BMR School Committee - October 9, 2025

001Good evening and welcome to the uh October 9th uh school committee meeting. At this time, I'll call to order and ask everyone to rise for the pledge. >> I pledge allegiance >> to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Uh, next is uh introduction of members. I'll start on this side. Matt, >> Chuck Dunton, Blackstone, Blackstone. >> Jane Reio, Milville. >> Carrie Gotet, Blackstone. Erin Pinoak, Milville. >> Dan Keefe, Blackstone. >> Kristen Donado, director of finance and operations. Jill Pilgalerani, interim superintendent. >> And we have no student represent. They could have had a game or >> Okay, I'll take a motion to approve consent to uh agenda a warrants. >> Move. >> Motion made by

002Jane. >> Seconded by Chuck. Any uh further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Any oppose? >> It's unanimous. Um, and I'll take a motion uh to accept the minutes from September 11th, 2025. >> So moved. >> Motion made by Aaron. >> Second by Jane. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any oppose. The eyes have it. Next up is public forum. Anyone wishing to address uh the uh school committee this evening? Seeing none, we will move on to school committee agenda. Uh item A is to declassify executive session minutes for June 12th, 2025, June 26, 2025, July 21st, 2025, and August 21st, 2025, which we have done already in exe we have already approved in executive session. So I'll take a

003motion to the class. Motion made by Chuck. Second, >> seconded by Matt. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any oppose. The eyes have it. Uh if there's no objection um from the board members, I'd like to take out of order under the report of the superintendent uh the item junior national honor society uh and have that presentation discussion. >> So Jenny Barbara. So, we did have a discussion at the last school committee and I think there was some more information that we were looking for and I said I would invite both um Jenny and Barbara um to kind of talk a little bit more about that. Um I did get some information that you asked about. I don't know if they have as well about what schools

004have junior national honor society at what level. Um so I don't know if you have that I can share that quickly with what I have or do you have that? >> I yeah I have some numbers. >> I'll let you share first and do your presentation. Yep. So, um, currently in Massachusetts, there's about a hundred schools, middle schools that have a national junior honor society chapter. Um, and so there are various towns throughout middle school. I think the some of the closest ones to us would be like Bellingham has one, Upton has one. Um, South Burough has one. Um, and so >> Bellingham structure is the same as us 47. Correct. >> Douglas has a a middle uh junior national. Mend does um and Milbury is within their junior senior high school >> and Oxbridge

005was no and Hopedale was no >> but we do already have one right the question was >> we have an eighth grade one >> we have but it was called junior it was >> and we want to have a separate seventh grade >> so they're looking to have so I also have and I know you'll present I had the opportunity to follow up with the national junior honor society um to talk about that so there are chapters They would be two separate chapters. There was a chapter, it's the middle school and they normally say that that you apply in the middle of sixth grade. Um you could be, you know, >> inducted. >> Yes. Inducted then and then you're there for seventh grade. If you have one in the middle your middle school like that,

006you don't have to apply again for eth and 9th. It would continue on. But the reason you need two separate chapters because there's two separate buildings under two separate principles. So that's that would be the difference. >> And that was one of our biggest questions, right? Was you're leaving seventh grade, are you applying again? >> No, I asked that question. She said, "No, it would be kind of like if you transfer to another school. You wouldn't have to reapply. It would continue through. It could continue through 9th grade. Then after 9th grade, you would reapply at the end of 10th grade to be in it for 11th grade, I believe." So they're different chapters, but they would flow right into each other. So your first semester of sixth grade is what would get you membership.

007>> So how most schools do they explain to me halfway through the sixth grade? So after your first full semester, you would apply and I'm sure there was a process that you would go through and then you could be inducted which would bring you into your you would go into that. Then you would be there in the middle school in your seventh grade year. If of course if you maintained everything you needed to you would transfer to the high school as an eighth grade. It wouldn't be the process would start. >> But in seventh grade they can kids that they apply in sixth grade they can apply. >> Correct. Yep. So >> you can apply again in seventh grade >> again in seventh grade. Correct. >> So applying after the first semester of sixth grade

008the induction is at the end of sixth grade and it is just seventh grade. Yeah. >> So I don't know if you want to talk about your do you know what I mean? >> My rationale. >> Absolutely. >> Well my rationale I think is very clear to the community that I want to give my student more opportunity to be leaders and that's what we our goal is to build leaders. Uh we I understand that we have the student ambassador we have student council we have student IoT. So if you look at our hierarchy, our student IoT is actually on top and then branch out to student council and student ambassador, but uh NJHS is really the only one that nationally recognized and I want to give my sixth grade that opportunity to join. >> Yeah.

009Now, so NJHS is also more academically based. you have to have the academics when you apply to be eligible where student council is not academically based. Anyone can be a part of it. >> Um and so and there's criteria with NJHS that kind of you know citizenship character um academics scholarship that kind of go along with um the portrait of graduate graduate um characteristics. So we're kind of segueing right into that as they head up to high school. Jane. >> So, if I'm a I'm new in the sixth grade, I'm all excited. I have a great first semester or whatever. I I apply I'm inducted at the end of my sixth grade year to be in at the seventh grade. If I don't have a great six-month start, but I have a great six month

010ending to the sixth year, can I apply again at the start of the seventh grade to be >> seventh grade? I can apply again. Yes. Mhm. >> Carrie, >> I still feel like we're taking away from our older students by bringing this down lower. There's so many opportunities at the middle school that NJHS for our end of seventh grade going into eighth grade. That's the one thing that they have to earn. And I'm just remembering the large numbers at that first honor role in sixth grade. that I just I don't know. I I've always viewed NJHS as something that like you have to really strive and work for. It's that like ultimate goal. I feel like we're we're taking away that achievement from the older kids. >> What is the Can you explain the pro

011what would be the process for sixth graders? You know what I mean? If if they applied, what would that look like? So, first we would be looking at their grades and they would need um an average of 90 or better in the core classes. And so that gets you eligible to even to apply and then once you apply you have to get like a teacher recommendation. You write an essay of why you feel it's important for you to apply. And then there's also some service hours that you have to have in place to be, you know, to be able to apply. Um and then once you submit the application then it's a board of the um principal the advisor and some teachers go through each application um and determine whether the student make you know

012qualifies to be part of um NJHS. >> Um I think that you know for middle school it's a great academic opportunity. We know the middle school years are really where kids tend to fall apart academically and so it's something for them to really strive towards and work towards. Um right now in this seventh grade we have about a third of students that would be eligible. Um they're really a high achieving class and so it kind of gives them something else to work towards for the remainder of the year where we see you know more towards the end of the seventh grade students maybe start to slip academically um just because of the developmental age. And so it kind of gives them something to keep them on track um as they move towards eighth grade. And

013at the high school they have the NJHS but then they move on to you know NJS they have to if they stay in NJ they still have to do service hours they still have to maintain their grades just to stay like it's not automatically you get in in the in eighth grade >> you have to maintain the grades if you don't there's a process that you go through um >> you you get a warning letter you know and then you have to get the grades up and you get a period of time to make that happen and you have to there's so many service hours that you have to complete every year. >> Erin, >> so Jill, did we get an answer on when our National Junior Honor Society extended 8th to 9th grade? >>

014So it looks like they may have extended it last year. >> Okay. >> Um, so you can only extend it if your eighth grade is in your high school. Correct. >> So it must have just been >> Yes, I think it just last induction. Correct. was the first time it >> I totally agree with having something for them to work for. My concern that I brought up at the last meeting um was the fact that when they come here for six in so our fifth graders are here >> but they're still getting the one to three report card. the sixth graders were going to after two two report cards of their actual GPA or graded average, they're going to have this opportunity, but that's only two quarters of their academic life that they even have

015that type of grading system in place. So, as Carrie mentioned, um I mean, we've all had several kids that have come through here and you come to the honoral breakfast for your sixth grader and you it's standing room only. Then by the time you're in eighth grade, it has definitely um aired out and and the room is more than half empty. So the concern for me was where you're introducing it and they know they're working for it and I think that's phenomenal. But what happens with you know learning that curve and we were already seeing it with honor roll breakfast but they they were at honor world breakfast in sixth and seventh grade and then in eighth grade it was like that silent I'm not in there. So I don't know like how do you

016I know the eighth grade isn't here anymore. I'm just using that as an example. Um, so how do we we're giving them something to work for, but how do we help ensure that those other kids don't feel a failure? Because a 90 or higher is a lot. >> It's a it's a reach for some kids. So, but they might start there, you know, at the beginning of sixth grade and then the challenges come. So >> it feels like very quick to have it there and then very fast to be able to lose it too. >> I don't know what the answer is. I think they definitely need something in this building. But are you still doing the honor roll breakfast >> that at the end of the year? >> Just one not quarterly. >> Quarterly

017we do it with the student not parents. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> But that's what they always have done. >> Yeah. Oh no. Well, you >> I don't know. It used to be no parking. No, >> Every quarter before probably before co I think and after I I hate referring it's been five years, guys. Why are we I hate that we're still saying that? But >> five years ago, it used to be every quarter. >> Yeah. >> Sorry. Go ahead. I'm sorry. >> Since then, >> I was glad >> it came back, but Sorry. >> I'm sorry. I thought you were finishing up. Yeah. >> So I I think Aaron's argument makes the argument to have it though because I think if you have it and you encourage these people to work to this 90

018and to stay in, they have to maintain it. I would think that would help your numbers stay as opposed to what you've seen at honoral breakfast having your numbers go down. So I think it makes the argument of something to stay and maintain and somebody staying on top of them to keep that achievement at that higher level quite frankly through the transition to the high school and then in the high school the transition to the to the NHS. So I like I don't >> I you know understand it the early part but I don't see a downfall of encouraging student excellence. The honorable breakfast, is it that just for students who achieve a 90 or above? Is that for >> No, it's it's for honors and high honors. >> And I think that's why it's

019such a large number. >> If I look at my sixth grade right now, there are a lot of kids that we can see like, you know, would develop develop to be that, you know, at that level, you know, maintaining it. Is it a Desi standard for the fifth grade to be the one to three? I'm saying was one to five. The report card is different. Is that a Desi standard versus is that something we could look at? >> We did the we did the um being report cards quite some time ago. >> We did we redid them. Correct. >> I think it went it was five and then it went one to three with what we the work we did. But since they're here now, is there a way to incorporate the graded report card?

020I don't know. Is that too much? I'm I'm asking a question that I do not know if we should explore. But then you're giving them they understand it better. And that if that makes sense. Like what I'm trying to say is they they know what they're working towards. They receive their grade. Well, they receive their grades on the report card. They don't receive grades, but they receive their grades on their test on the assignment. So, they do see those grades, >> but they have no idea if they're A, B, C. They don't that's not being it's not something we talk about and not it's not a secret, but it's not unless their parents are saying to them at home. >> I don't know. >> No, I think I mean interacting with the kids, I know

021they know. They know let's say if they get a 75 they go I didn't do too well I need to do better. So I think they know those ranges. I mean they don't know exactly number but they know if I get under 80 is not great. >> I was just thinking that would make them more familiar with >> but you'd be surprised how quickly they become familiar once the turn. >> Oh I know it's competitive. >> I have a question. I'm sorry, >> Tara. >> Um I know you said that the schools um like Oxbridge and Bellingham that have the eighth grade um the surrounding schools, you said they adopted the chapter. Do we know what grade they're starting at? What semester they're starting at? Did I miss that? >> Bellingham is 8 89 only.

022Oxbridge does not have any junior national honor society. Hopedale has none. The only ones that I had was Douglas, Mend, and Milbury. Milbury starts older. Douglas and Mend did not provide us the the detailed information about when they start. I don't know if you got any of that information. >> You know, the um >> Mend's I'm sorry. Mend's 8th grade is in um middle school or the high school. I'm sorry. >> It just says Mend school. I believe they're all I believe the eighth grade. I again I believe the eighth grade is for menden is in their middle school >> but don't hold me to that >> the so every chapter within the school can also make their own guidelines. It it it's not a national guideline set that you have to follow. So we

023as a school could decide you know we're not going to look at the first two semesters of sixth grade. We're actually going to look at the first three or we're going to look at the first four alto together which is what we currently were doing for eighth graders. We were actually looking at the full year of seventh for them and that's how they got in for eighth. And so that's something that you know as a school we could decide we're going to look at the full year of sixth. >> But then is that a whole chapter for just a half semester sooner? >> It is because it's um when I asked that it's because it's a different building under a different principle. Those were the first questions they asked me. Is it the same principal

024and is it a different building? Um, and I'm assuming though if you chose to do something like that, if this is something the committee decides to move forward with and you do that, I'm assuming during that time there would be discussions, conversations, what does it look like, service hours, because in order to apply you already have to have service hours. >> Okay. But yes, it would have to be separate according to them. So, just to clarify what Tara just asked, are there any of the schools you listed as middle schools that are starting with seventh graders? >> None of the ones that responded to us. No, they're starting in eighth grade. Well, they're they're applying. They're applying as seventh graders starting in eth. >> Yeah. The only ones I personally didn't hear back was from

025was Douglas and Mend. It does say they have a middle school. >> Can I just say something? Why not start with Blackstone? Why not? We were the first one who start the first one to have student IoT. As a matter of fact, we flew to and thank you for funding that. We flew to Texas. We presented uh student IoT nationally and actually there's an article written about us Blackstone having student IoT. So if other school don't have starting in seventh grade, why not start in Blackstone? We'll be the first one who started. It's a criteria. Oh, go ahead, Tara. >> I'm sorry. Did Did um we say that for this chapter they have to do community service hours? I'm just wondering for if they do for that age group, it's going to be a little

026different than like the high school community service. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. So, that's again something that you set as a school for your criteria. So for the application, you might only set that to apply, they only need two hours to apply, but then they have to get 10 within the year. And so that's something that you decide as a school. And those hours can be simply that you show up for an elementary event and help run it or like some kids that we have come and do open door day and volunteer like that would count as service hours. >> So >> okay. So I guess that was my question. And I was wondering if you guys had that discussion um just because I know for the high school NHS um the advisors come up

027with ideas to help the kids with what they're doing for the service. >> So So I have a child that um applied in the sixth grade to be inducted at the start of her seventh grade year. So it was at the start of the year. Um but applied it in sixth grade and had to do service hours and did them in the library like did them right in the Millville library and just you know like they have a junior friends group there. I mean there's just there really are a lot of opportunities boy scouts girl scouts counts >> couple weekends a couple weeks a you kind of answered the question that I was going to ask. The criteria is is similar to the the criteria in the eighth grade but can be tweaked by the

028>> Y. >> Any other questions? >> And are we looking uh for any action on this this evening? >> Yes, we are. >> Um well, I'll I'll leave it up to the committee. What uh um what what is the pleasure of the school committee on this item? >> I would make a motion to approve as presented. Okay. So, Chuck, yeah, it's what harm could it do? And let's be let her be innovative. Why stay the same? So, I would approve of her. making what she uh has presented. >> All right. Motion made by Chuck. >> Seconded by Matt and Jane. Uh any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Any oppose? >> Nay. >> Uh okay. Any abstensions? Okay. Uh the Tara, did you vote? I'm going to

029say I with one suggestion if I can that that um there's help to the families for suggestion for community service hours if if we're going to do this. I I do feel like if then they should learn now that they need to help the community. >> Okay. Uh >> sorry, >> more discussion. >> Do we all need do we also need to approve a stipen? So there already is a stipend that is in there that the stipend for Junior National Honor Society is approved. We came because we wanted to add the second one. So there is a a stipend listed already. >> Okay. >> For and it was in our budget even though we weren't running a chapter here. >> We we didn't but we Kristen and I spoke we can fund it. >> Mhm.

