001Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the school committee uh May 22nd, 2025 meeting. At this time, I'll call to order and ask everyone rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Uh, next up is introduction of members. I'll start over here with Jane. Uh, Jane Rio, Milville, Harry Goddette, Blackstone. Erin Vanco, Milville. Charles Stuntton, Blackstone. Terara Scobby, Blackstone. Tara Lark and Milville. Uh, Dan Keith Blackstone. Maya Gany, student council president. Joe Spagna, director of finance and operations. Jill Per Gallerani, assistant superintendent, director of student services. Jason DeFalco support and Maya will hand the floor floor to you student representative. Thank you. So I bring
002an update from the high school. Our track and field team attended the twilight invitational at Norwell High School on Saturday, May 24th and we'll be attending states on May 29th and June 1st at Tus University. Today we had our annual ro shambo which is like a schoolwide rock paper scissors battle where everyone's got some beads and if you win you win the other person's beads. So out of the whole school our freshman winner was Landon Lavali. He won the entire event to students and teachers. And speaking of teachers, we had teacher superlatives which were given out today to 14 of our teachers which were voted on by our students. So like student superlatives, we had teacher ones, like Pinterestw worthy classroom, most likely to know all of your names. We had our senior banquet last
003night at Arrowhead Acres in Axbridge and it was a huge success. Loved by our seniors. And our senior's last day is tomorrow, which will begin with a senior parade, senior signing where they're going off to college, the workforce, or taking a gap year, and will culminate in the annual Brazilian volleyball tournament in the afternoon. Our student council has started their first ever BMR mentorship program. So what's that's going to look like is we have upper classmen who are going to be paired with incoming eighth graders to make sure that they are well grounded and well supported as they begin high school, especially as eighth graders since they are younger. So each mentor will be assigned two to three eighth grade students and they will meet each other this June at our stepup day and we'll
004meet again at orientation day. They will also get together during the first two days of school and make sure that the eighth graders have a solid foundation for their first year at BMR. This mentorship program will continue with monthly meetings and team bonding during Charger time. And as this is happening, our current eighth graders are getting ready for their DC trip which will be happening in June. Oh, thank you ma'am very much. Any follow-up questions from the committee? Well, uh, while you're still sitting here, I'm going to ask to take out of order, um, on the school committee agenda, approve girls state application sponsor fee. Dan, can I just can I ask one question? Yes, you may. What time do you guys start the parade? Do you have a meeting time? Like what time for
005the senior parade? I know it's first period, I believe around 7:25, 7:30, but I can go get a time and email you. Okay. Thank you. So, we'll jump over to um item C uh sorry B on uh school committee agenda approved girl state application. Yes, superintendent. Do you want to give a little overview? So, I know um Maya had brought to us an opportunity um presented to go to girl state. So, those who may if you don't know about girl state, it is about it's a full week that she would be going and it it's about citizenship, government, and leadership. and they actually practice all those skills within that within that week. And it's a great opportunity. I know I said before I had the opportunity when I was in high school as well. So,
006we were, you know, very grateful. I think it would be a wonderful experience for her and to be able to bring back, you know, to BMR. So, we are looking to be her sponsors for this. Um, and we're looking for the committee's approval um for us to be able to send our our representative. And there's a little bit of information about Girl State in your packet. This would be a tremendous opportunity, not just for Ryan, but for our district to have the student representative there. It's at Stone Hill uh for the full week and I think toward the end of June. It is and it's a great start. It's something that we can definitely look to expand in the future. Um but I appreciate you took the initiative to bring that to us. I think
007it would be a great experience. A boy state too. I don't think so. Not that there are in other states. I'm not aware of Well, maybe there is. I'm not sure. I'll make that motion that we approve the $400. I think it's an amazing opportunity for agreed. Second a motion made by Aaron and seconded by Tara. Any further discussion? Well, congratulations and um we wish you the best and thank you for representing us. Voting. We are there discussion. Any more? Is there any further discussion? It's a unique way. She's leaving. Is there any Oh, she's leaving now. Is there any discussion? Never leave before the vote. Yeah. Yeah. Lesson number one. Lesson number one in elected as an elected official. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any
008oppose? The eyes have it. Awesome. Congratulations. Wonderful. Thank you. I'll update you next. Bring back all the good stuff. Thanks. Thanks, Maya. Thanks. That was a tactic of encouraging the vote when you congratulate. That was a good tactic there. Okay. And while we're out of um taking the agenda out of order, um here now. Okay. He is. Okay. Uh we're going to go under the report of this uh superintendent. Uh student recognition. Uh is it I'm sorry. Kellen Shave. Yep. Mr. Superintendent. Yes. Thank you. Uh good evening everybody. Uh Kellen, if you would like to join us up front. Uh every year we have the distinct pleasure of recognizing one of our uh seniors with the uh superintendent uh scholar uh award. And there is uh really uh quite strong criterion that need to be
009met in order to uh be the recipient of this award. And this will be the second time Ken's recognized and there'll be a third at awards night uh next week. uh but you have to be a top 5% of three-year cumulative average overall in your class uh top 5% in class rank and then personal recommendations from u both the uh high school administration and uh district administration. So Kellen I just want to issue this to you again and uh Mr. chairman if you want. Yes. Actually, do that. I'll get a picture. Sure. Congratulations. We are very proud of you. And Kellen was recognized at Holy Cross with the other recipients. Here you go. Congratulations. Thank you. Perfect. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] in your packet is actually a photo of Kellen with the uh award
010at our Worcester County Superintendent Scholar Lunchon that was held at Holy Cross and actually BMR prints those booklets that you all that's right had a copy of those as well. Well, thank you again and congratulations. Nice work. Congratulations. And next we'll do the uh item um B under superintendent uh the introduction of um Christine Pazulo in food service director. Yes. Thank you. Uh Christine, if you want to join us down front for just a moment. Uh in your packets uh you do have Christine's resume. Um, she has been filling in as our food service director for a few weeks now and uh I think determining if uh she may want to stay the course or not, but Well, Jess and Joe say I have to. So, Christine's in a great room with the team. Thank
011you. And Christine, you're usually sitting on this side of the table. Yes, I am. I like it better on this side. Much easier. You want to say a few words to the committee? That'd be great. Thanks. Um, I've been here in the district. This was my second school year. I started as the administrative assistant. Um, and I really enjoy being here. I'm learning a ton. I've worked in schools pretty much my whole life in in various roles. Um, I am on the school committee in Oxbridge, so I'm very familiar with budget and policy and all of that fun stuff. Have a great support system. Joe has been phenomenal. Jess Sinclair has been excellent. And so, we're really figuring it out and I'm enjoying it. So, I'm glad to uh be working with this team. Do
012you mind if I make a comment? Joe, go ahead. Um, Christine came into this position at a very difficult time. A lot of reporting was due. There was a lot of information that had to be gathered and it was new to both of us and she's basically stepped up and um, led the charge. She's done a great job. So, we're on target. We're on time. We're cleaning some things up that were a little bit messy. Um, and it's just been great. So, hopefully Yeah, you are staying, by the way. [Laughter] She's done a great job. Thank you very much. Thanks for the great Thanks for Thank you. Welcome. Welcome again. Again. Rewelcome. And the last item we'll take out of order um uh before we go back to the uh normal format of the agenda
013will be the introduction uh with the Blackstone Police Department for the community uh comfort dog. It's not the introduction of the dog, which is another couple weeks to come. Oh, I know. We were hoping. Not that we're not excited to see you guys, too. But where's the dog? Nothing would be better out in this weather. We're glad you're here, too. Good evening. Um, thanks for the invite. Uh, Joe Nimick. I'm the school resource officer for the district here with Lieutenant Broer. Just wanted to introduce you to our new program we're adding to the department. It's a uh community service comfort therapy dog. Um so I've watched these dogs work within the school district. We currently have one at the high school now. He used to be housed here at the middle school. Um they they
014just bridge the gap between the police for us and the students. Um, just encourage communication, foster relationships, build trust with the kids, aid in all deescalation stuff, just calms everything in a stressful situation. Um, so we're going to be bringing a dog in in about 2 weeks. Uh, it's an English lab. Um, so basically, I've been thinking about this program for a while. Um, too busy with family. We used to have a dog. We lost it this past June. Uh, my kids are going off to college in the fall. So I thought it was time to approach the chief. Um told him about the program. There was recently one started in Oxbridge and uh there's several others throughout the state. He told me uh go out and do some research. So I did. I met
015with animal control. Uh he helped me a ton. Um then I met with uh Lenny Goslin, retired Kanan officer from Bellingham Police that I know. He owns Loyal Guardian Kennels. Um and I asked him to help me start a program. So he said, "Uh, sure, I can help you, but I have one we call pups on the ground, so this has to happen quick." So, um, Len met with Jen Hurt, who was Stonewall Kennels. Um, they do K9 training right here in Bellingham close by. Um, they drafted a proposal. I presented to my chief. He accepted it. Uh, we then had a meeting with school administration. Everybody was on board. May 7th was a big day for me. I brought my family there to introduce to the pups. Uh they were excited. Um currently there's
016three uh white labs, three black labs. Um they're getting temperament tested next week to see which line of service they're going to go into. Uh three are going to Boston police for uh bomb detection. Another one's going to their police range as a comfort dog and one's going to the private sector uh for comfort therapy work, a volunteer basis. So they're all going into service homes. Um training pretty extensive. It's a 16-month training. uh 12week basic puppy commands. Then we go into a good citizen public access and then um finish off with a comfort therapy certificate. Um so everybody wants to know what the dog's name is. So what I've done is my kids are coming up with four names. Um then we're going to put it out to the kids at school and then
017they can vote and we'll name the dog. So come home day I believe is June 3rd. There's a selectman's meeting that night. I believe that's when the dog's going to get sworn in. So we'll be present there and then we'll be off to work. Just wanted to thank a few people that helped me out. Uh animal control officer Kevin Sullivan, Chief Gilmore, Lieutenant Broa, Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Lenny Goslin, um Jen Heru, Stonewall Kennels, um Officer Dan Dvau, Oxbridge Police, and of course my family. And we Joe when he presented this we had the chance to actually meet um Cash the new comfort dog the pup in Oxbridge and I believe it was Titan from Milford. Was it Titan? Correct. Yeah, we had an opportunity to meet them that day. Yeah, we brought Titan in. He's
018assigned to Milford police actually assigned to the courts there. Um it's one of Lenny's dogs as well. It's two years old. It's finished its training. So we got to see the difference between the puppy and the finished dog. Any questions? How old will the puppy be when he starts or when he or she starts their training? Uh June 4th, right away. We're going right into it right away. So all phases of training, uh we can work with the dog in the schools. Um and when the schools aren't in session, I'll be working in the parks. We have summer school programs. We have the bike path. We um any sporting events, any requests that we may get, boys and girls club, things like that. [Music] And um will the dog be available June 12th at 6
019PM for an introduction at our next school committee meeting? I believe we can make that happen. It's going to be busy. Any follow-up questions for our SRO officer or Lieutenant Broa? Thank you for attending. No problem. Never at a loss for words. No problem. I appreciate your effort in making this happen. I think it will make a difference. Thank you. Well, we look forward to uh meeting our unnamed dog. And when is the vote going to be again for the uh the vote will be at school? Next week. Next week. Okay. And so we'll have a name by by the 12th. I'll report back to the chairman of the board of select. Okay. I um appreciate all the hard work and dedication from you, the administration, all those people you mentioned and look forward to
020uh uh a successful future with our new unnamed comfort comfort dog. Thanks again for all you do guys. Thanks. Thank you. Good night. All right, we'll go back to consent agenda A to approve minutes from May 13, 2025. So move. Motion made by Carrie. Second. Second by Jane. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any oppose? The eyes have it. Uh, next is public forum. Anyone wishing to address the committee, come right up to the table. Uh Rachel Anderson on the board of selectment in Millville. Um so I want to just help clarify for the public because regarding mees and the water problem. Um emails saying that mass D says that for drinking consuming 2 liters per day every day for 70 years is of concern. That's if you do
0212 liters every day for 70 years. In addition, cooking with it, consuming the equivalent of 20 plus servings of pasta every day for 70 years. I think if you tried to do that, you would actually die from the pasta first before actually having health concerns from the water. And so, you know, we're providing we're going to provide bottled water and everything like that. Um, and yet there's concerns about kids filling up their water bottles in sinks and bathrooms. My concern is who's teaching kids to fill up sink their water in the bathroom? That's a bit weird. I'm going to be frank here. It's really weird to uh have kids do that. And why would a teacher allow a kid to bring a water bottle to the bathroom in the first place? Um, you also mentioned
022that you want to put the idea of putting preK into the high school. Um, however, did you know the high school, well, you should look at the budget. The budget has lines for air monitoring for asbestous and mediation for asbestous in the high school. And you want to put prek kids in a building that has asbestous that's actively having air monitoring done on it. you know, it only takes one particle of asbestous to develop um asbestosis in the lungs years later. And you want to put prek kids in there. Um it's it's really something. Um there's also concerns in the high school of mold. Um and you want to put prek kids in there. I don't know how many times I'm going to reiterate this. Um and what about the water at the high school
023itself? you know, there's certain water fountain there that kids are supposed to use. And so, we could apply the same logic. Are prek kids going to go fill up their water bottles in the bathroom sinks? Um, something to think about. Uh, so yeah, and then one last thing, I just have a minor concern. um is when I went to visit Defalco a couple weeks ago um to have a meeting about the budget which he didn't present unfortunately at that time but then presented emailed me later about it. Um when I was there to speak with him I saw a bunch of special ed kids carrying in empty boxes into the school and I'm just concerned um as to why they would be doing that. I hope they're not um moving stuff for you guys. I'm
024just I would just like clarification as to what's going on with that. Thank you, Slugwoman Anderson. Anyone else would like to address? I sure. Thank you. Evening everybody. Uh my name is Jake Stanley, 6B Middle Street Blackstone. Um I think we can all agree as leaders here in town as you are to be an effective leader. One of the key things you have to respect is the fact that you don't know it all. We can all agree with that. I believe couple head nods. Good. Um I think that's one of the key things of leadership, realizing that you don't have every answer. And when that's the case, you've got to listen to the experts. Now, every one of you, every person in this room has a background that gives them some expertise. Throw it out.
