School Committee - April 8, 2026

001Today is Wednesday, April 8th, 2026. The time is now 6:40 and we will call the regular meeting of the Westport School Committee to order. Uh under MGL chapter 3A, section 20F. This meeting is being recorded on March 28th, 2025. Governor Healey signed into law a bill which extends the temporary provisions pertaining to the open meeting law to June 30th, 2027. Specifically, this further extension allows public bodies to continue holding meetings remotely without a quorum of the public body physically present at a meeting location and to provide adequate uh and uh alternative access to remote meetings. The language does not make any subst substantive changes to the open meeting law other than extending the expiration date of the temporary provisions regarding remote meetings from March 31st, 2025 to June 30th, 2027. And with that, we'll I'll

002ask everyone to please uh stand for the pledge of allegiance. 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. >> And thank you all for joining us and packing into the uh the conference room this evening as the auditorium is is booked. Uh at this time we'll have a opportunity for an opportunity for comments and statements from the public. Any comments from the public at this time? All right. Hearing none, we'll move on to ourformational agenda and we will begin with our student representatives. Mr. Keane, take it away. >> All right. Good afternoon all school committee members in attendance. I just have a little bit of news to share with you about the high

003school. First off, the third term is quickly coming to an end and report cards will be available on the community portal by the end of the day on Monday, April 13th. Next Tuesday, April 14th, is a half day for students and students at the Westport Middle School will be dismissed at 11:00 a.m. Spring vacation is right around the corner and will start on Monday, April 20th, Patriots Day, and students will return to school on Monday, April 27th. MCCAST testing is in full swing across the district. Grades five and six took English MCCAST last week, and grades seven and eight will finish taking it tomorrow. Grade 10 will have MCCAST testing for math on May 20th and 21st. And grade 9 biology testing will take place on June 2nd and 3rd. The Westport High School Student

004Council Advocates and Rise are sponsoring the 3rd annual Jaden Arujo Memorial Scholarship Fund Bowling Fundraiser. This will take place this coming Sunday, April 12th, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Registration closed yesterday, and we're hoping for a great turnout. The junior class student council will be hosting a game night next Wednesday, April 15th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Admission will be $5. And please spread the news and come support our student body. Excitement and anticipation is building as the Westport Drama Club is rehearsing for their performance of Hadestown. The show will open on Friday, May 8th at 7 p.m. And there will be two performances on Saturday, May 9th at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. And the final performance will be Sunday, May 10th at 2 p.m. Tickets are already available to purchase on zephy.com. And

005you can look for the link on the Westport Music Boosters Facebook page. Please come out to support and enjoy this incredible show. And also save the date. The Westport High School Junior and Senior Prom will take place on Friday, May 15th at the Fall River Country Club. Stay tuned for more information and watch out for permission slips to purchase tickets. Now for some news concerning sports. Spring sports are underway and all of our teams are starting play with great enthusiasm and dedication. First off, boys city baseball is currently 0 and2 and had a home game today against Southeastern Regional Folk Tech, which was 5 to2. The Wildcat Classic Spring Baseball tournament will take place on Tuesday, April 21st to the 23rd. Our Wildcats will play on Tuesday, April 21st at 11:00 a.m. Boys varsity lacrosse

006is 0 and4 and their next home game will take place this Friday, April 10th against Old Colony Regional Folk Tech. Girls varsity softball has had some amazing highlights for the start of their season and the record is currently 1-2. They played at home today against Southshore Technical High School which they won 21 to9. Their next home game will be on Monday, April 13th against Diamond. Girls varsity tennis is off to an exciting start and their record is 1-2. They won their match on Monday in a sweep against Joseph Casease and their next home match is this Thursday at 3:30 against Wear him. Boys varsity tennis has started with an amazing record of 2-1. They kicked off their season with a sweep against Secon High School. Their next home match will take place on Tuesday, April

00714th at 3:30 against Tiverton High School. We're very excited for all of our upcoming games and matches and appreciate the support from all those who attend and cheer on our athletes. Go Wildcats. >> Excellent. Thank you very much. >> Most appreciate any questions, comments from the committee. All right, hearing none, we'll move on. Thank you very much, good sir. And again about sorry about shutting you out shutting the door on you for the executive session but thank you very much. >> All right so next up on theformational agenda >> is the superintendent report. Dr. Roy um >> take it away. >> Okay I just to update the committee on we had a power surge yesterday which knocked out internet and phones. The internet is back up. The phones are back up at the west and

008the Mac but the phones are not back up here. We have uh a backup plan where we've hardwired good oldfashioned phones into the wall. Um so we're getting that message out to parents. The issue was a controller, so a piece of hardware for the phone system got got damaged and I believe this happened in the past. The good news is we've already been before this happened, we've been working towards a cloud-based version um of our phone system so that this won't happen. So we're not housing the hardware. the hardware can't get damaged here. That will start next year. Uh the other thing I want to alert the committee and the public to is that I did send out a a letter and a small survey to parents on social media and digital use usage because

009as we know um even I think it's today the house was voting on a proposal to ban cell phones and as well as not allow any child under 14 to to be able to access a social media platform. Um, so we're also feeling the impact of digital media screen time on kids and how it is negatively impacting them. So I have a letter out to parents with some resources for parents as well as a a short survey to see what the parent and student needs are so that we can continue to support our families. Uh, I also want to report that report if you have not seen it. The trophy cases are are almost they're getting there. We don't have quite all the glasses in, but the trophy cases, we want to thank Diamond for

010their partnership for for building them. Uh, they look beautiful across from the auditorium behind the gym. If you've not seen them, please go take a look. And we've got some trophies in there already, so we're getting there. The the Westport, we are in full swing. Thanks for the coordination of our principles and Miss Hargraves with the Westport 250th committee. We have a couple of things going on. One is going to happen in front of the high school here on April 30th. A reenactment of the Abner Brown Well ride. It's like Paul Rivere. There wasn't just a Paul Rivere. There was someone who actually rode on his horse right by here. Um, and so there's a reenactment that I know our middle school is participating with. The West team, they have their own committee to honor

011us for honor America for the 250th. They have a a work in progress called a timeline, a historical timeline. And so in West fashion, they're going to be learning about history while they also develop this parade that will be uh through the decades and around the school. So they're working on that. And I think uh Japanese exchange program. I was I had a chance to pop in to the assembly. I had not seen that before. That was a lot of fun. I learned a lot about the Japanese students. So, it's nice to see them integrated here. And so, kudos to Miss Shered and is it Mr. Manis? >> Mr. Manis >> that that is doing that as well as we have our DC trip the eighth grade DC trip April 28th. I believe Miss Sampers

012knows all about that. >> And yeah, is it Mr. Who's running? Is it Mr. Persico or >> Mrs. Soy and Mr. Prisco? >> Yes. So, thank you for them. I I love all this experiential learning that our kids are able to get. So, >> thank you. >> Excellent. >> Thank you very much. Any questions, comments from the committee at this time? >> No, just uh bringing up trips. Uh they're also going to be uh traveling to South Korea, too. I know my daughter is going. So, >> that's a big trip, too. >> That's amazing, right? Yeah. What a great opportunity. >> Excellent. And I I did I didn't just want to follow up one thing. She you the the phones, as everyone knows, have been a continual issue at this school. So, uh, it's your

013intention to to bring in this cloud-based system here. So, >> it is it'll be fully in swing in June. By the end of June, it will be cloud-based. But just so people do know, if the internet does go down momentarily, the phone system does go down with it. But soon as the internet comes back up, the phone system comes right back on here. What happened was the main controller that's in this building when we had a circuit surge over here, it blew out the controller and that kind of took our phone system out. So, we have a new one being shipped out tonight, but we've made arrangements with across the school to have extra walkie-talkies. We people have cell phones. People we've got some oldfashioned Batman phones as we call them and have put them

014in it attached to our fax machine lines to be able to have access to call in and out of. So >> excellent. All right. Thank Thank you. >> Just one other question too for Dr. Roy. um the calendar for this year. Has there been any discussion um with this the the snow days and the the additional days? I don't know if there I was that's what I was looking to see if there's any place else on the agenda that this may come up again. Um because I know Rhode Island got a waiver for >> Yeah, I think I mentioned in the my update last month uh we get out June 24th. We do not qualify for the waiver according to Massachusetts uh criteria. So our Yep. our staff and our students will be here till

015the 24th. >> Um then my follow-up question is is the curriculum going to follow those days too? I mean meaning there are by extending the school year there's there's programs that are going on that kids are now and I'm speaking basically on behalf of my own daughter. um she has um some class programs that she that start right after that basically that extra week which is now going to cause a problem for going forward. Um, I guess my question was or would be, is there a way that we can keep the original format but just have those extra days just tacked on at the end? Meaning like their finals and stuff won't be affected or >> um, so I think in those individual cases, you're probably best off just talking directly to the school. Okay.

016About that because that's, >> you know, every kid might be a little bit differently how how this is impacting them. No, I I that's what I was I just didn't know if this has ever been done or if there if you know how that would work if >> Yeah. I mean, the commissioner is clear that we need to meet our 900 hours of instructional time in our 180 days. >> Yeah. >> So, that's that's been very clear that's what he's coming down from. And so, going to the 24th, we will meet that. >> Okay. >> All right. Excellent. So, uh, thank you again. Hearing nothing f further from the committee on this item, we'll move to the curriculum director report. So, Miss Hargraves, take it away. >> Thank you. Good evening, everyone. Um, as uh

017Ryan, >> sorry about that. >> Good evening everyone. Um, as Ryan King mentioned, MCCAST testing is in full swing, not only at the middle school um, and high school, but at uh, the elementary school. So, grade four has been um doing some MCCAST testing. Their testing was impacted by that power outage. Testing started. It had just started and then everything went down. So, we had to suspend testing for the day and then started back up today and then provide a makeup day on Friday. But students did an amazing job. They just rolled with it and um you know, I think it was just a blip on the radar for them. Uh, next week will be grade three MCCAST testing as well. Um, I'm excited to let you all know that Westport has been selected to

018receive nearly $25,000 in a grant from the 18 Foundation. I mentioned at my last update that we received a grant from the 18 Foundation to support the implementation of the Democratic Knowledge Project for grade 8. Now, we have a second grant that will allow our fifth through seventh grade teachers to participate in a similar professional learning cohort program over the course of three years. They'll be provided professional development, individual implementation support and an ongoing cohort model. And this will be focused on implementing the investigating history magnify program. and it will bring more highquality applied learning to our students in Westport and will connect really well to the eighth grade programming. So, we're excited about that opportunity for our teachers and our students. Um, we are hard at work getting our vacation math camp planned. We

019have 33 students who have decided to attend that math camp. It runs Tuesday through Friday over April vacation. The hours of it will be 8 to 12. Um, students will engage in a variety of center-based activities as well as some STEM exploration activities with the goal of increasing or maintaining math skills and deepening student understanding of math concepts while learning that math can be a lot of fun. So, should be a good time. Um, I'm also excited to um be able to celebrate the official induction of our students to our innovation career pathways programming. You may have received an email from me inviting you to attend our induction ceremony. So hopefully you'll be able to carve out some time in your busy schedules to join us. Um this has been a multi-year endeavor for Westport

