001Good. >> All right, let's call this meeting of the Bron Bar regional school committee to order. Please stand for the pledge of >> allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thanks everybody. Tonight we have Tracy Novak with us from MASC to talk about the superintendent the superintendent search process. >> Yes. >> Moving forward. >> I had Thank you, Mr. Chair. I I felt like I it had been a while since I had actually been with you all. Although I, as you'll see, spent a significant amount of time in the district recently. Um, but it was last last time I was with you was actually in May. Um, so what I've given you um
002that you have in front of you on paper at this point, this um once you've done some editing, you will obviously have things electronically. um is first of all the brochure we're putting together for you, right? Which is what this piece of paper looks like. Um the the you are still completing one part of it here this evening. So, just so you know, um, but it does have all the information that several of you actually were, um, kind enough to start to put together and Laura was a driving force behind that, but there was also a lot of work that happened in the administration and so forth. Um, that actually has, you know, an outline of what the district is. Um, the selection criteria is actually what you're going to be selecting tonight. Has the
003information about the timeline that you've already established. um lovely little picture looking to haunted and uh the application process as well as the description of the community sounds. Okay, so that's a fairly standard um format that we use um for all of our searches so that people actually not only get an idea of what the position is but where it is that they potentially would be going. the report that um is the two staple pages that are behind you um is what we're going to be reviewing um at some depth this evening which then is what um gives the draft selection criteria that's already on the brochure but obviously that is subject to your approval this evening. So the because you started as early as you did, you essentially were able to, as we spoke
004of last May, launch the search at the same time that you launched the school year. Um, which I think is a is a nice way of doing it. Um, everybody sort of, you know, getting into gear at the same time. It's a lot of communication that's going home and so you were able to take advantage of that. So you did launch your survey um the first week of school. Also um as part of the back to school sessions that the faculty had here at Tahanto together this year um all faculty participated even before school started um in a joint input session and also were um made familiar with the timeline so they actually know how things are working. Both elementary PTO's held sessions for parents and there was also a session that was offered here
005at Tonto. um both all of that happening in September. I did also spend um all of really the school day of September 16th in the district uh meeting first with central administration and sort of everybody in the central administration offices um in most cases one-on-one and then also meeting with the principles and then here at Tanto with the assistant principles as well. And then um on September 15th um we did something which I have not done before. Um, usually I do look for student input as part of the session. I think it's actually a really um important aspect of um perspective on what you're looking for. And um we actually I actually spent all three lunches in this room um and had a great hype squad out during lunch. Um the administration was fantastic in
006terms of as students were finishing eating, they were encouraged to come in and actually give feedback. I've never had the number of students actually give in um input to a superintendent search as what you all had. Um and let me just encourage you that in general they were very enthusiastic about giving feedback. Um and I think that it can be easy to assume that all student feedback is going to be about and yes there's some of this about things like you know whether or not there's enough junior parking and whether or not there's particular kinds of food in the cafeteria. Yep. Absolutely. Um but there also was some as you'll see as we go through this some um input that I think you'll find useful both in terms of your larger um job and also
007in terms of the superintendent search itself. So the graph we have for you on the front page is just the people who completed the online survey over the course of the time that we had it open. There were 86 people who completed the survey. The vast majority of them as you see there were parents. Um not really surprising. It's an easy way for parents to actually give feedback. Just keep in mind that everything that I share with you here is not only based on the survey, it's also based on all the other input sessions that we ran over the course of the time, including with faculty and with staff and students. Um, I did think though that the word cloud that when when the question was asked, what are the strengths of the Wilston Regional
008Public Schools? Um, which of course was asked really to everybody who gave input that the word cloud um that you see there before you actually gives a good perspective on what was true regardless of who I asked. um community came up over and over and over and over again. It came up with the faculty repeatedly came up with the students repeatedly um far and away um part of what you know I heard from from um families in terms of you know things like why they choose to send their students here. So um that I think is something that's actually really important for you to know. The schools themselves are seen as supportive positive communities for students to be growing in. Um the staff is very positive about their own community of who they work with.
009Um there was more than one teacher who spoke about you know why they choose to teach here is because of the people they get to ch teach with and that they feel supported in that. Um and really the larger community is seen as supporting the schools um and being also a supportive place for families and for students. Um so that is um you something for you to know in terms of a strength that you're among other things going to kind of bring to the table for people who might want to apply here. Um just did want to comment a couple of things that students really appreciated. Um it's one of the first times that I've seen students make sure that teaching was something that people understood they saw as a strength which it itself is
010a pretty um articulate thing for them to note. They did appreciate the breath of both um coursework here at the high school and extracurriculars, although there was also a request for more of both. Um in fact, the very first word I saw go up in the positive board because I do keep an eye on those things was art in terms of a district strength. I thought that was useful. Uh there's a lot of appreciation for the work that's been going on in terms of communication and again this was something that was true across the various groups. Um so that you know certainly families were appreciating that but also that was feedback that was coming in from faculty and from staff. Um in terms of other things that that the district clearly sees moving forward and
011as works in progress. So that was one um the work that's been going on at central administration in terms of reorganization and restructuring. Um professional development and you'll see this sort of show up on both a strength and a weakness because it's seen as developing. Um there was a lot of appreciation. I mean the faculty was doing this on the day they actually had professional development. So it was fresh in their mind. Um but for there to be some attention paid to this not feeling like something that was sort of put together at the last minute but was something that was actually structurally appropriate part of what was going on um across the thing. And then also ongoing work that I know that you all are all part of in terms of making sure this
012really functions as a single district and not as three separate schools that happen to have the same administration. And that's, you know, that's something that's true of any district that is kind of working, you know, recently fully regionalized. That's something that we see very commonly. Um, but there is appreciation that that's not something that magically happens. Um, and that that's work that's going on. And I did want to mention, and again, this is something that was fresh in their mind because of when I was doing the input, but the students um at Tahanto are very enthusiastic about food here. Um, I've never seen food mentioned so many times in terms of a positive. And in particular, there is an enormous amount of enthusiasm for the orange chicken here at Toronto. Um, I don't wouldn't want
013to refer to it as ballot stepping, but there was definitely an organized effort to make sure that was known. I had already shared that with the school nutrition staff because I thought they should know right away, but I wanted to make sure that you knew that as well because those are important parts of a day, too. in terms of the work to be done. I've kind of already mentioned this, but there's definitely a recognition and I know this is something that you all are sensitive to as well that essentially there was there was a lot of things that needed to happen and those things are happening but those things aren't necessarily going to come to completion right away. So everything from the work that's been going on in central office, the work that's been going
014on around the budget, um the work that's been going on in terms of making sure the professional development relates to the needs of the faculty and of the district um incorporates all staff including pair of professionals and again that creation of a single school district um is all things that are happening and are ongoing. Um something that can be easy to um not know about unless you're in the position of it is um creation of protocols. So standard protocols for things like hiring and that kind of thing um is work that is currently being done by administration. Um it's not all the way there. That isn't something that you all you all of course the policy end right you create your policies and the administration does the protocols. Um it is seen as something that
015is happening. it's still a work in progress and they're getting there. Um so that I think is important for you to know. Um that will you'll see that carry over in terms of then what you need for the the person who's going to assume the superintendency. Um couple of things that student flag students flag in terms of needs ongoing um and increasing need for mental health support and for combating bullying. Um, and something that was um, specifically spelled out was that was a request for this to be about increased staff and increased staff capacity rather than we're all familiar with the sort of let's all do an assembly about being nice to each other kind of thing. And students were questioning the value of that kind of input rather than more structural kinds of input.
