by the principal before it then comes to the school committee. You have >> only because it's here. >> Safeguards. >> It says it here that >> I think that's a good safeguard. Like
051we don't want a teacher saying, "Well, every month I'm going to do a different field trip and go here, there, and anywhere." And that's no connection. >> Yes, >> there are. I mean, I'm just thinking about my own children's experience. They go to a lot of educational field trips. They go to Plymouth Plantation. They go to Sturburn Village. There are I think those that you're talking about are kind of like end of year celebrations. >> I just don't want those to end was the reason why I said that just because of what >> I think those are social emotional. Clearly, if they've been happening, this has been the policy. So that doesn't mean >> so I wish I wish to add to um to this. So the reason I I included this on the agenda
052is one we we should update it and secondly we to help the administration we have routine field trips that go that are just day like for the same day field trips where students um just go for the day somewhere's educational value and they come back state when I looked when I prepared for this meeting I looked at the cross reference um policies and I think there was something about state law in there as well that the school committee actually has to approve overnight or late night travel, but we approve um just same day um field trips that are um not overnight and are not late night that I don't think this should even even come before us >> leave the state >> or if they leave the state >> does that have to come before
053us if they >> if they leave the state >> I thought if they left the state >> field trip for an everyday field trip like if if a think school is here Out of state travel request >> out of state, but if you're in state going to plant that. >> So, so my only question is if I go to Newport, Rhode Island, I need to get permission of the school committee. If I go to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, I don't need permission. And that's state law. >> That there if you if you refresh it. >> Yeah. No, I just um I think that's something we need to have um a conversation with our state delegation. So, [laughter] um if that's if that we should follow the state law, that's perfectly fine. Um [laughter] >> the expedition, >>
054that's a whole other thing, >> right? It could be next door versus >> Yes, absolutely. >> Still the state has to >> But it's the same thing with the teachers. If the teachers go somewhere, they don't always have to tell us, but they tell us when they're going out of state. >> Yeah. Same thing. >> So, um for staff reimbursements, I'm not sure. We've had this conversation with the with the prior administration. I'm not sure if the administr this administration has had time just to review the procedures around staff staff travel. >> I don't like it at all. >> I I don't like having to reimburse anyone. >> I think if you're going on a on I I personally do not like reimbursements. I think it gets us in trouble and I think that the
055district should get an agreement with the city if that's how we're going to have to do uh POS and and you know pay in advance for if we have a teacher going to a conference in Boston. we should be able to um send with that teacher or from the superintendent's office a check to the Marriott hotel in the warf Marriott for uh ESL MLL training um matter of fact here um the superintendent and I are going to the mass superintendent conference in July and you know you have to put up a credit card at first and I have already told Kevin uh Mr. Mr. Almita, that I'll do that upfront to to hold the room, but I would like the the the the city, the school district to have a check ready for me to
056take with me to pay. It just covers you and it covers me that I'm at the right place at the right time. >> I like the sound of that. And um I I ran into a problem in in my former district with reimbursements and um people using an MX card getting a lot of points and we were paying for the MX card and right when I first got there because the MX card was used for like student activities accounts. Well, we were giving somebody a free plane ticket. >> That's really not what reimbursements are for. Um I I don't it's >> I hear what you're saying, but is the city able to do that? So I was in a city that that would not have been possible to check in time and then that was
057an issue. >> It depends on how long it is. I think I talked to Kevin. He said he can do it for us because it was we know the conference is coming up in two months. So that's how I did it. >> Do does the I'm assuming the administration needs extra time to look at that policy. Okay. >> I mean, >> Mr. >> could be different in different student overnight travel, right? Is that what you're looking at? >> No, we have um 3-3. We have um staff travel. >> So, um again, this is I don't know if this is possible in Fall River because again, every city runs differently. So, we >> try to book all travel. So, we have a district credit card. Correct. We book the travel first. So, you're going, we book
058your flight, your train, your whatever it is, the hotel, >> and then >> yes, >> all the receipts come directly to the district because they get emailed to the card that's attached. >> The points all come to the district, right? District credit card, >> but that's not every district allows a credit card. Not every city or district allows a credit card. So, that's something they'd have to >> We get permission from the city. >> And usually it's in the hands of the business administrator. >> Correct. That's who runs it. My CFO handles. >> Yeah, it's in a it's in a block. We had a credit card also, but they like to give a a PO for a check to go to like >> not every hotel takes a PO, which is sometimes they do cuz
059if they'll take a PO, we do that, but if they don't take a PO, we have a district credit card. So, because you're right, reimbursements back and forth to staff are what can get hairy. I just think they get I think they get I think they get us in murky water and especially for when you start to reimburse for gas or you start to reimburse for somebody who said I had to run to Home Depot to get something. >> We should have accounts set up. The district should have accounts at whether it's Home Depot, you know, Hanks, you know. >> Yes. >> You know, electrical shop. We should have open accounts there >> so that if we're doing work in a building, they can go and and sign and then we know who signed what
