BMR School Committee - May 13, 2025

001Good evening and welcome to the uh BMR school committee meeting for May 28th, 2025. At this time, I'll call to order and ask everyone to 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. Next will be introduction of members. Carrie Goddette, Blackstone. Aaron Panco, Milville. Matt Catalano, Milville. Charles Stuntton, Blackstone. Tara Scobby, Blackstone. Tara Lark and Milville. Dan Keefe, Blackstone. Joe Spagna, director of finance and operations. Jill Pillagalerani, assistant superintendent, director of student services. Maya Gier, BMR, student council president. And Jason DeFalco, superintendent. And next, our report from our student representative. So, some updates from the high school. The spring track and field DVC meet will be

002at Whitensville Christian today. We had many athletes leave school at 12:30 today to catch a bus to Whitensville Christian where we wish them the best in l of luck competing in the dual valley conference track meet. This week is our last week of AP testing. The final test will be AP Physics on Friday. My final test will be tomorrow for AP language and composition and everyone is very excited with the end of the academic year coming very soon. The National Honor Society inducted new members and officers for the 2025 2026 school year this past week. The food forthought class hosted the annual citizens tea event on the 8th in collaboration with senior centers in both Blackstone and Milville. So, we had about 30 to earn up to the high school for tea and pastries that

003were made by the food for thought classes at the high school. Senior year is ending for the seniors very, very soon and their final week will be next week. There's a myriad of senior year activities including their sports signing which will be on the 15th, their community service day at the Boys and Girls Club which will be on 520 or 521 weather permitting. And their banquet at Arrowhead Acres which will be on 521. They have a class trip which will be at Martha's Vineyard on 528. Their senior awards night on 529. And lastly, their graduation will be the 30th. The Central District Massachusetts Association of Student Councils is having their transitional meeting for officers on June 1st in West Boilson. Julia Corenzic will be transitioning into her new role as a delegate on the board

004and I will be transitioning out of my role as regional secretary since I am the state secretary. And student council is also going to be doing a schoolwide ro shambo competition coming up and have a schoolwide bingo planned in the coming weeks. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Next up, consent to agenda A. Uh motion to approve the warrants. So moved. Motion made by Carrie. Second. Seconded by Chuck. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any oppose? The eyes have it. and approve of uh the minutes from April 10th. Motion made by Tara. Second. Seconded by Terry. Any further discussion? Hearing? None. I'll call for a vote. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Sorry. Any opposed? The eyes have it. I lost my

005train of thought in the middle of that. Thank you. Next up is public forum. Anyone wishing to adjust the school committee uh is given a three a threeminut time limit. Um, and feel free to come up. Please state your name and address. And Gene Marvan, Blackstone, Mass. I appreciate all that you do, but um I'm concerned about the money. We spent $75,000 to move last time plus because we had to give the teachers money when they moved. So I think the price would be up by now. That's another $75,000 with no guarantee. We were told last time that we would only go to Millville if it was fixed 100% fixed with no bottled water. Well, it nothing's guaranteed. It's not even started. Um, are they is there enough classrooms? Are they going to use locker

006rooms? Are they going to use teacher rooms? And the kitchen up there needs new equipment. When I retired, they took some of that equipment and put it to the other schools because the equipment was broken. So, there's more money that we're sinking into that we don't even know if the water is going to work. There's no guarantee because it worked in another state and because it worked in another state that doesn't mean it's going to work here. So why are we going to do this and in 3 months down the road it's not working. Are we going to move back for another 75,000 plus? That's my tax dollar. I'm on a fixed income. I mean, it's a lot of money. And I have grandkids that are here and grandkids that are out of here. And

007who's it to say they're not all going to move out? So, that's that's where I'm at. It's more money than 75,000 when you think of what we need in that kitchen up there. There's a lot of stuff that left there. So that's my that's my spiel. Thank you very much. This will be coming up later on in the agenda and so we'll hear more um from the uh representatives of Milville on that matter. Okay. Thank you. Hi. I'd also like to discuss about the budget um and concerns moneywise. Uh my name is Rachel Anderson. I'm from Millville, one of the selectmen. Um, looking at the budget, there's a lot of concerns here, I find. Um, so you have things where there's several lines where there's multiple pencils, and I get that, you know, but what

008about considering just buying it in bulk? Why don't you consolidate that to one line item instead of going off of Amazon at like what a normal uh customer price would be? It'd be far cheaper per unit. So, there's things like pencils, uh, dry erase board, markers, stuff like that that you could consolidate. In addition to this, there's also things that are super vague and kind of concerning with that. you have a line item that's basically just titled all eighth grades uh supplies and I want to know what's actually broken down there because why are you having such an even number for that um line item and not explaining what that actually is. Um, in addition, there's other concerns where uh there's a lot of disposable like coffee cups and stuff and do we really need

009to be spending that much money on stuff like that? There's things such as reusable plates or coffee cups and stuff like that for people. uh with this um we're all Milville is facing you know budget problems and uh we're looking to reduce the amount of spending we have and yet we're spending things your budget looks to spend on things like you know switches and gaming chairs and all sorts of stuff like that that are seem kind of frivolous and I'd like a more ecle explanation as to why you want to purchase that and how that's actually improving the kids' education. It's fine to have fun things, but we can't afford that at this time. [Music] Um, in addition to that, there's a lot of vacancy lines and that seems concerning um because there's a lot

010of money going into that as well. So, there's several um vacancy numbers as well as new requests for vacancy positions. Um, I would like to know why there's so many of those. Uh, $4,000 for a police detail for athletic services. What I would like explanation on to what's the purpose of that? Um, things like that. Uh, 12 iPad pencils. Why are we purchasing 12 iPad pencils? Do we have 12 iPads for these kids? And if so, what happened to those previous pencils if they got destroyed? Um, In addition to this, there are um things like something is really confusing to me. I want to know what the magic club is. This is for the high school and it's line item, excuse me, is $25,370. And I looked on your website and I couldn't I searched

011up what the magic club was and I could not find anything about that. So, I'm just curious as to what that club is and what it entails. Um, and what's the justification for the large number? Um, and lastly, I did skip over things that but I'm trying to be brief. Um, I'm concerned about the overall budget. I listed a bunch of things that are of concern. Um, but here's something. Uh Hopedale's school is just shy of just about 400 kids less than us and their uh their superintendent proposed budget is a little over 15 million and yet our budget is over 31 million. So why do they have 400 kids left and they're spending over half as less money than us? Sorry, that was a lot of questions, but I'd like that stuff to be

012cleared up. Um, and thank you. If I'm just going to touch while you're here on the Hopedale um, uh, comparison. So, when you take the 400 kids less, so you would compare that to Blackstone, an equal size. What's Blackstone's portion of the budget? 75%. And what's the total of the Blackstone? about 12 million. So blacks, so Hopedale, some of their healthc care in the buildings are in the town budget. The regional district budget is all in the regional district. The taxpayers of Blackstone who send the same amount of kids to go to this district that Hopedale sends to their district, we're paying about 12 million and Hopedale is paying 15. So the Hopedale example is not going to help your argument. is they're paying $3 million more than the res just listed a bunch of

013things that seem to be in question like why are we spending so much money on certain items. Um one example we can buy in bulk instead you're doing line by line and buying off of Amazon at prices that we could would not like to shell over. I app I appreciate and my last thing is we're spending all this money and yet our kids test scores are not doing well. Sure. Sorry. Just in the in the reference, Hopedale is paying about $3 million more for their school district and the people of Blackstone of an equal amount of students are paying to send to this district. Sure. But our kids' education is still not doing well. Sure. Your your concerns were about budget items and you deflected to education cost. I just want to clarify on that.

014Thank you very much. Anyone else? Good. Uh hi. Good. Good evening. Julie Pickard. I live in Blackstone. I too am on a fixed income. I have had children go through the school district and grand some grandchildren go through the school district and I am very concerned about how fiscally responsible we're being in moving back and forth because that's what it's amounted to going from Millville to Blackstone where now you have all these people who are accommodating has been okay at the Kennedy and Maloney school But Millville can't accommodate the number of kids that we have. I've heard things like, "Well, maybe the preschool will stay at the Kennedy School." Well, you know, if the water is the issue, and it has been an issue all along with Millville, if water is truly the issue, they

015should not be returning to Millville. If it is not an issue, we all wouldn't be here. If it's an issue, then it it needs to be addressed. But two years down the road, if we have a water uh a plan, we don't even know if anything's going to work. So, we're talking about moving kids back, using bottled water, but you know, that means that there's the water isn't good for consumption. It shouldn't be good for cooking, for cleaning, for anything. So my my real dilemma is that you know we're we're spending this money on the move itself and I understand that you compensate some of the teachers or all of the teachers but you know in a move like that the compensation would be for 10 hours but you know in re in reality it's

016going to be a lot more than 10 hours that one teacher moves a classroom and sets everything up. I was an art and music teacher in the system and lived on a cart and had my storage at the Kennedy School auditorium, the stage area. That's where I began. But to set up a room when I finally got an art job and set up an art room is hours upon hours upon hours. And now you have all these people packing up, moving, and having to reset and reestablish themselves. But to me, the real problem is we don't even know if the water is going to be good. We don't have that plan yet. We're going to go back with bottled water again. And it shouldn't that shouldn't happen. It just shouldn't happen. So, I voiced my

017opinion. Thank you. Anyone else? Jerry? No. Okay. Oh. Hi. Um, Rich Nurban, Blackstone. Um, so the reason why I stayed in this town, um, was because when I came to the school district, I felt like I had a voice. I felt like I was a part of something. and the decision that we're kind of playing around with. I don't feel like my kids are going to it's for the benefit of my kids. Um, you know, I like my mom said like we talked about coming back to the school when it was 100% fixed. That was it, right? Like we drew that line in the sand and now it's Well, maybe we'll go back. Maybe maybe now we have water. Maybe now we'll go back. Like what happened? Why is this a discussion? The kids are

018first. That's it. And my three boys, I raised them well, but I'm telling you right now, kids at kids go to the bathroom. Are you going to have a monitor inside the bathroom making sure they're not playing with the water causing more money to be spent? Doesn't make sense. Like what's I I don't understand how this is even being brought up. There are so many other things that we need to address here. This is not one of them. The idea was we hold at until we hold the line until it's fixed. It's not fixed. And I respect the fact that everyone's trying their best to get a solution, but it still isn't fixed. That's it. There there should be no other discussion behind it. And I don't want someone I I again I don't want

019to monitor in the kids' bathroom making sure that my kids are washing their hands with water. Like who's to say they're not going to go in there start splashing water on each other and like who's going to monitor that closely? These are all things that like we have to think about. I mean, we're all adults. We know that, hey, you're not supposed to splash that water. Hey, you're not supposed to wash those hands. But you're sending five, six, and seveny olds into a building. I mean, I believe you all kids and like you you all know like kids are impulsive. They're absolutely impulsive. And not to their fault, they're learning. But I don't want my kids to learn with something that's not fixed and not safe. So thank you. Hello, Kayn Chasse. Um, I grew

020up here. I went to school here. Um, my son grew up here. He's going to school here. Whether or not it's admitted there are a lot of problems in our school district. Um, but I guess my biggest question is when we went through this last year, it was because the water at Millville wasn't safe and it was to save money. What changed? If the water's not safe and the budget's still tight, why are we having this discussion? Period. There seems to be no explanation, no answer. It's just now brought up again. You know, we were supposed to keep one building closed and save money and less faculty and less maintenance. And now here we are again. Why? For what purpose? It seems to be expanding a budget with line items that make no sense and

021no answers and no accountability. It'd be nice just to have some truth and transparency, as much as we don't like that word. So, if we could get some answers today, that'd be great because I know I speak for a lot of parents when I say that there are a lot of problems that are not getting addressed and you're just going to see more people leaving whether or not you want to admit that they are. Thank you. Anyone else? I would encourage the Oh, we got is someone else coming up Doyle. And I guess I'm just kind of here maybe to speak for the children, for some of the staff. I've been in the district for 26 years and I'm kind of reiterating a lot of what other people have said but just from a different

022pers perspective. Um I do remember the line item that you we were not going to move until everything was fixed and that's what I'm hearing and I don't know everything about all of it. I'm only hearing what we're being told but as far as I understand that there has not been a filter put in. It has not been tested and if we couldn't be there because the water wasn't safe then my understanding is the water is still not safe now and not the children aren't going to be the ones that are going to go yeah the water's not safe and you can tell them that you're going to bring your bottles of water to school but let's face it as as he said the kids are in the bathroom they use bathrooms they're five and

023six years old and yes are they going to get water on them yes but also you have staff members We are then being exposed to the same thing that we don't even know what it's going to cause for people down the road. The cost of moving. I know you've got budget. I know you've got estimates and all of that. And I'm sure it's definitely higher than it was before. I'm can actually say in terms of staff moving, I know for a fact that the amount of time it takes to move is different for every staff member, but we are an early childhood building at Milville. And let's just face it, they have more to more in their classrooms. Many of you have been in my room. It takes a lot more time than 8 to

02410 hours to move to pack a room and then completely set up a room. I understand that staff are not going to be compensated for all of those hours. They haven't been in the past. Preschool, I've heard, is it's a proposal that preschool would stay over at the complex. Well, then you have staff members that are going to be traveling back and forth. You're going to have the expense of a nurse needing to be there. Someone has to be their administrative wife going back and forth, and those still students are going to miss out on some of the other interactions they do have with their older grade level peers and those teachers as well. I I don't understand why we would not wait until this filter has been put into place and test it for

025at least a year to see if it's actually going to work and solve the problems it needed to before we continue to expose children and staff members to that water and the expense it's costing this district. I know this district has very limited funds. So to go at that, the grant's not going to cover everything and we again still don't even know if it works. Would you want your children, grandchildren, or any of you to be exposed to that? Think of your children, I know you've had children in this district, many of you have. I wouldn't want my grandchild child that I have now or my own children to have been exposed to something like that. We don't know what these chemicals are doing to our bodies and could have been doing for a while

026that we've been there. So, I just feel like it would be great for the committee to really think about the safety of everybody and the logistics and and give it another year, let this thing get put in place and really find out if it truly works before we get stuck maybe in the middle of next year going, "Oh, gee, this is really bad and now we have to move out in the middle of the year." Why rush it? Because it's working the way it is. The space is tight over in Millville. We know that it's going to be very crowded and the complex right now, it's not in the greatest shape. I know that. I've been here for a long time, but it is fitting everybody in very nicely and we are making it work

027over there. Um, so it's just my thought. Thank you very much. Is there anyone else like to would like to address the committee? I encourage all those to stick around to when we get to that agenda item regarding the water. Um uh and and there was a lot of information on social media. The the school committee has not deliberate deliberated or considered any action. Um and we haven't done so until this evening. Uh which we will we'll consider when we get to that agenda item. Uh, next on the agenda, uh, thank you all for your participation. By the way, next on the agenda is school committee item declassification of executive session minutes December 12th, 2024 and March 20th, 2025. Motion made by um, Tara, seconded by Chuck. Any further questions? All those in favor signify

028by saying I. I. Any oppose? The eyes have it. Uh, next up is review and approve policies. Uh item uh B I District security related technology related to technology. You sure? Um so um good evening everybody. Uh in your packet you have two policies. Um just going to pull them up here. They are behind the uh minutes from the April 10th meeting. There is the first um is EHAA uh which is a pretty standard MASC policy. It's just something that we need to put in place uh regarding uh the security the district has um established as it relates to technology and securing uh information. Um and so it's a it's pretty standard and straightforward. And so we would need a motion uh to approve EHA to put this into place. I'll make that motion. Motion

029made by Tara. Second. Seconded by Jane. Let the record show that Jane has arrived earlier. Thank you. Apologies. Uh any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. I. Any oppose? The eyes have it. And next would be data and uh record retention. Yes. Uh policy EHB, uh data and record retention. Um and there was a small adjustment that needed to be made to that. It just outlines that if the custodian of the public records is uh the superintendent of the district. So you'll see that was redlined. Um and then uh we did move that um to each of the school web pages and the district web page who the custodian of the uh public records are and how the uh general public can access that. Um and so we need

