001All right, Good evening, Hollston. Welcome to the uh April 10th uh 2025 meeting of the Holl School Committee. Uh we will dive right in. At 7:00, we have our our budget hearing, but that is an official uh hearing, so we need to wait till 7 to um proceed with it. So, we will uh work through the rest of the agenda first. Um, so we'll start off with a report from our student representative. Tickets are being sold this week. The class of 2027 is having a corner market fundraiser on April 15th. Girls and boys track won yesterday against Norwood. Um, DECA had a bake sale yesterday and they are going to Orlando for nationals on the 25th. The Global Citizens program is going to Italy over April break. High school spring play tickets are on sale
002for May 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. um for the play Clue. Um AP exams start May 1st. The French exchange students come back at the end of April break or the students who went to France. Um performing arts went on a field trip to Boston today. Um they went to open Boston Symphony rehearsal. They tooured the Institute of Contemporary Art and they went to see the musical Shocked. NHS seniors and juniors are writing letters to younger grades. Term four has just started and seniors just applied to local scholarships. Great. Thank you. Thank you. School committee individual comment. Frank Hillary for me. Joe. Sarah? No. Cynthia? No. Don? No. Okay. And I am good. Do we have anyone from the public who wishes to speak? Thank you. Miss Ryan join me here. Good evening. Barber Ryan 14
003replace just um wanted to highlight uh the PTO this year is taking over the walk bike and roll event. We've supported it with snacks in the past so we be bringing that forward to you but we have Dr. Michelle Porter and her daughter Chenade who is a sophomore in high school and with the the Leos and she is actually going to really spearhead this. So, we're very happy um with that. And this is the mom and daughter team of the last couple years have hosted the culture night highlight highlighting different heritage um in our Hollist community. So, they've stepped forward and we're working with them. So, we're very excited about that May 7th and we'll be putting that out and we've con we had a call with the Massachusetts folks um Wednesday morning. So, we'll
004tie into the larger state effort. So, wanted to make you aware of that. If you'd like to bike, walk or roll with us. Um, all grades are welcome and we have the support of the administration and each principal and they'll push that out in the newsletter. And then as far as scholarships, the PTO scholarship is available for application. And that's it. Thank you. Great. Thank you. All right, rolling right along. to present the rules. Um, so our first uh order of old business uh is the Hollison High School schedule for 2025 2026. Is there anything we want to do about that? Well, we don't have to. We have a vote on there, but you know, we could to go back to the current schedule of this year. Yes. Now that we have a ratified schedule
005for 26 27 I think it makes sense. So to remove the AB schedule roll back the of the AB schedule. Yeah. In order to give them an opportunity to to work on the schedule for the 26 27 school year. I think it's important to note the schedules. So the implications of the current schedules that have been put in place. I think doc or Mr. list laid out last week a majority of students had already put in classes. So I think it would be good to hear from administration. I know Mr. Ellis isn't here like what the implications are by moving back to the block schedule for students that are already scheduled. So I think that's why he had um extended the timeline to give kids another opportunity. you know, he he felt that most of
006it should lay out pretty similar just because it was a variation of the current schedule but fully version but that's why he extended the timeline and kids are I think counselors are going to be communicating as well with students and you probably receive something didn't something go out to students. Yes. So, um I think we'll be fine. And I mean in exceptions we always we always change things after the fact. You know, you just want the bulk of it in because it's a lot of work if you have to do it manually, but there's always an opportunity if a student misses something later on through an error through P school or otherwise that they can do that manually later as well. But I mean, doesn't I think your words are important that not every student
007needs to run back and redo their schedule, right? Most of them should be fine, but the council will be looking at them with the students and students should feel free to ask questions in the meantime. Okay. How how has that been received for you? Just like the this kind of transition schedule process. I think that most students are like happy that it's not the AV anymore. I haven't really heard anything like crazy and no real concerns about their schedules laying out incorrectly or anything in good. Okay. So, um given that any more discussion than we want, we obviously uh did make a commitment to the to the community to uh roll back on the AB. Um, so I'll uh entertain a motion to um rescend our uh vote to implement an AB schedule uh for
0082526 and to continue with the existing schedule. Moved by John second. All right. All in favor? It's official. We are never going to see AB at least not next year. And I just want to say I'm sorry about the confusion about all of the back and forth. It's been really challenging for all of you and I just want you to know that we we hear that. Thanks. Um all right. Um then next up is just a discussion of the leveling subcommittee. Um I don't know, Hillary, if you have an update or thoughts on membership. I know you and Sarah have been working on that with administration. Yep. Sarah and I are going to meet with um uh Ron and Karen and Jeriel on Monday and to talk about the membership and then think and um
