COOP School Board Meeting 1/21/2026

001call the co-op school board January 21st meeting to order at 6 o'clock p.m. Um, I have not heard from Rob, but I am expecting him. I have heard from Beth who is um home sick. So I feel sorry that she's not feeling well and I wish her >> she's feeling I hope she feels better soon. Um so that being said, we do have a few agenda adjustments that I'd like to make myself and then um I don't know if the superintendent has some too, but first let's do introductions. Forgot that. So let's go with let's start with Mr. Solan at the end of the to my right. Co-op school board. >> Thank you. >> Co-op school board member from >> Cindy Vanc. >> Lauren Daneo, assistant superintendent of student services. >> Do flarity, assistant superintendent

002of curriculum instruction. >> Gina Burks, superintendent. >> Holly Derlo Babcock, uh, co-op school board from Holl's chair. Uh Kate Stole, co-op school board vice chair from Brooklyn. >> Rob man, co-op [clears throat] school board. >> Patrick West, principal of the middle school. >> Jay C, principal of the high school student body. >> Thank you. Welcome everyone. Okay, so first agenda adjustment is that I would like the board to take a a conversation about our upcoming meetings like calendaring. Um, we have some questions about our February meeting. I'd like to also talk about March and April. So, I'd like to do that under the discussion so that we can clarify that. Is that okay with everyone? >> Okay. Terrific. So, that'll be our first >> microphones on. >> So, the microphones don't don't project into the

003room. They they just go to the viewers. So, I will try to be louder. Um, that's the best I can do. I can be loud. I'm from New Jersey, so I can be loud. um sister. >> Yeah, that's right. There's a few of us from Jersey. We'll just like layer it out. >> Yeah. So, um calendar, that's what'll be the first thing. The other agenda adjustment is that we are not going to be having a stipen committee update. That's going to be something that comes up. It's not going to be a regular update. So, we can cross number seven off. Um is there anything else? >> That's all I have. >> There was a thing you sent the email about today. Is that something being added? >> Maybe we can add that as numbers as

004at the end. I had I sent an email to the board very late today. It was a request from another school school. I think it's from a a group, a robotics group if you saw it. So maybe we'll talk about that. >> An independent team or if they're affiliated with the school. >> It seems like it. So I I feel like maybe that's I just need some questions and how to respond from the board. So let's put that on the robotics. I think it's a national robotics team request. Nick jumped in our other >> team request >> um just because I technically the chair can build the agenda but I felt like it was better to get feedback from you guys. Okay. So that's going to be the last thing on the discussion thing. So

005all of you can keep track of that for me. Thank you. I'm sure you'll all keep me on my toes. Um all right. So are there any other agenda adjustments from anyone else? Okay. So, notifications of nominations, resignations, and correspondence. >> Um, uh, I have none, but I feel like there is something that just popped in my head, but I have none right now. >> Okay. Well, I mean, we can always go back to it if it pops back in your head. I understand that. Okay. I need to appoint a process observer. Um, I don't have a list anymore, so I'm just asking someone to raise their hand. >> I'll do it tonight. >> Thank you, Cindy. and we will move forward with approval of the minutes. So, we have December minutes and I'm going

006to need a motion. So, the following amendments were offered. Page one, line 28, correct the spelling of superintendent. Page two, line two, delete the A before 1,00. Page seven, line 33, replace advisory with advisor. Replace freshman with freshmen throughout. and page 10, line one, correct the spelling of there, t h e r e. Um, so I need a motion to accept as amended. >> So moved. >> Moved by Kate and I need a second. >> Second by Cindy. Okay. Are there any comments, discussion, further amendments? Okay. All in favor? 6. Motion carries. And then we had some non-public minutes. Um, there's no there's no amendments to that. So I need a motion to accept as presented. So moved. >> Moved by Kate, second by Rob. >> Any comments? Okay. All in favor >> and that's

0076 as well. Motion carries. [snorts] All right. So, moving forward, we'll have public input. We're going to start public input at as soon as I finish introducing it. And we will have it run since it's on the schedule for 610, we'll have it run 30 minutes from 610. So, it'll stay we'll stay open till 6:40. So, if there's a viewing member of the public, I would like you to get here between now and 6:40 and um we will hear from you when it's convenient for us. Um you know, when there's a good break in the in the meeting. So, um residents providing input are asked to state their name and address for the record and that that input be focused on items included on the agenda. Um the public input period is not intended to

008be back and forth discussion. It's rather an opportunity for residents um to hear from residents before we act on agenda items. However, I do advise the public that if you do speak to us, a lot of times we will reference your input later on in the meeting. It may not happen right away. Sometimes it happens later on the meeting. So even if you can't stay for the whole meeting, I advise that you go back and watch it so that you can see and hear us even better. So, um, with that being said, I will open the floor for public input. >> At 66 >> 06. Thank you. >> Thank you. [cough] [clears throat] >> Still trying to get my hands thought out here. >> So, I'm uh Aaron Penasich. I live at 133 DO and

009Hollis. Uh, I actually have two topics to discuss here that are unrelated. One is um I am trying to find a way to create a turning point USA chapter at Hollis Brookline High School. Uh one of the very important things that I need in order to make that happen is I need a student sponsor who can then solicit a faculty sponsor so we can go to the principal uh to uh get that club put in place. requires five signatures. It's a pretty simple process. Um, but I have yet to find a student sponsor mainly because I'm an old dude and I don't have any kids in the school so I have no contacts there. Right. So, um, I I would ask >> what was the name of the organization again or the club? >> Turning

010Point USA. >> Thank you. Charlie Kirk who who you may recognize the name, >> right? So if uh if if any of you have a suggestion as a student that could be a sponsor for that, I would appreciate having that name so that I can orchestrate a conference call with that students and their parents um in order to make this happen. Okay. So, end of point one, end of uh point point two is I was here last month also along with uh Doug Davidson, right, who you probably recall. And Doug would be here tonight, but he got a flat tire. Um, and the issue we raised was, and I handed all of you copies of charts, right, that I hope you looked at rather than threw them away, right? uh which showed the enrollment declining,

011showed the budget increasing and showed the academic performance declining. That's an unacceptable situation. So, what we asked for last month and I'm going to ask again and we we will be asking every month is what is your plan to bring the students in math, science, and reading up to grade level? What is your plan? What is your specific plan to do that? And how will you present that to us as taxpaying citizens? We pay you. You work for us. we don't work for you, right? What are you gonna do to fix that problem because it's it's it's not a good thing that's going on right now. And I don't know if you have anything prepared. >> So, um again, this is not a back and forth. We're not going to necessarily respond to that, but

012I think it's important to watch the whole meeting and see and and and actually previous meetings because we've been addressing and talking about test scores and and things like that. We um we certainly will bring these topics up um and we will get back to you at some point. >> How and when taking it under advisement is not an acceptable answer. >> It might have to be the answer tonight. We don't we're not prepared for a plan for the math science. What you're asking for right now as far as I know. >> When will you be? I'm just going to say that um we are aware of where our test scores are uh and they really start in third grade and so the best way to handle much of this is at the elementary level.

013So the bulk of the answers you're looking for are held within the um meeting minutes of our elementary boards, both Brooklyn and Hollis. >> The data I gave you at our last meeting addressed 11th grade students. >> Yes. >> And it was pathetic. So, some of the test scores that you've are focusing on do seem to be challenged, but we also have our um school profile and in that our SAT scores are higher than the national average. They're higher than New Hampshire average. Our AP scores are I believe in 2025 90% of our students got a three, which is a qualifying grade, which means that they'll be able to get credits in college. So, we do have test scores that show our students are performing at a high level. What you're asking is, and this

014is specific types of students, although our SAT score is our school day test, SAT. So, every student is expected to take that test. And those two tests, the AP tests and the SATs, are tests that our students really buy into, which is why I think eight or nine years ago, was it eight years ago, um our former superintendent worked with the state to make the SAT our our state level testing because we knew our students would pay attention to that and buy into that. So the >> that doesn't cover science, does it? >> It does not cover science. So, we do have some some work that we'll talk about on science and we'll possibly potentially get into this conversation later or >> I'm working on a presentation that I hope to be able to ask

015to be put on the agenda by next week. >> So, probably April though the February is a well we can talk about February. >> So, our February meeting is our meeting where we do the warrant and it's a it's a budget meeting. It's it's a joint meeting with the budget committee which we're going to discuss tonight. And then we also have to talk about what we're doing in March because usually we have a March meeting and which is our annual meeting and we don't have a an actual co-op meeting. So it might be April which is when we talked about test scores last year was in April. >> Okay. >> So but if we can try to squeeze it in in February, we'll talk about that. So that's why I can't give you an actual

016date because we need to talk about the calendar. But we do have, you know, evidence to show that our students are achieving like at least the co-op students. So, I mean, we have I think this this simple document that is right on our website um shows that uh 81.5% of our students go on to college. 6.3% of our students go on to community to two-year college. I mean, they're they're getting where they need to go. A lot of students are. So, we're not a failure, but in the area that you're looking at, you you are not happy with those results. And we are hearing that, >> right? and that that's a nationally uh conducted test and I appreciate the dialogue because I don't know you're not obligated to do that in public testimony, right? But

017we have a problem. >> The other thing that I would add is although the administration contributes heavily towards the budget, budget is actually owned by the budget committee who are meeting here tomorrow uh tomorrow night here. Yeah, I I well understand that. Yeah. So I think that the some of the questions that you are asking may get a more satisfactory response within the budget committee in the sense of responding to the the data in question, not the plans, but the data in question because I think that there's um some dialogue around that that's worthwhile. the there definitely is and I'm well aware of the budget committee. I know many of them uh personally and you know to to say to say so there there's a New Hampshire state requirement that 95% of the students respond

018uh to that academic survey. Right. And uh for members of the budget committee to tell me, >> well, no, I'm not talking. >> No, no, let me finish. To uh to to say that those that don't respond get a zero score and so that affects the average is blatantly false and it's provable, right? And so I question the budget committee's judgment frankly on that. So, >> I don't think this the budget committee talk about >> what I was talking about is um your uh questions about cost versus enrollment data. That's where I thought they may have some some information that might give you some historical context and basis that might uh might be worth a conversation. I was not talking about test scores. >> No. Fair fair enough. But but the the the packages I

019handed to all of you last month is data from the New Hampshire >> I've got it right. Yeah, you got it right. So it's it's not made up. It's real data. And so anyway, okay. So uh thank you very much for uh my opportunity. >> Thank you. >> Okay. And again, public input is open until 6:40. But we're going to move on with our meeting since we don't see anyone else here. And I'm going to start with the principal reports, specifically athletics. Um, and I don't [clears throat] know how you guys want to do this because Brian's not here. >> Same as usual. >> Um, we are [clears throat] going to do the usual. >> We're at the midway point of the winter season at the high school for athletics and it's shaping up to

