001We good? Okay. All right. Good evening everyone. Thank you for your patience. We were celebrating our retirees which was amazing. Um it is 6:33. We are going to call the meeting to order. We have a quorum. Uh you will notice that the part of Dr. Turner is being played by Kathy for now. Um Dr. Turner is in this season of school awards and events celebrating her own high schooler in Windham and we are delighted for her to be doing that and she will scoot in when she can. Um so please stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance. Thank you. All right. Upcoming meetings, we have a couple of exciting items. Next week, June 9th is voting day. That's Tuesday. Our uh school budget will be will have its own referendum.
002So, please do participate in that if you live in Gray or New Gloucester. The uh gray folks will vote at Newan Gym from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 pm and new Gloucester residents will go to the fire station from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Uh June 17th will be our school board business meeting at 6:30 here in the high school. that will be to um validate results from the referendum and um select the next year's band of leaders. So this is actually our last meeting of the year. We did it. All right. >> Um so uh I would consider action relative to additions or adjustments to the agenda if anyone has them. Seeing none. Um, comments from the audience, these bright and shining faces. Anyone want to pontificate for two to three minutes? Nope. Okay. Um,
003recognition. We have some nice folks to bring up tonight. Starting with uh Hartwood Magazine. Welcome Mary. Well, to me forever Miss Mary about Miss Pennington and and friends. Who do we have? >> Um, my name is Jay and this is Taylor. We are two members of >> Hey, one sec. Are we >> got to be real close to that microphone? >> Don't be afraid of it. >> My name is Jay Esbrook and this is Taylor O'Donnell. We are two members of the Hartwood publishing team. Hartwood was first published in 2017 to and promote the creativity of students at G&G High School. This is our biggest book ever with the work of 55 artists and authors in 89 pages. Our cover artist and author were two seniors. Anna Turner did the artwork and Olivia Gallagher wrote
004the poem. Our publishing night in May was very well attended and book sales have also been good. There are only two copies from this year that remain unsold. Next year is the 10th anniversary of Heartwood and we planning big things. In addition to current student work, we will be reaching out to G&G graduates who are Hartwood alumni to submit new work so we can celebrate the creativity that continues after graduation. We hope you enjoy this year's edition of >> Thank you. Um, and while what I suspect are own additions headed our way, does anyone have questions or they have escaped, they >> have they are artists, not public speakers. Um, I attended um Hartwood Night and the art show at the high school. If you have not been to it before, um I strongly suggest
005you keep an eye for it next year. It is um extremely inspiring and a lot of fun. >> Gary, >> I just want to say this is one of my favorite moments of the year. I love this publication and the uh art show is fabulous. That was the variety of work and the quality of the work. It's just amazing. It's just great. But uh I love getting this every year. Just fun. >> Fantastic. >> It's my favorite project ever. >> If I may uh pontificate further as a publishing industry professional uh physical media uh is increasingly going out of business. Every single publication I've ever written for more than 20 is now out of business. >> Um and uh to have this in our hands is a really special thing and it's a it's an
006important endeavor in today's uh environment. So I appreciate it. >> It's so pretty and it feels so good and the kids get so excited to see their work in color. Yeah, that's really great. And if you make it to the art show often, you will get to see a lot of the pieces that are featured in here um in real life, which is really fun. Um sometimes catch some of the artists and talk to them about their work. Um which is great. So, thank you for coming on a beautiful night. Well done. >> Thank you. >> Okay. And now, where is she hiding? I would love to invite up Tiffany Chandler to talk about the good work of the G&G athletics boosters. >> Hi Beth. >> My name is Tiffany Chandler. I'm the president of
007the athletic boosters here at the high school. And this is Beth Davis. She is the vice president of the boosters. Um first just thank you guys for inviting us. It's nice to get in front of everyone and have everybody hear what we do. Um, we are a nonprofit organization. Um, we work to raise funds to support all of the athletic programs here at Grey New Glouster High School. Um, coaches generally request items that are outside of their budgetary items that they get. And then additionally, like if they fund raise, things like that, they would come to us for any additional things that they need. Some of the things that we've purchased are new batting cage outside, um jackets for field hockey, soccer, um we just did a scores table for field hockey and lacrosse. Um
008so those are a little bit of the things that we purchase. Um how we get our funds. Um most of our funds that we raise are through the indoor and the outdoor snack shacks with our outdoor snack shack being um our biggest fundraising event. Football season is obviously really big. We have a lot of people in attendance. Um last year um this year alone after expenses so far we've raised $36,430 just at the outdoor snack shack. That's after costs of food and supplies. Um, so as most of you know, we're building a new snack shack this summer. Um, we start demolition starts on the 17th and we will begin rebuilding right after that. Um, this is 100% funded Yep. Snack Shack shirt. Um, the building of the new Snack Shack is 100% funded on uh
009donations, whether it's materials, labor, or monetary donations. Um, so far to date, we've raised $34,375. That's just monetary. It's not including the labor and materials um that have been donated as well. We have about $23,625 left that we need to raise in order to complete the snack shack. So, we still have a little ways to go. We're pushing it out to the community. We've had um a lot of businesses step up and really help us monetarily as well as labor and donation, but really that piece that we're missing right now is um monetarily. There's some things we just have to pay for. Um so I also wanted to hit on how important our outside snack shack is to us with it funding that much money. Um the total amount that we've funded in additional requests
010for the coaches and the teams over the last four years has been $131,675. Um this year alone we have um funded $29,200 and we haven't hit summer yet. So we do have summer requests that usually come in. So just anybody have any questions? I also am not a public speaker. you're doing a wonderful job. And I do have a question. If somebody watching tonight was like, I have yet to see anything about the snack shack. I would love to send them $20. Where would they find that? >> So, you can follow us on our Facebook page. It's G&G Athletic Boosters. Um, you can also email us at g&ngboostersgmail.com and we have sponsor packets. Um something great that um we're doing this year for the first time that Chanda has helped us work towards is allowing
011our sponsors, our major sponsors to be permanently displayed on our new building. Obviously, it has to fit within district guidelines um for the business, but that's something new that we're able to do and we've had a really good response to that. So, we can also send sponsor packets to any businesses that would like to donate. questions or comments for the athletic boosters. Um, I'm asking a question I know the answer to, but I would love for it to just go across the airwaves. You know, what are some of the challenges with the current snack shack that uh require us? I mean, I'm assuming you don't just want a Cadillac because you've got a Honda. Uh, >> we've we've got some issues that we really need to address. Is that right? >> So, um, anyone that's
012been in or outside of it knows, um, it's quickly deteriorating. Um, they it's been around for a number of years. It's had some really good years. I think everyone, um, has in the past has kind of thought of a bond going through and not wanting to do something because if a bond were to go through it, it could be included in that. Um but the state of the building, we've reached the point where we can't put it off anymore because pretty soon we're not going to be able to occupy it. Um it's kind of it's sinking in the ground. There's some structural issues and we really don't want to be without it. Um given all the money that we do raise there, it is our biggest fundraising um the way we raise funds. Um so
013part of also I you had asked earlier um we obviously have two 23,625 monetary that we need to raise. Um, so we're at the point right now where our big goal is we need to just get the building up and then work on getting it finished as we go. Like day by day we get more sponsors reach out, we get more donations. Um, I'm hopeful we can get to that point. Um, but the state that the shack is in, um, it it needs to come down and, uh, be replaced. So we are working hard day and night to make that happen. Um kind of trying to reach out to local businesses. So if anybody knows of any local businesses, for example, we have a materials list. Um Hammond Lumber has been very gracious in giving
014us a very good um discount on that, but obviously we have a lot more funds to raise. So we're kind of reaching that extra mile and going to other people and kind of extracting like doors. Can you just help us with the doors wherever we can save so we can we can make this happen? It's much needed. And when you ask the kids, everyone probably saw their photos on Facebook when I said, "Can you pose for a picture to get the word out about a new snack shack?" They were like, "Yes, we need a new snack shack." So, it's it's definitely much needed. Any other questions? Did I answer all of yours? Okay, >> we get some questions. Um, I I just want to say I think the work you're doing is amazing and I
015think a lot of people are confused about the type of things that are funded by the boosters that a lot of the things that folks see in the community and think that the school district is footing the bill for are really um a lot of things that come through the work of our boosters programs, our PTO who are helping kids with equipment and sending them on field trips and you know all the sorts of things that um really help us get more done and stretch the dollars. So um I'm super appreciative of that and um part of we wanted you to help get the word out about your project and also you are under recognition and this was how we snuck you here to say thank you for all that you do. We do have
016some flowers. I'm pretty pinned in. I'm gonna have the lovely Kathy bring them to you. >> We appreciate you just inviting us tonight. So thank you. >> Thanks for everything. >> All right. Thank you. Teresa's always in the chat. >> And next up on the list uh for recognition, I had specifically asked for this to be added. Um is I see you see just stand up real quick and wave to everybody. Um, we just went through a graduation season and the work that is done at the high school to get these kids across the stage and celebrate them. It's not just one ceremony. It is it is weeks of events. They are counting down. They the teacher, you know, trying to keep these kids regulated in the school. Um, one thing after the next. Um,
017since I've been on the board, I've always gone to graduation. It's a major celebration and a a huge highlight for our community. Um, we do it the best. Um, it really was perfect. It's really amazing. and being in things like going in to do teacher interviews or things that bring us into the school. If you've been in the school in the last month and a half, um Satie and Chloe are hold they are stacking triplechecking um diplomas because guess what we do? We are wild and crazy. We hand out live diplomas on stage. Those kids get to walk down, open it up. I saw almost everyone do it and be like, "It's me." Um, and the kind of terror I'm sure that strikes in the heart of the person who's responsible for putting the right
018one in the right kid's hand. Um, all kinds of planning, chasing down the board, finding out where they're going, making the seating chart. Um, it just was non-stop. And I also want to recognize Jade because every time I saw um Satie in the front office working frantically on planning graduation, Jade was running up and down the hallways um actually managing the school and the kids um and the behaviors. So um I just know it's a huge lift and not only did you guys get it all done, you had to come to school the next day. Um, so I just wanted to um give our thanks and recognition to the high school staff who's doing the same thing everyone else is doing, plus hosting a graduation. So, thank you very much. >> Um, and why we
019are just in a string of feelgood, I'm going to go a little rogue. I didn't write it on here. We also, as our last board meeting of the year, we are saying goodbye to two board members. Um, Lauren Meek and Gary Haramman. We did embarrass Gary a little bit already at the retiree celebration um with his 18 years um of service. And I also wanted to go on the record here on our during our meeting and here. I'm always afraid I'm going to hang myself on these um cords. We have some flowers from us to you as well, Gary. These are actually for your wife. Um it's a lot. So >> um I was also couldn't help but recall that uh reflecting today that um both of the folks leaving have most recently served as
020my vice chair. So let that be a cautionary tale or maybe I don't know it's just like an exhausting year. Um, but I want to thank um both of you and I'm sure we all want to thank you for um serving on the school board and wish you the best of luck. We're sad that you're moving. And Gary, hopefully you'll be around. Yeah, probably. Anyone else want to say anything nice before we move on? Good. That was a lot, wasn't it? Okay. Now to get to it, um I would hear a motion to take action relative to accepting as printed the minutes of the May 6, 2026 regular business meeting. >> So moved. >> Second. Any discussion? All in favor? Perfect. And I would This is a return um item for a second reading. We
021had some >> point of order. >> Well, yes. >> Quick point of order. I'm sorry that I didn't notice this, but >> I think usually we approve minutes from the validation meeting, too. >> No, because that's not a schoolboard meeting. >> No, >> I don't think so. Because it's not our meeting. I mean, we take I think we take Maggie. Do we take minutes for that? >> And do we historically approve them? >> Oh, all right. My bad. >> Okay. Those are just rogue minutes. >> Just rogue minutes. you post them somewhere. >> If uh if research turns up, we should have we can throw it on on the um >> that was mostly is if we forgot we just make sure we get >> on June 17. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh so coming
