Joint Select/ School Board Meeting 10/21/2025

001Jonathan Cohen, Suzanne Carmichael, Laura Taylor, Amy Doyle, Andrea Fulsome will be here shortly, and I'm Duly La. For the select board, we have >> Hi, I'm Sabrina Dunlap. >> I'm Steven Whley, >> administrator Karen Hamilton, >> yes, we did make you >> Vicky Bram, >> Jeff. >> Awesome. And if everyone could please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Um, we're going to dive right in actually if it's okay with you guys for a presentation from our incredible Ozram team. Are you guys ready? >> Yeah. >> Let's go. Good evening everybody. We are team Ozram, the high school's robotics team. My name is

002Judah and here we have Sarah from the F FRC team and Michael as a representative from the FTC team. This is our 21st year as a robotics team and we're here today to thank you for your support and provide updates on everything we've done since our last competition season. This year as a team we've gained six new members. We've also taken part in a lot of community events and fundraising opportunities. Participating in these activities has exposed students to skills like leadership, communication, problem solving, and perseverance. All very important life skills while exposing our community in Hopington to STEM and robotics. This offseason, we've encouraged STEM and robotics in our community by attending the fun fair, the Fourth of July celebration, and working with peer outreach on Go Baby Go. At the fun fair, F FRC

003students demonstrated how fun STEM can be by having younger students program and drive many robots. The students could also interact with our seasoned robot Tin Man who watch his sport game pieces. At the Fourth of July celebration, Ozam students walked into the parade with two tote and gave students the opportunity to interact with Tin Man. This is an example of one of our toe pods with All right. Thank you, Toa. You can This year we've impacted around 30 students in our schools as well as others from uh who attended the events at the fun fair and the fourth delivery. XRP Orbit Odyssey, much like First Robotics, is a yearly challenge where students from grades sixth to 9th, compete in the game by using XRPs. We started this camp after hearing great feedback from many students

004interested in joining a team like FRC but for younger students. SCORE Scout Summer Camp Ozram experience helped prepare students for joining an FTC team and later an FRC team. Ensuring that Ozim has students continuously joining with both the knowledge of first and the skills to be easily integrated into FRC. Students at the camp were mentored by current FRC members and learned skills like problem solving, coding, leadership, teamwork and perseverance. All of these skills are needed in making a difference in our community. Thanks to SCORE, we had many students afterward express interest in continuing to be a part of our team. Because they were too young to join a first robotics team, we started two first technical challenge teams, snacks first and more snacks. Each team has six members who will work together to build a

005robot to compete in that yearly challenge. In a couple of months, FTC will have some scrimmages. Viewers are welcome. Tin Man still has a couple of events to attend before the next season begins. We have Battle of the Bay and Girls Behind the Glass on November 1st and 2nd, respectively, at Prospect Mountain High School. Girls Behind the Glass is like a typical offseason event, except the drag team is made up entirely of girls. River Ridge is an upcoming event. It takes place on se Saturday, October 25th at Manchester Memorial High School. Spectators are welcome at every event. Our next season, Rebuild, begins on January 10th, 2026. We can't wait to use the skills we've learned this summer. I would like to finish by thanking the school and our community for their support of Ozar and

006encourage everyone to visit our website. Our website includes an up-to-date calendar of all our upcoming events as well as meeting times. Thanks. Any questions? 1922.org. >> Can you repeat that again? >> 1922.org. >> Amazing. >> The summer camp is for kids of what what ages? >> Sixth to nth grade. >> Say that again. >> Sixth to nth grade. >> Nice. >> Is that middle high school? >> Yes, we did that again here. >> Sounds cool. >> I actually was able to visit that, Rob, and it was pretty awesome. Pretty cool. I used to coach Lego Robotics um an all girls team and you know we chatted about it and it was really great to see and I love to see that girls behind the glass that you folks are participating that's pretty exciting so thank

007you. >> How many seniors did you graduate last year? >> Three. >> Two. Okay. So it's like a net addition with all the new members. >> Yeah. >> That's exciting. One of our goals this upcoming season is to grow our team by 50% overall. So students uh outreach money. >> Yeah, that's great. And is the youngest grade seventh grade at the middle high school or can you join? >> So for uh FTC the lowest grade is sixth grade and then for FRC the lowest grade is nine. >> Okay, that makes sense. >> What does F FRC and FTC stand for? You're holding $2, but we won't bring up. So FTC is first tech challenge which is this level of robots here while FRC first robotics competition is that size robot there. >> And what's the

008what's the um what are you trying to execute with each robot? What's the task for? >> So this robot's job is I don't have it on hand but there is >> yeah put it. So it job is to take those pieces of PVC and score it on a tall pole about six feet tall in total. So the elevator can go all the way up to six feet. And then it also has an auto. It does that but automatically no human control at all. >> So is it like a projectile? Is that uh or you placing >> placing? And what's this guy do? >> This is uh the latest FTC robot. Its job is to score those balls in the sort of net, but it the ball then runs down a ramp and can be reintroduced

009to the field later in the match if the team decides to do so. >> Do you guys have any questions from the SLboard? >> I have a question about the challenges. Are you given just like a set of parameters and then you have sort of free reign to do what you want to build the machine or or like how specific is it? that you have to use certain parts in a certain way or >> the only limits are really weight and size. Other than that, as long as you're not modifying major electronic components, it's pretty much free. >> And they raise, just so everyone knows, an incredible amount um every year. This team, I think, has a lot of support from the community. And it's it's wonderful to see on our donations report, you know,

010you guys are really good at what you do for being able to build complex robotics. um with the middle high school and beyond. Yeah. Cool. >> So the so if you're not familiar with the competitions each year at the beginning of the year, early January, we get a a new challenge each year. So the game piece will be different. Last year was kind of a rain Nerf footballish type squishy thing that we had to pick up and shoot into a goal. This year was a coral. The field size is the same and a lot of the formats the same. two teams, three three robots each compete against each other to see who scores the most points at the beginning of the the season that gives us the challenge. Um there's lots of ways to score

011points. We have to figure out which ways uh we want to do it. Um we don't have the depth and uh some teams have up to 80 80 and 100 students. So we have to choose carefully what we want to do to be competitive. This year we chose to just do the coral um and and be able to place those really well. It can pick it up off the floor. It can also collect it from a station. It'll place those. There's a lot of assistance and autonomous routines in here. So, the students just get the robot close to the goal and then it automatically takes over and goes to the right right location, which is really incredible to be able to pull that off. >> And um you're absolutely right. The uh budget that we

012need for this probably as you see this sitting that's probably about $5,000 right now. Um, and that's just for the robot that you see right now. Uh, it's gone through several iterations. So, there's many things that have gone into the bin already as well too budget and going to the events. It's five or six $6,000 for us to just go to two events and every that we get past that cost and that doesn't even include travel, hotel, many places are food, lots of that. Um, and snacks. Uh, that stuff's pretty far away. So, we can't go back and forth. It's usually multi-day events. >> And I would say First Robotics was started in New Hampshire. Um, and it is like if you have if anyone here hasn't been to a regional competition, it's amazing. Like

013it's really really cool. One of the um values I think is still coopetition, right? So like cooperation and competition and like what you can see these kids working on is amazing. >> Any other questions? >> I have a question. >> Yeah. How do you organize yourselves on the F FRC team? Is there like uh you know subgroups like parts or programmers or >> builders? Main subgroups and those are outreach, mechanical and programming. >> Those each branch off into many groups as needed. >> Where do you get all these pieces? >> Uh >> multiple sources or >> Yeah, a lot of them from CTRE is where a lot of the uh electronics come from. some from we make a lot of it. So any aluminum pieces you see on there were custom made by us. We

014buy the stock and then cut it from there. Uh any pieces that are yellow or 3D printed by us >> the whole thing is designed and all the pieces are models that are made. Very cool. Anything else? >> Awesome. >> Thank you guys. >> This is amazing. Can we do >> So do you want to do a photo? Is that okay? >> We both Yeah. Is that okay? >> Mhm. >> All right. We're here. >> I know. It's raining. >> Feel like we're crashing. I don't feel worthy, but >> she'll come up. >> I guess so. >> Okay. Well, >> go. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah, you guys go back behind. Ready? >> Three, two, one. Three, two, one. >> Thanks, guys. >> Why don't we take more photos? Oh, we did last time. >> That's

015the end. Like take a selfie. >> All right, everybody. Yeah. >> Thanks, guys. Oh, that was fun. I know. >> Yeah, it's fun that they come over here. >> Every meeting Friday. >> If you come right before Christmas, Harold Martin comes and sings Christmas carols. And every single one of us gets a little emotional. >> So Uhhuh. >> some more so than others. >> Yes. I mean, I cry buckets every single year, but that shouldn't be surprising to precisely no one. Uh, okay. So, I figure um we have several new people at the table. Does everyone want to go around and just do introductions so that everyone has a name and a face and how long you've lived in town and what committees you sit on? Yeah. We start with our new select board members.

016>> Oh, yeah, sure. >> Vicki, you want to go first? >> Sure. I'm Vicki Bram. I don't really know Amy. >> Nice to meet you. >> Um, I've lived here for a really long time. My mom moved here in 1991 with me and then I went away to Massachusetts. I came back. Um, and I am the select board representative on the budget committee. >> Yes. >> Uh, my name is Alyssa McCann. I moved here in 2018, though my husband is from here and I'm on the housing committee. >> Awesome. >> And can I introduce Karen? >> Yeah. And Karen Hamilton is our new town administrator who started in at the end of June. >> Yeah. So, she's been a wonderful addition um after Neil had been with us for I think 15 years. Um but

017we're so happy to have Karen on board. Glad to be here. >> Awesome. >> And Jeff, do you want to introduce yourself to Amy and Laura? Uh Jeff Hope been in town since 1986. >> Wow. >> I'm on waste reduction committee in the planning board. >> There you go. >> Uh Steven Whley. I moved to town in 2013. Uh in addition to the select board, I'm on the economic development committee and the energy. >> Hi. I know you both. Sabrina Dunlap. Haven't met you, I don't think. Um, and I've lived in town for 10 years, but both my parents graduated from Hopman High, so I have deep roots in town. Um, and I'm on the open space committee and the soontobe resurrected highway safety committee. >> Whoa. Is that different than the roads committee? >>

018It's uh the new version that's we've been trying to get off the ground for um two years, I think. So, >> are you saying it out loud so you have accountability buddies? >> Okay, we got you. >> It's amazing. Awesome. Oh, I forgot to say Matt. Matt's here too at the bat. Sorry. Hi, Matt. >> Hi, Matt. >> All right. >> Um, Rob, do you want to kick it off? >> Sure. Uh, Rob Nato, we moved here in 96. Um, this is my sixth year on the board. Uh, other subcommittees for the board, finance committee, safety, security, CIP, and the rep to the budget. >> And Jonathan Cohen, I think I know many of you. Um, I'm on finance and CIP and moved here in 2012. >> Hi, I'm Suzanne Carmichael. I'm new. Um, I

019we moved Hopkin in 2004. I think the kid go through the school. Um, I don't know. I'm on lots of committees now. >> New kid. Yeah, another one just happened. But curriculum, instruction, assessment, wellness, policy, PD, you know, we're doing it. I have a teaching background, so so that makes sense. >> Yeah. >> Um, I'm Laura Taylor. I was born here, went to school here, left, came back in 2021, and I am your business administrator. >> I'm Amy Doyle. I I don't live here. Um, I actually live in conquered. I have two uh conquered high school graduates, class of 24 and class of 21. And I first came to Huffington in 2016. So I was the principal of this building. And then I left and was lucky enough to come back and just started again

020in on July 1 in my new capacity as a superintendent. So thrilled to be back. >> Happy to have happy to be here. Um and I'm Dy Lama. I think I first moved here in n I might have you beat I think it was like 1984. Uh but then I moved away for a good long while and then came back and I've been here since 2018. Uh and I'm the chair of the school board and on energy management and safety and security. Well, awesome. Um well, hello to everyone for all the new faces. I think what we try to do every year is um talk a little bit about if there's any short shared goals. I know that everyone's just starting the budget process or thinking about it. We just did our first session last

021week on our operational expenses. We'll do personnel and benefits next week. Um we have a couple key drivers I'm happy to talk about and then I think we have general interest in terms of Georgia's park >> and what's happening there and if there's any updates for the fairground which there may not be. >> Yeah. >> Um yeah. >> Yeah. Do you guys and the do you want to just hear we are there's I don't know if you guys have followed the news but there's a lot of drivers happening at the state level for education which we'll be working to navigate as a board. Um we have half of the picture from the operational expenses which is actually about 25% of the expense and then we'll be getting staffing and so we'll be working through that.

