School Committee Meeting 5/12/2026

001You want to do it now? >> Um, this one we're going to hold on. They're discussing it at the select board meeting today. >> Okay. Uh, cool. Anyone here for public comment? Hm. All right. Can I have a motion, please, to approve the consent agenda? So moved. Lisa. Beth. Does anybody have any questions on that one? All right. All in favor of that? Hi. Anyone against it? All right. Consent agenda is approved. Uh, next up we have a few things here. Um, I'm going to go in uh, reverse order. The November election is coming up. So, we got the nomination papers last week. So, if anyone's interested in running for a school committee, uh, we'll put out uh, tonight on social media. And it's going in the Clinton item as well. It's going to the

002Clinton item. So, whenever they publish it, uh, nomination papers are available from district clerk, uh, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 to 2:30. Jen, right? 9:00 to 2:30. Or you can get them from your town clerks. Uh, you need 50 signatures. Uh, it can be combined between both towns, however you like, but you do need a separate signature page for each town. And the date for them to be returned to the town clerks is July 21st. Uh, you have to have them back to the town clerk by July 21st so they can certify signatures. And once they've certified the signatures, they'll let you know, and you need to go pick them up and bring them over to the district clerk before August 18th. And then the district clerk will send them into the state, and then

003your name will be on the ballot, and we'll have an election in November. And just as a reminder, your school committee voted Jen uh, Fortune right to be our clerk for you guys. Yes. Correct. Jen, so Jen will be at the central office Monday through Thursday, 8:00 to 2:30. 9:00 to 2:30, sorry. Perfect. Uh, town meeting update. The school budget passed in both town meetings, so the school budget is passed and approved. I know it was a tough one this year, Al. Several cuts and reductions and things, but it did pass and we're we'll move forward with that. All right. We did receive So, if you all probably remember, back in August we got an open meeting law complaint from Lindsay Tierney. We met with Sean, our attorney. He drafted a response to her. Basically,

004the committee stating that there was no violation based on what she accused. She didn't like that answer, so she asked for the state to take a further look at it. And we got a response from the state on April 13th. And I'll just read a little bit about their response. So, it's addressed to Attorney Sweeney. This office received the complaint from Lindsay McKinney Tierney on October 10th, 2025, alleging that the Bromfield-Boylston Regional School Committee violated the open meeting law. The complaint originally was filed with the committee on August 27th, and you responded on behalf of the committee by letter dated September 17th. The complaint alleges that the notice of a meeting the committee held on August 12th was not sufficiently specific. And that the committee did not provide notice of the cancellation of an August

00526th meeting. Following our review, and our review this is from the office of the Attorney General. Following our review, we find that the notice of the committee's August 12th meeting was sufficiently specific as to the topics referenced in the complaint. We decline to review the remaining allegations of the complaint. In reaching this determination, we reviewed the original complaint, the committee's response to the complaint, and the complaints the complainant's request for further review. In addition, we reviewed minutes of a meeting the committee held on June 10th, and the notice of the August 12th meeting. We also reviewed portions of a recording of the August 12th meeting. It goes on to list several facts. This letter should be in the drive and it should be in the files available for everyone on the website. I'll skip to

006the conclusion. For the reasons stated above, we find that the committee did not violate the open meeting law as alleged. We now consider the complaint addressed by this determination to be resolved. So, that's out there for you guys, anybody else to read. Um Does anybody have anything to say about that? I'm just wondering how much that cost us. That's a great question, Lisa. I'm glad you brought it up. A lot of money. Um Our attorney was involved in reviewing it, looking up different case law, different precedent. I believe the bill is approaching $5,000 for that. Because it was the initial meeting with us, drafting a response. And then later having to follow up with the Attorney General. All that involved. So, yeah, $5,000 for this complaint. Um approaching. Just under. Just shy. I don't know

007what 5,000 can do in our budget, you know, I know we were cutting $500 to avoid an override, but Anybody else? All right. Thanks. Thank you. Uh next item on the list, Jess, you had a question about perhaps adding 0.2 FTE back for band at Boylston Elementary. You sent me an email about it, asked for it to go on the agenda. Yeah. Um so as many Boylston residents saw, there was an override question on the ballot that was not needed in in end. Um but it was 400,000 or so. Um, and so I just wanted to point out that there were many cuts made, some in Berlin, a lot in Boylston, to meet to not go over into an override. Um, and so I don't think a lot of parents are aware of what was

008cut and shaved off here and there. Um, you know, I know that we nickel and dimed and traded 0.1 here and 0.2 there for FTEs. Um, and unfortunately band was not part of that discussion. Um, so I know Berlin hopes to keep their 0.4 band director. Um, but as of right now VES doesn't have band for fourth and fifth grade next year, which I think is a bit of a travesty. Um, and so I know there were some discussions alluding to efforts to get a 2 and 1/2 override next year as we have shaved things off in the past years. We don't have a middle school language teacher now. Um, we combined tech and library to one person and now that's no longer certified person. Now it's a para. We had health teacher that that

009got eliminated as well among other things that can be found in the April 7th um, presentation by Aaron. Um, and I know there's cuts everywhere that are being felt by people or not yet. Um, but I was hoping that by either 0.1 or 0.2 FTE that maybe we could float the cost um, from a fund that we wouldn't usually do from operating costs. Uh, just in hopes to maintain at least a joint band one day a week. So kids would have to >> [clears throat] >> find other solutions for the lessons and learning, but at least there would be a joint band that they could come together and still have a band experience and then hopes that the year after we'd be able to reinstate that in a more permanent way. So, from the April

010presentation, um I guestimated what 0.1 0.2 FTEs of the band director would be. Um so, 0.1 would be about 7,683 and 0.2 would be about 15,366. Which of course, as I said, it's a guestimate. Um and I don't even know if the current band director would be willing to do that, but 0.2 would represent one day a week. Um cuz 0.4 would be two days at Berlin. Um So, 0.1 would be a half a day at BHS and 7,683. But probably 0.2 would be ideal, but again, it's twice the cost. So. >> Wait, so again, sorry. So, 0.1 would be 7,683. Not dollars. How many hours would that be at the school? Half of a day. So, what, three? Mhm. A tenth of is half of the day, you know. And 0.2 would be a

011day a week. Or two half days. Where did you say you were suggesting we fund that from? So, as it is a one-year cost, hypothetically, if we're going to try to work with the towns, um we already had an email from Dave Marzo reaching out for our June 1st joint meeting to discuss future needs of our district. Um so, an operating cost that we would float for one year. Um some of the expiring costs we've already floated out of some of these funds, but something from E&D or school choice. Um again, it's just to maintain the quality of our band program. You know, I think band music is vital to kids. Some kids will come just for that and it helps them be engaged and helps their mental health. So, again, not ideal and not

012something that we would do for more than a year. Um but it I just want to make that suggestion to consider. So, we I think it's a great suggestion cuz I I really hate the idea of you know, when the kids come to Tonto, what kids from Boylston not having that option. Um that's the fifth grade part of it. Well, at least it was just for one year. But, I guess my question is do you think 0.2 is enough? I don't think so. I don't think we're going to ask for more. I was even thinking 0.2 was maybe not going to fly and just 0.1, but it would at least allow a joint band program to exist. Could, you know, obviously there'd be other creative solutions for lessons and learning to play, but at least

013they would have a band that then at the end of the year they can come together for the joint concert. And not lose a year. Can I ask a question? So, I know that one of the pain points in the elementary school hearing from John and Rob is that we had five specials 2 years ago, I guess, right? Was it 2 years ago? And so, each day the teachers would have like a little prep period or break or something. Um and now we only have four. We had four this year, right? There's four. And then is next year dropping to three or are we still going to have four? So, if we did this, it'll be four next year. So, if we added this band back, this 8 hours, let's say we can swing the

0148 hours for $15,000. If we add this 8 hours back, could it be a special so that these teachers would have their five back. It would only be for the fifth grade teachers. Yeah, but I I don't I don't think [clears throat] it's treated as a special the same way It's only for the kids that already have their lessons. She's not proposing that everybody would be pulled out of class everybody that did it would be pulled out at the same time to go with the teacher. Wouldn't that just be fifth grade? Yeah, but I don't Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think it's treated the same way as the regular specials in terms of prep period. It's all pulled out by instrument. Yeah. So yeah. But she's proposing that they would get pulled

015out as a group to practice together as a band. I I just I don't understand logistically how it would happen and I would hate to I don't think we would it I think there's a lot more work that would have to be done before we could say that before I could say that I supported that because I would want to know that it would actually be doing what it's intended to do. I would want to make sure that it would that there would be a way for them to practice. Like currently they practice with Berlin however many times. Would that be able to be accomplished [clears throat] in those hours and I mean I think that's only two practices for each concert. I have a private So is the purpose of it for the concert

016or for the I get them confused. They're not getting lessons so they're just practicing as a band. A full band. A full band. So you have your homework practice this song practice these notes. Or they and they could pay for private lessons. Or >> before school or after school cuz we didn't say that we were going to offer that. Or trying to. So would only people that are paying for private lessons be able to participate in band? Cuz Yeah. Well, I feel like the chances of the kids individually like it was not individually practicing at home. The lessons were when he practiced so I I I can see it being really beneficial for a very small group of kids that and maybe it would end up being a time that's not being utilized like we

017would hope it's being utilized. But even if so if we don't do this even if the kids who pay for lessons won't be able to participate in the concert at the end of the year or any other concerts because or in a band they're not actually part of the band. That's like that that's my I appreciate this, but I I'm I'm very worried that if we cut something and then the first meeting after the budget that passes, we immediately added it back in. I don't think that's a good look. I'm totally I'm okay with It's not even 0.6. It's even 0.1. We might have cut that to that point and fine. Frankly, I didn't think about it. You know, I mean, we were 0.1, 0.2 here and there and trying to make it all work.