030a motion to approve uh just the small change to EHB. Motion made by Tara. Second. Seconded by Matt. Uh any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any oppose? The eyes have. Next agenda item, discuss and vote placement of Millville students and staff for school year 2526. We have representatives from the town of Milville. Um, town administrator Caruso, Vice Chair Gil, No. Oh, no. Good evening. Good evening. I thought we'd maybe start with introductions. So, I'm Jennifer Gail um on the Boris Lechman. Peter Caruso, town administrator. Christopher Mccclure McLaren Engineering. Cara Antinucci Mccclure Engineering. So, Chris Chris and Cara are running the project for us. So, I thought we could start with I have a letter here from Mary J Pigsley. She was unable to be here tonight. Um, and then

031I thought they could go through the timeline of the project and then answer any questions and then anything like that. Um, so the um I believe this was shared with you already. So, Mary Jude wrote this letter on May 1st and it's addressed to Peter. It says, "Dear Mr. Cruso, Jen, Jennifer, I'm sorry to ask you this. Could you speak up for the people in the back, please? And I apologize." No, it's okay. Do you want me to Do you want me to stand? You can feel free to okay address the audience. Okay. Um, dear Mr. Cruso, congratulations again on receiving a grant under the emerging contaminant small and disadvantaged communities program. Preparing the application required a high level of cooperation between Mass D, the town and the town's consultant, and I am so pleased

032that the town's application was successful. I am sorry that I will not be able to attend the school committee meeting next week, but if I could, I would restate that I have said before at those meetings. Mass D's position on the use of water at MEES is and has been that bottled water is not required for any uses other than drinking water. Um, as long as the town is providing bottled water, there is no exposure to drinking water that might exceed Massachusetts drinking water standards. Nothing in Mass D's regulations prohibits the school from operating while the town is providing bottled water. My understanding from our conversations is if the town plans to continue to provide bottled water so there will be no exposure while the work under the grant proceeds and we did vote for

033that for the entire school year. Our drinking water program staff are looking forward to working with your consultant to expedite permitting for this important project. As always, please let me know if you have any questions. So, just to clarify, um, and Mary Jud has said it in this meeting several times that washing your hands or any exposure like that to this water is not an issue. Um, and just to be clear, the amount of the grant we're approval is $1 million, which is more than enough to cover the project, and we have until 2030 to spend that million. Thank you. Sure. So I think Chris it's over to you on the overview of the project. Sure. So um again Chris McCclar McLar engineering uh we are currently um operating the water system um a professional

034engineer um in the drinking water industry um and we operate uh multiple schools. So this project and and different community water systems. Um so this project um is uh has its challenges due to its size. Preliminarily the um TOC u the types of treatment that we need are typically uh that we see at the school is typically not scaled to this size. So um when people talk about this new technology we're looking at it's technology um to remove TOC's um disinfected byproducts in PAS um but for a um for a school six gallons a minute is what the well runs at but typically the usage at the school is about anywhere from 1,000 to 1500 gallons per day. Um if you calculate that out it's about one gallon a minute. So really really small scale.

035Um so the requirement is that we go through a pilot study which um lasts about a year but this the systems being monitored you know daily three times a between three and five times a uh week we'll we will be on site depending upon what the D requires but currently we're there three days a week um so permit goes in gets reviewed by the state um and we that's already been uh submitted the state's already in process of reviewing. Once they give us their approval, um the material will be purchased um there's like a two week lead time for that. So um this system could be installed um by early early June. That's that's the best case scenario that the state reviews this really quickly and says let's go ahead with it. Everything that's going

036into the school is NSF approved. Um so mean it it meets all um this national sanitation foundation's uh requirements for drinking water quality all the equipment in there w would be so um once that equipment goes in it's effectively working to filter your water all the water the tank will be clean the storage tank will be clean um so we can start you know fresh with with that and all the water that goes into that tank at that point in time will be um effectively you know finished um treated water to uh levels that are um levels that a non-detect basically for the contaminants that we're we're talking about. So um then that process again is just monitored um through through ourselves and the state. Um all of the samples go to a certified lab

037and uh we review that and tabulate it and um and um and basically once once we get a long-term basically it's to look at the long-term um efficiency and cost effectiveness and operational costs. That's why this thing will go for um 12 months. They don't say, "Hey, it works right now. The samples look good." They just want us to continue to monitor so we can develop long-term operational costs for the for the school and for the district uh going forward. So if you have any questions, I'd be uh happy to answer them. I think there's a testing schedule also that was shared so you can see how often everything is tested. Sure. Yeah, we're again um we have every visit we're testing for, you know, for um disinfectant residuals um looking at the manganesees um

038and then we have our required laboratory. So this is this system is monitored um and sampled per the mass D schedule like all um all communities are. So um if you have any questions there yeah there's a whole list of sample you know uh sample requirements but um and literally you know tens of thousands of dollars and just lapse go into you know go into monitoring the school. I do have a question. Uh Tara I'm sorry. So you said the pilot study is one year so it's one year of data that the state's looking for. Yes. Yes, it's one they the duration is one year. They'll be looking at the data immediately. Um we we expect the system to be effective immediately. The minute the first drop of water that goes through that system is

039going to be clean, but the pilot study, they want one year of data. Yes. Yes. They really want us to monitor the system and make sure that everything's And then you mentioned long-term operational cost. I picked up on that, too. Yeah. Can Okay. Well, then Dan, you got this one. Yeah. So, you and I it may have just been an error. You said long-term operational cost to the district. I think you meant to the town, correct? Yeah, we pay the water. Oh, yes. Yeah. Sorry about that. Just clarification. It was a topic of contention in the past. Sure. But we'll leave Peter out of this for now. Yes. It's already been settled and voted on. Yeah. I have a question, Aaron. So if I if I understand everything you just explained, it's it's also a

040system and a process that you've never worked with even though you're in other schools and working with other schools. The the TOC removal is typically um um is typically TOC's are typical of a surface water source like a reservoir system. Um we typically don't see it in in bedrock wells. So, um, yes, it's, um, I'm familiar with, um, disinfectant byproducts and chlorine residuals, um, the TOC removal. Um, typically in order to address those, they're building they're they're building large, you know, um, 5 million gallon per day plants to to to address these these types. Um, but this filter media um is is able to scale it down to, you know, to the school's this new filter system that is going to be piloted. It's not approved by the state yet. You said you're waiting. You

041expect to have it to be able to install by the beginning of June. Best case scenario. You've never worked with before with this particular filter. We have not worked with before. Yes. It's a Do we have a copy of the testing schedule that Yes, I have it. I just got it today. So, I'll send it to the committee. I just got it this uh this morning, I believe. You're not going to fill a new well. You're going to reuse the the primary focus is to the the permitting and uh construction of a new well does take some time and that is that is on you know in our um scope of work. But um the primary important is to get this this filter system in and and and work both um processes simultaneously. But the

042filter system is a much quicker um process than uh installation construction and permitting of a new well. The filter system that was in the permit that you submitted it. Am I understanding that right? Yes. That's all included in the permit. Yes. Yeah. But are you saying that a well is part of the million-doll scope right now? Yes. Um, and just curious. I I know a million dollars is a lot of money, but I do also know the money that's been spent on the water in Milville for years before all of us were here. Um, is is the intention of the town to pay for the bottled water for the next school year from that million dollar or is it our ARPA funds or it's from the it's what's in the budget, the $90,000 that's remaining

043in the annual town budget that we voted on last night. So, none of the million dollars will go pay for the bottled water. Okay. has it's specific on the new project and Mary Jude was very clear on what we can spend that million dollars on. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? And and I just just to clarify like has been has it been a year and a half? Two two years is two years. It's been two that we had to move the kids. So um you know we started this two years ago with two conflicting water operators reports to this committee um challenging ownership of the water um challenging having to provide bottled water. And so we are here today the commitment from the town of Milville voted by the taxpayers of Milville to provide

044the bottled water. the acceptance of the grant uh from the DP knowing that this is a new technology for the mass D. That's why they're going to scrutinize it, I would imagine, closely and and have that pilot program. Um and so and and the and the and the Millville representatives had, you know, reached out to us to consider what we're considering this evening. So, and and so we've we've come a long way to that point. Other things this the committee has been doing working in cooperation with the town of Milville is the liability of the 850,000 um that the MSBA has been gracious enough to wave any enforcement on because the school has been non-compliant with the MSBA loans for the roof and other work there. So, so we've come from a a time where

045the district was paying for the water a few years back on its own to now bottled water. The bottled water. So, yes, bottled water. Um um Milville challenging the ownership of the water to now Milville fully committed to the water, the ownership and rectifying um the issue, you know, the the issue with state backing. So that's what's in essentially you know it's a in short that's where we are this evening and I have one more question. Sure you can have it all night long while you can question it. I guess it's a per se. Um what about the bathrooms? Do the faucets stay on? Yeah. Because I know when um Jen when you were speaking about Mary Jude's thing, she said no exposure but the faucets are on in the bathrooms, right? Okay. So they

046can wash their hands. Can I ask another question? Yeah, they're saying it's safe. Have we considered instead of like bottled water, has there been conversation about how that water is going to be delivered? Is it going to be the truck that we filled the tank with? At one point, he can't fill the tank because then he can't do his work. So the the water from the system from the well is what goes into the tank. So how is it being supplied for cooking and cleaning? Like big bottles of water. But we at the time we last night we saw like five gallon jugs in the music room. So, right. But the cafeteria isn't even in in use right now. So, is that going to be something that's up to us an operational decision on how

047kids are washing their hands and cooking is happening? Yeah. Do you have that as part of your proposal? Not just handwashing. Just if the bathrooms are not being monitored, who's not to say? I mean, my kids bring their own bottle like this to school, you know? Who's not to say they go in there and fill it? That's kind of where I was going. Not really the handwashing. Okay. More of who's watching the exposure until it's fixed. Jane, I'm cautious about how I want to say it. Yes. But um I I know that this has been an ongoing issue more so than just the two years, probably for about 15 or 16 years. Um having a child who spent seven years in a school carrying a water bottle every day and working with my child as

048a fouryear-old in the preschool. That's when she started. seven years in the school working with my child to say you don't drink out of the the faucets were closed. The the bathroom faucets. Yeah, they were there. You don't drink because it's not a handwashing issue. It's a drinking ingestion issue and bottled water has been on in that and I you know I was one of the proponents who said we need to fix we need to fix the water. We need to fix the water. We need to find a solution. I'm still but I I think we've been presented with a solution. I think it's an facility that offers many advantages along with some disadvantages just like the complex offers advantages and many disadvantages. Um but I think we've asked the town to do something. they're

049doing something and as parents we probably have responsibility but I don't think the bathroom issue is the issue. I'm not saying no kid will go up to the faucet and put their head under it. I'm I'm not saying that. But I think there we are an educational institution that will educate these young young very young three four well no it won't be the preschool so five six year olds like what that means but as parents as family members as community members we we have that responsibility too. All right. Um so when do you expect approval from the state for the pilot? Um they have up to 60 days to approve it but they feel this going to expedite it. So we expect to um you know within what date was it submitted? It was submitted

050um May 7th. So we expected by the end of this they've already provided us with a response and some and review. So um but 60 days from May 7th would be the 60 days is the is their schedule for permit review. Okay. Chuck, what are the repercussions from the MSBA loans to keep the kids there one more year at the complex? What are there ramifications for doing that? Is it okay to Yes, if you would. Sure. uh my last conversation with them uh they authorized the second year without requesting payment what they call a clawback on the grant uh to Millville but they said if it goes beyond that uh we we have need to have an additional a very serious conversation can we have that serious conversation and sure I I don't think that

051should be the reason that we feel like we're under the pressure right now because honestly to me this all feels and we don't have Jason's proposal on the move yet expense or space. Um we don't have an approval on the on what they're going to do with this money. So how can we make a a an educated decision tonight? I I mean is it something we can talk about in July? We made that last move in July. So there's nothing they were going to expedite. So this is just this is just an agenda item. We can make a decision on it. We're not required to make a decision on it. Uh we can get the information. We've got the input from the public. We're getting the input from the town of Milville, the input from

052the professionals. Um I mean you we made this decision in July. There is an opportunity. Um it could be tomorrow you could get the approval. It could be two weeks we get the approval. We have meetings. There's it's not a requirement for us to make um this decision tonight. I'd like to like no um so my biggest concern was no um impact to the students and and whatsoever. There's there's no um you know vulnerability to them to the to the students. I think that was all of our concerns. Um the D has been very clear um that it's essentially the danger is consumption um and cooking I think it was soft foods the absorption absorbing foods and the consumption level is quite high. Yeah, it's this h it's two liters a day for 70 years

053every single day. So I don't know that you would even achieve that in five years of school. Um but it's we have staff that have been there for 30 years. I I just I feel like every time you say that, Jennifer, it goes right through me. I just want you to know we all know what the data says, but if you're living it and and drinking it and exposed to it every single day as a staff member, the they're there much longer than the kids. And for and frankly, my kids went to school with a water bottle every day, but it still didn't feel right. It was still worried. I worried that they were going to take a drink out of the bubbler or get splashed in the face or and I I really we

054know the data, but the fact of the matter is there's a risk there. Period. Why would we put any kids or staff in that position? I think we are the closest we've ever been to fixing this problem. That's thrilling to me. But we're not there yet. We're not there yet. And I am very happy that Milva got this grant. I am I see this going in a much better direction than it's ever been. But we're not there yet. I need an approval on that pilot program. I personally see the results of the pilot program. I I haven't even felt good that our our administrators are in that building for the last few years and they're the ones that had to take the brunt of the bottled water or the exposure. So if Mary and Jude

055were here, she would say there is no exposure if there's bottled water. We all know that. So but she's the expert, correct? She's the regional director for Mass D. So she governs drinking water for the entire central district. So, can I ask another question to the Mccclure? Um, the surface water that's found in our drinking water at that facility, do you see that in other places? So, surface water TOC's. Well, the TOC's um I I don't have experience with the that the level of TOC's that we're seeing there. Um there there is they have tested for um groundwater under the influence of surface water and those tests have come back negative. So um we're talking about a a well that's a thousand ft deep that's you know that's bored into um you know different subsurface

056lithologies that you know so it's it's it's pretty unique to so never before I yourself I have not experienced in a bed in a bedrock well. Thank you. Thank you. Any any other questions? Um, in our packet, we're provided the what seems to be the proposed move plan. Are we at that point yet? Can we discuss that or um not at that point? But I mean, okay. If it's in the packet and you have a question on it. Well, I'll just say on on top of all this, it seems as though there is a the plan. Is this the plan that Yes. Okay. I'm assuming you're going to present that to us or Yes. Okay. If I'll wait on that. Okay. Well, well, well, was the idea to present it if we took a vote?

057Well, we can present it for information if the committee because so some of obviously some of the uh the residents had some ch questions on the on the move plan. So I would while we if we have it we can address it. Um um and so and so the only thing is I I would I would ask the superintendent because it it doesn't make a difference obviously all things being fair and that there's the the the exposure is zero to the kids if the water is provided by by the town of Milville. Um we do need to know if the town of Milville is going to be hit with $850,000 reimbursement payment. We we absolutely need to know that because they can't afford neither town could afford that. But like so and I would ask

058that if we're if if the board if the committee is considering we can continue this um to our next meeting. But I would definitely want the superintendent to to reach out to MSBA and have to go through the same thing you've gone through the last two years and get a response from them because that that we cannot make that determination. We can't say hey you know you guys don't have to pay the 850 grand back you know. So um so if the board is the committee is has said nothing else um regarding this and you don't object to continuing this conversation this portion of it to the next meeting. I'm I'm fine with that. Well the next meeting is next Thursday. I think I really think it's going to have to be June personally for

059them to have time. Well, what we'll do is we can continue it to the next meeting if that information is not available. I mean, we can Well, when's the next meeting after that? Three weeks. Is that about three weeks out? June 8th. Sure. We've had this as a standing agenda item for Yeah. many months. So, why don't we just keep this as a standing agenda item? The town of Milville will inform us if they've heard back as Jen as Jen would do. Actually, no, I won't be back on Thursday. I someone will be back. A week from Thursday. A week from Thursday. Oh, no. I can come back then if I need to. Um love to. Yeah, we can we can I mean we can keep it I would keep it as a standing. Sure.