009I think Ron is going to bring some um ideas on how to elicit community engagement with Okay. So, we'll have an update at the next school committee meeting. So, we need two community members. I guess is what we voted. We I know we had one member, former school member who's already volunteered. Um, do you think next week I can put on the agenda like to vote on the membership to sort of officially um form the committee I guess to then start being able to meet? Um, I think we might need a little more time for members uh beyond next week and they need to get sworn in too. Yeah. Right. Right. So that's why because I I there's still a couple months left in the school year and you know I think the hope was
010to have them start working this year before the certainly before the summer. So um May 3rd May 1st let's put it on. Okay. And if something changes you we be in touch. Mhm. Um anyone else have any sort of thoughts about that? Okay. Um lastly I put on here um just to sort of a vote to kind of authorize the uh the bargaining uh liaison working with the HFT on the uh on the high school schedule to kind of create we as part of the high school schedule agreement. We agreed uh with the HFC to have a joint statement between the um school committee um and the uh schedule subcommittee members both administration and and uh teachers in your folder. I put the draft that I sort of have sent to um uh Jamie, but
011that obviously is not, you know, obviously they have not read it, reviewed it, had anything to say about it. So I wanted to I wanted to share with you before we sort of authorized us to go forward what kind of we were thinking but it's this is by no means you know the uh the agreed upon what's the file name of the drive the what what's the file name in the drive I know there are four five joint statement sorry start joint statement in the April 10th file got [Music] So since this would come out as a joint statement from the whole committee in addition to the the uh sub scheduled subcommittee you know if if everyone's is comfortable authorizing us to sort of finalize it. Um once you're ready, I'll entertain a motion to
012do that. [Music] Edit this document at all. Um I would prefer we don't edit it now because this is what I've sent. If you have some sort of suggestions, um we can I'm open to just analyze. This is what I sent to to to Jamie, so I don't want to change that before getting any back from her. Is it more typo or? Yeah, there's just word. Okay. Yeah. [Music] What was the word? Doesn't [Music] matter. So, what do you want? You've already sent it to them. So, what do you want us to do now? It's nothing to reprove. You've already sent it to them. So, it's just we're waiting to hear back from them before we submit something, put something out. Crit is authorizing us to send it out. You've already sent it to them.
013So, send out to the community. Something to authorize. You already sent it. Send out to the community, but it's they haven't reviewed it over yet. You just said, did you just say the HFT hasn't looked at it? They have not. So, it's not it's not authorizing it's authorizing us to to finalize it with them and then send it to the community on behalf of the committee and the the other members of the of the members of the high school scheduling committee. Like, will we see that copy before you send it out? I can share it with you, but it would not be editable. No, I know this isn't editable either. So, I guess whatever goes out, I feel like we should all be able to see and vote on before it goes out, whatever it
014is, right? I'm not sure we did that last time, right? When we came to an agreement on um start terms, right? And also the contract, I think we had like it was Dr. Seard and I met with Right. We're not we're not editing what we've already sent because you already sent it. So, we didn't give to you back in edit. It doesn't matter anymore. So, go ahead. Go ahead. I guess unless there's material changes to it, we could vote on like construct of this. Did the HFT say when they'd get back to you? They just asked for me to provide a draft. Um it is typically what we say look we can also do it so it just comes out from from Don Hillary and myself if if the full committee doesn't want it to
015come from from them. I mean that's I think it's important it comes from the full committee but I I agree. I just could we punt it to next meeting when there may be an update. I I would prefer to wait two weeks. It's next week. It's next week. Oh we have a meeting next week. Right. But I I don't think this is a process where we can send it. They can make changes. and then we decide we don't like their changes to the 17th and then go back and then wait until May 1st. So I think we do have to have some trust in the subcommittee and but I think it's important comes from the committee otherwise. Yeah, I agree. Is there anything that's not in here that you want to see or things that
016are in here? Well, it's just first time looking at it so I haven't had the chance to look at it before now. So, but my point is if you've already sent it, then there's no there's no point any sharing anything else cuz there's no changes that can be made because you've already sent it to them. That's all. My only comment is the last paragraph I would say now that it's been voted on and ratified making it clear the ownership with the plan the implementation falls on administration where it just say more information specifying who that will be coming from. Well in conjunction with the teachers. Yes. I thought we discussed um we can work something like that in as we just unsure who that where that information will be coming from. It's definitely not us.