020be a great postseason as well. Several teams will be in contention for some deep runs. Uh boys basketball currently sits at top division 2 rankings uh undefeated, including a holiday tournament champion in the annual LOL Catholic holiday tournament. The girls team started off with a tough schedule, but rattled off three wins in a row. Uh added another one last night, I believe. Um and our unified basketball team also defeated Sagen the other night 4842. wrestling team looks strong as they head into their final stretch with only one loss coming at the hands of Milford in a hotly contested divisional match. Uh the Marramac College Brookline Deerfield ice hockey teams found themselves on a bit of a streak aiming to make another run back to this new arena. Indoor track, swim, and gymnastics teams continue to

021make strides with several student athletes breaking school records and showing great improvement. And all three teams will compete in their respective divisional state meets in early February. Great. Thank you. Ski team's also doing okay. Not mentioned here. Not your fault, but one I pay attention to and they seem to be doing okay. >> I've been trying to get to one event of each team. Like I made it to swim the other day. >> Are you not ski? >> Can I stay in the lodge? And [laughter] >> there's a little there's a little there's a little hut. There's a little hut you can stand in at the bottom. You can watch. >> I need one of those heated jackets. >> Yeah. No, trust me. Yeah. They don't give ski. I don't give scheme team parents enough

022credit, let me tell you. >> We got more snow in Central America when it's colder here. >> Okay, middle school, please. >> Uh, winter sports at the middle school are back in action after the winter break. Uh, both basketball teams making strong pushes to make their tournaments. Wrestling team has shown great improvements. Several new wrestlers paired with the season vets. This isn't included, but I do just want to give a shout out to uh our boys boys coach Skip uh and all the individuals involved with last Thursday's coaches versus cancer game. Um that's been an ongoing tradition here at the middle school and they raised over $3,000 just in that one evening. Um sent that off. >> That's great. >> Yes. So uh thank you Skip and all the uh community members involved for that

023coaches versus cancers event. >> And so a lot of these uh tournaments will be in February, right? The the end of the season >> tournaments. Okay, great. Thank you. Thanks for that. Congratulations to all the kids who are working hard towards that goal. >> All right, Patrick, do you want to do your Oh, Jacob, who's going next? Just >> you're listed. >> You're you're listed. Sorry. >> Uh I win. Uh night games. It's our seventh annual night games at the middle school. Our counseling department uh continues to uh offer that each uh winter break the week before winter break. Um and just add different pieces each year and it's just a really it's one of my favorite weeks of the year. Just students are really excited not only for vacation but for for all the

024things that are going on in the school. Um I included a few pictures this year. fun little activity during rock uh was they needed to build torches with any materials they could find in their class. Um and they had some different creative uh ideas. Um and students really enjoyed it. Staff really enjoyed it. Um other things like the golden egg scavenger hunt, which has been a longstanding tradition here at the middle school, is also a daily activity. Uh golden egg is hidden during the day, I think three or four, and students get really excited about finding it during non-academic times. Um and it's just a fun vibe to the week. Dress up the uh each day. Um, and again, big shout out to our counseling department for keeping that going and uh making some adjustments

025and improvements, not improvements, but just changing some things up each year. Um, it's just a fun week. Uh, as I shared, I think last month, we had our winter and band course concerts, really great shows, uh, performances for both groups. Uh, Miss Null has got her band group back up to 60 students, which is great. And then Miss Costa, who's in her second year, uh, as a chorus teacher, other music department teacher, uh, 125 students in her chorus. Unfortunately, as I'm sure you all are aware, uh December was a very uh sick month, month full of sickness, and I think about 40 students were unable to attend that night. But still a really great performance. Uh and I'm excited to see how they do in the spring when hopefully everybody's healthy and the whole course

026group is there and shine. Our Patriots pen and D essay winners. Um, shout out to Sai and Nakaloo who won the BFW Patriots pen winner is going forward to the state level and Ryan Tahhiri who was named the D essay contest winner. Both of those students will receive cash prizes and uh be recognized at our end of the year awards. Best of luck at the state level for both of those individuals. Uh, spelling be happened in December as well. Seventh grader Nicholas Barendola was the winner and seventh grade student Annabella Regoza was the runner up. Uh Nicholas is deciding not to participate in the state level competition which is totally fine but Annabella is going to represent HBMS uh in conquered at the end of February. Best of luck to Annabella. Um that's all I

027have. So open to any questions. >> Does anyone have any questions for >> Patrick? open until 6:40. >> Can I give you one more? >> Um, can you wait until is it related to the principal's report? >> It's related to the town and >> so can we wait until the principal's reports are done and then we'll then we'll get to you. >> Thank you. Um, any other questions for Patrick? So, I just always like to take a moment to congratulate the kids who are mentioned. Um, and that's Sai [clears throat] and Ryan and Nicholas and Annabella. So, congratulations to all of them on their achievements. [clears throat] Um, and then we'll move over to the board report from the high school. Thank you, Patrick. >> Um, we had two silver key winners from the Scholastic

028Art Awards, uh, Issa Ramos and Lauren Elbert. Um, great honor for them. Their artwork is there attached. Super creative, dedicated, artistic talent there. I'm very proud of their hard work. Um our AP government um we the people competition went to the state finals and missed first place by 14 points. It was very close. Um the class of nine students held their own against a team of 26 students and that was the winning school. Uh they did a fantastic job and were invited uh as an atlarge bid to go to the national finals. So they're super excited about that opportunity coming up. Um, and then I I love when we're able to uh collaborate with the middle school and welcome middle school kids up into the building. So on the 14th, choir and band students had

029an opportunity from the middle school to come up to the high school, see our band in choir perform, ask questions, talk about what band and choir look like at the high school uh and just have a really cool experience and I was able to spend some time with the band kids as they were getting ready for that. So just always love the opportunity for them to come up and do that. Um, I don't have it on this report, but we were notified the other day that we're actually uh a 2025 AP honor roll school. So, our not only did our test scores uh reach a mark, but we grew our number of students taking the exams as well. So, they honor us as an AP honoral school. >> That's great. >> Um, so I wanted

030to share that as well. Um, and that's uh that's all I got from December. >> Great. Thank you, Jacob. Are there any questions? Again, congratulations to the We the People. um competitors, the AP government class, and to um Isabella and Lauren. Um I saw that in your newsletter and saw their artwork and always pleased to see that kind of thing. So, congratulations to them. That's quite an achievement. >> Anything else? Um do you want to talk about the people now? Okay. >> Sure. All right. So, as principal Hess mentioned, our AP government students were invited to participate in the national finals of we the people that's held in Washington DC. We supported the trip last year. Um this year we're we would like to support this trip again. Um there I am asking for the

031support from the board um for the ability to fund the participation cost. We do have a a line item that's academic competitions. And so I'd like to utilize funds from that line to cover the $7,500 cost to participate. As of right now, um the trip per student is $1,939. Um we they also we also have to tack on the cost of the second chaperone. So that would increase the per student cost. Trying to allocate the $7,500 to all the students. There are only nine in the class. um makes the um the experience really not um feasible for the majority of our families. But since we have a line item in the budget and we fund other competitions similar to this, I'd like to request that we um uh move money in the budget to cover

032the cost of this. This is not something that we make every year, which is why it's not built into the budget. >> So, will that be under deliberation? >> That is a deliberative item for later. Are there any questions on that? >> You want the questions now or do you want it when we deliberate? >> Such a hard question. You can do it now. >> Um, where would the money be moved from? >> Um, so I there are many lines where we can move the money from. We have um savings with hiring this year and benefits. I'm going to go through uh >> so essentially just unspent money as opposed to >> unspent money. We're not taking away from another >> how do we fund um things such as uh tournament play for sports teams

033that we don't know in advance that they're they're going to qualify. How do we do it for uh trips like when we go to when the when the uh band or chorus goes to overnight trip for a competition. How do we fund those? >> So, the band and chorus have a history of every year being invited to certain events. So, those are built into the budget for athletics. Although we don't know which teams are going to participate, we look at a running average of all the fees associated with sending teams to, you know, the tournaments that we might not typically get to. Uh, and so that's built into the budget. This is something that I would propose building into the budget now that this is two years in a row that we're seeing this request,

034but as of right now, it's not currently built into the budget. >> Are you anticipating asking for any student participation in the cost? >> Uh like scholarships? >> No, I mean like I know when when the I just know about the band because I have kids in the band, but um they they pay a portion of >> Yes. Yep. So right now the the cost if the students cover two chaperones would be $2,339 per somewhere around there per student when you allocate the additional cost of the chaperone. >> Chaperrons is free, right? >> So one is free but it's really built into the student cost. >> We're required to have a second chaperone and so we would allocate that cost to the students divide that by nine and tack it on. So it's maybe it's

035like 2100 2200 um without funding the 7500 that entire 7500 would be allocated to those nine students >> divided by nine. So >> what I'm trying to understand is >> under the proposal that you are describing >> how much will the individual students pay approximately not >> are we talking hundreds of dollars thousands of dollars? Um, so let's see. >> $833 less than what the total is >> 1999, >> right? Because you're going to take the 7500 and allocate it to nine students. >> Um, so the way I'm proposing where the district covers the $7,500, each student would pay $2,198. >> Okay. I thought what you were saying is the $7,500 you've got money for, but you don't have it for an additional amount. >> No, no. I would like I would like to cover

036the cost of the 7,500 and have the students pay $2,198 each rather than um adding another just under $1,000, $889 per pupil. >> Okay. So, the amount that's in the fund that that that can cover a portion of it is is how much? You said there is some money already there >> there we have line items. Um >> I'm just wondering how much you're you're looking to take that wasn't budgeted. >> Sure. Um as of right now we have um we have $1,500 in that line. So I'd be looking to move an additional $6,000. >> Okay. Does that clarify it for you for deliberations? Great. Thank you. >> Okay. Are there any other questions on that? >> Tom covered it. Great. Thanks, Tom. >> Okay. >> Mr. Pas, if you could we can take the

037the next piece of public input now before we move on to discussion. >> Yes. So, this is just a public >> please come to the mic because the public won't hear you. >> This is uh just a public service announcement. So, um I'm coming up in July next year is the 250th anniversary of America, right? And so, uh I'm on the planning board in Hollis for our celebration for that event. >> Can I just interrupt you? What's the name of that committee? >> It's the Hollis 250th America Birthday Committee. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. So, I'm the vice chairman on that. And so we have a a twow weekek celebration coming up. So on July 4th, we're going to have a piece of the celebration uh at Monument Square and we'll have the reading

038of the Declaration of Independence Pledge of Allegiance. Uh I have I have uh Bruce Moran who's with the VFW there going to recite the Old Glory poem with a flag. Right. So, we have a lot of things happening there uh on the 4th of July. And then on the 11th at the Lawrence Barn, uh we have a pot potluck dinner. We have live music. We have the Slackas. I don't know if you know Chris Lucier and Deb, right? But so they're going to be playing there live. >> Um and uh it's it's and we have uh events for the kids. We have a parade. We have fireworks. >> So, it's going to be a big thing. Um, we are looking for volunteers to help execute the two days, right? So, if you can uh distribute

