School Committee (April 8th, 2026)

001Good evening everybody. It is April 8th, 2026. The Ashlin Public School strives to be a model district that creates a culture of inclusivity for our diverse students and staff who feel safe and supported, are empowered with the academic and social emotional skills to pursue their chosen path, and embrace their roles as positive contributors to local and global communities. This meeting is being recorded by WACA Cable TV. Our order of business this evening includes a call to order, opening procedures, agenda review, and adoption. There will be time for public participation. Reports and presentations include AMS Unified Sports Warrant approvals, superintendence report, the APS assuming field renters from the town's DPW, superintendent evaluation process, public hearing. The action items in discussion updates votes include public hearing school choice participation for the 2026 2027 school year >> in

002reverse. >> Thank you. Um we will have a public hearing on our FY2027 school budget. Wacka 8HS television and well we're not going to have there's an item on the agenda that we are going to be um putting off till a later date and that's item C. Um item D, we will have WACA board member proposal, consent agenda includes approval of gifts and donations, approval of grants, minutes from March 25th, 2026, reports of school committee members, and then we will adjourn. And um I see that everybody is here. And is everybody okay with the order of business this evening? >> Yes. >> Excellent. Okay. Next up, I will ask if there's anybody either online or in the audience who wants to uh offer a public comment. Come on up. >> And and we should probably

003just be clear when we open the public hearing for the budget, they will also need to have an opportunity. >> Yes. If anyone is here to make comment on the budget, um you will have an opportunity to do that. Uh thank you, Paul. >> A little bit later. Hello. >> Hi. Thanks. Okay. >> Oh, sorry. The green. Yeah. On the There you go. Green lighting. >> There we go. >> Beautiful. >> Hi, Andrew Pantini, 270 Civville Road. Uh, mine's certainly a little budgety, but um, and I'm happy to stay for the comment later. Um, but, you know, I understand this is kind of a one-way conversation. Uh, right now you're not allowed to give feedback. Maybe >> that is true. Um, you have three minutes and >> understood. Yeah. >> So, that's why I typed

004to make sure I'm uh, organized. >> Excellent. Thank So, thanks for uh taking the time for me to be heard tonight. I'm a fourth generation Ashlin resident, third generation graduate from the Ashland public schools, and I have one child in the first grade and one entered into the school system in a couple years. Um, with that, I have vested interest in the growth and constant state of improvement of the educational system here in Ashland. Uh, I know a significant factor in a school's budget is special education. Another subject I'm passionate about in also being a product of that system, too. uh two names that stick out in my educational journey, Arlene Ager and Jane Holden. Um without them, I'm not sure I would have had the same experience in the same educational journey. Um early

005in grade school, simply it was very simple just to hold a student back and uh thanks to the tenacity of my mother and the encouragement of um Miss Arger and later on Mrs. Holden in high school um I just don't think my educational value would have been the same. Um with that um he had to fully support the operation two and a half override. Um you know I I understand the demand of the schools, the town uh and the need you know two and a half uh tax increases and way inflation goes uh they just can't the math doesn't equate up. So I completely understand that. Um towns like Ashland almost demand dual income households. Um extended day programs to me are a must in our school systems. Um, with that, um, our daughter was

006not accepted into the extended day program next year. We learned that there's a significant lottery system. Um, with that, you know, I'm kind of a metrics individual and to learn that there's been a significant lottery system and a significant weight list every year, there's obviously a supply issue, a supply demand issue. Um, so I'm here just to, you know, request consideration uh for working families like ours of a dual- inome household. Um, and the reliance we have on extended day programs. Uh, one of the answers we got was just to call around to some of the private schools in town. They're all full, too, and you know, really don't meet our needs. So, um, you know, just a, uh, you know, just a, you know, I understand, you know, we might, we still don't know

007what our solution is for next year. We're working that out. I'm sure we'll find, you know, we'll figure something out one way or another, but um, you know, there's certainly a bigger demand than there is a supply that the schools are able to provide. And we start talking about these overrides and the needs. Um, you know, it's certainly conflicting interests of, you know, you know, are are both parents working to help support the needs of the override and also the needs of our children for the care that they deserve. So, thank you. >> Thank you for your input on that. If you do stay and you want to speak again later on anything else, that does not preclude you from participating. Okay. Um, next up we have AMS Unified Sports. Hello and welcome. Hi. Thank

008you for being here. You want to come up to the microphone? >> Of course. >> Excellent. Hello. Hello. >> It's >> Oh, I'm pulling it up. If if the light is green then then it's on. >> Good evening everyone. My name is Ayan New and I'm a student at AMS. And I'm so excited for this today. I'm so excited. >> Thank you. We're so excited to have you. >> Of course. Why not? >> I see you brought some friends. basketball. >> Hello, I am Brady Giles. I also go to Ashlin Middle School and I been doing unifies for like two years for now, I think. And yeah, all that good stuff. >> Well, welcome. Thank you, Ray. Yeah. >> Want to come say hello? >> Hi there. Excellent. Lovely to meet you. >> Hello. >>

009Hi, my name is Charlotte Lawson. I also go to Ashlin Middle School. I've been doing Unified for one year. >> Hi, Charlotte. Welcome. Hi. >> My name is Grace Yuma. I also go to Ashlin Middle School and I've also been doing Unified for one year. >> Welcome, Grace. >> You gonna tell us a little bit about it? What is unified basketball? >> Unified basketball is a where people with all types of abilities play together on the same team. The this sport promotes the importance of inclusion, teamwork and friendship. How does it work? So everyone gets a chance to play and score no matter the skill level. The focus is on fun teamwork and learning from each other. >> Thank you. >> How does it work? It's basketball with but with an emphasis on inclusion, respect,

010and working together. >> Thank you. >> Why do we love unified basketball? I like I like playing with a team. I like shooting the ball and I like all the friends. I love my friendship and Mr. Hilly. I love doing all the games, too. I like the jerseys. Thank you. >> Highlights from the 20126 season. >> Looks like everyone's having a lot of fun in those pictures. My favorite part of the unified champion ball was dribbling. I loved everything. >> Sounds fun. Anyone else want to share their favorite? >> Uh, my favorite part is um making new friends and talking to our existing friends. >> Love it. My favorite part was just the overall experience of getting to meet new people that you wouldn't normally have classes with. >> Love that. >> My favorite part

011was also making new friends. >> Love it. >> My favorite part of Unified Champion Ball was making new friends, too. Thank you everyone. >> Thank you guys so much. >> Keep having fun, everybody. >> We're so happy that you came to tell us all about it. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Please. >> And guess what? You all don't have to stay. >> You don't have to stay for the meeting. You're good. Thank you for showing up. >> Yeah, >> but you were our favorite part of the meeting. >> Yeah, it's now going to be >> right. It's all downhill from here. >> Oh, sorry. Thank you for coming. >> We know he's the camera. >> Appreciate you all. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Oh my gosh. So sweet. Can we Can we turn that?

012>> I'm gonna miss that. >> You should. >> That's what I'm going to miss. >> I know. >> So, yeah. So, now it's your Okay. >> Yeah. Definitely definitely not putting more on approvals after that. >> Who did that? >> Talk about a buzz. >> That's a tough act to >> commission. >> All right. Between March 26, 2026 and April 8th, 2026, I Paul Kendall authorized by my signature payables in the amount of $572,14358. This includes general fund expenses of $478,8451, revolving expenses of $92,5855 and grant fund grant expenses of $1,5502. Finally, I authorized payroll in the amount of 1,516,82349. >> Thanks, Paul. Of course I >> Next up, we have the superintendent report starting with APS assuming the field rentals from the town's DPW. So, I I want to give a brief update here

013on what our process has been. And as you know, it ties into um our goals as well or my goals in terms of of the um the the taking over of the rental properties of of the Ashlin public school fields. And and really what I'm presenting to you here is is a an outline of how we got to where we are. how how how did we get here today and what are the next steps in the journey of of actually taking control of the fields um that that are currently under uh DPW's purview in terms of the rental but also the maintenance etc. So I I think it's critically important that we that we have a framework so when I come back uh in May and June with a real concrete plan uh that you

014at least have um the concept behind what we're thinking here. I think it's critically important to to to go back in time. And I spent a lot of time culling through um town reports, uh school committee minutes, uh minutes from the uh select board, uh and the Ashenfields management group um you know to to figure out how did we get here and and how are we uh going to then make this transition. I think it's critically important that we we know this. So, in 2011, um, as we were going through the process of creating, uh, and getting the turf fields built at the high school, um, as part of the CPC projects, uh, there was a group called the Ashlin Fields Management Group that was created at the town level. Uh, and they were responsible