022back we had asked for some um adjustments to the um draft strategic capital improvement plan. So uh back a second time and I think we've gone taken this far enough that maybe we start with a motion. Um I would hear a motion that the board approves the MSAD15 strategic capital improvement plan. >> So moved. Second. >> All right. any discussion on that? We had mainly tightened up the language making it a little more definitive that we would not just consider but we would do um which was a thoughtful edit. Anything else on that since it's come back round? No. Uh this would set the tone for the next decade or so on getting us moving forward on some facilities work. Um, delighted to see it and thanks again to the facilities committee. So, all in
023favor the record show Misty's super excited. >> Okay. And welcome. Thank you. Kathy has turned into Dr. Turner. Um, you are just in time for uh the super fun part of hiring teachers. New business. I would hear a motion to consider Lily Hood to a first probationary contract as a science teacher at the middle school. >> So moved. >> Is anyone here to talk about this candidate? >> All right. It is my pleasure uh to introduce Lily Hood. Um Lily is an outstanding educator coming to us with six years of middle school teaching experience at Madison Junior Senior High School, including five years of experience in seventh and eighth grade science. She holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education with a science concentration from the University of Maine at Farmington. Her references share that she
024does a great job building student relationships, has strong classroom management skills, and creates handson realworld learning experiences for her students. Beyond the classroom, Lily has served as a lead teacher and student council adviser. Her personal connection to Southern Maine, combined with her proof and commitment to student success and professional excellence, make her an excellent candidate to join the Greater Gloucester Middle School team. >> Caught me with my mic off. Thank you. Welcome. Thanks for coming in tonight. Any discussion, questions? >> Uh Fran and Sam. >> Okay. Okay. I have a question. Um I'm not sure why I I don't understand what a behavior health professional would be. Uh how does that relate with science and um social studies? >> Okay. Um I would say maybe not directly with science and social studies, but more with
025classroom management, just understanding uh where behaviors come from. I've worked one-on-one with kids at homes and I think behaviors that you see at home, they translate right into the classroom often and us teachers are um needing to manage those to give the kids a adequate uh learning experience. >> Thank you. >> Well done, Sam. Uh, I just want to say that I served on uh the interview committee for Lily and uh when she was done and walked out of the room, it was like slam dunk city. Couldn't wait to hire. So, super excited that we closed the deal on that. Nice. Nice to see you again, Lily. >> All right. All in favor? >> Opposed? Welcome. Thanks so much for coming in. >> Thank you, everyone. Okay. I would hear a motion to consider Christina
026to a first probationary contract as an English teacher at the high school. >> So moved. >> So unfortunately Christina is not able to join us tonight as she is moving back from the UK where she is currently teaching. Um she has a bachelor's in science and secondary education in English um from the University of uh Maine Farmington. She brings over 18 years of teaching experience across a variety of different grade levels and student abilities. Um she's worked in RTI pro programs which is response to intervention students needing additional support all the way up through honors level classes. Um she came highly recommended for her ability to build strong relationships with students um create engaging and accessible lessons that support um and challenge again all types of learners. She has a unique background working in Alaska
027teaching English um and then she served teaching English for 14 years at Masabisc High School um and then most recently one year in the UK. Um so we are very excited to have her as part of our team. >> Uh I happen to be on this um committee and we she's in the UK and we did it by Zoom and I don't know if anyone said it on a Zoom interview but it's very hard and usually um not great. Um and she just came right out of the screen. We were like this this woman has is perfect for the population in particular of kids that she'll be working with and was so enthusiastic and was um completely sold herself even on a zoom screen which is almost impossible. So very excited. Um anyone else her
028worldly experience it's really important as a teacher bringing that to students. Being a traveler myself I think it's a whole other level of learning. So I think that's really cool. Absolutely. >> All right. All in favor? Opposed? Great. Thanks so much. I would hear a motion to consider Aaya Scorsa to first probationary contract as an elementary interventionist at the Dun School. >> So moved. Second. >> All right. It's my privilege to introduce Kayla Scorza. >> You can just pop it up. >> Sorry. Or I could just lean over. >> There you go. >> All right. Uh it's my privilege to introduce Aaya Scorza. Um Aaya has a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from the University of Maine. Um holds a master's degree in education and literacy in literacy education and a certificate of
029advanced graduate study in literacy coaching. Um she has over 24 years of experience uh at the elementary level and um as I kind of said in my retirement speech for another staff member, we built this program and we are super excited to have Akaya come and pick that right up, continue to build it and um and continue to take us forward with our RTI system. So uh very excited for a to join us. Wonderful discussion, questions. Fantastic. Um, delighted to have you. And, uh, all in favor? >> Opposed? >> All right. Welcome. >> Okay. I would hear a motion to consider Deborah Ross to a first probationary contract as a special education teacher at the high school. >> So moved. >> Jumping right in. So, uh, this is Deb Ross. Um, happy to have her
030here today. I want to tell you, and I'm sure my colleagues would agree, when we interview somebody, we usually know within five minutes of that interview whether or not it's our candidate. I think I knew within two with Deb. Um, so we're really thrilled that we also passed her interview looking for a new place to go teach. Um, Deb has a bachelor of arts in English literature with a minor in secondary education from St. Joseph's and lots of um additional graduate school work at Pacific Lutheran, University of Maine, Farmington, University of Maine, Lifelong Learner, I'm assuming. Um and she has over 20 years experience teaching high school alternative ed special ed um and intervention. Um Deb is filling our applied academics position. This is a position we were unable to fill last year. The staff
031at the high school did their best they could to fill in those needs. um to meet the students needs and we are so thrilled that we are bringing in an experienced educator to support our struggling learners at the high school. So we're very thrilled. >> Fantastic. Um questions, comments? I think I speak for everyone when I say we're always delighted in particular when we can get someone to work um at an interventionist or with our special education folks. So super glad to have you. All in favor? Opposed? All right. Welcome. Thanks for coming in. >> All right, it's looking good for everybody so far. All right, I would hear a motion to consider Benjamin Caswell to a first probationary contract as a physical education teacher at the high school. >> So moved. >> Second. >>
032Perfect. Thank you. Um we are very excited to have Ben join our team. He has a bachelor's of science in health science with concentration in physical education. Um he also has a graduate certificate in athletic administration uh from Southern New Hampshire University. Um he comes to us with over 20 years of um teaching experience, three years in Vermont, um four years at Auburn Middle School, and then the past 14 years um at Gley Middle School. Gray is like better. So he could not pass up the opportunity when he saw G&G had an opening. Um he comes to us very highly recommended um described as engaging with students um in instruction, participating. He said they'll be your biggest cheerleader for students. Um many times if a student is struggling, he's kind of alongside like either doing
033a running or the activity with the student. Um just very hands-on. Um his supervisor shared um that Ben is an amazing teacher and colleague. He will continue to influence many students lives in a positive way and contribute to a fun and uplifting school climate. Uh wherever Ben teaches, he will always be a tremendous asset which I think is pretty incredible and kind of summed up all the references that we have. So we are really excited. >> Wonderful. Um we always love stealing someone from next door. So, any uh questions? >> I have a question. Do you coach anything? >> I coach boys in their sports, hockey, soccer. Um I a tennis coach. >> Let's do it. All right. And you brought some uh youngsters with you tonight. Thanks for coming in, guys. Um all in
034favor? Wonderful. Opposed. Perfect. Thank you so much. >> Chris, can you just slide that to the other side >> or have them hold it that you guys just keep turning your faces away from it so we can't pick up what you're saying. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> You're being engaging, which we appreciate. >> All right. I would hear a motion to consider Heather Gavish. I think we've already met and I can't even do it. To a first probationary contract as a science teacher at the high school. >> So, um, >> sorry, she's so excited. Can't even wait. >> Um, it is my pleasure to introduce Heather. Um, she comes to us with a bachelor's of science in biological sciences um, and also a bachelor's of Spanish from the University of Rhode Island. She recently
035completed um, her teaching program at University of Southern Maine. Uh, She has um a variety of experiences as well of working in a zoo in Minnesota um and also Science Works Museum Victoria in Australia. Um she recently gave herself a little graduation and took off for a week to where she had studied abroad to Spain. Um so definitely a lot of that traveling and experience. Um this past year she was a long-term substitute at Felmouth High School in their science department. Um and came very highly recommended from their administration. Um they even said a group of students have recently come forward with a formal proposal on how to try to keep her there and create a new position. Um but they could not say enough wonderful things about her and her ability to connect with
036kids again of all abilities and make science engaging. Um she had some tough courses and um students but they said just really got to know the students and their interest and kind of align that with her curriculum and um yeah and kids in the classroom. And they said without a doubt the observations were that the kids were comfortable taking risks, sharing ideas with one another and really engaging in the learning. We are very excited for Heather as well. >> All right. Uh I also had the pleasure of sitting in on this round of interviews and I think the team worked really hard to find a great science teacher for some big shoes to fill and um very excited to have you and also to Naban from Fmouth. We are on a roll tonight. >> She
037even came for a few hours today and dove right into some dissection activities and >> yes >> love it >> questions. All right, all in favor opposed. Great. Thank you for coming and we're still going. This is great. Um, I'd hear a motion to consider Jade Lavel to a first probationary contract as a kindergarten teacher at the Russell School. >> So moved. Second. >> Excellent. Uh, I am pleased to introduce you to Miss Mrs. Jade Label as our candidate for the kindergarten teacher at Russell School. Jade attended the University of Maine at Orino where she earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education with a concentration in mathematics as well as a master's degree in literacy education from the University of Southern Maine. Jake comes to us with one year experience as the math and reading
038interventionist and six years experience as a first grade teacher in SAD17. Previous administrators spoke of her strong sense of community that she creates in her classroom, the kind and compassionate educator that she is, and her overall competence for early elementary instruction. They spoke of Jade's ability to forge strong relationships with her colleagues, and her meticulous planning practices that help students achieve at high levels. Most notably, each of her administrators discussed Jade's ability to establish and prioritize meaningful relationships with students and their families, a goal that we also have at Russell School. Finally, our team was very excited to learn that in addition to bringing Jade on board, we will also be welcoming Jade's oldest daughter to kindergarten this fall. This puts Jade in a unique position of supporting our schoolwide goals for increasing family engagement
039as both a teacher and as a parent, providing us a direct understanding of what the parent experience is like for kindergarten students. For these reasons and so many more, we are happy to present JTU this evening. >> Wonderful. Thanks for coming. Questions for newest kindergarten teacher? Everybody loves a kindergarten teacher. We have no questions. Um All in favor? Opposed? All right. Thanks so much. Thanks for coming. >> And one more. I would hear a motion to consider Nicholas Ganon to a first probationary contract as a math teacher at the high school. >> So moved. >> Second. >> I was gonna wait. >> Um, unfortunately, Nicholas is not able to be here tonight. Um, but a little bit him and his background. He has a bachelor's of art in psychology and then a master's of education
040in educational leadership from the New England College. Um he also has extensive coursework in mathematics and also secondary education. Um he comes to us with over 20 years of experience, six years in the classroom and then 13 years as administrative roles. Um he served as an assistant principal, principal and then recently um a vocational technical director um which that school currently serves seven schools. Um he also came very strongly recommended. Um the initial person when we call references said before you even asked a question, I'm just going to start by saying you would be absolutely crazy not to hire him. Now ask some questions. Um they said even in his roles as administrator, he's constantly working with kids on math, helping support curriculum, stepping in the classroom. Um just very hands-on and he shared that
