School Committee Meeting 11/25/25

001The pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> Comment. We have one Kim Leoo. I go to the podium. >> I'll go to the podium, please. Thank you very much. >> Good evening to the school committee members here tonight. Thank you for having opening comments um from the public. I think one of the first things that I'd like to address, first of all, I'm Kim Leu. I am a resident of Bara, lifelong resident. I've had students metriculate through Shashene Tech. I went to the high school, but fought hard for Bara High School. So, I'm hoping to see Shashin Tech go through that same process successfully. Um, I do want to address a

002couple of things. So, first and foremost, I this is the first time being in this room u during this time and it's a very interesting setup. I love the cushy chairs. It looks really comfortable. Um, but I'm wondering if the public wouldn't be better served if you moved this meeting to somewhere that was more accessible to having more of a crowd. I noticed at the auto um automotive school committee meeting there was a lot of people that weren't able to look you in the eyes and to address their concerns or their comments. Um you have many other places in the school that you could be doing this. The library, the auditorium, the cafeteria. I understand that this is a a great room. Um but I don't think it's really, you know, welcoming to the public

003to join in. You're kind of sitting in the background and you're looking into the back of people's heads. been around the school, so I know that there are lots of other great areas that you could potentially hold this meeting to really welcome. >> Um, the second thing I wanted to talk about tonight is, um, I've been in the community a long time. I know a lot of families, teachers, folks that are connected to the Shasheen Tech community. And what I have seen as of late um, is a disappointing undercurrent of what almost feels like bullying. I've watched a number of the meetings. I've seen a number of areas in which I've seen um the behavior of some folks on this committee to be not the professional um expectation that I have as a community member

004and as a professional myself. Um so one of the things that I would like to put out to the school committee me members is to maybe consider um term limits here for the school committee. Now I know that that's not an easy thing to do. Uh it's not exactly an easy thing to address. you can't just wave a wand and say we should have term limits. Um but you know there's there's a couple of reasons for that. So first and foremost I think new ideas, new blood and folks that aren't part of the political system that is here is really important. Um this is something that the school committee could put forward. uh you could have all of the folks, all the towns in the regional towns um be involved in voting whether they think

005term limits um are something that might actually help continue moving this school and this district forward. Um so I I would like to see the school committee address this and consider it and really think about what that might mean. Uh what a term limit that makes sense. You wouldn't be the only school to have term limits. There are many schools that do it, but yes, you have to put it out to a vote to all of the participating regional district schools that are involved. Um, and again, you know, I really feel that um you do some things right in terms of changing who the head of the school committee is, the chairperson of the school committee. That's a great thing, changing it from from year to year, town to town. Uh but I do think

006that you know it would help with this undercurrent of politics that I seem I seem to be identifying when I watch school committee meetings. Um and I think it's probably in the better you know better health for the whole community to have um people that are really here to push along new ideas um and to support new ideas in this community. >> Can I interrupt for a minute because you're three minutes Rob so I'll give you let >> Oh thank you for that. Yeah. So, I mean, those are the two things that I'd like to address. So, first, love the room. I I really think that you should move it so that more of the public can be better involved. Um, I'm sure you can roll these seats into the auditorium or the library. Um

007and I do think um you know I implore school committee members here to absolutely make sure that you are asking questions asking for clarity and ensuring that decisions that are made here are not made in a vacuum um and are not politically natureed. Okay. there's enough discussion on the outskirts um of this school committee um in the community of families and teachers and students where we've identified that this is an issue. So I'm asking that the school committee address it please. >> Thank you. Thank you. [laughter] >> Do you represent [snorts] >> Hello. Good evening everyone. I see some folks that I've never met before. So I just want to introduce myself. My name is Mackenzie Miller. I'm a junior here and I'm in the metal fabrication program. And I just have a few bullet

008points that I wrote down like an hour ago that I thought [laughter] about that I thought that I should go over a little bit. So I just want to talk about our Shasheen Turkey Bowl. We brought an exciting night of energy on Monday the 17th where the senior girls claimed a 34 to28 victory. So I thought that was really awesome. and as well as the cheerleading captains and the football captains competing at the KISS 108 annual turkey toss tomorrow morning. [laughter] And the football team is once again heading back to Gillette Stadium for now our second time with the MIAA Division 5 Super Bowl on Friday, December 5th. And the kickoff will be taking off at 5:00 p.m. So I implore all of you to go take a look and watch. I know I will

009be. And um over the weekend, this past weekend, our Skills USA leadership team took home eight silver and gold medals and those will be coming back to our school for us to put on display. And I think that is so awesome that our teams get to go to conferences and bring things back to Shasheen that we can put on display for everyone to see walking in the hallways. I don't know if you guys took a look at the bookcase that's right out there. We have a few medals from last year. And we're going to also be hosting our second holiday party coming up on the 13th of December. And that is where our state officers from the leadership team are going to come help us raise the money and we're going to throw a holiday

010party for underprivileged homeless children between the ages of 8 to 12 at the Boys and Girls Club to help them celebrate a holiday that they might not have at their homes. And then lastly, I just want to talk about our 70 seniors that earned our prestigious John and Abigail Adams scholarship. That is a merit-based credit award going to Massachusetts seniors across the board and the students have to score in the top 28% of their district. So I think that is really awesome for the seniors that are graduating next year being able to get a scholarship like this. So thank YOU >> as a member of the Biler Community Food Pantry. We thank you for your continued support. every year of the Turkey Bowl donations come to us and we really appreciate that. >> I'm so

011glad we help. >> We are too. >> Thank you very much. Anybody else have a comment? [cough and clears throat] A great job. Okay, we have the consent agenda. So the board is Howard Greenspan bill and KM education law approval of minutes of October 28 25 and notification and disposal of surplus equipment. Does anybody have any questions? >> Question uh to the chair at Tony the [clears throat] uh this is metal fab equipment obviously we've put a lot of time and effort um remodeling the shop and this is stuff that they don't need. >> This is stuff that yeah that was bought. some of the stuff is is like 10 years old. So, in [clears throat] I mean we bought I think we bought close to 50 welding machines down there at this point in

012time. So, um we do have some surplus and that will go that'll go out through gov deals or whatever that that website is. Yep. And it'll be it'll it'll be all for public uh public consumption public auction and then we'll dispose of it. And uh my guess is before we're all said and done down there, we'll probably get a few more items from them. But um this is definitely helping them kind of clean up and and start to organize the space at this point in time. >> I do have one issue on the KM education law bill. >> Yeah. >> We constantly get a bill that looks like it's never being paid. So I'm >> Yeah. And Miss Stouty and I have have gone uh back to the business office with that. There seems to

013be some disconnect between her billing date and our payment date. Um so we are we are trying to resolve that. Um [clears throat] but for whatever reason it seems like we're kind of crossing paths. Um when her bill comes in our payment has already gone out or vice versa. Um but we will we will continue to work on that. Can >> I just make two comments? >> One basically so on the uh consent agenda under we're approving basically we have a policy basically to keep you know like for payroll and all that. But one thing I think we need to put back on the agenda is basically like you have to basically like you know certain members can approve payroll and and uh you know so that keeps the lights on but at every school

014committee every point to point everything that's a warrant should be on the thing to get approved and you know not to give Howard a shout out but we're still getting like three or four like I mean can somebody like provide an update like what the status of what we're going to do to fix this? I believe those are all resolved at this point into all the on complaints. >> I believe so. Yes. >> No, I meant more like basically like that doesn't mean we're getting on these bills and we've seen them since September. I guess what's going to be done long term to address so we don't keep getting complaints? That's my I understand like you know we're all going through training and I sent out that thing from the school committee conference that DG

015put on like you're basically you can do training you can do all that but I mean that still doesn't mean the stuff will get filed you the community not to do that but I mean what's the plan to basically to address this to stop having this to happen >> well I believe that that's an agenda item later on in this um piece to talk about school committee meeting postings and packets >> and some changes that Miss Stouty has brought forth forward. Her and I did attend >> the inspector general's training I think two weeks ago or whatever it was. So she we have some definitive recommendations but that's a little >> No, I think that's we come up with a plan like to address that stuff but you know you can't keep on having this

016stuff. >> Yeah to to go back to your request about payroll and the warrants. Do you want that whole thing included? >> I think it should last conference. That's what the AG I talked to the guy at Worcester. He said system AG said even if you have that policy to approve payroll and other warrants anything that's approved should go through that basically says the school committee has reviewed everything from point to point. So the payroll went out between the last school committee and this meeting everything in between should be in that packet. >> We'll work on that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Motion to approve the consent agenda. All in favor >> oppos. >> Okay. I um I'm going to try to stand again to go back to Ken's comment about um best practices. Um

017I think Taran and I sat through a session together um from a school from Western Mass and one of their recommendations was to standardize the superintendent report. So it's always kind of the same information month to month. So moving forward we're going to try to do that. Um budget subcommittee budget and capital uh facilities had met I think it was last week or the week before. Um I made a couple adjustments to this timeline based on feedback from that group. Um, one thing that, uh, we did want to put out to the full committee here, um, we have tentatively scheduled the public budget hearing for the same night as a school committee meeting. I know some years we've tried to to split those up and do them on different nights. Um, there really wasn't a

