Epping School Board Meeting 11/6/2025

001Oh, thank you. I mean, I'm okay. >> Chris, I promise we'll be good. >> I don't know if anybody else is going to be good. So, that is the >> Okay. >> Good evening. Welcome to the um November 6th Eping School Board meeting um at Eping Elementary School. If we could please rise for the pledge of allegiance. Sorry. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Amen. >> All right. Welcome everybody. Um we are going to start with public comments but it does not appear we have public public. We have public schedule topic public. You could be public. >> You do. >> Yep. So, uh, we are going to move into

002our schedule topic which is the EMC project update. Tom, Joe, and James. >> It's not Joe. >> Oh, okay. >> No, I should change. >> Okay. >> Hi. Welcome. >> What do you think of our new location? >> This is your first >> moving in. >> Yeah. Oh, we have a TV. >> We do. >> Did we have one last time? >> I don't Well, we did. I don't think we've had a presentation on the screen. So, >> nice. Cool. >> Awesome. >> Joe was one of the Joe was one of the mechanical engineers that worked with Eric who's a mechanical engineer developing the project, but I don't think I mean there's already get the three studios all >> matching best. >> Can you tell we got new vests? >> Yes. >> So, yeah. And

003uh James is the project manager responsible for the whole project for the past year and providing weekly updates still here of course until everything's done. And like every project depending on the the controls company too is um remaining fluctuation in temperature controls that we're continually dealing with. But you know um it happens quite a bit. You know we got to stay on top of them and we'll rest assured get we'll get our arms wrapped around the u the culprits and make sure everything gets done. You have literally everybody in your team doing that alongside of us. So, you know, a little bit of patience with those guys. It's not only so much everybody can do. You push and you push and you push and threaten and threaten and threaten and then it's just, you know,

004it's only so far you can go with that. But overall, we're excited to show some of the results of the the final product. Um, a lot of extra things happened along the way, which is always a good thing. Um, but if you guys remember, a lot of you remember, we started talking about this last July and then developing a plan and coming up with some different concepts and numbers, providing all the numbers and allowing you guys to choose which project fit financially, what you did ultimately. It's this wasn't an EMC chosen project. This was an eping chosen project and what really needed to get done. Um there's only one rooftop unit that we didn't identify that is getting a design now that um for replacement because at that time that unit was middle-aged and definitely

005not at the time of it at the end of its useful life. So it didn't make sense to replace it. You know spend a couple hundred,000 on something just because you're doing all the other work just to us didn't make a lot of sense. So that's why that wasn't part of the original project and it just happened to have failure at the tail end of this last project. So, you know, it just it's one of those questions that might come up like why didn't we look at that? Well, at that time it was running fine and definitely not at the time for replacement. >> But, um, and then we started developing bibs, plans, and specs over the course of the next, you know, August and September, October, November, and then opened the bids in December,

006um, uh, February actually, rolled the bids to you guys after we spent two months of RFIs for all the contractors. So along the way, it was very well planned out on all sides, effing sides, EMC sides. Everybody had ample time to ask questions. So that's the frustrating part when contractors aren't getting back to you at the tail end is that you've had a year to develop your plan and strategy for things like the final controls. So there's no excuse, you know, that's the thing that we always lie on is that this has been engineered for a year. >> So >> a year and a half later, here we are. and uh some final punch list items, but um James will give you the rundown. >> Sure. Thanks, Tom. So, I just wanted to highlight some

007of the the measures that we did do at each one of the schools uh for the the middle high school. Complete roof replacement, new ventilation, new VRF system, uh ceiling tire replacement, rooftop equipment replacements, uh there was some equipment removal that we did as well, uh building envelope improvements, and a complete automation upgrade. I put in the parking lot and sidewalk repaving because again that was another project that Epic took on for the summertime. Uh the same thing it kind of worked in our coordination as well because we had to work with them. They had to work with us um to make this this all go smoothly. Uh at the Eping Elementary School we did a building automation upgrade and replaced uh two sets of doors. At the SAU we did a full EPDM roof

008replacement, gutter replacement. uh the boiler plant got replaced. We added insulation in the attic and also integrated the building automation there with uh the rest of the system. I put this on here to kind of show the timeline. You know, this is something we put together at the beginning of the project of um you know, every measure where we expect to be um broken down into weeks of the summer. You know, we had all of this work to do within eight weeks. So, um, some got done over April break, mostly at the SAU and in this building to get us kind of a jump start of the week, but we completed all this work and school opened seamlessly um this over the summer. And this is what we did for elementary and central office. So,

009I'll kind of go through and show you the before afters. And we got some neat little videos to um show for each measure. So the EPDM replacement at the high school went through roughly 115,000 square feet of roof got replaced. So this is how we broke down the sections of roof. And uh as you can see we did we touched every roof on the the middle high school. Even though some the ladders here were were safety issues. Um, this ladder was probably put in when the building was was built and this was a another ladder that was discovered up on the roof where you had so many different roof levels. Anything over 19 in needed a ladder to be um ber guidelines. So, as part of the project, ladders were installed. So, these are some

010of the before pictures of the EPM. Uh, this EPDM that's white here is only uh 20 years old, but it started to grow some some mold and moss. And this was kind of shown throughout all of the white areas. You can see the darker areas that were that were there. So that was all replaced during the replacement. You can see the new PDM on the left and um the old roof there as far as the insulation goes. That's what they're putting down in this picture and that's what those stacks of of white are. So this is the roof that's completed. Um, you can see that we put in some duck work on on this roof. New skylights here too that service the uh the media center. These are the new ladders. In total, there was

011there were seven ladders that got installed for the different roof levels and all the the old ladders were removed. A whole set of stairs were removed. And then this is another closeup on the um the media center skylights. These skylights uh were kind of a a talking point especially with the school and the media specialists. The biggest concern was the glare. Um the ones that were there before just sunlight came straight through. With these you can see almost there's two cones there. So the lower cone is a frosted cone and that lets 50% of the light still into the room. There's no other windows in the media center, so it made sense. Let's still have the natural light coming into that space. And that was the uh the solution there. So, this is one of

012the videos that we're producing. Tom, I don't know if talk a little bit on it. >> Yeah, we just, as um you guys know, we had to I think Christine or Bill sent out an email or Josh about having a drone fly over, but thought it was the best way to capture um the levity of the size of this roof. It's just it's huge and that all the duck work that went along with it. There's just a tremendous amount of work that was done on that roof is insane. So thought that was just a cool way of showing that. >> Yeah. >> Um so obviously there was no ventilation so no before pictures here but um on the left hand side you can see all the stands that were started to be put in uh

013some of the curbing for the penetrations through the roof. on the right. This duck work had to be pulled down underneath the ceiling. Um, all the ceiling tiles obviously removed. Everything was covered. Uh, new duck work was installed and then the ceilings were were put back after. The reason for the duck work needing to be below the ceilings was it just wasn't enough space. The building wasn't designed to have that duck work above. So, that was the best solution. This is during the the construction. all the new rooftop duct work going in place. This is the new ventilation unit that was installed up on the roof >> and making final connections, gas piping and then the supply pipe going to it. And this is the unit completed up on the roof, all the new duct

014work. And then inside, that's how everything finishes to the ceiling within the rooms. Another nice video here of the duck work there. That looks nice. >> Yeah, I'm glad you said that. A lot of people are like, "Oh, >> no. That that looks pretty." >> Yeah. >> And obviously the new paint windows and cow wall um VRF you can see all the new rooftop units. >> The duct work is insulated. It's double walled. So, it's actually insulation protected inside that outer cover. Just >> I was just going to ask if that was the case. Yeah, >> it's got 2 in. >> That look That looks so much better than what I used. looks like really neat and clean. >> Well, well, that's what happens when you have time to plan these things properly. We had

015that entire year to plan this out and engineer this. This >> we probably went through 20 different sets of drawings to get this right before we actually sent it out for bid. >> Um, so there's a lot of engineering and prep work that went into this job. >> But when you do that, we were able to break it out to get the best bids. So, we broke out duck work from the rooftop units to every single piece. So when contractors bid on this thing, if they were really good at VRF, they bid on just VRF. If they had the capabilities of doing all of it, they bid on all of it. Um I think we had about seven mechanical contractors bid on this project local, you know, >> to um bigger contractors and you know,

016it reflected that in the pricing. It was able to we were able to shave off quite a bit of money. >> I just saw some standing water. Did had it just rained or was it >> It did just rain. Yeah, you see the Yeah, >> the rear ring we >> I just we just don't obviously we don't want I mean it's a flat roof but and you can't kind of can't avoid that. >> Yeah, if you remember Joe one of the engines here, but he was up there at night um last September um doing X-rays of the roof to find out what part of the roof had actually wet insulation because it does it dries off and you can't tell where there's still water. The only way to tell is to x-ray the roof, do

017a thermal image of the entire thing, and you'll still have water holding underneath the EPDM, which we did, and it that saved you guys a little over $100,000 in insulation cost. >> So, that was a pretty sweet measure. >> Nice. >> So, we added a VRF heat pump system in the first floor of the science wing, and the complete second floor got a VRF system installed as well. Here's a couple pictures of during the installation. This is where we didn't have to take out every ceiling tile. So, we were opening up small areas, inserting our cassettes, running our our lines, condensate lines, and these are all the line sets up above the ceiling that are, you know, then what would happen is our ceiling contractor would come back in and then tie this the ceiling

018back in once the cassettes were in and then that would all get filled in with with tile. >> As you can see, it blends very seamlessly with the ceiling. And so that's the finished product on the left there. >> And on the right here is the new monitoring system for that complete VRF system. So um this is centrally located in the maintenance area and they can go in and make adjustments to the system through this controller >> and Josh you you're in control of that. >> It's in the maintenance office. >> But who's in control of it? >> All of all of us can be. So the four three maintenance and grouts guys and myself. >> Okay. >> The new system though is a Niagara based system. Um so it's open so that you're not

019stuck with anyone. So the three current providers not doing what they should be doing then you do have the capabilities of getting competitive bids now which wasn't the case before. So um you guys probably remember a lot of you that were here that was a big part of this thing is to make sure that you weren't trapped into anything moving forward. you know, that that was a big thing we had in mind when we were getting bids is let's put in things that that's doesn't limit you on contractors that can respond. So whether it's the mechanical piece, the style of VRF we went with the air handlers or the controls or boilers or lights, there's all there's at least five contractors that can bid on this stuff so that you're not stuck with anything. >>

020So for the ceiling tile replacement, we did a full tile replacement and grid repaint on the second floor. basically from the media center towards the rear of the building that entire wing got um replaced as well. Most of that is because of the duck work and the accessibility that we needed. So it made sense to do the ceiling tiles at the same time. Uh and you know we were seeing seeing things like this a lot of water stains. >> You can see in the picture on the left a lot of those tiles are bowed. Um you know too much moisture one's almost falling out there. So these were all replaced. We also found a lot of insulation up above the ceilings on the second floor. Uh, this insulation is no longer needed now with the

021new insulation that's on the roof. So, uh, next time Josh and Maria are up in there. They don't have to go fighting through insulation as well. >> On the left there, you can see the media center. Uh, everything covered over and then, uh, everything was filled back in after. waste. >> So during the tile replacement, this is the picture on the left is actually what the painters had to do. They would go in there, cover all the lights, sprinkler heads, any devices in the room, and then plastic off the entire room, and repaint all of the grid. So now you have fresh grid and fresh tiles. Um, same thing in the hallways. >> And this is the finished product. As you can see, nice clean ceilings. No more no more water stains halfway down the

022s down the hallway there and uh complete there on the on the left hand side. >> Nice. >> We had multiple rooftop equipment replacements. Obviously, these are very large air handlers and they had separate condensing units. That's what that block is on the the left hand side there that connects to the unit. Uh the new units are are rooftops uh package style. So that condenser is now within the body of the air handler and it's not a separate unit that's up on the roof. So that's what was here. Couple more. We placed uh this services the middle school the middle school near the music room and then this one on the right was servicing the gym. >> Look so nice and clean. >> Those things are huge too. >> So yeah, these these are massive.

023So this puts it kind of in perspective. by me where threequarters of a flatbed truck and what those units were as they came off the roof. Uh 250 ton crane. Got some cool videos of that and some other pictures uh from that day. That was pretty exciting. >> And then these are the new units that went up above there. Uh we installed curb adapters which adapt to the duck work that's down below. And then the new unit is taller but a lot shorter. And all of that um condensate system is now in that unit. All was one. >> And that's the completed unit. >> Those are top of the line train units too. Those will at the very least last you 30 years. Ashray is 20, but if you maintain them, which obviously you're going

024to. >> So that was like that's the air duct like is that >> the ventilation piece? So there's like fresh air coming in that was never coming in before. >> All brand new. Yeah. >> Good. >> Uh we also did a lot of equipment removal during this process. The school had two big uh electric boilers that were outside the building that hadn't been used in since the 70s I think we were told. Was that accurate? >> Oh yeah. Boilers. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So that that was a big focus. And then during the project, we had multiple condensing units that were on the roof that just weren't feeding anything. And now with the new VR system, so we can get rid of all of that. Same with the candy canes that you see coming out.

025That was old air intakes to old equipment that got demoed in this project when the new ventilation went in. >> So this is during the removal of those electric boilers. As you can see, we're almost the full size of a flatbed tractor trailer and grain to pull those guys out. >> Can you make any money on removing them like for >> scrap or >> It truly is just a steel tank. >> Yeah, >> That's all it is. Yeah. >> Take some heavy equipment to dice that up to get some money out of there. >> Yeah. >> So, that's what we were left with. Uh two big holes in the side of the building where they were. Uh we closed them back in with concrete block and then we had a uh this guy was incredible

026with how he could work the stucco back to look >> like it never happened at all. So he fed it in and then stuckco everything. It's unbelievable actually. It was cool. >> It's hard to find masonary people too. Very hard. >> Yeah. I don't know where he's from, but he was >> he was he was pretty amazing to watch. >> Even in this picture, you can see a lot of below these windows just over the years of water intrusion. A lot of these were rotted away. So, we had him come in, cut all that out, redo it, paint it as close as he could. We knew we're going to paint it again, but uh >> pretty much all the windows on that upper level were that way and got got repaired. >> Um, so this

027is some of the completed over on the left hand side. Those candy canes are now gone. All the condensing units are gone off the roof. home and then on the right side that's where the boilers were and it just looks like another part of the building. >> Nice. >> So, if I can just interrupt to ask with the removal of all that equipment and the installation of the new EPDM roofing, what what would you say would be a percentage reduction in like potential failure points that we have on the roof versus what we had? >> It's a great question actually. Um consolidation of equipment is a big one and not just from you know life safety aspect too there's but troubleshooting when people come to look at things and there's an issue down the road

028is 50% of that stuff is dead and hasn't worked. We see that all the time and um so that's a good point. We should probably do a calculation on that but easily 25%. Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean a huge elimination because those other units were duckless split units so the condensing unit was separate from the unit. Now that's all one. So, there's a ton that was consolidated, but great question. We should probably get you an actual number on that. >> It It should save some money maintenance wise, too, going down the road now that you have a lot less equipment to service and maintain. >> Mhm. >> Imagine it's going to make the snow removal process a lot easier with less stuff to shovel around, right? Yeah. >> Yeah. And all the ducks off the

029ground, they're all in the sleepers, which you can easily move around and get get to easy. Um, all that was mindful when putting the the units in certain places to get to for surf life safety issues, not having to climb up windows and hang off the the side of the roof to service things. All the ladders are done per um, as you said, OSHA >> OSHA requirements. So, >> great. >> Thank you. >> So, one of the biggest visual um improvements was obviously the building envelope. Uh, I'll remind everybody on what this building or the high school did look like before. Nice brick red and all the window panels were were faded out. And, you know, you can see the faded trim around each one of those, the old silver >> roof trim as well.