041he is really excited to make this leap back into the classroom, questions. Great. All in favor? Fantastic. Thank you. >> All right. Wow. This is exciting and a great number of candidates for the first week of June. So, pretty thrilling. Um, as is our tradition, we especially on such a beautiful night invite you to please go home and >> yes, if you would like like to see what a good meeting we put on, you know, feel free to stick around. But there is no judgment um in making your departure. Okay. Um, moving into a batch of job descriptions and policies that have been through um the process with both personnel and the policy committee. Um, starting with school nutrition. So, why don't we start with a motion um to consider an updated school nutrition job
042description. >> So, moved. Why your microphone's not working? >> Missy says second. >> Okay. >> Second. >> All right. So, um any important points about this from personnel committee other than uh just due for review? >> It's just due for review. There are some um changes on on some of the wording, but for the most part, it's a just editing and bringing it up to date. Uh questions or discussions on the uh school nutrition? All right. All in favor? Opposed. Perfect. Um next a motion to consider an updated teacher job description. >> So moved. Second. >> All right. And anything particular about this that we should consider or same? Same. Okay. >> Questions on the um update updates to the teacher job description. >> See Sam working on his thing. >> I just um you
043know the changes are extensive. Um I was just wondering is this like a word smithing situation? Like you know I wouldn't have thought our teacher job description needed quite so much surgery but I was just wondering if there's any context. The uh teacher job description as far as the records we could tell has not been looked at since 2000. So that was 26 years ago. >> It feels like it was yesterday, you know, when I say 2000, but it was 26 years ago. So it's a lot of it is just the context has changed a bit. So I don't know that the function and the role has changed, but the context has changed. Um I also don't know the processes we've used in the past but the process we used for this one is every
044single teacher in the entire district has looked at this given feedback through the teacher leaders to the administrative team. We did our meet and discuss as required uh with the union. So it it is I I'm I can't say that it is substantively a whole new job um but it is more reflective of the current education context. >> That's helpful to know. Thanks. Anything else? All in favor? Opposed? All right. Moving to policy. Uh I would hear a motion to consider policy JJ, student use of cell phones and other electronic devices. >> So moved. Second. >> U. So this one is came up because of change in legislation and I know we all have it in our packet, but do you want to talk a little bit about it because it is a big statewide
045thing. >> Um, yep. So, we this came up because you guys said like there's been a legislative item. There's been a lot of news about it. Um, so we used the policy that was sort of drafted. We did pull the title from one a policy that we had on our books before. Um I would say probably though the biggest part of conversation that we had was that we just want feedback from administrators. Um how is the policy working? Will it need changes? So we kind of that was a big bulk of our conversation is about how like in December we would like the next year's policy committee should get an update on how this is working and if any changes need to be made because a lot of work was done on the prior policy,
046>> right? Um and also would be interested to see what um the policy is pretty straightforward because it just is. We're not allowed to have phones during the school day anymore. Um but then what is the subsequent sort of procedure? How does that function um in the schools? And I assume in fairness that will take a little bit of time to figure out. Um questions for policy on that piece or any other thoughts from the committee? Sam, >> um, just I want to say, you know, we had I really liked our process creating our last cell phone policy. Um, and obviously during that process, we got survey data and, you know, heard from kids, parents, staff members, built policy around, you know, what was sort of in practice. Um, and uh, just want to say
047that this is the sort of policy that's really going to require buy in well beyond our administration and staff, right? This is a policy that we really need the whole community to buy into. We know uh, parents text their kids all day long. We know that they expect to have communication with their kids. We know that they may be worried about what to do in case of an emergency. And uh it's just the sort of policy that we really need patience and buy in with. This came from the top. It is the state law. We have to ban from bell to bell. Um you know, giving the administration a bunch of grief about how you can't get in touch with your kid uh at 10:00 in the morning is just not going to be cool.
048Uh we need uh you know, to to you know, buy in on this. Um the legislature felt it was important. um you know, we don't have a lot of choice in the matter. Um and so I just think it's a real opportunity for us to uh you know, get everybody on on board. Uh there's good reason why we're doing this. Uh it's not the end of our uh re-examination of the way that we use technology in our schools. Um there's more to come on this. Um but just a general plea to, you know, this is going to be a tough transition for a lot of people and we need to give our st a lot of grace around it. So, you know, very hopeful for a positive impact. >> Agreed. >> Yeah, I think it's
049going to be a big learning curve. I think the kids are on board, I think it's going to be a harder pill to swallow for parents. Um so, the more that we are all on board with it and um super supportive, I think it's going to be a key factor to making us successful. So, >> I'm hopeful maybe total rosecolored glasses, but the the middle Well, they don't their phones are away. They don't The culture is they don't have their phones out. They do use their lockers. Um so I'm wondering as we move kids into the high school who already have just had a culture of not having their phones at school, if maybe we can um get some some footing, but that still will take a few years to get the current group through.
050So um All right. So Oh, fair. >> Yeah. I I think also um uh the word should be uh given to the parents that we have um pretty strong um security um approaches and and that type of thing um protocol and and stuff. So that that gives the extra assurance that if they're concerned about you know their kids and problems that um you know the district has taken care of that situation um you know in lie of having the phones >> so and that not 100% but it's a very strong I think it's a very strong um um procedure. >> Yeah. >> I it's a good point. Uh, all right. All in favor? Oppose. Okay. So, we'll give this a try and check back. Um, I would hear a motion to consider policy adopt policy
051BH public participation in schoolboard meetings. >> So, moved. Second. Uh so here's another one that I think was born of some um ongoing court action in the state uh the urging of MSMA. We take a look at this. >> Yeah, I think MSMA and um Drummond, right? They reviewed it. So um I could we spent a lot of time on this. When I say we went through this paragraph by paragraph, we we really we took a lot of time. um tried to keep things as similar where we could the current policy such as the time limits. Um there wasn't a whole lot of there were options but so but not a lot that we could do within those options. Um such as the legal definition of things. Um >> yeah curious >> I I guess
052I If people have more specific questions, that would probably be better just because we really just >> Sure. >> Any questions for policy? >> Uh just the the board will provide an imprint copy of this policy at every meeting. Uh really >> I always have it. >> We're going to have it so we can hand it out if if people >> if people ask for it. That was the whole thought process behind it. Um there was a couple options and one talked about requiring people to read the policy which we thought was too much but we didn't think we having a copy so if someone did want to see it >> so is it a legal requirement that we have to have one available or so I'm just curious what where that came from >>
053um that was one of >> it is recommended that >> it's recommended if not like >> make it available to people make it easily accessible to folks so if we were to say we're going to hold you to our policy and someone says I would like to see the policy to make it a a little bit easier that it's right here. >> Yeah. So, that was our thought process is not require it, but if someone did ask to see it that we have it available, >> we could if public comment ramped up, we could make a habit of leaving it on the the the podium. Someone wants to look at it. >> Thanks. I'm I'm no wordsmith, but I would have said a printed copy, but that's all right. >> What did we say? an
054imprint copy. It seemed kind of awkward to me, but >> Oh, an imprint copy. >> Um, anything else? >> No. >> All right, Fran. >> Oh, sorry. >> Um, as far as this this copy, we've talked about it. Um, and and this is uh three pages. Um, and I'm wondering if we shouldn't condense it a little bit for easier reading. You know, in other words, make reference to this policy, but do like a um um um smaller version, shorter version of it, hitting the high points, you know, that would affect that a particular meeting. I guess I'm um I the policy should be available. Yes. for people to read and they shall all be familiar with it, but um they come and they're going to wait until they get the podium and start reading. That
055that's it seems it's a little um clumsy in a way. I know last night I suggested at the great town council meeting that they have this lengthy introduction and I suggested that they post it on the door as you come in so the people would have time to sit in the court stand in the corridor and read it and then be prepared for the meeting. It was to do at a meeting. So I I'm bringing this out maybe some rest of the board could come up with another suggestion beyond what the committee came up with. Any other comments from the rest of the board of suggestions? I'm sorry. >> Uh Lauren, did you >> It was just a comment on page two that uh 3A the indecent um I'm sorry. Yeah, that the remark the
056strike through the and as well >> the remark describes or depicts >> the and should be struck out. >> Yeah, >> I got it. Okay. >> I didn't hear >> um Yeah, I I think that it's such a rarity that we would even need this printed copy. So, I mean, if somebody has said, "Well, I don't I feel like talking longer than three minutes and they say, "Well, where's the policy?" They'll return to their seat and we can gladly walk them to the policy while they're sitting and they try to look at it to verify that we are indeed following our policy. So, I don't think it's anything that they're going to read at the podium. It's going to be something that if they object that once they're seated, we can gladly go give them
057the policy to read while they're here. Um, so I don't know if we need to do an abbreviated version because then they'll know, well, what's missing, what's been cut out of this that I should know. So, I think giving them the whole thing is the correct way to do that. >> I I do think in in practice, Fran, in I have like my my emergency binder here. Um, and I do keep highlights of the policy so that on a day when I see or I think we're gonna have a lot of people, I'm totally prepared to start with, hey, it looks like we have a lot of folks today. I just the policyy's out. I want to touch on the highlights. We're going to look for you to state your name in town, keep to
058three minutes, and be professional, you know, and then if we need to get into the weeds with somebody based on their behavior, which we historically have had just not had a problem with, um, then we would be prepared to do so. So, Um I do understand >> that's the way to highlight >> what you're saying. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Anything else on discussion on the full policy? All right. All in favor? Opposed? And that passes. And such is the state of discourse these days that our policies have to describe the words indecent and obscene. But here we are. Um, now we get into the fun stuff. Uh, we would love to hear a report on the indoor air quality um project and process including some reflection on how it went for us um
059internally and invite um David Pascal to lead us in that with a visitor from mechanical services. Hopefully is is can you hear me? Okay. Um, so I get I'll talk a little bit first about the process of like implementing, well, not just implementing, but planning and implementing and completing this project for our school district because it's it's a pretty large project, right? Um, so some of the things and and there's a process report that was included in the packet for tonight. the for the planning purposes there were like standard project management practices like having a kickoff meeting with the key stakeholders and having a dedicated project manager those went you know that they worked really well for our planning purposes for this project. Um some of the things that we kind of learned in that
060process is that we're implementing uh more modern um equipment into our aged infrastructure. And so it kind of exposes problems that maybe we can't see, you know, when we first start looking at the project. Also some aesthetic issues, right, with more modern equipment versus things, you know, schools that are decades old. Um so these are things that we need to make sure we're looking at in future projects. At the beginning of the project, communication overall went really well, exceptionally well. I think the one thing that we learned is that we could maybe have a broader um communicate to a broader staff community um maybe to people who are not directly involved in the project just like statuses of what's going on. Um and then finally, uh the the last little bucket here was to talk
061about training. So part of this system was we have a main controls web- based system that allows us to control air flow and temperature ranges and things like that uh remotely. Um and we had multiple facility staff attend those trainings, a couple of trainings. So we need to make sure as we go forward that our we continue to have multiple staff that are intimately familiar with the system so that we you know can always have somebody who knows how to how to do that. And finally the last bit I just put in a flowchart or a project timeline on the back that just takes us from October 2023 where we had the SRRF application through the completion of the project which was April of 2026. So that's really my kind of comments on the process.
