001We're on. Okay, great. Good evening. It is 6:30. I'm going to call uh the meeting to order. We have a forum tonight. We I have not heard from Misty. I do not think Hunter is going to make it. U maybe Misty will join us in time. Please join me for the pledge. And we're back here now. I pledge allegiance to the flag United. Thank you. Couple upcoming meetings. October 8th, we have personel at 5:30 followed by facilities committee at 6:30. That will be here in the well here at Dawn in the school library. October 15th, we have policy at 5:30 followed by a school board workshop at Russell School. As a reminder, our workshops now are also opening with a tour of the school that is hosting us. So, if anyone's interested in a tour
002of Russell School, we do the tour right at the of the session. So start with tour at about 6:30. October 22nd we have finance committee that will be at 5:30 again here at the Dun Library. Are there any actions relative to additions or adjustments to the agenda? Oh, the mic. [Music] at a time. >> Yes. All right. Um so no uh actions relative to the agenda. Any um we will move to comments from the audience. Um just if folks wish to speak um we will step Do we have a micro? >> Oh it's in it's at the podium. Okay. Um, folks are welcome to step up to the podium and you have up to three minutes to address the board on matters relevant to the work of the school district. >> Hi, good evening. My
003name is Charity Clinger Grey Mine. Um, not sure if I'm speaking prematurely or not. Um, but I did want to make you folks aware or at least um put in a request. It's my understanding um that the superintendent has received um signatures um to request a discussion um to have a fair share um taxbased program um when determining the budget. um moving forward. And again, it's just a discussion. Um and uh it's my understanding there was 795 signatures submitted, 75 or 79 of which um rumor mill has it that there wasn't a cover letter with. Um, however, I am um respectfully requesting that you honor those 75 or 79 signatures and apply it to the other 700 um plus signatures that were submitted um to you um and forward them on to the uh town
004council of Gray. Anybody else? >> Good evening. My name is Alan Zarvinus. I live in Topsum with my wife and two sons. I also work during the day as a civic organizer and help individuals and groups execute uh local initiatives to petition and work with their government. Um I did work some with the local group who had turned in these petitions. Um and I just wanted to testify that they were awesome and they worked really hard. Um they definitely explained what they were petitioning to the people. Um and it was overwhelming support. Um there was nonpartisan most of the time. Um and with most districts, I think you're feeling that the property taxes and the the burden on home uh homeowners is to the point where um they're just fed up. Um now, I know
005a lot of the statutes and and rule making and stuff coming down from above isn't doesn't make it easy. But in this case, it would be awesome uh if you took those uh signatures, accepted them, um passed it on to the town, and had a conversation about fair cost sharing for fair taxes. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? All right, moving on to our first bear with me a sec. Um, take action to take action relative to our minutes from our September 3rd business meeting. >> I make the motion that we take action relative to accepting the predating minutes of September 3rd, 2005, our regular business meeting. >> Questions, comments, findings on those? All right. See none. All right. and handing it over to Dr. Turner for some recognition. >> We have quite
006a few exciting recognitions today. I'm gonna turn it over to um middle school principal Rick Benoy, Riley Benoy, who is here tonight to talk about some cool work some of our kids have been doing. Thank you. It is uh my pleasure uh to introduce and to have the chance to recognize uh Olivia and Amelia Flanigan. If you guys could come up. Um Olivia and Amelia volunteered last spring for Special Olympics in Orno. Um they um are outstanding students, citizens. Uh they're athletes in their own right. So, it was really great for them to be able to volunteer and give their time to support uh these other athletes. Um, I'd encourage you to ask them some questions. >> Great. Welcome. Do you want to tell us a little bit about um what you did in your
007volunteer time with the Maine Special Olympics? >> Um, we went up to Main and we helped out with Special Olympics. We helped out with the softball toss. We helped out with the track and field and yeah, that's about it. But it was really like exciting to work with kids and also any age up there that needed some extra help and it was just so fun to get to help them. >> There was also like so many funny people there and it was just a great experience. questions from the board. >> U did did either of you get to be finish line huggers? >> No, but there was a lot of us timing them. >> Yeah. >> And then we were also at the end to like make sure they kept pushing and to like cheer
008them on to make sure that they >> would succeed to the end of the line. >> Yeah. I've been to several of those and the finish line is the place to be on the track. It's just hysterical. It's such a good time. >> Yeah. Great. Thank you. >> Yeah, there was tons of people from all around Maine. Lots of groups of people. 5,000. Wow. >> We received a letter from the state of Maine Special Olympics addressed to the school thanking us for what these kiddos did. So, you know, they're they're good at downplaying it, but it's pretty special the work they did if the Special Olympics took time to write us a letter to say how amazing it was. So, we thought it was important that you all knew that as well. >> Thank you.
009>> Questions? More questions? Don't want to put them on the spot further. What grade are you are you doing? I'm a freshman and I'm a eighth grader. >> Oh, wow. Fantastic. >> Were you Were there a lot of high school volunteers or were you a small Were you a elite group? >> There was two other girls that were in my grade and I think there was two younger girls and then the rest were mostly adults. Wow. >> How did you get the opportunity to do this? >> Um, my mom works at UNM and UNIM was volunteered to help out with the Special Olympics. >> Maybe something that can make annual. What a great opportunity. And >> I plan to go up there next year, too. >> Good. And bring a bunch more people with you.
010>> Yeah. >> I hope this really sparks your philanthropy um just passions because it's really important to do that your entire life. >> Well done. Anyone else? Well, thank you for coming in and taking the time to talk to us and uh well done on your work with the Special Olympics. >> Thank you. And Mrs. Day and I were actually just talking about how we'd love to promote this within for our student athletes uh as well as get some more of our students involved in this. So, um it's a great if you those of you who have never seen Special Olympics, it is awe inspiring. Um the the way those students work um and the encouragement that the community provides them uh the winter sport as well as the spring track and field uh type
011event, it's unbelievable. So, if you ever get the chance, volunteer and come >> like they did. I have one I have one more question. >> Sure. >> Did you go to the dance? >> Oh, the dance is the thing. >> It is. It's just It's a hoot. It's just so much fun. That's great. >> So, related uh it's a special Olympics kind of meeting. Um, we were notified uh in the last month since I've last seen you that uh Grand Foster High School was uh named a unified champion school. And are you how are you? >> Okay. I didn't think so, but just checking. >> Yes. So, I I just couldn't I knew someone couldn't come and then I was like, "Oh, did they volunte?" Okay, perfect. So, um so Gray Noster High School has
012been named. So, Unified Champion School is a distinction you have to apply for. So, uh, and we linked in kind of the information about the school, but it means that you're, um, putting forward things including unified athletics, which I I feel like we have communicated fairly well, um, as a school, but also just, um, different principles that really, uh, mean that we are committed to being a unified school, um, that really, uh, values inclusion of all students. So, um, the high school, it was, uh, Dr. Harvey worked really hard on that. Nate Priest was also um really our athletic director very involved in uh putting in our application and uh we were notified uh very recently that our application was accepted and approved and that application is now we are a unified school until 2028.
