001Uh good evening everybody. I'd call to order the meeting. It is now 5:32. Um we will open up for public comment for 30 minutes. Each participant will have three minutes and will be asked to stop at 3 minutes. So at this point there will be 30 minutes for [snorts] public comment. Is there any public comment at this time? Okay, you have three minutes. Can you state your name and your association with East Kingston? >> My name is Joseph Ketcher. I live in Montteras Lane across the street. This is in uh just have a uh a warrant article put in for a cooperative school district study under chapter section 9.95 col 48. And there's some information here. You can pass to the board if you like to see it. >> Thank you. This is only a
002study so not to get people all nervous to see what we can do to help out. >> I basic my three minutes are up to just everybody got the you know >> sure. All right. Thank you. >> Any further public comment? >> Yep. >> How much would the study cost? >> Zero dollars. How do you figure that out? >> Does it say things? Yes. >> So it doesn't cost $0. It costs money based off taxes. >> Correct. >> Is it is it >> Excuse me. Excuse me. This conversation is directed to the board, not not not to the people who are making public comment. >> Can can uh whose money does this come out of? >> We haven't looked at this. We're not Right. I'm just saying I if you're coming up if you're coming
003up with a plan to make a cooperative school district, that means I'm a I've been a teacher for 17 years. Just want you to know where I'm at. I understand that if you just start to uh put school districts together, it's going to a cost more money because you're going to have to build a building bigger or you're going to have to make a building bigger. That's more money. Correct. Teachers are going to lose jobs. Correct. I'm just saying I think this is a really bad idea. Just want to make sure I get my point out there because I don't think it's fair to the teachers who I don't know if anybody is a teacher in here or represents uh the teachers. I know you are Mr. French. You represent. Horrible idea. Don't think it's
004a great idea. Um and it's going to definitely probably bring our taxes up. I understand that [snorts] the person who uh runs the fire department is trying to back this because they're trying to get more money for fire department. I understand that. Let's put a bill in forth. Um I know this is a school committee meeting, but if there's an issue with that, put it on the ballot because I think this is a horrible idea. I don't know how anyone else thinks, but I have gone through this and my understanding is that they wanted to turn this building into a cooperative um they want to turn this building into a a voucher school, which would also be a horrible idea. So, >> can you please state your name and your affiliation with these cases? >>
005My two kids go to school here. Okay. >> Thank you for your comment. No problem. >> Thank you. >> Any other public comment? Okay, we'll we'll keep it open for the next 25 minutes. Uh we're going to move to approval of minutes for November 10th. Anyone have uh need to [clears throat] motion for approval? Any comments? >> Motion to approve minutes from November 10th meeting. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I Okay. [clears throat] Um tonight we are going to have the pleasure of having a few of our students present the cool program. Um so they will be going this way. We welcome Mrs. De Lucia and Miss Susa. Thank you for coming. >> Welcome to our school board presentation. My name is Daddy and I'm in fifth grade. My name is Dylan and
006I'm in fourth grade. >> My name is Grayson and I'm in fourth grade. >> My name is Caleb and I'm in fourth grade. >> My name is Stella and I'm in fourth grade. >> And we are the cool leaders. >> We will teach you about how we got our job as cool and what we do at school conventions. It is important for you to know that stand for team expectations below. Before each cool convention, we are responsible for writing the script. Then we have to practice reading each of the leader. First I filled out a job application. Here's an example of the application. Next I had interview questions why I wanted to be next. They offered me and accent. Now I will talk about why we have cool conventions. We have cool conventions to get
007together as a school community. We recognize and celebrate great things happening in classrooms. We also learn together about ways to make our school a better place. We have cool conventions once a month, too. This helps us build a stronger community where everyone feels like they belong. In the cool convention we have a king. We are going to borrow the champion. Now in our chant one person calls and the others respond. >> Who are we? >> We are pictures. >> What do we do? >> Be safe. Respectful responsible too. >> Safe means walking in the halls. >> Hands to ourselves for all. >> Respect means we'll say one time. >> Kind words kind. >> Responsible means we always try. Do our best and reach for the sky >> and watch our job. Shout it loud. >>
008Learning every day makes us proud. >> For the big finish school board members, repeat after us. >> We are king fishers. Yes, it's true. >> We are king fishes. Yes, it's true. >> Safe, respectable, responsible too. >> Learning is our job each day. parade. >> East Kingston parade. >> Each month, Mr. K leads us in a song. >> In November, we sing a thankful song. Here is part of that song. >> [singing] >> We have so much fun singing songs together that we have learned in class. Each month share their talents. They have to cry out with Mr. K to make sure they're ready to [clears throat] some talents have included singing, gymnastics, karate, and various instruments. Here's a video of some fifth graders playing instruments that a cool Here's [singing] another video of a
