001Heat. Heat. Good evening. I'd like to call the meeting this evening for the Athl Royston Regional School Committee to order. Uh, Wednesday, January 26th. First line of business, Emily White. Would you uh lead us in the 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, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, next up, the approval of minutes from November 19th. Is there a motion? >> You can second. Yeah. Yeah. Pick one. Any uh corrections, deletions, etc. >> Seeing none, all those in favor? Okay. Under public input, I do have uh Sarah and Erica, you want to come up and just a a general statement so that everybody is on the same playing field. Whatever you're going to discuss
002has to be on the agenda this evening. Okay. And you you are usually limited to three minutes. >> Yeah. >> So, we want to um discuss the transportation request that's on the uh agenda for the village school. >> Okay. >> And what's related to that? Uh when we heard that the school committee would be discussing transportation requests for the new program in the district, we immediately felt it was important to make you aware of what we have been experiencing here at Arms the past few months in regards to our attempts to secure transportation for students signed up for the Best Buddies Club. On October 15th, you have approved an MOA for the Best Buddies. We began recruiting and struggled to recruit members at first. We received reports from teachers that when they shared information on
003Best Buddies with their classes, some responded to making fun of students they saw um because of their disabilities. This is exactly why we wanted to start the club in the first place. We know that this school is filled with kind-hearted, empathetic students who want to be part of changing the culture around disabilities here at ARMS. After the initial response to the club, we thought it would be a good idea to have a regional program representative come in and have a assembly to explain what Best Buddies is and its mission to our students. After the assembly, we had a huge surge in interest and saw 40 members sign up and commit to the club. While we were extremely excited by and moved by the enthusiasm towards the club and its mission following the assembly, um it
004did require additional planning to accommodate its size. Knowing that we would need to make arrangements to support the size and complex needs of the club, we collaborated with as many parents as possible to arrange for pickups so that we could minimize the need for specialized transportation. And we were able to narrow it down to only stu two students who would require that transportation. When we informed our administration several weeks ago about how many students would need transportation and how many students would need Paris support, um despite having received information on these needs, the school has not yet taken any action to get these services set up for students in anticipation of our January meeting, it left us no choice but to postpone. This is the second time we've had to cancel our first meeting due
005to lack of access to resources or addition or assistance from our building principal and director of people services. The state students who need Paris support and specialized transportation to access this club have been granted this service with no questions asked within 24 hours of our request when they attend other clubs here in the school. We do not understand why their needs would be different or why the school would be less willing to provide transportation for this club than others. In a recent email, it was expressed that we needed to meet in person before these supports could be set up so that they could discuss and verify the student support needs. Given that these support plans are determined by IEP terms and not our and not our administration, I am not really what needed verifying. We
006have tried to meet with them in person multiple times giving that they are not willing to share their specific questions or concerns via email and they have canceled these meetings on us both times. with the most me recent meeting that was scheduled was canceled. We asked to go over whatever details they needed. We asked to reschedule and we have not received a response with that to that request. Since we're not able to get many answers directly from admin about the delays and problems with getting this club started, we reached out to Matt who were grateful had promised to ensure that our resources would be provided for our next meeting. While we do appreciate that promise and support given the fact that we're once again discussing a request to fund transportation at this school committee meeting,
007we felt it was important that we make the school committee aware of how that request has progressed here at ARMS after it was approved. We are here because we think this club is an important and valuable asset to our school and community. Students with the highest needs are often the first to get ignored. Part of the mission of this club is is to change that. But rather than supporting this mission, the school is reinforcing the norm and has been using this necessity for support as an excuse to neglect the responsibilities to our students. >> We're wondering why our school program is not a budget priority. Why? Nor meeting the needs of our most vulnerable students. >> You are approaching. >> Okay. Thank you. >> One more sentence. >> Yep. Why is there plenty of money
008for outside resources for general education students to be transferred to another school yet internally we're not able to take care of our own >> thank you looks like Bridget no sorry that was budget uh Sean the blank and Lindsay Frwsworth Great. Uh good evening everyone. Uh my name is Sean. Uh my son, he goes to Royalston Community. Um on the agenda, I'm talking about uh transportation uh for an afterchool program for Royalston Community. Um, as parent guardians of a student attending Royalston Community Elementary School, we have observed that there is zero, there's no available resources, not one to the students of RCS and and the families. Um, regarding afterchool care, uh, this lack of access to resources poses challenges for students and their families in finding reasonable, reliable, and appropriate after school child care and
009can pose a severe limitation on finding and maintaining employment where work uh work schedules align with school dismissals or bus drop off times. Um, so it's been uh very very difficult uh this year. Um when I have my son for the week I have him when he goes to school um trying for the transportation for after school um because of work. Um we looked in the local community um one we tried to find like resources on our own that will not benefit just my son but any student at RCS um that the student and the family may need an afterchool program. Um and one of the couple ideas is the village school also in Royalston um provides an afterchool program to everyone in the community. Um as far as like risk, we kind of we