018consensus, but that's something that we're going to ask people to think about. Um, and as a group, we're going to come back to you for decision about how you want to handle that moving forward. Um, again, other than that, there really wasn't much that changed on this from the first time that I shared it. If we have updates moving forward, I'll make sure that I point out specifically what it h what it is that has changed. Uh, class of 2030 applications. I do have a little caveat to throw out here for this. Um, we did not open applications till November 1st this year. Uh again, we were going through revising our admissions policy, making adjustments to the mandated lottery that we're um going to be forced to follow moving forward. So um we held off

019until that policy had been approved by the school committee at the October meeting. So a lot of this stuff that you see is actually almost a month behind where we were last year. Um but I did include four years. So if you go back to class of 20 class of 2027 which is this year's juniors um at this time we had 28 applications move to you know 2023 the class of 2028 we had 382 last year at this time we had uh this year we have 344. Now, the other thing that I that I do want to make people aware of, we are also kind of transitioning um with the changes in the regulations. It does now say that all middle school kids um can or should attend a tour during the school day. Um

020we really pushed our road show last year for the last few years and we were out early and we were doing those presentations in middle schools. what we're doing now for the most part is when the kids come here to visit, we do an abbreviated version of that to kick either kick it off or wrap it up at the end. Um, so I think I think there's a few things that are playing into this, but regardless, um, as of last Friday, um, almost 25% of the eighth graders in our district have already applied and we're we're less than a month into the application window. So, while our numbers are down a little bit, I'm still encouraged. We're still seeing a lot of response around this and with Burlington middle um um the middle school from

021Burlington is scheduled to come I think in a week or two. Uh I know we've been working with Wilmington and Tukesbury to finalize plans for them. Um and Nico is still kind of up in the air but we will work to get all of the eighth graders in here. I think all of you know where I stand on this. We've talked about this since I've started. Um you don't know what we do if you haven't been here and seen the shops up and running during the school day. Um, that is something that we implemented in with Bedford, I think, was our first community. Uh, we've brought Hansum eighth graders over for at least the last two years, and I think Burlington's been here for the last two years. So, we're really looking forward to expanding

022this to all of our eighth graders and making sure everybody makes an informed decision. Uh, enrollment numbers, um, we are down a little bit. Um, we did have a few a few of our ninth graders, um, made the decision to go back to their sending schools. Um, we've actually lost a couple upper classmen as well. It's it's that time of year where people kind of start to re-evaluate what they want to do long term and and some students and families um make the decision. We also have had some students that have moved out of district as well. So um we are down what's the math there about eight students from where we were in October. Uh co-op updates. This is the class of 2025. This year seniors 37,894 hours worked. um 59% of the students

023are out 178 students participating and to date uh they've grossed $611,297. So again, we're off to a very strong start there. Um and I only anticipate that those numbers will grow as the school year goes on. I know uh Mr. Smith was working on getting some additional students out. We have some students that um end of quarter 1 would become eligible based on grades and attendance from last year. Uh again, breakdown by communities here. uh two two of our Bedford students, 74 from Bill Ricka, 14 from Burlington, 41 from Tukbury, 47 from Wilmington. Like I said, 178 301. Um just an update here. I've been marking these things completed as we go. Uh we did submit the um chapter 74 viability document and the educational profile after the October meeting. Those have been completed. The

024enrollment questionnaire was completed earlier. Uh the school school building committee has been formed. Our compliance certification is sent in. Right now the um two outstanding items we have we have to do a routine and capital maintenance plan which I've been working with our facilities director on. Uh that is due by the end of January, January 28th. And then um we also have to have funding in place. We have to have a vote to fund our feasibility study. Um the district has requested a 30-day extension to get us till the end of May so we can get through town meetings. Um they have acknowledged the receipt of our extension but have not given us any additional information at this time. So we will wait and see um what they say on that. Um Olton Hill is

025is the group that we brought on board to run our PR this year. Uh we made a decision to u move away from an in-house full-time employee and contract with them. They shared some pretty interesting data with me and I and I again I just wanted to to push this up to the committee. Um I had to look this up. So when you look at uh they were talking to me about reach and interactions and I had no idea what they were talking about. Um but essentially total views is the number of time the profile has been viewed by anybody. Um pretty much anybody out there in social media land has somehow uh interacted with whatever that that post was. Reach is um people who actually went into or accessed the page or the content

026that they were viewing. And then impressions is the time that is the number of times that that has either been reposted or re-shared uh or retweeted or whatever it is. So when we look at those metrics, they give us they give us monthly updates on both Facebook and Instagram. Um, I don't really have anything to compare this to, but I was I was kind of blown away when we look at Facebook total views are up 82.3%. Um, the reach is up almost 80%. The interactions are up like almost 49%. And then when you look at Instagram, the numbers are similar, but our interactions on Instagram are up 97% um almost double what we were seeing the activity in September. So, um, they have a team. They they send out regular updates. Um, I'm not on

027Facebook. I'm not on Instagram, but I do see them on LinkedIn. I see them on some of the other social media platforms. Um, I will say that they have been awesome to work with. Um, very professional, very detail oriented, very focused on on what what their role is. Um, Miss Stouty has been working hard on some of the website updates that were discussed by this group. Um, again, just and she's been working with Mr. Bendle as well. We have reorganized the page. So, uh, committee members and community members, if you get a chance, pop on there. We did move links to the top of the page so you don't have to scroll through all of the stuff to find meeting information, audits, budgets, all of that other stuff. Uh, Miss Stouty went and I use

028the term bios very loosely. Essentially, it has your your town of residence, the year you were elected. Um, we didn't get into, you know, where you went to high school or what your college major was or anything like that. Um, we did create new sections uh to help organize. So, the budget has its own tab or or link or whatever you want to call it. Same thing for uh for the audit piece. Um, and we've uploaded the documents that we have to that. Um, and again, just, you know, if if you have any feedback, uh, committee members, please reach out to Miss Dowy and she will, uh, she will gladly pass that either either modify it herself or pass it on to Mr. Bendle so that we can again continue to work to make that

029more um, more user friendly. Um, and that is all I have for right now. [clears throat] >> Can I ask you a question? >> Sorry. >> Just >> in connection with the uh the admissions. I wanted to thank with the committee here. Thank you, uh, Tony and Jeff McGrath and Andy Pigeon and our former reporter uh, Sophia Galant for the effort. Um, they gave last um, Wednesday night. uh to a Bedford parents gathering here. Um really was extremely wellreceived. The fact I think the fact that the last people left the building about 8:30 or or so at night uh tour presentation by the admissions people extremely wellreceived and gotten good feedback on that. So we appreciate all of you staying an extra night to do that and uh hopefully it'll be reflected in the numbers

030up there. >> Did you mention how many people? I think we had about 40 parents >> and I believe you also said that open house was very well attended. >> Yes. And again, we've we've never we've tried to take counts in the [clears throat] past and it's unless you have somebody that's like a really good door person. It's it's either super super elevated or superh reserved. Um, but anecdotally, uh, teachers I tal all the staff members I talked to, all the administrators I talked to, um, I think we probably had close to double the turnout that we that we normally see for old business. >> I Oh, my question was Oh, because we don't have old business on here. I >> And so, >> yeah, I didn't know we had >> Well, about the spray

031booth, whatever. I was just going through some of my notes from before. Did we ever find out about, you know, the rules and regulations that our kids had to have certification, but other places didn't? >> So, our vocational director's been doing a little a little digging into that. Um, and from what we found, there's a little bit more to that story. Um, so the last thing last time I talked to him, he was going to try to gather some real specifics as to what each school was doing. Um, we did find that one school is actually having the kids spray water. They're not even actually mixing paint. Um, so there's there's a few different options. I I don't have a file document, but I will um I will make sure we get that. >> All

032right. Okay. Anybody else have anything else? >> All right. Oh my god, look at the subcommittee [clears throat] reports. Budget committee. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. The budget subcommittee met on November 18th, 2025. Um in your package you received information on the three bullet points salary salary transfers TMA TMS solution incorporated year-to- date budget summary the salary transfers everybody should have that in your packet um to look at this was presented to the subcommittee and um we had some questions to the superintendent um on why some of these numbers were the way they were. I don't know if you have any further information on that. >> So, we've been we've been digging into that and what we've been finding is there was there's some inconsistencies into what line items things were charged to. Um, some

033of it is historical. There's there's stuff in there from employees that um have not been here for a long time and whatever role was added were just kind of tagged to that particular department. Um so based on if again if the committee votes to complete these transfers um our inter business manager will go in and make all of those adjustments and then again that that will provide even more clarity for us as to where exactly um we have surpluses and we can capture that when we pull in. And just so people understand the purpose of it is basically so now that your actuals are coming in so your system's up to date and any future budgets the base for that is correct. So once all the contracts been solved you adjusted for your 3% for

034all the employees that's what's in units. >> Yes. >> Yeah. So we've encumbered we always encumber salaries for the whole year. So yes and again that those list of transfers you'll notice some of those account balances are negatives and some of them are overfunded. So again, this is this is an effort to balance out those accounts. Again, some of that can be attested to turnover of staff. Some of that again is is more of a things were build for the wrong department or people were um affiliated with a different a different um a different area in the budget than they should have been. >> Okay. We will vote on this separately. [snorts] >> All right. Um I'll make a motion that we approve the salary transfers as presented. >> Second. Anybody else have any questions?

