WPS School Committee March 10, 2026

001Good evening everyone. With the time being 6 o'clock p.m. on Tuesday, March 10th, 2026, I will call this meeting of the Webster School Committee to order and ask that we stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> Sorry. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands nationy and justice for all. As a reminder, this meeting is being recorded, both video and audio, and will be posted on the district website. The first item on our agenda is the discussion and approval of the minutes from the February 24th, 2026 meeting. Is there any discussion around those minutes? Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to approve them. >> So move. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Desire, would you please pull the committee? >> Yes.

002Yes. >> Yes. Motion passes. And the next item on the agenda is the discussion and approval of minutes from our executive session that took place on February 10th, 2026. Is there any discussion around those minutes? Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to approve them. >> So move. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Desire, would you please pull the committee? >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. Motion passes. And the next item on our agenda is our superintendence report. Good evening, Mrs. Pangeli. >> Good evening. Thank you. It's nice to see everybody. This >> um as usual, I will start off my report with a personnel update. Uh we had a recent uh retirement announcement. Miss Lisa Dob, who is a school year administrative assistant here for the special education department in the district office,

003will be retiring at the end of the month. So, we wish her the best and we hope to have her back back here so we can celebrate her time here in Webster. Uh, we have no new hires at this time. And we did also receive a recent resignation um from our family uh liaison at Parkav Elementary, Miss Nicole Suare Suarez. Um, we wish her the best of luck. So, we will be um we may be posting that position. Um we're going to look at that as we move through the end of the school year. Um and we have no transfers at that time. So, uh we are in the process of already interviewing for the um special ed secretary here at the office. So, we hope to fill that soon. And again, we continue to

004struggle to fill our ABA and instructional assistant positions across the district. Um, are there any questions in regards to personnel? No. Okay. Moving on. Under my instructional update on Monday, um, this past week, we had our sauce partners here in the district, um, who attended, uh, sixth grade CPT. as you know, they come in, they often attend our district leadership team meetings here, our instructional meetings, and they also attend uh different CPTs around the district. Um they were at Webster Middle School and they attended the sixth grade team, and I just wanted to give them a well-deserved shout out. Um we received some extremely positive feedback um for the sixth grade team, and I thought they deserve to shine. Uh I put the comments in uh from our state partners. Uh one thing that they

005said they were eager to share with me was that the CPT that they observed was exceptional and truly exceptional. And there were multiple times that they both wished they had a video camera rolling. Um it was everything you would want to happen. Um and although I'm sure Deb who would attended there also already um shared with me, she wanted us to hear from them. Um she said there was just amazing work, amazing planning and discussion going on. So I just wanted to give them a very well-deserved thank you. Um as you know these are things we focus on in a lot of our instructional work around the district. Um and it was a great way to start the week with that positive feedback. Um so we hope to continue this and see progress on other

006grade levels across the district. It's a great model. Um so hopefully we can sh spread that um across. We do see wonderful amazing things happening in pockets around the district. We've just got to make that the norm across the district and all of our content areas. So uh a huge shout out to the Webster Middle School sixth grade team. I just wanted to say thank you to them for their hard work and collaboration. Any questions about that? No. Okay, moving on. Um Dr. Mai and I attended a webinar held by the commissioner of education. Uh this web this webinar was an update uh to speak about the new addi initiative that's going across um Massachusetts schools as you know. Um we have been underperforming over a few years now and we have been had partnerships

007with um our state teams who come in and support us across. they are looking at a new initiative called um accelerating um across Massachusetts. And so the webinar was a high level overview was what that means for districts. What they did is they looked at the bottom 25% of school districts across Massachusetts. Um they looked at districts that were um either staying stagnant or not showing growth or have been chronic in a chronic area for many years. And they put them into tears. And then the way they're approaching that, uh you can see in the memo, I think, do you have it in your packet? I'm not sure if I put it in there because I think I just got it on Monday. Um yeah, and I'll make sure I send this out so you

008have it so you can look at it after. um they broke us into all these districts. So it, like I said, it was the bottom 25% of schools um in Massachusetts. I think it reflected 80 districts and 252 schools. Um they were put into categories with schools not requiring assistance or intervention, other schools requiring assistance, and schools with high intensity state or federal designations. That's the category that we fall in. Um so what they are doing is we have to um submit in plans. It used to revolve around the district. Now it's going to be looking and moving down to the school level. They're uh actually getting away from the district plan and it's going to focus on school improvement plans across the state. So, we have some work to do by the end of

009June this year and then that's going to be an ongoing um submittal to the state every year looking at our school district improvement plans. Um did I miss anything Patty? Would you like to? >> Sure. Um thank you. Uh one of the pieces of the new initiative which doesn't seem new but is new again um thinking about school improvement plans is um really DESIE is really trying to take a look at matching us up with like districts and having a desi contact to support us. Um, one of the other things that um, they are looking at is looking at all of the different initiatives that we may be asked to participate in because of certain federal results or or state level results like this one um, including rethinking discipline. That was an example um that

010we were um expected to participate based on our designation um and and really thinking about like the different departments in Desi needing to communicate better together so that we're not being pulled in five different directions from DESIE because then we feel really stretched in what you know all the directions that we're going in. Um just today I sat in uh one of the one of the things that we're participating in and you know so if we get three or four grants or we're a part of certain initiatives and each of those initiatives has like a self assessment or a needs assessment and they're all related but some a little bit different that we've really been employing DESIE to really take a look at finding the common ground that we can share on those reports or

011those assessments and then not making us like repeat the same thing over and over again. And even like this week, there's three things going on with Desi. So, we've really had to split up our time and say who's going to go to this and who's going to go to this and who's going to go to that. And if only they had talked to each other, they wouldn't have both scheduled state level convenings in the same week. Um, so things like that, they're really looking at streamlining so that we're feeling that we can really get targeted in the work that we need to do. So, we're looking forward to that level of support from the state. >> Absolutely. I couldn't agree more because one of the and it it wasn't just from Webster. A lot of

012the work that they did as they were moving in is they had conversations with school districts around. So, they called us up, they talked to us and they said, "What has your experience been?" And, you know, part of a big part of what we said is that we're everything every department works in silos and there's no throughway across all of them. So, we're we're doing this work here. we're doing this work here and that collaboration um in the communication between departments is critical for us to be successful. I said we're we're a small team up at the leadership. We have, you know, five people, four people. And I said, these initiatives, we can be involved in maybe four or five. That that's a very small number of people to do all the work for those

013where, you know, bigger cities have bigger groups of people. And they're hearing that from many schools around. So the hope is that we can work with like districts who have the same issues that we have. we can collaborate and then there's going to be resources that will be brought to the schools um down the road that'll be tied to some money and resources that will help us as we move forward. So, we look forward um we actually look forward to the new initiative. Um again, it's it's called um accelerating accelerating achievement partnership. That's what it's called. Um and I will make sure if it's that's not in your packet that I I put it in so you can review it. Um, and we're going to get busy moving forward. Any questions on that? Okay. And

014then moving on, as I stated, it always feels like we take one step forward and then sometimes two step backwards. Um, again, we were notified, I brought to you last time, uh, rethinking discipline. So, it's something that we've been working in all year long. I was happy that last meeting uh our special educ education department had submitted in all the documentation that they needed. Um we got a great review back. Everything was good. So we've done our part with that. Um once again we were notified that we need to partake in rethinking discipline for the next two years again. And what that means is is that um we have some of our discipline um has come back a little high. So, we were dinged for um uh discrepancies in uh Hispanic or Latino students having

015more than 10 suspensions, 10 day suspensions. And that's not 10 one-time suspensions. It's cumulative over a school year. So, they go back three years and they look at your prior three years to see what that percentage is. So, for us, it was out of and it's students with disabilities also. So, it's Hispanic students with students with disabilities. So, we had 190 students and out of 190 students, we had seven students who received um 10 or more suspensions in a given year. So, that put our district rate at 037. Um the state rate is 0.006 and it cannot be more than five times the state rate. The state that put the state rate at 03. So, we are at 037. So part of that is participating in the rethinking discipline. Uh we're already doing a lot

