001Okay, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to call the Penrook School Committee meeting for Tuesday, September 16th, 2025 to order. Um, again, this meeting is being recorded. Would you all please join me in the pledge of allegiance? 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. >> Thank you. >> I'd like to go a little um off uh agenda here for one moment. uh as a committee, we've decided really like to make a statement based on the uh incidents of the last couple of weeks, not only nationally, but locally. And um here's what we have. And basically, it says, "In light of recent tragedies that have shaken communities across our nation, the Pemroke School
002Committee wishes to speak not about any individual, but about an urgent issue facing all of us. Traditionally, we reserve moments of silence for those with deep ties to Pembroke, reflecting our commitment to honoring members of our own community. Today, we recognize the widespread grief and concern in response to a troubling surge in political violence, acts that have shaken communities and eroded our sense of safety across the country. The Pemroke School Committee condemns all forms of violence, whether in schools, politics, or throughout our communities. There is no place for violence in a democracy or in environments where young people seek to learn and grow in safety. Our district's vision is grounded in ensuring a safe, supportive, and respectful learning environment for all. Each one of us is born with inherent worth. So we treat everyone with
003dignity no matter what. We believe this principle is fundamental to education and to peaceful communities. We ask all community members to join us in rejecting violence, in embracing compassion, listening to one another, and treating everyone with respect and dignity, both online and in person. In doing so, we show our students and one another the courage, compassion, and dignity needed not only to heal and grow together, but to build a future where these values can be seen and passed down. Thank you very much. Okay. Public comment. Anyone here to speak? Anyone sign in? That's an easy one then. Acknowledge of our scheduled visitors. Well, do we introduce the dog first? >> Have to put Sasha on there. >> I was going to say I was going to say who gets top billing here. Um, >> Chief
004McDonald, always an honor to have you in the building. Um, Officer Simmons, thank you so much. and to the lovely Sasha, thank you for gracing us with your presence. Um, do you guys want to come up to the microphone or whatever works for you guys? >> I think we met last year. I think there's only one new person. I think you were >> That's Katrina. >> Yeah. And I think last Yeah, >> I think last year when we met um Mary Beth was kind of new at it and and know the school committee had said if there's anything you ever need or anything they can help with, come back to them. So, um, you know, Allison did suggest that maybe we make this an annual thing and have you all come in and just start
005the school year. >> Sasha found a vet in the audience. >> I was like, she's good over there. >> You're in good hands. Paige will take good care of you. >> Well, I think as a conduit for the schools, you get feedback and ideas or what we're doing right, what we're not doing right, what we can do. Uh, we'd like to hear from you guys, too. I get the most positive feedback about Sasha. Definitely the dog. And it's no offense to you. Also, people love you, but I think they're just, you know, always excited to see Sasha. So, um, always feeling like you're a part of the community is what I've heard from everybody. >> Yeah, I think the visibility that she helps bring to the police department and the kids in the schools is
006really important. And I know everybody gets excited to see her because how could you not >> um when it comes to like just the overall like everything, you know, I think it's a lot of the same things that we hear all the time. And again, learning lane over and over and over again, I think it's the one kind of side that there's no one fix to, but at least from our what I hear a lot is learning lane being >> Beth, do you want to talk to them about the new project that you've started on learning lane? I I've heard principal Talbot. >> So the past week um myself, Principal Talbet and we've been talking with our student too trying to make that move to the microphone please. Thank you. >> Um trying to make
007especially the afternoon dismissal a little bit easier obviously with the oneway in and out. There's no easy fix especially when you have underassmen parking across the street, school buses coming in, parents coming in, kids going out. Um, so we've been trying to implement when we go out towards where the student lot exit is, we'll hold the students that are going across the street to try to get one big group, cross them all together, hold the traffic at that time. And I'm sure any of you have driven up that you see the kids start out between the buses. It's just we've had in like close calls before. We're trying to minimize that as much as possible. Obviously, there'll be some people that are upset that they can't park. They're not supposed to park on learning lean