030And now, as we went through it, this was on the back side of the building and where those old boilers are inside. just the view of the kind of the darkness, the yellowy of >> the panel and the front entrance now looks much different. So, this was the process that we went through as we started pulling out all of these windows and frames. Uh, this was a monumental job involving two separate contractors. So, as we went through the process, we had one contractor demoing out all of the windows and then putting the plywood up. And kind of as we went along, you'd start to see more plywood would come off, more frames go in, and that's what's kind of shown in this picture where the frames would go, the frames would go in, the panels,

031and the windows weren't ready. So then put back up the plywood. And then as we started getting panels in, you know, we'd put the top panels in, the middle panels in, and we'd start getting down less and less plywood as we went through the the project. Um, this this was another good picture just to highlight how many different trades and how many different contractors were in one place at one time. >> Um, you know, this is a a gas line for the new ERV unit. That was one contractor. Another contractor on the roof doing all the duck work. Another contractor up there. See the leg of the VRF and obviously the window contractor at the same time. Um, so this this project we had eight to 10 separate contractors on throughout the entire summer. >>

032So this is how we, you know, started painting. It kind of shows the discrepancy between the the two colors on how dark that one was and how light the new color is and airy. >> And then this is everything that's completed. Nice new blue trim on the roof and around the windows to match the upper second floor. And then inside the classroom, new lights, new BRF, ceiling tiles all look good in there. And then the outside on this side, which uh is is kind of the showstopper here. >> All the blues now match. Everything is uniform with the color with the new windows. uh just brings a whole new aesthetic to the that building. >> We do have a sign coming for the front entrance, but sign companies keeps going back and forth with different

033designs and concepts. And >> so he he showed one that they came back with, which I think we're going to we just want you guys to say yay or nay >> the sign for the the front awning, but it matches basically the rest. >> So I have another video here to kind of highlight that. So that's the area where the boilers were. >> Mhm. Even in the older brick section of the building, it really modernized the look >> between the insulation, the windows, you know, general building envelope, the doors, LED lights with advanced dimming controls and and controls, new advanced building automation systems, VRF, gas condensing boilers. Um, from a sustainability standpoint, I don't think you can get a whole lot better. You guys have done a tremendous amount of work here holistically, the whole

034district. Really, when it comes down to it, there's not a lot left to, you know, >> focus on, it's just an awesome job from sustainability and carbon footprint reduction aspect. So, we did a full building automation update in the high school. Uh these are some of the old thermostats that were on the walls. Uh there was multiple issues. That's what all the red boxes are there on uh issues with the old control system. So this is all all during the installation. Uh we have new controllers above the ceilings. Um that picture is all the new control stuff in the background there. Uh, I show this one just because it's a it's kind of a challenge for the teachers to accept everything. And that's a good example of we're going to have a nice new thermostat

035heater that's going to tell the temperature of the room, but they still have the old thermostat. >> So, that's why I just thought I'd throw that one in there. Mention that >> thermal guns are like the bane of our existence. Um, you know, they're not meant to be pointed at objects. They're meant to be pointed at a diffuser. It tells you the air coming out of the diffuser that they're made for technicians to to to troubleshoot whether or not. And um commission a building. So if if a diffuser is supposed to kick out 55 degree air and temporary otherwise, the gun will tell you whether or not the front end's verifying what's there. You point it at a desk or chair, a wall, it's going to be 8 to nine degrees colder than what it

036actually is. >> If you touch Cheat Rock, it's the same way in your house, right? So I think everybody knows that but you know it's challenges that Josh has to deal with and you know >> uh so this is the completed system. Uh the new new housings new Jace for the high school again that's open-ended Jace there and the new thermostats that went on the walls. See this one's working telling temperature. So at the Eping Elementary School and we did some door replacements. So uh the biggest complaint here was uh you know these doors were passed their life and just not closing you know not securing properly. So that that forced the uh the hand to replace them. So during obviously everything was ripped out, frames and all, new frames installed, new doors, uh, new

037security window or security glass was installed into into these doors. >> Was that was that all the exterior elementary doors? >> That was two. >> There was two. >> Oh, just two. Okay. >> At the SAU, we did a full roof and gutter replacement. So this is the roof. Wow, that looks >> pretty rough. >> Yeah, that looks bad. >> No insulation and the roof was just >> Yeah. >> So, this is this is during you can see on the picture on the left there, the old tar and gravel roof now being covered over with 6 in of uh styrofoam insulation >> and then EPDM laid down over the top. They actually build up the edging to accommodate for the new insulation. And then this is a few finished pictures of how that roof turned

038out. >> Nice. >> You know, they increased the pitch near those windows. They had to bring it up a little bit and uh work the pitch to everything running off the side of the side of the building. And then new gutters were installed on the outside. >> You never knew the second floor looks so pretty. >> We also did a boiler plant replacement. Uh this was what the boiler plant looked like. Uh two oil boilers sitting down there and then two giant oil tanks sitting in the room as well. So we made a full conversion from oil to propane. You can see uh poured a new pad, kind of reconfigured the way that that room was set up. Uh pumps ended up on the left side of the boilers. New hot water tank, new boilers,

039two new thousandgalon propane tanks, and the drenching over to the corner of the building there. >> So, this is what the system looks like now. >> Much cleaner. Now, your electric hot water tank is now replaced with an indirect heated tank that comes off the boilers. And then, uh, new control system as well there. I kind of caught this picture. Full panoramic of what the room looks like now. >> So much better. So, there was two big I think they were 250 gallon oil tanks that were sitting in this corner. So, now that those are gone away and this room's opened right back up. Our contractor still has to This was one of the last things that we needed to get done. Obviously, our focus was at the high school. So, our contractor still needs

040to return to insulate all this piping and paint the floor that area. the attic insulation. When we came across it, the third floor, the attic area had no insulation at all. It was just straight >> wood to the outdoors. >> Perfect. >> I didn't even know you had a good plan. >> And a very scary desk. >> So, how do you how did you get up there? >> You go where the football locker room is. There's another staircase. You go up another level and then up another level. >> Oh, I've never been up that far. >> Oh, it's scary. Don't go. So, a spray foam insulation was applied to all of the roof rafters. This is one day while they did half of it. And then this is the completed product. Now you can see

041full insulation on all the rafters cleaning the lower level open. >> Wow. Um, so we were asked just to kind of list off what was left here in the project. Um, in roofing, we've identified three active roof leaks that we're working to um, get repaired. It likely was caused from um, the duct work installation and just people moving around, working up there. We needed to have the roof down first before the duct work went on there. Much easier to work around. So, we're working with our roofing contractor to to repair all those, but that's what we know of right now. Uh, for the the wall, the curtain wall and windows, uh, we saw a small gap, I'd say an inch or two above the windows, and now we're actually seeing birds making their way instead

042of into the side of the building, they're finding that little access to get in. So, we're working with uh, >> Are they going into the building? >> No, just above the windows. There's no way for them to get into the building, but they're just nesting right on top of the window. >> They're safe for the winter. >> Before they were just two holes in the side of the building, >> at least they're just nesting them. That's fine. >> Uh so we're going to close up those some of the ceiling tile work that we have left to do. Um I'll talk a little bit about why the kitchen ceiling tiles are replaced, but we're scheduling that for the holiday break in December to come back and replace those tiles. Um the VRF system, it was our

043mechanical contractor. This the isolation valves. These are required down the road for any type of maintenance on all the heads that are in that building. >> Um so you don't have to drain down the entire system to work on it. Um same thing, they're going to come back over the holiday break and make those those uh repairs. Mhm. >> Seammens is still working on the middle school, high school graphical interface and uh working through basically just just the bugs of the new system. So there have been, you know, some complaints on hot coldness and they have found some issues with it. So they've been very responsive and coming back in and and making those adjustments for us. And then we have to tie in the SAU and elementary school into one >> one larger complete

044system. And then as I said at the central office, uh, painting the boiler and floor and insulating the piping is is left there. >> So I'd say an overall completion percentage, we're probably we're 98 99% complete with the overall project. >> Good. >> Just these minor punches items. uh something that we kind of work towards uh when we do these projects is how can we add value to what we do in implementing these projects. So as I said the the kitchen wasn't on the original scope. So what we found was there were areas like the media center um a hallway in the high school that the ceiling grid was in good shape. didn't need a full removal, but at the time that we had it bid, we called for a full removal and put back.

045>> So, what we did was we took that material and labor savings and we identified other areas within the building >> that needed that the uh the ceiling replacements. So, we were able to continue down the media center towards the cafeteria and kitchen and do that entire hallway. And then, like I said, we're going to do the kitchen as well. >> Nice. When we pull down all these ceiling tiles, um, this is just inevitable. There's always abandoned wiring that's up above those ceilings. Uh, everything is just cut off at the ceiling, left for anybody else when they come into it. So, we found a lot of this nuisance wiring up there and uh, we basically just pulled it out all out. And I can show you example of a picture there. I'm sure Marie and

046Josh will be satisfied with that stuff not being in the way anymore out there. We also found, you know, multiple open electrical boxes and we put covers on those as well as we were doing it >> at at the high school. Uh there were multiple exterior doors that weren't included in the the bid. Our painting contractor was able to paint nine of the doors just to match the aesthetic of the building. didn't want to leave those doors the way that they were. >> So, we just had them >> had them repainted on this. And then, as Tom spoke about, we have a new Epic Middle School sign because as you come up from Prospect Street, there's no signage identifying the building. And we we had multiple people actually over the summer asking what building is

047this? So, uh we'll put up a sign there over the awning. What is >> Where's he talking about? >> The tech entrance. If you're going into the tech if you're coming. >> He's got a picture of it actually >> on that corner. >> Oh, okay. The old the old entrance. Okay. Yeah, >> that's >> Yeah, that's true. I mean, it's like >> it looks something like that on the map. >> Yeah, >> you're right. Not so bright looking, >> but also directing it so that people know it's not the main entrance. >> Yes. Yeah. >> If you guys are all right with that sign, that's what we'll proceed with. But >> I mean, that looks terrified to order a sign and spend, you know, money on. You guys get it and be like, "What the

048hell is that thing?" >> Yeah. No, that that looks that that looks fine. Yep. >> So, EMC contributed funds towards a purchase of a turf turf tank robotic field painter for the district. >> Um, I think most people have seen what that thing does and it's pretty impressive. >> It obviously saves time for Josh and his crew. And then um as part of the videos, we just had a few clips in there, but the we're putting together a Eping School District project video that'll highlight everything. >> You might know some of the famous actors. >> Selfishly selfishly that helps us too. >> Well, no, I'm glad you said that because >> after your thing, I was I was going to say that we need to have something like this available to the public so they

049one, they understand what where their money went to, right? >> But also, I mean, I've been here since 1984. So to see the the growth, I mean, when you look at the the drone, however you did your your videos of that, it's a pretty impressive >> Yeah. >> complex when you look at it from what it was to what it is now. >> It's massive. >> It it it really is massive, but it's also beautiful. >> It is. >> Um and and when you just look at the building, but then you can also look at the parking lots and the and the paving that's gone and and all that. It really it it um I think it it it would add a lot of like especially where Eping is growing so much and as much

050as I hate developments, there's a lot of people coming in >> and this is the type of stuff that they look for like where's their money going to but they want to see it >> 100% >> not just hear about it, right? So, you know, like you said, we've been going through this for a while, but >> to see the actual um footage of what's out there and what it looks like is is pretty impressive. I mean, I'm impressed. Yeah, >> compared to when I first came, >> I mean, for 30 years, EMC's only done schools, and there's we can there's a lot of schools that are out there at the same age as you guys' buildings, high school, middle school complex that are not nearly >> in the shape that you guys are at

051now. I mean, >> there are some rough schools out there. >> Yeah. >> And just folks have a hard time getting their arms wrapped around how to get a project off the ground. And you guys used your old dawn coming off and you just did it very logically over the past five years and >> we had time and you did it in a fashion where it allowed us time to bid out everything individually and it saved a tremendous amount of money. >> I bet it was close to $600,000 in economies of scale savings >> by the time we're all said and done. >> Yeah. >> So that's all taxpayer money when it comes down to that. >> Exactly. >> But when you look at a new school like you said for me when I'm bringing

052my kids to a school it's like what kind of ventilation is there? the lights. I mean, it's it's a now it's a bright, inviting environment >> with great fresh air and >> air conditioning. I mean, you've got everything here. So, >> Yeah. I I think I I just think it's an asset all around to be able to share that >> um for people to know >> where their money is going to and and what it means to their children. >> Not a lot of schools do what you guys have done. So, that's something to be proud of as a board and community. For sure. >> And it also shows that the the board and and the SAU and the administration, we've taken this seriously. >> Yeah. and we're not wasting money. We're doing things that

053are really going to enhance the future for our students um in our community as a whole as people come here and stuff. So, I think I think it's really important to to really shine the light on this. >> When you do it that way, too, where you did the roof, the insulation out of the roof, then the new duct work, the new VRF, the new ventilation all at once. Yeah. >> You saved a ton of money, not just breaking up the pricing, but just life cycle cost, >> right? >> It everything keeps going up in price. Mhm. >> boilers that we spec last year went up 18%. The VSpin CI2 condensing boilers went up 18%. That's, you know, that's like, I don't know, $70,000. But take that over a couple years over all that equipment.

054It's a couple hundred,000 just by waiting on one piece of it. >> Doing it all at once, >> there's more money you saved. >> So, >> and it's a finished product. It's all done, >> right? >> And the way you guys explain it makes it very um welcoming to people to understand it. >> Yeah. you're talking in layman's terms a lot of a lot of things. So, you know, when you say the candy cane things, >> it might be a candy cane, but but it it does mean something. You know what I mean? So, it is it makes it easy to understand when you're looking at the difference of before and after. Yeah. >> So, >> with all the mumbo jumbo of electrical >> engineering stuff. Uh, so this was the area of the hallways

055that weren't part of the project, but we added in as I spoke about. And then this picture on the right, you can see all the blue spaghetti that's hanging above the ceiling. Uh, a lot of that just is unused and was removed. >> These are the doors that were repainted that needed a little refresh there. >> The the sign that's coming. >> Mhm. and your >> tank working out. It's a pretty cool >> to see it go. >> I haven't seen it. Yeah. >> And that would be great to have some videos on that, too. >> Absolutely. >> We didn't get to thank you in person, but we did thank you publicly, but now that you're here, we do really appreciate that donation. We had lots of discussions around the day, but we were very

056grateful and we're still talking about it, but we are very grateful for >> Don't play poker or Bill and Christine. They quoted me at a conference like, >> "You know what would be really cool is if we had this unit, but it's like 50 grand, but if we had like half of it covered, maybe it would work." >> It's a sustainable measure. >> It's all about time. >> That's how when >> it was great homecoming weekend. It was It was in display. >> How do you say no, right? >> I know. Pretty good negotiating. >> Yeah. >> Let us know. It'll be a great reference for you guys. But, you know, >> you know, we would like a donation. >> She stopped. I I got >> We need to refer you for future projects. >>

057Yeah. No, we we we greatly appreciate it. >> Oh, thanks for the patience for everybody here, too. Building principles and everybody else. >> Josh has been great. Great new addition to your team. You came in at like the worst time possible. >> Yeah. >> Worst or best. >> Um, but Josh very responsive, loves what he does. Um, >> you know, actually cares. And I wouldn't say that if I didn't mean it because we see it a lot. It's all we do. It's all we do is school. So, >> um, it's it's fun to work with people that actually care. >> Yeah. Can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but Yeah, that's what involved with being involved with schools. >> Very involved over the summer. Yeah, there's a lot of moving parts and >> uh

058we had to put a lot on Josh with the cleaning crew and moving around and >> tearing his building apart and putting it back together. So, I I can't thank him enough for >> kind of going through the crash course of project management and >> a summer that was hectic. Sometimes contractors drop off containers where they shouldn't be and messing up traffic patterns and you know making noise and so it's the patience is appreciated. >> There's often times not much you can do about that. But >> right, >> you know, you can lay it all out like we did a million times. They'll still put something in a place that wasn't supposed to be there, but you know, >> it's been great. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Thanks for coming. Really appreciate it. Are we

059going to see you again in the next like year or two or did boiler lighting? you know, let us know what we need to continue on. Like what? >> I mean, I feel like you're part of our board now. Like, we need you so much. >> I think you're there. >> Like losing family members. >> I'm I'm going to call you for what? I need a new system in my house. Like, what should I do? >> I think uh I think we got once you guys have that video done, that might be some stuff we want to add to our deliver session presentation. Look forward to seeing the finished product. >> We had a bank of uh material to pull from. The videographer we hired was pretty good, very artistic. I can't say the actors

060were really good, but >> we had to take a couple of tapes. >> I think a couple minutes was pretty polish. >> Bill was a pro. >> He was pretty polished. >> We definitely appreciate him. >> I had to come in after. >> Yeah, we shined him up a little bit. He's polished. >> Lenny made Christine and Josh go. >> Yeah. Then he made us look bad. >> Yeah. He looked really good in the >> I was like take five or eight. >> I was not in for the camera. feel >> drive safe everyone. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> I know definitely for the deliberative we need to absolutely >> especially where we've gotten some some criticism about how we went about doing some >> I don't think people quite

061understand and it's not our fault. We we talked a lot about it but to the extent of what was actually covered in that project massive >> but until people can see it it's hard to listen to it. >> Yeah. you're listening to the tech, you know, the technical part, right? So, you can actually see it. It's >> and and some of that is very visual obviously, but a lot of the work is it's just not exciting stuff. Oh, you got new boilers that they never see or you got new ventilation and they don't see or you got this and they don't. It's just like, okay, but we know and we're very happy that it's very exciting. >> So, it was so nice to see such a reduction the amount of stuff on the roof even

062if they didn't know what it was tonight. Just that's so many less places we have to worry about. 15 years while starting looks neat and clean. >> Looks pretty neat and clean. >> Yeah. No, that's great. I do feel like we've seen we I feel like we know them. I feel like we're, you know, >> move on to the next project. >> Yep. I think we're done. >> I think we are we've done well. I really do. >> All right. Well, any any last thoughts on uh the EMC project? >> Nope. Other than we need to make sure that we have a presentation for deliberative session for people to be able to see the results of of what their money went to. I think it's important. >> All right. I think we're going to move

063on to our principal reports. >> Did you had yours in first? >> Did I though? >> Sure. >> We decide that they did. Are they in there? >> They're in there now. Yeah. We had some confusion around where to find it. I don't know. We'll uh >> It's okay. I'll just >> in the principal's defense. They did submit them. They >> No, I'm not saying >> whether they ended up in the right spot or no good. >> Ours didn't be emailed out. >> What the heck is this that just showed up this afternoon? >> The one that's yours. >> Yeah. >> Has been spell checked. The one that's PDF you could delete. >> And we'll work through that piece. We had some change in position there. So once the new question gets their feet under

064we'll we'll be cleaned up. >> I'm just happy to listen to you. I don't need to >> Well, I guess I'll go first. Uh so the the first piece there and part of waiting as long as I could was because I thought uh in these lines of work and there's a few of you on the board and a few of us sitting here who have had or have students um who are uh here currently and there can be sort of a you know it's a balance right because these great accomplishments happen um and and I think sometimes to be honest uh our own children can can uh sort of be on the other side of where they're maybe not recognized when they should be because of our positions. And so I kind of waited as

