Norwich School Board Regular Meeting 04/01/2026

001Are we on? >> All right. Order 635. Agenda review. Do we have any items to add to the agenda changes to the agenda? Yes, we need to add in non-public and then the public session the approval of leave requests and approve changes to the nomination list. >> Okay, >> you change that. >> Yeah, do that right then. >> All right. Any other changes to the agenda? All right. Hearing none, we'll move on to our public comment. some members from the public here. Nice. So, thank you very much. Do we have any public comments? The public may address the board. The items are here. Just state your name and address. Any public comment? There can also be comments to the public too for any of the items that are on the agenda. So, feel free to

002ask questions then. I'm not online. Nobody on >> at the moment. >> Just us. Yay. All right. Um, we've got the first item for reports. We have a PTO report. I know you had emailed us the report. >> Yeah. Oh, no. That was last meeting. It wasn't there. >> Oh, I think the newslet >> Oh, the newsletter. Sorry. >> So, you could sign up for big sales. >> Uh, no. I hear we're on it. >> Yeah. I was really hopeful that I would come here today and be like, "And nonprofit's going to establish an event. We're not quite there yet, but my goal is by the next meeting in May to have that done, but we are making progress. Um, I shared the newsletter with you. We have a bunch of events coming up like

003kind it's like sort of spring traditions, everything from mud dump to we just did bingo night. Um, we have book buzz again this year. So, we've been continuing to fundra and we also just finished our grant cycle to give PTO grants out. So, Mrs. French was awarded applications for some math fluency kits. Um, we got some gear for the kindergarteners when they go outside. Some kids that didn't have rain pants now have all that. So, we've been continuing to solicit ideas for proposals from staff and parents. And so, that's been working out well. Um, I guess the last thing to add is we have a coffee talk on Friday and we've been asking parents what they want to hear about. And so, we got some feedback that they were curious to learn more about student

004supports and how that works broadly at the SA70 level and then also within MCS. Um, and so I spoke with Sean and Greg and then also Rhett and then Miss Ke is coming and so just going to talk to the parents now at this time of year who might be thinking about next year or thinking about what went well this year, what could be improved and just have an open dialogue about that. Um, and then also some parents who have sixth graders were curious to learn about what that connectivity looks like with the RI no rich sorry. Um, and what that continuity for 504s or other things looks like. So maybe Red could speak to that. Um, and then finally, a request would be maybe one more coffee talk this year in which perhaps, you

005know, put you on the spot because we talked before about you coming to talk a little bit about the overall state of legislation in Vermont and what we know, what we don't know, what are some of the uncertainties and then connecting that to the local level. And I had mentioned to Robin a couple months ago potentially coming to talk about what we know about how those changes in Vermont may or may not impact us at SAU70. And I know there's no crystal ball, but just talking to folks because there's all sorts of ideas of what could and could not happen. So having folks from the school board and also from the um SAU administration office would be great. Update and request. Any questions? Okay. >> So, are you open to potential? And we had talked

006a couple weeks ago or few months ago about doing that. I reached out and put something together. >> Yeah. I would just I I think the um I'm trying to figure out timing. >> Yeah. >> Um in part because I anticipate that there's going to be a moment where perhaps voices from this town would be very very useful in Montpillar. Um my best guess is going to be middle to end of May. >> Okay. >> Um uh things have been so fluid in the legislature around education stuff right now that it is really difficult to figure out where this is all going. Um and so things change on a daily basis. But um and I and I say that knowing that I will be away for two weeks in May as well too. So I

007I can follow up with you to try to figure out what was worth their timing. >> Yeah. I mean, I think the overall goal would just be to keep folks updated and informed and then I know there would be people that would be willing to mobilize and engage if there needed to be some representation >> and they I think it's like how do I get involved and maybe the first step would be just a forum to be able to ask questions and get updates before we go. >> All right. Thank you. Any questions from the board? Michael, >> um I I just it feels like the PTO is a good position to listen and understand with constellation of issues folks that have Yeah, >> we obviously had a bunch of people show up when we

008were talking about prek, some decisions have been made and now like we moved on. Um is there still a lot of chatter about that? Still a lot of buzz about that? I mean, I'm just trying to figure out I know we have works we need to think about the future of that program. I was just curious about whether that came up in sort of a debrief or conversational way um after budget season ended. >> Yeah, I can't speak to that in my role with the PTO. We didn't like do a formal outreach. and I have sometimes have casual conversations with people, but I'm also a parent of an older kiddo and so I'm not quite on the playground and other spaces where that chatter would be, but I'm can think of people who would be

009willing to share some feedback and give you. >> Hi, I'm Hillilary Roberts. I'm a I work in the prek classroom and I'm also a parent of kindergartener um of Norwich and I would say that and I work at the school. So I feel like as from that perspective I think more transparency would be helpful um to get communication like what what were the decisions that were made. >> Okay. Good feedback. I'm sure say that again >> more transparency in terms of the decisions that were made. I think there's been a lot of gossip and rumors and and um there hasn't been kind of like oh we're not going to be having a third classroom or we are going to take a second grade teacher and put it put them in pre I think I think

010just their >> so decisions and so decisions made during the budget season you mean decisions made like LA last meeting with regards to prek >> okay >> more transparency overall would beneficial for everybody. >> Okay. And I would just respond to that too just just I'm just dialogue here a little bit. So that is during budget season I do encourage people to stay really close and I think this budget season just as an overall statement was it got a little bit off track because we were trying to prepare for the unknowns. So therefore, we had discussions like let's maybe what if we cut prek and of course that ended up having a huge bunch of people come to say don't cut prek and in that literally before that meeting we were like we don't need

011to do that based on what just came up from the state. So >> but yeah we definitely >> will make sure that we're continuing to provide updates at our meetings once the budget season hits. Yes. >> Leslie Fischer uh 40 Mystic Drive. I guess I I have a question. Are we still discussing prek tonight since it's on the agenda from last time we talked about moving the second grade? >> Yes. So we'll have Chan give us >> that that decision hasn't been made there. >> Yeah. I think it's also important to clarify like what's a board level decision and what's a Sean and Robin and staff level decision and some of that is not our decision to make. So the the call for transparency we need to work on making sure that it's coming from

012everybody who's involved in the decisions. So we look at and I I would say most people don't know where the decision making, right? So >> to people it's just like oh this school district or whatever >> so one did this and yeah >> I don't think there's a lot of attribution to one person or one group but when there's >> uncertainty or lack of clarity it can become like who do we go to for what answers what questions to sorry >> yeah I don't want to belabor up toate I just to the extent somebody is thinking why did you ask that question um I I think in leadership where you sit determines what you see um I now have an eighth grader and a sixth grader um and you know I'm just I feel a

013little less connected even though I feel capable of representing the interest residents here and so it's just really helpful for me to hear like what's in the zist with the PTO what's going on so whatever time get >> it's important to me understand like the general parameters of the conversation around the PTA >> and I think it's a logical question because there was a lot of interest back in December. I mean we patched this room full of people right so just the trajectory of that >> big people helping tiny people. >> Okay on to our business require discussion. Our first item is the review of policy GFAB is a quick uh thank you for Ryan. I missed our last planning session. I apologize but thank you to Ryan andor Sean Ro I'm not sure who

014brought this up but as you may recall at last year when we have so this this policy is the one where we basically had committed to a couple years ago because we recognized that there was a problem and uh with regards to some teachers not being able to uh continue to teach here because their students needed to be taken to other schools around the state and therefore they could not get here in time and whatnot. So we um worked as a board to put in place a policy that allowed employee not employees non-resident students to attend Marian Cross to hopefully retain and is an incentive for teachers to continue to uh stay with us. Um so we put this policy in place. We passed this policy and this thing here is we at that time

015we had agreed that we would like to just make sure that we review the policy once a you know once a year and just make sure that we re-evaluate it in case any changes to be made. Um I don't think at least from a board from a chair perspective that we're proposing that this policy is changed or sended or otherwise. Um, I would ask I guess Sean, do you have any updates or I'm putting you on the spot here, but with regards to an approximate number of how it's being utilized? How many students are currently in our school who are also sibling? Sorry, uh, whatever you want to call it, um, son, daughters, I guess, of teachers, staff. Yeah. and where it might go. We have under five staff member students here. I think it's

016been pretty seamless. Actually, until tonight, we haven't really thought of it much and only that really helped out the staff members whose children come here. >> I think it's allowed them to spend a little more time here. It's a good piece of mind to have their children here. I think it helps with that morning piece being able to get to school. So to me, it's been a benefit all the way across and something that hasn't even come up as a issue since >> we put it in place. >> Okay. Uh any questions for comments or questions on this from the board? >> Sure. Um >> under five could be one, under five could be four. Um >> it's going to be three. It wasn't mine. >> No, it's okay. I appreciate it. Do we anticipate

017that that number to change next year? >> I think it's going to go up by two as well. Uh on the spot, I believe two will be up to five next year will be our our cap. >> And sorry if I mean a jump. uh spread evenly across grade levels or >> primarily in the other grades below 30 below >> and none in >> none in that's yeah okay none in creek okay um okay and I just have one other procedural thing I think so um when we drafted the policy the reason why it's before us tonight is because in the policy it says each April >> the board will re-evaluate whether to continue the policy >> I suggest that we might want to change that language. Um because to say that we it's a

018little confusing that we want to re-evaluate this um to continue it, which would suggest the board needing to take a vote on this annually to continue the policy, but it wasn't written in such a way that would require that. And so I'd say we either need to rewrite it to say that, you know, the policy is is an annual policy that needs to be reapproved every year or change that language to say that we're going to re-evaluate it um to discontinue the policy, meaning that absent any action, it just continues on. >> I thought you were actually going a different direction asking if we should approve the policy again tonight. Um, >> which I wouldn't be opposed to either because I thought that when I was going and I don't like >> I thought when