039that information and request, it would be helpful. >> So, I believe that we have community flyers. Do we still do community flyers? So, at the bottom of our principal newsletters, um, you can submit a a flyer of information. I think it gets submitted to the SEU office. It should say on it that it's not a school sponsored event because it isn't. And if you submit that to the office to the SAU office, they can approve it and then it can get disseminated through all of the schools, right? So um obviously yours would be focused on Hollis school. So it' be the elementary school, the upper and these two schools and then parents and families will see it. >> Yes. So it's a joint Hollis and Brooklyn. >> Okay. Okay. So, then it should go to

040Brookline as well then that we're doing and uh I've written an article about it. >> Um we we don't have everything finalized yet, but we're pretty close. Okay. >> And that'll be published in the uh March uh positively hollis newspaper that gets mailed out >> to everybody. I've been working with Liz on that. >> Sure. >> And uh so yeah, that would be great. That's a good >> So you just you committee has to come up with a flyer and send it to the SAU and then it can get sent >> and uh I have one. So >> Okay, great. Good. Might I might I add one more um piece of information? Um you can communicate with principal hes to um work with the National Honor Society because there are students who are always looking

041for volunteer opportunities. >> Which honor society? >> National Honor Society. The students are always looking for volunteer opportunities. So they might be able to support. >> Okay, good. Yeah, I mean it's we just we need people to help with traffic control and you know just generally running >> uh the operations that we're going to have there. This is going to be a an old home days magnitude >> activity. So >> and and the Hollis Brookline Booster Club is also an athletic booster club is another organization that you can reach out to for volunteers. >> We've got them engaged. We've got the Hollis uh garden society. We have the Daughters of the uh Great >> American Revolution engaged. So yeah. So, we're we're doing all that. So, that's good. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >>

042Thanks. >> Okay. Moving on to discussion. Um, if there are any questions on that, >> do we want Sam to >> Oh gosh, I'm so sorry. >> That's okay, >> Sam. >> She's chomping at the bit, so I want to make sure she >> Yeah, I you know what? I think we need to put that on the agenda. I think we need it to be number four after that. It would be helpful to me to have student council report. That would be really helpful, Sam, because I'm sorry about that. Thank you. >> No, you're good. So, the senior class is putting on a winter formal on the 31st of January. This is like a new dance for the school and it's like the senior class hope it's a good fundraiser for them. And then the

043student council is starting to plan for upcoming spirit week event at the end of February where each grade comes with a theme and dance they present in front of the school assembly. >> Great. Thank you for that update. >> All right. Thanks so much, Sam. So, I'll give you the little spiel that I give every student who comes. You're welcome to stay for the rest of our meeting because it is scintillating and so interesting, but you also after your report are welcome to to leave. Um, I'm looking at the agenda and I don't see sometimes there are things that really are important to our students. I don't see anything except for maybe the driver's ed question, but other than that, I think, you know, there's not a lot that you would probably dig into, but

044you're welcome to stay um or leave whenever you feel so. Okay. discussion. So, first item of business on the discussion that we just added is the calendar. Um I believe if you check the calendar um February 19th is a Thursday. Um and that is our joint meeting with the um co-op budcom. Is the I did not reach out to Darlene. Is she aware that that's our meeting? >> She is because that's um our public hearing. So although technically we're scheduled for a meeting on the 18th, >> February 19th, >> so it would be a Thursday instead of a Wednesday. And I wanted to make sure everybody was okay with it being like our public hearing because we have to have the public hearing on the 19th. So is everyone okay with us just having one

045meeting? Public hearing, combined budget committee, and board meeting. >> So you're talking about not meeting on Wednesday? >> I would not. We would not meet on February 18th. we would meet on February 19th, which would be dually posted and everyone be aware. But since we are all Wednesday night people, I wanted to make sure that we all are aware that that's a Thursday night and that we're going to do a a combined meeting as we've done before in the past and we'll have our public hearing. >> Would we start at 6 to do board business? >> I think starting at 6 is wise. I think the budget committee usually starts at 6:30, right? But if we have something that we want to do boardwise that's not related to the public hearing, we could start at

0466 and then the public hearing would start at 6:30. Is that right? And then the budcom meeting would start after that. >> It's a question or a statement though. >> It's a question for you to make sure that everyone is okay with that. >> I personally will have a conflict, but I am one. >> Okay. So, we have to meet on the 19th for the public hearing. So that's that's a definite I'm just wondering if you want to meet on the 18th too >> and that will be when we take positions on the warrant as well. Correct. >> Yes. >> So that's an important one. >> It's an important one. >> But because of the the 30 days and all the rules that we have to meet on the 19th >> we got we gota

047>> I don't want to meet on the 18th and the 19th personally. I think that would be silly. saying what can we do to get people there on the 18th on the 19th >> meaning human beings to public input >> I want to make sure we've got the majority because when we don't have that on the position statements >> that's very true >> it causes issues >> so Kate can't be there can everyone else be there that's here can you be there Tom you're the only person that >> yeah I already had I already I had both dates on my calendar >> so we'll have at least five of us I'd have to and and double check with her. But I think Wednesdays are actually harder for her than Thursdays. So, um and she is

048watching. So, I hope that she will give me feedback. So, we'll meet on the night. So, then that covers us for February. But I thought since I had you all here and we could talk about the calendar. It's our tradition usually in March to only have our annual meeting which is scheduled for >> March 19th. And um that would be our annual district meeting. Um I'm proposing that we not meet as a board in March and that our next meeting would be April 8th, which is um a little early in April for us, but it is the second Wednesday instead of the 3. And that's really important that we set that April 8th meeting because we need to do that before we like to meet before the 15th because we have teacher contracts and stuff

049like that. that there's a time there's a deadline of the 15th for us. >> So that's my proposal that we meet February 19th one one time only then we meet again in um March for the annual meeting and then we meet on April 8th. The only thing that I don't know is if we're going to have any special meetings because of petition warrant articles. Sometimes we have to have public hearings in Brooklyn and Hollis. So, we don't have that information yet, but at least we could set our calendars. So, does that work for everyone? >> Got it. >> Okay. >> Question. Do we have a snow date for the February 19th meeting? >> Do we have a snow date for the February 19th? I think it's the >> snow. I think it's the day after.

050>> That whole week is the day after. >> Well, if it snows, I might not be here on the 20th. So, >> hang on. I think you're thinking of the March. >> No, it's 20th. >> It's >> February as well. >> Yeah. >> Okay, that's what I >> So, February 20th is the snow date. >> Okay. >> I just I might be in Colorado. I don't know. Or I might not be in Colorado because >> February 28th is the >> 20th. >> Oh, February 20th is the snow day for the public hearing and March 20th >> is the snow day for >> the annual meeting. >> For the annual meeting. >> Is that also Friday? >> Yeah, Friday. what the week before on Friday the 13th. >> The calendar is so much fun. Okay. So,

051is everyone clear on that? >> Okay. Thank you all for bearing with me on that one. So, moving forward discussion item. We don't have anything on this, but driver's ed, you're just speaking to it. >> Okay. So um a driver's ed company reached out to me to request our facilities use form um to which I share the link and um if you look at the form and the categories and the request um it becomes a little bit um cost prohibitive to follow our policy exactly with the number of hours. They'd be requesting to use a classroom to hold driver's ed for our students immediately after school. This would be not a school sponsored event. We'd have no liability. They'd hold their own liability insurance, etc. Um, this is something that this company has done um

052at a few different high schools further west and so they were hoping to kind of uh create an opportunity. >> A link in >> I'm sorry, >> you said there was a link. >> I sent a link to the facilities use form where it references um >> Oh. said to them, not >> said to them, "Yes." And um anyway, so the request was made, is there an opportunity to lower that fee? And I said, "Well, it's a board policy. I'd have to bring it to the board." Some districts have lowered the fee because it's um two hours after school twice a week. The custodian's already there. Uh so they don't really we don't really need to add custodial coverage, etc. Um some districts have chosen to um wave the fee only if they've um relay

053the discount onto our students. So if you have an enrolled pupil reducing the cost of the driver's ed for the families. Um, so like I said, it's a board policy in terms of the the cost and I didn't know if I'd like to request that we consider um waving the fee um and and um offering that discount to the students. Um, my thought as a parent who has gone through driver's ed is that it would be um probably well received by by the community if there was one less pickup and drop off for something of this sort. But >> I just want to comment a little and I hope that Corey Kaufman watches this. Um, is that is Corey Kaufman, right? >> Coughfield. Coughfield. Sorry. Um, >> I went to Sorry. I went to a

054Project Citizen two years ago or last year and one of the topics was the fact that we no longer offer drivers ed in our high school. The kids were they had, you know, why did we stop it? It was something that we did offer and it stopped after 2020 for various reasons and this is a different company, different group. I just thought that that was really interesting and I would like that get to get back to him that that actually resonated with me and here I am sitting here thinking about it with this proposal. So um so it seems like it's something that students and families would appreciate and it would certainly be super convenient to be at school. [cough] >> You need a motion. Well, this is a discussion item tonight. So, I think

055this is one of those things where we can talk about it, question it, and then we would put it on as a deliberative item next month. Or >> does it have to be It would have to be soon. I would assume that you'd like to get in. Is this for next year or is this something you'd start? >> I think the sooner the better. Um, this discussion started back in November. >> Okay. >> With them. So, >> Tom, >> couple of questions. Um, it's their how many how many students can they have in a class? Do you know? Here's where I'm I'm going with it. I would support it if it is primarily for the benefit of HB students. I'm not particularly supportive of it as us making it a lowcost location for them to

056hold their classes. So, >> um, >> but can we put a guideline on it that only HB students can take this class at HB? Is that what you're saying? >> Well, I I did got the impression that they weren't looking to have exclusively for HB students, were they? >> Uh, I don't think they would necessarily restrict it. We could put that on them, but they do have their main office is a few miles down the road. So, I don't think they're looking simply to get rid of their main office. They're looking to provide convenience. Um I see them pick up students from Hollis Brookline all the time for their driving hours. So I know they have quite a few students from Hollis Brookline. So I think they were just looking to create um an opportunity.