025But some of you do. What are your careers? What is your expertise? Anyone? Nothing. Danny, most popular guy in town. What do you think? Well, I was I thought it was rhetorical. So, I'd love I'd love to hear. What do you guys do? What do you What do you do? Yeah. Well, it's this is kind of good and well, so but you know what I mean, I'm a contractor, so use me as an So, construction, boom. Awesome experience to have on this board. Everyone doing construction. I don't believe, correct me if I'm wrong, anyone on this board has actual background in public drinking water and public health for public drinking water. Please raise your hand if I'm incorrect. Just to be clear, this committee has made that very clear over the last two years. Beautiful.
026I'm sitting here before you hoping that you'll listen to some of what I have to say. I am the deputy water and sewer superintendent for the town of Franklin. I've held this position for over four years. I've been in the public drinking water sector for 12 and a half years. So, everything that you're dealing with now at MEES, I've been dealing with for over a decade. So, I hope that some of what I have to say will resonate. Um, first and foremost, you guys have written consent and verbal consent from D that school is safe to reoccupy with children. DP does nothing without a certainty. They are a regulatory state agency. I work with them every single day, day in day out for what I do and they will never ever ever back a move
027without knowing 100% that it is safe. They would never take on that liability. So to have that written consent, to have that verbal consent speaks volumes and I'm here to reiterate their points and push their points that they should be considered more seriously. Um, as for the um provisions made by the school for the uh the the drinking water being provided to the students in bottles, that makes this 100% a safe scenario. And as part of what D wants to see us do at that school, which is treat the current problem, there's only one way to get sound science and to find out how to treat this problem effectively, and that is to flow that system like it's supposed to flow every day. And you cannot mirror hundreds of students and staff in a building
028by having a single person turn on a few faucets every day. You will never get that kind of data that they need to get an accurate representation of how we need to treat this water. you're just kicking the can if you think that's going to be the case. So, in order to get the data we need to treat this water effectively and put this million-doll grant to good use, we have to get that school occupied again. There have to be kids in that school so we can get this data and get these samples done and start moving forward. To do anything else is just prolonging the problem. Um, and finally, I am a parent of a young man who will be attending kindergarten next year. So, I have some skin in the game there, too.
029And personally, from my point of view as a drinking water professional in this state, I have zero zero zero concerns for his health when it comes to the drinking water in that school. I understand that there is drinking water being provided via bottles. I know the risks associated with the contaminants that are being put out there that we are attempting to treat for and I understand that if he drinks a bottle of water maybe not provided maybe out of a faucet there it's not the end of the world. These are long longlasting contaminants that people have to consume regularly for decades to see negative effects on. And personally, I feel that it's within this board's best interests to listen to the experts, listen to the D regulation regulators, listen to sound science, and put all
030personal opinions aside if you are not someone who you could consider to be an expert in this particular situation. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? My name is Cole Young. I live in Millville. Um, I just want to reiterate what he said. Um, I think the kids should be back in that school. We should be utilizing it. Um, I don't think that anybody here on the board and I think you did. I think I heard you you confirm that no one here does have a degree in um, science, chemistry, biology to make a determination whether the kids whether the water is safe or not. and that mass D does say that the water is safe. Um, you know, and again, they would I think they would be the first agency that would, you know, take
031the kids safety as priority number one and make that call and say the kids need to be moved when they never said the kids need to be moved. I believe there's something else going on here that whe whatever it be, political move with a new high school or whatever it may be. Um, I would I would also like to say, Dan, um, last year you told me and Jennifer that you were going to vote to put the kids back in the school um, this year and, um, I I heard that you voted against it. I know you're not for Milville, you're a rep for Blackstone, but that was a conversation that you and I and Jennifer had last year. Um, and I'd also like to see maybe some data comparing the safety of AFM JFK
032complex to Milville Elementary. uh someone had posted online and it makes it makes complete sense like where's the lead testing and the asbestous checks and radon levels and water testing from the AF from the AFM and JFK complex. Um you know to see the differences in the safety haz safety hazards between the two schools. Um I just think what's going on is the waters are not the problem. I think that there's something else going on. Whether it be a political move to try for the new school or whatever it may be or if it's a personal vendetta with someone that doesn't like the town of Millville and does and wants to see, you know, the town fail, whatever it may be. And I just from listening to what other residents say and some people that
033have been in town a very very long time, like decades and decades, um you that seems to be my opinion of of what it is when no one here has the the scientific data to prove the water is not safe for the kids. That's it. Thank you. Anyone else? All right, I'm sorry, Wendy. I didn't see you back there. Wendy Greenstein for Liberty Hill Drive. Um I just have a question regarding the agenda and I'm wondering if we could if you have public forum in the beginning is it possible to have a public forum after a presentation um so that the public can respond to anything that's during the during the meeting as well. Um I know you have it right at the beginning but um and I know you can't answer me because it's
034public forum but just something to think about if you're going to move something out of order. Um, most of the people come to listen to the presentation and we'd like to be able to respond, but in the beginning, you can't really respond to anything because there's nothing to respond to. So, I just I just had a request to maybe put it in as a second one or move it down lower if there's something that um you see a large amount of people here for. Um, that's it. Thank you. So, I can respond to that. typically um as a chairman um a chairman will have discretion for public engagement on any given issue. Um and I think I've had that latitude uh throughout if there's a if there's a um uh an a subject being discussed
035and someone want from the public wanted an input during that subject, I I will generally allow them to address the the committee with their concerns or thoughts on that subject. So, I don't know if that helps you this evening, but we can also consider putting another one in. You can re-engage if you want, but I don't know if that's what I'm what you were getting at or Sorry, I should have stayed. I think just following the protocol and Robert's rules, I think just following things in order is is important. So, I just think if you have it at the end, it just gives an opportunity for the public to Are you asking for public comment at the beginning and the end? Well, we I mean, when I was on the committee, we used to have
036it at the beginning. We used to have it at the beginning and the end. It's at the discretion of of the chair. What I'm saying is most of the people that come to the meetings, they come to listen to what is on the agenda. So, if there's not an opportunity for them to respond to something that they might have heard at these meetings, um, you know, that's kind of where things start to fly, you know, social on social media and things like that. So, I think just having an opportunity to respond to things that either they agree with or disagree with is just an opportunity. I spoke more than three minutes. Sorry. That's fine. That's fine. Well, we can we can I can add a a public forum at the end of the the agenda
037that I have here is pretty much what I inherited. I have no problem amending it or just a request. Yeah, no trouble. But with that being said, if you need to engage in any subject, just raise your hand and I'll be more than happy to uh recognize anyone in the audience. Anyone else for public uh good and welfare or public comment? All right. Right. So, that brings us to school committee item A. Correct, Mr. Superintendent. I covered everything else. Yep. Um request from uh to address the school committee from the Millville board of selection. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. How are you? Good. Yourself? Good. A little wet out there, but uh we'll get through it. Uh I see you have the MSBA update further on. Can I touch upon that? Is
038anybody opposed to that? Bar is yours. Thank you very much. Just want to touch upon that real quick. So, as most of you may or may not be aware, we did have an update with the MSBA. Uh the chair attended, Dr. Defalco, myself, members of the state. Um in state speak essentially, they're expecting a deliverable from us within about two and a half weeks. They are looking for a letter for a decision and I guess a unified cohesive direction. Um, my understanding is is that they anticipate children in there K through 12 or some mixed component thereof. After tonight's meeting, they're hoping that we can draft a letter and have a response for them. They left the inference that the executives may do some form of a clawback, which is roughly $850,000. So, we need
039to come together and have some form of a decision. Um, I hear a lot of back and forth and the last two years have not been not been easy. Um, and I've had multiple calls with uh, Mr. Chairman and myself and I think we're pretty well aligned to the fact that we're done with the drama. You guys are done with it. I'm done with it. I'm not slinging any mud. Um, we've made I think the town of Millville has made concessions. We've heard you loud and clear. Um, we've given you bottled water. We are doing testing and we have this fantastic grant as you're aware of. Um it's like hitting the lottery. There's what one of 36 or 38 across the United States, some number like that. It's a million dollars. Um this water issue
040is a common issue across the country. It's it's not unique to Millville. And where I work in the southern state and uh even your business manager can probably attest coming from the state that I am also working for. Um there's issues down there and I I've talked to my counterparts there. Uh it's it's across the nation. It's it's not unique to Milville. Um I think it's time to put these kids back in the district um back into the Millville Elementary School. Um I don't want to risk this grant. I don't want to risk a clawback from the state. And I I think it would be fair for you folks to revisit this and hopefully come to a vote. Um and as the chair and I have mentioned, the chair and I have spoken and I
041think we're pretty well aligned on this. Um it's time to put the kids first. This isn't a safety issue. These kids are not dealing with some sort of hazardous waste coming out of the faucet. Um, and I believe our treatment program has come a long way and most times we're either under or on the border of meeting the state's guidelines. Um, my understanding is this new equipment is going to be clean day one. I'm not a water operator. You folks are not. I have to listen to the experts. They're affirming that this thing is going to work. Um, and I would hope so. The state and the feds are investing a million dollars in this thing. And uh as you know, you turn on the TV, you know, grant money is not easy to come
042by. There's a lot of claw clawbacks everywhere. So, we've been given a very rare opportunity here. And I think we need to take advantage of it. And the first thing we have to do is just put the personal attacks, the misinformation, the rumors aside. And so, that's why I come before you humble tonight and say I think it's time. Um, with that being said, I I also know that there's a lot of hesitation from this board and we've also taken some steps to address the situation. Um, Milville is has taken a vote. We are prepared and we are unified to withdraw from the district. Um, effective well, we're going to start on a strategic plan at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. So, we will begin the works. I do have a straw man and I have
043been putting together a plan to get the district back up on its feet and to move forward and as well as today we've had some calls with state officials. It seems very doable for us. Um and if that's the way that things need to go and we need a divorce, then so be it. Maybe Blackstone and Millville just need to split amicably. Um it's it's very possible. It's unfortunate, but it is what it is. So, with that being said, I hope that tonight you folks will think seriously about what's on the table. And if you don't have a vote on your agenda, and I don't see it, maybe in the near future, but we are beginning at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow to start with a withdrawal process. So, um please take that into consideration and we
044are serious about this. The vote was unanimous, so we are going to move forward. So, it's disheartening. It's um very sad for both communities and I hope we can reconcile this. Uh Erin, on what basis is the withdrawal? What was the vote? The basis of the vote? The basis of the vote is that if there is no change after tonight and you have not considered revoting that we will then begin to move forward with our strategic plan. And uh again, I have been compiling this for some time. So, and it was unanimous with five or the selectment. Yes. So, we are serious and we are committed about putting the children back in the school. I think Milville deserves it. I frankly don't like the part of the threat of 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. Well, there's
045no threat. That's a promise, ma'am. Okay. Can I I'm a I'm a Millville town taxpayer. You'd have to probably get it through all of them. More than five people. So, we've spoken to the state and we have spoken to the strategies on how to pull this off and there are options. And frankly, if you don't mind me saying, I think part of the reason we're here is because of you. Me personally, yes, I I appreciate that. And you can take offense to it. All right. So, so All right. So, just for some order, we we're trying to get away from the direct trying to All right. So, and so I'll select the vote. Carrie, you when did this vote take place? Uh, our last board of selected meeting during the meeting. During the meeting, it
046took place executive session. Oh, okay. Okay. When that was this week was I I straight from the hip. I don't have any dates in front of me. Was it this week? Uh, the last meeting I gonna I'm gonna ask was it Monday? Because you called me Tuesday morning. Yeah, exactly. We spoke Tuesday. Yeah. Okay. Tara Tara. Yep. I um can't remember what I was ask. It's on the agenda posted. Oh, based on the vote, your your basis of your vote was that the school committee doesn't consider re revisiting revoting. Yep. So, say we revisit and we revote and it fails. Is that you're still moving forward? Yes. So, but that but we would have revoted. So, how does that if you revote then we will not continue forward. If we vote and it's successful, then
047we will not continue forward. So, does your motion say if it's successful? Yes. Okay. Yep. And again, you're catching me from shooting from the hip. So, uh Jane, Mr. Chairman, is this an agenda item where we can speak to the issues? Um, so this says an agenda item. Um, the school committee, uh, sorry, the the board selectman asked to engage with us, so we can engage back. So, so, um, I have written in front of me a proposal to try to resend the vote. Um, I Well, what? Hear me out first. I had that before you made your comments, the threat you just made, and it's a threat and whatever you want to call it. It is a threat. You do this or we'll do this. um has great significance to the entire community of