019we approved this policy actually that was kind of maybe the intent was is that we actually didn't want to kind of have the ability to >> Yeah. >> back if it was causing problems. >> I don't disagree with you. Um I think though regardless I think changing the language just to clarify that would be appropriate and then we can't approve it tonight because approval of policy requires um notice >> right >> and we did not provide notice in the agenda for this one so we could do it at the next meeting. >> That's why I'm wondering do we want I actually again not to go against what you're saying but I actually wouldn't mind having this up for approval every year just in case something starts to go sideways. That's that's f I'm fine with

020that. >> Which I remember when we were putting this policy in place that was kind of like the relief valve because I think everyone was kind of nervous about like what could happen here and what if the budgets happen and what if something goes crazy at the state like we want to keep control over this a little bit from a board perspective at least from regards to our duty to our taxpayers. >> Yeah. Um I am totally fine with that. Then we would need to bring it forward at the next meeting because we only had it for business required discussion legal. So, do I have any comments from the board on which way we'd like to go with this? Do you want to change the language or you want to just bring it forward for

021approve to reapprove it at every like meeting? I I'm actually not I just suggest that now I'm like I don't really change. I mean, for me, I I wonder as a general matter, I worry about um all the policy sunsets because you're leaving yourselves a landline like step on every year, >> right? And the board has the authority to swoop in and change policy or amend policy or repeal policy at any point in time. >> Okay. Um, and so I just unless a sunset is really really necessary, I I prefer not to have to create a new task every year >> to not to vertical. So you're saying change the language? >> Yeah. >> Um, Neil, what do you want to just what do you think the language or do you want to just email

022me after? I'll just have >> Well, I mean I think I mean the simplest thing is to just >> sorry, right? is to just change that very last paragraph to say each April the board will re-evaluate whether to discontinue this policy. >> Okay. >> Um which still leaves, you know, we it still ends up being an agenda item at every April meeting, right? We need to review it. I want to hear from the administration like how many kids we talking about? Did it suddenly, you know, balloon to 20? um just to make sure that you know uh it's working as intended and hasn't had any adverse impact on on anything else in the school. >> Now if I change if we change that do we have to bring it forward at the next meeting to

023approve the G policy? >> Yes. Um I I guess the only other wrinkle that I'd have here is um to set up something in April of every year is to set it up after we've um decided the budget and the town has voted. So at that point it seems like a big accompl whether we're going to change it has in a way already been decided >> and so I just wonder whether there should be a tighter linkage between our budget process and >> reviewing and taking action on on this and taking potential action on this item. I have not thought that all the way through. It just seems like if we are going to respond to something in the budget, we would have already made the decision by the time this policy comes up. >>

024I think that's a good point. There's multiple people with their hands up. I don't know. We're allowed to talk to them. >> Yeah, I just get um finish with the board first. I mean, we could change the month to say like November or something if we, you know. >> Yeah, I'm okay moving it earlier. I think the part of the reason I think that April is there because you wanted to make sure that it happened prior to April 15th, >> which is the issuance of contracts so that any staff that were planning to take advantage of it knew ahead of time that it was going to be pushing it earlier in the year is is fine. >> I think just pushing it later is bad. >> Agreed. >> So, it's okay. I think maybe we

025leave it based on actually now that was that that was wise. We want to give teachers. Yeah. So, if I think if it's really going haywire, we would we would we would change it and give we wouldn't just cut it. We would actually probably have a year sunset because we're not just cut it in that. >> Yes. >> Well, I think I'm second in line and there's also >> Neil I I was I am fine moving it earlier. I think the board just ought to though acknowledge that there's a little bit of risk associated with that is that you're not truly going to know what the potential impact is going to be until you know who your teaching staff is going to be for the following year and that decision doesn't happen until April. Right?

026So let's say that there's a significant amount of turnover in a given year and we had a hire a whole bunch of new teachers and all of them came with you know students that they wanted to enroll in the program. Your budgetary impact would be unknown until that April. I'm not suggesting that we I think still having it as part of the discussion of the budget process makes sense. Just an understanding of the board that you may not know the true impact until later on in the year. >> Okay. I hope I hold my hand down. >> Okay. And uh Greg, my only thought is wonder what the like budget implications would be. Like I don't think they'd be very significant to attach it to the budget discussion. I'm not sure. I'm thinking if you

027have well I think definitely at these levels there is there's very little I think our concern when we first put this policy in place that we didn't actually even know that could be 20 kids right in which case it's multiple sections I think it was really that if all of a sudden there's five kids in one section now we have to hire another teacher that's going to have a percentage change on the budget uh yes >> um I'm just taking off my working at MCS hat and just as a parent and taxpayer I think It's important to remember that this was put in place as kind of a retention and attraction um kind of perk for teachers and now we're at the point of cutting teachers and so um as a parent I'm just wondering

028what what are the I think it is important to revisit the policy frequently and see what the need is. >> Okay. So from a board directed policy, we will change it to reevaluate whether it's a discontinuous policy and then go ahead is do we want to move it earlier in the year then or we just going to keep it as April in the next month that it's change? >> I mean I think you could accomplish both things by leaving the the >> I don't know. I could go either way. You you could leave the date as it is in April and just make sure that during the budgeting process we consider this. Okay. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. We'll move on. Wonder why everything still on for so long. Right. Okay. Board retreat.

029Um actually Robin, do you mind taking this? >> No. So, any suggestions for retreat topics? We've been starting to talk about it before chairs meeting and organizing, but I'm happy to take topic recommendations. I sent mine to Robin earlier, so I won't repeat them. I didn't have any others that'd like to >> I'm sorry, Gina, the one that went out, was that just the four chairs or was that out to all the board members? I forgot. I don't recall seeing anything. I didn't say anything. >> I think maybe just for chairs. >> I know we asked for topics at the SAP meeting last time. I just wanted to uh I don't have additional topics. I wanted to put a strong push for changing the date and time and not doing it on a Saturday. Um

030and in reviewing the little booklet that Neil and Lisa shared, that's the like how to be a board member. They used to do it from 4 to 9:00 on a weekday. Yeah, I just think weekends are precious time and I would like to encourage us to consider doing that. >> Yes. And I didn't talk with Kelly about that. She's sending out a new to see when people are available because I know that Saturday is already an issue for some people. So, >> you should be getting that. >> Is it appropriate just to go through maybe what the four chairs have thought and suggested for? >> Sure. um >> topics just to give the board just to give everyone here a quick thing and either kind of say maybe react. >> One was earlier start times.

031>> Again, we're not these aren't necessarily things. These these are a few things that just came up. >> We were going to look at the government section of strategic plan >> because that's something we can take action on. Um what were the other ones that you recommended? You sent those to us. That was like two months ago, but I'll find out. Um, trying to think of what the other ones were that we talked about. >> It was earlier start times. I have not I have my notes just >> I think one of them was um with regards to giving give uh h how some of these committees should be how like the policy committee should be reacting to some of the change at the state level because >> we have been writing a lot of

032policies based on model policies from the NH the New Hampshire Schoolboard Association based on the constant stream of legislation that we have at the legislature and we're just like literally spending all of our meetings just like trying to figure out what do we do with these, right? >> Whether or not we have board approval to >> do we just do what they say and verbatim and just write the policy and go or do we need to. >> So I think we're have we wanted some direction from the board on that. later school start times. Yes, board training. >> These were things we discussed but we didn't commit to you. How to work more effectively as board. Um we talked about agenda planning timeline changes. I don't know if that was for the um yeah know

033that yeah we've just talked about that part >> and we had some discussion about who should run the offsite if it should be the SAU chair which is me or the rotating four chairs. >> When is the offsite proposed? >> It was the date May 16th or 9 to1 I think. Okay. Yeah. >> So we still have next meeting. Okay. All right. Does anybody have any I mean I guess having said that, does anybody have any other ideas that we should take back to the four chairs >> or comments on any of those comments that you're like this is make a comment? I didn't have any uh huge fan of the governance piece, a huge fan of uh board training, especially mandatory board training. Um and the third piece is I am not going to

034be available on that. I um might be less and that was an issue to us would be to pick two to three topics at the most that we can actually make progress on rather than to try to do 20 minutes on 10 things and do nothing. >> And one other thing I would reiterate is that we've been reviewing our strategic plan again and that piece the governance piece is really focused on school boards. So I feel like that's would be a worthwhile use of your time and it relates to so many of the issues that you talk about, you know, saving time and >> structure and things like that. So >> I remember at a previous meeting someone asked for more mingling and getting to know each other. >> Um, but it feels like that

035doesn't always fit in with the time. So like just trying to figure out the balance of >> Yeah. seeing >> a little more background about each other and how we work together. So, >> and as far as time J, if it doesn't go with a set, what's people's thoughts? We have some more concrete. Are we thinking doing an evening? >> Evening or 5 to 9 or >> are we planning to do that for this year or >> Yes. Hel actually was going to send out a noodle bowl and she talked to me about the 19th, 20th like that week people were available 5 to 6, 5 to 7 those times times 5 to 8 whatever you think will work. Neil's not here just oh that hole that hole >> well from the 11th through the

