001meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. on March 3rd. Um, I think we'll do a roll call. So, we'll start with uh Rachel >> present. Um, Sarah Bess >> present. >> William >> present. >> And I thought I saw Jenny, but >> I'm present. >> You're present. Ah, there you are. Thank you. Okay, so everybody's here. Awesome. All right. So, um I'm wondering, do you see anybody, Seth, that looks like they might want to give public comment? >> Yes, possibly. We have two attendees. Um I just don't actually know Zoom. Oh, I can hit allow to talk. Um Megan, could you handle the public comment? I'm just not as well versed in Zoom. >> Apparently, only the host can do it. Oh, wait. No, I got it. I can do the allowed talk the allowed talk.
002Um, yes, I can do that. If you are in the attendee list and you would like to make public comment, please just raise your hand so I know that you would like to do so and I will unmute you. >> Point of order. Is the meeting being recorded? Do we have to also record it or is it just live streamed on YouTube and then YouTube saves it? the latter. >> Okay. >> I don't see any raised hands. All right. Well, we do have one recorded, one voicemail, so I'm going to switch over here and see if I can play it. Board docs has been really slow for me this afternoon. >> Hello, this is Julio Malonga, Pelum resident, pel tax practic, and resident of two children at Pelum Elementary. I'm calling in regards to the
003proposed revision to goal three of the superintendent evaluation plan. The revised goals are for committee that has not been made yet. Shouldn't the goals be modified based on the information requested by the futures committee once the committee is formed? Is the superintendent participation in the select board futures group going to be completed as part of a normal job salary expectation or will the town of Colum be charged more in central office costs for superintendent participation? What specific programmatic questions in phase one is it designed to answer? What assumptions, if any, are being made about the long-term viability of Pelum Elementary? And most importantly, will the review by the superintendent explicitly include models for sustaining pelum, not only models that reduce or eliminate it? Thank you. >> Okay. Um, that was the only public comment by
004voice and I had received no emails. Um, so we'll move on to new and continuing business. And the first item on the agenda is the quarter 2 budget update from Shannon. >> Hi Shannon. >> Hello. I I'm going to present my screen. Just give me one moment. >> Okay. Can you see it all? Can everybody see it? >> Yes, I I think so. Yes, that's good. Okay. Um so this is for the quarterly quarter uh quarter 2 report which ends December um 31st. Uh right now in our payroll lines it's under what we would like or what we would typically see. Part of this is that the unit A and C um APA contracts our largest bargaining unit was just ratified. I think that was last week. Um, so once those retros from those contracts
005are completed, we'll see that jump to where it actually should be. Um, but not yet for unit B. And I'm not sure what where that stands at this at this point. But, um, that's why it's kind of underutilized. And the substitutes line, it's um, it seems okay for where it's at right now. It's lower than where it was last year at this time, which is good for us. Um, that's a good sign to see. In terms of special education, I'm going to look at my notes because these two pieces in special education and support services gets a little confusing. Um, so for special education, we had a student um choice into the district um that uh needed services um for at an out of for an out of district placement. So the student choiced in
006but then ended up going to another place to meet the needs of that student. Um so there is an incumbrance on here for $131,000 for that students out of district placement. So that hits the pelum budget. However, because they are a school choice in student, we will claim that on our school choice claims and receive that money back in school choice funding. Um, so at some point, we're not going to do it this quarter, but at a later quarter, we will ask to increase the amount of school choice funding for this purpose, and it'll end up being a net wash. Um, I'm not increasing it or I'm not going to ask for that now because right now it's only encumbered and we haven't actually paid the bill and if something changes um I don't want
007us to to vote it until I actually see the bills being paid but we've encumbered what the the anticipated cost is going to be. Um, in terms of our support services, we had a appellum resident um that choiced out of the district and we had originally had $50,000 in our um special education budget for that student. And that um student choiced out as we receive the um school choice assessment amount. So when that other school district claims what to charge us, that comes in um monthly that uh that is anticipated when I do the math of how it'll be. Um it's it's more like 73,000 and some change 74,000. So we only had 51,000 to support that. They're it's costing more um for their placement and the programming that they're receiving. So we're short about
00823,000. So that is a cost that Pelum would have to pay because it is their stu it is a Pelum resident student. So we might have well we will have to ask for approximately 23,000 in additional school choice funds to offset that. Um, however, I would still like to wait for a later quarter to do that and not at this time. In terms of our facilities budget, we had an unant unanticipated cost for our sprinkler system inspection, which is done every five years. Um, so I have I I'm going to add that to our capital planning going forward, five years out from now, so that we're aware when that is upcoming. Um, and it was about $8,200 and they had to remove some of the sprinkler heads and replace them with new ones and they
