Pelham School Committee

001Not ready. Ready. Okay. Start. Seeing the presence of a quorum, I call the PEL school committee meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. on Jan, sorry, February 3rd, 2026. Um, so go back to the agenda. Um, our first item of business is public comment. Um, do we have people here who would like to make public comment tonight? >> No one's putting their hand. >> Okay, great. >> Um, yeah. I >> could you I'm sorry. Could you identify yourself? >> I'm Tommy. Um, and I have two kids in Pelum, kindergartener and fifth grader. >> Okay. >> Um, I'm in Amherst, so they choiced in. Um, and I just think that uh it feels like this whole thing is kind of rushed and making a decision to cut off school choice feels like uh a decision that will

002affect the school for a long time. And if there's any way to possibly get more information before that decision is made and keep, you know, the school going as is, that seems like a good idea to me. school choice >> feels like. >> Whoa. >> Sorry about that. >> Okay. >> Yes. I'll say something. Um my name is Alex Taylor. Um and I have I live right around the corner. I have two kids who are um almost four and so they'll they'll be attending elementary um in the fall of uh 27. Um, and I'm still I'm kind of getting up to speed because I just have read some news articles. Um, and I attended the the uh tax meeting last um last week. Um, and I just wanted to say like I um am really

003looking forward to my kids being at this school and I really support having this school. I think it's really important for the social fabric of our town um that this school be be strong and be the center of our town. So, um, I'm, yeah, I'm just here here to learn a little bit more, but I just wanted to voice my support for elementary. Great. Thank you. >> I I think Gowaskki, I have two kids here at the school. help. I my my one kind of question that I have is just I'm kind of vaguely aware that there's maybe some alternative sources of funding that may be available via the maybe the environmental protection work that Helm does for the quabin and um I'm wondering if that's even something that's feasible andor um I know that

004the choice the amount of money that comes from a choice to student is set by the And I'm wondering if that is something that I I I understand that the state has capped that because I I don't know if they're they want to incentivize consolidation or they want to disincentivize people choicing out of their district. Um so Chris know that's both of those are true or one of the other is true. And the other thing I had something about was rural funding for schools. um I forget what the name of that proposition is and if that's another potential source of funding and if we would even as Pelum given given the requirements for that if we would qualify for that world funding. So it was just those those three. >> Thank you. I'm trying to

005make note of your questions. >> Okay. I can share. I'm Kristen Samagetti. I'm a Palm resident. I have a sixth grader and a seventh grader. We originally school choiced into Palum. We were Ammeris residents and then we moved into Pelum. Um, and so while my students won't be impacted by the conversations that are taking place, I think I just want to advocate for parents and caregivers and members of the Pelum community just on process and transparency. And you know, I did flag in an email yesterday. There was a listening session that directly conflicted with the arrival time for our school concert. So many parents were chatting about it, but outside of the space that we were given to chat about it and so just making sure that there's a lot of intentional um and thoughtful

006communication. So, thank you. Okay. Well, I have some public comment that came in by phone which I'm going to play. >> Hi, my name is Carolyn Bassid. I'm a resident of Palum. I'm calling for your public comment for the next school committee meeting. Um, this is with regard to the very important debate questions that are going on about the >> Sorry, I started part way down through the list, so I'm going to go back and start at the beginning. >> Okay. >> Hi. Uh, my name is Chris Mitch. I have a fourth grader who attends Palm Elementary through school choice and a child who will be entering Palm's kindergarten class next year also through school choice. Uh I want to advocate for not merging the kindergarten and first grade classes. Uh as you as you

007all know a lot of Helen students come through school choice uh and these families actively choose PM because it's a great school. Um but merging the kindergarten and first grade classes will make I think significantly uh less competitive. Uh, speaking personally, my wife is now very worried about whether we should send our young kids to home if this murder happens. [clears throat] Uh, and I'm sure we're not the only family thinking this way. And not to believe the obvious, but this school family chooses our options and the budget shortfall will only get worse. We'll save money on one teacher, but lose, you know, six years of funding from a number of students. Uh, so I'd like to encourage the board to to consider solutions that don't compromise qualities that make them huge in the first

008place. Thanks. >> Hi, my name is Carolyn Bass. I'm a resident of Palum. I'm currently public comment for I thought I had my all together here. Okay. My name is a parent of a kindergartener at Palm Elementary and we live in Pelum. Um I just wanted to share that we purposely chose to purchase our home here because of [clears throat] Palm Elementary's excellent reputation uh small class size and close-knit community that it fosters. And I just want to encourage the committee to take the time to engage with the community before making any structural changes so that we can thoughtfully consider what's best for our children. And also to do this um providing opportunities to learn more on a schedule that allows for thoughtful consideration before moving towards any sort of succession planning. Um I'm unable

009to attend tonight's meeting because we have a preschooler event at another school. Although we would have been happy to have him attend Palm Elementary preschool if that program was still available. Um and overall I'm just calling to show my support for the Thomas Pull and Palm Elementary and thank you for your attention to the importance of keeping our elementary school strong for our families and community. Hi. Uh, my name is Chris Meum. I have a fourth grader who attends Palm Elementary through uh, school choice and a child who will be entering Palm's kindergarten class next year, also through school choice. Uh I want to advocate for not merging the kindergarten and first grade classes. Uh as you as you all know a lot of pel students come through school choice uh and these families actively

010choose puzzle time because it's a great school. Um but merging the kindergarten and first grade classes will make home I think significantly uh less competitive. Uh speaking personally, my wife is now very worried about whether we should send our home if this murder happened. >> Sorry. >> And I'm sure we're not the only family thinking this way. >> And not the obvious, but the school choice family is huge. >> I have to apologize. This is the first time I've done this and I thought I really had my act together, but clearly I don't quite Okay, these are our options and the budget shortfall will only get worse. Okay, let's see. >> Save money on one teacher but lose, you know, six years worth of funding from a number of students. Uh, so I'd like to

011encourage the board. >> Okay, I'm going to do it a different way. >> Hello, this is Molly Gallagher, a pelen elementary parent calling ahead of tonight's meeting on the upcoming fiscal budget. I want to urge the committee to think creatively about the long-term sustainability of Pal Elementary. Families deliberately choose to live in Palum and pay taxes specifically so that their children can attend this school. It strength is directly tied to town's vitality and tax base. Additionally, the school's small size is also a real asset. It builds an important niche in the district for students who thrive in smaller, more personal school environments. That uniqueness can attract and retain choice in students, which brings additional funding while strengthening the school community. As you consider future enrollment changes, I hope you'll explore solutions that could preserve the

012school rather than a student contraction. One option more serious consideration is reinstating or and expanding a preschool program if space becomes available, which could support families, strengthen enroll the enrollment pipeline, and help supplement the budget. I appreciate the difficult work you're doing, and I hope the committee will pursue creative forwardlooking solutions that help to keep Pelen Elementary strong. Thank you. Hi, my name is Carolyn Basset. I'm a resident of Pelum. I'm calling to leave a public comment for the next Pelum school committee meeting. Um, this is with regard to the very important debate and discussions that are going on about the future of the Palm Elementary School. Um, I've been listening to recordings of meetings and catching up on this and reading public articles about this and just wanted to share a couple of thoughts.

013Um I uh had a child go to the home elementary school for uh K through six. He had a truly amazing exceptional experience. Went on to graduate from the Ammerst Regional System and Ammeris High School and um is now an adult and um I feel like the school itself is a fundamental part of our wonderful town. Um, the school in many ways is the heart of our community and I recognize the terrible pressures that exist that may cause us to lose our school. Uh, once it's gone, it's probably never coming back and um, I care deeply that this uh, these important questions are given all the due process and time that they deserve. I want to speak specifically to one of the themes that I've heard. Um, it's been mentioned by a couple different people

014that the residents of Pelum have been subsidizing, I believe is the word that's been used, um, the education of kids from outside of Pelum. And as a, um, 25 year taxpayer in Pelum, as the parent of a, um, previous school um, member, I want to really speak to that concept differently. I never ever thought that the um real estate taxes and the other kind of commitments I made to talk to column have been to subsidize somehow an an other group of children. I have thought about the um fiscal model that we've been committed to successfully for a long time um as actually an investment in our town and in our school community and in our children more broadly and that the children of Pelum would be um received with a robust and vibrant educational community

015because we were committed to bringing in so many school choice kids and the community that we had was therefore um much more lively. Um, I recognize that the um, fiscal sustainability of the model is deeply in question and I appreciate all the hard work that's being done to examine the possibility of this for the future, but I just really want to voice my experience was never that we were somehow subsidizing somebody else's children. what we've been doing all these years is really investing in a robust and healthy and um deeply um intentional learning community under the guidance and leadership of such excellent teachers and leadership of the school. So um I also know that I've heard from the current superintendent that she recognizes that >> Hello. Um I am calling in regards to the school

016committee meeting. Hello. Um, I am calling in regards to the school committee meeting that will be held tonight on February 3rd. My name is Malia Weber. Um, I am a parent to a third grader at Palm Elementary and soon to be um, twins who will be um, soon entering the kindergarten class this upcoming fall. And I'm calling just to respectfully urge the committee to hold off on any actions like combining the class classes or otherwise reducing school choice options until a full budget analysis has been completed and is available for community review. Um as as parents um have have stressed before in calls and in communication with the school committee um it's of the utmost importance that this process is deliberative thoughtful and includes the u participation of parents and I'm thankful that um some

017of these wishes I think have been um heard and acted on sides of um the school committee and the superintendent and I'm hopeful that um this continuing dialogue dialogue and engagement can continue till um an effective resolution has been reached. Thank you very much for your time and energy and commitment to this issue. Thank you. Bye-bye. >> Hi, my name is Alice Barber. I'm lucky enough to have two kids currently attending elementary school. As I'm sure you all know, there's been a outpouring of support for this incredible school and widespread outrage over the prospect of closing it. It's so beloved and special and it's essential to the town of Pelum continuing to thrive. What I've been most disappointed though in is with this lack of transparency and force we've seen. It feels rushed and secretive.