016of work that is recommended. Um I know our dis our discipline is down this year. It's progressively gotten better um since 21 because last year we were in it. It went back to 2122. Um so I don't know if you want to talk a little bit about the work that you've been doing with SEB and the discipline work across the district. >> Sure. um with rethinking discipline as you know we we were able to apply for a grant that was 75,000 um and we've been working to try and spend that money in a way that is 100% related to rethinking discipline and that is to reduce the ultimate goal is to reduce exclusionary practices um related to discipline but you can't fix it at that just at that point so a lot of the work

017um has been really ensuring that our PBIS systems are um in place at the tier one level that how we are recording and uh tracking the school-based behavior data is both accurate and uh useful to help us make decisions. Um so at the beginning of this year we sort of went back and looked at the categories. We redid all the categories to make to make it so we have this collection of data but it shouldn't be like it shouldn't be cumbersome for the teachers and it should be accurate so that if a student is doing behavior A that there's not six different ways to document that because then you can't track it well and that's what it was like before. So we really worked on the labels so that it's as um simple as possible

018without errors and so that it's accurate so that we can make then we can then make decisions about that. The hope there is that by shoring up the responses to negative behavior in classrooms um then there's less referrals to the office. If there's less referrals to the office and there's a potential to be uh to have less um out of school related discipline um to help with that. some of the professional development that we're interested in bringing the schools are really interested in mediation and mediation means something really specific. Um certainly in the in the in the realm of law it means something in the workplace it means something in schools it also means something very specific. I think it's a term that's used very loosely um but it really means something specific with specific

019training. So, we're looking at getting our administrators and our counselors trained um in mediation. Uh in addition, some of the teams are interested in something called collaborative problem solving, which is uh working with the student to consider like why is this happening to consider are there skills that are missing in the student that are contributing to the ongoing repetition of this type of behavior. Um and uh to do that we are looking at the systems that we have in place not just responding to behavior uh because if we only respond to behavior then we're going to see great levels of response response response out of school right so we're looking at um identifying how we're identifying students and then what are the interventions that we have at different tiers that's the MTSS system that we've

020been developing this year through SEB. Um, and then really matching students to those needs, to those things that are identified and then monitoring the effectiveness of those interventions. Um, and so just today we were at the SEB convenings. Today was the last convening. This is the end of the contract for SEB. So we're no longer going to be involved at the state level. Um, we'll have to sustain that work ourselves. But we were really articulating how is it that we identify our students and we reviewed a data protocol to look at targeting behaviors. So sometimes you know we take a look at behavior and we can say well we had x number of this and x number of that behavior. Okay. And then we move on well how are we analyzing that data so that

021we can create some interventions to make to affect change. So that's really the work that's been happening. Um, and ultimately we want our PBIS systems and our SEAL systems to have a larger outcome. And that larger outcome is keep kids in school more, less big behaviors, less exclusionary practices. That's the ultimate goal of all of this work. Um, at the along the way, we're improving school climate, we're improving relationships, we're improving a sense of trust, we're improving that sense of belonging. Um, so that really is the work that we've been doing. There any questions? Okay. So, we will continue to work hard on that and you know, our ultimate goal is to make sure that kids are in school learning in a positive environment. That's what we want. Um, moving on to other updates. I

022am so pleased about the weather today. Um, and seeing the sunshine and the warm and seeing the melting. Um, the weather has been crazy this winter. Um, and some of these decisions have been very challenging and so hopefully we're on the slope up now and we're going to continue to see melting and we're not going to have any more snowstorms throughout the year. Um, but I was recently over the past I'd say two weeks, three weeks, I have never been asked more about how decisions are made, how we decide when to go to school, when not to go to school. Um, many students have asked me across the district. A parent had asked me in the store. Um, so I thought it would just be nice to give a high level as many people don't

023understand what's involved when you make a decision and how we make decisions and the type of types of things that we take into account. Um, so typically on any storm, depending on when it is, timing plays a huge role in this. Um, if it's a blizzard, that's pretty easy. We can look at the weather the night before and say we're going to get a foot of snow. I can make the decision at night that we're not going to have school in the morning because the weather is pretty confident that we're going to have, you know, a foot of snow on the ground in the morning and it's not safe for driving. I can make the call the night before. But many times, like this last storm that we had, um it can be a bit

024challenging. The weather was all over the place. Um and we want we were not sure where the storm was going to hit. So, typically on those kind of storms, I wake up about 4:30, quarter or 5 in the morning. Um one of my first calls is to Mr. Pizzetti, our highway um chief. He is usually out on the roads all night um sanding, plowing, doing what they need to do, checking parking lots. Um I we have conversations about what the weather is looking like. Where do we think the storm's going to be? How what's the conditions of the road? Uh what are the conditions of the sidewalks? Do we see icing? Because sometimes the roads are not terrible, but there might be a lot of icing on sidewalks and other areas that haven't seen salt.

025Um, so we kind of get a gist about that and we pay attention to the weather and then I usually place about a five o'clock phone call to Miss Ktos and we talk about the grounds. What does it look like in district? Um, are the guys going to have enough time to maintain and clean off the grounds? Um, as you know, or maybe people don't know, the highway is responsible for cleaning up the driveways in the area, but our custodial staff takes care of all the sidewalks in the area. Um, and the parking lots are one of the last thing the towns do. They take care of all the roadways first and once they finish the roadways, then they move on to the grounds and take care of our driveways and stuff here. >> So,

026we take a look at what it means to clean our areas, how much uh salting can we get done in time. Uh, typically at our elementary where it starts later, the guys have more time in the morning to treat those grounds and let the salt work. At the high school, it's a little different. high school and middle school. Um sometimes, you know, between 5:30 and 7 where students start coming in at 7:05, um they don't have enough time to treat or have enough time for the treatment to work. Um especially since the construction and we take this very seriously. It's not like the kids come in and they're inside all day long. Uh the kids are traveling outside. They're walking between buildings. Um, so if we can't make sure the grounds are clean and clear

027for kids to pass and enter classes, we have to take that into account. So once we have those conversations, we kind of make a decision. I make a decision um whether we're going to delay, whether we're going to cancel, and then once we do that, uh, Miss Ktos will um get the custodians informed and she'll inform the bus company. And then I make all the arrangements with um the news and the website. I try and put something out on Facebook. Uh we broadcast on like five different television channels. Um we put it on our website uh to make the call. So there are many steps that go into it. It's not just um you know I'm going to wake up and look out the window a little bit. we have conversations and always keeping in

028mind the safety of our students and our staff on our grounds. Getting to and from school is so important. Um, and we take it very seriously. I'd say if there's anything that nothing weighs more on a superintendent than that decision. um you know it's a it's a big responsibility to have 1,700 kids um that you need to get into a building safely into building safely and we take it very seriously. So I just thought, you know, I'd like to talk about that a little bit, let people know so there's an understanding. You know, sometimes you make a call and you think a decision is going to happen. There was a day that I released early. I was worried about ICE. It might have been fine for the high school and the middle school kids going

029home, but the timing of that was right when we were releasing our little kids. And although our drivers can drive on an inch of snow, driving on an inch of ice is very different. Um, so I had made the decision to let kids out early to make sure everybody was home safe and we really didn't get that much ice until a little bit later. So, um, those are the, you know, pros and cons, but I will always ear on the side of safety for our students and for our staff. And that goes into the decision- making. I don't know. What do you think of this winter? How do you think it's gone? Could you have had more days off, you think? Oh, >> could have had more. I mean, we're always hoping for more, but