016um as mentioned appreciate the extracurriculars and the breath of um coursework but um interest for in particular support beyond sports and also a couple there's more than one place where I saw um a question of whether or not making sure that there is equity in terms of support for boy sports versus girls sports um and also back in the food realm um support for students who have food allergies. So in terms of um feedback again it was across all realms um there was a lot of discussion around district governance. saw this with the parents um saw this with faculty. Um saw this. You have to do some interpretation but also even saw this with students. Um the community wants to ensure that the the school committee is leading through its very specific legal role in
017terms of policy, goal setting, budget. Um that the committee operates as a body, right? You only have legal authority when you operate as a body. making sure that the day-to-day oversight of the district lies with the superintendent and the administration and the committee is working professionally together in public and elsewhere. That disagreement is principled rather than personal and that decisions that are made by the body, we all know this is a committee of struggle, but decisions that are made by the body then are supported by all members of the body regardless of what their perspective was. Um, and I just want to reflect to you that it's clear that the community understands that the work of the school committee is actually very important and the way that you do that and the governance that you
018work together as a body to um give to the district is something that they see not only ongoingly as important but particularly want to flag in terms of the search of the superintendent in part because you're obviously the public face of the district at this point, right? Um so taking that all together there then also I asked what does the district need in terms of leadership. So we've already gotten a couple of places where you've seen that flagged. Um the district is looking for a leader who's strong in their position and brave in their principles. Um strong and brave by the way came up more in more than one place but I particularly saw that from students. Uh they want to have somebody who fills that role of bridge between staff and school committee while
019being visible and active in the schools and in the community. Um they want the work of the protocols, process and budget to continue in the district office and not just sort of that's not like a that's not just a you got to do next year. It's that there is work in progress in improving practice. Um there is a perceived need for a leader who's politically savvy and experienced um to continue the relationship building that's been going on with the towns. And there's interest in the work of continuing that creation of a single district meaningfully moving forward. And then I did want to specifically note um students emphasized repeatedly the importance of having someone who supports all students. Um and this came in a couple of different ways in terms of expressions about diversity. um in
020terms of expressions about um thank you actually um in terms of um various expressions of identity. So you know that was very clear from the students. I want to make sure that was in there and then um these were all words that came up more than once as well. Um they want someone who is trustworthy, who is kind, and who's honest. So what you see then in front of you here is also what is on the the draft invitation to apply which this is my draft for you for you which is based on all of the feedback that you saw. Um the way that it gets phrased is the Berlin Royston Regional School Committee seeks um an engaged and experienced educational leader with a track record of managing the complexities and relationships among and between
021stakeholders. An excellent communicator throughout the community. A creator and sustainer of a positive culture among staff and students. A trained professional who understands and maintains the roles and relationships necessary for good district governance. A skilled negotiator able to work with municipal officials and offices, especially related to budgeting for district operations, a champion for educational excellence with a focus on the whole child, and a trustworthy, kind, professional with a heart for children. Mr. Chair, that's my report. Um, and so really what I need from you, um, happy to have to discuss this at any greater length and take any questions. Um, the one thing that I do need from the committee is a vote on the selection criteria. >> All right. Um, does anybody have any questions about the selection criteria? Comments? >> No, but I
022do think our website has an S at the end of it, but I don't think it does. BBRSD.org. >> Very important thing. Yeah, >> Mike's last name was misspelled too on the the green sheet. >> Yep. >> You're right. Thank you. Good catch. >> That guy actually exists in town. >> Oh, really? >> Yeah. >> It's funny. >> When you read the first bullet, I was kind of like I don't know. It just sounded like a lot of words to me. And then and then I thought that one of the following bullets might cover that. Um let's see. One, two, three, four. Maybe the fourth bullet potentially covers it. >> At least in part there's overlap. me. I think stakeholders is broad like par like parents maybe town you know >> staff Tracy where in
023here can we get specific about things like we we've talked about before as a committee about having someone who and the towns will talk about this too having someone who's experienced in the role not necessarily someone who's brand new to it who might come and use it as a training ground and then go on to a bigger district for bigger pay, something like that. >> So, I will say two things about that. Um, you can certainly say that you're looking for someone um something like to establish relationships in the district or um who is a long-standing um you can't really there's two things that I would say though in terms of the I would caution you about how you phrase it and how you limit things. um if you limit yourself only to people who
024actually are currently serving superintendent. The first danger is that um you won't get that many applicants. Um and that that and I say that by the way without there actually having been any searches yet this year, right? That just varies from year to year. Some some years there's a lot of superintendents who are interested in moving. Some years there are superintendents who aren't. Um the other thing is that that can attract depending on what else you post here people who are in it um for their last three um and so they're looking to boost their salary for retirement and I know that's not what you're looking for either. >> Yeah. I was my next question is how do we avoid that? >> Yes. Right. So um you can certainly so I think there's probably two
025things. I think you can try to try to figure out if you can weave some language in here. I mean, I would say that there isn't a school committee out there, however, that's looking for someone who isn't going to stay for at least a period of time. Um, so that's a pretty common phenomenon. And it's difficult to screen for that because ultimately, um, some of that is about the relationships that are established here. Um, in terms of, you know, does this become a place where somebody wants to stay and work? um what are the relationships like with certainly with you all um with the community and that sort of thing. So um you know it some of it comes through in things like trained professional things like a sustainer and so forth. Um you can
026certainly try to ask that question in an interview about whether or not you would plan to stay. Um people can say anything at that point and no one's going to tell you no I plan to leave in two years. Um, >> you'd be surprised. >> Um, I would be surprised. Yes, it's a joke. >> Not sure. >> Okay. Um, >> and partly because of that danger on the other side, >> I would be caution of that, too, because you don't want someone who says, "Oh, well, I'm an experienced superintendent, >> but and this is my hard and fast, you know, retirement thing." >> Yeah, I know. We have to be careful about questions around age, experience, things like that. Well, you certainly can't discriminate based on that, but um I mean because of how the
027educator retirement system works in Massachusetts, um you're usually not talking about people necessarily of any great age. I mean, if you if you've entered the profession straight out of college or shortly thereafter, you aren't necessarily going to be all that old when you are fully vested. Mhm. >> Um but you know that sort of question of how close are you to being fully vested? Um it's not really what you can ask an interview. That would be discriminatory. Um and just I would make sure that you're not framing the position in such a way that it appeals to someone who's in that position. >> What at the the last bullet point you add on looking for a long-term relationship with our district. So, a trustman with a kind professional with a heart for children and looking
028for a long-term relationship with our district. I don't know that's just specific. Just throw ideas out. >> Seeking long-term relationship longs, you know, careful. They do a Cape field trip. >> Um, yeah. Does anybody What does anybody think about that? Do you want to say it again, Jess? >> Um, just adding on looking for a long-term relationship with our district. The last bullet point. So, a trustworthy, kind, professional with a heart for children. Looking for a long-term relationship with our district. >> Maybe to build a long term. What do you think about that? >> And to build I like that to yield. be part of >> the establishing. >> Seeking is a nicer word. I like that than looking >> seeking to build a longterm relationship >> with our district. >> Yeah. >> Okay. What
029do you think? >> We're active. >> Anybody else with any questions or comments? >> If if we're going to keep the first bullet, is it the best first one to open with? I feel like it kind of sends a little bit of a message there like there's a lot of problems. I don't know. >> I think when they watch our meetings, they're going to realize there's been some complexities. >> Yeah. >> But opening with a positive is not a bad thing. Like like a champion for educational focus on the whole child might be a better opening. >> So keeping the statements but reordering. >> Yeah. >> Sure. >> I like that one. Which which one? >> The second one. >> Champion. >> Oh, yeah. Okay. Move that to the front. >> Sure. >> Do you
030want to flip-flop them or do you want to just bump and engage downwards? >> An alternative suggestion is the last two to the first two and then bump the first one down to the last one. >> Sure. I I actually like the last one just because of the way it's like to build. I like I like leaving that last one there just because of the work because of the way you guys just >> word it. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, you just move that second last one up to the front one and just bump everything else down one. >> Because that's I mean that's that is a part of it, but it's really is only a part of it. Like >> everybody good with that? >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> All right. Hey Mike
031and Tracy, can I just comment on this as well too in terms of salary wise? Do we want to put a range in there if we know what our range is? >> So that's the next thing >> because that will definitely be factor. >> Any other uh comments or questions on the criteria? No, but there's two uh semicolons after the word seeks. It's just a typo. I don't know if this is an actual copy that's going to go out under selection criteria. The first sentence, the Berlin Boilston Regional School Committee seeks. Do you see what I'm >> Oh, there's two colons. Yep. >> Sorry, I called semicolons. >> I only have one. >> Good. Good catch. Nope. That's that is part of why we actually posted. >> Yeah. >> Yes. So if you absolutely if
032you see anything like that, please absolutely share it with me. >> And this whole the thing that I want you to vote this evening is actually the question criteria. >> You have proof. >> If you take this home and find it in 24 find something in 24 hours, let me know. I don't actually put this together. Our communications person does and I'm bringing this into her tomorrow. >> Yeah. They'll proofread and go over things everything 10 times. >> Yeah. >> Yes. As long as as long as all you're talking about is the typo, spelling, punctuation, those will, you know, will be tomorrow. >> All right. So then, Mr. Chair, anticip as anticipated by Mr. Gan. >> The next question that I'm going to ask you is about salary. So we do actually now u because
033this is going to be posted in September but will be up in October are subject to the new state law which says that you actually do have to give some salary parameters in a posting. Um so what I have for you um I did uh check in with MASS um to get where are we regionally right so you know where you're at in terms of what you actually haven't spending recently. Obviously that's something that you can keep in mind. Um what we do need to do is come up with a rating. Okay. So just so that you know the in terms of your local somewhat like the districts. Okay. And this is some somewhat about where you're at as well as the size. Um the salary r salary locally keeping in mind that this is
034also superintendent that have all levels of experience. Right. Uh in Clinton the superintendent there is making $176,000. The top end of the scale locally is actually Shrewsbury where he's been there for a number of years which is um 1495. So um I can also I mean that 149 >> 249 >> 556 >> um that just to give you a couple of others north row south row is 232,000 um Nova Regional is 225,000 and Hudson is 204,000. And those are the ones that I have. So I, you know, I tried to to give you the range. Um, so taking that in addition to the information that you already have, um, we do need to come up with something that we would then put under salary and contract. Um, certainly we would usually add the words um,
035you know, to be negotiated, commiserate with experience, but you would you do need to put there do need to be dollar amounts on this. >> Yeah. What? Throw away Shoesbury because I think I feel like he's an anomaly. I know him. Um, what what was the one that was the highest after Shoesberry? >> North Pro South Prow, which is uh 232,000. >> Have you been there a number of years as well now? >> And did I don't know if you I didn't hear the first one if um if West Boston was in there. I know it's not >> region. >> Um I don't because West Boilston has a new superintendent and MASS didn't actually have 2025 data. So this is actually closed of last year I think. >> Yeah. Higher. Just hired. Yeah. >> Without
036getting into too much detail on discussing individual employees and their salaries, do we want to just say the low of 176 to the high of 232? >> I don't I think 232 is way too high for our district. >> Yeah. >> I would maybe say 210. >> Was anybody else think >> or two North has a lot of businesses. I don't want to throw out a number that's not even in the realm of possibilities. So like throwing out 232 is >> yeah, we're not we're just not going to be able to do that with our bud with our current budget and just knowing what's coming down the pipeline. So I I feel like you know 210. >> Keep in mind whatever we do put out there people are going to decide to apply or not