060Is it okay to just add one piece? Sure. So just from a timeline perspective, I do want to underscore the importance of a decision if possible before the end of the school year. Our staff has many responsibilities over the summer. Um, I know we did it in the summer last time and I understand it was late in July and there was, but I know it also came at a cost to our staff to come in in kind of the, you know, the dead of summer packing their things and they did. They did all the right things. So, you know, a shout out to our faculty for that. Um, but if we could make that decision before, that would be really important for them because they want to get their things packed. They want to get

061their rooms set up. And as a former elementary school teacher, you are putting hours and hours of time into your classroom setup. So just our educators out there absolutely hear and see that if it's possible that would be helpful. Aara, so I greatly appreciate that the system is getting put in place. I however am not comfortable going forward with them moving on um at all without any results. I agree with everyone who spoke tonight, other voices that have been said. I just don't think we're ready to say yes without any test results. So, I think it's really important that we get the MSBA to understand that we don't have the answers to say yes for this coming school year. So, we need them to weigh in on how if they can keep this emergency placement

062removal from the school wording. I'm not in favor of moving the kids back this year. There's a reason why the pilot study is a year. Yep. And that's at one point we had hoped for 180 days of clean water to replicate what was a school year and we had said like that was our line that we were going to hold. That was our last Yeah. That's what we had. So I understand the parents concern and the staff concern about being moved back there. So do we vote tonight then? I don't know. Do why make it wait till another meeting? Y and but I I have one question for Jason. the two years that we've been in this predicament and I was the chair when this started, we had conversations about MSBA and there was never

063a waiver of concern. They were always understanding. So is there something that has changed because never has that been a even a a conversation of a problem that they have been very understanding. the building is still part of our district. Why all of a sudden is that kind of being put out there as one of the reasons that we need to put the kids safety behind money? So, I want to be clear about this. I I not saying I don't think that's what anybody's saying. I think it's a factor. Chuck asked the question. I think it's a good question and I think it's I think it's I think it's a fair question to ask. It's a significant amount of dollars. You'd never put money ahead of this. I made the recommendation to the school committee

064two summers ago to move the kids. I sat right in this chair and made that recommendation. So I want to be really clear about that. But that being said, we did discuss when MSBA and I had the discussion that was the director of operations had the discussion about the second year that if this were to go beyond two years, there would need to be a very serious conversation because they were foregoing the clawback on the grant for those two years. But that may not be the case. Should we continue to move it forward with this plan? I'm not saying anything. I will not speak for the MSBA, but I certainly would have that conversation as requested because I do think it's an important one to ask. I mean, I think if anything, they'll feel you

065more assured that there's a grant in place and the work is to come. They may. Yeah, they may. We I don't know. Okay. But that's certainly a conversation I'm happy to have with them. Thank you. And I did ask the first year I asked Jason to follow up with the MSBA out of the concern not of for the uh and because of the decision that we were making to move the kids. I wanted to ensure that we weren't going to get blindsided by or Milville wasn't going to get blindsided by that having to pay that reimbursement. And I asked him again the second year to follow up on that um to essentially get an email or some type of evidence that Milville is not a bill or being you know and and and so for

066that that was for that purpose. We do I'll just point out that and I understand everybody's concerns but this has already the application for the grant in the application for the grant is this technology. Yes. Yes. That's right. So, the application for the grant uh for the million dollars, that's the technology that was approved. $36 million was available by the EPA through the state of Massachusetts. The town of Milville got1 million of that $36 million. So, I know the EPA and the D is very confident that this system is going to work. there's a one-year pilot study because this will probably become the norm or one of the accepted norms in Massachusetts when it's successful. And and if I could um you know everything goes well I I I obviously use the maximums for all

067of my scheduling. I I you know I'd be remiss if I didn't but um they have they have instructed they it may not be a year. this thing works fabulously and we get the longevity out of it and but again the monitoring is never going to be never going to stop because we always sample for these um for these parameters regardless. So um the f on the first day that we start filtering water that water is going to be clean and into a you know a a clean and disinfected tank as well. So um that's that's you know that's how this system is going to operate. So, okay. I have a resident that has a question that I'm going to allow to come up off to the side if you want is I noticed you

068came here. You got here a little bit late. So, I'm sorry to be rid of me sooner, but um I did come a little bit late. the the main question that I have because I don't disagree with a lot of the other questions about the water, but I think it's maybe more of a budgetary and administration standpoint because we just spent two years consolidating to three buildings including three principles, three different types of administrative staff, three special ed teams. Like what are the implications that is this really going to have if we were to break it up again into four? Because I'm concerned that um from like the children's perspective like this is inconsistent to them. So now they're they're being shuffled between schools and things are not the same. But then from a level

069of service where we do know that we have a lot of vacancies and we've lost a lot of specialists and whatnot that we're going to be stretched even more thin across four buildings if this is the path that we're taking. So that's for me a concern from again from staffing administration service providing um and the budget. Okay. And so there was just a quick misconception at the beginning of this when we consolidated to from four to three three yeah four to three schools we were we made it very clear that we were staying at that and so and when it eventually moved back to Millville there would be we wouldn't be filling the the the the complex correct essentially it wasn't going back to four principles and and four No. So I'll hand it to

070you. Hand it off to you to for Yeah. So the budgetary from an administrative perspective, the budgetary impact is is insignificant. So we're not adding back a principle. We're not adding back, you know, that support staff. The staffing m uh model we have now will actually work for what we are prop well what we would propose if we were going to make the proposal tonight or whenever that may come would be to have the preschool stay at the complex um and move grades K through three to Milville Elementary. Uh Jill along with uh Jessica Sinclair HR specialist and Christina met with the preschool teachers. They had a conversation with them about uh potential and upcoming changes um with the administrative staff we have now. We don't need to add anybody. We have enough staff to

071do that with our nursing staff. We have enough staff to do that. We don't have we don't I'm not sure the vacancies you're referring to, Tanya, but we don't have tons of vacancies. That's just not true. Um, sorry, but I'm going to I just have to call it out because that's the rhetoric right now that it it hasn't been true and it's not true. Um, are there vacancies? Yeah, we have a couple vacancies, but there's not a ton of vacancies. Um, so I want to identify that and clear that up once and for all. But as far as the staffing pattern that we have, we have enough nursing staff. We have three nurses and an LPN. We have enough staff for administrators. We have three principles. We have two assistant principles. We also have an

072we have a educator that is a preschool educator that is a licensed early childhood director. So should we need an individual to step into that role. Not saying that that's going to be the formal title what we're going to do. I can see all the things that you're doing there but so I'm happy to have a discussion with you offline about this. This is a very well thoughtout plan. Tanya, this is what we do every day all day. So we know what we're doing. We have an individual that can step into that role should we need that level of support. So we have the nursing staff. We have the administration ready to go. Also, don't forget that central office would move out of Milville and would go back into where we were at the complex.

073So, we would go back to where we were. We'd be in the same building with the preschool. So, there is plenty of staff that we have available to assign to support those students on a daily basis. We also have about four or five students that eat uh lunch. So out of all of the PK students, which any year it can be between 60 and 80 students depending on the year, about four or five have lunch. So we would we would move the food over. We have a a van that's equipped for that. So we could send over five lunches for the children. So we have a very well thoughtout plan if and when this ever happens. Um but this is what we do. We prepare for these things and we're ready to implement should that

074decision be made at some point. question. Sure. You're saying you have enough staff. So like for for example like the nursing staff, if you're going to keep prek in one building and then move everybody else to Millville, there's going to be nursing staff available in both buildings. Yes. So we have four we have four um members of our nursing team. We have an LPN that right now rotates throughout the buildings. We would have the LPN assigned at with the preschoolers and then we have our three nurses. So they collaborate and they frankly they rotate. They go to each other's buildings. They check in with each other the LPN's in all the buildings. So we have and you might remember this is school committee when we did this when we consolidated asked to add the LPN

075back. So we do have four nursing staff on board. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Well, we might as well we had some residents asked about the move. So fill us in on the move if not that we're at that point, but we might as well um address this. We have a estimate here and yes. So let's I would actually ask uh Mrs. Schaefer and Mr. Heert if you want to come forward and just share water. Any more water questions? Chemistry. We'll stand in the wings. You don't mind standing the wings? Don't leave the building yet. Okay. And thank you for your time. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] Sorry. Uh Christina, do you want to start with the building layout and Absolutely. So um and the maps you have um in front of you. Um we went

076through every nook and cranny, made sure we had spaces for everybody, office um spaces, etc. Um you'll see primarily K and one are on the first floor and then the second floor is um two and three um with adjustments for with office staff spaces um coaching spaces special education spaces um and the specialists. There is only one there's one special that would be in the classroom every other week. It would be guidance which is not it's what we did before we actually went back to the we went to the complex. So bless you. Um guidance was in the classroom actually every week prior. Um, and it would be every other week would be the special in the classroom and preschool obviously would be at the conference that was just mentioned so I didn't mention again

077but we did speak with the um preschool team and um then actually um grade three actually went because they haven't some of them taught their way back but they haven't been there in a bit. So yesterday during PLC we used some of the PLC time. We're actually there for an hour and 20 minutes yesterday. Um we were there till 20 or 4. Um they just wanted to check out all the spaces. So, um, we checked out every room, every where every special would be. Um, they kind of got the lay of the land and figured that out. So, we have and we had a staff meeting last week as well. So, this information, this map was shared with staff um, as well. Thanks, Scott. You want to share the moving? Yes. So, I reached out

078to two different companies. Um, we obviously have the quote from the first move we did, which was um over $40,000 just from that moving company. The other moving company that I reached out to, RA Movers, um, they did our move for us last year. They were very efficient. Um, very reasonable. They came in at 18 almost $19,000 for this move. I reached out to Isaac's Moving. Um, their estimate came back at 31,000. big difference, but I think it's because they prefer to use copy paper size boxes versus, you know, 15 by 25, the giant ones. Yeah. Well, even the ones we used the last move, various sizes. The copy paper boxes obviously they want us um purchase 600 of them. Whatever we don't use, they will reimburse us for. But I think that was a

079huge difference in price was all the boxes. Um, RA move is figured about 400 to 500 boxes versus the 600 from Isaac's. So, which one's in front of us? The 18. What company is that? 1881. RA movers. AR. We used them last year. Okay. That may be RA. Do you What was the total two years ago? Robert Adams. I think you said 40. Was it 402 years ago? Yes. And then the stipens were I think it was just under 10. So, I think the total was 50. I think the total all in was around 50,000. We're not concerned that this is half of the price and we're going to end up we actually followed up with them again because we had the same question to confirm it was back and forth between and this 18

080this is the one who moved the last year you think we moved our eighth grade with this company. Okay. And then you said RA movers. Yes. And they came out and looked at this building. Yes. Mhm. They opened the closets. Did we pay last year to move eighth grade? I want to say it was 17 and that but that was grades four, five, and eight, right? Three buildings. You're right. I did wonder and stipens would be on top of this. Yes. Approximately 10 or That's what we paid the last time. So we Yeah, I had I actually had a spreadsheet from last time when we moved from It was about 10. Yeah. Based on those hours, same rate. So just under 30,000 is approximately. Sorry. Last year was 12,000. for grades four, five, and eight

081for the movers. For the movers. Can we just go back to this map for one second? The first floor with 113 111. So that So we actually went yesterday. We are making the grade three is going to be going upstairs. Um the special ed will swap. So Okay, good. So this first I'm sorry, first floor, the three is actually special ed. So yep. So that's going to um be it'll be another office space uh or classroom space. And then grade three is going to be up where it says special ed next. It's so it's across from Yeah, it's where it says um OT elev. So that special special ed will be um downstairs right now. And then um the ELLL and OT will be there. And both moving companies said as soon as we sign

082the contract, they'll drop off the boxes. the um packing tape and whatnot. And they predict it'll take one week for the move. So we well before July 1st will be moved in. They will start on the 17th right after school is dismissed at the um complex. Um so there is a plan ready. Okay. Whenever the committee is ready to do that. Sorry, just one question. Sure. ELLL and OT are together. No, that's two separate rooms. Just when I was putting the little things electronically, they crossed over the line. It's a weird It's a weird room. It's a Yeah. Yeah. They're they're um small group room. Secret doors. The old computer lab, too. We're going to have to take the outlets out of the floor and replace the carpet, but we already have the carpeting to

083do it. So, it's just the way we're going to do it. Yeah. And a coat of paint. Yeah. I think we got a lot of yellow. Oh yeah. Can I ask the question that was brought up during public forum about the kitchen? Is the kitchen ready to receive all of these kids if we're back? I'm going to be working with the interim food service director and the uh kitchen manager. We're going to walk that kitchen. There's a lot of equipment still in there. I don't know what I know there's big mixing things. We're going to go through that kitchen and make sure there's any equipment needs. And I'm sure there are equipment needs, but we'll be using the food service fund through approval with Desi to resupply that kitchen with all the equipment it needs.

084It's time for an upgrade anyways. And we have the funding through food service, not the general fund. Won't hit our budget to supply those that equip. Joe, can I just add a piece because our folks in the audience may not realize this. The food service budget is actually not at all connected to the district's operating budget. That's a separate budget that comes from reimbursements from both the federal government and the state. So all the equipment and supplies and resources. Um I think it was to Jean's had mentioned it earlier tonight like to Jean's point, we can actually replace that equipment with zero costs to the school district. It comes directly from the um the food service budget. So there's no additional expense to to the district, to the towns, the taxpayers, to anybody. Mr. I

085know uh one of the previous well the previous food service director we were looking at replacing the steamer already in that kitchen. Um so that was underway before she left. So there should be codes and stuff out there somewhere. This is the the replacement of the kitchen equipment has been ongoing. We've been doing it districtwide year over year to make sure everything is up to par for our kids. Make sure we have everything we need. We've replaced kitchen equipment in couple of buildings over the year that I've been here. The walk-ins and the freezers have been running for the last two years. So, there's no issues there. They're still up and running. I believe the ovens are still good. It's just a steam. And I just just again to underscore the fact, you know, it's

086our job as the administration to make sure we're ready for whenever this decision is. So, I I just want to share that we put these plans together so that at whatever point the decision is made, we're ready to do that. So, I want to just rest assure to the community that whenever that decision is is decided, the administration is ready to execute the plan to to move, to replace equipment, to do all the things that we need to do to make sure that um all the students and staff have what they need. I guess I just don't like that the preschool doesn't fit. I I don't like the idea that we have to have the fourth building still. I have a question about that. Why wouldn't we move them to the high school now if

087that's the intention of where they're going to be eventually? Why segregate them into that smaller smaller the space really is appropriate. I mean we toilets I mean it is it is different. We have to retrofit the bathrooms for the little I know it sounds silly but like the little mini toilets and and it's not worth doing that and they have to be in classrooms. In the classroom bathrooms have to be in classrooms. Yes. So, it's very temporary for in an outside play space and right though I just want to point out that that is where they used to be. I know a lot of people wouldn't remember that but they were at at the end of the band field practice field parking lot. That was their entrance. They had those rooms and that you know

088that was their door. Um and that was their space years ago. It was a much smaller program, not wasn't not what it is today, but it would alleviate some of the questions on nurse and principal and you know they they would be in a fully up and running building but there's no bathrooms in that. Is that where our um right now our um BICO program is in that BICO or our adult kids? We're renting it out to BICO upstairs downstairs and downstairs is what is our programs? It is ours. Okay. Is there a bathroom in the there for them? For our students, there is an adult bathroom. Okay. Anything else? Have we considered the transportation aspect of having all this change again? Have we reached out to Telstone and had those meetings? Yeah, there would

089be little to no impact. Apologies. Speak up. We can't hear anything. Yeah, you guys are talking to each other about that. Matt asked if the the the impact on transportation and I said there would be little to no impact on the transportation because preschool is not trans right. They would just instead of dropping at the complex they would just drive to me and drop and then is it still a staggered start time for people who have kids in the P uh K through three versus preK? Yes. The time the time later start anyway. The time changes a little bit of a later start. Yes. So, the ch times wouldn't change um significantly. I'd like to make a motion to hold off on making this decision. Okay, you can make a motion on holding off, which

