001Okay, everyone ready? We're ready. Okay, so it is 6:30. So I um good good evening everyone. I want to call this remote school committee meeting of uh Monday, March 23rd to order. Roll call. Kathleen Emerald here. Chris Oliver here. Carol Kapotus here. Shannon Jenkins here. John Nunes. Yeah. Very good. So, um, for everyone that's watching, uh, or who will access this later on, this is quite awkward, but, uh, due to, uh, obviously the state of affairs and Governor Baker, um, suspending certain pro provisions of the open meeting law, um, to allow since we can't meet in person, um, to allow us to be here on Zoom with you, we're streaming on, you're watching us on YouTube, the, um, Darmth High Vid Media YouTube channel. And, uh, so I want to preface it with that. And
002this uh will also be um played uh rebroadcast on DCTV on channel 9 and 18 on Wednesday and Thursday and five Friday 6:00 a.m. Saturday 8:00 a.m. I don't know if I said that right. Sunday at 2. Um, and so anyone who wants to uh comment on any of the items that are on the agenda, then you are um you in in the description here, we ask that you email starting now to Kate Gther. That's uh Kathleen with a K. Kathleen Gther gnartschools.org. Um and she will relay your questions to us. Um and so hopefully you take us up on that. Um with that said, 6:32 we have reserved time um for public comment. So we've allotted here as we typically do 10 minutes for public comment but um I think that we can be
003a little bit flexible with that because it may there might be some delay in uh people emailing Kate and and getting questions or comment well not questions for public comment um but your comments to us. Does that sound about right? So, uh, with that, I just ask that you, um, email Kate with any comments right now, and we'll just kind of stand by. Receiving none so far. Okay. Don't be shy. It's hard to read the room, so we'll just sort of sit back and wait if that's okay with everyone. Sure. Fine. No problem. again in the silence. If anyone has any questions um on comments on this evening's agenda, please uh feel free to email Kate Gensther. Still none being received. Okay, looks like we have 30 viewers online right now watching. Great. Where are
004you guys? Where are you seeing that? Because I don't see it on mine, but that's I have another laptop opened up, Mr. Nunes. Uh, with the feed going on it. Oh, okay. Never mind. That's on YouTube. Okay. Listen, I got one going. I'm happy with that. Hey, you're here. Let's not push our luck. Oh, not at all. And thank you to on a serious note, my thanks to Jonathan worked with me for an hour yesterday to get this set up and hooked up and greatly appreciate it. So, still no emails coming in. What time are we at? 34. It's another minute or two. Sure. Yep. That's fine. Now, again, anyone that's watching, if you have any comments regarding the agenda, please email to Kathleen Genser at dartmouthschools.org. That's K A T H L E N
005G N T H N E R dartmouthschools.org. Sorry for being repetitive, but there's a lot of 635. We're good. Yeah. Okay. Uh I guess chair hearing none I will um close that section of our meeting. Um we cannot we have to skip ahead. So if it's okay should we just skip to the approval of minutes? I would entertain a motion to approve the regular well separately but the regular and executive session minutes of March 9th 2020. They were part of our packet. So moved. Second. Okay, that's for the uh regular hearing. Yeah, regular regular session minutes. Okay. Okay. Um any discussion? All in favor? John seconded? Second. Okay. Okay. Chair hearing none. Thank you. I wasn't I wasn't at the meeting. So one extension. Okay. And so I will also entertain a motion now again
006for the executive session of that same night, March 9th, 2020. So move, madam chair, with the stipulation that they be held until the matter for which they were intended is complete. I'll second that. All in favor? I one extension. Thank you, Carol. Great. So, we have a few minutes here. Um, we have our public hearing not beginning until 6:45. That's when it was published. Yeah. Uh, so um, Madam Chair, you want you want to jump down to the new down to new business? That'd be okay. May I interject? Yes. Yes. I I see a um an email here which reads, "Is there a way to switch the agenda times? Give parents or anyone time to figure this out addressing, but that was an email I received." Okay. Um, in terms of Capella comment, I I
007don't know. That's that's all it uh has on the email. Chris, if I could add something, Madam Chair. Yes. Maybe given the circumstances that this is our first time doing this, uh maybe we do allow at the end of this meeting um an opportunity um for brief public comment. Uh if anyone that has not had that opportunity to figure it out, that's just an option. Yeah. So everybody in favor of that, I think that would I'm good with that. Okay. So am I. We'll do that then. So for everyone listening, um those of you who weren't able to comment for public comment, we will add that at the end of of the um meeting. May I also ask another question? And I'm not to answer any of these emails. I'm only to acknowledge that it
008was received. Yes, please. You will. Yeah. I think if if it's the pleasure of the committee, you them to us. We um we take them in and as far as a public hearing, same thing. Yeah. All right. It's part of the record. That uh email question came from Lisa Aruda. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Okay. All right. So, um, we do have a Sorry, technical glitches. We do have a few more minutes, so we could go on to something else under new business. Sorry. Do we want to discuss the student opportunity act? Yeah, that's good. So, can I turn that over to you, Dr. Gford or uh Mr. Kylie, I'm not hearing anyone. I had to unmute myself. Oh. Um, we we'll pro we'll going to need to pass over this or table this as um
009the deadline has been extended and obviously with the school closures, we have done nothing on this plan right now. So, okay. Wonderful. Waiting continued news and updates from the commissioner. Okay, that sounds good. We have five more minutes. Um, how about we um how about school choice funds? Would that be appropriate, Chris, or would that be if I turn that over to you or would you be Yeah, I I can start that off. That's fine. I'm not sure if we'll Does the uh Mr. News will probably know this. Does the public budget hearing have to open at 6:45? No, you can't. You can't open it before if it you can open it afterwards though, right? You can open it after if things have just extended beyond. Okay, perfect. So, in regards to the school choice
010in in regards to the school choice funds being on the uh agenda today, I think it's important that the committee have a discussion around what the procedure this is. Now, we're going into I believe our our third or fourth year of school choice, which I think is a wonderful program, wonderful opportunity to bring uh students in and receive uh the Dartmouth High School experience otherwise may not have been able to. In addition, uh we receive funds from their sending districts as we all know. Um and I know that um the Bush Street administration has done a wonderful job um allocating those funds and using them for a very number of great projects. Um, I just think it's important that I think as school committee, we have a fiscal duty uh to make sure that the
011funds um, not to say that they're not, but uh, we have a fiscal duty to make sure that they're being spent appropriately. I'm not saying, you know, this administration, it could be the following administration from here, but I think it's something that it's something important that we get on the books now. So, um, you know, I'd be open to hearing what other members think, other committee members. However, I'd like to see something in which uh so uh someone either Dr. Gifford or Mr. Kylie or Miss Roy comes in to the board uh requesting uh funds from school choice. Um does anyone else have comments about that? Uh John, only because I see you first here. Do you have anything to Thank you. Thanks, Chris. Uh yeah, I mean everybody knows how I feel about school
