School Committee Meeting 4/8/25

001All right. Thanks everybody. I call this the Brown boys and Regional School Committee to order. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Uh we're going to go into our public comment. Just a quick word about public comment. Uh usually we keep our public comment limited to a a time usually 15 minutes. If we need a little bit more time, we can do that. Each individual public comment is limited to three minutes. Uh and this is based on our public comment at school committee meetings policy. Uh public comment should only be made on items from tonight's agenda. Uh, and the agenda is on the screen there. If you

002could scroll down up and down a little bit, Joe, that would help us a little bit. And, uh, also from our policy, improper conduct and remarks will not be allowed. Defamatory or abusive remarks are always out of order. If a speaker persists in improper conduct or remarks, the chair may terminate that individual's privilege of address. Also, speakers may offer such objective criticisms of the school operations and programs as concern them, but in public session, the committee will not hear personal complaints of school personnel, nor against any member of the school community. Under most circumstances, administrative channels are the proper means for disposition of legitimate complaints involving staff members. So, if anyone's here to make a public comment, please step up, state your name, and address, and let us hear what you have to say. Hi,

003my name Hi, my name is Laura Venus. I'm here to talk about the team uh special education coordinator position at Tonto. So, dear members of the school committee, administration, and community members. As a member of the Tanto special education department, I'm running to ask you to reconsider the elimination of the special education coordinator position at our school. As an educator with more than 20 years of experience, I know that this decision will do what this decision will do to negatively impact our students and the ability of our department to operate as it should. I have had the opportunity to work in two other districts during my career and have worked with many coordinators. Since starting at Tonto 5 years ago, I've now had six coordinators and for the last two years, we have essentially had

004to manage our department on our own. With certainty, I can say that this has not been an ideal situation. Not having anyone in this position to go to when you need a leader is one of the worst things for an educator. The missing piece of leadership has been very difficult on our department and it has taken its toll on us. Without the coordinator at Tahanto, mistakes will happen that could not that could have been prevented if that leadership remains as it should. Three months ago, we were finally able to hire a coordinator and the leadership guidance and knowledge and support we've been looking for has finally happened. I can say without a doubt I can sorry without a doubt state that I've never had the pleasure of working with a more effective, experienced, supportive, and

005knowledgeable coordinator in all my years of teaching. This person has gone above and beyond in such a short time. Each day I'm inspired by the dedication and support that they have to offer. The coordinator understands the nuances of special education and is able to navigate this complex world of education. Things in our department are starting to take shape and we finally feel like we're headed in the right direction. To remove this from our team would be a detriment to our students and their right to a free and appropriate public education that truly meets their required level of need. As the teacher of the TLC program at Tahanto, we are working towards creating an amazing program for our students with the most significant special needs. I know that without a coordinator at Tanto, making this dream

006into an actual reality will fall significantly short of its intended target. I have run a program in another district. If we did not have a coordinator to assist, the success we achieved would have never happened. This position is vital to the operation of special education in a school. The TLC program has made amazing gains in the last three months because of our new coordinator and I do not want to lose the support and the moment and momentum that has already begun. Without a coordinator, my program will not flourish as it should and my students educations will fall short of what I intend them to be. The students in the TLC program and all the students on IEPs at Tanto deserve the very best programming we can offer. to eliminate the coordinator position would be taking

007away that programming and only hurting the students. I kindly ask that you reconsider the elimination of this position. I implore you to really look at this what this person does for our students in our department and to truly understand what this job entails. They are a vital asset to our students, our team, and our community. Thank you. Thank you. Hi, my name is Malik Anstein. Um, I am a special education teacher. Uh, and here to voice my concern over the decision to cut to Hanto special education. Can I I'll give you your time back, but can I I'll give you your time. I just This isn't on the agenda tonight. Is it? Am I looking at the wrong agenda? Isn't it part of the budget that was on? Is the budget on? I didn't think

008we were voting on the budget tonight. Out of the minutes, I guess. Yeah. All right. Okay. Yeah. Um, again, my name is Mon'nique Anstein and I'm a special education teacher and here to voice a big concern over the decision to cut to Hanto special education coordinator. As someone who has previously worked in a district without one, I can speak to firsthand in the way the district and school and of course the students and families will suffer without someone in that role. The role of coordinator is so incredibly vital in supporting our most vulnerable population and the educators like myself who work tirelessly for them. Not only does this person have to be a conduit to families for scheduling and advocating, but they have to know the Massachusetts and federal special education laws inside and out.

009They work non-stop to make sure that their students, families, and school staff don't get bogged down in little things that could amount to larger things slipping through the cracks over time. They ensure the validity of IEPs as well as holding educators to a high standard of implementation. All of the various roles a coordinator overseas are important and crucial to Saho remaining synonymous with being a district that excels. Eliminating this role also places an incredibly heavy burden on already taxed educators to pick up the slack left behind. It is not sustainable full stop. Now more than ever when there is a teacher shortage, educators need to feel supported and this directly opposes that. This will leave them drowning in more paperwork and day-to-day logistical issues and less hands-on direct teaching or inclusion time. The special education

010needs of students is only growing in a postcoid world and reducing the amount of support for our students and family will only families will only weaken Tando's reputation. Thank you. Thank you. Hello everybody. Forgive me, I'm a little nervous. I don't normally speak in front of groups of adults. I read mine. Hello, my name is Elena Spron and I'm a first year special education teacher here at Tanto Regional Middle School. I'm here today to just express my deep concern about the proposed elimination of the special ed coordinator position. Over the past few years, I've worked as a student teacher app and now teacher. I've worked under six different coordinators. This constant turnover has created confusion, disrupted communication, and made it harder for a department to function effectively. As a new teacher, I rely heavily on

011the expertise of these coordinators to navigate complex IE, support service delivery, and resolve conflicts, things that administrators simply can't offer with the same specialized way. The stability our current coordinator has provided has allowed us to address long-standing challenges and support f and start planning for future growth. If this position is eliminated, I fear our department will lose that stability and the quality of education for our most vulnerable students will suffer. Eliminating this role will only deepen the challenges we face in supporting these students with special needs, especially as we work to close the achievement gap. I strongly urge you to reconsider this decision. The special ed coordinator is critical in both our teen success and more importantly our student success. Thank you. Hi, uh, my name is Aaron Kaine and I want to talk about

012some safety concerns that have come up. I'm trying to follow this agenda and so I'm revising my statement slightly. Um, it came to parents attention that there was a trespasser at Boilston Elementary School and it was not reported to parents. This person came onto school grounds and spoke to third graders during recess. And at no point were parents were the community other than two individual students parents notified. This is a safety concern. The fact that administration did not think that parents needed to know is deeply troubling. We need to do better. Our students deserve better and our community deserves better. Thank you. Anyone? All right. Um, thank you for your public comments. We'll move on to uh communications. We receive a lot of communications. Uh they are available out there. Anybody look at them? Do

013uh anybody want to bring anything up? Before um yeah, go ahead. Yes. I mean, so we got many many many communications and there's definitely seemed to be a theme of them. Um there was a call for a plan of action, for surveys, for transparency, um more engagement of parents and make meetings more accessible. Um and then also the attractive qualities of a principal bees. Um and so I look forward to discussing that later on. All [Music] right. Mr. S, do you want to stay? I do. I do. Let me turn this one. Um, I am so grateful for the support since I gave my notice and I never expected this and I'm going to try not to cry. I'm going to make a little joke here to make sure that doesn't happen. I grew up

014with two brothers who when you're little would call you a crybaby if you cry. you learn to suck that up. And I'm very good at that. Um, but I had to go into my team. Um, and make an announcement that I didn't think I was going to make, but I made. That was my choice. Um, and I had to tell them I was leaving. And I had to tell our families of EES that I was leaving. And I want to tell you, I have soularched and been thinking about this for a while. and my poor husband who is here to morally support me tonight. Um, I've been driving him crazy and and I made this decision for me and and it is the right decision for me. As hard as it was, um, I made

015it and I walked into this meeting um, knowing what I was going to do to this amazing team. The outpouring of support and emails from all of you has been truly amazing. I never expected it and I've read every single email. It It shows me what an amazing community this is. And I want you to know that the people in blue and not all of them in here on the back of those shirts, which I have one as well, it says better together. I'm going to show you everything that you put in those emails. We do together. we're better together and they are going to continue to do that without me there. Whoever the next leader is because I don't do it alone. I do it with them. We share those ideas together and I

016thank you for that support. But I guarantee you this team, which is second to none, is going to continue it. They've already told me that. And as hard as it is for me to move on, I need to do that for me. So, I hope you understand that. Um, but they're here for you. Thank you. And I just want to remind you of something. I I um the kids why we're here. A little kindergartener came up and gave this to me today and she drew a picture. It's a kindergartener of me and her and she just said, "I love you, Mrs. Sykes, and I'm going to miss you." And she gave me a hug. And that's what I'm telling the children right now. And this I took from an amazing coworker, Mrs. I I said

017to I don't know how to tell the children. And she said, "You just give them a hug and say, I just need a hug. That's all you're going to tell them right now." And it's been very very helpful to me that they're making me pictures. So, I just wanted you to hear that because I hear you. I think we've all heard you, but the spirit of BS is going to hear now. I promise you that. Thank you. Cindy, I just want to tell you that I appreciate the conversations we had over the summer working on the contracts and everything else as we talked about earlier. So, thank you. Thank you. Uh, moving on. May I have a motion, please, to approve the consent agenda? Second, Second reason. Okay. Anyone like to discuss minutes? The warrant.

018All right. All in favor? Anyone against? Okay. The March 4th subcommittee minutes, the March 11th budget hearing minutes, and the March 25th open meeting minutes, and the warrant are approved. Thank you. Um, just a quick thing before we get to M. Tra Novik. Um, when we get into that conversation, I just want to remind the committee the school committee is here to basically carry out the business of the district. Not the education, not the teaching, not the other part of it, but the business of the district. And part of that business is an employer employee relationship. There's an employee issues, employee laws that we need to follow. We can't be making decisions or even considering or discussing anything based on rumor or speculation that might be out there. There's obviously a lot of that going

019on around there. Uh, everybody last night wanted full transparency on everything. We know what it's like to make decisions or to at least be accused of making decisions based on rumor. We just went through several months of lawsuits against the district and an individual committee member based on rumors. So when we're discussing things tonight, please keep that in mind. The other update I want to talk about is uh some budget guidance that was released. Uh the state desi released some budget guidance. If you want to put that up, Joe. Um about specifically about regional school district budgets. Um if you can scroll down a little bit, Joe, keep going. Keep going. Right there. Right there. That last paragraph is kind of what I want to focus on. if you could highlight that starting with the

020clear language. All right. So, the clear language of the legislation, they're talking about mass legislation and how to create a district budget. Uh the clear language of the legislation gives the authority to consider and act on the approval of a regional school committee's adopted budget. So, that's what we've done. We've adopted a budget. So, we now have an adopted budget. Gives regional school committees adopted budget to the appropriating authorities of the member municipalities. They go on to say such authority was not provided in law to select boards or finance committees. So we received a lot of questions and comments about what does it mean the select board does this? What does it mean the pin comp does that? This is not my language. This is not the school committee's language. This is straight from the

021state's guidance, DESI's guidance. So that's available out there for anyone to see. We can provide it to you if you want it, but you just do a quick look at Desi's uh district and school finance guidance on municipal approval of a regional school district budget March 2025. It's out there for anybody to see. So, everybody was asking questions about that. What does it mean for two towns? That's that's what it is right there. So, uh moving on, I'd like to introduce please Miss Tracy Novik to please come up. Uh you're gonna take it up. All right, Tracy, you can come up here or up there. I mean, whatever. wherever you got lights on if you want the mic. Okay, please excuse me if I drop things when I start to write things down. Um, good

022evening. It's good to be with you again. Um, I I know that everyone around this table knows who I am, but for those who um haven't been here when I've been here in the past, my name is Tracy Nic. Um, I'm the field director for Central Massachusetts for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. Um I uh am here in part to to basically uh to give you an update on what you have um before you this evening. Um for those who are sort of tuning in now, I guess I would say um you in you, the school committee decided in February on a two-part process in terms of the superintendency. you decided that you would pursue an interim superintendent for next school year, so the 2526 school year, and that you would um then be

023searching for your permanent superintendent as soon as the school year started next year, that superintendent starting in um July of 2026. Um that then means that and as I I think I mentioned before um I plan to be back with you in May so that we can actually lay out what the timeline will be. Um by then the district will have set um things like the the dates for back to school and so forth. We'll be starting right off with um staffing and so forth. So when I was with you on March 11th um you approved the posting for the interim superintendent position. Applications for that position closed on Friday. um and I shared with them with you over the weekend. Those are public. Um for any of you who've wondered why it says redacted,

024that's simply because we don't share um email addresses and telephone numbers of both the applicants and also those who um have submitted recommendations. That's the only thing I assure you that has been redacted from the applications. Um obviously we will share those with the school committee should individual school should the school committee decide to assign um pursuing the recommendations um individually. You have 11 applicants, seven are current superintendent. Um you have set um as your date for interviews next Tuesday. Um and thus before you this evening you have two decisions and let me know you're making both of these decisions in public session. Um because you're not using a screening committee. You have to you are required by uh state law to make your decision about superintendency and also about interview questions both in public

025session. Um the first decision will be who you interview next Tuesday. Um and then the second question will be what interview questions you ask. Um I did pass around to you the questions that were submitted to Lori and I want to apologize Jessica to you. I had already unfortunately run things off. Um that's why it's handwritten. Um but uh so no judgment call in there. I'm just attempting to fit things together. Um you will need to decide that. I would recommend interviews of of somewhere around an hour and you'll want to consider how many you would want to actually have. Um Mr. Chair, it's obviously entire entirely under the perview of the committee as to how you make your selection um for who you will interview. Um I will offer this that generally my recommendation

026when I am asked by a committee how to um at least start making a decision is to do so with a straw poll which is to say every committee member raise your hand if this is someone that you want to say go through the names alphabetically that the reason I say that is it does have a way of very quickly sorting out if there are people who the committee is just simply not interested in seeing at all or who they're quite interested in seeing together as a group. But again, that is entirely up to the committee and I will I will stay here until we do that and then I'll talk to you about interview questions and I'm prepared to keep track if you'd like me to too. Thank you. Yes, please. So, we should

027go through one by one if that is the will of the committee. You want to start if you want to do it by stroke. Are we referencing people by name or initials? So, I would what I would do is I would actually my recommendation Mr. through the chair of the committee would be that I would simply name them people by last name and you raise your hand if you someone that you would like to bring in. All right. Um we can do that. I've got the list well the files in front of me. It's sorted alphabetically so that's fine. Um last name uh Cutler. Raise your hand if you want to bring your information. Is that what you're supposed to do? Yes. High five. One. So only one for him. Okay. Uh, Dwire. Two for

028Dwire. Okay. Okay. Uh, Flarity. One. Two for Flareity. Three for Flarity. Sorry, I'm trying to go I have my notes organized differently. Well, can we go a little slower? Yeah, sure. Would it be um I We should have given up numbers ahead of time. Yeah, probably. Would it be easier? Do you want to I'm going to name my name, but you mentioned seven of the 11 have superintendent experience. Uh, yes. So, you Yeah. Wait. Yeah. What? So, who was the first one? Was it Cutler or Thompson? The first one was Thompson. I have first names written. All right. Let's start again. Does anyone want to simply eliminate anyone who does not have superintendent experience? Yes. Okay. Raise your hand. Okay, that's a unanimous decision. All right. Do you have it marked there? Who doesn't? Who

029does not? I have it marked. I only have six. I do, too, but I just want to make sure there's five or four with experience. Oh, wait. I I come to six based on their resumes. What? So, from what you just said, Cutler would be out. Okay. Okay. Yes. I hit them on the opposite side. Clarity would be out. Wait, no. That was a superintendent. That's my question. So you would want to consider that. Y So for sure and that would but then we'll leave that question open for a second. Um and Bethanne Cormier would be out. Gulliard. Yep. I wrote that. Okay. Uh and Gillson. What else have you experience? Okay. And then I think then the question was assistant I didn't real she was an assistant superintendent. Yeah. At a regional school district.