009student playing piano at the Here we go. Next, we have a movement break led by a class. Last month, Mrs. McMahon's class letter. We had a lot of fun. Here is a video. We also learned about something classes celebrating. Here are some things classes were celebrating. The kindergarters in Mr. class have been working so hard as they began reading their very the class is showing effort and focus and enthusiasm as they practice sounding at words and building their reading confidence. In Miss's class, students have been walking for acts of kindness. We we cate each other on Fridays by reading our bucket. We for our students have been working hard learning about value. We learned how to make [snorts] shades and created cut landscapes that show atmosphere. At the end of at the end at the
010end of each cool convention, we pick the coolest glass um which is the class that was behaving the best and we give them cool cash. [snorts] Then we pick a piece of cool cash from the school draw and award an extra recess to the class that is cool conventions are an important part of our community. Thank you for allowing us to present and share about this fun part of our [applause] >> Are we allowed to donate? [laughter] >> We donate to a class. Thank you. I'll >> take this. [laughter] Thank you all for sharing. >> Thank you guys for having me. >> Yeah, you do. [laughter] >> Okay. Next uh will be the central office update. >> That is a tough act to follow. Um except that I was able to be in attendance at
011the cool convention in November. So, um, and it was my first pool conventions. It was a wonderful, uh, display of the school community and truly the the best part is that the kids run the whole thing and, um, it's just really amazing to watch that all come together and um, just really well planned, wellought out um, structure for that convention. So, certainly nice celebration of the school community. Um, just a couple of other just quick updates. Last Friday, we had uh members from the all of our SAU16 schools, both teachers and administrators met to talk together about uh report card practices. Um report our goals for the report card, some consistency across schools. This is an ongoing conversation, but it was a really nice day with a lot of teachers and administrators having some really
012nice conversation about that. Uh, and then I just wanted to bring to your attention as part of our policy discussion tonight, um, policy BEDH is coming up. That's P, uh, input at board meetings. And there are a couple of different versions and I know Kirsten, you'll talk more to that, but um, there are just a couple of different versions for your consideration tonight. >> You have those? >> Um, I think they're in the packet. >> They're in the packet. Okay. I just want to make sure we have the the exact wording that we came up with. That's all. We'll find it. >> Okay. If not, [snorts] I can can find them. And then just to wish everybody a happy and safe holiday season. I think we're >> so far it's been a little bit of
013a [snorts] wintry winter. So, and it's really just begun. So, we'll see how things proceed. >> And then I think that's all for me. I'll turn it over to Michelle. Okay. >> Good evening. Um, in your board pack that you received, we have our current financial position. So, at the end of November's board pack, we had remaining expense of $273,21. This month, we have spent or obligated another $30,243. primarily most of that was Trafera which is um the buying of Chromebooks and things for the students. So >> how often do they uh buy >> thought it was every four years every four years or five years? >> I think it's when they come in. Where did Brandon go? I think it's when they come in they get them at first grade and it will >>
014and it stays with them. >> I think it stays with them for their time here at the elementary school. I can Brandon they they're given the Chromebooks in in grade one and they go for the full time year. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So that leaves us with remaining expense of 242,958,000 at this point in time. Are there any questions? >> The uh the 20,500 how like how many computers does that buy? I know obviously there's a >> good We factor in staff computers also. >> Okay. >> Um and um and then the student Chromebooks. So we I don't remember how many exactly it was, but we we estimated, you know, 20 plus kindergarteners coming in. >> Okay. So it was for fourth it's four. >> Oh, sorry. There's 24 kindergarteners right now. >> So
015you're buying them for the kindergarters. >> And then there's staff that we re we redo staff every five years also. >> Yep. >> Okay. Um, and how often do you uh reup the teachers laptops? >> Every five years. >> Oh, they're five years, too. Okay. >> Thank you. >> But every year you're making a purchase like this to accommodate the incoming first graders, unless there's maybe or you have reserve leftovers. [snorts] Got it. >> [clears throat] >> Is it always this point in the year you're doing it to >> or does it matter like would you >> We're always budgeting for the next you know for next year. >> Okay. So this is next year's. >> This is next year. Okay. Got it. >> We've been fortunate enough the last I think four years to
016use the >> the donation we received which was significant. It was meant to be used for technology. So all the interactive screens, staff devices, and student devices over the last I think four years or so um we've [clears throat] used that donation for. [clears throat] >> Okay, any other questions? >> Sorry. Thank you. >> Okay, so we can move on to also in your board pack was the fiscal 27 proposed budget. So, since we met with you last month when Molly visited you while I was someplace else, um we have decreased that proposed budget by $27,000. So, I don't know, Brandon, if you want to talk about that or >> Yes. So, we um went back to the table and uh we're trying to figure out the best way to reduce um what we had