008by that area. Um, we've been trying to drill that home with some of the parents, too. That might just take a little bit of time. Everybody wants to get in and out as quick as possible. I get it. But at the end of the day, we're trying to make it as safe as possible. >> So, it'll take a little bit. We've been out there in the afternoons um just trying to make that run a little bit smoother. Maybe trying to get the buses in a little sooner, too. That I think would help as well. But obviously with all the schools at stagger times, we know that it's not a perfect system and we'll try to do the best we can with it. >> So far, it does work easier to keeping the kids and just
009doing a couple big groups at a time. >> Not everyone's happy at all times, but >> yeah, I've heard there was some solid feedback about closing the Hoba gate there to that basketball court. >> That didn't help because that was just one more exit in and out of people just trying to sneak out. And you'll see the parents like even try to pull in the um the senior lot there to try to pick the kids up. It everybody's in a rush. So it's just we try to ask for a little bit more patience at that time and everyone will get out safely and with their day. >> That was a really big issue for us last year and you know David and I even talked about it at long-term planning trying to come up with
010a solution. So we really appreciate your partnership with that and trying to find a way to make everything safer for the kids. And even principal Talbot's been very good too sending out the email blasts like I get them myself so I know the parents are being informed about it like where they're supposed to be where they're not. It's just it's going to take a little bit of time just to make everybody kind of understand why we're doing this and it might be an inconvenience for a few minutes but long term it's the best idea for everyone. >> Absolutely. Thank you so much. >> Of course. Mhm. >> And if you notice, we put a traffic sign on right lane. It only not only educates your speed, but we get feedback through the cloud and we
011know how many cars go down the street, what time, what the speeds are, what the average speed is, what the high speed is. So we can >> What's the highest speed? >> Stop walking signs because we know when the students get up there. >> So we do have cars on Hoffar Street. You force them to traffic there as far as speed. >> Can we get that data at some point? Like I don't know. anytime you request questions. >> Okay. I'd be I'd >> be interesting because I know >> separately, but again with traffic, you know, I know at town meeting we passed adding the language for the cameras and I'm hoping that it's a discussion that we're able to have um that would it's not the same thing, but it would add to, you know,
012the police's ability to um help with safety of cars passing the buses, too, because that >> Yeah. Anytime. Just requesting it. It won't have a smiley face like the one Why? Why did they get it? And we not we don't kids might like that. >> Maybe you can do an angry face when it gets too high. >> It just issues the ticket. How about if it just prints the ticket, right? >> Because I think that would be data that could be useful to give parents of student drivers to know like, hey, you know, I don't know. >> It could also help with traffic flow potentially if we know like the times that there are the most people coming in. You probably know that anyways from sitting there, but um >> 7:20. >> Yeah. Like if
013there's a way that we can ask like parents to come slightly earlier or slight like whatever that looks like, I feel like that could help us potentially too. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> The other part is that it's a challenge because people were setting their ways when it comes to that. So >> the real answer to that is if you had like different access and egress in that school area, not just one way in, one way out, >> it's not happening. But that's another way to kind of resolve some of that >> as far as we're concerned just to kind of change direction a little bit. We why I have you in front of us. What's your thoughts on having patrol stopping by schools and just doing random walkins? >> We love it. >> Yeah, I
014think the visibility is great. I know at least from on Hobok side like you know you guys participate in the jingle jogs and you know those types of events and the kids love it. So I think you know also a lot of parents are >> atmosphere of not just lockdowns and things. >> Yeah. And I think the more police staff that are familiar with the layout of our building, if there was an emergency and because you've walked through it 20 times, you know, okay, this is where that is. And and I think, you know, on top of that, for kids to see public safety officials in a non-emergency is important, too. >> Yeah. >> Um, so we anytime anybody's free to walk through anytime >> and I always talk private to doing anything like that,