010took that into consideration and everything we could um that would be considered in that decision and we felt there's like little to no risk or no additional risk to what there is now. Um all the buses at Royal at RCS already go by the village school. Um the village school would already um have a a guardian there to get students off the bus just like as if it was any other guardian for students getting off the bus. Um let's see. Um we also just feel um you know we we were told um during a meeting that you know if this is made if we try to accommodate this for one student then we have to do it for all. But we strongly feel as long as it's a reasonable accommodation, that's how it should be
011looked at, whether it's for one student or for all. And in this case, it's for both. It's for my son and for every student at RCS to have access to an after school program because there's there's not one single um service uh offered at the moment. Um believe that's the key points. Um um the last thing I can add is the village school is already um very willing and wants to work with RCS and the Athal Royal School District to try to have this service available. Um but for me as a parent of the student at RCS, RCS has been great. um my kid uh my son quick background he he does have autism and when he started his first year there he was on an ICB and that school RCS has been so great
012with him he's actually graduated from um that level of special needs care and now is on a 504 and that I I just can't say so many enough good things about that school and the care he's done and um I you know the options you know time's running out and the options are very limited and I want to be able to um still have my son be able to attend RCS. Um but this this is a critical point for me and any other parent guardian to have this service. Um, but even if it's I I'm encouraging or asking if you know the ultimate goal is an afterchool program to have access to at least one whether it be the village school which I think is the easiest and most doable but I know um Athl
013um has after school programs um if there's a way Royal can get access to that after school on bus transportation um the ultimate goal being an afterchool program. Um thank you for letting me speak tonight. Okay. Um, why don't we go to the student representative report? Casey Paragus. >> Hi, my name is Casey. I'm a sophomore in high school and I'm the vice president of student council. Student council has doubled in size this year. We have been working hard on developing community building activities within our school like unity day, spirit week, and we'll be running a no one eats alone campaign in February. It's a rebuilding year for academic decathlon with only two students returning from last year. We completed at nipmuck in November and we are invited to a virtual scrimmage in January to
014prepare prepare for regionals. The students have shown improvement in each competition and we have consistent participation at our weekly team meetings. The academic team could also use two more adult volunteers to be judges for the regional meet scheduled for Saturday, February 7th at North Reading High School. Mocktrail club is going well. They are in their second year competing. Our students are fully invested and are much improved from last year. Our case this year involves first-degree murder. We have been the prosecution and trials against Fitchburg and Lunenburgg. And we are competing as the defense next week against Francis W. Parker Charter. Sophomores in AP Seminar are wrapping up their 1200word individual research reports. Next week they will begin the process of synthesizing their work into team multimedia presentations. On February 11th, starting at 4 pm in
015the AHS auditorium, students will be delivering 8 to 10 minute presentations on their chosen topic, as well as responding to oral defense questions. This year's topics are quite varied, spanning from obesity to environmental pollution to overconumption culture. Members of our school committee are encouraged to attend and cheer them on. >> That's everything. >> Thank you. And I'm gonna try to be there too if any of the school comm school committee members are looking for additional reasons. You could see me there also. >> You don't have to feel obligated to stay either because we Yeah. I was gonna say she might be the first student to >> I'm not >> have a wonderful evening. Thank you guys. >> Okay. Um just updating the rest of the committee earlier we had uh the recognitions of students for
016December and January. Uh RCS was Isaac Body, Abigail Blake, Gavin Strereer, and Cara Shacket. Aces was Leila Bushy, Cecilia Thompson, Julian Solar, and Emilyn Dere. Arms was Nina Hamilton, Nolan Williams, Olivia Bishop, and Lincoln Taylor. The high school was Adam Rodriguez, Abigail Strunk, Leanne Cologne, and Silus Sha. And the topsy scholar athletes were Aubrey Chason and Adam Rodriguez. Okay. Under unfinished business, uh it's the second reading of the uh we had the first reading on November 19th. This is the second reading for the middle school pathway exploration policy. Bobby We have a bit of a problem here. We need seven affirmative votes on policy. We don't have that right now, unfortunately. We have only six members here and we can't do anything with the budget because we don't have some affirmative votes. >> Okay. I
017mean, if we're voting on it, that's what I'm just bringing it up. >> You're ahead of yourself. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, we'll have to table this for this evening or >> Okay. If that is the case, um just to be clear, we will end up having a second reading in February, but we will have to wave the third reading. Y >> um because we have an extension for the policy due date and we have until March to get it in. But I don't think we could wait for me. >> Okay, perfect. >> Y there is a typo I guess for residents of Ashraham like to spread our powers. >> Okay. Yeah, let's we can clean that up and look at that. review it >> when you >> so Bobby what was the concern with
018the policy though that >> you need seven affirmative votes on policy we've always had that unless it changed >> and I don't know yeah we've always had to have seven affirmative votes on policy sub on the policies >> to pass What's up? >> It's true. We only vote We only vote on the third. Yeah. Why didn't I even >> and take questions voted on the first or second? >> We Yeah, we don't vote on the second. >> Yeah, it's here for a second reading and we should be voting on the third reading. That's correct. We don't have to vote this evening for that. We just It's here. It's at the table, but obviously you found some issues with it. Needs to go back uh because we don't, you know, obviously Asherham and Fitsburg needs So,