015for uh, setting policy on the use of the fields. They were they were responsible for renting the fields uh hiring vendors um to to mow the fields to take care of the fields um and and that was made up of five volunteers and at that time the school committee appointed two members to that group. Now they were responsible for coming back to the school committee when there was going to be any adjustments to school property like so our property um they would have to come before us but all decisions were being made at this group level if you will that was designed at the town level. Um, fast forward to 2014. Um, the Ashen Fields Management Group um says to the town, "This is getting too big for us. It's it's it's it's a heavy

016lift for volunteers. Five volunteers within the community. Uh, you know, I want to thank, you know, go back in time, Nick Moscertillo, um, Dave O'Brien. There were there was a number of significant individuals within this community that that worked hard to develop and get these fields built uh and saw a need um you know for more fields. Uh they they anticipated the growth of our youth sports. Um so July 1 comes of 2014 and DPW is seated the um the power to rent the fields and then take care of the fields etc. And that includes all fields not just the Ash public school fields but um community fields as well. So youth sports though around this time start getting a little more um for a lack of a better term a little more uh power

017in terms of sorry in terms of being able to to take care of their own fields if you will. So think about the Warren school uh where they just have the youth uh Ashlin youth softball field right baseball they started taking care of those fields. So there was this agreement that was made between the DPW and these youth programs to care for those fields. So adopt them if you will. So Grenell is another or the community center. Uh so so DPW wasn't necessarily uh responsible for getting all of the fields in shape because they don't have the um the personnel to do that either. >> Oh, I jumped over 2013. Sorry, I went this way. Go ahead. Sorry. >> No, I was just quick. You said agreement. Was that like a written formal agreement or

018just kind of an understanding? >> Yeah, understanding. Right. So, I there there was no written agreement that I could find or policy created at the town level or schoolbased level for any of this transfer of of the u properties. So, let me go I should go back to 2013 though because I think it's important as we move into 2026 where we are. So, the town sets up an enterprise fund in 2013 in anticipation of 2014, taking over uh the the fields, right? Um Ashlin Fields Management Group didn't necessarily have a fund that they were that they were putting the the money into for the enterprise for the rentals. Um they had accounts with the town, but they formalized the agreement to have an enterprise fund. Uh field rental rates were set then. Um, these are

019initial rates. They have not been changed since 2013. Uh, we have a policy, actual school committee policy on rentals. Um, but we've never really adopt we've never adopted them. So, so we'll get to that, but so I apologize for skipping. Now, let's go to 15. In 2015, the town field use policy uh was formally drafted. So, if you go on the website uh for DPW and want to rent the facility or aid field, you'll click on a link and it talks about the town use policy. Well, that was written to be adopted by select board and the school committee. It's still in draft form. It was never adopted. Okay. So, it's just sitting there still in a draft format. So a lot of the work is is is has been prepared that we can then

020maneuver with. Um policies ultimately never approved as I said. Jump forward to 2023. So now here we are eight years later, right? Uh in 2023, uh Doug Small, who's who has has by this time become the the director of of DPW, um has a meeting uh as part of his budget process uh with the finance committee. And through calling through the minutes of the finance committee and um Doug's presentation to the finance committee at this point in time, uh he he says, "Hey, Ashlin is one of the only communities locally that he could find where DPW is actually responsible for school fields." There are a couple others, North, Southboro, um and in Westboro. The DPW did a lot of work in those uh districts. Uh he recommends a formal um creation of a park and

021wreck department who would then take over the control of of rentals and maintenance of fields across the whole community. Um and that's when the initial talk of transferring uh the fields and the rentals just for the schools comes to APS, right? So, we start having these initial conversations and at that point I'm not comfortable uh I don't know if you remember in the board we've had these conversations. I wasn't comfortable taking control at that point in time um because I didn't have enough information. So, let's fast forward three years to 2026 and here we are again, right? So, there's lots of negotiations going on between myself and the town manager um about how do we how do we do this in such a way that is efficient and effective but will benefit our community and

022benefit the Asham public schools. Um but but more importantly, you know, when we look at the comprehensive plan that was created, we know there's limited field space. We know there's competition between outside agents trying to rent our fields and our youth programs. We know that. So, how can we do a better job? That's sort of been the task that Mike, Chris, and I and John Murray have have um sort of worked under as our charge and including our youth programs. Like, what are you spending? Like, we don't have a good sense, I don't yet. And Chris and I talk about this all the time of fully what it costs to fund or to to maintain our fields because for instance Mendes and uh Warren like I said before Ashton youth baseball and softball. Well, they

023cover the cost. They hire a landscaper to come in and mow the fields, line the fields, you know, get the the playing surfaces uh squared away. Well, to me, I need to know what what if they go away. What if Ashlin Youth baseball softball says we don't have the funds anymore? Then we've got to figure out what's the true cost of running uh our our field. So, so we're in the midst of gathering data still. Um there's discussion of the enterprise fund. I think this is critically important that the conversations that I've been having at the the district level and the town level was the enterprise fund was set up specifically for the receiving of revenue for rentals of the fields and then there are expenses that come out of this. We, Michael currently pays

024uh an individual a salary out of the enterprise fund, you know, in association with maintenance of the fields, right? Um because there's a purpose. And so when we're looking at taking over control, my conversation has been, hey, then that means whatever is left over, whatever's in that enterprise fund, it's not like a school choice fund. The term, and I'm trying not to complicate it, is retained earnings, right? It's it's money that it's sitting there that has been net expenses, so it's profit, if you will, over the course of since 2013. So, as we're beginning to to take control of the fields, I'm saying, "Well, we need those funds as seed money, as startup money, because that's what it was designed for, was for the field rentals." And and I went back to look at, okay,

025the field rentals revenue. One could argue, okay, what about, well, Stone Park gets rented or, you know, the community center? They don't. Right? There's no revenue coming in for those. When you look back at the the data, there are expenses that organizations have picked up. So from my lens from an accounting practice, I would have picked it up as a as you know, a gift of revenue and a gift of expense and they just wash out. So you really know what it is, right? So like kind of exchange of of services, but all rental income has been really from at least 98% of it has been from the Ashland public school fields. So to me, it's only right that that enterprise money comes with the the field taking over the fields. So, I will have

026a recommendation coming before this group um soon um in June uh with regard to how we're going to maneuver and manage this, right? Because I it's a really fair question. How are we going to fund this? How are we going to pay for the staffing to ensure the fields are ready? And what does it look like? What kinds of agreements do we have with Ashlin youth baseball and softball for instance to to maintain our fields in lie of payment for use of fields like we don't have anything written and I I'm a firm believer in memorializing all of this uh because you know um while I have a lot of faith in in our youth sports programs inherently they change over right as they're as kids move up in the system, different parents become leaders

027of those youth programs. So, we just want to make sure we have that buttoned up. >> Paul, go ahead. >> And and I would even say that we should have some level of expectation as to the contracts they have. >> That's right. >> Um we just have a new field at Mendes. >> Perhaps what one of them was going to do wouldn't be appropriate for the new field. So, we need to make sure that um if we're going to have a barter system like that where they would take on that expense that it it meets whatever requirements that we would have. >> Correct. Right. And that's what we're working through. Right. We're we're trying to figure out exactly what it will cost us um to to do this properly. This slide is just another way

028of showing how the process unfolded from 2011 through 2026. U July 1 comes, we are assuming control. It's been made clear to anyone uh to to Doug Small's uh group at DPW, anyone who's looking to rent the fields after July 1, they're to go to through me and Chris right now because we we need to make sure we have control of of that and dealing with our athletic program. >> Sort of to that point, Jim, procedurally >> Yeah. Um, is there something like I understand you're you have a dotting eyes, crossing tees in that between now and the end of the fiscal year, >> what do you anticipate our action steps being as a committee, if any, we going to need to vote something or is it really just control over school property property, >>

029right? So, you you brought up to me before uh when we had a separate conversation, was a policy ever enacted? And the answer is no. Um, I can't find anything anywhere. I went, like I said, I went back through numerous documents, uh, and even going back to Metro's Daily News in 2011 when we talked about setting up a bills management group and then going to town meetings, there was nothing um, no policies were created. It was just assumed. So, I don't think there's anything we need to vote on in terms of assuming our own school property. I think where the board is going to have to weigh in a lot will be our policy and our rental fee structure because it should change and um partly because it hasn't changed in 10 years. Um, and

030we want to make sure that if we are Paul, to your point, if we are entering into agreements with our youth organizations, especially who pay for maintenance, we want to make sure they're to the standards that that we want and and that's that is important. >> Yeah. And then if you memorialize that even for their benefit, they turn over. >> Yeah. there's something that says, hey, as the next person that comes in or management group that comes in has an expectation of of what what's going to happen as well. >> I'm sorry, Tina, go ahead. >> No, I was just going to ask in terms of if we were to assume control over the enterprise fund, does that need to happen at town meeting like what's the mechanism for that? >> It's a great question