030Okay. >> The maximum amount would be 19 a little over 1900. >> Which one is being used >> one that's in the budget now? Eighth and nth >> is being used right now. It's the same amount >> for eth and nth. >> Correct. >> That'd be okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um uh so the vote is um six yay one nay. Um congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Motion passes. >> Uh can I share one more thing? >> Absolutely. >> We have three seventh graders were selected to p participate in Blackstone Valley uh leadership academy. The kickoff is this Saturday. I will be there um to support them and it's a six months training and I'm very very very proud of them. >> Can you tell us who they are? Is this private? They're not supposed

031to know you. Yes, I can tell you. Okay. >> It's Paka Zaya. >> Yeah. >> And Abby Brullan and Ava Zaki. >> Great. Congratulations. >> Congratulations to those two. >> Thank you for sharing. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh next up we have back to the uh school committee portion of the agenda. Dean Bank school savings program. >> Ladies, >> hello. >> Good evening. >> Feel free to um let us know who you are and >> Yes. >> Um my name's Corissa Fora. I'm the assistant manager of Dean Bank and Blackstone. >> And my name is Angel McClord. I am the branch manager at Dean Bank and Blackstone. >> So, we just want to thank you guys um each and one of you for letting us join you tonight. Um this is very important for

032the community. So, we're very excited. Um so, as many of you may know, my purpose here of coming this evening is to request the allowance of Dean Bank to reinstate the school savings program here in the Blackstone School system. Um, as a BMR alumni of 2014, I understand f firsthand how much banking programs at a young age make a big difference. The importance of educating children of our community early is vital. It establishes a long-term financial literacy, promoting healthy spending habits, budgeting skills, and responsible spending. All of these things lead to greater financial independence, and reduces likelihood of debt and wealth inequality as they mature. This can range from discussing money denominations, preparing deposits, and understanding banking basics. School banking programs like Dean Bank can help our children understand the value of money and empower

033them to make the best financial decision. Children can learn to distinguish between wants and needs and furthering a deeper appreciation of money and how to use it to achieve their goals. Um, this program ran successfully for many years in the Blackstone community. We would love to see this become successful again. Currently, this program is offered in our Franklin and Bellingham school systems with great feedback from families, students, and school staff. This program is so successful, we added a new product to our system called the Deans List account. This is tailored for students up to the age of 23. It has a high yield rate of interest, which is 4% on the first 3,000, fee free, and even has ATM sirch charge rebates for those once they get older can have a debit card and online

034banking. Um, this program comes with great incentives for the students making deposits. This will include things like bonuses, referral bonuses, and even a $500 grand prize drawing. um some included in your packets. These would be the packets that would be presented to um the schools to give to the parents. Um these would be, you know, sent home with the kids. Um inside you'll see a couple of our items. The first would be the deans list brochure. So, this just gives you a little bit more information about the new account that we had just recently rolled out tailored for these children. A little bit about like the actual little bonuses and achievements, some a little more information on the back. Also included would be just the application. So this is a school savings program brochure. Inside

035you will see they'll just need to list the parents information, students information and sign. Submit this back along with the one other piece of information which is just a little welcome letter. At the very bottom there's just a little check mark list. So either they would be a new enrolee and they're looking to enroll to our program or transfer enrolly which means that they may already have an account with us like a statement savings or passbook savings and they're looking to transfer it to this new great product the deans list. Um so what they would do is you know fill out this application in this brochure. They would check off which option fits their criteria, fill in the little information, tear this off and then submit this back in the envelope. um they'd give this

036back to the school where we would come and pick this up and then we would make a decision, you know, based off of what works best for the community um when it would work best. So, it used to be like in the cafeteria at lunchtime on a certain day. Um and we're really willing to kind of keep that same criteria, whatever works best. Um that way when they're having lunch, they can kind of come over once they're all set, you know, give us their couple dollars, we can make those deposits, give them a little receipt so they can see that. Um, obviously the parent or guardian may not get this and might end up in the backpack. Um, so that's why there's those quarterly statements and the parents can always enroll to online banking at

037any time once the account's been opened so they can kind of watch that progress grow with the children. Um, we also did just roll out a beautiful charger cart if anyone's seen these kind of strolling around in people's pockets. Um, so this is a great way to kind of have people ask questions when you're making a purchase. Oh, you're a charger. Um, and just get a little bit more feedback um about the school and such. >> And with parents permission, they could have a debit card at Lowe's age of the age of 12 as long as the parent can sends to the child having a debit card, but they can there's no overdraft capabilities. >> And we print them right at the bank. We print them right on the spot. So they can you can

038open the account through the school. we can get all the accounts set up and then you and your child could come down to the branch and we'll be happy just to print them out, hand it out to you. So, >> is there a grade level that you're thinking this was because >> in all fairness I remember when this was here before. Did you ever >> Yes, I was that's what I was going to ask. She when she presented you said it had do you remember the years by J? So I when I start I started at Dean Bank in 2007 and it was already running. So but unfortunately the last time I remember really doing it with Blackstone um was in 2009 2010. We started it up in Millville probably for one or two years.

039I think it was 2015 to 18. Don't quote me. It was before CO. I know that cuz I went to the Millville. I know we're back to the co thing, but but um yeah, so we had at that point we had go to the school and they did it during their lunch and I I was one of it was my assistant at that time too. Um she would go to the school and they would do handwritten receipts and then we give them a prize so they were all excited. So they made a deposit, we taking them money, we give them a receipt in that long. >> Yeah. It's been a long time. I mean students but I remember it didn't it you couldn't kindergarteners couldn't do it like I I don't know if it was

040first grade or second grade it started but is there a >> I don't think no >> no there would be no restrict unless you guys felt there needed to be a restriction but we're looking to um be here at the middle school as well as Milville Elementary School that way we can get that you know that core group to get them to understand money and everything so you know create that financial success. Would you have the volunteers or would the school have to get >> um so I would myself be a volunteer? Um any additional volunteers would be Corey checked obviously they'd fill out um a volunteer agreement just to like give approval. Um and then from there we are definitely looking to get additional volunteers. It doesn't hurt. Um we've had a couple of

041mothers and grandmothers come in recently asking if we were going to restart this cuz they wanted to be the volunteers. Um, so you know with that maybe some parents and um just hope in the community will help out too. But yes, we do have me as a volunteer and then we could have an additional volunteer from my branch. >> Any other questions? >> Is the is the >> Yes, ma'am. >> I look this way when I question. >> Do we have the answer? No. >> No. I love it. This is awesome. But um so is is it a savings account or is this a checking account? >> It's technically a checking product. There are no checks associated with it. Um but it is kind of like our all access account which is our checking account

042for anybody anyone wants to come open one. It does offer the same percentage. It's 4%. Um but it's tailored to the students. So again, fee free. Um with our all access product, you're required to do a minimum 10 card transactions every month to not have a monthly service charge. this wouldn't have any of that criteria cuz they're kids. We don't expect them to use it. We want them to save. Um so it's up until the age of 23, too. So they can take this account that they start here in the first grade, keep that account, not even have to worry about changing their account number because before with the old savings program, it was a savings account. So savings and checking are completely different. So they would have to close out their savings account. The

043parent would have to come in, they would have to open up the checking account, you know, before they go off to college. And now having it up to the age of 23, that's great because you're still getting the benefits as a college student, like you're still having it. At the age of 23, it does transfer over to the all access account. You do have to have the minimum of 10 trans 10 transactions with your debit card or whatever it is. You know, they just have to follow up with the bank at that point to see what the criteria is. But they can take this account from being in kindergarten or first grade and move it right all the way up until they were 23 years old in college. probably graduating at that point, you know.

044>> Is it a onetime enrollment or can they enroll throughout the year? Because I see that you have a you have the deadline of the 29th, but >> Oh, that was just a little like that's just a brief there's no those numbers and dates don't consider for today. Yes, they could at any point in time either enroll to our program or if they want they can even open up you know by coming in in person or doing the application right on our online website as well for the product itself. And then we have a school system on the back end where we input their deposits. So there's a school savings program and a website. So like when Chris is there, she's going to have bring her laptop and she's going to have to input every

045single deposit into there, add it all up, then we put it into and then it gets all dispersed out. So there is a back end of it that we take care of on the bank end as well. >> That's cool. >> Any other questions? We think that'll be great for these kids, you know, and why not get them started early. The one thing I'm going to say, I've been in banking for over 20 years and uh sometimes the kids, they don't know, they don't know how to balance checkbooks and like they come in, well, now they don't know how to handrate or like do a signature, which is another problem. But but like, you know, it teaches them, it teaches them to balance a book. And look, we're such in a technology world. >> Who

046doesn't have online banking right now? You know, the parent can give them, you know, the parent can give them access and the parent is on there, so they have control of the account. >> You have um two parent guardians, but they don't have that. >> No, no, just one. Just one. It's just sometimes the mom and the dad like to go on there. They like to have the Yeah. Same access. >> And just curious, you said Bellingham and Franklin. >> Yes. >> Um successful. >> Yes. Very successful. They've been running it since like their like the same time we were running it in Blackstone. So they've been running it for 20 years as well. >> I've been here for 10 years and they've always held their programs over in those communities. >> I was just

047wondering thinking of the years if it kind of went by the wayside when kids stopped bringing in lunch money >> because >> it might have been, you know, an extra dollar with your lunch money and then everything went >> It's hard to carry cash nowadays. Everyone has a piece of plastic. they can swipe their card. Um, but it seems to be going really well still in those communities, which is why we're really hoping that it can, you know, do the same. >> I remember being in MESA when it ended and part of the reason was ending was not getting the volunteers. That's where we it was all paper transaction and paper thing and you had to sign off and somebody had to get it to the bank and like there was no >> so back

048then was called safer America. you remember they used to do the billion dollar for the day and like they used to take with some of the kids and ride limos with them. It was like in the early the early 2000s but um the problem with the program is that they weren't letting bank employees volunteer and now they are. So this is where we can step in. She can't go and I can go you know and I could do it as well or one of my staff members. >> Not waiting on >> we're not waiting on volunteers would help us. We're not going to lie. We would love a volunteer. We're not going to be able to. The bank is busy too. So, >> but it doesn't hinge on someone being available. >> So, it just

049has to be one person that can just take in deposits. And it's only when the kids have them, you know, not every day, you know, you could have 10 kids one week and then five kids another week, you know, or vice versa if they want to keep doing it. And you and the parents can even come to the bank and make their deposits on their own >> or do an online transfer from their account to the kids account >> if they do it long enough the other way. Yes. >> I just as a parent of a 13-year-old who has been saying like, "I need a debit card. I don't want to take cash when I go out with my friends. I need a debit card." I just the fact that there's a Charger debit card

050out there >> and they can do any design. So, we have a whole bunch of like generic default ones now. >> Yeah. Like on on mine, I have my dog on my card. I took a picture of my dog. That's the picture of my card, my debit card. So, >> you can put any Yeah. You just got to submit it through marketing and then they crop it out and we can print out the picture. >> You're doing real well. Just stick with the charger. >> Yes. And last year we did have um with the school, the charter school. Thank you, Dan. He's the one we actually had a contest with the students and he's the one there was a student that designed the card. >> Oh, nice. >> To Yes. >> Yes. Yes is. Yes.

051>> Yes. >> Yeah. >> It's a good idea, Dan. Thanks. >> Looking are you looking for a motion? Um it's if yes it's whatever the uh committee is. >> So I would move that we would reinstate or restart or newly start the dean list school savings program. It's a elementary and middle school. >> Motion >> made by Jane and seconded. I keep forgetting Tara. Thank you Tara. Seconded by Tara. Any further discussion? >> Uh I'll just say that's a this is a great thing. >> It's a great thing. I'm glad to hear that, you know, financial literacy is being brought back in at the at the young ages. Obviously, >> you can actually come into as a bank and do that as well. You know, this is just a start of >> I see this

052too. I I see it every day as well in my role. So, um you know, >> you know, good luck and good luck with the volunteers and >> you know, and uh you know, it's a good thing. It's a good thing. >> Yeah. The only is I I don't get the 4% on this. >> But you got one. >> He was the first one to print it. I'm not gonna lie. He was the first one. >> I want one. >> Come on in. Come open an account. >> Picture for deposit slips and they can work on their writing skills. >> So funny you say that. >> I have all their stuff in here. I didn't want to take up too much of your time. So on here I did go to like the FTIC website

053and they have a lot of like money smart sheets. I feel like these would be great to send home with the kids if they would like to. Like something like this would be like to make your own face on a dollar bill or any bill and create your own money. Um, you know, different things like a piggy bank. What are you saving towards? So that way they can kind of get some ideas of what they would be saving towards. Um, these are tailored to different age groups. So like these ones here are prek to two. Um, I have here like grades 3 to fives um all the way up to grade 12 cuz that's what they have available. Um, but these are just really great like worksheets and stuff that they might find some fun

054in to also kind of tie everything in together. >> So, I have a motion by Jane, right? And a second by Tara. So, before we go any further, all those in favor signify by saying yes. >> Yes. >> I I >> Sorry. Any opposed? >> I'll follow directions. I know y'all said yes. >> Yeah. I'll abstain. >> And Matt abstains. He approves, but abstain. >> Thanks, Matt. I shouldn't speak for all my >> support but >> I know I know Matt when he doesn't approve. So >> I'll be in touch. >> Thank you so much guys. Thank you so much to figure out what day works best and what time works best. >> Yeah because we just have to pick a day where we can come into the school and start it all up. Get

055those applications out. >> Awesome. Thank you so much for your time today. >> Thank you very much and have a wonderful evening. >> You too. Enjoy. >> Thank you. Uh, next up, approval of waving fees for the BMY BL facilities used for practices. You have anybody here on this this evening? >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> And just so you know, in your packets, what we just put in there, just as a reminder, was the our current community school facilities, just if you wanted to refer to that. And um the current uh I handed you two when you came in of new um applications, but this was the one that you had approved um back in our last meeting in September just for your information for you. >> Good evening. >> Hi, good evening. Um so

056I wrote something out because I tend to ramble, but um my name is Jen Liot. My husband Phil and I have been presidents of the Blackstone Millville Youth Basketball League. uh since June of 2021. Um since then, we've committed to grow the league and work with all the schools and coaches to bring basketball to as many families in Blackstone as possible. We are asking the school committee to consider waving our daily practice fees for the upcoming school year as we are trying to keep costs reasonable for the families. Having to pay a fee in each school building 5 days a week would cause a significant burden that would require us to pass costs on to families, increasing our registration costs higher than we would like, which many families truthfully might not be able to afford.