030it's to like a level where of course if there's like too much days off, then like school gets like delayed further. So, just enough to >> still have the right like day. >> So, it's an okay balance. >> Yeah. >> Good. Good. Are there any questions about that? >> No. Okay. And then um last Thursday I was very happy to attend the big brother big sister celebration. As you know when they did the evening celebration we could not be here. We had school committee meeting that night because of the snowstorms delayed it to another one. So uh they came and did a celebration that Miss Neves and I um talked about and it was very nice to be there. And then just in other news this uh week coming up on Thursday and Friday I

031have board meetings at both collaborative. So, I'll report on them at our next meeting. And um that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Mrs. Prangley. >> Thank you. >> Any questions or comments for Mrs. Prangley? Heard a lot of information there. >> I just want to give a shout out to the grade six uh team. That was some really impressive feedback that they received after that visit. So, you know, kudos to them for the good work that they're doing. I know there's a lot of good work being done across that whole building and across the whole district. But it's nice to have the state recognize some of the good work that's happening. >> Absolutely. >> Any other There's no other questions or comments. We'll move on to the next item on our agenda, which is

032our business manager report. Good evening, Mrs. Ktos. >> Good evening, everyone. Gonna get started with the renovation project. Really happy to say we are just a little over five weeks from substantial completion for phase two. Hard to believe that we're at this point and on this final run. Um, want to give you an update on the milestone dates that I previously reported on. Um, all of the second floor flooring is now completed. The HVAC equipment has been started up and that's an ongoing activity that will keep going on because they start that equipment up and then they start all the monitoring of all those alarms and continuing to tune that. So luckily in this phase we have that additional time for the tuning. We didn't have that in phase one. Um punch list. This also

033is a little different than phase one. We're actually working on punch list items before substantial completion. Um whereas in phase one we were doing all of those punch list items over the summer and there's still some that are outstanding. So that punch list is also ongoing. um first floor um flooring completion. Um that was actually completed at the end of last week, so that is now completed. The plumbing signoff came in on Thursday. Um we're expecting electrical sign off by the end of this week. We actually just got that update this evening, so it was originally delayed to 3:15, but they do anticipate getting that by the end of this week. Um final cleaning has started. Um and so that will be ongoing. Um they're not going to do the final wash until a little

034bit later. We want to make sure that the traffic has settled down in that area. Um and then commissioning has um started up and they'll be doing some back punching on items. Um working towards substantial completion on 415. So making great progress on the milestones. Before we move on, one thing that I do want to mention that's not on here because this is really a construction milestone, and that's all the work that we're doing to prepare for the move. So, there's a lot of planning going on relative to the move, which is five weeks away. So, we have solidified who's moving where. That's been finalized. We have full inventory list of what we have and what needs to move. We've met with the mover. We've nailed down what the order of operation will be when

035we're moving. And our goal will be first is anyone that is going into B section will be moved first then followed by central office moving out into the modulars and then all else will follow kind of in the third phase of moves within the building. Once we get all of those moves done in the building, we will then go out to Mafrey and get all of the weightlifting equipment. We retrieve that, bring that back and get that put back together in section C. So um in addition to that there's also um work happening to schedule some of the key equipment that we use in the project lead the way pathways that actually have to be moved and that's actually a very delicate process and needs to be done in coordination with other vendors. So we're

036working on those move activities as well. So, I do anticipate that as we get to the end of the month and we're starting to push people to begin getting packing um that we'll also be looking at what are things that we'd be surplusing as we're going through that, what things are truly deemed as trash and can be disposed. Um so, we'll have more coming forward, but um lots going to be happening over the next five weeks to get to this final finish line. >> And as you know, that means the school committee room also um is uh we're going to have to vacate that. So, we are looking at an alternative location to hold our school committee meetings. Um, so, you know, we should be bringing back that back to you shortly. But our last

037meeting in this room will be April 10th and then after that, our May meeting will need to be held in a different location. So, more to come on that. Um, it's it's one of two libraries. I will say we'll either try to do it in the media um room here at Bartlett um or the Park AB library. So, we're going to just evaluate once we see the media room, see if we can make that work. Move some of these um these tables there might be a possibility so that we can support it. So, really exciting about the move activity. The other thing just to keep in mind is that we're moving this all around. And another key activity that doesn't show up on here is all the furniture, the brand new furniture that we've purchased

038through FFN is scheduled to arrive over the summer. So everything will be coming in, getting assembled, and we will then be taking all of the furniture out of the rooms and replacing it with the brand new uh furniture for sections C and B. And then A will be held until this section of the building is completed. So, um, we do all this moving in and then there's going to be another shuffling of the deck come the the summer, um, when the new furniture arrives. So, that's kind of exciting because everyone's been in the new classrooms, but it'll be nice to be in the new classrooms with brand new furniture. So, very exciting. So, let's move on. Um, so you saw the plaque at the last meeting. So, the only reason why this is included here

039is if we go on the next one, I want to show you the placement of where that that plaque is going. So, we are going to retain the original dedication plaque from um the original Bartlett High School building back in 79 or 78. Um I can't remember what the year is on the old plaque. It's actually going to go in the vestibule or the entrance to the main office. So, that brick wall is right across the window to get into the main office. So, that'll be the location. The next um slide actually shows just the placement of it and the height. There was some discussion about trying to do it by side by side, but we have a fire alarm um right next door and we can't get it. It'll be too high if we

040do that. So, they'll be stacked one on top of each other. So, work is in progress to get that going and I think the um plaque has been moved into fabrication. Um so, that'll be coming. Next one. The key point on this one, I won't get into the details of the actual mechanics of the project and the number of um requests we've looked at, but I think the key point here is we are close to 80% complete now. So, we did talk about this a lot during phase one. Phase one represented 50% of the project. Um, now that we're here, we're at the 80% mark. Phase three is the smallest building portion of the project um and the least amount of work overall. So um we are truly on the home stretch as we move

041forward. Want to share some pictures with you about the progress. On the left hand side is the digital media center. Um you can see the windows and the um lighting's installed. On the right hand side this is the new main entrance. So you can see on that right hand side, I don't know if you see that opening is during break they actually took the poly wrap down and that right hand side is actually the cafeteria. So right across from there is where the main office is. Um and then as you you kind of follow that straight forward and take a left you'll start ending up into getting into the classroom space on the first floor of B section >> and it's much further along than this. Now they stated when they pictures they were like

042a week or two behind the meeting. Um on the lefth hand side is just an example of a classroom. Looks a lot like the classrooms we already you've seen in C-section, but again seeing one of the classrooms finished and again this is the second floor connector um going to a section. So where you see all that blue um board at the end that is a section. Actually the science room is right over there and then the elevator lift is at the end on the other side of that wall. So that'll be the connector. Um showing the gymnasium only because we're very excited. The batting cage was installed in the gymnasium. Um we actually went to Marfrey today and got the astro turf for it so that they can start indoor batting practice. Um so that's

043exciting that that's there as well. Um and then over on your right hand side, this is also another connector from section C into B. So you can see the opening. Um on the lefth hand side, you kind of see the green at the bottom. Those are the stairs if you're going downstairs into the cafeteria. And that's the new open space that used to be kind of the foyer space on the second floor above the main office. So making some great progress there. Um and that's where we are on the project. So little over five weeks and we will actually have two sections of the building connected. Students now will only have to exit out of the main office um and go right across to the modular. So I think um we'll be in a much

044better shape um and more connectivity. Uh so pretty excited about that. >> There's only going to be six classes out in the mods, right? >> Yeah. >> Six >> in the nursurse's office. >> Yeah. >> Along with all of central office will be out in the modulars. >> Science, foreign language. >> That's it. Science of foreign language. >> Any other questions? >> That looks great. Lots of progress being made and certainly it sounds like even more progress than what we saw in the photos. So yeah, very exciting. >> It's exciting. The other thing is the um school building committee will be doing a walkthrough of the building um before their meeting next month. Um so if anyone's interested in participating in that um let us know. >> Just going to do another walk through. Um,

045in other updates, >> oh yeah, yeah, someone here. >> In other updates, I wanted to share with you that the Office of the Inspector General um actually issued um a press release and a study that they conducted. Um the study was a special education transportation, really strategies to mitigate rising costs. This was mandated by the legislature to undertake and so um they released a very lengthy study which you have in your packet. I'll share with you some highlevel findings that I pulled out of it as well as some of the key findings that the um IG pulled out of it. So basically in summary, I don't think this comes as a surprise based on what we've been seeing with rising costs, but there's several factors that are playing into that, right? There's student placement patterns.