018I mean, $7,683, maybe we could have, but But also, what is the priority for the school? Would the school want to take that $7,000 and use it? Maybe the school thinks that it would be better used. Like who are we to say where that $7,000 should be used? We're the school committee that determines the budget, but we're also the ones that help protect the education for students. So in prior meetings, I did voice the thing that I don't think cutting arts is good for children's social and development, right? And their their mental health. And so, you know, we have the adjustment counselor which helps their mental health, right? We have tutors which help, you know, their academic health. Um you know, I think one year swinging the cost like other expiring costs or even just

019the $7,638 so it would allow that one at least one hour of joint time for Boylston kids to practice on their own and then come together and you know, try to play as a band. So I think that we cut it because Boylston gave us a number and said if you don't hit this number then we'll go through an override and you'll go to a ballot. So we were kind of like up against a rock and a hard place. I think that Boylston is in a very different position than Berlin and I hate to have to look at the two towns differently, but I think the goal next year, at least my understanding of how and correct me if I'm wrong, how you know, in conversations with some of the select board members is the

020town understands there's deficits. They're looking to potentially push a prop two and a half next year. So I think Jessica's point is and you could make this argument for there are other things, you know, the adjustment counselor, I don't know how many emails we've gotten, 30 emails about that, you know, moving that back to full-time too is to use some cash to float the year. Obviously, you would have to use the cash proportionate so you'd give whatever the ratio is, Aaron knows it, 65 35, whatever it is, Boylston Berlin. Um and then it would either pass in a prop two and a half and in a budget for next year or I don't know what's going to happen. If it doesn't pass then yes, obviously that's going to be a completely different picture. So then

021it's going to go to next year? If the prop two and a half does not pass, I think I think next year we're we don't have a choice. We're going to it's going to either be prop two and a half or yes, there's going to be drastic cuts. >> Because it would be we would have to cut this plus Yeah. Correct. If the prop two and a half doesn't pass then yes, we would have to So that So that plays into our end goal of passing a prop two and a half adding things back in the Exactly. Exactly. Jess, are you asking us to to decide to put this back in for this coming year? My hope is not to lose the band. Yeah. And not to lose the band and instructor, the teacher, you

022know? I mean So, I think Yeah, what Beth and Jackie were you saying? You know, who's to say that this is the position that we bring back versus the other positions? Yes, we're the school committee, we can decide that. My issue is more with just the budget process, and I think Beth was alluding to this a little bit. The last time we all saw each other was in our last meeting where we voted to make this cut. Um I agree with you, Jess. I think cutting arts and band is the absolute last thing we should do. Um I It's one of the reasons I didn't vote for this budget at our last meeting cuz I don't want to cut these particular positions. But, for anyone at the Berlin town meeting the other night, this is

023exactly what the Marys of the world and that person who got up and spoke from capital planning has been talking about for 3 years. The school committee, the schools, they cried poor, they cried they need this money, and they they Someone referred to it as scare tactics. They they give these scare tactics that things are going to be cut, and then we approve these massive budgets, and then oh oh lo and behold, magically they find this money after the town meeting to add these things back in that they wanted to cut. And I think if you're thinking you're going to have to need to convince people to go for an override next year, [clears throat] I think the fact that we add anything back in after a meeting where we cut something, and then told

024the towns, "Look, if we we cut all this stuff, and if you don't approve this budget, man, we're going to have to cut even more." And then they go ahead and they they approve it for us like we asked them to, and then all of a sudden we're at the next meeting and we're talking about, "Hey, let's add this 7,000 back. Let's add this 15,000 back. And let's add this back or add that back. It's going to make things incredibly difficult to convince people to go for an override because the first question anyone's going to ask is, "Well, where did you get the money for the band? Maybe you should have put that towards this year." I just think it's a I am with you. We should not have cut the band. 100% I'm with

025you there. But I don't see how we how we can do this and then be taken seriously by any voters or taxpayers. >> also not 3 years ago when we're being told, "Oh, yes, we have money to add 2 days of a >> Just a week ago, Mary Porter accused us of doing just that. >> No, I know that. But But because the optics look like we're lying, it's not 2 or 3 years ago when we had the budget, we pushed for it, and then all of a sudden we're saying, "Oh, yeah, JK, we have money for 2 days of of nurse." And then the There was something else that we passed. And I asked in that meeting, "Where is this money coming from?" We just like squeezed and you know. And so, this is

026not 3 years ago. And this is one very specific to try to float this cost that would be an expiring cost. Voters willing Mhm. that it would float just the band. I mean, heck, do point point zero five to just do an hour and a half where she's in the building. You know, like yes, we can find private lessons, but you are going to miss that band. And yes, maybe band could be an after-school club, but maybe not because people have lives and families and kids. So, by preserving even a point zero five FTE in Boylston, swinging that cost of $3,000 for one fiscal year will at least preserve some hope of maintaining the band program going up to Tantasqua. No No one loves the arts better than myself, right? We believe in that. And

027you and I have had this conversation when you approached me the other day about it. I just need us to be careful because there's other positions we cut and why all of a sudden are we choosing this one and not the kindergarten aides and the adjustment counselor and a lot of other things that we made cuts here and there, right? So, I just need us to be careful about that. But, to your point, Megan, I can honestly, when Aaron and I sat for meeting after meeting after meeting in Bolton, not one time were we asked from the select board or FinCom what exactly these cuts would be and what positions would be cut in there. Berlin did. We sat with Berlin, they wanted to know about the what what this would impact, how would it

028impact the positions. We had students show up for it as well, too. We weren't asked any of those questions. We sat for 90 minutes in some meetings and weren't even recognized at some of those Bolton meetings to say, "What is this budget going to look like? How is it going to impact?" So, we were ready, we were prepared, we gave them all of our budget information, but they they didn't ask us the questions they should have been asking us. Um the other part I can say, and I know Rob's in the room, I'm not sure if that's the priority back, right? That might be school committee or your particular priority, but I think the school of Bolton Elementary and Rob, I think they might look a little differently. They might want that adjust additional adjustment

029counselor point back, or they might want a kindergarten para back as well, too. So, there's other things they need to look at. But, it was a tough meeting for me and Berlin when I stood up there and they really went at me and anyone that was there, respectfully they did, but it was it was difficult for me because they were making accusations and and I made a promise that this is the right thing that we're doing with this budget, and I need you to support this number in this budget. So, I I just needed to say that. I I appreciate what you want to do with the arts. I hate to see it. I was at the middle school and high school band concert phenomenally the other night, but we we voted on the budget

030that I stood in front of that town of Berlin and said, "This is the number I need you guys to do." No other number besides this. No lower, no higher. This is the number I need you to vote on. So, I just need to tell you that. That's all. I think the difference is that this was completely eliminated. And so I mean, yes, I know that the ELA tutor or instructional person was also eliminated, too, but I think once it's completely gone, it's really hard to put back together again. To lose an entire year. So, you know, if we don't want to swing even 0.05 for 1 year, then I don't know, you know, could we open it up for people to donate those funds to get her during the school day to maintain band?

031I don't know. Is that allowed? I mean, the thing about doing it during the day, I think, is that our budget supports a certain level of teaching and learning and education throughout the day. It would be no different than asking another private club of some kind, any kind, to come in and take away from the teaching day to do the private club. Well, I think that's why the after-school or before-school option probably works better. I don't like it, Jess. I hate it. I think band during the day is what we need. >> this way this year. In Berlin, is it going to function differently next year? The band? >> I don't know. So, those are conversations we're going to have with the new principal, right? In terms of what that's going to look like in

032terms of scheduling. I know that in Bolton, it was very difficult cuz not all kids played an instrument. So, some kids were being taken out, so the teachers really didn't get an extra prep cuz three kids might have been left behind or five kids left behind. So, and and just for for clarity, you know, we we don't disagree, right? Teachers would like some additional prep time, right? Uh but we are following the contract that says that they have four preps. We just negotiated a contract with them, and we are following the exact what we we agreed to on that, as well. Yeah. I'm just saying, like she's still a district employee, technically. And so, if like every parent I've told, "Hey, part of those cuts was a band director," you know, like there many concerned

033parents, obviously, at multiple schools right now, but I guess I would like to leave the avenue open that if parents wanted to fund a specific fund and raise money to have her to maintain that joint band time. I think it should be something I'm just throwing out creative ideas. >> once we find out what next year will look like for BMS, can we look into like I think it's maybe this conversation's like a like a little bit premature, but we maybe we look into once we have an idea of what BMS looks like, if she wants to continue with the 0.4, and then we start working on how would it look at BES and move forward from there, but I don't think we've gotten a single email about band, have we? She didn't send an

034email out saying I'm going to get fired at BES. Did that not happen with the parents? >> Yeah, it did happen. That's that's that's an issue all of itself, but that's not for here, I don't think. >> So, I don't think anyone's aware that band is going to be eliminated next year for fourth and fifth graders. So, yes, we've gotten no emails cuz I don't think anyone's aware of it. >> So, I have a warped perception of it then from that. I did not realize that was the case. I don't know what you're talking about. I'm sorry. Talk about it offline. Okay. I I think that there are some good points made. I think that I think a key point from this conversation I've been thinking myself about using some cash to add a few

035things back at BES. I don't think it's a bad idea. I get what you're saying in Garland because I I remember the history. Boylston is a totally different picture. Boylston is not saying "What are you doing with the money?" Oh, you said you were going to cut this and then you're adding it back. Oh, we're upset. They don't care. They're saying, "Here's what we have to give you. We literally don't care what you guys manage your own budget." They're saying, "Here you go. This is what we have." So, we took that number and we backed into it and we made decisions on what we were going to cut and what we weren't. I know the goal is to go for a prop two and a half next year. So, the idea of using cash to

036float things for a year so that we don't decimate our school. There were multiple things that I think are going to be tough next year. So, the I I like the band idea because I think, you know, so about band, my kids have done it. What happens is during the period where everyone goes, there's usually one or two or three kids behind. They work on a project. So, at least it's a little bit of time where the teacher isn't standing up and, you know, talking to the kids. Again, I'm not a teacher. I'm not in the classroom, but it sounds like they work on slides, and the teacher has a little bit of time. It's maybe I don't know if the teachers would like it or not look to have that time back or not.