03626th. So, but please if it works for everybody else to get everyone's schedule. >> Yeah. Yeah, I get it. >> I don't think Kelly maybe. I'm not sure if I said the waves. I don't think she she was just asking me about it yesterday. >> Oh, okay. Yeah. >> But hopefully you'll receive that soon. We can hit Neil with a meeting on the 27th when he gets right back on that Wednesday night. >> Welcome home. >> All right. Well, thank you everyone. >> All right. Any comments on that? Move on to item C. Friends of Hannover North School's donation for the K through2 decodable classroom libraries for 49 $4,914. Sean, you want to speak? >> Sure. So, two of our second grade teachers, Matthew Mchester and Emma Guthrie, along with Lucy Campson, our reading interventionist,

037submitted a grant for K2 decodable texts that go with the arts and letters program that we're adopting. And we're generously given $4,914 to um to fund that. It will put books in the K2 libraries that can be used alongside the program adopted. Okay, any questions on that? This will be for approval. Okay, seeing none, I'm um on to the next one which is donation from the community foundation. This is a yearly generous donation that we received um and we're go to support our library. Um, all right. Any comments on that? Thank you for those donations. Um, on to the budget and sorry, the assignments. Uh, we did meet at four chairs. That was the majority of the meeting, which is why board retreat was a little bit um out there. So, we spent quite a

038bit of time just going through the committee assignments at the last board chairs meeting last week. Um the live Google sheet is included here. It's our traditional Google sheet. Um most people have we kind of kept people I believe in most of the positions that we were in here and the board is the same as it was previously. >> Yeah. >> Um if anyone has any items that they were you know is it they'd like to change if we had any. We didn't really change. I think we relieved Michael of being on the um teacher allocation grant committee thinking that >> Michael I don't I think we could have one board member do it >> and since you're on so many other time inensive ones but yeah >> who who has moved things up >>

039I was on it with him and I think >> I it was fine last year we did it yeah >> good >> um I've been to CSDC which I don't know when that meets but if it meets during the school day I can't >> no it's just >> yeah for you >> yeah that I can make I just can't ever make during the school day >> meeting not even on Zoom um and then the only other thing and not to add to committee assignments so I'm saying this knowing that I don't want to add anything but it occurs to me we used to have a board leaison to the PTO and none of the people sitting at this table have anyone who is currently an MCS student and I am just wondering if it would

040be helpful to reinstate that liaison and if so I will volunteer to do it because I'm off of most of my other big committees but I also don't want to reinstate it and have that just be another thing that a board member has to do. So I just want to acknowledge that there are five of us here and none of us have kids that are currently in this school. So >> well you won't >> Yeah. Well, I haven't seen I haven't seen his report. >> We're going to assume he's headed over to the middle school here shortly. So, >> if you want to ask just a question about Sure. >> In theory, I like the idea of a liaison, >> would that be in so if we get nonprofit status and we are no longer

041part of the school district. I am curious how that fit into governance and just decision making. So I'm more putting it out. Maybe it's a good thing to have so we figure it out, right? But if there are like certain things that we want to do with the school, say like a small improvement of something, >> it would be great to have a way on the schoolboard to do that and just it would not be our own nonprofit entity. you want me to take a I can take a stab at it as a person who has served in that like Lily and I I think went back and forth as the people for the past couple years doing it. Um the way I treated it when I did it and I think Lily did the

042same is we're there to listen and to kind of hear conversations and also to answer questions a little more directly kind of about procedures and things that are coming up. Um but not in any way, shape or form as a decision maker. um we can't do that, but we could, you know, we would come back to the board and express um things that we heard and when you all had a chance to get a more immediate answer rather than having to wait till the next board meeting if we showed up at the PTO meeting. I remember going to a couple of a couple of the fire pit during COVID and postco and just yeah being asked a lot of questions that I was happy to answer. So, >> um I guess we'll bring I guess

043we need to talk about this now. Um, I think that was one of the reasons we also kind of cut it because it was a little bit not to say it's not a great idea, but I think we also a it was a lot of time and b it kind of was an awkward position because the school board member was there and it was almost as if like you know we didn't want them being in a position where they had to kind of be representing or answering a bunch of questions about the school board. >> Yeah, I never felt awkward. I mean, it was much more informational about the next meeting is here in case you didn't see, you know, in case you weren't paying attention in minutes and these are the topics and this

044is where you find the topics and I don't know. I mean, I'm not advocating for more work. I am always the person advocating for like let's condense these committees and be more efficient. But it I if this has been a way for us to be more informed about what's happening in the school, maybe we can think of some other stuff. I don't know. I just it occurred to me. before we had any more. So, does it forward have any problems at least if we reinstate this and Lisa is willing to do it? >> I think it was supposed to be me and I never came so I'm so sorry. >> I didn't even know. >> Yeah, I that's like a the time just I mean that is a challenge. >> It's all right. Um does

045the board have any topics on this questions? I remember we kind of cut this. >> Yeah. Um, I'm torn, right? I mean, I I I if I if I'm looking this from a good governance perspective, I think it's a bad idea. I'm like, all the stuff that Lisa just talked about being able to share with the PTO is stuff that's easily accessible and doesn't require a board member sitting there to tell you when the next meeting date is or what the items are on the agenda. And I think it does potentially create a dynamic where a board member is an awkward position. Are you representing the board at this moment in time in this committee? Are you representing just Lisa Christie at this moment in time? Is what you just told us the board's position

046on this or was it Lisa's position on like it it can create a messy situation. Not to say that that has ever happened, right? I mean, you could skate through this and and everything could be fine and we could find that the relationship is is potentially helpful. Um I >> I'm on the I I >> if position hasn't been missed I don't think we should reinstate it. I just was bringing it up. >> Okay. >> Noticing our current composition >> and also >> I'll put it back to you more quickly. I mean unless you feel this is strongly. I think Lucy I I think the idea is great but I think we plan to eat. I think it was kind of like I said it was awkward timing and then it did do it put

047in all what Neil just said which is why I think we're our kind of heads blew up a little bit just wondering like puts a lot of pressure on that school board member maybe to feel like they need to answer questions maybe >> be in the wrong place to Lisa >> yeah not arguing for this but if I'm not doing it it's all good um but it does for me raise another question which we should talk about and maybe this is a retreat topic is communication with the community because Yes, Neil, you're absolutely correct that all of that information is available in public and yet every time I showed up, they asked those questions. And so if that's a way for that information to be shared because a person is standing in front of you.

048Yeah. I don't you know I just I don't know. I just for whatever reason all the public information questions that you know I could have been a smart elephant and said well it's here on this website but in show you know it you engage differently in person than you do if it's on a website. So maybe just again I feel like maybe communication and two-way communication might be a good board topic we treat. >> All right. um your back comment. >> Yeah, just connected to that. I'm curious if in the position previously if it was two ways if it was the PTO al the members of the PTO also saying like here are some concerns that we have and you know not just give us information about what the school board is doing is that's

049the piece that I'm personally concerned about when there's no one on the board that has a student in the school so they don't have that direct line to what's happening on a day-to-day basis is where the school board is getting that information. If it's only through one channel, I think it's going to be skewed no matter who that person is. >> And and I hope that there are ways that we can expand how you as a governing body know about what's happening here. >> Can I comment? >> Sure. >> I mean, I would say like I appreciate that. I think part of what I see as my role as a board member is that I was elected because I'm here to represent the constituents of Norwich and that means it's my responsibility to connect with

050people and to understand what's going on whether or not I have a child in this school and so so to just to answer is so if you're asking how do we get information I have friends who have children in the school who I'm able to ask what's going on and like try to seek it out and I think I you come to every board meeting and I would hope that if there are things that need to be shared with us from the PTO I hope that you feel that you can and if you can't then I would say we have work to do as a board not we're not making you feel comfortable to share that with us but um I I just I I hope I think all of us take this you know

051we do this because you know I read the list serve to see what's being said on the list serve and things like that to try to know what's going on um but I appreciate what you're saying is it's helpful to have multiple inputs So, >> yeah. And if I could just add to that. I mean, it's a it's a good point and I agree with everything that that Gina said. I think that the um there there's a flip side to that. The the dangerous part, right, is um having that single school board rep at that meeting hearing something and then that board member is like, what do I do with that knowledge that I just got, right? Um and ideally, it's just sharing with the rest of the board members. where it gets a slippery

052slope is let's say that that board member then takes it back to Robin and says, "Robin, I just heard this. You need to do something about this." Um, that's stepping outside of the roles of authority of a board member, right? Um, individually, we really don't have a whole lot of responsibility. It's collectively as a board we do, right? And so sometimes it could you put Robin or an administrator in a really awkward position because a single board member just heard something and asked Robin to do something. Robin's like, "I'm sorry. Is that Neil that just asked me to do something or did the board ask me to do something?" And it required, which is why I was a huge advocate of mandatory board training, right? so that board members understand their role and authority and

053stuff like that to be able to handle those situations that you just described >> and and I will admit it is entirely awkward sometimes and not conducive to a conversation but the best way for you all to inform the board about what's going on is at a meeting just like this >> and parents of students often cannot come to a meeting that is held from 6:30 at night >> then then I would yes I understand that and then the second best way >> for many many fans >> no I understand that but the second best like you have to understand we are operating under the constraints of a system that was put in place by our legislature back in 1777 right this is how we need to operate as a public body um there are

054some ways that we can you know make it more efficient but I we really can't change the substant nature of how this is set up that Being said, um I would say the second best way is send us an email, right? Which doesn't require you to come to a public meeting. Call us on the phone, right? You can do all of that stuff. And >> sorry, >> I'm sorry. I'm just I don't understand how that's different. If I have a personal conversation with Michael on the baseball field, how is that different from Lisa being at a PTO meeting? It's me having a conversation and telling him what I see in the school and then he has to do something with that information. It to me what I'm hearing you say is like there should be