046um there's market constraints, there's some procurement practices as well as regulatory requirements and some of the timing based on state reimbursement that we get that's really driving up that per student cost overall. So when they did this study um the scope was really focused on special education transportation um and looking at is there any feasibility um of re regionalization with it. They did stakeholder interviews. They conducted um statewide surveys. They looked at DESIE data from 2019 to 24. Um the Mass Association of Pupil Transportation also provided data um as well as previous reports that have been done on this topic. And the key findings that came out of this from what I read in the study was IEP placements tend to be one of the primary driving costs. um out of district placements um often

047require long um commutes. Um and we are restricted to only being in the vehicle for you know less than an hour. Um we've talked about this already but the labor market is actually also driving up the cost. There's a shortage of qualified drivers so that's increasing. Um we've experienced this in Webster but there's limited competition across the state. So there's not you go out to bid you may only get one bidder coming back. Um they also found some issues with procurement design. Not something that we've actually experienced oursel here in the district, but um it's certainly something that came out from other districts. And then certainly the way that circuit breaker works is that all districts have to upfront all of this cost in terms of how the timing works. I think the thing that

048was interesting in the release from the OIG is that they really called out a couple other things which was that um districts are uh challenge with the invoices that they received that they're not detailed enough. I was a little surprised by that because we have had very good experience with working with our vendors to make sure that the information that we needed on those invoices has that information listed and they've all been very accommodating on that. So, that one was a little bit of a surprise to me. And then a call out about not having a central repository of information on bids in contracts. And that is true. Nothing exists for us to leverage on that um when doing it. There is a um transportation website that's out there that helps us a little bit

049with looking at runs. Thing is that one's not always up toate and accurate in the moment um that you need it. So um but those are some of the driving costs. I think the the biggest thing coming out at the end of this is that the OIG is really pushing Desi and the legislature to actually take some action on the reports. They've done reports in the past and they're hoping that this one does not actually experience the same kind of shelf life that the past reports are that they've done on it. So, um I think we have to wait next steps in terms of what the legislature will do in conjunction with DESIE to see um if we can drive some of these costs down going forward. Any questions about that? Um, in other updates

050on the fiscal year 27 state budget, the joint committee on ways and means has begun their hearings. They're actually having an inviteonly session in Lawrence on March 23rd and at that particular session, the Mass Municipal Association, the MMA, is actually going to be testifying on their priorities. Um in your packet I listed the um eight priorities that the MMA has. However, there are three that really align with uh MASBO and our needs across the district and that's the chapter 70 formula. Um special education circuit breaker and school transportation. Um and with school transportation, their focus is on regional transportation and out of district transportation for special education. So the themes remain consistent. Um, and people continue to talk about the things that we're experiencing day in and day out running the district. So, lots of

051good conversations going on. I just hope that it it really influences a change going forward. Questions? Thanks for your updates, Mrs. Condos. Any questions from the committee? >> No. Well, thank you. Very exciting to see particularly about the um building project and >> very exciting. Very exciting. >> The move I'm sure is no small undertaking but think we're getting very good at it. >> It last time we'll get through it. It's a means to an end. So I think >> Yeah, >> we're good. >> Sure. And it's encouraging to see that the state is looking at the special education transportation too. It is real burden for districts. >> It is. >> All right. Well, thank you for your updates. And the next item on the agenda is our principal report. And joining us this evening

052is Miss Neves from Bartlett High School. Good evening. >> Good evening. Um I just wanted to start by saying talking about our testing. We have a this month is heavy. Um we had our seal of biiteracy test the first week of March. Um we're moving into our PSAT. We're doing it in the spring this month this year. Um that is on March 18th. And then we have ELAMcast coming up at the end of March, March 24th and 25th. I then wanted to move in. I invited one of our students with us today who was part of something I'll let him describe to us. Um, this is Francois Long Day Yete. Uh, good evening everybody. My name is Fran and um I know this is a serious environment. Um, so back in I think November, there

053was um our my guidance counselor, Miss Shanahan, had posted a um a flyer on her door about a youth speech contest and I decided to sign up for it to compete in it. Not only because um I wanted to uh win a competition, but to see if how far I would go and to see if I could make it to the next level next level to a way to um a way to test my abilities. So that's why I wanted to do it. And the the steps I took to um to get myself ready for this competition was I wrote um written a speech. They said you had to write a speech about a topic, a certain a speech about a certain topic. And the topic for this year, the topic changes every year, but

054the topic for this year was what can past America teach future America. And we had to write a speech for that. And throughout the different competition levels, there was a competition in your school. after your school um in the community. After the community, it's your region. There's your district and after your district is your region and after your region is states. I made it to the region and um I think I placed third in the region and yeah so during the competitions throughout our school I was the only one that signed up and for throughout the community I was the only one that signed up. So I automatically moved up to the I automatically moved up to the district and at the district level there was five five other um there were five other speech

055givers. So what throughout that I I placed first that moved me up to the region regional level and throughout at the region I placed third and this was um my speech. When people ask me what past America can teach our future I don't start with textbooks or dates I start with something sp simple perspective. Because I came to this country from a place where life teaches you lessons before school ever does. a place where the old ways still guide everything you do. Work hard, stay grateful, respect others, take nothing for granted and remember that every step forward is earned and not given. And when I look at America today, I realize something. The mindset that helped pass America rise is the same mindset I grew up with. The mindset that says if you want something,

056you earn it. If life gets hard, you work harder. If the world closes one door, you build another one yourself and then you hold it open for the next person. I'm not here to talk about history. I'm here to talk about how the old ways I carry with me can help shape America's future. These aren't lessons from my classroom. They're lessons from life, from challenges, from generations who survive more than they ever spoke about. And the longer I live here, the more I see that those old ways are not outdated. They're exactly what this country needs to remember. Courage, the kind that moves even when afraid. Past America teaches us that courage isn't the absence ab absence of fear. It is choosing to even when you're afraid. The people who built this country weren't superheroes.

057They were farmers, soldiers, factory workers, mothers, leaders, immigrants, and regular people who did extraordinary things because they had to. They face winters without guarantees, wars without certainty, struggles without comfort. Where I come from, courage is not optional. It is survival. You learn to stand even when your knees shake. You learn to hope even when the hope feels heavy. Future America needs that kind of courage again. White courage, discipline courage, the courage to push forward even when no one is clapping for you. Even when the world doubts you, even when the path ahead looks unclear. Unity, the kind that shows up. History teaches us that unity is power, not fake unity, where everyone pretends to agree, but the real kind, where people show up for each other even when they don't have to. America used to

058have that spirit of communities buildings together. Neighbors helping neighbors, strangers offering a hand simply because it was the right thing to do. And unity didn't mean sameness. It meant understanding that different people can build the same future. In the place I come from, unity is the backbone of survival. People share food, support, wisdom, and hope because everyone depends on on everyone. If one person struggles, everyone feels it. Future America needs that kind of humility humidity hum unity because a divided country makes noise but a united country makes history. A united country also makes healing possible. Mistakes the kind that helps receive wisdom. Past America made mistakes. My country made mistakes. All of us have. But mistakes are only dangerous when you refuse to learn from them. When I came here, I messed up a lot.