037apply. >> They are. And if you're at 210 then you are only higher than Hudson and Clinton locally. It's not a commitment to that number. It's like she said, it's to be negotiated, to be determined based on years and experience and and everything else. Um, we know where we are right now. >> Yeah. Yeah, I just would hate for someone that comes in super experienced thinking I'm at the high end and goes through the interview process with that 232 number in their head and us to come back and be like, "Yeah, we can do 210." And that's be the breaking point. You know what I mean? Um >> I don't know. That's >> that's just my opinion. I just would I don't want to be misleading. I'd rather have people know ahead of time like
038this is the top we can pay for top talent. >> I mean I we don't know what our budget is next year. I know I know we have limitations but I don't feel like $10,000 off of that. If you're going to get someone who's going to lead us really we need a good leader and you get what you pay for and the best are going to go with where they're going to get paid the money. And I'm not I'm not it's not all about the money but I I want to put a number out there that we can support, but we don't know. To say that we can't afford it isn't is a presumption at this point. And we we need a strong I mean, when you look at all the adjectives that they used,
039>> you there's no way we're going to get that unless we're willing to pay for it. >> Um that's just my thought. >> Yeah. I mean, I might go up to 225 without having any idea. That's that's how like I've never done this before, so I don't I don't want to like pigeon hole ourselves either, but like my gut as like a person is that I would want to be honest, but maybe and I think that like 175 to 225 maybe is but if if it's going to be a deterrent, I don't want to do that either. I would defer to the professionals. I guess >> that's Tracy. Tracy, do you do you think a range to Beth's point of 175 to 225 is a good range? Because >> I think that does I think
040that I would say yes because I think that does two things. I think it gives you a significant amount of flexibility, right? Um it also puts you more squarely within the realm of of your region, right? Because the last thing you want to be doing is putting yourself in a position where, you know, we all know what the numbers are because these are public numbers, right? Um, and you are in a position where you essentially have said, "Okay, well, we understand what the neighborhood is, but we don't, you know, we're we're going to put ourselves in a different position." So, no, I think I think and I think you I think you've also made the numbers nice and leg to 220. Could we write in there like um potential like something that pending we could
041not even pending budget but like open a negotiation as well? I mean is that a lot like you know I know corporate >> she said that >> I mean it's always you can put commiserate with experience I think that we want to be careful about drawing too far back from it only because and I I say this not being a lawyer but um part of the requirement of the state law essentially is that someone comes in having some idea of what the salary is going to be that they're going to be offered. Um, so it really it is quite frankly designed to slightly remove power from the employer position and empower the employee who is in a better position to judge whether or not they actually want to apply for a position. Um, so I
042mean that is deliberate on the part of the >> So I just want to make something clear because if I was a candidate I'd be watching this course this I'd be saying are they saying that they're putting out 225 but they're not going to give it. If someone walks in the door and is worth 225 voting for like that's so I just want to make sure like I know you don't realize how it's coming across to me it sounds a little bit like >> no my point is what if we >> what if we see a rock star and we want to pay him 250 and we figure out we can have it in the budget can we go higher that's somebody from >> yes >> like like what if we have somebody who's got
043you know like 20 years experience and they've got 10 left and they're just a perfect fit and we're like we're all in love with the person and we're like we really want this person. We want the person to stay and we look at the budget. We're like okay we this is we actually can do this. We want this rockstar. We want to be able to pay 230 or 240 or 250 if we only have that 225 range if we find and I'm not saying this is going to be in everybody. This is like a rare occurrence. >> Would we be able to legally go higher than what we posted? I don't know how this works. I know how it works in business that negotiation is negotiation. I'm asking are we able to >> are we
044set to that limit if we post it? >> You can go higher. Yes. I think I think that I think the issue would be decide to go lower. No, I would never want to do that. I don't think >> so. My limit is if I thought I was worth 240 or or 235. >> Are they going to apply or are they going to cross us off their list and go for the other districts? >> I think so. >> That's why I would write >> like you're not limited to that. It's based on like to Tracy's point, it's based on, and to your point, it's based on experience. It's based on like rockstar quality. Like, we're not saying we're going to give you this much. I mean, even the the the the superintendent of Shrewsbury, he's
045at 249, but he's been there a long time. Like, he's earned that and he's earned the, you know, the the accolades that go with it. So, I'm not saying we should do 250, but may like to your point, maybe we should bump it a little bit higher because you don't want to just get crossed off the list. If we can do it, like if we find someone who's that phenomenal and we want to pay them that, like where are we willing to go to? >> A professional at this level who sees a cap on a range is not going to apply if they want more than that cap >> because I wouldn't think we say 175 plus. >> No. So, it has to be range. >> Yeah, that's that's more where I'm heading is I
046don't want to handcuff us to anything because I feel like there's just as we've we've now done this how many times? So, we know the pool of and doing done it for principles how many times. So, we know the pool of applicants out there is a huge range of people. And I guess what I'm saying to Tracy's point, we have no idea if this is going to be a year where we're going to get a ton of applicants. If we're find some rockstar that we love that's a perfect fit or if we're going to get someone that we're going to end up, okay, like this could work. We're going to, you know, move forward with this. >> So, do you want to add that Shrewsbury range back in then? >> Not really because I I
047like I said, I think that would be like a one in a million, but I don't want to like handcuff us to like we >> that one in a million. you're handcuffing us to not that person not applying if it's not like I'm not saying necessarily we should go up to 249 but maybe we should bump it up to where we think it's affordable >> if it was the right person. >> Yeah. What do you guys think? You know what I'm trying to say? like I I don't want >> you to put a realistic amount in, but then you want to also put like a caveat for that upper range that like you want to like flag it and be like, "But don't not apply because we can maybe wiggle, but like it's that's kind
048of hard to but it has to be the exact perfect fit for this new law." >> Yes. Although on the other hand, as some of you have already mentioned that probably there's a very good chance that anyone who's applying is probably if you're watching this meeting now, so they understand. Yeah. >> Can we ask you but I I but I think it should I think we should just be honest and forthright not have someone have to fight for what they think they're worth. Like if we think we can afford >> and you know like with North Groceries we're being 232. If we think we can afford 240 we should put what that range is. It doesn't mean we go that high. It means if we whoever the person is it's based on their qualifications and
049and we're going to decide on what it is. So, we have that final say, but I just don't want anybody to see it and be like, I'm not gonna because if I knew I was worth that money, it would just be an easy way to say that's not where I'm going to apply. >> I know. >> Do you want do you want to say something, sir? >> I'm sorry. Sit in this chair. So, the only thing I also want you to look at is the optics of the rest of the admin team and what the next second salary is. >> That's what I was thinking too. >> District, right? So, if you're looking at a range of 240, which I agree with Larry, like you sort of you're looking for that high quality person, you
050you got to be up at those ranges. But the next person's salary is a difference of about $80,000 next person down in line. And so, I'm been trying in these last two year and a half trying to catch up some people to make some equity across our district. But >> if you're at the 240 range, which you're going to get the rockstar at that, the difference of that next salary is is close to $80,000. That's a huge gap from the first person to >> and we cut teachers. >> Well, is not the same size as Tanto. That is a that's not >> that's major difference in it size of the district. >> So West Boilston superintendent that retired last year who I think was there for like 25 years. Very long time was 160,000. >>
051Yeah. Yeah. And that's the other thing I always try to go like I mean tell me if this is crazy. I think about it by like home prices, right? And so I'm not a Is that a bad way to think about it? Um I mean I think we we say that teachers need to live within commuting distance and that that's a good thing to keep in mind in terms of their salaries. Um on the other hand, we see some superintendent traveling pretty amazing distances which is not to advocate for that. Um, I'm not sure home prices are necessarily a great >> I think I I'm I'm I think I'm always concerned with us making financial decisions in school districts based on housing prices. I think that we tend to default to that a lot. >>
052Yeah. So it's all right. So >> So Clinton's was 178 for this fiscal year. Google says too. >> So in terms of your house prices, >> yes. >> Is that a question or a comment? >> Jess just looked it up. >> So this is just hard. >> So you think like right I just spitballing out here like Foilson's houses are more expensive because our school district is amazing, right? And so surrounding towns don't rank as high as we do. And so therefore, I would think their salaries would match that levels of excellence or so to speak. I don't know. >> So I think what Tracy has done is given us comps for the towns that do touch us. At least some of them, right? Hudson, Clint, >> I didn't think there was any point. Yes.
053>> What's that? >> I figured there wasn't any point in giving you Western. And >> so I mean, we don't necessarily directly line up with Clinton. We don't directly line up to Hudson. or any of these, right? No, no two are exactly alike, but >> we would have had to go we would have had to go significantly out of the region to find something that was the same size. And then you start getting into kind of more Megan's point in terms of >> cost of living ends up being very >> very very different as soon as you go too far east or too far west. >> And so, you know, whenever you're looking at comps, right, you don't you don't you don't determine the market, the market determines the market, >> right? >> So, these
054are the comps. This this is the range. >> Yeah. I mean, I guess I would I would be fine with going 175 to to 240 maybe, but I just >> I mean, 230 is fine, too. I just don't >> I mean, I I don't I'm just worried about that 225 cut off. >> Do you think starting at 175, which is the same as Clinton, kind of sends a message maybe we should bump up the lower number a little bit? I wouldn't suggest that because you can't, as Tracy said, you wouldn't want to go below that. If you, let's say we get a, you know, brand new person to the position, we think they're going to be awesome, >> but are we going to take a $220,000 risk on someone who's never >> I'm just saying
055like 180 instead of 176, something like that. >> I mean, round it up. Yeah, sure. But >> I would do No, because I think you can't really go lower. What if we get somebody that was is an assistant or a curriculum director or somebody that has like you know 10 years of experience doing that and they they have a great resume and we're like okay we all love the person again think the person's a good fit and maybe you know we find out you know our budget isn't you know we'll find out some budget stuff closer to when we're making the offer. I feel like we don't want to handcuff ourselves. I I say keep the 175 because we could have somebody with you know like Mike said brand new, no experience and um you
056know because if we put out there the range is 180 and then we have somebody that's you know was making 120 or 130 or 140 as an assistant or a business a manager wanting to jump into this 175 is a huge bump for the first year. Like Mike said, we could even do something like, you know, I know we've done it before for certain contracts in our district where start out the first year to his point at a lower level and then the second year the bump is like 20,000. You know what? Right. I think that's what you were trying to say, Mike. >> Yeah. So, I agree with that. I'll keep that lower range at 175, I think. >> So, who's in favor of a range of 175 to 230? >> I I I
057think that's good. >> Yeah. >> Does anybody want to go higher? >> I don't know. >> All right. How's that sound? Nobody last chance to say >> this is fine. >> 175 to 130. >> 175. >> Yeah. 230. Yeah. 149. >> Northwest 232. Want to >> go to 235? >> I don't know. >> They have a bigger tax base. >> I was kicking that around, too. But I I agree with you. They have a bigger tax base. They have a bigger district, too. >> Yeah. It's like double the size of ours. >> I mean, if it comes down to it and the person wants to negotiate for 2,000 bucks, I'm all for it. [Music] All right. So then are we are we satisfied then with where this leaves us in terms of the posting? >>
058Is this uh is this it for the posting? >> That's it for the posting. Yep. >> Anybody have anybody want to bring >> any other places where there's double punctuation or we misspelled anybody's name or >> does anybody have any other things? Any other comments or questions? >> I didn't have time to read the community profile but >> you did that. >> Did you did somebody proofre >> Oh, I didn't. No, we but we can do it tonight. She's >> all right. Okay, >> that's my plan. >> Yeah, that's what happens on like this is the one I wrote like somebody needs to proof read this Lisa. That's you sticking only with proof reading. Don't change content. >> No, there should be a need to change the content. Most of this was written by AI.
