001Welcome everyone to this is the meeting of the Greenfield Public School Committee on Wednesday, January 14th at 6:30. Um, like to open the meeting and have Secretary call us to order, please. There we go. Vice Chair Childs >> here. >> Member Dene >> here. >> Member Dodto >> here. Member Dyman >> here. >> Member Goodwin >> here. >> Chair Ston >> here. >> And I am also here. >> Member Webb. >> Great. >> All right. So, we have a quorum and we are officially called to order at 6:32 p.m. Um, at this time we'll have public comment. Is there anyone for public comment? >> We have followed by Judy Ben Judy Bennett, excuse me. Thank you. And if you could just state your name and your address for the record. >> Pamela Goodwin, precinct 6.
002Um I'm at 54 High Street. I want to welcome the new members to the school committee and um I did go to the reorganization. Um, one of my comments is I don't know if you could do this or not, but having public comment at 6:30 p.m. in another town, the select people said, "You know what? We can't get the public here. We can't They've got to pick up the kids. They've got to feed the family." They were changing their public comment to a little bit later than right off the bat. So, I would love it if somebody would take a closer look at that because we know it's hard enough for me to get here. I had grandkids all day out of town and um and I don't have kids in the public system, but
003I do care about the school system a great deal obviously. So, that's one comment. The other comment that I would make is going back into last year, which isn't real pleasant for me, but I I do believe that there were a lot of financial concerns when it became budget season, but it turns out that budget season is every month of the year, as you probably already know, because I certainly see that from other departments. Um, and so I think it's either on this month's agenda or coming up to take a close look at um, and this is no reflection on any of the work that Andy's done, but because he's affiliated and taking care of a lot of other school systems, I remember that um, you know that there was a question about that and
004other I remember member Goodwin had also said, you know, a lot of people in central office understand um the financial situation and there might be another alternative. I don't know. I that might be part of today's consideration and certainly maybe um in the next few months. Um and um I'm looking forward to be honest, I'm just trying to focus on some city council business and I'm still very interested in what the schools are doing and whether they're going to send kids down to a different school or back and forth. from all my years of teaching. So, um I do remember somebody saying a whole lot of money was spent on supplies and it's sitting in closets. And I'm one of those people that would love to see smaller class sizes and paying for the for
005the aids that need to be there and not sticking a bunch of money up in a supply closet that a teacher may either need or not need or wonder how to access to even use. Um I think teaching is a very difficult job certainly nowadays postcoid but it's always a difficult job when I did it all those years ago too. We always had to spend our money for what we needed. If we needed something we always had to spend summers in studies. We never had summers off but people would say oh what a cushy job you know. and I was grading papers and doing planning and calling parents about good reports and bad reports even on holidays. That's the kind of teacher that I was for many many years. So, I wish you all well.
006I think you've got a task ahead of you and I look forward to seeing how how it all is going to be going and I know it's hard work. So, I want to just thank you. Next we have Judy Bennett followed by Doug Selwin. >> Thank you. And if you could say your name and your address, please. >> Hi, I'm Judy Bennett, precinct 8. Um, I just wanted to say welcome to the new committee members. I'm looking forward to um having you work with us for us. I am an educator. I am part of our union leadership. I live in town obviously and you know one of our goals I think everyone can agree is we want safe fully staffed wellresourced schools. So I hope that can happen. Thank you. >> We have Doug Selwin
007followed by Rory Talon Hicks. again. >> Oh, can you actually turn that mic on? >> Yeah. >> Oh, great. Thank you. And if you could state your name and your address, please. >> Uh Doug Selwin, um 38 Forest Avenue in Greenfield. Um welcome to all the folks coming back and and here. Um must be a little odd starting in the middle of a school year. I don't know what to do about that calendar, but it seems like a bizarre system to me. I have three, I guess, related um short comments to make all involved reaching out beyond Greenfield to connecting with what's happening across the state on different issues. Um, it's I know you have your hands full just trying to figure out how to sit in your seats here, but but we're part of
008a a large state dealing with some large issues and I hope we can be part of that conversation. So, three different areas. one is um I hope the count the school committee can make its voice heard all the way to the governor's office um to encourage her to include funding for reopening the foundation review commission to take a look at funding that um that undergurs the entire system. Um she's turning her budget out really soon. I don't know exactly the date but within a week I think. and um the foundation review commission if it is included in that budget would get them to take a look at chapter the whole foundation funding formula. Um it hasn't been looked at in quite a while. I know Senator Kafford is really pushing this hard and I hope
009the school committee can add its voice to that conversation. Um second, um in terms of funding and the crisis we're in, the MTA is really supporting a um I forget what they're calling it, but it's essentially a an um a crisis financial crisis approach. There's seven bills that they are supporting as a as an organization. And I would urge the committee to um take a look at what they're supporting and and to consider supporting those bills. Um collectively they will bring a lot more money to the schools than what we've got now. And the third thing has to do with the MCCAST and um the governor's plan to essentially replace the MCCAST with a whole another set of highstakes standardized testing. So two pieces to this. one is as you're looking for um a new
010superintendent, I hope that the committee will really um if not grill them at least look seriously at what their attitudes are towards standardized testing um and what their plans are for taking the district into a postmcast world. Um and then to um reach out as as strongly as you can to um make your what I hope is the vision of the district towards not going back to standardized testing or high stakes standardized testing. And I hear the tinkle so I'm done. Thank you. >> Next we have Rory Talon Hicks. Thank you. Welcome. Could you state your name and your address? >> Yes. My name is Rory Talon Hicks and I live at 83 Shadic Street. Um I am a parent of a first and second grader at Federal Street School and I've struggled with how
011to make this concern known um because the lack of response from the school has been really difficult. Um so that's why I'm here. But the issue being we are going on four months of repeated cases of headlights in our kids class. Um and I say we because it's me and a group of parents who are really really struggling with getting this under control because there is not a collaborative or coordinated effort in um managing the issue. Uh I've read through the school's headlace policy um in terms of management and detection and all of that. Um and while we understand that it's uh categorized as a nuisance and that it's primarily the family's responsibility, there is specific language in there about the school's role in helping families um treat effectively. also re-checking, communicating with uh kids