057Our league is an important part of the community and works handinand with the BMR coaches and school teams to boost all basketball programs. We are proud of our close relationship with the school teams. Our boys and girls of varsity teams run our summer camps and the boys of varsity team runs our little big shots for kindergarten through 2 grade. We also invite our players and families to attend all school games to booster that relationship. Uh just looking at some numbers. Um we in 2024 had 130 players in our rec league that goes kindergarten through 12th grade and 53 in our travel league. Uh we play in the Metro West division um which is over 1,300 teams throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. So it's a really nice program for them. Uh 100% of our players live

058in Blackstone or Milville and they all attend BMR schools and every player on the boys middle school team last year was also in BMYBL. So we work very closely as far as giving back to the town. In July of 2024, we donated $500 towards the basketball shooting machine at BMR. And in October of 2024, the league donated $1,000 to the town of Blackstone to replace the hoops at Roosevelt Park. Um, we also awarded nine financial scholarships, which totaled over $800 to families in need in 2024, and we're already at three this year. The league gladly pays for weekend school use. As we know, janitorial staff must be paid to be in the building. Um, last season we paid $5,588. Um, this fee has already been budgeted into our plan for the upcoming year. Uh, we

059also, just to make it clear, um, BMBBL board members do pay the same as families. We don't get any discounts. Our kids don't receive anything different. We pay just like everyone else. We're asking the school committee to help us keep costs down for our families by allowing us to be categorized as a group one. This would keep us from having to pay for gym use for practice times and tryyous. Uh if we can't be categorized as group one, we would ask all practice fees be waved for the league for the upcoming 2025 season. Uh we would still obviously pay for weekend wreck and travel games because this is um part of our budget and an understandable cost. We hope that you will consider our requests so we can keep uh continuing to serve the children

060of Blackstone and work with the community. Thank >> you. All right. So, >> what is the um registration fee this this year for kids? >> Um so, for our wreck league, it is $100. It is less for the kindergarten because uh they're younger and there's really not as much cost for that. Um travel is separate. Um it's around $200 um between uniforms and what they pay for us to be in the Metro West League. We actually lost money on that league last year because of increase of costs. Um that came after Metro West starts after we have to be already doing signups. So when we realized the costs increased, we had already had started registration. So, we did wind up losing money um on that league last year because we didn't want to have to

061go back and increase costs after. It didn't seem right. >> Um and how many kids did you say we're participating? This >> we had 130 for our wreck league and then 53 for our travel. >> 53. >> And last year was the first year we actually included high school students. again. Um, normally we would stop at 8th grade, but because there was such uh we anticipated such big cuts at the upper levels, we had a lot of families say that they wanted their high schoolers to play. So, we actually did push the league. We worked with the school teams and we pushed our league to not start until January. That way, any 9 through 12 players could play. And we actually had around 25 high schoolers play last year. We did it more kind of

062like pickup games on Saturdays. Um, but they came and they liked it and we're hoping to keep it this year. >> So, oh, if I could ask. So, >> what are you looking to have waved? The practices. >> That's my question because I >> just are the I think it's $20 maybe a day per school to use it for practices. >> She's asking the ones that are Monday through Friday, >> not the weekends, >> not the Saturday, Friday. Oh, I didn't know you had all my packets. Sorry. Yeah, I had to do so many different ones. >> We just asking for what we didn't know what you were asking for. >> Monday through Friday. And those and that's between 5:30 and 8:30. Is that >> Yes. >> Well, one's 5 to 9 too. >> I

063was going to say is that the November 3rd through March 20th. Is that that's what So, so specifically that one. >> Yes. >> And the We have so much information which is really approved. >> Yeah. The weekends we met and I think the one we approved previously aren't even on staff >> that's weekday as well. Correct. >> Our custodians are three hours. That's a 4 hour slot. >> The custodians are not there until at night. >> We're not even occupying this building though. No. Do we don't have a custodian there? >> We have a custodian who comes a few days a week to support in that building like 3 hours just to make sure you know we get it all done but we don't have someone there. >> Can you go there during the 3

064hours they want to practice that for Millville? Well, well, this year it would be the complex where, but last year you used Milville where we >> Right. We had a key fob last year for Milville custodian. >> Would it be better than Milville? >> Noville. So, 1400 instead of the complex. >> We would need both. We would need both. >> You're looking for three. >> No. In the >> We don't We don't touch this school during the week because of the conflicts. So, we only use it on the weekends. >> So, we would be looking for the bigger gym at the complex in Milville. Right. >> I think the travel teams are here during the week. >> The middle school teams. >> Yeah. >> Could a custodian do put their work in while they're >>

065you know their three hours while they're at the >> complex? Jen, as of right now, the request we have is just for the AFM gym for practices, not mees. >> Yeah, there's no middle. >> Should MEES be on here, too? >> Uh, yes. I can resend that through. I didn't realize you had got I didn't I did those requests Monday. I didn't want it to get confusing. But so the ones we have in front of us, just for clarification, there was one that was from September that was approved by the committee and that was for tryyouts. You're not asking for that in evaluations. Then we have the weekend ones. You're not asking for that. The one that we have right now that identifies basketball practices has the Maloney school gym at the complex Monday through

066Friday from 5:00 to 9:00. That's the only >> Okay. Yeah, that should be Millville as well, but I can submit another >> custo's not available for that many hours, right? >> At the complex. >> Um, right now it's only >> it's for 3 hours. We have them at at that at that location for 3 hours currently. Yeah, >> we could switch it to three. >> We need to add the Millville gym with the Are those the same hours you're looking for? The Millville gym? Yeah, I just put that as a time frame. If three hours is we'll take whatever we can get, >> but Milville is not on the list, >> right? Milville is usually JV >> BM and this is Mar November through March like we we also use the Milville gym for our

067school team. So >> yeah, we always worked out in the past. Um, it's the schedule. >> Last year as JB walked out the door, BMBBL worked with the JV team last year and if they needed anything different, I just talked with the >> school always takes precedence, but it's always been a symbiotic. >> Yeah, we've been fine with it and if they didn't need it, we jumped in. >> Just has a question. Um, so 130 kids 180 kids. What are your other So, what are your expenses besides our facilities >> for the uniforms this season? >> And we do do um badged refs now for every division except for our three fours because um >> it it became necessary in the older division. >> Official refs. >> Yeah, official refs. I apologize. patches. >> Um,

068and those are $100 a game. Actually, $110 for both refs per game. >> Um, so uniforms, refs, um, and Metro West for the travel teams. Like I said, they have a separate set of costs. We have to pay per team to be in that. >> We also pay students to do the scoreboards um, and referee the younger divisions and equipment. uh first aid kits, new balls, um things like that. Lots of ice packs. >> Did you say 110 per ref if you have two refs or is it 110 game? >> 110 per game. >> Do you have a um do you know what your total amount paid to us last year was? >> Uh yep. 5,000 $587.95. Was that including weekends and custodians? >> That was weekends only. So, we didn't pay. We had the

069fees waved last year. So, I'm asking for it to be waved again. >> When I did the math, if we did >> 18 weeks, um it would be uh between probably around $4,000 extra if we need for all the gym practice space we would need, which is obviously pretty significant. That would be just for the week. >> And and we have probably 50% of our registrations already in. >> Do you know your profit from last year? >> 75. >> Uh we lost money last year. I don't have it in front of me, but we lost money because we took a hit with the travel team expenses >> and we didn't anticipate having to move to um official refs as early as we had to. But I'll just um Okay. So So the total request is

070around $4,000 $4,000 uh to wave. >> Uh yeah, whatever the the daily practice fees would be. We were looking to have those waves. >> $15 a day times time 19 weeks. >> Well, the AF the 20% >> is 1425. >> But that's not >> but that's only one building >> for one building. So it would be times two. But we need a custodian paid. That shouldn't be our expense. So I can answer this question too. >> Sure. >> How does this look financially for us? >> I think it's a big ask. I think you the buildings are normally not occupied. So now you're talking about electricity, you're talking about heat, you're talking about all the sundry, bathrooms, water. Like to ask for all of that for free. I think you know along with custodians who

071now are watching after this I think I think that's a lot to ask for >> financially >> and then it can't it it is every day so we're not able to rent it out to another group that >> isn't asking for it not to be waved so that's it's a lot it's a lot of time >> you remember why you waved it last year >> I don't remember waving it last year >> I think I I think I remember leaving it, but I'm going to go to Carrie and then you Chuck. All right. Okay. >> Just I when you're saying like a big financial ask last year you guys used Milville Elementary School where we did not have any students at all during the day and we did not have custodians on all the time,

072but we worked it out. So >> yeah, we had a key fob that we could get in and out that was given to us. So this year it's keeping Milvo and kind of doing the exact same thing at the complex where we did the complex in Milville last year as well. Right. >> So it's I see Scott approaching. Maybe he has some more information for us. >> Yeah. I just want to add that last year even though we didn't use Milville, we had to send a custodian from another building to go secure that building, set the alarm, make sure all the lights were off. Sometimes they found doors a jar. So we had to send somebody And again, if I have one custodian out, that leaves one custodian per building. So, >> that's a concern,

073>> Chuck. >> So, I I don't think we've ever charged this group for use of the buildings during the week while custodians were on site. And, you know, it's uh we're this is for the students. Uh we're offering something for the kids to do in the winter time and it's it's a broad range of kids. Um you know it it's not it's not like we're giving it to them for free. It's a community thing. We we should be more embracing of letting the community into some spaces like this. So, I don't I don't know how long Bimble has been in existence, but they've never paid during the week. >> I beg to differ with that, Chuck, because we've had I've been here for many years. >> Okay. >> And usually the conversation goes with if

074they're charging a fee, >> they're they're taking a fee for the kids to play. if they're not like we don't charge the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts because there's not a but this is they're they're paying to be there. So we've always charged because of the the fee being charged to the kids. >> We keep saying because there's a custodian in the building, we don't charge, but those custodians have to police the hallways. Those custodians have to go back and clean up the bathrooms after they use them. And again, like I said, I'm bare staff. If I got one guy out, that's one guy per building. >> You said that >> just my opinion. >> All all the participants, all the members are from Blackstone and Milville. 100%. >> Yes. No other. >> And

075since I've been here, we have not paid the fees. >> So last year was the first time that I had heard about it. And like I said, it came at I got um I think I got an invoice for it after and I was like, I have no idea what this is for. So, I mean, it's been at least since I've been there. So, again, it would just take some adjusting for us. If it's something we knew we had to plan for next year, we could definitely do that. It's just going to be a significant increase for the families. And like I said, we we have a lot of families in town that that just won't be able to hold it, which means we'd have to increase more for the other students or they couldn't

076play. So, I mean, I totally understand where you're coming from. It's just this will impact the kids that want to play that don't have the means to do it. >> Well, first started >> well I'll say this where I'm coming from is every child participating in this comes from a tax a taxpaying resident in Blackstone and Milville. >> This is their property. This is there. The custodians, with all due respect, are being paid to be here, whether they're watching or cleaning toilets or what have you. That's part of the job. So, I I'll dismiss that. Um, you know, my only concern is other other people, you know, other revenue, the school, as you know, you must watch school budgets and the the battles going on, right? >> But I don't know, maybe someone who's, you

077know, been born and bred here and gone through these schools. Um, I remember the times where we would have pickup games uh at the gym and stuff. The gym was actually pretty much o times have changed, but the gyms were open up to the public on the weekends and and and and things like that um to just for simple pickup games. And so I I struggle and you're paying the fees on the weekends to have games um in and the custodians uh and and the necessary things um when you're running your organization um for competition. So, um, I'm more likely to we waved it last year for that same compelling argument and with with the that's where I would be with the potential expectation that we are giving up this venue for potential revenue which

078the school always you know which actually offsets the cost to the taxpayers uh in the long run. But >> uh but with that type of notification and expectation that it was waved last year, I can understand you having difficulty budgeting, you know, >> can I reiterate you? I'm sorry. Can I jump in and just make the motion that we wave it? >> Well, yeah, we can you can make a motion that you wave it. Um we we can still continue with discussion. So there's a motion now that there's a motion been put out uh by Tara to wave uh specifically yours specifically waving the fees requested for the practice >> Monday through Friday >> practices at Milville and Maloney. >> Milville and Maloney. Motion made by Tara Scobby. Can I comment still before I >>

079You can make a uh we can make I would make a second to the motion for the discussion for the purpose of disc motion made by Tara S. Seconded by Carrie uh for the purpose of discussion. Chuck, >> so if a custodian has to spend extra time maybe in your budget, you could find some for those hours that they're not >> Yeah, absolutely. You know, maybe we can work something out. We get >> extra money. >> That's probably hard. >> I I would prefer that we >> um so my commentary is based on you changing the hours to fit the custodian schedule. Yes. >> Not to be anything above and beyond. So because you had alluded to that like you'll change the hours to fit the custodian's >> schedule which is 8:00. >> So basically

080custodian at Maloney. >> Well, they have been they have been making >> we have a we have a someone who comes in for 3 hours. >> Do we know the hours? >> Um there's some flexibility in there. Um but 5 to 8. >> He come comes in every day. >> He does. >> But is he doing the preschool wing? Is that what's being >> He's doing Well, we have the preschool wing, but we also we have to maintain the whole building, you know, to make sure everything's dry and clean. So, yes. But there is someone there. Yes. With three hours. >> Yes. >> I misunderstood. >> Yes. >> Also, just to um when I fill these out, I don't So, our league starts triyouts this month, but I like to get all the paperwork in

081as soon as possible. Um I don't know 100% how many teams we're going to have yet. So, there's a chance that, you know, I put Monday through Friday 5:39. Last year they asked that we try not to do Fridays. If if they don't want Fridays, we won't do it. Um, you know, we probably had around 20 teams. We'll make it work. Um, it's just getting the practice time and the space. We'll take whatever we can get. Um, and we did work with the schools. Obviously, everything school related comes first. if they needed the gym, if JV needed the gym, or if they needed it for a school, which happened a lot of times. There was dances at the complex or um Knights of Columbus, we we understand. We get out. We do what we have

082to do. So, I mean, I think we've been accommodating and we can absolutely continue to do so. It's it's your schools. We're just, you know, trying to coexist and get some. >> Jen, you donated too, didn't you? Donate. Yeah. $500 to the something and $1,000 to the >> They also put the hoops on the Ben the the JFK school. >> Those two those two hoops >> when they were broken. One of them was that during co to bring CO up again. They were broken back then. >> And you also do scholarships, right, for the kids that >> Y can't afford. >> Yes. >> So, two questions. Do you ever do you ever submit to the Boys and Girls Club to use their gym? for the season. >> We have looked into it, but again, there's

