001excellent all right thank you both uh for making time this afternoon for the subcommittee um I'm going to read out little statement that we have that tab all right so we are gathering here for the redistricting ad hoc subcommittee on October 1st at 4:15 uh this meeting is being held fully remotely and this meeting is being recorded for the purposes of posting to the gctv YouTube page if anybody else who is present is also recording please notify the chair now the chair be me I don't think that any any of the other folks are recording um we do have time for public comment but I do not see that we have any members of the public present um Karen can you confirm that there are no members of the public in the waiting room at
002this time I do not see anyone in the waiting room okay well um with that I think that we shall do a quick roll call of the folks who are here um I'm the chair of the subcommittee Stacy seon I'm here member child I'm here as well great and we're also joined by superintendent Pat node at this time we do have a quorum and we shall call ourselves to order at 417 PM um on this agenda so unless or until public comes we can just go ahead with that and dispense with that agenda item and move on to the main meet which is a review of the redistricting next steps um superintendent Pat node this is an item that you wanted to bring to our attention so I will give the floor to you now
003I just feel like a little refresher for everyone's mindsets is helpful I know um when you're in it like I am on a daily basis you don't think about other things like what are other people wondering so I wanted to just do a quick timeline of where I think we're at in our next steps and I do have uh I just want to screen share if you don't mind so that um you can see what I had in mind and a quick welcome to the assistant superintendent oh great nice okay okay I presume you can see my screen so um I just wanted to remind folks that um the premise of what was voted on with the school committee policy is fifth grade is going to remain at elementary so that means our current fourth
004grade will stay in the schools in which they go to for one more year for 26 they also um Wanted eighth grade to come back to our middle school so that our Middle School is a traditional 678 but I wanted to just give folks some context because that means the current fourth grade will be the fifth graders in their same school our current fifth grade will be the sixth graders in their same School the seventh grade will be the eighth graders that remain in the middle school and then our current eighth graders will be the High School freshman in the school in which they're at currently so I think some folks were worried about um additional open houses or if folks needed other opportunities to be in certain buildings and um unless there's great movement
005to new home schools per the catchment areas um um we don't foresee too many people being um very worried about the buildings in which their children will be in because most of them will remain the same so I just thought that that was a good kind of foundational basis for where kids are at and where they will be come next September and then I kind of just did a um timeline so it's just like the month of this year and then moving into kind of monthly things not necessarily everything that a school committee has to vote on with the exception of the first item but just really um like a monthly timeline of when some things need to kind of flow in order for the movement to happen for redistricting the first kind of waterfall
006effect happens at the high school so our high school students for grades 8 through 11 have to pick their courses as 9 through 12th grad for the 2025 26 school year and they have to do it much earlier this year than they normally do in order for us to have um at least solid rough estimate numbers I'm not GNA say you know exact but at least so we know how many sections we need to run and then how many um teachers we will need in order to support the needs of the high school students but that all starts with the school committee vote of the high school program of studies so Mr Browning is working with guidance and teachers currently and what they do is they review the current program of studies that is approved
007for this year and then they add or eliminate things either that didn't run this year that had no interest or new courses that folks were interested in running um we have some changes with our Innovation Pathways career planning on Pathways that we want kids to be able to access so there'll be some new electives so what they do is they create the 2025 26 program of studies and I will bring that to our November school committee meeting and you will vote on approving that program of studies once the school committee votes to approve that this High School can then go right into action and start having kids pick courses for the 2025 school year so that um we hope will have been completed before winter break because once we have that all accomplished um at
008that level we will then know um for instance you know if we need a split health teacher that has to teach an elective at the middle school and do they have the time to also teach Health classes at the high school and go from there and all of those things happen uh in conjunction with admin as well as the union because we do have to follow collective bargaining agreements the other thing that I think is just very important in November and I defer to you too if you think this maybe should be a vote but we um Christine last year with our former transportation coordinator did a draft with the kism Mascus bus company of the eight Street locations that would change from Federal Street to Discovery School and from Newton to Federal so there