059But yeah, Lisa, if you want to proofre double spaced or did something wrong somewhere. >> It does seem like there should be either indents for all the paragraphs or none. So yeah, >> maybe after after the meeting if you guys want to go through it and mark it up before Tracy leaves. But as far as content goes. >> Yeah, it's it's based largely on our last >> the last one in AI. >> Yeah. So those two together. Yeah. >> It wasn't really >> All right, Tracy, you need a vote on this. I assume >> um it would be great if you actually did vote or even if you just confirmed the salary and the selection criteria. >> Okay. Um, could I have a motion then to approve the selection criteria uh as presented but bumping
060the second to last bullet up to the first bullet and then bumping everything else down. Uh, let's do that one first. Let's do one at a time >> and add and and as amended >> and as amended. Yes. To build the lasting relationship >> relationship with our district >> as amended. May I have that motion? So move second. >> Lori and Lisa, everything good? Everybody want to say anything? Final. >> Do we need to add in that we're changing the website or does that matter? >> That is a good >> Yep, that's >> uh All right. All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone against it? >> Okay, that motion passes. Thank you, Tracy. Could I have a motion, please, to approve the salary range for the job posting to be from $175,000 to $230,000? >>
061Megan, >> second. >> Lisa, anybody have any final thoughts on that one? That was the correct numbers, right? >> Yeah. >> All right. >> I I just had a quick um question. Mhm. >> So I and I don't I can ask if there's going to be another vote on this community profile, but I I know we've only mentioned the football team and I know so I see the national blue ribbon, but I didn't know we could mention our drama shows. >> Why don't we do a motion for the community profile after we vote on the uh salary range? How about that? >> Sounds fantastic. >> All right. Any questions on the salary range? >> All right. All those in favor of that? >> I want to guess it. >> All right. The motion passes. Tracy
062175 to 230. >> Great. Thank you. >> Jess, you had some comments on the community profile. >> Yeah, I haven't read the third paragraph, so perhaps it's a moot point. Um, >> it's not in there. >> Okay. >> I couldn't find anything online about soccer and drama. Like, I just don't know because I have to get it to Hanto. I was like, did we win a lot of championships for soccer? >> Girls were in the finals last year. I mean, if you wanted to add a sentence or two, I I don't know if it's too late for that. >> I can't add too much only so we don't run out of room. >> Totally. I just just I don't know about our drama productions every year or I don't know. I don't Does a band
063doesn't do any competitions anymore, right? So, I don't know. Or or female sports or >> model UN or something. I don't know. the girls soccer final for the last how many years? Two. >> Maybe. >> So, what if I worked >> How long we did this? >> Sorry, Tracy. Sorry. >> No, I just going to say what if I worked with um both Mr. Gam and the high school administration to give a sentence to your point to try to get the balance that honestly the students are even talking about, right? I totally agree and actually I did Google like girls soccer and there was no like actual it was like out of newspaper articles and I'm like I don't know if this is right or not and I just didn't live through it so I
064don't know myself. So that's >> So why we do why don't we do this? Can I get a motion, please, to authorize Tracy Novik to update the community profile after working with the superintendent and athletic director to include some additional information about equitable sports teams >> activities >> and activities. >> Activities exactly to make sure that the only thing that's we're not going to mention to your point. >> Absolutely. >> So that will give uh could I have that motion please? So second >> Jess and Megan uh so that Tracy will work with Al and Julie to um and and maybe the art department and whoever else. >> Can you just catch 30 more seconds to read the third paragraph? Sorry. [Music] comments. Yeah, because I was gonna say most of this came from the
065last I don't interrupt any There's a motion on the table right now to authorize Tracy to work on this is uh do you want to change something on that or you want to do? So, a possible amendment for someone to consider to the current motion is um to perhaps in the closing sentence of that third paragraph um I know to newsletters have um like stronger stronger together or together we can or something like that this year. >> I think together we can I think is a newer one. But every school has a different >> No, no, indeed. Indeed. But I I think it it embodies what we're trying to do. Um, so I know that it had the, you know, all the the mission statements from all the schools, but it just might be a
066nice little This year is together we can. >> Together we can. >> I'm just getting worried about spacing out, right, Tracy? right to the end of that with adding a couple assets on female sports and enrichments, >> right? Do we trust Tracy and Al to come up with something that encompasses everything in a single sentence or do we want to scrap this motion and spend some time rewriting the whole thing? In discussion of that motion, I would say like I know the schools all have their different models like B Be BU B what something threebs or >> Yeah. And I'm not I'm not positive what Berlin. So perhaps looking at all three and coming up with some >> Yes. >> All right. Uh any other comments? >> All in favor? >> Anyone against it? Okay,
067Tracy, thank you. That motion passes. >> Excellent. So, we'll be working on that tomorrow. Um, our aim is to try to have it posted by the end of the week and then make sure that you all know once it is out >> and and then do we just email you any feedback that we find like tonight? >> Yes. If you if you find that we we've misspelled anything else or have any additional punctuation or anything of that nature, yes, just shoot me an email and I'll this is going in with me to the office tomorrow. >> Um, so I'll I'll add it to my notes. Thanks for thanks for asking that. >> Um, okay. So then the one remaining thing that um for you to do this evening um is to talk about your search
068committee or your screening committee um as you may remember but I think this is an important thing to review um for for any public body in Massachusetts um that is hiring um that has hiring authority their hiring has to be done in public session right so you'll remember for example we did the interimm superintendency that was a postpublic meeting and the interviews were public and people could come and it was recorded Um the open meeting law does allow public bodies to do a first round screening um in executive session and the law specifies that this is in order for you to um gain um a broader breath of ca of candidates because there simply are people who won't apply if the applications are public. Um however that screening committee cannot have a quorum of the
069um public body on it. Um it can have a subcommittee. It can also not have any members of the public body. Those are both options that are available. Um so that is the that is what the search committee is. That's what the screening committee is. They're meeting under an exception to the open meeting law master chapter 38 which is provided specifically for public bodies essentially to get better candidates. It's exactly what the law says. Um in putting together your screening committee um there's a number of decisions that are before you. Um, if you decide to make it anything other than a subcommittee of the school committee, you need to decide kind of who the seats are, right? Um, I'm going to offer you a number of recommendations. This is something that is under your purview.
070Um, so just to be clear, as as always, these my recommendations are based on, you know, my professional experience and what MASC has has experienced um rather than anything else. The first thing that I will say is that when it comes to putting school committee members on the search committee or not, you essentially have kind of two dis two ways that you can go and they are um as much about messaging as really about anything else. Um so there are some school committees that want to make sure that the committee community is very clear that this is a search committee. Um this is a school committee decision that the search is being done by the school committee and they think it's very important for there to be representation on the school committee. Um there also
071are committees that want to communicate to the community that they want the community's voices to be heard um and to be heard in such a fashion where they don't feel that they're having to potentially um you know that they're that things are going to be sort of steered or run by those who are going to have ultimately making the decision. The other two additional cautions I will offer is this. Um because the search committee operates entirely in executive session and they operate entirely under confidentiality. And that confidentiality by the way extends beyond the scope of the search. So the confidentiality is for always. You do not ever get to say here are people who applied other than the finalists because you have vi still violated the terms of confidentiality. you still could very well do
072harm to that person's employment and do harm to the district. Um, so the first thing is if part of what you kind of feel important about your school committee search is that you share information and that you sort of have a drive to do that. Um, and don't think that you could actually keep things confidential, then please don't sign up for it because it's going to essentially conflict with maybe the reason why you're here. Um, the other thing is that there are committees that I've worked with in the past that have felt that um, they're sort of still wrestling through their own ability to keep things confidential. And it may be that the committee sometimes says, you know what, we're going to have that like done by others. We're not going to put sort of
073put ourselves in the middle of it. Um, and we're going to have them come back to us whatever their decision is. The other thing, of course, is that if it's going to turn into something where people end up feeling conflicted about, you know, someone agrees to be on the committee and someone doesn't like, then that's probably one where you may want to say, "Let's take a pass." Anyway, that is the first decision. I'm going to run through all of them and then we'll come back to discussion. Um, it is a good idea to have someone from if you're going to go beyond the subcommittee, it's a good idea to have some central administration. My recommendation on this and sort of going forward is going to bas be based on this thing that you've already decided.
074You've already set the timeline. You've already set the search committee dates. So, the first question that anyone who's potentially signing up for this needs to answer is yes indeed. I can be there on October 15th, October 27th, and the evening. That's already what you've set up. You can't ship that now because we're going to mess then with the with your ending deadlines if you change anything at this point. Um, those have already been shared. School the teachers have already had it since the first week of school. Um the timeline is already out there in the public. People are already making decisions based on that. >> Can you say that date again? Sorry, I know we have it. I'm just >> So the search committee is being trained on October 15th. >> Oh, right. Right. Okay.