060time, what the activity was for. >> I had across the street from my last district. >> What I think we do currently in the district is um with the reimbursements like staff members going to a conference of dams to drive it up. We reimburse the gas. I think what our city vehicles Correct me if I'm wrong. We have a city pump. >> I don't I don't >> believe we have a city pump. Not sure that's what the um >> if they keep adequate records with that. >> Drive red cars, >> but the city of For I think that's like a shared service, >> right? >> Um >> but I think Yeah. No, I'm happy this is I I support the direction that you >> Well, I mean, if that's the direction that the the committee
061would, you know, push us and that's that's fine. I just think >> Can we check? This again is sometimes the city will also say for reimbursement there's so much for breakfast there's so much >> I was just going to say we use the IRS a lot you only get this travel for car you have to >> because I did see a reimbursement for meals and I thought there's nothing attach and like we require like the itemized receipt none of that so right now procedure superend >> I'm not sure if this goes with that but this did come up I did not realize that we did not have maintenance vehicles for all of our maintenance that we have a this is something I was going to bring up to the superintendent probably um but this seems
062to be in the same category we give a um a stipend for to use people's own vehicles >> I know >> and I'm going to go back to my former district the like this policy I got rid of that stuff that you just took about reimbursing I did get rid of using um people's own vehicles. It's a liability issue for this district. If somebody drives in their own vehicle from this building to another, I'm not talking about teachers going from building to building. I'm talking about maintenance workers that are using their own vehicles to work from because we actually I think that actually over the last couple of years the insurance company asked us to give everybody's where people were located in the district. I don't know if they did this to you. Maybe not.
063But I I would bet you and we were under um what's the not Mayflower but anyways they they had wanted to know what the mileage was between each of our schools which wasn't a lot but um what teachers went back and forth like OTP what their mileage was and they they had some rating on what what the severity could be in a rating of a car accident or whatever. So that's just part of it. But that came up as a liability issue of allowing people and I just I just had this conversation about if we lease or the city leases Ford 150s or Ford 250s, you know, you get five of them. They have Fall River on them, we know where people are. They're are they're insured by us. We own them. We gas them.
064We do. It's it it belongs to us. It just tightens up some of our >> our systems. When you say they know where they are, can you like there's GPS on them? >> No, they have Fall River Public Schools. >> Oh, yes. >> Kathy, you had them up in Brockton. >> We have all kinds of crazy. >> We had a lot of vehicles. >> We had a hardware shop. >> We had also We had our own staff. >> They They can get back and forth. They don't have an issue with their own car and everything else. Now, they can't get here, can't get there, or can't pick up something because half of them are picking things up with their >> Well, that's the problem. I mean, if you put something in that truck and then
065you hit hit the brake, I mean, anything >> or you take it home, >> the equipment you need with you, like have, you know, if you have like we have maintenance vehicles and we're actually looking to upgrade ours, but they want like shelves in those so they can put equipment on it. So, you're not I'm here and I need this. I got to go back to the shop to get this. So, I got to run to Ace to get this. if they have a vehicle and they can put some of the regular supplies in it, that's also saving time and money and, you know, making it all more efficient. They've got everything with them they need. But if you're driving your own and you've got like a little sedan or a little KE like I
066do, they can't fit much equipment in there anyway or pick up at a hardware store if it's something big. But >> Oh, yeah. Or um >> that's a good idea. >> I think looking at also we have um we have public transportation. Do you have a train that could take people if they have to go up to Boston as well? >> Oh, sorry. >> Oh, uh, >> but when you talk about staff travel, just remember that I I you know, >> you're also talking about in in district travel, right? >> Or is this >> EKC looks to be only about like staff going out official travel, >> right? This isn't about people. >> I don't want the promisey right here is about staff travel. But yeah, but I think it it was important to the
067conversation to bring up and we can >> Can we check with city hall because they must again they must have staff travel and I just want to make sure that where they probably have set out requirements >> more information. >> Yeah, I think yeah. Yeah, definitely. I think we should reach out to city hall and get more information. Um so we can um table DKC and then we could um just going back to JA. The only question I have is so it's a require is it or should be a requirement that all field trips with students do they get parent they need to have parent approval? >> Yes. >> Everyone. >> Um and okay I guess my one last question and if we can get the answer on it. I know once a week we
068have um we have the students go out of district to Swansea to the radio show at least most of the time their students there. I'm not sure if um how we're transferring those students or >> no idea. >> I think they wanted a career >> how oh the courier takes them. Okay, >> that's what I think happened. >> Or there's um field if there's um wish calls going out for those um um appro um parent approval um or who's paying for the um the substitute if a teacher goes as well. I just think that's something we should look into if we're going to have um a weekly show on the radio station. But it is covered on the field trips and I also want to see like what the educational value is that as well.