090is fine. Uh which is but the what I have motion to table the right motion. Actually, my motion would be to say no to moving the students for the school year. Yeah. So, and so that's a different motion. So, what Tara is recommending is that we hold. So, what we'll do is we'll keep it on the agenda. I'll keep it on the next agenda. I know I personally um uh the town of Milville has presented from the from um I and I appreciate the hard work that went into getting us to this point uh by Jennifer and Peter and and the Millville board of selectmen. And it's been a a heck of a two years getting to this point. Um, and I do want I mean um I think Mary Jude had put in writing

091that there the exposure is ingesting and not and not exterior and that's that's the regulators of the water in the state of Massachusetts. Um I also would I and and any other member can I would encourage them to share their concerns. Um the financial impacts. Secondly uh obviously there's no exposure whatsoever. We're, you know, Milville agrees to provide the water at no zero exposure um to the children and and and the 850,000 um and this is my third year in a row asking you for that as well as um the Kennedy Maloney complex, although it's still being used as the district and we have BICO in there. Correct. And they're not there. right now. But um and so cuz we're going to have to have this conversation in Blackstone when that school is um if

092that school is vacant and it's going to be a bigger discussion um as well with the district um because there'll be financial impacts to Blackstone if that school becomes completely vacant um with the MSBA loans. Um, so but that's where as far as the water goes, those are the things I'm concerned about is and of course hopefully getting that uh back from the state uh hopefully before next Thursday anyway just to I'm confident they're going to approve it. They approved the the the approved actual the grant applications with this information uh this device on it. So I'm I'm confident they're going to approve it. and I'll I'll get all the warm and fuzzy that it is a um is approved and and moving forward. Any um Aaron, where do we stand as a committee on

093wanting the 180 days of results? We we had already stood with that this year and then they started unfortunately coming in negative in mid- winter. So now we're going to start fresh new program but it's it is a pilot for the year. Are are we going to ask ourselves to reneg that as one of the we were like consistent water operator 180 days of results and a plan. Yeah, we have the plan and we have a consistent water operator. So, I'm just throwing that out there. We he it has to be a year pilot. We've already voted a year ago on 180 days of results. That's right. So, and I agreed to the 180 days that this to mimic a school year when they were trying I think you actually made that. I did. I

094did. And so when they were using the old technology of the filtration, the sand filters that they have in there now and and and so I have a great deal of confidence that it's going to be over the oversight from the D. the the five times a week I think of of of physical testing three to five times a week where we were having maybe once a month quarterly any Yeah. So, and I would if it was if they were trying a new um fix in our current filtration, you know, with without this technology, I'd still be on the 18 same water, new filtration. Dan, it possibly not the new filtration. Yeah. So, what they were doing is um adjusting the existing filtration that wasn't working and creating more chemical issues and this and that.

095This is new filtration. So I'm I'm I'm confident and J uh Jane go ahead. So I just don't think we have all the information to make any decision this evening. So tableabling the decision till the future or continuing future meetings is important. Absolutely. But I think we need the approval from the state to put the system in. I think we need at least test from the system. Um, you know, we're saying it's going to be all cleaned and sanitized and let's let's, you know, get those first three days or whatever of testing, but as importantly, we need to hear from MSBA because if we're putting a town at risk to pay a bill they can't pay, there's some there's issues there. So, with that, I'll jump to Carrie. I just if we're so confident that

096this new technology is going to work, why the plan of also drilling a new well, what's the reason for that? Let them go. Well, I know many committee members were encouraging to drill another well over the years that and so if you want why if you don't mind, why drill another well? New water. I think I know why. I'll speak on that a little bit. Chris can correct me if I'm wrong. Why don't we just do that? It's built into the million dollars, right? And we want to take advantage of all of the million dollars available. Also built into the million dollars is potentially improving the existing well, right? Dropping down the casing because that's could be a factor of these TOC's and I don't know what else. Um, so we may not even need

097to do a new well, but the money's there for it. And uh, the so the pilot study, yeah, I think your instincts are right. They they're not going to give a million dollars out on a what is principally a pilot study without planning to approve it. And it now they're doing their checking their boxes and whatever to come back with that approval. But I I wouldn't bet against the approval. Um there's money in there for even two wells because you you drill a new well, you don't even know what you're going to get, right? And you might have to do two if in fact we can't manage it with this pilot study or with this new technology, but I think I'm I'm sold on the new technology and pretty sure Chris is here as well.

098They really they really want to ensure that we have the right plan in place. So they they want us looking at all the options and like I said before with that new source approval that permitting takes takes time you know the sighting and and the construction. So um so I think it's just you know working um uh reviewing both of these options. We're not going to start drilling the well tomorrow obviously so it'll go through a review and if uh and this and the treatment will be working simultaneously. So will be working on the existing well on the existing well because the permitting for a new well could take close to the whole time of the the actual Exactly. Yeah. I'm sure they'll expedite it seeing that they're sure it's their their grant that they're

099right they're using but Right. and and you yeah to touch on what Peter said, the existing well in the grant I'm going to, for a lack of a better phrase, includes putting a a sleeve or a lining in that in that well to protect from the cracks and and the infiltration. But but if that's $100,000 and why not just put that money into a new well and start totally fresh, you're spending some of that grant money that you might need at the end if this didn't work and that didn't work. And you might not have the money left to dig a new well. No, you have that money available to you right now to do all of it right instead of like, well, maybe this band-aid will work. It's a very old well with well-known

100problems and essentially you're throwing that grant money that's very hard to come by down the well. So well well call it when I see it. So but that that's so that's another three years then two or three years if you dig a well in your backyard. If you Yeah. You don't need the D to take a well in your backyard. Yeah. too. I think it's got a low flow. It's at least flows of six six gallons per minute. Yeah. Yeah. So, I I don't know what the previous There's been a uh pounds of paper of exploration on that existing well. So, I would say start fresh. Don't even go through the paper. The average permitting process for a public water well, year and a half, two years. Yes. Easy. That's Yeah. So, that we wouldn't

101do any we wouldn't do anything. That's what the suggestion is. We'll start that process, right? But yeah, as Peter indicated, um, you you don't know what type of water quality, you're going to need treatment. I I mean, our our experience is in this area, most people probably have some sort of treatment on their wellwater. Um, and you would need it on any well that you put in depending upon the the types of uh water quality that you come across. And the approval of the grant includes the lining of the existing well, hooking up to the existing well, and potentially drilling a new well. It'll be evaluating that well to determine if uh lining that well is is the the best option and uh and if not, then advanced on the uh permitting of a new

102sighting. So when lining of the well, you mean adding more casing? if uh they they put a a seal um they'll they'll install a seal to try and isolate um a certain uh formation in there to see if they could isolate um a better uh water water quality. So there's casing that currently is above the surface and goes down 20 30 feet into bedrock. Yes, exactly. And then there's it's just in the rock formation after that. Yes. And you're going to go into that rock formation and try to line it. Yes. So there are uh different water bearing formations within that thousand foot cylinder. Yeah. And they would they could go go in and isolate that with um pneumatic um packers basically and try and pump from those different areas of that well to see

103if if all of those formations are creating this type of water quality or one versus the other is is is influencing more than others. Have other uh locations on site been considered for new wells? We have the protective radius uh adjacent to that existing well. It'll be somewhere um it'll be somewhere in that in that adjacent to that existing well. I my uh opinion is to you know let Milville solve the problem. When we first pulled our kids out of the school we said let Milville uh solve the problem then we'll move them back in. And you're seems like we're voting on something before they're done. We we're just not ready yet. And you know, short notice. I think the kids are doing fine where they are. You know, one more year and let's talk

104to uh so that we don't have repercussions with our loans. I'm sure I've heard you say it earlier, but someone Erin said that they were very uh forgiving, not not hard on us about, you know, understanding. still have the administration there. We're still utilizing it. So, that's amend my motion that I started a few minutes ago. There was a motion. I think you seconded it. No, I didn't. Didn't second it. Oh, you explained it then. Okay. So, there is no second on your motion. So, your motion failed from a few seconds ago. So, let me amend what I was my motion. I make a motion to not move the students to MEES for the school year 2526 pending confirmation from MSBA that there is no clawback on the grant since we have no test results

105with the requirement of day I'm sorry with requirement of day 180 days of test results in order to um move them second can I see that what I said so So, the motion is seconded to not to move the kids back. Um um pending contingent on the MSBA not to claw back on the loan. Okay. And the loan is on the boiler, just FYI. Okay. Thank you. Yep. And you know, we have to realize, you know, we're not putting money before the kids there either, right? Right. We just want to know what we're getting into. We don't want surprises. So, it's an educated decision. Yeah. Okay. There's a motion made by Tara. Seconded by Carrie. Um, everybody clear on the motion so it's not to move the kids back. Uh, contingent on hearing from MSBA.

106Peter, sorry. It's a motion by the end of the discussion. We've gone this far. So if they come back and they say there is no clawback or I guess it's more if they say there is clawback. Yeah. How does that impact what you're doing? You're going to deal with that in a separate action. Yes. Yeah. So it's contingent on you'd have to because they're not the vote would be void. The vote would be void if clarify. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. With that being said, if there's a if this is a favorable vote and to not move the kids, I still would like Millville uh to come back with and Jen's shaking her head. Yes. Yes. To uh because I still like to see the updates and and the progress. I know you'll probably after this

107vote, you'll probably get a call or approval tomorrow or or the next day. That's the way it it's been working. So, the motion in a second on the floor. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Any oppose? The eyes have it. I thank everyone for contributing this evening and participating. I thank um the residents, the representatives of Milville Board of Selectman and Mccclure um was it associates. They are not moving. They're not moving. You what? Well, well, well, until temporarily. Let me Yeah, it's just until we hear from MSBA. Not really. So theoretically votes over that if they say there's a clawback, we're going to say, "Okay, never mind. The kids are going down. We're keeping them. We got to come back and reconsider. We have to vote again." Yeah, we have.

108But not to move the kids back just because there's money involved. We have to have the whole That's what the motion is. Yes. I didn't make the motion tower. That's what the motion is. That's what the motion mean. I also did have in there that the 180 is a testing these banan files. So it is kind of a moving part. What is that in the motion? Yes. 180 days cuz that's not what you said. You didn't repeat that. I didn't repeat the rest of it. I was clarifying the um um the MSBA. What did I say? Um I don't it's on it's recorded. Thank God. um uh school year uh pending uh confirmation that the MSBA uh does not is not does not claw back um on the on the boiler funding. So if the

109if the MA MSBA clause is back, all of this is null and void. We have to then revisit it and also say 180 days and 180 days has but anything after claw back if they claw it back, we have to revisit the whole vote. Correct. That's it. The whole vote is no good if MSBA chooses to say no. If there's no clawback, it's 180 days anyways. No, we have to revisit the whole vote. No, he said no. If there's no if there's no if there's no call back, then it's my motion is not hopefully they have so much progress by that time. We'll reconsider. I'm sure if you make progress as to Jane's point, I'll be more than happy come if you guys are up and running in in June or July and you have

110several days of what you said, we'll re we can reconsider at any time. And someone's uh Wendy, is that you? That's me. Yeah. I I just have to say something because part of your responsibility is to create an environment for students that are safe and educate them. We are spending so much time on this water issue. I applaud all of the work that Milville has done. I've been on the school committee. I've watched it. I've waited for this moment. But in this moment right now, we need to go back to educating students and making sure that the students are educated and the staff are ready. There is 25 days left of school. If you revisit this ne let's say next week, there's 20 days left for our staff members to get ready to move. So,

111there's got to be something done. I either way, we can't keep putting it off. And then we we need a new superintendent. No offense, but who's at the helm? So, I I know I know the idea is a new well, and I applaud you. I think it's great. But in this moment in time right now, we need to go back to educating students. And right now, we're not. We're talking about water. We're spending so much time talking about water. We need to educate in a safe place and allow the teachers to do what they need to do and do what's best. 25 days left of school. That's what they are contractually obligated to do. And we're going to revisit and revisit and ask them to come back in the summertime. I just want you to

112think about that for a minute. That's it. So just for clarification, I asked them they to come back and keep us updated. So there's no there was a question on whether or not reconsider as a part of parliamentary procedure at any time on any item the school committee can always bring it up for reconsideration. So like it could be done in November, you know, on the 180 days. So, it was just I was just responding to the question. I don't think we'll be reconsidering this next week or anytime before the end of the school year. Thank you very much. Are we done uh for the time being with the water issue to Wendy's advice that we've spent too much time on it? I thank everyone for coming speaking their piece on this. I thank you

113for the representative of Milville, the residents of course, and concerned citizens. Moving on. MSBA update. Yes. Um, couple of just a quick Oh, Tara, I'm sorry. Oh, Tara. Nope. Go ahead. Another motion. No. Um, two quick updates. Um, in your packet, you have a copy of the uh it's titled educational program. The 3.1.2, which is the MSBA uh framing. This is included. We did not uh include the whole 500page document. Um but we thought it would be helpful if the committee was interested to see um this is the school district's portion of what we submitted to MSBA. So this was plugged into their overall 500page uh document that came from the OPM and the architects. Um this really talks about our educational vision and plan um and what we are looking uh to do moving

114forward with what we hope will be a redesign space in some capacity. So what that might look like um to go deeper into that um on May 28th we have a school building committee meeting um at I think it's 5:00 p.m. Terra is that right? Yes. Uh here and we are going to invite the entire school committee um for a couple of reasons. Um the first we are going to look at um the kind of essentially three main grade configurations. We're going to look at a 6 through 12 configuration, a 7 through 12, and an 8 through 12 configuration. Um the reason we're going to look at that and not necessarily look at the 9 through 12 is because we've done like we've done that, right? We certainly I don't think the intent was ever

115to move the eighth graders back to the middle school at this point. um with the level of success that that we have had with the uh transition. So um when I say look at very clearly what I'm referring to is there is a process that MSBA has in place um that outlines the cost the square feet um and what the overall construction um price could be for these various configurations. So obviously it's a very high level estimate but um we do need to start having those conversations around and what do we want to put forward for a schematic design to MSBA. Um well the school building committee can make those decisions and and honestly half of you now are on the school building committee. we wanted to invite the other half of the school committee

116who's not on that because it's such a significant conversation and such a significant decision um that we wanted to make sure that everybody was at the table. So um the first meeting um will be on May 28th and uh we are going to schedule a second meeting um that following Wednesday, just throwing some dates out, which is June 4th. um a joint meeting with the school building committee and the school committee if uh folks are available. We also can do if you can't be in person um we can do a zoom link or like a Google hangout link so you can participate uh remotely as well. Um so we are thinking and hoping that within those two meetings we can get to some type of a consensus on the grade configuration um so that um

117our architecture our architect excuse me can move forward and start putting together the schematic design plans that need to go into MSBA for August. Um and so we certainly don't want uh you know one kind of body making that decision. It really should be everybody at the table that you know has a a consensus. So we'll start on the 28th with what the preliminary costs would be for those various grade configurations. Jason, what did you say the second date? The 4th. Uh Wednesday, June 4th. Okay. And that would still be 5:00 p.m. Yes. 5:00 p.m. Yep. Both of them. Yep. And we can do a virtual link for people that want to zoom in or that can't be here if necessary. We have a school committee meeting on June 12th. If we needed a third

118meeting, we could tag a meeting on to the beginning of that. Hopefully, we don't need that. Hopefully, we can have the discussions and get people to a place of of comfort and consensus and decision on that great alignment piece. Tara, did I miss anything? No. Thank you. I I have a question on this if I can ask and and it only is just to update me. When I left um the school uh committee previously, I thought the state was moving to a computer science requirement in the high schools. Did that not ever happen? Okay. Because there's nothing in here about computer science or when I what I read I read quickly, but I did read I did read it. Oh, yeah. So, okay. Do you think there will be a plan to include computer sciences?