035All those in favor? >> I oppose. Unanimously. >> Second item was the document from TMS Solutions Incorporated contract extension. We had a discussion about this. Um Cody, did you want to um just everybody? We again TMS is is under contract for the end of December. Um we've already already started uh budget planning season and we were looking at trying to have some continuity here. Um there after some discussion at the budget subcommittee I believe the recommendation was to extend it through the end of January um and then revisit in January as to exactly what we wanted to do with that moving forward. Are they just curious? So this is a consultant. Are they going to present some type of report? Like I asked an email. >> I reached out to them. I asked them to

036formalize that. >> That's like that's essentially what is needed. You need something in writing on their >> letterhead sign. Yes. Basically >> that's I did follow that. Yep. >> Is that something that can be shared? >> Yeah. He Yeah. Once I get it, I will. Uh I haven't I haven't received anything from him yet. So if we vote to accept this, we're we're extending to January 31st. Is that right? >> Okay. I'll make a motion that we extend contract to TMS Solution Incorporated to January 31st, 2026. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I did question. [clears throat] >> Yeah. No, I don't. >> Oh, you said no. Oh, I'm sorry. I missed that. She's 901. Okay. I didn't know if she just I didn't. >> Okay. The last bullet point uh has to

037do with the year-to- date budget summary which is in your packet and you can see what's going on. This was as of last week. Um, so we uh >> and I I think we've captured the vote in the in the earlier one to do the transfers. Um, but I mean there are some there are some accounts that are overdrawn on this. But again, once those salary item adjustments are made, that should all clear up. Um, and we should be back or we should be back. Um, >> we should get a better >> without any negative balances on those. >> We should have a better feel by December. Yeah, >> I was going to ask when's when would we get a better feel from this? >> So, I mean, I'm not sure if the transfers will

038get done tomorrow. It's a half day, but I would assume that the first week in December that those will get taken care of and then we can get an update from then. Um, again, that's not something that I I ever do. So, I'm not sure how much time that takes. >> Just one comment. Uh with the hiring of the district treasurer, I did reach out to the woman at Nishoba to like me and Charlie are going to go talk to their finance people about >> their business manager. >> No, they're like their chair. So yeah, to figure out like what they do with the district treasur coming on board basically like what types of reports they prepare like to review that whole process because they have a pretty >> what's the guy? Charlie. Yeah. So

039I think they so I think I got a response today. They have a new treasurer as well, I found. >> Okay. Yeah. So, we're going to try and set up time to >> go. >> So, Mr. Williams, excuse me, is on board. >> Yep. He was actually here yesterday. >> Signature appeared on the warrant. >> David, he's been working with uh with Mary Rubio, our controller. Um, and, you know, trying to get systems set up and and figure out how they're going to share stuff back and forth and and get access to those files. >> That's good. Committee at the ground. >> He's he's very excited. >> Well, I'm glad we we found him. It's good. Um, do we need to vote on that, P? I'm going to say no. >> I don't think we

040do. >> It was just a basically an update. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Facilities and capital planning subcommittee. Good job. >> We met um last Tuesday. It was actually jointly with the budget subcommittee because a lot of us are on both committees presented which should have in their packet the different numbers that are have been what's been paid out what's due and um Tony I don't want to add any more members have any question she >> uh just the capital budget. Yeah. So, we did go through the FY26 capital budget piece and I did I did provide an update to that committee about uh some of the items on that are either ordered and are we were waiting delivery. Some of the projects have been completed. Uh some of them are obviously in in the

041very early stages. The the fieldhouse renovations um the sewer line has been connected. Um, we're waiting, I'm waiting for estimates on plumbing fixtures, electrical fixtures, tile, uh, bathroom petitions, and then we're going to start to move forward all of that stuff as well. Um, we did have a facilities meeting, uh, in-house facilities meeting, not school committee facilities meeting. Um, and we are targeting, our goal is to have that open and ready for use for graduation in June. So fingers crossed. Um, everything goes >> cut the ribbon together. Oh, >> so Tony, we didn't I didn't get this. >> You just pointed out to me I thought >> as capital. Oh, it didn't go out in the packet. We'll follow up. >> I think it was just in the budget. >> The budget packet. Sorry, Sarah.

042>> Yeah, we'll have to send that out. >> There you go. Thank you. >> Um subcommittee. >> Okay. So um we actually didn't meet we already had a discussion about it last we meant today. So, I'll have to give you an update >> the next meeting, but we did discuss a few items which we're going to bring forward to the December meeting. Um, and they include the competency determination grad requirements with class of 2026, the program of studies just um Danica updated us on some changes. Most of it was just um like name changes to the programs and we um officially have pushed the master schedule to September of 2027 well the launch of the new master schedule but uh we will provide a full update at the next meeting the December meeting. >> Thank

043you. And I'm also wellness the um >> I think we have question um for the graduation requirements have we gotten clear data from DESIE about the rules? >> No the proposal that's coming forward is for the class of 2026. Um we are still awaiting guidance on [clears throat] 2027 and moving forward. So, but we also wanted to make sure that we had stuff in place [snorts] because we're coming up on December of those students senior year and um we wanted to be fair and consistent and make sure all that stuff was documented. And I also believe we were we were past the mandate that has to be done I think by December 30th. [snorts] >> Okay. Yes. We probably should mention in that context also that the the waiting for the implementation of the new

044schedule is also based on Desi not having weighed in on the implications of our proposed schedule. >> Yeah. And just to expand on that a little bit there's um there's always been a foreign language waiver for vocational schools. They they would allow students to substitute CTE programs for that and still need mass core. Um there's there's some rumors floating around that that that may go away and that all students be required to take foreign language. Um there's discussion about having some type of financial literacy required for all high school students. Um there's been conversations about them being a little more explicit about their expectations for PE and wellness. Um now the regulations just say you must take gym, but um there's some conversations about how many hours it's going to be, how many years it's

045going to be. Um, so again, with all of those things kind of in flux, the last update we got was early March, um, before we get some final answers on that stuff, and that's just too far into uh, the planning cycle for the schedule for us to to hit reset and try to pivot to do this for next fall. >> Now, you know, well, thank you. [laughter] >> Can I just one? So um we had originally scheduled um audit and organizational development subcommittee meetings on the 9th. Um I know a lot of members of conflicts and I also I I will not be here for that meeting. I reached out to both chairs. Both chairs said that they were fine looking for a future date to hold those meetings. But um just in case people

046were looking at that or planning on maybe attending one of those um we are going to push those. We haven't really made any decisions on what we're going to reschedule it to. But um just to be transparent with everybody. [snorts] >> Okay. So um the wellness committee met in October and um I was not notified so I did I was not in attendance but um Kevin Caruso um did update me sent me the minutes. So it was regarding like um updates from food services and um Mary Lee and I apologize I don't know who all these people are but um they introduced um wellhubs which is affiliated with BSAP um they're looking into making this a resource available to Shasheen students um Kevin had talked with Angela Kyra who's the BSAP rep for Shashene uh

047food services they said that they've eliminated the salad salad bar. It's been in five week um after a fiveweek menu rotation, they decided it was just wasted space and the produce was getting thrown out. Um they added a grab and go or or they said they're going to make it into a grab and go smoothies and things like that. Um they eliminated the part-time position for that. Maybe they had staff that covered that. Um and then they said that they're going to be adding possibly more warmers for grab and go. Um updates from Christie. She's uh they hired an additional power lifeguard. They have five PE wellness um people who are certified CPR and the AED which I believe is the um you know attack. Um >> swimming is back. Um 9th and 11th graders

048it's required. Uh 10th grade is challenging because of numbers so it's still optional for them. Health has a classroom. Not sure what that means, but I'm assuming we must do. >> They have a dedicated classroom. We didn't have the past. >> Uh fishing and archery activities open in the fall. Um there's a PR firm and wellness initiatives update in um progress with Jay. So, we're going to hear back more on that on December 16th. And um then some updates from Liz. Uh they said new software system, something called SNAP. And then maintenance service for a the ADS is in place because some of their some of the AADs throughout the building need maintenance. And then they also talked about a yoga club trying to find a room to do that. So anyway, >> and then

049they are meeting on December 16th which I'll attend. >> All right. Thank you. >> My apologies. I thought I thought the other >> I didn't mean to jump the list. make sure that those AEDs are all up to date. >> Yeah, we we bought a we bought a maintenance contract. >> Okay. >> All right. New business, internal audit. >> So, um at the request of of Mr. Moffett, um I did meet with some representatives from CBiz. Um that proposal, I believe, was sent to everybody in the packet. Um, and no, I mean, we did not do any type of competitive solicitation or anything at this point in time. Um, but um, you know, just based on the information that they provided and the scope of what they're proposing, um, I believe, let me let me

050find it in here. I think we're somewhere >> the fee. >> Yeah, the fee. >> Yeah. Then if you go down if you go down lower, there's actually a 7% technology and administrative fee. Um so the the combined low estimate to do that scope the scope of that audit is $70,000 to $91,000. Um they do charge an hourly fee. So that is um subject to change based on [snorts] exactly how many how many hours they spend um and if they require more time to dig into things or um additional research that needs to be done as part of that. So um again it's on the agenda. If the committee wants I can start to reach out to other firms and see if anything's comparable. Obviously for something in that price range it would have to