019and then when it comes back in February, it can be the third reading. >> Yeah. Yes, that's I mean it could have changed. I haven't been on the policy. I don't have the >> access to the Could it have changed or anything? I don't know as amended. We'll bring it back as a third read as amended from the next session. >> Perfect. >> Works for me. >> Okay. Uh under new business, we are we will not have the teaching and learning update this evening. Um, ATHL high school competency determination requirements amended. Uh, so again, this is in your package. There's a competency determination policy that um since they since the state changed the regulations of requiring MCCAST for graduation requirement, the districts have been charged with defining their own graduation requirements and putting together those
020policies. And um I believe this policy was introduced at the at a previous meeting. There were just a couple of amendments made. The only amendment was, and Dave might be able to speak to it a little better, there were a couple of, I believe, was it fizzed credit courses? >> That's the program of studies one. Okay. Yeah, you can. >> Yeah. Karen did a full review of the new law, the new requirements as they have come forward and uh we've added pieces there that fully comply with what the state mandate is asking us to do. Okay. Yeah. So, I did know I didn't know if there was anything else. There were like two courses added that were credit based courses that we needed to have in the mix for the requirements that we added to
021the to the policy. But otherwise, it is the same as when we had the first read >> that should now comply with the state state mandate. I guess do we have to vote on those uh this evening or >> Yeah, because each each school district does something different. So I think we should >> Is there a motion? Is there a second? Okay. Discussion seeing none. All those in favor? >> Okay. Thank you. >> Is this I'm not trying to cause any issues. I just need to know is is this all right to vote for? We have our attorney attorney here. >> Yes, >> it's okay. >> That's actually what my my apprehension was when I was asking Dave about the vote. Um I wasn't sure if this would be considered policy or not. And um
022Russ has just confirmed he doesn't believe so. >> I would say the committee would be voting on it because it's something that would be in the handbook. It's not a policy. >> It would be in the student handbook. >> It be in the student handbook. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Then I will support that. >> Studies 26 27. >> We just submit our program of studies every year. We updated the program of studies very little this year. >> We as part of our tiered focus monitoring review. We did need to make an update to our fizzed requirements. Um, in previous additions of that, it did not require an a student to take fizzed for all four years. The law does require that. So, that is reflected in the new program of studies. There's very few uh
023changes beyond that. Our plan, just so you know, our plan uh requires us to offer fizzed to to every student. And for some of our students that might be doing early college classes or things like that where they're not on campus, they still have to have access to it. So we will be allowing different meth mechanisms to uh certify their involvement in fizzed, whether that's uh going to the YMCA and doing fitness programs there, doing fitness programs at Mount Wusa Community College. Being a student athlete also qualifies them for that fizzed requirement during their senior year. Is there a motion >> for the high school >> program of studies second? Okay. Discussion. >> Go ahead. >> I want to Where did he go? Oh, there he is. I want to thank you. You did a
024fantastic job on that. Fantastic job. Thank you very much. Um, >> all those in favor opposed. >> Okay. >> Uh >> yes. >> I would like to ask a question to the attorney if you don't mind. If you I would appre appreciate if you would let us know when we can vote for things on this here because I don't want to have anything come back at us that we did something wrong. >> Okay. >> Number. >> Right. Exactly. Because the number of members that we >> Yeah. It's usually just when you approve the budget, you need twothirds of the full committee. >> Other than that, every everything else on this list should be fine. >> Okay. Thank you. >> No problem. >> Saturday classes arms. >> Yes. Uh I'd like to ask Mr. Webster to
025come up to speak about that a bit. Saturday classes at arms. Good evening. Uh so we at the middle school have been talking both our u administrative team has been meeting with uh the principal uh excuse me principal king's administrative team at the high school uh to talk about alternatives to offer our students for education. Um and one thing that we've seen that has been effective uh in a number of ways at the high school level has been Saturday school. Uh so we have been discussing whether or not it would be a fit for us. Um after talking with um teachers at team time and also our administrative team we would like to proceed with um you know proposing that we have Saturday school at the middle school level. Uh it's a way that we
026can offer an alternative to you know things like getting kids caught up when there's time on learning that has been lost. Also uh we've been working very hard with our approach to chronic absenteeism. uh this is a way that we might be able to uh give students an opportunity to earn back uh some of that time. Um so it's a way to be proactive. We've seen that it's been uh successful at the high school level and that's why we're looking to propose that at the middle school level. >> Uh correct me if I'm wrong. I do also I don't want to try to act as if it wouldn't be. I believe it might also be used as part of our behavioral program where students might in lie of suspension. We may have students attend Saturday
027school as a consequence to reflect on their behaviors and actions and then take whatever next steps are appropriate. I just want to be sure the committee is clear on that. It is also a consequence for uh their behavioral plans. question >> is transportation because that is part of some of the other discussions tonight is that factored into this as well of how transportation will be arranged for that? >> So we have discussed that and that can be a challenge. We know at this point uh families would be uh called upon to help with transporting that student um to school. Uh we're open to ideas and opportunities uh because that is that can be a hangup for some as far as getting them to school. Yes. And what kind of resources do you need or like
