001Happy birthday. In my birthday, [Music] In my [Music] Heat. Hey, Heat. Good evening everyone. I am calling the school committee meeting of June 9th, 2025 to order. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Sorry. Roll call. Miss Gunther here. Here. Yep. Here. Here. Um, this meeting is being livereamed at the DHST Media YouTube. This meeting is being recorded and will be rebroadcast on DCTV channels 9 on the follow following days. Wednesday and Thursday at 5:00, Friday at 6:00, Saturday at 8 a.m., and Sunday at 10, 2:00 p.m. The meeting the meeting will be rebroadcast on DCTV channels 18 on the following days, Monday and
002Saturday at noon and Thursday at 3 p.m. And at this point in our meeting, we would like to give recognition to retiring um teachers, educators, educators or um Dartmouth Public Schools employees, really folks that have been with Dartmouth uh for a number of years. But tonight, we are really pleased to be able to introduce what we're considering the start of a new tradition as we honor our retiring staff members who have dedicated their careers to the Dartmouth community. Each one of our retirees represents years of unwavering commitment to our students and families. And so tonight, we present a golden apple. The golden apple that we present may be a small token, but it carries our deepest appreciation. Like the traditional apple given to teachers, it symbolizes the knowledge and growth you've nurtured in countless students.
003Regardless of the role that you've held, this golden finish reflects the invaluable nature of your contributions to the Dartmouth District. Your years of service represent far more than time in schools and offices. You've been mentors. You've been innovators. And you've been champions for our students. You've celebrated their successes. You've guided them through challenges. And you've believed in their potential. The impact of your dedication will continue through the generations of families that you've touched. To our retirees, your legacy is woven into the fabric of this Dartmouth community. The programs you've developed, the students you've inspired, and the colleagues you've mentored will continue long after your retirement. This golden apple represents our heartfelt gratitude, not just for your years of service, but for your heart of service. And thank you for choosing to make a difference in
004the Dartmouth community. Again, I see so many faces here that I've had the privilege to get to know a little bit over the past two years and I can't say how much respect that I have for the work that I've seen you do and I know you will truly be missed in the Dartmouth community. And so with that, as I said, we'll be um gifting again a small token of our appreciation through the our um gift of the golden apple. And uh Mrs. Coughlin is going to go ahead and introduce the actual golden apple which she has right there in front of her. And no, I'm sorry to say it is not real gold. We wish it was. That would be something. Um, yes, on behalf of the entire school committee, we really do appreciate
005all of your years of service and you are indeed woven into the community through our students and their families and everyone that they touch. Um, so I am going to call the name of uh the retiree, state the number of years they've been here. if you're here, if you could come up. Uh, Miss Beckwith, uh, vice chair is going to hand you your golden apple. And, um, after you receive that, if you could come along over here because we'd like to get a picture of all of you. Um, that would be terrific. Um, Lynn Baker, 19 years of service. [Applause] Allison Kato Gallaghan, 32 years of service. I don't think she's here. Um, Douglas Don, 24 years of service. Paul Donahue, 32 years. [Applause] Patricia Fletcher, 36 years. [Applause] Jean Sheridan Griffin, seven years. [Applause]
006Jeffrey Jeffrey Lemler, 28 years. [Applause] Celeste McGrevy, 21. [Applause] [Music] Tammy Piaza, 20 years. [Applause] Susan Pelik, 28 years. [Applause] Richard Porter, 35 years. [Applause] Randall Pon, 36 years. Christopher Tullson, 23 years. [Applause] Thank you. Dr. TBO, are you going to come and take a photo? Oh, we got to slide in. Here we go. Hey, whatever makes you happy. I'm retired. Cheesecen apple. Golden apple. Thank you. No, no, thank you. Thank you. Okay. Okay. It's back. But we have one more thing to do. Yep. And I'm going to turn this over to Dr. Sabin Magcguire. Great. So, we're just going to take a couple of minutes out of order a little bit to introduce a couple of new folks um to the Dartmouth public schools. Uh I'm going to first I'm going to invite uh
007Melissa Mckenry. I see her hiding back there somewhere up to the [Applause] microphone. And she is joined by our new assistant principal at the Potter School. and Melissa will tell us a little bit about him. Good evening everybody. So I am very excited to introduce to you the new assistant principal at the Potter School, Benjamin Grandandy. Ben comes Ben comes to us from the Fall River Public Schools. He served as the assistant principal at the John J. Doran commu community school serving prek to8 students since 2018. Prior to that he was a special education teacher at the Matthew Jcus Middle School. I'm looking forward to kicking off a new school year with Ben. His energy, his experience, and his fresh perspective will make a positive impact on our h happy place Potter School and on
008all the great things we'll accomplish together for our students and staff. So, welcome Ben. Good. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And now I would invite Mr. Sheay, Ryan Sheay, to the microphone to introduce our new associate principal at Dartmouth High School. Good evening, everyone. I'm excited to introduce Stephanie Santos. Stephanie Santos is our new associate principal. Um Stephanie has an extensive leadership background. Um she's currently the assistant principal or for a few more days at Eastston Middle School. And um her interview like was so impressive on how she cared about students and student learning and making sure all students and equity was a central part of who she is and we're really excited about where we're going with her and how she can support our families and communities. Um, Stephanie's a true New Beverford
009native. So, we're kind of taking the Wher pride out of her and putting in that Dartmouth pride, but um, no, I think I think she's going to be a perfect fit and her excitement towards Dartmouth is something that is just truly genuine and we're really really excited about it. Um, not to mention she's fluent in two languages and can even be an interpreter, we learned in our interview process. So, we're just really excited and um, ready to get ready to get the work done. So, everyone, Stephanie Santos. So, we welcome again our new um new folks to the Dartmouth public schools. And at the same time, it's bittersweet because we are sort of bidding farewell to some of our longtime really dedicated folks. And hopefully the new people here tonight got to see some of
010what makes Dartmouth the special place it is by just seeing sort of the outpouring of support and care uh for the folks that are retiring from the Dartmouth school. So I want to thank the families that came here uh to support the retirees and the new folks um but especially the retirees. The Telson's had quite a clan because that's the only way that I can describe it. Um, so wonderful. U, but you all had people here to support you. I appreciated the porter, the lit up porter sign in the back of the room. Um, there it is in case you didn't get a chance to see it. But for every retiree and for the folks that weren't here, we'll be sure to get to them and to share uh the golden apple and a certificate.