017initially proposed the best we could. uh we started taking a look at grant money and uh we have uh our reap grants um that we receive that we have left over from last year and we haven't touched this year's reap. So based on our two read grants that we have in place right now and the quote we received from um the reading curriculum uh we were able to take money aside from those two read grants that we're know we're not going to touch for the next year and a half um and reduce the budget at $27,000 and we would we would fund the curriculum for next year with grant money. So, you said reading curriculum, Brandon, I just want to make sure that we're talking about the writing curriculum. >> reading, writing. Okay. >> Now,
018Brandon, that purchase that $28,000. Can you remind me? Uh, I said we talked about it last time. Um, does that cover the curriculum for >> K through five for the next amount of like next month. So, there's not going to be another >> we wouldn't be ordering new books that the kids are actually going to read. The only thing we would order every year similar to the math program would be >> um any any um you know subscription rights that you know to do any kind of virtual uh and also student workbooks >> but the the majority would be purchased one time. >> And are there any subscriptions now or or books Brandon that you're we're not using? Like do you do you review that every year? That I guess that's my question. Are you
019reviewing every year to see like you know how much we are actually because it happens. I mean I I get that but >> but that's [clears throat] due diligence right in the sense of those 3,000 >> the $3,000 or $4,000 in workbooks that aren't really being used. You review that to make sure that we we get rid of >> the workbooks. The workbooks are used by students for both >> well for math now and okay eventually for reading. What we do review every year >> is the online subscriptions which if if you >> take a look at this year's budget there are subscriptions that we removed for next year out of okay >> this proposed budget because >> either we weren't using them religiously or um you know our number of minutes on a certain
020program was not what we would expect it to be. one teacher could be using it almost every day while the other one not at all. So we we I mean the nice thing about the online subscriptions is we can see kind of a real time >> how often and how much we're using it. >> Yeah. Perfect. Great. Thank you. >> Yep. So did anyone have any questions on any individual line items or did we want to review any more? We also included in this packet what your default would be and I believe Molly last month went [clears throat] over the addition of grants which had originally been in the SAU budgets which were now bringing into they're actually owned and allocated to the individual districts. We're bringing them back to the individual districts. So, both
021be adding to the appropriation that we asked the voters for another $117,135, but we will also be making them aware that just like food service that is not has no tax impact because that is basically self-funded. As we spend something, we get the revenue back from that state. Um, and the default difference is from what I'm I'm seeing right here is $60,029. >> Correct. >> Um, and so I guess my only question, Brandon, is with the grants that we have in appropriation, that's actually very reasonable. Or am I not reading that correctly? like if we end up at a default, we're still doing you're still okay with what you're asking for right now. >> I don't know what you mean. >> So So la in November when we met the def the default budget it
022was I think over 100 like almost $100,000. No, there was there was um the discrepancy was much larger. You >> I think you're talking about two different things. I think you're talking about um I think you're talking about unassigned fund balance or potential at the end of the year. >> No. >> Or the default for if the budget didn't pass. >> If the budget budget doesn't pass, >> we the difference would be $60,000. Correct. >> Correct. Um I guess what I'm asking is is that a lot or a little for you? Do you feel like if if the budget didn't pass and it was $60,000 >> for on a I mean for me this is only my opinion on a 3.5 or whatever it would be a lot. >> It would be a lot. That's
023what I'm asking. That's right. I I want to make that clear that like even though some people say it's $60,000 for our school that would be significant. >> Significant knowing that you know if you look at you know all the other lines that are not on this cover page they're basically at zeros. We didn't >> correct >> add anything for us it would [clears throat] be significant. [snorts] >> Okay. And I and I I just I want that stated because I think it's important because when someone who is looking at this through a business lens or something else, it that tells a different story than what it might tell for our school because we're so small. Um >> is that a point that we need to make during deliberative? It could be a point that
024we need to make during deliberative that you know >> um the cost that we can't control right um and there there was some there was some other things that you also did your due diligence in with yes like summer stuff and food service right so we're getting down to bare bones um and I and I would say from the board we really appreciate you continually going back to the table these last two or three months because we've asked you to and we're getting to the point where there's really nothing else to cut [laughter] or or to do. >> Yeah. >> Right. Right. So that I guess that was the story I wanted to tell. >> Well, and I think in deliberative we usually present this. I don't know if you guys you have this page.