018This process needs to slow down and more calculations need to be done. Voters in Pelum have to be made aware of the choice ahead and the financial outlook of various options. Closing the school will do a repable harm to Pelum and it cannot be easily reversed. The building will remain in disrepair. Voters need to hear what the plan is for the costly repairs and the ongoing upkeep of the building or the cost of demolishing it. We are educating children. It will be expensive. It's not a cost, it's an investment, and the return on that investment is invaluable. Thank you very much for listening. >> Hello. Um, I am calling in regards to this school committee meeting that will be held tonight, February 3rd. My name is Malia [clears throat] Weber and I am a parent

019to a third grader at Helen Elementary and soon to be um twins who will be >> Hi, my name is Carolyn Bassid. a resident of Telum. I'm sorry. >> Sorry about that. Okay. I think that that's all I have. And if somebody's out there listening and you sent in or you recorded a comment and I missed it, I apologize and we will take it for the next meeting. Um there's also an document attached to the agenda that has some additional public comments from people that you can read. Thank you everybody. Um so the next item here for us is >> we had new people come in. So we want to see that. Yes. >> Yes. You may. Thank you. >> Can I do it from here? >> You may. [laughter] We have no microphone so

020long. Thank you all for all your work. Um, I just wanted to offer a quick clarification about the phrase cost per child because many families, including myself and PEL residents, are worried that the number they're hearing is a bill to taxpayers. The district and Massachusetts Department of Elementary Secondary Education, DESSE, use a very specific formula for cost per child. Total school budget divided by total number of students enrolled including school choice students. Using that standard formula FY26 cost per student was 21,692 which is actually lower than many other school many other small rural schools in Massachusetts. Data provided by the superintendent office shows in 2024 our dees numbers were lower than Ammerst and Shesbury. There is another cost per child calculation that is presented using a different calculation dividing the town appropriation by only column

021resident students. That number is much higher, but it reflects something different. The taxpayer contribution per child, not the cost to run the school. And it's important to reassure families and pull residents that this higher number is not a tax bill. PAL taxpayers are not being charged $31,13 per child. The school is funded by multiple revenue sources including school choice, state aid, and grants and the special education funding that do not come from local taxes. Families simply want Families simply want clarity so we can understand the real cost of educating our children and participate in these conversations with confidence. For FY27, we encourage the school committee to utilize school choice for K and one prior to making programmatic changes to consolidate classes while looking for long-term ways to generate revenue via prek, Medicaid, etc. in addition

022to school choice. Not saying that school choice increasing is the right way to go, but we can use that to help make changes for the following year with a plan. Thank you to you all. PE school committee members, finance [clears throat and snorts] committee members, and Pel Elementary staff for all the hard work that you do. >> Thank you. >> I'm sorry. There's somebody I do. You also have public comment for us tonight. Okay. get >> would you? >> Yes. You also walked. Yes, I did. >> Um, are you here to offer public comment also? >> No. Okay. >> I think we have another. >> Ah, [laughter] yes. One more person. One more. Great. Um, so my name is Sarah Sora. I am the mother of two students, a kindergartener and a second grader. I

023have another child at home who in a few years will be a kindergartener, but we're not going to rush things. I'm also a Pelum graduate myself and a I'm trying to calculate last night. I'm either a seventh or eighth generation Pelum resident. So, my family has been living here for multiple generations. Most of those generations have attended some form of Pel Elementary. Um, which was really interesting. I anyways that's a tangent for another day but so um it's easy to say that home holds a very dear spot in my heart when my husband and I were deciding where we wanted to settle so that our children could go to school there was no question in my mind that this was the only place and that was because of my own experience at home school um

024and knowing just how important this community is to be able to have well-rounded children who are thoughtful meaning thoughtful members of a community who know how to look out for other individuals regardless of ability. Um, my kindergartenner is best friends with absolutely everybody [laughter] and she is just such a loving person and I know that's I mean I already knew she was a loving person before she went to school but I have seen her blossom since coming to Pullum and being surrounded by people who are very different from her and I just know Mickey I have to say thank you for the beautiful community you continue to foster because I know that that's because of the teachers here. Um, so as so many others have said, I just really encourage the committee to slow things

025down as much as possible so that as a community we can be really thoughtful and we can think outside of the box as far as how to maintain this community. I also just um want to raise awareness of a bill that's currently in legislation, which is S314, an act to provide a sustainable future for rural schools, which is um which was presented by Joe and she has a really wonderful argument for that bill that she presented last week. So, I encourage everybody to review that. And again, I think that that's one of those moments where we need to stop and say this is a bigger issue than just Pelum. This is rural schools across the the Commonwealth and our legislators are fighting for our futures. So, we need to also be part of that fight

026to show up. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Can I change my mind? >> I just a comment uh from the conversation with uh my son and my daughter-in-law earlier. My name is uh Mani Malanga. I'm a grandparent of um Leila and uh Jeremy. Uh from that conversation, I just thought that maybe if the school committee is able to create a sustainable a more sustainable plan for uh the school choice fund allocation, it might help us in the planning for for future you know uh fiscal management of Pelum school. Thank you. >> Thank you. And one more person. Did Would you like to give public comment tonight? >> I hadn't. I just I just came from work and um well in support of [laughter] in support of what you've just said. Um yeah, I'm just

027here to um we um I can say something very briefly, but I don't think it'll be anything original. Um we purchased when I first purchased Oh, my name my name is Siobhan May. um a resident of Ammerst, but my child's father lives in Pelum. And when we bought our home in Pelum originally, we bought it because of Pelum School. So that was like a a specific choice we made. Um and um yeah, I'm I'm really concerned about the the the future of our of our small community. We chose Pelum because of its reputation for being a small inclusive school. Um, and so myself and my uh two co-parents are are really um invested in ensuring the long-term success and feasibility of this community. Um, sorry I'm I'm a little late and >> thank you. Comments

028are a little ad hoc, but >> yes, this is just general public comment. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, my name is Emily Waterfield. Um, I am not a resident of Pelum. I'm a parent of a school choice student um who is in his first year here at Colum. Um and I also am a head of school at a local elementary school. Um I share that because there's things that I saw when I looked at the budget that I wanted to ask questions about and comment on from my perspective as an educator and as a school leader and also as a former board member having sat in your seat before in a different context making decisions to open and close schools in the city of New Orleans. um which was my life in the charter school

029for 20 years before I moved here. Um and so I know the complexity of this and the emotional depth and the toll that it takes to sort of sit in these seats and to hold your faculty and staff through a moment of like very deep uncertainty and it's very hard. Um and so I wanted to come both in support for the decision-m that you all are sort of shouldering and and knowing a little bit about what that has taken and also because I had questions looking at the budget and some of the considerations on the table. Um, I will say I'm a parent of a child who's had really hard transition to Pelum and we're still very happy to be here. Um, so I think lots of people are here because they're sharing these like

030experiences that already have a happy ending and we aren't necessarily that family in this moment. But I can tell you the depth of hard work and care and how much everyone collaborates and is like willing to do whatever it takes for every kid and family is very palpable to us and means a lot because you're going to always have kids that are going to have needs and are going to struggle. And to be able to do that in a small school with very limited resources really speaks to the talent of this community and also to the dedication of their teachers who go very above and beyond for every kid in the family. And so I just wanted to share like there's that perspective here. Also, um some of the questions that I thought about when

031I looked at this, which may be things that you all have already talked about before, um when I looked at the school choice sort of stability, I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was some predictability to school choice um numbers over a period of time. So if you look back at the data showing about five years ago, there's about 50ome school choice students. But for the last four years, those numbers have been stable in the 70s, which gives you some predictive modeling and forecasting to be able to look at when you think about how do we know how many school choice kids we can predict in the future. Um, which seems a really important piece of this puzzle given the financial outlook. Um, I also think there are some programming decisions it sounds like

032are on the table and there needs to be some very thoughtful understanding about the financial implications of making some of those programmatic shifts and decisions. And I would really encourage you all to slow down to like actually do the forecasting to figure out what what is the difference to have this program versus this program. If you were to combine classes, is there additional support personnel that you would have to actually provide to make that work? Do you have to invest in different curriculum and support for teachers in order to figure out how to do a multi-age class? There's many other pieces that go into this that make sort of this stuff really complicated and also can have unexpected costs that would be necessary to support the students in some of these different models that are

033being considered. Um the other question I have which I think is on the mind for a lot of school choice families is like what happens if Pelum has made a sort of commitment to school choice families to provide seats for them in a school in this school and then we are now losing that opportunity or those seats in the future. Is that something that Pelum um kids would have the opportunity within the Emer school district to be absorbed into? Does Emmer have the capacity to absorb school choice kids within their new elementary school structure? I don't know if that's been a question or consideration, but that's a really big one to consider. Um, and it matters because of the decision that happens at Telm. The what what then and making sure that all those other

034pieces are true because when you have kids in a school and you accept kids, you actually are also committing to their longevity and making sure that they have good options in the future. And so really making sure that all of those questions are answered feels really important um for our family and also like the decision-m that you all are engaging in. >> Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> Thank you. Okay, I think now that's everybody who is here for public comment. So, um we will move on to the first item on our agenda, which is the school choice hearing. Um I I think Dr. Z will speak, but I just want to say one thing first. This is something that every school decides every year. Are we going to be a school choice school or

035are we not? We are not voting to say yes, we're taking kindergarten school choice. This is simply to say yes, we are a school choice school. So, Dr. Z, you >> good evening everyone. Um, as the superintendent of Pelum, I wanted to start off by saying, um, my recommendation for the school committee is to vote to be a school school choice district. Um, one, because of our current revenue state, but two, um, because we have the space in our enrollments for this year. Thus far, the census has reported to us that we are looking at, um, very low resident numbers. Um, and so for me, I wouldn't suggest at this time that we make a change in our school choice status from the school committee level. >> Thank you. [clears throat] I will move that

036the Pelum school be a school choice school. Working is not very good. um [clears throat] for fiscal year 27 or school year 27 >> for school year 26 27 >> for fiscal year 27 >> school year 2627 in fiscal year 27 >> second >> thank you sir are you typing out the text I'm trying really hard [laughter] doing a great job there's a lot of blue and red things but like We know what our right shoulder is. Yeah. >> Shoulder a little bit. [laughter] >> Would you be willing to read that? >> Yes. Um that Margaret move the Palm Elementary School be a school choice school for the school year 2627. >> Seconded by William. >> All those in favor? >> Can we have discussion? >> Yes. Would you like to discuss it? >> I