020and a lot of hard work by many individuals to get the innovation career pathways up and running. Um but here we are. We've got four students enrolled in our advanced manufacturing pathway and 20 students enrolled in our healthcare and social assisting pathway. Uh we also have five who are kind of in the process. So a potential of five more students to be enrolled for this year. Um of those students, two are actually in eighth grade, which is really exciting to know that this is impacting our middle schoolers coming up into the high school. and it's a really um great opportunity for them. And um we hope to see you Friday, April 17th for that induction ceremony. Um finally, our professional development day on May 7th. It's our final one for the year. Um we are

021centering that day on a simple but powerful idea that Dr. Roy has articulated very well on many occasions. She's been heard to say that the community is our classroom. And so we're embracing that and we are creating opportunities for our staff to connect with people, places, and programs that make Westport and our surrounding area distinct. So on May 7th, teachers will engage in some field-based experiences with partners including the Westport Land Trust, Westport Watershed Alliance, Westport Historical Society, the Buzzards Bay Coalition, and the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, as well as some others that we're still working to finalize. Um, the goal of this is to light a spark for our teachers to deepen our teachers own connection to this community so they can in turn bring those roots into the classroom and help students

022see that their education is not confined to the four walls here, but is woven into the very place they call home. So, we're really excited about finishing off the school year with that professional development for our teachers. And that's it. >> Excellent. Excellent. any uh I do believe I'll be able to be at the uh the ceremony on Friday. So uh hope hope uh we can have others join us as well. Uh any comments, questions from the committee at this time. >> All right. Thank you. Mer is moving on now. We'll have the business manager report. Mr. Posa, >> I have nothing new to report. I know that we are going to be speaking with Mr. Jendro a little later on in the agenda. So we will wait >> for Excellent. Excellent. Thank you so

023much. Uh so we'll uh we'll move now to committee liaison reports. Uh Mr. Melnick, anything to report? >> Uh nothing to report at this time. >> Okay. Uh Mr. Chico, >> um cable advisory board, we were actually scheduled to meet tonight and then the school committee end up tonight. So we pushed it to two weeks from tonight. Um so advisory board on the 22nd of April. We have not met since last week. No. >> All right. Thank you, Miss Hampers. any updates? >> Um, nothing to report. Our building committee meeting was moved the last time. So, >> understood. Okay. And, uh, so I, uh, actually, I guess I'm not the school committee rep on the audit committee. I serve on the audit committee, but I'll let I'll let you take that, Mr. Ginger. I'll go

024right. >> So, I Yeah, there's two things. One, the audit committee um met. So, our audit for the town is um Anthony Rosselli is the consultant that the town works for to perform our our outside audits. Um the last few years there's been a lot of progress made um in the accounting office and the treasur's office in town and you know I there's the audit identified no material weaknesses um or deficiencies which is good to hear. Um the audit report is is should be available on the town's website. If it's not, it will be soon and it'll also be presented at a full select board meeting um in the upcoming months. They produce to us what's called a a governance letter and in that identifies some items for the town to keep an eye on.

025Um we perform better than some towns in some areas and there are obviously still some improvements we have to that they recommended that we make in some areas. Um there has been progress. The last report identified some um outstanding balances and warrant articles from years ago and um similar uh circumstances but that's I know the accountant and the treasur have worked hard to address those. So that's just the high level overview but that'll be presented in more detail at an upcoming uh select board meeting. Um the other is the school building committee also uh recently met. We met on the 31st of March and went over a few items. Um, so a couple of things that we looked at was the denitrification system. So there's an issue that's and I want to thank also Kimlette

026and and Paul Puland for all their continued efforts on on these items because there's there's still some stuff to go through. But um there was talk of replacing the the wood chips with stone because of some issues that that are happening uh as a result of the wood chips that are there. Uh we discussed the trophy case installation which the superintendent uh discussed earlier and then some outstanding items with with uh Gail Associates which is our consultant for the um the roof. So uh that was the latest update. We'll be I think meeting again in the next maybe month or two and then I'll give an update to the committee then. We're working diligently towards close out hopefully sometime soon. Um we're working to you know help get some punch list items addressed that there's

027been discussion on what's left in the uh in the bond in the authorization for the building project. So I'm sure that'll be coming up as we look to close out the project officially. So, um, that's all I had. >> Excellent. Thank you. And, and just to follow up on that, thank you to everyone who continues to to work on the, uh, the rather long punch list that, uh, that we've been going through for many years. Uh, but, uh, it it does look like that that the close out is is coming sooner rather than later. So, thanks again for everybody for their work on the school building committee. So, uh, with that, we'll move on to the next item on ourformational agenda, which is to acknowledge the Westport Community Schools bill warrant for March 20th, 2026

028in the amount of $248,739.40 as well as the warrant dated on April 3rd, 2026 in the amount of $254,626.94. Any uh comment statements on on the warrants? All right, hearing none, we'll consider those acknowledged. We'll now move on to uh the athletics and fields report. And that will be Miss Morris, our athletic director, and M. Puland. >> Mr. Puland, would you like to come over this way? >> You just pull up here. >> You can just pull up a chair right there. I'll take yours. Never mind. You can have that one. Good. How are you? Is it a question or am I supposed to just >> I I think we're just Yeah, I think it was just just had a general updates and I know that this was uh requested agenda item just to go

029over some of the uh >> some of the uh uh I think there were questions on on the the coach line coaching lineup for spring sports and and if there Yeah. any other >> Yeah. All spring sport coaches have been hired. Um, we are off into the about second almost second two and a half weeks into the spring season. Um, as Ryan reported, our teams are are everybody's trying to shake it out. We haven't really had a lot of games. Um, a lot of rescheduling, but um, but we're out there and I just want to commend Paul and his crew. Um, we we got the baseball field and the softball field uh up and running and uh with a lot of new material and the they're probably in the best baseball field looks the best

030it's ever been, I think, since it's probably was installed. Um, or before that, ever. Um, and and same thing with the with the softball field. And and because of the conditioner that Paul put on the softball field, it's it's not there's a couple of lowlying spots, but it's um now you don't walk in and it's not just sludge. So, it's it's looking Yeah, it's a lot better. Even with with a little bit of rain, it it doesn't affect it as much. >> So, >> yeah, >> that's what I have for the >> Do you want to give a little bit of overview about what the issues um with the >> Yeah. So, basically, um the baseball field, we did a complete overhaul. We brought in like, uh 35 tons of material. Um, we cut in

031the d we cut in all the diamonds, opened up the base paths because uh grass was just encroaching for not being maintained like the right the 100% the right way and it might need that every like every few years or so. But now it's going to be easier easier for us to maintain going forward now that we have all the new material down the conditioner mixed in with the field. Um, we uh we rebuilt the mound um back to back to specifications and um and we did the same with the softball field recut and everything. We didn't bring material in for that, but um it probably be a later uh project that we got done later. That one didn't need as much uh material. So, >> understood. And and just to I guess circle back

032a little bit. So, there there were some issues with the fields at the beginning of the year that have been uh I just wanted to commend all the work that you've been doing to uh to remedy that. I know originally there was concern that we would have to have uh uh many different uh you know outside field consultants taking care of all this all the time and and it seems like uh that you you've been able to to cover a whole lot uh in house and that that makes a huge difference and and yeah it does I I concur it looks better than I think it has ever since this this building's been approved. So absolutely >> that's good. >> Uh so any uh comment statements? Yeah, I just think um coaching wise um it

033seems like multiple seasons that we're like right up against like the season and you know still having to fill positions. Um I don't know if strategy-wise it makes sense or you what's done currently or if we need to try to post earlier. Um you know again I see things on social media and parents are asking and things of like season starts Monday, do we have a coach yet? Um and again not on the varsity level but on the lower levels and I know those are typically can be sometimes revolving doors and they're tough to fill. Um but just some concerns there. Um and then fields they I was out there today and they do look great. Um and you know again you can't predict 2 feet of snow or 3 ft of snow and and

034everything else that's there. But again publicly um we get reports and things of like you know all right we're not playing on them. Okay they're soft. I get that. Whatever. But then like the bleachers were still in the middle of the baseball field like last week um and things like that. So you know I think just for us and to you know minimize concerns I think a lot of times the the perception and the you know people driving by like how do you play baseball with bleachers from field hockey um still in the middle of the of the field um some of those things you know get thrown at us and and don't necessarily look good. In the end the finished product looks great. Um, so, you know, great job there. Um, but I think

035there are still some concerns that we see or hear of that we don't necessarily have answers for. >> Um, to address first the coaching situation that was the the spring coaches were posted in easily December, I believe. Um, so, uh, or maybe even before that, November or December. Um, we had a lot of shifting around the break. Um, I lost my I I gotten word that two of my softball coaches were not coming back at February break. Um, I we had some shifting within the uh baseball program with again somebody not coming back and um that had applied and I accepted them in the system and so and then it was really difficult to fill um one of the baseball positions. Um so that was at the 11th hour. Um, luckily, um, Mike Fernandees helped

036get a guy and that was he's been absolutely amazing and so I think we're in really good position. I'm probably posting the spring sports in the next like couple of weeks. Uh, I mean, I'm sorry, the fall sports in the next couple of weeks. So, um, last year we posted the fall sports in at the end of May, beginning of June. I'm looking to do that the beginning of May because we have two we have positions we need to have be filled. Um, and I think most of them are coming back, but there are two that we need to fill. And then, um, yeah, winter I is usually posted sometime in the summer. So, um, try to get ahead of it as much as I can. Um, I've had a lot of conversations. Unfortunately, um,

037everybody in the state at our at our conference a couple weeks ago was talking about the lack of, uh, coaches or people that are willing to coach at the high school level, whether it's a time management thing as far as getting out in time for school or it's just lack of wanting to deal with parents to be fair and and things like that. And um, it was a topic of discussion for sure. um it is becoming more increasingly difficult, but we'll do our best to try to get the best people we possibly can and I think we have a great group right now working with our our uh spring athletes. >> Thank you. U Miss Sampers, you have your hand up. >> Um and I'm apologize for not being in person. I feel terrible. Um

038I didn't want to get everybody sick. It was kind of hard to hear um when Paul was talking, but um so this is now our you know fourth year in this building, fifth year, and it never seems like we can start a season on the fields again knowing we had 3 ft of snow and all of that. But I thought that all the work in the fall with this outside company and paying this outside company was to prep so that we could start the seasons on the fields like at the start of the season with the scheduled games and all of that. And you know, my comments are kind of coming from a place of like my I have kids playing lacrosse and I noticed, you know, their first lacrosse home game, which was Friday,

039March 30th or 31st, whatever the date was. And there was baseball practice scheduled, but because they play in the middle of the two baseball fields, like baseball couldn't practice because they were supposed to be at the old high school and not at the new school where the fields are. So, we just want to get a sense for like, you know, what the challenges are. Do we think we have it rectified? Are we ever from the start of a season going to be able to use the fields designed for the sports in that season? >> Well, it's a couple of things. One, it's it's very different when you're talking about like the work that they did in the fall was to the grass areas. It wasn't to the infield >> because the sprinkle the sprinkler was