011So again, thank you. I know that some of you have other places to go. Um, so if you would like to stay, please stay. If not, we'll move into the regular part of our meeting. So, thank you. [Applause] And so this is a business meeting of the school committee and we have allowed uh 10 minutes for public comment from anyone in the audience on any topic of this evening's agenda. And if you're interested in speaking, please approach the mic, state your name, and keep your comments to three minutes. Thank you. Hi, Heather. noise for that. Okay. Um, I stand before you tonight with all my hatch on my head. Proud Dartmouth grad. Yeah, I can hear you. You were Oh, Jonathan was a quieter room. Proud Dmer grad, mom of two, union member, town employee,
012and Dartmouth resident. I'd like to first publicly thank Nate Silva for consistently showing up each and every meeting of every town department this year to try and move the needle on school funding. He is an invaluable asset to the students and teachers of this town. On Tuesday, he showed up again on the town meeting floor and he's here again tonight. Thank you, Nate. I know you know how proud I am to stand alongside you. Nate and I reached out to some friends a couple months ago and simply asked for help. We took the time to inform them of the status of our public school funding and share its impact on the children of this town. That group started to grow and then we asked for help again to run for town meeting member in a
013right in campaign before the April election. We got more than 20 members on town meeting. We then asked for more help. We had meetings and created handouts and everyone reached out to friends and family to grow our group. Nate spent hours making an amendment to present on the town meeting floor. We had meetings about how to make that process better and worked to edit our plan in more meetings. On Tuesday, we sat together at town meeting while others in our group cheered us from home. These are people who answered a call for help immediately, ready to act. And I am proudest to know them. On the town floor, we asked for help again. Help to figure out this funding issue that impacts our teachers and students. A call to stop pointing fingers at who or
014what is the perceived co is the perceived cost and just stop kicking the can down the road. We didn't think the amendment would pass, but what we found were people we didn't even know standing at the microphone in support of our kids and this school system. We had 60 people vote for this amendment and 101 people vote against it, including two members here today. I say this all to show you the value in asking for help. For years, I have heard the school committee ask for parents to stand at the microphone and make their concerns heard. They have, and they did again this year. Over the last couple years, I have stood at microphones at FINCOM and select board as a town employee with DEA members and community stakeholders behind me to support the budget
015you put forward. This year, parents and DEA members did the same everywhere, including this room, sharing the impacts of health care costs that exceed the COLA for teachers and the impact of teacher cuts on kids. They asked for your help. They called on you to act. There's part of me that wants to always believe the best in people and think that maybe you just felt like you had no choice. That you felt constrained by an expectation to maintain status quo or to not make waves. Maybe that's why you didn't ask for help. We needed you to fight. We needed you to tell us that you needed our help to fight. We wanted you to fight for what matters. Fight for affordable healthcare, living wages. Fight to get us out of the deep dark hole that
016is our dart ranking in almost every category. take a risk to back an out there amendment on the town meeting floor because it's what's right for our kids who are not given a seat at the table. Be the voice for the children and the teachers of this town. We have proven, parents and staff alike that when you ask for help, we show up. We are here fighting in the spaces you didn't fight in. We are tired and burnt out from doing more with less. A less that you allowed to happen this year. A less that you unan unanimously voted on. And despite that, if you ask for help right now, we would still show up and fight because that's what we do. We fight for our kids every day. We do the hard things and
017we ask our kids to do hard things. I'm fighting with all the hats I wear in all the places I can. My kids, our kids, this staff, these parents, our town deserve it. So, I hope to see you standing with this merry band of four school people because even though you didn't fight when we needed you to, we could still really use the help. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Jenny Gates and I have two students at Dartmouth High School. My daughter is a rising senior and my son will be a junior this fall. Early last week, many families were informed that due to a restructuring of the guidance department, current students would no longer have Melissa Fitzgerald as our guidance counselor. In an email from Mr. Shay, I learned that a grades specific
018counseling model is being implemented for the freshman class to aid in their transition to high school. Miss Fitzgerald has be reassigned. So, excuse me. Um, I I believe that this is um restructuring isn't the purview of the school committee um and not on the agenda. But comments considering that should be directed to Mr. or um Bush Street. Thank you. Okay, I got a comment. I wrote to Miss Magguire. I'm still waiting for an answer. Could you please approach the microphone? State your name. So, my name is Philipe Silva. Um I've read my wife wrote to Miss Maguire. Um let me see. June 4th. Still waiting for an answer. So, um, your question should be directed to me. Um, and you did the right thing to write to Bush Street. You should have first talked to
019Mr. Sheay. Um, and they will address your concerns. Whether they will change what is happening, no, because I believe and I am not party to that because it is not part of our purview. Um, but they have good reasons for the changes they make and they make the changes for the benefit of all students. Anyone else? Good job. Everyone, Robin Delphuente. I have three kids finishing up their elementary career at Potter's School and as we're celebrating Mr. Porter and the others retiring for their immense lifelong is kind of what I consider it dedication to the students of this community. I also know that we're not replacing a lot of the positions that are retiring which is a little bothersome. I'd like to give some attention and thank you to both Heather and Nate Silva for
020their efforts, extraordinary efforts as I have in the past given to you as well. This is not a small and uh it's not a small task and your donated time and efforts are not uh without notice. At the same token, I feel the need to share my disappointment as Heather was commenting far more eloquently than I'll get out. The lack of fighting for our kids. We if you don't ask for it from the town, they're not going to offer it. You have to ask for it. What can we do to help you ask for it? As she said, we're here to help. We're here to fight for the school. We're here to fight for our students. You got to ask for it. Thank you for your [Applause] time. Anyone else? Okay. Uh, next up, approval
021of minutes, regular and executive. Starting with regular. Do I hear a motion? So moved. Second. Mr. Chair, make a motion we approve the school committee minutes of May 19th, 2025. Second. Okay. Motion by Mr. Non, seconded by Miss Beckwith. Any discussion? All in favor? I I opposed. Unanimous. Um, and do I hear a motion for the executive SE session of May 19th? So move madam chair with the stipulation that they be held until the matter for which they were intended is completed. Second motion by Mr. Noun, second by Miss Amarol. Any discussion? All in favor? I I. Any opposed? Um so unanimous. Um, next up is a consent agenda uh for the DHS marching band and color guards request for permission to operate the food concession stand at the Dartmouth Living Memorial Stadium for the
0222025 football season. Um, you all should have received information in your packet. Um, are there any questions on the information? I'll make a motion that we approve uh this request. Second. Okay, we have a motion by Mr. Oliver, second by Miss Amarol. Any further discussion? All all four. I I I Any opposed? Madame Chair, I'm a member of the association. I'll abstain. Okay. So, we have four four and one abstension. Um then I'm going to turn it over to Dr. Sabre Maguire for a couple presentations. Oh, great. So, we we're going to start off by um inviting Mr. Parade to the microphone. He is going to be sharing some of the amazing work that our students have engaged in this past year, certainly with his leadership and support. But as um as we shared with