015but the other part of it is that we will have active shooter training with the fire department in the spring. Uh we try to do that every year. We like to do it twice a year, but there's money attached to that. So it's not always the uh ability to get the money to do that. >> And what's the one rule we have, Rick? >> Leave the bullets in our holers. >> Pick up your rubber bullets. >> In defense of that, it was just a blank, >> right? Sure. Yeah. It looks the same to us, too. Yeah. But to piggyback on this tashia thing as far as you know the the advantage with the school and building the bridges with the students and the staff, it's actually comes in the station and sometimes a lot of
016stress going on there. When she walks in, it's a whole different environment. She runs up and down the hall, she goes in my office. >> She's exhausted. >> Oh, >> it does change. It does change a lot out of her. >> So, it does help even with the offices, too. >> Yeah. I mean, as much as Allison was saying how great it is for kids, a lot of our staff look forward to seeing Sasha in the morning. And the number of teachers of the high school that have treats for her in their purses is amazing. >> Well, almost like trick-or-treating through the class. >> Every day is trickor treat. We love it. >> 100%. >> Yes. The the math the math teachers do always have treats, it looks like. Yeah. >> And if you see
017the black dog, run because it's not a good thing. >> All right. All right. Good to know. >> We appreciate you. No, >> I hope to just kind of have it maybe the one of the September meetings just have you guys always. >> Absolutely. >> Awesome. Thank you for your partnership. Thank you guys for so much. >> Thanks for coming. Thank you. >> Appreciate you. >> She's on channel 5 today. >> Can't wait. She's famous. >> Okay, quick meeting. >> We have 15 minutes to get there. >> We can live stream for you. >> Uh any adjustments to the agenda? >> There's actually just one adjustment under my report. A should say consideration for acceptance, not approval. you're accepting the gift. Okay. >> Okay. Change the spelling there. Uh any communications? >> Uh just want
018to mention along the lines of the wonderful um introduction that you talked about with uh rejecting any kind of violence, the studentled Bible study at the high school um is ho hosting a prayer vigil after school tomorrow. So if anybody wants to go, >> where is that going to be? It's going to be outside where the seniors sit for lunch. >> Okay. >> So, if any parents or students uh parents tell your students and students are welcome, all students are welcome. >> Okay. Uh approval of bill schedule. I don't think I've seen them come up here. >> It's not done yet. Come's coming, David. >> All right. No, I just want to make sure. Um consideration for approval of school committee meeting minutes of August 19th. I'll take a motion. So, >> move second. >>
019Okay. Okay. So, I got a motion from Allison, second from we'll go vote Katrina down to my left here. Um, all those in favor? >> I. >> All those opposed? Anyone voting present? No. We're all good. Natalie, it's unanimous. Yay. It's an honor Patrick. There we go. Superintendent report. >> Perfect. Um, so the first thing in my report is consideration for acceptance the gift from the North Pen Elementary School PTO. So, in your packet, you have information about um the gift that they gave in the in the amount of $11,000 to install the new water filtration systems here at North Pemrook. Um so, Mr. Mr. Murphy, I think he highlighted it during his opening opening of school reports. Um he did write a grant to SWIG, so the school water improvement grant and was awarded
020that um for $18 $18,000 and the PTO um matched those funds with $11,000 so that they could install six new water filtration units um around the building. And as you can imagine, the other two elementary princip uh principles as well as our middle school and high school principal are now very interested in the school water improvement grant. So, I would expect to see some additional applications from other PER schools in this funding year. >> That's great. >> So, do we have to vote on that or >> you need to vote to accept it because of the dollar amount. >> Okay. All those in favor accepting the $11,000 grant. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> Okay. We've got a motion from Sue, second from Katrina Delaney down to my right. Um, all those in
021favor? >> I. >> All those opposed, all those voting present, it passes unanimous. Natalie 5. Thank you very much. >> Um the next thing in my report is for um consideration for approval some surplus materials at Havamok. Um so you have in your packet a listing of some assessment materials as well as a really old color printer in the library that no longer works um and no longer connects to the network. So just a reminder that when you are deeming something surplus, you are allowing us to dispose of it in the best means possible, which um when we can. We sell things back to the vendors, we recycle, we donate. Um, our last resort is always to throw something away. So, >> okay, I'll take a motion to uh >> move this property. >> Second.