012choice and the fact that uh you know we've gotten half a million dollars or more uh you know over the past few years from this program uh has been fantastic. It's been been great to to use and and to uh to have available to us. I think if you go back and look a while back since the first of the year and Mr. Kylie, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that we did get some type of a basic snapshot of uh how much we had received and where some of those funds had gone. Uh specifically, uh stadium renovations, Chromebooks, uh some supplies someplace, uh you know, some you know, stipens and and things of that nature. So we have gotten an idea as to where those funds are and I don't think they're
013being uh you know I think central office is being very frugal with them because per se it's something that you know could very quickly dry up uh if this committee ever decided not to do it or for whatever reason we never got we did not receive any more students from outside the district. So that that's my two cents. Kathleen. Yeah. Do you see us all? Kathleen, are you on gallery view? Because Carol and I are both raising our hands here. Oh, see I don't see you now. I can. Okay. Sorry. In the upper right. There's a gallery view. I see you now. It's like the Brady Bunch. Okay. I just um I wanted to know if there was anything in place for guidelines with the way that the money is spent. Is there anything that's
014been developed already by the state to put this program in? No, not not not to my knowledge. C Carol Shannon, so um I contacted MASC about this um just to see if they had any suggested policy. Um and they do not. Um but they suggested that was within our realm of fiscal responsibility to oversee this. Um, I don't there's nothing here or there's no accusations that this is being misspent, but all of the other budget items that are spent by the school district are approved by the school committee. Um, we do get a report about what's coming out of school choice funds, but that is post hawk. Um, and I believe that because of our fiscal responsibility that that should be happen before funds are expended. And again, this is not anything about the current
015administration. I want to be 100% clear of that. And I don't think there are any funds that we approved. Um this is about creating processes um that last beyond this school committee and this administration. Um having served on the finance committee, I feel like this should should operate sort of like a reserve fund um where at any point in time in the year, the administration can come to us and put forward what they want to spend that um money on and then we can vote to approve it. Um, and again, it's not about anyone that is in my little gallery here. It's more about um setting up processes and procedures um that are fiscally responsible. Um, and so I would like to see a process developed whereby we um have some say just like we
016do over the budget um of expenditures that are going to come out of that account because we're talking about significant amounts of money here. Yeah. Um, John, you raising your hand or no? Yeah, I am. I Okay, here here's my here's my concern in all seriousness as to how much are we going to, you know, start trying to quote unquote micromanage uh anything that goes on. I mean, understand that there are uh grants that are that are, you know, that are uh that we apply for and get, i.e., you know, Title One and 94142 and those types of deals. Are we going to get into uh funds from student activities and summer grants and student parking and athletic uh revolving and the concession account, etc. I mean, how, you know, what are we going to
017be doing here? I don't want to, you know, I don't want to hamstring uh central office when they try to do something because sometimes certain things have to be acted on like yesterday versus you know, okay, we can approve it today and they can order it tomorrow, you know, especially in this this day and age with uh you know, the way meetings are going and you know, we're not all I mean, we're meeting like this, which is great, but you know, we meet you know, we get together once you know, every other week or once a month depending what's going on. So, I just don't want to hamstring central office with uh where things are and what they do. I saw Chris's hand go up and I know Dr. Gford did too. I'll go with
018Chris and then Chris. Thank you, Kathleen. Um I understand what you're saying, uh Mr. Nunes. And I do think though that this is a little bit different than revolving funds or the grants. grants are, you know, are applied for typ most of the time or a lot of the grants that we're receiving are entitlement grants. They're already being applied or, you know, into our into our budget system. Um, and it just makes up part of what we do every day. uh school choice I see as above and beyond uh monies whether it's to fund our one-toone Chromebook program which is a a large amount of money or uh you know whether it's to put money aside to help uh for the stadium or big pro renovation of the Dartmouth Middle School, Dartmouth High School uh
019library media centers. Um, so I guess from my point of view, all I would be looking for and I understand I don't want to I don't want to have to micromanage and I have a lot of faith uh in the current administration. I don't think it's about micromanaging. I think it's like what Dr. Jenkins said that we just do have fiscal responsibility when we're looking at hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars uh that are coming in and out every year. And it may be as simple as, and I don't have this is I don't have the answer for this, but maybe it's as simple as we set a threshold. anything over $1,000 you have to come to school committee for. Um, you know, or you know, it has to be if it's something that's
020an emergency that needs to be spent, maybe you go to the the the chair, you get prior approval from the chair and then afterwards you next meeting we just um, you know, bring it to the board's attention. I just like to be a little more involved in it. That's all I'm asking. I saw um Dr. Gford and then I'll go with John, then I'll go with Shannon. It's like a video. So, Mr. Kylie and I have obviously talked about this quite a bit. Um we do find it a little bit difficult to think about um coming to the board every single time we want to use it because as you know um decisions have been made for little items for things like um the IT STEM program. I'll use that for example um trying to
021determine how do we fund that and immediately we say okay school choice and we give permission. So, some of those in the- moment decisions that are made, um, as John Mr. Noon said, it would take time to be able to come to the board for everything. Um, with that said, I could I certainly could think this is a bigger conversation because Mr. Oliver just mentioned a couple of things that might be the middle of the road kind of things, whether it's a threshold um, more updated. I think now we give maybe a twice a year update on what the expenditures are. Perhaps we, you know, every month would be not a problem obviously at all. Um bigger expenditures such as a stadium project or a onetoone um certainly to have a bigger conversation. I'm just
022really um anxious, I guess, about locking in a an explicit procedure that ties our hands when u media in um decisions have to be made. So that's all. Who is next on? See, I forget. Shannon. So I don't see a problem with immediiacy. If there's something that should all we need is 48 hours to call a meeting, right? If we're going to 48 hours is nothing. I I you know, and so I don't really see that if if something really came up, we can arrange to have a meeting. We would all if someone said to us, it's really important that we need to do this. I'm pretty sure everyone on the committee would make it work. Even if it were a five or 10 meeting, we could do that. Um I I think Mr. Oliver's
023right. I think maybe setting a threshold and below a certain threshold, um we don't need to, you know, just preapprove it and we get regular reports. Um but we're talking about expenditures that are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Um over which we have no input or oversight at this point in time. Um and and that makes me uncomfortable. Again, it is not about I want to reiterate anyone at this table. Um, but one of the key responsibilities of the school committee is providing financial oversight. Um, and we've got an account that, you know, has hundreds of thousands of dollars in it. Not these are not small little accounts. These are not small little expenditures. Um, and so I think that that we need to have a role here where that limit is set.