037I do agree. I think it's great for the kids, and I'm concerned about when they go to Tahanto, are the BES kids are all going to be behind. And let's not forget that that's 65% of the population. Berlin makes up 35%. So, it's just it's kind of like not It's not equitable. It's not equitable, and it's going to trickle up to the middle school. Right. But these are not surprising facts that we did not know a month ago. We We knew all this. We voted on a budget. And to come back the month later and say, "Cool, we got our money. Now we got all this cash. Let's go spend it on these other things." It's a terrible look. It It's a terrible look. >> was there before we voted the budget. That's like It's

038You have to admit this is not a very good look. It was last week we passed the budget. That school choice money, is that still that same school choice money? We never discussed using school choice money for any of these cuts. I But we just got an email. This was it When was it? A couple days ago from Boylston saying, "We're having a meeting on June 1st. We want you guys to come. We are looking at options for next year prop two and a half. We have the FinCom. We have the police. Did you guys see that email from David Linsky? >> uh so speaking of that email, yeah. >> all the Berlin people on there. No, he didn't put all the people on there, which I responded to him. Uh you guys you guys

039were all on the response. I told him June might be a little June might be a little early. Alan Aaron still have to finish this year, have to get this year closed up. We have a new superintendent starting in July. I talked to Brent about it a little bit today. Um he's you know, he's all for meeting with whoever needs to be met with, but you know, it it's maybe a little premature for the schools to get involved in that. He suggested maybe September. But we haven't got that far yet, but June 1st with the superintendent who's not going to be here at the time that this all needs to happen is maybe a little premature, but anyway, I responded to him. I also think whatever whatever efforts happen with the two and a half

040override, it needs to be He asked for it only Boylston residents from the school committee to be on there. I personally think that we should have at least one Berlin rep on there because we are not two individual school committees, we're one district. So, that's going to happen. So, yes, that's that's in reference to that email. We'll deal with that later as the time comes, but I mean I mean this idea, guys. I mean we just passed the budget, like that said, is a week ago, and we're already talking about spending more than our budget in a year where we seem to know or at least some of us seem to know that an override is coming. The idea that it's gone, Jess, everybody agrees is terrible. I didn't vote for the budget for that

041one of the reasons on several. But we had the time for this conversation was last month. Before we went there. Where we kind of we voted, we've got to stick with it. I mean, one of the oath that you take when you become a school committee member, speaking of elections coming up, uh is that when the committee votes on something you want in the vote. So. Yeah, well, but here we are in open meeting discussing more and what the vote actually means for the different schools. >> I mean, if if you have a plan to to respond to the people who come at us and say, you know, you cried poor, made us vote for this budget, and now you're spending more than the budget. Let's hear it. So, slide four of the April presentation,

042April 7th presentation, said 260,000 used to offset expiring costs, 200k for expected E&D. So, we're already identified costs in the operating budget that we're covering from E&D as a nod to the town saying, "Okay, we know this is expiring, we're going to cover it from our free cash." And so, you know, we are giving a little and we understand that it's give and take. So, the fact that we are trying to salvage a band program by less than a cost of a school choice child for 1 year, I don't think that's bad optics. I think that is [clears throat] No one thought of this when we were having this 0.1, 0.2 discussion before the budget was passed. >> I I think a lot of us thought about using more cash to fund some of these

043things, but we decided we were already using a lot. I mean, like, you know, we were moving cash around in 0.1, 0.2 positions, and band was never brought up. And I never had I thought, you know, I was like, "Well, yeah, that's lessons. That's three full days." >> Just Nobody's Nobody's arguing that band isn't valuable. I am 100% I will fight anybody to keep arts and band, me specifically. It did a lot for me personally. I have a lot of family connections in it. The fact is we voted on a number, and now we're going back to taxpayers and saying, "Hey, you know what? We We do have it. Sorry." I think it's not from a philosophical standpoint of is it worth it? It's from a technical, political, legal perspective of we told people one

044thing over here and then we're going to try to do something else over here that I think is a very bad idea long-term. I respectfully disagree, but I'm thinking if parents in fourth and fifth grade next year get wind of it that they want to help fund, you know, donate money to fund that one hour of band a week, I would like to have that as an open door. She's a district employee to have it during the school day like it is right now or whatever the future plan is for B and M as to be at Mirror at B and S, at least a joint band. >> like precedents for I don't know, maybe Aaron? Yeah, I want us to be careful if I I envision like Aaron, I I don't Sorry, I I

045Yeah. >> [laughter] >> Um so what they're they're saying is that if a a town wanted to raise >> a town, parents. A parents from a particular town, right? Wanted to raise money to hire a particular Donate money >> No, no, no, donate to the town or the >> that gets really awkward. Because they keep we can't This the way it works is if if somebody donates money to the school district, we as a committee vote, we have a policy, the school district doesn't have to use that money. Once you donate money, the district can use it for whatever they want. I am not opposed to using cash though to float this for a year. No, I respectfully disagree. I understand how Berlin perceives the budget. I think we now have it in writing from

046the town of Boylston that they're working for a two and a half override for next year. I think that changes a lot of things. I think it was kind of in the talks before when we voted on the budget. Now it's kind of solidified. Yeah, Megan, a two and a half override means they don't have enough money for what we have now, and you're looking to add on top of it. I am well aware >> that we already said we don't have the money for. >> I am well aware of what it means, what the town is looking to do, which is similar to what I believe the town of Holden tried to do this year. I don't know if it passed or not. >> not. It passed in Holden, but it failed for the

047district. Okay. So, they're trying And I think to Holden had some other things like police and fire and whatnot in the >> Senior center? Yeah. The override passed, but another town in the two towns failed. So, it So, their override passed in Holden. So, I think that's what Boylston is trying to do is to do some type of an override. You need to As we've learned, you need a campaign, you need to plan. They're looking to start, you need to educate people. They're looking to start that. So, that's giving us, or at least me personally as a School Committee, hope that we're going to be able to add some of this stuff back to the budget. Each year we tend to suggest this point where decimating that school. Each year we're taking things away from

048a school that's growing with in population. We need to should be adding. So, I don't think it's a bad thing to use the cash. The question is, what specifically I love the idea of being able to do one day a week for fourth and fifth graders. It's like two or three hours of time. Maybe fourth, 0.5, 0.1, whatever. 0.1 is a half a day, so three hours. So, you could even go 0.05 and get an hour and a half. I believe they So, we're we're talking about 90 minutes worth of time for an employee that we don't even know if they're going to be here, if we're going to be able to hire. You're talking about using cash to fund something in one town without talking about using a similar amount of cash to get

049something back in the other town. No, she mentioned using >> I absolutely mentioned All right, so so okay. So, if it's going to be 7,000 in Boylston, then going to be what, 4,000 in Berlin? >> What are the ratios? We can send that to Aaron. >> So again, that's money above [clears throat] a budget that we already approved, that we told voters and taxpayers we've already approved it. Please approve this at town meeting or we're going to have to cut even more. And all of a sudden now we've got 11, 12,000 dollars to hire back a position that we sat here in this room a month ago and discussed cutting. Nobody wanted to use it at Tahanto last year. It's a terrible idea. It's a I personally think it's a terrible idea and it's going

050to make your life so much more difficult getting a budget approved next year. That's [clears throat] what I personally think. And we're also still trying to recover our reputation as a district. >> Yeah, it didn't go so well Monday night in Berlin. So I don't think >> Lots of lots of inaccurate statements made, but there were still angry statements. Yeah. Yeah. How we talk to other people does matter and how they react to us. Yeah. As much as I know. Terrible. I think it's a terrible idea, but if you want to do it, go for it. Well, Boylston it went great. We had some parents show up, but the budget passed unanimously in Boylston. No issues. So without discussion. So I I would respectfully for the next meeting, I would actually recommend that we do

051a full meeting June 1st jointly with them because we we've watched the MASC video on overrides and they did say to start very early. Um Tracy also said that she was willing to come out and do a presentation to us. >> to start without Brent though? He He made it clear today he'd like to wait until September. This is with our new superintendent. >> September's? That's a very long timeline. So >> can still have their meeting and if the school does not want to present, that's understandable, but So here's the thing. What's the school going to present? Cuz you know, these guys are still wrapping up this year. Got to get the financials done, got to get several other things done. Brent's starting July 1st without with some knowledge of what's going on in the

052district, but not a lot. He doesn't know anybody. He hasn't met anybody. To throw him into that fire. Exactly. So, waiting till September 1st to have you gone, I think July at least you have the historical knowledge that Al has. Obviously, Aaron as well, but like >> to ask him to make a recommendation without having like I mean, maybe not September, but I think I think it needs to be brought in November so I guess I think he should get to set the tone for how >> 110% but I think I think whatever it is I prefer it be when he's here and but I also don't want to make the first thing that he does to start moving towards an override is pretty unfair. He needs to be like meeting people and introducing himself

053and like building relationships. But if we miss the opportunity this year to do a prop So, first off, the superintendent can't get involved in the politics with overrides. That has to be school committee members. So, it's just showing up at a meeting. I don't necessarily think Al has to present anything. >> we're getting a little bit off topic, but what would we be presenting at this meeting? He said perhaps you and Aaron can provide some macro perspective on the school side such as FY27 state budget implications, etc. I think you have no idea what to do. No, we have no idea. Perhaps you and Aaron can provide some macro perspective on the school side such as FY27 state budget implications, etc. I think they're just trying to plan ahead. Oh, oh, that's for the meeting

054>> Macro level. Yeah. Just like high level. I mean, we know what we cut. We know what we cut and what we want to add back and you could go back probably over the past 2 years and say, all right >> what you want to add back? Like, how can you say that you know what you want? We won't have a final state budget until July. We they they it's very, you know, they're back and forth between uh the House and Senate, Ways and Means, you know, will come up to some compromise on things. Um, but you know, I I don't to to the point I mean there's some ability I want to comment on the the donations item. I I can look at the the state approves certain accounts, you know, for certain purposes.

