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Good afternoon everyone.

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Welcome back. I call

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to order the August 26th, 2026 Needham

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School Committee meeting.

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This meeting will be recorded

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and re-broadcast on the ham channel

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and online at Ham channel board.

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We will begin our meeting, as we always do

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with public comment.

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Did you don't see anyone in the room for public comment?

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Is there anyone online s raised?

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No one raised. Okay. Give that a minute.

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No. Okay, so with

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that, we will move on to school committee chair

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and subcommittee updates.

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Do I wish to share the new? Alright.

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So Dan participated

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and a number of us attended this morning's MSBA

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meeting where they approved the project scope

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and budget grant for the Pollard Middle School Project.

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We will talk more about that,

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but this varies

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gratifying sit in.

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Are there any other chair or subcommittee?

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Yes, I'm the chair. Any other

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subcommittee? Subcommittee? Yes.

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J Just a a, a note on school committee assignments.

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I've met with most of you, but not everyone.

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And Lisa and I both tried to meet you we're trying

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to get this done before the start of school.

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Not officially, but I want

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to put out a version of it to all of you.

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We'd like to get the,

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especially the school assignments lined up when the school

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starts, because many of the school PTEs know we get in touch

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with you hopefully to have you come out

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and talk about the override and the Pollard project.

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So I wanna do that as quickly as possible.

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The actual official, you know, submit 15th meeting.

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I'm hoping to do a round, share it with everybody.

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If everybody's agreeable to their what they see there,

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then you can at least, you know,

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we can let these schools know so they can get in touch

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with you and hopefully have you a copy or ptc.

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And I know that the principals are hoping

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and invite encouraging the PTCs

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and others to have a meeting,

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potentially whatever the school is at power,

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to bring their communities to power

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to make sure they can see the building, especially

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for younger parents who haven't been through it,

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maybe have never seen the building. So that's all.

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Thank you. Very good. Anybody else?

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Okay, now that I stole your thunder, Dan.

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No, I'll turn it over to you

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for any other comments you may have.

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Just very quickly

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and high level, we are getting ready for school

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to start next Wednesday morning.

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Indeed. Promptly indeed.

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And looking forward to that school committee is welcome

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to attend our general staff meeting next Tuesday morning,

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beginning at eight 30 in the high school cafeteria.

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A lot of work has been going on, particularly

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these people over here facing me, Carmen

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and Alex and Matt and Mary.

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Get ready for the year. There was a district leadership team

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meeting this morning thanks to Lisa Michael for attending.

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That was followed by,

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and I forgot to mention this at the DLT meeting

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that Chris Goslin had a AI workshop

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that was attended by I think most of DLT.

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Yeah. And apparently very well received.

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He, he had gone to a Google training over the summer

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and this was for AI in the workplace

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and new tools and everything.

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So I I understand that went pretty well.

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The buildings are ready. They're clean, they're ready.

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The playground projects at two schools are ongoing.

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We're very excited. If you drive by Newman,

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there's a whole new front

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to Newman when you pull up into the driveway.

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It's pretty cool. The playground has this giant sale.

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This is a sale that this

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advocate beforehand how many years ago?

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Like five years ago, six years ago. We finally got it up.

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And the playground for the preschoolers is, is taking shape.

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It will not be open first day of school,

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still be fencing around it.

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We have to get the playground equipment certified.

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And then it takes a little while, the Elliot playground,

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which is being refurbished.

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And we'll have some new, new pieces.

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But also the rubberized surface is, is is not started yet.

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It's going to start though beginning next week.

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And we have a really thoughtful plan

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with the account engineers and the contractor and Mr.

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Zajak are Interpr Elliot to do that.

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Playground pieces with some

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safety equipment fencing around it.

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And the goal is to complete that project by November 1st.

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You, you need good weather for this surface to cure.

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So that's the plan. And we'll have

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that two pretty significant playground products completed.

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And we also have been working Newman Auditorium

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to get life done.

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In fact, somewhere in your packet there is a,

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we're asking you the consent agenda to

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surplus some lighting equipment that it's kind

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of come offline as a result of the renovation there.

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And we'll, we'll talk more about that.

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The schools are ready. We

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are, I think Dr.

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Es McNeil, we have, as far as I know,

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maybe two positions to hire for.

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And I know that there were interviews

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today certified for both.

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Say it again? Certified. Certified, yeah. Thank you.

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Certified. We are still looking

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for some instructional assistance.

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Yeah. But our new bus contractor has all of his drivers

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at least to start the year in place.

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And we're excited about that.

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You'll notice that the buses, by the way now all send you

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to public schools on them.

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They don't say NNRT,

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they say NRT on the panel by the door.

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'cause they have to, but they all

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send you to public schools.

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And the last piece I'll say is that we have the

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electric bus, what am I calling it?

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Electric bus charging station.

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Station charging station installed it.

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But it's not connected yet.

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They're waiting for horizon plug in.

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So lots of been happening. Good things.

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And light buses were ready or wrong.

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So those are my great,

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Thank you.

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That's all said stuff.

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With that, we will move to our consent agenda.

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There are four items on there, including a Stan mentioned

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surplus with the lighting equipment.

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Does anyone wish to remove any items

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from the consent agenda?

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There being no objection.

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These items are approved by unanimous consent.

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All right, let's turn to our first

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discussion item, which is the draft

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fiscal year 28 budget guidelines.

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Of course, we're always planning a year ahead,

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Dan or Dan,

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I'll, I'll start and Dan's gonna fill in

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to correct all the mistakes I make.

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I, you know, I know that I,

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I asked some superintendents about this over the summer

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about guidelines of

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after the budget, how do they plan for budget?

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And I was kind of met with some blank stares.

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Typically, some superintendents say that they're told in,

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in the fall, maybe October, November.

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This is what our towns finance committee said we have.

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And so they developed a budget around that.

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And some others say that, well, we, we kind of, we we budget

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for what we think we need.

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What I'm pleased with,

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and I, this is really Ann who

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who was insisted on this many years ago, was

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that the school committee should really let us know

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what are priorities for you

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based on state local fulfillment laws so

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that we can develop a budget that reflects that.

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And so what you have

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before you is our attempt at outlining

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what the budget values

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and priorities should be for this coming year

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and including capital requests.

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And then once these are approved,

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and I would ask for your approval September 15th,

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when we meet again, usually the guidelines that we share

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with the budget managers.

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And I, I think it's a, it's a good document to go back to.

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It's, I notice that the strategic action steps are embedded

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in here because that should be basing the budget to can,

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along with federal requirements, local requirements on

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what the school committee has asked us to focus on.

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And so it's detailed,

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it has timelines in here when we will have workshops

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and subcommittee meetings and all that.

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But I think it's, it provides a lot of good information

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for the school committee and also guidance for

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the administrative team presenting the budget to you.

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And what else, if we added for that,

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If the document has not changed very much from previous

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years, there have been minor adjustments,

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but for the most part it's a consistent statement

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around your budget guidelines for your consideration.

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So with that, happy to answer your questions.

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I open it up to the committee for questions,

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comments, observations.

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This will become a voting item at a subsequent meeting.

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So do you wanna make sure that peoples question

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I will, I will add that if I may, I, I've already drafted

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a document to budget managers about waiting on your vote.

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And within it, I will tell you that I've, I've suggested

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to them that requests for new staff will be

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very, they're always carefully scrutinized.

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But I suggest that I'm not really to ask for

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lots of new staff to present to the school committee except

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for those pieces that are required,

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for example, education plan.

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And I, I say that now to you that I want us to make sure

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that we are being really thoughtful about

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what's going into the budget.

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There are a lot of pressures for the town healthcare,

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for example, special education costs, tuition in particular.

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And those costs will increase next year.

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So I, I'm going to be sharing

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with the district leadership team that will have

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to be very modest in what we request.

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I think we have a, we have enrollment that's fairly steady.

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We have good programs in place, things

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that we have anticipated

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and pay for literacy rollout, for example.

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So I, I want us to be quite modest with what we request

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because you are going

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to be asking the community in a big way to step forward

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to support the pilot project.

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And I think the partnership with the operating budget,

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we should ask for that we absolutely need,

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but maybe not everything that we want.

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So just as a preview,

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Liz, Just thinking very broadly,

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I'm wondering as we start to build the FY 28 budget,

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if there's any indication, I know it's way, way too early,

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but from the state about money

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and the volatility that exists at the federal level, is

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that something that you're hearing anything about at all?

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Is, is there a potential impact on the FY 28 budget?

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We have been asking that same question

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and the answers are never explicit.

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They sort of are,

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we haven't experienced a lot of change.

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There is, in terms of the dollar values we received, we have

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some major entitlement grants

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that are special education related.

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Those appear to be, those are all under IDEA,

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the individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

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Those appear to be

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somewhat safe.

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I safe, I don't know untouched so far. Untouched so far.

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So far. There are additional funds we receive under ESSA

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Student Succeeds Act, which funds things like Title One,

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title two, three and four, which is

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limited English proficiency.

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That's our English language learner program,

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which supplements professional development for educators.

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Title one is targeted assistance

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to some volume income students

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that grants also supports the,

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the Walker School's delinquent, neglected,

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and delinquent student program.

263
00:15:14,385 --> 00:15:16,885
We have not received any

264
00:15:17,415 --> 00:15:20,165
large reductions in those funding sources.

265
00:15:20,585 --> 00:15:22,365
That's always a bit of a question.

266
00:15:24,115 --> 00:15:27,645
They, there was a programmatic change that was big this year

267
00:15:27,905 --> 00:15:30,245
around how the neglected

268
00:15:30,245 --> 00:15:32,965
and delinquent aspects of that program are

269
00:15:33,935 --> 00:15:35,125
baked into the grant and

270
00:15:35,125 --> 00:15:37,085
how they get administrator responsive,

271
00:15:37,755 --> 00:15:41,645
that wasn't the word administered responsibility for

272
00:15:42,355 --> 00:15:46,165
that program has kind of shifted away from oversight of

273
00:15:46,165 --> 00:15:47,925
what, how the federal money is spent,

274
00:15:47,925 --> 00:15:49,165
has shifted away from Walker

275
00:15:49,265 --> 00:15:53,185
and to Needham for those things that now,

276
00:15:53,405 --> 00:15:56,825
but so far we have not seen a huge reduction in those funds.

277
00:15:58,235 --> 00:16:01,305
We've also not seen a huge reduction in USDA money

278
00:16:01,445 --> 00:16:03,305
to support our nutrition services program.

279
00:16:04,525 --> 00:16:07,065
The state partners with the federal government

280
00:16:07,885 --> 00:16:08,985
to fulfill those needs.

281
00:16:09,465 --> 00:16:11,945
I think where some of the more volatile aspects

282
00:16:12,005 --> 00:16:14,425
or unknowns have to do with some of the changes

283
00:16:14,425 --> 00:16:15,865
that could occur at the state level

284
00:16:15,935 --> 00:16:19,825
that might displace funding around Medicaid

285
00:16:19,845 --> 00:16:20,945
and, and other things.

286
00:16:21,085 --> 00:16:23,425
But they haven't happened so far.

287
00:16:25,405 --> 00:16:28,865
And I, you've actually already answered this,

288
00:16:29,325 --> 00:16:32,225
I'm just gonna ask it again, I apologize in advance,

289
00:16:32,645 --> 00:16:37,225
but there's not pe there's no conversation

290
00:16:37,365 --> 00:16:40,585
for districts who are embarking on their FY 28 budget

291
00:16:40,985 --> 00:16:45,865
planning possible possibilities at the state

292
00:16:45,865 --> 00:16:47,745
level in terms of displacement of funds.

293
00:16:47,815 --> 00:16:50,265
There's nothing coming from the state. No.

294
00:16:50,265 --> 00:16:52,305
We, we have received nothing,

295
00:16:52,805 --> 00:16:56,025
but we also get informed by the state regularly that they

296
00:16:57,205 --> 00:16:58,865
are as much in the dark

297
00:16:58,885 --> 00:17:01,785
as we are sometimes about what's

298
00:17:01,785 --> 00:17:03,025
happening at the federal level.

299
00:17:03,325 --> 00:17:07,785
And that when they do receive information, it's often sort

300
00:17:07,785 --> 00:17:10,865
of late in coming.

301
00:17:11,725 --> 00:17:13,225
So we're all kind of learning together.

302
00:17:13,225 --> 00:17:16,545
The state has always been supportive of our efforts.

303
00:17:16,615 --> 00:17:20,505
They try to mitigate the impacts

304
00:17:20,725 --> 00:17:22,465
and help us to administer. So.

305
00:17:23,325 --> 00:17:25,425
So it sounds like it's a broader question mark.

306
00:17:25,575 --> 00:17:27,865
It's a big question mark for everybody.

307
00:17:29,085 --> 00:17:32,455
Okay. No, it's something we'll keep an eye on. We develop.

308
00:17:35,295 --> 00:17:40,155
Andrea Ann, I know that you know, as we all know, staff

309
00:17:40,215 --> 00:17:42,315
and people is the biggest part of our budget.

310
00:17:42,455 --> 00:17:46,715
Are there any sort of non-staff related expense items

311
00:17:46,865 --> 00:17:50,115
that you see our forecasting to grow sort

312
00:17:50,115 --> 00:17:53,275
of faster than we would've expected or anticipated

313
00:17:53,335 --> 00:17:54,755
or have seen in the recent past?

314
00:17:55,345 --> 00:17:56,955
Some of the sort of non-salary items?

315
00:17:59,325 --> 00:18:03,175
Well, definitely I would say some of the, there is a lot

316
00:18:03,175 --> 00:18:05,815
of volatility and I would say

317
00:18:06,805 --> 00:18:09,575
potentially cost increasing faster than the rate

318
00:18:09,575 --> 00:18:11,055
of inflation around some

319
00:18:11,055 --> 00:18:13,855
of our special education tuition expenditures.

320
00:18:14,775 --> 00:18:18,735
I think the finances of school systems tend to,

321
00:18:19,155 --> 00:18:22,135
and those are not just public school systems tend

322
00:18:22,135 --> 00:18:23,215
to increase at a rate

323
00:18:23,215 --> 00:18:26,215
that's a little bit faster than inflation just

324
00:18:26,215 --> 00:18:27,775
because of the nature of things.

325
00:18:28,635 --> 00:18:31,855
And I think our partner private schools are experiencing

326
00:18:31,925 --> 00:18:34,605
many the same situations.

327
00:18:34,665 --> 00:18:37,165
So that gets passed along as we find that

328
00:18:39,715 --> 00:18:42,285
capital, you know, tariffs

329
00:18:42,345 --> 00:18:44,485
and things that affect construction

330
00:18:44,585 --> 00:18:48,525
and construction costs are a concern.

331
00:18:53,155 --> 00:18:54,155
Okay.

332
00:18:58,275 --> 00:19:00,565
Michael, on on on that point

333
00:19:00,705 --> 00:19:04,605
as noted I something in the m MSP meeting too of plywood,

334
00:19:05,135 --> 00:19:08,405
which is pretty important subject to the Canadian tariff.

335
00:19:08,905 --> 00:19:10,725
Of course those change tomorrow.

336
00:19:12,065 --> 00:19:14,405
I'm wondering if there were any legislative,

337
00:19:14,945 --> 00:19:16,805
not not much federal legislative around,

338
00:19:16,825 --> 00:19:19,205
but the state level has any legislation that's been passed

339
00:19:19,265 --> 00:19:22,565
or was kind of on the horizon that could affect

340
00:19:22,675 --> 00:19:24,085
what we are required to do?

341
00:19:24,085 --> 00:19:25,645
Requirements and things we have to do

342
00:19:26,175 --> 00:19:28,845
track not the financial part that comes with the budget.

343
00:19:30,005 --> 00:19:32,805
Anything from a a regulatory point of view?