051go out um as a procurement bid and it would have to go through the business office. it would have to be advertised. We have to solicit proposals and all of that other fun stuff. But um that's what I found. >> So did CBZ come back and they said basically because it's they're doing their external audit is there's no conflict basically because they have a separate group. Is that what >> So our our our auditor John Jazzawitz facilitated this conversation. CBIS has a different division. Um not 100% sure but based on the accents I believe they're out of Texas. Um so the again we had a zoom session with these two gentlemen. Um this is what they specialize in. Um the proposal that he sent me mirrors they do a lot of stuff for for cities

052and towns. Um and the the proposal he sent me mirrors something that they just recently completed for again he didn't tell me where it was. I don't know what state it was in. Um but yeah they have a separate group. Um and again having Mr. Jazwits on that call. Uh they were having conversations back and forth about, you know, where does where does one scope of work end and the other scope of work begin to make sure that there are no conflicts um in having them do that process? >> Yeah. I mean, other comments I'll make is I read through it. It's pretty thorough. I mean, I think it's due time that it's done. I mean I would have preferred it was done earlier in the year but I mean I mean from I don't

053know whether people's opinion is but from a financial steward I think we I mean I think Ciz took over the other one that I think they do a pretty good job. We've got some the first couple years some rough but we kind of worked through that but I think they're a reputable firm but I think from a you know financial standpoint we should be reaching out to I mean I don't know Brian maybe you can comment but I think it's just maybe from a like [clears throat] a I think we should look at some other firms. >> Well I mean if we move forward with this behalf >> No I know exactly just can't assign >> Brian. Yeah, I was just I would just add to that. I think it you know it's important that

054you know we have a clear articulation of what it is we hope to get from this process that's different from any input that TMS or CBiz have provided. Um, and it would seem from the scope of services they presented, I agree with you, Ken, it's very thorough, very solid, probably is a good model for an RFP uh, for those services. There just would have to be a sense of confidence that we're going to get something really either new or different or it's different in terms of how far back it goes. um because I don't think that's one thing that's clear as to um whether they're looking at a really >> looking back process review mirror process or because the only reference I think is at the beginning of their proposal they talk about based on

055the FY 25 budget the typical school operations. So if what we're looking if the goal was to you know get some kind of incredible insight into where we've been say over the last five years and they're not going to do that then this isn't within this this isn't the scope of what we want. >> I think I think that's what we do want. I think if you're only going back like two years you're not doing the full what needs to be done. I think you need to go back at least five years. I understand it's [clears throat] expensive and I understand it's like cumbersome. It's basically, but it it needs to be done. I mean, I gave you the example of what happened when I went in Burlington. I mean, it's it shows that you're

056taking it seriously. I'm not going to get into the details. You can use Google, but Google back seven years. >> There was one they brought in a firm out of Woo. Again, it was a forensic audit, different type of audit, but it shows that the district's taken it seriously. And again, in that one, they weren't able to piece it together, but at least it showed that they went through a process to review it. And I think it's high time that it's done. And I understand it's cost and it will be additional, you know, on staff and whatever, but I think at the end of the day, it's going to come out with better process. I think it's it's due time. >> Reading this, I I think Brian's first first impression there. I think this is

057FY25. >> I don't think this is a reach back. I think this is current for current operations and current functions. >> Yes. What's the approximate timeline for an RFP? How long does the RFP have to be in place? Two weeks. And then we meet and choose somebody like who meets and and chooses say we get four proposals who determines who who chooses what proposal >> committee. Yeah, I think it matters how we want to do that. If you want to let the audit subcommittee determine that >> so this is something that >> to us start in early 2026 theoretically. >> Okay. Thank you. But I think that's a valid point to Brian's point. If that's like what it's it's only based on fiscal year 25. That's what's going to drive like I think that's a

058question you need to ask in these proposals is basically like >> right. You have to change. >> Yeah. You have to basically say define to them basically how far you want to go back and that's what's going to drive the cost. >> I think we're probably going to have to Yeah, I agree. Yeah. Exactly. We would define it and then >> which budget is this model? >> Yeah, that's an issue. Where would we get the money? >> TBD. >> So again, once once those salary transfers are made, we will have a much better idea as to which accounts we have surplus in and which ones we >> we don't. So I mean, I'm again, we're we get so many moving parts at this. I mean, that's a page and a half of transfers. Those all

059have to be processed and landed and then we can take a look and see. Um, but that is a that is a great question. But and I guess in the meantime since you'll find what do we want to do like get a big or see what that charge for five years back what are we looking to do different direction >> right yeah that's what I don't what's comfortable >> this isn't completely on topic but as I never asked it where do we stand with and date which is another potential source of funding >> so they're work they're working their way through that um there has been some problems with the starting balance an ending balance from the previous year and and whether those adjustments were made as they were documented and what was documented was

060made. And so we are currently digging through that. Um I know um the gentleman uh that uh the gentleman that owns TMS is the one who's personally working on getting that certification done. >> But I think that's a key difference to note. I mean this is an actual accounting firm like the one I re they referenced from Burlington the consultant is coming in to do and again they can prepare a report but it's not an accounting firm that's the key difference here that needs to be put forth and I get cost and all that but I think only doing one year back is not going to >> so I think that's what we need to determine is like how far you want to go based on cost and so >> so we going to go

061out to bid understand this You guys got to determine the scope of what you want. >> You can't just say send us a price and then say, "Oh, now we want to do five years." >> Can we do a price for 3 years versus 5 years? Can we ask in our RSP what is it going to cost to do a three-year look back? What is it going to cost to do a fiveyear look back? >> When you post that, you have to be very specific as to the terms and conditions of what that crunch. So I can reach out to Cbiz and ask them to update >> their this proposal based on that. But you can't write a bidspec that says we might do this, we might do that, we might do the bidspec has

062to say this is exactly what we want. This is what we expect you to deliver and this is the time frame to do it. >> But I think based on this cost I think I recommend like three years. I mean that's I think that's a good starting point. I mean, the end of the day, basically the bottom line is is like even when we went out to bid for the external auditor, the bottom line was the two that we went with or we narrowed it down to both got bought out by Cbiz. So bottom line is you're probably going to end up with >> we only we only got two sub. >> Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. On top of that. So I think that's the other thing is you're probably end up with C biz anyways.

063So I think what they have is pretty thorough my opinion. >> Is this cost pretty typical of what you would be getting? I mean 70 to $90,000. Oh yeah, I can find out that one in Burlington, that's like eight years ago. But I can find out. >> And how how long would it take for them to do the work? >> Well, if you look at different schedule here, >> you have planning two weeks, walkthroughs, five weeks. >> So two, seven, 10, 13, 16, about 18 weeks more or less. >> That could be that could be more if this is >> more Brian's right. >> Brian's right. This is only one year back. I mean now you're talking >> more expense more but I mean that's what you have to >> and any deficiencies in the

064input system or inputs that on our end if there's problems with the munice entries from different years or there's incompatibility or they have to then make those budget adjustments. It's going to obviously complicate what they do and it's going to lengthen it. It's just that's just reality. and also raise the price. >> Exactly. >> There's probably going to be a fixed component and a variable component. Well, there is the variables we can't control. >> Yeah. >> We may have a hard time getting a fixed price for this because based on this proposal, it said they gave us a range for both >> the audit itself and the technology fee. When we put this thing when we put this thing out as an RFP, there may not be any respondents depending upon how it's written. was

065everybody's pleasure. [clears throat] >> It would seem the the decision should be made tonight is when do we want an RFP to go out? When when it would be useful to go out, assuming that [snorts] [sighs] if there's a consensus to do this at all, when do we want it to go out? and then look at make sure the scope is something that everybody agreed to if there's now it's a chicken or the egg thing because some people may say well I'm willing to do it if it doesn't cost so much money um putting it out to bid doesn't really cost that much we may decide once we get the responses this is not worth doing >> to throw an additional wrench here I think that audit firms are actually exempt from combis so that's

066when we did the last one I think that was that process >> because we did RFPs because we had two proposals proposals that we review. >> Yeah. I mean, they have an exemption under under chapter 30B, but you can still put things out that that are exempt. And it's >> No, I'm stating that basically you don't it's I don't think it's a legal requirement. It's best practice, but I don't think you have to do it by law. >> Like a firm like this would fall under an audit service. You wouldn't necessarily have to accounting service. So, that would fall outside of that law. But I think to your point, it's best practice to to follow that. So I guess as I say I think the question is when will we want any RFP to be

067issued? Is it in the December time frame? Is it the January time frame? How does it relate to other decisions that are being made? issues that are have to be addressed. And because all it might be is getting a number that then um causes us to say we we cannot go forward with this actual contract if it's just too much of a budget buster. >> I think we should put on an RFP for three years sooner rather than later because we don't know what the final number is going to be. And like you said, that may be a deal breaker. But like Ken said, we've been talking about this for a long time. >> Because if we put on an RFP, we're not obligated to pick somebody. We're just >> I think we should go

068beyond three years. >> I agree. >> I think we need to have a starting point somewhere. I think I I would rather go beyond. >> I agree. It has to be. >> I mean, it sucks as the cost, but the cost is it's been deferred long enough. So basically, it's you got to pick your poison. I mean, it's either you're serious or you're not serious. >> Well, if we once we get a cost, right, let's say it's $150,000 and we know we don't have it in the budget. >> So, when we're budgeting for next year, we can try to figure out, okay, >> but if you also do subsequent years, they might reduce the cost because you're adding additional services. So, this may be for a one year, but if you go to five years,