055So we So, you know, for example, we have a school choice account where school choice money comes into. We have some other accounts, a circuit breaker account, things like that. There's a list of of accounts. I'm not sure if banned would be on that list. I can look at that if there was some appetite. Now, keep in mind that would be a district account. So it'd have to be with the entire district. Someone can't, to Megan's point, just give money for one school for one purpose, what have you. But I I can look into that and see if that's an eligible fund. I mean, again, you're talking about bringing in, you know, enough money to cover effectively some amount for what would eventually be inevitably be able to both schools. And I think to some

056degree we're seeing the regional agreement handicapping us, right? I mean, we've talked about it. We could treat this like one district, right? We could be sharing more of these resources. We treat ourselves like a region for some purposes, >> [clears throat] >> but then individual school districts for others. I mean, I know kind of when I got here there was a talk, well, okay, Boylston had more money, so things got approved to Boylston and not to Berlin. Now that's kind of flipped, right? The voters in in Berlin approved a budget and then Boylston approved a budget. Um, you know, I I guess, you know, I look at the community and also say like you know, that this is this is your opportunity to then go to the town and really push for what are your

057priorities. If this is truly a priority it is sort of we missed the window for for the '27 budget. As we start talking '28 budget, we start talking about the potential for overrides and things like that. You know, how do how do we get how do people mobilize to do things like that? You know, Alan and I can't be involved in that from a political standpoint. >> Right. But, you know, you know, it's it's having those when I Alan and I were at the town meetings, there weren't masses of people standing waiting to fight for the budget, right? There wasn't a line outside the door. They didn't have to go to a bigger forum because they couldn't fit all the people. It was just us with some other town officials talking about the budget. I

058mean, I I it takes, you know, that that that needs that needs to happen. And to that point, like the MASC video talked about a particular timeline and starting very early. So, I I would like to at least have Tracy come and talk to us maybe at the next meeting if there's room about school committee's involvement and what is acceptable and what's not because I think the conversation has to be started very early. And and I >> Yeah, that sounds like a future agenda item. >> And I'd love to get like a Michelle Griffin uh who works for the Department of Education and look at our regional agreement. I'm a little concerned here, right? So, we we in the future, right? You don't pass a budget, but the the people in particular, parents in particular,

059towns say, "We're going to fund it this way, right?" And we're going to give money this way instead of passing the I I just think we got to be careful of how we we do all that. There are districts that have certain accounts to fund specific things, but those are you know, I'm not sure exactly how the money goes into them, how the money comes. Sometimes it's a tuition-based program. >> Sure. Sometimes it's things like that. So, I don't want to say that this is doable. I'm just saying to look at that. And I And I think to have Tracy is is a great idea to have her come. I'd love to get like the Michelle Griffins and um What's his name as well, too? Um Jay >> Jay Sullivan come and talk to us

060about our regional uh budget as well, too, and how it would work. And I think it you know, whenever we're able to get Tracy back or or to educate us, it might be nice to extend the invite to the different FinCom select boards to have a member come and listen, as well. We'll reach out to Tracy tomorrow, if you go okay with that, and see if we can arrange for I I know she's probably busy with the two and a half overrides right now, but we'll definitely see if we can do that for June. Cool. All right, any other comments on this one, or we'll move forward? So, what are we going to do? Table it? And we can vote over the summer to add it back, but it's just really inconvenient for planning purposes.

061I think, too, it would make more sense to find out if the current band teacher is going to stay at PMS. And if Right, like we we're Yeah. We have some information to gather. And again, I want to refer to Robin that the teachers at Bolyston Elementary, is this you know what, prioritizing what they want to bring back, right? So, you're I know School Committee is saying that's what they want, but what does what does the the elementary teachers and the principal want for that school? Is that the priority? All right, thanks. Uh next up, Al, our student liaison, Mr. Matt Dowd. Yes. So, I know it's been a long time in coming, Matt, so I I apologize for this. Um but we should be sure to get this here. So, on March 25th, myself,

062Mr. Cameron, and and Matt went to an unbelievable program at the Worcester County Superintendents' Thanks, Jess. >> [laughter] >> Um anyways, It's a very special gift right there, Jess. Come on. >> [laughter] >> We'll see about that in the future. Um so, we really wanted to recognize Matt. It was an unbelievable program across the Massachusetts superintendents were all there and principals were there. Like I said, they gave out scholarships and Matthew represented our school district from Bourne and Boston and was quite an honor to to see him up there as well as Mr. Kim and I seeing him up there with all the other scholars. Let me tell you, incredible group of young men and women and the places they're going was very impressive. So, it's just our way of thanking you, Matthew, for not

063only getting this award, which we're really proud and got a nice scholarship that goes along with that, but also for being a part of our school committee for the last year. So, this is just a little token from us to thank you as part of our school committee for the last year. Congratulations. >> [applause] [applause] >> Congratulations, Matt. And best of luck next year. Thank you. I know this is really like crazy. It's like the last 2 weeks of school for me right now. So, it's like the last like final class. I have one more AP exam to take tomorrow. >> [laughter] >> So, we promised him only a 90-minute meeting. So, Oh, was that John I promised? I'm sorry. >> [laughter] >> Um No, it's really it's exciting right now, especially like our seniors.

064So, like we're I mean, we have our prom is a week like I think a week and a half from now on Saturday. Um then we have senior week and graduation in June. Um So, it's like a very exciting time for all of us. We all got back from April break. We have like 2 weeks left for our seniors. And then like I said, we're in the midst of AP exams right now. Um so, that's like you know, that's a lot of the school right now. We're all in the multi We're in here taking exams. I have my physics exam tomorrow. And then I think there's like I think there's only one more to take for the major classes Uh and then AP exams are over. And then we've got some fun stuff going on.

065There's a field trip to Six Flags on Friday, which I'm going on and I'm very excited for. And we've got our senior trip, senior dinner. Spring sports are, you know, in all the chaos. You know, all the sports teams are away right now. Yeah. And so it's a very busy time of the year. I think everyone's a little bit anxious for the end of the year for spring and summer to come. But it's all going pretty good so far, so. Enjoy. Enjoy every moment of it, okay? Thank you. If you wouldn't mind, I I would like to to say a word about Matt. Lisa, come on up. Um this is um this is kind of off the cuff a little bit, um but I um I've known Matt. Um he was a freshman in my

066biology class and now I see him um sitting here on his on the you know the edge of graduation and I cannot believe how much you've grown and you have grown into a tremendous um young man who I'm very, very proud of and he never ceases to amaze me. He's insightful, he's kind, he's bright. Um he's thoughtful and he's dedicated and he's he's worked hard to help all the people around him. And um he's really gives me hope. Um and we see so much in our news and all around us. And I think as educators and I'm feeling like I'm going to get a little bit teary, um that I I as educators we are the last to see um the true gifts um that our young people are um and the hope that they

067really do give us. So, I really wanted to make sure that that was a public statement for you. >> [applause] >> I'm going to meet you. Thank you. Uh Al, you have some more things to go through. Yes. Yeah. >> [laughter] >> The next thing we're going to Just speaking. Um so, the next thing I just want to take a moment to recognize Mr. Campbell. Right. Um so, we've had quite the the reign of celebrations with with Mr. Campbell over um the the last couple weeks. We recognized him and got some citations um from representatives and senators at town meeting on his retirement. Um we also have an event for our administrators as well to to recognize John as retired, but I also thought it was fitting for us as a school community to recognize

068John. Um so, a little bit about John. As we know, he joined in 2013, became the principal of Groton-Dunstable um you know, incredible opportunity in the things that he's done in that school. Um you know, if someone was to say that to John, what's the the one thing they know about him and recognize and probably what he says is his favorite time is that morning where you see him out in the morning welcoming the kids as they come into school as well, too. Um also, to engage with John, if you ever go in his office, the Buffalo Bills, right? That's all over, right? He loves giving you a a difficult time um with us about that, especially our New England fans, but we just want to take this opportunity, John, to thank you for your

069dedication to the children of our regional school district in particular, Groton-Dunstable um you certainly last left a lasting impression um and this is just our way of saying thank you for your years of your to our our children, like Lisa said. Um I know there's also going to be a a little bit of a library set up for you, as well, too. Um in Laurel as well. So, there's a couple nice things that we still have coming up for you, but um just our chance Yeah, it's our chance to just say thank you and congratulations to John. So, we have a little bit of a a wonderful plant and a little bit of a a wonderful PLACE. SO, CONGRATULATIONS. >> [applause] >> A PLANT I CAN'T KILL. JUST REALLY QUICKLY, what an honor it's been

070to be here all these years. Um you were in kindergarten when I started. Yeah, that's what I was thinking about. Yeah. So, and then such a blessing for principals, cuz we get to see those little kids who walk through the door crying and um graduate. And I'm looking forward to uh graduation day. It's just a fabulous thing. I've spent a fifth of my life in this job. Um and I've loved almost every minute of it. Certain school community meetings, not so much. But it has been a blessing and an honor to work with all of you. Thanks. John, why don't you open your bag to show us so so everyone can see what you're receiving from That's just an empty box to store it in later, but it's >> [laughter] >> That's just an empty

071box. Here it is. Empty box. Also something kindergarteners love, empty boxes to play with. And the plants are here. See, Jess? >> Oh. Awesome. Thank you for 12 It's 13 years of service, my friend. Oh, jeez. I'm just kidding. >> [laughter] >> Doesn't really say they're on I was told 12. See, [laughter] uh It's still beautiful, and I'm keeping it just We will have that We'll have that fixed. Congrat >> [laughter] >> We'll get some donations from the parents. >> [laughter] >> Just stop it. Stop it. John, congratulations. Thank you. >> THANKS, SEAN. >> [applause] >> SO, IF I CAN JUST GO ON TO ABOUT THE TOWN MEETING, I just want to take a moment to thank everyone for coming out to both town meetings in both Berlin and Bolton. The administration that were at

072both meetings were running between the both. Our teachers, school committee member, parents, and residents. Our budget was successfully passed in both towns, which is a great way to start off our school year. As a reminder, we did have some cuts like Jess was talking about. We had some reductions >> [music] >> that took place and impacted our school. I'm sure that our next round of budget talks these reductions will hopefully be part of our conversations and will continue. I also want to thank at the town meeting Elizabeth Bennett. She's a teacher at Berlin Memorial and the several students from Tahanto that took care of the child care during the town meeting. We sent individual thank yous to them, but they really did that seamlessly for our parents and our children to be able to come

073in and do their civic duty and have students be watched. With regard to our strategic plan update, so last Wednesday, May 6th, we had our official last strategic plan meeting. I thank Lisa Mayor as well as Lisa Sequeira was there. Kristen also there. People that were there that really did a nice job. John Campbell as well too. I'm sorry, John. We are making our final tweaks to it right now. Putting in some illustrations. We're actually back and forth on email right now just making some final revisions. Our hope is that next month in June that we'll be able to give you a preliminary look at this our strategic plan for the next 5 years. Get the school committee approval. Once that is good, then we have to go to the towns and bring it to