040um >> right the sprinkler system was broken and so died. >> Yeah. And so the the infield Can you hear? Okay. >> Okay. Just wanted to make sure. Um so this is the work we did at the fields here was the infield surface which you know is mud. So if you you can't really play baseball or softball if you're stepping and you're sinking in you know 3 or 4 in um it's not safe. it's it's the ball won't move and you're going to just ruin the surface. So, so regardless of like us bringing in new material and everything else, like we've continuously since the fields were built or like at least when I've been here, we've used started to use the fields in in um in 2024 for the first time um the material is

041it's either concrete when it was dry or sludge when it was wet and there wasn't really a lot of in between. um except for on dry days when we could we could resurface it. So, it's been a work in progress. I think like I said at the beginning, I think the work that Paul has done and we've done this spring will hopefully um continuously adding different types of material to the material that we have, I think, will make the surface stronger, more playable, more absorbent um for when we have inclement weather. Um, as far as the the lacrosse and baseball situation, that is an ongoing issue. Lacrosse was added here without a real regulation size field. So, I think the first year they played on the old field hockey field on the side, which is

042not a regulation length or width. So, when I got here, I took the space that was the soccer old soccer field, and I said, "This is a varsity sport. it should have be played in the proper dimensions and so I put it there. So it is a challenge um with middle school and sometimes JV practices that they have to either practice um on one of the softball fields if softball's not there which also have the ability to move the bases so they are in the same distance um over there or they maybe do fly balls on the practice field hockey field. They go in the batting cage inside the building. So, there's a lot of shuffling with those teams as as far as where they are and what they're doing. Um, and we just our

043coaches just do the best to make it work. But on game days for lacrosse, that lacrosse varsity team becomes a priority. Um, so that's just what we have to do until, you know, we find a surface that that lacrosse can play on over here eventually. That would be a that'd be the ideal situation. Um but for now we have to shuffle and make the best of of that situation. And as for um getting the fields ready like on time and everything, it it is uh weather dependent because um we did have all that snow and then the season starts. Uh they wanted to have like some of the fields we that we got ready down at the old high school ready for this uh March 16th and the snow we barely had like two days

044where the snow melted and then so just to have an area for them to even practice was kind of a um a big deal just to get that done. And then like I said, and then we had we had material here, but that was just not usable. So we we worked right up until we work late days that we could actually get out there. And then when it and then it was just raining every other day. So it's kind of hard to um when you have a we have things set, but if the weather doesn't uh cooperate, it's kind of difficult. But we do have a field management plan and and um set in place now. So going forward, it will be um taken care of the the best way that it can now. So,

045>> is there a plan for um maintenance of the old high school fields? >> So, um we we have uh we cut them all in to uh this this March March before March 16th and um we spread some material that was there. Um we do need to do more work to with those fields, but like I said, we kind of managing um getting just getting them out to practice and then getting these games getting these fields ready over here. And then we're going to we are going to do more work over there though. Yes. >> Just like another question SL comment. I know um Miss Morris with I think it's great. You mentioned like having the full-size field, right? Has there been any thought like we did for soccer moving lacrosse to the baseball field

046to play on the fullize field so that two teams could still potentially practice at the old high school if there is a lacrosse home game. That way it's not disrupting the practices and you know work that needs to be done for those teams because we're taking basically both outfields for >> it. It would be an outfield. You'd be displacing somebody at any point in time. The way our fields are structured right now, the outfield of the field hockey field is the outfield of baseball. The soccer field is the outfield of softball. So you would be be displacing any of those teams to practice at any point in time. >> So is there's two fields for softball and two fields full-size diamonds at the old high school. So couldn't we utilize those while field hockey or

047lacrosse or whatever is going on in the outfield at the other field at the high school? >> Yeah. I think what she's saying is you're you're eliminating two baseball fields by having one lacrosse game. Whereas if you played lacrosse in an outfield here, you'd lose one baseball or softball field wherever it is. >> One one field which is the which is the JV/ middle school. Technically it is a JV/ middle school field. Um which right now JV and varsity because our numbers are low are actually practicing and they're overlapping their practice um here at the high school. So really only middle school baseball is supposed to be using that field from this point forward. Now that this field as of today is back online here, the baseball field here, JV and varsity baseball, unless there's

048like severe weather where the field doesn't hold up, we will send them over there. But right now, the only team that is going to utilize the field over there is middle school baseball. The other field that is used to be the old JV field hasn't really been online. It doesn't it doesn't drain. So unless >> we're well aware from our base. >> Yeah. Unless I mean unless there's like several days of dryness. I mean I think they were able to use it once so far this year. Literally probably since I've been here in 2023. I've seen that field not a puddle like a lake where literally ducks and swans have been in it um maybe two or three times. So you know that field is offline. So we're really not not even utilizing that field.

049And so, um, this is kind of the best case scenario. I would love to get I I I looked at it from a logistics standpoint as far as game schedules and things like that. Also, the the size of the field and um lining it and everything else here for lacrosse, I don't I mean, right now, I don't think it's like a feasible model, but >> And then I know we used to use per field like the 177 fields. Has that been explored? I'm just trying to like figure out the ways that we can get our kids the most time on fields for like real live work because as you know, as Brian kind of mentioned, we're, you know, a little little struggling as it relates to our athletics um and keeping up with the competitive

050teams in our district. I'm curious too if that was explored at all. Like since we're already busting kids anyway, have we looked into like the 177 fields to not be able not displace teams? >> Um last year we were ex when we were exploring and uncertained um as to what was going to happen to the old high school and obviously that is still kind of a question mark is what is going to happen to that property. Um we did explore it. Um, a lot of the feedback I got on those, are you talking about the baseball and softball fields that they've created? >> That wide open field too that potentially like lacrosse could play at. Um, because as you know that outfield's in >> Right. Right. >> So like bumpy and the >> Yeah, I

051I have you been on that field? I I haven't been on it in like a year or so, but it it was pretty much a hay pasture, so I don't know if if they've um done anything. Have you been on it? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. It's actually in good shape. >> Okay. It's an >> there's irrigation there. Um >> yeah, >> it's >> uh I mean it could be a possibility. Um it's just a matter of trying to get that as a rental and do we have to create more money for that to happen? But it's a possibility. We've only explored cuz that when we explored it, that field wasn't really operational. I know. I've been over I was over there when like a youth field hockey thing was going on um back in 2023

052and 24 and it wasn't a I didn't think it was a playable surface for a varsity sport, but um you know if they've done more work to it potentially. We were talking about the baseball and softball fields which I I don't know if they're quite um the size that we're looking for for some of our teams. maybe for middle school. >> And then I just again, sorry to like monopolize all this, but this is like something that's very near and dear to me. I was an athlete through college and I just want to make sure that our kids are getting like the best experience. And I think it was a little challenging to start the spring season with communication. Again, this is not a criticism. And this is like coming from a place of like

053I just want the best for our teams and our kids. And it was so fluid obviously because of the challenges we were having with the weather and that whole first week for tryyous. It was like pouring rain and we had just gotten over 3 ft of snow and all of that. Um but we were a little challenged with like getting the information and I didn't you know speak from what I heard but from what I know from my experience and I will also preface this by saying Tyler is great. because my kids love him. Great. But it was a little challenging. Like I went into tryyouts for lacrosse not knowing like, okay, are we doing three days of tryyous and then practice are starting? Like how do we know if the kids are making the

054team? Is everyone making the team? Like that wasn't really very well um communicated. And then there was a challenge like leaving Monday night for the very first it was at, you know, in the gym. Do my kids need to bring their stuff to school tomorrow? Are we practicing at the school? Is it back at night? And so like I was unclear if I'm sending them with their stuff. Am I going to have to drop their stuff off midday? Like things weren't posted in the app. And I know we were referring families to the app, but things weren't in the app. So, and I don't know if in years past I thought we did like a spring meeting to kind of prep so that we could ask questions and that kind of thing. And I don't

055think that happened this year. So I'm just curious like I know we want coaches using the app which is a great way to communicate. it wasn't necessarily being utilized. So then I'm trying to reach out to you. I'm trying to reach out to Tyler. I'm trying to reach out to other parents to see if they know what's going on. So I think it was, you know, a little confusing for the the kids and the families when they were trying to figure out like where they're supposed to be. Are we bringing their stuff to school? I mean, my son played it and has a six foot long pole that I didn't necessarily want him bringing on the bus every day if he didn't have to. Um, so I'm just curious about like did you get that

056feedback? like what kind of changes are we making to make sure that the communication works well for our families because our goal, right, is to like get these kids to want to participate in athletics but also stay in our district, right? >> Um yeah, I' I've really pretty much have gotten about maybe three questions or complaints about communication. Um, I try to I mean our our coaches are all adults and um, you know, they're given the app. They're I I ask them, some are incredible. Um, Matt Camper every week. You know, I I encourage them. I show them samples every week, every Sunday, he lays out the week, what's going to happen, when the bus is leaving, um, what when when what days they have games, um, and things like that. you know, other coaches

057I have to continuously encourage and recommend. And what I find is is, you know, some of them as soon as I make a change, they're on it and they put it in and then others don't. So then I have to recognize it. And with a lot of um moving parts, it's sometimes difficult for me to get on myself to to see who's done it and who hasn't. And um I try to put out like everybody. Um, you know, I think, you know, the communication as far as the tryyouts, I mean, that's pretty standard. The first three days, that's that's in our handbook. That's that's everything. If it was like who selected um I mean, that's a question for the coach and and that communication. I will say too, a lot of the onus should kind

058of go on some of our athletes sometimes because I when I talk to the coaches, 95% of the time the coach is explaining what's going on the next day at the end of practice. And a lot of the only the two complaints or three complaints I've received is the kid wasn't paying attention and didn't relay that information back to um their parents. And so, um, when it was explicitly stated that we're going to be here tomorrow or baseball's going to be, um, at the old high school for the rest of the week because our field will not be playable probably until at least next week. That was explicitly stated on several occasions. And it's just, you know, getting that information back. So, if we're looking at, you know, maybe our middle school teams, but any

059of our varsity teams, if you're eighth grade or higher, that that really because before the communication app, that was the communication, right? And so, um, but I I had another conversation with our coaches yesterday about it because we had a mishap and I, you know, I'm like, this is not what we want to do. So, the I I've instilled the app a few years ago and um, you know, again, I think it works tremendously, but, you know, now everybody's relying on it. So, when you don't get that one piece of information, um, you know, that can be a problem. But I think a good chunk of our coaches use it very well and we'll continue to continue to enforce it and um I'll continue to harp on making sure that it is crystal clear. >>

060Any thought to doing like a spring meeting? Oh, so the meeting situation um I what I found was I've done I did it for two years and what I found was like fall I get a ton of people um and then winter there's you know so say you know fall there's o over 200 kids that that register for you know so if you take even 30% of the people will actually show up still a good chunk of people filling the auditorium with a hundred kids in the winter where you know you're maybe getting 25 families and then they've kind of heard a lot of the same information. So I wasn't I was literally looking at a few people. Um so it really wasn't worth it I felt to do it in the um in the