031and that's what we're trying to work out, right? So that's on um the last slide and it sort of answers your questions and and Mark's question as well, right? what what really needs to happen to to make this work and to ensure that we get that funding right. One is you know one piece we have to set new rental policy new procedures we have to look at policy KF which is our rental policy. Uh we have we have looked at and asked um at the state level Chris has done that that we can utilize our building rental account for field rentals. So we don't need the enterprise fund to collect that revenue if you will. We can utilize we just call it a facilities rental. Um, >> so it will be some sort of transfer

032from the enterprise. >> No. Well, not yet. No. So, so what I'm saying is we don't need the enterprise fund to start collecting revenue to so we have whereas that's what it's used for currently. We can just change our building rental to be a facility rental account. >> Okay. >> So, we can collect field rental. the cha that what the challenge is is and that's what Michael has to work out and he's got to have conversations with legal with Lisa me is okay what happens to those retained earnings how can we get those retained earnings to the public school system to utilize in starting July or um the field maintenance in >> presumably they would go into that building count >> presumably correct that's right >> I I would assume it's either they can be

033transferred there or it has to be transferred into into a designated account. Correct. That you spend down and then >> and it's and it's about $220,000 is what we anticipate the retained earnings being. >> Right. So it's >> so it's significant, right? But but if we're looking at hiring an individual to maintain the fields or whatever it might be, whatever structure we we land on, I want to assure folks that um the funding for the fields and the maintenance comes out of the enterprise right now. >> Right. We're not looking to add staff through our operating budget. Right. Right. >> And and I I'm very trying to be very cognizant of keeping this separate from the conversation about our budget because it it's separate >> and and and it's important. >> One additional question in

034terms of you just mentioned staffing obviously to the the maintenance piece in terms of staying on top of the field, but I would assume that there's a a decent administrative piece of it to book the fields too. >> There is. >> So what is Do you have any idea of what that >> I have a lot of ideas. >> Okay. and and we're still trying to to to flush those out to be honest and I'm not prepared to pro provide that right now but yes we've talked a lot about once so currently so the the buildings themselves right they go through Roberto Tessini in in John's Murray's office um does it make sense especially like the gymnasium or um anywhere that is used for athletics that one individual is responsible for fields athletics and inside

035the building, if you will, right? The answer is yes. It probably makes good sense. So, what does that look like? I don't know yet. Uh we're bantering a few things around uh to make it cost efficient. Um but we do understand it's going to be pretty significant work. It's part of the reason why DPW sort of wants to push it off because it is significant work and it's not really their um >> they don't really have a stake in the game, if you will, for the for the public school fields. I don't blame them. And Jim, this obviously shouldn't be something shouldn't be a highest priority, but if we could as we do this uh have further discussions with DPW where we can unify how any group is going to interact with either because what

036one of the negatives of this is now I'm Ashlin youth whatever I want to use Stone Park and I want to use this. >> Now I got to deal with two different groups that are going to operate totally different. So to the extent we can share and collaborate on interfaces to make that as as seamless as possible I would imagine >> we are and school dude is where we typically have a rental property like people rent through that um that mechanism uh which will still continue um it is important and again there there are conversations that we're having with DPW2 about inventory and about equipment right uh you know there's significant equipment that we're going to need to to maintain the properties. So, who you know, where were those purchased? Are we going to uh

037receive some of those? Again, there's lots of negotiations going on. Um, so decisions needed, Mark, I mentioned that year one set up. Chris and I are working on trying to get a true profit and loss statement uh for the fields. What does it really look like? Um again the intent back when the enterprise fund was set up and you go back to town meeting and you talk about it was designed to capture revenue in order to replace fields replace the turf. That's what that was the original intent of the enterprise fund and there's no way we will ever collect enough revenue to do that partly because of our youth programs and the need for space for our our community events. So, just because you did mention sort of the amount of the retained earnings that

038needed about 220,000, um I think you have a pretty good sense of what it costs to replace a turf field and how often that is. Just >> sort of for the community listening, you just put those numbers out there. >> Chris, you probably have the most recent >> I mean, I'd say on the lower end, right? Probably >> 1.3 million per field, >> right? >> And it should be every 12 to 15 years. It depends on if they're passing um all of the testing and and are they g people think just because you have a turf field they need to be groomed as well by the way right I mean the pebbles are the the rubber that's put inlaid into the turf uh need to be spread out because you need to be testing your

039concussion um you know process like you know they they do impact testing to see does it meet the requirements or meet the level that we're supposed to have it at. So we do that every year, but overall the field just gets ripped up and tear torn and we need to replace it. >> I just want to kind of bring out the point that >> you've got these fields have been operating for 10 12 years in this model we have retained earnings of $220,000 and by comparison to replace one of the fields and I understand we probably need to replace both turf fields. >> Yes. >> You're talking about 1.3 million free. So it you're never you're never even anywhere close to it serving the purpose designed for. >> Yeah. But but one opportunity that we

040do have is to look at the pricing on the fields and the rental. Right. So the prices haven't increased in a decade plus and if we build in some depreciable replacement value into the pricing which would be reasonable then you can set aside a portion >> for like you know continued capital and operations. So, >> it's a really good point. Yeah, we're we're certainly Chris and I are certainly looking at um cost center and this being a cost center, right? And let's really focus on uh the revenue coming in, the expenses that we need to to handle who what other expenses are being handled outside of our organization. Uh and then really creating a true P&L for this and and then being able to hopefully put some money aside uh to for repairs. >> Yeah.

041Well, to Mark's point, then have a realistic expectation. Yeah. My expectation is >> just doing the simple doing the very quick math. It's $100,000 give or take per year you'd have to be saving. >> Correct. >> To do this and that there's zero possibility you're going to do that >> correct when there was only $128,000 in rental revenue last year. Is that right, Chris? That number sound right? >> Wow. And if you remember, you know, because we were here when it all came to be, >> remember at first they had No, but there was a different kind of plan because it was kind of unique for the area. There was this feeling that we would get these huge sponsors that might come in and name the fields and >> all the signs and everything and

042that that there would be a lot more income than >> Yeah, there were a couple factors, right? We were the first to have turf fields. Um and then Hopington built some of them. um holy like so there are you know there are organizations that have added to their uh community fields where they no longer needed ours >> which makes sense but we also again I want to be clear if if we could just break even every year and really support our community >> programs and our school programs I think that's a win because I think right now um there's this sense and feeling that um youth programs and school programs are sometimes at at odds with each other in terms of the timing and and it's just communication and I think we can get some

043of this fixed. I'd prefer not to be having maybe have two or three big rentals a year uh that bring in 101 15,000 for a weekend >> but you got to do it right. >> Right. And and to me I don't think we always do it right. >> Jim, do you foresee any barriers or any issues coming up that would preclude this from getting taken care of by July 1st? like or no. Okay. >> No, we'll be ready to go on our end for sure. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, that that's just the update. Uh I wanted to make sure you all had that information. >> And then you have your second item. >> Yeah. And then the uh as you know uh Mrs. Tosti is uh retiring from her role here on the school

044committee. So, we we had a conversation about having um my summit of evaluation um on her final day, which is May 13th. Um and >> Yeah. Right. Right. Right. She can >> I've been waiting for this. >> Yeah. >> She won't have to deal with me ever again. So, she's like, "Oh, let me just go ahead and do it now." So, >> it's been a while since we've had to and we've been able to do it at the end of June. >> So, I I shared this memo with you. uh in the file. I'm not going to go over it. Uh you've all done this before. The superintendent summit of evaluation, the actual document and the rubrics are in linked to this so you can go at your leisure and look at it. What I'm

045asking you to do is in bold at the bottom, right? Get information to Lori by May 6th. Okay. >> So, the good news is we have more time than we usually have. We have a month to do this. a little bit less than that. >> All you're telling me is >> we also have town meeting. We have we have a lot going on >> because it's so far in the future. Just don't let it fall through the cracks. >> Yeah. >> So that's >> please >> that's that. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um and and that's all I had. So >> yeah, Miguel, >> as you know, we um had a professional development day last week. We spent the majority of of the time for folks on our rollover from iPass to power school. Uh there

046it was not without hiccups, but uh we were able to get a good majority of our staff to begin their training uh to help with that rollover happening for next year. Uh beginning next week, there is a group of building level leaders along with some administrative assistants and school counselors that are going to uh begin a very comprehensive professional learning opportunity which is going to go over the course of two weeks where they will we will become trainers. So it's going to be a train the trainer model. So we will then be able to really become hopefully experts in car school to help this happen uh a lot more smoothly than we started anyways. So, uh, other than that, we we continue to to move forward. The, uh, evaluation committee is is feeling pretty good.