009get tested. Um, so we'll we'll plan for that going forward in the future. If we didn't have that cost, the facilities would have been around 58%. Um, and right now we have um some contracted services for HVAC and plumbing um that we weren't able to do in in house. Although we have recently onboarded an HVAC person that we haven't been able to fill in quite some time. Um so that's good in in terms of less contracting out for the remainder of the year. Um, and then we also have some encumbered purchase orders for regular maintenance that they plan to use throughout the year. Um, but we'll see in a later quarter if some of those can be closed out. Usually in March and uh March or so is when I actually it's March now is
010when I start um checking in with staff members to see what is been encumbered and what hasn't been paid or it's it's been open for a while. Why? and let's start closing things out so we can fine-tune for the end of the year. Um, other than that, overall it's in okay shape, I guess, depending on how you look at it. Um, in terms of understanding the net wash with the special education line, um, but the additional support needed for, uh, a resident that had to go out of district. >> Okay. Um, any questions from the committee? Uh, Rachel, th >> this one is just brief just for folks listening. Can you clarify what the word encumbered means that you're using here for everyone? >> Yes. So, uh, if we have a when we create a
011purchase order, uh, we we never prepay something. So, we generate a purchase order just say for $1,000. And so, that goes in the encumbered line. Once we get an invoice, then we and let's say the invoice is for $400. $400 would show up at in the yeartoate expense, but the remaining 600 of that purchase order stays in the encumbered section. So, we anticipate to spend it, but it has not actually been spent. >> Thank you. Um I I have a couple other just clarifying questions, Shannon. Um I I don't know if it's in this budget or somewhere else and I know I asked you this in a separate email cover, but is food services being reimbursed the way that the state is set up to do that? Can you just clarify what's happening with food
012services? >> Yeah. So food services is not on the operating budget at all. So that's why you don't see it in any of these categories. And it's fully funded by um the reimbursement for the meals. So all of the expenses, the food, the people, the staffing, that's all on the revolving fund, not on the operating budget. >> Thank you. And then I have two questions on those two special ed choice students. I understand they're two different situations, but um the student who choiced the first student you spoke about, the student who choiced in and now is in a special ed placement out of district, is that going to be a continuing um issue for us or is that this year? Do you know if that's something we're going to continue? >> Well, yes. If the
013student continues to stay in their placement and for some reason does not go back to their home school um then yes because once we accept them as choice student and then they we find a placement for them they're our student unless the family decides to go back. So yes, it is and uh but we receive the reimbursement so it should be um it should not cost Pelum or something. >> Okay. And then this might I imagine we don't know for the student that is a Pelum resident who has moved out of district. I wanted to just clarify is that a choice student who's moved out of district or a special ed placement out of district >> that is a Pelum resident so one of our students who choiced out of the district and has special
014education needs so it's more than the 5,000 that you would pay you we would have to pay whatever their services are for the district that they're at. >> Great. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, any other questions from anyone? Okay. Um, all right. Thank you, Shannon. >> Yes. Go back to my Okay. Um the next item here um is to invite MASC to come and do a an a program on how to advocate for funding and um I have followed up with Tracy Novik um from MASC who is quite happy to come and do that. um she had actually penciled the date into her calendar after the parent call just to hold on to it. Um so we can go ahead with that. That won't be a school committee meeting. Um it would only be a
015school committee meeting if if a quorum was there and we had a discussion, but that is not the plan for that meeting. So, um I will get back to the parent um and they can figure out how they want to advertise that. I also asked Tracy if we could invite the committees from our other towns and she said that would be fine. You know, she said she'll talk to however many people come. So um so I think this will be a really good opportunity for people and we can help them advertise about it as well. Um okay I think the next item is um >> I have a quick question. >> Yeah best go ahead. >> Do you have a date for that? Yes, I believe I believe it's a week from Friday, but I
016I can send an email out and confirm that or or double check my email. >> Okay, thank you. >> Yeah. All right. Sorry, I'm trying to get back to my agenda. I just pulled it up. It's March 13th. Sarah, for your notes. >> Thank you, Rachel. Do we have a time yet? Okay. >> I I think there was a time in there, but I will confirm that with Tracy just to make sure on the time. >> Thanks. >> Yeah. All right. I have lost my agenda, but I think that the next item is um the Dr. disease um revised goals. >> It is. You are correct, Margaret. I'm ready to go. >> Okay. Thank you. And Megan is going to present these for us. >> Yeah. So, good evening everyone. Give me one moment and