075>> They're meeting for their first meeting on October 27th. I will add just as a side note that that previous weekend of the 25th and 26th is one that search committee members should be setting aside time to review for applications. There's not a not a meeting during that. And then the evenings of the week of November 3rd and all of the e all of the meetings will be in the evening. >> Sorry. >> It's not just it's not just November 3rd. It could be any day that week. >> It would and it will it will be more than one day for sure because we will the interviews will be such they'll be they'll be running over multiple evenings. You'll be seeing more applicants than that. >> Uh can I ask the question? So just to
076clarify this search subcommittee or whatever we decide whoever search committee >> would interview everyone or just how would we >> so if you refer to the you probably don't have the timeline in front of you what the search committee does nope >> and of course we last talked about this in May so we're now talking about things that are you know several several months out from you um the position will post this week. Applications are going to come into our office. They are confidential applications. The only people who see them are me and actually Enry who organizes them in our office. >> On October 15th, the search committee is going to get trained. They get together in person. We train them at open meeting law confidentiality um executive sessions, conflict of interest, those who have
077a conflict of interest to declare, sign that form. Everyone signs a confidentiality form. Um if necessary, they'll elect a chair. uh that all happens before they essentially get anything. The applications pos the period closes on October 24th. All of the applications are electronically then shared with the search committee um who then have the responsibility of reviewing it confidentially on their own, not in their living room, not right um that weekend coming prepared to then a meeting that we then will have on the 27th. In the meeting on the 27th, two things will happen. The first is the committee will in public session because the attorney general has determined this has to be done in public session um determine the topics of the questions they want to ask in the interview. They then will go into
078executive session under the exception in 30A to consider the applications that have been submitted. They will talk about all the applicants and then they will decide who to interview. Those interview the people they select for interviews then we term semi-finalists under the attorney general's terminology. I then will line up interviews for those semi-finalists to come in for executive session interviews with the full search committee during the week of November 3rd. And that's why we block off the whole week because we don't know how many applications you're going to get. We don't know how many semi-finalists the search committee is going to bring in. Um we also don't know what other kinds of restrictions we will be running with in terms of that. Once they have completed all of the interviews, again in executive session, the
079search committee will make a determination of who they want to move forward as finalists for you all. One thing I will tell you now is you will receive at least three finalists. I'm going to tell you that in advance because what happens after they select the finalists is I call the finalists and say the search committee of the Berlin Boston Regional School Committee would like to move you forward as a finalist. Do you accept? And sometimes people say no. >> If they say no and you only had two people and one of them dropped out, we then would need to restart the search because you cannot select your superintendent in executive session. So that's why I'm going to tell you you're going to get at least three. um because we're going to set you up
080so that we don't have that happen. Um and then you meet on November 10th and the search committee reports out to you in a public session at which point you then have the the ball is back in your court. the finalists are publicly announced and then we're then I'm working with them and with the district to set up visits with you sorry visits for you in their districts visits for them here followed then by your interviews in public session >> so everyone on the committee would have to be available on November 10th as well. Uh yes. >> And then when when we go to the districts and then they that's just the school committee that does that >> that is so it is not only just the school committee it is less than a quorum
081of the the school committee. So I will ask you to make sure that I'm clear on who has who's on what subcommittee so that I'm not sending subcommittees together. Um, and it will be entirely one of the things that I will ask you to have available for me the night of the 10th is here is my availability during the weeks of the 17th and the 23rd during the school day. Now, sometimes the answer is I can't be at all. Sometimes the answer is I can do these two days, but um that's something that I'll need so that I then can work with them to arrange their visits and your visits. Do you know what like the typical turnaround for those dates to be set are after the 10th? >> The typical turnaround for the >>
082So like right so for example my whole schedule is blocked for that week right now. So I'm curious what like do you try to do I mean the next day is a holiday right and then conference. So I'm just curious like >> what is your prediction on when we would know? So, the finalist because the finalists are going to know that they're finalists sometime during the week of the third. Part of what I leave them with is start to figure out when your district can host and start to figure out when you can come visit. Ideally, I'm walking in the night of the 10th with some of that information already. And then the sooner we can sort of get your end of that and I also will already have had information from your district of
083we absolutely can't have anyone on Wednesday the whatever but you could send finalists here XYZ. Um ideally we're within that day or so and yes you're right I'm then moving we're then doing conference right away on the 13th. um the sorry the 12th the but ideally we are those couple of days then saying okay so these two people are going to be going to this district on this day and so forth. Yes I I would always prefer to have as much I I will do as much ahead of time before the finalists are announced as I can um and you know then some of it also then gets into how far are you having to travel and does that sort of thing matter too. >> Yep. And then we'll then you have then a week
084that the interviews are. I don't you're not going to need five evenings for that regardless of what happens. But that's going to be around you've had the visits in both directions. Um and you have an evening in common or two evenings. And then also, you know, one of the questions is once the finalists come out, you have four if you have four finalists, do you want to see two and two? If you have, you know, four three finalists, do you want to try to do three in one evening? Like that's going to be something for you all to decide. And that's the week of December 2nd. >> And that's the week the week of December 1st. Yeah. >> So we visit their schools before we interview them. >> Yes. >> So like as a school
085committee member, if I'm not on the search committee, I'm going to see their resumes. Y >> and then I'm going to go to their school and see their surroundings. >> So it won't be So not every school committee member will go to every district because we can't send all of you out to everyone, >> right? Yeah. I don't Okay. >> Yes. But you But >> so I'm going to go to my school. I'll go to whatever one I'm assigned to. Correct. But I will not have met the person yet. So I'm looking at their school without meeting the person. >> So it it is not uncommon for the person to greet the visiting school committee members. >> Okay. >> At the beginning of the day simply to say welcome to my district. >> Um they
086then leave you because you don't want them influencing the conversations that you've had. Ah, so you're literally getting a blind opinion from >> Yes. And part of what you'll be getting from me is we have a packet of um questions that we've compiled over time which there's a section in there that's interviews, but there's also a section in there on visiting the district of questions you may want to ask the people that you meet with on your district. >> Okay. Yes. So yeah, and then what will happen then just to complete sort of Megan's question um when you after you've completed your interviews when you move into deliberation my recommendation for the chair will be have everybody report out right so so and so went to this district so and so went to this district
087this is what they saw these are the reflections you have so you have that all in common before you then move into deliberation >> where when is that happening >> so that would be happening after your interviews But before you actually start to say, "And I would like to hire this person." So that in other words, you all have the same information as much as you can. >> So, so like the week of December 1st, it would happen before that, right? Or >> no. So you would you would So what you're doing is you are think of it as you've got some information because you went to that one place and you Lori has some information because she went to that place. You all have the interviews for each of your people. Then the next
088thing you're going to move into is deliberation, but part of the information you need for deliberation is what you know and what Lori knows that Mike would then say, so we're going to have each of you speak about your visit. And it may be that you went with someone else and you would then say, you know, I'm going to cover this part, she's going to cover this part, or, you know, I'm covering this and they're going to add if there's something to be added. >> So this deliberation is before or after the finalists come in for interviews. It's after the interviews before you select. >> So it'll be December 9th probably. >> It will December 9th. >> Well, that's when we have a regular meeting. >> Well, December second is superintendent finals interviews. >> Yes.
089You depending on how you go, you may actually make the selection evening. I would not recommend that you wait for your next regular meeting. >> So we'll So discussion about the different schools and then the possible >> and that again that may happen one evening, it may happen multiple evenings, but it's going to happen in the same span of time. Tracy, can I just add what? So, when you are visiting those districts of the candidates, you're not just blindly walking around what the candidates will do. And I and I can tell from my past experience, we'll arrange things for you to go visit this school and meet with these curriculum directors and meet with these administrators. They'll hopefully line that all up for you. They're not just like blindly walking around the school as business.
090So, they arrange your business as well too. And that's a telltale as well too, like how that's coordinated on their behalf. >> Yes. unless you think that that means that they're stacking the deck because sometimes that's what right you not going to say anything negative. Um you would be amazed the conversations you have if you actually spend time in the district. So one of the things that I very strongly recommend school there are school committees that skip that step. Um I actually really strongly recommend committees figure out a way to make it work >> um because you're not you're not really going to get as much information as you possibly could have at your disposal unless you can actually send people in to visit development districts. It is it is it it is a commitment
091but I think it's a valuable use of your time and yes to the point right this is when the committee is having the search put back in your hands and now it's a question of okay these are the individuals we have how do we make sure we have as much information as possible so you have the entirety of their application packet um you have the you have whatever experience you're going to have in their district then the other thing that I just will add since we're talking about this is frequently school committees will ask that there be a feedback form that's put out into your district um about each of the finalists that then comes to you um for the day that they spend in the district. So, this is the person that I met.
092Here's the context in which I met them. Um one of the things that I I strongly recommend because you already have set what your selection criteria is is to continue to sort of push the selection criteria. So, search committee is going to get that as their rubric of what they need to be evaluating based on. Um, you can certainly also make it part of the feedback that you're getting from the school, the district as a whole on the finalist when they visit. >> When do the finalists visit? >> The finalists would visit during the weeks of November 17th and 24th. >> Oh, they Oh, okay. >> Yep. That's things are happening in both directions. Yes. >> And to complete that thought, all visits would happen before your interviews. But wait, when they come to visit
093us, they're just going to go with Al. They don't need school committee regarding school. >> They don't need school committee. No. So what they would do, and I wouldn't necessarily even say they're going to be escorted by the superintendent. I think it could be good to should give them a little bit of looseness, too, but they certainly would spend time in each of the schools. Um certainly would, you know, spend time with each of the principles, would meet some students, meet some teachers. Um also I'd recommend that they spend some time in the central administration. And then I usually recommend also that you set up a meet and greet session um so that parents, members of the public and so forth, not a sort of, you know, a grill them Q&A, but a who is
094this person who might be our next superintendent kind of opportunity >> and that's why you do it over multiple days because you want to sort of give them the day in the district and then give them an afternoon. >> Sure. and that that also gives you more um more people who potentially can contribute to the feedback of having seen them in the district. >> Okay. My only worry is like to a meet and greet for families and community members the week of Thanksgiving. Nobody's going to show up. >> It's the week before. >> We could do the week before. >> No, so the 17th is the week before. So it's Monday. >> So it's going to be a question of whether or not there everyone is available to be able to >> Yeah. So it's