022>> Once again, Sue makes the motion. Katrina has our second. All those in favor. >> All those opposed. Anyone voting present? We're good. It's 5-0. Once again, Natalie, unanimous. >> So, for fun, >> fun to see. >> In your packet, I have supplied you with a copy of the rubric for the superintendent evaluation. So the fall is generally the timeline in which you would evaluate my work from last year as we start setting goals for this year. I know that our goal setting is a little bit off because we are embarking on the strategic plan. Um so I you know that that will that process will look a little different this time but I do want to make sure that you all have the opportunity to evaluate me. Um the rubric that I shared with
023you um as well as the link in your packets um to the DEESC website that talks about the superintendent evaluation. It is a cumbersome rubric and when you start to look at it you will see a lot of it is not written in a language that makes sense to anybody that does not work in education. Um with that being said um you know there's kind of an overview here of like what is your role as a school committee in this process and your your role is really um to focus on on the what and the why of of my leadership as opposed to the how. Right? So not the day-to-day management of the district but the overall what and why. Um in addition it's really about focusing on the outcomes of the work not you
024know what were the process steps that were followed or not followed um I am so fortunate that mine is the only evaluation that is conducted in the public um so lucky me um but to the point I was making earlier it is very cumbersome and when we have done this in the past and it's supposed to be an every two-year cycle so every two years we have a formula evaluation And then in the off year, unless there's issues that you'd like to discuss, it kind of it covers for for a two-year cycle. Um, in the past, we've identified like two or three specific areas that you want to look at. Um, or else it will take you probably 6 months to effectively evaluate in these areas. So, the last time um, we did this, I
025think we looked at fiscal systems and, uh, communication, I think, were the two or operations management. Um, so I was hoping you all would want to take a look at this, spend some time looking at it and identify potentially two or three areas that you think make the most sense for everybody to weigh in on. Um, and then at our next meeting, if you all can come to agreement on that, then we can really start the process so that you're not kind of working in a silo looking at um, what's an odd one that's in here? Managing information systems if that's not something that the rest of the group wants to look at. So, >> are we allowed to point person on this? >> You all have to evaluate me, >> right? But is there
026someone that could kind of lead it for better? >> For right now, it's Natalie. So, you would send her like your individual evaluations and she would um put them together. >> Okay. Should we um at the next meeting just bring those two to three areas or should we >> No, I think for the next meeting you all should have a conversation of what you think the most important two to three areas to look at for for this past school year. Katrina, it'll be a little bit harder for you because you joined the committee in May, but I'm open to any feedback that you have from when you've been here so far. >> Okay. >> Do any districts have like a shorter version? >> No. I'm just wondering if they have like a cliffnotes version or
027something. So they have revised this rubric I think four or five times now to make it more um in line with what the work actually looks like. So this is better than what it looked like four years ago. >> This is a lot better than four years ago. >> But um I've seen districts do it as check boxes. So turning this rubric into meets expectations doesn't meet expectations. Um that definitely checks the box for having an evaluation in public, but it doesn't give a lot of great feedback. Um, and I think as we're kind of embarking on the strategic plan, the feedback is the part that I'm most interested in. And I honestly don't care if it aligns with what they say the standards are, if there's something that you all agree is an important
028thing for us to be focusing on and it's not necessarily represented in this rubric, I'd rather do that than this. This is >> So, is the final product basically like a a a write up or a bulleted list of feedback? I just don't know. >> It can be either. Um, so in years past we've had some verbose school committee me members who write pages of feedback and then we've had those that write five bullet points and all of that is great. Um, before we start, I think it's fair to say that in education the words needs improvement are not scary words. >> Um, and so when you're talking about whether somebody's proficient or needs improvement, proficient is a very high bar. Um, and most everybody that works in education is familiar with the fact that
029all of us need improvement in something. So, please don't to me that's I I would expect to be needs improvement somewhere that that means I still have work to do here in Penrook. If everything was sunny and rosy and exemplary, then you know, maybe it's time to to find something else to do with my time. So, um you know, please it the honest feedback is what's important. you all um really have just a couple of roles as school committee members and evaluating the superintendent is one of those and I want to make sure that you're doing it um to the extent to which you want to make those who that voted for you feel proud. So >> cool. Awesome. Thank you. I just wanted to understand the process a little. >> Yep. >> So everybody's