037would like to. >> Oh, good. Um, so and like we decide if we're a school choice school or not. Who decides what the numbers could look like per grade or because it goes to lottery is my understanding. >> Yes, it does. >> Does it go to siblings first and then lottery? Is it 100% lottery? And who decides how many seats we have open in each grade? >> So, it's it's not per it doesn't go to siblings. It's a lottery system. Um and the principal would give a recommendation of how many seats can be opened per grade level. Um usually we would give a blessing to that and then the lottery is open. Individuals register um submit the applications through the office. This time they're going to do it through it this year. They're going to

038do it through our district office is where they submit it. Um the district office runs the lottery and then informs who's going to who who got the seats. I have a follow-up question. >> Yes. >> Who who decides if there would be school choice for five kindergarteners or 10 kindergarters? I understand this a recommendation from the principal. It sounds like is it that a school committee decision or is that a superintendent decision or >> So what happens is the school committee votes to make the district a school to open up the district to school choice. Then the principal looks at their enrollment, the capacity, and everything else. And they usually are the ones who decide, "We'll have seven seats in kindergarten. We can have two seats in sixth grade. We can have no choice seats

039this year in fifth grade." They give that recommendation and those numbers to the district. I looked it over. Look it over. I usually don't argue with the principles because they have like the day-to-day understanding and capacity. They also understand um more so the layout. We have a discussion sometimes and then we run the lottery and that's how we end up um with our seats. There's different things to think of not just student enrollment or teacher capacity. We also have to think of classroom sizes and different things when it comes to that. >> So the school committee has no decision- making other than saying our school could do it or not. >> That's my understanding. I'm sure they I'm sure there's something else because it might have a budgetary impact. If you >> That's why I

040was thinking that's why I was asking >> if you would like me to go back to legal and just have them clarify further what the the capacity is or or the functionality is I can. Um but that is my understanding. I don't mind asking for for uh delineation and clarity from from legal counsel. >> Thank you Dr. Z. >> You're welcome. >> Um thank you. My understanding is is exactly what you're describing Dr. Z with the like asterisk that our role in decision in the budget will dictate how dictate the number of full-time employees that there will be capacity for that right. So like if a decision was made to cut salary that will impact then the number of school choice seats that Mickey's able to work with. Does that all align with your >>

041your process? >> Correct. So yes, so that's where the budgetary impact, but I just want to make sure. So yes, that is the understanding where if we don't have the budgetary impact to to have the seats and we can't have as many school choice positions as possible, but I I also will go back and clarify that so that if there's something else that we're missing that we have legal counsel's blessings on it. Yes, my understanding is yours in terms of the budgetary impact. Rachel, >> thank you. And siblings, they get priority over other lottery students, but they don't they're not automatically involved. They still have to go through the lottery. Okay. Ju just Miky since you're sitting here and for all the parents that are weighing it and for us can you explain a little

042bit more of what goes into the decision-m process around numbers or what has previously what that looks like on your end. >> Um so when I took over the recommendation was to look at the numbers and cap it around 20 so that when when and if Pelum residents moved in then it had a little buffer. Plus, Palum has always had smaller class sizes. It's one of our draws. Um, so if you look at our class sizes now, there are a few that are like 23 and that's because people moved in. Um, and for kindergarten, I try and keep that number lower because it's just recommended to keep it below 20 and also we could certainly get some newly [snorts] kids. Um, but not too low. Um because a smaller class size like 12 might sound

043great um but it's not always better to be that small. >> And what's the cap just also for folks that don't know >> for kindergarten or [clears throat] Oh the cap? >> Yeah. Is there a cap in the school? >> Is there a cap Dr. Z? I mean there's a PEM cap. I've heard the number 23 thrown out. I don't This is just more for >> Are you asking what is the CLA preferable class size? >> Yes. >> So, we actually have a policy um that sets our preferred class sizes um for each one. Um I I could pull that up. One of the things that I also want to take into account is that Pel's classrooms are not the same size as other classrooms and so we would want to make sure that it's

044there. But um our class size policy uh I IB so for example kindergarten and first grade 17 is the is is like the minimum and to 21 I would never go to 21 or above 20 kindergarteners um at all. So that's that sec second and third grade in the preferred range 19 to 23. Fourth and sixth grade is 20 to 24. So that's that's it. >> Thank you. Any other discussion? >> And I just want to clarify that we also have our policy JFA8 that talks about um school choice and resident versus non-resident students. Um so in case anyone is wondering if the district has a policy, we do. That was policy JFA. You can find on board docs. >> Let me say that on board docs, I don't know how many of you have

045actually gone to board docs to look at our agendas, but when you go to board docs, there is a section called policies. And all of the district policies are there. There are many. Um, there are a lot that are in the process of being updated. I mean, that's kind of an ongoing process that if you have questions about policies regarding this school, you can find all of them there. >> And I Google Ammerst Board Docs and it sends me there just to let you know. [laughter] >> Okay. All right. Um, sir, >> so I know we've talked a lot about the budgetary implications of school choice, but I also my kids went through poem and it was fantastic for them. Um, and part of what school choice brings is a variety of different humans and

046families that live outside of Helen. And I think it is one of our strengths is the wide community that the school creates. And so I think yes, the school the the money that comes from school choice is important, but also the humans that come with school choice are probably more important. Um, and unfortunately there was a a comment earlier about how the $5,000 that gets state that is by sent by the state and it has been the same $5,000 since like or something like that um before I was born. So like I um it's it's unfortunately not a thing that affects a lot of other districts the same way it affects especially like home. Um so I wanted to to say that but I think I think it's also important to recognize the the space

047and the families that get brought in from from being in choice school is is really important. Thank you. All right. All those in favor. All right. Passes for nothing. All right. The next item on the agenda is an open meeting law complaint that was lodged against the committee. Um it was received on the 23rd of January. Um this does not because it's time sensitive. Um we don't bring it to one school committee and then for for study and then bring it to the second committee for a vote. This has to be done now because our deadline is January sorry February 12th. We have 14 business days to respond to the complaint. So we have to do this now. Um, the complaint is on the agenda and I'm just going to review what the points are.

048Let's see. Um, so the allegations were that the superintendent slideshow presented on the 22nd stated that the palm school would be closed. um that the superintendent budget proposals and subsequent committee discussions did not fit into the agenda item fiscal year 27 budget discussion and that access to the virtual meeting was not provided intentionally. Um I am going to give to the school committee members. I I am asking them to authorize me with legal counsel to respond to this open meeting complaint and I was provided a copy of the draft response for this. So I'm going to ask you all to just take a minute. It's okay. Um um [clears throat] I think we should have discussion before we have any kind of motion. >> Sure, >> Rachel. Thank you. I believe that the virtual access

049issue was that the Palum website did not have a link live at the time of the meeting. It was added like as the meeting began. Um, [clears throat] and I would like for that to be acknowledged because I believe that that was the search and family member had a conversation about it. Um, I can respond to that. I actually am the one who posted the agenda and I have documentation in an email that I get every time I update the agenda. So I have documentation that that link was in the agenda on the website. >> Dr. Z. Dr. Z. >> Oh, I wanted to add that um just for clarity that it was posted that during the meeting I posted in the second place because individuals were saying they couldn't see but when I went

050on the correct link was already posted from the from the meeting prior. So just cuz I know during the meeting I I said I'll go in and post it, but it was already posted there. The correct link was posted from prior. >> Okay. >> Um I don't I don't fully understand what the issue was, but I know there were a number of parents writing saying they couldn't access the agenda or access the meeting link. So, this this is maybe beyond this memo, but I uh that that feels like something we should follow up on to make sure it's fully accessible. Um >> I think that fits into our discussion about our goals. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Um and I [clears throat] maybe lost the next thing. You want to think for a minute? Mia,

051William, did you I do. Sure. So I feel like that in this it says uh like one two three like the fourth paragraph it says because the potential solutions the superintendent presented there were recommendations presented. So I think this does not codify exactly what was presented. Um then it also says further the school committee did not engage in any deliberation. We discussed it. I discussed it. I asked for certain things to happen. So I don't agree with that sentence either. We did not take any votes but we did discuss it which could be seen as deliberating because I feel like we did go back and forth some. So, I don't agree with that those [clears throat] two sentences. >> Okay. I I think William probably said more eloquently what I was after. Yeah, that that

052paragraph doesn't feel quite like an accurate reflection of the meeting. Um, and while I know that there was not direct mention of closing the school, there was the the language [clears throat] the language is not in front of me, although I'm looking at Matteo's complaint. Um the language was about a transition to tuition out students which [snorts] I think is is a very reasonable assumption for the people engaging to understand as a long-term conversation about closing the school. So I that that is the other piece that I feel is missing here. All right. >> So, I think what I have to do at this meeting is make a motion to ask you to authorize me to make this response on behalf of council and we have to vote on it depending on the result. If

053we end up in a tie, if and I got advice from MFC about how to proceed because we don't have everybody here tonight. If we end up in a two two tie, we need to call a special meeting this week when everybody can be present. So I'm Sarah Bess can. So I'm just a little confused. So this is the response or this is a draft that then we'll take into consideration the comments. This is a draft. Okay. Um I think we just need to proceed and if people feel this is not appropriate then you have to vote not to approve authorizing me to do this at this time. I will go back council with your feedback um and then we will have to have another discussion in special meeting this week. >> Can I ask

054a clarifying question? >> Yeah. >> So you're saying that we cannot wordsmith this document. We have to vote on this document. Yes or no tonight? >> Yes, that is what I'm saying. >> I would vote no. >> Dr. Z >> um only and I I don't think there's a motion. So you guys are not in deliberation, right? You're just discussing at this time. I just want to make sure. >> I'm sorry. I couldn't >> I I'm trying to I'm trying to make sure where we are in the process. If there was a >> I made a motion. It has not been seconded. I was providing some additional information. >> So I I I would I would like to to provide a a suggestion. Um if this if if there is a opportunity for the feedback

055from the committee members in terms of the paragraphs that they find to be um inaccurate be taken into be taken back with whoever has voted to work with legal counsel and adequately represent some of what the committee members are able to are expressing then that would help to move the deadline in. So basically what Sarah Bes just said, she just asked if if this was just a draft, which it is, I think is what you said, Margaret. What the committee members are saying is that they want certain parts to clearly represent what it is that occurred. And so for example, William point out deliberation portion that doesn't present in his understanding. So I think the compromise or a suggestion would be to take the commented sections back and work to reflect what the full committee