030Correct. Director don't want. All right. So realize that I have her on my main. So what's the decision on that? So that would if what that would do then Mr. Chair is that would what appear appears to have been the case for sure is that you've then ruled out two. You ruled out Cutler and you've ruled out corner and she has assistance and corner, right? So you want to make a slightly different decision which is fine. You may still want to then potentially do a straw poll because you have quite a number of names. Can I say two names that I saw had votes of no confidence from previous districts or are we not allowed to do that? So I think the question will become do you want to move into deliberation or do you

031want to do a straw poll and see if that gets you anywhere without Let's see if we can eliminate some more names here. I have two that I'd like to eliminate. All right, let's go. Let's go one one by one alphabetically again. [Music] So, Dwire would be the next. Yeah. So, Dwire, I like Dwire. Okay. Two. Two like no like next would be who's tracking is Tracy. Yes, I do have it. Yep. So, two for Dwire. I've got then Flarity since that's an executive director of a a collaborative. We I thought we voted on Flarity. All right. We'll do that again. I think we voted we decided to keep it right. Yeah. On the list for now. Yeah. All right. Next is Gam. That is five four five. Five in favor. Yeah. And one. Okay.

032Next is Gillson. I think we eliminated, right? No. Well, there was a question. Was that the She's an assistant superintendent. So, why don't we vote? That's why we had Tracy. So, why don't we vote both then vote Gilson? Raise your hand if you'd like to have her come in for interview. Yes. Okay. I see six. Uh, next garage has been correct. And okay, I don't know how to say the name. Kusta raise you if you want to keep an interview. One, two. I see two. Two. I see two. Okay. Next. Wouldn't the next be LGO? Yes. Lau. Sorry. Can you say the name again? LGO. Elizabeth Lgo. Oh, I was one, two, three. I see three. Okay. And then Lberg. See one, two. Okay. And then Ra. One, two, three. Okay. And Thompson. See one,

033three, four. Okay. All right. How many is that one? So, um, what you have then is two for Dwire, uh, you had three for Flareity, five for Ganon, six for Gillson, two for Castiga, three for LGO, two for Lindberg, three for Ricka, and four for Thompson. So um at this time your uh your top people are Ganam and Gillson with five and six respectively. Um if you wanted to you could move to eliminate everyone with two unless you wanted to um to discuss any of those who ones with two again. Sorry you have Yep. You have Let me just finish saying and I I was going to run through that next. You do have Thompson has four, Rick has three and Lego has three. The one as and Flity has three. The ones with two

034are Dwire, Kusta, and that's it. Clone and Lenberg, sorry. Lenberg, Kusta, and Dwire would be the ones eliminated. If you eliminated those with two, so typically we do majority vote. That would be four or more. There's sounds like there's four people with four or more. Uh, I think you have three who have four or more, Mr. Chair. You have Thompson with four, you have Gillson with six, and you have Ganon with five. Oh, Reek was only three. That's right. Yeah. I think so. That's three. Can we discuss the twos? Um, within that you want to discuss the twos. Okay, let's pick what two to discuss. Are we allowed to say the one we looked up that had votes of no confidence? I don't know if everyone googled people to look. I only found one. I

035found two. You had to dig deep because she had a different name. Okay. All right. Uh, let's pick one and discuss. Who would like to propose? But I'm asking, are we allowed to talk about their votes? I would say two things. First of all, votes in no conference are public information. Okay. Um they are also not uncommon to be fair. Okay. Yeah. No, I just I get it. I just I think my I think my first question, Mr. Chair, is do you want to do you want to discuss your twos or do you want to discuss your threes only because you have three threes? I'm happy to discuss if people want to discuss. But let's be clear if we're discussing based only on what's been provided or if we're discussing based on whatever I think

036we're discussing based on whatever else has been researched or or found that could be a little iffy at this stage where picking resumes to then bring in for an interview that interview process reference checks background check all that should be done at that point I think I personally think we should be slight selecting resumes that have been submitted that we then want to move to a further we've got it sounds like three right now. Right now you have three you would if you if it was as you noted if it was a majority you would have Thompson you would have Gilson and you would have G. I'm open that's what I would suggest but if anybody wants something different that's a good point that is the other question as to whether or not you want

037to move forward keeping in mind that you also have scheduled yourself for a single meeting. You say Thompson Thompson. Yep. Gilson. Can we talk about um I really really liked um I mean maybe I'm wrong. Dwire. Have you have you looked at when they started their interim position and when it's through? They started their interim position on 125 and is through 627. Yeah. So there was some red flags with like two years early, one year early. Well, I don't know. They're flags. I don't know what color they are. So, I guess I've read the news article. I mean, I guess I So, you don't want to talk about because that's Oxbridge, right? I mean, I can I can Oxbridge is actually one of the districts that I cover. and actually address the fact that I

038mean Oxbridge had to appoint an interim superintendent in January because their um their full-time superintendent needed to step down and they necessarily so that the her assuming that that position in January is um not a mark what I would argue is that a mark against her. I think that's a fair statement. I mean she was assistance from 2021. Yeah, I did see that. Yeah, I I really liked her. I don't know. Who who are the threes Tracy please? Uh the threes are uh flarity Lego and would anyone like to discuss adding? So first of all have we decided that we haven't even decided. All I did was ask a majority. Is that what everybody feels is good? So I feel like I mean the add to it the twos are the least supported. So, I

039think it would be great to discuss them and eliminate them. The easiest ones to try to eliminate because more people have issues. It would sound to me like only getting two votes would just eliminate. But I feel like if we discuss them, people might change their votes. Because I mean, I don't know. So then we should just It's just hard because there was 11 people to look into. Sorry. If that's the case, then let's talk discuss each one individually. We're not going to stand by what we just voted. I mean, I'm happy I'm happy to go with those three if people want to just go with those three, leave the discussion, and then start with the ones who had threes, sort of work our way back to come up with what how many do we

040want to interview? Three, four, five? No more than four. No more than four. Probably people are different than their resumes, so I'm there making that decision. So, how many do we want to hear? Four. Five. Five. Five. Okay. Okay. How long is an interview? Um, generally interviews are between an hour and an hour and 15 minutes. We'll be doing this on uh Tuesday. And you're doing it on Tuesday. And what you had said in the time anyway was that you were scheduled for starting at 5. So, you want to do all five on the same day? I don't think we should do five. I think we should do three of them. I have reservations cutting it down to that number. I know five hours of interviews seems at the at minimum very daunting, but I

041think we should do five. People are different than their resumes and I think narrowing the pool by half is is enough at this stage. Is this possible if we start discussing our goal is four or five, maybe that fifth one will kind of drop off once we start discussing. Yeah, it seems kind of arbitrary just to say, you know, like I feel like we should base it on like people. Well, the first basis was the struggle that Tracy suggested. We have a ranking now. We have uh five, a four, sorry, a five and two fours. You have a six, a five, a four, and then three threes and three twos. What were the threes again, Tracy? Yeah. Can you threes are flarity and I found that two people had votes to no confidence. Um, sounds

042like you want to eliminate those. I would eliminate if I want to make a motion to eliminate any names. Do we have to make a motion? We could. Susan Kuska or sorry, Ricka and Kuska both had votes of no confidence. Rick was pretty publicized. Raise your hand if you'd like to eliminate both of those names. If it has a vote of no confidence, do you want to eliminate it? Okay, that's six. one of them and human. Other than the three that have four above and the ones very eliminated, how many does that leave us? Um, so then you would have Lego and Lindberg and you would have flarity. Oh, and Dwire, excuse me. Dwire is two. All right. So, that's four names. Would you like to discuss any of the four names? Could you say

043the name? Yeah, I'm sorry. Let's start with flarity. Say them again. Let's start with flity. So, yep. So, flarity has anybody Let's discuss flarity. Do we want to take flarity? I thought she had a great resume. I don't think it's a good for what we're looking for. I think that's a dangerous path to go down. I don't think she has the experience. That's the collective one, right? That's why I didn't choose her. I think she looks really great, but not for this specific role in my opinion. I liked her resume. Um, I thought that, you know, um, I would be interested. I I'm not saying I'm ready to hire her, but I I think in the spirit of hearing like meeting people and hearing what they have to say, I feel like when we did

044the principal searches, I was part of it for both rounds. It wasn't until the people came in, like there were some people that looked really good on paper and they were, you know, it just wasn't a good fit. And then people came in and they started actually talking about their experience and we like we were like, okay, it's kind of parallel to it might not have be the exact same job description, but it's kind of parallel to to what they'd be doing. So, I don't know. I like that she's special education in this and it looks like she has a lot of the business side too computer science major. Would anyone like to add her to the list to invite for an interview? Raise your hand. Can you just say the list is right now?

045I'm not eliminating. So the three that you have so far are Gillson, Ganam and Thompson. Remaining is Flareity and LGO, Dwire and Lund. who we're currently discussing. So, if we're not going to eliminate people, we want to just discuss who we're going to interview. All right. The question is, do you want to add this person to the list to invite to I will allow raise your hand, please. Three. That is not a pass. Okay. We have a four. Uh, next is who? Tracy, please. Um, so if you're if you're going through the threes first, the next would be um Elizabeth Leo. Okay. Anybody have anything to say about [Music] three times where in her letter in the letter? Yeah. So, it makes me think was it one of her um No, it was her. And

046it makes me think she didn't research the Tracy. Do we know why her resume stops her experience in Eagle? Um she went on medical leave. All right. Misspellings, you said Beth. Oh, it's missing R. I see that. At least she didn't call us another I know there had the wrong town in there, too. She didn't call us Brooklyn, that's for sure. Yeah, she didn't proofread her letter, which is what? Um, yeah, I know that's Lisa's pet peeve. She's a great she's I really don't like that when when we're hiring we we the first impression of someone or the first introduction to someone is their resume. If there are misspellings after having reviewed it, gone through it, ask colleagues to review it, ask friends and family to review it. If there's misspelling of the town name

047or the company name that you're applying to work at, that doesn't in terms of selecting resumes, that doesn't sit with you. But does anyone want to move? Yeah, I mean she has she's been 10 years at at one place in one position which I think speaks volumes and you know two years at somewhere else and then eight years before that somewhere else and 10 years before that. So there's longevity there which I appreciate. Again she has special education experience which I think and most of these except for the present one are outside of Massachusetts. Is that right? I think if I'm looking at correctly, I didn't write that down. Flity. Uh, no. Go. She's at East Bridgewater. So that's Massachusetts before that. No, East Bridgewwater is Mass. East Bridgewater, Mass. She's been there 10 years.

048Bridgewwater. She just She's in the general area and it's not a regional school. in White Hall, New York, and she got the deficit down. Sorry, she got the deficit down. Positive impact on the community in one of the letters of recommendation. Okay. Would anyone like to add LGO to the interview the interview list? I'm sorry. Yeah. Yeah. Raise your hands. Two. Two. Awesome. So that means she's not passing. Not right now. Okay. With two more, Tracy, I think. Yes. You have uh Dwire and Lunberg left. Okay. Let's look at Dwire, please. So, I like Karen Dwire because she stepped in in a time of need. It was a critical need. I won't go into it. If you want to, you can Google her name um in Oxbridge. and she stepped in and she didn't badmouth

049anyone and she just kind of came in and she's doing her best to do both jobs and so I think that counts for something. I know the way it looks on paper if you don't look up and like what happened it looks because at first I looked at it and then I started trying to Google people. Yeah. I mean she did exactly what Carol did three years ago. So actually that's kind of I I I struggled with her. I I that is my concern is that this is not a lot of times people will do an interim superintendent to kind of get their feet wet to become a superintendent. She was an assistant superintendent. So was Carol. Um when you haven't really been a superintendent you have to obviously get you know you have you

050have to get experience which if we were in a better situation central office if everything was all straightened out I would feel better about I just my concern is not just what's good for our district. It's also what's good for that person. And I don't know. I think my concern would be does she have enough experience to untangle the mess that's being untangled right now? Um figuring out last year's budget and everything like that. Like it's not just being a superintendent. I did like her. I But that was my concern. It doesn't it doesn't her resume doesn't scream expertise and budget. I know we have Aaron with us now which is huge. But um I think it's really important that we have someone that's strong in budget because we've seen from last year to this

051year, you know, the difference in leadership is makes all the difference in the world. Yeah. Anybody else? All right, raise your hand if you'd like to move her to the interview list. Two and one more. Tracy, who So, we just have three right now on the interview list. You do. So, I was impressed with that resume. um nine years at one place essentially five years at another place, one like two different positions within the same district and then the most recent district was nine years. Again, two different positions. Um but the current one being superintendent. Yeah. So he's got what three years of going on on two and a half or so years of experience as superintendent. He's also the only one who didn't actually list out on all the questions. He just said, "Yeah,

052just look at my resume." Everyone else actually listed out where that was asked. I mean, not a big deal, but does that say anything about you ask him a question and he's just going to tell you to look at his resume? Well, I thought it's because he had his resume was uh very there was a lot of stuff on resume. again a lot of them had a lot of stuff. Did we Google Sorry, did we Google this one? I did. It was a very public Yeah, I did. That kind of seems timely given the conversation. Yeah. Oh, yeah. So, I don't know if that would be a wise decision. Could be. I I that seems given what I had read and the conversations in the last few days that seems like an odd choice. All

053right. Anybody else have anything to say? Would anyone I'm willing if if anyone feels strongly and wants to make another person, I'm willing to have him here is he would but Beth, he would be the one that you would be willing not somebody else. There was somebody else I definitely pick somebody, but I mean I don't want to do raise your hand if you want to move him forward. Jess, you would not. All right. If you want to move him forward, raise your hand. I like the resume. I didn't Google it. So, the resume was very, very strong. I I agree. It was a good resume. Is that one vote to move? All right. All right. Okay. That's everything. Yes. All right. And we have three that we don't want to. Can we like talk

054about We don't want to move anyone else forward. Who would you like to suggest? So, who because we only have three right now. Did we We've The only the person that I would consider and I was on the fence about it. I I initially voted for her and then Beth made a comment that made me think maybe not was done a flity because she has immense like training and professional experience. Um she was a town finance committee member I didn't see that the finance committee member. I did town finance committee. Do they have any qualifications to be on the town finance committee? They unless in New Hampshire though might be different. Yeah. No, that's what I'm asking. It's New Hampshire. So, do they like are they required like if you go to buy an insurance

055policy or ask where you want to invest your money, you got to go to a licensed qualified person. Does the finance committee like Aaron has to Aaron has a license to be a business finance director in Massachusetts public schools. Aaron is licensed to advise on budgets for the schools. Is a finance committee licensed to advise anyone on how to spend money? They're not required to. Individuals might be in their private life, but I don't know. Is there anything on here like So, she was on a finance committee, but is there anything on here that she's strong in finance? I don't It doesn't say that, but she is very strong in special education. Yeah, I like that. I think that's very important for our district. I think we need to interview more than three people. I

056feel strongly about that. Does anyone want to add Donna? Donna, sorry. And Rich came. Donna Flareity. Does anyone want to move Donna Flareity to the invitation to interview list? I do. Three. Four. Okay, that's four. So, that gives us four to invite for an interview. It does. Does anyone feel strongly about another candidate? was someone that was Googled. No, that was someone and I'm fine with that. What did we decide about Lego? No. Could you list the ones that we have? You decided that um Clarity Gil Gillson Gan and Thompson. I know what we talked about Cutler. I know what we talked about uh Thompson were taking, but why did we say no on LGO? Because she did not get left. Yeah. So, she's got special education re was one of the recommendations. Um she

057was 10 years at one place, eight years in another, 10 years before that. She got the deficit down. Some one of the recommendations said positive impact on community. And then what? Dwire is the other one. I I really like Dwire. I know she doesn't have a lot of experience. I think is the one that spelled Berlin incorrectly in her letter. I don't know. Yeah, I'm not sure that I think I don't really know if I want to pronounce Bald correctly and let us but neither could Aaron but he's got it now or Aaron just a few finance committee meetings in Maryland and thank you to serve anyone strongly about adding a fifth invitation add so I mean essentially it's between Dwire and LGO. Yeah, if we added a fifth. Yeah, if we added a fifth.