022Um I think that the budget committee public hearing is on the 5th and we present to the budget committee in dis in January. Is that right? >> Yes. >> And then our meeting is on March 17th, I think. >> 14th. March 14th. Yeah. >> Um, >> and I don't know, do you guys have your date set yet? >> Yeah. Okay. So, you guys are the 14th. >> Y. >> So, election day must be is that the 10th? >> Yep. Tuesday the 10th. You guys are the 14th. And then we will have our meeting on Thursday, March 19th. Right. I believe 6 PM and we'll just need to make sure the correct school people are looped in because we use the Yep. We can make sure that that Okay, good to go. Okay, good. Cool. >>

023How has the feedback been to the move to week night instead of weekend? >> Wait, what was that? >> How has the feedback been in terms of your move to the the week night versus the weekend? I have I've heard um mostly I would say like nine out of 10 people I've talked to say they like it and prefer it because it was so difficult to have the backto-back Saturday mornings. I think um maybe I've seen like comments online or like smattering of people who wanted it to be uh a different day, but I don't know if others have heard feedback, but it's this will be our third year doing a week night. I will say turnout has gone up, so it's hard to know exactly what causes that, >> but um it has been

024better turnout the last couple years than it used to be on Saturdays. >> Oh, that's exciting. >> Yeah. And then you guys are kicking off your budget process in November, >> correct? >> Is that right? >> Yes. And then we'll be meeting pretty much weekly for a while. >> Awesome. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um so fun. Yeah. >> Um so Karen is meeting with department heads or you already have I think >> we meet on uh Friday. >> Okay. >> On Friday >> and so um we'll have the department heads then come present to us. Everyone is welcome. Please join us hear what they have to say and then once we have all that information then we go through the process of uh going through line by line pretty much. >> Yep. Yeah. >> It's

025great. It's going to be a different year without Ken. >> I know. I know. Vicki has very capably stepped into those shoes and thank you for taking it on. >> Sure. >> It's not a problem. >> It's a lot of work. >> Great. Well, um I think we wanted to also Does anyone have anything else they want to say about budget or anything else? No. Okay, cool. Um I think we wanted to say thank you for plowing. We really appreciate, we talked about this, I think at our last meeting, but really thanking DPW for all the work that you guys do to make sure that our grounds are clear and plowed every winter. It's a lot of work. Um, we really appreciate the work that Dan and his team do. Thank you. >> Yeah. Um,

026and how are things going with the park with George Park? Yeah. Um, so I think I would put George Park in a category of a few things that have sort of been I will say put on hold with the transition from Neil. Neil left um I think early May and so for quite a stretch um our finance director Kelly Henley stepped in and did an amazing job helping us run our meetings and run the town without a town administrator. Um, and so Karen started in late June. And so there's just been a lot of getting up to speed on stuff. And so I think George Park, I'd put the transfer station in this category. Um, maybe the roads, although that's sort of always going with with Dan does such a great job uh prioritizing. But

027I think George Park, we had had some conversations um about a year ago about whether or not we wanted to sort of take a fresh look at this plan that was put in place, I think in 2018. Um and so what triggered that conversation was discussion about the bathrooms and those were supposed to be redone this year. I don't recall exactly why. I think it was the contractor we were waiting on. They did not get done, but work is supposed to be starting on those next spring. Yeah. So, the bathrooms >> should get started, but I think we have to as a board decide like are we sticking with the plan that was settled on back in 2018 or are we going to take a new look at a couple of things? Um because it

028is a long-term plan. I mean, it is things have gotten bumped out, right? >> Um so, we need to do that. >> Okay. >> But we're still we're still moving forward. But, um I think we have a big question. Some people have come to us and said they'd like to see us reconfigure parts of it, like the soccer fields for example. Um, the final plan involves moving a lot of stuff, moving and building new tennis courts, ending up with like a very nice sort of legit track at the end of the day, but that's all until like the 2030s. Yeah, it's all very expensive. Um, so anyway, yeah, I think unless others have thoughts on that, I think that's kind of where we are is like we're sort of in a a paused moment with

029the big picture plan >> for the bathrooms. Will the green center block building that getting leveled or is that getting >> I think it's a full play of that building. >> Oh, I think I don't want to speak out of turn. >> It was originally a discussion between the baseball field, softball fields. Yeah, >> which would have involved I think significant >> issues to follow us. Current location is better. >> Uh but I'm not sure what the expectations. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And the thing about the bathroom location is that our understanding is that they can stay where they are without sort of affecting the rest of the plan. So it still enables us to move forward with the plan we settled on or sort of change course on a few things. >> Okay. >>

030Yeah. But it was way less costly to not move the whole situation. >> Yeah. Totally. Okay. Cool. Any questions? Yeah. >> Um so have folks gone and like looked at what they have in MB for their fields for their bathroom facilities as well as coexisting with other you know concessions and whatnot. I mean, the thought that that building is not going to be leveled and something else created that actually makes sense and has more than one duty sex, whatever you want to call it, that two bathrooms seems a little shortsighted. >> Yeah. You know, if I'm wrong from my memory, the plan for the bathroom facility between the baseball field and the softball fields was going to be much more extensive. It's going to include an upper deck sort of viewing area in addition to

031bigger bathrooms. The current plan the replacement or expansion of the existing facility definitely includes more bathrooms, larger handicap accessible bathrooms. That's a big issue and I think there's some storage there as well. I just don't know if it's an expansion of the existing building or not. It does. >> Yeah. I mean, what's there for storage is I mean, it floods, right? Isn't that bad? >> Yeah, it does. Is it even level? >> Yeah. >> Doesn't it just run down the hill? >> Doesn't matter. Gold, concrete, or it's high up. So, >> yeah. Okay. Well, that's exciting if it'll happen. Um, that's great. Um, and we really appreciate it and I know that it's the town's fields and like uses it and softball uses it, but obviously the school is the district is a big big

032user of those that space and we appreciate >> the collaboration. >> Yes. >> Well, and we have I mean the fence is an example. I don't recall if we've split some other costs, but if you all see an area for further collaboration or things I don't know that you want to like weigh in on, please do. Okay, cool. >> It's a dynamic process. >> Yeah. Is there a um Yeah, I know that that Dan Mazerf who's our I think that the two people from our team, our district team, I'm going to say our team broadly, but is like Jim Rosiki, I think, has budgeted for a storage shed. Um knowing that it could be under construction. So thinking about like where to put some equipment which is in there and I know Dan Mazer has

033thought that's because he's rostering games and all that stuff but if you need anything I think >> I feel okay volunteering the people at meetings >> could be me could be someone else. Uh >> well, when we when we um it'll be part of our discussions with the budget, but when we do dedicate time to this, I can let you know and anyone who wants to come weigh in. >> Yeah. >> Should >> totally. And um it's a funky thing. And I think also a lot I mean a lot of people I think think that the school runs all of Georgia's park. >> Yeah. >> This town facility, it's all the same taxpayer dollars, but we really appreciate it. So >> it's like a lot of people think we own and run the fair, but

034we That's correct. Yeah. Any other thoughts on George's Park? Okay, cool. Awesome. Do you need anything else from the school? And that might be a Dan question, but are you guys pulling up under the bargain? >> You want to comment on appreciating our collaboration using the school facilities for election? >> Oh, yeah. I mean, in a similar vein to what Dulce just said, I just appreciate it when the community gets extra time in the schools or, you know, benefits from the schools from big things like election day down to like when foreign language honor society does babysitting night. You know, there's a I I love it when the community gets to interact with schools and see robotics competitions and plays and all the things that sort of enhance the value of the schools to people

035who don't have children in the system. >> That's right. It's true. Yes. which is a good note. Uh you may know this, but the National Honor Society provides um babysitting uh for all of the district meetings and town meetings. So if you like if we will make sure we will talk with who's the head of National Honor Society, she's wonderful. Amanda, is that right? >> Amanda. >> Yeah, Amanda Davitt. Um, but we can check with her as we schedule stuff to make sure that you guys have that hooked up for um that Thursday night. That is >> enormously helpful. And those kids knock it out of the park. Yeah. And Amanda docks it out of the park specifically. >> Cool. Um, the only other thing that I might request also is um the town and

036the school produce the joint bulletin which is the printed book. Yep. And if you just give us enough notice and we'll check in with you, but like enough notice to make sure we know when the print deadline is. So, >> are we talking about the town report or the the budget book? >> The budget book. Yeah, cuz they both go to the printer on the same like we're one half and you guys are the other half. Um, >> I don't know. It's called the bullet bulletin. I have no idea what it's actually called. >> I think it's a town report. >> Town report. Okay. >> And it covers both sides. >> Yes. Great. So yes, that >> and Karen, you and I will coordinate on that. >> Yeah. >> Awesome. >> Are you guys going

037to share with us your goals or do you want me to touch on a couple of other like big issues we're dealing with? >> Do you want to talk about fairground first and then >> Sure. Yeah. So, not too much to report um except that we are engaged with the fair board um which is a it's its own 501c3 nonprofit and we are um in the middle of kind of a lengthy process of just like discussing the relationship with them and I know a lot of school groups and sports groups etc use it. Um, so we're we're working on a new agreement with them hopefully because we had a pilot for I think like a decade with them um that expired last year. So it's in process. Um that again is another thing that like

038got a little bit delayed in our transition leaving. >> Yeah. So, I think we have in the past talked with you guys about the school's wishes and uses of it and so we can certainly stay in touch as we move through this process to make sure we're bringing in your thoughts and concerns. Let's get that right. Yeah. Yes. I'd say a big thing is um thinking about for graduation. Um there used to be a longerterm agreement in place. Um, we would love it if it didn't cost anything, but that's been a sticking point with the fair association in the past, but it's >> uh really meaningful to to kids. We saw this a couple years ago when there was a thought to potentially move it elsewhere. Uh, but people in town are very attached to

039graduating there. >> If you were there last year, it was really rainy, really exciting. Uh, so we would have some uh thought to do there. It's not acoustically a great place when it's literally pouring down rain, but it is like a place that everyone is pretty attached to. So, if we can keep using the polling barn, that would be great. >> Y keep you posted on that as unfolds. >> Yeah. And the other point that it's there for that, which I'll just make the point for, we have looked at a lot of other locations to figure out graduation and really like cool hill is beautiful. It's not accessible for everyone. um the only other real place that has been there in the past which I think it's tricky is we used to have graduation on

040the fields um and we just have to be careful with irrigation but either way like that part of town is the flattest biggest >> either tent accessible or covered spot so >> um and while it's not a huge chunk of time is a meaningful amount of time for the district and graduates >> anything else on that >> have you guys talked to like the Hopinson Runners Society group and Blackwater Nordic about their concerns and sort of >> Yeah, thank you for the that's a good question. I have talked to Blackwater Nordic quite a bit, not as much with the runners group so I will um I know a couple people involved with that so I can circle back with them but I have talked with Blackwater Nordic quite a bit. >> Isn't Norm's part of

041runners right? >> Norm is yes and Zach Emerson for the runner society. >> Yeah. Yeah, thank you for doing that part first course. Yeah. Anything else before we just run through our goals? >> Okay, cool. All right. So, in terms of our goals, some of them you might be really excited about. Uh, but we set these at our annual retreat in July and sort of kept fine-tuning them. Um, these all link to our strategic plan, which runs from 2023 to 2028. There's a couple that we have around curriculum and assessment. Um we um now that we don't have a curriculum coordinator or director, we're really thinking and this is one of Amy's I'd say strengths as a superintendent, thinking about like what should we be doing, what do we have, where do we want to

042improve? So putting together a curriculum plan for that. Um also thinking about um uh the tiered system in terms of student support. So tier one, tier two, tier three which is both socio emotional and behavioral and academic and thinking about how we are better working with students on that. Um we have a couple finance goals. So thinking about whether we should consider using a targeted goal of a percentage year-over-year um and what would be appropriate there knowing that we have a lot of big swings every year whether it's special education or healthcare that are hard to predict but we're trying to get to some level of year-over-year consistency. Is that a word that's fair? >> Um yeah I think we're I mean we're trying to assess what the fair number is if we were to

043go that way. And the problem is that most folks want to use the consumer price index which is the absolute wrong index to use for that. >> So there there lies the roughs. Um there are other measures of inflation that fit better for us and for you guys in terms of wages and salaries and the consumables the energy that we buy that works a lot better. Um, so that's part of not only looking at what makes more sense, but then how to communicate that to folks in the community so they understand why we're not losing >> consumer the consumer index. That's been an ongoing discussion in the budget committee the last couple of years as well. >> Yeah, if you want to talk about indexes, that's your guy. Uh, we also did an exercise looking

044at Laura. Laura and Amy sat down with every single administrator and did a line by line review of every single thing they were asking for, whether it was $216 or $10,000. So, that was has been an exciting process, but sort of just gut checking like what is this? Can we justify it? What does that look like? Um, and that came forth in the operating budget. Something that does actually impact you guys is um you might have heard about the the HMHS the middle high school security redesign process and so over the course of the last two years. Do you want to talk about a little bit? >> So uh started in May of 2024 and currently we have design up and out. It's going out for an RFP within the week hopefully. Uh it will

045put the front entrance to the middle high school back on the Park Avenue side which I learned historically is where it lived uh and solve a lot of our security issues around in and out of the Europe where people come in in your offices 50 meters away. Um so we are currently having a lot of community info sessions. We had one at the middle high school um last week and then we've got them scheduled with Rotary PTA, the Hopkins and Republicans and the Hopkins and Democrats and we will have our public hearing on that in December. >> As part of how we're thinking about that, we've talked also about what that might mean for meetings or other community events that are in there and there' still be access through the other points that we use