024I mean, I would set it higher than Mr. Oliver. I', you know, I'd be comfortable. I mean, you know, I'm sure for Jim thousand dollars is peanuts, right? I mean, I would be setting it um somewhat higher than that and we can maybe have a continue this conversation. Um but I do think that we need to particularly for bigger expenditures have some role um in approving some of those large expenditures. Anyone else have any other comments? Carol. Yeah, I I would just agree that um some kind of procedure put in place that we could follow. uh taking into consideration that we want some flexibility and that we don't want to tie the hands of administration but um I think you know with that amount of money um I think we have to have some kind
025of um uh well oversight is the word but um just to know for ourselves where all the money is going and when it's going how it's being used and again as has been clearly stated has nothing to do with the way things have gone in the past. We're just looking toward the future. John, I start hearing. I'm good. Never mind. I'm good. Um well, my thought on that is, you know, in hearing hearing that I I um not only the the the fiscal proceeds and like the responsibility there, but I feel that if I I I I like the idea of a threshold. Um you know, I I don't know how much $10,000, $5,000 $20,000. Um, but and I reiterate it's not it would to me I have all the faith. I think we are
026so fortunate to have the people that we have working on this budget and figuring things out for um our district. I'm really proud of all the hard work that everyone puts in. But to me, I also think about it being sort of transparent. So the more opportunity for us to discuss the things that that money when we vote each year and if we vote to approve school choice and it continues um an opportunity to really show the public where that money is going. You know, we read the articles in the on Dartmouth Helping Dartmouth and different platforms or people like, well, they spent money and they don't realize where that money actually came from. So to me it also aside from all that um I feel like it's it's a good way for us to
027showcase how us being creative in these difficult times in all the wonderful things that we can get done um with that school choice money. So I would I would be agreeable um but a higher threshold I think I would feel comfortable and I don't know what that is. I would I would I would like to hear from um Mr. Kylie and Dr. to gift it around uh not that minutia of the of the um you know those small little activities or enrichment opportunities but more the bigger end uh you know I don't know what that would be would that be 25,000 would it be 10 15 um I certainly wouldn't want to I don't mind meeting in 48 hours but I certainly wouldn't want to like you know tie anyone's hands but I think it
028would be a good idea if we if we did implement something some process like this. So that gives us an opportunity to talk more. Uh Jim, I think you raised your hand. Thank you, Mr. Samroll. So, uh, I mean, we could certainly put something together, uh, some proposal for the policy subcommittee, but I I I think I just want to say that, um, just to be clear, and I know you're all supportive and have said, you know, nice things about what we have done with it, but I I just want to be clear that the things that we've spent it on are definitely, you know, appropriate things. Um, the biggest things that we've spent it on are one-to-one computing. That is our number one um item. Stadium renovations. We have intentions to spend money on
029the middle school and high school library renovations. Uh innovation lab at the high school strength and conditioning coach. Um I STEM program which is very popular as you know you've seen it uh up close seen some of the the examples. uh music stipens, professional development, instructional supplies and materials, uh innovation and transformational leadership network, the Potter preschool setup a couple of years ago, music supplies, and a little bit of instructional technology. So, those are the things we've spent it on. So just to be clear that you know the stuff we have spent it on has been um you know I think student focused and and um and appropriate but I mean if if it is the committee's desire to um have some sort of a policy on it um then I can certainly draft something
030and bring it to the policy subcommittee. Any more comments on that? Chris, I think you're on mute. Oh, can you hear me now? Yes. I would be comfortable with the threshold of somewhere in the ballpark of $10,000. I think I think that's to me, in my opinion, that's reasonable. And I I thank you for uh sharing that list, Mr. Kylie. Uh I agree with my colleagues. I don't think there's any concerns. It's just I think it's a matter of fiscal responsibility of the committee. Great. Okay. And so with that, now we are past our our published time. Uh and I guess a roll call. Oh, well, I would like to um enter into that public hearing. And I need a roll call. Kathleen Emerald, yes. Chris Oliver, yes. Carol Kerapotus, yes. Shannon Jenkins, yes. John
031Nunes, yes. Okay. So, for I don't know how many people have emailed um this now we're in the public hearing for um your comments on the proposed fiscal year 21 uh budget. And please feel free if you haven't already to email Kate Gther. That's Kathleen with a K. K A T H L N G N T H N E R at Dartmouthschools.org R. I have not received any yet. Okay. Madam chair. Yes. Have I'm just making sure. Have we made it clear to the public or anyone the viewing audience that what the public budget hearing is for and what um what the expect what the expectations are of people um as far as asking oh the the um right from our continued discussions on the budget I think um it was published correct uh in
032the standard times. So, um, want me to read? It was published last Monday. Monday. Just looking for a time. Phill. Oh, Miss Pavo told a really cute joke this morning on the Demell morning messages. I repeat that. Oh, goodness. So, yeah. So, I I guess if anyone has any questions, um even if you haven't really been privy to our conversations around the budget, you certainly are welcome to email just statements around what your priorities are or or um as a community what you want to see happen or not happen. Um there's been a lot of dialogue of course not within the last you know week or so with um something else we'll discuss on this agenda but perhaps something is very important to you and you understand that we are um in a time where
033our budget is tight and that it doesn't look great. So, um, that would be appropriate, I suppose, as far as a public hearing on I don't want people to feel like they don't have value to add if they're just not really knowledgeable about those line item numbers. Anything to do with student learning and uh, social emotional well-being and our teachers and anything that happens within the school system um, relates to our budget. So, email Kate Still nothing. Madam Chair. Yes, John. uh through you to Mr. Kylie when we get into old business on the FY20 when you're going to give us updates from town hall etc etc. Uh I will give you what I have. Okay, that's okay. That's fine. Which is uh Yep. Gotcha. Nothing. We'll need some more time filler with that. Okay.