055no contact unless it's in this format. >> My apologies. I did not mean to characterize it that way. So that is that no you uh any member of this community can speak to any member of this board at any time. Right. that what we were what I was thinking about before was this body sanctioning a liaison assigned to a specific community organization for the purpose of facilitating communication. >> Okay, I'm going to cut this off. Michael, >> I mean my my only two comments were I I understand the tension because as a board member I have no authority unless the whole board takes action and there are times when as individual board members we end up in front of a community group and there's like a a real like desire to speak on behalf of

056the board which is not appropriate because none of us you are the official spokesperson Garrett and otherwise none of us can obligate the board individually. Um that said, I I think like a a side issue from this discussion for whenever we hold our annual meeting is like how do we consistently set expectations for how we're going to communicate out to the world? >> Even though we labor under a system from the 18th century, um I I think there's some easy things that that we can do as four different boards to just try to like be really consistent in how we communicate with folks. Um and I I felt like a couple meetings ago we had people here who are not here tonight really making the point of like hey there's some really simple things you

057can do to make it more accessible. So I think that you know to the extent we're talking about under the banner of board meetings and efficiency at the retreat like there can be discussion about how communication works I know that select board as a observer I've seen them try to adopt some simple strategies to to better let people know what's going on and maybe there's some progress we can make as well. Mhm. >> Linda, can you give us the advice that we need? Okay. >> No, no. I was just thinking that there's two things I've seen online. You know, one is the community does not understand board operations. We talk about board training. So, board members understand it, but as a past board member and I was on the board, I didn't understand the constraints,

058restrictions, the need to make sure that everybody in the room knew you were not speaking for the board. And yet I'm sure there were members that would have walked out when I said something and said the board said we're really only Linda as a board member in a room speaking to some people. So I think there is a danger here and what I have witnessed is how PTO has done such a great job of trying to educate the the community too about how the board works. So I think it's a educate the community on how the board works and educate the board on how the board work and hopefully people will start to get clarity about you know who is speaking even if it's one board member they're not speaking for the whole thing but

059I think you've done a great job of making the boards function and you know how each member operates more transparent and that job is never done right so I just wanted to say it's it's a tough road and it never gets finished because we always have to keep reminding >> all right >> great So I think to put a wrapper on this I think more like at the end of the day right now we won't do a lea we won't do a liaison we won't add another thing I do think what you're doing is great I think having asking us to come at representing the board like you're doing with Neil is the right way to go and I would say also just for people that are listening or watching this if you do have

060ones I would say whether you email us directly or catch us on the playground or in the parking lot or whatever it all is the same way of bubbling things up and those emails typically come to the board member numbers that then come to be and then depending on what they do, they go to Robin. That's how the that's kind of the level of command and we bring them back to the board or to the administration depending on what the issue is. Um, okay. So, back to the committee assignments that if you have either issues about your committee assignments, let us know. Um, or if anyone wants to change them and whatnot, maybe just get get a hold of me directly and then we can make the changes. But this is >> Sorry, I thought

061J. Um, okay. On to item number F, our budget re review process committee update or sorry, budget process review committee update. So, this was a very um, so Renee is the chair. She very kindly put a very detailed document together here. Um, I guess I would ask if folks have had a chance to review this if there are any overall comments. Maybe as I if I give a quick background, you'll see that and Michael's on this committee with me. You can see Tara is also on this committee and Rene is on this committee and Robin's at these meetings as well. Um, you know, the first meetings were kind of establishing the process and kind of the thought going through here. I think you can tell there's a bit of a push and a pull as

062far as how far to go and kind of defining what what are we trying you do. I think there I think in general you can see here is there's been a couple there's a few large themes I think that are definitely becoming going to move forward as recommendations. I think that's the look back look forward after recent budget season. So, we're not going to get together after budget season's over while still fresh in everyone's mind versus waiting all the way till August to um figure things out. Uh there's also been a and again kind of figuring out how to deal without having adding more meetings but I think the importance of having the all the budget committees senor and handover meeting at least once or twice to get a sense of what is going on

063in the other budgets not necessarily jointly developing the budgets but at least to get together and be like hey we've got all these expenses that we need at RMS and therefore it's going to cause our budget to go way higher. So, you know, the other districts might, you know, need to work with us on this or in handover or nor. Um, I think the third item is probably standardation of materials. Um, and really just helping our finance folks, you know, minimize the time with regards to producing huge budget books and whatnot that take a lot of time and effort, but also making sure that we're getting the key items and kind of standardized for all at least three. SA is kind of a beast of its own. But for Dresden, Norwich and Hanover and that

064being kind of, you know, the FTE projections, the student projections, the tax rate calculations, um you know, what we're actually looking at with regards to the detail budget, the summary budget numbers by um sorry, the classification by category, right? like what people like to see by function, by code, that type of thing. Um, so is there are there any kind of thoughts and I think what Rene what what Rene wanted to do which I think was a good idea is bring this to each one of the meetings. You'll see this again at the Dresden meeting. Um, sorry to the SOU. >> Actually, I guess no, we're just doing it to the north and sorry because there's no need to do because we're all there together. The point is to to kind of gather some feedback

065and see are we way off base. I think in general too just not to keep talking but there's been a little bit of a push pull there too. I feel like kind of Debbie Downer at these meetings saying don't do as much like you know correct a few key things and then also I think there's some people that you know at least there are some board members that want to make some big changes and do a lot more um and really change the whether it be projections I think is one thing that we're trying to figure out a three-year projection for the school budgets I having been on the budget committee now for many many years I'm not sure how you do a three-year projection um but these are the types of bigger pictures that

066some people feel very passionate about and also making sure that the budget committees in handover and hopefully in Norwich once it gets formed also get the materials that they need. micro. >> Yeah, can confirm that carrots been Danny Downer. >> Um, first of all, kudos to Rene and the members of the committee. I think people have done a great job. Um, Tara, it's also the course of SAU tax leaders have been talking with us and I think Garrett got it 100% right. what Bnee is articulated here is an attempt to have um standards uh an attempt to simplify the process um and attempt to try to align strategy right um you'd be we have an unusual school district setup and you'd be amazed how many times in a budget process it's like well how do

067they do it in handover >> well hey it's gone handover you know to Neil's point in the previous discussion careful listeners can weave it all together but it it It's not easy. And so I I really think that documents that are available online are a great starting point for how the schedule would work, when the check-in points would be and how we might do this. Um, as far as a three-year budget, um, boy, there's a lot of guesswork in that, but you can do things saying, "Hey, we're going to guess that health insurance is going to go up 8% per year for the next three years." That that's going to like take a toll for taxpayers. Hey, this is where we are with debt service and we know we have some capital needs to all

068like you can start to at least have a conversation of well you might want to be careful what you obligate yourself to do this year because you know on the horizon you have these expenses that are out there doing um so I think she's done a great job I think it's work worth doing um and also I think I appreciate that as board members we looked at the budget process this year and it was struggle um and so understanding we need to do something to her early next year to try to get to a better place. That's it. >> Yeah, I would say so you I sent you all an email with just some thoughts that I um had, but there's a couple of things that are working not in our favor. um especially when

069it comes to process and timelines um is that we don't get some key information to help us determine tax rate implications until very late in the process until December early December. Um and so I don't know if there's some discussion around the process of you know are there things that we can do knowing that there are some you know uh key pieces of information that don't come to us until late. Um the other two things that sort of I want to highlight from the things that I sent to the rest of you for consideration is um there has been discussion by our town clerk over the past couple of years about changing the townformational meeting to make it earlier and potentially on a weekend. um we might want to consider what implication that would have

070because we struggle to get mailers out the door and if they're going to push up thatformational meeting um what implications would that have on the budget process on our end. I could understand the desire to do so to increase community turnout forformational meeting but also to present information to people that might be voting by absentee ballot. Right? So, they're voting in in advance of actual town meeting day. They, you know, might ought to deserve to have the same information as everyone else does that that attends town meeting. Um, and then the other thing is I am curious as to whether board members think that budget guidelines should include a reference to tax rate. We have traditionally sort of avoided that because we don't know what the tax rate is at the time that we set

071the budget guidelines and but every year we feel like we're in this position where um we we met all of the targets for the budget guidelines for the expenditure budget and yet the tax rate still was either ridiculously good or ridiculously bad, right? and and do we need to consider, you know, should the budget guidelines also reference a potential tax rate increase? Just throwing it out there. >> I mean, I I reserve the right to think more about that question. It it strikes me that you're handing some people a stick to beat you with >> and we have almost no control of that tax rate. Um, for better or worse, the way I think about our budgets is to bifurcate them. In my mind, step one is to create a budget as if we were

072an actual business that was not subject to political constraints. And then step two, plug in the tax rate and see where it ends and figure out whether that's um reasonable and acceptable um to our taxpayers who have an obligation to and then make adjustments accordingly, you know, and based on both what that rate is in the public policy environment that creates that rate. Um, and so I I just think we're um we're creating like a potential test to fail and I'm I'm I given the volatility in the public policy environment every year, I'm not sure I'd want to articulate that standard up front and then fail a test of our own making. >> Yeah, I think we do a good job being respectful and responsive to taxpayers. >> Yeah. Um, agree. Um, I will just

073say that one of the things that we encountered during this last budget season and in particular related to the PTO meeting that I presented the process to um is that there was some concern amongst community members that the budget guidelines were arbitrary. um in that when we finally figured out what the implication was going to be on the tax rate that that expenditure budget increase uh held less meaning because it didn't influence the tax rate in a negative direction as much as people thought maybe it would have. >> Yeah. I just really like talking with Neil. >> Um, it's interesting though your your comment for me just briefly services my unstated bias about what sustainability is as a business. So for me, even if the tax rate was not a political consideration, if I saw