046for elections and otherwise. So just for the school day, move it to a place where there would be a two-point entry system. Um, so it provides a more secure entrance. >> Um, we also have a goal around school culture and safety. Um, that involves students and staff. Something we've been really trying to work on is thinking about our communication as a board. Um, newsletter is trying to really be, I think, really thoughtful about what information we're putting out through the budget season and about all the other things, whether it's Ozram coming or the carolers. Um, and uh, and then also thinking about sustainability. So, what is what would a district-wide policy look like and what is realistic and what is what could we actually do there? So, yeah, that's where we're at. Any questions on

047any of those? Awesome. Yeah. And then on boarding new leadership, which is really exciting. That's table stakes. Cool. >> Awesome. You want to introduce yourself? Hi, I'm Andrea. Everyone knows me. I think we've actually met. >> Yes. So, everybody knows me. Wonderful. Hello, everybody. Good to see you all. >> Yeah. With everyone. Yeah, exactly. >> Cool. >> Awesome. Anything you guys are thinking about? >> Yeah. Um, I would say again as part of the transition to new town administrator and having two new select board members, we are looking at changing up how we do some things. So, for example, Alyssa kindly took on a project to take a look at our committees. We have a lot of town committees like so many >> some are not very high functioning like the highway safety committee that

048hasn't met in two years. Some are very high functioning. Um and so taking a look at like what are the committees? Do they all need to exist? Um and then also looking at the process for um trying to bring new people in to these committees. Um trying to get more people involved, figuring out like a fair and clear process for each year, how you know we ask people to either stay on them or to join them. And so we've just sort of like you know plotted along the last few years. I think that's the thing we're taking a fresh look at. I know there's parts of the town website that really bother Alyssa and so >> personal vendetta with parts of the town website. >> Yeah. And so like perhaps revamping um that sort of

049outward facing thing so it's more user friendly and it's easier to find information so you don't have to like drop down through like multiple places to find things. Um, and then I think we also, we talked about this a year ago at least, this idea of strategic governance. And we, again, I feel like we've gotten sort of in this habit of like just addressing and reacting to things and like dealing with day-to-day as you guys do too. But, um, you obviously have a more structure, I'd say, around like your strategic vision and like having this, you know, your fiveyear plan or Yeah. Um, and so we have talked about this and I think this is the year we're actually going to like make it happen. Um, and so yeah, trying to think about how these

050pieces all fit together. Like we've got a very strong economic development committee, but the economic development director position has been empty for a while. So it's like thinking about how does that fit in with planning? Um and then uh you know thinking about things like the transfer station which is very day-to-day and super important but um can we think about sustainability in a bigger picture way uh so yeah I think just trying to to zoom out a bit we do have our master plan um taking a fresh look at at that and like ways that we can zoom out and have a little bit more of a vision for the town. Um, and so that's yeah, we haven't like put that in motion yet, but the more I talk about it, I'm like it's going

051to happen. Um, so I don't know if others have have thoughts on, you know, sort of our like bigger picture things we're working on or any other thoughts to share with the school. Anyone? >> I mean, we spend a lot of time talking about wastewater. So I would say our two big conversations for the past couple months have been wastewater and then asterisk horseshoe pile >> horseshoe >> actually and just so everyone knows the horseshoe pile >> this is important actually I know this was like where are the horseshoes >> yeah undisclosed location >> yeah Vicki thank you to Vicki um on a Saturday Vicki spearheaded uh and helped with some very great volunteers who are super involved um the Kimble cabins and thank them because they spent a whole Saturday. I was in and

052outside some other stuff going on, but um it was like shoe by shoe and they're on 17 pallets. Um and so they're being stored in a safe place and then we're going to revisit sort of the plan for them. There's some folks in town who've been again very involved with the cabins who have some visions for what we could do with the shoes. Um, so >> and that would be Lee Lee Wilder. Um, >> Byron Carr, Lee Carr, Jeff Dearborn, and then Heather Mitchell from the Historical Society has been very involved in helping do research to understand the original intention and how best to preserve it because if you hop online, um, the folks are pretty passionate about the history of the horseshoe pile, right? >> I think the >> Yeah, the gifts from the

053world records the I think the >> Google movies, too. >> The uh what's that? gets very high Google images. >> Oh, interesting. The place is obviously like nostalgic and historic. The building that was there itself, I think many of you know, actually like had some serious mold and other issues and it was going to be cost prohibitive to try to like revamp that spot is a very weird lot too. We were going to have to like try to adjust slot lines to sell it. It was we did look at all sorts of different ways we could move forward with it and ultimately I think this was the right move and so just want to say like we recognize the importance of that spot and the shoes. Um, back quickly to the wastewater though, we have

054a lot of issues I will say and I'm no expert on it, but thankfully we have experts in town dealing with this. But by the um, gazebo in particular, we have PowerPoint presentation like a few months ago and it's um, I don't want to say alarming, it's illuminating to see like what goes on and the amount of water that's treated and like how bad it would be if that system didn't work. So, we had to do some emergency repairs. It is part of our CIP. It's a big ticket item to to like fix. I don't know if we're fixing it or like putting new >> A little bit of both. >> Yeah. It's a pump station. She didn't say >> sorry. Pump station. Yeah. >> Are is there any other detail on that about the

055pump station that we >> It It's going to cost a lot of money. It needs a lot of work and we're still trying to figure out the best path forward with that. >> Yeah. And it's thanks, as you were talking about George's Park, I think what has happened this past year is thanks to the changing climates and what has happened with our roads and the wastewater system. The DPW has been in overdrive, you know, >> across all departments trying to fix things as quickly as they can. And it's not to say that projects won't move forward, but it's all a balancing act as you deal with >> a storm just happened, our roads are washed out, we need to get that fixed. >> Yeah. versus, okay, what are our mid to long-term like, yes, they're

056important, and where do they balance against keeping our wastewater system working in the villages as well as keeping our roads drivable? >> Um, and I do Yeah. >> Did you see Dan and the team every season they've been >> Yeah, they do an amazing job. Before Neil left, we did a tour like every year or two, we try to tour each town. It is amazing the work that our town employees do. Um, we have an incredible group of employees, but DPW had hu I mean, they have challenges every year because obviously the weather's unpredictable, but the flooding was crazy and the fact that they were able to keep our roads passable um as quickly as they did. I mean, I just yeah, we have to recognize the work they did, but yes, it then sets

057back sort of longer term, bigger picture plans we have for paving or whatever it may be. Um and so that is definitely a challenge and it was just crazy the amount of like wash outs that happened. Um so we do actually have a couple of culverts um on our list road. >> Yes, one of them I think Pennook is on like like the bad list for the state. Um >> they're both I think they both >> at some point you like get shut down if you don't address it. So that would be bad. So yeah, we're dealing with that. Um, oh, and I wanted to mention actually, um, some of you might know this, but Fountain Square was removed from the states, the DOT 10-year plan, which is a huge bummer because, um, 103 and

058Maple Street, where they all come in there, it's state roads. So, we're limited in what we can do as a town there. And so, it really stinks that that um, it's unfortunate that it was removed. I think, you know, we're not the only town feeling that. I think DOT has had to sort of take a fresh look at what they're doing. Um, so that is off the 10-year plan. So, we're just gonna have to like do the best we can with crosswalks and trying to slow people down. >> Nice. >> Hey. Hey. >> Wait. Can we put crosswalks on top of uh on top of a state road? >> It's a little unclear to me. I think if we were to ask DOT, sorry, that plot was right on me. Um, if we were to

059ask DOT, I think >> we did ask DOT and the answer was no. >> The answer is no. Never mind. Okay. Not >> But they did put back in the crosswalks that were there before and they're not painted. They did inserts which means they should last much longer. >> But there's a spot, for example, by Everyday Cafe and sort of like near Mr. Mike's where it seems like there should be a crosswalk cuz you sort of run into like there's no >> But you can't cuz there's not two sidewalks. Crosswalks have to connect sidewalks. We don't have sidewalks there. It'd be driveway to driveway. We all just walk through it, so it can't be connected. >> Oh, interesting. >> Yeah. Ah, okay. >> Um, cool. >> Yeah, that's a lot. >> So, that's an area

060that's sort of like >> how big of a sidewalk. Yeah. >> Um, yeah, people do drive way too fast there. I'm I'm always going like 20 for two feet. I want people to slow down. But with kids walking after school, it gets a little scary and we do have some tough intersections there. But I think that's an example of a place that fits into sort of like the economic development bigger picture. And like Anna Wells, our former economic development director was doing some great work there figuring out like walkability and making it more pedestrian friendly. So that's something we'd like to pick up again, but just wanted to mention um it is removed from the 10-year plan. So that's bummer. Okay, >> I think that was I think that's everything. Again, transferation. Obviously, um the

061town voted in 2025 to no longer do the green bags >> and so we were talking, we had some good momentum. We got stickers revamped. Jeff was looking into like a gate system. And then again, that was one of the things that's sort of like been shelved. Um and so we need to revisit that. So excited. >> Is the roundabout on hold till spring? >> Oh, on 202. >> Yeah. >> Oh, the 202 the new Yeah. Bye. >> Yeah, that's that's do. Yeah. I just don't know if you guys could notify that they were >> I think maybe they did. There was a meeting out there on a very rainy day um where they talked about the process and the contractor had to get I think there like four or five phases and they had

062to complete phase two. They couldn't start phase three even if the weather was permitting because they would have had to complete like three and four. So the they've taken some trees down. They brought in some um fill to so they can make a temporary sort of bypass and I think that's as far as they're going this year. Next year you'll start to see it pick up again in the spring. >> Sorry. >> Oh, thanks. Thanks. It's great to see you. Good to see all. >> Okay, cool. >> That's a lot. >> Yeah, I mean that that was a crazy amount of rain and then it seemed to me without maintaining the roads. Yeah, they really did. And it's like you never know what winter's going to bring. >> Mhm. Right. >> Yeah, that's right. >>

063But yeah, they really they do an amazing job. We're very lucky to have the team there that we do. You want to know a fun fact that I learned from the other chat when I was studying town hall that changing the snow plows from manual to automatic like uh decreased driver fatigue significantly and increased driver retention quite a bit because if you're thinking about a snow plow you would have to be shifting all the time. So when they moved them over like 10 years ago or something he was like it was game changing and I was like what is pretty cool right now. So there you go for drivers. Um, cool. >> Have the costs on transfer the transfer station been rising? >> That is a great question. I don't know. We talked about this

064last meeting about getting a meeting with transportation staff and taking a look at the numbers on recycling and I actually don't know if we have updated. >> I have not seen updated numbers yet >> because that will be a very interesting thing to see if it's if the green bag impacted. >> Yeah, it'll be very interesting to see. My assumption is that they're going to go up. Yeah, >> I'd also say though, we'd have to sort out the fact that a number of recycling programs had to be cancelled. >> And so there are a number of programs we all used for heavy duty plastic, right, for the big buckets that because recycling is not altruistic because it is a capitalist program, they stop being purchased. And so that'll also impact the revenue that we're bringing

065in. It increases the amount of trash going in the hopper since those recycling programs no longer exist. So, we'd want to sort that out because that would be separate than the green bag, but happened at the exact same time >> as the green bag program ended. >> Oh, interesting. >> Yeah. I'm just talking about the cost per ton. >> Cost per time that we ship it out. >> Yeah. It's going to >> It's going to go up% increase every year >> at least. >> That that contract ends December 2025. >> So, I just got some numbers. >> We're going to be looking at that. We'll just use our We'll use our leverage. >> Yeah, >> they've did very good in the past. >> We don't want to give them leverage by waiting too long. >>

066No, no. I I've got numbers this week, so >> thank you. >> Okay. Okay. Anything else? This is very informative. Thank you guys. >> I know. Yeah. Awesome. Is that it? Is that all we have before we have comments? Public comment. Yeah. Okay. I think so. Okay. Public comment. You guys want to come up? Uh, three minutes. Name and address. >> I don't know if that's on. >> Anyway, speaking of kids, they really did a great job beyond the fact that they're technical. They had that whole presentation set up so that it was engaging to you. It >> was amazing. Really good. >> I I kudos to them and and their coaches. So, it's a good thing. Um, can you can you go back to the recycling again? Recycling ceased to exist? I don't think

067that was >> No, no, no. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. There's a very specific trying to understand the the impact around the same time the bags went away. >> Yeah. There's a very specific recycling program. So when you would go to the dump and you'd be able to take your five gallon plastic buckets or your lawn chairs or your play school slides and there was a place that you could put >> that plastic that program ceased to exist. That had nothing to do with any choices we did. The buyers simply are not there >> that was a different plastic than the bottles and the main >> I just wanted to know whether I need to still cuz we still do it. >> You can absolutely still do it. We make money off of it 10 out of

06810. Okay. >> Do do that. Yeah. >> All right. So, slides. Heavy. >> Yes. >> Robust plastic. That's >> no more. >> Okay. Um, sounds like there's a big ticket item for the wastewater, which probably needs to happen. I mean, beyond this conversation, I mean, we pretty much know that there's been a lot of issues. So, it seems like for the town, that should be the priority one. Um, when we start putting the budgets together, I think water is important. >> It's part of our CIP. It's not in the operating budget, but yes, it is very important. >> The importance of being together with together is to balance that because I know the town sometimes doesn't always get what they need. Sounds like this has been going on too long and I think it needs

069to be addressed. And I also appreciate that big step back because I think that's what we've been missing all along. I feel like we're in a lot of debt and I think that stepping back and trying to address things, I think that's a really good thing. So, I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. Thank you so many comment se. Um good evening everybody. Um couple of things. Uh first one was the school board thank the select board for the plowing I which is it's nice to hear that. I think that also uh DPW does a lot of groundskeeping that takes care of uh a lot of the fields for sports which is shared. So um I think they maybe have two full-time people doing that. So that too is something that should

070be thanked. Um back to the bathrooms at George's Park. I believe one of the main concerns there was that George's that the bathrooms have a leech field that's failing and that's what's really delegating where it needs to be placed because they want to set up a pump station and then that goes out to the sewer flanking the pavement up there by the school. So if you put it out the middle, you're in the middle of the fields, you're disrupting all that. And that's part of why that location needs to stay where it is. And uh just lastly, someone else that couldn't be here and um asked me to bring this up and it's in regards to George's Park. And I know um Sabrina said you guys have a bazillion committees, but they said because there

071is like a five-year plan with what happens at George's Park that it would be nice if we can have a steering committee with uh multiple reps, someone from ISIS, someone from parks and recck um various different departments. Um just keeping an eye on that because it has seemed to shift and then be pleased that we're interested and um so that was a uh suggestion from someone that couldn't see. So that's >> Thank you. >> We're good. Okay. Anything else? >> Thanks, guys. It's really nice to see you all. >> I know. Thank you for all that you guys do. >> Yeah, same. This is very helpful. We need to move to adjourn. >> Yeah, we're adjourning. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Second. Oh, no. You got it. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Okay.