058And I I had both of those. How about this? Raise your hand if you want to add a fifth. I think All right. Okay. So, try just tried. Tracy, do we need to do an official vote on the four invitations? That would not be a bad idea. Yep. All right. Uh, I'm going to ask for a motion to invite the following four individuals who Tracy's going to read the names to come and interview for our intern superintendent position. You're uh you've got Susan Gillson, Albert Ganam, David Thompson, and Donna Flity. Second, any final conversation, discussion, questions? Yes. Okay. Um, resumes are one thing, people are the other. And so I think it's important not to eliminate people that we know that are effective at their position before we know we have without knowing the other

059candidates. Yeah. And uh I mean we I don't think anyone even saw Al's resume before we uh had him here. We didn't have any candidates. You gave us his resume. We did. Come on. We had I know you're not happy right now, but stop piling on that. And he came highly recommended. So, so in that instance, we had two resumes, two people. We only had two people apply. So, we had two people apply. Yes. Yeah. We interviewed them both. There was two people. Yeah. Oh, you want to know? So, based on this resume, I'm sorry. Is there something going on there? I apologize. Just trying to clear my throat. I apologize. I was being rude. Thank you. So I think I joined this committee years ago. I ran because I saw issues. So where I

060think being a superintendent, I would not want that job. I think it is multifaceted and that's why I think a resume does not necessarily speak to someone's ability to be a superintendent and be our fit. Um I think where we were in August is not where we are now. and the issues that were in our district that preceded August are still here as well minus huge amount of financial clarity. Um so whereas there have been a lot of information coming from many different directions I don't want to make rash decisions before we know we have a competent individual among the other resumeumés. So I know a lot of people are not happy with that. Um but decisions being made are not easily made and so yeah I do feel strongly about having a fifth person.

061I think the more people we interview the better off we are. And I guess my point wasn't that I'm upset with Al. My point was we only had two resumes. We had a one teeny tiny bit of time. We've got we've had these for a couple weeks. We have 11 people. Why not? I know it's a ton of time and a ton of work. Daughter's having surgery tomorrow. God only knows where I'm going to be next week. But, you know, I I feel strongly about having five people in. And, you know, I've been hearing people want transparency. People want to change. And maybe we need someone, you know, maybe we need something different. So, this would be a little bit different. Anybody else? There's a motion on the table. One could amend the emotion if

062one wanted. We could add someone. Just throwing it out. So, I just I'm just going to add my two cents. If we're adding someone because we think they're going to be beneficial to our district, that's one thing. If we're adding it because we think that's what everybody thinks we should do, but it's really a waste of their time and our time. Tracy said the interviews are going to be an hour to an hour and a half. That's a lot of time, and it's a lot of time to ask someone to take out of their schedule. So, I just want to make sure that we're not focused on a number or like if if you feel really strongly and you feel like someone was overlooked and would be a great fit for our district, I think

063that's what we should be focusing on because that's what we want and need, not a specific number. Um, I do understand that more people gives you, you know, more ideas, but I just if if anyone can argue for why one of these people would be a great fit for Erland Boilston, I'm I'm willing to listen. I just haven't been convinced that of that personally. What if you feel really strongly about someone? I'm very open to changing my mind. I just feel like you don't know a per you. It's so hard to tell by looking at someone on paper like some of these people. I mean, I'll be honest, the first person I picked on paper and then I started like doing research and trying to figure things out, I'm like, "Oh my god, no. That's

064the worst one possible." So, I just feel like sometimes when you sit down and you talk to people So, let me let me ask you this. So, we've been we've been at this for 40 minutes. Do you want to just scrap it all and invite all 11 to come back and take a day? Do it. I mean, I do. I want to do that. No, but yeah. Well, that's what you're That's what you're arguing. Sure, I'll do that. You want to do that? Just No, I don't think we need to go to two. No, we already eliminated certain ones that we definitely would not hire to them. Well, we don't know them, but they're different on paper in person is what you're arguing. Well, they don't have the level like a middle school principal I

065feel because right maybe it's a star and like this is his line. No, I think there's certain things that happen that somebody doesn't come back from that lunge whatever that right I don't Yeah, that and like if you if you're so then there's if that's the case if we're not going to invite them all back then we have a motion on the table right now. Does anyone want to hear anything? I would like to amend a motion to add the Gulch to that pool of people given the longevity of her service in the districts and the recommend the content of some of the recommendations despite the misspelling of their own. All right, that's a motion. Second. Yeah, it's now seconded. Okay, any discussion on the amendment? So if we if this amendment passes then we

066would be inviting we would uh be adding LGO to the list of four making five. Yes. Okay. And then we would still need to vote on that. Yes. Okay. Anyone would like to discuss that? All right. All in favor of the amendment? I I I hear three. Is there I hear three. Anyone against? I hear two. Okay. That I'm also against. So I'm sorry that motion does not pass. We still have the original motion of the four names on the table. Any final discussion? Okay. All in favor of this motion? I. Anyone against? Okay, that motion does pass. Tracy, I think we have our Excellent. Thank you. So what I'll plan on doing is I'll be contacting them tomorrow um to schedule um they did know the evening that you were planning on doing it.

067So my hope would be that even if it is budget season um that they all have made that evening available. Uh then the the next thing Mr. Chair for you all to discuss and decide upon um is the questions that you'll ask in the interview. Um I did get some ahead of time um which I've shared with you in print. Um and the question is so that what you have in front of you is five you have seven um I would say that you can go up to you can probably add another seven or so if you wished um and still be coming in within an hour um at least within my experience. Uh before we get to that, Tracy, so we need to put an agenda up for Tuesday. Yes. Do we list each

068of the names on the agenda? Uh you can. Yes, you would because it's the finalist. Yes. And um and just to be clear, um the the um applications as redacted um just in terms of the telephone numbers and so forth um can also be posted as part of the agenda if people would like. They certainly can be shared on the website. All right. Okay. So questions. So seven questions here. Um, maybe we should start or how how do you want to start? Do you want to start by looking at these, deciding if you like them, or do you want to start by seeing if you want to add additional ones? We can start with what we have and All right. So, let's start with what we have. Um, you've read them. Uh, I don't know

069if you want to read through each one of them or just does anyone have a concern about any of these? for trans transparency you might want to read. It also gives the candidates a chance to prepare. Yeah. Yeah. I agree. Is that wrong? Pardon? She suggested that we read the questions for transparency and I suggested that it gives the candidates a chance to Oh, this becomes part of you actually have to do the questions of public comment and so this becomes part of your minutes today. Yeah. All right. Sure. Jess, why don't you go ahead? In no particular order, then we'll start from the top. How will you handle the balance of respecting longtime employees in the district's experience and familiarity with how things have always been with new ideas, changes, and perspectives? I like

070that. I do, too. All right. Anyone against? All right. So, let's keep that one. Um, I don't know if the next one's in. It looks like it's three paragraphs. It is. Oh, it's the Oh, all three paragraphs. All right. I will read it in full. I'm not sure if you researched our district, but in full disclosure, we're currently in the middle of a big shift. Our current superend interim superintendent has had to do much more than just his superintendent duties. is trying to make sense of last year's budget and finding things like job descriptions and professional practices that need updating or creating as some don't exist. He typically works well beyond 7 p.m. on weekdays, attends town meetings both Berlin and Boilson that often run till 9 or 10. He often spends weekends at central

071office. Do you feel you are equipped to continue this work? Would you be able to dedicate as much time to return turning our district around so we can attract a full-time superintendent next year? any strong opinions about that one way or another? I like it. Maybe some it's wordy, but she's trying to make a point. I I don't oppose it. She's trying to ask if the person is willing to work really hard. I like it. I mean, it is a little wordy, but I I think the point's there. They'll probably say, "Can you repeat it?" Yeah. Um, but I mean the crux of the question is the last paragraph. So I would I would say maybe we could in the first sentence strike everything up until disclo like through disclosure and just say we are

072currently in the middle of a shift in this district or Yeah, that'd be do that. Does anybody agree or disagree with that? I'm indifferent. I think the crux of the question is fine. Yeah. All right. So, we'll start it then with just we are currently in the middle of a big shift in the in this district and then want to add in the district. Okay. All right. So, we're good with that one. The third one. Uh, how would you create an environment where staff felt safe to approach you with problems? I like it. Yeah, I like that one. All right. I actually have a problem. Um, how do you build strong relationships with parents, teachers, your admin team, the town board members, and the school committee? That's a long response, I'm sure. Oh, we're there

073for an hour. Anyone guessed it? All right. What are your greatest strength and weaknesses as a leader? Why are you interested in this? Oh, sorry. Did I have issues? These are just generic ones. I think I found these online and I sent a bunch to Lari. Um, but I mean I feel like it's important to like ask somebody what they think their strengths and weaknesses are. I used to interview a lot of people when I worked in corporate America because I would have a lot of people reporting into me and that was like a key question. Yeah, sorry. No, I was just gonna I just think like the next two are just like key maybe you start with those or you like why are first like it should be why are you interested in this

074position? I mean that's just a a basic question and then what are your greatest strengths and weaknesses because if somebody isn't able to speak honestly about you know or acknowledge what they're good at what they're not good at that's important yeah I think how they sorry I personally think your greatest strengths and weakness is one of the worst questions because are they gonna my weakness is I care too much profession but I think that then talks about their character getting to know them better It's fine. I don't care. I don't care if we get married. I just think it's a waste of time. But the other ones here are good. Yeah. Why are you interested? How do you handle conflict? So, we got enough of that going around. And how do you bring the biggest

075one there is the strong relationships? That would be the one that you want to know. Right. Lisa, you had a question. You did you ever put it into words or I I didn't have time to actually go through, but it's a question about the budget and what their skill is in the budget. All right. Why not? So, are we Let's Hold on. Hold on to that. But for these, so there's four. You want to keep all four? No, there's one, two, three. No, no. Those last ones that group that we were talking about the last. How do you build strong and greatest? Why are you interested? How the last four questions? Yeah. I mean, if Lisa has a question, Tracy, is this going to be too long? We don't want to go over an hour.

076She said 14. She said, Yeah, I think I think you're well within within time. Yeah. So, even adding a several Let's Hold on. Let's finish this sheet and if we want to add to it, then let's do that. I'm good with all those. Yep. Everybody's good with All right. So, we're good with All right. So, the whole sheet's fine. All right. Lisa, you'd like to ask? So, and maybe you can help us word this better, but um I'm just wondering what their skill in the budget process is because we've seen how important that is. Yes. From you know, last year to this year, specifically regional budgets. And what might be wise if I could make a suggestion is you might ask them to give specific examples of their experience um because that then actually gets

077them talking about not only sort of hypothetically but also grounded in their what they've actually done. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Give us examples of your experience with with the finance budget especially regional if you can speak to Yeah. What is your experience working with multiple member towns to complete a budget? I guess complete a region. And if nobody has experience in the regional, if nobody has experience working with different member towns of a region, do we want to be their training ground in that? That didn't work out so well last year. I think they all do. If they all do, then that's No, no, no, not if you have regional experience, but I feel like we have down like the Thompson was eventually so we can leave it as a question and see how they answer.