059Language, culture, expectations. But I kept learning because growth matters more than per perfection. And that is something past America understood too. Progress is born from admitting what needs to change, not from pretending everything has always been right. Future America needs humility. Your humility to admit wrongs, to face truths, to grow stronger because of it, and to understand that perfection has never built a country, but perseverance has. Opportunity. The blessing that built a nation. People have crossed oceans, deserts, borders, and battlefields for one thing. Opportunity. My family didn't come here for comfort. We came here for a chance. The kind that changes generations. What some people treat as normal. I see as a blessing, the ability to dream, to work, to rise. That is not ordinary where I come from. And still every day here reminds

060me that opportunity is only meaningful when people protect it, respect it, and extend it to others. Future America has to protect that spirit of hunger, gratitude, and drive. Because what someone here takes for granted, someone else is praying for with everything they have. Commitment, the real key to the future. The past teaches us one last truth. The future does not belong to the strongest or the richest. It belongs to the committed. The ones who believe their story can mean something. No matter where it starts, I am committed because I carry my family sacrifices with me. I'm committed because hope is heavy where I come from, but necessary. I am committed because I believe America's future can be stronger than its past. Not by forgetting the old ways, but by rediscovering them. Not by abandoning who

061we were, but by remembering what made us rise in the first place. So what can past America teach our teach future America? That courage grows that courage grows through struggle. That unity is power. That mistakes teach wisdom. That opportunity is sacred. and that the old ways discipline, gratitude, community, responsibility are what future America needs to rise, grow, and become stronger and become greater than ever before. Thank you. And um throughout the the different speech um different contests during the um district at the district level, it felt it felt nervous but um easy at the same time because it wasn't in front of a big group. I say maybe 15 people but at the district level there were more than um more than a hundred people and that gave like um that showed me that um

062I wasn't very prepared cuz as soon as I started talking um I had I had a I had my throat my throat had gotten dry like I haven't drank water for two days so that that um helped that helped um show me that um I need to it helped me show it help showed me something I need to work more on. So I feel like that's why students should do it. It helps you it's um if you win they they give you um money. So, at the at the district level, you win that they um they get they handed me a $250 check. And at the re uh region regional level um I still lost, but um every every runner up had received a check for $200 and the winner I received a check for

063$1,000. So it's opportunity to make some I say easy cash and um it's also opportunity to learn and um do something do something that can show uh first for colleges and um for yourself and that's why I think other students should do it. It's a um it's a very it's a wonderful thing and it's hosted by the Webster Lions um group. So yeah, the name of the concept was the Webster uh Webster No, the Lions Youth U speech contest. So that that was that. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Nice job, >> Prince. Nice job. >> Thank you, ma'am. Thank you for sharing a little bit of yourself this evening. And it sounds like you've shared a little bit of yourself with varying sizes of groups. Yes, sir. >> Up until today. Um >> it's

064it's really nice to hear a perspective that celebrates not only history but also some of the challenges that you've faced and and the way that it's shaped who you are and how you look at life. >> So thanks. Thank you. Anyone else have any comments for friends? >> Uh through the chair members correlia. >> I just want to say you have if nothing else an influence because I was influenced by your speech. So whatever journey or career or next steps you have because I'm assuming you're a senior. >> Yes ma'am. >> Um good luck and I have no doubt that you'll be influential wherever you are in whatever you choose to do. >> Thank you ma'am. I agree with that. >> Thank you so much. >> Anyone else have any comments for >> friends? I

065see >> prince, you talked a lot in your speech about where you come from. Do you mind sharing a little bit about what where you do come from? >> Um, I come from Central Africa Republic. It's um some people think it's like a a region but it's a country um right next to um Cameroon and Congo the dead center of Africa and I was born I was born and raised there and from there I lived there till I was 7 years old and then after that we had came to we had traveled we moved from there and came to um America when I was 8 years old. >> Yeah. Nice. And um I've seen you at some games uh basketball games and things like that. Your spirit is is fierce and influential as member Gregia

066put it. So um do you have any plans for next year yet? >> Um yes. My plan for next year is um I'm going to the military um to the Navy in the hopes of becoming a um going to special operations um hopefully Navy um I'm in training to become a Navy Seal. So, I I want to use that as a way to um have a stepping stone, as a a way to get started with my my adult life. And I feel like that would give me a great foundation. And after that, after I finish u my time in the military, I'll um attend college where I want to learn everything. I don't want to because I don't want to limit myself to just one major or um one topic. I I want to have

067a a wide knowledge of um everything. I want to know everything and every different subject and every different um topic. >> Sounds great. >> Thank you. >> Well, thank you for your anticipated service to this country. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> All right. And thank you for again for sharing your story with us. >> Thank you. I would just like to say that, you know, Francois is inspirational, but to me, he exemplifies courage. Um, I've seen him from his first day here uh two years ago. It feels like you've been here for a very long time. It's amazing how quickly he has become a part of our school community. And it takes a lot of courage to do the things that you did. Moving in, coming to a new district as a junior. you showed

068up here, you were by yourself one day walking in. Um, and then the way he's uh made his presence known throughout the school community and we've had multiple conversations and I think one of the first conversations we had about a year and a half ago, you talked about how important it was that, you know, I said, "What could we do here um in Webster? How could we be better?" And a big part of it was he wanted the school to feel like a community to come together to feel kids together. And you've certainly worked hard to make that happen um in in your involvement. So um we're really proud of you and the work that you've done >> and um I can't wait to see in the future. >> Thank you so much. >> Great

069things. >> Thank you. >> Don't forget us. Come back and and shine here. Let us know where you're at. >> Yes, ma'am. I will. >> All right. Well, congratulations. >> Thank you very much. >> Third place is still a win. >> Yeah, >> it really is. >> Thank you so much. >> So, >> and he was pretty impressed. I had five bosses when I told him who he was coming to talk to. I said, "You're talking to my five my bosses." >> Thank you guys. >> You're welcome. Thank you. >> Good job, friends. >> All right. after that um two topics. Our first one is um our NEAS visit. I was able to get the report from our NEAS visit. Um I'm just going to do a high level summary tonight and uh my next

070school committee I will bring um how we're going to move forward from this. Okay. So we received the report from our December visit um right at the tail end of February break in the snow. Um so we've been looking at it, starting to work with it. We've met with um our liaison once and overall um they NASC looks at five different standards and that is learning culture, professional practices, learning support and learning resources as well as student learning. So out of those five, we either meet or do not meet um and they rate us where we're at. So, four out of the five we've met, they rated us as met the standards um and did not meet in the standard of student learning in regards to our written curriculum documents. So, that's where we're headed.

071That's the work that we need to do is how we take what we currently have because they did acknowledge that we have them, but how to move forward with a um a consistent template and how we keep those updated as we move along. Um so that's the work that we have in front of us as far as um the five standards go. Um in that report they also mentioned the our priority areas. So we had to submit I had to submit where we want to head with our school. Um and they the team says we they either agree with us or recommend other areas um of where they would like to see us go. So together we've we talked about the same priority areas. So, we're going to um look at our first one to

072ensure that our core values, beliefs about learning and vision of a learner are fully integrated in all areas of our school and that that that's what drives our student learning. The second one is the written curriculum documents. The third that we will build and ensure coherence for students as they transition from the middle school up to the high school um to continue the work that we've already started with especially looking at our innovative pathways SEB academy PBIS and MYAP and the fourth one is that we will within our pathways we'll offer the same opportunities they acknowledge that we're a year behind with our health and social services pathway than our advanced manufacturing but the same ser the same opportunities will be offered to those students as are currently offered with the advanced manufacturing. So that's

073where those are our priority areas moving forward. So we have our next big visit um in December of 2028. So we have a lot of work um between now and then to um work on these priority areas. So again, I'll come forward with our at our next meeting with where we're headed with especially with that area of written curriculum. Questions on that? Okay. And then the only other thing I have for right now um is we had a second visit and we are awaiting our reports for that. So the CSDP visit did happen. It have they came in on that's that was the week of the snow as well. So we had some rescheduling but they did a team visit um with the focus groups where they met with teachers and students um on February