083a fee for that. So, since we weren't paying for the schools, it didn't make sense who else were. When we had an overflow, we looked into it, but again, then that's a cost and we would have to pass that on because again, we don't it's not we don't make a profit. So, >> um and my second question is if if we're going to wave it, why do we have KFR? We have a policy for this and and the fees are in place and we also do have a budget and a building to maintain. Dan, I'm going to rebut a little bit on what you said about this custodian because it is extra work. They are there. They are there for three. They have work to already do. And I think >> what he was trying

084to say is that it it does put extra strain on our employees when they're in the building. And sure, we're paying them. That's our costs, our their job. But we always put this money back into our budget. We put the use of facilities money on line items every year. So this is a loss to us. I I mean is there a way we can talk about ch a reduced fee schedule but keeping it in KFR because >> well I think >> didn't we just increase these recently? >> I think I alluded to your concerns stating but it was because it was waved last year. They didn't budget it for this year, >> but next year they're going to say the same thing. >> Well, no, I I didn't I don't think I I I would

085have to have that discussion. You should anticipate moving forward that there's going to be a cost related to it. And the fact that this is 100% >> um Blackstoneone and Milville children is even group two is like not less than 85%. But this is >> we just updated this last we updated our fees last year. >> We know what we need. We updated it. We BMBBL was one of our discussion points during that update because I think I keep getting stuck on the fact that >> BMBBL is in the group two but yet they should almost be in a group one. They it's 100% of the Blackstone Milville kids that are part of it and it's it's a direct feeder program into our middle school and high school programs. >> Is it a requirement that

086they're Blackstone or Milville to play? Yes. >> And we have another like the youth football cheerleading another organization. They're they're paying because and it's a major but they're from North Smithfield. They're from you know when Blackstone and Milville and and they and they and they recognize they're not you know they they'll pay pay this this being 100%. >> I don't know if it's I think we shouldn't say 100. I think they're definitely >> getting it from the president herself that is 100%. and it's it's on our um forms when they fill it out that they have to be a resident. So, we did have someone try to sign up last year and when I went through they were from I think Oxbridge and I emailed them and said, "Sorry, it's not something we do." >>

087But what if a child is school choice here? We're not letting them play. I I mean I I know I'm years removed from it, but there were kids from out of town that played with my older children. I'm not against that, but I just don't think we should be saying 100%. >> I've never had that come up yet. So, truthfully, it hasn't been in discussion. >> And if it is a school choice person, they're paying the town the district to come here. >> Yeah. And they're in the school. So, >> still >> they would still be in the school >> budget. >> I mean, Studio 25 pays us a lot of money every year and probably most of those kids are from Blackstone Milville. They're right on the street. So, I I don't know. I'm

088just I sit here and say, "Why do we have this policy if we're not going to follow it?" >> Well, we're following the policy. This is They're petitioning appeal waiver. >> Yeah. They're appealing. >> Different than parks and w has asked us >> to wave different things as well. >> Waiver policy. >> Yeah. For homecoming, right? >> And you said scholarship or >> That's what we call the financial aid. We call it scholarships for the families, but it's just basically financial aid if they can't afford it >> and that number increases every year. >> Yes, it I would say doubled last year. >> Wow. >> Move the question. >> Yes. There's a motion and a second on the floor uh to wave uh the fees requested by uh the Blackstone Youth Basketball League. Um with

089hearing no further discussion, all those in favor signify by saying I >> I. >> All those opposed. >> Hearing none. It's unanimous. >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. >> Uh so it's seven uh seven years and uh one abstension. >> Two obsessions. >> I'm sorry, Matt. I should listen. I should have actually called two. Well, Tara, what did you what did you say? >> She made the motion. Well, I think she said I think she said yes. >> Five and two. >> All right. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Okay, moving on. >> Uh me water update. Uh >> so I do have an update. Okay, >> so Jennifer sent along an update. Um I am going to read this. I can't explain what a lot of this means, but I will share

090it. Um, so she said there was an acid wash of the well that is complete. An air shock procedure was conducted as part of the process and the well was scrubbed using a surge block and brush equipment. Um, a camera inspection was conducted to to to view the results of the acid wash as well as identify any water bearing formations within the bedrock well. The results will be analyzed upon receipt from the well driller. Um all piping are you understanding this M following >> all the piping and the pump have been removed based on the condition of the drop pipes we'll be replacing them the pump appears to be in good condition and will be reinstalled testing is to be done to determine if the underground fissure at the 24 ft mark is contributing to

091the total organic compounds um total organic carbons and PAS that we have been have been having the test results results will be Friday at the earliest. And finally, the results of this testing will assist in the evaluation of the well and potential for ceiling subject to approve to the approval of the mass D. And in the meantime of all of this, they are still providing bottled water for cooking and drinking and they are actually continuing to fill the tank with water from a mass D approved vendor since all the work is being done on the well. >> So, the acid washer well pull the pipe out the and the pump out. The pump's good, but they're going to replace the pipes because the pipes must be kind of rotted and this that and the other

092thing. >> And um they're going to check that crack in the well or 24 ft down >> to see if the camera. Well, yeah. And uh >> well, they tested it too >> from water that could be penetrating from the outside. >> Mhm. >> Even though there's probably no more beaver dam there. >> We never heard about that uh fisher at 24 ft before. This is the first time we hear about that. I don't think they were specific on the 24 ft, but there was a a >> fisher. There was a fish, >> but they were claiming that it had nothing to do with the groundwater. >> Not they I don't mean Milville. >> I mean other previous >> previous water. >> Yes. >> Experts researchers, >> authorities. >> Thank you. So, thank you to

093Jennifer for this and thank you to Dan for actually summarizing this. Can I just ask one clarif has it has the new filter >> system >> has the new >> started? No, it's instal No, it's installed but we haven't had any inspections yet. Correct, Scott. No inspections of it yet or from >> the state like to correct to actually turn it on. >> Do we know when it's going to >> be in operation? >> Not in the report. >> It's not in the report. I know. I'm assume we don't have that yet. I'm assuming that this all all of this work would need to be done first for it to get started again. >> Yes. And I think in our last update once this once the was the well was >> authorized clean >> acid

094washed. >> Yeah. >> Um then it's they notify the D. um because they had to flush out well they had already cleaned that thing but they I think they'll have to do it again >> and a D could take a month >> could take four months depending on their schedule >> but I want to say that Milville has u the town has been very responsive um both the chair and um and Jen as well for the water we've been monitoring it the water coming in meaning how are we doing with the bottled water so we're keeping up with that so we're you know we always have some on And there's no delay in all of that. So, we appreciate that. >> Okay. Uh, competency determination policy. Missed one. Oh, what did I do? >> MSBA

095update. I didn't bring my glasses. MSBA update. >> So, we wanted to give you an MSBA update. And Jane Carrie, feel free. Um, Erin, feel free to jump in. Chuck, almost all of them here can jump in. Um, we had at our last meeting. Um and we have up on the screen um there was a uh a slideshow that was presented because we're taking a pause. We presented our um our our schematic reports and from the information that we received back from the MSBA and reviewing it, we decided to take a pause. Um and the reasons were if you look in the I don't know. Yes, thank you Tim. um based on the MSB MSBA feedback, we wanted to make sure that everything was very well aligned um with our educational vision. Um also when

096the um school building committee voted, there was a two do not exceed amount. So we wanted to make sure we clarified that and took another look that what we have there to make sure again it's aligned um and it meets everything that we need and it doesn't exceed that value or come down from that value. um and also um community engagement. So what it was explained to us too when we met with collers and dr um that this is now the time once the PSR is submitted or in the process of being submitted we really want to ramp up and get some more information out to our community um about our project you know moving forward. Um on the next slide it talks a little bit about will this affect our feasibility project budget and

097it's an absolute no. We have a contract with both of our vendors and um the work that we're going to be doing now to resubmit and refine our PSR is included in that and what we have out there. What we've agreed to spend is what we're spending. It will not impact that at all. Um the next slide, Tim, this will affect our schedule a bit. However, with that said, we are still within our timeline, our 270day feasibility study. What it does do though, if you look, you'll see at the top, it talks about the current schedule that we were on with our PSR submission that was done in August 28th. If you look down at the bottom, the dot after the where the red line is today, that is actually December 18th where we will

098be submitting our refined PSR. With that in place, we would go through the same process for review, but our expectation here is there's basically a 3-month shift. So, instead of having um the town meeting and the votes that was going to probably take place in that, you know, in the end of the year, beginning of the summer, it will actually take place in the fall. The other thing to know that this is not, you know, very unique to Blackstone Milville. This happens all the time. um when we submit our PSR before going to the next we want to make sure we're in a good place there's a good understanding and everything aligns with our educational vision. Okay. So Tim the next slide which I just explained again we are on track to meet the MSBA's

099feasibility study deadline of October 24th of 2026. [Applause] The next one talks about our next steps. Um the educational program and space summer review is already in process again that's been reinitiated um department head meetings actually um DRRA and collers came out we've done department head conversations um of all taking a look at what the site plans look like does this make sense the adjacencies what do we really need to be very honest with you talking about it and seeing in writing is very different than seeing at the plans on paper it really gets you to think about it so those were done and now we're in the stages of refining these design options. We're going to continue our community engagement after we're done. We will also get updated cost estimates um that we'll be

100able to come back and vote again on the preferred schematic design as we did in the past. So, this gives us more time to refine the work that we're doing. Okay. And just the last side again, as I said, we're refining our submission. We're still moving forward um and just trying to refine all the work that we're doing. So, we thought we'd give you an update. I don't know if anyone is there anything that I may have missed. >> The only other piece if anyone happens to be watching our meeting tonight is that we are going to be having some community engagement events discussions. So for everyone who is interested in learning where we are and finding out more time. >> Yeah, we hope to see all of you. >> Yes. And those will be

101ongoing because remember every step of the process there will be more and more and more information and roll out as we start finalizing. um the community engagement um how well uh how I shouldn't say how well where are they going to be advertised and how is that going to be pushed out >> besides skywriting we're going to try to do every possible thing we can we talked about brochures getting out into the having community discussions inhouse having some taped maybe interviews with some of our members of our DRA our collier team to get information out be out and about in the community we just want to make sure that the right information is getting out um for you know how we're moving forward and what you know what is the impact eventually for the community.

102So if you have any other ideas >> I do I have one idea is um just because misinformation as you know travels a lot faster than accurate information and the most recent um um article in the enlightener well I shouldn't say article but a um letter to the editor it was uh full of misinformation. So if a member of the if you can have a member of the building committee maybe give monthly updates. >> It's already in process. Thank you. >> That's a great suggestion. >> Oh, okay. Yes. >> Is that okay? Good. Because I just want to address a few things that were said in that that um it was only a couple of paragraphs, but it was essentially >> and I should know this, but it's been at least two years this has

103been ongoing. I time flies on the school committee, right? But >> longer, right? I've been part of the school building committee from before the statement of interest when I first got on the committee >> when we did our study of the it started from our studies of the school itself. I mean >> that was 2017 >> is when that started but like the actually like looking at what that master plan was has been like >> when it turned into project. >> Yeah. So, it's been a fluid conversation to say the least. And >> and so in in in that in that um letter to the editor, it said it spoke about a an over a prop two and a half override. It spoke or a debt exclusion, but it also said it's it would it's

104approved by a majority vote. So, >> so that's couldn't be further from the truth. So that would be determined by the towns on which way they would you want to fund it. But no matter what a vote on this a minimum is a twothirds vote and then how they fund it will end up you know and I'm sure the towns I don't want to get ahead of myself but whether it's a debt exclusion or an override that goes to the ballot. So, it's a a whole drawn out deliberate process and and and um but I I think it's important that wherever people stand on this, they have factual information and how this is not a uh you know, it's not a a dog and pony show or magic show where we're just going to say,

105you know, this is >> um >> you know, 50 people show up at a town meeting and and and it's going to pass. You know, >> everything we put out will has to be factual just by >> the nature of the law has to be factual. not swaying one way or another, but it'll all direct people to our website, our building project on our website, which will have, you know, all of the all of the details for people who want to >> to want, you know, the QR code to get you right to the website, the QR, you know, to the frequently asked question responses, like very very factual, datadriven information. Um because I I it's easy for people to jump to a lot of misinformation. You know, you see a final number and you

106think that that's that number. We will eventually get to the this will be the cost that MSBA is reimbursing. This will be the cost to each town. This will be the percentage. And it'll be very similar to, you know, what people see it when we talk about the district annual budget. Um, >> so be on the lookout for the Enlightenment Medical in November. >> So we're charging ahead. >> Nice. I like that. >> We don't have a credit card to do it, but >> all of that information, all the information you guys do, you know, on school build, that's already can be accessed through the district website already there. Correct. All of your meetings, you know, the minutes and everything like that. You know, there's no clandestine meetings or anything like that. It everything's out

107in the open. Hope that the you know >> they all have public forum if any exactly I've attended a few so >> make them to put them on >> record them. >> Yeah. >> So any any uh so having attended the uh MASC charting the course again for the third time um anyone public or us can request it can just they just have to notify us that they're recording. So, we could record it. >> Well, I mean, post the recording. >> It's just going to be a cost to us to produce it and get it out on BMREDU, but it might be of value. >> Are you talking about You're not talking about recording the meetings. You're talking about putting putting a presentation together. Is that >> No, I'm talking about our monthly meetings that

108we've had for over two years. >> Could we start doing this? >> So, we could bring that to the school building committee. >> Yeah. As long as we have somebody like today we could do technically a recording. As long as we have somebody on Zoom, it can be recorded and that can be shared. >> You can live you can live stream it just as easy >> or that I was >> you know if if you >> that would we don't have anybody here doing those at those meetings. >> So I can follow up with our chair who is no of school building committee who's not here this evening. Sure. >> Um for our next meeting to >> that was one of the comments too that is like it's being done in the cloak of secrecy

109type of thing. >> So why don't we just start putting it out >> and and and and yeah that's you guys can rec to Jane's point. Anybody can show up to a meeting and ask the chair permission and record it on Facebook or or whatever. But if it's being recorded by the district, you don't have to allow them to do that. You can you can say this is being recorded to the public. So, >> um, >> but with that being said, I think on the selectman's next agenda is that we are giving some cable money, our cable money to the school. So, you'll have the money to to continue to record them. I'm It's I have to I wouldn't be me if I I didn't say this. I'm just grateful that we dodged a bullet

110because the person the author of that article was running for a position that would have been signing the bond if this is successful in the town of Blackstone not knowing the process that it would take uh to get to that point. So >> with that being said um >> we can move on to the uh competency yes determination policy. >> So in your packet you have a proposed competency determination. Um, I did submit back in I sent all of you in your packets on August 21st school committee meeting. It was the packet that we received the competency determination guidance and policy submission process that came out in July of 2025. That was in your August school committee um packet that we discussed. But just as a review um back in November of 2024, remember Massachusetts