025It says fiscal 27 proposed versus default. That's showing you the pieces that we're not allowed to include in the default. So, if the voters didn't vote on it and it's not considered a mandatory expense like special ed and the um let's say assessment and certain things, bonds if you had a bond so on um the items. So, so some of the being amounts the the health and [snorts] dental that are not part of a CBA, the teacher CBA that would not be included in the default. So, we struggle to cover that. And then the computer buy which we need to have which you know >> is in the budget right now >> right is not included in this. Okay. >> So these are the types of things and and we can put that up and
026show that to them. These are these are what would remain unfunded and we'd have to worry about. >> Okay great thank you. >> Can I ask a question? >> You're obviously working on the budget for the deliberative session. Is it similar to last year's budget the amount? >> So, we're getting to that and the quick answer is is no because we have we have expenses that are not in our control. >> Okay. >> Like health insurance. >> Correct. >> Oh, >> it's the biggest cost. Yeah. >> So, that's so so last year was wonderful, right? We it was less than 1%.91% >> and then and then this year because of health insurance which you will see is our biggest our biggest >> and those things you cannot >> we not control correct >> so the
027things that we are we can control they have done SAU and and principal French and um Dr. Brian have done their due diligence multiple times for us and we're getting down to bare bones. That's why I asked that question to to Principal French. I I want to make sure that we're all very clear that we're getting to the point of there's nothing else to cut >> unless it's >> Have we ever voted for just the default budget? >> So since my term the budget has always passed. >> Yeah. I mean >> so I don't know beyond like beyond that >> I in voting I don't remember ever not giving the school a budget. I mean the town they'll say go to the default but they I've never noticed that they did that with the school.
028>> Have Have you ever known that the town to go to default? >> I haven't known going to default. The only thing that has not passed once has was the teacher contract >> in 2020. The teacher contract and the school budget did not pass >> and the school budget. >> Yeah. March 2020. There's the co weird wacky time. I was going to say okay wants it to fall. The >> world was ending. Anything else? Anything else? Michelle, >> was that because of no votes branded or or like not a lack of enough votes or was it because of the no votes voted? Just curious. >> I don't I I don't remember what see if I can look it up. >> That was your first year. >> I was working on a default my first year.
029>> Yeah, I was going to say is there a is there a minimum required number of votes that need to >> I think it's majority majority. So even if it was 5 to four. So >> and since you're talking budget, can I also ask a question? >> Um this proposal that you were given at the beginning of the meeting states that 70 to 75% of our tax is driven by the school budget in town. >> Can you clarify if our taxes are only driven by our school budget or if it also includes the high school and the middle school budgets? >> Yeah, >> I think he's encomp encompassing both in there. >> Well, all it says is both towns. So he doesn't list the high school and he doesn't list the middle school. He only
030lists the elementary school. I noticed that too, >> which which then makes it believe that our taxes are that high. Um only because of our elementary school, which is >> accurate. >> False. Correct. >> Correct. >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you. >> You can look on the tax card, too. It'll break up. What I would ask both of you to do is state your name and affiliation with the town because you did not state your name before you had public comment. >> I'm sorry. I'm Jerry Murray. I'm a neighbor. >> Okay. >> Sorry about that. I'm Heather Allen. Um we live on Burnt Swap and I have a child that attends the school. >> Thank you. So, I'm in the municipal site. Are there any other questions or um do you want to review some of
031the some of you know anything else in there like the rates for the insurance that we needed to cover or anything like that? >> Um it would be helpful to know the rates for the insurance again I think as we think about deliberative and presentation just having that information. So, [snorts] um, so the the most used plan that you have, you actually have two that are available. Um, the most used plan went up 17%. And the other one was, I believe it was 14.8. [clears throat] Um, it's tough to follow that one though because it was actually a total plan change from a POS to an um open access. But wait a minute, I think I have I think I brought all that for you. >> And you mean total plan like if if you
032chose to be on this plan, you got a completely different plan >> that for this year it went from a POS to a what they call a open access plan. So, I have it here. Have it here. >> Is the insurance a line item on the uh >> It is. It should probably be on your next to last page. Um it should be account number 11290050211 >> on page B. Okay, I see it here. Thank you. But I'm pretty sure I don't have that page with me. I have the previous year's page, but I'm pretty sure the open access increased by 14.8%. And you're saying most but most of the people >> most most of your >> the plan that most people use is at 17%. >> Correct. Yeah. And we we did also as