017I'm going to pull up the attached document. I'm not going to go through that document as a whole, but I did um work with Dr. Z so that we were both prepared to present her goals this evening. She is on leave so she unfortunately is not available but I am very happy to do so on her behalf. Um so I'm just sharing just a section of the attached document which is just a section that shows what her original goal was and what the suggested revised goal is at this time. Um, I am not going to go through that entire document. I have something else that I'm going to share with you guys. But if you do have questions about that document specifically, please let me know. Um, additionally, I'll do my best to answer any
018questions that you do have. But I would like to, if possible, have those held for the end just so I can get through what I have to say. And then if I can answer your questions, I'll let you know. If it's something that I don't feel as though I can answer and would be more appropriate for Dr. Z, I will make note of it and ask her um for you. Um so she asked that I share an overview of the revision that she has to her goal three on her superintendent evaluation plan. Um she would like me specifically to begin by grounding this in the broader structure of her goals. So um framing it around those other goals that she does have. Each of her goals this year is specifically tied to the work and
019direction of how things are going in the districts. They're not abstract goals. Um, while there is one that's a little more unique to Pelum, they are supposed to tie all of the work that she's doing together. They reflect all of the major projects and issues that require prioritization of leadership time, district capacity, and alignment amongst our team. Um, so I'm going to review some of the other goals that she has just briefly for you. Goal one is overarching and primarily focuses on strengthening employee evaluation systems um with the intent of supporting clarity, accountability, and alignment across leadership and across our staff as a whole. Goal two centers on the Ammerst K through6 restructuring effort, which is a major district-wide initiative that requires significant coordination and planning from all of our teams. Goal four focuses on
020updating the bullying prevention and intervention plan. Um something which is currently underway to ensure policy alignment, compliance, and consistent implementation across the districts. While I mentioned those other goals, I do want to note that I'm not touching on those other goals primarily tonight. If you have questions about them, you can. But I'm specifically speaking to goal three. Goal three, which addresses Pelum Elementary, um must similarly reflect the current context in the discipline sequencing of work that you see reflected in those other goals. So when goal 3 was originally drafted, the fiscal context in December reflected one set of projections. However, it was in January, following updated level service calculations and us having a clearer understanding of municipal constraints um that that fiscal reality kind of shifted a little bit. The updated level service figures clarified
021the magnitude of the structural pressures specifically that are facing the town of Pelum and inherently the school district. Um, Pelum Elementary School represents a significant portion of the town's overall budget and the enrollment pattern, staffing configuration and program structure are directly connected to the broader municipal financial landscape. While fiscal conditions do not predetermine outcomes regarding the school, they do require that we focus our work in a certain way and that we carefully sequence our work and ground it in a clear understanding of what our programmatic realities are. Additionally, the select board established the Pelum Elementary School Futures Committee to study options for educating Pelum students. Dr. Z has been named as a member of that community and will participate when the work formally begins. It is not full fully begun yet, but it is in
022progress. Although the futures committee has not yet launched, its creation reinforces the importance of ensuring that the district's programmatic review is structured and disciplined before broader municipal conversations continue. For that reason, the revision to goal three represents a refinement in scope rather than a complete departure from her original intent of the goal. So, it's not comp like completely getting rid of the goal, getting rid of the intent that was there to begin with, but making sure it's more clear um what she intends to do here. The updated goal clarifies that the work will be completed by May 26, a timeline that was not included in the original goal and that represents the foundational phase of a comprehensive programmatic review. This foundational phase is going to include establishing baseline enrollment and staffing data, identifying program strengths
023and areas of pressure, engaging various stakeholders, synthesizing the findings that comes out of that work, and presenting clearly defined next steps specific to continued programmatic review. Um, this revision incorporates feedback not only from the January 27th meeting, but other feedback that Dr. has received in her work clarifies evidence of completion and makes explicit that the next steps are really tied directly to advancing that programmatic review. Importantly to note that this work is not going to conclude in May 2026. The foundational review completed this spring is going to serve as a framework for deeper programmatic analysis and the broader picture as we move into the 2026 to 2027 school year. It establishes clarity and structure so that our future conversations will be more informed by data, stakeholder voice, and the educational priorities that we have. And