062Any questions or feedback discussion? >> Why don't we go through the whole thing and then maybe we'll um unless someone has like a real pressing clarity question on that. Okay. >> Okay. >> David, why don't >> David why don't you introduce our guest is project manager and Steve I'm sorry uh Bronson Geman he is our project manager throughout the project well pretty much from the start of it and Steve Ferguson who was involved in the beginning planning stages of the project >> thank you David thanks for having us >> as David said my name is Bronson Gmont I was the or I like to say still am the on-site project manager for the air quality project um I had the privilege of working with many people staff that was that were here tonight, principles, David,
063Tom, uh, Daily, I was able to coordinate access into schools and um, you know, just relay anything that we were coming across as far as problems or s, you know, success that we had on the project. So, I met with David and Tom typically on a on a weekly or bi-weekly um, meeting schedule. Um, it was great. Like David mentioned, the communication us was was awesome. Lead custodians at each school playing a huge part, principles, um teachers just, you know, letting us know if there are any issues coming up inside their classroom while we were tuning everything as far as HVAC equipment. Um so I'll start on the slideshow here. You can see there's a photo of main controls and mechanical services fans out front of the middle school during a a snow day. So,
064anytime we had, you know, we were able to get into a school when there weren't staff or students, we took advantage of that. So, I thought that was a pretty cool picture around the school. Um, this before and after photos. We felt like photos would be the best thing to show. You know, a lot of this stuff is above ceilings or in mechanical rooms. It's it's invisible. You guys hardly ever see it. So, we thought photos would help out with this presentation. On the left, this is over at the middle school. You can see air handler 3 that was in service for quite some time. Um, it was degraded. You can see the insulation on the piping is kind of falling apart. Um, very dusty. loud. Um, only ran at one speed, which was 100%
065all the time. Not very energy efficient. And then on the right side, you can see the new air handler installed. Um, it has a lot of new sensors on it, which you can see on the building management system. It makes it much more efficient. You can see a variable frequency drive mounted on the unit strut in the middle there that allows the unit to the fan to speed up and slow down based on load. So if it's, you know, first thing in the morning in the middle of the winter, the the room that it's supplying is going to be a little cooler based on unoccupied set points. And then in the in the morning, it'll speed the fan up, heat the room up as quick as it can, and then when it gets to a
066point, it'll back the fan speed back down to save on energy. Um, this photo is showing inside that same air handler on the the left, the before photo, you could see the insulation that was exposed on the door that is actually downstream of the filters. So, a lot of that insulation is eventually ended up in inside the airream. On the right side, you can see the new air handler. Um, they're this unit is built now to not have any insulation exposed. So, longterm, you know, you wouldn't run into that issue that you're seeing on the left. You can see the new actuators, the orange things there inside the door. Um, they're now like a electrical, they call it DDC instead of pneumatic. So much more reliable and you can tune them much more finely. So
067duct cleaning results throughout the four schools that were involved in this project. Um we had a duct cleaning scope. So outside air, return air supply air and all the air handlers, some of the exhaust fans, um we had a duct cleaning contractor help us out and they came in. They had basically air and a wand and they would pull a negative pressure on all the duck work and clean all the debris, you know, years and years of dust that accumulated inside the duck work. We don't have a photo of it, but one of the coils that was inside of the duck work when we were disassembling it. Um, it's like basically a it looked like a rug that had built up over the coil over the years. So, it was pretty eye opening to see
068the buildup that can happen um with just dust and accumulation, some insulation from the inside of the unit like that. Building automation system replacement. On the left side you can see the old pneumatic um building management system. So any boiler any piece of equipment throughout the school was controlled with this device um on the left and then like I said pneumatic you have a lot of leaks it becomes unreliable. Um we moved on to the DDC on the right. So it was the stuff on the left was removed and inside that small panel that has a controller on the right side. That's what you have now. There's a bunch of those located throughout the schools uh controlling each piece of equipment. Like I said, just much more energy efficient and and reliable. And like David
069mentioned, you can log on to the your laptop computer and you can see how every piece of equipment throughout the four schools is reacting. And also you have an alarm system that is forwarded anytime critical alarms come in. It's forwarded to your phone or email. So gaining access. Um this is the gym here at the high school. There's two mechanical rooms off of the gym that have air handlers. Originally our plan was to go inside the storage room and then there's a catwalk inside that storage room that has just a small man door that's like 3 four inches wide. We were going to take apart each air air handler in sections, bring it in through that doorway, and then reassemble it in place. The plan changed. Uh we actually cut a big I think it
070was a 5x7 opening next to the scoreboard and just had a forklift, put the unit up inside the mechanical room, same mechanical room as mirrored on the other side, and patched it up after it was in place. and painted and like we were never there. Same thing here in the cafeteria. There's a mechanical room up set of stairs there and behind that soundboard speaker there, we opened up a hole, put an air handler or took two existing air handlers out of the space and then put one new air handler in. So, there was a there was an air handler in that space that was abandoned in place that we removed. Now we'll pass it on to Steve. >> Hey everybody. Um, you might remember I was here >> before the project started. >> Steve, we
071can't hear you. >> Can we get you closer to the >> closer? How's that? Can you hear me now? >> You got to get right in it. >> You can pull the whole thing back at you if you want it. >> Thank you. >> Good. Um, so I was here before the project. um talking about carbon dioxide um and as you remember we did carbon dioxide testing as part of the initial development. Um the reason we did that is it's just the best way to dynamically test a ventilation system to see if it's working properly. Um so um when we do that um we like to see a carbon dioxide level of about a thousand parts per million. Um, codes and guidelines tell us with a carbon dioxide sensor over on the wall that if
072we use a thousand parts per million, that ventilation system is working working well. As it rises above a thousand, um, the ventilation systems working less and less well. Um, and that's really what we were trying to do with this project was replace and improve the ventilation quality within the space as well as energy efficiency. Um, but it was primarily focused on that ventilation effectiveness. So, um, we've got a table here. Um and you'll see the sampling that we did um for the four different um schools that that we had. We just took sample of different rooms um throughout the schools. And you'll see on the left hand side um of that the last two columns the predominant peaks um which is just where the carbon dioxide level was allowed to rise to on a repeated
073kind of basis. Um the predominant peaks before the projects were um some of them were well above a thousand even into the 2000 level. Um a number of them were slightly above a thousand but um you can see that they were all fairly high. Um and then we did the same test um about a month ago, month, month and a half ago um to see how we did with the project. It really was kind of a report card on the project. Um and we were happy with the results. Um we weren't surprised. We were happy with the results and you'll see that the after project predominant peaks um were all below a thousand and and we have seen that um we have seen this result repeatedly with our ventilation projects. It just there's not a
074lot of science that well there's a lot of science to there's no mystery. Um when we apply good ventilation systems to a school building this is the kind of result that we see. So um I think this is a good report card. Um it shows that the ventilation systems are currently working well um and that they are effective at ventilating the spaces which will result in in good outcomes on the education level um as well as with um sicknesses and things like that. So um if you remember when I was here before we had some maps um of the carbon dioxide levels in the different buildings and they looked like this. I don't know if any of you remember these. Um, but we put these maps together to try and graphically represent uh an awful
075lot of data. Um, and basically these are the rooms. The rooms with color are the rooms that we had a carbon dioxide monitor in. Um, if it is green, it means it's good to go. Um, the carbon dioxide level is we usually use 800 parts per million or below. Um, if it's yellow, it's rising between 800 and a thousand and it's beginning to be of concern. if it's red, um those are rooms that have repeatedly risen above a thousand and you can see the numbers from the chart before. So this is um the graphic before the project and this is the graphic after. Um we just we had good results. Um all the rooms are now below a thousand parts per million on predominant peaks and um we're feeling good about it. Um it was
076a good result. So uh similar for the middle school. This was the graph we showed you um a few years ago and this is the graph now um where we are successfully below a thousand again for done. This was the graph that we showed you um a couple of years ago and this is done now and this was memorial a couple of years ago and and this is memorial now. So um a good result overall. Um things look good and um ventilation perspective, we're exactly where we want to be. So, >> so we just wanted to bring up some additional value added services that we provided throughout the project. Um, obviously when you get into some older facilities and start opening walls up and equipment up, you come across some unexpected things. So at the
077high school in the east gym mechanical room um where I had shown we had to cut an access hole uh there was asbestous found on the insulation and as well as the expansion joints on both of those air handlers. So we had a asbestous abatement company come in contractor and safely remove all of that asbestous. Um it was performed in the summertime when there weren't any students around. Um they had to plastic off the whole mechanical room there and then um they you know they would take showers in there as soon as they would come out. They would have fans for pulling negative pressure in the area. So that was quite a bit big project. It took about four or five days to complete in the steam boiler room um here. So there's a large
078boiler room and a small boiler room they call it here at the high school. In the large boiler room we were having some issues with um heating from the steam piping um when the steam valves would open up and supply heat to the classrooms. We were having some you know unintentional heating to like adjacent classrooms due to degraded insulation from just years of losing its properties um insulation properties. So, we ended up replacing a lot of that. Uh, the boiler room, we added a bunch, you know, over the years of work being done in the boiler room, sometimes insulation forgets to get, you know, replaced or put back in. So, we insulated a lot of those areas and piping. And from what we had seen, I'm going to get with Tom and David again to
079see this time of the year, what they're seeing. you know, when when we're having colder mornings and then warmer afternoons, how that's doing. Um, it's mostly in the steam wing of the school that we are seeing that, but we also insulated areas inside the high or the middle school boiler room that uh insulation was removed and and not replaced at the middle school. So, pressure differential sensors. This was a weird one. We had pressure differential sensors installed for the project. Basically, those differential sensors will tell the circulator pumps that move water around the buildings inside the boiler room to speed up or slow down. And we are having some calibration drift on those. And it was found out that the boiler water quality conditions were impacting the sensors. Um there's a probe on these sensors
080that were being fouled. So, we ended up cleaning and flushing the systems uh the fil cleaning the filters multiple times. And we got to a point where we decided we wanted to upgrade the differential pressure sensors at no cost to the school um to a higher quality sensor to see how those would fare with the conditions and they've been doing great. So, we've also been in contact and talked to David and Tom about improvements to help flush out that sediment that's in the closed loop systems throughout the buildings. Um, there's different ways that mechanical services helps with that. They have filters on the incoming water. Um, they call it the raw water coming into the building, either it's public or or well water. Um and then also like magnet filters throughout the systems in the
081school to just catch this sediment and then eventually, you know, flush the whole system out. And some foyer entrances, just something to touch on like drywall repairs. You know, if we'd have a hole in a wall to access a valve and there was a crack on the wall next to it that has just been from, you know, years of a building settling, we would fix those cracks. So, anything we could do to make a room or foyer and wherever we were working look better, we we helped out with. Um, a door hardware. We replaced a rusted door that had a, you know, threshold and mull in it, just years of uh rust. So, we replaced that over at the middle school. This was a big one, duct smoke detectors. So, over at the middle school,
082we installed new addressable duct smoke detectors on all the air handlers. So, there was six duck smoke detectors installed. The old ones weren't addressable. Also, if you had an alarm on that smoke detector, um you wouldn't know where it's coming from. So, if a the fire department shows up and they look at the fire panel, they have a zone, a general area, but they don't know exactly what piece of equipment. Now, they'll know air handler number two supply side smoke duct detector is in alarm, so they can go straight there. at the Dunn Elementary School. Um, an ERV protection fence was installed uh following in install. So, just that ERV was next to the playground. Um, you know, after it was installed, it was pretty obvious we needed to put some sort of fence around
083this thing so students on the playground don't crawl all over the ERV, the library duct work. So, this was kind of a preference thing. Some people like the like galvanized stainless steel look of duck work and it was decided that the school wanted it to be painted. So we ended up painting the duck work inside the done and uh memorial libraries and as well as the memorial gym electrical compliance improvements. So, you know, moving throughout the project, kind of getting back to where we were before, as we identified things, we would fix them. So, we saw a circulator motor that was installed not per code inside the done boiler room. So, we took it upon ourselves to meet with the electric electrical contractor and install a sub panel that would bring this up to code