028what's your plan for executing the Saturday school program? >> Thank you. Uh so we would uh look to do it in a similar way as the high school. We would uh offer stipened uh opportunities for two teachers uh that would be able to supervise uh the classroom setting. Uh Principal King has offered up uh classroom at the high school so we can kind of do it all in one uh area which would be helpful uh from an organizational standpoint. Um and so those are the initial needs that we see. Um it would be facilitating approximately the same time frame. I think it's 8 to 11 uh on a Saturday a couple times a month. We would find out ahead of time uh to plan and communicate with the families involved. Uh so we give them
029the best opportunity to be able to follow through on that. Um and so right now those are the two pretty much primary things that we would need uh going forward. >> So discussion. >> What is the statement look like? >> I believe it's hourly based on the contractual rate. I believe u Mr. King has been running the program already. So it's it's part of more discussion is do we have a target number of how many students would be impacted by this need? >> I don't have a specific number for you. However, I can tell you uh between the uh attendance concern as well as behavioral I can tell you that immediately uh there is a significant number of students that would benefit from this. >> Yeah. Anything? >> All those in favor? >> Thank you,
030Mr. Webster. >> Okay. Next, uh, December school committee meeting. That was a request from committee member Newman to have placed on the agenda. >> Go ahead. >> I'd like to I'd like to make a motion on this. that it's a very busy month in December and people are very busy with Christmas and everything and getting ready for Christmas and we're hustling and bustling. So, I'd like to make the motion that we do not have a meeting for December for school committee. >> Is there a second for discussion? Okay. Discussion. >> Is there any implications not to have a meeting if we weren't to have a meeting? Because I know sometimes in the summer we don't. So that would be a couple >> um there's no there's no legal requirement to have a meeting in December.
031No. And I don't believe from a financial perspective uh we changed the way that we sign the warrants and execute them in the district. So the meetings are not even necessary for payment of payroll or bills. >> Um my my concern would be that you know some need some need comes up where a December meeting would be beneficial and we have already penciled it out. Um, yes, it is convenient uh for everybody to not have that commitment on the calendar, but I think that handling it on a more ad hoc basis yeartoyear is more practical than saying as a rule there's no meeting. I think that, you know, on a year-to-year basis, we can evaluate the needs of the district at the time and make a decision similarly to how we did this year to
032postpone or cancel the meeting. >> I want to emphasize what you're saying there. One thing we don't always take into consideration are emergency events, COVID being a prime example and um communities had to and districts had to ramp up their plan of action and we don't know what months those may happen in the future. So I think um you know keeping it open but ad hoc makes sense. >> Anything further? >> Okay. Um, all in favor of the motion opposed. Okay. So, we'll just keep it the way it is and we can always gauge, you know, obviously if we can, you know, if we get input from committee, there's not going to be five people, then obviously we know that, you know. >> Okay. Thank you, Bobby. >> Okay. Uh up next, um this kind
033of was another uh committee request sort of kind of Emily called me uh emailed me rather uh and asked some questions. So, and then I talked to Matt and just felt that we should uh put it on this table for discussion regarding uh the village school program uh and the transportation uh etc. My understanding is the village school program flyer itself got distributed >> yes >> to our schools. >> Um so this question is um sort of like the the speakers brought up under public input. Um is there a is there a natural way that is already existing or is this additional cost? >> Yeah. So I can speak to that. the two concerns that that well I can say that might arise from making a change like this. The village school is a private
034organization and um we don't have any other agreements with any other private organizations who run child care or afterchool programs throughout the district. Um, I I did meet with the one of the parents of the child and I I do understand their concern and I regretfully couldn't give them a a solid answer. Um, I did speak to Kathy Burnham who oversees Maryfield. It would be $65 a day to have our bus stop at the village school. But in conversation with her, she also said she would be willing to build the village school directly. So that is a conversation that we could continue to have with the village school and the bus company. That being said, she expressed the same concern that I expressed to the parents in the meeting. The the program that we have
035that runs at ACES is the Y ACES Y arms program which is a joint program with the Y and we don't provide transportation after it. That program is entirely parent pickup parent drop off. If we start offering transportation to private programs where we don't even have a partnership with the organization, the concern is just that it's not equitable to any of the other private child care or facilities that are running after school opportunities in either of the towns. And that was from my conversation with Kathy Burnham just this afternoon. So that's the information I have. Um, I believe at one point RCS did have ACES as a stop in the afternoon to allow RCS students to utilize the aftercare program uh that the district in partnership with the YMCA did provide, but that stopped a
036couple of years ago. And there were also stops along the way to, you know, home daycare providers that they they used to exist precoid before and after school care programs. Um, were those were pickup and drop offs along school routes already? Um, so I'm just wondering has that changed? Has that policy changed of if it's part of the pickup or drop off and my own children included of >> Yeah. private the bus company has typically made arrangements. It's on a as needed basis and it's individualized but if there are children that are at private daycare like residential daycarees where their grandmother is watching them or a neighbor is watching them and admittedly I'm not trying to pretend like there aren't some privatelyowned daycarees that are residential. Um but those have all been done individually and