074the town of Berlin and the town of Bolton to get their input on that as well too. And then we'll be ready to get have plan that is exactly what the next superintendent will be looking for, right? And what the next laying the road map for the next five years. Anything you want to add about the strategic plan? Anybody? Chris. Well, I think I Well, I just think it's going to be a great opportunity. It really reflects so much of what we have been working towards and a lot of the conversations that we've been having. And I think I I'm hoping that it accurately reflects all that we want to do and I think it can be a guiding document that we I think it's important to always remind yourself is this decision based on

075the foundation of what we're working towards. And I think that's really helpful when we go to make decisions as a community to keep, you know, to keep our north north. It's a regional school district, right? We have people from both towns of Berlin, Bolton, select board of Fincom, parents, every all grouped students that we're representing and working together on this on this document. Lisa, do you want to add It was just a really I loved being a part of it. I loved I felt like it was guided so well between you and Pam and and working with everybody and getting all the input. It's very comprehensive and yeah, well thought out. So hopefully this will be for the next five years. We you know, when when people say, "Hey, how about this? Or how about

076adding this? Or why are we taking this off?" We're going to say we got the five-year strategic plan. This is what we decided we're going to do for next year. It will help out budgetarily wise as well, too, right? So we know exactly what our to Lisa's point our our north star, our guiding light. Do you want to add anything at all? Not to call you out. It was really hard. Yeah. Um I'm sorry. You okay? Yeah. Like we're at the beginning like I have no idea how we're going to get through this. And and Pam said that at the beginning like it's natural to feel that way. Um and I think I think we spent a good amount of time on the mission and talking about the core values and how how they need

077to feel actionable. Um how we can put them up on the walls and really have teachers and educators and even administrators use those core values to sort of motivate everyone and just sort of really say to kids like, "Hey, I saw you you did you did that today. You know, that's that's really great. Like you're really you're really showing us your core values." So very much like you know, the bees or whatever. Like it's it was really important I think to the whole room to to sort of have those feel that way. And then I feel like once we sort of all got on the same page about that, all of the directives sort of just started to come out and then we just did it's really more of a organizing, but I think that

078that's something that um like I'm excited to share with this group um the core values and things because I think it's it was the most exciting part that came out for me and then obviously the plan um will probably sort of structure the types of things that everybody works on in the future. Talk about a think tank, right? Those people all sitting in a room, right? Everyone on on a level surface and just giving input. Um it was it was it was it was definitely well done. So thank you for that. Um so hopefully um the goal is to have that for the June school committee meeting so you guys get a chance to to take a look at that as well, too. Um Nature's Classroom update. So we are good to go for Nature's

079Classroom. Um we're all set for for next week for us to be taking off on on May 19th. The weather is looking good so far, right? That's where that's where we're looking at. So we're happy about that. Um thanks to everyone including school committee members that have helped make this training possible. I know they've you've some fundraising there as well, too. So, thanks for all of that. Um There is training that we have put forward for all of our chaperones that are going to Nature's Classroom. I want to thank Cara Ford, myself and Lisa Sequeira. Cara did an amazing job putting together some training for our chaperones that are going to Nature's Classroom in terms of, you know, the role of a chaperone, what it what what it looks like, what you should what you

080shouldn't do. So, we're really happy to have that in place for all of our chaperones that are going. And we will be use this video moving forward. The hope is for anyone that's a chaperone for any trip, never mind Nature's Classroom, that you will [clears throat] you will have to review this and and check off and sign it that you have completed this training. So, we're really happy about that that's taken place as well, too. So, we're looking forward to Nature's Classroom. I know that the principals are going to be there, myself, Mrs. Sequeira, Jen, we're all going to be playing some visits out there as well, too, next week. So, we're looking forward to seeing the kids in this exciting time at Nature's Classroom for them. So, we wish them well. I thank our

081teachers that are going there as well, too. Staffing updates. So, I'm really happy to say that we're in the thick of our hiring process. Let me be clear, we're not hiring any additional in terms of with the elementary we're we're replacing teachers that are retiring. So, we've already really finalizing the hiring of our teachers. We're getting a lot of people applying for positions and that's a really good reflection for us as a school district that people want to come work in Burlington and Billerica. We we secured our positions for our new hires at at Tahanto as well, too, with our new biology teacher as well, too. So, we're able to lock that in and those are hard positions to fill, so we're excited about that. We've also got our grade one position at Billerica Elementary

082for our retirees as well, too. Lisa's having some great interviews that are taking place for our ELA coach that's happening at Berlin on Memorial's all too. So, we are in the thick of hiring which is really a good time for us to be. We don't want to be hiring in June and July, um but right now it's um some of the highest quality teachers that are out there looking. So, we're getting 14, 15, even more people that are applying at one time. So, we're really fortunate about that as well, too. So, excited about that. Um and I think that's all for my report. Any questions about any of those topics that I just spoke about? The video that Cara Ford developed, is there any thought to having anyone that applies for a Quarry Sorries or

083a volunteer also watch that video? Yeah, the plan is also for next year during um convocation our opening that when the entire staff is together both parents, custodians, cafeterias, everyone will be watching that video. So, anyone that hired, um anyone that's new, our entire staff will have not only um the District Attorney's Office coming in that we've lined up for 51A training, but also this um about chaperone and it's really based on boundaries and that's what that the training will be for for people as well, too. Thank you. Yep. Already thinking that. Thank you. Anybody else? Aaron, please. Hey. Right. So, I think you have three things for me. Uh 2024 audit update. Um in uh the folder, I apologize or it's a little confused so a little confusion around it. It is sitting in

084the folder for you. It is the final audit report. Um I I did provide to you all a couple months ago the draft. Um in sort of in between as we were were having our last meeting, um we did get the final report. I just put it away for this meeting. It is virtually identical to the draft. There's there's nothing tangible you need to worry about. Account balances I talked about are identical. Um interestingly, no findings. Um Uh you know, and and I think it's as I've shared, there's no indication to me that anyone misappropriated funds or anyone did anything inappropriate. Um there are definitely, you know, buckets that were money was placed in buckets that were we've sorted out and we're still in some cases still trying to sort through a little bit. Um

085and make right the the the the correct thing is like how do we make it right? How do we move the money properly to make that right? So we're working with the auditor as we go through the 25 audit right now. Um what I'm hoping is that they will be done uh by this summer with the 25 audits. We'll be catching up gradually. Um and then they can come and um I think you guys have had them in in the past. Um they'll come in and just sort of share both years all at once, right? Cuz we're kind of, you know, coming up to a round and bring them in to do 24 and then 25 one after the other we'll bring them in to do. Any sort of questions on that? Again, I apologize

086for some of the confusion about getting them uploaded. >> That that's on me. I should have I was I didn't tell Jen to get it in there. Aaron gave that to me and so uh it didn't get to there until later. So I apologize it didn't get in. Yep. We'll give that to both towns as well, too. Just so everyone knows, we'll give it to both uh April and to Jeff. Yep. Um so you have also in uh everything you have a uh budget report. Um you will notice I think the biggest thing to notice is both of the elementary schools appear to be in a negative um whereas Tonto is in a very positive situation. This has to do with some of how uh health insurance was allocated in the past and we sort

087of carried over when we were sort of moving from 25 to 26. Um for 27, I'm readjusting just as I did the budget. I'm readjusting all of those allocations, so they will allocate properly. At the end of the day, um you know, we really have one big pool of money, right? And it all comes from the same place. But, um I'm trying to be true. Um the other thing I want you to to be really clear about is that I have um manually encumbered um all of the salaries here. So, you will see in the notes, um 12-month employees have four payrolls remaining. I met with Patty and made sure that I was clear on exactly how many payrolls remain um remaining. Um and there's a factor of 0.154 built into the encumbrance for that

088based on sort of the salary projections. Um school year employees, so teachers predominantly, but paras and a few other folks, um have eight payrolls. So, their payroll, we sort of accrue payroll for them and continue paying them over the summer. Their pay cycle basically goes from September through August. So, I know it seems a little confusing, so you have to look at both separately. So, I've gone through very tediously gone through all uh every sort of grouping of salaries and tried to apply those factors. Um it should slightly over-encumber. So, so I tried to be conservative. So, I'd rather over-encumber and assume we have less than assume we have more. So, we do have some teachers who receive 22 paychecks. And that means that their pay is a little more front-loaded. So, with all of

089that in mind, um I I think this is a pretty reasonable conservative assessment. Um I have encumbered a few other things like legal manually just to make sure that, you know, we're we're giving as accurate a representation as possible. Otherwise, encumbrances, you know, typically fall in the system. I think as I shared before, and I think we have some new members, uh because we use Harper's payroll, it's separate from our accounting system, it does not encumber payroll. So, in order to get a an accurate picture, you would have to sort of manually encumber that. Um and and encumbering just means assuming um the amounts are sort of carrying forward, right? So, assuming we're going to continue paying everyone, and we should, but I hope that's what we will end up paying by the end of

090the year. So, I feel like, you know, at this point, uh having uh that sort of district total of $1.3 million remaining um puts us in a pretty good place. Um we're solid, um especially with payroll encumbered. Any questions on that? I'm happy you can email me anytime, you can call me anytime. Uh we can look at any numbers, it's not a problem. Uh pardon my voice, I'm at the very end of a cold, and um I'm trying to keep hydrated and um keep my voice, but it doesn't it's not bothering me that much. Um the last item pertains to adult meal prices. This has nothing to do with students or children in our community. Um adults um in the district, or adults who come to visit the district, um can eat um in our

091cafeterias, and they pay an adult meal price. Um we have not, at least since 2023, increased the adult meal price. I I checked with Paul, who reached back to Rob, our former director. Um and we haven't increased it, so it seems like on a percentage basis, it's a large increase, but keep in mind transportation, food prices, things like that are all scaling upwards. And as I say in the memo, this still represents a really, really good deal for people from not just a cost basis, but a convenience basis, right? You get your right here, you don't have to call DoorDash and things like that. You can just go to the cafeteria and pick up a meal. So, Aaron, just for the public, it's going from what figure to what figure? Say again? It's going from