048Milville and the community of Blackstone. So if you're going to put that forward, more information that you have from the state and plan and strategic plan that you have should be shared because I am guessing it is a huge financial burden to a town that couldn't pass a $750,000 override. So, I'm guessing that while the threat is there, um it's pretty much a baseless threat because I I agree with with Aaron, um I am not sure that the community uh would financially take the burden of running its own school district and its own school system. Have having said that uh I do think that when I left the committee several years ago, I had seen no movement from Milville. I had seen no good faith effort. I had seen no um even commitment to saying
049the water belongs to the town. That has clearly changed and I think there has been good faith on the part of the town to try to um rectify the situation. the promise of bottled water, the million-dollar grant from the state, and I think as a school committee, we have an obligation to move this issue forward. We asked for certain things, we received those certain things. Um, I am hesitant to change anything until the grant is actually or the process to get started is actually approved. It has not been. Um, I understand that there is concern if there are no kids in the school, why the grant? Um, so I think we're in this kind of catch 22, but I do think the good faith is there. I do, um, think we should look to resend
050the vote that we made, not necessarily make another vote tonight, but have another plan once the project is actually underway. Um, I don't understand the 180 days. I don't understand a lot of it, but again, I haven't been on the committee when you've been addressing those issues. I do think we have to take the personal attacks out of this. This is not a Millville uh school committee issue. This is a school district. Where are our students best served? We have health issues in every single one of these buildings. That's why we're doing a new building committee. That's why we've had to do mold abatement in the the elementary school in Blackstone. We have issues in every building. We have facility people who are trying to address those. Um we are Milville is trying to address
051it in Millville and we have to um support the efforts going forward because we have to do what's best for the children and what's best for our communities to keep our educational program strong. I won't read my actual motion, but I do think um we should resend last week's vote. I think it was done in haste without enough information. Thank you, Jaden. Anyone else? because I want to follow up on um so uh Richard and I I mean I'll be very frank with you and I expect the same from you course and when Richard you call me Tuesday morning and explain the vote that you took I did encourage you um to not the the caveat of the deregionalization would not go well it would take be taken as a threat and we started off
052great at this meeting we want to we both agree we want to put this stuff behind us and and the personal end of it the at the end of the day, the school committee had the position from day one that we are not water experts. Um, right. So, even in this meeting tonight, it's tough to sit here and I'm not suggesting you, but some information shared regarding the self the health and safety of of course we're not putting kids in. Um we have we we we've shared those test results annually with the air quality test, the asbestous and all the other um you know the the punchlines to to to instill fair in people where you know most of the buildings we go in and day in and out have asbestous or lead or or
053what have you in them. Um but and so we we I I strongly urge you against the deregionalization but you are committed to um this direction. Um, and I I would I I would understand it as some type of leverage or frustration. And so I did spend the whole last weekend uh reviewing every meeting and every every conversation essentially every every correspondence including many conversations with Jen and Peter and everything else and where we and I shared all this with the MSBA in that meeting which you were in attendance and Dr. Defel, you were in attendance and Jill and others. And where we were when we made the decision um to move those kids out of MAS and and where we were at that time is Millville was challenging the ownership of the water and
054that went up that went on for another year, you know, and and people on the border selectman were the the the the uh anti-water owners were getting thinner and thinner as we went on until and Milva denied the ownership of the water. They denied the um having to provide the bottled bottled water, denied payments to the um to to our to our u bulk water that we had delivered. Uh we had Mary Jude come in um to us. So these were all and and the day before we made the decision, your water operator, who originally came to us with those concerns resigned. So we were left in a spot on July 27th with we have we don't have enough information to keep those kids there. So that's where we are. Well, where we are today
055is you have Mccclure a stable water operator. You are providing you have to meeting votes, water selectment votes and asurances after the Mary Jude is an order that you guys have to provide bottled water until she lifts the order. Jenna has presented to us plenty of times, you know, that we're hoping to be able to get it lifted and such like that. So this that and you funded that order. There was challenges to funding that order up until last town meeting. All right. And you have the million and and so you have the water operator. You have the you have you're providing the bottled water guaranteed the letter from the D as I think it was um Mr. Stanley stated. They're not going to put the D is not going to put themselves at that
056liability. And you have a million dollar grant, right? And I kind of on the am on the same page as as as Jane over here. It would be phenomenal if you had that permit. Uh I I don't know if select uh sorry uh Representative Soda called me at 45 minutes ago before this meeting and said he talked to Mary Jude. They're they are expediting um doing their best they can to expedite the permit. So that's where we are from where we were July 27, 2023 and that's where we are today. You're correct, Mr. Chair. Mr. Young is correct. I did say that I I would vote to to put those kids back in and and and I will I will once we got you know once we we we have those things are in place.
057I'm curious on the, you know, what MSBA essentially in my opinion kicked it back to us to say, "Hey, before we before you present this to us formally, have another look at it because this then goes to our legal division and then it's out of our hands." That's the sense I got from this. Yeah. And and I don't want to jeopardize because D is watching this too and and Mary Jude is not too h was is not is surprised, I'll say, at the decision. And she is also um you know that that's a a million-dollar grant in a lot of cities and towns that the lottery have have applied for that. That's the lottery. And she she she did advocate heavily on behalf of the town of Milville. So, um that's just the information I
058have to this point. So, and you can understand with an $850,000 clawback, that's uh that's a big number for us, too. So if that's the only thing they got clawed back. That's the point. Yeah. The D is so watching closely. So they are. So I want to thank you for your time, Mr. Chair, and the conversations we've had. Um um I will stand by my commitment to continue to provide bottled water. Um Mr. Chair and I will remain in contact. Uh I assume we have very good working relationship and I I think we can reconcile any differences going forward. Um, but I think we're kind of at a point where we've got to make a crucial decision and it's an uncomfortable one. I I'll just end with this. I've had people in Blackstone advocate to
059dregionalize this district that I have battled with over the It's an easy battle. It's a No, it's an easy battle for me. Yep. You know, it's it's it's not even a threat anymore for me personally. It's it's just not feasible. I agree with you. I folks It's just not feas you. It would only be hurting your people in Milville because I would caution you on going down that road because you may have more advocates from Blackstone on your side fighting that fight for you. So, I'd be very cautious. And I will tell you that Blackstone has a lot of folks have reached out and and advocated for it, but not tipping my hands, I do know what I know and um I'm a pretty good chess player as you are as well, Mr. Chair. Well,
060I'm well aware of Blackstone's financial position. Yeah, I'm well aware of Black Zone's financial position. As a representative of the town of Black Zone, I intend that we remain in that financial position and and there will be no deregionalization. I can promise you that the children of this town are not a game to be played. Yep. Thank you. I'm sorry. What's that? The children of this town are not a game to be played with. So, if you want to be a chess player, go up to Boston, get in get in the park and sit down. This is not a place to be playing with our children's future. Yep. I understand that, which is why I'm here, sir. Yeah. Thank you. And I I thank you, Richard. I I appreciate your, you know, advocating for getting
061the kids back in the building. Um, and I look forward to ending that regional uh or Freudian slip re the uh yeah, as far as I'm concerned, that discussion is over. But what moving forward and providing safe clean drinking water has always been the goal. Um and again we are not water operators. We are not experts. Um but we will be taking everything under consideration. I don't know if it's a motion you wanted to make tonight. So you wanted to put on a certainly I would like to u move to resend last meetings vote. I'll start with that. um regarding regarding regarding the um placement of not to move the children back and not until there's a pending claw back in 180day clean water motion made by Jane. Can you repeat that because we can't
062hear it's just so you so it's last uh meeting's vote. I'm just making a motion to rescend it. So if you want me to read the minutes to tell you the exact wording on the vote, I can do that. Is it in here? It is. Yeah. I can from memory I can tell you there was originally a recommendation to table the discussion. Yeah, there was. And then there was a motion to the mo the motion was to not send the kids back to Milville. Then I sending the kids back then uh consu uh contingent on the MSBA claw back and 180day testing. I think it was Okay. So, it's um to the vote was to not to move students to MEES for FY26 pending confirmation from MSBA that there is no clawback on the current
063boiler loans since we have no test results with the 180day requirement in place in order to move them. And I am making a motion to resend that vote. Motion made by Jane. So, seconded by Matt. Discussion. I will just say that this vote then um will just put us back in a position where it's tabled. Correct. Pending further information from MSBA and hopefully permitting from the D and permit. I believe we'd have to make a motion table. It was Well, no, that essentially puts it back to no nothing and then we'd have to go to It puts us back to have taken no action. Yes. When I say tableabling, there's no action. Yeah, that's right. It'll have to come back up for a vote. Correct. Any other discussion? All those in favor signify by saying
064I. I. I. I. Uh, can I have a hand count on the eyes? We got uh Jane, myself, Erin, uh, sorry, Tara S, Tara L, and Matt. So that's and nays. Hand count by the nays. Okay, so it's 5 to three. Uh, the vote has been rescended. I'll take a motion to um table the water uh dec uh movement of the uh students. I'll take a motion to not take any action on mees until we have further information. I'll just table the mees. How I No, you don't need So Dan, you don't need you don't need a motion. There's no action on the table. Well, we can wait till Milville has its permit and okay, we can make an agenda item in the future. We then if that's the case, we then we we were
065proposed with some plans and things after that. So, the administration still has to be prepared to Yes. We need We need a date. We need a deadline to make this. That's right. That's what that's kind of what I was getting at. Yeah. Helping you out. Yes. Yes. Please come up. Jessica Barbado, 237 Mend Street. I'm also a staff member at MEES. Um, so my concern is we're tableabling this. We have 17 days left of school and myself, someone who has to pack up a library in that amount of time. Like how is that with even possible? Like we teachers all have to pack up their classrooms and move them yet again. Yep. I mean, this is something that has been done over and over through these years and we're constantly doing it takes a long
066long time. Um, with 17 days left in the school year, we don't have a decision now. We don't know where we'll be next year. I mean, that's that's really concerning for us how this is is even going to happen. um not knowing um yeah we have we are as a staff have been moved around so much our kids these kids I'm looking at our current second grade they went to kindergarten in Millville first and second in Blackstone now they're going to if we go back to Milville they'll go back for third grade and then here for fourth grade I mean the movement is just really difficult for staff and for the this. Um, so I think it's really just unfair to move without everything being set and ready to go. There's a huge space issue
067over in at um in Millville. There's no music room in the plan on the sta music is happening on the stage. The technology classes will be held in the library. I hold classes in the library too. Like there's all kind we're going to be packed to the brim in that building. where we don't know that we you tell me that this water is going to work. It hasn't happened yet. Nothing has actually happened. Once things have happened, we can plan and get this 17 days is not enough time for us to be able to move. And I I it's I think it's great that the town of Milville has got this money and got the grant to fix the building. Okay. But this is not when to do it. We don't we just don't have
068the time and it is not fair to put on these teachers again to come in in the summer and do this all on their own time because that was what was done in the first move. And you know we and they did it. Everybody did it and didn't complain and we did it. We're we're doing everything. Last year we were in the complex with people in closets. This is exactly what we're facing in Melville is people are going to be having offices in closets that with not sharing classrooms and um or not having classrooms at all. So, I mean, I just it just really seems like a decision that needs to have a lot more thought. And I see that you've tabled this, but the possibility that we're moving this quickly is is just really
069mindboggling to me um as a staff member and you know, I I my kids are older in the district but have been through this district and I don't know. I mean, I'm just I'm really floored that we're revisiting this at this point. When we were here, I was here last week and, you know, that was a big concern was this this time frame. I mean, we're we don't have much time left in this school year and the end of the school year is very jam-packed. There's all kinds of things going on as well as end of year testing. Teachers are really are really have a lot on their plate right now. And to throw, oh, now you have to pack up your entire classroom for yet another move. I mean, and at this point, we
070don't even know that, right? I mean, when will that act decision actually happen? I mean, I don't know. I I understand your concern. Believe me, we understand. And but we have other factors in play that could affect the town of Millville. They they have compliance with the D. And then we we have factors with the MSBA, which we are just opened it back up. So with the district and the town of Milville, it can be understood so that no one's they're not liable for an $850,000 clawback because of their compliance to this point. So those are the concerns. So all we did is resend we said we rescended the vote um that they are not going back there. We don't intend that. No, I I understand that. I But and I and that will be
071taken into consideration as well that that um would have a lot to take into consideration, right? I mean, it's the time frame the time frame on us is is really is really concerning. Yeah, moving in July wasn't favorable. It's not moving, you know, moving anytime is not favorable, but yes, I I I do appreciate that. Okay. Thank you, Wendy. Mind if I sit at the table? Not over. Thanks, Wendy Greenstein for Liberty Hill Drive. My daughter is the second grade class. I'm actually trying to process what just happened as an educator of 24 years. You are experts in education. You're not experts in water and what is best for the staff that is currently at the math night and can't be here to support or speak about what's going to transpire. I'm a little concerned.