084compliance. So something else that we added value to the the district and again some insulation improvements around mechanical equipment inside attic areas. Uh we'd add either fiberglass bats that we found were you know non-existing around equipment and just cold air coming into spaces making it very difficult to heat. And then the last thing at Memorial School inside the attic space, there was a big inline exhaust fan that had previously been been decommissioned. And we took the time to hire a company to come in and remove that fan just so it's didn't have a use up there and at some point should have been taken down. That's all I have. So you have anything you want to add? Thank you all and we're open for questions. Um, great. So, thank you for being here. I I
085know we'll have some questions and comments. Um, I'm going to jump in a little bit. Um, I have heard your name one million times over the past several months and always um extremely favorably about from principles everywhere we go. They want to show off like now listen now wait in the room for a minute. Can you hear that? It came on. um and showing off how you went over and above to paint, you know, the duck work that stood out in the library and um just very very considerate and courteous of the staff and students and showing up on snow days to to work double time when the kids were out. So um I just want to say that that has been heard loud and clear through the district while you've been here and um
086you know thought you might like to know um that people are using your name in a nice way. So, um questions about for either or we could take them in in chunks around um Bronson's piece or Steve's piece. Lauren, >> I have a p u questions regarding the chart that's on um sheet eight, slide eight. Those val just I think I need some clarification. It says that those are predominant peaks and in the after project those values there are um ones that are in that 800 to a thousand and so I'm assuming that those are different than how you're categorizing them on the actual plans. >> Sure. Yeah. So, um, you're right. In the pre-RO, um, plans, we show a green, yellow, and red. Um, because the 800 to a,000 is getting close to a
087thousand, and we're taking it from a perspective of the project hasn't been done yet, we're trying to get to the point of understanding the systems and and how they're operating. So, we we throw in a yellow band, but the the goal is a thousand or less um, plain and simple. So when you see the post project graphs, I basically just show a thousand or less um as as green. >> Does that make sense? >> That was on on my list, too, Steve, to give you a hard time about um because I think the data is good. So to say, you know, before it's a yellow, but now it's a green. um and looking at how that would map out. It really only changes one or two blocks to have called you know it. >> Yeah,
088>> I think it would be easier for us to understand and appreciate or trust if it's the range is good or bad on both ends of the project. Not before the project is a questionable range and after the project it's a good number because that I picked that up too. Is that what you're saying? >> Yeah. And it sort of actually goes to my second question of so I see some of them are um values that are like 985 so it's approaching a thousand. Is that going to approach a thousand over time and what >> what can we do or are going to have to do to to prevent that? >> Sure. Um one of the things that um we found that was um happening in Dun School especially was that the filters were not
089being changed. And so um a simple thing like that, a simple maintenance item like that um can reduce air flow um when it reduces air flow it reduces that ventilation effectiveness. So um definitely the units need to be kept clean, the filter need to be kept changed. Um outside air intakes need to be kept cleared. Um but um I I think that um the this this graph is showing you the operating condition of the systems now in kind of a like new state and yeah they will require maintenance and continued you know upkeep to to maintain the performance. That's that's pretty standard. >> Sure. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Do you expect the performance to be different in the winter when it's cold and everything's buttoned up? And we're do, you know, are we going to
090have to manage bringing in more outside air? Um that that balance like will we be able to see this kind of data so folks know we could pull back a little bit on heating the outside air because we're doing okay or like can we can facilities see in real time like what the predominant peaks are? >> Yeah. Um so the the control system that's installed now will allow all that to happen. Um to answer your first question, there should not be a difference with the the wintertime operation um just because of the design of the system. But um the control system will allow you to trend this CO2 data um with a lot of different variability. So um yeah, you can trend the CO2 levels and look at that and you can use that. This
091particular control system actually um will reduce outside air a bit if CO2 is okay with some of the systems in some of the schools. So um that's a nice feature as well. Um it'll allow the CO2 to um it'll monitor the CO2 and actually reduce outside air which will save you a little energy. So >> So now we have this massive project that we just successfully completed. Where does it go from here as far as maintenance? And and is there I know Shana can probably speak to this or or David. And do we have do we do we use these guys to come and do that? Like I know when you do your furnace in your house, the oil company will come every year and do an inspection and cleaning and maintenance and and and
092make sure it's maintaining the high efficiency. Um do we I'm sure we have somebody in place that's doing that for us to make sure the system lasts as long as humanly possible. So we did have a maintenance contract uh previous to this project and we will have a maintenance project going forward as well >> internally or hiring that >> it would be hiring a company to do that. >> Sam first of all congratulations to the good people of Gray Glouster for funding this important project. Thank you very much for your yes votes last year. Uh this is a huge huge win for our kids. Um if you want to know how big a win it is, go look at what's going on in the Poland school district where kids are going home sick with, you
093know, all sorts of symptoms due to over carbon dioxide. So this is just a fantastic win for our kids and I'm really happy the people of Grain and Gloucester supported us. Um, and that was really, you know, I remember at the very beginning of this project when we were applying for the SRF funds, uh, one thing that we always said is that the, you know, air quality is enough and that was our primary goal. However, we thought maybe we would see a little bit of energy savings and I was wondering if there is any evidence of those energy savings yet or if it's basically just a wash, which I would be fine with. It'll be great to report some energy savings if that's the case. So we don't we don't have data that will prove
094energy savings. It's it's um unfortunately I mean we can we can intuit it that there are based on some of the things that they described where like things previously were just either on or off and now they can kind of ramp on or ramp off but we don't um we don't have a way to estimate what that those dollars or you know how it equates to dollars. I don't I don't know if you guys can comment on that. Well, perhaps we could look at our utility bills year on year, >> right? But it it would depend on other variables like how cold it was, you know, this year versus the previous year. I I think we could >> we can totally control for that. It's like a whole bunch of math that people do. Um,
095not saying that you know how to do it, but that that is information we can and should try to get, but it will be a year or more before we would have even, you know, enough I would think to be able to take a hard look at whether or not we were experiencing any energy efficiency. >> Another question. >> Yeah. Do you have any rough ballpark uh figures on how much outside air is increased for this new system compared to the old? >> So getting back to had Steve had mentioned filter changes at the Dunn Elementary School. We noticed just by changing a dirty filter, it was about a 30% increase in CFM for outside air. So we went from about I think it was two around 200 CFM of outside air up to into
096the mid 300 400 CFM. So it almost doubled with just a filter change. and looking at like the new unit ventilators that were installed compared to the units that were in place before them and seeing the results of the data. You you can kind of translate that the CFM outside air brought into the classroom is significantly better. >> So you you drop the CO2 down about half nominally. Uh so if you increase the outside air that is coming into the CL the fresh air coming into the classroom by you doubled it right instead of being you know 25% it's now 50% or >> right and like Steve said you could put a a set point in of say 900 ppm of CO2. So your outside air damper will modulate based on that. So, if you
097have a a class come in and your CO2 is starting to rise rise and it your damper outside air damper is going to start opening up and then it gets to 900, it's going to say I need to flush the room. So, it's going to open that outside air damper all the way up and then until that number recovers and comes back down and it'll start closing back off once it recovers just because it costs money to heat outside air. So, >> and we feel that in our meetings, Jim, when we're freezing because that thing fires up and we're all like, "No, it's the wonderful outside air." >> Maybe you don't get it on you, but we get it like >> right here. And we have to assure each other that this is awesome. >>
098I interviewed at Jackson Labs once and the guy had 100% outside air for his system. They didn't do no reser cost a lot of money. >> Yeah, that's expensive. Good >> grant. >> Most all my questions have already been um asked, but um you mentioned the computer that um is being monitored um by a computer, but I I missed what you had said about the computer. >> Yes. So, the building management system that was implemented in this project, it monitors all of the equipment throughout the school. um whether it be like the air handlers in the mechanical room, the boiler room, the circulator pumps. Um and you can log on to a building management system and view all of the equipment and it will um you know generate alarms that come in. We have target
099set points. You know, if it a heating temperature set point gets above something, it'll it'll send an alarm out. And we've been able to send those alarms to just so it's convenient to like your phone as a text message or email. So if it's the middle of the night and one of the boilers trips offline, then you'll get that email and you know, you know, to call service or have to get there quickly depending on how cold it is outside. >> Is it is it a back does it have a backup system? Um, that's a good question for main controls, but yeah, it's it's on like a server, so it's always there and when you lose power, it's still, you know, will collect data and everything. So, >> yeah. >> Oh, I suspect the kids
100would be in school anyway if there was no power, right? It has a battery backup um which will save the core elements of the programming um and then they may have to reload portions of it but it'll continue operating for a time. >> Yep. >> Steve, sometimes people watch later at home or they go through our slide, you know, they go through our material and and maybe don't hear the whole meeting. Um well, I guess then they would miss this question anyway. Um but predominant peaks. So that does not Can you talk a little bit about what that actually means? Like that doesn't mean that's the number all day, right? That's >> right. >> When there's pressure on the room or >> Yeah. the the graph that um so these data loggers take a measurement
101every 10 minutes for as long as we leave them in the in the spaces. So it makes a lot of data. Um but the graph always looks the same. Um it's it's low in the nighttime hours and then as the room loads up with people around 7:30, eight o'clock in a high school uh an hour later potentially in an elementary school um it starts to climb and um depending on the size of the room, the final number of people that are in the room um and then the distribution of the air in the room um those things dictate how high it rises. Um, we can even see on the data how um the room loads, then they go away um to lunch and it drops a little bit and then they come back and um
102it rises again and then at the end of the day, as you might expect, um it drops back off again. Um one of the reasons that we know the loggers are working is because overnight it falls back down to that low level um um that we see all night long. So um the data is good. It it it the predominant peaks um have to do with the steady repeatable rise that we see um in the room. And um you know, you can walk up to one of these data loggers and breathe on it and it'll spike to 5,000. That's not a particularly interesting data point, right? That's that's a piece of information that's really not worth anything. Um, so what we're trying to do when we pull the data out of the data logger is
103take a look at what the predominant peak is in the room. And um, I think the thing to take from the graph is the improvement um, in the levels um, from pre-RO to post project. Um, and as I said, I I think we're pretty happy with the result of the project. So >> I'm curious just for the science. So some of these are classrooms that you would think you can they would be similar, right? just both classrooms, but some of them before were like really agre outrageous. Um, and then some were not terrible and they still everything came down. >> Um, but what makes that room be so outrageous? Is it like where it's positioned in the building or >> Yeah, it does depend a lot on the number of people that we cram into
104that space. But the other thing and going back to I think Jim's question um there was some variability um as we got into the systems there was one air handler I think in this building um that the outside air intake actually was blocked off 90% um when we put the new unit in it kind of snaked up through the roof um when we put the new unit in and we came in and did testing on it the um return section of the air handler was just tremendously negative. it shouldn't have been because it should have been drawing air from the roof, outside air, and um it was tremendously negative. Um and on further research, what we found was that the actual outside air intake um was was 90% blocked. And so some of those things
105obviously play into um the the height of these numbers and how high they rise. I mean, if an air handler is serving a space and the outside air is blocked, it doesn't really matter how well the air handler is working. There's no outside air coming in. So I think some of that was variable through the project as well. Um some of the classrooms like the middle school just have unit ventilators. So every classroom gets its own little unit. Um but other places we've got units like this uh which serve multiple spaces and those are a little more complex. So um but if I had to tie it to one thing, I would tie it to the number of people that ultimately arise in the space that ultimately arrive in the space. >> More questions. Um