013We have to then reapply if we want to continue to be a unified school. So it's not the kind of thing that you just get to keep. You have to continue that work. So it's something we're incredibly proud of. Um there should be a banner coming. So we'll have another fabulous banner to put up at Gra High School. Um and uh just kudos to the kids in particular. Um but also the adults in the school that worked hard to have us qualify for this honor. >> Fantastic. Um before we move on, any questions about that piece? Um could you say a little bit more about the possibility of expanding? >> Yeah, absolutely. So um I I looked into Unified Champion School, of course, fully supportive of our school, um, going after going after it, and
014I was mildly familiar with it. But once, uh, we were named, I was digging in to get some more information to share with you, and I didn't realize that you could apply as an elementary school. Um, that is sort of a new thing. So, younger schools are eligible. Uh, so one of the things our administrative team will be doing, actually, I think next week, we put it, I can't remember exactly where, but I think it's next week, is to look it over because I suspect that most if not all of our schools will actually qualify without doing anything that they aren't already doing. And so I think Dun School is an excellent example. We had Dun School here um or Dun School at our at our board meeting sharing with you all what we've done
015around inclusive communication on the playground. And as you walk up through your playground, you can see the um the soundboard that we use to help children communicate with each other when verbal communication maybe is difficult for them. So, our schools are doing things like that all the time. And it's those are the types of things that qualify you to be um official unified school. So, it seems to me that if our schools are already doing the work, it probably makes sense for us to get the credit for doing it. So, that'll be work that we um undertake over the next um couple of months to look into it and see, you know, what what the requirements are and do we already meet them? And if we don't, you know, are we interested in moving forward
016with with changes that would make us eligible? Great. Look forward to uh seeing if we can add some more schools to that list. And and last up, but certainly not least, uh we have Stephanie Haskins, our director of adult education here along with um Teresa, who is her faithful everything. um here to talk a little bit about um some very exciting news which is that we had 33 students participate in our uh main college and career access program last year. And so Teres um Stephanie is here and Teresa I'm sure to tell you a little bit more about that program and the awesome work that our students have done. So with limited um PowerPoint or presentation skills, I brought some paper copies. Um so hopefully you guys can share. Um but what I wanted to
017do is just highlight some of our students. Um I wish more than anything that the invited students would come and some wanted to and some tried and some said they would and then cancelled. So um I can barely get them across the stage to graduate. So, um, coming in front of the school board, I think was just too far. I asked too much of them. Someday we'll have a boisterous and outgoing adult ed student who will come. But >> something you hear from Stephanie all the time when we talk about adult education is we meet people where they are and we take them as they come. And this is the absolute example of living that truth. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, um, so what is Maine College and Career Access? Just a little bit of background.
018Um it's a statewide adult education program partially funded through a state grant. Um it provides comprehensive advising and academic support to prepare students um for success in post-secary education or training. Um and the goal is to prepare adults for high quality um and a goal of um preparing adults for high quality employment andor a credential of value. Um so what does an MCCA student look like? um they could be working on their high set, but they tell us that they have interest in a particular career. So, we really focus that high set on, you know, you need to bring your writing level to this if you're going to um you know, pursue that after you're done the high set. You really need to get your math this far. Um it could be recent graduates. Um
019maybe there during their high set or during high school, they didn't really know what they wanted to do and afterwards they come in and see us. Um we do have new mayors who are um awaiting credit analysis to see what they qualify. So we've had um like a cardiothoracic surgeon who's training to be a CNA um and waiting for that credit transfer to see what um what they qualify for. And then another group of career changers who are people who have worked a job, their kids have graduated and now they're sitting there like I hate this job. What am I going to do next? And they come in and we can help them as well. So, who are these MCCA students? We have a recent graduate who has had to work really hard to um
020take and pass the IBEW exam. Um and after about six months of working really hard on math, um he passed. Now, is he definitely doing that? No. He's kept his option open for free community college. He's not sure which one he's going to do, and we're going to keep working with him and see which path he takes. Um we offer support through college math. Um we have a success uh college success course students can take where they actually use um Brightpace which is the learning management system used by the entire UI system as well as the community college system. Um so what they're doing is instead of trying to build the plane while they fly it, they're building it on the ground. They're building the skills to not just attend college, figure out what major
021they want, figure out how to take notes, but they're also using the learning management system. Um, we do career exploration, enroll in early college courses. Um, we've sent a couple of women to People's Inclusive Welding, which is a women-only um welding program um that can kind of reduce barriers for those who are kind of intimidated um about attending. And then more Now, I understand this girl, um, Charity Belgimon, um, she was one of our graduates this year. Um, and if you want to talk about overcoming barriers, um, she couldn't come today because she's a full-time college student. She had a driver's exam, um, and she's working full-time overnights. So, kudos to her and I thought that was pretty exemplary um, for um, really being one of our rockstar students. She came to us, she was
02219. That was last September. She dropped out of high school very young. She moved around a lot as a teenager. Her goal was to earn her high set, go to college, give back to the people in her community, and make her dad proud. And that's what she said when she came to us. So, our update is that she earned her high set last November of 2024. She completed a behavioral health profession training, also with a CPR first aid certification. She currently works overnight making $21 an hour and she's enrolled in college. Her goals are to get her driver's license. We have not heard yet. Um to buy a truck and to complete college, which she's well on her way to doing all of that. Her quote was, "I've never had such a positive experience with
023teachers or people helping me helping with my education. I wouldn't have traded my staff for anything. They were part of the reason I succeeded so much." Um, I think her dad must be proud. Like, he really has to be proud. I think she's hit it hit it right on the head. Um, another student, um, is Emily Fet. Um, she joined us when she was 17. Um, she was part of the class of 2023, um, but unenrolled in November of 2022. She struggled severely in high school and she just was desperate for an alternative pathway. It just wasn't working out for her. Um, just as note, um, her freshman year was co Um, and I think we found a lot of things like that happened. Um, her goal was to earn her high set and attend
024college. Just so you know, high set is lowercase with the asterct because that's their actual trademark. It and it bothers everyone, all of us. We're trying to get kids to capitalize things, proper nouns. But anyway, um, so an update on Emily. Uh she earned her high set in May of 2023 in March. Um she enrolled in free community college at CMCC and she's studying liberal arts. We were able to get an update that she's been on the deans list with president's honors which means her GPA is 3.9 or above on a four-point scale. She's on track to graduate with an associates degree. she's complete. Once she completes her associates degree, she wants to uh transfer to USM and earn a bachelor's degree in English. So, and Emily's quote is, "The staff at G&G's adult education