065long as I could to submit this because this is a huge accomplishment. And uh so I want to recognize senior Lena Pelli uh who earned a bronze medal um at the National FFA, Future Farmers of uh Association of America Association speech competition which took place in Indianapolis uh Indiana. Uh it's an outstanding accomplishment given the level of competition. And so when I was talking through and I wanted I said, "All right, Elena, I make sure I get all this right." So it ended up being like sort of an interview and uh contestants from 49 states. Um so that's fantastic, right? Elena finished third out of 49 states, but it really only tells part of the story. So I asked her, "How many people in New Hampshire?" Uh there was she said between 30 and 40

066in the regional competition. So I said, "Okay, at a minimum, right, if if there were 40 kids from every state, which we know the bigger states had more, you're talking about a third place finish three in three or 4 thousand kids." Um, so so I think that's why it's a bigger bigger accomplishment and >> the devil's always in the details. So, uh, of course it's, you know, it's a proud moment for families, for the school, but also for that partnership with SST. Um, but there's more to it. Uh, I know there were times when Elaine was here. Um, she had a coach, uh, for lack of a better term, for public speaking. She came and prepared. They practiced in the conference room. They practiced the school. She put a lot of work and and and

067effort not only to preparation, but also delivering. So, it's it's a testament to the hard work. Uh, and I thought it was really important to take a minute to recognize that. Uh, her topic was ocean pollution. Um, and she sort of talked through and and I I asked if she'd be willing to come and talk at a future meeting because I think it's more important to hear from her. Uh she was she was excited at that idea. So um I know she she joked with me that some of the meetings are really exciting and some of them are not. So >> we know we know she watches them. >> We will she may she she may have actually said this would be a good one to watch tonight and when she left my office I

068said tonight be a good one to watch. So, uh, she did agree to maybe come back and talk more about that. And not only Elena, but a lot of our students have, um, really benefited from this. My own daughter is actually right now visiting Montana State, uh, and she's following this the her experience through plant animals into environmental science. And so, that's one of the schools she's looking at. She's in Bosezeman as we speak. Um, and Elena also pointed out this isn't just high school students. This this uh, affiliation lasts a lifetime. So, one of our graduates last year, Lily Er, um is um was present at this uh at this piece uh at this event. Uh and she's a a member of the dairy um association and sort of uh the judging and all

069that. So, to put in perspective, uh Lucas Oil Stadium, where the Indianapolis Colts play, um is where the convention took place and and by her estimate, she said it was about threequarters full. So, you're talking probably somewhere around 50 to 60,000 people. >> Um, >> it's kind of a big deal. >> And so, if you know Elena, >> I know you do, Matt, but uh pretty occasionally >> uh kid and to watch her sort of light up through this and to be able to articulate it all and to be able to present this on her behalf was great, but I think it'd be better if she were here to do it. >> Oh, absolutely. Um, so I just I thought that was an important kind of piece to to advance to. Uh, I did tell

070Elena that the picture will be in the the Susan Galieri version of this that goes out to the public. Mine's usually typically a chain of events and she did okay the picture. So, um, Eping boy soccer team, thanks in part to our turf tank, I'm sure. Championship game tomorrow night. We're looking to uh win our second title in three years. So, the boys will head to Laconia for a 7:15 start against Woodsville. >> Josh, you know, >> obviously we wish our team and >> coach I believe they're playing Molenboro. >> Woodsville. >> Oh, I thought my bad. >> Woodsville beat Molenboro. >> Okay. Wow. >> Sorry. Uh anyway, >> and you may remember Woodsville is who our baseball team just beat in the spring championship. So right now there's quite a rivalry starting between >>

071I think I think >> I think there's only a rivalry when one when the winds go back and forth >> because >> Oh, good one. Go ahead. >> Because Moltenboro was in third place. I think that's why I assumed. >> Um can I ask a question? Is um >> You absolutely can ask. >> Is there a fan bus? >> There is. if uh the parents were messaging enough fan and buses loading up at 5:30 tomorrow and headed up. >> Perfect. >> And uh we hope for the best and all of the all the celebrations that happen after a championship, we hope uh we hope to do it again. >> Just a comment. It's fantastic that you're able to do the fifth bus and and drive the students to go and cheer on. So it's >>

072and so it's full disclosure and not open for discussion. I just want to inform not discuss it's limited to grades 8 through 12. Um we have found in the past that makes a lot of sense and it's a late game but I guess for the five or six people that are listening I'll repeat the message more there's way more it is cold in Laconia. It is $5 to get in and they only take cash. >> Yes. And if you ride the bus up you must ride it back. And if you're a parent, be there when the bus gets back because we paid someone to monitor the bus ride, not to babysit. >> Yes. >> How' I do it all? >> Here. Here. >> Perfect. >> Uh children hit one more time again in the I

073think in the November meeting. >> Uh oh, sorry. I missed >> and I think they're going to hit it too. So, our trick-or- treat parade once again. We uh shifted a little. We tried it in the morning. this time. I know the feedback in our building with teachers and staff have fitted perfectly. That seemed to work better. And I think the ask, which I'm sure you'll talk more about, had to do with not having a little sitting in their costumes all day. So, it was kind of a win-win for everybody um for a lot of reasons. So, uh it went well. Uh the weather held out and um and uh I hope we continue. Uh so National Honor Society last year we started um doing uh turkey baskets food donations for families in need throughout

074our community. Our goal this year is to uh up I think last year we had 17 families. I think our goal was to try and accommodate 12 to 15 and the need arose. We were able to do through generous donations more this year we set a goal of 20. So u those efforts are ongoing. I don't want to talk too much about that because I think it's more important that the kids do as it gets a little bit closer, but we're still uh uh aim to carry the same piece out Wednesday uh of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. We'll do the drop and and all that um right here at school and this year >> and this year this year we're going to have our Epic Eagles and student council partner with them. So, we're going

075to be also helping them raise materials, food, um, condiments, whatever, canned goods, whatever it might what they might want to use for that, and hopefully even get some of the kids there helping to load and whatever support you might need. But, uh, they were pretty excited to make it an epic school district operation, too. And the older kids are >> frozen turkeys. Are you going to be able to store them? >> Uh, is that anything you talk about? >> We've taken care of that. >> Yep. So if somebody wants to donate a turkey, >> uh so we're so the tough part with turkeys is what we've done is we partner with E68. Um and they typically will donate and that's where we generate a lot of our families in need. So we kind of have

076an idea. So N68 has that conduit to a couple of local grocery stores so they can hold on to them until sort of the last minute. >> Okay. >> Uh so that we're not dealing with turkeys and throwing and unthring and all that. So um turkeys would be one thing we probably um gift certificates would be probably in lie of turkeys is something it's that's the tougher one to manage but uh we have that sorted out that that E68 piece was fantastic I think last year was Hannerfords and Raymond but there's usually all the grocery stores >> you want to get a frozen turkey on Wednesday right take longer to thor out >> yeah so we literally have to kind of >> we've had to kind of time how all that looks Get in some

077water. >> Boil it. >> Just throw it in the air fryer. It'll be fine. >> Watch a little salmonilla between friends. >> We were actually going to cook them on the half cook them on the new roof and then >> So that is again under the under the direction of uh of advisor Sharon Nectton. Um, but it's really a a studentled piece and the older the older kids were super excited to have the eagles eagles kind of join in. So, it'll be a fun day that Wednesday. >> Do you mind if I jump in with a just a point of consideration? Is that okay? >> Absolutely. >> Sorry to interrupt you. Um, but with this um historically long government shutdown, you may have more people in the community that are in need than ever before.

078It might be worth just putting out a message like if you find yourself in temporary need, you wouldn't ordinarily be in need, but you are in temporary need. >> Maybe that's a really good point. >> It's been going on a while now. Well, I'm glad you brought it up because that did come up in our admin meeting uh and uh the guidance I gave to to our team was rather than to talk about the political nature of what's occurring to use just continue to put the resources out there in a similar fashion to the way you said it uh without you know taking sides but saying if you find yourself here are the resources and so that that's something that will be coming out. Um and then also and I haven't solidified this with Moss,

079you know, another link to pre-roduced lunch assistance in those ways. So without talking about the political side or just talking about the practical side, here are the resources for people. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Make sure you u mention the Eping Community Church. They do a huge Thanksgiving drive where they do hundreds >> and the Yergos have been super helpful with this. >> That's what I mean. Yeah. So, >> typically any over uh you know because often times you know we may need 20 cans of cranberry sauce and we get 30. That's our >> that's our go-to. >> Yep. >> And that's really nice. So, >> uh student le conferences took place. Uh again, a lot of feedback anecdotally from folks. I saw a lot of families coming in. It was nice to see. Uh

080just in terms of real broad brush, obviously the middle high school, you see grades 6 through 10. Um attendance has been pretty steady. You do start to see a decline uh a little bit there in 1112. There are some pieces in place now um which are effective measures to uh help motivate people to get those pieces done. Uh tying them to junior privileges, uh senior privileges, uh being in academic standing. If you don't complete those by the next tryyouts for sports, uh you won't be there to try out. So there's some parking passes. There's things you can put in place to make sure those things get done. Um and uh I'd like to give a lot of credit to Tyler Nectton and Susan um Gieri. We've put a lot of efforts into especially our students

081that do morning and afternoon SST providing alternatives. Last year we uh we had an idea that we put together called the day in the life at SST. So those students actually um videoed their journey for the morning and walked through the whole day and that became their student led conference piece to sort of talk about you know their days a little bit different and what those demands were. So while it doesn't have to be I'm sitting here with my teacher and these two people in a temp but there are other ways to report out on on those things. So, we'll continue to kick the tires on those. Uh, but the the the expectation is, you know, you come into that building, that studentled conference, and again, what I've seen myself is that it really has

082become driven by the students. It really has taken the place of let's sit down and you tell me how great Johnny or Sally is. Um, which is uh what used to happen at at an old parent conference, right? But, uh, it really puts the responsibility where it belongs on the student. Are you um have you or are you planning to collect the data on the on the I know that um not to compare but you typically tell us a percentage of families that arrived or that that attended in person. >> We have data on data. >> Yeah. >> I'm not prepared to share it tonight. >> No, but but even in even in an email or something like that. >> We're we're Yes. And um we also are working uh with Dr. Mars and our

083curriculum coordinator. We want to develop a um a little bit of a feedback sort of survey piece to sort of talk about, you know, what what works well for people. Uh we're not and to be clear and I think Bills will be really clear. We do student le conferences at Eping. Uh that's just the way it is. So we're not asking if people like studentled conferences, they don't. But we want to ask about things like time and access to the building and format and how we can enhance what we're doing. Um, so that's then we're going to work on that probably over vacation, uh, Christmas vacation and then hopefully kind of get some of those pieces out and and ask in a way that will help things sort of, you know, keep moving in the

084right direction. And and again, this is that time when at least at our building reminding us that our goal is to work towards that capstone experience. And so all of these pieces are sort of meeting to that end. Uh, and there's still work to be done there. So that feedback is going to be helpful there. uh and also the data around attendance is going to be helpful. I think if I step back, I could easily predict 11 and 12 is where we see the drop off uh in in engagement right off the bat and that's where the other measures fall in. But there's some valid reasons why that is and so we have to explore those and fix >> or or or provide an alternate uh I'm just I'm just thinking about your 11th and

08512th graders who mostly drive and is there is there another way for them to spend some time during the day? use that to new service. I don't know. I'm just I mean there's just just >> Yeah, we've had some of those discussions. I think the the you know um >> it's a balance, right? Because there are alternative ways to do what we're trying to do, >> but we don't want to we want to be careful not to provide alternatives to the expectation because then the exception becomes the rule and that's >> that's probably not where we want to find ourselves. But in broad brushes, we really thought about that junior year really being that last sort of practice through um for the capstone and the potential that maybe even your the first the November experience

086for seniors, they might come in and just meet with their advisor and start to home what their capstone will be. So that that April conference might be the delivery of the capstone. So if anyone looked slightly different, it would likely be 12th graders. um both because it makes sense and because their school year is a little bit it's a little longer. So, >> but there's work to be done there. >> But it's not mandatory, right? >> They are mandatory. >> Oh, they are mandatory. Okay. >> From grades 6 to 12. >> Yeah. I I mean I can understand the 11 12. I understand what you're getting, you know, with it's a little off on those years. >> Well, there's different things to report out on different ways. >> I can see that as Yeah. >>

08711 12 you're talking about as a student. I can see both sides of it as a parent and a student. >> Sure. >> Different things. >> Yeah. >> So, >> uh but again, a lot of credit to the people. Um I think uh we would continue um with the schedule that we used. I think we saw that 11 to 7 um really allowed working families to be able to access especially those whose kids don't can't drive. Um I know I appreciated that when I was a parent. So, it also I think fits nicely with if you've got students in both schools, you have an opportunity to schedule some things here and uh and over there. So, um the the only thing that we're going to look at when we're doing scheduling next year is the

088potential of um probably picking the week after fall sports. >> Yeah. because we realized arbitrarily because we've been so successful um that we had a lot of kids that were tied up with football, soccer, and volleyball. And so that's something we probably could control. >> And we don't want to have losing seasons just to avoid >> catchup conflicts. So we we'll look at that. >> Uh parent voice uh on the way over. Actually, right before here, I was just in the parent second parent advisory council meeting of the year. And typically we don't hold them on Thursdays um to sort of do this. We tried it on this Thursday to see if we could elicit more of a crowd. It didn't work. Um but um we we actually said, "Hey, we can go right over

089there." The topics tonight were uh the main topic was actually breaking down and we had laptops for everybody who came and it was a really good turnout really kind of demystifying how to access P school with grading and grades mean and those pieces and Lauren did a fantastic job kind of walking folks through it. Um so some of the changes we've made to make sure that our grading structures and practices are what they're supposed to be. Um and give time for parents to ask a lot of questions. Uh it was it was really well done. and I didn't get to see the end of it because they were still talking which is always a good thing but I didn't get them over here so we try harder next time but we do try to stay

090away from Thursdays of board meetings for that and then as you can see we got a couple college visit coming up uh obviously the big one I'd just point to is next Wednesday is the apply New Hampshire day which is an event where all seniors can submit their college applications for New England public colleges for free so on that day usually Julie Morren and Laura put together a a thing where all of us tries to uh dawn our each of us tries to dawn our college or university swag on that day. So, for those of us who went to a few different schools, we have to change throughout the day, but it's usually pretty fun. There's usually some health. So, it's been a it's been a good fall. >> Thank you. Appreciate that. >> Thank

091you. Right. You go up. >> Um, so on our report, I just have to draw the attention to the first picture about our Halloween festivities because again, we're elementary school. That is the most important thing right now was Halloween. And this picture was unavoidable. We were waiting. Thank god mother nature worked with us and it wasn't raining or anything, but um, if you're looking at the report, you can see this is this is one of our students who dressed like the Lorax. And we just happened to be standing there and I think it was Chris who looked out and saw there was this like stump of a tree >> stump there. >> And so he's like, "Come on, come on over here." And he just he played the part so beautifully. He just went into

092it like this tree. >> That's right. >> For those who have seen the Lorax, it was just so perfect and fitting. But >> um we included some pictures, but thanks to Carrie Precourt um who is our unofficial official photographer for all events. um she took I think she captured everybody by photo. So we did um Chris put together a slideshow so we linked that there. It's it's lengthy. Um so but if anybody did want to see some of there's some amazing costumes, some great pictures >> and it's not ready for public consumption yet. So >> yeah, we'd have to pair it down and stuff, but you guys to look at it's like what 13 minutes long. >> So we wanted to include that there. But you can see we put a few snippets of some

093kiddos up there and just a lot of lot of fun costumes. Um I would say K-pop demon hunters >> was probably by far one of the more representative costumes. >> Um you have your typical scary masks but um the you know our family >> our family did a really great job at sort of following those guidelines because it's it's always tough you know in Halloween costumes you want to allow kids to have some fun with that. And um we just put out to the to the community that please just keep in mind that our youngest learners are part of this. So keep that in mind. Everyone was super respectful about it. We didn't have a single issue with any costume or anything like that. So >> Well, the kids did a great job walking. We

094coming down to the high school again. That's awesome. The kids love that. They get such a kick out of it. We We do too. >> Yeah, we do too. >> It's We were the villains. That was our theme this year, the Disney villains. So we included the picture so you could enjoy that. >> Yeah. You had some very good costumes. >> Realize how many people >> That was a costume. >> You're so funny. >> Realize how many people have not seen Aladdin and didn't know who Jafar was. >> Yeah, he was disappointed. >> He was really sad about that. >> So Aladdin, >> everybody needs to watch Aladdin. >> Sounds like a movie day. So >> do a schoolwide movie assembly. >> That's who I was. >> Your father wasn't a nice person, was it?