072>> Thank you all. >> Thanks, everyone. Good to see everyone. >> Good to see you. >> Thank you. You want to take a pause for two seconds everyone out? We're in the winter. >> Those shoes are fine. We're in the winter. >> Hot flashes. Yeah. I meant to bring my coat so I can put it. >> All right, party people. We are restarting. Uh I don't have to do a call to order again, right? Because we already did it. >> I don't think we do. Okay, we're restarting. just just the school board meeting section of our meeting today on October 21st. We've already done pledge of allegiance in the roll call. Um we do have public comment, so if you'd like to come up and state your name and address and three minutes. Oh. All

073right. Thanks, guys. Um Lucy, >> welcome. >> Yeah. So, um start I have sports updates. So, uh, sort of getting to the end of the fall season. Um, the golf team is already done. Um, but some of the other teams, um, last week, uh, there was senior game for field hockey. Um, they won. And then there was a tough loss for girls varsity soccer and their senior game to St. Thomas. Um, over the weekend, we had the middle school cross country uh, state championships at the fairgrounds and the girls were state champions. Um yeah, so congrats to them. Um and then upcoming on Friday is the boys uh varsity soccer senior game versus uh Hillsboro beering at home. Um on Saturday's cross country uh state championship at Derryfield Park. Uh D3 is the first race

074of the day. So girls are at 10, boys are at 10:40. And then all the playoff information for different teams is on the athletic website. Like that's subject to change. So yeah. Um and then this week is uh the week of PSATs. So sophomores um who chose to take it took it on Monday. Um juniors in the first half of the alphabet are tomorrow and then the second half of the alphabet is Friday. Um on Monday there was also the senior picture. Um it was pouring rain so instead of having a nickel it was in the gym. Um but I think it was you know they still got their class picture. Um, and then also, um, we had our second student advisory council meeting of the year on Monday. Um, and I didn't bring it

075up after our first meeting. So, um, uh, yeah. So, what this is is all of the class officers from the different grades in the high school, we meet once a month with u, Mr. Kelly, Miss Leighton, and Mrs. Cros and we all come up with a discussion topic or like something some sort of issue um that we want to bring up. Um so this meeting we talked about um potentially getting the high school to be a place uh for SAT retakes um because a lot of times students have to go to other schools. >> Um and then also senior parking which is always an issue. Um and then this meeting we also had Mr. Ziki as a guest speaker um to talk about um potential upcoming weight room renovations um to get some student input

076on that. Um, and then as far as clubs go, uh, last week, uh, the environmental action club did a trash audit. Um, so we take all the trash from the lunches, um, that day and go through it and weigh it and sort it out and figure out, um, sort of like where our weak points are and like what students are having trouble with. Um, during our advisory like time that we had, we only had enough time to get through middle school. Um, and we found that 15 out of the 23 pounds of trash, uh, could have been composted. >> So, um, we definitely have room for improvement there. Um, but at our meeting this morning, we actually had a middle schooler, U, Parker Fleming, come to our meeting and we're hoping to sort of expand

077what we're doing with the middle school. Um, and then last thing, um, Interact Club, which is sort of like a Rotary affiliate community service club. um they started uh flocking this morning. So this was something that went on like several years ago before the sort of like faculty advising of the club changed hands and now it's coming back. Um, so what it is is you get like a flock of plastic flamingos and you can pay like a ransom to get the flamingos moved to a different yard and you can pick like where it goes and it's a fundraiser for the interact club to support some of our upcoming projects like potentially the outdoor classroom. >> Yeah, >> but there's only one flock. So like I there's three flocks. So how are they all already out?

078>> They're all out >> flocking. Okay. So they could just arrive >> any any moment >> anytime. >> How do you get yourself a FL? Who do we contact? >> Um so we started with families like that are in the club. Yeah. >> And then if they like happen to choose people. >> Oh, okay. >> So you just have to wait till you come see. >> There's so many people that I want to send to. >> Yeah. >> With love. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Great. Well, awesome. Anything else? >> No, that's it. Any questions for Lucy? >> Fantastic. >> Really exciting when your house is flocked and your lab is like, "What the heck are those things?" >> Really exciting. >> It's so fun though. That's great. >> Anything else? >> PSATs are all online,

079right? When do you find out this course? >> Um, I don't know. >> I think it's like a few months. >> I want to say December. >> Okay, cool. Awesome. Well, thank you. >> Yeah, thanks, Lucy. All righty. Before we move to board comments, I actually realized that as per usual, I forgot to do approval of the minutes. We have two sets of minutes. One for the regular meeting on October 9th and another for the non-public meetings on October 9th. Do I have a motion for approval? >> I move. >> Second. >> All right. Any discussion? Um, yeah. Any discussion? >> All right. All those in favor? >> All those opposed? Okay. Um, board comments. Rob, >> I do not. >> Jonathan, >> no. >> Suzanne. >> Andrea. >> I can't think of any. >>

080Okay. I will just say that um it's amazing to me that the middle school cross country team already has their photo on the website. So, thank you to the people who update all those photos. I appreciate it. Lots of smiling faces. Um, and it was great to see Oz Ram come earlier when the subboard was here. in case you are watching a broken tape. I highly recommend you go and watch that part of it. Okay, cool. >> I guess I'd be remiss in not mentioning George Sable and Zach Emerson and Rob Roth and Norm and all the folks in the Hopington Runner Society that brought the middle school championships to Hopin. That was a very very big deal. Um so it's pretty exciting to watch what they're doing over there in terms of becoming a

081magnet for these big invitations. Yeah, >> because it was both the middle school and then high school championships were there the next day, I believe, or some other >> um middle school, large school and small school were on different days and then the week before there was a college invitational on Friday and a high school invitational on Saturday and they run through the barn which I thought was kind of neat. >> It's It was Yeah, it was very fun. I was there. It was a beautiful day. >> Very professionally done. >> That's really cool. Thank you. All right, awesome. So, um, moving on, we had our our budget session for the operational part of the budget. There are sheets over on the table. Um, I, you know, if there's any questions that we wanted to

082bring back that we were looking for more detail on, I think we were able to answer just about everything. And then for the board, if there was anything else that we felt like we needed clarification on, I just want to make sure we did a check-in on what we learned last week, the numbers we got, there's anything so that we can kind of tie up questions there prior to going to staffing in two weeks. >> There was one question I know that needed followup and Rob was wondering about the PD money that we put in for the unions. And so in your board support, just as a backup, there's a budget follow-up PD money not used. um for FY25 and FY24 and it shows both combi all all the types of PD combined and what

083those numbers look like. >> Yeah. So to hopefully resolve that question. >> Does that make sense? Yeah. Does that make sense to everyone? >> Ha is pages one and two and has is page three. Did we put into the contract I I was there I remember talking about but did we put in a deadline where it was you to try to encourage people to request it by a certain point so we clear out the accomprances you remember >> I know we talked about it I don't know if we actually >> I think we put it in deadline for the additional reimbursement piece for the four I think the $400 but I don't believe that we put in something for initial requests. >> Okay. Thank you. If we addressed this last time, I for what happens

084if it's not used >> drops into fund balance. >> Just drops in fund balance. Okay. >> Anything else on the budgets? Okay. I'll say I know it took a crazy amount of time to manually clear out and reenter all of those notes. There is a ton of detail there. So if you're going through and reading these um online or you come to the SAU and pick up the sheets, those are all new notes with clarity around what is new, what is carrying over and why. Um and the presentation also that you guys prepared was excellent in terms of thinking about budget driver. So thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anything else on budget? >> I did have question but I think I can just forward them to you and Laura. >> Yeah. Okay. Good. Cool.

085All right. Do you have anything else? Like said we're in this for five months, so keep your questions coming, people. We'll be here. Okay, cool. Okay, with that, um, we wanted to do a check-in on our schoolboard goals. Um, we made one wording tweak that because RAC had a English grammar piece, but if you look in, I'm going to basically go through and read these out loud. Um, and my goal is that, you know, we want to do this probably two to three times throughout the course of the year. It's helpful for me to say, is there anything that we have not been focusing on as a board? I really like doing this before we get full swing into budget because it can be pretty easy for the budget process to subsume a lot of

086the other work of the board. And while that is an important piece, it is not the only piece of what we're trying to focus on. Okay. Okay. So, uh, curriculum assessment. The school board working through the superintendent will review how the curriculum and assessment process is delegated and executed currently without a curriculum coordinator, including what we must do, what we must have, and what we would like to improve on. So, I know you guys talked about your first CIA meeting last week. Do you want to provide a little color here? I mean, I think we're really for this one still ramping up. Um, I know that our next CIA meeting will likely be an hour and a half. I think there is a lot of excitement uh around this um but it is very much

087still in its vague stages. >> I I would say I think the first meeting there was a lot of new representation. Some people had been part of either uh curriculum council or CNA or you know now what we're going to rebrand as the CIA to include the instructional piece. Um, I was excited about the follow-up questions and conversations I've been able to have afterwards. Um, I really see it as three different buckets. The first is what is the guaranteed viable curriculum that we have. Um, and how do we make that more visible? So there when new people come in or for parents or community members that are interested, you know, how do we make that available um to ensure some consistency and the students are having a common experience? The instruction piece I think is

088really tied to what kind of professional learning um and follow-up training do we think our staff needs because those needs even though we're planning for next year now um that'll change as you know students present themselves or you know we have new priorities that we need to address and then finally the assessment piece um and I really think that the all three of those pieces lead into your second goal if it's okay to sort of tie them >> is that once you have those pieces establish lished and you have a strong assessment um you can then look at how effective are your tiers and where are you you know seeing that you need um some additional some additional work I I do feel like here tier one um we have work to do uh tier

089two is really the area and you saw that in some of the budget requests because we want to make sure that students can get the support that they need if it's not directly in the classroom that there is an area for them to get support either from the classroom teacher or reading specialists and math specialists before they go straight to special ed. We want to make sure that that second tier is a big enough catcher net to keep those students supported. >> Um, going back to the first goal and then I'll read the second goal. I would also say that I think that you guys talked about just to put this out there for people who might be joining us for the first time talking about a formal curriculum review cycle. I think that's worth

090calling out and that's not done but you're discussing it. And then also people look to the budget. Um there are some additional pieces of requests in there to look at either new assessment pieces, new review pieces that I think are are you're you're thinking thoughtfully already I think a few months into the job. >> Yeah. And I think in in addition to just the core curriculum review cycle is also what are the materials that are being used to go along with that curriculum when you're looking at it. U because the curriculum are really the standards and what our expectations are. Um, but also how are we going to present those those standards to students? Um, and we're a small enough district that second grade they should have a common experience. Everyone teaching algebra 1, they

091should have a common experience. I'm not saying it has to be the same because no two teacher two teachers are the same. Um, but we can bring some commonality and equity, you know, to those experiences with high quality materials. So hopefully that's where we can aspire to is that we review the curriculum and then we're also looking at the core materials for that course as well. Right. The second goal just to put it out there is the school board working through the superintendent will support the development reporting of strengths and weaknesses of tier one, tier two and tier three levels of support and make recommendations on future systems and needs. Um I think there was also some staffing changes this year, right? To think about how are we thinking about the behavior piece and how

092are we doing that more um cohesively. Is that the right word? I >> I think so. You know, I as my boomerang face, I continue to say, "Oh, when I was here three years ago, we did X, Y, or Z." So, um we are looking to put back into place some of those structures in the student support center. Um you'll notice, I think you reallocated some money last year. So, we actually have um an instructional assistant that's in that role full-time here. Um and then also at Harold, we did some changes, some staffing changes at the beginning of the year to be responsive to that need. >> That's great. Any questions about curriculum and assessment and where we are hoping to go and the work under way? >> I just I just want to thank

093Amy for being um so organized and on top of it. I think it's it to me it was very clear that um some things have lapsed but I also was very impressed by uh the experience in the room >> in that conversation. Uh yeah, it was and I do, you know, I know that lots of districts have somebody in charge of I do think there's enough talent in that room that if we look at the system, uh there's a way to do it through stipens and not a specific person. I mean, ideally, right, if there was the money to hire somebody and say, "Please do this job and all of those things." I don't think we're there. Uh, but I think there's enough talent in that room to configure under your leadership. >> Appreciate that.