072Um, they're all there for the children and right now a decision that was made 5 to three to table something that is going to impact all of those teachers and staff in our district. So, if you're experts at education and experts on these children, that is going to highly impact those teachers. I would I would request at the last meeting there was a plan and if I and I might not have my numbers correct but around May 8th the grant was put in. That was a day before the meeting was supposed to happen on May 9th. It wasn't put in in May. Um it wasn't put in in April. It wasn't put in in March. It was the day before we were supposed to have a meeting here. We're waiting for that plan. The person
073that spoke that they brought brought brought the other day said this was going to happen in early June. Okay. I don't think any of you committee members are saying that the kids are not going back to Millville. I'm seeing and hearing that they will when the waters when everything is in place and the water is moving again. So, I want to commend you on that part that I don't hear it that they're not going back and there is a plan in place based off of last week. So, my suggestion right now or my my my ask of you as an educator is with 18 days, 17 days left, this is not right to the people that work for you. This is it's not right for the children. It's not right for the t people that
074are there right now with all hundreds of kids at math night making a decision to table something like this. It's not right. You're not a water expert, but you are an educational expert. And I and I ask you that if you do resendin the vote that some vote is made that this can't happen until there's a plan in place and next year begins because teachers are not there in the summit time contractually. kids are not there. So, how does this happen? There has to be a plan. There's no plan. So, I know you're up against the wall, but the perception right now is that you're caving to a threat. And I'm very concerned about that if you're an if you're an expert in education. The education piece is not first right now because those teachers
075are there on their own will right now with hundreds of kids and you're making a decision that is going to impact them and both kids in both communities. My child in second grade has best friends in Millville. If that ever happened, that's that's that's the measurable piece. Not whether they go back to Millville or not. If you're going to deregionalize, what's the measurable piece? Because we're not in a building. There's a plan. You gave the plan last week that June is going to start the process. So, and and I guarantee that this committee will move that plan forward to move them back into the building as soon as something's done. That's it. So, I'm really disappointed that it was a five to three vote to resend and table it. I know it wasn't a vote
076to move them, but when you table it, all of those staff members that are again at math night that can't speak for themselves. They're all up in arms and we've already lost a lot of educators. I don't want to lose anymore. We have good educators here, but they're tired. They're tired of all of this. And if you want to, you win, you win. You're moving back. But give us a plan. Just give us a plan. Tell the teachers nothing's happening until this date so they can have a summer to debrief and breathe and those kids can have a summer. This is not right. This is really not right on the education piece, not the water piece, the education piece and the children piece. So I really would really like you to think about that motion
077that you made and tableabling it. If there's a motion that can be made that something can't happen because it physically probably can't happen. These teachers need time. 17 days, that's wild. 24 years teaching 17 days is wild to make this decision or to table it so that nothing's happening during this time. Those teachers are going to be a mess and they can't even speak for themselves right now because they're with our children. That's all I'm going to say. Thank you, Wendy. Anyone else? Oh, sure. This is my first time. Come on up. I watched the meetings and from what I understand, it was a unanimous vote last time. If you could come up to the table. Yeah. See, I told you. That's fine. Just so people at who might listen can hear you as well.
078Facebook name in town. So, uh, my name is Jared. I'm a Blackstone resident. I have three boys. Uh, one of my kids currently goes to the school. One's going next year. So, what I understand is everybody can voted. And everybody said, "Yeah, let's this is a good plan. Let's do this." And then we got this guy coming in here saying throwing threats around, talking to you personally outside of the place. So, nobody really knows what those conversations are. And now we just turned around and took the vote back. Sure. A matter of fact, I'll address that. Sure. So, so, um, I think we disarmed the threat immediately because that has no really has no bearing. I mean, Big Boy got exactly what he wanted. He's walking back here winking and smiling and cheering after you
079guys pull your vote back. And so, um, and and we, you know, we we just heard a speaker advocating and a teacher advocating how difficult it is. And we also have 3,000 residents um that fund 25% of this operation uh that may be asked to be potentially asked to be paying back 400 850,000 potentially. We have a D. Well, yeah. Well, you weren't in the meeting um with the MSBA, you know, that we had the other day. Um and so you you're not you're in conversations with the D. So these are things that this this committee has to consider um to protect not only the district uh but the people who fund the district. So so the D has made it very clear. I think one of the speakers stated they're not going to allow
080uh the children uh they're not going to say bottled water and put uh provisions in if there's if there if it's not safe for the children. So um information has changed from the last vote to this vote. Okay. The vote was contingent on MSBA. We had a meeting with the MSBA. They asked essentially asked us to go back to the drawing board and reconsider it before it goes to their legal team um to make the final decision. That's how this works. myself talking with another chairman of another board, another chairwoman of another board um is in the interest and it's common board members talk to other. It's in the interest of not having these battles every uh over personalities and that other nonsense and to get to the root cause of the issue and try
081to solve it. So nothing is is that's that's the business of politics that's trying to get um to one common goal uh and get these kids uh get this get this back this district up and running again and fun functioning so that we actually do stop talking about water and get back to focus on education. That's that's that's how politics and that's how this all works. It's unfortunate. um you know, it would be a lot easier if we could just make decisions and get things done and the personalities weren't involved and and that's what me and and and the chairman in Milville are just trying to work cooperatively together uh to get get accomplished. So, and again, it was a vote this evening just to resend it um and not to take any further action
082and and that's that's the purview of the school committee. Yeah. Yeah. And you have your and you're entitled to your opinion and and and to and to address the board. That's your right to. And I appreciate being able to address you. It's just uh when it seems like politics and money go over the education and the kids, that's kind of where the problem comes in. Yeah. I can assure you that's not happening here. Yeah. It's what it seems like. Yeah. Well, you're entitled to your opinion. Can I ask a question then? Sure. Our next meeting is June 12th. Yeah. We have an entire elementary school full of families and teachers. They just heard that the motion has been rescended. They have no idea where they now stand. As someone who used to be a classroom
083teacher, I know how drastically different it is to pack up your classroom for the summer or to pack up their classroom for a move. What is our what are they supposed to expect between now and June 12th? We say we're just rescending that motion. We We're just treading water right now. like we have nothing in place for them. I agree. So Jamie, so I I I am uncomfortable making a next decision until I mean we have a promise from Milville that this is going forward. We have a promise from the state of a $1 million. But we do not have a contract that it's moving like they haven't signed off on it. Um and so while I think we need to operate in good faith until that grant is approved and the work has started
084um I also think it would have been great for Mccclure a little frustrated that they didn't study the 48 other places that this water system is at. Yeah, they've never used it before but people around the country are using it to great success. Um and I'm frustrated that they did not share that with us as well. But you know we we need to know that the project is moving. The the good faith effort has been made. The DP has has stated that the lawyers will have to decide the clawback issue which was part of our motion which really negated the mo the motion. We didn't act on it anyway. We we wouldn't have acted on it. Um it just was worded very oddly. Um, but we wouldn't have been able to give the teachers a
085decision this week. We wouldn't have. So, we are still in the no decision time frame until we have specific information on a project moving forward and at which time we can make an educated if we're about being educators, we can make an educated decision. Mr. Superintendent, you have anything to weigh in on? I'm sorry, Chuck. I'm sorry, Chuck. The MSBA, they said they know we want to put the kids back there. Yet, they're threatening clawback. No. Do you want me to share that? Go ahead. The the the way it was explained to us from the two MSBA reps was that those two reps who are senior project leaders that we've worked closest with um they don't make that decision. They said once the decision is made by the district to either send the students or
086not, we would essentially send a letter. And they actually said we don't need it in the next two weeks, but we do need it within 30 days. Once you make your decision and you send it in, they send it to their legal team. And essentially, if their legal team feels as though all the safety provisions that needed to be met were met, then the legal team could make the call to have Milville pay the 850. Do I have that? if I'm saying this wrong, somebody correct me, but this is how I had it in my notes, that the legal team would make the decision and say, "Mill, you have to pay the money back." And she said, or maybe not, if if they don't feel that it's necessary, but she did say if the safety
087provisions were being met, that the legal team would make the decision on whether Millville had to start paying back on the on the grant or not. So she said, "Why don't the bodies go back and have a discussion and make sure you're positive before you send us anything in writing?" That was how she Are there a lot of schools in Massachusetts that have to have bottled water? That I don't know. You know, and here in Blackstone, they don't have to have bottled water. We asked Milville just to get the as soon as they fixed their water issue, we would move the kids in. So, like Wendy said earlier, you know, that's it's as simple as that and trying to move them on a short notice with the teacher situation. You know, maybe we could change
088maybe uh the 180 days, you know, could be modified. We got to make the move someday. Whether it's at some point the move has to be made, but if if you could just weigh in on the concern of the the timing and the move, do you have anything to weigh in on that? Well, I think the and it was said, you know, the the longer you wait, the more troubling it is as far as in Morous at the end of the year, as we've heard, the more troubling it is for the educators to have to pack and do all the things that are required of that. So, not making a decision is also a big issue because now you've got Carrie, to your point, June 12th. At that point, I think it's a week until
089the end of the school year is done. And you've got people really panicked at that point. Making a decision in, you know, July or August. We've done that before. Uh, and there was a lot of, yeah, I don't panic, but concern and worry and people trying to get back from vacations and come in and pack and hiring the movers and all of that. Um, one of the things that the committee did in the last meeting was took a vote to not do something. The committee could take a vote to do something if certain things were met. So, you could make a motion to move the kids back if certain things were met, certain provisions were met. We took it as a ne kind of a negative um I don't mean negative as like nasty. I
090just mean negative vote the last time in terms of not to because you could take a an affirmative. You could make an affirmative vote if the board decided to do that that we would move the kids for school year 2526 by this date if these things are in place so teachers could start to prepare now so they're not in this panic mode and they're not left in a lurch wondering. Um Jane, you mentioned something and I think your frustration is shared definitely by me and I'm sure others. The technology is new to Millville and to Mass D. It's not new technology. It's being used in other places. So perhaps having some of that information would have been very helpful. It doesn't help us now, but that would have been something that would have been good