034Uh, still none. Maybe a little background music. Mr. Parat, the Jeopardy theme, the countdown. I don't know. Don't Don't be afraid. some upbeat Trans Siberian orchestra music. Uh oh. What happened? Mr. Prody's playing music. Mr. Potty's gonna share a little something. Oh, this is fun. Grab and go. This is grab and go. So, while you're watching this video, if you have any questions or comments about the budget for fiscal year 21, could I just say that we uh served uh 68 meals today at fantastic. That's fantastic. I really can't thank the folks who volunteered enough. It's amazing. It's been uh Mr. Kylie, how many how many meals do we normally serve, you know, on a regular day? Oh, uh normal meals to kids like thousands like 2,000. Okay. So, but even if like say if
035it's about 2,000, 600 is a a pretty significant amount. They're still operating pretty high capacity. I think it is on uh on you know considering what we're trying to accomplish here. I think I it was more than I thought we would serve. But I'm happy that we can help folks. Yeah. So I I mean just to kill time I can tell you we're we're serving a breakfast and a lunch for two days. Um, so on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, we're giving two days worth of food to each um for each child. So fantastic. Yeah, that is awesome. Oh, Jean Sheridan has been fantastic coordinating this and working, you know, working with her is a pleasure, but um but she's really been great and uh as well as the other volunteers who are staffing this. It's
036um and I have a whole stable of volunteers ready to help um who we've not called on yet. So, it's it's a great outpouring of support really. If I may interject, I noticed something in the Zoom uh group chat. Um and it's I read here I posted email on YouTube just now. So, I'm not sure how to get that. I don't know if that's something um that Rob might see or someone else. He I think he posted email address. Oh, that was Rob. Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you. But you're thinking possibly somebody posted a comment there. No, that was um Rob posting. Let's see. Kate's email address. Yes. Oh, okay. Right. Yeah. Okay. 34 people are watching. Mhm. That's more than usually come to meetings. Very lot bigger attendance than at the meetings. Yeah. Very
037highly rated uh public budget hearing. They're trying to avoid it like us. No. Speak for myself, not the committee. Maybe a revenue generator. We could sell some commercials. Yeah. 34 people. Yeah. Thank you for tuning in and uh it's okay if you don't have questions to ask. It's fine. 7:06. Yes, Shannon. So, I just got a text message from a friend who tried to send an email and it didn't go through. She misspelled she missed an N on um Kate's name. So maybe we can give her I think maybe we have one email coming in and a minute or two. Oh, okay. Maybe. Locate email. K A T H L E N G E N T H N E R at Dartmouth schools with an s.org. Yes, ma'am. you again. Just it frozen. I think
038uh Oh, you lost Mr. Nunes. Oh, he'll come back. Uh, the question came in. Yay. Lee McGregor writes, "Given the current situation with COVID 19 and the evolving nature of online schooling, is there flexibility within the budget to address the potentially new needs of developing online curriculum?" It's a good question. It's um of course in our FY21 budget that we currently have proposed um we obviously were not planning for this. Um what it what we're finding um as we begin this sort of new reality here um is that there are things that we probably would need to spend money on and things that we would save money on. and um you know developing and the tools that we're using are largely things that we already have um or are able at the moment to use
039without very you know great cost. So it's an evolving um you know an evolving issue. Um there's so much uncertainty relating to this though um in terms of the impact on the overall budget and the town's budget moving forward and tax revenue um local local receipt revenue. There's it's there's so much that we don't know yet. Um and the duration of this is going to play a big role in the impact long term. So, um, we've at at this point we don't have a whole lot of answers from the state as to how u they are going what what pronouncements they're going to make on school finance. Um, they're trying to work through this like we're trying to work through this. Um, so there's a lot to be determined and a lot to tune in
040uh, you know, later for, but I do think that we do have resources available to allocate to make sure we can stay in touch with kids and provide uh, educational opportunities um, through this crisis. Now, the FY21 budget doesn't really uh, you know, hopefully we're long past this by then. Um, but it isn't targeted to do that. Any other questions come through, Kate? Uh, no. Okay. 711. at this point. Do you think it would be appropriate to make a motion to close the budget hearing? Um, I I I would say so. Uh, how do the other committee members feel? I think personally I think we could close it and if a question came up, we could always answer it the best we could. Agree. Certainly um it's um under public um under old business anyway
041a discussion of the budget specifically. So if we we already agreed to have public comment at the end for a few moments and that would be appropriate. But again anything anything goes tonight it seems. Absolutely. Oh, well, if that's the case, Madame Chair, I would like to make a motion that we close uh the FY21 public budget hearing. Uh the time is now 7:12. Second that. Okay. Any discussion? All in favor of that a roll call. Or is that am I doing that right? Was it a roll call or was Yeah, I can't hurt to do a roll call. Okay. Roll call. Kathleen Amal. Yes. Chris Oliver. Yes. Carol Kapotus. Yes. Shannon Jenkins. Yes. John Nunes. Well, we lost John. He's still He's still not back. Oh, there he is. No, he's there. But he's
042on mute. You're on. You're on mute. You're on mute. There you go. You're a pro. No, I've got uh the u I keep for whatever reason, and we had this issue yesterday is my internet keeps dropping off. I keep losing my connection. So, I'll lose out very quickly come back because all of a sudden somebody what will happen seriously is somebody's face will freeze and I'll know I've got a problem. What can I say? That's how I know. Okay. So, um um in terms of now we're we're do we now need another roll another um roll call for No. Okay. We're back to our open meeting and we will go to the next item on the agenda which is old business the discussion on the fiscal year 21 budget. I know we kind of talked
043about it. I don't know if there's anyone has any other comments. I'll turn it over to you first Jim. Um thank you. So um so at this point you know Mr. Nunes asked about the town. Um we we really don't have any further information at this point from them. Uh so and given that you know there are a lot of uh a lot of other issues that um you know the the the town is is dealing with here um I don't necessarily anticipate having good information from them anytime you know within the ne immediate future here. So, um, at this point, I would say that my recommendation would be that we continue the process, continue, um, to move forward with our proposed budget, which is 45,586,736, 3.2% budget increase. So, I I would um at
044this point just recommend that we continue pushing forward with that. Um, and as things develop, we'll we'll adjust. Um, there's a lot to be determined. I know the state is talking about possibly extending deadlines and town meetings and lots of different things. Fortunately, our town meeting is out of ways. So, hopefully hopefully we can resolve all this long before then. Um, but uh, you know, at this point, I I wouldn't recommend any change. Shannon. Yeah. I was just going to ask Mr. Kylie about sort of extensions to the budget timeline given just I mean how much uncertainty, right? On on Monday there was as many unemployment claims filed as there were in the entire month of February. This is going to blow a hole in the state budget. Um then the longer it goes, the