095>> You were Disney. Oh, you were Disney. Okay, I got you. Like >> now Maleficent. I still haven't seen you seen Maleficent. >> No, I mean I know Sleeping Beauty, but I have never seen that one. So >> I do think I fit it better than Angelina Jolie. But >> just saying you rocked it. >> So yeah, that was fun. We had a we had a good time and teachers did a nice job in classrooms and just kind of, you know, they just managed that stuff so well. So, and it was nice not to have school the day after trickor treat because >> yes, >> that's a nightmare. >> The sugar. >> Yeah. And then having that Monday, too. >> Get all the sugar out of the system. >> Um, tomorrow is our fourth annual

096honor lunchon for Veterans Day. Um, so we're very excited about that. Um, a lot of credit goes to Gwen Fam for really again just this is a something that she has really taken on. I mean, we all come together and talk about logistics and whatnot, but um she gets a lot of credit for that. Um the way in which she helps organize it. Moss is putting together again another fabulous meal. We've got the high schoolers coming doing the chorus um and greeting the veterans as they come in. Um and so that will be tomorrow. Um the lunch will be held over at EMHs and then followed by our assembly over here. Um we have 46 veterans coming >> um and 140 total for the meal. So, So, it's great. So, excited about that. >> Do

097do we invite our >> um >> well, you probably wouldn't even know the veterans who have graduated from us that are veterans now that like went to school there and >> no, we put it out there. We put it in the community. We put it out through Craig at the at the American Legion. So, I'm hopeful that in that >> kind of out advertising, for lack of a better word, that maybe. that if we know of other ways to get that word out, we should we should do that for next year for sure. >> I'm going to work on that with you. >> Yeah, I know so many myself personally who graduated from here who are veterans. So, >> it keeps growing and I have to say thanks to all the work, but the veterans

098are so appreciative to even help educate our students what it means to be a veteran and what why do we have Veterans Day and that assembly does a great job of recognizing them and educating our students of what that means. I think a lot of them think though unless they have a kid in the school they're not >> right maybe that's the the how do we do better we keep making sure that people understand it's open for that you know they coming and being there celebrating I think it was two years ago we had someone from the American right >> he was like I want to say he was hundred years old getting there it was close there was something about his story that was just so touching it was so cool that he was

099a part of that >> and even where you brought it from before we like would be 10 15 would be tops. >> Yeah. >> So where you have brought it to >> Yeah. >> is awesome. I mean there's so much credit food. But >> I know. >> So Mr. Cookish, every time I see him, she just keeps saying we're going to have pot roast, right? >> Well, our very own veteran who came up with the idea four years ago was, you know, was like, let's do this. This would be great. you had done it I think in a previous >> district we had a really wellestablished program >> so it was like let's do it and we were all behind it and said yeah let's make it happen so it's kind of exciting to see

100where it's come >> we'll be tying in the the coin war fundraiser >> to that as well so we're able to raise good amount of money again to donate to a specific veterans >> veterans count >> their account um the veterans count is the name of the program and go money goes right to the veterans >> good >> and yeah so tie that into the assembly as well. The kids are shopping at the bed to find out what class one >> penny's worth more this year since they're going away. >> 2.5 cents. >> I think the reason for the short >> the cost of a penny is 2.5. >> So in years past we have been pie in the we we're not dying our hair necessarily. >> Good. I >> I do not His hair's

101got much healthier since then. >> Yes, exactly. But we've we've done pie in the face. We've done the water like pour water over us. We've done the slime. We've done the human sundae which still torments me to this day >> that. >> But this year we are going to do a Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head type situation. Build your own avatar where the winning class gets to design our look for a day for an entire day. Wow. Nice. They will choose what we look like for the entire >> We've never done a honey and feather. >> I hope you not on the committee. >> That's going to be really hard to wash out. >> I hope you The Avatar Day is a schoolboard day. >> Oh, that would be great. >> We will make sure

102we send out pictures. But I am really excited about it. I want them to I want them to dye your hair. Yeah. >> Don't touch mine, BUT DYE YOUR HAIR. THERE'S ALSO A COMPONENT too through the Legion earlier in September, Craig, um, who there's an essay contest as well. And so that that also our goal is to make sure we're announcing the winners of that as well. So that's been >> that's been that's been four through >> fourth through >> grades four essentially. So >> and yeah, I think this year actually we'll be announcing the the contest itself on this day and then going forward, but they announced the winners for the Memorial Day parade. So yeah, >> they they can braid your hair with colors. >> This is true. >> And honey, >> as

103long as it washes out, I'm good. >> Just colors in there. >> I have a feeling Robin's going to be really in on it. Whichever grade level wins. >> But yeah, so we're excited about it. I We're We have fun with it. >> Uh we have an inservice day coming up on November 10th. So this Monday. And uh it's >> We do no school the 10th. No school 10th >> for real. >> Jeez, I am completely off tonight. Didn't we just have one? Didn't we just know there's no school Monday? >> We just had no school conferences. >> Oh, we are still playing Woodsville, Julie, so it's okay. >> I know. I know. I I know. I hope I'm That's what I'm saying. I thought Monday or Tuesday. >> I know there's no school Tuesday.

104I didn't realize we had >> There's not a lot of schools invest November. >> So, it's um It looks great. We we are uh spending a lot of time. Sarah Canrell, the curriculum coordinator here, and Laura Marston, the curriculum coordinator at the the middle high school, have done a tremendous amount of work really helping to plan this. And a nice piece is having, you know, those positions dedicated to having this on their plate. They've been able to reach out to teachers and gather feedback. So, mostly everything we've we've done in the last one and what we're doing now is all based on teacher feedback. What do they want? What do they need? Good. And it yes it all aligns with our goals but it's like okay so what do you need to accomplish this >>

105and uh and I just am really proud of the fact that of how much those guys have worked to get that feedback and to try and make it meaningful >> the teachers that's always the biggest >> you know criticism of school one of them in schools right you teach another in service day I mean how many memes and jokes are there out there about it but uh >> yeah a lot of gifts >> but yeah so it's looking pretty good one of the things we are going to be working on of course is continuing our our at EES the intervention program or MTSS as well as our benchmark advance uh literary program literacy program rather that we have put in place >> uh of note of that is that uh we actually have a school

106coming to visit us or planning to come to visit us so masked away which is a a local elementary school >> is thinking about adopting >> it's the oyster >> oyster oyster district thinking about adopting bench market venture so they want to I did see >> uh some of our teachers who are who how they perform and how they teach it and whatnot. And >> we met with the third grade today or fourth grade today and they're all like I'll do it. >> Yep. >> I'll do it. So they're really it's nice they feel confident enough even just to share what they're doing and and >> yeah, >> it was good feeling to have a school reach out to us. >> I think um Portsouth as well has reached out about um sending some of

107their elementary schools to check it out too. That's interesting because Portsouth High School reached out uh because they had heard about our adoption of competency based education >> and they want to come and have a conversation. So >> good things are happening. >> Yeah. >> Um our holiday concerts, believe it or not, are >> about a month away now. So um so we we're putting that out to families just to be prepared. So we again we're doing the two nights for ours because it's just very full. So, we've got first, second, and third grade on that first night, which is the eighth, and then we have fourth and fifth. Band and chorus um are on the second night, the ninth. So, um we have that. >> It's always a pet house. >> Always >> for

108sure. >> in the Allen gym. >> Allen gym. >> Yeah. It's just a great setup for it. >> Oh, yeah. No, absolutely. Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. our Eping Eagles. Um Chris had mentioned a little bit about um the work they're going to be doing collaborating with EMHs, but they've also just collected treats for troops. So they got a lot of the candy, leftover Halloween candy. I know that >> letover or while the kids are asleep, you go through their bags, right? I don't know what happened to it, honey. Yeah. >> Oh, that's what we do. >> The dog. >> So that was um collected last day for collection was yesterday and so it was brought to donate today. Um so it was a lot it was a lot of boxes um which was good. >> Um

109we are still just to keep you a prize of things still have openings for par profofessionals within our building so we are reupping our advertisement for that and we are probably going to send out something not probably we will be sending out something locally to the community as well. I mean it's just a great position for a mom stay at home mom or someone who wants to be on the same schedule as their child. Uh it might be something that they might be interested in. So, you know, who knows? We find somebody local that >> How many? >> Um, we need at least one. We could use one right now that we're down. Uh, and then we're we're looking to see what our options might be. We have contracted providers here. >> It would be

110great if we hired some more that we could replace those contracted providers in a lesser part. So, >> um, >> yeah. >> So, you have contracted providers for just par for paras, >> correct? >> Okay. Not a specialty. >> No, just just par professionals. >> All right. So, we just added um in some photos in there just to sum up again the work um that we are the partnership I should say we're having with SELT and um in the Atlas program. Um we had a great meeting with Lizzie uh who you've all met because she's come and presented to the board before, but she's with SELT. Just again talking about um where we're at and kind of reflecting on the four years we've been partnered with them and then where we're going. um she talks

111a lot because we we're the guinea pig like our our district is the guinea pig for them. Um and so just talking a lot about how they're grateful for their partnership and what they're learning through us and then what we're taking away from it. So some of those pictures just show again the excitement that the kids have. um they're continuing to do those field trips over to Burley Farms, but we've also started our onampus um outdoor ed which happens once a month for grades K1 and two and will continue throughout the year that way um where they're able to get out to the outdoor classroom rain or shine um and get out there which is a lot of fun. Um all grade levels have made it to Burley now for the fall trip. Um K1

112and two will have a winter trip and then um three, four and five will go again in the spring along with K1 and two. So, uh, so yeah, it's exciting and the kids really like it. We had a f I don't know if we've said this before, but we had a family recently who joined um the district and one of the comments they made was about how excited they were for the outdoor ed program. So, sorry if I've said that before, but I just thought that was a really cool thing to um have them bring up. >> Well, it always keeps coming up. There's always some excitement around outdoor based education and we get, you know, having the classroom itself and we had some teachers who haven't been out there or used it in the

113past this year ask us, oh, can anybody go out there? Can we use that, too? >> So, it's it's it's really I mean, we live such a beautiful place. It's great to have the kids exposed to that, >> get out of the classrooms with computers and stuff. >> Yeah. >> I was in a first grade class this morning and morning meeting and what the kids were sharing about, you know, if it was a perfect day at school, what it would look like. One of them, the first person to respond said, "I'd play outside all day long." And it was, it was just cute. They do. They love being outside. So, >> I agree. >> I know. Right. >> And then the last thing we included, and we'll keep uh including it because it it gets

114updated um is our video club, our EES video club, which um Gwen is running. Um and the kids are having a really fun time with that. So, we've got our archived ones in there for you, but also the the ones that are just coming up. So, and we've got some really great ideas for ways in which we can sort of get that going throughout the school and anything from like a news report to announcements, things like that. So, >> comment on that is amazing. By the way, I watched all of them >> and what a great skill set that's being taught and watching the kids thrive from the cooking pasta to teaching basketball to see I did actually watch them. Um, but amazing to see that skill and >> and how comfortable they are. Really

115cool. >> They're good. And the muffins were actually good. >> So, yeah. >> Awesome. >> Thank you so much. Presentations. >> Get to see a lot of what's happening. You're hear about a lot happening. >> Fun stuff. >> Yeah. >> All right. Well, Bill, >> yeah, there's several things uh things we had to bring back. Um uh obviously board norms, meeting locations we wanted to to talk about. Uh the next one is and the first one though is the warrant article discussion and and I just wanted to talk about it and I wanted it on to talk about it quickly this evening. I know we still have many more budget conversations and Christine will go over the schedule and the next expectations during her presentation. Uh but because of all the work that we've accomplished

116in the last 5 years and and we're all very proud of that that um I've worked out an idea that I'd like to talk to you about. We don't have to have a lot of discussion tonight. I really just want you to think about it and chew on it. But one of the things is is the next five years. Where are we going? And now that we've taken care of boilers, roofs, and parking lots and a lot of these things, we've gotten to where we need to be and take care of some of those needs. But what is the direction going forward and how do we make sure that no matter who's in any of these seats in 5 10 years from now can continue that and go forward with that and so I really

117want to look forward to the next 5 years and really being fiscally responsible and what what does that mean by I really want to better prepare and utilize some of our our capital improvement funds our our facilities fund in particular. Mhm. >> This is approved taxpayer dollars that we have an opportunity to utilize and I just want to float some ideas by how we might utilize that going forward. One of the criticisms that we typically get sometimes is we gave back 800,000 or we gave back 500,000 or we gave back 300,000. There's a way we can stabilize that and that is by how much we contribute to our our funds and then we could have that money available for whatever future type things that might come up. And the reason why I feel that that

118is extremely fiscally responsible is when you look at bonds, loans, you're paying back hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest that actually cost the district even more money when you borrow money that way. And also and I can think of our budget committee and others the the uh public gets to approve every year whether they contribute to that fund or not and they give you and us the authority to put that money aside. So what is that? Well then you already know but for everyone else you still retain that oversight whenever there's any type of expenditure from from those funds. So, I really would like to have the purpose of building our building and grounds trust fund. And I would like to you to think about this idea and I'm not talking small change. I'm

119talking about up to 500,000 up to 400,000. That doesn't mean that every year we contribute that, right? If we come back and we say, "Hey, the the the the leftover amount of money this year was much lower," then we we put in much less. But if we build up a fund, it gives us a great opportunity to look at expansion of our athletic fields or our facilities that way, our elementary school if we need space. Just uh architectural firms alone are around 70 80 $100,000 to just say let's do the just to look into what what it is that we might do. And I would like us to be in a place where we can help stabilize what we return to our public, but also give us uh the position to move forward. So really,

120that's all I'm saying is I want you to consider it, to think about it when we have those further warrant article uh conversations. I think we're now in a position to better prepare ourselves for the next 5, 10 years down the road by building up that fund to a million, a million and a half, and so forth. Whereas, if we could fund some of these projects out of that, it makes us that much better place to be moving forward. And that's all I really wanted you to to consider. Um, and lastly, I just want to uh Christine ran this for me. We also have, as we did with this project, we have our last two bonds retiring in 2028 and 2031. Uh, and so that is good timing as well for us to consider what

121is it that we want this district to look like down the road. And I just want you guys to think about that >> because I feel that we all can recognize the success we've had in the last five years. I want to prepare us for that going forward. >> When you when we do move into those discussions, do you think we because I I think we need an update on our capital improvement plan. Am I right? or do we have a new one? >> We have a draft of a >> Okay. So, because I think it would be helpful to make those decisions based on the projects that we see for the future. I mean, I think we've all talked about the track and the fields and things. People know that's >> it's out there.

122True. What What else is out there? >> Correct. And and I guess that's the perfect example. It came up even at the budget committee. U John Cody brought it up. I don't want to be in the position where we've all talked about it for five years, for 10 years, and we've never done anything to actually prepare for, right, moving forward. And that's where I think we have an opportunity now uh to do that if we think about it and plan for it. >> Right. >> And and I I think I if I had the information about there are these five projects that that need to be completed in that should be completed in the next 5 to 10 years. >> It would be more I'd be more >> I will get the completed capital. Yeah,

123the completed. Yeah, the completed. And then what what's next? >> Yes. >> Right. >> I will get that up to you. >> Perfect. >> And also >> the value of those two bonds that are retiring. >> Uh so one >> uh one bond the bond original amount was 974,600 and it expires in 8:15 2028. And the other uh bond was $820,375. and and and I didn't those amounts are exactly what I'm talking about had there been planning in the future uh in the past. we wouldn't have had to to pay another $800,000 in interest, >> right? >> Because that typically is what we all know. Usually, it's it's double what you paid. And so, actually, those bonds cost the district double that amount versus had we saved 800,000 and paid for the project, we would

124have actually saved the district a lot of money. >> And I think we're in a place where we can do that, >> right? I I I love that we have taken advantage of the the funds that we have and dropped the debt load that we carry as a district. That's been a that's been a huge goal I think to have for at least for me since I started on the on the board to try and see that come down because there's no need for us to carry that. >> Were you asking what the payments are at? >> I like what would the >> what would the savings to the budget? So one is 107,112 and the other one's 102,000. So together about $29,000 >> Each year would be the savings to just get rid of

125those bonds. But unfortunately with bonds you can't you don't have the option with like a lease. >> A lease you can pay off early if you're like hey we have all this extra surplus. Let's pay it towards a lease. You can do that. >> With a bond you can't. They they don't allow you to do early payments. So, it's unfortunate because even with the money we had this year left in surplus, we could have been like instead of doing that, let's get rid of some debt that we owe, but you can't do that with bonds. >> That is one advantage of going with the lease. >> All right. If there's no other questions, I just want you to chew on that and as we go through that budget process. The next one you asked me

126to bring back up was the board norms. Uh, so they should be in your folder as well. Uh, I did not receive any additional input when I put them back out to you guys. So, if you wanted to adopt them or make any adjustments or have any further discussion around the board norms, >> does anybody I mean, we can there's there's um we can go through the sections. I'm not going to read everything, but we have roles and responsibilities. Did anybody probably there um there's four bullets. Um student we move into student centered focus. >> No I didn't I didn't see anything um >> okay >> that like stood out like oh no we don't want that >> professional conduct and meeting ediquate etiquette. I am really off tonight. Can you tell um communication and

127accountability collaboration and trust I did think it was a great activity. I thought it was uh >> I agree >> good to discuss. Mhm. >> So, I did try to encompass all the the notes from that evening and put them into >> this format. >> Any input? >> I'm in agreement with everything that's in there. I think it summed up everything that >> I thought I thought it was good, too. Yeah. >> Then I would suggest maybe a formal adoption of of the board norms and then we'll post it. >> I'll make a motion that we accept the Eping School Board norms. >> I'll second it. >> Motion made by Robin, seconded by Matt. All in favor? >> I. All oppose. That passes 5-0. >> Nice. >> I will make sure that that gets posted

128on the board section of of the website. And the last one that you asked me for one second. I think it would be worthwhile just to review maybe every March because if the board changes or when if the board changes >> if not it would probably be worthwhile to review annually anyway. >> No, I agree because the board will change. I mean, it's always changing. It is and and I you know I brag about this because I think we've worked really hard at at at solidifying some of these things of what is a high functioning board and and that is some of these things we were doing but now we've articulated them and now that we have these norms any new member say this this is how we operate. >> Yeah I appreciate that. >>