037worked out with the bus company. uh she seemed worried about an organization that has you know there the village school is a private organization and they have a lot of students and not a significant amount but enough and the concern was just the equity for other organizations in the area >> but wouldn't equity include not allow not having a program available to our students in Royalston who are impacted it's I mean it's it's great that the RCS or I'm sorry the ACS students they can just go from the classroom right into the program because it's in their school. But our RCS students don't have that availability. And so there used to be the bus drop off after school for those RCS students to be able to participate in this program that the district. >> I
038think it was canceled for lack of participation that that wasn't cancelled by the district for funding of any sort. >> Students that ended up utilizing it, which is still a need. So it's important. I can certainly look into whether or not we can run a bus from RCS to AS to the ASUS program. And again, um it's not this is the decision to make is the committees. I'm simply sharing the information and what the conversation was. Um if the committee wants the bus to stop there, >> it can. Um I want to be clear about that. And Miss Burnham did say we can charge village school directly. If the committee would like me to look into that and discuss with the village school whether or not they'd be willing to pay directly, I will. Um
039but again, that's a decision of the that's a decision of the committee. >> Yeah. Um I just want to echo some of the things that said that um I hear the the risks associated with working private programs such as the one offered by the village school. But if we're aimed at giving equity to the students that exist in this district, there needs to be an offering similar to what is provided by ACES for with the YMCA. So I think to Emily's point that there was transportation provided from RCS to ACES, if there are kids interested in that, it's something to consider. I I want to be clear when I mentioned equitable I meant across the community businesses. >> I understand I am full proponent I'm a full proponent for equity for the students. Again this
040is not an administrative decision. It's a it's a bigger picture. So it is a it's a discussion of the committee. >> Bobby, I have a little bit of question here. What if we don't have school and they do and vice versa and meanwhile there the student is being dropped off and there's no school there. >> No school there would be no busing. >> But the thing is you don't well it's a private school. They might have school the day that we don't we don't know vice versa. So I'd be a little concerned about that. To your point, Bobby, I will say the other concern that Kathy did express was the schools don't run on the same schedules, even time-wise, >> right? >> So, I I can't speak to the specifics because I I haven't dug
041into the specifics or asked the village school if they'd be willing to pay directly because I'm not about to do that unless authorized by this by the committee to even look in that direction. I just don't want to overstep I feel like >> personally I think that the most realistic way for the district to make a stab at meeting this need, it's more realistic for our setup to accommodate a drop off at the ASUS program that's already established. Then we don't have to deal with all those community hurdles that you've outlined. Um, so >> I would like to see what that looks like. rerouting for some sort of drop off to pick the kids up at RCS, drop them off at ACES, and then then parents can work out pickup from AC's location versus a
042program that's at RCS. >> Absolutely. I can absolutely bring that information to to the committee for the next meeting and as soon as Nancy and I get it, I might even just email it out to you guys so that you can you can start the process. >> Okay. So, we will uh so what I'm hearing is we won't be we won't take action this evening, but at the next meeting when he returns with additional information is when we'll put it back on the agenda. Okay. >> Okay. Uh up next, memorandum of agreement for FY226 unified track uh and coach position. So, there should be an MOA in your package. Um, to be clear, the unified athletics programs are similar to a Best Buddies program. They're both students with disabilities or specific needs and their um
043their peers. So, this is another program that we're looking to put into place to make sure that we can try to bring all of our kids together and have everyone get opportunity to participate in sports together. >> Is Dan still here? Did you have anything to add? >> I think just for the committee to know, we added unified basketball two seasons ago that played in the fall. Uh we started off with six or seven kids last year. Um we were at 14 or 15 this year. Um and the feedback that we get from staff, administration, anybody that comes to the games is is absolutely positive and um even the kids are well vested in it. We have about six or seven that are interested in unified track um in the spring. >> Thank you. Was
044there a motion? Is there a second? Okay. Motion made and seconded. Any discussion? >> Is there transportation like is that needed in this? >> So based on the based on the projected numbers, we have access to um a 14 passenger van high school that we would utilize to transport to and from track youth. And to be clear, at after school athletic programs and to and from school directly, they're very different transportation situations. There's like very specific laws that outline the different parts. So, we can't take the kids to and from school in a 14 passenger van. I that's why I wanted to be clear about that. Okay. Uh any other disc any discussion at all? Seeing none, all those in favor? Opposed? None. Okay. Thank you. All right. Uh you had in your packet for
045this month the uh overall c the quarterly update for CAPS collaborative and uh I'm not sure if we need to sit and read it all this evening and discuss it, but I mean it's extensive and they're required to do it. So, I mean, this is no different than, you know, other votes we've taken in the past to approve their uh, you know, just to vote on their quarterly update. >> I can speak to it a bit. Um, at our last director's meeting, it was brought to our attention through the audit process that CAPS is going through. We're supposed to be voting on the their quarterly reports. Each district that's a member of CAPS votes on their quarterly reports and typically their end of the year financial audit also. Um so this is one of their