07426th and on 27th they came back the next day and they did the observations. So, just like Miss Peterson gave the report the last time, we are awaiting our report for that visit as well. That's all I have for this part because I have a few things coming up under the new business. Thank you for your updates, Miss Nevis. Are there any questions or comments? Hearing none, then uh I want to thank you once again. >> And the next item on our agenda is an update from our student representative. Good evening, Eric. Good evening. So, some positives was of course we had our very long break which was definitely needed. Uh low we had um no fights or any arguments. So, that's also very good. And with all like the snow hardening and making it

075into ice, the custodians did a good job of clearing all the ice and no people were slipping or anything which was also good. Only bad part was was all the cold weather of course. Uh some student engagement and events was the Costa Rica family informational night. We also had the Big Brother Big Sister Cornerstone in your corner award recognition. And also last week we had the student council conference at the Cape which was very great and very fun. Uh tonight we have the video game night where kids can play video games and earn prizes which is also very good. Uh this Thursday we are having a pi event in the gym where students can show off their math skills and even get a chance to pie their favorite teacher. Uh Thursday, Saturday, DECA states competition

076in Boston and March 27th we have a PBIS egg hunt. Some family events is this Saturday we have our NHS March Madness 3v3 basketball tournament which anybody can attend. March 24th, we have uh an astronomy night for Planet Parade. March 28th, we have the community egg hunt and breakfast. Uh for sports, winter sports just ended and spring signups have just begun, which I have seen a lot of more students being engaged into sports, which is very great cuz just coming into like high school, it was like going all downhill. So finally seeing all like the amount of kids like coming in to like wanting to play sports is also very great. Uh senior class updates more scholarships have been added by our guidance counselor which they are doing a very good job of searching and

077showing us that there are more scholarships are available. Uh we also just ended our cake rolls and buttersides fundraiser which hoping it raised a good amount of money and that is it. Thanks for your updates, Eric. Any questions or comments from the committee? >> Um, I I heard lots of great things about the um student council conference. It sounds like it was a very jam-packed schedule for all of you from morning until night with a little room for fun, but a lot of learning going on, too. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. Especially with all like the different workshops where at first I was told that like oh yeah like some people might not like it as much because of all the like crowded areas but all the workshops were very fun being able to meet

078leaders from all over the state. So I did find that enjoyable and I'm hoping all of my other friends that went on the trip also had a lot of time. >> Yep. Great. and Mr. Wiki um I spoke with her uh this week and she was very impressed by the students and their engagement in the conference in general this year. She said it was an excellent experience and she was very excited. Um I guess you guys came back and you were able to debrief and have conversation and then talk about how you can move forward but she was very impressed with all the students and the time down the Cape. >> That's great. you represent the district well when when you all go to these types of events and um you know put your best

079foot forward. So, thank you for you and for your colleagues who went out and and showed what Webster is all about. >> Yeah. Any other questions or comments for Eric? No. Well, thank you for your updates and like I always say, you're very welcome to stay for the remainder of the meeting. You have homework and things to get to. We won't be insulted if you need to head out. So, thank you. >> All right. Well, thank you. >> Um, our next item on the agenda under old business is a monthly report on fundraising applications. As a reminder, it's the role of the school committee to review fundraising applications, but we don't approve them. That's done on the building level. And I see there's a one for Park A, um, one for the middle school, and

080then two at the high school for NHS. So, any questions or comments from the committee with regard to the fundraising activities? No. Anything else we should know, Mrs. Pangeli, or >> Not that I'm aware. I just want to thank them for all their hard work. >> Agree. Yeah. Thanks. >> All right. >> I have a tax deduction somewhere out there. I spend enough on fundraisers. So, >> save those receipts. >> I know. >> Uh the next item on the agenda is an update on the FY27 budget. >> So, we just wanted to give you a brief update. Um we've been doing a lot of speaking of um title one in recent meetings. Um and when we were on uh a webinar with the commissioner, he had given us an update on the title one funding

081for next year. Um the title one funding is based on the census bureau. Um and it looks at the poverty and population data. Um the preliminary 2024 data is showing that there is a drop in the census data, a 10% drop in Massachusetts um share of national poverty levels. So what this is means is basically going to impact our title one funds for the next school year. Uh they told districts to anticipate um a 15% reduction for us. If you look at the poverty levels and the changes, um it equates to a 17% reduction, so it's $129,000 um reduced um in our FY27 budget. Uh so what does that mean? It means that Dr. Mai and I and the team will sit. They'll be we'll re-evaluate title one, look at what shifts we can make

082um in there and um it's an opportunity to just um redesign and look at programming. So, we will be taking a look at that and um we're still uh I'm still waiting to hear back is what does that mean for our title two, three, and four grant. Um I haven't had confirmation of that. I think they said they were looking at it to be level, but we just want to confirm that as we move into next year. Um, in addition to the title one funds, um, Miss Ktos and I have been having conversations back and forth with the town accountant, town administrator, the finance team. We've had a couple of meetings. Um, so, you know, we uh talked with them about having a tri board meeting coming up on March 23rd. So, I was looking

083at confirming those dates with you and I've got to get back to the town um to confirm dates with them and I'll let you know definitely um if that's that's sooner than later if that's going to be held on the 23rd. And then we would like to also look at scheduling um a workshop with our committee um as we did last year. uh an opportunity for you to sit down with the district leadership team, ask your questions one-on-one um as it relates to maybe a certain school or overall special ed or title one. Um but this would give you an opportunity to go go through in a more detailed issue at a budget budget workshop. So I have a few dates that I'd like to throw out. You don't have to give me answers tonight.

084Um, and I wrote them down. No, you haven't. Okay. Um, we were looking at potentially, and I didn't know if five o'clock worked for any of our members, but we were hoping a Tuesday um either March 31st. Um, we were putting out there Thursday, April 2nd, Monday, April 6th, or Tuesday, April 7th. Sure. Uh, Tuesday, March 31st. Uh, Thursday, April 2nd. Monday, April 6th or Tuesday, April 7th, um to have a budget workshop. Uh we can do that either here at last year we did it at the library at Park Avenue. Um, so if you could check your calendars and then email Desiree or myself um the dates sooner than later um we'll try and get a consensus from everybody and set something up where we can go through the budget in a more detailed

085manner. There anything you'd like to add? >> We wanted to get that done in advance of the public hearing that we have scheduled um at our meeting in April which I think is the 14th. >> 14th Double check. >> Yeah. So, Tuesday the 14th would be our public hearing for the fiscal year 27 budget. >> Yeah. And that that's the update for budget. >> Any questions or comments from the committee? >> So, it sounds like we just need to email Desiree our availability for those dates that we outlined and >> if we can do that by tomorrow, we can get something on the books. That would be great. >> Okay, >> sounds good. The next item on the agenda under new business is the update and final reading and approval of policy JFA, which is

086CTE school admissions. >> Yep. Thank you. Um this uh was already approved at um the last meetings. Uh we submitted it in through um Desi. They review it and they come back with any feedback. Um so in there in the policy you'll see on page 307 um we just had to put in specific dates for um the application timeline. We had it broad and they wanted us to put in actual dates for that. So we did that and then we just um rewarded the student awareness and CTE section. Um, they wanted us to add in the module down there, the bullet, the third bullet. Um, we had it in one spot, but they also wanted to to put it there. Um, and that's that is pretty much the changes on there. So, once this if

087you can approve this again, we'll update it and that should take care of the policy um for CTE. Any questions or comments from the committee about this policy? >> So, I'm assuming we'll approve this, but the strike through will be removed. We'll change it. I just wanted you to see. >> Yeah, it's helpful to have it this way. >> Yeah. >> Okay. If there's no questions or comments, I'll entertain a motion to approve policy JFA CTE school admissions as presented with the minor uh formatting edits. >> So, move. >> Second. There's a motion and a second. Desire, would you please pull the committee? >> Yes. Motion passes. And the next item on the agenda is the review and approval of the program of studies for school year 2627 at Bartlett High School. >> So, every