129Uh the last one I'll turn it over to you Julie but you wanted to have a conversation around the meeting location and uh conversations around future meetings. So we uh we all agreed to sort of pilot this uh new meeting location three uh three for three meeting. So we are in our third meeting and um so I think it's a good opportunity for us to talk about how we feel this location is versus the town hall. Um changes we want to make. do we and and I do think that it would be worthwhile to make a to take a vote um of of our location that we desire to continue. I would say at least the rest of the year like through through March. Again, the board could change and people could have different opinions,

130but um so hopefully everybody has had a chance to watch a little bit of it and listen. Um, so feedback about our meetings at EEES, >> if I may. >> Yes, please. >> So, uh, have having haven't gotten to see, uh, some of a couple of our our last meetings, obviously, having haven't gotten to see the this one and and what the final product of this will look like. I think on a kind of a a a comfort level, this is a a nicer place to be. I think the the setup that we have for how we interact with everyone who's here on a regular basis is a little bit better here, but uh I think kind of above and beyond that from what I've seen, I don't think that we have the infrastructure here

131yet to make as high quality product as what we get from town hall. And I think the people who do watch or come to wa watch the recordings after are not being served as well by what we're producing right now as what we've gotten from the town hall. I think we can get there, but I think in the interim it we would we'd be doing a disservice to folks to not go back to the town hall and give them a better product for the time being. But I would certainly think that to do another pilot probably in in the springtime after we've had a little bit more time to purchase a few more pieces of equipment, fine-tune a couple of things, I think it would be make a better product that we could produce here

132or to at least be on par with what ETV can provide. But like oncreen presentations and things like that, we don't have we don't have multiple camera views. We don't we don't have the ability to do some of the picture and picture which allows people to to see and hear who's speaking all the time. Anybody who's sitting there and facing us, the microphone quality is usually not very good. I know from one of the meetings I watched, I could barely hear any of you guys talking during one of the meetings, even turning the volume up quite loud on my system. And that's that's a challenge. You know, I think you you shouldn't feel like you have to wind your TV up to the top volume in order to try and grasp what's being said. So,

133those are some of the the the technical side of things that I think just for for no lack of effort are are just lacking still. >> Well, hopefully the sound's a little better now. We have different microphones set up system. So, hopefully folks at home can hear us. >> Yeah. >> Anybody anybody else input, feedback? >> Yeah, I'll I'll echo. I I actually love this setup so much more than Town Hall. Um, my only ca caveat is the technology piece and being able to broadcast it live. Um, and that feedback that's been received about it. Um, I almost wish we could change the setup in town hall to leverage the technology that's there and kind of bring this type of format a little bit closer. I do think this is a lot more conducive to

134discussions. Um, so I'm I'm that 5050 spot of live. >> Yeah, I do. I do. Um, you know, but if you said right now which one, I would say because of the technology piece, I would say town hall to give us the full gamut of ways. >> See, I went to 514. >> I'm gonna go to non-technology piece. >> I like the comfort here. I like the feeling here. I watch the meetings. Maybe my t TV's different. I didn't have a problem with volume, but um I don't I think if people wanted to be here, they would be here. If they want to see the meetings, they could come and watch them. I'm not I I I just I'm not I'm not into making sure that we cater to every single aspect of technology that

135parents want at home to be able to watch these meetings. They can watch it whenever they want to watch it. It's available. And and that's what I think is important that it's available that we don't have to make it live. We don't have to make it this they can watch it when they want to watch it. And I just think this is just a better atmosphere. It's comfortable. Um I I like the whole setup better, the whole horseshoe thing. So um I I'm I'm totally fine with staying here for our meetings. That's just my opinion. I'm not a big technology person anyway, so I don't really care if I watch something live. As long as I have the opportunity to watch it when I want to watch it, that's what matters to me. And then

136when I do watch it, it's clear. I can hear everything. I can see everything. So that's what matters to me. >> I would agree with um the necessity to have it live to me is not I I don't see that as a factor. Um and I'm I'm really kind of 5050 on where it is, too. like I don't really have a preference. Um I would want to defer to the other people who are impacted by this like the people who do have to come here at night and stay extra late. You know Josh is here and techn you know we've got people here behind cameras and um so you know I'd want to know what the impact to those people are and and you know it's every two weeks and it's more hours in their

137day. So, if if I I think the quality of what people can see in here, I I don't see that there's much difference. I have re-watched after the fact, too, and I don't see that there's much difference, and I don't think that it's a factor of being able to see it live or not. I do think that the setup here is more conducive to discussion. Um, so I, you know, again, I'm I'm kind of indifferent, but I would like to have some feedback from other people involved to see kind of how that impacts them. if I may, but um just getting this feedback now, there's things that we can do. So perhaps not waiting until spring to try it again. It would be great to have a conversation or to get a list of okay,

138what is it that you're looking for more specifically because we can go live anytime? Um that's that's that's an easy fix. And I'm sure maybe the other ones might be an easy fix, too. Maybe not so much picture. Um, but yeah, it' be great to kind of put all these together in some kind of document or even a conversation that Maria and and I helped with this a little bit too, Josh, and we could all sit around and see what we can come up with to uh to mitigate some of those concerns around the differences between the two, but this is the first time we're getting that kind of feedback, so >> it'll really guide our next steps. So, it'll be great. >> Absolutely. Do you have feedback in terms of being participants in the

139meeting here versus there? >> I can read your mind. >> Yeah, I mean I I wholeheartedly enjoy it so much more here because I literally can see you. >> I am I mean I'm such a connecting kind of person anyway that I want to be close when I'm having a conversation and having a seat at the table is just so much nicer. So when I also think about some of the feedback of wanting people to come and present and share and that would be so much easier for us to get up and over there and let someone sit right here >> that that environmental impact would be huge for someone who doesn't get to do this all the time. You know, it would it would ease that so much more. Um and and I I

140agree. I to me it's if you're going to you want to be here, you're here. If you want to watch it later, you watch it later. I do think we can do it live. So I think that's you could hit all those pieces. Um so for me I think it's just it's worth making it work here because of the way in which it it makes all of us function more more effectively versus like for the public like it's a public meeting but we're all functioning more efficiently together when we're here and then that others can watch it. >> Julie I'm sorry Jen's word indifferent right? Um I understand you know there are folks who the technical side of that is a focus. Um I had sort of a wondering we we haven't had uh we

141haven't invited any presenters yet. I would love to hear if we had uh kids or teachers when they start to come to meetings to hear from them because that was one of the reasons we talked about you know that the old hot seat mentality. I haven't heard that once since we met here. Mhm. >> Um and and this feels more authentic where there's a theatric flare to being at the town hall and all the pieces and I know again like these folks work hard and I I also appreciate that Jen. I think that's an important piece to find out from Josh Maria what is the what's the stress there that that it creates if there isn't any. Um but this is so much more authentic. I felt much more comfortable. These have felt like discussions

142and more of a team than an inquisition uh since we've changed location. And that's not personal. I've never felt on the spot, but the room can make you feel that way. >> Uh and and there have been times and the folks at channel 22 work really hard. >> But let's not forget we've had a lot of uh fits and starts with, for instance, it's difficult for us to even connect sometimes and to present. So um what what do we want? Do we want to be able to authentically talk about the things that we're doing for kids and where's the best place we can do that? And I would say my experience in a short spell has been here. >> You know, there I remember a couple times when we were locked out of town hall.

143>> So that will never happen because at least 16. So um it's really what the will of this entire group is. I think there are some folks that we should hear from. But if you said make a decision right now, this has been much more authentic in my mind. Um, and I've appreciated it. >> I think that's what has value. Um, and I think we have to think about, yes, we're not going to be exactly like what happens in the town hall. >> So, what are we trading off? >> Because we can't reproduce all that without putting a studio in, let's say. Um, but what are we gaining here that we're losing over there? And then, you know, what's the value of that? And is that authentic voice and authentic place? You know, we we

144may not have some of the technology pieces, but that's something that you guys could probably about, okay, we're not going to have this, but we we will have this. >> And uh, you know, ultimately, it's a it's this is the vital piece of the meeting is what happens in this room. >> And, you know, no matter what, we're going to get a solid recording with good voice and uh, and sound out there. I would hope that we can get to people, but >> the other little pluses and minuses you would have, but I would just agree with my colleagues. >> I echo everything they said. The only other thing I would add is I think this creates an opportunity uh and what that opportunity is is some of the other plans that we have uh

145student involvement uh student involvement with the filming and and so forth and that opportunity just isn't being created down at ETV. So I think uh I was thinking the same thing that Chris was where I'd echo that now that we're getting some of the feedback we'll have an opportunity to enact some of that right and so we can have those further conversations. I don't want to put Josh on the spot or and get feedback from Maria. But we can have those conversations now and and say, "Okay, what can we do immediately and what can we do longer term and where are those next steps?" But yes, I think we're all in agreement. It does create a little more burden on the district itself. But is that burden worthwhile? Because I echo the same thing. I

146think that the comfort level, the quality of the conversations, it it's just different. It feels better. And again, it's not the people cuz we're all the same people. it's just environment and the way it's set up. >> So that's what I would say is I would like to continue with this have an opportunity for those to give some feedback and and uh figure out what those next steps are. >> Do you have any I know this was all like experimental. So as far as the departments go like we have given advice to Maria not to put a ton of technology get it to the point that we're going >> right >> but until a permanent decision is made I didn't feel we should invest a ton I mean obviously better mics >> little things but

147we didn't want to go overboard and invest a lot so no the product you're getting now isn't what we can do it's what we were doing to get us to a place of is this what we want to continue towards. So >> just to paint that picture will we be ETV? No. No. >> I mean we can't produce picture and picture but we can do live. >> We don't need picture. >> We can do you know adjusting the lights. We can do all of those things. Maybe put up another mic. Like it felt a little uncomfortable with them presenting and sitting in the audience seat tonight. >> So how do we bring them in tonight? I felt that was very >> weird. Um, but I guess they could have came here. So, just those things

148like we could have had or given them. >> We could have just Bill and I could have sat over there and gave them whole spot. >> But that's our learning curve. >> But that's our learning thing, right? And exactly like I just I was like, "Oh, well, I want to bring them in as presenters. I don't want them to feel like they're presenting from the audience." That was >> Yeah, exactly. >> But but those are the things we can improve on, right, as we go through this process. Uh but my bigger part is making sure that you know yes we can have a student running the cameras eventually and stuff but the student's not always going to be there and what does that burden put to the technology department is what I really want to

149be cognitive because >> it is a lot for them to run plays to run theaters to run productions to run all the stuff they run just for the school in general and spend many nights here late on top of coming to our Thursday night meetings. Even though he's got a beautiful smiley face over there, this is probably not how he wants to spend his Thursday evening. So, just what does that look like when we don't have a student? And just giving that really thoughtful. >> I love the location. I think it's great. I like being closer to you guys. I can see all your faces. Great. But >> I always want to consider the people that are behind the scenes. I actually found the audio to be better here. >> Um because a lot of

150the cuts in and out in Town Hall with those mics, you have to be a certain piece. As soon as you move your head, you cut in and out. Um here I found watching them that the quality of the audio is actually better. Maybe add a few more mics. Um again, my hang-up is it sounds like we could go that route of how do you make it live? I'm not looking to recreate ETV. I don't think that's fair, >> right? That's a much different setup, a lot more technology, but I didn't think the quality overall was poor. I thought it was solid. >> So, I think I won some of those veins. >> There's an empty seat, lots of spots. >> An orange chair, right? So, and I don't want to speak for Maria, but

151I'm I'm almost positive it is it is live on YouTube right now, but it's private >> so that Maria can watch it live so that we're she can make sure it's working correctly and she can hear and everybody can hear. So, it is it is live. It's just it's private right now so that we can still we're still in the testing phase of that. >> So, and I don't want to speak I think I'm correct. >> You are correct. >> 100%. >> These things are addressable. I don't want to speak for Marie either, but >> by the way, but we're not afraid of her. >> I just don't want to. Yeah, definitely not my >> worth the conversation with it. >> Yeah. And I think to that like some of the things that even I

152brought up about some of the technology there there's software that we could get and I'm I'm not sure what what we're running it on right now but there is software software that we can get for free that allow us to do a lot of the same things like the picture and picture and multiple cameras. Some some of my my concern would be if we're going to invest capital into some of this hardware, I don't want it to just be solely for this, right? If we're going to get some of this, I'd like to have some kind of a plan on how how can we leverage some of this for other things? You know, do I think it would make sense to use it every day for like the video club? maybe some of it, but

153also does it make sense for us to spend enough to be able to get a couple different camera angles or some more tripods or to be able to get better coverage of the concerts and some of some of the other things that take place here, the variety show >> so that we can >> even get better quality from some of those productions and be able to share them with the public. But that's some of the other consideration that I have for this of if we're going to spend that money, let's make sure that it's going to benefit some of the other things that are happening here besides these schoolboard meetings. But I I would certainly be happy to to talk with Maria and and the rest of her team about other ways to try and

154bolster up what we can produce out here because I I think with a probably slightly more powerful machine than the ThinkPad I see back there, we could probably handle a little bit more with a couple more pieces of equipment like a mixing board for a couple more mics and be able to get better coverage in here. I I do agree a lot of it's doable. There's just going to be some time that takes to do it. If I could add to that, >> that's why technology tech. But I also think and and and Christine hit on it too, right? Not just buying stuff and saying, "Let's make it work." I think a piece of that too is I was looking around here said, "Well, geez, you know, get a green screen for instance, that's part

155of our maker space." So now if we're talking the backdrop, I think we should also in this process look at what exists in the district already that can help >> further that because there are some pieces that we use in the other building, right, for our concerts or for some of our other applications. And I think in the past there's been this no, this belongs to department X or this belongs to this school. And if these things exist uh elsewhere in the district, we should be sharing our resources. And so there may be nothing because I don't know that side of things as well as you do, but there may be a few things that we already possess that can move this this forward a little bit. So I I like the idea of not

156just spending money willy-nilly, but also part of that should be what do we have that we can use? >> We have a soundboard. Uh I think it's going to really come down to yeah what the expectations are, >> you know, and then looking at the expectations and looking at, you know, the opportunities and uh uh the resources we would need to do that. for instance, multiple camera angles, multiple microphones. You need a human being to sit there and actually work that and know how to do that. >> I um >> you know, so there's an upside and a downside to that, right? >> You're volunteering to do that. >> I want to be I definitely would love to be part of this conversation. I have a background in this and I would love part of

157the conversation. >> I don't want >> I've started a whole No, Robin, you don't want >> Robin, no offense. We probably don't want you part of it. So, um I'm gonna kind of um >> take everything in >> brain it in a little bit and just what I'm hearing. We we have a lot of really great conversation. I just I think everybody kind of knows where I land on this, but I think it I think what's really valuable is the conversations we have. Of course, we want them to be heard. I did not have any trouble hearing. if people can't see everything, it's it's about the it's the conversation that's that matters. >> Um it's the agenda, the discussion, the topics. So, um and I think we all see value in the improvement, not the

158improvement, but >> um just the the I can't think of the word >> collaboration that this that this environment brings. M >> um so obviously I land on um I'd like to stay here with personally with the opportunity to continue to enhance what we're already doing. Like most people I the live aspect is not really a consideration for me. I think getting it out to the public in a reasonable amount of time is very important. So within >> by the next day at some point the afternoon >> because we're not really editing the videos, we just have to Sure. >> Um why? Um so we just need to get it and get it um accessible. But >> that being said, I am wondering if we want to we have three more meetings for the rest

159of this calendar year. >> Budget meetings. >> What' you say? >> Is it in their budget meetings? Just to keep that in your mind. >> Budget component to meetings. >> Yeah. So I'm wondering if we want to kind of keep evaluating this. I don't know if we have to. doesn't have to be an all or nothing. Um because I hear what people are saying that I think that's a consideration. We can we could take a vote right now and the vote um we could have a motion to stay or to move. We could consider staying for a few more meetings and then discussing more. Does anybody have any thoughts? the the >> staying a few more meetings. We're we're kind of in the same position where we don't want to invest >> invest. True. Correct.