069But so for the two policies that we have, do we want to adopt um refer and JJH and table DKC? >> Yeah. Can I just a reminder to remove the notes from MASC at the bottom so that >> they look professional? >> Yes. >> The legal references. >> No, this one says no brief policies on field trips such as sample above like that. That's like what they write for you to add in. Not so somebody just didn't take that off. >> I just looked at mine. Everything we just said was in there. >> Yeah. So I think we just need to take off the like the suggestion piece that's not actually part of the policy just to make it look a little polished. >> Yes, I agree with you. >> So I'll entertain a motion
070to refer JA as discussed along with JJH. >> Motion so made second. All those in favor I I >> motion to table DKC motion so made second. All those in favor? I I moving on to 3-4 is um K public complaints. This item um I asked to be placed on the agenda is because this has been an an issue in the past, not not necessarily with this committee. However, what do we do if a committee if the committee receives a complaint rather than just do nothing or hope the administration at the times addresses it? They don't. So the way I read this language, which I fully agree with the policy, this policy has written, we receive a complaint, we officially act on it by referring it down to the proper line of authority, but then
071once it's investigated, we set we get a basic cookie cutter. Okay, this has been addressed, investigation is over without going into much detail. fully support that the way this policy has been read in the past has been implemented in the past has not been followed. Um, superintendent, do you have um any do you like this policy as written? >> Um, I I I believe things need to follow the chain of command. So, you know, that is obviously in in the policy and I think what you're saying is you you know, you send it back to the superintendent and whether I send it to a principal or address it at my level, um it it certainly >> Yeah. So, I guess my my question my only question is how do we send it back? If you're
072asking me, it should be go on the um committee agenda either executive session or otherwise and we officially refer it. So it actually >> take a while now. >> We have we have meetings once a month. M >> I I guess if I'm reading this and I'm trying to interpret I would say so we I we get a complaint an email complaint we forward it to the superintendent once they've resolved it or or met with the to me that's like in our Friday update the superintendent says um complaint received by such and such was addressed. I met with them or they're meeting with the principal. Whatever it is, like it's been addressed. I think that just tells us somebody addressed it. We don't, you're right, we don't need details. We don't have to know the
073substance of it. But I don't think we need to wait till a school committee meeting to have and I don't think that's an agenda item. What are we discussing? She >> personal, excuse me, the superintendent or and it might not and it might not be the superintendent. might be the principal who has to address it. But as long as we know it has been addressed and that if they're not happy with how the principal addressed it, they refer it to the superintendent and then the super and only if they're not satisfied after their meeting with the superintendent would that complaint come to us. That that's what I think this the intent of my only clarifying question. So we've been told recently as a committee we cannot act outside of an official meeting. So this is
074why I interpreted it that way. So if we say we're referring it, who is the >> the we in terms of referring it to the superintendent? I don't mean to be technical, but I just don't >> I think if you get an email, you forward it to the superintendent. >> So any member forwarding it, that that would be covered under policy order. >> Yeah. I just want to make sure that we get something back knowing that it was taken care of because that's the problem. I've said I send no all the time because I get complaints and stuff all the time. But if I send it, I don't know if it's been handled. So when I send it, I don't blanket send it. I send back, hey, thank you for receiving this, but I'm sending
075it off. But if this doesn't get handled or you have any more questions, please feel free to comment back to reach back out to me because at the end of the day, they're reaching out because I feel like they've they've gone through everybody else and they haven't gotten it. one or two sometimes people think that they can jump the ladder and it's going to help them and it it really doesn't in the end cuz then I now I go to the superintendent superintendent has to talk to the principal the principal has to talk to the teacher like it it takes actually takes longer >> but I my problem that I have with the whole thing is that we don't ever know if something was ever handled >> the disposition never happens >> correct that's my
076only thing that I have >> and so this I just want to clarify one last piece as well if there's and situations have happened in the past where members of the public have followed the chain of command goes to the superintendent and either they don't get a response or they get a response where it's inadequate and if a superintendent acts on an issue and they're not happy with the response, we can look into the superintendent's handling of a situation because we oversee the superintendent. Well, we don't we don't Yes. But just I think the the through line there isn't if they if the superintendent has handled it is if they're still not happy with the so they appeal something to a principal. The principal says, "Nope, I'm standing firm on this. I'll just pick a
077whatever whatever it is uh some decision." And then it goes to the superintendent. The superend says, "I'm going to agree with the P principal. That decision stands." And now they're still not happy and they come to us. That's the only time I think that it goes on the agenda, but it depends on what it is because we don't do personnel and we don't do kid things. So, I don't know what that thing would be that would end up with a I guess like a dual language program. A principal is going to close the classroom in her room. It goes to the superintendent. The principal says, "Hey, I've only got three kids. I can't run this." No, I shouldn't have said dual language. I don't want to close that program. Some program wants to be closed.