095that's why I'm giving you both weeks because you also don't want to be doing interviews the week of the 24th. >> Yeah, that's Yeah, right. Okay. This is uh I'm totally clear. So, thank you. >> You're welcome. No, thank you for asking the questions. I think it not only is important for you all to know, but it also clears things up I think for the community in terms of you know then what happens next is I think a really important part. Um so in terms of the search committee right um would recommend that you have one central administrator select and I again I'm going to say recommend that you have it selected by central administration for two reasons. First of all it has to be somebody who actually meet the meetings right but also let
096them pick someone that they trust to be their voice. Um similarly if you choose to have a principal you need to make sure somebody who can actually be at the meetings. Um and also you have principles who have a variety of levels of experience in the district. let them decide who do they want to add one more forward. Um I do recommend having at least one student, possibly two. Sometimes students do better if there's more than one. Um if you have there are districts that do it by having their student rep if their student rep can make it. There are districts that have it chosen by student council. There have there are districts that have students volunteer and we you know we essentially draw names out of a hat based on who can make it
097and representation. Um >> older kids though, right? You're not talking little ones. Um, so secondary certainly I've had students as young as um as seventh grade. Okay, it generally is high school, but it it certainly doesn't have to be. Um, I will say that quite honestly the the one benefit I find in working with students is they're accustomed to having homework. So when it comes to things like I need your question by X day, students are really on time. Um, so that may viable perspective. I would assume I would presume that if you were going to put this together, you would want to have both teachers and parents and then you start getting into questions of balance, right? So, um do you want to make sure that you're representing towns? You want to make sure
098that you're representing schools. Um certainly you want to make sure that you've got at least one from each town and then do you want to make sure that there is representation of each of the schools or do or does it not particularly matter necessarily as much? Keeping in mind, of course, by the way, that sometimes parents actually have students in the school. So sometimes you can say we're going to represent both the elementary school and the high school in a single um individual. That's possible. Um similarly you would want to do the same thing with teachers. Um and again one of the things that I will say for really all of these sorts of positions is there are two choices that you have in front of you. First of all this is entirely under your
099perview. Um, if you want to have applications come in and do you want to actually vote individuals, that is something that is an authority that you can choose to use. Um, my recommendation as someone who's advising you on this process is that you not do that because you don't actually need no more sources of conflict in your life and have you individually voting people that you know and live with and live around up or down can be a way of making yourself unpopular in new ways. What I have had happen in the You can certainly do that if you want to. There are committees that choose to um I have had committees in the past say we want to make sure that we have one parent from Berlin, one parent from Boilston. We want to
100make sure that we have one teacher from each of the elementary schools. We want to make sure that we have at least some and I'm being like these are things I've seen in the past. someone among those that has experience with special education or someone among those who has experience with English learners, whatever the things are that you think are most important. Um, in which case what I do is I run up a Google form. I we open that link up to the community. They all come to me and then I balance the committee. We make sure that we've got the towns. We make sure that we've got the experience. Um, I try to make sure that we've got things like people who worked here a long time, who haven't worked here very long, or
101people who grew up in this town and people who didn't. Um, so that is another option that's available to you. Um, the only other thing that I have not mentioned which can be well, two things I haven't mentioned which could be useful. Um, one is having non-eing staff have at least one seat on the committee is a valuable perspective to have and that could be another one where you can take applications and vote or we can run up an application. um you know that's nutrition, nurses, custodial, secretary. Um and the other thing is you can decide whether or not you would want to have specifically town voices on. There are committees that choose to do that. Um and how you do that again is entirely up to you though again they do have to make
102all the meetings. We don't make exceptions for you know what have you. Um but there are committees that say we want to have select board or a town employee or um there are committees that have chosen to see if they can get uh police chiefs to serve or just generally public safety to serve sometimes inspire. Um that is up to you. I will say the only additional points I will make uh Mr. Chair is it's good to have an odd number. I don't need ladies to tell you all that. Um, and that it also, um, once you start getting up above 11, it starts to get a little unruly. >> Tracy, would um, talking about parents, would we be able to get specific enough to say possibly a parent of a school choice student since
103they >> You could do that as well. Yes. Um, in fact, uh, so I haven't run into it in my area, but I certainly have seen that done in other communities and, um, for and also when I did, uh, When I did the search for Mahar, they also had New Salem and Wendell which are not members of the region but send their students there and they had representation that way. So that yes, that is certainly something you could do. >> All right. So it's us to discuss. >> It's us for you to discuss. >> So I like that idea, Mike. I I think maybe having a parent from Berlin from Berlin and Boilson and then maybe like from the elementary schools and then maybe a school choice parent from Tanto or however that mix it
104like do you want to represent the same the three schools with the three parents >> ideally >> because the only reason I'm putting the school choice parent at Tahanto is because Tahanto is Berlin in Boilston and so that school choice person would definitely have Right. >> Yeah. Anybody have thoughts on that? >> That sounds good. Then you have three parents. So Tracy, what's a crime? You think like nine? You said 11 is too much. So you said an odd number. So is nine like what's itchy after 11? 11 is fine. >> 11 is fine. Yeah. And then >> I mean a lot of people have kids in both like you know an elementary school and Toronto. So I mean that would be >> amazing because then they see the gamut >> you know. >> So
105maybe your parent we try to find someone that has kids in both >> and then you take I I like the idea of taking a school choice parent. I agree with that >> because it's a different perspective. And then um for teachers, you could do like it's so hard because it's like uh a teacher from >> one from each school with one of them being special ed. >> I was just going to say that. Yeah. So like three one from each school with one having >> Yeah. It doesn't matter what school that person comes from. >> Right. >> So we're now almost we're more than halfway. So, so I mean but with the teachers it would be great to have some balance between newer and um long longevity here. Sorry. >> Yeah. Depending on who
106volunteers Yeah. I because I feel like the time commitment is kind of extensive. So some people may be like, "Yeah, no, I can't." >> Yeah. The more detailed we get, the more difficult it will be to fill. >> For sure. Well, just the whole you have to kind of be wide open the week November 3rd to the 7th. Some people might be like, "Yeah, I'm not willing to." >> Sure. Um, so central admin will have one person from there. So there's we're at seven people now. Um, right. Six, seven. >> Can I go back to the page for two seconds? It would also again not a criteria, but it would be swell if we could have like English or reading and or science or gened or or some some variety there too. Although I guess
107BMS, you know, they do. But >> well, you got one elementary, one from both towns, and then one >> we got Tanto. >> Tahanto, right? >> Tanto one. So >> So the Tahanto one is going to be unless we want to have multiple from Tanhatto. And then how do you over represent Tahanto and not represent the elementaryaries? So one from each school. >> Well, so like if fourth grade, they switch, right? So I guess if if one's like a fourth or fifth grade teacher doing more of the writing and the >> like Trace said that's getting into a lot of >> For sure. I just it would be swell if we could kind of balance the sciences and the the reading. >> Who's gonna what if we have like so many people that apply? Do
108we like you said >> do you just pick them like first come first serve? Can we just say first come first serve? So, she said we could we could specify names if we wanted to get into that >> or we could just have Tracy balance it out within >> I like that >> each of the positions here. So, like within the teachers, >> she balances out BMSB to Hanto. >> So, you'll just pick them. >> This is your decision. >> I I like that idea better. I don't think we should be picking because then someone's gonna be like, "You guys pick" and it's like, "All right, yeah, I don't pick." So, I agree. You're totally neutral. You don't know half these people. So you can just be like, "Okay, what do you teach? What do
109you do?" And then for the parents, who are you like what are where are your >> Google form, right? You're going to send out a Google >> Google form. And I and that's exactly what we do is we say, you know, check off if you act if you have experience with special education. We can certainly put something in there that says that if you are a subject matter teacher, what is the subject that you teach? Um, we can I one of the things I can certainly that I can certainly lead them to give me is the the number of years they've had in the district or if they live if it's a parent, you know, have they always lived here? Um, so those are certainly things we can balance out. >> So numbers wise, we
110have three parents, we have three teachers, that's six total right now. Uh, she suggested a central admin staff. So that would be seven. >> Committee members. >> That would be seven. She mentioned possibly a principal. That would be eight. No, I thought that was included in the central admin staff. >> No, I did separate that out. >> You did separate it. Yeah. >> So, who central admin staff then? >> Central office >> essentially anybody who works and and I and I would be extensive there because you have like payroll and you have >> be any of those people. I think I and and again sort of giving it to them to say who do they want their voice at the table to be but I do think that they have a different perspective than principles
111would >> under under principal role would you expand that to include assistant >> that's up to you it does allow you to go from having three to having five >> yes >> and it would be people that would be able to commit to those dates as well >> exactly so that's the first thing the first ask that goes out I sent out an email and say >> Jess has Jess made a com. They're not deciding amongst themselves. They're deciding if they want to be the person. They'll let Tracy know and then it's either a random draw or you balance it out or >> so on which one >> the principles. >> So the princip for the principles I mean again to your point you're talking about either three or five people. So the first question
112is how many of those people can even meet in the meetings? Mhm. >> And then then I would say to that the principles sort of figure this out yourselves because >> there's you're not everybody's going to be able to just commit to the dates. And then given that first parameter, who does that leave you with? And then given who you are left with, who would you then as a group want to send forward? >> That would be my recommendation because I I would >> You're saying who we want to send forward? >> Who I would say have them say who they want to send forward as a represent >> as a representative. >> Okay. I kind of feel like maybe Al should pick the central admin. >> I think that's probably not something you want
113to have your current superintendent involved in. >> All right. >> And just for the clarity, Tracy met individually. Every single person in central office had individual meetings with them. So they have thought that they they be actively involved in this. And they also did do know that if you chose to have a seat >> that there would be a rep, you know, that that representative would be representing kind of everybody who works in that space. >> Okay. >> So to go back over, so we have three seats for parents, three seats for teachers, that's six. >> A seat for central admin is seven. A seat for a principal level is eight. Uh student. So that leaves us with students. Do we want to do students? Do we want one student, two students? Do we want
114to do the student rep, which is Matthew? >> I was just thinking, >> what do we want to do there? >> I don't feel comfortable deciding if Matt can make I think that's something we got to obviously he may like. Yeah, it's my senior year. No thanks. >> So, leave it to one student and everybody who's interested, put it in there. Put it in the hat. Put the >> What if you don't get any students? >> Oh, I think you >> I mean, the first thing is I would be shocked. >> Oh, given the the reaction that you had, didn't you say you had the large group that came in here and wanted to be heard? Absolutely. Okay, great. Yeah. No. Um, but so I will say and and part of the here's the one