061winter. I did it in the spring again by the time some of a lot of our athletes play multiple sports. So, by the time I got to the spring, even though we still have likeund, you know, last year we had 150, this year we had about 138 uh registrations, um, you know, I just was like, I don't think that I'm going to get the I kept seeing the spring was tapered down because they already heard it and so they already kind of knew. Um, so I didn't do it. And so what I do, and I don't think anybody really opens it and reads it, is I send the same slideshow that I would present with all of the same information. Um, it had it had when practices were, it had um everything in it in

062the email that I attach it to. I give all of the same information of what's happening, when our practice times are, when tryyouts are, blah, blah, blah. And um and then I proceed to get several emails about when it is because people just don't read their emails unfortunately. So you know um I think I'm still moving forward going to do all sports. My idea is to just do an all sports one in the fall. That's what I'm as I ask other colleagues. That's what a lot of people are doing. So in the fall you just do a kickoff and get anybody who wants to come. You try to get as many coaches there as you can for meet and greets and things like that and then go from there. So, >> I just want on

063the sports youth thing and I I know it's it is a great tool. Um, and to me, you know, I'm sure and, you know, probably speaking for everybody here, we want to support you and that and it seems like you've made it a non-negotiable, which is awesome, um, with your coaches. So, um, the coaches need to know that it's non-negotiable because so many people are are on that and paying attention to it. And as you said, when it when there is a miscommunication or whatever, then um you know, if it's you're going to get the complaint, you know, not necessarily the coaches. So, you know, again, just in an evaluation tool and everything else that you do um with your job and your coaches, you've made it a non-negotiable, it sounds like, and we want

064to support you with that. Um because it is it's there's so many moving parts. There's so many kids over a span of eight grades and and multiple teams. um you know so it it really it really is relied on um by everyone. So um it's a great tool and it and it really does work well. >> Yeah. I again I have some that like use it >> app all the time but when it's not in the app that's when I'm like oh god what am I doing >> right and you know a lot of things the sk you know some coaches put the practice schedule in there and then others don't. I can't, you know, I can't physically do it for them. But, um, and some, you know, some are giving drills, like Matt Camper

065is giving drills and ideas or video clips from different things. Like, some get are very into it and others I can't get them to just say like practice is changed to indoors or we're going to we just want to use the batting cages so we're inside. Um, you know, so I I I get it and I I I you know, I've been yelling and and screaming a lot um this spring about it just to get a couple people to to really, you know, take it on. But um and again, some you know, I think I have a lot of my middle school sports where I encourage them, you know, they do a great job of like as they're coming back from an away game to make sure cuz you know, those kids definitely don't have

066cars. They're like, "Hey, you know, ETA is, you know, 6:35 because, you know, be there at the school for pickup." And so, some are some are fantastic with it and and um you know, so work in progress. >> Um thing that I can think of that I have um and I actually talked with Dr. Roy about this um so like tonight we're going to review the school calendar and kind of approve it for next year. Um like there was a couple of examples in the fall again because my kids played soccer where we had a half day and they had a soccer game after school on a half day. Yeah. >> And so like for working parents, >> you know, they can't stay at school. There's no bus to take them from school to their

067game. So then we're scrambling to like figure out where we can get our like how we can get our kids to a game on a half day when there's no transportation provided. So as opposed to like me showing up at 3:30 for the start of the game, I now have to get my kid there for like 2:30 or 2:45 transportation provided. >> So is there a way and I think tennis has this issue with a half day coming up where there's a game because it was supposed to be a no school day and now it's a half day and there's like a tennis match next Tuesday. I want to say Ryan say um so like maybe just a FYI or is it possible like when we are kind of working with other districts to schedule

068these things can you look at our school calendar to see if it's a no school day or a half school day especially at the middle school level or even like J where these kids can't drive themselves places to kind of put some thought into like maybe we can't have a game or a match on a day where it's a half day because there may be a challenge getting the athletes I I I do my best to try to move the games, but there's so many there's only so many dates on the calendar that you can actually play games or when we are sharing facilities. Um or there's um you know, if like soccer, if you're on JV soccer and you're play, you know, varsity and JV, everybody travels together. And so a lot of times

069what I found is especially the a lot of the teams we have in our league and and in the district um if we cancel a JV game, a lot of them won't want to make up that JV game. Um and so I can't really separate a JV game because I have to play a varsity game, but we have to get the varsity games in. Um scheduling is um we are as a league unlike a lot of other leagues. um because of the way our league is structured with only um four now five other teams in the league um if we have a 20 game schedule with some of our sports um I have to find you know a lot of times 12 to you know 10 to 12 other games um as opposed to if

070you're in Southshore conference you're finding maybe four other games um and there's a league schedule that's created. So when you're trying to fit in games against area opponents that are in a different conference, their conference schedule is locked in. And so to fit games into um around their other those other conference schedules and to to put our games in there, I have to get games when I get games. And I see Jay shaking his head because he knows the the the turmoil of that. Um so you got to try to get games when you can get games. And if it's if it's a day of a half day, it has to be a day of a half day. Um, but ideally, and then with the middle schools, you know, we're given a league schedule. You

071try to move them around. I try to move it around as much as I possibly can. And some you just you just can't find a date that matches. And so, you know, you still try to not have games on Fridays. That's kind of our league policy in the middle school. And so um it's it's sometimes becomes really difficult without having three or four games in a in a week which you then you still have to reserve for inclement weather and things like that. So I do my best you know next Tuesday we're going to have sever it's they're not the only ones that are going to end up playing on that day. Um but the spring is super tight. Um it is is a super tight season especially with the weather as it is. If

072we have to schedule reschedule games at going forward we're going to be playing a lot of four game weeks at this point and we're probably going to start to have to play on the weekends. So um if the weather continues to to act like the way it has um we're everybody's in the same boat um across the state. So we tried our best but I I understand I take note. I look at it every season. And I have the calendar in front of me. As I do it, I mark off dates this season. Uh, you know, to be fair, right now I'm trying to avoid prom. I had so I've had to, you know, move and reschedule games. Um, because honestly, prom has always been on a Saturday and this year it's on a Friday.

073Um, I try to, you know, move around games for senior, you know, trip, class trip. Um, and there's, you know, handful of other things. Not try to have games on awards night, not try to have g, you know, there's just so many dates. you know, there's plays you try to avoid when there's major plays happening. Um, so it's it's there's only so many dates in the season, so you got to try to fit it in. >> All right. Nothing else from the committee at this time. I just want to say thank you both for for joining us this evening and we'll move on to the uh next agenda. Thank you. Appreciate all the work. I appreciate all the work on the physical condition of the fields too because dealt less less than an ideal product.

074So >> excellent. Thank you very much. >> Uh so we'll we'll move on to the next item on our agenda which will be uh a discussion on the volunteer requirements. Continued continue discussion here. Mr. Sure. >> Well, good evening everybody. So, I want to start with an update because this is the first year that the community service hours are a graduation requirement. So, for the class of 2026, so I collected some data for you. We have 71 seniors graduating this year. Of the 71 seniors, 24 students have completed their hours. That means we have documentation that 20 hours um have been done. Five students have completed some hours. So not yet at the 20 but more than zero and 42 seniors have zero documented hours. So that of course is concerning. So what have we

075been doing to promote this? emails go out almost every single day with volunteer opportunities either in the local community or Fall River, New Bedford, etc. Um, some of our students are going to be participating in math camp and collecting some hours. Um, some of them I'm assuming it's just because they haven't turned in their forms. So, it's making sure that they know in order for these um those hours to count, we need to have the documentation. Mrs. Rule and I are meeting with the seniors one day next week before vacation to again remind them that this is a graduation requirement and we are going to game plan for seniors that um do not have hours done by their last day of school which will then require them to return the week before graduation which are

076days they typically have off and we will provide them opportunities um during the school day for them to get some of those hours done. So, before I move on to the updated um graduation requirement document, does anybody have any questions regarding the class of 2026? >> Well, I think it's great and I think it's great that you're thinking about that and the kids that, you know, we don't want to hold back or whatever and giving them opportunities. Um cuz you know like you said there are plenty um certainly over a break and then at the end of the year um when seniors should take technically be out but um it's a way to make them uh fulfill that commitment still. That's awesome. >> Thank you. Okay. So if we take a look at this document

077I just wanted to add more information so that there was some clarity regarding what um does the graduation requirement of community service hours mean? So we are defining the parameters as they need 20 hours by the time that they graduate. But to avoid the the issue that we're having with the class of 2026, we're really encouraging students moving forward to try to document five hours a year because that feels far more manageable than 20 hours total. So counselors when they go into um classrooms or they're doing their small group meetings in the career center, they're really promoting that you can submit hours as early as freshman year. You can leave freshman year with all 20 hours done and you're good to go. You check that box off. The other thing that we were finding is

078that students sometimes just don't know what community service hours are. They think taking out the trash at their house counts as time, but we want to clear it up that it doesn't. Um, and so we wanted to give them a list of here's where your hours could come from and here's where your hours cannot come from. Um, this document also provides them a link to the form that they should be using to monitor all of their hours. Again, we'll remind them that this form needs to get turned into their respective guidance counselors for tracking purposes. And then some questions came up over the spring specifically around ours as they connect to NHS and STEAL, which are two service um groups within our school. And so this document just provides clarity on um how many hours

079can count uh for both. Um, so if this is all well and good, it will go into our program of studies and then ultimately make its way into the student handbook. So happy to answer any questions about this. >> Um, my only question and and of course um obviously the emails that um were received were from members of those clubs. is the thought process or the rationale behind why just those two clubs um are separate or or different than the others. And I think I know some of the >> um and I know that they do a lot of that work, but >> it is to me it's community service um and why they're a little bit different. >> Sure. So I want to make it clear for this year we did that students were

080could use all of the hours from those particular groups. So that addressed some of the concerns that had popped up in emails um from students and parents. I always have to think with like my equity hat. So organizations like steel and national honor society are selective organizations. Not everybody has access to participate in those. So for that I think there there has to be some differentiation in the hours that can count. Additionally, steel stands for students that exemplify extraordinary leadership. These are our kiddos that are who are going above and beyond. So, I think it makes sense to maybe hold them to a little bit higher of a standard in completing some of the hours. For National Honor Society, it's even easier because they need hours to get into that organization. It's just the hours

081that are required to be part of that group once you're in it. to also go back to steel. Something that I forget to mention is that part of this too is having students take the responsibility on their own to find community service opportunities and in that club I'm not sure if that's always happening. I think sometimes they bring ideas to the table but um there's you know limitations on where they can go. So that was the rationale and justification but I want to make it clear that some of it can count towards both. It was just that five hour differentiation. >> So this is the first class that this class has had all four years to complete. >> Correct. So this >> because it was like a phased in kind of >> it was a

082phased in process and this was something that was brought to the table before I took over both of the buildings which was three years ago now. So, these kiddos have known that this was coming and have had reminders and I know we had discussions last year about some of the concerns that I had in terms of students getting these opportunities. Um, but we're willing to work with them and provide in-house um hours so that they can still walk and get their diploma. >> I'm not sure if you guys are currently in communication with the uh Council on Aging, but I'm sure they would love to have students there. >> Yes. And whenever we get opportunities from the council of aging, bam, goes right out to our kiddos. Right. >> Yes. >> Question. Um, for stuff