012or parents who um have children who have been exposed. Um there are several things that are just not happening and it's making it really difficult. And so this kind of categorization as a nuisance has I think really downplayed the financial, emotional, mental, social impact that this fourmonth issue has had on multiple families in this one specific classroom. So I do have a few asks. Um, one of them is to review the policy and implement that as written, which specifically includes collaborating with families, being more communicative about what the processes and what the school is doing um, in coordination with the families. Um, the other is to look at the classroom, see if there are any like soft surfaces, bean bags, chairs, anything where life could continue to be living. um looking at the storage uh
013how children are storing their bags and backpacks. Um and then again just being more responsive and communicative with families. Um, I know that all of the families who I've spoken to have reached out to the school, to the nurse, to the classroom teacher, um to uh someone I don't know if they're here, but uh someone at the um central office and we've really just not been satisfied with the response and we're just concerned about this going on and definitely if we don't all work together to mitigate it. Thank you. Any additional public comment from the in-person audience? Any public comment from our online members? Again, raise your hand or put your name in the chat if you would like to make public comment online. All right. Uh, seeing none, I think we will move on
014to report of our student representatives. Hello everybody. Uh, first off, student council. On Tuesday, January 20th, 2026 from 2:15 to 3:15, the student council will be host hosting Cookies, Coco, and Craman to help students study together and/or finish end of term projects. This event is free and open to all high school students. On Wednesday, January 28th, 2026, a music bingo fundraiser is being held in the cafeteria from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. for all family families. Cards are $5 each, and all the money raised will help offset the cost of leadership conferences. And Key Club has started a shoe drive. The proceeds will be donated to raise money for Camp Sunshine in Maine. Please consider cleaning out your closets and bring in your gently used or new shoes to the high school. >> In athletics, Taylor
015Bersron has been named Brad's Place athlete of the week. Her coach states, "Taylor is the captain of the girls basketball team who leads by example, giving 100% effort in practice and in games while consistently pushing herself and her teammates to improve. Congratulations, Taylor." >> French Club. The club looks forward to a busy winter and spring with Gallet Dewa this month, Ratatouille Extravaganza in February, Taste of World Cultures in March, and their 10-day trip to France during April break. Drama club begins uh rehearsals for their spring production of The Secret Garden, adapted by Gary Peterson. This production tells a heartwarming tale of Mary. The folk she meets in meets at Mistleweight Manor and on the moors of Yorkshire, England. Mark your calendars to come see the production on March 27th and 28th. Library club is hosting
016a series of book to movie beginning with The Outsiders directed by Francis Ford Copa on Friday, January 16th. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for pizza and popcorn and the movie will begin at 600 p.m. in the ghs auditorium. Copies of the book are available at the library for anyone who would like to read along. This event is free and open to the public. Many thanks to Greenfield Public Library for co-hosting this event and generously providing the pizza. Library Green Wave Greenwave Reads Reading Challenge. This year's reading challenge has started. Any students who have read a book since September can stop by the library to fill out a paper book spine and hang it up on the bookshelf window across from the library. At the end of the year, two winners will be drawn randomly to
017receive a $50 Visa gift card. Please encourage your students to read and help us build a fabulous bookshelf of all the books GHS reads this year. >> The trivia team Oh, sorry. The trivia team has been prepping for their as schools match wits match on January 17th against Minichog Regional. Currently the team consists of several seniors, a junior and an eighth grader. Mosaic/ students of color club. Currently the group will be will start meeting with Matt Allen from Mass Hire who will provide provide mentoringship to students. >> All right, that is it. So, if anyone has any questions for us. >> Thank you members. Any questions or comments for our student reps? >> All right. Well, thank you both very much. We really appreciate hearing from you every month. And now we are moving on
018to reports of the administration and we will hear from Andy. Mr. Pquette, will you please give your business report? >> Good evening. Uh, you have in your packets the January report as the financial update. Um, I did report out last month that the the books were closed. Uh, apparently there are some either ongoing issues because uh, as you can see in the reports, there are still negative incumbrances throughout. Uh, we do know the city finance department is working on that. So, we've been in touch with them to see as far as if there's a a timeline, hoping to hear back relatively soon, but again, we know they're working on it. That being said, you have on your summary page a reconciliation of the projections. For those that are new, what we normally do is we
019charge everything to the local budget first and then come end of the year, we'll do final journal entries to move expenses to where they are. Uh, one of the things we will be doing for next month is we will do be doing half of the circuit breaker reclass. Uh, so you'll end up seeing changes in in this. We use it for special education tuition. You'll see that there. Um, so you have on the front page a chart showing our uses of our funding sources as it's applied to the balance and then that remaining balance will be used as is referenced in the second note. Um, we've been providing updates as to changes in our primarily special education tuition. We've had some out of district placements that have occurred. Uh, it has not changed since last
020month. So, we're as of right now, uh, the unanticipated unbudgeted special education tuition is, as reported there, $456,366 and two cents. So, uh, that being said, as I said, even we're unable to provide the revolving account report, but that chart above with everything as we're planning, there's no cause for alarm. I can answer any questions that anyone might have. >> Members, questions? All right, Mayor Dorger. Um, I have one question about the last four things that are in the budget. on the last page. They I didn't see them in the budget before or perhaps they were in a different uh category. >> Last four things >> the rental lease equipment, extraordinary maintenance, maintenance of equipment. >> Uh I am >> I know we did I found it. We did budget 30,000 for extraordinary >> maintenance