078The superintendent says, "No, I agree." They can appeal to the school committee. the facts are presented by the superintendent. Here's why we're closing that program. There are only x number of kids. It's not fiscally responsible. It's not in line with our school improvement strategies. Whatever it might be, and then we would do then we would vote. >> Can I throw a scenario? >> Yeah. >> Um >> I was trying to think of one that made sense. >> Go ahead. >> There are some things that are frivolous, so let's be careful. Right. >> Something comes, you know, my student received a B and it should have been an A or we wouldn't address a student issue. >> You're saying all complaints, you know, coming to the superintendent. So I might say, do you received, >> in
079other words, that goes back to the principal. They can deal, you know, I'm not >> I'm not going to give you a full >> paragraph of I think your disposition to us would say, you know, this is an internal matter. I'm upholding the decision of the principal. That's it. That's it. Yes. If it's a school commises to a school committee decision, a program of that nature. >> Yeah. So only those things then go on an agenda for the school committee to hear the the superintendent would present the reasoning behind it. But if it's not a school committee level decision, we don't see it. I'm told it's handled. >> What if there's accusations that the district mishandled a bullying investigation? I received quite a few. >> But those are not our business. We we don't we
080don't deal with bullying issues. That's not that's not >> but we oversee the superintendent of the super not saying you would >> that's all right then you so call in the superintendent's evaluation that be a place where we would say in communication or support of students whatever our sections are that's where we would address that. So, if I I just want to push back on that slightly is um so that's that's the thing. If there's an accusation that the superintendent mishandled a bullying issue, but I don't have all the facts, I can't I'm not going to put in an evaluation superintendent mishandled a bullying investigation. That's why >> I thought you meant you had all the information. >> That's why I think it's important that we review decisions of the superintendent. But sorry, I can
081take >> No, no. You know, that's where again if if there is something that goes on an agenda too where I do a presentation as far as this is the training that we've done for staff. This is what we've done to support principles. These are our forms. They're state forms. These are the documents >> and bullying is a principal level issue. That's something superend the bullying investigation. >> I'm happy to share that. >> Yeah. Yeah. So the superintendent would be >> at a public meeting or or a subcommittee meeting. We we haven't gotten this amount of information in the past. I I I >> Yeah, I think you always you and Mr. A, you all always have some history that we don't know about and I'm always trying to figure out what got us to
082this point. >> So, [clears throat] um No, I appreciate that. I think just keeping the committee as most informed as it can. I think it's important. >> Chair, I apologize. I I do have to leave that here. Um and I'm happy to follow up. >> Thank you. I I just want to say for public identification superintendent had a prior commitment that the that was um shared in prior and superintendent's excused. >> Thank you. >> So we just refer him. >> Yeah. So I'll make a motion to refer as I'll make a motion to refer um policy K as is the full committee positive recommendation motion. I'll make a motion. So move second. >> All those in favor say I. I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes. So, next item, and I think these last three
083will go relatively um smoothly, is um 3-5 discussion to refer the creation of a personnel subcommittee or including those duties with another subcommittee. Just a little bit of backup the committee and its policies. We do have a policy that sets um subcommittees. It's not in the backup. My first question would be whether our pol our subcommittee should be outlined in policy. Um and actually with the committee's edification I like to take 3-5 and 3-6 together um because I think it would just make sense that we're going to have this conversation and um also outlining the description. So not all of our subcommittees. I did ask the administration prior just to do a little bit of research on um how we gotten to this point. Not all of our subcommittees, including this one, this subcommittee does
084not have an active um >> description. And this this subcommittee was approved years ago before any of us were in our position currently. Um, so just we just got to figure out and maybe there is one that when this was created in 2010 2015 there might be one in the books. You know, >> I'm wondering if there's one in here >> in the minutes. Um, but if there's not, then we should um have the either the administration create one for us to um send to the full committee or >> if I may, Mr. chair in our policies. Of course, no, because I pressed it too fast when I scrolled. I can't see it, but I was trying to look in our policy book because there there there is an NSBA policy around subcommittees and their