045bigger that hole is going to be. um given that you know I'm even wondering if this binder that you I mean we're all we can do is move forward what we have right um but I don't wonder if I mean I don't even know how we can have a plan a budget right because things have changed so dramatically so I I would hope I mean I' I've had some good conversations with I've touched base with our state legislative delegation both Senator Montigy and Representative Marky They've both been very responsive. Um, do we should we be asking them to ask this, you know, to extend the timeline? Do you think that is do we need that extra time to figure this out? I I would say that um, you know, it depends. I I think it
046depends how long this goes. um if we're able in the next month to begin to move past this and um then it's possible that we'll be fine with the with the current uh timeline. Um a lot of communities have a much earlier town meeting than us. So they are in a they are in a much more difficult uh situation. I I think that the uncertainty right now um it could have a profound impact on the town. Um the as you know our budget is based on um revenue and then uh essentially the the sort of formula that currently exists is we look at total revenue and then we back out um sort of fixed items like fixed or known items that are sort of outside of our control like health insurance and retirement assessments and
047assess ments from um from um Bristol Aggie and Greater New Bedford Vog Tech. And then we have a pool of money and that money is divided amongst the departments and to serve our all of our needs in town. And if the top line um changes significantly, it could have a dramatic impact on the whole rest of the calculation and ultimately a dramatic impact on us. So um there's a lot that we don't know at this point. Okay, John, anybody? John, did you raise your hand? No, that that answered that answered my question. I mean, I realize there's a lot going on, but you know, there's a lot of things that still have to be done too. Mhm. The town still has to operate and you know with all the you know I mean you you
048think of a couple of things that we get uh you know per say besides motor vehicle excise the uh local receipts being meals tax and hotel tax and nobody traveling and all the restaurants for the most part shut down. Uh, we've got an issue and you know that's going to hurt. Okay. Anyone else? No. Well, thank you. Um, at this point, uh, what time is it? 7:19. And I apologize. We may have three kids home. I just had one trying to come say hi. So, um, okay. I'm back. I don't know. I don't know how far I got my Sorry, my internet connection keeps dropping for whatever reason. That's okay. You didn't miss anything. It's me babbling. No, but I don't know how much I don't know how far I got with mine that you
049guys didn't hear. So, I think we heard it all. Yeah, we heard it all. All right. Good. You're good. So, I I think um we discussed everything else except um we'll go to the discussion of the district's plan concerning COVID19. Um Dr. Gford. Sure. Um so I think at this point we're we're getting between a little bit of overwhelming everyone with the amount of information we're sending out. Um, so we're trying to maintain a balance on that. Um, but, uh, as far as updates go, I'll go over some of the things for folks that may I can't imagine anyone not being aware of what's going on at this point, but we did have a DT or district leadership team meeting this morning where we reviewed and updated and um, talked about phase two of our
050learning plan. So, just a couple of things. Um, I'll just go over some of the agenda items. The as far as building access and grounds, some of you have seen uh where the kids have been congregating on grounds, which we've put out as many notices as we can. Um, the AD did send notices to the coaches just before we get out of school or about when we get out of school. Um, so we're continuing to try to be vigilant on that, warning people, just giving them advice to stay away from congregations. The buildings will be accessed. If folks need to grab something, they are to contact their principles to make arrangements for that. The technology crew has been working very hard, even on Saturday with Mr. Galashaw to round up extra Chromebooks, those that have
051maybe have been on carts because, as you know, being on carts, they didn't have to have charges to them. So, they've been matching charges with Chromebooks. Surveys were sent out to families um by grade level, knowing that our 8th to 12 should have their Chromebooks, but uh a couple kids may have forgotten them. um the other grade levels and the plan is to begin dissemination as far as when we left the meeting today that was going to happen tomorrow with folks that needed a device at home at least one device at home so that their students could be accessing the online resources that we have put up. Um, so I want to thank those folks for working for the last week really getting that ready to go. As you know, the extended learning page went
052up immediately upon hearing that we were going to be closed for the week anyway. Um, since then there have been 9,000 sessions of activities put up and 4,500 users have been accessing that site uh that enrichment site. our phase two of that which has been involving lots of um folks uh brainstorming ideas about this and we did have as I said a meeting with the DT this morning and also we met with um Miss Vieira and Miss Martino with the union this afternoon to kind of let them know of our phase two and that will include people are already working on that. They're collaborating across the district by grade levels and content areas and creating at least three lessons a week. That was this week for enrichment activities. Next week, although some have already been
053doing it, we didn't require it or expect it, but by next week and um I'll back up a little bit. All the staffs will be having meetings, zoom meetings tomorrow, every schools to go over more details so people if they have questions uh they can ask so people can be very clear about what's happening. So uh we're going to be asking teachers to make sure that those lessons that they're creating are around new content, new content uh to enrich students learning. people have been doing. They've also being asked to um for example the elementary schools we're asking them to do at least an ELA, a math and a history or a science activity lesson so that we can begin to touch all content areas. They will also be holding morning and afternoon meetings whether it
054be we're calling it consult time office hours excuse me um where they're touching base and again I know teachers are already doing this they're holding a morning meeting giving kids the objectives for the day asking kids how they're doing people are very happy to be together and then sending them off for the day to do their lessons as you know the high school have lots to do because All of their content teachers will be posting lessons and then checking in at the end of the day. Are there questions? How are you doing? What do you need? Um the guidance counselors both at the high school and middle school have uh will be holding office hours every day. They can reach out via email, telephone call, whatever it might be to continue to touch base with
055kids, check transcripts. The middle school is just um finished creating their um schedule for that and that will be going out to parents as well. Um we have a few folks leading various teams such as the related service teams, the program special ed teacher teams and those meetings are ongoing um beginning. Some of them are beginning tomorrow, some have already been ongoing to facilitate just again the collaboration that's happening but also to be there to answer questions, help people wade through this. Um let's see. I'm looking at my notes here. We did have um Lori Jodwin and I have had a couple of meetings or virtual meetings, conference calls with our attorney, special education attorney Cat Lions. Um she continues to update us um as to how we can best service all of our kids.