074us going up eight or 10% every year, I'd say, geez, you can't you can't bet like there's that's not acceptable outside of like some sort of externality driving that rate. Um and so but I I agree with you what isn't is not a big deal is not apparent until the very end of the process because of the ambiguity around a tax rate. Um but I will think more about that dynamic that happened this year with that. >> Yeah. Although I do sorry I mean I do remember that when even though the bud the budget was seemingly maybe going up arbitrarily once we had that final tax rate that wasn't going up as much we did remind ourselves right it's one of the reasons we made some of those cuts even though they could have continued

075raising the budget because we did have budget guidelines to keep us at that a certain rate and we were exceeding those at that point by quite a bit and we felt uncomfortable going even further despite the lack of the tax rate impact Yeah, to be clear, I'm just relaying to this board what I heard from the community. Not that I necessarily agreed with it. >> Right. >> I did not agree that our budget guidelines were arbitrary yet. That's what I was hearing from some folks. >> Okay. And Hannah Rosie, they don't put tax rate in their budget guidelines either. Like >> Okay. Getting your question. I have a non-t tax rate comment which is I think one of the things I've learned being a board member for your pre as Norwich is I'm part of

076these other boards which includes the handover and it's like the to me what makes our school district so amazing is that we are Norwich and handover together as one school district and so what I love about this is that we are going to start working more collaboratively and intentionally on our budgets as a school district instead of as individual schools. I think there's benefits and challenges possibly. I'm looking at Greg and Sean around doing that way. But I think also like being able to take a three-year view of strategically what are we trying to accomplish as a school district to invest in our kids and our schools is going to help us be better at what we do. >> Um I also love that we're looking at the the timing of the schedule. I think

077the look back, look ahead, and what do we actually spend and doing that seems really great. So, I guess I'm I'm probably Debbie cheerleader versus Debbie Downer. Um Renee and I tend to think >> somewhat similarly about this stuff. So, I'm just really appreciative of the committee for doing this work to help us, I think, be better board members and to serve the community more effectively. So, >> that's my >> Okay. Do any other comments on that? Take back. I took a few notes. I think we're generally moving in the right direction on that one. Okay. Place here. All right. On to our next items. The schoolboard schedule and topic template. This is reviewed every year. It's fairly standard. It does at least help us remind what we should be getting when throughout the school

078year. others can be added too. We have any comments about either the calendar and for we did talk a little bit not to like blate things here but we did talk a little bit about the timing of like does I say you do their budgets first that's kind of one of the topics we're discussing with I think we kind of I think we've all kind of said that that getting those out first is the right one rather than >> Yeah. >> So, obviously that does impact this calendar, but this calendar is obviously the existing the status quo process. All right. Any other any comments on this as far as we go? >> It's not on here, but um sorry, I didn't wait for you to call on me. >> You're on. >> Okay. Um, I

079really appreciate the little vignette things that we do in boards and helps me not having a student here know more about what's happening. So, when you've done when you talk to us about the um support systems, Craig, when you talk to us about the the composting and things that going on like I think those are great and maybe just to make sure that we do it also makes being a board member feel more gratifying. So, it's just like even we always make sure we have five or 10 minutes to hear about something that's happening at school. It might also address the challenges that were raised earlier around communication and getting inputs. Um, and a way to celebrate all the great work that's happening here at MCS. >> Okay, we'll put a note on that. >>

080Yeah. And not to complicate things, um, but I'm channeling Lily right now. Tonight is the first sign of Passover. Um, and I know that it's we tend not to we try to tr it's complicated there that I sat on the calendar committee. It was very complicated. Um, but I also kind of want to be aware of trying to avoid big conflicts like that for schoolboard meetings. And this one feels like it it feels like it's a big conflict for a percentage of of our families. And um you know the as much as we can avoid those conflicts so that people can listen and be I think we should try >> which would include like trying not to schedule a board meeting on the night of the high school concert or Yeah. I mean I know

081those are almost impossible to avoid but just being aware. Yeah. All right. Um, no other comments on that. Do you have a comment on it? Just a quick thing. I think we should move in the month of April. It says report parent survey results. Each year we move that to May, which we do the parent survey results in there. So, it seems to work out survey results to May, right? >> Yeah. Okay. On to the reason many people are here. Uh preschool program. So, as you may recall, they play the tape last board meeting approved our budget just so everyone sets the table a little bit. So, the board approves a budget and we basically give the administration wherewithal to spend that budget. Um, and that includes making judgment calls with regards to classes as

082enrollment starts to take place, our teachers, and frankly, we rely on Sean sometimes even to assess and Greg to assess the students in those classrooms, the capability of the teachers teaching in those classrooms as they're thinking through their final class sizes and who's going to get where. So um with that as a backdrop at the last meeting Sean we had obviously a lot of conversation about prek uh there was clearly a need and there was some extenduating circumstances with next year's prek selection that was basically not great right um I'm kind of forget exactly what it was but we had through the selection process it would be really ideal if we could actually accommodate the prek applications um in Sean had come forth with a plan where we would be able to actually offer another

083prek class by moving one of the third grade teachers because it's a smaller class moving upwards. So John, do you want to review com make some more comments on that and we can go to the floor with the questions. >> Yeah. So we have a good problem >> and sorry we had we had talked about that and then we had said we're gonna why don't we put this in agenda at the next meeting which is why we're here. So we said that sounds like a good idea, but let's come back to have Sean come back to us with the more fully baked plan since that was the first we offered. But anyway, Sean, so we have a good problem in that we have two really fantastic prek classrooms and a program that's sought after by

084many, many people in the community and outside our community. Um, because of the way we set up our protocol for letting students in to work in all other years. Some of that some of those procedures eliminated a few four-year-olds who were getting in our program because of the way we followed um and that's something that we'll work on. But in addition to that, we have a pretty extensive waiting list. So my initial thought was we have some people on staff who are licensed to teach prek. we have this class going in second grade that is small that could stay as two. We could open up potentially a third prek program. But that's what I brought to the board to see if there was any interest because that is a change of our program. So you

085sent me back. I talked with the prek team and the teachers who hold the endorsement to be able to teach prek. We looked at different scenarios, different options. It's never as easy as just moving one teacher from one place to another because endorsements range. So sometimes moving one has this ripple effect that could have impacts. So when we after this discussion, we looked at it. We came up with a few scenarios. Um the one that I'm bringing back tonight that I think is most likely and probably best for our school is this. There are three four-year-olds who didn't make the cut to get in. We can accommodate those three four-year-olds by using the two spaces that we kept empty. And our capacity in our rooms, I checked for the state licensing is 22 students. We

086never put 22, three and four year olds in there and expect everyone to be sane at the end of the day, but that is our capacity. We could go higher. So, the prek team has agreed to to move from two classes of 18 next year to a class of 18, a class of 19 to be able to accommodate the four-year-olds. Um, Greg has reached out to each and every one of the families that were on the three-year-old list just to be transparent and let them know where we are in the process and what we were doing. Um, we got feedback, I believe, from one person who was disappointed. everyone else understands the situation we're in. We reached out also to the families of the four-year-olds to let them know where we're at. So my after

087meeting with staff looking at how it would impact the ripple effect of teacher A moving, which means teacher B, C, D move, um switching grade levels around in multiple areas to be able to find that teacher that could teach the third piece. I think we should put a hold on the third prek, put those three, four year olds in and potentially have that teacher be a second grade. That is a the group going up to second grade has a few needs in it that would be helped. But also keep in the back of our mind that it is early and we have all summer to go. It could be that a we get an influx of children in another grade and we may have to have two second grades and read that teacher accordingly to

088the population. Um, in addition to that, there is an interest from the MCS preK team to put together a group of us that would look at what would it need, what would we need to do? One, to fix the order with which we let children in. And two, if we were to expand our program, what would that look like and be able to come to a proposal for the next budget season that is thought out by the whole team? So, that's where we ended. uh break or I think chess in fact they want to add anything but >> the only thing I'd add is that I think there's a you know there's also like budget implications in some of the ideas that we didn't feel like that was a good thing to go down that

089just now which I think is totally >> but very excited about trying to get a group maybe boarding the two to be a part of a group to look at it over the summer maybe June like kind an intense period of time to kind of see because we could definitely have few classrooms, right? Especially and it could be there could be a lot of other benefits than just getting MC Norwich residents in. It could be good for the whole area. It'd be good for possibly tuition coming in, but we really need to spend some time to get that ready so that when we put out all of our priority orders and everything in October that we know exactly where we're heading, we know what the finish line is. Um because I think everyone thinks prek

090is really important and good quality prek is essential. Okay. All right. um questions. Are are some of you guys in the audience prek teachers or not? So I mean obviously do you guys I usually go to our board members first but since you guys are here you guys said does anybody want to add any thoughts to our actual teachers either at prek or in the school? >> Yeah I mean I obviously fully support I'm Chesley Morrison. I live in town as well um >> and have a son here and a daughter at RMS. I obviously am a huge um you know advocate for early childhood education. I am I do have one question and we've kind of talked about this from time to time. I know there is some push back um from community members

091at times about uh prek and the it creates some revenue but it also is a cost and it would be a cost essentially um to add another room. But there is a way to potentially offset that costing fee revenue as well by um having like your prek programming in the morning and then charging for like an afterare. Has that been talked about at the board level yet or is that something that's new >> news to you or is that something that we would be tasked within the task force to come up with as a plan? that would be the task force and we had talked about this and I'm speaking now a little maybe out of turn a little bit so my schoolboard me but I think at our last when we were talking about