021and the custodial before was I under dis I I just didn't see that and it it looked to me like it was that was 130,000 that was budgeted last year. Maybe I have that wrong. I'm looking at the budget uh document and those numbers reflect what we had budgeted. So I I I guess I apologize. I don't know as far as what's reflected in the original appropriation column is what it is that we have in our budget document. >> May I continue? So I guess my point was I didn't see them any of those categories in the last month budget there, you know, it looked different. So >> Oh. Um, >> so if if maybe next month we could put them together or were they new? I don't think they were new because I remember
022the extraordinary maintenance, but they weren't listed like that. So those we ended last time at um school committee at conference travel that was the last thing and then there were four more things just that's why I was asking >> I'm on the December report and on the last page they are the same ones. Thank you. Other members, more questions. I just have a a a basic question. Um for me, it seems like it might be easily explained. I'm hoping so, but I'm just curious about like the way that we budget and the way that we present the budget because there are some lines where I'm seeing like substantial overage, like we've used 400% of something or 75% of something and I'm so I'm just sort of wondering does that reflect a sort of mis like
023miscatategorization or like a >> you know it reflects a couple things as I've always reported out we charge everything to the local so if you were to look and see what our budget is built with the anticipation of using $4,293,239 of grants and revolving accounts that we have not charged charge necessarily as of right now to those accounts. Um, primarily in revolving accounts. Once we get our grants approved, we end up charging things to the grants. Uh, at the same time, there are lots of internal changes that do occur. Primarily, I'm going to say, as we've all talked about, um, in the instructional assistance lines, maintenance can be one of the issues that can be pretty volatile. Um, so you will see changes like that that occur and things that look like they're running negative
024substantially, but between the personnel changes and it also goes to, if you remember, I ran last year and I plan on doing it again. um the budget to actual of the the major um codes the the salaries contracted services when you see the changes that occur and then whether it's surpluses in some uh negatives in another we've talked about how Mr. messing in the sped department has had you know trouble maybe it's finding psychologists so he has to go out for contracted services those would end up being potentially unanticipated because obviously we want to hire the staff so when you see those things happen um I'll say there is a logical reason for it um but what we end up doing because of the fact that and with the mun system we could really be
025I mean ultra scrutinous and conservative and say to administ administrators, you cannot charge anything if it's going to go put that line over budget. But the practice in this district has been cost center bottom line based and understanding that building administrators, program directors, they're the ones that control their budget. So, you know, who is the business office to say, for example, if in maintenance, if Mr. Budro's got a line that's $12,000 over, the business office would, you know, expect Mr. Budro to say, "Yeah, I know that that's over. I've got some surplus that I originally anticipated in supply lines that I'll ultimately do a budget transfer for to take care of that. So, that's how it works. Um, some things do happen, you know, that were unanticipated uh that we end up having to address.
026Um, but a good amount of it is the fact that again repeating 4 point just under $4.3 million of other funding sources that will ultimately go to chewing up our overall all funds approach. So just so that I can explain it to myself like I'm five if I can. Um what's represented here is the percentage like against each each line or across each school. Um that is the the appropriation just in our local budget. But that does not necessarily reflect the total cost of each actual line. that's not actually what it costs to employ all of our staff or to have maintenance across all of our buildings, etc., etc. >> Right? When you look, I always like to say when I do training for school committees, what does it take to run your school district?
027And it goes beyond the local budget. So, our actual our FY26 budget, the plan that we had approved was 27,991,43. But this is just reflecting the local. But we want to show you all the expenses because I know people don't like the budget document, but we have line items for everything from all our other funding sources that we use. So we capture that in our budget presentation, charge everything to the local on the Munis document as we're showing it and then we will end up chewing it up with those other funding sources as we do and has been done since we've been here and prior business administrators as well. But your explanation was on a 5-year-old level is correct. >> Great. Thank you. I just want to make sure that we're all understanding what we're
028seeing and I I always want to try to explain things for anyone who might be watching this later um and have the same question. Um I also just maybe we can brainstorm later about how to present this so that it doesn't look as alarming if if that's at all possible. Um, and so that we have a better sense of the true cost for all of our things um, beyond the big budget presentation that we get at sort of the end of the year or the budget presentation we get for the next year. It'd be nice to see it in an ongoing basis. Thank you. Um, any other mayor? Again, I have one more on page 11. Um at the bottom under transportation uh contracted services um it says the original appropriation was 566,092. Um we
029we actually budgeted 379,000 but regardless we've used 423,527 but what is encumbered is almost twice that at 826215 and I just had a question about that as we were about halfway through. I I would have expected that to be closer to 423. >> This goes to what is it that we're talking about is that we are planning on using $400,000 out of the transportation revolving account to offset that line item. And then there are things that again we Mr. messing in the transportation department. We have had, if you look and see, we've got new tuitions coming in that are requiring transportation that we're not budgeted for. So, that has put that even over more than what it is that we anticipated. There's an offset of at a minimum 400,000. And then we also have the
030uh balance remaining in our transportation revolving account that we would potentially use come end of the year to offset the the amount over that. But the operating budget isn't actually over by that because we're going to take it from somewhere else. It looks like it is. >> Yes, you're correct. >> Okay. Okay. Thanks. >> Uh, member Goodman. >> I don't know if this question is for the superintendent or for Andy, but when we closed out our personnel lines, there was $2 million left. Our classrooms are underst staffed and $2 million of not using on our staff um concerned me. Um I don't know if we just didn't hire. That's a lot of people not to hire. And is there a plan so that we're not in that situation again? >> I'm pulling that up. Put
031a I mean, I guess I would say as far the plan obviously is always and we just had we've been having budget meetings, the plan is to always hire and we're posting and reposting for positions. Uh the challenge that has been we've been having I think every day is as we've talked about before um we're not finding candidates for some of these positions. As a member of the subcommittee for budget who went around to different schools and different places. There are classrooms who are desperate for instructional assistance. They don't have support in the classrooms. From the high school down, people are talking about having large class sizes and no PAR support in a district that has over 20% special ed students. They need the support in the classroom. So, what I'm asking, I guess, is