078Yeah. I just don't know if you should only regional like I'm kind of Yeah. budget experience, but specifically regional. Could that be the second part of this? Maybe the first part, you know, in presenting and then maybe the second part of that is do you have any experience with regional? Yes. I feel like we are in a really good position in the finance department because we have Aaron here now and he clearly has years of experience and he has shown and proven that he understands regional budget. So I feel like you know the last time we were hiring an interim superintendent we might not have been in that position. I don't know if that's fair to say that. Um but now we have Aaron. So while I think it's important but that we have a

079superintendent that understands budgeting, we have to understand the role of the superintendent isn't to actually do the budget. It's just to to be the support. Aaron is doing the budget and you know but that person does that's why I really like L's question. They have to go to all those town meetings to be able to present that and be able to do the talking and and dealing with the towns. So and the the families and all that. I do think that aspect of it is important maybe, but not necessarily like the numbers aspect because I don't think you're going to get a superintendent that actually has that numbers experience. This guy, so we've got that. Is it now a two-part question? Do you have that down, Tracy? Yep. Address your experience with regional district budgets

080if applicable. Yeah. Can I ask a question? Uh, is that appropriate for this? I'm not sure answer a question. Lisa has a question. If we got a superintendent that didn't have a lot of budget experience, would you be able to work with Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, my job's to Megan's point, my job's to help deal with budget, and that's I don't I don't see a problem. I just feel like he's a strong leader and if we don't have somebody that can manage their own department then I would totally agree and think like yeah we need somebody that the superintendent but like Aaron's pretty seasoned so he knows how to manage an accounting and a finance department. He understands numbers really well. So I have a lot of confidence in his work. Realistically

081there's only so many regions out there. I mean, you you're gonna have a hard time finding, you know, if you're looking to get a slew of people with regional experience, you may not have that pool, but I mean, you know, there's a learning curve, but I mean, there's a learning curve in a lot of things. So, this is an important one for sounds like that question is good. Yeah. No, I think we need I mean, I guess comfortable in my ability to handle that part of it, right? There's going to be the relationships with towns. there's going to be relationships with the community, things like that. But I mean, in terms of handling the regional aspect of the budget, I don't see that as a non-starter. Yeah. I mean, I think also like the size

082of the budget they've dealt with like so maybe not regional, but like you know, was there deficits? Was it how many millions of dollars like you know, right? Any other specific budget questions different than that or is that cover the budget question or any other questions you'd like to add to this list? Mr. Chair, it does sound that there you might also be sort of working your way towards potentially a question specifically about relationships with the municipalities. And this partly it is listed in the strong relationships question but and again obviously this is entirely your decision but it did feel like there was a yeah part of that question right it is in terms of address your experience with regional district if applicable. I didn't know if you wanted to home directly in on that

083question of the superintendent as as part of the um relationship builder and sustainer with um municipal the municipal side. Yeah. Give me examples of how you build relationships with the municip municipalities. Yeah, I feel like if there's any bases that are not covered in the questions we have Tracy Yeah. I mean the first question the fourth question on the list does include parents, teachers, admin team, the town board members and the town board members and school committee. Do we want to adjust it, make it stronger, take it out, make it separate, specific? The town board members meant to be I think I started writing the town fin select board and then I was like uh that's too much. So then I I only the permacult for our Yeah. For our community. Yeah. Do you want

084to just add those? Sure. Reorder that one, Tracy. It's the one, two, three, fourth question. Parents, teachers, your admin team instead of the town board members. Uh maybe town select boards, finance committees, capital committees. Any others? Sounds like we have our questions then. Okay, another vote. Should we vote on these questions? And these will be the only questions being asked. Are we allowed follow-up questions on the on the followup as long as they're within the bounds of the original question? Yeah. The and the only reason that I say that is um because making sure that your interviews are parallel is pretty important in terms of running a a process that is equitable. All right. Should we vote on this list then? That would be last. All right. So, may I have a motion, please, to

085approve the eight questions that we just covered. Tracy, should you read them? Sure. So, how will you handle the balance of respecting longtime employees of the district's experience and familiarity with how things have always been done with new ideas, changes, and perspectives? We are currently in the middle of a big shift in this district. Our current interimm superintendent has had to do much more than just his superintendent duties. He's trying to make sense of last year's budget and finding things like job descriptions and professional practices that need updating or creating as some don't exist. He typically works well beyond 7 p.m. on weekdays, attends town meetings in both Berlin and Oilston that often run to 9 or 10, and he often spends weekends at the central office. Do you feel you are equipped to continue

086his work? Would you be able to dedicate as much time to turning our district around so that we could attract a full-time superintendent next year? How would you create an environment where staff felt safe to approach you with problems? How do you build strong relationships with parents, teachers, your admin team, the fincom select board and capital committees of the towns and the school committee? What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses as a leader? Why are you interested in this position and this district? How do you handle conflict situations within the school district and speak to your skills in budget proc your skills and experience in budget process? Please address your uh experience with regional district budgets if applicable. We have a question about principles. That's a that's a that's the motion. Is that moved? I

087ask for that motion. Lori, is there a second? Lisa. Okay. Jess, what were you saying? Um, should we have a question specifically about principles? Suggest. Um, should there be a question about principles? I mean that's you're asking them to are you asking about specific principles? What what would you ask? Um no in terms of like management styles have you support what supports have you put in place for previous for your direct reports because it's not just principles it would be that's true like director all of the people that report into that position. I mean the the question we have on there does cover admin right how do you build strong relationships with parents teachers but it doesn't talk about support or um I mean building strong relationships I would assume include support maybe that could

088be a followup like when we're in there yeah like right yeah follow all right because they might already talk about that or could you also add just as an addition not instead But could you also add in how do you build strong relationships and support parents, teacher? I mean, strong relationships and provide support. Yeah. Okay. Have to amend the motion. Do you want to say or would you like to Can you do it? Yeah, you better. So, yes. I would like to amend that motion with the addition of and support after the word relationships in the the fourth question down. Can I suggest that that that it might read better if we say um strong relationships with and provide support for sounds your amendment because nobody seconded it. No, that we're just discussing we're discussing

089the amendment. We're just making the amendment. Now that is made. Is there a second? I made that motion. It's made as Tracy said. All right. I'll second. Lori second. Okay. Thank you. Any discussion? All in favor? I. All right. That motion passes. So the original motion is now amended. Any other questions? All right. All in favor of the questions of the amendment for questions. Anyone against? Okay. Those are our interview questions. Thank you, Mr. chair. I will um get in touch with the those you have selected um get a schedule together. And the other thing that I usually would do and if you'd like I'm happy to do this is um I would bring a packet for each of you that has each of the questions and then has room for you to take notes

090for each of them. If you'd like me to do that, I'm happy to do that. Perfect. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Let's take a minute to reset the room and get out. They're going to call me tomorrow. So, I just want to make sure she gets down early. She's freaking out. We just found out. Yeah. Good time to see. I know, right? It's good. [Music] There is a hole, but she's been [Music] What's your vision? I know. Are you Mike. All right. Thanks everybody. That's just a quick minute to reset the room. Get Al back in here. Megan does have to leave to attend to family issues. So that's okay. We can move on. Now, next on the list on the agenda is our business office update. We get everybody.

091So, hold on. If everybody could uh try to quiet down, please in the room that's fine. Thank you, Aaron. Sure. Um, so update uh we've closed out the month of March, which pushed us to the end of the quarter. At the next meeting, I will have uh a quarterly report for you all as promised. We talked about providing quarterly reports, financial reports. Uh this report will have um uh all of the I think I had a note on the prior report that um Hold on. Hold on. You guys need to reset that. I hear com talking with interrupting a little bit. Everybody good? Mike, we're good. Less than paper. Thank you. All right. Go ahead. Sorry. So health insurance offsets were not included in the private budget. We're still working through some of that. those

092will be uh for the full year um up to uh the end of March will be recognized in that. So should be increasingly accurate. Uh you know I think as I shared uh the district is did not seem to have um uh encumbered payroll. So that's kind of still an ongoing challenge. we can kind of forecast will be three quarters through the year on our sort of 12 month staff and our teachers will be um you know shy of summer payrolls through so we can sort of try to interpolate for you a little bit on that. Um so that's it. So next next meeting you'll have that. Um we're happy to post that online as we've done with the prior reports or the prior report. We've provided one so far and this will be our

093second. Yes. I said we do have two memos later in the meeting but I can handle them whenever. So last report was end of last quarter that was Yeah. So these are quarterly so that was through December 31st. This won't be through March 31st, right? Can you agree? Yeah. Three months. Perfect. Three is a quarter 12. Yeah. Carry the one. Yeah. Um yeah, I I can go over if if you want to handle my two memos now or we can do those. It doesn't matter to me. Let's do them. Yeah, let's do them. That is fine. You talking about the um business items yet? Yeah, there's two business items that relate to my office. Yeah, let's keep all the business items. Okay, all right. Thank you, Al. So, good evening. Thank you. Um I first

094want to start out with Matthew Dow, our student counseling rep, and he was going to give us an update what's taking place here at Tanto um Regional Middle High School. Yeah. Um there has been quite a couple awesome things. So, I'll start off. So last month at the beginning of March um our student council had a group of people attend the MASC conference in Hyannis in Cape Cod. Uh it's about 3 days long. It's an awesome experience. I mean there's over a thousand people there from all across the state. They have speakers and leadership workshops and it's a tremendous experience. There's a big concert there. Um I went last year and I can confidently say it's one of the best things to do. um you learn a lot. And I also want to specifically recognize

095at that conference um our student council from Tanto nominated Miss Aqua for a very special award as administrator of the year. Um and unfortunately for some bizarre reason um no one knows why really but she managed to somehow not win the award even though just know we all think that um And I'm just going to read a little quote from a very wonderful letter written um about Miss Aqua that quote, "There is no one more courageous, more giving, more understanding and uplifting. She has truly left those forever footprints on the soul of this school." So, Miss Aqua, thank you very much from the student council for all that you do. Um, beyond that, um, we started our spring sports season. So, we have baseball, softball, track, and lacrosse. I believe we do with Hudson High

096School as a co-op. Um, so looking forward to some good seasons and a lot of good games there. Um, upcoming events, we've got our student council is running a family feud event, which is always hilarious and a lot of fun. We we got two teams of teachers who compete against each other. The surveys were sent out to uh students to answer family food questions. Um and it is an experience that's next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Uh so please come. There'll be snacks and refreshments and it's a great time. Um this weekend the uh our drama club is hosting their school play. It's Beetlejuice Jr. Um Friday at 6:00 p. p.m. And then Saturday, there's two shows, 2 pm and 6 pm. So, please come out and support the drummer club. Um, they've

097been working our hard. I think they're actually might even be there as of recently today. Uh, working late to put together an awesome show. It's going to be great. Uh, so yeah. Um, that's all I have there. Nice job, Matthew. Thank you. Yep. Thanks, man. just how how eloquent of a speaker he is right for being a junior in Tahanto to speak that well thanks Matthew represent us well um so the next thing on the agenda is talking about our FY26 calendar professional learning um I know um that you have electronic version of does anyone need a hard copy of it right now you get some copies off just thinking that people might need a copy of it as well anyone else Yep. So, we're really trying to get 25 26 calendar done. We're actually

098working on 26 27 as well. Um, we feel like it's real important to get this to families and approve it. You've seen it a couple times. Um, a couple things we just want to um talk to you about, and there were some conversations last time is that April 30. Right now, we have that scheduled as a day off. Um, we talked about before for Good Friday. Um, it's a religious holiday. We checked um the amount of teachers that take that day off. Anyways, um so right now we tenatively have that as a day off. If we were to reinstate that day and bring have school taking place that day, the last day of school would be on June 15th. Um so right now it's scheduled for June um 16th. Um if we bring back Good

099Friday and have that as a school day, then we'll revert back to the last day of school, June 15. So, I first want to talk to you guys about that and see how you felt about that day, whether we want to keep that a day off or change that day. How many years of data did you look back? Because I know there was one Good Friday that landed on the Friday before April vacation, so we didn't feel it truly reflected accurate data. Yeah. So, yes. So, we we looked over a couple years and we've talked to principles and and there were quite a few teachers that did take that time off and we needed subs for that as well, too. Um, I don't know how far back we looked, but I can look a little

100further if you need us to. It was definitely during Carol's time. So, it was only in the last maybe three years, I think, was when we had um Was there Do you have the numbers? I don't. Um, I can get those specific numbers if you wanted to for us. Um, again, more importantly, if you want to have that as a day off as a religious holiday or we want to be able to have kids in school at that time. And I know we heard from principles last time them saying as well. Um I can get you the exact amount for the next time if you want but just we wanted to have that as a day or not. I I mean I had concerns because one religious day for one religion is concerning you know

101even speaking as a Christian. Um but and then also is the concern of then the last day of school as well. Yeah. Um there's less buffer to Junth and with snow days it just seems odd to throw a random not a random but not a secular holiday in there. So not been there. It was just a conversation when the group of us principles and um admin got together to decide this and we just sort of put that out there for the conversation happened here at school. May I May I ask the principles again? Sorry, I'm putting you on the spot. Um, we do we do have significant absences for both staff and um students. I the numbers I I'm not sure, but last year I remember it was um significant for staff. What's the significance

102of that? Is it kids missing school? Does it cost us money when there's high absences on a day that we can predict what's the significance of having a high absence rate on that particular day? Is there a cost to it? For staff, there is a cost to it there because we have to hire as many subs as we can possibly obtain for that day and it's missed instruction instruction. The other issue with that we found not only in in previous districts is trying to find subs for that day as well too because many people observe that. Again just putting that out there. Any other principles want to chime in? Cindy just jump. I will I can just speak on behalf of bees. We've had two or three staff out. That that's a relatively small number

103at our school different than high school. Do you do you recall like the the number of students or percent of students out? I do not know for that religious holiday. No, Mr. And I just say the I think the other thing the consideration is when that particular day falls when it falls at the front end of spring break, we lose a ton. Yeah. So I mean I when it's just a Friday before Sunday and then Monday we right back to school, it's less problematic. Subs is always an issue. you know, we have maybe three people at Berlin Memorial that we can count on. So, anything after that becomes a problem. There are always a few people who for legitimate reasons take the day. Um, so it's it's always a concern. It's a balancing act. How

104many how many like in the current contract? Obviously, we can't look into the future, but isn't there religious holiday time off or is there one only one day or more? Yeah. No, they get they get the paid time off. That's what they they take it and then it's a planning issue. Yeah. But I'm saying it's built into their contract to have a religious day. And so if we have that day off, then we're just going to need to pay for it on another day. I I I just I I don't know. It's not been in our calendar for many years. And and I think maybe not last year, but the year before was when the data was the Friday before vacation, which it happens to land again this year. We also looked at other communities

105around us. We know Western celebrates has that as not a school day as well too. So some communities do, some don't. The larger municipal cities do and again we just put it on there, right? We we wanted to have this conversation with people. Um and we gave that as an option. But Worcester would also celebrate other religious holidays as well on their calendar. Some some districts like Walton, some areas um take the the religious Jewish holidays off. They have that as a non-school day as well too. So it all depends what the community want and the school wants to celebrate as well too. So what it sounds like to me is that this has become a discussion because it's affecting because of a higher number which everybody like I would probably take the Friday off

106personally. Um, so it sounds to me like it's a it's a discussion that we're having because it affects the children and it affects the budget. And if we're having other religious holidays that we're doing that, then we would probably consider those, but I think those other places do. It's not that we're honoring one or the other. I think it's related directly to the situation and we just put it out there and that's why we wanted to have this conversation because we met as a group and thought we should put that in and um that's why we had so Lisa so so bees is only two to three but I assume you're you know to bigger I mean if you were to guesstimate how many were last year right well this year currently as of right

107now we have staff eight staff members requesting the day but that's also the try to incorporate. Yes. Yes. But I can't I mean I'm not I'm not pondering. I'm just Well, yeah. You can't also say that. No, no. I'm just in terms of replicating in other years. You know, I know when I think it landed two years ago on the same situation, we said we were going to revisit it with past data because we couldn't count on that data because of when it landed. Okay. I don't anyone else I can look up last year specifically I have this year and this year we have eight that are applied you can see it's clear it says religious holiday we can pull that and I respect that and there everyone can take the religious holidays I'm not

108not discounting that at all can give you know what I don't like about this calendar I don't like starting before later you know how hot it is in EMS I know I know in August Y we had 17 out last year on the 29th of March. It was not Y 29 staff. We No, it was the 29th of March. We had 17 out last year. Can you go back last year? Sorry. Put you guys on the spot. So, while they're looking that up, let's talk about Labor Day. You know how hot it is in those metal roofs buildings in August? So if we don't have and we also have to be mindful of pushing ourselves out in June as well too with the last day of June five days than it is in August. Um

109so plus it's the end of the year we got field days. We got all sorts of field trips. We could do more even if they want but September is you're starting you're learning and figuring out where your class anything John it takes me a while. Yeah, we're having a conversation about the the recommendation that the principles that had made was before um Labor Day. Um I get that some families would like it after Labor Day as well too. We just could shut off pushing into June and Junth as well too and just bring it up. You got you got two days. You're going back on a Thursday, Friday. Yeah. So that cuts my vacation down. Okay. But I also think and then you start you got Monday is a holiday which is and so that

110you got a two-day week where you got a four day week. We're coming out of a year where I think we went for from October to February without a full week of school and now we're starting off two weeks two days and four days. It's easier to ease the kids in and teachers and teachers and parents too getting up the five days we did that one of the past years. It was awesome. All the kids were dead and they slept like babies at night. It was great. I like this because it's two days for the It's two days for the kids. Yes. The other part the other part you look at is is the there is no additional half days this year, right? So we could talk a little bit about that as well too.