088year we sit and we go through our book and see, you know, what's best for kids. Um, there weren't a lot of changes to our overall book until we got to the courses where we really took a deeper dive as far as what's high interest for our students. What are our students interested? What what would they be interested in? How can we want them to choose courses instead of be put into courses that just because um so I want to first thank Miss Shanahan as well as all of the departments, but um Miss Shanahan who's here tonight did spend a lot of time doing the smaller little edits to the book. Um, and I know how that feels because I've done them um for the last quite a few years. So, it's a lot of

089work, but I do thank her for that. Um, all of the departments fed into their sections and we pulled everything together. So, I'll go through um the changes that we made. Um, I plugged in the new competency determination per the policy that was adopted recently. So, I just um put that inside of there. We updated the 2028 graphic um regarding the credits. There was one that said 160 credits for um class of I believe 2029 and beyond. Um it's it's 140 when you do the math. It's going to stay the 140 that it is currently now moving forward unless there's for some reason a schedule change. So that that is per the block schedule, the 140. It used to be 120 and that was changed at the block. um on page 11. And this is

090um Christine's big piece with the early college um pathway program. She did a lot of work working with Wester State applying for grants. Um last year we said we wanted to head there. We're still waiting on some decisions. Um but we were able to offer two courses this year. Um for early college, we did a Spanish in um quarter semester 1 and we're doing a intro to criminal justice now. So, in the book, we added in all of the potential courses that could be coming our way. There were five that we put in there, but this upcoming school year. Um, fingers crossed that that all happens. And but I do believe Wester State has agreed that even if um we're not we don't have the program designation yet that they will still offer two courses

091in house next year. Um so it'll be one of those five courses inside of the book. Um and again as we move through the other these upcoming sections I really ask the staff to to dig deep and look at what's what's of interest to our students. What can what can we offer? Um so on page 15 for advance advanced manufacturing um we we changed from honors to CP level because it is for all students right we don't want anyone feeling that they can't take it. it is for all 12th grade students and that's the same for all of the capstones in here as if I skip some of those pages as we go forward. So it's a it's a college level um designation for the capstone project and the capstone is I can do an

092internship or I can do a capstone or I could do both but the it'll they both cover the same as far as the end of the pathway for healthcare and social assistance. We made the decision and part of this to free up one of our staff to offer additional sections of something else um to not offer the healthcare and social assistance. I mean not offer the healthcare industry recognized credentials as a course. We're going to build CPR and first aid back into the pathway courses. So someone may come in and teach those as a like an in-house field trip um and still offer the um dementia care and early cancer detection. but in our medical careers club after school. So students still have the opportunity to earn all of the credentials, but we wanted to

093be able to see what what else can we put into the school day where more it can benefit a larger number of students um in different ways. Um on page 19, we added a marketing capstone. So if students didn't go the internship route, they still have an a way to end that marketing chapter 74 program um by taking the capstone project. And they had the business department changed the level from honors to CP. So again, all students, it's it's available to all students. So it's it's not a um a higher level course where some kids feel like they can't take it. under English language arts, we have decided that we're going to go back to English 4 instead of British literature to cover more diverse global literature and writing skills, not just focus on the

094British literature. Um, one section that we did restructure is our English language development section. Um, Miss Mai can help me out if if we have additional questions, but we looked we want to look more closely at the whole student versus just access scores. So rem we removed the specific scores that were listed as previous prerequisites to get into the different sections and now using more of the general terms beginner, intermediate, a higher intermediate and an advanced depending on whether or not they go into English language development one through four. Um rather than just solely looking at the access scores, we are removing the ELDCS and SS courses which were our content support and our study sync support courses, but we're adding in a course that we're calling um ELD language and literacy where we will

095those that's the course that students will take in conjunction with ELD 1 or two if um and that that will count as their English course. So, they won't be scheduled into an English language arts course until they hit ELD3 um in their their individual projection of courses. Um, and that course will further develop their reading, writing, and speaking skills for the English language. And we did add an EL4. We haven't had that before. So, just um an additional course in the progression for the um more advanced students. math. Um, we did remove pre-alggebra. We did not have any students sign up for it this past year. When they're coming up from the middle school now, they really are going into algebra or geometry, not so much the um, pre-alggebra route. Um, science, we added two

096new elective opportunities. And again, all of these electives will depend on the numbers and that what the kids decide to take and where we fall. But um we are looking at adding botany and again adding back in anatomy and physiology um both as electives halfyear courses. Social studies it's not necessarily adding a new course. What we did was we used to have world history 1 and world history 2 and you have a little bit of flexibility. So the team took the world history 2 and broke the time frames up and we're going to offer both to see again where students interests lie. Do they does it lie in um you know the earlier end or the later end of the the course. Um so they've called it instead of just world history 2 we now

097have world history rise of the nation state or world history shaping of the 21st century. Um, under world language, we've added a new elective as an opportunity called culture and countries of the Spanish speaking world, but wouldn't count as a a Spanish course, but they can take it as an um an elective. And then we did some work under music and performing arts. Um the department has decided to for this year remove jazz band and select choir but offer concert choir both full and half years um all ranges. So he will um that's how for both band for for choir and then for for both band and choir. Um he also removed advanced guitar and advanced piano. As you know, we were down to one teacher and we couldn't offer everything the same way as

098we've been doing. So, he had to make a decision on um you know what the kids are interested in now, where we're at. We couldn't offer all of the same electives. So, this is um where we're headed for this upcoming year. um removed the history of hiphop and rap and world music but did keep the digital music production is what it's called because he does he sees the uh future pathway which he is going to work on this year um to use our green room that's coming up in our new media center on how we can build that course into some kind of pathway that you know we can you can use in conjunction with our theater and our journalism courses So, we did keep that course there and a visual. Oh, and then um

099the the theater teachers would like to add a second level if possible. Again, we'll see how numbers lay, but um an advanced theater performance and have another an actual play this upcoming year. Um this year they're doing a um not a talent show, a showcase night with for the students, but they want to do an actual performance. visual arts um removed the ceramics one and two but did keep the introduction to 3D art and we'll be building in a ceramics piece a larger ceramics piece into that course um especially with all of the the new materials and and classrooms that we have um kept digital arts one but did not not this year um we will not offer digital arts 2 but if there are students that are more advanced she will accommodate him and

100right now um she doesn't have enough sections to teach the AP. Um if there's someone that's there, we might be able to work something in. We're just going to have to see interest when the guidance counselors meet and then we may come back to you to see um if there if we can put something back in. One of the departments, this health and PE, they really restructured um as you know, we need PE for once every year throughout the four years and two years of health within the four years. So, we're going to keep PE1 and PE2 for the freshman and the sophomores. By the time they're juniors and seniors, um we're going to offer they're going to offer a wider variety of courses. This year we would like to push forward um team and

101one course called team and individual sports, another called fitness and the great outdoors. Um that one is a little bit different. That one includes hiking and snowshoeing and fishing and archery. The Mass Wildlife actually said that they would lend us the equipment for for both of those um weight room basics for life using the new classroom as well as an introduction to fitness training. So juniors and seniors would have the option to take one of those four courses again depending on where the majority of the interests lie. Um and right now we're going to offer two health electives if there's room for students. One being nutrition and the other one introduction to the role of the athletic trainer in sports medicine. Um hopefully as they work through this year working on different pathways um see

102how it can fall as far as maybe an alternative to health one and health two. And then under study support in the MYAP section um with the construction right now we will not be doing the future teachers this year. Um but we will offer continue to offer uh student internship where they can pair up students can pair up in the classrooms with teachers as me and have teachers as mentors for um different things inside the classroom for the while this construction continues. Um, we added in a college and career skills for the 21st century as part of my cap. We are asking that they have two courses. And then we we're asking for a freshman exploratory. Not sure if we can get this off the ground. Um, we would love to whether it be in