032I'm not even sure enough support was advertised. I look at every advertisements every week to see what's there. I in my head know that we need at least a minimum of nine more instructional assistance to meet the needs of the classrooms in this district. But when we put this budget together, adding staff is really hard to do with the current economic state. So, if there's $2 million last year at the end of closing out the staff, which was Frank Frank just spent on supplies in a frenzy to get to a million dollars down, I would rather see us really targeting staff lines so we're not I mean, if we get to the point where we're doing cuts, but there's $2 million left in staff lines, I don't want to be cutting something that I don't
033need to cut. Does that make sense what I'm saying? I just really on behalf of every person who works in Greenfield public schools, our classrooms are not staffed the way they need to be. And teachers need the support. They're clear about it. Every place I went, um, I heard about what's happening in the classrooms. you know, we can talk about everything, but without the right people in the right place, nothing's going to happen. So, I guess 2 million is a lot of positions not to have in place in the classroom. So, I'm just is there a way to monitor that number in a different way? Um, that's I guess that's what I'm looking for. So, I mean, I had a superintendent. He always said he had 60 grand in his pocket. That's how he, you
034know, you needed a teacher, you needed an IIA, you know, he's like he would wheel and deal. But I just feel like at some point last year, a superintendent had 2 million in her pocket that wasn't spent on staff that schools desperately need it. So, I guess there's got to be a way to monitor that personnel line so we know that we're doing the best with the money that we're asking for. And that I'm just begging for is the personnel lines being maybe more accurate >> if if I may just and I I just I'm looking at a recent the it does it it doesn't change your your concern about the staffing and stuff but the vacancy savings once the year was closed for FYI25 was $652,15. The challenges during the year is that we
035have these positions budgeted for that are so if we were to take those funds away or you know we're not we're we're taking the funds away but the need is still there and so how is it that we're going to you know we've got the the plan of the administrators you know was to have you know Mr. Messi wants to have, you know, you know, three psychologists. We're not getting psychologists. So, do we take that money away, but then the need is still there for the psychological services. So, the decision by the administrators is we're going to contract out because we need to provide the psychological services. I'm using that as an example because I know we've talked about it. Same with the medical therapeutic services stuff. So, to say that it's not being monitored
036and that there's $2 million sitting there, it's not just sitting there. it's waiting for the position to be filled, you know. So, that's the challenge is that we have and every other school district has regarding the fact of when you've got vacancies just to take those funds away does not neglect or negate the need that's there and what happens as far as a position, you know, where where does it go from there, I guess, is what I'm saying. So, you're understand the concern, but you know, it's not that it was just sitting there. It's like the plan is to hire the people. So, we have to keep the funds reserved and available to hire the people. >> Yes. Thank you. Um, in regards to obviously the 2 million last year, I can't speak to that
037at the end of the year and when we came in when I came in this year and obviously you've seen postings out there, etc. We're trying to fill the jobs in the positions that were approved by and I say you and everybody collectively last year. So, um, if there are needs in other rooms that you're hearing about, we'll have an opportunity this year to either move some of those bodies or reassign or add to, etc. for that. So, yes, we're still looking for people in different categories right now. Um, we are looking um, you know, I don't know what more to tell you. I mean, I guess if you have any opport any thoughts on how we can advertise in other ways, etc., we'd be more than willing to listen. Um, but we have, you're
038correct. This year I can talk about this year we do have some money for jobs that we are looking to hire for that were approved by the committee and presented obviously last year by the administration etc that were their thoughts. So to now say in the middle of the year, you're right, sometimes we can move and and I don't have that 60,000 right here in my pocket um on that one. But in some cases, right, we can shift and make moves during the school year. But wholesale in terms of lots and lots, no, because things were assigned in certain spots. >> Member Denife. So Andy, I just want to wrap it up with a bow if you can for me. So the vacancy, I remember you talking last year about the vacancy rate and I
039knew it was between 500 and $600,000. So that hasn't changed. We're still at 500 to $600,000 vacancy rate. What is the exact amount? I admittedly have not done that analysis as of right now, but I will obviously it's the plan, but you know um when you look through the budget, if you look at the salary lines, you'll see that there are lines that are have balances left in them and that's primarily due to the fact that we're not being able to >> find people for the positions, >> right? Yeah, you've explained that and I appreciate it, but I just if I had thought that there was $2 million of jobs that we weren't doing that I would have recalled that, but I remember you saying that it's between five and $600 something thousand. So, it's
040not $2 million. I just want to verify. >> Correct. And I I did find uh the August uh from the August school committee meeting, the the final as of that time was the 65215. >> 652, right? That sounds familiar. So, I just wanted to >> does not neglect or negate the the point that member good. >> Oh, I'm not saying that it does. I just we're talking numbers. So, I want the numbers to be accurate and factual. Um, but so I just want to make sure that I'm understanding your report correctly, which I really appreciate your written report that you've been giving us. Um, so at the end of your local budget list, when you give us the total, that is the amount of money that we're essentially going to have going into the next
041fiscal year is what you're saying, right? >> I like to preface it with all things going according to plan, >> right? Assuming that everything is okay. All right. So that's less than what we were expecting before and that's because of the out of district placements, correct? Okay. So that's 700. And if for those playing along at home, that's $740,957.37, which is below what we originally thought, which which was I think 1.2 or 1.4 million last year. So that is considerably less. So everybody should know that it's not 5 million or anything like that. It is below a million. Yes. And then also you need to off of that 740 back off the 456 unanticipated sped tuition that we have just of that in the new out of district placements that have come in. >> Oh