047Um, better than I I felt a couple weeks ago when I when I chatted with you folks. I presented a document to them actually today for their review, which I believe and hope will be uh, the finalized teacher evaluation piece. And then what we will do uh at our next meeting is hopefully approve that and then begin adapting it for our service providers because we have two different really two different major rubrics. We have the teacher rubric as well as the CISP rubric with which is the special education service provider rubric. Uh there there are some similarities but there are also some distinct differences. So, it could take some time to bet through that, but I I do not anticipate it's going to be nearly the amount of time it took us to get through

048the teaching point. Now, we have a really good basis for which we can move. Uh, so I I feel a lot more confident than I did a couple weeks ago that we're by the end of June, I think we're going to have something to really be able to report to you. Uh, last thing finally is is we are we continue to push forward with our our need to um look at literacy programming. Um we have we have determined two final programs that we are going to pilot. We are now in the stage of talking with our teachers about who is interested in piloting the programs. Uh once we get those folks together, they will come our our true literacy pilot committee and and then we will be able to take a look at um the

049the two literacy curricula and vet it out over the course of next year. So we're excited. We have chosen EL which is a highly rated program by curate HQIM. Both of these are highly rated by curate and ed reports which we have used very closely. Um and CKLA which is from amplify. So we we're excited. Um we know that no program is perfect. There are going to be some weaknesses in it and that's is why we have to do a pilot and we have to make sure that we are vetting things out as well as we possibly can. That is it for me. Um but there will be plenty more especially in that realm um you know by by June but most importantly you'll be you'll be getting some significant reports next year as we

050really get into that pilot process. >> Thank you. >> Just ask one question. When you talk about the pilot process is that basically teacher or a couple teachers basically using the curriculum throughout this year with their students see how it goes. So we're so we have not finalized with the two uh companies about whether or not we truly can go full year, but the goal our goal is to do uh two teachers at each grade level in each program and to do it full year so there's no loss of instruction at all. So we don't lose any continuity for the kids. We we would prefer to start in know September, go all the way through June regardless of which program we end up choosing. Um and With that comes training that will begin actually in

051May or June of this year, call it in August and then throughout next year for the folks that are actually implementing the pilot program, but it will be a full implementation. >> You said at each grade level >> at each grade level. >> So is that K to five? >> K to five. Okay. >> So yes, sorry. Thank you, Mark. It's it's it's going to be K to five only. We're only looking at elementary right now. U but yeah, essentially we'll have we'll have 12 folks that are taking part. >> Excellent. Any other questions? >> Okay, I'm going to open the hearing a public hearing for school choice participation for the 2026 2027 school year. >> So, sorry. So, each year uh under master especially come before you to have a conversation whether or not

052the Ash public schools wants to participate in school choice. And uh each year I've been in the district uh the school committee has opted to participate uh and part of that process is to then determine how many seats at each grade level uh we will accept uh for uh the next school year. So what I'm sharing with you is and and I want to thank you know my administrators are here tonight uh not only for working with me on this document but as we have the public hearing for the budget as well um got their input on really what it looks like in their in their school right because I think it's critically important to understand uh what's happening uh when we add seats and how is it impacting um grade levels so what you'll

053see before you is currently we have uh 72 students who are in school choice this here. Uh nine of th those individuals will graduate in so in the senior class we have nine. Uh last year we opened 75 seats if we remember we were pretty aggressive. Um we only filled 30. Um so our fill rate was around 40%. We're always right around just under 50% fill rate. Uh the number of seats we've opened. Um remember next year um you know KEF is ac has accepted um 17 students. 16 of them are currently in district, one is out. Is that correct, Aaron? >> One of those >> but but is not in the our public school system right now, right? Um so, so they'll be picking up 17 students. So, just remember that partly because the

054current eighth grade has about 235 kids in it and so reduce those 17. So, that really is what guides some of the the conversation with regard to school choice at the next level. So, what I'm sharing with you here is a is a um and I've shared this in the past, the anticipated enrollment, all of these um numbers have been moved down one. So, where you see the grade one, that is our current kindergarten enrollment, right? So, 200 students. Um grade two is our current first grade students. Our projection for K then is the 190 based on numbers uh that we currently have. Uh Pete's online but 140 plus right now have signed up uh registered for kindergarten. Pete, is that about right? He's at his college lacrosse game. I know he's online. >> Yes.

055Yes, that is accurate, Jim. >> Okay. Thanks, Pete. >> Just checking. >> Yeah, just making sure you're there actually. you know, um, >> took me a little while to get to the microphone button, >> you bet. Um, so, so what we did was in the second column where it says enrolled students through school choice in 2526, the parentheses are the number of um, allocated seats that you approved last year. So, we approved 10 spots in last year's kindergarten class, right? Eight were filled. We approved five for this year's first grade. One was filled. So that's how this works, right? Does that make sense? How >> you're looking to backfill whatever didn't fill. >> Well, in most cases, >> possibly. So look at grade three. >> We opened 10 seats. We did not have one school

056choice student in grade three. >> So as we went down, um you'll notice again 30 seats were filled out of the 75 that we approved. So if you go to the next column. >> Yeah. Sorry. Yeah. >> I'm just looking at it and I might want to make sure that So what's in grade two, >> correct? >> Was last year's grade one. >> Correct. >> Right. >> But in the other one, it's not. >> Say that again. >> But it looks So the second column is shifted. You said the fir this third column isn't, but it looks like it is. >> It is shifted. >> Okay. It is shifted. Yeah. Yeah. I'm sorry. It is. It is shifted. Yeah. It's all shifted together. >> Correct. I apologize. >> Yeah. So, it's when you said it

057was grade one. >> No, no, no. They've all assume it's all shifted, right? >> Um shift happens. >> So, um so, >> so as we look through this, >> it's been a long month. So bad jokes right as we look at this >> you might say how come for instance in grade four which is current grade three there are seven students enrolled in school choice but I'm showing zero out of 10 that's because in the previous three year two years we would have picked up school choice kids right so this is just a cumulative number of school choice students who have been added to the the roster over time. >> So the the second or the zero and 10 number reflects what we opened last year. >> Correct. >> On top of the seven that

058>> absolutely correct kindergarters. >> Correct. Y. So our thought process this year was okay let's just look at what we offered last year the 75 right and take the delta for this year's offerings. So for instance in kindergarten so let me use grade one. So grade one we offered 10. We filled it with eight. I'm only recommending two spots because we we felt comfortable last year with 10. So, let's keep it there. And and for this year, let's take this as a methodology. Although when you get down into grade five and six and you'll notice that we're not asking for even though we have three seats that would be available out of the five we initially um projected or eighth grade where we had four we just had we had more students actually enroll into

059the community that were not school choice students. So, in conversations with Aaron, we're like, "No, let's not let's not add four seats to next year's eighth grade level. We're at 233 because we had students enroll." Uh, similarly in uh grade five and grade six, so the fourth grade class had an increase of students that we didn't anticipate in the fifth grade class as well. Right. So, so we did not feel comfortable adding to those spots. So, so we're looking at adding 46 um total seats um in next year's um because there's 10 at the kindergarten level, right? So, uh it would be 36 really remaining of of the 75. So, it's nine less than we had last year um that we had approved. And Jim, I think we know this, but uh we're going to

060have a budget conversation later. >> So, we're opening up school choice seats. We're >> going to reduce staff. Can Can you just explain to people that adding a student doesn't cost a pupil and why we're doing it, >> right? So, I look at it this way. Let's assume we have 18 students in a class and we open up and we get, you know, the teacher's there with 18 students and we get a school choice student that comes in. So, we add one more student to that roster. Is that significantly changing the dynamic of the class in terms of of um the number of students? The answer is no. If we had 10 go from 18 to 28, we might be having a conversation saying that's really impacting the teacher and the class. So when we

061look at the numbers themselves, it's saying, okay, how many students really could we bring into the system that's not going to negatively impact class sizes and offerings of students that when I start diving into numbers and I think about school choice and the revenue we bring in at $5,000 a student, and I was doing a little research the other day for a research analyst that um asked the question, you know, what do we get for school choice and how does it compare to say chapter 70? Well, we're getting $75 a student for a national resident. We're getting 5,000 for a student moving into the district through school choice, right? But it does have an impact. It reduces I mean it by adding more students in it does reduce the cost per pupil. Um, however, it's

062not really impacting the teaching staff. um unless we're adding a significant amount. And that's why we do this every year. We we look at it and say, you know, can we go in the fourth grade? Now, Kate has made decisions on her staffing level, like instead of 10 teachers, it may be nine teachers at the grade four level. How will 10 students if if we get 10 school choice students, how will that impact? It goes to 185 now over nine, right? Um so so we do take those things into account. I I will tell you as of this morning we have 30 uh requests um for information on school choice. What did we say yesterday, Kell? Nine nine ninth graders. So almost a third were were 9th grade requests. This will be the first time

