001The Ashland Public Schools 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 able communities. This meeting is being recorded by WACA Cable TV. Our call to order and opening procedures um this evening include agenda review and adoption, time for public participation, our reports and presentations include a student presentation, coach Sharon Ames in the cross country team building, Vermont trip recap, warrant approvals, superintendence report, assistant superintendence report. The action items include Ashlin High School student handbook revisions, consent agenda, uh includes minutes from September 10th, 2025. We'll have school committee reports and then we will adjourn. So, um
002is everybody okay with the order of business this evening and I see Tina, Paul, Mark, and myself. Marcy's not here this evening. And we um I'm going to start by asking if there's anybody from the public that would like to offer some comment. Don't see anybody in our audience and I'm not seeing anybody online. >> Nope. >> Um and then it looks like we may not have any warrant approvals this week. >> Okay. Next time, uh superintendent's report. >> Uh the only thing I I want to bring up is um I sent an email out this week or last week just with regard to electric bikes. uh and we're seeing obviously an increased uh usage uh with our young students uh mainly at the middle school and what we're from a safety perspective I know
003Miss Lash Chappelle al sent an email out to the community as well uh just reminding folks that to as they come into and our students come into the parking um lot andor the the driveway in that they're to get off the bikes and walk them uh into um where we house bikes. Um we we've noticed because there are cars coming in during that drop off and pickup period uh that uh kids were riding their bikes in between. Uh we make all bikers walk their bikes in, not just the electric bikes, but um with the electric bikes are obviously a little quicker uh and a little more dangerous. But we've also seen an increase of usage on our fields uh over the weekend and um during the last couple weekends on our turf fields with the
004bikes out there. Um, and so just just a reminder uh to the community that uh we want to make sure we keep our fields and conditions in good shape and um bikes are not allowed no m whether they're electric bikes or regular bikes on our turf fields. Um for sure. Um so uh just a note there. I as we're entering into this is our fifth week. We're we're 10% of the way through the season already, believe it or not. I think our 18th day was today. Um, and you know, I wish I can attest, he's like, November 1st is coming up, the quarter is getting close, and um, it it's amazing how quickly it goes, but I I re want to reiterate, I think our start to the year has been excellent. Uh, overall, it's
005it's, you know, Mike, we Mike and I met today with our union. We meet on a monthly basis with the entire board. Um, and to say there was hardly any concerns, um, would be a gross understatement. It's just people feel like they're back in a rhythm much earlier this year than they have in the past. So, >> and just on that, of course, Wayne, it seems like, you know, when we come in first out of COVID, there are seem to be a lot more difficulty student behaviors. >> Um, and that seemed to continue as a beginning of year thing, particularly when kids were coming up to a new level. I'm just curious whether you have any reactions to whether we're seeing all a return to normaly or precoid time. >> I I think we're seeing
006in some grade levels some behaviors that existed pre-COVID, meaning uh our playgrounds are wide open now and people are there are more people out there during recess. Uh so we're finding some interactions that you know Mike you'd say that are we needed corrective behavior. Um, but nothing, you know, from a that we wouldn't expect our kids to be having adjusting, getting back into the rhythm of schools. Um, but from a disciplinary standpoint, I think it's been relatively normal behavior. Um, more normal than it has been for sure. Um, I think having, you know, relatively two new principles, right? Kate this year at Mendes and and Aaron her second year at at um at the middle school. There's growing pains with staff and with each of them as leaders and it's you know I think Aaron
007would tell you the scheduling it you know she'll come and talk about it eventually uh here how it's being implemented. Uh it's been a challenge for some staff for sure. Um but she thinks it's going well. Uh Kate the same way. it's her new staff getting staff getting used to her being in that leadership role. Um but they've really I think um grabbed on to her and said she's she's our leader and and doing the right stuff. And so really happy with that. >> Would you agree, Mike, on that? >> Yeah. So and that's really all I have. It's just um because we met eight days ago, nine days ago. So 14 I guess. Who's counted? >> Thank you. Mike, >> as you know, we talked about the uh initiative this year is to really