094>> Nice. >> I was very impressed from a from a teacher standpoint. I was like, "Oh, that's refreshing." >> Exactly. >> Cool. Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Next up, finance. All right. Finance guys, are you ready? All right. Okay. So, the first one is that the school board will determine whether the budgeting process should consider using a targeted targeted goal of a percentage increase based on projections of needs in order to build the annual school budget. So, this is something we've talked about for a while. Rob, do you want to talk a little bit about how we have I mean, we're just kicking off the budget process, but >> I I mean, I think it's just how we so projecting to a target is difficult, right? because it doesn't factor in our special ed

095cost. If we could pull that piece out, >> right, >> it might be really easy to compare it to the total compensation for secondary and elementary educators. But with that piece in, so I think when we talk about the the word I'm looking for um how on target we are, we need to look at those salaries or pieces and pull out the outplacements to see if we're that percentage increase for wages and salaries makes sense based on national averages. Um that said that national index so you've got regional differences, you've got differences in terms of how much uh contributions they're making to their retirement systems, etc. Um but it is it is a decent mark. I just looked at last year's index and it was 3.79% total compensation wages and salaries. Uh okay. >> So

096wait, which index? It's called the total compensation for education in secondary school teachers put out by the Federal Reserve Bank. >> Yeah. That one. >> That's the name of the index. >> Huh? >> That's the name of the index. >> That is the name of the sub index. Yes. >> Economics. >> Like you taught economic >> economic nerds on parade. >> Yeah. >> So I think when we're trying to forecast out, we can forecast parts of our budget, but obviously there are parts that we can't. like we can get good numbers on energy and utilities um but we can't get good numbers on special education. That's the foil in the process. >> Okay, >> that's very helpful. Thank you. The next one, this one should feel pretty great. Um the school board will complete a

097zerobased budget financial exercise with one department within the district for fiduciary review purposes. Sort of. Did we do exactly that? We did we did a very close hybrid with everybody. So we took everything and made an explanation and said why is this in our budget? >> Why are you putting this here for all really all operations? We went through every single line and said what is this note? What is it for? >> Yeah. >> And did that >> great. >> Does that make sense to everyone? >> Well, I mean I really appreciate that. I know it probably felt like a lot, but I think especially as some of these budgets carry over year over year, it's meaningful to do that every once in a while to take a pulse check. >> Thank you. >> You're

098welcome. >> Anything else you want to add to that, Rob? >> Thank you. >> Do you feel that that meets your goal? >> I think it did. I mean, I think in terms of, you know, we were trying to validate in a way um and examine >> a lot of extra work. >> Awesome. >> And it was realistic. And then we had all of the leadership teams sit down together and look at the total operations budget as a whole, which is something that, you know, was an add-on this year to allow us all to see what's in everybody else's budgets really and what are we all going for. So that gave that peer review piece about what what we're asking for. That's great. Thank you. I really appreciate it. Of course. Okay. Safety and security.

099In response to the homeland security audit, the school board will support the development of the security redesign project proposal, including estimated budget at the Hopn Middle High School. So, we've talked about this, I think, every meeting. We know we have four more sessions coming up. Um, do you want to talk about this a little bit, Rob? >> Um, so we do have the four more info sessions. Uh Jim and Laura are working on final documents for the RFP to go out and there is a timeline for that as well. Um I think we are probably on track for our public hearing in December but it may need to be pushed forward depending upon when those come back. >> Okay, cool. Um I think the biggest you know although the meeting was lightly attended I think

100a lot of the questions were around how this changes student movements >> when when people are coming and going into and out of the building uh in particular the rear entrance by the gym. Um so >> great thank you. >> Yeah a lot of work. >> All right. The school board working through the superintendent will continue to support the development of a district-wide approach to school culture and safety that involves student and staff. I would say um you heard them talk about it a little bit at the budget meeting, the implementation of Fly Five. So that is something that we're uh trying to not only implement with students but also build that culture uh with teachers. So they had um the two school counselors on our most recent PD meeting. Um they met and had

101some collaboration around that. Um definitely I think Harold is a little bit farther ahead in the implementation than Maple just you know just because of the way things have worked out. Um I also know that Mr. Kelly and his goals for the middle high school has you know certainly has some things around culture and climate. So each building has at least one initiative which was one of my goals and we can um talk a little bit more about the implementation of Fly Five once um it's up and off the ground. Right. >> Do we know if there are any other speakers like we had a really nice speaker series last year at the middle high school? I haven't checked in but there were like they brought in a nice drum beat of people to talk

102I would say about um culture and wellness and safety. I do know that the Brown Center came and did um sort of a second salute to seventh grade and that was very wellreceived which was a lot of team building and and things like that. Um I it's my understanding that the Hogington School Foundation funds those speakers. Um, and so when I went not to their meeting last week, but the week before, they have encouraged those same people to come back and apply for the grant because they know that that's an expensive um endeavor and they're willing to continue to to support it because it's different every year. Even though it's a speaker series, it's not the same speaker every year. So, I don't have anything line, you know, that I know of right now, but

103I I do believe they'll go back and ask. >> Great. >> What What is Fly Five? Fly five is the um social emotional learning curriculum that we talked about at the last meeting. I think specifically you asked about uh the renewal costs because there are consumables that go with it and there's an online piece as well. So if you think about our portrait of a learner, it is the tool that you would use to implement you know how to teach students persistence, how to teach students collaboration. It's the explicit teaching of those kinds of of skills. >> Collaboration. >> Yeah. They teach students like as young as kindergarten, first grade. Um they use the um acronym CARES C A R E S. >> Okay. >> I'm happy to bring some materials to the next meeting

104and share it with Jonathan. >> Yeah. I'm just curious as to what I mean because this is basically like how does this achieve this goal >> um for culture and climate? >> Yeah. Well, it really honestly if you look at all three of those goals so far. So curriculum, you know, what are you what is the guaranteed and viable curriculum that all students would have? That's that piece for goal number one. Goal number two, you would think of students that need the additional support from the student support center. All students would get tier one instruction using Fly Five and those students that needed more may need additional practice or additional instruction from a student support center or the school counselor. Um that's usually around conflict to be honest. you know, things aren't going your way

105or you need some additional check-in. Um, you might see something at Harold and I'd be interested in what your kids are are saying. Jackie um Kleiner is going in right now and doing the initial lesson. Um, so if you ask them, hey, has Mrs. Kleiner been to your classroom and what was was she presenting? Um, and then the last part about culture and climate, it really is related to responsive classroom, which is the tool by which you build a classroom community. Um most teachers that we have had either when I was here and I know we sent a team um this past summer learn how to create a morning meeting and how to implement that and um how do you do in um interactive learning structure? So that would be sort of like um breaks.

106How do you allow students to you know you just been working on something for about an hour boy they need a break. Um and then closing circle how was your day? What is one thing that you are um looking forward to to to tomorrow? if at the younger grades when I taught you know fourth and fifth grade you would say what is one thing that you can tell your parents about what you did at school today. So trying to give them some language around um you know their school day and what went well and maybe what they're working on the next time. Um and I think culture and climate when you look specifically at students willingness for engagement. I mean that's really what you want. You want kids to feel safe and secure. You want

107them to feel like they're in a community that they can be safe in, but also holds them them accountable and others accountable to the rules that they've established. >> I guess what I'm what I'm trying to understand is so we have counselors, we have teachers, and they help with conflict resolution, and they help with trying to help kids that are having difficulty reading or with math or whatever. So, what does Fly Five have to do with it? >> It's a really good question. I mean, so >> I mean, they already have these skills already doing this job. So, what do what do we get from Fly Five? So Fly Five would really be your common language. So if you think about each individual teacher, if they are, you know, you have an assigned group of

108kids, 15 kids for that school year, when you start the school year and the next year, you're you're going to have a different teacher except if they're looping. I know that we did that a couple of years ago. So restarting that whole process. I mean when you're looking at over time using the same language with students and you're not changing it every year, you know that if that's part of your culture is that we are going to make sure that we use this language when we're talking about resolution, conflict resolution, that's helpful not just to the students but also to the teachers because they're all using the same language and expectations. So if you think about amplify, we didn't have um a coordinated literacy program before you purchased and implemented that. So now people are

109are using the same language when they're talking about the curriculum that they're implementing. So this would be the same for that portion of our instruction. >> Yeah. And it's my understanding that like these types of skills like reading or math are skills that really benefit from explicit instruction. um you know like you can't just assume that their skills that kids come to school knowing how to do >> the emotional regulation piece and I especially like it just doesn't it blows my mind I guess the things that we're sort of talking about in schools and the way we have to remind and and direct instruction but I will clarify I guess or just put it out there explicitly right that students who are safe um and feel safe and have some emotional regulation are less likely

110to act out violently. And students who are safe and in touch with their peers are also more likely to report if somebody is not regulated or if there has been a threat. Right? We we teach the see something, say something. But I will tell you that if you don't feel safe or secure and you're you're not going to say anything, >> correct? I >> I guess the thing that I'm thinking about is the value of this money that we're spending on this program. Mhm. >> That's what I'm trying to think about. Like I understand the soft skills or whatever you want to call it. Um social emotional learning. I think that can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people. Um I'm just interested in in sort of trying to figure out

111how we gauge the return on the money that we're spending on this program, which is a year-over-year cost. That's what that's what I'm thinking about. Well, you're empty >> as opposed as opposed to, you know, trusting in the staff to teach these skills. That's that's what I'm thinking about. And it's not I'm not put trying to put you on the spot. I'm just saying that that's what I'm thinking about. >> Yeah. And I I guess I would want to know what kind of data you're looking for because Fly Five is an evidence-based program. I'm happy to send you, you know, some of the research that's been done around it. Typically those, you know, re that kind of research though doesn't look at like you spent $1,000 and that means that you got this result. Usually

112it'll look at student referrals um to to the to your student support center, expulsions, suspensions. It's more it is quantitative data, but it's there's a lot of qualitative studies in there. So, if you're looking for something that'll say if you spend money on this and you get this, >> I I don't know that I can provide that. I think I can try to find um some evidence-based um research around that particular >> but to Jonathan's point like we should be looking at our MTSS data and as this stuff is implemented and we're working with it for a while is there you know some sort of reduction or is there are we seeing kind of the the proof because there are yes the long-term goal is keeping more kids in the class >> but I don't

113know that you'll have enough longitudinal data to make a decision about next year which is right >> but like we should be doing that periodically because there is so much programming out there >> right and so if this one I'm just going to speak from experience that sometimes in education we pick a solution and we're like this is it we never stop and sort of say like but is this really working until we're >> way down the line >> I would I would think that this would be part of the curriculum review cycle right where same thing every three seven years right totally >> Yep. And I do think I do think it's valuable. Like I remember Patrice the budget tour and Herald Martin said that one of the big things for kindergarten last year

114was that like there were large numbers of students who did not know how to lose games and were just like flying off their little handles. Um and while that might not be part of fly five, right, but it's like what are the skills that we are learning so that we're figuring out how to do that? >> No question the skills are important to teach. The question is with the year-over-year cost of these different programs, >> right? Yeah. >> Whether they're actually worth the money, >> right? Yeah. >> That's that's the question that I'm putting my finger on, >> right? And I think >> and how do you figure that out? Well, I'm not totally sure. Certainly not a quick answer, but like that's the thing that I'm thinking about because we're signing up to pay

115licensing fees every year and >> certainly there's a lot of people who's, you know, >> have a financial interest in these programs. So, you know, it just makes me >> feel like a little bit of skepticism is is not necessarily inappropriate. >> Um, so I think trying to zoom in on any independent variable to say that created that is near to impossible in education. I do think that qualitatively the teachers should be able to give you some pretty good feedback because that common language is what's most important um because you know like it or not all teachers are executing things the same way especially if they don't have the same road map. So this gives them a road map that they can all work together on and then when little Johnny ends up from as

116you say from grade one to two or three to four this is not new. Um, you know, the epiphany for me about my first teaching experience at Landmark was not Landmark. It's that everybody was doing the exact same teaching model >> and that doesn't often happen um in public schools at that time for sure and even now. So, I think the value is continuity and that everybody is playing the same game. >> Yeah. >> You don't have teachers off the reservation so to speak. So, so I guess what I would say to that is maybe it's under culture and climate, maybe it's under curriculum and maybe it requires some more word smithing, but we want to make sure that we that teachers feel that it's an environment where they can give feedback, honest feedback on

117programs that have been implemented because you don't want to lose your job or lose promotion because you're saying that you don't think something works that the board, the superintendent or everybody else has implemented and already is cost into. So >> it strikes me that I'm not sure if that's in curriculum or if that's in culture, but but to me that would be important if we >> want to get that feedback from right. So if we want to get feedback from the people who are in the trenches, then we want to make sure it's an environment where there's >> they feel comfortable giving it. >> Right. Well, I would say like when we adapted the Amplify program, there was a lot of check-ins through CNA, which is now CIA, thinking about like how is it going?