025program are fantastic. They are kind, encouraging, and incredible educators. The staff helped me get my high set transcript, enroll me into college, and have been supporting me in my educational journey from day one. They take you and your education seriously and they're willing to help you do whatever it takes to succeed. I wish they could have come because we are so proud of them. It's really great. Um do you guys have any questions about their journey or some of the things we offer? Um I like to say that we're sort of like um kind of like the parent who's been to college or been to these training programs who can kind of give them some advice where maybe um haven't been there or they don't have that example. Um, we kind of give them that
026soft landing in there until they can take off and do it on their own. Sometimes it's hard talking to an adviser when you don't know what you don't know. You don't know the next questions you need to ask. Um, and so what we do is try to reduce those barriers. Um, students have dropped out before because they couldn't get their login right >> and didn't go back to college. Like really? So, it's really getting through those barriers where they just thought they were too stupid and they couldn't do it. We're there to to help them persevere until they can persevere on their own. >> Great. Thank you for this. I really appreciate this is a really creative um format that lets us feel like we got to meet them a little bit and and see
027them and make them real. Um I'd like to say Emily and Charity, we're super proud of you. um congratulations on what you've accomplished and um keep going. Perhaps you can cue up the uh broadcast of tonight so that they can hear that they do get credit um for being here anyway. This is a lot um this is actually a a lot of personal information to share um and to put themselves out there like that is is very brave and admirable. Um would anyone else like to go on the record for our friends here? Sam Oh, I think you turned yourself on. >> I just want to make sure they hear you if they see the video later. >> Hopefully another >> happy to speak. graduates will be I can't hear you on the screen if
028you don't need. Okay. Um, anyone who graduates um with us by December 31st is still eligible because they would be considered the class of 2025. Um, and after that it is canled. It's no longer there. We're very hopeful that new legislation will come through um so that they will open it back up maybe with different parameters or maybe they there was only one bill that went through um and it was to make it permanent and maybe they would rather have it renewed every few years or something um because it's been hugely successful, hugely successful. Um, and a lot of our students, um, you know, students have to take advantage of any PEL money or any financial aid they're eligible for first. So, that doesn't cost the state anything. And a lot of our students we
029talk till we're blue in the face and say that you likely don't have to pay. You'll likely qualify for PEL. Um, but all they're hearing in the news is don't take student loans. It's not a good value. And and that's not true in every situation. Um, so we really try to um fingers crossed it comes back. Yeah. It's really been fantastic. Yeah. And do we know um how many of our students have taken advantage of that or would it be it would be hard to say because they're out of our >> I I think that guidance has that data of where where they were intending to go when they left >> when they're with us. We can ask them what they intend to do. Once they leave our doors, it's a little hard to get
030really strong reliable data, but we could get some best guesses data. Great. Anyone else? Thank you so much for coming in and representing your students and for them to be willing to um be represented in your in your PowerPoint. Thank you. All right. Now, we have a little bit of old business cleaning up a few things. Um, and looking through our work with job descriptions, policies. We did find a few outliers. Um, some job descriptions that the personnel committee did work on in 2024. um and lack paper trail to indicate that we ever approve them as the full board. So, these aren't things um they might not be unfamiliar the work that's already been done, but we want to make sure to close the loop on them. Um I would hear a motion to take
031these um as a group. I make the motion that we consider the job description for the esports advisor as well as transportation supervisor. >> Um, any questions um or comments on either of these two job descriptions? All right. All in favor of making it official. Wonderful. Opposed. Okay. And I think this completes Does this complete the job description? No. >> I know, but we're so close. >> So close. >> It's a It's a moving target. Okay. And that's it for old business. On to new business. Um we have to discuss the cost sharing formula petitions or the two petitions received um on September 9th, 2025 and September 18th. Um, so everyone should have seen um the memo I put together in advance um along with um a copy of the cover of the one petition
032um and then I did put the statute in. So I want to um certainly open on how we take this on but I would like to stay pretty organized here. Um my thinking is that the first step is we have to address as a board the signatures received to the school board. Um they've been at the central office if folks wanted to see them. I brought them here tonight. So we have the first one received in this format um with the cover sheet stating um the purpose of the petition. Um we knew in advance that was coming organized a drop off from uh Susan Fuller who dropped that off in person. Um, and then the second one, which looked like this without a cover sheet, um, handed off to Maggie from an Allen um, on
033a different date. So, they both had been reviewed by the town of Gray in terms of registered voters um, and were marked up accordingly. Um, that was done obviously separately because they did not come in together. So in terms of whether they're we know that these folks are registered voters um we do not know if there's duplicates in these two lists because they did not come in at the same time and that work has sorry they we know that the registered voters are not registered voters are marked. We do not know if there's any duplicates because they came in separately. So the gray clerk looked at them individually, not did not have them at the same time. So we have not verified that signatures are not repeated. Does that make sense? So with the process
034of any petition, it goes before the clerk and they verified that those are in true registered voters of the district that those petitions relate to. So in this case all the petitions were given to the clerk. If on the second petition there were any duplication or anything like that, it would have been so noted. It would not have been accepted as a signature. That's how they verify signatures. >> We have no way of knowing that, Fran, because this was already in our possession when this was given to the town clerk. [Music] >> Um, so we have that. >> I'm sorry. I apologize. There we go. Um I also want to note that the purpose of the petition, the first one which is in the materials, um has a stated purpose of requesting the board of
035directors convene a meeting of municipal representatives under title 20A section 1303 subsection 1301, excuse me, to reconsider current uh cost sharing formula. Uh it also includes a proposal on what that formula would be. Any other questions about the content of what we received before we move on to discussing what we do with it? >> Yes, I have one question. The u the second submitt uh is it my understanding that those signatures haven't been vetted and verified? So they have been vetted as are they registered voters of gray. >> You just have to cross reference to there to make sure that there's tor any duplicates of that sort. >> Correct. And nor is there the matching purpose of of signing. >> Okay. Just want to make sure exactly discre. >> Okay. Just want to take him
036in order. Sam, did you have your hand up? >> I did. I think it's just getting caught under your um >> He's got one. >> I got a backup plan. There you go. Um >> it says it was who uh that was turned into central office, >> correct? >> And was a conversation had It was given to um someone at central office and all I know that their name was Allen. Um and they dropped them off said here's some additional signatures. >> There was no hey I'm here to deliver on this reason sticky note. Nothing like that. Just here's some signatures. >> Additional stated as additional signatures. Correct Maggie? >> Right. >> Yeah. So, we have good reason to believe they knew that there was a previous pile of signatures and they intended to add