069>> I think they'd be less. [laughter] I'm on the >> I don't think it's gonna be the last. >> All right. Let's So, how many people want five years? I think >> I think it should be five years. >> Okay. >> I make a motion that we ask Tony um to draft an RFP for a fiveyear look back. >> No. Is this something the district treasurer should be doing? >> No. The district treasur really probably shouldn't be involved in the audit. >> Okay. >> But this should be completely separate from the external. That's why it's important to the same >> be checks and they're firewall. [clears throat] >> I have a second motion. >> All those in favor. >> Any opposed? Thank you. Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> All right. >> Um, next item

070we skipped over um at the October meeting just because of time constraints. Um, just as a reminder uh I think it was the September meeting. Hold on one second. I actually missed out. I'm sure she did. And I messed up the order of all the stuff that's in here. Um, okay. Yeah, other file. Um, print out the stuff. So back in um September at the September meeting, I had put forth a proposal. I asked the committee to make a decision about moving forward whether they wanted to do uh annual evaluations uh for myself or whether they wanted to do every two years um which is allowable under the evaluation piece. I did throw out some proposed goals that everybody had seen um one related to MSBA, one related to um uh the adoption of the

071master schedule, one to implement the mandated uh admissions lottery and then the two that the rest of the administrative team had adopted which is around classroom and shop visits and then also um doing some more work around the school climate survey. I did give a proposed timeline for what this could potentially look like. That was all spelled out um through uh March of 2027 if that that's what the committee wanted to do. Um I also threw out there four focus elements that I had suggested. Um there was some discussion about the committee about wanting to add additional ones. Uh I know Miss Stouty sent this out to everybody uh emailed September 24th. So this would have been after that meeting and people [clears throat] were asked to take a look at this and come back

072with recommendations. Um the past few years I think we've done six or maybe last year we did seven. Um and again I just proposed those four that doesn't mean that that's what committee has to go with but we are coming up on the end of the calendar year. Um you look at the proposed timeline that I had given you know I mean at the December meeting I proposed to give an update on goals. Um, we still haven't agreed to are we doing a one year, are we doing a two-year? The goals haven't been approved. I haven't been told what the focus elements are. Um, we really I need some I need some direction. I need decision made on where we're going to go with this. >> All right. Anybody >> discussion? Well, I think two

073years ago, >> I think the consensus was a two-year was probably >> we all felt that course we tabled it last month. Two years cycle, Tony, is probably >> appropriate. So, I would >> So, that timeline that's in there will just fine. >> So, we're not actually doing any formal paperwork. >> Well, that's that's part >> Tony, for the first three years, were you evaluated every year? >> Yes. That so that makes sense. So after three years then it can go to two. >> Yes. >> That's correct. Yeah. >> But we don't have to fill any paperwork out in the spring. >> No, I'm just saying that. No, I don't. Put them on a two year cycle. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Okay. >> But Tony, I think can I I'm sorry. Yes. >> So

074I think during the summer we talked about it. It's so helpful if when you come and report that whatever it is you're reporting ties directly into what those goals are. So it makes it much easier for us at the very end. So yeah, that would be >> I can I mean if this gets approved I can I can start doing that. >> Yeah, >> it makes it just so much easier for everybody. Thank you. >> Do we need to vote your goals in or anything? What what do you want? >> I I mean I I would but I mean the other piece of it here is also the focus. We just going with the four focus elements I proposed. People want to add more. >> I mean it's all kind of one ball of wax.

075[snorts] fourth. >> I mean, do you want to remind I I can tell you what they were. >> So, uh, in standard one, it was instruction ensures that practices in all settings refly high reflect high expectations regarding content and quality of effort and work, engage students and are personalized to accommodate diverse learning styles, needs, interests, and levels of readiness. Um, standard two was fiscal systems. develops a budget that supports the district's vision, mission, and goals. Allocates and manages expenditures consistent with the district and school level goals and available resources. Uh three was engagement actively ensures that all families are welcome members of the classroom and school community and can contribute to the effectiveness of the class, school, district, and community. And then uh standard four was shared vision successfully and continuously engages all stakeholders in

076the creation of a shared educational vision in which every student is prepared to succeed in post-secary education and become a responsible citizen and global contributor. I don't really care for the way the last one's worded. I think it should say something about career and technical pathways but um that's how it's in the standard. >> Okay. All right. So do I have a motion? Do I have any discussion? Oh, we need a motion. >> Motion two years as outlined on >> September back. >> All right, that I'll second that actually. >> Okay session again. All those in favor. >> Any opposed? Um, next item on, sorry, I'm not going to cut you off, but the next item on the agenda, I did have two members forward me um presentations from sessions that they went to, which

077I do have. Um, I don't remember which one's first, but if we're ready to move forward with that, I'll gladly. Um, some of them are kind of long, so I don't know if you want me to just scroll through them. You tell me what you want to do, >> but we'll stop them, too. >> Yeah. So, I think Ken, I think this was the only one you went to. >> Okay. >> Um, tell me if there's anything you want me to stop on, but [snorts] >> they're all on that website. >> Yeah, [clears throat] >> when you just >> No, I said that it's probably available if anybody wants to. >> Okay. I mean, Cliff's version was the >> something specific from that. >> Yeah. The cliff notes version was the guy it was an

078assistant AG at a Worcester that basically did a discussion on open meeting law was pretty good like he actually did a really good presentation went through like one of the things he talked about was like you know shashi registering basically so the school committee basically the main posting is on the school committee website because as a regional school I mean you can use like say you go to one that's 22 districts or 22 schools basically the central focal point but that's the attorney general's office so you're still going to tell the towns were to post it. But the issue is like you can't control it. They stick it to the d the board outside the selectman's office. But that refers people to go to that and the guy went through like how meeting and when

079it should be or agendas should be posted. Um you know so there's a lot of good content in there like um you know also that you know like uh there's you said there's like train like you guys did it is like yeah the AG provides I'd recommend people to do that it's uh you want the AG's website it's it's like an hour and a half like um you know uh review you can do um you know and then signing the thing every year that you've read open meeting law is kind of important too because it shows you take it seriously. No, I thought it was a good presentation. >> Did you also get >> um from when? >> Yeah, >> I didn't send slides. >> Oh, no. >> I just Yeah, you wanted >> I'm

080sure I'm sure there's other updates. Do you want to go through the slides first because Okay, >> let me get through these. Ron, you tell me what you want to do. >> Yeah, I I don't want to, you know, spend >> legislative updates. >> Yeah, we went to a session. Jason Frasier was there. MASC president and two uh two aids um two gentlemen I believe they are they worked for a senator and a rep and now they work for MASC and so I just we just got a flavor of what's out there um yeah keep going Tony trying to think uh the regional okay back up one more regional test uh caught my eye >> uh these are legis this is legislation that's been filed uh and I it's almost like a two I learned

081a lot two-year cycle to even get this to the finish line. Um, there's one right there. Uh, House uh 651, Senate, I can't read that. >> 358. >> Yeah. Uh, and the representative and the senator who put their name on it. Um, talking about uh, you know, we don't this is out there. Um, yeah, it's great ideas and we, you know, down will it make to the finish line? We don't know. I mean, that's what's going on. Thank you. Keep going. What else we got? I think one of one of the great ones in here if this passes is they're going to they want to raise the uh the re the refund rates for new construction for vocational schools to to acknowledge that there is there is additional costs and extra costs that are associated

082with that. We talked about the lottery. Um, and Jason, uh, he fought the good fight, he said, and he came out bloodied. But, um, we'll see, you know, um, we're going to see what happens as we get closer to the to the to the real date here. Financial literacy. What else we hear? >> Yeah. And my apologies for the way that this thing >> it didn't come in. I know >> the way that it was shared with us, there's a lot of typos. >> I saw it myself. [snorts] >> This is interesting here. And I was telling Charlie this. This is a bill would ensure full membership of a school committee could convene [clears throat] an executive session as members of an initial screening and interview committee to review applications, develop interview questions, interview candidates

083for the super and they're talking about changing this whole law and if it gets to be signed >> um can you go back to slide sorry >> I can see it and I this one >> the thing is mandatory instructions regarding 2026 I don't remember if that was fully passed because that's something with the curriculum if it is that's coming up. I know I talked to [clears throat] you a little bit about that. >> The financial literacy. Yeah, it's the financial literacy. >> Yeah, I don't know if it's 100%. >> Yeah, >> they're thinking it's going to happen really soon. >> We have we again it's another one we haven't got any guidance on, but the rumors out there that they're going to make, but they pass things all the time, right? >> Okay. Thank

084you. Sorry. That's okay. >> We already do financial literacy on some level. >> Yeah, except in optional. So now now they want it they want it standardized. >> Uh what else going on? Chapter 70 they're talk. Yeah they talk about they're doing all the state was doing a tour the uh DOE was it no D >> E doing a tour of uh that department of revenue also about talk about chapter 70. >> There are financial routes. We're doing hearings visits around the state that there was a couple that there's one today was quit and tomorrow Newton North um so that's out there. So um yeah they were um thank you um yeah very very knowledgeable these two gentlemen who now work for N used to work for the legislators and it's yeah it's these uh