024Dr. Z views these changes as minor in structure but very vital in maintaining clarity and alignment within her goals within her work across districts. Uh they ensure responsible sequencing of work while preserving the original intent of conducting a comprehensive student- centered programmatic review of Pelum Elementary School. and she does welcome your discussion and feedback. Once again, I'm open to try to answer the questions that I can. I will let you know if I am unable to answer them. And I really did share this original goal and suggested revised goal just so you can kind of see how some of it carries over into the next one. I will leave it up while I speak, but I I can accept questions or comments um at this time. >> Okay. Um, I can't see uh so comments
025or questions. Okay, >> Rachel has her hand up. >> Yeah, >> and I Rachel. Yeah, Rachel. Okay. >> Okay. Thanks, Rachel. Go ahead. >> Um, I don't have questions for you, Megan. And I just have some thoughts as we're looking at this as a committee. Um I know that it seems like the financial landscape changed, but from everything I have been looking into and speaking with folks about the financial pressures and questions around the future of the school have really been on the table for decades and there's not so much of a shift. So, one of the big things that I'm really coming to understand is that short-term planning is the most necessary work. Um, and really as I as I've been having those conversations and thinking about Dr. Z's goal right now, as it
026was written, um, short-term recommendations seem like exactly what will be most helpful for this in between period as the school futures committee does its work, which is which will bring me to the next thing I want to say. The school futures committee is a year-long project that hasn't begun yet and won't begin until at least April. I know that Megan, what you're what you're specifically sharing here doesn't say this so much, but a lot of the evidence of progress is dependent on that school futures committee. And I'm concerned that having this goal um fixed around that committee that won't begin until April will not be setting Dr. Z up for success. Um because it will it will go from April to the following April which does not give a whole lot of time for Dr.
027Z to show progress in just April to May which is the time frame we'd be looking at here. And then the other the other big thing on my mind is that we got some initial steps that had been taken in the midyear update that we got from Dr. Z in late January. I think it would be really helpful for the committee to see what further movement has been made before we consider a revision so that we understand. I know that there was discussion about community outreach survey. I know there was discussion about a committee being formed. I don't know what has happened since then and I think it would be really valuable for us to have that update before we are able to adequately consider revising the goal. And then the very last thing I
028want to say is just we're we're already I think about twothirds of the way as my as I'm measuring it through this year's goal period. And I just like as a general best practice um this this is a hard timeline for a goal to be changed for someone to really be able to demonstrate success with a with a moving goalpost at this point in the process. >> Um is I see that Sarah has her hand up. Is it okay if I respond to a couple of those things? >> I just have a request that you take the screen down because I can't see who's talk. It's hard to >> Oh, yeah, of course I can. I just I thought it might be helpful for people, but I >> Yeah, we have it on on board
029docs. Thank you. >> Perfect. Um, so I want to comment on a couple of those things. One thing, uh, I'll say I do agree with the first statement that you made that the fish school situation didn't like just change all of a sudden. These have been financial realities that Pelum's been facing for a while. Um, I think a lot of people are just slowly becoming more aware of that fact. And one of the just key things here is thinking about how that fiscal reality informs this review and the urgency and the context behind this review. Um, it doesn't necessarily predetermine outcomes, but it makes this review essential. And the goal still remains on programmatic analysis. We're I think what I was speaking to a little bit more there is that that shift that additional information
030that we got from John Tricky earlier this year that that was part of talking about fiscal realities changing we we received some new information that we didn't have previously and as well as just the growing knowledge of these fiscal realities in the community. I think by some of the other things that have occurred just recently within the districts. It's awesome that more people are getting involved, but it also shows a lot of people weren't aware of just how big of an issue some of these fiscal realities were prior. So, I think that's really important. Um, another piece that I want to comment on is just kind of the idea that this is fixed around the futures committee. Um, that that's a key part of this. Dr. Z's participation is a key part of this and
031it is connected to this 100%, but it's not focused solely around the futures committee. um it doesn't commend depend on the committee beginning that work. Um we can still make other forward movement with regards to the programmatic review prior to that work being begun and prior to that work being completed. It that work will just inform this review and the programmatic review is districtled. It's not led by the the committee. That's just a part of ensuring alignment throughout this process. Another thing that I wanted to state um and I'm I mean this as respectfully as possible. So similarly to Dr. Z, if anything I say offends you, please let me know. Um my intent is just providing clarity here. she um has actually come forward a few times at this point um to revise her