091for that conversation that evening. That might have allayed some concerns that the community had or has. Um, but it is possible for the board to to take an affirmative vote to say we would consider moving the kids back. we will consider we will move the kids back if these things are in place and we have this level of you know water quality results by this said date and then teachers can prepare for that they could pack their rooms they could do the things they need to do now uh in preparation and then worst case scenario there's not a move because certain targets aren't met but the stuff is still there but if but if there is it's already packed right and then you pull the trigger and you can move the things I'm just trying
092to find an offramp to all of this for everybody Come. Yeah, Wendy, come on up. Yeah, come on up. If the committee does decide to make a vote, because I'm thinking as a teacher right now, as an educator, and you submit a plan to MSBA and say, "Here's our roll out. Grades one and two go in November, grade three goes in December." If in fact the water is met, because the roll out's supposed to happen in June. So water gets fixed in June. Teachers have their summer. They know what's coming in November. It's a slow transition from one grade to the next grade that yes, it's going to be a lot of work for the new superintendent who we don't have, but the teachers know. And a big angx with teachers is the unknown. And
093to leave it on the table right now is an unknown. And trying to decide right now what's best. We're not water operators. We need to promise our educators and our staff because that's that's who worked for you. So, if there was a rollout plan, okay, because everybody knows we just want the water fixed, kids can go back. I I do believe that this committee believes that. I do see that if there was a roll out plan where you know those breaks those those natural breaks in education in December and in February whatever the situation is it will appease Millville selectmen that the kids are going back the water is going to be fixed in in and the teachers will know what's coming if if you yeah a progression but right now we don't know when
094it's going to start we don't know what we don't we don't know anything we're talking about. We don't know. We don't know. So, if you if you make a motion and you want to make a motion to send the kids back, I urge you for every educator in this district and every staff that works here that you give them a roll out that nothing's going to happen until December or nothing's going to happen until November. So they can say, "Okay, I can slowly but surely teach 25, 28 kids and pack up my room and not stay here till 8:00 at night or leave this district." So there's got there's got to be something. We can't just table it. It really is not in the best interest of the Millville people or the Blackstone. We can't
095we can't just rescend it and then hope next week there comes up. If you resend it and you decide next week, all I'm asking is to promise the educators that work underneath you in the district that there's a plan that those kids will roll out next year, whatever that next year is. But you got to think of those kids. You got to think of those teachers and everybody because whether you're a Millville selectman or a Blackstone selectman, they're doing everything for the citizens who can't vote for your rep for their representative. And I really think that you got to think about that. So I just ask that there's got to be a plan. Like if you if you promise them that nothing will happen and you know the water will happen, fine. But you got
096to have a plan. You can't just keep tableabling it because the angst is really I'm I'm anxious and I'm not even a teacher in this district. And I'm thinking my child who went came back and went, thank God she's the fourth child. She'll deal. But it's a lot. It's a lot and is a lot of planning and again you're in a superintendent search. So who's going to do it? So just plan it, please. Thank you, Wendy. And Mr. Young, uh you'll be the last one to engage if you want to. Uh so the committee can then just Thanks, Mr. Chair. So I I keep hearing everyone talking about fixing the water. What exactly is the problem with the water if Mass D says there's nothing wrong with it? Like if they're saying if they're deeming
097that the water is safe, nobody is safe. Nobody has deemed that the water is safe. The the mass EP is essentially the bottled water is so a bottled water order is in effect until certain levels of things come down. Correct. Yes. Right. And we just received a million dollar grant to fix this. Right. And so you guys, the school committee, maybe some of you were here and some of you weren't here in 23, but you guys are the ones that made the decision when mass D didn't make any recommendation to move the kids. Correct. Did mass D make a recommendation to move the kids out of Milville Elementary? They don't have the authority. So that's But what I'm saying is they water is unsafe. Yeah, that's but that's one of the talking points. Mass D
098doesn't have the authority to move the kids. So what mass D was saying is they have to provide bottled water. Milville was refusing to take ownership of the water and things like that at the time and the water operator resigned the day before. That's what drove the decision. So this is all over who was going to provide bottled water to to the school when D said there needs to be a bottled water put in place or they they put a bottled water in place. So this is all over. Who was going to pay for some bottled water? So we packed up an entire school. No. No, it's not that simple. It's not that I'm just saying I'm asking you to explain that to me. Yeah. So, so I explained it earlier. They had and I
099without beating this up again, they had a water operator hired by the town of Milville that came to the district issuing concerns of health issues, potential health issues and this and that. We went through it all. Uh, you know, and and then they had another expert that came hired by the town of Milville that disputed, you know, you had Mr. Ferrari, Mr. Dr. Gullik. And so there was a tremendous amount of uncertainties. DP's like you got to provide bottled water. There was challenges. Milville challenged. They even owned it. I we I just went through this with Richard. Then challenges that they you know they weren't going to pay for the bottled water. Then the day before our vote, the water operator quit. So Milville essentially was dead in the water. And so out of the
100unknown and fear of because we are not water operators, we then made the decision to move those kids. Okay. And that's how that all came about. Gotcha. And then I explained where we are now, which which comes. So now moving forward, moving forward, there's a million-doll grant. That money's I'm being told is there, right? Paperwork, whatever. The new system is available. It's waiting for paperwork to pass. Whatever it needs to be, I have no idea. This is what I'm being told. I hear I've heard other people that have degrees in this background of water say talking about flow of the school. Right. Correct. So now administration is there, right? There's not enough flow through the building to get accurate testing to keep the pumps moving, whatever it may be, to cycle the water through and
101the chemicals and everything that they put in the chlorine or whatever it may be to eliminate, right? But if the if the million-doll grant is there to fix this, I mean, and and and we might be possibly facing as taxpayers a clawback, which we don't know. I mean, it just seems like it was a panic to move the kids when why didn't someone just provide bottled water then we neither one of the towns would be sitting here having this discussion like if there was just some bottled water provided to begin with said hey we're just going to step in until we figure this out beyond the bottled water because we weren't all water experts. Yeah, but I'm saying like but but I mean we can't just make a decision say hey we're going to clarify
102one part of that please. We we bought trucked water and and I was the chair at the time we trucked in water then we got in trouble from the mass D because it was not an approved company to the mass D. We bought it we paid for it. Milvo would not pay for it but it was our quickest solution. This started in February of that school year, not June 27th. That it wasn't a oh my god, let's move the kids. This issue started in February when the water was yellow and our and it was being used to cook. Maybe they were drinking it, maybe they were not because, well, they weren't because we had not drank it for about 5 years. But we, the school district, did pay for trucks of water to fill the
103tanks. We weren't using the well. It wasn't being treated. It wasn't working. But with the millions of dollars that Milville has paid for 15 plus years to treat that water already, which was causing the problems in the water, the chemicals were too high to be consumed. We'd get a notice. We'd have to turn the water off. Kids would bring their own bottled water. It's been that way 15 plus years. The issue became that February to June when we we were paying for water but Milville should have been financially responsible that we were doing it. It didn't matter who paid for it. Dr. Defalco said we're paying for the water. We need the water. There was no stop in that part while the school year was in place. The issues became more intense at the end
104of June. The bills the water operator was not being paid by the town of Mville. There's there's other stuff that people don't know here on why he actually quit. They wanted him gone or they maybe they didn't because they hadn't like increased the payments for years, but they they stopped paying him. He did quit the next day after he came to us and showed us what was really going on with the water. We had not that that was brought to us in a public meeting. Was it being treated at the time? So, he was having trouble. again just to move this along. We we were very justified to move to move the uh uh to move the students back then uh the and one of the first things we did is because MSBA at the
105time was well well aware of it so to ensure that Milville wouldn't be put on the hook for that. Um and so it was is there was and all these meetings are televised. There's plenty of documentation to it. Um, and I think the committee and the town of Milville has come a long way since then. Like where we are now is a far cry from where we were in that July and in J in in in Janu January, February when the when we really had the issue that led to, you know, when when the town's water operator came to us ask concerned about certain, you know, health concerns. Uh, that's we aren't water operators. It was very concerning to us. So, um, so the our hour to move was very justified. We're at a position
106now where we're where we we're considering now with everything going on. And I think the I think the committee itself is in favor we're all in favor of getting those kids back there. Um, and to Jane's point, we'd like to see permitting and we'd like to see a plan moving forward um to give the teachers and and the students and parents time for for that for that move, but I think I mean I was not anticipating a reconsideration on this whatsoever tonight. I thought it was just going to be a discussion. So So we going to put this behind us this summer? Are we going to figure this out and put this behind? I think we're almost there. To be honest with you and the chairman, I think we're we're pretty much there. the permitting
107I I'm confident in the system although I'm not a water expert but based on the other water experts and the use and the 40 other other states I do he operates the same system so and I'm familiar with him on the he's on the water sewer commission in Blackstone still correct huh okay so um yeah so I mean uh we're in the right direction I'm sorry Erin go ahead we aren't even waiting for the permits yet we're waiting for the state to approve and Jen please correct Correct me if I'm wrong. We're waiting for the permits. The state has to approve. No, just the permit. The per it's out for permitting right now. Peter said at Monday's meeting, "We don't have agreement documents from the state." Correct. We have the award, but no agreement documents.
108They haven't even actually agreed to use the system. They've gotten promises, Dan. They don't They're waiting. And that was what was submitted May 8th or 9th, whatever the day before our meeting was. Once that is done, they can apply for the permits. They can order the supplies. There is no there is not a true timeline of June. So I I just wanted to go back to what even what Wendy just recommended like you you were told we were not I was just reading through our minutes. June is a hope. It is not a guarantee. The state has to and he said it could take up to 45 days. 45 days from May 8th to for the state to approve it. And everyone's Mary Jude Pigley's hoping is trying to move it along. Everyone's saying they're
109trying to move along. The state has to approve that system first, then the permits would be applied for, equipment would be ordered. They said it would come very quick. He said hopefully by the beginning of June. I'm I'm not ready to make a decision on a tenative we'll move them back in the these steps when we don't have that yet. That is what we need to be able to say this is our plan for the fall. Chairman, could you address that please? Is it a permit or is it Thank you, Mr. Young. Uh, so my understanding is it's an award letter which is a contractually binding document from the state. So although we haven't finalized the committal documents, we do have a contractually binding letter. So they made the promise they can't walk it back.