103the course of the everyday or through our advisory program where students get a taste of the the different career and academic pathways as freshmen before they decide on, you know, where they want to head and they actually get a taste for it. Those are all my proposed changes. I know it's a lot. >> It is a lot, but it's so encouraging to see some of these innovative classes being offered. Um I'm I'm still stuck on the toward the end here, the weight room basics and the nutrition and things like that. These are real life things that if you learn them in high school can be lifelong habits, if you will, and and really life-changing things for for students and for for people when they become adults. Um, >> that department was very excited to get

104their hands on and kind of move things around and especially with the classroom space um opening up because right now we're using those spaces for music classes, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Not for long. Yeah, I'm really impressed with with the changes that have been made. It seems not only very thoughtful, but really, you know, you you opened your presentation with what's best for kids, and it's clear that there's been a lot of thought into what's best for kids and where's the interest and and the need. So, um I don't have any questions really, just just a compliment. >> Thank you. >> So, nice job. I know it's a team effort. >> Absolutely. >> So, really well done. Any other questions or comments from the committee about the um proposed changes to the program of

105studies? >> I just wanted to thank Miss and her team for the work. I mean, she really did put a focus on the student and how can I improve the student experience and that's what we're here for. Um, so I appreciate that effort and I know the kids will be happy with the changes and we're going to continue to look at how can we change to make um the education, you know, valid for what they're going to be doing in life. You know, times have changed. Um things are changing and we need to keep up >> and bring to kids what they're interested in. >> So yeah. >> Yeah. Well done. Any other questions or comments? >> Well, hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to approve the Bartlett High School program of studies for school

106year 2026 to 27. >> So, second. >> There's a motion and a second. Desire, would you please pull the committee? >> Yes. Motion passes. Thank you once again. Great job. >> Thank you very much. >> Looks great. Very exciting stuff. And speaking of exciting stuff, the next item on our agenda is the discussion and approval of the class of 2028 domestic trip to Puerto Rico. >> Did bring the baby in to help you present. >> Good evening. Um I'm Bodet. I am one of the senior class adviserss. Um, and during our last community meeting, we had pulled the class of 2028. Of these 76 students who responded, 70% of them said they'd be very interested in taking a class trip. Um, and 15% said that they would be somewhat interested and some are not sure

107still. Um, we ranked we gave them five five locations to rank of the top three. We we we went back to EF tours and said, "Can you give us cost comparisons so we can kind of decide what's best for our students financially um and where we could help them with fundraising to see what's the best option?" Um so with that, we decided Puerto Rico would be a really good fit for our student population. Um with the Puerto Rico trip, the cost for all-inclusive pricing would be 3,242 um total or $117 over 27 months payment wise. Um the trip itself includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Um we didn't make we did make sure lunch was included because it's not necessarily always included. Um it also includes a travel protection plan that um we built into the

108price so that if in the case a student is not elig eligible to attend due to academics behaviors um or not meeting the graduation requirements um they would be able to get their money back with the exception of the enrollment fee um and the insurance payment during this trip. It is five days. We are requesting the travel dates of the end of June. So, we're looking at June 26th to Friday, June 30th of 2028. Um, it does include a full-time tour director. We have travel resources, 24-hour emergency services included. And during this time frame the students will be so the itinerary itself is landing in San Juan on day one. Day two we're looking at snorkeling in San Juan, a guided sightseeing tour of Old San Juan, the churches um and cathedrals. And then on

109day three, we're looking at um going into the the rainforest, having a lunch at the beach, having bomba dance lessons, um a kayak tour of a bioluminescent bay, um and day four is an educational program at a hassienda A8 and a salsa lesson for the students before we return home on day five. Um so we are looking to make sure that this student's time is jam-packed with activities to make sure that they're getting um the best value. Any questions? >> Yeah, member Geros, how many students do you need to attend in order to get this up and running? >> Um, so they've been really flexible with us and looking at our numbers, I on this offer, it does say that we need to have at least 10 students. Um, under 10 would be an additional

110$200, but with the interest, I think we would reach that number. Um, and with our senior class for the past two years, we've been doing a parent committee. Um, so we'd hope to continue with that parent committee to help look at fundraising opportunities to make sure that our students are able to attend this field trip with us. >> Any other questions? >> Member Adamopoulos. >> So obviously for the last 20 years been going to the same place. Is there a fear because of the cost with this that you only have a group of 15 kids rather than the entire senior class being able to participate? >> So, we're not trying to take away from anything we currently have in place. This would be an addition too. >> Okay. >> It sounds like some fundraising opportunities

111to help defay the cost maybe. >> I think that's our plan. So, that's our plan to make sure that the students um have the opportunity to attend even if financial becomes a problem. Great. Sounds like an amazing opportunity anytime we can open the world up for our students and let them see something beyond what they're used to. Um, France was here earlier talking about his experience and it just goes to show that a more worldly perspective benefits everyone. So very exciting. Any other questions or comments from the committee about this trip? Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to approve it as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Desire, would you please pull the committee? >> Yes. Motion passes. I just want to take a quick moment to thank

112you all for all of the efforts that you've undertaken to again just broaden the horizons for our students and create opportunities whether it be the program of studies that we talked about a few minutes ago or some of the trips that that you're um making available. I know it's a lot of work and it's much appreciated not only by me but by the students as well. I've heard a lot of buzz about them. So So thank you. >> Thank you. >> Happy travels. >> Thank you Sam. The next item on the agenda is to enter into executive session to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with non-union personnel. In this case, it will be for the discussion and approval of the superintendent's

113contract. >> Could I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. There's a motion and a second. Desire, would you please pull the committee? >> Yes. Motion passes. All right, we have just returned from executive session where we discussed the uh a new contract for Mrs. Pangeli and uh we have arrived at an agreement. So I will entertain a motion to approve a new 5-year contract for Superintendent Pangi as discussed. >> So move second. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Desire, would you please pull the committee? >> Yes. >> Mill. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. Motion passes. Um, any questions or comments from the committee regarding this uh contract >> through the chair? >> Member Millet. >> Um, I'm probably the only one in the room that you had started working around

114when I first started teaching in the school system. You were in that business office and stayed there and worked there and worked your way up. So, you've been helping our school system for a decades. >> Oh, God. >> Decades. >> They feel old. And I think the most I want to say is to thank you because you have truly dedicated and persevered through all these years for our students, our staff and our community and I thank you for that. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Member Millet. >> Any other questions or comments from the committee? >> Well, I couldn't have said it better myself. And while I wasn't here back then, maybe even not here, um, yet at that point, um, I too just want to thank you for your dedication to this

115district, to our families, our staff, and most importantly, our students, and the level of stability that a district enjoys when they have a superintendent who has their eye on what's best for kids at all times and what's best for staff at all times. um and is able to leave things out, you know, for many years makes a huge difference in morale and in outcomes. So, I want to thank you also. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. And I appreciate your support and I feel very lucky to be here in Webster and I'm excited to be here for another five years. Um I feel I've gotten just as much from this community. Um, it's very close to my heart and I appreciate it and I love the people in this community. So, I look forward

116to another five years. >> Great. >> And gray hair. Any other questions or comments from the committee about this matter? >> No. Okay. Um, well, thank you for that. And the next item on our agenda is the reviewed transfer, signing of warrants, bills, payroll, and vouchers. We do have a transfer request in here. Usually I'm faster on these transfer requests here. I can't remember the amount. It is sideways. Um but it is uh transfer in the amount of $10,000 from the textbook line to the PD line. >> Yeah, I'll just make a couple comments. So the curriculum office and evaluating the upcoming PD needs and the PD grids did another projection and is looking to transfer $10,000 to support ongoing professional development for the rest of this year. um on the PD days. So, this

117is really focused on um par professionals, special education, and making sure that we're creating an offering that's meaningful for the staff. >> All right. Thank you. Any questions or comments from the committee about that? Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to approve this transfer in the amount of $10,000 from the textbook line to the PD line. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Desire, would you please pull the committee? Yes. >> Yes. Motion passes. >> The signature is the teacher contract signature. I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So move. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Desire, could you please pull the committee? >> Yes. Good night, everyone.