008implement our MTSS processes and procedures for the district. So, we'll have our first district MTSS meeting. Uh that will consist of all of our building administrators, um all directors. Uh that will be on October 7th. And then we have our first safety committee meeting on October 9th. and reminder to families that there is an early release day on October 10th for our professional development that will really be focused on building based professional development needs. >> That's it from me. >> Awesome. Um the handbook uh student handbook revisions. >> Yeah. So um back at the end of last year on June 11th >> apologize my >> Thank you. Uh back on uh June 11th at the end of last year, our last meeting, we had Miss Anker here to talk about changes to the handbook. Uh
009and we the board approved the changes that were made with the exception of of having conversation about the AI if you remember um to be implemented at a future date um conversations about AI. However, we also at that time uh voted um to have there were five different policies that related specifically to discipline um and they were JIC student discipline, JICFA prohibition of hazing, JICFA hazing, JH student absences and excuses and JCFB bullying prevention. Uh the committee approved all those those policies. they needed to just be referenced inside the handbook as per department of education has asked us to do that. Um, so I'm just asking the board to to reapprove, if you will, the Ashlin High School handbook with those references made inside the handbook because they were not there before. >> I'm looking
010for a motion to approve the handbook as amended. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Excellent. Thank you. Um, we have a motion to accept the consent agenda. >> Moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I um we could go to reports of committee members while we're >> So, I'm going to check. >> Okay. >> But if you want still let them get settled if you want. >> Yeah, we can do that and then we'll be done by time they >> uh All right. So, at the high school, there hasn't been really too much going on, but we had some national honors uh commended students. Um, other than that, it's been kind of a slow two weeks. Uh, some students are actually getting their college acceptances in and we
011have some commits. >> Wow. >> So, that's nice. Application season's getting into the weeds. So, other than that, we're looking at a pretty slow two weeks. >> Awesome. Thank you. Bless you. >> Excuse me. Um the only thing I wanted to mention is um that Ashlin Day is coming up. So I've been volunteering with the group that's pulling together Ashlin Day. So it should um there's and want to just kind of throw a shout out to um to Josh because he's been doing such a tremendous amount of work. There's going to be lots of groups from the high school. They are presented and the high school's been very involved in it. Um and so I'm looking forward to it. I think there's going to be a lot of students there representing a lot of our
012um organizations and sports teams and different things. So, I think it'll be um great day. So, just want to throw it out there. Hope to see you guys all there. >> It's the fourth, right? >> It's the fourth. Yeah. With the rain date of the fifth. >> Uh in a similar vein, just uh thank you to uh to Jamie and Dennis and Tim for Fall Fest. Uh so, that was a great event uh community event, but but for uh fundraising for our student athletes. So, that was a uh a great event and we had a building committee meeting. Nothing terribly important to report there. We had a policy subcommittee meeting this morning. Probably the most thing, you know, thing of note that'll probably be coming is I don't know, Jim, if you want to give
013any just what you want what you're thinking for moving our policies inhouse, uh if you will, and and and maybe mocking something up that we can take a look at. >> Yeah. So part of the conversation we're having is that MASC currently houses all of our policies and there's a fee for that and what I what I think we can do is actually pull all of our policies inhouse with our website and still have the same structure. So if folks are looking for the policies um they're just as easy to find. But as we're looking at I think we have close to a hundred subscriptions andor um licenses for um electronic licenses you know across the district for a variety of reasons right student management software system IP pass to housing MASC policies etc. So,