017Yes, we can we can work on that as we finalize and negotiate the statement. All right. So, would anyone like to make the motion? I'll make a motion to approve the current draft uh subject to some edits based on HFT feedback. Second. Yeah. Okay. All in favor? Okay. Any opposed? Okay. Where is the agenda? All right. We've got 10 minutes. So, um I'll entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. Moved by Don. Second. All in favor. Okay. Thank you. Does the central office team have some updates for us? I just was going to mention that I will be acting principal for the day at the high school on Monday and I have a student roundt on Tuesday. So I'll be sending out something to the students tomorrow to let them know that I will
018be there at 12. I'll be there Monday, but also to meet with them for a round table on Tuesday. Dr. If you haven't had a chance to check out the newsletter, please do so. For teaching and learning, we have over 2,700 hits and we'd like to get to our normal over 3,000. So, check it out. Uh excited. Next week on the 17th is the Rams Unified Basketball game versus police and fire for the town of Holl. So, uh if you're available, this should be a real burner. So be up for that. Um this is kind of after uh ear last week was the staff and student uh basketball game as well. Uh the staff narrowly narrowly uh defeated the uh I hear defeated the students uh by a couple points. And and not to put
019you on the spot, but since I didn't get it on the agenda and figure out, would you would you mind updating the committee on sort of the your you suggest changes to the capital request? Um yes, for the high school supplies, correct? Yeah. So, uh David and I now now that um we are not moving on schedule for next year. Um, and originally on the uh spring capital request was a $48,300 uh capital request dependent on uh or needed for uh year-long uh schedule for next year. Um there we David was able to look closely in the process of building out the 48,300. Um we were also able to uh inventory existing supplies that were out of commission as a result of them being broken. So these are things that we already actively earn own
020for the most part um that we would benefit for them for to be in circulation for next year regardless uh but would be something for us to kind of repair and uh build the safety around the equipment that we currently own. Uh and then um see what we need to add in FY27. But these would be the things that would benefit us next year um as uh but would be essential and necessary in FY27. And that uh that number is uh 23,300 something 23,000 and change is um the difference on that predominantly that is um some of our safety equipment that we have um in our in our building. Um our uh we have some outofcomission um microscopes that similar to in a couple years ago uh at the middle school um an investment was
021done to kind of repair um microscopes that were out of commission uh to get them back into circulation. This is similarly microscopes again that we own that need to be repaired and updated so that we can get them back into use um there along with just some of the basic safety equipment that when you're tight on the budget um and aren't looking to actively build uh capital in that area um typically just kind of puts the side and you're you're getting by with the things you need in the current schedule we have. But these are things that we own and they should be in working order. So, a lot of things are sort of moving quickly now with the budget and town side because the capital subcommittee, the finance committee is meeting. Uh, we've not
022yet been invited to present in front of the select order for our capital requests, but I would imagine at some point that will be coming. Um, and so I'd like to vote on this at our next meeting. Um, Dr. Jordan, if you could share it out with the committee and if the committee has questions or sort of concerns, I could reach out to Dr. Jordan um over the next week with those. Um, unless I I prefer not to schedule for budgets upcoming me for just this, right? Not for just this. We'll have one probably at some point um before May 1st or May 15th. As we closer, we have a better idea of what the budget picture. Does anyone have objections to that? No. So, just want to clarify. So, this is 23,300 whatever in
023change over what we had estimated. I'm sorry. It's instead of so half of what we it's half of what we did. We had 48,300 for ELA, world language wellness and science materials because of the ABC schedule. Yes, I understood that. Um and so now that we're not doing that for next year, but we still have other in doing inventory. Um I think they identified some needs within the science department that hadn't been met and that we would have to replace anyway. And so that's part of the that's why is there I was just going to say is there a reason why we shouldn't like I'm wondering if doing that inventory where there are other issues or other supplies that we do need. So reducing that does that make sense? Like if there's Well, this is