092what dollar figure now to a dollar figure for next year? >> Oh, yes, I'm sorry. We're going from $5.25 to $6 is the request. And And I got to tell you, they're providing a Paul Fourier, our new nutrition director, does an incredible job. I mean, the lunches that he's providing at the high school as well as at the elementary schools, he's doing some really good things. So, we're really excited to have him join our be a part of our team. When did you start? So, Rob left Rob didn't leave, by the way. He just moved in terms of um He got a promotion. He got a promotion, yeah. He Yes, with the Whitsons. Yeah. So, Paul moved to a bigger school district through Whitsons, and Rob came and joined us Paul Fourier, but he's done

093an incredible job, so we're really fortunate. He's been doing the stuff that we do for our meals here as well too, as well as even for strategic plan as well too. So, he's been providing some nice meals for our students and our staff. So, it was like a month ago or spring? Oh, no. September. Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, about a year. Yeah. Yeah, Paul's been with us for almost Yeah, I I think we >> policy needs to be updated with his address, email address. Okay. Just FYI. Okay. Yeah, [clears throat] I'm Yeah. We'll take care of that. >> Sorry, just a reminder. No, that's okay. No. I thought I introduced you guys to him. I'm sorry about that. >> I think we talked about it. Yeah. I think when he asked some people that were

094here at a certain time might have been bringing food in or taking food out before or after a meeting. Yeah, sorry about that. >> So, Aaron, you're looking for us to vote on this increase? >> Yeah, we would need to vote. All all costs and fees need to be approved by the school committee. And this is for next year, Aaron? This is for Yes, this starts in fiscal '27. So, it start at the start of the next school year. And this kind of mirrors the increase in food costs? Say again? [clears throat] This mirrors the increase in food costs? Yes. Yes. For $6, you got a pretty You can't Yeah. Uh can I have a motion please that the Berlin and Boylston Regional School Committee vote to adjust the district's adult meal price from $5.25

095to $6 per meal effective July 1st, 2026. So moved. Lisa. Second. Beth. Discussion on that? All right, all in favor? Aye. Aye. Anyone against? All right, the motion passes. Aaron, thank you. >> Thanks, Aaron. Thank you all very much. I'm done, right? Yep. Yeah. >> [laughter] >> Thank you. Yeah. Uh Al Rich is coming up. Yep. Mr. Cameron. Yep. So, just real quick, there's a couple of stipend proposals that have been put into the drive for you guys to review. Um these are going to be kicked back down to uh teacher to the union to take a look at the uh for a memorandum of understanding. The cost for those three positions that are proposed there are uh pre-standard for the school district. We've done a lot of research in these in terms of comparing

096uh costs and prices based off of size, amount of testing, uh and all those pieces in terms of these um the three stipend proposals that are here are for an AP coordinator. Uh we're currently taking AP testing right now uh extending well beyond the school day that uh our employees are here working, scheduling that testing. Um there's a lot of additional coordination that goes into that um throughout the year that I that it goes beyond their job descriptions. Um mirroring that in a very similar uh the PSAT coordinator that we have there. Um and then also an activities director which has evolved uh significantly over here at Tantasqua the last several years. And we are a very busy activity-focused school. There's a lot of coordination that goes along with that for uh daily scheduling, keeping

097the calendars up to date, signing off on a lot of paperwork uh that keeps these activities up and running. So, uh this is going to go through that process uh through the union but these are pieces that it will eventually come back to you. So, this is flagging up the proposals as you would be the final approval for those. So, we're going to be asking school committee there's a negotiation um subcommittee, right, that we did for teachers and paras. Um this will be opening up the teacher contract and looking at possibility of adding these stipends. So, we'll go through that process. Um so, we'll be asking school committee to reconvene that negotiations um and and having conversations with administration, the union, and school committee. So, I have two questions. Uh is it are these We

098were just having a discussion about the budget. Would these be in the budget for FY27? They'd be looked at for possibly next year, I think. FY28? Yeah. Okay. I think they replace they replace some that aren't being used or Yeah, we would. Yeah. Yeah. We're going to do a full review of all the stipends, but we would we do that annually. Yeah. And we we've been doing that a little bit actually. We've been meeting with a committee, myself and Aaron and Lisa and there's a group of us that are getting together with the union and looking at positions and titles and um there's a lot of stipends we need to re- be revisiting and seeing which ones that still are in place, which ones that we're not using, and even the verbiage on and of

099them just really need to be looked at. So, that's the work we're going to do. So, we want to make sure you see this ahead of time, but it will all be part of the process of looking at stipends for looking to find ways to find some additional funding or replace some with the others. So, this is FY28 or what? Right now, for next year. Well, I would have defined next year as two budgets away, 26-27 school year or 27-28. >> So, to be completely I mean, the people are already doing this work outside of their job description this school year and working past their work day. So, this would be it's part of the process. Does have to go through the union, but we will look at this possibly for the next school year

100as we look at additional stipends and we'll see what works and what doesn't. We'll we'll see in terms of like those those cost effects. Just like to point out that the cost of these three positions is 3,841. And I mean, I misspoke. Sorry. The stipend is 3,750 and 0.05 FTE of band was 3841. He's looking to swap. Yeah, these are we're not looking to add to Okay, but that's I think not I mean, could that be in the motion then? There's there's no motion. that we can clean up. There's no motion. They said they will vote on it later, but if there's stipends in there that we're not using that are in the budget, we should be cleaning that stuff up because then we can use that money. That's what this is all about. role

101might be a way of preventing in the future having clubs that are in stipends that aren't being used, right? That original that role of organizing will hopefully eliminate extraneous clubs and stuff that aren't actually running being budgeted for. Aaron, you got something to say? So, I think what you know, what Al is proposing is is a process I've done in the past working with say principals to look at all of the stipends. So, there's was a policy in our prior district that if a stipend if a student activity stipend was not used for say 2 years, it was a the principal would eliminate it, right? And you couldn't have a new stipend until that club had been active for 2 years, right? So, there's always that window. Um we can have that conversation about looking

102at what stipends might not be needed next year, what stipends might move around based on Rich's experience of this year, and what students have been interested in um this year. I mean, right now, agreed, this is not budgeted. >> No. And and and the conversation about these three stipends has just begun. But what we'd like to do is just continue that, look at those stipends, and see which are which are priorities for next year. Are there activity clubs and things like that with dwindling numbers or that that just aren't more active this year, and what we might take off the table, and then we would bring that to the union and back to the school committee for eventual approval as almost like an MOU into the union and into the union. But we need school

103committee member to be part of that negotiation process, right? When we're opening up what we're basically doing is opening up the contract again and looking at all this. So, um we we really we should have um we're just seeing some of these stipends that we we we need to revisit. So, would we be able to do this at both of the elementary schools, too, and see if there is money in there that >> There Yeah. We Yes. >> We had some clubs that like we had a comic book club. I don't think we do that at Boyle Street Elementary. So, there's 700 and something dollars Yeah. Yeah. We did something with that. We did something with that. We did something with that. We did that this year. We changed that to an art club, but

104there was like a kindness club. >> Right. And there was other clubs that maybe they don't Yeah. So, I think we should look at that because if Jessica's saying it's like four grand to bring back or you know, like we're talking couple thousand dollars if we clean so I didn't realize I thought we had done this. So if I I get it. I remember Nancy had brought this >> Yeah, Megan we did it earlier in the year where we'll give us a list of stipends and clubs and we re- reallocated them however that was, right? But yeah, to answer your question Megan, we're going to do that at all all both elementary schools, the high school cuz it's all part of the teachers union, all part of contracts. But if there's extra money are we

105and we don't have clubs to reallocate we'll be able to use it for vital budget items? Well, this this is a contract issue, right? So it's a stipend in the contract to use for a certain stipend, right? Not a salary. So if you're looking at re-evaluating those they are budgeted because they're in the contract. You're just looking to allocate them differently than what the contract says. So it's a little different. It's not like we can just say, oh well, we don't have an athletic event coordinator. So let's use that for the elementary school. It's And we need to be careful because everything that is is a stipend position is in the contract right now. So we have to work with the union and for them to say, okay. So all these got to be conversations

106cuz right now in their contract some of these statements exist. So where we're at this point tonight is like these are things we're looking at. We're going to open up the an MOU to start talking with the union and that hopefully maybe next year looking at the elementary as well, too, that we might be able to add these in cuz the work's being done and be able to take off some others with hopefully cost neutral. I'm just curious that the totals for the same thing are are different numbers at the bottom of the AP coordinator and the PSAT coordinator. I don't know if I'm misreading that somehow. You're seeing two different numbers for the PSAT At the very bottom. Yeah, so like total stipend for AP and PSAT is 2250 and then on PSA it

107says 3000. On the third page in the bottom, it totals it up to 3000 instead of Yeah, so these numbers themselves we have looked into compared with comps. There was an initial thing that was shared in the school community live. We've gone back and took a look at that and in terms of what we have finally comparable, we compared to the amount of AP tests and how that how that operates. In short, there is differentiation because there's less work within the PTA PSATs in terms of I think this is just a I'm just a Yeah, so there's a there's a typo in there. >> match, that's what I'm saying. I'm not questioning your reimbursement levels. So, no, it's it's all right. So, there's a type there is a typo in the the math there, Rich,

108but >> Regardless, the the message that you're sending is that you're reevaluating what's in there, looking to discuss it with the union. And we already have an MOU with them, which Looking at work job postings where where there's a quite a group of us that I do on this work. It's it's a lot of work, by the way, just doing it looking at all this stuff, but it's certainly something that Bill Whitehead and the union is working with us on. So, we'll get back to you on more updates on this as well. I see what you're saying, Jess, on this. Okay, yeah. But, it's just a While you're having that conversation, is it worth having a conversation about VES if >> [clears throat] >> they would consider re- if the union would be considered But,

109the clubs aren't in the contract, so I don't know why Mike said that. The clubs are something totally different. They're not >> I didn't say that. I said the stipends stipends. I don't think that they have stipends in the elementary schools. I Yeah, so I think we've got a huge list of clubs. I don't think we've reviewed it this year. We had it in the past. There's definitely money, but is that student activity funds that we can't use for other I have no idea. I like we had a garden club. We had like a I don't know how those work. So, we need some guidance from Aaron on that, but there was money that's budgeted and set aside for some of that stuff. It might be better to We're just talking about stipends here. I