057>> Yeah, I I'm supportive of it if it benefits our students and that it provides a substantial um a substantial benefit, not like a $10 discount kind of thing. Um the second thing is if we do it for this school, [clears throat] would we do it for any of the competitive other competitive schools? So, are we prepared? There's probably three or four that are really close and they all go for the same students and usually the biggest choice for people is who's got an opening on the day that the kids are available and the parents can get them there. >> Yep. So if if we got approached by two other schools that says, "Well, you're doing it with this school on Wednesday. Can I have Thursday? Would we be inclined to uh accommodate requests such

058as that?" So I asked that board consider that because if we're doing it for only one um I think we might be opening ourselves up for complaints if we do a if we if we do it that way. >> Agreed. This is the first time someone reached out to it was simply a facilities use request and then the fees um like I said just sparked the discussion. Um, so I don't admit >> I'm gonna discount I don't have any concerns about it being just one because somebody discounting it as a that's the part that I'm saying. >> Okay. >> Well, even if it were if HB students could have a sort of a priority enrollment time >> where >> I think for convenience that a lot more parents would be looking at that particular company

059if they >> if this was available because trying to get them somewhere right after school is the big issue. You know, not Sorry. >> So, I think those are good questions maybe um to go back to them and see if they would like prioritize HB students. Um if yeah, if they prioritize HB students, if they would restrict it, if they would even consider restricting it to HB students only, if we were going to wave the fees so that they could provide a discount, maybe it would be good to know like how much the discount would be like what what kind of help we would be giving the students. I think that would be good information. >> I I I don't cause conflict. But I don't think I think it would be good if they don't

060have to restrict it. As long as they get priority because that way it makes it more economically feasible. They can make the class. >> So you don't want it restricted. It's okay. Just you just want the students to get >> I don't want HB students to be turned away >> if they if they want it and there's room. >> Okay. Okay. >> Do you know how much they're asking us to discount the rate? Did they ask for a specific amount or just say can you do better? Um, I believe it the for one course, which would be 15 classes, uh, I want to say we would end up charging them 2,000 and I think the request was, would you consider 1,000? Um, and Conval has discounted has had requested that they discount the course by

061$25. I believe the course is somewhere around 800 and they asked if they would drop it to 775. So I I'm just sharing what what came >> I'm almost of the opinion that if if they will do it for the benefit of HB students and give a substantial discount I forgo >> what's substantial >> 15 20%. I you know because you know if you look at economies of scale if you can get a lot of people >> all in one room you don't have to pay for the place I what I was saying is I would I would contemplate waving it because to that to me is a benefit of the students as opposed to being an outside organization. >> Okay I think you have enough to go on that does that satisfy the board?

062Is that enough to go on? Okay. So, we'll um hopefully put that on for February. I know that we are going to have limited time, but maybe we can get it maybe we can get time for that in February. Possibly. Did you know that? >> Okay. So, uh moving on to the revenue and expense report. >> Um can I ask a question? >> No. >> Okay. So, um, gentlemen, we're moving into budget and stuff like that. So, if you feel like you need to stay, you're welcome to stay. But you also, um, we don't see anything that we really need you here for. So, but we love having you. So, don't feel like you're being kicked out, but you are welcome to go home. >> Right. >> We'll just text your wives and say that

063[laughter] you chose to stay. Do you do you need anything for me for the policy stuff? I know the memo like work felt good about that stuff. >> I think it was fine because the the graduation stuff isn't the first time. >> Yeah, I think we're good. Okay. All right. So, moving on. Revenue and expense report. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Do you want candy for the room? >> Do you want some candy? >> Always. >> Seriously, take the candy. The bowl ends up by Mr. Solen and I and the chair. >> He hoards it. >> Move it around. [laughter] >> Came late. Okay. So, revenue and expense report. >> Sure. [snorts] >> All right. So, our regular education line items, we have a a balance of nearly $300,000 and that's due to

064both hiring savings and vacancies. Our special ed line, we have a balance of 240,428. That is due to some out of district tuition savings. That's likely we're likely to see that increase as well as we get further along in the year. >> We [snorts] think that balance number is going to go up. >> Yeah. The 240. Yes. Um the vocational program, I'm happy to report that we are well over budget by $35,000 due to um our enrollment numbers in CTE um increasing. Uh and then uh we we are seeing a positive balance in all of our line items. >> [snorts] >> um savings in contracted uh services. Uh we needed fewer hours with summer um temporary help in IT. [snorts] Um we just processed fewer professional development reimbursements. So far we have not utilized our

065contingency. Oil costs are lower than um than budgeted. That's due to our switch over from oil to propane. >> Um transportation has decreased. So this year we last year we were still supporting um year 2 students in Milford. This year we are not we switched over simply to Alurn and Nashville programming. So therefore we have um a healthy savings in vocational ed transportation um as well as special ed transportation. Um with hiring savings that means we're going to have savings in our benefits line as well. So both due to vacancies um higher save hiring savings and plan selection. So overall, we see that we are doing really well with a balance of over um almost $1.4 million. Um if you look over at our revenue, we're also doing well. We are um bringing in more

066money than uh we had budgeted. So, if you add those together and then [snorts] you subtract out um a a requirement for a transfer from food service, we're looking at $1,474,40. If we were to these are certainly placeholders, but as of right now, we're proposing $300,000 for maintenance trust. So, if [snorts] we pull out the 300,000, if we were to hang on to retain fund balance of around 37643, that would be a decision we would make in um August, [snorts] September. If we were to move forward with a contingency fund um reducing that total balance by 8001,000, we would still have a fund balance of 672,597. Um that is only expected to increase um as we release uh additional funds. So we're in really good place >> and some of our revenue for Medicaid should

067be increasing as well, >> which you can see we're well over budget. >> What's the increase in wrong? H This isn't a joke. What did we do wrong? >> Yeah. >> In budgeting. >> Yeah. Because having this kind of surplus makes I think makes it difficult to uh go with the process that the budget committee currently uses to baseline off the previous year. A lot of it is is special education placement that cannot be predicted. >> So that's is that the biggest area? >> It's one of it's one of them. It's not the only one. >> Well, it's special education bleeds over into many lines because of that. So >> if that is is the case, >> I know that you can't go into detail, correct? >> But I think it's incredibly important that that

068be um publicized or not publicized but be made apparent and then the question becomes [clears throat] do we take that into account when we try to reserve that chunk that we want to give back. >> Sure. Um, and you know, that's exactly the conversation I had with Lance, our business administrator, and Lauren um this year in particular with um the higher dollars amount in savings. Uh when looking at this $672,000 fund, projected fund balance, like I said, it's only going to increase. Um typically, we say we want to give $200,000 back. I would like to say let's make sure that that's closer to four or 500 knowing that when we've asked for special ed funds we've been given it and so now we need to release it in the same way. Um the only thing

069that I want to remind you of when we first started talking about the budget there was an item the elevator that we were putting away year after year. Um, we have transferred some of the money from special ed into getting the elevator on track just because there was the 52- week lead time. So, if we waited uh for the maintenance trust, it wouldn't we wouldn't be able to to cover that. >> A valid requirement for that portion of our population, >> right? But it wasn't exactly what this was budgeted for, but it's within the same category. So, I felt like that was something I could support and advocate for. Um, but yes, you know, I your point is well taken that we want to make sure we reserve the funds. I how do we do

070this? I think another question that I've had for years that I'm starting to I guess get a better better handle on now that I'm in this role and working closely with our business administrator um in a different capacity than in years past. When we've requested to pre-by items, we've done that. we've pre- purchased items which frees up money the following year. You're just delaying the fund balance >> and it grows yeartoear. So unless we're looking at the capital improvement plan and saying look at this balance it would be great if we move forward on an item that was in our capital improvement plan for FY28. then we're really maximizing what we've budgeted um with a fund balance because if I just pre- buy something from 27, well, I already have the money allocated in a

071budget, let's say that passes in March. So now I'm creating a problem for next year. Uh and then it just thinking of and I don't know if the board would be willing to do this, but at our next meeting when we're going to be having a budget hearing and all that, um to take a position that And it doesn't necessarily have to be binding, but at least a public statement that barring a currently unanticipated major uh change that our intention is to set the minimum at I would advocate for based on the numbers you're showing me at 500,000, but to pick a number >> to give that to the taxpayer >> to make that statement in conjunction with the hearing and the presentation so that People hear the big number also hear the intent to

072buy it down with the surplus. I 100% agree with all of that when we do that and I think we do need to give the money back to the taxpayer obviously but I think we also need to be very clear at our meeting or in the future and I know our chair of the budget committee does a really good job of this when we did that in the past like after COVID and we had like a one and a half$2 million savings you know surplus that got applied to the following year budget then our budget didn't look like it grew like oh it didn't and then when you see that when that doesn't happen then the budget does grow like We have to articulate that as clearly as we can to the voters because it

073is, you know, a budget that we're doing great and we do have a surplus and we do want to give it back obviously, but then we have to make sure that like if next year what happens is the reverse like this year we may have had some students move out of district but when they come back when somebody comes back in or something happens or I you know when we have regular education hiring savings it means we're hiring people at less than what we antic anticipated, but we may have a year where we have to go higher than what we anticipate. Right. So, I just want to make sure that we're clear with the public and we're explaining that and we're um and so I think it's really important, you're right, Tom, to sort of

074take a position on that and and and you somebody better than me explain it because I'm not good at >> But it's it's not so much the explaining. It's us as a board agreeing that we are going to make this I'll have to call it. I I think at this point it would still have to be a non-binding commitment because >> yeah, we can't bind ourselves. >> It it has it's based on where we end up, but based on the trends that we're seeing, >> this is our target, >> right? >> Yeah. >> And so I think I see eyebrows going. >> Yeah. No, it's aspirational. It's what we intend to do if we can do it. We're broadcasting that we're intent >> give back 500. >> No, no, no. I think it's transparent, which

075is good. >> Yeah. And I think it's I mean, barring something happening that's beyond our control like that, you know, we need to use $500,000 for something that we have to use it for. I mean, another pandemic or whatever like >> or or some combination [snorts] of student of population comes into the >> barring that. But we should make that clear. I think that's a great idea. Um, and we can do that next month. Well, I think doing it in a public here's the hard part. People tend to hear budgets keep going up. People don't tend to hear that they get money back in their t in their taxes. Do you know what I mean? Like, and I and I've said it in conversation and they're like, "We don't get money back >> because it

076doesn't actually come back to you. It just it just right. It offsets. It offsets." So, you don't get a check. I mean, you don't get a check. You just get a check in the mail. >> But, you know what I mean, >> right? >> People tend to hear the bad news, they don't hear the good news. So, I [snorts] agree that you do have to be careful. >> You need to be thoughtful, not careful, but thoughtful about >> where we share this so that people do hear it, you know. >> And I think we should >> try to promote that when in our annual meeting, did you know, >> right? >> You we you got back, you know, we offseted [clears throat] five 700,000 last year >> that that came back to the general fund.

077So, you know, as much as we're out there saying this is the budget, we need this budget, [snorts] we need it funded, we also need to promote the fact that it some of this money does go back to the general fund. >> We have to budget for worst case, right? We don't we >> don't have the option of budgeting for the average. >> Correct. >> Um, my question to you is I'm I have a budget committee meeting tomorrow night. >> Are you comfortable with me conveying a similar message to them? I think I think the board's in the consensus. Is there Amy? Cindy, are you good? >> Who's going to be there? Is Is Lance going to be there or is >> I assume so. >> Okay. Um if you want to just warn him.