009are eight addresses um that are highlighted in draft form on our website I'd like that to become final form so that we can move forward with that with the bus company um and then we can get that out to families so they actually know if they are part of that um do I need to commit to age out of my kids current school or do I want my child to move to my new home school and that's really information we need also before winter break because that will determine sections at the K to5 level so I couldn't find I looked in um all of our Reg districting materials I couldn't find where we ever even voted on a draft bus Street list so I just think to to be clean and to make it all
010you know uh formal I think along with the program of studies at the November meeting we should just add that as well as part of of V of the school committee so that they are not in draft form anymore on our website that those are the the final Street movements that we agreed upon and then kcus along with our transportation coordinator can really get a picture as to where we're moving forward with bus needs so those are kind of my November highlights I also think um an initial uh once that is voted on and those streets are secure what I've started working on is who does this really affect so I've gone through all of our current enrollment in the last few days and uh looked at everyone's home address and highlighted who's a child
011that could potentially have a choice between I want to age out in the school that I've been in because the policy is going to allow that or I'm moving my home school now is federal instead of Newton and my family thinks I should go to Federal now so I think a message in November and then work going to have to put a deadline on those determinations probably by Christmas you know the winter break so um there's always going to be some fluctuation you know if we have someone that comes into District in March and is in that situation we'll have to do some individual conversations an so if we need them to have their Answers by winter break should we see about instead since we've already got the draft getting it put on the agenda
012for the October meeting instead of November so people can get the information sooner and have more time to look at their variables figure out uh what kind of Transportation changes a change in school would mean for them yes I'm happy to um I meet with Glenn on Friday mornings I'll ask him to just put the draft Street list in final form for voting at the October um it is my understanding though I just want to verify because I did look back at former votes we agreed to transport folks regardless so if they currently are in Liden woods and they want to stay in Federal Street we agreed to transport them still to Federal Street but if they live in lien woods and they would like to go to their new home school in 2025 which
013would be four corners we also agreed to transport and Okay so I just want to make sure I'm you know I looked back at all of our notes and our votes and I want to be just certain um and that's really why we need decisions because the bus company will really have to uh figure out those runs and drop offs and making sure that we have enough space for all kinds of different scenarios so I'm happy to put the bus route highlighted eight Street changes on the oct October school committee meeting for you to vote okay any questions on November then I got into just the scheduling we're going to have our guidance counselors and our uh DJ Coons who is our power school data administrator she has to then set up power school so
014that kids can electronically make those choices at the high school and do the numbers so we're going to have her preemptively working on that um once you guys vote on the program of studies and that shouldn't take very long and then we'll have kids um they usually schedule with their guidance counselor in their English classes because everyone's required to take English so we know that we get every kid so they spend a day usually talking about um their course progression and what their interests are and then making those selections I think after that is when we will do the waterfall effect with what then the Middle School needs and then what those fifth grade teachers might want to opt to do some of them may choose to go to an elementary because they want to
015remain an elementary school teacher some of them are dual certified for their content area and would prefer to stay as a middle school math teacher or middle school science teacher so once we have a a better handle on the moves and the needs of the district we meet with the union and we'll follow the collective bargaining agreement on how to inform staff so that they can make their choices and have conversations with their Union and um really just uh collaboratively figure out what's best for everyone involved on the teacher end as well once that's done um I really think a a beginning of the year again update is going to be required so that uh folks know um the determinations of if you've decided X this is where you'd be hearing your information from so
016that we can get them in the loop with the principal if they chose to go to a new home school you know um I just want to make sure everyone's connected with the right people as the information starts flowing we will also oh sorry Stace go ahead can I just this is probably going to be a silly question but I've I figured that if I'm having it now someone else might if they watch this later um to be clear when we're talking about them going to their new home school that is not starting in the middle of the year that's starting next year right like if they El great just wantan to to assuage anybody's concerns that their kids gonna be moving in January so somewhere September 2025 but I also want to assuage any