111um John and myself and Sally um well with Janelle um really have been getting some targeted professional learning this year um so that we can tell I know one of the questions that people asked is is what's taking place on those days when teachers have professional learning um so um Sally John want to jump jump in a little bit about some of the work that we're doing um for those targeted professional learning days currently or next year for next year for next year Sally wanted to go first first year yes so we are um focusing ing on a theme of UDL which is universal design for learning. Um which is basically a framework that guides developing flexibility and allowing students to have access to equity in their education and and addressing individual learning differences. That

112is a big umbrella. So there's actually more specific um strategies under that that we will start off with focusing on. And one of those things is formative assessment which John was that's my queue. Uh formative assessment is there are two type two types of assessment. There's formative assessment. Summitive assessment. Summitive is the one you do at the end of the unit. It's the big unit test. Formative is ongoing and it takes a wide variety of forms. It's a simple as thumbs up, thumbs down, thumbs sideways if you're not sure. um two little pre-ests before you start a unit so you get a sense of your students and what they do know, what they don't know. Helps you form groups and we'd like to get better at that part. Um because in the end it will

113help us become more efficient and effective educators. So we're going to spend time under the big umbrella of UDL working on methods of formative assessment. And and formative assessment is evidence-based. And what that means is there there's the proof that if you're using formative assessments and we're using this across the district in the individual classrooms that we're going to see the growth that we want to see and we're not only just targeting we're doing the formative assessment in math like what does that look like? What does the assessments what are the check-ins that we're doing with our students that our teachers are going to learn how to it's as simple as John said you know thumbs up thumbs down but also what type of assessment we're giving just the tips to check in with our

114kids to see if they understand if our kids aren't understanding a certain com a component in math then our teachers will learn to target that and they're already doing it please don't don't misunderstand teachers are doing that right now in our schools but we really want to be able to get some data that we can use to say we're showing growth here this isn't if we apply the scientific evidence-based formative assessment, we will see growth in our students and that's the work we're going to be doing across this entire district. So that's why the professional learning we have targeted on those days will be really geared towards that and I thought that was really important because I heard from parents like what are teachers doing on these days? Why are we having all these half

115days? What's the focus going to be? So across our district with the universal design for learning with the with the really component of informative assessment. So that's what we'll be doing. So we we also want to talk a little bit about this calendar is we're in the the process of negotiations as as people are aware. We're asking for an additional professional learning day that won't affect parents, won't affect children's calendar, but would affect our our staff calendar. And that's why we're really being um specific that this is a a calendar for our students and for our families um also a calendar for our teachers, but we're looking for an additional professional learning day um through negotiations and we either add that on at the beginning of the school year or at the last day of

116school. One of those two things. And again, we're in um we're in negotiations right now with that as well too. But it won't impact the student calendar as well. So is that why the 25th of August is held open? I just historically speaking, we've started school on a Wednesday. Yep. That's exactly I mean on a Tuesday. Wednesday. Yep. That's exactly why that um to Mike's pleasure, we can stop the kids even earlier and we'd be back in teacher would be back in on the 25th as a first day. Um or it would be also on the last day which would be moving it down to June 25th. And all that information is on the back as well too. Um we put the number of school dates on all that information. We just really feel like

117it's already April. We need to get this calendar approved so parents and families can do their planning um in plannifications during the February and April breaks when we have them. Um but we think it's important to get this approved. We're already working on 26 27 so we have two years done. So we don't always have to play. We're trying to get it done before before we also in past years I mean I think we I think there's been some of the stuff for teachers prior week. Is that I think that's true. That's all laid out um in the weeks of that week, the week of August 25th. Yeah. No, I'm just saying historically speaking, not last year then, but I I feel like it was a prior week as well. New staff orientation. Yeah. Oh,

118maybe that's all that will be taking place before even school opens up for everybody else. All right. So, this is our our calendar. This is the professional learning days. We heard loud and clear from families and school about that the the multiple half days which is reminding tomorrow was a professional learning day as well too. There's a half day as well. Um we also knew how difficult it was for the the the child care the after school that we were working on. It worked out okay but there were a lot of hurdles that we had to get through um for that staffing that nursing staffing with that as well. Um so that's why we felt it would be more important to have targeted full days of professional learning. When we talk about the half days

119as well too, by the time students leave, teachers have lunches. We're really down to only a couple of hours and we really want to be able to make that um more period of time that teachers can have conversation. Never mind travel time that we were talking about as well too from teachers moving from either Bull to Berlin as well. So we're really trying to be very targeted professional learning this year and a targeted cattle questions. So we still have the learning learning March 20. Oh, okay. So it's just labeled PD not half PD half learning celebration of learning and then on a Friday we do that what's your thinking there? Um it it's a it's a great day. We had a chance to visit all three schools. Teachers are busy. There's a lot going on

120those days. Um we just thought it was a nice backup for um leading up to the to the weekend for for our teachers. Um it's a lot of work. Um getting Yeah, those schools were busy. I visited both Wilson and Berlin and Tonto. There's a lot going on. Um and teachers are preparing a lot of parents in here as well too. Um we just sort of married it with the the weekend getting ready for So that's a front that starts at what? That's right. And the gorilla part of the day is teacher preparation, getting that ready for that as well, too. And again, we just really want to get some rel to our family so they can start looking at this and making their plans. If we need don't like doing this, we need to

121make a revision on a calendar, we we certainly can do that. Um, that's what I sort of going to recommend for that good Friday if you want some more data information, but we at least want to get some families and get it on our website. Great. John, did you find any data from last year for those two two I feel like 17 to really speaks. Yeah. No, for sure. Yeah. Yeah. And and the amount of students that are out too, right? Again, certainly auction. That's why we put it out there. That'd be a business. Okay. Um if if whatever shapes out in negotiations, I I know the end of the year is not preferred, but if if it doesn't land on the 25th for that extra PD day, could we consider later on moving that

122up a day? Because that that you know, obviously there's no scams or anything. So that's time. Although not a PD day, it is time that the parents will have to take off to provide care. Do you mean start school on the Wednesday, the first in day? That that would be my preference also that and have the last day on a Monday. I'm nervous of that Tuesday holiday. I would that would be my goal, but I'm not going to hold him. How why wouldn't we want to leave the last day of school on a Thursday or Friday so that we're not bleeding over a weekend and just to have another day of school like one day? Yeah, we we we just really know we live in New England that we're probably going to have some snow

123days in there. So, we're so this year I so we're hoping that we don't have that many with our budget in plowing. Um but we we we figured as much that that's probably going to happen. Um but each if if you happen to look in the back page right we're being really the amount of days that each one of them have and the amount of each calendar each month um holding up to that 180 for students and 185 for teachers. Did we have one snow day this year or two? Um I think we just had one I think we just had one but we had a couple delays. Yep. which is always a fun decision. My first year as a superintendent, the last day of school was June 28th. It's bad calls that first year,

124so careful making the calls. Yeah, absolutely. June 28th. Yep. Um, any other questions on that? Okay. I mean, outside of those changes, nothing was significantly changed from the last version from last year or No, no, no. The last version of this from the last That's right. No, we made I mean the PDA was stuck in on the 10th of November. I feel like that's and and by the way, we were really careful about those days. We wanted to have those those um professional learning days with our teachers, but also to make sure that it was some consistency that not having those half days breaking up the the the instruction, but also we knew it was tough for parents as well too. Um having them on different days. So, we're trying to be careful about that

125as well. Yeah. So, we put a lot it's not an easy task putting Mac together. Just know that. And I thank all our principles and directors that helped us do this. Okay. Next on the agenda is um principal principal search at Poston Elementary. So again, I know Mrs. Sykes and Mike um I I want to wish Cindy the best of luck in her new position. We had a chance to to talk for a long time today. Um we truly hate to see her leave and certainly a loss for Bolston, certainly a gain for for Grammy. So the very best of luck. We're looking forward to our transitioning um for the remain of the year, working closely together. Cindy and I, like I said, had had some a really good conversation about that. Um, I want

126to go over a little bit of the timeline for the principal search as well too. Um, so Monday, April 7th, after meeting with the staff of Wilston and Cindy and informing everybody, um, Monday, April 7th, we posted the job um for um, Wilston Elementary School principal. One of the things the staff said, they wanted to get that job posted early and um, get it out there. So, we did. Um we've had it open for not even 24 hours. I think Nicole before we left it was 13 or right 11 11 we had 11 people already applying um for that position. Um so that's just with one day um this coming Friday April 11th um Rihanna um myself and and uh Sally will stop looking at rums. The only thing we're going to be doing looking

127at rums and seeing if they are um have their certifications. I'm asking Sally to join us because as we'll be just making sure on their Elar accounts that they have that admin certification that it's covered as well too. So we'll start that process as well too. It is open for two weeks. Um but one of the things that the staff the parents executive that want to um get this process going so it's not delayed because there is there's a lot to it right looking through resumeumés doing that first round and by the way resumes what will happen is there's a team being formed um which is currently I think we we decided as a staff about 10 to 12 people don't maybe 8 to 10 we're still trying to work out the numbers right now

128as I see that the staff nodding their head um we have a combination of teachers paras specialists, special education, teachers, administration, parents, and school communities. So, we really have a a large group of people that want to participate in it. Um, what they're going to do if they're being part of this interview panel, they have to commit to it all. We decided that's the way they want to do this. So, what will happen is when all the race come in, they'll be down the central office because already we're getting um people who are applying, they're saying they want to keep this confidential still because they're currently employed somewhere uh as a principal. um that first round people come down to the central office, there'll be sealed envelopes, they'll come, they'll rate the the resumes, and

129that will help us get to that next round where people will bring people bring in for interviews. Um we'll start that process along with the process of getting them out into our communities, getting a chance to meet with parents. Um all of that will be taking place um the week of April 14th. Um we're hoping that the interfal piano, like I said, will come to central office. to look through those applications and start that process so we can do the next round of starting some interviews as well too. Um the hard part for us is wanting that many people on an interview. We got to calendar all those people never mind along with people who are candidates to get here as well too. So that's going to be um strategic. Most of it will take

130place um probably most likely after school as well too. Um we'll continue to keep you updated on on the process, but we wanted to know where we're at at least at this time. Anyone else have questions about that as well? I will continue to keep you updated. Um, we decided as staff, they want complete information all the time. Um, Briana will be sort of our point person. I think Brianna and I already talked three times today. I'm feeding her information. She is then giving that information to the staff and that's the way we'll keep everyone informed. I'll keep scooping information in as well too. Um, next on the schedule is Tanto Regional Middle High School graduation. Um, it's going to be here before we know it. Um, for school committee opportunity is scheduled for June

1311st, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. Um, we'll talk a little bit more about graduation, what it looks like for all of us. Um, for for our chair as well as our school committee members on the day of that graduation. We're hoping everyone can make it. Um, as we know, when our students are walking across the stage, it's just not the work that's taking place at the middle or high school. It's the work from everybody in this room, right? all of our principal, all of our teachers when they first start out preschool all the way up to graduating across I I really think when a student walks across the stage is the pinnacle of the work that we're doing and Boston Regional School District, right? All we should take pride in that day that's happening. Um so

132we'll talk more that coming closer, but I want to make sure you have that on the calendar. We're really looking to do some special things and um in recognizing the work that this committee has also done, right? the decisions that you guys make every single week or every single month when we're coming together. It it it impacts the budget. Everything we're talking about helps those kids walk across the stage and graduate. So, we want to make sure that's a special day for us. And that's my report to school committee um from the superintendent. Oh, sorry. One last thing. I I got to apologize. Um May 7th, we're we're updating the calendar as we speak. Someone brought it to our attention today. Is it update online? So, May 7th will be a full day of school.

133Um remember it was Ridge was scheduled for a half a day of school. Um we took a half a day when our our team made the Super Bowl and won the championship. I know that was a tough decision. It was like a snow day call, but we called a half day there. We decided on that May 7th that was scheduled for a half day. We made it a full day. It's updated on our calendar. We'll be sending more information out as well, too. But May 7th will be a full day of school making up for that Friday, December 6th that we had a half day. Great. Thanks. Great. Thank you. Next up, we have our administrator updates. We can start with Miss Lisa Squira, our principal. Thank you. Um, good evening everyone and thank you

134for the opportunity to share to Hanto highlights. Um, I want to thank um, Matt for um, that was one of my um, things I wanted to speak of, the highlights of the student council and their winning the award. And I'm always incredibly humbled um when my students um speak. So, thank you. I appreciate that. Um I would like to also share that our sixth grade Quest students um took on the world literally with a model UN simulation held in this room led by Mrs. Barry and Mr. Starziak. It was in really incredible to see students um our sixth grade students, our youngest students at Tanto diving into international diplomacy um with real confidence and to hear them speak and just interact in such a way was really inspiring. Um our AP literature students with Mr.

135Dhy brought learning into our community with um discussions and community engagement at 19 Carter. They u this was a important inter an intergenerational opportunity for our students. The these are the same students that pro um that do exhibition um several about six weeks ago and we have our second round of exhibitions occurring um with students from Miss Maynard's class. Um, our students have completed the ELA MCCAST assessment and we were so grateful for the um, support of um, Joe Spazado who helped us manage the new platform. I don't think you know even though there was all of this talk and the votes happening about MCCAST people I think we we discussed this thought that MCCAST was kind of going away and it's not it's still used as a very important tool and there is a

136new platform and so we were thrilled with how smoothly it went and um everybody's support in all of that. Uh, and finally, a big shout out to Miss Gardner and the Mind Matters Club at um grades 6 through 12 for um hosting our refresh day and a speaker Ashley Gustoen whose message about the power of influence truly um inspired our students at every grade level. And this was only possible through the incredible support and donation uh by our PTO who funded the um Ashley to come in who spoke specifically to um each grade level and then a combined um 11th and 12th grade. So we were we're very grateful that um to all of those contributions and which really exemplifies being better together. So, Thank you. Thank you, Lisa. Uh, Cindy Bes principal. Um, thank

137you for this opportunity to share some of the things that BES is doing. Um, we also going to talk about MCCAST. And as you know, um, one of the things that we are working on is improvement in our MCCAST scores. And last year um coming in to bees, we noticed I noticed um the kids kind of looking at it, we said it was just a test. Do your best. And this year as a team, we pumped that up. Um we wanted the kids to try their best, show their best. And as u someone said, MCCAST's my chance at showing what I know. And so third grade is the first chance to take this. And there's nerves and there's fear. and the teachers do an amazing job at calming them and letting them know that we

138believe in them. So, we took that up a notch this year. Uh we had a little pep rally just for the third graders in the gym. And then the entire school, teachers, staff, everyone were lined the hallways for them and pumped it up to really show them that we believe in them. There was confetti. There was a lot of fun. And as they went through the halls, we posted videos online. um the fourth and fifth graders who took it last year said we didn't get this last year. So today we did the same thing for them as well. Um and so we had a little pepper alley for them. Um we shared stories of last year of how a student came in and took the test in 35 minutes. We talked about was that showing

139your best? Could that child have done taken longer and really checked his work? Yes. Um, and we did it early even though they're is scheduled to take ELA in this Thursday and Friday, but tomorrow's a half day. And squeezing all that in is a little tricky. Um, so we gave them a pep rally. The teachers talked, gave them some really good oop, we got this. We believe in you. We took them outside, went down the halls where the kids have those posters. We get them through them. Um, really quick, uh, if you haven't seen this on Amazon, it's confetti that you throw out and it wraps right up and you can throw it away. So, if you haven't seen that, it's a little plug. custodian is supposed to love that much better, right? It is.