078>> So, and I know that this is it's off the topic, but um in terms of the annual meeting and what Rob is saying and us promoting it, like in the past for the past five or six years, we've been so careful not to take any time at the meeting. like we we've been so conscious of the fact that our meetings go long that we haven't given our superintendent has has not really presented a state of the the schools. Um and we're hoping that that changes this year. I think it's really important with a new superintendent for her to get up for you to get up and and give a state of the schools like [snorts] talk about that and then potentially maybe it is an opportunity for us to take some time and take

079three or four minutes and have somebody from the board. I mean, we have a great budget presentation by our by our chair of the budget committee, but maybe maybe a a little special thing just from >> I think it's essential because we have to show how we were transforming funds right into >> right so >> you know outcomes. So, I think as we get closer to that meeting and I we usually kind of I usually touch base with the moderator, but I think I'm going to push for some obviously some time for the superintendent and maybe some time for the school board to just lay out it's okay for us to do a presentation. We're allowed to. So, um and then we can talk more offline about what >> if we don't people will fill

080that void and they have in years prior. People have filled in what they want to fill in >> and so want to hear from us. The risk is that the the meeting goes 15 minutes longer. The but the importance of of having a a public statement is important. So we'll work on that. >> Great. Okay. And you have to are you done with the revenue? >> I am. >> Oh, great. Any other questions on that? >> No. Okay. So, next moving forward is Hello. Hello. >> Sorry. Um the budget FA 27 budget and new items. So, new items have not changed, but I thought it was important to continue to put the new items in the board packet. Happy to answer any questions about them. Um, but there are some small items here and there

081that have changed in the actual budget. Um, so it is ever so slightly different from the last month um in the in the good direction. So we're looking at 31,716,292. And so that puts us at 377,528 below guidance. >> So you did a little bit more cutting >> um >> or switching. >> We got more actuals. >> Okay. >> So I didn't I didn't talk about the new items. the new items is exactly as as you saw it last month. >> But if you look at the spreadsheet of the actual budget, >> okay, >> the very last page >> in the summary of the new the new item summary or not? >> Yeah, >> not the new items, >> the the lines the budget. >> Oh, so all the little red highlighted things or have

082they did they change from last month or is that those are just changes overall? Those were changes that from um from FY26 to FY27 round three. Like I said, there were small changes here and there just based on actual hires and actual um quotes that came in. So that brought us down a little bit further below guidance. So right now our budget FY26 to 27 comes in at 3.76%. >> Okay. And the and guidance was 4.1. guidance was a dollar amount of um 32,93,820 and we came in at 31,716. >> So $377,000 under. >> Yeah. >> And what is >> I >> 417 is with all warrants 4.17. >> Correct. Yep. So you're gonna So the next item on the agenda is the warrant. So, we have a warn article for year two of Hessa

083for $131,512. Uh, we're proposing $125,000 contingency um to be funded from fund balance. We're proposing $300,000 for the maintenance trust funded from the fund balance and so nothing for the special ed trust. And so, yes, that brings us the total warrant to 4.17. Have you budgeted any expectation in 27 for uh rebates from the project? >> I knew you were going to ask that question and I wanted to go back and look at all the minutes because we were so uncertain about whether or not we we didn't want to promise rebates. We were very transparent about that. Uh, so I'm trying to go back and see what did we say we would do because um, for example, a smaller rebate. >> What did you do so far? >> We haven't done anything. >> Okay. >>

084Um, so far we signed off on a work completion of the boiler replacement here at the middle school. There is a smaller rebate associated with that. The larger ones, you know, are the solar panels that have um, arrived and we're being we're storing them and we have a battery that's being stored as well. Um, and so my question is, what did we say we were going to do with those rebates to the point of if we just apply them to the budget, then that's going to artificially deflate, you know. So, >> we didn't I don't know that it was stated explicitly. I know that within the facilities discussions, the expectation was that it would uh be used and we don't know, we didn't know how it could be because being a bond, but it was

085going to be used to pay for those items >> as opposed to >> I don't know if you can apply it directly to it or if you just have to do it as an offsetting calculation >> um in the budget. And and the big question in my mind is would you want that applied over x number of years the life of the bond or would you want >> because if we pay for >> the way that it was displayed um and Mike Davies created it is the first year was low the second year was high because we had we were at the full payment of the bond but there was no rebate. >> The third like the third and fourth years were low because the rebates came in and and I don't know if it's

086an accurate uh accounting under the bond versus the lease because they were originally generated with of the lease >> but then because the principal had been reduced substantially >> the subsequent payments reduced now I don't think that that happens with the bond the interest payments I think are fixed regardless Yeah. So, the lease was far more flexible with um prepayment, etc. >> We may have to look at it, but the idea was originally that when you get that chunk of money, >> apply it toward the principal. Yeah. So, we'll look into um the actual bond and what our options are. Yeah. >> Okay. So, you'll get back to us on that. Yeah. Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> Well, I was just wondering, are we expecting any any substantial rebate revenue in the FY27.

087>> Yes. Um, so we have to have all of the projects complete prior to being eligible for the rebate. >> Well, we're eligible because we've safe harbored, but we're but we're not going to actually get a rebate until everything is installed. So, the installation of the solar is to happen over the summer this summer. So as soon as those are complete and we sign off saying that the work is complete, then we apply for the rebate. >> Do they pay it within the same fiscal year? >> I believe so. Yeah. >> So we could potentially get the rebate for the high school solar in FY27. >> Correct. >> Thank you. >> Uh just so I'm clear, so we would take those those rebate funds and apply that to our bond payments. Well, that's what we

088don't know. We're not sure. I'm going to look into that. >> The payment, whatever it's principal or what otherwise it's just >> maybe more than the payment for the year, though. That's that's the the issue. If you can't pay down principal, >> you can only use it. >> Yeah. >> Almost like you have to escrow it up, >> right? And you you draw from it and use it to make payments, right? Because otherwise, I don't I don't think that that bond was structured to pay principal. I don't know. you'd have the >> we do have a principal and interest pay as separate line items here. You can see that at the the last page of the budget. >> Okay. >> Um that being said, what I um I do believe we can refinance. So if

089that's an option, then my assumption is that we can refinance, make a lump sum payment until refinancing a smaller dollar amount. But I'll look into all of our options. >> Yeah, that that'd be nice to see. Um, and if the the rebates are substantial enough to make it make sense to refi because I know there's cost and paperwork and time and effort that so >> especially if interest rates are down. >> Well, yeah, >> have to you have to you have a lot to crunch an >> you and Lance can crunch a lot of things. >> I just want to have that in our minds when they when they ask the questions we've already >> No, I think that's >> thought about it. It's okay to say we don't know but Uh, I don't know.

090>> I have a feeling that the people who supported this is expecting us to do something like this with rebates. Yes. >> Right. And not just net it out on the budget line. >> Right. >> Okay. All right. Moving on to the warrant, the draft warrant. Am I supposed to read this whole thing or just No, >> I think we can look at it. I'll just point out a couple of things. So, most of these warrant articles are boilerplate. We see them all the time. There's some slight changes in the wording and that's based on our new legal council just kind of reorganizing some of those. Specifically, article one just looks a little bit different than in years past. That's the SAU budget. Legally, we're now required to put the SA budget first. >> Oh,

091is that brand new? >> That's brand new. >> Okay. I was wondering why it was there. >> Yeah. So, that's why you see that there. The only thing that can come before it um are >> Bonds and collective bargaining agreements, I believe. Um, so, so there it is, item number one, but that's typical 1,230,494 would be the co-op's portion of the SAU budget. Um, >> change the time on it. Is it still an hour vote? >> It's still an hour vote. Yeah, >> a five minute vote. [laughter] >> Oh. Oh, wait. Hold on. Now we're talking time. Public input's closed. And it has 7:13. It's been open for a while, but Yeah, it's closed now. >> Okay. Uh, moving on to article two. I don't think anything has changed with the wording of this article.

092This is just the budget article. >> Um, article three, um, it used to say cost of items. Now it's cost items. Uh, but >> go back to article two for a second. >> Does this, um, does this reflect any work that was done regarding talking about um test >> scor the cost of the healthare I'm talking about >> oh the ne this negotiation for hessa >> but that would be article three right >> well um >> oh article two >> they just met for the first time yesterday so there is nothing >> I'm on the wrong article I'm sorry >> that's okay there's nothing in this warrant for any new discussions that have come up this year um all right so article two is a budget article three was hessup this is just year two

093of what we already presented last year. >> Um, article four is the um, school building and facilities maintenance expendable trust fund. So, $300,000. Um, and the n the items that I moved from the budget to the maintenance trust total $300,000. So, our starting and ending balance would be roughly the same. Um, article five is 125,000 contingency fund funded from the fund balance. Um, so same old same old. >> We don't need to have a retain fund one anymore, right? >> That one you just vote on. >> Okay. >> You're permitted to do that. Oh, okay. Um, article six. So, this is a brand new article. Um, so last year there was a lot of discussion um up at the state about open enrollment. Um, open enrollment did not pass. Um but years ago, uh two

094school districts identified themselves as open enrollment districts, meaning they would take non-resident pupils. Um and then the sending schools would would pay the tuition. Um it didn't move forward uh on the state level last year. However, um some students left their district and attended these open enrollment schools to which the open enrollment schools sent a bill to the sending district. The sending district chose not to pay because they never determined themselves as an open enrollment school district. That went to court um and the outcome was that nope, you have to pay. So this year, school districts are um looking to create certainty around whether or not the district is considered an open enrollment district to provide some stability um some financial stability for the district. Um so our two elementary districts are moving forward with

095a zero out one student a non-resident stu student can come in. Um the recommendation for the co-op is that the middle school remains zero out zero in. The high school would be zero out but we would allow up to five students in. It's easier uh to fit five students in at the high school with course selection etc. Um and then we would bill the sending districts um 80% they would have to pay us 80% of their per pupil expenditure. Probably works out in our favor as our per pupil expenditure tends to be lower than our surrounding districts. Um >> so >> it's the state per pupil expenditure, right? >> Nope. It's their district sending districts, >> right? But it's the state number. >> Yes. It's not the it's not some some members of our community

096use a different number. It's the number that the state E25 calculation. Yes. >> Um so the >> what could happen at annual meeting is the article could be amended in any possible direction to make us completely open enrollment or to shut this down or whatever. Bless you. Uh but I um feel that it is in the district's best interest to um have the legislative body uh take a stand as to whether or not we will pay for students to go elsewhere by their own choice. Um and so that is this warrant article. >> Can I ask a question? >> Could we just say we don't want to be an open enrollment school? So that um we could um however most uh most attorneys now are feeling that that wouldn't hold up in the court of

097law because if we vote to say we are not sending out and we are not accepting then we haven't made a change. So we haven't actually adopted open enrollment. This is demonstrating that we're adopting it but we're placing limits on it. >> Kind of like our aortionment formula where we only take a dollar >> a dollar just like >> which the road Um, >> should it be explicitly stated that middle school is 0% in it? >> If that's what you want. I >> No. Well, >> no. No. I I that's how it was originally stated. I can't tell you how many times I've had to retype this for an article with new thoughts back and forth with legal counsel and different districts and what are you doing and what are we doing? Uh, so at