033we're experiencing in other districts, we're seeing um people whose spouses or significant others are having loss of benefits for some reason which are causing people to now join their >> spouses plan district plan which is causing >> to increase They asked for that. Do they want that now? >> I did ask for that. >> And uh let me ask a question just because I only know my insurance from a corporate my job standpoint. Like obviously we have open enrollment, but because they're contracted, does it work differently in terms of how often the insurance costs or plans change? like is that still on an annual rolling basis like it is for me or is it work a little bit differently? >> So I mean people can sign up the regular open [snorts] enrollment period but if
034if [clears throat] you have a there's a special name for it if you have a >> an event right then then you are able to come on to the plan. Okay. [snorts] >> So, when when do we as a school board actually vote for the budget? Is it before the deliberative or after the deliberative? So I believe you you're pretty much tonight moved to >> to vote to move towards the public to the public meeting as as presented >> unless unless you are interested in making any changes [snorts] there's anything we can do right >> now my my my only question I go back to it constantly and and I apologize for asking is food service it's just it um trying to understand you know the the the in the the incoming of food and
035ordering. I know that we split our salary between Kensington and and here, right? So, that's that's something we really can't work with, but you know, it seems to be one of our biggest funding challenges. Is that the right word? Is there any more we can do, Brandon? Like >> food service? >> Yeah. Like, [laughter] no. >> No, you you already looked. I know you did. That's it's on our you know you looked at it you sliced it as best you can. Um we're just not funded by the the government. >> Even down this year, isn't it too? >> Yeah. >> Yes. Yes. [snorts] >> Mhm. Okay. looking for this [snorts] >> and buses. We don't have any [clears throat] control over that either. >> No, we just um this is had to enter a new
036contract with them. >> Okay. It is a significant shall be. >> Are our buses full? >> We have three. Four. >> We have three. >> Three. Yeah. And are they full? >> Full. I >> mean, I'm sure on different days there's different populations, but >> they're definitely utilized. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, in March of 2020, the warrant number one, which was the operating budget, did fail. Um, so we did go to default and the vote was 242 to 320. [snorts] >> Okay. Okay. Any other questions? >> I don't have any. We've had some pretty thorough discussions the last few meetings. So, okay. So I make a motion to move to the public >> move this budget budget too. Yeah. >> Okay. Um so >> second. >> Okay. All in favor? All right. [clears
037throat] >> Next on the agenda, >> I do need to close public comment at this point. It is 606. uh is the principal's report. >> Yep. It's pretty light one today. We have um amazingly our first semester is ending next month. Uh semester 1 ends on the 16th of January [laughter] and we're currently go home [clears throat] electronically on the 30th. Our enrollment numbers uh have stayed the same since the last couple meetings. 180 [clears throat] total students, 24 kindergarten, 18 first 1, 18 second grade, 26 third grade, 21th grade, and 12 uh fifth graders. And then I always like to give the plugs for our uh big community event here at school. Uh this year, our kids are going to be performing Susicle Kids uh based on Dr. Seuss uh books and songs. And
038that is Friday, March 20th and Saturday, March 21st. And then our kids already presented. So >> okay. Okay. So now we'll go to [snorts] we have um goals. Correct. >> Policy first. Mhm. >> Okay. >> We still don't have goals on the agenda. >> Sorry. I'm so sorry. I'll [laughter] make a note of that. >> We can we can still add it, but I will make sure I say next month. Um, sorry I'm not organized. I need to find that policy stuff. >> Do you want to cover off on committee stuff? >> I don't know, but I think >> Yeah. So, why don't we have um >> jump down? >> Yes. Go ahead. Um, we're going to jump down to safety and security uh committee updates. Um, I have no updates there. We uh don't
039have another meeting scheduled in those house. I don't know if you know if there's anyone on the calendar. I haven't seen one come through yet. >> Um, I assume that meeting will happen probably at some point early in the new year. >> Um, so I can share an update once that uh group does get together. Um, I'll skip down to strategic plan committee. We met last week, had a great meeting with Chris where we went through um all the KPIs that um the team had landed on for the strategic plan and uh we're putting together a small group right now who's going to present some of that stuff to uh the joint board meeting in January. And then uh following that um I know there's plans to roll that plan out, make it available to
040the public. Um there's going to be some interactive things on the website that's going to be available to based on the KPIs uh in alignment with the plan and that's a five-year plan. So this is something that we're going to be focused on through uh 2030 or into 2030 I should say. So um and that is that and then I think we'll probably meet again sounds like Chris mentioned maybe in May June towards the tail end of the school year. Okay. Um, >> do you want me to talk about this first policy? >> Yeah, do the first policy. I'm sorry I can't find it. I feel bad. The So, the the first policy for policy committee is BEDH public input at board meetings. And just a little background on that. um Brentwood School District um