046quarterly reports. I can say that things are going splendidly with CAPS. There's no issues. We reviewed the finances and things are running smoothly. Um and they are solidly in the black. So they're running their programs. They're giving benefits and discounts to the partner districts and they're up and running and there shouldn't be any issues in the near future. Is there a motion? >> Okay. And Christie second it. >> Okay. Discussion. Seeing none. All those in favor? Okay. Thank you. Um under communications you do have district enrollments for uh the months of December and January and uh MSBA update. >> We are sitting and waiting. We recently got our enrollment projections back. We did have an enrollment projection meeting with uh the MSBA about a month ago and we had a little give and take on
047where our numbers were and I'm very happy to say that they resubmitted our enrollment package for us and they made some significant increases to the number of students that they see the building needing to accommodate. So, that's helpful for us with respect to the square footage that MSBA will allow us to be building at. Um, other than that, we're just waiting for uh January 26th. I have to just execute a contract and get it to them and we should be in entering into their feasibility process then and they'll inform us of next steps and I will Lee and I both will keep the committee informed and there may be additional trainings as well. each step of the process. They typically have a few webinars for training on how to go through the process. If any
048of those are made available publicly, too, I can I can potentially share those also. >> Okay. Uh Nancy, you're up. Financial statements and approval of accounts. >> So, >> and don't forget to remind me about what you said about the grants. >> Yes. So, I'll start with the year-to-ate budget. So, in your packet, you'll find the recent um expenditure report from our financial software for the year-to- date budget. So, we're midway through fiscal year 26. We we're standing in a strong position. Sta savings from unfilled personnel positions are currently offsetting overages in other areas. Some of these savings will be reallocated to long-term substitute lines to address increased substitute needs. Daily substitute usage is higher than typical and will and I'll continue to closely monitor that. The athletics budget is showing a savings due to
049a surplus carried forward in the revolving account. The speech and language accounts are currently under spent. However, due to a recent staff departure, the services are now being provided through contracted providers and these savings will shift accordingly. We recently added a one-toone pair of professional for out of district placement and overall at this time we have approximately 4.86% of the total budget unencumbered which is a good position to be in at this time of year and then I'm going to move on. So we are requesting from the committee a vote um of acceptance for some private grants that we received. We've received four three private grants. We're excited about four, sorry. The first one is the Kindle grant for $10,000. The Kindle grant was approved to support the district food pantry and community center. It
050helped with funding holiday assistance, winter clothing, hygiene supplies, workshops, transportation, and district-wide events. It'll be continued to be used throughout the rest of this year. Then we received $5,000 for the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts. It was awarded in recognition of the significant impact of the district's food pantry. We received $54,800 um for the public schools district opioid opioid recovery trust grant. It's a three-year grant. For this year, we're going to receive $54,800. It will be a three-year initiative addressing the opioid crisis. This year's funding supports a portion of the middle school guidance counselor position and the district-wide restorative practice planning committee in professional development. And lastly, we just received the Massachusetts Broadband Institute. The district received 500 Dell Chromebooks. These are replacing older equipment for approximately one-third of our students, prioritizing lowincome households.
051These devices support equitable access to education resources, and the students will be able to take them home nightly so they can benefit families with need. They'll help with stuff like job searching, resume searching, tax filing, healthcare needs. Anything they need it for, they'll be able to use them for also. So, >> is there a motion to accept those grants? >> So, move. >> Is there a second, Emily? Discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor? >> Thank you. >> Then I have a request for two budget reclassifications. The first is for $12,21566 to be reallocated from the special education Medicaid secretary account line to staff appreciation materials to offset expenses. And the second one is for 27,100 to be reallocated from the special education middle school collaborative account to the special education contracted medical therapy
052to offset costs associated with BCBA consulting. Second. Okay. >> Discussion. >> Seeing none, all those in favor. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> The next is a request to increase day-to-day substitute teacher rates. So, the district is requesting school committee approval for a mid-year increase to day-to-day substitute pay rates effective February 1st, 2026. Currently, substitutes work between 6.25 hours and 6.35 hours per day depending on the building that they go to. The proposed change standardizes substitute coverage to a full 7-hour workday across all schools. So this is an addition of 40 to 45 minutes per day which allows su students to substitutes to supervise students during arrival and dismissal improving coverage because substitutes will be working additional hours. We are proposing corresponding rate increases. So we have three categories for substitutes. The the one the first
053category is if they have a high school diploma. They're currently being paid $115 a day. and this would move to 108 $28 a day. The second one is for two things. It's if they have a bachelor's degree and if they're a long-term substitute and they are not licensed. So that would go from $135 a day to $150 per day. And the last one is if they have a Massachusetts teaching license, which is currently $200 a day, and it would go to $222 a day. So year to date, the district, to give you an idea, has spent approximately $111,000 on substitute coverage. 501 are teacher substitutes assignments. 313 are pair of professional substitutes assignments. If the substitute needs remain consistent for the remainder of the year, the estimated additional cost is approximately 17,000. Currently, we can
054absorb this within the current budget. So all schools will move to a consistent seven-hour substitute day and aligning aligning the same needs for the substitutes throughout the district. >> I have a question. >> Um is is the current substitute um need consistent with year-over-year? Are we seeing an increase? Is there any concern that this cost could balloon next year or the year after where we wouldn't be able to accommodate it in the standard budget? >> There's definitely an increase this year. It's it's I mean this is my second year. It's higher than last year. Um >> our sub I don't I couldn't say that our substitute user. We've been relatively on par for the last couple years. It is has increased a bit, but >> I think the thing that makes it look like it's