085descriptions. Ah, finally popped up. So, do we not have that policy at all? We could we could pull the MASC exemplar one because that is a regular policy and then that would at least give us a starting point. >> Okay. >> I'm looking to see if we have it in ours. I I did when I preparing for this meeting I I did not see a um polic we have a policy that shows how we create subcommittees >> but they don't list the subcommittees that we have. >> So subcommittees of the school committee BDE >> yes >> so that doesn't have any description. Let's let me pull that one up. BDE >> sorry you know I have to scroll one >> but even when they do I think that they should be here. No, I'm not
086where you are. I think that we should have them attached to all these things. >> We It's somewhere if you look up So, if you look up um >> I'm just going to look up on yours if you don't mind. Um Fall River School Committee, subcommittee, um descriptions. >> Yeah, >> some of them do have one, but they all but not all of them. Um, I'm trying to find it's somewhere on the There it is on the website, believe it or not. And I think that's some something else. Why should people have >> functions and duty? Here we go. Functions and duties of standing subcommittees. >> Why Why are we searching for it? Why wouldn't it be in that same spot? >> That's that's an amazing question. So, we have um evaluation. >> No, I
087that's not I agree with you. I think it needs to be it needs to be there. I think >> um so that's um so evaluation we have finance which never meets we have um grievance grievances committee uh we have the facilities and operation instructional and parenting community outreach but none for policy >> um might miss someone that doesn't have any instru I'm the um one that never meets I think I'm a member of it is um recognition >> oh yeah for recognition and something else was attached remember he added it together. >> Yep. >> Took a picture of it. >> He added it together to some this I actually just watched the minutes to that January meeting the other day. I had a question about >> Sorry. >> Is there anything in the charter about
088subcommittees? >> No. >> Okay. >> Like there aren't any required ones. That's what I'm just >> What do you need me to do on that? >> They're not defined. So like the role of the policy subcommittee is not defined anymore. >> There's no fun. there's like a >> so you want >> cookie cutter functions and do not I shouldn't say cookie cutter it's important that we have well- definfined subcommittees but there's a a definition for the subcommittee >> um that would be ideal >> and for them to be in link together in one actual spot so if you type in far school committee subcommittee it should be there >> so I think some referrals I think what we should recommend >> staff handbook in the back >> yeah well it's not on our website >>
089I think what this is mine this need it on our website. >> What we should recommend to the committee is for BDE, >> we add the we do add the subcommittees in there, our standing subcommittees. >> We also >> So, do we want to put BDE on our next agenda? It's not on this one, right? So, we want to put it on an ad like make a recommendation to what we want to see in BDE to bring to the full committee. >> Yes. >> So, let's put it on our next agenda. we can draft what we want it to look like. If you'd like, I can take a stab at it before our next meeting and then we'll have something to review. >> So, >> I'll look at what MASC has for a model and
090try to add that to ours. >> So, we should add subcommittees and um we should like subcommittees in general. Okay. >> Should we add the descriptions in which or >> that's up to you. I can try to add a brief description. You tell me if it's what you're looking for. I think we should we should have descriptions that outlined in on the website. >> You know what? That could be a reference to the policy. So, we could have BDE and then BDER and in R you can list out the subcommittees and put what their roles and responsibilities are. >> I think um sure I agree >> BD [snorts] I'll see what I can find from MASC and other districts and then try to make one >> that we can at least have something to start
091from instead of just having nothing to look at right now. No, I agree. I agree. Um, but just for conversation, >> can I just interrupt? Is this for our next policy subcommittee meeting? >> Yes. Yes, it will be. >> Um, person just I just want to have a preliminary conversation. So, personnel subcommittee, I know something you brought up and I and I support it is um should that be something should that be his own subcommittee or should we attach that to evaluation which you chair? And I think you would you would be very good at looking at the job descriptions. >> I say we don't have a >> we don't have a a ton of personnel things that are in our purview would be some job descriptions might be some contract >> regular you know
092like what are the benefits we give everyone in a in a contract like then that could be something that we would bring to policy. So everyone who's hired at the cabinet level gets 25 vacation days whatever sick days whatever. So there's a standard to work from because I feel like they're not all the same. They're not. That's what my impression was from reviewing them. So we could set a policy that sets a standard for what the benefits are in in contracts and then that could be brought to the full committee and then I think that actually could be a policy where we say this is >> it lets people know what the expectations. >> Well, we look at all job even if the per even if the individual is not in our purview. I believe