030clear with that. >> You're going to pick two or three areas we're going to decide on at the next meeting and then you're going to either write an essay or write three to five bullet points. Katrina, I feel like you're an essay kind of girl. I'm just bullets just for you. >> I'm pretty sure I am, too. >> Bullets are an essay. I like bullets. >> You should be apologizing to Natalie, not to me. >> Um, the next thing under my report is just an overview of um fall participation, athletic participation numbers at Pemrook High School. Um, it kind of dubtales with the next one. Um so in your packet you have an overview of um our fall participation for football, cheerleading, boys and girls soccer, field hockey, golf, cross country, and volleyball. Um there's
0315 years worth of trends there in averages. Um our percentage of students that are participating in a fall sport this year is about 39%, we've hovered right around 40 for the past couple of years. It is um just just around that number. You can see over time there's been a bit of a shift from some sports that used to be popular and now there's some new more popular ones. Um volleyball seems to be a very sought-after um sport at Pemmer High School. So we have um for the past couple of years experienced a very healthy um group of students looking to participate in that sport. Um but to that end, there's not more kids than there used to be. So if there's more people interested in volleyball, it means there's more people less interested in
032something else. Um this year that happens to be girls soccer. Um, so the the next piece under my report you'll see is we're requesting an MIA waiver to allow eighth graders to play JB soccer. Um, so right now there's Penrook High School girls that have signed up for soccer. Two of them are currently injured but are expecting to return to play over the course of the season. Um, so that leaves us with 16 girls on the varsity team and 13 girls on the JV team. For anyone not familiar with high school soccer, it's 11 v1. So you need 11 girls on the field at all times. Those are really tight numbers um for fielding a team at both levels. Um so obviously um if we can swing some of those JV players up to the
033varsity team in order to have a good number of students and available subs and back fill some of those JV spots with eighth graders, it puts us in a more competitive position. Last year we graduated 13 seniors from that team. We only have one senior this year. So, I anticipate this lower number um is possibly just a one-year um situation that we're solving for. >> How many potential eighth graders would be bumping up to? >> Um I think Brian was looking for three to five. Um obviously the season has started here. Um so we have invited the girls to work out with the team um in the interim until this conversation um can happen. So ideally we'd like to have 15 to 17 girls on the JV team. Right now there's 13 um so potentially
034three to five girls. >> My main concern is is like the eighth graders are a bit smaller than their high school kind of >> so they can only play JV and >> but still JV is equally I mean it's >> so so soccer is a no contact sport. >> Yes. No, I get it. I played soccer. I know. >> Right. Um, and there is definitely uh a size discrepancy between some eighth graders and ninth graders. There's also some eighth graders that are bigger than some of the ninth graders um that we have on the team. Um there are healthy girls soccer numbers in the in the community for the subsequent seventh, sixth, fifth, and fourth graders. So again, it's a it seems to be a one-year issue and um you know, obviously safety is the
035number one priority. So we wouldn't be inviting students that we'd have safety concerns with to um participate if if size was a big big big concern. >> So So say you have um you know three kids that are adequ adequately sized or whatever and one that's a peanut or whatever like how do you do you say no to the like? >> Yeah. So we can say no. Um it's not they're not guaranteed a spot on the team. Um, I can say with the the group of girls that expressed interest and have been practicing with the team, there is no size discrepancy. So, there's okay. >> No concerns there. >> And and are there any other liability concerns that we should be aware of? >> No, there's lots of teams um that have eighth graders um
036and in any high school where eighth grade is part of the high school, those students play on the JV teams um across the state. So, >> Okay. >> Ladies, you have a question? >> I Yeah, I have a couple. Um >> do they pay the same fee that if they were playing like if they were actually in ninth grade playing? >> So they play the high school athletic user fee. >> Okay. >> And then is there you know just looking at the numbers there is a you know a 2% drop. It's not dramatic but it is the lowest of the five years. Is there any thought that this could be because of the higher fee or have we not heard like has >> So you're looking at the enrollment is a 2% drop the participation
037is a 1% drop. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Um, no, we haven't. There's a handful of families that have reached out um as we've had in years past about a different pay structure or a waiver and you know the athletic office works directly with those families and students. So, >> okay. >> Um, we have not removed anyone from a team due to failure to pay an athletic user fee. >> And then for transportation, the the eighth graders would be trans have to get to the high school. So they ride the bus over, >> right? And >> we identified the bus number that they can ride over from the middle school at the end of the day. >> Okay. And then Yep. Okay. That's it. >> Katrina Katrina. All good. >> No questions. >> Okay. Okay. Number