023you at our last school committee meeting, we also wanted to make sure that we took some time to honor the support that we've had through Mass Hire. And you're going to hear from Mr. Prody not only how uh Mass Hire has benefited the media productions in in particular, but really has been a benefit to the entire Dartmouth High School community. So, Mr. Parate, I know you're ready to go and excited to share. Thank you, Dr. Sabra Magcguire. So, a few years back, um, we actually had a meeting with Mass Hire of Greater New Beverage Representatives. Uh, it was in Mr. Sha's office and, um, this was going back a few years ago and we were wondering how the cooperation could work with Mass Hire and Dartmouth High School. So, how have they helped DHS in
024going now to the present day um over a period of two to three years working with them? Well, we they've helped by funding student field trip experiences which you're going to hear from students tonight talk about their experiences um in many levels and different programs in the school. Uh numerous field trips have been um fully funded thanks to Mass Hire and we couldn't have done this without their help. And I'm sure everyone is aware the cost of busing, what it costs to um travel on some of these experiences. Uh but not only that, they've also funded um for food services um here at the high school. For example, our credit for life fair, which uh typically we have in April. they funded for um our amazing cafeteria food services program as you can see in
025the photos here um was fully funded by Mass Hire for the uh 50 volunteers that came in. I think we had over 50 volunteers for the last uh credit for life fair um funded uh for the uh breakfast uh and lunchon for those volunteers as well as also this year for the first time we brought back our career fair and they also funded uh lunchon for those folks that came in. Again we had just about 50 volunteers come in for that. Um they helped fund our DHS TV media banquet uh which was catered by Ricottis this year and it was an amazing event. Um the students had a great time. Uh but also in addition to funding for food services and field trip experiences, they've also funded our emblaze license program uh for the past
026three years for 100 senior interns in our internship program which has been incredibly helpful because that's the app that the students use to log in and log out on their internship experiences. They've also funded for um computer software for our media classes uh which allows us to create uh for example this year our u Mr. Galashaw will be seen on our um annual end of the year staff edition the theme being wicked and guess who Mr. Galashore is playing the wizard himself. So a lot of those effects are made possible by the software that we use uh in the media program. Uh they've also funded for folding tables. Uh some of which you are actually sitting at right now. So they helped us purchase eight um new folding tables which we use not only for
027school committee but those same tables that you're sitting at right now are also used for events like credit for life fair, career fair and uh in addition to other venue. I think the music department had a um had something in the gym one weekend they used that they needed tables. So much needed folding tables which we now have eight more that we can rely on um thanks to MassArt. So I'd like to call up Bonnie Mada who will talk a little bit about the um actual expenses covered this year um and these are some of the examples. So she's just going to talk about that and her cooperation with um Massire. [Applause] Thank you Rob. Um and thank you for establishing that relationship. It's tremendously helped us out. When we had initially sent out the
028email asking for teachers to um let us know how their grants have affected them, their students, um I thought it was only to the tune of $15,000 that they donated. Um when I got the when I asked Devon for the report, turns out there was a lot more. So, it's it's amazing and I'm so grateful for the relationship that we've established and I can't wait to meet her for the first time tonight. All those emails of do you have money for this? It's it's we really appreciate her. So, these are all the things that she's helped us out with and as you can see, it's a pretty extensive list. Thank you. So, without further ado, I'd like to call up um some of the students who actually were affected by this and talk about their
029experiences. So, first I'm not sure if she's here. Janna, is Jayanna present? No. Okay. So, um they funded uh a trip to Bridgewater State for um a cyber security trip. I can speak about that a little because I was I attended that um experience and uh we um went to Bris uh Bridgewater State's brand new cyber uh range, which you can see in some of the photos here. and our students actually worked on experiences in that cyber range getting firsthand experience at the college level of what cyber security is about. They also went to a GSA event um this past I believe it was May and it was a a statewide event for GSA. Um next I'd like to call up the um art students who went on a trip to the Newport Mansions. You
030guys, come on. [Applause] Hi, I'm Morgan and I'm one of the students that went to the Newport field trip. Thank you so much for the opportunities that we got to experience. I really enjoyed how we got to explore and take photos of things we don't see in normal day life. Hi, my name is Giovana and I was also one of the students who went. This trip was very fun and a great experience to learn new places and different ways to take photos. One of my favorite places taking pictures with the was of the ceiling of the Breakers Mansion. My name is Melanie and I had the fortune to be part of this field trip. I'm so thankful for the opportunity. My favorite part was being able to take portraits on the beach after the mansion.
031I really enjoyed this whole experience. Thank you for the opportunity. Hi, I'm Nina Pitman. I just want to say thank you for the opportunity to go on this trip. I really enjoyed taking pictures of the beach and the birds. Hi, I'm Laney Madison. I had a very fun time taking photos of the amazing fireplaces. Lastly, lastly, thank you again for paying for our field trip. We got a lot of opportunities to take photos of the mansion and the beach. Thank you. Thank you. Um they also funded uh it was a 3-day experience to the Massachusetts Association of Student Councils for their annual conference. It was actually held on on on the Cape. Um is Phoebe here. Phoebe Murray. Yes, she is. Here she comes. So, she's going to talk about that experience. Oh, we have
032two. Great. All right. So, Mass Hire funded our MASC conference trip, which is the Massachusetts Association of Student Councils. At the conference, 10 selected members of our council went to Hyannis to spend three days in workshops in large group activities. When we were there, we learned crucial leadership roles like how to capture people's attention in a group setting and share new ideas between councils. We met tons of new kids from all over Massachusetts, and it was an overall great experience. So, thank you to Mass Hire. While we were there, we also um roommed with each other in the hotel they provided us. And it taught us to connect with our fellow peers. And I actually got closer with classmates of mine that I would not have previously really known if it wasn't for the trip.
033And I'm really grateful that I got to be able to have the opportunity to connect with other people. Fabulous. Next up, um they did fund the entire DV DHS TV media trip. We went to New York City this this past winter, which was an amazing experience. And we also went to Providence um to see a virtual studio and to the IMAX theater. So, I'd like to call up our club officers, Landon, Noah, Ella, and Ben. Hello everybody. Um, it's pretty weird to be in front of the microphone. I'm usually back there. Uh, so bit of this trip. We started off with the New York City trip over the fall during Christmas time actually. We saw uh the Museum of Moving Image and it has all like the oldfashioned television sets and whatnot. And we also
034toured the NBC studios as well. So, we got to see the Saturday Night Live set and uh Jimmy Fallon. And this is a great project that we started off. I planned the project back in 2022. It was no avail the first time, but the second time was the charm. So, you know, we got it this time around and I'll like to bring on elegate to speak about more of the trip. All right. So, the second place we went to is actually the Museum of the Moving Image and it was really interesting to see like where film originated from and like how like film has evolved over the years and it was a really interesting experience to see like all like the big cameras from like back in like the ' 60s, '8s, I don't even
035know. But um yeah it yeah it was a really interesting experience and yeah I had a lot of fun. Awesome. Yeah I I I wanted to say thank you as well like this my second year in the media club. It it's um thank you very much. Uh we went to Providence my we went to our first ever IMAX movie the theater theater. We got to see the amateur over Snow White. Thank god. But anyway, um but any but anyway, um I I really appreciate that we got to go see like a really great movie. We went to like very a lot. Sorry, I suck at public speaking, but but but thank you very much, Bassire, for what you've given us. Thank you. Hi, I'm Landon. Uh I want to talk about more about the pro