042my. Okay. Well, thank you very much. >> And that just that is fluctuating as well because Mr. are messing and we've been meeting regularly about the fact that some of these places they're in negotiations and making sure that indeed Greenfield is fiscally responsible andor what is the true cost by the time that the the student enrolls etc and stuff so um it is one of the I use the word without any negative connotations one of the volatile areas that we have here so you know I would not be surprised quite honestly if next month that that number changes >> in the four years that I've been getting reports from you I have never thought anything wouldn't change. So, thank you very much. Any other questions or comments? Seeing none, thank you, Andy. Um, and we
043will see you again next month. All right. Uh, moving on. report of the assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, Mr. Sullivan. >> Good evening, everybody. In the packets, you have my report for this month. Um, in regards to professional learning, we're wrapping up planning for our next and last full day of professional development for this school year. Um, which is scheduled for January 30th. Um, as in our past sessions, we're working to differentiate our topics and training based on grade levels or grade bands and aligning those to district and school priorities. Additionally, in the January professional development, um, our staff will participate in an introductory training on restorative practices. As you know, last year we developed a five-year restorative practices implementation plan. Um, we've received a number of grants to help support this work and
044this would be the initial train. We're calling it the initial training. I I know educators throughout the district district have different levels of training in the past. Um, but we see this as an opportunity to bring everybody up to speed about the work that we've been doing. um the current learning pilot that's underway at Federal Street and what to expect as we move into the next phases of implementation. So, we're looking forward to that. In terms of grants, um just wanted to let the committee know that we're once again offering a vacation academy during the February break. Uh last year we were able to offer vacationmies through it during the February and April breaks. It was funded through a desi grant. Unfortunately, um that grant is not being offered this year. But fortunately for us,
045uh through the efforts of the school committee committee and particularly particularly member Denive, the district received an earmark grant last year um that allowed for funds to be used for um to support students in the city of Greenfield. and we're able to use a portion of these funds to offer the February vacation academy. We already have approximately when I wrote this it was 35. I think we're closer to 40 students in grades K or I'm sorry grades one through four. Um we solicited teacher interest and most of the teacher interest came from those grades. So we focused in there and um we have I think six five teachers who are planning to work um with the 40 students over the February V vacation. Um I think last year was a success. Most of the teachers
046who worked last year are coming back. A number of students who were there last year are coming back in February. Um and it's an opportunity to keep students connected to school. um you know continue to focus to work with uh foundational literacy skills at that age and uh math and numeracy skills and I've also stressed to those teachers like how do we build in the joy and fun part of learning and like let students have hands-on experiences and experiential experiences. I met with the teachers yesterday and they were really excited to get planning. So looking forward to that. And then finally, I've updated the last few months, the Thunderbirds Stick to Reading Challenge. While it is concluded here, we're looking forward to the culminating event, which is a week from Saturday, se Saturday, January 24th,
047which will be Greenfield Public Schools night at the Springfield Thunderbirds. Um, parents and families should have received a flyer uh with a QR code to purchase their tickets for students who had completed the reading. If they have not received that, they can certainly reach out to my office and we can try to support them in their efforts to get their tickets. >> Great. Thank you. Um I'd like to hear also from the superintendent before we turn it over to questions if that's all right. >> Good evening everyone. Uh just a few quick updates. We are student attendance enrollment. I've passed that out and we are up three students since the last two months. Um, we were fortunate last month to receive a grant. Um, I I did spill the beans at the city council meeting
048because we got it actually that morning, but just for your uh knowledge, it's the Massachusetts Broadband Institute connected and online program. This is a grant that was collaborated on with our um IT director Ian Edwards and the uh Athena Lee Bradley, the city grant writer, teamed up to write this grant and are awarded 450 Chromebooks, 100 docking stations, 12 carts, 15 laptops. Um the library received some park and wreck housing authority and the school department. We were by by for virtue of our size the largest recipient in terms of proportionality for that. So over $250,000. So I think nice work. We talk about collaboration between city departments. This is just another feather in the cap there on that one. When we work together, we can get some money, some free money because otherwise we would
049have bought these or would have had to in the future pay for these out of our budget. Um I want to congratulate all the schools in December. I know we're just back here. It seems like we've been back. It's the new year for a long time, but really we just came back last week into this new year for all the concerts and the the festivities that they had in December. I was able to get to the majority of them and we have some talented individuals out there. There's no doubt about our students and they're led by great teachers and adviserss in all of these clubs and activities. So, great winter concerts out there and activities. Um, even was able to get to a Newton school reading night and read with a lot of and Santa
050even showed up. That was a It was a a nice looking Santa. Santa and Mrs. Claus came and did a nice job that night as well too. And I do want to congratulate and thank our building director, Mr. Budro, and his custodians for dealing with on January 1st a water break at Federal Street School, which they were able to catch pretty quickly and work on and get comp and do their own work in house. We're still working on it. We do have a teacher displaced right now out of that room, but we've been working with everybody and hope to have them back very soon. But those are those unexpected, right? You hear about the budget, those unexpected things that unfortunately happen over time to time that we have to be prepared for. But we do
051have a great crew of workers who will come in on their time off, whether it's the holiday, evenings, weekends, and make things ready for our students so they can come through and experience their education on that first day back. Thank you very much. Any questions or comments for either Assistant Superintendent Sullivan or Superintendent Joyel? Great. Uh seeing none, um I think that we can move on to the consent agenda. And just as a reminder, um members are able to pull out any one item uh by vote or I think that you just say to yourself as an individual member, you can pull out an item if you'd like and we will consider it separately. Otherwise, we will take all three of these items together as one vote. >> All right. I am seeing that we