093we as a committee look at all job descriptions for positions. >> And we set wages and benefits. So that >> you set the weight. Yes. >> Yeah. Wages and benefits. So that could >> Yes. Which which hopefully is coming before us soon for some positions, but not to get off not to get off course is um >> if we could get to that. If we could get to them, >> that would be great. Yeah. >> So I'm getting some templates. >> We don't have anything right now. Yeah. For a template. >> Exactly. So they're all different and the wording is different and that's without getting into it, but I because this is policy, we just brought it up. >> We're going to run into issues >> and it's not fair for one employee to have
094one contractual template and another employee who has a different contract. There should be standard language and for I and I use it I'm sorry, I shouldn't say that, but um just from the superintendent's point of view, it should be standard language for teachers. I mean because it's a contractual standard language for es and then when you get down to their specific duties >> that's where your salary begins to change right >> and what they do. >> you know vacation that could be a template that could be standard that everybody gets >> or whatever level gets this. >> Yeah. The four weeks you start with three weeks. >> You're here two years or a year you get four weeks. You're here three years you get five weeks. you're here, you know, up to I don't think
095I give out more than 25 days. >> So, you know, I don't think any I've seen any contracts go up that, but >> that's something that is standard and you can't I don't think it's good business. >> I did I think personnel >> that's why I asked if there was there was a subcommittee list in the chart or anything. I don't want to bring something that then somebody says you can't do that. That's not allowed. >> No. So, as long as it's allowed, I do think right now we're in a we might not need one forever, but I feel like we need one right now because there isn't anything in place to create some standard or >> and also the finance subcommittee. I know it used to be a three member committee. >> I think
096it should go back to being the three member committee. Um, >> because everybody's on it, right? >> Everyone's on it. It doesn't meet and we're going off the schedule. We have to to have a finance subcommittee meeting with seven members. you're going off the schedule of seven members >> and you're going off um having the chair of the school committee actually schedule the meeting which hasn't happened. So I think just having a three member subcommittee will be able to meet more and make better referrals and look into our finances a lot better. You have >> So I'm not sure if they've done this but I I did a three member budget subcommittee and then Especially when it came to the budget time because I mean you might want a subcommittee all year long but it
097really comes into high gear. I mean I started to talk about it in September. where I started to key up and queue up the the city or the town. And then October, you go and have that that initial director's meeting with everybody there and having you sort of get where the city is or the town is. And and then >> so having the three and then when it comes closer because I really think we can't come out in March next year. I think we've got to come out late January or February. Usually February vacation is I'm there every day. you're there every day um creating the budget so you can come out on Friday and tell your subcommittee let's meet Friday morning of February vacation. That's really the weekend. >> No, I fully agree with
098you and I think just to we have a this has been a systemic issue >> that the finance subcommittee hasn't been meeting over the last several months to years. So I think um so whenever I bring it up now and you can bring your experience and we can >> I think superend does it exist? So, do >> we have a Everybody's on it, but it's just the full committee. >> Full committee. >> Yes. City council. >> Yeah. I think it's better to have a finance subcommittee. I agree. >> Just a moment. Mr. Koug pick who's on it. >> Who's on it? But we don't have But we could we're suggesting a subcommittee with only three members. So, he would pick who the three members are, but we don't have >> That's another issue to your
099point. We should be confirming um the appointments. There's nothing in the chart that says it, but that's an ongoing issue that we've been discussing as a committee. And >> but as you but as you get closer to the budget though, it should open up. >> A budget subcommittee. Fair. >> Budget subcommittee. Budget subcommittee budget sub. And then why when you get to the end, invite everybody. >> This will be by the time we have our next sub our next finance. We'll be ready. >> [laughter] >> But as far as this this personnel one though, because the chair is in charge of subcommittees, can we even add a personnel subcommittee without asking or speaking to the chair about? >> We can add it to the >> evaluation or or we could but we could bring it
100as an action item to the full committee and ask if we could include either include personnel as part of the evaluation subcommittee to do the things we just said or we could say or ask him if he would like to create a personel sub. he appoints members not I don't want to give the chair any authority that he does not have um that that's not in the charter I don't want to give any extra authority whatsoever that's I'm speaking for myself but I think going to um he appoints members >> but he doesn't create >> he he doesn't create subcommittees um he created created the um the the prior superintendent one on his own without a vote of the committee but um he shouldn't have but he he doesn't have the power to >> so