344
00:19:33,755 --> 00:19:35,885
Well, do you mean as far education?

345
00:19:36,075 --> 00:19:39,595
Yeah, programmatically one thing that comes to mind

346
00:19:41,405 --> 00:19:45,175
that our high school regulation departments this high,

347
00:19:45,475 --> 00:19:47,735
the legislature that's under

348
00:19:49,595 --> 00:19:51,375
or we don't have a final plan yet.

349
00:19:51,375 --> 00:19:55,295
Right. That could, it could,

350
00:19:55,515 --> 00:19:58,895
it has the potential for asking districts to shift some

351
00:19:59,635 --> 00:20:03,325
dollars for experiences for students that some may not have.

352
00:20:03,945 --> 00:20:05,325
One example I can think of,

353
00:20:05,345 --> 00:20:07,005
and I don't know that this is going to happen,

354
00:20:07,065 --> 00:20:09,645
but it's been discussed a lot discussed this summer,

355
00:20:10,305 --> 00:20:13,005
is whether or not students should have in person finance

356
00:20:13,255 --> 00:20:14,565
experience of some kind.

357
00:20:15,725 --> 00:20:17,925
While we offer that as an elective at native high school,

358
00:20:17,925 --> 00:20:19,405
it's quite popular and lot kids take

359
00:20:19,405 --> 00:20:20,485
it, it's not a requirement.

360
00:20:21,145 --> 00:20:24,325
So, you know, we had to do that.

361
00:20:24,625 --> 00:20:27,005
How do you do it and what way do you do it?

362
00:20:27,105 --> 00:20:30,235
And so that's, that's a small piece of,

363
00:20:30,995 --> 00:20:33,715
I I know too that there would be time

364
00:20:33,855 --> 00:20:35,075
to implement something like that.

365
00:20:35,415 --> 00:20:38,155
It would be as far as I know something just go ahead and do,

366
00:20:40,555 --> 00:20:43,415
but I don't, you know, I guess I'd look to Alex and Carmen

367
00:20:43,435 --> 00:20:45,575
and Mary, are there any other programmatic things

368
00:20:45,575 --> 00:20:48,005
that you can think of with the, considering

369
00:20:48,785 --> 00:20:50,045
it would influence our budget?

370
00:20:55,605 --> 00:20:58,205
I think one area we mentioned back in the spring when we

371
00:20:58,205 --> 00:20:59,685
were doing handbooks is the changes

372
00:20:59,745 --> 00:21:02,365
to the physical restraint and seclusion regulations.

373
00:21:03,715 --> 00:21:08,605
They, the department is clarify

374
00:21:08,905 --> 00:21:11,765
and, and made some revisions to their definition

375
00:21:11,765 --> 00:21:13,565
of timeout versus seclusion.

376
00:21:15,635 --> 00:21:19,645
Timeout is something that can be used.

377
00:21:19,745 --> 00:21:23,725
Of course we use that as a positive strategy, a lot

378
00:21:23,725 --> 00:21:25,925
of different students, but they, the student needs

379
00:21:25,925 --> 00:21:30,395
to voluntarily be able to leave the timeout situation.

380
00:21:31,015 --> 00:21:34,675
And if that is not the case, it is considered seclusion

381
00:21:35,775 --> 00:21:40,555
and we can only use seclusion if we have written consent

382
00:21:40,555 --> 00:21:41,875
from the parent of course,

383
00:21:42,775 --> 00:21:46,915
but also authorization from a physician

384
00:21:47,015 --> 00:21:48,315
and a mental health provider.

385
00:21:49,335 --> 00:21:51,715
So we knew this change was coming

386
00:21:51,935 --> 00:21:55,115
and thanks to your support, we've been focusing on

387
00:21:55,895 --> 00:21:59,355
the capacity around behavioral supports in our schools

388
00:21:59,355 --> 00:22:03,205
because what we've been able to use in the past

389
00:22:03,465 --> 00:22:05,285
around helping kids to regulate

390
00:22:05,745 --> 00:22:07,885
and keeping kids safe, we're no longer able

391
00:22:07,885 --> 00:22:08,965
to use with such ease.

392
00:22:10,195 --> 00:22:12,765
What we're experiencing as of late is that

393
00:22:13,405 --> 00:22:15,645
families are really reluctant to provide consent.

394
00:22:16,515 --> 00:22:19,375
So that puts us in a, in a bit of a situation.

395
00:22:19,375 --> 00:22:21,655
And we're, we're, we're, we're in a little bit of a,

396
00:22:21,825 --> 00:22:23,455
we're not sure what this is gonna look like yet,

397
00:22:23,715 --> 00:22:26,435
but we use a lot of great professional judgment.

398
00:22:26,895 --> 00:22:28,795
So that's how we're approaching the start of the year.

399
00:22:29,475 --> 00:22:33,715
I just am not sure what this will end up looking like from a

400
00:22:34,265 --> 00:22:35,435
support to students.

401
00:22:35,855 --> 00:22:37,995
You know, whether that be some more training

402
00:22:38,135 --> 00:22:39,875
or it could be the way

403
00:22:39,875 --> 00:22:42,515
that we're utilizing, I'm just not sure yet.

404
00:22:43,525 --> 00:22:46,135
Certainly there are some students that are more

405
00:22:46,755 --> 00:22:49,495
in special education that are on the more severe end

406
00:22:50,635 --> 00:22:51,695
of their disability.

407
00:22:51,725 --> 00:22:53,335
That could be at a higher risk

408
00:22:53,335 --> 00:22:56,015
for audit district placement if we're not able to manage

409
00:22:56,575 --> 00:22:58,695
within the schools the tools that we have.

410
00:22:59,475 --> 00:23:01,615
But hopefully that will be the situation.

411
00:23:04,845 --> 00:23:07,905
So I, I do have a couple of cost drivers

412
00:23:08,095 --> 00:23:11,065
that in the moment I should have mentioned, but didn't

413
00:23:11,285 --> 00:23:15,825
and I, any other discussion about mandates,

414
00:23:15,825 --> 00:23:17,065
I'm not aware of any others.

415
00:23:19,695 --> 00:23:22,515
One driver, and maybe not priority order

416
00:23:22,535 --> 00:23:25,795
or not in any particular order is the cost

417
00:23:25,795 --> 00:23:29,875
of technology devices has significantly increased in part

418
00:23:29,975 --> 00:23:32,435
due to the cost of what is inside those things.

419
00:23:33,015 --> 00:23:36,075
Partly due to tariffs and other things around chips.

420
00:23:36,135 --> 00:23:40,095
And so they've, they've,

421
00:23:40,285 --> 00:23:41,975
it's been a pretty significant increase.

422
00:23:42,075 --> 00:23:46,045
And that software, as you know, has been on a trajectory of,

423
00:23:47,015 --> 00:23:49,315
you know, five to seven or 8% per year.

424
00:23:49,705 --> 00:23:53,835
Just that's, we baked into our budget what we anticipated in

425
00:23:54,345 --> 00:23:55,995
this time a year ago, more or less.

426
00:23:56,815 --> 00:23:58,195
But that's always lost.

427
00:23:58,975 --> 00:24:03,515
We have also had some additional enrollment.

428
00:24:03,735 --> 00:24:04,875
The preschool this year

429
00:24:04,975 --> 00:24:07,475
that's resulted in some additional services

430
00:24:07,505 --> 00:24:11,915
that we're providing that were part of our FY 27 budget

431
00:24:11,985 --> 00:24:14,315
that may become part of our FY 28

432
00:24:14,315 --> 00:24:15,635
budget and additional classroom.

433
00:24:16,595 --> 00:24:20,435
That's likely to be something that will need to continue.

434
00:24:25,465 --> 00:24:29,545
Anything else? Any other

435
00:24:30,505 --> 00:24:31,585
thoughts or questions?

436
00:24:32,455 --> 00:24:36,585
I'll just note as I read through my packet, I was

437
00:24:37,325 --> 00:24:41,775
struck by the four pages of references

438
00:24:41,915 --> 00:24:43,015
to legal requirements.

439
00:24:44,965 --> 00:24:47,775
Like that's not even the legal requirements, it's just the,

440
00:24:48,245 --> 00:24:49,375
basically the list

441
00:24:49,715 --> 00:24:54,015
and short description of all of the legal requirements that

442
00:24:55,515 --> 00:24:59,015
govern what we do in schools and,

443
00:24:59,115 --> 00:25:03,295
and drive a chunk of how a budget gets spent.

444
00:25:05,855 --> 00:25:07,995
And I think within that structure

445
00:25:09,855 --> 00:25:12,105
then we do all the things that we do so well.

446
00:25:12,445 --> 00:25:14,305
So, all right,

447
00:25:14,885 --> 00:25:18,345
if there's nothing else then on budget guidelines,

448
00:25:18,905 --> 00:25:22,225
those will have come up for a vote at the future meeting

449
00:25:24,445 --> 00:25:28,425
and we can move on to an update on ard.

450
00:25:29,175 --> 00:25:31,225
That there's a handout.

451
00:25:32,345 --> 00:25:36,105
A handout. We have a presentation that you, your handout

452
00:25:36,955 --> 00:25:38,665
there is those at home.

453
00:25:42,435 --> 00:25:46,775
So as chair mentioned, there's this pretty awesome news

454
00:25:47,025 --> 00:25:51,775
after a long journey, the journey's not over that

455
00:25:52,305 --> 00:25:54,575
might be be tougher now,

456
00:25:55,435 --> 00:25:59,435
but really a strong news important.

457
00:26:03,875 --> 00:26:06,985
We've been engaging the community throughout the last couple

458
00:26:06,985 --> 00:26:11,585
of years and I just think it's important to emphasize that,

459
00:26:13,165 --> 00:26:15,305
you know, the all board summit that you had last fall,

460
00:26:15,335 --> 00:26:17,065
it's a very non contact though

461
00:26:17,065 --> 00:26:19,145
and very unusual to have those support summits.

462
00:26:19,455 --> 00:26:20,825
That number really won't change.

463
00:26:21,965 --> 00:26:24,065
But the number of total meetings, committee meetings,

464
00:26:24,065 --> 00:26:25,425
community events, like the one this

465
00:26:25,425 --> 00:26:27,225
evening, I will all add up.

466
00:26:27,335 --> 00:26:29,065
Certainly the split committee along

467
00:26:29,065 --> 00:26:30,425
with the school building committee

468
00:26:30,445 --> 00:26:32,105
and others that have lots

469
00:26:32,105 --> 00:26:35,705
of opportunities the community become aware of, engaged in,

470
00:26:35,925 --> 00:26:37,985
and hopefully invested in this, this project.

471
00:26:39,965 --> 00:26:43,065
So what did the, the MSBA do today?

472
00:26:43,275 --> 00:26:47,725
They took a vote to ask the executive director

473
00:26:47,725 --> 00:26:50,525
to enter into a project funding agreement with the town

474
00:26:50,525 --> 00:26:53,525
of the board with this

475
00:26:56,285 --> 00:26:58,475
total cost of 325.4 million.

476
00:26:59,815 --> 00:27:04,595
It won't go above that. It's kind of baked in right now.

477
00:27:05,495 --> 00:27:10,195
And for their part, the MSBA and, and Lisa,

478
00:27:10,295 --> 00:27:13,075
and I'll talk about this just a moment, is three,

479
00:27:13,655 --> 00:27:16,875
the higher end of reimbursement to provide up

480
00:27:16,875 --> 00:27:21,795
to including the any contingency 81

481
00:27:21,895 --> 00:27:23,515
$6 million reimbursement.

482
00:27:23,785 --> 00:27:25,475
That doesn't mean that's all the money, that

483
00:27:25,475 --> 00:27:26,955
that doesn't mean that you'll absolutely

484
00:27:26,955 --> 00:27:28,155
receive a check to that amount.

485
00:27:28,415 --> 00:27:29,635
It means that that's the most,

486
00:27:29,635 --> 00:27:32,075
that the MBA will contribute based on the plan

487
00:27:32,075 --> 00:27:34,275
that we have for us.

488
00:27:35,535 --> 00:27:38,715
It could be a little less, it won't be anymore for sure,

489
00:27:40,135 --> 00:27:45,075
but still the net project cost is million dollars,

490
00:27:45,085 --> 00:27:46,115
which is really pretty.

491
00:27:46,705 --> 00:27:48,835
It's a, it's a, it's a huge move.

492
00:27:48,985 --> 00:27:51,195
It's a huge partnership with the community.

493
00:27:51,875 --> 00:27:54,835
Certainly something to celebrate Sure. Community.

494
00:27:57,455 --> 00:28:00,435
And it, just to drive down a little bit on that, on

495
00:28:00,435 --> 00:28:01,635
that reimbursement,

496
00:28:02,855 --> 00:28:07,175
and I want to thank Elisa Hillary Brule,

497
00:28:07,905 --> 00:28:12,695
Meryl Nessler, Mariah who,

498
00:28:13,115 --> 00:28:14,695
who put simple maths together on

499
00:28:14,695 --> 00:28:16,935
what is really a complicated form of them.

500
00:28:17,555 --> 00:28:20,895
So I'm gonna turn this to Lisa to explain this. Alright,

501
00:28:21,025 --> 00:28:22,025
Super.

502
00:28:22,355 --> 00:28:24,295
So it's important to think

503
00:28:24,475 --> 00:28:28,935
of the MSB re MSBA reimbursement in two contexts.

504
00:28:29,515 --> 00:28:33,135
So the first context is what

505
00:28:33,665 --> 00:28:35,495
costs are eligible?

506
00:28:36,075 --> 00:28:39,535
And then the next context is what's the reimbursement rate?

507
00:28:40,075 --> 00:28:41,775
So the eligible costs

508
00:28:42,845 --> 00:28:47,385
are broken into the eligible square footage of the building.

509
00:28:48,405 --> 00:28:52,185
And as you'll see tonight

510
00:28:52,485 --> 00:28:57,105
and in other contexts, there's a, there's a lot

511
00:28:57,105 --> 00:29:00,065
of information about how

512
00:29:00,065 --> 00:29:04,745
that 84% is, you know, how we got to that 84%.

513
00:29:05,245 --> 00:29:09,665
But the, the square footage of the building is being 84%

514
00:29:09,665 --> 00:29:12,985
of the square footage of the building is being reimbursed.

515
00:29:14,875 --> 00:29:18,245
Another 16% will not be reimbursed.

516
00:29:18,245 --> 00:29:22,165
There's always parts of every project that are ineligible

517
00:29:22,505 --> 00:29:23,845
for reimbursement.

518
00:29:25,225 --> 00:29:29,125
And they include the theater space as well as

519
00:29:29,875 --> 00:29:33,005
storage, a little bit of the project labs.

520
00:29:33,005 --> 00:29:36,485
There's all the, the learning lab areas.

521
00:29:36,635 --> 00:29:40,005
There's spaces all over the building that are ineligible.

522
00:29:42,765 --> 00:29:46,225
So that's the first thing to understand that the, that the

523
00:29:47,225 --> 00:29:50,995
square footage is not fully reimbursable.

524
00:29:51,655 --> 00:29:55,395
And then for each square foot there is a cap

525
00:29:55,985 --> 00:29:58,155
that the MSBA puts.

526
00:29:58,495 --> 00:30:03,395
And so the building cost per square foot is in

527
00:30:03,395 --> 00:30:05,995
the $978 range,

528
00:30:06,535 --> 00:30:10,235
but the MSBA will only reimburse 600

529
00:30:10,375 --> 00:30:12,395
and something dollars of that.

530
00:30:12,735 --> 00:30:16,085
So there's a piece of the building that's ineligible

531
00:30:16,085 --> 00:30:18,645
for reimbursement and for the rest of the building,

532
00:30:19,035 --> 00:30:23,245
there's a portion of the cost of all of that square footage

533
00:30:23,475 --> 00:30:25,645
that is, is ineligible.