036the Providence trip. So, we after we watched our movie, we went to a studio called Door G. It's a state-of-the-art virtual studio with a giant video screen in the background. And as you can see in the bottom right picture, there were students, Ben included, that got to um participate in a demonstration um and they got to film their own commercial. They play Yatsi. And um in that studio we were shown the skills of what exactly um 3D modeling was and how like virtual environments are created and how they're displayed on the screen. So I thought that was a really nice experience. Thank you guys. So without further ado, I'd like to call up our representative from Mass Hire of Greater New Beford, um Deon Robbitile, who's the youth program manager and have her say a
037few words. So, thank you for having me and congratulations to all the retirees today for all your hard work and service. But you guys were talking about earlier showing up and really advocating for the youth and um the administration at Dartmouth High, Mr. Parate, Mark Russell, Bonnie, nice to meet you, um really knocked it out of the park. We always meet at the beginning of the year with administration and I always say them, you have an idea, you call me and I'll see if I can fund it. And they really did that this year. And to see the students talking about it and to see their experiences, that's what Mass Hire is all about. I have the grant funding to do it. I might not be able to do it all. I mean, I haven't
038said no yet, but um they really the administration really paid attention to what you guys were interested in. I mean, and it was a partnership, right? You made we had an an event and what did you guys do? you took all our footage and all our interviewing. So, it's really good to see us doing it across all departments, not just media, not just photography, not just robotics. We're really encompassing the entire school. So, they did show up this year. They said, "Devon, we need this, we need that." I said, "Just tell me what you need and I'll see if I can do it." So, especially when it comes to field trips and experiences, once I found out I knew what the New York trip was, but then I was like, "I didn't know they were
039going over to see SNL. I would have gone I would have been there. So, it's good to see this feedback. And what's good is reaching out to me and getting all these ideas in play. It allows me to see because we service 12 high schools. We service the 12 high schools in the area. So, it allows me to take these programs and implement them in other other high schools. So, we appreciate you guys showing up, being creative. Like I always say, if you have an idea and you need funding for it, call me up and we'll figure it out. I've gotten really good in the past year four years of finding the loopholes and the verbiage. I'm like, I can do that, right? They're like, we think so. And I'm like, it doesn't say I
040can't. So, so what we want is just experiences for the youth, whether at Dartmouth High, New Batford High, Fair Heaven, Fair Haven High, all the populations are different. They all have different needs. And by learning from even what the other high schools do, I can say, "Oh, we can do this at Dartmouth High." So, no idea is too crazy. um always reach out to me, continue what you're doing. Um because the proof is in the pudding. I mean, you saw the programmings that they got to do this year. So, we really appreciate you guys being creative with us. Um it's it's a partnership. So, let's just keep it going cuz you guys knocked it out of the park this year for real. I mean, $32,000. I always tell the schools, I'm like, "If I don't
041spend it in your This is a trick I have. I'm like, if I don't spend it in your school, I got to spend it in another one." So, so you let me know what you need. So, thank you very much for all your hard work and dedication to to the students and their experience. Say on behalf of Dartmouth High School, we got you a little uh gift bag of Dartmouth High gear so that way you always have us to remember. I'm keeping this. I'm not giving this to All the other All the other staff are like, "We want it." I'm like, "Nope." Thank you so much. Thank you. All right. With that with that being said, I'll take any questions or comments. Yes, Mr. Oliver. Thank you, Madam Chair. I think it goes without saying
042when I think of your program, Mr. Paratti. So, uh, yeah, it was great to hear. I know I I've heard through the Great Vine different field trips that you folks have gone on this year, and I'm just happy to see that the program's continuing to grow and the crazy things that you're doing with your students. and uh I think they're a testament uh to your hard work. So, thank you. Much appreciated. Yeah, I I echo what my colleague just shared. Um and you all did a fabulous job. Uh better public speaker than I could ever be. Um so, you do an amazing job. So, don't doubt yourself. Um thank you for your creativity as well. in um you know this $32,000 that was funded only because of a grant opportunity. Um and like I said
043um again you know uh the reality of us going taking a coach bus to New York City would have never happened. You know we can fund raise all we want but that um you know you're talking a num a high number thousands of dollars just to fund that coach bus. Um and that's a lot of fundraising. But when you have a source um like Devon and Mass Hire that can simply grant us the funding to do a trip like that and give students an experience like that, you know, however we can think outside of the box and try and get that funded, I think that's what we need to do. And um hopefully in the future we can do more of that. Thank you. Thank you very much. My turn. Okay. Um wow. I'm not
044quite sure where to be where to begin. And I mean again, and I know I've said it before, when you think about the TV studios that we have, not only here, but also downstairs, u I tend to think of they kind of rival uh national televisions. You know, the channel 10s, the channel sixes, you know, when you see them with uh you know, at a sports event and they show you the control room and there's all the people with all the TVs and everybody's got a job. That is um absolutely fantastic. um what you did with $32,000 you boy it's almost like you squeezed the buffalo off the nickel as they say to uh to get it there type of deal. Devin just a personal thing and that's thank you very much for thinking of
045our kids. I mean we're all in this business of taking care of students and thank you for uh for taking care of them in Mass Higher. It's it's appreciated more than you'll know but keep it up. There she is. Deon's phone up there. She's here. She's still here. Left her phone. Is her phone up there? Oh, yes. Sorry. [Laughter] So, I I didn't know that Mass Hire did this. So, I thank you, Mr. Parate, for making that connection and reaching out initially. And now that we have this relationship, it's ongoing. Um, it's so beneficial for us. So, I appreciate it. And in addition to that, um, just so you're aware, this I was talking to Mr. Kylie about this earlier, this summer, they're actually funding two student internships to be, um, compensated working with, uh,
046Peter Chase at DCTV within my program. Um, I also have two students that are going to be working, uh, this summer at New Befford Robotics. that will be compensated and then that will um carry out to next fall and we'll actually have a compensated internship program um with Mass Hire where students will be now compensated to work on this very um school committee um meetings ne going into next year. So we have uh two two students lined up for that as well for next year. So it's always nice to have um have students that actually will be compensated for doing what they love. Terrific. um really appreciate the work you do. Mass hire is great. I just want to point out that a big funer of mass hire is the US Department of Labor. Um
047that's our tax dollars at work. Um it's not just I don't know where else their money comes from, but I think a big part of it is the US Department of Labor. There are some cuts going on there and I hope that that we can continue to benefit as much as we have this past year. But um I know that this funding is not always going to be there. Um but thank you for reaching out and grabbing what you can. You're welcome. And um you know I I other opportunities that we when I say think thinking outside of the box, another program that we use is called Donor's Choose. And I know some of you may have heard me mention that. Um that's kind of like a it's like a GoFundMe but for teachers in
048their classrooms. And for me personally, I've started that 7 years ago, and I'm I'm actually on the way approaching six figures. That's funding the um the the media program with equipment um and other funds uh for other sources of um revenue that that help like um Mr. Non said the the it looks like a state-of-the-art studio because we're funding it with state-of-the-art equipment and that's how we do it, you know, on the side of regular um funding and regular uh funding within the budget. But that's been a huge help and a huge resource. So again, thinking outside of the box for other funding um elements that we can rely on is always nice. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] Turn it right back over. I'm turning it right back over to you. Thank you, M. Coughlin.