106>> I have a question >> for Dave. Um did the dent school not have a um maintenance contract or how did that get overlooked with the clogged um >> did you say uh we will have a maintenance contract is >> No, I know you will, but the same company and I I was being a little facicious. you know, I mean, how did that get overlooked >> if we had a contract the cleaning of uh the Sun School when he mentioned that? Um, >> it wasn't overlooked. We we had a contract before the project and we'll have one going forward. >> I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing. >> No, that's not the question. The question was that he stated that they ran into a problem. The blockage is the latest one that he
107may mention the blockage. I don't think that has to do with maintenance. But the other thing had to do with done school and um there was something about the filter hadn't been cleaned. >> Yeah. Hadn't been cleaned. So that was my question. You know, how did that get overlooked? >> Filter is supposed to be cleaned when periodically whenever the system requires it. >> It's just a question. Um you know, >> so this this wasn't a filter. It was a screen that is outside >> and dust had accumulated on the screen. It's actually right at the entrance of the building. If you look up above the pitched roof right there, there's this big outside air intake. And for some reason, that that screen had accumulated all this dust in one corner where that one air handler
108outside air intake is located. But the actual filters to that unit are down inside the air handler itself. So it's it's difficult especially before without having a you know CO2 readout. It's unless you do what Steve did for commissioning and put a instrument inside that unit and see the negative pressure it's hard to know that you know that is clogged up on that roof. So that's how it was found due to you know commissioning and making sure all the equipment is functioning properly. So moving forward with the monitoring, might that also be a nice side effect not only to the air quality, but if something suddenly is the numbers are wildly off, that probably means you could >> there's a problem, >> a crumb of some breadcrumbs we could follow. >> Great. >> Okay, >>
109one more clarifying thing I want to make sure you get full credit for. um over at mechanical services. When you say value added services and you gave a whole list of really nice things you did, did you do all of that inside of the budget that we already had? >> That's a >> Is that what that was? Like the asbesus abatement and all the extra things we added it was, you know, apparently from my understanding it was a fixed price and that was stuff that we took upon ourselves to fix for the school. I just want to give you full credit for that and make sure people know what that means that you did um a bunch of great work on top of what we asked you to do. So, um I'm sure the community
110appreciates that um as well. So, great. Anything else? This is really thorough and I appreciate it. I know it's really late on a beautiful day and also nice to see Steve again after you were here at the very beginning, Misty. Are the before and after pictures and like this lovely little chart posted somewhere for the lovely taxpayers to see? >> Yes, on our website and all of our materials before this evening. >> Um, great success. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> All right. Well, that is super satisfying and exciting. I can't believe it's been that many years on the timeline from when we started. I can believe it >> just squabbbling about this in the um group new Glouester meeting house. >> Yeah. I mean I I I think it's you know worth not being
111sarcastic about that point is that >> you know there was an incredible amount of work done by administration by the school board by all sorts of people to identify the problem identify the funding source. Um, you know, yes, we had to bond some of this, but one of those bonds is at 0% interest. Um, you know, the the fund that we applied to and that mechanical services helped us with uh was vital in keeping the cost down uh and to get this amount of improvement at four by five schools is incredible. And yeah, we started doing this during the pandemic uh because we knew there was going to be money available. And uh it's to the administration's credit to making sure that we, you know, that this was Diane. This is, you know, people that
112don't even work for us anymore and knew that they would not be working for us when this project was over. Um, really pushed to make sure that we took advantage of this money. Uh, and again, I just think it's a huge win for our schools. Uh, you know, when you look at how accumulated carbon dioxide affects uh cognitive performance, we're literally making our kids smarter uh with this project. It's a huge huge upgrade. I'm just really happy about it. It's awesome. >> Yeah. And things are changing so fast at the state. I think that the the revol the funds we were able to utilize for this are already now not considered these projects are not rated as highly as it was even when we >> yeah this is the co money you know is um
113you know we took advantage of it and you know we actually did what you were supposed to do with the money which was improve the air quality. It's great. >> Good job. Well done. >> All right. >> Um I'm also impressed by all the additional work that they did. Like I wasn't expecting that full list, those two sheets of of value ad. That's impressive that they went above and beyond to make all those additional changes that they didn't have to do, but um they were in in it to win it and I think they did a really good job. So super stoked. I love the before and after pictures. I think those are amazing. And I know they're there, but to put it on this recording that people can see those pictures on those places
114is really important for taxpayers. Great. All right. Okay. Next up is All right. So, we have um an agenda item here for a central office, a restructure um at central office. So, I know it's um there's a lot of material, there's a lot of charts. This has been through personnel committee. Um, how we're ultimately going to handle it, I think, is through a series of vote motions and votes on job descriptions. But before we get into how that all falls through, um, I wanted to open up just a conversation or questions about um, the changes that we're seeing. So ultimately coming from um David has um made the determination to not um return for next school year. His um current contract ends at the end of June. Um we worked long and hard to make
115that higher. Um we know that this position is going unfilled in other districts. Um and we're going to be a little bit back where we started. Um so personnel committee has been doing work with um Dr. Turner on what is actually the best way to get the work done um and are there uh solutions or do we have the the skills that we need to do things differently. Um so the proposal that you that you see materials on today has already like I said been through the ringer with them and with um personnel. So before we do various motions on changing the job descriptions, do folks have um questions about the um narrative memo and the draft organizational charts and how we're going to get the work done. Grant >> um yeah I'd like to
116understand what was rationale for an assistant superintendent. >> So the rationale there is we are eliminating the director of um business and finance the operations director and finance director. So, we're eliminating an admin position and changing the curriculum to assistant superintendent so that there's more relevant work that can be done under that umbrella which actually reduces an administrator in that office and China could talk more specifically to the skill set if that's useful >> but Um you so the superintendent secretary >> Mhm. >> is now just getting a new title I think. Isn't that what that means? Basically become an executive. The duties >> new titles and additional duties. >> Additional duties which would um uh be what would she be taking over? >> So we have that in the updated job description for on
117Q. Do you want to give the highlights? >> Uh yes. So it's expanding the role uh that they would have particularly around uh supporting my work in um maintaining the core district documents, job description, collective baring agreements, uh the school calendar. Um continuing but taking a more direct role around managing our homeschool Raymond choice superintendence agreements. um and looking uh to have that person have more of a role in overseeing the administrative support at all of the buildings as well as throughout the rest of central office. Okay. And um yeah, this is a little difficult but all right I I still um we we we have across to the uh finance um director of finance. So that position has been eliminated. >> Correct. And we're now given a new title to the curriculum person to
118become the assistant superintendent and curriculum coordinator. What? Okay, I'll read the um job duty of the assistant superintendent. >> Assistant right here. >> Is there a question, Fran? >> Oh, not yet. I'm gonna breeze through this. >> Does anyone have questions on the the overall strategy here, Sam? >> Um, so one specific question, which is do we run the because I know the ED279 formula can be very pnikity about job titles and one of the reasons we've resisted an assistant superintendent in the past is that like we weren't quite big enough for the ED279 to think >> that's not a thing anymore. That's not >> It was eliminated the last time the ED279 was redone. It eliminated that. Yes. >> Brilliant. All right. That because that was one of the reasons why we resisted that
119in the past. Um so just as a general comment on the reorganization, you know, this is a position that we have uh changed around two or three times since uh Gary and I have been on the board. Um, we've had people come and go and we've tried to and I agree with the memo that it's a very difficult position to fill. Um, and I think this direction is here and I think um, you know, check and adjust is sort of built into what we do. I just think we want to make sure when we added this position, we added a person to the district office because we were concerned about workload. We didn't want, you know, our superintendent micromanaging the bus routes or whatever it happened to be. You know, that's for example, but, you
120know, we want to make sure that uh, you know, the workload is appropriate. So I think you know if we can get the work done with one less person you know it makes sense to me just knowing you know we've really grown uh some of the operations people we've you know got a new transportation guy who you know brings different skill sets and you know we've we've kind of changed staffing at different levels I just want you know this should be I think maybe a sixmonth uh checkin on workload and whatever I think if we're going to reduce head count in central office. We want to make sure that doesn't increase stress levels or affect our ability to do X, Y, and Z. I think, you know, some kind of six-month report on the success
121of this uh reorganization would be appropriate. You know, just kind of peg that for like January, February, we're in the next budget season. What I don't want to have happen, which has happened to us in the past, is it like gets to May, we've already done the budget and it's like, oh, we want to add a position and we're going to do some crazy stuff. Um, you know, let's make sure we're just ahead. >> Yeah, agreed. And the nice thing about um this while we are reducing a person, it we are we also have retained some um payroll budget essentially. So, if we see some growth or we get some facilities project underway or like we just did this huge thing and there was some some wobbles of it would be nice to have someone
122in house who who could, you know, be the go-to um that we would potentially leave room to be able to pick that up without it being an ad. Um ultimately, um another thing I liked about it is it's hard to back up the superintendent. Um, we know the curriculum director has historically backed up the superintendent when she's out of town, but it's really hard when you get an angry parent and they say, "I want to talk to the superintendent." Well, can I give you to curriculum? No. Can I give you to the assistant superintendent? Yes. You know, I think it helps people understand what that the the role is and what the band what the bandwidth that we need is. Um, is there anything that we're not covering about it that you wanted me to
123say? >> No, you hit the highlights. Um, both of, you know, the concerns that have been brought up are absolutely concerns we we've wrestled with and I appreciate the the six-month check-in was very much on my list, well ahead of the budget, so that we can make sure, you know, kind of long term we're making the right choices. Um, but I feel confident I feel confident that this this could work um and and is likely our best path forward, particularly given the timing. >> Excuse me. Did you say that that position is in the budget? It wasn't taken out. The notification the notification just came or has it been in the works for a while? The notification of of the position that being filled >> was postbudget approval. >> Any other questions? Broadly, we'll move
124on to taking them motion by motion. Okay. So, having said all that, I would um >> I just did notice we're missing a letter. >> Okay. Just >> I won't say Um, I'd hear a motion that we uh approve an updated superintendent job description. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion specifically to the new scope of work um for superintendent which ultimately still everything that happens at the district is the responsibility of the superintendent. Adam, >> I I didn't know if we should add under the supervisor's paragraph, um the executive assistant position. Um that one requires like a ton of supervision. Um I just think it got left out. >> Uh that is a good spot and I apologize. I think that you did bring that up in personnel and I clearly did not make
125it to the paper that went forward. I apologize. >> Uh okay. So with that um edit anything else we do uh all in favor. Great. Next up, I would hear a motion to approve the updated assistant, well, actually add an assistant superintendent job description. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion about that, Fran. >> How would the salary work in that position for the assistant superintendent? >> You mean how would it work? It the same as any other administrator in that building. They're not um continuing contract. >> They're non-bargaining. Non bargaining >> the sally amount would be increased correct >> from the curriculum director. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Correct. >> Yeah. Do we know how much that will be or >> I do not. We have to negotiate. I have to place that. >> Okay.
126So, it's not in the budget. >> Well, we're we're removing a full position. So, every Okay. Every pres every sort of presumed change still will not overcome the loss of the position. >> Yep. Okay. >> We're roughly a half a salary to the good. Isn't that roughly the case? >> Yeah. Or even a little better. Back backup napkin. Yeah. We're about half a salary. Yeah. >> Anything else on assistant superintendent? All in favor? Opposed? Great. We will add one of those. Love it. Um, I would hear a motion to approve the updated business manager job description. >> So moved. >> So I'm sorry. Can I just have a cl point of clarification? >> Yes. >> Um, just I heard what you said. Are we going to advertise this position or are we changing the title
127of the person that's in the role? >> We're changing the title of the person in the role. You're referring to the assistant superintendent, >> right? That's what I thought. But I thought you said this hasn't been posted or something and I was like, are we posting? >> We haven't we haven't negotiated a new contract with the new job description because the job description had not been right approved yet and the board had not approved them. >> I'm just I'm just saying we're not advertising >> making all of this with existing staff. >> Thank you. Yes. >> And I'm being lazy with my language when I said new because we don't have an assistant superintendent job description yet, but >> we do have a >> That's what we just voted on. So, we're gonna add that.