052can proceed with the consent agenda as presented. I'm looking for a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All right. So I have a motion from member Deniv and a second from Mayor Dorger. Uh any discussion? you okay? >> Yes. >> I think we should probably just state for the record what the change for the school year calendar is and why. It's not controversial. It's just something good to know. >> Thank you, member Vice Chair Childs. >> Yes, please. >> Thank you. The change that we are proposing in front of you is in March. It is on March 5th. It has early release for K to7. Prior it had said K to four and that was LA done last year when you were talking about reconfiguring some of the grading
053levels. Uh in the past up through the middle school have already always received that half a day getting out um and hadn't obviously we saw that um notice that after the fact here that it's an oversight. So that day instead of K to 4 which it had said prior to this we'll say K to 7. Any questions about that? Okay, I think we are ready to vote. Um, all in favor of the motion to approve the consent agenda as written, say I. >> I. >> Any abstensions? Any nos? Motion passes unanimously. All right, we are ready to move on to the school committee reports. And because we don't have uh any of the subcommittees yet up and running to do things, the only report is um mine and this is subcommittee assignments. Um did members
054have a chance to look at the subcommittee assignments document? Great. Um so I wanted to just provide a little bit of an opening in that these assignments did reflect um discussions that I've had with most individual members about their preferences and desires. Um, and I also think that it takes into account members skills and abilities and where I see them as uh in the best use toward for the schools um and for the business uh before us. That being said, um this is a proposal and members are free if you have an idea or a different uh suggestion for yourself. If you don't want the assignment as listed, you are free to say that. Um, and you are free to suggest another alternative. However, I cannot guarantee that any other members will be willing to
055trade their their responsibilities if they're happy where they're at um to accommodate these. So, I just wanted to provide that preamble, but I just want to say these are this is a proposal. These are my suggestions. I think they're good ones. Um, but we are a committee and I want to make sure that members are serving uh in roles that they feel comfortable and equipped to serve in. So with that, I would seek a motion to approve these committee assignments or the subcommittee assignments as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. We have a motion from Mayor Dorger and a second from member Goodwin. Any discussion? >> Member Denife. I have something that I'd like to enter into the record. I have two things to say about budget and finance. The first one is
056that in my opinion, members who have spread disinformation about the budget publicly should not be on the budget and finance subcommittee. There was never a slush fund of millions hiding in an account. Those false statements are in opposition to our mission of oversight and damage our district. I know multiple people have advised the chair against these appointments and I would like my opposition to be added to the official minutes. Fact-based oversight in budget and finance is what is required in order to retain any permanent superintendent and to do right by the taxpayers. I would like to be returned to budget and finance. I have completed several additional trainings over the years on the subject and I would be an asset. I would also like the record to reflect that I've never been adversarial and have
057never requested to not be on a subcommittee with any member. Also, I have an issue with the warrants idea that you have for the budget and finance subcommittee. For those of you at home who may not understand, the warrants come out every two weeks. They come out usually on a Monday or Tuesday. They have to be signed by a Thursday. We have in 2022, we voted to have one person sign the warrants. Many school committees have three people sign the warrants or they have somebody go into their central office, physically look at the warrants, and sign in person. Some school committees bring the warrants to the actual full committee and vote on them at every meeting. And sometimes they have a warrant subcommittee. So there's lots of ways that one can do this. If you
058bring warrants into the budget and finance subcommittee, they meet once a month, maybe during budget time, then they don't always meet once a month. How are they going to administer the warrants? Also, the warrants are public. So you as taxpayers can go and view them. You can go into central office and look at them. When I went to training recently in November with you, I took a warrant subcommittee class and I learned that the warrants need to come in here. So, we need to look at the warrants as full school committee and vote on them. Because they come out every two weeks, I would think a better proposal would be to have a small warrant subcommittee that meets, I don't know, via Zoom or however we need to do to vote on it. It's really
059only a fiveminute issue um to have more eyes than just one on it. But to bog it down in budget and finance will do one thing that I think will damage the subcommittee. So let me rephrase this. When you look at warrants, you don't really know what you're looking at. It's just lines and lines of text like Amazon this amount of money, copy paper this amount of money, we paid for an oil change, we bought a van, whatever it is, it's all these different things that need to get paid. The only way that you can understand what you're looking at and know what a red flag is is if you look at them all the time. So over time you understand the trends and you can kind of pick out, oh, never seen that before
060or that's unusual. That only happens through experience. So far I've been the only one signing warrants, just me and Glenn for the last few years. Um, I signed the one this week. We agreed to wait 24 hours for people to look at the warrants. I keep thinking if I wait and I wait and I wait, people are going to sign them. But I keep getting emails from Vera saying, "No one's signing them." So, I've been signing them. So, there has to be some way for people to see it and understand the trends and scroll through these payments and get an idea of what is correct and what is not. So, I think that putting it in budget and finance is not the way to go. >> Thank you. Okay, I'm happy to explain why I
061believe that warrants do belong in the budget and finance subcommittee. And I also want to address the comment about how often budget and finance meets. So the current practice has been yes to meet monthly during budget season perhaps more often with individual assignments from what I understand to go off and have different discussions with either school councils or PTOs or with ELPACs or CPACs to get a better understanding of their priorities. So work does happen more often than than the once a month. I am also uh by virtue of charging this subcommittee with the responsibility for warrants expecting that they will meet more often in order to meet that responsibility. There's no rule that says we only meet once a month. Um that is up to each subcommittee about how they schedule their business. Um
062I also do agree that it is important to get more eyes on the warrants. Therefore, charging a three-person subcommittee with the responsibility for looking through them while vesting one person in my view that would be the chair of the budget and finance subcommittee with the responsibility for signing them. Um helps to make sure that it is getting taken care of in a timely fashion by the people who are also supposed to be monitoring our our bigger budget on the dayto-day as well um or at least on the monthtomonth. So that was my rationale for putting it there so that it wasn't just resting with either me or whichever member happens to have the time but that that it is actually a a design a designated responsibility for a core group of folks um on the