056And I believe Russell Johnston from DESIE has a conference call going out on Wednesday which we'll be attending. Also, as you know, we continue to meet with the commissioner and the other superintendent virtually and um hope for more updates this week. The de uh central office team is planning on holding a virtual public forum this week. We're thinking perhaps that will be aired on Thursday. we have posted where folks can send questions about this ongoing issue to us to an email address that we put on um our latest document, our latestformational document. We will be then be answering those questions kind of like you did tonight but not live it because the questions will have been sent prior. We have them. We'll be able to do a recorded Zoom meeting that we will then uh
057publicize. So, we're calling it a virtual public forum. Um, let's see. We, as I said, tomorrow every single staff will be having a staff meeting which we are all will be boopping into to listen to make sure the message is continuing. Excuse me. Again, as you know, I've had a cold. um hear what everyone is hearing and to be able to answer questions as they come up. And um I just have to commend the the entire admin team and the entire district for everyone stepping up from every single aspect whether it's cleaning the buildings, the lunch program, uh the teachers, the secretary, whoever it might be have really come together uh to really try to um tackle this challenge together. And also we're asking that folks tune in and subscribe to the district's YouTube channel
058uh because you'll be getting you can get alerts through that. One of the things we're thinking is uh Miss Miss Alivera has been updating folks every other day or so with emails and whatnot about what's new on the site. We're going to just limit that to a weekly email from now on to kind of cut down on the correspondence so folks can tune in to what's what's important and focus in. So with that, those are kind of the highlights of what's happening. Um, we'll take questions to go for raise your hand. I have no voice left. So Chris, thank you, Kathleen. Uh, just quick question, Dr. Gifford uh around uh seniors in high school, high school seniors and senior activities. I know there's a lot of angst amongst our high school seniors, not just Dartmouth,
059but everywhere. I have a high school senior in another district. It's coming up. You know, we're coming into April. There's a lot going on. I know there's it's still too early. Can Can everyone hear me? Okay. I know it's still too early to to make any decisions or make any um you know even inferences, but I is the I just want to be assured uh that the district is and to let our public know that everything's still on the table. Nothing has changed. Um because as I hear from other friend from friends that have high school seniors in Dartmouth there there's a lot of uh nerves, a lot of ink angst amongst them and um they're just scared. A lot of them are scared. They're worried. This is their senior year, their last few months.
060They want to be spending it with their friends in school and attending all these great uh senior activities. Um, so at some point, um, you know, I I I would assume that if we're back in school on April 7th that this is going to be a non-issue. However, if if the school year does continue to get postponed and we're we're continuing to work and learn from home, at some point will that conversation at the very least happen to say just because I think it's important and I know uh uh Ross has put out different YouTube videos at the high school and I haven't had a chance to watch them. I don't know if he's touched upon those on his YouTube channel. Um, however, I think it's important that we do at some point reach out
061to our seniors and, you know, make sure that they know that we know they're nervous and we're doing everything we can and all possibilities are on the table. Thank you, Chris. Um to that point, you're right and it is a little early, but um we did have a conversation with the high school obviously this morning and um I think on Friday if we hear any updates from the commissioner unless he comes on earlier um as it gets a little bit closer to that date um we'll be able to come up with more answers. But the high school has definitely uh started that conversation not only around those kinds of things but also grading for the end of the year. How do we promote kids etc. So that conversation is we would getting through this next
062week as far as providing lessons in the new content areas. Um and that's that's definitely on the table for the next the next round of discussions. The whatifs. I'll mute me. Okay, John. John. Yeah, thank you. Uh I know Dr. Dr. G just mute but uh the question I have and you know was raised to me and you know sitting on a couple of scholarship committees uh how about our seniors that need information for their scholarships. Dr. GIF that being you know they may need uh letters of reference from teachers you know transcripts GPA averages etc. Uh how do they go about getting those is you know send an email to their guidance counselor and go from there. Yeah one of the things um the guidance counselors uh and let's talk the high school because
063that is really the important thing for that. Yeah, that's the one I'm concerned about with um the guidance councils are beginning to hold office hours three hours a day. That was posted on our Facebook page. Um I think it was 9 to I think it was 9 to 12 if I recall correctly. Um but but the best thing is to check the Facebook page uh for that uh brochure uh document because um it obvious well I think the kids would know who their counselor is by now but it goes by their alphabet. Um but there they will be available. They can either call or email them. But um for any of those questions exam quick question uh just a fall is uh are the you know if if you that's okay if you call the
064are they calling the high school guidance office or are they like sending the uh the guidance counselors everybody's working from home I'm assuming. So, it's almost like a quote unquote a Zoom like we're doing now or Exactly. Um, yes. Call, email at this point, whether they ask their counselor to set up a conference call with them, but you know, the oldfashioned telephone is still just as good. Oh, I I I got that. Yes. Okay, Shannon. Thank you. I'm particularly interested in our long range plans. Um, a number of my colleagues are epidemiologists, viologists, immunologists. Um, and from what I'm reading from them about the science of this, two weeks of social distancing puts sort of peak cases. Beginning of April at best, two weeks of major illnesses puts another two weeks on it. Um, so
065from their estimates, you know, these are people that PhDs in these fields, our best case scenario is back end of April. the best case scenario. Um, so my concern is I think you know in the high school it's pretty well covered. If you've got five or six subjects, right, you got three activities a week, right? You're getting, you know, fairly close to not that we're replicating a day, but right, um, you know, if your kids's in first or second grade, that's not quite as much. Um, and so I'm hoping that we're looking to ramp this up. I know we're just starting. Um, but I do think that we have to be ready to be in this for um, at least a month. Um, my other concern is that, you know, I know people are doing
066a lot of work, but that communication is going out in a lot of different ways um, that some people may not be aware of or have access to. And if you have multiple kiddos, it can get really confusing. Like I know there's stuff on the portal um but that isn't really sort of I went on there myself looking for stuff for my kids. Like again there's still not stuff specific for their classes. Um we've heard from four or five maybe of their 12 teachers and some of them are over here and some of them are over here and some of them are over there. Now, luckily for our older kids, they have those Google email addresses, so the teachers know and can communicate for that. Um, but I think from what I'm hearing for a
067lot of parents, they're just even though there's that extended learning site, it's not communication with their kids' teacher. Um, and so I'm hoping that we can really communicate clearly tonight to our parents that may be watching by when can they expect a communication from their kids' teacher because some parents still have not received contact yet from some teachers. um and where should they be looking for this communication particularly um if they're you know their elementary you know I can tell my high school kids I tell them every morning go check your Google email go check your Google email um so I would hope I would like to ask that maybe we communicate that very clearly by this date you should expect to have this communication and we're going to be using the email addresses that
068are in Aspen I don't know but I think parents want to hear that for reassurance purposes We just talked about that today. The teachers are being notified tomorrow. They will be using Google Classroom for 6 through 12 because they're all very familiar with that. So, that would be a good um Google Classroom at least for that. But I again talking even to a first grade teacher today, they're using it as well. Um so, that more direct conversation or in uh reach out if you will should be happening this week. Okay. So parents should expect to hear from their teacher by the end of this week. Yes. Okay. And we will be communicating via the email that is in Aspen. So parents should log on to Aspen and verify that their email and contact information. That's
069a good That's a good suggestion. That's a I um if you if you don't mind, I wanted to um draw everyone's attention to M on the bottom corner, Mr. Ross Tibo is here. So, thank you for joining us. Oh, you're welcome. Yes. Thank you. We've been having a conversation around, you know, the obviously the CO 19 and what the high school is doing to prepare and guidance to prepare the students. We talked a little about seniors and so um and my colleagues can can add to that, but since you're here, if you could share with us all of that. Sure. Well, thank you for having me. I've been watching, but it's a little delayed on the YouTube. I think there's a a brief delay there. So, the first thing I just wanted to speak to,
070Mr. Oliver talked about the seniors. Um, and I agree wholeheartedly. Um, and we would say to any senior not to worry that, um, you know, this crisis was not any of their doing. And so, we're not going to forget them and we're going to honor them. Um, you know, and again, I think to Dr. Jenkins points a little bit early right now. You know, who knows how this timeline plays out, but we won't forget about our seniors. Um, and that was the focus of a conversation I had with one of our student journalists today via Zoom conference um for the spectrum. Uh, he was asking about that and and that's our pledge is that we're not going to forget about the seniors. They will be uh taken care of um you know from that perspective.