017fears anyone currently in those buildings can age out we have grandfathers them in so if they are content with Federal Street they've been there as a Lenwood student for four years and they want to remain in fifth grade at Federal Street that is their purview so I don't want anyone getting nervous that they're going to have to move so those are the choices but those are the choices just for the families affected by the E Street changes so um and that is really once I can clarify that list that will really be the most communication that will be pushed out will be to the families of affected folks that have made decisions that they need more information on um and then we need to really hash out with the bus company those roots because we
018need to know prior to uh budget and Finance subcommittee in January if all of these um transportation obligations require an additional bus so at the time that we talked with kmus last year it seemed as if the buses that we currently have could potentially meet the needs to transport everyone where they needed to go if they stayed or moved to a home school but obviously numbers are the the bottom line and we will have to have some more firm conversations and and um I meet with them every Friday and we are already in discussions on the sooner we can get the list solidified and the sooner they can kind of map out sample Roots they will have some better determinations with their software so um they're on board as well and then um we get
019to um really budget season and February is when you get the presentation of a superintendent draft budget and what we're moving forward with and I think um prior to that February deadline we will know staffing needs or not we will know um specials are always the Wild Card depending on how many sections are in our elementary schools currently we split six specials between the three buildings but depending on the number of classes that will also come into play and then we will know um whether or not the the U educator split time between maybe part-time teaching at the high school and part-time at the middle school if they are certified to do so if they can fulfill those needs or if we really need to put additional teachers into the budget because they will move
020from halfe science halfe social studies to full year in both core content areas so there are a lot of um chess pieces in play um but we are certainly on top of all of those pieces we are in communication with the union we have um talked about this timeline with uh administrators and building based folks know kind of where we need to go next and why for all of this to happen in September of 2025 so questions that you both may have for me that I may not be thinking of that have come up um one question that just came up for me was and I hope I hope we know the answer but we might not at this time so if we are if we are keeping our current fourth graders in as fifth
021graders in the school that they are in assuming that they're not part of the group that chooses to go somewhere else um and we have another incoming class of kindergarteners are we we're confident that all of our elementary schools have the space that is needed to accommodate those shifts without displacing certain classrooms uh or or Educators we barely sure about that well this is this is the issue um because there are the potential for quite a number of students to move from federal to Discovery if they so choose is really um the determining factor in whether or not there will be space there are um only a certain number of classrooms in our tiny buildings as we know we also know we discussed trying not to display specialed programs that are currently housed in our
022elementaries and having to move them but Discovery schools special ed program is the largest and takes up a lot of building space and rightfully so and we we love our kiddos there um but that is a factor that may come into play in the future but this is all um Reliance on non-n knowledge as to whether or not folks are actually going to move from Federal Street or not so that is really why before break we need to have some firm commitments from families because that will determine whether or not um you know the potential for a fifth grade there if those Federal Street Fourth Graders currently move is in the 60s you could not have two sections so you know it's a it's a numbers game and it is always um you know an
023unknown known right now you know so that is why I think the the sooner we could get families to commit to what they um hope for 2025 for those uh few areas that are shifting I think the better off we will be in terms of knowing whether our space accommodations um are going to be able to hold all of the students we hope they can yeah I'm assuming the same is obviously true for middle school that's that's probably yeah they are um a little you know they're going from um keeping the same numbers so the space is there so it's not as um much of a shift um and that's really um the luxury that they're keeping the kiddos that they have so they know they can fit those currently and it'll just be a