128>> Okay. Um, do did we get a motion on approving an updated business manager job description? We did. That happened. Okay. Uh, questions specific or discussion specific to the business manager. All right. All in favor? Opposed. Great. And I would hear a motion to approve the updated um exe executive secretary to the superintendent job description. >> So moved. >> Discussion. All in favor? >> Opposed? Great. Um then I would hear a motion to um approve an updated office support office support specialist job description. >> So moved. >> And then the significance of this is is more just extending the the the year for an existing >> Yes. The office support specialist uh is the receptionist of our office and also provides support to the curriculum director with that position changing and taking on two additional
129departments. That job that has been um school year plus a couple of days we're looking to make year round and add the duties related to having those extra pieces extra departments. discussion. Frit sim >> uh just again clarification on the performance responsibilities of the uh office support specialist. Number two ends with ellipses and that is just I I'm just not sure what those ellipses mean. Is it like that other stuff but underneath or >> just I was just confused. >> Was that like a thought? unfinished thought. >> That is an unfinished thought. Uh perhaps we could table that one and I will u go back to the drawing board on it and we can take it up again. >> Is it also just fair to say assist logistical coordination of professional development throughout the district
130period? Like we don't have to get in the weeds about it, right? >> I would be I was just wondering what that what the dots meant. it it had previously talked about including like you know they book it and they do the POS and they do the invoicing and they do the you know those sorts of things. So I think the intention was to include the specificity of that. >> I might recommend making that uh period after district I would be fine with that. >> Okay. I apologize. >> You know it just seems like we could just heap whatever on this person. You have to do everything. >> It's infinite. >> Yes. I'm sure she'd be thrilled. Um, all right. All All in favor? Great. Opposed. Wonderful. Um, and then, uh, finally, um, I would
131hear a motion to eliminate the job description of director of finance and operations. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion on that. Um, all in favor? Opposed? All right, we did it. So, thank you for um supporting central office in that. I think this will um is an exciting change and um I like the Sam's idea of making sure come you know December, January um see how it's going should we need to make any changes in time for you know the season, the hiring season. Okay, this brings us to end of year reflection at 8:30 at PM at the last meeting. I'm sure everybody's full of good ideas and wants to dive into this. Um I thought it might be a useful exercise even to spend just a couple of minutes. Um all the committees
132went through the this using this little chart and I felt like it was really handy. um you know what were the accomplishments and what should the priorities be looking forward and it seems like it might be nice to do that um as a whole if folks have ideas and I happen to know that I think Hunter already filled this out for the whole board didn't you? >> Let's start with you. >> Uh yeah, I filled it out. >> Give us some couple of your favorites. Um, I think three things the committee should priorit or I guess the rephrase it the board should prioritize next year. Um, I'd really like to see us refocus on portrait of a graduate. Um, we introduced the idea at the very start of the year and I was generally super
133excited about its potential and we kind of just never really talked about it again. I know we had a busy year but I would really like to see us, you know, spend a lot of time with that concept. Um, you know, I think it's a great idea and I'd like to see that. Um, and then obviously I know our strategic plan concludes next at the end of next year, but I really like to see us prioritize that. I don't want us to just slap something together at the end of the year and it's all good. So, I'd really like to see us focus a lot of time on that. Um, and then things to consider to improve our operational efficiency. to me. Um, I think working more closely with our respective town councils, right, or
134select boards, I believe, is what New Glouster calls theirs. Um, you know, I think sometimes our work overlaps and it's good to have an understanding of what their priorities are and what they're doing and kind of, you know, maybe work together is um, this one's a hard one, but and I don't know how we would focus on it, but I guess increasing community input. I don't know how you would do that per se, but just I guess to me I'd really like to see our community, you know, fill up this room. I I watch the town council every Tuesday night in Gray and that room is always filled and I'm kind of sad when I come and there's no one here for us. Um not that that's a board thing, but I just think, you
135know, as board members maybe trying to tell them to show up and say, "Hey, you know, it would be really cool if you guys came and supported us." Um, and then I think some approaches that we were really successful this year was our communication. Um, every time I would scroll through Facebook when I probably shouldn't have been should have been working, I would see a great story from our school and it was just awesome to see and I think that was great. Um, also the preparedness of our board. I think that brings meaningful conversations when we show up and it makes our work um easier. And then I think just this opinion, but like everyone was enthusiastic this year. Um you know, everyone showed up with a smile on their face and was happy to
136be here. And so that that was really like successful. And then our most significant accomplishments this year was our budget. I mean, I don't think I've ever seen it pass the referendum in flying colors. I could be totally wrong. This is a sort of my first budget cycle, but and then, you know, I was really excited. I think a huge accomplishment is our long-term capital plan. I think that's going to make life a lot easier throughout the years. And as boards sort of change over, it's just going to be this is where we're at. Here you go. And I think that was a huge accomplishment, you know. >> Great. Thank you. Well done. I totally put you on the spot. You were ready. Um, is anyone else as prepared as Hunter? Adam. >> Uh, so
137I had even though our board chair Oh, never mind. Um, one of the three uh or some of the more significant accomplishments I thought um we've kind of readily added grow to our attract and retain mantra when we're talking about our staff. Um obviously we're uh we're proud to have kind of you know had a hand in growing our own new superintendent. So um it's kind of readily in the conversation that grow has been added. Um I think another accomplishment uh we did grow maintain a positive respectful working relationship with our you know air quotes new superintendent. So this was our first full year and um no one murdered anybody. So um we did it. Yeah. Big win. Um I think some of the strategies and approaches we should consider um facilities moved out from
138under the business meeting deliberately to allow more time to be dedicated to the committee. Um, I think we should probably remove the mindset that committee meetings should be an hour. Um, and or restructure the committee meetings onto I guess just say I'll pick facility say facilities was known for taking 20 minutes. Um, maybe we could put that ahead of say policy that um, you know can run way over. So I would be thoughtful with the scheduling of that. Um I think um this would be a great report or these bullets points would be you know lovely to be answered by our one and only employee. Um it's you we should reciprocate the review process and or uh at least gather feedback on what has been helpful and and you know all of these are applicable.
139So, I would um you know, I love to get feedback from from my employees, even the hard to hear stuff. Um >> being a a room full of high functioning high achievers, it's >> uh what's working really good is always nice to hear, but what uh what we could improve on. Uh I mean, that's why we're here. Yeah, >> it's a good point, Sharon. >> Um, I don't really have much to add, but one of the notes I had was I um felt this year that there were a lot more student presentations. Um, and I felt like a more of the schools were represented. Um, and I really like that because that's the focus. That's why we're here. We're here for the students and the schools. And so I think it was sort of a
140nice reminder. Um, so that was just one of the only other additional notes I had. >> Who else? Gary, what words of wisdom do you want to leave us with? And a little more Um, I agree with Hunter. I think the it moving back to the portrait of a graduate work, uh, portrait of a patriot, however that ended up being. Um, I think we, a lot of us got really excited about that in the beginning of the year and it sort of disappeared. I realize it's been a busy year and it didn't totally disappear. I know it's being evaluated. Uh but I think I think that's an exciting opportunity and u it was part of interviews, it was part of reviews, it's been part of all all kinds of conversations. I think it'd be great
141to go back to that. I think that um we need to keep I think it'd be good to keep a focused view on AI development and um including that in um digital literacy. I think that that's a place where it could live if we could enhance that whole program. I think not as not as a warning but as a opportunity my thinking has kind of come around a little bit on that that you know, the while I'm still worried, um, I think that horses left the barn and so now it's an acceptance and opportunity exploitation in my head that so how can we how can we leverage it to benefit kids and that's that's in my head. Um, I think it's fabulous that we f we have that strategic plan for facilities. I think that
142was a huge amount of work and I think that's going to benefit the district for a long time. Um I was really happy to see that. That kind of um dilutes my concern about um losing sight of the of the things that we felt were important when we started working on the bond improvements, the things that never got addressed because we didn't have the money. that plan. Reading through that plan, I see a lot of those items are in there. And so over time, they will be addressed. And this occurred to me, this is a little reflection on my own part as as I'm in my last meeting. Uh sitting at graduation last week, I realized that I came on the board when those kids the year those kids were born. Mhm. >> So, I've
143been here for their whole trip and about the time they went into the kindergarten, we voted on the bond stuff the first time. They graduated without us having accomplished a lot of it. >> I think that's kind of sad. Uh, it was important enough to bring it bring it forward to the community. I realize it was controversial. There's lots of stuff in there, but it was important enough for the board to bring it forward for the town and we're still bringing it forward and there's still parts of it that we're not getting done. And so we lost an entire graduating class or well more than that. We've lost multiple graduating classes, but a whole generation of kids have gone through since our first try. And I I just that that bothered me when I was
144sitting in the audience and I started hitting those those milestone dates and it just occurred to me. It's like, oh, 2014 was when we first went to vote on this. These kids were in the first grade or kindergarten. Here they are marching across the stage and we're still fighting against stuff. Anyway, uh that's kind of my my reflection on this on this thing. Um yeah, so that's those are my thoughts. >> Thank you, Lauren. You changed your mind. >> Lauren is out. Teresa, um, I agree with Hunter with the portrait of a graduate. I really hope we can revisit that again because I was excited about it when when it was in part of the interview process with Shanda. Just I thought it was interesting and I'd like to see more about it. I agree
145with Sharon. I would love to see some more presentation from the kids because it really does bring our focus into what we're doing here. it's tangible when they come and talk about what they're doing in class. And um and al just for our own sake, I appreciated the digital welcome packet for the board members that was pulled together because my first year I was winging it and the fact that it's sort of pulled together one spot now and it's live and you can go look at what you need instead of having to find your way through the website. I just thought that was helpful and I hopefully for future members it'll be helpful too. Sam. >> Um, just a couple successes that we haven't mentioned. I actually think this uh meeting setup is a success.