041has a different just has different language than all of the other districts and there's been some some interest in trying to align language in our in our policies across SAU16. So um and this one in particular had come up um as one that might be uh worth every district looking at the language and specifically around and I'm just trying to pull it up. I know it's in the packet here somewhere. Um >> uh public comment and um and who who is able to speak at public comment. So there's nothing specific in the language or the policy right now that talks about residents of the school district. It just talks about um >> Community members. So um you have two different versions of the policy in your packet. One is the Brentwood policy. So one option
042would be to adopt the Brentwood language. Um the other option would be to um just add in make some revisions to the current policy to make to clarify that a little bit more clearly. The policy committee discussed both options and um by the end of the discussion thought the best course of action would be to bring the conversation to the boards to to have more conversation and have board member input on which direction you want to [snorts] go. And really board boards districts could do one or or neither or whatever, but it seemed like um this was an important one for for specific boards to discuss together. >> Um I think just my initial reaction is I think yes, obviously it makes sense to have it be I don't want to say limited, but um
043reserved for residents of the town. Um, I know we're also part of a broader SAU, but the other thing I'm sort of thinking through, and maybe we can just sort of word this in a way that it kind of encompasses that, but it's not just blanketed community members. Um, you know, residents of East Kingston and then, you know, non-resident parents of students was just a thought I had and I don't know if that's in there. >> It is. Thank you for saying that. I missed that. So, it actually says current um current residents of the school district, the current school district staff, and any guardians or caretakers of students currently enrolled in the school district. >> Because if we have kids out of town, out of district that are here, whether it's now or the
044future, >> right? >> Okay. That's that was my only thing I wanted to make sure was in there. >> And actually, that is pretty much the only revision. >> Okay. just some wording at the beginning. But >> one of the [clears throat] things we discussed um at the meeting was actually stating the person's name and where they resided to prove that they were a resident. And there was some back and forth about doing that. And so I I may have said that I feel that it's something I would like because I do want you to own the comment that um you're about to say and if you are a resident then you should feel free and feel safe to say those things. Um the flop to that which I understand is you know not putting
045someone to feel unsafe about sharing their opinion. Um, so I think the word as we were floating around was, you know, what's their affiliation? How are you connected in this particular case to I think that's the word word I use. I don't know like why are you here? Like you know what makes you that would a a parent or a guardian who did have a child here say I'm the parent or guardian of a of a student here. That's an affiliation even though they don't live here. So the language there was some of that going around. I didn't know how the board felt about that particular language um in the policy. I I think there should be something like >> yeah I mean I think is it is it better to lay out what the
046affiliations are that we consider viable like I think as we have it like staff member >> parent guardian current town >> what they would not be able to say is the student's name >> right um >> so you're asking for language in there that's in the policy that states that they have to say that stuff before they speak. Is that what you're >> Well, yeah, because um if we don't, it's a it's a community member, >> right? So, so what's the point? Right. >> But with that, does there come some sort of verification of whatever they share in regards to >> No, it's a it's a trust. You know, they state that this is their name and their affiliation. We are under the assumption that they're being honest citizens. um in and in this setting
047it it doesn't necessarily you know make me uncomfortable. I think that's a strong word. Um deliberation. If you're not a resident of East Kingston >> and and you're standing up and saying something, this would also fall for deliberation is my guess. >> I that's a good question. I think >> I mean if you're speaking in deliberation or then I would hope that you are a Kingston resident, right? I think the >> Well, you have to they have to verify you, don't they, at the door? They have to get the card. You can't get a voting card. >> Perfect. Okay. So, [snorts] there is some accountability in [clears throat] that space. >> The clerk the clerk town has to >> Okay. But can you come in and not get cards? >> So, what I'm saying is,
048so I'm a non-resident. I can come in. I'm just not getting my red or green card. But no one's the our town the moderator is not necessarily checking if they go up to the mic. So that person could go up to the mic and say, "Hi, my name is blah." And I still think we should ask for their affiliation or their street name. >> At the deliberate, we do because as as the clerk, >> we would do that. >> We know that and we need to record that in the minutes. But is this policy under effect during deliberative because they would have to be an East Kingston resident to do that? That's all that's what I'm asking. >> All it says on our website is to vote you have to be registered by January 21st.