071Thank you, Mr. Tibo. You're welcome. Thank you. And then in terms of the grading, I I followed that conversation a little bit. There's a lot of um thought and consideration that obviously the at the high school level will have to look um think about. It was the subject of a conversation. I did a Zoom conference with the principles, high school principles from Massachusetts through the MSAA today. Um and you know, Darmmouth is not unique. You know, every community is in the same boat. Um, and I think one of the things that, you know, the high school will have to wrap our mind around is we are two and a half terms into a four-term year. So, what does that look like? And again, the thing I think that needs to guide us is probably to
072do no harm to students, right? We we can't um hold them accountable for things beyond their control like the interruption to to schooling here. So, that that's important to keep in mind as well. um you know in terms of and I think when I was logging on I got cut off so I don't know what Dr. um Gford shared but in terms of the communication from teachers we have a faculty meeting set up tomorrow and by Thursday of this week uh through Google classroom every teacher will have uh put out some some resources um and and enrichment uh learning uh experiences for for students. So um that will be up and running this week. Um, and then I don't know what other questions you guys might have. I'll be happy to answer. Great. I see
073Shannon's hands up first. So, I think one of one of my concerns I mean we're struggling with a lot of the same issues on our campus like how do you grade people and you know I mean and two when they're not there they've got other things that are going on and challenges that they need to deal with. But one of my particular concerns among my students and particularly for the kids in high school is that if you're struggling in a class, sort of the runway for recovering has really shortened. Um so I really hope that we do, you know, you don't want someone to get held back because they didn't have the month of April to recover in whatever class they're doing poorly on. Um I'm sure you guys are talking about that. So maybe
074you can share sort of what you guys have been talking about around some of those kiddos who are struggling. Sure. So one of the things and again we only had we had one um virtual faculty meeting last week have another one tomorrow but one of the things that we talked about and Dr. Gford uh and I certainly shared the same messages to extend yourself for students in terms of allowing them to recover and make up missed assignments. Um, in one of the that I'll be emailing out all the high school parents uh later on this week and and all the students as well. And I I'm I've encouraged the students who have reached out to me to reach out to their teachers to find out what assignments they should focus their attention on. The one
075thing that we do have is time, right? Because everyone's home right now. So, um you know that there is an opportunity there to make up missed assignments or to recover assignments. Um the message to the to the faculty really is that it doesn't just regardless even if the COVID 19 crisis was not here. One of the things we talk a lot about at the high school is if it's important that students learn the material in September, October or November, it's just as important in March, April, and May that they learn that material. So giving them a zero or not letting them, you know, uh improve their work doesn't do anyone any good. and it certainly doesn't reinforce that message that learning is important. So that's kind of the conversation that we'll have um part of
076the conversation that we'll have tomorrow. I will be encouraging stu uh teachers, fellow students to extend themselves um because we're all in this together and it won't do anyone any good to have lots of kids um failing to get across the finish line um whether they're in 9th, 10th, 11th and certainly our 12th graders. So, I anticipate that teachers, as they always do, will uh extend themselves and really work with our kids to make sure that everyone is successful. Thank you. Does anyone else have um any questions? Um Dr. Votus. Yeah, I just have a question. Uh my granddaughter is in one of the advanced placement classes at uh the high school now. How does that how will that work? I know she's been getting glasses right along. The teacher has been doing that. Um,
077what about the test? Will there be a test? How will that work? So, just today and actually just midday today, College Board updated their website. There's still going to be an AP exam. The um, College Board said that they would post the schedule by April 3rd um, and that there would be two testing options. They are going to allow students to test in their house on any device. Um whether it's a smartphone, a Chromebook, a computer, any kind of device, they'll be able to test. In addition to that, the College Board's putting out um free resources uh for students to review. But beyond that, the exam for this year and this year only is going to be streamlined. It's going to be a 45minute exam and it's going to focus on content that would have
078been covered by most AP teachers by the first week of March. So that's how the College Board has attempted to level the playing field. Um and again that was another uh question that came up in my interview today with um the spectrum. They had asked would we recommend students you know cancelelling the exam and I said absolutely not. I wouldn't recommend that because number one, I think we do a pretty good job of uh preparing students at Dartmouth High School for success on the AP exam. But beyond that, College Board, you know, students across America are in the same uh boat in terms of having their schooling interrupted. And the College Board seems, at least from what I've read so far, to be doing a pretty uh mindful job of of making sure that the
079AP exam for this year, students are not hurt by the fact that um their education was uh disrupted. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you very much. Anyone else? Good. No, thank you for joining us. Oh, you're welcome. Yeah. Thank you very much. That was helpful. and uh thank you for all that you and your team are doing um very much. So, all right. Does anyone else have any comments um beyond that specific to the district's plan with uh dealing with this pandemic? I would just like to say I thank uh Dr. Gford for her updates she's been pro providing over the past couple of days. I find them very helpful. Also, in addition to the correspondence that's been going out to the parents uh that I've been receiving as a parent, I think the uh
080Dr. Gford and the district as a whole is um stepping up their game and I think it's important uh for our students of uh the Dartmouth public schools. So, I appre appreciate all the time and effort that the administrative team as well as all the teachers and uh staff of the Dartmouth public schools is putting into this. Yeah, I reiterate that and I would be remiss not to mention, you know, you've seen my advocacy around the special edition piece and IDEIDA and I'm really happy to see, you know, some shifting and some um conversations around feedback resulting in the mis sort of misin uh interpretation of the original guidance from the beginning of the week. And so hearing teams kind of talking about how to differentiate, you know, related and all of that um is
081exciting because as a parent of someone um you know who relies on on that to kind of um sustain some sort of um at least not regress. Uh it's really encouraging that those conversations are happening week. I understand tomorrow I'll be on a call per um professionally and then Wednesday I think there's another one. So um it's ever changing. It's a lot. I mean it came at us and uh yeah everyone's come together in a great effort to uh do their best and um so thank you for putting up with our advocacy, our questions. Um, I'm sure the parent and so this getting on top of it and and you know what the school as far as updating people is is a tremendous effort and um really proud to be part of this district. So,