083that they can't do, um, like unpaid work for a family member, i.e. chores or work for a family business? What if it's not a family business? Well, if it's not a family business, um, and they're not getting paid, I think there could be discussion on just a discussion on what they're doing and then we could could clarify if whether or not it could count. Yeah. >> No, I just >> I'm just talking about like you got to go take your dog for a walk like that that kind of stuff. >> No, I was just trying to figure out, you know, if there were some local businesses in town that because it's all kind of community, you know, >> 100%. Let's say there was a landscaping company in town that was looking for kiddos to volunteer

084and do work. Yes, those hours would certainly count. >> Okay, that's what I was >> there's a town clean up on Saturday. Send the kids to >> say the clean west borders on Saturday. >> There's a yard clean up at my house if anybody wants the address. >> The food and the food pantry starting their planting for the garden on Sundays apparently. So there's possibly uh some hours there too. Mhm. >> And so uh the expectations is that this would be submitted as a this is not a separate file this be part of the handbook for is that correct? >> Yeah. More so the program of studies because that's where we outline the graduation requirements. I also like to put it in the handbook just as an additional reminder for kiddos. Um but that's where

085it would would go. >> Okay. Excellent. >> So what happens so there's like a lot of students that haven't started yet that are in the class of 2026. Like what happens if they don't do the This is new to me, so I'm curious like if they don't do community service hours, they can't graduate. >> Well, they're going to have the opportunity to do those hours the week that they're off in between the last day of school for seniors and graduation on May 30th. So, our um goal is absolutely to get them in at that time and hopefully it will become a moot point. Um but unfortunately we have had circumstances in the past where some students um may have to go to summer school for one course and they would do an August graduation. And

086because this is a graduation requirement, we might have to look to that. But I'm going to do my hardest to ensure that that is not the case. That the 71 seniors that are set to graduate are going to be walking the stage on May 30th. >> Excellent. >> Well, thank you, M. >> Oh, you're welcome. >> Yes. >> Have a good night. this you as well. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, we'll move on to our next agenda on theformational uh agenda, which would be the out of school time handbook. Uh so, >> ladies, have a seat. Yep. So, I'm going to introduce the two ladies here in front of us. Um so, we have Karen Tvaris on this side. She is the new director of the out of school time program.

087She was hired in October. She comes with 15 years of experience in the field of early childhood education. Uh graduated from Bridgewater State University with her bachelor's degree in early education and care and special ed inclusive studies. She also is an EEC certified as a teacher, director 1, director 2, lead teacher preschool, and lead teacher infant toddler. Um then we have Tanya Camarra over here who is the program coordinator. Um she was hired in November of 2025. She comes with 20 years of experience in the field of early childhood education. She graduated from Bristol Community College with associates degree in early childhood education. She has her EEC certification, director certification. She's also a lifelong resident of Westport and has graduated from Westport schools and her children now attend Westport Community Schools. Um, >> yes, circle

088of life. Um, so they are going to kind of give you a little bit of an update. They bring before you the um OST handbook, the revisions for next school year, and there's just a few of them, but she they're also going to give you a little rundown of we've had a a couple of audits in between um relicensing visits, and I'm going to let Karen start off and just kind of review. We can send you her the document that was done afterwards if you want, but she's just going to kind of give you a little update. >> Hi everybody. So the out of school program currently operates at two separate locations. We employ 14 staff members altogether including myself as the director, Tanya as program coordinator. We also have a site coordinator and 11

089group leaders. Three of those group group leaders actually are teacher assistants that work over at the west as well. So our morning program is run at the elementary school and we primarily use the cafeteria area. We also do utilize the gym when we're able to. And currently we have 38 children enrolled in the morning program with four staff members usually on daily. The program provides a breakfast a cereal breakfast every single day and students that go over to the Macumber school get bus there around 8:15 in the morning. The afternoon program is currently operated inside of the old high school. Our typical hours of operation are between 3:00 and 5:30. On school vacation days we are open for full days which is 8 to 4:30. And then we are also open for most of the

090um half days for the school. So on those days our hours of operation are from going to be from 12:00 to 4:30. So the afternoon snack we provide we for the afternoons we do provide a snack daily and on the full days parents are required to pack a lunch. So the afternoon program as of right now we have about 65 students enrolled. Students get bus to us o over from the elementary school and the mumber school. We have classrooms designated to each grade from kindergarten up until grade 4. And we do also at this time have one preschool enroll preschooler enrolled and they are in the kindergarten classroom. All other children are school-aged. The afternoon program um basically we have various activities that we offer to the children every single day. We have an art

091room that we utilize for different types of crafts and activities as well as different STEM activities. We offer free play in classrooms. We do organized games and play in the gym. We utilize the outdoor playground areas as well. Um, we also have been recently coordinating with the Westport Land Trust organization and they've been coming in for visits with our students as well. Um, since my time arriving at the OST program, I have implemented the use of an app called Brightitewheel. So, Brightitewheel is basically an app for early childhood head centers and it offers us the opportunity to be able to communicate back and forth with parents. We can send them pictures and videos and updates throughout the day. and we are also currently using it for um attendance tracking. My goal is for the beginning

092of the summer program to begin using a feature on it for tuition payments. So tuition tracking will be directly on the app. That'll make parents being able to pay a lot easier because everything will be on there. Invoices will be sent out usually on a Friday and parents will have until the following Monday to pay them. Um let me see. Overall, the usage of the app has been going very well. Parents like having the open communication. They like getting the updates. It has been, we've gotten really great feedback so far and parents are also very excited to be able to use the tuition payment feature on the app. So, a few things that I wanted to adjust from the handbook. Um, I did highlight in there so I can go through it page by page.

093So, the page numbers are on the top right corner and we are going to start on page two. So, I do have highlighted some of the adjustments that I wanted to make. Um, the first is going to be I want to implement a $25 registration fee. So, this registration fee is going to basically hold the child's slot to begin for the new school year program. It's common practice amongst most child care centers. So, we're hoping to implement that and we're also hoping to apply those registration fees to get some new school year materials for the classrooms and for the children. So, that's usually a period during the year where we have to buy lots of paper, lots of art materials, and that'll help go towards that. Um, we're also hoping to have students and families

094pick set schedules. Very common practice again amongst childcare centers. Um, we do have a couple families that don't have set schedules and it causes a lot of difficulties with staffing and ratios because we do have to abide by a certain teacher to student ratio and if we have kids just popping in, it messes with that and that we're not going by EEC regulations. So, I did offer an option that if parents are unable to basically set a sketch set schedule for their children that they can have a sort of drop in agreement so they can reach out to administration beforehand and say, "Hey, do you have room on this day? Can my child add for the day? If we have room, we'll definitely make the accommodation to have them add. If we don't, then they

095unfortunately can't come for that day." Um, and then on the next page is page seven. So on page seven, um, hours of operation for early release days are going to be from 12 to 4:30. And I also would like to implement the cost of the half days being a little bit more. As of right now, the half-day program is the same as the regular school year programs. We are open for an extra two hours during the half-day programs. So, I wanted to increase it from 30 to 45 just to basically accommodate those that extra two hours that we're providing services and paying staff. >> Can I just ask what are the old the oldest kids that that attend? >> So, we go up to fourth graders. So, we have kindergarten to fourth graders and then

096we do have one preschooler. >> Thank you. >> All right. And then the final changes would be on page 11. So, as I stated before, my goal is hopefully to get Bright Wheel all set up and going for um as far as tuition payments for the summer program. So, as of right now, the banking and routing routing numbers are already all set in the system. It's just a matter of putting in the payment plans for parents and getting it up and going for the summer program. Um, we also want to implement a $10 late fee that Brightwheel has a feature that it could automatically be applied. We do have some families that struggle with paying tuition payments on time and we want to try to avoid that. So, we're hoping that by implementing a late

097fee, it'll kind of enforce making sure that tuition payments are getting paid on time because we're a self-sustaining program and when parents families aren't paying then the income's not coming to the program. Um, so tuition, we want to have tuition to be due to the program regardless of children's attendance. As of right now, the program parents are only paying if their child arrives for the day. Common practice amongst ch amongst the child care field is that you pay for your child's slot regardless if they attend or not because we do have the issue where we have a child enrolled full-time. They're only coming one to two times a month and then all those other days the child's not arriving. So, we're not receiving income for that slot that we're holding for the child. Um, let

098me see. And then, but what we do want to do to kind of like help with that is that we will not charge families for days that we're closed, whether it be weather, whether it be for the winter break or whether they be um absent because of an afterchool program over at the West or the Mac Umber school. But what will not be waved is if a child's out sick or if they're just taking off a day just because those days will still have to be paid. And we are going to um have tuition not tuition waved for family trips and vacations up to two weeks because I know there were a few families that had asked me, "Oh, we're taking a a summer trip for like a week. Can that not be paid?" and

099my decision along with Michelle, we were discussing it and we thought that two weeks would be sufficient that can be waved that parents can use those times and then any longer than that then there'll be a $50 holding fee to continue to hold the slot >> and that is it. Any questions? >> Well, thank you first and welcome. >> Thank you. >> So, I I think the changes are thoughtful. I think they're responsive to some challenges and >> concerns that I've had. I know that it's a self-sustaining revolving account, but you know, from a predictability standpoint, it's tough if you're in a position where >> you don't know if the revenue is coming in, if it's a daily payment. You don't know if that can cover staff and you still have to cover other expenses.