049>> I I don't have a like >> separate conversation. Right. >> Right. I think the moderator moderates that. Okay. >> And but it's probably consistent with >> I would hope this policy. >> Am I allowed to say something? >> Not really. Sorry. [clears throat] Can I allow that? Not really. Anyway, my question is, does the policy does the policy carry over to deliberative because that's our school board meeting, >> isn't it? >> It's in place of our school board meeting. So the moderator would set the rules. >> Okay. >> And I'm sure the policy is. Yeah. >> Okay. >> I can open public comment. It is now 516. Uh 6:16. I'll open public comment. >> Jerry Murray, 45 South Room. What you were just mentioning. I believe when I've been to deliberative session, if someone
050from out of town comes in, they do not sit in the audience. >> Where do they st they stand in the back? >> No. No, they either tell them they have to go in one end of the uh where the moderator is because they can't vote. >> Correct. We know that they can't. >> So, they separate. >> They separate them. >> That's I mean, I've seen that done. >> Okay. That's what I was. >> Thank you. >> I'm sorry. >> No, no, sorry. It's fine. >> Closing. I'm closing public comment. >> We have this great policy that's right in front of us right now. So, I was able to just, you know, check and see what >> Yeah. Perfect. at deliberative you you as a board need to vote. So like if Molly came and
051was going to speak at deliberative you would need to make a motion to allow her as she is a non-resident >> to >> even though she's an SAU employee. >> Correct. >> So so those types of and the lawyer the lawyer that will be representing it. So those are made intentionally as exceptions from any policy. >> Okay. So, back to the question about the spec specific policy. So, are you saying that maybe there's more language that needs to be added to the Brentwood policy that we're sort of mirroring? >> And if so, what are you suggesting? >> My suggestion was to have at least one or the other. I I think people need to state who they are and what their business is having a comment. That's that's that's my suggestion. whether we're very specific
052which I think it makes it very clear within the policy as to who can and who cannot that makes it clean. Usually I go the other way >> sometimes with policies, but in this particular policy, >> um I think having it clean >> and if it if it comes back that we miss something, we can review it next year, right? Like it's it's not that it's not a live document, we can always review it. >> So it's just what we feel is >> important to us. However, what I do think is the person needs to state how they're connected to our space, >> right? So again, is that something that you're going to ask them or is that something that we need to include in the language of the policy? >> So I think how
053it's written right now, we have we have >> repo comment by their address. Okay, those who >> the way that it's written >> address and our affiliation with district. Okay, >> so that part is not in there right now. So we can certainly add a line about >> I mean we can say address >> and it wouldn't be district, right? Well, would it be district because are we our own separate district or we >> we are okay. >> Yeah. And people just thought some of the policy committee members thought saying your address was calling someone out so they might not feel safe to make their comment. >> Okay. I say [clears throat] if you're going to make a comment then >> so if their if their affiliation is not sufficient for what we deem it
054should be do we have the right to >> that's awesome question JT >> right what's now what's that boundary >> leave the discretion up to the board >> they it would still need to fit the criteria of parent caregiver employee or resident of >> could we not do we need to add in there >> now we for the board, >> right? >> Sure. Yeah, you could. >> Okay. >> I do I need to make a motion to >> Well, I think we should read it. >> So, there are two different There's the language and then there's [clears throat] the current policy just with added language. And the language you we just discussed about um stating your residence or affiliation could be added to either one of those. So, is this >> This is the Brentwood
055one, correct? >> Both of them are. You have both of them in your packet. >> They should be the first two. No, >> first one is second one's crowdfunding. >> If you keep going past that's just the summary sheet and then you should >> Oh, the Oh, I see. I apologize. >> Is this 30? [snorts] >> Thank you. May have the heart. >> [snorts] >> apologize. Okay. [snorts] And is it a B? It's this whole policy. Correct. >> Correct. So, it's A and B for option one >> or all the way through? >> All the way through. >> And then uh keep going. >> Mhm. >> You'll see that the Brentwood actually keep going. >> Yeah. >> Says Brentwood. So, you can see [snorts] >> just a little bit more concise. [snorts] >> Yeah. much
056more concise. >> Yeah. So, I'm I'm fine with either or. I don't need all. But be making it very clear and concise makes it very clear for people coming in. >> So let's go with that one. So >> the Brentwood the >> So So [laughter] I could I could add that line [clears throat] about ail affiliation >> for residents um to the to the end of point one on Brentwood. I think that might make the most sense and I can you can vote on that tonight with the revisions we've discussed or I can bring it back to you next month and you can vote on it next month whichever you prefer. I I just say we vote on it. Right. >> Okay. So, um, as a revision, >> do we add that to, sorry, do
057we add that to number three as well, too? >> Oh, that's that would be a better spot to add it. Yeah. Could you >> Good. >> Yep. >> Okay. So, you want me to start with that one for revision? >> Sure. pol. Okay. So, um policy code behind um there is a new policy of DFGA which is crowdfunding. Everyone know what that is? >> Okie dokie. Policy uh under review is DJ. That's under purchasing. Policy code DJ, which is bidding requirements. That's a revision. Policy code DJF, which is local purchasing, is under went under revision. Policy code DKC is expense reimbursements. That was revision. Policy code IHCA, summer activities. That was a new policy just for Kensington. It was a revision for everybody else. It was just new for Kensington. >> New for Kensington. Okay.