082thank you. Anyone else? Not regarding this. No. Okay. All right. So, um, you know, I really don't have anything else as as to report. Um, I think we've talked about all uh important stuff that's happening right now. Um, and hear more. Uh, I will turn it over I think John. John, do you have some things? Yeah. Yeah, I got a a couple of things. Thanks. Uh, you're welcome, Madam Chair. Uh, a little bit of good news. Congratulations to uh Lindseay Olivera for making the standard time super team as uh girls player of the year and also getting the Dave Cowins award for a thousand points etc etc. So you know congratulations to her. Um on a different note u and as I say sometimes I live on the wrong side of the street. I never
083hear much of anything, but uh I did get a couple of phone calls yesterday and I even going by the stadium going out to run an errand. Uh there were a number of students at uh a number of people, you know, they I would assume they were students at uh Memorial Stadium. Uh some, you know, quote unquote practicing lacrosse. I don't know if it was captain's practice or what it was. And there looked to be some playing soccer and uh boy they're not you know you know in this day and age with what's going on right now they you know they shouldn't even be there. I know our facilities are closed but somewhere down the line you know parents please you know you've got to keep your students at home and not in in congregations
084you know big crowds etc. I mean, there was a thing on the news uh yesterday, you know, somebody asked one of the doctors on television about playing tennis. And he's like, "Well, yeah, you're six feet apart, so your social distancing is fine." He says, "What do you do when you pick up the, you know, a tennis ball and you've been playing and you always see tennis players, you know, wiping their forehead with perspiration, that type of deal?" Same thing if you're playing soccer or lacrosse, somebody's picking up a ball, somebody's kicking a ball, you're close contact with people. So, you know, please, you know, unfortunately, I got it. You know, you're seniors and, you know, all the, you know, everything is shut down at the moment and you want to try and, you know, sharpen
085your skills and, you know, get in some type of a, you know, you know, shape for when the season is finally able to uh to to stop. But please uh you know don't congregate in the crowds. Don't be with all due respect, don't be like the idiots down in Florida on spring break. Thank you, John. That's important. Does anyone else have anything before we sort of end on a public comment note? I do have two emails. Um Okay. Okay. I actually received one, too. Um maybe you would it be appropriate for me to forward it to you or it would be okay if I I think it's the same one Kathleen. Um okay, good. about parking. Yes. Oh, good. All right. Okay. So, nobody else has anything else. So, we'll kind of uh go into
086public comment now. That's fine. Thank you, Kate. So um this was received uh from Christian Gu SA and I apologize for misprononunciation. Uh this is concerning the parking passes to whom it may concern. I am writing this letter in regards to the current cost of the Dartmouth High School student parking pass. I feel as though the students are being unfairly charged for yearly parking pass for a multitude of reasons and I will explain. After speaking to Mr. Jim Kylie, I came to the understanding that the revenue from the yearly $60 parking pass goes towards plowing the parking lot in the winter, repainting parking lot lines, and general maintenance of the lot. The problem with that is all of these maintenance procedures should be covered by the taxpayers dollars. All of the Dartmouth elementary schools, the
087middle school, and the majority of the public town buildings, if not all of them, are all plowed and paid for by tax dollars. There is no reason that the students should have to pay for the maintenance of the school's parking lot. Not only is it unfair for the students to have to pay for their parking passes, it is also not affordable for many of them. The students who are beginning to drive have many additional new expenses that they are responsible for. The extreme high costs of new driver insurance, purchasing a car, repairs, and gas are just some of the expenses these students now have to pay. Many of my peers are already living paycheck to paycheck between these expenses and trying to save up for college. At the end of the day, what ends up
088happening is that the parents of these students end up getting stuck buying the parking passes for them, which also is unfair due to the fact that they are already paying taxes, which should cover this cost. This policy of paying for parking passes is very outdated. When the new high school first opened back in 2002, students were assigned designated parking spots that had a number painted on it. They were only allowed to park in their particular spot. This is how parking was handled up until a couple of years ago. The policy has changed since and this is no longer the case. The parking lot is now on a first come, first serve basis. This goes for teachers as well and the only people in the building with assigned spots are the administrators. So I ask you
089to please look further into this issue. It would be understandable if the parking fee was maybe a maximum of $20, but the truly equitable solution to this problem would be to making to make parking free just like the other local students or rather local schools in town buildings in Dartmouth. Thank you, Christian Guaj SA. Um, I don't know if you want me to read the other email. Um, or if you um, what's the pleasure of the committee reading both and then we comment or Well, I didn't think we would since this was public comment. I didn't think we commented on public. True. True. I'm sorry. I didn't think we commented on public comment. I'll I have no problem hearing the other email. Okay. Um, and this comes from, um, actually I can't tell. They don't
090provide their name. Uh, it just, uh, it's someone named Kathleen. If this continues, and I'm not sure what they're referring to is this, perhaps the current situation, are there any plans for clothing drives as the season changes? That's the question. Thank you. Well, since that second one's kind of not budget related, I think I'll just throw my two cents in if that's all right with you, Madam Chair. Yeah, that's fine with me. I think anything is on the table and if this continues, um I'm sure that um groups, whether it's high school groups or community groups, I'm sure would will step up and do what this community needs. Um, I know we're all pitching in, lending a hand to one another, and I just think that's something that um that'll h just happen and uh
091it'll take place when the time is right. Agreed. Agree. Anyone else have any further comments? No. Okay. So with that um our nextly scheduled meeting is Monday, April 6th remote for Zoom, right? That's before the date we would go back if best case scenario. Um this meeting will be held at 5 well um this isn't really accurate but as it reads uh 5:30. Um it reads at town hall but that won't happen. Um that's right before our joint meeting, right? That's right before our joint meeting. So yeah. Um and we're budget wait and see with that as far as how that goes. Correct. Mr. Kylie, can you check or Dr. Git, can you check and see if they're going to provide pizza if we actually do meet at town hall? Okay. Um, with that, I
092will entertain a motion to adjourn this regularly scheduled meeting um, and to go into executive session to provide an update union personnel not to return to this Zoom open meeting. So moved. Second. Okay. All in favor? Roll call. Kathleen Amarol. Yes. Chris Oliver. Yes. Carol Kapotus. Yes. Shannon Jenkins. Yes. John Nunes. Yes. Thank you very much. Good night. Good job. Yeah. Very good job, Kathleen. Good job. Uh oh. How do I get out of meeting? [Music]