119Yes. Especially now, especially if it's like in the No. Yes. conversation that it's going to become, right? We make sure that we have that. I mean, if we're looking what is coming. Yep. Yep. Um so the other piece that's important uh on this plan um this was part of the uh it's called a PDP which is a preliminary design proposal. So I just want to kind of underscore the preliminary piece. Uh this what you're looking at is not gospel. It is to give essentially an initial vision of what we're thinking we need to do with the space. So, if there are things that are not included in here, we certainly did our best to include as as many as the items could as we could, but if there's something missing, we surely can add that.

120Well, and we do say we want technology everywhere that the building touches. So, I think you could add computer science. Science should be. Yeah. Y'll make sure that they tell us if there's something special, right? Thanks for that, J. Good. Um, and to that and I have a meeting uh with the OPMS on Thursday. So, I'll check in with them and see if we can make an amendment. Okay. To this now. Um, they're still giving us feedback, so I'm sure we can make some. All right. Dan asked me to keep this moving. So, the reorganization of school committee subcommittees. Um we have finance, capital planning, negotiations, policy, superintendent evaluation, and sick bank. Um Ted was a third member on sick bank and negotiations. So let's start with finance. We have Carrie, Tara, and Dan. Do

121you all want to stay to be on that? You meet with Joe um before each school committee me um meeting. We're all willing to stay. Yep. Capital planning is Carrie, Tara, and Chuck. Oh, I don't even see that here. Does anyone want to join that? School building committee. Oh, which one? Capital planning. School building. School building committee. Right now it's Yeah, the school building committee basically. So I already am on that. I'm on that. I was on. Yeah, you guys are both on that. You're right. Aaron and Jane. Chuck, you come to that. So we've got got six of us representing. Carrie and I are both chair and vice chair. All right. So, we've got a good uh representation there. Negotiations. We've got Matt Dan/ Aaron. Who do we have? Who are we negotiating with

122next year? B. Which is the superintendent though? Really? We don't really I'll stay on that. I would like to do that. You do that. Dan didn't say yes. U Matt, did you want to stay? And we can question Dan when he returns. We were missing um Ted, too. He was there so far for Yep. All right. Policy committee. It's Matt, Tara S, and Erin. Everyone, can I join that one? You want to join? Y stay. You'll stay. Stay. Policy. Yeah. You want that? Yeah. Erin, did you want to stay? Sure. All right. So, we've got Matt, Tara, Erin, Carrie, and Jane on policy. Superintendent evaluation. I'll join. All right. We've got Tara joining. Join also. Chuck will join. I'll join that. Erin, did you want to stay? No. No. That was Did you say you

123want superintendent? I'll jump on that. Jane Carrie Good. Wendy, I nominate Wendy. with you're in the room. Uh, stick bank. Uh, Carrie and Tara. Uh, Ted is no longer obviously here. I can do. You want to do that? Yeah. Anyone else? All right, we'll leave it. Carrie, Tara, and Jane. Thanks, everybody. Um, he said he'd be back, but he's not. So, I'll keep moving to reappoint Long Deo Gonzalez LLP as district legal counsel. Looking for a motion. So moved. I'll second that. Jane, second by Chuck. [Applause] Can we change that to Gonzalez long? It's not the name of the company, but put our preference there. Yeah. Thank you, Kelly. All right. And report of the superintendent. Oh, sorry. Um, all in favor of reappointing Long Petro Gonzalez LLP as district legal counsel. I I Any

124opposed? All right. Now, it's Jason's turn. All right. Thank you. Um, so a few items on my report this evening. I'm going to ask Mary uh Colonito to join us. She is going to um lead us in a conversation uh slashpresentation around a few really important pieces of our work. Um we are going to have some discussion around our writing committee and our assessment structure for school year 2526. Um and really it's kind of the Mary show because we're also going to talk about strategic plan Mary. We're going to talk about summer programming and then you're off the hook. Okay. Hello. Well, I'll start with the writing the writing framework. Um, I'll bring this to you. I don't have I have it. I'll bring Sorry about that. Thank you. Sure. So, I guess so. As

125you know, we started the the writing assessment committee uh in the in the fall and I I did present our timeline. So, we did finish pretty much what we we uh wanted to start uh we started in January. We came up with uh protocols. We came up with we aligned the standards. We looked at all of that. We looked at we had the committee split into uh different so the elementary school teachers, the middle school teachers and then content teachers. They all met in in in different groups to look at best practices for for their for their grade level for writing instruction. And then we started to look at different writing um support instructions for for all of those grade levels. Um, and then so this is so the assess assessments first. So I'm going

126to have to go back. So then we we went down to we all of the teachers split into different groups. So they started to look at their content area. If you like this is just an example of what they were looking at for like for grade seven. So the English teachers looked at um what kind of writing and um their writing expectations and the type of types of writing that they were going to use and the skills that they wanted to uh accomplish for that grade level in that content. though then the the um the committee members then brought uh the like to the English PLC's and just and had them look at what they had proposed and they all contributed this as well. Uh science same thing and um and his like so for

127all of the grade levels. So I just gave you a little piece of what they've been doing. So then next the next thing that we'll be doing is next week we'll be bringing all of those all of that together making sure that it's all aligned with the standards and and um what the PLC's and the the principles have all also all weighed in on this too and taken a look at all of the um all of the writing assessments. Now there's many different writing assessments. We don't want to go we're going to try to just work on a few at a time. So we'll be implementing a some of those assessments such as what a good science lab should look at like what um what a good p persuasive essay should look like. Also they'll

128be looking at how we can combine these writing assessments with other content. So if if they're doing a persuasive essay in ELA, there's no reason why that can't be used also in social studies. So that the kids are not like doing 50 million assessments. So So we're going to be looking at that. And as I had told you in the fall that this will be a two-year process. So after this h after we we meet um we will be looking at going we'll be implementing some of these some of these assessments and then doing some walkthroughs with the principles the coaches and some of the committee members to see how it's working and then looking at student work we'll be looking at that in PLC's also the committee will keep we'll we'll continue to meet

129and we'll look at we'll analyze and look at the data that we have and see what we need to change and then hopefully by the spring we'll have this all finished Mary I just have a question sure so you said that ELA goes and works together and then science goes to works together is there ever a time where they come together collectively so it's cohesive right so the whole committee will do that so that's what will happen next week but right now they've been working in their own content areas or like second grade has been working together first grade so so that's how we've been doing it so now we'll bring everybody together next week and also they like I we have been working in PLC's as well so it's not just specific grade level

130like in the content so science has been working with science all through and and also the principles have been looking at all of this and and you know really weighing in on what they think. And it's great because it's a responsibility of all, right? Writing isn't just in one specific class. What's been really interesting is um you know, oh, I'm sorry, kids like a comment being made, oh, you know, kids can't uh you know, they can't write a a science lab and you know, an an uh you know, a second or third grade teacher saying, "Yep, yep, they can because they are doing it." So, it's been really um I think eye opening for a lot of the teachers just to see what's being done and um it's been it's been a really good experience.

131It's a lot of work. They've been doing a lot of work. Can I ask you another question? I'm sorry. Um is there any way to see maybe I don't know how I say this some examples of work of the writing pieces from each subject. Oh, we will be we will definitely we'll be looking at student work. They'll they'll be looking at it and we will be looking at student work. bring it to present to us. Absolutely. Okay. Yeah, that's a very that's a great idea. Yeah, we will. This writing will become part of our beginning of the year, middle of the year, end of the year. Right. So, not only do we talk about right now, which I know you're going to get into assessment, the current assessment system we're using, writing will be a

132part of that. So, you know, we had our kiddos come and share, they'll come and share for us, and it's something we can definitely share um the work that we've been doing. writing's been a I mean this is an issue that we know that is throughout the country. So, but it has been I it's amazing just the work that's been done so far especially you know when I look at the younger grades like how they'll look at their own work and want to revise it. So this is, you know, this is ongoing and but it's been it's been a good experience and for all the teachers and um and I I really appreciate all the work that they've done for this. It's been a lot of work this year. Any other questions? All right. So

133I'll go on to assessment. So now I have to Sorry about that. So when we started this in the fall, uh I had come to you and told you that star was something that the teachers wanted to re revisit. So we looked at we started with just with math and we decided that um we would put together the assessments that were in the content in their in their curriculum. So with with um with the with the elementary we used the HMH growth measure and then with with the high school we used the SAS and also the math teachers met um a lot of them met the committee and some of the other math teachers met in the summertime and came up with quarterly assessments. they felt that that was something that they really needed that

134uh a lot of kids were coming back from college saying that they really felt that um that that they needed to have more exams like like final exams and so we decided to do quarterly ones instead of midterm and final exams. So this was a pilot. We decided that we would keep the ELA just and then we would look at the math and we found that we weren't getting enough it wasn't we weren't getting enough data. So what happened we we revised we we came together again as as with the assessment committee and um we just felt that the way we didn't have enough enough depth in our data. So, but we did feel that there was some really good things that happened as well. The they want to keep the the uh the quarterly

135exams and ELA is also going to be implementing that and eventually the rest of the subjects, but also they came up with three uh writing assessments that's going to continue K to 12. So, that that is another thing that will stay. Uh so but what we've decided is that we we looked at the needs that we needed we needed a consistent benchmark and we weren't getting it for assessment. So we went we we decided to go back to some of the programs that we had looked at before and we have decided on we're looking at two right now and uh right now some of the teachers the principles the committee is looking at two of these assessments and we will vote on that next week as a as a committee. So, we will uh look

136at it and then I'll be back again at some point to tell you what we're doing. Any questions on that? The two we're looking at are ready. I Ready and and NWA maps. They're similar, but one gives us more uh data that we think that we can look at in the moment like on skills that this that the students will need, but we're still looking and that will help us Mary for the intervention for also moving kids forward. It will have skills. Yes. Mhm. So I ready will show you the results but and then it will link the standards to certain like targeted activities for these particular skills so kids can use during their intervention and both of them are aligned to to to mass to mass standards and to they're very similar to MCCAST.

137So that that's a good thing. So, I just have a question back to the high school quarterly exams, right? And you mentioned that you were hearing that kids are saying they needed more because they weren't ready. So, was there any anything that looked into going back to the midterms and the finals for exam weeks and that prep for our kids? It's there. That's a good question. And right now, the math department at the high school feels that quarterly exams are better. So, but it is something that we could revisit. Yeah, we did have some conversations with with them at the high school, but we we don't want to do is go back to the traditional exam week where you come in for your test and go home. Why? It's a huge waste of time. Yeah,

138the kids they lose out on days and days of instruction. So what the teachers are proposing instead is they come in, they take their exams, they do their exams and they space the exams out in a particular schedule, but then they, you know, they stay in school and they go to the rest of their classes and things. But as far as prep for what is ahead of them in the four years, there's nothing we're doing that's giving them that that prep for that college semester, the finals week. No, I don't I don't agree with that at all. I this this structure does that. Why do they have to go home? Like why do they come in and take two tests and then go home? Are you saying more in one week where it's all test

139to go home? I'm not saying they have to go home. But there's Yeah, that's right. Just that wrapping up the same exam. Oh, so you just mean from semester to semester instead of quarter to quarter. So that would be a midterm and a final. I'm saying you like you specifically mentioned that you were kids felt that they weren't ready for that, right? What we're doing is not preparing them for for what they're exposed to in first and second semesters of college. A midterm is half a year. Quarterly is not as much material. Even the way they prepare for it and what it encompasses, those students that they have what was their high school experience. There's nothing. There weren't quarterly exams. So they've gone to quarterly exam. But they said they needed more. Right. So we

140went more than quarterly. No. No. This So they've implemented quarterly exams. But that just Yes. So those kids aren't in college yet, Chuck. No, nothing. Quarterly, you know, I I think it depends on what the exam encompasses. So you can do a quarterly exam and test on just that like the the fourth quarter test on just the fourth quarter which many colleges do. Yes. Or you can do a test on the whole year which MCCAST and does. So I think you can do quarterly and they'll get that experience but it's based on what are you testing about. Even the pressure of preparing for it. It's I'm really not I'm just saying like watching my older kids go through it in the last few years. It's it is very different. That's what I'm saying. The preparing

141of it, what it is, and even the weight of that grade. So this year we went to quarterly, right? all of our kids that left last year and were here probably I think it was it's at least a good four years that we weren't doing it right so that group of high school kids unfortunately never experienced never experience college so maybe we'll get new feedback in the future but and input co into the middle of it they they definitely weren't how but the kids have worked lots and lots of exams they've never not experienced an exam It may not be the thinking it's exam week like like that that pressure the buildup to it. Um you're saying it's a good thing to go back to it. I'm No, I'm not saying it's a good thing

142they didn't have it. They No, no. You're saying it's a good thing they do have it. I think every positive I think we need to do a little more. Even starting maybe simple syllabus at the beginning. I know some teachers do it. Yes. But even understanding like that your syllabus at the beginning of your quarter, we do quarters and the and the weight of each grade there there are some kids that have never seen that. And and I'm not saying it's our school. I'm just saying there are simple things simple other things that can be changed to prepare them for that whole culture shock of college. But I have a question. Either Mary or Jason can answer this. How does this play into the what we've been trying to figure out for graduation requirements? So,

143how is that like does this play into that or is this when we started this? It was before they got rid of the MCAST. So, that hasn't actually that's a I think there's a I think there's a piece where this could fit into that dubtail. Yeah, it seems like it seems like it's it's preparing to be that. But and to kind of what Erin's talking about too, there may be a different exam structure that we put in place that'll meet what you're what you're talking about, Erin. And also, how do we build that into what the requirements are for graduation? What do those exams look like? what you know we have we obviously have the passing requirements and things for each course but you know to what extent do those midterms and finals count toward

144that final exam for that course and that kind of thing. So this year math did had the quarterly exams next year ELA and I'm and so far what I've heard social studies and science are right up there as well. So I I'm I just want to reiterate I'm not saying they have to go home. That's not I'm just saying that they need to have that build up to the pressure of exam week and you know if we have two a day and then they finish their day. I I don't know. I think it it also needs to be said that I mean they still have MCCAST and they're still spending a a lot of time on MCCAST. They had them when we had exams before too. Exactly. But it's still it so to have I

145mean now they have exams. I mean and they'll be going back to this assessment as well. There's a lot of a lot of testing. Is there enough time to teach them the instant gratification of a grade on the MCCAST? By the time we're talking about to those kids about their MCCAST score, they're in a new grade and new curriculum, you know, I I agree with you on the uh lack of need for college at all. You're get they're getting their grade almost instantly now within 24 hours and walk out of sometimes. It's very quick. Well, the good thing about these assessments, for example, if we bring on like an I Ready or if we do the quarterly exams or the essays, they're going to get that instant. They'll get them right away. They will they'll

146get them right away and they'll also get this they'll get the help with the skills that they need right away. It'll be sounds like it's much more effective than Yes. a than an MCCAST or a standardized test. Not less star, but STAR seems to be pretty immediate. Okay. Um, so next the blueprint. Oh, I guess it's summer. Um, so for summer, our summer program this year, our summer program is going to be one month. So even our so the credit recovery for the high school as well as the middle school will be from July 8th to the 31st. Uh we will um uh we will be July 7th for them for the 31st the 8th for the for the um elementary schools. Monday through Thursday, the enrichment program and the credit recovery program will be

147at the high school and the uh 21st century learning will be at the middle school and uh we will have the elementary math and literacy enrichment also uh at at um the complex. The extended school year will be at the complex as well. And this year we have a new ELELLL teacher that will be at MEES and uh he we will be giving language acquisition classes to those kids for um for one month. So they'll be going um four days a week for one month which will be really great. We also have our wraparound services in our athletic clinics. And also this year we're going to start something new which is I think is really wonderful is um virtual summer read aloud where teachers will record their favorite they'll record themselves reading their favorite stories

148and we will uh we will put that out once a week for for five weeks for five or six weeks depending on how many teachers we get. Where will you put that out? Where will it go out? It will go out I I would think like a YouTube video so that they can so like in an email or is it going to be found on the district website? Uh all of it I would say both all of the above. It's going to go everybody. Okay. And teacher in the and it will go out in the newsletters before a school ends. So it will be um I think it'll be really great. I know that some of the teachers did this in uh at MEES and at the complex before during COVID and it was really