111voters approved the ballot question to remove the use of MCCAST for the sole graduation meeting the state competency determination. In May of 2025, the board of elementary and second education voted to amend the regulations. Um, and for those regulations, it then required districts to create a policy and there are very specific requirements in the policy, you know, the policy template that we needed to follow. Um, we're bringing this to you tonight to look at. Um, and Matt, if you have anything else you want to add as the chair of the committee, this does need to submit it be approved submitted to the Department of Education and posted um by October 31st. Um, so if you look in your packet, um, and again, the state doesn't give you the entire policy, but they give you a

112template with some language to follow, which we did as a policy subcommittee. So um we are looking to you know have the committee review this um and approve um so it would be posted shared and sent to the department of education. So I think the biggest part we should point out is does this are we implementing our own policy that MCCAST is still required as a district? >> We are not. Just I just want to make sure that that's said here because >> so remember to get a diploma just to be clear so everyone understands you have to meet the competency determination which which basically states in the state of Massachusetts that you must meet the 10th grade competency in certain classes and if you look at this policy it'll tell you what in addition

113to that to earn a diploma in Blackstone Millville you have to meet additional requirements so many credits in all the different areas so it doesn't mean that you get a diploma by just meeting this. This is a piece of it. >> So, this is replacing um how students showed competency before through MCCAST is a school can determine that they've met this portion of achieving a diploma through competency. Um and everything is um in here. Every section that is in here is a requirement. Like I said, there's a lot of the language and the template that is provided to us. Um, and there's other things that, you know, we had to add in there in here that was very specific to our school. Matt, I don't know if I missed anything or >> um No, I

114mean I think that it's just for what for someone who supported the, you know, the ballot measure, um this is obviously necessary. Um to have something to to be in there. Um and I think it's great that it gives a little bit more autonomy to the school districts to be able to um determine their own, you know, pathway for for graduation. Um I look forward to more of this with the whether it's a you know final assessment the capstone or whatever it may be but it's a great step forward. So again this is just our policy for the competency determination. >> Any any other questions on this? >> Um motion to adopt. Motion to adopt um policy I K. Oh god, I can't FE. Thank you. >> Motion spectacles. >> Seconded by Carrie. >> Any

115further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Any oppose? >> Any abstensions? Two names. Uh middle school pathway exploration policy. >> So the policy. So Cooney has been very busy the last few months. Um Jesse also had something else that came out to us um that is called the middle school pathway exploration policy model. So in Massachusetts now any school that has the um we have to have um a middle school pathway exploration that looks into um career technical education. So we put together a policy and again there's a standard template of questions you have to answer. Um this policy is due to DESIE and it's through a portal that we do with some of our grants on November 1st. Um and what we're looking for is we can

116go through this but also it needs to be confirmed and posted um by November 1st. Um in this policy we we need to talk about you know students who are in the middle school going on to high school. We have to be able to provide them with opportunities to let them know what we offer here and what is also offered on the outside. Um, if you go through here, it'll talk things about um, being the opportunity to explore the technical schools or the vocational schools that are attached to us. They're allowed to go visit during that day. Um, you know, through transportation, not at our cost. It would be at the school's cost. They're allowed to be, you know, an excused absence for that. We also have to talk about our what we offer here

117within Blackstone Milville. We do have some um classes and you can see in here if you look through that are being provided now at the middle school to help you know extend start the learning here so it can be extended through the high school. Um and it just gives you some basic things like we have to maintain when um we offered opportunities for students to go who went who explored those opportunities. Um and then again what we're offering here and you can see in the appendix it talks about some of the classes and some of the pathways we offer now at the high school. So just like the other one um we are looking for you to review this any questions and this is something again that we need to submit to DESIE and to

118post again this one is by November 1st. I have a question on the tours. >> Sure. Do we have to organize and set up a tour to these other schools? >> We have to collaborate with our schools. >> Years ago, we used to be It looks like we're going back to that. So, what would happen is if you read the regulations, we would have to collaborate with one of our technicals. So, it's usually one that's in the area um for the students to visit >> and at our expense. >> It's not at our expense. It's at their expense. It is. But if they do go, you know, it's an excused absence from school. We need to show that collaboration how we're allowing that outreach um >> to make sure they >> The transportation isn't at

119our expense, but >> we would have to send staff members with our >> possibly >> students. Yeah. I wouldn't send a bus, >> right? Which that would then be our expense to cover because we'd be covering classrooms. And >> so we'll collaborate to see how that would work. I know in the past years ago the um our technical school used to send over a bus. Our kids would kind of load on. We would always send one of our staff over. Of course, they're our kiddos. We want to be with them. So, yes. Um whether that's a requirement or not, I I feel very strongly that our staff should be supporting our students at any visit they go on the outside of school if they're leaving our our school for the day. Mhm. >> Well, this

120is a policy and I remember during our meeting we didn't have >> policy letters >> a place to put it. >> Yeah. >> Will that be advised by by Desi or I mean MASC? >> Um >> do we know that yet? I think we kind of left that as open uh from our meeting. So it's going to fit somewhere. Yes. >> So we may have to revisit this to >> the MP. MSP is >> that taken middle school. >> No, no, I see what you did there. Um, if >> it doesn't fit in the M's. >> So, we we may have to revisit this to adopt it as an actual policy, but >> Well, I do have to submit this. It has to be submitted um adopted and submitted by November 1st. So, >> we

121have a meeting on the 23rd. >> There'll be something. >> Yeah. Well, I'll take a motion to accept the Miz Pep policy. >> So, so move motion made by Matt. >> Seconded by Aaron. >> Any further discussion? >> I'll just say that this this this is not a, you know, for anybody to look at. This is an opportunity for our students to be able to see what's going on over there and and here >> and here as well and kind of get the full picture. So, you know, giving our students the best ability to decide where they where they want to receive their education and how they want to. I think more opportunities the better and hopefully sometime down the road that we have more career path opportunities, you know, at our um $4 billion

122school that we're uh >> that'll be going to be quoted >> uh lightener next month >> uh at our new school. Um hopefully we wouldn't have to uh you know bust so many kids over there. >> How many zeros is billion? >> I don't know. But all those pennies that those kindergarteners are going to be bringing in. >> You got to stop buying pencils in bulk. >> Sharpen pencils. >> Okay. Moved. Second. >> So we have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. Any oppose? >> Any obstensions? It's unanimous. >> Okay. >> And uh MASC MASS conference attendee. >> So I just wanted to send out the information for the MASC MASS conference. It's being held November 12th through the 14th. Um if

123anyone's interested to go, let me know. I do plan on going. Um I do not be very honest plan on spending all three days there. I've looked through the agenda. I would definitely um probably heading out on a Wednesday and some on the Thursday. So, if any of them interested in joining me, um, please let me know. And I did include the agenda there just so you'd get a kind of a sense of what's being offered and what the presentations are. And I did send it out on my update. I hadn't had any takers yet, but there's still time. So, um, >> are we supposed to vote for someone to go with you? >> I don't think you need to unless you want to. Yeah, >> we sign up like on the MAS. >> Yeah.

124Masc. So, if we if we send a delegate to be a voting person, we had a deadline for that. I don't know what it is, but is anybody thinking they're going to go? >> Anyone have any interest? >> Well, if you change your mind, let me know because there are um some interesting topics on here. >> Yeah, there's usually some good >> Yeah, >> we can vote for you, Jaden. >> I can do Sorry, a working person. >> We don't need to, but we will. >> Okay. All right, that uh wraps up the school committee portion. Now, the report of the superintendent fall sports update. >> Fall sports. So, I have a fall sports update. Darlene is not with us tonight. So, um I will do my best to present this and answer any questions

125that I can. Um so, winter schedule, an update on that. Our boys varsity basketball currently has 20 games, um two of which are for the Clark tournament. Girls varsity basketball currently has 19, two of which are the Clark tournament in the last game. We've already identified two schools. It's either going to be Foxboro Regional Charter or Mashby or Lunenburgg. So then boys, JV basketball currently has 10 games and they're still in the process of getting more games for our JV um boys as well as the girls having 10 games more to be added. Indoor track, it's a league, it's set by the league. Um, so that's scheduled. And our chair competitions, um, they're continuing to investigate. Those are actually determined by the chair coach what what they will attend. For our spring schedule, that's moving

126along. We currently have for the varsity baseball, six games have been confirmed. Two, they're waiting for two dates from West Boilston and two from Foxboro Regional. Um, that will round out our 20 for the boys varsity. And for varsity softball, right now they have 12 games that have been confirmed and we're in the process of adding more. Tennis, we have 11. Um and again adding some more matches. The JV spring schedule is in process now. I don't have any game actual updates for that. Um they're waiting for the dates um also for the league about the spring track. They're just waiting for all of those um meets. A small update on the I'll say small because it's not full yet update for the coaching positions. We have um hired a and appointed a varsity basketball

127coach which is Josh Ullo. We have a varsity cheer coach was which is Amanda Moggrass. Our middle school cheer is Becky Boule and our indoor track is Marsha Harvey. What's in progress right now is our girls varsity basketball, our girls JV basketball, boys JV basketball, and boys middle school basketball all in progress. We do have candidates, but we're finalizing that now. Our senior games, there's a field hockey is October 16th. Girls soccer is the 17th. Boy soccer is the 22nd. Volleyball is the 17th and football and cheer is November 1st. Um the pinkout games, um the field hockey pinkout game is 10:20 and I believe that's now an evening game. >> 6:30 it is. >> Yep. 6:30 under the lights. >> Um our football and cheer is on 10:18. And the volleyball had there is

128on 10:30. And very proud of our girls and coach um Coast Fster. They raised $500 girls volleyball that went to the positively pink. Um, and that's a nonprofit um that's fin uh um assists by um low-income women diagnosed with breast cancer in Massachusetts and also provides um emotional support dogs to support these women through their journey. So very proud of our girls. They did a great job. I actually was at that game. It was it was it was a good time. Everyone was everyone was pink. I can't captain was there. I'm not quite I think he might have been pink too. >> So um just an update on some uniforms. Our boys basketball uniforms we anticipate to receive the week of November 10th and our girls tennis um will be the ordering will be complete

129by next week. Um and winter sports registration and signups open this week. >> Did you say boys basketball uniforms? >> I'm sorry. No, girls basketball uniforms. I'm sorry. That's my mistake. Yes, they will be in the week of November 10th. Um and winter sports, like I said, registration, the signups, um just open this week. Okay. Just a question. You mentioned something under the lights. >> Yes. So, our girls field hockey game originally was I think a 3:30 game, 4:00 game. However, there was a donation of some of the the lights. So, they're actually moved the game to a 6:00 6:00 game I believe it is. So, 6:30. So, the girls will have an opportunity to play. >> What day is that? What date is that? >> It is um the 20th. Monday 20th. Yep. >>

130And that's their pink out game. >> Yep. Where are they getting the lights? >> GPL Construction is donating lights. All right. Usually as we get the towns the other, but this year >> Go ahead. No, you can go first. >> We had money for lights and I just want to say that Duly noted it all of our teams should have played under those lights. We paid for lights on that field this year. Usually the towns did, Dan, you're absolutely right. This year we paid and they went up for >> football homecoming and then they sat in our band parking lot >> for another week before they were picked up. >> Football had a practice under them and then a game under them. >> Poor planning because every team should have played under those lights. Just

131sorry. Sorry. I didn't mean to intervene on the planning for the next year. >> Perfect. Happy to hear that. >> Y Well, they all deserve a time under those lights. So, um those appreciate I was about to say that's requiring an emergency, a natural disaster. >> That brings me to a question. Were we charged for them to sit there each night? >> No, sorry. >> We We did pay. I'm sure we paid a minimum. >> Why wouldn't we have planned I I think our intention was for them to be there for a week, not one game. That was what we budgeted >> as far as it was. And I know Scott's coming up as far as I know with the information just for that weekend or that day and that was >> spend our entire

132budget line. >> If I may um >> I reached out to a former hockey player, former student of Blackstone Milville Regional who works for Sunb Belt Rentals. Um Ben Campbell and he gave us a super deal for 3 days for the lights. Um they weren't supposed to sit in the parking lot all that time. It's just that's when they scheduled to come pick them up. >> But if we could get a super good deal >> and have it for three days, then >> absolutely >> planning for next year. It would be great to get more of our kids to have an opportunity to play under the lights. >> Okay. >> Thank you to you said Sunb Belt. >> Sunb Belt, Ben Campbell, >> Roland Campbell's brother. >> Very good. Thank you, Scott. So, back to

133the positive here. Monday, October 20th >> at 6:30 p.m. Hockey under the lights. Come on out and see the girls. >> It's their pinko game and Wister Tech is very excited to be coming to be playing under the lights as well. >> Mhm. >> And I had the opportunity to see our girls actually in action last when they won one to nothing. One to nothing. >> Stopped by the game. I hobbled up the the hill and hobbled down. But it was nice to see them out there playing >> and especially in a very Yeah. Thank you to GPL. >> Yes. >> And thank you to Carrie for having to be asked who donated like where the lights come from. Um and not just Yeah. Thank you for G again. Thank you to GPO and your

134commitment to getting those lights illuminating the situation. >> I I'll stop >> now. Can you recuperate? >> You probably can. >> All right, I have one more thing. So, um, every year we get our annual special education determination matrix and, um, we are meeting compliance there. You can get needs improvement different areas. We are meeting requirements, but when we get this, whether we're meeting requirements or not, we're always looking at those areas we can do better. So, these are different um, performance indicators from the state. Um and you know looking at these I always look at you know what are the maximum points and what are the areas that we didn't get maximum points in. So for example sometimes it's really hard to change those numbers. Percentage of children with disability who graduate with a

135regular diploma. It's the percentage of that population. We may have one student one year who didn't. So it does look like it's 70% but it's out of the students who graduated who were on IEPs. So there was one one student um um but if you look down here the other areas we need to focus on is you can see the assessment results they don't look at every single grade they target fourth eighth and 10th. So we need to continue to work um at our profic proficiency percentages especially at our eighth and our high school. The same thing with the math. It was really nice to see when it came to the math that we had full we actually cuz the state target the state wants you to continue to move toward there. It's not an

136average where they want you to be. It was really nice to see our fourth graders um met over that. So, we got our two points. Yep. So, those are the areas of focus. And on the next page, there is one area that we had um a zero for indicator response. And just so you know, it unfortunately isn't the work we're doing. What it is is indicator 14 is at the end of a school year, we get all the information about our graduating seniors and they ask us to reach out to them and gather information after they've left school. Um, unfortunately, if if we're not able to, we send mail, we make phone calls, we do everything because we get all that information from the students before they leave. What's the best way to to reach

137out to you? So, if they don't respond to us, um, we're not able to put in the survey results. So, you can see here that, you know, we only had 18% of students respond. I think it was two that year out of maybe the five or no, it was a little bit more than that, but um, we didn't get the points on that one. So, we are plugging away. We're doing our best we can to get our students to actually respond to us. Um, so that was another area, but we always look at this whether we're meeting or not. We're always looking um to see what we can do to improve. But it was nice to see that we had um we were meeting the requirements. And that is the end. >> Be done as