100So, I think that the set scheduling will give you some predictability, which is >> yes, >> helpful. Um, I know that's some months are better than others >> and that will probably help with that. So, I appreciate the the thoughtfulness that went into that. Um, so thank you. >> Thank you. Yeah, I would echo that. Um, had some concerns on how the payment structure has been in the in the past and I I really appreciate the the effort that's gone into to uh kind of fixing some of these issues. Um, I just want to clarify a couple things. So, first of all, via uh Bright Wheel the app. So, is there a fee associated with paying on the app? >> Yes, there is a small fee. There is um I don't know the percentage off

101the top of my head. I can't get back to you on that, but I do know it's probably like up to like a dollar or so. >> Okay. But to be clear, checks are still accepted. So, >> yes, checks will still be accepted. Yes. >> Okay. So, uh the second question uh regarding the the holding fee. So, is that a $50 holding fee per week or is that a $58 holding fee >> just to hold? >> So, after the two weeks of Yeah. the basic of the family vacation, they have up to two weeks. After that, it's just $50 flat rate to hold the slot. >> Okay. I know that we did have like a family that they were out for a month. So the two weeks were covered and after that the 50 hold

102$50 holding fee would color cover the remainder of the weeks. >> Okay. And again that goes to just trying to figure out the predictability of that. >> Yes. Okay. Right. Excellent. No, I I I again I really appreciate the effort that's gone into making these changes because I think um you know it's a great program. It's it's very very helpful to to families in West Point. I I am glad to see that that predictability is going to be there now. That's that has always been a question of mine because I know yes it is not a common practice to do a daily. So this is uh this is good and also uh so you mentioned is it Brightwheel that you're also using for to to uh keep keep track of attendance now. Okay. So it's

103a kind of >> so on bright wheel it's broken down by classrooms and teachers have the avail the availability on the app to be able to sign in a child sign them out and parents also get that notification so they know what room their child is in at all times. >> Excellent. All right. Excellent. So are uh I know you said 38 in the morning 65 in the afternoons. Would you consider that capacity at this point or is there >> um so the morning is operating at full capacity. The afternoon we do have some we can have hold up to 90 children but we just don't have the staffing to accommodate that at this time. Well, that so yeah, that's my question. So, in theory, it could be >> So, in theory, yes, >> it

104could be extended, but right now >> Yes. Right now, we're masked out. >> Perfect. Okay. >> All right. >> Have there been like are there positions posted that they're just recruitment challenges or >> um as of right now, we don't have any positions posted. It was kind of like me coming into like the the program. I didn't want to change anything too drastic too quickly. So, it was me getting like accustomed to the staff that we currently have. And then I have hired a couple of TAs, but we do have them more so as floaters as of right now of the summer program depending on the enrollment. I know we do have a pretty extensive weight list right now for the summer program. I'm hoping within like the next couple weeks or so to see

105what I have for staffing wise and then if I need to open that up for more staffs that way we can enroll more children in the summer program. >> All right. Excellent. I just got a quick um so the the morning class the morning session um goes from what was the times? >> It's 7 to 8:30. >> 7 to 8:30 and then so those employees then leave. Yes. And then >> some may come back for the afternoon session. >> Yes. So we do have a couple that will come in again for the afternoon. A lot of them are college students. So they honestly go to their own classes during the middle of the day and then they come back. They go to the former high school for the afternoon program. >> And so then like

106the full-time staff, yourself and the program directors and stuff, >> that's a full-time 8 to five job or something like that. >> Yeah, I work um eight hours daily, so 40 hours a week. And Tanya usually work six hours daily. >> Okay. And what are those hours? Just curious. >> My hours vary dayto-day. So some I do like to pop into the morning program at least twice a week. So then I'll do like a 7:00 to 3:30 type of shift sometimes or I'll go to the OST program and I'll do like a 9:00 to 5:30. So I'm there to the to the afternoon as well. So my schedule varies, but it's depending on like if I'm needed in the morning or if I'm needed more so in the afternoon. >> I guess my question was

107is there a supervisor on somebody at all times? >> Yes. Always. Yes. So either myself or Tanya is always there for the afternoon and then we actually have a site coordinator. So site coordinators are able to open and they're able to close. So at at this time usually the site coordinator is the person who's supervising the morning. >> Okay. >> Uh the last question that I had was just to >> make sure are these changes going to be uh communicated >> even now as opposed to Okay. So just making sure that it's not going to be any surprises come uh >> because in theory this would this would uh >> would these policies begin with the summer program? >> Yes. >> Okay. So okay. So that be as long as it it it shouldn't come

108as a surprise when it >> Yes. Yes. And I have been open with communicate openly communicating with all the families. So they do know these changes are coming and I did let them know that we'd be bringing it up to the school committee and that once it gets approval by you guys then we will implement them into the program. >> And Karen has actually they've spent a lot Karen and Tanya have spent a lot of time like teaching the families how to use Brightwheel >> because it is an app on their phone as well. So a lot of them we tried to transition them into a whole different method where they can use we got iPads for them so that they can actually sign the students in when they come. They sign the parents out

109when they leave. I think it helps with scheduling too. There's like a lot of different options for it. But it is a great program like they were saying. They can put photos on there of the kids for the day and >> whatnot. So >> and also just I guess being able to track the data is a little >> Yeah. It puts everything collectively in one place rather than having a bunch of unnecessary paperwork. >> How has the the parent reception been so far from >> parents really love Brightwill? They definitely like we've gotten a lot of compliments on them. Just like loving that we're being able to communicate more efficiently because email like outside of work hours like we're not always checking our email and even throughout the day like if we step away from

110our computers we're not getting an email right away. Whereas Brightitewheel we're getting as a notification right to the tablets that each staff member has. So, we're able to get it right then and there and then we can commun communicate back and forth with them. >> Just one quick thought on the the holding holding fee. It may be I think too >> too drastically or whatever, but is it would it make sense to add an additional sentence with a maximum length of the holding fee? >> Um, that's something just a thought of like >> No, it's definitely something $50 program up to two weeks or something, >> right? Or you know, they >> September comes around and we're taking off of September. Yeah, here's your $50 fee. And then they don't >> and then they come

111back >> come back until January and they say, "Yeah, but I paid the $50 >> just again in terms of staffing and things like that." >> And I I I would say probably maybe maybe a little longer. I mean, I know I guess two weeks and two weeks close to a month, but you know, just >> I want to give the flexibility, you know, for for >> uh for parents, but at the same time, yeah, the predictability I I do agree it should not necessarily be open-ended just because >> um >> so Fred, did you have something? Yeah, I just I'm I'm unfortunately not as familiar with this program as I would like to be, but um >> is since it's self-sufficient um >> is it basically if you can afford to do it, you

112can be in it or is there a you know for families that are struggling and you know and obviously with times like now >> you know everything's up in cost you. I'm just kind of concerned that if they're late, there's going to be a $10 fee and those $10 fees per week. Now you're looking at $40. >> Um, you may start being detrimental to families than trying to make sure that you're being >> you're you're collecting the money. I mean, if we're if we're going week to week with our budget for this program, just to think how some of these families might be going week to week with their own budgets. And um you know, I'm just concerned that if somebody misses a payment >> that these $10 fees start racking up. I mean, it's

113kind of like a late fee with your you know, your checking account. You hate to see that $35, you know, and then all of a sudden two more things is posted and now it's I mean that's a little more drastic, but you know, kind of the same feeling here. If if people are missing, >> I think they're already struggling. >> Yeah, I think the program's been very lenient with this. Like >> we've there's been some families that have been behind a couple of months and it does start to pose an issue at that point for the revolving account. It's not a program that makes like 80,000 a year. you know, we probably maybe 20,000 a year, but it's self-supporting. >> All of their salaries come out of the revolving account. Nothing comes out of the

114general budget. So, the program basically just pays for itself. But one of the things I think intention of this is not necessarily to hurt people, but to kind of like >> there's a few every so often. So, we're dealing with a few parents now that would try and you know work with them like what's what can we do to okay, >> you know, help with this. We try not to just cut people off immediately and be like, "Nope, you didn't pay." >> Either you're out of the program or you >> you know can't pay. >> Gotcha. >> They do have opportunities >> with us being certified under EEC. We do also accept PA vouchers. So a PACE voucher is basically for a family whether it may be struggling depending on where they are financially they

115can apply for a PACE voucher through EEC and if they get approved the voucher comes to me and that basically covers a portion if not all the tuition rate. So families do have the option to apply for that. >> Do do you happen to have offhand the number of of PACE vouchers? >> I currently have I believe it's about 10 students who are currently on PACE vouchers. >> Okay. So it's >> and I believe their tuition rates are going up as well for their reimbursement. >> Yes. So PACE pays us a certain portion depending on what the state rates are at that time. So their rates are going to be going up within like this next month as well. >> One of the difficult parts right now with the vouchers >> the the there's like

116a huge like waiting list. Yeah. To get on >> some people have been waiting for like two years to get on the PACE voucher. So it is very difficult for that piece of it. I think I think we probably would have a lot more families participating if they knew that they could access the voucher piece of it. It's not something we have control over. They have to apply through the through EEC and then they get on a waiting list and then they wait for and it could be up to two years before they even see acceptance for that. And then again the pro it's difficult for I mean we're very lucky like these ladies are very lucky and we're very lucky as a district because the we have a lot of students that are either

117Westport students that have come back and are in college and work at 7:00 in the morning leave at 8:15 go to college for the day then they come back again in the afternoon. It's a tough position to fill. It's not like even it's not even like a mother or father hours job. Like that's the time you need to be home with your kids to get them ready for school, get them off the bus. So this is something that's almost more difficult. >> What are what are the requirements for staff like age- wise college? >> So age- wise we usually have them to be like at least 18. So as of right now I think our youngest staff member is 19 years old. So the requirements um are basically it is a very um entry- level

118position. So they have to complete EEC essentials training which is basically just a training amongst like the field how to interact with students what are the basics to the EEC regulations. So they need to complete that first aid training get a background check those types of things and then if all that goes through then they're able to start the program. >> I was just we got 50 students that are going to be looking for volunteer time. And and when she um when she was mentioning that was actually think I was like oh it would be an opportunity that they could volunteer with the out of school time program. >> Yes. >> Mhm. >> All right. >> We have had we've had quite a few seniors that have come back. >> An affordable way for parents

119to be able to drop their kids off early but then also they get busted like because there was no option for after school. Like think about the Mac Hummer was getting out for preschool specifically at 2 p.m. So the idea was like this is an affordable way for families to be able to know that they had care coverage for their little ones >> through the Westport district, >> right? In a familiar surrounding in an you know surrounding that they're used to being in all day long. So it definitely keeps that >> not like designed to be a money maker but designed to be correct right service >> that we have an option for families because a lot of places won't pick their kid up and bring them to after school >> care correct >> all

120right excellent so um I appreciate appreciate all the all the effort that's gone into this and welcome little late now but more nice to meet you all thank you >> thank you thank you both >> so at this time I will uh entertain a motion from our action agenda to to act on approving this uh handbook with the caveat that a time certain date be added in to the uh the voucher hold. >> Yes, >> I'll make that motion. >> I'll second it. >> Been moved and second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, we'll move to a vote and we'll take a roll call vote. Mr. Melick. >> Uh I Fred Melick. >> I Jason Pico. Miss Anders >> and I, Christopher Thrasher. And that is approved. Thank you very much once again. >> Thank you

121very much. >> Thank you ladies. Have a good night. You too. Thanks. You too. >> You too. >> Excellent. Moving on. The next item on our agenda is the fiscal year 2027 budget update. Going to turn this over to vice chair, Mr. Jendro. Please take it away. >> Okay. So we started out um after our diligent budget process internally in the district um we then handed over our recommended budget to the select board. Um after we approved our recommendation, the select board took a look at it. They came in with their recommended number which originally was 24,744 332. Um that was their recommendation. We had had some discussions with uh the town administrator and and between myself, town administrator Michelle and Fran um on how we can work to get that closer. So the number

122I think from what we initially think we're at did get a little closer, but we were looking for a little bit more um and so that number was approved by the select board. So it then went to the finance committee and after some discussions with the finance committee um that number is now and the number that will be printed in the town meeting warrant is $24,824,332. So that number uh does not include the $80,000 for the uh device upgrades that we originally had in our in our budget uh request, but they're that's getting paid for through a separate warrant article. um as a as a from free cash. So that'll be separate from the operating budget. Um this number is also $80,000 higher than the select board's number, which means that based on uh both

123the backout of the the the Chromebooks and the the devices out of the operating budget and um looking at our at our recommended budget that this committee approved, this would support obviously this is subject to approval after the town meeting approves the final budget. Um but this will be printed in the warrant. So we with this number we can support all of our contractual obligations and our anticipated increases to existing line items. Um this will also support we a pri priorities of this committee um were the social studies position because of the enrollment there was a there was a higher class sizes in that particular department um and also the career pathways. So this would this budget would support both of those um in addition to all of our meeting all of our contractual obligations.