03810, subcommittee update. Approve. I'm sorry. Um consideration approval. We got a motion for the eighth grade waiver. >> So move. >> Second. >> Okay. Katrina Delaney. Uh make the motion. Allison second. All those in favor? I >> I those opposed abstain. It's a 5-0 Natalie. It's unanimous. Thank you very much, ladies. >> Um subcommittees. So last year I think was the first time in a while that we had sent um any members of the school committee to the Massachusetts Association School Committee two years sorry conference and I know there's some interest for folks to go again this year. So um last year you all named a delegate to represent the committee. Um there are I think two sessions that >> you can go to and vote and um the rest of the conference is open
039to anybody but there are a couple of items that um ask for local school committees to vote on them. Once you >> select your delegate we can do the research and figure out what the ideas or the topics are and bring them back to you all so you can weigh in on whether or not it's something the school committee >> just give like quick background. So basically MASC um comes up with they have a list of their priorities that they are you know advocating for. So part of the process of what the delegate does is they're our voice for representation of what MASC is voting on. So that's what we did last year. um I was the delegate and it's basically you sitting in a room where the um the the different officials from MASC
040are going up and you know discussing them and you know there's some questions from the floor and whatnot but um it's a fairly straightforward process. You you they do have it's kind of like a town meeting almost where they can have people observing but they sit in a different spot so they're not voting and whatnot. But um I do think it's important for us to send somebody. So I I know I'm registered. I think Sue, you're registered and Katrina registered. So I think there's at least three of us going um this year. So >> yep, I'd be happy to do be the delegate. Um but some other people might be interested. So >> I mean I'd be happy to be the delegate as well. Um but either way like I think either one of us
041and you know I think it's worth mentioning also that our own Katrina Delini is actually going to be >> oh yeah >> holding uh one of the talks which I think is fantastic. So she's going to be what what is your uh topic? >> Um it's basically about data and looking at student achievement. I'll be presenting from somebody else um in the Dubbury school committee and um the educator to career pathways data hub. >> Awesome. >> Yeah. So, I think it's fantastic that um you know, so either way >> and these wouldn't overlap. >> I'll double check the schedule, but I don't think that it would. But I think now that the schedule's fully out, I'll I'll double check. >> I haven't seen the MASC. >> Yeah, but I think there's somewhere this form that
042once we >> it needs to be sent to them so that they know what badge to give you. >> Yeah, totally. >> Um so I'm if Katrina wants to do it, I'm fine with that. Do you want to be the >> I'll be the alternate? Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. and I'll double check that for the next meeting to make sure that there's no overlap. If there's an overlap, then I'll just do it. That's perfect. Yeah. Yeah. >> Sounds good, >> ladies. That's very impressive. Thank you so much. And congratulations being a >> presenter. Thanks. >> That's a lot of fun. >> Um budget subcommittee. >> So, budget subcommittee has met twice um since the school committee has met this this previous time. um the topics at budget subcommittee because we're not really kneedeep in at
043fiscal year 27 budget yet have really been talking about what would the priorities um for the school committee be if we were to be exploring an operational override for the town of Pemrook. So um obviously there's a whole bunch of conversations that are happening associated with vocational education but at the same time making sure that we are advocating for the appropriate funding for our five schools and our students that choose to remain here if vocational is still an option. Um, I know that Bill has had some conversations at the select board level around an operational override for the town of Pemrook. I know that he has not necessarily spoken specifically about dollar amounts associated with that override. Um, but as a subcommittee, we are looking at what what are the priorities that we would like
044to bring to this committee to talk about to move forward if there was the potential for an override. Some of the items that we have begun to discuss um center around class size supports um for classrooms whether that's paraprofessionals interventionists um we had a a good start of a conversation about fees um and you know is the conversation of an override an opportunity to roll back some of our fees that we've we've had to up in the past couple of years because of budgetary reasons or is this the time where we have a family total fee? um just kind of looking at those pieces. So, our next meeting I think is >> Monday, >> the following Monday, the 20 something >> 22nd maybe um where we're going to talk a little bit more about fees.
045Um we had some good conversation about class size the last time um and interventionists and supports. And so we are going to survey the staff to see how they feel about some of those things because we don't want to be necessarily putting a lot of energy into something that isn't important to the folks that are educating our kids each day. So, >> absolutely. All right, let's look at negotiation subcommittee. >> Um, so the negotiation subcommittee, I'm happy to start. Allison and David, you are more than welcome to jump in if you'd like. Um, so we met again last night um with the Penrook Teachers Association as we bargain successor agreements for all four um of our contracts that cover five units. Um we have been meeting since January. So last night was our third >>