063that we've had a lottery. We're only looking to add four. Right. I've already adjusted the nth grade to 218 to take out the KEF students. If some of those students decide, I don't want to go to KEE, right, that number goes back up. You know, they've committed to KE, but that doesn't mean they're going to stay there. Um, you know, >> to that point, Jim, um, >> no, it was before that. So, I should have written it down. I apologize. >> No worries. Yeah, but I mean that's but that's the the theory behind how we approach the number of seats that we want to offer. Listen, we know school choice has been a significant part of our budgeting practice. We're trying to get away from that if people would look at the override um and

064and pass it. We're trying to move away from making that a um a source of of revenue to to cover teacher salaries, right? and operating expenses. >> I guess a a comment and then a question. One is certainly that I think that the concept the way we've talked about this before sort of to the same point that Paul was raising incremental cost of single school choice student >> may be something approximating probably not true truly zero you got supplies and all >> yeah there's going to be something sure >> but um but when you think about it and I think illustrated good have an empty seat the teachers work anyway um so that's one thing but the other thing I wanted to ask you to speak to um just for clarity also is um special

065education costs right so we talk a lot about out of district costs we talk a lot special costs um and they can be substantial >> so who bears the cost of 30 students >> sure >> and few of them special education >> I would say 20% right >> it's it's it's pretty much in alignment with almost a little lower than our our normal special ed population, but it's pretty close, right? Um, so we have the opportunity through the school choice uh reimbursement to to um and we've got to do proper accounting of it, determine what the um services are being provided and you can build that back to. So, not every kid is 5,000. There are some kids that were getting seven or 8,000 for, right? Because we can we can bill back to the

066sending community some services that we provide. >> Yeah. So, and I think that's probably the point just for community members who might worry about that. >> Sure. >> Is you that that >> that cost is really borne by the sending district, >> right? And same with EL services. So, >> yeah. >> So, now I do remember the other question I had because you talked about there being like 30 applications. >> Yeah. >> Well, no applications yet, just 30 inquiries, >> right? Is there um you have any historical data about the sort of relationship between those types of inquiries people actually do apply? So, you think about 30 up can can actually apply or >> I don't um I I would say it's it's less than 50%. I mean last year we probably had more inquiries

067will come in after we approve right this is beforehand 30 before um but again we have nine like I said almost a third of them are coming just from the freshman class all from Framingham. Is that right? I think I think think every single one of us Framingham yesterday we shared. >> Yeah. >> And we know their budget process over there is really a struggle right now. Right. We don't feel comfortable opening up 10 seats. We'll leave it at that. So >> So what I need is a vote to one uh enter into uh school choice and to adopt the number of seats uh that I've recommended here. >> So I think we have to do the hearing process, right? Which is making sure anybody wants to stop before we actually close that out. >>

068Fair enough. Sorry. Thank you. Is anybody online or um in the audience wants to offer any comment on school choice? >> Yeah, I don't see any hands out. >> Okay, seeing none. Hearing none for close hearing your deliberations. >> Okay, I'm going to close the hearing on school choice. >> To close the hearing, >> I'll move the I'll move to close the uh public hearing on school choice participation. >> Second. All in favor? >> I >> um so I mean I I I think we a lot of us have been through this discussion a number of times. I always feel comfortable with the approach that um Jim and and team have worked through. So I'm I'll just not make a motion first. I'll just say supportive of the proposal that's been presented. Vote for it

069unless somebody raises some concern. >> Great. I would I would uh make a motion to approve the school choice uh seats as presented. >> Second. >> Roll call. I think Marcy >> Iina >> I Paul >> I >> Mark >> I don't think it had to be roll. >> No fine. It's fine. >> Thought when we have a human >> that's fine. >> Just throwing curve balls at whatever. >> She only got one more to go. >> Yeah, exactly. >> Try again next time. Here we go. >> Why not? >> All right. I'm going to open our next public hearing and that one is on the FY2027 school budget. >> Okay. >> You're almost tired of >> almost um >> superintendent shift too. >> Exactly. Uh so as you know uh we've had numerous conversations

070about the budget and in our last school committee meeting uh the proposal was on the table uh with regard to >> talk or turn it on um >> thanks uh we had a conversation with regard to uh two two budgets that that we've prepared and those two budgets include uh the $2.75 million override and a 3.25% increase uh with the use of significant uh funds um including stabilization funding and revolving accounts from the schools. So what you're about to see is is nothing new and nothing the community hasn't seen uh in my last really three presentations. Um, so I think it's it's important that to reiterate every chance we get that the budget I'm presenting with the uh override is not a budget that we're looking at adding staff here. Right? We our our focus

071here is to lessen our reliance on our one-time revolving accounts, our school choice fund in particular um to to fund operations. It's just poor accounting practice and it's it we are significantly uh going to reduce those funds should we not pass an override. Um and the two paths before us uh one sets us on a course correction if you will right to allow us to work towards uh the structural deficit that's inherent within the budgeting process for all of us not just uh the schools but the town itself. Um and then if we don't, there's another budget that says, "Hey, we need to utilize these funds, um these one-time funds at the town level as well as at the school level to maintain a modicum of of services that we currently have with the understanding

072that there's going to be significant pain in FY28. I I don't I I can't emphasize that enough. There will be significant pain. Um, every decision we talk about um, as a team focuses on students first. How does it meet our goals in the strategic plan and what can we do when we have to make a tough decision? And we've had these conversations about, for instance, the director of what are we doing then, Jim, what are the building principles doing? what's the district doing to offset um the reduction in that role and we had that conversation at the last meeting right the faith I have within our principles to ensure that seal is going to be at the forefront continue to be at the forefront um I have that faith that they're going to do that

073the work they're going to do um the work that Mike and the group has been performing with MTS SS to ensure how that's going to help all of our students, right? Um the feedback you all gave me initially with the budget process uh with regard to keeping certain positions. Uh, I think about um the the conversations Paul that that you had and Tina about the bright position at at the high school and um whether it's five students or eight students, the significance that program does have and the counselor in that program does have on those kids, right? So, uh so thank you and and that sort of you know formulated where we are, right? Um you've seen these numbers um numerous times. Um I want to just focus on the the state aid funding that's

074the chapter 70. Um what what we know >> maybe Jim just before you come off this because you received an email >> about FTEES. Maybe Yeah. Good. Maybe you want to share out the difference between what you're going to see on the state site. >> Yeah. So, so the Department of Ed has a it's called a Desi profile page and if you click on on that particular you can go to every single school district in the Commonwealth and there's information that's that's packed in there in terms of full-time employee status so FTEES right but they list faculty only and uh so teaching staff so our teaching staff has so I've made the comment publicly um here admitted Adam um I've made the the comment publicly that that our staffing numbers will go back after after

075losing the 13.2 FTEEs in this budget cycle will >> still Yeah. No, he's coming in. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um sorry, >> I put Yeah, it's maybe delayed mark up there on mine. Um the um lost my train the 13.2 two positions um have put us in a situation where in 2017 the same number of full-time employees, right? Not necessarily the same number of teachers. And I want to be clear because that was the question that was presented to me. The state focuses on the number of teachers. They don't they're not looking at um pair professionals, um school psychologists, administrators, all of custodial staff, like all of the employees that exist within the Ash public schools. And yes, our numbers of educators, classroom instructional educators has increased, but we've also created numerous programs, right? I think

076about the number of of specialized programs that we've created and we have teachers in there. Um, so those programs have have increased the number of of folks. So our full-time employees is dropping back to 2017 levels, but yes, it's fair to say the teaching numbers have increased um, you know, slightly. So thanks Paul, but I want to get back to chapter 70 11,000 11,996,000. We're only anticipating another increase of about 220,000. So, $75 a child. That's what we're anticipating uh coming from the state at this point in time. Uh as I've mentioned previously, state budget will not be out until July. Uh so, you know, we're advocating uh you know, with Karen and and Jack, you know, to make sure that um you know, they hear us from the superintendent's organization that last year they

077moved it from $75 to 150. If we can get it to another $150, what's that give us? another 210,000. Right. So that certainly would go a long way with um to the community. I will say one thing, the general government aid has been flat for years. They're not seeing significant changes. Um and I think we've advocated for school funding to be looked at differently in the chapter 70 formula. Uh I think they need to the state needs to sit step back a little bit and look at the town general government aid too. So um what does it really cost to run our district? Uh you've seen this before about $49 million. Um the town appropriate appropriated 44486 um it's like ingrained in my head. Um at at town meeting uh and that includes town meeting

078in May and in November, right? So remember in November they allocate uh any additional um revenue andor expenses that come through after the budget has been uh finalized at the state level because we're two months in advance when we we set our budget at town level in May. We don't know our true numbers from the state. We're guessing and we're pretty conservative and Michael and I have been really conservative. That's why we've seen our budget increase every single year uh in the fall town meeting. Grants and revolving accounts, 4.4 million. Uh there are concerns. We're already talking about title one grant uh losing I don't know 50% of it was 100,000 Chris. Yeah. Um we don't know and we won't know for a little while exactly what it looks like, but it's safe to say