140It is. Um, so it's really pumping it up and just letting them know we believe in that and um I believe in that. I know our team believes in that and the students really appreciate it. So that was huge. Um, we also, uh, we have Beck, which is our PTO, and it's the Burlington Education Collaborative, who gave our students, um, a chance, uh, to do some hands-on science. And they brought in Heather Simpson, who I believe is from Berlin. Yes. And, um, the kids were so excited in the last couple weeks. We have another class, another grade doing it soon. They dissected owl pellets. They were studying insects and watching worms. Very handson. Um, it was a hit. But I want to talk a little bit about Beck. Um, and I have some figures on

141there. They raise money for our students and our staff. Um, and I just want to talk about the $12,000 in grants that our teachers apply for to bring in those resources that our budget may not provide. Uh, $1,500 in stipens. So, teachers have to apply for this. They have to uh they go through me. I approve them and then they go to Beck who approves them. and they brought in things like whiteboards, um standing desks, wobble seats, fidgets, positive reinforcers, monthly subscriptions that we don't provide as a district. We just can't. Um and it's huge. And one of the things uh that if you were there this afternoon, there's some um fifth grade teachers that do a little bit of tutoring for the MCAST math. Um and some of those kids were riding these around,

142but they're like the little ride-on animals. These animals are $1,200 a piece and we have two um at that school that are a lot of fun. If you need a little stress reliever as an adult, you can ride them around. But students have to earn something to get them. And this math group after school, there's a little bit of enrichment and there's a little bit of extra support. The four students that were there today were riding around and just having fun because they did some math. Um but Beth provides that and um it's just amazing that they do this. So, I just want to send that out. Um, Megan is a big part of that. Beck, she had to leave, but just a thank you um for our team for what they do. So, thank

143you. Thank you, Cindy. Uh, BMS Principal John. Hi. Uh, good evening. Thanks for the opportunity. I'll try to be brief. Um, we're doing MCAST 2. Go figure. Um, today was the first day of ELA. We're fortunate in Ferland to be able to do all grades all the same day and Joe showed up for us too, much to my surprise. Um, just kind of appeared to be helpful and support us through that new platform. So, that was much appreciated. Um, and that went very smoothly. There no real issues technology or student wise. Uh, kids did their best. They always do. And, uh, we count on them to to continue that effort. Um, a couple other things happening at school. Just real quick, we are we have started planning for the fund run at the end of

144the school year. Um, which is the big link fundraiser. It's our PTO. Um, and they have set some very ambitious goals. So, Berlin parents will start to see some of that information coming home in the next few weeks. Um, it's really their single biggest fundraiser that between that and the book fair. kind of how they fund all of the things that they do uh for Berlin Memorial students. And then just the other thing real quick so the committee is aware, planning for nature's classroom for this year's fifth grade um goes on and uh we are looking forward to that. Um as well as the uh I think it's the fifth annual connects challenge for our fifth graders um which is coming up in May. Um so those are all really exciting things. It just real

145quick if I could just one last thing to Al's point about it. Everybody is involved in graduation. It has been my delight the last few years to come and Mr. Quir is always good about saving me a seat. These seniors are my first graders from when I started. Um so it's really exciting to see how I don't recognize any of them because they're all giants now. Um, but it's really good to see that and it it does it means a lot, you know, as as staff to um kind of see where they end up and uh so I'm looking forward to that. That's it. Thanks, John. Uh, okay. Direct technology, Joseph out. So, just to feedback on what the principles are saying, MCCAST is underway. Um the kids as well as faculty and staff have

146doing a great job adapting to the new platform and all the little hiccups that we've had along the way as we get comfortable with it and learn the the nuances of it. It's a little different than it was last year and in years past, especially on the proctor side. Um so I just want to commend them for for everything that they're doing and how calm and supportive they've been for our students while they're taking this uh assessment. Um, next thing is we're doing uh some technology cleanup as far as disposing of some old and um outdated technology that's no longer serviceable. Um, so we have a company that the districts use used in the past. We'll be reaching out to them to donate this to them so they can go through it and um, you

147know, provide it to anybody else that may need parts and pieces or anything like that. So, that's taking place. Um, if you want to see this equipment that we're getting rid of, I did provide a list, but it's up in room 219 in the back of the classroom. Um, that's kind of been an eyesore for Mr. Wheeler, so I'd like to get it out of out of his classroom so he can have more usable space in there. Um, we have up made some updates to the website. Um, the Tahanto website is now live. The new updated website is active. Um, it's been perused and piloted over the last couple of weeks where we've been collecting feedback and making minor adjustments to some things that have been there that were missing, we've put them back on.

148Um, and I do um ask that as you take a look at the website, if there's something there that was there that's now missing or you can't find it anymore, please reach out to me. We're making these adjustments as we update the rest of the district's websites. Um we want to make sure that the the ease of use is still there. Um and that information that you've always had access to before you can still access and find. Um, in addition to that, one of the requests that the school committee was to ask was had tasked me with finding a way to um make the the public more um connected to the information that they're providing out there. So, and um one of the topics was like RSS feeds. Our current website provider doesn't allow for

149specific RSS feeds. um and without using thirdparty vendors or anything like that, I was able to work with them. And what we did was actually on the school committee uh agenda page um at the bottom of the agenda page, we actually created a calendar that you the public can subscribe to. This calendar calendar is updated hourly. So if you subscribe to the calendar, you can follow it on your own Google calendar or anything like that or you can add in you can subscribe to it and add in your email so you can get email updates. You can even go a step further and get text updates. So if you subscribe to this calendar, you can follow along. And then Nicole and I have been working to as we put stuff on the calendar or we

150post agendas, we'll update this and we will actually connect the posted agendas to the actual calendar link. So everything's going to be there moving forward. Great. So you basically sign up and get alerts when there's an agenda post. You can sign up and get alerts or you can actually subscribe to the calendar and automatically have it populate to you. Awesome. So, if I look at this right here, um, and click RSS, it's going to allow me a few options to follow. So, whether it's subscribing to the calendar or subscribing for alerts. So, it's one or the other. So, you can do that. Um, other than that, that is all I have for updates for you now. All right. And, uh, I'm realizing that after each update, I didn't ask if anyone had anything to say

151or ask of everybody. So, for all those updates, does anyone have any questions or want to say anything? I love that calendar, Joe. That's that's really great and it addresses a lot of concerns that have been brought up. I think that's a great tool. Joe's been doing some great work with our principles. I don't know if people realize that the change that took over in MCCAST and how we have to make sure the bandwidth we have and that everything's operating and working, you know, and to have John all his students taking the MCCAST at the same exact time. I mean, and to have someone available at any time to make sure if there is an issue, they're able to correct it, right? Live. But this piece right here, we heard loud and clear from when

152we first came here. I heard it loud and clear last night. People want that transparency. They want to know what's happening. They want to see it. Here's your chance. Sign up. You'll get all the alerts that are taking place after. Lori, would you make your social media updates on the committee's page? Would you make a specific one for this, please? For this? Yes. Yeah. Can I ask a question? Yeah. Sorry, Lisa. What's up? Oh, oh, um, so I actually because it just kind of came about um since I have this public forum and the um you know the interweb to um broadcasting. This is super exciting. It's a community event that is happening here at Tanto May 12th at 5:00 for the community. We our steam committee is has developed the Eureka series. as a

153speaker series and we are going to have and I couldn't even be more excited a the 2024 Nobel laurate for physiology and medicine and a person and um Victor Ambrose and Rosalyn Candy Lee who is his wife and partner in um research who developed or who identified micro RNA which is really cool um and I can talk to anybody about how cool that really is, but just this is an incredible opportunity for our community and it's for anyone in the community. So, anyone, you know, from the elementary schools or just anybody who's interested in this um and there will be an opportunity for an ask me anything session. So, I think that's really exciting that we were able to schedule this. Lisa, can you repeat the date and name, please? Yes, it is May 12th

154at 5:00 at the Tanto Auditorium. It is the um Victor Ambrose and Rosyn Lee and they are um Victor is the 2024 Nobel laurate in Physiology and Medicine. They're both incredibly humble, brilliant people who just asked wonderful questions and it can be really inspiring for our young people whether they're six or 60. I can send you the flyer tomorrow if you'd like. Sure. And just to um follow up on that, Sally and I are working with the speaker and their their representative to find out if we'll have permission to live stream it on our YouTube live when they're here. Cool. Um we just want to make sure that we have their permission to do it whether they want to allow it or not. I wonder if we can send that out to the towns as

155well. Yes, we have. Yeah, I've actually shared it with the both town libraries, both town halls, uh with with all the schools, for the newsletters, for the students, with staff. The item might be an idea, too. We're far out of Thank you. That's really cool. It's really science. Thanks, Lisa. Any uh anybody else? Anything for anyone? Oh, yes. Um, since more people are paying attention, can Joe, can I ask you what recently you've put Bark in on the computers? I'm sorry. Say that one more time. Sorry, I'm catching you a little off guard, but since more parents are paying attention, can you tell us what you put in on the computers recently with Bark? So, um, we installed an application called Bark, which is to monitor, uh, what the students look up on the internet

156through Google, Chrome. Uh it's every it's all tied to our Google Chrome. Uh not our Google Chrome, our Google accounts. So anything they do within the Google accounts, whether it's um Docs, emails, uh Chrome, if they're searching it on the internet, it's monitored through this application called Bark. And if it flags anything under bullying, medical concerns, um depression, um violence, and it even goes even further than that. So if it flags any of those, there are certain members in each school that will receive a email depending upon the severity of the concern or the flag. Um otherwise those individuals, the admin or c counselors or adjustment counselors have access to log into bark and they can review um anything that may have been alerted and that that will bring them or cause attention and that

157acts to blocks and websites as well. Um, no. BART does not block websites. It's monitoring what the students are doing. Um, so as far as blocking websites, we use our Google admin console um where we can specifically lock down um individual websites that we know. Um, and then we also use our content filter called Bloxy. Um but there there's more work to be done there as far as locking this stuff down. Um there are far less filters in place than than we think. Right. So um that's a conversation that we need to have um with the I need to have with the administration as far as what we want to do in the direction that we want to go to. we have an option to go in in multiple directions with with um programs and

158applications that we currently have. Um I I just want to make sure that any decision that is made it's made as a team. Um and more and more of these things are being brought to my attention and I I can only address them as I see them. So um we're we're starting that com those conversations now. We did install Bach across our entire district and the cost of Bach is free free. So it's something we should have probably had in place earlier. Um but certainly we're we're catching up to where we need to be. Just just a a side note that parents can subscribe themselves to barf correct and have a parent account at home because while we monitor things here at school I think it's very important that once this their school device leaves

159our building even if it's under their school Google account right we may not be able to restrict or get notifications correct so if the device leaves the school we have zero control over what the student does other than what Bark will find for us. Um because it's as long as they're using um and they're logged in under their under under their account. Yes. But it's free for parents. Correct. Correct. So parents parents can subscribe. Um they may have to I I haven't seen anybody do it, so they may have to reach out to me and I might have to connect them to a student. Um, but parents can definitely look into it and if they have any questions, feel free to reach out to me. Oh, that's great to know. Cindy, you have something? Um,

160I just want to say this as as Joe knows. Um, there are some things that kids have recently tried to get into, gotten into, and uh, we send an email immediately and it goes to Joe and Dave. And I'm going to tell you the response rate within I'm saying 20 minutes they're blocked from these sites. It is incredible. and I've never seen that before. So, I wanted to thank you for that because it's immediately this happened just the other day. Boom. Blocked and followup. It's been great. So, we're we're getting there together with those sites that it's a lot of extra work for our admin team as well too, right? Because they're getting alerts all the time that sometimes things are looking at and then we have to decide whether that was just a miss,

161right? They were looking something up that that they we felt that might have been okay or not wasn't appropriate. And that helps Joe and the admin decide we're going to block that site so kids can access that. But again, costfree and it's really a safety net that we're putting in place for our kids. Fantastic. Thank you. Okay. Um subcommittee updates. Jess, do you have anything for success technology? I do. Um sorry, let me just the right thing here. Um, so we kind of had to delay a meeting. Um, but we'll be talking about um the cell phone free lunch day at refresh day at Tanto. Um, also um there was a cyber security event at Boilson Bees um that parents kind of grassroots asked that to happen and Cindy did that with the Boilson police.