101But I still think we still need to bring this as a personnel and then just and then he'll be able to put his information. >> No, I think if we add the personnel um if we add we can fix the description the name of evaluation evaluation personnel >> and addition to that that wouldn't Yes. That wouldn't change anything um like that wouldn't have anything to do with the chair. That's the vote of the committee. >> Yeah. >> So the committee votes for it it will just be attached to evaluation. I don't think it's going to be a controversial thing anyway, but um you never know. But um >> I don't think it is. I think we've been talking about job descriptions and contracts and I don't think it's a secret that they're not standard and
102we need to create something. So >> just having a subcommittee that can look at those that has the jurisdiction >> come to the still going to bring them to the full committee. So they're not doing any the personal subcommittee is not going to do anything on it own. It's going to go to the committee. So, I'll I'll entertain a motion to table 3-5 and 3-6. And um Deb, if um for our June meeting, if you just want to like combine them as one item since we're and just put on just BDE for the next item >> and BD for the um next item, but we're gonna table those and add those to the next agenda. >> I'll send you a draft before the next meeting, Deb. Okay. Motion. Do I Motion still made? Second. All
103those in favor? I I. All those opposed. >> All right. We're coming up on the N3-7 is update on next steps and policy manual spreadsheet. So, if I can ask for an update on where where we are at with the um spreadsheet that the subcommittee asked for. Liz, can I um speak on that? >> Sure. >> Um so, Miss Riley um shared um a spreadsheet. We are actively working on that um looking at what we have um that has been outdated um and moving forward from that. >> Great. Um, so we're hoping to have a semi um updated policy spreadsheet um for the June meeting um with the committee. >> Um is it possible that we I I guess and I've never made like a spreadsheet like um like this before like on my own.
104I'm just trying to understand the um the timeline. I'm presenting a full spreadsheet to the sub subcommittee. Is it like a lot of work to create it? Miss Riley, >> it's a big task. >> I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. >> Sure. >> It's okay, Deb. I was just going to say why it was a big task. So, I pulled the policy book for you, but Deb has to go back and look at all the dates of when they were approved and then break those up into the five years. So, what takes a little longer is she's going to have to look at every one of those policies to input the last date it was approved and then we'll start marking when we reapprove them to get on that five year. So, I'm just
105thinking what takes a long time is we have many many 400 pages worth of policies for for Deb to look through and put those dates. >> Have you thought about bringing MASC in to do the >> They won't do this. >> Yeah, they'll Yeah, they don't they won't help you make this part. No, but they'll come in and say these are our update. They'll come in with a book and say that that could be there could be a policy in there that you may not need anymore. >> So we have the mas we're trying so I'm sorry but what we're doing is right we weren't reviewing some policies regularly. So really ideally we should be on a fiveyear cycle of review >> the same thing. >> Yeah. So, so what we've asked what what I
106tried to help Deb do, I'm sorry, Deb, I did my best with that spreadsheet, was pull all of our policies into one spreadsheet so that then we can date them all and then divide them into five years and start checking off that list as we go through. >> It's an arduous task. It >> It is an arduous task. I I Yeah, the spreadsheet was the easy part. Filling in the dates is the harder. >> And you're right that it takes a long time. And I think just like I think because this subcommittee and this administration wants to I'm happy we're addressing this now because we've allowed the the the policy manual to go so outdated over the years. So I know it takes a lot to get everything back in motion. I I think just
107to throw it out there maybe if like it could assist with Miss Cabraw or assist with the administration. >> It's not like it's not just pulling it out like that. >> Yeah. It's you got to go through the book and sort of turn the page and say, "Oh, it we did it May 5th, or we did it June 4th, 2022. We did it, you know, 1964. This was the last time we saw this." I mean, there's going to be policies you're going to come across. You're going to be like, "We had a policy on this." >> There was no easy electronic way to do it. I know what you're thinking. I tried to sort it that way. The AI got so confused on sorting the dates because some policies have multiple dates or they might
108have a date in there from a year of a law that was adopted. So it was confusing all the dates. >> But Anna, remember they used to they used to go revised revised like revised 20. >> That's so we have that on some of our so that's why it was getting confused and it was showing up multiple times. So I took I took the dates out and just had it load all our policies. That's why it's taking Deborah a long time. She's got to go through everything. If you want, but [clears throat] Colin, if you want to come in >> and pull up, I mean, if you want to come in, I I I'll get you a laptop or I will get you um you can use my office. You can sit in there with