110know you guys are talking about clubs, but we're just >> I kind of like pivoted it off of that because I realized that we thought oh, we might have stuff budgeted that we're not using when you when you brought up the point of there might be stipends budgeted that we're not using. I thought about what about clubs? I don't know if there's stipends in the elementary level. >> Didn't Didn't you when we met last time, didn't you give us a list of you know, it was $100 here, $500 there. You You went through all those lines and all those accounts that weren't being used, didn't you? You talked to me both of you. What's the question? >> When we last met, you gave us an entire list of you know, you you cut $100 here,

111$500 there. Those were all lines of things that weren't being used or hadn't been used in a while, didn't you? Yeah, I I mean Yeah, I mean we're talking about line items and yeah, I mean the challenge is you know, in any given year we have one account our budget is built on sort of an aggregate, right? So, we we have one line item call it you know, lighting repairs. We'll be under budget a little bit, but boiler repairs will be a little bit above and all of those things kind of balance out. Um I mean I budgeted for all of the current stipends. If we're talking just stipends, I budget by I don't know offhand what's in the contract and or the budget in this moment for elementary stipends per se, um but we

112do have you know, existing list of stipends. Clubs. Clubs. What about the Yeah, and everything in the contract is budgeted for 427. It's what I'm working on right now. The clubs, too? Um no. The I don't know those the clubs for the elementary. [clears throat] I'm working on the contract stipends. >> There's no stipends There's no stipends in the elementary clubs. >> Like yes, the band and chorus concert, the art show, the fifth grade orient- fifth grade orientation, kindergarten orientation. So, there are stipend positions that are in the contract. >> be like I need But stipends are salaries, Eric, right? Stipends are in the in the teachers' contract. Stipends are salaries. Clubs, you could have a garden club that they're raising money for to buy the plants, to buy the soil, to buy the art

113supplies. >> Or I thought that if they wanted to do a club, we would allocate money for them. Like I know in the past they've come for like the kids have come and The cooking club. Right, they Right, we allocate We don't allocate money We don't allocate stipends for the No, stipends are in the contract. But you might do a stipend for the teacher who may lead it. And we might do a stipend They raise their own money. If they want to make crepes, they need to raise their own money for flour and oil So, they fundraise That's right. That's the club. Didn't we have like a craft club and we said we'd allocate $700 and something dollars for craft? >> A walk club? Like I thought we had a There was a craft club.

114I I I I don't remember off hand. I'm We're getting into John But you know what? I I don't want to comment on stuff >> Yeah, John John, why don't you say something? Let me just toss in a little history. Um several years ago, um we used to have student activities all in one And the finance director at the time said you can't do that. It's got to be by class. So, in Ferndale, we took that money, we parceled it out, and it was our way of saving for natural science. So, our kids pay a lot of money. In Boylston, they they took a bunch of clubs and paid people out of student activity funds. Yeah. So, it's not a stipend. It's not something that you're in control. It's not part of the budget. That

115student activity money is almost exclusively the money we get from photography. Photographers come in, they take everybody's picture, we get a cut of the sales. And that's where the student activity funds come from. When they get older, right, the kids fund raise and do all these things. They got a lot of kids. It has to stay with the class. That's how it has to stay. Yes, it's like what people pay for field trips, it all goes into that bucket and then you pay the one bill. Hopefully that's pretty close. I'm just doing it like a yearbook right now. So if we just So what Rich is presenting tonight is possibly stipends that we're looking for these positions. We're going to reopen negotiations with our union, with school committee start looking at those stipends and possibly

116this could be We're looking to say some stipends we might not need or use anymore, but these are ones that we know we need and we're hoping to make it cost neutral for next year. We will get back to you on that. All right. Thanks, Rich. Thank you. Um one member of the public joined since we had our last public public comment. Is there any public comment to be made? Um Yes. Um I just was taking some notes cuz my computer died. Um just when you guys were talking about the optics of of changing things after the fact. Um I personally agree that whether or not you have good or bad intentions, it just optically looks deceptive. Um I think you guys do a lot of complex and complicated things and I don't think it's

117easy to explain to the public. Um so that that is a little bit of conundrum. Um I think we also ask parents to come out and advocate for bringing these things back. And when a decision is made, they're sort of like, "Okay." And then, you know, something changes after the fact and I think that also can serve and still some mistrust as to what's going on with the money. So, you know, I think you do really have to consider you know, once you guys have sort of decided on a budget, if you go and do things after the fact that those those can have some real um trustee implications. Um And again, honestly, it's very hard to explain what you guys were just talking about to to lay people. Um Moving things around cuz we

118have it, it's obviously a you know, you're right to do that, but explaining that to people who don't get that is very hard. Um as far as using cash for certain things, um I would hope that everyone considers data that you've gathered, right? I know we did a band survey. I know we've done We've had feedback from parents about the trustee counselor. We just want to make sure that conversations that the group has are focused on specific data and feedback that you've gotten, um as opposed to what people sort of think should come back. Um I My kids went through the band. Um some some liked it, some didn't. But I think, you know, it might be time to ask parents, "Hey, if we had money, what kind of extracurricular or what kind of like

119special would you want? Maybe we want a STEAM you know, extracurricular. Maybe kids are more interested in engineering and robotics. It's an art, it's science. Maybe kids want a musical theater option, right? Like I had drama. That was a big part of my high school experience. Um and even in, you know, middle school we had it. So, I think it's admirable to want to keep arts, but I also think it's important to be engaging with parents in the community to understand when we make these cuts, you know, taking a step back and re-looking like, "Well, maybe we should ask people what they want, right?" Instead of just going back and saying, "Well, we're going to keep banning. We want to keep banning. We want to keep banning." I think there's some merit there. Um the

120override to what Megan was talking about, starting to promote that made me very nervous when you guys started talking about not talking about until September. Um I get who can't be involved and who can be involved, but I really think there needs to be some thought behind the collaboration between the towns and the school committee. Um maybe think about like what can we bring to that meeting they're going to have? They're going to have it whether you guys want to have it or not. Um so, maybe think about what you could bring to that meeting. Um obviously numbers and specifics don't really help at this early stage. We don't have them. It's not probably not valuable to talk about specifics, but um you guys haven't even seen the strategic plan yet. That is going to

121involve a large investment. Um so, I don't know if that's going to be ready. Maybe some macro themes from that could be shared with the Board of Selectmen. I don't know. I just I do think it's it's worth thinking about. Um I think that was a good question. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. So, for future agenda items, we have the strategic plan on here. We have the uh meeting with Boylston. Anything else? I'm going to Jen and I are going to reach out to MASC. Right. But we're meeting on June 9th and we want to meet on June 1st. >> [clears throat] >> Mhm. Perfect. So, are we not meeting on June 1st? June 1st is not going to work. For not for the school side. Okay. >> [clears throat] >> Another day in

122June, maybe? But June 1st isn't going to work. If that meeting still happens, should someone go and listen? I mean, it's an open meeting, so we can all go as anyone can go. I'm going to I also recommended not to have a quorum at this meeting. That's not a good idea. So, yeah, if you want to go. We'll I mean, we'll see how it plays out. It's a few weeks away. I mean, it's an open meeting. You can watch from home as well. Yeah. Yeah, it will be a It will be a select board meeting. Yeah, it's an open meeting. Select board at 6. I think it's 4:30. No, no, but the full select board is going to be there, so it will be a select board. He proposed it. Yeah, he's It's going to

123be posted. They'll be in the job. Yeah. But nobody will be We will not Nobody will be authorized to make these votes, but I don't think it matters. >> [clears throat and cough] >> I don't know. We'll listen. Yeah, I mean, the email came yesterday. I talked to Brent today. So, there's still some time to figure something out. Yeah. Um all right. First business item is the school calendar. I have a motion to approve the FY27 school committee meeting dates. Not the school calendar, the school committee calendar. So moved. Uh Lisa? Beth? Okay. This will probably take some discussion, yeah? Anybody have any opinions, thoughts? Were they double-checked for being Tuesdays? I believe so. Jen, you you put this together for us, yeah? Yeah. Yeah. We did. The November 10th one is the day of

124no school. Is that I think we had this We discussed this when we did the school calendar. Also, MASC conference is that to generally When is it this year? I don't know. I highly recommend everyone to go. It's a good learning experience. >> [clears throat] >> No, it's the 4th. So, MASC is 4, 5, 6. >> Yeah. They changed MASC. Isn't it like in Danvers next year? It's still the Cape. Oh, they didn't know they moved Danvers. Danvers. Yeah, so it's not in the Cape next year. So, more likely to be Danvers, you could go like for the day. You don't have to stay overnight. So, I mean, that's kind of like a game changer for some people. You said it's the 4th? 4th, 5th, 6th. Are these all Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.? If we

125voted that way. I'm fine with that. I would again encourage 5:30 so people could at least get out of work with the hope of getting here for I'm fine with 5:30 too, but I I don't know. Hard to do this. I feel like we're making a schedule again. Let's put it in and I feel like the new superintendent should look at it and decide what works for him and us. So, I mean, not for nothing. You know what I mean? Scheduling is part of that open meeting law complaint that we got results on today, so you know, you're you're you're suggesting that it's hard to plan out that far in advance, right? No. Especially with the superintendent, but it's generally second Tuesday. >> might have a meeting and be thinking about Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m.