056would would want to to move forward with so that we can meet the deadline if >> that's my suggestion. >> That sounds like a good suggestion. So I will withdraw my motion. I will take your feedback and I want to check in with you William and Rachel you felt like William expressed >> yeah I had if it's help if it is helpful I think I can write out what >> changes I'm recommending service you advise us >> so [clears throat] I would recommend that if committee members have edits that they send them to the chair the chair then takes take the draft and the edits back to work with council. Create a draft that addresses those considerations and then if we need to have a another meeting to we have to have another meeting because

057we have a deadline. So >> then that would be my recommendation. >> I did check with Jenny about her availability because she's traveling in multiple places. Will most likely be Friday. Uh don't know exact time, but later in the day on Friday, she's going to be someplace where she could be there. Will you >> I would I would assume that as long as we have a quorum that we can make decisions and move forward. Does this have to be a full committee decision or is that just because I've never heard of that? had it. I think it's a quorum. So, if it was only three of us >> that could come to a meeting, we should be able to vote on it and pass it and then the school committee's behind that because it was

058it's a quorum. >> Yeah. >> It doesn't have to be five. It has to be a quorum. >> It has to be a quorum. So, what are you suggesting? >> I don't think that all of it doesn't matter if we're all there or not. As long as we have three people. >> So, what if we have four people? >> That's fine. If we have four people, that's more than four. Why don't we vote and see? >> Yeah, >> I think we can share our feedback with our chair. Our chair can work with legal counsel and then once that draft is ready, we can, you know, the chair can schedule another meeting and because it will have incorporated feedback and it's highly likely it will be passed. >> That is my suggestion. >> And then um

059I assume we can have a virtual meeting on Friday. >> [laughter] >> Okay. [gasps] >> So, Rachel and William, do you want to get together to send me? >> They have to send you individual comments. Sorry. >> Edits. >> Okay. >> Otherwise, it's another. It's a deliberation. So, if they [clears throat] just send their edits to the chair, then the chair can work with council and all. >> Okay. So, I look forward to receiving your edits and we will do this again. >> Is it possible for you to send an e version of this document? >> I think so. >> Okay. It's not critical, but it would help. [clears throat] >> Yeah. >> It is talked about at a meeting and it's on the table. So it should be posted. >> Great. >> Thank you.

060>> All right. Good. The next next item is the fiscal year 27 budget discussion continues. And um again I just wanted to say a couple of things before we start. Um so I attached several documents to the agenda. Um some of them are not necessarily for discussion tonight. They are for all of you as reference. Um, and it includes the chapter 70 present, the presentation on chapter 70 funding that we received in October from Massachusetts Association of School Committee. So, if you're interested in really delving into how that funding is provided, it's there for you to go over. Um, just wanted to say what we're talking about tonight's the fiscal year 27 budget, not the sustainability of the school going forward. That's not part of this discussion for tonight. Um, the select board asked me

061to share with the committee that they are appointing a committee to study K6 education. um they'll be making that proposal at their meeting on February 9th and their meetings are all virtual so you don't have to go someplace to attend their meetings. >> Question so why is the select board appointing a committee to WK6 education? That is not a question I can answer. >> Okay, that's I didn't actually I just needed to say it out loud. the language I've heard. Sorry. So, I'm going to go on. >> Okay. Can I Sorry. What was the committee? I didn't hear that. What the committee is for to study >> K6 education. >> The language I heard was long-term sustainability of the school. >> Pardon me. The language I had heard was long-term sustainability of the school. I

062know that's not what you have, >> right? But I think that's encompasses. Yes, absolutely. [clears throat] Um, we've been asked about future dates regarding the budget. There is something called a budget hearing that happens and then there's a vote, a final vote by the committee on the budget. We do not have those dates yet because everything is still in flux. Um, the budget hearing is something in which you can participate. we can you can talk at that meeting. So that would be a good one to come to. Um it has to be posted seven days in advance. So it will be on board docs. It will be on the town website and I will do my best to disseminate the information. I will send it to Britany who's the head of the PTO this year

063who can spread send out the word. If you see it posted, share it with anybody who you think will want to know. so that people can be here. Um, so that's all I wanted to preface on. So I want to go into the discussion and what I'm hoping we can do tonight is um review the answers that Shannon provide us to questions that were in the updated well first of all that we received an updated budget draft. Um it reflects about $66,000 additional money in chapter 70 funding and the health insurance cost has estimate was 18% it has dropped to 10 and may come in even a little bit lower than 10. This is very very good news for us. So, um, what I'd like hope we can do is review the questions that Shannon

064provided in the answer. See if anybody here has any questions about those or anything they want more clarification on. Would like to discuss the recommendations that were on the last page of the January 22nd um, presentation by Dr. Zen Shannon. And I hope that we can actually make some recommend recommendations for Dr. Z tonight based on discussion of her recommendations from the 22nd. Um so with that said um are there any responses to the questions? Um this document is on board docs. Um it's the fiscal year 27 update. Um so you have access to that. Um did anybody have questions about these answers? >> I have a question on what you were talking about earlier. A clarifying question on the budget hearing. >> I do not think that we have to engage with the public

065during the public hearing. I think that's their time to speak their opinions, but I think it's similar to public comment where we do not have to engage. So, I was just curious. >> I am not sure about that. >> I I I think we're misrepresenting saying we will engage with the public at that time because I don't think the budget hearing we actually engage with the public at that time. >> I guess I'm thinking engagement is we present. >> We present and they can say their opinions and we just listen. But I don't think there's a back and forth. >> I'm actually not sure. You may. Okay. >> So, I I just felt like you said there was going to be back and forth and I don't know if that's accurate. Well, let's see what

066she finds in the policy. Dr. Z, do you have something? >> Our our policy in um there's two policies on the annual budget hearing. Um they do not obligate us to engage. Um however we could hold a public forum under policy be at the discretion of school committee may schedule public forums for broader dialogue with the community on on one specific issue for the purpose of receiving public comment on the topics so of concern. Um so I think in terms of the budget hearing we usually garner feedback from the community. Um, but if we if we would want to hold a public forum, that's an option also. So, >> different. Okay. So, Rachel, [clears throat] >> I have questions just on the on the document. Are we ready for that? >> Yes, we are. >>

067Okay. >> Shannon, I think you're probably up for all of these. Um, so if you don't mind, um, this is for that I I spent quite a long time learning and understanding this and want to clarify for all of my colleagues and families listening. Um, Shannon, you're going to be able to see this much more clearly than me. I think the way that our budget reads classifies um income or expenses in projected bud budgets versus actual budgets in a way that is a bit confusing if you are not finance expert. Um, and so for my read, it looked as though there was a very significant like half a million dollar jump of salary lines in a one-year period. So, I want Shannon, could you please explain what I'm speaking to so everybody is understanding what

068they're looking at? >> Yep. Um so in the budget book I have the actual amounts uh that were after the year end is closed and we have made all of the adjustments we populate the prior fiscal years with the actual totals after everything is done and closed the books. Then for the budget um that we put together you'll see specifically in Pelum this does not happen in our other two districts that in our salary lines specifically regular education because that's where we apply school choice funds um Pelum historically I didn't make this up but I inherited it so I continued doing it um we add school choice so if we're using $500,000 in school choice and the um budget in instead of reducing that account line, we add $500,000 to that account line for the

069proposed budget. And then when you look at the total operating budget and at the bottom you see the budget support, you see that $500,000 being deducted out. And actually there's a whole formula in those cells that determine how much is the town's responsibility to pay. Um but when then you go back and you look at our budget book and you see these actuals and the actuals are so much less but the budget is so much more. It's because in the budget you add in the school choice amount to the budget line. But then when you actually apply the school choice funds, meaning taking it off of the general fund and putting it onto the school choice revolving fund, it decreases that actual amount. So it looks confusing when you do that. Um it makes sense

070in a way um to do that because it's like okay, you get the full picture of how much does this school actually cost without deducting all of these things. However, um when you look at history and try to compare actuals versus the current budget, that doesn't make sense. And it's a little tricky. Um I have to walk through it very slowly at the end of the year because I I would I don't need to be on the exact budget amount. I have to be under budget by the amount we've used in school choice and grants and and just always remembering that because it's different from the other two districts. Just, you know, it's a little nuance. the only little complication. That's essentially what it is. Does do you Oh, >> okay. >> I just wanted

071to to I wanted everybody's attention there because as I was reading and thinking about the upcoming year and understanding what's going on, looking at a giant increase is confusing without that context. It's very helpful to understand. Um that was one thing I just wanted for everyone to hear and not my words. Um my other question is this is on page four of the memo document that's um from Shannon and Dr. Z or but I think mostly from Shannon in the [clears throat] very bottom right corner there's a note of a 14.83% change. I think I understand what that means and I also think that that looks different from previous years and am interested in you explaining that number to us. >> Shannon, you're muted. >> Sorry. Um I am just So that calculation is the

072change column. So that 382 divided by the total FY26 budget, but I think what it's supposed to be doing is picking up the FY27 projected budget to the percent difference between 26 and 27, but for some reason it's picking up the change column. >> Okay. Would you be able to not right now, but would you be able to get us an update on that percent change? It look it looked like there was some math wrong that I think you're finding right now. Um but that percent change feels significant for our understanding. >> Yep. It's 5.36%. >> Thank you. That was the number I had expected around 56. >> 5.63. That's what you said. >> Uh oh, I'm sorry. 5.36. I think I transposed that. 5.36. >> Yeah. >> Um let me Those were the big

073questions I had. I'm coming back to something that we heard from public comment and want to also just uplift the the on page three the data about expenditures per per pupil. I I just want to make sure folks are catching this that are with us. This is just such helpful information. Thank you Shannon for putting it together. But it demonstrates what our cost per pupil is according to the DESI calculations which are very well established. Um, but we are spending at and under at around because these cap at 24 uh at 2024. Um, but we're spending around $22,000 per year which is less than less than or equal to all of our neighboring districts. Um, and I want that to be on everyone's mind as we're talking about what's going on. >> Okay. Thank you.