162Um and so there were also BS parent requests um also to um regarding the attorney general cell phone and social media and schools toolkit which is something that we have to look at as a committee. Um and so uh and then also to look at the virtual cyber safety and willing parent presentation on April 16th at 6:00 pm um to look on that and see where to go from there. There were a lot of people signing up for that um with the district attorney's office. Um and are we going to be able to record that because that's like during like sports and stuff too. Sure. I'll talk to you Joe about that with the district attorney's office. Absolutely. Yeah. Um and then also with recent events um I didn't know which committee you know possibly

163research um on a survey to the parent level, the staff level, the district level. That's obviously something that we have to talk about as a committee. Um I did reach out to um I know independent website business people um schoolworks.org board. I'm actually able to talk with her for a few minutes uh before this evening's meeting. And so um they have different levels of different reviews that we can think about. Um but a holistic review I think would be um above any ability to be in our budget. Um but there's smaller organizational cultural surveys um that she was going to forward information about um to me to pass on to the committee as well. Along those same lines, just Mike was asking about that today. So Erin and I are looking into different companies that

164are out there that can do sort of an independent audit for our teachers, our principles, our school committee, our parents, our students as well too. Um so that's part of that as well too. We'll get some information for you. Jess, you said the holistic is beyond what our budget could handle, but do you have an ballpark range on any? Yeah. So, schoolworks.com apparently works a lot of time with um huge districts. So, like Springfield will hire them or Province, Rhode Island had hired them. Um and um and it's through the Department of Education. So, right now they actually have a bid through DESIE to do their district reviews for them. Um but for a holistic review which includes um every level. So like you said parents, staff, district, school committee. Um what trends and patterns

165um they have 10 different indicators that they look at. They come in and look at the curriculum, HR procedures, finances, decisions, how money is invested within the the district. Um, and so to do a holistic review of all those things I just mentioned, it's $1 to $120,000, which would not be something would be coming out of our budget at this time. Um, to do a smaller portion called a program review, which I don't think is exactly what parents are looking for, um, would be $60,000. Um, when I said, "Okay, thank you for that guesstimate." Um, She said that she would forward companies that do more organizational cultural surveys, which I think is also what people are looking for. Um, it's the well-being or what's working well, what's not working, leadership, satisfaction, day-to-day business, and if

166leaving why, if staying, why. Um, and I think that kind of really encompasses what we need to know to go forward. School Works is the premiere that's out there that a lot of bigger districts use. The one thing that's really good about that company is they protect the information they're getting, right? So, it's not being dispersed out or someone can buy that information from them as well too. Um, for even like the HR piece looking for employments and along that um that's something we we're we're paying close attention to. Janelle and I experience every single time we post a job that we're getting within minutes we're getting companies, private companies emailing us and say we have the people for you. So protecting that information is important but school works is one of the man. What

167was the price again? I'm sorry. I couldn't hear what John's call now he's laughing. Um 100 to $120,000 for a holistic review. And is it for per our size population? Sorry, she didn't specify. It was a very short. She squeezed me and originally my appointment with her was Thursday to chat with her. I know you usually do by the number of people that are in the community as well. Okay. So, when you were just saying that you get contacts after you post a job, is it are you saying that these comp some of these companies would have identify unhappy um sometimes you look at HR like if you're looking like positions that are unfilled, right? You look at all that stuff. So the minute you're giving that information, you have to be very careful what

168companies you're using. Sorry. Oh, they they have bots. I mean, all of those companies have bots that scour um school spraying or indeed or whatever. And I mean, a lot of those are automated messages, right? But that's nature the nature of the internet nowadays. Yeah, we're competing with them, right? So that's the hard part. So we just really want to be careful. We all agree we need to do that from what we heard. Just we want to be careful. Come to use you pay a lot for it, but they're also the ones that are protecting information too and not selling making double money. Yes. Yeah. So um so schoolworks.org the person I was talking with said that she was going to forward me some of the information for the organizational cultural surveys um which might

169be more of our in our range. All right. uh budget facility subcommittee. Megan had a personal issue. She had to leave, but uh anybody else I don't know if we have an update from that subcommittee for right now. Uh superintendent search subcommittee, we just had a blog about that, but anything just to review that next Tuesday at 5:00 pm, we'll be interviewing four candidates to fulfill the interim position for the 202526 year. And unfortunately, that is in direct competition with Family Pew. They know that. Yeah. So, we have 6:30. So there will be an open meeting in the public. Yep. Uh no update from the policy subcom either. So that brings us to our business items. Um so Aaron, is that the payment schedule is that you like? So you've got uh you have two

170memos. The first is has to do with the assessment payment schedule. So as you can see when I shared those initial assessments um from that sort of first round of budget I got a response from the town of oil saying this is the wrong schedule like the payments are so I looked at it I compared it to the regional agreement I said well it looks like what's in the regional agreement um so they sent back what they've received in the past um if you look at the little gra chart I have down at the sort of towards the bottom Um to the left hand side is what is in the regional agreement. To the right hand side is what has um previously been given to Boilston as you just hang on one second. I think

171Joe's going to get it up as an assessment schedule. Sure. Yep. Um so you know I you know my response was well you know the the regional agreement governs governs my work. I don't govern the regional agreement. So in order for me to make a variance, I think I really need to come to the school committee um you know and ask for that. Okay. Uh currently uh Berlin pays according to the regional agreement um while Boilston pays to this historical percentage. Um thinking about and looking at cash flow um either of these is fine. Um obviously you can see the historical boilston uh is lags a month and starts at a lower percentage so it builds up. Um this is a cash flow apparently a cash flow issue for Boilston in terms of their tax

172receipts. Um but it also means we get less money up front. Um now realistically are we doing all of our capital projects day one and starting them and paying vendors by August 1? No. We're probably starting them in the summer. Um there's probably, you know, we're probably getting invoices and doing work throughout the year. Um you know, do we have money in the bank that can can fund this? Yes. Um so at least for this year, it does not it certainly doesn't prevent present either an operational or a cash flow issue. I don't know if I could say the same in future years. So, I'd want to, you know, and and I think it also, I think, puts the impetus on um towns and and us to review that regional agreement. If this regional agreement

173doesn't work, let's have these conversations. So, um I would I would be completely comfortable adjusting um this payment schedule for 2026 and then, you know, see where things go. If if we're looking at other things in the regional agreement, maybe we can have a conversation with the towns about what this would look like to, you know, cover their cash flow, but also preserve our cash flow, right? That's important to us that our cash flow isn't impacted by this. Um, from an operational perspective, the operational side of things, Boilston is paying in accordance with that percentage. There isn't a separate percentage in the regional agreement for operations and capital. And that does flow with how we typically spend our money, right? We have payroll, things like that. We, you know, on a on a monthly basis,

174we pay out roughly, you know, a sixth of our our expenses every two months. There's, you know, some peaks and valleys and periods where there's higher spending and lower, but but that works um regardless. So, I guess my recommendation would be to for uh fiscal 2026 to allow me to afford both towns the option of the alternate assessment model. I'd hate to provide it to Boilston and not provide it to Berlin as well. So, I I would reach out to the towns. I would let them know that you could prove this. I'm assuming Boilston would want to go with their historical method, but Berlin may want to take that take us up on that as well depending on their cash flow. Yeah. The only question I would have is that Berlin question and we we

175had earlier this year. Berlin had, you know, late tax bills going out. They came to us because they had potential need to push out their assessment payment date. Um it didn't end up happening, but we told them at the time like we're probably okay with that, but we got to talk to Boilston first. So, have you actually talked to Berlin yet? I have I have talked to both uh Berlin and Boilston uh town administers and treasurers. Um they're both amendable to to to either of this so there's no sort of dispute between the towns. Again, it started with Boilston and I wanted to narrow down things with them, but we opened up the conversation to Berlin as well. Did you do that by phone or by email? Uh by email. I have an email because

176I was going to say I wouldn't want to do anything if we Yeah. Do you have that available to us? It's I I have it in email. Yeah, I can. I don't want to do anything to affect Berlin's payments given this current situation. Right. So, you're giving them a choice, right? You're giving them a choice, but they're I'm giving both towns a choice. That that's what I'm requesting. So, Berlin could could choose I I wouldn't want to give it just to boil, right? You want to be fair and equitable. So, um if if Berlin says no, we'd love to pay the regional agreement model, fine by me. if it's easier for them to have even payments. Um if they'd rather go with the the alternative method, that that's fine as well. Again, I think this

177particularly this year from a cash flow basis, that that's doable. Um I just don't want to speak for future years. And and this just goes back to the work we're trying to do at the central office, right? And trying to make sure that we're getting things in in order, right? And these are the things that we're finding that aren't. And it's part of our regional agreement. So, we want to make sure we're sticking as much as we can to that regional agreement because that's that's the governing information that we're following. Um, but as we're finding these things that might be a little different, we'll bring them to the attention of school committee and obviously the towns as well too. So, we're hearing, you know, we're hearing a lot about a lot of the prior discussion.

178Oh, well, they let us do this in the past. Well, I again, the the regional agreement governs me. I don't govern the regional agreement. So, I really feel uncomfortable um saying I'm going to just, you know, in my own discretion make this decision and that's what we bring to school committee so you're aware of it and making decisions and vote on this. You do vote as well too guys. All right. I have a motion please to authorize the director of finance operations to allow the member towns of Berlin and Boilston the option to utilize the capital assessment payment schedule provided for in the regional agreement or the alternative schedule that has been historically provided to the town of Boilston for the FY 26 fiscal year. So move. Yes. Second. Lisa, thank you. Any questions, discussion?

179So this is just for fiscal year 26. We'll have to address this the next time. I think it's a plan for over the summer to take a look at the whole agreement and make some suggestions because that has to go to amend it. It's going to be approved by the committee first, then it has to go to town meetings to be approved. In both town meetings that we've gone to said to us, we would like to revisit the regional agreement. That's work that we would like to do here. That probably wouldn't I mean that wouldn't be till May. Correct. Because I didn't W doesn't have a October meeting on B. Uh this year it might I heard talk about Okay. Historically speaking that didn't happen. Yeah. Sure. We could look at this again. I'm not

180speaking for the selection. Right. We could look at this again next year. I'm not taking off the table that we might consider this again next year. I'm just saying I'd like to do it yeartoear and commit to year to year rather than than saying we're just going to do this forever. Yeah. Um because it doesn't follow the region agreement and we should have a document that matches what we do. Anybody else? Sure. Thanks. All in favor? Anybody against it? Okay, the motion passes. So, thanks to the warranty. Yep. So my second uh memo speaks to we are doing a lot more electronically. Um a lot of the contracts we sign, the agreements we sign are electronic. We have the capacity to um to do electronic signatures within the district. Um one of the challenges we've

181had is um even though we have a single signer coming in um that's Megan, she has you know family challenges, school challenges, things like that. um you know coming in during working hours it can be challenging um I hate to delay things to school committee get checks to vendors and things like that um what we'd like to do is uh move to electronic signature for that that single person who signs the warrant warrants would still be signed here uh we would provide that individual with the full warrant so everything they're currently seeing physically uh that person in this in this case it's Megan right now but just whoever it were to be. Um, and in the future, uh, they would be able to view that their leisure, right? So, they don't have to come in,

182feel rushed. Oh gosh, I have to pick up the kids. I have to go do XYZ. Um, they don't feel like they're inconveniencing us, right? Often, you know, they come in, they want to go through the warrant, they feel like they're inconveniencing us. Um, and so they can view that warrant uh on their phone if they want. um and go through it in whatever detail they want and then sign that electronically. So I I think it makes things a lot more more convenient. It actually makes their job a little more effective and efficient. We're getting prepared for the summer, right? When people go away, people are on vacations. We want to make sure we're paying our bills in a timely manner, right? So trying to figure that all out this way. It can all be

183done and we'll hold up the process of of that. It's it's what we should be doing in the central office with in terms of technology and being current. I know last summer Megan kept agreement at the previous administration full disclosure uh that she wasn't getting the warrants. So if they were electronic there would be no excuse not to get them and then we could address them there. But correct I know what single signer is but can you just explain single signer isn't just a single person y looking at money going out the doors. Sure. So how many people are so so yeah to be to be really clear money does not go out the door without multiple checks and balances. So the very first thing that happens is a requisition is entered usually by an

184admin assistant that is then approved by a principal or a director. Um it's then forwarded to me to approve it to be converted into a purchase order. Uh the purchase order can then be sent out uh by the schools. We're looking at exactly what that process looks like or the departments. Um when that comes in, the person who issued the requisition for the purchase order or someone who has knowledge of it receives that and they would write okay to pay on the invoice or something like that. Um or someone with knowledge. So if uh legal fees come in, I usually have knowledge of what we had our attorney do. So, I would be the person who says, "Okay, okay, to pay. Here you go." That then goes to Arnold, our accounts payable person. He sets

185it up in the system to pay. He checks everything. Um that then goes into the warrant that is reviewed by a school committee member um for payment. Um the in some cases you would have the whole committee approve the warrant prior to sending checks out. The real challenge is you can already see kind of how long that process is and we really would like to be able to make sure we're paying our vendors net30, right? By the time that purchase order is issued, we've made the commitment. That purchase order is a commitment to buy something. So, even if the school committee member said, you know, I'm uncomfortable this, we need to have a conversation, we can't, unless there was a real reason not to pay that vendor, um we really would want to be paying

186the vendor. Um, so I I I think it's a little it having the single signer makes it more efficient. It allows a single person to allow us to just check the check, send the checks out. The school committee can still review things and come to me and say, "Hey, I have questions about this expense. What, you know, what was it for? Why did we make it?" Um, but a lot of those checks and balances are really in place. Not much money. No money goes out the door without sort of multiple people reviewing that. It just goes to show you how complicated it is, right? So people just think we're writing out checks or receiving money. Like every single thing goes through a checks and balance system. That's why you have to make sure you have,

187you know, high quality professional people doing this every single day, keeping track of it so we can make sure we're getting the items we need into the schools so our students have what they need. But not one single thing is bought for our students or our teachers without going through this process through the central office. And then that last step like we did earlier tonight, it shows up on our agenda agenda. Every committee member looks at that before they vote on it. If they've got questions, they ask you. It just keeps us current in into technology we should be doing and keeps us making things move, but we have to keep the the the wheels moving to make sure our district runs. Okay. Okay. Can I have a motion that the school committee vote to

188authorize the use of electronic signature for the purpose of signing warrants by the designated single signer voted? So Lori, Jess, any questions, discussion? Thank you for all your work on this and finance. Appreciate it. Great work team. Yeah, the central office finance area. I mean, night and day. Thank you. Yeah, like you said, like you said at the last school committee, walking away every day, like you said at the school committee meeting, I think it was March 12th, like we're all brand new, right? This is an entire new team of people that are working in that financial office that are are making this work. I I personally know what it's like. You're looking at thousands of lines of transactions, budget lines. I I look at that every day, too. And it's uh that's why I

189don't do it any longer. and not being accountable to the school district, but to the town, right? We're meeting with the town of Berlin. We're meeting with the town of Wilson. It's their money, right? They're trusting us with our money, their money, and that we need to make sure that we're using it and accounting for it properly. There's work and and it's important work. It's just as important as our teachers that are sitting in front of our our our students. It's what makes our school run every single day. That's correct information that we can make decisions on. So, very much appreciate ask questions. I mean, if you see a warrant and you have questions, you can call me. We'll take a look, get back to you. All right. All in favor? I against. Thank you,

190Eric. That motion. Thank you. Next up, uh the council. Okay. Approve. May I have a a motion, please, to approve the FY26 calendar is presented tonight. So, Lori second, please. All right. Discussion, questions. If that 25th's not used for a PD day, I would like to revisit that again. Shift things over, which would then shift that into school to the 15th. You're talking about I'm sorry, April August. So, sorry. If a negotiation that additional feud day is not placed on the 25th prior to school because I I would be surprised it would end up in June, but if it's not placed on the 25th of August that we reconsider to move that first day of school up to Wednesday as in prior years it has been. So the first day of school right now is

191scheduled for August 20th and you're saying move it up till August 27th only Wednesday. Yes. Whatever that numbers we cannot Yeah. I meanough it's tough to get into a lot of negotiation talk in this meeting, right? So No, no, for sure. Just like to keep that in mind. Yeah. So I'm just looking to get a calendar so I can get out the family. So at least they know that so they're not doing verifications like this department in maybe August, right? They know that we're starting before day. So I just sort of want to get that out there. But certainly after negotiations, we we'll know when that is we can do a revised count if necessary. Any other questions about it? Am I the only one that wants to change it till Labor Day? Yes. All