098one point the middle school was in as zero in, zero out. Um so I can absolutely work that back in >> we specify all other all other three conditions >> does I don't know how the absence of a statement would be interpreted. >> I agree. >> I think it should I think it should reflect what we're going to do with the middle school as well. >> I agree. Um, when we say five students, non-resident students tuitioning in, >> we do have a policy or not a policy, I don't want to use the word policy, but we have um tuition in students of staff members. Would those people count? >> No. So any students that are part of the policy JFAB would not count for this? >> So best interest like if we have a different

099coming from another doesn't doesn't apply to this. This is just someone who just wants to come to our school >> like the 10 calls we get every day. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> And so we would And then my other question is are we allowed or I don't know what the law is because we they haven't passed a law but >> are we allowed to have a criteria for the for the students who were coming in like an application process? So that there is >> that's a huge question that that's part of um why this didn't pass last year. The state was like you haven't thought of this, you haven't thought of that. Uh they're working again this year to come up with new language. Um there's legislation out out there also that says you

100don't get to restrict open enrollment. So there are just quite a few different thoughts and feelings on it. There's a lot of uncertainty. Um >> there's funding questions, >> right? um special >> there's just there's just a lot specified isn't it that the sending district has to cover those costs >> right but what about the additional cost >> some ambiguity but yes but true but we there would be um and that's if we send students out we'd be responsible and they would be responsible if they >> I I think one of the things Holly that that you got to keep in mind is the intent of the program is to essentially extend and homologate public schools. >> I I understand what they >> So my guess is that we don't get to pick and choose,

101>> right? >> What I'm wondering is is it first come first serve or is it a lottery or if if 10 students want to be considered for open enrollment for the five spots, >> what are what's the methodology? So although we don't have room in our elementaryaries, it's a little bit easier there because we are to identify capacity. So we have two let's say two spots in fourth grade, zero spots in fifth grade, zero spots in sixth grade. Um >> I know when I attended the the webinar from NHSBA, Will talked about >> you can you can get very definitive in where you're going to allow it. So for instance, his example is we will accept four students into AP physics pro into our AP physics program. >> AP French. >> We will accept two

102in AP French and we'll accept no others. >> Yeah. And some Yeah. Or or our such and such program. We don't really have specialty programs that we would allow access into. So it looks a little different. We could res we could set up a restriction like that. Um >> but we can't put any of that in the warrant. So the warrant is really just >> No, he was saying you that is how you can put it in the warrant. So he said, "Be as specific as you can because whatever you don't specify, >> you can't they're they're not sure you'll be able to specify it later." >> Right? So some districts are saying you can only come in if you're a senior. >> Um there's no guarantee within the open enroll program that if you're

103admitted for one year, then you'll get it another year. Correct. >> Correct. Um there are some one some programs that will only open up their kindergarten because they have half day kindergarten >> and it might not be a desirable. >> So your but your your advice or your feeling at this point is just five students at the high school is manageable is manageable and it doesn't open us up and it gives us a restriction. So if if this becomes law, we should be okay. But we can't be we can't guarantee anything because it's the way the legislature passes. >> And and what would be your response to motion from the floor to say that number should be 10 students? Do we have a reason that is there something that really drove that five? >> Um

104a low number. Uh I would say that there are so many unknowns at this point and so many questions that we don't have answers to that we need to start small before we open like we ourselves to unnecessary like exposure. >> So do we do we have for next year only? Do we have a a known class that is either overs subscribed or undersubscribed? I don't mean I don't mean a classroom. I mean a grade level. So, it's the graduating seniors that is a small class, but I'm not concerned about space. We could easily fit five more >> regardless of what? >> Yeah. >> So, could you could you fit five at every grade level? >> That's where it becomes more problematic. That's where you would because chances are five sophomores would all be taking

105world history and that would drive an additional section of world history. And I don't want to create additional sections, you know, especially if we're if we're voting in March, but we've done course enrollment in February, then I'm not going to have I mean I and I guess that would be the answer. I don't have >> restricted to juniors and seniors then. >> Or one per grade. Yeah. >> Or a maximum per grade. Maximum with no more than total of five and no more than two in any grade. Or >> Yeah, that would be good. That's actually >> that's a good idea. >> So So a total of five and no more than two per grade level or whatever the word you use to say grade. >> Yep. >> I think that's good. >> That's good

106feedback. >> So we'll get that revised and we'll have it for February >> and we we can express some discussion on this on the floor because like my questions people are going to ask those same questions. So all of our questions there's questions. Um, so this is the warrant as of now. We do have one PWA charter commission. >> So last year we saw the petition warnicle about establishing a charter commission. We saw it again this year. It followed the legal requirements. So that doesn't actually go here. That goes um on the ballot. >> That's the only >> so far >> that is that 30th. >> Um I don't have that in front of me. I didn't know if it was the same as the when you can file for office. >> Oh, no. But

107that is that was the that was the item for correspondence that I was going to mention. The filing dates are open now for um the open seats on the school board and budget committee. They open today the 21st and they um close on January 30th. So there's that. Um, so that if the cal the budget calendar that I don't have open right now, um, I don't know if someone can open that for me. U, that tells us the last day for petition war articles. I just don't have that memorized. >> Could you forward the petition article article to us so that we can see it? I want to learn >> because it probably references the RSAs and stuff. >> Yeah. >> And that that goes on the ballot. That's just by law. that one goes

108on the ballot. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. So, that's why it's not on there's no petition or on here yet, but if they are within the deadline, then we'll see them then we'll see them at the public hearing. >> And just to alert you, >> it's February. >> February 9th is the last day for petition articles. But to alert you, article six, if we move forward with an open enrollment article, that has to be noticed separately. It can still be on February 19th of the public hearing, but it has to have a se a separate notice. a separate notice but not a separate hearing. >> Correct. Well, in Brooklyn, it has to have a separate hearing because it doesn't fall within the dates. This date works. Okay. >> But I'm going to

109hold on the same day. You'll just it >> the notice will look funny. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Uh moving on. Is everyone good with that? Can we move on to the town of Hollis Capital Expenditure Advisory Committee update? And Rob sent us something today, but it wasn't in the packet. I wasn't meant to necessarily go through it, but I just wanted uh members to have it as a reference. So, this is the culmination of our work since September, early September when we first met. Um so, it shows um several tabs across the bottom. Um the main tab would be your comprehensive tab which shows what's happening in uh the Hollis uh district schools co-op and also what's happening at the town of Hollis. So it breaks that out and gives you

110a five-year um projection of what what is happening, what what big initiatives are going and so forth. So, um I just wanted folks to have that. Um I suspect this will be there'll be some other modifications coming. Yeah. >> 10 years. >> Well, it's 10 years, but the schools have only given five data. I know at least the co-op, we've only given five years of CC CIP information. >> They listed they put something in all 10 years. >> Yeah. I don't. >> So, is this something that we can um share in our minutes or um is this something that is being shared at the town level on or is this not shared yet? Well, so we we talked about that as committee members and we felt that you know the we do we present to

111the selectman or the select board >> um and we do a um you know a walkthrough of the of the projections and so forth but um we felt that the representatives to each of the schools uh school districts would bring this to their district. So we the committee is not going to come here and present to us. >> So I'm bringing it here so you at least see what the work is, what the projections are and uh what the Hollis uh select board is seeing you're seeing. >> Okay. Thank you. Are there any questions on this? and I haven't had a chance to really like look at it and it's just so topic for >> we can always talk about it >> and and maybe by the time we're ready to talk about it I'll

112have a fresh update. >> Um and I was just I was just curious because we it wasn't part of our packet and we generally try to be relatively transparent about what we're looking at. Is it something that can be um attached to the current packet? Is it something that we could share via our minutes or is it something that at this point is not ready for public consumption? >> Um, it it's a public document. We've already presented it in public already. So, it's it's you know, there may be changes and refinements going forward, but there's nothing secret about it. >> So, maybe I can forward it to Emmy and she could >> Could you forward it to me? forward it to you and then um >> you can um >> link it to the Yeah,

113we'll do that. >> I'm not going to do that right this second. I'm going to do that. >> That's fine. >> Okay. Remind me if I forget. Okay. So that way it'll get under um and it can be attached to our agenda. That'd be great. >> Okay. >> Uh just one other note. >> Thank you for sharing that. >> Yeah, sure. The consolidated view, the ears that have at the bottom that show red, which means that this would be dollars that would need to be raised and appropriated. So this is money that we, you know, if it's read and in parenthetics, um it would it would be we'd have to have some kind of warrant article to, you know, to cover those costs or or have some in our case just look like the co-op

114on line 23. So it would be um or line actually 25 In year 27, 28 and 29, there's fair amount of expenditures there for capital improvements and that would have to be funded either by bonding or through our um accumulated funds in expendable trusts or we're going to have to have some kind of story to fund that if we actually go forward with those expenditures in that year. >> In red, you said. >> Yeah. So line 25 on the consolidated >> show up on the on the Google sheet. >> The red. Yeah, I I don't see red. So >> well there's >> in in the actual >> in the actual spreadsheet doesn't translate into Google sheet. >> Okay. Thank >> I see it. Yeah. >> All right. >> Just to make make sure folks are

115>> okay >> understand. >> Moving on. Y >> thank you so much Rob for sharing that and I sent it to Gina and it'll get ted on to >> All right. Um budget committee update >> most of what we talked about is already guidance and impact the operating budget. >> Pull the mic down a little bit. The communication that I [clears throat] gave to the budget committee was that or uh our plan or the plan was that there was not going to be a round five based on this and one of the members brought up should we revise our guidance down further and uh I said I didn't think that that was a appropriate thing to do that from a standpoint of good faith that the administration and the board looked at that as a

116uh a well established process and that if you start moving it, it essentially creates a disincentive for for them to beat guidance and the majority of the people there agreed. Victor Tom. >> Um, couple of things that were pointed out at the meeting were the projected town tax rate changes based on the information that was available to um to Darlene at the time. And the um her estimate was that the Brooklyn town tax rate was going to go up close to 10%. And that Hollis would be going up a little under 7% based on what was available to her calculating at the time. She didn't have everything but it's big numbers. >> So depending on how the timing is going [clears throat] um there there may be some some push back. Uh my questions to

117you at this point, are you okay with me uh telling them as we talked about before that targets we're targeting 500k? Is that a is that an okay number for this group? >> It's okay with me. Is it okay with everyone else? >> Does anyone object? >> I mean, as long as those numbers stay at 600. >> You you know, I'll present it clearly. I'm not going to try and smoke screen anyone. Um, and the other thing I would like to do is, you know, we've all seen this go around and we've seen it on the screens before. >> Is that the document we received last month? >> That's what we received last month. And and it's the same document that has been used um by petition warrant articles in previous years. And the real