024the number we would have needed if we were doubling supplies if we were if we were going AB and we and going to the seven. Well, I'm just saying like as we're looking to the following year, but I don't I don't think we have a good case to buy it ahead like a year ahead, right? I wasn't really looking at buying ahead, but okay. But so next May before we implement the new schedule in 2026, yeah, there'll be work done on whether or not request will be for that. Right. I think ordinarily we we would have just pulled this but Dr. Jordan mentioned that during that process they had discovered already identified issues that we would have need to address regardless. Correct. No, I get that. I'm just wondering if that have is this a
025complete deep dive or is there anything that we're missing under the floorboards so to speak? The capital picture of the town is also quite tight. So I think that like they we had not received um a commitment to the 40 the 48,000. So I think that okay reducing it will right be a better presenting to finance committee on Tuesday. What what was we talked about today? Um and talking about capital too. I mean as you know the rest of uh some of these other items are uh the Wi-Fi upgrade for example if we don't do this now then we could lose the rebate that the town in terms of the prior prioritiz prioritizing. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Okay. So um reach out to Dr. Jordan if you have any questions about um those numbers and we'll
026vote on it officially. Um but we may have to communicate it before that. So as a placeholder in any event. Um okay. Uh do we have any reports from our subcommittees uh communications policy? Um no meeting next have to schedule meeting for next week or the following after um the break. But I can talk about if that's of interest. Um, so we met this week with Dr. Pasca. She is going to submit her evidence to, you know, complete her evidence um by the 18th. We're supposed to get back to her by tomorrow if there's anything that we're looking for um which is April 18th. And then we need comments from the committee, you know, rubric, whatever, filled out by May 2nd back to the subcommittee so that we can meet um and to be a
027able to vote on this on our meeting that's scheduled for the 15th of May. That's pretty much it. That's enough time. Going to have to make it work. Do you have any meetings between the 2nd and the 15th? Then um we'll schedule one. We have it scheduled. Okay. Okay. Um budget and like I mentioned before presented to um finance committee on Tuesday for the capital and the operating budget and we said we would expect to go in front of the select soon. We will schedule another budget meeting in early May. Okay. Anyone have any jokes? No. But what about where I mean any requests for items that you want to get added on to the agenda in the coming weeks? I I was thinking back to um the change in start times for the high
028school and also um we were at one point talking about an assessment of the high school parking lot. We don't it's not on the agenda for tonight, but maybe for one of our meetings whether April 17th or May 1st if we could talk a little bit about that. We were going to try and assess some efficiencies of getting cars and and staff out of the parking lot as we change the times, but just something to put on the radar of the agenda that we could agree. Yeah, we haven't talked about start times in a little bit. What have you learned? We're not talking about start times. We're talking about the Well, start we're not start times are set, but the implications the pro like we talked a lot about traffic flows early on. Have we
029learned anything new? Are there any updates there? Especially as we get closer to the beginning of the year, there's going to be shock and aw. I think we need to just be prepared for that. I think you know there's I mean not talking about a new thing which was a conversation in some of the the budget stuff and the capital meetings is one of the projects that was on the capital improvement plan were some repairs to sidewalks and parking lots at the elementary school. Um part of a hold on that for through for through for through for through for through for through for through for through for through this year is the flag project as far as the revitalization reuse of that space along with how we're using plan to use traffic flow um through
030that Lynen entrance um into the campus. So, I'd like to be able to monitor at least that first part of the year to see what kind of project we're really looking at cuz we may need to right now it's a single lane road that we would do one way, whether we need to expand it to two, whether we need to add parking and that. So, that's that pro delay and being able to kind of monitor that. Um, what that looks like for example linked to the start times would be something that we would need to consider potentially for future capital projects. And what's the communication plan? I'm assuming we've either started or will be to parents for those schools impacted by the different traffic flow and what's expected of them. Yeah, I mean we we