534
00:30:26,625 --> 00:30:30,685
So the dollar amount, the eligible costs

535
00:30:31,745 --> 00:30:34,125
are total $185 million.

536
00:30:35,465 --> 00:30:37,245
The reimbursement rate

537
00:30:37,875 --> 00:30:40,685
that we have been afforded is driven by a couple of things.

538
00:30:40,955 --> 00:30:43,205
There's a starting rate for all communities.

539
00:30:44,035 --> 00:30:46,885
There's a then scale for

540
00:30:47,555 --> 00:30:49,725
socioeconomic factors in that community.

541
00:30:49,785 --> 00:30:51,965
So as a relatively wealthy community,

542
00:30:54,105 --> 00:30:57,685
we get another 5.89 percentage points.

543
00:30:58,495 --> 00:31:03,165
Other less advantage communities would get a higher

544
00:31:04,075 --> 00:31:05,405
socioeconomic factor.

545
00:31:05,865 --> 00:31:07,085
But we're at 5.89.

546
00:31:07,625 --> 00:31:11,285
And then there are incentive points that the MSBA builds in

547
00:31:11,545 --> 00:31:13,525
around capital maintenance.

548
00:31:13,525 --> 00:31:14,965
They look at your maintenance plan

549
00:31:14,965 --> 00:31:16,885
and how you've maintained your other buildings.

550
00:31:17,475 --> 00:31:19,285
They look at the energy efficiency

551
00:31:19,285 --> 00:31:20,805
that you're building into your project

552
00:31:21,305 --> 00:31:25,085
and the potential for better air quality

553
00:31:25,235 --> 00:31:26,605
that you've built into your project.

554
00:31:26,945 --> 00:31:30,205
And we have just about as close

555
00:31:30,205 --> 00:31:33,485
to the maximum incentive points that you can get.

556
00:31:34,225 --> 00:31:38,325
So of the eligible costs of $185 million,

557
00:31:39,185 --> 00:31:42,405
the potential contingency rate is

558
00:31:42,415 --> 00:31:44,845
42.74%

559
00:31:45,545 --> 00:31:49,805
and that translates into $79 million plus

560
00:31:50,625 --> 00:31:54,605
an additional 1.6 if you move into your contingency.

561
00:31:55,305 --> 00:32:00,125
And while we have a healthy contingency built into this

562
00:32:00,125 --> 00:32:04,125
project, and I am hopefully optimistic

563
00:32:04,125 --> 00:32:07,365
that we won't spend all of it, I'm also fairly certain

564
00:32:07,365 --> 00:32:09,485
that we will spend some of it.

565
00:32:09,945 --> 00:32:14,085
So, so we have added in that potential contingency

566
00:32:15,085 --> 00:32:17,965
reimbursement grant of $1.6 million

567
00:32:19,005 --> 00:32:21,545
and that's how you get to the 80.6.

568
00:32:21,845 --> 00:32:23,745
And well, the project funding,

569
00:32:24,245 --> 00:32:25,905
the project funding agreement that

570
00:32:26,885 --> 00:32:28,305
has actually already been initiated

571
00:32:28,305 --> 00:32:30,305
by the MSBA after the meeting today.

572
00:32:30,325 --> 00:32:33,425
We received town manager who starts this process,

573
00:32:33,905 --> 00:32:36,305
received communication from the MSB already this morning

574
00:32:36,685 --> 00:32:38,545
saying, we'd like to enter into this agreement,

575
00:32:38,935 --> 00:32:42,525
we'll include this maximum grant, $80.6 million.

576
00:32:44,145 --> 00:32:45,765
We weren't sure what we were going to get

577
00:32:45,825 --> 00:32:48,085
and what they were gonna consider eligible knowledgeable.

578
00:32:48,145 --> 00:32:49,965
So this is really a very good new story.

579
00:32:51,325 --> 00:32:54,945
But that's, that is the story. And the math is, thank you.

580
00:32:54,965 --> 00:32:58,705
The math is simple, even for someone like me that kind

581
00:32:58,705 --> 00:33:01,225
of explains how community got there.

582
00:33:04,595 --> 00:33:07,375
So a couple things, you know, it is come up

583
00:33:07,475 --> 00:33:09,255
and I know school committee members have been asked.

584
00:33:09,395 --> 00:33:11,655
I'm I'm, I'm sure other public commissions have been asked,

585
00:33:12,155 --> 00:33:15,015
you know, can't, can't we, I'll phrase it this way,

586
00:33:15,065 --> 00:33:16,095
can't we do this differently?

587
00:33:16,265 --> 00:33:19,095
Can't we do it less expensive? Can't we do it cheaper?

588
00:33:20,395 --> 00:33:22,135
So, you know, let's talk about this.

589
00:33:22,135 --> 00:33:23,815
This is information we shared before.

590
00:33:24,555 --> 00:33:26,775
One of the options the school committee discussed

591
00:33:27,595 --> 00:33:28,735
was a base repair

592
00:33:28,795 --> 00:33:30,015
and in addition to high rock,

593
00:33:30,075 --> 00:33:33,975
now the base repair is about $152.2 million.

594
00:33:35,245 --> 00:33:37,845
A high rock addition to meet the programmatic needs

595
00:33:37,845 --> 00:33:40,645
that are identified would be about $59 million.

596
00:33:41,755 --> 00:33:44,135
The MSBA reimbursement would be $0.

597
00:33:46,025 --> 00:33:48,205
And according to the, the capital plan,

598
00:33:49,265 --> 00:33:51,165
and one of the reasons, the key reason that the,

599
00:33:51,425 --> 00:33:54,405
not the key reason, but a major factor in the school making

600
00:33:54,405 --> 00:33:58,605
this decision to do ******* first was to avoid future costs

601
00:33:59,225 --> 00:34:02,725
for a satellite school for, for Mitchell,

602
00:34:02,725 --> 00:34:04,445
which is estimated to be 40 million.

603
00:34:05,545 --> 00:34:09,365
So if you went to, you know, give us, give us,

604
00:34:10,285 --> 00:34:11,515
I don't wanna be flipped

605
00:34:11,515 --> 00:34:13,115
by saying this, give us door number two.

606
00:34:13,945 --> 00:34:15,835
Door number two in total actually

607
00:34:16,535 --> 00:34:20,795
is more expensive when you bake in the reimbursement than

608
00:34:22,745 --> 00:34:24,835
what a base repair would be.

609
00:34:25,015 --> 00:34:26,555
And by the way, holler,

610
00:34:26,735 --> 00:34:28,995
the polled footprint would essentially be the same.

611
00:34:29,415 --> 00:34:31,755
You wouldn't be building a new auditorium,

612
00:34:31,995 --> 00:34:33,995
although you certainly would, would renovate it.

613
00:34:34,375 --> 00:34:36,635
The modular classrooms would be replaced with

614
00:34:37,385 --> 00:34:38,475
modular classrooms.

615
00:34:38,735 --> 00:34:40,235
And by the way, in about 20

616
00:34:40,235 --> 00:34:41,475
years, they've had to be replaced.

617
00:34:41,535 --> 00:34:43,235
So there's an additional cost there

618
00:34:44,155 --> 00:34:46,075
because they, that's their, their useful life.

619
00:34:47,365 --> 00:34:49,585
If you are building a new poll, which is

620
00:34:49,735 --> 00:34:53,705
what the MCA voted on this morning, you are

621
00:34:54,935 --> 00:34:59,745
looking at a project that is third time to complete is

622
00:34:59,745 --> 00:35:03,065
that repair project is, is 10 years the work

623
00:35:03,065 --> 00:35:04,625
that happened over the summer can't happen

624
00:35:04,625 --> 00:35:06,225
during the school year, some of it both.

625
00:35:06,965 --> 00:35:10,545
And you're looking at a project that last 50 to 70 years

626
00:35:11,085 --> 00:35:13,945
as the current school has.

627
00:35:15,525 --> 00:35:18,625
So the answer is, is yes, you,

628
00:35:18,685 --> 00:35:19,905
you could do something differently,

629
00:35:20,365 --> 00:35:23,585
but you would not be a reuniting grade six through eight.

630
00:35:24,635 --> 00:35:27,955
You would not have a building to match your education plan,

631
00:35:28,005 --> 00:35:30,475
which is why the MSBA will not participate in it

632
00:35:30,625 --> 00:35:32,195
because that drives everything.

633
00:35:34,255 --> 00:35:37,365
And you have a costly project that would last

634
00:35:38,165 --> 00:35:39,965
through at least three generations

635
00:35:40,225 --> 00:35:41,245
of middle school students.

636
00:35:43,385 --> 00:35:47,335
And so there's that cost.

637
00:35:47,525 --> 00:35:50,295
Very simple, I think is important that you understand.

638
00:35:54,525 --> 00:35:55,845
I think one thing that,

639
00:35:55,945 --> 00:36:00,325
and the MSBA did provide

640
00:36:00,805 --> 00:36:03,045
feedback on through the process

641
00:36:03,265 --> 00:36:07,645
and earlier this, earlier this summer, they shared

642
00:36:08,595 --> 00:36:10,445
this is one of the many documents, pieces

643
00:36:10,505 --> 00:36:12,765
of feedback facilities assessment subsequent

644
00:36:12,965 --> 00:36:15,165
'cause they have folks who were working to prepare the

645
00:36:15,885 --> 00:36:17,285
MSB board to take the vote.

646
00:36:18,065 --> 00:36:20,205
And these are, you know,

647
00:36:20,775 --> 00:36:23,845
these are quotes from the MSBA.

648
00:36:24,315 --> 00:36:25,885
They, they very much appreciate.

649
00:36:25,985 --> 00:36:27,965
And I, and when we had our meetings in person,

650
00:36:28,155 --> 00:36:29,885
it's not really reflected in this document.

651
00:36:30,565 --> 00:36:33,765
They were exuberant about this project and this process

652
00:36:33,985 --> 00:36:35,205
and excited about it.

653
00:36:35,345 --> 00:36:39,285
And one of the folks best projects come forward to them in,

654
00:36:39,385 --> 00:36:40,485
in, in quite a while.

655
00:36:40,915 --> 00:36:42,485
They appreciate the thoughtful changes

656
00:36:42,625 --> 00:36:46,945
and refinements reductions in the estimated project costs.

657
00:36:48,255 --> 00:36:51,185
They provided feedback on parking and we were responsive.

658
00:36:51,185 --> 00:36:54,145
And by the way, the building committee's been responsive to

659
00:36:54,745 --> 00:36:57,785
neighbors, community members as well in the,

660
00:36:57,785 --> 00:36:59,865
in the development of this, of this plan.

661
00:37:01,535 --> 00:37:05,585
They appreciated the ongoing community outreach

662
00:37:06,205 --> 00:37:08,945
and they were very excited about the phasing schedule as

663
00:37:08,945 --> 00:37:11,425
to why we considered doing it that way.

664
00:37:11,445 --> 00:37:12,665
So there has been strong

665
00:37:12,665 --> 00:37:13,825
and positive feedback from

666
00:37:13,825 --> 00:37:15,105
the M MS VA throughout the process.

667
00:37:16,015 --> 00:37:17,185
It's important to note to the,

668
00:37:18,925 --> 00:37:20,785
and then lastly, as you know,

669
00:37:20,835 --> 00:37:24,425
there is a final summer information session this evening at

670
00:37:24,445 --> 00:37:28,545
6:00 PM where Lisa, we'll go through

671
00:37:29,685 --> 00:37:31,385
El Lisa and Dr.

672
00:37:31,825 --> 00:37:34,185
Dr. Downey, the designers will go through

673
00:37:34,785 --> 00:37:36,945
a little bit more information has been, include all

674
00:37:36,945 --> 00:37:39,215
of this information and allow

675
00:37:39,235 --> 00:37:40,335
for some questions and answers.

676
00:37:41,795 --> 00:37:44,215
And then there will be, there are two open houses.

677
00:37:44,435 --> 00:37:45,895
Ski school committee, as you know,

678
00:37:45,895 --> 00:37:47,775
typically has one fall open house.

679
00:37:48,555 --> 00:37:52,575
So I'm leaning on you to have two open houses for folks

680
00:37:52,575 --> 00:37:53,935
to come and talk about anything at all

681
00:37:53,995 --> 00:37:55,575
as they typically do at your open houses,

682
00:37:55,715 --> 00:37:57,695
but also have an opportunity to visit Paula

683
00:37:58,235 --> 00:37:59,495
and see what's going on there.

684
00:38:00,825 --> 00:38:02,055
We'll have some tours.

685
00:38:02,345 --> 00:38:04,655
We're going to have at least on one of these dates,

686
00:38:04,655 --> 00:38:08,095
some childcare working on both dates for folks

687
00:38:08,195 --> 00:38:10,055
to and did before.

688
00:38:10,715 --> 00:38:13,895
And we really want to invite town meeting members in

689
00:38:14,755 --> 00:38:17,135
on the September 19th meeting in particular

690
00:38:17,135 --> 00:38:18,855
because town meeting was the first

691
00:38:19,785 --> 00:38:21,975
major vote that needs to occur.

692
00:38:23,355 --> 00:38:25,895
And then really the entire community for

693
00:38:26,545 --> 00:38:28,575
valid question on November 3rd.

694
00:38:33,095 --> 00:38:36,085
I think that's it for right now at the, that conversation

695
00:38:36,105 --> 00:38:37,165
or questions or anything.

696
00:38:38,975 --> 00:38:43,055
I, I'll just add that it was interesting this morning as I

697
00:38:44,675 --> 00:38:46,775
got with some of the district leadership team

698
00:38:47,555 --> 00:38:50,375
and you know, in a few areas, I said, you know, what,

699
00:38:50,375 --> 00:38:51,535
what are you hearing from,

700
00:38:52,085 --> 00:38:54,335
what are you hearing from your staff?

701
00:38:54,365 --> 00:38:56,295
What are you hearing from the educators

702
00:38:56,585 --> 00:38:58,695
about, you know, the space?

703
00:38:59,595 --> 00:39:01,615
And a few of them were like, you know,

704
00:39:01,615 --> 00:39:02,695
well everybody's excited,

705
00:39:03,075 --> 00:39:05,855
but you know, they're a little, they're bummed,

706
00:39:05,855 --> 00:39:07,055
they're not necessarily gonna get their

707
00:39:07,075 --> 00:39:08,295
own classroom all day.

708
00:39:10,035 --> 00:39:11,215
You know, they really hope

709
00:39:11,215 --> 00:39:13,375
that they'd have a little bit more space here.

710
00:39:14,885 --> 00:39:17,255
They, you know, they, they, and, and,

711
00:39:17,595 --> 00:39:20,115
and I said, that is perfect.

712
00:39:20,425 --> 00:39:22,835
That means we are exactly where we wanna be.

713
00:39:23,245 --> 00:39:26,675
Where nobody gets everything that they, that they want,

714
00:39:27,095 --> 00:39:28,315
but everybody gets what they need.

715
00:39:29,255 --> 00:39:33,115
And, you know, for, for every teacher

716
00:39:33,615 --> 00:39:36,435
to get their own classroom would mean that

717
00:39:36,435 --> 00:39:40,275
that classroom would sit vacant for, you know, 20

718
00:39:40,415 --> 00:39:41,675
to 30% of the day.

719
00:39:42,455 --> 00:39:44,395
And at, you know, every,

720
00:39:44,405 --> 00:39:47,475
every a thousand square feet is a million dollars.

721
00:39:48,095 --> 00:39:52,475
And this project team has taken that very, very seriously

722
00:39:53,335 --> 00:39:55,515
and gone through, over

723
00:39:55,615 --> 00:39:59,715
and over again to just try to

724
00:40:00,305 --> 00:40:02,955
tighten up and look at spaces

725
00:40:03,415 --> 00:40:06,075
and again, making sure that we're meeting our needs,

726
00:40:07,745 --> 00:40:12,485
but that we are not just giving everyone everything

727
00:40:12,485 --> 00:40:14,085
that they dream of.