118problem with this is the scale factor that they don't sew zero on it. So this is showing fluctuation of a of a very tall So it looks like there's huge swings when the slides that are normally presented in the budget um >> presentation same graphs but very different impact because of the scale and the thing I would like to recommend to the uh the budget committee that they take their existing slide and they create a window and show the distortion that occurs when you don't look at the full graph to to preemptively or not necessarily preemptively but to explain the [clears throat] the difference between looking at it in this view and looking at it in Grand View. Is that something that you folks >> Well, it would help me a lot. So, I mean

119I imagine it would help a lot of voters to see that. So, I mean, you could I mean, I hate to I hate to tell anybody what to do, but I think it's a nice suggestion >> because I think that people are shown this and they see what's on the screen. They're often separated by hours [clears throat] and there's a question of who do we believe, >> right? >> And it's not a question of who do you believe, it's a question of how do you look at the data, >> right? I think that's a really good point, Tom. So, that would be great. >> Thank you. that that's about where I hope to go tomorrow night. >> Great. >> Can I add to that discussion? >> Sure. >> So, something new that went into effect

120January 1st um is HB1265. >> Pardon me? >> HB1265. And so, this is a mandatory report to voters that we're required to put together, which we have no problem with. Um it's very um specified. We are to um provide the average teacher salary um for the past 10 years on a line graph and adjust it for inflation. We are by district. We are to um look at the average administrator salary or sorry the total administrator salary for the past 10 years adjusted for inflation. We are to record the top four administrator salaries if you have four um for this year and um you also are to report out on the cost per pupil for the past 10 years. Um so the interesting thing about this is administrators are also defined in the RSA as the

121superintendent, assistant superintendent, business administrator and DEI coordinator. So um we will be uh printing on 18 by 24 inch paper as required and articulated in HB1265 everything that we're required to do. Um and we will include the superintendent assistant superintendent for two years FY20 and FY21. We're going to include two super assistant superintendents and we're going to go back to only the one and the business administrator. Um, and we're going to report that out for each district where it will demonstrate that um, you have all these administrator salaries. Um, but we're not the only other piece of information we can have on this is our district logo. So, we're going to have another piece of paper off to the right explaining how that those salaries are allocated by a formula every year differently. Um, and

122so while if that's your offer, we can have a conversation, I don't actually get that salary three times, [laughter] >> and neither do >> So, do you show the you show the full salary in each in each district? >> Yeah. >> But wait, on the on the big piece of paper, >> on the big piece of paper, it's just your salary. >> It's salary and then the total of those administrators, >> which none of them are actually employed by the district, >> but that's how they're defined in the RSA. So, so you'll see two graphs that uh relate very closely to the district. The per pupil expenditure and um the average teacher salary. The other pieces of information is directly related to the SAU which has you know allocations based on a formula. >> So

123you'll have the legal 18 by 24. >> It's bigger than legal. >> No, no, I know. [laughter] by law 18 by 24 poster and then next to that you're allowed to post additional information and you'll share with the with those people who are seeing that that you know obviously your salary is allocated to more than one district. Got it. >> How and when does that get >> So that has to be seven days prior to the vote. So we have to publish this in the newspaper. Um, and >> I don't have a newspaper, >> but um, >> so [snorts] positively Hollis is willing to publish Hollis and the co-op for us. I still have to I still have to put it in the >> Union paper. Are they a legal newspaper? >> So, we still

124have to put it in the union leader, but at least it'll go to all families in Hollis. Um I I don't we don't have a spot to post it on our schools like posters at large, but we're going to post them on all of our school buildings and the SAU and then it'll also go uh you know on the website. >> Will it show does it have to be brought up at any point during a voting period? >> No. >> And doesn't go to Brooklyn now. What is the message that you would like the people on the budget committee to know or understand? >> Uh just that >> you just want awareness of this >> that right that this is something that's going to go out there and to your point of the data is

125accurate but there are nuances those salaries aren't fully allocated to the co-op. >> Thank you for sharing that. >> Yep. >> Okay. So, uh, we have a deliberative We're gonna move on to deliberations. So, we have a deliberative item, but I think we >> You were gonna talk about the robotics. >> Oh, I'm sorry. The robotics thing. Thank you. See, I wrote it down. Um, so we all received an email from Let Pull it up. Sorry, Team Phoenix. >> Thank you. It's loading. So, uh, it's loading. Do you have it? >> Do you want to share with the list? So, we received an email from team Phoenix, which is a um, they self-describe themselves as FRC 2342. So, was what does that F FRC stand for? Something First Robotics Club. Um, a high school robotics

126team based in NSHA. They're currently working on a project called Reignite STEM, an initiative focused on expanding STEM engagement for high school students across the state. They are looking to share their project with our board and discuss how it can support and strengthen STEM within the district. Um they were would like to be considered for an upcoming meeting in the near future and wanted to ask about your availability and the process for being added to a meeting agenda. And they said it would take no more than 20 minutes. Um I feel like 20 minutes is long, you know, but um >> that includes discussion. That's short. Well, I I but I don't want them to present. I don't I think 20 I think 20 minutes might be too long, but um I was going to

127suggest that they come to us in say April or May um for 10 minutes. Um if that's okay with the board. I just wanted to let like I didn't want to make that decision on my own and Gan and I both thought 20 minutes seemed long. >> Do we do we know >> No. >> Who these people are? >> It looks like they might. I think before we grant them time, I'd like to know more who who who they are, you know, who they're affiliated with, um, because I don't It's just odd. >> Hold on. They have a >> They have a website. >> They have a Facebook. They're They are the Team Phoenix 4H robotics club. They um meet at I don't know if they're truly affiliated with but they do meet at the

128Academy for Science and Design but looks like they're 4 affiliated. >> So would you like me to respond and get more information from this person who they're affiliated with? >> Yeah. And are we the only district targeted or are there are they >> they say they want to do it throughout the state? >> Do you want me to ask for a sample of the presentation? Well, I would I would reach out to our first robotics team and say, "Are you aware of this team?" That's a good idea. >> Are you aware of this project? What do you think? >> And I would I would like to also have an advanced copy of the presentation and then we can decide if we want to hear it. >> Okay. >> I mean, >> no, that's great. I

129I just, you know, there there are times when we have to take input and testimony from other entities for something that we're interested in doing, like when we're doing the facilities, >> you know, we're listening to organizations that come and >> and advise us, right? Because it's something that we're initiating, >> right? We don't have our our role is not to, you know, >> open up and anyone can come from anywhere and do a do a song and dance for us. So, I mean, >> I was a little I was a little leery when I read it, which is why I kind of um >> I was curious why they didn't reach out directly to our robotics team versus coming to us >> and then and then our robotics team could probably come as and

130sponsor them because I would be Now, I'd be more open to hear from our robotics team >> representing them than just somebody walking off the street and say, "We want to do a presentation for you." >> Okay. >> Just to be clear, they are considered, you know, aluminum siding. >> They they are an independent team, you know, that's set themselves up as a 4 group to to be a legal organization. They've done it within the structure of the 4 organization. They were originally housed at Daniel Webster College and when that closed down they got space to be at ASD. >> So you want more information? Who are you? Who are you connected with? You'd like me to reach out to the robotics team and ask if they are aware of them and if they would

131like to maybe have an initial meeting with them or conversation with them to learn more. and we'd like an advanced copy of the presentation if we're going to do this. >> And would would the robotics team be willing to sponsor them and bring them in to talk to the board? >> So, I have two >> because if they're not interested, then I'm not sure I am. >> Okay. Okay. >> I mean, I will say on a very surface level, sounds like they're very interested in sort of protecting our planet and sustainability and recycling and things like that. It's just very, very surface. I'm all for that. I think it's great, but yeah. Well, I'm not sure why they're coming to us when they should be. maybe partnering with our robotics team. >> Okay. So, I

132will try to formulate on. So, I will be kind of not able to do any of that for a few days, but I will do that maybe next week. So, if you don't see anything, somebody needs to remind me because I'm going to go into a a period of not functioning for a little while. So, [laughter] >> okay. >> I'm having shoulder surgery tomorrow. So, yeah. So, I'm not I'm going into like, you know, >> is it your writing hand or >> it is then >> and my cooking hand which is not making anybody happy in my house but I've been cooking for a month so we have plenty of food because he has to feed me [laughter] >> dial the phone >> yes he can dial the phone >> I just just to clarify

133I don't I don't think that the the reignite STEM thing is considered a first robotics activity I think since they're a >> a club that has a a first robotics team it's falling and the umbrella. It's probably the same people, same group. So, our team may not be aware of this project, but they may well be aware of the organization. >> And I'm I was my first reaction was are they like trying to recruit? Like, what is the purpose? So, I I I agree. I had some little >> Who who's the adviser for First Robotics Advisors? Is it Is it Devon? >> Nope. I'm gonna share that with Holly after I remind myself. [laughter] >> We have a new adviser this year. >> Okay. Yeah. Okay. So, moving on. Thank you for that reminder. You

134guys all keep me on my toes. I great. I love it. All right. Uh deliberative item. We had to do a little amending of the Do you have it right there? Thank you. So, um this would be to see what action the board will be taking regarding funding SHA funding, not chaon cost, but funding cost for the AP government trip. So, I need a motion to approve the expenditure of an amount not to exceed $7,500 to cover the cost to cover the cost of the participation fee for the We the People National Finals Competition in Washington DC scheduled for April 16th, 2026 through April 20th, 2026. >> Moved by Sydney, seconded by Kate. >> Can I further >> like to amend either amend it or just redefine it. I'd like to put the explicit dollar

135amount that we're >> I said 7500 >> is that but that's not Oh, so we're just looking to find You're not saying anything about where it's coming from, >> right? No, it's just we're looking to find $7,500. >> Okay. >> Is there any do you have a problem? Are you concerned about that? Are you okay with that? >> No, I was concerned about making sure that it's not misconstrued that we're funding the entire trip. No, >> just the participation fee. >> Just the participation. Okay. Um, if there's no further questions, I'll call the vote. All those in favor? 6. Motion carries. Okay. So, next is our lovely policy memo. Gosh, my eyes. I need different. All right. So, the policy memo. I'm going to rely heavily on D on this one. Okay. So, um I'm

136going to need a motion. Let's go through the policy memo first and then we'll do the motion. So, is that okay with everyone? We can go that way. It helps me that way. So, we have the following policy recommendations. Um, this was third and adopt with minor changes. I believe actually before I go into this, let me just say that um we had a conversation at policy. I meant to send an email. I did not, but I would like us to in the future for policy. Um, we'll send out the policies. If you see, um, gram grammar, commas, things like that, just email us and we'll try to make those changes and and I'll I'll let people know that we've gotten those emails and that we'll make those changes. But we'd love the conversations here