032goals and I I can understand why um it might seem like an odd time to revise them, but I would like to note this is not the first time that revision of the goal has been suggested or requested. So, it's not like a sudden suggestion to do those things. But, um I won't comment on that further. I just wanted to um bring that point forward. Okay, William. >> Yes. Uh, sorry about that. I um I I I I just feel like we're so far in and I it would be nice to fully understand what the benefit would be to changing the goals and hearing the reasons why there wants to be a goal change. I I'm really more in favor of keeping the goal as it was already adopted. That's all. >> Okay. I won't
033comment further on that aspect at this time. Um, Jenny, >> as I see it, um, this gold, if anything, is just telling us that she wants to expand the scope of her examination of what's happening in Pelum. That originally this was supposed to be a relatively minor undertaking and a short-term review. And now she's saying given the financial situation, given the level of interest coming from the community and the level of concern that the goal, you know, that she wants to make this a more comprehensive review. I don't read anything in the document suggesting that she is not going to if anything it seems like she is doing what she originally said she was going to do and she's taking on more than what was in that original goal. I don't see her overpromising anything
034and I trust that she wouldn't set herself up for failure and it I think this just sets a a high bar which she obviously is is willing to do for herself and her team to really invest in helping the school committee and the broader Pelum committee understand the status of our school as well as you know where what what are what current trends might tell us about the future. So, I um I totally hear that this feels like weird timing to do this, but I don't see any substantive reason why we would resist a movement in this direction where she's, if anything, demonstrating an even greater commitment to helping support our school committee and community. >> Thank you, Jenny. Um I am going to take some responsibility for the fact that we are this far
035along in the year as the chair of the committee. This came to us in January. we were at not as specifically written but um we had a meeting in January about the goals and we as a committee did not take any action at that time. Um so I will take as the chair I will take on some responsibility for that because I think Dr. Z has been wanting to make some changes and we have not responded with an action, meaning we haven't said yes or no. We haven't had a vote. Um, I guess I would also like to say that if you look at the work she's doing in her other districts, it it's really tied to the work that's happening in the district. And for us, the work that's happening this year, a big
036chunk of it is around the budget. And I think that these goals, what she wants to to add into these goals, reflects the fact that that's really important work this year and continuing into the coming year. Um, so I I I'm in favor of accepting the transition. I think we have to give her an opportunity to have goals and I feel like these are going to give us more information with things that weren't in the original goals. while she's continuing with the idea of the programmatic review. >> I see that Rachel has her hand up. Is it okay if I just say something really quick? >> Yes. >> Thank So, first of all, thank you Margaret and Jenny for the comments that you just made. I think they were really helpful and Jenny captured some
037of the key context and priorities here. Um, and then I just want to give you guys a little context that I think would be important and then unless I've asked a question, I don't think I have anything further to say. Um, but important context to have is just kind of how the cycle of evaluation works within the district and how I think in some ways that's relevant to um, some of the comments that were made about the timing of this. um because it is the practice for all employees to have a minimum of a beginning of a year evaluation meeting midyear and end of year and I'm actually engaged in that process um in which I am evaluated by the superintendent and I had to set goals at the beginning of the year and I
038too um identified that there was a need to revise some of my goals and part of that um which anyone who has worked in education or in research would understand is making sure they are smart goals and that they are specific and measurable. And one of the key things that I see here and that I had to look at with my goals was that um Dr. Z made it more specific and more measurable. Previously it was a little more general um and incorporating those things. Uh part of that the intent there was to improve the goal as a whole. But um that was all I had to say and if you guys have any further questions let me know. Rachel, >> I just want to emphasize um the the first like coupling of things I
039said. I think at this moment for our district, the way that our town is engaging in this process of figuring out what is necessary for the school and the budget um which which is being out outlined effectively as a multi-year process like the school futures committee has a full year to just do research which is going to be followed by probably another year before there's recommendations and then more time before any decisions are made. So, I really I want to emphasize the change to the re rise goal takes out the short-term recommendations, which is what I think is is most necessary for us as a school committee in making choices and moving forward as as a as a school at this moment. And the other thing I want to say is we we don't have