160>> Because we don't know. >> So, I'm going to be bold. >> Okay. >> And I'm going to make a motion that we continue our meetings at the Eping Elementary School. >> Okay. >> For the Eping School Board until now into the foreseeable future. >> Okay. Does anybody want to second that? Oh, come on. >> Well, I'm I would like >> the the the foreseeable future is what I'm stuck on. >> I'm stuck on that one because that feel can So, do you want to uh maybe >> we could for the school year? Um >> well, yeah, for the school year to the end of the 2000. >> Okay. So, do you want to say your can you say your motion again? >> I withdraw my motion. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

161Okay. And I will make a motion that we um hold our regular scheduled Eping schoolboard meetings at the Eping Elementary School until the end of this coming school year. >> I'll second that. >> That motion was made by Robin. It was seconded by me. Um >> any further discussion? This is where I'm off. >> Further discussion on that. >> I know. I I think the key part of that is continuing the the discussion around how do we keep improving it, right? >> You can add that to the discussion pot. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Um because it is it's important again whether it's live quality or what have you just to keep bringing it. I do feel there's something to be said about it being in the school, right? It's what we are. It's who

162we are. Um, I do I'm hoping as people watch this that more people come in. I feel this is a lot more comforting for people to speak to the group >> versus feel like it's a a trial the way it's set up. >> Um, >> you know, so that would be my thing. So that would be my only caveat on it is as we work towards making it better. That's where I'm a little hesitant about the full year, but to say we keep >> triing it here, I I'm absolutely fine with that. and then say at that same time we entertain what other options exist to make it better and then have a discussion around that. So I'd be okay going calendar year review it give us some time to work out some of these

163other kinks in terms of making sure things are online quickly. I know there's some been a couple hiccups on that. Not on part of this group on uh >> wasn't I is you know but just trying to streamline that piece. >> Right. So I'm going to add to that because we're under the other discussion now. >> What we have to remember is that this is the Eping school board meeting. Yes, it's a public meeting but it a school board meeting. So therefore, it should be how we connect as a school board, how we discuss as a school board, how we feel as a school board here. This is a meeting that the public is invited to. And the fact that the public isn't here and most often isn't here gives me great feeling that they

164feel we're doing a good job in in in running the school board the way it is. But we have to remember that this is our meeting. This is our schoolboard meeting that we invite public to. They can come and speak before or whatever, but this is our meeting that we run and it has to be how we want to present our meetings, how we feel comfortable, how we discuss, how we come up with the decisions that we discuss. So, I just I just I don't I'm not into catering >> to the public on this. So that might sound mean, but I'm not into catering on the public on this. They have an opportunity to come to the meetings if they choose to, if they choose not to. The meetings are available at their convenience when

165they feel that they want to watch them. So that that that is one thing I'm sticking on. These are our schoolboard meetings. We have brought this up because we were not comfortable where we were. We wanted to change the environment. Um, I'm going to go back to my old school board days. You too, Chris. We always held our meetings in the school in the school. It made a a huge difference being in the school. You're representing what you're about. You're about the school. We're at the school. So, that's how I feel about that. >> so we do have a motion >> and it was seconded by me, >> right? and it is to uh continue the meetings here in EEES through the remainder of this um school year. So ending and we then we will

166re-evaluate. >> Um we will be constantly re >> I can I can I can um change my motion to this. >> Okay. Do you have to Okay. >> I don't know how this >> I'm going to withdraw I'm going to withdraw. She's withdrawing you and I'll withdraw my second. I think >> I'm going to withdraw my motion. I'm going to make a a new motion saying that I am going to make a motion that we hold our meetings at the Eping Elementary School for the remainder of the school year with the knowledge that we are going to continue to uh address issues that have come up um about live feed improvement and how we want to um um improve the technology um of the meetings. >> I can't I can't I can't you made the

167motion. I made the motion on that. >> I'm going to second that motion. >> Motion was made. >> I can't change it more than that. >> Motion. Motion was made by Robin. It was seconded by me. Any discussion on this motion? >> Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> One, two, three, four. All opposed. >> No. >> Okay. >> One. That's five. So, no obstensions. So, that passes. That motion passes. >> Four. I'm trying to navigate. We're a ride. So, um, so that passes 41. So, we will, >> um, continue to meet here, >> constantly improving as we can and and maybe we meet, maybe we talk about, maybe we share a little feedback ongoing. Um, just, you know, >> well, Ben's expertise on the technology part of it. So, he we'll let him if

168I could. I know Maria is indisposed for the next couple of days, but maybe it would be worthwhile to at least set up an informal meeting. Yeah. With Bill, Christine, Chris, sounds like you'd like to be involved. I I can certainly try and be involved with it. I'd like to be >> um and have have that that meeting to at least talk about some initial concerns and and what we could do with what we have right now and then make a plan moving forward. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Um And I am going to ask you, can you start the policy? I have to address a situation. >> So, all right. I'll jump back in. >> Thank you guys very much. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, let's see. >> Moving

169on. >> Thanks everyone. >> Bye everybody. >> Thank you. >> Sorry. >> Thanks. Thanks for the lively discussion. It's always good. >> Uh and for everyone's patience as well. So, moving on to policy, let's let's just start at the top and start with uh J JIC uh the student conduct. We're on our third read for that. So, uh thank you, Ben. And uh I I think JIC and JICD, it's the same language I put into both. Uh it was a concern Matt brought up. um just really clarifying that we are working collaboratively with other off-site uh organizations and so forth. And so if you look at JIC, uh if you look at the yellow, uh that all stayed the same except for the very last sentence says the district shall collaborate with partner sites to

170address incidents occurring offampus, support students and staff involved, and uphold both the districts and the host sites behavioral expectations and resulting actions. I hope that I uh uh got the the gist of what was being said that we really wanted to clarify that we work collaboratively and that we will honor and work with other sites whether that's SST or Impact Academy or any other ELO sites which we might not know what they are and just really work uh together to make sure that our students are really meeting the behavioral expectations of both us and whoever is hosting our students. say if I have any feedback on on the most recent changes. >> No, I'm say Matt you did you >> this was more Julie on this one. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Yeah, this was

171the one that had I apologize. Um that we were talking about the reciprocal >> thing and it's in there. I >> I feel it's in there. I guess that's why I had >> I looked and then I was talking to Matt because I was like, well um and now I'm trying to pull it up. Um Thank you. Yes. >> so in the first is are you saying it's in the first because I did I did look at this. >> It's at this the second sentence of that first paragraph. Okay. The la excuse me the last sentence of that first paragraph. The district shall collaborate with partner sites to address incidents occurring off campus. Support students and staff involved and uphold both the districts and the host sites behavioral expectations and resulting. >> Yep. I I

172like it. And that is the same language I put in both JIC and JICD was the only changes from our previous read to those those two policies. >> I'm good with that. >> All right. >> Should I take back over? >> You want Why don't you finish this policy if you could? >> Sure. >> So, anybody have any other concerns with policy JIC? >> No. >> Yes. >> All right. Can I get a motion to accept policy JIC? All right. >> I'll second. All right. Moved by Robin, seconded by Matt. Any further discussion? >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? That passes 5-0. >> Uh, JICD. Again, I just mentioned it. I added that same sentence to JICD. >> This is the one where I bring up under on page one under

173restriction >> from school activities. A student who has been restricted from school activities may participate in practices at the discretion of the person imposing the restriction. >> Going into it right now. Sorry. >> What page are you on? >> Page one. Okay. >> Under number two under restrictions from school activities. >> Yeah. Last sentence of that section, right? >> Yeah. So, I did work, of course, they just left. I worked with Mr. Mazone on this and and I'm I guess if I'm not capturing what it is that uh you wanted on this, Matt, or where >> restriction from school activities is what you're looking at. So what um >> yeah but I I >> so the person who's imposing the restriction so if person X catches a student doing something wrong they get to decide

174what that restriction is according to this policy. That's how I'm reading it. So there was and I don't I I think this is just uh again we've had some changes in in uh our office personnel and I just want to say there was the the new policy said the word administration and so and I don't think that's what we're seeing here. So I I don't think it was the right draft. >> So you're saying that you say the discretion of the administration not the person? >> It is not the person. We we definitely uh put put it was the administration. And it's the administration who would impose oppose the impose the the um >> I can't >> behavior uh consequences or restrictions >> because it should all just fall back to whatever the policy. >>

175Correct. Right. >> Yeah. >> So looks like we're going to it's going to get >> well you could say with as amended too if you wanted to if you just want to say that or I'm more than welcome to bring it back with the final wording as well. I'm by making a motion to approve with that addition or change that the person imposing that restriction will be administration. >> Correct. >> So strike the discretion of the person instead of the discretion in and include the discretion of the administration. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Motion made by Matt, seconded by Ben. All in favor? >> I. >> All oppose. That passes 5-0. >> Uh JBA should not be there. um uh that we had the conversation that that's we're done with JBA. >> Uh we had

176that. So I apologize that that's there. >> Uh D JBAR. Um it's in our drive. Uh the the you asked me to get some legal input on this one. I've included both her letter. Uh the letter is only in the private drive as again that that's protected. uh uh however the JBAR they she did the exercise and and could we make this uh more acceptable to both state and federal law. She did have some challenges as there are some slight differences between state and federal law. She explains that a little bit in in her letter. However, the majority of the changes are uh bathroom assignment, locker room assignment, and team assignment. and the team assignment does follow the New Hampshire NHIA guidelines. However, most of the the policy remains uh the same other than those

177those areas are as you can see stricken from from our current policy >> discussion from the board on JBAR. Are the notes in the comments the margin section? Is that from legal? >> Uh I not in there right yet. No, please. I'm sorry. Just trying to >> So that's must be a parallegal. >> Well, it's a graph. >> Yeah, I believe it is. Um and as you can imagine, uh the conversation I had with her, we are not the only district to ask them to conduct this exercise. Um, so my guess is yes, that would be their their notes. Can I ask a question about uh number nine physical education classes and and intramural sports? >> Is intramural the same as unified? >> No, unified is part of of of uh the NHIA. >> Okay.

178>> It is. So the reason that those are broken out is because that is at school's discretion. We're not governed by NHIA with inter murals and physical education classes. So that's why that language is there that they could participate um uh with the the gender that they identify. However, when you have uh competition with other schools like uh like our unified, then we come under we all have to follow the same same same expectations. >> It's intram mural today >> co-ed or I >> I think it I think it used to be co-ed. We used to have like co-ed uh soccer teams >> on on middle school level um because we just didn't have enough kids to play, but I don't really think we have inter. >> I can't name of any co-ed inter mural

179at this point. >> I don't think we have it anymore. Yeah, >> I think soccer was the only thing we had. >> That that's the only >> conflicting part in there, right? Is >> allowing, you know, we'll call it gender at birth um versus non. And then that's the the split is is it allowed there so and not allowed somewhere else. So should there be consistency or do we keep it separate? >> That's why you're having these conversations, Matt. >> There's a lot to digest here. Um I know you're not looking for a vote tonight because we don't t it's really the first time we're seeing this. >> Correct. And I'm just happy that well right now the discussion is the I think we had tossed around whether we needed to resend this policy. So

180um I would certainly be more comfortable amending it than rescending it. So a lot of it was left in there which I think is important for us as a school district. Um, it's I don't have I don't have any particular feedback at the moment other than I would I just I want to take some more time to take to look it over and I certainly I'm open to other people's feedback probably help me digest it. >> I do like the edits that were made and removed um to align better with what the state and guidelines are. Um I agree a little more time to digest it. You know that nine and 10 are the the piece. That's why I just wanted clarification on the intramural aspect. >> Yeah. >> I um I would like for

181us to address something about restroom and locker room use. Um, I think it's important to have some sort of plan and and we don't address it at all about what's going to be allowed. >> And so then that leaves a lot to somebody's discretion. >> Well, I think if they go by state and federal law, it's already been decided what's allowed. It was something that >> developing a plan could be lots of very different things. And this is just me brainstorming off the top of my head. Of course, I would talk to administration. Whether that's a a private use bathroom, whether that's uh other choices, there's there's other options. uh working with the the the child and the family. I think there are ways that we could articulate uh how we would address those things

182and make sure whatever that is, it it is meeting the the requirements of the law, >> right? the the the line which falls under locker room which I do feel like needs to still be in there is it says a transgender student who expresses a need for privacy will be provided with reasonable alternative facilities or accommodations such as using a separate stall staff facility or separate schedule personally I think that's still very relevant that as a school we are obligated to provide a reasonable alternative alternative for students. So I that's that's a that's a statement that I feel is important. >> I I think it's important for anybody >> for sure. >> You could have a child that doesn't want to go into a bathroom because of bullying issues that are going on. Has nothing

183to do with whether they're transgender or not. >> Correct. >> So that has to be a situation where any student >> has um >> that right to >> be in a place where they feel comfortable. >> We'll add that line back in. >> Yeah. That's kind that's kind of where I follow with some of this too is I I need to take some time to read the the other policy, the the more general policy that we have because I I think I'd be more comfortable with trying to trying to figure out a way to appropriately add this into that policy rather than continue with this one. I I don't I don't love the idea of living in a in a graceand of we're under a temporary or preliminary injunction that is keeping this from being

184something that's enforcable and that's something that could end at any time and I think knowing knowingly and willingly entering us into a position where we could face legal repercussions is >> irresponsible >> but I don't think that our students should have to suffer because of that either. I think there's a way to accomplish both. >> I want to Yeah. One more thing for me too. Um because it's come up a lot in the last few times that we've talked about this type of issue is um the word comfort. I personally don't believe that we owe everyone comfort. We owe everyone safety. We don't owe everyone comfort. And in fact, a little discomfort is good because that's where we grow. So, I understand that there is some discomfort around this topic in general, but maybe it's

185just because we need to hash it out a bit more and try to be understanding and compassionate. Um, and if you if you personally do know people within these demographics that we discuss, it can maybe lend itself to a little bit different discussion. So safety we owe we owe everybody who comes in this door into these buildings. We owe them safety, but we don't necessarily owe there are a lot of things that make us uncomfortable because because we don't know about them. We're uncomfortable with what we don't know about. And if we just know about things more and we're willing to learn more, then some of that discomfort will go away. Mhm. As long as we are safe, that is what truly matters. >> I'll take this feedback and if you have any other >>

186discussion, I have a I I don't I I have a whole different logic on that. So, take this back. But no, >> I have one more um um statement that was stricken. >> Can you tell me what >> it says? As a general rule, this is I'm sorry, this is on page. Oh, Jesus. Sorry. Jesus one. two. It's uh looks like the third page close to the bottom. It says other gender segregated facilities or activities as a general rule in any other facilities or activities when students may be separated by gender um transgender students may participate in accordance with gender identity consistently asserted at school. So I don't know what all those activities I'm not talking about sports. I'm talking about I know for example in elementary school the boys go with um Mr. B

187and the girls go with another teacher and they have a segregated >> topics and so I think that's and it stops right there. Then the next line talks about incolastics activity but I do think that there's no reason why we can't keep that line again as a general rule. We're talking about facil uh in other facilities or activities when students may be separated by gender. Um, so that's just again that's that's a that's a thought I had. I know it may not be everybody may not be in agreement, but um, I'll add that back in and I will clean up with the suggestions that you have and if you have others, let let me know uh ahead of time and uh, we'll bring that back. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes. >> I have to

188say I just I appreciate it. I you know this is it's >> it's good to have these conversations. >> It is. It is. >> Yep. Agreed. >> Okay. Um so we are done policy for tonight. So personnel >> uh so I just want to clarify Mr. Listister has met all the requirements of getting his letter in. If you look at the letter date, uh we did have it in our possession and just want to make sure. >> Okay. It we didn't have it but you have it. we have it and and and so forth and and um we just want to make the board aware and that he has met all the obligations if he if he chooses uh to continue with the retirement and so forth, but he just wanted to make sure that

189we had it and it was in >> and and so I do have uh Scott Listister. Um I want to thank him for his years of service. uh it is hopeful that he may stay. And so it's more of a a um a checkbox that he wants to make sure he meets all the requirements of of of of meeting this expectation around uh putting in for retirement. And so that's really the conversation and it makes it a little >> challenging. So, um, do we have are we providing him with a timeline of when he does need to commit? >> You know, I haven't had that conversation with him, but I will definitely have that conversation with him. Yes, because there are >> district five people say that they're going to retire. We know we have

190to budget for that and then that those five people could resend. I mean, I certainly want to I I appreciate that that's in and timely in budget, >> but there's this a second time though. >> Uh Mr. Listister has put in for it before. Yes. >> Yes. >> And and and he's been asked to to continue. I just want to put it out there and we're all aware his program is is very specialized and it is becoming very challenging for schools to fill these positions. And so I can use New Market as an example. they had that their exact same position open for a couple of years and and then eventually they they no they could no longer fill it and they they moved on from that. >> That's a fear we have. We we

191we really appreciate his program and what it provides for our students and and how much it really is and >> I would support rescending it if if that's really what he chose to do and say stay from a district perspective. I get that we would need to know a timeline to prepare the district to move forward and I can have that conversation with him, but also from a district perspective, it's very likely that if he does retire, we'll have challenges to fill it anyway. So then we'd rather >> have him stay. And I get the board's history of this back and forth. And I know we've changed some language to try to >> to uh make sure that that doesn't continue to happen. Um, but sometimes there's unavoidable circumstances where it's just like, oh, okay.