118What is the level of work? Is this effective? We went back and looked at the end of last year of what were the actual literacy rates starting at the beginning of the year of implementation of that curriculum versus the end. This I think would follow into, right? Same thing with illustrative math. Same thing with all the things like curricula is curricula. It's curricula and it will be different data. I think what you said in terms of like being able to look longitudinally at referrals, what does that look like beneficial? >> Yeah, but that's the role of CI the C CIA study. >> I think it's important to evaluate curriculum. >> Right. Right. Right. >> And that is something we talked about like a platform for feedback in a process >> and we included it. it

119was included in the curriculum review like specifically right >> um to review it and like and part of the curriculum review is an entire process that wouldn't be it's not us like we're not actually in it at all it is >> teachers >> just so long as they feel comfortable >> giving that feedback I think it's very important given the importance that we're talking about to try to gauge these programs that we're spending money on. >> So, I agree with Jonathan that we need teacher input to evaluate and I do think and and Amy, you are a new superintendent, so this is not referring to you. But, um, actual news does not always trickle up to the board. So that is the board's role and that is the superintendent's role is to make sure that

120that qualitative data is true and clear and not necessarily packaged in a way that says this was a great idea I had. Look how great it's working when in reality 50% of your staff is saying this isn't working. So that's >> well I would say I don't think I do not think it's our job to choose curriculum. I think our job say curriculum, >> right? I think it's our job to monitor these goals like we're doing talk to our superintendent and say what is the information and ask questions to make sure we feel like we're getting the right set of information. Does that make sense? >> It is our job. I believe it should be our job to have an eye on that qualitative data. That's what I'm saying. >> Totally. Yes. Thank you. Yes.

121>> No, I agree with that. I was just saying like we're not personally evaluating. >> That's not our job. >> Yeah. >> But yeah, but yeah, but this is why we're talking about this. Hopefully, >> I would Yeah. And I would be curious what the faculty >> are saying about whether it's wellreceived. I just again from experience, our SEAL curriculum um at our high the high school where I teach was a um uphill battle to get teachers to buy into. >> What was it? and they like and I was in charge of convincing everybody that it was a good idea and even it was a very hard sell and we were spending the money and people were not doing it with fidelity >> and that was disappointing to to have that experience and I would

122like to make sure that that's not the case. >> Yeah. Can I ask a follow-up question just because here did you do that similarly with amplify illustrative math mystery science like ask teachers their feedback before it >> that stuff was implemented before I was on the board so >> well it was it was happening before >> but a lot of those decisions have happened well I I can't speak to that because >> it happened it happened in Jonathan's first meeting there was an entire year-long curriculum cycle from 20 2020 no 2023 to 2024 before there was an entire working group of 15 20 teachers that looked at like 65 there's multiple documents that are >> about amplify I've looked at what I'm asking is Jonathan is saying explicitly and and Rob qualitative feedback about those

123programs before they were funded again >> and did that did it >> it did not come and so >> yeah we've talked about this we have definitely talked about last year and it's come to the board since then but not prior to it >> we talked about it last year and understand I'm not suggesting that it needs to come to me. >> I'm just suggesting that if we're talking about board goals >> that it should be an explicit board goal to the extent that we can affect the culture, curriculum, environment, whatever we want to call it, that teachers should feel comfortable >> giving honest feedback to programs that we've already chosen or thinking about choosing or thinking about getting rid of. Like I just think it's uh >> uh fostering an environment of collaboration with

124teachers is a >> and my valuable goal because we're talking about we're talking about tilos tio you know >> here and to me that's that would be an important one >> but it feels like I'm going to be surveying them and I wouldn't just want to isolate it to fly five I would just want to say >> I'm not trying >> I feel like amplify how do you >> fly five simply raised the issue in my mind I am not picking on that particularly except for the fact that it it made me start to think about this. It's not about fly five in my mind. It's about these programs abil that all these programs are things that we would want to have feedback, honest feedback from the people whose boots are on the ground. >>

125I would think. >> Yeah, 100%. I don't know then that this needs to be changed because then it says working through the superintendent, we will continue to support the development of a district-wide approach to school culture which I mean it speaks to what exactly you're talking about that involves students and staff. >> Yes. I I think that this goal is one thing. I think that what Jonathan is asking is actually something we've talked about also in terms of setting the precedent as an administration and with Amy of offering a culture of feedback and I think inquisitiveness and curiosity and you started the year like you did your all hands meeting in August by saying I am sending out a feedback for survey >> and and I'm not even suggesting that it isn't happening. I'm just

126saying that this is something I'm thinking about. >> I mean if we're talking about teaching the students collaboration as a way of fostering the environment in the school it starts at the top. >> Right. So that's the board and the superintendent. >> Yeah. >> So that seems like that's a valuable goal for us to be explicitly considering. >> Y thank you. >> Have we jumped then to culture and climate? >> We're going to get there. >> I'm not trying to jump anything but we're we're we're taking a ramble to make sure that we're talking about the same and this is valuable and this is something I think about a lot Jonathan. So thank you. >> Um so this the next school sort of fits into that but not exactly. Uh the school board working through

127the superintendent will take steps to understand, develop and support the changing and varied needs of families across the district. Um I think the way we have often thought about our communication is going outbound from the board, right? I think that you have been thoughtful in terms of thinking about what are the surveying tools that we're using and getting information and what are those check-ins like. Um but I don't know if you have anything to say about this goal yet. I haven't I haven't thought about querying about the changing and varied needs of the district other than thinking about sort of the three tiers of support and how are we thinking about the students but >> well I would just say and you saw some of it in the in the budget when I've met with

128Lauren I've met with Mandy and you know looking at just publicly available data related to free and reduced lunch um as we've tried to dig out from some of the corrective action related to McKini Bento specifically looking at students in foster care I mean we've done a lot of work around that I just did another training today about and putting a lot of that is already on the website. We've done two policy changes uh students in foster care and separating that from homeless students. Um there's a we've done a lot of work around trying to identify students and families that are in need. Um we have a new vento liaison. We went and had a meeting with got lunch. We had some great um collaboration um between the school district and um who's the new

129Felicia Rusty. I know she has an actual title. It's not Alicia Prey, but it's you know she's actually I think she does >> is it's um services like local services. I don't I don't know if her actual title family and youth services. So we've had a couple of meetings with her. So I I think trying to use the data that we already have. I think the next part will really be and this was part of my goal. Um I have gotten a lot of feedback about the website. I've I've talked to Matt about that about how can we um improve the transparency and the the things that we're sharing. Um we can certainly do a a survey to the community. Um I do think though that we know a lot of those answers most people

130digest um information on their phone. Um and so ensuring that the documents and things that we're using are in PDF rather than Word or Google Doc, you know, so that they come through and a lot of those pieces we're already doing. um you have purchased diligent as a board and I think that's something that you continue to think about. Is it meeting your goal? I wasn't here when you implemented that. Um Jody seems to to like it and there are lots of conversation around that. I think it's a robust tool. Matt seems to like it. So I I do think it's been an ongoing goal that you've had about improving communication. But I think on the end of the changing needs, you know, I we I do feel like we have done a good job,

131I think, of trying to collaborate and reconnect with um people that are providing support to those in need. I feel really good about that work actually in the short time that I've been back. >> Oh, that's exciting. >> Any questions about that? >> She's a human service coordinator. >> Okay. Human service coordinator. >> It up. And she's great. >> Yeah. I'd also say we're getting we Chris talked about this a little bit but there was a whole survey that went out to the middle high school community which >> you ask for a meas there will be a set of in that information there and that's only a third of our student body but it's a meaningful third so I think that will be helpful to as he processes through that see what's happening there >>

132and you'll also see interesting information from the NEAS I mean we've gone through it before there's a lot of student voice in that process as Well, because they can complete the survey >> um about their academic experience. >> Awesome. >> Anything else on the communication goal? >> All right. Culture and climate. Um the school board working through the superintendent will proactively address goal one of the culture and climate section of the strategic plan. Accident school district will strive to create an emotionally safe, equitable, and inclusive environment for all students through the action steps laid out under the goal soul objective. Um, this falls into some of what we were talking about before. Remember, we're talking about the retreat. We've talked a lot about culture before as a board and really trying to think about um

133what is that school culture that we're creating? That doesn't involve just necessarily in my mind just academics. That could also include sports. It could include extracurriculars. Um, but really thinking about what are we doing with our student body? What are we doing with our faculty? What does that look like in terms of the space that we're creating? Any questions about that? It's it's a broad goal. So, you know, we've got the portrait of a learner, which I think has we've been working on trying to pull through. Um, and that obviously talks about perseverance, communication, collaboration, empathy, and problem solving. Um which yep in my new role yeah as career connected learning coordinator at a different school albeit um that is those are perfect skills when we look at the uh kind of state standards for

134career connected learning and those experiences and I've met with a lot of >> um employers and those are all the things they want. >> So yep yes nailed it. Yeah, we got a lot of feedback on that too, which is great. I think also this had shifted a little bit. This used to be last year this goal was specifically around MTSS and I think we wanted to elevate it a level when we talked about it this summer. Um, but these are hard goals to I think make extraordinarily specific and so but this is why I want to talk about this like every quarter because I think it's a really important thing that we think about as a board, right? Anything else there? Nope. Okay, >> this isn't like something I think you can weave in

135here, but just to re-emphasize the importance of the see something, say something concept and where that fits. I think you know events in Georgia earlier this week tell us how important it is that when people know something is going on that you let folks know. Um, doesn't need to be punitive. It can be supportive. and the more that we can get our students and our staff thinking that way. Um, lots of folks out there with mental health issues. Um, so I don't know how that fits in there or the subcontext, but >> right. >> I think it's pretty critical. >> Yeah. Thank you. Okay. And the last one, sustainability. The school board working through the energy management committee will take steps to understand develop of districtwide policy related to sustainability energy management waste reduction with

136reports the board due by April 2026. We met and started talking about it. There have is a repository of draft policies that we've looked at. One of the things we're thinking about is like what will that actual policy goal be and is it uh intention? Is it a net zero goal? Is it something else? So, um, you know, I would, uh, that's something that I think is starting, uh, but will need work as we sort of pick up this committee and keep moving forward. All righty. Anything else about our goals? Okay, I'm going to shoot down some additional notes from what I was doing and we'll go from there. >> Thank you guys. This is it's very helpful to talk about all of these and it actually brings a lot of discussion out which I

137very much appreciate. Okay, at long last we have a draft of a newsletter uh in the folder. Um people want to take a look. This is not formatted. Full disclosure. >> I'm sorry. Just before we move on, there is there is one other comment I want to make on this which is >> and I'm not suggesting a change but again just sort of >> a thought as I'm looking at this. You know, we look at our finance goals. We talk about the budgeting process. We talk about, you know, trying to review uh, you know, our procedures, the zerobased balance, you know, budget to make sure that we're sort of budgeting correctly. When I read the culture and climate goals of creating an emotionally safe, equitable, and inclusive environment for all students, I do think there's

138a connection between those two. Uh and I, you know, I think we need to keep in mind that there are many students who, you know, I just read some report that talks about the fact that, you know, New Hampshire is becoming less and less affordable for families. And so I think it's always we always do keep our eye on it, but I think it's important to explicitly say that, you know, as we look at spending tax dollars, uh we always have to keep in mind that that this affects the the students, many students in this school, their emotional health, their day-to-day existence. And I I think it bears just saying explicitly that that's that's something that we should always be keeping in mind. >> Yeah. Definitely. >> I mean, as we're going through all these

139goals, I just think >> yes, >> we all probably feel that way, but it it bears saying explicitly. >> 100%. Yeah. We're thinking about Yeah. No. Thank you. >> On to the newsletter. >> Okay. >> Where is the newsletter? >> There should be a shortcut in the drive folder. Do you guys see that? It should say October 2025 schoolboard newsletter. That's not support. >> Uh yeah, I'm the current board support. >> So it has not been through fan formatting. >> Everyone probably already knows that I'm not the canva queen. It's one Andrea Falsome. Um but thinking a little bit about the welcome, who we are, >> the role and responsibility of uh school board. There was a lot that we did in our newsletter a year ago. So we can link to that. I don't

140think we need to repost everything. That's a publicly available document if people want to read more about our committees and what we're doing. I just want to make sure that's there. Um the question of the day about schoolboard information on social media and why are I not that's not there. Um as well as like making sure people know about the diligent community site, what is available? What are our minutes? You can go back and look at our YouTube page. So just like in case someone's coming and they're a kindergarten parent, right? Like what is what does that level of information look like? um linking to our uh linking to our goals which just got posted in PDF form. So we'll link to that. Um and then making sure we rehlight the strategic plan at the