149really popular. So I think that it will be it'll be nice for the kids and for the parents if they want to listen as well. And this whole schedule will this be on the website? Yes. Okay. It'll be all on the website. We get a lot of questions. No, these are good. They're always good questions. Add the building I guess to the So now our I I don't think it's all I have. So your blue the blueprint is in your in your um not in your packet. Mary in your packet. Sorry. So Harry and Tara can hear this one more time. So, we started our our blueprint um in the fall uh to redo the with the district leadership and um we we believed that um the next step that is to go deeper instead

150of we looked at our four goals and decided that the goals would remain but we would go deeper with these goals and to to really try to meet them and as you can see all of them are connected right to to our blueprint and we designed it and at the time we made the decision um just to deepen our focus on those on those goals. After that, in the win during the winter time around February, the principles brought the our draft to each ILT in their schools and they they put added their input, their feedback on what they thought the blueprint should look like and then they presented it to student leadership. some of the students uh also added their le their input and then to the parent councils and then with you. I presented

151this again with you and then um recently Jill and I met last week with the community and uh and Tara and and Carrie were both there and we received a lot of valuable feedback on what they thought the next steps should be. So, we'll take all of that information that we've gotten and we will uh use that information to develop our action steps in in August and then that will move our our work forward and then that will be our roadmap to our new blueprint. And just a reminder to everyone, I don't know if you have a new packet, but remember our areas are curriculum, instruction, the whole child in the community. Again, keeping those topic areas, but again, we took a a little bit of a deeper dive. Yes. What's on here is action

152required, but we don't have a copy of it. Right. It was in the last packet, but it it didn't get into this one, Mary. It looks like So, we can bring it we can bring it back on the 22nd for approval. Okay. All right. Thanks, Mary. Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome. Uh, summer and fall athletics overview. Darling, you want to join us? She does. You mind if I give a brief update for spring as well? That's great. Uh so today we had the DBC championships for high school track. We'll have the DBCC championships for middle school track on Thursday. Um the we already got the results for DBC. So the boys team placed fifth, the girls team placed fourth and then we had numerous individuals who placed in the top in their event. So

153Camille Weatherall uh placed first in the long jump. Um in the women's 100 meter, Natalyia Maras placed second. Camille Weatherall placed third in the boys 400. Ryan James placed second in the boys 4x 100. BMR placed third in the girls 4x100. The girls placed second um in the 4x400. The boys placed second in triple jump. Ryan James placed first. Aiden Trescott placed fourth. And then in the women's jave, Javelin, Natalyia Maras placed first and Jackson Dutton placed first. Um we do have a few more meets for the season. Um and then one more upcoming spring event will have athlete signing day. So for any athlete who committed to a college in athletics, um they will be recognized this Thursday morning during the school day with uh their family members. Oh, and what time is that,

154darling, in case people want to attend? 8 a.m. actually Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] [Music] So, the first page of this packet is my tentative plan for summer programming for athletics. I'm still working with certain captains to figure out when they're going to hold captain's practices. Um, in the morning Monday through Thursdays, we're going to have open strength and conditioning from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. They did the same thing last year and that timing worked pretty well. Um, again, this is open to any sports team. Even if like a soccer player, cheerleader, anyone wants to go, the coaches that are in there can give them a specific workout catered to their sport. Um then we from 12 to 2 those were my plan sessions for like when kids get out

155of the enrichment programs. So it's just open session for anyone to play um soccer, volleyball, basketball, tennis. Um cheer is planning on having captain's practices, girls soccer, and girls field hockey. Plan on uh having captain's practices as well. There's also going to be one to two football camps. So, from July 14th to July 18th, our high school football coach will be holding a youth football camp for grades 4 through 8. And then as it gets closer to the fall, we may have a high school specific football camp as well. Uh last year, the DVC teams participated in like a DVC specific football camp. Um so, we're looking at different possibilities for that. And then uh on August 15th, that's when football can officially start practicing. And then the following Monday is when the rest of

156the fall teams can start practicing. The next page is the fall schedule so far. So, for football, our our football schedules is finalized except for our Thanksgiving game. Sutton um is no longer having a team or they're joining a co-op, so we lost them for Thanksgiving. We have a few schools interested, but we're trying to find the best option for us. U right now Oakmont and Cathedral are interested, but they're not the best option for us. So, we're kind of holding off a little bit longer to see what we can get. Um, you're coordinating that with the coach? Yes. Yeah, definitely. Um, and most of these schedules, at least the league schedule, is for two years, especially for football. So, we want to make sure like the opponent we find for Thanksgiving is someone we

157want long term. Uh for boys varsity soccer, we can have a maximum of 18 games. So we need four more games for that. For girls varsity soccer, again, maximum of 18, we have f we need five more games. For varsity field hockey, we need three more games. And for varsity volleyball, we need 10 more games. They have the most games. They can have uh 20 games. And then for JV and middle school teams, that's really up in the air. Like I can schedule them, but they may shift a lot by the time August comes because that's when everyone's going to know their numbers, know how many people they have and know if they're going to do mid-level waiverss. So, we can plan on games, but that will shift a lot over the summer and up

158until the first week of of fall season. Question. Yes. Um, tryyouts. Did you set a time slot for your tryyouts? So, tryyouts, I'm hoping to do the same thing I did for spring whereas like the first day of triyouts, we don't actually have triyouts. So, I require every coach to meet with me in person. That way, everyone planned on being present that day and we can get through like all the expectations and guidelines. Can I make a suggestion for that? I'm sorry. Um, can we do the coach thing? I think we should start the tryyouts with what MIAA recommends. So I would I would make a suggestion that we do the coach thing before that. Okay. So it doesn't take away any try out days. So I could probably do it um right before football

159starts. That way we're catching everyone before practices start. So probably Thursday the August 14th would be my coaches meeting. Um, and then tryyouts. I'll work with coaches for most fall sports. They can begin tryyouts on August 18th, so it'll probably be like the first few days of that week. Um, I do have fall fall registration open as well, so people can start registering for that. That will help us plan for which teams we're going to have in terms of JV, middle school, um, in the fall. Can I ask a question? Do you still hold the um the pre-season parent information night? Yeah, I've kind of been trying to adjust it as I go to find what's working best. We didn't have a good turnout in person. I'm open to suggestions, but I did have in-person

160pres meetings with students like during charger time during the school day and then a virtual parents one. I felt like the virtual one could get more attendance. Um, but I'm happy to do both an inerson and a virtual one. The virtual one had we had like 30 people. I feel like it was a better turnout, which was more than we had when it was in person. I do think it's beneficial having it separate from parents and students because I can be like very specific on what the expectations are for students and what the expectations are for parents and what things they need to know. How did the charger time one go for you as far as like scheduling and getting the kids to attend it? Was that it was a little chaotic just because there

161was like um a last minute like senior meeting that week. So it was supposed to be in the auditorium and it got moved to the cafeteria. So that was a little chaotic. Um so I think it can be planned a little bit better for fall for sure. And it doesn't have to be during the school day. Uh I just feel like you can get catch the most students. They're captive audience at that point. So they're they have to be there. So but false sports you won't be able to do that. Yeah. Well, in the past, it's been before the school year ends, right? It's been a week night in the summer and everyone came to the auditorium in the for fall sports and I specifically remember cuz it was usually during band camp week. So,

162you'd see them going in but it brought everyone in the room into the room including the coaches were there. So, I was just going to recommend if that if you're if you're running it that way, which it doesn't sound like you are, but that's when you would have all your coaches together. Yes. Um, if you were holding that I think it used to be mandatory, too, because there was concussion protocols that the kid that had to be signed off on. Yep. That's And do they still have to hand in medical forms and stuff or Yep. Okay. Um, and for like for spring since we didn't do an inerson one, we had like a meet the coaches night that was completely separate. Again, I'm still trying to figure out like what works best for everyone. Um,

163but the meet the coaches night, I felt like gave coaches the opportunity to be more prepared and have like a bigger presentation. Like the softball coaches had a whole screen with them and a PowerPoint and all these forms for them to sign out. Well, even the cohesiveness, I know I wasn't at the last meeting, but the schedule's handed out. Parents and kids are there, you know, so everyone has the same information. But if you're breaking it up into virtual, you're not able to hand them the Yeah. The tough thing is just getting the attendance of Yep. Yeah. I'm And I'm willing to try different options and doing it multiple times if that helps. I think I'm just still trying to figure out the best the best option for it. Be contingent upon them starting like

164Well, it used to be, but and I'm but all that stuff. I'm speaking precoid too. I mean, yeah, since you had to then they they broke up into sport like the basketball kids would go into the gym and but at first you started with the athletic director, everyone in the gym in the auditorium. In first spring, we had the the student one that was required. So, everyone got checked off by me. So, if they didn't check in with me, they couldn't they wouldn't be cleared to go to their sports until they checked in with me. And that was you checked like when they checked in with you, you went over their physical. So, then I said physical everything. um grades, age, everything gets checked off just so I have them in person. And you grabbed

165a few. I know cuz I mine was one of them. Um so I can go to I have a winter schedule too. I can go over if there aren't any other questions about fall. Um winter schedule right now the focus is on basketball. The league schedule just came out for basketball. So now this is like the big push to get the teams that we want um before they're scooped up by everyone else. Um so let me go my other sheet. How many games is it for basketball? Is it maximum is 20, but we plan I spoke to both coaches already. They plan on making the Clark tournament. They both made the Clark tournament last year which means we have to be 18 games. Yep. 18 games and then you leave two games to be announced

166in the schedule for the Clark tournament. Um so we need five more games for varsity boys basketball and 10 more games for girls varsity basketball. Um we have some verbal agreements in place for schools that are not on here. We just don't have a date yet. And this is of course working closely with both varsity basketball coaches. They're choosing who they want their opponents and then I just work on figuring out a date that works for everyone. That's good. That's important. Yes. Can I ask a question for everyone who might not know? There's no more DVC. So, when you say our like league opponents, that's completely different. Yes. Now, yes. And it's it's based on power rankings and we have those power rankings for two years. So, we have much better opponents this upcoming year

167than we ever have before in the DVC. Um, so it it will go a lot better. Our kids won't get as discouraged playing these teams that are ranked way above us. Um, and our league per se changes like based on school every two years. Yeah. We have like a subgrouping. It's not it's not considered a conference or a league, but within the huge um CMAC league, we have subgroupings of like anywhere from four to six teams that we play two games against for each team. And then we girls basketball could play could be in a league with different boys and boys. Yes. Yep. They don't have it the same for boys and girls basketball. It's now based on your power, which is kind of sad because even though when you look at the girls basketball,

168we have a lot of the same opponents that we've had before. Yeah. Well, and there's like a sort of an agreement amongst the DBC DVC athletic directors. We still do want to keep the tradition of playing those games. So, we're all in agreement like we at least want. Yeah. Yeah. Well, it's good for our transportation. That too. Yes. Yeah. And you'll see some sports it may have a higher transportation cost. It just really depends on the power rankings that two-year period. And is this year one or this year two? Incoming fall is year one. Year one. Yep. And then in terms of CMAC 2, we're just in the planning phase of everything still. So we have various committees. Uh we're still making the handbook for the CMAC. I'm on the rules planning committee and the

169all-star planning committee. And then tomorrow we meet as a group of CMAC athletic directors and review what all the communities have been working on. Uh it's a very lengthy process that will go on all summer just to make sure we're all in agreement, but it seems to be going in the right direction. And what is CMAC? Central Massachusetts Athletic Conference. Um, so I know you said the focus was on basketball, but I think something important that we need to talk about is our cheerleaders because of the way things ended last year for is the plan to have two Yes. coaches, middle school, high middle school, varsity. Yes. In my uh budget proposal in whatever month that was, um I recommended a middle school coach position that had a stipen and a high school coach position.

170So they shouldn't it shouldn't be like interfering with each other. It would be two separate coaches. So I think we need to approve that as a committee and tell me if I missed that meeting. But we when there's a new sport, a new group, like we had to approve middle school baseball a few years ago because we and we didn't carry a JV team, but I believe we need to as a committee even though can have the money but we have to approve it being middle school. We never had one before last year. I I didn't know where it came from. Not the No, we have to approve the position. We're always flexible though based on numbers whether we call it a JV or a middle school. But Tara, remember the year we went backwards

171to middle school baseball or I believe I wasn't on the committee when I helped with the information. You guys came and proposed it. We had to vote on it being middle school, not JV. So, with that being said, I've wondered this past year how we got to where we were. We have cheerleading, but we never had a middle school team before. And then and this year, they were kind of encompassed under that one coach, but I I just I believe there's something where we have to But we had a JV cheer team before. Yeah, there was still a JV team. Not competitive. We had we had fall for football. Yep. That and this year we went competitive in the fall as well too. Yes. That was we only had varsity competitive cheer. It this year

172it kind of evolved. I don't know if it was the coach that recommended it or tried to start as a club first and then brought it out, but we've never had middle school middle school competitive cheerleading team or JV. In the winter they had JV University. In the fall they didn't. In in the beginning of the fall the cheer coach myself met with the principles and said, "Hey, we want to have middle school compet compete um in the fall and have varsity compete in the fall." And we we figured out we only had one comp team. We had two in the fall this year. when and I'm talking about in the winter we never had more than one cheerleading team and and what they did was the the the team was a little bigger for

173the basketball games. Yes. But not all of them were on the competitive team. Correct. And there was only one competitive schedule was varsity. There was never a but as far as sideline cheer and competitive cheer that happened some of the girls together. Some some did both. Oh yeah. All of a sudden they were at middle school games too. We never had that before. Middle school cheer. Thought we had JV cheer. No. At basketball. No. No. There was one. So I just believe there's something that we have to do as a committee to approve that team or sport or um I know the stipen was approved as part of the budget, but other towns around us have middle school. I don't know. I don't know who they can compete against somebody, right? We didn't. We never

174So, you kind of created that schedule, right? This year. So, the chair coach the chair It's same with other sports like the chair coach will decide what competition she wants to enter into and then uh we register them. There's usually middle school specific competitions and high school is usually a separate complete schedule. But we are going to run it as two programs this year, right? Yes. Just so the girls have separate separate practices just from the when those girls came to our meeting and we were brought made aware of a few things but the positions have already been posted and like we have two really good chair candidates that have but just like we're approving that like we have to approve I know we you're saying we approved the stipen for it but we have

175to say we're going to have a competitive middle school. Can I make a motion for it to go on the agenda for Thursday? No. Just out of an abundance of caution, I'll take a motion to approve a middle school chair competition. So moved. Second. Well, hold on. Can we put a caveat on that? That it's middle school or JV based on the numbers registered based on the Yeah. Well, but you're letting the fourth graders were Were the fourth graders part of that this year? No. Oh, that was a question. Sorry. I didn't know if they were. But will competitions be different from middle school versus JV? Usually, unless there's like a high school one that has a middle school section, but that could be up to the discretion of both coaches and if they want

176to attend the same one or not. Well, JV, we're not going to have a JV team. We're going to have a middle school team. Correct. Is that different? What? Right. Is that what your question say or middle school is different than JV? But we typically with all our sports. Yeah. So, so the motion in the second is to create both and then depending on the numbers we're covered whichever way. Yeah. And so we can create both at the discretion of the at the the administration and the athletic director. It's either or. So could we end up with three? Wait a minute. Are you saying we No, he means either or. Either. Either or depending on we're opening it up just it's just cleaning up any housekeep or softball. We just did the same. We either

177had a JV or a middle school team. We wait to see the registration numbers in the fourth to decide is this going to be and sometimes they are labeled like a middle school JV team where they'll play both. They'll play some middle school teams and some JV teams because it benefits the kids and it depends too like if we submit a mid-level waiver and it doesn't get approved that also determines which way we're going JV or middle school. So it does switch. It could switch year to year. Um, but as long as it's approved that we have two chair team, like two distinct cheer teams. I think that's what's important. Mr. Chair, the motion was to approve a JV or middle school team. Yes. For cheer for the based on the registration based on the

178registration. Yep. And motion. And we have a second and we've already approved the stipen. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any oppose? You guys have it. Also in the budget there was like an increase um for supplies for cheer just to cover the additional competitions and stuff. So which it just shows you even more that we never had it before. It was not that I I was in the middle of the year when some of the issues started coming up. I was like it just didn't come. Do we have a middle school? It was more though. That's great. It's growing club. The club. Yeah. That's what I thought. It got likes somehow. It got likes. Yeah. Any other questions? Um, so question is when will you have cheer information because it it's

179not on me. So we have to hire a cheer coach because I don't want to make any plans for the schedule without input from them. We do already have all of these co the boys varsity and JV or you I thought you made the schedule. So I I make the schedule in conjunction with the coaches. So, for basketball, we're of course assuming right now that we're continuing with our boys varsity basketball coach, girls varsity basketball coach for fall. Um, I've consulted with every coach from fall in their postseason meeting. So, we haven't move forward with anyone for fall yet, but this is all checking with games with the current coaches from this past year. Just cheers a different situation. So, I can't really consult with anyone. Um, so I'll wait for the new coaches to

180be appointed. And then middle school basketball, boys and girls. Yes, that um I I still can consult the coaches from this past season. That's just more we don't know what teams have middle school yet. The middle school schedule usually kind of filters from the varsity J. So usually we'll match as much as possible. So if we're playing Sutton, we'll try and play Sutton JV and Sutton Middle School all the same day. I'm sorry. I was catching up on something, so I did miss the Are we good? We're good. We're good. All right. No other questions. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thanks, Darl. I'm sorry, Darling. Jason, no, we are passing over that. the coach for Hopedale. Uh they have a high a bar that we purchased for um high jump. Yes. We need to

181get it back. Okay. Was it Do you know if it was donated when the Wasn't it a match? Dig up the um a receipt that we paid for a couple years ago for the track equipment. I thought it was So we had two high jump bars that probably paid300 or $400 for it. When did when was it purchased? That would have been uh 200. Yeah, it was maybe three. Was it three summers ago? Something like that. Oh, no. Wait. This was when we did it at the end. It was the track equipment. Yeah. Was that two summers ago? Three. Yeah, maybe. I think it was three summers ago. It was after co Yes, it was. So, it was at 19. No, it was after co. Yeah. 21. Maybe 21. 21. 22. Something like that. Yeah.