110Mr. Mclaw was here and he said he submitted the permitting. I thought maybe did I misunderstand? That's what I understood it too. Understood too. Yeah. They supplied the permit and they submitted the permit on May 7th. So we were waiting for permit approval. Representative Soda who talked to D today said she was expediting the permit. Yeah. So there's a lot of documentation. So first the initial award letter. So yes, we absolutely have the million dollars. So then there's additional forms that come and that's actually more um financial based like so we can get reimbursed and things like that. So that is going through right now. Um the Mary Jud was unavailable last week so she was on vacation. So I've been emailing her like little stalkerish to be honest. I I don't know if she's
111mad at me and was asking like hey what's going on? And um she just emailed me right before this meeting and said hey I'm sorry we'll catch up tomorrow. So, in terms of her being able to expedite things, so when we initially put in the request, the um just to give you an idea of how she is able to expedite things, we put in the paperwork originally for the grant, we waited a week, we hadn't heard anything. I reached out to Mary Jude and um Senator Fatman, I think, reached out to her as well, and within 3 days, we had a response like, "Hey, you're missing these two things." So, that made them look at it. So, once Mary Jude gets someone to look at something, it's two or three days. So, I'm going to
112call her tomorrow to find out about where the status is for the permitting process. So, but it's the permitting process. Yes. Which includes there's two there's one around the getting everything set up financially for reimbursement that's in process and then there's one for the actual permitting. And as um Mccclur said, uh Chris Mccclure said um that they already spoke with the vendor and they have it like it's it's on the dock. They're just waiting for us to order it and it takes 5 to 10 business days for it to arrive here. And keep in mind you still have bottled water. Yes. Yeah. I guess that's the only thing I just I wanted to make clear is that regardless of the status of this water system and it would be very beneficial to have the students
113in the school to make sure it works. We will we are providing bottled water for all of next year. There is no risk exposure. There's no threat exposure. They're having the bottled water for cooking and drinking for all of next year. And we've we've ensured that it's budgeted appropriately and we have a line item for it. So yeah, like even if the water if they say the water's okay, they put it in say June 15th and from June 15th to October 15th it runs perfectly. Everything's been sync. If you still want bottle water November, December, January, February, March, April, May, June, you will still have bottled water for those months. Even if the water system is fine, we've already voted for that and budgeted for it. Hi Tom, you had a question. Oh, no. I
114just I I didn't know if you were open to saying what was missing. You said something's missing for the permit application. Application. No. So there nothing is missing. Okay. It's all being worked through a bureaucratic process which they won't go fast. It's not like private sector. I think what you when you said you had reached out to her and there was a couple of details on the application on the original grant documents. I don't know what was missing. So this was pre-approval pre-appril 8th approval. Like when we put it in they said hey you and I don't know if it was missing or something. There were there was additional information or correct I don't know exactly what it was. This is like in February but there were two or three things that were maybe it
115was missing information maybe it was up more information more something but and then we got it back and then it went okay now you're completely in the process to get the original million dollar grant. Okay. And Mr. Stanley did you want to you're a local water I just wanted to speak quickly. You got to just come up real quick just closer so they can catch you on the mic. Jake Stanley 6B Middle Street. Um, yeah, just speak quickly to the permitting process through D. It's a process. Um, so right now the initial permitting process, there's a lot of back and forth review within the D central region. That's what you're experiencing right now. It is not a fast process. Um, to speak to what they're going to probably want to do is, you know, it's
116a it's a kind of a living document. They're going to tell you that they want to see X, Y, and Z, and they're going to follow through with you through the entire installation process and the initial treatment. And there's actually nothing is finalized until the last day when they actually physically come in, check out the treatment system, review all of your sampling data for upwards of a year, and then give you the final signature that it's all good to go. So, this is a this is going to be going on for a while. It's not just they're going to sign off on it and we run and we'll never hear from them again. So, just be prepared for that. Um, as far as the roll out goes, you know, this permitting process now is kind
117of where you can sort of figure out, to your point, rolling it out as a positive, like like we're not just voting yes, no, open it up. You folks should be voting in a process to take the educators into mind, take the water into mind, and make it all jive. That's what you have to do. It can't just be a hard fast yes or no. If you're going to say yes, they're going back. You say we're going to do it this way. If we see this by this date, this by this date, students start on this date, students start on this date, so the educators have time. It can't be in two weeks you say, "Yeah, you're all going back in the fall." That's going to screw your educators, everyone going to quit. So that's
118just me speaking as a resident hearing from the the educators out here. That's just unfair. But there is a way to do this properly. And I think you all see that. And through the conditional permitting of the D system, they'll want to see sampling happen through the school year. And if that means you're getting students back through the school year in a staged, planned, thought out process that doesn't put a burden on anybody, everybody wins and that's what we all want, right? So it's the end of Thank you very much. Have a good one. All right. Now it's back to the school committee. I think we've got plenty of input from the public. Um so what's the pleasure? You want we revisit this again with a a right now it's on hold. So revisit this
119again with a plan Mr. Superintendent would we be rolled out or in phases? How to what's the suggestion here? Well, if we did it by grade throughout the fall into the early winter, I I I definitely hear what folks are saying. My worry is the grade level, the teacher, the students that start and they're in the, you know, one building for two months, three months, and then they're packing and moving in November or December. I don't know that that's any better, you know, from that perspective. Um, but it is an option. Uh the other option is to make a decision to move the grade span back that was brought forward at the last meeting which was K to3 with certain provisions in place and then looking at what those or conditions what those conditions might
120be. So there was a water bottled water commitment. You know it it could be a matter of looking at certain results from what I'm hearing and what I have understood about the system itself that it it is supposed to remedy the water issues fairly quickly. So it might be a matter of looking at you know I'm making up the numbers. I'm not suggesting this, but you know, six weeks of results once the system's installed. And if those results are are are good and they're meeting all the standards appropriately, then, you know, that may be enough considering the bottled water has been, you know, approved already and is in place. Um, that could be a direction that the school committee might want to go or not. That's up to the committee. Another direction could be actually
121making a motion to table it to a certain date so the teachers aren't living under this anguish of is it next week is it is it in the middle of my summer you know if we were to say September 1st that gives Milville plenty of time for their permit and their installation and there's nothing saying after the that then we decide to move we don't have to wait until next summer they can be moved moved in stages later in the school year. But I again wouldn't see why we'd make that decision tonight. We have we don't have new information on the dates of the process. That's all that's definitely something we wanted a week ago. A Jane, do we, and I am trying to think outside the box, so please don't implode. Um, do we
122have the ability to have a have a plan in place? In other words, we want to see action being taken in the installation part. We want to see six weeks of of clear water testing um with the plan to move the students for the fall, but do we have the ability to say because we don't want teachers to come back in the summer and have to move. That was not appropriate for them. Do we have the ability to say we're going to start the elementary school one week late and give that first week, don't have the teachers come back a week early. Give that first week for the teachers to come back in. And I mean they could start packing up now knowing that that's potential, but move the first week and extend the school
123year one week for the elementary kids in June. It's just outside the box. Yeah, the committee could certainly adjust the calendar as they see fit. The the other option could be is you could make an affirmative vote to move the kids so teachers can pack and prepare and be ready. Correct. And then like I said, worst case once the system's in, if the results are not what the school committee is looking for, they stay. They would just stay. So that nothing gets moved until but at least it would be packed and ready. I guess I'm thinking about a a t, you know, from someone who who moved to one building last summer and has to move back across half of a state this again this summer. Um, even if I were packed up, like even
124if I were packed up, the idea that somebody's just going to move them into my room and then I have to do something when I get back from summer vacation is daunting to me. Like it's like is nobody's going to be there to set it up for me. So, I guess I'm thinking in terms of I like the idea of of having that plan plan to move. We're going to move the kids provided we have these XYZ things, but I still as that teacher want some time to get my room ready. Might not have to be a week, but I'm just like Aaron. So, what what would be different voting in the affirmative tonight than last Tuesday? And people can pack and they assume what what part of that is last week. Are we all
125comfortable with saying we're going to move? What information is different? What was presented tonight? That's different than last Tuesday. So, what criteria would we not criteria? I'm I wasn't even the one that asked for the 100, but what is different? Does anyone have an answer? I don't know. So, you're saying what information? What is making What is making the recommendation different? information that is different is the discussion that happened with MSBA and DP that says there needs to be a very clear plan in place and we're giving you 30 days and then that's going to to legal and I think we should be in control of that plan versus D and and why can't our plan be that with those provisions all met in the fall of 26 the students will be back at MEES
126Yes. Does it have to be school year 25 26? That's putting it back in the hands of the MSBA lawyers. But if it if we're presenting them a plan because we know this work is being done, then our plan is to be back in the building next year is what you're saying, right? Like it it's voted on and that is the plan. I just I really feel for the families and the staff because even if we were to say give them that first week now you've got we're talking about the families with our youngest learners who are now saying okay my older kids are going back to school but now I need child care for my youngest kid what like there's just so much upheaval in all of just like I know. I know. So,
127I I know our um Wendy mentioned I'm not even sure if this is allowed, but Wendy mentioned that our teachers are all at Millville, which they are. The union president is texting me now and I said I'd be happy to share her thoughts. Oh, if that's allowed. Yeah, it is. I don't know what the rules are. It is now. It's public information since you announced it. So, Well, have nothing to hide. So, uh, she said, "We all spend time unpacking when we return in August on our own time. We either unpacked from boxes or we unpacked from the closets, uh, that all things were put in. Um, I'd rather pack my room into boxes and have it ready to be moved in August than be told in November that I'm moving. That's crazy with report
128cards. It's also mid-year testing, parent conferences, that would not work well." So, I think what Kathy is saying is they would rather pack now and have their stuff ready to go. because they already anticipate and be ready to go. They're they're going to pack their rooms anyway. It would be better to pack them and have the boxes ready to move for the first day of school. For the first day of school is how I'm understanding that. Well, I'm going to reiterate where I stand. I after researching everything throughout the weekend, um we gave specific criteria um and July 27th, 2023 um to the town of Milville. the town of Milville has met that criteria. Uh I know we took another vote in February of 2024 which was under the current treatment that they were trying
129to get under control. We we added the caveat uh of 180 days. The 180 days in this with the tremendous amount of oversight that'll be handled by the the D on this matter. We don't really have the authority on the 180 days because they're going to lift is when they lift that bottle to water mandate. They're declaring that the water is safe to cook and drink with. So, I would like to have some plan in place. I don't um I don't want the decision um to come from the Mass School Building Authority um and put the burden. I mean, it's been a hell of a battle the last two years, but you, you know, I don't want that burden on the taxpayers of the town of Milville. Um, they have met the criteria with the
130bottled, it was a heavily battled and debated criteria. the the I don't know if it was shared with the committee the last D um for Mary Jude on May 1st um for the town of Milville that um that we we meet the safety requirements as long as they provide bottled water for cooking and drinking. So that was the worry if I could add that I had with the MSBA meeting. Yes. Was they were very clear that if the safety provisions were met and I believe that was the actual language that that was used. Yeah. the legal team at MSBA would make the decision on what would happen to the $850,000 grant we got for the boiler system at Mil that I think caused you know a reason to pause and and then that that was
131followed up with you should go back and have another conversation and make sure you're sure this is what you want to do. One of the when we checked in with when notified them last year and they approved it because of the situation in that email was notify us next year if anything with the it said it right in the the MSBA responded that we we agreed to this with the anticipation that the kids will be back in the school that was sent on August 7th 2024 from Jennifer Flynn from MSBA and yet here we are like no time to like there's still it's still not in place. Like there is a plan which is amazing, fantastic, but but there are things that there's bottled water in place which wasn't there before. But what if we