079that the federal government uh and um the current administration uh is looking to reduce um and disband the entire department of education and uh some of the funding that goes along with those uh with the department of education. 79% of our expenses are salary based, right? It's pretty significant. We are a peopledriven industry. We have colas, so cost of living um increases. We have um steps in lanes in education. Uh the the the longer you are with us, uh you get a bump. Uh but also the more education you have, you get a bump. Um and those are critically important for the community to understand. It's in the budget book. It explains what steps and lanes really are. So what are our two paths? One is the 47 million uh which is um the 2.75

080million increase. Uh again, structured stabilization. We're trying to fix the long-term health of our community. That's my goal with this. My goal with the override is not to add new staff. It's to fix the deficit problem we have. And that includes not only uh the the use of the school choice funds. It includes $300,000 for athletics that we've continuously been in deficit of. Um, and that each year, uh, we're looking at whether utilizing additional transportation funds to offset athletic transportation or, uh, school choice accounts to offset additional expenses in athletics or uh, looking at our general fund when maybe someone has been uh, out and we haven't filled a position, offsetting some of those. it. We need to fix this problem and that's what we're trying to do with the 2.75. Um the the we

081talked about eight teachers currently are being funded through um school choice. These are all counselors for the most part. I'd say about seven seven counselors of the eight um educators. Um, somebody asked the question, well, what happens if you're going to cut those folks if uh so no, we have we need our counselors. That's just how they're funded. They need to be in our operating budget. Um so so that's um the approach here. If we don't pass that override, then then that 3.25% um is the next number I would ask you eventually to approve, right? Um it it maintains our services, but only in the short term. Um it's high risk again. Um it puts back uh that 300,000 that for athletics that we'll have to figure out how to absorb uh most likely through

082school choice. Uh and then by 2028 uh we're looking at that cliff. Everyone's been talking about the fiscal cliff uh partly because of the esser money um that we received after COVID and during COVID. I think we did a really good job of navigating that uh and started pulling folks into our budget uh andor when Aaron last year um modified her schedule there were there were reductions at the middle school right um but the teams that were created the half teams that were created were partly out of the esser funding uh and then we had to um navigate that so no matter what there are 13.2 to full-time positions that are going to be reduced. And that's another slide in a little bit. I'm just sharing with you another way of looking at this. It's

083a 6% increase. That's what we're asking the community to to approve for our budget. 6.18% increase. So, you know, it's significant. We've averaged, by the way, about a five and a quarter % increase over the last 10 years and that's because the revenue was much higher. Our chapter 70 numbers were a lot higher and Paul has that data and you know he shared it. We had a couple couple years of big spikes, right? Um where we actually had an 8% increase one year in the budget. Um we typically operate um from a policy standpoint starting at a 3.75%. Uh and then we try to navigate from there. This again, athletics frees up revolving for onetime capital investments. Mike Mike was talking about the um pilot program. One might think pilot program means free. It's not

084about $97,000 for the pilot program. most likely close to a million when we're all in for K through five with all of the materials, the ancillary materials, the professional development. Uh that's coming up. We have to switch our literacy program. The state has been pretty clear with us even today. Um we have to do that. So, how we pay for these one-time expenses should really be out of our one-time revenues like school choice, but we're so reliant on school choice to fund salaries and operations that we would have to then possibly reduce somewhere else in our operations to fund even the pilot program. So, I mean that was a number that was a shock today. You know, Mike got the quote while we were sitting and talking and but we have to pay for it.

085We've got to figure it out. It makes good sense coming out of school choice. It just does, right? Um it would make good sense for the 900,000 to be part of our operations because it's materials every, you know, every year. But to start with, if we have the opportunity to utilize our one-time funds for these major onetime expenses, that's the right approach. Um, otherwise we're have having to go and and ask the town for additional funding just for these things. >> Oh, Jim, just while you're on this slide, any for anybody that's looking at it, they're going to look at 1.1, they're going to look at 300, they're going to look at 293, and they're going to pay like, >> right, >> where is the other >> where's the other money million dollars or so?

086Maybe you want to explain that. That's the general. >> Yeah. So, so yeah, if you if you again 1.4 4 1.7 million. Where's the other 8 875,000? We we still have other operational expenses that exist and that includes, you know, contractual obligations, salaries, colas, um, things of that nature, heat, etc. Things that are already currently in our budget that are increasing costs. So, the remainder isn't adding anything new. It's just covering the normal operational costs that we have. So, if we didn't have an override, we would still need um that additional 875,000 that we're talking about. But thank you. Yeah, you can't just add it up and think it's the the true number. So, >> I guess two things I I want to ask you maybe to just elaborate on. one one is where I

087think folks table of folks who've been a part of the process understand the one time versus >> um and so talked about said in general terms if we don't pass it in 27 it's going to be really bad in 28 >> um and maybe you can give a sense and perhaps you have another slide sure about just trying to help people understand sort of effectively the onetime funs that we have equivalent of a personal savings account. >> Keep drawing it down, >> eventually it runs out, >> right? >> And and I I think that's a fair analogy for sort of what we've been doing and where we are >> right >> at this point. So it does look like you've got a slide up there. May I'll just stop and let you >> I do

088go. >> Sorry. I I jumped at a few slides, but but and I think it's critically important to look at, okay, what do we anticipate our beginning balance to be um at the beginning of FY27? And again, these are projections and they can change tomorrow, right? They can change if we have a a huge expense come in uh throughout the remainder of of the year. Uh and that we've got to dip into these um these funds. But use school choice as the example. So right now, let's anticipate 1.78 million to start the year with school choice for FY27. If a budget doesn't pass, an override doesn't pass, we anticipate that number going down to 874,000 in available for FY28. Let's assume another 250,000 then comes in in FY28. So, we're about 1.1 million, right? I've

089already told you we're spending 1.1 million at minimum on teacher salaries and operations for um out of school choice. So that means FY28 the money's gone. It's it it it's actually wiped out. So that's the risk with the override. You can see that that number grows a little bit. It's actually healthy where we could then utilize it for these onetime expenses. um and and deferred maintenance costs. And I I we have $14 million worth of of deferred maintenance andor projects and uh other needs that we have. Um I'm not saying a turf field should come out of school choice. I'm saying that should probably be a debt exclusion, right? A capital item at the town level. Um but if we need a $50,000 repair to something, we have that flexibility, which we we don't have

090or we wouldn't have under the 3.25. Um so so you'll notice again to your point that's exactly where we would be Mark. Um >> so I think the um maybe the extension of that question talked about if we don't pass this in this year >> get through 28 even bigger overall. >> Correct. Maybe you can just elaborate on >> Yeah. So >> sorry question was um if if Jim could elaborate a little bit on why an override asked a year from now >> the current one doesn't pass would be so much bigger. >> So there are a number of factors right one is um if if we look at utilizing 1.4 4 million out of stabilization funding from the town, right, to to make our budget work. Um, that that $1.4 million of of expenses

091still exist and we are spending 1.1 of our own stabiliz of our own school choice funding, if you will. So, there's 2.5 million right just to start right there in a conversation. Um Chris and I sat and we started adding these numbers up. Um and let's assume another increase for a for salaries at 2%. Another million dollars. So we're looking at close to five million. It was the five million. Yeah. 5 million was the number we're looking at for FY28 because you've got to replenish the funding that we're taking out of this of of our onetime accounts as well. Like you we will never be able to recover if we spend it all and then only get an override for the operational expense. That's just the reality. And again, I I'm harping I know I'm

092harping on it, but I'm trying to convince this community. I'm trying to fix the structural deficit and ensure fiscal stability over the next 5 years. If we continue to rely on these onetime funds, not only at the school level, but at the town level, that override number is going to just escalate quickly. Just has to because you've got to you've got to come back in and pull the uh you know the the expense lines that you've paid for out of one-time funds into the operational override. >> Yeah. And Jim, I think one of the keys is to make sure people understand that these >> revolving accounts are essential for the eb and flow. We can set a budget today and we can we can know what the state budget is and know we can the

093day after we can set a budget and it will fluctuate. It fluctuates daily. And so, you know, you probably can't articulate it any more than just saying it, but the if we were to deplete these, >> there's a need for these revolving accounts to have balances in them. And and that need doesn't go away. So, that is a critical piece. And that's the reason why it would need to be more because >> if if these are gone, >> the budget never is is static once we set it. We need that ability to uh change as as the year goes on, right? >> There's just so much volatility, right? There's so much volatility with um with our out of district, especially education costs, so much volatility with our transportation costs. Uh all of those things create