146Uh, we sort of have zigzagged all over the place in my tenure and we've met in all kinds of different ways and forms and I think we've settled on something that provides good transparency. Uh, easy to stream, uh, easy to hear everybody. Uh, it looks sharp. I like our little table drapes. Um, so that's a success, I think. Um, I also, um, you know, this was a major success, right? Like I, you know, just to, you know, put a finer point on it, um, that, uh, was accomplished, uh, this year and it's a huge success. Um, thanks for prioritization. It's interesting Gary mentioned AI. Um, I think the uh as we look forward, you know, the I think the law banning the uh personal devices bellto bell is just the start of our re-examination of
147our kids relationship with technology and how often they are in front of a screen. Um, I think having onetoone devices all the way down to the K level offers a number of advantages and there are good reasons why we made those decisions. Um but again check and adjust. I don't know that uh longterm we are going to want our kids on their devices as often as they are on their devices now in our schools. Um when you look at uh some of the data around uh how successful uh schools you know with kind of full implementation of devices all the time are in terms of meeting their academic benchmarks. There's some questions on whether kids learn as well from computers as they do from books um as they do from typing as they do from
148writing by hand. U and I think we need to make sure that um we are not letting uh convenience or you know XYZ without casting any aspersions uh get in the way of like what is actually the best way to encode information in little human brains. Uh and I think you know there's there's no way to know what would have happened without doing it. And now we do have a lot of data on how kids learn with devices. And I want to make sure that we are putting devices in kids hands for really good reasons. Um and making sure um that the pedagogy is good, making sure the results are good, making sure the curriculum uh accounts for you know just changes in the way kids learn because just the K the especially the AI
149there is some good data that just kids are not retaining as much information as they used to It can be frightening when you look at some of the results. So, I want to make sure that that is high on our priority list for next year. >> I think we had a killer year. Um, I just my list of things here. Um, obviously having Chanda on board was a huge win for our district. So, thank you for stepping up and rising to the occasion and taking on this huge new role for you and for us and you've been crushing it. So, just want to say thank you first to you. Um, obviously this project was huge. Our new safety plan, which we um really nailed down this year, was a huge accomplishment finally. Um, in policy,
150we absolutely crushed the year with as many policies we've got through. Obviously, facilities is a no-brainer with our new capital plan. So, the two committees I sat on were just outstanding. Um, and then, um, obviously the budget. I was super impressed. I texted Sam because he missed the wonderful, uh, meeting as soon as I got home and I was like, "You'll never guess." That was the best budget meeting. Um, because I knew he'd want to hear the good news. Um, so I was really excited about the presentation and all the accolades in that presentation and everybody voted and and and they spoke that, you know, we did a good job. And then obviously the long-term capital plan is something we've been working on for a really long time. We've kept kicking the can down the
151road and now we have a plan that I'm super excited to see come to fruition. Um and hopefully I'll still be here when that happens. So I'm not going anywhere. Hopefully for a long time. >> I'm sad Gary's leaving us. Um, uh, pretty much everything on my list has been mentioned. I I do think that we, looking back over the last couple of years, I I do think we made really good use of our meeting time this year. I think our business meetings have been packed. um the workflow uh really mostly not mostly 100% thanks to Chanda the but the workflow and keeping us moving and actually having things on the agenda in the right order that we need to um has been great and I feel like people have really committed to coming prepared
152which is awesome and makes for um a productive meeting. So I'd like to see moving for coming back next year. Do we get back to making how do we get back to how can we grow our use of our workshop time because I feel like we actually might have some time on the table of workshops to um so I'd love to hear thoughts from members of things you'd like to dive into or ways you think we could spend that time. Um in previous years we were often sort of adding business meetings to get stuff done in in those spaces and I don't feel like we've had to do that um as much. So we might be thoughtful about that. Um I echo the interest in p portrait of um a graduate. I think we had
153I'm not sorry that we didn't start it. I think doing it more closely aligned to the sunset of the strategic plan will help sort of write the strategic plan and um there's really a lot to be done this year letting Dr. Turner get her feet under her and figure out what's what and doing such a a you know comprehensive activity at the same time might not have um been as meaningful. So I I look forward to tackling that. Um and that is anything different I had. All right. So I wrote these things down in a hurry all over a piece of paper, but I'll go back and fill it in um in the grid. so we can have it with all of our reports. Um the end of year committee reports have been sort of
154coming in in progress. So we'll have we'll move into committee reports and have folks speak to speak to that. But then for our next June meeting, I think we'll have in finalized in writing sort of on the books all of those reports. Was that that's the thinking? >> That was the plan. Yes. Correct. >> All right. So, moving into committee reports. Adam, what do you got to say about facilities? >> Um, you want me to go over the year end report like fully? >> Oh, wait. No. Is yours So, some of them No, >> we want you to talk about your last >> final. Okay. >> Yeah. Just like your actual last meeting and then we'll >> Got it. Okay. Um so like every meeting we um began with our completed in progress and not
155yet started um facilities projects. It's again important to remember that um just because our kids may go home for the summer, our buildings are still wide open and all of our fields and grounds are being used uh by various organizations. So this is a yearround thing. um looking at um kind of referencing what's encumbered in billing and summertime projects and referencing against you know where we stand financially. Um we had a little discussion about uh the ability for the district to throw things away uh as opposed to keep putting it in the back of storage um prioritizing getting rid of it. Uh we talked um briefly about our capital improvement plan and and making it a little more uh actionable vocab. Um yeah, we talked about kind of our summertime projects scheduled around the departments
156under our charges. Um, this was uh the shortest facilities meeting we had had all year by like an hour and a half. Um, >> yeah, that was that was pretty much it. >> Questions for Adam in the the details of the work um going on at facilities. Fran, >> um, did you discuss how you were going to train the parents uh, for bus apps and other training, how how you were going to work that out? >> We shared that in August when it's time to start coming back to school that we will provide parents with with training options to know how to use that. That will include going out on our social media, providing written documents, providing videos, um sending it out directly to parents, um using both our school-based opportunities, our open houses. So,
157there'll be lots of opportunities for our families to get the support they need. >> Others. All right. Thank you, Adam. finance. >> Uh we met uh on May 27th. Uh so after the great work of the finance committee was largely done. We just looked at our uh expense reports, revenue reports, everything is on projection. Uh our now departing director of finance did not have anything uh he wanted to draw our attention to. uh end of year projections are pretty much in line with uh where we thought they were going to be when we made the decisions around the budget. Uh we will be uh trimming our general fund by a little bit with the work that we've done this year uh as we've sort of been planning to. So that's all uh on schedule. Uh
158and then we spent some time with our end of year reflection and we are not talking about that. Yes, because I I think some of them are not as complete as yours. >> Okay. >> Yeah, just yet. Maybe. Right. Is that's the situation? Um I'm also thinking by doing that at our second June meeting, it's a really good opportunity for new members to get like a summary of what has happened. Um it might help folks hit the ground faster. So >> then I have nothing left. >> Yeah. So we'll hold those. Um questions for Sam. All right. Thanks, Tim. Personnel. >> So, we met on May 13th and for the most part, we had our new business was reviewing the central office staffing changes, looking at the um the org charts, changings in that as
159well as then the follow through on all the job description um changes so that we saw um approved here. and then also did the um reviewed two of the regular um job descriptions, the nutrition as well as the teacher. And that again we saw um this evening and then had our end of year reflection and then went into executive session for the superintendent evaluation. >> Questions for Lauren? >> Oh, because you're next. Um, all right, Gary. >> It's gonna be anticlimactic. Um, we have not met since Hunter reported last. Um, and if but the one thing you might want to be aware of is if you go in and and look at the actual minutes. They're pretty exhaustive. Um, Kathy really summarized the meeting and pretty strong depth. So, or Hunter did, one of somebody
160did. The cooperation was great and uh so I wasn't there so I can't do much of report anyway but Hunter already did the report on our last meeting. >> All right Sharon >> um so policy met on the 27th um and we had to get through the two policies that we went through today already and that's exactly what we did. So policy gets to hit the ground running next year. All right. Do you Oh, no. We'll save that data point for your year end report next time. I'll be curious how many policies you guys moved through this year. >> I don't know, but we'll find out. >> I was told we would have numbers. So, I mean, I don't want to say like they're a pretty rockstar year, but you'll have to wait to >>
161stay tuned everyone. >> Stay tuned. To be continued. >> That's right. >> All right. Uh nothing from me and so we'll go to superintendent report. Uh last we were together I shared with you that the state had released a list of cost sharing facilitators and there were three and I had reached out to all three. Uh since that time they've added two more. So there are now five folks on the list. I have been in regular communication with all five um attempting to get to a proposal and quote. Um there are two that are pulling ahead of the pack and I'm scheduled to engage with them further. Um one of them tomorrow and one of them next week. So we are hoping to uh put the contracting of a facilitator behind us. And I promise
162you no one wants to do it more than I do. So um I look forward to reporting next time that hopefully we are there. We then have Do you want me to Sorry. Good. >> Any questions about that? >> Um so what would be the next step? Because we'll be missing a member on the questioner committee. So what will be the next step? >> Oh that's right. So we will put um we will put it on the agenda probably for the 17th >> 17th to have the new Gloucester membership caucus to pick a new person to replace Gary. Um >> it'll be June 17th and time where you'll have a facilitator as well. >> No, no, no, no. >> I can't promise that. >> No, we will just replace Gary on the committee then. We
163could >> we could >> she can't promise >> but I can't promise. >> Uh it's also probably worth reminding folks and noting that we have by statute Dr. Turner is tasked with this job. She is doing it. Um it is it will get done when it gets done. Uh the board has expressed multiple times that we want to be as handsoff as possible. Um and this isn't our job. Um and any action that would come that would actually come of this would have to go to referendum in um a June election which obviously will not be next week. So um if it takes a little time to get a um qualified and appropriate facilitator to do the job well, it's still going to the results of that are still going to potentially set until next
164June. So I don't see any point in pressuring um the timeline. Um, >> so you said June election. Why not in November? >> Does the statute states that changes to this take place at the municipal election? There's some language to it that points to um June, which is the school board is supposed to be doing their stuff in June elections. And I think it's also in the statute that changes what it it how it affects is the next budget the next budget year. So even something voted in. No, not necessarily. >> Not necessarily. June election is when we're supposed to do our schoolboard stuff. That's my understanding. So, >> other questions on that. >> Does it? >> It's been a very uh long process. I I think and um agree it it um >> um
165is this the way the state expects things to run? You know, it takes two budget cycles before you can even address the budget. You know, I mean, this is um you know, I think it's absurd. >> That's my opinion. I think it's absurd. >> Absolutely agree with you, Fran. >> Yeah. >> Absolutely. Could not agree with you more. >> Absolute waste of all of our time. >> It's been very frustrating. >> So, next up on superintendent. >> Uh so, we have a couple of new hires. Uh Clifford Dudley has come on as our groundskeeper district-wide and Daniellea Bowden has come on as an edtech 2 at the Dunn School. Uh we have a number of resignations, all of which are mostly end of year. Um Adria Quiran, who is an edtech 2 at Russell School.
166John Shukarooi, our um transportation supervisor, has let us know he's going to be moving on. Uh Daniel Yenselen, world language teacher at the middle school, effective the end of the year. Robert Travis, one of our bus drivers, again, effective end of year. And as we discussed earlier tonight, David Pascal, our director of finance and operations, effective end of the year. We have a number of transfers uh within the district. These are all to take effect next school year. Um the uh Crystal McIntyre is going to be transferred from her position as an edtech 2 to Dun School to be the lead secretary at Dun School as Miss Jean Southern is retiring. We're excited about that. Um, Amanda Doyle, who is currently working as a pre-K edtech 2 at Dun School, is going to move into
167the special education department at that school. Adam Kakowski, who is certainly who is currently a um gateway special education teacher here at the high school, is going to move into that alternative education program and become our Excel teacher. Caroline King will transfer uh from her pre-K edtech 2 position currently um as her special education into one of our regular education positions um at Dun School in the prek program. And then uh Clarice is her official name, but we all know her as Khloe. Um is going to be transferring from her position as a lead secretary at the high school to take on an edtech role at the high school. >> For her and a win for the kids and we have no more retirements other than the lovely people you met earlier tonight. >> Can
168I just ask a question? you went right through the resignations and I did have a question about the bus uh transportation department. Um um you know do didn't we just hire the transportation supervisor a couple years ago or >> Okay. And then um we also have um the bus a bus driver. I'm not sure when we hired him, but anyway, I think this is something that maybe we need to address again because this is a very um um hard position to fill. And so I want to know basically what's going on. >> Um so >> not saying there is but just I think we should discuss it. It's worth discussing. >> So we can't discuss personnel issues out of the executive session. So, we can't discuss why someone decided to leave or not leave. Um,
169that's we can't do that in this setting. I would say that I don't believe there is a a problem with the you know the the people's popes leaving reasons for leaving are their own and they're not necessarily any that have risen up to personnel meetings and it's not something we would report out here or even be privy to. I wasn't looking at their their personal I was talking about the department itself you know I I is it worth reviewing see if there's something that can be done to you know keep people on longer or anything like that you know I'm not sure it's it's just seems like we're moving bus drivers around a lot so yeah >> yep sharers uh are tough and have been for a long Um, >> we have hired more than
170we've lost this year. >> So, that's good. We're We're up. We're ahead bus drivers. I would hear a motion to enter into executive session pursuant to 1 MRSA 4056A to discuss superintendent's evaluation. >> So moved. Second. >> Uh, and we uh in discussion we will adjourn to we will not return after the executive session. There'll be no action. >> We need to invite >> taken. We invite Dr. Turner. >> Yeah, I make the motion to invite Dr. Turner. >> Um and we will do so in the library so that um everybody else can get home. Uh, all in favor?