728
00:40:15,025 --> 00:40:19,525
And so I I I think that that, you know,

729
00:40:19,555 --> 00:40:21,925
there's, there's some commentary in the community

730
00:40:21,925 --> 00:40:25,525
that this is the Taj Mahal of schools, that it is overbuilt

731
00:40:25,555 --> 00:40:28,485
that it is going to be, you know,

732
00:40:28,985 --> 00:40:31,645
way more than we really need to do what we do.

733
00:40:33,225 --> 00:40:35,715
That is not my observation from being really

734
00:40:35,995 --> 00:40:37,155
intimately involved in the process.

735
00:40:37,575 --> 00:40:41,075
So if, if I could add to that, that I I I, I've had the,

736
00:40:41,175 --> 00:40:43,275
you know, be honored to, to work in a couple

737
00:40:43,915 --> 00:40:45,875
building projects before I came to the,

738
00:40:45,975 --> 00:40:48,675
but also in needed when we did the Newman renovation,

739
00:40:49,885 --> 00:40:52,825
we added onto the high school after it was done.

740
00:40:54,655 --> 00:40:56,355
And when we built some new,

741
00:40:56,935 --> 00:41:00,235
and in each case, when you bring the educators to the table,

742
00:41:00,615 --> 00:41:04,395
people want more, we want bigger and we want more

743
00:41:04,855 --> 00:41:06,315
and we need additional need.

744
00:41:06,415 --> 00:41:08,155
And I completely get all of that.

745
00:41:08,705 --> 00:41:13,075
When we did the Emery Grove building, Mary Ann, Alex, Carmen

746
00:41:13,075 --> 00:41:16,475
and me wanted more and we wanted each one of us,

747
00:41:17,315 --> 00:41:21,355
including me, but we ended up doing what we we needed to do.

748
00:41:23,975 --> 00:41:27,555
And we have a, we have a great design

749
00:41:27,665 --> 00:41:28,995
with power project.

750
00:41:29,375 --> 00:41:32,995
It, it, there's, there are sufficient classrooms,

751
00:41:34,285 --> 00:41:36,725
they're all larger than our existing classrooms.

752
00:41:37,625 --> 00:41:41,445
We have a library and media center that has unique spaces

753
00:41:41,785 --> 00:41:44,485
for media and technology that we don't have right now.

754
00:41:45,985 --> 00:41:48,925
We have gymnasts, pretty simple.

755
00:41:49,155 --> 00:41:51,645
It's, you know, gymnasium.

756
00:41:52,225 --> 00:41:54,805
But we have an auditorium, which is one of the largest

757
00:41:55,375 --> 00:41:56,925
ineligible costs for this project,

758
00:41:57,825 --> 00:41:59,205
but it meets our program needs

759
00:41:59,385 --> 00:42:03,045
and it further additionally rest is community needs.

760
00:42:03,825 --> 00:42:06,645
So I think it's a right size project in building

761
00:42:08,545 --> 00:42:10,325
not only for what we're doing now kids,

762
00:42:10,625 --> 00:42:13,525
but what we don't even know we'll be doing within 20 years

763
00:42:13,525 --> 00:42:15,165
from now is there's flexible space.

764
00:42:18,785 --> 00:42:21,285
Alright, questions Ms.

765
00:42:24,075 --> 00:42:27,075
With the meeting tonight, I just,

766
00:42:27,175 --> 00:42:28,875
and I think everyone's aware of this,

767
00:42:28,875 --> 00:42:30,675
but there was one, there are a lot

768
00:42:30,675 --> 00:42:33,355
of misconceptions obviously, and that makes sense

769
00:42:33,435 --> 00:42:35,155
because it's such a complicated process.

770
00:42:36,115 --> 00:42:38,675
But there was one that I thought was particularly,

771
00:42:39,355 --> 00:42:41,475
I felt like it needed to be addressed publicly

772
00:42:42,175 --> 00:42:46,475
and that was that if we postpone the vote in November,

773
00:42:47,055 --> 00:42:50,235
we can take the vote again in April

774
00:42:51,375 --> 00:42:55,435
and I need to confirm what I believe to be true, which is

775
00:42:55,465 --> 00:42:57,795
that that is not actually an option.

776
00:42:58,055 --> 00:42:59,755
And if we were to do that,

777
00:43:00,415 --> 00:43:04,275
we would lose MSBA involvement in the project.

778
00:43:04,935 --> 00:43:06,755
And so I just felt like it was important to say

779
00:43:06,755 --> 00:43:08,755
that one in a public meeting setting

780
00:43:09,425 --> 00:43:13,755
because we would lose everything if, if someone were

781
00:43:13,755 --> 00:43:16,715
to go forward with that and think it was actually factual.

782
00:43:18,415 --> 00:43:20,115
Let me, let me address that a little bit

783
00:43:20,135 --> 00:43:21,395
to my understanding of the process.

784
00:43:22,135 --> 00:43:27,075
Yes. And in talking to the MSBA, if,

785
00:43:27,215 --> 00:43:29,955
if the vote, if the vote failed in November,

786
00:43:33,445 --> 00:43:35,305
one of the things that's happening right now is we are

787
00:43:35,305 --> 00:43:38,905
within this 120 day window to, to accomplish a vote

788
00:43:38,965 --> 00:43:40,185
and to get things done.

789
00:43:41,735 --> 00:43:42,905
Once you exceed that window,

790
00:43:43,045 --> 00:43:46,505
the MSBA can essentially pull the plug on your, your project

791
00:43:46,605 --> 00:43:48,065
and tell you to start all over again.

792
00:43:48,475 --> 00:43:49,585
We're still within that.

793
00:43:50,475 --> 00:43:52,135
If the vote failed in November,

794
00:43:54,565 --> 00:43:55,785
couple things would happen.

795
00:43:55,925 --> 00:43:57,505
Two things at least that I can think of.

796
00:43:58,085 --> 00:43:59,465
One, anything that's pushed off

797
00:43:59,465 --> 00:44:01,825
to the future will escalate the cost of this project

798
00:44:01,935 --> 00:44:04,825
because this is timed accordingly.

799
00:44:05,085 --> 00:44:06,505
And the schedule is built

800
00:44:06,765 --> 00:44:08,505
and the costs are built on that schedule.

801
00:44:09,085 --> 00:44:12,945
So any delay in April is five month delay,

802
00:44:13,565 --> 00:44:15,265
any delay, increased costs.

803
00:44:15,405 --> 00:44:18,545
So that's one thing. The second thing is if the community

804
00:44:19,025 --> 00:44:21,825
voted against, if the community could,

805
00:44:22,525 --> 00:44:26,585
you can have a conversation with the MSBA, you can ask them,

806
00:44:28,045 --> 00:44:30,025
can we get more time?

807
00:44:30,985 --> 00:44:32,405
That's not at all guaranteed.

808
00:44:33,035 --> 00:44:34,845
They can say you've gotta go back

809
00:44:34,845 --> 00:44:36,885
and start over again with a statement of interest.

810
00:44:37,505 --> 00:44:39,885
Or they would wanna have a conversation about

811
00:44:40,625 --> 00:44:42,165
why would we want to do that?

812
00:44:42,185 --> 00:44:44,125
Why would we entertain extension?

813
00:44:44,545 --> 00:44:46,565
But even if they did, the first one kicks in,

814
00:44:46,585 --> 00:44:47,885
you've gotta increase costs

815
00:44:49,865 --> 00:44:53,685
and it it be a significant challenge.

816
00:44:53,905 --> 00:44:58,345
So it would certainly delay the project

817
00:44:58,685 --> 00:45:00,025
or it would kill the project.

818
00:45:00,325 --> 00:45:03,745
And that really is a decision in conversation with the MSBA.

819
00:45:04,125 --> 00:45:07,265
And is it true that in conversation with the MSB

820
00:45:07,265 --> 00:45:09,825
and one thing they're trying to gauge is they do not wanna

821
00:45:09,825 --> 00:45:12,505
go forward if they don't have the community's

822
00:45:12,525 --> 00:45:14,265
buy-in? Is that correct?

823
00:45:15,125 --> 00:45:17,665
Oh, right. They, they would, they would certainly want

824
00:45:17,665 --> 00:45:20,905
to judge what, where is the community at?

825
00:45:22,005 --> 00:45:23,265
The MSB wants to spend money,

826
00:45:23,575 --> 00:45:25,505
they wanna support school building projects

827
00:45:25,565 --> 00:45:28,225
and they're only really investing in communities that

828
00:45:28,815 --> 00:45:32,105
have their act together are organized and ready to go.

829
00:45:33,555 --> 00:45:36,415
If that's, if that's not the case, they wanna try

830
00:45:36,415 --> 00:45:38,735
to understand that to see if this is worthwhile

831
00:45:38,795 --> 00:45:40,455
or should the available dollars go

832
00:45:40,455 --> 00:45:42,055
to another community that's prepared.

833
00:45:45,335 --> 00:45:47,855
I think another way, the way that I think about it is,

834
00:45:48,435 --> 00:45:50,135
you know, of course you have

835
00:45:50,135 --> 00:45:52,015
to make some assumptions about the rate of inflation,

836
00:45:52,155 --> 00:45:54,655
but on a project of this size, you know,

837
00:45:54,715 --> 00:45:57,495
you're talking roughly a million dollars a month

838
00:45:58,555 --> 00:46:01,175
and so to push out five

839
00:46:01,175 --> 00:46:04,655
or six months, you would have to somehow find

840
00:46:08,145 --> 00:46:09,475
more than five

841
00:46:09,475 --> 00:46:13,155
or 6,000 square feet to eliminate from this building.

842
00:46:15,415 --> 00:46:18,105
That work has been done already.

843
00:46:18,685 --> 00:46:22,825
You know, I I can't imagine what 6,000 square feet

844
00:46:23,265 --> 00:46:26,305
Actually I'll I say Lisa, I'll a little bit of that.

845
00:46:27,365 --> 00:46:29,345
Any change to the educational plan

846
00:46:29,405 --> 00:46:32,545
and the existing plan for the square footage would mean

847
00:46:33,305 --> 00:46:35,505
a completely different conversation with the SB.

848
00:46:36,245 --> 00:46:37,905
So we really couldn't even do that.

849
00:46:39,335 --> 00:46:42,745
We'd have to, I, I'm not sure we have to do, we'd have

850
00:46:42,745 --> 00:46:44,065
to consider something else, but anything

851
00:46:44,065 --> 00:46:47,185
that would would take away from the educational plan

852
00:46:47,605 --> 00:46:50,345
or anything of substance would mean the MSBA saying

853
00:46:50,345 --> 00:46:52,185
that we would've to reconsider the, again,

854
00:46:53,235 --> 00:46:56,375
We'd have to find that money from the town that,

855
00:46:56,375 --> 00:46:57,655
that extra extra, I'm sorry again,

856
00:46:57,765 --> 00:46:59,935
that extra money would have to come from the town.

857
00:47:00,045 --> 00:47:02,215
There's no other place that money would

858
00:47:02,215 --> 00:47:03,215
$80 million?

859
00:47:03,515 --> 00:47:07,415
No, the ex, the ESCO costs over the course of five months.

860
00:47:07,565 --> 00:47:09,095
There's no other person

861
00:47:09,125 --> 00:47:10,855
that would come in and pay that for us.

862
00:47:15,405 --> 00:47:18,065
Andrew, I'd like to, I think,

863
00:47:18,565 --> 00:47:21,265
ask some follow up questions on the project cost comparison

864
00:47:21,315 --> 00:47:23,305
sheet, page five in the handout

865
00:47:23,305 --> 00:47:25,785
that we received looking at sort of the base repair.

866
00:47:25,845 --> 00:47:28,505
And I just, again,

867
00:47:28,505 --> 00:47:29,785
because I, I think, you know,

868
00:47:29,785 --> 00:47:31,225
we have heard in the community,

869
00:47:31,855 --> 00:47:33,905
just fix it up, it's good enough.

870
00:47:34,485 --> 00:47:39,045
We need, you know, the used car is fine essentially analogy.

871
00:47:39,625 --> 00:47:44,245
And so if we, you know, if this doesn't pass,

872
00:47:44,495 --> 00:47:48,685
we're giving up all

873
00:47:48,685 --> 00:47:50,085
of the educational benefit

874
00:47:50,585 --> 00:47:53,525
and community benefit that we've talked about, you know, for

875
00:47:54,085 --> 00:47:55,085
multiple, multiple years

876
00:47:55,625 --> 00:47:58,405
and you know, $80 million of state participation,

877
00:47:58,405 --> 00:48:00,325
which is an incredible amount of money.

878
00:48:00,945 --> 00:48:02,845
And I'll just say as an aside, the fact

879
00:48:02,845 --> 00:48:05,285
that we achieved such a high reimbursement rate,

880
00:48:05,685 --> 00:48:07,285
I think speaks to the degree to which

881
00:48:08,185 --> 00:48:12,125
the MSBA believes in the quality of the project

882
00:48:12,155 --> 00:48:16,165
that we've put forth and needham's ability to deliver

883
00:48:16,685 --> 00:48:18,485
a project of this quality for our

884
00:48:19,085 --> 00:48:20,165
students and for our community.

885
00:48:20,745 --> 00:48:23,445
But if you look at sort of the just repair it option,

886
00:48:24,605 --> 00:48:28,605
I even think this is somewhat conservative because,

887
00:48:29,185 --> 00:48:32,325
and correct me if I'm wrong, the total project cost,

888
00:48:32,385 --> 00:48:36,085
the 1 52 was that that was the value.

889
00:48:36,905 --> 00:48:39,645
Has that, have any of these costs I guess been escalated

890
00:48:39,665 --> 00:48:40,245
or are these just,

891
00:48:40,245 --> 00:48:41,645
they're escalated, they're escalated. The

892
00:48:41,645 --> 00:48:45,045
1 52 is escalated, the, the Mitchell swing space?

893
00:48:46,025 --> 00:48:47,045
Not really, not

894
00:48:47,085 --> 00:48:49,365
Exactly, you know, he, he has been but did not, entirely

895
00:48:49,865 --> 00:48:51,965
Not to when it would actually occur, right?

896
00:48:51,985 --> 00:48:54,965
So your instincts are right. This is, that's low.

897
00:48:55,985 --> 00:49:00,645
The high rock addition is low, there's no contingency

898
00:49:01,255 --> 00:49:03,965
added yet, whereas there's a lot

899
00:49:03,965 --> 00:49:07,485
of contingency already on the current plan.

900
00:49:08,345 --> 00:49:09,345
So,

901
00:49:10,145 --> 00:49:12,805
And, and the, the interesting thing is that actually

902
00:49:13,955 --> 00:49:15,975
if you, if you went this way, I guess,

903
00:49:16,015 --> 00:49:17,095
I don't know how else to say this.

904
00:49:17,605 --> 00:49:19,215
High Rock would benefit

905
00:49:19,565 --> 00:49:21,495
because you would be adding spaces

906
00:49:21,645 --> 00:49:24,295
that they do not have hollered.

907
00:49:25,035 --> 00:49:29,215
You are using the same classrooms, same size classrooms,

908
00:49:29,605 --> 00:49:31,935
same size spaces in, they're refurbished

909
00:49:31,935 --> 00:49:33,655
and renovated in new systems,

910
00:49:34,235 --> 00:49:35,735
but the spaces remain the same.

911
00:49:35,795 --> 00:49:38,855
So you do not, you're not adding special education spaces,

912
00:49:38,855 --> 00:49:40,255
you're not thinking about the auditor,

913
00:49:40,255 --> 00:49:42,055
you're not thinking about library

914
00:49:42,355 --> 00:49:44,495
or other, certain other spaces in that building.