037to it. >> And we do have repeat, not all the same, but we do have at least one repeated circulator. So, a circulator, >> so at least the same person >> also has to validate who they are and that they're passing these around. So, there was uh some overlap in the circulators. >> Oh, sorry. going down the road. Teresa, >> how do we verify? Do we have to bring it back to the clerk and they'll cross reference or or do we just take it? >> So again, my understanding and we and we did consult with um Drummond Woodsome is that the option is we have two options. We say this does not meet the criteria and we do not accept it. Or we give the second option was at this meeting we could decide to
038give these petitioners more time with criteria for getting the correct number of signatures. Before this meeting happened you know petitioners went and continued gathering signatures. So deciding the terms of which those additional signatures would be accepted, you know, is work we haven't done. Um, so would town clerks verify that for us? Would town clerks say, "No, that is not our work. We have verified their, you know, you have two separate petitions on your hand. That's that's for you to deal with." Um, and potentially we have someone in central office spend a day. they would have to type every name into a PowerPoint present no excuse me into like an Excel to check for duplicates because I don't know how else you would I don't know how else you would check for duplicates >> so that
039you know it's probably you know there probably a day's work there >> um does that answer your question >> yeah okay uh Gary >> so just just to be clear the second set of sign first set of signatures did not have enough signatures to meet the threshold >> correct >> the Second set of signatures were dropped off with no cover letter, no documentation, nothing to indicate formally that they were actually gathered for the purpose. >> Correct. >> Other than a comment that may have been passed on by the person who dropped them off. >> Yes. Um, I'll just open the open open the comment that since this petition affects another entire community in a in a really big way, I think I think that that second set needed more identification if we're going to consider
040it. Um, I think I'm not saying they did this. I'm not casting any real aspersion, but I do have debt. I I can't help but think if I'm a taxpayer in the other community and that we're going to accept signatures with no documentation, nothing that formally says these are actually part of a petition. The town of Gray even considered it as a second petition. Okay. Um I don't see how they could be married in my mind. I just they could at least have a cover letter. they could at least have something that ties it to the first one other than a say so. >> Okay, any more clarifying questions before we move to that portion, Adam? >> So, with the second set of signatures, does that fit up over the threshold? Well, >> if they
041were >> qualifying that if if the if there are no duplicate signatures then and we combine them then the threshold would be met. So >> the uh >> there's a ethical question of do we take this many signatures as a red flag enough to make a discussion about it? And then there's like a on principle discussion where is the community holding us to a higher standard than we're going to hold them to or they hold themselves to about dotting your eyes and crossing your tees and and that's two discussions. >> That is two discussions. >> Um we are expected to do things right to then not honor that recip That is that's a tough one. >> All right, moving in. >> Moving into discussion >> Oh, I had a comment. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So,
042uh if you give the petitioners another opportunity to get more stious, how is that going to change the situation? we that >> which is one of the options that they have, >> right? I that's one of that is one of the things we would have to discuss if we wanted to say if we wanted to respond to a petitioner and I would say for the sake of argument I actually don't know but let's say our original petitioner who had been in touch with us by email who you know who asked how to send us materials it's probably who I would reach out to and say was the intention for these to be combined can you verify that these are you know the work of your original petition and then we would I assume have to
043ask for the for them to be cross referenced um to verify the that there weren't any duplicates and then do we is that work we do is that work that we ask um >> so explain why the petitions had to go to the superintendent office if the town clerk is the one who verifies the signatures what was the role of the superintendent So the the school board receives the per the statute school board receives the petition through their secretary. Our secretary is Dr. Turner. The town of Gray, we can't we don't have the means to verify that they're registered voters. So the town clerks, their role is to verify that these were registered voters that signed. From there they will give it to us with their markings and we are the recipient per statute. We're
044the recipient of the the petition which would then direct us to open the cost sharing um formula for for discussion and I and I think we are going to probably circle around this a little bit. I don't know that we can do it exactly in a row. Another piece of it is the proposed cost sharing formula on this petition. That's not part of the statute. You know, the statute is that petitioners could trigger the process for us to look at it, but that then follows the process by statute and we would not that would not be started with a foregone conclusion about what that um formula would look like. So if I may continue, um there is nothing to say that the uh board of directors all they need to accept the petitions. Okay. And
045then it is or or that the school board itself can decide to send the request not the petition but the request over to the town council uh to the yeah the town municipal government town council and uh they would then convene a meeting and go from there. So the role of the school board really isn't one in this particular situation. Um and I wonder has any of the schoolboard members witnessed any of the signatures that were being done on even the second petition? Anyone was uh present while um were um you know given the speech and and that type of thing uh because well it almost infers that were not being honest. I mean that's bas when in all intention that's what they were trying to do is to bring a process forward for people
046to decide if it's going to you know go forward or not. >> Sure. >> So that was all their only intent. There was no, you know, as far as I can tell that they all worked very hard. They got this injured right away as I understand it. And I understand that, you know, I've been told, there's been witnesses to the second section that, you know, they did everything the right way. I mean, it isn't a group that was looking to, you know, they weren't working their responsibility as petitionist. I guess that's the best way of putting it. They didn't go to the princess. Hey, can you sign this again? Something like that. And that from your conversation almost fairs that I hope that >> No, absolutely. Absolutely not. Absolutely not. >> Fred, I hope that
047makes that clear because we really need to make sure that is clear that there's no >> actually the problem here is that I can't make that clear. So, what I assume best intentions, I have no reason not to. However, what we have in front of us and what we have as an entity that we have to make a decision on is this, you know, we have to work with what we have. Um, I would have certainly much preferred it to go more smoothly because I think it is unnecessarily divisive and not and and no, certainly not my intention. But we still have, as Adam said, we still our hands are tied on doing some due diligence here. Sam. >> Uh, yeah, I think um we have a couple of options for going forward. Um, I
048do want to reiterate what Fran said, which is if we as a board uh want to honor the spirit of the effort, we could just as a board vote to do this. All we need is a majority of the board to do that. Someone could make a motion. We could just do it. We don't need the petitions. Um and that would sort of obviate the you know they didn't follow every letter of law while you know the spirit is there and if the willingness was also on the board that we could just sort of say that we're you know in concert uh or I think we could put this uh you know I don't think we need to take action this minute right I don't see anything in the law that says you have to