132are the 1% that this water treatment does not work for us and then we're talking about pulling them out again. Like there's no guarantee without any test results yet. We're still in the same place we were last Tuesday. And now the way we've changed our conversation sounds like we're more worried about $850,000 on the backs of our ourselves than the the students and the staff that are moved out of that building. We have always said safety first. We said it with water. We say it with our with everything that we do for the students. I am completely comfortable with bottled water. Never haven't been. I'm completely comfortable with filtered water that passes the tests. But to ask any of us to change our mind based on a financial our conversation last week was all about
133safety. Every parent that was here brought up worrying about their kids washing their hands. We all hear the data. We know what it says. You're still going to go to bed at night and worry. And if, god forbid, anyone in our town has something come up in years to come or someone a staff member, they're always going to wonder in the back of their mind if that's where it stemmed from. And I can't believe we're sitting here saying money first because that's never been our direction ever. But that is what this conversation sounds like tonight. It's not. And nor are the threats of we we've we've been threatened of DD regionalized before. It takes forever. We'll be back in the school before it happens. Nor are the the threats are different tonight and the talk
134about the money is different tonight. But we have no new we have no answers on or approval if it's a permit. I if I'm incorrect, I apologize for that. I did find it in the minutes that that is what they said they're waiting for. We don't have it and that's what we said we wanted last Tuesday. And I don't think we are in the wrong for standing our ground and protecting the the kids and the staff with the stress of a move or the the dangers of the reason we took them out of there. I I'll just going to respond that um the conversation was about the money on the first vote. It was actually in the motion. It wasn't. It was in the motion. So, we've clarified I'm just going to if I don't
135I I'm just going to try to wrap this up here and so um we clarified we I don't know. We are not water operators. We're not water experts. the regulators of the water in Massachusetts has made it very clear to the that if they provide if they do X and Y it's the building is safe. The town of Milville funded X and Y and a guaranteed to provide X and Y. So uh so the safety aspect of it has been cleared by the state of Massachusetts. We are not at that level. Um we made that that was our our argument the whole time. This is we were given um differing diagnosises of this water system by two experts originally hired by the town of Milville which caused that move which was one of the initial
136causes of the move. We the water is um the water situation provided to the district and owned by the town of Milville has been paid is has been secured and and is deemed safe um by the state regulators. the 850,000 was put in the motion by the school committee as a that would be what would generate the reconsideration of of of the move. So, you know, the the safety issue is is I think has been well addressed. Can I only mention the money thing because the school committee sent me to go meet with MSBA to get an answer on the clawback. That's the only reason I'm mentioning it. It's not because money's in front of Thank you. I was asked at no time to meet with MSBA and get the answer for the committee. So,
137I'm just sharing the answer that I got. And what timeline did MSBA say on that call? They said come back. They said you would have about They said you had about 30 days. Okay. So, our next meeting is June 12th. June 12th. Less than 30 days from now. And it's also beyond the dates that they expected to hear back on their permits. I'm sorry. The next date is our next school committee meeting. Yep. is is June 12th. Yeah. And what and that's that's well within 30 days of this conversation. Yes. Yeah. And last week Mccclure told us that they would hope to be even starting this installing it in June. I think we'll have more answers at that meeting than we do 10 days later from our last vote. June 12th, we should be hearing
138the permit was approved and those the items are ordered. Yeah. Yeah, that's possible. It's up. It's the pleasure of the board. Now you have Can we make it contingent? We plan on moving the kids back for September contingent on the filtration being installed and operable. water. We The short answer to that is yes. Yes. Yes. But I think that's what you're getting at is that's you could make an affirmative so people so teachers can prepare. Yeah. And if it's not, then their things are there and they're in boxes and they just unpack them and stay in their space. But you could, the school committee, if you decided to, you could make an affirmative move like that to say I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna allow selectoman Anderson and if you can make it quick so we
139can we're in the middle of trying to um you say it's not a money should not be a factor in this, but you know, a good portion of our town are relying on pensions and we do have a good portion who are below the poverty line or at the poverty line. So money is a huge factor. It's a difference of making sure that our citizens can get to the next meal. In addition, it's also a factor that the families who will be affected by this um if the clawback happens that they can afford food, too. Thank you. So, it is a factor. Please be aware of that. We are. We're very much aware. Thank you. And that ends any more engagement. I apologize. Thank you. Uh um yeah, we let's listen. We got to stop
140making this about personalities. All right. And and and we're trying to come to a common ground here to get something accomplished. Erin, don't don't Well, do I'm not going I got you. I got you. I got you. I I I respect that. Um um so so so the idea is we can come up with a motion contingent on that's my I would like to make that motion that we plan on moving the kids back for the 2526 school year contingent upon the the uh installation the installation of the new water filtration system with u with clear results or uh uh just that it works, the system is working, that it meets the standards that set by Mass D. Okay, you got that, Aaron? Sorry. Uh Tara, move students back for the 2526 school yet contingent
141on installing water treatment system with operating results. Clear clear results that meet the mass D standards. I move students back for the 2526 school year contingent uninstalling water treatment system with clear results meeting D standards. Okay. And I'll just say but the filtration system is installed and works as it you know advertised as these are which will I got I know where you're going. I know where you're going. It's going to take time to get solid results, but operable is the word you want. Operable. Yeah. Operable a substantial completion, you know, type of thing cuz you they are still providing the bottled water like no matter what. So that and then and even I think when it's up and running and potentially producing results, the requirement of bottled water may stay there for a few
142a short period of time. Well, stay for the whole year for the whole year. It's already been guaranteed of the requirement for mass D. We will provide bottled water for the entire school year. Even if they lift the requirement and say you don't need to provide bottled water anymore, we have voted and we'll provide it for the whole school year even if mass says we don't have to. So there is no risk exposure at all for the next school year. So we can even wait the 180 days. So moving them back contingent on an operable water treatment system being installed. Is it simple as that? Yes. So not getting results then. What's the name of the system? But notation system. It's only got to be one. Oh, you do? Yeah, I actually have it. Just
143give me one installation of the me one second. Water filtration system. And what date I think it meets the standard staff is still when's our meeting before the first day of school. What is the first day of August 28th? But like Kathy said, I'm just looking to see if I can find it. Have a pack. You don't need to put the name of the water system. Yeah, we don't need to put the name of the water system in the motion. First day of school is August 27th. August. We make sure that but it seems to me that we need so we need a date by which it needs to be up and operating. Um and so I would I would say August 1st. Is that okay Chuck? If I like operable by August 1st. By
144August 1st plenty of time I think. Right. Otherwise well it needs to be on I I I was by August 1 would be construction you know or installation. I mean, but they said last week it doesn't said it was like two weeks. It was like two weeks to put get it started. But even to install it like July 31st the system would be in I think that yes, I think you're right. I believe he said based on the extended time frame they're expecting to get in August 1st. So that would be the latest, but he was hoping if that changes, I'll I'll email him tomorrow and then see if that's what did chair I'm sorry the chairman didn't he say that we'd see immediate clear results? Yeah. Yeah. We're trying to wonder how long it
145it will take. So if they get a permit and they can start June early June, which is what their hope, I guess what we're missing is how long it would actually take to install and run. And that's expecting to get a contractor to come in do the work that quickly. I understood they were all in place. That was part of their timeline. I understood. But I guess my concern is if we don't have a like a a date at which we and maybe we but it just as bad the like the other way. you know, I'm the I'm the bus district and am I picking kids up and delivering them to Milville or am I picking kids up? I mean, it's different routes. It's different everything. And I don't want to wait till August 27th
146to find that to I mean, I realize, you know, or if I'm a parent, where am I driving my child to? Like I I feel like we need kind of a time frame of which this ultimate decision is made. Does that make sense? Depending on which when you just said transportation, depending on which school the buses are going to, does that also stagger start times differently? Will that need to be adjusted anywhere? It shouldn't. It shouldn't because we I think that came up last week because preschool's already later. Yeah. It's just the routing. Yeah. Yeah. Wouldn't affect us. Yeah. I'll just throw this out there. Oh, I'm sorry, Terry. Um I would I may I'd more make it more that it's if it's only a few weeks to get it up and running that um
147contingent on construction being underway by August 1st because we still have the bottled water and and like I think it was Mr. Mccclure that said um the first drop's going to come out clean, right? And all that's all going to get tested and go through a series of you know scrutiny I'm sure heavily heavy scrutiny in this state because it's the first of its kind. So I'm okay with that. The assurances is the bottled water. That's the big hurdle. That was the hu the biggest hurdle out of this whole thing. And then the and the ownership. So with substantial work done by August 1st. Yeah. Yeah. that the project is under I said the project is under a way of Can I amend his motion already? Is that have to be I don't did he
148finish second? It hasn't been seconded. Yeah. Yeah. So he's still a motion in in in progress. Okay. Go ahead. Can I can I make a motion then? Yeah. Okay. So Chuck Chuck didn't get a second. Go ahead, Matt. All right. So, I'm going to make a motion to move the students to the physical Milville Ele School in school year 2526 contingent upon installation and operation of said water system and that in that the installation construction uh is uh we're undergoing installation uh and construction by 8125. 8125 25 August 1st. Yeah. All right. So, it's a motion by Matt. At least give Chuck the opportunity to second it. Yep. All right. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Any oppose? Okay. So, that vote is 1 2 3 4 5
149to two. All right. Moving on. MSBA update. Tara. Oh, Jason. So, for the high school, Yeah. So, for the school building project. Um, yeah, Jason, go ahead. Yeah, sure. Um, so yeah, the MSB update is around uh the building project. So, we have some uh very important meetings. So, those uh folks tuning in, uh coming up, we have next Wednesday uh at 5:00 PM here. Um May 28th we have uh the following uh the following week June 4th 5:00 p.m. also here uh and then 6 uh 12 or June 12th we will have a 5:00 p.m. meeting here as well. There are joint meetings between the school building committee and the school committee to start talking about grade alignment, great configuration so that we actually have a solid plan for the schematic uh preliminary schematic
150design that needs to be submitted in August. So just putting that out there for folks. Uh we'll be posting tomorrow our agenda uh for both the school building committee and the school committee uh for next Wednesday's joint um meeting and that's at 5. Yes. So, lots to come. Um, and we'll start looking at some different grade configuration scenarios. Uh, and a very high level like macro level costs, potential uh costs for renovation, addition, and new construction. I think we did we all get surveys? Yes. Yes. Some people get them twice. I only got one. Okay. Uh, and the ED programming survey, thank you, Jane, has gone out to the school building committee and is going out to the staff um to get feedback from the uh educators in the classrooms uh how they envision their
151space actually being designed to maximize their instructional programming. So, um had an exciting time with that. So the idea is to take these uh surveys, the discussions around grade configuration and alignment uh to which at some point we will have the public weigh in on that uh formally and the school committee uh vote and the school building committee vote on whatever the preferred schematic design will be as it relates to the grade configuration i.e. grade configuration. So, right. Yeah. And just an update to our members. Um, our Milville bought us. Joseph Baker, he resigned stating that he couldn't be neutral due to the vote that we had last week about the Milville water situation. So, Rachel Anderson is now the water selectman rep for the school building committee. Can you notify him that we reconsidered
152the vote and reconsider being the rep based on his comments? I think that perfectly fine. Oh boy, Dan. Thank you, Tara and Jason. Thank you, Jason. Yeah. Thanks, sir. Strate strategic plan blueprint 25. Yes. I'm going to ask Mary Colonito, did you join us for a minute if there are any questions? There may not be any questions. We've been over this repeatedly. Uh but Joe, I don't know if you have anything you want to add on. No. Again, we've had the opportunity, like we said before, to meet to offer the community come to give us some input. So we have done that um and we'll consider that after you know this for developing our action plan. We didn't vote last week because um we didn't have it. We didn't have it in your packets. So
153we just moved it forward. So we need a a motion from the school committee to approve the strategic plan for 25 through 28. Did you get your rolls? I didn't. You want them? I'm happy to share. The floor is yours. I'm I I gave every I do you have any questions about what's in your packet. You know, we went over this the last Yeah, we did. Yeah, we did. Yeah. So, here appreciate the work and effort that went into this. Thank you. And I appreciate that I can read it without the diary. Hearing no discussion because everyone has a Tootsie Roll in their mouth. I'll call for a vote to approve the strategic plan. So move. Motion by Matt. Second. Seconded by Tara. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I.