024matter of um I think some scheduled timing shifts are going to have to happen in order for the accommodation of maybe a split staff member between the two buildings but we're looking at all angles so that um we can accommodate uh student need as well as staff need then I don't think it's quite the purview of this meeting but I do look forward to eventually hearing what what you all are thinking about for the space that um the space that will be previously housing eighth graders uh at the high school yeah um I know it's not on this agenda I think folks think there's much more space than there actually is I think they think of some hallowed Hall all of a sudden um but it's really four classrooms which is not tremendous when you
025have electives that are in uh computer labs that maybe could actually be used in those classrooms instead of being assigned to a computer lab um I also think um we have some exciting potential for some new electives under this Innovation pathway um career grant that we have so that our students could explore that I think um might ignite some space needs that hopefully would um help fulfill those that think there's going to be these um empty rooms not being accessed but um again it's all going to unfold and we'll see how it plays out but um we do have some Partnerships with GCC um not only their prek um program over there but also with their Workforce Development so we're hoping on some exciting opportunities to expand our high school programming so that kids really
026have um opportunities for differentiation in what they want to do in the future so great yeah yeah so in the event that ases has to move from Four Corners do we have other places already in mind for where the program could be moved to or is that something that we can't really get into until we have the numbers I'd hesitate you know I for me that would be my last option I would hate to have to move a special ed program um but there are some options I just just um I don't want folks to worry about something that we don't need to worry about yet and then as we get closer with numbers we could certainly discuss with Mr messing who's our pupil service director and families of that program too I'd really like
027um you know those conversations to happen at a deeper level if that really comes down to what we need to do but um I'm hoping we don't have to plan for that but we obviously have it on the back burner as one of our thought process and you know just thinking ahead okay fingers crossed that they can keep their space yep that I think is all of our goals um was there any other information that you wanted to share with us superintendent I think um if either right before break if we do have the numbers or right after break when the new year starts if we could reconvene um and then we could you know think about the the recommendations or the at least thought process before we go to budget and finance subcommittee um
028when I do those subcommittee meetings I think having your input and just uh your knowledge of all of the moves that we've had to make in the redistricting process would be helpful um just a touch base to let you know where we're at to let the you know a public meeting happen so that folks know where we're at even if they aren't in the family Communications um and just kind of keep people AB breast of where we're headed and and um just some timely check-ins would be helpful for me so um and then if anything came up after our scheduling or uh commitments in November and December if I needed to I certainly would reach out to see if you guys wanted to be open to another meeting as well yes we can we can
029absolutely make ourselves available for for additional meetings as needed thank you yes all right um one last confirmation that there were no members of the public that that joined the waiting room throughout the meeting no I'm GNA stop sharing my screen just to make sure maybe I'm not okay uh nope I do not see [Music] any I can I can click the button for you that's the power of the co-host excellent um do you think um just before you do close though do you think adding that timeline to the meeting materials or minutes would be helpful for folks I do think it would yes because then it would also necessarily be open to the public so if any families would like a sense of where when things are being discussed and where we're headed and
030when they can expect additional information and more most importantly perhaps when they need to make a decision and tell you something yes absolutely okay I will make sure that that gets added as part of the documents and an's getting attacked by her cat I think it's out of love this cat is the most affectionate cat I've ever had well we we love our surprise visitors to these kinds of meetings I think it spices it up for anyone who decides to watch this recording later yes Trixie has no public comment just purs um a assistant superintendent was there anything else that you wanted to add I'm glad that glad you were able to join us I saw you were still working somewhere so um no sorry I was having some video issues but nothing to add
031there I think uh the superintendent mentioned some of the Innovation career pathway work and excited to get that started but um I I think that's more of a a supplement not NE necessarily as connected to this part of the process but something obviously we're looking forward to moving forward wonderful so thank you for having me absolutely thanks for joining all right well if there are no other substantive items which I don't believe that there are based on the agenda we had um I would like to move that we close I will second that great and then the two of us we we should probably take a vote uh all inor of I I great uh with that we are adjourned at 4:45 pm. thank you thank you very much we'll see you at the next
032meeting thank you have a good night have a good day everybody [Music]