063committee. So that was my rationale. Um I'm happy to hear other opinions on that as well. Um but thank you for for providing your input. Yes, Mory. I'm glad it's going to be a subset of people that are looking at it. Um, I I actually I I never signed the school one because I signed them on the mayor's side at the end the warrant, but um, you know, just like we bring things up here in to to Andy in this meeting, it's a little um it's a little less formal in a subcommittee. So, um I I'm assuming that everybody looks through them, but I think it's great to have a subcommittee, you know, or in ways and means or finance or whichever the name of it, that you're looking at it together, so you're actually
064going through them. Um that's just my thoughts. Any other comments or questions about the subcommittee assignments as presented? >> Yes. Member Den, >> are you requesting that we email you whether or not we wish to take up this work that you've assigned? Um, I would I guess I would ask in the interest of getting these subcommittees approved this evening one way or the other that you either say that now. Although of course if you would rather not then you are free to email me afterwards if you don't want these assignments. But I think it would be actually important to know that now because if you don't want one, then that requires to keep with a threeperson subcommittee. Um, and to try to balance because I did do a bit of thinking about how to make
065sure that assignments were equitably distributed as well. Um, >> I'll email you. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Any further discussion? Okay, seeing none. Oh, yes. >> I just wanted to say that I am perfectly fine with where I am for subcommittees. >> Great. Thank you. >> Yes, member. >> I am also happy with my subcommittee assignments. >> Great. Thank you. >> Okay. Are we Sorry. Did you have something, Mayor Dwer? >> I am as well. I'm happy with where I am. Thank you. >> Okay. All right. Um, with that, I think are we ready to proceed to a vote? Okay. All in favor of the subcommittee and uh representative assignments as written, please. Uh, and I think uh, Secretary, I think we should do a roll call on this one. >> Thank you. >>
066Vice Chair Childs, >> yes. >> Member Deniv, >> no. Member Doder. >> Yes. >> I'm struggling with this. Member Dyman. >> Abstain. >> Member Goodwin. >> Yes. >> Chair Ston. >> Yes. >> Member Webb. I'm a Yes. >> Okay. Can you read out if it passed and with how many yeses? >> Sorry, I'm new at this. Um, it passed with one, two, three, four, five yeses, one absention, and one no vote. >> Great. Thank you. Okay, I think with that we are ready to move on to new business. Superintendent, would you like to present this? >> Yes, thank you. Um, I'm presenting this to you this evening, not necessarily for a vote tonight. Um, this is more to get the information in front of you right now so you would have time to either do
067some homework on it or, you know, digest it and come back the next month and do it or you can take a vote tonight. So this is in front of you and you've we were mailed mailed this to you the Commonwealth of Massachusetts virtual school enrollment restrictions and um Commonwealth has students taking classes online or you people have the opportunity to take classes online and each year depending on how many students you have from your district enrolling in these schools in these classes you have an opportunity to limit the amount of people who would take those classes. is um so in terms of really paraphrasing it down and I can always take questions from people the the virtual schools have a cap of 2% statewide and there are roughly 900,000 students in Massachusetts and the
068cap would be 4,000 students who can participate in that for the state in terms of our school here our school public schools district here in Greenfield um we are over 1% so the the Discretionary enrollment restrictions by the district can happen can don't have to but can by the school committee of the sending district which is you may vote to restrict enrollment of its students in a commonwealth commonwealth of mass virtual school if the total enrollment of students enrolled in those schools exceed 1% of the total enrollment of your district provided however just so you know if you ever did do vote to restrict this that nobody currently enrolled old would be compelled to withdraw because of that vote. So we would use that term grandfathered in they they would stay in those students could
069a vote has to be taken prior to deceiving would be after that fact. So it's January. We just got this the other day. That's why I put it on there so that you could either ask questions about it or talk about it in minimally the latest we could vote on it would be in February. In that sense, we have 1.32% of our students, which is 17 students. So, it's 17. If you were to restrict that student that cap at 1% because you can, you don't have to, but you can cap that at 1%. That would be 12 students. So, it would be stopping an additional five. Again, nobody would be forced to withdraw going forward. those students would stay, but you could cap it. Um, you'll see a lot of districts across the state that
070those in yellow on this sheet that are over the 1% and then you'll even see many who are below the 1% who had taken votes and you'll see when they've had their last votes. The reason they would have taken votes is because at one point they would have been over the 1% and they were voting to restrict it um in that scenario. So, as I mentioned, we have 17 students currently enrolled in virtual schools, which is 1.32% of our student population. If you voted to restrict it to the 1% cap, that would allow 12 to enroll. Again, not stopping anybody who is currently in there from continuing on the rest of their career in the virtual schools. Um, thank you for that presentation. Yes, member Goodwin, do you have a question? >> I guess and
071it's interesting because the birth of the virtual school is Greenfield Public Schools and the state took it from us because we were making too much money on our virtual school. So funding wise, I mean the state is getting all the funds for those 17 children, correct? >> Oh, good. So, in some ways, it's comparable to school choice except the state's making the money. Maybe they should put that money into our foundation budget for those 17 children. That would be nice. Um, okay. I So for every child enrolled in virtual school, the money is going to the state. >> That's all I needed to know. >> That that school. No, >> it goes to the virtual school. >> Virtual school. >> It's their tuition. It's they're they're technically they're considered a school of choice. So it
072is your analogy to school choice is exactly correct. So there's their their tuition amount comes from our chapter 70 money that goes towards them plus a virtual enrollment factor that is added on. So it doesn't just sit at the state, it goes to the virtual school. >> Thank you Andy. Vice Childs, >> are there any other schools where there will be a hard cap like only 1% of Greenfield kids can go to this district or that district imposed by Greenfield? >> No. >> Yes. member Denife, >> when this vote came up um several years ago, we we don't have parents here to tonight about this, but we did have parents that wrote to us and came in and spoke and I remember them talking about how this is for a very specific subset of students.
