001All right, I'm going to call the meeting to order. Today is Monday, March 30th, 2026. This meeting is being video and audio recorded for future cable broadcast. Please silence all cell phones for the duration of the meeting. May I have a motion to open the school committee meetings? So moved. Second. Do a roll call. Mr. Ellis? Yes. Mrs. Lynn? Yes. Mr. Halcroft? Yes. Mrs. Cardia? Yes. Mr. Lynn? Yes. Uh could we stand and start with the Pledge of Allegiance? Dr. Bailey, anyone signed up for delegation? No. Okay. And uh I will turn it over to you for old business. Yes. So, tonight I'm presenting a summary of the proposed agreements between Acushnet and New Bedford High School, and also Acushnet and the Old Rochester Regional School District for high school enrollment. Um the purpose of
002the agreement, as you know, we have students in 9 through 12. We don't have a high school here. It will allow our students to be part of their schools um with a full range of academic programs and services. You have the contracts in front of you. We will be taking a vote on both of them separately, but they both essentially say the same thing except for the duration. Um both address tuition and cost for us to pay. They both address transportation, the student experience, how our students will be treated as the same as resident students of those districts. Uh we will have full access to curriculum, extracurricular activities, athletics, and support services, and will follow those high schools' policies and expectations. Our students will once they there. Enrollment and capacity, these agreements um address that.
003They also address standard special education services, as well as the term and stability. Um the difference in both contracts is that New Bedford's contract is for a duration of 5 years. Uh Old Rochester Regional has the option of going up to 10 years after 5 years. So, overall, that these agreements ensure that Acushnet students will have access to a comprehensive high school experience, uh while clearly outlining the financial responsibilities and operational roles for both districts. That's what these two um contracts do, and you have them both in front of you. And tonight I will be looking for a vote separately for each one. Um both of those districts have already voted, and they've agreed to the terms that are outlined before you, and that now is our turn tonight to do the same. Any questions?
004Um I know you spoke briefly to capacities. Are there any capacity limitations um put in place by either of these districts? Um Old Rochester does have a clause in the contract that if they were ever have if other high schools close down, if they were ever not to have the capacity, there is a termination clause for both districts if they were need to, but reasonably speaking, they can't turn away Acushnet students who are enrolling on an yearly yearly basis that we do. Okay. So, there's not like a like an capacity for enrollment at the school. >> No. >> Okay. No, they considered our high schools at this point. >> Dr. Bailey, correct me if I'm wrong, but that was that language was and we reviewed that language with legal counsel and that language was tweaked
005a few times to make sure that both parties were comfortable with how that language was >> That is absolutely correct. Yeah, I think that's important. So I certainly we we wanted to protect the families and kids in Acushnet and then we're protecting what they need to do. I think the spirit of it is not that anyone plans to deny Acushnet kids, but but everyone is making sure that they have their bases covered. >> Students will be entitled to transportation. We're responsible for that. It's all outlined in the contracts, but we should be good to go if if you vote in the affirmative tonight for both of these high schools. And one other question. So the RR deal is a 5-year deal with the ability to extend it to 10 and those terms for years 6
006through 10 have been negotiated Correct. and in the contract. Correct. All right, so I will ask for a motion to accept the high school tuition agreement between New Bedford High School and Acushnet School Committee. I'll accept the wording of the motion, Mr. Chair. Yes. Second. I'll I'll so move that if that if that's I'll second it. you know, the the wording for the you know, for the records. Sure. Uh any further discussion? All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Seeing none, motion passes unanimously. Mr. Chair, shall it be a roll call vote or Why don't we do a roll call vote for this? >> Yeah. Good good suggestion. Mr. Ellis? Yes. Mrs. McGlynn? Yes. Mr. Halcroft? Yes. Mrs. Cordeiro? Yes. Mr. Hood? Yes. Thank you. Okay, next I will ask for a motion to accept
007the high school tuition agreement between Old Rochester Regional School Committee and the Acushnet School Committee. I'll make a motion. I'll second that motion. Any further discussion? Okay, we'll do a roll call. Mr. Ellis? Yes. Mrs. McGlynn? Yes. Mr. Howcroft? Yes. Mrs. Cordero? Yes. Mr. Hood? Yes. Thank you. Okay, motion passes. So, do we have any new business, Dr. Bailey? So, I just want to reiterate something I said back in December when we made this choice. I'm I'm I'm really proud to be part of this committee. Just watching all of the folks on this committee work through the process, the amount of care and diligence and thought that every member of this committee put into this decision. I think it's a great outcome for the families and and most importantly the kids, not only now but
008moving forward in the future. So, I think it was I'm really proud of the work that this committee did. So, and thank you to the administration for support throughout the process. And just to note, Mr. Chair, that both school committees in New Bedford and Old Rochester was a unanimous vote. They're both excited to have our students attend our high schools. Is there anything planned, Dr. Bailey, in terms of media or anything like that? >> Yes. So, we're working to do a joint press release with Old Rochester and also I have a call into New Bedford as well. Okay. But either way, we're going to let the community know that this is where we're at where we landed. >> Sure. Okay. Any other questions? No? This might This might be the shortest committee meeting in the
009history of committee meetings. Yes. Okay. Our next school school committee meeting is on Tuesday, April 14th, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the FMS John Tavares Library. May I have a motion to adjourn tonight's meeting? I also move for that adjournment. I'll second that. We'll go to a roll call. Mr. Ellis? Yes. >> Mrs. McGlynn? Yes. >> Mr. Hopler? >> Yes. Mrs. Perera? Yes. Mr. Hood? Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Meeting is adjourned. Thank you.