138an exit interview. >> Can it be done as an exit interview? >> You have to wait because they ask questions about what are you doing now? Yeah. you know what followup please >> it is yeah so we continue to try we make several phone calls um we try anything the student have given us in the form of a phone number an email address or >> so we will continue to to try that so we do the same snap snap >> snap maybe they'll try that >> I didn't know how to do it but >> I was like you're on your own but go for it >> yeah I All right. Thank you, Madam Superintendent. Moving on to the business report. >> All right. We'll start with the personnel report. Um just a listing of who

139we've hired, who we've had as resignations, retirements. Um I think right now we have two open um staff positions. But other than that, I think I think we just hand this out each year and just or each meeting just to let us know where we are. Next item is our expenditure report. Um right now we are we're trending just in line with the budget right now. So you will see that there is a surplus. The surplus is the interest income which is not budgeted. Um I think it's too early to say as far as where you know to project um in the next by by the next meeting we'll have a better sense of where things are but it's too early in the season really to to to give a better you know an more

140accurate projection but everything looks good at this point within the budget. [Applause] Um as far as budget journal entries and transfers for approval. Um right now there are some budget journal entries for realignment to the um budget to match our desi codes. Um just looking at some expenses that we have and making sure they're right they're in the right buckets just so that when we get to the end of year and we're doing our end of year report everything's um everything's in the right spots and we don't have to do any kind of crosswalks. Um also you'll notice that we set up the grants that were awarded in FY26. So, those have been entered into our budget so that we can start tracking that and and working through those grants. Let's see. Any questions or

141up to this point? >> Um, we we still approve the journal entry. >> I believe we Yeah, I think those have to be approved. >> Uh, I'll take a motion to approve. So, moved. A motion by Jane. Thank you. Second by Carrie. Uh any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Any oppose? Any abstensions? It's unanimous. >> All right. Um next in the packet is just the listing of expenses that we have by DESI code. um just the different categories um and what we have budgeted, what we've spent so far, and what the incumbrance is and where our budget balance is on all of those. Just a lot of data. And if you want some of the backup to what we talked about earlier, um then we have

142the insurance review. So last year there was a discussion regarding insurance and um in March of 2025 we sent a request out for quotes on insurance for the district and asked for those quotes to come in in April and we had two different companies that came back with quotes and these quotes were for our property casual, our professional liability workers comp auto policy and umbrella policy and just really just to make sure that what we were paying um was in line and you know make sure that we have the best um best company out there to give us what we needed. It looks like we only had two companies come out. It was MIA or Maya and Hub. We did Maya is the company that we've been using um for several years from what I

143can see. um and they continue to be the best um company um as far as with the cost. The total cost was $147,761 compared to Hub who came in at $349,018. So um huge difference between the two companies. So um Maya was awarded the contract um and they insured just Massachusetts municipal re related risks. So, um um I think that's kind of just to let you know what we've done regarding the um insurance and the due diligence for that. Um and then the last on the business office is the grants that we awarded. We were awarded two grants um that will need to be approved for um the for this year. So, one of them is the school behavioral health expansion grant which we were awarded $99,000. This is a grant that we've gotten for

144the last two years. Um, and another grant that's with this is the CSHS, the comprehensive school health services grant for $21,550. So, with this money, it looks like we're going to be the plan is to help subsidize some salaries, some services, and supplies. So, so for the for one for our CSHS funding grant that definitely helps support our quality of school health program. So, for example, there are certain things you can use this for. It could be equipment for the school for the nursing office and supplies. And what also does is when we have to do our screenings, you know, our vision and our health um hearing screenings, we're able to bring in additional support staff. So, they're able to cover while nurses completing those steps. the larger grant, which is the $99,000 one, there

145were specific areas um that you have to identify within that grant. And our focus is on social emotional learning um which is making sure that we have the programs there and we go by the castle frameworks. I know we've talked about those before. Um we also in the past um we've actually brought in an additional staff member for deescalation and crisis intervention. So we're able to do this through the grant, an additional staff member this year, again through the grant. and then also alternative interventions and discipline. Um, so we're using the the funds for those and there are specific areas that we that we have to use with the script. So, and the great thing is it's an extra, you know, funds that we're able to actually expand some of the programs that we're that

146we're working on. So, we do need an approval. Yes. >> Yes. So, I'll take a motion to um accept the grants as presented. >> So, moved. >> Motion made by Jane. >> Seconded by Chuck. Any further discussion? >> Congratulations. >> Thank you for uh the work put into the grants. Uh >> thank you. >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Any abstain? It's unanimous. >> Thank you for the report of the business office. Moving on to Scott once again in the facilities report. industrial bo burner. First word of the report. >> Why not, right? Uh the good news is they came back and they fixed the uh circulator pump that we're waiting on. So the heating system is ready to go for the winter. Hopefully >> uh there

147was a drain pipe in the lower C- wing. This drain pipe connected to the whole home economics room which is still used by special ed as well as a bathroom. and the pipe in the floor became so clogged that we had to call a company in to pressure it out. Um, when it pushed out, there was grease and baby wipes and stuff in the pipe that ended up in our sewer system that we just had cleaned out and repaired and it managed to set off the alarms because it it raised up the float levels. So, the floats in the sewer system were moved to the other side where the water's always flowing in and clearing it off. Actually, I had uh chairman of the school committee down there looking at this with me. >> The

148sewer from water to sewer. >> Oh my god. >> Hey, it's water. >> I'm going to tell you the that I didn't realize that that was I didn't read the update. Uh but during co that was a big issue with the wipes and the pipes and and and uh >> but that's I was wondering why the flo why the alarm so the alarm goes off just so people at home know the the alarm goes off and then it goes off to Jimmy Sullivan who gets very angry that the alarms keep going off and has to go down and reset them. >> Interesting. >> Yeah. So um >> stop using baby wipes. >> Yeah. >> Or throwing them down though. >> Leftover from CO. Mhm. >> We're going to have to come up with precoid postco.

149>> Yeah. >> Um scoreboard issues. Uh it was noted that the scoreboard lost power during the last game on homecoming, which is very unfortunate. Um those are brand new batteries. I think what happened was because of the football game and the scoreboard started being used at I believe it was 10:00 a.m. was the first game. Um the batteries just never had time to recharge. So, some of the options we're looking at, I'm getting in touch with the scoreboard company to see if we could put maybe a jump pack on the batteries or possibly adding extra batteries for extra storage. Um, it was a nice sunny day, so I'm surprised that the solar panels didn't run the scoreboard itself. And that's another thing I'm going to ask them. Is our inverter going bad where it wasn't

150charging batteries fast enough? Or maybe we put more solar panels up. We'll see what they recommend. Uh the sound system also acted up. I had Todd Sha for our band instructor, come look at it. Uh he made some adjustments to it. He tested it out. He said everything worked fine. Um not sure if it's possible that maybe interference from the fuse we had up there or maybe the generator we were using was causing interference. Um something else to look into, but from what I understand, it's working fine now. Uh over here at the middle school um first floor boys bathroom. We had a it's a valve system that's underneath the sinks that's used for the hand motion. Um that went bad, started leaking. We had to shut down the bathroom for approximately a week um

151while the sink was out of order. So that's been repaired. It's up and running. Everything's good. Problem is these sinks are now 20 years old. parts are being discontinued, so we got it repaired. Um, we had a booster pump that started leaking water. This booster pump increases the pressure in the building because our building's so high up off of Federal Street in the three floors. We have three booster pumps that boost the water pressure up. One of them was leaking and one of them is not building up enough pressure to support the building, too. So, we're running on one booster pump. I was able to purchase a rebuild kit for one of the booster pumps, the one that's leaking. So, I plan on coming in this Saturday. I got to shut the water off to

152the building, rebuild that booster pump, change the seal in it, put it back. The other one that wasn't building up pressure. I also took apart because that one was completely isolated. There was a lot of rust inside the pump system. So, I cleaned all that out. I'm going to put it back together and install that on Saturday as well. So, we'll have an update on that. Um, everyone is still scheduled to come out and change the valve in the pump room. They haven't done that yet. I'm trying to set that up for um, PD day. And Milville Elementary School was still waiting on the radiator that needs to be replaced. And on Wednesday, October 21st at 2:30 a.m., we had a motion detector go off setting off the alarm system. And again, it happened on

153Friday, October 3rd at 1:30 a.m. >> Uh, yeah. Nice wake up call. >> There was no one up there turning the water on, was there? >> I think it was a beaver, right? Um, so yeah, so that's been addressed. Um, we had teachers remove stuff that was hanging from the ceiling, possibly setting off motion detector when the blow was turned on. Um, knock on wood, has not happened since last Friday. Um, and uh, Thursday morning the walk-in cooler temperature rose. It exceeded 45 degrees. Joe Warren and Sons came out. They had to order a pot to uh, expedite it overnight and get the system back up and running. So, that has been addressed as well. That is what I have for facility requests. Questions, concerns? I would also like to add too that as a

154former hockey coach who coached from learn to skate to our JV team to our varsity team. I understand the importance of having a great freedom program like Bimbo. They do a lot for our kids. I and I've worked well with Jen. Never had any problems. I just felt the need to express my concern >> for the safety of our students, staff, and buildings. >> Absolutely. I look forward to working with them. >> We appreciate that. And we do appreciate >> all the hours and all you do. >> Stop it. >> 2:30 in the morning and 1:30 in the morning. >> Well, it's not the first time. This won't be the last. >> Mom says, "No, it won't be the last." >> I happen to meet Scott with the pump thing at the at this at

155this school here, too. >> Yep. >> Uh, >> yeah. I We talk too much and >> Kind of like Jimmy S. What are you doing now? I'm at a water main break. All right, I'll stop down and see you and have a coffee. >> Yep. Stop by, Dan. Got something I want to show you. >> We'll be rebuilding the water pumps this weekend and I just stop and >> just wanted to run it by you and give you my recommendations and what I thought and >> Jamie also suggested a specialist who come came out and gave me his opinion as well. >> But in the long run of things, it's exactly what I wanted to do anyway. So hopefully that's addressed Saturday. So, while we have him here, can I just ask a clarifying question?

156>> Um, what do we have for custodians in each building, morning and evening? Right now, >> we have one custodian on for day shift. The head custodian >> in what building? >> All three buildings. >> So, every morning one in each So, the complex is considered. Are you considering that one building or is there one in there? >> There is. Over at the complex, we are using our van driver/custodian. She if she's out driving, obviously she's not cleaning, but she starts at 6:30, goes around, unlocks the doors, empties the dehumidifiers. At about 7:15, 7:20, she leaves, go does uh a van run or two. And then when she returns, she also helps out with stuff in central office, moving packages, setting up pink flamingos. >> Is that is that for the geese, too, or is

157that something different? >> For the geese, >> it is the flamingos. >> Well, they were dropped off by a school, remember? Um in hopes that it may work as well. So, >> okay, >> may become a territorial fight. I don't know. We'll see who wins. >> Maybe the flamingos are a little more preschooler friendly for the flock at the complex. But yeah, there was a large flock. And I think Tara, you had emailed me a very large flock at the complex on Sunday fighting flock. >> So when um >> isn't that called a gaggle? >> I don't know what it was, but they were fighting. But we put up some I didn't want to put a coyote at the preschool, you know. So we're trying the >> But he's so cute. We have a Yeah,

158we have a a few flocks around >> flock of flamingos of flamingos. So, we'll see. >> Flock of geese, flock of pingos. >> So, one head at each at three buildings. So, not we're not talking about complex. >> Correct. >> Um and then in the evening in each building >> in the evening over at Millville, we have two full-time custodians. Over at the ice high school, we have two custodians and a.5. And over here at the middle school, we have two custodians and a.5. That.5 is a full-time female custodian who bounces from building to building. >> Okay. Is it working? >> Yes. >> Okay. And so who's in the complex for 3 hours at night when when express >> posted for subcustodians hoping to get more that could fill in whenever somebody's out sick or

159uh on vacation, but we only had one applicant in that as >> So it's you. Is that what you just said? >> No, Michael. >> We have >> a sub. Yes. >> Is a sub. >> We have one sub who applied. >> Okay. So, I mean, because we're, you know, we're filling up all this space and we're using it and it was already something was brought to my attention with I think the express cheerleaders were coming out and it was very dark. We approved that use on that on the AFM side of the building. >> Um, but also in that building is our administrative offices. So, >> um, >> all our offices are locked in the evening. No, I'm I'm more worried about like So the only attention that building is getting >> it's during

160the day >> is in and out during the day starting at 6:30. >> Yes. And there is a custodian there for 3 hours. >> Three hours in the evening. >> Mhm. >> And there So in those 3 hours are they tending to all the preschool rooms and admin offices? >> Preschool room um admin offices. Um but also Lynn the van driver does the admin offices as well. >> Yes. >> And we haven't had a preschool emergency. >> Lynn is there if they're Yes. Okay. >> No, they so far. >> Yeah, we haven't had Well, yeah, >> we have just that one wing for the preschool that we're using right now. So, um, >> we had a leak in the bathrooms down there from >> Well, that um that that when I'm talking preschool, I'm talking

161about didn't make it to the bathroom or >> Yeah. >> vomit or >> I mean, it's bound to happen, right? >> With that with >> that whole court. So, >> they preschool, they've been doing we have some really fantastic staff that have been doing a great job. They'd let us know. I haven't heard anything out of the ordinary. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I honestly didn't know who's there in the morning. >> He did. >> We also have Sean Marco who's a substitute custodian and he's mostly doing grounds. >> Okay. >> But come winter time, we use him inside the buildings. >> So, two subs. >> Yeah, >> possibly. >> Well, three. We got an older gentleman. >> Van Marco. >> All right. Thank you. I I had kind of lost track. I didn't know who

162was and at what time because and the preschool is important for cleanliness and >> upkeep. So are are we sending meals over there during the day that for lunchtime for the kids that the kiddos that do the full day? >> Yeah, we have a very >> Yeah. But yes, >> and they're eating in the classroom or are they using one of the cafeterias? >> The kiddos who are staying in the classroom. It's a yeah, comfortable spot for them. But yes, food. I'm going to say our food service director Milson is doing a fantastic job making sure all of our kids get what they need for breakfast and for lunch. So, and our our preschoolers are definitely >> We have that new van that's, you know, good transport back and forth. >> Yes. Perfect. >> Facility

163requests. Thank you for that wonderful presentation, Scott. No questions. That's it. >> I think we Yeah, we >> all I didn't know if >> Yeah, the Coyote trick or treats coming up. It could be. >> Actually, I have a question. With all the senior games coming up, can we just I think are they all in the next like this week coming right this 16, 17th, and 22nd. Can we just do a quick double check of that sound system because I know all the senior teams will use that to announce themselves. >> And I think the the homecoming football game too, there was just so many people there. >> Mhm. That >> can we have Kleenex available for the parents? >> We'll just line the side with all like purple tissues. >> I know. I kept

164trying to go in there and adjusting it and it would get clearer, but then it didn't seem loud. Well, it's because I know during like the football game, the cheerleaders didn't have their music and stuff, so it was >> Yeah. I don't know what happened. >> Scott, how old is that system? >> The scoreboard was donated. >> It say 2012 on it. >> Yeah. 2012. >> No, the the um >> part of it, I believe, >> the sound system. I'm sorry. >> Yeah. So Todd Schaefer said it's not the best system. It's not the best amplifier. So maybe it's something we look at upgrading. >> Yeah. I'm thinking it I'm thinking I'm thinking that might need to be the move because homecoming's always going to have a lot of people and be loud >> and

165um I think this has had an issue before. >> And when we get the lighting, we could add speakers down at the other end. >> Oh, we will. >> We'll see. 4 billion. Now we're up to 5 billion. >> You talking about the uni bank scoreboard? Just wanted to represent both local banks this evening. >> Does Uni Bank make speakers, too? >> I'm pretty sure they make checks that buy them. >> Say Uni Bank on it. So, >> right. >> All right. Moving on to facilities requests. >> Would you uh >> All right. Sure. So, um, start with the, um, PTO for a Halloween dance that they have coming up on Friday, October 24th. So, we have that um, event coming up and it's just not, just to make clear, it's just not a dance.