074Thank you, Rachel. Do you have minutes? >> Oh, I'm typing >> typing really fast. Do you want me to try to type while you talk? [laughter] >> Okay. >> No, I'm not ready. Sorry, >> William. Let me go to William. >> I don't know if I have any comments right now. >> So, sorry. Right now, what I want to do is look at the questions. >> Sure. Not the budget. We'll go we'll go to the budget. Okay, I think I'm done. Okay. Um, the question number six. Um, as as we heard, there's a lot of energy. I feel like that's a good word to use around fifth graders remaining at Pelum. It seems to me from the bits of information the team's been able to pull together and what we know at this moment. I

075know that the budget will not be voted before March. I am curious if we um William said about a month in the 2 January 22nd meeting um can we commit to keeping our fifth graders in the school? I am wondering if we can make that commitment based on the information we have. I think that Yeah. Okay. I Dr. Z, did you want >> I just want to clarify for this that these questions were questions posed at the caregiver meeting on the 29th on the 29th. So, we wanted to make sure that these questions were answered and sent forth. I also want to clarify that a part of this evening our hope as a district administration is that after the discussion and Margaret said it earlier that after the discussion the school committee can provide guidance

076for us in terms of the development of the budget. So I think that the answer to your question will come from the guidance that comes forth. But I also wanted to clarify that these questions were were a lot of the questions on the 22nd and we still have we're going to update this because we received some additional questions last night and I've received some additional questions in email today. >> Sure. Thank you. >> That's kind of what I was going to say. Okay. >> So I guess on number eight um if we're looking at these questions it was about how can caregivers remain engaged. I would say we need to have a budget form so that we could engage with community Okay. >> So that would be my >> comment on these questions questions. >>

077Okay. Okay. So I think I heard at the beginning of this conversation that today was not a conversation for the stability of >> sustainability for the school moving forward. Um, we have a lot of people with a lot of really good ideas and probably some bad ideas and probably some great ideas, >> right? Um, when can we start having those conversations? >> After tonight, maybe. >> Okay. >> You know, tonight is not the time. >> That's fine. I I >> I agree with you. we have gotten a lot of feedback with ideas and willingness to help in any way. Um, so that oh I should have said at the beginning the idea of sustainability has not been put aside. It's just not on this item for tonight. So it's not going away. Rachel. >> Okay.

078So, in line with the with giving recommendations to the superintendent team, um I would like for part of our guidance to the team to include keeping the fifth graders at Palen Elementary this year. >> Okay. So, if we're done with the questions, we can move on to that discussion. >> Okay. Let's do it. >> It's so hard to say here and not say anything. [laughter] Um I wonder if we can clarify like my role here at school committee meetings because it does feel awkward to just sit here and not say anything. I do have something I want to say before we start talking about >> I don't know who makes sense to >> I think because we're a small committee I think that that's something I can say yes we could take that you know

079and you correct me wrong you you got the experience if that's inappropriate for me as the chair to do um >> I think if it's okay the chair then you is here as you know guidance and resource. She is part of the lived experience of the school and there every day and has better insight than >> yes well unfortunately I don't get to go to public school so [laughter] >> I agree it's just you know doing something in a way that we shouldn't be doing is my concern but I yes please >> she's an expert in the field so I would say >> I'm not going to like recommend anything just you all know >> we would we would love to hear from you and have you give you the ability to speak It's just

080awkward to come to all these meetings and not be able to speak. So, um I feel like I should say something. Um and uh as most of you know, I'm Nikki, the principal. This is my fifth year. It um is an interesting year for sure. I will say my first year was the year we came back from COVID and so the main thing was to keep kids six feet apart and I had to reprimand teachers for not doing that. So that was really hard and in a different way. Um every year I'm presented a budget cut and every year I'm like okay we can do this. Um and I will say like my attitude is the same this year. Um I when we had the meeting with Dr. Zen and Shannon and others um I

081said okay we can do this. Um and I think that what the committee should know is I see um benefits to some things and not to others, but um the staff and our in and central office are so dedicated and um professionals in every sense, meaning they're well trained that if you were to recommend something, we would wrap our brains around it and we would figure it out. Um, that's not to say that I'm pro any one thing. Um, but I'm willing to answer questions on like the benefits or drawbacks for certain choices that you're being asked to make. Um, but my biggest thing is that we will figure it out. um we always do and there's a lot of um really smart talented people who can make it stay um the dreamy column that

082it is right now. So I'm happy to answer questions and I think that my role is to make it work. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And you know obviously we have discussions off the record and so I'm happy and willing to answer questions. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, who wants to start? >> Rachel, >> I'll repeat it but in the right >> Yeah. >> format. Now, [clears throat] um the two pieces of guidance I would I would offer the one that maybe is less popular at this point is um I would really like to recommend that the budget forecasting planning from here include keeping the current fifth grade at Elmo Elementary. Um I won't I won't wax poetic but I will say I think we have heard about the social emotional impact that that might

083have and further it does not look as though that that would financially solve any problems. >> Okay. So that's one recommendation. My second recommendation is I understand why we are talking about combining two grades. I would like us not to. Um, my math is that if we have 15 kids choice in, 15 more kids choice in in the coming year than we have expected. I know that's not a small number. Um, but we have this massive number of students choicing in with nearly no outreach. We like we put up signs in the neighborhood and we have amazing word of mouth from all of you incredible people sitting and watching. Um, but we've we've never had, as far as I know, of late an outreach plan. And I imagine that 15 students coming in is possible

084and that would be a salary of a teacher. So, my recommendation is that we keep a full K through six program and that we invest some time into doing outreach with the support of this activated community. So, what you're saying is fill out the kindergarten for next year with school choice that would meet the guidelines and fill out ideally and also fill out some of our very small classes which are now which are this year's I believe K and one are very small classes. >> Thank you [clears throat] Dr. Z. >> I just wanted to um I didn't want to interrupt but I wanted to wait until everyone was done with their suggestions to ask that the chair or the school committee note that individually it needs to come to us collectively. It has >>

085absolutely understood. >> Okay. And because in the past we've looked at recommendations made by individual members and that has brought us forth in terms of some of these conversations. So we want to make sure that we get it the team gets a collective. >> Thank you. >> You will. >> Vicki, do you want to say anything about how you get school choice students? >> Sure. Um, we do hang out signs and we advertise as best we can in like the gazette and in preschools, um, some libraries, but it is mostly word of mouth. Um, okay. >> Okay. And can you tell us how many how many spots in non kindergarten there are currently >> in non kindergarten? um >> like and then not incoming kindergarten you met. >> Yes. >> Um so I haven't like

086decided on that yet but um I would say around at the minimum eight um but I would have to double check numbers. I think most of the classrooms are one year or more. >> Some idea. That's fine. Not going to hold you. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> If just KN1 were kept where ideally they'd be, how many more students would this year's >> this year's? >> Yes. >> Um there would be uh around 10 to 12 mark. But I will say like we would have done that if they were if people had applied to the lottery and they didn't. >> So I'm not sure I understood that. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Okay. I was asking about this year's K and one are the two are two are are the classes in the school that are

087under 20. >> Um with 12 and 11 students respectively. between them there's theoretically there there could have been another 10 to 12 students. >> Okay. >> If they had applied through did I repeat that about right? >> Um >> that's thank you. >> Yeah. >> Are you able to write? >> Yeah. So I have couple of questions I guess um for either Dr. Z or Mickey. Have we do we typically have more kids trying to choice in or do typically if a kid applies we have extra slots and so everyone has a successful lottery. >> Um most of the time in the younger grades we have room and grades you don't. Right. And then um I was going to >> I wanted on that one from the district perspective. Um a lot of times too

088individuals would apply to choice into Ammerst. Um and because they think that um and if Ammerst is filled then they would try to apply because the Pelum lottery is usually held a little bit after the Ammerst lottery. So I just wanted to to also state that it's not just um it's it's not just solely individuals may apply to Pelum in terms of school choice. Some of a lot of individuals their first choice may have been to choice into the Amoris district but then because Pelum is usually held a little after or the numbers roll over that's when that occurs. Okay. >> And then if we one of the recommendations that we heard was combining K1. >> So it's my understanding that we already have choice kids in current kindergarten which will be first grade next

089year. So we would not accept any new choice in kids for kindergarten if we wanted to combine K1 next year. Um, so if the current numbers stay the current numbers and a lot happens over the summer, I will say that like that's most of my summer, >> right? Um I we have a projected amount of kindergarteners for um next year and I believe I didn't look today but it's like five or six. >> So um yeah. >> Okay. Because I think I heard maybe that I don't know through public comment maybe there's two sets of twins. I don't know. >> Maybe I heard maybe maybe I don't know. I was like, "Oh, that's going to be an interesting class to have two sets of twins all all those years." Anyway, um so I don't I

090don't know the historic data. So maybe you do, maybe you don't. But if we were to say we're going to combine K1 for next year, therefore we would not accept choice students for kindergarten, how do you think that would impact us getting more choice kids later in the elementary years? like is kindergarten a big entry point and that could really hurt us? Like could we look at combining other years if they had smaller class sizes but kindergarten would really be detrimental if we wanted to continue doing choice? Like does that kind of make sense what I'm asking? >> I don't I'm not sure if I know that. Okay. >> Um I think the whole school is the draw, >> right? Um, obviously when families are looking at where they are sending their kids to kindergarten,

091it's kindergarten, but it's really the whole school that draws them. >> Um, I am not sure >> because I'm hesitant to close off >> kindergarten choice >> for the, you know, for the longer term picture. >> Yes. Okay, let me see first if >> um so recommendations for the superintendent to move forward with the ones that were included in the in the presentation was not this one. >> That one. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Okay. So, um I think I feel like I need way more information before I want to combine K1 kindergarten classes. >> Um and um it's but I want to say that it's not my concern about the classroom model or the staff that teaching the model. It's about the budgetary implications moving forward for that. Um I >> I was in

092a Kwin class like myself 100 years ago and I thought it was the best thing ever. Um so I I also think one of the things that the Pelum school does exceptionally well is um the friendships and crossgrade interactions that happen. So, I think um it's actually probably a great place that could that would be able to do that incredibly well. Um but I I wanted to know more about budgetary implications before supporting that. Um, and then I let's see the >> the tuition in >> I am not interested in that at all. >> I think we um the Okay. I thinking about sixth graders. I had one sixth grader that would have been super ready to be out of elementary school and thrived in middle school. And even she said, "Sixth graders should stay