055a lot more than it is is that we have unfilled positions. So, we have a lot of substitutes in those positions filling them. So, it's kind of deceiving when you look at the figures. >> But you don't see any concern going forward at this rate year-over-year with a standard budget? I honest I don't I think I think it's competitive to other districts. I I personally I I don't I don't think it would be. >> Um it's mentioned in the update that the day-to-day substitute usage is higher than usual >> versus the long-term substitute um that we also have. Yeah. >> And so that's where I was wondering is there a trend or reason behind that? Is it because is that more focused on like end of year December, January where the bugs and everybody's getting
056sick and there's more of a need or is this reflective across the entire um school calendar? >> So, there are a couple reasons for it. To your point, right about now, yes, we've had a tremendous hit with illness and flu and things running through the schools. Actually, it's slowed down now. It was pretty much right before the break and and up to now it was pretty bad. Um, that being said, as Nancy mentioned, also the day-to-day subs, um, even though we've had vacancies, a lot of the vacancies, we still haven't found licensed teachers to fill them. So, we have day, it's that dayto-day subline that you see going up that they're also filling in for teachers that are just not not there for the the current time. >> Even though they're I say the dayto-day
057subs are increasing, >> yeah, >> they're still covering unfilled positions because they're not long-term >> subs. Just it's a different >> Yeah, >> it has they can't be long-term subs uh if they're they can't remain long-term subs if they're not licensed. So, we have to change how they're coded. >> Anything else? >> If not, all those in favored. Okay. >> Okay. Yeah. Yep. Okay. >> Okay. And last is an preliminary overview of of our fiscal year 27 budget. So I did a slideshow. Let's see if I can I can Matt. Would you be able to hit that? Thank you. >> Okay, so this presentation provides an early overview of where we stand with our preliminary budget and highlights all the requests from our key stakeholders. It reviews the timeline and the budget challenges that the
058district is facing. So to date, the district leaders have reviewed the needs across staffing, programs, facilities, operations, and technology. Matt and I as the superintendent and business manager have met individually with each school leader and we developed the initial fiscal year 27 budget. We're continuing to review the expenses and the funds from other sources to help offset the budget. So the current projected fiscal year 27 budget totals 42.1 million. It's an increase of 4.03 million or 10.6% 6% over the fiscal year 26 budget. This growth is driven primarily by staffing needs, health insurance, special education costs, deferred facilities and infrastructure costs. Recently this the this week the state joins ways and means committee with the governor issued a projected revenue of increase of 2.9% in funding. So as you can see 2.9% versus our 10.6%
0596% increase creates a significant budget gaps gap. So we're faced with with a challenges and lots of decisions ahead of us to make. So for the budget timeline, so the governor's f preliminary budget is expected to be released in late January. After it's released, Matt and I will review the revenue versus the expenses and we'll have meetings with the finance committees at each town. the we'll come back to you in February and give you a better update with hopefully a tighter budget as to where we stand. The public hearing for the school committee is on March 18th and the town meetings for Athl the town meeting for Athal is on June 8th and the town meeting for Royalston is on June 6th. So the fiscal year 277 requests fall into six categories that we received.
060These are the new requests. Personnel, student services, special education, professional development, facilities and safety, athletics and operations. All requests are focused on student safety mandated services, staffing needs, and preventing more costly facility repairs in the future. First, I'll go over the personnel requests. So, the personnel requests we received total approximately 87,000. They focus heavily on special education, student support, health services, and enrollment driven classroom needs. So for districtwide, a special education record coordinator is requested, a 050 BCBA, a EL teacher, and a floater nurse. For ARMS, an additional nurse that coincides with the floater nurse. So we would have an additional nurse at ARMS. And then if we have another nurse from one of the other schools who calls out, the floater nurse would would go cover. and then an an additional fifth grade and
061sixth grade teacher at ACES. An additional pair of professional for the new ASD program, a new teacher for the ASD program, an additional speech and language teachers split between ASUS and RCS professional development and athletics. So, professional development requests total 132,500 and includes district-wide instructional coaching required training for the new ACES ASD program. Athletic athletics and operation requests total 20,000. A high portion of that is the high jump mat replacement and as you guys just approved with the MOA is the expansion of the United Sports Program for basketball and track. The next slide is facilities safety and infrastructure. This is a request um totaling $632,225. It addresses deferred maintenance, aging systems, and safety concerns. So for the districtwide parking lot repairs, roof inspections, vehicle replacements, we put in there a new activity bus. The new
062activity bus could be used for clubs and sports and put and this could actually help lower transportation costs if we use it properly for arms access control for exterior doors. Elevator replacement aces. The principal requested an additional intercom in the main office to make it more convenient for the um admin assistants there. AH for the high school a broken conduit outside for RCS HVAC controls and building maintenance systems that's heating the heating controls are failing at ACES and the A8 in high school full diagnosis of the building maintenance system with service RCS as in the high school exterior and interior door inspection and repairs RCS as arms windows shades ES which is in the district-wide safety plan. Many of these items were deferred in prior years and now present a higher risk and a higher