085senators and reps some on more committees than others and things are kicked around. Um, I did notice while I was on my thing on my brain, uh, Jason did mention and and I was read the paper today. Uh, the, um, ballot question, they got enough signatures. Uh, and if it gets approved or if the legislature acts on it, there's talk of dropping down the state income tax from 5 to 4%. If the legislature approves it, if they if they send it, if they do that, it gets another 12,000. So that could be on the budget on should be on the ballot for November 26 to drop it down from five to 4% state income tax. That could have repercussions. I don't know. They threw that out too. But again, and I think they said the

086reason all these things, all these ballot initiatives, there's like 44 of them out there because people out there there's nothing being done at the legislature. So that's what happened with the MCAT thing. I know it's it's fun. I know we trust these legislators to do this work, but people say, "I don't we'll do it ourselves in the process." Anyway, thank you, Tony. >> I know there was other people that went too. I'm not sure. >> Yeah. So, I went to a couple I actually went back to the website who's a and I could not find slides for some of the ones I went to, so I couldn't share them. Um, I went to a couple with Tony, I think, with both of them about running a school a meeting that doesn't last till midnight. and

087um they had a lot of good ideas. It was interesting because the two meetings, one was um representatives from a particular school department and one was members of [snorts] NASC and they a little bit conflicted the the suggestions they made. Um, for example, one that I remember is so Tony does a superintendent report and one was saying that his entire report should be in the packet that goes out a couple days early and the other one was just saying, well, he should follow a guideline, you know, that like Sarah was saying, follow certain things. Personally, I agreed with the second one because I would rather he give a current report and that if he gets information today, he can give it tonight if it's in the packet. if it's that prescribed, I think we'd be

088violating open meeting law if he gave information that wasn't um in his presentation. So, that's again, you know, one of two ways that we can go. Um talked about public comment, how it's great to have, but um to also be mindful of how [clears throat] many times are people allowed to speak throughout a meeting, how long are they allowed to speak, do we respond, things like that. Um there was one about school finance, which honestly was rather overwhelming. regional schools are um very complicated with their regional agreements and such and then tie in school transportation and all that. U I was really hoping to go back and see slides for that one and they weren't there and I do want to follow up with the people that ran that one. See if I can get

089the slides. Um the vocational meeting was very interesting. We talked a lot about um the um change in the admissions policy that we pretty much all don't like and you know talk about financing and you know more money from MSBA and you know supporting vocational education in general. Um I'm also the delegate. There was one thing to vote and it was to remove BMI as a um a thing that is done in the nurse's office. it passed. It's being removed. Um it's only a recommend the way delegate votes work is it's a recommendation to the legislature to remove these things. And um there was one gentleman who you have to credit his integrity. He stood up and he said I do not agree with this. However, my commit my committee does. So I will be

090voting to support this even though I personally do not want to. and I believe he was the only vote in support of keeping it. Everybody else voted that it should go away. Um, [clears throat] so kudos to him for his honesty and his integrity, but he his committee did not get what they wanted because the resounding vote was to do it. >> Wait a minute. You finally get to be the delegate. And there was one question. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Actually, I think it's the second time I've been the delegate and actually made it to the thing. >> It was one. >> You deserve to be the delegate again next year. So >> next year if everybody didn't notice, we are no longer going to Cape Cod. >> We are now going to Danvers. >>

091So I think Danvers will be good. We can save the district a little bit of money by not renting hotel. >> I was amazed was when I checked in, the woman was like at the other hotel we stayed at, she wanted to charge us three bucks for parking. I'm like, >> she's so mad about that. >> Took care of that. >> We straightened it out. I said it wasn't going to break me, but I'm like, >> it's okay. Don't worry. >> So, all I was going to say is that I actually I attended also and as a new totally new school committee person, I found it really valuable, but very overwhelming in terms of all the information that's coming at you. But I went to 10 of them and I sat with all of you

092guys and I took in information and so I I don't have any very specifics to share, but it was definitely definitely something that people need to to do. So, I look forward to next year actually. Sounds good. >> Did you want to add? >> Um, I emailed all of you so you know what the highlights were. I went to a bunch of them, but those three that I sent in the email were my top three. >> Um, I really liked the uh ensuring safety with AI and Jeff Riley who's actually I think the former DESI commissioner. >> So, he was really knowledgeable and he made that presentation very interesting. He talked about things I didn't even know about. But AI bias like AI can actually if you use Grock versus another AI tool they can

093have biases based on the information that's input into them. So, it talked a lot about, you know, how you learn by using AI, but also how to be careful of it because with the bias, there could be things that you're getting information on that aren't actually true or um and he used examples that we've probably seen on X or wherever you get your news from, but um where they ask, you know, put George Washington in a picture and he comes out completely looking different man. It's not the man that is George Washington. uh something called AI hallucinations, voice clones, deep fakes, plagiarism. They talked about that. But um they can basically if they hear your voice, they can basically use your voice and create anything they want. So those are all things that you need

094to be aware of. One thing [clears throat] that was interesting was that they his company he does you know obviously he's not in that position anymore but he works for nonprofit and they do offer training and um they do it for like a very small amount of money and you know since we're new to AI and I think we are voting on an AI policy or I think it's something's on the agenda related to that um what is it AI policy vote for adoption second reading you know, it might make sense to have somebody like a third party come into the school um train the staff. Um I don't know. I thought it was very interesting. Um I also went to do we have to meet until midnight. I really liked a lot of what

095they had to say. Um they gave a lot of good tips on how to keep your meetings on track, how to post things in advance of the meeting to help keep the meeting moving along. Um, one thing that was very clear from all I went to like seven or eight presentations or and um they they talked about operating protocols a lot and we as a school committee don't have operating protocols and I believe that that is something that we should look into this year and adopt. I did ask Patty to add it to a future agenda. Um they do have an MASC. Our field director is Alicia Malin and she said that they come out in the summers and do this training to all sorts of you know school committees. So she said it's free.

096It's part of our dues or whatever we pay um for these services. So I think that would be smart because the operating protocols are you know what we lean on and how we describe what we do as a as a school committee. And I think that that is, you know, useful. And then the last one was just outlier behavior, which had to do with like, you know, when you're dealing with school committee members or people that are hard to get along with or you have a difference of opinion with and >> Yep. [laughter] And um, you know, how you resolve those, you know, unconventional approaches and ways to find, you know, value in your differences because we are all different. We all have different opinion, you know. And I, you know, I liked that one

097a lot, too. Again, the field director, Alicia Melon, she would come in for that type of training, too. And she said it, you know, she described what it is to me, and I thought it sounded really useful. So, those are mine. Thank you. >> We've met her. She's the one who came and helped us with the second half policy after Dorothy Press retired. She's right. Oh, sorry. >> No, right. >> Yeah. No. Year one, too. and Gwen went to that one and the lady was on the show's board. She's also on MSAC. She talked about like the operating one, they're I think they either have one in place or they're working through it. The other thing she said is like they go through like an annual goal setting. They do like a self assess like

098a self assessment like a committee for the committee. So I think those are things that part of those are looking at. >> Another one I had actually did attend was I was talking about relations with like town. >> I'm not gonna use my own town, but you can use Google. Actually, it was on the 15th, but let's leave it at that. Um, you can't see it when you drive by on Card Street, but it's probably a reason for that. But, uh, make your own decision. But, uh, that's a Burlington joke. But anyways, moving on. Come on. That's what it is. But but it was about but it was about relations with like town government and it was talking about like how you get and I think going into an MSBA how you kind of like

099you know general relations with that and then the MSBA basically for you know to get the word out there so you can get you know so you don't run into what our town ran into. It's basically that you come to some common ground >> for that. So those I thought that was a good uh good session. >> Anybody else have anything? I will just say that um one of the sessions that Taran and I went to um one of the next agenda items that we have is actually some stuff that came out of that that um we're going to bring forward to the committee that kind of dealt with the training that Miss Stout and I had completed. So >> all right, school committee postings and packets. >> So um this is kind of a

100two-parter. Um in the packet Miss Stouty had sent out this information that we received from I believe it's the inspector general's office um indicating that we can actually um become designated to post our own agendas on our website. Um there's a process that we have to follow which involves the school committee obviously voting to formalize this. Um and then uh there's some notification to our sending communities. Uh and essentially uh my understanding is they have to post a notice that says if you're interested in Josh text, you know, go to this website. Here's where to find the information. Um what we have found is um there is one there is one of our sending communities that the uh town offices are now closed on Fridays. Um there's another one that depending on which Friday it

101is, uh sometimes they're in the office, sometimes they're not in the office. So, it does get challenging. Um, and one of the things that was that was very clear and prominent in the training that we sat through is it is our responsibility to make sure that those things get posted. Now, how do we do that when we're sending them to five different town clerk's offices? So, um, the first part of this is, you know, I I'm going to recommend that the committee vote, uh, to approve us to move forward with this process and to start, um, to start allowing us to post our own agendas, um, on our and use our website as the the gathering place, whatever you want to call it. Um, the second part of it is, which came out of the