915
00:49:44,805 --> 00:49:46,175
High rock is a little different than,

916
00:49:47,785 --> 00:49:49,405
And again, I wanna push on that.

917
00:49:50,025 --> 00:49:54,125
So, so essentially what we would be doing at Pollard is only

918
00:49:55,925 --> 00:49:56,925
bringing it up to code

919
00:49:58,015 --> 00:50:01,555
and doing absolutely necessary renovations.

920
00:50:01,615 --> 00:50:05,235
But to your point, not enlarging the space, not dealing

921
00:50:05,235 --> 00:50:07,075
with the programmatic insufficiencies

922
00:50:07,075 --> 00:50:08,075
that we have currently.

923
00:50:08,735 --> 00:50:12,065
And having sat through some

924
00:50:12,065 --> 00:50:14,425
of the very preliminary meetings

925
00:50:14,425 --> 00:50:17,505
with the MSBA when we started this process, there are

926
00:50:18,055 --> 00:50:19,985
very significant building issues

927
00:50:20,605 --> 00:50:22,145
at the current Pollard site.

928
00:50:22,725 --> 00:50:26,305
And so I would be very concerned that

929
00:50:28,025 --> 00:50:30,565
it would be years before we got to address some

930
00:50:30,565 --> 00:50:34,285
of those issues that directly impact our educator's

931
00:50:34,285 --> 00:50:36,855
ability to do their work.

932
00:50:36,855 --> 00:50:38,135
Because if, you know,

933
00:50:38,255 --> 00:50:42,095
I know Tabitha spends an inordinate amount of time dealing

934
00:50:42,095 --> 00:50:45,055
with critical building issues wherein

935
00:50:45,165 --> 00:50:48,655
that diverts her attention from working with students

936
00:50:48,715 --> 00:50:50,015
and working with teachers.

937
00:50:50,195 --> 00:50:54,605
So I mean I think that, you know, depending on

938
00:50:54,605 --> 00:50:55,965
what you include, exclude,

939
00:50:56,105 --> 00:50:57,885
it looks like it might be cheaper.

940
00:50:59,795 --> 00:51:04,685
It's in so many ways, in my opinion, not even close.

941
00:51:05,185 --> 00:51:09,615
And even if the, even if it, you know, people could,

942
00:51:09,615 --> 00:51:12,095
could say, well, you know, don't include Mitchell,

943
00:51:12,105 --> 00:51:13,175
don't include high rock.

944
00:51:13,205 --> 00:51:17,765
Just do you know, it is such a substandard option

945
00:51:18,425 --> 00:51:21,125
and one that we've not even started planning for yet.

946
00:51:21,185 --> 00:51:22,965
So it's probably a good three years

947
00:51:23,065 --> 00:51:24,525
before we would even start

948
00:51:25,565 --> 00:51:28,265
and then it would continue many years into the future.

949
00:51:28,405 --> 00:51:33,105
So I think again, the cost of not approving this

950
00:51:33,325 --> 00:51:36,385
to me is so much more

951
00:51:36,975 --> 00:51:39,225
than just losing the MSBA.

952
00:51:39,725 --> 00:51:41,745
We may add to that, that there, the dollars

953
00:51:41,805 --> 00:51:45,185
and cents the cost to students is pretty extraordinary.

954
00:51:45,375 --> 00:51:47,305
This would take 10 years to complete.

955
00:51:48,055 --> 00:51:50,315
So the disruption to learning for, as I said,

956
00:51:50,315 --> 00:51:52,235
three generations of, of college students.

957
00:51:52,295 --> 00:51:56,115
So I I would any, any, any parent of a newborn

958
00:51:56,455 --> 00:51:57,515
or soon to be born

959
00:51:57,655 --> 00:52:00,835
or a kindergartner should hear that, that with, with

960
00:52:01,305 --> 00:52:04,675
with a repair only college, their children

961
00:52:06,355 --> 00:52:09,605
most likely face a completely disruptive middle school

962
00:52:09,605 --> 00:52:11,645
experience for the foreseeable future.

963
00:52:13,335 --> 00:52:13,805
Thank you.

964
00:52:19,035 --> 00:52:20,385
Other Questions or costs?

965
00:52:23,385 --> 00:52:28,005
Just on the chart it

966
00:52:28,285 --> 00:52:29,965
says, you know, needs education black belt

967
00:52:29,985 --> 00:52:32,365
and for a lot of people, I think what's a plan?

968
00:52:32,365 --> 00:52:33,485
Like what, what does that mean?

969
00:52:33,865 --> 00:52:35,485
And I think what we've just talked about

970
00:52:35,785 --> 00:52:37,285
really articulates it.

971
00:52:37,285 --> 00:52:39,485
And most people in this community were aware of the building

972
00:52:39,965 --> 00:52:42,365
'cause some of them went through it, you know, older,

973
00:52:42,365 --> 00:52:44,405
the people that kids go through it understand

974
00:52:44,865 --> 00:52:46,725
how deficient that building is.

975
00:52:47,225 --> 00:52:48,645
And you may fix it up

976
00:52:48,665 --> 00:52:50,845
and you made this point, it's like classrooms are,

977
00:52:51,545 --> 00:52:52,925
you still don't have science left.

978
00:52:53,265 --> 00:52:56,565
You still have the same overcrowding in the corners

979
00:52:56,785 --> 00:52:58,405
and in, you know, in the cafeteria.

980
00:52:58,695 --> 00:53:02,045
We're not changing anything on the experience.

981
00:53:02,065 --> 00:53:04,165
So it's, that just doesn't meet the plan.

982
00:53:04,625 --> 00:53:06,525
It really is a

983
00:53:06,865 --> 00:53:09,205
and it's hard to put that on a chart in one line,

984
00:53:09,505 --> 00:53:12,405
but the reality is it's a very substandard experience,

985
00:53:12,405 --> 00:53:14,365
especially when you add, this is a building

986
00:53:14,365 --> 00:53:17,405
that was built 58 and you adding more time.

987
00:53:18,005 --> 00:53:22,685
I think the lipstick on a pig just, it goes, and,

988
00:53:22,685 --> 00:53:24,605
and many people in this community

989
00:53:25,145 --> 00:53:27,205
and many who went through the

990
00:53:27,755 --> 00:53:31,325
botched hollered renovation originally, many, many years ago

991
00:53:31,965 --> 00:53:33,205
realized this building is not,

992
00:53:33,875 --> 00:53:35,485
this is not a building you wanna repair.

993
00:53:36,085 --> 00:53:38,085
I mean you, you sometimes this is a building

994
00:53:38,345 --> 00:53:39,565
we rebuild and it makes sense.

995
00:53:39,865 --> 00:53:41,685
It was a good solid building, we could do it.

996
00:53:42,355 --> 00:53:44,005
Pollard is not a building anyone

997
00:53:44,685 --> 00:53:46,245
I think would recommend you repair.

998
00:53:46,825 --> 00:53:49,365
And so it's, it's even I think the worst thing

999
00:53:49,365 --> 00:53:51,885
that you say when you, when we do these comparisons,

1000
00:53:51,925 --> 00:53:54,285
I think it's community see that

1001
00:53:54,285 --> 00:53:58,205
because it's, this is actually the cost effective solution

1002
00:53:58,465 --> 00:54:00,485
and the responsible solution.

1003
00:54:04,135 --> 00:54:07,795
Thank you Michael, anything else? Chuck?

1004
00:54:08,645 --> 00:54:13,195
Maybe just to pile on a little more, I think that

1005
00:54:13,895 --> 00:54:17,035
on top of what Michael and Elisa just said,

1006
00:54:17,535 --> 00:54:22,405
or sorry, Michael said is that like learning has changed.

1007
00:54:22,555 --> 00:54:24,885
Like we have a new portrait of a Needham graduate

1008
00:54:25,025 --> 00:54:27,885
and it's not built upon just independent test taking work.

1009
00:54:28,115 --> 00:54:30,445
It's built upon collaboration and projects

1010
00:54:30,785 --> 00:54:32,565
and interacting with students around you.

1011
00:54:33,145 --> 00:54:35,005
The color building that we have now

1012
00:54:35,665 --> 00:54:38,245
is there's no learning labs, which we're planning for.

1013
00:54:38,245 --> 00:54:40,205
There's no upgraded auditorium.

1014
00:54:40,395 --> 00:54:43,525
It's not built for the new portrait of a Needham graduate.

1015
00:54:44,265 --> 00:54:45,845
It was built so long ago

1016
00:54:45,845 --> 00:54:47,805
and when learning looked completely different.

1017
00:54:48,145 --> 00:54:49,925
So I think that upgrading a space

1018
00:54:50,505 --> 00:54:54,245
and having a completely new space are two different things.

1019
00:54:54,355 --> 00:54:56,205
Upgrading the new par building is not,

1020
00:54:56,305 --> 00:54:57,885
or the current power building is not gonna

1021
00:54:57,885 --> 00:54:59,205
be sufficient at all.

1022
00:54:59,825 --> 00:55:03,205
No matter how much you again put lipstick on a pig,

1023
00:55:03,235 --> 00:55:05,365
it's not gonna help the learning space.

1024
00:55:05,395 --> 00:55:06,405
It's not gonna help the students.

1025
00:55:06,475 --> 00:55:09,405
It's not gonna help the teachers embrace the new portrait

1026
00:55:09,405 --> 00:55:11,405
of the Needham graduate and Future Portraits

1027
00:55:11,585 --> 00:55:12,605
of Needham graduate.

1028
00:55:13,325 --> 00:55:16,125
A full new six through eight school will do that

1029
00:55:16,345 --> 00:55:17,725
and will help teachers adapt

1030
00:55:17,755 --> 00:55:21,285
because future grades, future generations are gonna change.

1031
00:55:21,355 --> 00:55:23,885
It's not gonna look like how it looked in the past 70

1032
00:55:23,885 --> 00:55:25,125
years with the same building.

1033
00:55:25,795 --> 00:55:27,965
It's gonna look different. So I think again,

1034
00:55:28,115 --> 00:55:31,085
like just a new school would be so much better

1035
00:55:31,545 --> 00:55:33,885
for everyone involved, all the students, all the teachers,

1036
00:55:34,665 --> 00:55:36,205
family, the native community.

1037
00:55:36,805 --> 00:55:38,845
'cause we want evolve. We don't wanna stay in the same place

1038
00:55:38,845 --> 00:55:40,005
that we've been for so long.

1039
00:55:41,235 --> 00:55:43,665
Thank you for those comments and,

1040
00:55:43,765 --> 00:55:46,145
and actually a a a great segue into

1041
00:55:46,145 --> 00:55:47,225
the presentation tonight.

1042
00:55:47,275 --> 00:55:48,385
Where we are going,

1043
00:55:55,915 --> 00:55:58,345
looks like what education looks like today,

1044
00:55:58,685 --> 00:56:00,185
but how hard it is to make it happen.

1045
00:56:00,965 --> 00:56:03,665
Our educators are phenomenal and they do a great job,

1046
00:56:04,725 --> 00:56:06,305
but they're literally trying to

1047
00:56:18,625 --> 00:56:21,525
Put much higher without cutting back significantly on

1048
00:56:21,525 --> 00:56:22,565
a number of projects.

1049
00:56:22,625 --> 00:56:26,525
So, you know, their decision as a board is always, we want

1050
00:56:26,525 --> 00:56:28,645
to increase reimbursements to help communities,

1051
00:56:28,945 --> 00:56:30,085
but we can only do so much

1052
00:56:30,145 --> 00:56:31,525
or we're not gonna be able to support

1053
00:56:31,785 --> 00:56:34,005
as many projects they're doing a balancing

1054
00:56:34,005 --> 00:56:35,005
Act too.

1055
00:56:36,315 --> 00:56:38,705
Thank you. All right.

1056
00:56:40,795 --> 00:56:44,085
More on poll tonight and in the future for all of us.

1057
00:56:45,895 --> 00:56:49,445
Let's turn to our third discussion item, the Steven Palmer

1058
00:56:50,245 --> 00:56:53,405
Property Transition memorandum of agreement

1059
00:56:54,395 --> 00:56:57,205
that has been discussed already by the select board

1060
00:56:57,505 --> 00:57:00,085
and we're gonna talk about it today.

1061
00:57:00,505 --> 00:57:03,565
Yes. So as a result of the school committee

1062
00:57:04,995 --> 00:57:07,845
direction and conversation with select board,

1063
00:57:08,375 --> 00:57:11,365
there was a decision to create a memorandum of agreement

1064
00:57:11,365 --> 00:57:14,325
regarding disposition of Steve Palmer parcel

1065
00:57:15,305 --> 00:57:19,525
and going further, I just wanna make sure Liz,

1066
00:57:19,535 --> 00:57:20,605
we're still okay with Zoom?

1067
00:57:21,065 --> 00:57:22,925
No, the wifi,

1068
00:57:24,515 --> 00:57:26,575
No, so we're not zooming right now.

1069
00:57:30,205 --> 00:57:34,785
We, what you turn, let's say recording up there.

1070
00:57:39,585 --> 00:57:43,355
Can can you go downstairs

1071
00:57:43,375 --> 00:57:45,195
and see if we can access it so we know.

1072
00:57:48,305 --> 00:57:51,045
Hold on. Alright,

1073
00:57:55,505 --> 00:57:58,075
we can, we'll keep going if that's okay.

1074
00:57:58,095 --> 00:58:02,675
Yes. Alright, so in conversation

1075
00:58:02,865 --> 00:58:04,275
with the town manager,

1076
00:58:04,995 --> 00:58:07,715
the select court has actually already discussed this

1077
00:58:07,765 --> 00:58:11,555
memorandum of agreement and discussing with Michael

1078
00:58:11,615 --> 00:58:14,195
and Lisa it presented to you,

1079
00:58:14,735 --> 00:58:19,355
the idea would be at your next meeting to

1080
00:58:20,605 --> 00:58:25,515
prove it and the select board will

1081
00:58:25,515 --> 00:58:29,155
do the same thing so that if things can move forward

1082
00:58:29,185 --> 00:58:30,635
with planning for the student.

1083
00:58:35,375 --> 00:58:37,885
Thank you. With that

1084
00:58:39,585 --> 00:58:41,805
my open the floor for discussion.

1085
00:58:48,435 --> 00:58:52,835
I will note that this does capture some of the things

1086
00:58:52,835 --> 00:58:55,955
that we've discussed in future meetings

1087
00:58:55,955 --> 00:58:59,395
where the select board will assume responsibility

1088
00:59:00,095 --> 00:59:02,875
for supporting the existing tenants in the relocation

1089
00:59:02,875 --> 00:59:06,235
process and winding down the current residential use.

1090
00:59:07,055 --> 00:59:10,835
You know, that job of managing the occupied building is

1091
00:59:14,065 --> 00:59:16,015
Going to remain there task

1092
00:59:17,845 --> 00:59:20,095
that we will prepare

1093
00:59:20,095 --> 00:59:22,725
and submit capital requests as part

1094
00:59:22,725 --> 00:59:25,645
of the capital improvement plan going out to 2032.

1095
00:59:27,545 --> 00:59:29,325
And then as we've talked about,

1096
00:59:29,865 --> 00:59:32,725
the town manager will do two things.

1097
00:59:32,945 --> 00:59:37,685
One, ensure that the operating budget for fiscal year 2028,

1098
00:59:38,835 --> 00:59:42,925
that the any needs will be budgeted there

1099
00:59:44,145 --> 00:59:45,565
to maintain, operate

1100
00:59:45,745 --> 00:59:48,485
and most importantly ensure the building.