182Do you know what company? Because I could also reach out to Warwick. Hope you'll get it. Okay. Did we let them borrow it? I'm confused. Coach gave away our old high jump pits with standards and a bar and and he did not get permission from the school board to do it. And that bar, it's a a five high, you know, special bar for the high jump. For some reason, we got two. We bought two. And I know we have one out at the track and one is missing and I'm assuming that we gave it to Hope Deal. I just we need I saw the coach today, but I didn't remember to ask them. Okay, no problem. I can contact the company, too, because they look up when I was looking for high jump materials, they

183look up what our past order was, too. Wasn't there a match? It was like a $50,000 expenditure. It was a big Yeah, it was a big Wasn't there a mat that you were looking for, too? The old mats. Did we get it back? Oh, we didn't. So, we bought new mats. The the other ones were old. Uh I don't know how old they were, but they were I thought you were looking for one one that we let someone borrow, too. They We should have them back. The old mats that Hopedale took from us. We should have them in our own school that the kids can you, you know, we have a set out in the on the track. And was it like a little coach side deal thing? Can you get the mats back, darling,

184too, please? Can you just get our stuff back? They might not know. It might have been coach before, but we just haven't acted on it possessions 910. We do have to usually the committee approves the surplus surplus material by a previous track. Have to say we we let you borrow this. Yeah, just a bad coach Paul. No, we need it back. And if you don't mind when you was never approved for long that bar, you know, at $300 or $400 and just you've lost it. We'll give them our old one. I have an old There's an old chunky one in there that's has duct tape on it. You can we can have that one. Um the new one back. Darling, when you reach out to Hopedale, um could you see where they buy their pencils

185in bulk? I know. Can I make a motion that Chuck go pick up this stuff from Coale? He knows what we want. At 1:00 in the morning under the dark of night, go pick up the high mats, please. In a ski mask for consider one of our I thought we already had them back. I didn't realize that we had gotten them yet. You've been like I feel like years. I'm sorry we don't have them back yet. We will get them. Oh, that explains the I hope they just go take him, Scott. That explains what the magic club does. Bring chocolate. He knows what he's looking for. Enough. Okay, we have to move on. Thank you, Tara. Port of order. Tada. Where'd it go? Moving on. Port. Athletic trainer job description. Uh, we're going to pass

186over that till 522 at the request of the superintendent. Does that sound right, please? Thank you very much. Moving on to the business office. Joe, I can wake up now. Uh, budget journal entries. What you have before you is, as you can tell, uh, seven pages of journal entries here, which is it's starting 90% of what's on here are journal entries that are used to get us prepared for FY26 purchases. When the purchases are put through, some of the lines don't have enough funding in them. So, I'm just moving the money to balance out that funding. So, I've highlighted two that aren't related to that, are not, I should say. On page four, journal entry one, I got the glass on. Still can't see. 168. 168. Um, that was the high school had remaining funds

187in several lines. They asked if they could take those remaining funds, consolidate them into one line so they could do one final purchase for the year. So, that's all that's representing. And then on page five, item 175, that was just to I moved the uh travel stipens out of the incorrect uh funding uh function code into the proper function code, but I neglected to move the Medicare that goes along with it. So that's all that's doing is putting the Medicare to offset that line. So there's a total total of the bunch journal entries is $95,485. This is going to continue to get to be about this size, if not bigger, because my goal is instead of coming to you in July with one big massive journal entry to balance out our budget for to cover

188any cost overruns with other um surplus lines. I'm hoping to have that down to very little and already done by that point in time. So, you want a motion to approve those budget journal entries, Joe? Is that what you're looking for? Yes, please. Motion made by Tara Lock and seconded by Tara Scobby. Any further questions discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any oppose? The eyes have it. Uh also in your package just the personnel changes for to have put on file shows one appointment and uh for um retirement and three resignations. And then for the expenditure report, um, same report. I did make one change now, as we're getting closer to the end of the year. I remove the use of the excess and deficiency line, that $100,000. Uh,

189cuz now we have a true operating cost. I don't think we're going to need it to be honest with you. Uh, if you look towards the end, we're ending in a good place. And um continuing to manage this ending number to our projected END to make sure we don't exceed that 5% or we get close to it or maybe right under the 5% with our END. And it looks pretty good right now. There'll be some movement at the end of the year to either remove expense or add expense depending what we have for our special revenue funds that we can use it with. Um any questions on that? And the next one is uh transportation contract. So I met with um Neil over at Telstone. We're in our third year of the contract. The contract

190does have a an an option to extend for two additional years if we execute that. Um, in looking around at other districts and the way uh, uh, costs are running for transportation, costs are rising dramatically. Uh, districts that are going out to bid are seeing extraordinary increases above and beyond what what's recommended here. I did do a comparison. This this sheet here uh, compares us to Mend and Upton because they use also use Telstone and they're pretty local. The bottom line is just the percentage and the amount less that we're currently paying than what Amendon Upton is being charged. And their contract goes through 26. Our extension would bring us to 27. We are considerably lower than men and um so when were they updated last? When were their rates? When did their contract start?

191I believe it started in 23 and it looks like their contract goes through 26. This is what I've gotten from them. Now, whether they have an extension beyond this, I'm not sure. Uh I did put a copy of our contract in there for you to look at. It's my recommendation that we we execute the 2-year extension because in 26 the extension goes up 4% in cost and in 27 it goes up 5%. But even with those increases, we're still well below what we're when I talked to Neil, I did try to bring Neil down a little bit. He even said there's no way cuz he's out there issuing bids now that are well beyond this. And he said you you'd be smart to extend it because you'll be locked in. And I tend to believe

192him on that. So I'm just asking for permission to execute that two-year extension to take us to the 27th. So moved. Motion made by Jane, seconded by Tara. Any further discussion? All hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any oppos? The eyes have it. Thank you. And then the final piece for me is we completed our administrative review. Uh Desi came in did administrative review of our food service program. Some minor findings that we've cleaned up. We've already responded to them. Uh we've put corrective action plans, but one of the issues that came up was they looked at the adult meals and they said the revenue we're taking in for our adult meals is not offsetting the expense and the cost of the meal. those adult meals still uses federally subsidized

193food. So, we can't give away those meals. Um, what they said was right now we're charging for a an adult lunch it was $5 and for an adult breakfast it was $2.50 is what we're charging. They they responded and said we should be charging at least $5.28 for lunch. My opinion is when talking to Christine, the interim food service director, we're not in the business of feeding the adults. We're in the business of feeding the kids. So, I'm asking to raise the adult lunch to $6, which I think is reasonable. You're not going to be able to find a $6 lunch anywhere other than here. And raising the adult breakfast to $4. That way, we're safely not subsidizing meals with federal funding. Why is the um breakfast such a jump? I know it I know

194it's only 215 to $4. Just is that like to cover it or is it's to cover I think even they didn't call out the breakfast meals but the breakfast meals are costing a lot more than $2.15. We were thinking about going up to five but then we we we said no let's just jump it to four and I think we'll be safe at that level for the next couple of years. Do do you happen to know about how many? I don't have exact numbers. It's not a lot. Um there's a few. One thing I did find out there's some charging going on too if they don't come with money that the food that's going to come to a complete end. We do not charge moves. Um but do we offer tap tap to pay or

195is it cash? It's cash. It is cash. Well, they can get these days account if they wanted to. They could do that. That's what we recommend. They can they have Did you say they have the option for my school bus? Sure. Anybody? Is this every building too? It's not just the high school. It's in everywhere we have the cafeteria. It's from the district. Yeah. I don't know. For breakfast. I do hear about the donut sticks in my house. So Oh, yeah. Never had those. You know, I heard about those. And then middle school honor roll breakfast. I had one. Right. I know. I wouldn't like run for it, but that was the talk of the breakfast. How much federal funding is it are we utilizing to cover what's not covered, I guess. Um, that's my

196question. I I'd have to look into the exact number. I kind of want to know before we increase it. Well, to cover the federal funding, we would have to charge at least $5.28. That's what that's what DE said to us. Okay. So, we're short by that 28 cents. I'll make a motion to approve this as recommended. It's subst by Aaron. Where else can you get breakfast? Yeah. Second. Second by was that you Tara? Yes. Second by Tara. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? You guys have it. Thank you. And the the students lunches are still That does not nothing to do with the kids. That's why we have a still going to be free. They are still going to be free% free. Yeah. Thank god program is

197running really well actually. All the trouble we Oh my god. Uh next one is the grant. Yes. Yep. I'll do a quick overview. Um just want to um thank uh DA early for our annual uh it's either a postp prom or postgraduation uh grant we apply for each year. And we're uh very pleased to have been awarded again this year, the $1,200. Um, and so we need uh the school committee to accept the grant. So moved. Motion made by Chuck. Second, second by Matt. Uh, any further discussion? All those in favor signify. Thank you. So people that are listening, like you said, it's either postprom or postgraduation. We use it for postgraduation. Yes, we're doing a graduation after graduation. After graduation gathering. Yep. A nice event. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by

198saying I. I I Any oppose? The eyes have it. Scott, you're up. Facilities update. Not as late as I anticipated. Still early. Well, we can make this last. Um, so another productive April vacation. Um, several things were done. We got the floor tiles done in the cafeteria. Well, a large majority of them. Um, they just need a coat of wax on them. They do stand out because they are newer. So, uh, Joe Mali did a great job replacing those. Uh, industrial burner. Um, came in, got the circulator pump changed during April break. Um, everything is up and running now. Um, they do still have to come back and rebuild one circulator pump which leaks from time to time, but we're not running the heat. It's not an issue right now. Um,&M Compressor, I'm still waiting

199for them to come in and and uh give us a quote on replacing the head. Uh, John Deere tractor has a clutch issue. Um, John Deere on 146 in Milbury came, picked it up on the 25th. Uh, they called me with the price to get it fixed. I'm hoping to have that back by graduation. Um, I bring my pallet forks in at graduation so that we can lift the chairs up, bring them around the building, set up graduation, 500 plus chairs. Middle school, third floor, uh, student bathroom had a cracked toilet. The head custodian picked up a new toilet and that was installed this past Saturday. Um, while working the district of one event, I was running between two buildings to kind of supervise, make sure it was done right. Um Kevin Rasicott did that

200job. He he did an excellent job. Saved the district money by not having to pay a plumber obviously. Um also during April break, uh the custodians here went up on the roof, changed air filters, grease the bearings, changed belts, whatever was bad. So those are good to go. Um JFK um again we had to shut the power down to the building so it was good to do that during April vacation. Um and they found that the generator had a bad voltage regulator which was causing the power to surge. Um that was changed out. It was tested. Everything is up and running. Handrailing on the ramp uh was pulled out from the wall again. Um I've been told that students are hanging off of it and this is why it keeps happening. So, I installed a

201larger lag shield in there, tightened it up, and it'll be good for another 20 years. Uh, Milville Elementary again, um, was able to pull all the custodians together for 2 and 1/2 days, went through whatever rooms were not being used at the time, got them cleaned, ready to go. Um, again, it's good to, no matter which direction we go, get in there, keep them clean. toilets were getting quite a bit of rust build up in them. So, those were all scraped and cleaned and good to go. Um, and then last night on the way to the Millville town meeting, Jimmy Sullivan called me and the sewer pumps at the high school had went into alarm. They weren't running. Um, I was able to call Chris Palmer, Palmer Electric, asked them to meet me out there

202at 5:00 a.m. This way we could decide whether or not we had to cancel school. So after a late night at the town meeting and getting up at 4:00 a.m., I'm a little bit slap happy now. So, um, so yeah, so it came down to it that there was a loose wire on one of the contacts, um, and it was going in and out. So we put the pumps in alarm, tightened it up. We had to wait for the water to build back up high enough so the pumps would kick on. So that was an all day event. Um, he's going to meet me out there tomorrow morning just to make sure everything is up and okay. But it's not an issue. We can have school tomorrow regardless because we can bypass the pumps and

203get them running. So everything's good. We're just going to make sure that the pump station is not in. That is it. Scott, I got something for you. Okay. Okay. I don't know. I had mentioned it to Darlene. I don't know if she had Yep. Yeah. Yeah. Unfortunately, like I told Dian, our tractor is out being fixed, but um I am confident that we can take whatever dirt is there, scrape it up, and if I have to, we'll we'll chuck some over in a wheelbarrow. And you know, it's supposed to be 10 in higher than home plate. There's like measurements it's supposed to be cuz it changes the mechanics when they're pitching. Yeah. Yeah. I remember when I first started as the grounds keeper, I had built that up nice and high and then I got

204complaints that it was too high. I guess it enables the kids to throw the ball a little bit. It changes the whole mechanics. I there's measurements. I don't know them off the top of my head. I'm sure I can get them. Yeah, I can get them on. Yeah. Yeah. Yes, it will be. Thank you. You're welcome. And also during April vacation, I replaced the uh long jump boards that Chuck had requested. Put a nice photo of white and purple paint on them. Nice. Thank you. You're welcome. Thanks, Scott. Now, I hope you all know they're ours. Thank you, Scott. That's it. Any questions? Welcome. Were you able to get that F650 back from the middle school? It's still sitting there in case anybody missed it. Okay. But, uh, yeah. Well, today with the pump station

205that basically took much of my time as well as the mower broke down over here today, so I had to come over here and fix Sarah also. So, very good. Thank you very much. You're welcome. I'll stay here in case there's anything on the uh facilities. Feel free to stay right there until we facilities requests. I can hear you better over here, too. Okay. So, we have three facilities requests, Mr. Superintendent. Yes. Actually, I'm gonna kick them over to Joe. Sure, Joe. I'll just run through each one of them real quick. Uh, the first one's for French River Collaborative. They come out, from what I understand, they do a week's training here on site with us. They're group three. They want to use the auditorium in the media center. It's from July 21st to the

20625th from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Uh, the second one is the baseball banquet. Uh that is in June looks like the 5th is with the 16th rain date Thursday and Monday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Um that's a group one. So there's obviously no charge for that. Okay. And is that the night before graduation? No, that's the week after. Oh, okay. Um just it does show there's a fee. Can we just make make a note that there's no fee? Oh, the 750 $70 $7. I'm not sure. Oh, actually could be for the It's my understanding that they were going to use the kitchen staff to prepare food, but I guess that's Is that what that would have been? Because we were asking for a quote. We're not going to go that direction. It