049act on the petitions within a certain amount of time uh we could uh postpone it to the next uh special meeting or something and hear some testimony for some people that were involved with this. Uh you know, if the circulator and uh you know, a couple of the signers wanted to come up and express their intentions, if Susan Fuller, who delivered the original batch, wanted to you know, vouch for the second batch or whatever, that might uh change our opinion. So, I want to just put those out there as possibilities as part of the discussion. >> Appreciate that. Um I don't disagree in how I've been thinking about this um because we've had some time to sit with it is is kind of two parts. I have a really hard time um accepting a thing
050where the process wasn't followed even with best intentions because that puts us in a bad position and we held you know we are held by the community to follow the process. So we have 700 people who have sent us a message. We also have tens of thousands of other people in the community who have not weighed in on this and I'm not really wanting them to show up in mass in November and say, "What did you do? Why did you accept a poorly executed petition?" Um, at the same time I received this as though I got 700 emails. If I got 700 emails in the schoolboard email account, we would be talking about it. Whatever that was would find its way to our agenda. I mean, we maybe get an email a month. So, I
051think that there's a route here where we say um on its, you know, legal merits, it does not hold water. We could ask the petitioners to return to um to their signature gathering to put the right wording on this and to have those names cross referenced. We also could simply say as a board, this is a pretty strong message. what information, if any, do we need in order to ourselves put it to a vote and say, "Let's go ahead and reook at the cost sharing." Um, to Sam's point, that doesn't have to be done immediately. I would also be interested in hearing what information folks would want to know to make that decision. Are there is there information that we would want to look at um that would help educate your decision or is just
052knowing that 700 people wants to do it, you know, plenty? Um, it is uh free. Um the cost of doing it is incurred by the district. Um it will take some time and resources and um from the back of envelope work we've done probably to the tune of $10,000 um to the district and is that you know does that go way into the calculus at all? Um does the timing when do we pursue it? What would happen if there was a change? I think we need to stick on just that one question and all the things that could happen really isn't relating to the motion on the table. >> Well, there is no motion discuss I mean it it's a basically um you know to stick with what's on that one sentence >> talking about
053the petition itself whether we're going to accept it or not >> all the ifs and all the other stuff I don't think relates to the the sentence that's there for the public. Um if I may object to any what can happen or what will happen and all that. We're not concerned with that right now. We have to concern ourselves whether or not we're going to accept the petition or we're going to instead just take um hearing the sentiment of the community and the voting down of the budget too. Don't forget >> we're going to go ahead as a group. >> Fran, you're doing exactly what >> No, we're going to do >> you're doing exactly what you just described. You're saying we have you're saying the either or. And so the things that we're all
054talking about are either or. So we can continue the discussion and hear everybody out on either or I can bring it right back to is this petition passm muster or not and then we can take it up separately. It feels pretty related to everybody. So I'm going to allow the continued discussion. Adam If we I think we're bound to follow the correct procedure regardless of what it is. So I think we owe it to everybody to follow the right path. So, if that means we accept it bearing there's enough signatures that aren't duplicates or whatever, that's one thing versus we just reject it wholeheartedly because it was not done right or whatever. Um, so is that like a we have to decide to accept it as is? We accept it pending verification of the second
055batch of signatures. we just rejected outright. Are those like three choices or >> Yeah. So our so our options just straight up with a with we are in within legal bounds to say this does not meet the statute or the criteria. We reject it out of hand. We are also in bounds to say we accept this petition and we provide petitioners additional time to do the work needed. We would set the time. We would set the date and we would set what that looked like. So would we then we would have to decide does that mean we task one of our employees with verifying that there are any repeats? Do we ask the petitioners to put these into a spreadsheet and provide it to us with all the names so it can be verified that
056there aren't duplicates? Um, you know, there's some wiggle room here and that would be for us to say. >> Gary, >> I still come back to this petition is going to affect taxes and finances and relationships with an entire the entire community of Gloucester who was not included in any of this. Um, I think the least the petitioners could have done is do the process correctly. The petition was turned in without enough signatures. It's that simple. It didn't It didn't And yes, they went back and got some more. Okay. But they to it it there was a two distinctly different documents. I do not group them. They they chose to turn it in with insufficient signatures. I think there's nothing to stop them from starting over and collecting signatures again and turning in a fresh
057fresh uh petition, but I don't think it's I haven't heard anything from anyone in New Glouester saying this is a good idea. And yet they're going to be forced into this process by us if we approve it based on an on an insufficient document. I if you want to just go black or white, yes or no, the original document as turned in was insufficient. Period. >> Misty, >> um I agree with Gary only because we have all had to sign positions to be on this board. We had to go out and collect signatures. We had to submit them to the town. They had to be verified. And then if they were duplicates, they were turned away. And we could have all They could have said, "Nope, this wasn't done. It's black or white. You didn't
058collect the right enough signatures. Sorry. Too bad." And that's how this should be handled as well. This shouldn't be any different. That it's looked at the same way as every petition is ever submitted. It needs to be complete. there needs to be, you know, when you get a petition signed, you don't turn it in with so many extra signatures because, you know, some of them are not going to be correct or or they might be duplicates or there's a million reasons why some signatures are not verified as legit. So, I feel like when you're doing this process and it's so many signatures, you make sure that what you're submitting is the full document from the beginning so that there's no question because if it was anybody else running for office, whether it be school board,
059government, state, anything like that, you know the boundaries when you're submitting a petition and if it's not done right, then it's not accepted. Adam Um, we could honor the spirit of the combined petitions and hold like a discussion and invite New Glosser residents to come up and at least weigh in one way or the other and at least there's an opportunity to speak on their own behalf on of what they feel about it. Um, I don't know if that agrees to accept it or not. But >> I think we do have I do think we have to look at these as individual things. And I and I will remind folks um you know it's one of my favorite drums to beat when it comes to MSAD15. We are not voters of gray voters of New
060Gler. We are voters of MSAD15. So, um, if the petitioners or the petition meet the threshold, they actually don't have to include, you know, we don't have to hear a voice of new Gloucester because this shouldn't h this should just be the voice of MS850. Um, so I think we want to I just think we want to be careful with that. Um, and and I don't want to ask the petitioners to say, "Oh, we got to invite in someone to come debate your petition." you know, that's not that's not how it works. Um, is one sec. Um, before I go to Sam again, is there anyone who hasn't weighed in who has something to say? And then we'll go to Sam and look for a motion on this petition. Teresa with a proper cover letter