192Because I we all know that we wouldn't want him to miss out on that opportunity with all the years of of service to the district. He wanted to make sure his letter is in in appropriate time. >> Yeah. No, I I I can appreciate that. And you're right. We would probably end up losing that program because it would be incredibly difficult to fill that is my is my guess. I mean, I guess I would con I would suggest we consider a timeline like March 1st or February 1st or something. We don't just to wait again until April 15th and then we're all we're waiting. We're waiting. >> Yeah. >> Because if we are going to post for that position, >> we should be posting >> in February. >> Yes. >> So, I don't know what

193that timeline should be, but maybe I would ask you to think about that. I mean, I think we could probably still make a motion. >> I would still accept his letter with the understanding that I will have that conversation. But just to be clear, he's under no obligation to give us that. I think he will work with us and have that conversation because I think he wants the district to be successful when he moves on too. So, I think it's only in everyone's interest to work together to to try to make that transition. >> This is kind of a it brings up it's kind of a It may be a practice that we need to look into on how we do this for be again because we have people there's an incentive to to let

194us know in advance >> and we've had a few people that have done that and then it's been rescended >> and so maybe we need to just look at I'm not suggesting it's right now I'm just thinking is is this is this the best way to go about this? >> Yeah. >> For our teachers. So to be very clear it would it would come up during the negotiation table and and there was some movement made by the way if you do remember it used to be almost two years in advance and now it's year of >> so there has been some shortening of that requirement to in hope that it it's not too far out but um >> okay well do I have thank you any any other discussion >> because at some point he's

195going to have to make a decision he's going to retire Motion to this is the second time. So >> the retirement of Scott Listister with regret. >> Moved by Ben. >> Seconded by Matt. All in favor? >> I. >> All oppose. That passes. 5-0. >> All right. Financial, business, and district update. >> Um, so just as a quick update, last night we were given some direction from the budget committee. So, um I will let Matt speak to that because he was there and attended the meeting. Um but we were given some direction from the >> was there as well. He's joined us. >> Was there too Mike was enjoying getting me to get my steps in last night. I think he was getting more enjoyment out of it. >> Uh did you have to keep

196going to the mic? >> Yes. Yes. Yes. >> Didn't sit at the little table, >> but So, not to put Matt on the spot. >> That I always feel like that. That's where you should be if you're if you're doing a presentation. The one on the side is I think where you should be going when you're when you're speaking as, you know, I was I was going back and forth between offering some opinions as a board member and other opinions as just a town's person. So, >> yeah. >> Um, so quick summary of it. Um, as many people know, there were several nights of discussions specifically around the school and the expense and the budget. Um, what ended up happening, uh, passed last night as a vote was to target a 5% increase over our

197existing budget. And what that equates to is a $288,000 reduction. and what our proposed budget was that the committee has reviewed. Um, so I shared that information. It was a good discussion uh back and forth quite a bit. We're still discussing town aspect of it. Uh, but that was the ultimate ask after a lot of deliberation and discussion. Um the committee overall appreciates all the hard work that everyone put into it and with everything that's coming on from a town perspective looking for ways to uh try to minimize any as much additional expense as possible. And if I guess if I can share one other thing that came up, several members of the budget committee did did mention when they were talking about that they were they were hoping that as we went through the

198exercise of trying to do that that we would try and focus as minimally on personnel impact as possible. They were there several Amy and a couple other people spoke of, you know, what are the other lines that could could get brought down prior to to looking at staff >> or any other personnel options. Yeah. And we will work towards that and and this year being very different, you're still uh will start the budget process at the November 20th meeting and we all will have that those eyes to look at it and have some ideas around how how to go. I do appreciate that they did give it to us uh now. So that does give us some time to work together and figure out uh as a board and and as administration where we think

199we can best serve our students and still meet the the directive of of the budget committee. I feel confident that this team and my team will will figure it out and we'll be able to move forward. >> So >> awesome. >> Thank you for sitting through those meetings. >> Yes. >> Being your first year is getting initiated. >> Yeah. You've done a great job. Just your m like your communication, your emails, your updates. Like you've taken it on, you've understood it, and you've really led the way. >> A lot to say the least of it. >> Thank you for taking the torch. >> It's amazing. >> Taking the torch. >> Yeah. >> All right. Loader update and impact fees approval. Um, so at this point we're starting to navigate um the loader and what equipment

200we might purchase. We're looking at smaller options, maybe a bigger option. We're still kind of navigating that a little bit. We've gotten a few quotes on a few. Um, we're looking at possibly an option of renting one for the season to see if it suit fits our needs. And with that, you could do a rent to own type purchase. Um, we're looking at just, you know, other ways that we can make sure this is the piece of equipment that we need for this district and make sure it's going to fit our needs >> um to move forward. >> The from what I've been going back and forth with Jake on is that um if we decide to rent it for this season for a couple months, we can use impact fees to rent it. it

201doesn't limit us to just purchasing it. So, um, and then we've also talked with the company as well. If we rent it, >> 80% of the rental fees that we pay would go towards the purchase price. >> Um, so, you know, those are really good options. It's just kind of looking at it and making sure when we make the move that we are looking at the right piece of equipment to be able to compare what works for us, what doesn't. So that way in the end we end up with a piece of equipment that best suits the needs of the district. Um so that's kind of the stage we're at right now. Well, I just want to fill people in and I know you're aware that's thanks to Ben and and Robin having the conversation

202with and I'm sure they'll fill in the the conversation, but uh the selectmen and and town have agreed that we can use impact fees >> uh for this project and that's why uh we will be taking that piece out and there is 140,000 or so out of that 288,000 that we have to come up with will be the loader. Um, of course with with board approval, um, but we feel that using the impact fees is the right choice. Absolutely. And, uh, so, but we didn't want to jump too fast. Uh, and we want to pick the right piece of equipment. And that's why I saw some heads nodding. That's why if we rent the piece of equipment and 80% of it goes to, uh, the purchase price, then it's like, oh, we chose the right

203piece. We would hate to choose the wrong piece and then say, oh, we didn't get it big enough or it's too big or whatever that is. And so we uh are not prepared to give you our recommendation tonight, but we will soon. >> But what we do need is the select board has approved us to utilize our impact fees. We have $600,000 in our impact fees in the full bucket of things. Obviously, we do not need all that money to purchase that equipment. However, I was just looking for direction from the board of what you feel would be that max amount you'd want to suspend. Um, you know, would you want to cap that at the 140,000 that we had in the budget? Like, so while we're looking at what fits the needs of the

204district, we have a budget aim that you would like to stay within. >> 150 in the budget. >> I thought it was >> we had 140. I I mean I guess >> it's not so much the cost but the usability of So for me if you come back and say this this machine is $175,000 but we can use it for this this and this >> then that makes more sense than 140 but we can only use it for plowing the five snowtorms a year. So, >> right, >> that's where I live is like I want because we've had that the discussion about like we don't actually need a front loader. We need >> we need our >> our >> um parking lots paved. >> You know what I mean? That's what we need. And that's

205that's you know January, February, March. >> So, I don't know. Somebody else I don't know anything about equipment so I I know nothing. But I mean, the town has committed to say that um if we have a big storm or any type of storm and the embankments get high, they will continue to bring up the loader to push the embankments back. So, they are committing to do that. That was in an email today that they said they will push back the embankments >> to be fair. And and and you're going in more detail than I knew, but >> it says the school is not the top priority. we would be after uh road clearing, everything else. And so, just to be clear, it would not solve us in opening the building. I appreciate the town's

206offer to continue to support us when available, I guess, would be the best way of >> price to that. >> Oh, I don't think so. I don't I don't think that was their intent. But I I don't I can't speak for the town in that that level of detail. I I I just want to again appreciate that yes, they have expressed that they would push back the banks if necessary when they're available to do so, but the roads and their needs are going to be top priority, not not the school. >> But that that's a good piece of information because the loader itself is great for what Josh probably speak more than me, but pushing the big piles back that you can't move with the physical truck. you need that heavy piece of machinery whereas

207a skid steer or something of that nature to plow a parking lot more effectively and potentially have more use >> um and leverage it more than >> 10 saying no whatever the equipment is and that's what you were saying too no >> the benefit that we had from having the meeting was Mo joined us which was very helpful um so and he he had suggested switching to like a larger skid steer that would be able to handle the the 10 foot plots And that that got the wheel spinning for all of us like, "All right, well, that sounds like it's going to be a far more valuable piece of equipment to us that we'd be able to use more than seven to 10 days a year. >> Let's let's investigate like, well, what other attachments

208might make sense for Josh to to get along with that force to move some of the storage stuff? Maybe we get an air raator to help take care of some of the fields if we don't have some of that equipment." Now, I don't know what we do and do not have, but it's if if we're going to buy a piece of equipment like that and we can get some of those other attachments, you usually get some kind of a deal to be able to buy all of it at once. >> And the ride along with that is there's still the conversation about the salt shed. >> So, I'm glad we've got as much in the impact fees as we do because we can't transfer that into any of our funds. It just has to sit

209there or it goes away, >> right? So, I I would I would far rather take that money that that has come in, spend it, and purchase this equipment, whether it's a rental own the first year to make sure we got what we want. But for like the salt shed and all that stuff, I'd rather take all >> any of those projects that we're having to to pull in on short notice this, well, in the grand scheme of things, short notice this year to be prepared going forward. Let's use that money. Get get a get a salt shed that's going to be big enough to be able to store this piece of equipment so it doesn't rot in the in the weather. Yeah, >> we've got enough room for the salt capacity that we need. It's

210set in a position where we don't have to worry about environmental impacts because that's a consideration. Let's do that and make full use of these impact fees before we lose them. >> It'd be foolish to lose them. >> And if we the more bang for our buck that we can get because and Josh, you might know the answer to this better than I do. even at the larger size loader that Mo was suggesting, I don't think you have to have the same licensing credentials to operate it like you would for that loader. So, I think that opens it up to have more people able to use that equipment and still be able to handle the snow loads that we potentially could have. >> Right. And I think I know they they mentioned skid steer. I've

211been back and forth with Mo all week um just on different things whether it's a skid steer or compact wheeled loader. Uh, that's kind of why I think the the rental this year to kind of test out what this type of machine will be is kind of the best option for us to go, >> especially if we're going to get 80% of it back towards the purchase of right >> this machine or say we going to, you know, go up a size or down a size. >> Um, because, you know, there are those, you know, I >> I don't think a skid steer that they offered is is the right thing. I have a I have a phobia of skid steers because when you lift the bucket up, if it dies right in front of

212you, the only way out is forward. >> And also, I know most of those you can put a 10 foot push box on them, but you get you get any more than 8 feet, you're getting a lot of weight on the front end and the wheelbase is so so short that you know, you're pushing the snow back in, you lift that bucket up, you start going backwards, and that thing can go right forward. So, I've seen a lot of horror videos. on on that. So, I don't like that idea. Um, but I don't think we need, you know, $140,000 loader either. I think that would probably be that would sit around a lot. So, we've got to find that happy medium where we're getting a loader that's small enough for us to use throughout the

213whole year, but also big enough to push snow. So, we need to get one that's going to push a 12oot push box. Or else, it doesn't make sense to even get a loader. It just makes sense to get another truck with a plow >> if we're going to just be pushing the snow back. How would, and I know this is just getting a little bit off track, but would a would a larger tractor make more sense? >> I mean, we have a small tractor now with a, you know, it's got a big mower on the back. It's got um it's got aation tines. It's got a snowblower that we put on the back for the sidewalks. And that's kind of the perfect size for the sidewalks, especially we just did all this work this summer.

214And you know, in the past, they were plowing those sidewalks with trucks, and those those sidewalks aren't rated for that weight of these of these 3/4 ton, one ton trucks. Um, you know, the tractor's kind of that perfect size. >> Yeah. I I guess I'm just wondering if we got something bigger that could that would have the weight that could handle the push box or something like that, right? Are there other grounds related things that could take care of? I know we've got ledge and stuff in some of the areas of the >> Yeah, I mean, sure, we'd be able to move, you know, with the tractor we have now, it it can lift as much as 750 pounds. So, you almost you put me and a buddy in the bucket and it's not it's

215not going anywhere, right? We can't even lift a pallet off a truck. We have no lift gate here on on premises. Um, so the type of loader we've uh, you know, we have to lift about 2500 lb just to put the sander in the back of the dump truck that we have, and >> we can't do that with the the loader or the small tractor we have now. And so the town has to come and help us with that currently. So it's it's always a like, you know, when are they going to show up? We contact them on a Monday, we'll be here sometime in the week, and then it's Friday, and then we do the same thing again the following week. >> Um, so it's um and we, you know, we got this notice

216this morning from Jake saying we're basically last on the list, >> right, >> for us to for us to get any snow help. So Bill calls me at 5:30 in the morning. Hey Josh, we're going to be ready for school. Bill, you know, I don't know. >> Maybe, >> you know, it depends on when the town comes if they come. If they come before, you know, seven o'clock, sure, we'll be ready to go. We'll have all the sidewalks, all the staircases will be shoveled, what we can do. But if we don't have that equipment with a, you know, 12 foot push box, 14 foot push box to push the snow. And it's not just big storms. It's the two or three inch storms that we can just zip through the parking lots back and forth

217with this wider push box where the snow doesn't spill off the ends. That's really what what we need. the town had, you know, let us use that dresser. It had a 17 foot push box on the front. You're doing 17 feet at a time. And now, you know, with a plow truck, you you get to six or seven feet because it's spilling off the edge, right? >> So, we really, you know, in order for us to not come in at 2 or 3 in the morning to get school for 7 and, you know, then have to also have coverage throughout the day, it's it's it's really a piece of equipment that we need. >> Yeah. >> This is the reason why we were not prepared tonight. recommendation we are thoroughly looking into what is the

218best piece of equipment to maximize usage is we are perfectly clear and that is why we have been having these conversations and the good news is yes there's impact fees >> yes I don't think we're going to be in the $140,000 range maybe $100,000 range or whatever I I don't know tractors maybe 160 who knows either however we are looking at attachments and those things to to best utilize uh not just during the storms. >> Yeah. >> But we have impact fees that we can use. >> Yes. Which is that we do not want to lose. >> Spend it all. >> All right. The direction is spend it all. >> It's from the developer. >> Use it. Spend it. >> Not really. Spend it. >> You don't want to lose it. >> Give us a

219laundry list of what it can do. I don't care what it can. >> Would have been more impressive if you had the list right there today. So I can I can spew up on this. >> They did a very great deal of work. So can I share the one story? They were on the phone. They like these two like and I come in on the conversation and they're telling filling me in and and literally a man uh a sales rep is driving to his brother's wedding. He's the day off and because these two are so persistent that he calls them back and and is answering calls as he's driving to his brother's wedding. >> Even though the commission that this guy's going to get said that he sells that. He's like, I I'm a little

220But I was like, all right, >> Alex, >> go enjoy your wedding. Do not come with that. But thank you for calling her meeting this thing. She's like, "No, >> no, that's not going to work." I guess the only other part of the only other part since we're just on uh the other part of that conversation was we talked with uh Pam and Caitlyn about election day. >> So right now from our conversation we we're not going to pursue the sidewalk. >> Yes. >> Um there Mo is going to do some investigation about getting some some temporary ballards that would be able to go up to to cordon off one one side of the the roadway for walkers. The other side would be for wheelchairs and the golf cart. Um, >> we have cones like

22148 inch cones that we just bought for the >> driveway. Okay, >> that might be something, >> but he so he is looking at that. And then the only other question was if we were going to do that, what what could we do to try and help facilitate anybody who wanted to walk rather than ride? So, um, the suggestion actually came up of what if we put in some benches. So, some benches. So, uh, I think both Rob and I have talked with Bill and asked for he and Christine to do a little bit of research and see what it would cost to get some attractive benches to put along the side so that people could stop, you know, two or three benches so that people could stop and sit down and then we'd still

222get the benefit of that the rest of the school. >> I think >> I wondered if that was >> I think the three benches that we talked about it it's actually great for the walkway in general. in general, >> you know, much nicer >> for students who might be like waiting for pick them up or or people that need rest, whatever. >> Maybe there's maybe there's somebody too. I have no idea that the a bench could be dedicated to that. Those are usually nice, you know. >> Yeah, discussion that could be granted. It could be the plastic wrap wire. >> Yeah. Nice. I appreciate the conversation and and I'm glad that you two had such a productive conversation and it really does show that we are working together with the town to resolve >> and

223they would like they would like to make it a more regular thing as well was what we heard from Pam and Kaitlin. >> So something maybe quarterly. >> It's a great idea. >> Yeah. >> All right. Great. Okay. We're going to move. We're ready to move on >> y >> to the approval of minutes. Public meeting minutes October 16, 2025. Anybody have any thoughts on edits, amendments, anything? >> Have we ever done the minutes that we've been? >> Yes, we did. Yes, we did from July 17. >> I'm just like I can't remember because we just don't have the non-public meeting minutes from >> No, we don't. >> No, I'll need your help on those ones. Um because Yeah, I have >> I'll get with you. Yeah, >> I just can't really >> That's all

224you need, right? Start and end time. >> Yeah, basically. >> Yeah. Um, you're missing with with these notes. >> Um, >> the name of the Fremont rep is correct because I >> Yes, it is correct. Okay. >> Yeah. And he did, by the way, he also he emailed me and let and did let me know in advance that um I just didn't see it that he was not able to attend tonight. >> Yeah. I just thought his name was Dodge. The last name was Dodge. I'm not >> No, that's a >> that's our That's our former town of M. Okay. >> R A I Z E. >> I just thought I heard somebody say that and then then when I read it I'm like I don't Okay. No, I misheard that then. >> Um the

225only the only thing I hate that I even bring this up, but um so it's it's referencing JBA um transgender non-conforming in the notes. And we did decide we were just and I don't know if this needs to be reflected, but we we decided we were just going to leave it. >> Correct. There's no no changes to >> So it doesn't it doesn't. So it says third read. We didn't vote on it because we didn't need to vote on it. >> No, you don't need to vote on no changes. >> Did the Do the notes need to reflect that or not? >> No. >> Okay. >> You there was no action taken. There was discussion, but there was no action taken with when it came to >> Yeah. >> that. >> All right. Do I

226have a motion to accept public meeting minutes from uh October 16th? >> So move. >> Second. >> Moved by Ben, seconded by Robin. All in favor? >> I >> um the other we did table so that at that meeting uh we were going to approve meeting minutes from October 2nd, but they were not in our folder. So we have not yet approved meeting minutes from October 2nd. So that we would need to do that. And why weren't they in the photo? >> I just think they got missed. >> Okay. >> I It was just >> I'm just trying to remember why they >> Yeah, we were all like they weren't in there, so we didn't end up approving them. And it does it the notes. >> Oh, I remember that. >> The say something to

227that. Uh it says public meeting October 2nd. This item was tabled until the next meeting >> and this we did. So, um Okay, this picture >> manifest. We ready? Okay. Accounts payable deposit on October 17th, 2025 in the amount of $363,624. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved by Ben, seconded by Matt. All in favor? >> I. All oppose. That passes. 50. Accounts payable deposited on October 18th, 2025 in the amount of $5,637.25. >> So moved. Second. >> Moved by Ben, seconded by Matt. All in favor? >> I. >> All oppose. That passes 5-0. Accounts payable deposited on October 31st, 2025 in the amount of $585,7262. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved by Ben, seconded by Matt. All in favor? I. All oppose. That passes. 5. Payroll deposited on October 17th, 2025 in the