049Um, so now I think I'm going to start by inviting Dr. T-Bolt and Senora Chamberlain. Are you coming up? I thought so. You had you had kind of a look that you were going to join us at the microphone. But I I want to say, you know, the thing about project 351, and I know you're going to hear from our students who really truly have been the leaders of this project, but they would not have been able to do this work without the sideline coaching and the work of Senora Chamberlain and Dr. T-Bolt, who I know have um really championed this work with our young people both at the middle school and the high school. and uh I'm just going to turn it over to them and ask them to introduce us to where we
050are with the playbook initiative. Sure. Thank you, Dr. S Magcguire, but could could our student team come on up because you guys are the stars of of this whole program. So, I we appreciate the opportunity to talk and share um about the playbook initiative. Um and I'm going to talk very briefly and then turn it over to, as I said, the stars of the program. Just want to point out that um this the playbook initiative aligns with our strategic plan which I think is so important. Um you know I heard some members of the school committee talk about how this strategic plan has a different feel than ones we've had in the past. It feels alive and that's because we've been very purposeful in all of the different initiatives and actions that we take to
051try and align it back to the strategic plan. And so this group of outstanding young people really did a great job with the playbook initiative which aligns directly with our safe and supportive schools. You're going to hear from them how that is in just a second. The only thing I want to do before I turn it over is I do want to thank a number of people including uh Senora Chamberlain. Um there's a number of times where as it turns out students don't read email as often as you know I thought they did. So very often when I was communicating with Tia and Audrey who were also phenomenal, I'd have to call Senora Chamberlain and say on your prep period, could you touch base with Tia and Audrey just to make sure there you know
052and so I appreciate um uh Senora Chamberlain's help with that and also obviously with meeting and and with helping plan and organize and then visiting Old Rochester. I also want to thank Mr. Rossy and the Dartmouth Middle School administrative team and also um Mrs. Msari and Mr. Sullivan, the two school counselors from the middle school. They were instrumental. This year we expanded the playbook initiative. We met four times instead of two times as we had done last year. And we could not have done that without the tremendous support we got from the middle school and also Mr. Shay in the the high school as well. Everyone was so accommodating. So, uh, it m really made our job easy. And so with that, I will turn it over to Tia Rad who is our lead trainer
053and Audrey Kercher who is our deputy trainer. You may have um hello, my name is Tia and I was the lead trainer of the playbook initiative this year. We would like to thank the Dartmouth High School and the Dartmouth Middle School administration for their continuous support. Um we would also like to thank all of these names up here. These are all DMS students who have participated in the playbook initiative, even some who have participated two years. Um, we would also like to thank the DHS mentors for their support this year and um, I would also like to say I've been in this playbook um, initiative for two years and it has helped me grown in so much ways whether it be in public speaking, whether it be in um, just being more of like a
054social person and being able to just share my ideas and opinions with the world. This has really helped me with it a lot. Hi. Um I'm Audrey Kercher. I was the deputy trainer and also the project 351 alum um for our past playbook season. Um this was my first year um being part of playbook and it was a really great experience for me. Um for me I think that the most um significant part of the experience was seeing um the kids grow throughout the year and we really saw a lot of changes in the way that um they took in the information that we gave them and then kids coming back in um in like the next workshops and saying oh I used what you taught me in this situation and just that was really
055amazing um being able to see the kids grow. Um and it's just it's such an amazing program. Um, I feel like we've taught a lot and we've also learned a lot. Um, I just feel so grateful to be able to have been a part of it. Um, I'm Anderson de Cruz and I'm in seventh grade. And the playbook initiative is like a partnership between the Boston Excelis Foundation and Project 351 and the Massachusetts Association of School and Superintendent. Um, it provides a curriculum based from middle school students from Massachusetts uh to build awareness around hate, bias, and discrimination. The main goal is to build more inclusive school environments and communities by empowering middle school students to be upstanders rather than bystanders. Good evening. I'm Kaani Medina and I'm in eighth grade. The playbook workships are
056structured like a basketball game. So, we have pregame, first quarter, second quarter, third quarter, etc. It kind of makes the day go a little bit more easier for us. So, we know, okay, so we're in first quarter, we're going to be doing this, then next we have second quarter. Activities are led by our high school trainers. It makes it kind of easier to connect to them since they are high schoolers instead of adults. So with certain scenarios they understand how we feel better. Some activities included things such as energizers agree disagree unsure scenario based discussions. So there would be a topic question and then you would go to decide whether you agree, disagree or unsure with it and then we would discuss about it. And Kaizen is the idea of continuous improvement through reflection. So
057when you make a mistake you can go back and reflect on it and next time you can make a different decision to make it better. Hi, my name is Selena Blevens and I'm in seventh grade. One aspect of the playbook initiative required us to join together with the old Rochester regional school system which built on the central lessons of the initiative. They came to all high school for one workshop and then we went to theirs for the next. We went to each other's schools and we formed one community within the middle school to spread the lessons of the playbook initiative. We learned the perspective of of others. We heard other opinions and saw other perspectives of people in a different community and heard things that we have never heard before. So, we got a new
058idea on things, new connections with people. We went into random groups and we all heard each other's opinions on the scenarios we discussed. The opinions that people said were great and we all had our thoughts and respected others. Partnership led to a greater impact of the initiative. New friendships and understandings were made from combining the schools together. In conclusion, two different middle schools came together and made the ripple effect bigger and better. Hi, my name is Giana. I'm in 8th grade. Throughout the year, we focused on many different lessons surrounding the playbook initiative. We learned that there are many different opinions and it's important to be respectful of others opinions, even if you disagree with them or might not understand where they're coming from. We also need to recognize the importance of respecting others people's
059backgrounds and cultures at all times. The words we say about people's culture can hurt and affect others deeply, especially if we don't know much about their culture or religion. Knowing the difference between an upstander and a bystander is an important. Being an upstander means being someone who stands up for the person who is being bullied. Being a bystander is doing the opposite. You're not helping the problem and you're observing and doing nothing to improve the situation. Learning the right time to step into a situation and how to be effective by Sander is important. Sorry. Good evening. My name is Savannah and I'm in eighth grade. I have the honor today to talk about the playbook unity plan. But before I start, Tia and Audrey would like to speak. So, we made the playbook unity plan.
060Playbook unity plan is basically a five-step plan that that reflects the values of the playbook initiative and we plan to present that and keep that going in our school community. Um and the ideas that the playbook community plan is based on these were all ideas that um the kids in our group came up with and then they worked together to uh create one um concrete plan in order to get the goals that they wanted accomplished. One of our ideas for the unity plan would be doing morning announcements. And morning announcements could just start off the day on a more positive note. And we could do like plans throughout the week. When you start off mornings right, you know, you feel better throughout the day. More community events. If we do more community events, then we
061will boost the interaction between students. This will create a bigger community and have more connections between the kids. The more recognition of good deeds to lead more good deeds by more attention to good deeds, giving more rare cards and giving students that power. It will reward students to want to do more good deeds. And sometimes teachers don't see when kids do good things. So, if we give students the power to give out rare cards, then we're giving more rare cards out even if a teacher hadn't seen them. A day to raise awareness, encouraging no judgment or hate. A one Dartmouth day by putting up posters for different days like Earth Day or even donut day to encourage a community. One Dartmouth Day, a day where everyone meets somewhere and participates in activities to bring togetherness.