092this and this was coming to a head on the budget we definitely were thinking about are there revenue opportunities we have members of the public that were like actually volunteering and saying I'll pay for this like I'm just looking for a place to put our kids like and you know anything that you guys even if you charge us is not going to be anywhere near what it would cost otherwise you're right like that is part of the problem that the state offers 10 hours and that it's a rev. That's kind of why we did this. And then of course you had act uh what it said which one you had the latest red you had the latest student waiting act put forward that you know reduced the weights and kind of changed the game a

093bit. Um but again I think that was that's why when we were talking about this we're like okay there could be a way to kind of you know not just force this on the taxpayers is yet another expanding MCS and putting this on tax payers that are already paying a lot combined with the fact we're actually waiting for what was going on at handover because there was a committee over there that assessed prek they ultimately decide not to offer freekay yet again um so that didn't really help but to your answer your question directly I think that would be kind as a board. But if we're going to I think >> we had tal because our last meeting as far as doing a committee and starting to look into this so that next budget season

094we actually have a real answer and what we want to do and I think that committee with a board member on it is is the way to go I think. Um does anyone else first have you guys you're good. Okay. Um so now over to board members Rob or Robin. >> Um one other thing related to that we do have the committee going on the handover side but Sean has become part of that too. I asked him if he would join that so we have more collaboration between handover and more which I'm talking about. >> What are the members of that committee? >> It is Harry Russell. Um >> but as far as um like positions like who is chair and who are like these people? >> We have school board members, we have principal

095Rhett is heading the committee, right? Derek um Cindy's on it. They've done a lot of the research for the work at handover. >> Okay. and I remember who else part of its but >> if we were to make our committee kind of mirror that one a bit so we might include a breath again here >> because I think there is it's important >> consistency >> consistent somewhat although I think we also are realizing that you know what handover >> part of the problem is a little bit and we have to remind this to nor taxpayers is that what goes on at the race school is not what goes on like we have no control what they we control what they to address in as Jamie T once put it. If Ray School wants to put

096a little golden egg or any other kids chair there, they can do that. We don't we can't we can't prevent them from that budget and if they want to hire a student ratio that we can't compete with. It's up to it's up to >> it sticks in my head. >> That's the choice. That's what they can do. Now they're not doing that because the budgets at race are also becoming you know looked at carefully now but that's not the way it used there was a difference in service. Um, but so I think we would put our >> Yeah, I think it's good >> hat down and I think we So, yes, I think as long as maybe at this point we have the board maybe give a head nod, but I think that was it

097was on my um chair report, but as far as moving forward with this committee because I think it's important to get this going sooner than later and I think if you would want a board member to serve on that, maybe we can figure out who or if someone wants to let me know who. No board member. So, I don't think we I don't think we need a I don't think we actually need a board member. Do you think we actually I don't think we need a board member either. >> I mean, if I may, I recall during the budget um discussion wanting our excellent team to come back with recommendations, >> right, the board level and say, "Hey, this is based on our experience running these programs and what the rules are. This is what

098we think we can do." that we can debate the merits and demarits that >> right okay person I'd rather get I don't think any of us on the board is gonna I think it's just going to muddy the water I think having actual expertise and people but I do think I'm not sure how you go about it but as far as offering like coming up with thoughts about that tuition because I think if it could be that it seems like that was a clear message from the public that at least people that can afford it are perfectly willing to do that and we shouldn't we should take advantage of the pack. Okay. >> Okay. So, does any questions from the board on that? >> So, how many does that leave on the waiting list that

099then we're not satisfied? >> So, that's for me to look up. I don't have my Hold on a second. I mean, I guess the short version of this is our our demand is exceeding our current supply availability. >> And I mean, >> yeah. Yeah. >> The problem with this is going to come out as me. I think it solved the problem for the second grade people in the it seems like it's the right decision for the school, but I worry a little bit. People I think left the last meeting thinking like, okay, this is great. we now get a prek and problem solved. Now we're kind of like ripping that back out. But I do think for people that are watching this, I do think that solution that Sean had come up with last year,

100last month was almost too could be too good from a board perspective. And I think the point is is like we are working to fix this problem the right way rather than kind of putting a band-aid on it by moving teachers around at the last minute trying to fix it and maybe creating more problems else which I think is basically what Sean's after thinking about this the disruption to the overall MCS is going to be greater than 3K. Did that give you enough time to find is >> 20 >> but there >> well I mean I'll just say as a >> 10 kids are from national >> I think it's important to say out loud and in and empathy for those parents that child care and and education support in the upper valley has since

101my kids were that age been a challenging situation and so I hope We do put the committee together without a board member so we can come to a way that we can start helping if there's a way for us to meet needs of the community. It impacts people's ability to work and I mean we all know and it's getting the kids the support but >> wow that speaks highly of the teacher in the room doing the prek. So thank you >> Michael. Yeah, I mean as as someone who um helped kids through child care without any assistance, >> I just remember thinking this is why God makes them cute or um I I guess I just had one actual question about time frame. My view about budgets are budgets are a plan. Sometimes you modify

102the plan. Um, I'm open to as as one board member, I would be open to a proposal that says, gee, do you think we could expand this offering started next school year? Um, or is your thinking more, yeah, like this is definitely a school year 2728, but I'm not asking for something. I'm just saying as remember, I'm open to you saying, hey, these would be like the parameters of the costs of and like what it would take to meet that demand. now because you you have those folks and you have that meanp. So I I didn't hear a discussion of a timeline and so I didn't know whether I was assuming it was 27 28 or whether a group of folks could figure out how to expand it to meet demand quicker than that. That's

103good feedback because I was thinking next next budget season but if there is some sort of an interest in looking at >> just just one person I just you know just want to be clear there >> takes it just takes a lot to prepare not just a a plan but like this hiring the furnishing >> the license and so there's just a lot to it so I would love to look at it and try to see how we can do it and propose something to you and at the same time. I don't know how quickly that would be. >> Well, I guess and if I may, I know there's another hand up in the back. Um I guess the reason why I asked that question and not to build there there people are going to

104watch this on YouTube or watch me now are going to wonder well gez going to happen next year or not. My question is driven in part because we were discussing last month the third section and so to the extent a third section was potentially possible in September. I just I wonder if we're close enough to like make that a reality or you know if we had not discussed that then I'd say yep we probably another school year away. So it seemed like there was a version of the future where we contemplated overcoming those administrative obstacles to start in the fall or third section. And so that that's why I throw it out there, not to be unfair, but it seemed consistent with our hypothesis to talk about I I think from the board perspective, Michael,

105is my perspective is is that we give this committee at least clear marching orders that this is a 2027 thing. I think trying to come up with a plan that's budget because this is going to have to be budget neutral at this point with the plan unless we're unless we're going to move teachers around again. I mean, I guess if there's a way that all of a sudden we can kick save and and do some sort of like tuition thing. I just don't know how to beat down this quickly to then allow kids because people are going to be making their decisions for where they have to put kids to be poor. I don't I I totally agree with you, Michael, but I'm also like I guess a realist and just trying to say like

106let's solve this problem >> the right way for 2027 year just to set everyone's expectations. Yes, >> I was just going to echo exactly what you just said, but um I think that a lot of the frustration stem from parents who did have um applications in for schools that knew that there was a program available and had to make deposits and had to kind of commit to that while we were still kind of exploring. So I think that >> Okay. So another like really beact year. Okay, that's one of the reasons we let them know in February. It matches. It called all the places around here. It matched two years ago. I couldn't we hadn't checked this year. Okay. >> So, we do we are cognizant of that. >> So, I do think the committee

107though at least we should at least be ready for something. We're reconvening our budget committee like late August 1st and September because we're have this like as part of the initial quick models when we're coming up with our budget guideline meeting, right? If it's going to be could have unless the tuition is going to save everything but >> okay. All right. Any other discussion on that? >> Yes. >> May I speak? >> Sure. Uh Leslie Fischer for Mystic Drive. I have to say that every time, but um well, I was at the last meeting and I think when this proposal from Sean came up to take a second grade teacher, um it was like I was gut punched because I don't have a child in that grade level. But I've just been feeling um this

108overwhelming feeling of children aren't being supported at Mary Cross School the way you would expect them to be supported. And so, um, I it it just hit me hard because I I felt bad for those families with children in that class where Sean said that they had larger needs, um, to be to continue to be in these larger um, sections. Um, so I decided to do like a look at how we compare to the Ray School. I know you said that, you know, Ray School can do what they want, but I just thought it was really interesting to see that the Ray School has 41 support staff members and we only have 18. um four of those 18 here at Mary Cross School are actually dedicated preschool. So um we're down to 15. So when

109you look at like the ratios like Ray School has more than double the support resources than Marian Cross School and so that's where it like hit me because I've been feeling this feeling and that's you know when you say what's bubbling up on the playground like that's what's bubbling up and for me personally it's boiling over. Um, so, you know, I just think that especially if they're, you know, I'm happy with this new proposal and maybe considering tuition revenue. So, so maybe we could put some of those dollars back into support staff um for the K through six population because I feel like um they've been underserved. Um, and I know Sean's going to talk about interventionists, but you know, when you look, and I think Neil might say, well, there's Act 173, there's Act

110127, there's this multi-ter system of support in Vermont that has sort of moved us in this direction. But when you I've actually looked at like schools around us and Weightsfield Elementary School, which is the number two ranked school in Vermont behind us, and they have way higher um support staff, levels of support staff and much better ratios of support staff to students. Um and I know one thing I've heard from Sean is that we have, you know, more teachers and smaller sections, but I haven't found that to be true in the data. Um, I looked at the National Center for Education Statistics to look at uh Mary Cross School, Ray School, Dothan Brookke, Woodstock, Weightsfield. We actually sit right in the middle of like teacher to student ratio. So, I just as you're thinking about