061like and then but we still have to verify the second set of correct. Did you have something on or you just thinking about touching your microphone? Okay. Um, I have to echo a lot of the sentiment of of Gary and Adam and this is that um there is a process, but I also um and and recognizing that this is a two-step process that we do receive it as understanding that there's an intent here and the next step is that do we want to consider it as a board? So, I'm in of the two Jim, I'm stopping at you on the way down. >> My name is on the first batch, I'm sure. And I support what they're trying to do, but I don't like to set precedents of sloppy. No, that's not the right word,
062but I like I like to follow the procedures so people don't agree with me know that the process was followed correctly and even though I even though I disagree with I mean I agree with with Gary on what he said even though I'm sure we're on different sides of this issue but and and with Misty as well it's there's a process and the there wasn't a time limit here it wasn't like in the state ballots where you have to get it in by a certain date was you know just make sure you get all your your paper's working and then bring it in. This this haphazardness of it just doesn't really sat well with me and I and I it pains me because I really support what they were doing. But, you know, let's uh
063you know, November's coming. Let's do it again if we have to, but get it right. >> Uh, excuse me, sir. Sorry, you can't speak right now. Sam, did Sir, you're not allowed to speak right now, >> sir. Uh Sam, >> that's going to be my final warning. I'm gonna have to ask you to leave. >> Well, get the signatures. Make sure you have all your signatures before you submit them. It's like submitting your homework and you forgot the last 10, the last sheet. You know, it's late. >> Sam, >> um that So, that was going to be my question. I I just feel like we don't necessarily have enough um I feel like we could postpone any vote on making a decision if we wanted to invite testimony. Um I would be interested in uh
064if there is precedent for this sort of uh signature submission. you know, like uh as Jim was saying, all the um petitioning that I know about are, you know, either to get on a ballot or, you know, for a reference referendum of some kind. You know, these ones that have no time horizon, you know, is there precedent for you submit one batch and then a little bit more later? Um is there process other clerks could tell us about? um you know I would be willing you know so I'm not making this motion but I could see a universe where I make a motion to uh you know allow the petitioners to identify an agreed upon third party to do the dduping and then uh you know we agree that third party is you know reputable
065and uh when they you know if there a cost the petitioners pay for and they resubmit them and then I would be perfectly happy to accept them. I think it's really just the just the unknown, you know, like even the best petitioners could just not remember that they asked someone to sign and previously I I just think we would be irresponsible to accept them as they are, but I think the effort has been done and I I respect that there are enough signatures here if they are not duplicated. So, you know, I would make that motion if people thought that sounds fair. Well, we could go into Well, I could go let me let's make the motion that we can go into discussion. >> Love it. >> So, I move that uh we allow the
066petitioners to uh take the petitions back, identify a third party that we agree to be impartial, uh support the cost of that third party if they are incurred, and then resubmit to us uh for consideration at our next business meeting. inve All right. Fantastic. Uh discussion on that motion on the table, Misty. Um I kind of okay with that. But one step further, is there a lawyer that we can talk to, our lawyer, about how this works? >> So >> to make sure we're doing it correctly, >> it's in the middle. >> So that's okay. We can I can repeat it for the because everybody should hear those things. >> We did speak with the lawyers there. So there is room to be to be generous because we are receiving the petition. So in terms
067of what we're looking for to be acceptable means of signatures. That's why we have these options. We can reject it out of hand or we can set some parameters. If you were going to Gray Town Hall or New Glaster Town Hall, as was referenced before for one of our position positions, you their policy is the the signatures are received at once and if it's not correct, the whole thing goes in the trash and you start over. That's what we're all told at the beginning. However, they don't receive this petition. The school board receives this petition. So, there isn't a significant amount of precedent for this. The within the district. I mean, this has certainly not happened here. So, um I think the uh motion on the table is um fair and appropriate. I was inclined
068to find a path um to not I would hate to see people have to start over that that feels like a waste of effort and I feel this was a significant effort. I also done correctly. I also got hung up on we do not have time or resource or money in our district to spend to put people to administrative tasks of redoing someone else's work. Um the the suggestion that Sam's made in his motion that if a third party was selected and the petitioners incurred the cost of looking for dupes, I'm very comfortable with that. Anyone else want to weigh in for discussion? Right. Seeing none. All in favor? Right. Opposed? You got it, Maggie? Okay. So, motion passes. We will ask uh secretary superintendent uh Dr. Turner to be in touch. Um, I would
069presume we are assuming contact with our original petitioner as that who we've had that is who we had email contact with with the with the appropriate cover letter to um verify that these signatures went hand in hand and to um offer what was what we voted on here tonight. Um, and we would consider that at the next business meeting after it being received. So, we don't have to get caught up on a time if it was done in time for November. I would say in time um if no one disagrees in time when materials go out. So, if we don't have it finished when the agenda goes out the week before, it would need to go to the next meeting because folks would not have time to look at it. Does that make sense to
070folks? >> For clarification, that would be October 30. We will send we generally send the we would plan to send the November business meeting materials the morning of October 30. So, it would need to be received before that. >> Okay. >> For that month, >> great. Um because I I don't wish to put a time limit on it. I really don't want gotchas on this. Um I feel like that's a pretty reasonable solution. Okay, great. Thank you everybody for participating so thoughtfully and respectfully in that. I know that's a tricky thing and um I just to to repeat, we take this very seriously. Um this is a lot of folks that we're hearing from and we'll want to do our due diligence. So appreciate people who took the time to participate in that. All right,
071so now that's actually the That's our new business for tonight. Wasn't sure how long we were going to spend on it and we can go right into committee reports. Facilities. All right. So, facilities met on October 8th. Um went over completed projects in progress and working on getting a a project that our plan started. Um received three bids for a new bus lift. Uh some are coming in a little bit less than anticipated. Uh whichever company we choose to go with um they would install and provide uh use and maintenance training uh along with offering various warranties. Um as of the 8th uh done in Memorial were about 85% complete with our um HVAC projects and the high school and middle school were uh just behind them. Um They're still working in less invasive places
072um and they're mostly out of the classroom. The middle school uh has begun doing testing and balancing. We are trying uh keeping up with our outdoor field work as fall sports are in full swing. Um still shuffling around some of our projects, uh locker rooms and dugouts, trying to not interfere with upcoming athletic and co-curricular activities. Um potentially looking sing and leveling our um football soccer field. Um that's going to have to be strategic with the scheduling there. Uh David and Tom presented a a summertime completed work list with over 100 completed projects uh along with services and inspections. Sometimes we let some of the little smaller projects go unreported on and it we figured it would do some justice to our staff to kind of recognize all of those. Um for new business uh