014as we're looking to streamline, look at our budget. Well, it's not significant money, $950, but it it's still if if we can pull it inside, it allows us to actually post things uh our policies as soon as they're approved versus we go back and send it to MASC. It has to be in a format they want it in. And then it takes anywhere from two to five to 10 days to get it posted. So, the policy is not online. So, we may post something and someone's looking at an old policy. Uh, I'd like to be able to keep it in house if we can. So, we'll work with um Chris and I haven't had this conversation yet, but we'll work with Final Site, which is our website developer, to see if they can mirror and
015image what we're looking to do. So, there's easy way to find policies as well if you're within the website. So, that's where we're headed. >> This this wouldn't change the fact that we still look for support from the MAC. It's just about where it's correct. >> We are it's only the housing of the policies. There are many districts. We still have access to them for their policy uh exemplars etc. It's just >> we'll get all the updates. >> We're just not housing, >> right? It's just where hosting it. >> Yeah. So, thanks Paul. Y >> I think that's all I got. >> I have nothing to >> policy subcommittee this morning. I just wanted to thank everyone for Ashland day. I'm not going to be around so I can't participate. I'm gonna because I'm not
016around but so happy that it's happening to everyone. time and effort into happens and >> oh I'm sorry we are done with our agenda except for you guys so come on up and Phyllis and for those watching this is the Ashlin cross country folks coming to tell us about their retreat welcome There's a green light on >> on the base. >> Oh, now it's on. >> Now it's on. >> Yeah. >> Um we're just here to present of our preseason camp. We um got it approved earlier and we went for >> Oh, my name is Maline Callahan. >> I'm Jane Goss. I'm one of the girls captain. >> Girls senior captains. I'm Leah Cesman. I'm also one of the girls captains. >> I'm Luca Domestica. I'm a junior. >> I'm Davis Robustelli and I'm the
017boy senior captain. >> Awesome. >> Um yeah, we're here to present our preseason camp. How it went. It went great. Um yeah, you can go to the next slide. >> Um so first thing we did was we had campfires every night which was great. Um it was a great way to bond with our team and for everyone to connect with each other. Um, one of the things we did was, so like over last camping trip was our first camping trip, we found our flag pole in the woods and um, we take our flag to all of our meets. It's like a great way to show like our spirit, team unity, and we take turns like holding it. So this year we um got rid of our last year's flag pole and found a new one,
018which kind of just signified like starting the new year. I think that's everything that So, we did a hike last year and that was Mount Cube. So, this year we decided to do a different mountain which was Mount Cardigan which is in New Hampshire. We all had a lot of fun. Great views at the top. Uh it was a little difficult but it was really fun. >> Looks like everybody made it. >> Everyone made it. >> Yeah. >> It was a great way to prompt team unity, too, and for everyone to get to know each other more. >> Yeah. And then of course we went on our runs on Sunday. We did a long run together just around the area which was really great because you're able to spend time with your teammates in a
019different area that's not Ashland. And it was just a great opportunity to spend some more time with your teammates doing the sport that we're all here for. And that photo you see if you go back on the bottom down there is just all of us stretching and kind of just enjoying the sunshine. If you were if anyone was wondering why we're just laying on the pavement, that's why >> I wasn't sure if it was before or after the It was after. Yeah. >> Yeah. Go the next one. >> So, in the morning on the last day, we went for a sunrise hike. We all woke up super early in the morning and then before we packed up for the day, we went for a sunrise hike and we watched the sunrise over the mountain. Great
020for team bonding and just a great view. >> And you can see this picture of the stars. That's what we saw every night at the stars. Just perfect. >> Beautiful. >> Yeah. just another way for great team unity and great connections with everyone and a great experience all around. >> Um, we also went swimming at the dam. This was super duper fun. At first it was like really cold, but it ended up being great. Um, just because like I don't know, it wasn't super hot. Like last year it was definitely warmer, but by this day, I think this was the second day, we were all kind of warm. wanted to swim, wanted to exercise other than running by this point. So, this was super fun. And we were doing like some rock skipping, just hanging