062This would enhance like the community in Dartmouth and where everyone can just combine and talk about things and just have a good time. Hold student hold school assemblies to increase student engagement and to enhance student voices around the school. School assemblies and student voices voting for spirit week having assemblies to announce events that are leading that are in the future. Sophie hold the school assembly and then we can talk about events that are coming up on that Friday or that next week and it will just be able to have the students more informed. So that's the that's the presentation. Um, thank you for listening and I'm sure they're quite nervous that you're going to stump them with some questions, but I I I assured them that wouldn't happen. So, but they're happy to answer any
063questions you might have. It's an impressive uh bunch. Does anybody want to embarrass them? No. I mean, I don't have questions, but I just I'm just always so flawed at the level of like leadership um of the students and your ideas and just all of the amazing I mean that is I get emotional like that is so powerful and I hope you've recognized that within yourselves that what you're doing is is surely making a ripple effect. Um, I know the work that you came and presented on last year clearly did that and that unity pledge and all of those great ideas. Um, I yeah, just I'm completely impressed by each and every one of you and really thank you for what you're doing for yourselves, for your for your peers um and for those who
064might not yet feel compelled to um do this work or or um or see themselves in it. Perhaps they will in the future. So, thank you That's all I have to say. Just thank you for what you've done uh and having the uh the courage to come up. Public speaking is not for everyone and you've done a wonderful job and I applaud you for that. I thank you for uh taking time out of your day and classes and the leaders and the faculty and staff that have helped out to uh to put this together. It's it's wonderful and I look forward to seeing you know as Mrs. Amarl said as it grows. So good luck and I just thank you all for being upstanders. It's so important to speak for those who are afraid to
065speak or cannot speak in a situation. So I thank you for doing that. It's hard to do. I'm impressed by all of you and I will say yes, we are not all public public speakers. I am not. But we all have to speak up. So, um, thank you for doing that and thank you for helping your peers do that. I know. You all said everything that I needed to say, but but certainly every one of you should be extremely proud of what you're doing. You're certainly making a difference. Uh, you also all did a a fabulous job speaking up here uh this evening. And I will not try to stump any of you. uh being the last person. So congratulations and you should all be proud of yourselves as well as your family should be
066proud of you as well. Say just a congratulations to the parents too. So good. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Um next up we have Mr. Kylie, who's going to talk about a contract for the DLO Potter Schools fire alarm. Thank you. So, um last week at town meeting um they moved um they voted to move funds from the long-term capital stabilization account uh to an article to complete our fire alarm replacement project at the Dlo and Potter schools. So, I will read the resolution that I'd a I'd ask you to act on tonight. So, it's resolution number 25-2. It's a resolution awarding the contract for contractor services for the dlo and potter school fire alarm system replacement project. Whereas invitation for bids for the dlo and potter school fire alarm system replacement were duly
067advertised and bid proposals received were opened online at biddocs.com on 5925 at 2 p.m. Whereas MV Electrical Contractors Inc. was the lowest responsible and eligible bidder. Therefore, be it resolved that a contract for the contractor services for the DLO and Potter school fire alarm system replacement be awarded to MV Electrical Contractors, Inc. of a Kushnet Mass for a fee of $318,130. Be happy to to um answer any questions you might have on this. So move, Madam Chair. Second. So motion by Mr. Noun, second by Mr. Oliver. No discussion. Oh, little discussion. Yes. Yeah. Just a quick question, Mr. Kylie. No issues getting this done over the summer or it's going to be tight. We we had our we had our project kickoff meeting this morning. Um they are going to start Monday, provided you vote
068in favor of this tonight. Um, so they're in the process of they have to go to town hall, get the permits, and then we should be off to the races with materials coming in Monday morning and and making the plan to get it done. So, um, it's an interesting project. What's going to happen is we're going to start at the potter school and they're going to do all the rough work at the potter school, then move to the DLO school, do all the rough work while they're still doing some finish work at at the Potter School and then do the finish work at the Dlo School. The plan would be that the systems would be fully tested up and running before August 25th, which is our first day of all staff for next year. And
069then it's possible that we may have some demolition on off hours after that of the old system. As you might imagine, it's a fire alarm system. There needs to be one in place. You have to do the whole system, redo it before you take out the old one. So it is a big project and um so but that that's the plan. Okay. Thank you. That's all I have, Madam Chair. Thank you. Mr. Oliver, did you have something? Nope. I have same question. Okay, great. Um, so all those in favor? I I. Any opposed? We have a unanimous decision. Thank you all. Um, next up, we got in our packets um some information. We need to vote on authorizing the FY25 endofear um allow allowing us to expend remaining funds across the budget function code line.
070Um and we do this every year. So we just need to authorize the spending of any excess funds. Is there any discussion or questions on that? You should have gotten it in your package. No questions. Okay. question. Question. So, do I have a motion? I'll I'll make a motion to approve Mr. Kylie to do what he needs to do between budget line items. Second. Okay. Motion by Mr. Oliver, second by Miss Emerald. All in favor? I. Any opposed? We have a unanimous yes. Um, next up, South Coast Educational Collaborative Representative. Uh we need to vote on this which we do every year. Um the uh the vote would be to reappoint Dr. Sab Magcguire as Dartmouth's representative on the South East Co Education Collaborative Board of Directors. And as it's always the superintendent, it's not
071like we're going to vote anybody else in for that position. So um we're we're looking to vote her in. M madam chair make a vote pursuant to chapter 40 section 4E as amended by chapter 43 of the acts of 20 2012 members of the board of directors at South Coast Educational Collaborative are appointed annually June Sabre Maguire superintendent of schools is appointed to serve as a Dartmouth public school representative on the board of directors of the South Coast Educational Collaborative in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 4E, as amended by chapter 43 of the acts of 2012 for the 20 2025 2026 school year. Second motion by Mr. Non, second by Miss Beckwith. Uh, further discussion? Oh, yes. Question. Well, um not just um is it that it's always the superintendent from each
072of the participating districts? Yes. Okay. Anything else? Which is different than our other collaborative which is like a representative from the school committee is different than every collaborative is a little bit different based on their bylaws I believe. Yeah, that's correct. Thank you. Okay. Ready for a vote? All in favor? I I opposed and uh we have another unanimous vote. Um and we are down to or up to the superintendent's update. Great. So, I'd like to start with just a brief update um regarding our ongoing negotiations and express that uh we have a continued commitment to what we believe is a really important process. Um, as you know, our negotiating teams continue to meet regularly and I believe that we're engaging in productive dialogue. Uh, we're working through some really complex issues that require careful
073consideration by all involved, but we are optimistic about our ability to reach an agreement that serves everyone's interest. That's the goal for all of us involved in this process. Um, I think it's important to take a minute, at least for me, hadn't been at the recent town meeting, um, to appreciate the discussions that took place, the approval of our budget, and particularly what came out of the thoughtful dialogue, which I I think it was clear that there was a recognition that there is a need to better support the school's financial interests. I think that um that sentiment was palpable in the space and that there were a good number of people who were very vocal about their commitment. I think that these conversations do provide us with some momentum and that they show that there
074is a commitment in the community of Dartmouth to educational excellence and at the same time a recognition that there has to be fiscal responsibility. These negotiations, aside from town meeting, offer us an opportunity to work together, to move together, to work as a team, and I am confident that we'll continue to have that open communication. Again, I appreciate the um the union leadership and what I believe is mutual respect and healthy professional dialogue that we're having and that we will get to an agreement that all parties can accept and support. So, obviously, we're going into the last week of of summer. I mean, not of summer. Gosh, can you believe I said that the first please? The last week before we're all out for summer. But um you know, we'll continue to provide updates as
075appropriate and while at the same time respecting the integrity of the negotiation process and we appreciate everybody's support as we continue to work toward a positive solution. Uh so I just wanted to update you. I hope that um the recent municipal decisions will help frame negotiations within a communitywide approach to supporting all of the needs of the Dartmouth community and certainly most especially the schools. Um so with that, I'd like to just give you an update on what's going on in teaching and learning. There is still teaching and learning happening. We still have three days left of school. Um is that no, four, three, three and a half. three and a half days. Uh you know, we have been out in schools. We see the this time of year, believe it or not, the teaching
076is harder because the kids know that summer vacation is on the horizon. And the efforts that educators need to make to keep kids engaged are probably at the highest level of the some of of the entire school year really other than right before we hit vacations, but I think summer even more so. Um, but some good news, great news, MCCAST is done done with MCCAST across the whole school district. It seemed like it was a long testing season. Um, but we did get some uh positive news in terms of our MCCAST portfolio assessment results. I see that we've been sharing those with the educators out in the schools and we're pretty pleased with the overall results. And so I want to thank our special educators, Lari Denisio, Kim Redlon, you know, those people that are
077out in those buildings and helping students to be able to be successful on uh in all really what is an alternative assessment in a year where things were a little uncertain for everyone. Uh but once we have more data, we'll be sharing it with you. Obviously, we'll have a comprehensive data presentation to you once we we have more data that is uh that has been vetted and shared with us by the department of ed. Uh something else that I think is notable, we had four teams, two middle school, two high school teams who attended the civic showcase at UMass Dartmouth. We had a really great showing this year and the civics projects at the middle school and the high school I think have at least even I've see a difference even between as as good
078as they were last year. This year I just can really see the commitment of our educators and our students and they're really bringing things forward that truly have the opportunity to have impact. Uh we talked a little bit about that last week. Additionally, our middle and elementary teams this year, our middle school team joined uh our elementary school team at Bridgewater State University for the invention convention. If you remember last year, our fifth graders took home first place honors. Well, it probably won't be a surprise to you that our fifth graders took place took home first grade honors. I mean, first first place honors again this year. So, we are actually going to be inviting them to a school committee meeting to share their project much like we if you remember we did that last
079year and our middle schoolers had an excellent showing and we look forward to again continuing to offer our students those kinds of opportunities because what they're really doing is they're going to Bridgewwater State University. They have the there's an auditorium filled with their peers with other adults. is a panel of uh Bridgewater State professors who sit and um they're on the judging panel. And so the students are truly having an opportunity both at UMass Dartmouth when you think about it in Bridgewater State to we talk about public speaking not being something most of us are are really comfortable with, but the more we give our students opportunities to do that, uh the more comfortable they're going to be with those kind of experiences. Uh so again, we'll be sharing the inventions at a future meeting.