063cost if they continue to be delayed. What can we do now? Because we know we have a huge budget deficit. Matt and I can look at possible budget deductions. reductions. Potential reductions include deferring or eliminating newly requested positions, phasing non-emergency facil facility projects, reviewing in instructional programs, professional development, and contracted services for possible reductions. additioning budget options. Other strategic include operational efficiencies such as reducing discretionary spending, reviewing transportation and athletic costs, and exploring cost sharing with member towns for capital. In summary, with all the initial requests, we're at a 10.6 six budget increase against only 2.9% revenue growth that's currently projected. So that leaves 2.92 million in reductions that would need to be to align with the available funding that we have. That's an amount greater than our all our new requests combined. So the
064FY27 budget figures are continuously changing. We're gonna Matt and I this is going to be what we'll be doing for the next month or two or three and we'll have additional updates at the February meeting. I threw in a just a couple extra slides. The next one is a fund comparison. So this is the DESIE funds and looking at this you can see the largest percentage in growth. The first one is operations with its main driver being facilities and the next one is the fixed charges which the main driver is health insurance. Currently our broker came back and told us that at minimum the health insurance will be a 20% increase this year and we won't get the final rates until March somewhere in March but that's where we stand right now. So overall the
065general fund increase is 4.03 million 10 10.6% 6% from FY26 to 27. I also put in here a history of the town assessments. So the town assessments for Athl and Royalston, they've increased steadily over recent years. And as you can see, really the for 25 and 26, it's been at a slower pace. Um, and lastly, I put in there the foundation enrollment history. It's been relatively stable over time. Enrollment has been increasing since 2024 which in make it difficult with budget planning because you have more needs and more staffing needs. That is a really quick overview. I know I went really fast. Um >> I do want to add one piece of information regarding the town assessments. the percent increase year-toear. To be clear, our assessments are made up of the minimum local contribution to
066transportation and then any overages. Most of the increases, if not all of the increases that the towns have seen over the past few years have been due solely to increases in minimum local contribution. uh the state is trying to shift the proportion of how much the federal and state government pay versus local tax. So it's set to continue to increase minimum local contribution for all communities. Um but they have a very wild equation. Um the I forget the name of it now quite honestly but it calculates like what percentage of the increase we really should be paying. So because of the affluence of our towns, we haven't seen tremendous increases. Um some other towns have seen very significant increases in their minimum local contributions. The other piece that I I want to thank Nancy, by
067the way, excellently done. Um I just want to be clear to the school committee and the people that are watching this $4 million. We start with everything that we need and that is everything that we absolutely need. There's obviously additional requests in there. We don't start cutting any of that until we get those governor's numbers right. There may be some change in funding. They may have some other pockets that they're tapping into. So once Nancy and I get those revenue numbers in, that's when we really start digging back in all the principles. We've prioritized the requests. So we take it from there once we have the revenue and we will provide all of the requests to the school committee and then we'll have itemized budgets for where we stand after we make those adjustments too.
068So Any questions or comments? >> Okay, seeing none. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Go ahead. >> Beautiful. Beautiful job. >> Oh, thank you. >> Beautiful. >> Very nice. >> All right. Uh reports of the committee. Uh reports of the chair. I have nothing this evening. Uh budget and finance. I know Tammy's not here, but you have two sets of minutes. Uh and then usually it's covered in NY's report anyway. So facilities did not meet this evening. Correct. Okay. Negotiations. >> Uh we have a ground rules meeting next Wednesday. >> Okay. >> Academic excellence. >> So we did meet in December. Um Brandy and Karen had a really great presentation for us. Had a lot of great information. It was a really good meeting. Um and we plan to meet again either next month or
069March. We're going to touch base next month and and nail that down. >> I just want to jump in. Unfortunately, that presentation that Christie is referencing was supposed to be presented to the entire committee this evening. Um Karen had a family emergency that she needed to deal with. Uh so we weren't able to do the presentation. We have every intention of bringing it back to the school committee. In fact, we were discussing whether or not we were going to delay the presentation anyway because we'll have significantly better data in March. So we'll have more data points in by the time we get to the March meeting and we'll probably revisit the the presentation at that point. when we have more data. >> Public relations. >> Uh we met last Wednesday. Uh we started to review
070and revisit the vision of a graduate. We have a timeline identified for how to make it uh more visual within the school district and bring it to life. We won't be meeting in February. It'll be just an email check-in. Um and then in March um some drafts, March and April time frame. Some drafts will be presented to the subcommittee. >> Okay. Thank you. Policy. >> We're going to be having our next meeting next month and Tracy's going to be here. So I any members who want to come and be on on it, come on in. We love to have you. >> Absolutely. >> They're always fun. >> Committee member referrals, Christie. >> Whoop. Sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cut you off. >> Um so, um we can't approve it unfortunately because we have
071seven don't have to prove it. Okay. So, we have the CS as you see what we did. So, >> okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Emily one, Emily two. Uh RCS is hosting a some more kindness event in February and it's a community event where they have samores and activities in the evening. So more to come on that >> Bobby. Nothing >> I'll entertain a motion to second. >> All those in favor? Thank you.