207was over our budget. So, okay, that actually explains what the 70 was, but we won't need that. So, so leave the 70. You don't want to remove that. Remove it. We don't need it. Yeah. So, we want it zero. We can't afford it. Uh the final one is uh the youth basketball league, I believe. Isn't that Bimble? Is that what we say? Yes. Um that is from July 21st to 24th, Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. They want to use the gymnasium at the high school. They are group two. Also, I scheduled the gym floor to be resurfaced after this camp. So, the high school gym floor will be done in August. Thank you. Smart. Also on the baseball banquet, we don't need the rain. We will have it on the 5th, rain

208or shine. I don't know why it was a rain date if it was inside. Inside the field, but it's like if it's nice out, we'll go out and play. Kick ball, whiffle ball, something. If not, we don't have it outside. Parents versus parents versus players. So, I just have one question about the dates. Um, back to Mary, the the paper that's up on our screen still. Oh, the summer program at middle school is running the 7th through the 31st. Um, so for Prince River, it says media center and auditorium and like would they be okay with classrooms if it needs to be separated? Um, well, we can check with them. I'm sure they would be. I don't know how large your group is. What what theories is is Mary using for the summer program? Well,

209that's that's the 21st century. 21st century here. I'm sure. So, would we allow an outside organization coming inside the building while the kids are in the building? Right. It is the same time. So, 8 to 3 and 8 to 2. The So, the course is for all educators. So, typically every anyone that would be in involved in that would be Corey check and background check. It's a Is there a reason we couldn't have them at like me? There's a lot of space there. We don't have glass. I'm just saying the the French River like does do you think the building it's building specific? Noville's not going to want to give him water. I I Well, Milville supplies the water right now for our administrators, too. So, I can just say that in the past, they've

210always used the media center. In fact, we had a brief discussion about this, Joe and I. Um, we do have a school committee that week as well. So, they're gonna have to move their stuff off of our table so that we have to and they do it every year. It's not an issue. But, but the middle school program, it was here last summer, too, but it was usually at comp the complex, the CCL's the is it this room? It was at the complex last year. Oh, is this going to be the first summer they're here? Yes. Um, the 21st. Yeah. So, French River might have been here all the time, but our CCLC wasn't. We'll find a space for them. Can they go to the complex to a different building? So, should we just approve

211it? Space to be determined. Do that. Then we could reach out to them. Yeah. I mean, I don't want to not approve it. It's $1,100, but saying it could it would definitely be a conflict of space and time. And the options would either be the cafeteria or the media center. So I would think they would, you know, the cafeteria have French River in here and the students in the cafeteria. They're both airond conditioned for that one day or that one week. That one week. That one week. And then the Bimble dates. Can we just make sure that Darlene is aware of those before she schedules her I don't know if any of her cuz that's up there too. It says ones. I don't know if any of them are happening at the high school or

212if hers are all I think on her at the middle school. Did she on her schedule did she I think she outlined the She didn't say where. Oh, the location you're talking about. Okay. I just don't want her planning activities in the gym and then Bimble's in the gym and she's scrambling. Okay. So, I also have the gym floor over here at Hotnet Middle School. They're going to start on it uh the last day of June and finish at July 1st. There'll be no students in the building. So, so it'll be done before CCLC and before basketball camp. So, again, basketball camp is that at the high school. High school. Is that floor being done after the basketball in August? Okay. So, we'll review the fck location and the um basketball league schedule with Darling.

213Yeah. Got it. Okay. So, we're looking for a motion to approve all facilities requests contingent on finding the at proper location. So, move. Motion made by Carrie. Second. Second by Tara and Matt. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Any oppose. The eyes have it. D, before you go into the school committee forum, can I just I just want to kind of make an announcement. So, we are having and I know the principal sent this out in the newsletter and um I think is going to send it out to community on May 29th, which is a Thursday. Um last year um we have great relationships with our schools around us and um I speak often with the um special education director in Bellingham and last year they invited us

214to a special Olympics event. It's a small event. We try to keep it small so it's not overwhelming from students. They've invited us yet again. It was a great event last year. So, um, on that day, um, we're having a unified spirit day to kind of celebrate inclusivity, our students with disabilities, and kind of have a really nice sendoff for our athletes who are going to be heading over to Bellingham that day for their events. Um, so again, it's Thursday, May 29th, and the rain date is the 30th. We're asking all students and staff to wear purple and gold that day. Um, we have 24 of our our athletes, our special education athletes participating that day. We're hoping to bring along our Charger horse. I think we have a student who may come and, you

215know, be that to put on that uniform that day. Um, I know Mrs. Fus is reaching out. Last year, we had five high school volunteers that helped with our kiddos. So, that we're going to do that again. And I wanted to say a huge thank you and um, shout out to Neil Telstone because I did ask him because our numbers increased this year, although we're using our vans. I asked him if he would donate a, you know, one of the uh, the buses that day. Um, and he is going to do that for us, too. So, the kiddos will go out there. It'll be in Bellingham. Um, it's in the morning, but we're really excited for our kids to go. And I know last year, again, it was a big celebration. The kids, you know,

216the elementary had signs. They sent them off. Same thing with high school and the middle school. So, it'll be a great day for our for our kids. And I will make sure to take lots of pictures. I'd love to share it before, you know, we head out for the for the summer. Nice. Very good. Does anybody have anything for good and welfare? school committee floor. Can I go back to something that was said to us during public forum? Yes, you may. Um, board of suckman was questioning some of our budget items and one of the ones that stuck out to me was the $4,000 in police details at our athletic events. I don't know if they've ever attended any of our football games or our Friday night basketball games where we have a lot of

217our students, a lot of our community members, a lot of the other towns community members and students questioning a $4,000 police detail. think that is a very small number in our overall budget and I would just urge some of the members of both towns boards of selectman to come out to actually see some of our events and how many people are managed by one police officer at those Carrie to piggyback that they should visit another school too because they will see officers there at their games as well. Yes. The safety of our students has never been something this board has taken lightly. Yep. And I just out of all the things that were questioned in our budget, that one really struck a nerve with me. I just wanted to mention that. Well, I I know

218I'm going to piggyback on top of that because um um fortunately and and I give credit to, you know, Officer Gould uh in Milville who is SRO and a full-time police officer during the course of the day and and Blackstone. Our SRO is fully funded by the town of Blackstone. full-time SRO dedicated to the districts all the students of the district of the buildings in town and and town of Blackstone is outside of the district throwing $100,000 you know in a budget item that the people pay for the school committee together has never ever questioned like question spending on security and we have we actually have executive sessions because our security is so well here that we don't promote and and and and our our police department, by the way, gives a reduced rate for

219the school district um for these uh and and they're a union. They give a reduced rate when they don't have to for the school district and and get other departments when we need other details at that reduced rate. So, I understand that, you know, a new selectman, there's a learning curve and and and that's fine. And I appreciate asking questions and and making statements and you learn as you go along. But uh we're here as the elders, we're here to clarify uh the information when people are in doubt, I would say. Anyone else have anything to add? Yeah, I'll piggy back off of that. But it is and it is about selectman and I have a few notes here, so bear with me. Um I I know I wasn't at the last meeting, so I've

220had these notes a little prior to that. Um and I first I want to thank everyone that did come out in Milville last night. I actually wasn't in attendance. I was not able to get the time off, but I do appreciate everyone that did support all of our items for Milville Town meeting last night. Um, and with that being said, I have sat at home or listened in my car um to many of the meetings leading up to last night uh for Milville. So, Border Selectman, FinCom, their joint meetings, their public hearing, I've heard them all. I was not there in person, but I've heard them all. Um, I'm going to point out specifically April 17th's meeting where Selectman um, Joseph from Milville, who was not here tonight, I just want to point out um,

221that he made a statement stating he had no faith in our school committee um, and that we have dragged our feet to put the children back in that building. And I'm I'm I'm appalled by the way he even stated it because he's never actually attended one of our meetings or or dealt with any of the water situation. Um at no time have we wanted the kids out of that building, but their health and safety has always been a priority of this committee. And I'm actually very glad that I can still sit here tonight and talk about this. and that is still our top priority and that we didn't overlook that tonight as a committee. Um it was disgraceful to hear any insinuations that the movement of that entire building was for anything except for health

222and safety. The insinuations of it's a tactic for a new high school. It's a tactic to like we don't want to give that building back to that town and the insinuations have been there. I was actually right before we voted tonight was going to ask if there was anyone here that wanted to speak in favor of it because for some reason when they sit at their meetings, the Millville board of selectmen, they are constantly saying that they hear from so many community members and how they are upset and they want the kids back in that building. And we've I' I've never gotten that communication. Never gotten one email saying, "Why aren't my kids back in that building? Why aren't we using that building?" And no one here tonight spoke in that manner either. Um, so

223I I kind of wanted I didn't want to do it to be in your face, but I did want to ask that question if there was anyone here that was in favor of it. Um, maybe they didn't get up and talk because there were so many negatives. But according to Jennifer as chair in the past and there have been so much there's been so much communication about getting back there. It's a beautiful building. It's very wellmaintained. They pointed that out. But I want to point out that that's because of us and our custodians and the work and being back in there just two week two weeks ago. We have painted in the summers. We have stripped floors. We have redone gyms. That is all on our expense. we have maintained that building and the value

224of it. Um, so little credit where credit is due and how dare they insinuate that we're disregarding that building. Um, moving on to their joint fincom and selectman's meeting which was held before the fincom open hearing. I believe the chair of the Vincomecoms stated that two of the four Millville school committee reps didn't support the override but expected their budget to be fully funded. I know that I'm one of them. I honestly don't know who the other one is. They did not say names, but I know they this the specific things they said were speaking of me. Um, I want it I want to make it known that I supported that override until I watched the FinCom meeting where it was publicly called out that our town administrator had not done the necessary paperwork to

225submit free cash. And I want to explain to the public and to all of you that free cash is is equal to our END. If we did not submit that to the state at the right time in the fall, we would not have that number when we start working with our budget. We typically get an email sent to all of us with the certified END number in mid January and we know the balance of our checkbook and that is what free cash is in a town. That's what our END is here. If you don't know the balance of your checkbook, how do you start your budget process? So for the town of Milville to sit there and say they needed a million dollar override. Oh, nope. We're going to bring it down to 750. Oh,

226it's really 650. We promise we're not going to spend it. But not know what their checkbook's balance was to start that process is it's wrong. It's wrong in every way. You wouldn't run your house that way. We would not if we showed up to our joint meetings or our town selectman and fincom and we couldn't tell them how much money we had in END. They would eat us alive for asking for money when we can't tell them how much money we have. And that's exactly what they just tried to do to our town. So for me to speak out against it and I thought I was very clear. I was speaking a as a town's person, not as a school committee member. I didn't say, "Don't approve this override, but make sure the school gets

227their money." And they insinuated that I did. What I said was, "How can you ask for an override when you don't know how much money you have?" But Fincom presented a budget without using an override and asked point blank where the free cash stood. And they had a budget option to to use their free cash. the assumed number. I have no faith in the Millville town administrator because and they can say that well that numbers fluctuated through these four and five years. It's fluctuated because he hasn't submitted it in a timely manner for the state to give it back. And in that meeting when he admitted to it, he also stated made it sound so frivolous. Well, oh, they say if you don't do it by October, you you might miss out on some state

228aid. Guess what? We probably did as a town. But for myself to be called out on not supporting override, but wanting my my school budget fully funded was just wrong because FINCOM had presented a budget that worked without an override. That's what I supported. And and again, I just want to point out that any time I'm speaking, it's as a taxpayer of Milville, whether I'm sitting at this table, whether I'm on my social media or having a conversation. Um, and all of us have the right to do that. I was not speaking for the school committee in whole. Um, again, I don't know who else didn't support it, but they had my support until the that mistake was publicly spoken of. Um, and then I was like, you know, I don't support this because you

229can't tell me how much money you have. So, just wanted to say I've had those notes for a bit. Um, and it's been several meetings that I've had to listen to them talk about our committee. Um, I kind of wished he was here to, you know, we we made our decisions based on the kids first and I think we always have. So, I appreciate the time. Thank you, Erin. I'm just going to touch on one thing, too. You said that it would be like us not showing us our END to them on time and where the question of transparency and accountability, those words get tossed out. Those were used tonight. We're required to provide the accountants of both towns a certified END annually and we do on in a timely manner. So anyone suggesting that

230we have slush funds and any of that nonsense and um and we're required to have our budgets certified and and and um what do we call our I'm sure the towns are too. No no no no no. We're required the school district's required to have their budget. we're voted on our budget 45 days before. Um, so we we do all our leg work first while the towns are still I mean we're still we're getting our insurance numbers and increases the same time as the towns. So we're we're budgeting based sometimes blind, you know, on the on these things where the towns have more time waiting for our numbers and and things like that. So I think there's a lot of um unfortunately there's a lot of misunderstanding or a a choice of not wanting to

231understand how the regional agreement works when it fits when it fits someone's political narrative. But the regional agreement has outlast I mean it's been around since 1967. um hasn't changed much, but the the actual funding of it and and the and the and the formula to it uh what's dictated by the agreement and mass general law really hasn't changed. And people have had since 1967 to learn or come and come and ask us and and they just somehow it's like Groundhog Day every every year with certain groups in both communities that just don't want to fail to un they choose not to want to understand it. Unfortunately, that's going to be the symptomatic of politics and budget seasons. Oh, Mr. Is it okay? Can I add something to that? So, I just want to mention

232a couple things because I I do want to apologize to Tanya Pollock for how I responded to her comment this evening and I'm not excusing it, but this conversation is really important because it's a driver of it. The negativity in this school system the past few months has been completely out of control. for somebody who's here 60 plus hours a week that is charged with the education of our kids. And I'm so glad Wendy Greenstein said what she said because to our to our families and friends that are listening in, we've spent more time addressing negative comments, mistruths, dishonesty, and it starts with the budget cycle every year. But this season was unlike anything I've experienced the past seven years and frankly can't take it anymore. So to anybody who's listening at home, please stop.

233Please stop because it takes away the energy that the adults that are charged with taking care of our kids actually need to put into the kids that need to put into the teachers. And so I felt badly because my negativity wasn't directed at Tanya, but it came out that way. And so my apologies to her for that. But to anybody who is tuning into this, the negativity just has to stop. It has to because at the end of the day, the school district is constantly in the bullseye because it's a budgetary piece or it's an election piece or it's a I'm not happy with, you know, what I'm hearing or what I think I'm hearing or what I think the truths are. it needs to stop because it is an energy suck and it takes

234the attention and effort off of the kids. So kudos to Wendy for identifying that because she's right. We've spent more time, not this not this body, but just in general fighting about things that are just not true. They're just not true. And there's so much politics in play at it. And I and I wish it wasn't the case, but moving forward, I hope the community will will will put the brakes on some of this stuff and let the adults in charge of the kids focus on what the kids need. So, sorry to Tanya for that. Thank you, Mr. Superintendent. Anyone else have anything to add? Yep. Terra. Oh, I just have a positive little um fun fact is I was driving by the high school today to pull in for the baseball practice and the

235ice cream truck was there and coach bought the team. Oh, nice. So, I just thought that was cute and a shout out. Thank you. Yep. That's awesome. Awesome. Anyone else? Okay, we are going to go into executive session, not to return. And I will make this um final uh comment before I ask for a vote to go into executive session. We have received the superintendent's uh resignation today. Uh and we will be um working on a transition plan. It'll be on our next agenda and the the school committee will be very open and transparent about that that plan uh moving forward. And with that, I would take I'll take a motion to uh we're going to go into executive session, not to return. Uh we will adjourn an executive session. I'll take a motion to

236enter into executive session. So moved. Motion by Tara Scobby. Second. Seconded by uh Jane Regio. And I'll take a roll call vote. Jane. Yes. Carrie. Yes. Aaron? Yes. Uh Matt? Yes. Chuck? Yes. Terrace? S. Yes. Tara L. Yes. And Amy? Yes.