192right. All right. You drunk. Listen, you get the AC. That's fine by me. Fine. Uh, all in favor? Anyone against? So Joel, I'm going to ask you if you get that on website before tomorrow first thing that out there tonight. Thank you. Where do you want it? Let's put it on the the district website and then can we put it on all individual sites as well too? I can. Great. Perfect. That May 7th full day might I don't know for this year. So we changed the calendar. So you talk about this year now again. So we can we put the new calendar out there. We're going to send out communications like we do anyways, but we'll go. It's updated. It has the date on it for just in terms of Oh, as we draw closer,

193we will for May 27th of 2025. Yes. And we have to also let Sorry, we have to also let our bus company know that as well too because right now in their calendar for just thinking I'm not sorry. We got to let them know it's a full day. Just note to ourselves. Um, okay. Uh, we next have a a field trip presentation. Mr. Bill Whitehead is, uh, patiently waited here. Thank you very much. Enjoyed every minute. No doubt. Um, so let me I will make this quick. I'm not sure how much the school committee's actually been able to look at the the share drive. Here's just a quick overview. Um, some of the talking points. So, I want to propose a club. Um, the Tonto World's Traveler, I for change the name. Um, but, uh,

194essentially we had a few years ago, we were able to start getting whoever wants one, take one, if you want one. Um few years ago we started getting um some really cool trips, international trips going at Tahanto stopped kind of uh because of COVID. So I was trying to think of a way to get it going again. Um some trips are done through classes and I thought of this um this club the world explorers club. Essentially it ends with a a big trip. I want buy in from the kids. So I I didn't want to just have a a a trip and kids just go on it that they need to learn about the country. So the idea would be each year there's a specific country or region. Um and we have weekly meetings learning

195about this country or meeting or region culminating in a trip um probably around April break. So I thought um what is a bucket list place for me and what has Toronto never done and arrived at Japan. So this proposal is for the club and the trip for April 2020 April break of 2026. Um so some of the big questions right away everyone's like yeah Japan great. How much? So um the cost I'm working with a rep from ACIS. Um, there's a few student tour companies in Massachusetts. Uh, ACIS is a you pay a little bit more, but you you get a lot more on this sheet here. And I have this all in a Google Drive set up for parents and a presentation and all that. Um, you get um for 15 paid travelers. You

196would it would be a tri a private tour. You stay in better quality hotels. you stays closer um to the the uh the destinations you'd be going to. For this Japan trip, we would be going to Tokyo, the Mount Fuji area, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Ahsoka. Um Osaka. Ahsoka is Star Wars. Um surprising. Go ahead. Right. Live long and prosper. Um so next month, right, right, right. We'll eventually get into space with this trip. So um we'll suck. Uh anyway, um that price includes obviously the flights, a 24-hour tour manager, a separate tour guide in Tokyo. Um it does include tip generally on these trips. um part of the the collection is going towards a tip for the the the any drivers. This they set up public transportation and then I have listed entrance or tickets

197to everything listed here you would be paying some kind of admission fee. There's also some shrines and temples that are free but I'm just listing the ones that you'd be paying for. Um the 6109 that's that's a year out. Um so the club itself would be doing group fundraising one to cover the cost of um buses to and from Logan. That's the only thing we have set up. Um and then anything after that would be group fundraising to reduce the overall cost of the trip. Um then we would be setting up and telling kids um here here's how you can fund raise to make this happen. So the question is can students afford this? The simple answer is no. they cannot afford this right now. But I went by in and have them set a

198goal a year out and we're this would only be open to high schoolers. Um so current 8th through 11th grade um would be able to attend next week the information session about it. Um then the next big question usually is security safety. They have a a 24-hour network of people working around the world um in terms of liability. legal liability is 100% on ACIS through the insurance they have. Uh cancellation protection plans parents can select I think there's three different tiers of um cancellation plans um whatever they're comfortable with. People are wondering about all right traveling right now politically how are American I Tom Him uh the the point person at ACIS I've been talking to I asked him in an email and he said so far they have not seen anything they've had no

199issues and generally any country they've gone to and people they've worked with they're happy to be seeing students learning about their culture and that they're building bridges. Um, I said in the weird off chance that come next year all of a sudden there's a travel ban or whatever, they said we can either find another comparable tour or we wouldn't you wouldn't be on the hook or cancellation fees like if something really extraordinary happened um next week. So if this is approved tonight, immediately tomorrow bombarding Tanto, sorry. Um with there's going to be an information night about this um those who attend and are interested and want to register, I would say immediately start um doing any passport work you need to do. Um, in terms of that piece that parents and the families have to

200handle on their own, um, we would have check-in points along the way to make sure people are getting everything together that they need. Communication. Um, every kid has a every student has a a cell phone. So, I would be urging them to do the international data for the dates traveling. Um, there's also WhatsApp. ACIS says a lot of people are using WhatsApp and group me for communication. It's one chaperone for every six kids. Um it's one for the first five kids. I'm the group leader. Then five students sign up and then you would get another chaperone paid for for every six kids. We can have additional chaprons, but they'd be paying for it. Um yeah, I'm trying to give you the streamlined version. And Bill, there's a whole curriculum is going to be based upon

201this is correct. Well, that's what the club is. So, um, what I shared in the drive, even though the club's not in a class, I I tied into the standards, specifically English and history, the standards that they would be addressing. Um, so it's a little bit of a workound, but I also want to give as many kids the opportunity as possible. And that's what I'm asking for, the opportunity. And this could fall on its face and no one signs up and they're like, "You idiot, what are you doing?" But we tried. As a district, we can say we tried. put it out there and there was no interest and I think you're just asking the school committee for permission to stop this endeavor to see get information reach out to families right reach out to

202students have some information on nights nothing's finalized yet you're just trying to stop this process is that correct or you looking for more than that well what do you mean by and nothing's finalized if we get the approval yeah I mean ACIS would be ready to go students could be signing up and I they could start signing up as early as let's pretend it goes group, they go to the information night, there'll be stuff ready for them to register if they want. And then the club would start next year. Um, and then I real, you know, obviously kids have jobs or sports. If they can't make the regular club meetings, I'll have makeup times during lunch. They'll be it'll be flexible, but they'll still need to be learning about the culture and and you'll keep

203school committee and administration update. No, absolutely not. I don't that's too much work for me. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. And I'm I have a I have a Google uh classroom ready to go for anyone signed up and obviously administration school committee could be part of it just to see what's going on. Ideally, those who go on the trip, we get a trip going, people go on, record the experience and then have a a community night where they they share um you know, a movie or talk about their experience and then if if it's successful like that night reveal where we want to go the next year. No, I already have and he shared a lot of information that I share with you. So there's a lot of backup information along that goes along. Yeah. Yeah. I'm

204giving you the the the real version. Does anybody have any questions? I just Bill the Glo proposal blew me away. It's six pages long. It's extremely thoughtful. I want it to go like it's really you did a lot of work and I I think it's a great idea and I love that you're bringing this back. Thank you. I I suspect it's gonna be popular hopefully. Oh, but and I'm starting with 18 slots and then we'll gauge interest. We can open it up. I don't want it to be too too many kids, but we're starting with 18 and see where we get to. Thank you. Well, you let Oh, sorry. I was just gonna say I think it's a wonderful opportunity and Japan's on my bucket list, too. So, if you need any already people Yeah.

205Yeah. But I I just want to suggest one other thing. Um, when I was doing martial arts, I got some tapes actually at the library and I'm sure they have discs and better ways to do it now of like conversational Japanese and like all the like you could you guys could all do that like for a year and be pretty good, you know, by the time you go on the trip. It's like easy, you know, just a little bit here and there just for fun. Yes, just try. Absolutely. Y um I don't know where did you guys go previously in the club? I never ran this club. So, Tahanto had what do we call it? The global studies program. Global studies club. And I went on the Dominican Republic trip. So, I've gone on that

206and I went um I've gone on a Hawaii trip. Um I And so there have been and then there was the you know French there was been France and Spain. Right. Yeah. And when we were in high school, Mrs. Barry was um Mexico and Quebec. Mr. Weedman just did a Quebec trip. So it's like, oh, there's an interest there and things start started to move again. So I personally I So I was trying to think of a way to get kids in it not tied to a specific class to open it up to um 9 through 12. Hey, unrelated question, but do we still do like exchange program like exchange students stuff in schools? It's it's not something that I'm very familiar with. It doesn't not anymore. It's still out there. It is. I know

207we have quite all of it, but it's it's not as popular as it used to trips like this. Um, yeah, I love that idea and I love that at the end doing like the community night and the brewery that would be very fun. I would just speaking of the Quebec trip is would this take the place like would you still do moving more from a Squara like um would Mr. read him go in this direction with you or is it still like he can still do language separately? Yeah. And I don't want to step on toes. This is just another option. Yes, absolutely. Because we want to provide as many opportunities and and so it really is I mean this is a huge I've gone on trips myself. It is a huge commitment on the

208part of the staff who attends the trip. So it's really about their commitment and their commitment to making this experience happen. So if you know if there are three people that can coordinate various trips that aren't going to step on each other's toes, I would encourage all of those to happen and it gives more options for students. Maybe they're only interested in going to Quebec to a long weekend or price points and Yeah. Right. One other I I neglected um right now it's scheduled for I believe departure would be I don't have the date off the top of my head the the Thursday going into break. So that would be one thing for consideration and one thing with ACIS is there sliding scale is only a day or so if based on flights. Um so

209it would be um a day or two missed school. I would argue for a good reason. we're going into break and I would be updating everyone with those details. Yeah, this looks great in the kids resume, right? Where they're applying to colleges and universities, right, that they've traveled. There's an option. Um I'm glad you brought that up. There's a it's almost like we planned it, but we didn't. Um there's an option to earn credits for teachers and and students. Um if you're a junior, senior, you can through whatever university online. Um there's some work involved but you can earn some college credit you doing these trips. I was out just talking to Julie Lee about her her children looking at colleges and universities and that's one of the things they're looking to separate kids apart.

210What is something different that kids are doing right besides you know all the stuff they are doing but adding this to their their resume is absolutely something that will keep them apart or stay apart. Um, are you open to kids who can't commit to the trip to still participate in the club? Yes. And maybe it's not written here in the other stuff. If you just want to join the club and not do the trip, that's fine. Yeah. Yeah. It's more the if you're doing the trip though, you got to be part of the club to to learn about. Exactly. Exactly. Wonderful. All right. So, um, the more you can do this stuff, like you said, multiple trips. I do trips and more like this in school. Completely changed the way I looked at everything. Uh

211so whatever you need for support, just let me know. But thank you. We're motioning today to approve um the field trip itself and the club or is it the club and then you work? Yeah. And quite honestly, I wouldn't be doing just the like they go hand in hand. And I'm open to at the end of the year what worked, what didn't, and making adjustments. And then as far as fundraisers go, I know school policies, depending on the type of fundraiser, it may or may not need additional approval from committees depending on what it is. It's in general. The ones I had the most success with as a as a class advisor tends to be the car washes, the calendar raffles. So I would it would still be the normal forms filled out in house.

212We're going to revisit this one more time multiple times. We have to do the official paperwork that says that will school committee have to sign off because it's a a trip that's taking us out of the country and out of the state. So there'll be official paperwork that school committee will be presenting to you later. Yeah, it's making its way. Yeah. All right. So can I have a motion please to approve the Tahanto Japan field trip and world explorers club? So yes. Second. Any other questions, discussion? All in favor? I might as well against Okay, motion passes. Thank you. Thank you. Great. Uh we have one last business item. Approval of donation from the Mark Fedrich Foundation for Unified Sports. Lisa. Uh yes. So, we received a donation um from the Mark Vidridge Foundation, which

213is an incredibly generous um donation to cover the $1600 stipend for um unified sports um train strength and training um program. There is a line item that is $1,600 for this coaching position and they want to see that continue. So they asked me, you know, what I needed and I said, I think it would be wonderful for you to donate the amount for the stipend. And that's what they did. All right. Uh, may I have a a motion, please, to approve the donation from Mark Foundation for Unified Sports? So move. All right. Second, any questions, discussion? Uh the only thing I want to make sure we have accepting financial donations. We've had some issues in the past. Everything's all set, all good, ready to go, recorded. This is what it's for, everything. And we'll and

214we'll send we we're starting the process sending thank you notes to people that donate things like this to us from the from the school committee as well. So we'll generate that through the myself. And I I um have per done a personal one from because they sent it to me. Um but that I think it would be much appreciated to have that. Thank you. We've studied the issues with financials. I'm not from this particular donor but just in general. In general. Okay. Great. Uh all right. Questions, discussion? All in favor? I. Anyone? Yes. All right. I as well. So that motion passes. Uh that brings us up to our last two items on the agenda. Two different executive sessions. I'm going to cover the second one first if you don't mind. So executive session two

215was listed the Berlin Boon Regional School Committee is convening an executive session under purpose one to discuss an open meeting law complaint filed by Lindseay Tierney against the Berlin Boon Regional School Committee. Uh new information came in since this was out there. That complaint has been rescended. So there is no need to enter into that executive session. Um just we approved our consent agenda earlier tonight. Uh that included minutes from several meetings that have taken place over the past. Open meeting law does require us to approve minutes of a meeting and and to have minutes of a meeting. Open meeting law does not necessarily require uh just a general posting of those minutes. Although we do post them on our website, it requires only that they be be made available when requested and that they

216do get approved in a timely manner. And the state regulations laws do define that as within the public body's next three consecutive meetings or 30 days, whichever is later. Uh the dates of minutes that we approved tonight, all fit within that. I believe when we do this on the consent agenda, they typically do fit within that. Uh and then that complaint was rescended over the weekend. So we won't be going into that. Executive session one and will not return to open session was for executive session pursuant to mass general laws chapter 38 section 21A purpose 3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining BBEA CVA if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair. So declares we added this one to the agenda

217because we thought we might have something to act upon. We do not have anything to act upon for the committee. So we do not need to go into that executive session either. Uh so our next upcoming meeting is May 13, 2025. May uh please have a reminder first of all to attend your town meeting and vote for budgets and everything else that's going on out there. Um that's been next week. Yeah. Next Oh yeah, next week we're going to meet on the 14th. 15th not Tuesday. Is that 15th or 14th? 15. 15th at 5:00 pm to do our interviews for our interimm candidates for super interm superintendent. Uh so that's all the point. Yeah. What's up? Um so we had discussed that maybe that we could update the agenda. So in lie of since minutes

218take time to approve that we could just put very quick little notes of what got passed or um Yeah. Yes. You you've got those notes yet? I do. Okay. Yeah, send them over to Lori and me and we'll get them. And also, it might be also a good idea if we in the future put like timestamps of like the time that we're doing it. So, if someone could go back to the meeting, you know what I mean? Like each part if we could start in the future. Yeah. Someone wants to relive it. But in the future, that might make it easier for someone to actually go back and watch the conversation. Just skip ahead. You got to watch the whole thing. Yeah. Two speed. You good with that? J in the future. I will do

219that. Yes. All right. I will hold it. All right. Sounds good. May I have a motion to adjurnn, please? Lori second. Lisa, anyone want to discuss or question? Sure. All right. All in favor? Anyone against? All right. The motion passes. We are return. Thank you. Thanks everybody.