228amount of $184,084.3. >> Are you doing both? >> Yes, I will do. and payroll deposited on October 17th, 2025 in the amount of $35,79410. >> So move second. >> Moved by Ben, seconded by Matt. All in favor? >> I got it. >> All oppose. That passes 5-0. I'm going to do the next three. >> Payroll deposit on October 24th, 2025 in the amount of $333,46152. Payroll deposited on October 24th, 2025 in the amount of $96,14348. And payroll deposited on October 24th, 2025 in the amount of $424.81. >> So moved. >> Moved by Ben, seconded by Matt. All in favor? >> All opposed? That passes 5. >> Yes. I I just wanted to ask how why is it we seem to be getting so many incremental um manifests in the month. Now I don't recall prior

229to this year us getting so many >> u deposits on the same day that were broken out into separate manifests. Is there are we breaking out because of different groups or purchase orders? >> No, I figure I Christine's still here. I would agree that it seems like we have more than we like sometimes we have a ton and I guess I don't remember like when Heather was chair that there were quite that many. >> They're just testing them. >> I know. >> But she didn't get the 24 night. >> I know. I know. That was that was great. Um I don't think there's an increased amount. But I mean sometimes there's more because sometimes um on the manifest you have the health trust bills for the health and dental bills sometimes. But those only happen

230once a month. So by the time you're getting them you might have more. >> Uh especially like this meeting we went three weeks. >> Yeah. Sometimes so there was three weeks of manifest versus two weeks of manifest you're getting. Um, but you have your bi-weekly payroll and you get your bi-weekly AP cycle. So, those offset each other, but AP might run the credit card statement in an off cycle. So, that happens once a month. >> And then payroll might run the health trust or New Hampshire retirement payment in a month on an off cycle. >> So, sometimes there's more, >> sometimes there's less. So it there's those once a month ones that depending on when you catch them might seem more and then in the summer we go longer times without a meeting. So then

231it's like all of these >> you have >> like four payrolls that are happening back to back in the summer because you have lump sum payments all these like >> payroll runs weekly almost in the summer because of the different types of pay cycles. So those are more options. So I guess in >> it depends, right? Sometimes it might be super small, >> but if you have a three-week gap, you're going to get more. And if it's a monthly run that happens to happen on a meeting and all of those monthly checks run, then you're going to get even more. >> Yeah. And I suppose to your point, some things have changed about when when the bills come in for some of the stuff. >> And it just seemed like Yeah. It's just been a

232a plethora of manifest. >> The testing the testing her I've made sure you guys get in there by Friday and approve them and so I'm testing you to make sure you do so. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Okay. >> Excuse me. >> All right. Uh we'll start down with Jen for board comments. >> Um yeah, just two things to um kind of bring back up from well, one thing to bring back up from a while ago and then one kind of new thing that I just am curious about. Um we had talked it's been quite some time now um about grading and reporting and maybe some just kind of looking at how that's going and if there are changes that need to be made and just kind of get it some feedback and update on

233like what have there been any any changes to grading and reporting? I'm I'm speaking of the middle high school obviously. >> Um and kind of what does that look like? Because I know we you know there's been we had the Warren article a few years ago that did pass the town even though it was not binding but but we thought well if there's that much voice in the community we need to at least look at some things. So it just seems like it's been a little while since we've heard anything. So I was just curious for to kind of kind of bring that back up maybe address that talk about it. And then I'm just curious on have we looked I know that we don't do things in this district just because that's the way

234they've always been done. I know that and I appreciate that. So I'm just wondering how long it's been or if we have recently looked at um the the the schedule of the middle high school like that block scheduling and what does research say is best for kids and is that still best serving our students and mostly our students but our staff too. um but mostly our students and just kind of like taking a look at that and are we doing that because that's still what's best or or are we at a point now that we're doing it because it's just what we've been doing and I don't think that we're in a practice of doing things like that. So, just be curious to kind of see like, okay, what >> what what do we think

235about it? >> What's what's going well and what maybe is not. >> Right. >> That's it for me, though. >> Questions. >> That's a good That is a good question, >> Matt. >> Yeah, I agree with both of those topics. I think they would be fantastic to talk about further. Um, do want to wish boys soccer good luck. >> Yeah. >> Um, obviously big game tomorrow night and um, sorry, BUT >> HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUCH A WONDERFUL WAY to >> thank you for spending your birthday night with all of us. >> You didn't want that public. Sorry. >> Sorry. I appreciate it. >> That's all I have. >> Thank you. >> Uh again, I'd just like to to say how nice the budgeting process has been thus far. I'm looking forward to us getting getting our

236hands on it and really kind of digging in. I appreciate the uh the budget committee kind of digging digging in and getting us their their final recommendation on a change um in in time for tonight even though we didn't end up talking a whole lot about budget tonight. Um >> so so I'm very excited about that. Uh, and also I mentioned it before, but I appreciate the the open and honest conversation that we had about the meeting location and how how we're doing and how how we can improve and what the impacts are. >> So, um, and to to echo Matt, I hope that the the soccer team has a fantastic outing on Friday. >> Um, and just uh I hope folks enjoy or the students enjoy their 4-day weekend that's coming up. Um, >>

237yes. I just found out about it. >> You approved THE SCHEDULE. >> I KNOW. I KNOW. I found out that I got the soccer opponent prom and my son's on the team and I'm going to the game and I did not know there was no school Monday. So, >> full disclosure, neither did I. Like, I totally missed it. I I I Yeah, I was like, "Wait, what?" >> Of last Monday, I always know there's at least one day in November. I did not realize there was two Mondays in a row. So yeah, I miss that. >> Julie, to be fair, the only reason why I knew about it is my kids been talking about it. >> And my kids are My kids probably have no idea and they're gonna be psyched. >> They're gonna be

238so happy. >> So, um, Robin, >> um, uh, no, I just I wanted to give a quick update. I'm not going to give a huge update. Um, Bill will probably give a more update when we start talking about things that are coming forward for the school district through legislature and stuff like that. with the with the uh delegate assembly I went to on Saturday. It lasted till about close to three. Um it was really I told him this I was frustrated this time only because there was not a lot of discussion with some things and things didn't things I thought were going to have a big amount of discussion didn't have um a representatives how you want us to represent it but it was mostly lawyers going after each other with how to do motions

239and >> it was just really hours of listening to how to >> I'm making a motion ah but I think we're going to change that motion we're going to do this and we and it was motion tonight. >> Yeah, it was just like I I ended up sitting to myself going, why am I doing this? >> Yeah. So, but I mean it was it it was interesting, but things that I really thought would have a lot of discussion like school lunches uh a different there was like >> there was it basically come to came to the same conclusion that you know when we talked about when districts started looking at the cost of saying well why don't we offer free lunch for everybody it it was like so astronomical. It was like it just >>

240it just kind of killed the situation. So, um I we'll the results of that will be coming out through legislation in the next, >> you know, not I don't even think it's going to be this year, it's going to be next year because they're still working on so many and all that stuff. >> Um but um yeah, a lot of it was I just felt like it was lawyers battling each other at the front of the room and how to how to how to make the motion correctly. Um, so it's it's always interesting to see like these intelligent people that are up there. >> I'm gonna go to one of those ones. >> It it is it's very interesting. It is a lot of it it's a lot of technical language of how to present

241this and how to make the motion and how to change the amendment and how to do that. So, it gets a little sometimes I think the message of the >> Yeah. of the resolution is what gets lost sometimes and all of the mumbo jumbo the legal stuff that you have to listen to. So, and I I I think I felt that this time more than any time I've ever been. And I've been to what five or six of them over my my um my career as school board members, but um yeah, this one I think I was the most frustrated. >> Having been to a few previously, I've missed the last couple years to to your your statement about wanting to go. There have been some where the discussion that has happened amongst various school

242boards around resolutions has been really robust and it's so nice. It's very enlightening to hear what people are experiencing different areas of the state especially like some of the funding issues a few years ago talk listening to some of the school districts from up north and how >> severely they were impacted by it versus us down here. It led to at least a 20 25 minute discussion amongst numerous school boards about what what those impacts would be. So it's really it's really eye openening to go and a great chance to network a little bit. >> Yeah, because Claremont was there and there was some discussion because you had London and Claremont who were like night and day when it comes to financial >> stuff. So, um, but there wasn't as much. I think you said

243that Barrett had said >> I had a meeting today with Barrett, uh, the Southeaster group and they it's the busiest, uh, legislative session they've ever had. >> They have record number of >> uh, LSRs and yeah, it's going to be another busy it's their uh, before it's a law, it goes through this process. I I couldn't tell you when there's a lot of there's a lot of >> at least you don't know. I don't know. There's going to there's a lot of nonfunded mandates >> that are going to be asked as the school district that's going to impact us financially, but we're not going to get funding for them. >> Right. Right. Gotcha. >> Yeah. >> Thank you, Robin. Christine, >> uh I'll again I'm I'll pass these down through. You guys can have them.

244They're just the budget the rest of the timeline just to have it. >> Your next thing to remember is Tuesday. It probably won't be Tuesday because I'm off Tuesday. So, it'll probably be Monday. uh the budget electronically. So look for that in your emails on Monday. Um they will come out and then at our next regular scheduled schoolboard meeting we will start discussing the budget as a school board. So >> um >> can I ask so we have the budget >> some of >> we've seen we've seen we've seen >> I guess but >> I mean we've seen it because we attended the yeah we attended it >> we haven't changed but >> okay >> there will be starting to be some of the um correction not corrections but like um just some of the

245things that are coming in insurance rates and those types of things and so they will they will rates they will start changing and So it will So if you do already have what you've seen, you'll have an updated one with some of those things in it. >> Um, second question. So Thursday, November 20th, school board review with budget committee present at the town hall. >> But that's our school board meeting. >> You set the location. >> We set the location when we developed this. We were still there. Well, I think that it's our school board meeting. We will have a regular agenda. Correct. >> Correct. So, the way and I had this conversation earlier roughly 6:00 to 7 is going to be de devoted to budget conversation. Um um we are not doing any further

246presentations like the principles are not coming again and the facilities director is not coming again because we're if you have questions ahead of time, please get them to us. But um we will give a very brief update on some of the changes from when the budget committee had it like like uh water and sewer or or insuranceances whatever those minor minor updates are. But it is really to start our conversation uh around what are your thoughts on the budget having participated and listened to or reviewing it uh is really the the conversation. We will have a a regular scheduled meeting agenda following that when we're done talking budget. >> Okay. So, we will talk budget. So, that's not a scheduled topic in our regular meeting. It's a what is that called? >> I think that

247would be a scheduled topic, right? It could just be a topic open. >> You still open the meeting and then budget discussion is the first topic. >> Okay. Okay. That's Yes. All right. So, we open the meeting >> and that is our first schedule topic is budget. Um, the question I have, I guess I'd ask everybody because our student reps are supposed to attend. >> Could they present first before our scheduled topic because I do think we always appreciate the input from >> So, there's two two thoughts. Uh, Mr. Mazone did we had this conversation today did email and uh either they could present first or be excused or whatever you choose to to I would >> as appropriate. >> I would I like their presentations. >> Um I do not feel they need to

248sit through the budget discussion. I would certainly especially it's just a busy time but I if what I would love to see them come but present but be able to share with us first and then either stay if they choose or or not. Um but I am open to what other people think. Well, so um we would say that you would expect them to be there for seven. >> No, six because I'm going to open the meeting at 6 >> and then it would be the first it would be public comments and student reports >> and then we would go scheduled topics. >> Okay. Okay. >> That's what I would recommend. >> Yeah. Because I wouldn't want them to go later. I mean I wouldn't want them to come. >> No way. No. I would

249want them to come at our normal time. It's a regular meeting. All right. I'd like to see that, but give them the opportunity because they they might find some of this interesting. Maybe maybe not necessarily the first one, but I think be it's a well worth it topic for them to to be exposed to. >> In agreement, I think you definitely have to go first. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Good thing you get to set the agenda, >> I guess. So, yeah. So, um, great. Um, sorry, I I interrupted No, you that's it. I just wanted to make sure you guys knew what was coming up, what should we be expecting, and just, >> you know, it's a different process this year. So, I don't think um the more information we could give to public and

250everyone of the process, the dates, the expectations, >> um that's all. >> Will the entire budget committee be here for >> No, the expectation isn't that the budget they get invited. It would, you know, it's kind of like how you've been attending their meetings like you have to be there because you're on the >> other other members. other members. >> I just go because I enjoy it. >> Other members have been showing up in the audience. And so the same thing goes for them. They can send one of their reps to here to help answer questions, to help clarify anything um to be here for the discussion. They're welcome to do so, but it's not a requirement for them to come. >> Okay. >> Know that the meeting is taking place here. >> We will

251let Jake know immediately and get it out to the budget committee as I didn't go to the left. >> Can we change the location on the town calendar as well? >> Yeah, I can't. But when we talk to Jake tomorrow and let them know that it's now going to stay here now that we have that direction. We weren't sure before today. Um I will let Jake know that we're going to continue our meetings here so that way he can make those adjustments. Yeah, >> we we should probably get one more mic so that if if any of them are here next at the next meeting like we've had to get up and speak a few times if they want to be able to to speak. >> Yeah, definitely another mic, you know, because we don't

252even know how much of that was picked up. >> I know. Yeah, I did think about that. So, >> okay, great. >> So, school board here on the 20th, school board here on December 4th, but then on Wednesday, December 10th, if we would be going to the town hall. Correct. Because that's a warrant review and that's their meeting. Yep. So, >> Y >> um final review, just to clarify, final review 6 PM town hall school board, but that's a that's our regularly scheduled school board meeting. So, that is change it here. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Oh, actually since you brought that up, we did talk a little bit about warrant article discussion. Are we comfortable? Like is there anything else that we were going to put forth as warrants this year? We

253don't have we don't have contracts. It was just going to be the budget, but are we going to do a warrant for the capital reserve fund? >> Yeah. >> To continue to fund the capital, the capital reserves, whatever. Yes. Yeah. >> And you'll be talking. >> Yes. >> Okay. Just want to make sure on the edge of my seat. Yeah. Yeah. Um, another meeting. >> no, no, not an extra. >> It's easy. I'm giving you a hard time right now. >> It would be, but >> um, okay, Christine, anything else? >> Uh, nope. That's all I've got. Just a another just thank you to the board for everything with the building project and thank you to EMC for coming tonight. Thank you to Josh >> for all the work he did this summer. It was

254a great >> learn by fire project for him. Um, but >> definitely thank you for all the support from everyone. >> Is that why you were here tonight, Josh? >> What? >> No, >> I'm here because I'm just hates me watching on my phone and yelling at the phone. Things are said that I could chime in. >> Like, you didn't miss your opportunity tonight to talk about your your your fear of skid steers or sturge, whatever they are. >> Well, no, because I was wondering that. Well, we're also down >> I didn't know if you were here because of the technology component of it. >> We're we're also down three today. Three employees today. So, I don't want to put that burden on. >> Okay. All right. I just want I just I was trying

255to understand. >> He likes it. He likes that. No, I think it's wonderful. But I just was trying to understand like were you on the technology portion here or did Maria say you had to stay here? >> On behalf of Maria for a brief moment. I do not want any take any credit. And I already apologize to Marie to speak, but uh she is a thumbs up, so I guess I spoke correctly. >> Okay, Bill. >> Awesome. >> Uh just a couple of things. Happy birthday, Jen. >> She's 35. >> And then uh it's already been mentioned, but we're I'm so thankful for our team who does the V Veterans Day lunchon, and I just want to say uh uh thank you to the service for all our veterans. uh and they're invited and we

256and I really appreciate what they do to help educate our students and so that's it. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Um I don't have a ton. I just wanted to So I do I do like meeting here. Um my only downside is I can't see Matt. I have not been able to see Matt tonight. And so um so but I but I do think we have we we have squared it off more but I think that we were kind of angled a little bit. It's not I mean I don't mean this in a bad way but like >> versus a you >> Yeah. Like so I do I can see everybody but I'm but I have to do this. But it's it's still okay. It's still way better. It's still way better. Um and I'm

257happy that we're going to continue to >> maybe we can Yeah. move just >> Oh, there's there's half a table over here. That's >> Well, that's the other thing is that, you know, could we if we did three in the front and then, you know, Jen, Matt, Greg, you know, I I don't know. Ju that's just a just a thought that um it's because they're like weirdly shaped, too. So, anyway, >> we need we need bean bags and then we can all sit crisscross after >> I love bean bags. >> And I apologize. I was a little off today, but um you know, tired. It's been a busy It's a busy busy >> work life, everything. >> Yeah. >> Um, we did have a non-public per RSA 91- A3 2C. Thank you. We had one

258prior to this public meeting >> and >> yeah, just get me whatever. Um, so we don't have one after this. >> We don't have one. Nope. Nope. >> And we're doing well looking. >> But I do have to say that, don't I? We did well. >> Uh, no. >> No, >> I didn't have to say that. >> It's publicly noticed. Typically, you'd only have to say that. >> You have the right to call a nonpublic at any time. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And >> look at 9:15. >> Oh, wow. >> Yep. And our next meeting is November 20th at EEES. >> Yes. >> And happy birthday, Jen. >> Happy birthday. >> We are here. 9:15. Not bad. >> No, that excellent work tonight, people. Yeah, that actually was for a a