109me. I'm not never there. I'm not running around, but you can sit there if you want and help. I I I'm willing to work with you and >> or share it with us. I'm willing to do it when we can. If Deb, if if what if you want to share the updated spreadsheet whenever we I have time, I'm happy to do some of them so that we can try to get it ready for June. So we have >> or start going through it and just putting the dates on it. >> Yeah, that's what I'm saying. [laughter] >> I guess I didn't realize how um >> tedious. It's tedious. >> It's an arduous task because you have to go to the last page to see revised, revised, revised. >> 400 pages of policy. We have a
110lot of policies, some of which we might not need anymore. Some might be outdated because it's law, >> so you don't need it in policy anymore. >> We had we had one on with the old gas from from the science labs. That was a policy is how the gas was turned on in the fall and how to turn it off and blah blah blah. And I was like, do we even use these anymore? I'm like, they they took those tables out. We don't have those spets. Remember the spets? >> They don't do that anymore. >> I don't even have gas in my new high school. Everything's electric. >> Yeah. >> No gas. >> It's green. >> I think No, that's good. Um, so I think also just in terms of the next steps for where
111we're going, I I just speak to the superintendent this week and um I think she's going to be doing this. I know she stepped away, but I think she's going to be meeting with all the subcommittee chairs that um meet often just to get on the same page before we create the agenda and before we um implement the agenda, which is good. We haven't had a a system in place before. And um the only thing I I think um is just would be beneficial with any policy that is asked requested by a member to be be on the agenda. We include both the um current policy and the model policy as as a solder >> and um and also I think just getting that out just a few days before because I know like M
112Riley has a very busy schedule. I know Miss Dor has a busy schedule and just just so we could have time just a little more time to review. I think would be um beneficial. But um yeah, I just want to throw this out there just an idea in terms of just one day in the summer we're all off just having like a like a like one long session of just going through multiple policies and banging out many on the way. I just want to throw it out there. If >> can we see what our what our list looks like [laughter] five year list? See, I'm being serious, but I'm not saying I'm >> I could commit to something like that, but I'm saying let's see what our list looks like. So, again, just in terms
113of organization, once we divide it by five, if our year one is 20 policies, we can easily divvy that up over the months we have our meetings. If our year one is a hundred policies, we may have to do a few marathon sessions. Even if the marathon session is just I don't think we need this policy out. We make a stack of those to bring to a you know what I mean? So let's if we could see what the fiveyear looks like and we look look at how many are in each year. Maybe that will help us decide if we need something like that and and then that will we can kind of weed out all the ones that >> and then we you can make a few stacks. We can make the we don't
114need this anymore. We can make the I think this is good as is and these need revision and those might be the ones that we bring towards. So just a thought to organize especially a long day. I don't think we want to be making edits because by the end of a long day I don't think our minds will be fresh. So but that could be a day to organize and we could sort through them and say I think this is we don't need to look at this anymore. This one is fine and this one needs revision and then that would help us organize our year. That would be probably a good summer project. >> Very well. Yeah. I agree. Okay. >> All right. >> Very good. I will I'll take you up on that. I'm
115going to I'm going to look through it myself. >> What I'm saying is is happy to help too. >> Don't go crazy. Come in and look, you know, look in the policy book here. Don't take it with you. Just come in and do 10 a day. Just or go through the book and say this is >> you get bored. [laughter] >> I mean like like like you just said like the high risk or importance. Yes. >> This is of major importance to us. >> Yep. >> Down to you know you you can't bring kittens to school, >> you know, to less importance. Like yes, it's important that somebody want or teddy bears to school. it it's something that we want to get away from but yet does it really need to be in our policies
116right >> I mean >> yes >> one extreme to it >> right >> yes >> absolutely >> very good all right we don't need any that was an update so we can move on to um new business um just want to bring up one item for new business so watching the Florida city council meeting last night we have a walkers and riders policy >> is important that policy is fully funded >> as the city has the administration received anything from the city in terms of cuts to the transportation budget? >> Not that I'm aware of. >> Okay. Just encourage the administration just to take um just reach out just make sure there's no no cuts. Um but I I hope not. We need students going to school. We need um make sure they're going to
117school safely and it's important that we keep that fully funded. So, any other new business? >> Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So, made second. All those in favor? I I >> Thank you everyone. >> Thank you.