031start um in spring uh here in the next month start to communicate what uh busing and transport that transportation piece will look like. um Kim Ston who is uh works in the business office with me. Um who also oversees transportation uh you know we're kind of in tandem looking at school choice right now. We're looking at transportation. We're looking at our our traffic patterns and have drafted some some communication. Um the first thing that we were aiming which we brought to the policy subcommittee and then to here was just kind of updating the policy based off of um our bus our bus pickup. So now we were able to kind of set our maps and our plans based around to new school committee policy. Yeah. And in a future meeting, not tonight, but if there's
032plans, assuming the first week or so, we're going to need extra staff out there just pointing people in the right direction. Um well, you're welcome to deputize all of you to be out there first week of school. Well, I I I will say Joe, don't kill me, but but I did drive that road yesterday. It's pretty rough. It's got some natural speed bumps. That's his good natural axle killers. Yeah. Um maybe you can reach out to Mr. Reese and Mr. Walker and if you do uh in one of the parting conversations of Mr. Hearn uh and Mr. Walker. Uh part of our conversation is just kind of having some of the leftover filled to be able to kind of pave our big holes uh there before the start of the school year. So I do
033have quotes that I've try to see what we can kind of get to nearly free on um to have that. Okay. So it's on your radar screen. Yeah. Okay. Um when do we normally do school choices? Should we add it to either the 17th or the second? So go over some of the things coming up. School ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch I think we done later. I already checked from last year. We really I put it down for May 15th. I'm going to check with you on that just because we're still doing kindergarten enrollment. Okay. So um we usually know early May and then May 15th makes sense for that. Okay. um
034right now on the existing schedule that we had on April 17th was supposed to be a special education year-end update, but then I know you asked her to come in earlier in the year to do a a smaller presentation. So, I'm not sure if you still want that for April 17th or you rather it later or if it's necessary from Jess. Um I I think maybe pushing that later in the year just so we can get the most up-to-date numbers as we sort of exit the year. I thought so too. So, um I can move that. And then, um I think I'm going to be doing with Dean a data presentation at least a smaller one, um just and we could probably do one in August or September as well um for next week, but
035we just started that today. On the May 1st, we are supposed to have RAM's peer leaders coming in. We probably need to let them know that. and teaching and learning updates with our curriculum team and dyslexia action plan with Jess and um the dyslex dyslexia institute attendees I think it's Jamie and Jamie Slaney and Lisa Robert and Elsa so that could be a time maybe that she gives you a a slight update do it the same night if you'd like May 1st as an update just on school choice that the school choice applications we close that next Um then we we look at then I then I'll work with schools to identify the number of seats. I'll look at enrollment in each of the grade levels and then speak with principles as far as the
036number of seats that we're looking at and then um then we bring that to school committee to vote on the number of seats. And it's just a reminder process that this is meant to cap off an individual class. If a class is like 20 kids, you could cap it off with three more kids and that would be the if you were to take the entire build your averages, you can do that and you can create kind of cap off a class. It's not you can't add like 30 kids to a grade level. Um it's usually just a couple kids per grade to kind of cap off a class. Okay. May 15th, we have safe and supportive schools and equity steering update, but I don't think they've really been meeting this year just to challenge the
037schedules, but I'll let Jerry all speak to that. And the school choice numbers that May 29th is the district overall end of year goals with the principles just because we just presented in February. So, we really couldn't do that any sooner even though there's probably data that is important. Um, but we really do need that time to finish that up. And with kindergarten registration closing about 8 days ago, do we have an idea of what our numbers are? So, we do. Um, and right now we're But the problem is I think there were 22 or 42 that didn't 36 from the sent census that didn't register of the 141 um that we had. That's actually as expected. So, what we what uh Dr. Swany is doing, we'll send mailers out to those 36 families. I
038would anticipate probably half of those we would get back. But those who are not um not applying to either Monator or French immersion are typically those will wait till the last second or show up. Um so you know we um should anticipate uh several more kindergarters from the numbers that we have. Um, but based off of that census, I would if we have 36 families from the census, we're looking at probably half of those will actually register. I think she actually did already reach out to them, but basically just said, "Please let us know if you're planning on registering." And the ones that responded just said, "Well, we didn't need we didn't think we needed to register yet because we just want traditional, right?" And we do have openings within French emergence. So what I