040the artifacts or evidence of of what progress has been made. So, I understand uh I I just wanted to say that in response to some of the comments that like progress has been made. Um we haven't seen what progress has been made. We know that there was a draft of a survey, but it hasn't gone out. And there there are a lot of things that were perhaps in draft form, but haven't actually moved forward yet. And so we we don't actually know what the superintendent has done aside from the two community meetings in response to the budget um in terms of making progress towards this goal. And it looks to me from everything I'm reading that this is for sure now in smart format and also has a whole lot more to accomplish including the
041entire section 2B B2 um really be um really grounded in this school futures committee that doesn't yet exist. William, >> uh, I just have a process question. I know that the school committee sets the goals or the all three. Do we have the ability to change this goal without it going approval from all three districts? That was my process question. >> Yes, we do. we can vote on it ourselves and pass it back to the other committees. So yes, we can we I've I inquired about that earlier and yes, we can do that. >> But the just to follow up, the other committees would have to also accept them. >> No, I don't I don't I mean I'll double check, William, after the meeting, but >> I was just curious. Sorry, >> I I don't
042believe so. I I believe that we can recommend since this is a specific to Pelum that we can recommend this back. Jenny, I have a clarifying question because I want to make sure I'm understanding. Um Rachel, you just made the comment that this change would take away the shortterm review. I was not interpreting the document in that way. When I was looking at number two in the document where it says conduct baseline programmatic review, I was thinking that that was the same thing that that the baseline review is a short-term programmatic review and that what this change would do would be expanding beyond that. So my question is a clarifying one I think for Megan um whether you can help us um understand whether this change would remove the original goal or is instead an
043expansion upon the original goal. >> Yeah. Sorry. Bear with me a second. Uh I just turned my camera off because I'm not feeling great. Um the the primary intent here is that it's an expansion along the original goal. It doesn't mean that there isn't going to be short-term review. Um part of the thing here was that Dr. Z didn't want to make preemptive recommendations because we we saw what happened there. when preemptive recommendations are made, it can cause immediate concern. Um, that might makes a lot of sense, but we don't want to cause unnecessary concern when the primary purpose here is to have a discussion and conduct that review. So we wanted to focus more on grounding that in additional analysis and datainformed work versus making more immediate recommendations. I think that's the key thing
044here. It is expanding on the work. It is not saying there won't be more short-term review and action, but it is just making it clear that that is not the sole intent because before it only said that the purpose was to present short-term recommendations and it didn't say anything about long-term recommendations or review. I hope that clarifies. Please let me know if you have more questions. Sarah Bess, >> sorry, I lose my mouse when I'm trying to like take notes on the other side. Okay. Um, so a couple of thoughts. Um, so I think the updated goal as presented sounds to me like a great goal for next year. Um, I think there the intent of this is fantastic and I think it's information that we need and however my concern is that this is
045taking on too much to be completed in the next 3 months. Um, so and I I hear what um Rachel is saying about the short-term recommendations, which I think is um part of what is causing um great concern in the community right now. It feels like uh we have a we have to a next year we have to manage before we can manage years out. Um, which I think both are important. Um, but I think we need uh to think about like the next school year importantly. Um, so I guess I kind of feel split between the original goal three as it was written slashpresented and the updated expanded goal. I think um the the document that was attached today or for today's meeting um is is great for um for a a a next
046school year goal. Um so that's yeah, that's how I I think about it right now. Okay, Rachel. Um, I thank you Sarah Bus, thank you Jenny for asking those questions and Megan for explaining. Um, some of your explanations, Megan, are not are not quite what I see in the document. So, I I agree with Sarah that framing this for next year would be helpful and perhaps clarifying some of that in that case would be valuable. I would like to call the question of of not accepting this revised goal and ex and moving forward with the goal that Dr. Z set in November. >> All right. Do I have a second on calling the question? >> Second. >> Okay, we will take a roll call vote. William, >> yes. >> Jenny, >> I'm sorry. Are we
047voting on calling the question? >> Yes. >> Oh, yes. Sarah Bess. >> Yes. >> And Rachel. >> Yes. >> And Margaret. Yes. Okay. So, that means that we need a motion. Um, like to make one. >> Point of order. I actually don't think we need a motion if we are not I think we only need a motion if we are >> if we're going to advance. >> Okay. All right. So then I guess the response back to Dr. Z will be that we did not accept the revised goal. Um and I'm not sure what the next step will be after that. So, we will see what comes next. Thank you everybody for that. Um, the other item on here I was hoping we could review. Uh Jenny has worked on um a document that Sarah