166It's a whole Halloween fest. This is the trunk or treat, the Halloween. Yeah. >> Halloween. >> Yeah. But it's going to be here even though it's for the as Jill would say littles. >> Yes, it is here. >> It's going to be here. >> So, is this in like is this the trunk or treat that they do now? >> Yes. Christina sent out an email to her staff as well to >> decorate dance for six to eight and then >> correct for the younger ones all the >> Yes. >> the trunk or treat. >> Okay. >> All on the same night. >> Yeah. >> All together. Get it all done. >> I like that. >> Busy, please. >> One night in and out. That's it. >> Volunteers are tough, you know. So, get it all

167done. >> Yeah. Okay. >> What I do? >> All right. Then we have the um the Friends of Blackstone Senior Center and um Blackstone Millville High School. Um they're doing an intergenerational event that they've done in the past. It's um it looks like teachers at the high school and the senior center comes to school. Kids interact with the elders type thing. So that's November 4th on a Tuesday from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. that we have in the cafeteria at the high school. >> I went to this for a little bit last year. Um and it was really nice. Like a couple of our sports teams came in from outside and they were out on the dance floor and dancing with it. >> Was the prom, right? The senior prom. >> Oh, is this cute?

168Um, next I have Town of Blackstone. They have a special town meeting on Saturday. Oh. >> Um, November 8th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. So, not sure exactly what the meeting is for, but we have that. >> I can give you an update on that later. >> I'm kind of curious why I had special meeting Saturday morning. >> Unless is that a basketball day? You're talking about a new school building and town hall combination. I think >> I'll just put out misinformation. We're not yet anyway. >> Come on. Plenty of room. Make somebody a king. >> And then the last one I have here is a cheer competition with the lower level cheer. Um that is going to be on November 1st. It's a Saturday from 900 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the high

169school gymnasiums. So, um, and that one is a group one where they'd be paying for the custodian. >> It's not the fee isn't on there, though. >> So, there's on the I believe it's $466.40 that they'll be paying. >> That's us though, right? >> That's a BMR. >> Are we hosting? >> Oh, who's lower level? >> No, that's So, they're an outside company that I believe is I believe that is a charge that we're charging them, I believe. >> Right. They're paying for the custodian. >> Yes. >> Why are they a group one though? >> I thought it was So that's why I read that. >> Is that because it's a Saturday? >> Our school team. >> It's what? >> It's like our school team's competition. >> Like if you had a home basketball game.

170>> Yeah. So why are we charging? >> We pay Oh, the basketball pays >> for Saturdays. >> For the Saturday custodians. We're the host site. Um, >> we're the host site, but the >> the the competition school world is coming here for that. So, we're they're paying for the organizing companies using our site. Correct. >> We're involved in it. Yes. >> But it's submitted by Darlene. >> Yes. She organized it. The >> athletic director. So, who's paying for the custodian? That's a good way to c >> it seems like it's like having like a winter guard home show where it's it would be Nesbar US. >> So who's paying for the custodian? >> Cas the organization lower level >> covering for the um custodians, the police detail, the athletic trainer and all the cheer expenses.

171>> So $466 about and 60 details detail >> and it's free to get in. I don't know if they're charging or not to be honest with you. Not sure if CMAC is um >> on the last page it says no. >> I'm very confused. >> It says the applicant organization is charging emission >> user fee will be charged. No. >> And if they're a group one then they're a no. Are they only in group one? If it's R. >> Not sure. >> Seems to arrive starting at 90. >> If it's CMAC, then they're >> Is this different than like when we host like the >> CDC track meet? >> I think it might just be filled out wrong. I think you're right. I think it's So, we're hosting what I know of this is we

172for CMAC, you know, when you have big competitions, right, for all of the CMAC, >> we are hosting it. CAMAC is running it, but we're hosting it. Our students will be there as well. So, there was a fee involved, >> which is why there's a facilities request because if it was just like a home, >> Correct. For us, we wouldn't. So, it's a cheer competition. So, like our students sometimes go to other schools for big cheer competitions or CMAC. They happen to be coming here >> for this CMAC event >> and Darlene will be there the entire time as well. >> So, it's not a group one. >> It isn't. I think it's just filled out wrong >> because a group one is our organization. >> Yeah, >> cuz it it's down it's it's like

173very weird. The money the 46 46640 total charges to the applicant is there, but everything else says no no no no no. But it should say yes yes yes. They they've got it's a [Music] >> right. We get charged to go in >> because even a home show or or homecoming you you're paying to get in. So >> it's my understanding there is a charge to come in but the organization is collecting that money. >> Right. any snacks or anything that are sold in theorium is going through the district >> because we're hosting we have the up >> and I do think there was um a couple more in there. >> Yeah. Well, there's a speech lines. >> Yeah, Blackstone Lions Club. Matt, do you know what's going on with this? >> Why do we're

174really excited to work with them again? >> We did this last year, right? >> We did. We're still looking for kiddos. I put this on my update to the community. Um, we have worked with the alliance club for a couple of years now and there is a speech contest and last year we had the year before that we had one student who participated. Last year we had two and one of our students actually went on to the next round. Um, so it would if we have more than one it would start here and we you know we've done it goes to the next round and the next round. So you get to see other our kids compete. There's al there's a um and I do put that in my community update every week now with

175the flyer that's attached. So, um if there if anyone's listening and you have a student at the high school who would be interested in joining this, they give you a topic and you do have to speak on it. Um there's a timer. It's very official. Um but it's really nice to go and those um I was able to go and see them last year, too. They they did a great job, you know, representing BMR. So, we're hoping we have even more students will participate this year. So, >> so, uh, a motion to approve the use of facilities request as presented. >> I don't think you're done yet, though. >> Oh, we're done. >> Plus, you have the BM we didn't approve. >> Correct. There's two. >> We didn't had one was the basketball practice. >>

176Yeah, we waved. >> Was the other one the wreck? >> The Saturdays and Sundays. So, the Saturdays and Sundays need approval and the practices need approval, >> but we don't have the practices for Milville Elementary. >> So, I I circled it on my >> I like for So, this is for both. I mean, that's what I said to her. >> I I'll just add the the >> fees the then it's wrong. >> I didn't know it had to be updated. >> Well, the fees were waved. So, it doesn't >> Right. The fees were waved for the practices. >> Fees were waved, >> right? They only use >> and we're >> they only use FW on the weekends. >> Yeah, >> that's that's what I want to add. The caveat is >> 8 p.m. >> It's

177only during hours of 8:00 p.m. hours where there's a custodian already on >> So, do we want a new one filled out and we because we can still approve it at the next October meeting and still not mess up their dates? >> We can. It's up to you guys. We can make a motion contingent with approving it contingent on the changes. Whatever you >> I'd like to do BMYBL separate and >> sure >> here separate and then the others can be done. >> Well, go ahead and start. >> All right. I'll make a motion that BMR student speech contacts the Blackstone Lions Town of Blackstone meeting >> PTO >> uh Friends of Blackstone Senior Center in uh Partnet Middle School PTO. Motion to approve school use facilities as requested. So >> motion made by Aaron,

178seconded by Matt. >> Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Any abstensions? Hearing? None. It's unanimous. >> No. You want to do? >> So, I'll make a motion. >> Well, I don't want to make a I want to request more information. I want to hold lower level cheer competition until we can verify that CMAC is paying the custodial staff because it is a full Saturday >> of $466.40. It's submitted by Darlene I think or it just needs corrections. >> So I would request that we hold that one. >> What's that? >> I was told Cac is paying >> but we have October 23rd we have a meeting. So November 1st is still fine. Okay. But for the purposes of scheduling the event because uh that's October

17923rd. It's a week before >> pressure on them. >> So I mean >> worried >> we won't. >> So that's a recommendation like >> yes >> I'm recommending we hold it >> and so I would recommend that we make a motion to approve contingent on CMAC >> paying the 466. Um, >> and if they're not, then >> it's not it's not approved. That's right. >> Then there's no competition. >> That's right. >> Here, >> right. They would need a different >> And if they have a problem with that, then they can come in front of us 23rd and and >> but that way that we don't hold up the scheduling. If if it's the understanding that they're paying for it >> and the application is kind of miss, >> then that way they they're paying

180for it. We You have no objection as long as they're paying for it. Correct. Correct. >> All right. So, >> I mean, I think they might want to include the cafeteria, too, for space, but that's just >> right. I'm sure >> just saying they they're clearly going to need warm-up space. And if it's that full day event, I don't know how many teams are coming, but they're going to use more than gymnasium. >> Is that an additional fee? Well, we're not charging them for use of facilities because they fill it out as a group one. But is it a It's just still one custodian, right? >> So, I'll make a motion to approve the cheer event contingent upon CMAC. That's CMAC paying the fees associated with a sat full day Saturday event. >> Motion made

181by Jane. it just in case it's more than one faced. >> I'll second it. >> Any further discussion? Oh, I'm sorry. All right. All right. Motion to second. >> F further discussion. >> Yeah. >> Um we just need to make sure that our front parking lot isn't obstructed during the day cuz that is our band's warm-up before they leave for state champions at championships that night. >> So, I don't I mean I don't know. It doesn't say. It says 200 to 250 people. [Applause] >> Is that one of the days that Todd moved practice to me? I know he sent out a few dates. >> I don't know. But that's a lot of work, too. So, I I just want to point that out. >> That that is a truck move. It's a low. It's

182a lot of work to do that. I mean, we can't just do that to them every Saturday because we we're letting >> Yeah. >> people close the parking lot. >> 200 people and close one parking lot and we shouldn't have to the ban shouldn't have to uh deal with that on the day of we already know that they need the problem almost every Tuesday and Thursday because of poor planning and it's got to stop. So, cordoning off their >> Yeah, we just that lot. We tried, but it's just when you have 200 to 250 people coming to park on the street at the complex and >> that would be great. So, let's just make sure that that's happening effort not to. >> It's it's my understanding that um >> put them somewhere else. >> Each

183team has a scheduled time to come. So, it's not everybody showing up all at once either. So, >> it's in intervals. >> That should be Yeah. Um, I worked the parking lot for the BMA home show for trucks and buses and it was a nightmare. I almost said a bad word. >> I guess >> it was So, you know what? They all stay for awards, Scott. Just saying. >> Okay. >> They come in and out. They're They're >> They stay for awards and I don't know. I don't know. >> I don't know how it works. I've never been to them. >> I think it's too We're always too like >> two boys. We're always assuming the band's going to move there. This week they're at this Saturday they're at mees again. So, and I'm not

184even saying Mr. Shaver's complaining about it. I see the work you have. You want to talk about volunteers, the pit parents that are there at 9:00 in the morning. Our kids don't have to be there until 11. >> Absolutely. >> But they're there loading the truck because we have to move everything. Then they unload it at the the practice site for the morning. Then they load it back up to drive to a competition. Then they they drive their own cars to that competition, unload the truck again. It's not it's not like, oh, the band can move their instruments. This is a lot of work and I don't think that that it's being respected by all the other use of facilities. That's the only space they have. >> But more consideration needs to be made. >>

185It does >> with uh confirming it. And I'm sure if Mr. Schaer was here, he'd be saying it's not a problem. It's not I I know they're going to do it. It's >> very accommodating. >> What's that? >> He's very accommodating. >> He is probably too accommodating. >> I I think it's reasonable to tell a group that they don't have access to a parking lot. >> There's still enough parking. as someone who doesn't have a student band, if that >> parking lot is blocked off, like really well blocked off by the track. If they're out there practicing and a random football team shows up and just drives in anyway that and during band camp and then you have our chair of a school committee, another school committee and a superintendent and athletic director come over

186because our kids were on the parking lot >> marching and playing and >> a sleuth of red jerseys showed up. I'm not saying it I don't even know what town it was. So, but if it's blocked off, >> that was a mistake. >> Tuesdays and Thursdays we come in and >> yeah, >> you it's there's still cars there from day from the games or Yeah. I mean, they do they end up leaving, but >> it's not a surprise they'll be there on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It's been happening since 1975. >> Mhm. >> Saturday morning. I was going to say overcoming adversity is what's made our marching band the champions that they've been for the last four or five decades. >> That's right. >> They can adapt and overcome and still win champions. >> But we

187can block. >> Probably the only one champion band that has been marching on pavement since >> 1969 before >> Kryon spray paint. >> Not true. When I was the groundskeeper, I used to line the lower soccer field for the the march. >> I must have been spoiled for a few years then. because it was always a parking lot. >> Well, the parking lot was always lying, too. >> Okay. So, Erin, you're concerned about that parking lot between the building and the and and so we can add the >> a lot. I mean, that's just one I just added to my list. >> I did coordinate that they the if the band hasn't already moved to relocate, if that's the the email you're addressing, then uh ensure that they're >> lot is secured. >> It's secure.

188Can we say we're approving it contingent on the fee being paid by CMAC as well as ensuring the band has >> adequate practice space >> before they show my motion >> not to go accept amendment cones up >> okay so there was still a motion in a second on the floor >> we bring them in >> and this is for the um this is for the chair just chair Mhm. >> Any further discussion? So, we got that just so for the detail we have. We'll we'll follow up on that. Um >> um the force the the the fee and the parking. >> But Evan, just to be clear, when you say the front parking lot, you're talking the track. >> Yeah. >> Side parking lot. >> The their practice field. >> It's lined for them.