093in elementary school. It's one more year you have like a person. You have your teacher." And I think it's it's super important. And then I had another one that was really good that she was here for another year. [laughter] Um, she did really well in middle school too, but like it was really good that she was here for another year. Um, I think Pelum does it incredibly well and I think watching like my own kids having gone from the Pelum Elementary School and my older daughter is graduating this year, you know, you can you can see it in the kids. They are ready in a different way um than a lot of their counterparts look like. um especially from a social emotional learning place. Um I think it's just a place that Palm really really

094excels in. Um and I don't um I I don't think it's the best thing for our students. >> Okay. [laughter] >> Yeah. So, if we're just going down this recommended approach that's here, >> I think that's a good way to >> So, I I would, as I said at the last >> meeting while ago, um, can we not commit, my recommendation would be to commit to keeping the school as is, as it's currently structured, which would mean not having a K1 classroom model, >> not having a structural transition of tuition into any other school. It would be using the budget. It would be bridging the FY27 deficit by using school choice funds and then it would be to start planning for sustainability today. Um and then my other comments would be that I feel like

095we have community here which we normally don't have which is not an excuse for us not to be a good school committee. I feel as I feel that it is a it is we're we're one of our goals is to communicate better. Mhm. >> We [clears throat] are not communicating well tonight because they can't even see what we're talking about. So like we have all these documents. They're not going to come here with their computers and look on board docs. So I know at our regional meetings we haven't projected documents we're talking about. >> That's true. >> So I really think that we should commit to being to communicate better. And right now we're talking about documents that no one can even see. [cough and clears throat] So how are we in like how are

096we even informing I I know it's on board docs, but like how many people did board docs and printed everything before they came here? So, >> I would really like to push that we >> able to either >> give papers or people share a screen or something. [snorts] Even if it's just like [clears throat] you bring I used to be a teacher way back in the day. Had the little projectors, right? You could just put the piece of paper underneath there and project something. I don't know. I feel like we need to >> that such great [laughter] >> and if we don't have that in this room, do we have something in I know we've had meetings in the elementary school. Are there projectors or things we could use in the elementary school? Maybe that's

097a better venue to have these meetings than here if we can't share things. >> So >> that's a lot. Sorry. >> It's okay. It's just we're going to put that into [clears throat] goals. >> Okay. >> And you make good points. Thank you. Um, [clears throat] do you want to comment on any of the others? Um, I agree with everything William said. I have a question. I don't like the question, but I feel like I should ask the question. [laughter] Um, and I think I already heard the answer, which is what I was asking around numbers about. The current K and one are small classes. Are they small enough to be a combined class or that is too large a group? That's for either [cough] >> um according to the Ammerst whatchamacallit policy >> policy

098is a guideline just not said. So >> it it would be right on the test. >> Okay. Dr. Z. >> Hi. Um I I wanted my raised my hand for William suggestion and I was saying if you want if you tell me what you're looking at I can share my screen. >> Um it's the presentation that you did at the January 22nd meeting. >> Okay. And then >> it's the last page. >> Okay. And then in regards to the question the guidelines it it files right at the cost of the guidelines. again that's that's if the five students do attend that is that's if the students return um those numbers would shift and change and also I want to I want to state that this is something that we often do with our budgets we

099have a priority restore list um remember these conversations are very early for example when Shannon wrote the memo um we were projecting our original projections we've projected health insurance at 18% due to the conversations that we were having with our insurance provider. When Shannana wrote the memo, it was at 10%. We just received notification last night that we're coming in at 8 and a half%. So, these numbers are going to change. And so, even though right now there may be a programmatic um suggestion as we start to get closer and final closer to the actual what the actual deficit would be, we actually it's it's right now it's closing the gap detrimentally. um we still have our wild wild card out there um but it's closing the gap detrimentally where even this suggestion may change.

100So I think that for us and I'll share I'm trying to share. Let me share the screen so the individuals can see. >> Thank you. >> Is it up? >> See? >> Yeah, we can see it. Thank you. >> Okay. So um so what I'm saying for for me is that just just keeping that in mind that we we still haven't voted a final budget. This is guidance around the budget, but things are changing as we get closer to that final number. Um, and also we may need to have a like a priority restore list, right? In terms of what positions we restore at what times. Um, we do that for the region. We've done it for Amoris and we've also had the discussion here where by time the final budget comes into place where

101all the numbers are in we may not have had to make the the programmatic shift that we made because we are within a range to cover that deficit. So I just wanted to put there and point out that tap yourselves on the back cuz when I first started with Pelum you didn't really have the opportunity for ARPs YouTube either. So you've gotten to a point where as a school committee you're making progress where you have like YouTube availability. Pelum didn't have this before. We have virtual meetings. So now we just need to expand on where we are to engage the community. >> Thank you Dr. Z. >> Okay. I want to especially in that vein what what I would like to say is uh like plus one and everything William said and in the I

102don't know in nonprofits we talk about waterfall budgets um or like worst case scenario I would be I would recommend two things that the office explore what kind of outreach budget might be helpful in increasing choice students and add that to budget planning. and two, explore a combined one, two class for next year rather than K1 if necessary so that we do not lose out on incoming K choice students. All of that with the rapidly seeming decreasing budget um deficit that we're in. It was at 87 and it sounds like it's going to be under 80 when all is said and done, which is um great, which is great news. >> Okay, that's all I got. [laughter] >> Thank you. So, I'm going to agree with all of you on what I'm thinking and is

103that we also should keep the sixth graders here. The changes make it very possible to do that and I don't see any reason for us to be sending the sixth graders out. So, it seems to me that's recommendation that we all agree on. So that is a recommendation we could send for guidance. Okay. I I will say one I just have to add one thing since we're talking. So I talked to my grandson about this because I had lunch with him the other day and he chose he was in Leverit. He started here and then they moved and he went to lever. He said, "I wish I had gone into sixth grade with the other kids in Ammerst because I came from a little school and when I got there, everybody had their their social

104situations." He said, "I played sports, so I did know some kids from Ammerst, but he said it was a real transition going from seventh grade into a group that had been together for a whole year." So it doesn't change my opinion about what we should do, but I just want to throw that out for a different perspective. So um so that I'm going to ask can I ask a question on that because I didn't realize we ever had sixth graders alto together in Ammerst. >> No, I'm sorry. Maybe I misspoke. >> Okay. >> He went from sixth grade in lever into the seventh grade. And what he said was that was very difficult because when he got to seventh grade, the Ammerst kids all knew each other, >> but they come from different schools. >>

105They did. >> Oh, okay. >> But but they're all in Ammerst and they're bigger schools. So that's just a piece of information, a little bit different perspective on the situation. um the plan for sustainability. I mean, yes, we have to do that absolutely in my opinion and it has to start soon. Um using the school choice funds, I think I'm in favor of using the school choice funds to to keep the budget as it is for next year. would be my choice. It's another It's about $87,000 money. It's very possible that more money is going to have to come out of school choice for the regional budget. So, if we use that $87,000 to keep K1 together, we have to remember that there's still going to be more money coming out of our school choice

106for the regional budget. I don't think I my understanding that our school choice stays at Pelum. It can't go to >> it's not that it comes out of our school choice money. It's going to impact our budget >> if that's what we vote. But we don't have to vote that. >> It's their best. So what will happen depending on the regional budget, right? It means that the town of Pelum will have less funding available to come to the elementary school and the proposed way to fix that is to use the choice fund. So the choice funds stay in Pelum and it's to close the gap between what the Pelum school budget needs and what the town of Pelum is sending to the budget. It's the choice funds stay in the school that they're choiced into.

107>> Sorry the school. Yes, but we when will the region vote on their budget in comparison to when will Pelum vote on their budget? Because we vote on a budget for Pelum >> and we get to vote whatever number we want to vote. >> We do. >> And then we send that to town. >> Yes. >> And then finance committee makes a recommendation and it gets printed up and the voters vote >> at town meeting. >> A town meeting. Mhm. >> So, and then whatever the voters vote, the town has to figure out how to pay for it is my understanding. So, if we vote a budget, I I I still don't understand why it has to come out of our school choice funds. I I I that is a recommendation that has been made

108to us. But if the voters wanted to vote a different way and they wanted to do an override on their taxes, then that would be the choice of the town, >> we get to vote a budget. And if we decide to say, "Hey, >> we're going to take extra choice funds and put it there if we can because that'll decrease what our ask is from town, but that is a conscious decision that we're making. >> It is >> and that we're proposing. So just because we give a dollar to the region doesn't mean that we have to take a dollar out of our choice funds. >> But you're assuming that that budget is going to pass town need that we >> we don't know. No one knows. >> No, we don't. >> I I >>

109So to to throw ourselves under the bus and say we're going to use our school choice funds, I'm in a favor to some degree of that. But >> I >> to say to we're going to dollar for dollar so that the region can have their dollars. I'm not in agreement with that. >> I don't think I said exactly what you just said. So, all I'm trying to say is that there may be it's something to keep in mind. There may be some impact on what we're going to have available for our budget based on the guidance from the town. >> But we don't have guidance necessarily. >> We do have guidance >> from John Tricky. >> We have guidance from the finance committee. So, have they sent us guidance from the finance committee? >> I

110was in a meeting with the finance committee. I was invited to a meeting with the finance committee, all of them, where I was given that guidance. >> Okay. >> And I passed that guidance on to Dr. Z and Shannon. >> So, when will the school committee receive that guidance? >> You've got it right now. >> Where is it at? In the documents. >> Would you like me to send you something or put it somewhere? >> Yes. because I haven't seen it being voted on in finance committee and I haven't seen it presented to us other than random things I see from different finance committee individuals but not as a committee. So if there is guidance that's been brought to us I think that we should have that so then we could share that and it

111should be posted. >> We can put something in writing. will be put it on our next meeting agenda. I have shared that information, >> but I haven't I have been told it's not >> a finance committee thing. So, I'm I don't understand how it's a whole finance committee thing. >> I went to a finance committee meeting where every department was represented and the finance committee gave us the guidance for every department in town which is level spending. Okay, that I understand. >> Okay, >> but I don't understand where the guidance has been that we have to pay out of our school choice fund. >> I >> because of what the region >> I don't think I said the guidance was that we have to do that. What I think I said I think I said

112maybe I didn't was that we have to keep in mind that sorry got to gather my brain back together here for a second that our budget might be impacted because of needs at of whatever the region passes because we have to pay whatever the assessment is to the region >> right but our job is to do the best for the students I'm not I'm not disagreeing >> and not do what the region needs. >> I'm not disagreeing with you. This is my comment about these recommendations. So yes, uh Sarah you okay. I'm going to try to summarize summarize that the recommendation is that we keep the sixth grade at film school next year. Oh, you want to do what I can pull out from this? So many other lights. Oh my gosh. Okay. Um Okay.