048Best graciously shared with us that she put a lot of work into for the region and this has to do with the new member orientation. Um I can bring it up on the screen. Let me see if I can figure out go back there. Share. I get to the right place. Oh boy. I've not done this before, so bear with me. Um, have it up here. You are screen sharing. Yes, I know. But I can't see my screen. You're in the way. Oops. No, that's not it. >> Is it helpful if someone else shares while you facilitate? It's hard to do both at once. >> Sure, it would be fine. Are you volunteering, Rachel? >> Yeah, I'm happy to. >> Thank you. >> Yes. >> I'm gonna open it and then share screen. Okay, I'm
049going to stop sharing and we'll let Rachel do that. Thank you. >> Yes, everybody can see. >> Okay. So, um I have you all had a chance to look at this? Um so I'm wondering if people have >> point of order. I can't hear you, Margaret. Sorry. You can't hear me. >> Try talk again. I might need to have my audio on for you when I'm sharing screen. Talk again, Margaret. >> Okay. Can you hear me now, William? >> It sounds like you're whispering. I don't know what's going on. Sorry. >> It's >> I can hear Margaret fine. >> Okay. It must just be my connection. I apologize. >> Sorry, William. >> That's okay. All right. So, um I'm wondering I guess first of all Oh, well, we can go down through here. Some of
050these things are pretty obvious. Um, you know, the charting the course. Um, I appreciated the what went into this orientation meeting with the chair and superintendent because I my experience is that in the past is it either didn't happen or it was very brief. Um, I think that I think that um this is much more comprehensive. Um, I >> Margaret Jenny and Sarah Best have their hands up. I don't know if you want >> Okay, Sarah Bess. Um, so I I don't know if um Jenny added or updated anything that was on here before, but policy BIA is a already a policy. >> The document that I wrote just operationalized it and created links to >> all of links where there needed some needed to be. So, >> you know, MASC charting the course I
051think is is a law. Um, and then um you know items one through six and then um are are part of the policy already. and then the the material those are links um from that were already in there. And then number seven is what I I wrote unless Jenny has other items that she has added or updated in there. I have um I see that this doesn't have the yearly agenda in it which um it had the region. >> Sorry, I'm scrolling up now. >> It's okay. >> Oh, there it is right there. I do have an update. I've been working on the Pelum Pelum agenda. I think this is a link to the regional one. Um, >> yeah. So, the document I shared with Margaret, um, I did not change the spirit of what
052you wrote, Sarah Best, because it seemed really thorough and I just wanted to thank you for doing all of this work because it's super helpful and I think it is a practice that we should put in place going forward for new school committee members. Um I I also wanted to just sort of provide some context like this came originally we were sort of noting that we didn't have a formal process and so um a couple of us were asked to sort of take on writing this and then it before we even got very far down that road uh we were told that hey Sarah Best has done a lot of the work for us. So um so I I felt like what you had developed was really strong. There are there is a comment in
053the version that I shared with Margaret around the documents that are listed 7 C through F or G I believe. Um not all of the current links in that section are accessible to Pelum school committee members. So we would need to create either get add access to Pelum school committee members to where those documents currently live online or create a folder for the Pelum school committee so that we can access those documents. Um, and I think we could make sure in the process of doing that that we are linking not just to the regional or you that that all of the links are going directly to the relevant Pelum >> document. I don't have enough insight into how the back end of all of that folder stuff is organized such that I could go ahead
054and like make those changes myself. But I did want to note that not all the hyperlinks in this current version are taking us exactly where they would need to. And so I my my comment in the version I shared was that we want we would want to make sure but the the links in every other section of the document go to um kind of relevant versions of these um you know like the open meeting law, the conflict of interest. I mean those things don't change. The district budget link actually goes to a folder that has all three districts budgets accessible within it. So, I did check as many links as I could and flagged um there are a few that we would need to update, but I did not I didn't add any new sources
055or suggest removing any of the sources that Sarah Best had already spent time and energy sort of identifying and listing. Okay, thank you. Um, any other comments or questions, suggestions? Okay. Uh, so I think we should put this file onto the shared drive under that under this goal. um and start to work on the things that we need to link directly and that that's something I can help with. Um so this is great. Thank you Jenny and Sarah Best for all this work. Um that is all I have for the goals for tonight. I think that at our meeting in Mar in a April in April that we should review all the goals that we made. Um I have started working on something for the chair um information for a a chair. Um but I