141start of the year. Um and I potentially linking to Amy's goals because I think they're awesome. Uh a little bit about the security redesign and making sure that we can surface when those next info sessions are. and Rob, I'll ask you about the TBA in case you got anything from the Democrats and the Republicans yet. Um, I started the hot lunch section. It's not good. Uh, it's not finished. Uh, so that I need to spend a little bit less end of day time and a little bit more beginning of the morning time. So, I think we wanted to make sure it's people knew that the form was online, what it means to fill out form confidential uh, for free and reduced lunch, how we're thinking how you can pay for all these things. and then

142a note on bell to bell. And um the last reminder was thinking about posting the webinar for health trust for retirees and making sure people just saw that call out. >> This is already a pretty packed newsletter. Um I think it's a good one. It's three pages, but if there's anything else you guys think in like starting off the process, the January and the March ones will probably be fairly budget heavy. Um, but if there's anything else you want to include, um, the only other thing I was thinking about is maybe job postings, right? That's going out to everyone. >> It's a good idea. >> Like a link on where to find them. >> Yeah, >> I'm just looking Dolce on the hot lunch if families can fill out this form online. It's here. Talk

143about how to fill it out. Mhm. >> Do we want to say one anything about why it's important? >> I think so. There's more >> or is that or is that not something we want to say? >> I think it's okay. And the the second link there is a two-pager around that. And I was going to maybe ask if someone we know who's sitting at this table could maybe make an icon like a a pictoraph of some kind that could like talk about like why it's important, what are the benefits, what does it mean for the district, what does it mean for your family. >> Yeah. Um, oh, glad you're here. I thought she me one. >> But yeah, that's a great point. Yeah. And I think that part I just that was like a

1444:30. >> Hey, listen. You did more than I did. >> Yeah. So, anything else that we would want to include in there? Anything else from the administration? >> Um, do you want me to just Can I just drop a sentence in there about what Jonathan just said? Like why it would be important? You can drop in anything. >> All right. And I'll just highlight it. You can cut it if you don't want it. >> Awesome. Thanks. Cool. Okay. So, we will get this sort of jazzed up, send it over to to uh Andrea, and then I'll probably put it into a future folder, but we'll try to get it out there before the 29. So, it'll go up before our next meeting. Okay. But I want I'll let everyone know individually to take a look

145at it. Okay. >> Thanks, Steve. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, I like this tradition. Think it's exciting. I'm going to go for like 30 likes whenever we send it out by by parents square. >> Uhhuh. Yeah. Living for likes. >> Those are big goals. Big goals. Big goals. >> Cool. >> Our culture. >> I wish I was joking, but seriously, like Yeah. 30 would be great. >> Okay, cool. Matt Stone, are you ready? >> Sorry, I meant to have you go first. I'm so sorry. >> No, no, it's >> okay. >> In the board support folder are two things. One are these slides that I'm about to show on student data privacy and governance. Uh and then the other is the occupant school district data governance manual. So if you remember back to 2019, the

146um legislature passed HB1612 which basically said we need to develop this plan and then present it annually to the school board. And we've done it the last few years in October. So >> buttons on the screen. It also seemed to fit in pretty well since we had just reviewed a policy EHB and EHB which are related. So >> thank you Matt. >> So as a reminder there are a few laws that we have to follow regarding student data and privacy. uh one obviously goals making sure that student privacy is enforced. Um we're want to make sure the students are safe online as they are safe in our schools and then if there are data breaches that we notify people in a timely fashion and make sure that they know about that. There is some federal

147legislation, there's some state legislation, there is terrible, terrible acronyms that will obviously not uh you know use. I will mention for the county educational rights and privacy amendments. So this is sort of the granddaddy of federal privacy laws. It recently turned 50 years old. It refers to student records from a time when that meant, you know, middle of folders hanging in uh folders. But it's all good. uh it still continues to apply to this day. Uh there are a number of exceptions where schools may disclose student uh records or student personal information. Many of them are the things you would expect in response to law enforcement or urgent medical or security threats uh to other organizations with parent permission or in the case of adult students with their permission. Uh so very typically like switch

148schools you sign a form saying you can request my records for my previous school stuff like that. Uh there is also what's called the school official u designation which is a very important one which is essentially if an outside contractor is performing duties that would otherwise be performed by a school official it is permissible to share data. That seemingly innocuous sounding thing is how essentially we pass all data to contractors or vendors that we have for student rostering, for instructional materials assessment, all of that stuff. We essentially designate them as school officials and say, well, you know, we would run a global worldwide uh collaboration platform like Google Docs if we could, but since we can't, we'll pass some student information to Google and expect them to take care of. Obviously, this comes along with

149it to make sure that they take I am definitely not going to read this. This um is the text that was added as part of HP1612. And what this essentially does is it adds a piece that says that schools and as well as the Department of Education need to have an inventory of all their software applications, their tools and everything else. review what data is passed to those tools and then ensure that those vendors are meeting a baseline of security and how they handle all this. So based on this we sort of said to the state department of education um how are we supposed to meet this requirement? That's a that's a lot. Um the typical privacy policy for some of these vendors ranges from 10 or 15 pages up to 100 or more and

150reading them is not a lot of fun. That's concern. Um so obviously we need to do this and the way we came about doing this was in partnership with a couple of organizations um for which I have I think I put them at the very end should put them in there. Um, so there's kind of a three-headed beast here. Uh, one is the Student Data Privacy Consortium, which is now an international organization, originally founded in the Cambridge public schools by their longtime tech director there. And really the goal there was to ensure compliance with this very type of thing. They were doing it on a completely voluntary level. Um, and then states started passing laws to say, "Hey, you need to do this." and we sort of latched on and said, "Hey, you're already far

151in the process. Why don't we see if we can work together?" Another is the educational cooperative. They are a Massachusetts based education uh one of several education cooperatives where they do various things, but one of the things that they had was people who were familiar with this and they sort of handled the administrative work of reaching out to vendors and working on these agreements. And then to access the student data privacy consortium, we needed a state chapter and we approached the department of education and they sort of said yeah with all of that and so the New Hampshire CTO council which is the organization of tech directors of the state sort of stepped up and said we will form a chapter. we will do all the work of finding this work with PEC to develop

152a New Hampshire uh agreement that we can send to members and now we have many multi-state agreements uh where they can sign for a single agreement and it might cover as many as a dozen states uh so it's really been successful so this privacy consortium you know adds its own resources. They are the ones who sort of maintain a repository of all the tools and a list of all the school districts that have signed on with these various organizations. They have a wonderful board Steve Smith who was the person who founded that organization is now the president of it. just a wonderful person who's been up to speed and as I said they have now expanded their I think 30 yeah 39 states have districts that participate um and some that have really done great

153work Texas and New York really come on board Utah really came with a lot of resources when they joined which was great and then some places it's just a handful of districts doing it on their own so um So the way this works is essentially that we formed a model data privacy agreement that we sent to vendors and the idea there is to take together all of the laws that apply. So not only furpa where we say we are designating you as a school official please you know guard this information the security requirements under New Hampshire law where they say yes we are meeting these requirements. Fortunately, New Hampshire had an excellent road requirements and they are aligned to federal requirements but also to industry requirements. Like I said, 27,0001 the federal program. There's a

154whole crosswalk where you can sort of say to the vendor, listen, if you meet any of these, you're automatically covered under financial law. So, they don't have to do the hard work themselves. It's really trying to get as many people on board. And if you saw we now have when I first put this slide in a few years ago we had more than,250 applications we now have 15,000. So there has been widescale acceptance by groups and they are sort of saying okay this is part of if I'm going to serve education this is part >> and New Hampshire I have to say I'm very proud of our state. We were one of the first I think the last time I checked we had more agreements per se than any other state by a bit. So

155just good adoption of all districts taking seriously and then working with wonderful folks at TDC to actually make the work happen. There is a lot of work involved in signing an agreement. I have to say I'm very glad I pulled this out of it. Um and then typically what will happen is a single person or a single school district in the state will go through the process of signing this agreement and then every state that agreement covers any school district can go through a very simple process and say we would like to join this agreement and have be covered by the same terms agreed to with this district that has been very very successful. >> Awesome. That is the hopefully short of it. The data governance manual is there. There's not a lot of changes

156from last year. It's obviously a lot of detail required, but >> this was great. Questions for Matt through the process. I appreciate that all that you do when we're like we can't use a website. So, I I appreciate that. I I will say when we first got the law we the legislature had not really put a lot of thought into how we were going to accomplish this and we sort of passed about and some of the consultants were saying you know oh you should probably budget 40 or $50,000 per year to deal with this we gulped and said uh no um and so this arrangement uh there's a small fee to join the state chapter and then the per student fee is $110 so it's about a year for which you consider with >> that's

157awesome. Thank you. There are a lot of pieces that have to happen in terms of data privacy, in terms of um all of the systems, in terms of all how all of them fit together. I would imagine there aren't necessarily always really friendly APIs to enable that to happen. >> Um which is exciting. >> There are good standards. There are just a lot of standards, so they're not really standard. That's right. Um, so it's a lot and I really appreciate it. Thank you. >> Awesome. >> Any other questions for Matt? >> Thanks, Matt. >> All right. >> I did have one more question. Sorry. If anyone wanted to peruse this, is it available? >> I just want to double check whether it qualifies as some of our data. >> That's true. >> Because there's a

158lot in >> there is an exemption in the right law around essentially cyber security materials. I think there might be some things in there that I would want to redact if you want to make public. >> Got a great thank you. >> Nice light reading. >> Really light. >> Super exciting. >> Okay. Now, policy team, we have some final reads. >> We do. >> Mhm. >> Do you want me to do those? >> No. >> Okay. You did them last time. >> I know. I did not enjoy it. >> All right. Um, yes, we have some final reads this evening. Uh, the policy committee uh has not had a chance to meet. We're moving when our meetings are. Um, we've had to rejigger a little bit um to make sure everyone wants their meeting at

159the same time. And so, >> after school, that's what everybody wants to. >> Yes. Exactly. And so, um, policy is we're we drew the short stick, so we're we're going to be moving our meeting, uh, TBD. Um, so this evening we have some final reads. Um, so hopefully folks have, you've had lots of time to look through these. We have received no comments. Um, so I'm just going to read them out and if they look good, I'm going to go ahead and ask for a motion to approve these. So this evening we have final reads of KA school family and community partnerships dually coded with JO AC non-discrimination equal opportunity employment and anti-discrimination plan that has connected to it ACR2 non-discrimination equal opportunity employment and anti-discrimination plan annual notice or contact information ACR2 is just

160for us uh it's of note we are not actually voting on that one it's an append this appendix um ACA discrimination and harassment grievance procedure and ACAC title 9 sexual harassment policy and grievance process. Um so if those look good, I'm looking for a motion to approve those policies as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. Great. Any discussion? >> All right, hearing none. All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion carries and we will start fresh with a new batch uh likely at our next meeting. >> Great. Amazing. Thank you very much. Thanks a lot. Okay. Well, with that, I think I have not skipped over anything else. I think that concludes the current visit visit portion of the meeting. All right. So, on to Amy and Laura. How's it looking? It's looking good. Great. For

161personnel, we do not have any new hires or resignations this evening to go over, but we do have winter coach nominations. Um, I do apologize. It's been a small last minute change and it's been updated on the in the board support folder. So for this evening we are nominating for varsity boys basketball Liam McNicholas, JV boys basketball Ari, varsity girls basketball Mike Mahoney, JV girls basketball Skate Murdo. Alpine ski will be shared between Scott Zipki and Bill Chapen. Varsity Nordic skiing is Rob Roth. Middle school boys basketball is Steve Sherman. >> Was M. Is that Mr. Sherman? >> Yes, that's Mr. S. >> Did he do it before? >> Yes, he did. He did it last year. >> Amazing. >> Yes, that is our PE teacher from Harold Burton. >> Yeah, it's incredible. >> He's

162really good. >> Local legend. >> Yep. >> Middle school girls basketball is Chris Kelly. >> Middle school nerd Nordic ski is Amy Roth. And then basketball home officer is Ian Tukesbury, which is a new nomination. Um, the last one that is still open as of right now or to be determined is the assistant Nordic ski coach. >> Oh, interesting. >> We'll come back with an updated um >> hopefully an updated nomination with that on the 6th. >> Okay. >> What is basketball home officer? >> Yeah, thank you. >> This is a position um that Dan is bringing forward. I guess this was discussed previously. I'm not sure if it was at this level or or not. He sent me a description. Um, and this person will supervise all NHIAA, JV, and varsity basketball games. Um,

163they are expected to be the first to arrive at the gym and the last to leave and are responsible for managing all behind the scenes duties to ensure the games run smoothly. And he has provided a comprehensive bulleted list. So, I'll go ahead. I asked him to send that to me. Um, I can put it in the in the folder. >> That person is new. The position is not. >> That's correct. >> Who? Correct. The position is not The position is not new. It's in schedule B. It's at the very bottom of schedule B. >> Okay. Who did >> called the home officer? Glenn Walling. >> Glenn Walling. >> They do the scoreboard. >> Some I >> There was always somebody at the games who sort of >> turn the lights on. Turn the lights

164off. kind of bring in the crown and did >> is it was it Glenn? >> Yeah, it was Glenn. >> Okay, cool. >> All right. >> Both of the works for >> Thank you. Sure. >> Keep the trains moving on to us. >> next up is donations. Y >> or donations this evening. We have four. Um first off, Hopkins Youth Sports Association or HISA is providing a gift in kind donation which means it is an item in lie of money of a interior security gate for here at Maple Street. So as we know Heisa uses the Maple Street building often for their >> um for basketball over in the gym and they are donating a gate that will block off the long corridor. So that um it is not open to the public. >> Awesome.