1101
00:59:49,585 --> 00:59:51,565
And then the building will become part

1102
00:59:51,565 --> 00:59:53,885
of a bigger conversation with

1103
00:59:54,865 --> 00:59:59,485
the town wide facilities master plan, which will include

1104
01:00:00,385 --> 01:00:01,765
the Stephen Palmer parcel

1105
01:00:02,665 --> 01:00:05,565
and I think really all of the schools

1106
01:00:06,185 --> 01:00:09,845
and hillside, including Hillside.

1107
01:00:10,785 --> 01:00:14,405
And that that will allow for a more holistic

1108
01:00:15,925 --> 01:00:19,565
conversation about, about the property

1109
01:00:19,745 --> 01:00:21,965
and the desires for the property going forward.

1110
01:00:22,425 --> 01:00:25,295
So I'm sure we are recording, we are.

1111
01:00:25,675 --> 01:00:27,935
So don't worry about the visuals. Okay. We're out there.

1112
01:00:28,435 --> 01:00:30,655
Public can hear you if that's all super.

1113
01:00:31,315 --> 01:00:33,725
So any comments

1114
01:00:33,905 --> 01:00:38,035
or questions seems

1115
01:00:39,875 --> 01:00:40,975
fairly straightforward.

1116
01:00:42,935 --> 01:00:47,775
All right. Okay, let's move on then

1117
01:00:47,915 --> 01:00:49,695
to some of our action items.

1118
01:00:50,675 --> 01:00:55,575
Our first action item is approving some revolving fund fees,

1119
01:00:56,965 --> 01:01:01,255
some changes to revolving fund fees, particularly

1120
01:01:01,275 --> 01:01:02,815
as it relates to high school testing

1121
01:01:02,995 --> 01:01:04,135
and high school parking.

1122
01:01:05,095 --> 01:01:07,095
There are a number of us

1123
01:01:08,125 --> 01:01:10,415
that do have a conflict here,

1124
01:01:11,355 --> 01:01:14,585
and so I'm gonna ask you

1125
01:01:14,585 --> 01:01:17,905
to identify yourself now if you feel like you're unable

1126
01:01:17,905 --> 01:01:21,305
to vote on either of those questions due

1127
01:01:21,305 --> 01:01:23,105
to a potential conflict of interest.

1128
01:01:24,735 --> 01:01:28,105
I'll go first having a, a high school student,

1129
01:01:28,535 --> 01:01:30,765
Matt, Liz, Michael.

1130
01:01:31,115 --> 01:01:34,565
Okay. So there are sufficient number of members that are

1131
01:01:35,205 --> 01:01:38,485
technically disqualified because of a conflict of interest

1132
01:01:38,505 --> 01:01:41,285
and there would not be a quorum present to vote the fees.

1133
01:01:42,505 --> 01:01:46,765
So I, and no other agency has authority to take this vote.

1134
01:01:46,865 --> 01:01:49,725
So I will invoke the rule of necessity so

1135
01:01:49,725 --> 01:01:51,485
that all members present can vote.

1136
01:01:52,305 --> 01:01:54,365
We will go to a roll call vote.

1137
01:01:55,265 --> 01:01:57,885
And for those of you with that conflict, please state

1138
01:01:57,885 --> 01:02:01,245
that you were voting under the doctrine of the rule of,

1139
01:02:03,545 --> 01:02:06,725
but with that, let's talk about

1140
01:02:08,695 --> 01:02:10,005
these two

1141
01:02:13,225 --> 01:02:15,515
revolving fund fee changes.

1142
01:02:16,255 --> 01:02:21,175
And I will start

1143
01:02:21,395 --> 01:02:24,535
by saying regarding the modest

1144
01:02:26,455 --> 01:02:30,655
decrease for the testing fee,

1145
01:02:31,815 --> 01:02:33,895
I am supportive of that,

1146
01:02:35,195 --> 01:02:38,535
but I did wanna have a fuller conversation

1147
01:02:38,785 --> 01:02:40,255
about high school parking.

1148
01:02:40,915 --> 01:02:43,295
So the Do you wanna start? Yeah, sorry. Lemme lemme

1149
01:02:43,295 --> 01:02:44,415
Lemme frame it and I know

1150
01:02:44,415 --> 01:02:45,695
that you and I talked about that.

1151
01:02:45,915 --> 01:02:49,895
So broadly speaking, the school committee has authority

1152
01:02:49,955 --> 01:02:51,455
to approve evolving fund fees

1153
01:02:51,475 --> 01:02:53,015
and you now they're set up by town meeting

1154
01:02:54,795 --> 01:02:59,135
and we have two fund balances with testing

1155
01:02:59,675 --> 01:03:03,735
and with parking that have ample fund balance.

1156
01:03:03,835 --> 01:03:05,815
At the end of the year, after all the bills are paid,

1157
01:03:05,815 --> 01:03:06,975
there's ample fund balance.

1158
01:03:07,515 --> 01:03:08,575
So one would say,

1159
01:03:08,575 --> 01:03:11,375
because we are not a taxing authority, if you don't need

1160
01:03:11,375 --> 01:03:12,975
to collect as much fee

1161
01:03:13,795 --> 01:03:15,895
and we don't collect as much fee, that's kind

1162
01:03:15,895 --> 01:03:17,295
of like the big picture there.

1163
01:03:17,295 --> 01:03:19,495
You shouldn't just keep collecting and collecting

1164
01:03:19,495 --> 01:03:21,135
and collecting and not spending the money

1165
01:03:21,135 --> 01:03:22,735
that the fee is full.

1166
01:03:24,715 --> 01:03:27,175
We are proposing to you a modest,

1167
01:03:27,715 --> 01:03:29,975
in modest decrease in the testing fee

1168
01:03:29,975 --> 01:03:32,095
because we believe we have sufficient fund balance

1169
01:03:32,355 --> 01:03:35,695
and we've organized ourselves in a way to spend that down

1170
01:03:35,795 --> 01:03:38,375
for test coordination, et cetera.

1171
01:03:39,475 --> 01:03:41,255
In the same way with, with parking,

1172
01:03:42,155 --> 01:03:43,935
we collect fees from students

1173
01:03:45,035 --> 01:03:47,695
and then we, we use those funds to help

1174
01:03:47,695 --> 01:03:50,335
with parking management and maintenance.

1175
01:03:50,405 --> 01:03:54,095
Broadly speaking, the problem is is that the,

1176
01:03:54,195 --> 01:03:58,215
the needs the parking maintenance needs

1177
01:03:59,085 --> 01:04:02,495
have, the balance has exceeded the needs.

1178
01:04:02,715 --> 01:04:04,695
And so now we have this fund balance

1179
01:04:05,695 --> 01:04:08,535
that would suggest we do not need to keep asking

1180
01:04:08,795 --> 01:04:11,415
for this fee from the impact students.

1181
01:04:11,955 --> 01:04:14,215
Now we have a very different problem, for example,

1182
01:04:14,555 --> 01:04:17,935
in athletics where we're gonna talk more about this

1183
01:04:17,935 --> 01:04:21,575
during the budget development process where the costs are,

1184
01:04:21,805 --> 01:04:24,015
fees that we're bringing in are, are,

1185
01:04:24,155 --> 01:04:27,055
are not at all meeting the, the actual operating expenses.

1186
01:04:27,395 --> 01:04:28,895
So if a different problem there,

1187
01:04:29,075 --> 01:04:32,095
but with parking we have this abundance of a balance.

1188
01:04:32,955 --> 01:04:37,175
And one way to address the balance is to work with the town

1189
01:04:37,365 --> 01:04:40,895
with which Ann, Katie King and I

1190
01:04:42,275 --> 01:04:44,855
and DVW and Erin Seaco agreed

1191
01:04:44,855 --> 01:04:47,175
to do a little differently this year to think about

1192
01:04:47,205 --> 01:04:49,655
what are the, the projects, what, what's the maintenance,

1193
01:04:50,245 --> 01:04:53,215
snow removal, for example, new striping,

1194
01:04:55,175 --> 01:04:57,855
whatever to, to use those funds appropriately.

1195
01:04:59,235 --> 01:05:03,255
But we have sufficient to, to suggest you not

1196
01:05:03,255 --> 01:05:06,855
to eliminate the fee, but to waive the fee for a year.

1197
01:05:08,295 --> 01:05:10,715
It doesn't mean that everyone gets to park, it doesn't

1198
01:05:10,715 --> 01:05:12,555
because there are not enough spaces for everybody.

1199
01:05:12,975 --> 01:05:14,675
But the proposal is to waive it

1200
01:05:14,675 --> 01:05:16,875
for a year while we take care of this fund balance

1201
01:05:17,235 --> 01:05:19,975
because it is, it's something

1202
01:05:19,975 --> 01:05:21,215
that's kind of tripped up on us.

1203
01:05:21,635 --> 01:05:24,655
The town hasn't been able to charge us for all the things

1204
01:05:24,685 --> 01:05:26,415
that we'd like to pay for.

1205
01:05:27,845 --> 01:05:31,095
It's kind of a cleanup, but we go back to that fee

1206
01:05:31,825 --> 01:05:34,135
after, at the end of this year.

1207
01:05:34,955 --> 01:05:36,535
So that's the big idea

1208
01:05:37,915 --> 01:05:41,135
and happy to talk about and none of your

1209
01:05:41,335 --> 01:05:42,335
Questions.

1210
01:05:42,335 --> 01:05:45,335
Yeah, so I, I think the, the question that,

1211
01:05:47,265 --> 01:05:51,775
that I had was, you know, there's a lot going on in

1212
01:05:51,775 --> 01:05:54,495
that parking lot and I think there's some, you know,

1213
01:05:54,775 --> 01:05:57,495
there's some known things that we can do

1214
01:05:57,515 --> 01:05:59,095
and sort of know what the budget is,

1215
01:05:59,195 --> 01:06:03,615
but if we continued the fee

1216
01:06:04,475 --> 01:06:08,135
for this year, yes, of course the fund balance would go up,

1217
01:06:08,275 --> 01:06:11,575
but could we do some planning around how to spend

1218
01:06:11,575 --> 01:06:14,375
that fund balance on the parking lot?

1219
01:06:16,385 --> 01:06:19,275
That might be a better answer than just

1220
01:06:20,585 --> 01:06:22,995
waiving the fee for one year.

1221
01:06:23,695 --> 01:06:26,815
And I mean, I'm gonna pay this fee this year, so

1222
01:06:27,885 --> 01:06:29,815
talking about conflict of interest here, but,

1223
01:06:30,555 --> 01:06:33,015
but I guess I would advocate for keeping it in place

1224
01:06:33,595 --> 01:06:36,615
and thinking about the fund balance in a different

1225
01:06:36,615 --> 01:06:37,735
way going forward.

1226
01:06:39,595 --> 01:06:40,595
Is there,

1227
01:06:41,105 --> 01:06:44,195
Well I'll, I'm, I'm gonna defer to Anne

1228
01:06:44,195 --> 01:06:45,715
to maybe help respond to that,

1229
01:06:45,975 --> 01:06:47,195
but I don't know if you wanna move over.

1230
01:06:47,395 --> 01:06:48,395
Question first,

1231
01:06:52,655 --> 01:06:54,315
Why don't you respond first Ian,

1232
01:06:54,315 --> 01:06:58,395
and then we'll that might change what people, people think

1233
01:06:58,455 --> 01:06:59,875
or, sure, thank you.

1234
01:07:00,855 --> 01:07:05,635
So all of this discussion is sort of governed by statute

1235
01:07:05,695 --> 01:07:08,355
and what you can legally do with a fee.

1236
01:07:09,015 --> 01:07:11,075
You can only in Massachusetts collect a fee

1237
01:07:11,175 --> 01:07:12,315
for a restricted purpose

1238
01:07:12,655 --> 01:07:14,875
and the statute government, which you can spend the money on

1239
01:07:16,415 --> 01:07:17,755
in this particular statute,

1240
01:07:18,045 --> 01:07:20,675
there aren't very many things you can spend the money on.

1241
01:07:21,185 --> 01:07:24,035
What you can spend the money on is essentially maintenance

1242
01:07:24,215 --> 01:07:26,595
and upkeep of the spaces that are being rented

1243
01:07:26,735 --> 01:07:27,915
or rented to students.

1244
01:07:28,055 --> 01:07:30,475
If you consider the fee rental expense,

1245
01:07:32,405 --> 01:07:35,715
we've had some consultations even

1246
01:07:35,715 --> 01:07:38,715
with town council about the scope of what

1247
01:07:38,715 --> 01:07:40,075
that can amount to.

1248
01:07:41,045 --> 01:07:45,775
There is a desire to do some capital upgrade

1249
01:07:46,115 --> 01:07:47,655
to the spaces themselves.

1250
01:07:47,835 --> 01:07:49,775
So that I should back up by saying

1251
01:07:50,055 --> 01:07:53,415
that we have in place a person.

1252
01:07:54,085 --> 01:07:57,215
Currently the way we currently spend the money is we have a

1253
01:07:57,215 --> 01:08:02,175
person who is engaged in making sure the line is

1254
01:08:02,205 --> 01:08:06,495
safe by monitoring the parking activity,

1255
01:08:06,555 --> 01:08:10,135
making sure that students are behaving in a way

1256
01:08:10,135 --> 01:08:11,815
that is safe within those spaces.

1257
01:08:13,155 --> 01:08:16,925
We of course have an allowed budget for signage,

1258
01:08:17,145 --> 01:08:19,605
for the spaces selling the permits,

1259
01:08:20,705 --> 01:08:23,125
and every year we have a small amount of money

1260
01:08:23,125 --> 01:08:26,165
that we budget, which is really the balance of the fee

1261
01:08:26,165 --> 01:08:28,645
that we collect for striping,

1262
01:08:28,705 --> 01:08:30,445
for re striping the spaces when they're needed.

1263
01:08:32,405 --> 01:08:35,385
If, you know, repairing whole, I mean parking,

1264
01:08:36,305 --> 01:08:37,705
potholes, potholes, thank you.

1265
01:08:39,725 --> 01:08:43,065
But over time we still have had a growing fund balance

1266
01:08:43,885 --> 01:08:47,985
and we, and even even snowplowing as an allowed expense.

1267
01:08:48,605 --> 01:08:51,305
So the, the money that we've been bringing in really has

1268
01:08:51,305 --> 01:08:55,065
been excess, has exceeded the amount of expenses

1269
01:08:55,175 --> 01:08:58,825
that we've had to support the, to support the, the lot.

1270
01:08:59,005 --> 01:09:02,105
So we have worked out a preliminary plan,

1271
01:09:02,985 --> 01:09:07,865
we're not very far down that plan to do some limited work

1272
01:09:07,865 --> 01:09:09,585
around in the lot itself.

1273
01:09:09,595 --> 01:09:11,345
We're going to add some spaces

1274
01:09:12,375 --> 01:09:14,945
that can then expand the number of spaces that are

1275
01:09:15,455 --> 01:09:16,665
available to the students.

1276
01:09:17,115 --> 01:09:20,905
There was a desire to do some additional work on the,

1277
01:09:23,015 --> 01:09:26,895
on the, the turnaround area for students

1278
01:09:27,455 --> 01:09:28,655
that was disallowed

1279
01:09:28,685 --> 01:09:31,855
because it is directly related to the spaces

1280
01:09:31,925 --> 01:09:32,935
that are being rented.

1281
01:09:33,595 --> 01:09:37,615
So we are somewhat constrained in what we can do.

1282
01:09:38,435 --> 01:09:42,005
So the projects that we have developed

1283
01:09:42,105 --> 01:09:43,885
and the thinking that has gone into this

1284
01:09:44,585 --> 01:09:47,525
has been within those parameters that these are the needs.

1285
01:09:47,555 --> 01:09:49,885
This is something that we have a legitimate need for

1286
01:09:49,955 --> 01:09:54,445
that has the possibility of expending balance that's here.

1287
01:09:54,595 --> 01:09:56,565
It's going to take more than one year.