094um stressors on our system. And if if we need roof repair, uh a boiler at the Pitway School, right? I like like we need these things. How do we fund them? and what's a good approach and and our approach is trying to again fix this problem so we have flexibility um to do these things. You know, for the community, you've seen this in the budget. I've I've gone over it numerous times. We're still reducing our our FTEEs by 13.2 staff members this year. um ranging from some unfilled positions, yes, um but mainly retirements as well. On the right hand side are are true reductions of personnel um that were not impacted by non-filled position andor retirements. Um they will have an impact, right? I mean, we can talk about a Warren teacher and while maybe

095some classes um class size is going to increase, um I know Pete would would love to have 30 teachers at the Warren School. Kate would love to have 30 classroom teachers at the Mendes School. So, class sizes might go from they would probably go from like 23 down to 22 or 21. And somebody may say that's not significant. It's significant enough for us, >> but can we survive? And with the es and flows of our enrollment, we can. Um, and this is sort of setting that course for us to do so. Um, you know, I we we've had conversations here. Um, and we actually had did a um a uh an exercise uh at uh an admin meeting uh with regard to these positions and rank ordering them, if you will. uh like hey if

096if the world uh said hey Jim you could pick something off from here um it has the world has not said that but um if we could we recognize the fact as a group to be honest our our number one uh position was the special ed coordinator position and you all voice that here um because it not only has an impact on students and families it has an impact across all four buildings now right or five buildings and Britney's office herself having to the the workload that we're putting our our team under is enormous. Um, and we've always done that in this district and it's frustrating. Um, but it's also, you know, what you do in tough times. We make hard decisions and that was that was a hard decision for us. So, but these

097are the positions and we've talked about it. These these positions are are part of reductions in both budgets. Um, you know, we talked about it. Um, nursing reduction, special coordinator, athletics budget gap, all these things are being impacted, right? And in one of the two budgets, it's they're significant. Just just want to make sure you you didn't go back to option two slide. I don't believe. >> Oh, sorry. >> Um we skipped ahead because of the question. >> Oh, this one. >> Yeah. Um thanks. So So this is just the 3.25% increase. It still includes the 13.2 reductions. It it the $300,000 for athletics that we're trying to help fix that deficit um is going to have to be picked up somewhere else. Um we're funding 450,000 in operating expenses in addition to the salaries

098uh out of school choice. Um so that's 1 point 1 million 1.1 million approximately um in school choice just for operations and um teachers um and then the additional 300,000 for the structural deficit of athletics. Uh, you know, people have asked, you know, what about athletics and and fees? And we're bringing in about 297,000 a year in in revenue for from fees, and we're still one of the highest I mean, we're already one of the highest fee uh structures in the Tri Valley. Um, certainly Pete is looking at um middle school athletics and what does that mean? Do we have opportunities for kids? We don't we don't want to reduce opportunity, right? But are there opportunities for for kids to play um in townwide programs at their at that age level? And so we're looking

099at that, right? I mean, there was actually an article in the paper the other day uh I think it was Welssley um girls lacrosse and the number of student athletes who are now especially in girls lacrosse has dropped significantly across the Commonwealth in the past five years. Like we're seeing a drop in our student athletes participation. Why is that? We don't know. In in Welsley, like other districts are dealing with this too in terms of the number of athletes and and should you be running numerous programs. Think about middle school. You know, somebody said, "Well, you're just adding our middle school sports break even. There's no like like it it's pretty clear to me like from a revenue and expense standpoint because they don't have as many games. They can travel together on the bus.

100you know there there a variety of reasons. Um but a you know secondary benefit of having reduction of those sports is it frees up field space uh and allows us to to um better navigate the number of high school sports we have. Um so those are things we're looking at but I can't see me coming back and asking you to increase more fees for our families just because they have kids who play sports. We may have to look at it. I think we should. I think it's the right thing to do. But I don't think I could in goodness ask athletic parents to pay more of a tax for them for their kids because they want to play a sport. Um, we've reduced and and actually eliminated Kelly, what was was it like $50 a

101kid for activities um years ago? Um even like even like student government was charging like when I was first principal um to participate in um the drama program. It was $50 an activity or for the year for an activity. But we got rid of that. We're like why are we charging kids to participate in those events? Um so so this again relies heavily on on the on the use of revolving accounts. I talked about that we we highlighted this the school choice um how how it's negatively going to be impacted. Um, initially our conversation was about a level funded budget. Uh, and that would have wiped everything out in every one of these accounts, right? Um, because we we would have to reduce our total staffing by um, another 20 people probably if we didn't

102utilize the funding. I talked about about 14 and a half million dollars of of capital needs, deferred maintenance needs. I don't list them all here, folks. Um, you know, individually, but they are listed in my budget book. Um, if you want to go look at that, uh, we haven't really, you know, highlighted, you know, everything that needs to be done Chromebook replacement, like how are we budgeting for that? Um, what about safety features? Uh, if something happens to the alarm system, uh, how are we fixing those? Um, do we have flexibility to do those things? Um, federal grant limitations. What's happening to federal grants? How are we going to pick up if Michael's losing 105,000 in title one and we know we have three title one teachers that are being paid out of that and

103we don't get those funds. How do we then absorb those costs in our budget? If we don't have the flexibility, meaning school choice, I I don't want to I don't want folks to think we're never going to have to use school choice as a funding mechanism for operations. We're going to have to do that. It's less reliance is the goal, right? We may have to pick up a title one salary of a teacher if we can't put it in the operations. That's just the reality of it. If we lose those federal funds and we value the title one teacher at, you know, any of the schools, I don't want to name one school because they'll think, oh, my name's on the chopping block. It's not. It's just the point is we have to pay for

104that salary and so you need flexibility. Um so that's the reality of of getting us to a position where we have flexibility. We've talked about our enrollment basically plateauing uh and it's going to continue to you know NASDAQ projects a little increase here and there but nothing significant like it used to be. uh like go back to you know well before 2024 um 25 we had one big big jump you have looked at the data more recently than I did um but it was probably that 2021 school year uh coming out of COVID the year after COVID we probably like a 100 plus student increase and it and and it coincided with the student opportunity act where they had adjusted the uh foundation formula which also benefited number of students uh and uh the formula

105being adjusted. So, so again, you can see out a 5-year projection, we're staying pretty flat. Um we talk a lot about our per pupil spending. Um I don't know what else to say other than the community uh gets a lot of bang for their buck in this here, right? Um, we do more with less. Some people wear that as a badge of honor. They really do. And it's a catch 22 to ask a community for more funding when you're performing at a high level with what you have. Um, it's just not sustainable. It's not sustainable for them, for our administrators, and for our educators. Um, we've talked about this number fluctuates too, but we had about 127 students who were served in district uh in specialized programming that we've created over the course of 15

106years, 10 years. Um, and again, we are a firm believer that we want all of our students to remain with us, that we believe they're better off in our community than somewhere else. Now, we also recognize the fact that we can't educate every one of our children because we don't have the programming. Um, and every child deserves the best programming they can get. Um, it comes at a cost to do that, right? But our programming, you know, has estimated the annual savings and and you know, Paul will tell me to how do I get this number um and explain it. But if we look at the true cost of what it to send a student out of district um say at $50,000 uh and and it's a low number, but and then we have um

107spending 30,000 in district when you add up the costs, it's a $20,000 savings and just multiply that by the 127 students. Um, you know, it it's it's significant every year. Um, and again, I I I want to emphasize I do outline that how I got this number in the budget book, extrapolate it for you. >> Just to to clarify that point, Jim, that so this is >> 127 students is not a total number of students that are special education students. It's a number that are in programs that built. >> Yes. >> To keep them in disc. >> Correct. That's correct. Right. What's our actual special? Yeah. 653. Yeah. Yeah. We talked about grants. We've already mentioned this. One, two, three, four. So, this is the final slide. You have we have two paths, right? what

108I'm asking you to uh have a discussion on and to approve this evening um are I think we should approve two numbers uh one uh including the override and if an override failed uh then we have to have a number uh prepared for town meeting um for a secondary budget number uh and that would be the 3.25% 25% number. So, I'm asking you to consider both of these so we can approve them and get them to the select board uh to have on their next meeting which is next Wednesday I think uh for for the budget approval for the budget book and or for the Tom Warren article. >> Okay. Is there anybody listening? >> Is that a question? Is anyone listening? >> Fair enough, Lori. Yeah, >> well, they're actually they're probably sleeping. >>

109Are they hearing you? >> Yeah. Are they hearing me, Chris? >> Is there anybody present >> who would either online or in person? Although all I see in person are all the people that have been working on this budget all year, every day, and and you've probably could recite it in your sleep. Thank you all for the work that you've put in. And there you can't see from home. We have select board members in the audience and all of our administrators who have done tremendous work ongoing over and over and over and over. It's been the work of this entire year to the point where, you know, we're talking about other things that uh need some attention when we get done with this. But in any event, um is there anybody online that would like