154Any oppose? Unanimous. Mary, thank you so much for your work on this. Jill, thank you for your work. You led this whole process. If I would have known it was that quick, I would have moved you up earlier. We need a strategic water plan next. Uh the other item under my um um the my thing is I'm sorry that it took you all thing really what is happening Jason has lost all control what's going on definitely not being high level I'm very very not high level right now I'm so sorry that's okay in your packet you will find the revised uh job description for our part-time athletic trainer. Uh that is in our budget. Uh this also uh we k we kicked forward from our last meeting to this meeting so we could do some
155further revisions. Uh Jessica Sinclair is here HR specialist to answer any questions you might have. Uh but Jessica reorganized it so the qualifications are much more clear, concise, condensed. She also organized the responsibilities under kind of broader umbrellas with very specific um actionable items underneath each. So, if there are any questions, Jessica and I certainly could answer any of those. Um, but Jess, thank you for your work on this. This looks good. Okay. Motion to approve. I have a I just want to be clear that so this is an addition to the athlet to the athletic director. This is someone that will work under the athletic director. Yeah. So, we right now we are contracting out for these services. Um, and so this essentially takes the resources we were spending to contract out and just
156brings on somebody. So when we say contracting out, is this when we were talking about the paramedics at the games? Is that specifically what this is to offset or what? I mean, I I read I can I read the description? Um, but I just I guess the cost comparison is is it comparable? Yes. To to what we were paying. We now have for basically the same price if I'm someone who is on site. Before it was just football games. Yes. Now, we'll have someone at majority of home games provided there's no What happens if there's a conflict? The So, the away games, they actually the away team, I'm sorry, the home team when we're away has the trainer on site. Um, I do believe they go with our football team, but but it says it's
157it's football and so what if there's an away football game when there's a home field hockey game? The football game would have to and we would do it. We do that. So, then we would still hire a whatever. We still have to do Football is the only sport that has to have to have one. We normally would hire an EMT. So, say we're playing Southbridge, we would hire an EMT through Southbridge to represent BMR at that game. And Southbridge would have their own EMT at and if I recall, we were having trouble getting or yes, sealing the deal on getting a away EMT. 100%. Even home ones, frankly, some games. This also there the difference I believe was EMTs if it's a suspected head injury concussion the EMT cannot clear right the athlete but an
158athletic trainer can perform the test and clear them. The EMT oddly can't even can't even touch the athlete without an a rescue being called to them get the student. So this should help that during the fall season. How much of their time will be taken up with just football as comparative to all the other sports that we have? So, is it going to be like strength and conditioning? Is it going to be It's what it seems like in here is that there's going to be a a slew of things, but I guess my might go back to my original question, not to pile on questions, but how much of their time will be taken up by football by the fall sports during fall sports? I can speak a little bit to that if so like
159predominantly when the football team is away, they'll be with the football team, you know, or they don't have to be there for practices or anything like that. No, in games. Just games. Okay. And then when they're home, they'll be on campus, you know, like sometimes we'll we'll um Darlene will schedule multiple games kind of at once or multiple activities at once. So the individual will be on campus in case anything is needed. It should be budget neutral. Also, I wanted to make sure that this isn't just a focus on getting football covered by an athletic trainer that we have other sports that also seem to need this sort of agreed. Um, so to justify the expense, I mean, we've got we went from a stipen to now almost $100,000 a year for the a for
160the athletic director between and the athletic trainer. Yeah, but the the we were still spending the same amount on EMTs and trainers as we're spending here. I'm glad you clarified that, Matt. Thank you, [Applause] Jess. Did I miss anything on that? Okay. Do you need a motion to approve the um job description as written as submitted? Whatever whatever you say. Motion made by chain. Second. Seconded by Matt and Carrie. Any further discussion? I just I came in late. I'm sorry. To Matt's point, Tara S. The schedule for this trainer will be through Darlene, right? And the goal is to come to all as many home events that don't conflict, right? Yes, that's what Matt was asking. All right. Sorry, I missed it. No, no, no. That's okay. Okay. So, we still have a motion in
161a second. Any further discussion? Just one more question. Is there is this normal at other school districts to have a part-time athletic trainer? So, there is a a pool so we're not going to be struggling to find someone like this and we might a little bit struggle as it is anywhere else, but this is a normal thing for a probably might a little bit, but it's normal. Although there are um colleges in the area that have um athletic training degrees and we might even be able to find a grad assistant who has the tap into that. Sure. And tap into I mean they might be a little further too I think. What Starling's plan too I think. Oh there you go. Like someone just out of school is a really good option. Yeah. Because they
162have the certifications they need. They just don't have their degree yet. A lot of schools do that. Could also be a great opportunity for some of our students who are looking towards athletic training to kind of do like a co-op internship. Internship, which is that would be a great idea. Yeah, we're good. Just a reference. Meeting over here. What are you guys done talking about this? We're just waiting for more question. Oh, here we go. carry on just because I'm it's it's nice to have this and I think that you know it's important it seems like but is this going to be available to all students or is this only for athletic teams? Well, say more about that so I understand your question. So, so to say are they going to be on so there's
16319.5 hours or up to 19.5 hours per week. Is that only going to encompass game time or will that be during because I I think I recall uh in Darlene's plan that there was going to be 6 am to 8 am um strength and conditioning. Is that when I I just had a conversation with Darlene about this the other day. So maybe I could the 6:00 to 8 a.m. Um we do have a staff member who is a personal trainer I believe she said who's going to be running those 6 to 8 a.m. Oh, okay. Lift sessions through the summer. But she had um told me that this athletic trainer would be available to the students in the afternoons like if you're you've got a sprained ankle that you're trying to like rehab and come
164back from. So it doesn't necessarily have to be like an game injury, but if you're trying to rehab something, they'd also be available to that if allowed for somebody who's an athlete. So this is going to be relegated to athletes. I didn't ask. This position will be relegated to athletes. Is that going to be under the purview of the AD or is that going to be I mean, I guess I want to So, let me So, I want I just want to understand what you're asking a little bit more clearly because I I imagine if there's practices or or competition or something of some sort and there's a student who's injured that's going into extra help or walking into, you know, a a musical lesson or something like that, I think it would be incumbent
165upon the medical person there to tend to our students needs. I don't think they would say, and I'm not in saying you're saying this, but like I don't think they would say to the student, "Sorry, dude. You're not an athlete. I'm not going to look at that ankle for you." I think that would happen. Well, what I was actually getting to to a point, yes, but also that we don't have a line out the athletic trainer door of people who want to be right like so like how is it going to be like it doesn't replace the nurse who is that what you're getting for athletes? Yeah. Okay. All right. I just want to understand a little better that this clinic this 19.5 hours isn't it is going to positively affect what it needs to
166do which is for the athletes. Yes. So that's clear. Under number two it does say non game day practice the only game is what the football you have like that staff on campus after hours in case needed. It's not an in it's not they're not going to be like you know triaging right my my knee replacement no I won't go see well you'll know if that's actually exactly I saw you saw me stand up and move my leg if Jane is there you'll know conferring with the athletic I have no more questions anyone else all those in favor signify by saying I I opposed the eyes have it think we need a trainer for the massage with all the talking we did on that topic. Anyway, moving on. No, we don't have anything for Scott
167tonight, do we? Whatever. Okay, thank God. Huh? He's here anyway. Yeah. What? What? Dedication. Industrial burner. No, he's got a mouthful. He's not on the agenda. Report on that lawn mower. As long as it was safe. I hope all the things he took apart are back together now. So, uh, school committee forum. Is that what we have next? Yeah. Before I jump into that, our next upcoming meetings, uh, May 28th, 2025 at 5:00 pm, there's a joint meeting with the build school building committee. June 4th, June 12th, all three of those are at 5:00 p.m. joint meeting with school building committee. Our next regular meeting is um June 12th at 6 p.m. here. Uh, an open school committee meeting. Um, and does anybody object to go uh and Yes. Go ahead. No, I was just
168waiting for school committee forum. That's all. Yeah, but a future agenda item. You want an update on the school? I I want the um athletics put on for the June meeting so we can get update on schedules, coach positions, um and now the new trainer. Okay. I did have it right here. I didn't forget. Thank you. Um uh Wendy had mentioned earlier I think Carrie I'm sorry Carrie. I haven't gotten to the No, that's Go ahead. Okay. So, Wendy had mentioned earlier um about a um public public forum uh one you want to go back to one at the beginning, one at the end. Uh because I'm probably not going to uh be as free as engaging uh because that's Yeah, I think that's a good idea. Yeah. Yeah. I try to it's our meeting,
169not not the Yeah. much be because of the nature of the thing. I we want to hear all the input on this a two-year ongoing saga uh the end was not necessary um and I apologize um and that that Erin, you know, left and I don't blame her. Sometimes it's best to walk away before you say something you regret or do something you regret. So I I I um against my better judgment after I said no more I let one more come up. So So we'll put that if we could on the agenda or we just put the actually we'll stick with one put it at the end. Put it at the end. Yeah. If people want to talk good and welfare they can sit through the whole meeting and not just come in uh
170Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Let them let them come in at the end. If that's if that's what he wants. Okay. We'll do one we'll do one of each. one of each because there's four people that try one of each. It's in our favor, right? So, if we have a student that comes and wants to present something, we can move them forward. Yeah. Yeah, it's fine. All right, we'll do one of each. One at the beginning and right one before our good and welfare. Yes, it is. You'll have nobody. They'll have to sit through Scott's facilities empty. Okay, with that um um school committee forum the survey that was sent out to I believe all of the school committee and school building committee just to remind everyone they're looking to have our answers back by Monday so
171it can be included in the joint meeting on Wednesday [Music] take long was quick for those who might not check their email that frequently survey I I know you're getting that. I want to say one thing. Did everyone get it? No. So, but don't quote me. Yeah. Double check. I just wanted to say that um I appreciate Millville coming. I appreciate parents, everybody coming. Um it's not just the people that attend these meetings that we hear from. That's all I wanted to say. Oh, you're not kidding about that. We hear from a lot more people that show up to these meetings. Uh that is correct. You are correct on that and I agree. Anyone else? I would just urge the the folks that came tonight and, you know, the folks that I run into on
172a daily basis and the folks that are on Facebook, you know, I'm glad that some of those folks were in tonight and were able to get a clear rundown of what is what we've actually been going over for the past a lot longer than I've been on this board, but ever since I've been on this board. Matter of fact, my very first meeting was with Bob Ferrari and I quickly re almost regretted ever pulling papers for this board, but since then it's changed. But um I would ur I always urge whenever I'm in and talking to people, I say please come to the meeting because I don't mind sitting here for five hours, six hours. I know not everybody feels that way, but if it means that the people have a voice and they're getting
173a clear, concise message from the people, us, the board of selectmen, everybody that was here tonight. Um, that's the most important thing. So, I just wanted to thank those parents and town folk that came in to um to get a clear understanding of what we're doing. Thank you. That's it. Anyone else? I I'll just touch on a couple of the comments. Um um I have and the superintendent I think most of you have known that I've been talking with Peter and Jennifer for over a year regarding this you know meeting and I've been giving the town uh sorry the uh superintendent updates on that. Um and Richard the new chairman has reached out to me a few times uh since taking that place. So there's not a phone I call I won't answer from anyone
174in the town regarding anything and so it's not a conspiracy or and and believe me um the threat of deregionalization and that's not a muscle move whatsoever. I mean, I've been threatened by that by, you know, you know what I mean? You know, Jane, we're quasi chart. Well, it was always, actually, it was always, the threat was always to get rid of Milville, you know, and with our quasi charter school in Millville and and so, you know, I get it. I get the politics of it. That absolutely had, you know, when I got the call the other morning, I you know, I it's that is done that doesn't weigh whatsoever. It is not feasible. It's not even possible. Um, never, you know, the the the OPED contribution and and paying the to think you're going
175to pay the town of Blackstone buy us out on this building and the high school, you know, that's you can't afford the school budget. So, with that being said, but at the end of the day, politically we can have challenges and differences, but at the end of the day, we, you know, we we will get there and and and and to get those kids back in into that building safe and sound. Um, and and there are a lot of conversations and everybody's entitled to their opinions and everybody's opinions are val valued. Um, we we did much better with almost we started it off without making it about personalities. Of course, the longer we talk, then the personalities come into play, but hopefully we can eliminate that. I again um um I appreciate Erin Erin Vanco's
176commitment to this district and this committee. And um I'm sorry that she felt as though she had to leave. And again, I um I'll reach out to her and I appreciate I will say this. I've been on the board of selectmen since 2015 minus a couple years on Boys and Girls Club board of directors uh and several other boards and committees. This is the hardest working committee in both Blackstone and Milville by far. This is like they have no idea the subcommittees and all the other work and and and you know as a selectman you have constituents when you are a school committee member you have those constituents and those kids you know what I mean and and and and it's it's um I appreciate um what everybody on this committee does and everybody's opinion
177and um I look forward to you know continuing to work together and move move this district forward. So, and I appreciate everything. Again, I ap I'm sorry that Erin left. I understand why she would. And um with that, I will um take a motion to enter into executive session, not to return to adjourn in executive session. Not to return to open session. Motion was made by Tara S or L. Made by Tara. Tara Scobby, seconded by Tara Lin. Roll call vote. Matt. Yes. Chuck. Yes. Yes. Terry. Yes. Tara. Yes. Jane. Aaron. Atari. Uh. Carrie. Yes. Dan is a yes.