080We do have three faculty members, um one from the high school, one from the middle, and Stephanie Santos, our new associate principal, are going to a math conference in July. So, I'm excited to be able to see those instructional leaders. It's Gary Lowour and Anne Brown get together and really be able to focus on just what their their area of uh in instructional expertise is um and give them a chance to do that over the summer. And uh I think it it just it helps people to kind of recharge um under budget and capital improvement and HR. I'm going to ask Jim just to give an update a quick update on capital improvement planning because I know you had a meeting just this morning. Right. Thank you, Dr. S Magcguire. So we had we did
081have a long range capital planning meeting. Um, for those of you who haven't seen town meeting, I'd encourage you to watch that and certainly the the long-term capital presentation that was given during that. Uh, at the meeting this morning, we began to to look at feedback that we've received from um from that presentation. And it's been most largely constructive feedback, appreciation for um looking at something that really has been a a need for a long time and has not really been addressed in a comprehensive way. Um so later this week, Dr. Dr. Sab Magcguire will be reaching out to the community, school community, seeking feedback uh for regarding the long-term capital planning presentation and our facilities needs. So, there's a QR code uh that is on the last page of that presentation and if folks
082can provide additional feedback, it would be very beneficial for the long range capital planning committee to hear that feedback. um so that you know we make sure that the the town's priorities are appropriately um addressed. And how can folks access that? We'll be sending it out to everyone uh later this week. I think we'll have it out either tomorrow afternoon or Wednesday morning. And how long is that open for feedback? Right now we haven't we haven't set a timeline to close. We're meeting in about 3 weeks to look at feedback again. Um it it's it's actually currently open. So um but I don't I don't know where the presentation is posted. That's why we're going to we're going to send it directly. We'll send it out to everyone to the school community. Right. Thanks. But
083we don't have a plan as to cutting off feedback. Um there is if if you recall in the in the presentation there are um forums listed for the different projects in September. Uh so our plan is to gather feedback begin to make a plan as to what's going to be addressed in those forums so we can educate the community and offer offer thoughts on um how we can move forward. Beautiful. Madam chair. Yes. So another question I had Mr. Kylie or Dr. Saba Maguire is around um a representative from school committee being on that committee. I think it's imperative and I think it's something that uh I know it's through the board of selectment I believe is that who um took the charge like charges the committee. Um yes. So I brought that up again
084at the meeting this morning. Um, I believe that they that the town that the selectman uh will be asked to change the makeup of the committee. Um, right now I'm a voting member of the committee. I I don't think I will be. Um, I think I'll be just a representative assisting on the committee and one of you will be asked to be a member of that of that committee. Um, but the select board has not I I don't even think that's been presented to the select board yet. Okay. Um not sure if that's something that'll be done. I don't know when that'll be done because there are members uh from the select board that are on the committee. There's a member of the select board on the committee. So I think it's you know speaking
085of my colleagues I think it's important that one of us because a lot of this long range planning has to do with the schools. Agree that uh sooner rather than later um that Yeah. And they also mentioned that they'd like uh a school committee member to do the presentation on September 17th, by the way. So, whoever wants to volunteer, your public speaking opportunity, it'll get me off the microphone, which I'm sure everybody will be happy with. But, um but yeah, maybe we can be someone can be appointed by then. Yeah, I hope so. I hope so. Okay, so I'll just move on to under HR. You see, we've had two new appointments that we're pleased to um have be able to join us this evening. We do have other um just uh job opportunities that
086are coming out. I think we had one today and you'll see that that's going to happen over the next few weeks because as we hire for positions like our uh special ed facilitators that that in turn could open a position within one of our buildings. And so hiring pretty much goes on all summer long. Um, but we're excited with the applicant pool that we've been seeing and we look forward to again having when I think about the fall, we'll have our new teachers here uh to introduce to the committee. So, we'll keep you updated on where we are with that. Under family and community engagement, high school graduation, high school graduation uh was wonderful. Thank you again to everybody and the effort that went into holding the graduation outdoors. Uh I know it had been
087a bit uh since you've been able to do that. So thank you again. I mean there's so many people that were involved in making sure that that was able to happen, our facilities crew, our you know our high school leadership. And all week long everybody's nervous about one thing, the weather. And that's what's going on with the middle school right now because they are watching the weather by the minute as well, even by the hour. Um, now that we can get those hourly updates. So even though it was a little windy, the I think the it was it was perfect. The weather really did hold out for us and we again can't thank the folks that made that happen um happen and it was just beautiful. So thank you. Um, and I would mention I
088mentioned the middle school. The middle school graduation is Thursday and we're going to hope the weather holds out for them. We've had field days. We've had fun runs. I don't know if you've been driving around town, but you must see that there's um cars parked all over town at uh the different schools. I was able to get to quite a few of them. And I have to say it's just so impressive between, you know, the there's there are cookouts. There are all kinds of opportunities for students to engage in physical activity. That's really fun. Um, but the kids are having a a a lot of fun and the families get to come out and kind of watch it from the sidelines and there seems to be a great deal of interest in in that experience.