110to um participate in the hearing and add some comments about our budget? going once. Okay, I don't see anybody. So, I will >> I make a motion to close the public hearing portion for the budget hearing. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> And I will ask any of you. And again, we've talked about uh the way that we got here was um by having multiple budget meetings and discussions again with everybody in this room over and over again. And you've had your chance to ask your questions, but um here's here's another chance to either ask for clarity or make some comments or make a suggestion before there's a vote. I >> I don't have any questions. I think we've had the opportunity to to hear about those quite a bit. I just

111want to thank you for the all the thought and time and effort that's gone into this. Um you and Mike, but all of our administrators. I know it's been a um a lot of a lot of time, a lot of effort, and you've been very thoughtful in how you've approached it. So, thank you. >> I'll um just a couple comments, I guess. Um you know, we've talked at length about the the dangers of reliance on one-time funds. Um I hope people can appreciate um where we are in that and that the idea of you know sort of just keeping doing that it's just not going to work. Um I I want to emphasize and you spoke to this Jim about the fiscal cliff and the funding. I I think he did an exceptional job of

112managing that funding. Say that to you to Chris to Mike tobody who's in this room. Um that was that is not the cause of this. Right. I mean there there is a relationship in time. Um, but when we were spending the ESR funds, the COVID money afterwards all of that was acknowledged as being one-time funds came a couple times, right? Um, and there was a very careful and I think wellthoughtout plan around how that funding was used. um with the understanding of what costs would have to be rolled into the budget not um and so I think while like you highlighted that as a point um I think it's really important to say I don't that's not in my mind a fiscal problem that is our fiscal problem is largely inflation um it is a

113function of the state inflationary factors and budgets um not keeping up with real inflation for a couple years um the only the comment I'll offer and I'm not sure where this fits in terms of our plan going forward and I think I've been before is if we end up in option two none of us want to be talking about I think it has to be an open question as to where the the funds come from to support that budget because you've made reference on here about you our one time funds the school choice at a higher degree Um, I certainly am of the mind that that needs to be a question put to the community and drawing down on stabilization funds at a higher level um to maintain some ability to deal with the flexibility

114and the points that we talked about um has to be a consideration there. >> Correct. And that's exactly what we're doing. And that was the conversation we had at the tri board meeting was additional use of stabilization funds and the commitment from, you know, thank you to the select board and the finance committee uh to do that. And it's an additional I think it was 1.4 million uh to support the schools. So that's how we get to that 3.25. So my only other other comment would be to echo Tina's I think everybody's appreciation for the amount of work that's gone into this from both to my right Chris on my left folks who are sitting here administrators and many others and and the collaboration with the finance committee and select board as well. Um there's

115just no way that I think even those of us sitting at this table might truly appreciate how much time and energy have gone into this. Um and certainly for folks at home um there's this has been best I can tell more than a full-time job itself never mind all the other responsibilities part of your job. Um I want to thank all of you who are involved for the efforts to put forward what is you know I think the the best alternative that we can come up with under very difficult circumstances. Yeah, and I won't I won't uh you know just rehash the same things, but I also want to acknowledge and appreciate the stress involved in this during this process. You were asked to do level funded. You were asked to have tough conversations with

116all of our staff and professionalism that you showed that they continue to show when we're talking about cuts and these things that are very very stressful. So, uh, just really really appreciate the professionalism all around on that. >> I think that recognize recognize this the stress it puts on the staff who are watching what may be happening to their their buildings and their district as well. And that's that's everybody. >> So, you're looking for the motion? >> You want me to make the motion? No, I was looking I don't know if you had anything to say. That's all I >> I mean I I think I've weighed in and I agree with everything that's been said. >> I will take a motion if nobody else has any comments. Well, we can do two different motions.

117>> I I don't have the draft motion in front of me. This one's important to get right. So, if somebody has a draft motion >> Oh, did we have one? I think there I don't think there is one. So, uh, I would make a motion to approve, uh, the option one and option two budgets as presented. >> I think we should state the actual numbers. >> Okay. >> Uh, so the option one, uh, includes an operational override and it is 47,236,865. And the option two, if the override fails is uh 45,931,7 second. >> All in favor? >> I thank you and thank you all. >> Members to Michael >> for his next meeting. >> Thank you everyone. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you for coming. >> Thank you. >> Have a good night. >>

118Okay. Next up is the WACA board member proposal. Do we have anyone on for that? >> We do. Uh so, uh WACA, as you know, we approved um I'm going to pull this up because actually I do think we have a motion in here. Um where am I? Give me a second. I got appointment. So, share. Boom. Boom. Okay. So we have um WACA we appoint two members to the board. Um uh chief uh deputy chief Lynn Moran uh is removing herself from the cable board. So uh I would like to recommend uh that the board approves Joe White for the remainder of her term which is through 20 October 2028. Joe has expressed interest in this. Uh it's just a formality that we typically have. Um and um we just vote on it. So

119>> should we have a motion to approve Joe White to the wackle board? >> So should we do the actual motion or >> it's whatever you want. I just wrote it. So >> yeah, >> I didn't know how it >> Yeah, it should be for the three >> year term ending October 2028. >> Right. >> So move. >> We have second. >> All in favor? >> Tires ID. I definitely am. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Um >> amazing how long and dense they feel. >> We don't have many of them but we do. They are >> really listening intently to >> and then just consent. >> Okay. Do we have a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> Second. >> I. >> Excellent. Okay. We're at the end reports. >> Abishek. >> Yes. >> Thank

120you ladies. Um at the high school uh term three is about to end uh tomorrow actually and uh grades will be posted into iPass in around two weeks. Um other than that uh there have been issues with bathrooms and facilities at at the high school. So I don't know if Miss Anker would have mentioned anything to you guys about that but uh there have been >> they all have kids there so they don't know about it but it's mentioned it come up in conversation from minute to minute. Yeah, once or twice. >> Um, but there have been issues with uh property damage in in the bathroom, including uh floodings of uh toilets and flushing >> flushing things down drains >> like intentional >> I'm sorry to hear that. >> Um and so of course that

121has led to some clamping down by administration at the high school um including uh but not limited to uh limits on uh signups for bathrooms. Uh we use e-haul pass which is a software to uh have teachers sign up uh for bathrooms. Uh that has been restricted to I think it's around 10 students um in the building can be out of their classrooms going to the bathroom at one time. Um as well as bathroom spots have been restricted. So I think only one or two students could be in one bathroom at the same time. Um, and this has posed some issues for students. Um, of course, because um, I personally don't go to the bathroom too much, but I know students that have to medically >> um, and women especially, they have more uh, bathroom

122necess necessities uh, than males. But, uh, it has been affecting everyone and it's it's kind of disappointing, but uh, administration has signaled that they'll be weighing down on this. Um, I think it was after April break it should go fairly back to normal. Um, and see how that that all pans out. But, uh, that's just an update on that front. >> Um, sorry to hear that, but thank you for sharing. >> All right. I do not have an update. >> Um, last week I was at the Ashpack meeting. Um, we talked about the budget like we do in most um most meetings, but um it was a it was a fairly short discussion. Um Britney gave a an update on um ESY summer services which are fully staffed uh pretty early which is great and

123talked about the um the Special Olympics which are coming up in early May. Awesome. >> I don't think I have anything. >> Um I'll just be brief. We earlier today we had um high school site council um very efficient meeting until we started talking about bathrooms and that was about 35 minutes of bathroom talk. >> Um so yeah I mean in short it does appear there is some online challenge of sorts that is causing people to um engage in all sorts of things that are not great for our plumbing system and cause some problems that Abashek spoke about. Um, Kay did share that there have been tweaks along the way and that there were some things that they identified in terms of the bathroom access that Abashek spoke to that they didn't realize, for example,

124that when they started assisting digital platform for bathroom passes that they were actually reducing the number from where where things were. So, there were some there were some unintentional things and it seems that there's been improvement. I don't know if you agree with this week going a little better than last week. Um on a more positive side, um things that was shared out today is that the counseling staff at the high school is exploring dual enrollment programs with both Firmingham State and Mass Bay. Cory Mcan in particular is spoken with both them also spoken with Sigman. Um but at this point they're going to continue pursuing Birmingham State and the Spay programs go. So that's an ongoing thing but potentially nice opportunity for students. Excellent. >> That's a good one. >> That's a positive. >>

125It is. >> Um I attended the Warren School Site Council this week. Um the two major topics were the budget, the override, lots of questions, um and lots of time spent on that as well as the piloting of the um the two new potential curriculum programs. Um and so that's it. Anything else? Motion to second. >> All in favor? >> Good night everybody.