039said to Jamie, you may want to go back out and say if you're, you know, that because what I'd rather do is put the spots in there rather than having to add another teacher to kindergarten when we do have openings. It would make more sense to offer that as an opportunity if they're not aware of it. So through school choice, too, though. They do. They can, but but we wouldn't want to open those until we know our members of kindergarten. That's what's tricky about it. Reach out to those kindergarten families that already registered letting them know. as well. She has done that, but I mean I certainly can ask her to do it again. There's only 36 that didn't register. So there's obviously a lot more that did and maybe they weren't even aware of
040many. I don't know the exact number, but there was a very large turnout for the kindergarten registration when they go they do a whole presentation on all the options before they actually have to pick their choices for that. And our um our school choice advertisement did include French version as an option for those families. Um I need to work with the M to see what was labeled on that as far as the interest. Um but um our monastery our French immersion classes openings in there that those can be used with school choice slots if we if we need to. So so how many kids did have we already enrolled? Give me a second. I'll try to pull that up. I have to I'll have to find it if you want to move on and I'll
041come back. We're going to do it. I mean Okay. Uh just for you guys to know because you haven't been part of it before when they do school choice for the high school. So um it's just for all of the high school. We don't do 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th. It's just for the high school because we have more availability to move students around between classes and that. So that's your jumps in my grade. Did you find the current one? Yes. far. One of us should be able to find it and have it up. [Music] No date you said that to us. [Music] Yeah, I'm going to have to see if she can resend it cuz I'm not finding it right now. Okay, we put in an update on that for our next uh meeting. So,
042um, with that, we are past 7:00, so we will, um, go towards our to our budget hearing for the fiscal 26, um, budget. Thank you. I will entertain a motion to open the public hearing. Move by Don. Second. All favor. Okay, you're now in our public hearing. Does anyone uh have any questions or comments about the the budget? Yeah, Barbara, did you any questions about the budget? A meeting just from the perspective of what we tried to do. You don't have a time limit on this. You can just come and chat now. Well, no. Barbara Ryan 14. No, you know, trying to wrap my head around what we do. I think I'm speaking from a PTO perspective that that's acceptable to the the committee. Um when we were looking at um gee how we all
043fish from the same pond. We have a lot of really generous people in our community. We have a lot of organizations that asked parents and caregivers and family members to donate here there and for things. So we tiered our budget priorities as a PTO like things we don't want to give up about a third a third of like if we can raise the money it' be nice to do and then the other third was we should have no business doing like annual programmatics like challenge day is one of those things that's becoming u incorporated into the high school and junior high right so there's there's things like that so we as an organization thought about that I did participate and I know you were open to us coming back, but then um that kind of
044went to the wayside and we were able to again raise a significant amount of money. So, we're looking good in a 12 to 36-month runway from a PTO perspective to be able to support 75 to $85,000 worth of um don, you know, donations, whether it's a teacher asking for 100, you know, something that's reasonable and you all approve that. Um so, we're confident there. I'm still learning about the budget process. I guess as a as a Holliston community member certainly I think we're entering uncertain times and so like last week I know with the dismantling of the department of education which has trickle down effects with budgetary concerns thinking about that going into this budget you know this budget cycle is going to uh town meeting but the outy years again hoping that we look
045at the most vulnerable communities which will likely be impacted first with funding cuts and then you start to take from the rest of the community which creates a new vulnerability. Um so I guess that's more public comment of trying to understand you know just um the budget uh looking at enrollment how you know all those projections that if you've done any kind of budgeting before right so um I think this committee is fortunate to have people who have sat on finance committee who have do budgets at their own jobs who you know manage their own home budget but I think we all have to look into the future and and and really look and see how and where programmatics um have to sustain and then what needs what do you take from to pay for