073This is not just for anybody. These are for students with very specific medical needs. These are for students who are on some sort of specific athletic Olympic kind of track or have any other special situation that keeps them from being in the school. This isn't like you can't just be like I don't want to be in person. Like this is very regimented and specific. There are kids who work in film, TV, these kinds of things. They need these kinds of schools. And so we had members of the public come and talk to us about how important it was that they had this avenue for their child's development because their child was doing other things in addition or had extenduating circumstances. So I just think that we should keep that in the forefront of our minds
074because this really isn't about money as much as it's about specific circumstances that our students find themselves in very rarely and still need support. Thank you. Great. I also just I do want to note that on the agenda, we don't actually have a vote on this scheduled tonight. Um so if you're a parent out in the audience and you have a thought on this, um please send us your emails or your comments or come to next month's meeting and give a comment in person. Um I do also just want to note for the record that we have been eligible to restrict in fiscal year 2021, 22, 23, and 26. the current fiscal year, but we have never actually voted to restrict. So, this vote has come up before and we have continued to allow the
075students who need the option um to pursue the option if necessary. But again, we will not be voting on this tonight. It will come back before us next month. If you have additional questions, please direct them to uh Superintendent Joyel um so that we can have some answers for next month. Um that being said, does anyone have a question now so that we can get it being thought about? Yes, I this would be for later, but I'm going to say it now. I would just be curious what the what Greenfield's enrollment was over the past several years. And I would expect for a minute that you would know that now, but I think some of us might be curious and I thought I'd ask in front of everyone. >> Uh this Yes. in this current
076enrollment right that this figure is based on is 1285 1,285. >> Um I guess I wasn't very clear. Um, what I meant was, thank you. What I meant was there are 17 students enrolled in the virtual school this year. What I meant was over time, is that about what we've had like in 20 and 21 and 22? If you had a chance uh at your leisure to tell us that before perhaps the next meeting. Thank you. >> Any others? >> Okay. All right. Yeah. Member Dyman, >> I suppose my uh question is for Superintendent Joy. Um, is there information available where I can learn on my own time uh about the criteria for which a student can be eligible for virtual school? >> Yes. >> Where would I find that? >> Yes, I would imagine
077we could just Google that. It would be on the Desi website, but I will go, you know, do that and send you something tomorrow. >> Thank you. Yes, Secretary Webb, >> I just was wondering um you guys mentioned in past years we have voted not to cap it and that would still be possibly on the table or do are we being forced to put a percentage on it by the state? >> Nope. This is a voluntary opportunity that we must do annually. Um but it is our choice to to have a cap or not. Yeah. Thank you. Yes. Member Den, >> the state has a cap of 2% and it is up to us to decide whether or not we want to lower it or not. >> I'm sorry. Can you clarify that it's up
078to us to decide if we want to lower the state? >> The state has a cap of 2%. If we choose to have less than 2%, we can. >> Yes. Yes. Thank you. Okay. Last call. Any others? Okay. Again, if a question comes to you between now and next meeting, please send it to the superintendent. Um, and we'll look forward to revisiting this next month. All right. Moving on. Um, old business included the re review of the year-long agenda and strategic plan review. These were mostly included. As an FYI, we were not I was not planning to discuss or vote on these. >> Yes. >> Sorry. Point of order. Is the chair soliciting new business for the next meeting from its members? >> So, sorry, I was scrolled down and completely missed that item. Thank
079you, member Deniv. Yes, I am sub uh soliciting new business from members. Are there agenda items for the next month's meeting? Yes, member Den. >> I have two items of new business. I would like uh to create a motion to create a position for a non- voting student member of the committee and then my let me know when you're ready for my second. >> Ready. >> Okay. My second is I'd like a motion to create a procedure for meeting with the student advisory council every other month in order to follow Massachusetts general law part one title 12 chapter 71 section 38mm. >> Excellent. Thank you so much. Those items will be added to next month's agenda. If you have um if you could send that language in an email, that would be great. Thank you
080very much. >> Can I please be added to that email? >> Yes, N. >> All right. Any other items of new business to consider for next month? Okay. Seeing none, um revisiting, moving on again to old business. Um, so yes, I just included this year-long agenda and strategic plan review um, mostly for the benefit of our new members to make sure that you did have these documents available, that you knew where to find them. Um, I was not intending for us to to get into a whole long discussion or have a vote about these, but we will be talking about these next month. So, study up, come with your questions, comments, concerns um, and we can be talking about them moving forward. And I do just want to say like our strategic plan is set
081uh at this time. We are sort of right in the middle of it. Um but I can anticipate us looking forward in the next year or two to restarting that process. Um and making sure that we are developing a strategic plan that actually is that is in line with what we want and is uh uh presented in a way that is digestible to us. Um, okay. With that, I've got to read the whole thing. Um, I will be looking for a uh motion to enter into executive session pursuant to Mass General Law, Chapter 3A, subsection 21A3, to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body. and the chair so declares and I do. Uh, and
082number seven, to comply with or act under the authority of any general or special law or federal grant and aid requirements. And eight, to consider or interview applicants for employment or appointment by a preliminary screening committee if the chair declares that an open meeting will have a detrimental effect in obtaining qualified applicants. Provided, however, that this clause shall not apply to any meeting, including meetings of a preliminary screening committee to consider and interview applicants who have passed a prior preliminary screening. The committee will not return to open session. >> So moved. >> All right. >> Second. >> Okay. We have a motion by member Niv and a second by Vice Chair Childs. Um any discussion? All right. Uh can you please call the vote? >> Thank you. Vice Chair Childs. >> Yes. >> Member Deniv.
083>> Yes. >> Mayor Doder. >> Yes. >> Member Dyman. Yes. >> Member Goodwin. >> Yes. >> Chair Ston. >> Yep. >> And member Webb, I am also Yes. >> Okay. So, we have just voted to enter executive session. Um, again, we will not be returning to open session. Can we vote to adjourn the public meeting now >> or do we Great. Um, looking for a motion to adjourn the public portion of this meeting. Great. >> Second. >> All right. Another motion from member Deniv and another second from Vice Chair Childs. Um, all in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? I'm also an I, so it passes unanimously. Thank you, members of the public. Uh, we'll see you next month.