113So, the recommendations are um they would like >> this is this is guidance for the superintendent. >> Yes. Yes. that like I guess information um that um that we would generally I'd say like to have more information um prior about combining either a K1 class and or a one two class >> um with um you know support to be able to keep choice seats open in kindergarten. Um that to think about uh a budget for outreach to um more advertising for more choice students. Um to plan to keep the sixth grade in the elementary school and um use school choice >> and to use school choice um in in our budget to help close the gap >> that outreach. >> Did you say that? I just found out I'm sorry. >> Thank you. what you

114can't read all this shortanded right here [laughter] >> sustainability >> and and yes >> yes and to do sustainability planning but I thought that was a conversation for >> the discussion about doing it is but the it's one of the one of the things on this >> so plan for sustainability >> I yes I yes I think everybody was in favor of planning for sustainability um but there were questions about when we can have the conversation. Um because >> I'm sure >> we have some ideas and I'm sure we have some ideas. >> Yes. So, so it would be that we agreed the sustainability needs to be part of what we do. The question that there's a question about when do we start with that? Can we make a recommendation to have a subcommittee for

115sustainability and that subcommittee could include community members because I know we can do that. >> Well, you can't do a subcommittee. You can have an advisory group. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Advisory >> that I would take that. >> So, could we have a could we could we would recommend having a advisory committee that would incorporate school committee members and most of these community peopleated from the school. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Dr. Z, sorry I I'm sorry I'm always turned away from you. >> No problem. I tried to make it make the sound so you could hear it. Um, just for clarity, I I'm going to get this through you through you chair the recommendations. Um can you please just so that we are clear um the only thing that I think would be a

116bit ambiguous is for us to define and clarify what we're looking for when we talk about outreach right because outreach could present in different ways and so um we do not want to lend to assumptions so if we can make sure that we have a clear definition of what the school committee needs as outreach when we are budget when we are planning our budget Um, I have a question about that, Rachel. When you said a budget for outreach, do you mean a budget for Nikki to do more outreach or are you talking about for the school committee to do outreach? And is that something the school committee does? I didn't necessarily I did not mean the school committee. I did not necessarily mean Mickey. I've maybe met the PTO to be honest. Um, sorry jobs

117Britney. Um, but I what I had in mind was things like how much staff time might need to be devoted there. I know that there's a staff leazison to the PTO and so like um and the cost of printing. I do not imagine it is a large budget item at all. But if if there is conversation to be had about sending two teachers on three visits to local schools for example, what is the cost of that to the school? If there is time spent devoted to working with the PTO, what is that cost of time? And then if there's any materials to develop those are the kinds of things I have in mind. Is that helpful guidance, Dr. J? So, I I wonder if what we might recommend is to look at additional ways to

118do outreach. >> Sure. >> And would that incorporate your the budget? >> Yeah. And I don't know that it's a budget item or not, but >> so maybe >> it is in nonprofit land. How about um additional um look for additional ways to outreach advertise for more students that >> Yes, that encompasses what I'm Dr. Z. Does that give you what you were looking for? >> Does that Yes, >> it'll be in writing, but yeah, that's what we >> right. >> So, I think I summarized it. So, can I just make sure I have it correctly? So more information on K1 or one two combo classes um like a fiscal impact. Um we recommend keeping sixth graders in elementary school keeping choice seats open. use choice funds to help bridge it bridge the >> bridge

119>> to bridge it the gap of the FY27 gap and then look for additional >> the FY27 PEES gap and then look for additional ways to increase outreach to advertise for more choice seats. Does that summarize pretty well? >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> I think so. >> And yes, thank you sir. Um, so >> we is that something we have to vote on >> to make those recommendations or if I don't consensus just a >> I think a consensus is fine >> because we're making Yeah. >> Okay. >> I mean I I'm not the chair. I don't feel it but I as a member >> you will share your written text with the chair. Correct. >> Yep. You can have it all while it still says Bridget. So yeah, definitely. [laughter] Yep. >> Thank

120you. Okay. All right. Thank you all for that. And then Dr. Z with the recommendations. Do you can you share with us what the next steps might be? >> Um we are updating our numbers and projections. We're going to go ahead and and run those. Um have our we have our um internal budget meetings that we host myself um the finance team and we'll probably and probably have like the executive directors and um Nikki where we come together and we look at the full layout of what the deficit would be, what that would require um what the impact may be. We come up with different strategies and suggestions as a full team. Um and then we build out the budget for the budget presentations. Um I believe we have our date is we had we

121have some possible dates but I believe um we have a fincom meeting on the 26th of of February where the we usually go to the town and we talk about what our projected um budget numbers are going to be. I know Margaret you um I couldn't hear that last word you said. >> Oh, I said Margaret, I know when we were planning the agenda for this meeting, you were going to reach out and I think you're going to talk about it in the goals about um additional committee meeting dates to kind of engage and have more conversation around the budget publicly. So, I know that that's a conversation that you are possibly going to have coming up um in F. And then once all those dates are set, we can kind of give like an

122outline. But for us, we're going to then go to our internal process. Um, we've been updating numbers as the new things come in. We'll pull our team together and work um using the recommendations and guidance to develop a budget for FY27. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Great. Moving on. >> [clears throat] >> Rachel, this I think is your So, would you like to share with [clears throat] us what you're thinking? >> Sure. Um, I I think also in the vein, I put forward a suggestion that the school committee should draft an email to the school community about where we are and what's going on. I know there has been a lot of individual responses, but I think it would serve us well to send out an email explaining more about the process. I

123think that would be ever better if we can clarify some community forum dates, the budget hearing, all of as much slash all of the upcoming dates. But um I think folks feel really startled and I am very interested as a parent, as a resident, as a school committee member um in rebuilding trust and that is what I have in mind in this suggestion. So what you're saying is some kind of comm email whatever would [snorts] go out whatever the best way is to do that to tell people where we are in the budget process and and the things that are still to come. >> Yeah. And invite them to all of the upcoming opportunities for engagement. Okay. That is what this proposal was. [snorts] So I think I I am making a motion that we

124proceed with that. I think in part of that I'm also making a motion that we schedule some of those dates some dates for community forums. Those are two things. So it need to be two definite motions. >> You're I I think that we could make the motion about sending something out. I'm not sure we can make a motion about setting the dates. >> Okay. >> Sarah this >> please. >> Dr. Z. >> Yeah. Um I I don't think either of them need motions. I think um so the chair speaks on behalf of the committee. So if two people wanted to work together and be less than a quorum of sending an email that hit all those highlights then the chair could send it out on behalf of the committee. Um I think um you know

125we the the chair and the superintendent set the the meeting dates um and then you know I'm you know given the things that are happening I'm sure they're working on on setting those dates um so once they're sent they could be included in this and um a little things like community forums have been discussed yet. Um what's the next item on the agenda? >> Update from committee leazison to column, >> right? Okay. Um I think it's a little more less formal. Yeah, a little less formal and and also like [clears throat] it's more than just like sitting down for two seconds with your calendar and making sure everybody can go to the date. So like it takes a little more research and making sure like we don't have overlap with the concert or whatever, right?

126So like I >> think it's So here's a thought. Did in those recommendations is there anything about having a budget form and if not maybe that should be >> I made those recommendations. >> Yes, >> but I I don't know if I heard it in >> I did not repeat that. >> Dr. >> I didn't know where it was supposed to fit because that wasn't part of her recommendations that we were looking. So I think the confusion, sorry I raised my hand for two things. For the individuals in the room, William, you had brought up a previous point about sharing the screen. So just letting them know that these next two agenda items don't have any attachments. So they don't think that we're not sharing anything just because they they don't have devices. So I

127I raised my hand initially for that. Number two, um I think that there's some confusion because these were there there's a lot of documents that have been submitted. when I submitted the stuff around my goals, which is not where we're not discussing tonight. I talked about hosting different meetings and things. So, that's might be where the confusion comes in. And I and tonight when William mentioned it, I pulled up around the difference between a budget hearing and a public forum. Margaret in conversations that Margaret and I have had in terms of setting different dates when it comes to budget season, she did express and we did talk about different ways that we could possibly engage the community. Um, but those I I believe we have the budget dates like in terms of the budget timelines.

128We haven't set the intermediate dates as as yet. And I can express to you that in the conversation that her and I had, she's not going to say this. I'm going to say this. Her her position was we want to make sure the full committee was on board. So, I think for what you're hearing tonight, Margaret, the committee is open to having a forum. Um I know that one of the conversations that we also had was possibly having a joint forum where the finance committee can can answer questions. Um again Margaret's position as chair and I just want to say this is she's I was like I'm just I am the chair but I'm one person. I'm not the full committee. So I think that when I understood the agenda this evening, some of the

129conversations that you're having right now in terms of the form and stuff, the intent was to have it under the school committee goals when you guys talk about communications and where you are. And I know I jumped ahead, but I just wanted to to say that. Um, so I do agree that once we once the committee which to me is it sound the committee is open to it, we can go back to the calendar and give some dates and really should host a public forum especially around this this process. >> Okay. So I think just coming back to D I would like to draft with whomever Margaret you adise >> work on it together. >> Great. [clears throat] I would just like the email that goes out to give specific dates and to hold the

130email to go out until we have specific dates. >> Yes. Yes. >> Is what I would like to recommend. >> Okay. I I don't know. >> All right. >> So, school committee goals update. Um PTO. Oh, sorry, Rachel. Um, [clears throat] I put this in email just because the first date was so soon, but I wanted to make sure everybody is aware of the following three dates. Sarah, that's if you mean slow down. Say um February 7th is arts and culture night. March 21st is family fun night. School committee is going to lead an activity in a room for that. I think I just we we talked about doing it. >> Okay. >> We didn't say we are doing it. >> Great. I volunteered us to do it. I would love [laughter] >> I misunderstood