1288
01:09:56,785 --> 01:09:59,965
You will not see most likely those spaces

1289
01:10:00,225 --> 01:10:03,125
by this time next year it will be a longer horizon for that.

1290
01:10:03,305 --> 01:10:08,065
So it's, it's surprisingly a more difficult,

1291
01:10:08,655 --> 01:10:10,945
difficult thing to spend these monies than

1292
01:10:10,945 --> 01:10:11,985
you might anticipate.

1293
01:10:14,485 --> 01:10:17,625
Yes, I had a similar response to you,

1294
01:10:18,065 --> 01:10:19,825
that was my first reaction.

1295
01:10:22,775 --> 01:10:27,225
Also, it seems strange to just totally not have a fee

1296
01:10:27,485 --> 01:10:28,825
and then to have a fee again.

1297
01:10:31,245 --> 01:10:33,665
And what difficulties is it potentially

1298
01:10:33,975 --> 01:10:38,675
that there might be difficulties for certain kids with that

1299
01:10:38,695 --> 01:10:41,355
or certain families with having it for nothing

1300
01:10:41,415 --> 01:10:42,835
and then having to come up with money.

1301
01:10:46,595 --> 01:10:49,375
So I do think it sounds like the main constraint is

1302
01:10:49,645 --> 01:10:51,535
what can you actually spend the money on?

1303
01:10:52,085 --> 01:10:55,215
What about like resurfacing of the lot?

1304
01:10:55,595 --> 01:10:57,615
Is that an allowed expenditure?

1305
01:10:58,585 --> 01:11:00,645
It is and that is part of what we are going

1306
01:11:00,645 --> 01:11:02,405
to be spending this balance on.

1307
01:11:03,545 --> 01:11:08,285
And are you allowed to like a, like a condo

1308
01:11:08,865 --> 01:11:13,645
off has a fee and collects it until the roof needs repair?

1309
01:11:14,065 --> 01:11:16,805
Is it possible to use the fund in that way?

1310
01:11:18,585 --> 01:11:22,605
So you, under the statute, the, generally speaking,

1311
01:11:22,995 --> 01:11:25,085
your ability to collect fees is limited

1312
01:11:25,345 --> 01:11:29,125
by the reasonable expenses that you incur in making.

1313
01:11:29,225 --> 01:11:31,765
The space is available for students to park in.

1314
01:11:32,665 --> 01:11:36,445
So you can't collect more than you need.

1315
01:11:36,745 --> 01:11:39,045
That's somewhat like a tax. Okay.

1316
01:11:39,625 --> 01:11:42,685
So that's very kind of simplistic.

1317
01:11:44,465 --> 01:11:48,765
If there are expenses that we can decide

1318
01:11:48,765 --> 01:11:51,525
that we need to have that that can be,

1319
01:11:51,875 --> 01:11:53,565
that the fee can be applied to,

1320
01:11:53,675 --> 01:11:56,765
then you can collect the fee in support of those expenses.

1321
01:11:58,265 --> 01:12:01,865
We, I'm, I'm not an attorney, we would have

1322
01:12:01,865 --> 01:12:04,945
to consult our attorneys about whether you can collect a fee

1323
01:12:04,945 --> 01:12:09,215
that you do not need to have prospectively may need.

1324
01:12:10,215 --> 01:12:13,535
I think that that is probably a gray

1325
01:12:13,795 --> 01:12:16,375
or potentially even a disallowed kind of area.

1326
01:12:17,935 --> 01:12:20,235
I'm just gonna say thank you Ann, for being the person

1327
01:12:20,415 --> 01:12:22,875
who thinks about what money can do

1328
01:12:23,695 --> 01:12:25,835
for parking spaces in high school.

1329
01:12:27,275 --> 01:12:29,295
Not many people have that as part of their job.

1330
01:12:31,975 --> 01:12:34,295
I, I wish I were there.

1331
01:12:34,425 --> 01:12:35,775
There are a lot of great ideas,

1332
01:12:35,995 --> 01:12:37,655
but something that some

1333
01:12:37,655 --> 01:12:39,455
of them weren't really adjacent to spaces.

1334
01:12:39,675 --> 01:12:43,135
So that I wish we could support all of the great ideas that

1335
01:12:47,335 --> 01:12:49,055
I think Mike, Michael.

1336
01:12:49,085 --> 01:12:50,815
Sure. Again, agreed.

1337
01:12:50,815 --> 01:12:52,975
Thank you Anne for all of your thoroughness

1338
01:12:52,995 --> 01:12:56,855
and how the spaces and everything can sort of utilized.

1339
01:12:58,715 --> 01:13:01,055
Liz, you kind of brought up that point on resurfacing.

1340
01:13:01,515 --> 01:13:05,415
I'd be curious to know the times over the last year

1341
01:13:05,415 --> 01:13:08,215
that I've been at the high school parking lot have been a

1342
01:13:08,215 --> 01:13:11,535
little, you know, disappointed

1343
01:13:11,835 --> 01:13:13,255
by some of the surfacing.

1344
01:13:13,335 --> 01:13:16,175
I don't know how serious with some of the potholes,

1345
01:13:17,075 --> 01:13:18,535
I'm sure things are patched up.

1346
01:13:19,395 --> 01:13:22,935
But for an area that has like the largest concentration

1347
01:13:22,955 --> 01:13:25,095
of our youngest town population

1348
01:13:25,095 --> 01:13:29,415
and how they sort of navigate some of the surfacing, if any

1349
01:13:29,415 --> 01:13:32,335
of these funds could be appropriated in some sort

1350
01:13:32,335 --> 01:13:35,215
of pool over time and I don't know how much it would cost to

1351
01:13:36,495 --> 01:13:39,255
resurface, you know, some of these areas,

1352
01:13:39,395 --> 01:13:43,335
but I'm somewhat surprised that the quality of some of that

1353
01:13:43,435 --> 01:13:47,875
and it might be good, I don't know what the, you know,

1354
01:13:47,875 --> 01:13:50,515
how we would sort of like grade our current high school

1355
01:13:50,515 --> 01:13:54,635
parking lot, but I would be a proponent

1356
01:13:54,655 --> 01:13:57,555
to continue the fees if it could help support this in a

1357
01:13:57,555 --> 01:14:02,235
greater way to make resurfacing improvements

1358
01:14:04,305 --> 01:14:06,155
more available.

1359
01:14:09,395 --> 01:14:10,775
We ask our families to pay

1360
01:14:10,815 --> 01:14:13,585
A ton, almost a thousand bucks a kid for

1361
01:14:13,585 --> 01:14:14,745
to participate in sports.

1362
01:14:15,945 --> 01:14:18,545
Actually more depending on the sport.

1363
01:14:19,415 --> 01:14:22,065
That parking lot is not exclusively used by students.

1364
01:14:22,095 --> 01:14:25,265
It's used by students 180 days a year for part of the day.

1365
01:14:26,155 --> 01:14:28,235
I do not believe we should if we don't have to.

1366
01:14:28,395 --> 01:14:31,075
I don't believe we should be asking our families to pay for

1367
01:14:32,075 --> 01:14:36,585
resurfacing a lot that is used by many,

1368
01:14:36,585 --> 01:14:38,265
many people and not just students.

1369
01:14:38,765 --> 01:14:40,905
We have an opportunity to reduce fees for families.

1370
01:14:40,985 --> 01:14:41,985
I think we should do it.

1371
01:14:43,765 --> 01:14:47,585
Andrew, I don't love the on off nature

1372
01:14:47,765 --> 01:14:48,945
of the proposal

1373
01:14:49,345 --> 01:14:52,705
'cause it does feel like, you know, some, if you,

1374
01:14:52,725 --> 01:14:54,985
if you only have a kid who's driving this year, you sort

1375
01:14:54,985 --> 01:14:56,185
of get a one time win.

1376
01:14:57,095 --> 01:14:59,985
What I would, would be curious about is could we,

1377
01:15:00,085 --> 01:15:01,985
rather than eliminating the fee,

1378
01:15:02,565 --> 01:15:06,305
put us on a longer traject trajectory of having a lower fee

1379
01:15:06,765 --> 01:15:08,545
to spend down the balance to sort

1380
01:15:08,665 --> 01:15:10,385
of have it be more equitable.

1381
01:15:10,485 --> 01:15:13,745
Not just for the current year students to get a boom

1382
01:15:13,765 --> 01:15:16,945
but sort of for a longer horizon, make it more affordable

1383
01:15:16,965 --> 01:15:19,465
for everyone, more people over a longer period.

1384
01:15:19,625 --> 01:15:20,785
I don't know if that's possible.

1385
01:15:23,875 --> 01:15:26,855
Yes, We would have so much conversation

1386
01:15:26,855 --> 01:15:30,055
around parking spaces, but no pun intended.

1387
01:15:30,295 --> 01:15:33,375
I, I realize I got a little down in the weeds, you know,

1388
01:15:33,405 --> 01:15:35,415
growing up in the cracks in the parking lot.

1389
01:15:37,235 --> 01:15:40,135
But I, if I understand the problem more broadly,

1390
01:15:41,165 --> 01:15:44,855
it's illegal for us to be holding funds in this,

1391
01:15:45,365 --> 01:15:46,975
holding money in this fund.

1392
01:15:47,755 --> 01:15:50,015
And that's essentially what the issue is.

1393
01:15:50,075 --> 01:15:51,535
We need to get rid of that money.

1394
01:15:52,195 --> 01:15:56,015
In which case, if that's correct, I agree with Andrea maybe

1395
01:15:57,275 --> 01:16:00,435
reducing it and spreading it out over a longer period.

1396
01:16:04,245 --> 01:16:07,785
Ann is what's possible. Do we,

1397
01:16:08,235 --> 01:16:10,745
We're gonna give you an award parking lot guru

1398
01:16:12,355 --> 01:16:16,575
Again, IIII was a paralegal

1399
01:16:16,755 --> 01:16:21,615
but I was never been an attorney so I am not really authored

1400
01:16:21,615 --> 01:16:22,615
to give you legal advice,

1401
01:16:22,755 --> 01:16:24,615
but from what I understand,

1402
01:16:27,945 --> 01:16:31,165
the constraint is that we can't collect

1403
01:16:33,215 --> 01:16:35,225
more than what we need essentially.

1404
01:16:35,405 --> 01:16:37,585
So you have the ability to find the need.

1405
01:16:39,095 --> 01:16:40,425
There's nothing that says

1406
01:16:40,425 --> 01:16:43,585
that you can't spread a reduction out over multiple years.

1407
01:16:43,695 --> 01:16:48,385
That, and we have had a strategy in many years

1408
01:16:48,535 --> 01:16:52,985
with other funds of in part buying down fund balance

1409
01:16:53,215 --> 01:16:56,185
through sustained reductions.

1410
01:16:56,965 --> 01:16:59,145
That's, I think that's possible.

1411
01:16:59,225 --> 01:17:02,465
I don't know what fee reduction you would choose.

1412
01:17:03,775 --> 01:17:07,465
It's probably the case that we would not be able to do a,

1413
01:17:08,525 --> 01:17:10,725
we could do some level of sustained reduction.

1414
01:17:10,765 --> 01:17:12,045
I don't know how much of the other capital

1415
01:17:12,625 --> 01:17:13,765
you could also do.

1416
01:17:13,905 --> 01:17:16,405
It depends on what the impact of the sustained

1417
01:17:16,645 --> 01:17:17,645
Reduction is.

1418
01:17:17,825 --> 01:17:19,325
Let me ask this question. I may,

1419
01:17:20,395 --> 01:17:22,045
have you got any information that Mr.

1420
01:17:22,385 --> 01:17:26,365
CPA about Martin? Not yet. It's usually a lottery system.

1421
01:17:26,945 --> 01:17:30,205
No, I know that but I I'm just no information going out.

1422
01:17:33,955 --> 01:17:38,625
What, what, what if the school committee voted

1423
01:17:38,965 --> 01:17:43,415
to keep, this is kind of playing off of your idea.

1424
01:17:43,435 --> 01:17:47,755
Dan, keep the fee for parking at $50

1425
01:17:48,385 --> 01:17:50,815
this year to,

1426
01:17:51,875 --> 01:17:55,805
and we will come back to the school committee

1427
01:17:55,975 --> 01:17:57,845
after Ann

1428
01:17:58,145 --> 01:18:00,445
and I have had a chance to sit down the town manager

1429
01:18:00,665 --> 01:18:02,445
who was kind of the town.

1430
01:18:02,665 --> 01:18:05,805
We have to depend on the town manager to kind of bill us

1431
01:18:05,985 --> 01:18:08,925
for some of this and this is kind of a new problem for her.

1432
01:18:09,105 --> 01:18:10,725
So it would give us some time to see

1433
01:18:10,725 --> 01:18:12,605
what could happen in FY 27

1434
01:18:13,385 --> 01:18:16,165
to significantly draw down the fund balance while also

1435
01:18:16,165 --> 01:18:19,125
having a sustainable program with the fee that makes,

1436
01:18:19,195 --> 01:18:20,365
that matches our needs.

1437
01:18:20,885 --> 01:18:23,485
'cause right now one of the things Anne's saying fee is,

1438
01:18:23,985 --> 01:18:26,635
you know, it's not really, we're,

1439
01:18:26,635 --> 01:18:28,315
we're collecting more than we need.

1440
01:18:29,105 --> 01:18:33,605
So if we, if instead the vote were to leave in place a fee

1441
01:18:33,705 --> 01:18:38,355
of $50 for parking for this year, no more than $50,

1442
01:18:40,285 --> 01:18:42,535
then we can come back to you with a plan later on.

1443
01:18:42,635 --> 01:18:45,215
And part of the part of the problem here is just trying

1444
01:18:45,215 --> 01:18:47,575
to understand all the balances, getting it all done

1445
01:18:47,635 --> 01:18:49,455
and the reality of school's starting next week.

1446
01:18:50,155 --> 01:18:52,015
So that's part of the challenge here.

1447
01:18:52,055 --> 01:18:54,775
I wish I could say we'll come back to you in September

1448
01:18:55,115 --> 01:18:57,225
but can't wait to do that

1449
01:18:57,245 --> 01:18:59,425
and I apologize for kind of pushing aside you right now,

1450
01:19:01,365 --> 01:19:03,025
But yeah, I, and it's a good problem.

1451
01:19:03,145 --> 01:19:05,745
I I'm not in favor of charging families for money.

1452
01:19:05,765 --> 01:19:08,625
We don't need, and I don't think there's anything wrong

1453
01:19:08,625 --> 01:19:11,635
with fee parking for a lot that's used by many people,

1454
01:19:12,065 --> 01:19:13,755
whether that be for a year or two year.

1455
01:19:14,335 --> 01:19:17,355
So I cannot vote for charging families for money.

1456
01:19:17,375 --> 01:19:18,375
We do not need,

1457
01:19:21,065 --> 01:19:22,065
Michael.

1458
01:19:23,485 --> 01:19:27,575
Two things I wanna think about in terms of the, the work

1459
01:19:27,575 --> 01:19:30,095
that may or may not need to be done and how you do that.

1460
01:19:30,155 --> 01:19:31,055
We know that there's only

1461
01:19:31,055 --> 01:19:32,055
certain things we're allowed to do.

1462
01:19:33,315 --> 01:19:34,855
One observation we have is if

1463
01:19:35,075 --> 01:19:36,935
as we depend on people in the town,

1464
01:19:36,935 --> 01:19:39,295
we do this work all across town, right?

1465
01:19:39,785 --> 01:19:41,535
Roads, parking lots and everything.

1466
01:19:42,275 --> 01:19:46,855
And I think typically they would be looking at projects,

1467
01:19:47,205 --> 01:19:49,775
they might not look the same way at these projects

1468
01:19:49,775 --> 01:19:52,055
because there's a lot of stuff that's needed

1469
01:19:52,155 --> 01:19:54,655
and I sometimes feel that I would wanna make sure

1470
01:19:54,655 --> 01:19:57,255
that they're providing us

1471
01:19:57,805 --> 01:19:59,655
what can we do in terms resurfacing?