124So um over the last few finance committee meetings I I spoke and um advocated for um this number because I think this is a responsible number. We we have to live within the constraints of the town budget. We're limited by um Prop 2 and a half. We're limited by the limited new growth in town. So we know what what where we have to stay. So this number in addition to doing all that also reduces our free cash from last year. So it's it's a reduction in the free cash allocation I believe by $50,000. Um it it's it's gone down. So that's the kind of the trajectory that the finance committee, the select board, and I think uh what where our goals have been expressed to be too. So I think this this number checks a

125lot of boxes. Um it it I think does right by the district. it meets the needs that we have right now while living within the the revenue constraints that we have as a town and recognizing the needs of our other departments to provide services for our for our residents. Um so I'm I'm proud of this. Um and I again want to thank the the business department, Michelle, uh Fran Holly was involved in those discussions. Um and the building uh the building leaders for for their work on this and and informing us on their requests and priorities. Um, as I mentioned, I I spoke at the last few select board meetings on this and and it took a little while to get to this point, but um I certainly want to thank the select board um

126for their diligence in looking at this, the town administrator for his communication with us and the uh the finance committee of course um for their for their approval of this. I I you know I there wasn't really much much push back which I think is great. I think we we clearly as a committee in our in our presentation to the finance committee and in subsequent meetings afterwards outlined the need for uh for this and um so I I think the finance committee recognized that. Um so I'm appreciative of their of their support of this and I you know proud of this number. Um just on a procedural note this is obviously subject to the approval of town meeting but that is the number that will be printed in the warrant. So the when they read

127off the finance committee's recommendations for the for the overall town budget, this will be uh part of it. And then within that overall number, this committee has um perview to uh decide kind of where that's where that's spent. So uh we'll we'll take another look at this after the numbers approved, but that's that's where it's at right now. Um so just wanted to give the committee an update on that and u thank everyone for their efforts. Thank you for your efforts. >> So I I just would like to say um thank you to everyone who has been a part of this process. This is the culmination of a large a very very long process uh as as was mentioned between the uh the business department, the the building leaders uh school committee. Um I would

128be remiss if I if I did not extend a sincere thanks and gratitude to Mr. Jendro. um his efforts both at meetings and and behind the scenes to make sure that a a reasonable and responsible number uh got got approved uh by the finance committee has has been uh you know I I just I have to say we would not be where we we are and uh we would not be looking at a town meeting with a budget that uh is going to allow us to to serve the needs of our district were it not for the efforts of Mr. Gendro and I just want want everybody to understand uh just how much work he put into making sure that uh this this budget uh is is going to serve the needs of the district.

129So thank thank you very much for your efforts concern >> and and and again um you know this like I said culmination of a of a long effort. Uh the town meeting just so everyone is aware is on May the 5th where the final budget will be uh voted on. So again, thanks to everyone. Uh any anything further from the comm community committee members on this topic? >> I actually have one more thing. So that if you remember from our approved recommended budget, there were three service delivery uh increases that were part of that. One was the social studies, one was career pathways, the other was a support position, um a student support position. So the intent of that was to be at least partially funded with opioid settlement funds money. So um if that

130opportunity arises in the next over the next year where the where that that committee meets and and they're granting requests then we can certainly reopen that discussion. Um, but that's so I just wanted to note that that wasn't just left out that the intent is to continue pursuing that with um with the opioid uh fund settlement advisory committee. So that conversation hasn't hasn't stalled as well. And I'll also note as part of this town meeting um in addition to the operating budget, there's a capital budget that was approved that's going to be approved. So we have a number of items on there totaling almost a million dollars to address some capital needs that we have as a district. Um, so that's a that's a separate warrant article that'll be approved as as part of a

131larger article for all capital needs across town departments, but I just wanted to note that as well. So, all right. Anything further from the committee on this topic? All right. Hearing none, thank you again and we'll move on to uh the next item on our agenda is a discussion on the campground site. And M. Ginger, I'm going to turn this over to you as well. >> Okay. So the as probably you all know um the old high school in addition to the old high school discussion kind of being in limbo at the moment um there's also a it so there there's been a need in the past for fields but I think a more pertinent need um is certainly with the traffic flow. We've seen issues with that. We've we've probably all heard it. I

132know I have um from residents. So, um, there was a study that was done, I think I want to say about five or six years ago, um, on that site and what could be done. There were some estimates, there were some preliminary designs made. Um, so the the graphic in your packet shows the entrance where the campground site is, some parking that flows through to up towards the elementary school um, side. So the intent is if we can secure funding that obviously doesn't impact the operating budget, whether it's capital funding, whether it's from another source, if it's a um state or federal money, what wherever it could come from. Um and there are a number of pockets of funding out there that we're that you know, I think myself and Michelle and Fran are looking

133at um but if we can support it and also this was brought up during the school building committee. there. I know they have bond council looking to see if the remaining funds in that were authorized as part of that initial vote if this could be part of the scope. So, bond council on the town side is looking into that, but if not um if that doesn't come to fruition, then I think we can certainly explore some other funding. So I I think that the thought here um and I'm certainly open to you know the committee's input um and if this moves forward I think we would also probably you know as part of a broader discussion on future plans re reopen the campground committee but um there's a this is currently under the school department's

134jurisdiction this this parcel of land which previously was part of the town and it got transferred to us some years ago. Um, so the the picture in front of you shows kind of the the overall scheme, but I think the initial thought is to have the just the driveway portion and the paved portion added in and then maybe in the perhaps in the future if funding were available or or whatever it may be, then we could look at what to do with the rest. whether it's fields, whether it's a um you know putting some kind of structure there, whatever or or a combination of both, whatever it may be, we can take a look at that another time. But I think that the thought for now to address some of the public safety concerns um

135that we've heard and to I I think just create a better flow because this has historically been an issue since the building opened um to see what we could do with just that portion. So that's the the thought is to initially tackle that. Um, and again want to recognize Michelle for her efforts in taking this on too. >> Spent a lot of time walking the camera. >> Yep. Um, so yeah, that's just the initial there's there's no certainly no action at the moment, but I just wanted to inform the committee that these, you know, conversations are starting to to happen. Um, and I think probably would be accelerated should something happen to the or not happen to the old high school. Um but so this is just sort of an initial um broaching here and

136I don't again don't foresee this impacting the operating budget because we're we're seeking whether it's through the bond or whether it's through um state or federal money or grants or whatever it may be. We're you know certainly looking to be creative with how to support this. So that's the thought. >> Excellent. I think I do think it's u certainly worthwhile to to look at ways to mitigate the issues that we've been having with traffic especially and long-term you know obviously if it's able if we're able to uh progress to talking about the the fields improvements certainly good too but uh uh to get the ball rolling right now on on trying to alleviate the pressure of of single entrance for two schools I think is is a uh is certainly a great certainly a great

137beginning effort and hopefully We uh certainly hope to have more to report to uh the committee and the community here uh very shortly. So, thanks. >> I just got to just uh just looking at this picture here um what is what is the flow patent pattern um that we're thinking >> that we're thinking based on this. >> So, what one of the patents is having the parent drop offs and pickups. They would come in through the campground entrance, come up and around, and then tie into the back of the school for parent drop off and parent pickup like they do now. It's a way middle school for middle high school. It's a way to get these parents off of >> Old County Road. That is a huge They would merge right over. >> They would

138merge right over. Come around. We have staff out there anyway, but it's a way to kind of get a good We probably could get a good 4550 cars off that road. We have aboutundred and this building here is probably about 125 130 parent pickups and drop off. Elementary school is probably closer to like 161 in that range. So we're kind of looking at a two for one here where we've had to arrange changing the times of pickup and drop off and putting all the buses unloading all loading all the kids on the bus making them sit and wait an extra five minutes to try to get them out. And another idea here is to have the student parking on the in this area, the newer area, so that way we don't have students leaving through

139the area that the buses and the parents are coming in currently right now because there's a lot of traffic there and it is a dangerous area. We've watched it. We've stood on Old County Road and thought we one of these days it's going to be an accident. these kids, you know, new drivers, you know, and there's people in Old County that just don't they just fly by and it's our fault that they're there. So, we really are looking at different options to for the elementary school and the middle school, high school to help keep traffic off Old County. >> So, obviously the plan of for this whole project is is traffic. And if we were to basically incorporate say 60% of those students back into busing somehow um would that increase the number of buses

140or >> it would increase right now even I mean we have a low fee for transportation and they only we only charge seventh through 12th graders. >> Yeah. >> Majority by the 12th graders they're typically already in a car. Half of your 11th grade is typically in a car. We provide reduced if if any families qualify. We have about 470 students that are on qualify for low income. Those families if they qualify for any type of low-income structure, they receive free transportation. So, it's not like we don't provide like we we work with the families to get them on buses and we push that and let them know, listen, you could qualify for free transportation, put them on the bus. A lot of it, I think, is parents for middle school, high school don't want

141the kids getting on the bus at 6:30 in the morning. It's easier. That extra 30 minutes for this age level definitely makes a difference. The kids do not want to be leaving anywhere from till like 7:00, you know. So that I think piece helps. The end of the day it can fluctuate like our end of the day once sports season is going we have less kids parent pickup but again we there's so many after school activities and stuff happening at different times that sometimes it's the traffic coming in for student activities. It's games that are going on. Parents coming in to get good spots for the games. Then you've got your staff leaving. So I think I don't know. It seems and I don't think we're the only one that's faces this problem. I think

142that many schools are facing the problem of parent pickup and parent drop offs. Like there's a huge >> foreign to me. >> Yes. It's it's such a huge elementary school the same way. We have the same thing over at the Mack School. We have like about 176 kids there. And granted, preschool we don't provide transportation for, but you have about 110 parents for kindergarten. And you still probably have about half of them dropping their kids off to school, which a younger age, I can see that like they want to see the little kids get out and they want to do all of that, but we we have parents that and grandparents that will sit up here at 12:30 in the afternoon. Oh, >> I see it. I've >> And say they've got nothing else to

143do, so they just come here and sit and read a book. So, we encourage them to please don't do that just because it's it's also a safety issue to have vehicles against the building that we don't want there. Right. Too early. Have >> we like thought about doing a survey or something like to parents about, you know, money aside, like why are you not sending your kid on the bus? we have >> and they go because we don't want to >> unfortunately like they're like or they'll say they like I said they don't want par they don't want to be putting their kids on a bus at 6:30. Um a lot of them will say oh I don't want my kid riding the bus for an hour. I will tell you that the majority of

144our buses students are not on for an hour. It by 7:14 to 7:16, unless there's an accident or a backup somewhere, all buses are already out front unloaded by 7:20, the latest. So, the first pickup, if it's at 6:30 in the morning, they may be on the bus for 40 minutes. >> I mean, you live in the harbor is the different story, >> right? Well, bus one, she's pretty quick, so Val can get you there and back in no time. Yeah, we I mean we've done surveys, we just it's never about the price of the busing, which is why it's something we've never gone up on and we have not continued to increase because we were always af we had gone up to 250 a year and then we were afraid that was one of