137to be on substantive stuff so that we can just move forward with um, commas and grammar. So, but tonight we didn't do that. So if you have grammar suggestion we we will take it. Um so for third read and adopt with minor changes we have IK earning of high school credit. What were the changes >> under number D? We took out um disciplines physics CG science and just added the term content areas and then we replaced the um charts that were blurry and difficult. >> So we put clean charts and had a little language change. And then I remote learning under a uh we changed as one opportunity. We struck that and it will now read full advantage of remote education opportunities as a means of enhancing and supporting your education. That was the So

138those were the two changes for those were the minor changes there and this would be if we approved the memo this will be third read and adopt. So for third read and adopt with no changes we hit IMAH health education daily physical activity and JLCK special physical health needs of students. So again, there were no changes from last time that we'll be approved for second read. Um for the JICN, provision of digital deception and other media, we're at second read on that one. Um we had some minor changes on that as well. >> Yes. Um under deep fake, I actually caught one this afternoon that did not get done, but we will change strike intelligence AI. We're adding in or other tools. And in the first line under after media entering the word that and

139under potential for harm after financial would be karma emotional. >> So these were all suggestions that were made last month to really understand the digital tools are not could be digital deception can be created by other tools not just AI. So um that was a way to make it a little broader and we appreciated that feedback. And then we have um for first read uh JLCF wellness. Um, so I don't have the policies for me, so I'll let you >> This is a wellness policy. It's this quite substantial changes. Some of it is just reorganizing language that was already there. Um, some of it has some new language. It has been reviewed by the wellness committee with no additional recommendations or changes as in addition to what is presented. >> Are there any questions on

140this one? Because this was first read. >> I Do you want to do them one at a time? All these things one at a time. >> No, I'd rather just go through them one at a time. Yeah. I I would ra I don't want to do this whole thing. I' as I'm talking like if you have something on JLCF, please weigh in. >> I got to get it open. >> It's easier for us when we look at the minutes, too, because that's what we do to make the changes. >> Tom, you're okay with all that's proceeded, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Um The questions start when you get into the wellness committee. Where is that? >> Tom, there's an opening on the policy committee, too. [laughter] >> There's only two of us, and we

141meet at 8 o'clock on Mondays. >> Well, if you make it 8:00 p.m., it might work. >> Oh, sorry. Where is the >> committee? On the first page. >> Okay. >> Um, how can a committee choose the committee members? Because it says it lists a a small group that are there and then it says the committee will choose the other members of the committee and either you categorize that initial group as other than the committee and you're saying you want the that small group to pick the rest or it doesn't make sense. >> Okay, that's good feedback. >> Um particularly if that committee is supposed to advise the board. >> Well, where is it? Tom, can you say where it says that? >> It's all the way at the It's right above uh Roman numeral

1422. It's about a paragraph and a half, like a little bit >> appointment. >> It says, "Staff appointments to the wellness committee will be made by the superintendent or their design. The school board chair shall appoint the school board member. Remaining members other than those who are exeicio shall be appointed and approved by the SAU41 wellness committee." So it seems like maybe those should be appointed by the superintendent or their >> can't wait. >> Yeah. So um >> no I don't necessar [laughter] >> I don't necessarily say that but but >> but you're right it doesn't make sense >> but the first two so for instance schoolboard chair um shall appoint the school board member >> and that's the SAU school board chair actually it's not the school board chair isn't it? >> I think

143we have one member per board. >> Oh is it per board? Okay. Sorry. >> And so the staff appointments. >> So how about we just rework that paragraph and make it more like the subject of the sentence is the people who are doing the appointing. >> Well, but but the the big thing is who's appointing whom? Because it's unclear whether whether it is the the which >> when I don't you've got all the members anyway. Figure out >> how how you get the people on there. Kilmer and Dot are on it. We are good. I am just the I am just the face of the policy committee. [laughter] >> Um just below that then implementation plan. >> Yes, >> there is where am I? >> I have to like lean in because it's so >>

144I had said it says and to create and should be God. Where is that? and to create an action plan. >> Yeah, I think the two should the word two should be struck. I'm not sure. >> Okay. Got it. >> Um and then there's the trienal progress assessment >> and there's a thing that says [clears throat] to every three years they'll assess to the the extent to which each of the schools are in compliance with the wellness policy the extent to which the SAU wellness policy compares to model com compares is is is not an appropriate word. Um I'm trying to understand what what you're trying to achieve. >> Okay. >> So, >> we'll just take that as a comment and we'll look at it. >> Yeah. It'll be helpful to understand what what was

145going on there. Um non Okay, that's something different. Something about the stuff you're getting. this thing gets rid of a bunch of you end up deleting a whole bunch of other policies as a result of it. And there was in one of the policies that was got gotten rid of, there was the comment about the different foods that had to be in all these things and that you couldn't have any school sponsored uh activities that didn't use foods that were part of the approved I forget what the the term is, but you could have non nine non-compliant fundraising foods. >> So, we're getting rid of all that. >> But my question is, does all of that did all that requirement disappear completely or is it showing up someplace else? >> Because a lot of the

146stuff from that policy got moved into this one. Has that have those requirements from the feds that you have to have the a lot of restrictions on like what food I saw some of it you have to have milk you still have to have milk in the >> this was in a different policy right >> it was in a different policy but a lot of that stuff got moved into this policy now >> I didn't see that that the requirements of the restrictions so it would impact things like Girl Scout cookies candy bar >> sales >> the question I have is does that restriction still exist because if it is, it's not in new policy. >> Okay. So, let's we'll do a little digging on that. >> Okay. >> And we expect more changes coming

147on dietary >> whole milk. >> Um IKFA is one of the ones that's going away, right? And that was um there was there I I couldn't find where this mapped in, but IFA had a uh requirement that a minor had I mean a minor had to get a a parent to approve their opting out of something or forget what it was. But the question I have is, and this is a general question I have, typically when you have a minor requiring parental imit uh parental permission or a student over 18 not requiring it, what happens to an emancipated emancipated minor? >> If they're emancipated, they would have the right to make the decisions. >> That's what I think. But it it doesn't say that. I don't know if you have >> Are we getting rid

148of that policy though or >> Yes, that's the that's the thing. And I don't I I couldn't find the I didn't have the search function. I I didn't have a chance to look to see if that same wording showed up in the new policy. I was having a little difficulty mapping all three of them into this new one. [snorts] >> So, we'll try to look at that as well. >> I I can look too, but I just want to put it on your radar that that was that's just a general concern I have when you have those two conditions. If if you don't state it, does it become an area where you've got a a a uh a student who feels they have the right the parent thinks that they have the right >> okay

149>> I think we've made notes >> I think yeah part of that is an emancipation is a legal >> it's a child >> it doesn't have to be in >> doesn't have a legal document >> but how does that map to the policy if if a parent were to say to They're only 17. Where? And your policy says a minor. Are they stop being a minor when they're emancipated by legal definition? >> Support document that declares them. >> Okay. Never mind. >> Okay. So, moving on to I think it's JLCE. Is that what's next on the policy memo? JLC. I've got to start printing the It's too hard to go back and forth. Okay. So JLCE is also under the policy memo. It is >> this will be a joint JLCBBC. >> Okay. >> Um

150if you'll see on the it's listed below in the body of the policy. The title just needs to be corrected for the next. >> So this is a new policy first. It's not a new policy. Is this a new policy or it's a no? >> First read. Sorry. >> Do we currently keep um EpiPens and stuff? >> Yes. Are they still really expensive? >> Not as much as they were the point at which they surged >> for a while. They were thousands of dollars. >> And how what like a six month shelf life? >> Yeah, it's not a year a year. >> It's no more than >> mine are always good for a year. >> Okay. >> Very many of them. >> Do we use them much? Have we had much need for them? >>

151I don't know that I have the data on that. Yeah, >> I can get the data on. >> No, I was just curious because >> So, do you have any questions on the policy though? >> Well, that was the my question was are we budgeting? >> Yes, 100% we are. >> And is it a big number >> because you guys talk policy look [laughter] >> budget. >> Okay. So, are there any other questions on the um emergency uh first read first aid and emergency medical care? Does anybody want to speak to it? Lauren, I think >> so. Just um so so co-op did have two separate policies for JLCE and EBBC. Um they were reviewed in the 2008ish time period. There were RSA updates in 2016 and 2020. Um and those policies became kind of

152dualcoded. So I combined both of them um with the updated RSAs. That's why on the bottom of this you'll see EBBC completely taken out because that's not at all in any of the sample policies anymore under this C category. Um and then I combined what was relevant from the other policy and you can see the strikethroughs and the additions there for mostly the JLCE portion. >> So this will become JLCE. >> Yeah, it'll be coded. Yeah. >> Any questions on this one? Again, this is for first >> read. >> I just wanted to share with you that the expendable expendable supplies line at the middle school is 2500 and the high school is 4,000 and those would come from those line items. So, it wouldn't be the only item from there, but >> okay. And

153then we had JLCD administering medication to students. Um, >> and this was a similar piece. Um, there were updates made in 2016 and 2020. So, you you'll see where the updated um RSAs are in the policy with the included with the additional information and the strikethroughs from what was in the previous JLCD that was last in 2008 as [snorts] well. >> Where does ILBA get the the where does the subject matter now get covered? >> So wait, we're still talking to JLCD. You're way down. >> Oh, I thought you were because of her first read. >> I thought you were on the bottom. >> Not not on the bottom yet. So does anybody have any questions on medication to students policy? JLCD. Okay. So, no comments on that one. Do you have comments? Okay. So,

154and then we're rescending um and I'll let you um if IAMBC and ILBA those are policies that are being rescended because we've passed if we pass >> IK tonight. If we pass IK tonight and some >> in the previous meeting you approved IKF. >> So everything that was in those four policies are covered between IK and IKL. And what was your question Tom? >> Um ILBA does that content get covered by something different right now? >> That would be high school competency assessments >> or is that requirement >> course level competency competency assessment? that will be in um IK if you pass it this evening because it talks about the competency and graduation requirements. >> Okay. So, I just need to I we put the motion on the floor. I just need uh are there

155any other questions on the policy memo? Okay. All those in favor of approving the policy memo 6. Motion carries. Okay. So, um, we do have a nonpublic tonight. Um, so I'm going to need a report out from the process observer and then our administration can leave. >> We stayed on time and I think we made our public happy discussion. Um, but we finished everything on time for me. >> Thank you. Okay. So, at this point I need to This is yours. Sorry, I always have to pull up the public. I need a motion that the board go into ro I'm sorry that the board by roll call go into non-public session pursuant to RSA 91-8 colon 3 to the dismissal promotion or compensation of any public employee um or NC to discuss matter which discussing

156public goodly asly the reputation of a person other than member of the body of the agency itself. Um I need a motion. So moved >> moved by Kate. I need a second >> second >> by Cindy. Um I need a roll call vote starting with Tom. >> All right I >> I Cindy I >> Holly I >> Kate I >> Okay so we are going into nonpublic at 809. >> Thank you very much.