115thing that I will say is that part of the reason that I also give as much flexibility in the semi-finalist interviews is the one conflict that we sometimes run into is sports schedules and I will make sure that when we're setting the interviews, the search committee knows, okay, but so and so has a track meet on Wednesday. Can we make sure that we start the interviews on? So we we students are the one place where we try to be flexible in terms of things like the interviews. >> Okay, that's good. So, yes, it's up to you if you want to if you want to have your first ask go to your school committee rep, you certainly can. Or you can simply say, "Let's send it out to all of the student body or whatever aspect
116of >> a nice thing to do for him." >> I just I just think my the only reason I I was suggesting that we go with him like I always like to give everybody an opportunity is that he knows so much of the business of the district already. So, if he could do it, he knows things that we've been working on and and he's seen he has an opinion about >> different things too, you know. So he sees the inner workings. That's why I think he'd be such an asset if he wanted to. >> I've met with him a couple times this year already. He is one active young man. >> So he may be busy. >> No, no. What I'm saying, he would definitely I think we might be very interested in this. He
117is definitely >> because it's not just >> So we want to give him first choice and then after that if it's not him goes. >> Sure. Why don't we you could you could say essentially say he has right of first refusal, right? So we have the >> Yeah, let's do that. >> And then then what we'll do is we find out if he could do it or not. If he doesn't, I'll just then move forward with giving the same sort of we'll create an application. >> How how was he chosen elected or I think it's administration suggestion. >> I don't know that he's actively involved with the senior class. He's active in the president. He's what I meant by active he he's definitely our students in that district. >> But every year we have well
118he's this is the first time we've had a kid for two years. We had someone else the year before had and then we had someone before that. I don't know how those those kids were chosen. I don't know if they follow. >> They were chosen by the principal. >> Principal. Okay. >> So, if we do one student, that's nine. Yep. >> We haven't talked about school committee yet. Assuming school committee is two people. That's 11. >> Yep. >> Is there you want to do anybody else? >> Town. I don't know. >> Oh, yeah. I just feel like >> that starts to get pretty big. >> Too many cooks in the kitchen. Yeah. And it's >> Well, then you got to do both towns. >> You'd have to do both towns. >> We're at 13. It's
119an unlucky number. >> We are. >> We'd have to go to 13. >> No, I was saying if we go to 13, it's an unlucky number. I'm just >> Oh, yeah. And if you do towns, what about non-eing staff? I mean, those people deserve they actually work at the district. They >> Yeah. That that 11 does not include the non-eing staff, >> right? And I would do a non-eing staff before I went out to the towns. >> Mhm. >> Um, >> what if we did two students and non-eing staff? That would give us 13. >> Say that again. >> If we instead of doing one student, we do two students and then add a non-eing staff position. That would be 13. That's >> and have no school committee members on it. >> No, that includes
120two school. >> Two. >> Oh, then we're up to 13. >> Yes. Lori says it's unlucky. >> No, I mean I I get married on July 13th. It's been very lucky for me. So >> Oh, 13 is lucky for you. >> But I'm just I mean I don't know if you want to your point, Megan, too many cooks in the kitchen. I don't >> What do you think that's an unwieldy number? Do you think it's better at 11? >> Part of me thinks maybe we just don't do any school committee people on there. What do you think about that? >> What if you do one and then one student one non-eing staff? >> Which town gets the one committee member? I I don't think we should do any I think either Yeah. It's too hard
121to have We all have It's out out there. We all have different opinions on everything, right? So, I kind of like having the two students. I love getting the student perspective out there and maybe having a non-eing staff person and we're literally getting our candidates from the community. So, >> I think we need school committee members on there though. >> You think so? >> Oh, yeah. I mean, someone just comes as like a oversight. >> Got a question on that. Let's say we don't do that. Let's say we do that. No school. >> Yeah. >> We go through this process. The person is hired. There's a problem. I don't know what the problem could be, but there's a problem with this person in the future. Who's the first person that's going to get the blame
122for whatever the problem is? It's the six people that sit in this room. It's not the 13 people on this list. So, do you want to do you do you trust those people enough to then take on the the responsibility for their decision? >> I mean, to the point of choosing Matt, it's someone who knows like, you know, since everybody's >> It's not It's not It's not to disparrage anyone who would be on this group. >> No, no, no, no. But my point is the one of the the the selling points of Matt is that he knows a lot of the inner workings because he's present for them. >> No, no. We're not talking about Matt right now. We're talking No, I know. I'm saying if we're talking about us and we take us out
123and we're the ones that like think about since you become a school committee member how much more you know and the inner workings and the things that we need to work on and we like I would hate to not have that voice there too. I think that's an important voice. We're we're we're significantly outnumbered. So it's not like whoever's on the committee is going to steer it in a certain way because there's balance there. But I think you do need people who know what's going on to to be able to say, you know, this is we need someone who's strong in this or that and and it's going to differ from the other people, but it makes a healthy conversation is what I think. >> That's that's actually a really good point. >> So the
124school committee is one of three main jobs is policy, budget, and hiring and being responsible for the superintendent. This whole process and you're all elected to be that role. The the the people elect you to do that. this process takes a little bit of that away from this committee. Do you wanna Do you want to go even further down that line or like what Lori said, at least have that perspective in the room? Can't be overpowering because it's a numbers issue, but at least have that perspective in the room. I would also like to continue that line of thinking is that one of our biggest things in this community profile and what we want you know the selection criteria is communication with a negotiation with the town's people right so >> I would argue that
125Berlin I think had a representative in the last negotiation so perhaps then Boilson could be offered the next one or we could you know pull from a hat you know Tracy could pull for a hat for any interested town administrators or other >> in the negotiation for the salary mean of the contract. >> No, no, for this committee. >> For the committee. >> So just because I think >> Oh, did Berlin have one on the last superintendent search? >> Is that what you're saying? >> I I don't. >> No. So the last >> Oh, you mean for the negotiations? So they take turns. So um when Lori and I did it in 22, it was a boil. >> Yeah. I think we're getting a little ahead of ourselves to the negotiation at this point. No,
126she do it that way for she was saying because Berlin got to do negotiate about it. You have a boil be just do one town rep, one student, one non. I think that's what she was trying >> or just pull from a hat. Berlin boilston. >> Just do one town reporter please fire and that way we're not expanding it by two. >> You might even not get town reps. You might that decision might make it themselves. I don't think they my my you know again who wants more meetings some of them when we did negotiations it wasn't like I want to do it I want to do it was like it's your turn this year um so I you know it might decide itself if you just are like we're going to take one town
127rep um I don't know >> any thoughts >> I mean I I wonder if Tracy could reach out like we what if we I'm sure the central office and the principal that's going to be fine. I there's going to be no issues getting parents and teachers um or non-eing staff. You think there'll be no issues getting two students? >> I think there'll be no issues getting to students. I agree with you that that town is often an issue and also it can be that having um town people then commit to the time um required can be a challenge which isn't to say not to try just that that that is one thing that I have run into in the past. So perhaps again just throwing this out that you could say town employees, select board,
128fire, police or towns person. I mean I don't know. >> Personally I'm I'm against that. Are they the town's going to come to you for school committee advice on who the next police chief is? >> But we involved in negotiations and that's part of our we want >> for a teachers contract because that's the way the state law reads not for the other contracts. There's no other contracts that they do. Uh, I just I think at this point we're getting pretty large. We're at 13 if we do this. Now we're talking about adding a 14th. We would want to keep it odd. So we would add to a 15th. And that's what Tracy said. It starts to get pretty tough. >> So I would counter that. Maybe consider that one student again instead of the
129two and do the town select person person, you know, town's person. And if there's no one that comes forward, then it goes back to the second student. I don't know. >> Are there any town people that are also parents? >> I mean, I've had towns people approach me and say, "When when is this the the thing?" So, I mean, there are people interested. >> The chair of the Boilston Select Board is also a parent. He has three children in the school district. Um, but again, I would never want to speak for to say if he would be interested. I know there's people on the fincom that have had kids go through the schools. They might not currently be in the school. Um I don't know about Berlin. I don't think there's I don't know. >>
130I think the new person on that has kids, but >> Okay. >> We did a community forum. I believe Tracy and I no one showed up at all at our community forum. So Tracy did a little >> Oh, really? >> Yeah. No, no, Tracy and I were there. for the one in. >> Yes, that that was for both. >> No one showed up at that one. That was like the 18th or whatever. >> It was for both towns community. >> That was like the community, not the I remember that. No, not one person showed up. >> Tracer n >> I would I would value two students over >> fin or select board. >> Well, and I I also think the other problem we get into is we're being really particular about equity as far as
131representation from towns and this one town over another. Even though it's negotiations which are totally unrelated, I just worry that it would offend the other town that that town was chosen. >> If we say it's out of a hat, I mean, whoever could apply and >> knowing people in how they are, I'm not sure even even doing it a fair way like that would probably cause some issues, >> I guess. I don't know. on just not having a town's person like >> the the six people in this room and the two people who would be on the search committee are technically the town's representatives for the schools. We are voted in. >> I I I kind of I kind of agree with Mike on this because here's the thing. when they're going to hire like
132an accountant or a chief of police or a um the town administrator, the schools have absolutely no say even though that's like half of the budget and it determines, you know, >> The FinComs are appointed. We have no say, even though they're literally yanging or naying our budget, which makes or breaks, you know, how things can go at town meetings. So, I think it would be great if we didn't have so if we were a community where we didn't have so many parents. Um, but I and again I agree with Li. I think it is going to be important to have school committee members and I would and I I love the idea of having the student voice. >> No, I'm not disputing. >> No, I know. So, it's like if if it's going to
133be >> Tracy, if we were to do two students, could you do it in such a way that we had two students from either two different towns or one from one town and one that was school choice? If you had enough applicants that way, we had different voices. >> Yep. And I mean, I think the the question if the the student rep has a right of first refusal, then that, you know, sort of already sets us in one direction. >> That's true. So, >> also I'd say arts and sports too are two potentially two opposing people or could be one. Yeah, >> that's a good point. >> That's >> Yeah, I think he the town person I think right sports >> I don't know. >> So, we're at one central admin a principal level that's
134two. Two students that's four. Three teachers is seven. Three parents is 10. A non-eing staff is 11. and two school committees at 13. >> Tracy's going to pick the people. People will reach out. You'll reach out. People will have to reach out to you. We'll have the um so we'll send an email out to those the groups that have their are doing their own selection. Um we'll have put an application together for the teachers, one for the parents, um one for the non-eing staff. We'll get in touch with the student reps and see if he can make the um the meetings and then send out a student application based either for two people or for one and balance the towns. >> Do you have times for these meetings? Because I just feel like tomorrow people
135are going to start being like, "What time are the meetings? Are they all five or?" So um I would I would start the search committee meeting at 6 and then I would check with the community with the members of the search committee as to what time we start the 27th interviews are going to entirely depend on how many interviews there are. >> Right. So it's just people have to have availability that day. >> Yes. >> Y >> okay principles principles and assistant principles. What was that final decision on that? >> I think we're talking including the >> assistant. >> So I think the only remaining decision you have then Mr. Chair is the members of the school committee to serve on the >> right. So we do have a search subcommittee already uh which is