126He might be like, "Oh, I have something with my family at that time." Is that are these set in stone like I don't know. Nothing's set in stone. Nothing's set in stone. So, I mean, I get that we want to put something on the calendar now so we have it, but I mean, we're not meeting at all in the summer. Our first meeting is September 8th. We're not meeting before school starts. Do you want to have an August meeting? I think we should. Especially with the new superintendent starting. I would think we'd want one in July. I mean, I would think we would meet with him right when he starts. Yeah. I've never met him. Yes, you have. Oh, you have You weren't at the union >> not. Yeah, you didn't interview. I did not

127interview. I was at the meet and greet. I left that meeting before. What do you think? We can vote for the dates and not vote time on it. Why don't we instead of voting tonight as we just talked about adding it, why don't we add the meeting at the end of the I think we definitely need We usually meet like before school starts like the week before or whatever. >> Mhm. So, when does school start? August 26th? We We had it So, last year we had it for that date and that was the first day of school and it was recommended not to do it because that would >> could do it the week before. uh a crazy day, right? Yeah. We said we do it the week before. So, we kind of have it

128up there. Something like that. So, you're looking at August 18th? No, it'll be uh like the 24th or something. Oh, no, that's the week before. >> is the Tuesday before the first day is the 26th, right? Wednesday 26th. So, we could either meet on Tuesday, August 18th. But, I So, the August dates are going to be tough for everybody, right? Cuz they've got things going on, but what do you want to do? Could be Zoom. Or >> But, the the Do you want to meet in July when Dr. Conway starts? I I don't know. We We should We should, right? We probably should, but here's the thing is tough to schedule that with him right now because he's not officially an employee, right? So, we could uh revisit this in June, talk to him about

129a July date. I'm I'm up for anything. What do you like? I mean, we can have a tentative date. So, he's due to We're going to meet next week. We have an all day he's coming in with me. Um so, how about if I put Are you guys comfortable if we just I bring this to him? Or do you guys want to vote on something now? I'm fine with it, but in the past sometimes like meetings have just appeared on my calendar without consent and like Yeah. I mean, it's fine like if I'm on vacation, I'm on vacation, but I would like to meet the new superintendent. So, if I'm fine with you discussing it with him, but then could somebody put it out and say, "Hey, does this date work for you guys?" before

130we just kind of like pull the trigger on scheduling it. I don't know if that's too much to ask. What do you mean What do you mean meetings just magically appear on your calendar without your consent? The last executive session just appeared. Which one? >> about the time. 30th at 6:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. Which one was that for? The last >> The last executive session was April 30th. Yeah. I That was pre-approved. >> in another country. You weren't in the country. I think it was based on when those days were people other people were available. >> Yeah. I didn't find out until I don't know when. But I think there was an unusual circumstance. Yeah. Are we talking about that last executive session? Yeah. We just need to be careful, but that was due

131to the people that were at executive session when they could make it. Yeah. Okay. Any others? I just want to make sure that nobody was asked on the time. I found out Yeah. I mean, you know, there's like a quorum thing, too. Let me Let me be clear. We We didn't go We didn't [laughter] We weren't given the time, either. We That was just a time that was given to us. We didn't We didn't negotiate any time. Since we're all here, can we throw out some possible dates that do work for people so instead of doing like a Uh for the whole year or summer? >> July and August. July? So, July 14th would be the second Tuesday. That's typically the day we would do it. Jen, you know what? I think you have his

132calendar pages. So, there's a conference for superintendents that week in July that they I just got to see when that is for MASS. Mhm. >> Uh You said the 14th? July 14th. Did you say 20th? She said the 20th. We will not be available. Right will be available. You will not be available. Yeah. All right. About 20th. >> What about the uh the 21st? I'm not That's our admin retreat date. How about the 7th? 7th 27th? Of July? I mean it's right after July 4th, so that kind of sucks, but This is the drive. I don't know if it matters, but I would like to meet then. All right. How about it on Tuesday? You think the 28th is too far out? 28th of July? 28th of July, yeah. Uh yeah, I didn't even throw

133that out there just how about that date? I can do that. What was it again? July 28th. I was found that day. Okay. How about the 15th Is that whole week of the 14th no good? Correct. That's correct. Mhm. All right, how about the uh 8th or 9th? Of July? Yeah. July. The 8th is my birthday. Yeah, okay. >> [laughter] >> The 9th? Yeah. So, that week Jen's not here that whole week. >> That whole week Jen's not here? How about the week of the 20th? How about the week of the 20th? >> What days I'm away that week. Okay. Do the 9th. Is this I'm sorry, is this going to be a virtual or is this an in-person? It should be an in-person if we want to meet the superintendent, right? >> need to

134meet the superintendent. Yeah. Okay, yeah. We have like 5 minutes. So, July 9th everyone's available, but Jen will not be here. Is that true? Jackie, are you available? Is that what I should be available on the 9th, July 9th. Sorry, Jen. You'll be here the week before though to do the agenda, right? Which is July 4th weekend. Right. I'm not sure. Uh uh yes. So what So the other part is our admin is on vacat- There's a lot of admin on vacation that week. So if you're looking to have principals and directors that Are you looking just for a meet and greet with Brett? No, I think it just needs to be school committee and the superintendent. Okay. Okay. Not the admin team unless they want to. I mean, if you guys We're not having

135a meeting. Yeah, you guys can But I don't think we need presentations. I think it No. I mean >> This this is this is to simply start the conversation with the new superintendent who's starting that week, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you're doing an admin retreat. Could we instead of a meeting do a retreat? No, he has an admin retreat. The new Well, I guess you'll be there cuz you'll be consulting. Yes, I guess that was a general question. >> Wasn't Like instead of like a meeting, I mean, in the past with the superintendent we've done a retreat for like lunch or dinner. Yeah, that's fine. I mean, we still got to find a date that works though. Yeah, but we can do that but it's not If you're not going to meet >>

136to think about it until June? We do have a June meeting. Yeah, and then maybe we'll get a better idea with um Let me talk to Let me talk to Dr. Conway uh next week and maybe he wants to coordinate with the chairman with school committee and do a retreat. Let me Cuz he's This is his brand new as superintendent. So I think that might be getting some input from him. >> a current motion there. So we'll table that motion until June? I mean, could we put July TBD and August TBD just as like a placeholder to alert people that there will possibly be meetings during those times? Sure. Just so it doesn't hit anyone by surprise. >> Yep. So Jen will >> Jen, put a July TBD on the website, please. And then August

137as well. >> Yeah. >> [clears throat] >> Just uh right under the the calendar for next year, July date TBD. Underneath the school committee calendar. But But we're not voting on this. Oh, we're not? >> So, we're not But Jen, we're not voting on it today, but we are. >> any plans those days, so put it in your calendar. >> [clears throat] >> It was July 9th? No. I I think we're going to talk to Dr. Conway next week and see what dates he might be available cuz if he does want to do a retreat, to your point, that you you can't have him start on July 1st and plan a retreat cuz he's still Sorry. So, before we put any dates of July 9th, Jackie, and it just like if you're having a new

138superintendent starting July 1st, he's still employed at this other district until June 30th. For him to plan a retreat, you you got you can't be able to do a >> thinking more of meet and greet, Jackie. So, meet and greet different, but I'm hearing retreat, so to pull a retreat off in >> No, no, no, no. He doesn't need to plan anything. I think it would be nice to meet informally with him and have conversations and I'm sure that'll be on our own responsibility over the summer for if he's interested to talk, you know, have a like you did, I think >> Yeah, I think that's he's going to want to do that. Yep. And that's fine, but it might be worthwhile to have 30 minutes with him to just say hi, you know, this

139is my name, this is something about me. Just like to get to know each other. Like it doesn't have to be a retreat, but it's more of like a informal >> Yep. conversation. Um whether it has I don't know again the laws, like does it have to be an open meeting? Do we have to film it? Does somebody have to take minutes? If we're just hi, this is who I am. We're going to be working together for the next however many years. So, I'll be with him next week. I'll talk to him about what what works out best for him. He might want to do individual meetings with you guys. Great to schedule that at central office or here or maybe somewhere off or maybe he does have a plan for Can you guys all

140just give us until next week when I'm meeting with him and get some feedback from him. Sure. That work for everybody? I I don't want to speak for him. I want to be respectful to him. Thanks, Al. All right. Uh then moving on to the next two business items are the scholarships. Beth, do you want to talk about that before we uh motion that? Um I have the Luzerne County scholarship. We are awarding $22,245 to Berlin students this year. There's Ken, there's Duncan, they were all eligible. They will all receive a scholarship based on different tiers. Um this year it's 50% graduating seniors, 50% kids that are already in college. It's a great scholarship. It's always impresses me when I look at them to see how you can really piece together with small local scholarships

141and make college so much more affordable. And Matt feeling when here, but it's it's really important for the kids to apply for these local scholarships. They they mean a lot to the people that put them together as a memorial for their family member a lot of times. Um it's sad to see cases where you know, people stop applying for them when it was, you know, made for a loved one and these is the what what we're giving out I consider since they're actually small scholarships and you can really stack them and pay for a majority of your college year with these scholarships. So I would just encourage everyone to continue looking locally for scholarships. And that's Do we have to vote? Yes. Yes. Um So we'll take the Mary Hoffman award first. First, can I

142have a motion, please, to approve the Mary Hoffman award to 25 dollar gift certificates to be awarded at the BMS fifth grade recognition ceremony. So moved. Lisa? Yes. Beth? Anybody? I think this is not what I was talking about with a significant small >> [laughter] >> This is something to This is fifth grade. Yes. It still means a lot to the people that are giving them the bike, right? It's important. Yeah. All in All in Aye. Anyone against? Beth, did you have something to say about that one? I'm sorry, I went out No, that one's fine. Okay. Uh can I have a motion, please, to approve the Moses Reed Tyler scholarships? So moved. Jess? Second. Lisa? Any questions on this one? Just a comment. Beth Menzie does some really great work putting this together. It's

143not easy organizing that, running things off, doing it all. So, just want to make sure we acknowledge the work that she >> Jess and you and Mr. Meriani are the ones that meet together. They go through all of the scholarships and they like rank them and they tier them and >> Yeah, it's a lot of work. >> every year and it's really nice of them. So, thank you. Thank you. All in favor? Aye. Anyone against? Okay, that uh that motion passes as well. Uh again, upcoming meeting June 9th. Could I have a motion, please, to adjourn this meeting? So moved. Then, Jackie? Jackie? Beth? You never hear me. Any comments on that? Just a reminder graduations June 7th. You all got formal invitations to go to it. Um at 2:00 at Tahanto. Um so, we're

144we're very excited. We have how many? 70? About 70? About 70 students that are graduating from, which is the work that we [clears throat] do every single day here in this school committee to make sure those kids are walking across the stage. Um so, you'll all be officially invited. It's 7:00 June 7th at 2:00 p.m. Thank you. All right. Thank you. All in favor? Aye. Anyone against? We're adjourned. Thank you. Thanks, everybody. Thank you.