145the the reasons why people were not putting their students on a bus and it really had no impact on that at all. I mean, I have heard that cost of busing was been somewhat of an issue, but one of the other ones was being on the bus for a long period of time the further away you are from the school. >> That's why I was asking him by if we would have to put more buses in the circulation if we somehow almost mand not mandated but somehow mandated it >> that they would have to at least sign up for busing. like the behaviors on the >> Yeah, that that is that is a huge deal right now. We have a couple of bus monitors that we have put on to try to mitigate that at

146this moment. Um I do I will work with parents like if I really know there's a parent that's struggling and is like I really can't come up with the $200, I will work with them so that they pay a payment plan over a course of time so that it's not an inconvenience for them. um busing. If I have buses that are full, I'll change the bus routes to accommodate the number of buses so we stay within that because each bus costs about $92,000 per bus per year. It is not a cheap task. say we all start a bus company $150,000 >> which has been an issue statewide continue to hear from other committee members around the state. >> It's terrible. >> But this campground idea is definitely something that we have spent quite a bit

147of a time looking at and looking at a long-term plan as well, but phasing it in and we thought no better way to start the process. >> Well, it definitely makes sense. definitely was that was a big priority. >> And again, just to underline it one more time, we're not talking about an impact to the general budget here. That this is this is absolutely going after grants and state and federal funding uh to to achieve this. So, >> all right. Well, that being said, anything further from committee on this item? >> All right. Excellent. So, one >> uh move on to the next item on our agenda, which is the discussion of the school year uh 2026 27 calendar. Uh so one thing that was sent out I believe as part of the informationform information

148packet from Dr. Roy earlier uh was or last week was information about the attendance of that first week of school um and the historical attendance. So when it was before before Labor Day after Labor Day uh for for going back because I know that that had been discussed in previous meetings uh but so with that information uh we we we're still looking at a proposed calendar here uh that would begin on uh school would begin on September the 3, which is Thursday. uh and that would the first the first day of school for grades uh 1 to 12 and then the uh the kindergarten or the first day for kindergarteners at the MAC number would be the 9th. So uh at this point any any questions comments from members of the committee at this time.

149>> Are there any changes from the first draft to this? >> No. Okay. >> We just provided you additional information. >> Yeah. So again, knowing that there had been some discussion about coming in before Labor Day versus after uh and and the effect it would have not only on the end of the calendar, but but on attendance, it it did appear that it wasn't a huge difference and in fact maybe uh was actually a little better, I guess, in some in some aspects after starting uh prior to Labor Day. Yeah. >> Well, I guess my question was I don't know if I'm reading this incorrectly, but the first week and the second week, um, you know, we're looking at numbers that were I guess it was saying that the like I guess the yellow or

150the year 2020 uh 2022 was was the worst year that we' had prior to is that the way I read the email? >> Correct. >> But we're, you know, the numbers weren't off that much. I mean, 23 there was 48 absences. 25 there was 42, 39, and then 24 was the best year. >> So, you have to look at >> You have to remember too that was like the school calendar was April and people already had vacations planned for like Labor Day. So that probably factors into why it was the worst. >> Yep. >> Well, that's that was and that's what my question is like what what is the first week and the second week? Is that the sec the full second week is the first full week? Is that >> Yeah. So we we

151calc that's why you have to look at the percentages because it just depends on the number of days. So we uh when we did the spreadsheet it if the days vary that's why really the percentage the numbers aren't going to make sense because it depends on how many days were in that particular week. Exactly. That's right. Whatever reason. So when you're looking at that second week the you know if you look at the second week average uh average percent absent certainly it's clear that in that second week school year 22 happened to be the worst and it's actually has improved since. right to uh this year being sort of the best year. Um that you know it is what it is. That's what it's telling us. >> All right. Any other questions from the committee?

152All right. Hearing none. Uh I would entertain taking uh item uh let's see item B on our action agenda out of order here to approve the school calendar. >> So moved. >> Second. It's been moved and seconded. Any further discussion? Hearing none, we'll move to a roll call with Mr. Melnik. >> Uh I Fred Melik. >> I have a Jendro. >> Hi Jason Pacho. >> N Christopher Thrasher. All right. So the 20 26 27 calendar is ratified. We'll move on now to the um so the next item on ourformational agenda is the second read of significant amount of policies. Again, uh just as a followup from our previous meeting, this um the these policies uh I believe there's over 200 uh that have been updated, the vast majority updated due to changes in uh just

153just language here and there, changes in terminology, nomenclature, uh also changes with with Massachusetts general laws. This is uh an effort that's been undertaken over over several months between the school committee, the policy subcommittee, uh and and all of these all of these changes have been we we've gone over them several times at this point. So, uh this would be the second read. Um I would entertain a motion to dispense with the reading of each individual policy uh title and and uh and letter. >> So move second. It's been moved and seconded very quickly and I appreciate that. Mr. Melik will take a roll call vote. You begin sir. >> I friend Melik Ian Jro. >> I Jason Pico >> and I Christopher Thrash. All right. Now, having dispensed with the readings, we can move

154on to the to the uh an item uh the next item actually. Well, we'll take it out of we can take it out of order as well on an action agenda to approve uh the these policies to approve and implement these policies that are now on their second reading. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Move and second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, Mr. Melnik. >> Hi, Fred Melnik. >> I Jason >> Pico >> and I Christopher Thrasher. These policies are hereby implemented. Thank you very much. Uh the next item on our agenda. We're moving to the action agenda now. The uh we have two items remaining on the action agenda. First off is a review and act on the job description from the director of uh MTSS and social emotional development. And forgive me, I

155want to make sure that I recall exactly what MTSS >> multi-tered systems of support. This is the student support. >> I was way off, so thank you. Okay, I did the second part. I was was on throat. So um so yes, so this has uh every member of the committee uh was was provided with a uh job description that uh again that was part of theformational packet sent by Dr. Roy last week. Uh are there any comment statements on from the committee? >> Yes. Um so this is just the position itself, not the this isn't the funding of the position. >> No. Right. Exactly. We don't, this is a new position to the district and I still am advocating with the opioid settlement fund committee and so I would love to share that this is

156an approved job description with them so that they have a a better idea of what we're looking um for this position and why we think that this that's at least a piece of that funding would be appropriate for them. And earlier today, we had a uh a special education subcommittee meeting. Uh we discussed how this particular role would be able to uh not only bridge a gap, I guess, between our our our special education students, but also um some some basically shore up some some issues with and making sure nobody falls through the cracks between. So, >> yeah. I mean if you ask any teacher right now what is their biggest concern or headache they are going to tell you the behavior or this really really when you translate that to is the social emotional

157needs of kids the mental health needs of kids it is putting more across anywhere in the United States across probably you know certainly um the entire world kids mental health in their social emotional development and that's why we put development in there are hurting um partly you know and there's lots of theories about why and I think we all see it but the teachers feel it and the and the principles feel it and we need to equip ourselves because if kids are not ready socially and emotionally they're they're not going to do well their outcomes aren't going to be where we want them to be nor are they you know when we think about what we're trying to do from a long-term perspective. Yes, we want our kids to get into college. Yes, we want

158them to have good careers. But we want them to have healthy, happy lives, right? Fulfilling lives. And so much of that happens when they're young. And we really want to be able to um put some coordination to these efforts. And we need a position that that sort of does this. It will really round out uh the work that Miss Hargraves is doing, the work that Miss Miranda is doing in special ed. This is all a coordinated position to help us round out these needs because as a teacher now, you're you're dealing with all of it. You're dealing with your high achievers. You're dealing with the, you know, you're dealing with kids who are have specialized instruction and specialized needs. And you're dealing with kids who are beginning to disengage from school. And so we're, you

159know, we're trying to make sure that um we support kids and families with this position. >> Excellent. And and I will just say I one thing I appreciated about uh that was within this job description, this is a very active role. This is not a sit in an office and and and write. This is very much interfacing with with uh with teachers, support, staff, families, all the above. So, I really appreciate the uh the thoughts that that have gone into the thoughts that have gone into this. Uh again, this is not excuse me, this action item does not uh deal with the funding of this position. Excuse me. We've been here for for a while, I guess. So, uh >> it's far. >> Yeah, >> guess indeed. But, um but again, I I do think

160it's a very thoughtful thoughtful job description. And unless there is anything further from the committee, >> I'll make a motion to approve the job description. >> Excuse me. It's been moved and second. And with that, we'll take a roll call vote. Mr. Mel, >> I Fred Melc tag. >> Iro, Jason Pico. >> I Christopher Thrasher. Thank you very much. All right, that is approved. Now, I do believe the only Items we have remaining are routine correspondence and notices which I have none. Did I miss the minutes? >> Action action agenda D. >> All right. >> One. >> All right. Item D is to review and act on school committee me minutes for Monday, March 9th, 2026. Quickly before I lose my voice. Do I hear a motion? >> Moved. Moved. Moved. Move. Moved. Please. Sorry.

161>> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded. We'll take a roll call vote. Mr. Melnick. >> I Fred Malnick. I have agendro. >> I Jason Bacho >> and I, Christopher Thrasher. The minutes are approved. Thank you. Thank you very much to our >> That was a test. Sharon, you passed again. >> All right. Next is routine matters. I have no correspondence or notices. Discussion of future agenda items. I do want to mention uh we are going to have a special meeting uh of the school committee in April here. I um my apologies when we spoke earlier uh Dr. Roy, I said the 22nd. Obviously, that is the week of of of school vacation. >> School vacation. So, we're going to have a special meeting to discuss uh school choice and reorganization uh post election day.

162That's going to be on Wednesday the 29th. >> Uh >> we're both in we're both on the DC trip. >> Oh, you're on the DC trip? >> Yes. separately >> 28 29 30 and 1 >> perhaps we will try uh >> can we do it on the 28th on Tuesday or no >> what about can we do it on the Monday >> you can you guys want us to log in from the bus we'll do that >> Monday you guys leave on Wednesday >> Tuesday the 20th yeah no >> you leave on Tuesday okay >> yeah Tuesday >> Monday can you do it Monday >> can we do it Monday is that >> do you do it remote >> drop off our luggage and attend a meeting. Sounds >> let's shoot for Monday tentatively Monday.

163Uh I know there was a couple people that were interested in that particular item, so I'll make sure they are aware of it as well. >> Uh but bottom line, we're going to have so last week of April, we'll have a uh special meeting topics will be school choice as well as the reorganization post election day. Um election day in in the town of Westport is next Tuesday, April the 14th. Any other additional agenda items for this special meeting that anyone wants to bring up at this time? All right. Hearing none, we are uh wait topics uh the chair cannot reasonably anticipate 48 hours in advance. I have none. And now I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> It's been moved in second. We'll take a roll call

164vote. Mr. Melick. >> I Fred Mullik. >> Iendro. >> I Jason Pico >> and I crack. We are adjourned at 8:43. two minutes ahead of time. That's That's kind of important. Wow. >> All right. Thank you very much, everyone.