058Um policy code I KFG is a new policy. It's career exploration readiness pathways and credentials. Policy code IMBA is distant education parenthesis remote learning went under revision policies to withdraw. Um they're requested to be withdrawn due to other policy revision. So they were either absorbed into something else or we adopted something else. Withdraw was IFA early graduation and ILBA exer high school demonstration of mastery and required competencies. Did we talk about that? That was just the high school. >> Yes. >> Right. >> Um although [snorts] some of these snuck into other policy books. >> Okay. >> So it may have inadvertently been in >> Been in there. Okay. >> Um I need you to So I make a motion to pass those new policies or revisions. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I Uh
059the one policy committee that we didn't go over was the uh not policy one committee >> superend >> superintendent evaluation. >> Um so the [snorts] superintendent evaluation that we're starting the 360 um I did not make the last meeting. So my guess is we're meeting [clears throat] in January uh is our next meeting. Um I will say that someone is going to need to uh be on that committee um for the upcoming or the following year that they will we will start looking at um the data in May or April and May to give to Dr. Andrewski um for his evaluation feedback and that committee does a really nice job of pulling all the qualitative and quantitative data from the goals that he set. So, we'll have a meeting in January. Um, and then my
060guess is there'll be one more meeting before they do the feedback uh to Chris. >> Do we know or will we know as we look at the next school year um what committees are going to be in play and what would be changing just because like when I had joined two years ago um I was assigned the joint loss committee but that never even came to fruition. So, I just didn't know if there was any indication about >> so >> what the committee sure roster is going to look like. >> I I can say our our March meeting is right before voting. Um and in that March meeting, I would highly recommend we look at assignments for uh or prioritizing district committees um and our goals. Um, and we can put that under new business
061>> and that way uh people will know exactly what's high priority, what we want to focus on. >> I'm proud of that. [clears throat] >> Do you want to go over? >> Our goals. Yep. So, academic goal we went over LA in last uh our last meeting in November. Um, and clearly we were making significant progress. I think writing was coming up as something that the teachers and principal French thought that um needed to be analyzed and looked at for feedback and through MTSS a they're looking at getting writing into a are you putting it in when yet? Are you putting it through the or are you just going to look at the programmatic? Oh, that was my question. You started your new schedule. How did that go? >> So good. >> The first week,
062right? Second week. >> Yeah. I mean it was a change for third and fourth grade. >> Yeah. >> Um but I mean because they they know all the teachers because at some point they're you know it was an easy transition. >> Right she was getting a new teacher and we're like what? [laughter] >> And then I saw the email no it's not it. >> And so they're so I just want clarity. Um they're they're staying in their multi-age classrooms for social studies science morning meetings. >> Morning meetings. Yeah. >> Okay. um because there's the dynamic of you know the benefits of multi-age what that does but then they're coming out for math reading um and writing >> based upon where they need to be. >> Y >> okay >> I have a quick question um
063is there any way to gain insight on we had our assessments versus New Hampshire averages. [snorts] Is there any way to get assessment scores versus not necessarily town by town but across the SAU as a whole as another comparative? >> Yep. That's something I can work on that >> to other schools or just >> SAU as a whole. I mean not like u to exit or to stratum but the rest of the >> SAU >> compared to the state like our SEU compared to the state >> our well we have our school compared to the state but having our school compared to >> other district or Kensington >> or just the rest of the SAU elementaryaries >> an a an average of the rest of the >> I was just thinking >> yeah not singing
064out one school but like looking >> I mean that seems like it would yeah >> um just thinking about the deliberative it could be a benefit an official piece of information to have >> and not just within our own SAU but I would say tax equivalent. So any small town of tax equivalent would be very helpful to show how we compare because we are a local control state and so taxes are going to drive um >> progress >> maybe. >> Yeah, we can we can pull some things together. There's some good resources online as well, but we can pull something together. I mean those numbers just at the state were pretty impressive. But I think it'd be good to know even for people in the town to see, you know, >> I I also think
065there's some education and understanding that when you look at a whole child, it's based on progress. And so if you look at where we were three [clears throat] years ago, four years ago to where we are now, the growth and progress um of our kids has has significantly changed. >> Right? if you looked at a second grade three years ago. >> And and so there's there's there's value in actually telling the story of where we were from 2020 to where we are now. And I also think there's some education around understanding the need for intentional teaching. Um and 50 years ago when we there were 35 kids in rows in desks is not the way we teach anymore. And there's research to back that up. So there's two stories there. So, um I certainly think
066that's worth a slide. >> Um that was my community engagement. >> No real updates at this time. >> Okay. >> Anything from SSD? >> Not yet. >> Okay. >> Um I think last meeting I shared an update on the uh multi-year uh capital improvement plan. Um Bren put together just sort an updated list that him and I are working on and I know we'll probably meet at some point next couple of weeks, couple of months just on uh taking a look at that and making sure that we have things online and prioritized for you know first half of 2026 and then uh preparing for the new school year. So doie any new business Any old business? Nope. Thank you everybody. The meeting is adjourned at 6:33.