102one of the trainings that that Taran and I had attended, um, one of the suggestions was to to color code the stuff that's in the packet. So, uh, things that are memos or recommendations or things that have come out from the chair, the superintendent is one color. Um, supporting documentation that goes along with it is a different color. Financial updates would be a third color. So, um, it is our intent to start moving forward with that. Um, if not for the December meeting, definitely for the January meeting. Um, Miss Stouty has offered to deliver hard copies to school committee members of the packet. Um, I don't know how many people print their own stuff versus not printed versus people prefer. Um, we will operate on the premise that you want it delivered to you on

103that Friday unless you tell us otherwise. Um, so moving forward, we again, we're going to try to get that stuff out um, and move towards a system where it is very clear, you know, the the memo indicates that, you know, this is what we're going to discuss. Here's the background information you need to be aware of. Um here's you know here's the potential vote that we're we're going to take. Um so again to to go along with uh you know let's not meet till midnight and um and I forget what the title of the other one I think it was like more effective meetings or something like that. Um so we are we are going to try to move forward with some of that. So um we don't really need permission for the um the

104packet changes and the delivery piece but we do definitely need a vote on allowing us to move to using the website to post >> our agendas. >> Okay. Any questions? Any discussion? >> I'll make a motion that we start the process to move our meeting postings to our website. >> I'll second that. >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Unanimous. >> Ron as well. >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. >> Oh, the future tournaments. >> Yeah. I I've uh had a discussion with Tori. Um, for those of you who weren't weren't aware of it, the um, girls volleyball team unfortunately was not allowed to participate in the vocational tournament. And as I do more research into it, seems like the MIA is taking over this whole process where they asked us to put in a

105schedule. Um, was it the the TBD? No, not date. A date. Stacy, help me. TBD. >> We put down TBD. >> You're supposed to put a placeholder and it wasn't put in. >> And you can put TD TBD. Okay. Correct. Correct. Correct. >> Just for clarification, there's two different tournaments from most sports. There's a state vocational tournament and there's the MIAA state tournament. State Vocational Tournament started in because over the years it was felt that the athletic directors felt that the the vocational schools are really not getting a shot to compete at the so these tournaments came about and we've done quite well. So I felt bad. Coach talked to me and I just wanted that the community to be aware of this. Somebody dropped the ball along the way. I'm not naming names. I

106wasn't happy with this. uh these poor girls were left holding the bag and I don't know stays it wasn't happy it's not a it wasn't a happy situation so going forth uh this can't happen again uh in the future so >> um I'm sorry what >> I think Jess had mentioned something at the very end >> yeah yeah >> um so again just to just to piggyback off that um what we found out is it only is it only affects certain sports correct >> so football is exempt from this this this structure and this process. Um, boys soccer, girls soccer, field hockey, volleyball. Um, this is something that I I worked with superintendents from our sister schools. Uh, it didn't just affect us. >> It is my understanding that there was only one team in

107the state that was actually allowed to participate in the field hockey tournament. So, by default, they became state champions. Um, I know our athletic director uh went to the MVAA, the Massachusetts Vocational Athletic Directors Association. That organization has um has has put forth a proposal to ensure that this doesn't happen in the future. They they're that organization themselves are going to build some checks and balances into this to make sure that all of their member schools are complying with MIAA's requirements so that we shouldn't find ourselves in this situation again. Yeah. >> Um my understanding is this was also the first year >> that this format changed. >> So what ended up happening was a lot of schools just did what they've always done. >> Um and then they were not notified by MIAA till

108like a few days or a week before the tournament saying, "Hey, guess what? You missed your deadline. Sorry, your kids can't compete." So it was it was a mess. >> That we had the tournament and they really wouldn't care. But now they want to >> they want to control >> because I think the way coach McInness explained we could have played as many as 22 contests and a lot of other schools go wait a minute you're only allowed to play 20. So you play with that number there. So um yeah the football situation if uh if our football team hadn't done this quite as well as they're doing they would have been qualified for the vocational playoffs which is they're going to have this their Super Bowls week after Thanksgiving. I know Whittier is in

109the finals. Um, so those schools could play the first round of playoffs or non-playoffs. And I've noticed all of them were eligible opted out. There's three divisions if you look at the paper, large, medium, and small. So, it's a lot of school. So, they'll crown three football champions on de for vocational on December 3rd or fourth, whatever it is. But our our kids are going on to the to the state championship on December 5th against Fox. >> Yes. >> Whatever the Friday is. >> Yeah. So, that's it. So, thank you Tori for following up on that. >> Um, >> yes, >> it's beyond the specific scope when but when I think when this issue was first identified for inclusion on the agenda, um, I think there's a desire, I'll just speak for myself on this

110one. Um, but maybe other members as well. There's a desire at some point to talk maybe in a calmer time with the athletic director. He's very busy these days. um about our the relationship any school has with the MIAA because there's a common from my vantage point there's a common link between what happened with this these vocational tournaments and an issue we experienced in the spring on behalf of one of our other girls teams um the lacrosse team and we are not unique to this is not unique to Shasheen almost on an annual basis MIAA winds up either in litigation or a major protracted debate with some school because their tendency is to impose the most draconian um policies and punishments. It is so anti- [clears throat] student, anti-progressive discipline, anti um the sensibilities we

111would expect of any of our administrators or teachers in my opinion. And I on one hand we don't that's what any of us can feel our our athletic department has to deal with this institution they have their own perspective but at some point I think it would be worth us discussing that because I think we all of us that were here in the spring remember a student safety issue where [cough and clears throat] this this same entity that was so quick to take a a hammer to a group of schools for communication was not so communicative when >> you and Jessica and others were trying to communicate on behalf of student safety. >> So I think there's there's a time for that. And so, yep, there's some, as Ron indicated, there's clearly was some some

112falling down on on some issues here and in some other schools, but we wouldn't even have been gone there if MIA's philosophical approach was in the 21st century, 22nd century. Anyways, so just sometime that might be worth something if you know we have a an athletic program. It's been very successful. very well thought of. That doesn't matter. And and again, we can all you have to do is be a regular reader of the newspaper and see that MIAA gets caught up with the kinds of things that are quite frankly embarrassment embarrassing to its leaders in my opinion. So anyways, [clears throat] thank you. >> All righty. Anybody else? [snorts] Okay. AI policy. Is that to you to give me? So, we have an AI policy. It is subject to review every year like our admissions

113policy, but as a new policy, we looked at it last month and just looked at it and this month we vote on it. If there had been any concerns about it, they were not spoken to me. I don't know if you guys got any emails with concerns about it. So, I think at this point I will respectfully request a vote to vote in our new AI policy for the rest of the school year. >> Second motion. >> Any discussion? [clears throat] >> Okay. All those in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? >> Okay. I'm not sure what is the executive minutes release. Did we already vote for it? that was voted at the last committee meeting. But if you read the open meeting laws on the next agenda, you have to acknowledge which ones have

114been have been voted for release. >> Right. >> All right. So I'll September 23rd, 2025, August 28th, 2025, April 29th, 2025. March 25th, 2025, February 25th, 2025, January 28, 2025, September 24th, 20024 are the executive session minutes that were released [snorts] at our last meeting. Okay. Future agenda. Oh, >> sorry. I just wanted to excuse myself. >> Oh, all right. I don't want to interrupt. I just want to say good night to everyone. Thank you so much. Thank you. >> Um, we want to invite coach Kville for December. >> You want to do it now or Well, oh, okay. >> Is that a future agenda item? >> Correct. >> Fall sports update. And we >> and I and to uh maybe to address Brian's concerns. >> Just throw that. [clears throat] >> Anything else anybody

115remembers supposed to do? Can we have a discussion about like potentially like coming into the 21st century about like other schools have like an HR director like talk about budgeting about that looking at what other schools do like Minute Man >> the Shoba >> K through 12s and I can tell you at least in Burlington they had a town meeting vote basically different examples but basically you have like a K through 12 school that's reliant but that I forget I haven't read it but they at that point historically relied on the town but they had proposed basically breaking out a separate director to basically it seems like >> those are I I've worked private public other every every place you have 200 employees I think it's like take the stress off you the business office

116I think it's time to bring somebody in not just the director >> but like somebody that's like a sta like has that plus like the staff so I think it's time to I understand it's additional cost I get it and it's I think it's something we need to look at so I would appreciate for I don't know it has to for the next meeting. But it would be good to know like what other schools are doing from like a director level. Um I think that probably like having like not just a director but like having a staff because that's like a lot of stuff to expect people to do like short-term liability, long-term liability, payroll updates, uh FMLA, like all this stuff. Who to reach out to so it doesn't have to go through the

117business office. I mean, there's going to be some involvement from you as superintendent and, you know, from the business office, but I think it's high time we get somebody in here that has that level. And it can't just be somebody that's like, not to diminish the position, but I know in the past there's been like somebody doing HR functions, but somebody that has director level and potentially like support staff. >> You want to go from clerical to executive kind of role. >> Yes. Yeah. >> And if that requires a new administrator position, then something we need to look at and also not just having a director, maybe you start with that and then potentially having like staff to back that up. >> I thought, don't we have wasn't this something? >> We have a human