046something. I just think it's complex and complicated going forward the next, you know, probably two to five years. Um, and and always going to be, you know, money doesn't grow on trees. So, it's it's a y person's job to figure it out and it's a projection and you hope you hit it. And so, um, I know in our little piece of the puzzle, um, we've again had a very, very generous contributions from this community in acts of kindness, in volunteerism, and in coin. So, I hope that's helpful um, you know, to our staff and administration that really and our students benefit from that directly, that generosity. So, those are more public comments. Um, when I had to run budgets, I usually I usually was on the end like tell me what I get to spend
047or I'd ask, you know, I relied on really really good people to to, you know, balance books and um, but you have to make hard calls and that's where it gets tough, you know, because the majority hopefully does okay, but someone you you want to lessen that impact for. So that's all. Thank you. So I'm glad we're able to contribute to the next couple of school years um healthfully. So thank you. The contributions of the PTO is greatly uh greatly appreciated from everyone. So um okay. Anyone have anything else? Is there anybody on Zoom? Is there anyone? Oh, there we do have someone. Does anyone on Zoom wish to uh have any questions, comments, anything about uh the uh the budget? Okay. See none. Um anything from anyone else? All right. Yeah, I'd like to
048make the comment. Okay. It's a positive one. Um, what I wanted to say was that I feel like we're very fortunate to live here in Massachusetts as we weather this storm. I mean, cherishing and valuing education in this in this state is part of our constitution. Cherishing public education, the foundation of publication of public education is from Massachusetts. So, I want to lean very heavily on our representatives um in our state that they will support us as we go through all of this. I I feel like in other states, we are not so fortunate. They rely only on federal funding to fund their schools and we don't. We have local and state funding that also back us up. So, even concerns over like universal school meals. I feel like we're going to figure it out
049because we value public education in the state and we're not going to go backwards on it. So, we're doing um No, I totally agree and I think even taking it a step further, we live in a great state that's very supportive of education, but our town is also incredibly supportive of education. If you look across the Commonwealth and at many different towns and cities, they are having budget issues still and they are having to lay off staff and cut programs and and things like that. Um we were for very fortunate to receive the support of the of the voters uh through the override. Um and we've also been able to sort of meet our commitments without impacting students and without impacting you know jobs. So um so I echo what you say and and you
050know add on that that through the prudent fiscal management uh from our from administration and from our from our town we are also in a exceptionally good position even within an exceptionally good well positioned state. Have we received any updates from our state- elected officials in response to the joint letter that was sent with the select board? No, nothing yet. And when we did attend Dan and I attended the select board meeting, President Spok was there. You specifically asked her too about any state plans to cover for if there were federal funding losses. Correct. And basically they are very worried about Medicaid and Medicare and essentially as far as like school be the priority. We basically we're told we were likely going to be on our own. I did um just we just received yesterday
051from um mass superintendent and MSC that title six we were districts have been asked to certify that they are not doing work with DEI. Um, so we were told to pause and the de secretary of education Patrick Tala who's the acting commissioner did send a letter certifying that we're Massachusetts has already certified their title six. However, tune in later, you know, we still don't know what the results of that will be or what further action may be asked for. My understanding was yeah, it was just at the state level. Yes, just at the state level, right? and and they they indicated that districts are not required to take any action at this time. Just so people out there are not. So hopefully that means status quo for related grants or anything related to that. Okay.
052Um so I think at this time we will uh unless there's anything else we will uh entertain a motion to close public hearing. Are we going to vote on our budget? We we've already voted on it. We're not changing it right now. No change anything. So moved. Second. All in favor? Okay. The uh public hearing is now closed. Uh we have also run out of items on our agenda. So see you next week. See you see you next week. Let me pass this meeting. We do not have a meeting for executive session. So I will simply entertain a motion to adjurnn. The lights are moved by Cynthia. Second. All in favor? I need a second. I second. All in favor? All right, we stand a journey. Thank you very much.