056need to do more and I think uh under the budget goal I think we have a number of artifacts that we'll be able to put into that folder. I think the budget drafts um and other information I think. Oh, well, um, the email that went out to everybody and and I want to say that I really appreciate what the work that Rachel did on that because she wrote a lot of the context for that and I think it was really excellent communication that went out. So, thank you, Rachel. >> Thank you. And that >> and um, if it's okay, families are really appreciative of it. So, thank you also Margaret for working with me on it and everyone for making it >> possible. >> So, I I think we have a number of things that
057we can place into that folder as well. And I'll see if I can do some of that work before our next meeting. Um, and then uh I just put on here committee updates. Um, I did get an email from somebody in Shootsbury about something that they're doing next week as part of the advocacy week. Um, and they have invited people. I will send that out. The flyer that was attached unfortunately wouldn't open. So, um, I'll see if I can get the actual flyer and I will send it out to all of you. all share it with the PGO. Um, and you all can share it around as well. They're having an event where they're they're going to I think people are going to hold hands around the the school something. Anyway, I I will I'm
058sorry I'm don't have it clear in my brain right now. I will share that out with all of you. Um, and I I'm not sure if anyone else, William or Sarah Best, do you have anything update us about the region? >> I do not. >> Okay. Okay. Anything else? >> Just Mickey have their hands up. >> Mickey. >> Hi. I just want to tell you what we're doing. You were talking about the Shoots Fairy School. Um, and it's getting a little bit messy. So, um, you know, I'll just say that it's we're trying to organize ourselves and it's not always, >> but the we're going to have the students make a big heart in the middle of the snow and take a drone picture. Um, and also, um, we sent out a a call, like
059a email asking for videos. Um, so we're going to make a little video compilation of students saying what they love about Pelum and school and families were asked if they wanted to do it as well. So, I just thought I'd tell you what we're doing. Thank you. Mickey said what I was going to say. I just wanted to connect this dot for everyone. The March 13th date that Tracy Novc is likely coming is also envisioned to be part of the rural schools act week of action. Um and PTO families are talking very actively about making some space for um letter writing or or some form of advocacy at that event. >> Okay, great. Oh, and one more thing um I will share with you. You know, we were hoping to be able to have a
060joint meeting with maybe the finance committee and the select board. And the finance committee is going to join us on Monday. So, that will be a joint meeting between us and the finance committee. Um, and we will get the the budget presentation and I will hope to post that meeting tomorrow. Um, and I'll be in communicate. Actually, I'm hoping to post both that in the community forum links meetings in the next day or two and I will work with Megan who will send out the meeting invitations and um get the link set up for those and we'll be using Zoom again um for those as well. So, um I have nothing else. If anybody else does, raise your hand. >> Mickey's hand is still up. I don't know if that's a still hand or Oh,
061never mind. >> Okay. Um, well, I will make a motion to adjourn the meeting then. >> Margaret, I just wanted >> We have a consent agenda. >> I also just wanted to confirm >> I'm sorry, I'm not looking at the agenda. I'm looking at all of you. >> I also before we adjourn, I wanted to confirm future dates because I know they were in the letter, but we don't have calendar holds yet. if you could review for everyone. >> Um, okay. So, we have the 9th Monday, we have the 12th next week. Those are those are the the budget the joint meeting with presentation of the budget draft and then the community forum on the specifically on the what gets presented at the Monday night meeting. Then we will have the budget hearing which I
062>> the 26th. Is that right? >> Yeah, that's what I was going to say. The 26th and then um at our regular April meeting we will have the vote and I think that might be the 7th. >> Yeah, that's the >> first that first Tuesday and then we'll have we'll also have a meeting in May. Um, so and town of course the town meeting I think is the 9th. Um, so is that is that what you were looking for, Rachel? >> Yeah, I just wanted it said out loud because I I knew those dates. I didn't know if everybody knew those dates yet. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Can I ask um the meeting on Monday, when and where is that? >> It's going to be virtual. >> Okay. and it's at 6:30. >>
063Is that is that an official school committee meeting? Because I don't see it listed in >> it hasn't been it hasn't been posted yet. That's what I'm going to try and do tomorrow. >> Okay. So, it's a virtual meeting at 6:30. Okay. >> And the one on the one on the 12th will be virtual also. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> And at 6:30 because I that works better for people. I know we're going to have a lot of public interest in those meetings, so hopefully that time will work better for families. >> Okay. So, both of them are at 6:30. Okay. Thanks, Rachel. >> Yeah, I just copied that from the letter that went out to the community. >> Yeah. Um, and the consent agenda, which is our minutes and our warrant. >> I
064move to accept the consent agenda. Second. >> All right. Roll call. William, >> yes. >> Rachel, >> yes. >> Jenny, >> yes. >> Sarah Bess, >> yes. >> And Margaret, yes. The consent agenda is approved. Five to nothing. All right. I now will make a motion to adjourn the meeting. Second. >> Thank you. William, >> yes. >> Rachel, >> yes. >> Jenny, >> yes. >> Sarah Bess, >> yes. >> And Margaret, yes. We are adjourned. Thank you all. We'll see you on Monday.