021out, relaxing. It was really nice. And we did that sand. I actually don't know who did that. If anyone Carson did that in the sand, which was really >> Yeah, there was it was a great way for everyone to clean off too in the fresh water, especially by on Saturday or Sunday. I think we'd been there for a few days running and being in nature. So, a great way to rinse off the next do it. And then as far as cooking and eating went, we all worked together to prepare all the meals together, which was a great way to bond. Um, one of our chaperones was Mr. Tally, who was a brought all his boy scout cooking gear with him. And so, you can see there in that left photo, there's all of the grles,
022and he got to teach all a lot of the kids who wanted to learn how to cook, how to cook the meals. And anyone, everyone, we had three groups that rotated who helped with what. And so everyone was helping out and making sure that things were put together and ready. Um we used all like reusable dishes to help like with the earth and to help have more and like we were composting and just like being super eco-friendly in that department. And then just everyone got a chance to learn how to cook something new or something they already cooked and to contribute to our meals. >> Talent show. I can I can narrate the talent show. I don't I don't remember every single talent. No, I see you're up there. Um >> I don't remember every
023single talent. You guys can help. We had um so talent show night. We did this last year as well. Turned it into a tradition this year, but everyone, it wasn't um it was optional, but everyone I think everyone participated um and it was it was super fun. There were some groups of people that don't usually hang out or don't usually like run at the same pace got to um do that together which was really cool. We had some singers, some dancers, we had what else? We had limbo one. Brody was really good at limbo. We had some boy scout. We had a some magic tricks. What was it? >> Soccer. Ukulele. That was cool. >> Um >> yeah, there was two. Yeah, we're very musical in addition to being fast. So, yeah, overall talent show
024was super fun. >> Yeah. No, I was trying to [Music] >> I think I think just >> with the talent show too, it was not necessarily the most formal talent show. you know, people weren't doing like acrobatics or anything, but it was a great way to showcase some fun talents and a great way for everyone to open up to each other and bond with each other. >> We can like continue slides and go back to it. Awesome. A >> but everyone's got the moves. >> Love it. >> Oh, and like the winner got the cowboy hat. >> Very nice. We can Yeah, we can >> you get the the image of what happened. I mean, we're welcome to watch the whole thing, but >> who won? >> Who did win? >> I think Aiden. Yeah,
025>> he has the hat on there. >> Very cute. >> Shell. Yeah, definitely. >> Yeah, you need that. >> Overall, I think it just um provided a lot of opportunities to like reach out to people who you might not normally run with. Like sometimes like as the season goes on, we get stuck in like our training groups, but like like even like I was hiking with on the hike people that I never talked to before and people get sorted into these random cooking groups. Maybe like seniors are with freshmen. So, I think that's really awesome. Yeah, I'd say it's like great for team bonding. I got close to a lot of my teammates that I didn't know before and got close to some teammates I already knew as well. So, and the tense group is
026tank groups as well. It's pretty good. Yeah, >> sounds awesome. I just think overall, not only did it help for our team to become stronger and grow a stronger bond, it also just helped all of us make more friendships and just become better friends with each other. And it just really helped all of us form those connections that I think are really important. >> Yeah. Um yeah, you can see up there just all the aspects. There was um trailer rides. There was llamas down or llamas or were they alpacas down the street that you can see in the bottom left Davis was with the alpaca. Just all kinds of things that just made it super fun and definitely worthwhile and a great experience overall that we'd love to continue in the future. >> And just
027thank you so much for letting us do it again, making it into a tradition. That's amazing. >> Thank you guys. Um, thank you for coming back and sharing with us about it. It really helps to, >> you know, go from the initial request, which sounds really lovely, but we don't know, and then you come back and everything you say is exactly what makes us so happy to hear. >> It's always nice to see it come to fruition and see you guys actually get the benefits out of it that you were hoping to get. So, thank you. Great presentation. >> Yeah. Have a great year. >> Thank you. >> See you guys. >> Hope your week went well today, too. I know you guys were screeching in. >> Bye, Sharon. Thank you. Thank you. >> Have
028a good one. >> All right, guys. So, we're done. If anyone has a motion to adjurnn. >> Well, that was quick. So, move. >> So, move. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> All right. Have a good night, everybody.