189>> Y >> it's Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. The asphalt field >> championship. We have >> I don't know if we needed the front section also blocked off >> the parking lot. >> If you don't know what line block don't >> that'll solve all the problems. >> Park in that lot. Yeah. >> Have them park at complex >> and walk. We did that for the track meet though. Like we've used the complex for overflow parking. >> State track meet. >> We made them park. >> Did they walk on the I mean it's a beautiful new sidewalk. >> Nice walk. >> Yeah. So, I think that was brought up, but because of the youth soccer league, I think that's their last weekend. >> That's happening there, too. >> See, we're not going to take away their

190parking lots. Just saying. >> Watch me. >> It's a free-for-all. First come, first serve. First come, first serve. This lot's blocking. They're full. Sat that is a beautiful site on Saturday morning. If you don't drive up Lincoln Street or Summer Street, whatever it turns into >> on a regular basis, >> it like it looks like half of the community is out there. Littles to >> 300 basketball on the basketball courts. >> That's where the table for. >> There you go. >> Hold our meeting there. >> I'll go because my >> Oh, now you're the Now you're the PR committee. >> I go there on Saturday mornings. So, >> okay. >> Yeah, we you're right. That is a great place. Take our popup tent. >> Yeah. Just going to show up. >> Yes. >> All right.

191So, a motion to approve the chair competition contingent on the fee and the parking. >> We have a MO. We have a motion in a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Any oppose? Any abstensions? >> Hearing none. It's unanimous. Is that all the facilities? >> No, we saw we have three that >> people did. We have two >> two, right? We done two. >> Two of them. >> Two. One was already approved back in September. >> That's what that's what I >> Saturday. And then the practices, >> but we're changing the fee on this one or they're paying that fee. >> They're paying the fee for the weekend for the one that was approved in September. >> They're paying that one. They're paying $60. >> One of the ones that

192is presented to you tonight, ones, >> the one that was approved on 9825. >> Mhm. >> They're not paying a fee on that. >> They're paying $60. >> $60. >> Oh, so let's just do them one. Um, so for the the basketball, so they're both weekend games. Okay. >> This is the one they're paying for start weekend. >> Okay. Weekend games. >> Yeah, correct. Weekend games. >> Okay. Okay. So, facilities request Hot Middle School gymnasium December 6th and it's going to go right through January, March, February, March >> from 8:00 to 4:00 p.m. The one they're paying for. Um, and that was a uh what was that? 375 was >> custodians. >> That was a custodial fee. >> Yeah. 375. 15 time 25 days. Jim has memory question. >> So, didn't didn't we just agree

193to wave the fees? Not on the weekend. Not on the weekend for the for the practice. >> We don't have these are some of these are >> looking at the one that was approved. Um and it says Monday through Thursday. >> And that's their try out dates, I believe. >> She didn't ask for a waiver on that. >> Okay. I thought we were talking about that one. Okay. Which one are we on? >> What's that? >> This is the weekend one. on the one that says weekend games at the top. >> So this is the weekend. So this is the Yeah, the one the one that says weekend games >> and it's got date requesting. It's got >> whatever 20 dates or whatever >> 25 >> and it's from 8:00 p.m. and I would imagine

1948:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. Correct. >> Um and that's with the fee involved. I'll take a motion to approve that. >> So moved. >> Motion made by Jane. >> Second by Carrie. Any further discussion? Can we amend the motion to state all fees are being paid on these? I I just want to clarify. >> So, we're not waving. This is This is very clear. There's no waving of any fees on this. There is no request to wave any fees on this one. >> Well, there's no right here. She agrees to paying the custodians, but no mention was made of 37. >> No, it's on here. 375 for the facility. >> She didn't make any mention of waving that. Okay. Correct. That's >> right. >> It's this one. >> Yes. >> Yeah. But let's do this

195one first. Let's do >> We do have Do I have a motion to second on this one? >> Yeah. Okay. >> All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. >> Any oppose? >> I. >> Any abstensions? >> It's unanimous. >> Now we're going to get to BM YBL basketball practices. And these so and and so this is from November 3rd to March 20th, Monday through Friday. And it's going to be 5:00 p. p.m. to 8:00 p.m. >> 8:00 p.m. And it's going to be the complex and Milville. >> Right. >> I was subject to change on availability. >> Yes. >> And this is one we we voted to wave the fees on. >> Correct. uh >> which is $1,425 first times two. >> Yes. >> So it's in the in the minutes.

196>> That's that's so to Erin's point. That's correct. So this is for the the request. So we're voting on the requests for the Maloney School as well as uh the uh the Milville Elementary School gymnasiums. Um although this request states only the Maloney Elementary School uh the petitioner tonight asked for both. >> No ability to be able to >> and we we voted to wave the practice fees for that period of time. >> Can I just ask before you do that? >> Sure. >> Where Milville Elementary wasn't initially on this? >> Yeah. My concern is has that been cafeteria been has it been checked? >> I mean I do think we should get a formal request cuz >> May may I >> think it is I >> so they she stated that whatever time at

197Milville that the school needs they will relinquish that time. >> Yes. And you know, >> but I I mean, I don't want to get away from the motion, but I also I think it's important that these forms are filled out in their entirety, too. The they're not answering the question of are they charging admission. I I'm It's not important on this one cuz it's practice, but those this weekend event, the Saturday, Sunday, these are travel games on Sundays. These are They're charging admission. >> No, they don't. There's no admission charge for those games. No travel. They all the the gym time is paid for and their fees that they pay. >> So you don't pay to get into the travel >> and then your son played it was a different league. They're in a different

198Metro West league now. That was Central Mass. >> But it still should be then it should say no. Like it's left blank and all the others are answered. But why is it no? Why is it blank if it's no? I just I don't even think these should come to us unless they're filled out in entirety and correctly because even the 8 8:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. like we just need to make sure they're coming to us >> accurately. Their schedule has not ch you know year every year year after year. just seems like we're struggling this year with they, you know, they have to ask for a general amount of time >> because they don't know what time they can get. So they they it >> I'm just saying point of order, we should make

199sure these are filled out. >> Can I just say something? >> Some of these aren't even signed, >> right? This came before Christina and I uh Kristen, sorry. And um we were under the impression that these were put into this packet just so we had something to go by when she asked for the fees to be waved. >> We didn't know that these were being approved this meeting. We thought they were going to get approved at the next meeting. >> I I was under that impression as well. >> Yes. >> So I don't know if you >> and and >> maybe there shouldn't be a motion. Well, and and what's her um >> go back? >> And uh Jen was Yeah, I I was under the impression like she wasn't aware that there wasn't one

200in here for Millville. Is that was that my understanding? >> She didn't know. Yeah. >> Yeah. Well, we can >> listen I I I I don't have any I understand Aaron's >> Aaron's point because this is use these are vetted by this building principles as well and there's no and to make sure there's nothing conflicting already booked. Do we >> So would you like to put these back on the agenda on the 23rd? >> Yeah, we've waved the fee. We have >> We've waved the fees. So it's just a matter of clarified. Well, and a matter of fact, we can approve we can approve the the Maloney school run right now, and that's what I would do. It's the request is in front of us. We've already voted to wave the fees. Um, I think

201I'd feel better, and I'm sure there's not an issue, but this these are vetted through the building principles. Correct. >> I believe it's the administrative assistance, but they they are the ones that are supposed to double check the calendar. Is that or is that calendar not still in use, Scott? you know, >> it's still being used. >> The admins are I believe they're the ones that accept them. >> So, in years past, these used to go before the admins and they would sign off on it and then it would come to us as well. >> And now, is it you? I don't know what you're going to say. >> Well, >> oh, you >> myself and Christine >> approve. >> You'll get it right eventually, Scott. It's >> only been two weeks. Okay, >> Scotty,

202>> I was on vacation first shot. >> Could you just please make sure that they're filled out filled out in the entirety? >> Absolutely. >> I mean, it's just easier to get through them, >> right? >> Years ago, it was actually scheduling stuff that slowed us down and that's been correct. >> Again, we didn't we anticipated changing this because the fees would possibly be waved. So, that's why we didn't sign them or anything. We thought they were going to have to be redone. Well, then they can come back because the times are wrong anyway. >> Well, we already approved the weekend, but we don't have >> Yeah, the weekend one's fine. >> All right. >> The Maloney and >> Well, but we already waved the fees. We voted to wave the fees on the practice,

203>> but we So, we voted to wave the fees for their season moving forward. So, anytime they request practice times, >> it's just under the assumption that it's >> Can I make a motion? You can make a motion. Motion on the floor. >> Yeah, there's a motion on the floor. Okay. >> Well, it was what is the motion >> to to approve the Millville and complex >> uh >> Monday through Friday, but 5 to 8. >> 5 to 8. That's right. >> Or as as the schedule dictates. >> I said 5 to 8. >> So, >> or as the schedule dictates. >> And I and I think I said or well, the custodian was on duty. So there is a motion and a second on the floor. >> So do you want to amend it

204in any way? >> Well, it's it's >> How about all those in favor signify by saying I? >> I still a point of order. >> I I'm not I you're we're making it exactly 3 hours. The custodian needs is only there for 3 hours. >> When are they cleaning up after the kids leave? >> Custodian is there for 3 and 1/2 hours. Okay. So, he'll have 15 minutes to open up and 15 minutes to close up. >> Okay. >> Sorry. >> The issue becomes if he calls I'll sit for something, but we'll make arrangements. >> I I It also sounds like they're flexible enough where if we said you need to be done by 7:45, they'll be done by 7:45. Like I >> And she has in the past. >> They'll do. >> Sounds like

205it. >> They're very cooperative. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Any oppose have sensions? Unanimous. Would you ask him to fill out uh to fill out another form for the record, please? So that we have even though it was already voted on. All right. Um moving on. Thank you, Scott. Moving on to uh we have that is the that's all of them, right? >> Let's hope so. >> Um well, you know, while we're on facilities requests, when does band camp start >> for next year? >> The one in July? >> No, in August. >> August. I mean, second or third week in August. >> All right. Cuz I I'm going to let you know now the town of Blackstone is we're going to have a we're going to get we're gonna

206we want the school to be involved. There's going to be a 250th anniversary or semiquentennial event. Uh we would like we're going to be requesting the >> carnival. >> Uhhuh. >> Are we having a carnival? >> A big one. >> Cool. >> So the 24th, 25th, and 26th, we'd like to request the grounds for um I don't think we have to request the grounds for the Kennedy School, but we will anyway. And the in the high school. And so it's going to be a carnival. Uh we want all the we want the schools involved and we're so and we want if you want to be part of our um we're having a meeting every third Saturday >> is it recorded >> that's when >> will there be fireworks >> I was going to say that

207now >> so yes >> fireworks >> yes >> are we are we in school or are we in still in facilities report >> we're in facilities report I just want to make sure because um the 's request, although I'm not formally making one. >> July or August? >> August. >> July 24th, 24th. 25th. 24th, 25th, 26. >> You won't have your boy scouts here. >> Oh, no. >> Where are they? Camping. >> Yagu. No. >> Well, they're going to be camping because we already have a job for them. They're going to be They can camp out and secure the vendors and everything else. >> They don't have to go to >> We'll cancel them for you. >> Yeah. And And the whole entire town. It's for the community. So >> the fireworks I can just

208fireworks will have to be lit on Goule field and not on school grounds because you can't have explosives on school grounds. >> Well, we have ways >> control of this meeting. Goo field is yours. >> Point of order. Moving on. >> So anyway, all I'm just trying to say is it's going to be those three days >> completely filled out too. Please don't miss a sign. And so I'm I'm giving I'm getting it on the record now argument, >> but I wanted to make sure Erin brought that we had the band wasn't stunned. >> Thank you, Dan. We don't want to burn down the band. >> With that being said, during this huge event, we want the jazz band and other bands. We want to have like a uh um >> um New Orleans style

209like the day like rag tag jazz band. >> Gambling. We can't gamble anymore by the way. We don't we won't not legally change. >> There's a lot of things we're not going to be able to do that we're going to do anyway, including explosives behind the rocks for fireworks. Are >> we going to paint the rock? >> The rock is gone. >> That are going to be sponsored by Uni. >> Do not blow up the rock. >> We're going to We're going to chip at the rock and sell pieces for a >> motion to move to the next article. >> Up on the rocks. It's going downhill already. >> The band has a rock they can replace it with this year. uh the rock will stay. >> We have a new one. >> Okay. So,

210uh that's the end of the facilities request. Thank you again. Uh moving on to uh school committee forum. Anyone have anything for school committee forum? >> I'll just say the uh I know the homecoming weekend and everything was a pretty big success. I know uh you know look for that to grow some more. um something that you know a lot of people put a lot of work into and you know just something that I think the town can benefit from. Um since we're on the topic of the band so much tonight I would I would uh push to have that more of a showcase for the you know hopefully sometime in the future as this grows we can actually have the home show here which was uh also a huge success. I think we >>

211it was financially a success. >> Financially a success. Logistically, it was um a fever dream. >> It was hard. >> How big of a place do you need for the home show? Like, we are nowhere near able to do. >> We need a stadium with a with a press box. >> You need a press box with electric. >> Yeah, even Bellingham's really too small for what we do. >> Could we possibly like homecoming weekend have the band do a performance? Cuz >> one or two songs just, you know, setting up for all that. >> I would love to see >> Halime isn't long enough. Yeah. time. >> I'd like to see their own show >> is there. >> Well, you can come to King Phillip on Saturday night at 8:45. The band >> a really

212great show. It is a really good showing. Really good show. >> Uh, but to finish my soap box moment. Um, >> my god, >> I just sat through >> through you. Exactly. You could say it. >> Nearly three hours of that whole side of the room. So, please allow me five minutes. >> Take your time. >> The other thing I have is uh scouting for food starts at the end of the month. We'll have one more meeting before that. Well, I'll remind you. Um, but you know, last year the Boy Scouts and Pack and the Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts along with our National Honor Society who helped out, which we were very appreciative of, along with the Blackstone Lions Club who helped out. So, it was a real

213community event were able to um collect about 4,000 lbs of food for the Blackstone Mill Food Pantry. One of the things you have to remember is that for this thing, um, the rest of the Naragans at Council, which our troop lives in, um, they all give to the Rhode Island Food Pantry and it goes to whomever. We're the only unit that it's allowed to stay in our community. >> So, it was it so we're hoping to expand on that this year. So, >> any community organizations that want to help us tag doors on uh, October 25th, uh, we'd love your help. Um, just contact me. So, sports, civics, anybody. We're uh we're open to help all day. So, thank you. >> Thank you very much. Anyone else? All right. So, uh, next school committee meeting

214is October 23rd, 2025 at 6 p.m. At this time, I will ask for a motion to enter into executive session to be held for the purpose of Mass General Law, chapter 38, section 21A3, to conduct strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have detrimental effect on the bar bargaining or litigation position of the public body and the chair. So, declares not to return to open session. So moved. Motion made by Matt, >> seconded by Chuck. Roll call. James, >> yes. >> Carrie, >> yes. >> Aaron, >> if I'm not attending, can I roll call in? >> You can if you would like. >> Yes. >> Uh Matt, >> yes. Chuck, >> yes. >> Tara, >> yes. >> And I'm a Yes. Ran >> out of time.