165>> And it will not cost us anything. We can in install it with our current team. >> Oh wow. >> Cool. >> That's great. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Um next up is the Hop and PTA for $900. They for the eighth grade Washington DC trip. >> Amazing. >> Also from the PTA $1,200 for the Ladybug and Great Stoneface books. They do this annually. Um 600 goes to Harold Martin and 600 goes to Maple Street. >> And then lastly, also from the PTA, $700 towards the middle high school civics field trip. And they did this last year as well. >> Oh, it's really nice. >> Where does the civics field trip go? >> I don't know. >> That hasn't come forward yet. >> It has not come forward yet, but they do. >> I don't

166think this one is state house. I think this one is further. >> Okay. >> I will find out though. >> Thank you. That's right. >> They've been going to Boston for a number of years to the courthouse. >> It's actually a legislative. >> Oh, right, right, right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, cool. Thank you to the PTA and to highs. Yes. Wonderfully generous. We are a lucky town. >> Great. >> And then for financials, we have the September 30th financials in your support folder. to go over. We did speak about these in finance yesterday. Um I do want to remind folks that it's a little too soon for fund balance projections and we expect to have those next month. So um as we go through these at the second meeting of the month, we will talk

167about maybe what fund balance is going to look like at the end of the year. For now, in this newly identified, there's still a function key on page two that helps you to go through your um general fund expenditure status report, which shows where we currently stand. I do just want to highlight we are not fully encumbered at this time still. We still have some outstanding, which means we still have some costs that are outstanding that are not showing up on the expenditure status report. So the current year balance for special education and regular education is both going to be reduced once we fully encumber those lines >> which we have we are hoping we will be able to work out in the next few weeks. Payroll has been fully encumbered now that we are

168into u this is the end of September and so you'll see a significant decrease in the amount of avail um current year balance in that fourth column under general fund expenditure status reports as compared to August. Regarding food service, at the end of September, food service revenue is trending in line with September of 2024. They're within about a few hundred of each other. So, not a significant increase for the 25 cents that we were hoping for, but it's still very early. And then last, um, just regarding trust funds, they are there's no change in trust funds since August. We haven't we don't change it until we actually request the money. We did finalize the technology trust purchase in October. So, we expect to be requesting that money in October or November. And as a fun

169little extra on the very back page is an explanation of our balance sheet accounts and what are they? What do they represent to give you an idea um when you look at the print balance sheet by fund what you're looking at. >> Really great. >> Yeah, that was cool. >> And fun is a sarcastic word. I think it's really cool. >> Having fun. >> I was having fun writing it. Yes, that's true. >> I think it should go as a one pager onto the the budget info sheet. I think it's valuable. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> All right. Any questions about the financials? Thank you for clarifying around especially the current year balance and what that means. Um it's helpful for people to interpolate. >> Yes. when you look at it,

170it looks um you know like oh my goodness. But really we just we're we're so early in the year that we are not fully encumbered which means all the purchase orders aren't in which which hold the money that we are responsible for through the end of the year. So with still nine full months to go as we're publishing this that is not something to be concerned about with those numbers at about you know up just shy of a million dollars each. Um it is not concerning at all. >> Yeah. Great. Any questions about financials for Laura? >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> I think we should start doing a pop quiz about the pumpkin key. >> Just don't just don't compete against her. >> Well, no, no, no. It's for the rest of us.

171Like, no, that that's like playing against I don't know. Yeah, >> Watson. We're not doing that. >> Yeah, she'll call them out. >> Election services >> 2311. >> 2314. Okay, great. >> Collection services >> 2311 is school board. >> Oh, okay. Right. >> Yes. >> Wow. >> Amazing. >> Don't quiz Rob on balance sheets, though. >> No, >> he had a good time. >> No, I pretended to understand a lot of things, but I'm going to need to throw out the cheat sheet for sure. >> That's good. Awesome. All right. Thanks, Laura. >> You're welcome. >> There's one overnight trip proposal form in your packet tonight. Um, it is for Mark Ross Camp. He's going to take the youth climate leaders group. Uh, I'm sorry, the environmental action club to the youth climate leaders academy

172and that is going to be in Hbert out the Halbert outdoor center in Vermont. So, they are asking to leave on December 6 at 3:30 and they're going to take the mini bus. >> Oh, are you going, Lizzy? >> Yes. >> Are you presenting? >> Um, I So, every uh school that brings a group does a presentation about like what they're working on. >> Um, I don't know if I'm doing anything on top of that, but I'm one of the phone friends that you guys one of the mentors that you get to call you need. >> He's very fun. >> Nice. Is Mark the only chaperone >> um on here? He is CPR and first aid certified that's outlined and so I I don't know. I can ask him. Is there any other um teacher

173advisors that you know of? >> Are are you but it does say he's bringing six students. >> Yeah. Total. >> Yeah. Just overnight just one chap. above that. But he's probably bringing his wife who is a certified science teacher in a different district would be my guess. >> Awesome. Okay. Anything where else are we? That's it. All right. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Uh any discussion? Okay. All those in favor? I >> Great. >> All right. Committee updates. Party people, anything else coming out of finance? >> Yes. Um, >> a lot of things. >> So, we had a finance meeting yesterday. We went over the monthly financials and Laura gave me a lot more detail on balance sheets and what they mean.

174It was some examples and I become an accountant um or a BA, but it was great. We talked about doing so the town in their report has a page where they talk about what their grants are and what they've applied for. So we talked about doing a similar thing for the school district where we have that on our website. These are the grants that we received. This is how much money these are grants that we've applied for whether or not we received them or not. Just to let folks know that we are trying to get every dollar that's available to us out there. talked about the new law and I don't know the RSA Laura but that is requiring us to post information about our tenure per pupil costs our average teacher salaries in our

175top four admin salaries needs to be on our website two public places and in the local paper. So we sort of talked about that process and where it would go. Um talked a little bit about the >> and the cost. Um, yeah. So, in the local paper piece, I guess collectively, Gloria, you can jump in here, but uh, BAS got together and went to the monitor and said, "There are eight of us and we all have the same problem. What can you do?" Little excerpt, and the cost will be about $23,000 shared by the eight districts. Um, so our collective brain said a little tiny ad with a, you know, QR code and a website link might be a lot cheaper. So, we're going to see or these folks are going to see if that's

176legal and if it is, that's probably the way it'll go. >> It is RSA 1897 and it's called the students first act and it indicates that it must be published in two public places and then one um and then in the local newspaper or if the local newspaper is not available, the district's website. So, I spoke with our legal team today about this, and they do believe that the legal posting in the paper does not have to be the two poster board size 18x4s, which would not cost us quite so much money, but does still need to contain the charts and the tables, and so it will still be a significant cost for us. We cannot do the QR code. Um we can however have more information on our website if we would like to

177regarding you know we we put it up and then the law specifically says there is no additional wording on those two sections but we may provide a subsequent third page which provides any additional information. What's the definition of local newspaper? Monitor >> if the it is the caller monitor the >> could be the weekender or the what the what's that >> like what's the definite what are they saying does it have to have a certain number of free >> Washington does not have a paper of our own within the town anymore and so then it means what paper covers your district and >> like legal is informing us on this >> yes >> this isn't like just a >> so well that's what I'm asking for clarification >> for other state law pieces when we

178have to post legally for public hearings. We use the conquered monitor. >> Okay. I didn't know if granite post would suffice or something. Hillsboro covers >> our sports are might be more affordable. Isn't that >> I think it's >> we ever posted there before. >> We've never posted there before. Um but it does it is regarding you know where we post for other public items is the conquered monitor. So we post there the messenger. Okay. >> The messenger. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I got you. No, you're saying it has to be that way. >> Thank you. >> But just just to emphasize before Rob, you you move on, >> this is yet another unfunded mandate coming out of the state house. Something that we have to do where we're getting no more money.

179>> Yep. >> And it's going to cost us money. So, it's going to cost the taxpayers money. So, just keep our eye on the ball on that. >> Yeah. Um, we one good piece is that I am very prepared and familiar with it and we talked a little bit about we have a plan in place and it is due in the winter and so it's actually going to be something we bring up again in a few months. So, we'll keep our eye on on this. >> Okay. The last topic was we had a discussion about if you remember back we talked about subpay incentives and I think we decided to sort of table it until after we see our salaries and benefits come in. Then really it comes down to an analysis of what does

180a substitute cost us? What does it cost us when we are reimbursing teachers per contract to substitute versus having a full-time sub in each building and then make some decisions around what's the best way to move forward. Amy also did mention that there is another round of safety and security grant that's going to be coming forward. very different than the last one, but we'll look into that and see if there's anything that might pertain to our project. Um, and if so, look forward to get that. >> Okay, thanks guys. Anything else in policy? You said you haven't met. Okay, great. Um, we come with the committees. CIA, I think you guys already talked about that. >> We did, which I talked about it last. Yeah. >> Okay, cool. CIP. >> Okay. >> Safety and security

181>> today. >> What? >> Yeah, we just met. >> But I'm on that committee. >> You weren't there. >> I didn't have any. >> I didn't think I would. >> Sorry. We'll talk about that later. Yes. Go ahead. >> Um, so three topics. The emergency operating plans have been reposted in places. They need to be posted annually. No major changes. Uh, talked about the safety film at all of the buildings. Um, the gates at the Maple Street School and Harold Martin School that block access during the day seem to be working pretty well except for some community members who like to walk their dogs and think that it's a public park during recess. Not a good idea. So, we're working on that. Um, there was some discussion about school resource officers as it had come

182up in context with a community member. was discussed what had previously occurred. Um, in exploring that, Chief Hennessy talked about a grant that he had applied for in a conversation with the select board. Um, I'll speak for myself, but I did make a comment that it was a bit odd to me that it was really the first time that I had heard of that as a board member. Um, and that those discussions need to go through the superintendent and the board as that would be a major change. So, for me, the starting point there was in the wrong place, >> right? >> Um, and then we talked about the security redesign project and where it's at. TPO reminded us he needs sprinkler plans and fire alarm plans to send to the state fire marshall. And

183our next meeting is January 20. >> Okay. Um, EMC meet this Thursday. I'll confirm that with Jim. And then wellness has not met, right? >> We met last month, >> right? We have not met. Okay. >> Great. Okay. All right. Looking back at our agenda. All right. We're up to our second public comment portion of the evening. If you'd like to come up, name, address, and three minutes. the construction providing the engineering consultant. So is this going to be a design bill and is this construction company? >> Can I answer that? >> Yeah. Um yes, the RFP is going out as a design bid as we have um structural plans for the outside and we have a drawing but we have no individual bid specs. So we are doing a design build and they will

184be the company um can choose to be to bid. Yes. >> The person the company that did the engineering estimate >> they did yes they did an estimate. they can choose to if they would like to does not necessarily mean that they would provide the best value to the district and be chosen. >> It's a conflict of interest. So if they become in low especially around that number it's a conflict of interest. So just so that people at home could understand the question I asked was that there was a construction company that put in um that provided the engineering estimate and they're going to be allowed to do the provide a proposal for the design bid. >> Yes. Does not necessarily mean that the proposal is chosen. >> Design bill. design bill. It's supposed to

185be free. They're supposed to be free of any negotiations prior to that. So, I I I understand the price. It's a wonderful price. I get that. But to do that is not to me it's a conflict of interest because they now have individual knowledge of each bid item because I think that's what was told to me. Each bid item has gone through and they went to stubs and they did all that. I I believe it's a conflict of interest. So um >> we will explore that with our legal >> I would appreciate that. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Sure. >> Lauren Clement Street question. I don't know if you guys still answer it or how this but um it was public forum presentation auditorium edition safety security can't be determined. I think

186the voter is at 7:15. I guess the question is are those meetings open to the public or is it only those private groups? Uh because otherwise people miss the opportunity first. I would also add that there is also at the fourth one that's on November 6 at uh 5:00 pm at Herald Martin School for the PTA that is open everyone but that went out through a parent square that will go out through our newsletter. So >> yeah. >> Okay. Any other Let me make sure. >> Can we clarify that in the newsletter that they are all open to the public or only certain ones or >> I I mean I don't know the rules about Rotary or the Democrats or the Republicans. So that's >> Rotary Rotary is usually open to everyone, but we can

187clarify. >> Yeah, let's find out. >> Okay. Okay, cool. Any other business for anyone? >> No. >> Farmers Market has moved inside. Farmers market is moved inside. Plan accordingly. This Saturday is the last week of Heisa overlapping with a farmers market. Parking is >> farmers market will be here. >> Tricky. That's right. Yeah. Uh, cool. All right. We do not have a need for nonpublic. I'm going to uh make a Can I make a motion to adjurnn? I feel like I haven't done this in a while. I move to I make a motion to adjurnn the meeting. Do I have a second? >> A second. >> All those in favor? I'm