089So, thanks to everybody. I don't know if you've gotten to see any of what's gone on, but there are folks running around in blowup costumes, having races. Uh there are people who are getting slimed. There are um there are dunk tanks. There is an ice bucket challenge. Rick, who you saw here today, Mr. Porter, I got to see him a bucket go over his head probably at least 15 times in the short time that I was at the Potter School. So, a really lot of fun. Um, lots of great things at the end of the school year, all those celebrations. And I just also want to take a minute to address communication. I want the Dartmouth community to know that I both welcome and appreciate the opportunity to engage with families. It's something that I
090think is really important in the role of the superintendent. There will be times where I might get an email or a phone call that I might redirect to where um I believe the conversation should start. There's never a time where I ignore an email or a phone call and always know what's being done to follow up on emails and phone calls and where uh certain issues stand. and as we work really hard through some of the challenges that inevitably come up in any school district. And so those concerns are important to me and I would in no way ignore a parent email. And if it appeared that way, then I apologize. That wasn't the intent. I do look at emails and I'm usually on a thread so that I'm following um what some of the
091challenges are that are going on in the school district. Uh under safe and supportive schools, I'm I'm going to mention the high school prom. Um not only because it was a beautiful venue, Mr. Right, Mr. Nunes, you agree? It was it was literally stunning. It was magical. That's the only way to describe it. and you almost had to be there to really see it and see the effort that was put in. Uh, and it was but what why I say safety um, and put it under safe and supportive schools is because it takes a lot of folks to keep kids safe on a night like the prom. We all pay attention to those things. And you know the things that I see Dartmouth doing so well is we have those coach buses. We have those
092breathalyzers. We have our security staff who are and our own admin team who are there at all of the doors. Our teachers are there. Everybody is paying attention to what's going on. And we made sure I watched uh Mr. Sheay and his team make sure that every single student that was signed up for the prom to be there. if they weren't there by uh I think it was 6:45, there were phone calls being made. There were uh check there there were just a system of checks and balances to make sure that every student who was supposed to be at the prom was at the prom. Um so I really think that that safety piece is uh especially important to highlight in terms of what goes on behind the scenes. um the Stephanie Church and Julie
093Newman, I don't know, they could be hired for actual catering events for high-end events. And that was true of the folks who put on the prom last year, too. So, so impressive. I also want to just take a minute to thank Dart, the Dartmouth Police Officers, the Dartmouth Police Department, especially our SRO's uh lease officer Dave Tvar because they show up. I mean, they are there. They were at the field days. They, you know, everywhere that I go, I see one of them there. If there's an event happening, they make sure we call the chief. He's so responsive if we need some extra help somewhere. It is just really uh it's a really strong partnership and we appreciate it. So, that's my report. So, thank you. Thank you. Um, yes, graduation was fantastic. And I
094I just want to say that up until the last minute that they were our seniors, they were impressing me. They were really impressing me. Um, also town meeting. Yes, I think it went very well and I am happy that our budget passed and kudos to Nate Silva for his impassion speech and if people weren't there, they should watch it on YouTube and listen. Um I did not vote for um his funding amendment. Um, but I I was so happy to have the conversation and discussion about our revenue problem. Uh, I I appreciate the fin's work or proposed work on a greater business district to bring more taxes to our town. I appreciate though doubt that we will ever be able to change the funding formula for chapter 70 and get more funds to this community
095through the state. It's a great pipe dream, but I just don't see it happening. Uh Dartmouth has one of the lowest real estate taxes in the state and the state looks at it. If you're not going to help yourself, we're not going to help you. Um, I I love the quote um that a uh an override is not a dirty word. It's a solution. It's one of many solutions. Yes, we should work on our business district. Yes, we should work with the state and and try and get more money from them. But ultimately, if we want more money, I think we're going to have to ask it from ourselves. Um, and I do believe at town meeting that there were a lot of people who were supporting the schools and recognized that we have a
096revenue problem and it's across all of our departments. And the reason I didn't vote for the amendment was that we're one town and we just have so much money. And if we're at the last minute going to take other people's money, then they're going to feel bitterly towards the school next time. So, we really have to work together. We have to work together in this solution. We have to work together in educating the whole community of the problem and the possible solution. Um, so I appreciated the discussion at town meeting. I thought it was really great and um I hope we are moving towards a solution. Um that's all on that. Um did anybody else have any updates? Yes, Mr. N. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh yeah, I mean, thank you to town meeting. I
097mean, and Nate and I had a I had a nice discussion with Nate beforehand. Yes, I'm the other one that didn't vote for it, but I explained my logic. uh to him and I also explained my logic to uh the town meeting. We've got a revenue problem. There's no doubt about it. Uh Proposition 2 and a half in my opinion, I've said this before, has over has outlived its usefulness type of deal with inflation and everything else that goes on. But, you know, until uh we can get the powers to be to uh change uh chapter 5921, you know, section 21, it's going to be what it is type of deal. And we're going to have to keep keep fighting. I know I've talked about it before and I'm a broken record when we do
098the budget and I talk about if we had what the school aid was supposed to be then you know we wouldn't have to have all these wonderful discussions we'd be we'd be in good shape but we don't so we just have to keep uh scrimping and claring our way through. Um I just seriously want to follow up with um what Dr. to say what Magguire said about the the prom and after prom and it was great to see the students. They had a wonderful time. They really did. And then back here at the after prom, you know, just absolutely enjoying themselves um with the different events going on. There was plenty of food. If they went hungry, it was their own fault type of deal between pizzas and hot dogs and chicken and soda and
099everything else. It was uh just wonderful. And then even the uh you know the hypnotist and the prizes that they had for the students, you know, just a thank you to everybody that uh that did everything. I mean, and I was in the office for a few minutes and there were a few kids that were leaving and you know, in all seriousness, thanks to uh the parents that got woken up at 3:00 in the morning because Johnny or Susie were going home. So, you know, let them know that uh their son and daughter is on their way home. So, uh, you know, and everybody, you know, the parents were fine. They knew it was coming and that. So, but, uh, just it was a great night, you know, a long night, but it was just
100a great night for, uh, the students and, you know, thanks to, uh, to everybody, uh, that had any type of, uh, a part in it from, uh, it planning to, uh, to being there and working was a blast. Thank you, Mr. Nes. anything? Yeah. Um, I want to say too that I am a town meeting member and I want to say publicly that I also did not vote for Nate's amendment. Uh, not because I didn't agree with the spirit of it, but for the reasons that uh, the chair said I agree with. Um, however, I think that Nate did a great job, um, a lot of work to prepare that amendment and, um, and I think that he made a great start for the whole town to understand that the school department has done more
101than its part for the town. And so, I think it's a start. I think um you know moving forward from here we can't ignore that information. So I want to publicly thank Nate for that and I want to acknowledge that I did not vote for the amendment. Thank you. Thank you M. Okay. Um, so we have our next meeting scheduled for Monday, June 23rd, and I don't see that it is a packed agenda. And I don't know if anyone would consider the thought of maybe cancelling that meeting due to the fact that uh the school year has ended and there isn't a lot going on. Yes, Mr. Nunes. Yeah, Madam Chair, as I sent you an email back in May, I'm out of town at a seminar, you know, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday that week. So,
102I'm not going to be at the meeting. I wasn't going to be at that meeting anyway and was looking to see if it could get changed. It couldn't. And that's fine. I'm good with that. So, I mean, if it can't be held if Let me back up. If there's not enough to to do it, then that I'm I'm fine with that. I know uh Mr. Kylie's going to need warrants signed as always at this, you know. So, just let us know and you know, we can all pop in and sign them. All right. Does anybody feel that we need to have that meeting? I think we should have No, I'm just kidding. Can I have a meeting of one, Chris? No, I am perfectly okay with that. Okay. Does anyone Do we have to vote
103on that or do we just say we don't want it? Yeah. Okay. So, we're going to cancel Okay. the meeting of June 23rd. So then our next regular meeting of the school committee will be on July 21st, 2025 at 5:30. Yeah. Summer hours right here in the Dartmouth High School Library Media Center. Um, so now I am looking for a motion to adjourn to executive session pursuant to MGLC 38A 2183 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining where an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the school committee's bargaining position D A D E A N A FS CME. Can we just say so moved? So move and not returning to open session. And we have a second. And we have a roll. Do we do roll call? Yes. Yes. Yep. Yes. Yes.
104And this meeting is adjourned. Thank you all.