04613th 13th >> um bargaining session. Um >> that's a really long time. Um we are definitely starting to make some progress, but there's still a lot of outstanding issues um across all four contracts and some universal proposals that have been made. So um again, when we talked about this at the last meeting, it was in um the context of whether or not we'd be releasing the hiring freeze. We are still not in a place where we have um really gotten into the nitty-gritty about finances of the contract. We are still talking more about language shifts and changes that are of interest to the to the Penrook Teachers Association as well as the Penrook School Committee. Um we meet again on September 29th. I am hopeful that we will continue to make progress, but we have
047definitely been meeting for eight more than eight months at this point. So yeah, I think we're scheduled basically to meet every other Monday with the idea that the other Monday we're meeting as a team or they're meeting as a team to try to um go through because you know these documents are very lengthy and there's a lot of words on the pages um and a lot of colors now added to the pages. So um of edits that have been made um you know I feel like there's progress being made. We're close on one of the contracts I think. So unit C our custodial contract we're pretty close. >> Yeah. So, I think, you know, there's some the numbers aren't all going to be filled in, but I think for when it comes to a lot
048of like the language of um what, you know, they're looking for and what, you know, we're able to do and whatnot is is fairly close. Has is we still have a website with is that okay, so we do have >> um an updated, you know, as we're going through um >> negotiations, we are keeping track on the website of what's been proposed and what >> I haven't loaded what we did Monday yet, but I'll do that. >> Okay. Yeah. So, um, if anybody has any questions or that's all on the website for >> the public to see. >> I would just say the conversations have been cordial. There's nothing angry. There's nobody yelling across the table. There's nobody throwing rocks or anything. So, >> we didn't give you any rocks. >> No. So, in that
049sense, um, I appreciate the, uh, the Pembro Teachers Association, you know, bargaining in good faith. I think we're doing the same. Um, I'm very confident that we'll get a deal done. I'm not going to say in a week or two, but hopefully soon. So, I think we joked about a date. November was kind of the little play on words, but I don't want to get in trouble. >> Sure. And in fairness, I think not having settled contracts is a difficult place to be as you're about to start the conversations of a second fiscal year. um you know, especially if conversations in that second fiscal year involve that those of an operational override and really wanting to make sure that um you know, we are doing our due diligence as a school committee to represent the
050fiscal interests of the taxpayers in the town. Um we have spent an extensive amount of time on a particular article um in the teachers contract that centers around working conditions, working hours, and work responsibilities. Um, and so as you can imagine, that is kind of the beast of the contract. That is the meat of what the teachers contract has. So, you know, we have definitely um gone back and forth and made some progress there. So, I think once we're able to finish that article, the rest will come a little bit faster. Um, so again, I share David's optimism and we look forward to meeting again. >> And last but not least, vocational planning committee. >> Love vocational planning. Um, so prior to tonight's school committee meeting, we had our second vocational information session um to
051share with the public the presentation that I had given um back in April when you all voted to put the placeholder on the town meeting warrant um and offer people an opportunity to ask questions. Again, the caveat that I gave tonight and I will continue to give is that I am happy to provide any information that I possibly can provide, answer any question that I can that folks have or direct you in the place to get the answer. But as a public employee, I am not allowed to campaign one way or the other. I can just share with you information about vocational education. Um, in addition to the work with the information sessions, the regional planning committee has been meeting to discuss the draft of our regional agreement. So to move forward for October 21st
052at town meeting and have that first of the three votes that we've talked about, the vote to join or to enter into a regional agreement with Southshore Tech, we have to have the language of that agreement worked out. Um in your packet is a draft of the regional agreement. Um there has been one edit of it that happened today um in section line 407 where we're discussing the initial seatortionment for the 2728 school year and how those um seats would be um considered for uh tuition. Um, so there has been an adjustment there to um what would be the average member tuition for those seats. So that was definitely what we had talked about um at the regional planning committee. So I'll circulate to you all the most up-to-date version of this. Um we have
053shared this with um Copelman and Paige our the town's legal council so that they could correctly um write the verbiage for the vote and the warrant. So that part is tentatively complete. We are just waiting for a final check from DEESSE um to say that everything that we are proposing is in line with what they would be expecting. And as I said um during the information session, we have been checking in with them all along. Um so they have seen this draft. The only change that they haven't seen is line 407 with the tuition amount in it. So um once they give that the green light, we are good to go. um the drop dead date to have this language complete so that it can print appropriately in the town meeting warrant is October 1st.