111future conversations, I would really love to get um to to understand why our support staff levels are so low um and how that happened. I think in like 2018 2019 we had 27 support staff and that has just kind of fallen off a cliff. Um and I can tell you it's being felt by the parents. So just want to put it out there. If you'd like a hand out I can give it to you. >> Yeah, definitely. I mean we're always open to that. Um I will re I will just take a quick rebuttal to that just because we've been doing this on the school board and you're right that's one thing that has been a way that we have been reducing the budgets. Um, and also it's been a little bit of a change

112in the overall theory of making the classes at least smaller with the teachers that can handle those class sizes. Um, and but reducing those support staff. Um, I do think that so two things. One is in addition to that what I've done in the past which I also think that we all need to do in looking at this data is just looking at like the spending per pupil over at the Ray School. And unfortunately what you will see is that there they spend a lot more money than we do on the race school on those students because their budgets are because of that right they're they've got all that support staff and those teachers. So it really is they're spending a lot of money over there on that school and it's actually causing some issues

113right now I think as far as how much they're spending. And the last thing I think is that we it is nice to hear when we have people um like our legislators come through and tell us that our where we are as far as class sizes and our ratios and whatnot are actually right in line with where where the governor is trying to suggest. So it kind of undercuts some of the stuff that's going on at the state level by saying that oh your classes are too small or nor is spending way too much money on things because we actually have, you know, fairly sizable, you know, we're not catering in this very specific like spending way too much money per student. So >> and I just count that as it's being felt >> correct

114by the families and the parents and the children. >> Yeah. Um, and I think it's the children that are being disrupted in the classroom. I feel for those families and it's also the children that are being interrupted, right? Like you don't just have the families that need support and the children that need support. You have like a whole class that's being um impacted. So, you know, I know we have really wonderful teachers here at Maring Cross School. I just worry for them. I worry that they're burnt out. >> Okay. Well, thank you for that. It's all on the top of our minds. budget season, right? Trying to make sure that these problems are solved and doing the best that we can here. So, keep that. But, yeah, give us your sheets, too, because I'm always

115I'm like I said, I've got spreadsheets and I spent two years ago, I did a lot of comparison with the race score and what we were doing. >> And my numbers, I'm just like looking websites. So, I don't have I didn't have time to go into all the minutes and reports. I tried and I stopped. So, like I love like numbers. I I pulled it all back looking at our students per regular ed teacher, students for regular ed assistants like and trying to compare and you're right the race school is like >> it's hard to keep up. >> Yeah. >> Especially when those parents are right across the river where everyone's like look at what so and so gets it's hard. >> Yeah. >> Um if it's not appropriate to share it here I'd welcome

116in an email but I guess could you help make tangible what you mean by the effect is being felt? Like can you give me a specific example? And again, I want to absorb confidentiality, but I think it's hard to understand what being felt means without hearing what is what you're just describing. >> I don't know if I want to share because I do want to keep my children out of this. Um I don't know if anyone else in this room could share something, but um you know I've I I just for for our family um I have two children that you know have different needs and and are much different children and they're so they're on both ends of like that spectrum of of behavior in the classroom and I think that but they both

117feel it equally in their different grade levels. Thanks. Sure. All right. Any other comments or questions on this topic? All right. We've got a good a good plan here to uh move forward and try to make some um positive improvements. All right. Um let's see. Sorry, I'm back here. All right. Business action. Now we're moving into this. We um I believe everything here is fine. We're basically approving um B3G by consent. It's our expenditures, our minutes, our um yes, the policy. Sorry, what's the DFA investment policy? >> That's just a readoption of the that's an annual thing. That's just a standard policy we have to adopt every year. Okay. And the two donations, Lisa. >> Yeah. Um just a quick comment about the minutes. Um while I appreciate the fact that MC Hammer doesn't live

118here, MC Costa apparently does. So, we should um go through and do a quick edit and make it Mr. Mr. Costa. And also, it's a little bit confusing. Um in the beginning of the minutes, it says that I was not present. >> Yeah. >> Um and it doesn't say when I showed up and Gina wasn't there at all, and it doesn't say that she wasn't present. So, I I just some of the it just when I read through it, I was like, "Wait a minute, I was at that meeting." And then I realized I missed the first two votes. But it there's something about the way it reads. It's just a little bit confusing. So, um yeah, again, great job with the minutes, but I I did have to laugh at >> more motion for

119observation about the minutes with the PTO report. I wasn't here and I emailed it and they said it would put a touch as an appendix. So, if you wouldn't mind including that just for my fault. didn't see it as me. I might have missed it, but I don't. And aren't you proud people read them there? >> I read it. Yeah. >> It's fine. You read them. >> Okay. >> I move to approve items B3G by set. Second, Lisa. All those in favor? All right. That is unanimous. Okay. Communications reports. We'll keep these short. A report from the chair. Um again I think we've covered everything that I was looking to cover tonight in particular the prek committee. Um and again you know work things which I think is going to be helpful. Um so thanks

120everyone and obviously like I said get back to me with if you have any other comments on your committees but hopefully everyone's good with those. Um on to Sean for the principal report. I know we said we're keep these short, but I do your specificity. >> I submitted my report about intervention services at MCS. I would encourage you to read it and look up and let you know for being giving services right now. And I just will give a little shout out to Beth Pay who's come back to help us out the intervention realm. She says retirement is great, but she's having Are there any questions? >> That's great. Does any questions or comments for Sean on that report? No. No. Thank you very much. Thank you, Sean, for posting that go back and reference

121those when I need to and other names. Um, okay. On to um our superintendent report. Robin, >> yes. and I did submit my report too and I'm happy to answer any questions you have. Any questions for Robin on that report? >> Gina, Michael, >> um I just um I just wondered with your meeting with Vermont superintendent whether there's any wish to share. >> That was my question. It was actually it was really good meeting because they talked about the legislation that was taking place and then we got to meet with some of the legislators and just express our concerns and um and we really as a group overall we also had an opportunity to meet with Zoe Saunders the ed chair and so she provided us with information that many of the superintendents were questioning

122about, you know, recent um information that we receive as districts about our numbers. And so we reiterated that we're getting a lot of misinformation from the agency of education. And we will keep talking about that because many of us talked about not feeling confident in the data that we received from the agency of education. So quite a bit of time was spent talking about that, but then also just getting updates from what's happening in the legislature and yeah, so that was pretty much the meeting. I thought it was helpful. It was one of the first I can attend this year. Do do you feel as if when you talk to your peers that our school district is an outlier or are our concerns very well aligned with other colleagues? >> I think our concerns are

123aligned in terms of the data that we're receiving from the agency, but our concerns are different from those related to legislation around consolidation. So it's just because of our unique situation being school district. So and I feel like there >> questions out there. >> Are people supporting it? >> Supporting the >> redistricting. >> No, not not for I don't have a sense that people are supporting it. Okay. >> There might be like there are a few outliers here and there, but for the most part, people are not supportive. >> Okay. Lisa. >> Yeah. Um I just quickly want to um commend um this board in particular like Neil Garrett and Robin um for making sure that the numbers are correct. Um I work in a district right up the road that um people were told

124they were being ripped and have now sought other jobs because the numbers that from the AOE were off by 474 students. >> Um they found that error but it was too late. And so it's just it's created a mess for morale. It's created a mess for the hiring process. It's just it's not good. And so, um, I really, really appreciate the fact that we have people on this board who do a really good job of making sure that we get the best numbers we can and when the numbers are wrong, correcting them as quickly as possible and admitting that those numbers were wrong and we made a correction. Um, and again, I brought Garrett cookies and soda pop because I went to one of the schoolboard meetings up the road and was texting him questions

125with like these are the questions I'm supposed to be asking, right? and these are the thing and it was super helpful because they were able to catch some things as a result of this board helping a neighboring district. So I just really want to say thank you. Um the work that these people here do continues in other places too. So thanks. >> I think one of the other things is there are still so many questions about the consolidation. You know when you look at the maps and certain areas like why have been put together. So that's coming through loudly. Michael, >> yeah, I guess um the totally different subject on number seven on your update. Um you are in here's you know forming your own leadership team which makes a lot of sense as new

126superintendent um because whether it's our board or more likely the Dresden or SAU board ask for what you need. >> Okay. >> Like that's a big process. If there are ways in which we can support you, please do that. I'll make the same point at our >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you, Robin. I'm actually going to take one moment and rip my time back from the chair. So, we really I don't really want to talk legislation, but I think it might be good just to give a quick update. So, we have received some emails from Rebecca and Jim. Yeah. >> Our two and they're kind they're inconclusive, right? They're basically kind of like they're evaluating all this stuff. I think I did just pull up the other yesterday. I think we got

127the latest from the VSBA which I would encourage everyone to read and and pretty much that those redistricting discussions paragraphs is what I was reading. I was reading Dan. There really is no it doesn't seem like there's much consensus and they're still bouncing around. >> Rebecca Hulcom and their task force recommendations with regards to cost sharing versus redistricting. And then they sent out some proposed maps where Dresn actually is excluded. But then what does that mean? And then we haven't really I haven't really seen much, but it sounds like, you know, they're tying this uh as you all know, like we put forth a proposal a couple years ago and put it in front of the BSBA and also um in front of the legislature for the uh non-resident tax rate is a way to

128raise more revenue saying why are people that aren't residents here paying less or property tax because they are in mo in many towns. We did a study here on the Norwich board found that you know that there was a lot of towns across the state of Vermont that were paying less even though that's not necessarily the intent. I think it started as equal either equal or more. Um, and they're tying that maybe to a foundation formula. But anyways, Neil, is there anything that we should be at the end of the day, this is all going to come to a head? And I think at this point, if my instinct is correct, we're still there's really nothing to respond to or get too agitated about at this point. Uh, at this moment, no. But it doesn't