131that. Um but I volunteered us to do it. I don't think it's a huge problem if that's not possible. But um if there's another person who would like to come March 21st >> March 21st. >> So the question >> it's on a Saturday. What time would it be? 4:30. Correct. I think it's 4:30 to 6. >> That's what I put in here. And I >> I can commit to that. >> Great. So, the question I have is, are we to create the event or are we to help with an event that's already planned? >> Help with the room, >> I think. No, no. Yeah. So, we're hosting the event, but there's multiple rooms that we host things in. So, if you had a specific room or thing that you wanted to host as part of

132the event, then you're welcome to do that. I will not commit to what we're doing until I get a couple options and then I'll consult with with us. >> So you could share information with the committee about when and what. Yeah. >> And then those who can will. >> Yes. >> Sounds perfect. So for now, whoever is able March 21st, >> I am probably not going to be the most reliable because all my kids will um >> March 7th. >> May May 2nd is the spring fair. May 7 >> and I don't know the time for that. Okay. All of these 436 I will tell you if that changes. >> The arts and culture is 4:30 to 6. >> 4 to 6. And what is that? >> It's this Saturday. >> No, but what is

133it? >> So um there [clears throat] is going to be a performer from the Chinese Association of Western Mass. Um there's going to be a local like Polish um and Russian professor that are coming to do arts and crafts with kids. There's different projects that the kids have been working on in class that they're going to have there and then a potluck with different foods from families that'll be there too. >> So hopefully this will all be documented and we could share that on flyers for why you should choice in [laughter] >> it is on flyers. Yeah. Um I mean the night the kids are excited about it. >> Sounds amazing. >> That's this Saturday. Um >> from 4 to 6. >> 4 to 6. Yes. I will bump in in everyone's inbox with the

134invite. You'll get probably a parent for announcement with all those but [laughter] I'll f anything else. That's all I got. Okay. So, we will go on to committee goals update. Um, one thing is that Jenny couldn't be here tonight. She's been working with the documents that Sarah Bess has spent a lot of time on for the region and was willing to share with us because there's so much good information in it. Um so Jenny has that she's been working on it. She couldn't be here but um we will talk about that at another meeting. And um in terms of other goals, uh it's pretty clear to me at least that our communication, one of our goals is about communication and we have a lot we can talk about in regards to communication. Um we can

135talk about that some tonight. I think we're going to want to evaluate ourselves on our goals at the end of the year and some conversation, you know, may come at that time. Tonight may not be maybe tonight is feedback that goes into the goal about communication. One thing I can say from my point of view is it wasn't clear to caregivers about how to provide public comment to us. Um that there you know it's in the agendas but um I did share that information with Britney and she said she would share it to the PTO. I did provide a handout for Dr. Z's meeting on Thursday written document. Thank you for being here. >> Um and Dr. Z shared it again and her meeting last night. Um I think we have always just assumed people

136are going to go look at the meeting agendas and they're going to get the information from there. And I think we have to be more proactive about reaching out to the community. Um I guess that's kind of at the top of my mind at this point. Yeah. I think the other big thing that's come out is that when um updates are coming, we need to do some assessment of whether there's going to be something that feels >> explosive. Yeah. Um and really evaluate how that's coming out because I think we I think some steps were miscalculated. And William, what you said about people having knowing what we're talking about. Um, you know, we used to have handouts before everything went on to board docs. If you came to a school, well, if you came in

137person to a school committee, you've got a handout with all of the documents. So, I don't know. You know, maybe that is also something. >> It's too expensive. >> Of course, I know. >> But we we could I mean, I don't know. Maybe we could do a link to PTO >> or a link to board docs to put on the I feel like we get a principal message or something. >> We could easily bunch of QRS on the table. I would be very happy to take the lead on this, >> right? And it would be really nice >> QR codes on the table >> to take you to board docks or something >> to take you to the specific meeting things that are being discussed at that moment. >> Right. And I do think being

138able to >> push it. >> You all have your phones here even though you don't have your computer. So we sent you right to a document. You go >> Word docs gets a little confusing on phones though. >> Yeah. But if it goes straight to a PDF not to word docs but to a specific document. Can you make it I'm just curious. Can you make the QR code go to a PDF on or >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I can hold that if you want to. [clears throat] That is a good job for >> I mean we Okay. Um any other for tonight? Any others? >> I was supposed to have an update and I did not get to that update for the committee goals. >> I would apologize for not having >> around communication.

139I would still push to have a community forum. >> Yes. >> And >> are you talking specifically about the budget? >> A like Yes. A community forum for the budget. >> Yeah. Okay. I just was going to say I I'm like pretty taken aback by the miscommunication John Trick by the like crossed lines that seem to be happening with John Tricky and understanding >> well I'm sorry I have to correct you John seems is the spokesperson committee he is not the chair >> but is a committee of five people um so I think we have to be careful >> sure >> about how we do it But I agree. One of my big things is the school choice. That has to be made clear to people. >> Yeah. Because we get $5,000 for each school

140choice student, but it costs us more than that to educate that student. If you're looking at perupal cost, >> I would disagree with you. >> Okay. Okay. But I'm just saying there's questions. Great question. Yes. I don't want to discuss that with you because it's not on the agenda either. But >> yeah, what I wanted to say was >> we do need to have a bigger It would be great to have a course. >> Everybody's like John Tricky is doing very different math from Desi. >> He's doing it without the school choice students. >> Yeah. But like Desi has a calculation group of people. >> They do. But we all need the point is we all need to be on the same page. >> Right. Correct. We're referring folks who are listening or sitting here

141in the public comment. You can see most of the exchange between a finance committee member and a parent with us copied. Um >> what right there's communic there was communications today in which John Dicki explained how he does the math of understanding per pupil. >> That was an email exchange. >> I know but I thought you put that in the public comment attachment. >> No. Okay. If it's there, I don't if it's there. It was because it was in a series. >> Yes. Yeah. Yeah, it is. >> Okay. It is. Yeah. >> All right. >> Um it's it's an it's a complex exchange. >> It it was a it was a public comment from a community member, not from John. >> Yes. Yes. John with John responding >> to the community member. All that to

142say, there's some like quite significant discrepancies in how we're understanding numbers. Um, which is a problem. Um, and [clears throat] I would like for us I don't know whether that is I I think I would recommend that there be a joint school committee and finance committee meeting in which we can like >> clarify internally and there be a public budget forum in which we can talk to people. So two two meetings two meetings two meetings. >> Yeah. I would I would suggest on that one meeting with finance that >> and I I think it's called the select board but whatever they call themselves they would also be >> yes. >> Okay. [snorts] >> And that that community meeting especially happens and I know that's easier said than done. Yes it is because that involves two

143other committees and they're agreeing to do it on and finding the date. So the public meeting I think that one I mean just us not other committees >> the forum >> a public forum I'm not saying >> there is a recommendation >> as part of wait part of the communication goal >> to I have that um be cognizant about how we manage big items that are going to have you know items that have potentially really you know big dealing impact that handouts or some way to their QR codes and a link with the PTO so the information can be shared wider and then a budget community forum and then a separate meeting jointly with the school committee the select board and the finance committee >> okay >> you got that yes >> and I just

144just to add to that I think The public forum would be a great opportunity for us to engage and have discussion back and forth with the public. It might be too rambunctious to have the finance town select and us and the public to all go around. >> No, I think she suggest the school. Yes, that's right. >> Not having public back and forth involved when we have the meeting with finance in town. >> Yes, agreed. And the one that I'm saying to prioritize scheduling is the community. >> Correct. >> One with just full committee >> because we control that. >> Yes. >> I may send out. Um, >> well, maybe we should engage with the PTO to figure out when a successful time might be to have a public form. >> I think we just

145need to look at the calendar. Okay. >> Yeah, >> I think a doodle is a good idea. I'm h >> amongst us. >> I do it. >> I'm happy to weigh in on like times of day if that's helpful. [snorts] >> So, I also think we have to set that meeting right now. I think we should. What I would probably do with the doodle poll is what I would probably do with the doodle poll because we have to get I mean there's a lot of people. It's not just us. >> There's other people that have to be part of that. So what I think I might do is talk with Dr. Z. Yeah. >> Get some possible dates and times and that's what I'll put in the >> Okay. >> Can we try to commit

146to have it in the next two weeks? We can try. >> Okay. >> The week after next is breaking. >> Oh, okay. Never mind. >> We can try. >> So, I guess the next three weeks. >> I think if we could do it the week after break, that would be probably reasonable and a good Okay. >> And I'm just I'm just Okay. But I I am also just going to say when we're talking about something with all three committees, it's going to depend on all three committees. >> This is not >> Oh, yeah. That's that would that's different than this one. >> Yes, it is. It is. I I just >> That's a difficult calendar. >> It is. I just want to say this. >> Okay. Dr. Z. >> Hi. I just [snorts] I just

147wanted clarity on um what we're looking to schedule. So, we have we're we're planning a budget forum for the school committee, right? And then there's also the the possibility of having a meeting with the school committee and finance committee and select board. I just want to know is that to be a public forum as well or is that to be >> No. >> Okay. So that's just a meeting where all three are together and kind of discussing the budget and and what needs >> we can ask ask each other questions and try to get clarity on >> okay >> so we're talking common >> okay and then we're asking for the budget forum with the community to take place >> as um as soon as possible my suggestion would be and I would tell this

148to Margaret behind the same way that the budget forum take place in between the posting of the budget and the budget hearing. Um the reason being is that at that point the budget is public. The individuals have an opportunity or after individuals have an opportunity to review it and to to mark up their concerns or else they would be coming and giving comments and to the school committee not based on what is actually projected but based on whatever we're discussing right now. So I just would like to say I I'll say that to the broader community in case in broader committee um that in in planning with Margaret that would be my suggestion that the the forum happen after the draft budget is made public and posted um within those seven days to give community

149the opportunity to engage and ask questions. Um but I'll we'll we'll put the dates forward but that would be my suggestion. Okay. Anything else? Anything we didn't reasonably anticipate 48 hours in advance? >> Thank God. Um, okay. I think I will be accepting this agenda. >> Second. All those in favor? >> Yes. >> Sorry. >> Yeah, I saw everybody. I'm sorry. It was unanimous for us. >> I think we warrant report. >> Yeah. >> So, it's future agenda, >> which it sounds like we've done throughout our meeting today. I would agree. >> I would agree. >> I will move to second. All those in favor with us. Live >> stream is clear.