054So we are on track for that. >> And at what point are we drafting or has it already been drafted what the the language is going to be for the town meeting article? >> So the town council did that um this week and they've created a draft for that. Um and then this full regional agreement would be printed in the appendices. And do we see that before it goes like who like or >> uh so it's it's pretty much the placeholder that we put on. Um what it the only thing it delineates is the line numbers um of the agreement. So we had put in a placeholder that was similar to the that had the line numbers from the Marshfield time town warrant just to um have a placeholder but it does align with where
055the changes are that are associated with Pinrook. um and that the contingency for the uh debt exclusion and propositional two and a half override. Um I am happy to circulate that language to you all ahead of your next meeting so we can talk about it if you want. >> So so the town warrant will have a lot of pages of all of this in it. >> So we're article six apparently with the bingle balls. So article six will have the verbiage for the vote and then this will be in the appendices >> and it's October 1st. This has to be >> it's ideally September 24th. Um but if we're not ready for September 24th, October 1st is the absolute last day that the select board can meet to vote on the warrant so that it
056can publish in time for the meeting on the 21st. So >> I'm optimistic for the 24th because we're pretty close right now. >> What what is the what are you what's being still worked like? So, we were just working on >> the tuition rate for that first year um before the new building when we don't have a full aotment of students um in the building and um the regional school committee for Southshore Tech has to vote on the language before we can move it forward. Okay? >> So, they have to agree to make the changes to the regional agreement before we can even offer it as a change. So, um they are tentatively scheduled to meet tomorrow night. Um Tom did put on their radar that if this didn't get the green light from DEES
057by that time of that meeting that they would potentially have a very brief meeting in the next couple of days to to move this forward. >> Okay, let's look at future meeting dates and topics. What do we have in our calendars? [Music] >> We have what the 7th and then the 21st Beantown meeting. So October 7th and October 21st which is town meeting at 7 o'clock. So we meet at 6:00 or 6:30. What's our town meetings at 7? Do we normally meet ahead of time? >> Yeah, you all usually just meet 30 minutes ahead of time. You should meet and stay in open session because it's possible you may have be answering questions about vote tech at town meeting and so you want to be able to to do that as a body as opposed
058to as as an individual. >> One business meeting is enough in October. Um, >> do we need to we don't need to like hold the 28th or something? >> No, I think that um as we start to get into November and December, we we might want to look at some additional dates as the budget process um starts to to pick up some speed. I know that Bill generally presents his first kind of pass at the budget um in the beginning of November. I try to give you maintenance of effort in the beginning of November. So um we have some work to do between now and then. >> Okay. And we'll have enrollment numbers as a topic. So you get October, we our enrollment numbers are done on October 1. So in 107 we'll discuss enrollment.
059>> So it's October 7th and what other date? Sorry. >> October 21st. >> Okay. Just town meeting. Great. >> All right. So our next meeting will be October 7th >> at 6 >> here. >> Yep. >> Right. >> Yep. >> October 7th 6 p.m. >> I will be out of the state and country on both those dates for work. Um, actually, >> are you going? >> Sunny, Canada, and then Tacoma, Washington. >> They're both union bargaining. >> Okay. >> All right. I >> feel like that's a missed opportunity to go somewhere better, Katrina. >> I know. Our unions are never in place. >> Are you back anytime during October? That would >> It's just our our contracts are expiring all at the same time. So, I'm going to be in Canada the week of the
0606th. I leave on the 6th and I'll be back on the 9th. And then Tacoma I leave on the 20th and I'll be back on the 22nd sometime at night. >> Okay. >> Should we move forward with what we have or did you want? >> I think we have to because we have negotiations on the 14th. >> Oh, right. Because of the holiday, so I don't think >> we have the ability to move it. >> Okay. >> Just want to make it what it is. >> I'm happy to kind of in touch base with you afterwards and go through anything. >> All right. Thank you. Sorry, I'm the slow guy here. >> Did you have something? >> Um, >> there just to mention if I can mention the workforce development forum. Is that okay? >>
061Yeah. Okay. Next Thursday. >> Yeah. So, next Thursday on the 25th, the time I need to >> 6:00 to 8 at the Penrook Public Library. >> 6 to 8 at the Penrook Public Library. I should know because I'm going to be speaking on it, but thank you for the time. Um, so there'll be union members there. Um, as well as, um, Erin, u myself, and several other folks and the chambers putting it on. So, if you have questions about VOTE or want to hear more about workforce development and why it's important, then come to that event. >> Tom Hickey from Socialore Tech will be there um as well sharing a couple of presentations about their building project and where they're at. >> Awesome. >> Perfect. Okay, any other comments? Okay, ladies and gentlemen, executive session
062pursuant to chapter 30A section 21A 2 and 3 to discuss a personal service contract and strategy related to collective bargaining at an open meeting may have detrimental effect on the legal position of the school committee as declared by the chair. I need a roll call vote by person uh to my left. Oh, we have to move. I'm sorry. >> Second. >> Okay. Um, Sue and Allison. Uh, going from left to right. Katrina. >> Yes. Sue. >> Yes. >> Me? Yes. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. And yes. We have five again. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming. For those who were here for the early meeting, we truly appreciate you being here. Thank you so much.