118resource human resource. >> Again, it's it's more of a clerical role. >> It's a clerical role. Okay. That's like if somebody calls about benefits, Ron, it's not like somebody that can step in and basically if there's FMLA or something brought up, that person could be used as a sounding board or as an intermediary to kind of resolve some of this stuff. >> So, I think I would [snorts] appreciate by the next meeting or in one to put it on above >> like maybe not for December, but maybe we can for January look at what other schools are doing. Maybe expanding out staff is too advanced and maybe look at what other schools are doing from a director position for that. I think that's part of the issues we've run into historically, present company or other

119things. I'm just saying >> it's I think it's time to >> I agree. >> And if it's something that we're going to consider for the next budget, we do need to have that conversation soon. >> Yep. >> Let me see what you can take some of the state money. >> We have a uh we have a short we have a short turnar around till the December meeting, but let me see what I can pull together. >> If it has to January, >> you want to do it in Janu January. >> January. The only the only problem with the January one is that's the end of January and by then we're going to be pretty deep into budget. >> So if this is something that we're the committee's potentially looking at for FY27, I think that

120conversation has to happen. >> Well, I mean I guess it could happen in budget. Maybe it starts in budget from there. >> Okay. >> But if you have to start with like a director, that's like something to look at and then and then look at that. see what kind of information you can get by December and if you know you have to reach out to people and they have to get back to you and if they're you know too busy to talk to you or they say hey look can we have this conversation in January you'll come back to us and say I reached out to you know these five I reached out to five towns and this is the response I got >> yeah it's December 16th >> yeah it's early so >> it's

121early try >> because you're okay because right now we have an person who handles all the paperwork for HR >> doesn't you're looking for someone to be like a director that would a new position to come in and tell us what catch what are we exactly >> home run you got 200 employees >> I understand it's never been done >> if you go out on like somebody that has industry experience that comes in I mean you need that back stop to be able to like litigation all that stuff there's a whole umbrella I think that basically it's high time to come into the 21st century to basically to have that director position and to look at it because I think it's a huge deficiency I mean I might be in the minority here but I

122mean I could if I if I basically at my job and I've worked in a network. I've worked public private companies. You can go online and you can say I can contact p that person for benefits. I can contact that person for FMLA and I think you start at a director level and then but I think it's a big enough thing like we put enough money into like other administrator positions. This is a huge deficiency. I mean I've brought it up multiple times and I think it's I maybe I'm in the minority but I mean maybe I'm pissy tonight. I don't know. I think it's [laughter] I think it's my time to >> Is that unusual? I thought I was on your fan club [laughter] >> for dark. >> You are. >> All right. >>

123But I think I think for a director we look at and then then expand it. >> Let me find out. I mean I know I know has a model similar to that. So that's one that's where I'll start. >> Maybe that's pain. I'm with you. >> But last I'll say it goes beyond just paperwork. Have somebody be involved. There are issues that come up that need to be addressed with respect for sensitivity and [clears throat] >> confidentiality and things that our current organizational chart may not really cover. >> PH world is definitely a niche. >> Yeah, it's a different >> any other thing people can think of. Okay. All right. So we have executive session for the purpose of hearing MGLC 30A section 2183 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation. It's

124what my reading is holding. >> If an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigation position of the public body and the chair so declares in order to provide the committee with an update on the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. >> I'd like to make a motion to pause these actions so we can conduct our own investigation. [snorts] >> I need a second. I I think you >> probably be helpful to hear a little more explanation if >> I I as you know I >> I did email all of you. >> I have a strong opinion about what happened last week. Um Jenna was given notice. >> Business manager was given session. Okay. Do that. Maybe if I may. >> Yeah. go into >> if if you can sort of identify the

125purpose as generically as possible. >> Okay. So, >> but what what you're wanting to to investigate and why we couldn't why both are not doable. >> Okay. So, TMS is the company that we've hired as the consultant. Tony's had them as the interim business manager. >> Actually, the committee hired them. It wasn't Mang. >> Okay. Either way, TM Solutions produced a report. You know, this isn't the forensics that I was hoping for as a school committee member. I know the responsibility or the authority lies with Tony for the hiring and firing, but I he also looked you looked me in the eyes multiple times and you told me Jenna would have an opportunity to come in and discuss this with >> She does, but not that is >> okay. And again, I know I can't

126say that, right? No, no, you can say that, but that is not that does that authority does not lie with the school committee. The school committee does not hire does not hold hearings for employees that have been dismissed. That falls solely with the superintendent's office. There's also mediation. There's also arbitration. There's also an appeal to the commissioner's office. Those rights exist for every single employee. We can't make special rules for certain positions and certain people. That's where you get yourself in trouble. But just to clarify, Tony, the the reform act basically, you say the reform act basically, this is why I struggle with this law because basically 1993 the school committee before that used to be involved in every hiring all personnel, but the the 1993 talking about coming into the 21st century, there's certain

127positions like business managers, certain assistant superintendent, special ed directors that basically, and I'm not going to go through the whole history, but when we did that process, we did it slightly different than what Desi recommends. the superintendent does the review presents it to the committee for approval. we did that whatever we do your own research but [laughter] it was done differently but that's normally the process but that's why I struggle with that law because basically it's either you basically it's either the superintendent is overseeing everything and that's basically the school committee oversees that or but these other positions that basically you're involved with on the way in but on the way out it's a gray area and that's what I struggle with as far as like that's that's the issue >> this TMS thing that

128came out Um, number two, C8 [clears throat] confuses me a little. This is the treasur position. >> Again, that's something that should be discuss and then I don't know, maybe >> you still feel the same way. >> Well, I just I want to for the record say that, you know, I I'd like to p I made a motion. I want to pause these, you know, going into executive session so that, you know, I can get my questions answered and maybe other committee members can and then, you know, you know, I I said conduct our own investigation, but you can call it whatever you want. You know, I that's just how I feel about it. I also feel that you know this report which was shared with us last Monday you know it doesn't I I'm

129I'm really curious about like also like the what do we do to fix this like what's the best practice what you know what we currently do was it just inherited from legacy systems that you know it doesn't necessarily one person coming into that role it's not something that you can fix overnight I'm not arguing the fact about the job performance right now. I just am talking about what he was put in this report and I'm not comfortable, you know, I I just want I want to do more research. So that's why I made the motion. Um, >> I I will second the motion, not necessarily because I support it, >> but because I think it should be decided by us as a group >> and and I also believe that some of the very issues

130you discussed will be part of the discussion of the executive session item. But you made you you know it's a motion. I second it and >> but not not to pile on here, but I will. That's what the discussion was about the internal audit was basically that's what the decision was made. So that's what the expectation when you're talking about timelines. That's why not to point but that's why I was expecting that to be earlier. So that's part of So to her point that was one of the things I've talked to many members that was one of the things that was important and I mean >> I mean I say we we have our attorney here an idea of what she's trying to do. I think I don't I'd like to hear what your thoughts

131are on how >> my only thoughts is the reason I'm here is to discuss pending litigation which has been filed. Uh I don't know about this other document that you're referring to, but it's not part of my discussion. Uh my discussion relates to uh litigation that is pending against the district. >> Uh and uh that's why the matter is on the agenda. It's not whatever else you do doesn't falter the fact that there is litigation against the district. Uh that needs to be discussed. >> And and I I'm going to open a can of worms here. And how correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the committee is outside of its scope of authority to launch its own investigation and do something parallel to that. That lies under under statute, under law, under school

132district policy, under an employment agreement. That lies with my office. Is that correct? >> Well, I I don't even know what the investigation will [laughter] be, so I I really can't comment on it. So, I'm here to discuss the litigation that's pending and my recommendation is that we go into executive session to discuss that litigation. >> Sarah, did you want to say something? >> No, no. I I I agree that it sits with you >> when you read the law. >> All right. All those in favor of this motion. >> Oh, I [laughter] sorry. Sorry. Me. All those opposed >> so it is 81 and one >> abs >> I think I just heard three >> wouldn't it be 72 >> yeah that's what I said Can you can you take it again because it's

133it's not clear of the vote. >> All right. All those in favor >> postponing postponing the executive >> session. All right. >> All those opposed. All those abstaining. [snorts] >> 177. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Okay. >> Okay. All right. Now we have to vote. Oh, can I get a motion? >> Motion we enter executive session for the purpose as described. >> Okay. >> Miss Huby. >> Yes. >> Attorney Oddonnell. >> Yes. >> Miss Gillis. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hutchkins. >> Mr. Fusco. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fiori. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dora. >> Yes. >> Mr. Moffet. >> Yes, >> Miss Lawson. >> I say no. What do I do? >> You can say no. [laughter] >> The chip votes. I It's 91. We're in executive session as of 8:44 and we will be coming out.

134I'm sorry. We'll be coming back out to a journ. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Sorry, >> Charlie. What day we doing? Audit committee. >> We So he's away and I'm away with it, right? >> So we have to look up and decide on a new date. >> Let's Let's You got to adjurnn first. >> A motion to adjurnn. >> I make a motion to adjurnn. >> Oh. Oh. Is that on? Are we on? >> Mr. Gallry. Are we good? >> All right. Motion motion to adjurnn. >> I'll second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Unanimously done. >> Happy Thanksgiving, everybody. >> No, no. I was just like I'm like, what am I? >> I put it on this. >> It's no problem. I just want to make sure I didn't squirt

135something all over you. What >> the committee that was on the picture whatever day >> it was it was on for the night originally. >> You tell me what's good for you guys and I'll be there because he's going to be away. But uh >> [laughter] >> Just come read a