136currently Lori and Beth. Does anyone not think that's a good idea or does anyone want to suggest something else? That's Lori is from Boilston. She's the longest standing member on the school committee. She's the only one of us who participated in a superintendent search previously. Um, Representative Boilston. Then for a Berlin representative, it would be Lisa, myself, or Beth. Beth, you're you already been named to it. You're the newest member of the committee. You have students. You don't currently have anyone at BMS, but you've gone through BMS and currently at Tanto. So, you have that experience. >> I personally think you're the because of that experience with Tanto, I think you would be the best choice from Berlin, but I'm open to any other ideas. >> Yeah, I would also be interested. So, Lori and
137I ran in a contested election and we both won. Um, I have kids in the elementary school in Tanto. I was also a former student here, too. Um, and so I have blocked all my schedule to to do that as well. I was also on the prior superintendent committee. >> Okay. >> Anything else? >> Lisa, if you have a preference for doing it, I don't. No, I was just wondering like are you up for it? >> I'm fine with it. I just don't want it. I just wanted to >> I assume Mike doesn't want it. >> I was just trying to check if I'm aware. >> I'm not going to put myself on it because I don't want to attract any comments about what's this doing. I'll put myself on it. >> Notice fair. >>
138I'd support just being on it. I think um Lauri, you do so much. I just feel like your plate is so heavy. Yeah. So, um I think if Jess wants to step up, I will just say I cannot commit to all those dates. So, >> and I am away for part of that at least one of the days. So, so I I guess >> you're are the three of you are you said you're available. Are you available? Are you available? >> I'm available. I have an extremely flexible schedule. All right. Um, it currently sits as YouTube, but I'll put it out to a vote. So, could I have a motion to remain with Lori and Beth on the search subcommittee? >> Can I'm sorry. >> Yeah. No. >> Can we discuss is it possible >>
139to find another Berlin rep somewhere in these numbers to allow >> it's Lisa? >> No, not not from the school committee. From like you can't have four school committee. Yeah. No, I mean from either like an extra Berlin parent or an extra BMS parent. Like I feel badly that if I were to say why don't we let Jess and we have two Boilston reps. Could we find some more Berlin representation somewhere else? I mean also Boilston is 65% of the district and Berlin is 35%. So we're equal everywhere else. So if you had if you were like I don't care Jess you can do it I don't want to do it if that's what you're saying like I don't think that would be we're two it's two school reps >> we don't we don't weight
140our votes according to the regional agreement so the the size of the towns don't matter it's three and three it's you know it's equal representation from both towns >> yeah for our votes but for this committee I don't think it would matter if we have one extra boil over Berlin person I think is >> I think >> it's not going to be equal it's going to end up being because we have an odd number >> I think it completely matters from the committee's perspective as the only people on this search committee who are actually elected by the towns that each town would want at least one person >> but both of you were elected in elections that both towns voted in right >> no I'm just saying I fine >> I know that Jess feels
141strongly about this. I don't want to take away from someone that feels has a strong drive for it. I I don't feel >> I I appreciate that. I don't think we should put two members from either town on the search committee. If you don't want to be the member from Berlin, that's one thing. If Lori doesn't want to be from Boilston, that's another thing. But I don't think we should do two from one t whether it's Blandon or Boilston. >> But even once you get into this like you the teachers a lot of the teachers live in Boilston. You could end up with a heavy like if we're going to start really >> but they're they're on it as a representative of teachers right from the school. So it would be whether it's BMS or
142Bees or Tahans. >> My husband grew up in Berlin. My in-laws live in Berlin. You know he went to Tahondo. He went to BMS. My my sister-in-law did too. My brother moved to Tanto. Yes. So I I have long-term interest in this decision. I have a child in third grade and I have a child in seventh grade and I plan to be buried at the end of my street, Scar Hill Road. So I do feel very strongly about this. Yeah. Nope. Bought property there already 2020. So I feel very strongly about this and I was on the negotiations subcommittee and I was removed on the phone in between meetings without discussion. I was removed from the superintendent search committee or whatever subcommittee without discussion and yes I didn't say anything at that particular meeting because
143I was blindsided by that particular I guessed wrong what I was going to be blindsided about at that particular meeting. So I like to see information beforehand. I like to make an educated decision about it. Yes, I was not involved in the prior superintendent search, but that did not end well. So, I would, not that I'm blaming anyone. There was many years of good superintendent years of that, but I would like to >> the search the previous search >> the previous search. No, no, the end result. So regardless of that, I would very strongly like to be on this committee as a Boilson rep. >> So could I I did not come in here intending to defend but um or to to v for >> I'm sorry. None of what I said to you. This
144is what I represent. >> Yeah. And so I guess I'll just put myself out there. I was on the last superintendent search committee. I've been on this committee since February of 2020, which is very ironic if you think about the timing of mine coming on to the school committee. not the most ideal time to be on a school committee. Um, I've been through several superintendent. I'm a former teacher. I am certified. I'm reertified to teach. I'm certified to be an administrator. Um, I went to school for administration. I have a masters in that. Um, this district is my passion. I have a daughter who graduated um from Tahanto. I have two children that went through bees. Um, two children that went through Tanto as well. Um, I care about this town and I would love
145to be on the search committee. If that's what people want, I will abide by whatever the will of the committee is. Um, I've been passionate about this since being nominated as chair by Megan. Um, you know, I've worked with Tracy. I've worked with Al, um, on getting the information and everything. But whatever the committee decides, that's okay. I mean, I think Jess is qualified as well. Um, I just wanted to, you know, I don't want to make it seem like I'm like, you know, not interested. Um, so >> no, and I appreciate the time you've given this committee and the respect that you have given in those roles. Um, nothing I said was to disparrage you. >> Oh, I know that. Thank you for saying that, though. >> Since we have two people that really
146strongly want to do it, I feel like they should do it. >> Me, too. I agree. Beth, unless you want to give us your resume. No, kidding. I have no resume. I think I I would suggest if we're not going to put equal representation from the towns on this committee, then we wouldn't put anyone on the committee for it. I don't think that's a good idea. I think someone from Berlin and someone from Boilston should be on it. Right now, there's two people from Boilston who want to be on it. Let's do a vote. >> Wait, what? >> Yeah. So, well, could I have a motion to elect Lori as the Boilston representative? >> Well, we have the opportunity to vote another Lori votes. If Lori vote If Lor's voted no, then we vote yes.
147>> Why don't we just do an informal vote before we do a motion? What? >> Raise your hand who you want type of thing. >> No, just don't have it on motion. Just like who's interested in Jess, who's interested in Lari, who's interested in Beth. Let's just handle let's just handle Boilston for right now. >> I personally agree with Lisa and I think you should just have Lori and Jess. If Beth is saying I like God, can we vote whether we're comfortable with having two Boilston reps first and then move from there? >> Yes. >> Sure. Can I have a motion to include two Boilson School Committee representatives on the search committee and no Berlin representatives? So moved. >> Megan. >> Second. >> Lisa. All right. All those in favor? >> I. >> That's four.
148Anyone against? >> No. >> I'm against. That's 42. So you guys have two Oilston members on your search committee. I think that's a terrible idea. Let's see what Berlin has to say about that tomorrow. >> Is there any way that we can balance out the Berlin representation by like having an extra person? >> There's only there's only six school committee members who >> What town is he from? >> No, I mean like in one of these other groups. I'm sure you could, but it's the point is you have two elected officials from Boilston on this now with none from Berlin. You could have everyone else on here be from Berlin, but there's no elected representative from Berlin. So I think that's such that's a really good point, but also we have to take into consideration
149the passion that these two members have for this and we know that we can trust them and >> and we're asking all these people with that if they have availability and it's we might not get the perfect mix of people since we're asking >> I mean it's it's voted now so it's voted on so that's it is what it is. >> Cool. >> All right. So do we need to name the members? Uh it's Beth. It's uh >> your motion just said to have two Boilston people. >> All right. So motion motion to elect uh Jess and Lori as the members on the search screening committee. >> So moved. >> All right. Second. >> Megan and Lisa. All those in favor? >> I. >> All right. Anyone against? >> I'm against. >> All right. That
150motion passes 4 to2. All right. There it is. Uh we still have to vote, I think, on the other members or did we already vote on that? We need to vote on the other members, I think. Right. in in terms of the makeup of the rest. >> The makeup of the positions. Yeah. >> All right. So, could I have a motion, please, to have one central administrative office representative, one representative from the principal slash uh assistant principal group. Uh, two student representatives with the right of first refusal going to our uh school committee rep, Matt. Uh, three teacher representatives, one from each school. uh three parent representatives uh one from Berlin, one from Boilston and a school choice parent >> from >> school choice from Tanto. >> Yeah, school choice from Tanto and one uh
151non-eing staff position. >> So, >> all right, Lori. >> Second. Megan, >> I'd like to amend that motion to say the second student is from Berlin and that the non-eing the one non-eing staff is also from Berlin. >> All right, that's >> so then just to clarify um wouldn't that depend on whether or not the your student rep can actually serve >> if what you're looking at is balanced? >> Yes, I guess it's Matt or Blandston. Okay. >> Best way. >> I guess. So then >> I would say no one second that. So So the the amendment would be that the students have a balance burl boilston and >> or school choice. Yeah. >> Um >> then I guess though if student choice if they attended elementary school preference towards BMS attending. >> I know
152that's getting wasted. >> You're starting to get really really detailed. So yeah anyway so how about the motion is just balance between the two students between the towns or school choice and then one non-eing staff member with preference towards Berlin >> so from BMS >> or BMS yeah >> though most of the student most of the non-eing staff actually works at >> is non- teaching staff uh like cafeteria custodial custodial >> what about par professionals >> secretaries >> par professionals Yep. And that's not to say that there isn't, you know, some at every elementary school. I'm just thinking in terms of raw numbers, you have a very good chance of getting some of the talent. >> So I I it might be wise not to try to delve into that too deeply in terms of
153both the students and the the >> non- teachers. So then amendment with effort to to have represent Berlin Boilson or student choice for the students and then preference towards Tanto or BMS non-eing staff. It's my final amendment. We need a motion stay on the table. >> No one has second. >> Second. Lisa seconds it. Do you have that, Tracy? >> All right. So, we're voting on the amendment. Does anybody have any questions about it? >> No, she's just saying if possible, give preference to Berlin for the question non-eing staff. >> Right. >> I'm just trying to clarify it. >> So, she's saying if possible, give preference to the non for the non to Berlin for the non- teaching or the second student. Okay. Yeah, I'm fine with that. >> All right. All those in favor?
154I I >> Anyone against it? All right, that motion passes. We're now on to the original motion as amended. Any questions on that? All right, all those in favor of that. >> I >> Anyone against it? All right, that motion passes as well. Tracy, I think you have our uh instructions. >> I do. I do have one additional question because you chose to put school members on the script search committee. Do you wish to appoint a chair of the search committee or do you want them to elect their own chair? >> Uh, let them elect their own. >> Great. >> Do we need to vote on that? >> No, that's fine. I if you were going to appoint a chair, I would ask you to and because sometimes when there are school committee members on,
155they have they elect they the school committee says, "Hey, this is your chair." If you want them to elect their own chair, you're taking no action means that they won't. >> Yeah. >> And just for one point, I'm glad Matthew died. He's a school choice. Oh, all over the >> place. [Music] Great. >> Uh, Tracy, anything else you need? >> No, that's everything. Um, I will work with the administration to make sure that those who do self- selection are doing self- selection and um, work over the next couple of days to get an application up and as soon as your uh, invitation to apply with the application for the superintendency goes up. >> All right, thank you. Motion to return, please. >> So move second. >> All right, Megan and Lori, all those in favor.
156>> Anyone against it? >> Okay, return. Thank you. Thanks for >> Thank you. >> Whoever gave me the contract. Thank you. Look where they came from. It was magic.