1472
01:19:59,905 --> 01:20:03,175
Those of you around a long time, remember Jeff, he used

1473
01:20:03,175 --> 01:20:05,095
to talk about resurfacing roads

1474
01:20:05,155 --> 01:20:06,375
and there was multiple levels.

1475
01:20:06,555 --> 01:20:08,685
Now put a little, you put a little stuff on the top.

1476
01:20:08,945 --> 01:20:12,045
The other is you do, you know, more

1477
01:20:13,265 --> 01:20:16,605
report the asphalt, you actually go into the road bed

1478
01:20:16,745 --> 01:20:17,965
and all the way down

1479
01:20:18,145 --> 01:20:20,125
and rebuild it up, which runs more expensive.

1480
01:20:20,345 --> 01:20:23,925
So I think we should be thinking about what, what makes

1481
01:20:24,155 --> 01:20:27,525
that facility usable at the proper level.

1482
01:20:27,945 --> 01:20:31,685
As I suspect if you put it against all the other things in

1483
01:20:31,685 --> 01:20:33,165
the town, the engineers would probably tell you,

1484
01:20:33,305 --> 01:20:35,605
oh well there's a lot that's worse, right?

1485
01:20:35,945 --> 01:20:38,725
But we might look at it and say, well that's great

1486
01:20:38,865 --> 01:20:42,245
but we have accumulated money to take care of this.

1487
01:20:42,805 --> 01:20:44,245
Somebody's gonna have to pay for eventually

1488
01:20:44,665 --> 01:20:46,045
so we should be able to use it

1489
01:20:46,225 --> 01:20:48,045
and we wanna make sure we were looking, you know,

1490
01:20:48,105 --> 01:20:52,725
at this project and add both safety as well as the quality

1491
01:20:52,905 --> 01:20:55,125
of, you know, in considering that.

1492
01:20:55,465 --> 01:20:57,525
The second, I think to Matt's point,

1493
01:20:57,565 --> 01:20:58,765
I I think it's a fair question,

1494
01:20:58,785 --> 01:21:01,405
but in a sense, if we think about equity,

1495
01:21:04,225 --> 01:21:07,945
the folks who that's really, this is

1496
01:21:08,765 --> 01:21:11,545
by its very nature parking is in equitable in the sense

1497
01:21:11,695 --> 01:21:13,065
that the only people take advantage

1498
01:21:13,065 --> 01:21:15,625
of it are people from families where they can have a car,

1499
01:21:15,925 --> 01:21:17,145
you know, an 18-year-old can have a

1500
01:21:17,145 --> 01:21:18,385
car and have it the whole day.

1501
01:21:18,605 --> 01:21:21,545
So no, this is not something that's available

1502
01:21:21,565 --> 01:21:22,665
to everybody in the community.

1503
01:21:23,095 --> 01:21:25,225
Many people in this community would not be able,

1504
01:21:25,225 --> 01:21:26,865
even if they were able to able to drive,

1505
01:21:27,095 --> 01:21:28,745
they don't have a car that they can take

1506
01:21:28,745 --> 01:21:30,025
and park at high school all day.

1507
01:21:30,445 --> 01:21:32,345
So, you know, this is not the same

1508
01:21:32,805 --> 01:21:35,265
as something everyone participates in, right?

1509
01:21:35,265 --> 01:21:37,185
This is something that's a, it's available

1510
01:21:37,405 --> 01:21:40,705
to a smaller group of the community who happen

1511
01:21:40,805 --> 01:21:43,825
to be in the position of having a car that they can bring

1512
01:21:44,045 --> 01:21:45,625
and take to the high school all day.

1513
01:21:46,125 --> 01:21:47,985
That's not a full set of folks.

1514
01:21:48,245 --> 01:21:49,465
And I just, I just raised that

1515
01:21:49,665 --> 01:21:52,025
'cause I think that makes me look a little different than

1516
01:21:52,025 --> 01:21:54,625
something like an athletic fee or a participation fee.

1517
01:21:54,625 --> 01:21:57,665
Something that we consider part of the entire program.

1518
01:21:58,725 --> 01:21:59,725
I just raised that.

1519
01:22:00,985 --> 01:22:04,035
Okay. I i I wanna keep this moving, but yes.

1520
01:22:04,425 --> 01:22:05,915
Yeah, I would just say we have no idea

1521
01:22:06,305 --> 01:22:08,315
what people's finances are and whether

1522
01:22:08,315 --> 01:22:11,395
or not someone is extending money to get transportation

1523
01:22:11,535 --> 01:22:14,155
for a student who to come from some, like we, we don't know.

1524
01:22:14,345 --> 01:22:16,355
Yeah. And so I'll leave it.

1525
01:22:17,435 --> 01:22:19,635
I think for me the difference is

1526
01:22:19,635 --> 01:22:22,675
that there is also free parking available in a lot

1527
01:22:23,375 --> 01:22:27,375
and so it, it's, it's not like paying a fee

1528
01:22:27,375 --> 01:22:29,815
or not paying a fee deprives the student of an opportunity

1529
01:22:29,835 --> 01:22:30,855
to park in high school.

1530
01:22:32,115 --> 01:22:35,695
So it sounds like,

1531
01:22:36,075 --> 01:22:37,855
so we're invoking the rule of necessity.

1532
01:22:40,035 --> 01:22:43,655
And do I have

1533
01:22:44,865 --> 01:22:48,985
a motion to adjust the high school parking fee

1534
01:22:49,245 --> 01:22:50,865
to ma'am chair?

1535
01:22:51,205 --> 01:22:52,665
Yes. May I make the recommendation

1536
01:22:52,665 --> 01:22:55,185
that we vote on the fees separately as to votes?

1537
01:22:55,365 --> 01:22:57,825
Yes. So one on the testing, one on the parking. Great.

1538
01:22:59,105 --> 01:23:01,035
Okay, so let's do the testing first then.

1539
01:23:03,695 --> 01:23:05,710
We are still evoking the rule of necessity

1540
01:23:06,185 --> 01:23:09,805
and the motion is that the Needham school committee,

1541
01:23:10,075 --> 01:23:13,605
upon the recommendation of the superintendent approves the

1542
01:23:14,805 --> 01:23:17,205
reduction of the testing fee

1543
01:23:17,465 --> 01:23:19,965
for the fiscal year 27 revolving funds.

1544
01:23:20,545 --> 01:23:24,245
Do I So moved? Second. Second. A second. Michael.

1545
01:23:25,385 --> 01:23:29,165
All in. And I just wanna clarify that the

1546
01:23:30,205 --> 01:23:32,445
reduction is to the administrative fee

1547
01:23:32,445 --> 01:23:34,445
because this is a pass through fee.

1548
01:23:35,065 --> 01:23:36,405
If SAT

1549
01:23:36,465 --> 01:23:39,725
or PSAT rather increases the cost of the exam,

1550
01:23:39,945 --> 01:23:41,125
the fee will go up.

1551
01:23:41,625 --> 01:23:44,365
So what you're actually reducing is reducing the

1552
01:23:44,365 --> 01:23:45,805
administrative fee component.

1553
01:23:46,575 --> 01:23:51,535
Thank you for that clarification. Okay, we have a motion.

1554
01:23:52,395 --> 01:23:53,495
Second. Second. Second.

1555
01:23:54,065 --> 01:23:58,215
Thank you for that point of discussion. Roll call vote Liz.

1556
01:23:59,455 --> 01:24:03,165
Under the doctrine of the rule of necessity, I vote. Aye

1557
01:24:03,435 --> 01:24:05,685
Michael, Under the doctrine of the rule

1558
01:24:05,685 --> 01:24:07,165
of necessity, I vote Aye

1559
01:24:08,265 --> 01:24:09,525
And I vote. Aye,

1560
01:24:10,345 --> 01:24:12,285
The doctrine on the rule of necessity I vote.

1561
01:24:12,305 --> 01:24:13,305
Aye

1562
01:24:13,585 --> 01:24:14,585
I vote.

1563
01:24:14,585 --> 01:24:16,345
Aye. Thank you. I vote. Aye.

1564
01:24:16,845 --> 01:24:19,665
And under the doctrine of the rule of necessity, I vote.

1565
01:24:19,845 --> 01:24:23,105
Aye that is a 6 0 0 vote

1566
01:24:23,615 --> 01:24:26,985
regarding the administrative testing fee.

1567
01:24:28,645 --> 01:24:33,065
All right. For the high school parking fee,

1568
01:24:33,965 --> 01:24:36,705
do I have a motion to

1569
01:24:38,465 --> 01:24:40,005
Madame Chair? I'd like to offer a motion.

1570
01:24:40,465 --> 01:24:43,925
Yes. I'd like to offer a motion

1571
01:24:44,105 --> 01:24:46,845
to have the school C committee set the fee

1572
01:24:46,865 --> 01:24:50,565
for high school parking for the fiscal year 27 at $50.

1573
01:24:51,505 --> 01:24:55,985
Do I have a second? I'll second.

1574
01:24:56,855 --> 01:24:58,485
Thank you. Michael, can

1575
01:24:58,485 --> 01:25:00,205
I ask a procedural question? Yes.

1576
01:25:00,865 --> 01:25:03,525
The Rule of necessity, is it only for an I vote

1577
01:25:03,585 --> 01:25:05,205
or is it for any vote?

1578
01:25:05,505 --> 01:25:08,125
Any vote If you have a potential conflict

1579
01:25:08,125 --> 01:25:09,605
of interest, which okay.

1580
01:25:09,675 --> 01:25:13,445
With high school student. Okay. Yes.

1581
01:25:14,225 --> 01:25:17,125
Saying so. So your first list

1582
01:25:18,055 --> 01:25:20,325
Under the doctrine of the rule of necessity.

1583
01:25:20,445 --> 01:25:23,685
I abstain. I feel like I need more information before I can

1584
01:25:23,685 --> 01:25:24,685
Vote.

1585
01:25:24,685 --> 01:25:25,805
Okay, Michael?

1586
01:25:26,875 --> 01:25:30,105
Under the doctrine of the rule of necessity, I vote. Aye.

1587
01:25:31,295 --> 01:25:32,635
Aye. I vote. Aye.

1588
01:25:33,625 --> 01:25:35,845
The doctrine of the rule of necessity. I vote nay.

1589
01:25:37,545 --> 01:25:39,405
Are you helping me keep track, Dan?

1590
01:25:40,235 --> 01:25:43,165
Okay, Michael, I vote. Aye.

1591
01:25:44,305 --> 01:25:47,205
And under the doctrine of the rule of necessity, I vote.

1592
01:25:47,345 --> 01:25:48,345
Aye.

1593
01:25:48,715 --> 01:25:52,255
So you have four ayes. One no in one state.

1594
01:25:52,645 --> 01:25:54,575
Okay, so the motion carries

1595
01:25:54,995 --> 01:25:58,895
And with that we will update you as the ign, however.

1596
01:26:02,435 --> 01:26:06,305
Thank you. All right.

1597
01:26:06,485 --> 01:26:11,355
And then finally we come to the

1598
01:26:12,185 --> 01:26:14,395
warrant article to appropriate

1599
01:26:14,695 --> 01:26:17,435
for the Pollard Middle School instruction,

1600
01:26:17,435 --> 01:26:18,915
which must be buried. There it is,

1601
01:26:19,215 --> 01:26:20,215
It is.

1602
01:26:20,215 --> 01:26:22,155
And just one correction that I put in there.

1603
01:26:22,395 --> 01:26:24,195
Approval one article, actually select one.

1604
01:26:24,695 --> 01:26:27,195
So the verb really would be my rec Rec.

1605
01:26:27,195 --> 01:26:28,795
You'll make the recommendation chair,

1606
01:26:28,795 --> 01:26:31,875
but should be endorse my article.

1607
01:26:32,505 --> 01:26:35,005
Okay. Your motion.

1608
01:26:36,955 --> 01:26:41,445
Alright, do we

1609
01:26:43,695 --> 01:26:44,785
have anything to talk about?

1610
01:26:45,735 --> 01:26:47,305
Well, you, so

1611
01:26:47,305 --> 01:26:48,825
Lemme make the motion and then we'll discuss.

1612
01:26:50,325 --> 01:26:52,265
So it's my recommendation

1613
01:26:52,265 --> 01:26:54,705
that the Needham School Committee endorses the warrant

1614
01:26:54,705 --> 01:26:56,345
article to court funds

1615
01:26:56,565 --> 01:27:00,545
for colored middle school project construction as submitted,

1616
01:27:01,945 --> 01:27:05,425
moved second, moved by Liz, seconded by Michael.

1617
01:27:06,005 --> 01:27:07,005
Any discussion?

1618
01:27:08,095 --> 01:27:11,995
Oh yeah, chair. Just the language is very prescriptive.

1619
01:27:12,545 --> 01:27:16,075
It's embedded by a table bullet attorneys

1620
01:27:16,975 --> 01:27:20,795
and manager building committee.

1621
01:27:21,535 --> 01:27:25,835
So what's laid out? And it is what town meeting? Rev vote.

1622
01:27:26,015 --> 01:27:28,315
And by the way, this as an aside, I was asked this question,

1623
01:27:28,335 --> 01:27:31,075
not by a strictly meeting school committee member,

1624
01:27:31,295 --> 01:27:33,475
but the town member.

1625
01:27:34,105 --> 01:27:36,195
This is not the same as what will be on the ballot.

1626
01:27:37,015 --> 01:27:38,515
So ballot has very different

1627
01:27:38,735 --> 01:27:41,515
and also prescriptive language, but not this.

1628
01:27:41,535 --> 01:27:45,075
So they're two different, same project, different votes. So,

1629
01:27:46,875 --> 01:27:47,875
Very good.

1630
01:27:48,565 --> 01:27:50,545
Any other discussion?

1631
01:27:53,795 --> 01:27:57,825
All right. Hearing none vote.

1632
01:27:58,365 --> 01:28:02,825
All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed?

1633
01:28:04,285 --> 01:28:07,855
Abstained. That is a 6 0 0 vote.

1634
01:28:10,625 --> 01:28:15,515
Alright, this brings us to the end of our public meeting.

1635
01:28:16,415 --> 01:28:18,755
The next school committee meeting will take place Tuesday,

1636
01:28:19,395 --> 01:28:21,195
September 15th at six 30,

1637
01:28:21,535 --> 01:28:23,315
the Broad Meadow Performance Center.

1638
01:28:24,885 --> 01:28:27,525
I will now entertain a motion to adjourn

1639
01:28:27,525 --> 01:28:29,405
to Executive session in accordance

1640
01:28:29,405 --> 01:28:31,925
with Massachusetts Open Meeting Law Purpose two.

1641
01:28:32,545 --> 01:28:35,085
For the purpose of conducting a strategy session in

1642
01:28:35,085 --> 01:28:38,005
preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel.

1643
01:28:38,625 --> 01:28:41,285
The committee will not return to public session.

1644
01:28:42,025 --> 01:28:44,285
Is there a motion? So moved. Second.

1645
01:28:44,825 --> 01:28:48,165
Second. Moved by Liz, seconded by Michael.

1646
01:28:48,545 --> 01:28:50,245
Any discussion or objection to the motion?

1647
01:28:52,825 --> 01:28:55,805
All those in favor? A. A opposed?

1648
01:28:56,765 --> 01:28:58,745
That's a 6 0 0 vote.

1649
01:28:59,045 --> 01:29:01,365
The school committee is now an executive session.

1650
01:29:01,505 --> 01:29:04,205
We will end the Zoom and ask anyone who is not a member

1651
01:29:04,205 --> 01:29:06,205
of the committee to please leave them.