129mean that legislators still wouldn't benefit from hearing from you. I think that the impact on this district is less around the consolidation piece and more the move towards a foundation formula, >> right? >> And that would have dramatic impacts on >> and just so people know, I did send a note specifically to Jim and to Rebecca because like I said, there is rumor at least that they're going to be tying that they may try to tie that that that non-resident tax rate to either a district foundation formula probably if they actually go forward with that. And I did hopefully it was okay at the board. But I did make it clear to both them that saying that in no uncertain circumstances would we want you to vote for that combined bill because it's got the

130non-revenue rate. The foundation formula and the not redistricting is much more of a priority. Michael um I I would just um one quick editorial comment. I always observe Representative Hulkin to vote out the interest of the district. Um, Representative Maslin typically votes with leadership, so he could use some extra encouragement to vote aligned with the interest of his constituents. Um, I would just reiterate something that Neil said very early in the meeting because it's the exact same advice I'm giving the community that Sportskipper Medical Center. Um, given all the squirrel around healthcare, there is going to come a moment when the town needs to yell like hell. >> I don't it's not right now. I agree with you. It's likely the very end of the session, but like everybody that cares about the school is

131likely going to have to be activated at some point and it's going to be a pretty narrow window. So, I agree like talk to people now, but I it feels like there'll be at least one step in this legislative process for someone to come out that is absolutely untenable for this school district and we're all going to have to work together to respond quickly, whatever that is. So, I think you're getting really good advice, folks. And now maybe you and I like maybe before you leave for your trip there if this happens then maybe you and I just quickly you can remind me and we can talk about this as far as who the right people are because we always say it's not necessarily good. It's not necessarily worth our time contacting Rebecca and Jim

132despite that >> you know they know our feelings. It's more the chair it's more the committees and the chairs of these committees that we need to be having people reach out to. So maybe we end up coming up with the list. make sure I know those people and then we figure out through the PTO or otherwise how to disseminate that in a quick fashion. I don't know if the list serve is the right way to do it. Probably not. >> It maybe it may be. I mean we Yeah. Uh but I think before you leave maybe you and I over the next week or so I'll just put it in this and maybe make sure that we connect so that we're ready to like >> what Michael just said. Yes. Um, like I love this

133idea of having some mobilization. If we could get the ball rolling sooner rather than later and I think that the list serve is not a good place to do that. Um, a because it's not accessible to everyone and b it tends to just stir up a conversation that's often not productive and misinformed. >> So yeah, so you're saying so you're saying so let's just say we came up with a list a quick update. Here's what's going on. here's it should be tied to your legislation maybe a quick thing but then here are the people that you need to contact would that >> yeah I mean I can't speak for town's people about the list I find that >> but as far as like is PTO like as far as getting it to the people that

134really care what do you think >> yeah but would also be great if we have some sort of in advance like we sort of know the general buckets of what a letter would look like right it's like almost like the action alert software it's like you put in your zip code and it sends it to some like if we have a sense of what we're asking for and can prep that it would be a lot easier to activate when we need to than trying to like wait what are we supposed to say again right >> so I know a lot of people have expressed just interest and um I think that's where this desire to have a conversation comes from and I think that there are a lot of constituents that would be willing to

135mobilize and activate it just if we could kind of get the messaging and the intent refined a little bit so that we can just tweak and get it out >> okay great >> perhaps in followup I could reach out to look near to you get a follow. >> I think we get I mean it's fine with me. I um I think at this stage I think education around what's going on and what things are being considered the challenge will be is usually at the moment that we call on people to action. The message is very particular and it depends on what just happened. >> Yeah. Totally. >> And so to develop the messaging early on probably not very beneficial. Um, but to have the infrastructure set up, people aware that, hey, you may get an

136email asking you to reach out. Please don't ignore it, right? It's really important that you follow up and you do it. Getting that sort of framework laid out first so that when we actually do reach out to make the ask that people are prepared and ready to go. >> And my other question that maybe it's for further exploration is I know that there are some constraints around actually I don't know a parent or organization within a school district doing direct political action work or there could be some complications in areas of >> would have to be approached that way not to compromise existing relationships of any board members as it relates to the >> I think you're okay you can't lobby this is not lobbying >> right >> you're just asking people to you're not

137going to the state house and and rubbing elbows with legislators trying to get them to vote a certain way. You're just informing the community about what you you know and you can certainly say, you know, if this if this interest is, you know, important to you, please consider reaching out to your to your representatives and let them know. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right, Lauren. Sorry to put you on uh >> Okay, I'll make it brief. You also have my report. Happy to answer any questions about it. >> Questions on that? >> Hope it was worth the wait. >> I have a comment, not a question. I thought it was cool that you're thinking about a cohort model and you like problems of practice um in terms of how you're working with the the

138associate consult. I what's >> team effort around that thinking not just my thinking Greg and others as well so I'm grateful for that too >> all right >> okay and Teresa >> u I have also left over my report and just kind of highlighted um few things in each of the departments and that we had our first CIP meeting March 18th um probably not the best week around here with March intensive Um and then update on food service also. >> I have a question. >> Yes. >> Um Teresa, I saw that there were 20 people invited to the committee but only five came. Is that was it a mix of reasons why people couldn't come or? >> There's definitely a mix of reasons. Um various reasons and um one it was March intensive week for

139for around the high school and stuff like that. um other reasons were just it conflicted with their schedules and stuff like that and then others just didn't really want to participate. >> Have you thought I just like 20 is a lot for a committee. So maybe it was >> really it's not a committee committee. Okay. >> In that same sense and the 20 people were >> an attempt like we could have had two or three different people from one school >> with the hopes that at least one person would show. Okay. Thanks. >> Okay. >> Um perhaps I just don't remember this, but um I appreciated the audit update. Do we normally hear from the auditors? >> Uh sometimes I I don't know about these districts. Um, but I know that various districts will absolutely

140ask that auditors come in and just give a brief and overview of uh the budget report. >> I mean the audit report. Sorry about that. >> I happen to serve on a bunch of boards and my what I'm accustomed to is you hear from the auditors and then as a matter of best practice um board members go into non-public session without management just as a routine matter to say hey do you have any concerns? Anything you want to say to us? opportunity for board members, but I don't recall doing that and I don't know whether it's never happened here or I'm just not remembering it. >> That's not it's more out of like good governance concern like very specific. >> And do you mean in the sense that you might have questions because like the

141questionnaires that go out is part of some of those things that you're answering. >> Yeah. U be direct about it. Um, you know, uh, the way I view governance, which is not novel in any way, is we are governance. You are management. >> Um, we have our nose in very hands-off. >> Um, but one of the things that you have to be 100% confident is is you're the audited financial organization. >> And so, typically on other boards I've been on, there's been a space for the auditors to speak directly to the board and then for the auditors to speak privately to the board. Now 99.99% of the time that is very quick conversation. Anything you want to say to us? Any concerns? Are you good? Um once in a while they might add some color.

142Hey, our management letter, here's what we mean by that. Or you know here here's to be more blunt just so you understand that's what we meant by that comment. They're they're typically like pretty routine. But it just occurred to me that I don't recall ever being a part of a discussion like that as a school district. I'm seeing the news in Claremont makes me aware of what happens when you don't have controls. >> What was that? >> I'm sure there are just >> I just bring up because I at a very basic level did not remember whether that occurred with our school board. >> Yeah. >> Years ago, >> we we have done it in the past. We just haven't done it in the recent past. >> Okay, that makes sense. could be done. >>

143If we did want that, I would want to we would want to schedule them. >> Yeah. >> I mean, for 30 seconds, I I defer to the four chairs. That's really the province of them to discuss. I know as a board member, I'd personally be interested in that, but I I can't obligate us to do that. >> And Michael specifically asking for review of >> audited finals. >> Financials. >> Yep. Once the audit is closed, basically an exit conference. Okay. Auditors. Okay. All right. Uh that ends our regular meeting. At this point, we will enter into executive session as Robin said at the beginning of the meeting under agenda review. Um I believe we need a two-part motion for this one, right? because it's contract. Um, >> yeah, I can make Do you want me

144to make that first motion? >> Yeah, I guess I wasn't prepared for that. >> I think it is right. Like I think we need it because it's both the as well as the um >> so I can I can make the motion. >> Sure. Go ahead. >> So our first motion I think is um um yes. So I think first motion is we move to find the premature general public knowledge regarding uh the teacher contracts uh regarding the leave of absence and the um sorry the other item isn't in there yet but it's the um >> dated nomination the nomination list sorry uh places the board at a disadvantage because the board was disclosing uh any strategy it might have to discuss these items. Um do I have a motion? Uh second all those in

145favor second motion sorry we all approve that second motion. So I'll move into the enter session for purpose of discussing these contract items under title one section 313A1. All those in favor say unanimous movement through executive session will come out. Um there's nothing really other than approving those if you decide. >> All right. Thank you everyone. All right, we're back in public session. Um, do I have a motion to approve the nomination list? >> I move that we approve the nomination list. >> I'll second it. >> Second that, please second. All those in favor? All right, that is unanimous. So thank you very much for all the work Sean. So the nomination list has been approved. All right. I will now adjourn the meeting. Topics for next meeting pretty much set but feel free to

146add anything to me. Um do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Move to adjourn at 9:02 p.m. >> Gina seconded. All those in favor that is also unanimous. You're ajourned. Thank you Sean. How does this group get clean? That's excellent. >> Very appealing.