073we again reviewed the charges of the facilities committee um talking about our roles and responsibilities. We touched that our district district nutrition program didn't really have a home uh and are in talks about adding that to the charge of facilities uh so we could get a regular set of eyes on it. Um, so with the addition of security and transportation to facilities and potentially school nutrition, we kind of felt like maybe we should change the name of the facilities committee to include operations. So that that's sort of like an umbrella uh over all of these things. U we're going to kick it over with policy to work on verbage for that. Um we are looking to finalize our year yearly committee calendar as this our public meetings. If someone had a hot topic that they
074wanted to discuss like transportation or or whatever they could they could come to facilities and bring uh their their questions and comments there. Um we are looking at our proposed list of upcoming projects for the year. Um, we got a big influx from our reserve and are very much treating this like a oneandone kind of fund. So, we're trying to be really strategic with that. Um, we ended the meeting kind of talking about determining what our community values uh in our district and what kind of look and feel they want. um and are talking about enlisting enlisting community members uh as like an ad hoc committee to potentially help shape like our district portrait moving into our strategic plan. That was it >> questions for facilities. >> All right, thanks Adam finance. All right. Uh,
075finance met on September 24th. Um, we, uh, considered, uh, purchasing the bus lift that was mentioned. Uh, we got three bids on it. Ended up, uh, agreeing to spend $48,3425 on that. Um, we reviewed our finance committee charges and took a look at uh our legislative impacts and how they might affect the uh budgeting of the district. For example, uh a law was passed that requires the legislature to review the EPS formula, the ED279. Um and we agreed to put on our agenda a discussion of that as a finance committee uh and maybe make some recommendations to the board as a whole as to how we might influence uh the decision-m uh when they do that examination. Uh a lot of times the legislative committees don't hear from the on the ground uh school boards
076who are actually grappling with these budget issues and seeing the day-to-day impact of dollars coming down from the state. Um, and we also, uh, talked about budget transfers and fun things like that where we changed the little numbers that we use, um, to tell people that we paid for a photocopier. Um, and then we looked at the expense and revenue reports, which were all generally in line. >> Questions for Sam? Sorry, I wanted one thing one thing to mention is that uh David and his team uh in the uh district office now has given us two new uh slices that we're going to see every month in the finance committee. Uh so now uh we get a year-to-ate report on spend by article and a year-to-ate report on spend by function. Uh which are new
077reports that we've never really gotten monthly before and they are a byproduct of our highly enjoyable budget process this summer. Uh we realized that we needed new and different ways to provide transparency into our budget. >> Thank you. Um folks can see those reports that Sam's referring to inside the minutes from the finance committee that's linked in our agenda tonight. Uh questions. All right, personnel. So September 9th was the first meeting of the personnel committee. Um and first order was to um elect me as committee chair. And then um our next meeting is going to be next Wednesday, October 8th. And then we um there was no old business but getting into new business. So Dr. Turner um presented us with the planning for the um upcoming year and in the work sort of outlined
078um an agenda for each month that we do meet, what we will be tackling and sort of the theme was um understanding that we're going to be working on the collective bargaining for the teachers contract. And then also still continuing on with updating or um creating the job descriptions. And then also moving on, she uh talked about um the transportation staffing. So, we are posting an one unbudgeted bus driver position that's um going to address some of um upcoming um unexpected staffing challenges. And that was the end of our meeting. >> Questions? Personnel? All right. Thank you. Um curriculum >> uh curriculum met um on the 3rd of last month, September 3rd. Um and it was the first meeting for both of the new curriculum committee and our new curriculum director, Kathy Martin. So we
079all get to say hi. Uh first order of business, I was elected chair, so good luck with that. Um Kathy provided us an update on the ESA and ESSA funding and changes. Um a lot of conversation around uh significant changes to title two funding and how that can be spread between the schools. Used to be a you had used to have more freedom with how you spent between schools and now you don't. So uh it's going to require some juggling in other ways in order to fund projects. um review committee role and pro procedures and policies. Uh there'll be some policy work coming out of this year. Um and this is hard to report because we also met tonight where a lot of what was just we were projecting from last month we actually get
080to see tonight, but you didn't you're not going to get to see it. So all you're going to do get to hear is that we um we plan to do some work and and have presentation around curriculum review and program selection process which will be uh addressed in greater detail at the next meeting and it was and you'll get to see that and you'll get to see that next month. Um although uh it's in our packet if you want to go and look at the uh the curriculum committee packet from tonight you can see that material. Um and then uh Kathy went over a projected calendar for the year u outlining the work for the next for the next year was really was a get getting to know you more than anything. So now you
081see why historically facilities just wings their report immediately following their meeting because it's all fresh in their mind. Um so any questions for curriculum last month? >> Last month. >> So on B on the report about the ESSA allocations >> uh Um it looks like there'll be less coming uh for support uh professionals uh development for all the schools. does that um information go to the finance committee for the discussion um and how they want to include that you know as it being talked through the budget time. I don't know how that works. I would assume that that's what would happen. >> Well, my my understanding and Kathy might be able to explain this better. My understanding is that we used to be able to spread we got title funding and we were able to
082do professional development and include people schools in that development and now we can't. The funding for a title one school has to go to the title one school. >> And what kind of impact does it have on our district? >> Uh I don't know if we know that yet. Do we know that yet, Jim? >> It means that uh we had to move some things around. So there are some things that um where we had some things budgeted in the local budget and we had other pieces budgeted out of title that because of the location of it um we had to you know because we were only allowed to put let me back up when we're planning to use title funds at all five schools right and then they came in at the last minute
083and said just kidding you can't use it at all five schools you can only use it at these three so what we had to do is take the things at the two schools that aren't allowed that we were planning to put in title and move that into local, which then opened up more money for the other three schools. So, we took things out of local and put it into title. So, it it's all a wash. It doesn't change the local budget. It doesn't change the title. It's just the specific people or projects or expenses that we're paying. We're just paying from a different funding source than we were before. It doesn't change the plan. It doesn't change the budget. It doesn't change anything like that. It's just where the revenue where it's getting build to
084what sort what pot of money it's getting build to just changed around a little bit. >> Thank you. >> Policy um so policy met on September 17th um was nominated as the chair. So this will probably be the shortest time you guys hear me talk. Um business and really the bulk of the meeting was about um discussing the um the workload for the year and how do we want to organize it? Do we want to stick with sort of the chronological order that we've been doing with the addition of anything new that comes in? Um or do we want to group things together that are sort of similar bucket so that we're sort of not going to policies that are together at different times. Um and and then also anything that would be budget impacting.
085Um and then we have other things too that sort of cross with other committees. And so um policy will be busy this year is sort of the short answer. Um and we're gonna kind of mix things. We're going to to do something where we're making sure we're getting to all the older policies so nothing is waiting too long but also similar buckets. So trying to do a catch all so that things don't get sort of duplicated. That was really questions uh for policy. I'm a little miss when you're ready. Can I go back to that one more? >> Yeah, you're okay. >> All right. in the in the curriculum, it talks about uh the mathemat program um being uh updated discussion about having it updated and um so I'm wondering what that's all about because
086didn't we just get that map program? >> Um >> so it's to receive a report about how that's going. >> Okay, that's what that means. I I thought that might be but I wanted to clarify it. >> Yeah, you guys just invest, right? We as a district invested a lot of money. We thought you might like to hear how that's going. >> Yeah. So, the plan is in April to give a full implementation update on that. >> Perfect. >> Thank you. >> All right. Any further questions for any committee reports before we move on? Great. Um, school board chair report. Just a couple quick things as a reminder that we are um registration's open for the MSMA, that's the main school management association fall conference. It will be the 23rd and the 24th of October
087this year that is in Augusta. Um it's a pretty pretty robust and useful couple of days if anyone can spare the time. Um, also attendance uh is not um attendance on one day does not mean you have to do both. I have found the first day I think to be a little more robust if you're just targeting a day. Um, but if folks are interested or able to come to that, you'll want to let um Maggie uh know on or before tomorrow. So, this is your last last call for MSMA conference. Um, I know a couple people have already signed up. Um, I'm looking forward to it to myself. So, if you can join us, great. And I just wanted to There's not a link for it here because it would qualify as a surprise
088by me emailing it to Dr. Turner about 45 minutes before our meeting, but I did take the last round of input from folks this afternoon on the board um, handbook. That's not a voting item, but I think we're pretty much there with that. Um, we'll have central office take a look at it one more time and then that will be available to everybody online. Um, I did split the difference and put the ethics um policy in full under the norms with a note of the date that it was done knowing that we are asking policy to look at that this year. Um and then just some some brief narratives um that folks asked to include on on sort of how meetings and such work. So I think um I hope that will be useful and
089we can continue to um take a look at that every year and keep making it better. But I think we have a pretty usable document at this point. So look forward to seeing that online um when um Maggie's put her eagle eye on it one more time because I have touched it. So that means it's not necessarily solid anymore. Um, that's it for me. Qu ask for um I don't know if I can I don't know if I'm working for that seminar. I won't know until Friday. It's just a couple of days difference and you know is that No. Okay, good. I won't know until Friday. >> She she was trying to build in some time and for >> Maggie built herself in a little buffer for that. She's not planning to submit it till
090Monday. >> You might have to Okay, she knew that. >> Yeah, built in a buffer. So, it's >> Everybody else has to say by tomorrow, Fran can say that. >> Have to wait. >> Um and then, oh yes, just to call folks attention to it because it is a little unusual. Um we are going to have a joint meeting in November of facilities and policy. um rather than ask facilities to look at the meetings like the around the building temperature and security cameras and then ask policy to look at the same um policy normally wouldn't meet in November because of the Thanksgiving holiday. So instead of losing that time, we're going to have a joint meeting of policy and facilities committees to um work through those facilities related policies that are um now required. The
091the temperature one being required by law that we don't have >> the date on the date on that is November 12th at 6:30 >> where will we be >> and that is here let me confirm while we're sitting here make sure I am not leading you astray yes >> here thank you Kathy so that's here on the date I just said the 12th at 630. So we have facilities and policy together because that's it's going to be a pretty this is going to be a lot to talk about. So we thought it made sense for folks to talk about it together. Um we do now have sample policy from MSMA to to work from. So we're a little better off than we were but it still leaves an awful lot of room for um interpretation
092and decisions. May I just make one suggestion posting these meetings? It doesn't say where they're going to be held in the school. Um, some schools are pretty large, so I don't know. Like I thought this meeting was held downstairs. So I didn't realize it was up here. It doesn't say. >> Okay. >> So just a suggestion that it' be easier. >> Sure. >> We can absolutely do that. >> All right. And now Uh, superintendent report. >> Uh, we have some fabulous new hires to report. Uh, Morgan Garrison has come on as our permanent school year sub at the middle school. And to remind the board, those are the positions that you all um approved in our schools that allow someone to be the substitute of the building. Uh, we are so often um short of
093people who are willing to come in and sub for teachers when they are sick or out for other reasons that having that one person in the school is extremely important. we always know we have at least one teacher covered when someone is out. So, um it's huge and we so appreciate Morgan being willing to come on um and and be a substitute full-time. Uh we also have hired Thomas Hamilton as um a mechanic. Uh Tom Thomas is a uh currently a student and so uh he's going to be coming on with us part-time as a on a temporary basis to help out in trans uh in transportation while our uh mechanic position is open. He'll be doing that under the direction of John and our full-time mechanic, Nick Hut Hutchin. So, great opportunity for Thomas,
094great opportunity for us. We're really pleased that it's going to work out. You will see our mechanic position still posted. We will continue to look for a full-time mechanic. Um, until, you know, until such time we're able to fill it, but um, with Thomas being willing to come on and having the skills to help out, we are going to move forward with that. So, we're very, very pleased. And then uh the third very exciting hire is uh Mera Telles who is going to be the school secretary at the middle school and the middle school and all middle school parents are probably going to be thrilled because if you read my superintendence letter you see I've been helping out answering the phone and and poor middle school because I don't know how to do anything. They're
095like can you transfer me? I don't I don't know how to do that. Um so and I put someone on hold. Apparently that was the wrong thing to do. I think sometimes they're like, "We're okay. You don't have to come help." Because I'm not sure. I tried. Um, but I'll be there tomorrow morning helping. So, fair warning. Uh, but Mayor will be coming on with us soon. And, um, we're very excited to have her. We have three resignations. Um, I'm going to start with the middle one, which is Alan Malnar, uh, academic life skills teacher at the high school. Allan actually resigned in July and and we realized it never made it on an agenda for a report. So, it's not a new resation. and it did happen in July. That opening has been posted
096all um summer. We have unfortunately not been able to fill it yet. Um but that is a a previously known uh open position we've talked about. We just never apparently reported the resignation. And then we do have two edtes, Sydney Lefver here at Dun School and Jod Walker at Memorial School who have moved on. Um we do already have some action on those with some nominations in process. So if all goes well, I'm hoping to have some new hires to you next month. We had no transfers and we had no retirements. And then the only other thing I'll add is to uh bookmark to this to the whole board. I've talked with a lot of you uh certainly the chairs and others um about just trying to get our arms around this work that we
097do. Uh we have taken the school the uh calendar of work documents that most committees have at least started and we have put it into a document that maps all the committees and all the months so that we can see that when a job description starts in facilities in this month it's going to personnel in the next month and then it's going to the board in the next month. We have now colorcoded it to align with the strategic plan priorities. So you can see where we're doing strategic plan work. Um and we have drafted in some things um that maybe aren't decided. For example, um we are working with um the the finance committee over the next couple of meetings to decide what our budget process is going to look like. So we've like penciled
098in some initial thoughts and ideas that folks have had, but that it will be a working document. It is anticipated. It's going to change all the time, of course, but we thought it might be helpful for some of you to kind of see how that work is flowing committee to committee. So, we um are going to work to make that available to you. Um I'm hoping before the end of the week so that you all can see that. But I wanted to preview that that will be available if you're curious ever to see how does this fit in the big picture of the work that's moving through all of our committees and the business. It's going to be mapped out in a way that hopefully makes sense to more than just me. Um, but it's
099been a big project and helpful, I think, for Maggie and I just to make sure we're staying straight on getting you the information that you need when you need it. I would love to person. And if you look at it and find it confusing, you don't have to use it. Please don't feel obligated by any means. >> And that is all I have.